Svapna Vilasa - A Dream Pastime

by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

Sri Radha wakes in Nidhuvana forest at the end of Nisanta lila (5.30am), and appears embarrassed. Her beloved Sri Krsna sweetly inquires as to why She seems that way. She shyly replies

"My Dear most Beloved, in a dream last night I saw a beautiful river, just like the daughter of  Suryadeva,  Yammuna devi, but it was not that river, and, just as here in the forest of Vrnda, there was a wonderful, attractive bank of that river, but it was not this same bank.  There was a remarkable kirtan, but not a Vrajabasi kirtan, and many astonishing dancers, mrdangas and various other instruments. Amongst those dancers there was one jewel-like Brahmin boy, whose body was like lightening, molten-gold, and who was throwing the whole world into an deep ocean of ecstatic love."
      
"Sometimes He cried and uttered: “Krsna, Krsna.” Sometimes He sighed and said: “Oh Radha, Sri Radhe, where are You”? Sometimes He lost all composure and crashed to the ground. Sometimes He danced in joyous exhilaration, leaping high into the air, and was lovingly surrounded by His dear friends. He appeared to make the whole world cry, from the lowest blade of grass to the great, mighty lord Brahma".
 

"Then my mind became confused seeing all this. I was thinking is He my lover, or is this me and no one other? If it is me then where is my beloved? If it is He then where am I? My confusion became increasingly great then I fell into a deep sleep, but I found that boy so attractive, this is my embarrassment."

Lovingly Sri Krsna replied "My dear curious girl, after seeing all those other various sweet forms of mine, Lord Rama and the rest that I showed You before, You were certainly not astonished. How has this Brahmin boy been able to amaze You like this? How has He confused You so? Who is He? What is this?"  

After saying this to His beloved, the lover then thought for a moment, then smiling He tapped His Kaustubha jewel hanging from His conch like neck, and knowing His intention, that jewel spread forth a beautiful, gentle light and all the many images of His sports appeared there, both moving and non moving.

Then, thinking a little, Sri Radha said: "Oh dearest One, I understand Your intention completely. Since You have smiled, therefore You are He and though You have not said so clearly, since I have the feeling that I too am there, I infer that I, too, am in fact, also He.  

"Though this is where we make love, You often light up Your Kaustubha jewel here and gaze upon all the living beings, too. You will descend along with Your power and, telling all Your sports to everyone, will place the entire world once again in the ocean of deep love for You."

"What Garga that knower of the Veda, said to the leader of Vraja, Sri Nanada Baba, that Your color may sometimes be yellow, this was not false. Therefore, my dream was true. You indeed are that one and yet it is also true that You are here with me simultaneously."

One whose honeybee mind drinks the nectar of this dream quickly awakens, oh wise one, from the dream of doubt. Attaining consciousness (caitanya) that jiva plays in the ocean of love, since the Lord of the bower has abundantly bestowed unequaled compassion upon him.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Ki Jaya !!  Sri Radha Ki Jaya !!  Sri Krsna Chandra Ki Jaya !!