CHAPTER ELEVEN
karu√åµ kuru mayi karu√å-bharite sanaka-sanåtana-var√ita-carite (4)
Rådhikå is the very embodiment of karu√å, kindness, and every pore of Her every limb – indeed, every atom of Her existence – emanates k®ß√a-prema. But why have the names of Sanaka and Sanåtana been mentioned? They are young brahmacårîs, appearing to be only five years old, and their hearts are very pure. They were exclusive devotees of Nåråya√a, but after they heard a description of Rådhikå’s a߆akålîya-lîlå from Ça∫kara, hankering for realisation of those pastimes arose within them. In the Padma Purå√a, Ça∫kara described Her a߆akålîya-lîlå to the Kumåras, and they in turn related it to Nårada Âßi. They appeared long before Rüpa Gosvåmî, at the beginning of creation in Satya-yuga, and are well-known for being expert in describing Rådhikå’s transcendental qualities. They narrated Her a߆akålîya-lîlå – what could be greater than that? Today we have made an effort to increase our “greed” for the service of Rådhikå, and when that hankering becomes complete, then our darçana of V®ndåvana – including all of the places such as Sevå-kuñja and Giriråja-Govardhana that we visited this month – will have really become complete. We are actually unqualified in all ways for this, but if inside us a little of this hankering has arisen, then today we will say a special prayer to Lalitå, Viçåkhå, all of the gurus in our paramparå, and especially to our own guru-pådapadma, that by their mercy this hankering will become complete. With this very hope we will not conclude our vrata today, but instead we will commence it: “How will I attain the dåsya of Rådhikå? Wherever it is available, whether in heaven or in 163