The Cart Overturned and the Move to Vrindavana

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.6.1)

कदाचिच्छकटाधस्ताच्छयानो मधुसूदनः । चिक्षेप चरणावूद्ध्व स्तन्यार्थी प्ररुरोद च

kadācicchakaṭādhastācchayāno madhusūdanaḥ cikṣepa caraṇāvūddhva stanyārthī praruroda ca

Once, lying beneath the cart, Madhusudana, wanting milk, kicked his feet upward and cried.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.6.2)

तस्य पादप्रहारेणा शकटं परिवर्त्तितम् । विध्वस्तकुम्भभाणडं बै विपरीतं पपात च

tasya pādaprahāreṇā śakaṭaṁ parivarttitam vidhvastakumbhabhāṇaḍaṁ bai viparītaṁ papāta ca

By the blow of his foot the cart was overturned; its pots and vessels shattered, and it fell over on its side.

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.6.3)

ततो हाहाकृतं सर्व्वो गोपगोपीजनो द्रिज ! आजगामाथ ददृशे बालमुत्तानशायिनम्

tato hāhākṛtaṁ sarvvo gopagopījano drija ! ājagāmātha dadṛśe bālamuttānaśāyinam

O brahmin, then all the cowherd men and women, crying out in alarm, came running and found the child lying there, face up.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.6.4)

गोपाः केनेति केनेदं शकटं पखिर्त्तितम् । तत्रैवं बालकाश्वोचुर्बालेनानेन पातितम्

gopāḥ keneti kenedaṁ śakaṭaṁ pakhirttitam tatraivaṁ bālakāśvocurbālenānena pātitam

The cowherds asked, "Who, who has overturned this cart?" And the children standing there said, "This baby knocked it down."

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.6.5)

रुदता दृष्टमस्माभिः पादविक्षेपताड़ितम् । शकटं परिवृत्तं वै नैतदन्यस्य चोष्टितम्

rudatā dṛṣṭamasmābhiḥ pādavikṣepatār̤itam śakaṭaṁ parivṛttaṁ vai naitadanyasya coṣṭitam

"We saw it ourselves — struck by this crying child's kicking foot, the cart went over; this is no one else's doing."

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.6.6)

ततः पुनरतीवासन् गोपा विस्मितचेतसः । नन्दगोपोऽपि जग्राह बालमत्यन्तविस्मितः

tataḥ punaratīvāsan gopā vismitacetasaḥ nandagopo'pi jagrāha bālamatyantavismitaḥ

Then the cowherds grew astonished all over again, and Nanda too, thoroughly amazed, gathered up the child.

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.6.7)

यशोदा शकटारूढ़भग्रभाण्डकपालिकाः । शकटं चार्च्चयामास दधि-पुष्प-फलाक्षतैः

yaśodā śakaṭārūr̤habhagrabhāṇḍakapālikāḥ śakaṭaṁ cārccayāmāsa dadhi-puṣpa-phalākṣataiḥ

Yashoda, clearing away the broken pot-shards from the cart, worshipped it with curds, flowers, fruit, and unbroken rice.

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.6.8)

गर्गश्व गोकुले तत्र वसुदेवप्रणोदितः । प्रच्छन्न एव गोपानां संस्काराकरोत् तयोः

gargaśva gokule tatra vasudevapraṇoditaḥ pracchanna eva gopānāṁ saṁskārākarot tayoḥ

And Garga, sent by Vasudeva, coming secretly to Gokula, performed the naming rite for the two boys unknown to the cowherds.

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.6.9)

ज्येष्ठञ्च राममित्याह कृष्णञ्चवै तथापरम् । गर्गो मतिमतां श्रेष्ठो नाम कुर्व्वन् महामतिः

jyeṣṭhañca rāmamityāha kṛṣṇañcavai tathāparam gargo matimatāṁ śreṣṭho nāma kurvvan mahāmatiḥ

Garga, wisest of the wise, great of mind, performing the naming ceremony, called the elder "Rama" and the other "Krishna".

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.6.10)

स्वल्पेनैव हि कालेन रिङ्गिणौ तौ तदा ब्रजे । घृष्टजानुकरौ तौ हि बभूवतुरुभावपि

svalpenaiva hi kālena riṅgiṇau tau tadā braje ghṛṣṭajānukarau tau hi babhūvaturubhāvapi

In a very short while the two of them, in Vraja, took to crawling on their knees, their knees and hands scraped raw from it.

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.6.11)

करीषभस्मदिग्धाङ्गौ भ्रममाणावितस्ततः । न निवारायितु शेके यशोदा न च रोहिणी

karīṣabhasmadigdhāṅgau bhramamāṇāvitastataḥ na nivārāyitu śeke yaśodā na ca rohiṇī

Their bodies smeared with cow-dung ash, they wandered here and there; neither Yashoda nor Rohini could restrain them.

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.6.12)

गोवांटमध्ये क्रीड़न्तौ वत्सवाटगतौ पुनः । तदहर्जातगोवतूसपुच्छाकर्षणतत्परौ

govāṁṭamadhye krīr̤antau vatsavāṭagatau punaḥ tadaharjātagovatūsapucchākarṣaṇatatparau

Playing in the middle of the cow-pen, and going again into the calf-pen, they were forever intent on pulling the tails of that day's newborn calves.

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.6.13)

यदा यशोदा तौ बालावेकस्थानचरावुभौ । शशाकि नो वाररितु क्रीड़न्तावतिचञ्चलौ

yadā yaśodā tau bālāvekasthānacarāvubhau śaśāki no vāraritu krīr̤antāvaticañcalau

When Yashoda could not restrain those two exceedingly restless children, playing about together in one place —

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.6.14)

यशोदा यष्टिमादाय कोपेनानुगता च तम् । कृष्णां कमलपत्राक्षं तर्ज्जयन्ती रुषा तदा

yaśodā yaṣṭimādāya kopenānugatā ca tam kṛṣṇāṁ kamalapatrākṣaṁ tarjjayantī ruṣā tadā

— Yashoda, taking up a stick, chased after him in anger, scolding lotus-eyed Krishna fiercely in her fury.

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.6.15)

दाम्रा बद्धा तदा मध्ये निबध्याथ उदूखले । कृष्णमक्लिष्टकर्म्माणमाह चेदममर्षिता

dāmrā baddhā tadā madhye nibadhyātha udūkhale kṛṣṇamakliṣṭakarmmāṇamāha cedamamarṣitā

Then, binding a rope about his middle and tying him to a mortar, the angry Yashoda spoke thus to Krishna, whose deeds never tire.

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.6.16)

यदि शक्रोषि गच्छ त्वमतिचञ्चलचेष्टित ! इत्युक्त्वा च निजं कर्म्म सा चकार कुटुम्बिनी

yadi śakroṣi gaccha tvamaticañcalaceṣṭita ! ityuktvā ca nijaṁ karmma sā cakāra kuṭumbinī

"If you can, go off then, you unruly thing!" So saying, that housewife went back to her chores.

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.6.17)

व्यग्रायामथ तस्यां स कर्षमाण उदूखलम् । यमलार्ज्जुनमध्येन जगाम कमलेक्षणः

vyagrāyāmatha tasyāṁ sa karṣamāṇa udūkhalam yamalārjjunamadhyena jagāma kamalekṣaṇaḥ

Then, while she was occupied elsewhere, lotus-eyed Krishna, dragging the mortar, went between the twin Arjuna trees.

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.6.18)

कर्षता वृक्षयोर्मध्ये तिर्य्यगूगतमुदूखलम् । भग्रावुत्तुङ्गशाखाग्रो तेन तौ यमलार्ज्जुनौ

karṣatā vṛkṣayormadhye tiryyagūgatamudūkhalam bhagrāvuttuṅgaśākhāgro tena tau yamalārjjunau

As he dragged it, the mortar wedged crosswise between the two trees, and by that the twin Arjuna trees, tall of branch, came crashing down.

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.6.19)

ततः कटकटाशब्दं समाकर्ण्य च कातरः । आजगाम ब्रजजनो ददृशे च महाद्र मौ

tataḥ kaṭakaṭāśabdaṁ samākarṇya ca kātaraḥ ājagāma brajajano dadṛśe ca mahādra mau

Hearing the crashing sound, the frightened people of Vraja came running, and saw the two great trees down.

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.6.20)

भग्रस्कन्धौ निपतितौ भग्रशाखौ महीतले । नवोदूगताल्पदन्तांशु-सितहासञ्च बालकम्

bhagraskandhau nipatitau bhagraśākhau mahītale navodūgatālpadantāṁśu-sitahāsañca bālakam

Trunks and branches broken, the two trees lay fallen upon the ground; and the child sat there smiling, his newly-sprouted little teeth gleaming.

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.6.21)

तयोर्मध्यगतं बद्धं दाम्रा गाढ़ तथोदरे । ततश्व दामोदरतां स ययौ दामबन्धनात्

tayormadhyagataṁ baddhaṁ dāmrā gār̤ha tathodare tataśva dāmodaratāṁ sa yayau dāmabandhanāt

There he sat between the two trees, tightly bound about the belly by the rope; and from that very bond of rope he came to be known as Damodara.

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.6.22)

गोपबृद्धास्ततः सर्व्वे नन्दगोपपुरोगमाः । मन्त्रयामासुरुद्रिग्रा महोत्पातातिभीरवः

gopabṛddhāstataḥ sarvve nandagopapurogamāḥ mantrayāmāsurudrigrā mahotpātātibhīravaḥ

Then all the elder cowherds, led by Nanda, deeply troubled and fearful of these great omens, took counsel together.

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.6.23)

स्थानेनेह न नः कार्य्यं गच्छामोऽन्यन्महावनम् । उत्पाता बहवो ह्यत्र दृश्यन्ते नाशहेतवः

sthāneneha na naḥ kāryyaṁ gacchāmo'nyanmahāvanam utpātā bahavo hyatra dṛśyante nāśahetavaḥ

"We have no further use for this place; let us go to another great forest. Many omens portending ruin have appeared here."

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.6.24)

पूतनाया विनाशश्व शकटस्य विपर्य्ययः । विना वातादि-दोषेण द्रु मयोः पतनं तथा

pūtanāyā vināśaśva śakaṭasya viparyyayaḥ vinā vātādi-doṣeṇa dru mayoḥ patanaṁ tathā

"The destruction of Putana, the overturning of the cart, and now the fall of these two trees with no wind or other cause behind it —"

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.6.25)

वृन्दावनमितः स्थानात् तस्माद् गच्छाम मा चिरम् । यावद्भौममहोत्पात-दोषो नाभिभवेदू व्रजम्

vṛndāvanamitaḥ sthānāt tasmād gacchāma mā ciram yāvadbhaumamahotpāta-doṣo nābhibhavedū vrajam

"— therefore let us go from this place to Vrindavana without delay, before this great calamity brings ruin down on all of Vraja."

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.6.26)

इति कृत्वा मतिं सर्व्वे गमने ते व्रजौकसः । ऊचुः स्वं स्वं कुलं शीघ्रं गम्यतां मा विलम्बयताम्

iti kṛtvā matiṁ sarvve gamane te vrajaukasaḥ ūcuḥ svaṁ svaṁ kulaṁ śīghraṁ gamyatāṁ mā vilambayatām

Having thus resolved to leave, all the people of Vraja told their own households, "Go quickly, do not delay."

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.6.27)

ततः क्षणेनः प्रययु शकटैर्गोधनैस्तथा । यूथशो वतूसबालांश्व कालयन्तो व्रजौकसः

tataḥ kṣaṇenaḥ prayayu śakaṭairgodhanaistathā yūthaśo vatūsabālāṁśva kālayanto vrajaukasaḥ

Then in but a moment the people of Vraja set out with their carts and their herds, driving the calves and young ones along in droves.

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.6.28)

द्रव्यावयवनिद्धूतं क्षणामात्रेण तत् तथा । काक-काकी-समाकीर्णां व्रजस्थानमभूदू द्रिज

dravyāvayavaniddhūtaṁ kṣaṇāmātreṇa tat tathā kāka-kākī-samākīrṇāṁ vrajasthānamabhūdū drija

O brahmin, that place, stripped in a moment of every belonging, was soon overrun with crows.

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.6.29)

वृन्दावनं भगवता कृष्णोनाक्लिष्टकर्म्मणा । शुभेन मनसा ध्यातं गबां वृद्धिमभीप्सता

vṛndāvanaṁ bhagavatā kṛṣṇonākliṣṭakarmmaṇā śubhena manasā dhyātaṁ gabāṁ vṛddhimabhīpsatā

Lord Krishna, whose deeds never tire, had in mind, with an auspicious purpose, Vrindavana, desiring the increase of the cows.

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.6.30)

ततस्तत्रातिरूक्षेऽपि घर्म्मकाले द्रिजोत्तम! प्रावृटूकाल इवोद्भूतं नवं शस्यं समन्ततः

tatastatrātirūkṣe'pi gharmmakāle drijottama! prāvṛṭūkāla ivodbhūtaṁ navaṁ śasyaṁ samantataḥ

O best of brahmins, there, even in the harsh heat of summer, fresh crops sprang up everywhere as if it were the rainy season.

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.6.31)

स समावासितः सर्व्वो व्रजो वृन्दावने ततः । खकटोवाचटपर्य्यन्तश्वन्द्रार्द्धाकारसंस्थितिः

sa samāvāsitaḥ sarvvo vrajo vṛndāvane tataḥ khakaṭovācaṭaparyyantaśvandrārddhākārasaṁsthitiḥ

Then all of Vraja settled there in Vrindavana, its ring of carts arranged in the shape of a half-moon.

Verse 32 (vishnu.5.6.32)

वत्सपालौ च संवृत्तौ राम-दामोदरौ ततः एकस्थानस्थितौ गोष्ठे चेरतुर्बाललीलया

vatsapālau ca saṁvṛttau rāma-dāmodarau tataḥ ekasthānasthitau goṣṭhe ceraturbālalīlayā

Then Rama and Damodara became calf-herders, and, dwelling together in the cow-pen, wandered about in childlike play.

Verse 33 (vishnu.5.6.33)

बर्हिपत्रकृतापीड़ौ वन्यपुष्पावतंसकौ । गोपवेणुकृतातोद्य-पत्रवाद्यकृतस्वनौ

barhipatrakṛtāpīr̤au vanyapuṣpāvataṁsakau gopaveṇukṛtātodya-patravādyakṛtasvanau

Crested with peacock feathers, adorned with wildflowers, sounding cowherd flutes and leaf-instruments —

Verse 34 (vishnu.5.6.34)

काकपक्षधरौ बालौ कुमाराविव पावकी । हसन्तौ च रमन्तौ च चेरतुस्तै महाबलौ

kākapakṣadharau bālau kumārāviva pāvakī hasantau ca ramantau ca ceratustai mahābalau

— those two mighty boys, their hair tied in side-locks, like the two sons of Fire, wandered about laughing and playing.

Verse 35 (vishnu.5.6.35)

क्वचिद्धसन्तावन्योन्यं क्रीड़मानौ तथापरैः । गोपपुत्रैः समं वत्सांश्वारयन्तौ विचेरतुः

kvaciddhasantāvanyonyaṁ krīr̤amānau tathāparaiḥ gopaputraiḥ samaṁ vatsāṁśvārayantau viceratuḥ

Sometimes laughing with each other, sometimes playing with the other cowherd boys, they roamed about grazing the calves.

Verse 36 (vishnu.5.6.36)

कालेन गच्छता तौ तु सप्तवर्षौ महाव्रजे । सर्व्वस्य जगतः पालौ वत्सपालौ बभूवतुः

kālena gacchatā tau tu saptavarṣau mahāvraje sarvvasya jagataḥ pālau vatsapālau babhūvatuḥ

As time went by, the two of them, though the protectors of the whole world, became, at seven years old, calf-herders in the great Vraja.

Verse 37 (vishnu.5.6.37)

प्रावृटूकालस्ततोऽतीव मेघौघस्थगिताम्बरः । बभूव वारिधाराभिरैक्यं कुर्व्वन् दिशामिव

prāvṛṭūkālastato'tīva meghaughasthagitāmbaraḥ babhūva vāridhārābhiraikyaṁ kurvvan diśāmiva

Then the rainy season came, the sky utterly overcast with banks of cloud, as if the streams of water had merged every direction into one.

Verse 38 (vishnu.5.6.38)

प्ररूढ़नवशस्याञया शक्रगोपाचिता मही । तदा मारकतीवासीत् पद्मरागविभूषिता

prarūr̤hanavaśasyāñayā śakragopācitā mahī tadā mārakatīvāsīt padmarāgavibhūṣitā

The earth, rich with newly-grown crops and dotted with red velvet-mites, seemed then like an emerald studded with rubies.

Verse 39 (vishnu.5.6.39)

जग्मुरुन्मार्गवाहानि निम्रगाम्भांसि सर्व्वतः । मनांसि दुव्विनीतानां प्राप्य लक्ष्मीं नवामिव

jagmurunmārgavāhāni nimragāmbhāṁsi sarvvataḥ manāṁsi duvvinītānāṁ prāpya lakṣmīṁ navāmiva

The rivers ran everywhere beyond their banks, like the minds of the ill-bred grown reckless on newfound fortune.

Verse 40 (vishnu.5.6.40)

न रेजेऽन्तरितश्वन्द्रो निर्म्मलो मलिनैर्घनैः । सद्राक्यवादो मूर्खाणां प्रगलूभाभिरिवोक्तिभिः

na reje'ntaritaśvandro nirmmalo malinairghanaiḥ sadrākyavādo mūrkhāṇāṁ pragalūbhābhirivoktibhiḥ

The pure moon, hidden behind dark clouds, gave no light — like the true words of the wise, drowned out by the impudent talk of fools.

Verse 41 (vishnu.5.6.41)

निगु णोनापि चापेन शक्रस्य गगने पदम् । अवाप्यताविवेकस्य नृपस्येव परिग्रहे

nigu ṇonāpi cāpena śakrasya gagane padam avāpyatāvivekasya nṛpasyeva parigrahe

The rainbow, though stringless, found its place in the sky — like an unworthy man finding favor at an undiscerning king's court.

Verse 42 (vishnu.5.6.42)

मेघपृष्ठे बलाकानां रराज विमला ततिः । दुर्वृत्ते वृत्त्चेष्टेव कुलीनस्यातिशोभना

meghapṛṣṭhe balākānāṁ rarāja vimalā tatiḥ durvṛtte vṛttceṣṭeva kulīnasyātiśobhanā

Along the backs of the clouds the spotless line of cranes shone out, like the fine conduct of a well-born man standing out among the wicked.

Verse 43 (vishnu.5.6.43)

न बबन्धाम्बरे स्थैर्य्य विद्यु दत्यन्तचञ्चला । मैत्रीव प्रवरे पुंसि दुर्ज्जनेन प्रयोजिता

na babandhāmbare sthairyya vidyu datyantacañcalā maitrīva pravare puṁsi durjjanena prayojitā

The utterly fickle lightning held no steady place in the sky — like a friendship offered to a fine man by a wicked one.

Verse 44 (vishnu.5.6.44)

मार्गा बभूवुरस्पष्टा नवशस्यचयावृताः । अर्थान्तरमनुप्राप्ताः प्रजड़ानामिवोक्तयः

mārgā babhūvuraspaṣṭā navaśasyacayāvṛtāḥ arthāntaramanuprāptāḥ prajar̤ānāmivoktayaḥ

The roads grew indistinct, buried under masses of new crops — like the words of gossips that end up meaning something else entirely.

Verse 45 (vishnu.5.6.45)

उन्मत्तशिखिसारङ्ग तस्मिन् काले महावने । कृष्ण-रामौ मुदा युक्तौ गोपालैश्चैरतुः सह

unmattaśikhisāraṅga tasmin kāle mahāvane kṛṣṇa-rāmau mudā yuktau gopālaiścairatuḥ saha

At that time, in that great forest where peacocks and deer ran wild with delight, Krishna and Rama roamed happily together with the cowherd boys.

Verse 46 (vishnu.5.6.46)

क्वचिदू गोपैः समं रम्यं गेयनृत्यरतावुभौ । चेरतुः क्कचिदत्यर्थं शीतवृक्षतलाश्रयौ

kvacidū gopaiḥ samaṁ ramyaṁ geyanṛtyaratāvubhau ceratuḥ kkacidatyarthaṁ śītavṛkṣatalāśrayau

Sometimes, with the cowherds, they delighted in charming song and dance; sometimes they wandered, sheltering in the cool shade of trees.

Verse 47 (vishnu.5.6.47)

क्वचित् कदम्बस्रक्-चित्रौ मयूरस्त्रग्धरौ क्वचित् । विचित्रौ क्वचिदास्येतां विविधैर्गिरिधातुभिः

kvacit kadambasrak-citrau mayūrastragdharau kvacit vicitrau kvacidāsyetāṁ vividhairgiridhātubhiḥ

Sometimes decked in garlands of kadamba blossoms, sometimes wearing peacock-feather garlands, sometimes sitting adorned in strange colors from mountain minerals.

Verse 48 (vishnu.5.6.48)

पर्णशय्यासु संसुप्तौ क्वचिन्नद्रान्तरैषिणौ । क्वचिद् गर्ज्जति जीमूते हाहाकारखादृतौ

parṇaśayyāsu saṁsuptau kvacinnadrāntaraiṣiṇau kvacid garjjati jīmūte hāhākārakhādṛtau

Sometimes sleeping on beds of leaves, seeking rest in slumber; sometimes, at the thunder's roar, startled by mock cries of alarm.

Verse 49 (vishnu.5.6.49)

गायतामन्यगोपानां प्रशंसापरमौ क्वचित् । मयूरकेकानुगतौ गोपवेषुप्रवादकौ

gāyatāmanyagopānāṁ praśaṁsāparamau kvacit mayūrakekānugatau gopaveṣupravādakau

Sometimes lavishly praising the other cowherds' singing; and sometimes, following the peacocks' cries, playing the cowherd's flute themselves.

Verse 50 (vishnu.5.6.50)

इति नानाविधैर्भावैरुत्तमप्रीतिसंयुतौ । क्रीड़ासक्तौ वने तस्मिन् चेरतुः प्रीतमानसौ

iti nānāvidhairbhāvairuttamaprītisaṁyutau krīr̤āsaktau vane tasmin ceratuḥ prītamānasau

Thus, filled with the greatest delight in ways beyond number, absorbed in play, the two roamed that forest with joyful hearts.

Verse 51 (vishnu.5.6.51)

विकाले तु समं गोभिर्गोपवृन्दसमन्बितौ । आजग्मतुः कृष्ण-बलौ गोपवेशधरावुभौ

vikāle tu samaṁ gobhirgopavṛndasamanbitau ājagmatuḥ kṛṣṇa-balau gopaveśadharāvubhau

In the evening, with the cows and the throng of cowherds, Krishna and Balarama, both dressed as cowherds, would return.

Verse 52 (vishnu.5.6.52)

विकाले च यथाजोष व्रजमत्य महाबलौ । गोपैः समानैः सहितौ चिक्रीड़ातेऽमराविव

vikāle ca yathājoṣa vrajamatya mahābalau gopaiḥ samānaiḥ sahitau cikrīr̤āte'marāviva

And in the evening, reaching Vraja as they pleased, those two mighty ones would play with their fellow cowherds like gods at sport.