For Rāsa Pūrṇimā (रासपूर्णिमा/शरत्पूर्णिमा), I composed the following Sanskrit composition to commemorate the Mahā Rāsa of Shri Krishna. It is composed in the style of Gopī Gītam (गोपीगीतम्) and set to Raga Madhyamadi Saranga.
महारासपूर्णिमागीतम्
शरदि शर्वरीशोदये प्रभो
त्वमसि भास्वरो रासमण्डले।
उडुपतिं विना तारकच्छटा
शतसहस्रशो नैव शोभते॥1
In autumn, at the time of moon-rise, O lord, you are the resplendent one in the Rāsa-arena. For without the presence of the moon, the lustre of stars, though present in their hundreds of thousands, does not illuminate us.
करधृता यया पादकिङ्किणी
चरणयोर्यया कङ्कणं धृतम्।
विकृतवेष्टिता वेणुमोहिता
जयति गोपिका कृष्णवल्लभा॥2
Charmed by the music of the flute, the Gopi, who adorned her hands with anklets and feet with bracelets, while wearing her clothes inside out, excels as Krishna’s beloved.
सरसिजारुणे यस्य लोचने
मकरकुण्डले कर्णयोस्तथा।
मधुरिमा मुखे यस्य मोहनस्
तदधरामृतं को न वाञ्छति॥3
Who does not want the nectar-like song flowing from the lips of the one whose eyes are radiant like a lotus, who wears crocodile-shaped ear-rings, and whose sweetness is enchanting?
तदपि मानिनी-गोपिका मुदा
करतलस्वनैर्नर्तयन्ति तम्।
अपि तु लीलया नृत्यति स्वतो
निभृतमर्म तद्वेत्ति को बुधः॥4
“But even then, the proud Gopis blissfully made him dance to the clapping of their hands. Or did he dance of his own accord, as a sport?” — Which intelligent person can understand the secret of this matter?
अयि रहस्यकं सर्वमेव नो
जनकमातरौ तस्य निश्चिते।
प्रियतमस्तथापि व्रजेश्वरो
वदति विस्मिता गोपबालिका॥5
“Truly, everything is mysterious about this boy. Even the identity of his parents is not certain. But still the lord of Vraja is our beloved.”– says an astonished cowherd.
कुमुदिनीचये रागिनीगणं
कुवलयाशये रागसङ्ग्रहम्।
चरणनूपुरे तालमालिकां
मुररिपोर्निशायां प्रपश्यतु॥6
In this night of the enemy of Mura, i.e., Krishna, behold the Raginis in the hosts of night lotuses, the Ragas in the hearts of water-lilies, and the range of Talas in the beads of his anklets.
नभसि सर्वतो देवयोनिजैर्
धिगिति चिन्तितं वासवालयम्।
व्रजवधूरितः सा गरीयसी
यदुपतिर्जितो भक्तितो यया॥7
“Woe to this heaven, the seat of Indra!” thought the Devas as they surrounded the sky in all directions, “Higher than this is the Gopi of Vraja who was able to win the scion of Yadavas (Krishna) by her devotion.”
दिनकरोदये रासमण्डलं
पशुपतिस्स्वयं द्रष्टुमिच्छया।
विपिनमागतो गुर्जरीगला-
दृषभधैवतारूढभैरवः॥8
When the sun was about to rise, Shiva himself, desiring to see the Rāsa-arena, arrived at the forest in disguise. He sprung as Raga Bhairava, riding the second (Rishabha) and sixth (Dhaivata) notes of the octave, from the song of a Gurjari (reference to Raga Gurjari Todi).
व्रजकुले पुरा गोपिकार्चितो
भवतु मेऽधुना वस्तु चक्षुषोः।
विरहपीडिता व्याकुला हरे
भरतभूरियं त्वां प्रतीक्षते॥9
May he, who was thus worshipped, by the milkmaids in ancient Vraja, now become the object of my eyes. O Krishna, this land of Bharata is anxious and afflicted by the sorrow of your separation, and awaits your arrival.
तव मुखाम्बुजं संस्मराम्यहं
तव पदाम्बुजं चिन्तयाम्यहम्।
तव कराम्बुजस्यावलम्बनं
मम मनो मुदा याचते सखे॥10
O friend, I contemplate your lotus-like face. I worship your lotus-like feet. Furthermore, my mind seeks the support of your lotus-like hands.
हृदि न ते दया हे दयानिधे
स्वपिषि वारिधौ योगनिद्रया।
अनवलम्बितं मोहसागरे
पतितमेव मां वा न वीक्षसे॥11
O abode of mercy! Either you do not have forgiveness in your heart, as you sleep in your Yogic meditation in Vaikuntha; or, you do not see me sinking unsupported in this sea of delusion.
मनुजजीवनं निर्मितं त्वया
प्रणयबन्धनं साधितं त्वया।
विरहवेदना कारिता त्वया
जगदिदं हरे त्वां प्रतीक्षते॥12
You created this human life. You initiated this bond of affection. You caused the pangs of separation. And, O Krishna, now, this world awaits you.
गजपतेस्त्वया क्रन्दनं श्रुतं
द्रुपदनन्दिनीरोदनं श्रुतम्।
श्रुतमहो ध्रुवाभ्यर्थनं वने
कथमिह स्वरः श्रूयते न मे॥13
You attended to the cries of the great elephant Gajendra. You heard the wailing of Draupadi. You answered the prayer of Dhruva in the forest. How, then, could you not hear our call?
नटति मोहनः कृष्णनागरो
नटति राधिका नागरी सदा।
नटति गोकुलं गोपलालितं
नटति पावनी रासयामिनी ॥14
Thus, Krishna dances, along with Radha and the entire Gokula, the beloved village of the cowherds. Dancing along is this night of Mahā Rāsa.
