Radhika Astottarasata Nama Stotram

Unable to see her divine mistress, the great goddess of Vrindavana, a certain maidservant, whose sole refuge is the lotus feet of that Lady, fell utterly distressed on the bank of her lake, weeping in a voice choked with anguish; and to attain the sight of her beautiful face, she sang these names.

Radha, Gandharvika, the sole beloved of the youthful king of Vraja's cowherd community; Gandharva, Radhika, she whose beauty shines like the moon, the companion of Madhava.

The peerless friend of Damodara, the queen glorified through the month of Karttika; the jeweled blossom crowning the braided hair of Mukunda's beloved gopis.

Worshipper of the sun-god, daughter of Maharaja Vrishabhanu, elder sister of Ananga Manjari, and the most excellent younger sister of Sridama.

The daughter of Kirtida, the beloved child who is the very nectar of her mother's affection; the same age as Vishakha, and dearer to Vishakha than life itself.

She for whom Lalita is like a second life, who sports throughout Vrindavana; the sole object and protectress of Lalita's very life-breath, the sovereign queen of Vrindavana.

The one cherished by the queen of Vraja, Yashoda, with affection equal to that she bears for Krishna; the very life of the life of all the cows, cowherds, and cowherd women of Vraja.

Tenderly loved by the affectionate king of the cowherds as if she were Krishna's own elder sister; ever eager to serve the surabhi cows, the objects of Govinda's love.

Her heart ever longing to journey safely to Nandishvara; the one whom Dhanishtha beholds as non-different from her own self, the sole object of her meditation and vision.

She who graces the kitchen altar of the queen of the cowherds, Yashoda, with her presence; whose expertly prepared food is offered to prolong Krishna's life, and whose head Rohini fondly smells in blessing.

Sometimes disguised in the likeness of Subala, and gladdened by his affection; the beloved granddaughter cherished in Mukhara's nectarean gaze, yet fearful of Jatila's suspicious eyes.

Her moonlike smile blossoming at Madhumangala's joking words; the mynah bird of Paurnamasi's life-breath, playing outside its cage.

The very life of her own group of gopis, non-different from them; she who fosters their rightful pride, and delights in arranging for them to touch Krishna's lotus feet.

She who has appointed Vrinda-devi as gardener of her own Vrindavana pleasure-garden; she who intimately knows every creeper, tree, deer, and bird of Vrindavana forest.

Her body glowing like fresh kashmira paste lightly blended with sandalwood; clad in reddish silken garments whose brilliance rivals the hibiscus flower.

The radiance of the soles of her lotus feet reddens the ground she walks on; the sound of her lovely ankle-bells astonishes the heart of Hari.

The small bells swinging on the girdle at her hips, which remove Krishna's fatigue; the jeweled necklace trembling upon her full rising breasts, which are Krishna's very everything.

Her two lovely arms adorned with bangles shining with various jewels; very beautiful with her wrist glittering with the Syamantaka jewel.

Her facial circle outshines the brilliance of a golden mirror; her teeth, like the seeds of a ripe pomegranate, attract the parrot Krishna, the slayer of Agha.

Her ear ornaments fashioned like lotus buds inlaid with ruby and other gems; her eyes, lined with auspicious black kohl, put to shame the wagtail bird.

Her nose adorned with a lovely round pearl, delicate like a sesame flower; her forehead marked with a lovely fresh musk tilaka.

Her divine braid puts to shame even the finest peacock feather and steals its praise; the arrow-like corner-glances of her eyes shatter the composure of Hari, the conqueror of Canura.

Her form beautiful at the meeting-point of budding and full youth; maddened with joy in delighting Madhava, her voice sweet as the cuckoo's.

Eager to glorify Madhava, who is dearer to her than a million lives; her smile a bubble of nectar rising on the waves of Krishna's sidelong glances.

Her form anointed with all the shyness and cleverness of the world gathered together; her body melting with compassion, she is a mass of sweetness personified.

Her abundance of virtues sung by the virtuous women of the world; her great fortune venerated by the fortunate multitude headed by Shachi, queen of Indra.

Expert in playing the vina, in singing, in the rasa dance and in graceful dancing; her true glory, which delights the universe, sung aloud by sages headed by Narada.

The mistress of the cave-dwelling on Govardhana Hill, the ornament of its forest bowers; bound by sisterly affection to Yamunā, the daughter of the sun.

Adorned with the garland of joking friendship with the divine Kundalata; expert in the amorous mood that delights the Lifter of Govardhana.

She who is the beauty, the goddess of fortune, on the chest of the Lifter of the King of Mountains; the very life of the foe of Shankhachuda; the royal city of the loving desire of the son of the king of Gokula.

She who fashioned her own lake in response to joking words about the slaying of the bull-demon; who defeats the younger brother of Sankarshana in water-sports in her own kunda.

The long pool of nectarean sport for the mad elephant that is the crusher of Mura; the great lioness in the amorous contest of love with the lion that is the Lifter of the King of Mountains.

She who maddens and bewilders Madhava with the fragrance of her own body; she who agitates Keshava with the playful raising of her arms.

Engaged in playful pastimes arranged in the bower by the bank of her own pond; her form resting on a bed made resplendent with a cluster of divine jasmine flowers.

Her lovely right cheek resting upon Krishna's left arm; Krishna's beautiful right arm bound by the creeper of her left arm.

Her banana-tree-like left thigh pressed against Krishna's lovely right thigh; her mountain-peak breasts pressing against the chest of the Lifter of the King of Mountains.

Her lip, a tender sprout, fragrant with the nectar of Govinda's lips; her lovely, nectar-filled words that cool and soothe Madhava.

Her cheek reddened by the betel-juice offered from Govinda's mouth; she through whose union with Krishna the very purpose of Cupid's birth is fulfilled.

Her lovely face, perspiring from unrestrained love-play, being wiped by Govinda; her form, drowsy with the fatigue of love-play, being fanned by Vishakha.

Her body, mind and very life surrendered at Govinda's feet; she who would sacrifice a hundred million lives of her own for a single grain of dust from Hari's feet.

Her eyes reproaching themselves for even a moment's lapse in seeing Achyuta; ever beholding the eternally fresh, moonlike, radiant face of Govinda.

The sole enjoyer of Hari's boundless sweetness and beauty; she who casts a jealous side-glance at the flute alone, as if it were a rival, for its good fortune of touching Krishna's lips.

She who, by profound wit and playful strength, wins away the alluring flute; she who, by the moonlight of her joking words, swells the ocean of Krishna's desire.

She who is the resting place for the entire host of the senses of the moon of Vraja; she whose two syllables, Ra-dha, madden all of Krishna's senses.

This is the resplendent hymn of the one hundred and eight names of Sri Radhika, called Sri Radha-lambhaka, a beautiful elixir of rasa.

Whoever, humble and with an anguished heart, studies or recites this with supreme love, will surely and swiftly behold that Lady together with her Lord.