Sri Rādhikāṣṭaka

(1)

kuńkumākta-kāñcanābja-garva-hāri-gaurabhā

pītanāñcitābja-gandha-kīrti-nindi-saurabhā

ballaveśa-sūnu-sarva-vāñcitārtha-sādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

kunkuma — with red scented powder; akta — covered; kancana — golden; abja — lotus flower; garva — pride; hari — removing; gaura — golden; bha — She who is splendorous; pitana — with saffron; ancita — marked; abja — of the lotus flower; gandha — sweet aroma; kirti — fame; nindi — belittling; saurabha — She who has the pleasant fragrance; ballava — of the cowherd men; isa — of the king (Nanda); sunu — of the Son (Krsna); sarva — all; vancita — that which is desired; artha — for the purpose; sadhika — She who fulfills; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

1) Her splendorous 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 service of Her own lotus feet.

(2)

kauravinda-kānti-nindi-citra-paṭṭa-śāṭikā

kṛṣṇa-matta-bhṛńga-keli-phulla-puṣpa-vāṭikā

kṛṣṇa-nitya-sańgamārtha-padma-bandhu-rādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

kauravinda — of coral; kanti — the splendor; nindi — chastising; citra — amazing and colorful; patta-satika — She who wears silken garments; krsna — Krsna; matta — maddened; bhrnga — bumblebee; keli — amorous pastimes; phulla — blossomed; puspa — flower; vatika — She who is a garden; krsna — with Krsna; nitya — daily; sangama — union; artha — for the purpose; padma-bandhu — the friend of the lotus flowers (the sun-god); radhika — She who is the worshipper; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

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 Krsna performs amorous pastimes. She worships the Sun-god daily in order to attain the continual association of Her beloved Krsna. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.

(3)

saukumārya-sṛṣṭa-pallavāli-kīrti-nigrahā

candra-candanotpalendu-sevya-śīta-vigrahā

svābhimarśa-ballavīśa-kāma-tāpa-bādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

saukumarya — with youthful delicacy; srsta — provided; pallava — of newly blossoming leaves; ali — of the multitude; kirti — the fame; nigraha — She who negates; candra — the moon; candana — sandalwood paste; utpala — lotus flowers; indu — and camphor; sevya — worshipable by; sita — cool; vigraha — She whose form; sva — Her own; abhimarsa — by the touch; ballavi — of the cowherd girls; isa-of the Lord (Krsna); kama — of the desires; tapa — the heat and distress; badhika — She who removes; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

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)

viśva-vandya-yauvatābhivanditāpi yā ramā

rūpa-navya-yauvanādi-saḿpadā na yat-samā

śīla-hārda-līlayā ca sā yato ‘sti nādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

visva — by the universe; vandya — adored; yauvata — by the multitude of young gopis; abhivandita — She who is reverentially worshipped; api — even; ya — She who; rama — of the goddess of fortune; rupa — beauty; navya-yauvana — praiseworthy youthfulness; adi — and so forth; sampada — with the opulences; na — not; yat — to whom; sama — She who is equal; sila — of nature; harda — of pure love; lilaya — by the pastimes; ca — and; sa — She; yatah — from whom; asti — there is; na — not; adhika — anyone greater; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

4) Although the goddess of fortune Laksmi 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)

rāsa-lāsya-gīta-narma-sat-kalāli-paṇḍitā

prema-ramya-rūpa-veśa-sad-guṇāli-maṇḍitā

viśva-navya-gopa-yoṣid-ālito ‘pi yādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

rasa-lasya — in the rasa dance; gita — singing; narma — joking; sat — transcendental; kala — in the arts; ali — the multitude; pandita — She who is very learned; prema — love; ramya — beautiful; rupa — form; vesa — dress and ornaments; sat — transcendental; guna — of qualities; ali — by the multitudes; mandita — She who is decorated; visva — by the universe; navya — to be praised; gopa-yosit — of cowherd women; alitah — than the multitude; api — even; ya — who; adhika — She who is the best; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

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)

nitya-navya-rūpa-keli-kṛṣṇa-bhāva-sampadā

kṛṣṇa-rāga-bandha-gopa-yauvateṣu kampadā

kṛṣṇa-rūpa-veśa-keli-lagna-sat-samādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

nitya — eternal; navya — youthful; rupa — beauty; keli — pastimes; krsna — of Krsna; bhava — love; sampada — She who is endowed with the opulences; krsna — of Krsna; raga — by love; bandha — with bonds; gopa-yauvatesu — to the young gopis; kampada — She who causes trembling; krsna — of Krsna; rupa — beautiful form; vesa — garments and ornaments; keli — pastimes; lagna — attached; sat — transcendental; samadhika — She who is engaged in meditation; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

6) She possesses the opulences of eternal youthful beauty, eternal pastimes, and eternal love for Krsna. Her ecstatic feelings of love for Krsna cause the gopis, who are also in love with Krsna, to tremble. She is always attached to meditating on Sri Krsna’s beautiful form, ornaments, garments, and pastimes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.

(7)

sveda-kampa-kaṇṭakāśru-gadgadādi-sañcitā

marṣa-harṣa-vāmatādi-bhāva-bhuṣaṇāñcitā

kṛṣṇa-netra-toṣi-ratna-maṇḍanāli-dādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

sveda — perspiring; kampa — trembling; kantaka — standing up of hairs on the body; asru — tears; gadgada — choking up of the voice; adi — and other symptoms of ecstasy; sancita — She who has accumulated; amarsa — impatience; harsa — joy; vamata — crookedness; adi — and others; bhava — of ecstatic moods; bhusana — with the ornaments; ancita — She who is marked; krsna — of Krsna; netra — the eyes; tosi — delighting; ratna — jewels; mandana — ornaments; ali — with the multitudes; dadhika — She who wears; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

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 Krsna. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.

(8)

yā kṣaṇārdha-kṛṣṇa-viprayoga-santatoditā-

neka-dainya-cāpalādi-bhāva-vṛnda-moditā

yatna-labdha-kṛṣṇa-sańga-nirgatākhilādhikā

mahyam ātma-pāda-padma-dāsya-dāstu rādhikā

SYNONYMS

ya — She who; ksana-ardha — half a moment; krsna — Sri Krsna; viprayoga — by separation; santata — extended; udita — arisen; aneka — many; dainya — of suffering; capala — restlessness; adi — and more; bhava — ecstasies; vrnda — multitudes; modita — She who is excited; yatna — with great endeavor; labdha — attained; krsna — of Krsna; sanga — association; nirgata — gone; akhila — all; adhika — mental anguish; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

8) If She is apart from Krsna 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 Krsna after some effort, then all Her anguish immediately vanishes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.

(9)

aṣṭakena yas tv anena nauti kṛṣṇa-vallabhāḿ

darśane ‘pi śailajādi-yoṣidāli-durlabhām

kṛṣṇa-sańga-nanditātma-dāsya-sīdhu-bhājanaḿ

taḿ karoti nanditāli-sañcayāśu sā janam

SYNONYMS

astakena — by these eight verses; yah — whoever; tu — indeed; anena — with these; nauti — glorifies; krsna-vallabham — She who is dear to Krsna; darsane — in sight; api — even; saila-ja — She who was born from the mountain (Parvati); adi — and others; yosit — of women; ali — for multitudes; durlabham — very difficult to attain; krsna — of Krsna; sanga — by the association; nandita — delighted; atma — Her own; dasya — service; sidhu — of the nectar; bhajanam — the recipient; tam — to him; karoti — She makes; nandita — jubilant; ali-gopi friends; sancaya — in the assembly; asu — quickly; sa — She; janam — that person; mahyam — to me; atma — Her own; pada-padma — of the lotus feet; dasya-da — the giver of service; astu — may become; radhika — Srimati Radharani.

TRANSLATION

9) It is very difficult for Parvati and other exalted goddesses to attain even a glimpse of Srimati Radharani, who is dear to Lord Krsna. But if someone glorifies Her by reciting these eight verses, then She who is delighted by Krsna’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.