This volume presents, for the first time in a western language, a full translation from the Sanskrit of an important traditional commentary on the six chapters of Book Ten of the Bhagavata Purana (Chapters 29-33, and 35) which narrate Krsna's love-games with the Gopis. The Commentary is the Subodhini of the founder/saint Vallabhācārya, (c. 1479 с. 1531).
The extensively-footnoted translation is preceded by an introduction which endeavors to explain Vallabhacarya's fundamental viewpoint on the love-games, and several doctrines which became central to his system after finding their most perfect exemplification in the love-games. The "fundamental viewpoint" referred to is Vallabhācārya's clear underlying presupposition that all Krsna's Games in the Bhagavata, including the love-games, are meant to be perfect expressions and fulfilments of the moods (Skt. rasa) and sentiments (bhava) of Sanskrit aesthetic theory (alankara-śastra). And the two most important doctrines of Vallabhäcärya that find expression in the love-games are those of "Total Love" (sarvātmabhāva) and "Constraint" (nirodha).
The translation of the commentary contains as well a new translation of the six Bhagavata chapters involved, which are now widely known and recognized to be among the most beautiful and interesting passages of the world's scriptures.
DR. JAMES D. REDINGTON, S.J., is Assistant Professor of Theology at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. After receiving a Bachelor's degree from Boston College, he pursued graduate studies in the South Asian Studies Department of the University of Wisconsin (Madison, U.S.A.) and, for two years, in the Sanskrit Department of Bombay University. This resulted in M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in South Asian Language and Literature (Sanskrit language and Hindu philosophical/religious literature) from the University of Wisconsin. Beside his specialization in Hindu bhakti, Dr. Redington, who is a Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus, is personally and professionally interested in the Hindu-Christian dialogue.
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