Srimad BHAGAWATHAM

gAvo vRuShA vatsatarya: krandamAnA: suduhkhitA:
kRushNe nyasta IkShaNA bhItA rudantya iva tasthire 10.16.11

(The cows, bulls and heifers, in great distress, called out piteously to Krishna. Fixing their eyes on Him, they stood still weeping in fear, with their eyes riveted on Krishna.)

atha vraje mahot pAtA: trividhA hi atidAruNA:
utpetur bhuvi divya Atmani Asanna bhaya Samsina: 10.16.12

(In the vraja area there then arose all three types of ill omens - those on the earth, those in the sky and those in the bodies of living creatures – these ill omens indicated some imminent danger. (Of course who can harm our darling Hero; this is nothing but his drama. Krishna ought to win an Oscar for this!))

tAn Alakshya bhaya udvignA: gopA nanda purogamA:
vinA rAmena gA: kRushNam jnAtvA cArayitum gatam 10.16.13

(Gopa’s headed by Nanda Gopa noticed all these evil omens; and who did they start to worry about? Them selves? Their personal belongings? No Never! kRushNa is their prANa, kRushNa is their mind and heart. They worried for the safety of their most beloved one; Krishna; the protector of the righteous! Realizing that Krishna had gone to graze the cows without his elder brother, entire Vraja was agitated with the fear for Krishna’s safety. This explains all the evil omens; this was just another gift provided by Krishna to the inhabitants of Vraja (who were in fact great sages born just to enjoy Krishna) to enjoy Krishna leela.)

AbAla vRuddha vanitA: sarve anga paSu vRuttaya:
nirjagmur gokulAt dInA: kRushNa darSana lAlasA: 10.16.15

(Sree Sukar tells Maharaj Parikcshit that such was the devotion among the people of Vraja that everyone including small children (bAla), old people (vRuddha), women (vanitA) started to worry for Krishna and waiting eagerly for Krishna darshana just as a cow would behave towards its calf. Lord please grant us a tiny fraction of such devotion.

However Balarama was not worried since he knew the true identity of Sri Krishna. But the rest of the villagers anxiously followed the foot prints of Sree Krishna to try and protect him from any kind of danger. Such was their bhakti! In our world probably when people sense danger to their lives; they run away from the source of danger. But here their love for Krishna was so strong they rode towards the danger to save Krishna. Such was their devotion! No wonder Brahma considers himself blessed if the dust from the feet of Vraja inhabitants falls on him!)

antar hrade bhujaga bhoga parItam ArAt kRushNam nirIham upalabhya jalASayAnte
gopAmSca mUdha dhidhaNAn parita: paSUmSca sankrandata: parama kaSmalam Apur ArtA: 10.16.19

(As they hurried along the path to the bank of the Yamuna River, they saw from a distance that Krishna was in the lake, motionless within the coils of the black serpent. They further saw that the cowherd boys had fallen unconscious and that the animals were standing on all sides, crying out for Krishna. Seeing all this, the residents of Vrindavana were overwhelmed with anguish and utmost sorrow.)

The Lord may look motionless, but HE is watching everything.

gopyo anurakta manaso bhagavati anante tat sauhRuda smita viloka gira: smarantya:
graste ahinA priyatame bhRuSa duhkha taptA: SUnyam priya vyatihRutam dadRuSu: trilokam 10.16.20

(The gopis, whose minds were constantly attached to Krishna, the very symbol of love and mercy, saw that He was now within the grips of the serpent. Tey remembered His loving friendship, His smiling glances and His talks with them. They were filled with such sorrow that it seemed to them that without their Dear Krishna the entire universe was now desolate. Such was their PREMA, they had totally surrendered before Krishna and absolutely nothing else mattered to them.)

tA: kRushNa mAtaram apatyam anupraviShTAm tulya vyathA: samanugRuhya Suca: sravantya:
tAstA vraja priya kathA: kathayantya Asan kRushNAnane arpita dRuSo mRutaka pratIkA: 10.16.21

(Although the gopis were feeling just as much distress as Yashoda and were profusely crying, they had to forcibly hold back Krishna's mother from jumping in to the river, whose consciousness was totally absorbed in her son. Standing like corpses, with their eyes fixed upon His face, these gopis each took turns recounting the pastimes of the darling of Vraja. Nanda gopa and other Gopas wanted to jump into the river to save kRushNa (PREMA TAKES OVER JNANA.) and Balarama stopped them with his words.)

ittham svagokulam ananya gatim nirIkShya sa strI kumAram ati duhkhitam Atma heto:
AjnAya martya padavIm anuvarttamAna: sthitvA muhUrtam udatiShThad uranga bandhAt 10.16.23

(The Lord remained for some time within the coils of the serpent, as if He was in mortal danger. As part of this lIla kRushNa was giving a chance to kAlIya to enjoy the LORD’s touch. The Lord realized that the women, children and other residents of His village of Gokula were in acute distress because of their love for Him. He saw their state where they have none other than Him. He expanded his body and escaped from the coils of Kaliya.)

tat prathyamAna vapuShA vyathitAtma bhoga: tyaktva unnamayya kupita: svaphaNAn bhujanga:
tasthau Svasan Svasana randhra vishAmbarIsha stabda IkshaNa ulmukha mukho harim IkshamANa: 10.16.24

(Kaliya could not bear the pain caused by the expanding body of Krishna and it was forced to let go of Krishna. In great anger the serpent then raised it’s hoods high and stood still, breathing heavily. It’s nostrils appeared like vessels holding deadly poison, and the staring eyes were filled with rage and shining bright like burning coal. Thus the serpent looked at the Lord. Yes! Now kRushNa’s mind is on His dear ones and nothing will distract Him from His mission.)

tam jihvayA dviSikhayA parilelihAnam dve sRukkiNI hi atikarAla vishAgni dRushTim
krIdann amum parisasAra yathA khagendro babhrAma so api avasaram prasamIkShamANa: 10.16.25

(Again and again Kaliya licked his lips with his bifurcated tongues as he stared at Krishna with a glance full of rage and poisonous fumes. But Krishna playfully circled around him, just as Garuda would play with a snake. In response, Kaliya also moved about, looking for an opportunity to bite the Lord. If He wanted he could have finished Kaliya off in an instant; it seems that Lord was playing with Kaliya only to teach Kaliya a lesson and in turn teach us a lesson too.)

evam paribhrama hataujasam unnatAmsam Anamya tat pRuthu Sirassu adhirUdha Adya:
tan mUrdha ratna nikara sparSAti tAmra pAdAmbujo akhila kalAdi gurur nanarta 10.16.26

(Having severely depleted the serpent's strength with His relentless circling, Sri Krishna, pushed down Kaliya's raised shoulders and mounted onto his broad serpentine heads. Thus Lord SrI Krishna, the original master of all fine arts, began to dance, His lotus feet deeply reddened by the touch of the numerous jewels upon the serpent's heads. kRushNa got onto the most shaky stage to do the most wonderful dance – kALiya narttanam!) But, imagine the luck of kALiya, the lotus feet is on his head now. The puNyam Kaliya has done is ‘bRundAvana vAsam’.)

kRushNa's movement on that unstable stage itself turned our into a dance. Visualise this and enjoy. Hold on to your breath and don't get scared. kRushNa will never lose his balance.

tam nartum udyatam avekShya tadA tadIya gandharva siddha sura cAraNa deva vadhva:
prItyA mRudanga paNava anaka vAdya gIta puShpa upahAra nutibhi: sahasA upasedu: 10.16.27

(The various Gandharvas, Siddhas, sages, Caranas and Apasaras who are nothing but His servants realized that it was Krishna’s intent to dance. They arrived there to be part of the joyous dance. With great pleasure they began accompanying the Lord's dancing by playing drums such as mridangas, panavas and anakas. They also made offerings of songs, flowers and prayers.)

yat yat chiro na namate anga Sataika SIrShNa: tat tan mamarda khara daNDa dharo anghri pAtai:
kShInAyuSho bhramata ulbaNam Asyato asRung nasto vaman parama kaSmalam Apa nAga: 10.16.28

(Sree Sukar says: My dear King, Kaliya had 101 prominent heads, and when one of them would not bow down, Lord Sri Krishna, who inflicts punishment on cruel wrong-doers, would smash that stubborn head by striking it with His feet. This movement of kRushNa became the most wonderful dance. In this way Krishna danced on the top of Kailya’s head. On the one hand it was a beautiful dance yet deadly. Then, as Kaliya entered his death throes, he began wheeling his heads around and vomiting ghastly blood from his mouths and nostrils. The serpent thus experienced extreme pain and misery. This might appear as very cruel but Krishna knows no cruelty; He was doing this to protect his bhakta’s and for Kaliya’s own good. Krishna’s action had one purpose – cleanse the Vridavanam area of all evil and set the stage for Maha raas later on.)

tasya akShibhir garalam udvamata: Sirassu yat yat samunnamati ni:Svasato ruShoccai:
nRutyan pada anunamayan damayAm babhUva puShpai: prapUjita iva iha pumAn purANa: 10.16.29

(Exuding poisonous waste from it’s eyes, Kaliya, would occasionally dare to raise up one of it’s heads, while breathing heavily with anger. Then the Lord would tirelessly dance on it and subdue it, forcing it to bow down with His foot. The various Gods who were witnessing this leela used this as an opportunity to worship Krishna, the most ancient person, with showers of flowers.)

tat citra tAndava virugNa phaNa Atpatro raktam mukhair uru vaman nRupa bhagna gAtra:
smRutvA carAcara gurum puruSham purANam nArAyaNam tamaraNam manasA jagAma 10.16.30

(Lord Krishna's wonderful, powerful dancing trampled and broke all of Kaliya's one numerous hoods. Then the serpent, profusely vomiting blood from its mouths, finally had all it’s pride removed. It realized then there was no hope. It was at that juncture that Kaliya fully surrendered to Lord Narayana and sought His protection. As long as the pride is there, realization will not come. Lord also will not give up on forcing one to give up the pride.)

kRushNasya garbha jagato ati bharAvasannam pArShNi prahAra parirugNa phaNAtapatram
dRushThvA ahim Adyam upasedu: amushya patnya ArtA: Slathad vasana bhUShaNa keSa bandhA: 10.16.31

(Kaliya's wives saw how the serpent had become so fatigued from the excessive weight of Lord Krishna, who carries the entire universe in His abdomen. They saw how Kaliya's umbrella like hoods had been shattered by the striking of Krishna's heels. They felt great distress. With their clothing, ornaments and hair scattered in disarray, they approached Krishna.)

tA: tam suvigna manaso atha puraskRutArbhA: kAyam nidhAya bhuvi bhUta patim praNemu:
sAdhvya: kritAnjali *beep*: Samalasya bhartu: mokshepsava: SaraNadam SaraNam prapannA: 10.16.32

(Kaliya’s wives placed their children before them and then bowed down to Krishna, stretching their bodies upon the ground. They desired the liberation of their sinful husband and the shelter of the Supreme Lord and thus they folded their hands in supplication and approached Him.)
.

kALiyA’s wives came running to the Lord begging for their pati’s life, while praising the Lord. A prayer that we must do always.

nyAyyo hi danda: kRuta kilbishe asmin tava avatAra: khala nigrahAya
ripo: sutAnAm api tulya dRushTe: dhatse damam phalam eva anuSamsan 10.16.33

(The wives of the Kaliya serpent said: The punishment that You have given to Kaliya to is certainly just. After all, Your purpose behind incarnation within this world is to destroy the evil present here and cleanse the world, while protecting the good. You are so impartial that You look equally upon Your enemies and Your own sons, for when You impose a punishment on a living being You do it for his ultimate benefit. Knwoing what kALiys has done, we accept your action on him.)

anugraho ayam bhavata: kRuto hi na: danDo asatAm te khalu kalmaShApaha:
yat dandaSUka tvam amuShya dehina: krodho api teasnugraha eva sammata: 10.16.34

(What You have done here is actually mercy for us, since Your punishment wipes out all the past sins. Your wrath is a blessing for our husband that it has cleansed his sins that caused him had to assume the body of a serpent. Your anger toward him is obviously in fact great mercy.)

Tapa: sutaptam kim anena pUrvam nirasta mAnena ca mAnadena
dharmo atha vA sarva jana anukampayA yato bhavAn tuShyati sarva jIva: 10.16.35

(Did our husband carefully perform austerities in a previous life, with his mind free of pride and full of respect for others? Is that why You are pleased with him? Or did he in some previous existence carefully execute religious duties with compassion for all living beings, and is that why You, giver of life to all, are now satisfied with him? Oh! kRushNa, we are wondering the reason for his luck now – the luck that brought your lotus feet on his head. Lakshmi Devi craves for this and serves your feet and what brought this luck on him is a puzzle for us – Oh! Lord, it is your kRupa.)

na nAka pRushTham na ca sArva bhaumam na pArameshThyam na rasAdhipatyam
na yoga siddhIr apunar bhavam vA vAnchanti yat pAda raja:-prapannA: 10.16.37

(Those who have attained the dust of Your lotus feet never desire for the heavens, not the position of Brahma nor the right to rule over the earth. They are not interested even in the powers of yoga or even moksha itself. All they desire is the dust from your lotus feet kRushNa. We, being the wives of that kALiya,who is thus blessed have realized this, offer ourselves at your feet. This particular prayer appears i many places in bhAgavatam. In ekAdasam kRushNa himself quotes this as the bhakta laskhaNam.)

tad esha nAtha Apa durApam anyai: tamo jani: krodha vaSo api ahISa:
samsAra cakre bhramata: SarIriNo yat icchata: syAd vibhava: samakSha: 10.16.38

(O Lord, although this Kaliya, the king of the serpents, lives in the darkness of ignorance and is controlled by anger. But, he has achieved that which is difficult for others to achieve. The souls that are full of desires and are thus wandering in the cycle of birth and death can be freed from this misery simply by receiving the dust of Your lotus feet. Even great sages who perform rigorous meditation and severe penance find it difficult to receive the dust from your feet. But, you have blessed our pati with that. We offer at your lotus feet kRushNa.)

nama: tubhyam bhagavate puruShAya mahAtmane
bhUtAvAsAya bhUtAya parAya paramAtmane 10.16.39

(We offer our prayers unto You. Although present in the hearts of all living beings, You are all-pervasive. You are the controller of the great ones like Brahma etc. You are the base of the 5 elements which constitute the universe.You are the Supreme reality and the cause of everything, You are beyond all material cause and effect. You are the paramAtma. We surrender at your lotus feet, Lord.)

iti tava sUraya: tryadhipate akhila loka mala
kshapaNa kathA amRuta abdhim adagAhya tapasAmsi jahu:
kimuta puna: swadhAma vidhuta ASaya kAla guNA:
parama bhajanti ye padam ajasra sukha anubhavam 10.87.16

(Oh! Lord you are the lord of triguNAs. Great souls sing your glories and that removes all the sins form all. The beauty from your self cleanse their internal senses too. Do we have to say that they enjoy status of eternal happiness. So, we also sing your glories and offer ourselves to you.)

dRutaya iva swasanti asubhRuta: yadi te anuvidhA
mahat aham Adaya: aNDam asRuajn yat anugrahata:
purushavidha: aneaya: atra carama: annamayAdishu
sat asata: param twam atha yat eshu avaSesham amRutam 10.87.17

(Oh! Lord, If people live as per your terms, they are breathing as living beings. Or they are just the bellows. mahat, aham etc. created a golden egg with your blessings. That became the virAT purusha, when you entered them. Yuo created the 5 koSAs. You are above the sthUla and sUkshma forms. You are theabsolute truth (Rutam) that stays back at the end. Being ungrateful to you is just being lifeless and forgetting the SELF. So, we offer ourselves to you.)

Does prayer help one? To save from bondage, suffering? OF COURSE YES. Aren't we the living examples? It is HIS kRupa that has given us the human life to move upwards.

jnAna vijnAna nidhaye brahmaNe ananta Saktaye
agunAya avikArAya namaste prAkRutAya ca 10.16.40

(You possess all knowledge and experience. You are endowed with infinite energy. Although You have no gunas or no physical form, You are the cause for the prakRuti (physical universe) You are the Supreme.Our praNAms to you.)

namo anantAya sUkDhmAya kUTa sthAya vipaScite
nAnA vAdAnurodhAya vAcya vAcaka Saktaye 10.16.43

(We offer our obeisance’s unto You, the unlimited Supreme Lord, the supremely subtle one, You are unchanging and You are omniscient. It is You who sanctions the opposing views of different philosophies, and who are the power behind these ideas as well as the words that express them. You are veda personified and you are the proof for everything.)

nama: kRushNAya rAmAya vasudeva sutAya ca
pradyumnAya aniruddhAya sAtvatAm pataye nama: 10.16.45

(We offer our prayers to Lord Krishna who is SankarshaNa, the son of Vasudeva, Lord Pradyumna and Lord Aniruddha. Everything is You Lord. We humbly offer our respects unto the master of all the devotees.)

avyAkRuta vihArAya sarva vyAkRuta siddhaye
hRushIkeSa namaste astu munaye mauna SIline 10.16.47

(O Lord Hrishikesa, master of the senses, please let us offer our obeisance unto You whose glories are infinite. Wise people know that you are the creator and the cause for everything. You are Muni – one who enjoys the brahmam all the time. You remain silent and invisible. You are formless as well as viswrUpa.)

aparAdha: sakRud bhartrA soDhavya: svaprajA kRuta:
kShantum arhasi SAntAtman mUDhasya tvAm ajAnata: 10.16.51

(A master should tolerate at least one offense committed by his child or subject. O supreme Lord, You should therefore forgive our foolish husband, who did not understand who You are. Please realese him for the first time with a warning.)

anugRuhNIshva bhagavan prANAn tyajati pannaga:
strINAm na: sAdhu SocyAnAm pati: prANa: pradIyatAm 10.16.52

(O Supreme Lord, please be merciful. Our husband – the serpent Kalia is about die. Being ladies we deserve compassion. Please give us back our husband, who is our life.)

Oh! Lord we also offer prayers at YOUR LOTUS FEET.

udaram upAsate ya Rushi vartmasu kUrppadRuSa:
parisara paddhatim kRudayam AruNaya: dahram
tata udagAt ananta tava dhAma Sira: paramam
puna: iha sametya na patanti kRutAnta mukhe 10.87.18

(In the muni tradition, Oh! Lord, some of them meditate on you upon the maNipUrakam (naval). Other group named as AruNIs, meditate you upon their heart. Oh! Ananta, one who go beyond that and escape through the top of the head (sahasrAram) will not come back to earth. They merge with the brahmam and escape from the mouth of death. Oh! You are that Brahmam and there is nothing better than your upAsana and we offer ourselves to you.)

swakRuta vicitra yonishu viSan iva hetutayA
taratamata: cakAsi analavat swakRuta anukRuti:
atha vitathAsu amUshu avitatham tava dhAma samam
viraja dhiya: anwayanti abhivipaNyava: ekarasam 10.87.19

(Oh! Lord you enetered various wombs as if there is a reason. Then like a fire that depends on the wood for its color and size and glow, you also appear to be different. In reality, you, the only essense, are dwelling in the unreal things and people with pure heart, who do their actions with no desire recognize you everywhere. Oh! all pervader, we offer ourselves to you.)

The kRupAnidhi, smiled and blessed the nAgaptnIS with his eyes and accepted their vAcika pUja.

Pratilabdhendriya prANa: kAliya: Sanakai: harim
kRucchrAt samucchvasan dIna: kRushNam prAha kRutAnjali: 10.16.55

(Kaliya slowly regained his sensory functions and vitality after having fallen into a swoon. Then, breathing loudly and painfully, the wretched serpent addressed Lord Krishna, with both his palms joined in a very humble manner as follows: Only torture can soften the hardness due to pride – thinks the Lord, but not the sAdhUs. Their weapon is compassion and love.)

vayam khalA: saha utpattyA tamasA dIrgha manyava:
svabhAvo dustyajo nAtha lokAnAm yat asat graha: 10.16.56

(The serpent Kaliya said: Our very births as a snake has made us envious filled us with tamas (ignorance) and are constantly angry. O my Lord, it is so difficult for people to give up their instincts which are to identify themselves with their physical bodies. Lord, so, please don’t hold me responsible for what I did.)

tvayA sRuShTam idam viSvam dhAtar guNa visarjanam
nAnA svabhAva vIrya ojo yoni bIjASayAkRuti 10.16.57

(O supreme creator, it is You who has created this universe; the universe consisting of the 3 guna’s, filled with various kinds of personalities and species; varieties of sensory and physical strengths, various desires such as the desire to pro-create, as well as various forms. How can you punish for this?)

bhavAn hi kAraNam tatra sarvajno jagat ISvara:
anugraham nigraham vA manyase tat vidhehi na: 10.16.59

(O My Lord, since You are Lord of the universe, You are the only reason for anything and the only means by which one can escape from this cycle of sorrow caused due maya. Please give us either a reward or a punishment or whatever You think is fit for us. (Kailiya has now surrendered completely to the Lord and it makes no difference to him what he receives from the Lord since he’s willing to accept it joyfully. But in fact Lord never punishes anyone with a cruel intent since he’s joy incarnate. He merely corrects his devotees.)

ityAkarNya vaca: prAha bhagavAn kArya mAnuSha:
na atra stheyam tvayA sarpa samudram yAhi mA ciram
sva jnAti apatya dArAdhyo go nRubhir bhujyatam nadI 10.16.60

(Sree Sukar said: After hearing Kaliya's words, the Supreme Lord Narayana, who was acting the role of a human being, replied: O serpent, you may not remain here any longer. Go back to the ocean immediately, accompanied by your entourage of children, wives, other relatives and friends. Let this river be enjoyed by the cows and humans. (This is the beauty if Krishna’s incarnation. His each action has so many benefits. On one hand he helped Kailya and his family by destroying his pride but did not kill him. He cleared the Yumuna river of the poison that was inhabiting it and thus purifying the water for the sake of His devotees, He then danced beautifully on top of Kailiya’s heads which provided great joy to the deva’s etc, and provided us with another opportunity to sing glories of Him!)

ya etat samsmaren martya: tubhyam mat anuSAsanam
kIrtayann ubhayo: sandhyor na yushmad bhayam ApnuyAt 10.16.61

(If anyone remembers My command to you - to leave Vrindavana and go to the ocean - and narrates this account at sunrise and sunset, they (the narrator as well as the listener) will never have any cause to be afraid of you (serpents).)

swakRuta pureshu amIshu bahi: antara samvaraNam
tava purusham vadanti akhila SaktidhRuta: amSakRutam
iti nRugatim vivicya kavaya: nigamAvapanam
bhavata upAsate anghrim abhavam bhuvi viSwasitA: 10.87 20

(It is said that jIvAtma is your amSam and that you live inside and outside the body that is created by you. You are the source of all energy. People who have the knowledge have absolute faith in this and worship your lotus feet - the source to release one from the samsAram.)

duradhigama Atmatattva nigamAya tava Attatano:
carita mahA amRuta abdhi parivartta pariSramaNA:
na parilashanti kecit apavarggam api Iswara te
caraNa saroja hamsa kula sanga visRusTa gRuhA: 10.87.21

(Oh! Lord, it is very difficult to understand you. But, to make it perceivable to beings, you accept different forms and incarnate. Some lucky souls dive into the nectar ocean of your katha and give up all other efforts. Very few live in the company of those hamsAs who enjoy your lotus feet and forget all attachements. They do not even desire for the moksha.)

King Parikshit asked Sree Sukar why Kaliya left the Ramanaka islands the abode of the serpents and also why Guruda was inimical to Kailya.
To this question Sree Sukar replied as follows:

upahAryai: sarpa janair mAsi mAsIha yo bali:
vAnaspatyo mahA bAho nAgAnAm prAn nirUpita: 10.17.2

(Serpents and Garuda had an agreement where in on every amavasya the serpents would make an offering to the Garuda. These offerings would be placed near the foot of a tree (vanaspati – that gives fruit without flowers.))

svam svam bhAgam prayacchanti nAgA: parvaNi parvaNi
gopIthAya Atmana: sarve suparNAya mahAtmane 10.17.3

(Thus every month on schedule, O mighty King Parikshit, each serpent would duly make his offering to that carrier of Vishnu. And in return Garuda granted them protection.)

visha vIrya madAviShTa: kAdraveya: tu kAliya:
kadarthI kRutya garudam svayam tam bubhuje balim 10.17.4

(Although all the other serpents were dutifully making offerings to Garuda, one serpent - the arrogant Kaliya, son of Kadru - would eat all these offerings before Garuda could claim them. Thus Kaliya directly defied the carrier of Lord Vishnu. Kadru and Vinata are wives of kaSyapa. Sepents are the children of kadru and Garuda is the child of vinata.)

tam Apatantam tarasA vishAyudha: pratyabhyayAd utchrita naika mastaka:
dadbhi: suparNam vyadaSad dadAyudha: karAla jihvo ucchvasita ugra locana: 10.17.6

(Garuda became angry when he saw this. Desiring to kill Kaliya, he rushed toward the serpent with tremendous speed. As Garuda swiftly fell upon him, Kaliya, who was armed with fangs filled with deadly poison, raised his numerous heads to counterattack. Hissing his ferocious fangs and expanding his fearsome eyes, Kaliya then bit Garuda with his fangs.)

tam tArkShya putra: sa nirasya manyumAn pracanda vego madhusUdana Asana:
paksheNa savyena hiraNya rocishA jaghAna kadru sutam ugra vikrama: 10.17.7

(Garuda the son of Kasyapa; who serves as the carrier for none other than Lord Vishnu (the slayer of demon Madhu) is quick as the lightening and possesses immense power. Garuda was greatly enraged and struck Kailya with his left wing which shone as brilliantly as gold.)

suparNa pakShAbhihata: kAliyo atIva vihvala:
hradam viveSa kAlindyA: tad agamyam durAsadam 10.17.8

(Kaliya was extremely distraught having been hit by GaruDa in this manner. He realized that he could never defeat GaruDa in a combat and therefore decided to seek shelter in a loop in Yamua. GaruDa could not follow Kailya to this shelter because he was prohibited from entering anywhere near the vicinity of this loop in Yamuna, by Soubhari Maharshi.)

Everyone has a safe place to live. So did kALiya, like SugrIva found RushyamUka mountain for his safe stay. Rama came there to save sugrIva. Here, kRushNa came to correct kALiya.

Oh! Lord, you changed your sAntam, padmAsanastham becasue Narad Ji informed you about SatI Devi's dehatyAgam and insult done on her.
kRuddha: sudashta oshThapuTa: sa dhUrjjaTi:
jaTAm taDit vahni saTa ugra rocisham
utkRutya rudra: sahasA uthita: hasan
gambhIra nAda: visasarjja tAm bhuvi 4.5.2

(When Lord heard about Devi giving up her physical body, her insult and torutring his army, he was in fury. He bit his lips in anger. His matted hair was glowing like lightning and fire. He stood up immediately and opened his hair. He smacked his hair on the ground
From that appeared RudrA's amSam vIrabhadra. With glorious but scary appearance, he approached the Lord,

tam kim karomi iti gRuNantam Aha badha anjalim bhagavAn bhUtanAtha:
daksham sayajnam jahi matbhaTAnAm twam agraNI rudrabhaTa amSako me 4.5.4

(vIrabhadra folded his hands and praeyd to bhUtanAtha, "Oh! Lord, what can I do for you? Please order me." Lord told him, "You are the chief of my army. You are my amSam. Destroy the Yajna and kill Daksha.")

vIrabhdra went around the Lord. He felt the uncontrollable energy coming in him. He marched towrds DakshA's yAgaSAla. His anklets added a terrifying music to his earth cracking steps. All the gaNAs followed him. This brought in thick dark sheet of dust on the northen sky.

vAtA na vAnti na hi santi dasyava: prAcInabarhi: jIvati iha ugra daNDa:
gAvo na kALyanta idam kuta: raja: loka: adhunA kim praLayAya kalpate 4.5.8

(There is no typhoon. No dacoits as pracInabarhis who is known for punishing the evil Cows are not running here and there. What is the reason for this cloud of dust? OH! Is the world entering the pralaya right now?

It was the same pool where once Garuda had eaten a fish.

mInAn sudu:khitAn dRushthvA dInAn mIna patau hate
kRupayA saubhari: prAha tatratya kshemam Acaran 10.17.10

(Seeing how the unfortunate fish in that lake had become unhappy at the death of their leader, sage Saubhari (who was doing tapas in that water) uttered the following curse in order to protect the inhabitants of this lake from Garuda.)

atra praviSya garudo yadi matsyAn sa khAdati
sadya: prAnair viyujyeta satyam etad bravImi aham 10.17.11

“If Garuda ever again enters this lake and eats the fish here, he will immediately lose his life. What I am saying is the plain truth.” GaruDa realized this and stopped coming that side at all.)

tat kAliya: param veda nAnya: kaScana leliha:
avAtsId garudAd bhIta: kRushNena ca vivAsita: 10.17.12

Of all the serpents, only Kaliya came to know of this curse and in fear of GaruDa he took up residence in that lake in the river Yamuna. Later Lord Krishna himself drove him out.)

kRushNam hradAd viniShkrAntam divya srag gandha vAsasam
mahA maNi gaNAkIrNam jAmbUnada pariShkRutam 10.17.13

Sree Sukar now resumed the story about Krishna and Kaliya. nAgapatnIs decorated kRushNa with love. Krishna rose up out of the lake wearing divine garlands, fragrances and garments, covered with many fine jewels, and decorated with gold. When the Gopa’s saw Krishna return back safely they it seemed as if their life itself had returned back. They were filled with great joy and hugged Krishna.)

yaSodA rohinI nando gopyo gopAS ca kaurava
kRushNam sametya labdhehA Asan labdha manorathA: 10.17.15

(It seemed that the entire Vraja had come to a standstill due to the fear that beloved Krishna was in danger. However once Krishna came back safely the people regained some degree of control. Yashoda, Rohini, Nanda and all the other cowherd women and men went up to Krishna. There was so much joy in the air that O descendant of Kuru, even the dried-up trees came back to life.)

yaSodApi mahA bhAgA naShTa labdha prajA satI
parishvajya ankam Aropya mumoca aSru kalAm muhu: 10.17.19

(Mother Yashoda, who had thought that she had lost her son to Kaliya for who could even imagine that a tiny sweet like boy of 6 years could possible escape unhurt from the clutches of the evil multi-headed serpent? Mother was so happy to see Him back that she held him closely and helplessly shed tears of happiness.)

During vibhIshaNa SaraNagati Rama says
sakRut eva prapannAya tavAsmi iti yAcate
abhayam sarva bhUtebya: dadAmi etat vratam mama (If someone request just once saying, 'Rama, I am yours', I will give protection to them and this is my vratam) here is another example.

tadA Suci vanodbhUto dAvAgni: sarvato vrajam
suptam niSItha AvRutya pradagdhum upacakrame 10.17.21

(Due to the incident of Kalia; all the people were totally exhausted. Therefore they decided to sleep in the patch of forest near the river. Forest was completely dry due to the summer heat. It tuned out that Krishna was not done with his leelas yet! The forest caught fire and the people were now completely surrounded by fire.)

kRushNa kRushNa mahA bhaga he rAmAmita vikrama
esha ghoratamo vahni: tAvakAn grasate hi na: 10.17.23

(The residents of Vraja cried out to Krsihna as: O Krishna O Krishna; enchanter of all; O Rama processor of immense strength and valor; this fire is threatening to destroy us all. We are yours; so please save us. To anyone who says “I am yours”, ‘acceptance and protection’ is guaranteed.

sudustarAn na: svAn pAhi kAlAgne: suhRuda: prabho
na Saknumas tvat caraNam santyaktum akuto bhayam 10.17.24

(O Lord, we are Your true devotees. Please protect us from this insurmountable fire of death. We are incapable of giving up Your lotus feet, which drives away all fear.)

ittham sva jana vaiklavyam nirIkShya jagad ISvara:
tam agnim apibat tIvram ananto ananta Sakti dhRuk 10.17.25

(Seeing His devotees so disturbed, Sri Krishna, the Lord of the universe, then swallowed the terrible forest fire to save his devotees from a certain death.)

vanam kusumitam SrIman nadat citra mRuga dvijam
gAyan mayUra bhramaram kUjat kokila sArasam 10.18.7

(As we all know summers in India are anything but pleasant. But because Krishna himself had taken birth in Vridavana; the weather there was very pleasant even during the harsh summer. Beautiful flowers bloomed in the forest of Vrindavana, and many varieties of animals and birds filled it with pleasant sound. The peacocks and bees sang, and while the cuckoos cooed and the cranes cackled.)

krIdiShyamANa: tat kRushNo bhagavAn bala samyuta:
veNum viraNayan gopai: go dhanai: samvrito aviSat 10.18.8

(Krishna was far from ‘done with his leelas’! Lord Krishna, accompanied by his brother Balarama and surrounded by the cowherd boys and the cows, entered the forest of Vrindavana as He played beautifully on His flute.)

The gopAlAs had fun filled life with kRushNa around. They will decorate themselves with whatever is available. They danced with the nature. AT times they acted 'fighting' as well. Always kRushNa was the center of attraction. The others would do the naTTuvaangam and music for kRushNa's dance. Even Devas could not resist and they joined the gang. But, unfortunately they could not really enjoy it as they knew the value of kRushNa. They could not forget themselves and enjoy the divinity. Let us also join them - like gopabAlAs.

kwacit vilvai: kwacit kumbhai: kwa ca amalaka mushTibhi:
aspRusya netra bandhAdyai: kwacin mRuga khaga Ihaya 10.18.14

(Sometime they will throw vilva fruit at each other. Other times they play with kumbha fruits. Soemtimes they will hold gooseberry in their hand and ask the kids to guess the number. Sometimes they would play tag. Sometimes blind someone by tying their eyes and make them catch others. At times they would just act and play like birds and animals. Is there any difference between kRushNa and our kids? But, Sri SUkar explains all these as it is the brahmam that is playing. In reality, it is that kRushNa who is making us all play this life!)

kwacit ca darduraplAvai: vividhai: upahAsakai:
kadAcit spandoLikayA karhicit nRupaceshTaya 10.18.15

(Sometimes they will jump like frogs. Soemtimes it will be just talking funny things. They would play on the swing. At times they will act like king too! aho bhAgyam aho bhAgyam nandagopa vrajoukasAm yan mitram paramAnandam pUrNam brahma sanAtanam - brahma stuti.)

Once, when they were enjoying in the forest, an asura named pralamba took the form of a cow and joined them with a desire to kill them.

tam vidvAn api dASArha: bhagavAn sarvadarSana:
anvamodata tat sakhyam vadham tasya vicintayan 10.18.18

(But who can fool kRishNa? He knows everything. But, in order to kill him, Lord allowed him to be his friend. One needs luck to die in the hands of the Lord too. May be pralamba celebrated victory in his mind thinking, 'oh! I fooled him. I can accomplish what I want!'
Krishna, explained his plan - 'Hey gopAs today we are going to a dual fight. One group is lead by me and the other by balarama. The rest can take sides. Any one from one group can pick one from the other. The deal is the one who loses has to carry the winner upto the bhANDIrakam peepal tree.

rAma sanghaTTina: yarhi SrIdAma vRushabhAdaya:
krIDAyAm jayina: tAn tAn Uhu: kRushNAdaya: nRupa 10.18.23

(All kRushNa fans were on Rama's side. Of course they can watch kRushNa as well as hug and fight with him which is more fun than being on kRushNa's side and watching him do that to someone else! Plus, is the Lord ever going to hurt any of his devotees? Pralamba was on kRushNa's side! Every one on Rama's side won and they were carried by people on the other side. kRushNa carried SrIdAma and pralamba carried Rama.)

avishahyam manyamAna: kRUshNam dAnava pungava:
vahan drutataram prAgAt avarohaNata: param 10.18.25

(The asura figured out that he can not stand kRushNa and so ran as fast as he could carrying Rama and he went beyond the mark. His intention was to kill rama who is with him now. But,......)

tam udvahan dharaNi dharendra gouravam
mahAsura: vigataraya: nijam vapu:
sa Asthita: puraTa paricchada: babhou
taDidyumAn uDupativAD iva ambuda: 10.18.26

(Balarama, who carries the whole universe showed a bit of his power. The asura could not run anymore. So, to make up asura decided to take his real rAkshasa form. All the jewelleries on him looked like lightning and he looked like a dark cloud. Balarama on his shoulder looked like a moon. Carrying Rama, he flew up in the sky. For a moment even Rama forgot his form and was a bit disturbed.)

Then?

atha Agata smRuti: abhaya: ripum bala: vihAya sArtham iva harantam Atmana:
rushA ahanat Sirasi dRuDhena mushTinA surAdhipa: girim iva vajra ramhasA 10.18.28

(What kRushNa told him few minutes back came to his mind and shook off his fear. He got really furious at the asura who was taking him away form his group. He held his fist and gave a hard hit on pralambA's head. It was like Devendra hitting the monutain with his thunderbolt. (once up on a time mountains used to fly and cause big damage and Indra put an end to this. )

sa Ahata: sapadi viSIrna mastaka:
mukhAt vaman rudhiram apasmRuta: aSura:
mahAravam vyasu: apatat samIrayan
giri: yathA maghavata Ayudha Ahata: 10.18.29

(That hit smacked pralambA's head. Blood oozed from his mouth. He screamed and fell uncoscious. With a huge thud gigantic body fell on the
ground like a mountain knocked off by Devendra.)

Everybody rejoiced pralambA's death. gopAlAs rejoiced Rama's safe return and hugged him. Devas showered flowers from the sky.

atha gAvo mahishyaSca nirviSantyo vanAd vanam
IshIkATavIm nirviviSu: krandantyo dAva tarShitA: 10.19.2

(While the cowherd boys were completely absorbed in playing, their cows wandered far away looking for food. Passing from one part of the great forest to another, the cows and buffalos eventually entered an area overgrown with sharp canes. The heat of a nearby forest fire made them thirsty, and they cried out in distress.)

tRuNai: tat khuradat chinnai: goshpadai: ankitai: gavAm
mArgam anvagaman sarve nashTAjIvyA vicetasa: 10.19.4

(Then the boys began tracing out the cows' path by noting their hoof prints and the blades of grass the cows had broken with their hooves and teeth. All the cowherd boys were in great anxiety because they had lost their source of livelihood. And of course they cared for the cows immensely and did not want any harm to come to them while the cattle were under their watch.)

tata: samantAt dava dhUmaketu: yadRucchaya abhUt kshaya kRud vanaukasAm
samIrita: sArathina ulbaNa ulmukai: vilelihAna: sthira jangamAn mahAn 10.19.7

(Suddenly a great forest fire appeared on all sides, threatening to destroy all the forest creatures. Like a chariot driver, the wind swept the fire onward, and terrible sparks shot in all directions. The great fire extended its (tongue like) flames towards all moving and nonmoving creatures.)

kRushNa kRushNa mahA vIra he rAma amitavikrama
dAvAgninA dahyamAnAn prapannAn trAtum arhatha: 10.19.9

(O Krishna ! Krishna! Most powerful one ! O Rama! You whose prowess never fails! Please save Your devotees, who are about to be burned by this forest fire and have come to take shelter of You! We surrender to you and deserve to be saved.

vaco niSamya kRupaNam bandhUnAm bhagavAn hari:
nimIlayata mA bhaishTa locanAnIty abhAshata 10.19.11

(Sree Sukar said: Hearing these prayers from His devotees, the Supreme Lord Krishna told them, "Just close your eyes and do not be afraid.")

tatheti mIlita aksheshu bhagavAn agnim ulbaNam
pItvA mukhena tAn kRucchrAt yogAdhISo vyamocayat 10.19.12

("All right," the boys replied, and immediately closed their eyes. Then the Supreme Lord, the master of all Yoga’s, opened His mouth and swallowed the terrible fire, saving His devotes yet again from danger. What a faith! Oh! kRushNa we will do the same and save us from the wild fire too.)

agre kurUNAm atha pANDavAnAm
duSSAsanenahRuta vastra keSa
kRushNA tadAkroSat ananya nAthA
govinda damodara mAdhaveti

gopInAm paramAnanda AsId govinda darSane
kshaNam yuga Satam iva yAsAm yena vinAbhavat 10.19.16

(It was now late in the afternoon, and Lord Krishna, accompanied by Balarama, turned the cows back toward home. Playing His flute, Krishna returned to the village in the company of His cowherd friends, who chanted His glories. The young gopis took the greatest pleasure in seeing Govinda come home, since for them even a moment without His association seemed like a hundred yugAs. That is prema. We use ‘out of sight and out of mind’ rule and lose the divinity.)

In family of of Bharata (son of King dushyanta), there was king by name rantideva. He was a very benelolant king.

viyat vittasya dadata: labdham labdham bubhukshata:
nishkincanasya dhIrasya sakuDumbasya sIdata: 9.21.3

(Rantideva was getting wealth from the sky - means he did not make any special efforts to generate wealth and was happy with whatever comes to him. He will spend whatever he gets on charity. This way he lost everything. He became very poor and had not eaten for days. He was very strong in his heart and decided to endure the situation with his family.)

vyatIyu: ashTa catvArimSat ahAni apibata: kila
ghRuta pAyasa samyAvam toyam prAta: upasthitam 9.21.4

(48 days went by like that without even having a sip of water. Then next morning he found ghee, pAyasam and water near him. They were desperately waiting for some food and were shivering in hunger. When they were ready to eat, they saw a guest approaching them.)

tasmai samvyabhajat sa: annam AdRutya Sraddhaya anvita:
harim sarvatra sampaSyan sa bhuktwA prayayou dwija: 9.21.6

(Rantideva sees Sri Hari everywhere and so he welcomed the guest with the same attitude and divided his food into half and entertained the guest. The guest was very pleased and left. The king and family were ready to eat the rest of the food, in the thought of Hari. There appeared another guest. Rantideva, who saw Hari in him shared half of the food with him. He also left with a happy heart. Then came a guest with a lot of dogs. Rantideva welcomed Hari in the form guest and bowed to them and gave away the food. Now Rantideva and his family were ready to drink the left over food. There came another guest and asked for water.)

na kAmaye aham gatim IswarAt parA asThaRdhi yuktAm apunarbhavam vA
Arttim prapadya akhila deha bhAjAm anta: sthita: yena bhavanti adu:khA: 9.21.12

(Oh! Lord, I don;t ask for AnimAdi ashTa mahAsidhi or great position or even moksham from you. I want to dwell in every beings heart and experience their sadness and stress. If I can take their du:kham they will be free of that and this what I pray to you Lord! I want to offer my livelyhood to others and see them living. This way I will forget my suffering too. Also he was asking for union with the 'antaryAmi, brahman. Immediately the three guests reappeared as Brahma, vishNu and Siva - the products of vishNu mAya.)

Iswara Alambanam cittam kurvata: ananya rAdhasa:
mAyA guNamayI rAjan swapnavat pratyalIyata 9.21.17

(Rantideva fell like a rod infront of them, with absolute prema bhakti. He did not want anything else. Oh! King parIkshit, a person whose heart is only on the lord and who does not expect anything has won over the mAya and he is like a person who woke up after a dream. He realised that everything is mAyA and becomes self realized.)

All the Gopas went home and shared the story of slaying of Pralamba, saving from the wild fire etc. with gopIs, YoSodamma and rohiNi amma. The elders thought that Rama and kRushNa must be some great devas. Now let us see the season change in bRundAvan. We do not want to miss anything around kRushNa.

Tata: prAvartata prAvRuT sarva sattva samudbhavA
vidyotamAna paridhi: visphUrjita nabha: talA 10.20.3

(Finally the summer was over and then the rainy season began, giving life and sustenance to all living beings. The sky began to rumble with thunder, and lightning flashed on the horizon. The dark blue clouds radiated like brahmam.)

ashTau mAsAn nipItam yat bhUmyAS coda mayam vasu
sva gobhir moktum Arebhe parjanya: kAla agate 10.20.5

(With its rays, the sun had for eight months drunk up the earth's wealth in the form of water. Now that the proper time has arrived, the sun began releasing this accumulated wealth. The gopAs never failed in any of their duties and the Devas never failed in blessing them either. Plus, with the deva deva, lakshmI pati in their midst, they had everything in plenty.)

taDidvanto mahA meghA: canDa Svasana vepitA:
prINanam jIvanam hi aasya mumucu: karuNA iva 10.20.6

(Flashing with lightning, great clouds were shaken and swept about by fierce winds. Just like saints, the clouds gave their lives for the pleasure of this world. We just enjoyed rantideva, who is a wonder example.

SrutvA parjanya ninadam manDUkA: vyasRujan gira:
tUshNIm SayAnA: prAg yadvaT brAhmaNA niyamAtyaye 10.20.9

(The frogs, who had all along been lying silent, suddenly began croaking when they heard the rumbling of the rain clouds.

haritA haribhi: Sashpai: indragopai: ca lohitA
ucchilIndhra kRuta cchAyA nRuNAm SrI: iva bhU: abhUt 10.20.11

(The newly grown grass made the earth emerald green, the indragopa insects added a reddish hue, and white mushrooms added further color and circles of shade. Thus the earth appeared like a person who has suddenly become rich.)

kshetrANi sasya sampadbhi: karShakANAm mudam dadu:
ManinAm utApam vai daivAdhInam ajAnatAm 10.20.12

(With their wealth of grains, the fields gave joy to hardworking and god fearing farmers. But those fields created remorse in the hearts of those who were too proud to engage in farming and were envious of those farmers who put in the effort during the hot summer. Such people failed to understand how everything is under the control of the Supreme.)

girayo varSha dhArAbhi: hanyamAnA na vivyathu:
abhibhUyamAnA vyasanair yatha adhokShaja cetasa: 10.20.15

Just as the mountains in the rainy season are not at all disturbed by the repeated striking of the ferocious rains; devotees whose minds are absorbed all the time in God remain peaceful even when attacked by all sorts of dangers.

megha Agama utsavA hRuShTA: pratyanandan Shikhandina:
gRuheShu tapta nirviNNA yathAcyuta janAgame 10.20.20

The peacocks who were eagerly awaiting the rains became festive and started to dance and cry out a joyfully when they saw the clouds arrive, just as people distressed in household life feel pleasure when the pure devotees of the Lord visit them.

jalaughai: nirabhidyanta setavo varShatISvare
pAkhandinAm asad vAdai: veda mArgA: kalau yathA 10.20.23

When Indra sent forth his rains, the floodwaters broke through the irrigation tanks in the fields

vyamuncan vAyubhi: nunnA bhUtebhyo athamRutam ghanA:
yathASiSho viS pataya: kAle kAle dvijeritA: 10.20.24

The clouds, pushed by the winds, released their life giving water for the benefit of all living beings, just as kings, dispense charity to the citizens.

evam vanam tad varShiShTham pakva kharjura jambumat
go gopAlair vRuto rantum sa bala: prAviSad hari: 10.20.25

When the Vrindavana forest had thus become resplendent, filled with ripe dates and jambu fruits, Lord Krishna, surrounded by His cows and cowherd boyfriends and accompanied by his elder brother Balarama, entered that forest to enjoy this beautiful forest.

dhenavo manda gAminya Udho bhAreNa bhUyasA
yayur bhagavatAhUtA drutam prItyA snuta stanA: 10.20.26

The cows had to move slowly because of their weighty milk bags, but they quickly ran to the Krishna as soon as He called them, their affection for Him over coming all physical discomfort and causing their udders to become wet.

Its now the end of rainy season. The Autumn season is just beginning. Its very beautiful and Sri Krishna has already cleared a lot of impurities from the Vrindavan area. Sree Sukar here gives a beatiful desciption of Vridavan. Makes us want us want to be there!

evam nivasatos tasmin rAma keSavayor vraje
Sarat samabhavad vyabhrA svacchAmbu aparuShAnilA 10.20.32

While Balarama and Lord Keshava were thus dwelling in Vrindavana, the fall season arrived during which the sky is cloudless, the water is clear and the wind is gentle.

SaradA nIrajotpattyA nIrANi prakRutim yayu:
bhraShTAnAm iva cetAmsi punar yoga niShevayA 10.20.33

The autumn season, which is marked by the appearance of the beautiful lotus flowers, also restored the purity of the various water bodies, just as the process of bhakti purifies the minds of the fallen yogis when they return to it.

sarva svam jaladA hitvA vireju: Subhra varcasa:
yathA tyaktaiShaNA: SAntA munayo mukta kilbiShA: 10.20.35

The clouds, having given up all that they possessed (in the form of water), shone forth in their white luster, just like peaceful sages who have given up all material desires and are thus become totally pure at heart and free from all negative tendencies.

gAdha vAri carAs tApam avindan Sharad arka jam
yathA daridra: kRupaNa: kuTumbi avijitendriya: 10.20.38

Just as a miserly house holder overly absorbed in family life suffers because he cannot control his senses, the fish swimming in the shallow water had to suffer the heat of the autumn sun. Interestingly Sree Sukar also refers to such a person as daridra (poor). Here he means poor in sense of knowledge and wisdom.

Sanai: Sanai: jahu: pankam sthalAnyAmam ca vIrudha:
yathAham mamatAm dhIrA: SarIrAdishu anAtmasu 10.20.39

Gradually the different areas of land which were muddy due to the rains started to clear up and the plants started to grow into a more mature state, just as wise sages that give up egotism and stop identifying themselves with their physical body.

niScalAmbur abhUt tUAhNIm samudra: Sarada Agame
Atmani uparate samyan muni: vyuparatAgama: 10.20.40

With the arrival of autumn, the ocean and the lakes became silent, their water still, just like the calm mind of a sage who has lost all desires and attractions towards the material world and has even given up even his recitation of Vedic mantras.

We are about to start the beautiful Venu Gitam. Its now the fall season and the wether is perfect. Gopi's have a wonderful vision of Lord Krishna and they start singing glories of Him. Sree Sukar's description of this incident is so powerful that it takes us all there and makes us wish to be one of those Gopi's for a moment of our lives.

ASliShya sama SItoShNam prasUna vana mArutam
janAs tApam jahur gopyo na kRuShNa hRuta cetasa: 10.20.45

People enjoyed the pleasant wind coming out through the flower filled forest and quickly forgot their stress caused due the heat. However to the gopi’s it made no difference; since their hearts had already been stolen by Krishna. They were beyond such material attractions and constantly thought only about Krishna.

udahRuShyan vArijAni sUryotthAne kumut vinA
rAjnA tu nirbhayA lokA yathA dasyUn vinA nRupa 10.20.47

O King Parikchit, when the autumn sun rose, all the lotus flowers blossomed happily, except the night-blooming kumut, just as in the presence of a strong ruler everyone becomes fearless, except the thieves.

SrI Sukar uvAca
ittham Sarat svaccha jalam padmAkara sugandhinA
nyaviSat vAyunA vAtam sa go gopAlako acyuta: 10.21.1

Sree Sukar said: Thus the Vrindavana forest was filled with crystal clear autumnal waters and cooled by breezes perfumed with the fragrance of lotus flowers growing in the clear lakes. Thus the Lord Krishna, accompanied by His cows and cowherd boyfriends, entered that Vrindavana forest.

tat vraja striya ASrutya venu gItam smarodayam
kAScit parokSham kRuShNasya sva sakhIbhyo anvavarNayan 10.21.3

The young ladies in the village of Vraja heard the entrancing song coming out from Krishna's flute, which rekindled love in their heart. Their love for Krishna oozed out of them in the form of a beautiful song which described the glories of Krishna.


barhApIdam naTa vara vapu: karNayo: karNikAram bibhrad vAsa: kanaka kapiSam vaijayantIm ca mAlAm
randhrAn venor adhara sudhayA pUrayan gopa vRundair vRundAraNyam sva pada ramaNam prAviSat gIta kIrti: 10.21.5

The gopis began to sing about Krishna, but when they remembered His activities, they were so much over come with love for Krishna that they could not speak. They had a wonderful vision of Krishna as he was entering the forest: They could see Krishna wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karnikara flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayanti garland. Lord Krishna exhibited His form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vrindavana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories.


iti veNu ravam rAjan sarva bhUta manoharam
SrutvA vraja striya: sarvA varNayantyo abhirebhire 10.21.6

O King, when the young ladies in Vraja heard the enchanting sound of Krishna's flute, which captivates the minds of all living beings, they all embraced one another and joyfully began describing it.

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.

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.)

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,

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.

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.

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.)

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.)

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!!

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.)

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.

Well, HE is antaryAmi and whenever the pride (which is aasuric guNa) lifts its head, HE plans to conquer it. Anyone who is tuned to divinity will feel the same. praSamAya prasAdAya to put an end to but to bless!

bhagavAn api tatraiva baladevena samyuta:
apaSyan nivasan gopAn indra yAga kRutodyamAn 10.24.1

(One day Lord Krishna who was with his elder brother Baladeva happened to see the cowherd men busily arranging for a sacrifice to Indra. They were carrying loads and loads of pUja materials and prasAdams. Very innocent, HE wanted to know the reason.)

kathyatAm me pita: ko ayam sambhramo va upAgata:
kim phalam kasya coddeSa: kena vA sAdhyate makha: 10.24.3

(Being the omniscient God, the Lord Krishna already understood the situation, yet He still humbly inquired to His father, Nanda Gopa as follows:
“My dear father, please explain to Me what is going on here; I see a flurry of activity. What is it meant to accomplish? For whose satisfaction is this yaga intended?”)

jnatvA ajnAtvA ca karmANi jano ayam anutishThati
vidusha: karma siddhi: syAt tathA nAvidusho bhavet 10.24.6

(Please tell Me about it, O father. I have a great desire to know and am ready to listen to you. Certainly, no secrets are to be kept by saints, who see all others as equal to themselves, who have no concept of "mine” or "another's" and who do not differentiate between a friend, an enemy and someone who is neutral. When people in this world perform activities, sometimes they understand what they are doing and sometimes they don't. Those who know what they are doing achieve success in their work, whereas ignorant people do not.)

parjanyo bhagavAn indro meghA: tasyAtma mUrtaya:
te abhivarshanti bhUtAnAm prINanam jIvanam paya: 10.24.8

(Nanda Gopa replied: The great Lord Indra is the controller of the rain. It is the clouds that provide rainwater, which gives happiness and sustenance to all living creatures.)

tat SesheNa upajIvanti tri varga phala hetave
pumsAm purusha kArANAm parjanya: phala bhAvana: 10.24.10

(We offer him (Indra) grain and other substances produced due to the rains that have been released by him. It is because of Indra that, people sustain their lives and accomplish the threefold aims of religious merit, economic development and worldly procession. In this way it is Indra who yields the fruits (in the shape of a bumper crop) of men’s efforts.)
Let us wait to hear ‘modern views’ from kRushNa.

Oh! kRushna. If you are looking for pride in Indra, where are we? That Is why you keep great souls around to gently remind us our fault to correct ourselves.

Use the theory that works! "I am THE LORD. LISTEN" Would work. But, then what will happen to the bala lIla that HE plans? So, he wants to be very subtle! So, don't buy this theory now. It is only for HIM - like the 'stealing yogam'. Anyone else, will turn around 180 degrees sometime in this life or in future.

karmaNA jAyate jantu: karmaNaiva vilIyate
sukham duhkham bhayam kshemam karmaNaiva abhipadyate 10.24.13

(Lord Krishna said: It is by the force of karma alone that a living entity takes birth, and it is by karma alone that he meets his destruction. His happiness, distress, fear and sense of security all arise as the effects of karma.)

asti ced ISvara: kaScit phala rUpi anya karmaNAm
kartAram bhajate so api na hi akartu: prabhur hi sa: 10.24.14

(Even if there is some supreme ruler who awards all results of their activities, He must also depend upon a performer's engaging in activity. After all if there is a person who does no activity at all then even this supreme ruler has no control over him.)

kim indreNeha bhUtAnAm sva sva karmAnuvartinAm
anISenAnyathA kartum svabhAva vihitam nRuNAm 10.24.15

(Living beings in this world are forced to experience the consequences of their own past actions. All individuals born perform actions guided by their svabhava with which they are born. However Indra has no power to change the svabhava (behavioral tendencies) of beings; so why do you worship him?)

svabhAva tantro hi jana: svabhAvam anuvartate
svabhAvastham idam sarvam sa deva asura mAnuSham 10.24.16

(Every individual is under the control of his own svabhava, and thus he must follow that nature with which he is born. This entire universe, with all its gods, demons and human beings, is based on the svabhava of the living entities.)

tasmAt sampUjayet karma svabhavastha: sva karma kRut
anjasA yena varteta tat evAsya hi daivatam 10.24.18

(A person should remain in the position corresponding to his nature and should perform his own duty to the best of his abilities. Indeed one should worship work itself.)

sattvam raja: tama iti sthiti utpatti anta hetava:
rajasa utpadyate viSvam anyonyam vividham jagat 10.24.22

(The three gunas Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (ignorance) are the causes of creation, maintenance and destruction of this universe. In particular, the mode of Rajas (passion) populated this universe through the union of a male and female causing it to become full of variety.)

These are words the LORD is using only to put an end to indra's pride.

Beware! One can follow Rama blindly. When it comes to kRushNa, read in between lines and follow only what is right for you (the rest are only for kRushNa!). Live like Rama and do constant dhyAnam of kRushNa lIla. Perfect yoga.

rajasA coditA meghA varshanti ambUni sarvata:
prajA: tair eva sidhyanti mahendra: kim karishyati 10.24.23

(It is because of the rajo guna of the parkriti that the clouds pour down their rain everywhere. It is by this rain that all creatures gain their sustenance. But what has the great Indra to do with any of this? Law of nature!)

na na: puro janapadA na grAmA na gRuhA vayam
vanaukasas tAta vana Saila nivAsina: 10.24.24

(My dear father, our home is not in the cities or towns or villages. Being forest dwellers, we always live in the forest and on the hills. We are surrounded by great nature, govardhan mountain.... and leaving all these you want to worship Devendra whom we can't even see?)

tasmAd gavAm brAhmaNAnAm adre: ca ArabhyatAm makha:
ya indra yAga sambhArA: tair ayam sAdhyatAm makha: 10.24.25

(Therefore let us conduct a yaga for the cows, and Govardhana Hill! With the same paraphernalia collected for worshiping Indra, let this sacrifice be performed instead.)

pacyantAm vividhA: pAkA: sUpAntA: pAyasAdaya:
samyAvA ApUpa Sashkulya: sarva doha: ca gRuhyatAm 10.24.26

(Let many different kinds of food be cooked, from rice boiled with milk and sugar (pAyasam!) down to boiled pulses including samyavA (kind of porridge made of wheat flour with milk; ghee etc)! And all the available milk should be taken for this sacrifice. No dilution at this stage! Indra will take care of it after govardhan consumes it!)

anyebhya: ca ASva cAndAla patitebhyo yathA arhata:
yavasam ca gavAm dattvA giraye dIyatAm bali: 10.24.28

(You must give appropriate food to everyone else, including dogs, and other suffering souls. You should also give grass to the cows and then present your respectful offerings to Govardhana Mountain.)

etan mama matam tAta kriyatAm yadi rocate
ayam go brAhmaNa adrINAm mahyam ca dayito makha: 10.24.30

(This is My suggestion, O father, and you may carry it out if it appeals to you. Such a sacrifice will be very dear to the cows,and Govardhana Hill, and also to ME. PLEASE READ THIS "ME" AS "SUPREME". Once that Supreme is satisfied, the whole universe is satisfied. Whether Indra likes it or not he has to pour. It is his duty. WHEN THE BOSS SAYS WHO CAN QUESTION? WELL QUESTIONA AND FACE CONSEQUENCES.)

upahRutya balIn samyan AdRutA yavasam gavAm
go dhanAni puraskRutya girim cakru: pradakshiNam 3.24.33

(The villagers then did all that Madhusudana had suggested. They arranged for the brahmanas to recite the auspicious Vedic mantras, and using the paraphernalia that had been intended for Indra's yagna, they presented offerings to Govardhana Hill .They also gave grass to the cows. Then, placing the cows, bulls and calves in front of them, they circumambulated Govardhana.)

anAmsi anadud yuktAni te cAruhya sva alankRutA:
gopya: ca kRushNa vIryANi gAyantya: sa dvijASisha: 3.24.34

(As the beautifully ornamented gopi’s followed along, riding on wagons drawn by oxen, they sang the glories of Lord Krishna, and their songs mingled with the brahmana’s chanting of Vedic mantra’s.)

kRushNa: tu anyatamam rUpam gopa viSrambhaNam gata:
Sailo asmIti bruvan bhUri balim Adad bRuhad vapu: 3.24.35

(Krishna then assumed a (separate form from Himself so that there were now two copies of Krishna) huge form to instill faith in the cowherd men. Declaring "I am Govardhana Mountain!" He ate the offerings that were offered to the Govardhana.)

tasmai namo vraja janai: saha cakra AtmanAtmane
aho paSyata Sailo asau rUpI no anugraham vyadhAt 3.24.36

(Together with the people of Vraja, the Lord bowed down to this form of Govardhana Hill, thus in effect offering prayers to Himself. Then He said, "Look how this mountain has appeared in person and bestowed mercy upon us!”)

esho avajAnato martyAn kAma rUpI vanaukasa:
hanti hi asmai namasyAma: SarmaNe Atmano gavAm 3.24.37

("This Govardhana Hill, can assume any form he wishes and will kill any residents of the forest who disrespect him. Therefore let us offer our prayers to him for the safety of ourselves and our cows.")

iti adri go dvija makham vAsudeva praNoditA:
yathA vidhAya te gopA: saha kRushNA vrajam yayu: 3.24.38

(Thus the villagers were inspired by Vasudeva to perform the worship Of Govardhana Mountain Instead Of Indra and they carried out Krishna’s wishes to the best of their abilities. After worshipping the great mountain the villagers; cows and the brahmana’s returned back to the village.)

indras tadA Atmana: pUjAm vijnAya vihatAm nRupa
gopebhya: kRushNa nAthebhyo nandAdibhyaS cukopa ha 10.25.1

(Sree Sukar said: My dear King Parikshit, when Indra understood that his sacrifice had been put aside, he became furious with Nanda Gopa and his men, who had accepted Krishna as their protector. )

gaNam sAmvartakam nAma meghAnAm cAnta kArINAm
indra: pracodayat kruddho vAkyam cAheSa mAni uta 10.25.2

(Angry Indra sent forth the destructive clouds known as Samvartaka (These clouds are usually released only during the dissolution of the universe). Imagining himself the supreme ruler, he spoke as follows.

aho SrI mada mAhAtmyam gopAnAm kAnanaukasAm
kRushNam martyam upASritya ye cakrur deva helanam 10.25.3

([Indra said:] Just see how these cowherd men living in the forest have become so greatly intoxicated by their prosperity! They have surrendered to an ordinary human being, Krishna, and thus they have offended me!? When 'pride' and 'power' gets heavier, 'poise' vanish!)

yathA adRuDhai: karma mayai: kratubhi: nAma nau nibhai:
vidyAm AnvIkshikIm hitvA titIrShanti bhavArNavam 10.25.4

(Their taking shelter in Krishna is just like the foolish attempt of men who abandon true knowledge of the self and instead try to cross over the great ocean of material existence in the false boats of ritual sacrifices.)

vAcAlam bAliSam stabdham ajnam pandita mAninam
kRushNam martyam upASritya gopA me cakrur apriyam 10.25.5

(These cowherd men have acted inimically toward me by taking shelter of this ordinary human being, Krishna, who thinks Himself very wise but who is actually a foolish, arrogant, over talkative child. These words from Devendra?? This hiding pride that our kRushNa wants to crush.)

aham ca airAvatam nAgam AruhyAnuvraje vrajam
marud-ganair mahA vegair nanda goshTha jighAmsayA 10.25.7

([To the clouds of destruction King Indra said:] The prosperity of these people has made them mad with pride, and their arrogance is backed up by Krishna. Now go and remove their pride and bring their animals to destruction.
I will follow you to Vraja, riding on my elephant Airavata and taking with me the swift and powerful wind-gods to decimate the cowherd village of Nanda Gopa)

manushyatvam yAto madhubhit api deveshu avinayam
vidhatte cet nashTa tridaSa sadasAm ko api mahimA
tataSca dwamsishye paSupahatakasya Sriyam iti
pravRuttastvAm jetum sa kila maghavA durmada nidhi: N.62.8

(Devendra thundered, "Even if you are the destroyer of demon Madhu, once you have assumed the human form (Indra is still thinking about maryAtApurush rAmaavatAr, though that was in the previous Yuga!), you better respect the group of Devas. If not their their glory will go down! Oh! I will put an end to this! (Now blind with pride!) The richness has spoiled these cowherd and they are listening to this useless little cowherd boy! Let me take the punitive measure in the beginning itself! Oh! kRushNa, Guruvaayoorappa, where is Indra's prowess infront of your splendor? Who will put an end to whom? To what? HE WILL DECIDE)

vidyotamAnA vidyudbhi: stananta: stanayitnubhi:
tIvrai: marudgaNai: nunnA vavRuShur jala SarkarA: 10.25.9

(Propelled by the fearsome wind-gods, the clouds blazed with lightning bolts and roared with thunder as they hurled down hailstones and massive drops of rain. Whether the other Devas liked it or not, they had to follow the line of command!)

sthUNA sthUlA varsha dhArA muncatsu abhreshu abhIkshNaSa:
jalaughai: plAvyamAnA bhU: nAdRuSyata natonnatam 10.25.10

(As the clouds released torrents of rain as thick as massive columns, the earth was submerged in the flood, and high ground could no longer be distinguished from low.)

ati AsArAti vAtena paSavo jAta vepanA:
gopA gopyaS ca SItArttA govindam SaraNam yayu: 10.25.11

(The cows and other animals were shivering from the excessive rain and wind. Gopa’s and the Gopi’s who were also troubled by this cold and rain all approached Lord Govinda their protector for shelter.)

Sira: sutAn ca kAyena pracchAdyAsAra pIditA:
vepamAnA bhagavata: pAda mUlam upAyayu: 10.25.12

(Trembling from the distress brought about by the severe rainfall, and trying to cover their calves with their own bodies, the cows approached the lotus feet of the Krishna. I wish most of TN did that instead of taking refuge in the wicked media.)

kRushNa kRushNa mahA bhAga tvan nAtham gokulam prabho
trAtum arhasi devAn na: kupitAd bhakta vatsala 10.25.13

([The Gopa’s and the Gopi’s women addressed the Lord:] Krishna, Krishna, O most fortunate (mahA bhAga) one, please deliver the cows from the wrath of Indra! O Lord, You are so affectionate to Your devotees. Please save us also. LET US HAVE THE FAITH THAT HE WILL SAVE WHO SURRENDERS TO HIM.)

tatra pratividhim samyag Atma yogena sAdhaye
lokeSa mAninAm maudhyAd dhanishye SrI madam tama: 10.25.16

(kRushNa bhagavAn started HIS promise. LET US HEAR IT VERY CAREFULLY. By My divine power I will completely counteract this disturbance caused by Indra. God’s like Indra are proud of their power, and out of their false ego they falsely consider themselves the Lord of the universe. I will now destroy such ignorance and arrogance.)

In an island in kshIrAbdhi, there is beautiful mountain called trikUDa. This mountain and its valley highly are blessed by mother nature. There lived a King of elephants who protected all the gentle animals while terrified all the cruels. On a hot summer, Gajendra was sporting in the forest with his wives. They got tormeneted by the heat. They walked as much as they could and fortunately came to a lake filled with lotus. With absolutely no respect for mother nature, they drank and spurted water all over. In that rejoicing, he did not see the danger awaiting for him.

tam tatra kaScit nRupa daivacodita: grAho balIyAn caraNe rushA agrahIt
yadRucchaya evam vyasanam gata: gaja: yathAbalam sa: atibalo vicakrame 8.2.27

(Oh! King, there is something called the daiva Sakti. Prompted by that, a strong crocordile grabbed gajendra's foot. The stronger elephant tried his best to escape from this unexpected strong grip. We are all stuck in this horrible grip of kaalam as well as............)

Other female elephants cried. Male elephants tried their best to pull. But, the grip was so strong that everybody felt helpless. So, are we. But, we are all looking for help from above while praying for the success of others who are trying hard. thousand years passed by. Both Gajendra and the crocodile are alive, still the tug of war continued. Devas and animals wondered. Gajendra wondered what is hodling him from death even! Suddenly his previous life's sadhana prompted him to surrender to the supreme. Oh! GajendravaradA, this incidence happened in Devalokam so 1000 years is nothing. We are in marttya lokam. So, please force your garuDaf ly faster.

Let us all surrender to that supreme power

om namo bhagavate tasmai yata etat cidAtmakam
purushAya Adi bIjAya pareSAya abhidhImahi 8.3.2

(I medidate upon and offer namaskArams to that bhagavAn who is the life of everything, who is the dweller inside all, who is the prakRuti, who is the supreme.)

yasmin idam yata: ca idam yena idam ya idam swayam
ya: asmAt parasmAt ca ca para: tam prapadye swayambhuvam 8.3.3

(This universe is HIM. It came from HIM. It came becasue of HIM. HE is above everything. surrender to that LORD who is swayambhu (who is born from self). IF ONE HAS THAT ABSOLUTE FAITH WILL THEY EVER DARE TO LIE? SEE HOW SPIRITUALLY ADVANCED THIS GAJENDRA IS.)

ya: swAtmani idam nijamAyayA arppitam kvacit vibhAtam kwa ca tat tirohitam
aviddha dRuk sAkshi ubhayam tat Ikshate sa AtmamUlo avatu mAm parAtpara: 8.3.4

(Using his own Maya and thought HE brings out the universe from within during creation and consumes it during dissolution. He is self luminant and illuminates the universe. with his impeccable sight he observes both prakRuti and Universe as a wirness. May that supreme who is the soul of everything and who is above everything, protect me/us.)

na hi sat bhAva yuktAnAm surANAm ISa vismaya:
matto asatAm mAna bhanga: praSamAyopakalpate 10.25.17

(Gods (such as Indra etc) are supposed to be full of positive qualities. Negative qualities such as arrogance and pride (Indra considers himself to be the ruler of this universe) is certainly not appropriate for them.. When I seek to destroy this false pride of those bereft of goodness, My only purpose is to correct them and make them learn from their mistakes. )

tasmAn mat SaraNam goshTham mannAtham matparigraham
gopAye svAtma yogena so ayam me vrata Ahita: 10.25.18

(I must therefore protect the gopa’s and the gopi’s by My power, for I am their shelter, I am their master, and indeed they are My own family. After all, I have taken a vow to protect My devotees. (Krishna always delivers his promises; so He has to protect those who surrender to Him.) Lord Rama also says the same thing during vibhIshaNa SaraNAgati)

ity uktvaikena hastena kRutvA govardhanAcalam
dadhAra lIlayA kRushNaS chatrAkam iva bAlaka: 10.25.19

(Having said this, Lord Krishna, who is Lord Vishnu Himself, picked up Govardhana mountain with one hand and held it aloft, as an umbrella, just as easily as a child holds up a mushroom. What an easy job for the creator who lifted the whole earth in His canine teeth as the VarAham!)

na trAsa iha va: kAryo mad hastAdri nipAtatne
vAta varsha bhayenAlam tat trANam vihitam hi va: 10.25.21

(You should have no fear that this mountain will fall from My hand. And don't be afraid of this fearsome wind and thunderous rain, for your deliverance from these sufferings has already been arranged.
Their minds thus pacified by Lord Krishna, they all entered beneath the hill, where they found ample room for themselves and all their cows, wagons, servants and priests.)

kshut tRud vyathAm sukhApekshAm hitvA tair vraja vAsibhi:
vIkshyamANo dadhAvadrim saptAham nAcalat padAt 10.25.23

(When Lord Krishna is there who will remeber hunger and thirst and personal comforts? He stood there holding up the hill for seven days as the people of Vraja gazed upon Him lovingly.)

govardhana giridhara lAl kI jai!

When Indra observed this exhibition of Lord Krishna's power, he became most astonished. He realized that this is no ordinary boy and realizing his mistake he ordered the clouds to stop pouring down on land of Vraja.

kham vyabhram uditAdityam vAta varsham ca dAruNam
niSamyoparatam gopAn govardhana dharo abravIt 10.25.25

Seeing that the fierce wind and rain had now ceased and that the sky had become clear of dark rain clouds and the bright sun had risen, Lord Krishna, the lifter of Govardhana mountain, spoke to the cowherd community as follows.)

Oh! kRushNa, please have mercy on us, we offer ourselves to you.

niryAta tyajata trAsam gopA: sa strI dhanArbhakA:
upAratam vAta varsham vyuda prAyAS ca nimnagA: 10.25.26

([Lord Krishna said:] My dear Gopa’s, please go out with your wives, children and possessions. There is no cause to fear since the wind and rain have stopped, and the rivers' high waters have subsided. Oh! kRushNa, when are you going to say this again? You prove this again and again and we still keep asking. Give us the unshakable devotion kRushNa.)

bhagavAn api tam Sailam sva sthAne pUrva vat prabhu:
paSyatAm sarva bhUtAnAm sthApayAmAsa lIlayA 10.25.28

(After collecting their cows and loading their belongings into their wagons, the cowherd men went out. The women, children and elderly persons gradually followed them.
While others looked on, Lord Krishna put down the hill in its original place, just as it had stood before.)

tam prema vegAn nirbhritA vrajaukaso yathA samIyu: parirambhaNAdibhi:
gopya: ca sa sneham apUjayan mudA dadhi akshatAdbhi: yuyuju: sadASisha: 10.25.29

(All the residents of Vrindavana were overwhelmed with ecstatic love, and they came forward and greeted Sree Krishna according to their individual relationships with Him - some embracing Him, others bowing down to Him, and so forth. The gopi’s presented water mixed with yogurt and akshata, and they showered it upon Him. They even thought that it is their blessing that gave HIM the strength. Didn't Valmiki say the same thing - "May my ramayaNam give strength to Rama"? The sambandh that a bhakt holds with the LORd is so strong.

yaSodA rohiNI nando rAmaS ca balinAm vara:
kRushNam Alingya yuyuju: ASisha: sneha kAtarA: 10.25.30

(Mother Yashoda, mother Rohini, father Nanda Gopa and Balarama, the bravest among all, embraced Krishna. They were overcome with love for Krishna and offered Him their blessings.)

tato anuraktai: paSupai: pariSrito rAjan sa goShTham sa balo svrajad hari:
tathA vidhAni asya kRutAni gopikA gAyantya Iyu: muditA hRudi spRuSa: 10.25.33

(In the heavens, all the gods, including the Siddhas, Gandharvas and Caranas, sang the praises of Lord Krishna and showered down flowers.
Surrounded by His loving cowherd friends and Lord Balarama, Krishna then went off to the forest to attend to His cows. The cowherd girls returned to their houses, singing joyfully about the lifting of Govardhana Hill and other glorious deeds performed by Lord Krishna. Their hearts were filled with intense joy and devotion towards Krishna.)