By the medieval Gauḍīya poet Balarām Dās
One day, when Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was absorbed in Her mood of sulky anger, Śrī Kṛṣṇa devised a playful trick to bring joy to Her heart. Disguising Himself in the attire of a foreign lady musician, He appeared before Her, carrying a graceful vīṇā in His hands.
Hearing Rādhārāṇī’s words spoken in displeasure, this “foreign lady” began to strum a sweet and melodious tune upon the vīṇā. Each note poured like nectar into the atmosphere, carrying a gentle persuasion. The divine sound of the vīṇā entered Rādhārāṇī’s ears, cooling the fire of Her anger and filling Her with delight.
Astonished by the music, Rādhārāṇī cried out,
“Dhanī! Dhanī! Dhanī!—Oh most fortunate lady! What reward can I give you? Your song has stolen my very life’s breath, and yet I have nothing sufficient to offer you in return!”
At this moment, the poet Balarām Dās reveals the secret:
“O playful Rādhā! Do not be bewildered. The vīṇā you hear is none other than the vīṇā of bhuvana-mohana—He who enchants the three worlds. Its sweetness has no equal, for its melody flows directly from the astonishing charm of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself.”
✨ This short padāvali verse captures a profound aspect of rasa: Kṛṣṇa’s endless inventiveness in love, and Rādhārāṇī’s ever-fresh astonishment. Here, the veśa (dress) of a foreign lady musician becomes another medium for the divine play of concealment and revelation.
