Chapter 11: The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa

 

10.11.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

gopā nandādayaḥ śrutvā

drumayoḥ patato ravam

tatrājagmuḥ kuru-śreṣṭha

nirghāta-bhaya-śańkitāḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; gopāḥ — all the cowherd men; nanda-ādayaḥ — headed by Nanda Mahārāja; śrutvā — hearing; drumayoḥ — of the two trees; patatoḥ — falling down; ravam — the high sound, as terrible as a thunderbolt; tatra — there, on the spot; ājagmuḥ — went; kuru-śreṣṭha — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; nirghāta-bhaya-śańkitāḥ — who were afraid of falling thunderbolts.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, when the yamala-arjuna trees fell, all the cowherd men in the neighborhood, hearing the fierce sound and fearing thunderbolts, went to the spot.

 

10.11.2

bhūmyāḿ nipatitau tatra

dadṛśur yamalārjunau

babhramus tad avijñāya

lakṣyaḿ patana-kāraṇam

 

bhūmyām — on the ground; nipatitau — which had fallen; tatra — there; dadṛśuḥ — all of them saw; yamala-arjunau — the twin arjuna trees; babhramuḥ — they became bewildered; tat — that; avijñāya — but they could not trace out; lakṣyam — although they could directly perceive that the trees had fallen; patana-kāraṇam — the cause of their falling (how could it have happened all of a sudden?).

 

TRANSLATION

 

There they saw the fallen yamala-arjuna trees on the ground, but they were bewildered because even though they could directly perceive that the trees had fallen, they could not trace out the cause for their having done so.

 

10.11.3

ulūkhalaḿ vikarṣantaḿ

dāmnā baddhaḿ ca bālakam

kasyedaḿ kuta āścaryam

utpāta iti kātarāḥ

 

ulūkhalam — the wooden mortar; vikarṣantam — dragging; dāmnā — with the rope; baddham ca — and bound by the belly; bālakam — Kṛṣṇa; kasya — of whom; idam — this; kutaḥ — wherefrom; āścaryam — these wonderful happenings; utpātaḥ — disturbance; iti — thus; kātarāḥ — they were very much agitated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kṛṣṇa was bound by the rope to the ulūkhala, the mortar, which He was dragging. But how could He have pulled down the trees? Who had actually done it? Where was the source for this incident? Considering all these astounding things, the cowherd men were doubtful and bewildered.

 

10.11.4

bālā ūcur aneneti

tiryag-gatam ulūkhalam

vikarṣatā madhya-gena

puruṣāv apy acakṣmahi

 

bālāḥ — all the other boys; ūcuḥ — said; anena — by Him (Kṛṣṇa); iti — thus; tiryak — crosswise; gatam — which had become; ulūkhalam — the wooden mortar; vikarṣatā — by Kṛṣṇa, who was dragging; madhya-gena — going between the two trees; puruṣau — two beautiful persons; api — also; acakṣmahi — we have seen with our own eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then all the cowherd boys said: It is Kṛṣṇa who has done this. When He was in between the two trees, the mortar fell crosswise. Kṛṣṇa dragged the mortar, and the two trees fell down. After that, two beautiful men came out of the trees. We have seen this with our own eyes.

 

10.11.5

na te tad-uktaḿ jagṛhur

na ghaṭeteti tasya tat

bālasyotpāṭanaḿ tarvoḥ

kecit sandigdha-cetasaḥ

 

na — not; te — all the gopas; tat-uktam — being spoken by the boys; jagṛhuḥ — would accept; na ghaṭeta — it cannot be; iti — thus; tasya — of Kṛṣṇa; tat — the activity; bālasya — of a small boy like Kṛṣṇa; utpāṭanam — the uprooting; tarvoḥ — of the two trees; kecit — some of them; sandigdha-cetasaḥ — became doubtful about what could be done (because Gargamuni had predicted that this child would be equal to Nārāyaṇa).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because of intense paternal affection, the cowherd men, headed by Nanda, could not believe that Kṛṣṇa could have uprooted the trees in such a wonderful way. Therefore they could not put their faith in the words of the boys. Some of the men, however, were in doubt. "Since Kṛṣṇa was predicted to equal Nārāyaṇa," they thought, "it might be that He could have done it."

 

10.11.6

ulūkhalaḿ vikarṣantaḿ

dāmnā baddhaḿ svam ātmajam

vilokya nandaḥ prahasad-

vadano vimumoca ha

 

ulūkhalam — the wooden mortar; vikarṣantam — dragging; dāmnā — by the rope; baddham — bound; svam ātmajam — his own son Kṛṣṇa; vilokya — by seeing; nandaḥ — Mahārāja Nanda; prahasat-vadanaḥ — whose face began to smile when he saw the wonderful child; vimumoca ha — released Him from the bonds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Nanda Mahārāja saw his own son bound with ropes to the wooden mortar and dragging it, he smiled and released Kṛṣṇa from His bonds.

 

10.11.7

gopībhiḥ stobhito 'nṛtyad

bhagavān bālavat kvacit

udgāyati kvacin mugdhas

tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat

 

gopībhiḥ — by the gopīs (by flattery and offers of prizes); stobhitaḥ — encouraged, induced; anṛtyat — the small Kṛṣṇa danced; bhagavān — although He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bāla-vat — exactly like a human child; kvacit — sometimes; udgāyati — He would sing very loudly; kvacit — sometimes; mugdhaḥ — being amazed; tat-vaśaḥ — under their control; dāru-yantra-vat — like a wooden doll.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The gopīs would say, "If You dance, my dear Kṛṣṇa, then I shall give You half a sweetmeat." By saying these words or by clapping their hands, all the gopīs encouraged Kṛṣṇa in different ways. At such times, although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, He would smile and dance according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands. Sometimes He would sing very loudly, at their bidding. In this way, Kṛṣṇa came completely under the control of the gopīs.

 

10.11.8

bibharti kvacid ājñaptaḥ

pīṭhakonmāna-pādukam

bāhu-kṣepaḿ ca kurute

svānāḿ ca prītim āvahan

 

bibharti — Kṛṣṇa would simply stand and touch articles as if unable to raise them; kvacit — sometimes; ājñaptaḥ — being ordered; pīṭhaka-unmāna — the wooden seat and wooden measuring pot; pādukam — bringing the wooden shoes; bāhu-kṣepam ca — striking the arms on the body; kurute — does; svānām ca — of His own relatives, the gopīs and other intimate friends; prītim — the pleasure; āvahan — inviting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sometimes mother Yaśodā and her gopī friends would tell Kṛṣṇa, "Bring this article" or "Bring that article." Sometimes they would order Him to bring a wooden plank, wooden shoes or a wooden measuring pot, and Kṛṣṇa, when thus ordered by the mothers, would try to bring them. Sometimes, however, as if unable to raise these things, He would touch them and stand there. Just to invite the pleasure of His relatives, He would strike His body with His arms to show that He had sufficient strength.

 

10.11.9

darśayaḿs tad-vidāḿ loka

ātmano bhṛtya-vaśyatām

vrajasyovāha vai harṣaḿ

bhagavān bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ

 

darśayan — exhibiting; tat-vidām — unto persons who can understand Kṛṣṇa's activities; loke — throughout the whole world; ātmanaḥ — of Himself; bhṛtya-vaśyatām — how He is agreeable to carrying out the orders of His servants, His devotees; vrajasya — of Vrajabhūmi; uvāha — executed; vai — indeed; harṣam — pleasure; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ — by His activities like those of a child trying to do so many things.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To pure devotees throughout the world who could understand His activities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, exhibited how much He can be subdued by His devotees, His servants. In this way He increased the pleasure of the Vrajavāsīs by His childhood activities.

 

10.11.10

krīṇīhi bhoḥ phalānīti

śrutvā satvaram acyutaḥ

phalārthī dhānyam ādāya

yayau sarva-phala-pradaḥ

 

krīṇīhi — please come and purchase; bhoḥ — O neighborhood residents; phalāni — ripe fruits; iti — thus; śrutvā — hearing; satvaram — very soon; acyutaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; phala-arthī — as if He wanted some fruits; dhānyam ādāya — capturing some grains of paddy; yayau — went to the fruit vendor; sarva-phala-pradaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can give all kinds of fruit to everyone, had now become in need of fruits.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Once a woman selling fruit was calling, "O inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, if you want to purchase some fruits, come here!" Upon hearing this, Kṛṣṇa immediately took some grains and went to barter as if He needed some fruits.

 

10.11.11

phala-vikrayiṇī tasya

cyuta-dhānya-kara-dvayam

phalair apūrayad ratnaiḥ

phala-bhāṇḍam apūri ca

 

phala-vikrayiṇī — the aborigine fruit vendor, who was an elderly woman; tasya — of Kṛṣṇa; cyuta-dhānya — the paddy He brought to barter having mostly fallen; kara-dvayam — palms of the hands; phalaiḥ apūrayat — the fruit vendor filled His small palms with fruits; ratnaiḥ — in exchange for jewels and gold; phala-bhāṇḍam — the basket of fruit; apūri ca — filled.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While Kṛṣṇa was going to the fruit vendor very hastily, most of the grains He was holding fell. Nonetheless, the fruit vendor filled Kṛṣṇa's hands with fruits, and her fruit basket was immediately filled with jewels and gold.

 

10.11.12

sarit-tīra-gataḿ kṛṣṇaḿ

bhagnārjunam athāhvayat

rāmaḿ ca rohiṇī devī

krīḍantaḿ bālakair bhṛśam

 

sarit-tīra — to the riverside; gatam — who had gone; kṛṣṇam — unto Kṛṣṇa; bhagna-arjunam — after the pastime of breaking the yamala-arjuna trees; atha — then; āhvayat — called; rāmam ca — as well as Balarāma; rohiṇī — the mother of Balarāma; devī — the goddess of fortune; krīḍantam — who were engaged in playing; bālakaiḥ — with many other boys; bhṛśam — with deep attention.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Once, after the uprooting of the yamala-arjuna trees, Rohiṇīdevī went to call Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, who had both gone to the riverside and were playing with the other boys with deep attention.

 

10.11.13

nopeyātāḿ yadāhūtau

krīḍā-sańgena putrakau

yaśodāḿ preṣayām āsa

rohiṇī putra-vatsalām

 

na upeyātām — would not return home; yadā — when; āhūtau — They were called back from playing; krīḍā-sańgena — because of so much attachment to playing with other boys; putrakau — the two sons (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma); yaśodām preṣayām āsa — sent mother Yaśodā to call Them; rohiṇī — mother Rohiṇī; putra-vatsalām — because mother Yaśodā was a more affectionate mother to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because of being too attached to playing with the other boys, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma did not return upon being called by Rohiṇī. Therefore Rohiṇī sent mother Yaśodā to call Them back, because mother Yaśodā was more affectionate to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

 

10.11.14

krīḍantaḿ sā sutaḿ bālair

ativelaḿ sahāgrajam

yaśodājohavīt kṛṣṇaḿ

putra-sneha-snuta-stanī

 

krīḍantam — engaged in playing; sā — mother Yaśodā; sutam — her son; bālaiḥ — with the other boys; ati-velam — although it was too late; saha-agrajam — who was playing with His elder brother, Balarāma; yaśodā — mother Yaśodā; ajohavīt — called ("Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, come here!"); kṛṣṇam — unto Kṛṣṇa; putra-sneha-snuta-stanī — while she was calling Them, milk flowed from her breast because of her ecstatic love and affection.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, being attached to Their play, were playing with the other boys although it was very late. Therefore mother Yaśodā called Them back for lunch. Because of her ecstatic love and affection for Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, milk flowed from her breasts.

 

10.11.15

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāravindākṣa

tāta ehi stanaḿ piba

alaḿ vihāraiḥ kṣut-kṣāntaḥ

krīḍā-śrānto 'si putraka

 

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa aravinda-akṣa — O Kṛṣṇa, my son, lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa; tāta — O darling; ehi — come here; stanam — the milk of my breast; piba — drink; alam vihāraiḥ — after this there is no necessity of playing; kṣut-kṣāntaḥ — tired because of hunger; krīḍā-śrāntaḥ — fatigued from playing; asi — You must be; putraka — O my son.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mother Yaśodā said: My dear son Kṛṣṇa, lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, come here and drink the milk of my breast. My dear darling, You must be very tired because of hunger and the fatigue of playing so long. There is no need to play any more.

 

10.11.16

he rāmāgaccha tātāśu

sānujaḥ kula-nandana

prātar eva kṛtāhāras

tad bhavān bhoktum arhati

 

he rāma — my dear son Balarāma; āgaccha — please come here; tāta — my dear darling; āśu — immediately; sa-anujaḥ — with Your younger brother; kula-nandana — the great hope of our family; prātaḥ eva — certainly in the morning; kṛta-āhāraḥ — have taken Your breakfast; tat — therefore; bhavān — You; bhoktum — to eat something more; arhati — deserve.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Baladeva, best of our family, please come immediately with Your younger brother, Kṛṣṇa. You both ate in the morning, and now You ought to eat something more.

 

10.11.17

pratīkṣate tvāḿ dāśārha

bhokṣyamāṇo vrajādhipaḥ

ehy āvayoḥ priyaḿ dhehi

sva-gṛhān yāta bālakāḥ

 

pratīkṣate — is waiting; tvām — for both of You (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma); dāśārha — O Balarāma; bhokṣyamāṇaḥ — desiring to eat; vraja-adhipaḥ — the King of Vraja, Nanda Mahārāja; ehi — come here; āvayoḥ — our; priyam — pleasure; dhehi — just consider; sva-gṛhān — to their respective homes; yāta — let them go; bālakāḥ — the other boys.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nanda Mahārāja, the King of Vraja, is now waiting to eat. O my dear son Balarāma, he is waiting for You. Therefore, come back to please us. All the boys playing with You and Kṛṣṇa should now go to their homes.

 

10.11.18

dhūli-dhūsaritāńgas tvaḿ

putra majjanam āvaha

janmarkṣaḿ te 'dya bhavati

viprebhyo dehi gāḥ śuciḥ

 

dhūli-dhūsarita-ańgaḥ tvam — You have become covered with dust and sand all over Your body; putra — my dear son; majjanam āvaha — now come here, take Your bath and cleanse Yourself; janma-ṛkṣam — the auspicious star of Your birth; te — of You; adya — today; bhavati — it is; viprebhyaḥ — unto the pure brāhmaṇas; dehi — give in charity; gāḥ — cows; śuciḥ — being purified.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mother Yaśodā further told Kṛṣṇa: My dear son, because of playing all day, Your body has become covered with dust and sand. Therefore, come back, take Your bath and cleanse Yourself. Today the moon is conjoined with the auspicious star of Your birth. Therefore, be pure and give cows in charity to the brāhmaṇas.

 

10.11.19

paśya paśya vayasyāḿs te

mātṛ-mṛṣṭān svalańkṛtān

tvaḿ ca snātaḥ kṛtāhāro

viharasva svalańkṛtaḥ

 

paśya paśya — just see, just see; vayasyān — boys of Your age; te — Your; mātṛ-mṛṣṭān — cleansed by their mothers; su-alańkṛtān — decorated with nice ornaments; tvam ca — You also; snātaḥ — after taking a bath; kṛta-āhāraḥ — and eating Your lunch; viharasva — enjoy with them; su-alańkṛtaḥ — fully decorated like them.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just see how all Your playmates of Your own age have been cleansed and decorated with beautiful ornaments by their mothers. You should come here, and after You have taken Your bath, eaten Your lunch and been decorated with ornaments, You may play with Your friends again.

 

10.11.20

itthaḿ yaśodā tam aśeṣa-śekharaḿ

matvā sutaḿ sneha-nibaddha-dhīr nṛpa

haste gṛhītvā saha-rāmam acyutaḿ

nītvā sva-vāṭaḿ kṛtavaty athodayam

 

ittham — in this way; yaśodā — mother Yaśodā; tam aśeṣa-śekharam — unto Kṛṣṇa, who was on the peak of everything auspicious, with no question of dirtiness or uncleanliness; matvā — considering; sutam — as her son; sneha-nibaddha-dhīḥ — because of an intense spirit of love; nṛpa — O King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); haste — in the hand; gṛhītvā — taking; saha-rāmam — with Balarāma; acyutam — Kṛṣṇa, the infallible; nītvā — bringing; sva-vāṭam — at home; kṛtavatī — performed; atha — now; udayam — brilliancy by bathing Him, dressing Him and decorating Him with ornaments.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, because of intense love and affection, mother Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa's mother, considered Kṛṣṇa, who was at the peak of all opulences, to be her own son. Thus she took Kṛṣṇa by the hand, along with Balarāma, and brought Them home, where she performed her duties by fully bathing Them, dressing Them and feeding Them.

 

10.11.21

śrī-śuka uvāca

gopa-vṛddhā mahotpātān

anubhūya bṛhadvane

nandādayaḥ samāgamya

vraja-kāryam amantrayan

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; gopa-vṛddhāḥ — the elderly persons among the cowherd men; mahā-utpātān — very great disturbances; anubhūya — after experiencing; bṛhadvane — in the place known as Bṛhadvana; nanda-ādayaḥ — the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja; samāgamya — assembled, came together; vraja-kāryam — the business of Vrajabhūmi; amantrayan — deliberated on how to stop the continuous disturbances in Mahāvana.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Then one time, having seen the great disturbances in Bṛhadvana, all the elderly persons among the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, assembled and began to consider what to do to stop the continuous disturbing situations in Vraja.

 

10.11.22

tatropānanda-nāmāha

gopo jñāna-vayo-'dhikaḥ

deśa-kālārtha-tattva-jñaḥ

priya-kṛd rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

 

tatra — in the assembly; upānanda-nāmā — by the name Upānanda (the elder brother of Nanda Mahārāja); āha — said; gopaḥ — the cowherd man; jñāna-vayaḥ-adhikaḥ — who by knowledge and by age was the eldest of all; deśa-kāla-artha-tattva-jñaḥ — very experienced according to time, place and circumstances; priya-kṛt — just for the benefit; rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personalities of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At this meeting of all the inhabitants of Gokula, a cowherd man named Upānanda, who was the most mature in age and knowledge and was very experienced according to time, circumstances and country, made this suggestion for the benefit of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.11.23

utthātavyam ito 'smābhir

gokulasya hitaiṣibhiḥ

āyānty atra mahotpātā

bālānāḿ nāśa-hetavaḥ

 

utthātavyam — now this place should be left; itaḥ — from here, from Gokula; asmābhiḥ — by all of us; gokulasya — of this place, Gokula; hita-eṣibhiḥ — by persons who desire good for this place; āyānti — are happening; atra — here; mahā-utpātāḥ — many great disturbances; bālānām — for the boys like Rāma and Kṛṣṇa; nāśa-hetavaḥ — having the definite purpose of killing Them.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He said: My dear friends the cowherd men, in order to do good to this place, Gokula, we should leave it, because so many disturbances are always occurring here, just for the purpose of killing Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.11.24

muktaḥ kathañcid rākṣasyā

bāla-ghnyā bālako hy asau

harer anugrahān nūnam

anaś copari nāpatat

 

muktaḥ — was delivered; kathañcit — somehow or other; rākṣasyāḥ — from the hands of the Rākṣasī Pūtanā; bāla-ghnyāḥ — who was determined to kill small children; bālakaḥ — especially the child Kṛṣṇa; hi — because; asau — He; hareḥ anugrahāt — by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nūnam — indeed; anaḥ ca — and the handcart; upari — on top of the child; na — not; apatat — did fall down.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The child Kṛṣṇa, simply by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was somehow or other rescued from the hands of the Rākṣasī Pūtanā, who was determined to kill Him. Then, again by the mercy of the Supreme Godhead, the handcart missed falling upon the child.

 

10.11.25

cakra-vātena nīto 'yaḿ

daityena vipadaḿ viyat

śilāyāḿ patitas tatra

paritrātaḥ sureśvaraiḥ

 

cakra-vātena — by the demon in the shape of a whirlwind (Tṛṇāvarta); nītaḥ ayam — Kṛṣṇa was taken away; daityena — by the demon; vipadam — dangerous; viyat — to the sky; śilāyām — on a slab of stone; patitaḥ — fallen; tatra — there; paritrātaḥ — was saved; sura-īśvaraiḥ — by the mercy of Lord Viṣṇu or His associates.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then again, the demon Tṛṇāvarta, in the form of a whirlwind, took the child away into the dangerous sky to kill Him, but the demon fell down onto a slab of stone. In that case also, by the mercy of Lord Viṣṇu or His associates, the child was saved.

 

10.11.26

yan na mriyeta drumayor

antaraḿ prāpya bālakaḥ

asāv anyatamo vāpi

tad apy acyuta-rakṣaṇam

 

yat — then again; na mriyeta — did not die; drumayoḥ antaram — between the two trees; prāpya — although He was between; bālakaḥ asau — that child, Kṛṣṇa; anyatamaḥ — another child; vā api — or; tat api acyuta-rakṣaṇam — in that case also, He was saved by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even the other day, neither Kṛṣṇa nor any of His playmates died from the falling of the two trees, although the children were near the trees or even between them. This also is to be considered the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

10.11.27

yāvad autpātiko 'riṣṭo

vrajaḿ nābhibhaved itaḥ

tāvad bālān upādāya

yāsyāmo 'nyatra sānugāḥ

 

yāvat — so long; autpātikaḥ — disturbing; ariṣṭaḥ — the demon; vrajam — this Gokula Vrajabhūmi; na — not; abhibhavet itaḥ — go away from this place; tāvat — so long; bālān upādāya — for the benefit of the boys; yāsyāmaḥ — we shall go; anyatra — somewhere else; sa-anugāḥ — with our followers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All these incidents are being caused by some unknown demon. Before he comes here to create another disturbance, it is our duty to go somewhere else with the boys until there are no more disturbances.

 

10.11.28

vanaḿ vṛndāvanaḿ nāma

paśavyaḿ nava-kānanam

gopa-gopī-gavāḿ sevyaḿ

puṇyādri-tṛṇa-vīrudham

 

vanam — another forest; vṛndāvanam nāma — named Vṛndāvana; paśavyam — a very suitable place for maintenance of the cows and other animals; nava-kānanam — there are many new gardenlike places; gopa-gopī-gavām — for all the cowherd men, the members of their families, and the cows; sevyam — a very happy, very suitable place; puṇya-adri — there are nice mountains; tṛṇa — plants; vīrudham — and creepers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Between Nandeśvara and Mahāvana is a place named Vṛndāvana. This place is very suitable because it is lush with grass, plants and creepers for the cows and other animals. It has nice gardens and tall mountains and is full of facilities for the happiness of all the gopas and gopīs and our animals.

 

10.11.29

tat tatrādyaiva yāsyāmaḥ

śakaṭān yuńkta mā ciram

godhanāny agrato yāntu

bhavatāḿ yadi rocate

 

tat — therefore; tatra — there; adya eva — just today; yāsyāmaḥ — let us go; śakaṭān — all the carts; yuńkta — make ready; mā ciram — without delay; go-dhanāni — all the cows; agrataḥ — in front; yāntu — let them go; bhavatām — of all of you; yadi — if; rocate — it is pleasing to accept it.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore, let us immediately go today. There is no need to wait any further. If you agree to my proposal, let us prepare all the bullock carts and put the cows in front of us, and let us go there.

 

10.11.30

tac chrutvaika-dhiyo gopāḥ

sādhu sādhv iti vādinaḥ

vrajān svān svān samāyujya

yayū rūḍha-paricchadāḥ

 

tat śrutvā — hearing this advice of Upānanda's; eka-dhiyaḥ — voting unanimously; gopāḥ — all the cowherd men; sādhu sādhu — very nice, very nice; iti — thus; vādinaḥ — speaking, declaring; vrajān — cows; svān svān — own respective; samāyujya — assembling; yayuḥ — started; rūḍha-paricchadāḥ — all the dresses and paraphernalia having been kept on the carts.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Upon hearing this advice from Upānanda, the cowherd men unanimously agreed. "Very nice," they said. "Very nice." Thus they sorted out their household affairs, placed their clothing and other paraphernalia on the carts, and immediately started for Vṛndāvana.

 

10.11.31-32

vṛddhān bālān striyo rājan

sarvopakaraṇāni ca

anaḥsv āropya gopālā

yattā ātta-śarāsanāḥ

 

godhanāni puraskṛtya

śṛńgāṇy āpūrya sarvataḥ

tūrya-ghoṣeṇa mahatā

yayuḥ saha-purohitāḥ

 

vṛddhān — first all the old men; bālān — children; striyaḥ — women; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; sarva-upakaraṇāni ca — then all sorts of necessities and whatever belongings they had; anaḥsu — on the bullock carts; āropya — keeping; gopālāḥ — all the cowherd men; yattāḥ — with great care; ātta-śara-asanāḥ — fully equipped with arrows and bows;

 

go-dhanāni — all the cows; puraskṛtya — keeping in front; śṛńgāṇi — bugles or horns; āpūrya — vibrating; sarvataḥ — all around; tūrya-ghoṣeṇa — with the resounding of the bugles; mahatā — loud; yayuḥ — started; saha-purohitāḥ — with the priests.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Keeping all the old men, women, children and household paraphernalia on the bullock carts and keeping all the cows in front, the cowherd men picked up their bows and arrows with great care and sounded bugles made of horn. O King Parīkṣit, in this way, with bugles vibrating all around, the cowherd men, accompanied by their priests, began their journey.

 

10.11.33

gopyo rūḍha-rathā nūtna-

kuca-kuńkuma-kāntayaḥ

kṛṣṇa-līlā jaguḥ prītyā

niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ

 

gopyaḥ — all the cowherd women; rūḍha-rathāḥ — while riding on the bullock carts; nūtna-kuca-kuńkuma-kāntayaḥ — their bodies, especially their breasts, were decorated with fresh kuńkuma; kṛṣṇa-līlāḥ — the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa; jaguḥ — they chanted; prītyā — with great pleasure; niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ — decorated with lockets on their necks; su-vāsasaḥ — very well dressed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The cowherd women, riding on the bullock carts, were dressed very nicely with excellent garments, and their bodies, especially their breasts, were decorated with fresh kuńkuma powder. As they rode, they began to chant with great pleasure the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

 

 

10.11.34

tathā yaśodā-rohiṇyāv

ekaḿ śakaṭam āsthite

rejatuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmābhyāḿ

tat-kathā-śravaṇotsuke

 

tathā — as well as; yaśodā-rohiṇyau — both mother Yaśodā and mother Rohiṇī; ekam śakaṭam — on one bullock cart; āsthite — seated; rejatuḥ — very beautiful; kṛṣṇa-rāmābhyām — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, along with Their mothers; tat-kathā — of the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; śravaṇa-utsuke — being situated in hearing with great transcendental pleasure.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus hearing about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with great pleasure, mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇīdevī, so as not to be separated from Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma for even a moment, got up with Them on one bullock cart. In this situation, they all looked very beautiful.

 

10.11.35

vṛndāvanaḿ sampraviśya

sarva-kāla-sukhāvaham

tatra cakrur vrajāvāsaḿ

śakaṭair ardha-candravat

 

vṛndāvanam — the sacred place by the name Vṛndāvana; sampraviśya — after entering; sarva-kāla-sukha-āvaham — where in all seasons it is pleasing to live; tatra — there; cakruḥ — they made; vraja-āvāsam — inhabitation of Vraja; śakaṭaiḥ — by the bullock carts; ardha-candravat — making a semicircle like a half moon.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this way they entered Vṛndāvana, where it is always pleasing to live in all seasons. They made a temporary place to inhabit by placing their bullock carts around them in the shape of a half moon.

 

10.11.36

vṛndāvanaḿ govardhanaḿ

yamunā-pulināni ca

vīkṣyāsīd uttamā prītī

rāma-mādhavayor nṛpa

 

vṛndāvanam — the place known as Vṛndāvana; govardhanam — along with Govardhana Hill; yamunā-pulināni ca — and the banks of the River Yamunā; vīkṣya — seeing this situation; āsīt — remained or was enjoyed; uttamā prītī — first-class pleasure; rāma-mādhavayoḥ — of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; nṛpa — O King Parīkṣit.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King Parīkṣit, when Rāma and Kṛṣṇa saw Vṛndāvana, Govardhana and the banks of the River Yamunā, They both enjoyed great pleasure.

 

10.11.37

evaḿ vrajaukasāḿ prītiḿ

yacchantau bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ

kala-vākyaiḥ sva-kālena

vatsa-pālau babhūvatuḥ

 

evam — in this way; vraja-okasām — to all the inhabitants of Vraja; prītim — pleasure; yacchantau — giving; bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ — by the activities and pastimes of childhood; kala-vākyaiḥ — and by very sweet broken language; sva-kālena — in due course of time; vatsa-pālau — to take care of the calves; babhūvatuḥ — were grown up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this way, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, acting like small boys and talking in half-broken language, gave transcendental pleasure to all the inhabitants of Vraja. In due course of time, They became old enough to take care of the calves.

 

10.11.38

avidūre vraja-bhuvaḥ

saha gopāla-dārakaiḥ

cārayām āsatur vatsān

nānā-krīḍā-paricchadau

 

avidūre — not very far from the residential quarters of the Vrajavāsīs; vraja-bhuvaḥ — from the land known as Vraja; saha gopāla-dārakaiḥ — with other boys of the same profession (cowherd boys); cārayām āsatuḥ — tended; vatsān — the small calves; nānā — various; krīḍā — sporting; paricchadau — dressed very nicely in different ways and equipped with implements.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Not far away from Their residential quarters, both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, equipped with all kinds of playthings, played with other cowherd boys and began to tend the small calves.

 

10.11.39-40

kvacid vādayato veṇuḿ

kṣepaṇaiḥ kṣipataḥ kvacit

kvacit pādaiḥ kińkiṇībhiḥ

kvacit kṛtrima-go-vṛṣaiḥ

 

vṛṣāyamāṇau nardantau

yuyudhāte parasparam

anukṛtya rutair jantūḿś

ceratuḥ prākṛtau yathā

 

kvacit — sometimes; vādayataḥ — blowing; veṇum — on the flute; kṣepaṇaiḥ — with a device of rope for throwing; kṣipataḥ — throwing stones to get fruit; kvacit — sometimes; kvacit pādaiḥ — sometimes with the legs; kińkiṇībhiḥ — with the sound of ankle bells; kvacit — sometimes; kṛtrima-go-vṛṣaiḥ — by becoming artificial cows and bulls;

 

vṛṣāyamāṇau — imitating the animals; nardantau — roaring loudly; yuyudhāte — They both used to fight; parasparam — with one another; anukṛtya — imitating; rutaiḥ — by resounding; jantūn — all the animals; ceratuḥ — They used to wander; prākṛtau — two ordinary human children; yathā — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sometimes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would play on Their flutes, sometimes They would throw ropes and stones devised for getting fruits from the trees, sometimes They would throw only stones, and sometimes, Their ankle bells tinkling, They would play football with fruits like bael and āmalakī. Sometimes They would cover Themselves with blankets and imitate cows and bulls and fight with one another, roaring loudly, and sometimes They would imitate the voices of the animals. In this way They enjoyed sporting, exactly like two ordinary human children.

 

10.11.41

kadācid yamunā-tīre

vatsāḿś cārayatoḥ svakaiḥ

vayasyaiḥ kṛṣṇa-balayor

jighāḿsur daitya āgamat

 

kadācit — sometimes; yamunā-tīre — on the bank of the Yamunā; vatsān — the calves; cārayatoḥ — when They were tending; svakaiḥ — Their own; vayasyaiḥ — with other playmates; kṛṣṇa-balayoḥ — both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; jighāḿsuḥ — desiring to kill Them; daityaḥ — another demon; āgamat — reached there.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One day while Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, along with Their playmates, were tending the calves on the bank of the River Yamunā, another demon arrived there, desiring to kill Them.

 

10.11.42

taḿ vatsa-rūpiṇaḿ vīkṣya

vatsa-yūtha-gataḿ hariḥ

darśayan baladevāya

śanair mugdha ivāsadat

 

tam — unto the demon; vatsa-rūpiṇam — assuming the form of a calf; vīkṣya — seeing; vatsa-yūtha-gatam — when the demon entered the group of all the other calves; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; darśayan — indicating; baladevāya — unto Baladeva; śanaiḥ — very slowly; mugdhaḥ iva — as if He did not understand anything; āsadat — came near the demon.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw that the demon had assumed the form of a calf and entered among the groups of other calves, He pointed out to Baladeva, "Here is another demon." Then He very slowly approached the demon, as if He did not understand the demon's intentions.

 

10.11.43

gṛhītvāpara-pādābhyāḿ

saha-lāńgūlam acyutaḥ

bhrāmayitvā kapitthāgre

prāhiṇod gata-jīvitam

sa kapitthair mahā-kāyaḥ

pātyamānaiḥ papāta ha

 

gṛhītvā — capturing; apara-pādābhyām — with the hind legs; saha — along with; lāńgūlam — the tail; acyutaḥ — Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhrāmayitvā — twirling around very severely; kapittha-agre — on the top of a kapittha tree; prāhiṇot — threw him; gata-jīvitam — lifeless body; saḥ — that demon; kapitthaiḥ — with the kapittha trees; mahā-kāyaḥ — assumed a great body; pātyamānaiḥ — and while the tree fell down; papāta ha — he fell dead on the ground.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, Śrī Kṛṣṇa caught the demon by the hind legs and tail, twirled the demon's whole body very strongly until the demon was dead, and threw him into the top of a kapittha tree, which then fell down, along with the body of the demon, who had assumed a great form.

 

10.11.44

taḿ vīkṣya vismitā bālāḥ

śaśaḿsuḥ sādhu sādhv iti

devāś ca parisantuṣṭā

babhūvuḥ puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ

 

tam — this incident; vīkṣya — observing; vismitāḥ — very much astonished; bālāḥ — all the other boys; śaśaḿsuḥ — praised highly; sādhu sādhu iti — exclaiming, "Very good, very good"; devāḥ ca — and all the demigods from the heavenly planets; parisantuṣṭāḥ — being very much satisfied; babhūvuḥ — became; puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ — showered flowers on Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Upon seeing the dead body of the demon, all the cowherd boys exclaimed, "Well done, Kṛṣṇa! Very good, very good! Thank You." In the upper planetary system, all the demigods were pleased, and therefore they showered flowers on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

10.11.45

tau vatsa-pālakau bhūtvā

sarva-lokaika-pālakau

saprātar-āśau go-vatsāḿś

cārayantau viceratuḥ

 

tau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; vatsa-pālakau — as if taking care of the calves; bhūtvā — so becoming; sarva-loka-eka-pālakau — although They are the maintainers of all living beings throughout the whole universe; sa-prātaḥ-āśau — finishing breakfast in the morning; go-vatsān — all the calves; cārayantau — tending; viceratuḥ — wandered here and there.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After the killing of the demon, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma finished Their breakfast in the morning, and while continuing to take care of the calves, They wandered here and there. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the Supreme Personalities of Godhead, who maintain the entire creation, now took charge of the calves as if cowherd boys.

 

10.11.46

svaḿ svaḿ vatsa-kulaḿ sarve

pāyayiṣyanta ekadā

gatvā jalāśayābhyāśaḿ

pāyayitvā papur jalam

 

svam svam — own respective; vatsa-kulam — the group of calves; sarve — all the boys and Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; pāyayiṣyantaḥ — desiring to have them drink water; ekadā — one day; gatvā — going; jala-āśaya-abhyāśam — near the water tank; pāyayitvā — after allowing the animals to drink water; papuḥ jalam — they also drank water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One day all the boys, including Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, each boy taking his own group of calves, brought the calves to a reservoir of water, desiring to allow them to drink. After the animals drank water, the boys drank water there also.

 

10.11.47

te tatra dadṛśur bālā

mahā-sattvam avasthitam

tatrasur vajra-nirbhinnaḿ

gireḥ śṛńgam iva cyutam

 

te — they; tatra — there; dadṛśuḥ — observed; bālāḥ — all the boys; mahā-sattvam — a gigantic body; avasthitam — situated; tatrasuḥ — became afraid; vajra-nirbhinnam — broken by a thunderbolt; gireḥ śṛńgam — the peak of a mountain; iva — like; cyutam — fallen there.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Right by the reservoir, the boys saw a gigantic body resembling a mountain peak broken and struck down by a thunderbolt. They were afraid even to see such a huge living being.

 

10.11.48

sa vai bako nāma mahān

asuro baka-rūpa-dhṛk

āgatya sahasā kṛṣṇaḿ

tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍo 'grasad balī

 

saḥ — that creature; vai — indeed; bakaḥ nāma — by the name Bakāsura; mahān asuraḥ — a great, gigantic demon; baka-rūpa-dhṛk — assumed the bodily shape of a big duck; āgatya — coming t