The Gopis Sing of Krishna as He Wanders in the Forest

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.35.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच गोप्यः कृष्णे वनं याते तमनुद्रुतचेतसः । कृष्णलीलाः प्रगायन्त्यो निन्युर्दुःखेन वासरान् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca gopyaḥ kṛṣṇe vanaṁ yāte tam anudruta-cetasaḥ kṛṣṇa-līlāḥ pragāyantyo ninyur duḥkhena vāsarān

Sukadeva said: Whenever Krishna went to the forest, the minds of the gopis followed after him, and singing of his pastimes, they passed their days in sorrow.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.35.2)

श्रीगोप्य ऊचुः वामबाहुकृतवामकपोलो वल्गितभ्रुरधरार्पितवेणुम् । कोमलाङ्गुलिभिराश्रितमार्गं गोप्य ईरयति यत्र मुकुन्दः ॥ २ ॥

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo valgita-bhrur adharārpita-veṇum komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ

The gopis said: My friends, see how Mukunda rests his left cheek upon his left arm, his eyebrows dancing, and plays the flute pressed to his lips, his tender fingers covering its holes.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.35.3)

व्योमयानवनिताः सह सिद्धै- र्विस्मितास्तदुपधार्य सलज्जाः । काममार्गणसमर्पितचित्ताः कश्मलं ययुरपस्मृतनीव्यः ॥ ३ ॥

vyoma-yāna-vanitāḥ saha siddhair vismitās tad upadhārya sa-lajjāḥ kāma-mārgaṇa-samarpita-cittāḥ kaśmalaṁ yayur apasmṛta-nīvyaḥ

At the sound of that flute, the wives of the Siddhas, traveling the sky with their husbands, are struck with wonder; ashamed to find their minds given over to the pursuit of desire, they fall into such distress that they do not even notice the belts of their garments coming loose.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.35.4)

हन्त चित्रमबलाः शृणुतेदं हारहास उरसि स्थिरविद्युत् । नन्दसूनुरयमार्तजनानां नर्मदो यर्हि कूजितवेणुः ॥ ४ ॥

hanta citram abalāḥ śṛṇutedaṁ hāra-hāsa urasi sthira-vidyun nanda-sūnur ayam ārta-janānāṁ narma-do yarhi kūjita-veṇuḥ

Ah, listen, my friends, to this wonder: this son of Nanda, whose smile gleams like a jeweled necklace and who bears a mark like frozen lightning upon his chest, brings joy to the suffering whenever the sound of his flute rises.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.35.5)

वृन्दशो व्रजवृषा मृगगावो वेणुवाद्यहृतचेतस आरात् । दन्तदष्टकवला धृतकर्णा निद्रिता लिखितचित्रमिवासन् ॥ ५ ॥

vṛndaśo vraja-vṛṣā mṛga-gāvo veṇu-vādya-hṛta-cetasa ārāt danta-daṣṭa-kavalā dhṛta-karṇā nidritā likhita-citram ivāsan

At that sound, the bulls, deer and cows of Vraja, standing in herds far off, have their very minds stolen away; they freeze with mouthfuls of food still caught between their teeth, ears raised, as still as if asleep, or as figures painted in a picture.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.35.6)

बर्हिणस्तबकधातुपलाशै- र्बद्धमल्लपरिबर्हविडम्बः । कर्हिचित् सबल आलि स गोपै- र्गाः समाह्वयति यत्र मुकुन्दः ॥ ६ ॥

barhiṇa-stabaka-dhātu-palāśair baddha-malla-paribarha-viḍambaḥ karhicit sa-bala āli sa gopair gāḥ samāhvayati yatra mukundaḥ

My dear friend, sometimes, decked out with clusters of peacock feathers, colored minerals and leaves in mimicry of a wrestler's dress, he, together with Bala and the cowherd boys, calls out to the cows, sounding his flute.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.35.7)

तर्हि भग्नगतयः सरितो वै तत्पदाम्बुजरजोऽनिलनीतम् । स्पृहयतीर्वयमिवाबहुपुण्याः प्रेमवेपितभुजाः स्तिमितापः ॥ ७ ॥

tarhi bhagna-gatayaḥ sarito vai tat-padāmbuja-rajo ’nila-nītam spṛhayatīr vayam ivābahu-puṇyāḥ prema-vepita-bhujāḥ stimitāpaḥ

At that sound, the rivers halt their very flow, longing, just as we of little merit do, for the dust of his lotus feet carried on the wind; their waves tremble with love, and their waters stand still.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.35.8)

अनुचरैः समनुवर्णितवीर्य आदिपूरुष इवाचलभूतिः । वनचरो गिरितटेषु चरन्ती- र्वेणुनाह्वयति गाः स यदा हि ॥ ८ ॥

anucaraiḥ samanuvarṇita-vīrya ādi-pūruṣa ivācala-bhūtiḥ vana-caro giri-taṭeṣu carantīr veṇunāhvayati gāḥ sa yadā hi

Extolled for his prowess by his companions, he moves through the forest like the primeval Lord himself, his glory unshaken, and calls with his flute to the cows grazing on the mountainsides.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.35.9)

वनलतास्तरव आत्मनि विष्णुं व्यञ्जयन्त्य इव पुष्पफलाढ्याः । प्रणतभारविटपा मधुधाराः प्रेमहृष्टतनवो ववृषुः स्म ॥ ९ ॥

vana-latās tarava ātmani viṣṇuṁ vyañjayantya iva puṣpa-phalāḍhyāḥ praṇata-bhāra-viṭapā madhu-dhārāḥ prema-hṛṣṭa-tanavo vavṛṣuḥ sma

At that call, the forest creepers and trees, as though revealing Vishnu within themselves, grow rich with flowers and fruit; their branches bow beneath the weight, the very hair of their trunks stands on end with love, and they pour down streams of sweet sap.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.35.10)

दर्शनीयतिलको वनमाला- दिव्यगन्धतुलसीमधुमत्तैः । अलिकुलैरलघुगीतामभीष्ट- माद्रियन् यर्हि सन्धितवेणुः ॥ १० ॥

darśanīya-tilako vana-mālā- divya-gandha-tulasī-madhu-mattaiḥ ali-kulair alaghu gītām abhīṣṭa- m ādriyan yarhi sandhita-veṇuḥ

That most beautiful of beings, honoring the loud and cherished song of bee-swarms maddened by the divine fragrance of the tulasi in his forest garland, sets his flute once more to his lips.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.35.11)

सरसि सारसहंसविहङ्गा- श्चारुगीताहृतचेतस एत्य । हरिमुपासत ते यतचित्ता हन्त मीलितदृशो धृतमौनाः ॥ ११ ॥

sarasi sārasa-haṁsa-vihaṅgāś cāru-gītā-hṛta-cetasa etya harim upāsata te yata-cittā hanta mīlita-dṛśo dhṛta-maunāḥ

At that lovely melody, the cranes, swans and other birds upon the lake have their very minds carried away; they come forward and worship Hari, their minds stilled, their eyes closed, keeping perfect silence.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.35.12)

सहबलः स्रगवतंसविलासः सानुषु क्षितिभृतो व्रजदेव्यः । हर्षयन् यर्हि वेणुरवेण जातहर्ष उपरम्भति विश्वम् ॥ १२ ॥

saha-balaḥ srag-avataṁsa-vilāsaḥ sānuṣu kṣiti-bhṛto vraja-devyaḥ harṣayan yarhi veṇu-raveṇa jāta-harṣa uparambhati viśvam

O goddesses of Vraja, when he, together with Bala, playfully crowned with a flower garland, sports on the mountain slopes, he delights everyone with the sound of his flute and, growing joyful himself, sets the whole world rejoicing.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.35.13)

महदतिक्रमणशङ्कितचेता मन्दमन्दमनुगर्जति मेघः । सुहृदमभ्यवर्षत् सुमनोभि- श्छायया च विदधत् प्रतपत्रम् ॥ १३ ॥

mahad-atikramaṇa-śaṅkita-cetā manda-mandam anugarjati meghaḥ suhṛdam abhyavarṣat sumanobhiś chāyayā ca vidadhat pratapatram

At that time the cloud above, its heart fearful of transgressing against so great a being, thunders ever so softly in accompaniment, rains down flowers upon its friend, and spreads its shade above him like an umbrella.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.35.14)

विविधगोपचरणेषु विदग्धो वेणुवाद्य उरुधा निजशिक्षाः । तव सुतः सति यदाधरबिम्बे दत्तवेणुरनयत् स्वरजातीः ॥ १४ ॥

vividha-gopa-caraṇeṣu vidagdho veṇu-vādya urudhā nija-śikṣāḥ tava sutaḥ sati yadādhara-bimbe datta-veṇur anayat svara-jātīḥ

O virtuous lady, your son, skilled in every art of cowherding and expert in flute-playing through techniques all his own, draws forth the varied scales of melody when he sets the flute to his bimba-red lips.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.35.15)

सवनशस्तदुपधार्य सुरेशाः शक्रशर्वपरमेष्ठिपुरोगाः । कवय आनतकन्धरचित्ताः कश्मलं ययुरनिश्चिततत्त्वाः ॥ १५ ॥

savanaśas tad upadhārya sureśāḥ śakra-śarva-parameṣṭhi-purogāḥ kavaya ānata-kandhara-cittāḥ kaśmalaṁ yayur aniścita-tattvāḥ

Hearing that music, the very lords of the gods — Indra, Shiva, Brahma and the sages foremost among them — bow their heads and hearts, and, unable to grasp its essence, fall into bewilderment.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.35.16)

निजपदाब्जदलैर्ध्वजवज्र- नीरजाङ्कुशविचित्रललामैः । व्रजभुवः शमयन् खुरतोदं वर्ष्मधुर्यगतिरीडितवेणुः ॥ १६ ॥

nija-padābja-dalair dhvaja-vajra nīrajāṅkuśa-vicitra-lalāmaiḥ vraja-bhuvaḥ śamayan khura-todaṁ varṣma-dhurya-gatir īḍita-veṇuḥ

As he walks through Vraja, soothing the pain of the earth from the cows' sharp hooves with his own lotus-petal feet, marked with the varied emblems of flag, thunderbolt, lotus and goad, moving with the stately gait of a royal elephant, his renowned flute sounding, he passes close by us.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.35.17)

व्रजति तेन वयं सविलास- वीक्षणार्पितमनोभववेगाः । कुजगतिं गमिता न विदामः कश्मलेन कवरं वसनं वा ॥ १७ ॥

vrajati tena vayaṁ sa-vilāsa vīkṣaṇārpita-manobhava-vegāḥ kuja-gatiṁ gamitā na vidāmaḥ kaśmalena kavaraṁ vasanaṁ vā

As he walks by us like that, we, our hearts stirred by the surge of desire from his playful glances, are left standing as still as trees, oblivious in our confusion even to our own loosened braids and slipping garments.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.35.18)

मणिधरः क्वचिदागणयन् गा मालया दयितगन्धतुलस्याः । प्रणयिनोऽनुचरस्य कदांसे प्रक्षिपन् भुजमगायत यत्र ॥ १८ ॥

maṇi-dharaḥ kvacid āgaṇayan gā mālayā dayita-gandha-tulasyāḥ praṇayino ’nucarasya kadāṁse prakṣipan bhujam agāyata yatra

Somewhere, holding a string of jewels while he counts his cows, wearing a garland fragrant with his beloved tulasi, his arm thrown now and then across the shoulder of some devoted friend, he breaks into song.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.35.19)

क्वणितवेणुरववञ्चितचित्ताः कृष्णमन्वसत कृष्णगृहिण्यः । गुणगणार्णमनुगत्य हरिण्यो गोपिका इव विमुक्तगृहाशाः ॥ १९ ॥

kvaṇita-veṇu-rava-vañcita-cittāḥ kṛṣṇam anvasata kṛṣṇa-gṛhiṇyaḥ guṇa-gaṇārṇam anugatya hariṇyo gopikā iva vimukta-gṛhāśāḥ

At the sound of his resounding flute, the wives of the black deer have their very hearts stolen away; they draw near and sit down beside Krishna, that very ocean of virtues, just as we gopis, too, have given up every hope of our own homes.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.35.20)

कुन्ददामकृतकौतुकवेषो गोपगोधनवृतो यमुनायाम् । नन्दसूनुरनघे तव वत्सो नर्मदः प्रणयिणां विजहार ॥ २० ॥

kunda-dāma-kṛta-kautuka-veṣo gopa-godhana-vṛto yamunāyām nanda-sūnur anaghe tava vatso narma-daḥ praṇayiṇāṁ vijahāra

O sinless one, your son, the son of Nanda, playfully arrayed in a garland of jasmine and surrounded by the cowherd boys and their cattle, has been sporting along the Yamuna, delighting his beloved friends.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.35.21)

मन्दवायुरुपवात्यनुकूलं मानयन् मलयजस्पर्शेन । वन्दिनस्तमुपदेवगणा ये वाद्यगीतबलिभिः परिवव्रुः ॥ २१ ॥

manda-vāyur upavāty anukūlaṁ mānayan malaya-ja-sparśena vandinas tam upadeva-gaṇā ye vādya-gīta-balibhiḥ parivavruḥ

The gentle breeze blows favorably upon him, honoring him with the touch of sandalwood fragrance, while the minor gods, like court bards, gather around him with their music, their songs and their offerings.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.35.22)

वत्सलो व्रजगवां यदगध्रो वन्द्यमानचरणः पथि वृद्धैः । कृत्स्नगोधनमुपोह्य दिनान्ते गीतवेणुरनुगेडितकीर्तिः ॥ २२ ॥

vatsalo vraja-gavāṁ yad aga-dhro vandyamāna-caraṇaḥ pathi vṛddhaiḥ kṛtsna-go-dhanam upohya dinānte gīta-veṇur anugeḍita-kīrtiḥ

So tender toward the cows of Vraja that he once lifted up the mountain, his feet honored along the path by the venerable elders, he gathers in the entire herd at the close of day, playing his flute as his companions sing his glory.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.35.23)

उत्सवं श्रमरुचापि दृशीना- मुन्नयन् खुररजश्छुरितस्रक् । दित्सयैति सुहृदासिष एष देवकीजठरभूरुडुराजः ॥ २३ ॥

utsavaṁ śrama-rucāpi dṛśīnām unnayan khura-rajaś-churita-srak ditsayaiti suhṛd-āsiṣa eṣa devakī-jaṭhara-bhūr uḍu-rājaḥ

He creates a festival for every eye even in the very glow of his weariness, his garland powdered with dust raised by the cows' hooves; eager to fulfill his friends' desires, this moon risen from Devaki's womb draws near.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.35.24)

मदविघूर्णितलोचन ईषत्- मानदः स्वसुहृदां वनमाली । बदरपाण्डुवदनो मृदुगण्डं मण्डयन् कनककुण्डललक्ष्म्या ॥ २४ ॥

mada-vighūrṇita-locana īṣat māna-daḥ sva-suhṛdāṁ vana-mālī badara-pāṇḍu-vadano mṛdu-gaṇḍaṁ maṇḍayan kanaka-kuṇḍala-lakṣmyā

His eyes rolling slightly as though with intoxication, he gently honors his own devoted friends; wearing his forest garland, his face pale as a badara fruit, his soft cheeks are graced by the beauty of golden earrings.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.35.25)

यदुपतिर्द्विरदराजविहारो यामिनीपतिरिवैष दिनान्ते । मुदितवक्त्र उपयाति दुरन्तं मोचयन् व्रजगवां दिनतापम् ॥ २५ ॥

yadu-patir dvirada-rāja-vihāro yāminī-patir ivaiṣa dinānte mudita-vaktra upayāti durantaṁ mocayan vraja-gavāṁ dina-tāpam

This lord of the Yadus, moving with the majesty of a lordly elephant, comes at the close of day like the very lord of the night, his face full of joy, delivering the cows of Vraja from the day's relentless, scorching heat.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.35.26)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं व्रजस्त्रियो राजन् कृष्णलीलानुगायतीः । रेमिरेऽहःसु तच्चित्तास्तन्मनस्का महोदयाः ॥ २६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ vraja-striyo rājan kṛṣṇa-līlānugāyatīḥ remire ’haḥsu tac-cittās tan-manaskā mahodayāḥ

Sukadeva said: Thus, O King, the women of Vraja, continually singing of Krishna's pastimes, their hearts and minds wholly absorbed in him, passed their days in this way, rejoicing in profound festivity.