गोपपुत्रैः समं वत्सांश् चारयन्तौ विचेरतुः कालेन गच्छता तौ तु सप्तवर्षौ बभूवतुः
Along with the sons of the cowherds, they herded the calves and wandered about; as time passed, the two reached the age of seven years.
सर्वस्य जगतः पालौ वत्सपालौ महाव्रजे प्रावृट्कालस् ततो ऽतीव मेघौघस्थगिताम्बरः
The two herders of calves became the protectors of the whole world in the great Vraja; then came the rainy season, with the sky thickly covered by masses of clouds.
बभूव वारिधाराभिर् ऐक्यं कुर्वन् दिशाम् इव प्ररूढनवपुष्पाढ्या शक्रगोपवृता मही
There was a downpour of rain, as if uniting all the directions; the earth, covered with fresh-blooming flowers and the red insects called Indra's cows, was resplendent.
यथा मारकते वासीत् पद्मरागविभूषिता ऊहुर् उन्मार्गगामीनि निम्नगाम्भांसि सर्वतः
Just as an emerald is adorned with rubies, so the rivers, flowing out of their courses, carried everything away on all sides.
मनांसि दुर्विनीतानां प्राप्य लक्ष्मीं नवाम् इव विकाले च यथाकामं व्रजम् एत्य महाबलौ गोपैः समानैः सहितौ चिक्रीडाते ऽमराव् इव
The minds of the undisciplined, having attained new fortune, were like that; and in that season, as they wished, the two mighty ones, accompanied by their equals among the cowherds, played in Vraja like immortals.
एकदा तु विना रामं कृष्णो वृन्दावनं ययौ विचचार वृतो गोपैर् वन्यपुष्पस्रगुज्ज्वलः
One day, without Rāma, Kṛṣṇa went to Vṛndāvana; surrounded by cowherds and radiant with garlands of wild flowers, he wandered there.
स जगामाथ कालिन्दीं लोलकल्लोलशालिनीम् तीरसंलग्नफेनौघैर् हसन्तीम् इव सर्वतः
He then went to the Yamunā, whose waves danced playfully, whose banks were adorned with clusters of foam, as if she were laughing everywhere.
तस्यां चातिमहाभीमं विषाग्निकणदूषितम् ह्रदं कालीयनागस्य ददर्शातिविभीषणम्
There he saw a most dreadful pool, tainted by drops of poisonous fire, exceedingly terrifying, the abode of the serpent Kāliya.
विषाग्निना विसरता दग्धतीरमहातरुम् वाताहताम्बुविक्षेपस्पर्शदग्धविहंगमम्
Burned by the poison-fire that spread, the great trees on the riverbank were scorched, and the birds were singed by the wind-driven spray of the water.
तम् अतीव महारौद्रं मृत्युवक्त्रम् इवापरम् विलोक्य चिन्तयाम् आस भगवान् मधुसूदनः
Beholding that exceedingly terrible scene, like another mouth of Death, the blessed Madhusudana began to reflect.
अस्मिन् वसति दुष्टात्मा कालीयो ऽसौ विषायुधः यो मया निर्जितस् त्यक्त्वा दुष्टो नष्टः पयोनिधौ
Here dwells that wicked-hearted Kāliya, armed with poison, whom I once defeated and who, having been expelled, vanished into the ocean.
तेनेयं दूषिता सर्वा यमुना सागरंगमा न नरैर् गोधनैर् वापि तृषार्तैर् उपभुज्यते
By him, this entire Yamunā, which flows to the sea, has been polluted; neither men nor cattle, nor even the thirsty, can make use of it.
तद् अस्य नागराजस्य कर्तव्यो निग्रहो मया नित्यत्रस्ताः सुखं येन चरेयुर् व्रजवासिनः
Therefore, I must subdue this serpent king, so that the people of Vraja, who are always fearful, may live in happiness.
एतदर्थं नृलोके ऽस्मिन्न् अवतारो मया कृतः यद् एषाम् उत्पथस्थानां कार्या शास्तिर् दुरात्मनाम्
For this purpose, I have taken birth in the world of men: to discipline those evil ones who stray from the right path.
तद् एतन् नातिदूरस्थं कदम्बम् उरुशाखिनम् अधिरुह्योत्पतिष्यामि ह्रदे ऽस्मिञ् जीवनाशिनः
So, I will climb this kadamba tree, with its great branches, not far from here, and leap into this deadly pool.
इत्थं विचिन्त्य बद्ध्वा च गाढं परिकरं ततः निपपात ह्रदे तत्र सर्पराजस्य वेगतः
Thus resolved, fastening his garment tightly, he then leapt swiftly into the pool of the serpent king.
तेनापि पतता तत्र क्षोभितः स महाह्रदः अत्यर्थदूरजातांश् च तांश् चासिञ्चन् महीरुहान्
By his very fall, that great pool was agitated, and he drenched the distant trees with the water.
ते ऽहिदुष्टविषज्वालातप्ताम्बुतपनोक्षिताः जज्वलुः पादपाः सद्यो ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगन्तराः
Those trees, scorched by the heat of the serpent's poisonous flames and the burning water, blazed up at once, their flames filling all directions.
आस्फोटयाम् आस तदा कृष्णो नागह्रदं भुजैः तच्छब्दश्रवणाच् चाथ नागराजो ऽभ्युपागमत्
Then Krishna struck the serpent's pool with his arms, and hearing that sound, the serpent king approached.
आताम्रनयनः कोपाद् विषज्वालाकुलैः फणैः वृतो महाविषैश् चान्यैर् अरुणैर् अनिलाशनैः
His eyes reddened with anger, his hoods blazing with streams of poison, surrounded by other great, red, wind-devouring serpents.
नागपत्न्यश् च शतशो हारिहारोपशोभिताः प्रकम्पिततनूत्क्षेपचलत्कुण्डलकान्तयः
And hundreds of serpent wives, adorned with splendid ornaments, their bodies trembling and their earrings swinging, shone forth.
ततः प्रवेष्टितः सर्पैः स कृष्णो भोगबन्धनैः ददंशुश् चापि ते कृष्णं विषज्वालाविलैर् मुखैः
Then Krishna was encircled by the serpents with their coils, and they bit him with mouths streaming with poisonous flames.
तं तत्र पतितं दृष्ट्वा नागभोगनिपीडितम् गोपा व्रजम् उपागत्य चुक्रुशुः शोकलालसाः
Seeing him fallen there, crushed by the coils of the serpent, the cowherds, filled with grief, hurried back to Vraja, crying out.
एष कृष्णो गतो मोहमग्नो वै कालिये ह्रदे भक्ष्यते सर्पराजेन तद् आगच्छत मा चिरम्
"Krishna has lost consciousness and is submerged in Kāliya's pool; he is being devoured by the serpent king—come quickly, do not delay!"
एतच् छ्रुत्वा ततो गोपा वज्रपातोपमं वचः गोप्यश् च त्वरिता जग्मुर् यशोदाप्रमुखा ह्रदम्
Hearing these thunderous words, the cowherds and the women, led by Yashoda, hurried swiftly to the pool.
हा हा क्वासाव् इति जनो गोपीनाम् अतिविह्वलः यशोदया समं भ्रान्तो द्रुतः प्रस्खलितो ययौ
Crying out, "Alas! Where is he?" the people, especially the cowherd women, distraught, rushed together with Yashoda, stumbling as they went.
नन्दगोपश् च गोपाश् च रामश् चाद्भुतविक्रमः त्वरितं यमुनां जग्मुः कृष्णदर्शनलालसाः
Nanda the cowherd, the other cowherds, and Rama of wondrous might, eager to see Krishna, quickly went to the Yamuna.
ददृशुश् चापि ते तत्र सर्पराजवशंगतम् निष्प्रयत्नं कृतं कृष्णं सर्पभोगेन वेष्टितम्
There they saw Krishna, rendered motionless under the power of the serpent king, bound by the coils of the serpent, unable to act.
नन्दगोपश् च निश्चेष्टः पश्यन् पुत्रमुखं भृशम् यशोदा च महाभागा बभूव मुनिसत्तमाः
Nanda stood helpless, gazing intently at his son's face, and Yashoda, greatly blessed, became overwhelmed, O best of sages.
गोप्यस् त्व् अन्या रुदत्यश् च ददृशुः शोककातराः प्रोचुश् च केशवं प्रीत्या भयकातरगद्गदम्
The other cowherd women, weeping and distressed with sorrow, saw this and spoke to Keshava with affection, their voices trembling with fear.