1-çré-gopa ücuù
räma räma mahä-bäho
kåñëa duñöa-nibarhaëa
eñä vai bädhate kñun nas
tac-chäntià kartum arhathaù
The cowherd boys said: O Räma, Räma, mighty-armed one! O Kåñëa,
chastiser of the wicked ! We are being harassed by hunger, and You should do
something about it.
2-çré-çuka uväca
iti vijïäpito gopair
bhagavän devaké-sutaù
bhaktäyä vipra-bhäryäyäù
prasédann idam abravét
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: Thus entreated by the cowherd boys, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the son of Devaké, replied as follows, desiring to pleasecertain of His devotees who were brähmaëas’ wives.
3-prayäta deva-yajanaà
brähmaëä brahma-vädinaù
satram äìgirasaà näma
hy äsate svarga-kämyayä
[Lord Kåñëa said:] Please go to the sacrificial arena where a group of
brähmaëas, learned in the Vedic injunctions, are now performing the Äìgirasa
sacrifice to gain promotion to heaven.
4-tatra gatvaudanaà gopä
yäcatäsmad-visarjitäù
kértayanto bhagavata
äryasya mama cäbhidhäm
When you go there, My dear cowherd boys, simply request some food.
Declare to them the name of My elder brother, the Supreme Lord Balaräma,
and also My name, and explain that you have been sent by Us.
5-ity ädiñöä bhagavatä
gatvä yäcanta te tathä
kåtäïjali-puöä viprän
daëòa-vat patitä bhuvi
Thus instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cowherd boys
went there and submitted their request. They stood before the brähmaëas with
palms joined in supplication and then fell flat on the ground to offer respect.
6-he bhümi-deväù çåëuta
kåñëasyädeça-käriëaù
präptäï jänéta bhadraà vo
gopän no räma-coditän
[The cowherd boys said:] O earthly gods, please hear us. We cowherd boys
are executing the orders of Kåñëa, and we have been sent here by Balaräma. We
wish all good for you. Please acknowledge our arrival.
7-gäç cärayantäv avidüra odanaà
rämäcyutau vo lañato bubhukñitau
tayor dvijä odanam arthinor yadi
çraddhä ca vo yacchata dharma-vittamäù
Lord Räma 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
brähmaëas, O best of the knowers of religion, if you have faith please give somefood to Them.
8-dékñäyäù paçu-saàsthäyäù
sauträmaëyäç ca sattamäù
anyatra dékñitasyäpi
nännam açnan hi duñyati
Except during the interval between the initiation of the performer of a
sacrifice and the actual sacrifice of the animal, O most pure brähmaëas, it is not
contaminating for even the initiated to partake of food, at least in sacrifices
other than the Sauträmaëi.
9-iti te bhagavad-yäcïäà
çåëvanto ‘pi na çuçruvuù
kñudräçä bhüri-karmäëo
bäliçä våddha-mäninaù
The brähmaëas heard this supplication from the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, yet they refused to pay heed. Indeed, they were full of petty desires
and entangled in elaborate rituals. Though presuming themselves advanced in
Vedic learning, they were actually inexperienced fools.
10/11-deçaù kälaù påthag dravyaà
mantra-tantrartvijo ‘gnayaù
devatä yajamänaç ca
kratur dharmaç ca yan-mayaù
taà brahma paramaà säkñäd
bhagavantam adhokñajam
manuñya-dåñöyä duñprajïä
martyätmäno na menire
Although the ingredients of sacrificial performance—the place, time,
particular paraphernalia, mantras, rituals, priests, fires, demigods, performer,
offering and the as yet unseen beneficial results—are all simply aspects of His
opulences, the brähmaëas saw Lord Kåñëa as an ordinary human because of
their perverted intelligence. They failed to recognize that He is the Supreme
Absolute Truth, the directly manifest Personality of Godhead, whom the
material senses cannot ordinarily perceive. Thus bewildered by their false
identification with the mortal body, they did not show Him proper respect.
12-na te yad om iti procur
na neti ca parantapa
gopä niräçäù pratyetya
tathocuù kåñëa-rämayoù
When the brähmaëas failed to reply even with a simple yes or no, O
chastiser of the enemy [Parékñit], the cowherd boys returned disappointed to
Kåñëa and Räma and reported this to Them.
13-tad upäkarëya bhagavän
prahasya jagad-éçvaraù
vyäjahära punar gopän
darçayan laukikéà gatim
Hearing what had happened, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord
of the universe, simply laughed. Then He again addressed the cowherd boys,
showing them the way men act in this world.
14-mäà jïäpayata patnébhyaù
sa-saìkarñaëam ägatam
däsyanti kämam annaà vaù
snigdhä mayy uñitä dhiyä
[Lord Kåñëa said:] Tell the wives of the brähmaëas that I have come here
with Lord Saìkarñaëa. They will certainly give you all the food you want, for
they are most affectionate toward Me and, indeed, with their intelligence reside
in Me alone
15-gatvätha patné-çäläyäà
dåñöväsénäù sv-alaìkåtäù
natvä dvija-satér gopäù
praçritä idam abruvan
The cowherd boys then went to the house where the brähmaëas’ wives were
staying. There the boys saw those chaste ladies sitting, nicely decorated with
fine ornaments. Bowing down to the brähmaëa ladies, the boys addressed them
in all humility.
16-namo vo vipra-patnébhyo
nibodhata vacäàsi naù
ito ‘vidüre caratä
kåñëeneheñitä vayam
[The cowherd boys said:] Obeisances unto you, O wives of the learned
brähmaëas. Kindly hear our words. We have been sent here by Lord Kåñëa,
who is passing by not far from here.
17-gäç cärayan sa gopälaiù
sa-rämo düram ägataù
bubhukñitasya tasyännaà
sänugasya pradéyatäm
He has come a long way with the cowherd boys and Lord Balaräma, tending
the cows. Now He is hungry, so some food should be given for Him and His
companions.
18-çrutväcyutam upäyätaà
nityaà tad-darçanotsukäù
tat-kathäkñipta-manaso
babhüvur jäta-sambhramäù
The wives of the brähmaëas were always eager to see Kåñëa, for their minds
had been enchanted by descriptions of Him. Thus as soon as they heard that He
had come, they became very excited.
19-catur-vidhaà bahu-guëam
annam ädäya bhäjanaiù
abhisasruù priyaà sarväù
samudram iva nimnagäù
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.
20/21-niñidhyamänäù patibhir
bhrätåbhir bandhubhiù sutaiù
bhagavaty uttama-çloke
dérgha-çruta -dhåtäçayäù
yamunopavane ‘çoka
nava-pallava-maëòite
vicarantaà våtaà gopaiù
sägrajaà dadåçuù striyaù
Although their husbands, brothers, sons and other relatives tried to forbid
them from going, their hope of seeing Kåñëa, cultivated by extensive hearing of
His transcendental qualities, won out. Along the river Yamunä, within a garden
decorated with buds of açoka trees, they caught sight of Him strolling along in
the company of the cowherd boys and His elder brother, Balaräma.
22-çyämaà hiraëya-paridhià vanamälya-barhadhätu-
praväla-naöa-veñam anavratäàse
vinyasta-hastam itareëa dhunänam abjaà
karëotpalälaka-kapola-mukhäbja-häsam
His complexion was dark blue and His garment golden. Wearing a peacock
feather, colored minerals, sprigs of flower buds, and a garland of forest flowers
and leaves, He was dressed just like a dramatic 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 lotuslike face was
smiling.
23-präyaù-çruta-priyatamodaya-karëa-pürair
yasmin nimagna-manasas tam athäkñi-randraiù
antaù praveçya su-ciraà parirabhya täpaà
präjïaà yathäbhimatayo vijahur narendra
O ruler of men, for a long time those brähmaëa ladies had heard about
Kåñëa, their beloved, and His glories had become the constant ornaments of
their ears. Indeed, their minds were always absorbed in Him. Through the
apertures of their eyes they now forced Him 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 the anxiety of false ego
by embracing their innermost consciousness.
24-täs tathä tyakta-sarväçäù
präptä ätma-didåkñayä
vijïäyäkhila-dåg-drañöä
präha prahasitänanaù
Lord Kåñëa, who witnesses the thoughts of all creatures, understood how
those ladies had abandoned all worldly hopes and come there simply to see Him.
Thus He addressed them as follows with a smile upon His face.
25-svägataà vo mahä-bhägä
äsyatäà karaväma kim
yan no didåkñayä präptä
upapannam idaà hi vaù
[Lord Kåñëa said:] 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.
26-nanv addhä mayi kurvanti
kuçaläù svärtha-darçinaù
ahaituky avyavahitäà
bhaktim ätma-priye yathä
Certainly expert personalities, who can see their own true interest, render
unmotivated and uninterrupted devotional service directly unto Me, for I am
most dear to the soul.
27-präëa-buddhi-manaù-svätma
däräpatya-dhanädayaù
yat-samparkät priyä äsaàs
tataù ko nv aparaù priyaù
It is only by contact with the self that one’s vital breath, intelligence, mind,
friends, body, wife, children, wealth and so on are dear. Therefore what object can possibly be more dear than one’s own self?
28-tad yäta deva-yajanaà
patayo vo dvijätayaù
sva-satraà pärayiñyanti
yuñmäbhir gåha-medhinaù
You should thus return to the sacrificial arena, because your husbands, the
learned brähmaëas, are householders and need your assistance to finish their
respective sacrifices.
29-çré-patnya ücuù
maivaà vibho ‘rhati bhavän gadituà nr-çaàsaà
satyaà kuruñva nigamaà tava pada-mülam
präptä vayaà tulasi-däma padävasåñöaà
keçair nivoòhum atilaìghya samasta-bandhün
The wives of the brähmaëas replied: O almighty one, please do not speak
such cruel words. Rather, You should fulfill Your promise that You always
reciprocate with Your devotees in kind. 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 tulasé leaves You may neglectfully kick away with Your
lotus feet. We are ready to give up all material relationships
30-gåhëanti no na patayaù pitarau sutä vä
na bhrätå-bandhu-suhådaù kuta eva cänye
tasmäd bhavat-prapadayoù patitätmanäà no
nänyä bhaved gatir arindama tad vidhehi
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 chastiser of enemies, grant our desire.
31-çré-bhagavän uväca
patayo näbhyasüyeran
pitå-bhrätå-sutädayaù
lokäç ca vo mayopetä
devä apy anumanvate
The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied: Rest assured that your
husbands will not be inimical toward you, nor will your fathers, brothers, sons,
other relatives or the general populace. I will personally advise them of the
situation. Indeed, even the demigods will express their approval.
32-na prétaye ‘nurägäya
hy aìga-saìgo nåëäm iha
tan mano mayi yuïjänä
acirän mäm aväpsyatha
For you to remain in My bodily association would certainly not please people
in this world, nor would it be the best way for you to increase your love for Me.
Rather, you should fix your minds on Me, and very soon you will achieve Me.
33-çravaëäd darçanäd dhyänän
mayi bhävo ‘nukértanät
na tathä sannikarñeëa
pratiyäta tato gåhän
It is by hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and
chanting My names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical
proximity. Therefore please go back to your homes.
34-çré-çuka uväca
ity uktä dvija-patnyas tä
yajïa-väöaà punar gatäù
te cänasüyavas täbhiù
strébhiù satram apärayan
Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé said: Thus instructed, the wives of the brähmaëas
returned to the place of sacrifice. The brähmaëas did not find any fault with
their wives, and together with them they finished the sacrifice.
35-tatraikä vidhåtä bharträ
bhagavantaà yathä-çrutam
håòopaguhya vijahau
dehaà karmänubandhanam
One of the ladies had been forcibly kept back by her husband. When she
heard the others describe the Supreme Lord Kåñëa, she embraced Him within
her heart and gave up her material body, the basis of bondage to material
activity.
36-bhagavän api govindas
tenaivännena gopakän
catur-vidhenäçayitvä
svayaà ca bubhuje prabhuù
Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, fed the cowherd boys with
that food of four varieties. Then the all-powerful Lord Himself partook of the
preparations.
37-evaà lélä-nara-vapur
nr-lokam anuçélayan
reme go-gopa-gopénäà
ramayan rüpa-väk-kåtaiù
Thus the Supreme Lord, appearing like a human being to perform His
pastimes, imitated the ways of human society. He enjoyed pleasing His cows,
cowherd boyfriends and cowherd girlfriends with His beauty, words and
actions
38-athänusmåtya vipräs te
anvatapyan kåtägasaù
yad viçveçvarayor yäcïäm
ahanma nå-viòambayoù
The brähmaëas then came to their senses and began to feel great remorse.
They thought, “We have sinned, for we have denied the request of the two
Lords of the universe, who deceptively appeared as ordinary human beings.”
39-dåñövä stréëäà bhagavati
kåñëe bhaktim alaukikém
ätmänaà ca tayä hénam
anutaptä vyagarhayan
Taking note of their wives’ pure, transcendental devotion for Lord Kåñëa,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and seeing their own lack of devotion, the
brähmaëas felt most sorrowful and began to condemn themselves.
40-dhig janma nas tri-våd yat tad
dhig vrataà dhig bahu-jïatäm
dhik kulaà dhik kriyä-däkñyaà
vimukhä ye tv adhokñaje
[The brähmaëas said:] To hell with our threefold birth, our vow of celibacy
and our extensive learning! To hell with our aristocratic background and our
expertise in the rituals of sacrifice! These are all condemned because we were
inimical to the transcendental Personality of Godhead.
41-nünaà bhagavato mäyä
yoginäm api mohiné
yad vayaà guravo nåëäà
svärthe muhyämahe dvijäù
The illusory potency of the Supreme Lord certainly bewilders even the great
mystics, what to speak of us. As brähmaëas we are supposed to be the spiritual
masters of all classes of men, yet we have been bewildered about our own real
interest.
42-aho paçyata näréëäm
api kåñëe jagad-gurau
duranta-bhävaà yo ‘vidhyan
måtyu-päçän gåhäbhidhän
Just see the unlimited love these women have developed for Lord Kåñëa, the
spiritual master of the entire universe! This love has broken for them the very
bonds of death—their attachment to family life.
43/44-näsäà dvijäti-saàskäro
na niväso guräv api
na tapo nätma-mémäàsä
na çaucaà na kriyäù çubhäù
tathäpi hy uttamaù-çloke
kåñëe yogeçvareçvare
bhaktir dåòhä na cäsmäkaà
saàskärädimatäm api
These women have never undergone the purificatory rites of the twice-born
classes, nor have they lived as brahmacärés in the äçrama of a spiritual master,
nor have they executed austerities, speculated on the nature of the self,
followed the formalities of cleanliness or engaged in pious rituals. Nevertheless,
they have firm devotion for Lord Kåñëa, whose glories are chanted by the
exalted hymns of the Vedas and who is the supreme master of all masters of
mystic power. We, on the other hand, have no such devotion for the Lord,
although we have executed all these processes.
45-nanu svärtha-vimüòhänäà
pramattänäà gåhehayä
aho naù smärayäm äsa
gopa-väkyaiù satäà gatiù
Indeed, infatuated as we are with our household affairs, we have deviated
completely from the real aim of our life. But now just see how the Lord,
through the words of these simple cowherd boys, has reminded us of the
ultimate destination of all true transcendentalists.
46-anyathä pürëa-kämasya
kaivalyädy-açiñäà pateù
éçitavyaiù kim asmäbhir
éçasyaitad viòambanam
Otherwise, why would the supreme controller—whose every desire is
already fulfilled and who is the master of liberation and all other transcendental
benedictions—enact this pretense with us, who are always to be controlled by
Him?
47-hitvänyän bhajate yaà çréù
päda-sparçäçayäsakåt
svätma-doñäpavargeëa
tad-yäcïä jana-mohiné
Hoping for the touch of His lotus feet, the goddess of fortune perpetually
worships Him alone, leaving aside all others and renouncing her pride and
fickleness. That He begs is certainly astonishing to everyone.
48/49-deçaù kälaù påthag dravyaà
mantra-tantrartvijo ‘gnayaù
devatä yajamänaç ca
kratur dharmaç ca yan-mayaù
sa eva bhagavän säkñäd
viñëur yogeçvareçvaraù
jäto yaduñv ity äçåëma
hy api müòhä na vidmahe
All the aspects of sacrifice—the auspicious place and time, the various items
of paraphernalia, the Vedic hymns, the prescribed rituals, the priests and
sacrificial fires, the demigods, the patron of the sacrifice, the sacrificial offering
and the pious results obtained—all are simply manifestations of His opulences.
Yet even though we had heard that the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Viñëu, the Lord of all mystic controllers, had taken birth in the Yadu dynasty,
we were so foolish that we could not recognize Çré Kåñëa to be none other than
Him.
50-tasmai namo bhagavate
kåñëäyäkuëöha-medhase
yan-mäyä-mohita-dhiyo
bhramämaù karma-vartmasu
Let us offer our obeisances unto Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. His intelligence is never bewildered, whereas we, confused by His
power of illusion, are simply wandering about on the paths of fruitive work
51-sa vai na ädyaù puruñaù
sva-mäyä-mohitätmanäm
avijïatänubhävänäà
kñantum arhaty atikramam
We were bewildered by Lord Kåñëa’s illusory potency and thus could not
understand His influence as the original Personality of Godhead. Now we hope
He will kindly forgive our offe
52-iti svägham anusmåtya
kåñëe te kåta-helanäù
didåkñavo vrajam atha
kaàsäd bhétä na cäcalan
Thus reflecting on the sin they had committed by neglecting Lord Kåñëa,
they became very eager to see Him. But being afraid of King Kaàsa, they did
not dare go to Vraja.
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