Bhagavatapurana 10.11: athaikādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.11.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
gopā nandādayaḥ śrutvā drumayoḥ patato ravam /
tatrājagmuḥ kuru-śreṣṭha nirghāta-bhaya-śaṅkitāḥ //

Śrī Śuka said: / Hearing the crash of the two falling trees, the cowherds headed by Nanda / came there, O best of the Kurus, fearing a thunderbolt.

1. Sri Suka said:—Hearing the noise of the two falling trees, O foremost one of Kurus, Nanda and other Gopas came to that spot, suspecting the fear of a thunderbolt.

10.11.2

bhūmyāṃ nipatitau tatra dadṛśur yamalārjunau /
babhramus tad avijñāya lakṣyaṃ patana-kāraṇam //

There they saw the twin arjuna trees fallen to the earth; / not knowing the visible cause of the fall, they were bewildered.

2. There they saw the two Arjuna trees fallen to the ground and not knowing the cause of their fall, though obvious, they were bewildered.

10.11.3

ulūkhalaṃ vikarṣantaṃ dāmnā baddhaṃ ca bālakam /
kasyedaṃ kuta āścaryam utpāta iti kātarāḥ //

[Seeing] the boy dragging the mortar and bound with a rope,
[the cowherds asked,] apprehensive: "Whose doing is this? Whence comes this wonder, this portended calamity?"

3. And also saw they the child dragging the mortar tied to him with a rope; 'whose (work) is this? whence! Oh! wonder! what portent! Thus afraid, they got much perplexed.

10.11.4

bālā ūcur aneneti tiryag-gatam ulūkhalam /
vikarṣatā madhya-gena puruṣāv apy acakṣmahi //

The boys said: "By him dragging the mortar turned sideways
as he passed between them, and we also saw two men!"

4. The boys (there present) informed them thus:—"By this Krishna it was done, going between the trees and dragging the mortar that had fallen across; we also saw two men."

10.11.5

na te tad-uktaṃ jagṛhur na ghaṭeteti tasya tat /
bālasyotpāṭanaṃ tarvoḥ kecit sandigdha-cetasaḥ //

They did not accept what was said: "This could not be his doing—
the uprooting of the trees by a child"; some had doubtful minds.

5. But they did not believe what the boys said for the reason that it was not possible for him, a child, to uproot the two trees; and some of them felt only a doubt in their mind.

10.11.6

ulūkhalaṃ vikarṣantaṃ dāmnā baddhaṃ svam ātmajam /
vilokya nandaḥ prahasad- vadano vimumoca ha //

Seeing his own son dragging the mortar and bound with a rope,
Nanda, his face breaking into laughter, released him.

6. Seeing his son tied with a rope and dragging the mortar along, Nanda smiled and set him free.

10.11.7

gopībhiḥ stobhito 'nṛtyad bhagavān bālavat kvacit /
udgāyati kvacin mugdhas tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat //

Challenged by the cowherd women, the Lord danced like an ordinary child at times;
at times, charmed, he sang aloud, under their control like a wooden puppet.

7. Cheered by Gopa women with clapping of hands, the glorious Lord sometimes danced like a child; some time, as if in childish ignorance, He sang loudly and He behaved like a wooden machine in their hands.

10.11.8

bibharti kvacid ājñaptaḥ pīṭhakonmāna-pādukam /
bāhu-kṣepaṃ ca kurute svānāṃ ca prītim āvahan //

Commanded, at times he would carry a small stool, a measure, or wooden sandals,
and he swung his arms, bringing joy to his own folk.

8. & 9. Now when told to get the high-legged wooden seat, He only takes hold of it; and now He swings His arms to the joy of His own people; to those in the world that know Him He shows that He is always with His own servants (votaries); thus the glorious Lord brought extreme delight to the whole of Vraja by the playful activities of His boyhood.

10.11.9

darśayaṃs tad-vidāṃ loka ātmano bhṛtya-vaśyatām /
vrajasyovāha vai harṣaṃ bhagavān bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ //

Showing to the world of those who know this his own subjection to his servants,
the Lord brought delight to Vraja through childish actions.

10.11.10

krīṇīhi bhoḥ phalānīti śrutvā satvaram acyutaḥ /
phalārthī dhānyam ādāya yayau sarva-phala-pradaḥ //

Hearing, "O people, buy fruit!", Acyuta immediately,
desiring fruit though he is the giver of all fruits, took grain and went.

10. “Purchase, O (people), purchase fruits,” hearing such cries of pedlars, Achyuta quickly took a handful of grain, desirous of fruits, though He is the Lord that confers all fruits.

10.11.11

phala-vikrayiṇī tasya cyuta-dhānya-kara-dvayam /
phalair apūrayad ratnaiḥ phala-bhāṇḍam apūri ca //

The fruit vendor filled his two hands, from which the grain had slipped away,
with fruits, and her fruit basket was filled with jewels.

11. The fruit-seller (woman) filled with fruits both His hands that dropped the corn (into her basket) which became filled with precious gems.

10.11.12

sarit-tīra-gataṃ kṛṣṇaṃ bhagnārjunam athāhvayat /
rāmaṃ ca rohiṇī devī krīḍantaṃ bālakair bhṛśam //

Then the noble Rohiṇī called out to Kṛṣṇa, who had gone to the riverbank
where the arjuna trees had broken, and to Rāma, who was playing intensely with the boys.

12. When after the fall of the Arjuna trees Krishna was on the bank of the river busily playing with children, queen Rohini called both Rama and Krishna to return.

10.11.13

nopeyātāṃ yadāhūtau krīḍā-saṅgena putrakau /
yaśodāṃ preṣayām āsa rohiṇī putra-vatsalām //

When the two sons, absorbed in their play, did not come though called,
Rohiṇī sent Yaśodā, who was full of maternal love for her son.

13. When called, the children, deeply engrossed in play, did not come up; thereupon Rohini sent Yasoda who was anxious about her child to fetch them.

10.11.14

krīḍantaṃ sā sutaṃ bālair ativelaṃ sahāgrajam /
yaśodājohavīt kṛṣṇaṃ putra-sneha-snuta-stanī //

To her son playing with the boys past time along with his elder brother,
Yaśodā called out to Kṛṣṇa, her breasts flowing with motherly love:

14. Yasoda, her bosom overflowing through affection, shouted for her son Krishna who along with his elder brother, was engrossed in play with other children.

10.11.15

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāravindākṣa tāta ehi stanaṃ piba /
alaṃ vihāraiḥ kṣut-kṣāntaḥ krīḍā-śrānto 'si putraka //

"Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, lotus-eyed child, come, drink at my breast!
Enough of playing; you are overcome by hunger and tired from games, little son!

15. “Krishna, my darling, Krishna, with eyes like lotus, O child, come on; have thy appetite quenched at my bosom: stop playing: thou art fatigued with hunger.

10.11.16

he rāmāgaccha tātāśu sānujaḥ kula-nandana /
prātar eva kṛtāhāras tad bhavān bhoktum arhati //

O Rāma, come quickly, darling, with your younger brother, delighter of our clan!
You ate only in the morning; therefore you ought to eat now.

16. “O Rama, come on, my child, soon with your brother, O joy of the house; early in the morning you had your meal; (it is time now for you to have it) and you are much tired in the play, O son.

10.11.17

pratīkṣate tvāṃ dāśārha bhokṣyamāṇo vrajādhipaḥ /
ehy āvayoḥ priyaṃ dhehi sva-gṛhān yāta bālakāḥ //

The lord of Vraja is waiting for you, O Dāśārha, about to dine.
Come, do what pleases both of us! Boys, go to your homes!

17. “O Dasarha, the Lord of Vraja (thy father) about to have his meals, expects you; to our joy; come on O children, do you return to your homes. 18. “Thy body is dim with dust: O my son, have thy bath; to day the star of thy birth is in the ascent: purified by bath, bestow cows on brahmins.

10.11.18

dhūli-dhūsaritāṅgas tvaṃ putra majjanam āvaha /
janmarkṣaṃ te 'dya bhavati viprebhyo dehi gāḥ śuciḥ //

Your limbs are covered with dust, son; take your bath!
Today is your birth star; pure, give cows to the brahmins!

10.11.19

paśya paśya vayasyāṃs te mātṛ-mṛṣṭān svalaṅkṛtān /
tvaṃ ca snātaḥ kṛtāhāro viharasva svalaṅkṛtaḥ //

Look, look at your companions, washed clean by their mothers and well adorned!
You too, bathed, fed, and well adorned, may play!"

19. “Lo! look at thy friends well washed and adorned by their mothers; mayest thou also have thy bath and thy meals and be well adorned; then go to play’.

10.11.20

itthaṃ yaśodā tam aśeṣa-śekharaṃ matvā sutaṃ sneha-nibaddha-dhīr nṛpa /
haste gṛhītvā saha-rāmam acyutaṃ nītvā sva-vāṭaṃ kṛtavaty athodayam //

Thus, O king, Yaśodā, taking him—the crest-jewel of all beings—to be her son, her mind bound by affection,
took Acyuta by the hand together with Rāma, led him to her courtyard, and performed his welfare.

20. Thus, thinking to be her son Him who is the one crown of all, and with her heart full of affection for him, O king, Yasoda took Achyuta and Rama by their hand and brought them to her palace, and performed auspicious rites for them.

10.11.21

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
gopa-vṛddhā mahotpātān anubhūya bṛhadvane /
nandādayaḥ samāgamya vraja-kāryam amantrayan //

Śrī Śuka said:
The elder cowherds, having experienced great omens of disaster in Bṛhadvana,
gathered together with Nanda at their head and consulted about the welfare of Vraja.

21. On observing in Brihadvana great evil omens Nanda and other elderly Gopas met together, and considered what should be done for Vraja.

10.11.22

tatropānanda-nāmāha gopo jñāna-vayo-'dhikaḥ /
deśa-kālārtha-tattva-jñaḥ priya-kṛd rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ //

There a cowherd named Upānanda spoke, superior in knowledge and age,
who knew the truth of place, time, and purpose, and was dear to Rāma and Kṛṣṇa:

22. In their midst one Gopa, by name Upananda, superior by wisdom and age, possessed of a true insight into the real nature of time and place and things and a well-wisher of Rama and Krishna, said (as follows):—

10.11.23

utthātavyam ito 'smābhir gokulasya hitaiṣibhiḥ /
āyānty atra mahotpātā bālānāṃ nāśa-hetavaḥ //

"We who wish well for Gokula must depart from here;
portents of great disaster keep occurring here, causes of destruction for the children.

23. We should go away from this place if we desire the welfare (good) of Gokula; for here appear great portents which indicate peril of our children (people).

10.11.24

muktaḥ kathañcid rākṣasyā bāla-ghnyā bālako hy asau /
harer anugrahān nūnam anaś copari nāpatat //

Somehow this boy was released from the female demon who slays children;
and surely by Hari's grace the cart did not fall upon him.

24. Somehow, miraculously indeed this child Krishna escaped from the Rakshasi engaged in killing infants and, surely, through the grace of Hari the cart did not fall on Him.

10.11.25

cakra-vātena nīto 'yaṃ daityena vipadaṃ viyat /
śilāyāṃ patitas tatra paritrātaḥ sureśvaraiḥ //

Carried off into danger into the sky by an Asura in the form of a whirlwind,
he fell there upon a rock, yet was saved by the lords of the gods.

25. By a Daitya, in the form of a whirl-wind, He was carried up into the air, the region of birds. He fell on a rock and then He was protected by the great gods.

10.11.26

yan na mriyeta drumayor antaraṃ prāpya bālakaḥ /
asāv anyatamo vāpi tad apy acyuta-rakṣaṇam //

That the boy, or another, did not die having come between the two trees—
that too was Acyuta's protection.

26. That this child or any other should not have died by getting between those two trees is also Achyuta’s protection.

10.11.27

yāvad autpātiko 'riṣṭo vrajaṃ nābhibhaved itaḥ /
tāvad bālān upādāya yāsyāmo 'nyatra sānugāḥ //

Before a portentous calamity overpowers Vraja from here,
we shall take the children and go elsewhere with our followers.

27. Before any calamity indicated by these evil omens overtakes Vraja, let us take our children and go to some other place this very day with our attendants and followers.

10.11.28

vanaṃ vṛndāvanaṃ nāma paśavyaṃ nava-kānanam /
gopa-gopī-gavāṃ sevyaṃ puṇyādri-tṛṇa-vīrudham //

There is a forest named Vṛndāvana, suitable for cattle, a fresh woodland,
fit to be resorted to by cowherds, cowherd women, and cows, with holy hills, grass, and plants.

28. There is the forest tract called Brindavana, fit for our cattle and full of thriving wood, fit to be dwelt in by our Gopas, women and cattle with its pleasant hills, pasturage, herbs and plants.

10.11.29

tat tatrādyaiva yāsyāmaḥ śakaṭān yuṅkta mā ciram /
godhanāny agrato yāntu bhavatāṃ yadi rocate //

Therefore we shall go there this very day; yoke the carts, do not delay!
Let the wealth of cows proceed in front, if it pleases you."

29. Therefore let us go there this very day; get ready (your) vehicles; make no delay; let our valuable herds of cattle go in advance, if you like it.

10.11.30

tac chrutvaika-dhiyo gopāḥ sādhu sādhv iti vādinaḥ /
vrajān svān svān samāyujya yayū rūḍha-paricchadāḥ //

Hearing that, of one mind, the cowherds exclaimed, "Well said! Well said!",
and having harnessed their respective wagons, they set out with their gear loaded.

30. Hearing him, the Gopas who unanimously expressed their approbation, said, "That's good", That's good", and got ready their several vehicles and loaded them with their effects and started.

10.11.31

vṛddhān bālān striyo rājan sarvopakaraṇāni ca /
anaḥsv āropya gopālā yattā ātta-śarāsanāḥ //

Placing the elderly, the children, the women, O king, and all their utensils
upon the carts, the cowherds, prepared, took up their bows.

31. O king, they (the gopas) put into their carts the aged and the young as well as the women of their families and all the utensils and furniture and were on the alert with strung bows (in their hands).

10.11.32

godhanāni puraskṛtya śṛṅgāṇy āpūrya sarvataḥ /
tūrya-ghoṣeṇa mahatā yayuḥ saha-purohitāḥ //

Placing the cattle herds in front, blowing their horns all around,
with a great clamor of musical instruments, they marched together with their priests.

32. With their wealth of cattle going in front of them and accompanied by their priests they made their journey, blowing their horns and trumpets on all sides.

10.11.33

gopyo rūḍha-rathā nūtna- kuca-kuṅkuma-kāntayaḥ /
kṛṣṇa-līlā jaguḥ prītyā niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ //

The cowherd women, mounted on the carts, their skin glowing with fresh saffron on their breasts,
sang of Kṛṣṇa's divine play with delight, wearing gold necklets and fine clothes.

33. Mounted in cars, with their bosom adorned with fresh Kumkuma with gold ornaments about their necks, clothed in fine dress the Gopa women sang the sportful activities of Krishna.

10.11.34

tathā yaśodā-rohiṇyāv ekaṃ śakaṭam āsthite /
rejatuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmābhyāṃ tat-kathā-śravaṇotsuke //

Likewise, Yaśodā and Rohiṇī, seated on a single cart,
shone with Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, eager to hear tales about him.

34. Riding in the same car and hearing with joy the songs that celebrated the sportful acts of their children, Yasoda and Rohini also shone with Rama and Krishna by their side.

10.11.35

vṛndāvanaṃ sampraviśya sarva-kāla-sukhāvaham /
tatra cakrur vrajāvāsaṃ śakaṭair ardha-candravat //

Having entered Vṛndāvana, which brings happiness at all seasons,
they set up the cowherd settlement there with their carts in the shape of a crescent moon.

35. They entered Brindavana, comfortable in all seasons: they formed, with their carts drawn in a semicircular form, their habitations like unto the moon's half.

10.11.36

vṛndāvanaṃ govardhanaṃ yamunā-pulināni ca /
vīkṣyāsīd uttamā prītī rāma-mādhavayor nṛpa //

Beholding Vṛndāvana, Mount Govardhana, and the sandbanks of the Yamunā,
there arose supreme delight for Rāma and Mādhava, O king.

36. At the sight of Brindavana favourable to their cattle, the mount Govardhana and sand-banks of the Yamuna, Krishna and Balarama were highly rejoiced, O king.

10.11.37

evaṃ vrajaukasāṃ prītiṃ yacchantau bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ /
kala-vākyaiḥ sva-kālena vatsa-pālau babhūvatuḥ //

Thus giving joy to the inhabitants of Vraja with their childish deeds
and sweet lisps, in due course the two became keepers of the calves.

37. Thus, by their activities appropriate to childhood and by their sweet lisping, they delighted the people of Vraja and in due time they began to tend young calves.

10.11.38

avidūre vraja-bhuvaḥ saha gopāla-dārakaiḥ /
cārayām āsatur vatsān nānā-krīḍā-paricchadau //

Not far from the grounds of Vraja, accompanied by the cowherd boys,
they pastured the calves, equipped with various playthings.

38. Not far from their habitations, along with the children of Gopas, they tended the calves in playful diversion, having taken with them various play things.

10.11.39

kvacid vādayato veṇuṃ kṣepaṇaiḥ kṣipataḥ kvacit /
kvacit pādaiḥ kiṅkiṇībhiḥ kvacit kṛtrima-go-vṛṣaiḥ //

Now and then playing the flute, now and then slinging stones with slings,
now and then with bells on their feet, now and then with imitation bulls and cows,

39. & 40 Sometimes they played upon their flute, [some-times they played using as balls fruits like those of Bilva: sometimes they played kicking them with their foot adorned with kinkiny; and sometimes they fought with one another imitating bulls and bellowing like them, along with other cowherd boys who disguised themselves as cows and bulls. Like common boys they imitated the cries of other animals like the peacock and sportfully roamed about. 41. Once when they were with their mates tending the calves on the banks of the Yamuna, there came a Daitya intent upon killing Krishna and Balarama.

10.11.40

vṛṣāyamāṇau nardantau yuyudhāte parasparam /
anukṛtya rutair jantūṃś ceratuḥ prākṛtau yathā //

acting like bulls and bellowing, they wrestled with each other;
imitating the cries of animals, they wandered about like ordinary children.

10.11.41

kadācid yamunā-tīre vatsāṃś cārayatoḥ svakaiḥ /
vayasyaiḥ kṛṣṇa-balayor jighāṃsur daitya āgamat //

Once, while Kṛṣṇa and Bala were grazing the calves on the bank of the Yamunā
with their companions, a demon arrived, seeking to kill them.

10.11.42

taṃ vatsa-rūpiṇaṃ vīkṣya vatsa-yūtha-gataṃ hariḥ /
darśayan baladevāya śanair mugdha ivāsadat //

Seeing him in the form of a calf, having entered the herd of calves, Hari,
pointing him out to Baladeva, slowly approached as if innocent.

42. Hari observed him in the form of a calf in the midst of his calves, pointed him out to Balarama and, as if He knew nothing, slowly approached the Daitya.

10.11.43

gṛhītvāpara-pādābhyāṃ saha-lāṅgūlam acyutaḥ /
bhrāmayitvā kapitthāgre prāhiṇod gata-jīvitam /
sa kapitthair mahā-kāyaḥ pātyamānaiḥ papāta ha //

Seizing him by the hind legs together with the tail, Acyuta
whirled him around and hurled him, lifeless, into the top of a wood-apple tree;
that huge-bodied demon fell together with the falling wood-apples.

43. He (Achyuta) caught him by the hind legs and tail, wheeled him fast and sent him lifeless on to the top of a *kapitha* (wood apple) tree; the huge-bodied Daitya fell down along with the fruits that were made to drop thereby.

10.11.44

taṃ vīkṣya vismitā bālāḥ śaśaṃsuḥ sādhu sādhv iti /
devāś ca parisantuṣṭā babhūvuḥ puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ //

Seeing him, the boys, filled with wonder, praised, "Bravo! Bravo!",
and the gods, thoroughly delighted, showered down flowers.

44. Astonished at seeing him the boys praised Krishna saying “well done”! “well done”! and the gods highly glad of it showered flowers.

10.11.45

tau vatsa-pālakau bhūtvā sarva-lokaika-pālakau /
saprātar-āśau go-vatsāṃś cārayantau viceratuḥ //

Having become calf-herders, the two sole protectors of all the worlds,
having eaten their morning meal, roamed about herding the calves.

45. The sole protectors of all the worlds were thus two cowherd boys and with their break-fast in their wallet roamed about tending the calves of their cows.

10.11.46

svaṃ svaṃ vatsa-kulaṃ sarve pāyayiṣyanta ekadā /
gatvā jalāśayābhyāśaṃ pāyayitvā papur jalam //

Once, intending to water their respective herds of calves,
they all went near a reservoir of water, and having let them drink, they drank water themselves.

46. Once all these cowherd boys led their respective charge (calves) to drink water in a tank and they also drank of it.

10.11.47

te tatra dadṛśur bālā mahā-sattvam avasthitam /
tatrasur vajra-nirbhinnaṃ gireḥ śṛṅgam iva cyutam //

There the boys saw a gigantic creature standing,
and they grew terrified, as if at a mountain peak split by a thunderbolt and fallen down.

47. There those boys were frightened to see a monstrous creature like unto a mountain peak struck off with the *Vajra*].

10.11.48

sa vai bako nāma mahān asuro baka-rūpa-dhṛk /
āgatya sahasā kṛṣṇaṃ tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍo 'grasad balī //

He was indeed a great asura named Baka, assuming the form of a heron;
arriving suddenly, the sharp-beaked, powerful one swallowed Kṛṣṇa.

48. It was indeed the great Asura known as Baka who came in the form of a crane (stork); the powerful monster of sharp beak violently rushed at and swallowed Krishna.

10.11.49

kṛṣṇaṃ mahā-baka-grastaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmādayo 'rbhakāḥ /
babhūvur indriyāṇīva vinā prāṇaṃ vicetasaḥ //

Seeing Kṛṣṇa swallowed by the giant heron, Rāma and the other boys
became senseless, like the senses deprived of the breath of life.

49. When they saw Krishna caught in the mouth of the huge Baka, Balarama as well as the other boys were bewildered like the senses and organs in the absence of Prana (vital breath).

10.11.50

taṃ tālu-mūlaṃ pradahantam agnivad gopāla-sūnuṃ pitaraṃ jagad-guroḥ /
caccharda sadyo 'tiruṣākṣataṃ bakas tuṇḍena hantuṃ punar abhyapadyata //

Burning the base of his palate like fire—that cowherd's son, father of the teacher of the universe—
the heron immediately vomited him unhurt in supreme rage, and again rushed to strike him with his beak.

50. But Baka vomited Him, that son of Gopala (Nanda), the father of all the worlds, who like fire burnt his guttural orifice and at once in a rage came back to hurt with his bill Him who cannot be hurt.

10.11.51

tam āpatantaṃ sa nigṛhya tuṇḍayor dorbhyāṃ bakaṃ kaṃsa-sakhaṃ satāṃ patiḥ /
paśyatsu bāleṣu dadāra līlayā mudāvaho vīraṇavad divaukasām //

Seizing by the two halves of his beak the attacking heron, friend of Kaṃsa, the Lord of the virtuous devotees,
while the boys looked on, tore him in two in divine play, like a blade of vīraṇa grass, bringing delight to the gods.

51. The Lord (goal) of the righteous seized Baka, a friend of Kamsa, who rushed at Him, by the two halves of the bill and sportfully tore him up like a blade of straw, as the boys stood looking on, and (thus) brought joy to the celestials.

10.11.52

tadā bakāriṃ sura-loka-vāsinaḥ samākiran nandana-mallikādibhiḥ /
samīḍire cānaka-śaṅkha-saṃstavais tad vīkṣya gopāla-sutā visismire //

Then the dwellers of the realm of the gods showered the enemy of Baka with jasmine and other flowers from Nandana,
and praised him with the sounds of kettledrums, conches, and hymns; beholding that, the cowherd boys were amazed.

52. Then the dwellers of the celestial world showered the enemy of Baka with jasmine and other blossoms of Nandana garden, blew their conches, sounded *anakas* and sang praises over Him, and the cowherd boys were cast in wonder to witness it.

10.11.53

muktaṃ bakāsyād upalabhya bālakā rāmādayaḥ prāṇam ivendriyo gaṇaḥ /
sthānāgataṃ taṃ parirabhya nirvṛtāḥ praṇīya vatsān vrajam etya taj jaguḥ //

Receiving him freed from the heron’s mouth, Rāma and the other boys, like the bodily senses regaining life,
embraced him who had returned to his place, and rejoicing, rounded up the calves, went to Vraja, and sang of that [deed].

53. Finding Krishna that escaped from the jaws of Baka, Rama and other boys, even as the senses welcome Prana, embraced Krishna on His return (to his place) and felt happy; they led back all their calves to Vraja and sang praises of Krishna.

10.11.54

śrutvā tad vismitā gopā gopyaś cātipriyādṛtāḥ /
pretyāgatam ivotsukyād aikṣanta tṛṣitekṣaṇāḥ //

Hearing that, the cowherds and the cowherd women were astonished, and moved by intense love,
looked upon him with thirsty eyes out of eagerness, as if he had returned from death.

54. Hearing of it the Gopas, men and women, full of astonishment, in intense love and with thirsty eyes, looked on Him like unto one that is recovered from the jaws of death.

10.11.55

aho batāsya bālasya bahavo mṛtyavo 'bhavan /
apy āsīd vipriyaṃ teṣāṃ kṛtaṃ pūrvaṃ yato bhayam //

"Ah, alas, many forms of death have beset this boy!
Could there have been some offense committed by them previously, from which danger arises?

55. "It is pitiable yet astonishing that this child had many deadly enemies; still it is they that reaped the evil, since they were the source of fear (to the world) in the past.

10.11.56

athāpy abhibhavanty enaṃ naiva te ghora-darśanāḥ /
jighāṃsayainam āsādya naśyanty agnau pataṅgavat //

Even so, those terrible-looking ones cannot overcome him at all;
approaching him with intent to kill, they perish like moths in a fire.

56. However, the fierce demons are not able to do Him harm; but approaching Him with a desire to kill Him they themselves perish like insects in fire.

10.11.57

aho brahma-vidāṃ vāco nāsatyāḥ santi karhicit /
gargo yad āha bhagavān anvabhāvi tathaiva tat //

Ah, the words of those who know Brahman are never untrue!
What the venerable Garga said has been experienced just so."

57. Most happy it is that the uttrances of those that know Brahman never prove false; for what the worshipful Garga said is seen to be literally true."

10.11.58

iti nandādayo gopāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāma-kathāṃ mudā /
kurvanto ramamāṇāś ca nāvindan bhava-vedanām //

Thus Nanda and the other cowherds, joyfully telling stories of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma
and taking delight in them, felt no pain of worldly existence.

58. Thus joyously recounting the deeds of Krishna and Rama Nanda and other Gopas became thoroughly happy and were free from the misery of Samsara (mundane life).

10.11.59

evaṃ vihāraiḥ kaumāraiḥ kaumāraṃ jahatur vraje /
nilāyanaiḥ setu-bandhair markaṭotplavanādibhiḥ //

In this way, through boyhood amusements—through hide-and-seek, building bridges,
jumping like monkeys, and the like—the two spent their boyhood in Vraja.

59. Thus in sportful activities of childhood they passed it at Vraja, engaged in plays such as blind-folding the eyes, constructing dams and jumping over like monkeys and so on.