Shri Krishna Leela: How Did the Beloved Radha-Krishna First Meet? // 14/10/2026

Satsang of Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj. Watch the video above to hear it in full.

Complete Discourse

Vrindavaneswari tav padarvindm prema makrand raso purnam haditam madhupte smarta tap mugam nirvai param shital mashryam param shital mashray param sacchidanand ghan Premanand swaroop navni nivraat nikunj mahmmahim param pavan shri Vrindavan dham

O Vrindavaneshvari, your lotus feet are full of the nectar-honey of love. O Madhupati, remembering them, the heat is removed. Supreme cool shelter, supreme sat-chit-ananda, the very form of love and bliss, the most glorious and sacred nikunj of Shri Vrindavan Dham.

The beloved divine couple of Shri Vrindavan Dham, Sarkar, life-worshipped, life-dear Shri Priya-Pritam. To the feet of all the sahachari vrind, the birds, deer, animals, creatures, tree-creepers, Yamuna, Ras Rani, Raj Rani, and all the Braj-vasi parikar: crores of pranams, crores of salutations, crores of namaskars. Today there is a very flavourful discussion. Until now there were Aghasura, Bakasura, Putana, Trinavarta, Vatsasura, and those who came to trouble the Lord, and the Lord gave them the supreme abode out of compassion.

Today is a leela that gives joy to the Lord, in which the supreme giver of rasa, Shri Priyaji, and Shri Lalji have their first meeting. Shri Ladli Ji in Barsana and Shri Lalji Maharaj in Nandgaon had not yet seen each other. The two kunwars had not seen one another; eyes had not met eyes. This supremely flavourful discussion is the divine leela that Rasik Shekhar, the crown of rasiks, Shri Dhruvdas Ji, immersed in the ocean of bliss, saw and sang. Our people taste its rasa. This is the most glorious first-meeting leela of the love-rasa of Priya-Pritam. In it, for the first time, Ladli Ji was seen by Lal Ji, and Lal Ji was seen by Ladli Ji.

Until now, all who came were not worth seeing. They came with the intention of troubling the Lord and killing him. The Lord, out of compassion, gave them the supreme abode. Today's leela makes the Lord overwhelmed and restless with love, in which Shri Lal Ji Maharaj gives the first darshan of our Maharani Ji.

pratham milan vidhi jo u ai jatha buddhi jaisi kachu gai ras vihin ke ye man nahi bhave pahan chit ko samjhave naval neh ras adbhut aah rasikan binu ko samjh tah rasikan hit viv kunwar bhay pragat brajani pratham milan sukh kahat ho jahan lagi buddhi praman

The way this first meeting came to me, I sing it as far as my intellect allows. It does not please minds devoid of rasa; it tries to console a stone heart. The wondrous juice of fresh love: who can understand it without rasiks? For the sake of rasiks, the two kunwars appeared manifest in Braj. I speak of the joy of the first meeting as far as my understanding reaches.

Shri Hit Dhruvdas Ji says: just as Priyaji has shown us this leela, and as it has come into my intellect, I am first singing of the first-meeting leela of Priya-Pritam.

Only one who feels a sense of belonging to Priyaji can take the joy of this. The heart of one who is deeply immersed in worldly sense-pleasures is like stone. When he does satsang for many days, "When one has done satsang for a long time, then all doubts are dispelled," by the grace of the rasiks this feeling of love for Ladli Ji arises. This is the grace of our Mai Shyama Ji, this thasak of love. Then in this rasa he will get the taste. Shri Nand Rai Ji, lord of Braj, and his beloved Shri Lal Ji Maharaj are in the kumar avastha. Shri Vrishabhanu Ji Maharaj and his beloved Ladli are also in the kumar avastha. They are kishor. Kumari, fresh, in the stage of education and initiation: this kumar avastha passes into the state of kishor.

Among them, Priya-Pritam: even the name of Kaam is only a name. Merely by remembering them, the feeling of the kishor avastha and a great surge of love arise. These are our Priya-Pritam. Such is the beauty of Lal Ji. One day Lalita Ji saw that each limb was beautiful and very graceful, that this great one, Lalji, is an ocean of beauty. If Priyaji sees him once, and Lalji sees Priyaji, the limit of beauty, once, that is the intent of the sakhis, to unite Priya-Pritam. Such is the beauty of Lal Ji.

chavi tarang kachu kahe na ja Madan koti lute charan ni chhahi

The waves of his beauty cannot be described. Crores of Madan would be plundered and fall at his feet.

Such a state, such a form, that crores of Kamadevas would fall unconscious at his feet. Such is Lal Ji's beauty.

He is an ocean of beauty. He is so beautiful that, seeing his own form of sweetness in the jewelled pillar, he is enchanted, and says, "I will feed you butter, and you will become my friend." Then that one also offers butter like this, and also speaks, because the reflection in the jewel, exactly as it is, Maiya sees and gazes at. Mana-mohan: his own mind is enchanted. He is this beautiful. Lord, seeing his own form of sweetness, is enchanted. Enchanter of the mind of Mana-mohan, enchanter of the minds of sages, enchanter of the mind of the world, enchanter of the mind of Madan. The sakhi saw and thought: once Priyaji should see this form, and once he should see our Ladli. How beloved is the Ladli, Shri Brishbhanu Dulari, the beautiful young kishori. Wondrous is the form of the kunwar, O Mai. Such is Priyaji's form: beauty is dripping from every pore.

Dhruvdas Ji says: what can be said? If one tongue had the capacity, I could describe it. Even if crores of tongues were on every pore,

koti koti rasna jo rom rom prati hoe

Even if there were crores of tongues on every pore,

the form of Priyaji cannot be measured. It is extremely unfathomable, and the shore of this ocean cannot be found. My intellect is a seashell: how can it contain the boundless form of Priyaji, an ocean of love? Even if each and every pore had crores of tongues, the form still could not be described. Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu says he wishes to describe the form of Swamini Ji.

Look, friend, see the limit of beauty. A Braj maiden is so beautiful that she can outshine the beauty of crores of Lakshmis, astonish them, and leave them stunned.

lakshmi koti vilaksha lakshan leela kishori sat Ram braj mandle madhuram Radha vidhanam param
The leela of the youthful Kishori is wonderful beyond crores of Lakshmis. Sweet and supreme is Radha, in the Braj circle.

The power to astonish crores upon crores of Lakshmis lies in a single Braj maiden, and when such a group of Braj maidens sees the form of Shri Ladli, they bow their necks.

brajno tarun kadamb mukut mani shyama bani
Shyama is the crest jewel of the multitude of Braj's young maidens.

Shyama, the crest jewel of the whole group of Braj maidens, our Shyama. Look, look, the limit of beauty.

brajno tarun kadamb nagri nirakh karat
Gazing at the clever maidens of Braj's youthful multitude.

Or it seems Mahaprabhu is about to describe the form, but he expressed his inability right in the first line. Hit Sajani, who stays close to the form, says:

jo koti kalap lagwe rasna kotik pave to ruchir badnarwind ki shobha kahat nave
Even if one had a crore of kalpas and a crore of tongues, still the beauty of that lovely lotus-face could not be told.

Give some example, someone said. Which beauty of which realm? Heaven, earth, or the netherworld? Listen:

koi kisi lok ki sundari bole devlok bhulok rasatal sun kavi kul mati darie sahaj madhuri ang ang ki kah kaso pathrie
Any beauty of any realm, heaven, earth or the netherworld: hearing it, the minds of poets shrink. The natural sweetness of every limb, to whom could it be told?

This much is only a hint. The One whose majesty, form, qualities and strength are all wondrous and unique, whom the Vedas describe as "neti neti" (not this, not this), that Lord is, like a playful deer, under the control of our Swamini.

Swami Haridas ji Maharaj says: what is this matter? Such a thing was never heard before, nor will it be heard hereafter. The state of this wondrous beauty is unlike any other.

yah kaun baat jo ab aur ab hi aur ab aur pache na suni abhu hoon age hoon na ho hai yah gati adbhut rup ki aur ki aur hai ye dev nari nag nari aur nari te na ho aur ki aur
What is this matter? Never heard before, not now, not later. This wondrous beauty is unlike anything else. Not among goddesses, not among naga women, not among any women is there another like her.

Shri Lalita ji thought: let Lalji see this form of Priyaji once, and let Priyaji see Lalji's form once.

ati sukumari naveen kishori jun ke man let hai chori
The tender, ever-new Kishori steals the hearts of all.

There is no beauty who, on seeing Priyaji, would not be enchanted.

ang ang banik kahi na jai jit chitavat barsat chavi mai ai
The beauty of each limb cannot be told. Wherever she glances, mother, a shower of splendour pours down.

Wherever Priyaji looks, a rain of splendour falls.

In the courtyards of the groves, wherever she sets her foot, it is as if carpets of splendour are laid out. How can anyone describe the glory of Priyaji?

Dhruvdas ji is saying: among the beauties of the world and across countless universes, if one looks, these are the names taken. Rati, the wife of Kamdev; Lakshmi, the beloved of Lord Narayan, known as Rati and Kamla; and some apsaras, like Urvashi, the matchless beauty. So it is said:

rati kamla devangna nari hamari priyaju ke samne padnak ki dut upar bhari inki sundarata nyochhavar hai swamini ji ke ek nak ki kant ke barabar nahi yako rup ye aisa rup hai jo dekhe ai so rupwant hoe jai
Rati, Kamla, the goddesses and women: before our Priyaji, even the lustre of their toenails outweighs them. Their beauty is an offering, not equal to even one nail-gleam of Swamini ji. Her form is such that whoever comes to see it becomes radiant with beauty.

Priyaji, what a form! Whoever worships this form will also become a heap of beauty. They will have a very beautiful nature, a very beautiful disposition and a very beautiful body, and a very beautiful attraction will arise in them. Because Priyaji, who attracts even Krishna, the attractor of all, and brings him under her control, is Shri Lalita ji.

Between Nandgaon and Barsana there is a lake, and also a banyan tree. It is called Sanket Vat. There is a very charming lake whose name is Prem Sarovar. On that beautiful forest land, jasmine, malati and many kinds of creepers, embracing the trees, are in flower, in full bloom.

Lalita ji thought: for bringing these two together, this place will be supremely excellent. She goes near Shri Lalji. Lalji was in Nand Bhavan. She called him by a gesture. He came close, and she described Priyaji's form.

If Lalji cannot have the darshan of Priyaji without the grace of the sakhi, how could any living being have it? When even God needs the sakhi's grace to have Priyaji's darshan, [Lalita ji] described Priyaji's form.

Lalji became restless just on hearing the form. As if the sakhi had awakened the love that was there before. He falls at the sakhi's feet. "How will I get darshan of the form you have described?"

She said: "Our Priya, who is at Prem Sarovar, sometimes comes to play with all of us sakhis. If you want darshan, come. Where will the darshan happen? In Prem Sarovar. Priyaji's darshan happens in Prem Sarovar. Until the heart becomes Prem Sarovar, until the arising of love, no one can see Priyaji."

sandra nand ghan prem murti kishori priti murtimti ras sindhu sar sampad vimla
Kishori is the embodiment of love, the dense cloud of Nand's joy, the very form of affection, the essence of the ocean of rasa, the pure treasure.

Shri Ladli Maharaj is the essence of the ocean of love, very compassionate and playful, the Sarkar who showers all joys. Hearing the words of Lalita sakhi's Kishori ji, great love arose in the heart of Nand Nandan.

How does love arise? By hearing Priyaji's words and repeating Priyaji's name: Radha naam, nectar-essence, sweet and flowing, "Radha, Radha, Radha."

Yesterday a devotee came. They were saying, "For two years I have been listening to satsang, and it felt like the essence of life, so I held on to the Radha naam. Some such worry was in my heart, and that worry was resolved. But there was a bodily problem, for which I had to go for an operation."

"I just called out 'Radha, Radha, Radha,' and they said, 'I don't know, you may or may not believe it. In the operation theatre, I saw Shri Krishna standing there with his flute.' I have no doubt about it, because the glory of the Radha naam is such that Thakur ji follows behind the one who sings the Radha naam. This is a matter written in our rasa scriptures." We said. They had tears in their eyes. They were saying, "Whether anyone believes it or not, what we have come to tell you, we came to tell after praying to Shri Ji."

They pleaded greatly: "Ladli ji, if my true love is in the Radha naam, then let me meet Baba." Within two days such an arrangement was made for them. I only want to tell how immense the grace of the Radha naam is upon us.

Love welled up in the heart of Nand Nandan. The ocean of love is God, and the essence of the ocean of love is Ladli ji, and he became listless. Now, somehow, let the darshan of the form I have heard of happen.

In the mind of the Beloved there arose joy: how can the darshan of the young Kishori come about? Now he began to devise a means. From the day he heard Priyaji's words, he has not liked talking to anyone.

Earlier, playing and laughing no longer feels good to me. There is only one thing: how can I see Kunwar Kishori Ji? The only way to see Kunwar Kishori Ji is to speak to no one and have no ordinary dealings with anyone. Keep the mind detached and indifferent, and constantly contemplate the lotus feet of Priyaji through naam. Now I don't want to talk to anyone at all.

tahi tak ab lage raha kahu so kachu baat na kah
nit uthi barsane tan ja jit sanket saghan ban aa nit prati
Keep your attention fixed on that alone and say nothing to anyone. Every morning, go toward Barsana, to the dense grove of the sanket, every single day.

Now there is only one routine left: go toward Barsana and keep watching. Just sit in that sanket, by the Prem Sarovar.

When will Priyaji come? A sakhi had said she comes to play. One day he made up his mind that he would not leave this place until he had darshan of Priyaji, and he sat hidden in the dense kunj. There was great excitement. Thousands of sakhis were singing, and in the middle was Maharani Ji, of wondrous beauty. Priyaji's lotus face is golden-fair, Gauramgi, and it shines with the radiance of countless lightning bolts and of millions of moons. All the sakhis are reflections of Priyaji. Lal Ji was hidden in the dense kunj, sitting and looking only toward Barsana. When he heard the singing, he stood up and saw, among all the Braj maidens, a faint glimpse of Maharani Ji, of very unique beauty. Shri Swamini Ji looked as if millions of moons had risen together.

Among the young maidens, our Priya Ji, of incomparable beauty and grace, became absorbed. Nandnandan could not see her fully, because the sakhis were moving about and sometimes a sakhi would come in the way. He was very restless to get a full sight of her. Priyaji has a wondrous golden complexion and wears a deep blue sari. Her hair is braided with pearls and with wondrous flowers such as mallika. Her eyes are very large, bright and reddish, lined with kajal, shy, restless and swift.

atishay vishal ujjwal arun anire kajrare salaj netr hai chanchal chapal arun anire agr bhag ban anjan nainan parivaaron kotik khanjan ruchar manohar vakra vilokan surat samar dal ganjan
jaise hit Harivansh kahat bane chavi sukh samudra man ranjan
Very large, bright, reddish, kajal-lined, bashful eyes, restless and swift, with kajal at their corners and a multitude of khanjan birds in their charm. Their lovely, captivating sidelong glances conquer the armies of love. As Hit Harivansh says, this beauty delights the mind like an ocean of joy.

The eyes of Ladli Ji give joy to the mind of the Lord, the ocean of happiness. How can one describe these eyes? The khanjan bird does not fit as an example, and neither does the deer or the musk deer. Her eyes are full of divine consciousness in her love for Priyaji, so they cannot be compared to ordinary khanjan birds or fish.

Very large, bright, reddish, sharp eyes, lined with kajal, very captivating. Priyaji wears a blue sari and a kusumi-coloured blouse. Her beautiful braid is at the stage between childhood and youth. Swamini Ji's wondrous beauty has not yet fully blossomed into womanhood. The sakhis have adorned her hair very beautifully. The hair-mass looks like a hooded serpent resting there, and on top of it is a chandrika. Her hair is parted in the middle, as if a snake with its hood is seized. On her fair forehead is a black bindi of musk, and a beautiful patravali has been done.

Priyaji's form is very beautiful. On the tip of her nose is a lovely pearl called a gulaak, and she wears a besar. Her beauty shames even beauty itself. She smiles gently and looks at the sakhis as she speaks a little. When she smiles, her row of teeth shines wondrously. Her lips are reddish, her tresses fall over her face, and Maharani Ji comes forward smiling gently and moving her eyebrows. This form of Naval Kishori Ji is not something painted or decorated to make her beautiful. She is beautiful by nature.

Subhag Sundari's natural adornment: to speak truly, adornment is put on to conceal the splendour of Shri Ji's body. Dhruvdas Ji has described how adornment conceals beauty and increases rasa. When a young woman is decorated with ornaments, her beauty is enhanced. But ornaments are put on our Maharani Ji to cover her beauty.

sahaj rup sundari pyari jo hai subhag sundari sahaj shringar sahaj shobha sarvang prati sahaj rup vrishabhan Nandini sahjand kadambini sahaj vipinwar udit chandni swabhavic sahaj navan rup lavni
Priyaji is naturally beautiful: Subhag Sundari, with natural adornment and natural splendour in every limb. She is Vrishabhanu Nandini, natural and like a cloud of joy, the best of the grove, like a rising moon. Her natural, ever-new beauty is full of grace.

Her beauty keeps growing, "now and now and now," such a wondrous form. Her sakhis are equally wondrous, the very limit of beauty. Maharaj Ji is describing how wondrous Shri Swamini Ji's sakhis are. They are so beautiful that they would astonish and enchant hundreds of Lakshmis. Now they all reached the sanket vat, and today they asked which game should be played.

Lalita Ji said that today they should play hide-and-seek. Today Ladli Ji would hide, and we would all search for her. Whoever catches her in the search, then Ladli Ji would search for us, and we would all hide. The play began.

Shri Ladli Ji Maharaj went to hide in the very same kunj where Lal Ji Maharaj was sitting. There was an unseen attraction there, because Lal Ji Maharaj was hidden there to have darshan of Shri Ji. Ladli Ji went to hide in that very place, and suddenly her gaze fell on the lotus-eyed one, Arvindaksh, whose form would enchant and stun millions of Kamadevas, the dark-hued Shyamsundar. "Oh, Shyamsundar! Do you think I don't understand?" Gori Priya, like a chakori bird, keeps drinking the nectar of his moon-face.

the the kahat chahat pritam da badan chandra mano tasaddha chakori
Saying "stay, stay," the beloved gazes at her moon-face, as the chakori bird finds its fulfilment.

Suddenly their eyes met. Kunwari, without knowing it, came to where Lal was enchanted. He had already been captivated, seeing her from afar.

The four eyes met as one, as if two souls separated over many births had met for the first time. Lali Ji's first glance fell on Lal Ji, and Lal Ji's first glance fell on Lali Ji. The effect of their eyes meeting was so strong that Lal Ji was startled. Lali Ji drew her blue veil over herself, and all the maidens drew their veils again. The young Lal was steeped in their colour. As soon as Lal Ji's eyes fell on Priya Ji's form, immense love rose in his heart.

piy mano meen paro chavi jala
The Beloved's mind became like a fish caught in the net of her beauty.

Priya Ji's form was like a net, and Lal Ji's mind was like a fish that got caught in it. He had a sight of her for only a moment. Then Pyari Ji drew the blue veil over her face again, and Lal Ji became restless. Just glancing at her beauty, the love in his heart grew so great that Sachchidanand Vapu Lal Ji could not hold it. He became agitated and distressed, and he fainted. At that very moment, all the Lals fell and sank to the ground. And Priya Ji looked at him. See, how could anyone endure seeing Priya Ji?

isiliye jo guru mantr milta hai nijmantra wo itni samarth paida karta hai hriday mein ki is prem ko sah jae. Socho Priya aur lal donon ke rupon ka pan karti hui sahcharya seva mein kitni badi samarth hai. Jahan pratham darshan mein lal jo murchhit ho gaye.

Therefore, the guru mantra and the nij mantra give the heart such strength that it can bear this love. Think about how great the strength of the sahachari in service must be, drinking in the forms of both Priya and Lal. At the first sight, Lal Ji fainted.

rup sindhu mein man par dharat nain do nir dagamgai dharni pare rahi na sudhi jo sharir
In the ocean of her beauty the mind wavers, tears fill both eyes, the body falls to the earth and loses all awareness.

Lal Ji was sitting. When Priya Ji went to hide, he stood up the moment he saw her form. Seeing his form, Priya Ji drew the blue veil over herself. The signs of love appeared in his body. His restlessness grew, and he fell down. Priya Ji saw this through the blue veil. Now Lali Ji, the ocean of compassion, could not bear it. She took a few steps forward, but then her feet turned back toward her sakhis out of shyness.

par piy ko man apun hari leeno apno chit pritam ko deeno
She stole the Beloved's mind, and gave her own heart to the Beloved.

Lal Ji's mind was taken by Priya Ji, and Priya Ji's mind by Lal Ji. Now Shri Ladli Ji's feet moved on their own, shyly, toward her sakhis.

The sakhis said, "You were not going to hide. You did not hide, you came back." She said nothing, only made a gesture: "Come, I don't want to play this game. It is Maharani Ji's command." All the sakhis saw tears flowing from Ladli Ji's eyes. They wondered, "What has happened? Lal Ji lies fainted there." Her eyes were full of the beauty of the Beloved, and her body had forgotten itself. She walked with the sakhis toward Vrishabhanu Bhavan. Every little while she turned back and looked in the direction where Shri Lal Ji was. Shri Vrishabhanu Nandini had forgotten herself, and she could think only of this: "He saw me and fell down, fainted. Who will look after him?" Inside her, there was great pain. Ladli Ji now speaks to no one, and does not talk about any game. She has no laughter, no interest in food or drink. No one knows what has happened. Her interest in play ended. She returned, and such sadness settled on her. Maharani Ji's state was wondrous, and the sahachari did not dare to ask her. They looked at her sideways, thinking, "What has happened to our Swamini? She does not speak to us, she does not laugh, she only has a serious expression." Meanwhile, after some time, Shri Lal Ji regained consciousness. He said, "Yes, Ladli is just like this, her form is like this," and then he grew weak again.

Four ghadis is 24 minutes multiplied by four. One ghadi is 24 minutes. Four ghadis, doubled, is 48, then 96 minutes, which means 1 hour and 36 minutes. Lal was unconscious, in a faint. Such was the surge of joy that Priya's form had made Lal Ji faint. Then he regained his senses and became alert. Now he thought about how he could see her again, because he could not live without her darshan. So the Lord began pleading: "Let me find the sakhi who described Priya Ji's form to me, and who told me the place where I would see Priya Ji. After taking my life away, the young Kishori has gone." Now, without her darshan, my life.. Lal Ji is saying this, the Lord is saying this. The Beloved began to think: "If I could meet just once the sahachari who described the form of the young Kishori Priya Ji to me, she would bring me back to life. If I met her just once, there is only one way to meet Priya Ji: the sakhi who described the form of the young Kishori." He had seen her a hundred times more beautifully than she had described. The rasik Beloved bows again and again at the feet of that sakhi. He remembers her and prays that she give him darshan. "O sakhi, if you give darshan, Priya will unite me with her."

Now Lal Ji's separation became so manifest that he found no joy in the sakhas. It was no longer pleasing to him to adorn Maiya or to offer her bhog. Love struck his heart again and again, and he breathed long sighs. "O Priya Ji, this is the wonder of your form. Our Maharani Ji.." Moment by moment he became restless, and he began to wither like a lotus out of water. Shri Lal Ji Maharaj found food, drink and adornment all unpleasing.

tabhi kaha hai nahi khanpan te bhave hai nahi komal van suhave hai sab vishay lage te khara hai hari ashik ka magara
Then it is said: food and drink no longer please him, the gentle groves no longer delight him, all worldly pleasures taste bitter. This is the path of Hari's lover.

Then Priya Ji's love does not seek food and drink, and in their dreams they do not touch love. There is only one thing in their hearts: if they can see the young Kishori Priya Ji, their life will be saved. His body began to grow thin.

bhojan pan na kachu suhai hriday dhyan no Priya raha ati chhin ju bhyo sharira
Food and drink please him no more, his heart holds only thoughts of Priya, and his body has become very frail.

[sound of singing]

dinah nain bhar ave neera
Through the day the eyes fill with tears.

Looking toward Barsana, he stood there, and the whole day passed while he stood motionless. He did not eat, did not drink, did not play with the sakhas. Tears flowed continuously from his eyes, so much that even his yellow garments were soaked. His tears fell like pearls, and the garments on his body were drenched.

dhari dhari mukta se parat rahe bhi tan cheer
Tears fall like pearls, and the garments on the body are drenched.

Now, just as Maiya no longer puts the peacock feather and crown on us, we no longer find it pleasing to wear the peacock feather and crown. Fragrant body ointments and fine clothes no longer feel good to us.

The Vaijanti garland is no longer liked. A cool, gentle, fragrant breeze feels like a blaze, as if it were filled with fire. In separation from Priya Ji, he no longer likes to wear the yellow silk pitambar or the sash, and he has even forgotten to play the flute. Such is the state of love-separation that he only gazes towards Barsana, silent, and says nothing. The sun is very red, and a strong wind is blowing, sakhi. When the wind comes from the direction of Barsana, his heart finds a little coolness. When the wind comes carrying the dust of Barsana, it eases a little of Lal Ji's heart's agony. This wind has come touching my Priya Ji. It has come carrying the dust of Priya Ji's feet. His eyes are only on Priya's form, and his mind is with Priya Ji. Mind and eyes are with Kunvar, and the body remains with the hope of meeting. Now not even for a moment is there peace. Both his mind and body are coloured in the love of Priya Ji.

This is the experience of love. How can it be described in words? It can only be known through experience.

Prem hai anubhav svaroopam, pratikshan vardhamaanam, sookshmatram
Sookshm se sookshm baat prem ki anubhav
Love is the very form of experience, ever-growing at every moment, the subtlest of the subtle. The subtlest matter of love is known only by experience.

What would one who has no love in the heart know?

Preeti reeti ati kathin hai, kahe na samjhe koi, prem baan je u lage, nish din jaane soi
The way of love is very difficult. It cannot be told, and no one can understand it by hearing. Only the one whom the arrow of love has struck, day and night, knows it.

Here is Lal Ji's condition. There is Kishori Ji's condition. Just as Lal Ji Maharaj is in such a state, Priya Ji's condition is the same. Since that day, no one knows where the restlessness of Pyari Ji's eyes has gone. There are only deep, half-open eyes and a flow of tears.

She kept looking from the palace only towards Vat Sanket. Again and again it came to her mind that he had fallen unconscious. Who would have held him up? Seeing this, the sahacharis are very distressed. The sakhis are very capable, yet no one is able to understand her.

From that day, the smile left Priya Ji's face. Laughing and playing were forgotten. When the sakhis try to adorn her, she refuses. She does not like to adorn herself.

Bhoolo hasbo khelbo bhoolo ang shringar, nish din rahe ya soch mein, ruchat na uhar
She has forgotten laughing and playing, and forgotten the adornment of her body. Night and day she remains lost in this thought, and no ornament pleases her.

All the sakhis have gathered. How can this be? No eating, no drinking, no playing, no laughing, no speaking, no wearing of adornments. Seeing the condition of Swamini Ji, the circle of sakhis became very sad, distressed and worried.

One day the chief sakhis met Shri Ji in private and said, "Pyari, you are not feeling well. Come, let us go to Vat Sanket and play there."

Priya Ji replied, "Do not even speak the name of Vat Sanket. I don't want to play. I don't want to go there."

They said, "This is Priya Ji's own beloved place. Every day you used to be eager to play here. You only had to be told and you would go. Why are you refusing now? Nothing feels good to Priya Ji at this time."

That same ache is full of compassion: that he fell unconscious on seeing me. Who would have held him up? Indescribable love for the Beloved, indescribable affection.

When the sakhis spoke in private and she was alone, Priya Ji tried again and again to pull her mind out of the ocean of love, but again and again it sinks back into it.

The sakhis are keeping watch, each with a steady glance. Priya Ji, standing in the courtyard, is scratching the earth with the nails of her feet. It is as if she is expressing great sorrow. Only the sweetness of the Beloved's form, and his falling unconscious, remain settled in her heart. From her eyes flows a flow of tears.

The Ashta Sahacharis are the chief. They love Priya Ji like their very life-breath. The Ashta Sahacharis are very capable. She sent all the sakhis away. She herself took up this seva and kept all the other sakhis away.

She seated Priya Ji in the middle and said, "Pyari, until today there has never been any difference between us and you. Is there anything we would not know of your condition, that you would keep hidden from us?"

Until today there has never been such a thing. Please tell me, out of your kindness.

Lalita says:

Lalita kahe Shri Radha pyari, mo so baat kaho sukumari. Main hoon to man ki kachhu paayi, so tum moh kaho samjhaayi
Lalita says: O dear Shri Radha, tender one, tell me what is on your mind. I have sensed something of your mind; now tell me, explain it to me.

Priya Ji, I have in fact already come to know everything. I have matched my mind with your mind and seen what the matter is. It would be better if you say it openly. Please tell me. Do not hold back from your own. We are your heart, and we exist for your happiness. If you conceal things from us, it is concealing from yourself. So do not hide anything.

Priya Ji said, "Sakhi, that day you had taken me to play, hide-and-seek at Prem Sarovar, didn't you? When I went to hide in Sagan Kunj, someone was already sitting there. A young Nawal Kishor, dark-complexioned, wearing yellow silk, with a lovely form and large, very beautiful eyes. On his red lips was a gentle smile.

On his forehead was a peacock crown. On his nose shone a pearl nose ornament. I saw a garland of pearls on his neck. In an instant, all that sweetness of form, the beautiful, graceful, charming face, seemed like the light of love itself, embodied and seated there. As soon as he entered the kunj, he saw me and fell unconscious. His fainting, his falling to the earth, became the one thing on my mind. From that very moment my mind has been contemplating that youth, and until I have his darshan.."

Ho nahin boli, laaj ki lai, tey paachhe dho kaun gati bhai
I could not speak, overcome by shame. What state came over him afterwards?

It came to my mind to run and lift him up, but out of shame and hesitation I did not touch him. Yet in my heart I wonder what state he must have fallen into. Now no one even tells me about him: who he was, what happened, and what condition he is in.

Sakhi, seeing those nine young ones is my life. If their union does not happen, my condition will not improve. What will their state be? Someone, just tell me. There is immeasurable pain in my heart. Every moment there is one single ache in my mind.

Saying this, Shri Ji broke down in tears.

ati anupam anurag paraspat sun abhut bhutla par jori tatkshan vani mukh ho gayi.
Hearing their incomparable mutual love, a pair unlike any on earth, speech stopped on the lips at once.

Tears flowed from the eyes again, in that same forlorn state. Shri Lalita Ji held Shri Ji with her lotus hands and said, "Dear one, have faith. Your happiness is my happiness. Make an effort."

khabar nahi Nandlal hilau piy pyari [gana gane ki aawaz] mein rang badhaun milah do ras bah vyatha bichte hoe nyari
I will bring Nandlal back to my beloved and increase the colour; let the two rasas meet, and let the pain of separation be set apart. [sound of singing]

"Ladli Ji, be at peace, you say. As soon as the news comes, I will bring Nand Nandan here, unite him with you, and remove the pain of separation between you both."

A smile came to Priya Ji's face.

sachar man anand bhyo sunat vachan atisar prem magan anand bhyo milwan nand kumar
The sahachari's heart was filled with joy. Hearing these words, deeply moved, she was absorbed in love and joy at the thought of meeting Nand Kumar.

Dear one smiled. The sakhi said, "Don't worry. I'm going right now, and by every means I will bring Nand Nandan to you." She made up her mind. The sakhi, the very embodiment of the divine couple's union, absorbed in joy, came from Nand Gaon in an instant. Her only task was to leave the village, stand in a secluded kunj, and look towards Barsana.

On the way she saw Lalita Ji going toward Barsana. Seeing her, Lal Ji ran, Lal Ji ran. Lalita saw and smiled. Yes, on both sides the same fire of love is manifest.

bujhat sakhi chatur tab bata kahe mohan ho Krishna gata
Then the clever sakhi asked, "Why are you like this, Mohan, Krishna?"

"What has happened, Lal Ji? You have become very thin and look very sad. Tell me the whole matter." "You told me before, didn't you? I went and saw that form, and since then I have been restless for the darshan of Priya Ji."

Lalita ek kishori dekhi mano rup ki sima pe maine un nau yuvtiyon mein jo ek kishori dekha mano rup ki sima kaun bhat mukh ki chhav kahiye chitavat sakhi
"Lalita, I saw one young maiden, as though at the very limit of beauty. Among those nine young women, I saw one maiden, as though the very boundary of beauty. How can I describe the radiance of her face, sakhi, as I gaze?"

chitra ho rahi hai bas dekhte raho aise kaha kaho ang ang nikai chhinak maah leo chit churai mano Mohini aur thagori teen lok ki kar thori aur bas rup kahat vivas bhyo pyaro prem nir nainan tena
She is like a painting; just keep looking. How can I say it? Each limb's grace stole my heart in an instant, as though she were an enchantress and charmer of the three worlds. Speaking of her beauty, the beloved was overcome, and tears of love flowed from the eyes.

Speaking of Priya Ji's beauty, tears flowed from his eyes. The young maiden has stolen my heart.

Lal Ji placed his hands at Lalita Ji's feet and said, "Now make an effort. Let me get the bride, Vrishbhanu's darling. This is the only way to attain Priya Ji."

var nari mile mohi vrishabhan dulari
"May I get the bride, Vrishbhanu's darling."

Dust of the sakhi's feet, worship of the sakhi's feet. The sakhi was won over. "Priya Ji is the best. You are dear to my life, our sakhi and well-wisher. I bow at your feet. Make an effort so that Ladli Ji is met. I know that no one is a well-wisher like you, and I will honour this quality of yours as long as there is life in my body. If you unite me with Priya, I will remain indebted to you all my life, as long as there is breath. And I know that no one but you can unite me with her."

"You are the only well-wisher who can unite me with that young maiden. From the day I saw her until today, I have not eaten food or taken water. How the days have passed, how can we tell? But from now on, I no longer have the strength to get through them. Unite me with Priya Ji."

"You love my dear one so much." Hearing this, tears came into Lalita Ji's eyes. "You love my beloved so much, and that is why, Lal Ji, you are dearer to us sakhis than our own lives."

Lalita kahe kahe suno Nandlala milaun tumhen aaj nau bala hath milao tumhen nischit Priyaju se mila dungi
Lalita said, "Listen, Nandlal. Today I will bring you to the nine maidens. Give me your hand; I will surely unite you with Priya Ji."

Lal Ji became completely absorbed in joy and embraced her. "Truly, will you give me darshan of Priya Ji?"

itni sunat saras hoe aae bichure pran pheri mano paye sunat vachan anand na samai pag Lalita ke sir dhar jai
Hearing so much, he was delighted, as though lost life-breath had returned. Hearing these words, joy could not be contained, and he went and placed his head at Lalita's feet.

She embraced him from the heart, and Lal Ji placed his forehead at Lalita Ji's feet.

rasik shiromani rasik priy janat ras ki riti akhil koti bramhandon ke Swami prabhuta Rakhi dur ke bhay din bas priti thi
The crown jewel of rasiks, dear to rasiks, knows the way of rasa. Lord of countless crores of universes, he set aside his lordship and put fear far away; for the humble, love is what binds him.

"Alright, I will surely unite you with Priya." She took his hand and led him to the door of Nand Bhavan. Then she gestured, "Follow me," and went to Mother Yashoda. She bowed at Mother Yashoda's feet and sat down. For a moment they talked, and there was some food and refreshment. Then she said, "Mother, I have come from Barsana." "Yes, I know. I have come on a special errand." "Kirti Maiya bowed at your feet." "Oh yes, yes, she loves us very much. No, it is a matter of [unclear]. What was the talk, Maiya?" "She has said she wants to see Nand Nandan once. She has called him."

puni man mein kachua bichri dekh chahat kunwar bihari
Then, pondering something in her mind: "She wishes to see Kunwar Bihari."

"It seems to us that she has something on her mind. Perhaps she wishes to see Kunwar Ji." She indicated this with a gesture meant for Kunwar. Very clever is Lalita. "Alright, come, Lala. First let me dress you up, Maiya, for adornment." Seeing him, Kirti Rani would say, "No, for our Ladli Ji, Lala is a very handsome groom."

maiya mudit mahar ati chav so bhushan basan surang naval lal ati ban ke dayo sahachari sang
Maiya, delighted and full of eagerness, gave ornaments and fresh coloured garments to the lal, along with the sakhi.

Nand Nandan is overjoyed, because he will get to have darshan and conversation with Priya Ji.

ati anand anand samudra ke hriday mein anand badhane wali hamari pyari jo hai ati anand badho man mahi
Great joy. Our dear Priya Ji, who increases the joy in the heart of the ocean of bliss, great joy grew in his mind.

Lalita took Lal Ji by the hand and led him. When they reached the kunj outside Nand Gaon, she said, "Lalan, this is a very difficult place. Your eyes have locked. This is a very difficult place."

sachar tab man karat bichara soch nadi ta badh apara
Then the sakhi pondered in her mind; the river of worry rose, boundless.

ab ki vidhi barsane ja [gana gane ki aawaz] lakhe soi jo ban
How now to reach Barsana [sound of singing]..

Before that, the court of Vrishabhanu Ji is already in session. Elders and all the Braj residents are seated, and soldiers are posted there with very tight security. No one can go into the queen's palace without security and without inspection.

Where Ladli Ji is, Lalita sakhi was thinking: how do I take them there? How do I take them into the palace? How do I bring them to Ladli?

Then she said to Lal Ji: we have made the promise, but there the elders are in great numbers, and everyone there is guarding the one who is so tender, like a cobra guards its jewel. All the elderly Brajvasis are there, and no one can enter the Ladli's palace. Hearing of such a difficult place, your eyes were fixed on it.

Hearing of such a difficult place, dear one, your eyes were fixed on it.

On hearing the sakhi's words, he held her feet: now don't say no, you have promised to unite me with Priya Ji. You say it is such a difficult place, and your eyes have already been set on it. Now I have faith only in you. Fulfil my desire. Pranat kamadam padmachitam, holding the sakhi's feet, he says: I trust only you. I hold your feet and ask you to fulfil my wish. Somehow show me once, Lalita, give me life [sound of singing], give me life. Give me one darshan of Pyari Ji and my life will be fulfilled. This Lalita is very serious. Lal Ji says: here my breath has nearly left me, the breath is at the tip of my nose. Please don't say no. If you say no, my life will leave me. My life is in my nose.

Hearing such words, the sahachari Gauri fell into a well of worry.

Hearing such words, the sahachari fell into a well of worry.

How do I take him so that no elder stops us? Alright, I will think about it.

The idea came: O Nand Nandan, give me your word. I will unite you with my beloved, at the cost of my life.

The idea came: O Nand Nandan, give me your word, I will unite you with my beloved at the cost of my life.

And she said one more thing: giving up worldly and Vedic shame, I will give my life for you. Even if my life is taken, I will keep you united. This is the grace of the sakhis, and that is why we are fearless and free of worry. Once Priya Ji's sakhi, Hit Sajani, accepted it, meeting Priya is no longer rare.

Lalita thought it over and said: Lalan, I will take you, but not in the form of Nand Nandan. Do whatever you like with him, just unite us with Priya. Take him in a changed form.

Where the tender young prince cannot enter, where men cannot enter the Maharani's palace, you cannot go in male form either. I will have you wear the form of a sakhari.

Then Lalita considered the plan and dressed him in the attire, with fear and eagerness, the sakhi for Bihari to see Shri Radha Pyari.

Then Lalita considered the plan and dressed him in the attire, with fear and eagerness, the sakhi for Bihari to see Shri Radha Pyari.

Because only a sakhi has the right to reach Priya Ji. When Lalita came from Barsana, she had told Ladli Ji that she would unite Lalan, and she had hidden the complete set of sakhi's attire in this very kunj. Now, bringing Lalan here, she put on a kasumbi-coloured saree and parted his long, curly hair, with sindoor in the parting of Shri Lal Ji Maharaj's hair, a string of pearls, and a red bindi on his beautiful dark forehead. He looks as if he is ready to enchant all three worlds, taking on an enchanting form. With a beautiful besar, bulak and full adornment, when she stepped back and looked, he seemed like the life-stealing tender one, ready. Whatever you mix him with, he becomes that: kachchhap avatar, varah avatar, narsimha avatar, and all the others. All of them are good, Maharaj.

Lalita dressed him in the sakhari form. She applied kajal to his eyes and placed a dithauna on his chin. The dithauna is not black, otherwise no dithauna would be applied. On his neck she placed a necklace of pearls strung with golden threads, and on his chest a kanchuki, as if the shrifal (the sacred coconut) were seated there. She put on all the ornaments. When Lalita had finished the adornment up to the nose and stepped back to see the whole kasumbi-coloured saree, she said: be blessed! Now no one can stop us from taking you to Vrishabhanu Bhavan.

The new sakhi set off, and changed her gait too. The form was changed, the long legs were set down. Priya Ji walks like a swan, gajgamini, hansgamini, and if she walks this way, groups of young women would be put to shame. Such a beautiful Shyam Sundari, Shri Pyare Ji, Shyam Sundari, such beauty that groups of maidens would be put to shame. Dark in colour, in a kasumbi saree, adorned from head to toe, with the parting filled with pearls, everything about her is beyond full description. Lalita said: come, let's go towards Barsana.

When they reached near the palace, he said: lower your ghunghat and hold my hand. Hold it like this and follow behind, walking exactly as a woman walks. Here, all the very skilled gopas are stationed on guard, and they will get information at once. Entering the royal palace, there was a ghunghat over Lal Ji's forehead. The guards there, the sakhis serving and protecting, said: O Lalita, who is this? We have never seen this one coming into the palace before. Who is she? The supremely clever Lalita replied in a sweet voice: this is our dear friend, the daughter of Gopraj Upnand. Ladli wishes to meet her.

And she does meet her, she has met her many times. She met her at Sakhri Khor, and evening was about to fall, so we persuaded her to come along with us. She has drawn her ghunghat so low. Ah, Maharaj, everything can be hidden, but the eyes cannot. They are very restless, which is why the ghunghat was drawn. Though kajal has been applied, the lotus-like eyes have a wonder of their own. All right, take her in. Passing through the security shield, holding hands, she led them into the palace. This is the Maharani's private palace, where no one enters except the sakhis.

The Maharani sits on her throne, just waiting. Then she saw Lalita bringing in a sakhi, and she smiled. A very skilled sakhi, bringing the beloved in with such cleverness.

Seeing, touching, great joy. The veil drawn close, the veil removed, the eyes that give signals, as they fall. The eyes of both met, seeing, touching, great joy. The pangs of separation were set apart. Priya and Pritam's eyes met.

Ladli's heart became cool, and Lal Ji's heart became cool. Some sakhis, the charm of Shri Lal Ji's beauty was such that those who were following behind, who were not in daily service,

Their mind was deeply attached to Lal Ju. Dressed in such a beautiful sakhi form, she had entered right into the inner chambers of Kishori Ji's palace. Lalita Ji said, "Since you have come, let me have you do some seva. Here are some flowers. Sort them out and make garlands. When you dress Priya Ji and the sakhi, your seva will be complete. The sakhis of the nij parikar who come will each be given their own seva. You prepare this, you prepare that, you prepare the bhojya padarth, and so on for everyone, because Priya Pritam will talk on one pretext or another." Shri Lalita Ji divided the seva among all the sakhis, and as each was commanded, that sakhi immediately became absorbed in her task. Lalita Ji said, "Today is a very beautiful opportunity."

It is a joyful day. Our Kishori, the dear guest sakhi, has come. With great bhav, make all the shringar and prepare the bhog. Go and make beautiful, multicoloured, charming garlands of flowers. Everyone was engaged in that tahal and seva. Only Priya and Shyamsundar met in the form of sahachari. Mohan, Shri Radha Pyari, Hit Dhru [sound of singing]. I am a sacrifice to Pyari Ju. Just as a fish that regards water as its life frolics when it gets water, and writhes when it does not, so the two of them are like two chakors, two moons, two lotuses. For each, the other is the moon; for each, the other is the lotus; for each, the other is the water; for each, the other is the fish. Nawal Lal, Nav Ladli, the store of Nawal's joy [screaming sound]. Nawal love keeps growing new.

Seeing them in a private place with a gentle smile, the two of them, Priya Ji and Shyam Sakhi, embraced each other, heart to heart. Such is our Nawal Ladli, and her keli is new, her joy is new, the new affection, the new union, the new rasa. Nawal Shyam, Vrishbhanu's Kishori, new yellow garments, new chunri, the fair one drenched in new drops. New Vrindavan, green and enchanting, the new chatak calls, peacock, peacock. Everything about them is new. Their love is ever-new and increasing every moment. With gentle smiles and joy, their eyes are fixed on each other and their hearts are fixed on each other. The sakhis see this and, adorned with new ornaments and new crowns, bless them with a little bit more each time.

Steeped in love, Lalita and the others arrived, and their joy could not be contained within them. Seeing the radiant pair, the sakhis gazed on in unbroken love.

prem pagi lalitadik ai ati anand na ang samai shobhit shithil dhun ke anga nirakhat sachar prem abhanga

Priya Pritam are absorbed in love, and the sakhis, seeing the form of Priya Pritam, remain established in unbroken love.

Some were fanning with the chanwar, some were waving the vyajan. Some, utterly attached, were gazing with their eyes. Kunwar, kunwar, the two rasik-vars: these are the life of all the sakhis. Couple, the happiness of happiness, of whom there is no other path. These rasik-var couple, the kishor and kishori Ji, are the life of all the sakhis. The supreme happiness of the sakhis is only the happiness of Priya Pritam. Apart from attaining this happiness, the sakhis have no other path or mind. May Priya Pritam be happy. May Priya Pritam laugh, play and meet. To serve them and to bring them happiness: this is the path and mind of the sahacharis.

Now the sakhis considered and decided that you should come every day from Nandgaon to Sanket Vat, and we will bring Priya Ji. You will meet every day, and you will play the same play every day. Priya Pritam will play every day at Prem Sarovar, at Sanket Vat. Having made this resolve, the Yugal Kishor gave great joy to their own sakhis. From that time, every day, even today, Priya Pritam meet eternally at Prem Sarovar, at Vat Sanket. The eternal keli of Shri Yugal Sarkar takes place there. Shri Dhruvdas Ji says that whoever sings or hears this leela with love will effortlessly attain the status of a sahachari. Easily, they will attain the rasa of Priya Pritam's love.

Whoever sings this leela daily, Dhruv, attains firm prem bhakti. Love first arises in this way, without effort. Singing and hearing this rasa, the light of love dawns.

yah leela dhruv jo nit gawe prem bhakti so dridh kar pave pratham neh aise bhyo bina jatan anyayas yah ras gavat sunat dhruv hot ju prem prakash

This leela that has been sung today, the first meeting, whoever hears it and whoever sings it, in their heart the certain love of Priya Pritam will be illuminated, and they will attain the status of a sahachari, the seva-pad of Priya Pritam. The supreme gain of our human life is this: that we constantly chant naam. While chanting naam, we should fulfil our duties. Regard duty as worship of God, offer it to God, and awaken within yourself a longing that has the power to erase all desires.

In that very longing lies the power to destroy all wishes, all desires, and all vasanas. Just hold one desire: in this life I must attain Bhagwat prapti. In this life I must have the direct vision of Priya Pritam. As this longing grows stronger, all other desires will fade away. But you will only make this longing meaningful if you also chant naam. Longing alone will not do it. You must do naam jap. You must give up the unreal conduct and unreal enjoyments of the world.

Having become a renunciant who wanders the world, then one becomes absorbed in the rasa of Vrindavan.

jagte bhyo phire bairagi tab Vrindavan ras mein anuragi

To speak truly, a person attached to enjoyment cannot even form the resolve that in this life they will attain God. For those attached to enjoyment and power, whose minds are carried away by it, the resolute intellect is not established in samadhi.

Bhogeshwar prasakta naam tat chetsa vyavsayatmika buddhi samadho na vidhte

Many people have wasted their lives this way, and much of this life too has already been wasted. So be very careful. Take care of your ears, take care of your tongue, take care of your eyes. Sadhana is made or spoiled by these three. If the eyes see wrongly, the tongue speaks wrongly, and the ears hear wrongly, then your thinking will be wrong and your actions will be wrong. But if you hear the truth, the truth leads you to the attainment of God.

The rest of the discussion follows. Shri Radhavallabh Lal ki [unclear].

This text is taken from the video's automatic (auto-generated) subtitles — it may contain word errors. For authentic words, be sure to watch the video.

Original video: Shri Hit Radha Kripa (YouTube)