You see, in my travels throughout India all these years, I have come across many a great soul, many a heart overflowing with loving kindness, sitting at whose feet I used to feel a mighty current of strength coursing into my heart, and the words I speak to you are only through the force of that current gained by coming in contact with them.

~ Swami Vivekananda (Vivekananda speaks to you)

२९.

मण्डल रास बिलास महा रसमण्डल श्री वृषभान दुलारी।

पंडित कोक चला गुण मण्डित कोटिक राजत गोपकुमारी॥

प्रीतम के भुज दण्ड में शोभित संग में अंग अनंगन वारी।

तान तरंगन रंग बढ़्यो, ऐसे राधिका माधव की बलिहारी॥

God is always in union (Maharaas) with creation, though we don’t always realize it. This sawaiya verse by a Braj poet, depicts the episode when God came as Sri Radha and Krishna - to love and be loved.

Gopis of Vrindavan had prayed to Ma Katyayani on the banks of River Yamuna (Yamuna ji is also Krishna’s wife and she is a symbol of love, a giver of devotion to Krishna.) The prayer was to have Krishna as their master/caretaker/husband. God is already everyone’s caretaker and master. More...

२६.

दे लिखि बांहन पे व्रजचन्द्र सो गोल कपोलन कुंज बिहारी।

त्यों ‘पदमाकर’ हीय हरी लिखि गोसो गोविन्द गरे-गिरिधारी॥

या बिधि ते नख से सिख लौं लिख कन्त के नाम अनन्त है प्यारो।

गोरे से अंग में गोद दे श्याम सो हे गोदनान की गोदनहारी॥

In this sawaiya verse by Braj poet Padmakar, in fond remembrance of Krishna (smaran bhakti, स्मरण भक्ति) Gopi is asking a tattoo-maker to tattoo several of Krishna’s names on her body.

२५.
तेरी न चेरी न तेरे ददा की, न कोल्हूं में डारि पेराइ देवै हों।
खैचत हौ अंचरा गहि कै, फटि हे चुनरी कमरी दे के जै हों॥
टूटेंगे हार हमेल हजार  तौ नन्द जसोदा समेत बिकै हों।
राजी चहौ दधि खाओ भला वरि आई लला एक बूंद न पैहों॥

२४.
मंजुल मोरपखा छहरै छवि सों जब ग्रीव कछु मटकावत ।
नूपुर की झनकारन पै झुकि ग्वालिन गोधन गीत गवांवत ॥
आननचन्द सु मन्द हंसी ‘रतनाकर’ माल हिये लहरावत ।
देखि सखी वह मैन लजावत सांवरो बेनु बजावत आवत ॥

Krishna in Vrindavan :-)

This beautiful rangoli made from dry coloured rangoli powders and flowers is from a Rangoli competition in a Chennai street.

२३.
सांवरी राधिका मान कियो परि पांयन गोरे गोविन्द मनावत ।
नैन निचौहे रहं उनके नहीं बैन बिनै के नये कहि आवत ॥
हारी सखी सिख दै ‘रतनाकर’ हेरि मुखाम्बुज फेरि हंसावत ।
ठान न आवत मान इन्हैं उनको नहिं मान मनाबन आवत ॥

Poet Ratnakar says in this sawaiya:

When Radha was annoyed with Krishna, Krishna bowed at her feet requesting her for truce. He didn’t really know how to please her. Neither did Radha really know how to show anger, observes the poet.