Krishna and Balarama Meet the Inhabitants of Vrindavana

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.82.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अथैकदा द्वारवत्यां वसतो रामकृष्णयोः । सूर्योपरागः सुमहानासीत् कल्पक्षये यथा ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca athaikadā dvāravatyāṁ vasato rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ sūryoparāgaḥ su-mahān āsīt kalpa-kṣaye yathā

Shukadeva said: Once, while Balarama and Krishna were residing in Dvaraka, a great eclipse of the sun occurred, as though the end of the cosmic age had come.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.82.2)

तं ज्ञात्वा मनुजा राजन् पुरस्तादेव सर्वतः । समन्तपञ्चकं क्षेत्रं ययुः श्रेयोविधित्सया ॥ २ ॥

taṁ jñātvā manujā rājan purastād eva sarvataḥ samanta-pañcakaṁ kṣetraṁ yayuḥ śreyo-vidhitsayā

O King, learning of this in advance, people from every direction set out for the sacred region of Samantapanchaka, wishing to gain merit.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.82.3)

निःक्षत्रियां महीं कुर्वन् रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः । नृपाणां रुधिरौघेण यत्र चक्रे महाह्रदान् ॥ ३ ॥

niḥkṣatriyāṁ mahīṁ kurvan rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtāṁ varaḥ nṛpāṇāṁ rudhiraugheṇa yatra cakre mahā-hradān

There, Bhagavan Parashurama, the foremost of warriors, had once cleared the earth of kshatriya kings, forming great lakes from the flowing blood of slain rulers.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.82.4)

ईजे च भगवान् रामो यत्रास्पृष्टोऽपि कर्मणा । लोकं सङ्ग्राहयन्नीशो यथान्योऽघापनुत्तये ॥ ४ ॥

īje ca bhagavān rāmo yatrāspṛṣṭo ’pi karmaṇā lokaṁ saṅgrāhayann īśo yathānyo ’ghāpanuttaye

Bhagavan Parashurama, though never touched by the reactions of action, performed sacrifice there in order to instruct ordinary people — acting, as it were, like an ordinary man seeking release from sin.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.82.5)

महत्यां तीर्थयात्रायां तत्रागन् भारतीः प्रजाः । वृष्णयश्च तथाक्रूरवसुदेवाहुकादयः ॥ ५ ॥

mahatyāṁ tīrtha-yātrāyāṁ tatrāgan bhāratīḥ prajāḥ vṛṣṇayaś ca tathākrūra- vasudevāhukādayaḥ

For this great pilgrimage, people from all across Bharatavarsha gathered there, along with the Vrishnis, and Akrura, Vasudeva, Ahuka, and others.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.82.6)

ययुर्भारत तत् क्षेत्रं स्वमघं क्षपयिष्णवः । गदप्रद्युम्नसाम्बाद्याः सुचन्द्रशुकसारणैः । आस्तेऽनिरुद्धो रक्षायां कृतवर्मा च यूथपः ॥ ६ ॥

yayur bhārata tat kṣetraṁ svam aghaṁ kṣapayiṣṇavaḥ gada-pradyumna-sāmbādyāḥ sucandra-śuka-sāraṇaiḥ āste ’niruddho rakṣāyāṁ kṛtavarmā ca yūtha-paḥ

O descendant of Bharata, wishing to purge their own sins, Gada, Pradyumna, Samba and others also went to that sacred region. Aniruddha, together with Suchandra, Shuka and Sarana, and the army commander Kritavarma, remained behind to guard Dvaraka.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.82.7)

ते रथैर्देवधिष्ण्याभैर्हयैश्च तरलप्लवैः । गजैर्नदद्भिरभ्राभैर्नृभिर्विद्याधरद्युभिः ॥ ७ ॥

te rathair deva-dhiṣṇyābhair hayaiś ca tarala-plavaiḥ gajair nadadbhir abhrābhair nṛbhir vidyādhara-dyubhiḥ

Those Yadavas traveled on chariots that shone like the vehicles of the gods, on swift-galloping horses, on trumpeting elephants huge as clouds, and accompanied by foot soldiers as radiant as the celestial Vidyadharas.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.82.8)

व्यरोचन्त महातेजाः पथि काञ्चनमालिनः । दिव्यस्रग्वस्त्रसन्नाहाः कलत्रैः खेचरा इव ॥ ८ ॥

vyarocanta mahā-tejāḥ pathi kāñcana-mālinaḥ divya-srag-vastra-sannāhāḥ kalatraiḥ khe-carā iva

Adorned with golden necklaces and blazing with splendor, wrapped in divine garlands, garments and armor, they shone forth on the road together with their wives, appearing like sky-faring gods.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.82.9)

तत्र स्नात्वा महाभागा उपोष्य सुसमाहिताः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुर्धेनूर्वासःस्रग्रुक्ममालिनीः ॥ ९ ॥

tatra snātvā mahā-bhāgā upoṣya su-samāhitāḥ brāhmaṇebhyo dadur dhenūr vāsaḥ-srag-rukma-mālinīḥ

Having bathed there and observed a fast with focused attention, those most fortunate Yadavas gave to the brahmanas cows adorned with garments, garlands, and golden necklaces.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.82.10)

रामह्रदेषु विधिवत् पुनराप्लुत्य वृष्णयः । ददुः स्वन्नं द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः कृष्णे नो भक्तिरस्त्विति ॥ १० ॥

rāma-hradeṣu vidhi-vat punar āplutya vṛṣṇayaḥ daduḥ sv-annaṁ dvijāgryebhyaḥ kṛṣṇe no bhaktir astv iti

The Vrishnis then bathed once more, according to proper rites, in the lakes of Parashurama, and offered fine food to the finest brahmanas, praying, May we ever have devotion to Krishna.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.82.11)

स्वयं च तदनुज्ञाता वृष्णयः कृष्णदेवताः । भुक्त्वोपविविशुः कामं स्निग्धच्छायाङ्घ्रिपाङ्घ्रिषु ॥ ११ ॥

svayaṁ ca tad-anujñātā vṛṣṇayaḥ kṛṣṇa-devatāḥ bhuktvopaviviśuḥ kāmaṁ snigdha-cchāyāṅghripāṅghriṣu

Then, with His permission, the Vrishnis, who regard Krishna alone as their worshipable Lord, ate their meal and sat down at ease beneath trees offering cool, pleasant shade.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.82.12)

तत्रागतांस्ते ददृशुः सुहृत्सम्बन्धिनो नृपान् । मत्स्योशीनरकौशल्यविदर्भकुरुसृञ्जयान् । काम्बोजकैकयान् मद्रान् कुन्तीनानर्तकेरलान् ॥ १२ ॥

tatrāgatāṁs te dadṛśuḥ suhṛt-sambandhino nṛpān matsyośīnara-kauśalya- vidarbha-kuru-sṛñjayān kāmboja-kaikayān madrān kuntīn ānarta-keralān

There they saw the kings who had come — their friends and relatives — from the Matsya, Ushinara, Kaushalya, Vidarbha, Kuru, Srinjaya, Kamboja, Kaikaya, Madra, Kunti, Anarta, and Kerala lands.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.82.13)

अन्यांश्चैवात्मपक्षीयान् परांश्च शतशो नृप । नन्दादीन्सुहृदो गोपान्गोपीश्चोत्कण्ठिताश्चिरम् ॥ १३ ॥

anyāṁś caivātma-pakṣīyān parāṁś ca śataśo nṛpa nandādīn suhṛdo gopān gopīś cotkaṇṭhitāś ciram

O King, they saw hundreds of other kings as well, both allies and rivals, and along with them their dear friends — Nanda and the other cowherds, and the gopis who had long been yearning to see them.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.82.14)

अन्योन्यसन्दर्शनहर्षरंहसा प्रोत्फुल्लहृद्वक्त्रसरोरुहश्रियः । आश्लिष्य गाढं नयनैः स्रवज्जला हृष्यत्त्वचो रुद्धगिरो ययुर्मुदम् ॥ १४ ॥

anyonya-sandarśana-harṣa-raṁhasā protphulla-hṛd-vaktra-saroruha-śriyaḥ āśliṣya gāḍhaṁ nayanaiḥ sravaj-jalā hṛṣyat-tvaco ruddha-giro yayur mudam

With the surge of joy at seeing one another again, their hearts and lotus faces blossomed with fresh beauty. They embraced each other tightly, tears streaming from their eyes, hair standing on end, their voices choked — and in this way they experienced the greatest bliss.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.82.15)

स्त्रियश्च संवीक्ष्य मिथोऽतिसौहृद- स्मितामलापाङ्गदृशोऽभिरेभिरे । स्तनैः स्तनान् कुङ्कुमपङ्करूषितान् निहत्य दोर्भिः प्रणयाश्रुलोचनाः ॥ १५ ॥

striyaś ca saṁvīkṣya mitho ’ti-sauhṛda- smitāmalāpāṅga-dṛśo ’bhirebhire stanaiḥ stanān kuṅkuma-paṅka-rūṣitān nihatya dorbhiḥ praṇayāśru-locanāḥ

The women too looked at one another with pure, affectionate smiles and sidelong glances, and embraced one another, pressing their saffron-anointed breasts together and holding each other tightly in their arms, their eyes filled with tears of love.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.82.16)

ततोऽभिवाद्य ते वृद्धान् यविष्ठैरभिवादिताः । स्वागतं कुशलं पृष्ट्वा चक्रुः कृष्णकथा मिथः ॥ १६ ॥

tato ’bhivādya te vṛddhān yaviṣṭhair abhivāditāḥ sv-āgataṁ kuśalaṁ pṛṣṭvā cakruḥ kṛṣṇa-kathā mithaḥ

Then they offered respects to their elders, while the younger ones were greeted in turn. After welcoming one another and inquiring after everyone's well-being, they began speaking together about Krishna.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.82.17)

पृथा भ्रातॄन् स्वसॄर्वीक्ष्य तत्पुत्रान् पितरावपि । भ्रातृपत्नीर्मुकुन्दं च जहौ सङ्कथया शुचः ॥ १७ ॥

pṛthā bhrātṝn svasṝr vīkṣya tat-putrān pitarāv api bhrātṛ-patnīr mukundaṁ ca jahau saṅkathayā śucaḥ

Pritha (Kunti) saw her brothers and sisters, their children, her own parents, her brothers' wives, and Bhagavan Mukunda; conversing with them all, she set aside her sorrow entirely.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.82.18)

कुन्त्युवाच आर्य भ्रातरहं मन्ये आत्मानमकृताशिषम् । यद् वा आपत्सु मद्वार्तां नानुस्मरथ सत्तमाः ॥ १८ ॥

kunty uvāca ārya bhrātar ahaṁ manye ātmānam akṛtāśiṣam yad vā āpatsu mad-vārtāṁ nānusmaratha sattamāḥ

Kunti said: O noble brother, I consider myself unfortunate, for even though all of you are the most saintly of persons, you did not remember me during my times of calamity.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.82.19)

सुहृदो ज्ञातयः पुत्रा भ्रातरः पितरावपि । नानुस्मरन्ति स्वजनं यस्य दैवमदक्षिणम् ॥ १९ ॥

suhṛdo jñātayaḥ putrā bhrātaraḥ pitarāv api nānusmaranti sva-janaṁ yasya daivam adakṣiṇam

When Providence turns unfavorable toward someone, even friends, relatives, children, brothers, and one's own parents fail to remember that person.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.82.20)

श्रीवसुदेव उवाच अम्ब मास्मानसूयेथा दैवक्रीडनकान् नरान् । ईशस्य हि वशे लोकः कुरुते कार्यतेऽथ वा ॥ २० ॥

śrī-vasudeva uvāca amba māsmān asūyethā daiva-krīḍanakān narān īśasya hi vaśe lokaḥ kurute kāryate ’tha vā

Sri Vasudeva said: My dear sister, do not be angry with us — we are merely playthings in the hands of fate. Indeed, this world is entirely under the control of the Supreme Lord, whether one acts of his own accord or is made to act by another.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.82.21)

कंसप्रतापिताः सर्वे वयं याता दिशं दिशम् । एतर्ह्येव पुनः स्थानं दैवेनासादिताः स्वसः ॥ २१ ॥

kaṁsa-pratāpitāḥ sarve vayaṁ yātā diśaṁ diśam etarhy eva punaḥ sthānaṁ daivenāsāditāḥ svasaḥ

My dear sister, tormented by Kamsa, all of us fled in different directions; now, by the grace of fate alone, we have once more found our way back to our own place.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.82.22)

श्रीशुक उवाच वसुदेवोग्रसेनाद्यैर्यदुभिस्तेऽर्चिता नृपाः । आसन्नच्युतसन्दर्शपरमानन्दनिर्वृताः ॥ २२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca vasudevograsenādyair yadubhis te ’rcitā nṛpāḥ āsann acyuta-sandarśa- paramānanda-nirvṛtāḥ

Shukadeva said: Honored by Vasudeva, Ugrasena and the other Yadavas, those kings became immersed in supreme bliss upon beholding Bhagavan Achyuta.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.82.23)

भीष्मो द्रोणोऽम्बिकापुत्रो गान्धारी ससुता तथा । सदाराः पाण्डवाः कुन्ती सञ्जयो विदुरः कृपः ॥ २३ ॥

bhīṣmo droṇo ’mbikā-putro gāndhārī sa-sutā tathā sa-dārāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kuntī sañjayo viduraḥ kṛpaḥ

Bhishma, Drona, Ambika's son Dhritarashtra, Gandhari with her sons, the Pandavas with their wives, Kunti, Sanjaya, Vidura, and Kripacharya —

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.82.24)

कुन्तीभोजो विराटश्च भीष्मको नग्नजिन्महान् । पुरुजिद्द्रुपदः शल्यो धृष्टकेतुः सकाशिराट् ॥ २४ ॥

kuntībhojo virāṭaś ca bhīṣmako nagnajin mahān purujid drupadaḥ śalyo dhṛṣṭaketuḥ sa kāśi-rāṭ

Kuntibhoja, Virata, Bhishmaka, the great Nagnajit, Purujit, Drupada, Shalya, Dhrishtaketu, and the king of Kashi —

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.82.25)

दमघोषो विशालाक्षो मैथिलो मद्रकेकयौ । युधामन्युः सुशर्मा च ससुता बाह्लिकादयः ॥ २५ ॥

damaghoṣo viśālākṣo maithilo madra-kekayau yudhāmanyuḥ suśarmā ca sa-sutā bāhlikādayaḥ

Damaghosha, Vishalaksha, the king of Mithila, the kings of Madra and Kekaya, Yudhamanyu, Sushrama, and Bahlika with his sons and others —

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.82.26)

राजानो ये च राजेन्द्र युधिष्ठिरमनुव्रताः । श्रीनिकेतं वपुः शौरेः सस्त्रीकं वीक्ष्य विस्मिताः ॥ २६ ॥

rājāno ye ca rājendra yudhiṣṭhiram anuvratāḥ śrī-niketaṁ vapuḥ śaureḥ sa-strīkaṁ vīkṣya vismitāḥ

O best of kings, and all the other kings who were followers of Yudhishthira — all of them, together with their wives, were struck with wonder upon beholding the divine form of Shauri (Krishna), the very abode of all beauty.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.82.27)

अथ ते रामकृष्णाभ्यां सम्यक् प्राप्तसमर्हणाः । प्रशशंसुर्मुदा युक्ता वृष्णीन् कृष्णपरिग्रहान् ॥ २७ ॥

atha te rāma-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ samyak prāpta-samarhaṇāḥ praśaśaṁsur mudā yuktā vṛṣṇīn kṛṣṇa-parigrahān

Then, having been duly and warmly honored by Balarama and Krishna, those kings, filled with delight, began to praise the Vrishnis, Krishna's own kinsmen.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.82.28)

अहो भोजपते यूयं जन्मभाजो नृणामिह । यत् पश्यथासकृत् कृष्णं दुर्दर्शमपि योगिनाम् ॥ २८ ॥

aho bhoja-pate yūyaṁ janma-bhājo nṛṇām iha yat paśyathāsakṛt kṛṣṇaṁ durdarśam api yoginām

[The kings said:] O king of the Bhojas, among all men your birth alone bears true fruit, for you constantly behold Krishna, who is difficult to see even for great yogis.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.82.29)

यद्विश्रुतिः श्रुतिनुतेदमलं पुनाति पादावनेजनपयश्च वचश्च शास्त्रम् । भूः कालभर्जितभगापि यदङ्घ्रिपद्म- स्पर्शोत्थशक्तिरभिवर्षति नोऽखिलार्थान् ॥ २९ ॥

yad-viśrutiḥ śruti-nutedam alaṁ punāti pādāvanejana-payaś ca vacaś ca śāstram bhūḥ kāla-bharjita-bhagāpi yad-aṅghri-padma- sparśottha-śaktir abhivarṣati no ’khilārthān

His fame, glorified by the Vedas, the water that has washed His feet, and His own words spoken as scripture — these alone are enough to purify the whole world. Though time had once destroyed the earth's good fortune, the power born of the touch of His lotus feet has revived her, and she now rains down upon us the fulfillment of all our desires.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.82.30)

तद्दर्शनस्पर्शनानुपथप्रजल्प- शय्यासनाशनसयौनसपिण्डबन्धः । येषां गृहे निरयवर्त्मनि वर्ततां वः स्वर्गापवर्गविरमः स्वयमास विष्णुः ॥ ३० ॥

tad-darśana-sparśanānupatha-prajalpa- śayyāsanāśana-sayauna-sapiṇḍa-bandhaḥ yeṣāṁ gṛhe niraya-vartmani vartatāṁ vaḥ svargāpavarga-viramaḥ svayam āsa viṣṇuḥ

Bhagavan Vishnu, who makes one forget even the goals of heaven and liberation, has Himself entered into the bonds of being seen, touched, walked beside, spoken with, and shared meals, seats, beds, marriage ties and blood relations with all of you — within your own households, which would otherwise be the path to a hellish existence.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.82.31)

श्रीशुक उवाच नन्दस्तत्र यदून् प्राप्तान् ज्ञात्वा कृष्णपुरोगमान् । तत्रागमद् वृतो गोपैरनःस्थार्थैर्दिदृक्षया ॥ ३१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca nandas tatra yadūn prāptān jñātvā kṛṣṇa-purogamān tatrāgamad vṛto gopair anaḥ-sthārthair didṛkṣayā

Shukadeva said: When Nanda learned that the Yadavas, led by Krishna, had arrived there, he set out to see them, accompanied by the cowherds, their belongings loaded upon their carts.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.82.32)

तं दृष्ट्वा वृष्णयो हृष्टास्तन्वः प्राणमिवोत्थिताः । परिषस्वजिरे गाढं चिरदर्शनकातराः ॥ ३२ ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣṇayo hṛṣṭās tanvaḥ prāṇam ivotthitāḥ pariṣasvajire gāḍhaṁ cira-darśana-kātarāḥ

On seeing Nanda, the Vrishnis were overjoyed, as if lifeless bodies had suddenly come back to life. Distressed from so long a separation, they embraced him tightly.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.82.33)

वसुदेवः परिष्वज्य सम्प्रीतः प्रेमविह्वलः । स्मरन् कंसकृतान् क्लेशान् पुत्रन्यासं च गोकुले ॥ ३३ ॥

vasudevaḥ pariṣvajya samprītaḥ prema-vihvalaḥ smaran kaṁsa-kṛtān kleśān putra-nyāsaṁ ca gokule

Vasudeva embraced Nanda, overwhelmed with love, remembering the sufferings inflicted by Kamsa and the occasion when he had entrusted his sons to Gokula for their safety.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.82.34)

कृष्णरामौ परिष्वज्य पितरावभिवाद्य च । न किञ्चनोचतुः प्रेम्णा साश्रुकण्ठौ कुरूद्वह ॥ ३४ ॥

kṛṣṇa-rāmau pariṣvajya pitarāv abhivādya ca na kiñcanocatuḥ premṇā sāśru-kaṇṭhau kurūdvaha

O best of the Kurus, Krishna and Balarama embraced their foster parents and bowed to them, but their throats choked with tears of love, and the two could say nothing at all.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.82.35)

तावात्मासनमारोप्य बाहुभ्यां परिरभ्य च । यशोदा च महाभागा सुतौ विजहतुः शुचः ॥ ३५ ॥

tāv ātmāsanam āropya bāhubhyāṁ parirabhya ca yaśodā ca mahā-bhāgā sutau vijahatuḥ śucaḥ

Seating both of them on their laps and embracing Them with their arms, Nanda and the most fortunate Yashoda cast aside all their sorrow at having their two sons before them again.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.82.36)

रोहिणी देवकी चाथ परिष्वज्य व्रजेश्वरीम् । स्मरन्त्यौ तत्कृतां मैत्रीं बाष्पकण्ठ्यौ समूचतुः ॥ ३६ ॥

rohiṇī devakī cātha pariṣvajya vrajeśvarīm smarantyau tat-kṛtāṁ maitrīṁ bāṣpa-kaṇṭhyau samūcatuḥ

Then Rohini and Devaki embraced Yashoda, the queen of Vraja, and remembering the friendship she had shown them, spoke to her with tear-choked voices.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.82.37)

का विस्मरेत वां मैत्रीमनिवृत्तां व्रजेश्वरि । अवाप्याप्यैन्द्रमैश्वर्यं यस्या नेह प्रतिक्रिया ॥ ३७ ॥

kā vismareta vāṁ maitrīm anivṛttāṁ vrajeśvari avāpyāpy aindram aiśvaryaṁ yasyā neha pratikriyā

They said: O queen of Vraja, who could ever forget your and Nanda's unbroken friendship — a debt that could not be repaid in this world even with the wealth of Indra himself?

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.82.38)

एतावदृष्टपितरौ युवयोः स्म पित्रोः सम्प्रीणनाभ्युदयपोषणपालनानि । प्राप्योषतुर्भवति पक्ष्म ह यद्वदक्ष्णो- र्न्यस्तावकुत्रचभयौ न सतां परः स्वः ॥ ३८ ॥

etāv adṛṣṭa-pitarau yuvayoḥ sma pitroḥ samprīṇanābhyudaya-poṣaṇa-pālanāni prāpyoṣatur bhavati pakṣma ha yadvad akṣṇor nyastāv akutra ca bhayau na satāṁ paraḥ svaḥ

Before ever seeing Their own true parents, these two boys received from you all the loving care, nurture, and protection that real parents give. Just as eyelids shelter the eyes, you kept Them safe, and They never knew fear. Indeed, for saintly souls, no one is truly an outsider and no one is truly their own.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.82.39)

श्रीशुक उवाच गोप्यश्च कृष्णमुपलभ्य चिरादभीष्टं यत्प्रेक्षणे दृशिषु पक्ष्मकृतं शपन्ति । दृग्भिर्हृदीकृतमलं परिरभ्य सर्वा- स्तद्भावमापुरपि नित्ययुजां दुरापम् ॥ ३९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca gopyaś ca kṛṣṇam upalabhya cirād abhīṣṭaṁ yat-prekṣaṇe dṛśiṣu pakṣma-kṛtaṁ śapanti dṛgbhir hṛdī-kṛtam alaṁ parirabhya sarvās tad-bhāvam āpur api nitya-yujāṁ durāpam

Shukadeva said: The gopis, who used to curse the very maker of their eyelids for momentarily blocking their sight of their beloved Krishna, now regained Him after so long a separation. With their eyes, they drew Him fully into their hearts, as though embracing Him, and thus attained a state of ecstatic absorption that is rare even for those who practice constant yoga.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.82.40)

भगवांस्तास्तथाभूता विविक्त उपसङ्गतः । आश्लिष्यानामयं पृष्ट्वा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४० ॥

bhagavāṁs tās tathā-bhūtā vivikta upasaṅgataḥ āśliṣyānāmayaṁ pṛṣṭvā prahasann idam abravīt

Seeing the gopis absorbed in that state, Bhagavan approached them in a secluded place, embraced them, asked after their well-being, and, smiling, spoke as follows.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.82.41)

अपि स्मरथ नः सख्यः स्वानामर्थचिकीर्षया । गतांश्चिरायिताञ्छत्रुपक्षक्षपणचेतसः ॥ ४१ ॥

api smaratha naḥ sakhyaḥ svānām artha-cikīrṣayā gatāṁś cirāyitāñ chatru- pakṣa-kṣapaṇa-cetasaḥ

[Bhagavan said:] My dear friends, do you still remember Me? I went away for so long, my mind set on the welfare of My own people and on destroying the party of My enemies.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.82.42)

अप्यवध्यायथास्मान् स्विदकृतज्ञाविशङ्कया । नूनं भूतानि भगवान् युनक्ति वियुनक्ति च ॥ ४२ ॥

apy avadhyāyathāsmān svid akṛta-jñāviśaṅkayā nūnaṁ bhūtāni bhagavān yunakti viyunakti ca

Do you perhaps despise Me, suspecting Me of ingratitude? Surely it is the Supreme Lord alone who brings living beings together and who separates them.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.82.43)

वायुर्यथा घनानीकं तृणं तूलं रजांसि च । संयोज्याक्षिपते भूयस्तथा भूतानि भूतकृत् ॥ ४३ ॥

vāyur yathā ghanānīkaṁ tṛṇaṁ tūlaṁ rajāṁsi ca saṁyojyākṣipate bhūyas tathā bhūtāni bhūta-kṛt

Just as the wind gathers together masses of clouds, blades of grass, tufts of cotton, and particles of dust, only to scatter them apart again, so too does the creator bring living beings together and then disperse them.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.82.44)

मयि भक्तिर्हि भूतानाममृतत्वाय कल्पते । दिष्ट्या यदासीन्मत्स्नेहो भवतीनां मदापनः ॥ ४४ ॥

mayi bhaktir hi bhūtānām amṛtatvāya kalpate diṣṭyā yad āsīn mat-sneho bhavatīnāṁ mad-āpanaḥ

Devotion to Me alone is capable of granting immortality to all beings. By great good fortune, the love that has arisen in your hearts for Me is itself what has brought you to attain Me.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.82.45)

अहं हि सर्वभूतानामादिरन्तोऽन्तरं बहिः । भौतिकानां यथा खं वार्भूर्वायुर्ज्योतिरङ्गनाः ॥ ४५ ॥

ahaṁ hi sarva-bhūtānām ādir anto ’ntaraṁ bahiḥ bhautikānāṁ yathā khaṁ vār bhūr vāyur jyotir aṅganāḥ

My dear friends, just as ether, water, earth, air, and fire are the beginning and end of all material things and pervade them within and without, so I alone am the beginning and end of all beings, and I pervade them within and without.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.82.46)

एवं ह्येतानि भूतानि भूतेष्वात्मात्मना ततः । उभयं मय्यथ परे पश्यताभातमक्षरे ॥ ४६ ॥

evaṁ hy etāni bhūtāni bhūteṣv ātmātmanā tataḥ ubhayaṁ mayy atha pare paśyatābhātam akṣare

In this way, all these created things rest within the material elements, and the self, in its own true nature, pervades them all. See both of these — the material creation and the self — as manifest within Me, the imperishable Supreme.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.82.47)

श्रीशुक उवाच अध्यात्मशिक्षया गोप्य एवं कृष्णेन शिक्षिताः । तदनुस्मरणध्वस्तजीवकोशास्तमध्यगन् ॥ ४७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca adhyātma-śikṣayā gopya evaṁ kṛṣṇena śikṣitāḥ tad-anusmaraṇa-dhvasta- jīva-kośās tam adhyagan

Shukadeva said: Having thus been instructed by Krishna in spiritual knowledge, the gopis, through their constant remembrance of Him, had the coverings of embodied selfhood destroyed, and they came to know Him in His true nature.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.82.48)

आहुश्च ते नलिननाभ पदारविन्दं योगेश्वरैर्हृदि विचिन्त्यमगाधबोधैः । संसारकूपपतितोत्तरणावलम्बं गेहं जुषामपि मनस्युदियात् सदा नः ॥ ४८ ॥

āhuś ca te nalina-nābha padāravindaṁ yogeśvarair hṛdi vicintyam agādha-bodhaiḥ saṁsāra-kūpa-patitottaraṇāvalambaṁ gehaṁ juṣām api manasy udiyāt sadā naḥ

They said: O lotus-navelled Lord, may Your lotus feet — which even the great masters of yoga, endowed with profound wisdom, contemplate within their hearts, and which alone are the support for those who have fallen into the well of material existence — may those same lotus feet ever arise within our minds too, even though we are but women engaged in household life.