Geet Govind - II

Harsh Nevatia Sep 21, 2001 It was well past midnight when Krishna tiptoed into the grove and disturbed Radha from her reverie by calling her name. In an instant Radhas pain and fatigue vanished, but in the next it was replaced by something worse. She could not believe her eyes. Krishna wore a disheveled look. Kohl from some gopis eyes was spread over his cheeks. His lips bore the teeth marks of his lover. Her nails had scratched victory all over his chest. Her fragrance was emanating form his body. How could you do this to me Krishna? I was waiting alone all night for you to come and quell the desire burning in my body and you have come here spent of love. The entire world says that Krishna belongs to Radha - is this that Krishna? Your mind is as sullied as your body. You roam in the madhuban all night seeking to vanquish helpless maidens. You have every right to be disturbed at my appearance but you have stooped very low in making the accusations. These marks on my body are the fee your emissary has charged for leading me to you. She took me all round the madhuban stopping now and then to kiss me or cover me with love-bites, but this is as far as she went. And had I refused her these pleasures I would have to spend the night alone and so would you. You can take this up with your friend tomorrow, but for now give up your pride and come to me. "Full of desire, her eyes began to dart towards the bed, A sweet smile stretched the ends of her lips and Her delicate, fair cheeks turned red with shyness. Seizing this moment Krishna said to Radha, Darling! Forget your ego." I know I have wronged you but do not kill me with your silence instead pierce my heart with your arrow-like nails and make me a prisoner of your embraces. Unburden your breasts of this heavy garland. As Krishna guided Radha to the bed of lotuses she had lovingly made, she put aside her anger and began to blush. He removed her anklets and massaged her legs to vanquish her tiredness. He removed the shawl she was wearing and embraced her. And all forgiven, their lovemaking was tender and refreshing. And when they had spent their pent up energies, Radha saw that dawn was breaking and said to Krishna. Hurry up and help me dress. But before you do that, paint a pattern on my breasts with your hands, which are cooller than sandalwood paste,so that the remaining fire in my soul is quenched. The kohl on my eyes has faded during our love making so apply it again. Put the earrings, which you so lovingly had removed earlier, back on my ears. Comb my hair, which lies scattered all over my face, and paint the bindi on my forehead in the shape of the crescent moon so that I am reminded throughout the day of our pleasurable tryst. Help me put on my garments quickly so that I can reach home before anyone realises I have been out all night. Need I say anything, Krishna says, my depression says it all. How long will I have to wait before we meet? When the leaves of the bushes sway in the wind my heart leaps up because I feel Radha has come. I dream of making passionate love with her. Tell Radha to forget what has happened and come to me. Or better still take me to her. In another nook of the madhuban, Radha was waiting impatiently for her friend to bring news about Krishna. She imagines Krishna making passionate love to her. "When the moment of our loving approached I froze with shyness But the melody of his flute infused in me a passion I had never known. I left my prayers midway and lost all sense and decorum of being properly dressed. I lay down on a spread of lotus flowers and he lay on my pulsating bosom. I forget whether his lips kissed mine or my lips tasted the sweetness of his. And I did not realise when the moment of our eternal lovemaking passed." The moon was steadily completing its journey and each passing moment meant that much less time with her lover, if he came. Surely there could be only one reason for his not coming. He was completely engrossed in flirting with the

other gopis or worse, he was spending the night with one of them. She visualised Krishna adorning one of the gopis with flowers, then embracing another one, then kissing a third, then..... even the thought was too painful. Or maybe he had lost his way in the dim light of the new moon.

Geet Govind - II
Harsh Nevatia Sep 21, 2001 It was well past midnight when Krishna tiptoed into the grove and disturbed Radha from her reverie by calling her name. In an instant Radhas pain and fatigue vanished, but in the next it was replaced by something worse. She could not believe her eyes. Krishna wore a disheveled look. Kohl from some gopis eyes was spread over his cheeks. His lips bore the teeth marks of his lover. Her nails had scratched victory all over his chest. Her fragrance was emanating form his body. How could you do this to me Krishna? I was waiting alone all night for you to come and quell the desire burning in my body and you have come here spent of love. The entire world says that Krishna belongs to Radha - is this that Krishna? Your mind is as sullied as your body. You roam in the madhuban all night seeking to vanquish helpless maidens. You have every right to be disturbed at my appearance but you have stooped very low in making the accusations. These marks on my body are the fee your emissary has charged for leading me to you. She took me all round the madhuban stopping now and then to kiss me or cover me with love-bites, but this is as far as she went. And had I refused her these pleasures I would have to spend the night alone and so would you. You can take this up with your friend tomorrow, but for now give up your pride and come to me. "Full of desire, her eyes began to dart towards the bed, A sweet smile stretched the ends of her lips and Her delicate, fair cheeks turned red with shyness. Seizing this moment Krishna said to Radha, Darling! Forget your ego." I know I have wronged you but do not kill me with your silence instead pierce my heart with your arrow-like nails and make me a prisoner of your embraces. Unburden your breasts of this heavy garland. As Krishna guided Radha to the bed of lotuses she had lovingly made, she put aside her anger and began to blush. He removed her anklets and massaged her legs to vanquish her tiredness. He removed the shawl she was wearing and embraced her. And all forgiven, their lovemaking was tender and refreshing. And when they had spent their pent up energies, Radha saw that dawn was breaking and said to Krishna. Hurry up and help me dress. But before you do that, paint a pattern on my breasts with your hands, which are cooller than sandalwood paste,so that the remaining fire in my soul is quenched. The kohl on my eyes has faded during our love making so apply it again. Put the earrings, which you so lovingly had removed earlier, back on my ears. Comb my hair, which lies scattered all over my face, and paint the bindi on my forehead in the shape of the crescent moon so that I am reminded throughout the day of our pleasurable tryst. Help me put on my garments quickly so that I can reach home before anyone realises I have been out all night.

Unlike most epics, Geet Govind is not written in a single verse form throughout. Each chapter, each section has a verse form and metrical structure suited to the emotion being portrayed. And finally the enjoyment of Geet Govind is not restricted to the reading of the poem. Artists have put it on canvas, singers have put it to melody and dancers have exhibited it with poetic movements and graceful gestures.

The primary sources of the life of Krishna in Vrindavan are the Bhagwat Puran and Harivansam. Surprisingly there is no mention of Radha in either of these texts. She makes her first appearance in later writings, but has since then maintained a permanent presence.