The Childhood Pastimes of Krishna

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.11.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच गोपा नन्दादयः श्रुत्वा द्रुमयोः पततोरवम् । तत्राजग्मुः कुरुश्रेष्ठ निर्घातभयशङ्किताः ॥ 11.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca gopā nandādayaḥ śrutvā drumayoḥ patato ravam tatrājagmuḥ kuru-śreṣṭha nirghāta-bhaya-śaṅkitāḥ

Shri Shuka said: O best of the Kurus, hearing the tremendous crash of the two trees falling, the cowherd men headed by Nanda, fearing it to be a thunderbolt, hurried to that spot.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.11.2)

भूम्यां निपतितौ तत्र ददृशुर्यमलार्जुनौ । बभ्रमुस्तदविज्ञाय लक्ष्यं पतनकारणम् ॥ 11.2 ॥

bhūmyāṁ nipatitau tatra dadṛśur yamalārjunau babhramus tad avijñāya lakṣyaṁ patana-kāraṇam

There they saw the twin arjuna trees lying fallen upon the ground, but unable to discern any visible cause for their fall, they wandered about in confusion.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.11.3)

उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं च बालकम् । कस्येदं कुत आश्चर्यमुत्पात इति कातराः ॥ 11.3 ॥

ulūkhalaṁ vikarṣantaṁ dāmnā baddhaṁ ca bālakam kasyedaṁ kuta āścaryam utpāta iti kātarāḥ

They saw a small child, tied by a rope to a wooden mortar, dragging it along. Bewildered, they wondered aloud: whose doing is this, what strange wonder is this, from where has this disturbance come?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.11.4)

बाला ऊचुरनेनेति तिर्यग्गतमुलूखलम् । विकर्षता मध्यगेन पुरुषावप्यचक्ष्महि ॥ 11.4 ॥

bālā ūcur aneneti tiryag-gatam ulūkhalam vikarṣatā madhya-gena puruṣāv apy acakṣmahi

Then the boys who had witnessed it spoke up: it was he who did this. The mortar had lodged crosswise between the two trees, and as he dragged it through, the trees came crashing down; we saw with our own eyes two men emerge from within them.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.11.5)

न ते तदुक्तं जगृहुर्न घटेतेति तस्य तत् । बालस्योत्पाटनं तर्वोः केचित्सन्दिग्धचेतसः ॥ 11.5 ॥

na te tad-uktaṁ jagṛhur na ghaṭeteti tasya tat bālasyotpāṭanaṁ tarvoḥ kecit sandigdha-cetasaḥ

The cowherd men could not accept the boys' account, thinking it impossible for a mere infant to have uprooted such trees, yet the minds of a few remained doubtful and unsettled.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.11.6)

उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं स्वमात्मजम् । विलोक्य नन्दः प्रहसद्वदनो विमुमोच ह ॥ 11.6 ॥

ulūkhalaṁ vikarṣantaṁ dāmnā baddhaṁ svam ātmajam vilokya nandaḥ prahasad- vadano vimumoca ha

When Nanda saw his own son bound to the mortar and dragging it along, his face broke into a smile, and he at once released the child from the rope.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.11.7)

गोपीभिः स्तोभितोऽनृत्यद् भगवान्बालवत्क्वचित् । उद्गायति क्वचिन्मुग्धस्तद्वशो दारुयन्त्रवत् ॥ 11.7 ॥

gopībhiḥ stobhito ’nṛtyad bhagavān bālavat kvacit udgāyati kvacin mugdhas tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat

Coaxed on by the gopis, Bhagavan would sometimes dance like an ordinary child, and sometimes, wholly given over to their will, sing loudly and artlessly, as pliant in their hands as a wooden doll on strings.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.11.8)

बिभर्ति क्वचिदाज्ञप्तः पीठकोन्मानपादुकम् । बाहुक्षेपं च कुरुते स्वानां च प्रीतिमावहन् ॥ 11.8 ॥

bibharti kvacid ājñaptaḥ pīṭhakonmāna-pādukam bāhu-kṣepaṁ ca kurute svānāṁ ca prītim āvahan

Sometimes, when ordered, he would carry a wooden seat, a measuring vessel, or a pair of sandals; and sometimes, to give his own people delight, he would fling out his little arms as though he could not lift the thing at all.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.11.9)

दर्शयंस्तद्विदां लोक आत्मनो भृत्यवश्यताम् । व्रजस्योवाह वै हर्षं भगवान् बालचेष्टितैः ॥ 11.9 ॥

darśayaṁs tad-vidāṁ loka ātmano bhṛtya-vaśyatām vrajasyovāha vai harṣaṁ bhagavān bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ

Thus Bhagavan revealed, to those wise enough to perceive it, how completely he submits himself to his own devotees, and through these childhood pastimes filled all of Vraja with joy.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.11.10)

क्रीणीहि भोः फलानीति श्रुत्वा सत्वरमच्युतः । फलार्थी धान्यमादाय ययौ सर्वफलप्रदः ॥ 11.10 ॥

krīṇīhi bhoḥ phalānīti śrutvā satvaram acyutaḥ phalārthī dhānyam ādāya yayau sarva-phala-pradaḥ

One day, hearing a fruit-seller's call of "take some fruit, take some fruit," Achyuta hastily gathered up some grain and went off to barter for fruit — he who himself is the giver of every fruit there is.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.11.11)

फलविक्रयिणी तस्य च्युतधान्यकरद्वयम् । फलैरपूरयद् रत्नैः फलभाण्डमपूरि च ॥ 11.11 ॥

phala-vikrayiṇī tasya cyuta-dhānya-kara-dvayam phalair apūrayad ratnaiḥ phala-bhāṇḍam apūri ca

As he hurried along, most of the grain slipped from his little hands, and yet the fruit-seller filled his hands with fruit all the same — and her basket, in turn, filled itself with jewels.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.11.12)

सरित्तीरगतं कृष्णं भग्नार्जुनमथाह्वयत् । रामं च रोहिणी देवी क्रीडन्तं बालकैर्भृशम् ॥ 11.12 ॥

sarit-tīra-gataṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhagnārjunam athāhvayat rāmaṁ ca rohiṇī devī krīḍantaṁ bālakair bhṛśam

One day Devi Rohini called out to Rama and Krishna, who had gone to the bank of the Yamuna and were deeply absorbed in play with the other boys — this after the felling of the twin arjuna trees.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.11.13)

नोपेयातां यदाहूतौ क्रीडासङ्गेन पुत्रकौ । यशोदां प्रेषयामास रोहिणी पुत्रवत्सलाम् ॥ 11.13 ॥

nopeyātāṁ yadāhūtau krīḍā-saṅgena putrakau yaśodāṁ preṣayām āsa rohiṇī putra-vatsalām

The two boys, absorbed in their play, did not come even when called, so Rohini sent Yashoda — who cherished the two children with even deeper tenderness — to fetch them back.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.11.14)

क्रीडन्तं सा सुतं बालैरतिवेलं सहाग्रजम् । यशोदाजोहवीत्कृष्णं पुत्रस्नेहस्नुतस्तनी ॥ 11.14 ॥

krīḍantaṁ sā sutaṁ bālair ativelaṁ sahāgrajam yaśodājohavīt kṛṣṇaṁ putra-sneha-snuta-stanī

Yashoda called out to Krishna, who was playing on and on with his elder brother and the other boys, and as she called, her breasts overflowed with milk from the sheer tenderness of a mother's love.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.11.15)

कृष्ण कृष्णारविन्दाक्ष तात एहि स्तनं पिब । अलं विहारैः क्षुत्क्षान्तः क्रीडाश्रान्तोऽसि पुत्रक ॥ 11.15 ॥

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāravindākṣa tāta ehi stanaṁ piba alaṁ vihāraiḥ kṣut-kṣāntaḥ krīḍā-śrānto ’si putraka

She said: Krishna, lotus-eyed Krishna, come here, my dear, and drink my milk. Enough of play now — you must be worn out with hunger, my child, and tired from all this running about.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.11.16)

हे रामागच्छ ताताशु सानुजः कुलनन्दन । प्रातरेव कृताहारस्तद् भवान्भोक्तुमर्हति ॥ 11.16 ॥

he rāmāgaccha tātāśu sānujaḥ kula-nandana prātar eva kṛtāhāras tad bhavān bhoktum arhati

Rama, jewel of our family, come quickly with your younger brother. You both ate only in the morning; it is time now for you to eat again.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.11.17)

प्रतीक्षतेत्वां दाशार्ह भोक्ष्यमाणो व्रजाधिपः । एह्यावयोः प्रियं धेहि स्वगृहान्यात बालकाः ॥ 11.17 ॥

pratīkṣate tvāṁ dāśārha bhokṣyamāṇo vrajādhipaḥ ehy āvayoḥ priyaṁ dhehi sva-gṛhān yāta bālakāḥ

Dasharha, Nanda, the lord of Vraja, waits to eat until you come. Come, and give the two of us this pleasure — and you other boys, go now, each to your own home.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.11.18)

धूलिधूसरिताङ्गस्त्वं पुत्र मज्जनमावह । जन्मर्क्षं तेऽद्य भवति विप्रेभ्यो देहि गाः शुचिः ॥ 11.18 ॥

dhūli-dhūsaritāṅgas tvaṁ putra majjanam āvaha janmarkṣaṁ te ’dya bhavati viprebhyo dehi gāḥ śuciḥ

My son, your whole body is grey with dust — come and bathe. Today is the day of your birth star; so make yourself pure and give cows in charity to the brahmanas.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.11.19)

पश्य पश्य वयस्यांस्ते मातृमृष्टान्स्वलङ्कृतान् । त्वं च स्नातः कृताहारो विहरस्व स्वलङ्कृतः ॥ 11.19 ॥

paśya paśya vayasyāṁs te mātṛ-mṛṣṭān svalaṅkṛtān tvaṁ ca snātaḥ kṛtāhāro viharasva svalaṅkṛtaḥ

Look, look — all your playmates have already been cleaned and adorned by their mothers. You too must bathe, eat, and put on your ornaments before you go to play again.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.11.20)

इत्थं यशोदा तमशेषशेखरं मत्वा सुतं स्नेहनिबद्धधीर्नृप । हस्ते गृहीत्वा सहराममच्युतं नीत्वा स्ववाटं कृतवत्यथोदयम् ॥ 11.20 ॥

itthaṁ yaśodā tam aśeṣa-śekharaṁ matvā sutaṁ sneha-nibaddha-dhīr nṛpa haste gṛhītvā saha-rāmam acyutaṁ nītvā sva-vāṭaṁ kṛtavaty athodayam

O King, thus Yashoda, her mind bound fast in mother-love, took that peerless child to be truly her own son. Holding Achyuta's hand, together with Rama, she led them home and there completed the rites of bathing, dressing, and feeding them.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.11.21)

श्रीशुक उवाच गोपवृद्धा महोत्पाताननुभूय बृहद्वने । नन्दादयः समागम्य व्रजकार्यममन्त्रयन् ॥ 11.21 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca gopa-vṛddhā mahotpātān anubhūya bṛhadvane nandādayaḥ samāgamya vraja-kāryam amantrayan

Shri Shuka continued: having endured these great calamities in Brihadvana, the elder cowherds led by Nanda gathered together to deliberate on what should now be done for Vraja.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.11.22)

तत्रोपानन्दनामाह गोपो ज्ञानवयोऽधिकः । देशकालार्थतत्त्वज्ञः प्रियकृद् रामकृष्णयोः ॥ 11.22 ॥

tatropananda-nāmāha gopo jñāna-vayo-’dhikaḥ deśa-kālārtha-tattva-jñaḥ priya-kṛd rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

There a cowherd named Upananda, the most advanced of them all in years and understanding, versed in the truth of place, time and circumstance, and ever devoted to the welfare of Rama and Krishna, spoke this counsel.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.11.23)

उत्थातव्यमितोऽस्माभिर्गोकुलस्य हितैषिभिः । आयान्त्यत्र महोत्पाता बालानां नाशहेतवः ॥ 11.23 ॥

utthātavyam ito ’smābhir gokulasya hitaiṣibhiḥ āyānty atra mahotpātā bālānāṁ nāśa-hetavaḥ

He said: as well-wishers of Gokula, we ought now to leave this place, for great calamities keep befalling us here, each one a threat to the lives of these children.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.11.24)

मुक्तः कथञ्चिद्राक्षस्या बालघ्न्या बालको ह्यसौ । हरेरनुग्रहान्नूनमनश्चोपरि नापतत् ॥ 11.24 ॥

muktaḥ kathañcid rākṣasyā bāla-ghnyā bālako hy asau harer anugrahān nūnam anaś copari nāpatat

This child barely escaped that child-slaying demoness, and it was surely by Hari's grace alone that the handcart did not come crashing down upon him.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.11.25)

चक्रवातेन नीतोऽयं दैत्येन विपदं वियत् । शिलायां पतितस्तत्र परित्रातः सुरेश्वरैः ॥ 11.25 ॥

cakra-vātena nīto ’yaṁ daityena vipadaṁ viyat śilāyāṁ patitas tatra paritrātaḥ sureśvaraiḥ

That demon who came as a whirlwind carried him up into the peril of the sky and let him fall upon a rock — and even then he was rescued, by the mercy of the gods.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.11.26)

यन्न म्रियेत द्रुमयोरन्तरं प्राप्य बालकः । असावन्यतमो वापि तदप्यच्युतरक्षणम् ॥ 11.26 ॥

yan na mriyeta drumayor antaraṁ prāpya bālakaḥ asāv anyatamo vāpi tad apy acyuta-rakṣaṇam

And now again, whether this child or any of the others who stood between those two falling trees, not one of them died — this too was none other than Achyuta's own protection.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.11.27)

यावदौत्पातिकोऽरिष्टो व्रजं नाभिभवेदितः । तावद्बालानुपादाय यास्यामोऽन्यत्र सानुगाः ॥ 11.27 ॥

yāvad autpātiko ’riṣṭo vrajaṁ nābhibhaved itaḥ tāvad bālān upādāya yāsyāmo ’nyatra sānugāḥ

Before any further calamity can overtake our Vraja, let us at once gather up the children and, with all our people, move on to some other place.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.11.28)

वनं वृन्दावनं नाम पशव्यं नवकाननम् । गोपगोपीगवां सेव्यं पुण्याद्रितृणवीरुधम् ॥ 11.28 ॥

vanaṁ vṛndāvanaṁ nāma paśavyaṁ nava-kānanam gopa-gopī-gavāṁ sevyaṁ puṇyādri-tṛṇa-vīrudham

There is a forest named Vrindavana, gentle for the herds and thick with fresh groves — a place fit for the cowherds, the cowherd women and the cattle alike, rich with its holy hill, its grasses and its creepers.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.11.29)

तत्तत्राद्यैव यास्यामः शकटान् युङ्त मा चिरम् । गोधनान्यग्रतो यान्तु भवतां यदि रोचते ॥ 11.29 ॥

tat tatrādyaiva yāsyāmaḥ śakaṭān yuṅkta mā ciram godhanāny agrato yāntu bhavatāṁ yadi rocate

So let us set out for it this very day, without any delay — yoke the carts. And if this seems right to you all, let the herds of cattle go ahead of us.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.11.30)

तच्छ्रुत्वैकधियो गोपाः साधु साध्विति वादिनः । व्रजान्स्वान्स्वान्समायुज्य ययू रूढपरिच्छदाः ॥ 11.30 ॥

tac chrutvaika-dhiyo gopāḥ sādhu sādhv iti vādinaḥ vrajān svān svān samāyujya yayū rūḍha-paricchadāḥ

Hearing this, the cowherds all agreed as one, saying, well said, well said — and gathering up each his own household, laden with their goods, they set out at once.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.11.31)

वृद्धान्बालान्स्त्रियो राजन्सर्वोपकरणानि च । अनःस्वारोप्य गोपाला यत्ता आत्तशरासनाः ॥ 11.31 ॥

vṛddhān bālān striyo rājan sarvopakaraṇāni ca anaḥsv āropya gopālā yattā ātta-śarāsanāḥ

O King, placing the old, the children, the women and all their belongings upon the carts, the cowherds set out fully alert, bows and arrows in hand.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.11.32)

गोधनानि पुरस्कृत्य शृङ्गाण्यापूर्य सर्वतः । तूर्यघोषेण महता ययुः सहपुरोहिताः ॥ 11.32 ॥

godhanāni puraskṛtya śṛṅgāṇy āpūrya sarvataḥ tūrya-ghoṣeṇa mahatā yayuḥ saha-purohitāḥ

Driving their herds of cattle before them, blowing their horns on every side, and with their priests beside them, they moved forward amid a great blare of trumpets.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.11.33)

गोप्यो रूढरथा नूत्नकुचकुङ्कुमकान्तयः । कृष्णलीला जगुः प्रीत्या निष्ककण्ठ्यः सुवाससः ॥ 11.33 ॥

gopyo rūḍha-rathā nūtna- kuca-kuṅkuma-kāntayaḥ kṛṣṇa-līlā jaguḥ prītyā niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ

The gopis riding on the carts, their breasts glowing with fresh kumkum, dressed in fine garments and neck ornaments, sang the pastimes of Krishna as they went, their hearts full of love.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.11.34)

तथा यशोदारोहिण्यावेकं शकटमास्थिते । रेजतुः कृष्णरामाभ्यां तत्कथाश्रवणोत्सुके ॥ 11.34 ॥

tathā yaśodā-rohiṇyāv ekaṁ śakaṭam āsthite rejatuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmābhyāṁ tat-kathā-śravaṇotsuke

In the same way Yashoda and Rohini, eager to hear the tale of Rama and Krishna, sat together upon a single cart, and the two of them made it shine with their presence.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.11.35)

वृन्दावनं सम्प्रविश्य सर्वकालसुखावहम् । तत्र चक्रुर्व्रजावासं शकटैरर्धचन्द्रवत् ॥ 11.35 ॥

vṛndāvanaṁ sampraviśya sarva-kāla-sukhāvaham tatra cakrur vrajāvāsaṁ śakaṭair ardha-candravat

Entering Vrindavana, which is pleasant in every season, they arranged their carts there in the shape of a half-moon and made it their new home.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.11.36)

वृन्दावनं गोवर्धनं यमुनापुलिनानि च । वीक्ष्यासीदुत्तमा प्रीती राममाधवयोर्नृप ॥ 11.36 ॥

vṛndāvanaṁ govardhanaṁ yamunā-pulināni ca vīkṣyāsīd uttamā prītī rāma-mādhavayor nṛpa

O King, when Rama and Madhava beheld Vrindavana, Govardhana and the banks of the Yamuna, both of them felt the deepest delight.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.11.37)

एवं व्रजौकसां प्रीतिं यच्छन्तौ बालचेष्टितैः । कलवाक्यैः स्वकालेन वत्सपालौ बभूवतुः ॥ 11.37 ॥

evaṁ vrajaukasāṁ prītiṁ yacchantau bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ kala-vākyaiḥ sva-kālena vatsa-pālau babhūvatuḥ

Thus, delighting the people of Vraja with their childish antics and sweet, half-formed speech, the two of them, in due time, grew old enough to take up the tending of the calves.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.11.38)

अविदूरे व्रजभुवः सह गोपालदारकैः । चारयामासतुर्वत्सान् नानाक्रीडापरिच्छदौ ॥ 11.38 ॥

avidūre vraja-bhuvaḥ saha gopāla-dārakaiḥ cārayām āsatur vatsān nānā-krīḍā-paricchadau

Not far from the settlement of Vraja, together with the other cowherd boys and equipped with all manner of playthings, the two brothers began to graze the calves.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.11.39)

क्वचिद्वादयतो वेणुं क्षेपणैः क्षिपतः क्वचित् । क्वचित्पादैः किङ्किणीभिः क्वचित्कृत्रिमगोवृषैः ॥ 11.39 ॥

kvacid vādayato veṇuṁ kṣepaṇaiḥ kṣipataḥ kvacit kvacit pādaiḥ kiṅkiṇībhiḥ kvacit kṛtrima-go-vṛṣaiḥ

Sometimes playing the flute, sometimes hurling small stones with slings, sometimes making sport with the anklets on their feet, and sometimes with mock bulls fashioned of wood.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.11.40)

वृषायमाणौ नर्दन्तौ युयुधाते परस्परम् । अनुकृत्य रुतैर्जन्तूंश्चेरतुः प्राकृतौ यथा ॥ 11.40 ॥

vṛṣāyamāṇau nardantau yuyudhāte parasparam anukṛtya rutair jantūṁś ceratuḥ prākṛtau yathā

Sometimes, bellowing and roaring like bulls, they would wrestle with one another, and sometimes, mimicking the cries of the animals, they roamed about exactly like any ordinary village boys.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.11.41)

कदाचिद् यमुनातीरे वत्सांश्चारयतोः स्वकैः । वयस्यैः कृष्णबलयोर्जिघांसुर्दैत्य आगमत् ॥ 11.41 ॥

kadācid yamunā-tīre vatsāṁś cārayatoḥ svakaiḥ vayasyaiḥ kṛṣṇa-balayor jighāṁsur daitya āgamat

One day, as Rama and Krishna were grazing the calves on the bank of the Yamuna with their companions, a demon arrived there, bent on killing them.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.11.42)

तं वत्सरूपिणं वीक्ष्य वत्सयूथगतं हरिः । दर्शयन् बलदेवाय शनैर्मुग्ध इवासदत् ॥ 11.42 ॥

taṁ vatsa-rūpiṇaṁ vīkṣya vatsa-yūtha-gataṁ hariḥ darśayan baladevāya śanair mugdha ivāsadat

Seeing that demon disguised as a calf among the herd, Hari pointed him out to Baladeva and then slowly approached him, feigning innocence, as though quite unsuspecting.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.11.43)

गृहीत्वापरपादाभ्यां सहलाङ्गूलमच्युतः । भ्रामयित्वा कपित्थाग्रे प्राहिणोद्गतजीवितम् । स कपित्थैर्महाकायः पात्यमानैः पपात ह ॥ 11.43 ॥

gṛhītvāpara-pādābhyāṁ saha-lāṅgūlam acyutaḥ bhrāmayitvā kapitthāgre prāhiṇod gata-jīvitam sa kapitthair mahā-kāyaḥ pātyamānaiḥ papāta ha

Achyuta seized him by the two hind legs and the tail, whirled him round and round, and flung him lifeless into the top of a kapittha tree — and that huge-bodied demon fell to the ground amid a shower of falling kapittha fruits.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.11.44)

तं वीक्ष्य विस्मिता बालाः शशंसुः साधु साध्विति । देवाश्च परिसन्तुष्टा बभूवुः पुष्पवर्षिणः ॥ 11.44 ॥

taṁ vīkṣya vismitā bālāḥ śaśaṁsuḥ sādhu sādhv iti devāś ca parisantuṣṭā babhūvuḥ puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ

The astonished boys, seeing this, cried out, well done, well done — and up above, the delighted gods showered down flowers.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.11.45)

तौ वत्सपालकौ भूत्वा सर्वलोकैकपालकौ । सप्रातराशौ गोवत्सांश्चारयन्तौ विचेरतुः ॥ 11.45 ॥

tau vatsa-pālakau bhūtvā sarva-lokaika-pālakau saprātar-āśau go-vatsāṁś cārayantau viceratuḥ

Thus the two of them, though the sole sustainers of all the worlds, having become mere herders of calves, took their morning meal and wandered here and there, tending the young cattle.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.11.46)

स्वं स्वं वत्सकुलं सर्वे पाययिष्यन्त एकदा । गत्वा जलाशयाभ्याशं पाययित्वा पपुर्जलम् ॥ 11.46 ॥

svaṁ svaṁ vatsa-kulaṁ sarve pāyayiṣyanta ekadā gatvā jalāśayābhyāśaṁ pāyayitvā papur jalam

One day all the boys, each with his own group of calves, went to a nearby pool to give them water, and once the calves had drunk, the boys drank there themselves.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.11.47)

ते तत्र ददृशुर्बाला महासत्त्वमवस्थितम् । तत्रसुर्वज्रनिर्भिन्नं गिरेः शृङ्गमिव च्युतम् ॥ 11.47 ॥

te tatra dadṛśur bālā mahā-sattvam avasthitam tatrasur vajra-nirbhinnaṁ gireḥ śṛṅgam iva cyutam

There the boys saw an enormous body lying still, as though it were a mountain peak that had broken off and fallen after a lightning strike, and the sight left them terrified.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.11.48)

स वै बको नाम महानसुरो बकरूपधृक् । आगत्य सहसा कृष्णं तीक्ष्णतुण्डोऽग्रसद् बली ॥ 11.48 ॥

sa vai bako nāma mahān asuro baka-rūpa-dhṛk āgatya sahasā kṛṣṇaṁ tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍo ’grasad balī

It was in truth a mighty demon named Baka, who had taken the form of a gigantic crane. That sharp-beaked, powerful demon came upon them suddenly and swallowed Krishna whole.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.11.49)

कृष्णं महाबकग्रस्तं दृष्ट्वा रामादयोऽर्भकाः । बभूवुरिन्द्रियाणीव विना प्राणं विचेतसः ॥ 11.49 ॥

kṛṣṇaṁ mahā-baka-grastaṁ dṛṣṭvā rāmādayo ’rbhakāḥ babhūvur indriyāṇīva vinā prāṇaṁ vicetasaḥ

Seeing Krishna swallowed by the enormous crane-demon, Balarama and the other boys went utterly numb, like senses left without the life-breath that animates them.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.11.50)

तं तालुमूलं प्रदहन्तमग्निवद् गोपालसूनुं पितरं जगद्गुरोः । चच्छर्द सद्योऽतिरुषाक्षतं बक- स्तुण्डेन हन्तुं पुनरभ्यपद्यत ॥ 11.50 ॥

taṁ tālu-mūlaṁ pradahantam agnivad gopāla-sūnuṁ pitaraṁ jagad-guroḥ caccharda sadyo ’tiruṣākṣataṁ bakas tuṇḍena hantuṁ punar abhyapadyata

That cowherd's son, who is himself father to the teacher of all the worlds, began to burn the base of the demon's palate like a raging fire, so that Baka, wild with fury, instantly disgorged him unharmed — yet, seeing him unhurt, the demon lunged once more with his beak to kill him.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.11.51)

तमापतन्तं स निगृह्य तुण्डयो- र्दोर्भ्यां बकं कंससखं सतां पतिः । पश्यत्सु बालेषु ददार लीलया मुदावहो वीरणवद् दिवौकसाम् ॥ 11.51 ॥

tam āpatantaṁ sa nigṛhya tuṇḍayor dorbhyāṁ bakaṁ kaṁsa-sakhaṁ satāṁ patiḥ paśyatsu bāleṣu dadāra līlayā mudāvaho vīraṇavad divaukasām

As Baka, that friend of Kamsa, lunged forward, the lord of the pure of heart seized him by the two halves of his beak, and before the eyes of all the boys, split him apart as easily as a child splits a blade of virana grass — and in this the dwellers of heaven found the greatest delight.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.11.52)

तदा बकारिं सुरलोकवासिनः समाकिरन् नन्दनमल्लिकादिभिः । समीडिरे चानकशङ्खसंस्तवै- स्तद् वीक्ष्य गोपालसुता विसिस्मिरे ॥ 11.52 ॥

tadā bakāriṁ sura-loka-vāsinaḥ samākiran nandana-mallikādibhiḥ samīḍire cānaka-śaṅkha-saṁstavais tad vīkṣya gopāla-sutā visismire

Then the dwellers of the heavenly realm rained down mallika blossoms and other flowers from the Nandana groves upon the slayer of Baka, and honored him with the sounding of kettledrums, conches, and hymns of praise — and seeing all this, the cowherd boys were struck with wonder.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.10.11.53)

मुक्तं बकास्यादुपलभ्य बालका रामादयः प्राणमिवेन्द्रियो गणः । स्थानागतं तं परिरभ्य निर्वृताः प्रणीय वत्सान् व्रजमेत्य तज्जगुः ॥ 11.53 ॥

muktaṁ bakāsyād upalabhya bālakā rāmādayaḥ prāṇam ivendriyo gaṇaḥ sthānāgataṁ taṁ parirabhya nirvṛtāḥ praṇīya vatsān vrajam etya taj jaguḥ

On seeing Krishna delivered from Baka's mouth, Balarama and the other boys rejoiced as though the senses had regained their life-breath; they embraced him warmly as he returned to his place, then gathered up the calves and hurried back to Vraja to tell what had happened.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.10.11.54)

श्रुत्वा तद्विस्मिता गोपा गोप्यश्चातिप्रियादृताः । प्रेत्यागतमिवोत्सुक्यादैक्षन्त तृषितेक्षणाः ॥ 11.54 ॥

śrutvā tad vismitā gopā gopyaś cātipriyādṛtāḥ pretyāgatam ivotsukyād aikṣanta tṛṣitekṣaṇāḥ

Hearing this, the cowherd men and women, astonished and overflowing with tenderness, gazed at them with thirsting eyes and eager hearts, as though they had returned from the very jaws of death.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.10.11.55)

अहो बतास्य बालस्य बहवो मृत्यवोऽभवन् । अप्यासीद् विप्रियं तेषां कृतं पूर्वं यतो भयम् ॥ 11.55 ॥

aho batāsya bālasya bahavo mṛtyavo ’bhavan apy āsīd vipriyaṁ teṣāṁ kṛtaṁ pūrvaṁ yato bhayam

They said: how strange it is — so many forms of death have come against this child, and yet, again and again, it is those very causes of fear that have met their ruin.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.10.11.56)

अथाप्यभिभवन्त्येनं नैव ते घोरदर्शनाः । जिघांसयैनमासाद्य नश्यन्त्यग्नौ पतङ्गवत् ॥ 11.56 ॥

athāpy abhibhavanty enaṁ naiva te ghora-darśanāḥ jighāṁsayainam āsādya naśyanty agnau pataṅgavat

However terrible their appearance, these demons never manage to overpower him — the moment they approach, meaning to kill him, they perish like moths falling into a flame.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.10.11.57)

अहो ब्रह्मविदां वाचो नासत्याः सन्ति कर्हिचित् । गर्गो यदाह भगवानन्वभावि तथैव तत् ॥ 11.57 ॥

aho brahma-vidāṁ vāco nāsatyāḥ santi karhicit gargo yad āha bhagavān anvabhāvi tathaiva tat

Ah, the words of those who know Brahman never prove false — everything the venerable Garga foretold is coming to pass exactly as he said.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.10.11.58)

इति नन्दादयो गोपाः कृष्णरामकथां मुदा । कुर्वन्तो रममाणाश्च नाविन्दन् भववेदनाम् ॥ 11.58 ॥

iti nandādayo gopāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāma-kathāṁ mudā kurvanto ramamāṇāś ca nāvindan bhava-vedanām

In this way the cowherds headed by Nanda, delighting again and again in telling the stories of Krishna and Balarama, lost themselves so completely in them that they scarcely felt the pains of worldly life.

Verse 59 (bhagavata.10.11.59)

एवं विहारैः कौमारैः कौमारं जहतुर्व्रजे । निलायनैः सेतुबन्धैर्मर्कटोत्प्लवनादिभिः ॥ 11.59 ॥

evaṁ vihāraiḥ kaumāraiḥ kaumāraṁ jahatur vraje nilāyanaiḥ setu-bandhair markaṭotplavanādibhiḥ

Thus, engaged in the playful games of childhood — hiding and seeking, building make-believe bridges, leaping about like monkeys, and the like — the two of them passed their early years in Vraja.