Bhagavata Purana

तत्र स्नात्वा सरस्वत्यां देवं पशुपतिं विभुम्। आनर्चुरर्हणैर्भक्त्या देवीं च णृपतेऽम्बिकाम्

There, after bathing in the Sarasvatī, they worshipped the mighty Lord Paśupati with offerings, and also the goddess Ambikā, O King, with devotion.

गावो हिरण्यं वासांसि मधु मध्वन्नमादृताः। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः सर्वे देवो नः प्रीयतामिति

They respectfully gave cows, gold, clothing, honey, and food to the brāhmaṇas, saying, 'May the Lord be pleased with us.'

ऊषुः सरस्वतीतीरे जलं प्राश्य यतव्रताः। रजनीं तां महाभागा नन्दसुनन्दकादयः

On the bank of the Sarasvatī, having drunk water and observed vows, the blessed Nanda, Sunanda, and others spent that night.

कश्चिन्महानहिस्तस्मिन्विपिनेऽतिबुभुक्षितः। यदृच्छयागतो नन्दं शयानमुरगोऽग्रसीत्

In that forest, a great serpent, extremely hungry, came by chance and seized Nanda as he lay asleep.

स चुक्रोशाहिना ग्रस्तः कृष्ण कृष्ण महानयम्। सर्पो मां ग्रसते तात प्रपन्नं परिमोचय

Gripped by the serpent, he cried out, 'Krishna, Krishna, this is terrible! Father, a snake is swallowing me—save me, I have taken refuge in you!'

तस्य चाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा गोपालाः सहसोत्थिताः। ग्रस्तं च दृष्ट्वा विभ्रान्ताः सर्पं विव्यधुरुल्मुकैः

Hearing his cries, the cowherds quickly rose; seeing him seized, bewildered, they struck the serpent with sticks.

अलातैर्दह्यमानोऽपि नामुञ्चत्तमुरङ्गमः। तमस्पृशत्पदाभ्येत्य भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः

Even as it was burned by firebrands, the serpent did not release him; then the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, approached and touched it with His feet.

स वै भगवतः श्रीमत्पादस्पर्शहताशुभः। भेजे सर्पवपुर्हित्वा रूपं विद्याधरार्चितम्

Struck by the touch of the glorious Lord's feet, its evil was destroyed; abandoning its serpent form, it assumed a body honored by the Vidyādharas.

तमपृच्छद्धृषीकेशः प्रणतं समवस्थितम्। दीप्यमानेन वपुषा पुरुषं हेममालिनम्

Hrishikesha questioned him, who stood there bowing, shining with a radiant form, adorned with a golden garland.

को भवान्परया लक्ष्म्या रोचतेऽद्भुतदर्शनः। कथं जुगुप्सितामेतां गतिं वा प्रापितोऽवशः

Who are you, who shines with supreme splendor and wondrous appearance? How were you forced into this despicable state?

सर्प उवाच। अहं विद्याधरः कश्चित्सुदर्शन इति श्रुतः। श्रिया स्वरूपसम्पत्त्या विमानेनाचरन्दिशः

The serpent said: I am a Vidyādhara named Sudarśana, known for my beauty and wealth, traveling the directions in my aerial chariot.

ऋषीन्विरूपाङ्गिरसः प्राहसं रूपदर्पितः। तैरिमां प्रापितो योनिं प्रलब्धैः स्वेन पाप्मना

The sages, Virupa and Angirasa, laughed at me, proud of their own appearance; by their curse, which I earned through my own wrongdoing, I was made to enter this birth.

शापो मेऽनुग्रहायैव कृतस्तैः करुणात्मभिः। यदहं लोकगुरुणा पदा स्पृष्टो हताशुभः

That curse, given by those compassionate souls, was truly for my benefit; for when I was touched by the foot of the teacher of the world, all misfortune was destroyed.

तं त्वाहं भवभीतानां प्रपन्नानां भयापहम्। आपृच्छे शापनिर्मुक्तः पादस्पर्शादमीवहन्

Now, freed from the curse, I ask you—who remove fear for those terrified by worldly existence and who grant refuge—to permit me to depart, having received the blessing of your foot’s touch.

प्रपन्नोऽस्मि महायोगिन्महापुरुष सत्पते। अनुजानीहि मां देव सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वर

I have taken refuge in you, O great yogi, O supreme person, O lord of the virtuous; please grant me leave, O god, master of all worlds and their rulers.

ब्रह्मदण्डाद्विमुक्तोऽहं सद्यस्तेऽच्युत दर्शनात्। यन्नाम गृह्णन्नखिलान्श्रोतॄनात्मानमेव च। सद्यः पुनाति किं भूयस्तस्य स्पृष्टः पदा हि ते

I am freed from Brahma’s punishment at once, O infallible one, by seeing you; your name, when uttered, instantly purifies all listeners and oneself—how much more so, then, when one is touched by your foot.

इत्यनुज्ञाप्य दाशार्हं परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य च। सुदर्शनो दिवं यातः कृच्छ्रान्नन्दश्च मोचितः

Having thus received permission from the descendant of Dasarha, and after circling him and offering obeisance, Sudarshana ascended to heaven, and Nanda was released from his distress.

निशाम्य कृष्णस्य तदात्मवैभवं। व्रजौकसो विस्मितचेतसस्ततः। समाप्य तस्मिन्नियमं पुनर्व्रजं। नृपाययुस्तत्कथयन्त आदृताः

Witnessing Krishna’s divine power, the residents of Vraja were astonished in mind; after completing their observance there, they returned to Vraja, joyfully recounting the events.

कदाचिदथ गोविन्दो रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रमः। विजह्रतुर्वने रात्र्यां मध्यगौ व्रजयोषिताम्

Once, Govinda and Rama, both possessing wondrous strength, enjoyed themselves in the forest at night, surrounded by the women of Vraja.

उपगीयमानौ ललितं स्त्रीजनैर्बद्धसौहृदैः। स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ स्रग्विनौ विरजोऽम्बरौ

Adorned and anointed, wearing garlands and spotless garments, they were sung to sweetly by the women, bound to them in friendship.

निशामुखं मानयन्तावुदितोडुपतारकम्। मल्लिकागन्धमत्तालि जुष्टं कुमुदवायुना

Honoring the onset of night, as the stars and moon rose, the air was filled with the fragrance of jasmine and intoxicated bees, carried by the breeze from the lotus ponds.

जगतुः सर्वभूतानां मनःश्रवणमङ्गलम्। तौ कल्पयन्तौ युगपत्स्वरमण्डलमूर्च्छितम्

They sang together, producing a melody that blessed the minds and ears of all beings, skillfully weaving harmonies at once.

गोप्यस्तद्गीतमाकर्ण्य मूर्च्छिता नाविदन्नृप। स्रंसद्दुकूलमात्मानं स्रस्तकेशस्रजं ततः

Hearing that song, the gopis became faint, O king, unaware of themselves; their garments slipped, their hair and garlands loosened.

एवं विक्रीडतोः स्वैरं गायतोः सम्प्रमत्तवत्। शङ्खचूड इति ख्यातो धनदानुचरोऽभ्यगात्

As they played freely and sang, lost in delight, Shankhachuda, renowned as a follower of Kubera, approached.

तयोर्निरीक्षतो राजंस्तन्नाथं प्रमदाजनम्। क्रोशन्तं कालयामास दिश्युदीच्यामशङ्कितः

While Krishna and Rama watched, the king, seeing the women gathered and crying out, began to drive them northward without hesitation.

क्रोशन्तं कृष्ण रामेति विलोक्य स्वपरिग्रहम्। यथा गा दस्युना ग्रस्ता भ्रातरावन्वधावताम्

Seeing the women crying out, 'Krishna! Rama!' and observing his own companions seized, Krishna and Rama rushed after them, as brothers would pursue a thief who has taken their cows.

मा भैष्टेत्यभयारावौ शालहस्तौ तरस्विनौ। आसेदतुस्तं तरसा त्वरितं गुह्यकाधमम्

Calling out, 'Do not fear!' with voices of reassurance, the two powerful brothers, armed with clubs, swiftly pursued the wicked Yaksha.

स वीक्ष्य तावनुप्राप्तौ कालमृत्यू इवोद्विजन्। विसृज्य स्त्रीजनं मूढः प्राद्रवज्जीवितेच्छया

Seeing them approach like Death and Time, the foolish Yaksha abandoned the women and fled in his desire to preserve his life.

तमन्वधावद्गोविन्दो यत्र यत्र स धावति। जिहीर्षुस्तच्छिरोरत्नं तस्थौ रक्षन्स्त्रियो बलः

Govinda chased after him wherever he ran, intent on seizing the jewel from his head, while Balarama stayed behind to protect the women.