Shri Radhika cooks for Shri Krishna in the morning

Song Name: Bhaja Bhakata Vatsala   

Official Name: Sri Surabhi Kunjer Bhoga Arotik (Arati Kirtan Song 4)

Author: Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Book Name: Gitavali

Language: Bengali

LYRICS:

(1)
bhaja bhakata-vatsala śrī-gaurahari
śrī-gaurahari sohi goṣṭha-bihārī
nanda-jaśomatī-citta-hari

(2)
belā ho'lo dāmodara āisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi' koraho bhojana

(3)
nandera nideśe baise giri-bara-dhārī
baladeva-saha sakhā baise sāri sāri

(4)
śuktā-śākādi bhāji nālitā kuṣmāṇḍa
dāli dālnā dugdha-tumbī dadhi mocā-khaṇḍa

(5)
mudga-borā māṣa-borā roṭikā ghṛtānna
śaṣkulī piṣṭaka khīr puli pāyasānna

(6)
karpūra amṛta-keli rambhā khīra-sāra
amṛta rasālā, amla dwādaśa prakāra

(7)
luci cini sarpurī lāḍḍu rasābalī
bhojana korena kṛṣṇa ho'ye kutūhalī

(8)
rādhikāra pakka anna vividha byañjana
parama ānande kṛṣṇa korena bhojana

(9)
chale-bale lāḍḍu khāy śrī-madhumańgala
bagala bājāy āra deya hari-bolo

(10)
rādhikādi gaṇe heri' nayanera koṇe
tṛpta ho'ye khāy kṛṣṇa jaśodā-bhavane

(11)
bhojanānte piye kṛṣṇa subāsita bāri
sabe mukha prakhāloy ho'ye sāri sāri

(12)
hasta-mukha prakhāliyā jata sakhā-gaṇe
ānande biśrāma kore baladeva-sane

(13)
jambula rasāla āne tāmbūla-masālā
tāhā kheye kṛṣṇa-candra sukhe nidrā gelā

(14)
biśālākha śikhi-puccha-cāmara ḍhulāya
apūrba śayyāya kṛṣṇa sukhe nidrā jāya.

(15)
jaśomatī-ājñā pe'ye dhaniṣṭhā-ānīto
śrī-kṛṣṇa-prasāda rādhā bhuñje ho'ye prīto

(16)
lalitādi sakhī-gaṇa avaśeṣa pāya
mane mane sukhe rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa gāya

(17)
hari-līlā ek-mātra jāhāra pramoda
bhogārati gāy ṭhākur bhakativinoda

TRANSLATION

1) Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees. He is the same Supreme Godhead, Krsna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda.

2) Mother Yasoda calls to Krsna, "My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take Your lunch."

3) On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna, the holder of Govardhana Hill, sits down, and then all the cowherd boys, along with Krsna'selder brother, Sri Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.

4) They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy vegetables, then nice fried things, and a salad made of the green leaves of the jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small square cakes made of lentils and cooked down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk, and vegetable preparations made from the tower of the banana tree.

5) Then they receive fried squares of mung dahl patties, and urad dahl patties, capatis, and rice with ghee. Next, sweets made with milk, sugar and sesamum, rice flour cakes; thick cooked-down milk; cakes floating in milk; and sweet rice.

6) There is also sweet rice that tastes just like nectar due to its being mixed with camphor. There are bananas, and cheese which is nectareanand delicious. They are also served twelve kinds of sour preparations made with tamarinds, limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.

7) There are puns made with white flour and sugar; puns filled with cream; laddus; and dahl patties boiled in sugared rice. Krsna eagerly eats all of the food.

8) In great ecstasy and joy Krsna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets, and pastries cooked by Srimati Radharani.

9) Krsna's funny brahmana friend Madhumangala, who is very fond of Laddus, gets them by hook or by crook. Eating the laddus he shouts, "Haribol! Haribol!~' and makes a funny sound by swapping his sides under his armpits with his hands.

10) Beholding Radharani and Her gopifriends out of the courters of His eyes, Krsna eats at the house of mother Yasoda with great satisfaction.

11) After lunch, Krsna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys, standing in lines, wash their mouths.

12) After all the cowherd boys wash their hands and mouths, in great bliss they take rest with Lord Balarama.

13) The two cowherd boys Jambula and Rasala then bring Krsna pan made with betel nuts, fancy spices, and catechu. After eating that pin, Sri Krsnacandra then happily goes to sleep.

14) While Krsna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant Visalaksa cools Him with a fan of peacock feathers.

15) At mother Yasoda's request the gopi Dhanistha brings remnants of food left on Krsna's plate to Srimati Radharani, who eats them with great delight

16) Lalita-devi and the other gopis then receive the remnants, and within their hearts they sing the glories of Radharani and Krsna with great joy.

17) Thakura Bhaktivinoda, whose one and only Joy is the pastimes of Lord Hari, sings this Bhoga-arati song

Shri Radhika cooks for Shri Krishna in the morning

 Govinda lilamrta Krishna das kaviraja Goswami

Morning bhajans ( not midday)

When Gokulananda (Krishna) went to the meadows, Queen Yasoda became eager to prepare His meal, so she engaged everyone in the house. Although all the people in her house were busily engaged in their duties and were all excited with love for Krishna, still Yasoda, bathed by the nectar of affection for her son, directed them all. She told her maidservants: "0 Girls! My boy will now return from the barn with Balarama, skinny and hungry, so quickly start cooking! Bring spinach, radish, golden flowers, mung dal, fruits, leaves, ginger, ground nuts, sour spices, turmeric, pepper, camphor, sugar, cumin seeds, cream, tamarind, hing, honey, Jati fruits, cassia leaves, licorice, cane sugar, ingredients for puddings, sea salt, coconut pulp, whole wheat, ghee, yoghurt, Tulasi-rice and whole rice, and bring milk from a cow that was sent here this morning by Nanda Maharaja. Bring all these items to the kitchen for preparation!" (1-5)

The maidservants quickly executed this order and mother Yasoda, still overwhelmed with affection for Krishna, called mother Rohini and told her: "Friend Rohini! The tender bodies of our boys (Krishna and Balarama) have been very much injured by the cowherd boys during Their whimsical wrestling games! How many cowherd-servants are there not in my house? Still, despite my prohibition, Krishna and Balarama still go to the meadows Themselves to herd the cows! What can I do?" (6-8)

"Sakhi, our sons are exerting Themselves by dancing and strolling around in the forest! Then, in the evening, when They return, They have no appetite and They hardly eat anything. Thus they become very weak and skinny Alas! In the morning Their bellies are flat! 0 Fair-faced Rohini! Quickly go to the kitchen! Our sons have become very hungry! Prepare enough food to satisfy Their great appetite! Carefully prepare the same curry which They liked so much yesterday, and whatever else They like!" (9-10)

Being thus ordered, Balarama's mother went to the kitchen with her maidservants, lovingly taking all the ingredients for cooking with her. (11)

Eager to increase her son's small appetite by preparing different sweetmeats, the Queen of Gokula desired to bring Shri Radha for cooking. Accidentally, Kundalata, the wife of Upananda's son Subhadra, came along and offered her obeisances to Queen Yasoda. Yasoda told her: "0 Kundalate! One day Durvasa Muni blessed Shri Radhika, saying: "Radha, may the grains You cook taste sweeter than nectar and may anyone who eats them be blessed with a long life span!" Because of this blessing of Durvasa Muni I call Radha here every day to cook! Although my son is a small eater He gets great appetite when He eats Radha's delicious preparations. So please appeal to Her mother-in-law with these words of mine and quickly bring Radha here with all of Her friends!" (12-15)

Although Queen Yasoda daily engages Kundalata like this, it is always again like the first time. There is no fault in this, for the residents of Vraja are not aware of it. Intoxicated by passionate love for Krishna, they experience this routine as ever-fresh. (16)

Kundalata was enthused by Yasoda's words and she became eager to unite the queen bee Radhika with the honeybee Madhusudana. (17)

Although Jatila was very awkward towards her daughter-in-law, the clever Kundalata came to her and announced the message of the Queen of Vraja. Hearing this order, Jatila became worried about Krishna's attachment to her daughter-in-law. But then she remembered Paurnamasi's instruction (chapter 2, verse 45) and told Kundalata: "0 Child! My daughter-in-law is a chaste girl, sweetened by the nectar of the best attributes, but Nanda's son is very whimsical. People in general are faultfinders. But Paurnamasi ordered me never to ignore the orders of the Queen of Vraja. My heart is stirred with doubts! What should I do?" (17-20)

Kundalata replied: "0 Mother! You speak the truth, but you should not think that Krishna is as naughty as wicked men are telling you! Just as the sun nourishes the lotus flowers, but blinds the owls, removes the darkness of the world and gives pleasure to the Koka birds, he cannot please everyone! Similarly, Krishna gives joy to the whole of Vraja, except for some people (like you!)." (21)

"The young girls of the world are maddened by Krishna’s sweetness, so it is proper of you to worry about your daughter-in-law's safety. But do not worry. Krishna will not be able even to see Her shadow, and I will quickly bring Her back to you myself!" (22)

Jatila said: "0 daughter Kundalate! You are known in Vraja for your chastity, so I entrust my innocent daughter-in-law to your hands. The eyes of Nanda's boy are very restless, so please make sure that He does not see Her!" (23)

Then she called her daughter-in-law and told Her: "My girl! Go to the Queen of Nanda, do what she tells You to and then quickly return home! Today You must worship the Sun god!" (24)

When Radha was thus addressed by Jatila, She became very happy within, but, pretending to be unwilling to go, she told Kundalata: "I have work to do at home, a housewife should not wander around from house to house!" (25)

Again Jatila urged Radhika to go to Nandisvara. Then Kundalata, holding Radha's hand, told Her: "0 Chaste girl! Why are You so afraid to go there? I am here to protect You!" Thus Radhika went with her, shivering of joy Her friends, headed by Lalita, followed Her, taking home made laddus along for Krishna's breakfast. (26-27)

On the road Kundalata looked at the scarf that moved on Shri Radhika's chest and joked with her friends about it in loving joy. She said: "Radhe! Even though Your husband was out for three or four days to have the newly purchased fertile cows inseminated by the bulls, he came home last night and slept alone in his own room. Still we can see that Your chest is covered with nail marks (of some man) and Your lips are bitten all over. We are very happy that You are showing clear signs of Your chaste faith to Your husband now!" (28-29)

Lalita, seeing Radha's hidden smile and Her wide, slightly squinting eyes, told Kundalata: "Why are you needlessly causing anxiety to Radha's heart? Yesterday some proud parrot in the forest sat on Her breasts, thinking them to be pomegranates (scratching them), and then he bit Her lips, thinking them to be bimba fruits. This is why She is bruised like this!" (30-31)

Kundalata saw that Radhika's body was stirred with wave-like shivering, remembering Her pastimes with Krishna after hearing Lalita's words. Slightly smiling, Kundalata looked at a nearby pond and said, as if addressing a female lotus: "0 Foolish Padmini! Why are you shivering of joy? Kundalata's (a vine of Kunda flowers, or Krishna's niece) devara (brother-in-law, or giver of joy) Madhusudana (Krishna, or a honeybee) showing His own restlessness, has already enjoyed you (leaving you now after drinking your honey). Now will He drink Your honey again? (Rest assured that He will not enjoy You again!)". (32-33)

Then the clever Visakha, who was expert in making golden earrings of joking words that give pleasure to the ears, told Kundavalli: "0 Friend Kundalate! Just as this tender and pretty lotus is afraid of the black bee, despite blooming up out of attachment to the sun, this lotus-like Radha is afraid of your brother-in-law Krishna!" (34-35)

Being very restless out of Her desire to see Krishna, which came forth from Her strongly arising mood of attachment to Him, Radhika became overwhelmed with very strong loving happiness. As She heard all these sly, joking insinuations She slowly approached the abode of the king of Vraja with Her beloved girlfriends. Arriving there, She offered Her obeisances to Yasoda, Mukunda's mother, who lifted Her up and embraced Her, holding Her to her chest. Being more affectionate than billions of mothers, Yasoda happily smelled Radhika's head and kissed Her, while tears flowed from her eyes. She also embraced each of Radhika's girlfriends and freely inquired from Radhika about Her welfare. Overwhelmed by affection for her son and eager to quickly arrange for His meal, she said: "O Girls! You are famous in Vraja for your expertise in making many sweet preparations! Cook nice food that will give appetite even to a small eater like my boy! 0 Girls! One of you must prepare salty dishes, someone must make a yoghurt-dressed dish, someone should cook in ghee and someone should cook in sugar!" (36-40)

"Radhe! Mother! You are expert in cooking tasty dishes, so please go to my kitchen with Rohini and carefully prepare the best sweets and vegetables with her! O my daughter! Carefully prepare soft Amrta keli and Karpura keli pies that are millions of times sweeter and tastier than nectar! Who else in the three worlds but You knows how to prepare such things that makes Krishna eager to eat?" (41-42)

"0 Girl! Prepare that Piyusa granthi pie that Krishna likes so much and carefully put this in five kinds of nectar with a drink of cardamom and camphor!" (43)

"0 Mother Lalite! Make condensed milk with sugar and camphor! 0 Visakhe! Quickly make lemonade! Sasilekhe! Make Sikharini (a yoghurt drink)! Daughter Campakalate! Make buttermilk! 0 Tungavidye! Daughter! Make Amliksa (milk drink) mixed with all suitable ingredients of different varieties! 0 Mother Citre! Make Matsyandira (a sugar candy drink)! 0 Vasanti! Make white sugar cake! 0 Mangale! Make Jilepis (sweets)! 0 Kadambari! Make camphor pie! 0 Sudevi! Make sweet rice! 0 Rangadevi! Make cane sugar-pie! 0 Lasike! Make laddus of sugar; ground rice and grapes! 0 Kaumudi! Make many kinds of puns! 0 Mother Madalase! Make moon white cakes! 0 Sasimukhi! Carefully make sweet rice with curd! 0 Sumukhi! You make tasty sweet pie! 0 Manimati! Make different cakes of ground rice! 0 Daughter Kancana valli! Make laddus of whole wheat in ghee! 0 Manorame! Make Manohara-laddus! 0 Ratnamale! Make Moticura laddus! 0 Madhavi! Make sesame sweets by frying huskless sesame-seeds! Then you can cut a square sesame-pie! 0 Vindhye! Make a basket shaped sweet pie by frying whole wheat and barley first in ghee and then in sugarwater! Then you can make a split pea pie! 0 Rambhe! You make Karambha (cornmeal mixed with yoghurt) with banana’s cooked in sugar, on a golden plate! 0 Manojne! Squeeze out ripe mangoes and keep them in condensed milk with sugar! 0 Kilimbe! Make ghee from the milk which was taken from the cow named Sugandha this morning and from which I churned yoghurt! 0 Ambike! Slowly stir the milk that King Nanda personally milked from the cow named Dhavala and which he sent here for Krishna and Balarama's consumption!" 0 Girls! Swiftly go to my milk-storehouse, which is filled with big sifting spoons, clay pots and wooden bowls!" (44-55)

"0 Dhanisthe! Take all these items from the storerooms and put them in suitable vessels for preparation! 0 Rangana Malike! Go to the storehouse with Tulasi and quickly get all the required ingredients and place them before your maidservants where they are going to be prepared!" (56-57)

"0 lndumukhi! Take the plums, mangoes, pomegranates, Karira, Amalaki, Limpaka lemons, Badari and Rucaka fruits, and roots like ginger, that have been kept in salt and oil for many days and make them into very tasty pickles, as well as the Tamarind, mangoes, Amalaki, Badari and berries that have been kept in candy water for many days, out of the storeroom and put them on golden plates!" (58-59)

0 Sande, Subhe, Bharani, Pibari and Mistahaste! 0 Girls! Quickly take the best milk, which was taken from the meadows by the servants, on the stoves and start stirring it!" (60)

Shri Gandharvika (Radhika) took off Her veil, rings and ornaments and handed them to Tulasi. She washed Her hands and feet with water handed by Dhanistha. Then she bowed down to Rohini, who lovingly fondled Her as if she was her own daughter-in-law, and entered the kitchen. (61-62)

When all the gopis thus bloomed with joy and went to work, Mother Yasoda anxiously told her servants: "0 Payoda! Place the water, which was brought from the Yamuna yesterday evening and which has been kept in new pots covered with sheets and that is scented with kunkuma, aguru, camphor and sandal, kept cool with soft breezes and moonbeams, and kept in special potholders, around the moonstone bathing dais which is sprinkled with water! 0 Varida! Scent Krishna and Balarama's drinking water pots with aguru-smoke, jasmine, camphor, cloves and roses!" (63-66)

"0 Barber boy Sugandha! Bring the Narayana oil which cures innumerable diseases and nourishes the body, and which has been used by the physician Kalyanada, from my room, for massaging Krishna with." (67)

"0 barbers Subandha and Karpuraka! Quickly get the cool and fragrant Udvartana unguent and the Kalka unguent made of ground Amalaki for the hair!" (68)

"0 Saranga! Quickly press the thin, white overclothes for bathing and the fresh, silken golden clothes scented with fragrant powder for wearing after bathing!" (69)

"0 Bakula! Bring the red turban, the golden shirt, the red underwear and the multicolored sash, the four kinds of traditional dress in Vraja, here, and press the Raucika-dresses, that are fit for dancing and were expertly sewn in different colours with broken and unbroken threads!" (70-71)

"0 Sugandha Vilasa Gandhini! Carefully fill up the pearl gem-studded boxes with unguents such as catuh sama, that consists of vermilion, aloe, sandal and camphor!" (72)

"0 Talika! Grind Gorocana (a yellow pigment) for applying Krishna's tilaka! 0 Sucitra! Grind minerals from Govardhana Hill for drawing pictures on Krishna's face! 0 Puspahasa, Sumanah and Makaranda! Quickly make a garland of Naga Kesara, Vasanti, golden Yuthi and other flowers and scent it with black aloe and camphor!" (73-74)

"0 Sairindhra, MaIm, Makaranda and Bhrngin! Take all the golden jewel studded ornaments that the goldsmiths Rangana and Tankana have lovingly made after many days of hard work, following my great zeal, and have handed me last evening, out of the storeroom! Today sunday is in the Pusya-constellation, so they will bring amrta (nectar or immortality), so ornament my boys with them!" (75-76)

"0 Boy Salika! Make a crest of fresh peacock feathers! 0 Mallika! Make different nice strings of red and white gunja-berries! 0 Jambula! Quickly cut the bad piece from this golden betel leaf with scissors and clean the good piece with a fine cloth! 0 Suvilasini! Quickly scent fresh betel nuts with camphor after crushing them with a nutcracker and moistening them with milk, flaking them like Dhatri-leaves! 0 Rasala and Visalakhya! Make pan with ground cardamom, catechu and cloves that are cleansed with a cloth!" (77-80)

Hearing mother Yasoda's order, the servants went to their work and mother, casting her eyes down the road to see if her sons were coming back, asked a carrier coming back from the meadows: "Is Krishna coming? Why is He so late?" (81)

One carrier told her: "Krishna is making His young calves eat soft fresh grass!" Another one said: "He is making the bulls fight for the cows, being surrounded by His cowherd boyfriends!" (82)

Then mother Yasoda, eager to bring her son back home, told Krishna's servant Raktaka, who was staunchly fixed in his service. "0 Boy Raktaka! Quickly go to the meadows and bring Madhumangala, Balarama and my naughty son here!" (83)

Then mother went to the kitchen and asked Balarama's mother Rohini: "Please show me which curries and other dishes Radha and you have prepared!" (84)

Hearing Yasoda's words, Rohini praised Radha's skill in cooking in different ways. While showing Yasoda all the curries, placed in rows in clay pot on the clean table, she said: "0 fair faced friend Yasode! The expert Radha has made fine sweet rice, kept here in these big clay pots, sweeter and cooler even than the moon! 0 chaste lady! I made this sweet tasty and soft porridge, which gives strength and nourishment, and kept it in this clay pot! And look, there are also samosas with banana, coconut and cream, and different kinds of nicely prepared puddings! Look how Radha has prepared these Piyusa granthi-, Karpura Keli- and Amrta Keli pies! Even I don't know how to make them so nicely! There are two kinds of pea-pies made only with sugar or salt, churned or moistened, and there are also two kinds of Masa-pies made with sugar or salt! There are four kinds of pies with tamarind, plum, sorrel and mango, subdivided in Mudga, slightly sweetened and more sweetened, which makes twelve kinds." (85-91)

"Look, these banana flowers are so fresh with their fresh blossoms, with Mana-stems and the vital parts of the water stems with potatoes, carrots and pumpkins, are fried in ghee and dressed by Canaka paste in a circular fashion." (92-93)

"Look at all these chickpeas fried in ghee only and others that are filled with other ingredients, moistened with whey or amla. Different kinds of cake have been prepared with Canaka-powder, boiled in water. Some are soft and others are hard. (94-95)

"Many kinds of dishes have been made in separate combinations, with either nutmeg, fruits, roots, licorice or black pepper. 0 auspicious friend! This Rayata was made with yoghurt, Rajikaseeds, pumpkin, gourd and jyotsnika. Krishna's beloved Baka-flowers and goldflower-buds are fried with ghee and dressed with yoghurt. Two kinds of flower pies were fried in ghee end dressed with yoghurt. There is also Patola fruit, fried in ghee" (96-99)

"There are big pumpkin-pies with stems, arum, potatoes and Sagar roots. Some of these are mixed with Nalita-curna and cabika. Radha made milk with gourd laced with sugar, cardamom and black pepper. We made turnips in ghee with Dhatri and Bael fruits with yoghurt and sugar. We made soft banana- and pumpkin pies cooked with sugar and yoghurt. It became nicely cool, sour-sweet! These nicely prepared saka's with Nalita, Methi, Satapuspi, Misa, Patola, Vastuka, Vitunna and Marisa defeat the pride of nectar! There are saka's with Kalambi, that gives appetite, Tintidi- juice and black-leafed Nalita with hogplum." (100-105)

Today I made dahl of three kinds, with mukustaka, mudga and masa, that are like a well of nectar! I made moonlike round roti's with wheat thoroughly ground by the maidservants, and I kept rice bound in a thin cloth, which I will boil when Krishna returns from the meadows!" (106-108)

"0 Yasode! Know that we have finished all the rice and vegetables that we had to make. We have cooked, are cooking, or are about to cook all the required preparations!" (109)

When mother Yasoda saw all the fragrant, nicely colored, tasty dishes she became very happy and asked Rohini: "How did you prepare this so nicely?" Rohini said in amazement: "All these ingredients are actually ordinary, but simply because they were cooked by Gandharvika's (Radhika's) elegant hands, they have become so wonderful!" (110-111)

Seeing that Radha, who had become shy and had lowered Her head (after hearing Herself being praised), was perspiring, Yasoda melted with affection and ordered the maidservants to fan Her. (112)

Vrajesvari Yasoda went to the milk-storehouse, where she became very happy to see all the prepared dishes. Then she promptly went to the town gates, anxious for Krishna to return from the meadows (113).

In the poem Govinda Lilamrta, which is the result of service to Shri Rupa Gosvami, who is a honeybee at Shri Chaitanya's lotus feet, the encouragement of Shri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, the association of Shri Jiva Gosvami and the blessings of Shri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, this was the third chapter, filled with descriptions of the early morning pastimes.

Shri Krishna's bath and breakfast

Nanda Maharaja very eagerly sent Krishna back borne from the meadows. There Krishna saw that His mother was very eagerly looking out for Him by the town gates, her eyes filled with tears and her dressed moistened with milk flowing from her breasts out of parental love. Seeing Krishna approaching, mother Yasoda said: "Come my child, come quickly! Why didn’t You come home despite being hungry? Why are You giving me sorrow? We have prepared different dishes for You with great care, but they are getting cold!" (1-2)

Saying this, mother Yasoda caressed her son with her sprout-like hand. Eager to bring Krishna's friends in her home, she spoke to them with a voice melting out of love: "0 Boys! My son does not eat much without you, being eager to join you again in play, after eating! Therefore I wish that you come to my home to eat with my restless boy! 0 sons! You have all become hungry, so quickly go home, dress, bathe and ornament yourselves and come to my house to eat!" (3-5)

Hearing this, the boys joyfully went home while queen Yasoda took Krishna, Balarama and Madhumangala home. When Mukunda came home He showered the thirsty, dried up Cataka bird-like gopis with the waterfall of His personal sweetness, while He drank the sweet effulgent nectar of their moonlike faces with His own two Cakora bird-like eyes. (7)

Seeing Krishna coming to the bathing dais, a servant named Saranga took off all His ornaments and dressed Him in a clean thin contracted bathing dress. Krishna happily sat down on a good seat and a servant named Patri washed His lotus feet with a stream of fragrant water poured out of a shining golden pot by a servant named Patraka. Then Patri dried off those lotus feet with a towel. A barber’s son named Subandha smeared Krishna's limbs with soft Narayana-oil, and then lovingly massaged  His body. Another servant, named Sugandha, massaged Krishna's limbs with a yellow, ever-cool unguent which is even softer than a pile of butter. While he gently massaged Krishna, Sugandha was overwhelmed with affection. (8-11)

Two servants, named Snigdha and Karpura, affectionately arranged Krishna's hair with soft, cool and fragrant Amalaki-paste. Raktaka bathed Krishna's naturally cool and shining limbs with cold water; handed to him by Payoda, and then dried Him of with a fine towel. Different servants then showered their Lord Krishna with lukewarm scented water brought in golden pots. They were very happy when the water poured out of the pots. Patri dried off Krishna's beautiful limbs with soft thin towels and rubbed the water out of His hair. Then he dressed Krishna in His shining golden dhoti. Krishna sat upon the cleansed dais and a servant named Kumuda scented His hair with aguru-smoke, combed His hair and made a braid in it with a string. A dressing servant named Makaranda made a tilak of gorocana, named Tamala-patra (leaf of a Tamal tree) and filled up the space in between with musk. Then he smeared Krishna's limbs with catuh sama (vermilion, musk, sandal and aguru). (12-17)

A servant named Premakanda hung golden bangles named Cankana on Krishna's beautiful wrists, Capricorn earrings on His ears, ankle bells, whose jingling defeated the cooing of swans, on His feet, and a jeweled necklace shining like the stars around His neck. (18)

Mother Yasoda walked hither and thither, overwhelmed with love for Krishna, encouraging her servants, and working herself also. (19)

Then Shrimad Balarama and Shri Madhumangala, freshly bathed, anointed and ornamented, joined Krishna, who shone in their midst. Mother took them to the dining table, which was rinsed and covered by a sheet, surrounded by golden pots and clean chairs, where nice incense was burning. When Krishna sat at the table, Shridama and Subala sat at His left, Madhumangala faced Him and Shri Balarama and others sat on His right. When they thus sat down, mother Yasoda served Krishna and all others a drink which was brought in by Citra-devi in golden pots. Being called by Yasoda, all the gopis joyfully handed her the breakfast sweets that each of them had cooked. Ranga devi handed Yasoda the laddus that Radha had brought from Her home. Radhika Herself gave her a wink to give Yasoda these Ganga jala laddus. Melting with affection, Yasoda accepted these laddus and placed them on separate golden trays, distributing them to Balarama and the other boys. (20-26)

While enjoying the rice cooked in ghee, Krishna joked with His friends and looked at Radha's face from the corner of His eye. The sakhis were very happy to see Him like this. (27)

Yasoda lifted her index finger at Krishna, warning Him to eat by saying: "This is very nice, eat this! This is very sweet, this is pleasant and this tastes good!" Hari laughed and repeatedly gave each of His friends their own favorite dish from His own plate, knowing what they liked. (28-29)

Seeing Acyuta's weak appetite and His mother's efforts to make Him eat, Madhumangala, the expert joker; told Vrajesvari: "If Krishna does not eat much, then give everything to me, 0 mother! I will nourish Him simply by embracing Him! Thus He will also become strong! Because there is something wrong with His digestive fire, Krishna cannot eat dishes cooked in ghee, so, mother; just give Him some light rice and vegetables!" (30-32)

Then Krishna laughed, took five to six handfuls of food grains from His own plate and put it on Madhumangala's plate, saying: "Eat this!" (33)

Madhumangala, sitting on Krishna's left, slapped his left armpit. Commencing his full meal, he said: "O friend! I'm eating!" and took two handfuls of food. Then he told Yasoda: "Mother; give me some yoghurt! "He said to the boys: "Look! This naughty monkey is dancing, hoping to get some yoghurt or cooked rice!" The boys all looked where Madhumangala was pointing at, and meanwhile Madhumangala put all his own food on their plates. Then he proudly announced: "I have eaten everything!" (34-36)

Seeing mother Yasoda coming with a plate of yoghurt, he told her: "Look mother! I have eaten yoghurt, now just quickly give me a lot of sweet rice!" (37)

Rohini quickly served them sweet rice which was prepared by Radha and kept cool by Her by fanning it softly with a fresh banana leaf; from golden plates. Then Rohini gradually served the best rice, which was handed to Her by Radha Herself and which was kept on golden trays by maidservants like Vimala. She served one dish after the other; up to the amla. Each dish was handed to her by Gandharvika (Shri Radhika). Rohini served soft white rotis cooked with thoroughly ground wheat and sprinkled with ghee on different plates. (38-41)

On separate plates Dhanistha brought savouries and other dishes prepared by Lalita, and Yasoda served them with great loving joy (42)

Seeing the moonlike face and the very sweet soft luster of their heart's lover; Shri Radha and Her friends, who were auspiciousness personified for Krishna's abode, became very happy, filled with deep emotions. (43)

After eating these four kinds of sweet nectarean dishes (licked, chewed, drunk and sucked) with gusto, Madhumangala and his friends made Krishna laugh with their jokes. Insatiably, some boys chewed their chewable food, licked their lickable food, drank their drinks and sucked their suckable food (44-45)

As He secretly fixed His honeybee eyes on Radhika's lotuslike face, lotus eyed Krishna gave great joy to His mother; who saw Him slowly eating all the dishes that were as sweet as nectar by the touch of Radha's hands. (46)

Shri Radha was satisfied by looking at Her beloved's nectarean beauty. Hiding Her own mood (feelings) She attracted His mind with the glances from the corners of Her restless eyes. (47)

Shri Krishna, the king of lovers, looked at Radha's restless dancing wagtail bird-like eyes and lost His appetite, even when Balarama's mother served Him soft sweet rice with her own hands. (48)

Mother Yasoda became upset when she saw that Krishna ate so little, and left a third part of His meal uneaten, so she said: "0 Son! All these dishes have been prepared with great care, why are You refusing them? I swear on my head! Eat a little more, You are hungry! I diligently brought King Vrsabhanu's daughter here to cook for You, and everything was cooked by Her! Though all these dishes are billions of times sweeter than nectar; You will not eat! Alas! Alas! What shall I do? This is killing me!" Then she told Rohini:" Look, Rohini! Although this whimsical, weak boy is hungry, He will not eat!" (49-52)

Then Balarama’s mother Rohini, whose body was filled with motherly love, fondled Krishna and said: "Boy, Radha, who is more tender than a jasmine-flower; and myself have prepared these sweets with great care! Why are You making Her; Your mother; and myself sad by not eating? Look! Your mother is distressed by thinking that You will be tired of roaming in the forest! I beg You, Heed my words and eat something!" (53-55)

Krishna replied: "I have eaten so much", but then He began to eat profusely to hide His ecstatic transformations (from seeing Shri Radhika, and hearing Her name. In this way He gave great joy to His mothers. (56)

Mother Yasoda, asking Krishna to eat all the sweets, showed them with her fingers, repeatedly saying: "Boy! This is very sweet, that is very sweet". Her eyes filled with tears and being determined to fill up Krishna's belly, she told Him: "Eat!" (57)

Repeatedly and untiringly Yasoda encouraged her son to eat the samosas. Cooked Mangoes, Sikharini, lemonade, milk, Amiksa, curries, yoghurt, fruits and many varieties of cakes and pies, while her dress was moistened by her breast milk flowing out of parental love, and her loving tears. (58)

After eating all these sweet drinkable, chewable and lickable soft sweets, all the boys were satisfied and they became eager to go out to the forest. They washed their mouths, washed their lotuslike hands with scented clay and brushed their teeth with soft toothpicks. Then they washed their mouths with water brought in golden pots by the servants. (59-60)

A servant named Jambula massaged Krishna's belly with his left hand to stimulate His digestion and he served cool and splendid khadir-powder with cardamom, cloves and camphor to make a pleasant flavour in His mouth. (61)

Krishna took a fresh pan leaf from His eager servant Rasala and took another hundred steps to lie down on His huge bed, where His servants started fanning Him with a peacock feather fan. The servant Vilasaka served his dear Lord more soft betel leaves. (62-63)

Shri Radha left the kitchen, washed Her hands and feet and entered another room where She was fanned by Her maidservants while She gazed at Her Beloved through the window with Her girlfriends. When She began to perspire of ecstasy mother Yasoda thought it was from Her fatigue of cooking, so she ordered Rohini to bring Radha some food from the house while she personally sat next to Her. Dhanistha secretly mixed some remnants of Han's meal cooked in ghee with the rice-in-ghee brought from the house by Rohini, and gave it to Radha and Her friends. Seeing that Radhika shyly covered Her face with Her veil, not eating anything, Krishna's mother; who was melting of affection, told Her: "Mother! Think of me as Your mother! Why are You so shy? I love You as much as I love my son! I worship You! When I see You eating You cool off my eyes! Eat while I watch You personally!" (64-68)

Then she told Radhika's girlfriends: "0 Girls! You are also all my daughters! Why are you shy? Eat something!" Speaking such affectionate words to Lalita and her friends, Yasoda took hundreds of oaths to make them eat her sweetmeats. (69)

Her heart eager with desires to marry her son, filled with affection, Yasoda carefully placed many suitable ornaments (for this) in nice baskets at her home, as if Radha was her own daughter-in-law. Dhanistha brought these baskets to Shri Radha along with betel leaves, sandalpaste, vermilion and new clothes. Queen Yasoda was very happy to see Radhika surrounded by Her girlfriends, as if She was her own daughter-in-law. (70-71)

Visakha brought Krishna's yellow dhoti of last night from Radha and gave it to Subala through Dhanistha. Subala in return gave Radha's blue cloth to Dhanistha. (72)

The servants, who were expert in their service, decorated their Lord with oils, scents, garlands, clothes and ornaments, their limbs blooming with affection. They put tilaka on Krishna's forehead with their fingers, smeared His limbs with musk and sandal paste, drew pictures on His body with mineral pigments, dressed Him in fresh clothes, put a peacock feather crown on His head, hung His rings and earrings, His gunja necklace, jewel necklace, medal, Kaustubha-jewel, Vaijayanti flower garland, armlets, bracelets and ankle bells on, and they hung a necklace of big pearls on His chest, which only reflects Gandharvika’s (Radhika's) image in them. On the left side of Krishna's sash they tucked His horn and on the right side His Murali-flute, which was studded with wonderful jewels. They placed His Lagudi-reed in His left hand and His play lotus, which lotus-eyed Krishna playfully twirled around, in His right hand. (73-76)

Krishna then met His cowherd friends, who also all had flutes, horns and sticks, and who smiled, dressed and enjoyed just like Him. Surrounded by them, lotus-eyed Krishna left His home for the forest, churning the minds of the fawn-eyed gopis. (77)

In the poem Govinda Lilamrta, which was the result of service to Shri Rupa Gosvami, who is a honeybee at the lotusfeet of Shri Chaitanya, the encouragement of Shri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, the association of Shri Jiva Gosvami and the blessings of Shri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, this was the fourth chapter; filled with descriptions of Krishna's breakfast-pastimes.