Krishna Institutes the Govardhana Sacrifice

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.10.1)

तयोविंहरतोस्तत्र राम-केशवयोर्व्रजे । प्रावृट् व्यतीता विकसत्-सरोजा चाभवच्छरत्

tayoviṁharatostatra rāma-keśavayorvraje prāvṛṭ vyatītā vikasat-sarojā cābhavaccharat

While Rama and Keshava sported there in Vraja, the rainy season passed, and autumn came, with its blooming lotuses.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.10.2)

अवापुस्तापमत्यर्थं शफर्य्यः पल्वलोदके । पुत्रक्षेत्रादिसक्तेन ममत्वेन यथा गृही

avāpustāpamatyarthaṁ śapharyyaḥ palvalodake putrakṣetrādisaktena mamatvena yathā gṛhī

The little fish suffered greatly in the shrinking pond water, like a householder tormented by attachment to sons, land, and the like.

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.10.3)

मयूरा मौनिस्तस्थुः परित्यक्तमदा वने । असारतां परिज्ञाय संसारस्येव योगिनः

mayūrā maunistasthuḥ parityaktamadā vane asāratāṁ parijñāya saṁsārasyeva yoginaḥ

The peacocks, their exuberance spent, stood silent in the forest, like yogis who, seeing the emptiness of worldly existence, fall quiet.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.10.4)

उत्सृज्य जलसर्वस्वं निर्म्मलाः सितमूर्त्तयः । तत्यजुश्वाम्बरं मेघा गृहं विज्ञानिनो यथा

utsṛjya jalasarvasvaṁ nirmmalāḥ sitamūrttayaḥ tatyajuśvāmbaraṁ meghā gṛhaṁ vijñānino yathā

Having given up their whole store of water, pure and white now, the clouds abandoned the sky, as men of true wisdom abandon the household.

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.10.5)

शरत्सूर्य्यांशुतप्तानि ययुः शोष संरासि च । बह्वालम्बि-ममत्वेन हृदयानीव देहिनाम्

śaratsūryyāṁśutaptāni yayuḥ śoṣa saṁrāsi ca bahvālambi-mamatvena hṛdayānīva dehinām

Scorched by the rays of the autumn sun, the lakes ran dry, like hearts withered by attachment to too many things.

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.10.6)

कुमुदैः शरदम्भांसि योग्यतालक्षणं ययुः। अवबोधैर्मनांसीव सम्बन्धममलात्मनाम्

kumudaiḥ śaradambhāṁsi yogyatālakṣaṇaṁ yayuḥ avabodhairmanāṁsīva sambandhamamalātmanām

The autumn waters, graced with white lotuses, attained their true beauty, as minds, through awakening, come into fellowship with the pure of soul.

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.10.7)

तारका विमले व्योम्नि रराजाखण्डमण्डलः । चन्द्रश्चरमदेहात्मा योगी साधुकुले यथा

tārakā vimale vyomni rarājākhaṇḍamaṇḍalaḥ candraścaramadehātmā yogī sādhukule yathā

In the clear sky the stars shone, and the moon, its full disc unbroken, like a Yogi in his final embodiment shining within a family of the virtuous.

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.10.8)

शनकैः शनकैस्तीरं तत्यजुश्व जलाशयाः । ममत्वं क्षेत्रपुत्रादिरूढ़मुच्चैर्यथा बुधाः

śanakaiḥ śanakaistīraṁ tatyajuśva jalāśayāḥ mamatvaṁ kṣetraputrādirūr̤hamuccairyathā budhāḥ

Little by little the ponds drew back from their banks, as the wise gradually let go of their deep-rooted attachment to land and sons.

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.10.9)

पूर्व्वं त्यक्तैः सरोऽम्भोभिर्हंसा योगं पुनर्ययुः । क्लेशैः कुयोगिनोऽशेषैरन्तरायहता इव

pūrvvaṁ tyaktaiḥ saro'mbhobhirhaṁsā yogaṁ punaryayuḥ kleśaiḥ kuyogino'śeṣairantarāyahatā iva

The swans returned once more to the lake-waters they had earlier left, like poor yogis, beset by every affliction, falling back into worldly ties.

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.10.10)

निभृतोऽभवदत्यर्थं समुद्रः स्तिमितोदकः । क्रमावाप्तमहायोगो निश्वलात्मा यथा यतिः

nibhṛto'bhavadatyarthaṁ samudraḥ stimitodakaḥ kramāvāptamahāyogo niśvalātmā yathā yatiḥ

The ocean, its waters stilled, grew utterly calm, like an ascetic who, having attained the great state of yoga by degrees, has become wholly unmoving.

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.10.11)

सर्व्वत्रातिप्रसन्नानि सलिलानि तदाभवन् । ज्ञाते सर्व्वगते विष्णौ मनांसीव सुमेधसाम्

sarvvatrātiprasannāni salilāni tadābhavan jñāte sarvvagate viṣṇau manāṁsīva sumedhasām

Everywhere the waters grew exceedingly clear then, like the minds of the wise once the all-pervading Vishnu has been known.

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.10.12)

बभूव निर्म्मलं व्योम शरदा ध्वस्ततोयदम् । योगाग्निदग्धक्लेशौघं योगिनामिव मानसम्

babhūva nirmmalaṁ vyoma śaradā dhvastatoyadam yogāgnidagdhakleśaughaṁ yogināmiva mānasam

With the clouds dispersed, the autumn sky grew clear, like the mind of a Yogi once the fire of yoga has burnt away the mass of his afflictions.

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.10.13)

सूर्य्यांशुजनितं तापं निन्यं तारापतिः शमम् । अहङ्कारोद्भवं दुःखं विवेकः सुमहानिव

sūryyāṁśujanitaṁ tāpaṁ ninyaṁ tārāpatiḥ śamam ahaṅkārodbhavaṁ duḥkhaṁ vivekaḥ sumahāniva

The moon brought to rest the heat born of the sun's rays, as great discernment brings to rest the sorrow born of ego.

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.10.14)

नभसोऽभ्रान् भुवः पङ्कान् कालुष्यं चाम्भसः शरत् । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः प्रत्याहार इवाहरत्

nabhaso'bhrān bhuvaḥ paṅkān kāluṣyaṁ cāmbhasaḥ śarat indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyaḥ pratyāhāra ivāharat

Autumn drew the clouds from the sky, the mud from the earth, and the murk from the water, as the discipline of Pratyahara draws the senses back from their objects.

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.10.15)

प्राणायाम इवाम्भोभिः सरसां कृतपूरकैः । अभ्यस्यतेऽनुदिवसं रेचकाकुम्भकादिभिः

prāṇāyāma ivāmbhobhiḥ sarasāṁ kṛtapūrakaiḥ abhyasyate'nudivasaṁ recakākumbhakādibhiḥ

With the lakes' waters filling and emptying day upon day, it was as if pranayama, with its rechaka and kumbhaka, were being practiced daily.

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.10.16)

विमलाम्बरनक्षत्रे काले चाभ्यागते व्रजे। ददर्शेन्द्रमहारम्भायौद्यतांस्तान् व्रजौकसः

vimalāmbaranakṣatre kāle cābhyāgate vraje dadarśendramahārambhāyaudyatāṁstān vrajaukasaḥ

When that season of clear skies and bright stars came upon Vraja, Krishna saw the people there busy preparing for Indra's great festival.

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.10.17)

कृष्णस्तानुत्सुकान् दृष्ट्वा गोपानुत्सवलालसान् । कौतूहलादिदं वाक्यं प्राह वृद्धान् महामतिः

kṛṣṇastānutsukān dṛṣṭvā gopānutsavalālasān kautūhalādidaṁ vākyaṁ prāha vṛddhān mahāmatiḥ

Seeing the cowherds eager and longing for the festival, great-minded Krishna, out of curiosity, said this to the elders.

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.10.18)

कोऽयं शक्रमहो नाम येन वो हर्ष आगतः । प्राह तं नन्दगोपश्व पृच्छन्तमतिसादरम्

ko'yaṁ śakramaho nāma yena vo harṣa āgataḥ prāha taṁ nandagopaśva pṛcchantamatisādaram

"What is this thing called Indra's festival, that fills you all with such joy?" So asked, Nandagopa answered him most respectfully.

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.10.19)

मेघानां पयसां चेशो देवराजः शतक्रतुः । तेन सञ्चोदिता मेघा वर्षन्त्यम्बुमयं रसम्

meghānāṁ payasāṁ ceśo devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ tena sañcoditā meghā varṣantyambumayaṁ rasam

"'Shatakratu, king of the gods, is lord of the clouds and the waters; impelled by him, the clouds pour down their watery essence.'"

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.10.20)

तद्वृष्टिजनितं शस्यं वयमन्ये च देहिनः । वर्त्तयामोपयुञ्जानास्तर्पयामश्व देवताः

tadvṛṣṭijanitaṁ śasyaṁ vayamanye ca dehinaḥ varttayāmopayuñjānāstarpayāmaśva devatāḥ

"'By the grain born of that rain, we and every other creature sustain ourselves, and with it we satisfy the gods as well.'"

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.10.21)

क्षीरवत्य इमा गावो वत्सवत्यश्व निर्वृताः । तेन संवर्द्धितैः शस्यैः पुष्टास्तुष्टा भवन्ति वै

kṣīravatya imā gāvo vatsavatyaśva nirvṛtāḥ tena saṁvarddhitaiḥ śasyaiḥ puṣṭāstuṣṭā bhavanti vai

"'These milk-giving cows, with their calves, stay content; nourished by the crops that rain has grown, they grow sleek and satisfied.'"

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.10.22)

नासस्या नातृणा भूमिर्न बुभुक्षार्द्दितो जनः । दृश्यते यत्र दृश्यन्ते वृष्टिमन्तो बलाहकाः

nāsasyā nātṛṇā bhūmirna bubhukṣārddito janaḥ dṛśyate yatra dṛśyante vṛṣṭimanto balāhakāḥ

"'Wherever rain-laden clouds are seen, there the land is never seen bare of crop or grass, nor the people pinched by hunger.'"

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.10.23)

भौममेतत् पयो दुग्धं गोभिः सूर्य्यस्य वारिदः । पर्ज्जन्यः सर्व्वलोकस्य भवाय भुवि वर्षति

bhaumametat payo dugdhaṁ gobhiḥ sūryyasya vāridaḥ parjjanyaḥ sarvvalokasya bhavāya bhuvi varṣati

"'This earthly water, drawn off by the sun as though milked from cows, the rain-god pours back upon the earth for the good of the whole world.'"

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.10.24)

तस्मात् प्रावृषि राजानः सर्व्वे शक्र मुदा युताः । मखैः सुरेशमर्च्चन्ति वयमन्ये च मानवाः

tasmāt prāvṛṣi rājānaḥ sarvve śakra mudā yutāḥ makhaiḥ sureśamarccanti vayamanye ca mānavāḥ

"'Therefore, in the rainy season, every king, filled with joy, worships Shakra, lord of the gods, with sacrifice — and so do we, and other men besides.'"

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.10.25)

नन्दगोपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वेत्थं शक्रपूजने । कोपाय त्रिदशेन्द्रस्य प्राह दामोदरस्तदा

nandagopasya vacanaṁ śrutvetthaṁ śakrapūjane kopāya tridaśendrasya prāha dāmodarastadā

Having heard Nandagopa's words about the worship of Shakra, Damodara then spoke thus, as if courting the anger of the king of the gods.

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.10.26)

न वयं कृषिकर्त्तारो वाणिज्यजीवनो न च । गावोऽस्मद्दैवतं तात! वयं वनचरा यतः

na vayaṁ kṛṣikarttāro vāṇijyajīvano na ca gāvo'smaddaivataṁ tāta! vayaṁ vanacarā yataḥ

"'We are neither tillers of soil nor men who live by trade, father; we are dwellers of the forest, and so the cows alone are our deity.'"

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.10.27)

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्त्ता दण्डनीतिस्तथापरा । विद्याचतुष्टयं त्वेतत् वार्त्तामत्र शृणुष्व मे

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārttā daṇḍanītistathāparā vidyācatuṣṭayaṁ tvetat vārttāmatra śṛṇuṣva me

"'Logic, the triple Veda, Varta, and statecraft — these are the four branches of knowledge; hear now from me about Varta.'"

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.10.28)

कृषिर्वणिज्या तद्वच्च तृतीयं पशुपालनम् । विद्या ह्येका महाभाग! वार्त्ता वृत्तित्रयाश्रया

kṛṣirvaṇijyā tadvacca tṛtīyaṁ paśupālanam vidyā hyekā mahābhāga! vārttā vṛttitrayāśrayā

"'Farming, trade, and thirdly the tending of cattle, O illustrious one — this single science called Varta rests upon these three occupations.'"

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.10.29)

कर्षकाणां कृषिर्वृत्तिः पणयं विपणिजीविनाम् । अस्माकं गाः परा वृत्तिर्वार्त्ताभेदैरियं त्रिभिः

karṣakāṇāṁ kṛṣirvṛttiḥ paṇayaṁ vipaṇijīvinām asmākaṁ gāḥ parā vṛttirvārttābhedairiyaṁ tribhiḥ

"'For farmers, farming is their livelihood; for traders, trade; for us, cows are our highest livelihood — thus this one Varta divides into three.'"

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.10.30)

विद्यया यो यया युक्तस्तस्य स दैवतं महत् । सैव पूज्यार्च्चनीया च सैव तस्योपकारिका

vidyayā yo yayā yuktastasya sa daivataṁ mahat saiva pūjyārccanīyā ca saiva tasyopakārikā

"'Whoever depends on whichever branch of knowledge, that branch is his great deity; it alone deserves his worship, for it alone sustains him.'"

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.10.31)

यो यस्य फलमश्नन् वै पूजयत्यपरं नरः । इह च प्रेत्य चैवासौ न तदाप्नोति शोभनम्

yo yasya phalamaśnan vai pūjayatyaparaṁ naraḥ iha ca pretya caivāsau na tadāpnoti śobhanam

"'The man who lives on the fruit of one thing, and yet worships another, gains no good in this world, nor in the next.'"

Verse 32 (vishnu.5.10.32)

कृष्यान्ता प्रथिता सीमा सीमान्तञ्च पुनर्वनम् । वनान्ता गिरयः सर्व्वे ते चास्माकं परा गतिः

kṛṣyāntā prathitā sīmā sīmāntañca punarvanam vanāntā girayaḥ sarvve te cāsmākaṁ parā gatiḥ

"'Where cultivated land ends, the forest begins; and where the forest ends stand the mountains — these are our highest resort.'"

Verse 33 (vishnu.5.10.33)

न द्वारबन्धावरणा न गृहक्षेत्रिणस्तथा । सुखिनस्त्वखिले लोके यथा वै चक्रचारिणः

na dvārabandhāvaraṇā na gṛhakṣetriṇastathā sukhinastvakhile loke yathā vai cakracāriṇaḥ

"'We have no doors or bonds or walls, no house or field to tie us down; we are as happy through the whole world as those who wander free as a wheel.'"

Verse 34 (vishnu.5.10.34)

श्रूयन्ते गिरयश्चैव वनोऽस्मिन् कामरूपिणः । तत्तद्रूपं समास्थाय रमन्ते स्वेषु सानुषु

śrūyante girayaścaiva vano'smin kāmarūpiṇaḥ tattadrūpaṁ samāsthāya ramante sveṣu sānuṣu

"'It is told that even the mountains in this forest can take any shape they please; assuming this form or that, they take their pleasure on their own heights.'"

Verse 35 (vishnu.5.10.35)

यदा चैते प्रबाध्यन्ते तेषां ये काननौकसः । तदा सिंहादिरूपैस्तान् घातयन्ति महीधराः

yadā caite prabādhyante teṣāṁ ye kānanaukasaḥ tadā siṁhādirūpaistān ghātayanti mahīdharāḥ

"'And when those who dwell in their forests come under threat, the mountains take the shape of lions and the like, and destroy the evil ones.'"

Verse 36 (vishnu.5.10.36)

गिरियज्ञस्त्वयं तस्माद् गोयज्ञश्च प्रवर्त्त्यताम् । किमस्माकं महेन्द्रेण गावः शैलाश्व देवताः

giriyajñastvayaṁ tasmād goyajñaśca pravarttyatām kimasmākaṁ mahendreṇa gāvaḥ śailāśva devatāḥ

"'So let this sacrifice to the mountain, and to the cow, be established instead; what use have we for great Indra? Cows and mountains are our gods.'"

Verse 37 (vishnu.5.10.37)

मन्त्रयज्ञपरा विप्राः सीतायज्ञाश्व कर्षकाः । गिरि-गोयज्ञशीलाश्व वयमद्रिवनाश्रयाः

mantrayajñaparā viprāḥ sītāyajñāśva karṣakāḥ giri-goyajñaśīlāśva vayamadrivanāśrayāḥ

"'Brahmins devote themselves to the sacrifice of the mantra, farmers to the sacrifice of the furrow; and we, sheltered by mountain and forest, belong by nature to the sacrifice of mountain and cow.'"

Verse 38 (vishnu.5.10.38)

तस्माद् गोवर्द्धनः शैलो भवद्भिर्विविधार्हणैः । अर्च्च्यतां पूज्यतां मेध्यान् पशून् हत्वा विधानतः

tasmād govarddhanaḥ śailo bhavadbhirvividhārhaṇaiḥ arccyatāṁ pūjyatāṁ medhyān paśūn hatvā vidhānataḥ

"'So let Mount Govardhana be honored and worshipped by you all with manifold offerings, after duly sacrificing consecrated animals in the proper rite.'"

Verse 39 (vishnu.5.10.39)

सर्व्वघोषस्य सन्दोहो गृह्यतां मा विचार्य्यताम् । भोज्यन्तां तेन वै विप्रास्तथा ये चाभिवाञ्छकाः

sarvvaghoṣasya sandoho gṛhyatāṁ mā vicāryyatām bhojyantāṁ tena vai viprāstathā ye cābhivāñchakāḥ

"'Let the milk of the whole settlement be gathered without stinting, and with it let the brahmins be fed, and any others who wish it.'"

Verse 40 (vishnu.5.10.40)

तत्रार्चिते कृते होमे भोजितेषु द्विजातिषु । शरत्पुष्पकृतापीड़ाः परिगच्छन्तु गोगणाः

tatrārcite kṛte home bhojiteṣu dvijātiṣu śaratpuṣpakṛtāpīr̤āḥ parigacchantu gogaṇāḥ

"'There, once the worship and oblation are done and the brahmins fed, let the herds of cows, crowned with autumn flowers, circle the mountain.'"

Verse 41 (vishnu.5.10.41)

एतन्मम मतं गोपाः सम्प्रीत्या क्रियते यदि । ततः कृता भवेत् प्रीतिर्गवामद्रेस्तथा मम

etanmama mataṁ gopāḥ samprītyā kriyate yadi tataḥ kṛtā bhavet prītirgavāmadrestathā mama

"'This, cowherds, is my thinking; if it is done with true devotion, the cows will be pleased, the mountain pleased, and I too.'"

Verse 42 (vishnu.5.10.42)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नन्दाद्यास्ते व्रजौकसः । प्रीत्युत्फुल्लमुखा विप्र! साधु साध्वित्यथाब्रुवन्

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā nandādyāste vrajaukasaḥ prītyutphullamukhā vipra! sādhu sādhvityathābruvan

O brahmin, hearing these words of his, Nanda and the rest of Vraja, their faces bright with delight, cried, "Well said, well said!"

Verse 43 (vishnu.5.10.43)

शोभनं ते मतं वत्स! यदेतद्भवतोदितम् । तत् करिष्यामहे सर्व्वं गिरियज्ञः प्रवर्त्त्यताम्

śobhanaṁ te mataṁ vatsa! yadetadbhavatoditam tat kariṣyāmahe sarvvaṁ giriyajñaḥ pravarttyatām

"'Excellent is this thought of yours, child, that you have spoken; we shall do all of it — let the mountain-sacrifice begin.'"

Verse 44 (vishnu.5.10.44)

तथा च कृतवन्तस्ते गिरियज्ञं व्रजौकसः । दधि-पायस-मांसाद्यैर्ददुः शैलबलिं ततः

tathā ca kṛtavantaste giriyajñaṁ vrajaukasaḥ dadhi-pāyasa-māṁsādyairdaduḥ śailabaliṁ tataḥ

And so the people of Vraja performed the mountain-sacrifice, and offered the mountain oblations of curds, milk-rice, meat, and the rest.

Verse 45 (vishnu.5.10.45)

द्विजांश्च भोजयामासुः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । अन्यानप्यागतानित्थं कृष्णेनोक्तं यथा पुरा

dvijāṁśca bhojayāmāsuḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ anyānapyāgatānitthaṁ kṛṣṇenoktaṁ yathā purā

They fed brahmins by the hundreds and thousands, and other visitors too, exactly as Krishna had directed before.

Verse 46 (vishnu.5.10.46)

गावः शैलं ततश्चक्रुरर्चितास्ताः प्रदक्षिणम् । ऋषभाश्चापि नर्द्दन्तः सतोया जलदा इव

gāvaḥ śailaṁ tataścakrurarcitāstāḥ pradakṣiṇam ṛṣabhāścāpi narddantaḥ satoyā jaladā iva

The cows, thus honored, then circled the mountain, and the bulls bellowed too, like rain-laden clouds.

Verse 47 (vishnu.5.10.47)

गिरिमूर्द्धनि कृष्णोऽपि शैलोऽहमिति मूर्त्तिमान् । बुभुजेऽन्नं बहु तदा गोपवर्य्याहृतं द्विज

girimūrddhani kṛṣṇo'pi śailo'hamiti mūrttimān bubhuje'nnaṁ bahu tadā gopavaryyāhṛtaṁ dvija

O brahmin, Krishna himself, taking embodied form on the summit as "I am the mountain", ate the abundant food the foremost of the cowherds had brought.

Verse 48 (vishnu.5.10.48)

अन्येन कृष्णो रूपेण गोपैः सह गिरेः शिरः । अधिरुह्यार्च्चयामास द्रितीयामात्मनस्तनुम्

anyena kṛṣṇo rūpeṇa gopaiḥ saha gireḥ śiraḥ adhiruhyārccayāmāsa dritīyāmātmanastanum

In another form, Krishna, together with the cowherds, climbed to the mountain's summit and worshipped that second body of his own.

Verse 49 (vishnu.5.10.49)

अन्तर्द्धानं गते तस्मिन् गोपा लब्ध्वा ततो वरान् । कृत्वा गिरिमखं गोष्ठं निजमभ्याययुः पुनः

antarddhānaṁ gate tasmin gopā labdhvā tato varān kṛtvā girimakhaṁ goṣṭhaṁ nijamabhyāyayuḥ punaḥ

When that form had vanished, the cowherds, having received their boons and completed the mountain-sacrifice, returned once again to their own cow-pen.