Chapter 47: The Song of the Bee

 

10.47.1-2

śrī-śuka uvāca

taḿ vīkṣya kṛṣānucaraḿ vraja-striyaḥ

pralamba-bāhuḿ nava-kañja-locanam

pītāmbaraḿ puṣkara-mālinaḿ lasan-

mukhāravindaḿ parimṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalam

 

su-vismitāḥ ko 'yam apīvya-darśanaḥ

kutaś ca kasyācyuta-veṣa-bhūṣaṇaḥ

iti sma sarvāḥ parivavrur utsukās

tam uttamaḥ-śloka-padāmbujāśrayam

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tam — him; vīkṣya — seeing; kṛṣṇa-anucaram — the servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa (Uddhava); vraja-striyaḥ — the women of Vraja; pralamba — hanging down; bāhum — whose arms; nava — young; kañja — like lotuses; locanam — whose eyes; pīta — yellow; ambaram — wearing a garment; puṣkara — of lotuses; mālinam — wearing a garland; lasat — effulgently glowing; makha — whose face; aravindam — lotuslike; parimṛṣṭa — polished; kuṇḍalam — whose earrings;

 

su-vismitāḥ — quite astonished; kaḥ — who; ayam — this; apīvya — handsome; darśanaḥ — whose appearance; kutaḥ — from where; ca — and; kasya — belonging to whom; acyuta — of Kṛṣṇa; veṣa — wearing the clothing; bhūṣaṇaḥ — and ornaments; iti — saying this; sma — indeed; sarvāḥ — all of them; parivavruḥ — surrounded; utsukāḥ — eager; tam — him; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is praised by the best poetry; pada-ambuja — by the lotus feet; āśrayam — who is sheltered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The young women of Vraja became astonished upon seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa's servant, who had long arms, whose eyes resembled a newly grown lotus, who wore a yellow garment and a lotus garland, and whose lotuslike face glowed with brightly polished earrings. "Who is this handsome man?" the gopīs asked. "Where has he come from, and whom does he serve? He's wearing Kṛṣṇa's clothes and ornaments!" Saying this, the gopīs eagerly crowded around Uddhava, whose shelter was the lotus feet of Lord Uttamaḥśloka, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.47.3

taḿ praśrayeṇāvanatāḥ su-sat-kṛtaḿ

sa-vrīḍa-hāsekṣaṇa-sūnṛtādibhiḥ

rahasy apṛcchann upaviṣṭam āsane

vijñāya sandeśa-haraḿ ramā-pateḥ

 

tam — him, Uddhava; praśrayeṇa — with humility; avanatāḥ — bowed down (the gopīs); su — properly; sat-kṛtam — honored; sa-vrīḍa — with shyness; hāsa — and smiling; īkṣaṇa — by their glances; sūnṛta — pleasing words; ādibhiḥ — and so forth; rahasi — in a secluded place; apṛcchan — they inquired; upaviṣṭam — who was seated; āsane — on a cushion; vijñāya — understanding him to be; sandeśa-haram — the message carrier; ramā-pateḥ — of the master of the goddess of fortune.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bowing their heads in humility, the gopīs duly honored Uddhava with their shy, smiling glances and pleasing words. They took him to a quiet place, seated him comfortably and began to question him, for they recognized him to be a messenger from Kṛṣṇa, the master of the goddess of fortune.

 

10.47.4

jānīmas tvāḿ yadu-pateḥ

pārṣadaḿ samupāgatam

bhartreha preṣitaḥ pitror

bhavān priya-cikīrṣayā

 

jānīmaḥ — we know; tvām — you; yadu-pateḥ — of the chief of the Yadus; pārṣadam — the personal associate; samupāgatam — arrived here; bhartrā — by your master; iha — here; preṣitaḥ — sent; pitroḥ — of His parents; bhavān — your good self; priya — satisfaction; cikīrṣayā — wanting to give.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The gopīs said:] We know that you are the personal servant of Kṛṣṇa, the chief of the Yadus, and that you have come here on the order of your good master, who desires to give pleasure to His parents.

 

10.47.5

anyathā go-vraje tasya

smaraṇīyaḿ na cakṣmahe

snehānubandho bandhūnāḿ

muner api su-dustyajaḥ

 

anyathā — otherwise; go-vraje — in the cow pasture; tasya — for Him; smaraṇīyam — that which is worth remembering; na cakṣmahe — we do not see; sneha — of affection; anubandhaḥ — the attachment; bandhūnām — to relatives; muneḥ — for a sage; api — even; su-dustyajaḥ — very difficult to abandon.

 

TRANSLATION

 

We see nothing else He might consider worth remembering in these cow pastures of Vraja. Indeed, the bonds of affection for one's family members are difficult to break, even for a sage.

 

10.47.6

anyeṣv artha-kṛtā maitrī

yāvad-artha-viḍambanam

pumbhiḥ strīṣu kṛtā yadvat

sumanaḥsv iva ṣaṭpadaiḥ

 

anyeṣu — toward others; artha — for some motivation; kṛtā — manifested; maitrī — friendship; yāvat — for as long; artha — (as one is fulfilling his) motive; viḍambanam — pretense; pumbhiḥ — by men; strīṣu — for women; kṛtā — shown; yadvat — as much; sumanaḥsu — for flowers; iva — as; ṣaṭ-padaiḥ — by bees.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The friendship shown toward others — those who are not family members — is motivated by personal interest, and thus it is a pretense that lasts only until one's purpose is fulfilled. Such friendship is just like the interest men take in women, or bees in flowers.

 

10.47.7

niḥsvaḿ tyajanti gaṇikā

akalpaḿ nṛpatiḿ prajāḥ

adhīta-vidyā ācāryam

ṛtvijo datta-dakṣiṇam

 

niḥsvam — one without any assets; tyajanti — abandon; gaṇikāḥ — prostitutes; akalpam — incompetent; nṛ-patim — a king; prajaḥ — citizens; adhīta-vidyāḥ — those who have completed their education; ācāryam — the teacher; ṛtvijaḥ — priests; datta — (the sacrificer) who has given; dakṣiṇam — their remuneration.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prostitutes abandon a penniless man, subjects an incompetent king, students their teacher once they have finished their education, and priests a man who has remunerated them for a sacrifice.

 

10.47.8

khagā vīta-phalaḿ vṛkṣaḿ

bhuktvā cātithayo gṛham

dagdhaḿ mṛgās tathāraṇyaḿ

jārā bhuktvā ratāḿ striyam

 

khagāḥ — birds; vīta — rid; phalam — of its fruits; vṛkṣam — a tree; bhuktvā — having eaten; ca — and; atithayaḥ — guests; gṛham — a house; dagdham — burned down; mṛgāḥ — animals; tathā — similarly; araṇyam — a forest; jārāḥ — paramours; bhuktvā — having enjoyed; ratām — attracted; striyam — a woman.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Birds abandon a tree when its fruits are gone, guests a house after they have eaten, animals a forest that has burnt down, and a lover the woman he has enjoyed, even though she remains attached to him.

 

10.47.9-10

iti gopyo hi govinde

gata-vāk-kāya-mānasāḥ

kṛṣṇa-dūte samāyāte

uddhave tyakta-laukikāḥ

 

gāyantyaḥ prīya-karmāṇi

rudantyaś ca gata-hriyaḥ

tasya saḿsmṛtya saḿsmṛtya

yāni kaiśora-bālyayoḥ

 

iti — thus; gopyaḥ — the gopīs; hi — indeed; govinde — on Govinda; gata — focusing; vāk — their speech; kāya — bodies; mānasaḥ — and minds; kṛṣṇa-dūte — the messenger of Kṛṣṇa; samāyāte — having arrived and joined them; uddhave — Uddhava; tyakta — putting aside; laukikāḥ — worldly affairs;

 

gāyantyaḥ — singing; priya — of their beloved; karmāṇi — about the activities; rudantyaḥ — crying; ca — and; gata-hriyaḥ — forgetting all shyness; tasya — His; saḿsmṛtya saḿsmṛtya — intensely remembering again and again; yāni — which; kaiśora — of youth; bālyayoḥ — and childhood.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus speaking, the gopīs, whose words, bodies and minds were fully dedicated to Lord Govinda, put aside all their regular work now that Kṛṣṇa's messenger, Śrī Uddhava, had arrived among them. Constantly remembering the activities their beloved Kṛṣṇa had performed in His childhood and youth, they sang about them and cried without shame.

 

10.47.11

kācin madhukaraḿ dṛṣṭvā

dhyāyantī kṛṣṇa-sańgamam

priya-prasthāpitaḿ dūtaḿ

kalpayitvedam abravīt

 

kācit — one (of the gopīs); madhu-karam — a honeybee; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; dhyāyantī — while meditating; kṛṣṇa-sańgamam — on Her association with Kṛṣṇa; priya — by Her beloved; prasthāpitam — sent; dūtam — a messenger; kalpayitvā — imagining it; idam — the following; abravīt — spoke.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One of the gopīs, while meditating on Her previous association with Kṛṣṇa, saw a honeybee before Her and imagined it to be a messenger sent by Her beloved. Thus She spoke as follows.

 

10.47.12

gopy uvāca

madhupa kitava-bandho mā spṛśańghriḿ sapatnyāḥ

kuca-vilulita-mālā-kuńkuma-śmaśrubhir naḥ

vahatu madhu-patis tan-māninīnāḿ prasādaḿ

yadu-sadasi viḍambyaḿ yasya dūtas tvam īdṛk

 

gopī uvāca — the gopī said; madhupa — O bumblebee; kitava — of a cheater; bandho — O friend; mā spṛśa — please do not touch; ańghrim — the feet; sapatnyāḥ — of the lover who is our rival; kuca — the breast; vilulita — fallen from; mālā — from the garland; kuńkuma — with the red cosmetic; śmaśrubhiḥ — with the whiskers; naḥ — our; vahatu — let Him bring; madhu-patiḥ — the Lord of the Madhu dynasty; tat — His; māninīnām — to the women; prasādam — mercy or kindness; yadu-sadasi — in the royal assembly of the Yadus; viḍambyam — an object of ridicule or contempt; yasya — whose; dūtaḥ — messenger; tvam — you; īdṛk — such.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The gopī said: O honeybee, O friend of a cheater, don't touch My feet with your whiskers, which are smeared with the kuńkuma that rubbed onto Kṛṣṇa's garland when it was crushed by the breasts of a rival lover! Let Kṛṣṇa satisfy the women of Mathurā. One who sends a messenger like you will certainly be ridiculed in the Yadus' assembly.

 

10.47.13

sakṛd adhara-sudhāḿ svāḿ mohinīḿ pāyayitvā

sumanasa iva sadyas tatyaje 'smān bhavādṛk

paricarati kathaḿ tat-pāda-padmaḿ nu padmā

hy api bata hṛta-cetā hy uttamaḥ-śloka-jalpaiḥ

 

sakṛt — once; adhara — of the lips; sudhām — the nectar; svām — His own; mohinīm — bewildering; pāyayitvā — making drink; sumanasaḥ — flowers; iva — like; sadyaḥ — suddenly; tatyaje — He abandoned; asmān — us; bhavādṛk — like you; paricarati — serves; katham — why; tat — His; pada-padmam — lotus feet; nu — I wonder; padmā — Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; hi api — indeed, because; bata — alas; hṛta — taken away; cetāḥ — her mind; hi — certainly; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Kṛṣṇa; jalpaiḥ — by the false speech.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After making us drink the enchanting nectar of His lips only once, Kṛṣṇa suddenly abandoned us, just as you might quickly abandon some flowers. How is it, then, that Goddess Padmā willingly serves His lotus feet? Alas! The answer must certainly be that her mind has been stolen away by His deceitful words.

 

10.47.14

kim iha bahu ṣaḍ-ańghre gāyasi tvaḿ yadūnām

adhipatim agṛhāṇām agrato naḥ purāṇam

vijaya-sakha-sakhīnāḿ gīyatāḿ tat-prasańgaḥ

kṣapita-kuca-rujas te kalpayantīṣṭam iṣṭāḥ

 

kim — why; iha — here; bahu — much; ṣaṭ-ańghre — O bee (six-footed one); gāyasi — are singing; tvam — you; yadūnām — of the Yadus; adhipatim — about the master; agṛhāṇām — who have no home; agrataḥ — in front of; naḥ — us; purāṇam — old; vijaya — of Arjuna; sakha — of the friend; sakhīnām — for the friends; gīyatām — should be sung; tat — of Him; prasańgaḥ — the topics; kṣapita — relieved; kuca — of whose breasts; rujaḥ — the pain; te — they; kalpayanti — will provide; iṣṭam — the charity you desire; iṣṭāḥ — His beloveds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O bee, why do you sing here so much about the Lord of the Yadus, in front of us homeless people? These topics are old news to us. Better you sing about that friend of Arjuna in front of His new girlfriends, the burning desire in whose breasts He has now relieved. Those ladies will surely give you the charity you are begging.

 

10.47.15

divi bhuvi ca rasāyāḿ kāḥ striyas tad-durāpāḥ

kapaṭa-rucira-hāsa-bhrū-vijṛmbhasya yāḥ syuḥ

caraṇa-raja upāste yasya bhūtir vayaḿ kā

api ca kṛpaṇa-pakṣe hy uttamaḥ-śloka-śabdaḥ

 

divi — in the heavenly region; bhuvi — on the earth; ca — and; rasāyām — in the subterranean sphere; kāḥ — what; striyaḥ — women; tat — by Him; durāpāḥ — unobtainable; kapaṭa — deceptive; rucira — charming; hāsa — with smiles; bhrū — of whose eyebrows; vijṛmbhasya — the arching; yāḥ — who; syuḥ — become; caraṇa — of the feet; rajaḥ — the dust; upāste — worships; yasya — whose; bhūtiḥ — the goddess of fortune, wife of Lord Nārāyaṇa; vayam — we; kā — who; api ca — nevertheless; kṛpaṇa-pakṣe — for those who are wretched; hi — indeed; uttamaḥ-śloka — the Supreme Lord, who is glorified by the most sublime prayers; śabdaḥ — the name.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In heaven, on earth or in the subterranean sphere, what women are unavailable to Him? He simply arches His eyebrows and smiles with deceptive charm, and they all become His. The supreme goddess herself worships the dust of His feet, so what is our position in comparison? But at least those who are wretched can chant His name, Uttamaḥśloka.

 

10.47.16

visṛja śirasi pādaḿ vedmy ahaḿ cātu-kārair

anunaya-viduṣas te 'bhyetya dautyair mukundāt

sva-kṛta iha viṣṛṣṭāpatya-paty-anya-lokā

vyasṛjad akṛta-cetāḥ kiḿ nu sandheyam asmin

 

visṛja — let go of; śirasi — held on your head; pādam — My foot; vedmi — know; aham — I; cāṭu-kāraiḥ — with flattering words; anunaya — in the art of conciliation; viduṣaḥ — who are expert; te — of you; abhyetya — having learned; dautyaiḥ — by acting as a messenger; mukundāt — from Kṛṣṇa; sva — for His own; kṛte — sake; iha — in this life; visṛṣṭa — who have abandoned; apatya — children; patī — husbands; anya-lokāḥ — and everyone else; vyasṛjat — He abandoned; akṛta-cetāḥ — ungrateful; kim nu — why indeed; sandheyam — should I make reconciliation; asmin — with Him.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Keep your head off My feet! I know what you're doing. You expertly learned diplomacy from Mukunda, and now you come as His messenger with flattering words. But He abandoned those who for His sake alone gave up their children, husbands and all other relations. He's simply ungrateful. Why should I make up with Him now?

 

10.47.17

mṛgayur iva kapīndraḿ vivyadhe lubdha-dharmā

striyam akṛta virūpāḿ strī-jitaḥ kāma-yānām

balim api balim attvāveṣṭayad dhvāńkṣa-vad yas

tad alam asita-sakhyair dustyajas tat-kathārthaḥ

 

mṛgayuḥ — a hunter; iva — like; kapi — of the monkeys; indram — the king; vivyadhe — shot; lubdha-dharmā — behaving like a cruel hunter; striyam — a woman (namely, Śūrpaṇakhā); akṛta — made; virūpām — disfigured; strī — by a woman (Sītā-devī); jitaḥ — conquered; kāmayānām — who was impelled by lusty desire; balim — King Bali; api — also; balim — his tribute; attvā — consuming; aveṣṭayat — bound up; dhvāńkṣavat — just like a crow; yaḥ — who; tat — therefore; alam — enough; asita — with black Kṛṣṇa; sakhyaiḥ — of all kinds of friendship; dustyajaḥ — impossible to give up; tat — about Him; kathā — of the topics; arthaḥ — the elaboration.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Like a hunter, He cruelly shot the king of the monkeys with arrows. Because He was conquered by a woman, He disfigured another woman who came to Him with lusty desires. And even after consuming the gifts of Bali Mahārāja, He bound him up with ropes as if he were a crow. So let us give up all friendship with this dark-complexioned boy, even if we can't give up talking about Him.

 

10.47.18

yad-anucarita-līlā-karṇa-pīyūṣa-vipruṭ-

sakṛd-adana-vidhūta-dvandva-dharmā vinaṣṭāḥ

sapadi gṛha-kuṭumbaḿ dīnam utsṛjya dīnā

bahava iha vihańgā bhikṣu-caryāḿ caranti

 

yat — whose; anucarita — constantly performed activities; līlā — of such pastimes; karṇa — for the ears; pīyūṣa — of the nectar; vipruṭ — of a drop; sakṛt — just once; adana — by the partaking; vidhūta — removed entirely; dvandva — of duality; dharmāḥ — their propensities; vinaṣṭāḥ — ruined; sapadi — immediately; gṛha — their homes; kuṭumbam — and families; dīnam — wretched; utsṛjya — rejecting; dīnāḥ — becoming themselves wretched; bahavaḥ — many persons; iha — here (in Vṛndāvana); vihańgāḥ — (like) birds; bhikṣu — of begging; caryām — the livelihood; caranti — they pursue.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To hear about the pastimes that Kṛṣṇa regularly performs is nectar for the ears. For those who relish just a single drop of that nectar, even once, their dedication to material duality is ruined. Many such persons have suddenly given up their wretched homes and families and, themselves becoming wretched, traveled here to Vṛndāvana to wander about like birds, begging for their living.

 

10.47.19

vayam ṛtam iva jihma-vyāhṛtaḿ śraddadhānāḥ

kulika-rutam ivājñāḥ kṛṣṇa-vadhvo hariṇyaḥ

dadṛśur asakṛd etat tan-nakha-sparśa-tīvra

smara-ruja upamantrin bhaṇyatām anya-vārtā

 

vayam — we; ṛtam — true; iva — as if; jihma — deceptive; vyāhṛtam — His speech; śraddadhānāḥ — trusting; kulika — of a hunter; rutam — the song; iva — as if; ajñāḥ — foolish; kṛṣṇa — of the black deer; vadhvaḥ — wives; hariṇyaḥ — the doe; dadṛśuḥ — experienced; asakṛt — repeatedly; etat — this; tat — His; nakha — of the fingernails; sparśa — by the touch; tīvra — sharp; smara — of lust; rujaḥ — the pain; upamantrin — O messenger; bhaṇyatām — please speak; anya — another; vārtā — topic.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Faithfully taking His deceitful words as true, we became just like the black deer's foolish wives, who trust the cruel hunter's song. Thus we repeatedly felt the sharp pain of lust caused by the touch of His nails. O messenger, please talk about something besides Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.47.20

priya-sakha punar āgāḥ preyasā preṣitaḥ kiḿ

varaya kim anurundhe mānanīyo 'si me 'ńga

nayasi katham ihāsmān dustyaja-dvandva-pārśvaḿ

satatam urasi saumya śrīr vadhūḥ sākam āste

 

priya — of My beloved; sakha — O friend; punaḥ — once again; āgāḥ — you have come; preyasā — by My beloved; preṣitaḥ — sent; kim — whether; varaya — please choose; kim — what; anurundhe — do you wish; mānanīyaḥ — to be honored; asi — you are; me — by Me; ańga — My dear one; nayasi — you are bringing; katham — why; iha — here; asmān — us; dustyaja — impossible to give up; dvandva — conjugal connection with whom; pārśvam — to the side; satatam — always; urasi — on the chest; saumya — O gentle one; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; vadhūḥ — His consort; sākam — together with Him; āste — is present.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O friend of My dear one, has My beloved sent you here again? I should honor you, friend, so please choose whatever boon you wish. But why have you come back here to take us to Him, whose conjugal love is so difficult to give up? After all, gentle bee, His consort is the goddess Śrī, and she is always with Him, staying upon His chest.

 

10.47.21

api bata madhu-puryām ārya-putro 'dhunāste

smarati sa pitṛ-gehān saumya bandhūḿś ca gopān

kvacid api sa kathā naḥ kińkarīṇāḿ gṛṇīte

bhujam aguru-sugandhaḿ mūrdhny adhāsyat kadā nu

 

api — certainly; bata — regrettable; madhu-puryām — in the city of Mathurā; ārya-putraḥ — the son of Nanda Mahārāja; adhunā — now; āste — resides; smarati — remembers; saḥ — He; pitṛ-gehān — the household affairs of His father; saumya — O great soul (Uddhava); bandhūn — His friends; ca — and; gopān — the cowherd boys; kvacit — sometimes; api — or; saḥ — He; kathāḥ — talks; naḥ — of us; kińkarīṇām — of the maidservants; gṛṇīte — relates; bhujam — hand; aguru-su-gandham — having the fragrance of aguru; mūrdhni — on the head; adhāsyat — will keep; kadā — when; nu — maybe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Uddhava! It is indeed regrettable that Kṛṣṇa resides in Mathurā. Does He remember His father's household affairs and His friends, the cowherd boys? O great soul! Does He ever talk about us, His maidservants? When will He lay on our heads His aguru-scented hand?

 

10.47.22

śrī-śuka uvāca

athoddhavo niśamyaivaḿ

kṛṣṇa-darśana-lālasāḥ

sāntvayan priya-sandeśair

gopīr idam abhāṣata

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha — then; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; niśamya — having heard; evam — thus; kṛṣṇa-darśana — after the sight of Kṛṣṇa; lālasāḥ — who were hankering; sāntvayan — pacifying; priya — of their beloved; sandeśaiḥ — with the messages; gopīḥ — to the cowherd girls; idam — this; abhāṣata — he said.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having heard this, Uddhava then tried to pacify the gopīs, who were most eager to see Lord Kṛṣṇa. He thus began relating to them the message of their beloved.

 

10.47.23

śrī-uddhava uvāca

aho yūyaḿ sma pūrṇārthā

bhavatyo loka-pūjitāḥ

vāsudeve bhagavati

yāsām ity arpitaḿ manaḥ

 

śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; aho — indeed; yūyam — you; sma — surely; pūrṇa — fulfilled; arthāḥ — whose purposes; bhavatyaḥ — your good selves; loka — by all people; pūjitāḥ — worshiped; vāsudeve bhagavati — unto Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yāsām — whose; iti — in this manner; arpitam — offered; manaḥ — the minds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Uddhava said: Certainly you gopīs are all-successful and are universally worshiped because you have dedicated your minds in this way to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.

 

10.47.24

dāna-vrata-tapo-homa

japa-svādhyāya-saḿyamaiḥ

śreyobhir vividhaiś cānyaiḥ

kṛṣṇe bhaktir hi sādhyate

 

dāna — by charity; vrata — strict vows; tapaḥ — austerities; homa — fire sacrifices; japa — private chanting of mantras; svādhyāya — study of Vedic texts; saḿyamaiḥ — and regulative principles; śreyobhiḥ — by auspicious practices; vividhaiḥ — various; ca — also; anyaiḥ — others; kṛṣṇe — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; hi — indeed; sādhyate — is realized.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Devotional service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa is attained by charity, strict vows, austerities and fire sacrifices, by japa, study of Vedic texts, observance of regulative principles and, indeed, by the performance of many other auspicious practices.

 

10.47.25

bhagavaty uttamaḥ-śloke

bhavatībhir anuttamā

bhaktiḥ pravartitā diṣṭyā

munīnām api durlabhā

 

bhagavati — for the Supreme Lord; uttamaḥ-śloke — who is glorified in sublime poetry; bhavatībhiḥ — by your good selves; anuttamā — unexcelled; bhaktiḥ — devotion; pravartītā — established; diṣṭyā — (congratulations on your) good fortune; munīnām — for great sages; api — even; durlabhā — hard to obtain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By your great fortune you have established an unexcelled standard of pure devotion for the Lord, Uttamaḥśloka — a standard even the sages can hardly attain.

 

10.47.26

diṣṭyā putrān patīn dehān

sva-janān bhavanāni ca

hitvāvṛnīta yūyaḿ yat

kṛṣṇākhyaḿ puruṣaḿ param

 

diṣṭyā — by good fortune; putrān — sons; patīn — husbands; dehān — bodies; sva-janān — relatives; bhavanāni — homes; ca — and; hitvā — leaving; avṛṇīta — did choose; yūyam — you; yat — the fact that; kṛṣṇa-ākhyam — named Kṛṣṇa; puruṣam — the male personality; param — supreme.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By your great fortune you have left your sons, husbands, bodily comforts, relatives and homes in favor of the supreme male, who is known as Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.47.27

sarvātma-bhāvo 'dhikṛto

bhavatīnām adhokṣaje

viraheṇa mahā-bhāgā

mahān me 'nugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ

 

sarva-ātma — wholehearted; bhāvaḥ — love; adhikṛtaḥ — claimed by right; bhavatīnām — by you; adhokṣaje — for the transcendental Lord; viraheṇa — through this mood of separation; mahā-bhāgāḥ — O most glorious ones; mahān — great; me — to me; anugrahaḥ — mercy; kṛtaḥ — done.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You have rightfully claimed the privilege of unalloyed love for the transcendental Lord, O most glorious gopīs. Indeed, by exhibiting your love for Kṛṣṇa in separation from Him, you have shown me great mercy.

 

10.47.28

śrūyatāḿ priya-sandeśo

bhavatīnāḿ sukhāvahaḥ

yam ādāyāgato bhadrā

ahaḿ bhartū rahas-karaḥ

 

śrūyatām — please hear; priya — of your beloved; sandeśaḥ — the message; bhavatīnām — for you; sukha — happiness; āvahaḥ — bringing; yam — which; ādāya — carrying; āgataḥ — have come; bhadrāḥ — good ladies; aham — I; bhartuḥ — of my master; rahaḥ — of confidential duties; karaḥ — the executor.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My good ladies, now please hear your beloved's message, which I, the confidential servant of my master, have come here to bring you.

 

10.47.29

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

bhavatīnāḿ viyogo me

na hi sarvātmanā kvacit

yathā bhūtāni bhūteṣu

khaḿ vāyv-agnir jalaḿ mahī

tathāhaḿ ca manaḥ-prāṇa-

bhūtendriya-guṇāśrayaḥ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; bhavatīnām — of you women; viyogaḥ — separation; me — from Me; na — is not; hi — indeed; sarva-ātmanā — from the Soul of all existence; kvacit — ever; yathā — as; bhūtāni — the physical elements; bhūteṣu — in all created beings; kham — the ether; vāyu-agniḥ — air and fire; jalam — water; mahī — earth; tathā — so; aham — I; ca — and; manaḥ — of the mind; prāṇa — vital air; bhūta — material elements; indriya — bodily senses; guṇa — and of the primal modes of nature; āśrayaḥ — present as their shelter.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: You are never actually separated from Me, for I am the Soul of all creation. Just as the elements of nature — ether, air, fire, water and earth — are present in every created thing, so I am present within everyone's mind, life air and senses, and also within the physical elements and the modes of material nature.

 

10.47.30

ātmany evātmanātmānaḿ

sṛje hanmy anupālaye

ātma-māyānubhāvena

bhūtendriya-guṇātmanā

 

ātmani — within Myself; eva — indeed; ātmanā — by Myself; ātmānam — Myself; sṛje — I create; hanmi — I destroy; anupālaye — I sustain; ātma — My own; māyā — of the mystic potency; anubhāvena — by the power; bhūta — the material elements; indriya — the senses; guṇa — and the modes of nature; ātmanā — comprising.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By Myself I create, sustain and withdraw Myself within Myself by the power of My personal energy, which comprises the material elements, the senses and the modes of nature.

 

10.47.31

ātmā jñāna-mayaḥ śuddho

vyatirikto 'guṇānvayaḥ

suṣupti-svapna-jāgradbhir

māyā-vṛttibhir īyate

 

ātmā — the soul; jñāna-mayaḥ — comprising transcendental knowledge; śuddhaḥ — pure; vyatiriktaḥ — separate; aguṇa-anvayaḥ — uninvolved in the reactions of the material modes; suṣupti — in deep sleep; svapna — ordinary sleep; jāgradbhiḥ — and waking consciousness; māyā — of the material energy; vṛttibhiḥ — by the functions; īyate — is perceived.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being composed of pure consciousness, or knowledge, the soul is distinct from everything material and is uninvolved in the entanglements of the modes of nature. We can perceive the soul through the three functions of material nature known as wakefulness, sleep and deep sleep.

 

10.47.32

yenendriyārthān dhyāyeta

mṛṣā svapna-vad utthitaḥ

tan nirundhyād indriyāṇi

vinidraḥ pratyapadyata

 

yena — by which (mind); indriya — of the senses; arthān — upon the objects; dhyāyeta — one meditates; mṛṣā — false; svapna-vat — like a dream; utthitaḥ — arisen from sleep; tat — that (mind); nirundhyāt — one should bring under control; indriyāṇi — the senses; vinidraḥ — not sleeping (alert); pratyapadyata — they obtain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As a person just arisen from sleep may continue to meditate on a dream even though it is illusory, so by the agency of the mind one meditates on the sense objects, which the senses can then obtain. Therefore one should become fully alert and bring the mind under control.

 

10.47.33

etad-antaḥ samāmnāyo

yogaḥ sāńkhyaḿ manīṣiṇām

tyāgas tapo damaḥ satyaḿ

samudrāntā ivāpagāḥ

 

etat — having this; antaḥ — as its conclusion; samāmnāyaḥ — the entire Vedic literature; yogaḥ — the standard system of yoga; sāńkhyam — the process of Sāńkhya meditation, by which one learns to discriminate between spirit and matter; manīṣiṇām — of the intelligent; tyāgaḥ — renunciation; tapaḥ — austerity; damaḥ — sense control; satyam — and honesty; samudra-antāḥ — leading to the ocean; iva — as; āpa-gāḥ — rivers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

According to intelligent authorities, this is the ultimate conclusion of all the Vedas, as well as all practice of yoga, Sāńkhya, renunciation, austerity, sense control and truthfulness, just as the sea is the ultimate destination of all rivers.

 

10.47.34

yat tv ahaḿ bhavatīnāḿ vai

dūre varte priyo dṛśām

manasaḥ sannikarṣārthaḿ

mad-anudhyāna-kāmyayā

 

yat — the fact that; tu — however; aham — I; bhavatīnām — from your; vai — indeed; dūre — far away; varte — am situated; priyaḥ — who am dear; dṛśām — to the eyes; manasaḥ — of the mind; sannikarṣa — of the attraction; artham — for the sake; mat — upon Me; anudhyāna — for your meditation; kāmyayā — out of My desire.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But the actual reason why I, the beloved object of your sight, have stayed far away from you is that I wanted to intensify your meditation upon Me and thus draw your minds closer to Me.

 

10.47.35

yathā dūra-care preṣṭhe

mana āviśya vartate

strīṇāḿ ca na tathā cetaḥ

sannikṛṣṭe 'kṣi-gocare

 

yathā — as; dūra-care — being situated far away; preṣṭhe — a lover; manaḥ — the minds; āviśya — becoming absorbed; vartate — remain; strīṇām — of women; ca — and; na — not; tathā — so; cetaḥ — their minds; sannikṛṣṭe — when he is near; akṣi-gocare — present before their eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When her lover is far away, a woman thinks of him more than when he is present before her.

 

10.47.36

mayy āveśya manaḥ kṛtsnaḿ

vimuktāśeṣa-vṛtti yat

anusmarantyo māḿ nityam

acirān mām upaiṣyatha

 

mayi — in Me; āveśya — absorbing; manaḥ — your minds; kṛtsnam — entire; vimukta — having given up; aśeṣa — all; vṛtti — its (material) functions; yat — because; anusmarantyaḥ — remembering; mām — Me; nityam — constantly; acirāt — soon; mām — Me; upaiṣyatha — you will obtain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because your minds are totally absorbed in Me and free from all other engagement, you remember Me always, and so you will very soon have Me again in your presence.

 

10.47.37

yā mayā krīḍatā rātryāḿ

vane 'smin vraja āsthitāḥ

alabdha-rāsāḥ kalyāṇyo

māpur mad-vīrya-cintayā

 

yāḥ — which women; mayā — with Me; krīḍatā — who was sporting; rātryām — at night; vane — in the forest; asmin — this; vraje — in the village of Vraja; āsthitāḥ — remaining; alabdha — not experiencing; rāsāḥ — the rāsa dance; kalyāṇyaḥ — fortunate; mā — Me; āpuḥ — they achieved; mat-vīrya — upon My valorous pastimes; cintayā — by concentration.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although some gopīs had to remain in the cowherd village and so could not join the rāsa dance to sport with Me at night in the forest, they were nonetheless fortunate. Indeed, they attained Me by thinking of My potent pastimes.

 

10.47.38

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaḿ priyatamādiṣṭam

ākarṇya vraja-yoṣitaḥ

tā ūcur uddhavaḿ prītās

tat-sandeśāgata-smṛtīḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — in this fashion; priya-tama — given by their beloved (Kṛṣṇa); ādiṣṭam — the instructions; ākarṇya — hearing; vraja-yoṣitaḥ — the women of Vraja; tāḥ — they; ūcuḥ — said; uddhavam — to Uddhava; prītaḥ — pleased; tat — by that; sandeśa — message; āgata — having returned; smṛtīḥ — their memories.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The women of Vraja were pleased to hear this message from their dearmost Kṛṣṇa. His words having revived their memory, they addressed Uddhava as follows.

 

10.47.39

gopya ūcuḥ

diṣṭyāhito hataḥ kaḿso

yadūnāḿ sānugo 'gha-kṛt

diṣṭyāptair labdha-sarvārthaiḥ

kuśaly āste 'cyuto 'dhunā

 

gopyaḥ ūcuḥ — the gopīs said; diṣṭyā — fortunately; ahitaḥ — the enemy; hataḥ — has been killed; kaḿsaḥ — King Kaḿsa; yadūnām — for the Yadus; sa-anugaḥ — together with his followers; agha — of suffering; kṛt — the cause; diṣṭyā — fortunately; āptaiḥ — with His well-wishers; labdha — who have attained; sarva — all; arthaiḥ — their desires; kuśalī — happily; āste — is living; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; adhunā — at present.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The gopīs said: It is very good that Kaḿsa, the enemy and persecutor of the Yadus, has now been killed, along with his followers. And it is also very good that Lord Acyuta is living happily in the company of His well-wishing friends and relatives, whose every desire is now fulfilled.

 

10.47.40

kaccid gadāgrajaḥ saumya

karoti pura-yoṣitām

prītiḿ naḥ snigdha-savrīḍa-

hāsodārekṣaṇārcitaḥ

 

kaccit — perhaps; gada-agrajaḥ — Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gada; saumya — O gentle (Uddhava); karoti — is giving; pura — of the city; yoṣitām — for the women; prītim — loving happiness; naḥ — which belongs to us; snigdha — affectionate; sa-vrīḍa — and bashful; hāsa — with smiles; udāra — generous; īkṣaṇa — by their glances; arcitaḥ — worshiped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Gentle Uddhava, is the elder brother of Gada now bestowing on the city women the pleasure that actually belongs to us? We suppose those ladies worship Him with generous glances full of affectionate, shy smiles.

 

10.47.41

kathaḿ rati-viśeṣa-jñaḥ

priyaś ca pura-yoṣitām

nānubadhyeta tad-vākyair

vibhramaiś cānubhājitaḥ

 

katham — how; rati — of conjugal affairs; viśeṣa — in all the specific aspects; jñaḥ — the expert; priyaḥ — the darling; ca — and; pura-yoṣitām — of the city women; na anubadhyeta — will not become bound; tat — by their; vākyaiḥ — words; vibhramaiḥ — bewildering gestures; ca — and; anubhājitaḥ — constantly worshiped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Kṛṣṇa is expert in all kinds of conjugal affairs and is the darling of the city women. How can He not become entangled, now that He's constantly adored by their enchanting words and gestures?

 

10.47.42

api smarati naḥ sādho

govindaḥ prastute kvacit

goṣṭhi-madhye pura-strīṇām

grāmyāḥ svaira-kathāntare

 

api — moreover; smarati — remembers; naḥ — us; sādho — O pious one; govindaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; prastute — brought up in discussions; kvacit — ever; goṣṭhi — the assembly; madhye — within; pura-strīṇām — of the city women; grāmyāḥ — village girls; svaira — free; kathā — conversation; antare — during.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O saintly one, does Govinda ever remember us during His conversations with the city women? Does He ever mention us village girls as He freely talks with them?

 

10.47.43

tāḥ kiḿ niśāḥ smarati yāsu tadā priyābhir

vṛndāvane kumuda-kunda-śaśāńka-ramye

reme kvaṇac-caraṇa-nūpura-rāsa-goṣṭhyām

asmābhir īḍita-manojña-kathaḥ kadācit

 

tāḥ — those; kim — whether; niśāḥ — nights; smarati — He remembers; yāsu — in which; tadā — then; priyābhiḥ — with His beloved girlfriends; vṛndāvane — in the Vṛndāvana forest; kumuda — because of the lotuses; kunda — and jasmines; śaśāńka — and because of the moon; ramye — attractive; reme — He enjoyed; kvaṇat — jingling; caraṇa-nūpura — (where) the ankle bells; rāsa-goṣṭhyām — in the party of the rāsa dance; asmābhiḥ — with us; īḍita — glorified; manojña — charming; kathaḥ — topics about whom; kadācit — ever.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Does He recall those nights in the Vṛndāvana forest, lovely with lotus, jasmine and the bright moon? As we glorified His charming pastimes, He enjoyed with us, His beloved girlfriends, in the circle of the rāsa dance, which resounded with the music of ankle bells.

 

10.47.44

apy eṣyatīha dāśārhas

taptāḥ sva-kṛtayā śucā

sañjīvayan nu no gātrair

yathendro vanam ambudaiḥ

 

api — whether; eṣyati — He will come; iha — here; dāśārhaḥ — Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Daśārha; taptāḥ — who are tormented; sva-kṛtayā — by His own doing; śucā — with sorrow; sañjīvayan — bringing back to life; nu — perhaps; naḥ — us; gātraiḥ — with (the touch of) His limbs; yathā — as; indraḥ — Lord Indra; vanam — a forest; ambudaiḥ — with clouds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Will that descendant of Daśārha return here and by the touch of His limbs bring back to life those who are now burning with the grief He Himself has caused? Will He save us in that way, just as Lord Indra brings a forest back to life with his water-bearing clouds?

 

10.47.45

kasmāt kṛṣṇa ihāyāti

prāpta-rājyo hatāhitaḥ

narendra-kanyā udvāhya

prītaḥ sarva-suhṛd-vṛtaḥ

 

kasmāt — why; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; iha — here; āyāti — will come; prāpta — having attained; rājyaḥ — a kingdom; hata — having killed; ahitaḥ — His enemies; nara-indra — of kings; kanyāḥ — the daughters; udvāhya — after marrying; prītaḥ — happy; sarva — by all; suhṛt — His well-wishers; vṛtaḥ — surrounded.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But why should Kṛṣṇa come here after winning a kingdom, killing His enemies and marrying the daughters of kings? He's satisfied there, surrounded by all His friends and well-wishers.

 

10.47.46

kim asmābhir vanaukobhir

anyābhir vā mahātmanaḥ

śrī-pater āpta-kāmasya

kriyetārthaḥ kṛtātmanaḥ

 

kim — what; asmābhiḥ — with us; vana — the forest; okobhiḥ — whose residence; anyābhiḥ — with other women; vā — or; mahā-ātmanaḥ — for the exalted personality (Kṛṣṇa); śrī — of the goddess of fortune; pateḥ — for the husband; āpta-kāmasya — whose desires are already completely fulfilled; kriyeta — is to be served; arthaḥ — purpose; kṛta-ātmanaḥ — for Him who is complete in Himself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great soul Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of the goddess of fortune, and He automatically achieves whatever He desires. How can we forest-dwellers or any other women fulfill His purposes when He is already fulfilled within Himself?

 

10.47.47

paraḿ saukhyaḿ hi nairāśyaḿ

svairiṇy apy āha pińgalā

taj jānatīnāḿ naḥ kṛṣṇe

tathāpy āśā duratyayā