220
atha purvahna-seva
gopa-vesa-dharah krishno
dhenu-vrinda-purah-sarah
vraja-vasi-janaih pritya
sarvair anugatah pathi
When, dressed as a cowherd boy, Lord Krishna followed the cows to the pasture, all the people of Vraja affectionately followed Him on the path.
221
pitaram mataram natva
netrantena priya-ganan
yatha-yogyam tatha canyan
sannivartya vanam vrajet
Bowing down before His father and mother, casting sidelong glances at
His gopi-beloveds, and dealing appropriately with all the others, Lord
Krishna sent them all back. Then He again proceeded to the forest.
222
vanam pravisya sakhibhih
kriditva ca kshanam tatah
vancayitva ca tan sarvan
dvi-traih priya-sakhair yutah
Lord Krishna entered the forest, played for a while with His friends,
and then slipped away with two or three especially close friends.
223
sanketakam vrajed dharsat
priya-sandarsanotsukah
sapi krishne vanam yate
drishtva tam griham agata
Eager to see His beloved, Lord Krishna happily went to meet Her. When
She saw that Lord Krishna had gone to the forest, Sri Radha returned to
Her home.
224
suryadi-puja-vyajena
kusumady-ahriti-cchalat
vancayitva gurun yati
priya-sangecchaya vanam
Then, on the pretext of gathering flowers and other things for the
worship of the sun-god and other purposes, Sri Radha tricks Her
superiors and, yearning to meet Her beloved, goes to the forest.
Pastimes of Midday
225
atha madhyahna-seva
ittham tau bahu-yatnena
militva sva-ganair vritah
viharair vividhais tatra
vane vikridito muda
Finally meeting after a great effort, the divine couple enjoy many happy pastimes in the forest with Their associates.
226
andolika-sakharudhau
sakhibhir dolitau kvacit
kvacid venum kara-srastam
priyaya coritam harih
Sometimes Radha and Krishna enjoy pastimes on a swing hanging from a
tree branch and pushed by the gopis. Sometimes Radha steals the flute
from Lord Krishna's hand.
227
anveshayann upalabdho
vipralabdhah priya-ganaih
hasito bahudha tabhir
hrita-sva iva tishthati
Sometimes the gopis hid and made Him search after them. Sometimes they
teased and scolded Him. Sometimes they joked with Him and made Him
laugh. In these ways they charmed Lord Krishna and stole His heart.
228 and 229
vasanta-rtuna jushtam
vana-khandam kvacin muda
pravisya candanambhobhih
kunkumadi-jalair api
visincato yantra-muktais
tat-pankanapitau mithah
sakhyo 'py evam visincanti
tas ca tau sincatah punah
Sometimes Lord Krishna happily enters the forest in the beautiful
springtime and with a sprinkler sprinkles the gopis with water mixed
with sandal, kunkuma, and other colorful scents. The gopis respond by
sprinkling Him. Then Radha and Krishna sprinkle each other again and
again.
230
tathanyartu-su-jushtasu
kridito vana-rajisu
tat-tat-kalocitair nana-
viharaih sa-ganau dvija
O brahmana, in the forest groves the divine couple enjoy many different
pastimes with Their associates, pastimes appropriate to the different
times and seasons.
231
sranto kvacid vrksha-mulam
asadya muni-sattama
upavisyasane divye
madhu-panam pracakratuh
O best of sages, sometimes They become tired. Then, sitting on a splendid throne under a tree, They drink nectar.
232
tato madhu-padonmatto
nidraya militekshanau
mithah panim samalambya
kama-bana-vasam gatau
Intoxicated by drinking nectar, their eyes become closed with
sleepiness. Holding hands, They are attacked by Kamadeva's arrows.
233
riramsu visatah kunjam
khalat-padabjakau pathi
tato vikridatas tatra
karini yuthapau yatha
Desiring to enjoy, They place Their lotus feet in a forest grove. There They enjoy pastimes like two regal elephants.
234
sakhyo 'pi madhubhir matta
nidraya pihitekshanah
abhitah kunja-punjesu
sarva eva vililyare
Intoxicated by drinking nectar, and their eyes closed with sleepiness, the gopis entered the nearby forest groves.
235
prithag ekena vapusa
krishno 'pi yugapad vibhuh
sarvasam sannidhim gacchet
priyanam parito muhuh
Expanding into many forms, all-powerful Lord Krishna approached each gopi individually.
236
ramayitva ca tah sarvah
karinir gaja-rad iva
priyaya ca tatha tabhih
sarovaram athavrajat
As an elephant king enjoys with His many wives, so Lord Krishna enjoyed
with the gopis. Then Lord Krishna, His beloved Radha, and all the gopis
entered a lake.
237
sri-narada uvaca
vrinde sri-nanda-putrasya
madhurya-kridane katham
aisvaryasya prakaso 'bhud
iti me chindhi samsayam
Sri Narada said: O Vrinda-devi, if His pastimes of sweetness are like
this, then when does Lord Krishna manifest His pastimes of opulence?
Please cut apart my doubt.
238
sri-vrindovaca
mune madhurya-mayyasti
lila-saktir harer drdha
taya prithak kritah krided
gopikabhih samam harih
Sri Vrinda said: O sage, the powerful potency of the pastimes of
sweetness is one of Lord Hari's potencies. With that potency Lord Hari
enjoys pastimes with the gopis.
239
radhaya saha rupena
nijena ramate svayam
iti madhurya-lilayah
saktir naisataya hareh
When in His original form Lord Krishna enjoys pastimes with Sri Radha,
He manifests the potency of His pastimes of sweetness. At that time He
does not manifest the potency of His pastimes of opulence.
240
jala-sekair mithas tatra
kriditva sa-ganau tatah
vasah-srak-candanair divya-
bhushanair api bhushitau
Accompanied by Their gopi friends, the divine couple enjoy pastimes of
splashing each other in the water. Then They are decorated with
splendid garments, ornaments, garlands, and sandal paste.
241
tatraiva sarasas-tire
divya-ratna-maye grihe
asnitah phala-mulani
kalpitani mayaiva hi
Then, in a jewel cottage by the lakeshore, the divine couple eat a
snack of delicious fruits and roots carefully prepared by me.
242
haris tu prathamam bhuktva
kantaya parivesitam
dvi-trabhih sevito gacchec
chayyam pushpa-vinirmitam
After Their snack, Lord Hari and His beloved recline on a couch of flowers. There two or three gopis serve Them.
243
tambula-vyajanais tatra
pada-samvahanadibhih
sevyamano bhrisam tabhih
moditah presayim smaran
Served by the gopis who offer Him betelnuts, fan Him, and massage His
feet, Lord Krishna, His thoughts fixed on His beloved, becomes filled
with happiness.
244
sri-radhapi harau supte
sa-gana muditantara
kanta-dattam prita-mana
ucchishtam bubhuje tatah
As Lord Krishna slept, Sri Radha and Her associates happily ate the remnants of His meal.
245
kincid eva tato bhuktva
vrajec chayya-niketanam
drastum kanta-mukhambhojam
cakori-van nisakaram
After eating, Sri Radha went to the bed to gaze on Her beloved's lotus face as a cakori bird gazes at the moon.
246
tambula-carcitam tasya
tatratyabhir niveditam
tambulany api casnati
vibhajanti priyalisu
The gopis there gave Her the remnants of betelnuts chewed by Lord Krishna. Some She chewed and some She gave to Her friends.
247
krishno 'pi tasam susrusuh
svacchanda-bhasitam mithah
prapta-nidra ivabhati
vinidro 'pi patavritah
Eager to hear what the gopis said, Lord Krishna only pretended to be asleep as He lay under the covers.
248
tas ca kshvelim kshanam kritva
mithah kanta-kathasrayah
vyaja-nidram harer jnatva
kutascid anumanatah
As they playfully joked about their beloved Hari they could gradually understand that He was only pretending to sleep.
249
vimrisya vadanam drgbhih
pasyantyo 'nyonyam ananam
lina iva lajjaya syuh
kshanam ucur na kincana
Seeing the signs of wakefulness on Lord Krishna's face, they looked at
each other and suddenly became silent out of embarrassment.
250
kshanad eva tato vastram
duri-kritya tad-angatah
sadhu-nidram gato 'siti
hasayantyo hasanti tam
Suddenly pulling the blanket from His limbs and exclaiming, "My, You
must have had a pleasant sleep!", they laughed and make Lord Krishna
laugh also.
251
evam tau vividhair hasai
ramamanau ganaih saha
anubhuya kshanam nidra-
sukham ca muni-sattama
O best of sages, in this way the divine couple enjoyed a pleant nap and a host of happy joking words.
252
upavisyasane divye
sa-ganau vishtrte muda
pani-kritya mitho hara-
cumbaslesha-paricchadan
Sitting on a splendid throne and surrounded by Their associates, the
divine couple gamble at dice, with garlands, kisses, and embraces as
the winner's prize.
253
akshair vikridatah premna
narmalapah purah-saram
parajito 'pi priyaya
jitam ity avadan mrisa
Joking with words of love, Radha and Krishna gamble with dice. Defeated
by His beloved, Lord Krishna slowly pronounces, "I have lost."
254
haradi-grahane tasyah
pravrittastayate taya
tathaivam taditah krishnah
karnotpala-saroruhaih
Taking the necklace and other prizes, Sri Radha struck Lord Krishna with a lotus flower.
255
visanna-vadano bhutva
gata-sva iva narada
jito 'smi ca tvaya devi
grihyatam yat pani-kritam
O Narada, His unhappiness showing on His face, Lord Krishna felt as if
He had lost a great treasure. "O goddess, You have defeated Me", He
said. "Please take the winner's prize."
256
cumbanadi maya dattam
ity uktva ca tathacaret
kautilya-tad-bhruvo drastum
srotum tad-bhartsanam vacah
To see Radha's crooked raised eyebrows and hear Her words of rebuke,
Lord Krishna declared, "Now I will give You the kiss and the other
prizes." Then He gave Her all the prizes.
257
tatah sari-sukanam ca
srutva vag-ahavam mithah
nirgacchatas tatah snanad
gantu-kamau griham prati
Then, hearing the parrots calling, Radha and Krishna bathed and decided to return to Their homes.
258
krishnah kantam anujnapya
gavam abhimukham vrajet
sa tu surya-griham gacchet
sakhi-mandala-samyuta
Taking leave of His beloved, Lord Krishna returns to the cows.
Accomopanied by Her friends, Sri Radha goes to the temple of the
sun-god.
259
kiyad duram tato gatva
paravritya harih punah
vipra-vesham samasthapya
yati surya-griham prati
Lord goes a short distance, disguises Himself as a brahmana, and then goes to the temple of the sun-god.
260
suryam ca pujayet tatra
prarthitas tat-sakhi-janaih
tadaiva kalpitair vedaih
parihasyavagarbhitaih
Requested by the gopis, the disguised Krishna worships the sun-god.
Lord Krishna then recites a host of imaginary Vedic prayers, prayers
made up on the spot and filled with a host of errors.
261
tatas ta api tam kantam
parijnaya vicakshanah
ananda-sagare lina
na viduh svam na caparam
Finally understanding that this person was their beloved Krishna, the
intelligent gopis became plunged in an ocean of bliss. Intoxicated with
bliss they did not know who they were or who anyone else was.
262
viharair vividhair evam
sardham yama-dvayam mune
nitva griham vrajeyus tah
sa ca krishno gavam vrajet
O sage, in this way the divine couple and Their associates passed six
hours enjoying many pastimes. Finally the gopis returned to their homes
and Lord Krishna returned to the cows.
