NVM by Sivaram Swami "..[...] Sri Krishna. His form glistens with the hue of amorous love, which resembles the colour of sapphires, blue lotuses, black mascara, fresh rain clouds, and the tamala tree."
This pastime is told in some old Orian Gaudiya songs and was brought to us by H H Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja. This is one excerpt from Sri Krishna Kathamrita N.9 pg 44 : "But taking all Her girl companions to a secluded place, Radhika expressed Her anger to them. She said :"Henceforward, anyone who even utters His name, will be considered My enemy, From today on, I will not look at any black or deep-blue colored things - even new clouds or black dresses, etc."
Radha had been waiting for Krishna to come to Her kunja. She had decorated it with flowers and petals and waited for Him as they had messaged to each other the day before at the Yamuna. But He did not come and Lalita found out that He had spent the night at Candravali's kunja. So, Radha became angry : "I will not longer go to the Yamuna! I will not longer bind My black hair or apply black kajjala to My eyes. I will not look at the black rain cloud. Black is My enemy. O Vishaka! That black enemy stung Me."
So, this poem is inspired by Radha's angry mood which reveals how the black, dark, deep-blue, bluish, blackish, cloudy things constantly remind Her of Krishna. In this way Radha is the greatest Yogi.
This pastime is told in some old Orian Gaudiya songs and was brought to us by H H Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja. This is one excerpt from Sri Krishna Kathamrita N.9 pg 44 : "But taking all Her girl companions to a secluded place, Radhika expressed Her anger to them. She said :"Henceforward, anyone who even utters His name, will be considered My enemy, From today on, I will not look at any black or deep-blue colored things - even new clouds or black dresses, etc."
Radha had been waiting for Krishna to come to Her kunja. She had decorated it with flowers and petals and waited for Him as they had messaged to each other the day before at the Yamuna. But He did not come and Lalita found out that He had spent the night at Candravali's kunja. So, Radha became angry : "I will not longer go to the Yamuna! I will not longer bind My black hair or apply black kajjala to My eyes. I will not look at the black rain cloud. Black is My enemy. O Vishaka! That black enemy stung Me."
So, this poem is inspired by Radha's angry mood which reveals how the black, dark, deep-blue, bluish, blackish, cloudy things constantly remind Her of Krishna. In this way Radha is the greatest Yogi.
O Sakhi, O friend,
get rid of this dark color,
anything black
do not bring it here
in front of my eyes!
Shyam has not come
to the bed of petals
fragrant with my love,
now all blown away
along with my hope;
whatever is blue, dark, black
or dense like a cloud
reminding me of Him
keep it away from me!
I'll erase the dark of the sky
from my nights,
and from my days,
the darkening monsoon clouds
resembling His skin,
I was betrayed and cheated
understand my chagrin!
Even in this mirror
I won't look again at my braid
nor the black around my eyes
- I'll give them up,
enough with the make up!
Swat this black bumblebee away!
And I do not want to hear
the black crows or the cuckoos sound;
also this Tamal tree, pull it out!
its dark trunk...
its maddening blackish hue -
I'll not hug it anymore,
no, never again,
crying out His name!
No blackish, no bluish, finish!
my saree, my bangles,
their deep blue I spurn,
from now on, O Sakhi,
tint them with gold;
I was disgraced and left forlorn
thus I have sworn
never again ~ nothing black
in my thoughts;
Don't ever speak to me
about that dark blue Lover
no - this time I'll not forgive
I'll resist...
I will forget
the black, the blue
even exist.
get rid of this dark color,
anything black
do not bring it here
in front of my eyes!
Shyam has not come
to the bed of petals
fragrant with my love,
now all blown away
along with my hope;
whatever is blue, dark, black
or dense like a cloud
reminding me of Him
keep it away from me!
I'll erase the dark of the sky
from my nights,
and from my days,
the darkening monsoon clouds
resembling His skin,
I was betrayed and cheated
understand my chagrin!
Even in this mirror
I won't look again at my braid
nor the black around my eyes
- I'll give them up,
enough with the make up!
Swat this black bumblebee away!
And I do not want to hear
the black crows or the cuckoos sound;
also this Tamal tree, pull it out!
its dark trunk...
its maddening blackish hue -
I'll not hug it anymore,
no, never again,
crying out His name!
No blackish, no bluish, finish!
my saree, my bangles,
their deep blue I spurn,
from now on, O Sakhi,
tint them with gold;
I was disgraced and left forlorn
thus I have sworn
never again ~ nothing black
in my thoughts;
Don't ever speak to me
about that dark blue Lover
no - this time I'll not forgive
I'll resist...
I will forget
the black, the blue
even exist.
Radha becomes angry.
Radha said : " My dear friend! Listen to the painful story of what that thief of Nilamani did to Me yesterday. He for whom I have become a disgrace in Vraja, that same person yesterday night took rest at Chandravali's kunja. Yesterday on the bank of the Yamuna, Shyam gave some indication to meet Me at My kunha, but He did not show up. I have been keeping this gunha-mala neck lace as the sign of His signal, but Chandravali usurped Him. What type of mantra did that woman apply to Shyam that the flower bed I made for Him became useless? I made a lamp of flowers for Him, but the boat of My hope drowned in the water. Last night I wasted the entire evening, O friend! Don't speak to me the name of Krishna, Whoever speaks that name will be My enemy. This is the vow of Radha. From today onwards I give up all tupes of black-colored things, I will no use black eyeliner anymore in My eyes."
