Fourth Prank – The Meeting of Krishna Disguised as a Female Singer<\/p>\n
One day, Radha was in deep mana . Although Krishna brought Her many gifts, praised Her and tried to pacify Her in every way possible, nothing He did had any effect. <\/p>\n
At last He went to see Kundalata , to consult with her privately about what to do.<\/p>\n
After discussing the situation with Kundalata, He disguised Himself as a beautiful young girl.
\nHe donned young girl\u2019s clothing and jewellery, and assumed a voice so sweet and enchanting that it put the melodious song of the cuckoo bird to shame. <\/p>\n
In this way, He went with Kundalata to the house of Jatila, His jewelled ankle-bells tinkling softly as He walked.<\/p>\n
When they arrived, Radha was in the company of Her sakhis. <\/p>\n
As soon as the smiling deer-eyed Radharani spotted from afar such an uncommonly attractive, beautiful young girl accompanying Kundalata, Her mind became most mystified and charmed with fascination. <\/p>\n
When all of Her other girlfriends beheld the rarely seen, super-excellent astonishing beauty of the girl, they also become stunned with sheer amazement. <\/p>\n
Smiling, Radha addressed Kundalata:
\n\u201cCome, come Kundalata and tell us right now why you are paying us a surprise visit today.
\nAnd who is this beautiful young woman with you?
\nWhere does She come from, and what is Her name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n“O Radha, Her name is Kalavali.
\nHaving heard of Your name, fame and qualities, She has come from Mathura to meet You.
\nHer expertise in singing surpasses that of even Indra\u2019s guru, Brihaspati.
\nWhat more can I say?
\nYou will only understand what I mean if You hear Her sing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radha:
\nMy friend, Kundalata, from whom has Kalavali learned such skill?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cFrom Brihaspati himself.\u201d <\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cAnd how did She get the chance to meet him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n“Once, Brihaspati came down from the heavenly planets to attend the sacrificial assembly of Angirasa Muni and other brahmanas in Mathura.
\nAt that time, he stayed in Mathura for one month, being received and honored with great respect by all the citizens.
\nDuring that stay, he once sang a celestial song in the midst of the sacrificial assembly.
\nMy dear friend Radhe!
\nThis\u2028most intelligent girl heard that difficult song and instantly memorized it.
\nThe next day, she sang that very same celestial\u2028song in a solitary place, exactly duplicating it note-for-note.\u2028
\nThe guru of the immortals Brhaspati heard her repeating that song and became most astonished.
\nHe addressed a Mathura brahmana,
\n“My dear brahmana! Who is that girl that is singing my song? Although she is a resident of the mortal world, she heard a very difficult celestial song once from my mouth and instantly memorized it. Please bring her before me immediately!”<\/p>\n
Kundalata continued:
\n“On Brihaspati\u2019s order, the brahmana brought Kalavali before him.
\nBrihaspati said:
\n“Most intelligent of young girls, your genius is matchless and Your voice defeats the cooing of cuckoos.
\nHow wonderful!
\nI will therefore instruct You in the topmost knowledge of the Gandharvas.
\nSuch a fine intelligence and sweet voice cannot be found in the realm of human beings, or even Kinnaras .”
\nSo Brihaspati instructed this girl for the duration of his month\u2019s stay in Mathura.
\nThen he took Her with him when he returned to the heavenly planets and taught Her there for yet another year.
\nShe returned to the Earth planet at the end of the month of Asvina , and came to Mathura only yesterday.
\n“Now, today at dusk, She has come before You here in Vraja.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radha:
\n“My dear Kalavali! Please sing a song for Me!” <\/p>\n
Kalavali:
\n\u201cO Vrindavanesvari , which raga would You like to hear Me sing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201c”Malava raga is proper to be sung at this time of the evening.” <\/p>\n
Kalavali:
\n\u201cSumukhi , in which melody should I sing?\u201d <\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cPlease sing in sadaja .\u201d<\/p>\n
Kalavali:
\n\u201cIn which of the four different srutis of that melody will I sing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cO beautiful one, if one has a bodily disorder in which the kapha or vata in the throat is out of balance, it is not possible to sing purely.
\nIn the same way, it is not possible to sing pure notes without the backing of a vina .
\nNonetheless, I would like to hear You sing a sweet song full of the various attributes of music such as raga , tala , svara , gamaka , jati , tana and grama .\u201d<\/p>\n
Kalavali:
\n“Radha, who in this universe is as expert in music and song as You are?
\nI can only sing simple melodies.
\nPlease listen.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saying this, Kalavali began to sing:
\n\u201cTa na na na ta na na ri,\u201d
\nin such a beautiful voice that She put to shame both the peacocks and the bumblebees.<\/p>\n
When Radha\u2019s dear sakhis heard Kalavali\u2019s sweet singing, rivers of tears flowed from their eyes. <\/p>\n
As the song progressed, their rapture and enchantment became such that their tears even stopped flowing. <\/p>\n
Then, at the song\u2019s completion, those tears pattered to the ground like a shower of small stones.<\/p>\n
Radha\u2019s heart had become as hard as a diamond because of Her mana, but now it was melting, and this surprised Her. <\/p>\n
Radha, enchanted by the music, said:
\n“Oh Kalavali!
\nYour fascinating song simply belittles the nectar\u2028of the gods!
\nOh Kalavali!
\nI have become completely enchanted by your unique qualities!
\nI now cherish a great desire within My mind: I fancy that a girl as talented as you should always\u2028live by My side!
\nBy that, then only will My birth become successful!
\nOh most qualified Kalavali!
\nOnly Sri Nanda-nandana is capable of understanding the glories of your talent.
\nDear girlfriend!
\nIf He were to hear your singing, then He would indeed wear you around His neck, accepting you to be a permanent necklace!” <\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cRadha, among women, Kalavali is the very epitome of virtue, so do not speak to Her like this.
\nYou should personally embrace Her; don\u2019t do anything else.\u201d <\/p>\n
Radha then stepped forward to embrace Kalavali and to present Her with a precious necklace, but Lalita whispered in Sri Radha\u2019s ear:<\/p>\n
“Radhe! Who are You just about to embrace?
\nThis must be Your wicked lover, that rogue has come in the disguise of a woman!” <\/p>\n
Radha replied outloud:
\n\u201cMy dear friend Lalita, you give supremely valuable advices.
\nIndeed, after careful consideration you are speaking the truth.
\nI was going to express My appreciation by simply presenting Her with a necklace, but that would not show Her proper respect.
\nI shall therefore present Her with all sorts of jewelled ornaments and fine garments.\u201d <\/p>\n
Radha then turned to Rupa-manjari and said:
\n\u201cO Rupa-manjari, carefully dress Kalavali right before Me in a bright new outfit of many colours.
\nTake off Her old bodice, and quickly cover Her raised breasts with a new one.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kundalata promptly spoke up:
\n\u201cBeautiful-faced Radha, please do not take off this beautiful young girl\u2019s clothes, for She will feel shy and embarrassed in front of You.
\nJust present Her with whatever You want to give Her, and let Her take it home to try on there.\u201d <\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cSakhi Kalavali, everyone knows that women never feel bashful or fearful when there are only other women around.
\nTell Me, are You not creating the thorny obstacle of shyness on this very happy occasion?\u201d <\/p>\n
Kalavali:
\n“Oh Radhe!
\nI will not accept a single necklace, cloth or ornament from You.
\nOh simple, innocent girl!
\nAm I not the daughter of a well-to-do singer?
\nIf You really are pleased with me, then just step close and give me a warm hug, and I will be satisfied with that.
\nI tell You truly that other than a loving embrace, I have no hankering at all for any type of riches.” <\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cOh, sakhi, why are You so contrary?
\nWhy do You refuse My offer?
\nPlease put on these fine garments and jewelled ornaments. If You do not comply willingly, I will dress You Myself by force. Look, You are alone, and I have hundreds of sakhis with Me.
\nSilly girl, I warn You not to act so independently before Me.
\nI am telling You, just be careful!\u201d<\/p>\n
Having said this, Radha ordered the sakhis to change Kalavali’s dress.
\nHearing this order, two Sakhis immediately stepped forward and untied the back and shoulder-knots that held on the bodice worn by the Kalavali-disguised Krishna.
\nThe very second it was loosened, two very large kadamba flowers suddenly popped out and fell from Krishna’s chest onto the floor. <\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cAha! What has fallen out of Her bodice?!\u201d <\/p>\n
Rupa-manjari and all the other maidservants clapped their hands with glee, and then shyly covered their laughing moon-like faces with their veils. <\/p>\n
Vrishabhanu-nandini Sri Radha turned Her back on Krishna and sat down.<\/p>\n
When the sakhis saw what Krishna had done, they tried to suppress their mirth by holding their veils over their mouths.
\nUnable to control themselves, however, they burst into loud peals of laughter. <\/p>\n
Without uttering a word, Radha also joined in, and at last, so did Krishna and Kundalata.<\/p>\n
Thus, within that very room, the hasya-rasa became obviously present in personified form, and verily attained the post as the most luscious object of taste for what seems like hours and hours.
\nThe sakhis began to address the two kadamba flowers, saying:<\/p>\n
\u201cO great big kadamba flowers, of everyone on the face of this Earth it is you who are truly blessed.
\nYou are not usually duplicitous, but you have become so by your association with this cunning person.
\nAs flowers of a tree, you know no cunning. But now that you are in the hands of this cheater, you are showing such shamelessness that you have assumed the form of a young girl\u2019s breasts.
\nWe are all drowning in an ocean of the nectar of laughter because of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sakhis asked Kundalata:
\n\u201cOh, Kundalata, where has your companion Bashfulness gone now?\u201d <\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cBashfulness and Kundalata have both drowned in the depths of the water of Patala-loka .
\nYou cannot see them now.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lalita:
\n \u201cIf Kundalata and her sakhi named Bashfulness have drowned and passed away, then who are you?\u201d <\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cOh, I am only her shadow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lalita:
\n\u201cIf you have departed, then how is it that I am now seeing your shadow?” <\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cI have nothing to say,
\nMay the goddess of speech dance upon your tongue.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lalita:
\n\u201cKundalata, your love for Brihaspati\u2019s disciple and your good association with Her has been increasing steadily since your childhood.
\nThere is no trace of a false statement on your tongue.
\nYour glories are heard again and again throughout Vraja, and it is proclaimed that you instruct chaste girls in their own righteous activities.
\nThus you perform great deeds on behalf of Kamadeva.
\nUnfortunately, your desire was not fulfilled today, and consequently you have to tolerate great pain.
\nSakhi Kundalata, how supremely intelligent you are.
\nToday you proudly came to our assembly from far away and have with great endeavour tried to sell this knowledge you received from your guru.
\nBut alas, you have not been able to sell your knowledge, and instead you have quickly become a laughing stock.
\nMaybe you came at an inauspicious time.\u201d <\/p>\n
Krishna:
\n\u201cLalita, I can easily sell this knowledge in the market place of the sakhis and fulfil My desires.
\nNow give Me that bodice, or I will dress you up in it.\u201d <\/p>\n
When Lalita heard this, she said:
\n“Can dried-up flowers ever bud into fresh sprouts?
\nWhen the life has left someones’s body, can any endeavor on the part of others bring it back again?
\nWill anyone continue to worship a proud and arrogant person even after the real truth about his nature is exposed?
\nDear Lord!
\nThere’s absolutely no necessity of you displaying any more of your mischievous tricks of mind-boggling ingenuity; now you are free to go.” <\/p>\n
At this, Sri Krishna picked up the two kadamba flowers from the floor and left.
\nReplacing the flowers in his bodice as false breasts again, he then went boldly into Jatila’s quarters .<\/p>\n
Coming before Jatila, he begun rolling on the ground and cried out loudly, lamenting piteously in a very mournful voice. <\/p>\n
Seeing all this, Jatila became very touched with sorrow. Coming forward, she asked:
\n\u201cWho are You, my daughter?
\nWhere have You come from?
\nWhy are You crying?
\nHas someone harmed You?
\nWipe the tears from Your lotus-face and tell me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trembling, Kalavali told Her sad story in a faltering voice.
\n\u201cO noble lady.
\nAlas, alas, how unfortunate I am!
\nFie upon My body.
\nFie upon My very birth.
\nHundreds upon hundreds of curses have fallen upon My head.<\/p>\n
Exclaiming all this, Kalavali then simply lied there on the ground before old Jatila and begun to shiver and tremble. <\/p>\n
Then, with half-broken syllables she spoke faintly:
\n\u201cI reside in King Vrishabhanu\u2019s town, and I am the daughter of Kirtida\u2019s sister .
\nI have had a close, loving relationship with Radha since My childhood.
\nI came from My home, eagerly looking forward to meeting Her again after a long time.
\nAlas!
\nRadha will not so much as glance My way, what to speak of embrace Me with love and affection.
\nWhen She saw Me, She would not smile sweetly at Me, not even once.
\nNor was She attentive to even once inquiring about My well-being.
\nWhat is the use of My staying alive?
\nI shall give up My life right now before you.
\nNoble lady, please try to recall whether you know of any offence I have committed against Radha.
\nAnd please ask Her again and again why She is angry with Me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jatila’s heart immediately became softened and melted just to hear such pitiful exclamations and sorrowful lamentations of Kalavali.
\nThe old woman felt very sad and spoke sweetly:<\/p>\n
\u201cO daughter, calm down and do not be afraid.
\nYou have not committed any offence. I am going to settle this right now.
\nI will arrange that Radha soon gives You all Her love and affection. I will see to it that She embraces You and talks to You.
\nAnd what is more, this very night You will both rest together on the same bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saying this, Jatila took Kalavali along and quickly went to the palatial quarters of her daughter-in-law Radhika. <\/p>\n
Seeing all the girls present before her, Jatila begun to admonish them in a slightly raised voice.<\/p>\n
She said to Lalita:
\n\u201cLalita, why is my daughter-in-law in such a contrary mood today?
\nHer own cousin-sister has come from Her father\u2019s town, eager to see Her, but She is neglecting Her.
\nWhy will She not speak kindly to Her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jatila then addressed Radha:
\n\u201cO Sucarita , O my daughter, You are full of good qualities.
\nMy dear daughter-in-law, just look.
\nThis unhappy girl\u2019s clothes are wet from Her tears.
\nMy heart is filled with deep compassion for Her.
\nRemove the pain from Her heart: embrace Her properly, ask Her about Her well-being, and speak to Her affectionately.
\nMake Her happy as She was before, and then I will also be satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cMother-in-law, I shall certainly follow your instructions, so please return to your quarters and rest happily.
\nIt does not befit you to become involved in the petty quarrels of young girls.
\nAll young sakhis are the same; their age is small and so is their intelligence.
\nThey swing between quarrel and mutual affection from one moment to the next.
\nYour intelligence, on the other hand, is unsurpassed, and you are highly authoritative.
\nIs it appropriate for you to become involved in these childish quarrels?\u201d <\/p>\n
But Jatila said in a strong voice:
\n“Daughter-in-law!
\nStand up right now!
\nDon’t you dare say anything more!
\nI gave my word to this girl!
\nNow You step forward and embrace Your girl-cousin right now!
\nThen You should eat Your evening meal together and then sleep together on the same bed!
\nI am Your superior, so You are in no position to transgress my order!” <\/p>\n
Radha:
\n\u201cO mother-in-law, you have instructed Me with firmness and seriousness. But before I obey your order, please hear one thing.
\nThis girl has spoken harshly to Kundalata, and that is why I feel so indignant that I do not even want to look at Her.
\nIf She makes up with Kundalata, then I will also be satisfied and I will certainly do as you have told Me.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cO noble lady, your daughter-in-law is lying.
\nKalavali has not spoken harshly to me, and I do not feel angry towards Her at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radha boldly said to Kundalata:
\n\u201cHow can you lie in front of My mother-in-law?
\nIf you are not angry with Kalavali, and if you are really happy with Her, then embrace Her now for us all to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Upon hearing Radha\u2019s words, Kundalata fell silent. <\/p>\n
When doe-eyed Radha saw this, She immediately spoke the following clever words:
\n\u201cMother-in-law, you please decide which of us is lying and then reproach that one.
\nSurely if Kundalata is not delighted to embrace this pretty young girl, there must be something wrong.
\nShe must be angry with Her.
\nWho could doubt that?\u201d <\/p>\n
Jatila:
\n\u201cMy daughter-in-law is speaking the truth.
\nKundalata, why don\u2019t you forgive Kalavali and be pleased with Her?
\nOh, Kundalata, I will do whatever it takes to make you happy with Kalavali.
\nNow listen to me.
\nI am your worshipable superior, but I am begging you with folded hands to embrace this girl before my eyes.
\nDo not say another word.
\nAah!
\nFor this end I take an oath upon my head!\u201d <\/p>\n
Lalita:
\n“O Kundalata, are you not afraid of this good woman\u2019s oath?
\nJust see!
\nWhat kind of intelligence do you have? Just embrace Kalavali right now.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saying this, all the girls plus Jatila combined together and forcibly made Krishna and Kundalata embrace. <\/p>\n
At that time, all the girls felt an unending explosion of the joking-mellow within their consciousness.
\nJust as if old Jatila\u2028was not present, they all begin to laugh and laugh uncontrollably.
\nTrying hard to keep from making any sound, they all cover their faces with their veils; but still, they all bend forward and stooped down again and again, becoming absolutely doubled-up in the greatest bliss.
\nAs it was, they just covered their faces with their veils and drowned in silent blissful laughter. <\/p>\n
Afterwards, Jatila addresses her own daughter-in-law saying:
\n\u201cDaughter-in-law, now You should speak lovingly with Your sister and warmly embrace Her.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jatila suddenly caught Krishna with one hand and Radha with the other and drew Them together in the snare of a tight embrace. <\/p>\n
Seeing Radha and Krishna crying, Jatila said:
\n\u201cO sisters, I see that You are crying from the bliss of Your embrace.
\nNow share Your mutual happiness by using Your cloth to wipe away each others\u2019 tears.
\nAfter that, go and happily enjoy a meal together, and then very affectionately spend the night with each other.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saying this, the old woman Jatila left for her own quarters to retire for the night. <\/p>\n
As soon as she left, Krishna addressed all the girlfriends with the greatest proud arrogance:
\n\u201cLook, sakhis, you thought that this knowledge of Mine was contemptible, but I have quickly sold it and thus attained the result I desired: victory over you all .\u201d<\/p>\n
Lalita:
\n\u201cO king of all gallants, You have indeed achieved Your desired result by enjoying Kundalata, who is your own sister-in-law, and thus You have gained the greatest victory.
\nNow that the rules of social conduct are broken, why keep Kundalata only half-enjoyed?
\nWhy not fulfil all her inner desires?\u201d <\/p>\n
Kundalata:
\n\u201cLalita, cannot a brother embrace his sister with a pure heart, or a father his daughter?
\nYour whole body is burning from head to toe with intense amorous desire, so you think that everyone else in the world burns with that same desire.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saying this, Kundalata left the room, as if full of anger. All the sakhis followed her to try to pacify her. <\/p>\n
The only one left inside was the flower-archer Cupid, who engaged in protecting the youthful Couple, Radha-Krishna.<\/p>\n
From outside, Radha\u2019s dear sakhis peeped in through the patterned, latticed windows and inhaled the beautiful fragrance of the amorous pastimes of Madhusudana Sri Krishna.
\nHe Himself was intoxicated by drinking the honey of Radha\u2019s frowning lotus-face, which was decorated with arched eyebrows.
\nThe sakhis felt themselves falling deeper and deeper into the waves of an ocean of bliss.<\/p>\n
Thus end the fourth prank of Sri Camatkara Candrika entitled “The meeting of Sri Krishna disguised as a female singer”.<\/p>\n
Also so ends the wonderful book written by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.<\/p>\n
\u2003<\/p>\n
Visit our bookstore:<\/p>\n
www.KadachaEditions.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fourth Prank – The Meeting of Krishna Disguised as a Female Singer One day, Radha was in deep mana . Although Krishna brought Her many gifts, praised Her and tried to pacify Her in every way … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,138],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english","category-area9"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-17 01:02:58","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33999\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}