Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|Canto 10 Chapter 35

The Gopīs Sing of Kṛṣṇa as He Wanders in the Forest

VERSE 10.35.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

gopyaḥ kṛṣṇe vanaṁ yāte
tam anudruta-cetasaḥ
kṛṣṇa-līlāḥ pragāyantyo
ninyur duḥkhena vāsarān

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; gopyaḥ — the gopīs; kṛṣṇe — Lord Kṛṣṇa; vanam — to the forest; yāte — having gone; tam — after Him; anudruta — chasing; cetasaḥ — whose minds; kṛṣṇa-līlāḥ — the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa; pragāyantyaḥ — singing loudly; ninyuḥ — they passed; duḥkhena — unhappily; vāsarān — the days.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Whenever Kṛṣṇa went to the forest, the minds of the gopīs would run after Him, and thus the young girls sadly spent their days singing of His pastimes.

VERSE 10.35.2-3

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo
valgita-bhrur adharārpita-veṇum
komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ
gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ

vyoma-yāna-vanitāḥ saha siddhair
vismitās tad upadhārya sa-lajjāḥ
kāma-mārgaṇa-samarpita-cittāḥ
kaśmalaṁ yayur apasmṛta-nīvyaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-gopyaḥ ūcuḥ — the gopīs said; vāma — left; bāhu — on His arm; kṛta — putting; vāma — left; kapolaḥ — His cheek; valgita — moving; bhruḥ — His eyebrows; adhara — upon His lips; arpita — placed; veṇum — His flute; komala — tender; aṅgulibhiḥ — with His fingers; āśrita-mārgam — its holes stopped; gopyaḥ — O gopīs; īrayati — vibrates; yatra — where; mukundaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; vyoma — in the sky; yāna — traveling; vanitāḥ — the ladies; saha — together with; siddhaiḥ — the Siddha demigods; vismitāḥ — amazed; tat — to that; upadhārya — listening; sa — with; lajjāḥ — embarrassment; kāma — of lust; mārgaṇa — to the pursuit; samarpita — offered; cittāḥ — their minds; kaśmalam — distress; yayuḥ — they experienced; apasmṛta — forgetting; nīvyaḥ — the belts of their dresses.

TRANSLATION

The gopīs said: When Mukunda vibrates the flute He has placed to His lips, stopping its holes with His tender fingers, He rests His left cheek on His left arm and makes His eyebrows dance. At that time the demigoddesses traveling in the sky with their husbands, the Siddhas, become amazed. As those ladies listen, they are embarrassed to find their minds yielding to the pursuit of lusty desires, and in their distress they are unaware that the belts of their garments are loosening.

VERSE 10.35.4-5

hanta citram abalāḥ śṛṇutedaṁ
hāra-hāsa urasi sthira-vidyut
nanda-sūnur ayam ārta-janānāṁ
narma-do yarhi kūjita-veṇuḥ

vṛndaśo vraja-vṛṣā mṛga-gāvo
veṇu-vādya-hṛta-cetasa ārāt
danta-daṣṭa-kavalā dhṛta-karṇā
nidritā likhita-citram ivāsan

SYNONYMS

hanta — ah; citram — wonder; abalāḥ — O girls; śṛṇuta — hear; idam — this; hāra — (brilliant) like a necklace; hāsaḥ — whose smile; urasi — upon the chest; sthira — motionless; vidyut — lightning; nanda-sūnuḥ — son of Nanda Mahārāja; ayam — this; ārta — troubled; janānām — for persons; narma — of joy; daḥ — the giver; yarhi — when; kūjita — has vibrated; veṇuḥ — His flute; vrṇdaśaḥ — in groups; vraja — kept in the pasture; vṛṣāḥ — the bulls; mṛga — the deer; gāvaḥ — and the cows; veṇu — of the flute; vādya — by the playing; hṛta — stolen away; cetasaḥ — their minds; ārāt — at a distance; danta — by their teeth; daṣṭa — bit; kavalāḥ — whose mouthfuls; dhṛta — holding up; karṇāḥ — their ears; nidritāḥ — asleep; likhita — drawn; citram — an illustration; iva — as if; āsan — they were.

TRANSLATION

O girls! This son of Nanda, who gives joy to the distressed, bears steady lightning on His chest and has a smile like a jeweled necklace. Now please hear something wonderful. When He vibrates His flute, Vraja’s bulls, deer and cows, standing in groups at a great distance, are all captivated by the sound, and they stop chewing the food in their mouths and cock their ears. Stunned, they appear as if asleep, or like figures in a painting.

VERSE 10.35.6-7

barhiṇa-stabaka-dhātu-palāśair
baddha-malla-paribarha-viḍambaḥ
karhicit sa-bala āli sa gopair
gāḥ samāhvayati yatra mukundaḥ

tarhi bhagna-gatayaḥ sarito vai
tat-padāmbuja-rajo ’nila-nītam
spṛhayatīr vayam ivābahu-puṇyāḥ
prema-vepita-bhujāḥ stimitāpaḥ

SYNONYMS

barhiṇa — of peacocks; stabaka — with the tail feathers; dhātu — with colored minerals; palāśaiḥ — and with leaves; baddha — arranged; malla — of a wrestler; paribarha — the apparel; viḍambaḥ — imitating; karhicit — sometimes; sa-balaḥ — with Balarāma; āli — my dear gopī; saḥ — He; gopaiḥ — with the cowherd boys; gāḥ — the cows; samāhvayati — calls; yatra — when; mukundaḥ — Lord Mukunda; tarhi — then; bhagna — broken; gatayaḥ — their movement; saritaḥ — the rivers; vai — indeed; tat — His; pada-ambuja — of the lotus feet; rajaḥ — the dust; anila — by the wind; nītam — brought; spṛhayatīḥ — hankering for; vayam — ourselves; iva — just like; abahu — slight; puṇyāḥ — the piety to whose credit; prema — due to love of God; vepita — trembling; bhujāḥ — whose arms (waves); stimita — stopped; āpaḥ — whose water.

TRANSLATION

My dear gopī, sometimes Mukunda imitates the appearance of a wrestler by decorating Himself with leaves, peacock feathers and colored minerals. Then, in the company of Balarāma and the cowherd boys, He plays His flute to call the cows. At that time the rivers stop flowing, their water stunned by the ecstasy they feel as they eagerly wait for the wind to bring them the dust of His lotus feet. But like us, the rivers are not very pious, and thus they merely wait with their arms trembling out of love.

VERSE 10.35.8-11

anucaraiḥ samanuvarṇita-vīrya
ādi-pūruṣa ivācala-bhūtiḥ
vana-caro giri-taṭeṣu carantīr
veṇunāhvayati gāḥ sa yadā hi

vana-latās tarava ātmani viṣṇuṁ
vyañjayantya iva puṣpa-phalāḍhyāḥ
praṇata-bhāra-viṭapā madhu-dhārāḥ
prema-hṛṣṭa-tanavo vavṛṣuḥ sma

darśanīya-tilako vana-mālā-
divya-gandha-tulasī-madhu-mattaiḥ
ali-kulair alaghu gītām abhīṣṭam
ādriyan yarhi sandhita-veṇuḥ

sarasi sārasa-haṁsa-vihaṅgāś
cāru-gītā-hṛta-cetasa etya
harim upāsata te yata-cittā
hanta mīlita-dṛśo dhṛta-maunāḥ

SYNONYMS

anucaraiḥ — by His companions; samanuvarṇita — being elaborately described; vīryaḥ — whose prowess; ādi-pūruṣaḥ — the original Personality of Godhead; iva — as if; acala — unchanging; bhūtiḥ — whose opulences; vana — in the forest; caraḥ — moving about; giri — of the mountains; taṭesu — on the sides; carantīḥ — who are grazing; veṇunā — with His flute; āhvayati — calls; gāḥ — the cows; saḥ — He; yadā — when; hi — indeed; vana-latāḥ — the forest creepers; taravaḥ — and the trees; ātmani — within themselves; viṣṇum — the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu; vyañjayantyaḥ — revealing; iva — as if; puṣpa — with flowers; phala — and fruits; āḍhyāḥ — richly endowed; praṇata — bowed down; bhāra — because of the weight; viṭapāḥ — whose branches; madhu — of sweet sap; dhārāḥ — torrents; prema — out of ecstatic love; hṛṣṭa — hairs standing on end; tanavaḥ — on whose bodies (trunks); vavṛṣuḥ sma — they have rained down; darśanīya — of persons who are attractive to see; tilakaḥ — the most excellent; vana-mālā — upon His garland made of forest flowers; divya — divine; gandha — whose fragrance; tulasī — of the tulasī flowers; madhu — by the honeylike sweetness; mattaiḥ — intoxicated; ali — of bees; kulaiḥ — by the swarms; alaghu — strong; gītam — the singing; abhīṣṭam — desirable; ādriyan — thankfully acknowledging; yarhi — when; sandhita — placed; veṇuḥ — His flute; sarasi — in the lake; sārasa — the cranes; haṁsa — swans; vihaṅgāḥ — and other birds; cāru — charming; gīta — by the song (of His flute); hṛta — taken away; cetasaḥ — whose minds; etya — coming forward; harim — Lord Kṛṣṇa; upāsata — worship; te — they; yata — under control; cittāḥ — whose minds; hanta — ah; mīlita — closed; dṛśaḥ — their eyes; dhṛta — maintaining; maunāḥ — silence.

TRANSLATION

Kṛṣṇa moves about the forest in the company of His friends, who vividly chant the glories of His magnificent deeds. He thus appears just like the Supreme Personality of Godhead exhibiting His inexhaustible opulences. When the cows wander onto the mountainsides and Kṛṣṇa calls out to them with the sound of His flute, the trees and creepers in the forest respond by becoming so luxuriant with fruits and flowers that they seem to be manifesting Lord Viṣṇu within their hearts. As their branches bend low with the weight, the filaments on their trunks and vines stand erect out of the ecstasy of love of God, and both the trees and the creepers pour down a rain of sweet sap.

VERSE 10.35.12-13

saha-balaḥ srag-avataṁsa-vilāsaḥ
sānuṣu kṣiti-bhṛto vraja-devyaḥ
harṣayan yarhi veṇu-raveṇa
jāta-harṣa uparambhati viśvam

mahad-atikramaṇa-śaṅkita-cetā
manda-mandam anugarjati meghaḥ
suhṛdam abhyavarṣat sumanobhiś
chāyayā ca vidadhat pratapatram

SYNONYMS

saha-balaḥ — together with Balarāma; srak — a flower garland; avataṁsa — as the ornament on His head; vilāsaḥ — playfully wearing; sānuṣu — on the sides; kṣiti-bhṛtaḥ — of a mountain; vraja-devyaḥ — O goddesses of Vṛndāvana (gopīs); harṣayan — creating joy; yarhi — when; veṇu — of His flute; raveṇa — by the resounding vibration; jāta-harṣaḥ — becoming joyful; uparambhati — causes to relish; viśvam — the entire world; mahat — against a great personality; atikramaṇa — of a transgression; śaṅkita — fearful; cetāḥ — in his mind; manda-mandam — very gently; anugarjati — thunders in response; meghaḥ — the cloud; suhṛdam — upon his friend; abhyavarṣat — has rained down; sumanobhiḥ — with flowers; chāyayā — with his shade; ca — and; vidadhat — providing; pratapatram — an umbrella as protection from the sun.

TRANSLATION

O goddesses of Vraja, when Kṛṣṇa is enjoying Himself with Balarāma on the mountain slopes, playfully wearing a flower garland on the top of His head, He engladdens all with the resonant vibrations of His flute. Thus He delights the entire world. At that time the nearby cloud, afraid of offending a great personality, thunders very gently in accompaniment. The cloud showers flowers onto his dear friend Kṛṣṇa and shades Him from the sun like an umbrella.

VERSE 10.35.14-15

vividha-gopa-caraṇeṣu vidagdho
veṇu-vādya urudhā nija-śikṣāḥ
tava sutaḥ sati yadādhara-bimbe
datta-veṇur anayat svara-jātīḥ

savanaśas tad upadhārya sureśāḥ
śakra-śarva-parameṣṭhi-purogāḥ
kavaya ānata-kandhara-cittāḥ
kaśmalaṁ yayur aniścita-tattvāḥ

SYNONYMS

vividha — various; gopa — of cowherds; caraṇeṣu — in the activities; vidagdhaḥ — expert; veṇu — of the flute; vādye — in the matter of playing; urudhā — manifold; nija — of His own production; śikṣāḥ — whose teachings; tava — your; sutaḥ — son; sati — O pious lady (Yaśodā); yadā — when; adhara — upon His lips; bimbe — which are like red bimba fruits; datta — placing; veṇuḥ — His flute; anayat — He brought forth; svara — of musical sound; jātīḥ — the harmonic tones; savanaśaḥ — with a variety of low, high and middle pitches; tat — that; upadhārya — hearing; sura-īśāḥ — the principal demigods; śakra — Indra; śarva — Śiva; parameṣṭhi — and Brahmā; puraḥ-gāḥ — headed by; kavayaḥ — learned scholars; ānata — bowed; kandhara — their necks; cittāḥ — and minds; kaśmalam yayuḥ — they became bewildered; aniścita — unable to ascertain; tattvāḥ — its essence.

TRANSLATION

O pious mother Yaśodā, your son, who is expert in all the arts of herding cows, has invented many new styles of flute-playing. When He takes His flute to His bimba-red lips and sends forth the tones of the harmonic scale in variegated melodies, Brahmā, Śiva, Indra and other chief demigods become confused upon hearing the sound. Although they are the most learned authorities, they cannot ascertain the essence of that music, and thus they bow down their heads and hearts.

VERSE 10.35.16-17

nija-padābja-dalair dhvaja-vajra
nīrajāṅkuśa-vicitra-lalāmaiḥ
vraja-bhuvaḥ śamayan khura-todaṁ
varṣma-dhurya-gatir īḍita-veṇuḥ

vrajati tena vayaṁ sa-vilāsa
vīkṣaṇārpita-manobhava-vegāḥ
kuja-gatiṁ gamitā na vidāmaḥ
kaśmalena kavaraṁ vasanaṁ vā

SYNONYMS

nija — His own; pada-abja — of the lotus feet; dalaiḥ — like flower petals; dhvaja — of a flag; vajra — thunderbolt; nīraja — lotus; aṅkuśa — and elephant goad; vicitra — variegated; lalāmaiḥ — by the markings; vraja — of Vraja; bhuvaḥ — of the ground; śamayan — relieving; khura — from the hooves (of the cows); todam — the pain; varṣma — with His body; dhurya — like an elephant’s; gatiḥ — whose movement; īḍita — extolled; veṇuḥ — whose flute; vrajati — He walks; tena — by that; vayam — we; savilāsa — playful; vīkṣaṇa — with His glances; arpita — bestowed; manaḥ-bhava — of lust; vegāḥ — whose agitation; kuja — like that of trees; gatim — whose movement (ie, complete lack of movement); gamitāḥ — attaining; na vidāmaḥ — we do not recognize; kaśmaleṇa — because of our bewilderment; kavaram — the braids of our hair; vasanam — our dress; — or.

TRANSLATION

As Kṛṣṇa strolls through Vraja with His lotus-petal-like feet, marking the ground with the distinctive emblems of flag, thunderbolt, lotus and elephant goad, He relieves the distress the ground feels from the cows’ hooves. As He plays His renowned flute, His body moves with the grace of an elephant. Thus we gopīs, who become agitated by Cupid when Kṛṣṇa playfully glances at us, stand as still as trees, unaware that our hair and garments are slackening.

VERSE 10.35.18-19

maṇi-dharaḥ kvacid āgaṇayan gā
mālayā dayita-gandha-tulasyāḥ
praṇayino ’nucarasya kadāṁse
prakṣipan bhujam agāyata yatra

kvaṇita-veṇu-rava-vañcita-cittāḥ
kṛṣṇam anvasata kṛṣṇa-gṛhiṇyaḥ
guṇa-gaṇārṇam anugatya hariṇyo
gopikā iva vimukta-gṛhāśāḥ

SYNONYMS

maṇi — (a string of) gems; dharaḥ — holding; kvacit — somewhere; āgaṇayan — counting; gāḥ — the cows; mālayā — with a flower garland; dayita — of His beloved; gandha — having the fragrance; tulasyāḥ — the tulasī flowers upon which; praṇayinaḥ — loving; anucarasya — of a companion; kadā — at some time; aṁse — on the shoulder; prakṣipan — throwing; bhujam — His arm; agāyata — He sang; yatra — when; kvaṇita — vibrated; veṇu — of His flute; rava — by the sound; vañcita — stolen; cittāḥ — their hearts; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; anvasata — they sat down beside; kṛṣṇa — of the black deer; gṛhiṇyaḥ — the wives; guṇa-gaṇa — of all transcendental qualities; arṇam — the ocean; anugatya — approaching; hariṇyaḥ — the does; gopikāḥ — the gopīs; iva — just like; vimukta — having given up; gṛha — for home and family; āśāḥ — their hopes.

TRANSLATION

Now Kṛṣṇa is standing somewhere counting His cows on a string of gems. He wears a garland of tulasī flowers that bear the fragrance of His beloved, and He has thrown His arm over the shoulder of an affectionate cowherd boyfriend. As Kṛṣṇa plays His flute and sings, the music attracts the black deer’s wives, who approach that ocean of transcendental qualities and sit down beside Him. Just like us cowherd girls, they have given up all hope for happiness in family life.

VERSE 10.35.20-21

kunda-dāma-kṛta-kautuka-veṣo
gopa-godhana-vṛto yamunāyām
nanda-sūnur anaghe tava vatso
narma-daḥ praṇayiṇāṁ vijahāra

manda-vāyur upavāty anukūlaṁ
mānayan malayaja-sparśena
vandinas tam upadeva-gaṇā ye
vādya-gīta-balibhiḥ parivavruḥ

SYNONYMS

kunda — of jasmine flowers; dāma — with a garland; kṛta — made; kautuka — playful; veṣaḥ — His array; gopa — by the cowherd boys; godhana — and the cows; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; yamunāyām — along the Yamunā; nanda-sūnuḥ — the son of Nanda Mahārāja; anaghe — O sinless lady; tava — your; vatsaḥ — darling child; narma-daḥ — amusing; praṇayiṇām — His dear companions; vijahāra — He has played; manda — gentle; vāyuḥ — the wind; upavāti — blows; anukūlam — favorably; mānayan — showing honor; malaya-ja — of (the fragrance of) sandalwood; sparśena — the touch; vandinaḥ — those who offer praise; tam — Him; upadeva — of the minor demigods; gaṇāḥ — members of the various categories; ye — who; vādya — with instrumental music; gīta — singing; balibhiḥ — and presentation of gifts; parivavruḥ — they have encircled.

TRANSLATION

O sinless Yaśodā, your darling child, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, has festively enhanced His attire with a jasmine garland, and He is now playing along the Yamunā in the company of the cows and cowherd boys, amusing His dear companions. The gentle breeze honors Him with its soothing fragrance of sandalwood, while the various Upadevas, standing on all sides like panegyrists, offer their music, singing and gifts of tribute.

VERSE 10.35.22-23

vatsalo vraja-gavāṁ yad aga-dhro
vandyamāna-caraṇaḥ pathi vṛddhaiḥ
kṛtsna-go-dhanam upohya dinānte
gīta-veṇur anugeḍita-kīrtiḥ

utsavaṁ śrama-rucāpi dṛśīnām
unnayan khura-rajaś-churita-srak
ditsayaiti suhṛd-āsiṣa eṣa
devakī-jaṭhara-bhūr uḍu-rājaḥ

SYNONYMS

vatsalaḥ — affectionate; vraja-gavām — to the cows of Vraja; yat — because; aga — of the mountain; dhraḥ — the lifter; vandyamāna — being worshiped; caraṇaḥ — His feet; pathi — along the path; vṛddhaiḥ — by the exalted demigods; kṛtsna — entire; go-dhanam — the herd of cows; upohya — collecting; dina — of the day; ante — at the end; gītā-veṇuḥ — playing His flute; anuga — by His companions; īḍita — praised; kīrtiḥ — His glories; utsavam — a festival; śrama — of fatigue; rucā — by His coloring; api — even; dṛśīnām — for the eyes; unnayan — raising; khura — from the hooves (of the cows); rajaḥ — with the dust; churita — powdered; srak — His garland; ditsayā — with the desire; eti — He is coming; suhṛt — to His friends; āśiṣaḥ — their desires; eṣaḥ — this; devakī — of mother Yaśodā; jaṭhara — from the womb; bhūḥ — born; uḍu-rājaḥ — moon.

TRANSLATION

Out of great affection for the cows of Vraja, Kṛṣṇa became the lifter of Govardhana Hill. At the end of the day, having rounded up all His own cows, He plays a song on His flute, while exalted demigods standing along the path worship His lotus feet and the cowherd boys accompanying Him chant His glories. His garland is powdered by the dust raised by the cows’ hooves, and His beauty, enhanced by His fatigue, creates an ecstatic festival for everyone’s eyes. Eager to fulfill His friends’ desires, Kṛṣṇa is the moon arisen from the womb of mother Yaśodā.

VERSE 10.35.24-25

mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat
māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī
badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ
maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā

yadu-patir dvirada-rāja-vihāro
yāminī-patir ivaiṣa dinānte
mudita-vaktra upayāti durantaṁ
mocayan vraja-gavāṁ dina-tāpam

SYNONYMS

mada — by intoxication; vighūrṇita — rolling; locanaḥ — His eyes; īṣat — slightly; māna-daḥ — showing honor; sva-suhṛdām — to His well-wishing friends; vana-mālī — wearing a garland of forest flowers; badara — like a badara fruit; pāṇḍu — whitish; vadanaḥ — His face; mṛdu — soft; gaṇḍam — His cheeks; maṇḍayan — ornamenting; kanaka — golden; kuṇḍala — of His earrings; lakṣmyā — with the beauty; yadu-patiḥ — the Lord of the Yadu dynasty; dvirada-rāja — like a kingly elephant; vihāraḥ — His sporting; yāminī-patiḥ — the lord of the night (the moon); iva — like; eṣaḥ — He; dina-ante — at the end of the day; mudita — joyful; vaktraḥ — His face; upayāti — is coming; durantam — insurmountable; mocayan — driving away; vraja — of Vraja; gavām — of the cows, or of those who are to be shown mercy; dina — of the daytime; tāpam — the painful heat.

TRANSLATION

As Kṛṣṇa respectfully greets His well-wishing friends, His eyes roll slightly as if from intoxication. He wears a flower garland, and the beauty of His soft cheeks is accentuated by the brilliance of His golden earrings and the whiteness of His face, which has the color of a badara berry. With His cheerful face resembling the moon, lord of the night, the Lord of the Yadus moves with the grace of a regal elephant. Thus He returns in the evening, delivering the cows of Vraja from the heat of the day.

VERSE 10.35.26

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ vraja-striyo rājan
kṛṣṇa-līlānugāyatīḥ
remire ’haḥsu tac-cittās
tan-manaskā mahodayāḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; vraja-striyaḥ — the women of Vraja; rājan — O King; kṛṣṇa-līlā — about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa; anugāyatīḥ — continuously chanting; remire — they enjoyed; ahaḥsu — during the days; tat-cittāḥ — their hearts absorbed in Him; tat-manaskāḥ — their minds absorbed in Him; mahā — great; udayāḥ — experiencing a festivity.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, thus during the daytime the women of Vṛndāvana took pleasure in continuously singing about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, and those ladies’ minds and hearts, absorbed in Him, were filled with great festivity.