TEXTS 1-2
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
nandas tv atmaja utpanne
jatahlado maha-manah
ahuya vipran veda-jnan
snatah sucir alankrtah
vacayitva svastyayanam
jata-karmatmajasya vai
karayam asa vidhivat
pitr-devarcanam tatha
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and
when Lord Sri Krsna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation.
Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he
invited brahmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these
qualified brahmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic
birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and
regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers.
TEXT 3
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dhenunam niyute pradad
viprebhyah samalankrte
tiladrin sapta ratnaughasatakaumbhambaravrtan
Nanda Maharaja gave two million cows, completely decorated with cloth and
jewels, in charity to the brahmanas. He also gave them seven hills of grain,
covered with jewels and with cloth decorated with golden embroidery.
TEXT 4
TEXT
kalena snana-saucabhyam
samskarais tapasejyaya
sudhyanti danaih santustya
dravyany atmatma-vidyaya
O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are
purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean
things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by
austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the
brahmanas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is
purified; and by self-realization, or Krsna consciousness, the soul is purified.
TEXT 5
TEXT
saumangalya-giro viprah
suta-magadha-vandinah
gayakas ca jagur nedur
bheryo dundubhayo muhuh
The brahmanas recited auspicious Vedic hymns, which purified the environment
by their vibration. The experts in reciting old histories like the Puranas, the
experts in reciting the histories of royal families, and general reciters all
chanted, while singers sang and many kinds of musical instruments, like bheris
and dundubhis, played in accompaniment.
TEXT 6
TEXT
vrajah sammrsta-samsiktadvarajira-
grhantarah
citra-dhvaja-pataka-srakcaila-
pallava-toranaih
Vrajapura, the residence of Nanda Maharaja, was fully decorated with
varieties of festoons and flags, and in different places, gates were made with
varieties of flower garlands, pieces of cloth, and mango leaves. The courtyards,
the gates near the roads, and everything within the rooms of the houses were
perfectly swept and washed with water.
TEXT 7
TEXT
gavo vrsa vatsatara
haridra-taila-rusitah
vicitra-dhatu-barhasragvastra-
kancana-malinah
The cows, the bulls and the calves were thoroughly smeared with a mixture of
turmeric and oil, mixed with varieties of minerals. Their heads were bedecked
with peacock feathers, and they were garlanded and covered with cloth and golden
ornaments.
TEXT 8
TEXT
maharha-vastrabharanakancukosnisa-
bhusitah
gopah samayayu rajan
nanopayana-panayah
O King Pariksit, the cowherd men dressed very opulently with valuable
ornaments and garments such as coats and turbans. Decorated in this way and
carrying various presentations in their hands, they approached the house of
Nanda Maharaja.
TEXT 9
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gopyas cakarnya mudita
yasodayah sutodbhavam
atmanam bhusayam cakrur
vastrakalpanjanadibhih
The gopi wives of the cowherd men were very pleased to hear that mother
Yasoda had given birth to a son, and they began to decorate themselves very
nicely with proper dresses, ornaments, black ointment for the eyes, and so on.
TEXT 10
TEXT
nava-kunkuma-kinjalkamukha-
pankaja-bhutayah
balibhis tvaritam jagmuh
prthu-sronyas calat-kuc
Their lotuslike faces extraordinarily beautiful, being decorated with saffron
and newly grown kunkuma, the wives of the cowherd men hurried to the house of
mother Yasoda with presentations in their hands. Because of natural beauty, the
wives had full hips and full breasts, which moved as they hurried along.
TEXT 11
TEXT
gopyah sumrsta-mani-kundala-niska-kanthyas
citrambarah pathi sikha-cyuta-malya-varsah
nandalayam sa-valaya vrajatir virejur
vyalola-kundala-payodhara-hara-sobhah
In the ears of the gopis were brilliantly polished jeweled earrings, and from
their necks hung metal lockets. Their hands were decorated with bangles, their
dresses were of varied colors, and from their hair, flowers fell onto the street
like showers. Thus while going to the house of Maharaja Nanda, the gopis, their
earrings, breasts and garlands moving, were brilliantly beautiful.
TEXT 12
TEXT
ta asisah prayunjanas
ciram pahiti balake
haridra-curna-tailadbhih
sincantyo ‘janam ujjaguh
Offering blessings to the newborn child, Krsna, the wives and daughters of
the cowherd men said, “May You become the King of Vraja and long maintain all
its inhabitants.” They sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil and water
upon the birthless Supreme Lord and offered their prayers.
TEXT 13
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avadyanta vicitrani
vaditrani mahotsave
krsne visvesvare ‘nante
nandasya vrajam agate
Now that the all-pervading, unlimited Lord Krsna, the master of the cosmic
manifestation, had arrived within the estate of Maharaja Nanda, various types of
musical instruments resounded to celebrate the great festival.
TEXT 14
TEXT
gopah parasparam hrsta
dadhi-ksira-ghrtambubhih
asincanto vilimpanto
navanitais ca ciksipuh
In gladness, the cowherd men enjoyed the great festival by splashing one
another’s bodies with a mixture of curd, condensed milk, butter and water. They
threw butter on one another and smeared it on one another’s bodies.
TEXTS 15-16
TEXT
nando maha-manas tebhyo
vaso ‘lankara-go-dhanam
suta-magadha-vandibhyo
ye ‘nye vidyopajivinah
tais taih kamair adinatma
yathocitam apujayat
visnor aradhanarthaya
sva-putrasyodayaya ca
The great-minded Maharaja Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cows in charity
to the cowherd men in order to please Lord Visnu, and thus he improved the
condition of his own son in all respects. He distributed charity to the sutas,
the magadhas, the vandis, and men of all other professions, according to their
educational qualifications, and satisfied everyone’s desires.
TEXT 17
TEXT
rohini ca maha-bhaga
nanda-gopabhinandita
vyacarad divya-vasa-srakkanthabharana-
bhusita
The most fortunate Rohini, the mother of Baladeva, was honored by Nanda
Maharaja and Yasoda, and thus she also dressed gorgeously and decorated herself
with a necklace, a garland and other ornaments. She was busy wandering here and
there to receive the women who were guests at the festival.
TEXT 18
TEXT
tata arabhya nandasya
vrajah sarva-samrddhiman
harer nivasatma-gunai
ramakridam abhun nrpa
O Maharaja Pariksit, the home of Nanda Maharaja is eternally the abode of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore
always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from
Lord Krsna’s appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the
goddess of fortune.
TEXT 19
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gopan gokula-raksayam
nirupya mathuram gatah
nandah kamsasya varsikyam
karam datum kurudvaha
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, my dear King Pariksit, O best
protector of the Kuru dynasty, Nanda Maharaja appointed the local cowherd men to
protect Gokula and then went to Mathura to pay the yearly taxes to King Kamsa.
TEXT 20
TEXT
vasudeva upasrutya
bhrataram nandam agatam
jnatva datta-karam rajne
yayau tad-avamocanam
When Vasudeva heard that Nanda Maharaja, his very dear friend and brother,
had come to Mathura and already paid the taxes to Kamsa, he went to Nanda
Maharaja’s residence.
TEXT 21
TEXT
tam drstva sahasotthaya
dehah pranam ivagatam
pritah priyatamam dorbhyam
sasvaje prema-vihvalah
When Nanda Maharaja heard that Vasudeva had come, he was overwhelmed with
love and affection, being as pleased as if his body had regained its life.
Seeing Vasudeva suddenly present, he got up and embraced him with both arms
TEXT 22
TEXT
pujitah sukham asinah
prstvanamayam adrtah
prasakta-dhih svatmajayor
idam aha visampate
O Maharaja Pariksit, having thus been received and welcomed by Nanda Maharaja
with honor, Vasudeva sat down very peacefully and inquired about his own two
sons because of intense love for them.
TEXT 23
TEXT
distya bhratah pravayasa
idanim aprajasya te
prajasaya nivrttasya
praja yat samapadyata
My dear brother Nanda Maharaja, at an advanced age you had no son at all and
were hopeless of having one. Therefore, that you now have a son is a sign of
great fortune.
TEXT 24
TEXT
distya samsara-cakre ‘smin
vartamanah punar-bhavah
upalabdho bhavan adya
durlabham priya-darsanam
It is also by good fortune that I am seeing you. Having obtained this
opportunity, I feel as if I have taken birth again. Even though one is present
in this world, to meet with intimate friends and dear relatives in this material
world is extremely difficult.
TEXT 25
TEXT
naikatra priya-samvasah
suhrdam citra-karmanam
oghena vyuhyamananam
plavanam srotaso yatha
Many planks and sticks, unable to stay together, are carried away by the
force of a river’s waves. Similarly, although we are intimately related with
friends and family members, we are unable to stay together because of our varied
past deeds and the waves of time.
TEXT 26
TEXT
kaccit pasavyam nirujam
bhury-ambu-trna-virudham
brhad vanam tad adhuna
yatrasse tvam suhrd-vrtah
My dear friend Nanda Maharaja, in the place where you are living with your
friends, is the forest favorable for the animals, the cows? I hope there is no
disease or inconvenience. The place must be full of water, grass and other
plants.
TEXT 27
TEXT
bhratar mama sutah kaccin
matra saha bhavad-vraje
tatam bhavantam manvano
bhavadbhyam upalalitah
My son Baladeva, being raised by you and your wife, Yasodadevi, considers you
His father and mother. Is he living very peacefully in your home with His real
mother, Rohini?
TEXT 28
TEXT
pumsas tri-vargo vihitah
suhrdo hy anubhavitah
na tesu klisyamanesu
tri-vargo ‘rthaya kalpate
When one’s friends and relatives are properly situated, one’s religion,
economic development and sense gratification, as described in the Vedic
literatures, are beneficial. Otherwise, if one’s friends and relatives are in
distress, these three cannot offer any happiness.
TEXT 29
TEXT
sri-nanda uvaca
aho te devaki-putrah
kamsena bahavo hatah
ekavasistavaraja
kanya sapi divam gata
Nanda Maharaja said: Alas, King Kamsa killed so many of your children, born
of Devaki. And your one daughter, the youngest child of all, entered the
heavenly planets.
TEXT 30
TEXT
nunam hy adrsta-nistho ‘yam
adrsta-paramo janah
adrstam atmanas tattvam
yo veda na sa muhyati
Every man is certainly controlled by destiny, which determines the results of
one’s fruitive activities. In other words, one has a son or daughter because of
unseen destiny, and when the son or daughter is no longer present, this also is
due to unseen destiny. Destiny is the ultimate controller of everyone. One who
knows this is never bewildered.
TEXT 31
TEXT
sri-vasudeva uvaca
karo vai varsiko datto
rajne drsta vayam ca vah
neha stheyam bahu-titham
santy utpatas ca gokule
Vasudeva said to Nanda Maharaja: Now, my dear brother, since you have paid
the annual taxes to Kamsa and have also seen me, do not stay in this place for
many days. It is better to return to Gokula, since I know that there may be some
disturbances there.
TEXT 32
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
iti nandadayo gopah
proktas te saurina yayuh
anobhir anadud-yuktais
tam anujnapya gokulam
Sukadeva Gosvami said: After Vasudeva advised Nanda Maharaja in this way,
Nanda Maharaja and his associates, the cowherd men, took permission from
Vasudeva, yoked their bulls to the bullock carts, and started riding for Gokula.
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