This Upanishada which belongs to Atharva Veda describes the glories of Sri Radhika. The word ‘Radhika’ is formed by the root word ‘Radha’ which comes from the verb ‘Radhayati’ meaning ‘Supremely merciful’.
(This Upanishada belongs to Vajasayeni Shakha of Shukla Yajurveda which is derived by the sage Vajasaneya, the great Brahmavadin from the lineage of sage Yagnyavalkya. The word ‘Radhika’ is formed by the root word ‘Radha’ which comes from the verb ‘Radhayati’ meaning ‘Supremely merciful. Radhika is the magnificent form of Radha when She is engaged in the divine Rasa-dance. The word ‘Tapani’ means ‘a heated and purified blooming gold’ which refers to the superiority and purity of this text. The famous word ‘Upanishada’ means ‘sitting near the Acharya and receiving the knowledge’. Thus is the etymology of the title.)
1. A discussion arose among powerful masters and skilled sages as to why only Srimati Radha should be worshipped. At that very moment, a great illumination appeared before them. The molten juice of the radiant sun appeared from the eminent firmament which was, indeed, the personification of scriptural injunctions.
2. It said, The innate divine power of all demi-gods and demi-goddesses emerged from the element of divinity, Radhika. We, the timeless Vedas bow before Shrimati Radharani with reverence who is the infinite energy and reason of creation of all demigods and their powers.
3. By Her minutest grace, all the demigods cavort and sway in trance. By Her slightest annoyance, they shiver in fear. We too worship this duo of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna and His consort, Radha which is eternal and full of bliss. It, being the foundation of universal consciousness and the infrastructure of the macro-cosmos, we worship with our heart, soul, and great devotion to graciously condone our shortcomings and sins committed by the earthly beings.
4. By whose light the color of Lord Krishna that resembles the light of Indra-Nila-Mani, turns into golden color. By whose glance the black birds of nature like crows and cuckoos become golden, to that Mother of universe we salute in veneration.
5. We, the Vedas, the Sankhya Yoga scriptures, and the Upanishads, couldn’t comprehend Her divine glories, and whom even the Puranas failed to comprehend in essence, offer our salutations to Shri Radhika Ji, the divine sustainer.
6. To that Śrī Radhika, the beloved goddess of Vrindavan, the sustainer of the Vrindavan forest, who is dearer even than life to Sri Krishna, the maintainer of the universe and enchanter of the worlds, we offer our salutations.
7. We always bow to that Shri Radhika, whose foot-dust Lord Shri Krishnachandra puts in His forehead in solitary while being immersed in Her love, and His flute falls from his hand and He becomes un-attentive for His scattered lock of Hair when He is engrossed in Her divine love-bliss, and enslaved by Her nectar He stays forever with her as a bondaged slave!
8. Upon witnessing Her love-play, the moon and celestial maidens become so mesmerized that they forget their very existence. When She performs Her divine pastimes in the sacred land of Shri Vrindavan, the immovable beings begin to move, while the moving ones become still in ecstasy. I offer my salutations to such Shri Radhika.
9. Lord Sri Krishna, while lying in her lap, forgets even His abode Goloka. The goddesses like Kamala (Lakshmi) and the daughter of the mountain (Parvati) are her partial manifestations, to that ocean of power, Sri Radhika, we offer our salutations.
10. Engrossed in whose singing of divine traits with three varying levels of musical notes the group of damsels of Vrindavan forgot days and nights and carried away by their love-intensity, who had arranged the night of Brahma and graced them by ecstasy ceaselessly, to that embodiment of love Radha, whose plenary portions are Lakshmi, Durga, Vijaya and Adi Shakti, we bow in devotion.
11. Who operates the flute with Her tender fingers assuming the Supreme dual armed form which is adorned by Nanda flora with Jasmine, Kalpa Vriksha flowers, we salute that Sri Radha Devi in devotion, by worshiping whom one, being pure, acquires the highest platform of undeviated position. For this is the word of Veda.
12. The combination of Radha-Krishna is an ocean of Ras (Bliss). They are not separate entities. They assume separate forms for the purpose of leela. These two forms are like body and its shadow. Those devotees who drink the nectar of their divine play invariably reach to the ultimate divine abode Goloka. Such fortunate soul becomes eternal and travels to the abode of eternity.
Shri Krishn standing with Shri Radha is only the complete Shri Krishn. One who differentiates between them can never be free from Maya (delusion). By neglecting Shri Radha, one who remembers, reads or narrates only about Shri Krishn is a fool amongst great fools.