इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं निर्माणं नगरस्य च
Thus everything has been told, including the creation of the city.
अहो किमद्भुतं सूत रहस्यं सुमनोहरम्
Ah, what a wondrous thing, O Sūta! The secret is most enchanting.
सूत उवाच पप्रच्छ कृष्णचरितमपरं सुमनोहरम्
Sūta said: He asked about another most enchanting story of Kṛṣṇa.
नारद उवाच ज्ञानसिंधो निगद मां शिष्यं च शरणागतम्
Nārada said: O ocean of knowledge, speak to me and to my disciple who has taken refuge.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मुदा नारायणः स्वयम्
Hearing Narada's words, Narayana himself became joyful.
श्रीनारायण उवाच जगाम श्रीमधुवनं यमुनातीरनीरजम्
Sri Narayana spoke: He went to the splendid Madhuvana, the sandy bank of the Yamuna.
विचेरुर्गोसहस्रैश्च चिक्रीडुर्बालकास्तदा
He wandered with thousands of cows and played with the boys at that time.
तमूचुर्गोपशिशवः श्रीकृष्णं परया मुदा
The cowherd boys addressed Sri Krishna with great delight.
शिशूनां वचनं श्रुत्वा तानुवाच दयानिधिः
Hearing the words of the children, the compassionate one spoke to them.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच अन्नं याचत ताञ्छीघ्रं ब्राह्मणांश्च क्रतून्मुखान्
Sri Krishna spoke: Quickly ask for food from the Brahmins who are engaged in sacrifice.
विप्रा आंगिरसाः सर्वे स्वाश्रमे श्रीवनान्तिके 4.18.
All the Angirasa Brahmins were in their own hermitage near the sacred forest.
निःस्पृहा वैष्णवाः सर्वे मां यजन्ति मुमुक्षवः। मायया मां न जानन्ति मायामानुषरूपिणम्
All the Vaishnavas were free from desire, worshipping me seeking liberation; through illusion, they do not know me, appearing in human form.
न चेद्ददति युष्मभ्यमन्नं विप्राः क्रतून्मुखाः
If the Brahmins engaged in sacrifice do not give you food,
श्रीकृष्णवचनं श्रुत्वा ययुर्बालकपुंगवाः
Hearing Sri Krishna's words, the foremost boys departed.
इत्यूचुर्बालकाः शीघ्रमन्नं दत्त द्विजोत्तमाः
Thus the boys said: Quickly give us food, O best of twice-born!
ते ययू रन्धनागारं ब्राह्मण्यो यत्र पाचिकाः
They went to the kitchen where the Brahmin women were cooking.
नत्वोचुर्बालकाः सर्वे विप्रभार्याः पतिव्रताः
All the boys bowed and addressed the wives of the Brahmins, who were devoted to their husbands.
बालानां वचनं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तांश्च मनोहरान्
Hearing the words of the boys and seeing them, charming as they were,
विप्रपत्न्य ऊचुः दास्यामोऽन्नं बहुविधं व्यञ्जनैः सहितं वरम्
The wives of the Brahmins spoke: We shall give you excellent food of many kinds, together with delicious dishes.
बाला ऊचुः दत्तान्नं मातरोऽस्मभ्यं क्षिप्रं यामस्तदन्तिकम् ।। 4.18.
The boys said: Mothers, give us the food quickly; we will go to him at once.
इतो विदूरे भाण्डीरे वनाभ्यन्तरमेव च
Beyond this, in Bhāṇḍīra, within the forest itself,
विश्रान्तौ क्षुधितौ तौ च याचेतेऽन्नं च मातरः
They are resting and hungry; mothers, they ask for food.
गोपानां वचनं श्रुत्वा हृष्टानन्दाश्रुलोचनाः
Hearing the words of the cowherds, their eyes filled with tears of joy and delight.
नानाव्यञ्जनसंयुक्तं शाल्यन्नं सुमनोहरम्
They prepared rice made with various seasonings, most pleasing to the senses.
रौप्ये कांस्ये राजते च पात्रे कृत्वा मुदाऽन्विताः
With happiness, they placed it in vessels of silver, bronze, and gold.
नानामनोरथं कृत्वा मनसा गमनोत्सुकाः
Cherishing many wishes in their hearts, they eagerly set out.
श्रीकृष्णं ददृशुर्गत्वा रामं च सह बालकम्
Going there, they saw Śrī Kṛṣṇa along with Rāma and the other boys.
श्यामं किशोरवयसं पीतकौशेयवाससम्
He was dark-complexioned, in the bloom of youth, clad in yellow silk garments.
शरत्पार्वणचन्द्रास्यं रत्नालंकारभूषितम्
His face was like the full moon of autumn, adorned with jeweled ornaments.
रत्नकेयूरवलयरत्ननूपुरभूषितम् 4.18.
He was decorated with jeweled armlets, bracelets, and anklets.