RADHA AND KRSNA ENJOY TOGETHER ON THE YAMUNA’S SHORE
After performing wonderful pastimes in the Yamuna River with Srimati Radharani and His other beloved gopis, Lord Krsna came out onto the shore, taking all the gopis with Him. Then the gopis who had stayed on the riverbank rendered service by massaging the other gopis and Krsna with scented oil and smearing paste of amalaki fruit on their bodies.
Next they all bathed again, and after putting on dry clothing they went to a small jeweled house, where the gopi Vrnda arranged to dress them in forest clothing by decorating them with fragrant flowers, green leaves, and all kinds of other ornaments.
In Vrndavana the trees and creepers are wonderful because throughout the entire year they produce unlimited varieties of fruits and flowers. The gopis and maidservants in the bowers of Vrndavana picked these fruits and flowers and brought them before Radha and Krsna. The gopis peeled all the fruits and placed them together on large plates on a platform in the jeweled cottage. They arranged the fruit in orderly rows for eating, and in front of it they made a place to sit. Among the fruits were many varieties of coconut and mango, as well as bananas, berries, jackfruits, dates, tangerines, oranges, blackberries, grapes, almonds, and various dried fruits. There were also cantaloupes, palmfruits, bel, pilu, pomegranate, and many others. Some of these fruits are occasionally available in other places, but in Vrndavana they are always available in so many infinite varieties that no one can fully describe them.
At home Srimati Radharani had made various sweetmeats from milk and sugar, and then She had brought them all for Krsna. Now these sweets were also presented before the divine couple, Radha and Krsna. When Krsna saw the very nice arrangement of food, He happily sat down and had a forest picnic.
PAINTING BY JADURANI – DEVI DASI (1975)