Bhagavata Purana

इत्युन्मत्तवचो गोप्यः कृष्णान्वेषणकातराः । लीला भगवतस्तास्ता ह्यनुचक्रुस्तदात्मिकाः ॥ 10.30.

Thus, speaking in their madness, the gopīs, distressed in their search for Kṛṣṇa, imitated His playful acts, each absorbed in Him.

कस्याचित्पूतनायन्त्याः कृष्णायन्त्यपिबत्स्तनम् । तोकयित्वा रुदत्यन्या पदाहन् शकटायतीम् ॥ 10.30.

One, imitating Pūtanā, approached and offered her breast to Kṛṣṇa to suckle; another, pretending to be a crying child, was comforted; another, acting as the cart-demon, was struck by a foot.

दैत्यायित्वा जहारान्यामेको कृष्णार्भभावनाम् । रिङ्गयामास काप्यङ्घ्री कर्षन्ती घोषनिःस्वनैः ॥ 10.30.

Another, taking the role of a demon, seized one who was playing the part of Kṛṣṇa; yet another, imitating the sound of the cowherd settlement, dragged someone by the foot while playing.

कृष्णरामायिते द्वे तु गोपायन्त्यश्च काश्चन । वत्सायतीं हन्ति चान्या तत्रैका तु बकायतीम् ॥ 10.30.

Some, acting as Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, played as cowherds; another, playing as the calf-demon, was defeated; and one among them took the role of the crane-demon.

आहूय दूरगा यद्वत्कृष्णस्तमनुवर्ततीम् । वेणुं क्वणन्तीं क्रीडन्तीमन्याः शंसन्ति साध्विति ॥ 10.30.

Calling out to one who was far away, as Kṛṣṇa would, another followed after, playing the flute and sporting about, while others praised her, saying, 'Well done!'

कस्याञ्चित्स्वभुजं न्यस्य चलन्त्याहापरा ननु । कृष्णोऽहं पश्यत गतिं ललितामिति तन्मनाः ॥ 10.30.

One, placing her own arm on the shoulder of another as she walked, said, 'I am Kṛṣṇa—see my graceful gait,' her mind absorbed in him.

मा भैष्ट वातवर्षाभ्यां तत्त्राणं विहितं मय । इत्युक्त्वैकेन हस्तेन यतन्त्युन्निदधेऽम्बरम् ॥ 10.30.

"Do not fear the wind or the rain; I have arranged for your protection," saying this, one tried to cover another with her garment, using only one hand.

आरुह्यैका पदाक्रम्य शिरस्याहापरां नृप । दुष्टाहे गच्छ जातोऽहं खलानां ननु दण्डकृत् ॥ 10.30.

One climbed upon another, stepping on her head, and said, "Wicked one, go away! I am born as the punisher of the wicked!"

तत्रैकोवाच हे गोपा दावाग्निं पश्यतोल्बणम् । चक्षूंष्याश्वपिदध्वं वो विधास्ये क्षेममञ्जसा ॥ 10.30.

There, one said, "O cowherds, see this terrible forest fire! Close your eyes, and I will quickly ensure your safety."

बद्धान्यया स्रजा काचित्तन्वी तत्र उलूखले । बध्नामि भाण्डभेत्तारं हैयङ्गवमुषं त्विति । भीता सुदृक्पिधायास्यं भेजे भीतिविडम्बनम् ॥ 10.30.

A slender one, tying another with a garland to a mortar, said, "I am binding the butter thief who broke the pots and stole the clarified butter!" Frightened, the other covered her eyes and feigned fear.

एवं कृष्णं पृच्छमाना व्र्ण्दावनलतास्तरून् । व्यचक्षत वनोद्देशे पदानि परमात्मनः ॥ 10.30.

In this way, as they questioned the creepers and trees of Vṛndāvana about Kṛṣṇa, they pointed out the footprints of the Supreme Soul in the forest.

पदानि व्यक्तमेतानि नन्दसूनोर्महात्मनः । लक्ष्यन्ते हि ध्वजाम्भोज वज्राङ्कुशयवादिभिः ॥ 10.30.

These footprints, clearly visible, belong to the great son of Nanda; they are marked with symbols like the banner, lotus, thunderbolt, goad, and barleycorn.

तैस्तैः पदैस्तत्पदवीमन्विच्छन्त्योऽग्रतोऽबलाः । वध्वाः पदैः सुपृक्तानि विलोक्यार्ताः समब्रुवन् ॥ 10.30.

Following those various footprints, the women went ahead; seeing certain footprints closely joined with those of the bride, they spoke in distress.

कस्याः पदानि चैतानि याताया नन्दसूनुना । अंसन्यस्तप्रकोष्ठायाः करेणोः करिणा यथा ॥ 10.30.

Whose footprints are these, going with the son of Nanda, with her arm placed on his shoulder, just as an elephant cow is embraced by the elephant?

अनयाराधितो नूनं भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः । यन्नो विहाय गोविन्दः प्रीतो यामनयद्रहः ॥ 10.30.

Surely, this one has worshipped the Lord, Hari, the Supreme, for Govinda, pleased, has left us all and led her away in secret.

धन्या अहो अमी आल्यो गोविन्दाङ्घ्र्यब्जरेणवः । यान् ब्रह्मेशौ रमा देवी दधुर्मूर्ध्न्यघनुत्तये ॥ 10.30.

How blessed are these creepers and plants, dusted by the pollen from Govinda's lotus feet, which Brahmā, Śiva, and the goddess Lakṣmī place upon their heads for their highest good.

तस्या अमूनि नः क्षोभं कुर्वन्त्युच्चैः पदानि यत्यैकापहृत्य गोपीनां रहो भुन्क्तेऽच्युताधरम् । न लक्ष्यन्ते पदान्यत्र तस्या नूनं तृणाङ्कुरैः खिद्यत्सुजाताङ्घ्रितलामुन्निन्ये प्रेयसीं प्रियः ॥ 10.30.

Her footprints, deeply pressed, disturb us greatly, for, having taken only her away from among the gopīs, Acyuta enjoys her lips in secret; her footprints are not seen further—surely, her tender feet, pained by grass and sprouts, caused her beloved to lift her up.

इमान्यधिकमग्नानि पदानि वहतो वधूम् । गोप्यः पश्यत कृष्णस्य भाराक्रान्तस्य कामिनः । अत्रावरोपिता कान्ता पुष्पहेतोर्महात्मना ॥ 10.30.

See here, gopīs, these footprints are pressed deeper—Kṛṣṇa, burdened by love, is carrying his beloved; here, the great-souled one set his beloved down to pick flowers.

अत्र प्रसूनावचयः प्रियार्थे प्रेयसा कृतः । प्रपदाक्रमण एते पश्यतासकले पदे ॥ 10.30.

Here, for his beloved, the dear one picked flowers; look, at every step, the marks of his feet are clearly seen.

केशप्रसाधनं त्वत्र कामिन्याः कामिना कृतम् । तानि चूडयता कान्तामुपविष्टमिह ध्रुवम् ॥ 10.30.

Here, a lover arranged the hair of his beloved; surely, while she was seated here, he adorned her tresses.

रेमे तया चात्मरत आत्मारामोऽप्यखण्डितः । कामिनां दर्शयन् दैन्यं स्त्रीणां चैव दुरात्मताम् ॥ 10.30.

Though self-satisfied and undivided in himself, he enjoyed with her, showing the wretchedness of lovers and the fickleness of women.

इत्येवं दर्शयन्त्यस्ताश्चेरुर्गोप्यो विचेतसः । यां गोपीमनयत्कृष्णो विहायान्याः स्त्रियो वने ॥ 10.30.

Thus, as they revealed these things, the gopīs, bewildered, wandered about; and the gopī whom Krishna led away, leaving the other women in the forest—

सा च मेने तदात्मानं वरिष्ठं सर्वयोषिताम् । हित्वा गोपीः कामयाना मामसौ भजते प्रियः ॥ 10.30.

She then considered herself the most excellent of all women: 'Having abandoned the gopīs who desire him, my beloved now worships me.'

ततो गत्वा वनोद्देशं दृप्ता केशवमब्रवीत् । न पारयेऽहं चलितुं नय मां यत्र ते मनः ॥ 10.30.

Then, having reached a spot in the forest, proud, she said to Keshava: 'I can walk no further; take me wherever your heart desires.'

एवमुक्तः प्रियामाह स्कन्ध आरुह्यतामिति । ततश्चान्तर्दधे कृष्णः सा वधूरन्वतप्यत ॥ 10.30.

Thus addressed, the beloved said, 'Climb onto my shoulder.' But then Krishna vanished, and that bride was left to lament.

हा नाथ रमण प्रेष्ठ क्वासि क्वासि महाभुज । दास्यास्ते कृपणाया मे सखे दर्शय सन्निधिम् ॥ 10.30.

'Alas, Lord, beloved, dearest! Where are you, where are you, mighty-armed one? O friend, show your presence to your poor servant!'

श्रीशुक उवाच अन्विच्छन्त्यो भगवतो मार्गं गोप्योऽविदूरितः । ददृशुः प्रियविश्लेषान्मोहितां दुःखितां सखीम् ॥ 10.30.

Śuka said: While searching for the path of the Lord, the gopīs, not knowing where he had gone, saw their friend, bewildered and distressed by separation from her beloved.

तया कथितमाकर्ण्य मानप्राप्तिं च माधवात् । अवमानं च दौरात्म्याद्विस्मयं परमं ययुः ॥ 10.30.

Hearing from her what had happened—her pride and Mādhava's response, and her humiliation due to her misfortune—they were filled with great wonder.

ततोऽविशन् वनं चन्द्र ज्योत्स्ना यावद्विभाव्यते । तमः प्रविष्टमालक्ष्य ततो निववृतुः स्त्रियः ॥ 10.30.

Then they entered the forest as long as the moonlight could be seen; but when darkness fell, the women turned back.