1-çré-bädaräyaëir uväca
bhagavän api tä rätåéù
çäradotphulla-mallikäù
vékñya rantuà manaç cakre
yoga-mäyäm upäçritaù
Çré Bädaräyaëi said: Çré Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full
in all opulences, yet upon seeing those autumn nights scented with blossomingjasmine flowers, He turned His mind toward loving affairs. To fulfill His purposes He employed His internal potency.
2-tadoòuräjaù kakubhaù karair mukhaà
präcyä vilimpann aruëena çantamaiù
sa carñaëénäm udagäc chuco måjan
priyaù priyäyä iva dérgha-darçanaù
3-dåñövä kumudvantam akhaëòa-maëòalaà
ramänanäbhaà nava-kuìkumäruëam
vanaà ca tat-komala-gobhé raïjitaà
jagau kalaà väma-dåçäà manoharam
Lord Kåñëa saw the unbroken disk of the full moon glowing with the red
effulgence of newly applied vermilion, as if it were the face of the goddess of
fortune. He also saw the kumuda lotuses opening in response to the moon’s
presence and the forest gently illumined by its rays. Thus the Lord began to
play sweetly on His flute, attracting the minds of the beautiful-eyed gopés.
4-niçamya gétäà tad anaìga-vardhanaà
vraja-striyaù kåñëa-gåhéta-mänasäù
äjagmur anyonyam alakñitodyamäù
sa yatra känto java-lola-kuëòaläù
When the young women of Våndävana heard Kåñëa’s flute song, which
arouses romantic feelings, their minds were captivated by the Lord. They went
to where their lover waited, each unknown to the others, moving so quickly
that their earrings swung back and forth.
5-duhantyo ‘bhiyayuù käçcid
dohaà hitvä samutsukäù
payo ‘dhiçritya saàyävam
anudväsyäparä yayuù
Some of the gopés were milking cows when they heard Kåñëa’s flute. They
stopped milking and went off to meet Him. Some left milk curdling on the
stove, and others left cakes burning in the oven.
6/7-pariveñayantyas tad dhitvä
päyayantyaù çiçün payaù
çuçrüñantyaù patén käçcid
açnantyo ‘päsya bhojanam
limpantyaù pramåjantyo ‘nyä
aïjantyaù käçca locane
vyatyasta-vasträbharaëäù
käçcit kåñëäntikaà yayuù
Some of them were getting dressed, feeding milk to their infants or rendering
personal service to their husbands, but they all gave up these duties and went to
meet Kåñëa. Other gopés were taking their evening meals, washing themselves,
putting on cosmetics or applying kajjala to their eyes. But all the gopés stopped
these activities at once and, though their clothes and ornaments were in
complete disarray, rushed off to Kåñëa.
8-tä väryamäëäù patibhiù
pitåbhir bhrätå-bandhubhiù
govindäpahåtätmäno
na nyavartanta mohitäù
Their husbands, fathers, brothers and other relatives tried to stop them, but
Kåñëa had already stolen their hearts. Enchanted by the sound of His flute,
they refused to turn back.
9-antar-gåha-gatäù käçcid
gopyo ‘labdha-vinirgamäù
kåñëaà tad-bhävanä-yuktä
dadhyur mélita-locanäù
Some of the gopés, however, could not manage to get out of their houses, and
instead they remained home with eyes closed, meditating upon Him in pure
love.
10/11-duùsaha-preñöha-virahatévra-
täpa-dhutäçubhäù
dhyäna-präptäcyutäçleñanirvåtyä
kñéëa-maìgaläù
tam eva paramätmänaà
jära-buddhyäpi saìgatäù
jahur guëa-mayaà dehaà
sadyaù prakñéëa-bandhanäù
For those gopés who could not go to see Kåñëa, intolerable separation from
their beloved caused an intense agony that burned away all impious karma. By
meditating upon Him they realized His embrace, and the ecstasy they then felt
exhausted their material piety. Although Lord Kåñëa is the Supreme Soul, these
girls simply thought of Him as their male lover and associated with Him in that
intimate mood. Thus their karmic bondage was nullified and they abandoned
their gross material bodies.
12-çré-parékñid uväca
kåñëaà viduù paraà käntaà
na tu brahmatayä mune
guëa-pravähoparamas
täsäà guëa-dhiyäà katham
Çré Parékñit Mahäräja said: O sage, the gopés knew Kåñëa only as their lover,
not as the Supreme Absolute Truth. So how could these girls, their minds
caught up in the waves of the modes of nature, free themselves from material
attachment?
13-çré-çuka uväca
uktaà purastäd etat te
caidyaù siddhià yathä gataù
dviñann api håñékeçaà
kim utädhokñaja-priyäù
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: This point was explained to you previously. Since
even Çiçupäla, who hated Kåñëa, achieved perfection, then what to speak of the
Lord’s dear devotees.
14-nåëäà niùçreyasärthäya
vyaktir bhagavato nåpa
avyayasyäprameyasya
nirguëasya guëätmanaù
O King, the Supreme Lord is inexhaustible and immeasurable, and He is
untouched by the material modes because He is their controller. His personal
appearance in this world is meant for bestowing the highest benefit on
humanity.
15-kämaà krodhaà bhayaà sneham
aikyaà sauhådam eva ca
nityaà harau vidadhato
yänti tan-mayatäà hi te
Persons who constantly direct their lust, anger, fear, protective affection,
feeling of impersonal oneness or friendship toward Lord Hari are sure to
become absorbed in thought of Him.
16-na caivaà vismayaù käryo
bhavatä bhagavaty aje
yogeçvareçvare kåñëe
yata etad vimucyate
You should not be so astonished by Kåñëa, the unborn master of all masters
of mystic power, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After all, it is the Lord
who liberates this world.
17-tä dåñöväntikam äyätä
bhagavän vraja-yoñitaù
avadad vadatäà çreñöho
väcaù peçair vimohayan
Seeing that the girls of Vraja had arrived, Lord Kåñëa, the best of speakers,
greeted them with charming words that bewildered their minds.
18-çré-bhagavän uväca
svägataà vo mahä-bhägäù
priyaà kià karaväëi vaù
vrajasyänämayaà kaccid
brütägamana-käraëam
Lord Kåñëa said: O most fortunate ladies, welcome. What may I do to please
you? Is everything well in Vraja? Please tell Me the reason for your coming
here.
19-rajany eñä ghora-rüpä
ghora-sattva-niñevitä
pratiyäta vrajaà neha
stheyaà strébhiù su-madhyamäù
This night is quite frightening, and frightening creatures are lurking about.
Return to Vraja, slender-waisted girls. This is not a proper place for women.
20-mätaraù pitaraù puträ
bhrätaraù patayaç ca vaù
vicinvanti hy apaçyanto
mä kåòhvaà bandhu-sädhvasam
Not finding you at home, your mothers, fathers, sons, brothers and husbands
are certainly searching for you. Don’t cause anxiety for your family members
21/22-dåñöaà vanaà kusumitaà
räkeça-kara-raïjitam
yamunänila-lélaijat
taru-pallava-çobhitam
tad yäta mä ciraà goñöhaà
çuçrüñadhvaà patén satéù
krandanti vatsä bäläç ca
tän päyayata duhyata
Now you have seen this Våndävana forest, full of flowers and resplendent
with the light of the full moon. You have seen the beauty of the trees, with
their leaves trembling in the gentle breeze coming from the Yamunä. So now go
back to the cowherd village. Don’t delay. O chaste ladies, serve your husbands
and give milk to your crying babies and calves.
23-atha vä mad-abhisnehäd
bhavatyo yantritäçayäù
ägatä hy upapannaà vaù
préyante mayi jantavaù
On the other hand, perhaps you have come here out of your great love for
Me, which has taken control of your hearts. This is of course quite
commendable on your part, since all living entities possess natural affection for
Me.
24-bhartuù çuçrüñaëaà stréëäà
paro dharmo hy amäyayä
tad-bandhünäà ca kalyäëaù
prajänäà cänupoñaëam
The highest religious duty for a woman is to sincerely serve her husband,
behave well toward her husband’s family and take good care of her children.
25-duùçélo durbhago våddho
jaòo rogy adhano ‘pi vä
patiù strébhir na hätavyo
lokepsubhir apätaké
Women who desire a good destination in the next life should never abandon
a husband who has not fallen from his religious standards, even if he is
obnoxious, unfortunate, old, unintelligent, sickly or poor.
26-asvargyam ayaçasyaà ca
phalgu kåcchraà bhayävaham
jugupsitaà ca sarvatra
hy aupapatyaà kula-striyaù
For a woman from a respectable family, petty adulterous affairs are always
condemned. They bar her from heaven, ruin her reputation and bring her
difficulty and fear.
27-çravaëäd darçanäd dhyänän
mayi bhävo ‘nukértanät
na tathä sannikarñeëa
pratiyäta tato gåhän
Transcendental love for Me arises by the devotional processes of hearing
about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating on Me and faithfully chanting My
glories. The same result is not achieved by mere physical proximity. So please go back to your homes.
28-çré-çuka uväca
iti vipriyam äkarëya
gopyo govinda-bhäñitam
viñaëëä bhagna-saìkalpäç
cintäm äpur duratyayäm
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: Hearing these unpleasant words spoken by
Govinda, the gopés became morose. Their great hopes were frustrated and they
felt insurmountable anxiety.
29-kåtvä mukhäny ava çucaù çvasanena çuñyad
bimbädharäëi caraëena bhuvaù likhantyaù
asrair upätta-masibhiù kuca-kuìkumäni
tasthur måjantya uru-duùkha-bharäù sma tüñëém
Their heads hanging down and their heavy, sorrowful breathing drying up
their reddened lips, the gopés scratched the ground with their toes. Tears flowed
from their eyes, carrying their kajjala and washing away the vermilion smeared
on their breasts. Thus they stood, silently bearing the burden of their
unhappiness.
30-preñöhaà priyetaram iva pratibhäñamäëaà
kåñëaà tad-artha-vinivartita-sarva-kämäù
netre vimåjya ruditopahate sma kiïcit
saàrambha-gadgada-giro ‘bruvatänuraktäù
Although Kåñëa was their beloved, and although they had abandoned all
other objects of desire for His sake, He had been speaking to them unfavorably.
Nonetheless, they remained unflinching in their attachment to Him. Stopping
their crying, they wiped their eyes and began to speak, their voices stammering
with agitation.
31-çré-gopya ücuù
maivaà vibho ‘rhati bhavän gadituà nå-çaàsaà
santyajya sarva-viñayäàs tava päda-mülam
bhaktä bhajasva duravagraha mä tyajäsmän
devo yathädi-puruño bhajate mumukñün
The beautiful gopés said: O all-powerful one, You should not speak in this
cruel way. Do not reject us, who have renounced all material enjoyment to
render devotional service to Your lotus feet. Reciprocate with us, O stubborn
one, just as the primeval Lord, Çré Näräyaëa, reciprocates with His devotees in
their endeavors for liberation.
32-yat paty-apatya-suhådäm anuvåttir aìga
stréëäà sva-dharma iti dharma-vidä tvayoktam
astv evam etad upadeça-pade tvayéçe
preñöho bhaväàs tanu-bhåtäà kila bandhur ätmä
Our dear Kåñëa, as an expert in religion You have advised us that the proper
religious duty for women is to faithfully serve their husbands, children and
other relatives. We agree that this principle is valid, but actually this service
should be rendered to You. After all, O Lord, You are the dearmost friend of all
embodied souls. You are their most intimate relative and indeed their very Self.
33-kurvanti hi tvayi ratià kuçaläù sva ätman
nitya-priye pati-sutädibhir ärti-daiù kim
tan naù praséda parameçvara mä sma chindyä
äçäà dhåtäà tvayi ciräd aravinda-netra
Expert transcendentalists always direct their affection toward You because
they recognize You as their true Self and eternal beloved. What use do we have
for these husbands, children and relatives of ours, who simply give us trouble?
Therefore, O supreme controller grant us Your mercy. O lotus-eyed one, please
do not cut down our long-cherished hope to have Your association.
34-cittaà sukhena bhavatäpahåtaà gåheñu
yan nirviçaty uta karäv api gåhya-kåtye
pädau padaà na calatas tava päda-müläd
yämaù kathaà vrajam atho karaväma kià vä
Until today our minds were absorbed in household affairs, but You easily
stole both our minds and our hands away from our housework. Now our feet
won’t move one step from Your lotus feet. How can we go back to Vraja? What
would we do there?
35-siïcäìga nas tvad-adharämåta-pürakeëa
häsävaloka-kala-géta-ja-håc-chayägnim
no ced vayaà virahajägny-upayukta-dehä
dhyänena yäma padayoù padavéà sakhe te
Dear Kåñëa, please pour the nectar of Your lips upon the fire within our
hearts—a fire You ignited with Your smiling glances and the sweet song of
Your flute. If You do not, we will consign our bodies to the fire of separation
from You, O friend, and thus like yogés attain to the abode of Your lotus feet by
meditation.
36-yarhy ambujäkña tava päda-talaà ramäyä
datta-kñaëaà kvacid araëya-jana-priyasya
aspräkñma tat-prabhåti nänya-samakñam aïjaù
sthätuàs tvayäbhiramitä bata pärayämaù
O lotus-eyed one, the goddess of fortune considers it a festive occasion
whenever she touches the soles of Your lotus feet. You are very dear to the
residents of the forest, and therefore we will also touch those lotus feet. From
that time on we will be unable even to stand in the presence of any other man,
for we will have been fully satisfied by You.
37-çrér yat padämbuja-rajaç cakame tulasyä
labdhväpi vakñasi padaà kila bhåtya-juñöam
yasyäù sva-vékñaëa utänya-sura-prayäsas
tadvad vayaà ca tava päda-rajaù prapannäù
Goddess Lakñmé, whose glance is sought after by the demigods with great
endeavor, has achieved the unique position of always remaining on the chest of
her Lord, Näräyaëa. Still, she desires the dust of His lotus feet, even though
she has to share that dust with Tulasé-devé and indeed with the Lord’s many
other servants. Similarly, we have approached the dust of Your lotus feet for
shelter.
38-tan naù praséda våjinärdana te ‘nghri-mülaà
präptä visåjya vasatés tvad-upäsanäçäù
tvat-sundara-smita-nirékñaëa-tévra-käma
taptätmanäà puruña-bhüñaëa dehi däsyam
Therefore, O vanquisher of all distress, please show us mercy. To approach
Your lotus feet we abandoned our families and homes, and we have no desire
other than to serve You. Our hearts are burning with intense desires generated
by Your beautiful smiling glances. O jewel among men, please make us Your
maidservants.
39-vékñyälakävåta-mukhaà tava kuëdala-çré
gaëòa-sthalädhara-sudhaà hasitävalokam
dattäbhayaà ca bhuja-daëòa-yugaà vilokya
vakñaù çriyaika-ramaëaà ca bhaväma däsyaù
Seeing Your face encircled by curling locks of hair, Your cheeks beautified
by earrings, Your lips full of nectar, and Your smiling glance, and also seeing
Your two imposing arms, which take away our fear, and Your chest, which is
the only source of pleasure for the goddess of fortune, we must become Your
maidservants.
40-kä stry aìga te kala-padäyata-veëu-gétasammohitärya-
caritän na calet tri-lokyäm
trailokya-saubhagam idaà ca nirékñya rüpaà
yad go-dvija-druma-mågäù pulakäny abibhran
Dear Kåñëa, what woman in all the three worlds wouldn’t deviate from
religious behavior when bewildered by the sweet, drawn-out melody of Your
flute? Your beauty makes all three worlds auspicious. Indeed, even the cows,
birds, trees and deer manifest the ecstatic symptom of bodily hair standing on
end when they see Your beautiful form.
41-vyaktaà bhavän vraja-bhayärti-haro ‘bhijäto
devo yathädi-puruñaù sura-loka-goptä
tan no nidhehi kara-paìkajam ärta-bandho
tapta-staneñu ca çiraùsu ca kiìkaréëäm
Clearly You have taken birth in this world to relieve the fear and distress of
the people of Vraja, just as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the primeval
Lord, protects the domain of the demigods. Therefore, O friend of the
distressed, kindly place Your lotus hand on Your maidservants’ heads and
burning breasts
42-çré-çuka uväca
iti viklavitaà täsäà
çrutvä yogeçvareçvaraù
prahasya sa-dayaà gopér
ätmärämo ‘py aréramat
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: Smiling upon hearing these despondent words from
the gopés, Lord Kåñëa, the supreme master of all masters of mystic yoga,
mercifully enjoyed with them, although He is self-satisfied.
43-täbhiù sametäbhir udära-ceñöitaù
priyekñaëotphulla-mukhébhir acyutaù
udära-häsa-dvija-kunda-dédhatir
vyarocataiëäìka ivoòubhir våtaù
Among the assembled gopés, the infallible Lord Kåñëa appeared just like the
moon surrounded by stars. He whose activities are so magnanimous made their
faces blossom with His affectionate glances, and His broad smiles revealed the
effulgence of His jasmine-bud-like teeth.
44-upagéyamäna udgäyan
vanitä-çata-yüthapaù
mäläà bibhrad vaijayantéà
vyacaran maëòayan vanam
As the gopés sang His praises, that leader of hundreds of women sang loudly
in reply. He moved among them, wearing His Vaijayanté garland, beautifying
the Våndävana forest
45/46-nadyäù pulinam äviçya
gopébhir hima-välukam
juñöaà tat-taralänandi
kumudämoda-väyunä
bähu-prasära-parirambha-karälakoru
névé-stanälabhana-narma-nakhägra-pätaiù
kñvelyävaloka-hasitair vraja-sundaréëäm
uttambhayan rati-patià ramayäà cakära
Çré Kåñëa went with the gopés to the bank of the Yamunä, where the sand
was cooling and the wind, enlivened by the river’s waves, bore the fragrance of
lotuses. There Kåñëa threw His arms around the gopés and embraced them. He
aroused Cupid in the beautiful young ladies of Vraja by touching their hands,
hair, thighs, belts and breasts, by playfully scratching them with His fingernails,
and also by joking with them, glancing at them and laughing with them. In this
way the Lord enjoyed His pastimes.
47-evaà bhagavataù kåñëäl
labdha-mänä mahätmanaù
ätmänaà menire stréëäà
mäninyo hy adhikaà bhuvi
The gopés became proud of themselves for having received such special
attention from Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and each of them
thought herself the best woman on earth.
48-täsäà tat-saubhaga-madaà
vékñya mänaà ca keçavaù
praçamäya prasädäya
tatraiväntaradhéyata
Lord Keçava, seeing the gopés too proud of their good fortune, wanted to
relieve them of this pride and show them further mercy. Thus He immediately
disappeared.
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