Bhagavatapurana 10.23
English (machine translation) 10.23
- Language
- English
Contents
10.23.1
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.”
10.23.2
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:
10.23.3
“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.
10.23.4
Going there, O cowherds, sent by us, ask for boiled rice,
announcing the name of the noble Lord and mine.”
10.23.5
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.
10.23.6
“O earthly gods, listen! We carry out the command of Kṛṣṇa;
know that we, cowherds directed by Rāma, have arrived; may auspiciousness be yours!
10.23.7
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!
10.23.8
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.”
10.23.9
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.
10.23.10
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;
10.23.11
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.
10.23.12
Since they said neither 'Yes' nor 'No', O scorcher of foes,
the cowherds, returning hopeless, told Kṛṣṇa and Rāma what had happened.
10.23.13
Hearing that, the Lord, the Ruler of the universe, laughed
and spoke again to the cowherds, demonstrating the way of the world:
10.23.14
“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.”
10.23.15
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:
10.23.16
“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.
10.23.17
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.”
10.23.18
Hearing that Acyuta had arrived, always eager for the sight of him,
their minds captivated by talks of him, they became filled with agitation.
10.23.19
Taking the four kinds of food with many delicacies in vessels,
they all rushed toward their beloved like rivers to the ocean,
10.23.20
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.
10.23.21
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:
10.23.21.p1
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,
10.23.22
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.p1
[…]
10.23.22.p2
Their minds being deeply immersed in him whose deeds were like ornaments to their ears through having often heard of their most beloved,
10.23.22.p3
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
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.
10.23.23.p1
[…]
10.23.24
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:
10.23.25
“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.
10.23.26
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.
10.23.27
Life, intellect, mind, body, wife, children, wealth, and the rest
become dear by connection with Whom—who else indeed could be dearer than Him?
10.23.28
Therefore go to the sacrificial enclosure; your husbands, the twice-born
householders, will complete their sacrificial session with you.
10.23.29
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.
10.23.30
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.
10.23.31
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.
10.23.32
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.
10.23.33
Devotional emotion toward me arises from listening, seeing, meditating, and glorification,
not in that way by mere physical proximity; therefore, return to your homes.
10.23.34
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.
10.23.35
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.
10.23.36
The Lord Govinda too fed the cowherd boys
with that very fourfold food, and the Master ate Himself.
10.23.37
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.
10.23.38
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!”
10.23.39
Seeing the extraordinary devotion of their wives toward the Lord Kṛṣṇa,
and seeing themselves devoid of it, they condemned themselves in remorse:
10.23.40
“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!
10.23.41
Surely the Lord’s creative power deludes even yogins,
for we twice-born, the teachers of men, are bewildered about our own highest good!
10.23.42
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’!
10.23.43
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.
10.23.44
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.
10.23.45
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!
10.23.46
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!
10.23.47
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.
10.23.48
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.
10.23.49
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.
10.23.50
Obeisance to that Lord Kṛṣṇa of unhindered wisdom,
deluded by whose creative power we wander along the paths of action.
10.23.51
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.”
10.23.52
Thus recalling their sin, having committed disrespect toward Kṛṣṇa,
they wished to visit Vraja, but out of fear of Kaṃsa, they did not move.
Translations (1)
- The Srimad Bhagavatam — S. Subba Rau 1928, English
Commentaries (1)
- Subodhinī — Vallabhācārya, Sanskrit
Linked texts (1)
- Bhāgavatapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit