Bhagavatapurana 10.18: athāṣṭādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.18.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
atha kṛṣṇaḥ parivṛto jñātibhir muditātmabhiḥ /
anugīyamāno nyaviśad vrajaṃ gokula-maṇḍitam //

Śrī Śuka said: / Then, surrounded by his joyful kinsmen and sung of by them, / Kṛṣṇa entered Vraja, which was adorned with herds of cows.

1. Sri Suka said:—Then along with his joyful relations singing his praises Sri Krishna entered Vraja (Gokula) beautifully teeming with herds of cows. 2. When in their assumed form of Gopas they were thus sporting at Vraja, there set in the fearful season of summer, not very welcome to creatures.

10.18.2

vraje vikrīḍator evaṃ gopāla-cchadma-māyayā /
grīṣmo nāmartur abhavan nāti-preyāñ charīriṇām //

As the two were thus sporting in Vraja by their creative power disguised as cowherds, / the season named summer arrived, which is not very pleasing to embodied beings.

10.18.3

sa ca vṛndāvana-guṇair vasanta iva lakṣitaḥ /
yatrāste bhagavān sākṣād rāmeṇa saha keśavaḥ //

Yet, by the virtues of Vṛndāvana, it appeared like spring, / where the Lord Keśava himself resided together with Rāma;

3. From the favourable environments of Brindavana even that summer was like unto spring in the place where the glorious Lord Kesava with Rama was present.

10.18.4

yatra nirjhara-nirhrāda- nivṛtta-svana-jhillikam /
śaśvat tac-chīkararjīṣa- druma-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam //

where the chirping of crickets was silenced by the roar of waterfalls, / and which was perpetually adorned with clusters of trees drenched by their spray;

4. Even in summer it was a happy spot, where the noisy cricket was not heard in the sublime and loud roar of cataracts and the scenery was charming with trees of dense foliage rendered soft by the spray that constantly settled on it.

10.18.5

sarit-saraḥ-prasravaṇormi-vāyunā kahlāra-kañjotpala-reṇu-hāriṇā /
na vidyate yatra vanaukasāṃ davo nidāgha-vahny-arka-bhavo 'ti-śādvale //

where, with the wind off the waves of rivers, lakes, and streams carrying the pollen of white water lilies, lotuses, and blue water lilies, / the forest dwellers experienced no forest fire or distress born of the summer heat and sun upon the rich meadows;

5. Then at Brindavana of green meadows, the residents of the forests did not experience the irksomeness of summer fires, as gentle breezes blew from the waves of rivers and lakes and water-falls and bore the pollen of lotus, lilies and *kalharas*.

10.18.6

agādha-toya-hradinī-taṭormibhir dravat-purīṣyāḥ pulinaiḥ samantataḥ /
na yatra caṇḍāṃśu-karā viṣolbaṇā bhuvo rasaṃ śādvalitaṃ ca gṛhṇate //

where, along the sandy banks whose mud was kept moist on every side by the waves of deep-water rivers, / the rays of the fierce-rayed sun, though virulent with poison-like heat, did not rob the earth of its moisture or its greenness;

6. There the sun’s rays, fierce like poison, do not suck up the liquid (water) which has taken the form of green swards on all sides, from the earth where sands and mire are ever kept moist by the waves that beat against the banks of rivers of deep water:

10.18.7

vanaṃ kusumitaṃ śrīman nadac-citra-mṛga-dvijam /
gāyan mayūra-bhramaraṃ kūjat-kokila-sārasam //

a forest blooming and beautiful, with various calling animals and birds, / with humming bees, singing peacocks, and calling cuckoos and cranes.

7. There the woods were in full blossom, full of splendour and delightful with various animals and birds of sweet utterance, with singing Peacocks and humming bees, and warbling cuckoos and water-fowls.

10.18.8

krīḍiṣyamāṇas tat krṣṇo bhagavān bala-saṃyutaḥ /
veṇuṃ viraṇayan gopair go-dhanaiḥ saṃvṛto 'viśat //

Desiring to play there, the Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Bala / and sounding his flute, entered, surrounded by the cowherds and their cattle.

8. Seeking diversion the glorious’ Krishna in company with Balarama entered the woods playing upon his pipe and was followed by Gopas and cows.

10.18.9

pravāla-barha-stabaka- srag-dhātu-kṛta-bhūṣaṇāḥ /
rāma-kṛṣṇādayo gopā nanṛtur yuyudhur jaguḥ //

Adorned with sprouts, peacock feathers, clusters of flowers, / garlands, and mineral pigments, the cowherds headed by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa danced, wrestled, and sang.

9. Adorning themselves with tender shoots, feathers, clusters of flowers and coloured earths Rama, Krishna and other Gopas danced, combated and sang.

10.18.10

kṛṣṇasya nṛtyataḥ kecij jaguḥ kecid avādayan /
veṇu-pāṇitalaiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ praśaśaṃsur athāpare //

While Kṛṣṇa danced, some sang and others played instruments / with flutes, clapping hands, and horns, while others praised him.

10. When Krishna danced, some sang, some sounded instruments of music, (enhancing it) with pipe, with palms, with horns and others poured forth their praises of Krishna.

10.18.11

gopa-jāti-praticchannā devā gopāla-rūpiṇau /
īḍire kṛṣṇa-rāmau ca naṭā iva naṭaṃ nṛpa //

The gods, disguised in cowherd forms, praised Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, / who were dressed as cowherd boys, just as actors [praise other] actors, O king.

11. The gods in the guise of Gopas and in the form of Gopalas, sang in praise of Krishna and Rama, even as those versed in dance may praise one that dances.

10.18.12

bhramaṇair laṅghanaiḥ kṣepair āsphoṭana-vikarṣaṇaiḥ /
cikrīḍatur niyuddhena kāka-pakṣa-dharau kvacit //

With whirlings, leapings, tossings, arm-slappings, and pullings, / sporting in wrestling, wearing locks like crows' wings, they played in various places.

12. The two boys, Rama and Krishna, wearing their side locks sported sometimes by running in circles, long jumps, by throwing weights or throwing each other to a distance, by striking their arms and dragging each other and by single combat or wrestling.

10.18.13

kvacin nṛtyatsu cānyeṣu gāyakau vādakau svayam /
śaśaṃsatur mahā-rāja sādhu sādhv iti vādinau //

Sometimes, when others were dancing, they themselves were the singers and musicians, / praising them, O great king, saying, "Well done! Well done!"

13. Sometimes when others were dancing, they both sang, sounded the instruments and praised them, O great king, saying "Well done, well done".

10.18.14

kvacid bilvaiḥ kvacit kumbhaiḥ kvacāmalaka-muṣṭibhiḥ /
aspṛśya-netra-bandhādyaiḥ kvacin mṛga-khagehayā //

Sometimes with bilva fruits, sometimes with kumbha fruits, sometimes with handfuls of āmalaka fruits, / with blindman's buff and the like, sometimes imitating beasts and birds,

14.—16. Sometimes with the fruits of Bilva or kumbha or with handfuls of Amalaka, with blindfolding, with mimicking animals and birds, sometimes by jumping about like frogs now cutting various forms of joke, now again with swings and palanquins; sometimes behaving like kings, thus in the forest they both took part in various well-known sports of the (mortal) world, in the rivers, on mountains, in valleys and bowers, in woods and lakes.

10.18.15

kvacic ca dardura-plāvair vividhair upahāsakaiḥ /
kadācit syandolikayā karhicin nṛpa-ceṣṭayā //

and sometimes with frog-leaps and various amusing games, / now on a swing and then playing the king;

10.18.16

evaṃ tau loka-siddhābhiḥ krīḍābhiś ceratur vane /
nady-adri-droṇi-kuñjeṣu kānaneṣu saraḥsu ca //

thus, through games customary in the world, the two wandered in the forest, / in rivers, mountain valleys, bowers, woods, and lakes.

10.18.17

paśūṃś cārayator gopais tad-vane rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ /
gopa-rūpī pralambo 'gād asuras taj-jihīrṣayā //

As Rāma and Kṛṣṇa were herding the cattle in that forest with the cowherds, / the asura Pralamba arrived in the guise of a cowherd, desiring to kidnap them.

17. When, along with other Gopas, Rama and Krishna were grazing the cows in the forest, an Asura called Pralamba entered (the fold) in the form of a Gopa with the purpose of carrying them away.

10.18.18

taṃ vidvān api dāśārho bhagavān sarva-darśanaḥ /
anvamodata tat-sakhyaṃ vadhaṃ tasya vicintayan //

Though knowing him, the Lord of the Dāśārhas, who sees everything, / accepted his companionship, planning his destruction.

18. The Omniscient Lord born of Dasarha family knew him (who he was); intending to do away with him, He agreed to be a playmate with him.

10.18.19

tatropāhūya gopālān kṛṣṇaḥ prāha vihāra-vit /
he gopā vihariṣyāmo dvandvī-bhūya yathā-yatham //

Then, calling the cowherds together, Kṛṣṇa, skilled in play, said: / "O cowherds! We shall play, pairing off appropriately."

19. There Krishna expert in games called the Gopalas and said, "O Gopas let us play now by dividing ourselves suitably into two camps.

10.18.20

tatra cakruḥ parivṛḍhau gopā rāma-janārdanau /
kṛṣṇa-saṅghaṭṭinaḥ kecid āsan rāmasya cāpare //

There the cowherds appointed Rāma and Janārdana as leaders; / some joined Kṛṣṇa's party, and others Rāma's.

20. Thereupon the Gopas made Balarama and Krishna respectively leaders of the camps, some choosing to be under Krishna and some under Rama.

10.18.21

ācerur vividhāḥ krīḍā vāhya-vāhaka-lakṣaṇāḥ /
yatrārohanti jetāro vahanti ca parājitāḥ //

They engaged in various games involving carriers and riders, / wherein the winners ride and the defeated carry them.

21. They played various games in which some acted as bearers and others as riders, the winners riding on the back of the defeated.

10.18.22

vahanto vāhyamānāś ca cārayantaś ca go-dhanam /
bhāṇḍīrakaṃ nāma vaṭaṃ jagmuḥ kṛṣṇa-purogamāḥ //

Carrying and being carried, and grazing the wealth of cattle, / headed by Kṛṣṇa, they went to the banyan tree named Bhāṇḍīraka.

22. Some bearing, some riding, and (driving) the cattle before them, Krishna and all others went up to a banian tree called Bhandeeraka.

10.18.23

rāma-saṅghaṭṭino yarhi śrīdāma-vṛṣabhādayaḥ /
krīḍāyāṃ jayinas tāṃs tān ūhuḥ kṛṣṇādayo nṛpa //

When those on Rāma's side, Śrīdāman, Vṛṣabha, and others, / were victorious in the game, Kṛṣṇa and his companions carried them, O king.

23. When Sridama, Vrishabha and others on the side of Rama were victors in the play, Krishna and others, O king, bore them on their back.

10.18.24

uvāha kṛṣṇo bhagavān śrīdāmānaṃ parājitaḥ /
vṛṣabhaṃ bhadrasenas tu pralambo rohiṇī-sutam //

Defeated, the Lord Kṛṣṇa carried Śrīdāman; / Bhadrasena carried Vṛṣabha, and Pralamba carried the son of Rohiṇī.

24. Being defeated, the glorious Krishna bore Sridama, Bhadra bore Vrishabha and Pralambha bore the son of Rohini.

10.18.25

aviṣahyaṃ manyamānaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ dānava-puṅgavaḥ /
vahan drutataraṃ prāgād avarohaṇataḥ param //

Thinking Kṛṣṇa to be unassailable, the foremost of Dānavas / carried [Rāma] and went very swiftly past the point of dismounting.

25. The great asura knowing Krishna to be unbearable (irresistible) for him ran in great swiftness far beyond the point, bearing his burden (Rama) before setting him down. 26. Bearing Balarama on his back, he (the great Asura) slackened his speed and assumed his own asura form huge like a mountain, and, decorated with golden cloths, the great asura shone like a cloud illumined with flashes of lightning and with the moon riding over it.

10.18.25.p1

tam udvahan dharaṇi-dharendra-gauravaṃ $ mahāsuro vigata-rayo nijaṃ vapuḥ &

Bearing him who possessed the weight of the greatest of mountains, the great asura lost his speed and assumed his own form;

10.18.26

sa āsthitaḥ puraṭa-paricchado babhau % taḍid-dyumān uḍupati-vāḍ ivāmbudaḥ //

arrayed in golden ornaments, he shone like a cloud bearing lightning and carrying the moon.

10.18.26.p2

nirīkṣya tad-vapur alam ambare carat $ pradīpta-dṛg bhru-kuṭi-taṭogra-daṃṣṭrakam &

Seeing that form moving in the sky, with blazing eyes, terrible fangs, and knitted brows,

27. Seeing that body soaring in the skies with burning eyes fearful brows, and wonderful with the refulgence of bracelets, the crown and earrings, Balarama felt a moment's fear.

10.18.26.p3

nirīkṣya tad-vapur alam ambare carat $ pradīpta-dṛg bhru-kuṭi-taṭogra-daṃṣṭrakam &

seeing that form moving in the sky, with blazing eyes, terrible fangs, and knitted brows,

10.18.27

jvalac-chikhaṃ kaṭaka-kirīṭa-kuṇḍala- % tviṣādbhutaṃ haladhara īṣad atrasat //

with a flaming crest, wondrous with the brilliance of armlets, crown, and earrings, the Wielder of the Plow was slightly startled.

10.18.28

athāgata-smṛtir abhayo ripuṃ balo vihāya sārtham iva harantam ātmanaḥ /
ruṣāhanac chirasi dṛḍhena muṣṭinā surādhipo girim iva vajra-raṃhasā //

Then, recovering his wits and becoming fearless, Bala struck the enemy with a firm fist upon the head in wrath, / as the king of the gods [strikes] a mountain with the swift force of the thunderbolt, abandoning him who was carrying him away as if from his companions.

28. However (the next moment) Balarama recollected himself and became fearless as the asura was carrying him away from his friends through the sky as it were a treasure; and in great rage he hit the enemy on his head with his strong fist, even as Indra does a mountain with his rapid Vajra.

10.18.29

sa āhataḥ sapadi viśīrṇa-mastako mukhād vaman rudhiram apasmṛto 'suraḥ /
mahā-ravaṃ vyasur apatat samīrayan girir yathā maghavata āyudhāhataḥ //

Struck by him, his skull shattered instantly, vomiting blood from his mouth, senseless and lifeless, the asura fell, / letting out a mighty roar, like a mountain struck by the weapon of Maghavat.

29. Thus struck the Asura had his head shattered at once, vomitted blood through his mouth, lost consciousness, uttered a loud cry and fell dead like a mountain struck with the weapon of Indra.

10.18.30

dṛṣṭvā pralambaṃ nihataṃ balena bala-śālinā /
gopāḥ su-vismitā āsan sādhu sādhv iti vādinaḥ //

Seeing Pralamba slain by Bala, who was full of strength, / the cowherds were greatly amazed, crying, "Bravo! Bravo!"

30. On seeing Pralamba slain by Balarama of great strength, the Gopas were astonished and shouted "Well done, Well done".

10.18.31

āśiṣo 'bhigṛṇantas taṃ praśaśaṃsus tad-arhaṇam /
pretyāgatam ivāliṅgya prema-vihvala-cetasaḥ //

Uttering blessings upon him, they praised him who deserved it; / embracing him as if returned from death, their minds were overcome with affection.

31. Overwhelmed with joy they loudly pronounced their benedictions on him, praised him who was worthy of praise, and embraced him like one who is recovered from the jaws of death.

10.18.32

pāpe pralambe nihate devāḥ parama-nirvṛtāḥ /
abhyavarṣan balaṃ mālyaiḥ śaśaṃsuḥ sādhu sādhv iti //

When the wicked Pralamba was slain, the gods were exceedingly delighted; / they showered Bala with garlands of flowers and praised him, saying, "Bravo! Bravo!"

32. When the sinful Pralamba was destroyed, the gods were highly pleased and happy and covered Balarama with flowers and praised him shouting "Well done, well done".