Bhagavata Purana

अथोटजमुपायातं नृदेवं प्रणतं पुरः । सपर्यया पर्यगृह्णात् प्रतिनन्द्यानुरूपया

Then, as the king approached the hermitage and bowed before the sage, the sage welcomed him with appropriate hospitality and greetings.

गृहीतार्हणमासीनं संयतं प्रीणयन् मुनिः । स्मरन् भगवदादेशं इत्याह श्लक्ष्णया गिरा

The sage, having received the proper offerings and seated the self-restrained king, pleased him, remembering the Lord's command, and spoke with gentle words.

नूनं चङ्क्रमणं देव सतां संरक्षणाय ते । वधाय चासतां यस्त्वं हरेः शक्तिर्हि पालिनी

Certainly, O lord, your wandering is for the protection of the virtuous and the destruction of the wicked; for you are the sustaining power of Hari.

योऽर्केन्दु अग्नीन्द्रवायूनां यमधर्मप्रचेतसाम् । रूपाणि स्थान आधत्से तस्मै शुक्लाय ते नमः

You, who assume the forms and stations of the sun, moon, fire, Indra, wind, Yama, Dharma, and Varuṇa—homage to you, the pure one.

न यदा रथमास्थाय जैत्रं मणिगणार्पितम् । विस्फूर्जत् चण्डकोदण्डो रथेन त्रासयन् अघान्

When you do not mount your victorious chariot, adorned with jewels, brandishing your fierce bow, you terrify the wicked with your chariot.

स्वसैन्यचरणक्षुण्णं वेपयन् मण्डलं भुवः । विकर्षन् बृहतीं सेनां पर्यटसि अंशुमानिव

Crushing the earth's circle with the feet of your army, shaking its sphere, and drawing forth the great host, you roam like the radiant sun.

तदैव सेतवः सर्वे वर्णाश्रमनिबन्धनाः । भगवद् रचिता राजन् भिद्येरन् बत दस्युभिः

At that very time, O King, all the boundaries established by the divisions of varṇa and āśrama, created by the Lord, would surely be broken by bandits.

अधर्मश्च समेधेत लोलुपैर्व्यङ्कुशैर्नृभिः । शयाने त्वयि लोकोऽयं दस्युग्रस्तो विनङ्क्ष्यति

And unrighteousness would arise, fostered by greedy and unrestrained men; if you were to lie down, this world, seized by outlaws, would surely perish.

अथापि पृच्छे त्वां वीर यदर्थं त्वं इहागतः । तद्वयं निर्व्यलीकेन प्रतिपद्यामहे हृदा

Nevertheless, O hero, I ask you for what purpose you have come here; let us, with honest hearts, act accordingly.

चीरहरणलीला - श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) हेमन्ते प्रथमे मासि नन्दव्रजकुमारिकाः । चेरुर्हविष्यं भुञ्जानाः कात्यायन्यर्चनव्रतम्

Śuka said: In the first month of winter, the young girls of Nanda's Vraja performed the vow of worshipping Kātyāyanī, eating only simple food.

आप्लुत्याम्भसि कालिन्द्या जलान्ते चोदितेऽरुणे । कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं देवीं आनर्चुः नृप सैकतीम्

Having bathed in the waters of the Kālindī at dawn, when the sun had just risen, they made an image of the goddess from sand on the riverbank and worshipped her, O King.

गन्धैर्माल्यैः सुरभिभिः बलिभिर्धूपदीपकैः । उच्चावचैश्चोपहारैः प्रवालफल तण्डुलैः

With fragrant garlands, perfumes, offerings, incense, lamps, and various gifts—both great and small—such as sprouts, fruits, and grains, they worshipped her.

कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि । नन्दगोपसुतं देवि पतिं मे कुरु ते नमः । इति मन्त्रं जपन्त्यस्ताः पूजां चक्रुः कुमारिकाः

Chanting this mantra: 'O Kātyāyanī, great power, great yoginī, supreme ruler, O goddess, make the son of Nanda my husband; I bow to you,' the girls performed their worship.

एवं मासं व्रतं चेरुः कुमार्यः कृष्णचेतसः । भद्रकालीं समानर्चुः भूयान्नन्दसुतः पतिः

In this way, the maidens, their minds fixed on Kṛṣṇa, observed the vow for a month, worshipping Bhadrakālī, desiring that the son of Nanda become their husband.

ऊषस्युत्थाय गोत्रैः स्वैरन्योन्या बद्धबाहवः । कृष्णं उच्चैर्जगुर्यान्त्यः कालिन्द्यां स्नातुमन्वहम्

At dawn, rising with their companions, linking arms with one another, they sang loudly of Kṛṣṇa as they went each day to bathe in the Kālindī.

नद्याः कदाचिदागत्य तीरे निक्षिप्य पूर्ववत् । वासांसि कृष्णं गायन्त्यो विजह्रुः सलिले मुदा

Once, coming to the riverbank, they left their clothes as before, and, singing of Kṛṣṇa, they joyfully played in the water.

भगवान् तदभिप्रेत्य कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वरः । वयस्यैरावृतस्तत्र गतस्तत्कर्मसिद्धये

The Lord Kṛṣṇa, master of all yogis, understanding their intention, came there surrounded by his friends to fulfill their desire.

तासां वासांस्युपादाय नीपमारुह्य सत्वरः । हसद्‌भिः प्रहसन् बालैः परिहासमुवाच ह

Quickly taking their garments, he climbed a kadamba tree, and, laughing with the boys, he spoke to them in jest.

अत्रागत्याबलाः कामं स्वं स्वं वासः प्रगृह्यताम् । सत्यं ब्रवाणि नो नर्म यद्यूयं व्रतकर्शिताः

Come here, girls, and each of you take back your own garment as you wish; I speak the truth, not merely in jest, if you are truly wearied by your vow.

न मयोदितपूर्वं वा अनृतं तदिमे विदुः । एकैकशः प्रतीच्छध्वं सहैवेति सुमध्यमाः

I have never spoken a lie before, and these boys know it; O fair-waisted ones, come one by one to receive them, not all together.

तस्य तत् क्ष्वेलितं दृष्ट्वा गोप्यः प्रेमपरिप्लुताः । व्रीडिताः प्रेक्ष्य चान्योन्यं जातहासा न निर्ययुः

Seeing his playful gesture, the gopīs, overwhelmed with love, looked at each other bashfully, smiled, but did not come out.

एवं ब्रुवति गोविन्दे नर्मणाऽऽक्षिप्तचेतसः । आकण्ठमग्नाः शीतोदे वेपमानास्तमब्रुवन्

As Govinda spoke thus in jest, their minds agitated, the girls, immersed up to their necks in the cold water and shivering, addressed him.

मानयं भोः कृथास्त्वां तु नन्दगोपसुतं प्रियम् । जानीमोऽङ्‌ग व्रजश्लाघ्यं देहि वासांसि वेपिताः

O beloved son of Nanda, please respect us; we know you are worthy of Vraja's praise. Give us our clothes, for we are trembling.

श्यामसुन्दर ते दास्यः करवाम तवोदितम् । देहि वासांसि धर्मज्ञ नो चेद् राज्ञे ब्रुवाम हे

O Śyāmasundara, we are your servants and will do as you say; give us our garments, O knower of dharma, or else we will complain to the king.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । भवत्यो यदि मे दास्यो मयोक्तं वा करिष्यथ । अत्रागत्य स्ववासांसि प्रतीच्छन्तु शुचिस्मिताः

The Blessed Lord said: If you are truly my servants and will do as I have said, let these pure-smiling girls come here and receive their garments.

ततो जलाशयात् सर्वा दारिकाः शीतवेपिताः । पाणिभ्यां योनिमाच्छाद्य प्रोत्तेरुः शीतकर्शिताः

Then all the girls, shivering from the cold, emerged from the water, covering their private parts with their hands, afflicted by the chill.

भगवानाहता वीक्ष्य शुद्ध भावप्रसादितः । स्कन्धे निधाय वासांसि प्रीतः प्रोवाच सस्मितम्

Seeing them helpless, the Lord, pleased by their pure devotion, placed their garments on his shoulder and, smiling, spoke to them with affection.

( मिश्र ) यूयं विवस्त्रा यदपो धृतव्रता व्यगाहतैतत् तदु देवहेलनम् । बद्ध्वाञ्जलिं मूर्ध्न्यपनुत्तयेंऽहसः कृत्वा नमोऽधो वसनं प्रगृह्यताम्

You entered the water naked, maintaining your vow, and this is an offense against the gods. With folded hands, bow your heads to dispel this fault, and then, taking your clothes, put them on.

( इंद्रवंशा ) इत्यच्युतेनाभिहितं व्रजाबला मत्वा विवस्त्राप्लवनं व्रतच्युतिम् । तत्पूर्तिकामास्तदशेषकर्मणां साक्षात्कृतं नेमुरवद्यमृग् यतः

Hearing these words from Acyuta, the girls of Vraja understood that bathing naked was a breach of their vow. Wishing to fulfill their purpose, they accepted this as the completion of their ritual, for it was directly ordained by him and thus blameless.