The Magic of Krishna's Flute

O rare voice, which is a spell

Unto all on earth who dwell!
O rich voice of rapturous love,
Making melody above!

Krishna's, Hari's one in two,

Sound these mortal verses through!
Sound like that soft flute which made
Such a magic in the shade

Calling deer-eyed maidens nigh,

Waking wish and stirring sigh,
Thrilling blood and melting breasts,
Whispering love's divine unrests.

This is an illustration of the following lines from Canto VIII of the Gita Govinda:

antarmohan amaulighur
nanachalan mandaravibhram sana
stambhakar shanadrip tiharshana
mahamantrah kurangidrisam

dripyaddana vaduyama nadivishad

durvaraduh khapadam
bhramsah kamsaripor vipolayatu
vah sreyamsi vamsiravah

"The sound of Krishna's flute charms the entire creation, animate as well as inanimate. The
deer-eyed gopis of Vraja are so fascinated "herewith that mandara flowers which decorate
their coiffure fall. May the sound of Krishna's flute, the enemy of Kamsa and saviour of gods,
bless you all!"
 Enter, Sweet Radha, The Bower of Hari

So came she where he sat awaiting her

At the bower's entry, like a god to see,
With marriage-gladness and the grace of heaven.
The pearl set upon his glorious head
Shone like a moon among the leaves, and shone
Like stars the gems that kept her gold gown close;
But still a little while she paused-abashed
At her delight, of her deep joy afraid.

This is an illustration of the following lines from Canto XI of the Gita Govinda:

hara valitara lakanchana kanchidama

keyura kankana manidyu tidipitasya
dvare nikun janila yasya harim nirikshya
vridavatimatha sakhi miyam ity uvacha

manju tarakunja talakeli sadane

vilasa ratirabha sahasita vadane
pravisa radhe madhava samipamiha

navabhavada sokadalala sayanasare

vilasa kuchakala satara lahare
kusuma chayarachita suchiva sagehe
vilasa kusuma suku maradehe

Noticing Hari at the entrance of the bower, Radha, who decked herself with beaming
ornaments, felt abashed. But her sakhi thus exhorted her:

"Enter, sweet Radha,

the bower of Madhava.

Seek delight, O thou,

whose bosom laughs
 with the foretaste of happiness.

Enter, sweet Radha,

the bower graced
with a bed of asoka leaves.

Seek delight, O thou,

whose garland leaps
with joy on the breast.

Enter, sweet Radha,

the bower illumined
with gay blossoms.

Seek delight, O thou,

whose limbs far excel
them in softness."

Radha Enters the Bower of Govinda

This picture illustrates the following lines from Canto XI of the Gita Govinda:

sa sasadhvasa sanandam
govinde lolalochana
sinjanaman jumanjiram
pravivesabhi vesanam

radha vadanavilokana vikasita

vividhavikaravi bhangam
jalanidhimiva vidhuman daladar
sanatara litatun gatarangam

harimekarasam chiram
 abhilashita vilasam
sa dadarsa guruharshavasam
vadava danaman anga nivasam

"Radha with timid joy, fixing her eyes on Govinda, while she musically sounded the rings of her
ankles and the bells of her zone, entered the mystic bower of her only beloved.

There she beheld Madhava who delighted in her alone; who so long had sighed for her
embrace; and whose countenance then gleamed with excessive rapture; his heart was
agitated by her sight, and like the mighty deep which sees the moon and rises, all his life
uprose to drink her beams."

The Union of Radha and Krishna

Then she, no more delaying,

entered straight;
Her step a little faltered,
But her face shone with unutterable quick love.

And while the music of her bangles

passed the porch,
Shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes,
Departed shamed...

And like the mighty deep,

Which sees the moon
And rises, all his life
Uprose to drink her beams.

The painting illustrates the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:

gatavati sakhivrindem
andatrap abharanir bhara
smara parava sakutasphita
 smitasnapi tadharam

sarasamanasam drishtva
radham muhurnavapallava
prasavagayane nikshiptak
shimuvacha harih priyam

kisalaya sayanatale kuru kamini

charananalina vinivesam
tava padapalla vavairipara bhavam
idamanu bhavatu suvesam

"Tears of joy gushed in a stream from the full eyes of Radha and their watery glances beamed.
on her best beloved. Even shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes was itself ashamed
and departed, when the fawn-eyed Radha, gazed on the brightened face of Krishna, while she
passed by the soft edge of his couch and the bevy of her attendant nymphs warily retired from
the bower.

Govinda, seeing his beloved cheerful, her lips sparkling with smiles, and her eyes speaking
desire, thus eagerly addressed her; while she carelessly reclined on the leafy bed strewn with
soft blossoms: 'Set the lotus of thy foot on this azure bosom; and let this couch be victorious
over all, who rebel against love.'"

Hang On My Eears the Jewelled Earrings,

O Accomplished Youth!

The Sanskrit text on the painting from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda reads:

nayana kuranga taranga

vikasanira sakare srutimandale
manasi japasavila sadhare
subhavesa nivesaya kundale
 "Hang on my ears the jewelled ear-rings,
O accomplished youth,
Whence the antelopes of thine eyes
may run downwards and sport at pleasure."

Arrange My Tresses, My Love!

This picture illustrates the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:

bhramarachayam rachayan tamupari

ruchiram suchiram mama sammukhe
jitakamale vimale parikarmaya
narmajana kamalakam mukhe

"Arrange my tresses,
O beloved Krishna,
round my temples.
These are purer than the lotus blossom."
 Place a Circle of Musk on My Forehead

This is an illustration of the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:

mrigamad arasav alitam lalitam

kuru tilakamali kara janikare
vihi takalan kakalam kamalanana
visramita sramasikare mama

ruchire chikure kuru manada

manasi jadhvaja chamare
ratigalite lalite kusumani
sikhandi sikhanda kadamare

"O Love, place now a fresh circle of musk, black as the lunar spots, on the moon of my
forehead; and mix gay flowers on my tresses with a peacock's feathers, in graceful order, that
they may wave like the banners of Kama."
 Krishna Tying the Tresses of Radha

This is an illustration from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda. Krishna ties the tresses of Radha on
the River Bank. The painting is unique in the sense that for the first time we see a cypress tree
in a Kangra painting. Gita Govinda thus concludes:

rachaya kuchayoschitram
patram kurushva kapolayor
ghataya jaghane kanchim
mugdhasraja kabari bharam

kalaya valayasrenim panau

pade maninupura
viti nigaditah pritah
pitambaropi tatha karot

yadgandharva kalasu kausala

manu dhyanam cha yad vaishnavam
yachchrin garavivek atatt
vamapi yat kavyeshu lilayitam

tatsarvam jayadeva panditkaveh

krishnaikatan atmanah
sanandah parisodhayantu
sudhiyah srigita govindatah

"While she spoke, Krishna triumphed; and obeying her sportful behests, he placed musky spots
on her bosom and forehead, dyed her temples with radiant hues, embellished her eyes with
kajal, decked her braided hair and her neck with fresh garlands, and tied on her wrists
loosened bracelets, on her ankles the beamy rings, and around her waist the zone of bells, that
sounded with ravishing melody.

Whatever is delightful in the modes of music, whatever is divine in meditations on Vishnu,

whatever is exquisite in the sweet art of love, whatever is graceful in the fine strains of poetry,
all that let the happy and wise learn from the songs of Jayadeva whose soul is united with the
foot of Narayana."