Eight Appeals to Sri Radha

Sri Gandharva-Prarthanasataka

“Eight Appeals to Sri Radha”

From Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Sri Stava-mala

1. Please reveal the lotus faces of You both as, with the enthusiasm of two maddened elephants, You enjoy pastimes in the pleasure-groves of Vrindavan. O queen! Please be kind to me. Please be kind.
2. Falling down like a stick on the ground, distressed, and stammering with words choked with emotion, I beg You: O Queen Gandharvika, please be kind to this foolish person and count him one of Your associates.
3. O beautiful one, when shall I worship You, Your intense beauty leaving the goddess of fortune far behind, and Your transcendental form bound by the left arm of Lord Syama, who charms all the worlds with His handsomeness far greater than that of Lord Narayana?
4. O queen, when, covering You with a cape as splendid as a monsoon cloud, and removing Your ankle-bells from Your feet, will I lead happy You to a splendid forest grove at night for a meeting with the prince of Vraja?
5. When, as you, the two ornaments of the three worlds, recline on a pastime bed of flowers and enjoy pastimes of sweet joking words, will this person, massage Your lotus feet?
6. O queen of Vrindavana, when, the two of You staying under a tree by the shore of Your lake and Your handsome lotus faces kissed with the perspiration from the fatigue of Your pastimes, will I fan You both with a camara whisk?
7. When, as You playfully hide in a forest cave and Citra hints that, ‘Now, O beautiful-eyed one, You are trapped by Mukunda,’ and I say, ‘Don’t knit Your eyebrows,’ will I lead You, as You feign anger, into the presence on the prince of Vraja?
8. When will I see You as, after defeating the prince of Vraja in a playful verbal duel, intoxicated with the happiness and speaking many proud words, You are elaborately praised by Your blossoming friends?
9. Whatever surrendered devotee reads these eight appeals to the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, She, along with Her beloved, happily splashes with the waves of mercy.