तासु कृष्णो मुदा युक्तः क्रीडयन्भरतर्षभ। स कदाचिद्वने तस्मिन्गोभिः सह परिव्रजन्
There, Krishna, filled with joy, played, O best of Bharatas, and sometimes wandered in that forest with the cows.
भाण्डीरं नाम दृष्ट्वाऽथ न्यग्रोधं केशवो महान्। तच्छायायां मतिं चक्रे निवासाय तदा प्रभुः
Seeing the great banyan tree called Bhāṇḍīra, Keshava, the Lord, chose its shade as his place of dwelling.
स तत्र वयसा तुल्यैर्बत्सपालैस्तदाऽनघ। रेमे स दिवसं कृष्णः पुरा स्वर्गगतो यथा
There, O sinless one, Krishna delighted for the day with cowherd boys of equal age, as if he had ascended to heaven.
तं क्रीडमानं गोपालाः कृष्णं भाण्डीरवासिनः। रमयन्ति स्म बहवो मान्यैः क्रीडनकैस्तदा
Many cowherds from Bhāṇḍīra, playing with Krishna, entertained him with esteemed toys.
अन्ये स्म परिगायन्ति गोपा मुदितमानसाः। गोपालकृष्णमेवान्ये गायन्ति स्म वनप्रियाः
Some cowherds, their hearts joyful, sang songs; others sang of Krishna the cowherd, beloved of the forest.
तेषां सङ्गायतामेव वादयामास केशवः। पर्णवाद्यान्तरे वेणुं तुम्बवीणां च तत्र वै
As they gathered together, Keśava played the flute and the tumbavīṇā amidst the leaf-instruments.
एवं क्रीडान्तरैः कृष्णो गोपालैर्विजहार सः। तेन बालेन कौन्तेय कृतं लोकहितं तदा
Thus Krishna enjoyed various games with the cowherds; by that boy, O Kaunteya, a deed for the welfare of the world was accomplished.
पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां वासुदेवेन भारत। ह्रदे निपातता तत्र क्रीडितं नागमूर्धनि
As all beings watched, O Bhārata, Vāsudeva played atop the serpent's head after plunging into the lake.
शासयित्वा तु कालीयं सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः। विजहार ततः कृष्णो बलेदवसहायवान्
Having subdued Kāliya, as all the worlds looked on, Krishna then wandered, accompanied by Balarama.
धेनुको दारुणो राजन्दैत्यो रासभविग्रहः। तदा तालवने राजन्बलदेवेन वै हतः
The fierce demon Dhenuka, in the form of an ass, was slain by Baladeva in the Tāla forest, O king.
ततः कदाचित्कौन्तेय रामकृष्णौ वनं गतौ। चारयन्तौ प्रवृद्धानि गोधनानि शुभाननौ
Then, at some time, O Kaunteya, Rāma and Krishna went to the forest, tending the grown cattle, their faces radiant.
विहरन्तौ मुदा युक्तौ वीक्षमाणौ वनानि वै। श्वेलयन्तौ प्रगायन्तौ विचिन्वन्तौ च पादपान्
With joy, they wandered, observing the woods, whistling, singing, and searching among the trees.
नामभिर्व्याहरन्तौ च वत्सान्गाश्च परन्तपौ। चेरतुर्लोकसिद्धाभिः क्रीडाभिरपराजितौ
Calling the calves and cows by name, those subduers of foes roamed, undefeated, with games known to the perfected beings.
तौ देवौ मानुषीं दीक्षां वहन्तौ सुरपूजितौ। तज्जातिगुणयुक्ताभिः क्रीडाभिश्चेरतुर्वनम्
Those two gods, honored by the celestials, bore human discipline and played in the forest with games suited to their birth and qualities.
एवं बाल्येऽपि गोपालैः क्रीडाभिश्च विजह्रतुः
Thus, even in childhood, they delighted in games with the cowherds.
ततः कृष्णो महातेजास्तदा गत्वा तु गोव्रजम्। गिरियज्ञं तमेवैष प्रवृत्तं गोपदारकैः
Then Krishna, of great splendor, went to Govraja; there, the mountain sacrifice was being performed by the cowherd boys.
बुभुजे पायसं शौरिरीश्वरः सर्वभूतकृत्। तं दृष्ट्वा गोपकाः सर्वे कृष्णमेव समर्चयन्
Śauri, the lord and creator of all beings, ate the rice pudding; seeing him, all the cowherds worshipped Krishna.
पूज्यमानस्तदा देवैर्दिव्यं वपुरधारयत्। धृतो गोवर्धनो नाम सप्ताहं पर्वतो धृतः
Honored then by the gods, he assumed a divine form; Govardhana, the mountain, was held aloft for seven days.
शिशुना वासुदेवेन गवार्थमरिमर्दन। क्रीडमानस्तदा कृष्णः कृतवान्कर्म दुष्करम्
As a child, Vāsudeva, destroyer of enemies, playing for the sake of the cows, performed a difficult deed.
तदद्भुतमतीवासीत्सर्वलोकस्य भारत। देवदेवः क्षितं गत्वा कृष्णं नत्वा मुदान्वितः
That was a most wondrous event for all the worlds, O Bhārata; the god of gods, having come to earth, joyfully bowed to Krishna.
गोविन्द इति तं ह्युक्त्वा ह्यभ्यषिञ्चत्पुरन्दरः। इत्युक्त्वाश्लिष्य गोविन्दं पुरुहूतोभ्ययाद्दिवम्
Having addressed him as 'Govinda,' Purandara anointed him; and having said this, Puruhuta embraced Govinda and ascended to heaven.
अथारिष्ट इति ख्यातं दैत्यं वृषभविग्रहम्। जघान तरसा कृष्णः पशूनां हितकाम्यया
Then Krishna, desiring the welfare of the cattle, swiftly slew the demon known as Arishta, who had taken the form of a bull.
केशिनामा ततो दैत्यो राजंस्तुरगविग्रहः। तथा वनगतं पार्थ गजायुतबलं हयम्
After that, O king, the demon named Kesin, who had assumed the form of a horse with the strength of ten thousand elephants, was likewise slain by Krishna in the forest.
कराम्भोरुहवज्रेण जघान मधुसूदनः। अथ मल्लं तु चाणूरं निजघान महाऽसुरम्
With his lotus-like hand, as hard as a thunderbolt, Madhusudana struck down the mighty asura Chanura, who was a wrestler.
सुदामानममित्रघ्न सर्वसैन्यपुरस्कृतम्। बालरूपेण गोविन्दो निजघान च भारत
Govinda, destroyer of foes, also slew Sudama, who was surrounded by his entire army, while still in the form of a boy, O Bharata.
बलदेवेन चायत्नात्समाजे मुष्टिको हतः। ताडितश्च सहामात्यः कंसः कृष्णेन भारत
In the assembly, Mushtika was effortlessly slain by Baladeva; and Kamsa, along with his ministers, was struck down by Krishna, O Bharata.
हत्वा कंसममित्रघ्नः सर्वेषां पश्यतां तदा। अभिषिच्योग्रसेनं तं पित्रोः पादमवन्दत
Having slain Kamsa, the destroyer of enemies, in the sight of all, he then installed Ugrasena as king and bowed at the feet of his parents.
एवमादीनि कर्माणि कृतवान्वै जनार्दनः
In this way, Janardana performed such deeds.
ततस्तौ जग्मतुस्तत्र गुरुं सान्दीपिनिं पुनः। गुरुशुश्रूषणायुक्तौ धर्मज्ञौ धर्मचारिणौ
Then the two went again to their teacher Sandipani, devoted to serving their guru, knowing and practicing righteousness.
व्रतमुग्रं महात्मानौ विचरन्ताववन्तिषु। अहोरात्रैश्चतुष्पष्ट्या साङ्गान्वेदानवापतुः
The great souls, observing a strict vow, wandered in Avanti; in sixty-four days and nights, they mastered the Vedas with all their branches.