Bhagavata Purana

इति ते भगवद् याच्ञां शृण्वन्तोऽपि न शुश्रुवुः । क्षुद्राशा भूरिकर्माणो बालिशा वृद्धमानिनः

Though they heard this request on behalf of the Lord, they did not listen—petty in their desires, busy with many rituals, childish, and proud of their age.

देशः कालः पृथग् द्रव्यं मंत्रतंत्रर्त्विजोऽग्नयः । देवता यजमानश्च क्रतुर्धर्मश्च यन्मयः

The place, time, separate materials, mantras, procedures, priests, fires, deities, sacrificer, the ritual, and dharma—all these are composed of Him.

तं ब्रह्म परमं साक्षाद् भगवन्तं अधोक्षजम् । मनुष्यदृष्ट्या दुष्प्रज्ञा मर्त्यात्मानो न मेनिरे

That Supreme Brahman, the Lord, Adhokshaja Himself, they, lacking discernment and seeing themselves as mortal, did not recognize, viewing Him as a mere human.

न ते यदोमिति प्रोचुः न नेति च परन्तप । गोपा निराशाः प्रत्येत्य तथोचुः कृष्णरामयोः

They did not say 'Give it to Yadus,' nor did they say 'Do not give,' O subduer of enemies. The cowherds, disappointed, returned and told Krishna and Rama what had happened.

तदुपाकर्ण्य भगवान् प्रहस्य जगदीश्वरः । व्याजहार पुनर्गोपान् दर्शयँलौकिकीं गतिम्

Hearing this, the Lord, the Master of the universe, laughed and again spoke to the cowherds, showing a worldly course of action.

मां ज्ञापयत पत्‍नीभ्यः ससङ्‌कर्षणमागतम् । दास्यन्ति काममन्नं वः स्निग्धा मय्युषिता धिया

Go and inform the wives, along with Sankarshana and myself having come. They, affectionate and devoted to me in thought, will gladly give you food.

गत्वाथ पत्‍नीशालायां दृष्ट्वासीनाः स्वलङ्‌कृताः । नत्वा द्विजसतीर्गोपाः प्रश्रिता इदमब्रुवन्

Then, going to the house of the wives, seeing them seated and adorned, the cowherds bowed to the noble brahmins' wives and respectfully spoke these words.

नमो वो विप्रपत्‍नीभ्यो निबोधत वचांसि नः । इतोऽविदूरे चरता कृष्णेनेहेषिता वयम्

Salutations to you, O brahmins' wives. Please listen to our words. Not far from here, we, sent by Krishna, are tending the cows.

गाश्चारयन् स गोपालैः सरामो दूरमागतः । बुभुक्षितस्य तस्यान्नं सानुगस्य प्रदीयताम्

He, tending the cows with the cowherds and with Rama, has come a long way. Please give food to him, who is hungry and accompanied by his companions.

श्रुत्वाच्युतं उपायातं नित्यं तद्दर्शनोत्सुकाः । तत्कथाक्षिप्तमनसो बभूवुर्जातसम्भ्रमाः

Hearing that Achyuta had come, always eager to see him, their minds absorbed in his stories, all the women became filled with excitement.

चतुर्विधं बहुगुणं अन्नमादाय भाजनैः । अभिसस्रुः प्रियं सर्वाः समुद्रमिव निम्नगाः

Taking four kinds of excellent food in vessels, all of them hurried forth to their beloved, like rivers rushing to the ocean.

निषिध्यमानाः पतिभिः भ्रातृभिर्बन्धुभिः सुतैः । भगवति उत्तमश्लोके दीर्घश्रुत धृताशयाः

Though forbidden by their husbands, brothers, relatives, and sons, their minds fixed on the Lord of excellent fame, and sustained by long-heard teachings, they went forth.

यमुनोपवनेऽशोक नवपल्लवमण्डिते । विचरन्तं वृतं गोपैः साग्रजं ददृशुः स्त्रियः

In a grove on the Yamuna, adorned with fresh asoka shoots, the women saw him, surrounded by cowherds and his elder brother, wandering there.

( वसंततिलका ) श्यामं हिरण्यपरिधिं वनमाल्यबर्ह धातुप्रवालनटवेषमनव्रतांसे । विन्यस्तहस्तमितरेण धुनानमब्जं कर्णोत्पलालक कपोलमुखाब्जहासम्

They saw him dark as a raincloud, clad in golden garments, adorned with forest garlands and peacock feathers, dressed as a dancer, with a lotus resting on his shoulder, one hand twirling a lotus, his ear adorned with a lily, locks framing his cheeks, and his face blossoming with a smile.

प्रायःश्रुतप्रियतमोदयकर्णपूरैः यस्मिन् निमग्नमनसः तं अथाक्षिरंध्रैः । अन्तः प्रवेश्य सुचिरं परिरभ्य तापं प्राज्ञं यथाभिमतयो विजहुर्नरेन्द्र

Their minds, immersed in him whose stories they loved to hear, whose presence delighted their ears, they entered him through their eyes, embraced him long within, and, O king, as wise ones, let go of their sorrow as they wished.

( अनुष्टुप् ) तास्तथा त्यक्तसर्वाशाः प्राप्ता आत्मदिदृक्षया । विज्ञायाखिलदृग्द्रष्टा प्राह प्रहसिताननः

Thus, having abandoned all other hopes, they came, desiring to see their very Self. He, the seer of all, knowing this, spoke to them with a smiling face.

स्वागतं वो महाभागा आस्यतां करवाम किम् । यन्नो दिदृक्षया प्राप्ता उपपन्नमिदं हि वः

Welcome, O highly fortunate ones! Please be seated. What may I do for you? It is fitting that you have come here, desiring to see us.

नन्वद्धा मयि कुर्वन्ति कुशलाः स्वार्थदर्शिनः । अहैतुक्यव्यवहितां भक्तिमात्मप्रिये यथा

Indeed, those who are truly wise and seek their own good render to me, who am dear to their very selves, devotion that is causeless and unbroken.

प्राणबुद्धिमनःस्वात्म दारापत्यधनादयः । यत्सम्पर्कात् प्रिया आसन् ततः को न्वपरः प्रियः

Life, intellect, mind, self, wives, children, wealth, and so on—all these become dear through contact with me; therefore, who else could truly be dear?

तद् यात देवयजनं पतयो वो द्विजातयः । स्वसत्रं पारयिष्यन्ति युष्माभिर्गृहमेधिनः

Now go to the sacrificial altar, O wives of the twice-born! Your husbands, householders, will complete their own sacrifice with your participation.

श्रीपत्‍न्य ऊचुः । ( वसंततिलका ) मैवं विभोऽर्हति भवान्गदितुं नृशंसं सत्यं कुरुष्व निगमं तव पादमूलम् । प्राप्ता वयं तुलसिदाम पदावसृष्टं केशैर्निवोढुमतिलङ्‌घ्य समस्तबन्धून्

The wives said: Do not speak so harshly, O Lord! Fulfill the promise of your scripture at your feet. We have come, leaving behind all relatives, to gather the dust of your feet adorned with tulasi, to place in our hair.

गृह्णन्ति नो न पतयः पितरौ सुता वा न भ्रातृबन्धुसुहृदः कुत एव चान्ये । तस्माद् भवत्प्रपदयोः पतितात्मनां नो नान्या भवेद् गतिररिन्दम तद् विधेहि

Neither our husbands, nor parents, nor children, nor brothers, nor friends, nor anyone else will accept us now. Therefore, O subduer of enemies, for those of us who have fallen at your feet, there is no other refuge—please grant us this.

श्रीभगवानुवाच - पतयो नाभ्यसूयेरन् पितृभ्रातृसुतादयः । लोकाश्च वो मयोपेता देवा अप्यनुमन्वते

The Blessed Lord said: Let not your husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, or others bear resentment; even the worlds, the gods, and all beings honor you, as you are now connected with me.

( अनुष्टुप् ) न प्रीतयेऽनुरागाय ह्यङ्‌गसङ्‌गो नृणामिह । तन्मनो मयि युञ्जाना अचिरान् मामवाप्स्यथ

Physical association among people in this world is not for love or affection; by fixing your minds on me, you will soon attain me.

श्रीशुक उवाच - इत्युक्ता द्विजपत्‍न्यस्ता यज्ञवाटं पुनर्गताः । ते चानसूयवः स्वाभिः स्त्रीभिः सत्रमपारयन्

Śuka said: Thus addressed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the sacrificial enclosure, and their husbands, now free of envy, completed the sacrifice with their own wives.

तत्रैका विधृता भर्त्रा भगवन्तं यथाश्रुतम् । हृदोपगुह्य विजहौ देहं कर्मानुबन्धनम्

There, one woman, restrained by her husband, embraced the Lord in her heart as she had heard, and, giving up her body bound by karma, attained liberation.

भगवानपि गोविन्दः तेनैवान्नेन गोपकान् । चतुर्विधेनाशयित्वा स्वयं च बुभुजे प्रभुः

The Lord Govinda, with that very food, fed the cowherds in fourfold ways, and the Lord himself also partook.

एवं लीलानरवपुः नृलोकमनुशीलयन् । रेमे गोगोपगोपीनां रमयन्रूपवाक्कृतैः

Thus, the Lord, assuming a human form for his play, delighted the cows, cowherds, and cowherd women with his beauty, words, and deeds.

अथानुस्मृत्य विप्रास्ते अन्वतप्यन् कृतागसः । यद् विश्वेश्वरयोर्याच्ञां अहन्म नृविडम्बयोः

Then, recalling the request made to the Lords of the universe by their wives, the brāhmaṇas repented for their offense, having mocked the Lord in human guise.