Bhagavata Purana

अन्तर्गृहगताः काश्चिद् गोप्योऽलब्धविनिर्गमाः । कृष्णं तद्‍भावनायुक्ता दध्युर्मीलितलोचनाः

Some gopīs, unable to leave their homes, remained inside; absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, they meditated on him with closed eyes.

दुःसहप्रेष्ठविरह तीव्रतापधुताशुभाः । ध्यानप्राप्ताच्युताश्लेष निर्वृत्या क्षीणमङ्‌गलाः

Tormented by the unbearable pain of separation from their beloved, their intense suffering washed away all inauspiciousness; through meditation they attained union with the infallible Lord, and by that bliss, all misfortune was dispelled.

तमेव परमात्मानं जारबुद्ध्यापि सङ्‌गताः । जहुर्गुणमयं देहं सद्यः प्रक्षीणबन्धनाः

Having come together with the Supreme Self—even with the attitude of a lover—they immediately cast off their bodies composed of the modes of nature, their bondage at once destroyed.

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच - कृष्णं विदुः परं कान्तं न तु ब्रह्मतया मुने । गुणप्रवाहोपरमः तासां गुणधियां कथम्

King Parīkṣit said: O sage, the women of Vraja knew Kṛṣṇa as their supreme beloved, not as Brahman; how could the cessation of the flow of the modes occur for those whose minds were fixed on qualities?

श्रीशुक उवाच - उक्तं पुरस्ताद् एतत्ते चैद्यः सिद्धिं यथा गतः । द्विषन्नपि हृषीकेशं किमुताधोक्षजप्रियाः

Śuka said: This has already been explained to you before—how even the wicked Śiśupāla attained perfection; if one who hated Hṛṣīkeśa was liberated, how much more so those devoted to the transcendent Lord?

नृणां निःश्रेयसार्थाय व्यक्तिर्भगवतो नृप । अव्ययस्याप्रमेयस्य निर्गुणस्य गुणात्मनः

For the highest good of people, O King, the Supreme Lord—imperishable, immeasurable, beyond the modes, yet the soul of all qualities—manifests Himself.

कामं क्रोधं भयं स्नेहं ऐक्यं सौहृदमेव च । नित्यं हरौ विदधतो यान्ति तन्मयतां हि ते

Those who constantly direct desire, anger, fear, affection, unity, or friendship toward Hari, indeed become absorbed in Him.

न चैवं विस्मयः कार्यो भवता भगवत्यजे । योगेश्वरेश्वरे कृष्णे यत एतद् विमुच्यते

Therefore, you should not be astonished by this, for it is by Kṛṣṇa, the unborn Lord of all yogic masters, that such liberation is attained.

ता दृष्ट्वान्तिकमायाता भगवान् व्रजयोषितः । अवदद् वदतां श्रेष्ठो वाचः पेशैर्विमोहयन्

Seeing the women of Vraja approach Him, the Lord—foremost among speakers—addressed them with charming words, deluding their minds.

श्रीभगवानुवाच - स्वागतं वो महाभागाः प्रियं किं करवाणि वः । व्रजस्यानामयं कच्चिद् ब्रूतागमनकारणम्

The Blessed Lord said: Welcome, O most fortunate ones! What may I do to please you? Is all well in Vraja? Please tell Me the reason for your coming.

रजन्येषा घोररूपा घोरसत्त्वनिषेविता । प्रतियात व्रजं नेह स्थेयं स्त्रीभिः सुमध्यमाः

This night is fearsome in form, frequented by fierce creatures; return to Vraja, O slender-waisted women, for it is not proper for you to remain here.

मातरः पितरः पुत्रा भ्रातरः पतयश्च वः । विचिन्वन्ति ह्यपश्यन्तो मा कृढ्वं बन्धुसाध्वसम्

Your mothers, fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands are searching for you, unable to find you; do not cause your relatives anxiety.

दृष्टं वनं कुसुमितं राकेश कररञ्जितम् । यमुना अनिललीलैजत् तरुपल्लवशोभितम्

You have seen the forest adorned with flowers, brightened by the moon, and the Yamunā, whose breeze plays among the beautiful budding trees.

तद् यात मा चिरं गोष्ठं शुश्रूषध्वं पतीन् सतीः । क्रन्दन्ति वत्सा बालाश्च तान् पाययत दुह्यत

Now, do not delay—return to the cowherd village, serve your husbands faithfully; the calves and children are crying—go, feed and milk them.

अथवा मदभिस्नेहाद् भवत्यो यन्त्रिताशयाः । आगता ह्युपपन्नं वः प्रीयन्ते मयि जन्तवः

Or, perhaps, compelled by your deep affection for Me, you have come here; this is natural, for all beings are attracted to Me.

भर्तुः शुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां परो धर्मो ह्यमायया । तद्‍बन्धूनां च कल्याणः प्रजानां चानुपोषणम्

For women, the highest duty is to serve their husbands sincerely, to care for their relatives, and to nourish their children.

दुःशीलो दुर्भगो वृद्धो जडो रोग्यधनोऽपि वा । पतिः स्त्रीभिर्न हातव्यो लोकेप्सुभिरपातकी

Even if a husband is of bad character, unfortunate, old, dull, sick, or poor, he should not be abandoned by women who desire virtue in this world.

अस्वर्ग्यमयशस्यं च फल्गु कृच्छ्रं भयावहम् । जुगुप्सितं च सर्वत्र ह्यौपपत्यं कुलस्त्रियः

For noble women, union with a man other than their husband brings no heaven, only disgrace, meager and painful results, fear, and is condemned everywhere.

श्रवणाद् दर्शनाद् ध्यानाद् मयि भावोऽनुकीर्तनात् । न तथा सन्निकर्षेण प्रतियात ततो गृहान्

By hearing, seeing, meditating upon, or singing about Me, devotion arises—not so much by physical proximity; therefore, return to your homes.

श्रीशुक उवाच - इति विप्रियमाकर्ण्य गोप्यो गोविन्दभाषितम् । विषण्णा भग्नसङ्‌कल्पाः चिन्तामापुर्दुरत्ययाम्

Śuka said: Thus, hearing Govinda's harsh words, the cowherd women, their hopes shattered, became deeply distressed and fell into overwhelming anxiety.

( वसंततिलका ) कृत्वा मुखान्यव शुचः श्वसनेन शुष्यद् बिम्बाधराणि चरणेन भुवः लिखन्त्यः । अस्रैरुपात्तमषिभिः कुचकुङ्‌कुमानि तस्थुर्मृजन्त्य उरुदुःखभराः स्म तूष्णीम् प्रेष्ठं प्रियेतरमिव प्रतिभाषमाणं कृष्णं तदर्थविनिवर्तितसर्वकामाः । नेत्रे विमृज्य रुदितोपहते स्म किञ्चित् संरम्भगद्‍गदगिरोऽब्रुवतानुरक्ताः

Wiping their faces, parched lips faded by sighs, tracing the ground with their feet, their breasts stained with tears mingled with the red of their ornaments, they stood silent, weighed down by sorrow, longing for their beloved Krishna, who had turned away all desires for his sake; brushing their tear-dimmed eyes, their voices choked with emotion, the devoted ones spoke a little.

श्रीगोप्य ऊचुः । मैवं विभोऽर्हति भवान् गदितुं नृशंसं सन्त्यज्य सर्वविषयांस्तव पादमूलम् । भक्ता भजस्व दुरवग्रह मा त्यजास्मान् देवो यथाऽऽदिपुरुषो भजते मुमुक्षून्

The gopīs said: Do not speak so cruelly, Lord! It does not befit you. Having abandoned all else, we have come to your feet. Cherish your devotees—do not reject us with harshness, just as the Supreme Person does not abandon those who seek liberation.

यत्पत्यपत्यसुहृदां अनुवृत्तिरङ्‌ग स्त्रीणां स्वधर्म इति धर्मविदा त्वयोक्तम् । अस्त्वेवमेतदुपदेशपदे त्वयीशे प्रेष्ठो भवांस्तनुभृतां किल बन्धुरात्मा

You, knower of dharma, have said that a woman's duty is to serve husband, children, and friends. Let it be so. Yet, O Lord, in you, the teacher of righteousness, you are truly the dearest, the friend and soul of all embodied beings.

कुर्वन्ति हि त्वयि रतिं कुशलाः स्व आत्मन् नित्यप्रिये पतिसुतादिभिरार्तिदैः किम् । तन्नः प्रसीद परमेश्वर मा स्म छिन्द्या आशां धृतां त्वयि चिरादरविन्दनेत्र

Those who are wise place their love in you, the eternal beloved. What use are husbands, sons, and others who bring suffering? Therefore, be gracious to us, Supreme Lord—do not sever the hope we have long cherished in you, O lotus-eyed one.

चित्तं सुखेन भवतापहृतं गृहेषु यन्निर्विशत्युत करावपि गृह्यकृत्ये । पादौ पदं न चलतस्तव पादमूलाद् यामः कथं व्रजमथो करवाम किं वा

Our minds, happily stolen away by you, do not return to our homes, nor do our hands engage in household tasks. Our feet will not move from your feet. How, then, can we go to Vraja, or what else can we do?

सिञ्चाङ्‌ग नस्त्वदधरामृतपूरकेण हासावलोककलगीतजहृच्छयाग्निम् । नो चेद् वयं विरहजाग्नि उपयुक्तदेहा ध्यानेन याम पदयोः पदवीं सखे ते

O beloved, moisten us with the nectar of your lips, with your laughter, glances, and sweet songs that soothe the fire in our hearts. Otherwise, consumed by the fire of separation, we will reach your feet in meditation, friend, leaving these bodies behind.

यर्ह्यम्बुजाक्ष तव पादतलं रमाया दत्तक्षणं क्वचिदरण्यजनप्रियस्य । अस्प्राक्ष्म तत्प्रभृति नान्यसमक्षमङ्ग स्थातुं त्वयाभिरमिता बत पारयामः

O lotus-eyed one, from the moment we touched the soles of your feet—granted even for a moment to Lakṣmī, beloved of the forest-dwellers—we have not been able to stand before anyone else, so enchanted are we by you.

श्रीर्यत्पदाम्बुजरजश्चकमे तुलस्या लब्ध्वापि वक्षसि पदं किल भृत्यजुष्टम् । यस्याः स्ववीक्षण कृतेऽन्यसुरप्रयासः तद्वद् वयं च तव पादरजः प्रपन्नाः

Lakṣmī herself longed for the dust of your lotus feet, and though she gained a place on your chest, served by your attendants, she still desired it. For the sake of your glance, even other gods strive. In the same way, we too have surrendered to the dust of your feet.

तन्नः प्रसीद वृजिनार्दन तेऽन्घ्रिमूलं प्राप्ता विसृज्य वसतीस्त्वदुपासनाशाः । त्वत्सुन्दरस्मित निरीक्षणतीव्रकाम तप्तात्मनां पुरुषभूषण देहि दास्यम्

Therefore, be gracious to us, destroyer of suffering. We have abandoned our homes, seeking only to serve at your feet. O ornament of men, our hearts burn with intense longing for your beautiful smile and glance—grant us the service of your maidservants.