The Meeting of Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.5.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच नन्दस्त्वात्मज उत्पन्ने जाताह्लादो महामनाः । आहूय विप्रान् वेदज्ञान्स्नातः शुचिरलङ्कृतः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca nandas tv ātmaja utpanne jātāhlādo mahā-manāḥ āhūya viprān veda-jñān snātaḥ śucir alaṅkṛtaḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: At the birth of his son, the large-hearted Nanda was filled with joy. Having bathed, purified himself and adorned himself, he summoned brahmins learned in the Veda.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.5.2)

वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं जातकर्मात्मजस्य वै । कारयामास विधिवत् पितृदेवार्चनं तथा ॥ २ ॥

vācayitvā svastyayanaṁ jāta-karmātmajasya vai kārayām āsa vidhivat pitṛ-devārcanaṁ tathā

He had them recite blessings and had his son's birth-rite performed, and, according to proper rule, had the ancestors and the gods worshipped as well.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.5.3)

धेनूनां नियुते प्रादाद् विप्रेभ्यः समलङ्कृते । तिलाद्रीन्सप्त रत्नौघशातकौम्भाम्बरावृतान् ॥ ३ ॥

dhenūnāṁ niyute prādād viprebhyaḥ samalaṅkṛte tilādrīn sapta ratnaugha- śātakaumbhāmbarāvṛtān

He gave the brahmins twenty hundred thousand cows, richly adorned, and also seven mountains of sesame seed, heaped over with jewels and covered in cloth of gold.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.5.4)

कालेन स्नानशौचाभ्यां संस्कारैस्तपसेज्यया । शुध्यन्ति दानैः सन्तुष्ट्या द्रव्याण्यात्मात्मविद्यया ॥ ४ ॥

kālena snāna-śaucābhyāṁ saṁskārais tapasejyayā śudhyanti dānaiḥ santuṣṭyā dravyāṇy ātmātma-vidyayā

O King, with time the land and one's possessions grow pure, with bathing the body, with cleansing what is unclean, with the rites of passage one's birth, with austerity the senses, with charity and contentment one's belongings, and with knowledge of the self, the soul itself.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.5.5)

सौमङ्गल्यगिरो विप्राः सूतमागधवन्दिनः । गायकाश्च जगुर्नेदुर्भेर्यो दुन्दुभयो मुहुः ॥ ५ ॥

saumaṅgalya-giro viprāḥ sūta-māgadha-vandinaḥ gāyakāś ca jagur nedur bheryo dundubhayo muhuḥ

The brahmins spoke words of blessing, the bards and heralds sang their praises, singers began to sing, and drums and kettledrums sounded again and again.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.5.6)

व्रजः सम्मृष्टसंसिक्तद्वाराजिरगृहान्तरः । चित्रध्वजपताकास्रक्चैलपल्लवतोरणैः ॥ ६ ॥

vrajaḥ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta- dvārājira-gṛhāntaraḥ citra-dhvaja-patākā-srak- caila-pallava-toraṇaiḥ

Vraja's gateways, courtyards and the interiors of its houses were swept and sprinkled with water, and decked out with brightly colored banners and flags, garlands, cloth and archways of fresh leaves.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.5.7)

गावो वृषा वत्सतरा हरिद्रातैलरूषिताः । विचित्रधातुबर्हस्रग्वस्त्रकाञ्चनमालिनः ॥ ७ ॥

gāvo vṛṣā vatsatarā haridrā-taila-rūṣitāḥ vicitra-dhātu-barhasrag- vastra-kāñcana-mālinaḥ

The cows, bulls and calves, anointed with turmeric and oil, were painted in bright colors and decked with garlands of peacock feathers, cloth and golden chains.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.5.8)

महार्हवस्त्राभरणकञ्चुकोष्णीषभूषिताः । गोपाः समाययू राजन् नानोपायनपाणयः ॥ ८ ॥

mahārha-vastrābharaṇa- kañcukoṣṇīṣa-bhūṣitāḥ gopāḥ samāyayū rājan nānopāyana-pāṇayaḥ

O King, the cowherds, dressed in costly garments and ornaments, coats and turbans, came bearing all manner of gifts in their hands.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.5.9)

गोप्यश्चाकर्ण्य मुदिता यशोदायाः सुतोद्भवम् । आत्मानं भूषयांचक्रुर्वस्त्राकल्पाञ्जनादिभिः ॥ ९ ॥

gopyaś cākarṇya muditā yaśodāyāḥ sutodbhavam ātmānaṁ bhūṣayāṁ cakrur vastrākalpāñjanādibhiḥ

The gopis, delighted to hear that Yashoda had borne a son, began adorning themselves with garments, ornaments and eye-collyrium.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.5.10)

नवकुङ्कुमकिञ्जल्कमुखपङ्कजभूतयः । बलिभिस्त्वरितं जग्मुः पृथुश्रोण्यश्चलत्कुचाः ॥ १० ॥

nava-kuṅkuma-kiñjalka- mukha-paṅkaja-bhūtayaḥ balibhis tvaritaṁ jagmuḥ pṛthu-śroṇyaś calat-kucāḥ

Their lotus faces adorned with fresh saffron, their hips full, their bodies swaying as they hurried along with their gifts —

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.5.11)

गोप्यः सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलनिष्ककण्ठ्य- श्चित्राम्बराः पथि शिखाच्युतमाल्यवर्षाः । नन्दालयं सवलया व्रजतीर्विरेजु- र्व्यालोलकुण्डलपयोधरहारशोभाः ॥ ११ ॥

gopyaḥ sumṛṣṭa-maṇi-kuṇḍala-niṣka-kaṇṭhyaś citrāmbarāḥ pathi śikhā-cyuta-mālya-varṣāḥ nandālayaṁ sa-valayā vrajatīr virejur vyālola-kuṇḍala-payodhara-hāra-śobhāḥ

with bright jeweled earrings and lockets at their throats, in garments of every hue, showering flowers from their loosened hair as they walked, the gopis, bangled, going toward Nanda's house, shone in the swaying of their earrings, their bosoms and their necklaces.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.5.12)

ता आशिषः प्रयुञ्जानाश्चिरं पाहीति बालके । हरिद्राचूर्णतैलाद्भिः सिञ्चन्त्योऽजनमुज्जगुः ॥ १२ ॥

tā āśiṣaḥ prayuñjānāś ciraṁ pāhīti bālake haridrā-cūrṇa-tailādbhiḥ siñcantyo ’janam ujjaguḥ

Blessing that child with, 'May you live long,' and sprinkling that birthless Lord with turmeric powder, oil and water, they sang auspicious songs over him.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.5.13)

अवाद्यन्त विचित्राणि वादित्राणि महोत्सवे । कृष्णे विश्वेश्वरेऽनन्ते नन्दस्य व्रजमागते ॥ १३ ॥

avādyanta vicitrāṇi vāditrāṇi mahotsave kṛṣṇe viśveśvare ’nante nandasya vrajam āgate

As Krishna, lord of the universe, the boundless one, thus came into Nanda's Vraja, all manner of instruments sounded in that great celebration.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.5.14)

गोपाः परस्परं हृष्टा दधिक्षीरघृताम्बुभिः । आसिञ्चन्तो विलिम्पन्तो नवनीतैश्च चिक्षिपुः ॥ १४ ॥

gopāḥ parasparaṁ hṛṣṭā dadhi-kṣīra-ghṛtāmbubhiḥ āsiñcanto vilimpanto navanītaiś ca cikṣipuḥ

Overjoyed, the cowherds began sprinkling one another with curd, milk, ghee and water, and threw and smeared butter on one another.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.5.15)

नन्दो महामनास्तेभ्यो वासोऽलङ्कारगोधनम् । सूतमागधवन्दिभ्यो येऽन्ये विद्योपजीविनः ॥ १५ ॥

nando mahā-manās tebhyo vāso ’laṅkāra-go-dhanam sūta-māgadha-vandibhyo ye ’nye vidyopajīvinaḥ

The great-hearted Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cattle in gift to the cowherds, and to the bards, heralds, minstrels and all others who lived by their learning and skill.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.5.16)

तैस्तैः कामैरदीनात्मा यथोचितमपूजयत् । विष्णोराराधनार्थाय स्वपुत्रस्योदयाय च ॥ १६ ॥

tais taiḥ kāmair adīnātmā yathocitam apūjayat viṣṇor ārādhanārthāya sva-putrasyodayāya ca

Free of any pettiness, Nanda honored everyone fittingly according to their desires, for the worship of Vishnu and for the flourishing of his own son.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.5.17)

रोहिणी च महाभागा नन्दगोपाभिनन्दिता । व्यचरद् दिव्यवासस्रक्कण्ठाभरणभूषिता ॥ १७ ॥

rohiṇī ca mahā-bhāgā nanda-gopābhinanditā vyacarad divya-vāsa-srak- kaṇṭhābharaṇa-bhūṣitā

The greatly fortunate Rohini, honored by Nanda and the cowherds, adorned with celestial garments, garlands and a jeweled necklace, moved about everywhere among the guests.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.5.18)

तत आरभ्य नन्दस्य व्रजः सर्वसमृद्धिमान् । हरेर्निवासात्मगुणै रमाक्रीडमभून्नृप ॥ १८ ॥

tata ārabhya nandasya vrajaḥ sarva-samṛddhimān harer nivāsātma-guṇai ramākrīḍam abhūn nṛpa

O King, from that moment on, Nanda's Vraja, already rich with every prosperity because Hari and his qualities dwelt there, became, as it were, the very playground of the goddess of fortune.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.5.19)

गोपान् गोकुलरक्षायां निरूप्य मथुरां गतः । नन्दः कंसस्य वार्षिक्यं करं दातुं कुरूद्वह ॥ १९ ॥

gopān gokula-rakṣāyāṁ nirūpya mathurāṁ gataḥ nandaḥ kaṁsasya vārṣikyaṁ karaṁ dātuṁ kurūdvaha

O best of the Kuru line, having appointed cowherds to guard Gokula, Nanda went to Mathura to pay the yearly tax to Kamsa.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.5.20)

वसुदेव उपश्रुत्य भ्रातरं नन्दमागतम् । ज्ञात्वा दत्तकरं राज्ञे ययौ तदवमोचनम् ॥ २० ॥

vasudeva upaśrutya bhrātaraṁ nandam āgatam jñātvā datta-karaṁ rājñe yayau tad-avamocanam

Hearing that his brother Nanda had come and had already paid the tax to the king, Vasudeva went there to see him off.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.5.21)

तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय देहः प्राणमिवागतम् । प्रीतः प्रियतमं दोर्भ्यां सस्वजे प्रेमविह्वलः ॥ २१ ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya dehaḥ prāṇam ivāgatam prītaḥ priyatamaṁ dorbhyāṁ sasvaje prema-vihvalaḥ

Seeing him, as though his own body had regained its life, Nanda rose at once and, overcome with love, embraced his most dear friend with both arms.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.5.22)

पूजितः सुखमासीनः पृष्ट्वानामयमादृतः । प्रसक्तधीः स्वात्मजयोरिदमाह विशाम्पते ॥ २२ ॥

pūjitaḥ sukham āsīnaḥ pṛṣṭvānāmayam ādṛtaḥ prasakta-dhīḥ svātmajayor idam āha viśāmpate

O lord of men, thus honored and seated at ease, Vasudeva, after asking after his welfare, his mind fixed on his own two sons, spoke as follows.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.5.23)

दिष्ट्या भ्रातः प्रवयस इदानीमप्रजस्य ते । प्रजाशाया निवृत्तस्य प्रजा यत् समपद्यत ॥ २३ ॥

diṣṭyā bhrātaḥ pravayasa idānīm aprajasya te prajāśāyā nivṛttasya prajā yat samapadyata

It is good fortune indeed, brother, that though so advanced in years and long past hoping for a child, a child has now come to you.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.5.24)

दिष्ट्या संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन् वर्तमानः पुनर्भवः । उपलब्धो भवानद्य दुर्लभं प्रियदर्शनम् ॥ २४ ॥

diṣṭyā saṁsāra-cakre ’smin vartamānaḥ punar-bhavaḥ upalabdho bhavān adya durlabhaṁ priya-darśanam

It is fortune too that, still caught within this wheel of birth and rebirth, I have found you again — as though I had been born anew, for the sight of one's dear ones is rare indeed.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.5.25)

नैकत्र प्रियसंवासः सुहृदां चित्रकर्मणाम् । ओघेन व्यूह्यमानानां प्लवानां स्रोतसो यथा ॥ २५ ॥

naikatra priya-saṁvāsaḥ suhṛdāṁ citra-karmaṇām oghena vyūhyamānānāṁ plavānāṁ srotaso yathā

Dear ones, bound by their own varied deeds, never dwell long together in one place — as pieces of wood and rafts, swept along by a river's current, cannot stay together.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.5.26)

कच्चित् पशव्यं निरुजं भूर्यम्बुतृणवीरुधम् । बृहद्वनं तदधुना यत्रास्से त्वं सुहृद्वृतः ॥ २६ ॥

kaccit paśavyaṁ nirujaṁ bhūry-ambu-tṛṇa-vīrudham bṛhad vanaṁ tad adhunā yatrāsse tvaṁ suhṛd-vṛtaḥ

Is that great forest where you now dwell with your kinsfolk favorable for the cattle, free of disease, and rich with water, grass and creepers?

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.5.27)

भ्रातर्मम सुतः कच्चिन्मात्रा सह भवद्व्रजे । तातं भवन्तं मन्वानो भवद्भ्यामुपलालितः ॥ २७ ॥

bhrātar mama sutaḥ kaccin mātrā saha bhavad-vraje tātaṁ bhavantaṁ manvāno bhavadbhyām upalālitaḥ

Brother, is my son, who thinks of you as his father, living happily in your Vraja with his own mother, cherished by you both?

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.5.28)

पुंसस्त्रिवर्गो विहितः सुहृदो ह्यनुभावितः । न तेषु क्लिश्यमानेषु त्रिवर्गोऽर्थाय कल्पते ॥ २८ ॥

puṁsas tri-vargo vihitaḥ suhṛdo hy anubhāvitaḥ na teṣu kliśyamāneṣu tri-vargo ’rthāya kalpate

The threefold aim of life — dharma, wealth and pleasure — is said to bear fruit only when one's dear ones share and enjoy it too. When they themselves are in distress, that threefold aim serves no true purpose at all.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.5.29)

श्रीनन्द उवाच अहो ते देवकीपुत्राः कंसेन बहवो हताः । एकावशिष्टावरजा कन्या सापि दिवं गता ॥ २९ ॥

śrī-nanda uvāca aho te devakī-putrāḥ kaṁsena bahavo hatāḥ ekāvaśiṣṭāvarajā kanyā sāpi divaṁ gatā

Shri Nanda said: Alas, Kamsa has slain so many of your sons, born of Devaki! And your one remaining child, your youngest daughter, has departed too, gone up to heaven!

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.5.30)

नूनं ह्यदृष्टनिष्ठोऽयमदृष्टपरमो जनः । अदृष्टमात्मनस्तत्त्वं यो वेद न स मुह्यति ॥ ३० ॥

nūnaṁ hy adṛṣṭa-niṣṭho ’yam adṛṣṭa-paramo janaḥ adṛṣṭam ātmanas tattvaṁ yo veda na sa muhyati

Truly this man rests wholly upon the unseen, and the unseen alone is supreme. He who knows this hidden truth about himself is never bewildered.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.5.31)

श्रीवसुदेव उवाच करो वै वार्षिको दत्तो राज्ञे दृष्टा वयं च वः । नेह स्थेयं बहुतिथं सन्त्युत्पाताश्च गोकुले ॥ ३१ ॥

śrī-vasudeva uvāca karo vai vārṣiko datto rājñe dṛṣṭā vayaṁ ca vaḥ neha stheyaṁ bahu-tithaṁ santy utpātāś ca gokule

Shri Vasudeva said: The yearly tax has now been paid to the king, and I have seen you too. Do not stay here long, brother — for there are disturbances afoot in Gokula.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.5.32)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति नन्दादयो गोपाः प्रोक्तास्ते शौरिणा ययुः । अनोभिरनडुद्युक्तैस्तमनुज्ञाप्य गोकुलम् ॥ ३२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti nandādayo gopāḥ proktās te śauriṇā yayuḥ anobhir anaḍud-yuktais tam anujñāpya gokulam

Shri Shukadeva said: Thus addressed by Shauri, Nanda and the other cowherds, taking his leave, set out for Gokula in their carts, yoked with bulls.