Bhagavatapurana 10.21: athaikaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.21.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
itthaṃ śarat-svaccha-jalaṃ padmākara-sugandhinā /
nyaviśad vāyunā vātaṃ sa -go-gopālako 'cyutaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said: / Thus Acyuta, accompanied by the cows and cowherd boys, entered [the forest], / which had autumn's clear waters and was fanned by breezes fragrant with lotus ponds.

1. Sri Suka said:—With his cows and cowherds Krishna enjoyed the scene in such woods as were charming with crystal waters of Sarad perfumed by the breeze charged with fragrance in lotus-beds.

10.21.2

kusumita-vanarāji-śuṣmi-bhṛṅga dvija-kula-ghuṣṭa-saraḥ-sarin-mahīdhram /
madhupatir avagāhya cārayan gāḥ saha-paśu-pāla-balaś cukūja veṇum //

Entering [the forest] whose lakes, rivers, and mountains were filled with blooming tree-rows, vibrant bees, and flocks of birds, / the Lord of Madhu, grazing the cows along with the cowherds and Bala, played His flute.

2. While tending his cows along with Balarama and his cowherds, the Lord of Madhus (Sri Krishna) advanced into the woods where lakes and rivers, hill and dale, resounded with the hummings

and warblings of joyous bees and birds through the glades of trees in full blossom, and sweetly sounded his pipe.

10.21.3

tad vraja-striya āśrutya veṇu-gītaṃ smarodayam /
kāścit parokṣaṃ kṛṣṇasya sva-sakhībhyo 'nvavarṇayan //

Hearing that flute song which awakened love, / some women of Vraja described it to their friends in Kṛṣṇa's absence.

3. The women of Vraja heard that (transporting) music of his flute which kindles *Manmatha*; and though at a distance from Krishna, some of them began to sing of his qualities to their companions (D. began to sing of his performance.)

10.21.4

tad varṇayitum ārabdhāḥ smarantyaḥ kṛṣṇa-ceṣṭitam /
nāśakan smara-vegena vikṣipta-manaso nṛpa //

Having begun to describe it, remembering Kṛṣṇa's deeds, / they were unable to continue, O king, their minds agitated by the surge of love.

4. To sing of it they began; but contemplating Krishna's action they could not go on with the description as their heart was distracted by the force of love, O king.

10.21.4.p1

barhāpīḍaṃ naṭa-vara-vapuḥ karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṃ $ bibhrad vāsaḥ kanaka-kapiśaṃ vaijayantīṃ ca mālām &

Wearing a peacock feather crest, having the form of a consummate dancer, with karṇikāra flowers at His ears, / donning garments yellow as gold, and bearing the vaijayantī garland,

5. Graced with peacock's feather, looking like an excellent actor, wearing Karnikara flowers, putting on golden clothes and Vaijayanti garland, filling the holes of his reed with the nectar of his lips, accompanied by the companies of Gopas, Sri Krishna, whose glory is widely sung, entered Brindavana charming with his footprints. (D. that looked cheerful with his footprints.)

10.21.5

randhrān veṇor adhara-sudhayāpūrayan gopa-vṛndair % vṛndāraṇyaṃ sva-pada-ramaṇaṃ prāviśad gīta-kīrtiḥ //

filling the holes of the flute with the nectar of His lips, surrounded by groups of cowherd boys, / He entered Vṛndāvana, which delights in His footprints, His glory being sung.

10.21.6

iti veṇu-ravaṃ rājan sarva-bhūta-manoharam /
śrutvā vraja-striyaḥ sarvā varṇayantyo 'bhirebhire //

Thus, O king, hearing the sound of the flute, which captivates the minds of all beings, / all the women of Vraja, describing it, began to embrace one another.

6. Listening to such exquisite music of his reed all the women of Vraja found delight in describing it to one another; for that music stole the heart of every living thing.

10.21.7

/0 śrī-gopya ūcuḥ
akṣaṇvatāṃ phalam idaṃ na paraṃ vidāmaḥ $ sakhyaḥ paśūn anaviveśayator vayasyaiḥ &
akṣaṇvatāṃ phalam idaṃ na paraṃ vidāmaḥ $ sakhyaḥ paśūn anaviveśayator vayasyaiḥ &
vaktraṃ vrajeśa-sutayor anaveṇu-juṣṭaṃ % yair vā nipītam anurakta-kaṭākṣa-mokṣam //

The cowherd women said: / We know of no greater fruit for those who possess eyes, / O friends, than when the two sons of the lord of Vraja, entering [the forest] to pasture the cattle with their companions, / show their faces graced with the flute, while casting affectionate side-glances that are drunk by their friends.

7. This indeed is the fruit of being endowed with eyes, and of no other we are aware. O friends, when Rama and Krishna with their mates drive their cows into the woods, that fruit is realised only by those who drink of their face at that time as he goes on playing on the pipe casting around his lovely glances.

10.21.8

* //
cūta-pravāla-barha-stabakotpalābja mālānupṛkta-paridhāna-vicitra-veśau /
madhye virejatur alaṃ paśu-pāla-goṣṭhyāṃ raṅge yathā naṭa-varau kvaca gāyamānau //

Dressed in wondrous garments interwoven with mango shoots, peacock feathers, bunches of blossoms, blue lotuses, and lilies, / the two shone brilliantly amidst the company of cowherds, like two master dancers singing on a stage.

8. Most winningly decorated with tender mango shoots, tufts of peacock-feathers, wreaths of lilies and lotuses and with befitting dress, and singing in the midst of cowherds they shone like two excellent actors on the stage.

10.21.8.p1

gopyaḥ kim ācarad ayaṃ kuśalaṃ sma veṇur $ dāmodarādhara-sudhām api gopikānām &

O cowherd women, what auspicious deed did this flute perform, / that it alone drinks the nectar of Dāmodara's lips, which belongs properly to the cowherd women,

9. O Gopis, incalculably great must have been the meritorious deeds done by this Venu who directly enjoys the nectar flowing from Damodara's lips leaving very little for others, though it naturally belongs to Gopikas; rivers enjoyed what little was left (by her); bristling in joy, trees, like unto the great and righteous, dropped tears.

10.21.9

bhuṅkte svayaṃ yad avaśiṣṭa-rasaṃ hradinyo % hṛṣyat-tvaco 'śru mumucus taravo yathāryaḥ //

leaving only the residue [of its joy], so that the rivers display bristling skin, / and the trees shed tears [of sap], like elder devotees?

10.21.9.p2

vṛndāvanaṃ sakhi bhuvo vitanoti kīṛtiṃ $ yad devakī-suta-padāmbuja-labdha-lakṣmi &

O friend, Vṛndāvana spreads the glory of the earth, / having obtained the fortune of the lotus feet of Devakī's son,

10. O friend, Brindavana extends the fame of (this) earth; for it has gained the grace of being touched by the lotus-like feet of Devaki's son; and there, on seeing the overjoyed peacocks, hear Govinda's flute and at once begin dancing, all other animals on the hills stand motionless (ceasing to do anything else.)

10.21.9.p3

vṛndāvanaṃ sakhi bhuvo vitanoti kīṛtiṃ $ yad devakī-suta-padāmbuja-labdha-lakṣmi &

O friend, Vṛndāvana spreads the glory of the earth, / having obtained the fortune of the lotus feet of Devakī's son,

10.21.10

govinda-veṇum anu matta-mayūra-nṛtyaṃ % prekṣyādri-sānv-avaratānya-samasta-sattvam //

where, to the accompaniment of Govinda's flute, the impassioned peacocks dance, / beholding which all other creatures on the mountain slopes become still.

10.21.10.p2

dhanyāḥ sma mūḍha-gatayo 'pi hariṇya etā $ yā nanda-nandanam upātta-vicitra-veśam &

Blessed indeed are these does, though of dull understanding, / who, seeing the son of Nanda dressed in wondrous attire,

11. Blessed indeed are these (female) deer, who, destitute of reason as they are, (though only beasts), in company with their Krishnasaras (mates), hear the music of his reed and offer to Nanda's son in wonderful dress their well-arranged worship by means of their loving looks.

10.21.10.p3

dhanyāḥ sma mūḍha-gatayo 'pi hariṇya etā $ yā nanda-nandanam upātta-vicitra-veśam &

Blessed indeed are these does, though of dull understanding, / who, seeing the son of Nanda dressed in wondrous attire,

10.21.11

ākarṇya veṇu-raṇitaṃ saha-kṛṣṇa-sārāḥ % pūjāṃ dadhur viracitāṃ praṇayāvalokaiḥ //

and hearing the melodious sound of the flute, along with the black bucks, / offered Him worship made of loving glances.

10.21.11.p2

kṛṣṇaṃ nirīkṣya vanitotsava-rūpa-śīlaṃ $ śrutvā ca tat-kvaṇita-veṇu-vivikta-gītam &

Beholding Kṛṣṇa, whose beauty and character are a festival for women, / and hearing the distinct tune of the flute played by him,

12. On seeing Krishna who, by His beauty and (other) qualities is a feast to women, and hearing the wonderful tunes of the flute sweetly sounded by Him, celestial women riding with their consorts in aerial cars had their hearts deprived of courage, their braids loosened to shower flowers, and were bewildered with their clothes unsettled.

10.21.11.p3

kṛṣṇaṃ nirīkṣya vanitotsava-rūpa-śīlaṃ $ śrutvā ca tat-kvaṇita-veṇu-vivikta-gītam &

Beholding Kṛṣṇa, whose beauty and character are a festival for women, / and hearing the distinct tune of the flute played by him,

10.21.12

devyo vimāna-gatayaḥ smara-nunna-sārā % bhraśyat-prasūna-kabarā mumuhur vinīvyaḥ //

the goddesses travelling in aerial cars, their composure shattered by love, / swooned with slipping knots of their garments and flowers falling from their braided hair.

10.21.12.p2

gāvaś ca kṛṣṇa-mukha-nirgata-veṇu-gīta $ pīyūṣam uttabhita-karṇa-puṭaiḥ pibantyaḥ &

And the cows, drinking with cups of upturned ears / the nectar of the flute song issuing from Kṛṣṇa's mouth,

13. With erect ears, cows also drank of the nectar of music that flowed from Krishna's lips and His reed; and calves had their mouth filled with milk flowing (from their mothers' udders) and stood embracing Govinda in their heart through their eyes with a few drops of tears.

10.21.12.p3

gāvaś ca kṛṣṇa-mukha-nirgata-veṇu-gīta $ pīyūṣam uttabhita-karṇa-puṭaiḥ pibantyaḥ &

And the cows, drinking with cups of upturned ears / the nectar of the flute song issuing from Kṛṣṇa's mouth,

10.21.13

śāvāḥ snuta-stana-payaḥ-kavalāḥ sma tasthur % govindam ātmani dṛśāśru-kalāḥ spṛśantyaḥ //

and the calves, with mouthfuls of mother's milk trickling out, stood motionless, / touching Govinda in their hearts with their eyes, brimming with tears of joy.

10.21.13.p2

prāyo batāmba vihagā munayo vane 'smin $ kṛṣṇekṣitaṃ tad-uditaṃ kala-veṇu-gītam &

Ah, mother, surely the birds in this forest are sages / who, having gazed upon Kṛṣṇa and [heard] the sweet flute song rising from him,

14. O mother, most certainly sages are those that, in these woods are seated as birds in the sight of Krishna on the arms of trees full of charming shoots, listening with unwinking eyes to the enrapturing music of reed when He plays upon it, and remain dumb (and deaf) to everything else.

10.21.13.p3

prāyo batāmba vihagā munayo vane 'smin $ kṛṣṇekṣitaṃ tad-uditaṃ kala-veṇu-gītam &

Ah, mother, surely the birds in this forest are sages / who, having gazed upon Kṛṣṇa and [heard] the sweet flute song rising from him,

10.21.14

āruhya ye druma-bhujān rucira-pravālān % śṛṇvanti mīlita-dṛśo vigatānya-vācaḥ //

having climbed the tree branches having delightful shoots, / listen with closed eyes, having silenced all other speech.

10.21.14.p2

nadyas tadā tad upadhārya mukunda-gītam $ āvarta-lakṣita-manobhava-bhagna-vegāḥ &

The rivers then, perceiving that song of Mukunda, / their swift currents broken by the passion revealed in their whirlpools,

15. Now rivers attentively listen to the music of Mukunda with their course often retarded by Manmatha-like whirlpools, bear their offering of lotuses and with their arms of waves take hold of His feet as if to conceal their embraces.

10.21.14.p3

nadyas tadā tad upadhārya mukunda-gītam $ āvarta-lakṣita-manobhava-bhagna-vegāḥ &

The rivers then, perceiving that song of Mukunda, / their swift currents broken by the passion revealed in their whirlpools,

10.21.15

āliṅgana-sthagitam ūrmi-bhujair murārer % gṛhṇanti pāda-yugalaṃ kamalopahārāḥ //

holding offerings of lotuses, grasp the two feet of Murāri / with the arms of their waves, held still in embrace.

10.21.15.p2

dṛṣṭvātape vraja-paśūn saha rāma-gopaiḥ $ sañcārayantam anu veṇum udīrayantam &

Seeing him grazing the cattle of Vraja in the sun along with Rāma and the cowherd boys, / and sounding his flute along [with them],

16. Seeing Krishna, tending with Rama and Gopas the cows of Vraja in the hot sun, and in their rear playing on His flute, the cloud came up with showers of flowers (flower-like showers) and in overflowing love did to his friend (Krishna) the service of an umbrella with his body.

10.21.15.p3

dṛṣṭvātape vraja-paśūn saha rāma-gopaiḥ $ sañcārayantam anu veṇum udīrayantam &

Seeing him grazing the cattle of Vraja in the sun along with Rāma and the cowherd boys, / and sounding his flute along [with them],

10.21.16

prema-pravṛddha uditaḥ kusumāvalībhiḥ % sakhyur vyadhāt sva-vapuṣāmbuda ātapatram //

the cloud, rising up, swelled with love, and with his own body / made an umbrella for his friend, raining down rows of blossoms.

10.21.16.p2

pūrṇāḥ pulindya urugāya-padābja-rāga $ śrī-kuṅkumena dayitā-stana-maṇḍitena &

The Pulinda women, fulfilled by the splendid vermilion from the lotus feet of Him of wide strides, / which had adorned the breasts of his beloved,

17. Wholly accomplished of their purpose are the foresters' women who were distressed by Smara (love) that awoke at the sight of the Kunkuma sticking to the blades of grass, which at first adorned the bosom of His consort and became still more charming by contact with the lotus-like feet of the One most praised in the Vedas, and rid themselves of that distress, by smearing with it their face and bosom.

10.21.16.p3

pūrṇāḥ pulindya urugāya-padābja-rāga $ śrī-kuṅkumena dayitā-stana-maṇḍitena &

The Pulinda women, fulfilled by the splendid vermilion from the lotus feet of Him of wide strides, / which had adorned the breasts of his beloved,

10.21.17

tad-darśana-smara-rujas tṛṇa-rūṣitena % limpantya ānana-kuceṣu jahus tad-ādhim //

afflicted with love by the sight of it, smearing over their faces and breasts that [vermilion] clinging to the grass, / cast away their mental anguish.

10.21.17.p2

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo $ yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ &

Ah, friends, this mountain is the foremost among Hari's servants, / which rejoices at the touch of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa's feet,

18. Blessed is this mountain, O weak women; he is surely foremost amongst Hari's servants; for, he is blissful, with the touch of the feet of Rama and Krishna and offers them and their cows a worthy worship with fresh water and good pasture, caves and edible roots.

10.21.17.p3

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo $ yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ &

Ah, friends, this mountain is the foremost among Hari's servants, / which rejoices at the touch of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa's feet,

10.21.18

mānaṃ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat % pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kandamūlaiḥ //

and extends hospitality to the two along with their herds of cows / with water, luscious pasture, caves, roots, and tubers!

10.21.18.p2

gā gopakair anu-vanaṃ nayator udāra $ veṇu-svanaiḥ kala-padais tanu-bhṛtsu sakhyaḥ &

O friends, as the two lead the cows from forest to forest along with the cowherd boys / with sweet tunes and generous notes of the flute,

19. O friends, as they in company with Gopas lead their cows from one tract to another in the woods, the sublime notes of exquisite expressions of their flute made motionless the mobile among creatures and the (stationery) trees bristle (with joy)—the most wonderful (and incomprehensible) work of the two who looked like real cowherds with the string and rope.

10.21.18.p3

gā gopakair anu-vanaṃ nayator udāra $ veṇu-svanaiḥ kala-padais tanu-bhṛtsu sakhyaḥ &

O friends, as the two lead the cows from forest to forest along with the cowherd boys / with sweet tunes and generous notes of the flute,

10.21.19

aspandanaṃ gati-matāṃ pulakas taruṇāṃ % niryoga-pāśa-kṛta-lakṣaṇayor vicitram //

wonderful is the stillness among moving beings and the thrill among the trees / caused by the two who bear ropes for tying the cows' hind legs!

10.21.20

evaṃ-vidhā bhagavato yā vṛndāvana-cāriṇaḥ /
varṇayantyo mitho gopyaḥ krīḍās tan-mayatāṃ yayuḥ //

Thus describing to one another such pastimes / of the Lord wandering in Vṛndāvana, the gopīs became completely absorbed in him.

20. Thus mutually describing and singing of such sportful activities of the glorious Lord that traversed Brindavana, the Gopa women became as it were one with Him.