The Glory of Gopisaras (the Gopis' Lake)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.460.1)

॥ श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ इति कृष्णवचः श्रुत्वा गोप्यः संहृष्टमानसाः। तस्मिन्मयसरे स्नात्वा विमुक्ताऽशेषबन्धनाः॥

śrīprahlāda uvāca| iti kṛṣṇavacaḥ śrutvā gopyaḥ saṁhṛṣṭamānasāḥ| tasminmayasare snātvā vimuktā'śeṣabandhanāḥ||

Shri Prahlada said: Hearing these words of Krishna, the gopis rejoiced, and, bathing in that lake of Maya, were freed of all bondage.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.460.2)

कृष्णदर्शनसंजातपरमानन्दसंप्लुताः। ऊचुश्च वचनं गोप्यो मधुरं माधवं प्रति॥

kṛṣṇadarśanasañjātaparamānandasamplutāḥ| ūcuśca vacanaṁ gopyo madhuraṁ mādhavaṁ prati||

Immersed in the supreme joy born of beholding Krishna, the gopis spoke sweet words to Madhava:

Verse 3 (skanda.7.460.3)

॥ गोप्य ऊचुः ॥ धन्यः स दैत्यप्रवरो मयो येन कृतं सरः। यस्मिंस्त्वं देवतैः सार्द्धं समेष्यसि जगत्पते॥

gopya ūcuḥ| dhanyaḥ sa daityapravaro mayo yena kṛtaṁ saraḥ| yasmiṁstvaṁ devataiḥ sārddhaṁ sameṣyasi jagatpate||

The gopis said: 'Blessed is that foremost demon, Maya, who made this lake, where, O lord of the universe, you shall come together with the gods.'

Verse 4 (skanda.7.460.4)

यदि तुष्टोऽसि भगवन्ननुग्राह्या वयं यदि। अस्माकमपि वार्ष्णेय कारयस्व सरोत्तमम्॥

yadi tuṣṭo'si bhagavannanugrāhyā vayaṁ yadi| asmākamapi vārṣṇeya kārayasva sarottamam||

'O Lord, if you are pleased, if we are worthy of your grace, then, O scion of the Vrishnis, have an excellent lake made for us as well.'

Verse 5 (skanda.7.460.5)

कीर्त्तनान्मृत्युलोकेऽस्मिंस्तव संदर्शनेन हि। अहर्निशं तव ध्यानाद्यास्यामः परमां गतिम्॥

kīrtanānmṛtyuloke'sminstava saṁdarśanena hi| aharniśaṁ tava dhyānādyāsyāmaḥ paramāṁ gatim||

'By chanting your praises in this world of death, by beholding you, and by meditating upon you day and night, we shall attain the supreme destiny.'

Verse 6 (skanda.7.460.6)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ करिष्ये वः प्रियं साध्व्यो यूयं मम परिग्रहाः। अनुग्राह्या मया नित्यं भक्तिग्राह्योऽस्मि सर्वदा॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| kariṣye vaḥ priyaṁ sādhvyo yūyaṁ mama parigrahāḥ| anugrāhyā mayā nityaṁ bhaktigrāhyo'smi sarvadā||

Shri Krishna said: 'I shall do what pleases you, virtuous ones, for you are my own; I must always show you grace, since I am always won only through devotion.'

Verse 7 (skanda.7.460.7)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्कृष्णो गोपीनां हितकाम्यया। सरसः सन्निधौ तस्य सरस्त्वन्यच्चकार ह॥

prahlāda uvāca| ityuktvā bhagavānkṛṣṇo gopīnāṁ hitakāmyayā| sarasaḥ sannidhau tasya sarastvanyaccakāra ha||

Prahlada said: Having said this, Lord Krishna, desiring the welfare of the gopis, created another lake right beside that one.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.460.8)

तदगाधं स्वच्छजलं नलिनीदलशोभितम्। हंससारसयुग्मैश्च चक्रवाकैश्च शोभितम्॥

tadagādhaṁ svacchajalaṁ nalinīdalaśobhitam| haṁsasārasayugmaiśca cakravākaiśca śobhitam||

It was deep, with clear water, adorned with lotus leaves, and graced with pairs of swans, cranes, and ruddy geese.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.460.9)

कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारपद्मिनीखण्डमण्डितम्। सेवितं द्विजमुख्यैश्च सिद्धविद्याधरैस्तथा॥

kumudotpalakahlārapadminīkhaṇḍamaṇḍitam| sevitaṁ dvijamukhyaiśca siddhavidyādharaistathā||

It was adorned with clusters of night-lotuses, blue lotuses, water-lilies, and lotus-groves, and was frequented by eminent brahmins, siddhas, and vidyadharas.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.460.10)

सेवितं यदुनारीभिस्तथा यदुकुमारकैः। दिवारात्रौ सुसंपूर्णं सर्वैर्जानपदैर्जनैः॥

sevitaṁ yadunārībhistathā yadukumārakaiḥ| divārātrau susampūrṇaṁ sarvairjānapadairjanaiḥ||

It was frequented by the women and youths of the Yadu clan, and was thronged day and night by all the people of the countryside.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.460.11)

तं दृष्ट्वा जलकल्लोलैः सुसंपूर्णं जलाशयम्। हर्षाद्गोपीजनं कृष्णः प्रोवाच वचनं तदा॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā jalakallolaiḥ susampūrṇaṁ jalāśayam| harṣādgopījanaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ provāca vacanaṁ tadā||

Seeing that lake full of rippling waves, Krishna joyfully spoke these words to the gopis:

Verse 12 (skanda.7.460.12)

पश्यध्वं गोपिकाः शुभ्रं सरः सरं समीपतः। स्वच्छमिष्टजलापूर्णं सज्जनानां यथा मनः॥

paśyadhvaṁ gopikāḥ śubhraṁ saraḥ saraṁ samīpataḥ| svacchamiṣṭajalāpūrṇaṁ sajjanānāṁ yathā manaḥ||

'Behold, O gopis, this bright lake nearby — filled with clear, sweet water, just like the mind of the virtuous.'

Verse 13 (skanda.7.460.13)

कारणाद्भवतीनां च यस्मात्कृतमिदं सरः। भवतीनां तथा नाम्ना ख्यातमेतद्भविष्यति॥

kāraṇādbhavatīnāṁ ca yasmātkṛtamidaṁ saraḥ| bhavatīnāṁ tathā nāmnā khyātametadbhaviṣyati||

'Since this lake has been made for your sake, it shall become known by your very name.'

Verse 14 (skanda.7.460.14)

गोर्वाचावाचकः शब्दो भवतीभिर्मया सह। गोप्रचारेति वै नाम्नां ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति॥

gorvācāvācakaḥ śabdo bhavatībhirmayā saha| gopracāreti vai nāmnāṁ khyātiṁ loke gamiṣyati||

'The word "go" signifies speech — this my sojourn with you shall become known throughout the world by the name "Goprachara."'

Verse 15 (skanda.7.460.15)

युष्माकं प्रियकामार्थं यस्मात्कृतमिदं सरः। तस्माद्गोपीसर इति ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति॥

yuṣmākaṁ priyakāmārthaṁ yasmātkṛtamidaṁ saraḥ| tasmādgopīsara iti khyātiṁ loke gamiṣyati||

'Since this lake has been made out of the desire to please you, it shall become known throughout the world as "Gopisara" (the gopis' lake).'

Verse 16 (skanda.7.460.16)

॥ गोप्य ऊचुः ॥ अनुग्राह्या यदि वयमस्मन्नाम्ना कृतं सरः। अन्यत्किमपि वार्ष्णेय प्रार्थयामो वदस्व नः॥

gopya ūcuḥ| anugrāhyā yadi vayamasmannāmnā kṛtaṁ saraḥ| anyatkimapi vārṣṇeya prārthayāmo vadasva naḥ||

The gopis said: 'If we are worthy of your grace, and this lake has been made in our name, then, O scion of the Vrishnis, we would ask for something more — tell us.'

Verse 17 (skanda.7.460.17)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ प्रार्थ्यतां यदभिप्रेतं यद्वो मनसि वर्तते। भक्त्या समागता यूयं नास्त्यदेयं ततो मया॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| prārthyatāṁ yadabhipretaṁ yadvo manasi vartate| bhaktyā samāgatā yūyaṁ nāstyadeyaṁ tato mayā||

Shri Krishna said: 'Ask for whatever is in your minds. Since you have come with devotion, there is nothing I would withhold from you.'

Verse 18 (skanda.7.460.18)

॥ गोप्य ऊचुः ॥ यदि तुष्टोऽसि भगवन्यदि देयो वरो हि नः। तस्मात्त्वया सदा कृष्ण नरयानेन माधव॥

gopya ūcuḥ| yadi tuṣṭo'si bhagavanyadi deyo varo hi naḥ| tasmāttvayā sadā kṛṣṇa narayānena mādhava||

The gopis said: 'O Lord, if you are pleased, and if you would grant us a boon, then, O Krishna, O Madhava, may you always, on foot,'

Verse 19 (skanda.7.460.19)

अत्रागत्य नभस्येऽस्मिन्स्नातव्यं नियमेन हि। यत्र त्वं तत्र देवाश्च यज्ञास्तीर्थानि केशव॥

atrāgatya nabhasye'sminsnātavyaṁ niyamena hi| yatra tvaṁ tatra devāśca yajñāstīrthāni keśava||

'come here in the month of Nabhasya (Bhadrapada) and bathe according to this observance. O Keshava, wherever you are, there too are the gods, the sacrifices, and the sacred places.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.460.20)

यत्र त्वं तत्र दानानि व्रतानि नियमाश्च ये। ओंकारश्च वषट्कारः स्वाहाकारः स्वधा तथा॥

yatra tvaṁ tatra dānāni vratāni niyamāśca ye| oṁkāraśca vaṣaṭkāraḥ svāhākāraḥ svadhā tathā||

'Wherever you are, there too are all forms of charity, vows, and observances; there too are the sacred utterances Om, Vashat, Svaha, and Svadha.'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.460.21)

भूर्भुवःस्वर्महर्ल्लोको जनः सत्यं तपस्तथा। त्वन्मयं हि जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्॥

bhūrbhuvaḥsvarmaharlloko janaḥ satyaṁ tapastathā| tvanmayaṁ hi jagatsarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam||

'Bhu, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Tapah, and Satya — the whole universe, with its gods, demons, and men, is pervaded by you alone.'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.460.22)

तस्मात्त्वयि जगन्नाथे ह्यत्र स्नाते जनार्दने। स्नातमत्र त्रिभुवनं भविष्यति न संशयः॥

tasmāttvayi jagannāthe hyatra snāte janārdane| snātamatra tribhuvanaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ||

'Therefore, when you, O Lord of the universe, Janardana, bathe here, the three worlds themselves shall have bathed here — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.460.23)

त्रैलोक्यपावनी गंगा तव पादजलं हि तत्। लक्ष्मीर्वक्षःस्थलस्थाने मुखे देवी सरस्वती॥

trailokyapāvanī gaṅgā tava pādajalaṁ hi tat| lakṣmīrvakṣaḥsthalasthāne mukhe devī sarasvatī||

'The Ganga, purifier of the three worlds, is but the water of your feet; Lakshmi resides upon your breast, and the goddess Sarasvati in your mouth.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.460.24)

सर्वभूतमयश्चात्र ततस्त्वं जगदीश्वर। यद्ददासि मनुष्याणां भविष्याणां कलौ युगे। तद्वदस्व महाबाहो कृपां कृत्वा जगत्पते॥

sarvabhūtamayaścātra tatastvaṁ jagadīśvara| yaddadāsi manuṣyāṇāṁ bhaviṣyāṇāṁ kalau yuge| tadvadasva mahābāho kṛpāṁ kṛtvā jagatpate||

'O lord of the universe, you are the very substance of all beings; therefore, O mighty-armed one, O lord of the universe, graciously tell us what you shall grant to the men to come in the Kali age.'

Verse 25 (skanda.7.460.25)

यात्रायामागतानां च अथ षण्मासवासिनाम्। सदैवात्र स्थितानां च यत्फलं तद्वदस्व नः॥

yātrāyāmāgatānāṁ ca atha ṣaṇmāsavāsinām| sadaivātra sthitānāṁ ca yatphalaṁ tadvadasva naḥ||

'Tell us the fruit for those who come on pilgrimage, for those who dwell here six months, and for those who reside here always.'

Verse 26 (skanda.7.460.26)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ यत्फलं हि मनुष्याणां स्नातानां गोपिकासरे। तच्छृणुध्वमसंदिग्धं प्रसन्ने मयि गोपिकाः॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| yatphalaṁ hi manuṣyāṇāṁ snātānāṁ gopikāsare| tacchṛṇudhvamasaṁdigdhaṁ prasanne mayi gopikāḥ||

Shri Krishna said: 'O gopis, hear without doubt what fruit men obtain by bathing in Gopikasara, now that I am pleased.'

Verse 27 (skanda.7.460.27)

सोपस्करां सवत्सां च वस्त्रालंकारभूषिताम्। यथोक्तदक्षिणोपेतां ब्राह्मणाय कुटुंबिने॥

sopaskarāṁ savatsāṁ ca vastrālaṁkārabhūṣitām| yathoktadakṣiṇopetāṁ brāhmaṇāya kuṭuṁbine||

'a cow, with its accoutrements, with its calf, adorned with garments and ornaments, and accompanied by the prescribed sacrificial fee, given to a brahmin householder —'

Verse 28 (skanda.7.460.28)

सदाचाराय शुद्धाय दरिद्रायानुकारिणे। गां दत्त्वा फलमाप्नोति स्नानमात्रेण तत्फलम्॥

sadācārāya śuddhāya daridrāyānukāriṇe| gāṁ dattvā phalamāpnoti snānamātreṇa tatphalam||

'the fruit obtained by giving a cow to one of good conduct, purity, poverty, and gentle nature is obtained merely by bathing here.'

Verse 29 (skanda.7.460.29)

यावत्पदानि मनुजः कृष्णेन सह गच्छति। कुलानि देव्यस्तावंति वसंति हरिमन्दिरे॥

yāvatpadāni manujaḥ kṛṣṇena saha gacchati| kulāni devyastāvaṁti vasanti harimandire||

'For every step a man walks together with Krishna, O goddesses, that many lineages come to dwell in Hari's temple.'

Verse 30 (skanda.7.460.30)

कृष्णेन सह गच्छन्ति गीतवादित्रनिस्वनैः। स्तुवन्तो विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्गोविंदं गोपिकासरे॥

kṛṣṇena saha gacchanti gītavāditraniśvanaiḥ| stuvanto vividhaiḥ stotrairgovindaṁ gopikāsare||

'Amid the sounds of song and music, praising Govinda with manifold hymns, they journey together with Krishna at Gopikasara.'

Verse 31 (skanda.7.460.31)

न मातुर्जठरे तेषां यातना जायते नृणाम्। सर्वान्कामानवाप्यांते वैष्णवं लोकमाप्नुयुः॥

na mātrjaṭhare teṣāṁ yātanā jāyate nṛṇām| sarvānkāmānavāpyānte vaiṣṇavaṁ lokamāpnuyuḥ||

'Such men need not suffer the torment of the mother's womb; having obtained all their desires, they attain, in the end, the realm of Vishnu.'

Verse 32 (skanda.7.460.32)

अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा विधानेन स्नानं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः। मंत्रेणानेन वै साध्व्यः श्रद्धया परया युतः॥

arghyaṁ dattvā vidhānena snānaṁ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ| mantreṇānena vai sādhvyaḥ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ||

'O virtuous ones, a discerning man should duly offer the water of welcome, and, filled with the deepest faith, bathe with this mantra:'

Verse 33 (skanda.7.460.33)

नमस्ते गोपरूपाय विष्णवे परमात्मने। गोप्रचारे जगन्नाथ गृहाणार्घ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते॥

namaste goparūpāya viṣṇave paramātmane| gopracāre jagannātha gṛhāṇārghyaṁ namo'stu te||

'Salutations to you, O Vishnu in the form of a cowherd, supreme self! O Lord of the universe, accept this offering at Goprachara; salutations to you.'

Verse 34 (skanda.7.460.34)

अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा विधानेन मृदमालिप्य पाणिना। स्नायाच्छ्रद्धासमायुक्तस्तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः॥

arghyaṁ dattvā vidhānena mṛdamālipya pāṇinā| snāyācchraddhāsamāyuktastarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ||

Having offered the water of welcome, applying clay with the hands, one should bathe with faith, and offer libations to the ancestors and gods.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.460.35)

श्राद्धं कुर्य्यात्ततो भक्त्या एकचित्तः समाहितः। यथोक्तदक्षिणा दद्याद्रजतं रुक्ममेव च॥

śrāddhaṁ kuryāttato bhaktyā ekacittaḥ samāhitaḥ| yathoktadakṣiṇā dadyādrajataṁ rukmameva ca||

Then, with a focused mind, one should devotedly perform the shraddha rite, and give the prescribed sacrificial fee, silver, and gold.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.460.36)

विशेषतः प्रदातव्यं तांबूलं कज्जलं तथा। दुकूलानि च देयानि तथा कौसुंभकानि च॥

viśeṣataḥ pradātavyaṁ tāmbūlaṁ kajjalaṁ tathā| dukūlāni ca deyāni tathā kausuṁbhakāni ca||

Betel leaf and eye-kohl especially should be given, and also fine cloths and cloths dyed with safflower.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.460.37)

दंपत्योर्वाससी चैव भूषणानि स्वशक्तितः। गावो देया द्विजातिभ्यो वृषभाश्च धुरंधराः। दीनांधकृपणानां च दानं देयं स्वशक्तितः॥

daṁpatyorvāsasī caiva bhūṣaṇāni svaśaktitaḥ| gāvo deyā dvijātibhyo vṛṣabhāśca dhuraṁdharāḥ| dīnāndhakṛpaṇānāṁ ca dānaṁ deyaṁ svaśaktitaḥ||

One should give garments for husband and wife, and ornaments according to one's means; cows and yoke-bearing bulls should be given to brahmins; and charity should be given to the poor, the blind, and the destitute according to one's means.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.460.38)

एवं कृत्वा नरः सम्यगुत्तमां गतिमाप्नुयात्। प्रयांति परमं लोकं पितरस्त्रिकुलोद्भवाः॥

evaṁ kṛtvā naraḥ samyaguttamāṁ gatimāpnuyāt| prayānti paramaṁ lokaṁ pitarastrikulodbhavāḥ||

Having done this, a man fully attains an excellent destiny; his ancestors, born in his three lineages, attain the supreme realm.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.460.39)

लभते पुत्रकामस्तु पुत्रानिष्टान्मनोरमान्॥

labhate putrakāmastu putrāniṣṭānmanoramān||

Whoever desires sons obtains charming and desired sons.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.460.40)

यं यं कामयते कामं स्वर्गमोक्षादिकं नरः। तत्सर्वं समवाप्नोति यः स्नाति गोपिकासरे॥

yaṁ yaṁ kāmayate kāmaṁ svargamokṣādikaṁ naraḥ| tatsarvaṁ samavāpnoti yaḥ snāti gopikāsare||

Whatever a man desires — heaven, liberation, or the like — he who bathes at Gopikasara obtains all of it.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.460.41)

यावल्लोका भविष्यंति तावत्स्थास्यति वै सरः। यावत्सरो यशस्तावद्भवतीनां भविष्यति॥

yāvallokā bhaviṣyanti tāvatsthāsyati vai saraḥ| yāvatsaro yaśastāvadbhavatīnāṁ bhaviṣyati||

As long as the worlds shall endure, so long shall this lake remain; and as long as this lake's fame endures, so long shall yours endure too.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.460.42)

यावत्कीर्तिर्मनुष्येषु तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते। विमुक्ताः सकलात्पापाद्यास्यंति परमां गतिम्॥

yāvatkīrtirmanuṣyeṣu tāvatsvarge mahīyate| vimuktāḥ sakalātpāpādyāsyanti paramāṁ gatim||

As long as fame endures among men, so long is one glorified in heaven; freed from all sin, they shall attain the supreme destiny.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.460.43)

तत्पुण्यं गोपीसर इदं जलैः पूर्णं सदैव हि। अवगाह्यं मया गोप्यो नभस्ये नियमेन हि॥

tatpuṇyaṁ gopīsara idaṁ jalaiḥ pūrṇaṁ sadaiva hi| avagāhyaṁ mayā gopyo nabhasye niyamena hi||

This meritorious Gopisara shall always remain full of water; O gopis, I too shall bathe in it, in the month of Nabhasya, in accordance with this observance.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.460.44)

भवत्यः पतिभावेन ब्रह्मभावेन वा पुनः। चिंतयंत्यः परं मां हि परागतिमवाप्स्यथ॥

bhavatyaḥ patibhāvena brahmabhāvena vā punaḥ| cintayantyaḥ paraṁ māṁ hi parāgatimavāpsyatha||

Whether you contemplate me in the mood of a husband or in the mood of Brahman, you shall attain the supreme destiny.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.460.45)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ अनुज्ञाता भगवता ततस्ता गोपकन्यकाः। नमस्कृत्य च गोविंदं ययुः सर्वा यथागता॥

prahlāda uvāca| anujñātā bhagavatā tatastā gopakanyakāḥ| namaskṛtya ca govindaṁ yayuḥ sarvā yathāgatā||

Prahlada said: Given leave by the Lord, all those cowherd maidens, bowing to Govinda, departed just as they had come.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.460.46)

भगवानपि गोविंद उद्धवेन समन्वितः। विसृज्य गोपिकाः कृष्णः स्वकं मंदिरमाविशत्॥

bhagavānapi govinda uddhavena samanvitaḥ| visṛjya gopikāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ svakaṁ maṁdiramāviśat||

The Lord Govinda too, together with Uddhava, having bid farewell to the gopis, entered his own palace.