गोकुलं चारयामास शिशुभिः सह कानने
He led the herds of cows to graze in the forest, together with the boys.
क्रीडानिमग्नचित्तोऽयं बालकाश्च मुदाऽन्विताः
Absorbed in play, he and the boys were filled with joy.
विषाक्तं च जलं पीत्वा दारुणान्तकचेष्टया
After drinking water poisoned by a dreadful serpent’s actions,
दृष्ट्वा मृतं गोसमूहं गोपाश्चिन्ताकुला भिया
Seeing the herd of cows dead, the cowherds were seized with anxious fear.
ज्ञात्वा सर्वं जगन्नाथो जीवयामास गोकुलम्
Knowing everything, the Lord of the universe revived all of Gokula.
कृष्णः कदम्बमारुह्य यमुनानीरतीरजम्
Krishna climbed a kadamba tree on the bank of the Yamuna river.
शतहस्तप्रमाणं च जलोत्थानं बभूव ह
There arose from the water a serpent, measuring a hundred hands in length.
सर्पो नराकृतिं दृष्ट्वा कालियः क्रोधविह्वलः 4.19.
Seeing a human form, Kaliya the serpent was agitated with rage.
दग्धकण्ठोदरो नागश्चोद्विग्नो ब्रह्मतेजसा
The serpent, his throat and belly scorched, was distressed by the divine brilliance.
भग्नदन्तो रक्तमुखः कृष्णवज्राङ्गचर्वणात्
His fangs broken, his mouth bloody from Krishna’s thunderbolt-like limbs biting him,
नागो विश्वंभराक्रान्तः स प्राणांस्त्यक्तुमुद्यतः
The serpent, pressed down by the Lord of the universe, was ready to give up his life.
दृष्ट्वा तं मूर्छितं नागा रुरुदुः प्रेमविह्वलाः
Seeing him unconscious, the serpent-wives wept, overwhelmed with love.
केचित्पलायिता भीताः केचित्प्रविविशुर्बिलम्
Some, frightened, fled; others entered their burrow.
नागिनीभिः सह प्रेम्णा रुरोद पुरतो हरेः धृत्वा पादारविन्दे च तमुवाच भियाऽऽकुला
Together with the serpent-wives, she wept before Hari in love, and, grasping his lotus feet, spoke to him, distressed with fear.
सुरसोवाच हे जगत्कान्त मे कान्तं देहि मानं च मानद
The serpent-wife said: O beloved of the world, grant honor to my beloved, O giver of honor.
सकलभुवननाथ प्राणनाथं मदीयं न कुरु वधमनन्त प्रेमसिन्धो सुबन्धो
Lord of all worlds, Lord of my life, do not kill him—O endless ocean of love, O steadfast friend.
त्रिनयनविधिशेषाः षण्मुखश्चास्यसंघैः स्तवनविषयजाड्यात्स्तोतुमीशा न वाणी
Even the three-eyed one, the creator, the serpents, and six-faced Karttikeya, with their hosts, are rendered speechless by awe and cannot praise you.
कुमतिरहमधिज्ञा योषितां क्वाधमा वा क्व भुवनगतिरीशश्चक्षुषोऽगोचराऽपि ।। 4.19.
I am foolish, ignorant, a woman, and lowly—where am I, and where is the Lord, the goal of the worlds, who is beyond the reach of the eyes?
स्तवनविषयभीता पार्वती कस्य पद्मा श्रुतिगणजनयित्री स्तोतुमीशा न यं त्वाम्
Parvati, fearful of the subject of praise, asks: Who is Padma, the mother of the Vedas, able to praise you, when I am not?
शयानो रत्नपर्यङ्के रत्नभूषणभूषितः
He lies upon a couch adorned with jewels, himself adorned with precious gems.
चन्दनोक्षितसर्वाङ्गः स्मेराननसरोरुहः
His entire body is anointed with sandalwood, his lotus-like face radiant with a gentle smile.
मल्लिकामालतीमालाजालैः शोभितशेखरः
His crown is beautified with garlands of jasmine and malati flowers.
पुंस्कोकिलकलध्वानैर्भ्रमरध्वनिसंयुतैः
He is accompanied by the melodious calls of male cuckoos, mingled with the humming of bees.
प्रियाप्रदत्तताम्बूलं भुक्तवान्यः सदा मुदा
He always joyfully enjoys the betel offered by his beloved.
तमनिर्वचनीयं च किं स्तौमि नागवल्लभा
How can I, beloved of the serpent, praise him who is indescribable?
लक्ष्मीसरस्वतीदुर्गा जाह्नवी वेदमातृभिः
Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Durga, Jahnavi, and the mothers of the Vedas—
निष्कारणायाखिलकारणाय सर्वेश्वरायापि परात्पराय
To the causeless cause of all causes, to the Lord of all, to the one beyond all others—
हे कृष्ण हे कृष्ण सुरासुरेश ब्रह्मेश शेषेश प्रजापतीश 4.19.
O Krishna, O Krishna, Lord of gods and demons, Lord of Brahma, Lord of Shesha, Lord of the progenitors—
धर्मेश धर्मीश शुभाशुभेश वेदेश वेदेष्वनिरूपितश्च
Lord of Dharma, Lord of the righteous, Lord of auspicious and inauspicious, Lord of the Vedas, who is not defined by the Vedas—
इत्येवं स्तवनं कृत्वा भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरा
Having thus offered praise, with devotion and a bowed neck—