Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
On the western side of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is Jhūlana-talā. Once, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī were sitting near Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī’s bhajana-kuṭī on the north-eastern side of Rādhā-kuṇḍa, immersed in narrations about Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī asked Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, “Rūpa, what are you writing these days?” Śrī Rūpa showed Sanātana Cāṭu-puṣpāñjali, a stotra that he had composed. The first verse reads:
maṇi-stavaka-vidyoti veṇī-vyālaṅgaṇā-phaṇāṁ
When Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī read this, he said, “Rūpa, with the phrase veṇī-vyālaṅgaṇā-phaṇāṁ you compare the wavy, black braided hair of Śrīmatī Rādhikā to a poisonous black female serpent. She who possesses all qualities, Śrīmatī Rādhikā, is extremely charming, tender and sweet and is the beloved of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. I do not like this comparison.” Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī smiled and humbly requested Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī to suggest a better description, but Sanātana Gosvāmī could not think of one at that moment. “I will correct it later,” he said and went on his way, contemplating the matter. When he reached this place to the west of the kuṇḍa, he saw a young cowherd girl swinging on a beautiful swing that was hanging from the branches of a kadamba tree. Her friends were pushing Her to and fro, singing a mallāra-rāga. Suddenly, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī saw a black female serpent with an expanded hood slithering on the swaying black tresses of that young girl. Thinking to save Her from the serpent, he ran towards Her, shouting, “Lālī, lālī, beware! There is a black serpent in Your hair!” When he came nearer, however, everything disappeared. There was no kiśorī, no sakhīs and no swing. He wept with happiness and returned to Rūpa Gosvāmī saying, “Rūpa, your simile is perfect. Śrīmatī Kiśorī kindly granted me darśana of Her waving braid. There is no need for you to make any correction.” It is at this Jhūlana-talā that Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī had darśana of Śrī Rādhā.
