Take Me Along When You Play: Discussion of the 16th Name of the Hare-Krishna-Mahamantra: Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

The following article deals with the esoteric meaning (artha)1 of the sixteenth Name of the Hare-Krishna Maha-mantra according to Gopalguru Gosvami (15th century)2 and Bhaktivinoda Thakur (1838–1914)3 with reference to comments by Svami Sadananda Dasa (1908–1977).4 The artha of the final Name from this perspective is “he hare – maya saha ramasva.” This is usually translated as “Oh Radha, take pleasure in me and enjoy with me” (Jagadananda Dasa)5 or “please, rejoice with me” (Madhavananda Dasa),6 “enjoy with me” (Bhanu Svami)7 or “please perform Your8 transcendental sports with me” (Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja).9 Sadananda’s translation differs in two regards. First of all, Sadananda emphasizes the meaning of the particle “saha” as “together with” and secondly he translates “ramasva” as “you play” instead of “You rejoice/enjoy.” His translation thus runs as follows: “Oh Radha! Take me along when You play.” I will herein argue that the translation by Sadananda is more accurate