Shloka 22
The Greatness of Śrī Rādhāṣṭamī
Rādhā’s Birth-Eighth Observance
राधाव्रतिन ऊचुः । भाद्रे मासि सिताष्टम्यां जाता श्रीराधिका यतः । अष्टमी साद्य संप्राप्ता तां कुर्वाम प्रयत्नतः
rādhāvratina ūcuḥ | bhādre māsi sitāṣṭamyāṃ jātā śrīrādhikā yataḥ | aṣṭamī sādya saṃprāptā tāṃ kurvāma prayatnataḥ
રાધા-વ્રતના અનુષ્ઠાતાઓ બોલ્યા—“ભાદ્ર માસની શુક્લ અષ્ટમીએ શ્રી રાધિકા પ્રકટ થયા. એ જ અષ્ટમી આજે આવી છે; તેથી આપણે પ્રયત્નપૂર્વક તે વ્રત કરીએ.”
Rādhā-vratins (devotees observing the Rādhā-vrata)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राधाव्रतिन = राधा-व्रतिनः; सिताष्टम्यां = सिता-अष्टम्याम्; श्रीराधिका = श्री-राधिका; साद्य = सा अद्य
FAQs
It describes the resolve of Rādhā-vratins to observe the Rādhā-vrata (a devotional vow/ritual) specifically on Bhādra month’s bright eighth lunar day (Śukla-aṣṭamī).
The verse states it is significant because Śrī Rādhikā is said to have been born on that tithi; therefore, the vow is performed when that same tithi recurs.
It emphasizes intentional devotion: recognizing an auspicious sacred time and undertaking spiritual practice with sincere effort (prayatnataḥ), rather than casually.