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EDITORIAL September 18, 1999 VNN4753 Comment on this story Sri Radhikashtaka BY SWAMI B.A. PARAMADVAITI EDITORIAL, Sep 18 (VNN) — Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah! 1) Her splendrous golden complexion steals the pride of a golden lotus flower anointed with a tinge of red kunkum powder. Her sweet fragrance mocks the fame of the aroma of a lotus flower sprinkled with saffron powder. She is fully qualified to fulfill all the desires of the son of the king of cowherd men. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the services of Her own lotus feet. 2) Her amazing and colorful silken garments make the splendor of coral feel ashamed. She is a garden of blossoming flowers where the maddened bumble-bee named Krishna performs amorous pastimes. She worships the Sungod daily in order to attain the continual association of Her beloved Krishna. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 3) Her charming youthful delicacy negates the fame of freshly-sprouted leaves. Her refreshing form is worthy of being served by the cooling moon, sandalwood paste, lotus flowers, and camphor. When She touches the master of the gopis, She dispels the burning heat of His lusty desires. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 4) Although the goddess of fortune Lakshmi Devi is adored by other youthful goddesses, who are themselves glorified throughout all the universe, still she is nowhere near Sri Radhika in the matter of beauty, praiseworthy youthfulness, or other divine feminine opulences. There is no one in the material or spiritual worlds superior to Radhika in the expression of naturally loving pastimes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 5) She is very learned in many transcendental arts, such as performing in the rasa dance, singing and joking. She is decorated with many divine qualities, such as loving nature, exquisite beauty, and wonderful garments and ornaments. Even among the cowherd damsels of Vraja, who are praised by the entire universe, She is the best in every way. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 6) She possesses the opulences of eternal youthful beauty, eternal pastimes, and eternal love for Krishna. Her ecstatic feelings of love for Krishna cause the gopis, who are also in love with Krishna, to tremble. She is always attached to meditating on Sri Krishna's beautiful form, ornaments, garments and pastimes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 7) She is graced with the eight ecstatic symptoms (sattvika-bhava), such as trembling, perspiring, standing up of bodily hairs, tears, faltering of the voice, and so forth. She is adorned with different ecstatic emotional ornaments, such as impatience, joy, contrariness, and so forth. She is decorated with beautiful jewels that give total delight to the eyes of Krishna. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 8) If She is apart from Krishna for even half a moment, She becomes stricken with wretched suffering, restlessness, and a multitude of other ecstatic symptoms of separation. When She regains the association of Krishna after some effort, then all Her anguish immediately vanishes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet. 9) It is very difficult for Parvati and other exalted goddesses to attain even a glimpse of Srimati Radharani, who is dear to Lord Krishna. But if someone glorifies Her by reciting these eight verses, then She who is delighted by Krishna's continuous association will grant the sweet nectar of Her personal service to that person, who thereby enters the assembly of Her similarly delighted girlfriends. (from Govinda Lilamrta, Midday pastimes, chapter 17.59 - 67, by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami) About the Author  Other Stories by this AuthorComment on this story Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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