Bhagavata Purana

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.

अविदूर इवाभ्येत्य शिरस्तस्य दुरात्मनः। जहार मुष्टिनैवाङ्ग सहचूडमणिं विभुः

Approaching from not far off, the mighty one struck the wicked man's head with his fist and took the crest jewel along with the companion jewel.

शङ्खचूडं निहत्यैवं मणिमादाय भास्वरम्। अग्रजायाददात्प्रीत्या पश्यन्तीनां च योषिताम्

Having slain Shankhachuda, he took the radiant jewel and, with affection, gave it to his elder brother while the women watched.

युग्मगीतं; गोचारणाय वनं गतस्य भगवतो गोपीजनकृतं गुणगानम् - श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) गोप्यः कृष्णे वनं याते तमनुद्रुतचेतसः । कृष्णलीलाः प्रगायन्त्यो निन्युर्दुःखेन वासरान्

Shuka said: The gopis, their minds following Krishna as he went to the forest for grazing, spent their days in sorrow, singing of Krishna's pastimes.

श्रीगोप्य ऊचुः - ( स्वागता ) वामबाहुकृतवामकपोलो वल्गितभ्रुरधरार्पितवेणुम् । कोमलाङ्‌गुलिभिराश्रितमार्गं गोप्य ईरयति यत्र मुकुन्दः

The gopis said: Where Mukunda plays the flute, holding it to his lips with his left hand, his left cheek pressed against his left arm, his brows dancing, and his delicate fingers tracing the path, there he calls us.

व्योमयानवनिताः सह सिद्धैः विस्मितास्तदुपधार्य सलज्जाः । काममार्गणसमर्पितचित्ताः कश्मलं ययुरपस्मृतनीव्यः

The wives of the celestial beings, together with the Siddhas, were astonished as they listened; bashful, their minds surrendered to the arrows of love, they became bewildered and forgot their garments.

हन्त चित्रमबलाः श्रृणुतेदं हारहास उरसि स्थिरविद्युत् । नन्दसूनुरयमार्तजनानां नर्मदो यर्हि कूजितवेणुः

Ah, wondrous girls, listen to this: when the son of Nanda, the giver of delight to the suffering, plays the flute, a necklace and a smile shine on his chest like a steady lightning flash.

वृन्दशो व्रजवृषा मृगगावो वेणुवाद्यहृतचेतस आरात् । दन्तदष्टकवला धृतकर्णा निद्रिता लिखितचित्रमिवासन्

In groups, the bulls of Vraja, the deer, and the cows, their minds captivated by the sound of the flute from afar, with mouthfuls held between their teeth and ears attentive, sat as if painted, motionless and asleep.

बर्हिणस्तबकधातुपलाशैः बद्धमल्लपरिबर्हविडम्बः । कर्हिचित्सबल आलि स गोपैः गाः समाह्वयति यत्र मुकुन्दः

With peacock feathers, colored minerals, and leaves adorning him, imitating the garb of a wrestler, sometimes Mukunda, together with the cowherd boys, calls the cows.

तर्हि भग्नगतयः सरितो वै तत्पदाम्बुजरजोऽनिलनीतम् । स्पृहयतीर्वयमिवाबहुपुण्याः प्रेमवेपितभुजाः स्तिमितापः

Then, the rivers, their currents broken, carried by the breeze bearing dust from his lotus feet, long for him as we do, blessed by many merits, their arms trembling with love, their waters stilled.

( मिश्र ) अनुचरैः समनुवर्णितवीर्य आदिपूरुष इवाचलभूतिः । वनचरो गिरितटेषु चरन्तीः वेणुनाह्वयति गाः स यदा हि

When he, the original person, like a mountain lord, is praised by his companions for his valor, and as a wanderer in the forest, calls the cows with his flute along the mountain slopes.

वनलतास्तरव आत्मनि विष्णुं व्यञ्जयन्त्य इव पुष्पफलाढ्याः । प्रणतभारविटपा मधुधाराः प्रेमहृष्टतनवः ससृजुः स्म

The forest creepers and trees, abundant with flowers and fruits, seem to manifest Vishnu within themselves; their branches bowed with honey streams, their bodies thrilled with love, they produced blossoms.

दर्शनीयतिलको वनमाला दिव्यगन्धतुलसीमधुमत्तैः । अलिकुलैरलघु गीतामभीष्टं आद्रियन् यर्हि सन्धितवेणुः

Adorned with a tilaka, a garland of forest flowers, divine fragrance, and honey-laden tulasi, when he plays the flute, the bees, intoxicated, sing their desired song, honoring him.

सरसि सारसहंसविहङ्‌गाः चारुगीतहृतचेतस एत्य । हरिमुपासत ते यतचित्ता हन्त मीलितदृशो धृतमौनाः

In the lake, cranes, swans, and birds, their minds captivated by the beautiful song, approach Hari, their minds restrained, eyes closed, maintaining silence as they worship him.

सहबलः स्रगवतंसविलासः सानुषु क्षितिभृतो व्रजदेव्यः । हर्षयन् यर्हि वेणुरवेण जातहर्ष उपरम्भति विश्वम्

With his companions, adorned with garlands and ornaments, on the slopes of the hills, when he delights the cowherd women with the sound of the flute, joy arises and pervades the world.

महदतिक्रमणशङ्‌कितचेता मन्दमन्दमनुगर्जति मेघः । सुहृदमभ्यवर्षत् सुमनोभिः छायया च विदधत्प्रतपत्रम्

The cloud, cautious of exceeding its bounds, softly rumbles, and, as a friend, showers flowers and provides shade, forming a canopy for him.

विविधगोपचरणेषु विदग्धो वेणुवाद्य उरुधा निजशिक्षाः । तव सुतः सति यदाधरबिम्बे दत्तवेणुरनयत् स्वरजातीः

Expert in tending various cows, skilled in flute playing, your son, when he places the flute on his lips, brings forth melodies of his own creation.

सवनशस्तदुपधार्य सुरेशाः शक्रशर्वपरमेष्ठिपुरोगाः । कवय आनतकन्धरचित्ताः कश्मलं ययुरनिश्चिततत्त्वाः

Hearing this, the lords of the gods—Indra, Shiva, Brahma, and others—together with the sages, bowed their necks and minds, became bewildered, unable to discern the truth.

निजपदाब्जदलैर्ध्वजवज्र नीरजाङ्‌कुशविचित्रललामैः । व्रजभुवः शमयन् खुरतोदं वर्ष्मधुर्यगतिरीडितवेणुः

With the marks of flag, thunderbolt, lotus, and goad on their hoofs, the cows, delighted by the flute, soothe the earth of Vraja, covering the wounds made by their hooves.

व्रजति तेन वयं सविलास वीक्षणार्पितमनोभववेगाः । कुजगतिं गमिता न विदामः कश्मलेन कवरं वसनं वा

As he passes by, we, overcome by the playful glances he casts and the force of desire awakened in our hearts, do not know how we wander about, or whether our hair or our garments are in disarray, lost in confusion.

मणिधरः क्वचिदागणयन् गा मालया दयितगन्धतुलस्याः । प्रणयिनोऽनुचरस्य कदांसे प्रक्षिपन् भुजमगायत यत्र

Sometimes, adorned with a garland fragrant with the beloved scent of tulasi, he counts the cows, and, placing his arm on the shoulder of a dear companion, he sings as he walks.