Krishna and the Gopis Meet for the Rasa Dance

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.29.1)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच भगवानपि ता रात्रीः शारदोत्फुल्लमल्लिकाः । वीक्ष्य रन्तुं मनश्चक्रे योगमायामुपाश्रितः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca bhagavān api tā rātṛīḥ śāradotphulla-mallikāḥ vīkṣya rantuṁ manaś cakre yoga-māyām upāśritaḥ

Śrī Bādarāyani said: The Lord himself, seeing those autumn nights fragrant with blossoming jasmine, resolved in his heart to sport, taking recourse to his own yogamaya.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.29.2)

तदोडुराजः ककुभः करैर्मुखंप्राच्या विलिम्पन्नरुणेन शन्तमैः । स चर्षणीनामुदगाच्छुचो मृजन्प्रियः प्रियाया इव दीर्घदर्शनः ॥ २ ॥

tadoḍurājaḥ kakubhaḥ karair mukhaṁ prācyā vilimpann aruṇena śantamaiḥ sa carṣaṇīnām udagāc chuco mṛjan priyaḥ priyāyā iva dīrgha-darśanaḥ

Then the king of the stars rose, painting the face of the eastern horizon with his soothing red rays, wiping away the sorrow of all beings, like a beloved husband returning to his wife after a long absence.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.29.3)

दृष्ट्वा कुमुद्वन्तमखण्डमण्डलंरमाननाभं नवकुङ्कुमारुणम् । वनं च तत्कोमलगोभी रञ्जितंजगौ कलं वामदृशां मनोहरम् ॥ ३ ॥

dṛṣṭvā kumudvantam akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalaṁ ramānanābhaṁ nava-kuṅkumāruṇam vanaṁ ca tat-komala-gobhī rañjitaṁ jagau kalaṁ vāma-dṛśāṁ manoharam

Seeing the unbroken disc of the moon, red as fresh vermilion, like the face of Rama herself, opening the night-lotuses, and the forest tinted by its gentle rays, he began to play sweetly on his flute, a melody enchanting to the lovely-eyed gopis.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.29.4)

निशम्य गीतं तदनङ्गवर्धनंव्रजस्त्रियः कृष्णगृहीतमानसाः । आजग्मुरन्योन्यमलक्षितोद्यमाः स यत्र कान्तो जवलोलकुण्डलाः ॥ ४ ॥

niśamya gītāṁ tad anaṅga-vardhanaṁ vraja-striyaḥ kṛṣṇa-gṛhīta-mānasāḥ ājagmur anyonyam alakṣitodyamāḥ sa yatra kānto java-lola-kuṇḍalāḥ

Hearing that flute-song, which stirs desire, the women of Vraja, their hearts seized by Krishna, hurried, unnoticed by one another, to where their beloved was, their earrings swinging with the speed of their steps.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.29.5)

दुहन्त्योऽभिययुः काश्चिद् दोहं हित्वा समुत्सुकाः । पयोऽधिश्रित्य संयावमनुद्वास्यापरा ययुः ॥ ५ ॥

duhantyo ’bhiyayuḥ kāścid dohaṁ hitvā samutsukāḥ payo ’dhiśritya saṁyāvam anudvāsyāparā yayuḥ

Some, in the midst of milking, in their eagerness left the cow half-milked and went; others, having set the milk to boil for sweets, left without even taking it off the fire.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.29.6)

परिवेषयन्त्यस्तद्धित्वा पाययन्त्यः शिशून् पयः । शुश्रूषन्त्यः पतीन् काश्चिदश्नन्त्योऽपास्य भोजनम् ॥ ६ ॥

pariveṣayantyas tad dhitvā pāyayantyaḥ śiśūn payaḥ śuśrūṣantyaḥ patīn kāścid aśnantyo ’pāsya bhojanam

Some left off serving the meal, some left their infants mid-feeding, some abandoned attending upon their husbands, and some who were themselves eating pushed the food aside.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.29.7)

लिम्पन्त्यः प्रमृजन्त्योऽन्या अञ्जन्त्यः काश्च लोचने । व्यत्यस्तवस्त्राभरणाः काश्चित् कृष्णान्तिकं ययुः ॥ ७ ॥

limpantyaḥ pramṛjantyo ’nyā añjantyaḥ kāśca locane vyatyasta-vastrābharaṇāḥ kāścit kṛṣṇāntikaṁ yayuḥ

Some, while applying cosmetics, others while wiping themselves dry, and some in the very act of lining their eyes with kohl — their clothes and ornaments all in disarray — hurried to Krishna's presence.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.29.8)

ता वार्यमाणाः पतिभिः पितृभिर्भ्रातृबन्धुभिः । गोविन्दापहृतात्मानो न न्यवर्तन्त मोहिताः ॥ ८ ॥

tā vāryamāṇāḥ patibhiḥ pitṛbhir bhrātṛ-bandhubhiḥ govindāpahṛtātmāno na nyavartanta mohitāḥ

Though their husbands, fathers, brothers and kinsmen tried to hold them back, their very selves stolen away by Govinda, enchanted, they would not turn back.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.29.9)

अन्तर्गृहगताः काश्चिद् गोप्योऽलब्धविनिर्गमाः । कृष्णं तद्भावनायुक्ता दध्युर्मीलितलोचनाः ॥ ९ ॥

antar-gṛha-gatāḥ kāścid gopyo ’labdha-vinirgamāḥ kṛṣṇaṁ tad-bhāvanā-yuktā dadhyur mīlita-locanāḥ

Some gopis, confined within their houses and unable to get out, closed their eyes and meditated on Krishna, absorbed entirely in thought of him.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.29.10)

दुः सहप्रेष्ठविरहतीव्रतापधुताशुभाः । ध्यानप्राप्ताच्युताश्लेषनिर्वृत्या क्षीणमङ्गलाः ॥ १० ॥

duḥsaha-preṣṭha-viraha- tīvra-tāpa-dhutāśubhāḥ dhyāna-prāptācyutāśleṣa- nirvṛtyā kṣīṇa-maṅgalāḥ

The unbearable, burning pain of separation from their most beloved burned away all their sin, and the bliss of his embrace, attained in meditation, dissolved even their accumulated merit.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.29.11)

तमेव परमात्मानं जारबुद्ध्यापि सङ्गताः । जहुर्गुणमयं देहं सद्यः प्रक्षीणबन्धनाः ॥ ११ ॥

tam eva paramātmānaṁ jāra-buddhyāpi saṅgatāḥ jahur guṇa-mayaṁ dehaṁ sadyaḥ prakṣīṇa-bandhanāḥ

Thus united with that very Supreme Soul, though only through the thought of a lover, they at once cast off their bodies of matter, their bondage entirely dissolved.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.29.12)

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच कृष्णं विदुः परं कान्तं न तु ब्रह्मतया मुने । गुणप्रवाहोपरमस्तासां गुणधियां कथम् ॥ १२ ॥

śrī-parīkṣid uvāca kṛṣṇaṁ viduḥ paraṁ kāntaṁ na tu brahmatayā mune guṇa-pravāhoparamas tāsāṁ guṇa-dhiyāṁ katham

Śrī Parikshit said: O sage, the gopis knew Krishna only as their supreme lover, not as Brahman — how, then, could those whose minds were fixed on the qualities of a lover be freed from the flow of the material modes?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.29.13)

श्रीशुक उवाच उक्तं पुरस्तादेतत्ते चैद्यः सिद्धिं यथा गतः । द्विषन्नपि हृषीकेशं किमुताधोक्षजप्रियाः ॥ १३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca uktaṁ purastād etat te caidyaḥ siddhiṁ yathā gataḥ dviṣann api hṛṣīkeśaṁ kim utādhokṣaja-priyāḥ

Śukadeva said: This has already been told to you before — how Shishupala, king of Chedi, attained perfection even while hating Hrishikesha; how much more, then, those dear to the transcendent Lord?

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.29.14)

नृणां निः श्रेयसार्थाय व्यक्तिर्भगवतो नृप । अव्ययस्याप्रमेयस्य निर्गुणस्य गुणात्मनः ॥ १४ ॥

nṛṇāṁ niḥśreyasārthāya vyaktir bhagavato nṛpa avyayasyāprameyasya nirguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ

O king, the manifestation of the Lord — who is imperishable, immeasurable, beyond the material qualities and yet the very self of all qualities — is for the highest good of humankind.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.29.15)

कामं क्रोधं भयं स्नेहमैक्यं सौहृदमेव च । नित्यं हरौ विदधतो यान्ति तन्मयतां हि ते ॥ १५ ॥

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ bhayaṁ sneham aikyaṁ sauhṛdam eva ca nityaṁ harau vidadhato yānti tan-mayatāṁ hi te

Those who constantly fix upon Hari their desire, anger, fear, affection, sense of oneness or friendship, indeed become absorbed in his very being.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.29.16)

न चैवं विस्मयः कार्यो भवता भगवत्यजे । योगेश्वरेश्वरे कृष्णे यत एतद् विमुच्यते ॥ १६ ॥

na caivaṁ vismayaḥ kāryo bhavatā bhagavaty aje yogeśvareśvare kṛṣṇe yata etad vimucyate

So you should not wonder at this in the case of the Lord, the unborn Krishna, master of the masters of yoga, for through him alone does this liberation come about.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.29.17)

ता दृष्ट्वान्तिकमायाता भगवान् व्रजयोषितः । अवदद् वदतां श्रेष्ठो वाचः पेशैर्विमोहयन् ॥ १७ ॥

tā dṛṣṭvāntikam āyātā bhagavān vraja-yoṣitaḥ avadad vadatāṁ śreṣṭho vācaḥ peśair vimohayan

Seeing the women of Vraja arrive before him, the Lord, foremost of speakers, addressed them with words so charming they bewildered the mind.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.29.18)

श्रीभगवानुवाच स्वागतं वो महाभागाः प्रियं किं करवाणि वः । व्रजस्यानामयं कच्चिद् ब्रूतागमनकारणम् ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca svāgataṁ vo mahā-bhāgāḥ priyaṁ kiṁ karavāṇi vaḥ vrajasyānāmayaṁ kaccid brūtāgamana-kāraṇam

The Lord said: Welcome, most fortunate ladies. What may I do that would please you? Is all well in Vraja? Tell me the reason for your coming.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.29.19)

रजन्येषा घोररूपा घोरसत्त्वनिषेविता । प्रतियात व्रजं नेह स्थेयं स्त्रीभिः सुमध्यमाः ॥ १९ ॥

rajany eṣā ghora-rūpā ghora-sattva-niṣevitā pratiyāta vrajaṁ neha stheyaṁ strībhiḥ su-madhyamāḥ

This night is fearsome in aspect, and fearsome creatures roam abroad. Return to Vraja; this is no place for women to remain, O slender-waisted ones.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.29.20)

मातरः पितरः पुत्रा भ्रातरः पतयश्च वः । विचिन्वन्ति ह्यपश्यन्तो मा कृढ्वं बन्धुसाध्वसम् ॥ २० ॥

mātaraḥ pitaraḥ putrā bhrātaraḥ patayaś ca vaḥ vicinvanti hy apaśyanto mā kṛḍhvaṁ bandhu-sādhvasam

Your mothers, fathers, sons, brothers and husbands, not finding you, must be searching for you even now. Do not cause your families such distress.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.29.21)

दृष्टं वनं कुसुमितं राकेशकररञ्जितम् । यमुनानिललीलैजत्तरुपल्लवशोभितम् ॥ २१ ॥

dṛṣṭaṁ vanaṁ kusumitaṁ rākeśa-kara-rañjitam yamunānila-līlaijat taru-pallava-śobhitam

You have now seen this forest in flower, tinted by the rays of the full moon, beautified by its young leaves swaying playfully in the breeze off the Yamuna.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.29.22)

तद् यात मा चिरं गोष्ठं शुश्रूषध्वं पतीन् सतीः । क्रन्दन्ति वत्सा बालाश्च तान् पाययत दुह्यत ॥ २२ ॥

tad yāta mā ciraṁ goṣṭhaṁ śuśrūṣadhvaṁ patīn satīḥ krandanti vatsā bālāś ca tān pāyayata duhyata

So go now, without delay, to the cow-station; serve your husbands, virtuous ones. Your calves and children are crying — go feed them and milk the cows.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.29.23)

अथ वा मदभिस्नेहाद् भवत्यो यन्त्रिताशयाः । आगता ह्युपपन्नं वः प्रीयन्ते मयि जन्तवः ॥ २३ ॥

atha vā mad-abhisnehād bhavatyo yantritāśayāḥ āgatā hy upapannaṁ vaḥ prīyante mayi jantavaḥ

Or perhaps, your hearts drawn by love for me, you have come here — and that indeed is fitting for you, since all creatures naturally love me.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.29.24)

भर्तुः शुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां परो धर्मो ह्यमायया । तद्बन्धूनां च कल्याणः प्रजानां चानुपोषणम् ॥ २४ ॥

bhartuḥ śuśrūṣaṇaṁ strīṇāṁ paro dharmo hy amāyayā tad-bandhūnāṁ ca kalyāṇaḥ prajānāṁ cānupoṣaṇam

For women, sincere and guileless service to the husband is the highest duty, along with the welfare of his kin and the nurture of one's children.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.29.25)

दुः शीलो दुर्भगो वृद्धो जडो रोग्यधनोऽपि वा । पतिः स्त्रीभिर्न हातव्यो लोकेप्सुभिरपातकी ॥ २५ ॥

duḥśīlo durbhago vṛddho jaḍo rogy adhano ’pi vā patiḥ strībhir na hātavyo lokepsubhir apātakī

A husband — even if ill-tempered, unfortunate, old, dull, sickly or poor — should never be abandoned by a woman who desires a good end, so long as he has not fallen from virtue.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.29.26)

अस्वर्ग्यमयशस्यं च फल्गु कृच्छ्रं भयावहम् । जुगुप्सितं च सर्वत्र ह्यौपपत्यं कुलस्त्रियः ॥ २६ ॥

asvargyam ayaśasyaṁ ca phalgu kṛcchraṁ bhayāvaham jugupsitaṁ ca sarvatra hy aupapatyaṁ kula-striyaḥ

For a woman of good family, an adulterous union is everywhere condemned — it bars the way to heaven, brings disgrace, yields little, and is fraught with hardship and fear.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.29.27)

श्रवणाद् दर्शनाद्ध्यानान्मयि भावोऽनुकीर्तनात् । न तथा सन्निकर्षेण प्रतियात ततो गृहान् ॥ २७ ॥

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

Love for me arises through hearing of me, seeing me, meditating upon me, and singing of me — not so much through mere physical nearness. So return now to your homes.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.29.28)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति विप्रियमाकर्ण्य गोप्यो गोविन्दभाषितम् । विषण्णा भग्नसङ्कल्पाश्चिन्तामापुर्दुरत्ययाम् ॥ २८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti vipriyam ākarṇya gopyo govinda-bhāṣitam viṣaṇṇā bhagna-saṅkalpāś cintām āpur duratyayām

Śukadeva said: Hearing these unwelcome words of Govinda, the gopis grew despondent; their resolve broken, they fell into an anxiety they could not overcome.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.29.29)

कृत्वा मुखान्यव शुचः श्वसनेन शुष्यद्- बिम्बाधराणि चरणेन भुवः लिखन्त्यः । अस्रैरुपात्तमसिभिः कुचकुङ्कुमानि तस्थुर्मृजन्त्य उरुदुः खभराः स्म तूष्णीम् ॥ २९ ॥

kṛtvā mukhāny ava śucaḥ śvasanena śuṣyad bimbādharāṇi caraṇena bhuvaḥ likhantyaḥ asrair upātta-masibhiḥ kuca-kuṅkumāni tasthur mṛjantya uru-duḥkha-bharāḥ sma tūṣṇīm

Their faces bowed in sorrow, their bimba-red lips drying with their sighs, they scratched the earth with their toes; wiping the vermilion from their breasts with tears that carried off their eye-kohl, they stood in silence, bearing the heavy weight of their grief.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.29.30)

प्रेष्ठं प्रियेतरमिव प्रतिभाषमाणं कृष्णं तदर्थविनिवर्तितसर्वकामाः । नेत्रे विमृज्य रुदितोपहते स्म किञ्चित्- संरम्भगद्गदगिरोऽब्रुवतानुरक्ताः ॥ ३० ॥

preṣṭhaṁ priyetaram iva pratibhāṣamāṇaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ tad-artha-vinivartita-sarva-kāmāḥ netre vimṛjya ruditopahate sma kiñcit saṁrambha-gadgada-giro ’bruvatānuraktāḥ

Though Krishna, their most beloved, had spoken to them as if he were unkind, and though they had renounced every other desire for his sake alone, they wiped their tear-worn eyes and, still deeply devoted, began to speak a little, their voices choked with feeling.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.29.31)

गोप्य ऊचुः मैवं विभोऽर्हति भवान् गदितुं नृशंसं सन्त्यज्य सर्वविषयांस्तव पादमूलम् । भक्ता भजस्व दुरवग्रह मा त्यजास्मान् देवो यथादिपुरुषो भजते मुमुक्षून् ॥ ३१ ॥

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ maivaṁ vibho ’rhati bhavān gadituṁ nṛ-śaṁsaṁ santyajya sarva-viṣayāṁs tava pāda-mūlam bhaktā bhajasva duravagraha mā tyajāsmān devo yathādi-puruṣo bhajate mumukṣūn

The gopis said: O Lord, it does not become you to speak such cruel words to us, who have given up every other object of desire for the shelter of your feet. Cherish your devotees, O one so hard to win — do not forsake us, just as the primeval Lord cherishes those who seek liberation.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.29.32)

यत्पत्यपत्यसुहृदामनुवृत्तिरङ्ग स्त्रीणां स्वधर्म इति धर्मविदा त्वयोक्तम् । अस्त्वेवमेतदुपदेशपदे त्वयीशे प्रेष्ठो भवांस्तनुभृतां किल बन्धुरात्मा ॥ ३२ ॥

yat paty-apatya-suhṛdām anuvṛttir aṅga strīṇāṁ sva-dharma iti dharma-vidā tvayoktam astv evam etad upadeśa-pade tvayīśe preṣṭho bhavāṁs tanu-bhṛtāṁ kila bandhur ātmā

Dear one, as one who knows dharma, you have told us that a woman's own duty is devotion to husband, children and kin — let this indeed be so. But you, O Lord, are the very object of that teaching, for you alone are the dearest kinsman and the very Self of every embodied being.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.29.33)

कुर्वन्ति हि त्वयि रतिं कुशलाः स्व आत्मन् नित्यप्रिये पतिसुतादिभिरार्तिदैः किम् । तन्नः प्रसीद परमेश्वर मा स्म छिन्द्या आशां धृतां त्वयि चिरादरविन्दनेत्र ॥ ३३ ॥

kurvanti hi tvayi ratiṁ kuśalāḥ sva ātman nitya-priye pati-sutādibhir ārti-daiḥ kim tan naḥ prasīda parameśvara mā sma chindyā āśāṁ dhṛtāṁ tvayi cirād aravinda-netra

Those who are wise indeed fix their love on you, their own Self, their eternal beloved — what use, then, are husbands, children and the rest, who only bring sorrow? Be gracious to us, O supreme Lord; O lotus-eyed one, do not cut short the hope we have long cherished in you.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.29.34)

चित्तं सुखेन भवतापहृतं गृहेषु यन्निर्विशत्युत करावपि गृह्यकृत्ये । पादौ पदं न चलतस्तव पादमूलाद् यामः कथं व्रजमथो करवाम किं वा ॥ ३४ ॥

cittaṁ sukhena bhavatāpahṛtaṁ gṛheṣu yan nirviśaty uta karāv api gṛhya-kṛtye pādau padaṁ na calatas tava pāda-mūlād yāmaḥ kathaṁ vrajam atho karavāma kiṁ vā

Our minds, which used to rest happily on household affairs, and our very hands, occupied with domestic tasks, have both been stolen away by you with ease. Now our feet will not move a single step from your feet — how, then, could we go back to Vraja, and what would we even do there?

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.29.35)

सिञ्चाङ्ग नस्त्वदधरामृतपूरकेण हासावलोककलगीतजहृच्छयाग्निम् । नो चेद्वयं विरहजाग्न्युपयुक्तदेहा ध्यानेन याम पदयोः पदवीं सखे ते ॥ ३५ ॥

siñcāṅga nas tvad-adharāmṛta-pūrakeṇa hāsāvaloka-kala-gīta-ja-hṛc-chayāgnim no ced vayaṁ virahajāgny-upayukta-dehā dhyānena yāma padayoḥ padavīṁ sakhe te

Sprinkle, dear one, the fire of desire in our hearts — kindled by your smiles, your glances, your sweet flute-song — with the nectar-flood of your lips. If not, we shall offer our bodies to the fire of separation, and reach the pathway of your feet through meditation alone, O friend.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.29.36)

यर्ह्यम्बुजाक्ष तव पादतलं रमाया दत्तक्षणं क्वचिदरण्यजनप्रियस्य । अस्प्राक्ष्म तत्प्रभृति नान्यसमक्षमञ्जः स्थातुं स्त्वयाभिरमिता बत पारयामः ॥ ३६ ॥

yarhy ambujākṣa tava pāda-talaṁ ramāyā datta-kṣaṇaṁ kvacid araṇya-jana-priyasya asprākṣma tat-prabhṛti nānya-samakṣam añjaḥ sthātuṁs tvayābhiramitā bata pārayāmaḥ

O lotus-eyed one, since we have touched the sole of your foot — dear to the forest folk, and granted even to Lakshmi only rarely — from that moment we find we simply cannot stand before any other man, so entirely have you delighted us.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.29.37)

श्रीर्यत्पदाम्बुजरजश्चकमे तुलस्या लब्ध्वापि वक्षसि पदं किल भृत्यजुष्टम् । यस्याः स्ववीक्षण उतान्यसुरप्रयास- स्तद्वद् वयं च तव पादरजः प्रपन्नाः ॥ ३७ ॥

śrīr yat padāmbuja-rajaś cakame tulasyā labdhvāpi vakṣasi padaṁ kila bhṛtya-juṣṭam yasyāḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa utānya-sura-prayāsas tadvad vayaṁ ca tava pāda-rajaḥ prapannāḥ

Sri herself, though she has won a place upon your chest, still longs for the dust of your lotus feet — dust that even your servants share, and for which the other gods still strive; even so, we too have taken refuge in the dust of your feet.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.29.38)

तन्नः प्रसीद वृजिनार्दन तेऽङ्घ्रिमूलं प्राप्ता विसृज्य वसतीस्त्वदुपासनाशाः । त्वत्सुन्दरस्मितनिरीक्षणतीव्रकाम- तप्तात्मनां पुरुषभूषण देहि दास्यम् ॥ ३८ ॥

tan naḥ prasīda vṛjinārdana te ’nghri-mūlaṁ prāptā visṛjya vasatīs tvad-upāsanāśāḥ tvat-sundara-smita-nirīkṣaṇa-tīvra-kāma taptātmanāṁ puruṣa-bhūṣaṇa dehi dāsyam

So be gracious to us, O destroyer of sorrow. We have come to the foot of your feet, having left our homes, hoping only to serve you. O jewel among men, grant servitude to us, whose hearts burn with the intense longing kindled by your beautiful smiling glance.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.29.39)

वीक्ष्यालकावृतमुखं तव कुण्डलश्री- गण्डस्थलाधरसुधं हसितावलोकम् । दत्ताभयं च भुजदण्डयुगं विलोक्य वक्षः श्रियैकरमणं च भवाम दास्यः ॥ ३९ ॥

vīkṣyālakāvṛta-mukhaṁ tava kuṇdala-śrī gaṇḍa-sthalādhara-sudhaṁ hasitāvalokam dattābhayaṁ ca bhuja-daṇḍa-yugaṁ vilokya vakṣaḥ śriyaika-ramaṇaṁ ca bhavāma dāsyaḥ

Seeing your face framed by curling locks, your cheeks graced by earrings, the nectar of your lips, and your smiling glance, and beholding too your two mighty arms that grant fearlessness, and your chest, sole delight of Sri, we can only become your maidservants.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.29.40)

का स्त्र्यङ्ग ते कलपदायतवेणुगीत- सम्मोहितार्यचरितान्न चलेत्त्रिलोक्याम् । त्रैलोक्यसौभगमिदं च निरीक्ष्य रूपं यद् गोद्विजद्रुममृगाः पुलकान्यबिभ्रन् ॥ ४० ॥

kā stry aṅga te kala-padāyata-veṇu-gīta- sammohitārya-caritān na calet tri-lokyām trailokya-saubhagam idaṁ ca nirīkṣya rūpaṁ yad go-dvija-druma-mṛgāḥ pulakāny abibhran

Dear one, what woman in all three worlds, bewildered by the sweet, drawn-out melody of your flute, would not stray from the path of virtue? This form of yours brings good fortune to all three worlds — even the cows, birds, trees and deer, seeing it, bristle with joy.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.29.41)

व्यक्तं भवान् व्रजभयार्तिहरोऽभिजातो देवो यथादिपुरुषः सुरलोकगोप्ता । तन्नो निधेहि करपङ्कजमार्तबन्धो तप्तस्तनेषु च शिरः सु च किङ्करीणाम् ॥ ४१ ॥

vyaktaṁ bhavān vraja-bhayārti-haro ’bhijāto devo yathādi-puruṣaḥ sura-loka-goptā tan no nidhehi kara-paṅkajam ārta-bandho tapta-staneṣu ca śiraḥsu ca kiṅkarīṇām

Clearly you were born to remove the fear and suffering of Vraja, just as the primeval Lord protects the realm of the gods. Therefore, O friend of the afflicted, place your lotus hand upon the burning breasts and heads of your maidservants.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.29.42)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति विक्लवितं तासां श्रुत्वा योगेश्वरेश्वरः । प्रहस्य सदयं गोपीरात्मारामोऽप्यरीरमत् ॥ ४२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti viklavitaṁ tāsāṁ śrutvā yogeśvareśvaraḥ prahasya sa-dayaṁ gopīr ātmārāmo ’py arīramat

Śukadeva said: Hearing this lament of theirs, the Lord of the masters of yoga, though ever content in himself, smiled and, with compassion, delighted the gopis.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.29.43)

ताभिः समेताभिरुदारचेष्टितः प्रियेक्षणोत्फुल्लमुखीभिरच्युतः । उदारहासद्विजकुन्ददीधति- र्व्यरोचतैणाङ्क इवोडुभिर्वृतः ॥ ४३ ॥

tābhiḥ sametābhir udāra-ceṣṭitaḥ priyekṣaṇotphulla-mukhībhir acyutaḥ udāra-hāsa-dvija-kunda-dīdhatir vyarocataiṇāṅka ivoḍubhir vṛtaḥ

Surrounded by those gathered gopis, their faces blossoming under his loving glance, the infallible Lord, magnanimous in every act, shone forth — the light of his broad smile like jasmine buds among his teeth — as the moon shines encircled by stars.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.29.44)

उपगीयमान उद्गायन् वनिताशतयूथपः । मालां बिभ्रद्वैजयन्तीं व्यचरन्मण्डयन् वनम् ॥ ४४ ॥

upagīyamāna udgāyan vanitā-śata-yūthapaḥ mālāṁ bibhrad vaijayantīṁ vyacaran maṇḍayan vanam

As the hundreds of women sang his praises, that leader of their band sang aloud in return, and, wearing his Vaijayanti garland, wandered about, adorning the forest.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.29.45)

नद्याः पुलिनमाविश्य गोपीभिर्हिमवालुकम् । जुष्टं तत्तरलानन्दिकुमुदामोदवायुना ॥ ४५ ॥

nadyāḥ pulinam āviśya gopībhir hima-vālukam juṣṭaṁ tat-taralānandi kumudāmoda-vāyunā

With the gopis he entered upon the river's sand-bank, cool as snow, made pleasant by a breeze that carried the fragrance of night-lotuses and the delight of the rippling stream.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.29.46)

बाहुप्रसारपरिरम्भकरालकोरु- नीवीस्तनालभननर्मनखाग्रपातैः । क्ष्वेल्यावलोकहसितैर्व्रजसुन्दरीणा- मुत्तम्भयन् रतिपतिं रमयां चकार ॥ ४६ ॥

bāhu-prasāra-parirambha-karālakoru nīvī-stanālabhana-narma-nakhāgra-pātaiḥ kṣvelyāvaloka-hasitair vraja-sundarīṇām uttambhayan rati-patiṁ ramayāṁ cakāra

With outstretched arms he embraced them, touching their hair, thighs, sashes and breasts, playfully grazing them with the tips of his nails, and with teasing words, glances and laughter, he stirred the god of love within the beautiful women of Vraja, and so delighted them.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.29.47)

एवं भगवतः कृष्णाल्लब्धमाना महात्मनः । आत्मानं मेनिरे स्त्रीणां मानिन्यो ह्यधिकं भुवि ॥ ४७ ॥

evaṁ bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇāl labdha-mānā mahātmanaḥ ātmānaṁ menire strīṇāṁ māninyo hy adhikaṁ bhuvi

Thus honoured by the great-souled Lord Krishna, each of the gopis, filled with pride, came to think herself the most fortunate woman on earth.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.29.48)

तासां तत् सौभगमदं वीक्ष्य मानं च केशवः । प्रशमाय प्रसादाय तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥ ४८ ॥

tāsāṁ tat-saubhaga-madaṁ vīkṣya mānaṁ ca keśavaḥ praśamāya prasādāya tatraivāntaradhīyata

Seeing that pride in their own good fortune, and their vanity, Keshava, in order to quiet it and in order to show them further grace, vanished from that very spot.