Sri Lalita-Madhava Hardcover- Srila Rupa Gosvami – English

“The Lalita-madhava is a description of Sri krsna pastimes in Dvaraka. These pastimes were made into a drama by Srila Rupa Gosvami, and the work was finished in the year 1459 Sakabda. The first part deals with festicities in the evening, the second with the killing of the Sandhacuda, the third with maddened Srimati Radharani, the fourth with Radharani’s proceeding toward Krsna, the fifth with the achievement of Candravali, the sixth with the achievement of Lalita, the seventh with the meeting in Nava-vrndavana, the eighth with the enjoyment in Nava-vrndavana, the ninth with looking over pictures, and the tenth with complete satisfaction of the mind. Thus the entire drama is divided into ten parts.”

Lalita-madhava is a storehouse of descriptions of the mellows, ecstasies, and emotions of devotional service.

“Actually going to Vrndavana involves taking shelter of the six Gosvamis by reading the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhy, Vidagdha-madhava, Lalita-madhava and the other books that they have given. In this way one can understand the transcendental loving affairs between Radha and Krsna.

Kabe hama bujhaba se yugala-piriti.

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said: I met Rupa Gosvami at Prayaga, and became very attracted to him because of his exalted qualities,” Thereafter, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Praised Rupa Gosvami’s use of metaphors and other literary ornaments, and said that without such poetic attributes there is no possibility of preaching transcendental mellows. The Lord then requested all His personal associates to bliss Rupa Gosvami so that he would be able to continuously describe the pastimes of Vrindavana, which are full of emotional love of Godhead.

From the Back of the Book

Meanwhile, after arriving in Vrindavana, Rupa Gosvami became inspired to write a drama abut Lord Krishna’s pastimes. After composing the introductory verses, Rupa Gosvami departed for Bengal, and along the way he made some notes and began writing the action of the drama.

Upon reaching Bengal, Anupama died, and because of the resultant delay, when Rupa Gosvami reached Navadvipa, he found that the devotees had already left for Jagannatha Puri. Being very anxious to se Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Gosvami departed alone, and along the way he rested for the night at a place known as Satyabhama-pura, near Kataka. In his sleep, Rupa Gosvami dreamed that a celestially beautiful woman came before him and ordered, “Write a separate drama about me, and by my mercy it will be extraordinarily beautiful.”

After awakening when Rupa Gosvami thought about the dream, he concluded, “It is the order of Satyabhama that I write a separate drama for her. I had intended to describe, in one work, the pastimes that Lord Krishna had performed while at both Vridavana and Dvaraka. Now however, I shall divide them into two dramas.”