Bhagavatapurana 10.23: atha trayoviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.23.1

/0 śrī-gopa ūcuḥ
rāma rāma mahā-bāho kṛṣṇa duṣṭa-nibarhaṇa /
eṣā vai bādhate kṣun nas tac-chāntiṃ kartum arhathaḥ //

The cowherd boys said:
“O Rāma, Rāma, mighty-armed one! O Kṛṣṇa, slayer of the wicked!
Indeed, this hunger afflicts us; you two should pacify it.”

1. Gopas said:— O Rama, powerful Rama, O Krishna destroyer of the wicked, this hunger pinches us very badly indeed! Be pleased to appease it.

10.23.2

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
iti vijñāpito gopair bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ /
bhaktāyā vipra-bhāryāyāḥ prasīdann idam abravīt //

Śrī Śuka said:
Thus requested by the cowherd boys, the Lord, the son of Devakī,
wishing to show favor to the devoted wives of the brāhmaṇas, said this:

2. Sri Suka said:— Thus requested by the Gopas, the glorious son of Devaki, intending to show His grace unto the brahmins' wives devoted to Him, said to them as follows.

10.23.3

prayāta deva-yajanaṃ brāhmaṇā brahma-vādinaḥ /
satram āṅgirasaṃ nāma hy āsate svarga-kāmyayā //

“Go to the sacrificial arena of the gods, where brāhmaṇas who expound the Veda
are performing a sacrificial session named Āṅgirasa, with a desire for heaven.

3. Go to the sacrificial hall there; brahmins versed in the vedas are performing a great sacrifice called Angirasa, taught by Brihaspati, for the purpose of attaining to swarga.

10.23.4

tatra gatvaudanaṃ gopā yācatāsmad-visarjitāḥ /
kīrtayanto bhagavata āryasya mama cābhidhām //

Going there, O cowherds, sent by us, ask for boiled rice,
announcing the name of the noble Lord and mine.”

4. Gopas, go thither and, as sent by us, ask for food and tell them our names as Rama and Krishna (mentioning My venerable brother's as well as My, name.

10.23.5

ity ādiṣṭā bhagavatā gatvā yācanta te tathā /
kṛtāñjali-puṭā viprān daṇḍa-vat patitā bhuvi //

Thus instructed by the Lord, they went and begged accordingly,
with hands folded in reverence before the brāhmaṇas, falling flat like a staff on the ground.

5. Thus commanded by the Lord, they went and asked for it as directed: joining their hands and prostrating themselves like a pole on the earth before the brahmins, they said:—

10.23.6

he bhūmi-devāḥ śṛṇuta kṛṣṇasyādeśa-kāriṇaḥ /
prāptāñ jānīta bhadraṃ vo gopān no rāma-coditān //

“O earthly gods, listen! We carry out the command of Kṛṣṇa;
know that we, cowherds directed by Rāma, have arrived; may auspiciousness be yours!

6. "O gods of the earth, be pleased to listen to us who are the servants of Sri Krishna (who do what is ordered by Krishna). Be

pleased to know us to be the Gopas directed by Balarama.

10.23.7

gāś cārayantāv avidūra odanaṃ rāmācyutau vo laṣato bubhukṣitau /
tayor dvijā odanam arthinor yadi śraddhā ca vo yacchata dharma-vittamāḥ //

Grazing cows not far away, Rāma and Acyuta, being hungry, desire boiled rice from you.
If you have faith, O twice-born ones, give boiled rice to those two who ask, O best knowers of dharma!

7. Rama and Krishna are grazing their cattle not very far from here; they are hungry and they desire to have their meals from you. If you have real faith, O brahmins foremost among those that know Dharma, please supply food to them both when they ask for it.

10.23.8

dīkṣāyāḥ paśu-saṃsthāyāḥ sautrāmaṇyāś ca sattamāḥ /
anyatra dīkṣitasyāpi nānnam aśnan hi duṣyati //

Except at the initiation, the animal sacrifice, and the Sautrāmaṇī, O most virtuous ones,
even one initiated does not incur fault by eating food elsewhere.”

8. O great people, at occasions other than the ceremonials of Diksha and Agnishtoma and Soutramani, to eat the food of the sacrificer is not objectionable.

10.23.9

iti te bhagavad-yācñāṃ śṛṇvanto 'pi na śuśruvuḥ /
kṣudrāśā bhūri-karmāṇo bāliśā vṛddha-māninaḥ //

Though hearing the Lord's petition in this way, they did not heed it—
those men of petty hopes, occupied with extensive rituals, foolish yet considering themselves mature.

9. They heard thus of the request of the Almighty Lord; but they did not attend to it (turned a deaf ear to it), for they were actuated with poor desires and engaged in heavy and extensive course of performance, foolish yet conceited as being very wise and learned.

10.23.10

deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaṃ mantra-tantrartvijo 'gnayaḥ /
devatā yajamānaś ca kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ //

The place, time, various implements, mantras, rituals, priests, fires,
deities, the patron of the sacrifice, the sacrifice itself, and the dharma are all composed of him;

10. For the place, the time, the substances for offering (cheru and the like), the mantras, processes, the priests, the fires, the Deities, the sacrificer, the performance and the merit of righteousness—all are pervaded by Him.

10.23.11

taṃ brahma paramaṃ sākṣād bhagavantam adhokṣajam /
manuṣya-dṛṣṭyā duṣprajñā martyātmāno na menire //

yet him, the Supreme Brahman in person, the Lord Adhokṣaja,
those of poor intellect whose selves were mortal considered with a human perspective and did not recognise.

11. That perfect and highest Brahman, who is evidently the glorious Lord Adhokshaja, mortal men of impure understanding did not really perceive, but only looked upon Him as a mortal man.

10.23.12

na te yad om iti procur na neti ca parantapa /
gopā nirāśāḥ pratyetya tathocuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmayoḥ //

Since they said neither 'Yes' nor 'No', O scorcher of foes,
the cowherds, returning hopeless, told Kṛṣṇa and Rāma what had happened.

12. They said neither 'yes' nor 'no', O slayer of enemies; thereupon the Gopas returned disappointed and reported the fact to Krishna and Rama.

10.23.13

tad upākarṇya bhagavān prahasya jagad-īśvaraḥ /
vyājahāra punar gopān darśayan laukikīṃ gatim //

Hearing that, the Lord, the Ruler of the universe, laughed
and spoke again to the cowherds, demonstrating the way of the world:

13. On hearing of that, the glorious Lord of the Universe laughed out and again said to the Gopas in order to acquaint them with the course of the world.

10.23.14

māṃ jñāpayata patnībhyaḥ sa-saṅkarṣaṇam āgatam /
dāsyanti kāmam annaṃ vaḥ snigdhā mayy uṣitā dhiyā //

“Inform the wives that I have arrived along with Saṅkarṣaṇa;
affectionate and living with their minds fixed on me, they will give you food in abundance.”

14. "Tell the wives of the brahmins that I am here with Sankarshana; the devout women will give you abundant food; for they live in Me through mind and thought."

10.23.15

gatvātha patnī-śālāyāṃ dṛṣṭvāsīnāḥ sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ /
natvā dvija-satīr gopāḥ praśritā idam abruvan //

Then, going to the hall of the wives and seeing them seated, well adorned,
the cowherds bowed to the virtuous wives of the twice-born and spoke with humility:

15. Then, having repaired to the apartment of yagnapathnis

and found them seated and well adorned, the Gopas bowed to the chaste wives of the brahmins and modestly said to them as follows.

10.23.16

namo vo vipra-patnībhyo nibodhata vacāṃsi naḥ /
ito 'vidūre caratā kṛṣṇeneheṣitā vayam //

“Salutations to you, wives of the brāhmaṇas! Listen to our words;
we have been sent here by Kṛṣṇa, who is moving about not far from here.

16. "Salutation to you, brahmin ladies! be pleased to listen to what we have to say; not far from here Sri Krishna has encamped and we are with Him.

10.23.17

gāś cārayan sa gopālaiḥ sa-rāmo dūram āgataḥ /
bubhukṣitasya tasyānnaṃ sānugasya pradīyatām //

Grazing the cows with the cowherds along with Rāma, he has come a long way;
let food be given to him, who is hungry, along with his companions.”

17. "In grazing cows He has with Rama and Gopas come off to a great distance from home; kindly supply food to the hungry Krishna and His attendants."

10.23.18

śrutvācyutam upāyātaṃ nityaṃ tad-darśanotsukāḥ /
tat-kathākṣipta-manaso babhūvur jāta-sambhramāḥ //

Hearing that Acyuta had arrived, always eager for the sight of him,
their minds captivated by talks of him, they became filled with agitation.

18. Hearing of Achyuta being near at hand, having been every day and every hour anxious to see Him, and having their mind at once taken up with His news, they were impatient to do His bidding.

10.23.19

catur-vidhaṃ bahu-guṇam annam ādāya bhājanaiḥ /
abhisasruḥ priyaṃ sarvāḥ samudram iva nimnagāḥ //

Taking the four kinds of food with many delicacies in vessels,
they all rushed toward their beloved like rivers to the ocean,

19. They took a large supply in vessels of the four kinds of excellent food and went towards the beloved Lord, even as rivers flow towards the sea.

10.23.20

niṣidhyamānāḥ patibhir bhrātṛbhir bandhubhiḥ sutaiḥ /
bhagavaty uttama-śloke dīrgha-śruta -dhṛtāśayāḥ //

though forbidden by their husbands, brothers, kinsmen, and sons,
for their hearts had long been held fast in the Lord of highest renown by hearing of him.

20. They were prohibited by their husbands, brothers, relations and sons; but they had long heard of Him and devoted their mind and heart to the most glorious Almighty Lord.

10.23.21

yamunopavane 'śoka nava-pallava-maṇḍite /
vicarantaṃ vṛtaṃ gopaiḥ sāgrajaṃ dadṛśuḥ striyaḥ //

In the grove by the Yamunā adorned with fresh aśoka sprouts,
the women saw him walking about surrounded by the cowherds, along with his elder brother:

21. In a garden on the bank of the Yamuna adorned with the tender leaves of Asoka trees these women saw the Lord strolling with His elder brother and surrounded by Gopas.

10.23.21.p1

śyāmaṃ hiraṇya-paridhiṃ vanamālya-barha- $ dhātu-pravāla-naṭa-veṣam anavratāṃse &

dark-complexioned, clad in golden garments, wearing a forest garland, peacock feather, / minerals, and sprouts, dressed like an actor, resting his hand on a companion's shoulder,

22. They saw Him who was of blue complexion, wore Peetambara, (a zone of gold), Vanamala, Peacock feathers, various colours, tender shoots like a Nata, rested one hand on the shoulder of a mate that went with Him and with the other hand swung a lotus, and had His ears graced with Utpalas, cheeks with curly locks and face with smiles.

10.23.22

vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjaṃ % karṇotpalālaka-kapola-mukhābja-hāsam //

twirling a lotus with the other, / with blue lotuses at his ears, locks on his cheeks, and a smile on his lotus face.

10.23.22.p2

prāyaḥ-śruta-priyatamodaya-karṇa-pūrair $ yasmin nimagna-manasas tam athākṣi-randraiḥ &

Their minds being deeply immersed in him whose deeds were like ornaments to their ears through having often heard of their most beloved,

23. These women had frequently and extensively heard of the great glories of their beloved Krishna, which graced their ears and had their mind completely immersed in Krishna; now they got Krishna into their heart through the gates of their eyes and there they embraced Him long and shook off their misery (affliction), just as men conditioned by Ahankara embrace Pragna in sleep and become rid of all affliction.

10.23.22.p3

prāyaḥ-śruta-priyatamodaya-karṇa-pūrair $ yasmin nimagna-manasas tam athākṣi-randraiḥ &

their minds being deeply immersed in him whose deeds were like ornaments to their ears through having often heard of their most beloved,

10.23.23

antaḥ praveśya su-ciraṃ parirabhya tāpaṃ % prājñaṃ yathābhimatayo vijahur narendra //

drawing him inside through the apertures of their eyes and embracing him for a long time, they cast off their torment, O king, just as the faculties [of the body] merge into the conscious self.

10.23.24

tās tathā tyakta-sarvāśāḥ prāptā ātma-didṛkṣayā /
vijñāyākhila-dṛg-draṣṭā prāha prahasitānanaḥ //

Understanding that they had arrived thus, having abandoned all other hope, with a desire to see their own true Self, / the witness who sees all spoke with a smiling face:

24. The Lord who directly sees the mind of all saw that they had become rid of all desires, and only eager to see Him and with a smiling face, spoke to them.

10.23.25

svāgataṃ vo mahā-bhāgā āsyatāṃ karavāma kim /
yan no didṛkṣayā prāptā upapannam idaṃ hi vaḥ //

“Welcome to you, highly fortunate ones! Please sit down. What may we do for you? / That you have come with a desire to see us is indeed fitting for you.

25. “O highly blessed women, welcome to you; take your seat, what shall I do for you? For you have come to see Me! Indeed, this is quite proper on your part.

10.23.26

nanv addhā mayi kurvanti kuśalāḥ svārtha-darśinaḥ /
ahaituky avyavahitāṃ bhaktim ātma-priye yathā //

Indeed, discerning people who truly perceive their own welfare practice / unmotivated, uninterrupted devotion to me, just as to the self, which is dearest of all.

26. “O good ladies! happy men who understand their grand purpose cherish absolute devotion to Me, most beloved of self without any other desire and without any interruption.

10.23.27

prāṇa-buddhi-manaḥ-svātma dārāpatya-dhanādayaḥ /
yat-samparkāt priyā āsaṃs tataḥ ko nv aparaḥ priyaḥ //

Life, intellect, mind, body, wife, children, wealth, and the rest
become dear by connection with Whom—who else indeed could be dearer than Him?

27. “Pranas (breaths or the senses), Buddhi, Manas, (mind and heart), kith and kin, the body, wife and children, wealth and other things are all beloved of one on account of his contact with them; then who else could be so beloved of any person?

10.23.28

tad yāta deva-yajanaṃ patayo vo dvijātayaḥ /
sva-satraṃ pārayiṣyanti yuṣmābhir gṛha-medhinaḥ //

Therefore go to the sacrificial enclosure; your husbands, the twice-born
householders, will complete their sacrificial session with you.

28. “Therefore do you go back to the sacrificial hall; the brahmins who are your lords will successfully complete their sacrifice; for with you they are worthy house-holders.”

10.23.29

/0 śrī-patnya ūcuḥ
maivaṃ vibho 'rhati bhavān gadituṃ nr-śaṃsaṃ $ satyaṃ kuruṣva nigamaṃ tava pada-mūlam &
maivaṃ vibho 'rhati bhavān gadituṃ nr-śaṃsaṃ $ satyaṃ kuruṣva nigamaṃ tava pada-mūlam &
prāptā vayaṃ tulasi-dāma padāvasṛṣṭaṃ % keśair nivoḍhum atilaṅghya samasta-bandhūn //

The wives said:
O all-pervading Lord, you should not speak so cruelly. Fulfill your promise: having abandoned all our kinsmen,
we have arrived at your feet to wear upon our hair the garland of tulasī cast off by your feet.

29. The wives said:—“O Lord, it is not fit that Thou shouldst say this even to a wicked person; pray fulfil Thy own promise; we have sought the dust under Thy feet; having disregarded all the relations we have come to wear in our locks the wreath of Tulasi that falls from Thy feet. (that may be indifferently thrown on to us by Thy feet).

10.23.30

* //
gṛhṇanti no na patayaḥ pitarau sutā vā $ na bhrātṛ-bandhu-suhṛdaḥ kuta eva cānye &
gṛhṇanti no na patayaḥ pitarau sutā vā $ na bhrātṛ-bandhu-suhṛdaḥ kuta eva cānye &
tasmād bhavat-prapadayoḥ patitātmanāṃ no % nānyā bhaved gatir arindama tad vidhehi //

Our husbands will not accept us, nor our parents, sons,
brothers, kinsmen, or friends, let alone anyone else!
Therefore, O conqueror of foes, for us who have cast ourselves at your feet,
there can be no other recourse; please arrange for that.

30. “Our husbands or parents or sons or brothers or relations or friends would not receive us; then who else would? Therefore to us that have laid our body at Thy feet, no other goal or course is practicable. O Lord that canst put down the enemies of desire and other passions, be gracious to confer that on us (confer the state of being Thy servants).”

10.23.31

* //
/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
patayo nābhyasūyeran pitṛ-bhrātṛ-sutādayaḥ /
lokāś ca vo mayopetā devā apy anumanvate //

The Lord said:
Neither your husbands nor your fathers, brothers, sons, and others will bear you ill will,
nor will the people; approved by me, even the gods will give assent.

31. The Lord said:—“Your husbands or your parents, brothers, sons and others or even the people at large would not see any thing wrong with you who are accepted by Me; the gods also give their

approbation.

10.23.32

na prītaye 'nurāgāya hy aṅga-saṅgo nṛṇām iha /
tan mano mayi yuñjānā acirān mām avāpsyatha //

For physical contact here among mortals does not generate true love and affection.
Therefore, fixing your minds on me, before long you will attain me.

32. "No corporeal (bodily) intimacy is the cause of pleasure or love among men; therefore devote your mind unto Me and you will soon attain unto Me.

10.23.33

śravaṇād darśanād dhyānān mayi bhāvo 'nukīrtanāt /
na tathā sannikarṣeṇa pratiyāta tato gṛhān //

Devotional emotion toward me arises from listening, seeing, meditating, and glorification,
not in that way by mere physical proximity; therefore, return to your homes.

"[By listening to My qualities, by seeing Me, by meditating on Me, by singing praises, devotion to Me is produced, but not so truly by mere physical contact; therefore do you return to your houses.]"

10.23.34

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
ity uktā dvija-patnyas tā yajña-vāṭaṃ punar gatāḥ /
te cānasūyavas tābhiḥ strībhiḥ satram apārayan //

Śuka said:
Addressed thus, the wives of the twice-born returned to the sacrificial arena,
and the men, bearing no grudge, completed the sacrificial session with their wives.

33. Sri Suka said:— Thus directed, the wives of those Rishis returned to the sacrificial hall and those brahmins did not find fault with them and with those women continued and completed their sacrifice.

10.23.35

tatraikā vidhṛtā bhartrā bhagavantaṃ yathā-śrutam /
hṛḍopaguhya vijahau dehaṃ karmānubandhanam //

There, one wife who had been held back by her husband, having embraced in her heart
the Lord as she had heard of Him, abandoned her body, which was bound to karma.

34. Among them there was one who was detained by her husband: she contemplated the Lord as she had heard of Him, embraced Him in her own heart and cast off the body that had been brought on by her previous Karma.

10.23.36

bhagavān api govindas tenaivānnena gopakān /
catur-vidhenāśayitvā svayaṃ ca bubhuje prabhuḥ //

The Lord Govinda too fed the cowherd boys
with that very fourfold food, and the Master ate Himself.

35. The Lord Govinda also fed His gopas first with that supply of four kinds of preparations and then Himself partook of it.

10.23.37

evaṃ līlā-nara-vapur nr-lokam anuśīlayan /
reme go-gopa-gopīnāṃ ramayan rūpa-vāk-kṛtaiḥ //

Thus imitating human society with a body assumed in divine play as a man,
He took delight, delighting the cows, cowherds, and cowherd women with His form, words, and actions.

36. Thus the Lord who had sportfully assumed a human form imitated the human ways and delightfully spent the time with His beautiful personality, conversations and deeds, giving joy to cows, gopas and gopa women.

10.23.38

athānusmṛtya viprās te anvatapyan kṛtāgasaḥ /
yad viśveśvarayor yācñām ahanma nṛ-viḍambayoḥ //

Then, remembering, those brāhmaṇas felt deep remorse for their offense:
“Alas, we refused the request of the two Lords of the universe who were playing human roles!”

37. Then recollecting, the brahmins who were at fault were sorry to think thus, "Pity, we have neglected the request of the Lord of the universe who behaved like mortals".

10.23.39

dṛṣṭvā strīṇāṃ bhagavati kṛṣṇe bhaktim alaukikīm /
ātmānaṃ ca tayā hīnam anutaptā vyagarhayan //

Seeing the extraordinary devotion of their wives toward the Lord Kṛṣṇa,
and seeing themselves devoid of it, they condemned themselves in remorse:

38. When they saw how women had superhuman devotion to the glorious Krishna and how they were wanting in it, they condemned themselves with deep regret (thus):—

10.23.40

dhig janma nas tri-vṛd yat tad dhig vrataṃ dhig bahu-jñatām /
dhik kulaṃ dhik kriyā-dākṣyaṃ vimukhā ye tv adhokṣaje //

“Fie on our threefold birth! Fie on our vows! Fie on our great learning!
Fie on our high lineage! Fie on our expertise in rituals, since we are averted from Adhokṣaja!

39. Fie upon our three-fold birth, our learning; fie upon our

vows; fie upon our extensive knowledge; fie upon our pedigree; fie upon our expert skill in sacrificial duties, when we have turned our face away from Adhokshaja.

10.23.41

nūnaṃ bhagavato māyā yoginām api mohinī /
yad vayaṃ guravo nṛṇāṃ svārthe muhyāmahe dvijāḥ //

Surely the Lord’s creative power deludes even yogins,
for we twice-born, the teachers of men, are bewildered about our own highest good!

40. Indeed the Lord's Maya (power) deludes even yogins; we are preceptors of men; we are brahmins; still we are deluded in the matter of our own purpose.

10.23.42

aho paśyata nārīṇām api kṛṣṇe jagad-gurau /
duranta-bhāvaṃ yo 'vidhyan mṛtyu-pāśān gṛhābhidhān //

Oh, behold the boundless devotional emotion toward Kṛṣṇa, the teacher of the universe,
even among women—emotion that has snapped the snares of death called ‘home’!

41. Lo! Note what great (intense) devotion beyond our efforts these women have towards Krishna, the father of the universe, which has cut asunder the ropes of death known as household life that bound them.

10.23.43

nāsāṃ dvijāti-saṃskāro na nivāso gurāv api /
na tapo nātma-mīmāṃsā na śaucaṃ na kriyāḥ śubhāḥ //

They had no sacrament of the twice-born, nor did they reside in a teacher’s home,
no austerities, no inquiry into the self, no ritual purity, and no auspicious rites.

42. These have no purifying ceremonies to undergo such as are laid down for the males of the twice-born classes; they do not live in the preceptor's house for training; there is no tapas on their part, no sastraic enquiry about Atman; they have no purity of personal habits, no sacrificial performances of auspicious nature (to lead them to good).

10.23.44

tathāpi hy uttamaḥ-śloke kṛṣṇe yogeśvareśvare /
bhaktir dṛḍhā na cāsmākaṃ saṃskārādimatām api //

Even so, they possess firm devotion to Kṛṣṇa, He of highest renown, the Master of the masters of yoga,
while we have none, though endowed with the sacraments and other qualifications.

43. Still they have unswerving and deep devotion to Krishna, the most glorious Lord, the master of great yogins; but we have no such devotion though we have undergone all the purifying processes and fulfilled other conditions.

10.23.45

nanu svārtha-vimūḍhānāṃ pramattānāṃ gṛhehayā /
aho naḥ smārayām āsa gopa-vākyaiḥ satāṃ gatiḥ //

Truly, He who is the refuge of the virtuous devotees has reminded us—
bewildered about our self-interest and maddened by household endeavors—through the words of the cowherd boys!

44. Indeed to us rendered stupid by our worldly pursuits and our household activities and blind to our own (grand) purpose, the Lord who is the help of the righteous sent a reminder through the gopas' words.

10.23.46

anyathā pūrṇa-kāmasya kaivalyādy-aśiṣāṃ pateḥ /
īśitavyaiḥ kim asmābhir īśasyaitad viḍambanam //

Otherwise, what need could the Master, whose desires are fulfilled, the Lord of blessings beginning with absolute liberation,
have of us who are to be ruled? This was only an imitation played by the Lord!

45. Otherwise what is there to be gained by the Lord, perfect in every blessing and the master and donor of Mukti and other blessings, from us who are under His control? It is but the absolute, the Ruler.

10.23.47

hitvānyān bhajate yaṃ śrīḥ pāda-sparśāśayāsakṛt /
svātma-doṣāpavargeṇa tad-yācñā jana-mohinī //

Leaving others aside, Śrī worships Him repeatedly in the hope of touching His feet,
casting off her own fault [of fickleness]; His begging was only to delude people.

46. It is only to delude the common world (people) that the Lord makes a request, whom Lakshmi always attends, neglecting others in order to be in constant touch of His feet, free from her fault (of fickleness).

10.23.48

deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaṃ mantra-tantrartvijo 'gnayaḥ /
devatā yajamānaś ca kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ //

The place, the time, the distinct materials, the mantras, the ritual procedures, the priests, the fires,
the deities, the sacrificer, the rite, and the dharma—all are made of Him.

47. For the place, the time, the substances for offering (cheru and the like), the Mantras, processes, the priests, the Deities, the

sacrificer, the performance and the merit of righteousness-all are pervaded by Him.

10.23.49

sa eva bhagavān sākṣād viṣṇur yogeśvareśvaraḥ /
jāto yaduṣv ity āśṛṇma hy api mūḍhā na vidmahe //

He Himself is the Lord Viṣṇu in person, the Master of the masters of yoga,
born among the Yadus, as we have heard; yet, fools that we are, we did not know.

48. This is the same Lord as the glorious Vishnu, the Ruler of great yogins, who has appeared in Yadu's race; we have heard of it, but still being foolish, we do not realise the fact.

10.23.50

tasmai namo bhagavate kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase /
yan-māyā-mohita-dhiyo bhramāmaḥ karma-vartmasu //

Obeisance to that Lord Kṛṣṇa of unhindered wisdom,
deluded by whose creative power we wander along the paths of action.

50. Salutation to Thee, Oh glorious Krishna, of unlimited intelligence; our mind deluded by Thy Maya, we are wandering in the ways of Karma.

10.23.51

sa vai na ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ sva-māyā-mohitātmanām /
avijñatānubhāvānāṃ kṣantum arhaty atikramam //

He, the primal Person, ought indeed to forgive the transgression
of us whose selves are bewildered by His creative power and who did not recognize His majesty.”

51. May that First and Perfect Person Himself be pleased to pardon us for our violation, since we are deluded by His own Maya and do not realise His greatness!

10.23.52

iti svāgham anusmṛtya kṛṣṇe te kṛta-helanāḥ /
didṛkṣavo vrajam atha kaṃsād bhītā na cācalan //

Thus recalling their sin, having committed disrespect toward Kṛṣṇa,
they wished to visit Vraja, but out of fear of Kaṃsa, they did not move.

52. Thus those brahmins, who had disregarded Krishna, thought over their own sinfulness: though eager to see the two Avataras of Achyuta, they did not stir out, being afraid of Kamsa.