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| The Eightfold Daily Pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krishna |
The eightfold daily pastimes of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna have been described in a summary form in the verses of
Rupa Gosvami's "Sri Radha-Krishnayoh Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana-mangala Stotram" ("The Auspicious Hymn of the
Eight-fold Daily Pastimes of Radha and Krishna"). The verses are as follows:
Summary of the Daily Pastimes
"May Sri Krishna, who daily returns from the kunjas (forest groves) to the meadows at the end of the night, who
milks the cows in the morning and evening, and who eats then also, who plays with Sri Radhika and Her
girlfriends at noon and at night, who returns to His village in the afternoon and who pleases His well-wishers in
the evening, protect us!"
Nisanta-lila - Dawn Pastimes (3.36 - 6.00)
"I remember Radha and Krishna at night's end as They are awakened by various sounds of the parrots that are
sent by Vrinda-devi and that cause Them to rise from Their pleasure-bed by reciting different pleasant and
unpleasant poems to them. They are joyfully witnessed by Their girlfriends as they are tired of lovemaking and
they become afraid of the words of the old she-monkey Kakkhati, so They leave for Their individual homes,
although They are still thirsty for more love, and go to bed."
Pratah-lila - Morning Pastimes (6.00-8.24)
"I take shelter of Sri Radha, who is sent for by the Queen of Vraja to cook for Krishna after bathing and
ornamenting Herself with Her girlfriends. After cooking for Krishna in His abode She eats the remnants of His food.
I also take shelter of Sri Krishna, who, after awakening, goes to the barn to milk His cows and is then bathed and
fed along with His friends."
Purvahna-lila - Forenoon Pastimes (8.24-10.48)
"I remember Sri Krishna in the forenoon, who goes into the forest with His cows and His friends, being followed
by the people of Vraja. Later in the morning He goes out to the bank of Radhakunda, eager to meet Sri Radha. I
also remember Sri Radha, who is being engaged by Her elder Jatila to go out for worshiping the Sungod. Being
eager to hear something about Krishna, She sends out Her friends to look for Him. She remains casting Her eyes
down the road, hoping that Her friends will return with news from Him."
Madhyahna-lila - Midday Pastimes (10.48-15.36)
"I remember Radha and Krishna at midday, full of desire, being served by Their attendants, enchanted by various
ornament-like physical transformations of ecstasy arising out of meeting Each other, being anxious out of shyness
and eagerness. Being pleased with the joking words of Lalita and other girl-friends, They perform a sacrifice for
Cupid, swing, tour the forest, play in the waters of Radhakunda, quarrel over Krishna's stolen flute, make love,
drink honey wine, worship the Sungod and play other sports."
Aparahna-lila - Afternoon Pastimes (15.36-18.00)
"I remember Sri Radha in the afternoon, cooking different dishes for Her lover after returning home, bathing and
dressing nicely and being filled with joy from seeing Her lover's lotus-like face. I also remember Sri Krishna in the
afternoon, returning home, followed by His cows and His friends, being satisfied when He sees Sri Radha and
being fondled by His mother when He meets His parents."
Sayahna-lila - Evening Pastimes (18.00-20.24)
"I remember Sri Radha in the evening, sending many eatables to Her lover's house through Her friend and then
eating the remnants of the moon of Vraja's (Krishna's) food, that was brought to Her by a girlfriend. I also
remember Sri Krishna in the evening, being nicely bathed, beautifully dressed and fondled by His mother, then
going to the barn to milk some cows and returning home again to eat something."
Pradosa-lila - Pastimes at Nightfall (20.24-22.48)
"I remember Sri Radha at nightfall, being dressed by Her girlfriends in white or dark clothes according to the lunar
fortnight, going out to meet Krishna with Her messengers in the desire-tree grove in Vrindavana, on Vrinda's
indication. I also remember Sri Krishna, who witnesses artful games in the assembly of cowherds at that time,
and is then carefully taken to His bedroom by His affectionate mother, from where He goes to the solitary grove
to meet Radhika."
Nakta-lila - Nocturnal Pastimes (22.48-3.36)
"I remember Radha and Krishna at night, having obtained each other's company and being worshipped by Vrinda
with many paraphernalia, enjoying joking riddles, nice talks, plays and Rasa and Lasya-dances along with their
most beloved girlfriends. They contemplate lovemaking and drink honeywine, being masters in different kinds of
erotic joy in the nikunja, which increases Their joy."
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Rupa Gosvami's "Sri Radha-Krishnayoh Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana-mangala Stotram" ("The Auspicious Hymn of the
Eight-fold Daily Pastimes of Radha and Krishna"). The verses are as follows:
Summary of the Daily Pastimes
"May Sri Krishna, who daily returns from the kunjas (forest groves) to the meadows at the end of the night, who
milks the cows in the morning and evening, and who eats then also, who plays with Sri Radhika and Her
girlfriends at noon and at night, who returns to His village in the afternoon and who pleases His well-wishers in
the evening, protect us!"
Nisanta-lila - Dawn Pastimes (3.36 - 6.00)
"I remember Radha and Krishna at night's end as They are awakened by various sounds of the parrots that are
sent by Vrinda-devi and that cause Them to rise from Their pleasure-bed by reciting different pleasant and
unpleasant poems to them. They are joyfully witnessed by Their girlfriends as they are tired of lovemaking and
they become afraid of the words of the old she-monkey Kakkhati, so They leave for Their individual homes,
although They are still thirsty for more love, and go to bed."
Pratah-lila - Morning Pastimes (6.00-8.24)
"I take shelter of Sri Radha, who is sent for by the Queen of Vraja to cook for Krishna after bathing and
ornamenting Herself with Her girlfriends. After cooking for Krishna in His abode She eats the remnants of His food.
I also take shelter of Sri Krishna, who, after awakening, goes to the barn to milk His cows and is then bathed and
fed along with His friends."
Purvahna-lila - Forenoon Pastimes (8.24-10.48)
"I remember Sri Krishna in the forenoon, who goes into the forest with His cows and His friends, being followed
by the people of Vraja. Later in the morning He goes out to the bank of Radhakunda, eager to meet Sri Radha. I
also remember Sri Radha, who is being engaged by Her elder Jatila to go out for worshiping the Sungod. Being
eager to hear something about Krishna, She sends out Her friends to look for Him. She remains casting Her eyes
down the road, hoping that Her friends will return with news from Him."
Madhyahna-lila - Midday Pastimes (10.48-15.36)
"I remember Radha and Krishna at midday, full of desire, being served by Their attendants, enchanted by various
ornament-like physical transformations of ecstasy arising out of meeting Each other, being anxious out of shyness
and eagerness. Being pleased with the joking words of Lalita and other girl-friends, They perform a sacrifice for
Cupid, swing, tour the forest, play in the waters of Radhakunda, quarrel over Krishna's stolen flute, make love,
drink honey wine, worship the Sungod and play other sports."
Aparahna-lila - Afternoon Pastimes (15.36-18.00)
"I remember Sri Radha in the afternoon, cooking different dishes for Her lover after returning home, bathing and
dressing nicely and being filled with joy from seeing Her lover's lotus-like face. I also remember Sri Krishna in the
afternoon, returning home, followed by His cows and His friends, being satisfied when He sees Sri Radha and
being fondled by His mother when He meets His parents."
Sayahna-lila - Evening Pastimes (18.00-20.24)
"I remember Sri Radha in the evening, sending many eatables to Her lover's house through Her friend and then
eating the remnants of the moon of Vraja's (Krishna's) food, that was brought to Her by a girlfriend. I also
remember Sri Krishna in the evening, being nicely bathed, beautifully dressed and fondled by His mother, then
going to the barn to milk some cows and returning home again to eat something."
Pradosa-lila - Pastimes at Nightfall (20.24-22.48)
"I remember Sri Radha at nightfall, being dressed by Her girlfriends in white or dark clothes according to the lunar
fortnight, going out to meet Krishna with Her messengers in the desire-tree grove in Vrindavana, on Vrinda's
indication. I also remember Sri Krishna, who witnesses artful games in the assembly of cowherds at that time,
and is then carefully taken to His bedroom by His affectionate mother, from where He goes to the solitary grove
to meet Radhika."
Nakta-lila - Nocturnal Pastimes (22.48-3.36)
"I remember Radha and Krishna at night, having obtained each other's company and being worshipped by Vrinda
with many paraphernalia, enjoying joking riddles, nice talks, plays and Rasa and Lasya-dances along with their
most beloved girlfriends. They contemplate lovemaking and drink honeywine, being masters in different kinds of
erotic joy in the nikunja, which increases Their joy."
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