The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.15.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच ततश्च पौगण्डवयःश्रीतौ व्रजे बभूवतुस्तौ पशुपालसम्मतौ । गाश्चारयन्तौ सखिभिः समं पदै- र्वृन्दावनं पुण्यमतीव चक्रतुः ॥ 15.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tataś ca paugaṇḍa-vayaḥ-śrītau vraje babhūvatus tau paśu-pāla-sammatau gāś cārayantau sakhibhiḥ samaṁ padair vṛndāvanaṁ puṇyam atīva cakratuḥ

Shri Shuka said: thereafter, having reached the paugandaka age there in Vraja, the two were now deemed by the cowherds fit to tend the cows themselves; and grazing them together with their friends, they made Vrindavana most sacred with the very print of their feet.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.15.2)

तन्माधवो वेणुमुदीरयन् वृतो गोपैर्गृणद्भिः स्वयशो बलान्वितः । पशून् पुरस्कृत्य पशव्यमाविशद् विहर्तुकामः कुसुमाकरं वनम् ॥ 15.2 ॥

tan mādhavo veṇum udīrayan vṛto gopair gṛṇadbhiḥ sva-yaśo balānvitaḥ paśūn puraskṛtya paśavyam āviśad vihartu-kāmaḥ kusumākaraṁ vanam

Sounding his flute, encircled by cowherds singing his own glory, and together with Balarama, Madhava drove the cattle before him and, longing for play, entered that flower-rich forest, so kind to the herds.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.15.3)

तन्मञ्जुघोषालिमृगद्विजाकुलं महन्मनःप्रख्यपयःसरस्वता । वातेन जुष्टं शतपत्रगन्धिना निरीक्ष्य रन्तुं भगवान् मनो दधे ॥ 15.3 ॥

tan mañju-ghoṣāli-mṛga-dvijākulaṁ mahan-manaḥ-prakhya-payaḥ-sarasvatā vātena juṣṭaṁ śata-patra-gandhinā nirīkṣya rantuṁ bhagavān mano dadhe

Seeing that forest, filled with the sweet murmur of bees, animals and birds, graced by a lake as clear as the minds of the great, and stirred by a breeze carrying the scent of hundred-petaled lotuses, Bhagavan resolved to make his play right there.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.15.4)

स तत्र तत्रारुणपल्लवश्रिया फलप्रसूनोरुभरेण पादयोः । स्पृशच्छिखान् वीक्ष्य वनस्पतीन् मुदा स्मयन्निवाहाग्रजमादिपूरुषः ॥ 15.4 ॥

sa tatra tatrāruṇa-pallava-śriyā phala-prasūnoru-bhareṇa pādayoḥ spṛśac chikhān vīkṣya vanaspatīn mudā smayann ivāhāgra-jam ādi-pūruṣaḥ

Seeing on every side those forest trees, resplendent with reddish new leaves, bowed down under the weight of fruit and flower, touching his very feet with the tips of their branches, the primeval Person said to his elder brother, as though smiling.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.15.5)

श्रीभगवानुवाच अहो अमी देववरामरार्चितं पादाम्बुजं ते सुमनःफलार्हणम् । नमन्त्युपादाय शिखाभिरात्मन- स्तमोऽपहत्यै तरुजन्म यत्कृतम् ॥ 15.5 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca aho amī deva-varāmarārcitaṁ pādāmbujaṁ te sumanaḥ-phalārhaṇam namanty upādāya śikhābhir ātmanas tamo-’pahatyai taru-janma yat-kṛtam

Bhagavan said: see, O best of all, how these trees bow down, bending their very tops, offering flowers and fruit to those lotus feet of yours worshiped even by the immortal gods — as if to dispel the very darkness that gave them birth as mere trees.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.15.6)

एतेऽलिनस्तव यशोऽखिललोकतीर्थं गायन्त आदिपुरुषानुपथं भजन्ते । प्रायो अमी मुनिगणा भवदीयमुख्या गूढं वनेऽपि न जहत्यनघात्मदैवम् ॥ 15.6 ॥

ete ’linas tava yaśo ’khila-loka-tīrthaṁ gāyanta ādi-puruṣānupathaṁ bhajante prāyo amī muni-gaṇā bhavadīya-mukhyā gūḍhaṁ vane ’pi na jahaty anaghātma-daivam

These bees, singing your glory — itself a holy tilirtha for the whole world — worship you, O primeval Person, by following you step by step. They must surely be your own foremost sages, O sinless one, for even here, hidden away in this forest, they refuse to abandon their chosen deity.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.15.7)

नृत्यन्त्यमी शिखिन ईड्य मुदा हरिण्यः कुर्वन्ति गोप्य इव ते प्रियमीक्षणेन । सूक्तैश्च कोकिलगणा गृहमागताय धन्या वनौकस इयान् हि सतां निसर्गः ॥ 15.7 ॥

nṛtyanty amī śikhina īḍya mudā hariṇyaḥ kurvanti gopya iva te priyam īkṣaṇena sūktaiś ca kokila-gaṇā gṛham āgatāya dhanyā vanaukasa iyān hi satāṁ nisargaḥ

O worthy of praise, these peacocks dance for very joy, these does please you with their glances just as the gopis do, and these cuckoos welcome you home to this forest with their sweet notes — how blessed are these forest dwellers, for such, indeed, is the very nature of the good.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.15.8)

धन्येयमद्य धरणी तृणवीरुधस्त्वत्- पादस्पृशो द्रुमलताः करजाभिमृष्टाः । नद्योऽद्रयः खगमृगाः सदयावलोकै- र्गोप्योऽन्तरेण भुजयोरपि यत्स्पृहा श्रीः ॥ 15.8 ॥

dhanyeyam adya dharaṇī tṛṇa-vīrudhas tvat- pāda-spṛśo druma-latāḥ karajābhimṛṣṭāḥ nadyo ’drayaḥ khaga-mṛgāḥ sadayāvalokair gopyo ’ntareṇa bhujayor api yat-spṛhā śrīḥ

This earth is truly blessed today — her grasses and shrubs blessed by the touch of your feet, her trees and creepers blessed by the touch of your nails, her rivers, mountains, birds and beasts blessed by your compassionate glance — but the gopis you have gathered within your own two arms, and that is a fortune even the goddess of prosperity herself might envy.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.15.9)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं वृन्दावनं श्रीमत् कृष्णः प्रीतमनाः पशून् । रेमे सञ्चारयन्नद्रेः सरिद्रोधःसु सानुगः ॥ 15.9 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ vṛndāvanaṁ śrīmat kṛṣṇaḥ prīta-manāḥ paśūn reme sañcārayann adreḥ sarid-rodhaḥsu sānugaḥ

Shri Shuka said: thus, well pleased, Krishna sported in beautiful Vrindavana, tending the herds along the banks of the river beneath the hill, his friends about him.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.15.10)

क्वचिद् गायति गायत्सु मदान्धालिष्वनुव्रतैः । उपगीयमानचरितः पथि सङ्कर्षणान्वितः ॥ 15.10 ॥

kvacid gāyati gāyatsu madāndhāliṣv anuvrataiḥ upagīyamāna-caritaḥ pathi saṅkarṣaṇānvitaḥ

Sometimes he would sing along with the bees, drunk on their own honey and singing themselves, and as he walked the path with Sankarshana, his companions would sing his own deeds behind him.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.15.11)

अनुजल्पति जल्पन्तं कलवाक्यैः शुकं क्वचित् । क्वचित्सवल्गु कूजन्तमनुकूजति कोकिलम् । क्वचिच्च कालहंसानामनुकूजति कूजितम् । अभिनृत्यति नृत्यन्तं बर्हिणं हासयन् क्वचित् ॥ 15.11 ॥

anujalpati jalpantaṁ kala-vākyaiḥ śukaṁ kvacit kvacit sa-valgu kūjantam anukūjati kokilam kvacic ca kāla-haṁsānām anukūjati kūjitam abhinṛtyati nṛtyantaṁ barhiṇaṁ hāsayan kvacit

Sometimes he echoed a chattering parrot's sweet syllables, sometimes he answered a cooing cuckoo in kind, sometimes he mimicked the call of swans, and sometimes, to the delight of his companions, he danced right along with a dancing peacock.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.15.12)

मेघगम्भीरया वाचा नामभिर्दूरगान् पशून् । क्वचिदाह्वयति प्रीत्या गोगोपालमनोज्ञया ॥ 15.12 ॥

megha-gambhīrayā vācā nāmabhir dūra-gān paśūn kvacid āhvayati prītyā go-gopāla-manojñayā

And sometimes, in a voice deep as thunderclouds, he would fondly call by name the animals that had strayed far off, in a voice so sweet that both cows and cowherds found it enchanting.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.15.13)

चकोरक्रौञ्चचक्राह्वभारद्वाजांश्च बर्हिणः । अनुरौति स्म सत्त्वानां भीतवद् व्याघ्रसिंहयोः ॥ 15.13 ॥

cakora-krauñca-cakrāhva- bhāradvājāṁś ca barhiṇaḥ anurauti sma sattvānāṁ bhīta-vad vyāghra-siṁhayoḥ

He mimicked the cries of the chakora, the krauncha, the chakravaka, the bharadvaja bird and the peacock, and sometimes, as though frightened, he played at fleeing just like animals scattering before a tiger or a lion.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.15.14)

क्वचित् क्रीडापरिश्रान्तं गोपोत्सङ्गोपबर्हणम् । स्वयं विश्रमयत्यार्यं पादसंवाहनादिभिः ॥ 15.14 ॥

kvacit krīḍā-pariśrāntaṁ gopotsaṅgopabarhaṇam svayaṁ viśramayaty āryaṁ pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ

Sometimes, when his elder brother lay tired from play, his head resting on some cowherd boy's lap, Krishna himself would ease his weariness, massaging his feet and tending to him.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.15.15)

नृत्यतो गायतः क्वापि वल्गतो युध्यतो मिथः । गृहीतहस्तौ गोपालान् हसन्तौ प्रशशंसतुः ॥ 15.15 ॥

nṛtyato gāyataḥ kvāpi valgato yudhyato mithaḥ gṛhīta-hastau gopālān hasantau praśaśaṁsatuḥ

Wherever the cowherd boys danced, sang, leapt about, or wrestled playfully with one another, the two brothers, hand in hand, would stand by, laughing and praising them.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.15.16)

क्वचित् पल्लवतल्पेषु नियुद्धश्रमकर्शितः । वृक्षमूलाश्रयः शेते गोपोत्सङ्गोपबर्हणः ॥ 15.16 ॥

kvacit pallava-talpeṣu niyuddha-śrama-karśitaḥ vṛkṣa-mūlāśrayaḥ śete gopotsaṅgopabarhaṇaḥ

Sometimes, worn out from the exertion of wrestling, he would lie down at the foot of some tree, upon a bed of tender leaves, using a cowherd friend's lap for a pillow.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.15.17)

पादसंवाहनं चक्रुः केचित्तस्य महात्मनः । अपरे हतपाप्मानो व्यजनैः समवीजयन् ॥ 15.17 ॥

pāda-saṁvāhanaṁ cakruḥ kecit tasya mahātmanaḥ apare hata-pāpmāno vyajanaiḥ samavījayan

Some of the boys would then massage the feet of that great soul, while others, sinless souls themselves, gently fanned him.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.15.18)

अन्ये तदनुरूपाणि मनोज्ञानि महात्मनः । गायन्ति स्म महाराज स्नेहक्लिन्नधियः शनैः ॥ 15.18 ॥

anye tad-anurūpāṇi manojñāni mahātmanaḥ gāyanti sma mahā-rāja sneha-klinna-dhiyaḥ śanaiḥ

O great King, still other boys, their hearts melted with love, would softly sing songs fitting for that great soul.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.15.19)

एवं निगूढात्मगतिः स्वमायया गोपात्मजत्वं चरितैर्विडम्बयन् । रेमे रमालालितपादपल्लवो ग्राम्यैः समं ग्राम्यवदीशचेष्टितः ॥ 15.19 ॥

evaṁ nigūḍhātma-gatiḥ sva-māyayā gopātmajatvaṁ caritair viḍambayan reme ramā-lālita-pāda-pallavo grāmyaiḥ samaṁ grāmya-vad īśa-ceṣṭitaḥ

Thus, concealing his own deep glory beneath his own illusion, playing out through his deeds the guise of a mere cowherd's son, that Lord whose lotus feet are tenderly cherished by the goddess of fortune herself sported among common villagers just like any village boy.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.15.20)

श्रीदामा नाम गोपालो रामकेशवयोः सखा । सुबलस्तोककृष्णाद्या गोपाः प्रेम्णेदमब्रुवन् ॥ 15.20 ॥

śrīdāmā nāma gopālo rāma-keśavayoḥ sakhā subala-stokakṛṣṇādyā gopāḥ premṇedam abruvan

One day the cowherd boy named Shridama, close friend of Rama and Keshava, together with Subala, Stokakrishna and the other cowherds, spoke lovingly as follows.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.15.21)

राम राम महाबाहो कृष्ण दुष्टनिबर्हण । इतोऽविदूरे सुमहद् वनं तालालिसङ्कुलम् ॥ 15.21 ॥

rāma rāma mahā-bāho kṛṣṇa duṣṭa-nibarhaṇa ito ’vidūre su-mahad vanaṁ tālāli-saṅkulam

They said: O mighty-armed Rama, Rama! O Krishna, destroyer of the wicked! Not far from here lies a great forest, thick with rows of palm trees.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.15.22)

फलानि तत्र भूरीणि पतन्ति पतितानि च । सन्ति किन्त्ववरुद्धानि धेनुकेन दुरात्मना ॥ 15.22 ॥

phalāni tatra bhūrīṇi patanti patitāni ca santi kintv avaruddhāni dhenukena durātmanā

There abundant fruit keeps falling, and much lies fallen already, but all of it is held under guard by that evil-hearted Dhenuka.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.15.23)

सोऽतिवीर्योऽसुरो राम हे कृष्ण खररूपधृक् । आत्मतुल्यबलैरन्यैर्ज्ञातिभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः ॥ 15.23 ॥

so ’ti-vīryo ’suro rāma he kṛṣṇa khara-rūpa-dhṛk ātma-tulya-balair anyair jñātibhir bahubhir vṛtaḥ

O Rama, O Krishna, that demon, wearing the form of an ass, is possessed of tremendous strength, and he is surrounded besides by many kinsmen just as powerful as himself.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.15.24)

तस्मात् कृतनराहाराद् भीतैर्नृभिरमित्रहन् । न सेव्यते पशुगणैः पक्षिसङ्घैर्विवर्जितम् ॥ 15.24 ॥

tasmāt kṛta-narāhārād bhītair nṛbhir amitra-han na sevyate paśu-gaṇaiḥ pakṣi-saṅghair vivarjitam

O slayer of foes, he has even devoured men, and so frightened people avoid the place entirely — even the birds have deserted that forest, where not even the beasts will venture.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.15.25)

विद्यन्तेऽभुक्तपूर्वाणि फलानि सुरभीणि च । एष वै सुरभिर्गन्धो विषूचीनोऽवगृह्यते ॥ 15.25 ॥

vidyante ’bhukta-pūrvāṇi phalāni surabhīṇi ca eṣa vai surabhir gandho viṣūcīno ’vagṛhyate

There are fragrant fruits there such as no one has ever tasted before — see, even now we can catch that very sweetness, spreading all around us from that place.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.15.26)

प्रयच्छ तानि नः कृष्ण गन्धलोभितचेतसाम् । वाञ्छास्ति महती राम गम्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ 15.26 ॥

prayaccha tāni naḥ kṛṣṇa gandha-lobhita-cetasām vāñchāsti mahatī rāma gamyatāṁ yadi rocate

Krishna, our minds are quite carried away by that fragrance — do get us some of that fruit. Rama, we long for it greatly — if it seems good to you, let us go there.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.15.27)

एवं सुहृद्वचः श्रुत्वा सुहृत्प्रियचिकीर्षया । प्रहस्य जग्मतुर्गोपैर्वृतौ तालवनं प्रभू ॥ 15.27 ॥

evaṁ suhṛd-vacaḥ śrutvā suhṛt-priya-cikīrṣayā prahasya jagmatur gopair vṛtau tālavanaṁ prabhū

Hearing these words of their friends, and wishing to please them, the two Lords, laughing, set off for the palm forest, surrounded by the cowherd boys.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.15.28)

बलः प्रविश्य बाहुभ्यां तालान् सम्परिकम्पयन् । फलानि पातयामास मतङ्गज इवौजसा ॥ 15.28 ॥

balaḥ praviśya bāhubhyāṁ tālān samparikampayan phalāni pātayām āsa mataṅ-gaja ivaujasā

Bala, entering the forest, began shaking the palm trees with his two arms, with the sheer force of a rutting elephant, bringing down the fruit.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.15.29)

फलानां पततां शब्दं निशम्यासुररासभः । अभ्यधावत् क्षितितलं सनगं परिकम्पयन् ॥ 15.29 ॥

phalānāṁ patatāṁ śabdaṁ niśamyāsura-rāsabhaḥ abhyadhāvat kṣiti-talaṁ sa-nagaṁ parikampayan

Hearing the sound of the falling fruit, the ass-demon came charging forward, shaking the very ground and the trees upon it.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.15.30)

समेत्य तरसा प्रत्यग् द्वाभ्यां पद्भ्यां बलं बली । निहत्योरसि काशब्दं मुञ्चन् पर्यसरत् खलः ॥ 15.30 ॥

sametya tarasā pratyag dvābhyāṁ padbhyāṁ balaṁ balī nihatyorasi kā-śabdaṁ muñcan paryasarat khalaḥ

That powerful, wicked creature rushed up to Bala and struck his chest sharply with both hind legs, then went careening about, braying loudly.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.15.31)

पुनरासाद्य संरब्ध उपक्रोष्टा पराक् स्थितः । चरणावपरौ राजन् बलाय प्राक्षिपद् रुषा ॥ 15.31 ॥

punar āsādya saṁrabdha upakroṣṭā parāk sthitaḥ caraṇāv aparau rājan balāya prākṣipad ruṣā

O King, enraged, he came at him once more, and turning his back to Bala, kicked out his two hind legs in fury.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.15.32)

स तं गृहीत्वा प्रपदोर्भ्रामयित्वैकपाणिना । चिक्षेप तृणराजाग्रे भ्रामणत्यक्तजीवितम् ॥ 15.32 ॥

sa taṁ gṛhītvā prapador bhrāmayitvaika-pāṇinā cikṣepa tṛṇa-rājāgre bhrāmaṇa-tyakta-jīvitam

Bala seized him by the forelegs and whirled him around with a single hand, and by that very whirling the demon's life left his body — then Bala flung him into the top of the tallest palm tree.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.15.33)

तेनाहतो महातालो वेपमानो बृहच्छिराः । पार्श्वस्थं कम्पयन् भग्नः स चान्यं सोऽपि चापरम् ॥ 15.33 ॥

tenāhato mahā-tālo vepamāno bṛhac-chirāḥ pārśva-sthaṁ kampayan bhagnaḥ sa cānyaṁ so ’pi cāparam

The great palm tree struck by him shook, its tall crown broken, and toppling, it shook the tree beside it, and that one shook another still, and so on.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.15.34)

बलस्य लीलयोत्सृष्टखरदेहहताहताः । तालाश्चकम्पिरे सर्वे महावातेरिता इव ॥ 15.34 ॥

balasya līlayotsṛṣṭa- khara-deha-hatāhatāḥ tālāś cakampire sarve mahā-vāteritā iva

Struck again and again by the ass-body that Bala's play had flung, all those palm trees shook exactly as though a violent gale had swept through them.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.15.35)

नैतच्चित्रं भगवति ह्यनन्ते जगदीश्वरे । ओतप्रोतमिदं यस्मिंस्तन्तुष्वङ्ग यथा पटः ॥ 15.35 ॥

naitac citraṁ bhagavati hy anante jagad-īśvare ota-protam idaṁ yasmiṁs tantuṣv aṅga yathā paṭaḥ

None of this is any wonder, for Bhagavan is the infinite lord of the whole universe — this entire creation is woven into him exactly as a cloth is woven, my dear one, into its own warp and weft.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.15.36)

ततः कृष्णं च रामं च ज्ञातयो धेनुकस्य ये । क्रोष्टारोऽभ्यद्रवन् सर्वे संरब्धा हतबान्धवाः ॥ 15.36 ॥

tataḥ kṛṣṇaṁ ca rāmaṁ ca jñātayo dhenukasya ye kroṣṭāro ’bhyadravan sarve saṁrabdhā hata-bāndhavāḥ

Then the other kinsmen of Dhenuka, all those ass-demons enraged at the death of their kinsman, charged together at Krishna and Rama.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.15.37)

तांस्तानापततः कृष्णो रामश्च नृप लीलया । गृहीतपश्चाच्चरणान् प्राहिणोत्तृणराजसु ॥ 15.37 ॥

tāṁs tān āpatataḥ kṛṣṇo rāmaś ca nṛpa līlayā gṛhīta-paścāc-caraṇān prāhiṇot tṛṇa-rājasu

O King, as they charged, Krishna and Rama seized each one, with the greatest ease, by its hind legs, and hurled it up into the palm trees.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.15.38)

फलप्रकरसङ्कीर्णं दैत्यदेहैर्गतासुभिः । रराज भूः सतालाग्रैर्घनैरिव नभस्तलम् ॥ 15.38 ॥

phala-prakara-saṅkīrṇaṁ daitya-dehair gatāsubhiḥ rarāja bhūḥ sa-tālāgrair ghanair iva nabhas-talam

That ground, strewn with heaps of fallen fruit and the lifeless bodies of the demons, together with the broken tops of the palm trees, shone forth just like a sky filled with clouds.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.15.39)

तयोस्तत् सुमहत् कर्म निशम्य विबुधादयः । मुमुचुः पुष्पवर्षाणि चक्रुर्वाद्यानि तुष्टुवुः ॥ 15.39 ॥

tayos tat su-mahat karma niśamya vibudhādayaḥ mumucuḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi cakrur vādyāni tuṣṭuvuḥ

Hearing of this mighty feat of the two brothers, the gods and others showered down flowers, sounded their instruments, and offered their praises.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.15.40)

अथ तालफलान्यादन्मनुष्या गतसाध्वसाः । तृणं च पशवश्चेरुर्हतधेनुककानने ॥ 15.40 ॥

atha tāla-phalāny ādan manuṣyā gata-sādhvasāḥ tṛṇaṁ ca paśavaś cerur hata-dhenuka-kānane

Then people, their fear gone, ate the palm fruit freely, and once Dhenuka lay slain, the cattle too roamed that forest grazing without any fear at all.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.15.41)

कृष्णः कमलपत्राक्षः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः । स्तूयमानोऽनुगैर्गोपैः साग्रजो व्रजमाव्रजत् ॥ 15.41 ॥

kṛṣṇaḥ kamala-patrākṣaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ stūyamāno ’nugair gopaiḥ sāgrajo vrajam āvrajat

Then Krishna, lotus-petal-eyed, whose story and praise alone are the highest merit, returned to Vraja together with his elder brother, glorified all the way by the cowherd boys who followed him.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.15.42)

तं गोरजश्छुरितकुन्तलबद्धबर्ह- वन्यप्रसूनरुचिरेक्षणचारुहासम् । वेणुम्क्वणन्तमनुगैरुपगीतकीर्तिं गोप्यो दिदृक्षितदृशोऽभ्यगमन् समेताः ॥ 15.42 ॥

taṁ gorajaś-churita-kuntala-baddha-barha- vanya-prasūna-rucirekṣaṇa-cāru-hāsam veṇum kvaṇantam anugair upagīta-kīrtiṁ gopyo didṛkṣita-dṛśo ’bhyagaman sametāḥ

His hair grey with the dust of the cattle, a peacock feather and forest blossoms tucked in it, his eyes lovely and his smile charming, playing his flute while his own glory was sung by his companions — the gopis, their eyes eager for the sight of him, all came out together to meet him.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.15.43)

पीत्वा मुकुन्दमुखसारघमक्षिभृङ्गै- स्तापं जहुर्विरहजं व्रजयोषितोऽह्नि । तत्सत्कृतिं समधिगम्य विवेश गोष्ठं सव्रीडहासविनयं यदपाङ्गमोक्षम् ॥ 15.43 ॥

pītvā mukunda-mukha-sāragham akṣi-bhṛṅgais tāpaṁ jahur viraha-jaṁ vraja-yoṣito ’hni tat sat-kṛtiṁ samadhigamya viveśa goṣṭhaṁ savrīḍa-hāsa-vinayaṁ yad apāṅga-mokṣam

Drinking, with their bee-like eyes, the honey of Mukunda's face, the women of Vraja forgot the day's whole ache of separation; and taking their sidelong glances — shy, laughing, deferential — as the truest offering of welcome, he entered the cow-pen.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.15.44)

तयोर्यशोदारोहिण्यौ पुत्रयोः पुत्रवत्सले । यथाकामं यथाकालं व्यधत्तां परमाशिषः ॥ 15.44 ॥

tayor yaśodā-rohiṇyau putrayoḥ putra-vatsale yathā-kāmaṁ yathā-kālaṁ vyadhattāṁ paramāśiṣaḥ

Yashoda and Rohini, both so tender toward their sons, showered every choicest blessing upon the two of them, each just as the moment and their sons' own wishes called for.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.15.45)

गताध्वानश्रमौ तत्र मज्जनोन्मर्दनादिभिः । नीवीं वसित्वा रुचिरां दिव्यस्रग्गन्धमण्डितौ ॥ 15.45 ॥

gatādhvāna-śramau tatra majjanonmardanādibhiḥ nīvīṁ vasitvā rucirāṁ divya-srag-gandha-maṇḍitau

There, their bath and massage washing away the weariness of the road, and dressed in fine waistcloths, adorned with heavenly garlands and fragrances, the two of them shone bright.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.15.46)

जनन्युपहृतं प्राश्य स्वाद्वन्नमुपलालितौ । संविश्य वरशय्यायां सुखं सुषुपतुर्व्रजे ॥ 15.46 ॥

janany-upahṛtaṁ prāśya svādy annam upalālitau saṁviśya vara-śayyāyāṁ sukhaṁ suṣupatur vraje

Enjoying the delicious food their mothers offered, coddled with every affection, they lay down upon fine beds and slept soundly there in Vraja.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.15.47)

एवं स भगवान् कृष्णो वृन्दावनचरः क्वचित् । ययौ राममृते राजन् कालिन्दीं सखिभिर्वृतः ॥ 15.47 ॥

evaṁ sa bhagavān kṛṣṇo vṛndāvana-caraḥ kvacit yayau rāmam ṛte rājan kālindīṁ sakhibhir vṛtaḥ

O King, thus did Bhagavan Krishna wander about Vrindavana at his play; and once, without Balarama, surrounded only by his own friends, he went to the Kalindi river.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.15.48)

अथ गावश्च गोपाश्च निदाघातपपीडिताः । दुष्टं जलं पपुस्तस्यास्तृष्णार्ता विषदूषितम् ॥ 15.48 ॥

atha gāvaś ca gopāś ca nidāghātapa-pīḍitāḥ duṣṭaṁ jalaṁ papus tasyās tṛṣṇārtā viṣa-dūṣitam

At that time the cows and cowherds, scorched by the fierce summer sun, tormented by thirst, drank of that river's tainted water, which had become fouled with poison.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.15.49)

विषाम्भस्तदुपस्पृश्य दैवोपहतचेतसः । निपेतुर्व्यसवः सर्वे सलिलान्ते कुरूद्वह ॥ 15.49 ॥

viṣāmbhas tad upaspṛśya daivopahata-cetasaḥ nipetur vyasavaḥ sarve salilānte kurūdvaha

O foremost of the Kurus, no sooner had they touched that poisoned water than, by some divine working, their consciousness left them, and every one of them fell lifeless right there at the water's edge.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.15.50)

वीक्ष्य तान् वै तथाभूतान् कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वरः । ईक्षयामृतवर्षिण्या स्वनाथान् समजीवयत् ॥ 15.50 ॥

vīkṣya tān vai tathā-bhūtān kṛṣṇo yogeśvareśvaraḥ īkṣayāmṛta-varṣiṇyā sva-nāthān samajīvayat

Seeing them in that state, Krishna, the very lord of the masters of yoga, seeing his own dependents fallen thus, brought them back to life with nothing but a single glance, raining nectar down upon them.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.15.51)

ते सम्प्रतीतस्मृतयः समुत्थाय जलान्तिकात् । आसन् सुविस्मिताः सर्वे वीक्षमाणाः परस्परम् ॥ 15.51 ॥

te sampratīta-smṛtayaḥ samutthāya jalāntikāt āsan su-vismitāḥ sarve vīkṣamāṇāḥ parasparam

Coming fully back to their senses, they rose up there by the water's edge and, utterly astonished, stood gazing at one another.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.15.52)

अन्वमंसत तद् राजन् गोविन्दानुग्रहेक्षितम् । पीत्वा विषं परेतस्य पुनरुत्थानमात्मनः ॥ 15.52 ॥

anvamaṁsata tad rājan govindānugrahekṣitam pītvā viṣaṁ paretasya punar utthānam ātmanaḥ

O King, they understood then that though they had drunk poison and had truly died, this rising again to life had come about entirely through Govinda's own gracious glance.