Sankalpa Prakasa Stotra

Without worshipping the dust of Sri Radha's lotus feet, without taking shelter of Vrindavana forest that bears the mark of her footsteps, without conversing with those whose hearts are absorbed deep in her mood — how can one ever plunge into the deep waters of dark Syama's ocean of rasa?

When, sakhi, by the force of Lalita's charming encouragement and in outbursts of affection, will Sri Gandharva, bashfully yet with relish, again and again teach me a new, divine poem of her own composition, a matchless drama, riddles with hidden meanings, and the lovely movement of melody on the vina?

Mukunda, secretly flattering me in order to release the knot of Radha's pride, cries out to me again and again, "Alas, alas!" For that reason, seeing me fallen at Gandharva's feet with a suspicious glance, when will fierce Lalita, out of the very harshness born of her love, rebuke me?

Joyfully, with clever skill, in preparing the sweet madhvika drink charmingly blended with fresh camphor and sparkling with abundant playful jokes, proudly, overwhelmed with love, for the sake of Gandharva and Giridhari, may Visakha, the sakhi and guru of that divine pair, bestow her teaching upon me.

May Visakha, whose voice is lovelier even than the cuckoo's, again bestow upon me lovely training in singing, so that through it I may delight the youthful divine pair along with the assembly of sakhis, and thereby, again and again, receive from them here in the rasa dance necklaces with jeweled pendants.

Sometimes, in bower after bower, when my mistress Radha meets Gopala by some pretext at midday, surrounded by her most beloved host of sakhis, when, trained in the art of cooking by Campakalata, will this person feed them there with foods more delicious than nectar?

Sometimes, O sakhi, in the bower, when the wonderful rows of painted designs on the young couple of Vraja have melted away under the weight of Kama's fierce battle and their intense passion, will this person, trained by Citra, again joyfully draw them in full, beautifully, with many leaf-patterns?

In the supremely exalted assembly of young women, Tungavidya, who by her wondrous, manifest skills clearly triumphs over the rival women headed by Padma — O sakhi, may I too become accomplished as a repository of various arts through her, so that what further need would I have of mere stolen glances secretly cast under some pretext by Srinatha?

In the fashioning of garlands from shining pearls, gunja-berries, jewels, and flowers, may Indulekha joyfully teach me her method, so that with garlands thus made, in the abode amid the beloved lake, this person too may adorn Radha and Krishna.

Ah, if the goddess whose name begins with the two nectarean syllables 'raṅga', shining with their rasa, teaches me the coveted array of dances, then, O sakhi, while the two of them perform in the rasa their graceful, rasa-filled dance, a sight to behold, may I, with a dancer's skill, again and again place betel into their mouths.

May Sudevi likewise teach me here the skillful art of games, amid the divine gathering of Gokula's lovely-eyed women, so that when the pair engage in playful contest, I, through secret glances, may make her victorious over Srinatha.

Secretly, even through a parrot as messenger, a verse composed with an exceedingly difficult hidden meaning, written on a lotus petal and sent by Hari with ever-rising flattery, having fully understood it, when, at night, shall I swiftly lead my mistress to the place of a winding cave of Govardhana, the king of mountains, near that place?

Bearing fully the burden of Kama's battle upon the cave's rocky floor, the two of them, striving to conquer each other, pierced by the sharp, darting arrows of their glances, their bodies growing moist with the effort, marked by the weapons of nails and teeth as restraint gives way, shall I indeed remain there in the darkness at that hour, just to behold them?

Having brought to completion the matchless, evenly matched battle in Kama's arena, when the two of them, their bodies merged, fall asleep, then, O sakhi, remaining hidden nearby and swiftly, eagerly drawing close to that pair, when shall I serve them, holding a fan made of a cluster of flowers?

Joyfully, in the bower amid swarms of humming bees, having prepared a bed of flowers and arranged garlands, fragrant kunkuma powder, sweet drink, and rolls of betel, so that the eager-hearted pair may again enjoy their amorous pastimes there, O moon-faced one, shall I do all this to please them fully?

When, having seen Radha asleep in the bower upon Hari's chest, whose luster surpasses a blossoming blue lotus, her radiance surpassing the richness of gold, resembling, steady in a fresh dark cloud in the sky, the splendor of flashing lightning, shall I, again and again, make the sound of warding off the evil eye from her?

When, having forgotten in their amorous play a splendid jeweled ornament that slipped off amid the great delight, Radha comes quickly, fearfully and bashfully, into the assembly of her dearest sakhis, when will the glorious Lord, smiling, through sidelong glances unnoticed by her, swiftly send me, his own servant, to fetch it back for her?

Sometimes, while Aghahara is delighting Candravali, surrounded by Padma, Saibya and the rest, matchlessly with abundant joyous, loving talk, when will He, overcome with embarrassment on catching even a fraction of my glance, mutter "Where is Radha?" and thereby cast gloom over all these women?

When proud Giridhari has blocked fierce Lalita and her other companions and then, O sakhi, arrogantly demands His toll, and Visakha is seized and led aside by Him through the urging of my Lord's dancing eyes, may she, full of anger, scold us here.

"Your two breasts are like mountains, your hips like a chariot, and truly my boat is old and frail — see how turbulent the river is with wind! How will you cross further? Better stay here tonight" — hearing these words of Hari, may Radha, feigning anger, make me smile.

This banana plant too, in the bower of my heart, has borne fruit simply by receiving the breeze of the one heavenly creeper named Rangana-lata. Shall I thus joyfully serve here, together with the hosts of dear ones, that youthful couple, charming with Madana's beauty, who shine near it?