गोपवृद्धांश्च विधिवद्यविष्ठैरभिवन्दितः । यथावयो यथासख्यं यथासम्बन्धमात्मनः ॥ 10.65.
He respectfully greeted the elder cowherds, who were seated according to custom, each according to their age, friendship, and relationship to himself.
समुपेत्याथ गोपालान् हास्यहस्तग्रहादिभिः । विश्रान्तं सुखमासीनं पप्रच्छुः पर्युपागताः ॥ 10.65.
Then, approaching the cowherd men, with laughter, handshakes, and other gestures, those who had gathered around asked him, as he sat comfortably at ease.
पृष्टाश्चानामयं स्वेषु प्रेमगद्गदया गिरा । कृष्णे कमलपत्राक्षे सन्न्यस्ताखिलराधसः ॥ 10.65.
And he, in turn, asked after their well-being and that of their families, his voice choked with affection, for in Kṛṣṇa, whose eyes are like lotus petals, all their burdens had been placed.
कच्चिन्नो बान्धवा राम सर्वे कुशलमासते । कच्चित्स्मरथ नो राम यूयं दारसुतान्विताः ॥ 10.65.
"O Rāma, are all your relatives well? Do you, with your wives and children, still remember us?"
दिष्ट्या कंसो हतः पापो दिष्ट्या मुक्ताः सुहृज्जनाः । निहत्य निर्जित्य रिपून् दिष्ट्या दुर्गं समाश्रीताः ॥ 10.65.
"By good fortune, the wicked Kaṃsa has been slain; by good fortune, your friends have been freed; by good fortune, having defeated your enemies, you have taken shelter in a stronghold."
गोप्यो हसन्त्यः पप्रच्छू रामसन्दर्शनादृताः । कच्चिदास्ते सुखं कृष्णः पुरस्त्रीजनवल्लभः ॥ 10.65.
The cowherd women, delighted by the sight of Rāma, laughed and asked, "Is Kṛṣṇa, beloved of the city women, living happily?"
कच्चित्स्मरति वा बन्धून् पितरं मातरं च सः । अप्यसौ मातरं द्रष्टुं सकृदप्यागमिष्यति । अपि वा स्मरतेऽस्माकमनुसेवां महाभुजः ॥ 10.65.
"Does he remember his relatives, his father and mother? Will he ever come, even once, to see his mother? Or does that mighty-armed one remember our service to him?"
मातरं पितरं भ्रातॄन् पतीन् पुत्रान् स्वसॄनपि । यदर्थे जहिम दाशार्ह दुस्त्यजान् स्वजनान् प्रभो ॥ 10.65.
"For whose sake, O Dāśārha, did you, O Lord, abandon your mother, father, brothers, husbands, sons, and even sisters—your dearest kin?"
ता नः सद्यः परित्यज्य गतः सञ्छिन्नसौहृदः । कथं नु तादृशं स्त्रीभिर्न श्रद्धीयेत भाषितम् ॥ 10.65.
"He left us suddenly, severing our bonds of affection. How, then, could such a one be trusted by women to keep his word?"
कथं नु गृह्णन्त्यनवस्थितात्मनो वचः कृतघ्नस्य बुधाः पुरस्त्रियः । गृह्णन्ति वै चित्रकथस्य सुन्दर स्मितावलोकोच्छ्वसितस्मरातुराः ॥ 10.65.
"How could the women of the city, wise as they are, accept the words of one so inconstant and ungrateful? Yet, enchanted by his charming stories, smiles, glances, and sighs, they do accept him, lovesick as they are."
* किं नस्तत्कथया गोप्यः कथाः कथयतापराः । यात्यस्माभिर्विना कालो यदि तस्य तथैव नः ॥ 10.65.
"What use is there for us, O cowherd women, in talking of him? Let us speak of other things. Time passes for us in his absence, if it passes for him as it does for us."
इति प्रहसितं शौरेर्जल्पितं चारुवीक्षितम् । गतिं प्रेमपरिष्वङ्गं स्मरन्त्यो रुरुदुः स्त्रियः ॥ 10.65.
Remembering the playful words, the lovely glances, the movements, and the loving embraces of Śauri, the women wept.
सङ्कर्षणस्ताः कृष्णस्य सन्देशैर्हृदयंगमैः । सान्त्वयामास भगवान्नानानुनयकोविदः ॥ 10.65.
Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, skilled in many ways of persuasion, comforted them with heartfelt messages from Kṛṣṇa.
द्वौ मासौ तत्र चावात्सीन्मधुं माधवं एव च । रामः क्षपासु भगवान् गोपीनां रतिमावहन् ॥ 10.65.
There, Rāma stayed for two months—Madhu and Mādhava—bringing delight to the gopīs during the nights.
पूर्णचन्द्रकलामृष्टे कौमुदीगन्धवायुना । यमुनोपवने रेमे सेविते स्त्रीगणैर्वृतः ॥ 10.65.
Bathed in the light of the full moon, with the fragrance of the night-blooming lotuses carried by the breeze, he enjoyed himself in the groves by the Yamunā, surrounded by groups of women who served him.
वरुणप्रेषिता देवी वारुणी वृक्षकोटरात् । पतन्ती तद्वनं सर्वं स्वगन्धेनाध्यवासयत् ॥ 10.65.
Sent by Varuna, the goddess Varuni emerged from the hollow of a tree, and as she descended, her fragrance filled the entire forest.
तं गन्धं मधुधाराया वायुनोपहृतं बलः । आघ्रायोपगतस्तत्र ललनाभिः समं पपौ ॥ 10.65.
Bala inhaled the scent of the honey-stream, carried by the wind, and approached there, drinking together with the women, using his tongue.
उपगीयमानो गन्धर्वैर्वनिताशोभिमण्डले । रेमे करेणुयूथेशो माहेन्द्र इव वारणः ॥ 10.65.
As Gandharvas sang, in a circle adorned by beautiful women, the lord of the elephant herd enjoyed himself, like Indra among elephants.
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो व्योम्नि ववृषुः कुसुमैर्मुदा । गन्धर्वा मुनयो रामं तद्वीर्यैरीडिरे तदा ॥ 10.65.
Drums resounded in the sky, flowers rained down in joy, and Gandharvas and sages praised Rama for his deeds.
उपगीयमानचरितो वनिताभिर्हलायुध । वनेषु व्यचरत्क्षीवो मदविह्वललोचनः ॥ 10.65.
His exploits were sung by the women, and Halayudha wandered through the forests, intoxicated, his eyes unsteady from delight.
स्रग्व्येककुण्डलो मत्तो वैजयन्त्या च मालया । बिभ्रत्स्मितमुखाम्भोजं स्वेदप्रालेयभूषितम् ॥ 10.65.
Adorned with a garland, a single earring, intoxicated, wearing the Vaijayanti wreath, displaying a smiling lotus-like face, embellished with drops of sweat like frost.
स आजुहाव यमुनां जलक्रीडार्थमीश्वरः । निजं वाक्यमनादृत्य मत्त इत्यापगां बलः ॥ 10.65.
The lord summoned the Yamuna for water games, but Bala, disregarding his own words, intoxicated, called out to the river.
अनागतां हलाग्रेण कुपितो विचकर्ष ह । पापे त्वं मामवज्ञाय यन्नायासि मयाहुता । नेष्ये त्वां लाङ्गलाग्रेण शतधा कामचारिणीम् ॥ 10.65.
When she did not come, angered, he dragged her with the tip of his plough, saying: 'O sinful one, you have disregarded me though I called you; I will lead you with the tip of my plough, you who wander as you please.'
एवं निर्भर्त्सिता भीता यमुना यदुनन्दनम् । उवाच चकिता वाचं पतिता पादयोर्नृप ॥ 10.65.
Thus rebuked, frightened, Yamuna spoke trembling words to the son of Yadu, falling at his feet, O King.
राम राम महाबाहो न जाने तव विक्रमम् । यस्यैकांशेन विधृता जगती जगतः पते ॥ 10.65.
O Rama, Rama, mighty-armed, I do not know your prowess, O lord of the world, by whose single portion the earth is sustained.
परं भावं भगवतो भगवन्मामजानतीम् । मोक्तुमर्हसि विश्वात्मन् प्रपन्नां भक्तवत्सल ॥ 10.65.
O Lord, you should forgive me, who did not know your supreme nature; O soul of the universe, friend of devotees, I have taken refuge in you.
ततो व्यमुञ्चद्यमुनां याचितो भगवान् बलः । विजगाह जलं स्त्रीभिः करेणुभिरिवेभराट् ॥ 10.65.
Then, requested, the blessed Bala released Yamuna, and bathed in the water with the women, like a king elephant with female elephants.
कामं विहृत्य सलिलादुत्तीर्णायासीताम्बरे । भूषणानि महार्हाणि ददौ कान्तिः शुभां स्रजम् ॥ 10.65.
After enjoying himself, he emerged from the water, and in the open air, he gave the women splendid ornaments and a beautiful garland.
वसित्वा वाससी नीले मालां आमुच्य काञ्चनीम् । रेये स्वलङ्कृतो लिप्तो माहेन्द्र इव वारणः ॥ 10.65.
Having put on blue garments and a golden garland, he rested, well adorned and anointed, like Indra among elephants.
अद्यापि दृश्यते राजन् यमुनाकृष्टवर्त्मना । बलस्यानन्तवीर्यस्य वीर्यं सूचयतीव हि ॥ 10.65.
Even today, O King, the path drawn by Bala's dragging of Yamuna is visible, as if indicating the endless strength of Bala.