Radharani’s extraordinary features revealed in Sri Radhikashtaka
t is a Sanskrit song with eight verses, written by Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, the author of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Lord Krishna’s beauty is so enchanting that it defeats hundreds of thousands of Cupids. He is therefore called Madana-mohana.
Although Krishna is Madana-mohana, he becomes Madana-daha, or enchanted by the beauty of Radharani.
Devotees in Gokula or Krishnaloka want to see Radharani as more beautiful than Krishna.
Text One
kunkumakta-kancanabja-garva-
pitanancitabja-gandha-kirti-
ballavesa-sunu-sarva-
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
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.
Text Two
kauravinda-kanti-nindi-citra-
krsna-matta-bhrnga-keli-
krsna-nitya-sangamartha-padma-
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
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 Krishna performs amorous pastimes. She worships the Sun-god daily in order to attain the continual association of Her beloved Krishna. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.
Text Three
saukumarya-srsta-pallavali-
candra-candanotpalendu-sevya-
svabhimarsa-ballavisa-kama-
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
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.
Text Four
visva-vandya-
rupa-navya-yauvanadi-sampada na yat-sama
sila-harda-lilaya ca sa yato ‘sti nadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
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.
Text Five
rasa-lasya-gita-narma-sat-
prema-ramya-rupa-vesa-sad-
visva-navya-gopa-yosid-alito ‘pi yadhika
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
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.
Text Six
nitya-navya-rupa-keli-krsna-
krsna-raga-bandha-gopa-
krsna-rupa-vesa-keli-lagna-
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
She possesses the opulences of eternal youthful beauty, eternal pastimes, and eternal love for Krishna. Her ecstatic feelings of love for Krishna cause the gopis, who are also in love with Krishna, to tremble. She is always attached to meditating on Sri Krishna’s beautiful form, ornaments, garments, and pastimes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.
Text Seven
sveda-kampa-kantakasru-
marsa-harsa-vamatadi-bhava-
krsna-netra-tosi-ratna-
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
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 Krishna. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.
Text Eight
ya ksanardha-krsna-viprayoga-
neka-dainya-capaladi-bhava-
yatna-labdha-krsna-sanga-
mahyam atma-pada-padma-dasya-dastu radhika
If She is apart from Krishna 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 Krishna after some effort, then all Her anguish immediately vanishes. May Sri Radhika bestow upon me the service of Her own lotus feet.
Text Nine
astakena yas tv anena nauti krsna-vallabham
darsane ‘pi sailajadi-yosidali-durlabham
krsna-sanga-nanditatma-dasya-
tam karoti nanditali-sancayasu sa janam
It is very difficult for Parvati and other exalted goddesses to attain even a glimpse of Srimati Radharani, who is dear to Lord Krishna. But if someone glorifies Her by reciting these eight verses, then She who is delighted by Krishna’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.