The Wives of the Sacrificing Brahmanas Blessed

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.23.1)

श्रीगोपा ऊचुः राम राम महाबाहो कृष्ण दुष्टनिबर्हण । एषा वै बाधते क्षुन्नस्तच्छान्तिं कर्तुमर्हथः ॥ 23.1 ॥

śrī-gopa ūcuḥ rāma rāma mahā-bāho kṛṣṇa duṣṭa-nibarhaṇa eṣā vai bādhate kṣun nas tac-chāntiṁ kartum arhathaḥ

The cowherd boys said: O Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one! O Krishna, destroyer of the wicked! This hunger of ours truly torments us — You must do something to ease it.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.23.2)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति विज्ञापितो गोपैर्भगवान् देवकीसुतः । भक्ताया विप्रभार्यायाः प्रसीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ 23.2 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti vijñāpito gopair bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ bhaktāyā vipra-bhāryāyāḥ prasīdann idam abravīt

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus petitioned by the cowherd boys, the Lord, Devaki's son, wishing to favor the devoted wives of the brahmanas, spoke as follows.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.23.3)

प्रयात देवयजनं ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिनः । सत्रमाङ्गिरसं नाम ह्यासते स्वर्गकाम्यया ॥ 23.3 ॥

prayāta deva-yajanaṁ brāhmaṇā brahma-vādinaḥ satram āṅgirasaṁ nāma hy āsate svarga-kāmyayā

'Go to the sacrificial ground, where brahmanas learned in the Veda are seated, performing the rite called the Angirasa sacrifice, desiring heaven.'

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.23.4)

तत्र गत्वौदनं गोपा याचतास्मद्विसर्जिताः । कीर्तयन्तो भगवत आर्यस्य मम चाभिधाम् ॥ 23.4 ॥

tatra gatvaudanaṁ gopā yācatāsmad-visarjitāḥ kīrtayanto bhagavata āryasya mama cābhidhām

'Go there, cowherd boys, and ask for cooked food, telling them you have been sent by us — declare My noble brother's name and My own.'

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.23.5)

इत्यादिष्टा भगवता गत्वायाचन्त ते तथा । कृताञ्जलिपुटा विप्रान्दण्डवत्पतिता भुवि ॥ 23.5 ॥

ity ādiṣṭā bhagavatā gatvā yācanta te tathā kṛtāñjali-puṭā viprān daṇḍa-vat patitā bhuvi

Thus instructed by the Lord, the boys went and asked accordingly, joining their palms and falling flat upon the ground before the brahmanas.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.23.6)

हे भूमिदेवाः शृणुत कृष्णस्यादेशकारिणः । प्राप्ताञ्जानीत भद्रं वो गोपान्नो रामचोदितान् ॥ 23.6 ॥

he bhūmi-devāḥ śṛṇuta kṛṣṇasyādeśa-kāriṇaḥ prāptāñ jānīta bhadraṁ vo gopān no rāma-coditān

'O gods upon the earth, hear us. Know that we, cowherd boys carrying out Krishna's word and sent by Rama, have come here — good fortune to you.'

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.23.7)

गाश्चारयन्तावविदूर ओदनं रामाच्युतौ वो लषतो बुभुक्षितौ । तयोर्द्विजा ओदनमर्थिनोर्यदि श्रद्धा च वो यच्छत धर्मवित्तमाः ॥ 23.7 ॥

gāś cārayantāv avidūra odanaṁ rāmācyutau vo laṣato bubhukṣitau tayor dvijā odanam arthinor yadi śraddhā ca vo yacchata dharma-vittamāḥ

'Not far from here, herding the cows, Rama and Achyuta grow hungry and desire your food. O brahmanas, best of the knowers of dharma, if you have faith, give food to these two who ask it of you.'

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.23.8)

दीक्षायाः पशुसंस्थायाः सौत्रामण्याश्च सत्तमाः । अन्यत्र दीक्षितस्यापि नान्नमश्नन् हि दुष्यति ॥ 23.8 ॥

dīkṣāyāḥ paśu-saṁsthāyāḥ sautrāmaṇyāś ca sattamāḥ anyatra dīkṣitasyāpi nānnam aśnan hi duṣyati

'O most pure ones, except for the period between initiation and the animal sacrifice, and apart from the Sautramani rite, it is no fault even for an initiated priest to eat food.'

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.23.9)

इति ते भगवद्याच्ञां शृण्वन्तोऽपि न शुश्रुवुः । क्षुद्राशा भूरिकर्माणो बालिशा वृद्धमानिनः ॥ 23.9 ॥

iti te bhagavad-yācñāṁ śṛṇvanto ’pi na śuśruvuḥ kṣudrāśā bhūri-karmāṇo bāliśā vṛddha-māninaḥ

Though they heard the Lord's request, in truth they did not hear it at all — petty in their desires, absorbed in elaborate rites, foolish yet proud of their supposed wisdom.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.23.10)

देशः कालः पृथग्द्रव्यं मन्त्रतन्त्रर्त्विजोऽग्नयः । देवता यजमानश्च क्रतुर्धर्मश्च यन्मयः

deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaṁ mantra-tantrartvijo ’gnayaḥ devatā yajamānaś ca kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ

The place and time of a sacrifice, its many articles, its mantras and rites, its priests and fires, its presiding deity, its patron, the rite itself, and the very dharma it enacts — all of these are nothing but manifestations of Him.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.23.11)

तं ब्रह्म परमं साक्षाद् भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । मनुष्यदृष्ट्या दुष्प्रज्ञा मर्त्यात्मानो न मेनिरे

taṁ brahma paramaṁ sākṣād bhagavantam adhokṣajam manuṣya-dṛṣṭyā duṣprajñā martyātmāno na menire

Yet Him — the supreme Brahman directly present, the Lord beyond the grasp of the material senses — those brahmanas, of clouded understanding and bound to the notion that they were their mortal bodies, failed to recognize, seeing Him only with human eyes.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.23.12)

न ते यदोमिति प्रोचुर्न नेति च परन्तप । गोपा निराशाः प्रत्येत्य तथोचुः कृष्णरामयोः ॥ 23.12 ॥

na te yad om iti procur na neti ca parantapa gopā nirāśāḥ pratyetya tathocuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmayoḥ

O scorcher of foes, since the brahmanas said neither yes nor no, the cowherd boys returned disheartened and reported this to Krishna and Rama.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.23.13)

तदुपाकर्ण्य भगवान् प्रहस्य जगदीश्वरः । व्याजहार पुनर्गोपान् दर्शयन्लौकिकीं गतिम् ॥ 23.13 ॥

tad upākarṇya bhagavān prahasya jagad-īśvaraḥ vyājahāra punar gopān darśayan laukikīṁ gatim

Hearing this, the Lord of the universe laughed, and, showing them the way of ordinary worldly dealings, spoke once more to the cowherd boys.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.23.14)

मां ज्ञापयत पत्नीभ्यः ससङ्कर्षणमागतम् । दास्यन्ति काममन्नं वः स्निग्धा मय्युषिता धिया ॥ 23.14 ॥

māṁ jñāpayata patnībhyaḥ sa-saṅkarṣaṇam āgatam dāsyanti kāmam annaṁ vaḥ snigdhā mayy uṣitā dhiyā

'Go and tell their wives that I have come here together with Sankarshana. They are devoted to Me and dwell upon Me in thought — they will gladly give you all the food you wish.'

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.23.15)

गत्वाथ पत्नीशालायां दृष्ट्वासीनाः स्वलङ्कृताः । नत्वा द्विजसतीर्गोपाः प्रश्रिता इदमब्रुवन् ॥ 23.15 ॥

gatvātha patnī-śālāyāṁ dṛṣṭvāsīnāḥ sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ natvā dvija-satīr gopāḥ praśritā idam abruvan

Then, going to the women's quarters and finding the wives seated there, finely adorned, the cowherd boys bowed to those chaste brahmana wives and humbly spoke as follows.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.23.16)

नमो वो विप्रपत्नीभ्यो निबोधत वचांसि नः । इतोऽविदूरे चरता कृष्णेनेहेषिता वयम् ॥ 23.16 ॥

namo vo vipra-patnībhyo nibodhata vacāṁsi naḥ ito ’vidūre caratā kṛṣṇeneheṣitā vayam

'Obeisance to you, O wives of the brahmanas. Hear our words. We have been sent here by Krishna, who is passing by not far from this place.'

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.23.17)

गाश्चारयन् स गोपालैः सरामो दूरमागतः । बुभुक्षितस्य तस्यान्नं सानुगस्य प्रदीयताम् ॥ 23.17 ॥

gāś cārayan sa gopālaiḥ sa-rāmo dūram āgataḥ bubhukṣitasya tasyānnaṁ sānugasya pradīyatām

'He has come a long way, herding the cows with the cowherd boys and Rama at His side. He is hungry — please give food for Him and His companions.'

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.23.18)

श्रुत्वाच्युतमुपायातं नित्यं तद्दर्शनोत्सुकाः । तत्कथाक्षिप्तमनसो बभूवुर्जातसम्भ्रमाः ॥ 23.18 ॥

śrutvācyutam upāyātaṁ nityaṁ tad-darśanotsukāḥ tat-kathākṣipta-manaso babhūvur jāta-sambhramāḥ

On hearing that the infallible Lord had arrived — they who were always eager for a sight of Him, their minds forever held captive by stories of Him — the women grew greatly excited.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.23.19)

चतुर्विधं बहुगुणमन्नमादाय भाजनैः । अभिसस्रुः प्रियं सर्वाः समुद्रमिव निम्नगाः ॥ 23.19 ॥

catur-vidhaṁ bahu-guṇam annam ādāya bhājanaiḥ abhisasruḥ priyaṁ sarvāḥ samudram iva nimnagāḥ

Taking up in their vessels the four kinds of food, rich with fine flavor, all the women rushed toward their beloved, as rivers rush toward the sea.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.23.20)

निषिध्यमानाः पतिभिर्भ्रातृभिर्बन्धुभिः सुतैः । भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके दीर्घश्रुतधृताशयाः

niṣidhyamānāḥ patibhir bhrātṛbhir bandhubhiḥ sutaiḥ bhagavaty uttama-śloke dīrgha-śruta-dhṛtāśayāḥ

Though their husbands, brothers, kinsmen and sons tried to hold them back, their hearts, steadied by all they had long heard of Him, remained fixed on the Lord of glorious renown.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.23.21)

यमुनोपवनेऽशोकनवपल्लवमण्डिते । विचरन्तं वृतं गोपैः साग्रजं ददृशुः स्त्रियः

yamunopavane ’śoka nava-pallava-maṇḍite vicarantaṁ vṛtaṁ gopaiḥ sāgrajaṁ dadṛśuḥ striyaḥ

In a grove beside the Yamuna, decked with the fresh young leaves of ashoka trees, the women caught sight of Him wandering there, surrounded by the cowherd boys, His elder brother at His side.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.23.22)

श्यामं हिरण्यपरिधिं वनमाल्यबर्ह- धातुप्रवालनटवेषमनुव्रतांसे । विन्यस्तहस्तमितरेण धुनानमब्जं कर्णोत्पलालककपोलमुखाब्जहासम् ॥ 23.22 ॥

śyāmaṁ hiraṇya-paridhiṁ vanamālya-barha- dhātu-pravāla-naṭa-veṣam anavratāṁse vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjaṁ karṇotpalālaka-kapola-mukhābja-hāsam

Dark-complexioned, clad in a golden garment, arrayed like a dancer with a forest garland, a peacock feather, colored minerals and fresh flower-sprigs, one hand resting on a devoted friend's shoulder, the other twirling a lotus, a water-lily at His ear, locks of hair falling on His cheeks, a smile playing on His lotus face —

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.23.23)

प्रायःश्रुतप्रियतमोदयकर्णपूरै- र्यस्मिन् निमग्नमनसस्तमथाक्षिरन्ध्रैः । अन्तः प्रवेश्य सुचिरं परिरभ्य तापं प्राज्ञं यथाभिमतयो विजहुर्नरेन्द्र ॥ 23.23 ॥

prāyaḥ-śruta-priyatamodaya-karṇa-pūrair yasmin nimagna-manasas tam athākṣi-randraiḥ antaḥ praveśya su-ciraṁ parirabhya tāpaṁ prājñaṁ yathābhimatayo vijahur narendra

O ruler of men, their minds long submerged in Him through the ear-ornament of His oft-told story, they now drew Him in through the very apertures of their eyes, held Him embraced within their hearts for a long while, and so cast off the pain of separation — just as the wise cast off sorrow on attaining the object dearest to their understanding.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.23.24)

तास्तथा त्यक्तसर्वाशाः प्राप्ता आत्मदिदृक्षया । विज्ञायाखिलदृग्द्रष्टा प्राह प्रहसिताननः ॥ 23.24 ॥

tās tathā tyakta-sarvāśāḥ prāptā ātma-didṛkṣayā vijñāyākhila-dṛg-draṣṭā prāha prahasitānanaḥ

Knowing that they had abandoned every other hope and come only to see Him, He who is the witness of all witnesses spoke to them with a smiling face.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.23.25)

स्वागतं वो महाभागा आस्यतां करवाम किम् । यन्नो दिदृक्षया प्राप्ता उपपन्नमिदं हि वः ॥ 23.25 ॥

svāgataṁ vo mahā-bhāgā āsyatāṁ karavāma kim yan no didṛkṣayā prāptā upapannam idaṁ hi vaḥ

'Welcome, O most fortunate ones. Please sit. What may I do for you? That you have come here longing to see Me is entirely fitting for you.'

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.23.26)

नन्वद्धा मयि कुर्वन्ति कुशलाः स्वार्थदर्शिनः । अहैतुक्यव्यवहितां भक्तिमात्मप्रिये यथा ॥ 23.26 ॥

nanv addhā mayi kurvanti kuśalāḥ svārtha-darśinaḥ ahaituky avyavahitāṁ bhaktim ātma-priye yathā

'Truly, those who are wise and see their own real good render unto Me — who am dearest to the very self — devotion that is direct, unmotivated, and unbroken.'

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.23.27)

प्राणबुद्धिमनःस्वात्मदारापत्यधनादयः । यत्सम्पर्कात्प्रिया आसंस्ततः को न्वपरः प्रियः ॥ 23.27 ॥

prāṇa-buddhi-manaḥ-svātma dārāpatya-dhanādayaḥ yat-samparkāt priyā āsaṁs tataḥ ko nv aparaḥ priyaḥ

'It is only through connection with the self that one's very breath, intellect, mind, body, spouse, children and wealth become dear at all — so what, then, could be dearer than the self itself?'

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.23.28)

तद् यात देवयजनं पतयो वो द्विजातयः । स्वसत्रं पारयिष्यन्ति युष्माभिर्गृहमेधिनः ॥ 23.28 ॥

tad yāta deva-yajanaṁ patayo vo dvijātayaḥ sva-satraṁ pārayiṣyanti yuṣmābhir gṛha-medhinaḥ

'So go back now to the sacrificial ground. Your husbands, the twice-born householders that they are, will complete their sacrifice with your help.'

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.23.29)

श्रीपत्न्य ऊचुः मैवं विभोऽर्हति भवान् गदितुं नृशंसं सत्यं कुरुष्व निगमं तव पादमूलम् । प्राप्ता वयं तुलसिदाम पदावसृष्टं केशैर्निवोढुमतिलङ्घ्य समस्तबन्धून् ॥ 23.29 ॥

śrī-patnya ūcuḥ maivaṁ vibho ’rhati bhavān gadituṁ nr-śaṁsaṁ satyaṁ kuruṣva nigamaṁ tava pāda-mūlam prāptā vayaṁ tulasi-dāma padāvasṛṣṭaṁ keśair nivoḍhum atilaṅghya samasta-bandhūn

The wives said: 'O Almighty, You should not speak to us so cruelly. Make Your own word true — we have already reached the very ground of Your feet, having left every kinsman behind us, longing only to bind in our hair the tulasi garland fallen from Your feet.'

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.23.30)

गृह्णन्ति नो न पतयः पितरौ सुता वा न भ्रातृबन्धुसुहृदः कुत एव चान्ये । तस्माद् भवत्प्रपदयोः पतितात्मनां नो नान्या भवेद् गतिररिन्दम तद् विधेहि ॥ 23.30 ॥

gṛhṇanti no na patayaḥ pitarau sutā vā na bhrātṛ-bandhu-suhṛdaḥ kuta eva cānye tasmād bhavat-prapadayoḥ patitātmanāṁ no nānyā bhaved gatir arindama tad vidhehi

'Our husbands will no longer take us back, nor our parents, nor our sons; not our brothers, kinsmen, or friends — how, then, could any stranger? So for us, who have fallen at Your very feet, there can be no other refuge, O subduer of enemies. Grant us this alone.'

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.23.31)

श्रीभगवानुवाच पतयो नाभ्यसूयेरन् पितृभ्रातृसुतादयः । लोकाश्च वो मयोपेता देवा अप्यनुमन्वते ॥ 23.31 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca patayo nābhyasūyeran pitṛ-bhrātṛ-sutādayaḥ lokāś ca vo mayopetā devā apy anumanvate

The Lord said: 'Your husbands will not resent you, nor your fathers, brothers or sons; and once you are joined with Me, the world itself will approve — even the gods will give their consent.'

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.23.32)

न प्रीतयेऽनुरागाय ह्यङ्गसङ्गो नृणामिह । तन्मनो मयि युञ्जाना अचिरान्मामवाप्स्यथ ॥ 23.32 ॥

na prītaye ’nurāgāya hy aṅga-saṅgo nṛṇām iha tan mano mayi yuñjānā acirān mām avāpsyatha

'Nearness to My body does not, in this world, bring lasting joy or true love. Fix your mind on Me instead, and you will attain Me very soon.'

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.23.33)

श्रवणाद्दर्शनाद्ध्यानान्मयि भावोऽनुकीर्तनात् । न तथा सन्निकर्षेण प्रतियात ततो गृहान् ॥ 23.33 ॥

śravaṇād darśanād dhyānān mayi bhāvo ’nukīrtanāt na tathā sannikarṣeṇa pratiyāta tato gṛhān

'It is through hearing of Me, seeing Me, meditating on Me, and chanting of Me that devotion arises — not so much through physical nearness. So now, return to your homes.'

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.23.34)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्ता द्विजपत्न्यस्ता यज्ञवाटं पुनर्गताः । ते चानसूयवस्ताभिः स्त्रीभिः सत्रमपारयन् ॥ 23.34 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity uktā dvija-patnyas tā yajña-vāṭaṁ punar gatāḥ te cānasūyavas tābhiḥ strībhiḥ satram apārayan

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus addressed, the brahmanas' wives returned once more to the sacrificial enclosure, and the brahmanas, harboring no resentment toward them, completed the sacrifice together with their wives.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.23.35)

तत्रैका विधृता भर्त्रा भगवन्तं यथाश्रुतम् । हृदोपगुह्य विजहौ देहं कर्मानुबन्धनम् ॥ 23.35 ॥

tatraikā vidhṛtā bhartrā bhagavantaṁ yathā-śrutam hṛḍopaguhya vijahau dehaṁ karmānubandhanam

One of those women, held back by her husband, embraced the Lord within her heart, exactly as she had heard Him described, and gave up her body — the very bond of past deeds.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.23.36)

भगवानपि गोविन्दस्तेनैवान्नेन गोपकान् । चतुर्विधेनाशयित्वा स्वयं च बुभुजे प्रभुः ॥ 23.36 ॥

bhagavān api govindas tenaivānnena gopakān catur-vidhenāśayitvā svayaṁ ca bubhuje prabhuḥ

Lord Govinda fed the cowherd boys with that same fourfold food, and then, as its master, He Himself partook of it as well.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.23.37)

एवं लीलानरवपुर्नृलोकमनुशीलयन् । रेमे गोगोपगोपीनां रमयन् रूपवाक्कृतैः ॥ 23.37 ॥

evaṁ līlā-nara-vapur nr-lokam anuśīlayan reme go-gopa-gopīnāṁ ramayan rūpa-vāk-kṛtaiḥ

Thus, in that human form assumed for His pastimes, following the ways of human society, He sported on, delighting the cows, the cowherd boys and the gopis alike with His beauty, His words, and His deeds.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.23.38)

अथानुस्मृत्य विप्रास्ते अन्वतप्यन्कृतागसः । यद् विश्वेश्वरयोर्याच्ञामहन्म नृविडम्बयोः ॥ 23.38 ॥

athānusmṛtya viprās te anvatapyan kṛtāgasaḥ yad viśveśvarayor yācñām ahanma nṛ-viḍambayoḥ

Then the brahmanas, remembering all this, recognized their offense and were filled with remorse: 'We refused the request of the two Lords of the universe, who had come to us disguised as ordinary men.'

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.23.39)

दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीणां भगवति कृष्णे भक्तिमलौकिकीम् । आत्मानं च तया हीनमनुतप्ता व्यगर्हयन् ॥ 23.39 ॥

dṛṣṭvā strīṇāṁ bhagavati kṛṣṇe bhaktim alaukikīm ātmānaṁ ca tayā hīnam anutaptā vyagarhayan

Seeing their wives' extraordinary devotion to Lord Krishna, and finding themselves so wanting in it, they were filled with remorse and condemned themselves.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.23.40)

धिग् जन्म नस्त्रिवृद् यत् तद् धिग्व्रतं धिग्बहुज्ञताम् । धिक्कुलं धिक् क्रियादाक्ष्यं विमुखा ये त्वधोक्षजे ॥ 23.40 ॥

dhig janma nas tri-vṛd yat tad dhig vrataṁ dhig bahu-jñatām dhik kulaṁ dhik kriyā-dākṣyaṁ vimukhā ye tv adhokṣaje

'Shame on our threefold birth, shame on our vows, shame on our vast learning! Shame on our lineage, shame on our skill in ritual — we who turned away from Him who lies beyond the senses!'

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.23.41)

नूनं भगवतो माया योगिनामपि मोहिनी । यद् वयं गुरवो नृणां स्वार्थे मुह्यामहे द्विजाः ॥ 23.41 ॥

nūnaṁ bhagavato māyā yoginām api mohinī yad vayaṁ guravo nṛṇāṁ svārthe muhyāmahe dvijāḥ

'Surely the Lord's power of illusion bewilders even the great yogis, for we — brahmanas, teachers of all mankind — have been deluded about our own true good.'

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.23.42)

अहो पश्यत नारीणामपि कृष्णे जगद्गुरौ । दुरन्तभावं योऽविध्यन्मृत्युपाशान् गृहाभिधान् ॥ 23.42 ॥

aho paśyata nārīṇām api kṛṣṇe jagad-gurau duranta-bhāvaṁ yo ’vidhyan mṛtyu-pāśān gṛhābhidhān

'Ah, just see the boundless love these women bear for Krishna, teacher of the universe — a love that has pierced clean through the very snares of death called household life!'

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.23.43)

नासां द्विजातिसंस्कारो न निवासो गुरावपि । न तपो नात्ममीमांसा न शौचं न क्रियाः शुभाः

nāsāṁ dvijāti-saṁskāro na nivāso gurāv api na tapo nātma-mīmāṁsā na śaucaṁ na kriyāḥ śubhāḥ

'These women have undergone none of the purificatory rites of the twice-born, never dwelt in a guru's household, practiced no austerity, made no inquiry into the self, kept none of the rules of purity, performed none of the auspicious rites —

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.23.44)

तथापि ह्युत्तमःश्लोके कृष्णे योगेश्वरेश्वरे । भक्तिर्दृढा न चास्माकं संस्कारादिमतामपि

tathāpi hy uttamaḥ-śloke kṛṣṇe yogeśvareśvare bhaktir dṛḍhā na cāsmākaṁ saṁskārādimatām api

— and yet their devotion to Krishna, of matchless renown, the Lord of every master of yoga, stands unshaken; while ours, for all our purificatory rites and the rest, does not.'

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.23.45)

ननु स्वार्थविमूढानां प्रमत्तानां गृहेहया । अहो नः स्मारयामास गोपवाक्यैः सतां गतिः ॥ 23.45 ॥

nanu svārtha-vimūḍhānāṁ pramattānāṁ gṛhehayā aho naḥ smārayām āsa gopa-vākyaiḥ satāṁ gatiḥ

'Indeed, deluded as we were about our own true good, intoxicated by the cares of household life — ah, through the words of these simple cowherd boys, He has reminded us of the true goal of the righteous.'

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.23.46)

अन्यथा पूर्णकामस्य कैवल्याद्यशिषां पतेः । ईशितव्यैः किमस्माभिरीशस्यैतद् विडम्बनम् ॥ 23.46 ॥

anyathā pūrṇa-kāmasya kaivalyādy-aśiṣāṁ pateḥ īśitavyaiḥ kim asmābhir īśasyaitad viḍambanam

'Otherwise, why would He — whose every desire is already fulfilled, the very lord of liberation and all other blessings — play out this charade with us, who exist only to be ruled by Him?'

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.23.47)

हित्वान्यान् भजते यं श्रीः पादस्पर्शाशयासकृत् । स्वात्मदोषापवर्गेण तद्याच्ञा जनमोहिनी ॥ 23.47 ॥

hitvānyān bhajate yaṁ śrīḥ pāda-sparśāśayāsakṛt svātma-doṣāpavargeṇa tad-yācñā jana-mohinī

'She whom we call the goddess of fortune leaves every other suitor aside and worships Him alone, again and again, hoping only for the touch of His feet, and so rids herself of her own inconstancy — that such a one as He should come begging from us leaves everyone bewildered.'

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.23.48)

देशः कालः पृथग्द्रव्यं मन्त्रतन्त्रर्त्विजोऽग्नयः । देवता यजमानश्च क्रतुर्धर्मश्च यन्मयः

deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaṁ mantra-tantrartvijo ’gnayaḥ devatā yajamānaś ca kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ

'He of whom the sacrifice's place and time, its manifold articles, its mantras and rites, its priests and fires, its presiding deity, its patron, the rite itself and the very dharma it embodies, are all but manifestations —

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.23.49)

स एव भगवान् साक्षाद् विष्णुर्योगेश्वरेश्वरः । जातो यदुष्वित्याशृण्म ह्यपि मूढा न विद्महे

sa eva bhagavān sākṣād viṣṇur yogeśvareśvaraḥ jāto yaduṣv ity āśṛṇma hy api mūḍhā na vidmahe

— that very same Lord, Vishnu Himself, the master of every master of yoga, has been born among the Yadus — this we had indeed heard, and yet, fools that we are, we failed to recognize it.'

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.23.50)

तस्मै नमो भगवते कृष्णायाकुण्ठमेधसे । यन्मायामोहितधियो भ्रमामः कर्मवर्त्मसु ॥ 23.50 ॥

tasmai namo bhagavate kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase yan-māyā-mohita-dhiyo bhramāmaḥ karma-vartmasu

'Obeisance to that Lord Krishna, whose intelligence knows no obstruction, and by whose illusive power our own minds, bewildered, wander still upon the paths of fruitive work.'

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.23.51)

स वै न आद्यः पुरुषः स्वमायामोहितात्मनाम् । अविज्ञतानुभावानां क्षन्तुमर्हत्यतिक्रमम् ॥ 23.51 ॥

sa vai na ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ sva-māyā-mohitātmanām avijñatānubhāvānāṁ kṣantum arhaty atikramam

'May that primeval Person kindly forgive this trespass of ours — of us, whose minds He Himself has bewildered by His own illusive power, and who fail even to grasp the true measure of His glory.'

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.23.52)

इति स्वाघमनुस्मृत्य कृष्णे ते कृतहेलनाः । दिदृक्षवो व्रजमथ कंसाद् भीता न चाचलन् ॥ 23.52 ॥

iti svāgham anusmṛtya kṛṣṇe te kṛta-helanāḥ didṛkṣavo vrajam atha kaṁsād bhītā na cācalan

Thus, remembering their own fault in having slighted Krishna, the brahmanas grew eager to see Him; yet, in fear of Kamsa, they did not set out for Vraja.