The Vidagdha-madhava, written by Rupa Goswami, the primary theologian of the nascent 16th century Gaudiya Vaishnavism, is considered by the community to encapsulate the highest possible expression of devotional love of God. Featuring the amorous interactions between Krishna and his beloved consort Radha, the text is a sequel, and the devotional culmination of, the author’s seminal and core canonical text, the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu and its madhurya centered elaboration, Ujjvala-nilamani. The Divine Play is a summary of this exquisite theological drama, including commentary on its most outstanding verses – a kind of user’s guide for those who wish to gain a thorough knowledge of Rupa’s work and an insight into its theological riches.

Compiled from various translations and her own long-standing knowledge of Sanskrit, the author, Revati Devi Dasi, has produced a very readable rendition of this classic, along with contextual and other background information. This is no easy feat: a drama like the Vidagdha-madhava is as much a work of kavya, Sanskrit poetics, particularly the rasa-sastra, as a theological treatise, and Revati’s unpacking of the aesthetic aspect of the work exhibits a serious engagement with the complexity of Sanskrit literary conventions. The text is full of difficult-to-translate puns, ambiguous statements, and poetic embellishments that cannot be rendered into English or even recognized without appropriate erudite guidance; and this Revati has provided.

Rupa was entrusted by his teacher Sri Caitanya to reveal the wonders of rasa-bhakti to the world, and Revati has faithfully followed in the footsteps of this great acarya by making his treasure store of rasa poetic excellence available to an even wider audience. This is a must read for anyone interested in Krishna devotionalism and, indeed, any theist interested in the modalities of love of God writ large.

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To view excerpts and learn more about The Divine Play by Rupa Goswami and the author’s previous volume, The Mission of Rupa Goswami please visit her website. For ordering details, based on your country, please email Revati Devi Dasi here. 

About the Author

Revati Devi Dasi (Rita Renner) is a Hungarian-born translator, editor, and indexer. Her studies include engineering, English language, and Gaudiya Vaishnava theology. She had always loved books and traveling, but books turned into scriptures and journeys into pilgrimages as her interest turned more and more towards religions over the years.

She is the translator and editor of dozens of books and textbooks in the field of Hinduism, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and Yoga; however, her preference is to work on the publications of her spiritual master, Sivarama Swami, because they are closest to her heart. 

She owes a debt of gratitude to Indradyumna Swami, whose lectures on Vrindavana and parikramas in the holy dhama serve as preeminent guides on her spiritual path.

Living a quiet life near the Budapest ISKCON Temple, service to the wonderful deities of Gaura and Nitai is also an integral part of her life. 

The subject of her master’s thesis at Bhaktivedanta College Hungary was specifically on Rupa Goswami. Shortly thereafter, a book of her thesis was published under the title The Mission of Rupa Goswami. Her latest publication, The Divine Play by Rupa Goswami, is a sequel to the first volume. Its subject is Vidagdha-madhava.

About the Reviewer

Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D in Indic languages and Cultures from Columbia University, where his thesis culminated in his first book The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture (Oxford University Press, 2001). He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition. These include a Penguin World Classics translation of the story of Krishna’s incarnation, from its traditional source the Srimad Bhagavata Purana.

Edwin’s popular translation of and commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009) and Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2017) are among his most recent offerings. For more information about his books, articles and courses, please visit his website.