अग्न्यर्कातिथिगोविप्र पितृदेवार्चनान्वितैः। धूपदीपैश्च माल्यैश्च गोपावासैर्मनोरमम्
The delightful cowherd settlement was filled with rituals for fire, sun, guests, cows, brāhmaṇas, ancestors, and gods, as well as incense, lamps, and garlands.
सर्वतः पुष्पितवनं द्विजालिकुलनादितम्। हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णैः पद्मषण्डैश्च मण्डितम्
All around bloomed flower-filled groves, echoing with the songs of flocks of birds, and adorned with ponds full of swans, cranes, and lotuses.
तमागतं समागम्य कृष्णस्यानुचरं प्रियम्। नन्दः प्रीतः परिष्वज्य वासुदेवधियार्चयत्
When he arrived, Nanda, meeting Kṛṣṇa's dear companion, joyfully embraced Uddhava and honored him with the devotion he felt for Vāsudeva.
भोजितं परमान्नेन संविष्टं कशिपौ सुखम्। गतश्रमं पर्यपृच्छत्पादसंवाहनादिभिः
After feeding him the finest food and seating him comfortably on a soft couch, Nanda, seeing Uddhava's fatigue gone, inquired after his well-being, offering foot massages and other services.
कच्चिदङ्ग महाभाग सखा नः शूरनन्दनः। आस्ते कुशल्यपत्याद्यैर्युक्तो मुक्तः सुहृद्व्रतः
O fortunate one, is our friend, the son of Śūra, well? Is he surrounded by his family and children, free from troubles, and steadfast in his friendship?
दिष्ट्या कंसो हतः पापः सानुगः स्वेन पाप्मना। साधूनां धर्मशीलानां यदूनां द्वेष्टि यः सदा
By good fortune, the wicked Kaṃsa, always hating the virtuous and righteous Yadus, has been slain along with his followers by his own evil.
अपि स्मरति नः कृष्णो मातरं सुहृदः सखीन्। गोपान्व्रजं चात्मनाथं गावो वृन्दावनं गिरिम्
Does Krishna still remember us—his mother, his friends, the cowherds, the village, his own dear ones, the cows, Vrindavana, and the hill?
अप्यायास्यति गोविन्दः स्वजनान्सकृदीक्षितुम्। तर्हि द्रक्ष्याम तद्वक्त्रं सुनसं सुस्मितेक्षणम्
Will Govinda return, even once, to see his own people? Then we shall behold that face of his, with its fine nose and beautiful, smiling eyes.
दावाग्नेर्वातवर्षाच्च वृषसर्पाच्च रक्षिताः। दुरत्ययेभ्यो मृत्युभ्यः कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना
From forest fires, storms and rains, wild bulls and serpents, and from dangers impossible to cross—even from death itself—we were protected by Krishna, the supremely great soul.
स्मरतां कृष्णवीर्याणि लीलापाङ्गनिरीक्षितम्। हसितं भाषितं चाङ्ग सर्वा नः शिथिलाः क्रियाः
When we remember Krishna’s heroic deeds, his playful glances, his laughter and speech, O dear one, all our activities become slack.
सरिच्छैलवनोद्देशान्मुकुन्दपदभूषितान्। आक्रीडानीक्ष्यमाणानां मनो याति तदात्मताम्
Our minds become absorbed in those places—rivers, mountains, and forests—adorned by Mukunda’s footsteps, where we saw him play.
मन्ये कृष्णं च रामं च प्राप्ताविह सुरोत्तमौ। सुराणां महदर्थाय गर्गस्य वचनं यथा
I think Krishna and Rama, the best among the gods, have come here for some great purpose of the gods, just as Garga said.
कंसं नागायुतप्राणं मल्लौ गजपतिं यथा। अवधिष्टां लीलयैव पशूनिव मृगाधिपः
Kamsa, whose strength was like ten thousand elephants, the wrestlers, and the lord of elephants—he destroyed them all effortlessly, as a lion does beasts.
तालत्रयं महासारं धनुर्यष्टिमिवेभराट्। बभञ्जैकेन हस्तेन सप्ताहमदधाद्गिरिम्
He broke the three mighty palm trees, strong as a great bow, with one hand, and for seven days he held up the mountain.
प्रलम्बो धेनुकोऽरिष्टस्तृणावर्तो बकादयः। दैत्याः सुरासुरजितो हता येनेह लीलया
Pralamba, Dhenuka, Arishta, Trinavarta, Baka, and others—these demons, conquerors of gods and demons, were slain by him here in play.
श्रीशुक उवाच। इति संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य नन्दः कृष्णानुरक्तधीः। अत्युत्कण्ठोऽभवत्तूष्णीं प्रेमप्रसरविह्वलः
Śuka said: Thus, remembering again and again, Nanda, whose mind was devoted to Krishna, became overwhelmed with longing and sat silent, overcome by the surge of love.
यशोदा वर्ण्यमानानि पुत्रस्य चरितानि च। शृण्वन्त्यश्रूण्यवास्राक्षीत्स्नेहस्नुतपयोधरा
Yaśodā, as she listened to the stories of her son’s deeds, her eyes filled with tears, and her breasts, flowing with affection, became wet.
तयोरित्थं भगवति कृष्णे नन्दयशोदयोः। वीक्ष्यानुरागं परमं नन्दमाहोद्धवो मुदा
Seeing such supreme love for Krishna in Nanda and Yaśodā, Uddhava, filled with joy, spoke to Nanda.
श्रीउद्धव उवाच। युवां श्लाघ्यतमौ नूनं देहिनामिह मानद। नारायणेऽखिलगुरौ यत्कृता मतिरीदृशी
Uddhava said: You two are surely the most praiseworthy among all embodied beings, O bestowers of honor, for your minds are fixed in this way upon Nārāyaṇa, the teacher of all.
एतौ हि विश्वस्य च बीजयोनी रामो मुकुन्दः पुरुषः प्रधानम्। अन्वीय भूतेषु विलक्षणस्य ज्ञानस्य चेशात इमौ पुराणौ
For these two—Rāma and Mukunda—are the seed and womb of the universe: the Person and the Primal Matter. In all beings, they are the ancient lords of knowledge and mastery, distinct from all else.
यस्मिन्जनः प्राणवियोगकाले क्षणं समावेश्य मनोऽविशुद्धम्। निर्हृत्य कर्माशयमाशु याति परां गतिं ब्रह्ममयोऽर्कवर्णः
He, in whom, at the time of death, a person fixes even an impure mind for a moment, who swiftly removes the store of karma—he, radiant as the sun and full of Brahman, leads one to the supreme path.
तस्मिन्भवन्तावखिलात्महेतौ नारायणे कारणमर्त्यमूर्तौ। भावं विधत्तां नितरां महात्मन्किं वावशिष्टं युवयोः सुकृत्यम्
In him, Nārāyaṇa, cause of all, who has taken a mortal form for the sake of all souls—since you have set your hearts so deeply, O great ones, what greater merit could there be for you?
आगमिष्यत्यदीर्घेण कालेन व्रजमच्युतः। प्रियं विधास्यते पित्रोर्भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः
Within a short time, Acyuta, the Lord of the Sātvatas, will come to Vraja and bring joy to his parents.
हत्वा कंसं रङ्गमध्ये प्रतीपं सर्वसात्वताम्। यदाह वः समागत्य कृष्णः सत्यं करोति तत्
Having slain Kamsa, the enemy of all the Sātvatas, in the midst of the arena, whatever Krishna promised you when he met you, he will surely fulfill.
मा खिद्यतं महाभागौ द्रक्ष्यथः कृष्णमन्तिके। अन्तर्हृदि स भूतानामास्ते ज्योतिरिवैधसि
Do not grieve, O greatly fortunate ones; you will see Krishna nearby. He dwells within the hearts of all beings, like a light within the ether.
न ह्यस्यास्ति प्रियः कश्चिन्नाप्रियो वास्त्यमानिनः। नोत्तमो नाधमो वापि समानस्यासमोऽपि वा
For him who exists in reality, there is no one dear nor anyone disliked; neither superior nor inferior, nor equal nor unequal, for he is the same to all.
न माता न पिता तस्य न भार्या न सुतादयः। नात्मीयो न परश्चापि न देहो जन्म एव च
He has neither mother nor father, nor wife nor sons and others; neither his own nor another, nor body nor birth at all.
न चास्य कर्म वा लोके सदसन्मिश्रयोनिषु। क्रीडार्थं सोऽपि साधूनां परित्राणाय कल्पते
Nor does he have any action in this world among the mixed sources of good and bad; even so, for the sake of play, he appears for the protection of the virtuous.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति भजते निर्गुणो गुणान्। क्रीडन्नतीतोऽपि गुणैः सृजत्यवन्हन्त्यजः
Though beyond qualities, he assumes the modes of goodness, passion, and darkness; playing with them, he creates, maintains, and destroys, though unborn.
यथा भ्रमरिकादृष्ट्या भ्राम्यतीव महीयते। चित्ते कर्तरि तत्रात्मा कर्तेवाहंधिया स्मृतः
Just as, by the vision of the bee, something appears to whirl and be greatly agitated, so, in the mind, the self is remembered as the doer by the notion of agency.