३४

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

This chapter describes how Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa saved His father Nanda from the clutches of a serpent and delivered a Vidyādhara named Sudarśana from the curse of the Āṅgirasa sages.

One day Nanda Mahārāja and the other cowherd men placed their family members on their bullock carts and went to the Ambikāvana forest to worship Lord Śiva. After bathing in the Sarasvatī River and worshiping Lord Sadāśiva, a form of Lord Viṣṇu, they decided to spend the night in the forest. As they slept, a hungry serpent came and began to swallow Nanda Mahārāja. Terrified, Nanda cried out in distress, “O Kṛṣṇa! O my son, please save this surrendered soul!” The cowherd men immediately awoke and began beating the serpent with wooden torches, but the serpent would not release Nanda. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa came and touched the serpent with His lotus foot. The serpent was immediately freed from his reptilian body and appeared in his original form as a demigod. He told them about his previous identity and described how he had been cursed by a group of sages. Then he offered his homage at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and, on the Lord’s order, returned to his own abode.

Later, during the Dola-pūrṇimā festival, Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva enjoyed pastimes in the forest with the young women of Vraja. The girlfriends of Baladeva and those of Kṛṣṇa joined together and sang about Their transcendental qualities. When the two Lords became absorbed in singing to the point of apparent intoxication, a servant of Kuvera’s named Śaṅkhacūḍa boldly came forward and began abducting the gopīs. The young girls called out, “Kṛṣṇa, please save us!” and He and Rāma began to chase after Śaṅkhacūḍa. “Don’t be afraid!” Kṛṣṇa called out to the gopīs. In fear of the Lords, Śaṅkhacūḍa left the gopīs aside and ran for his life. Kṛṣṇa chased after him, swiftly approached him and with a blow of His fist removed Śaṅkhacūḍa’s jewel, together with his head. Then Kṛṣṇa brought the jewel back and presented it to Lord Baladeva.

Text 1

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
एकदा देवयात्रायां गोपाला जातकौतुका- ।
अनोभिरनडुद्युक्तै- प्रययुस्तेऽम्बिकावनम् ॥ १ ॥

Verse text

śrī-śuka uvāca
ekadā deva-yātrāyāṁ
gopālā jāta-kautukāḥ
anobhir anaḍud-yuktaiḥ
prayayus te ’mbikā-vanam

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ekadā — once; deva — (to worship) the demigod, Lord Śiva; yatrāyām — on a trip; gopālāḥ — the cowherd men; jāta-kautukāḥ — eager; anobhiḥ — with wagons; anaḍut — to oxen; yuktaiḥ — yoked; prayayuḥ — went forth; te — they; ambikā-vanam — to the Ambikā forest.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: One day the cowherd men, eager to take a trip to worship Lord Śiva, traveled by bullock carts to the Ambikā forest.

Purport

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the word ekadā here indicates the occasion of Śiva-rātri. He further mentions that Ambikāvana is in Gujarat province, near the city of Siddhapura. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura adds that the departure of the cowherd men specifically took place on the fourteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phālguna. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī also quotes authorities who claim that Ambikāvana lies on the bank of the Sarasvatī River, northwest of Mathurā. Ambikāvana is notable because within it are deities of Śrī Śiva and his wife, goddess Umā.

Text 2

Devanagari

तत्र स्‍नात्वा सरस्वत्यां देवं पशुपतिं विभुम् ।
आनर्चुरर्हणैर्भक्त्या देवीं च नृपतेऽम्बिकाम् ॥ २ ॥

Verse text

tatra snātvā sarasvatyāṁ
devaṁ paśu-patiṁ vibhum
ānarcur arhaṇair bhaktyā
devīṁ ca ṇṛpate ’mbikām

Synonyms

tatra — there; snātvā — bathing; sarasvatyām — in the river Sarasvatī; devam — the demigod; paśu-patim — Lord Śiva; vibhum — the powerful; ānarcuḥ — they worshiped; arhaṇaiḥ — with paraphernalia; bhaktyā — devotedly; devīm — the goddess; ca — and; nṛ-pate — O King; ambikām — Ambikā.

Translation

O King, after arriving there, they bathed in the Sarasvatī and then devotedly worshiped with various paraphernalia the powerful Lord Paśupati and his consort, goddess Ambikā.

Text 3

Devanagari

गावो हिरण्यं वासांसि मधु मध्वन्नमाद‍ृता- ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददु- सर्वे देवो न- प्रीयतामिति ॥ ३ ॥

Verse text

gāvo hiraṇyaṁ vāsāṁsi
madhu madhv-annam ādṛtāḥ
brāhmaṇebhyo daduḥ sarve
devo naḥ prīyatām iti

Synonyms

gāvaḥ — cows; hiraṇyam — gold; vāsāṁsi — clothing; madhu — sweet-tasting; madhu — mixed with honey; annam — grains; ādṛtāḥ — respectfully; brāhmaṇebhyaḥ — to the brāhmaṇas; daduḥ — they gave; sarve — all of them; devaḥ — the lord; naḥ — with us; prīyatām — may be pleased; iti — thus praying.

Translation

The cowherd men gave the brāhmaṇas gifts of cows, gold, clothing and cooked grains mixed with honey. Then the cowherds prayed, “May the lord be pleased with us.”

Text 4

Devanagari

ऊषु- सरस्वतीतीरे जलं प्राश्य यतव्रता- ।
रजनीं तां महाभागा नन्दसुनन्दकादय- ॥ ४ ॥

Verse text

ūṣuḥ sarasvatī-tīre
jalaṁ prāśya yata-vratāḥ
rajanīṁ tāṁ mahā-bhāgā
nanda-sunandakādayaḥ

Synonyms

ūṣuḥ — they stayed; sarasvatī-tīre — on the bank of the Sarasvatī; jalam — water; prāśya — subsisting on; yata-vratāḥ — taking strict vows; rajanīm — the night; tām — that; mahā-bhāgāḥ — the greatly fortunate ones; nanda-sunandaka-ādayaḥ — Nanda, Sunanda and the others.

Translation

Nanda, Sunanda and the other greatly fortunate cowherds spent that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī, strictly observing their vows. They fasted, taking only water.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Sunanda is the younger brother of Nanda Mahārāja.

Text 5

Devanagari

कश्चिन्महानहिस्तस्मिन् विपिनेऽतिबुभुक्षित- ।
यद‍ृच्छयागतो नन्दं शयानमुरगोऽग्रसीत् ॥ ५ ॥

Verse text

kaścin mahān ahis tasmin
vipine ’ti-bubhukṣitaḥ
yadṛcchayāgato nandaṁ
śayānam ura-go ’grasīt

Synonyms

kaścit — a certain; mahān — great; ahiḥ — snake; tasmin — in that; vipine — area of the forest; ati-bubhukṣitaḥ — extremely hungry; yadṛcchayā — by chance; āgataḥ — came there; nandam — Nanda Mahārāja; śayānam — who was lying asleep; ura-gaḥ — moving on his belly; agrasīt — swallowed.

Translation

During the night a huge and extremely hungry snake appeared in that thicket. Slithering on his belly up to the sleeping Nanda Mahārāja, the snake began swallowing him.

Text 6

Devanagari

स चुक्रोशाहिना ग्रस्त- कृष्ण कृष्ण महानयम् ।
सर्पो मां ग्रसते तात प्रपन्नं परिमोचय ॥ ६ ॥

Verse text

sa cukrośāhinā grastaḥ
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahān ayam
sarpo māṁ grasate tāta
prapannaṁ parimocaya

Synonyms

saḥ — he, Nanda Mahārāja; cukrośa — shouted; ahinā — by the snake; grastaḥ — seized; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa; mahān — large; ayam — this; sarpaḥ — serpent; mām — me; grasate — is swallowing; tāta — my dear boy; prapannam — who is surrendered; parimocaya — please deliver.

Translation

In the clutches of the snake, Nanda Mahārāja cried out, “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, my dear boy! This huge serpent is swallowing me! Please save me, who am surrendered to You!”

Text 7

Devanagari

तस्य चाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा गोपाला- सहसोत्थिता- ।
ग्रस्तं च द‍ृष्ट्वा विभ्रान्ता- सर्पं विव्यधुरुल्मुकै- ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

tasya cākranditaṁ śrutvā
gopālāḥ sahasotthitāḥ
grastaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā vibhrāntāḥ
sarpaṁ vivyadhur ulmukaiḥ

Synonyms

tasya — his; ca — and; ākranditam — the crying out; śrutvā — hearing; gopālāḥ — the cowherds; sahasā — suddenly; utthitāḥ — rising up; grastam — seized; ca — and; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; vibhrāntāḥ — disturbed; sarpam — the snake; vivyadhuḥ — they beat; ulmukaiḥ — with flaming torches.

Translation

When the cowherd men heard the cries of Nanda, they immediately rose up and saw that he was being swallowed. Distraught, they beat the serpent with blazing torches.

Text 8

Devanagari

अलातैर्दह्यमानोऽपि नामुञ्चत्तमुरङ्गम- ।
तमस्पृशत्पदाभ्येत्य भगवान्सात्वतां पति- ॥ ८ ॥

Verse text

alātair dahyamāno ’pi
nāmuñcat tam uraṅgamaḥ
tam aspṛśat padābhyetya
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ

Synonyms

alātaiḥ — by the firebrands; dahyamānaḥ — being burned; api — although; na amuñcat — did not release; tam — him; uraṅgamaḥ — the snake; tam — that snake; aspṛśat — touched; padā — with His foot; abhyetya — coming; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvatām — of the devotees; patiḥ — the master.

Translation

But even though the firebrands were burning him, the serpent would not release Nanda Mahārāja. Then the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, master of His devotees, came to the spot and touched the snake with His foot.

Text 9

Devanagari

स वै भगवत- श्रीमत्पादस्पर्शहताशुभ- ।
भेजे सर्पवपुर्हित्वा रूपं विद्याधरार्चितम् ॥ ९ ॥

Verse text

sa vai bhagavataḥ śrīmat
pāda-sparśa-hatāśubhaḥ
bheje sarpa-vapur hitvā
rūpaṁ vidyādharārcitam

Synonyms

saḥ — he; vai — indeed; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śrī-mat — divine; pāda — of the foot; sparśa — by the touch; hata — destroyed; aśubhaḥ — all inauspiciousness; bheje — assumed; sarpa-vapuḥ — his snake body; hitvā — giving up; rūpam — a form; vidyādhara — by the Vidyādharas; arcitam — worshiped.

Translation

The snake had all his sinful reactions destroyed by the touch of the Supreme Lord’s divine foot, and thus he gave up his serpent body and appeared in the form of a worshipable Vidyādhara.

Purport

The words rūpaṁ vidyādharārcitam indicate that the erstwhile snake appeared in a beautiful form worshipable among the demigods called Vidyādharas. In other words, he appeared as the leader of the Vidyādharas.

Text 10

Devanagari

तमपृच्छद् धृषीकेश- प्रणतं समवस्थितम् ।
दीप्यमानेन वपुषा पुरुषं हेममालिनम् ॥ १० ॥

Verse text

tam apṛcchad dhṛṣīkeśaḥ
praṇataṁ samavasthitam
dīpyamānena vapuṣā
puruṣaṁ hema-mālinam

Synonyms

tam — from him; apṛcchat — inquired; hṛṣīkeśaḥ — the Supreme Lord Hṛṣīkeśa; praṇatam — who was offering obeisances; samavasthitam — standing before Him; dīpyamānena — brilliantly shining; vapuṣā — with his body; puruṣam — the personality; hema — golden; mālinam — wearing necklaces.

Translation

The Supreme Lord Hṛṣīkeśa then questioned this personality, who was standing before Him with his head bowed, his brilliantly effulgent body bedecked with golden necklaces.

Purport

The demigod was about to speak, and Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to focus everyone’s attention on his words. Therefore He personally inquired from the worshipable Vidyādhara, who was standing before Him with his head bowed.

Text 11

Devanagari

को भवान् परया लक्ष्म्या रोचतेऽद्भ‍ुतदर्शन- ।
कथं जुगुप्सितामेतां गतिं वा प्रापितोऽवश- ॥ ११ ॥

Verse text

ko bhavān parayā lakṣmyā
rocate ’dbhuta-darśanaḥ
kathaṁ jugupsitām etāṁ
gatiṁ vā prāpito ’vaśaḥ

Synonyms

kaḥ — who; bhavān — your good self; parayā — with great; lakṣmyā — beauty; rocate — shine; adbhuta — wonderful; darśanaḥ — to see; katham — why; jugupsitām — terrible; etām — this; gatim — destination; vā — and; prāpitaḥ — made to assume; avaśaḥ — beyond your control.

Translation

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] My dear sir, you appear so wonderful, glowing with such great beauty. Who are you? And who forced you to assume this terrible body of a snake?

Texts 12-13

Devanagari

सर्प उवाच
अहं विद्याधर- कश्चित्सुदर्शन इति श्रुत- ।
श्रिया स्वरूपसम्पत्त्या विमानेनाचरन् दिश- ॥ १२ ॥
ऋषीन् विरूपाङ्गिरस- प्राहसं रूपदर्पित- ।
तैरिमां प्रापितो योनिं प्रलब्धै- स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ १३ ॥

Verse text

sarpa uvāca
ahaṁ vidyādharaḥ kaścit
sudarśana iti śrutaḥ
śriyā svarūpa-sampattyā
vimānenācaran diśaḥ

ṛṣīn virūpāṅgirasaḥ
prāhasaṁ rūpa-darpitaḥ
tair imāṁ prāpito yoniṁ
pralabdhaiḥ svena pāpmanā

Synonyms

sarpaḥ uvāca — the serpent said; aham — I; vidyādharaḥ — a Vidyādhara; kaścit — certain; sudarśanaḥ — Sudarśana; iti — thus; śrutaḥ — well known; śriyā — with opulence; svarūpa — of my personal form; sampattyā — with the asset; vimānena — in my airplane; ācaran — wandering; diśaḥ — the directions; ṛṣīn — sages; virūpa — deformed; āṅgirasaḥ — of the disciplic succession of Āṅgirā Muni; prāhasam — I ridiculed; rūpa — because of beauty; darpitaḥ — overly conceited; taiḥ — by them; imām — this; prāpitaḥ — made to assume; yonim — the birth; pralabdhaiḥ — who were laughed at; svena — because of my own; pāpmanā — sinful action.

Translation

The serpent replied: I am the well-known Vidyādhara named Sudarśana. I was very opulent and beautiful, and I used to wander freely in all directions in my airplane. Once I saw some homely sages of the lineage of Aṅgirā Muni. Proud of my beauty, I ridiculed them, and because of my sin they made me assume this lowly form.

Text 14

Devanagari

शापो मेऽनुग्रहायैव कृतस्तै- करुणात्मभि- ।
यदहं लोकगुरुणा पदा स्पृष्टो हताशुभ- ॥ १४ ॥

Verse text

śāpo me ’nugrahāyaiva
kṛtas taiḥ karuṇātmabhiḥ
yad ahaṁ loka-guruṇā
padā spṛṣṭo hatāśubhaḥ

Synonyms

śāpaḥ — the curse; me — my; anugrahāya — for the benediction; eva — certainly; kṛtaḥ — created; taiḥ — by them; karuṇa-ātmabhiḥ — who are merciful by nature; yat — since; aham — I; loka — of all the worlds; guruṇā — by the spiritual master; padā — with His foot; spṛṣṭaḥ — touched; hata — destroyed; aśubhaḥ — all inauspiciousness.

Translation

It was actually for my benefit that those merciful sages cursed me, since now I have been touched by the foot of the supreme spiritual master of all the worlds and have thus been relieved of all inauspiciousness.

Text 15

Devanagari

तं त्वाहं भवभीतानां प्रपन्नानां भयापहम् ।
आपृच्छे शापनिर्मुक्त- पादस्पर्शादमीवहन् ॥ १५ ॥

Verse text

taṁ tvāhaṁ bhava-bhītānāṁ
prapannānāṁ bhayāpaham
āpṛcche śāpa-nirmuktaḥ
pāda-sparśād amīva-han

Synonyms

tam — that same person; tvā — You; aham — I; bhava — of material existence; bhītānām — for those who are afraid; prapannānām — who are surrendered; bhaya — of fear; apaham — the remover; āpṛcche — I request permission; śāpa — from the curse; nirmuktaḥ — freed; pāda-sparśāt — by the touch of Your foot; amīva — of all distress; han — O destroyer.

Translation

My Lord, You destroy all fear for those who, fearing this material world, take shelter of You. By the touch of Your feet I am now freed from the curse of the sages. O destroyer of distress, please let me return to my planet.

Purport

According to the ācāryas, the word āpṛcche indicates that Sudarśana humbly requested the Lord for permission to return to his abode, where he might take up his duties again, certainly in a chastened state of mind.

Text 16

Devanagari

प्रपन्नोऽस्मि महायोगिन् महापुरुष सत्पते ।
अनुजानीहि मां देव सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वर ॥ १६ ॥

Verse text

prapanno ’smi mahā-yogin
mahā-puruṣa sat-pate
anujānīhi māṁ deva
sarva-lokeśvareśvara

Synonyms

prapannaḥ — surrendered; asmi — I am; mahā-yogin — O greatest of all possessors of mystic power; mahā-puruṣa — O greatest of all personalities; sat-pate — O master of the devotees; anujānīhi — please order; mām — me; deva — O God; sarva — of all; loka — of the worlds; īśvara — of the controllers; īśvara — O supreme controller.

Translation

O master of mystic power, O great personality, O Lord of the devotees, I surrender to You. Please command me as You will, O supreme God, Lord of all lords of the universe.

Text 17

Devanagari

ब्रह्मदण्डाद्विमुक्तोऽहं सद्यस्तेऽच्युत दर्शनात् ।
यन्नाम गृह्णन्नखिलान् श्रोतृनात्मानमेव च ।
सद्य- पुनाति किं भूयस्तस्य स्पृष्ट- पदा हि ते ॥ १७ ॥

Verse text

brahma-daṇḍād vimukto ’haṁ
sadyas te ’cyuta darśanāt
yan-nāma gṛhṇann akhilān
śrotṝn ātmānam eva ca
sadyaḥ punāti kiṁ bhūyas
tasya spṛṣṭaḥ padā hi te

Synonyms

brahma — of the brāhmaṇas; daṇḍāt — from the punishment; vimuktaḥ — freed; aham — I am; sadyaḥ — immediately; te — You; acyuta — O infallible Lord; darśanāt — by seeing; yat — whose; nāma — name; gṛhṇan — chanting; akhilān — all; śrotṝn — hearers; ātmānam — oneself; eva — indeed; ca — also; sadyaḥ — immediately; punāti — purifies; kim bhūyaḥ — what more, then; tasya — His; spṛṣṭaḥ — touched; padā — by the foot; hi — indeed; te — Your.

Translation

O infallible one, I was immediately freed from the brāhmaṇas’ punishment simply by seeing You. Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear his chanting, as well as himself. How much more beneficial, then, is the touch of Your lotus feet?

Text 18

Devanagari

इत्यनुज्ञाप्य दाशार्हं परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य च ।
सुदर्शनो दिवं यात- कृच्छ्रान्नन्दश्च मोचित- ॥ १८ ॥

Verse text

ity anujñāpya dāśārhaṁ
parikramyābhivandya ca
sudarśano divaṁ yātaḥ
kṛcchrān nandaś ca mocitaḥ

Synonyms

iti — thus; anujñāpya — taking permission; dāśārham — from Lord Kṛṣṇa; parikramya — circumambulating; abhivandya — offering obeisances; ca — and; sudarśanaḥ — Sudarśana; divam — to heaven; yātaḥ — went; kṛcchrāt — from his difficulty; nandaḥ — Nanda Mahārāja; ca — also; mocitaḥ — was delivered.

Translation

Thus receiving the permission of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the demigod Sudarśana circumambulated Him, bowed down to offer Him homage and then returned to his heavenly planet. Nanda Mahārāja was thus delivered from peril.

Text 19

Devanagari

निशाम्य कृष्णस्य तदात्मवैभवं
व्रजौकसो विस्मितचेतसस्तत- ।
समाप्य तस्मिन् नियमं पुनर्व्रजं
नृपाययुस्तत् कथयन्त आद‍ृता- ॥ १९ ॥

Verse text

niśāmya kṛṣṇasya tad ātma-vaibhavaṁ
vrajaukaso vismita-cetasas tataḥ
samāpya tasmin niyamaṁ punar vrajaṁ
ṇṛpāyayus tat kathayanta ādṛtāḥ

Synonyms

niśāmya — seeing; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; tat — that; ātma — personal; vaibhavam — opulent display of power; vraja-okasaḥ — the inhabitants of Vraja; vismita — amazed; cetasaḥ — in their minds; tataḥ — then; samāpya — finishing; tasmin — at that place; niyamam — their vow; punaḥ — again; vrajam — to the cowherd village; nṛpa — O King; āyayuḥ — they returned; tat — that display; kathayantaḥ — describing; ādṛtāḥ — with reverence.

Translation

The inhabitants of Vraja were astonished to see the mighty power of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Dear King, they then completed their worship of Lord Śiva and returned to Vraja, along the way respectfully describing Kṛṣṇa’s powerful acts.

Text 20

Devanagari

कदाचिदथ गोविन्दो रामश्चाद्भ‍ुतविक्रम- ।
विजह्रतुर्वने रात्र्यां मध्यगौ व्रजयोषिताम् ॥ २० ॥

Verse text

kadācid atha govindo
rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ
vijahratur vane rātryāṁ
madhya-gau vraja-yoṣitām

Synonyms

kadācit — on one occasion; atha — then; govindaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; ca — and; adbhuta — wonderful; vikramaḥ — whose deeds; vijahratuḥ — the two of Them played; vane — in the forest; rātryām — at night; madhya-gau — in the midst; vraja-yoṣitām — of the women of the cowherd community.

Translation

Once Lord Govinda and Lord Rāma, the performers of wonderful feats, were playing in the forest at night with the young girls of Vraja.

Purport

This verse introduces a new pastime. According to the ācāryas, the occasion mentioned here is the Holikā-pūrṇimā, a day also known as Gaura-pūrṇimā.

Text 21

Devanagari

उपगीयमानौ ललितं स्त्रीजनैर्बद्धसौहृदै- ।
स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ स्रग्विनौ विरजोऽम्बरौ ॥ २१ ॥

Verse text

upagīyamānau lalitaṁ
strī-janair baddha-sauhṛdaiḥ
sv-alaṅkṛtānuliptāṅgau
sragvinau virajo-’mbarau

Synonyms

upagīyamānau — Their glories being sung; lalitam — charmingly; strī-janaiḥ — by the womenfolk; baddha — bound; sauhṛdaiḥ — in affection for Them; su-alaṅkṛta — finely decorated; anulipta — and anointed with (sandalwood pulp); aṅgau — whose limbs; srak-vinau — wearing flower garlands; virajaḥ — spotless; ambarau — whose garments.

Translation

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma wore flower garlands and spotless garments, and Their limbs were beautifully decorated and anointed. The women sang Their glories in a charming way, bound to Them by affection.

Text 22

Devanagari

निशामुखं मानयन्तावुदितोडुपतारकम् ।
मल्लिकागन्धमत्तालि जुष्टं कुमुदवायुना ॥ २२ ॥

Verse text

niśā-mukhaṁ mānayantāv
uditoḍupa-tārakam
mallikā-gandha-mattāli-
juṣṭaṁ kumuda-vāyunā

Synonyms

niśā-mukham — the beginning of night; mānayantau — the two of Them honoring; udita — having risen; uḍupa — the moon; tārakam — and stars; mallikā — of the jasmine flowers; gandha — by the fragrance; matta — intoxicated; ali — by the bees; juṣṭam — liked; kumuda — from the lotuses; vāyunā — with the breeze.

Translation

The two Lords praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers.

Text 23

Devanagari

जगतु- सर्वभूतानां मन-श्रवणमङ्गलम् ।
तौ कल्पयन्तौ युगत्स्वरमण्डलमूर्च्छितम् ॥ २३ ॥

Verse text

jagatuḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
manaḥ-śravaṇa-maṅgalam
tau kalpayantau yugapat
svara-maṇḍala-mūrcchitam

Synonyms

jagatuḥ — They sang; sarva-bhūtānām — of all living beings; manaḥ — for the mind; śravaṇa — and ears; maṅgalam — happiness; tau — the two of Them; kalpayantau — producing; yugapat — simultaneously; svara — of musical tones; maṇḍala — by the entire scale; mūrcchitam — augmented.

Translation

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma sang, producing the entire range of musical sounds simultaneously. Their singing brought happiness to the ears and minds of all living beings.

Text 24

Devanagari

गोप्यस्तद्गीतमाकर्ण्य मूर्च्छिता नाविदन्नृप ।
स्रंसद्दुकूलमात्मानं स्रस्तकेशस्रजं तत- ॥ २४ ॥

Verse text

gopyas tad-gītam ākarṇya
mūrcchitā nāvidan nṛpa
sraṁsad-dukūlam ātmānaṁ
srasta-keśa-srajaṁ tataḥ

Synonyms

gopyaḥ — the gopīs; tat — of Them; gītam — the singing; ākarṇya — hearing; mūrcchitāḥ — stunned; na avidan — were not aware of; nṛpa — my dear King; sraṁsat — slipping; dukūlam — the fine cloth of their garments; ātmānam — themselves; srasta — disheveled; keśa — their hair; srajam — the garlands; tataḥ — (slipping) from that.

Translation

The gopīs became stunned when they heard that song. Forgetting themselves, O King, they did not notice that their fine garments were becoming loose and their hair and garlands disheveled.

Text 25

Devanagari

एवं विक्रीडतो- स्वैरं गायतो- सम्प्रमत्तवत् ।
शङ्खचूड इति ख्यातो धनदानुचरोऽभ्यगात् ॥ २५ ॥

Verse text

evaṁ vikrīḍatoḥ svairaṁ
gāyatoḥ sampramatta-vat
śaṅkhacūḍa iti khyāto
dhanadānucaro ’bhyagāt

Synonyms

evam — thus; vikrīḍatoḥ — as the two of Them were playing; svairam — as They desired; gāyatoḥ — singing; sampramatta — to the point of intoxication; vat — as if; śaṅkhacūḍaḥ — Śaṅkhacūḍa; iti — thus; khyātaḥ — named; dhana-da — of the treasurer of the demigods, Lord Kuvera; anucaraḥ — a servant; abhyagāt — arrived.

Translation

While Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma thus played according to Their own sweet will and sang to the point of apparent intoxication, a servant of Kuvera named Śaṅkhacūḍa came upon the scene.

Text 26

Devanagari

तयोर्निरीक्षतो राजंस्तन्नाथं प्रमदाजनम् ।
क्रोशन्तं कालयामास दिश्युदीच्यामशङ्कित- ॥ २६ ॥

Verse text

tayor nirīkṣato rājaṁs
tan-nāthaṁ pramadā-janam
krośantaṁ kālayām āsa
diśy udīcyām aśaṅkitaḥ

Synonyms

tayoḥ — the two of Them; nirīkṣatoḥ — as They looked on; rājan — O King; tat-nātham — having Them as their Lords; pramadā-janam — the assemblage of women; krośantam — crying out; kālayām āsa — he drove; diśi — in the direction; udīcyām — northern; aśaṅkitaḥ — without fear.

Translation

O King, even as the two Lords looked on, Śaṅkhacūḍa brazenly began driving the women off toward the north. The women, who had accepted Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as their Lords, began to cry out to Them.

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa shook a large stick at the beautiful young girls, thus frightening them and driving them toward the north. He did not actually touch them, as is corroborated by the following verse.

Text 27

Devanagari

क्रोशन्तं कृष्ण रामेति विलोक्य स्वपरिग्रहम् ।
यथा गा दस्युना ग्रस्ता भ्रातरावन्वधावताम् ॥ २७ ॥

Verse text

krośantaṁ kṛṣṇa rāmeti
vilokya sva-parigraham
yathā gā dasyunā grastā
bhrātarāv anvadhāvatām

Synonyms

krośantam — crying out; kṛṣṇa rāma iti — “Kṛṣṇa! Rāma!”; vilokya — seeing; sva-parigraham — Their devotees; yathā — just as; gāḥ — cows; dasyunā — by a thief; grastāḥ — seized; bhrātarau — the two brothers; anvadhāvatām — ran after.

Translation

Hearing Their devotees crying out “Kṛṣṇa! Rāma!” and seeing that they were just like cows being stolen by a thief, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma began to run after the demon.

Text 28

Devanagari

मा भैष्टेत्यभयारावौ शालहस्तौ तरस्विनौ ।
आसेदतुस्तं तरसा त्वरितं गुह्यकाधमम् ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

mā bhaiṣṭety abhayārāvau
śāla-hastau tarasvinau
āsedatus taṁ tarasā
tvaritaṁ guhyakādhamam

Synonyms

mā bhaiṣṭa — do not fear; iti — thus calling; abhaya — giving fearlessness; ārāvau — whose words; śāla — logs of the śāla tree; hastau — in Their hands; tarasvinau — moving quickly; āsedatuḥ — They approached; tam — that demon; tarasā — with haste; tvaritam — who was moving swiftly; guhyaka — of Yakṣas; adhamam — the worst.

Translation

The Lords called out in reply, “Do not fear!” Then They picked up logs of the śala tree and quickly pursued that lowest of Guhyakas, who swiftly ran away.

Text 29

Devanagari

स वीक्ष्य तावनुप्राप्तौ कालमृत्यू इवोद्विजन् ।
विषृज्य स्त्रीजनं मूढ- प्राद्रवज्जीवितेच्छया ॥ २९ ॥

Verse text

sa vīkṣya tāv anuprāptau
kāla-mṛtyū ivodvijan
viṣṛjya strī-janaṁ mūḍhaḥ
prādravaj jīvitecchayā

Synonyms

saḥ — he, Śaṅkhacūḍa; vīkṣya — seeing; tau — the two; anuprāptau — approached; kāla-mṛtyū — Time and Death; iva — as; udvijan — becoming anxious; visṛjya — leaving aside; strī-janam — the women; mūḍhaḥ — confused; prādravat — ran away; jīvita — his life; icchayā — with the desire of preserving.

Translation

When Śaṅkhacūḍa saw the two of Them coming toward him like the personified forces of Time and Death, he was filled with anxiety. Confused, he abandoned the women and fled for his life.

Text 30

Devanagari

तमन्वधावद् गोविन्दो यत्र यत्र स धावति ।
जिहीर्षुस्तच्छिरोरत्नं तस्थौ रक्षन् स्त्रियो बल- ॥ ३० ॥

Verse text

tam anvadhāvad govindo
yatra yatra sa dhāvati
jihīrṣus tac-chiro-ratnaṁ
tasthau rakṣan striyo balaḥ

Synonyms

tam — after him; anvadhāvat — ran; govindaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; yatra yatra — wherever; saḥ — he; dhāvati — was running; jihīrṣuḥ — desiring to take away; tat — his; śiraḥ — upon the head; ratnam — the jewel; tasthau — stood; rakṣan — protecting; striyaḥ — the women; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma.

Translation

Lord Govinda chased the demon wherever he ran, eager to take his crest jewel. Meanwhile Lord Balarāma stayed with the women to protect them.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the women were fatigued from being driven away, and thus Lord Balarāma protected them and consoled them as they rested. Meanwhile Lord Kṛṣṇa went after the demon.

Text 31

Devanagari

अविदूर इवाभ्येत्य शिरस्तस्य दुरात्मन- ।
जहार मुष्टिनैवाङ्ग सहचूडमणिं विभु- ॥ ३१ ॥

Verse text

avidūra ivābhyetya
śiras tasya durātmanaḥ
jahāra muṣṭinaivāṅga
saha-cūḍa-maṇiṁ vibhuḥ

Synonyms

avidūre — nearby; iva — as if; abhyetya — coming toward; śiraḥ — the head; tasya — of him; durātmanaḥ — the wicked one; jahāra — took away; muṣṭinā — with His fist; eva — simply; aṅga — my dear King; saha — together with; cūḍa-maṇim — the jewel upon his head; vibhuḥ — the almighty Lord.

Translation

The mighty Lord overtook Śaṅkhacūḍa from a great distance as if from nearby, my dear King, and then with His fist the Lord removed the wicked demon’s head, together with his crest jewel.

Text 32

Devanagari

शङ्खचूडं निहत्यैवं मणिमादाय भास्वरम् ।
अग्रजायाददात्प्रीत्या पश्यन्तीनां च योषिताम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Verse text

śaṅkhacūḍaṁ nihatyaivaṁ
maṇim ādāya bhāsvaram
agrajāyādadāt prītyā
paśyantīnāṁ ca yoṣitām

Synonyms

śaṅkhacūḍam — the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa; nihatya — killing; evam — in this manner; maṇim — the jewel; ādāya — taking; bhāsvaram — brilliant; agra-jāya — to His elder brother (Lord Balarāma); adadāt — gave; prītyā — with satisfaction; paśyantīnām — as they were watching; ca — and; yoṣitām — the women.

Translation

Having thus killed the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa and taken away his shining jewel, Lord Kṛṣṇa gave it to His elder brother with great satisfaction as the gopīs watched.

Purport

Various gopīs perhaps thought that Govinda would give one of them the valuable jewel. To prevent rivalry among them, Śrī Kṛṣṇa happily gave the jewel to His older brother, Balarāma.

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Thirty-fourth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Nanda Mahārāja Saved and Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain.”