Bhagavatapurana 10.5: atha pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.5.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
nandas tv ātmaja utpanne jātāhlādo mahā-manāḥ /
āhūya viprān veda-jñān snātaḥ śucir alaṅkṛtaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
When a son was born, the noble-minded Nanda, filled with joy, bathed, purified himself, adorned himself, and summoned Brahmins learned in the Vedas.

1. & 2. Śri Suka said:—The noble-minded Nanda was rejoiced at the birth of a son, invited brahmins and astrologers, bathed, cleansed, adorned himself, made them repeat auspicious vedic texts and pronounce their blessings and duly performed the jata karma to his son as well as the worship of pitris and the gods.

10.5.2

vācayitvā svastyayanaṃ jāta-karmātmajasya vai /
kārayām āsa vidhivat pitṛ-devārcanaṃ tathā //

Having caused the recitation of auspicious blessings, he had the birth ceremonies performed for his son according to rite, as well as the worship of the ancestors and the gods.

10.5.3

dhenūnāṃ niyute prādād viprebhyaḥ samalaṅkṛte /
tilādrīn sapta ratnaugha- śātakaumbhāmbarāvṛtān //

He gave to the Brahmins two hundred thousand well-adorned cows, and seven mountains of sesame seeds covered with heaps of jewels and cloths of gold.

3. He bestowed on brahmins two-hundred thousands of well-adorned cows and seven heaps (mounds) of tila (gingely seeds) together with many precious stones and covered with golden cloths.

10.5.4

kālena snāna-śaucābhyāṃ saṃskārais tapasejyayā /
śudhyanti dānaiḥ santuṣṭyā dravyāṇy ātmātma-vidyayā //

Things are purified by time, by bathing and cleansing, by consecrations, austerity, and sacrifice, by gifts, and by contentment; and the self is purified by knowledge of the self.

4. Several things get purified under several circumstances or processes, to wit, some by time, some by bathing or washing, some by special rites, or by tapas, or by sacrificial performances; some by charitable gifts, some by contentment; so also the jiva by the contemplation and knowledge of the omnipresent Lord.

10.5.5

saumaṅgalya-giro viprāḥ sūta-māgadha-vandinaḥ /
gāyakāś ca jagur nedur bheryo dundubhayo muhuḥ //

Brahmins uttered auspicious blessings; bards, minstrels, and heralds sang; and kettledrums and large drums sounded repeatedly.

5. Brahmins uttered blessings and Sutas, Maghadas and Vandins auspicious words; and musicians sang; drums and kettle-drums were frequently sounded.

10.5.6

vrajaḥ sammṛṣṭa-saṃsikta- dvārājira-gṛhāntaraḥ /
citra-dhvaja-patākā-srak- caila-pallava-toraṇaiḥ //

Vraja had the inner parts of its houses, doorsteps, and courtyards swept and sprinkled, and was decorated with multicolored flags, banners, garlands, cloths, sprouts, and arched gateways.

6. The whole of Vraja was well swept, moistened at all its entrances, enclosures, as well as the interiors of houses and was decorated with flags of different colours, banners, wreaths, cloths, and festoons of tender sylvan shoots.

10.5.7

gāvo vṛṣā vatsatarā haridrā-taila-rūṣitāḥ /
vicitra-dhātu-barhasrag- vastra-kāñcana-mālinaḥ //

The cows, bulls, and calves were smeared with turmeric and oil, and adorned with colorful mineral pigments, peacock-feather garlands, cloths, and golden wreaths.

7. Cows, oxen, heifers and steers were besmeared with saffron and oil, various colours and decked with feathers and garlands and clothes and gold chains.

10.5.8

mahārha-vastrābharaṇa- kañcukoṣṇīṣa-bhūṣitāḥ /
gopāḥ samāyayū rājan nānopāyana-pāṇayaḥ //

Adorned with precious garments, ornaments, tunics, and turbans, the cowherds arrived, O King, bearing various gifts in their hands.

8. Adorned with very valuable clothes, ornaments, coats, and turbans, *gopas* came in, O king, bringing several presents in their hands.

10.5.9

gopyaś cākarṇya muditā yaśodāyāḥ sutodbhavam /
ātmānaṃ bhūṣayāṃ cakrur vastrākalpāñjanādibhiḥ //

And hearing of the birth of Yaśodā's son, the delighted cowherd women adorned themselves with garments, ornaments, collyrium, and the like.

9. On hearing of the birth of a son to Yasoda, *gopa* women were filled with joy and dressed themselves in holiday constume, wore ornaments and painted their eyes with collyrium and so forth.

10.5.10

nava-kuṅkuma-kiñjalka- mukha-paṅkaja-bhūtayaḥ /
balibhis tvaritaṃ jagmuḥ pṛthu-śroṇyaś calat-kucāḥ //

Their lotus faces glowing with freshly applied saffron filament paste, those women of broad hips and tremulous breasts hurried along with offerings.

10. These *gopa* women of charming faces like the lotus having crimson filaments in its fresh-blown state, took presents and went quickly inspite of their heavy hips and heaving bosoms.

10.5.10.p1

gopyaḥ sumṛṣṭa-maṇi-kuṇḍala-niṣka-kaṇṭhyaś $ citrāmbarāḥ pathi śikhā-cyuta-mālya-varṣāḥ &

The cowherd women, with polished jewel earrings and gold coins about their necks, dressed in colorful garments, shedding showers of garlands falling from their braided hair along the road,

11. Wearing ear-rings set with cut jewels and ornaments of gold about their neck and pitambaras of various patterns, their path covered with a shower of flowers from their braid, with bangles on their wrists, the *gopa* women, hasting to Nanda's house, shone most charming with their rocking ear-rings and heaving bosoms adorned with wreaths of pearls.

10.5.11

nandālayaṃ sa-valayā vrajatīr virejur % vyālola-kuṇḍala-payodhara-hāra-śobhāḥ //

wearing bracelets, shone as they walked toward Nanda's dwelling, radiant with swinging earrings and necklaces upon their breasts.

10.5.12

tā āśiṣaḥ prayuñjānāś ciraṃ pāhīti bālake /
haridrā-cūrṇa-tailādbhiḥ siñcantyo 'janam ujjaguḥ //

Offering blessings—"Protect [him] for a long time!"—upon the boy, sprinkling him with water mixed with turmeric powder and oil, they sang loudly of the Unborn Lord.

12. Pronouncing their benedictions on the child saying, "Be thou our protector for ever", and sprinkling water mixed with oil and saffron powder on one another, they all sang in loud tones the praises of the unborn.

10.5.13

avādyanta vicitrāṇi vāditrāṇi mahotsave /
kṛṣṇe viśveśvare 'nante nandasya vrajam āgate //

Various musical instruments were sounded at that great festival, when Kṛṣṇa, the infinite Lord of the universe, had arrived at Nanda's Vraja.

13. On that great occasion of festivity, when Sri Krishna, the Supreme and unlimited Lord of the Universe, came to the Vraja of Nanda, various and wonderful instruments of music were played.

10.5.14

gopāḥ parasparaṃ hṛṣṭā dadhi-kṣīra-ghṛtāmbubhiḥ /
āsiñcanto vilimpanto navanītaiś ca cikṣipuḥ //

The cowherds, rejoicing among themselves, poured curd, milk, and water with ghee, smeared one another, and flung fresh butter.

14. The joyous gopas sportfully assailed one another by sprinkling with curd, milk, clarified butter, and water and by besmearing one another with butter and dashing it on.

10.5.15

nando mahā-manās tebhyo vāso 'laṅkāra-go-dhanam /
sūta-māgadha-vandibhyo ye 'nye vidyopajīvinaḥ //

The noble-minded Nanda honored them with garments, ornaments, and wealth of cattle, as well as the bards, minstrels, heralds, and others who lived by their arts,

15. The liberal Nanda presented them all with cloths, ornaments, cows, gold and silver, as also to Sutas, Maghadas, and Vandins and to such others as made their living by their skill in the art.

10.5.16

tais taiḥ kāmair adīnātmā yathocitam apūjayat /
viṣṇor ārādhanārthāya sva-putrasyodayāya ca //

with these various desires as was appropriate, generous in heart, for the propitiation of Viṣṇu and for the prosperity of his own son.

16. With a joyful heart he honoured the visitors and others by giving them such things as pleased them for the propitiation of Vishnu and for the prosperity of his son.

10.5.17

rohiṇī ca mahā-bhāgā nanda-gopābhinanditā /
vyacarad divya-vāsa-srak- kaṇṭhābharaṇa-bhūṣitā //

And the greatly fortunate Rohiṇī, welcomed by Nanda the cowherd, walked about adorned with celestial garments, garlands, and neck ornaments.

17. The blessed Rohini also welcomed by Nanda and other Gopas adorned with celestial clothes, wreaths, necklaces was busily going about Nanda's palace (on this occasion).

10.5.18

tata ārabhya nandasya vrajaḥ sarva-samṛddhimān /
harer nivāsātma-guṇai ramākrīḍam abhūn nṛpa //

From that time forward, O King, Nanda's Vraja became endowed with all prosperity, a pleasure grove of Ramā, due to the presence and personal virtues of Hari.

18. From that moment the Vraja of Nanda was at the height of prosperity in every respect and became the pleasure-park of Sri Lakshmi on account of the happy qualities due to Hari's residence there, O king, and also her own.

10.5.19

gopān gokula-rakṣāyāṃ nirūpya mathurāṃ gataḥ /
nandaḥ kaṃsasya vārṣikyaṃ karaṃ dātuṃ kurūdvaha //

Having assigned cowherds to the protection of Gokula, Nanda went to Mathurā, O upholder of the Kurus, to pay the annual tribute to Kaṃsa.

19. O best of Kurus, having asked gopas to take care of Gokula, Nanda went to Mathura in order to pay his annual tribute to Kamsa.

10.5.20

vasudeva upaśrutya bhrātaraṃ nandam āgatam /
jñātvā datta-karaṃ rājñe yayau tad-avamocanam //

Hearing that his brother Nanda had arrived, and knowing that he had paid tribute to the king, Vasudeva went to his camp.

20. Informed of the arrival of his brother Nanda and learning that he had paid his tribute, Vasudeva went to his lodgings.

10.5.21

taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya dehaḥ prāṇam ivāgatam /
prītaḥ priyatamaṃ dorbhyāṃ sasvaje prema-vihvalaḥ //

Seeing him, rising up swiftly as the body does when life has returned, filled with affection and overwhelmed with love, he embraced his dearest friend in his arms.

21. He saw him and at once rose to his feet like the body when the soul or vitality returns to it and, rejoiced and overcome with affection, he embraced his most beloved brother with his arms.

10.5.22

pūjitaḥ sukham āsīnaḥ pṛṣṭvānāmayam ādṛtaḥ /
prasakta-dhīḥ svātmajayor idam āha viśāmpate //

Honored, seated comfortably, and respectfully asked of his welfare, his mind fixed upon his two sons, he spoke thus, O ruler of men:

22. Honoured and comfortably seated he made earnest enquiries of welfare and, his heart yearning after his own sons, he said this (as follows), O king.

10.5.23

diṣṭyā bhrātaḥ pravayasa idānīm aprajasya te /
prajāśāyā nivṛttasya prajā yat samapadyata //

"By good fortune, O brother, when you were advanced in age, childless, and having abandoned hope of offspring, a child has been born to you.

23. Fortunately, O brother, thou hast been blessed, since in this advanced age, when you had given up all hope of getting an issue, a child has been born to thee.

10.5.24

diṣṭyā saṃsāra-cakre 'smin vartamānaḥ punar-bhavaḥ /
upalabdho bhavān adya durlabhaṃ priya-darśanam //

By good fortune, in this revolving cycle of rebirth, this reunion with you—a sight of one beloved and so difficult to obtain—has been realized today as if a rebirth.

24. Fortunately almost like one born again, thou art met today in this cycle of Samsara: for it is a very rare gain to have the pleasure of seeing friends beloved.

10.5.25

naikatra priya-saṃvāsaḥ suhṛdāṃ citra-karmaṇām /
oghena vyūhyamānānāṃ plavānāṃ srotaso yathā //

Living together in one place is not possible for friends of diverse karmas, just as planks borne away by the current of a flood do not remain united.

25. There is no possibility of having the desired company at the same place of friends and well-wishers who are under the force of various lines of Karma, just as there cannot be a gathering of rafts that are being tossed far and wide by the strong current of a river.

10.5.26

kaccit paśavyaṃ nirujaṃ bhūry-ambu-tṛṇa-vīrudham /
bṛhad vanaṃ tad adhunā yatrāsse tvaṃ suhṛd-vṛtaḥ //

Is that great forest suitable for cattle, free of disease, abundant in water, grass, and plants, where you now reside surrounded by friends?

26. Is thy Brihadvana, where thou dwellest in the company of thy friends, favourable to cattle? Are they free from disease and furnished with abundant water, grass and plants and herbs?

10.5.27

bhrātar mama sutaḥ kaccin mātrā saha bhavad-vraje /
tātaṃ bhavantaṃ manvāno bhavadbhyām upalālitaḥ //

O brother, is my son, who is with his mother in your Vraja, fondled by both of you, regarding you as his father?

27. O brother, does my son with his mother get on well in thy Vraja, thinking thee to be his father and caressed by you both?

10.5.28

puṃsas tri-vargo vihitaḥ suhṛdo hy anubhāvitaḥ /
na teṣu kliśyamāneṣu tri-vargo 'rthāya kalpate //

The three ends of human life are prescribed for a man only when experienced with friends; they do not serve any purpose when those friends are in distress."

28. The three-fold purpose laid down for the pursuit of man is indeed meant to interest all his friends also; for, when they are in distress the three-fold purpose attained by one man may not contribute to his happiness.

10.5.29

/0 śrī-nanda uvāca
aho te devakī-putrāḥ kaṃsena bahavo hatāḥ /
ekāvaśiṣṭāvarajā kanyā sāpi divaṃ gatā //

Śrī Nanda said:
"Alas, many sons of Devakī were killed by Kaṃsa; even the one remaining, the younger daughter, has gone to heaven.

29. Nanda said:—Alas! thy sons by Devaki, many of them, were put to death by Kamsa and one daughter that was left alive flew away into the heaven.

10.5.30

nūnaṃ hy adṛṣṭa-niṣṭho 'yam adṛṣṭa-paramo janaḥ /
adṛṣṭam ātmanas tattvaṃ yo veda na sa muhyati //

Surely people rest upon destiny, considering destiny supreme; he who understands destiny to be the true nature of the self is never bewildered."

30. Certainly this creature of the world has its end in the unseen and has its prosperity also solely resting on the unseen; therefore he who knows that the truth of Atman is of unseen nature gets never bewildered.

10.5.31

/0 śrī-vasudeva uvāca
karo vai vārṣiko datto rājñe dṛṣṭā vayaṃ ca vaḥ /
neha stheyaṃ bahu-tithaṃ santy utpātāś ca gokule //

Śrī Vasudeva said:
"The annual tribute has indeed been paid to the king, and you and I have seen each other. You should not stay here long, for there are ill omens in Gokula."

31. Vasudeva said:—The tribute has been paid to the king and we have met; you should not stay here long, for evil omens are seen at Gokula.

10.5.32

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
iti nandādayo gopāḥ proktās te śauriṇā yayuḥ /
anobhir anaḍud-yuktais tam anujñāpya gokulam //

Śrī Śuka said:
Thus addressed by Śauri, Nanda and the other cowherds, taking leave of him, departed for Gokula with their bullock carts.

32. Sri Suka said:—Thus advised by Vasudeva Nanda and other gopas took leave of him and returned to Gokula riding in the carts drawn by bullocks.