Before the wedding, auspicious rites were held for Krishna and Radha. Each sat in Their own family's gathering. The women marked Their foreheads with colors recalling the other. Priests sprinkled Them with the tips of sacred grass. The reciters offered blessings for Their future marriage. The women placed barley sprouts beside Their ears. Threads bound Their wrists beside the jeweled bracelets. The bride and bridegroom bowed to Their elders.
Then came the visits to the village shrines. Krishna went with the men of Vraja. Radha went with the women. Music and song accompanied Their worship. Lakshmi and Narayana were honored in those shrines. Krishna entered one of them. At His entry, Narayana became hidden. Only Lakshmi remained visible.
When Radha entered Her shrine, Lakshmi became hidden. Only Narayana could be seen. After each worshipper left, the two deities were seen again as usual. Madhumangala saw this and expressed wonder. He called attention to his friend and his friend's bride. He spoke of Their steadfast bond.
In his teasing interpretation, Radha would not draw Narayana into Krishna's place. Nor would Krishna take Lakshmi in Radha's place. Their devotion to each other remained unbroken. After worship, the bride and bridegroom went home. Each returned to Their own family's house. Yet the narrator spoke of Their hearts otherwise: inwardly, each followed the other.