The Gopis Search for Krishna

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.30.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अन्तर्हिते भगवति सहसैव व्रजाङ्गनाः । अतप्यंस्तमचक्षाणाः करिण्य इव यूथपम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca antarhite bhagavati sahasaiva vrajāṅganāḥ atapyaṁs tam acakṣāṇāḥ kariṇya iva yūthapam

Śukadeva said: When the Lord had thus suddenly vanished, the women of Vraja grieved at losing sight of him, like a herd of female elephants who have lost their leader.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.30.2)

गत्यानुरागस्मितविभ्रमेक्षितै- र्मनोरमालापविहारविभ्रमैः । आक्षिप्तचित्ताः प्रमदा रमापते- स्तास्ता विचेष्टा जगृहुस्तदात्मिकाः ॥ २ ॥

gatyānurāga-smita-vibhramekṣitair mano-ramālāpa-vihāra-vibhramaiḥ ākṣipta-cittāḥ pramadā ramā-pates tās tā viceṣṭā jagṛhus tad-ātmikāḥ

Their hearts seized by his gait, his loving smiles, his playful glances, his charming talk and his sportive ways, those women, wholly absorbed in the Lord of Rama, began to act out those very gestures of his.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.30.3)

गतिस्मितप्रेक्षणभाषणादिषु प्रियाः प्रियस्य प्रतिरूढमूर्तयः । असावहं त्वित्यबलास्तदात्मिका न्यवेदिषुः कृष्णविहारविभ्रमाः ॥ ३ ॥

gati-smita-prekṣaṇa-bhāṣaṇādiṣu priyāḥ priyasya pratirūḍha-mūrtayaḥ asāv ahaṁ tv ity abalās tad-ātmikā nyavediṣuḥ kṛṣṇa-vihāra-vibhramāḥ

In gait, in smile, in glance, in speech and the rest, those beloved women, so wholly absorbed in their beloved, took on his very form and, deranged by his sporting ways, declared to one another, "I am he! I am Krishna!"

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.30.4)

गायन्त्य उच्चैरमुमेव संहता विचिक्युरुन्मत्तकवद् वनाद् वनम् । पप्रच्छुराकाशवदन्तरं बहि- र्भूतेषु सन्तं पुरुषं वनस्पतीन् ॥ ४ ॥

gāyantya uccair amum eva saṁhatā vicikyur unmattaka-vad vanād vanam papracchur ākāśa-vad antaraṁ bahir bhūteṣu santaṁ puruṣaṁ vanaspatīn

Loudly singing of him, gathered together, they searched from forest to forest like madwomen, and asked even the trees about that Person who, like the sky, dwells within and without all beings.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.30.5)

दृष्टो वः कच्चिदश्वत्थ प्लक्ष न्यग्रोध नो मनः । नन्दसूनुर्गतो हृत्वा प्रेमहासावलोकनैः ॥ ५ ॥

dṛṣṭo vaḥ kaccid aśvattha plakṣa nyagrodha no manaḥ nanda-sūnur gato hṛtvā prema-hāsāvalokanaiḥ

[The gopis said:] O ashvattha, O plaksha, O nyagrodha — have you seen him, has he passed here? The son of Nanda has gone off, having stolen our hearts with his loving smiles and glances.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.30.6)

कच्चित् कुरबकाशोकनागपुन्नागचम्पकाः । रामानुजो मानिनीनामितो दर्पहरस्मितः ॥ ६ ॥

kaccit kurabakāśoka- nāga-punnāga-campakāḥ rāmānujo māninīnām ito darpa-hara-smitaḥ

O kurabaka, ashoka, naga, punnaga and champaka — has Rama's younger brother, whose smile breaks the pride of proud women, gone this way?

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.30.7)

कच्चित्तुलसि कल्याणि गोविन्दचरणप्रिये । सह त्वालिकुलैर्बिभ्रद् दृष्टस्तेऽतिप्रियोऽच्युतः ॥ ७ ॥

kaccit tulasi kalyāṇi govinda-caraṇa-priye saha tvāli-kulair bibhrad dṛṣṭas te ’ti-priyo ’cyutaḥ

O blessed Tulasi, so dear to Govinda's feet — have you seen that most dear, infallible one pass by, wearing you along with the swarms of bees that hover around you?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.30.8)

मालत्यदर्शि वः कच्चिन्मल्लिके जाति यूथिके । प्रीतिं वो जनयन् यातः करस्पर्शेन माधवः ॥ ८ ॥

mālaty adarśi vaḥ kaccin mallike jāti-yūthike prītiṁ vo janayan yātaḥ kara-sparśena mādhavaḥ

O malati, mallika, jati and yuthika — did you see Madhava go by, gladdening you with the touch of his hand?

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.30.9)

चूतप्रियालपनसासनकोविदार- जम्ब्वर्कबिल्वबकुलाम्रकदम्बनीपाः । येऽन्ये परार्थभवका यमुनोपकूलाः शंसन्तु कृष्णपदवीं रहितात्मनां नः ॥ ९ ॥

cūta-priyāla-panasāsana-kovidāra jambv-arka-bilva-bakulāmra-kadamba-nīpāḥ ye ’nye parārtha-bhavakā yamunopakūlāḥ śaṁsantu kṛṣṇa-padavīṁ rahitātmanāṁ naḥ

O mango, priyala, jackfruit, asana and kovidara, O jambu, arka, bilva, bakula, amra, kadamba and nipa, and all you other trees on the banks of the Yamuna who live only for the good of others — tell us, who have lost our very selves, the path Krishna has taken.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.30.10)

किं ते कृतं क्षिति तपो बत केशवाङ्घ्रि- स्पर्शोत्सवोत्पुलकिताङ्गरुहैर्विभासि । अप्यङ्घ्रिसम्भव उरुक्रमविक्रमाद् वा आहो वराहवपुषः परिरम्भणेन ॥ १० ॥

kiṁ te kṛtaṁ kṣiti tapo bata keśavāṅghri- sparśotsavotpulakitāṅga-nahair vibhāsi apy aṅghri-sambhava urukrama-vikramād vā āho varāha-vapuṣaḥ parirambhaṇena

O earth, what penance did you perform, that you shine now with your very ground-hairs standing on end in the joy of Keshava's footfall? Was it from the touch of his foot, or from the stride of the Wide-Strider, or perhaps from the embrace of his Boar-form long ago?

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.30.11)

अप्येणपत्न्युपगतः प्रिययेह गात्रै- स्तन्वन् दृशां सखि सुनिर्वृतिमच्युतो वः । कान्ताङ्गसङ्गकुचकुङ्कुमरञ्जितायाः कुन्दस्रजः कुलपतेरिह वाति गन्धः ॥ ११ ॥

apy eṇa-patny upagataḥ priyayeha gātrais tanvan dṛśāṁ sakhi su-nirvṛtim acyuto vaḥ kāntāṅga-saṅga-kuca-kuṅkuma-rañjitāyāḥ kunda-srajaḥ kula-pater iha vāti gandhaḥ

O friend, wife of the deer, has infallible Krishna come here with his beloved, delighting your eyes with the sight of her limbs? For here drifts the scent of the garland of the lord of the herd, its kunda flowers stained red with the vermilion from his beloved's breast where it touched her body.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.30.12)

बाहुं प्रियांस उपधाय गृहीतपद्मो रामानुजस्तुलसिकालिकुलैर्मदान्धैः । अन्वीयमान इह वस्तरवः प्रणामं किं वाभिनन्दति चरन् प्रणयावलोकैः ॥ १२ ॥

bāhuṁ priyāṁsa upadhāya gṛhīta-padmo rāmānujas tulasikāli-kulair madāndhaiḥ anvīyamāna iha vas taravaḥ praṇāmaṁ kiṁ vābhinandati caran praṇayāvalokaiḥ

O trees, resting his arm on his beloved's shoulder, holding a lotus, followed by bees maddened with the scent of his tulasi garland — did Rama's younger brother, passing this way, greet your bowed branches with his loving glance?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.30.13)

पृच्छतेमा लता बाहूनप्याश्लिष्टा वनस्पतेः । नूनं तत्करजस्पृष्टा बिभ्रत्युत्पुलकान्यहो ॥ १३ ॥

pṛcchatemā latā bāhūn apy āśliṣṭā vanaspateḥ nūnaṁ tat-karaja-spṛṣṭā bibhraty utpulakāny aho

Let us ask these creepers, though they are already embracing the arms of their own husband, the tree — surely they too were touched by his fingernails, for see how, in delight, they bear the marks of thrilled hairs upon them.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.30.14)

इत्युन्मत्तवचोगोप्यः कृष्णान्वेषणकातराः । लीला भगवतस्तास्ता ह्यनुचक्रुस्तदात्मिकाः ॥ १४ ॥

ity unmatta-vaco gopyaḥ kṛṣṇānveṣaṇa-kātarāḥ līlā bhagavatas tās tā hy anucakrus tad-ātmikāḥ

Speaking thus like madwomen, the gopis, distraught in their search for Krishna and wholly absorbed in him, went on acting out his many pastimes.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.30.15)

कस्याचित् पूतनायन्त्याः कृष्णायन्त्यपिबत् स्तनम् । तोकयित्वा रुदत्यन्या पदाहन् शकटायतीम् ॥ १५ ॥

kasyācit pūtanāyantyāḥ kṛṣṇāyanty apibat stanam tokayitvā rudaty anyā padāhan śakaṭāyatīm

One, playing the part of Putana, had her breast "drunk" by another who played the infant Krishna; and yet another, weeping like the child, kicked her foot against one who played the cart-demon.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.30.16)

दैत्यायित्वा जहारान्यामेको कृष्णार्भभावनाम् । रिङ्गयामास काप्यङ्घ्री कर्षन्ती घोषनिः स्वनैः ॥ १६ ॥

daityāyitvā jahārānyām eko kṛṣṇārbha-bhāvanām riṅgayām āsa kāpy aṅghrī karṣantī ghoṣa-niḥsvanaiḥ

One played the demon and carried off another who imagined herself the infant Krishna; and another crawled about on her hands, dragging her feet with the tinkling of anklets.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.30.17)

कृष्णरामायिते द्वे तु गोपायन्त्यश्च काश्चन । वत्सायतीं हन्ति चान्या तत्रैका तु बकायतीम् ॥ १७ ॥

kṛṣṇa-rāmāyite dve tu gopāyantyaś ca kāścana vatsāyatīṁ hanti cānyā tatraikā tu bakāyatīm

Two played Krishna and Rama while several others played cowherd boys; one struck down another who played the calf-demon, and yet another the one who played the crane-demon Baka.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.30.18)

आहूय दूरगा यद्वत् कृष्णस्तमनुवर्ततीम् । वेणुं क्वणन्तीं क्रीडन्तीमन्याः शंसन्ति साध्विति ॥ १८ ॥

āhūya dūra-gā yadvat kṛṣṇas tam anuvartatīm veṇuṁ kvaṇantīṁ krīḍantīm anyāḥ śaṁsanti sādhv iti

When one gopi imitated just how Krishna would call back the cows that had wandered far, how he would play his flute and how he would sport, the others praised her, exclaiming, "Well done, well done!"

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.30.19)

कस्याञ्चित् स्वभुजं न्यस्य चलन्त्याहापरा ननु । कृष्णोऽहं पश्यत गतिं ललितामिति तन्मनाः ॥ १९ ॥

kasyāñcit sva-bhujaṁ nyasya calanty āhāparā nanu kṛṣṇo ’haṁ paśyata gatiṁ lalitām iti tan-manāḥ

Another, her mind fixed wholly on Krishna, resting her arm on a friend's shoulder as she walked, said, "I am Krishna! See my graceful gait!"

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.30.20)

मा भैष्ट वातवर्षाभ्यां तत्त्राणं विहितं मया । इत्युक्त्वैकेन हस्तेन यतन्त्युन्निदधेऽम्बरम् ॥ २० ॥

mā bhaiṣṭa vāta-varṣābhyāṁ tat-trāṇaṁ vihitaṁ maya ity uktvaikena hastena yatanty unnidadhe ’mbaram

"Fear not the wind and the rain — I have arranged your protection," said one, and with a single hand, straining, she lifted her wrap overhead.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.30.21)

आरुह्यैका पदाक्रम्य शिरस्याहापरां नृप । दुष्टाहे गच्छ जातोऽहं खलानां ननु दण्डकृत् ॥ २१ ॥

āruhyaikā padākramya śirasy āhāparāṁ nṛpa duṣṭāhe gaccha jāto ’haṁ khalānām nanu daṇḍa-kṛt

[Śukadeva continued:] O king, climbing upon another's shoulders and setting her foot on her head, one gopi declared, "Begone, wicked serpent! Know that I am born to punish the wicked."

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.30.22)

तत्रैकोवाच हे गोपा दावाग्निं पश्यतोल्बणम् । चक्षूंष्याश्वपिदध्वं वो विधास्ये क्षेममञ्जसा ॥ २२ ॥

tatraikovāca he gopā dāvāgniṁ paśyatolbaṇam cakṣūṁṣy āśv apidadhvaṁ vo vidhāsye kṣemam añjasā

Then another said, "O cowherd boys, look at this raging forest fire! Close your eyes at once — I shall easily keep you safe."

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.30.23)

बद्धान्यया स्रजा काचित्तन्वी तत्र उलूखले । बध्नामि भाण्डभेत्तारं हैयङ्गवमुषं त्विति । भीता सुदृक् पिधायास्यं भेजे भीतिविडम्बनम् ॥ २३ ॥

baddhānyayā srajā kācit tanvī tatra ulūkhale badhnāmi bhāṇḍa-bhettāraṁ haiyaṅgava-muṣaṁ tv iti bhītā su-dṛk pidhāyāsyaṁ bheje bhīti-viḍambanam

One slender gopi, bound with a garland by another to a mortar, said, "I am tying this butter-thief, this pot-breaker" — while the fair-eyed one, feigning fear, covered her face and put on a show of terror.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.30.24)

एवं कृष्णं पृच्छमाना गण्दावनलतास्तरून् । व्यचक्षत वनोद्देशे पदानि परमात्मनः ॥ २४ ॥

evaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ pṛcchamānā vrṇdāvana-latās tarūn vyacakṣata vanoddeśe padāni paramātmanaḥ

While thus questioning Vrindavana's creepers and trees about Krishna, they caught sight, in a part of the forest, of the footprints of the Supreme Soul.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.30.25)

पदानि व्यक्तमेतानि नन्दसूनोर्महात्मनः । लक्ष्यन्ते हि ध्वजाम्भोजवज्राङ्कुशयवादिभिः ॥ २५ ॥

padāni vyaktam etāni nanda-sūnor mahātmanaḥ lakṣyante hi dhvajāmbhoja- vajrāṅkuśa-yavādibhiḥ

[The gopis said:] These footprints are clearly those of the great soul, the son of Nanda, for they show the marks of flag, lotus, thunderbolt, goad, barleycorn and the rest.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.30.26)

तैस्तैः पदैस्तत्पदवीमन्विच्छन्त्योऽग्रतोऽबलाः । वध्वाः पदैः सुपृक्तानि विलोक्यार्ताः समब्रुवन् ॥ २६ ॥

tais taiḥ padais tat-padavīm anvicchantyo ’grato ’balāḥ vadhvāḥ padaiḥ su-pṛktāni vilokyārtāḥ samabruvan

Following that trail by those very footprints, the women went on ahead, but seeing them mingled everywhere with the prints of a young woman, they grew troubled and spoke as follows.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.30.27)

कस्याः पदानि चैतानि याताया नन्दसूनुना । अंसन्यस्तप्रकोष्ठायाः करेणोः करिणा यथा ॥ २७ ॥

kasyāḥ padāni caitāni yātāyā nanda-sūnunā aṁsa-nyasta-prakoṣṭhāyāḥ kareṇoḥ kariṇā yathā

Whose footprints are these, walking alongside Nanda's son, her forearm resting upon his shoulder, just as a she-elephant walks with her trunk laid upon the shoulder of her mate?

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.30.28)

अनयाराधितो नूनं भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः । यन्नो विहाय गोविन्दः प्रीतो यामनयद् रहः ॥ २८ ॥

anayārādhito nūnaṁ bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ yan no vihāya govindaḥ prīto yām anayad rahaḥ

Surely this one has worshiped the almighty Lord Hari perfectly, since Govinda, so pleased with her, abandoned the rest of us and led her away to a secluded place.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.30.29)

धन्या अहो अमी आल्यो गोविन्दाङ्घ्र्यब्जरेणवः । यान् ब्रह्मेशौ रमा देवी दधुर्मूर्ध्न्यघनुत्तये ॥ २९ ॥

dhanyā aho amī ālyo govindāṅghry-abja-reṇavaḥ yān brahmeśau ramā devī dadhur mūrdhny agha-nuttaye

Ah, blessed indeed, friends, is this dust of Govinda's lotus feet — the very dust that Brahma, Shiva and the goddess Rama bear upon their heads to wash away sin!

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.30.30)

तस्या अमूनि नः क्षोभं कुर्वन्त्युच्चैः पदानि यत् यैकापहृत्य गोपीनां रहो भुङ्क्तेऽच्युताधरम् । न लक्ष्यन्ते पदान्यत्र तस्या नूनं तृणाङ्कुरैः खिद्यत्सुजाताङ्घ्रितलामुन्निन्ये प्रेयसीं प्रियः ॥ ३० ॥

tasyā amūni naḥ kṣobhaṁ kurvanty uccaiḥ padāni yat yaikāpahṛtya gopīnām raho bhunkte ’cyutādharam na lakṣyante padāny atra tasyā nūnaṁ tṛṇāṅkuraiḥ khidyat-sujātāṅghri-talām unninye preyasīṁ priyaḥ

These very footprints of hers stir us deeply, for it is she alone whom he singled out from all the gopis and led away, and now, in seclusion, enjoys the nectar of Achyuta's lips. See, her footprints vanish here — surely the sprouting grass was hurting the tender soles of her feet, and so her lover lifted his beloved up in his arms.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.30.31)

इमान्यधिकमग्नानि पदानि वहतो वधूम् । गोप्यः पश्यत कृष्णस्य भाराक्रान्तस्य कामिनः । अत्रावरोपिता कान्ता पुष्पहेतोर्महात्मना ॥ ३१ ॥

imāny adhika-magnāni padāni vahato vadhūm gopyaḥ paśyata kṛṣṇasya bhārākrāntasya kāminaḥ atrāvaropitā kāntā puṣpa-hetor mahātmanā

See, gopis, how here Krishna's footprints sink deeper, burdened by carrying his beloved; and here that great-hearted, love-struck one must have set her down, to gather flowers for her.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.30.32)

अत्र प्रसूनावचयः प्रियार्थे प्रेयसा कृतः । प्रपदाक्रमण एते पश्यतासकले पदे ॥ ३२ ॥

atra prasūnāvacayaḥ priyārthe preyasā kṛtaḥ prapadākramaṇa ete paśyatāsakale pade

Here the beloved gathered flowers for his dear one; see how, here, only the front part of his feet has left its mark, from standing on his toes to reach them.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.30.33)

केशप्रसाधनं त्वत्र कामिन्याः कामिना कृतम् । तानि चूडयता कान्तामुपविष्टमिह ध्रुवम् ॥ ३३ ॥

keśa-prasādhanaṁ tv atra kāminyāḥ kāminā kṛtam tāni cūḍayatā kāntām upaviṣṭam iha dhruvam

And here, surely, the lover sat down and arranged his beloved's hair, weaving into it those very flowers he had gathered.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.30.34)

रेमे तया चात्मरत आत्मारामोऽप्यखण्डितः । कामिनां दर्शयन् दैन्यं स्त्रीणां चैव दुरात्मताम् ॥ ३४ ॥

reme tayā cātma-rata ātmārāmo ’py akhaṇḍitaḥ kāmināṁ darśayan dainyaṁ strīṇāṁ caiva durātmatām

[Śukadeva continued:] Thus Krishna sported with her, though he delights in his own self alone and remains ever whole — showing thereby, by contrast, both the helplessness of lustful men and the fickleness of women.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.30.35)

इत्येवं दर्शयन्त्यस्ताश्चेरुर्गोप्यो विचेतसः । यां गोपीमनयत्कृष्णो विहायान्याः स्त्रियो वने ॥ ३५ ॥

ity evaṁ darśayantyas tāś cerur gopyo vicetasaḥ yāṁ gopīm anayat kṛṣṇo vihāyānyāḥ striyo vane

Thus pointing out these signs, the gopis wandered on, their minds bewildered; and the very gopi whom Krishna, forsaking all the other women, had led into the forest —

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.30.36)

सा च मेने तदात्मानं वरिष्ठं सर्वयोषिताम् । हित्वा गोपीः कामयाना मामसौ भजते प्रियः ॥ ३६ ॥

sā ca mene tadātmānaṁ variṣṭhaṁ sarva-yoṣitām hitvā gopīḥ kāma-yānā mām asau bhajate priyaḥ

she came to think herself the very best of all women, thinking, "Leaving the other gopis, who long for him, my beloved cherishes me alone."

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.30.37)

ततो गत्वा वनोद्देशं दृप्ता केशवमब्रवीत् । न पारयेऽहं चलितुं नय मां यत्र ते मनः ॥ ३७ ॥

tato gatvā vanoddeśaṁ dṛptā keśavam abravīt na pāraye ’haṁ calituṁ naya māṁ yatra te manaḥ

Then, going on into a part of the forest, grown proud, she said to Keshava, "I can walk no further — carry me wherever your heart desires."

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.30.38)

एवमुक्तः प्रियामाह स्कन्ध आरुह्यतामिति । ततश्चान्तर्दधे कृष्णः सा वधूरन्वतप्यत ॥ ३८ ॥

evam uktaḥ priyām āha skandha āruhyatām iti tataś cāntardadhe kṛṣṇaḥ sā vadhūr anvatapyata

So addressed, he said to his beloved, "Then climb upon my shoulder" — and at that very moment Krishna vanished, and the young woman was filled with remorse.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.30.39)

हा नाथ रमण प्रेष्ठ क्वासि क्वासि महाभुज । दास्यास्ते कृपणाया मे सखे दर्शय सन्निधिम् ॥ ३९ ॥

hā nātha ramaṇa preṣṭha kvāsi kvāsi mahā-bhuja dāsyās te kṛpaṇāyā me sakhe darśaya sannidhim

"Ah, my lord, my lover, my dearest, where are you, where are you, O mighty-armed one? O friend, show yourself to me, your poor, helpless servant!"

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.30.40)

श्रीशुक उवाच अन्विच्छन्त्यो भगवतो मार्गं गोप्योऽविदूरितः । ददृशुः प्रियविश्लेषान्मोहितां दुः खितां सखीम् ॥ ४० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca anvicchantyo bhagavato mārgaṁ gopyo ’vidūritaḥ dadṛśuḥ priya-viśleṣān mohitāṁ duḥkhitāṁ sakhīm

Śukadeva said: Still searching for the Lord's path, the gopis, not far off, found their friend — bewildered and grieving, undone by separation from her beloved.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.30.41)

तया कथितमाकर्ण्य मानप्राप्तिं च माधवात् । अवमानं च दौरात्म्याद् विस्मयं परमं ययुः ॥ ४१ ॥

tayā kathitam ākarṇya māna-prāptiṁ ca mādhavāt avamānaṁ ca daurātmyād vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayuḥ

Hearing from her how she had received Madhava's favour, and then dishonour for her own presumption, they were struck with the deepest astonishment.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.30.42)

ततोऽविशन्वनं चन्द्रज्योत्स्ना यावद् विभाव्यते । तमः प्रविष्टमालक्ष्य ततो निववृतुः स्त्रियः ॥ ४२ ॥

tato ’viśan vanaṁ candra jyotsnā yāvad vibhāvyate tamaḥ praviṣṭam ālakṣya tato nivavṛtuḥ striyaḥ

They then went on into the forest as far as the moonlight reached; but finding themselves entering into darkness, the women turned back.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.30.43)

तन्मनस्कास्तदालापास्तद्विचेष्टास्तदात्मिकाः । तद्गुणानेव गायन्त्यो नात्मगाराणि सस्मरुः ॥ ४३ ॥

tan-manaskās tad-alāpās tad-viceṣṭās tad-ātmikāḥ tad-guṇān eva gāyantyo nātmagārāṇi sasmaruḥ

Their minds fixed on him, speaking only of him, acting only as he did, wholly become him, singing only of his qualities, they gave no thought at all to their own homes.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.30.44)

पुनः पुलिनमागत्य कालिन्द्याः कृष्णभावनाः । समवेता जगुः कृष्णं तदागमनकाङ्क्षिताः ॥ ४४ ॥

punaḥ pulinam āgatya kālindyāḥ kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāḥ samavetā jaguḥ kṛṣṇaṁ tad-āgamana-kāṅkṣitāḥ

Coming once more to the sandy bank of the Kalindi, absorbed in thought of Krishna and longing for his return, they gathered together and sang of him.