Bhagavatapurana 10.25: pañcaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.25.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
indras tadātmanaḥ pūjāṃ vijñāya vihatāṃ nṛpa /
gopebhyaḥ kṛṣṇa-nāthebhyo nandādibhyaś cukopa ha //

Śrī Śuka said: / Indra, learning that his worship had been thwarted then, O king, / became enraged at the cowherds led by Nanda, who had Kṛṣṇa as their protector.

1. Sri Suka said:-- Then, O king! Indra perceived that his worship was obstructed and became very angry with Nanda and other Gopas of whom Sri Krishna was the protector.

10.25.2

gaṇaṃ sāṃvartakaṃ nāma meghānāṃ cānta-kārīṇām /
indraḥ pracodayat kruddho vākyaṃ cāheśa-māny uta //

Indra, furious and deeming himself supreme lord, impelled / the host of clouds known as Sāṃvartaka, which bring about the end [of an aeon], and spoke these words:

2. Angry Indra directed the destructive host of clouds called Samvartaka and, thinking himself to be the Supreme Ruler, said as follows.

10.25.3

aho śrī-mada-māhātmyaṃ gopānāṃ kānanaukasām /
kṛṣṇaṃ martyam upāśritya ye cakrur deva-helanam //

"Ah, the extent of the pride of wealth of these cowherds who dwell in the forest, / who, taking refuge in Kṛṣṇa, a mere mortal, have insulted the gods!

3. Oh! How incalculable is the strength of pride due to wealth and prosperity of these Gopas who but dwell in forests! Depending on Krishna, a mortal, they have despised the gods.

10.25.4

yathādṛḍhaiḥ karma-mayaiḥ kratubhir nāma-nau-nibhaiḥ /
vidyām ānvīkṣikīṃ hitvā titīrṣanti bhavārṇavam //

Just as with frail rituals of karma that are like boats in name only, / abandoning the knowledge of the self, men wish to cross over the ocean of worldly existence.

4. They hope to cross thus the sea of Samsara or mundane life abandoning the knowledge which promotes the memory of the Supreme Lord and, trusting themselves to sacrifices which are but weak actions like unto boats existing only in name.

10.25.5

vācālaṃ bāliśaṃ stabdham ajñaṃ paṇḍita-māninam /
kṛṣṇaṃ martyam upāśritya gopā me cakrur apriyam //

Taking refuge in Kṛṣṇa, a mortal who is talkative, childish, stubborn, / ignorant, and imagining himself wise, the cowherds have done what is displeasing to me.

5. Having taken shelter under a mortal, Krishna, who is talkative, foolish, arrogant and conceited (as the wisest man), those Gopas have given offence to the gods.

10.25.6

eṣāṃ śriyāvaliptānāṃ kṛṣṇenādhmāpitātmanām /
dhunuta śrī-mada-stambhaṃ paśūn nayata saṅkṣayam //

Of these who are arrogant through wealth and puffed up by Kṛṣṇa, / shake the pillar of their pride in wealth, and bring their cattle to destruction!

6. Of these Gopas proud of their wealth and grown insolent with the advice of Krishna,-- do you shake off the stiffness caused by their prosperity and bring their cattle to destruction.

10.25.7

ahaṃ cairāvataṃ nāgam āruhyānuvraje vrajam /
marud-gaṇair mahā-vegair nanda-goṣṭha-jighāṃsayā //

And I, mounting the elephant Airāvata, will follow to Vraja / with the hosts of Maruts of immense speed, wishing to destroy Nanda's settlement!"

7. On the back of my elephant Iravata with my powerful troop of Maruts, I follow you to Vraja, to destroy the camp of Nanda (the wealth of cattle belonging to Nanda).

10.25.8

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
itthaṃ maghavatājñaptā meghā nirmukta-bandhanāḥ /
nanda-gokulam āsāraiḥ pīḍayām āsur ojasā //

Śrī Śuka said: / Commanded in this way by Maghavan, the clouds, released from their bonds, / tormented Nanda's Gokula with torrents using all their power.

8. Sri Suka said:-- Thus commanded by Indra and let loose, the clouds in all possible virulence distressed Nanda's Gokula with their torrents.

10.25.9

vidyotamānā vidyudbhiḥ stanantaḥ stanayitnubhiḥ /
tīvrair marud-gaṇair nunnā vavṛṣur jala-śarkarāḥ //

Flashing with lightnings and roaring with thunder, / driven by violent hosts of Maruts, they rained down stones of hail.

9. Shining with streaks of lightning, roaring with rolling thunders and driven by the violent troop of Maruts, they (the

clouds) showered hail stones.

10.25.10

sthūṇā-sthūlā varṣa-dhārā muñcatsv abhreṣv abhīkṣṇaśaḥ /
jalaughaiḥ plāvyamānā bhūr nādṛśyata natonnatam //

As the clouds incessantly released streams of rain as thick as pillars, / the earth, flooded by masses of water, showed no high or low ground.

10. As the clouds incessantly poured down rain in volumes as stout as columns, the earth, flooded by abundant flow of water, was not visible, high and low grounds, all merged under water.

10.25.11

aty-āsārāti-vātena paśavo jāta-vepanāḥ /
gopā gopyaś ca śītārtā govindaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ //

Trembling from the excessive downpour and violent wind, / the animals, and the cowherd men and women, afflicted with cold, went to Govinda for refuge.

11. Under excessive driving showers and tempestuous gales all the cows began to shiver with cold, and Gopas and Gopa women got benumbed with excessive cold and sought Krishna for protection.

10.25.12

śiraḥ sutāṃś ca kāyena pracchādyāsāra-pīḍitāḥ /
vepamānā bhagavataḥ pāda-mūlam upāyayuḥ //

Covering their heads and their children with their bodies, afflicted by the downpour, / trembling, they approached the Lord's feet:

12. Somehow covering (sheltering) their head and their children with their body (under the trunk of their body) all that were afflicted by the torrents (volleys) of rain, came shivering with cold and fell at the feet of the Lord.

10.25.13

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bhāga tvan-nāthaṃ gokulaṃ prabho /
trātum arhasi devān naḥ kupitād bhakta-vatsala //

"Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, O greatly fortunate one! O Lord, Gokula has you as its master; / you ought to protect us, O lover of your devotees, from the enraged god!"

13. O Krishna! O highly blessed Krishna! O Lord! Thou art the protector of Gokula! Be pleased to protect it from the angry Indra, O Lord that art affectionate to Thy devotees.

10.25.14

śilā-varṣāti-vātena hanyamānam acetanam /
nirīkṣya bhagavān mene kupitendra-kṛtaṃ hariḥ //

Beholding [Gokula] struck down and senseless from the rain of hail and the violent wind, / the Lord, Hari, considered it the work of the angered Indra:

14. The glorious Lord Hari saw from the hail-storm that the inanimate Gokula was beaten to a lifeless state and knew that it was the work of the angry Indra.

10.25.15

apartv aty-ulbaṇaṃ varṣam ati-vātaṃ śilā-mayam /
sva-yāge vihate 'smābhir indro nāśāya varṣati //

"An unseasonal, extremely ferocious rain, a violent wind with stones of hail— / Indra is raining down for destruction because his sacrifice was thwarted by us.

15. "For our destruction out of season Indra sends down this violent rain with tempestuous winds full of hailstones, because his worship was obstructed by us.

10.25.16

tatra pratividhiṃ samyag ātma-yogena sādhaye /
lokeśa-mānināṃ mauḍhyād dhaniṣye śrī-madaṃ tamaḥ //

Thereupon I shall properly accomplish a counter-measure by my own power; / out of their folly, of those who deem themselves lords of the world, I shall destroy their pride of wealth and darkness.

16. "In this case I shall adopt a very good remedy by virtue of My yoga and I shall put an end to the darkness (foolishness) and the pride of wealth and power which the gods cherish through ignorance and fancy themselves to be the Supreme Ruler.

10.25.17

na hi sad-bhāva-yuktānāṃ surāṇām īśa-vismayaḥ /
matto 'satāṃ māna-bhaṅgaḥ praśamāyopakalpate //

For gods endowed with goodness do not possess arrogance of lordship; / crushing the conceit of the wicked, who are intoxicated, leads to their pacification.

17. Certainly the presumption of being themselves the Supreme Ruler should not find place in the gods who are endowed in a special measure with the quality of Satva; therefore when they go wrong, that I Myself put down their pride is really good to them (as it tends to cure their ignorance and pride).

10.25.18

tasmān mac-charaṇaṃ goṣṭhaṃ man-nāthaṃ mat-parigraham /
gopāye svātma-yogena so 'yaṃ me vrata āhitaḥ //

Therefore, by my own power I shall protect the cowherd settlement, which has taken refuge in me, / has me as its master, and belongs to me; this is the vow I have undertaken."

18. Therefore by means of My own supreme powers I (now) protect this Gokula which has sought My protection, recognises Me as its Lord, and which specially depends on Me; and this is the eternal vow I have taken.

10.25.19

ity uktvaikena hastena kṛtvā govardhanācalam /
dadhāra līlayā viṣṇuś chatrākam iva bālakaḥ //

Having spoken thus, lifting Mount Govardhana with one hand, / Viṣṇu held it up effortlessly, as a child might a mushroom.

19. Having observed thus, Krishna, yet a boy, lifted up with one hand and sportfully held up, the Mount Govardhana as if it were a fungus.

10.25.20

athāha bhagavān gopān he 'mba tāta vrajaukasaḥ /
yathopajoṣaṃ viśata giri-gartaṃ sa-go-dhanāḥ //

Then the Lord said to the cowherds: "O mother, O father, O dwellers of Vraja, / enter comfortably into the cavity beneath the mountain along with your cattle!

20. Then the Lord said to the Gopas thus, "Mother, father, O residents of Vraja, in perfect comfort enter, get yourselves into the cavity beneath the mountain along with your wealth of cows.

10.25.21

na trāsa iha vaḥ kāryo mad-dhastādri-nipātanāt /
vāta-varṣa-bhayenālaṃ tat-trāṇaṃ vihitaṃ hi vaḥ //

No fear should be felt here by you of the mountain falling from my hand; / enough of your fear of the wind and rain, for your protection has indeed been arranged!"

21. "You need not entertain any fear here from the fall of the mountain from My hand. Away with the fear of rain and tempest and that protection is vouchsafed to you".

10.25.22

tathā nirviviśur gartaṃ kṛṣṇāśvāsita-mānasaḥ /
yathāvakāśaṃ sa-dhanāḥ sa-vrajāḥ sopajīvinaḥ //

Then, their minds reassured by Kṛṣṇa, they entered the cavity / according to available space, with their wealth, their cattle, and their dependents.

22. Accordingly, with their mind and heart comforted by Krishna they entered the cavity beneath the mountain and found space for their wealth, pens and attendants.

10.25.23

kṣut-tṛḍ-vyathāṃ sukhāpekṣāṃ hitvā tair vraja-vāsibhiḥ /
vīkṣyamāṇo dadhārādriṃ saptāhaṃ nācalat padāt //

Forsaking pain from hunger and thirst and any thought of comfort, watched by those inhabitants of Vraja, / he held the mountain for seven days and did not stir from his place.

23. Forgetting their sufferings from hunger and thirst, their longing for comfort, the residents of Vraja stood looking on Him as He held up the hill for seven days and did not at all move from the spot.

10.25.24

kṛṣṇa-yogānubhāvaṃ taṃ niśamyendro 'ti-vismitaḥ /
nistambho bhraṣṭa-saṅkalpaḥ svān meghān sannyavārayat //

Perceiving that yogic power of Kṛṣṇa, Indra was utterly amazed; / his pride humbled and his purpose broken, he restrained his clouds.

24. Seeing that wonderful power of Krishna Indra was astounded, cured of his haughtiness, foiled in his purpose, and commanded his clouds to clear out.

10.25.25

khaṃ vyabhram uditādityaṃ vāta-varṣaṃ ca dāruṇam /
niśamyoparataṃ gopān govardhana-dharo 'bravīt //

Seeing the sky clear of clouds, the sun risen, and the fierce wind and rain
ceased, the Holder of Govardhana spoke to the cowherds:

25. Seeing the sky clear of clouds, the sun risen and the violent tempest stopped, the bearer of Govardhana said to the Gopas:—

10.25.26

niryāta tyajata trāsaṃ gopāḥ sa-strī-dhanārbhakāḥ /
upārataṃ vāta-varṣaṃ vyuda-prāyāś ca nimnagāḥ //

'Come out, cast aside your fear, cowherds, with your women, wealth, and children!
The wind and rain have ceased, and the rivers have mostly receded.'

26. Let your fear be at an end, get into the open country, O Gopas, with all your women, wealth and children; the storm has stopped, the rivers are not flooded (floods in rivers have gone down).

10.25.27

tatas te niryayur gopāḥ svaṃ svam ādāya go-dhanam /
śakaṭoḍhopakaraṇaṃ strī-bāla-sthavirāḥ śanaiḥ //

Then those cowherds went forth, each taking his own wealth of cattle,
with their belongings loaded onto carts—the women, children, and elders moving slowly.

27. Thereupon those Gopas slowly issued forth taking with them their wealth of cattle and loading the carts with their utensils and furniture, along with their women, the young and the old.

10.25.28

bhagavān api taṃ śailaṃ sva-sthāne pūrva-vat prabhuḥ /
paśyatāṃ sarva-bhūtānāṃ sthāpayām āsa līlayā //

And the Lord, the master, in divine play placed that mountain
back in its original place as before, while all living beings watched.

28. The Lord also sportfully set down as before the mountain in its own place, as all the beings witnessed.

10.25.28.p1

taṃ prema-vegān nirbhṛtā vrajaukaso $ yathā samīyuḥ parirambhaṇādibhiḥ &

Overwhelmed with the rush of love, the dwellers of Vraja approached Him with embraces and the like,

29. In overflowing affection the residents of Vraja gladly and quietly came out and met one mother with embraces and other appropriate behaviour and the Gopa women affectionately and joyously exhibited their regard by showering curd and Akshatas and pronouncing their blessings.

10.25.29

gopyaś ca sa-sneham apūjayan mudā % dadhy-akṣatādbhir yuyujuḥ sad-āśiṣaḥ //

and the cowherd women, affectionate and joyful, worshipped Him with curds, unbroken rice, and water, offering their genuine blessings.

10.25.30

yaśodā rohiṇī nando rāmaś ca balināṃ varaḥ /
kṛṣṇam āliṅgya yuyujur āśiṣaḥ sneha-kātarāḥ //

Yaśodā, Rohiṇī, Nanda, and Balarāma, the best of the strong,
embraced Kṛṣṇa and, anxious with love, offered their blessings.

30. Yasoda, Rohini, Nanda, and the most powerful Balarama, overcome with affection, embraced Krishna and showered their blessings (benedictions) on Him.

10.25.31

divi deva-gaṇāḥ siddhāḥ sādhyā gandharva-cāraṇāḥ /
tuṣṭuvur mumucus tuṣṭāḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi pārthiva //

In the heavens, the hosts of gods, Siddhas, Sādhyas, Gandharvas, and Cāraṇas
chanted praises, and, well-pleased, released showers of flowers, O king.

31. In the heavens companies of the gods, Saddhyas, Siddhas, Gandharvas and Charanas sang praises and in the height of their joy, showered flowers, O king.

10.25.32

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur divi deva-pracoditāḥ /
jagur gandharva-patayas tumburu-pramukhā nṛpa //

Conches and kettle-drums sounded in the sky, urged on by the gods;
the chiefs of the Gandharvas, headed by Tumburu, sang, O monarch.

32. Sounded by the celestials, Sankhas (conches) and drums were heard from the skies; the great Gandharvas, Tumburu and others also sang, O king.

10.25.33

tato 'nuraktaiḥ paśupaiḥ pariśrito rājan sva-goṣṭhaṃ sa-balo 'vrajad dhariḥ /
tathā-vidhāny asya kṛtāni gopikā gāyantya īyur muditā hṛdi-spṛśaḥ //

Then, surrounded by the affectionate cowherds, O king, Hari went to His cowpen accompanied by Balarāma;
singing of His deeds of such kind, the cowherd women went along, overjoyed, their hearts deeply touched.

33. Then, surrounded by the cowherds full of affection, O king, Hari together with Bala marched on to Gokula and the charming Gopa women also made their journey in great joy, singing the glorious exploits of Krishna who touched them deeply in their heart.