Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 10
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupāda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
(see
also the
pdf for this chapter)
Chapter 23: The Brāhmaṇas' Wives Blessed
10.23.1
śrī-gopa ūcuḥ
rāma rāma mahā-bāho
kṛṣṇa duṣṭa-nibarhaṇa
eṣā vai bādhate kṣun nas
tac-chāntiḿ kartum arhathaḥ
śrī-gopāḥ ūcuḥ — the cowherd boys said; rāma rāma — O Lord Rāma, Lord Rāma; mahā-bāho — O mighty-armed one; kṛṣṇa — O Lord Kṛṣṇa; duṣṭa — of the wicked; nibarhaṇa — O destroyer; eṣā — this; vai — indeed; bādhate — is causing distress; kṣut — hunger; naḥ — to us; tat-śāntim — its counteraction; kartum arhathaḥ — You ought to do.
TRANSLATION
The cowherd boys said: O Rāma, Rāma, mighty-armed one! O Kṛṣṇa, chastiser of the wicked ! We are being harassed by hunger, and You should do something about it.
10.23.2
śrī-śuka uvāca
iti vijñāpito gopair
bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ
bhaktāyā vipra-bhāryāyāḥ
prasīdann idam abravīt
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; vijñāpitaḥ — informed; gopaiḥ — by the cowherd boys; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; devakī-sutaḥ — the son of Devakī; bhaktāyāḥ — His devotees; vipra-bhāryāyāḥ — the wives of the brāhmaṇas; prasīdan — desiring to satisfy; idam — this; abravīt — He spoke.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus entreated by the cowherd boys, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Devakī, replied as follows, desiring to please certain of His devotees who were brāhmaṇas' wives.
10.23.3
prayāta deva-yajanaḿ
brāhmaṇā brahma-vādinaḥ
satram āńgirasaḿ nāma
hy āsate svarga-kāmyayā
prayāta — please go; deva-yajanam — to the sacrificial arena; brāhmaṇāḥ — brāhmaṇas; brahma-vādinaḥ — followers of the Vedic injunctions; satram — a sacrifice; āńgirasam nāma — known as Āńgirasa; hi — indeed; āsate — they are now performing; svarga-kāmyayā — with the motive of promotion to heaven.
TRANSLATION
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Please go to the sacrificial arena where a group of brāhmaṇas, learned in the Vedic injunctions, are now performing the Āńgirasa sacrifice to gain promotion to heaven.
10.23.4
tatra gatvaudanaḿ gopā
yācatāsmad-visarjitāḥ
kīrtayanto bhagavata
āryasya mama cābhidhām
tatra — there; gatvā — going; odanam — food; gopāḥ — My dear cowherd boys; yācata — just request; asmat — by Us; visarjitāḥ — dispatched; kīrtayantaḥ — announcing; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; āryasya — the elder; mama — My; ca — also; abhidhām — name.
TRANSLATION
When you go there, My dear cowherd boys, simply request some food. Declare to them the name of My elder brother, the Supreme Lord Balarāma, and also My name, and explain that you have been sent by Us.
10.23.5
ity ādiṣṭā bhagavatā
gatvā yācanta te tathā
kṛtāñjali-puṭā viprān
daṇḍa-vat patitā bhuvi
iti — in these words; ādiṣṭaḥ — ordered; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa; gatvā — going; ayācanta — begged; te — they; tathā — in that manner; kṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ — joining their palms in humble supplication; viprān — to the brāhmaṇas; daṇḍa-vat — like sticks; patitāḥ — falling; bhuvi — upon the ground.
TRANSLATION
Thus instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cowherd boys went there and submitted their request. They stood before the brāhmaṇas with palms joined in supplication and then fell flat on the ground to offer respect.
10.23.6
he bhūmi-devāḥ śṛṇuta
kṛṣṇasyādeśa-kāriṇaḥ
prāptāñ jānīta bhadraḿ vo
gopān no rāma-coditān
he bhūmi-devāḥ — O earthly gods; śṛṇuta — please hear us; kṛṣṇasya ādeśa — of the order of Kṛṣṇa; kāriṇaḥ — the executors; prāptān — arrived; jānīta — please recognize; bhadram — all good; vaḥ — unto you; gopān — cowherd boys; naḥ — us; rāma-coditān — sent by Lord Rāma.
TRANSLATION
[The cowherd boys said:] O earthly gods, please hear us. We cowherd boys are executing the orders of Kṛṣṇa, and we have been sent here by Balarāma. We wish all good for you. Please acknowledge our arrival.
10.23.7
gāś cārayantāv avidūra odanaḿ
rāmācyutau vo laṣato bubhukṣitau
tayor dvijā odanam arthinor yadi
śraddhā ca vo yacchata dharma-vittamāḥ
gāḥ — Their cows; cārayantau — grazing; avidūre — not far away; odanam — food; rāma-acyutau — Lord Rāma and Lord Acyuta; vaḥ — from you; laṣataḥ — are desiring; bubhukṣitau — being hungry; tayoḥ — for Them; dvijāḥ — O brāhmaṇas; odanam — food; arthinoḥ — begging; yadi — if; śraddhā — any faith; ca — and; vaḥ — on your part; yacchata — please give; dharma-vit-tamāḥ — O best knowers of the principles of religion.
TRANSLATION
Lord Rāma and Lord Acyuta are tending Their cows not far from here. They are hungry and want you to give Them some of your food. Therefore, O brāhmaṇas, O best of the knowers of religion, if you have faith please give some food to Them.
10.23.8
dīkṣāyāḥ paśu-saḿsthāyāḥ
sautrāmaṇyāś ca sattamāḥ
anyatra dīkṣitasyāpi
nānnam aśnan hi duṣyati
dīkṣāyāḥ — beginning with the initiation for a sacrifice; paśu-saḿsthāyāḥ — until sacrificing the animal; sautrāmaṇyāḥ — outside of the sacrifice known as Sautrāmaṇi; ca — and; sat-tamāḥ — O purest ones; anyatra — elsewhere; dīkṣitasya — of one who has been initiated for the sacrifice; api — even; na — not; annam — food; aśnan — eating; hi — indeed; duṣyati — creates offense.
TRANSLATION
Except during the interval between the initiation of the performer of a sacrifice and the actual sacrifice of the animal, O most pure brāhmaṇas, it is not contaminating for even the initiated to partake of food, at least in sacrifices other than the Sautrāmaṇi.
10.23.9
iti te bhagavad-yācñāḿ
śṛṇvanto 'pi na śuśruvuḥ
kṣudrāśā bhūri-karmāṇo
bāliśā vṛddha-māninaḥ
iti — thus; te — they, the brāhmaṇas; bhagavat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yācñām — the supplication; śṛṇvantaḥ — hearing; api — although; na śuśruvuḥ — they did not hear; kṣudra-āśāḥ — full of petty desire; bhūri-karmāṇaḥ — entangled in elaborate ritualistic activities; bāliśāḥ — childish fools; vṛddha-māninaḥ — presuming themselves to be wise men.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇas heard this supplication from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yet they refused to pay heed. Indeed, they were full of petty desires and entangled in elaborate rituals. Though presuming themselves advanced in Vedic learning, they were actually inexperienced fools.
10.23.10-11
deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaḿ
mantra-tantrartvijo 'gnayaḥ
devatā yajamānaś ca
kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ
taḿ brahma paramaḿ sākṣād
bhagavantam adhokṣajam
manuṣya-dṛṣṭyā duṣprajñā
martyātmāno na menire
deśaḥ — the place; kālaḥ — time; pṛthak dravyam — particular items of paraphernalia; mantra — Vedic hymns; tantra — prescribed rituals; ṛtvijaḥ — priests; agnayaḥ — sacrificial fires; devatāḥ — the presiding demigods; yajamānaḥ — the performer of the sacrifice; ca — and; kratuḥ — the offering; dharmaḥ — the invisible power of fruitive results; ca — and; yat — whom; mayaḥ — constituting;
tam — Him; brahma paramam — the Supreme Absolute Truth; sākṣāt — directly manifest; bhagavantam — the Personality of Godhead; adhokṣajam — who is transcendental to material senses; manuṣya-dṛṣṭyā — seeing Him as an ordinary man; duṣprajñāḥ — perverted in their intelligence; martya-ātmānaḥ — falsely identifying themselves with the material body; na menire — they did not properly honor.
TRANSLATION
Although the ingredients of sacrificial performance — the place, time, particular paraphernalia, mantras, rituals, priests, fires, demigods, performer, offering and the as yet unseen beneficial results — are all simply aspects of His opulences, the brāhmaṇas saw Lord Kṛṣṇa as an ordinary human because of their perverted intelligence. They failed to recognize that He is the Supreme Absolute Truth, the directly manifest Personality of Godhead, whom the material senses cannot ordinarily perceive. Thus bewildered by their false identification with the mortal body, they did not show Him proper respect.
10.23.12
na te yad om iti procur
na neti ca parantapa
gopā nirāśāḥ pratyetya
tathocuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmayoḥ
na — not; te — they; yat — when; om — "so be it"; iti — thus; procuḥ — did speak; na — not; na — "no"; iti — thus; ca — either; parantapa — O chastiser of the enemies, Parīkṣit Mahārāja; gopāḥ — the cowherd boys; nirāśāḥ — discouraged; pratyetya — returning; tathā — thus; ūcuḥ — described; kṛṣṇa-rāmayoḥ — to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Rāma.
TRANSLATION
When the brāhmaṇas failed to reply even with a simple yes or no, O chastiser of the enemy [Parīkṣit], the cowherd boys returned disappointed to Kṛṣṇa and Rāma and reported this to Them.
10.23.13
tad upākarṇya bhagavān
prahasya jagad-īśvaraḥ
vyājahāra punar gopān
darśayan laukikīḿ gatim
tat — that; upākarṇya — hearing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; prahasya — laughing; jagat-īśvaraḥ — the controller of the entire universe; vyājahāra — addressed; punaḥ — again; gopān — the cowherd boys; darśayan — showing; laukikīm — of the ordinary world; gatim — the way.
TRANSLATION
Hearing what had happened, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, simply laughed. Then He again addressed the cowherd boys, showing them the way men act in this world.
10.23.14
māḿ jñāpayata patnībhyaḥ
sa-sańkarṣaṇam āgatam
dāsyanti kāmam annaḿ vaḥ
snigdhā mayy uṣitā dhiyā
mām — Me; jñāpayata — please announce; patnībhyaḥ — to the wives; sa-sańkarṣaṇam — together with Lord Balarāma; āgatam — arrived; dāsyanti — they will give; kāmam — as much as you desire; annam — food; vaḥ — to you; snigdhāḥ — affectionate; mayi — in Me; uṣitāḥ — residing; dhiyā — with their intelligence.
TRANSLATION
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Tell the wives of the brāhmaṇas that I have come here with Lord Sańkarṣaṇa. They will certainly give you all the food you want, for they are most affectionate toward Me and, indeed, with their intelligence reside in Me alone.
10.23.15
gatvātha patnī-śālāyāḿ
dṛṣṭvāsīnāḥ sv-alańkṛtāḥ
natvā dvija-satīr gopāḥ
praśritā idam abruvan
gatvā — going; atha — then; patnī-śālāyām — in the house of the wives of the brāhmaṇas; dṛṣṭvā — seeing them; asīnāḥ — sitting; su-alańkṛtāḥ — nicely ornamented; natvā — bowing down to offer obeisances; dvija-satīḥ — to the chaste wives of the brāhmaṇas; gopāḥ — the cowherd boys; praśritāḥ — humbly; idam — this; abruvan — spoke.
TRANSLATION
The cowherd boys then went to the house where the brāhmaṇas' wives were staying. There the boys saw those chaste ladies sitting, nicely decorated with fine ornaments. Bowing down to the brāhmaṇa ladies, the boys addressed them in all humility.
10.23.16
namo vo vipra-patnībhyo
nibodhata vacāḿsi naḥ
ito 'vidūre caratā
kṛṣṇeneheṣitā vayam
namaḥ — obeisances; vaḥ — unto you; vipra-patnībhyaḥ — the wives of the brāhmaṇas; nibodhata — please hear; vacāḿsi — words; naḥ — our; itaḥ — from here; avidūre — not distant; caratā — who is going; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; iha — here; iṣitāḥ — sent; vayam — we.
TRANSLATION
[The cowherd boys said:] Obeisances unto you, O wives of the learned brāhmaṇas. Kindly hear our words. We have been sent here by Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is passing by not far from here.
10.23.17
gāś cārayan sa gopālaiḥ
sa-rāmo dūram āgataḥ
bubhukṣitasya tasyānnaḿ
sānugasya pradīyatām
gāḥ — the cows; cārayan — tending; saḥ — He; gopālaiḥ — in the company of the cowherd boys; sa-rāmaḥ — together with Lord Balarāma; dūram — from far away; āgataḥ — has come; bubhukṣitasya — who is hungry; tasya — for Him; annam — food; sa-anugasya — together with His companions; pradīyatām — should be given.
TRANSLATION
He has come a long way with the cowherd boys and Lord Balarāma, tending the cows. Now He is hungry, so some food should be given for Him and His companions.
10.23.18
śrutvācyutam upāyātaḿ
nityaḿ tad-darśanotsukāḥ
tat-kathākṣipta-manaso
babhūvur jāta-sambhramāḥ
śrutvā — hearing; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; upāyātam — come nearby; nityam — constantly; tat-darśana — for the sight of Him; utsukāḥ — eager; tat-kathā — by descriptions of Him; ākṣpita — enchanted; manasaḥ — their minds; babhūvuḥ — they became; jāta-sambhramāḥ — excited.
TRANSLATION
The wives of the brāhmaṇas were always eager to see Kṛṣṇa, for their minds had been enchanted by descriptions of Him. Thus as soon as they heard that He had come, they became very excited.
10.23.19
catur-vidhaḿ bahu-guṇam
annam ādāya bhājanaiḥ
abhisasruḥ priyaḿ sarvāḥ
samudram iva nimnagāḥ
catuḥ-vidham — of the four varieties (that which is chewed, that which is swallowed, that which is licked and that which is sucked); bahu-guṇam — endowed with many rich tastes and fragrances; annam — food; ādāya — bringing; bhājanaiḥ — in large vessels; abhisasruḥ — they went forward; priyam — to their beloved; sarvāḥ — all of them; samudram — to the ocean; iva — just as; nimna-gāḥ — the rivers.
TRANSLATION
Taking along in large vessels the four kinds of foods, full of fine tastes and aromas, all the ladies went forth to meet their beloved, just as rivers flow toward the sea.
10.23.20-21
niṣidhyamānāḥ patibhir
bhrātṛbhir bandhubhiḥ sutaiḥ
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
dīrgha-śruta -dhṛtāśayāḥ
yamunopavane 'śoka
nava-pallava-maṇḍite
vicarantaḿ vṛtaḿ gopaiḥ
sāgrajaḿ dadṛśuḥ striyaḥ
niṣidhyamānāḥ — being forbidden; patibhiḥ — by their husbands; bhrātṛbhiḥ — by their brothers; bandhubhiḥ — by other relatives; sutaiḥ — and by their sons; bhagavati — directed toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead; uttama-śloke — who is praised with transcendental hymns; dīrgha — for a long time; śruta — because of hearing; dhṛta — acquired; āśayāḥ — whose expectations;
yamunā-upavane — in a garden along the river Yamunā; aśoka-nava-pallava — by the buds of the aśoka trees; maṇḍite — decorated; vicarantam — wandering; vṛtam — surrounded; gopaiḥ — by the cowherd boys; sa-agrajam — together with His elder brother; dadṛśuḥ — they saw; striyaḥ — the ladies.
TRANSLATION
Although their husbands, brothers, sons and other relatives tried to forbid them from going, their hope of seeing Kṛṣṇa, cultivated by extensive hearing of His transcendental qualities, won out. Along the river Yamunā, within a garden decorated with buds of aśoka trees, they caught sight of Him strolling along in the company of the cowherd boys and His elder brother, Balarāma.
10.23.22
śyāmaḿ hiraṇya-paridhiḿ vanamālya-barha-
dhātu-pravāla-naṭa-veṣam anavratāḿse
vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjaḿ
karṇotpalālaka-kapola-mukhābja-hāsam
śyāmam — dark blue in complexion; hiraṇya — golden; paridhim — whose garment; vana-mālya — with a forest garland; barha — peacock feather; dhātu — colored minerals; pravāla — and sprigs of buds; naṭa — like a dancer upon the stage; veṣam — dressed; anuvrata — of a friend; aḿse — upon the shoulder; vinyasta — placed; hastam — His hand; itareṇa — with the other; dhunānam — twirling; abjam — a lotus; karṇa — upon His ears; utpala — lilies; alaka-kapola — with hair extending over His cheeks; mukha-abja — upon His lotuslike face; hāsam — having a smile.
TRANSLATION
His complexion was dark blue and His garment golden. Wearing a peacock feather, colored minerals, sprigs of flower buds, and a garland of forest flowers and leaves, He was dressed just like a dramatic dancer. He rested one hand upon the shoulder of a friend and with the other twirled a lotus. Lilies graced His ears, His hair hung down over His cheeks, and His lotuslike face was smiling.
10.23.23
prāyaḥ-śruta-priyatamodaya-karṇa-pūrair
yasmin nimagna-manasas tam athākṣi-randraiḥ
antaḥ praveśya su-ciraḿ parirabhya tāpaḿ
prājñaḿ yathābhimatayo vijahur narendra
prāyaḥ — repeatedly; śruta — heard; priya-tama — of their dearmost; udaya — the glories; karṇa-pūraiḥ — which were the ornaments of their ears; yasmin — in whom; nimagna — submerged; manasaḥ — their minds; tam — Him; atha — then; akṣi-randhraiḥ — through the apertures of their eyes; antaḥ — within; praveśya — making enter; su-ciram — for a long time; parirabhya — embracing; tāpam — their distress; prājñam — the inner consciousness; yathā — as; abhimatayaḥ — the functions of false ego; vijahuḥ — they gave up; nara-indra — O ruler of men.
TRANSLATION
O ruler of men, for a long time those brāhmaṇa ladies had heard about Kṛṣṇa, their beloved, and His glories had become the constant ornaments of their ears. Indeed, their minds were always absorbed in Him. Through the apertures of their eyes they now forced Him to enter within their hearts, and then they embraced Him within for a long time. In this way they finally gave up the pain of separation from Him, just as sages give up the anxiety of false ego by embracing their innermost consciousness.
10.23.24
tās tathā tyakta-sarvāśāḥ
prāptā ātma-didṛkṣayā
vijñāyākhila-dṛg-draṣṭā
prāha prahasitānanaḥ
tāḥ — those ladies; tathā — in such a state; tyakta-sarva-āśāḥ — having given up all material desires; prāptāḥ — arrived; ātma-didṛkṣayā — with the desire of seeing Himself; vijñāya — understanding; akhila-dṛk — of the vision of all creatures; draṣṭā — the seer; prāha — He spoke; prahasita-ānanaḥ — with a smile upon His face.
TRANSLATION
Lord Kṛṣṇa, who witnesses the thoughts of all creatures, understood how those ladies had abandoned all worldly hopes and come there simply to see Him. Thus He addressed them as follows with a smile upon His face.
10.23.25
svāgataḿ vo mahā-bhāgā
āsyatāḿ karavāma kim
yan no didṛkṣayā prāptā
upapannam idaḿ hi vaḥ
su-āgatam — auspicious welcome; vaḥ — for you; mahā-bhāgāḥ — O fortunate ladies; āsyatām — please come sit; karavāma — I can do, kim — what; yat — because; naḥ — Us; didṛkṣayā — with the desire of seeing; prāptāḥ — you have come; upapannam — fitting; idam — this; hi — certainly; vaḥ — on your part.
TRANSLATION
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Welcome, O most fortunate ladies. Please sit down and make yourselves comfortable. What can I do for you? That you have come here to see Me is most appropriate.
10.23.26
nanv addhā mayi kurvanti
kuśalāḥ svārtha-darśinaḥ
ahaituky avyavahitāḿ
bhaktim ātma-priye yathā
nanu — certainly; addhā — directly; mayi — unto Me; kurvanti — they perform; kuśalāḥ — those who are expert; sva-artha — their own true benefit; darśinaḥ — who perceive; ahaitukī — unmotivated; avyavahitām — uninterrupted; bhaktim — devotional service; ātma — to the soul; priye — who am most dear; yathā — properly.
TRANSLATION
Certainly expert personalities, who can see their own true interest, render unmotivated and uninterrupted devotional service directly unto Me, for I am most dear to the soul.
10.23.27
prāṇa-buddhi-manaḥ-svātma
dārāpatya-dhanādayaḥ
yat-samparkāt priyā āsaḿs
tataḥ ko nv aparaḥ priyaḥ
prāṇa — one's vital force; buddhi — intelligence; manaḥ — mind; sva — relatives; ātma — body; dāra — wife; apatya — children; dhana — wealth; ādayaḥ — and so forth; yat — with which (self); samparkāt — because of contact; priyāḥ — dear; āsan — have become; tataḥ — than that; kaḥ — what; nu — indeed; aparaḥ — other; priyaḥ — dear object.
TRANSLATION
It is only by contact with the self that one's vital breath, intelligence, mind, friends, body, wife, children, wealth and so on are dear. Therefore what object can possibly be more dear than one's own self?
10.23.28
tad yāta deva-yajanaḿ
patayo vo dvijātayaḥ
sva-satraḿ pārayiṣyanti
yuṣmābhir gṛha-medhinaḥ
tat — therefore; yāta — go; deva-yajanam — to the sacrificial arena; patayaḥ — the husbands; vaḥ — your; dvi-jātayaḥ — the brāhmaṇas; sva-satram — their own sacrifices; pārayiṣyanti — will be able to finish; yuṣmābhiḥ — together with you; gṛha-medhinaḥ — the householders.
TRANSLATION
You should thus return to the sacrificial arena, because your husbands, the learned brāhmaṇas, are householders and need your assistance to finish their respective sacrifices.
10.23.29
śrī-patnya ūcuḥ
maivaḿ vibho 'rhati bhavān gadituḿ nr-śaḿsaḿ
satyaḿ kuruṣva nigamaḿ tava pada-mūlam
prāptā vayaḿ tulasi-dāma padāvasṛṣṭaḿ
keśair nivoḍhum atilańghya samasta-bandhūn
śrī-patnyaḥ ūcuḥ — the wives of the brāhmaṇas said; mā — not; evam — like this; vibho — O almighty Lord; arhati — ought; bhavān — You; gaditum — to speak; nṛ-śaḿsam — harshly; satyam — true; kuruṣva — please make; nigamam — the promise given in the revealed scripture; tava — Your; pāda-mūlam — the base of the lotus feet; prāptāḥ — having obtained; vayam — we; tulasi-dāma — the garland of tulasī leaves; padā — by Your foot; avasṛṣṭam — neglectfully kicked away; keśaiḥ — upon our hair; nivoḍhum — in order to carry; atilańghya — rejecting; samasta — all; bandhūn — relations.
TRANSLATION
The wives of the brāhmaṇas replied: O almighty one, please do not speak such cruel words. Rather, You should fulfill Your promise that You always reciprocate with Your devotees in kind. Now that we have attained Your lotus feet, we simply wish to remain here in the forest so we may carry upon our heads the garlands of tulasī leaves You may neglectfully kick away with Your lotus feet. We are ready to give up all material relationships.
10.23.30
gṛhṇanti no na patayaḥ pitarau sutā vā
na bhrātṛ-bandhu-suhṛdaḥ kuta eva cānye
tasmād bhavat-prapadayoḥ patitātmanāḿ no
nānyā bhaved gatir arindama tad vidhehi
gṛhṇanti — they will accept; naḥ — us; na — not; patayaḥ — our husbands; pitarau — fathers; sutāḥ — sons; vā — or; na — not; bhrātṛ — brothers; bandhu — other relatives; suhṛdaḥ — and friends; kutaḥ — how then; eva — indeed; ca — and; anye — other people; tasmāt — therefore; bhavat — Your; prapadayoḥ — at the tips of the lotus feet; patita — fallen; ātmanām — whose bodies; naḥ — for us; na — not; anyā — any other; bhavet — there can be; gatiḥ — destination; arim-dama — O chastiser of enemies; tat — that; vidhehi — kindly bestow upon us.
TRANSLATION
Our husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, other relatives and friends will no longer take us back, and how could anyone else be willing to give us shelter? Therefore, since we have thrown ourselves at Your lotus feet and have no other destination, please, O chastiser of enemies, grant our desire.
10.23.31
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
patayo nābhyasūyeran
pitṛ-bhrātṛ-sutādayaḥ
lokāś ca vo mayopetā
devā apy anumanvate
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; patayaḥ — your husbands; na abhyasūyeran — will not feel inimical; pitṛ-bhrātṛ-suta-ādayaḥ — your fathers, brothers, sons and others; lokāḥ — the general populace; ca — also; vaḥ — toward you; mayā — by Me; upetāḥ — advised; devāḥ — the demigods; api — even; anumanvate — regard favorably.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied: Rest assured that your husbands will not be inimical toward you, nor will your fathers, brothers, sons, other relatives or the general populace. I will personally advise them of the situation. Indeed, even the demigods will express their approval.
10.23.32
na prītaye 'nurāgāya
hy ańga-sańgo nṛṇām iha
tan mano mayi yuñjānā
acirān mām avāpsyatha
na — not; prītaye — for satisfaction; anurāgāya — for loving attraction; hi — certainly; ańga-sańgaḥ — physical association; nṛṇām — for people; iha — in this world; tat — therefore; manaḥ — your minds; mayi — upon Me; yuñjānāḥ — fixing; acirāt — very quickly; mām — Me; avāpsyatha — you will achieve.
TRANSLATION
For you to remain in My bodily association would certainly not please people in this world, nor would it be the best way for you to increase your love for Me. Rather, you should fix your minds on Me, and very soon you will achieve Me.
10.23.33
śravaṇād darśanād dhyānān
mayi bhāvo 'nukīrtanāt
na tathā sannikarṣeṇa
pratiyāta tato gṛhān
śravaṇāt — by hearing; darśanāt — by seeing the Deity form; dhyānāt — by meditation; mayi — for Me; bhāvaḥ — love; anukīrtanāt — by chanting My names and qualities; na — not; tathā — in the same way; sannikarṣeṇa — by literal proximity; pratiyāta — return; tataḥ — therefore; gṛhān — to your homes.
TRANSLATION
It is by hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and chanting My names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical proximity. Therefore please go back to your homes.
10.23.34
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity uktā dvija-patnyas tā
yajña-vāṭaḿ punar gatāḥ
te cānasūyavas tābhiḥ
strībhiḥ satram apārayan
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — with these words; uktāḥ — spoken to; dvija-patnyaḥ — the wives of the brāhmaṇas; tāḥ — they; yajña-vāṭam — to the place of sacrifice; punaḥ — again; gatāḥ — went; te — they, their husbands; ca — and; anasūyavaḥ — not inimical; tābhiḥ — together with them; strībhiḥ — their wives; satram — the sacrificial performance; apārayan — they completed.
TRANSLATION
Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus instructed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the place of sacrifice. The brāhmaṇas did not find any fault with their wives, and together with them they finished the sacrifice.
10.23.35
tatraikā vidhṛtā bhartrā
bhagavantaḿ yathā-śrutam
hṛḍopaguhya vijahau
dehaḿ karmānubandhanam
tatra — there; ekā — one of them; vidhṛtā — held back by force; bhartrā — by her husband; bhagavantam — the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; yathā-śrutam — as she heard about Him from the others; hṛdā — within her heart; upaguhya — embracing; vijahau — she gave up; deham — her material body; karma-anubandhanam — which is simply the basis of bondage to material activity.
TRANSLATION
One of the ladies had been forcibly kept back by her husband. When she heard the others describe the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, she embraced Him within her heart and gave up her material body, the basis of bondage to material activity.
10.23.36
bhagavān api govindas
tenaivānnena gopakān
catur-vidhenāśayitvā
svayaḿ ca bubhuje prabhuḥ
bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api — moreover; govindaḥ — Lord Govinda; tena — with that; eva — very same; annena — food; gopakān — the cowherd boys; catuḥ-vidhena — of four varieties; aśayitvā — feeding; svayam — Himself; ca — and; bubhuje — partook; prabhuḥ — the Almighty.
TRANSLATION
Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, fed the cowherd boys with that food of four varieties. Then the all-powerful Lord Himself partook of the preparations.
10.23.37
evaḿ līlā-nara-vapur
nr-lokam anuśīlayan
reme go-gopa-gopīnāḿ
ramayan rūpa-vāk-kṛtaiḥ
evam — in this manner; līlā — for pastimes; nara — appearing as a human being; vapuḥ — whose transcendental body; nṛ-lokam — human society; anuśīlayan — imitating; reme — He took pleasure; go — the cows; gopa — cowherd boys; gopīnām — the cowherd girls; ramayan — pleasing; rūpa — with His beauty; vāk — words; kṛtaiḥ — and actions.
TRANSLATION
Thus the Supreme Lord, appearing like a human being to perform His pastimes, imitated the ways of human society. He enjoyed pleasing His cows, cowherd boyfriends and cowherd girlfriends with His beauty, words and actions.
10.23.38
athānusmṛtya viprās te
anvatapyan kṛtāgasaḥ
yad viśveśvarayor yācñām
ahanma nṛ-viḍambayoḥ
atha — then; anusmṛtya — coming to their senses; viprāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; te — they; anvatapyan — felt great remorse; kṛta-agasaḥ — having committed sinful offenses; yat — because; viśva-īśvarayoḥ — of the two Lords of the universe, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; yācñām — the humble supplication; ahanma — we transgressed; nr-viḍambayoḥ — of those who were deceptively appearing as human beings.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇas then came to their senses and began to feel great remorse. They thought, "We have sinned, for we have denied the request of the two Lords of the universe, who deceptively appeared as ordinary human beings."
10.23.39
dṛṣṭvā strīṇāḿ bhagavati
kṛṣṇe bhaktim alaukikīm
ātmānaḿ ca tayā hīnam
anutaptā vyagarhayan
dṛṣṭvā — observing; strīṇām — of their wives; bhagavati — for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛṣṇe — Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhaktim — the pure devotion; alaukikīm — transcendental to this world; ātmānam — themselves; ca — and; tayā — of that; hīnam — devoid; anutaptāḥ — lamenting; vyagarhayan — they condemned.
TRANSLATION
Taking note of their wives' pure, transcendental devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and seeing their own lack of devotion, the brāhmaṇas felt most sorrowful and began to condemn themselves.
10.23.40
dhig janma nas tri-vṛd yat tad
dhig vrataḿ dhig bahu-jñatām
dhik kulaḿ dhik kriyā-dākṣyaḿ
vimukhā ye tv adhokṣaje
dhik — to hell; janma — with the birth; naḥ — our; tri-vṛt — threefold (the first from the physical parents, the second at the time of brahminical initiation, and the third at the time of initiation into the performances of Vedic sacrifice); yat tat — whatever; dhik — to hell; vratam — with our vow (of celibacy); dhik — to hell; bahu-jñatām — with our extensive knowledge; dhik — to hell; kulam — with our aristocratic lineage; dhik — to hell; kriyā-dākṣyam — with our expertise in ritualistic activities; vimukhaḥ — inimical; ye — who; tu — however; adhokṣaje — to the transcendental Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
[The brāhmaṇas said:] To hell with our threefold birth, our vow of celibacy and our extensive learning! To hell with our aristocratic background and our expertise in the rituals of sacrifice! These are all condemned because we were inimical to the transcendental Personality of Godhead.
10.23.41
nūnaḿ bhagavato māyā
yoginām api mohinī
yad vayaḿ guravo nṛṇāḿ
svārthe muhyāmahe dvijāḥ
nūnam — indeed; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; māyā — the illusory potency; yoginām — for great mystics; api — even; mohinī — is bewildering; yat — since; vayam — we; guravaḥ — the spiritual masters; nṛṇām — of society in general; sva-arthe — about our own real interest; muhyāmahe — have become bewildered; dvijāḥ — brāhmaṇas.
TRANSLATION
The illusory potency of the Supreme Lord certainly bewilders even the great mystics, what to speak of us. As brāhmaṇas we are supposed to be the spiritual masters of all classes of men, yet we have been bewildered about our own real interest.
10.23.42
aho paśyata nārīṇām
api kṛṣṇe jagad-gurau
duranta-bhāvaḿ yo 'vidhyan
mṛtyu-pāśān gṛhābhidhān
aho paśyata — just see; nārīṇām — of these women; api — even; kṛṣṇe — for Lord Kṛṣṇa; jagat-gurau — the spiritual master of the entire universe; duranta — unlimited; bhāvam — the devotion; yaḥ — which; avidhyat — has broken; mṛtyu — of death; pāśān — the bonds; gṛha-abhidhān — known as family life.
TRANSLATION
Just see the unlimited love these women have developed for Lord Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the entire universe! This love has broken for them the very bonds of death — their attachment to family life.
10.23.43-44
nāsāḿ dvijāti-saḿskāro
na nivāso gurāv api
na tapo nātma-mīmāḿsā
na śaucaḿ na kriyāḥ śubhāḥ
tathāpi hy uttamaḥ-śloke
kṛṣṇe yogeśvareśvare
bhaktir dṛḍhā na cāsmākaḿ
saḿskārādimatām api
na — there is not; āsām — on their part; dvijāti-saḿskāraḥ — the purificatory rituals pertaining to the twice-born classes of society; na — nor; nivāsaḥ — residence; gurau — in the āśrama of a spiritual master (that is, training as a brahmacārī); api — even; na — no; tapaḥ — execution of austerities; na — no; ātma-mīmāḿsā — philosophical inquiry into the reality of the self; na — no; śaucam — rituals of cleanliness; na — no; kriyāḥ — ritualistic activities; śubhāḥ — pious;
tathā api — nevertheless; hi — indeed; uttamaḥ-śloke — whose glories are chanted by the exalted mantras of the Vedas; kṛṣṇe — for Lord Kṛṣṇa; yoga-īśvara-īśvare — the supreme master of all masters of mystic power; bhaktiḥ — pure devotional service; dṛḍhā — firm; na — not; ca — on the other hand; asmākam — of us; saḿskāra-ādi-matām — who possess such purification and so forth; api — even though.
TRANSLATION
These women have never undergone the purificatory rites of the twice-born classes, nor have they lived as brahmacārīs in the āśrama of a spiritual master, nor have they executed austerities, speculated on the nature of the self, followed the formalities of cleanliness or engaged in pious rituals. Nevertheless, they have firm devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose glories are chanted by the exalted hymns of the Vedas and who is the supreme master of all masters of mystic power. We, on the other hand, have no such devotion for the Lord, although we have executed all these processes.
10.23.45
nanu svārtha-vimūḍhānāḿ
pramattānāḿ gṛhehayā
aho naḥ smārayām āsa
gopa-vākyaiḥ satāḿ gatiḥ
nanu — indeed; sva-artha — about their own true benefit; vimūḍhānām — who were bewildered; pramattānām — who were intoxicated; gṛha-īhayā — with their household endeavors; aho — ah; naḥ — us; smārayām āsa — He reminded about; gopa-vākyaiḥ — by the words of cowherds; satām — of the transcendental souls; gatiḥ — the ultimate destination.
TRANSLATION
Indeed, infatuated as we are with our household affairs, we have deviated completely from the real aim of our life. But now just see how the Lord, through the words of these simple cowherd boys, has reminded us of the ultimate destination of all true transcendentalists.
10.23.46
anyathā pūrṇa-kāmasya
kaivalyādy-aśiṣāḿ pateḥ
īśitavyaiḥ kim asmābhir
īśasyaitad viḍambanam
anyathā — otherwise; pūrṇa-kāmasya — of Him whose every possible desire is fulfilled; kaivalya — of liberation; ādi — and others; āśiṣām — benedictions; pateḥ — the master; īśitavyaiḥ — with those who are meant to be controlled; kim — what; asmābhiḥ — with us; īśasya — of Him who is the absolute controller; etat — this; viḍambanam — pretense.
TRANSLATION
Otherwise, why would the supreme controller — whose every desire is already fulfilled and who is the master of liberation and all other transcendental benedictions — enact this pretense with us, who are always to be controlled by Him?
10.23.47
hitvānyān bhajate yaḿ śrīḥ
pāda-sparśāśayāsakṛt
svātma-doṣāpavargeṇa
tad-yācñā jana-mohinī
hitvā — giving up; anyān — others; bhajate — worships; yam — which Lord; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; pāda-sparśa — for the touch of His lotus feet; āśayā — with the desire; asakṛt — constantly; sva-ātma — of herself; doṣa — the faults (of fickleness and pride); apavargeṇa — putting aside; tat — His; yācñā — begging; jana — ordinary humans; mohinī — bewildering.
TRANSLATION
Hoping for the touch of His lotus feet, the goddess of fortune perpetually worships Him alone, leaving aside all others and renouncing her pride and fickleness. That He begs is certainly astonishing to everyone.
10.23.48-49
deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaḿ
mantra-tantrartvijo 'gnayaḥ
devatā yajamānaś ca
kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ
sa eva bhagavān sākṣād
viṣṇur yogeśvareśvaraḥ
jāto yaduṣv ity āśṛṇma
hy api mūḍhā na vidmahe
deśaḥ — the place; kālaḥ — time; pṛthak dravyam — particular items of paraphernalia; mantra — Vedic hymns; tantra — prescribed rituals; ṛtvijaḥ — priests; agnayaḥ — and the sacrificial fires; devatā — the presiding demigods; yajamānaḥ — the performer; ca — and; kratuḥ — the offering; dharmaḥ — the pious reaction; ca — and; yat — whom; mayaḥ — constituting;