rule



 

 
Canto 10

Gaurānga Karunā Koro

  



Chapter 22: Krishna Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopīs

(1)  S'rī S'uka said: 'During the first month of the winter season [hemanta: Nov./Jan.] the unmarried girls of Nanda's Vraja observed a vow of worshiping the goddess Kātyāyanī: they subsisted on unspiced khichrī [a mix of rice and lentils]. (2-3) Rising at dawn they took a bath in the water of the Yamunā and made from clay a deity of the goddess. Oh ruler of men, both opulent and simple they were of worship with sandalwood pulp, fragrant garlands, gifts [of food, clothes etc.], incense and lamps, as also with presentations of fresh leaves, fruits and bethel nuts. (4) The young girls performed worship repeating a mantra with the words: 'Oh Kātyāyanī, our obeisances unto you, oh great power, greatest yoginī, oh supreme control, please make the son of the gopa Nanda my husband!' [*] (5) The girls thus for an entire month executed their vow to be of proper worship before Bhadrakālī with: 'May He, Nanda's son, become my husband.' (6) Every day at dawn they called each other's names, held their hands and, loudly singing their respect for Krishna, went to the Kālindī to bathe there. (7) One day arriving at the river singing about Krishna, they left their clothes on the shore as usual and enjoyed sporting in the water.


(8) Krishna, the Supreme Lord, who as the Master of all yoga masters approved this, surrounded by His companions went to that spot to make their actions a success. (9) He stole their clothes away and quickly climbed in a Kadamba tree. Laughing together with the boys He made fun by saying: (10) 'Come here, oh girls, if you like, and take each your own garment. Seriously, I am not joking, for you must be tired because of the vow. (11) All these boys know I have never spoken a lie. Therefore, oh slender girls, come [out of the water] either one by one or all together, to cover yourselves.'

(12) With that prank of Him He saw how the gopīs, steeped in love for Him, looked at each other and had to laugh, but being embarrassed they did not come out of the water. (13) Govinda thus having spoken, had with His joking caught the minds of those who, up to their necks shivering in the cold water, said to Him: (14) 'Oh You, do not be unfair, we beg You, behave like the beloved son of the gopa Nanda we know, as the one renown throughout Vraja, oh dearest one. Please give us our garments, we are cold! (15) Oh S'yāmasundara ['beautiful dark one'] we, as Your maidservants, must do whatever You say! Please give us our clothes back, oh Knower of the Dharma, or else we will tell the king about it!'

(16) The Supreme Lord said: 'If you are My servants, must you then not do what I told you and with your innocent smiles come out of the water to pick out your garments? I will not give them if you do not do so, and with the king being angry, what can he do about it?' (17) Thereupon all the girls shivering of the cold came out of the water, covering their pubic area with their hands. (18) The Supreme Lord seeing them defeated, put satisfied about the purity of their love their garments over His shoulder and said with a loving smile: (19) 'Because you during the observance of a vow were bathing naked in the water, you have offended Varuna and the other gods. To atone for that sin you must pay your obeisances with your palms joined together over your heads and then take your garments back.'

(20) With this being pointed out by the Infallible Lord, the Vraja girls considered their skinny-dipping a fall from their vow. Intent on successfully completing that vow, they therefore offered their obeisances to the Purifier of All Sins, He who was the directly visible result of their actions as also countless other [pious] activities. (21) The Supreme Lord, the son of Devakī, satisfied to see them bowing down, thereupon mercifully gave them back the garments. (22) Despite seriously having been cheated, not being acknowledged in their shame, being laughed at and made to act like puppets on a string with their clothes being stolen, they felt no enmity towards Him, for they were happy to associate with their beloved one. (23) Having put on their garments they, smitten by the association with their beloved, with their minds being captivated, were completely incapable of moving and full of shyness glanced at Him. (24) The Supreme Lord understood from them that they were determined to live up to their vow and that they wanted to touch His feet. Dāmodara said to the girls: (25) 'Oh pious souls, I understand your motivation to worship Me. That pleases Me and so it has to come true. (26) The desire of those whose consciousness is fully absorbed in Me, does not lead to material lust, just as roasted and cooked grains as a rule are not capable of causing new growth [see also e.g. 1.6: 35, 3.15: 20, 7.7: 51-52]. (27) Dear girls, go now to Vraja. Having achieved the supreme state of fulfillment, you one of these nights will enjoy together with Me. That was what you had in mind with the vow to be pure in your worship of the Goddess.'

(28) S'rī S'uka said: 'Thus being instructed by the Supreme Lord, the young girls, with their desire fulfilled meditating upon His lotus feet, could only with great difficulty [bring themselves to] return to the cowherd village. (29) The son of Devakī some time later surrounded by the gopas went at a distance from Vrindāvana to herd the cows together with His brother. (30) Seeing how the trees in the fiercely hot sun of the season with their shade served Him as parasols, He said to the boys: (31-32) 'Oh Stoka Krishna and Ams'u, S'rīdāma, Subala and Arjuna, Vis'āla, Vrishabha and Ojasvī, Devaprastha and Varūthapa, just look at these fortunate trees protecting us against rain, wind, heat and snow. Their life is exclusively there for the benefit of others! (33) Just see the benediction of the birth of these trees that offer support to all living entities, like great souls do. No one in need of them will ever go away disappointed. (34) With their leaves, flowers and fruits, shade and roots, bark and wood, their fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp and shoots, they offer everything you desire. (35) To perform with one's life, wealth, intelligence and words always for the sake of the welfare of all embodied beings, to be in this world of such a kind of birth, is the perfection of life for every living being [see also the Vaishnava Pranāma].'

(36) Thus speaking among the trees bowing down with their abundance of leaves, clusters of fruit, flowers and twigs, He arrived at the Yamunā. (37) There the gopas drenched the cows in the crystal clear, fresh and cool, wholesome water, oh ruler, and also themselves drank their fill of the sweet tasting water. (38) In a grove along the Yamunā where they allowed the animals to roam freely, oh ruler of the people, they [the gopas] plagued by hunger approached Rāma and Krishna and said the following.'

 

next          

 
 

 Third revised edition, loaded September 4, 2020.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'During the first month of the winter season [hemanta: Nov./Jan.] the unmarried girls of Nanda's Vraja observed a vow of worshiping the goddess Kātyāyanī: they subsisted on unspiced khichrī [a mix of rice and lentils].
S'rī S'uka said: 'During the first month of the winter season [hemanta: Nov./Jan.] observed the unmarriedunmarriedgirls of Nanda's Vraja subsisting on unspiced khichrī [a mix of rice and lentils] a vow of worshiping the goddess Kātyāyanī.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 2-3

Rising at dawn they took a bath in the water of the Yamunā and made from clay a deity of the goddess. Oh ruler of men, both opulent and simple they were of worship with sandalwood pulp, fragrant garlands, gifts [of food, clothes etc.], incense and lamps,  as also with presentations of fresh leaves, fruits and bethel nuts.

Rising at dawn bathing in the water of the Yamunā made they of clay a deity of the goddess to be, opulently as well as simply, of worship, o ruler of men, with sandalwood pulp, fragrant garlands, gifts [of food, clothes etc.], incense and lamps and with presentations of fresh leaves, fruits and bethel nuts. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

The young girls performed worship repeating a mantra with the words: 'Oh Kātyāyanī, our obeisances unto you, oh great power, greatest yoginī, oh supreme control, please make the son of the gopa Nanda my husband!' [*]

The young girls performed worship chanting a mantra with the words: 'O Kātyāyanī, our obeisances unto you, o great power, greatest yoginī, o supreme control, please make the son of Nanda the gopa my husband!' [*] (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

The girls thus for an entire month executed their vow to be of proper worship before Bhadrakālī with: 'May He, Nanda's son, become my husband.'

In this manner executed the girls for an entire month their vow before Bhadrakālī being of proper worship with 'May He, Nanda's son become my husband'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Every day at dawn they called each other's names, held their hands and, loudly singing their respect for Krishna, went to the Kālindī to bathe there.

Every day, at the break of dawn calling for one another, held they each other's hands singing loudly in their honoring of Krishna while going to the Kālindī to bathe. (Vedabase)

   

Text 7

One day arriving at the river singing about Krishna, they left their clothes on the shore as usual and enjoyed sporting in the water.

One day arriving at the river singing about Krishna, they as usual left their clothes on the shore and enjoyed sporting in the water.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Krishna, the Supreme Lord, who as the Master of all yoga masters approved this, surrounded by His companions went to that spot to make their actions a success.

Krishna, the Supreme Lord, as the Master of all masters of yoga understanding their intention, went there surrounded by companions to assure the girls the result of their activities. (Vedabase)

  

Text 9

He stole their clothes away and quickly climbed in a Kadamba tree. Laughing together with the boys He made fun by saying:

Snatching their clothes away He climbed quickly up a Kadamba tree laughing together with the boys making fun saying: (Vedabase)

 

 Text 10

'Come here, oh girls, if you like, and take each your own garment. Seriously, I am not joking, for you must be tired because of the vow.

'Come here, o girls, and please take each your own garment as you desire, I'm seriously not joking, since you must be tired of the vow. (Vedabase)

   

Text 11

All these boys know I have never spoken a lie. Therefore, oh slender girls, come [out of the water] either one by one or all together, to cover yourselves.'

I've definitely never practiced any lie, that all these boys do know; thus, o slender girls, be sure to make your pick either one by one or all together.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

With that prank of Him He saw how the gopīs, steeped in love for Him, looked at each other and had to laugh, but being embarrassed they did not come out of the water.

With that prank of His saw He how the gopīs, steeped in love for Him, had to laugh looking at one another but being embarrassed they did not come out of the water. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Govinda thus having spoken, had with His joking caught the minds of those who, up to their necks shivering in the cold water, said to Him:

Govinda speaking thus had with his joking caught the minds of them who, up to their necks shivering in the cold water, said to Him: (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

'Oh You, do not be unfair, we beg You, behave like the beloved son of the gopa Nanda we know, as the one renown throughout Vraja, oh dearest one. Please give us our garments, we are cold!

'O You, don't be unfair, act like the one You can also be, as the beloved son of gopa Nanda we know, o dearest, as the one renown throughout Vraja; please give us our garments, we're cold. (Vedabase)

  

Text 15

Oh S'yāmasundara ['beautiful dark one'] we, as Your maidservants, must do whatever You say! Please give us our clothes back, oh Knower of the Dharma, or else we will tell the king about it!'

O S'yāmasundara ['beautiful dark one'] we, Your maidservants will do whatever You tell us to, please return our clothes, o knower of the dharma, or mind, otherwise we'll tell the king about it!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

The Supreme Lord said: 'If you are My servants, must you then not do what I told you and with your innocent smiles come out of the water to pick out your garments? I will not give them if you do not do so, and with the king being angry, what can he do about it?'

The Supreme Lord said: 'If you're My servants mustn't you then do what I told you and with your innocent smiles come out of the water to pick out your garments; I won't give them if you don't, and with the king angry, what can he do about it?' (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Thereupon all the girls shivering of the cold came out of the water, covering their pubic area with their hands.

Then came all the girls shivering, pained by the cold, forward from the water, covering their pubic area with their hands. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

The Supreme Lord seeing them defeated, put satisfied about the purity of their love their garments over His shoulder and said with a loving smile:

The Supreme Lord seeing them beaten put satisfied about the purity of their love their garments over His shoulder and said with a loving smile: (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

'Because you during the observance of a vow were bathing naked in the water, you have offended Varuna and the other gods. To atone for that sin you must pay your obeisances with your palms joined together over your heads and then take your garments back.'

'Because you, performing a vedic sacrifice, were naked bathing in the water, have you offended Varuna and the other gods; to counteract this sin you must pay your obeisances with your palms joined together over your heads and then take your garments back.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

With this being pointed out by the Infallible Lord, the Vraja girls considered their skinny-dipping a fall from their vow. Intent on successfully completing that vow, they therefore offered their obeisances to the Purifier of All Sins, He who was the directly visible result of their actions as also countless other [pious] activities.

With this what the Infallible Lord indicated considered the Vraja girls their skinny-dipping a fall from their vow and intent on successfully completing that vow, as well as an endless number of likewise pious activities, offered they their obeisances unto the directly before them visible result in the form of the Purifier of All Sins. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

The Supreme Lord, the son of Devakī satisfied to see them bowing down, thereupon mercifully gave them back the garments.

The Supreme Lord, the son of Devakī, satisfied to see them bowing down then, being compassionate upon that act, gave them back the garments. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

Despite seriously having been cheated, not being acknowledged in their shame, being laughed at and made to act like puppets on a string with their clothes being stolen, they felt no enmity towards Him, for they were happy to associate with their beloved one.

Despite of indeed seriously being cheated, denied in their shame, laughed at and made to act like puppets on a string with their clothes being stolen, felt they, joyful to have the association with their beloved, nevertheless no enmity towards Him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Having put on their garments they, smitten by the association with their beloved, with their minds being captivated, were completely incapable of moving and full of shyness glanced at Him.

Having put on their garments were they, smitten by the association with their beloved, with their minds seized truly unable to move and glanced they upon Him full of shyness. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

The Supreme Lord understood from them that they were determined to live up to their vow and that they wanted to touch His feet. Dāmodara said to the girls:

Understanding them as being decided upon the vow with the desire to touch the Supreme Lord His own feet, spoke Dāmodara to the girls: (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

'Oh pious souls, I understand your motivation to worship Me. That pleases Me and so it has to come true.

'O pious ones, understanding your motivation to worship Me do I approve of that as being true and must it come to pass. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

The desire of those whose consciousness is fully absorbed in Me, does not lead to material lust, just as roasted and cooked grains as a rule are not capable of causing new growth [see also e.g. 1.6: 35, 3.15: 20, 7.7: 51-52].

Of those whose consciousness is fully absorbed in Me does the desire not lead to material lust, the way roasted and cooked grains are not capable of causing new growth [see also e.g. 1.6: 35, 3.15: 20, 7.7: 51-52]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Dear girls, go now to Vraja. Having achieved the supreme state of fulfillment, you one of these nights will enjoy together with Me. That was what you had in mind with the vow to be pure in your worship of the Goddess.'

Now go, dear girls, to Vraja; having achieved your desire, will you together with Me one of these nights enjoy in a way that is pure, for you delivered the evidence of this vow by your performance of worship for the goddess.' (Vedabase)


Text 28

S'rī S'uka said: 'Thus being instructed by the Supreme Lord, the young girls, with their desire fulfilled meditating upon His lotus feet, could only with great difficulty [bring themselves to] return to the cowherd village.

S'rī S'uka said: 'Thus being instructed by the Supreme Lord meditated the young girls with their desire fulfilled, upon His lotus feet, while they with difficulty returned to the cowherd village. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

The son of Devakī some time later surrounded by the gopas went at a distance from Vrindāvana to herd the cows together with His brother.

Some time later went the son of Devakī in the midst of the gopas at a distance from Vrindāvana to herd the cows together with His brother. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Seeing how the trees in the fiercely hot sun of the season with their shade served Him as parasols, He said to the boys:

With the sun fiercely hot of the season looking at the trees that with their shade served Him as parasols, said He to the boys: (Vedabase)

 

Text 31-32

'Oh Stoka Krishna and Ams'u, S'rīdāma, Subala and Arjuna, Vis'āla, Vrishabha and Ojasvī, Devaprastha and Varūthapa, just look at these fortunate trees protecting us against rain, wind, heat and snow. Their life is exclusively there for the benefit of others!

'O Stoka Krishna and Ams'u; o S'rīdāma, Subala and Arjuna; o Vis'āla, Vrishabha and Ojasvī; o Devaprastha and Varūthapa, just see these ones so fortunate whose life is only there for the higher purpose of warding off the rain, the wind, the heat and the snow they bear for us. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

Just see the benediction of  these trees that offer support to all living entities, like great souls do. No one in need of them will ever go away disappointed.

Oh how superior the birth of these trees that, like great souls do, give support to all living entities; for certain will no one in need for them ever leave them being disappointed. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

With their leaves, flowers and fruits, shade and roots, bark and wood, their fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp and shoots, they offer everything you desire.

By their leaves, flowers and fruits; shade and roots, bark and wood; by their fragrance, sap ashes, pulp and shoots they grant all things desirable. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

To perform with one's life, wealth, intelligence and words always for the sake of the welfare of all embodied beings, to be in this world of such a kind of birth, is the perfection of life for every living being  [see also the Vaishnava Pranāma].'

It is to each living being to live up to this perfection of birth in this world: namely to be with one's life, wealth, intelligence and words towards all living beings always of the highest good in one's dutiful activities [see also the Vaishnava Pranāma].' (Vedabase)


Text 36

Thus speaking among the trees bowing down with their abundance of leaves, clusters of fruit, flowers and twigs, He arrived at the Yamunā.

From between the trees bowing down with their abundance of leaves, clusters of fruit, flowers and twigs, arrived He speaking this way at the Yamunā. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

There the gopas drenched the cows in the crystal clear, fresh and cool, wholesome water, oh ruler, and also themselves drank their fill of the sweet tasting water.

There the gopas drenched the cows in the crystal clear, fresh and cool, wholesome water, o ruler, and drank they also themselves their fill of the sweet-tasting water. (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

In a grove along the Yamunā where they allowed the animals to roam freely, oh ruler of the people, they [the gopas] plagued by hunger approached Rāma and Krishna and said the following.'

In a grove along the Yamunā allowing the animals to roam freely, o ruler of the people, said they, plagued by hunger approaching Rāma and Krishna, this:' (Vedabase) 

 

*: The distinction between the internal of yoga-māyā and the external, or illusory, potency of the Lord of mahā-māyā is described in the Nārada-pańcarātra, in the conversation between S'ruti and Vidyā:

jānāty ekāparā kāntam
saivā durgā tad-ātmikā
yā parā paramā s'aktir
mahā-vishnu-svarūpinī

yasyā vijńāna-mātrena
parānām paramātmanah
mahūrtād deva-devasya
prāptir bhavati nānyathā

ekeyam prema-sarvasva
svabhāvā gokules'varī
anayā su-labho jńeya
ādi-devo 'khiles'varah

asyā āvārika-s'aktir
mahā-māyākhiles'varī
yayā mugdam jagat sarvam
sarve dehābhimāninah

"The Lord's inferior potency, known as Durgā, is dedicated to His loving service. Being the Lord's potency, this inferior energy is nondifferent from Him. There is another, superior potency, whose form is on the same spiritual level as that of God Himself. Simply by scientifically understanding this supreme potency, one can immediately achieve the Supreme Soul of all souls, who is the Lord of all lords. There is no other process to achieve Him. That supreme potency of the Lord is known as Gokules'varī, the goddess of Gokula. Her nature is to be completely absorbed in love of God, and through Her one can easily obtain the primeval God, the Lord of all that be. This internal potency of the Lord has a covering potency, known as Mahā-māyā, who rules the material world. In fact she bewilders the entire universe, and thus everyone within the universe falsely identifies himself with the material body." See also 8.12: 40 for Durgā.

 

 

 

 

 Creative Commons
                License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The painting is titled: "Gopis Beseech Krishna to Return Their Clothing".
Page from the Dispersed 'Isarda' Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of Lord Vishnu).
The [India, probably Delhi-Agra area] (1972.260). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.
New York:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-. (October 2006).
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

 

Feed-back | Links | Downloads | MusicPictures | What's New | Search | Donations