Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 12.05.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

“The soldier of eagerness was defeated by the soldier of fear. When Radha and Krishna reached the outskirts of Vraja returning from Their walk, this victory of fear forcibly took away the jewel-like embrace of Krishna’s arm on the shoulder of Shrimati Radharani. Fear personified admonished Radha and Krishna, forbidding Them to walk on the path together. Their maidservants started to cry when they saw how pitifully They looked at each other. Radha and Krishna’s moon-like faces instantly lost their luster out of sorrow over having to separate. When They were forced to walk on separate paths, Radha and Krishna became very sad for having to separate after having first attained the jewels of each other’s hearts. But Their pure love gave them the guarantee for Their next meeting.”[1]
So, this is our pitiful condition as well. Due to some ignorance, some illusion, we have lost this eternal connection to the supreme Divine Couple. Due to our stupidity, we are forced to walk a separate path. But, take this sentence, take this advice: “Their pure love gave them the guarantee for their next meeting.” If we acquire this pure inner spiritual attraction to divinity, then we shall meet again.
“Krishna, feeling great pain of separation, couldn’t walk anymore. And Radhika’s body was full in blisters of severe separation. Shri Radhika said “O friends, I am dying from the pain of separation. How will you take me to Braja? Fate has become my enemy, taking away my blissful union with Krishna. How can you lock me up in my mother-in-law’s house? Lalita, you took me out of my home today and now you are making me enter into it again on the same day! Why did you make me greedy after stepping into the nectarean ocean of Krishna’s company? Sakhi! The sun that I saw setting, now is yet again rising in the east. Now the night has become as illusory as a flower in the sky. Curses on my ears! Curses on my tongue! Curses on my eyes! They are always burning with the fever of loving eagerness, unable to drink even a drop of the nectar of Krishna’s nice voice, nice taste and nice form.”
Then Lalita said “Oh naive girl, today the yoga of nocturnal meeting with Krishna recited the nirveda, or impious activities to you. Now your separation is also reciting the nirveda, that means another meaning – pain to you. The meeting gave you the nectar of Achyuta, Krishna. And the separation made you taste the bitter poison.” Shri Radhika, the supreme goddess of love for Krishna, could not understand the words of her girlfriends, although they surrounded her. She entered her house without being seen by the people of Vraja and had gone to bed.”
From the basic principles, then moral standards, then religious principles and intellectual achievements, finally we have to come to some spiritual realization. And when we remember the bliss of divine union of Radha-Govinda and the very painful separation of Them, then we can come closer to that intensity, which helps us taste a few drops of nectar here. As it is said in the text of Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Radhika was happy when the sun was setting, and she was morose when the sun was rising. So, whenever you gaze at the sun – of course, we are very happy to greet the rising sun – but if you remember the reason why Radhika is not happy when the sun is rising; and when you gaze at the setting sun and you say farewell to the light, and also you remember that Radhika is very happy when the sun is setting, because she can greet the darkness, the dark Lord – then, due to your studies, day and night will merge. So, don’t stop – here, there, on the next platform… Go further!

(to be continued)

1.  From Shri Krsna Bhavanamrta Mahakavya by Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura