27 - Stealing the costumes of Cowherdesses 

Narayana Said- О Narada, you listen, I am again narrating the life story of Krishna in which he stole away the costumes of the cowherdesses and also bestowed the desired boon to them. During the first month of the spring season, the cowherdesses infatuated with passion took the havisya food only once and controlling themselves they performed the vrata with devotion for a month. They went to the river Yamuna, taking a bath in it and making an image of Parvati in sand, invoked her with the mantras and performed her puja. 

O sage, they offered the sandal-paste, a gum, kasturi, saffron, various types of flowers and flower garlands, incense, lamp, eatables, several types of fruits, gems and jewels and with the sound of musical instrument they used to recite. "O goddess, we are performing the best of the vrata', you are the mother of the universe besides being its creator, preserver and the destroyer, therefore, you bestow on us Krishna the son of Nanda as our husband. Reciting this mantra making the image of goddess Parvati in sand, taking a vow and recited the basic mantra. The mantra that has been prescribed in the Samaveda is like this Reciting this mantra the cowherdesses offered to the goddess flower garlands, eatables, incense, lamps and all other materials with devotion.

Thereafter holding the coral rosary in their hands they recited this mantra a hundred times and bowing their heads on the ground, they prayed in reverence to her thus, "O beloved of shiva, О shiva, you bestow all the welfare on the people and fulfil all the wishes. О goddess, I bow in reverence to you, let our wish be fulfilled.". 

Thus speaking and bowing in reverence they offered eatables to the Brahmanas besides giving away dakshina to them. 

Narayana said- О sage, now you listen to the great stotra reciting which the cowherdesses adored Parvati for the fulfilment of their desires. 

When the entire universe was submerged in water in the earlier times leaving no trace of the sun, the moon and the water had completely submerged all the moveable and immovable of the earth. Thereafter Vishnu reclining in the water imparted knowledge of the stotra to Brahma. After bestowing the knowledge of this stotra, Vishnu the lord of the universe was over-powered by yoganidra. 

Thereafter, Brahma who had emerged, seated on the lotus flowers, the stalk of which emerged from the navel of Vishnu, was paralysed by Madhu and Kaitabha. At that point of time Brahma adored the goddess Mula-prakruti. 

Brahma said- О Durga, О shiva, you are fearless, Maya, Narayani and eternal Jaya, you provide welfare to me. You bestow welfare on all. I bow in reverence to you, the word of Durga for the destruction of the demons; stands for the removal of the obstruction, this is the meaning derived according to the Vedas. in the word Durga stands for removal of the diseases and stands for destruction of the sins and stands for destruction of the enemies. 

With the reciting of the name of Durga the daityas and all other obstructions disappear. This is the reason why Durga has been termed as the true shakti of the lord by Hari himself. 

Otherwise the word stands for misfortune and stands for the destruction of the same. Therefore, the one who always destroys misfortune is called Durga. 

In another interpretation of Daityendra, stands for the demons and stands for their destroyer. Since the goddess had destroyed demons in earlier times that is why the intellectual called her as Durga. In the word shiva, stands for the best and stands for the combination and stands for the giver. Therefore, the one who provides welfare to all, she is called Siva, she happens to be the treasure of the welfare, that is why she is called shiva. 

In another interpretation, the word has been used for moksha or redemption and stands for the one who provides the same, therefore, the word shiva also means the one who provides salvation. 

The word Abhaya stands for removing of danger and stands for the one who provides the same. Since she provides protection from all the dangers she is known as Abhaya. 

In the interpretation of Rajalaksmi, stands for riches and stands for the one who bestows the same; therefore, the one who bestows all the riches is called Maya. 

Otherwise in the meaning of moksha stands for moksha and stands for the giver. Therefore, she is known as Maya because she bestows redemption from the ocean of the universe. 

Since she is born out of half the body of Narayana and because of her remaining in the body of Narayana she is also called Narayani. The word Sanatana is used for the eternal principle or the one who is without qualities. Therefore, since she always remains without qualities she is also called Sanatani. 

The word Jaya stands for welfare and stands for the giver. Since she provides victory to everyone, she is given the name of Jaya. The word Sarvamangala stands for all the fortunes and stands for the giver. Therefore, the one who bestows all the fortunes is called Sarvamangala. 

These eight names of the goddess represent the essence of this stotra which provides the meaning of her name as well. Narayana had bestowed the knowledge of this stotra to Brahma who was seated on the lotus emerging from the navel of Vishnu. After bestowing the knowledge to Brahma, lord Vishnu was over-powered by sleep. Thereafter two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha intended to kill Brahma. 

Thereafter, Brahma adored Durga reciting this stotra and bowed in reverence to her. After the offering of prayer to Durga, she herself appeared on the scene and provided a kavacha to Brahma. 

Bestowing the knowledge of Sarvamangala, (all protector), kavacha to Brahma, Mahamaya disappeared. 

By protecting himself with kavacha, Brahma started reciting the prayer. With the influence of the stotra, the goddess of sleep taking to the form of a bull accompanied by Durga and lord Janardana arrived there for the victory of shiva. The lord carried shiva together with his chariot on his head and relieving him of all the dangers, raised him up. The goddess Jaya bestowed victory to him. 

With the influence of this stotra Brahma received kavacha and by receiving kavacha and the boon, he became fearless. 

During the battle with Tripurasura, when shiva fell down with his chariot, Brahma bestowed this kavacha to shiva. 

After receiving this kavacha, stotra from Brahma, shiva recited the name of Hari who was engrossed in sleep. shiva then killed the demon Tripurasura. 

The cowherdesses adored Durga, reciting this stotra and with the influence of the goddess they achieved the lord as their husband. 

Thus this stotra is called Sarvamangala composed by the cowherdesses fulfils the desires, removes all the obstructions and by reciting it thrice a day with devotion by all including all the Vaishnavas, Saivas and Saktas, one is relieved of all the dangers.

By reciting this stotra one achieves success and freedom in the royal court, cremation ground, forest fire, in danger from the wild animals, getting terrified from the terrific creatures, at the time of sinking of a ship in the great ocean, getting surrounded by the enemies in the battle-field, in the prison, at the time of misfortune, during the curse of the teacher, curse of the Brahmanas, separation from the close relatives, falling from the position, becoming pauper, falling from the caste, having been plunged in grief, during separation from husband or the son, when in pain, having been bitten by the wicked serpent, whosoever recites this stotra he is relieved of all the dangers and is also freed from the same. One achieves the riches according to the best of his desires. 

With the grace of Parvati, he achieves the infallible devotion of the lord in this world. If he recites his name regularly he ultimately achieves his slavehood. The cowherdesses of Vraja reciting this stotra adored Durga with utmost devotion bowing in reverence to her for one month regularly. 

After the completion of the month on the last day, the cowherdesses went to the bank of Yamuna and keeping their costumes on the banks they entered the river water. 

О Narada, all the costumes which were as costly as the gems with red, blue, white and mixed colours were lying on the bank of the Yamuna. They were numberless. The bank of the Yamuna looked quite charming with the presence of those costumes. The entire bank was filled with the fragrance of sandal, aguru, kasturi and a fragrant wind was blowing. Various types of eatables, fruits, available during the season, the incense, vermilion and saffron were adding to the beauty of the river Yamuna. After their entry into the water, the cowherdesses were about to start the water-sports. In the meantime, Krishna arrived there and saw the various types of costumes lying on the bank of the Yamuna. He therefore, reached over the river bank with all the cowherds. They took charge df all the costumes and started consuming all the eatables lying there. 

All the cowherds delightfully went to a distant place. All the naughty boys made a bundle of the clothes and placing it over the shoulders, they started talking. 

The cowherds like Sridhama, Sudama, Vasudama, Subala, Suparsva, Subhanga, Sundara, Chandrabhana, Virabhana, Suryabhana and Vasubhana besides Ratnabhana happened to be the twelve main cowherds. 

Adding Krishna and Balabhadra to the number they are counted as fourteen. О sage, otherwise there were crores of cowherds who were friendly with Krishna. 

Carrying the costumes of the cowherdesses they moved at a distance and they made hundreds of bundles of those costumes. Thereafter lord Krishna carried some of the bundles with him and climbed over a kadamba tree and said to the cowherdesses. 

Sri Krishna said - "O cowherdesses, you have been unsuccessful in the performing of this vrata." You first listen to my words and then observe all the prescribed rites. Only after that you can play with the god of love,

The month in which the vrata has been performed, the welfare ceremonies have been performed, in the same month all of you after getting unrobed have entered the water. Why did you do so? By doing this you are desecrating your vrata and creating harm for yourself. 

Who has carried away your costumes, the flower garlands and the things required in the vrata? If a woman takes her bath after unrobing herself during the vrata, lord Varuna gets annoyed with her. The attendants of Varuna have carried away your costumes. 

Now how will you return without robes on and what shall happen to your vrata? Could the goddess who is adored by you not protect your costumes and other things? You now remember your great goddess who is quite adorable. You please her with your prayer. Is your goddess unable to protect your belongings? If it is not like that then how could she bestow the reward of vrata on you? The one who is competent to bestow the reward of vrata, can also be competent enough to perform all the deeds.

On hearing the words of Krishna all this cowherdesses felt deeply concerned; they found that their costumes which they had placed on the bank of the Yamuna were missing together with other things which they had placed there. Standing in the water without robes on they were filled with grief and started crying and said, "How could our costumes and other things have disappeared from the river bank?"

Getting upset all the cowherdesses prayed to Krishna with devotion folding their hands. 

The cowherdesses said- О supreme lord, you happen to be the lord of the slaves like us therefore, you consider our costume which are to be worn by us as your own. You have every right to touch them but the things which we have got to be offered during the vrata are dedicated to the adorable goddess and without offering the same to her, it would not be proper to carry them back. О best of those well-versed in the Vedas, you return our costumes wearing which we shall perform our vrata. О Govinda, you consume all other things for yourself.".

In the meantime, Sridhama arrived there with the bundle of clothes and showing the same to them, he fled away from the place. 

Finding that the cowherd was carrying their costumes Radhika, the adorable of all the cowherdesses, while remaining in the water felt annoyed and addressing the cowherdesses she said. 

Radhika said - О Susila, Shashikala, Chandramukhi, Madhavi, Kadambamali, Kunti, Yamuna, Sarvamangala, Padmamukhi, Savitri, Parijata, Jahnvi, Sudhamukhi, Subha, Padma, Gauri, Svyamprabha, Kalika, Kamala, Durga, Sarasvati, Bharti, Apurva, Rati, Ganga, Ambika, Sundari, Krishnapriya, Madhumati, Champa, Chandananandini, all of you should get up and capture the cowherds. At the command of Radhika, all the cowherdesses emerged from the water and covering their pelvic region with hands they rushed towards the cowherds. 

Thousands of their attendant cowherdesses also came out of the water and started running after them in the same way. 

All the damsels started running after Sridhama who was running carrying the bundle of clothes with him. 

In the meantime, Sridhama arrived at the place were all the cowherds were seated together with the costumes. All the cowherdesses rushed to the place forcibly and surrounded the cowherds who had stolen the costumes, but all the cowherds getting terrified rushed to the place of Krishna, where he was carrying all the saris with him. 

The cowherdesses reaching there surrounded the boys as well as Krishna. Terrified of the cowherdesses, the boys gave away all the clothes to Madhava and Madhava placed all the clothes on the trunk of the tree. With the placing of various types of costumes on the kadamba tree, it looked quite fine. 

Thus placing all the bundles of clothes, on the trunk of the trees, Sri Krishna started rejoicing and spoke the following words. 

Sri Krishna said- О cowherdesses, now you tell me what you will do without robes, you beg for the costumes immediately with folded hands and tell Radhika your chief also to do so.

Otherwise I shall not give you any clothes; what harm can Radhika, your goddess, do to me? Even otherwise what shall the goddess who is adored by you during the vrata, bring to me? All of you should go and tell this to Radhika. 

On hearing the words of Krishna, all the cowherdesses casting their side-glances at Krishna went to Radhika their goddess. 

Reaching there they narrated to her whatever had been spoken by Krishna, hearing which Radhika started smiling and abounded with desire. 

On hearing the words of the cowherdesses, her hair stood on end and she continued smiling but because of shyness, she could not go to the lord,

Thereafter, remaining in the water, she recited the name of the lord Krishna seated in yogasana and meditated upon the lotus-like feet of Krishna which are also adored by Brahma, shiva, Ananta, Garga and others. 

With her eyes filled with tears, she devoted her mind to the lotus-like feet of lord Krishna again and again. Thereafter getting emotional and overwhelmed, she offered prayer to the lord. 

Radhika said- О lord of the Goloka, lord of the cowherdesses, my lord and lord of my life, О merciful to the down-trodden, lord of the down trodden, the lord of all, I bow in reverence to you. 

О lord of the cowherds, lord of the herd of cows, you are the one who increases the pleasure of Yashoda, the son of Nanda. You are Sadananda, Nityananda, I bow in reverence to you. 

You are the one, who made the anger of Indra to be infructuous. Subjugator of Kaliya, О lord of my life, О Krishna I bow in reverence to you.

You are the lord of shiva, Ananta, Brahmanas, beyond everything, the form of Brahman, the knower of Brahman and the seed of Brahman, I bow in reverence to you.

You are the seed of the tree of movable and immovable beyond gunas, gunatmaka, the seed of the gunas, the base of the gunas, lord of the gunas, I bow in reverence to you.

You are the lord of siddhis including anima, you are the form of success, the form of siddhis, the seed of tapas, I bow in reverence to you. 

You are beyond description, the form of inexplicable one, the seed of both, the seed of all, I bow in reverence to you. I myself, Sarasvati, Laksmi, Durga, have become eternal by adoring at your feet always, I bow in reverence to you. By adoring whose devotees and by touching them even the sacred places are purified, I bow in reverence to such a lord. 

Thus speaking and remaining in the water she completely devoted her mind and remained there motionless. 

Whosoever recites the stotra composed by Radha thrice a day he achieves the devotion of the lord besides his slavehood and also achieves the place of Radha.

Whosoever recites this stotra at the time of danger, he achieves all the fortunes and also gets back the riches which he had lost for long. 

There is an increase in his relatives and he always remains delightful. A person who is engrossed in many types of worries, gets relieved of the same by reciting this stotra. 

The one who is separated from the husband or the son or the friend and during the time or danger whosoever recites this stotra for a month, he is relieved of the entire grief. If a maid recites this stotra with devotion for a year without interruption, she achieves a husband whose qualities equates lord Krishna. 

Radhika adored at the lotus-like feet of Krishna while remaining in water as a result of which when she opened her eyes she found Krishna everywhere. The bank of Yamuna was found by her filled with all the costumes. At the sight of the same, Radhika realised than she was dreaming. Whatever things were placed on the bank of the river were all received by the cowherdesses together with their costumes. Thereafter all the cowherdesses coming out of the water performed their vrata appropriately pleasing the goddess and receiving boons from her. 

Narada said- О lord, how is that vrata performed? What is its name and the reward? What are the things required for the same and what is the type of dakshina to be offered for it? 

О virtuous one, at the end of the vrata what was the pleasant secret revealed? You kindly speak out the story of Narayana in detail. 

Sulta said- On hearing the words of Narada, Narayana the best of the sages, who happens to be the teacher of all the teachers and the poet smiled and started speaking. 

Narayana said- О son, you listen to me in detail, the method of performing the vrata is called Gauri-vrata. This vrata was performed by the ladies in the month of Agahana. 

It also bestows dharma, artha, kama and moksha besides the devotion of lord Krishna to the people. It is popular in many regions of the country. It continues from the ancient traditions.

It fulfils the desires of all and one achieves the reward relating to the wife or the women. The maid should perform this vrata by controlling her mind and washing her clothes and the next day on the first day of Agahana she should go to the bank of the river with devotion and take a bath wearing two clothes. 

Thereafter, the six gods like Ganesha, Surya, Agni, Vishnu, shiva and Durga should be invoked and five-fold adorations for them should be performed. Thereafter starting the vrata a pedestal should be made over which the pitcher should be consecrated. It should be decorated with sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and saffron, delightfully. 

Thereafter an image of ten-armed Durga should be made in sand and the vermilion should be applied on the head and the lower part of the body should be plastered with sandal-paste and camphor. 

Thereafter the goddess should be invoked with great devotion and with folded hands, the following stotra should be recited saying, 

It means "O Gauri, better half of lord shiva, О Kalyani, as you are beloved of lord shiva, you also make me the beloved of my husband.",

Reciting this mantra, one should meditate upon the goddess who is the mother of the universe. О Narada, this dhyanam which fulfils all the desires has been prescribed in the Samaveda. 

О Narada, this dhyanam which is beyond the reach of the sages is being spoken by me. You listen to it. The siddhas also meditate upon Durga who is the destroyer of all the misfortunes. 

The goddess Durga is the form of welfare known as shiva, beloved of shiva, Saiva, the one who resides in the heart of shiva wearing a serene smile on her face is glorious, having beautiful eyes, youthful, adorned with the gem-studded ornament including armlets, wristlets and anklets, besides a pair of kundalas of gems in the ears, the garlands of fragrant jasmine flower adorn the neck with the garlands of jasmine flowers. Her head is adorned with a spot of kasturi and vermilion. She is clad in the best of costumes purified by fire and wearing a kirita crown on the head, she is wearing the garland of best of gems besides the long garland of forest flowers. Her pelvic region is quite solid and developed. She carries heavy, developed breasts, looks quite youthful and is adorned by the gods like Brahma and others. She has the lustre like crores of suns and her lips resemble the ripe wood-apples; she has the complexion of beautiful champaka flowers and has the line of teeth resembling the jewels; she provides salvation and fulfils all the desires. She has the face like the full moon of the winter season, I adore goddess Parvati. 

Thus meditating upon the goddess, a devotee should place the flower on her head and again taking flower should adore her with devotion. 

With the above mantra of the vrata, the devotee should make six types of offerings.

Thereafter reciting the above stotra one should bow before her and concentrating her mind one should listen to the glory of the vrata of Gauri. 

Narada said- I have listened to the glory of the vrata and the method of performing it; now I intend to listen to Gauri vrata. О remover of the doubts, who performed this vrata for the first time and who popularised it on earth, you kindly tell me in detail. 

Narayana said- Kusadhvaja had a daughter named Vedavati. She performed this vrata for the first time at Pushkara. At the completion of this vrata, the goddess Jagadambika appeared before her, having the lustre of crores of suns, with a lakh of yoginis and gave an audience to her. 

She was riding on a chariot of gold, wearing a smile on her face. She then spoke to the self disciplined Vedavati. 

Parvati said- "O Vedavati, you will meet with welfare. Ask for a boon. I am pleased with your vrata and as such I shall bestow the boon desired by you.". 

О Narada, on hearing the words of Parvati and finding her place, the chaste Vedavati bowed in reverence to her and said. 

Vedavati said- О goddess, you bestow Narayana as my husband who is desired by me. I am not interested in any other boon. You kindly bestow upon me the deep devotion of his lotus like feet. 

On hearing the words of Vedavati, Jagadambika descended from her chariot smilingly and spoke to the beloved of Hari. 

Parvati said- О mother of the universe, I have known everything about you. You are the chaste Lakshmi incarnate on earth and have arrived here to purify the land of Bharata with the dust of your feet. О recluse one, the earth Will get immediately purified with the touch of your lotus-like feet, О great goddess, all the sacred places have also been purified. This vrata is meant for educating the universe. О ascetic, you perform tapas. In every birth you will always be the beloved of Narayana and his wife as well. 

Lord Vishnu will incarnate on earth in order to reduce her burden, in order to subjugate the demons, the Puma-Brahma would incarnate as Rama, the son of Dasaratha. His two attendants named as Jaya and Vijaya have fallen from Vaikuntha with the curse of the Brahmanas. In order to redeem them the lord would be born in Tretayuga in Ayodhya. 

Taking to the form of an infant, you go to Mithila where king Janaka would adopt you as his daughter reborn without human contact and will bring you up with considerable care. You will be given the name of Sita. Rama would come to Mithila and marry you. 

In each and every kalpa you would always be the beloved wife of the lord." Thus speaking Parvati left for her abode embracing Laksmi. The ascetic Vedavati turned herself in to the form of an infant and went to the earth and comfortably hid herself in the ploughed field. The king, Janaka, saw that an infant devoid of robes was lying on earth closing her eyes, the lustre of her limbs resembled that of the molten gold and the illustrious girl was found crying. Finding her so crying Janaka picked her up and carried her in his lap. When he was about to move from that place, there was a divine voice from the sky, "This infant girl is the form of Lakshmi and born without human contact. You accept her. In due course of time Narayana would himself be your son-in-law." This is what has to be spoken by me. 

The king Janaka then carried the child delightfully and handed her over to his wife for bringing her up. In due course of time when she was grown up the chaste Sita with the influence of this vrata, achieved Rama the son of Dasaratha as her husband,

The sage Vasistha popularised this vrata on earth with great devotion. Radhika after performing this vrata achieved lord Krishna and her beloved and the cowherdesses also achieved Krishna after performing this vrata. О Brahmana, I have thus narrated to you the details about Gauri vrata. 

If any maid in the land of Bharata performed this vrata she achieved the husband equivalent to the glory of lord Krishna. There is no doubt about it. 

Narayana said- Thus the cowherdesses performed the vrata for one complete month. They used to recite the above in praise of the goddess, daily. 

At the completion of the vrata, the cowherdesses performed the vrata according to the method prescribed in the kanva-sakha and offered prayers to her, as a result of which the truthful Sita achieved the lotus eyed Rama as her husband. 

The same stotra has been given as follows.

Janak! said- О shiva, you possess the prowess of all and you happen to be the base of all, you are the treasure of all the virtues and always enjoy the pleasure of the company of the lord shiva. I bow in reverence to you, you bestow a husband on me. 

You are the one who creates, maintains and destroys the universe; you represent the seeds for creation, the preservation and the destruction, they represent your form. I bow in reverence to you. 

You are well-aware of the essence of the husband, you are devoted to your husband you are quite chaste, always attracted towards your husband; provide me a husband, I bow in reverence to you. 

You are bestower of all the prosperity and are filled with all the welfare, you are the seed of all the welfare; therefore, О Sarvamangala, I bow in reverence to you. 

О beloved of lord shiva, you are loved by all, you are the seed of all, you remove all the misfortunes, you are all and the mother of all, I bow in reverence to you. 

You are the form of great soul and eternal, you are visible as well as invisible, I bow in reverence to you. 

Hunger, greed, desires, mercy, faith, sleep, drowsiness, memory and forgiveness are all your rays. О Narayani, I bow in reverence to you. 

Shyness, intelligence, satisfaction, support, peace, wealth and wisdom are all your rays. О form of all, I bow in reverence to you. 

You have the form of visible and invisible. You bestow the seed as well as the fruit. No one can make you speechless, О virtuous one, I bow in reverence to you. 

О shiva, you possess the fortunes relating to shiva and also bestow the fortune on others; О goddess, you bestow lord Krishna as my husband, I bow in reverence to you. 

On the day of completion of the vrata whosoever recites this stotra with great devotion and bows before the goddess Parvati, she surely gets lord Hari as her husband. 

Achieving the husband who is beyond all, she enjoys all the worldly pleasures with her husband in this world and ultimately, mounted over the divine chariot, she reaches the abode of Krishna. 

On the day of the completion of the vrata, Radhika offered this prayer with the cowherdesses and bowing in reverence to the goddess completed her vrata. She gave away a thousand cows to the Brahmanas, with a hundred golden cows to the Brahmana and a hundred golden coins. After giving away dakshina to the Brahmanas, she was about to leave for her abode. She served food to a thousand Brahmanas gracefully and many types of musical instrument were played upon. The riches were distributed among the beggars. In the meantime, Durga, the remover of all the misfortunes illumining with the divine lustre, appeared in the sky. 

She wore a serene smile on her face and was accompanied by hundred yoginis. She was mounted over a lion, had ten arms and was adorned with the gem-studded ornaments. 

She descended from the gem-studded chariot and embraced Radhika. 

On witnessing the goddess, the cowherdesses were overjoyed who bowed in reverence to her. Thereafter the goddess Durga blessed them saying, "The desires of all of you shall be fulfilled. 

Pronouncing the boon on the cowherdesses and talking to them gracefully, the goddess Durga with the smiling face spoke to Radhika. 

Parvati said - О Radha, you are dearer to the lord of the universe more his own life. You have performed this vrata in order to educate the people. You have appeared in human form due to your illusion. О beautiful one, do you remember the life story of lord Krishna who is the lord of the Goloka, Srishaila, the banks of river Viraja, the Rasamandala and charming Vrundavana? He is well-versed in the art of making love and steals away the hearts of the women and is the one who indulges in love sports. 

You have been born out of half the body of Krishna and you are equal to him in lustre. All the goddesses have been created out of your amsha. Then you are a chaste woman. 

You are the life of the lord and Hari himself happens to be your life. Even the Vedas project you as the one and do not speak of any difference between two. Then how could you be termed as a human being? 

In earlier times Brahma meditated for a thousand years but could not have a glance at your lotus-like feet, than how could you be tenned as the human being? 

О goddess, О peaceful one, you have taken to the form of a cowherdess at the command of lord Krishna and have arrived here on earth, than how could you be termed as a human being? 

Born in the race of Manu, Suyasa, the best of the kings went to Goloka with your grace; therefore, how could you be termed as a human being? Parashurama rid the earth of the Kshatriyas twenty-one times with the influence of your mantra and kavacha; therefore, how could you be a human being? He, receiving your mantra from shiva, meditated upon it in the Pushkara region and killed Kartavirya. Then how could you be a human being? 

In arrogance Parashurama broke a tusk of Ganesha. He was only afraid of you; then how could you be termed as a human being?

When I was about to reduce him to ashes in anger then, О goddess, you protected him lovingly. Then how could you be termed as a human being? 

Lord Krishna will always be your husband, in all your future births, you are the mother of the universe and this vrata has been performed by you for the welfare of the universe 

You have incarnated on earth to relieve her of her burden due to the curse of Sridhama. Then how could you be termed as a human being?

You are the daughter of Kalavati born without any human contact. You are meritorious and are the remover of the birth, death and old age then; how could you be termed as human being? 

After three months, in the month of Chaitra, at night in the beautiful Rasamandala of Vrundavana you will enjoy the divine dance with the lord and other cowherdesses. 

O Radha, in every kalpa, Brahma has ordained your union with lord Hari; then how could any one stop it? 

O beloved of lord Hari, beautiful one as I happen to be the spouse of the fortunate lord shiva, similarly you are also the fortunate spouse of lord Krishna. 

As the whiteness in milk, the burning sensation in fire, the fragrance in earth and coolness in water always remain, similarly you always remain in the heart of lord Krishna.

There is no one more fortunate than you, among the goddesses, the women, the Gandharva damsels as well as the demonesses nor shall there be anyone in future. 

With the boon pronounced by me, the lord who is beyond everyone, beyond the qualities, the one adored by Brahma and other gods, the same lord Krishna would always be at your command. 

Brahma, Ananta, shiva and even lord Krishna will be over-powered by you, who are beyond the conception of the yogis and whose devotion is quite difficult to achieve. Therefore, О Radha, no one else is more fortunate than you in all the universe. At last you will achieve Goloka together with Krishna. 

О sage, thus speaking Parvati disappeared from the scene at once. Thereafter Radhika also got ready to return to her abode with the cowherdesses. 

In the meantime, lord Krishna appeared before Radhika. Radhika looked at Krishna who was of tender age having beautiful dark complexion, clad in pitambara, adorned with all the ornaments, wearing the garland of jasmine flowers, falling up to the knees, together with the long garland of forest flowers. His eyes resembled the lotus flower of winter season and he was having the face which resembled the full moon of the winter season. He had a gem studded crown on his head. His teeth resembled the seeds of pomegranate. He was quite charming and held a flute in his hand playfully, together with a blue lotus flower. He was beautiful like crores of the gods of love besides being charming and beyond qualities. Brahma, Ananta, shiva and other gods adored him. He is the form of Brahman, well-wishers of the Brahmanas, well-versed in the shrutis, unmanifest, indestructible, manifest, form of lustre, eternal, bestower of grace, the base of welfare, the form of welfare and the bestower of welfare. 

Finding Krishna in such an astonishing form, Radha felt nervous and she bowed before him. At the sight of Krishna, Radha was filled with passion and fainted. 

Looking at the charming face of her beloved, he started smiling and in shyness she started covering her face with cloth again and again. 

Lord Hari wearing a smile on his face and with charming eyes, then stood before Radha and the group of cowherdesses and spoke to her. 

Sri Krishna said- О lady of my life, О Radha, you asked for a desired boon. О cowherdesses, you also spell out your desire. 

On hearing the words of lord Krishna, Radha and all the cowherdesses felt delighted and all of them begged for their boon from Krishna who was like kalpavruksha. 

Radhika said- О lord, my mind like a black wasp always hovers around your lotus-like feet, in order to extract the juice of devotion. 

In every birth you should be my lord and you provide us the infallible devotion of your lotus like feet. 

My mind, while sleeping or awake, during day and night should always recite the glory of your virtues, this is what is desired by me. 

The cowherdesses said- О lord of our lives, as you are the lord of Radha in all the births and her protector, similarly you should be the same to us also. 

On hearing their words, the lord the son of Yashoda, with the smiling face said, "Be it so." Saying this he accepted their prayer. 

Thereafter, the lord of the universe lovingly handed over a thousand petaled lotus flower to Radhika and a garland of jasmine flowers to Lalita. Thereafter Krishna, the lord of the cowherdesses, smilingly gave away to other cowherdesses flowers and garlands of flowers with utmost devotion.

Krishna said- After the expiry of three months, you will enjoy my company in the charming Rasamandala of Vrundavana. 

Whatever I am, you are also like me. There is no difference between us. I happen to be your life and you happen to be my life, О dear ones, this vrata had not been performed by you with a selfish motif but is meant for the welfare of the universe. You have arrived here from the Goloka and you have to return to that place with me.

Now you rapidly go back to your abodes. I shall belong to you in every birth. You will be dearer to me than my life. There is no doubt about it. 

Thus speaking lord Krishna sat on the bank of the river Yamuna and the cowherdesses also got themselves seated around him. 

All the cowberdesses were smiling delightfully and started extracting nectar from the lotus-like face of the lord, with the eyes, looking at him with side glances again and again like the partridge bird. 

Thereafter, shouting the slogan of the victory of the lord, the cowherdesses returned to their abodes and the lord, also getting pleased with the cowherds, returned to his abode. 

Thus I have narrated to you the charming life story of the lord in the context of the stealing of the costumes of the cowherdesses.