SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 10

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Then, when they in Vraja attained the age of boyhood [six to ten], were the two, rendering Vrindâvana most auspicious with their footprints, old enough to be cowherds and commissioned to tend the cows along with their friends [*].

(2) Surrounded by the gopas who were chanting His fame entered Mâdhava ['the Sweet Lord'], eager to play, the forest rich with flowers and nourishment for the cows while He sounded His flute and with the help of Balarâma kept the animals in front. (3) The forest most enchanting was filled with the sounds of bees, animals and birds, had a lake with water as clear as the minds of the great and had a fragrance carried by the wind of hundred-petalled lotuses; that sight made the Supreme Lord decide to play there. (4) He, the Original Personality seeing the beauty all around of the stately trees with the tips of their branches touching His feet with their heavy load of fruits, flowers and reddish buds, with joy at the brink of laughter spoke to His elder brother. (5) The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh Best of the Gods, these trees, at Your lotus feet that are worshiped by the immortals, are presenting with their heads bowing down offerings of flowers and fruits so that they find salvation from the ignorance that prepared them their births as trees. (6) Despite of Your hiding in the forest, o Original Personality, do these bees as the most intimate great sages among Your devotees not abandon You as their personal deity, o Sinless One, with their all the way singing in worship of You, the place of pilgrimage for all the worlds! (7) These peacocks, o Worshipable One, are dancing with joy; these doe are pleasing You with their glances as if they were the gopîs and the cuckoos do vedic prayers; they're all, blessed with such a saintly nature, as fortunate as to see You now, as residents of the forest, arriving at their home. (8) Blessed is so this earth, her grasses and bushes receiving the touch of Your feet; the trees and creepers struck by Your fingernails; the rivers, mountains, birds and animals with the mercy of Your glances; and the gopîs in Your arms according the desire of the Goddess of Fortune.'

(9) S'rî S'uka said: 'Lord Krishna this way satisfied with all of Vrindâvana's beauty, took delight in together with His companions pasturing the animals at the river banks at the foot of the mountain [Govardhana]. (10-12) Sometimes, while on their way His companions together with Balarâma sang of His fame, sang He along with the humming bees that were blind of intoxication, imitated He sometimes the chattering broken speech of the parrots and then the charming cuckoos of a cuckoo; sometimes He cooed along with the swans and sometimes He danced hilariously in front of a peacock; with a voice like the clouds [rumbling] He sometimes called for the animals that strayed off by their names and spoke endearing affectionately with the cows and their protectors. (13) Together with the other creatures, the cakora-birds, the curlews, the ruddygeese, the skylarks and the peacocks He cried out in imitation as if He were afraid of the tigers and lions. (14) Sometimes when His elder brother tired of playing used the lap of a gopa for a pillow, would He personally relieve Him by massaging His feet and do other services. (15) Holding hands with one another laughed and praised they the cowherd boys as they danced, sang, moved about and wrestled at times. (16) Now and then of the wrestling fatigued lay He worn out on beds made of twigs and leaves, taking shelter at the base of a tree with the lap of a gopa for a pillow. (17) Some of them, all great souls, massaged His feet while others, free from all sin, fanned Him nicely with fans. (18) Others would, with their hearts slowly melting of love, sing befitting the occasion, o great King, [songs] reflecting the Great Soul His spirit. (19) In His activities this way pretending to be a cowherd and by His mystic potency hiding His personal opulence, enjoyed He whose tender feet are attended by the Goddess of Fortune like a villager with the villagers, whatever His feats as the Controller had been.

(20) The gopa S'rîdâmâ, a friend of Râma and Kes'ava, and others like Subala and Stokakrishna [one day] with love said the following: (21) 'Râma, o Râma, o Mighty-armed One, o Krishna, Destroyer of the Wicked, not far from here there is a very great forest full of palm trees [called Tâlavana]. (22) Many fruits there fall from the trees and lie around, they are kept back however by Dhenuka, the evil one. (23) He, having taken the form of an ass surrounded by other companions as strong as he is, is such a mighty demon, o Râma, o Krishna! (24) Human beings have been killed by him, the people are afraid to go there, o Killer of the Enemies, and all kinds of animals and flocks of birds have abandoned it. (25) There are fragrant fruits we've never tasted yet of which the aroma spreading is that strong that it is noticed everywhere. (26) Please o Krishna give them to us, whose minds are craving of the fragrance; the desire is so strong, o Râma, let's go there if You think that's a good idea.'

(27) Having heard these words from their friends went the two masters, with the desire to please their friends, surrounded by the gopas laughing [compare 3.28: 31-33] to the Tâlavana forest. (28) Balarâma arriving there, employing His great strength shook like a mad elephant with His two arms the trees to all sides so that the fruits came down. (29) Hearing the sounds of the fruits falling ran the donkey demon hither with a heavy galop that made the earth together with its trees tremble. (30) Meeting Him he stroke Balarâma's chest fast with his two hind legs and then ran about producing an ugly ass bray. (31) The furious, crying beast approaching Him again angrily hurled, with his back forward, his two legs at Balarâma, o King. (32) He seized him by the hooves though, whirled him around with one hand and threw him, with the life slung out of him, in the top of a palm tree. (33) With that blow shook the big palm tree heavily with its large crown and next broke down along with another one that started to shake besides it that on its turn took down a next one and so went it further. (34) Balarâma with His game of throwing the donkey corpse made all the trees shake and strike each other as if they were blown down by a hurricane. (35) This feat of the Fortunate One is not that surprising at all because He indeed is the Unlimited One Controller of the Universe. Upon Him it is resting long and wide like a piece of cloth does on its warp and woof. (36) Then, enraged about the death of their friend, attacked the asses that were Dhenuka's intimates Krishna and Râma. (37) One after the other were they, attacking Krishna and Râma o King, easily seized by their hind legs and thrown into the palm trees. (38) The earth covered with the heaps of fruits and the lifeless daitya bodies in the tree tops, shone forth as beautiful as the sky decorated with its clouds. (39) Hearing of that very great triumph showered the gods and the godly a rain of flowers, playing music and offering prayers. (40) Now that Dhenuka was killed could the fruits of the palm trees be eaten by the people who were no longer afraid and could the animals graze in the forest.

(41) Krishna with His lotus petal eyes - about whom it is so auspicious to hear and to chant -, returned with His elder brother to Vraja, glorified by the gopas following Them. (42) The gopîs with eyes hungry to see Him came all together forth to meet Him, He with the dust still in His hair thrown up by the cows, the peacock feather, the forest flowers, His charming eyes and beautiful smile, His flute sounded and His glories sung by the gopas. (43) Entering the cowherd village welcomed He heartily the ladies of Vraja who in their veneration, bashful, humble and laughing, like bees eyeing for the honey, with sidelong glances drank in the face of Mukunda, He who constituted their liberation. And with that they gave up the grief of having been separated that they had suffered during the day. (44) Mother Yas'odâ and Rohinî most lovingly catering to the desires of their two sons presented Them at the right times the finest offerings. (45) The weariness of the road vanished by bathing and massaging and such, after which They being dressed with a charming cloth around Their waist were decorated with divine garlands and fragrances. (46) With the delicious preparations offered to Them ate They their fill and thus pampered by their mothers fell They happily in Their fine beds asleep in Vraja.

(47) O King, Krishna, the Supreme Lord thus acting in Vrindâvana, once, without Balarâma, went in the company of His friends to the Kâlindi [the Yamunâ, see also **]. (48) The cows who together with the gopas suffered from the glaring summer sun drank, tormented by thirst, from the water of the river, but it was spoiled by poison. (49-50) By fate made the mere touch with that poisoned water them loose their consciousness so that they all fell down lifeless at the waterside, o best of the Kurus. Seeing them in that predicament brought Lord Krishna, the Controller of all Masters of Yoga, by His glance only - which is as a shower of nectar - those then, who had accepted Him as their master, back to life. (51) Regaining their senses, they again stood up from near the water and all most surprised looked at each other. (52) They came to the conclusion that they, having drunk the poison and fallen dead, o King, due to the merciful glance of Govinda again had risen to their strength.'

S'rî S'uka said: 'Then, when they in Vraja attained the age of boyhood [six to ten], were the two, rendering Vrindâvana most auspicious with their footprints, old enough to be cowherds and commissioned to tend the cows along with their friends [*].

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: When Lord Râma and Lord Krishna attained the age of pauganda [six to ten] while living in Vrindâvana, the cowherd men allowed Them to take up the task of tending the cows. Engaging thus in the company of Their friends, the two boys rendered the land of Vrindâvana most auspicious by imprinting upon it the marks of Their lotus feet. (Vedabase)

Text 2

Surrounded by the gopas who were chanting His fame entered Mâdhava ['the Sweet Lord'], eager to play, the forest rich with flowers and nourishment for the cows while He sounded His flute and with the help of Balarâma kept the animals in front.

Thus desiring to enjoy pastimes, Lord Mâdhava, sounding His flute, surrounded by cowherd boys who were chanting His glories, and accompanied by Lord Baladeva, kept the cows before Him and entered the Vrindâvana forest, which was full of flowers and rich with nourishment for the animals. (Vedabase)

Text 3

The forest most enchanting was filled with the sounds of bees, animals and birds, had a lake with water as clear as the minds of the great and had a fragrance carried by the wind of hundred-petalled lotuses; that sight made the Supreme Lord decide to play there.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead looked over that forest, which resounded with the charming sounds of bees, animals and birds, and which was enhanced by a lake whose clear water resembled the minds of great souls and by a breeze carrying the fragrance of hundred-petaled lotuses. Seeing all this, Lord Krishna decided to enjoy the auspicious atmosphere. (Vedabase)

Text 4

He, the Original Personality seeing the beauty all around of the stately trees with the tips of their branches touching His feet with their heavy load of fruits, flowers and reddish buds, with joy at the brink of laughter spoke to His elder brother.

The primeval Lord saw that the stately trees, with their beautiful reddish buds and their heavy burden of fruits and flowers, were bending down to touch His feet with the tips of their branches. Thus He smiled gently and addressed His elder brother. (Vedabase)

Text 5

The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh Best of the Gods, these trees, at Your lotus feet that are worshiped by the immortals, are presenting with their heads bowing down offerings of flowers and fruits so that they find salvation from the ignorance that prepared them their births as trees.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O greatest of Lords, just see how these trees are bowing their heads at Your lotus feet, which are worshipable by the immortal demigods. The trees are offering You their fruits and flowers to eradicate the dark ignorance that has caused their birth as trees. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Despite of Your hiding in the forest, o Original Personality, do these bees as the most intimate great sages among Your devotees not abandon You as their personal deity, o Sinless One, with their all the way singing in worship of You, the place of pilgrimage for all the worlds!

O original personality, these bees must all be great sages and most elevated devotees of Yours, for they are worshiping You by following You along the path and chanting Your glories, which are themselves a holy place for the entire world. Though You have disguised Yourself within this forest, O sinless one, they refuse to abandon You, their worshipable Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 7

These peacocks, o Worshipable One, are dancing with joy; these doe are pleasing You with their glances as if they were the gopîs and the cuckoos do vedic prayers; they're all, blessed with such a saintly nature, as fortunate as to see You now, as residents of the forest, arriving at their home.

O worshipable one, these peacocks are dancing before You out of joy, these doe are pleasing You with affectionate glances, just as the gopîs do, and these cuckoos are honoring You with Vedic prayers. All these residents of the forest are most fortunate, and their behavior toward You certainly befits great souls receiving another great soul at home. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Blessed is so this earth, her grasses and bushes receiving the touch of Your feet; the trees and creepers struck by Your fingernails; the rivers, mountains, birds and animals with the mercy of Your glances; and the gopîs in Your arms according the desire of the Goddess of Fortune.'

This earth has now become most fortunate, because You have touched her grass and bushes with Your feet and her trees and creepers with Your fingernails, and because You have graced her rivers, mountains, birds and animals with Your merciful glances. But above all, You have embraced the young cowherd women between Your two arms - a favor hankered after by the goddess of fortune herself. (Vedabase)

Text 9

S'rî S'uka said: 'Lord Krishna this way satisfied with all of Vrindâvana's beauty, took delight in together with His companions pasturing the animals at the river banks at the foot of the mountain [Govardhana].

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus expressing His satisfaction with the beautiful forest of Vrindâvana and its inhabitants, Lord Krishna enjoyed tending the cows and other animals with His friends on the banks of the river Yamunâ below Govardhana Hill. (Vedabase)

Text 10-12

Sometimes, while on their way His companions together with Balarâma sang of His fame, sang He along with the humming bees that were blind of intoxication, imitated He sometimes the chattering broken speech of the parrots and then the charming cuckoos of a cuckoo; sometimes He cooed along with the swans and sometimes He danced hilariously in front of a peacock; with a voice like the clouds [rumbling] He sometimes called for the animals that strayed off by their names and spoke endearing affectionately with the cows and their protectors.

Sometimes the honeybees in Vrindâvana became so mad with ecstasy that they closed their eyes and began to sing. Lord Krishna, moving along the forest path with His cowherd boyfriends and Baladeva, would then respond to the bees by imitating their singing while His friends sang about His pastimes. Sometimes Lord Krishna would imitate the chattering of a parrot, sometimes, with a sweet voice, the call of a cuckoo, and sometimes the cooing of swans. Sometimes He vigorously imitated the dancing of a peacock, making His cowherd boyfriends laugh. Sometimes, with a voice as deep as the rumbling of clouds, He would call out with great affection the names of the animals who had wandered far from the herd, thus enchanting the cows and the cowherd boys. (Vedabase)

Text 13

Together with the other creatures, the cakora-birds, the curlews, the ruddygeese, the skylarks and the peacocks He cried out in imitation as if He were afraid of the tigers and lions.

Sometimes He would cry out in imitation of birds such as the cakoras, krauñcas, cakrâhvas, bhâradvâjas and peacocks, and sometimes He would run away with the smaller animals in mock fear of lions and tigers. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Sometimes when His elder brother tired of playing used the lap of a gopa for a pillow, would He personally relieve Him by massaging His feet and do other services.

When His elder brother, fatigued from playing, would lie down with His head upon the lap of a cowherd boy, Lord Krishna would help Him relax by personally massaging His feet and offering other services. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Holding hands with one another laughed and praised they the cowherd boys as they danced, sang, moved about and wrestled at times.

Sometimes, as the cowherd boys danced, sang, moved about and playfully fought with each other, Krishna and Balarâma, standing nearby hand in hand, would glorify Their friends' activities and laugh. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Now and then of the wrestling fatigued lay He worn out on beds made of twigs and leaves, taking shelter at the base of a tree with the lap of a gopa for a pillow.

Sometimes Lord Krishna grew tired from fighting and lay down at the base of a tree, resting upon a bed made of soft twigs and buds and using the lap of a cowherd friend as His pillow. (Vedabase)

Text 17

Some of them, all great souls, massaged His feet while others, free from all sin, fanned Him nicely with fans.

Some of the cowherd boys, who were all great souls, would then massage His lotus feet, and others, qualified by being free of all sin, would expertly fan the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 18

Others would, with their hearts slowly melting of love, sing befitting the occasion, o great King, [songs] reflecting the Great Soul His spirit.

My dear King, other boys would sing enchanting songs appropriate to the occasion, and their hearts would melt out of love for the Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 19

In His activities this way pretending to be a cowherd and by His mystic potency hiding His personal opulence, enjoyed He whose tender feet are attended by the Goddess of Fortune like a villager with the villagers, whatever His feats as the Controller had been.

In this way the Supreme Lord, whose soft lotus feet are personally attended by the goddess of fortune, concealed His transcendental opulences by His internal potency and acted like the son of a cowherd. Yet even while enjoying like a village boy in the company of other village residents, He often exhibited feats only God could perform. (Vedabase)

Text 20

The gopa S'rîdâmâ, a friend of Râma and Kes'ava, and others like Subala and Stokakrishna [one day] with love said the following:

Once, some of the cowherd boys - S'rîdâmâ, the very close friend of Râma and Krishna, along with Subala, Stokakrishna and others - lovingly spoke the following words. (Vedabase)

Text 21

'Râma, o Râma, o Mighty-armed One, o Krishna, Destroyer of the Wicked, not far from here there is a very great forest full of palm trees [called Tâlavana].

[The cowherd boys said:] O Râma, Râma, mighty-armed one! O Krishna, destroyer of the miscreants! Not far from here is a very great forest filled with rows of palm trees. (Vedabase)

Text 22

Many fruits there fall from the trees and lie around, they are kept back however by Dhenuka, the evil one.

In that Tâlavana forest many fruits are falling from the trees, and many are already lying on the ground. But all the fruits are being guarded by the evil Dhenuka. (Vedabase)

Text 23

He, having taken the form of an ass surrounded by other companions as strong as he is, is such a mighty demon, o Râma, o Krishna!

O Râma, O Krishna! Dhenuka is a most powerful demon and has assumed the form of an ass. He is surrounded by many friends who have assumed a similar shape and who are just as powerful as he. (Vedabase)

Text 24

Human beings have been killed by him, the people are afraid to go there, o Killer of the Enemies, and all kinds of animals and flocks of birds have abandoned it.

The demon Dhenuka has eaten men alive, and therefore all people and animals are terrified of going to the Tâla forest. O killer of the enemy, even the birds are afraid to fly there. (Vedabase)

Text 25

There are fragrant fruits we've never tasted yet of which the aroma spreading is that strong that it is noticed everywhere.

In the Tâla forest are sweet-smelling fruits no one has ever tasted. Indeed, even now we can smell the fragrance of the tâla fruits spreading all about. (Vedabase)

Text 26

Please o Krishna give them to us, whose minds are craving of the fragrance; the desire is so strong, o Râma, let's go there if You think that's a good idea.'

O Krishna! Please get those fruits for us. Our minds are so attracted by their aroma! Dear Balarâma, our desire to have those fruits is very great. If You think it's a good idea, let's go to that Tâla forest. (Vedabase)

Text 27

Having heard these words from their friends went the two masters, with the desire to please their friends, surrounded by the gopas laughing [compare 3.28: 31-33] to the Tâlavana forest.

Hearing the words of Their dear companions, Krishna and Balarâma laughed and, desiring to please them, set off for the Tâlavana surrounded by Their cowherd boyfriends. (Vedabase)

Text 28

Balarâma arriving there, employing His great strength shook like a mad elephant with His two arms the trees to all sides so that the fruits came down.

Lord Balarâma entered the Tâla forest first. Then with His two arms He began forcefully shaking the trees with the power of a maddened elephant, causing the tâla fruits to fall to the ground. (Vedabase)

Text 29

Hearing the sounds of the fruits falling ran the donkey demon hither with a heavy galop that made the earth together with its trees tremble.

Hearing the sound of the falling fruits, the ass demon Dhenuka ran forward to attack, making the earth and trees tremble. (Vedabase)

Text 30

Meeting Him he stroke Balarâma's chest fast with his two hind legs and then ran about producing an ugly ass bray.

The powerful demon rushed up to Lord Baladeva and sharply struck the Lord's chest with the hooves of his hind legs. Then Dhenuka began to run about, braying loudly. (Vedabase)

Text 31

The furious, crying beast approaching Him again angrily hurled, with his back forward, his two legs at Balarâma, o King.

Moving again toward Lord Balarâma, O King, the furious ass situated himself with his back toward the Lord. Then, screaming in rage, the demon hurled his two hind legs at Him. (Vedabase)

Text 32

He seized him by the hooves though, whirled him around with one hand and threw him, with the life slung out of him, in the top of a palm tree.

Lord Balarâma seized Dhenuka by his hooves, whirled him about with one hand and threw him into the top of a palm tree. The violent wheeling motion killed the demon. (Vedabase)

Text 33

With that blow shook the big palm tree heavily with its large crown and next broke down along with another one that started to shake besides it that on its turn took down a next one and so went it further.

Lord Balarâma threw the dead body of Dhenukâsura into the tallest palm tree in the forest, and when the dead demon landed in the treetop, the tree began shaking. The great palm tree, causing a tree by its side also to shake, broke under the weight of the demon. The neighboring tree caused yet another tree to shake, and this one struck yet another tree, which also began shaking. In this way many trees in the forest shook and broke. (Vedabase)

Text 34

Balarâma with His game of throwing the donkey corpse made all the trees shake and strike each other as if they were blown down by a hurricane.

Because of Lord Balarâma's pastime of throwing the body of the ass demon into the top of the tallest palm tree, all the trees began shaking and striking against one another as if blown about by powerful winds. (Vedabase)

Text 35

This feat of the Fortunate One is not that surprising at all because He indeed is the Unlimited One Controller of the Universe. Upon Him it is resting long and wide like a piece of cloth does on its warp and woof.

My dear Parîkshit, that Lord Balarâma killed Dhenukâsura is not such a wonderful thing, considering that He is the unlimited Personality of Godhead, the controller of the entire universe. Indeed, the entire cosmos rests upon Him just as a woven cloth rests upon its own horizontal and vertical threads. (Vedabase)

Text 36

Then, enraged about the death of their friend, attacked the asses that were Dhenuka's intimates Krishna and Râma.

The other ass demons, close friends of Dhenukâsura, were enraged upon seeing his death, and thus they all immediately ran to attack Krishna and Balarâma. (Vedabase)

Text 37

One after the other were they, attacking Krishna and Râma o King, easily seized by their hind legs and thrown into the palm trees.

O King, as the demons attacked, Krishna and Balarâma easily seized them one after another by their hind legs and threw them all into the tops of the palm trees. (Vedabase)

Text 38

The earth covered with the heaps of fruits and the lifeless daitya bodies in the tree tops, shone forth as beautiful as the sky decorated with its clouds. .

The earth then appeared beautifully covered with heaps of fruits and with the dead bodies of the demons, which were entangled in the broken tops of the palm trees. Indeed, the earth shone like the sky decorated with clouds. (Vedabase)

Text 39

Hearing of that very great triumph showered the gods and the godly a rain of flowers, playing music and offering prayers.

Hearing of this magnificent feat of the two brothers, the demigods and other elevated living beings rained down flowers and offered music and prayers in glorification. (Vedabase)

Text 40

Now that Dhenuka was killed could the fruits of the palm trees be eaten by the people who were no longer afraid and could the animals graze in the forest.

People now felt free to return to the forest where Dhenuka had been killed, and without fear they ate the fruits of the palm trees. Also, the cows could now graze freely upon the grass there. (Vedabase)

Text 41

Krishna with His lotus petal eyes - about whom it is so auspicious to hear and to chant -, returned with His elder brother to Vraja, glorified by the gopas following Them.

Then lotus-eyed Lord S'rî Krishna, whose glories are most pious to hear and chant, returned home to Vraja with His elder brother, Balarâma. Along the way, the cowherd boys, His faithful followers, chanted His glories. (Vedabase)

Text 42

The gopîs with eyes hungry to see Him came all together forth to meet Him, He with the dust still in His hair thrown up by the cows, the peacock feather, the forest flowers, His charming eyes and beautiful smile, His flute sounded and His glories sung by the gopas.

Lord Krishna's hair, powdered with the dust raised by the cows, was decorated with a peacock feather and forest flowers. The Lord glanced charmingly and smiled beautifully, playing upon His flute while His companions chanted His glories. The gopîs, all together, came forward to meet Him, their eyes very eager to see Him. (Vedabase)

Text 43

Entering the cowherd village welcomed He heartily the ladies of Vraja who in their veneration, bashful, humble and laughing, like bees eyeing for the honey, with sidelong glances drank in the face of Mukunda, He who constituted their liberation. And with that they gave up the grief of having been separated that they had suffered during the day.

With their beelike eyes, the women of Vrindâvana drank the honey of the beautiful face of Lord Mukunda, and thus they gave up the distress they had felt during the day because of separation from Him. The young Vrindâvana ladies cast sidelong glances at the Lord - glances filled with bashfulness, laughter and submission - and S'rî Krishna completely accepting these glances as a proper offering of respect, entered the cowherd village. (Vedabase)

Text 44

Mother Yas'odâ and Rohinî most lovingly catering to the desires of their two sons presented Them at the right times the finest offerings.

Mother Yas'odâ and mother Rohinî, acting most affectionately toward their two sons, offered all the best things to Them in response to Their every desire and at the various appropriate times. (Vedabase)

Text 45

The weariness of the road vanished by bathing and massaging and such, after which They being dressed with a charming cloth around Their waist were decorated with divine garlands and fragrances.

By being bathed and massaged, the two young Lords were relieved of the weariness caused by walking on the country roads. Then They were dressed in attractive robes and decorated with transcendental garlands and fragrances. (Vedabase)

Text 46

With the delicious preparations offered to Them ate They their fill and thus pampered by their mothers fell They happily in Their fine beds asleep in Vraja

After dining sumptuously on the delicious food given Them by Their mothers and being pampered in various ways, the two brothers lay down upon Their excellent beds and happily went to sleep in the village of Vraja. (Vedabase)

Text 47

O King, Krishna, the Supreme Lord thus acting in Vrindâvana, once, without Balarâma, went in the company of His friends to the Kâlindi [the Yamunâ, see also **].

O King, the Supreme Lord Krishna thus wandered about the Vrindâvana area, performing His pastimes. Once, surrounded by His boyfriends, He went without Balarâma to the Yamunâ River. (Vedabase)

Text 48

The cows who together with the gopas suffered from the glaring summer sun drank, tormented by thirst, from the water of the river, but it was spoiled by poison.

At that time the cows and cowherd boys were feeling acute distress from the glaring summer sun. Afflicted by thirst, they drank the water of the Yamunâ River. But it had been contaminated with poison. (Ve d abase)

Text 49-50

By fate made the mere touch with that poisoned water them loose their consciousness so that they all fell down lifeless at the waterside, o best of the Kurus. Seeing them in that predicament brought Lord Krishna, the Controller of all Masters of Yoga, by His glance only - which is as a shower of nectar - those then, who had accepted Him as their master, back to life.

As soon as they touched the poisoned water, all the cows and boys lost their consciousness by the divine power of the Lord and fell lifeless at the water's edge. O hero of the Kurus, seeing them in such a condition, Lord Krishna, the master of all masters of mystic potency, felt compassion for these devotees, who had no Lord other than Him. Thus He immediately brought them back to life by showering His nectarean glance upon them. (Vedabase)

Text 51

Regaining their senses, they again stood up from the water and all most surprised looked at each other.

Regaining their full consciousness, the cows and boys stood up out of the water and began to look at one another in great astonishment. (Vedabase)

Text 52

They came to the conclusion that they, having drunk the poison and fallen dead, o King, due to the merciful glance of Govinda again had risen to their strength.'

O King, the cowherd boys then considered that although they had drunk poison and in fact had died, simply by the merciful glance of Govinda they had regained their lives and stood up by their own strength. (Vedabase)

*: It is stated in the Kârttika-mâhâtmya section of the Padma Purâna:

s'uklâshthamî kârttike tu
smritâ gopâshthamî budhaih
tad-dinâd vâsudevo 'bhûd
gopah pûrvam tu vatsapah

"The eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kârttika is known by authorities as Gopâshthamî. From that day, Lord Vâsudeva served as a cowherd, whereas previously He had tended the calves."

**: The Kalinda is the name of a mountain on which the river Yamunâ rises.