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akhaNvatAm phalam idam na param vidAma: sakhya: paSUnanu viveSayator vayasyai:
vaktram vrajeSa sutayor anuveNu jushTam yairvA nipItam anurakta kaTAkSha mokSham 10.21.7
The gopi’s said: O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Nanda gopa are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vrindavana. For those who have eyes there is no greater object of vision. Blessed are those who can see this. Let us see the same in our minds.
cUta pravAla barha stabakotpalAbja mAlAnupRukta paridhAna vicitra veSau
madhye virejatur alam paSu pAla goShThyAm range yathA naTa varau kva ca gAyamAnau 10.21.8
Dressed in a charming variety of garments, upon which Their garlands rest, and decorating Themselves with peacock feathers, lotuses, lilies, newly grown mango sprouts and clusters of flower buds, Krishna and Balarama shine forth magnificently among the assembly of cowherd boys. They look just like the best of dancers appearing on a dramatic stage, and sometimes They sing melodiously too. Gopis have nothing to think or talk about other than kRushNa.
gopya: kim Acarat ayam kuSalam sma veNur dAmodarAdhara sudhAm api gopikAnAm
bhunkte svayam yad avaSishTa rasam hradinyo hRushyat tvaco aSru mumucus taravo yathArya: 10.21.9
My dear gopis, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Krishna's lips freely. The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body. They are really going to miss kRushNa as he is stepping into the forest. But, they rejoice and crave thinking about the luck of everybody else.
vRundAvanam sakhi bhuvo vitanoti kIritim yat devakI suta padAmbuja labdha lakShmi
govinda veNum anu matta mayUra nRutyam prekShyAdri sAnvaparatAnya samasta sattvam 10.21.10
O sakhi, Vrindavana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the lakshmi in the form of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.
dhanyA: sma mUDha matayo api hariNya etA yA nanda nandanam upAtta vicitra veSam
AkarNya veNu raNitam saha kRuShNa sArA: pUjAm dadhur viracitAm praNayAvalokai: 10.21.11
Blessed are all even the ignorant deer’s because they have approached Nanda Gopa’s son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.
kRuShNam nirIkShya vanitotsava rUpa SIlam SrutvA ca tat kvaNita veNu vivikta gItam
devyo vimAna gataya: smara nunna sArA bhraSyat prasUna kabarA mumuhur vinIvya: 10.21.12
Oh! kRushna give us that dhyAnam and make us gopis too.
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gAvaSca kRushna mukha nirgata veNu gIta pIyUsham uttabhita karma puTai: pibantya:
SAvA: snuta stana paya: kavalA: sma tasthur govindam Atmani dRuSASru kalA: spRuSantya: 10.21.13
(Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar like music flowing from Krishna’s flute. The cows as well as calves (that had been let loose to be suckled their mothers) stood still with tear-filled eyes and embraced Him within their hearts. The forgot to swallow the milk and ball of grass. What are these physical things when the divinity is there. We forget ourselves in prema (let it be with happiness or sadness). We all have experienced how we forget ourselves.
prAyo batAmba vihagA munayo vane asmin kRuShna Ikshitam tat uditam kala veNu gItam
Aruhya ye druma bhujAn rucira pravAlAn SRunvanti amIlita dRuSo vigatAnya vAca: 10.21.14
(O mother, in this forest all the birds dwelling on beautiful branches of the trees must be great sages themselves who have taken on this form in order to see Krishna without any kind of hindrance. With closed eyes they are simply listening in silence to the sweet vibrations of His flute, and have completely blocked out all other sounds. Just the first note from kRushNa's flute has taken them to absolute silence.)
nadya: tadA tat upadhArya mukunda gItam Avarta lakshita manobhava bhagna vegA:
Alingana sthagitam Urmi bhujair murArer gRuhNanti pAda yugalam kamala upahArA: 10.21.15
(When the rivers hear the flute-song of Krishna, their minds begin to crave for Him, and thus the flow of their currents is broken and their waters are agitated, moving around in whirlpools. Then with the arms of their waves the rivers embrace Murari's lotus feet and, holding on to them, offering of lotus flowers. In Brindavanam everything is full of life. The obsession for mortals die soon but, the dAham filled with prema for divinty keeps growing day by day.)
dRushthvA Atape vraja paSUn saha rAma gopai: sancArayantam anu veNum udIrayantam
prema pravRuddha udita: kusumAvalIbhi: sakhyur vyadhAt sva vapushAmbuda Atapatram 10.21.16
(In the company of Balarama and the cowherd boys, Lord Krishna is playing His flute as He herds the cows of Vraja, even under the full heat of the summer sun. Seeing this, the cloud in the sky has expanded itself out of love and acted like an umbrella to the Lord. It gave shade and showred flowers to theri dear friend.)
pUrNA: pulindya urugAya padAbja rAga SrI kunkumena dayitA stana manDitena
tat darSana smara ruja: tRuNa rUshitena limpantya Anana kuceshu jahu: tat Adhim 10.21.17
(Oh! Dear friend, look at this kATTALa ladies (unrefined). They see the kunkumam from the lotus feet of the Lord on the grass. Their mind gets agitated with the separation from the lord. They smear that dust from the grass on their face and chest and get over the 'virahatAPam'. Look at thier bhAgyam. As kRUshNa spends so much time in the forest, they get thi sblessings. Aren't they better than us?)
hantAyam adrir abalA hari dAsa varyo yat rAma kRushna caraNa sparaSa pramoda:
mAnam tanoti saha go ganayo: tayor yat pAnIya sUyavasa kandara kanda mUlai: 10.21.18
(Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Krishna and Balarama, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities - water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant. GpIs feel that anythin gelse in bRundAvanam is luckier than them.)
gA gopakair anuvanam nayator udAra veNu svanai: kala padai: tanu bhRutsu sakhya:
aspandanam gatimatAm pulaka: taruNAm niryoga pASa kRuta lakshaNayor vicitram 10.21.19
(My dear friends, as Krishna and Balarama pass through the forest with Their cowherd friends, leading Their cows, They carry ropes to bind the cows' rear legs at the time of milking. When Lord Krishna plays on His flute, the sweet music causes the moving living entities to become stunned and the nonmoving trees to tremble with ecstasy.)
evam vidhA bhagavato yA vRundAvana cAriNa:
varNayantyo mitho gopya: krIdA: tan mayatAm yayu: 10.21.20
(Thus narrating to one another the playful pastimes of the Krishna as He wandered about in the Vrindavana forest, the gopis became fully absorbed in thoughts of Him.)
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kAtyAyani vratam
hemante prathame mAsi nanda vraja kamArikA:
cerur havishyam bhunjAnA: kAtyAyani arcana vratam 10.22.1
(During the first month of the winter (hemantam) season, the young unmarried girls of Gokula observed the vow of worshiping goddess Katyayani. For the entire month they ate only haviss that is offered to Devi. People in bRundAvan lost their ananya daivattwam? Not really. This prayer is to make their Lord their ‘own’ Well, they can get the blessings of two and may be more powerful?)
Aplutya Ambhasi kAlindyA jalAnte codite aruNe
kRutvA pratikRutim devIm Anarcur nRupa saikatIm 10.22.2
(After they had bathed in the water of the Yamuna just as the sun was rising, the gopis made an ‘sand’ deity of goddess Durga on the riverbank. bRundAvan during this season is extremely cold and these tender girls are taking bath in that freezing river. Their craving kRushNa has made them so ‘hot’ and they needed this freezing water to bring the balance.)
gandhair mAlyai: surabhibhi: balibhi: dhUpa dIpakai:
uccAvacai: ca upahArai: pravAla phala tandulai: 10.22.3
(Then they worshiped her with such aromatic substances as sandalwood paste, fragrant flowers along with other items both such as lamps, fruits, betel nuts, tender leaves, and incense.)
kAtyAyani mahA mAye mahA yogini adhISvari
nanda gopa sutam devi patim me kuru te nama:
iti mantram japantyastA: pUjAm cakru: kamArikA: 10.22.4
(Each of the young unmarried gopis performed her worship while chanting the following mantra. "O goddess Katyayani, O Maha Maya, O controller of all, please make the son of Nanda Gopa my husband. I offer my prayers unto you.")
evam mAsam vratam ceru: kumArya: kRushNa cetasa:
bhadrakAlIm samAnarcu: bhUyAn nanda sutah pati: 10.22.5
(Thus for an entire month the girls carried out their vow and properly worshiped the goddess Bhadra Kali, fully absorbing their minds in Krishna and meditating upon the following thought: "May the son of King Nanda become my husband." THIS IS A MANTRA WHICH GRANTS WONDERFUL HUSBAND FOR UNMARRIED GIRL AND FOR THE UNION OF JIVATMA WITH PRAMATMA.)
ushasi utthAya gotrai: svair anyonya Abaddha bAhava:
kRushNam uccai: jagu: yAntya: kAlindyAm snAtum anvaham 10.22.6
(Each day they rose at dawn. Calling out to one another by name, they all held hands and loudly sang the glories of Krishna while going to the Kalindi to take their bath. Thus they carried out the vratam with great devotion towards Krishna.)
Oh! kRushNa,
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nadyAm kadAcit Agatya tIre nikshipya pUrvavat
vAsAmsi kRushNam gAyantyo vijahru: salile mudA 10.22.7
(One the last day of their vow (which happened to be a full moon day) they came to the riverbank and, put aside their clothes as usual and happily played in the water while singing the glories of Krishna.)
bhagavAn tat abhipretya kRunhNo yogeSvareSvara:
vayasyair AvRuta: tatra gatas tat karma siddhaye 10.22.8
(Lord Krishna, master of all masters of yoga (yogeSvareSvara), was perfectly aware of what the gopis were doing and more importantly with how much devotion they were carrying out this vow. Therefore He went there surrounded by His young companions to reward the gopis for worshipping him with so much devotion and love and at the same time test their devotion. (One thing that we must keep in mind is that like all other Krishna’s activities even this activity was a lesson for all of us on how to completely surrender to Krishna)) Please note the word yogeswara Iswara used by SriSukar here - he has absolute control and is the controller.
tAsAm vAsAmsi upAdAya nIpam Aruhya satvara:
hasadbhi: prahasan bAlai: parihAsam uvAca ha 10.22.9
(He then proceeded to take the girls' garments and quickly climbed to the top of a kadamba tree. Then, as He laughed loudly and His companions also laughed, He addressed the girls teasingly as follows:)
atra Agatya AbalA: kAmam svam svam vAsah pragRuhyatAm
satyam bravANi no narma yad yUyam vrata karSitA: 10.22.10
([Lord Krishna said:] My dear girls, each of you may come here and take back your garments. I'm telling you the truth and am not joking with you. Since I see you're fatigued from carrying out these austere vows. It was teh lord's call to grand them teh boon.)
The girls heard what Krishna had said to them. But their modesty would not allow them to leave the water and come take their clothes back while Krishna was watching on. So while the gopi’s were shivering in the cold water they said the following:
mAnayam bho: kRuthAs tvAm tu nanda gopa sutam priyam
jAnImo anga vraja SlAghyam dehi vAsAmsi vepitA: 10.22.14
([The gopis said:] Dear Krishna, don't be so cruel to us! We know that You are the son of Nanda and that You are honored by everyone in Vraja. You are also very dear to us. Please give us back our clothes since we are shivering in the cold water.)
SyAmasundara te dAsya: karavAma tavoditam
dehi vAsAmsi dharmajna no ced rAjne bruvAma he 10.22.15
(O Syamasundara, we are Your servants and must do whatever You say. But please give us back our clothing. You are the (dharmajna) knower of the dharma, and if You don't give us our clothes we will have to report you to the King. Thus the Gopi’s uses their tactics with Krishna and yet at the same time tried to appeal to his sense of right and wrong hoping to get the clothes back from Krishna.)
The Lord noticed their feeling 'you are different', 'we are different', 'Nanda is different' etc. More over, getting something out of HIM with a threat? Well, that is not going to work. If they had not use 'if not' he might have yielded there itself. IFs and BUTs are throns in the path of SaraNagati.
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Oh! I see! Are you threatening me? Please go and tell your king. If I give back your dresses the king will not believe you!! LORD TESTS TO PURIFY.
bhavatyo yadi me dAsyo mayoktam vA karishyatha
atrAgatya svavAsAmsi pratIcchantu SucismitA: 10.22.16
(Sree Krishna Said: If you girls are actually My devotees, and if you will really do what I say, then come here with your innocent smiles and let each girl pick out her clothes. If you don't do what I say, I won't give them back to you. And even if the king becomes angry, what can he do?
Upon hearing these words each and every one of those Gopi’s got out from that water shivering with cold. With a pure heart, they approached their Lord.)
bhagavAn Aha tA vIkShya Suddha bhAva prasAdita:
skandhe nidhAya vAsAmsi prIta: provAca sa smitam 10.22.18
(kRushNa saw how the gopis, who were almost dead due to embarrassment, came out of the water just because of their devotion for Krishna. He was satisfied by their pure loving affection. Putting their clothes on His shoulder, the Lord smiled and lovingly spoke to them as follows:)
yUyam vivastrA yat apo dhRuta vratA vyagAhat atat tat u deva helanam
baddhvAnjalim mUrdhni apanuttaye amhasa: kRutvA namo adho vasanam pragRuhyatAm 10.22.19
(He gave a prAyaScittam. You girls bathed naked while executing your vow, and that is certainly an offense against the Devas (varuNa and agni) Any vrata insulting the Devas will not fetch any result. To counteract your sin you should offer namaskArams placing your joined palms above your heads. Then you should take back your garments. In this manner Sree Krishna actually helped his devotees! (nAma sankIrttanam yasya sarva pApa praNASanam praNAmo du:kha Samana: tam namAmi harim param)
iti achyutena abhihita vrajAbalA matvA vivastrAplavanam vrata chyutim
tat pUrti kAmA: tat aSesha karmaNAm sAkshAt kRutam nemur avadya mRug yata: 10.22.20
(Thus the young gopi’s of Vrindavana, considering what Lord Achyuta had told them, accepted that they had made a mistake in their vow by bathing naked in the river. But they still desired to successfully complete their vow, and since Lord Krishna is Himself the ultimate result of all pious activities, they offered their prayers to Him to cleanse away all their sins.)
tA: tathA avanatA dRushTvA bhagavAn devakI suta:
vAsAmsi tAbhya: prAyacchat karuNa: tena toshita: 10.22.21
(Seeing them bow down like that, the supreme Lord Krishna, the son of Devaki, gave them back their garments, feeling compassionate toward them and satisfied by their act.)
Even though they had been teased by Krishna and had their clothes stolen by him they could find no fault with Him. Even when they were given their clothes back, they found themselves so enthralled by Krishna that they simply kept looking at him and praying to Him, and did not even move. Krishna was very pleased with their intense devotion for Him and said as follows:
sankalpo vidita: sAdhvyo bhavatInAm madarcanam
mayA anumodita: so asau satyo bhavitum arhati 10.22.25
(O saadhwi, I understand that your real motive in this austerity has been to worship Me. That intent of yours is approved of by Me, and therefore it must materialize. You deserve it and will happen.)
Oh! kRushNa, accept our satakoTi sAshTAnga namaskArams.
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Oh! kRushNa, when have let your helpless, crying devotees down. We are not worthy of claiming 'yours'. But, you still hear us. SatakoTi namaskArams. All we can do is cry like kucela
tasya eva me sauhRuda sakhya maitrI
dAsyam puna: janmani janmani syAt
mahAnubhAvena guNAlayena
vishajjata: tat purusha prasanga:
(Oh! kRushNa give me the satsangham of your people, who are mahAnubhAvAs. Please bless me with love, friendship, friendship and service life after life to wards you and your devotees.)
na mayi AveSita dhiyAm kAma: kAmAya kalpate
bharjitA kvathitA dhAnA prAyo bIjAya neshyate 10.22.26
The desire of those who fix their minds on Me does not lead to material desire for sense gratification, just as grains burned by the sun and then cooked can no longer grow into new sprouts.
He blessed them by saying “Go now, and return to Vraja. Your desire is fulfilled, for in the coming nights you will enjoy my company. After all, this was the purpose of your vow to worship goddess Katyayani, O pure-hearted ones.”
iti AdiShTA bhagavatA labdha kAmA: kumArikA:
dhyAyantya: tat padAmbhojam kRucchrAn nirviviSur vrajam 10.22.28
(Sree Sukar said: Thus instructed by the Lord Krishna, the young girls whose desires were now fulfilled, could bring themselves only with great difficulty to return to the village of Vraja, meditating all the while upon His lotus feet.)
nidArghA arka Atape tigme chAyAbhi: svAbhir Atmana:
AtapatrAyitAn vIkshya drumAn Aha vrajaukasa: 10.22.30
(Some time later Lord Krishna surrounded by His cowherd friends and accompanied by His elder brother, Balarama, went a good distance away from Vrindavana, herding the cows. Then the sun's heat became intense, Lord Krishna saw that the trees were acting as umbrellas by shading Him, and thus He spoke as follows to His friends: “just see how great there trees are, whose lives are completely dedicated to the benefit of others. Even while tolerating the wind, rain, heat and snow, they protect us from these elements. ”)
etAvat janma sAphalyam dehinAm iha dehishu
prAnair arthair dhiyA vAcA Sreya eva Acaret sadA 10.22.35
(The way to make one’s life successful and meaningful is to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence and words. The bigger your heart is, the happier you would be. Nature is full of that love, prema.)
iti pravAla stabaka phala pushpa dalotkarai:
tarUNAm namra SAkhAnAm madhyan yamunAm gata: 10.22.36
(Sree Sukar then continued: Thus moving among the trees, whose branches were bent low by their abundance of twigs, fruits, flowers and leaves, Lord Krishna came to the Yamuna River.)
tatra gA: pAyayitvApa: su mRuShTA: SItalA: SivA:
tato nRupa svayam gopA: kAmam svAdu papur jalam 10.22.37
(The cowherd boys let the cows drink the clear, cool and wholesome water of the Yamuna. O King Parikchit, the cowherd boys themselves also drank that sweet water to their full satisfaction.)
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The cool water quenched their thirst. But, now kRushNa gave them the hunger! (Well, the director needs the inroduction for the next chapter. Catch anyone in vraj feeling hungry otherwise!)
rAma rAma mahAvIrya kRushNa dushTa nibarhaNa
eshA vai bAdhate kshunna: tat SAntim kartum arhatha: 10.23.1
(The cowherd boys said: O Rama, O Rama, O Brave one! O Krishna, destroyer of the wicked! We are being harassed by hunger, and You should do something about it. Well, we are also driven by hunger. If only we think of the divinity before taking care of hunger! kRushNa told them that this asura named 'hunger' need to be fed instead of killed.)
prayAta deva yajanam brAhmaNA brahma vAdina:
satram Angirasam nAma hi Asate svarga kAmyayA 10.23.3
([Lord Krishna said:] Please go to the sacrificial arena where a group of people are now performing a sacrifice known as Angirasa to gain entry to heaven (after death). What a strange thing. When the Lord has incarnated and there for them, they need a yAga to go to heaven. A bird jaTAyu behaved differently and Lord Rama sent him to HIS abode.)
iti AdishTA bhagavatA gatvA yAcanta te tathA
kRutAnjali *beep* viprAn danDavat patitA bhuvi 10.23.5
(Thus instructed by Krishna, the cowherd boys went there and submitted their request.
he bhUmi devA: SRuNuta kRushNasya AdeSa kAriNa:
prAptAn jAnIta bhadram vo gopAn no rAma coditAn 10.23.6
([The cowherd boys said:] O bhumi deva’s, please hear us. We cowherd boys are here upon the orders of Krishna and Balarama. We wish all good for you. In this manner they very humbly and respectfully greeted the people who conducted yagna)
gAS cArayantA avidUra odanam rAmAcyutau vo lashato bubhukshitau
tayor dvijA odanam arthinor yadi SraddhA ca vo yacchata dharma vittamA: 10.23.7
(Lord Rama and Lord Acyuta are tending Their cows not far from here. They are hungry and want you to give Them some of your food. Therefore, O best among the knower of dharma (feeding a hungry stomach is one of the well known dharma) , if you have any faith please give some food to Them. All they wanted was a food to put off their hunger. They did not ask for fresh offerings, which should have been offered by them.)
dIkshAyA: paSu samsthAyA: sautrAmaNyAS ca sattamA:
anyatra dIkshitasyApi na annam aSnan hi duShyati 10.23.8
(it is not contaminating to partake of food, at least in sacrifices other than the Sautramani and where sacrificing animals in not involved. The Gopa’s pointed out to the priests that by providing them with food they were not breaking any rituals; in fact what could be a greater good than providing Krishna with food.)
tam brahma paramam sAkshAt bhagavantam adhokshajam
manushya dRushTyA dushprajnA martyAtmAno na menire 10.23.11
(Although the ingredients of sacrificial performance - the place, time, particular paraphernalia, mantras, rituals, priests, fires, gods, performer, offering and the as yet unseen beneficial results - are all simply aspects of Lord Krishna, the priests saw Lord Krishna as an ordinary human being. The foolish priests identified their mortal bodies with themselves and thus failed to recognize that Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Lord Vishna, whom one cannot ordinarily perceive with physical senses. Thus bewildered by their false identification with the mortal body, they did not show Him proper respect. This is also bhagavat lIla.)
na te yat om iti procure na neti ca parantapa
gopA nirASA: pratyetya tatha ucu: kRuShNa rAmayo: 10.23.12
(Sree Sukar continued: When the priests failed to reply even with a simple yes or no, O chastiser of the enemy [King Parikchit], the cowherd boys returned disappointed to Krishna and Rama and reported this to Them. This is a sin. They made the boys wait instead of giving a reply.)
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The boys dutifully went and reported the news to kRushNa. Tell HIM anything, HE has a solution. All we need is the belief that HE is our santata sahacAri (one who walks with us always).
tat upAkarNya bhagavAn prahasya jagat Iswara:
vyAjahAra puna: gopAn darSayan loukikIm gatim 10.23.13
(BhagavAN kRushNa listened to their hurt feelings and gave a beautiful smile. He told them the general trend of the world. Once you approach for help, there is no need to get hurt and we should keep knocking until we get what we are looking for.
mAm jnApayata patnIbhya: sasankarshaNam Agatam
dAsyanti kAmam annam va: snigdhA: mayi ushitA: dhiyA: 10.23.14
(Oh! Friends, don't lose heart. Please go and tell them that kRushNa and BalarAma are here. They are constantly thinking about me. Just tell them, they will give you plenty of food. How does kRushNa know? HE IS ANTARYAMI. They are tuned to him the yajna priests were stuck with their rituals and forgot the Lord.)
They approached the yajna ptnIs. A mother knows a child's hunger better. The kids caught their attention. They told them that they arrived there as per the request of kRushNa. Enough, they forgot everything else. 'oh! mothers, we walked too far. We are hungry. Can you give please give some food for kRushNa and his followers? These ladies were for years to see the wonderful kRushNa, but the pride of the priests did not let them take ladies to bRundAvan. They got very excited. When the call come from the Lord, how can one resist? They collected all the food they had prepared for the yajna and rushed. The priests could not stop them. There they saw that beautiful scene. What a lovely kRushNa!!
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While the priests educated in the vedic scriptures showed no respect or love for Krishna; the wives of the priests were always eager to see Krishna, for their minds had been enchanted by descriptions of Him. Thus as soon as they heard that He had come, they became very excited. Taking along in large vessels the four kinds of foods, full of fine tastes and aromas, all the ladies went forth to meet their beloved, just as rivers flow toward the sea. Although their husbands, brothers, sons and other relatives tried to forbid them from going, their desire to have the darshan of Krishna was so strong that they won out. Along the river Yamuna, within a garden decorated with buds of ashoka trees, they caught sight of Him strolling along in the company of the cowherd boys and His elder brother, Balarama.
SyAmam hiraNya paridhim vanamAlya barha dhAtu pravAla naTa vesham anuvratAmse
vinyasta hastam itareNa dhunAnam abjam karma utpalAlaka kapola mukhAbja hAsam 10.23.22
(His complexion was dark blue and His garment golden. Wearing a peacock feather, colored minerals, sprigs of flower buds, and a garland of beautiful forest flowers and leaves, He was dressed just like a dancer. He rested one hand upon the shoulder of a friend and with the other twirled a lotus. Lilies graced His ears, His hair hung down over His cheeks, and His lotus like face was smiling.
prAya: Sruta priyatama udaya karma pUrair yasmin nimagna manasa: tam athAkshi randhrai:
antah praveSya suciram parirabhya tApam prAjnam yathAbhimatayo vijahur narendra 10.23.23
(O ruler of men (narendra ), for a long time these virtuous ladies had heard about Krishna, their beloved, and His glories had become the constant ornaments of their ears. Indeed, their minds were always absorbed in Him. Through their eyes they allowed Krishna to enter within their hearts, and then they embraced Him within for a long time. In this way they finally gave up the pain of separation from Him, just as sages give up their ego by embracing their innermost consciousness.)
tAs tathA tyakta sarvASA: prAptA Atma didRukshayA
vijnAyAkhila dRug drashTA prAha prahasitAnanah 10.23.24
(Lord Krishna, who witnesses the thoughts of all creatures, understood how those ladies had abandoned all worldly desires and come there simply to see Him. Thus He addressed them as follows with a smile upon His face.)
svAgatam vo mahA bhAgA AsyatAm karavAma kim
yan no didRukshayA prAptA upapannam idam hi va: 10.23.25
(Welcome, O most fortunate ladies. Please sit down and make yourselves comfortable. What can I do for you? That you have come here to see Me is most appropriate.)
tat yAta deva yajanam patayo vo dvijAtaya:
sva satram pArayiShyanti yushmAbhi: gRuha medhina: 10.23.28
(You should thus return to the sacrificial arena, because your husbands, are householders and need your assistance to finish their respective sacrifices.)
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Let us also join the Lucky 'mahAbhAgA' yajna patnIs.
kRushNa blessed them by his darSan. Let them feed him and all his friends (bhAgavatAs) and said, "now you go back"!
maivam vibho arhati bhavAn gaditum nRuSamsam satyam kurushva nigamam tava pada mUlam
prAptA vayam tulasi dAma padAvasRuShTam keSair nivoDhum atilanghya samasta bandhUn 10.23.29
(The wives O Lord, please do not speak such cruel words. Rather, please fulfill Your words written in Vedas that “He who attains me does not have to return back”. Now that we have attained Your lotus feet, we simply wish to remain here in the forest so we may carry upon our heads the garlands of tulasi leaves that You might have neglectfully kicked away with Your lotus feet. We are ready to give up all material relationships. We have disobeyed all our relatives and please don't sned us back to them, oh! karuNAmoorthy.)
gRuhNanti no na pataya: pitarau sutA vA na bhrAtRu bandhu suhRuda: kuta eva cAnye
tasmAd bhavat prapadayo: patitAtmanAm na: na anyA bhavet gatir arindama tat vidhehi 10.23.30
(Our husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, other relatives and friends will no longer take us back, and how could anyone else be willing to give us shelter? Therefore, since we have thrown ourselves at Your lotus feet and have no other destination, please, O destroyer of enemies, grant our desire.)
na prItaye anurAgAya hi anga sango nRuNAm iha
tan mano mayi yunjAnA acirAt mAm avApsyatha 10.23.32
(Lord Krishna replied: Rest assured that your husbands will not be inimical toward you, nor will your fathers, brothers, sons, other relatives or the general populace. Once you have been accepted by me; you have won over the approval of even all gods. Anyway for you to remain in close physical proximity to Me is not the best way to increase your love for Me. Rather, you should fix your minds on Me, and very soon you will achieve Me.)
bhagavAn api govinda: tenaiva annena gopakAn
catur vidhena ASayitvA svayam ca bubhuje prabhu: 10.23.35
(Sree Sukar said: Thus instructed, the wives returned to the place of sacrifice. The priests did not find any fault with their wives, and together with them they finished the sacrifice. Govinda, the Supreme Lord, fed the cowherd boys the food (of four varieties) that was offered by the virtuous ladies. Then the all-powerful Lord Himself ate the food offered to Him.)
dRushTvA strINAm bhagavati kRushNe bhaktim alaukikIm
AtmAnam ca tayA hInam anutapA vyagarhayan 10.23.38
(Taking note of their wives' pure devotion and unconditional love for Lord Krishna, and seeing their own lack of devotion, the priests felt most sorrowful and began to repent. Why won't they who are nto as lucky to offerself to teh divinity? Many times, teh pride, ego etc. keep one away from the Lord. One who hears TEH CALL can not be stopped either.)
athApi hi uttama Sloke kRushNe yogeSvareSvare
bhakti: dRudhA na cAsmAkam samskArAdimatAm api 10.23.43
([The priests said:] Fie upon our threefold birth, our vow of celibacy and our extensive learning! Fie upon our aristocratic background and our expertise in the rituals of sacrifice! These are all useless since we do not have love and devotion for Krishna. These women have never undergone the various rites , nor have they lived as brahmacaris in the ashrama of a spiritual master, nor have they performed yagnas or speculated on the nature of the self, followed the formalities of cleanliness or engaged in pious rituals. Nevertheless, they have firm devotion for Lord Krishna, who is the supreme master of all masters of all Yoga’s. We, on the other hand, have no such devotion for the Lord, although we have executed all these processes.)
They felt even more as they can't make an effort to see kRushNa as they are afraid of kRushNa. Yes! While enjoying the bRundAvana lIla, we have kind of forgotten our 'KAMSA'. So, Sri Sukar makes sure that we remember him and the Lord's mission.
