Bhagavata Purana

तत्रैकांसगतं बाहुं कृष्णस्योत्पलसौरभम् । चन्दनालिप्तमाघ्राय हृष्टरोमा चुचुम्ब ह

One, taking Kṛṣṇa's arm, fragrant with blue lotus and smeared with sandalwood, to her nose, thrilled with joy, kissed it.

कस्याश्चित् नाट्यविक्षिप्त कुण्डलत्विषमण्डितम् । गण्डं गण्डे सन्दधत्याः अदात्ताम्बूलचर्वितम्

Another, her cheek adorned with the gleam of earrings tossed by her dancing, pressed her cheek to his and offered him betel she had chewed.

नृत्यती गायती काचित् कूजन् नूपुरमेखला । पार्श्वस्थाच्युतहस्ताब्जं श्रान्ताधात् स्तनयोः शिवम्

One, dancing and singing, her anklets and girdle ringing, weary, placed the lotus hand of Acyuta, who stood beside her, upon her breasts for comfort.

गोप्यो लब्ध्वाच्युतं कान्तं श्रिय एकान्तवल्लभम् । गृहीतकण्ठ्यस्तद्दोर्भ्यां गायन्त्यस्तं विजह्रिरे

The gopīs, having gained Acyuta as their beloved, the exclusive consort of Śrī, embraced him around the neck with their arms and, singing, enjoyed with him.

( वसंततिलका ) कर्णोत्पलालकविटङ्‌ककपोलघर्म वक्त्रश्रियो वलयनूपुरघोषवाद्यैः । गोप्यः समं भगवता ननृतुः स्वकेश स्रस्तस्रजो भ्रमरगायकरासगोष्ठ्याम्

With lotus earrings, locks of hair, cheeks shining with sweat, faces radiant, and the music of bracelets and anklets, the gopīs danced together with the Lord, their garlands loosened in their hair, in the company of bees singing in the cowherd's grove.

( मिश्र ) एवं परिष्वङ्‌गकराभिमर्श स्निग्धेक्षणोद्दामविलासहासैः । रेमे रमेशो व्रजसुन्दरीभिः यथार्भकः स्वप्रतिबिम्बविभ्रमः

Thus, with embraces, touches of the hand, affectionate glances, exuberant playful smiles and laughter, the Lord of Lakshmi delighted with the beautiful women of Vraja, just as a child delights in his own reflected image.

तदङ्‌गसङ्‌गप्रमुदाकुलेन्द्रियाः केशान् दूकूलं कुचपट्टिकां वा । नाञ्जः प्रतिव्योढुमलं व्रजस्त्रियो विस्रस्तमालाभरणाः कुरूद्वह

Their senses overwhelmed with joy from contact with his limbs, the women of Vraja—hair, garments, or breastbands loosened—could not properly gather up what had fallen, O best of the Kurus, their garlands and ornaments slipping down.

( अनुष्टुप् ) कृष्णविक्रीडितं वीक्ष्य मुमुहुः खेचरस्त्रियः । कामार्दिताः शशाङ्‌कश्च सगणो विस्मितोऽभवत्

Seeing Krishna's playful sports, the celestial women in the sky became bewildered, overcome by desire; even the moon, along with his retinue, was astonished.

कृत्वा तावन्तमात्मानं यावतीर्गोपयोषितः । रेमे स भगवान् ताभिः आत्मारामोऽपि लीलया

Assuming as many forms as there were cowherd women, the Blessed Lord, though self-satisfied, enjoyed with them all by his own playful will.

तासां अतिविहारेण श्रान्तानां वदनानि सः । प्रामृजत् करुणः प्रेम्णा शन्तमेनाङ्‌ग पाणिना

When they became tired from excessive play, he, compassionate and loving, gently wiped their faces with his peaceful hand, O dear one.

( वसंततिलका ) गोप्यः स्फुरत्पुरटकुण्डलकुन्तलत्विड् गण्डश्रिया सुधितहासनिरीक्षणेन । मानं दधत्य ऋषभस्य जगुः कृतानि पुण्यानि तत्कररुहस्पर्शप्रमोदाः

The gopis, their cheeks adorned by the radiance of golden earrings and hair, with sweet smiles and glances, sang of the glorious deeds of the foremost of men, feeling blessed by the touch of his lotus hands.

ताभिर्युतः श्रममपोहितुमङ्‌गसङ्‌ग घृष्टस्रजः स कुचकुङ्‌कुमरञ्जितायाः । गन्धर्वपालिभिरनुद्रुत आविशद् वा श्रान्तो गजीभिरिभराडिव भिन्नसेतुः

Surrounded by those women, their garlands crushed and smeared with the saffron from their breasts, he entered the forest, followed by hosts of Gandharvas, just as a weary elephant, breaking through a dam, enters the water surrounded by female elephants.

सोऽम्भस्यलं युवतिभिः परिषिच्यमानः प्रेम्णेक्षितः प्रहसतीभिरितस्ततोऽङ्‌ग । वैमानिकैः कुसुमवर्षिभिरीड्यमानो रेमे स्वयं स्वरतिरत्र गजेन्द्रलीलः

There, as he was bathed by the young women, gazed upon with love and laughter from all sides, and praised by the celestial beings showering flowers, he, the self-delighting Lord, sported like the king of elephants.

( मिश्र ) ततश्च कृष्णोपवने जलस्थल प्रसूनगन्धानिलजुष्टदिक्तटे । चचार भृङ्‌गप्रमदागणावृतो यथा मदच्युद् द्विरदः करेणुभिः

Then, in Krishna's grove, on land and water, where the directions were filled with the fragrance of flowers, he wandered, surrounded by swarms of joyful women like a rutting elephant with his female companions.

एवं शशाङ्‌कांशुविराजिता निशाः स सत्यकामोऽनुरताबलागणः । सिषेव आत्मन्यवरुद्धसौरतः सर्वाः शरत्काव्यकथारसाश्रयाः

Thus, through nights adorned by the rays of the moon, he, true to his word and surrounded by loving women, enjoyed with them, his passion absorbed within himself, savoring the poetic essence of the autumn season.

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) संस्थापनाय धर्मस्य प्रशमायेतरस्य च । अवतीर्णो हि भगवानंन् अंशेन जगदीश्वरः

King Parikshit said: To establish righteousness and subdue unrighteousness, the Lord of the universe descends in person.

स कथं धर्मसेतूनां वक्ता कर्ताभिरक्षिता । प्रतीपमाचरद् ब्रह्मन् परदाराभिमर्शनम्

How then, O Brahman, could he, who is the speaker, doer, and protector of the boundaries of righteousness, act contrary to them by touching the wives of others?

आप्तकामो यदुपतिः कृतवान् वै जुगुप्सितम् । किमभिप्राय एतन्नः संशयं छिन्धि सुव्रत

The Lord of the Yadus, who is self-satisfied, performed an act that is censured; what was his intention in this? Please dispel our doubt, O virtuous one.

श्रीशुक उवाच - धर्मव्यतिक्रमो दृष्ट ईश्वराणां च साहसम् । तेजीयसां न दोषाय वह्नेः सर्वभुजो यथा

Shuka said: Transgressions of righteousness and bold acts are seen among the lords (gods); for the powerful, there is no fault, just as fire consumes everything.

नैतत्समाचरेज्जातु मनसापि ह्यनीश्वरः । विनश्यत्याचरन्मौढ्याद् यथारुद्रोऽब्धिजं विषम्

One who is not a lord should never imitate this, not even in thought; if he acts out of ignorance, he perishes, just as Rudra was harmed by the poison from the ocean.

ईश्वराणां वचः सत्यं तथैवाचरितं क्वचित् । तेषां यत् स्ववचोयुक्तं बुद्धिमांस्तत् समाचरेत्

The words of the lords are true, and so too are their actions at times; the wise should follow only those of their words and deeds that are in accord with reason.

कुशलाचरितेनैषां इह स्वार्थो न विद्यते । विपर्ययेण वानर्थो निरहङ्‌कारिणां प्रभो

By their skillful conduct, they have no personal aim here; nor, O master, is there harm for those without ego, even if the opposite occurs.

किमुताखिलसत्त्वानां तिर्यङ्‌ मर्त्यदिवौकसाम् । ईशितुश्चेशितव्यानां कुशलाकुशलान्वयः

What then of all beings—animals, mortals, and gods—who are ruled and to be ruled? The connection of good and evil applies to them.

( वसंततिलका ) यत्पादपङ्‌कजपरागनिषेवतृप्ता योगप्रभावविधुताखिलकर्मबन्धाः । स्वैरं चरन्ति मुनयोऽपि न नह्यमानाः तस्येच्छयाऽऽत्तवपुषः कुत एव बन्धः

Those who are satisfied by serving the dust of His lotus feet, whose powers of yoga have dissolved all bondage of karma, roam freely as sages, unrestrained; by His will, having assumed a body, how could there be any bondage at all?

( अनुष्टुप् ) गोपीनां तत्पतीनां च सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम् । योऽन्तश्चरति सोऽध्यक्षः क्रीडनेनेह देहभाक्

He who dwells within all beings—the gopīs, their husbands, and everyone embodied—is the overseer, playing here in bodies.

अनुग्रहाय भूतानां मानुषं देहमास्थितः । भजते तादृशीः क्रीड याः श्रुत्वा तत्परो भवेत्

For the sake of showing favor to living beings, He has taken on a human body and performs such pastimes, hearing which one becomes devoted to Him.

नासूयन् खलु कृष्णाय मोहितास्तस्य मायया । मन्यमानाः स्वपार्श्वस्थान् स्वान् स्वान् दारान् व्रजौकसः

Indeed, the residents of Vraja, deluded by His māyā, did not envy Krishna, thinking those beside them to be their own spouses.

ब्रह्मरात्र उपावृत्ते वासुदेवानुमोदिताः । अनिच्छन्त्यो ययुर्गोप्यः स्वगृहान् भगवत्प्रियाः

When the night of Brahmā had ended, the gopīs, beloved of the Lord, though reluctant, returned to their homes, with Vasudeva's approval.

( वसंततिलका ) विक्रीडितं व्रजवधूभिरिदं च विष्णोः श्रद्धान्वितोऽनुश्रृणुयादथ वर्णयेद्यः । भक्तिं परां भगवति प्रतिलभ्य कामं हृद्रोगमाश्वपहिनोत्यचिरेण धीरः

Whoever faithfully hears or recounts this play of the wives of Vraja with Viṣṇu, quickly attains supreme devotion to the Lord, and the wise person swiftly removes the disease of lust from the heart.