arī sakhi!, mati torī bharamāī

English meaning

(Discussion of a gopī pining in Shyāmasundara’s separation, with her close friend.) Addressing the virahiṇī, her friend says, “Oh sakhi! Don’t be crazy; you are unnecessarily being deluded. I swear on you that moon-rays are absolutely devoid of warmth, rather they are very cooling.” The virahiṇī replies, “Oh sakhi! Wise men regard the proof of experience to be better than the proof of hearing or also the proof of the Vedas. The implication is, what you just said is based on Vedic testimony, while what I have gone through is clearly a proof of experience. How then can I accept what you say?” At this, the virahiṇī’s friend questions, “Well, you say that your Beloved pervades your entire being, why then are you so sad?” The virahiṇī replies, “I personally do not want to meet the Beloved, but how can I make these stubborn eyes understand? Refusing to listen to me, they always crave to see the Beloved.” The virahiṇī’s friend then advises her to renounce this love which acts like an enemy, otherwise it will surely take her life. At this, Jagadguru Shrī Kripālu Jī answers her on behalf of the virahiṇī, “Oh innocent sakhi! You are totally ignorant about the nature of love. Once a person develops love for someone, it is impossible for him or her to get rid of it even though he or she may try crores of means. This is a fact which only a lover experiences.”

Complete whole-pad meaning transcribed from the supplied English edition. The source provides no separate line-by-line or word-by-word meaning.

Prem Ras Madira (English), Part 2 · PDF pages 228, 229 · printed pages 563, 564.

Meanings: Smt. Padmā Devī. English translation and transliteration: Sushrī Braj Parikarī Devī. Source details.