Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
While wandering throughout Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma met Kubjā, a maidservant of Kaṁsa, at this place. With great love Kubjā offered āṅgarāga, an application of ointments, to the limbs of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Just by touching her waist and chin with His hands, Śrī Kṛṣṇa transformed her into a teenage girl beautiful as a heavenly damsel. Looking at Him with shy, lust–filled eyes, Kubjā tried to take Him to her home. Śrī Kṛṣṇa promised to visit her upon completing His work and then He left. After killing Kaṁsa, Kṛṣṇa went to Kubjā’s house with Uddhava and stayed there for some time, thus fulfilling her heart’s desire.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “The house of Kubja used to be at this place. See this Kubja-kupa, which is known to all. The wonderful pastimes of Krishna with Kubja are known throughout the three worlds.” Kubja Kupa is the well where Kubja the hunchback servant of King Kamsa first met Krishna and Balarama. She was on her way to Kamsa’s palace carrying precious sandalwood pulp for the king, but when Krishna noticed the young hunchbacked girl carrying the fragrant sandalwood, He asked Kubja to present the sandalwood to Balarama and Himself. When Kubja turned and first glanced at Krishna, she was completely overcome with His beauty and within her heart she desired to serve Him as His wife. She therefore immediately offered the precious sandalwood to Krishna and Balarama and personally smeared Their limbs with the fragrant pulp. Krishna was so pleased by her devotion, He placed His foot over hers and holding her by the cheeks, lifted her up with a jerk, which straightened out her body and simultaneously making her far more beautiful than even the Apsaras in the heavenly planets. Seeing the sudden transformation of her body, with such attractive features and stunning beauty, she immediately invited Krishna to visit her house so that she might satisfy her desire to embrace Him. Krishna agreed, but only after His work in Mathura was completed. It is said that next to Kubja Kupa was Kubja’s house (koti) where she had formerly lived. After Krishna had killed Kamsa and reestablished Ugrasena Maharaja on the throne of Mathura, He went with Uddhava to Kubja’s house to satisfy her desires and at the same time purify her soul and transform her into a pure devotee.
In her previous life, it is said that Kubja had been Ravana’s sister Supanakha, who, after seeing the beauty of Lord Rama, fell in love with him and wanted to marry Him. As Rama was not interested in any woman other than Sita, having taken the vow of eka-patni – meaning only one wife, Supanakha felt rejected and she then approached Lakshmana, Rama’s brother, who also refused her proposal. Utterly frustrated, she then flew into sudden rage and attacked Sita with her sharpened nails; Lakshmana immediately cut off her nose and disfigured her face. The word ‘supanakha’ means ‘one with sharpened nails’. Supeanakha then went to Lanka and complained to Ravana who subsequently abducted Sita as a reprisal. Later, Supanakha Surpanakha, still intensely in love with Lord Rama, went to Pushkara-tirtha to undergo penance in order to achieve Lord Rama as her husband. Lord Shiva finally gave her the boon that she would be able to enjoy the position of the Lord’s wife when He incarnated as Krishna the Dwapara-yuga. According to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, in Chaitanya-lila Kubja appeared as Kashi Mishra.
