śikhi-piccha gopa-mauleḥ śirodhirohāt tavonnatir bhavatu |
tasyās tu manavatyāḥ pada-tala-luṇṭhanaṁ phalaṁ janus-tapasoḥ ||
O peacock feather! You may have attained an exalted position by being worn on the head of the best of gopas but your birth and austerities really become successful only if you fall at the feet soles of that sulky One.
kadācit parama-nipuṇatā-saṁvalitā lalitā parijana-pariṣadi sopahāsam iva keki-candrakānyoktiṁ kathayantī guru-mānavatīm kāntām anunetuṁ kāntaṁ satvaram abhisārayati – śikhi-piccheti |
One day, in the assembly of the gopī girl-friends, Rādhā is being terribly bad-tempered in Her jealous pride. To appease Her, Lalitā, who is endowed with great dexterity, quickly invites Kṛṣṇa to meet Her by laughingly saying this allegorical verse about the peacock feather.
he śikhi-piccha! mayūra-candraka! gopa-mauler gopa-kulottaṁsasyāsya vraja-rāja-kumārasya śirodhirohāt śirasi uttaṁsatayā yo’varoho’vasthitis tasmād dhetos tava tapasvina iva śīta-vātātapādi-sahana-śīlatayā janatā-sampādita-namana-stavanādi-lakṣaṇonnatiḥ dhanyo’yam iti sambhāvitatva-mātraṁ bhavatu |
O peacock feather! You may have attained an exalted position, i.e. people may praise you and bow down to you, considering you blessed, by being worn, or situated, as an ornament on the head of the best of gopas, i.e. on the head of Nanda’s son, the adornment of the gopas’ community, and thus tolerating, as an ascetic, cold weather, wind or heat.
tur bhinnopakrame | parantu mānavatyā guru-mānityās tasyā anirvacanīya-rūpa-mādhuryādi-guṇa-nidher mama sakhyāḥ pada-tala-luṭhanaṁ parama-mṛdulayoś caraṇa-kamalayor madhye yal-luṭhanaṁ nipatya ciram anutthānaṁ paramānanda-pradatayā mahā-bhāgyodaya-labhyatayā tava januṣo janmanaḥ tathā tapasas tava pūrvoktasya śītātapādi-sahana-rūpasyonnati-hetor api phalam
The word ‘but’ (tu) is used to introduce a contrasting idea. But your birth and austerities, i.e. your tolerating of cold and heat that were mentioned before and that are the cause of your exalted position, really become successful, i.e. attain absolutely great fortune and supreme bliss, only if you fall, i.e. only if you throw yourself down and do not rise for a long time, at the foot soles, i.e. at the supremely tender lotus feet, of that sulky One, i.e. of that friend of mine Who is the treasure of such indescribable good qualities as sweetness or beauty, and Who is (now) sulky, or terribly bad-tempered in Her jealous pride.
tad vinā parama-vicitra-vapuṣo’pi tava janma-tapasor vaiphalyam eveti dhvanitam |
It is suggested that the peacock feather may have a beautiful shape but without throwing itself at the feet of Rādhā its birth and tapas are useless.
ataḥ pracchannā paramonnatis tu sadya-sukha-sampādakatayā pada-tala-luṭhanam eveti |
So it is falling at Her foot soles that actually constitutes the exalted, though hidden, position, this giving instant happiness.