Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
To the east of Sūrya-kuṇḍa, within the lush, green forest, lies a very attractive pond. This is Lalitājī’s bathing-place. Sometimes, Lalitā, employed some cunning to bring Rādhikā here to meet with Kṛṣṇa. This pond is situated east of Nandagaon.
Once, Kṛṣṇa warned Śrīmatī Rādhikā to be cautious of Devarṣi Nārada. “Devarṣi is a sage whose nature is very complicated,” He said. “Sometimes he causes disputes between father and son, mother and father, or husband and wife. It is best to always be cautious of him.” But Śrīmatījī did not take particular heed of Kṛṣṇa’s words.
And so it happened that one day Lalitā picked belī, camelī and other flowers from the forest and began to string a beautiful garland for Kṛṣṇa. After completing it, she discarded it and began to string a new garland. She repeated this action many times. Nārada was hiding behind some trees, watching this intriguing scene. He approached Lalitā and asked her about her unusual behaviour. Lalitā said, “Every time I complete the garland, I feel that it is either too short or too long for Kṛṣṇa. This is why I keep starting again.”
The mischievous Nārada suggested, “Kṛṣṇa is playing nearby. Why don’t you make Him sit beside you and string your garland by measuring it against Him?” Lalitā agreed and called for Kṛṣṇa. She strung a beautiful garland for Him that was just the right size, and placed it around His neck. They then waited for Rādhājī, who had earlier asked Lalitā to make the garland, telling her that She would be there soon. However, Rādhājī was delayed by the sakhīs who were busy decorating Her.
Previously, Śrī Kṛṣṇa had promised Nārada to give him darśana of Him swinging with Lalitā, and now Nārada reminded Kṛṣṇa of His promise and repeatedly requested Him to sit with Lalitā on a nearby swing. They both sat down and swung back and forth as they waited for Rādhikā. In the meantime, Devarṣi went to Śrīmatī Rādhikā, singing, “All glories to Lalitā-Kṛṣṇa, all glories to Lalitā- Kṛṣṇa!” Śrīmatī Rādhikā respectfully greeted Devarṣi Nārada and inquired, “Devarṣi, today you are very happily singing the glories of Lalitā and Kṛṣṇa. It seems that you have some astonishing news. What is it?” Nārada smiled. “Aah, what a beautiful scene,” he said. “Kṛṣṇa, wearing a beautiful garland of forest flowers, is swinging with Lalitā. If You do not believe me, then go there and see for Yourself.” Śrīmatījī did not believe him, but still, She went there. “How could He possibly be swinging with Lalitā in My absence?” She thought, but from afar, She could see Kṛṣṇa and Lalitā on the swing. She angrily returned to Her kuñja and sat down, deeply immersed in a sulky mood, or māna.
Having waited a long time for Rādhājī, Kṛṣṇa finally went to look for Her. He told Her about Nārada’s activities and how it came to pass that He was swinging with Lalitā, and thus somehow pacified Her māna. He took Her to the swing, and Lalitā and Viśākhā pushed Them back and forth. This sweet pastime took place here. Nārada-kuṇḍa and the place where Lalitā and Kṛṣṇa swung lie near this pond.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This kunda is where Lalita would take her bath in the morning. There is also a jhulana-sthali here to commemorate the place where Radha and Krishna used to enjoy swing pastimes. This kunda is the site where Shrila Narada Muni had some fun at Radha’s expense. This joking mentality of Narada and his ‘impish’ and sometimes ‘boyish’ behavior is for some devotees very hard to comprehend and can be due to his being related to the celestial singers, the Gandharvas. Krishna new that Narada often visited Radharani and had warned Her about Narada’s joking and somewhat mischievous nature, telling Her to be cautious as Narada could create misunderstandings even between father and son, or between husband and wife, simply for fun. Radha did not take Krishna’s warning very seriously as the gopis found Narada to be very friendly and also very funny. One day, Krishna was waiting for Radharani to arrive at Lalita-kunda next to the jhulan-sthali to enjoy pastimes on the swing. Lalita was nearby making a garland of forest flowers for Krishna when Narada arrived there. Seeing that Radha was late, he saw an opportunity to play a joke. Noticing that the length of the garland Lalita was making was too long, he suggested that Lalita should measure it against Krishna’s body to make sure that she got the length exactly right. Lalita then approached Krishna to measure the length of the garland. When they were standing together, Narada informed Krishna about his long cherished desire to see Krishna sit on the swing with Lalita.
Krishna was very happy to fulfill Narada’s long cherished desire, but Lalita was hesitant, thinking that Radha might arrive at any time and would be upset to see her sitting on the swing alone with Krishna. However, Krishna told Lalita that there was no harm and she should sit on the swing just to make Narada happy. Therefore, at Krishna’s request, in order too please Narada, Lalita sat on the swing next to Krishna. Narada very gently began pushing them ‘to and fro’ and very soon both Krishna and Lalita became absorbed in talking while enjoying each other’s company on the swing. At that moment, Narada quickly went to find Radha and told Her about Lalita sitting on the swing with Krishna. Radha became angry and ran to Lalita-kunda to see for Herself. Seeing Radha suddenly arriving there in an angry mood and with Narada nowhere in sight, Krishna immediately understood that Narada was playing a joke and having some fun at Radha’s expense. After pacifying Radharani, Krishna told Her about the joke that Narada had played on Them. Narada was almost certainly hiding nearby and chuckling to himself at Radha’s predicament. After hearing Krishna’s explanation, Radha’s anger immediately subsided and She was also able to see the funny side of the joke. Radha and Krishna then sat on the swing and enjoyed jhulana pastimes along with Lalita and Vishakha and the other gopis.
