Krishna Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopis

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.22.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच हेमन्ते प्रथमे मासि नन्दव्रजकुमारिकाः । चेरुर्हविष्यं भुञ्जानाः कात्यायन्यर्चनव्रतम् ॥ 22.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca hemante prathame māsi nanda-vraja-kumārikāḥ cerur haviṣyaṁ bhuñjānāḥ kātyāyany-arcana-vratam

Shukadeva Gosvami said: In the first month of winter, the unmarried girls of Nanda's cowherd village took up the vow of worshiping the goddess Katyayani, living on plain, sanctified food alone.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.22.2)

आप्लुत्याम्भसि कालिन्द्या जलान्ते चोदितेऽरुणे । कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं देवीमानर्चुर्नृप सैकतीम्

āplutyāmbhasi kālindyā jalānte codite ’ruṇe kṛtvā pratikṛtiṁ devīm ānarcur nṛpa saikatīm

Bathing in the waters of the Kalindi at the river's edge as the sun rose, O King, they shaped an image of the goddess out of sand and worshiped her.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.22.3)

गन्धैर्माल्यैः सुरभिभिर्बलिभिर्धूपदीपकैः । उच्चावचैश्चोपहारैः प्रवालफलतण्डुलैः

gandhair mālyaiḥ surabhibhir balibhir dhūpa-dīpakaiḥ uccāvacaiś copahāraiḥ pravāla-phala-taṇḍulaiḥ

They worshiped her with fragrant pastes and garlands, with sweet offerings, incense and lamps, presenting gifts both great and small — fresh shoots, fruits, and grains of rice.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.22.4)

कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि । नन्दगोपसुतं देवि पतिं मे कुरु ते नमः । इति मन्त्रं जपन्त्यस्ताः पूजां चक्रुः कुमारिकाः ॥ 22.4 ॥

kātyāyani mahā-māye mahā-yoginy adhīśvari nanda-gopa-sutaṁ devi patiṁ me kuru te namaḥ iti mantraṁ japantyas tāḥ pūjāṁ cakruḥ kumārikāḥ

'O Katyayani, great power of illusion, mighty yogini, supreme ruler — O goddess, make the cowherd Nanda's son my husband. Obeisance to you.' Reciting this mantra, the young girls carried out their worship.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.22.5)

एवं मासं व्रतं चेरुः कुमार्यः कृष्णचेतसः । भद्रकालीं समानर्चुर्भूयान्नन्दसुतः पतिः ॥ 22.5 ॥

evaṁ māsaṁ vrataṁ ceruḥ kumāryaḥ kṛṣṇa-cetasaḥ bhadrakālīṁ samānarcur bhūyān nanda-sutaḥ patiḥ

Thus for a full month the maidens carried out their vow, their hearts fixed on Krishna, worshiping the goddess Bhadrakali with the one wish: 'May Nanda's son become my husband.'

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.22.6)

ऊषस्युत्थाय गोत्रैः स्वैरन्योन्याबद्धबाहवः । कृष्णमुच्चैर्जगुर्यान्त्यः कालिन्द्यां स्नातुमन्वहम् ॥ 22.6 ॥

ūṣasy utthāya gotraiḥ svair anyonyābaddha-bāhavaḥ kṛṣṇam uccair jagur yāntyaḥ kālindyāṁ snātum anvaham

Rising before dawn each day, calling to one another by their family names and walking arm in arm, they sang loudly of Krishna as they went to bathe in the Kalindi.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.22.7)

नद्याः कदाचिदागत्य तीरे निक्षिप्य पूर्ववत् । वासांसि कृष्णं गायन्त्यो विजह्रुः सलिले मुदा ॥ 22.7 ॥

nadyāḥ kadācid āgatya tīre nikṣipya pūrva-vat vāsāṁsi kṛṣṇaṁ gāyantyo vijahruḥ salile mudā

One day, arriving at the riverbank, they set their garments aside as always and, singing of Krishna, sported joyfully in the water.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.22.8)

भगवांस्तदभिप्रेत्य कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वरः । वयस्यैरावृतस्तत्र गतस्तत्कर्मसिद्धये ॥ 22.8 ॥

bhagavāṁs tad abhipretya kṛṣno yogeśvareśvaraḥ vayasyair āvṛtas tatra gatas tat-karma-siddhaye

Krishna, the Lord and master of every master of yoga, sensing this, went there together with His companions to bring their vow to its fulfillment.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.22.9)

तासां वासांस्युपादाय नीपमारुह्य सत्वरः । हसद्भिः प्रहसन् बालैः परिहासमुवाच ह ॥ 22.9 ॥

tāsāṁ vāsāṁsy upādāya nīpam āruhya satvaraḥ hasadbhiḥ prahasan bālaiḥ parihāsam uvāca ha

Snatching up their clothes, He climbed swiftly into a kadamba tree, and laughing along with His laughing companions, He spoke to the girls in jest.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.22.10)

अत्रागत्याबलाः कामं स्वं स्वं वासः प्रगृह्यताम् । सत्यं ब्रुवाणि नो नर्म यद् यूयं व्रतकर्शिताः ॥ 22.10 ॥

atrāgatyābalāḥ kāmaṁ svaṁ svaṁ vāsaḥ pragṛhyatām satyaṁ bravāṇi no narma yad yūyaṁ vrata-karśitāḥ

Krishna said: Come here, whoever wishes, and take back your own garments. I speak the truth, not in jest — I see the vow has left you thin and weary.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.22.11)

न मयोदितपूर्वं वा अनृतं तदिमे विदुः । एकैकशः प्रतीच्छध्वं सहैवेति सुमध्यमाः ॥ 22.11 ॥

na mayodita-pūrvaṁ vā anṛtaṁ tad ime viduḥ ekaikaśaḥ pratīcchadhvaṁ sahaiveti su-madhyamāḥ

Never before have I spoken falsely — these boys here know it well. Come, O slender-waisted ones, and take your garments back, one at a time or all together.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.22.12)

तस्य तत् क्ष्वेलितं दृष्ट्वा गोप्यः प्रेमपरिप्लुताः । व्रीडिताः प्रेक्ष्य चान्योन्यं जातहासा न निर्ययुः ॥ 22.12 ॥

tasya tat kṣvelitaṁ dṛṣṭvā gopyaḥ prema-pariplutāḥ vrīḍitāḥ prekṣya cānyonyaṁ jāta-hāsā na niryayuḥ

Seeing His playful teasing, the gopis, overwhelmed with love, grew shy; glancing at one another and breaking into laughter, still they would not come out of the water.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.22.13)

एवं ब्रुवति गोविन्दे नर्मणाक्षिप्तचेतसः । आकण्ठमग्नाः शीतोदे वेपमानास्तमब्रुवन् ॥ 22.13 ॥

evaṁ bruvati govinde narmaṇākṣipta-cetasaḥ ā-kaṇṭha-magnāḥ śītode vepamānās tam abruvan

As Govinda spoke on this way, His teasing words held their minds captive; submerged to the neck in the icy water and shivering, they answered Him.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.22.14)

मानयं भोः कृथास्त्वां तु नन्दगोपसुतं प्रियम् । जानीमोऽङ्ग व्रजश्लाघ्यं देहि वासांसि वेपिताः ॥ 22.14 ॥

mānayaṁ bhoḥ kṛthās tvāṁ tu nanda-gopa-sutaṁ priyam jānīmo ’ṅga vraja-ślāghyaṁ dehi vāsāṁsi vepitāḥ

'Don't act this way with us! We know You, dear one, as the son of the cowherd Nanda, praised throughout Vraja. Give us back our garments — we are shivering.'

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.22.15)

श्यामसुन्दर ते दास्यः करवाम तवोदितम् । देहि वासांसि धर्मज्ञ नो चेद् राज्ञे ब्रुवाम हे ॥ 22.15 ॥

śyāmasundara te dāsyaḥ karavāma tavoditam dehi vāsāṁsi dharma-jña no ced rājñe bruvāma he

'O Shyamasundara, we are Your servants — we will do as You say. But give us back our garments, O knower of dharma, or else we shall have to tell the king.'

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.22.16)

श्रीभगवानुवाच भवत्यो यदि मे दास्यो मयोक्तं वा करिष्यथ । अत्रागत्य स्ववासांसि प्रतीच्छत शुचिस्मिताः । नो चेन्नाहं प्रदास्ये किं क्रुद्धो राजा करिष्यति ॥ 22.16 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca bhavatyo yadi me dāsyo mayoktaṁ vā kariṣyatha atrāgatya sva-vāsāṁsi pratīcchata śuci-smitāḥ no cen nāhaṁ pradāsye kiṁ kruddho rājā kariṣyati

The Lord said: If you are truly My servants, and will do as I ask, then come here, you of the pure smiles, and take back your own garments. If you will not, I shall not give them — and what, after all, could an angry king do to Me?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.22.17)

ततो जलाशयात् सर्वा दारिकाः शीतवेपिताः । पाणिभ्यां योनिमाच्छाद्य प्रोत्तेरुः शीतकर्शिताः ॥ 22.17 ॥

tato jalāśayāt sarvā dārikāḥ śīta-vepitāḥ pāṇibhyāṁ yonim ācchādya protteruḥ śīta-karśitāḥ

Then all the girls, shivering with cold and weakened by it, rose up out of the water, covering themselves with their hands.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.22.18)

भगवानाहता वीक्ष्य शुद्धभावप्रसादितः । स्कन्धे निधाय वासांसि प्रीतः प्रोवाच सस्मितम् ॥ 22.18 ॥

bhagavān āhatā vīkṣya śuddha-bhāva-prasāditaḥ skandhe nidhāya vāsāṁsi prītaḥ provāca sa-smitam

Seeing them thus overcome, and pleased by the purity of their devotion, the Lord, their garments resting on His shoulder, spoke to them affectionately with a smile.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.22.19)

यूयं विवस्त्रा यदपो धृतव्रता व्यगाहतैतत्तदु देवहेलनम् । बद्ध्वाञ्जलिं मूध्र्न्यपनुत्तयेऽहसः कृत्वा नमोऽधोवसनं प्रगृह्यताम् ॥ 22.19 ॥

yūyaṁ vivastrā yad apo dhṛta-vratā vyagāhataitat tad u deva-helanam baddhvāñjaliṁ mūrdhny apanuttaye ’ṁhasaḥ kṛtvā namo ’dho-vasanaṁ pragṛhyatām

'That you, in the midst of your vow, entered these waters unclothed — this was itself an offense against the gods. To wash away that fault, join your palms above your heads, bow down, and only then take back your garments.'

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.22.20)

इत्यच्युतेनाभिहितं व्रजाबला मत्वा विवस्त्राप्लवनं व्रतच्युतिम् । तत्पूर्तिकामास्तदशेषकर्मणां साक्षात्कृतं नेमुरवद्यमृग् यतः ॥ 22.20 ॥

ity acyutenābhihitaṁ vrajābalā matvā vivastrāplavanaṁ vrata-cyutim tat-pūrti-kāmās tad-aśeṣa-karmaṇāṁ sākṣāt-kṛtaṁ nemur avadya-mṛg yataḥ

Hearing this from the infallible Lord, the women of Vraja understood that their unclothed bathing had indeed been a breach of their vow; and wishing to see it fulfilled, they bowed to Him, who is Himself the visible fruit of every good deed and the remover of every fault.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.22.21)

तास्तथावनता दृष्ट्वा भगवान् देवकीसुतः । वासांसि ताभ्यः प्रायच्छत्करुणस्तेन तोषितः ॥ 22.21 ॥

tās tathāvanatā dṛṣṭvā bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ vāsāṁsi tābhyaḥ prāyacchat karuṇas tena toṣitaḥ

Seeing them bowed down so, the Lord, Devaki's son, His heart moved with compassion and pleased by their gesture, returned their garments to them.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.22.22)

दृढं प्रलब्धास्त्रपया च हापिताः प्रस्तोभिताः क्रीडनवच्च कारिताः । वस्त्राणि चैवापहृतान्यथाप्यमुं ता नाभ्यसूयन् प्रियसङ्गनिर्वृताः ॥ 22.22 ॥

dṛḍhaṁ pralabdhās trapayā ca hāpitāḥ prastobhitāḥ krīḍana-vac ca kāritāḥ vastrāṇi caivāpahṛtāny athāpy amuṁ tā nābhyasūyan priya-saṅga-nirvṛtāḥ

Though they had been soundly teased, made to lose their modesty, mocked, and treated like playthings — their very clothes taken from them — the gopis felt no resentment at all, so content were they simply to be in their beloved's company.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.22.23)

परिधाय स्ववासांसि प्रेष्ठसङ्गमसज्जिताः । गृहीतचित्ता नो चेलुस्तस्मिन्लज्जायितेक्षणाः ॥ 22.23 ॥

paridhāya sva-vāsāṁsi preṣṭha-saṅgama-sajjitāḥ gṛhīta-cittā no celus tasmin lajjāyitekṣaṇāḥ

Putting their own garments back on, absorbed in the delight of that meeting with their beloved, their minds utterly captured, they did not move from that spot, their eyes cast down in shyness before Him.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.22.24)

तासां विज्ञाय भगवान् स्वपादस्पर्शकाम्यया । धृतव्रतानां सङ्कल्पमाह दामोदरोऽबलाः ॥ 22.24 ॥

tāsāṁ vijñāya bhagavān sva-pāda-sparśa-kāmyayā dhṛta-vratānāṁ saṅkalpam āha dāmodaro ’balāḥ

Knowing that the true resolve behind their vow was the desire to touch His feet, Lord Damodara spoke to those women.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.22.25)

सङ्कल्पो विदितः साध्व्यो भवतीनां मदर्चनम् । मयानुमोदितः सोऽसौ सत्यो भवितुमर्हति ॥ 22.25 ॥

saṅkalpo viditaḥ sādhvyo bhavatīnāṁ mad-arcanam mayānumoditaḥ so ’sau satyo bhavitum arhati

'O virtuous women, I know your resolve — it was worship of Me. That resolve, approved by Me, deserves to come true.'

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.22.26)

न मय्यावेशितधियां कामः कामाय कल्पते । भर्जिता क्वथिता धानाः प्रायो बीजाय नेशते ॥ 22.26 ॥

na mayy āveśita-dhiyāṁ kāmaḥ kāmāya kalpate bharjitā kvathitā dhānāḥ prāyo bījāya neśate

'For those whose minds are fixed on Me, desire does not lead on to further desire — just as parched and boiled grain can no longer sprout as seed.'

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.22.27)

याताबला व्रजं सिद्धा मयेमा रंस्यथा क्षपाः । यदुद्दिश्य व्रतमिदं चेरुरार्यार्चनं सतीः ॥ 22.27 ॥

yātābalā vrajaṁ siddhā mayemā raṁsyathā kṣapāḥ yad uddiśya vratam idaṁ cerur āryārcanaṁ satīḥ

'Go now, back to Vraja — your purpose is accomplished. With Me you shall enjoy these coming nights, the very thing, O virtuous ones, for which you undertook this vow and worshiped the noble goddess.'

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.22.28)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिष्टा भगवता लब्धकामाः कुमारिकाः । ध्यायन्त्यस्तत्पदाम्भोजं कृच्छ्रान्निर्विविशुर्व्रजम् ॥ 22.28 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity ādiṣṭā bhagavatā labdha-kāmāḥ kumārikāḥ dhyāyantyas tat-padāmbhojam kṛcchrān nirviviśur vrajam

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus instructed by the Lord, their desire now fulfilled, the maidens made their way back into Vraja only with great effort, their minds fixed all the while on His lotus feet.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.22.29)

अथ गोपैः परिवृतो भगवान् देवकीसुतः । वृन्दावनाद्गतो दूरं चारयन् गाः सहाग्रजः ॥ 22.29 ॥

atha gopaiḥ parivṛto bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ vṛndāvanād gato dūraṁ cārayan gāḥ sahāgrajaḥ

Some time later, surrounded by the cowherd boys and accompanied by His elder brother, the Lord, Devaki's son, went far from Vrindavana, tending the cows.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.22.30)

निदघार्कातपे तिग्मे छायाभिः स्वाभिरात्मनः । आतपत्रायितान् वीक्ष्य द्रुमानाह व्रजौकसः ॥ 22.30 ॥

nidaghārkātape tigme chāyābhiḥ svābhir ātmanaḥ ātapatrāyitān vīkṣya drumān āha vrajaukasaḥ

In the fierce heat of the summer sun, seeing how the trees stood like living parasols, shading Him with their own shadows, He spoke to His companions of Vraja.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.22.31)

हे स्तोककृष्ण हे अंशो श्रीदामन् सुबलार्जुन । विशाल वृषभौजस्विन् देवप्रस्थ वरूथप

he stoka-kṛṣṇa he aṁśo śrīdāman subalārjuna viśāla vṛṣabhaujasvin devaprastha varūthapa

'O Stoka-krishna, O Amshu, Shridama, Subala and Arjuna, O Vishala, Vrishabha, Ojasvi, Devaprastha and Varuthapa —

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.22.32)

पश्यतैतान् महाभागान् परार्थैकान्तजीवितान् । वातवर्षातपहिमान् सहन्तो वारयन्ति नः

paśyataitān mahā-bhāgān parārthaikānta-jīvitān vāta-varṣātapa-himān sahanto vārayanti naḥ

— look at these greatly blessed trees, whose whole life is lived for the sake of others; bearing the wind, the rain, the heat and the frost themselves, they shelter us from them.'

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.22.33)

अहो एषां वरं जन्म सर्वप्राण्युपजीवनम् । सुजनस्येव येषां वै विमुखा यान्ति नार्थिनः ॥ 22.33 ॥

aho eṣāṁ varaṁ janma sarva-prāṇy-upajīvanam su-janasyeva yeṣāṁ vai vimukhā yānti nārthinaḥ

'Ah, how excellent is the birth of these trees, sustaining every living creature — like the life of a truly noble soul, from whom no one who comes asking ever turns away disappointed.'

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.22.34)

पत्रपुष्पफलच्छायामूलवल्कलदारुभिः । गन्धनिर्यासभस्मास्थितोक्मैः कामान्वितन्वते ॥ 22.34 ॥

patra-puṣpa-phala-cchāyā- mūla-valkala-dārubhiḥ gandha-niryāsa-bhasmāsthi- tokmaiḥ kāmān vitanvate

'With their leaves, flowers and fruits, their shade, their roots, bark and wood, their fragrance and sap, their ash and pith and tender shoots, they satisfy every desire of others.'

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.22.35)

एतावज्जन्मसाफल्यं देहिनामिह देहिषु । प्राणैरर्थैर्धिया वाचा श्रेयआचरणं सदा ॥ 22.35 ॥

etāvaj janma-sāphalyaṁ dehinām iha dehiṣu prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya-ācaraṇaṁ sadā

'This alone is what fulfills a life in this world — to labor always for the good of others, with one's very life, one's wealth, one's intelligence, and one's words.'

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.22.36)

इति प्रवालस्तबकफलपुष्पदलोत्करैः । तरूणां नम्रशाखानां मध्यतो यमुनां गतः ॥ 22.36 ॥

iti pravāla-stabaka- phala-puṣpa-dalotkaraiḥ tarūṇāṁ namra-śākhānāṁ madhyato yamunāṁ gataḥ

So saying, He made His way to the Yamuna, passing among trees whose branches bent low, heavy with clusters of new shoots, fruit, blossom and leaf.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.22.37)

तत्र गाः पाययित्वापः सुमृष्टाः शीतलाः शिवाः । ततो नृप स्वयं गोपाः कामं स्वादु पपुर्जलम् ॥ 22.37 ॥

tatra gāḥ pāyayitvāpaḥ su-mṛṣṭāḥ śītalāḥ śivāḥ tato nṛpa svayaṁ gopāḥ kāmaṁ svādu papur jalam

There He let the cows drink their fill of the clear, cool, wholesome water; and then, O King, the cowherd boys themselves drank that sweet water to their hearts' content.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.22.38)

तस्या उपवने कामं चारयन्तः पशून् नृप । कृष्णरामावुपागम्य क्षुधार्ता इदमब्रुवन् ॥ 22.38 ॥

tasyā upavane kāmaṁ cārayantaḥ paśūn nṛpa kṛṣṇa-rāmāv upāgamya kṣudh-ārtā idam abravan

As they let the animals graze freely in the grove along its bank, O King, the boys, now stricken with hunger, went up to Krishna and Balarama and said this.