RADHAKUNDA

"Description of Rädhäkunda"

Rädhäkunda is beautifully surrounded by jewelled
steps and jewelled bathing places. On these bathing places
are jewelled platforms with their yards, with a jewelled dais
on each side of each bathing platform. On each side of these
platforms are two trees on whose flower laden branches
wonderful swings covered with various sheets are hanging.
On the southern side of each platform a jewelled swing
hangs on the branches of two Campaka-trees, on the eastern
side from two Kadamba-trees on the north from two mangotrees
and on the west from two Bakula-trees. Between the
eastern and the south eastern side is a wonderful bridge on
pillars, and Rädhäkunda's and Syämakunda's waters are
meeting under this. (2-6)


Many trees are surrounding Çré Rädhäkunda on all
sides. Those trees and vines are bowing down from the
weight of their thick leaves and their many fruits and
flowers. Around the bases of these trees are big platforms
and jewelled alters as beautiful as water-basins. These
platforms have staircases who keep one cool in the summer
and warm in the winter. Some of these platforms reach up to
the neck, some to the chest, some to the belly, navel, knees
and some up to the heels only. Some of them are hexagonal,
some heptagonal, some octagonal, and some are round. At
first sight they resemble waves. The birds, mistaking their
jewelled ripples to be waves of water, fall on them when
they want to quench their thirst on them. Here Rädhä and
Kåñëa are always enjoying Their joking conversations along
with Their friends.

On four sides of the bathing ghätas there are
buildings made of Mädhavé-vines surrounded by groves of
Vänéra-, Keçara- and Açoka-trees. The outskirts of these
yards are adorned with banana-trees with ripe and unripe
fruits and flowers whose leaves provide a cool shade. Beyond
that are the outer sub-forests surrounded by flower gardens.
In the middle of the kuëòa is a jewelled temple connected
with the shore by a bridge. Rädhäkunda has many forestgoddesses
and hundreds of maidservants that fetch various
kinds of fruits, flowers and other items suitable for Rädhä
and Krsna's service. Within the flower gardens and sub
forests are cottages that are filled with such items by Vrndädevi.
(10-14)



Then there are the seasonal forests, like the spring
forest, that are endowed with all good qualities. Here the
paths, yards and cottages are sprinkled with fragrant water
by Våndä-devé. There are flower-canopies and gates as well
as kunja-alleys, courtyards, swings and platforms, all
decorated with flowers. Within the play-cottages of
Rädhäkunda there are beds made of fresh lotus petals,
leaves from the trees and flower-petals, along with pillows,
goblets full of honey wine, water, betel leaves and other
sweet things. (15-17)