Thou had decided to fulfill the desire of the beautiful women who had come to Thee. They were helpless as they were struck by the flower arrows of love God,. Yet Thou first spoke to them in an unfavorable manner.
dharmyaM khalu te vachanaM karmatu nO nirmalasya vishvaasyam || 2
You talked to them about the ideal duties of a wife,To somehow satisfy the sages who have assembled in the sky, Thy words are to be followed for they are in accordance with the Dharma. But the actions of Thee who are ever pure, should not be practiced by others, because Thy actions do not always conform to the good and bad standards of the world.
Dasakam: 066 -- Slokam: 03
आकर्ण्य ते प्रतीपां वाणीमेणीदृश: परं दीना: ।
मा मा करुणासिन्धो परित्यजेत्यतिचिरं विलेपुस्ता: ॥३॥
aakarNya te pratiipaaM vaaNiimeNiidR^ishaH parandiinaaH |
maa maa karuNaasindhO parityajetyatichiraM vilepustaaH || 3
On hearing Thy unfavorable speech, those doe eyed women were very much grief striken. For long did they plead saying 'O Thou ocean of compassion, do not, O do not forsake us.'
O Thou! Slayer of Mura! Moved with pity by their weeping and pleading, Thou started engaging in amorous sports of passion, Along with them on the sandy stretches of river Yamuna
The sand banks of Yamunaa was lit by beautifully flowing and shining moon light. There Thou sat down on the bed which was made by the Gopikaas by spreading out their upper garment.
Oh Lord , Oh lover of those maidens whose mind O Lord! Thou had promised to them the stealing of clothes Was steeped in sweet love .Thou fulfilled the promises made to them,By erasing from their mind the difference between. "I" and "Mine". Whose minds were overcome with bliss.
O Son of Nanda ! Embracing Thee, the most beautiful in all the three worlds, with alotus-like face beaming with a soft, jasmine-like smile, and drops of sweat glistening onThy body, those damsels were transported to heights of ecstasy.
Dasakam: 066 -- Slokam: 09
विरहेष्वङ्गारमय: शृङ्गारमयश्च सङ्गमे हि त्वम्
नितरामङ्गारमयस्तत्र पुनस्सङ्गमेऽपि चित्रमिदम् ॥९॥
viraheShvangaaramayaH shR^ingaaramayashcha sangame hi tvam |
In seperation with Thee, Thou are unbearable as a burning charcoal. In union indeed Thou are an absolute embodiment of love. O Dear One! Wonderful it indeed is that in union also, here again the women were delighted.
O Lord of Guruvaayur! I worship Thee who are eager in mind to nicely embrace the bulging breasts of Raadhaa. I pray to Thee to eradicate all the ailments
This and the next five chapter’s deals with this play of love called Rasaleela.
As promised Lord Krishna gets prepared for a play of love with the Gopisin the banks of Yamuna by the cool autumn moon light, the moon appeared on the horizon. He played on His flute as sweetly as to enchant the Gopis and to steal their hearts. In the resounding sound of Thy flute the seven ascending and descending notes emerged in a musical strain and enchanted everything in the world space. Hearing which the damsels attained an unparalleled and uncomparable captivating state of their mind.
Hearing that sweet music which kindles the fire of divine love and intensifies the desire to meet God, the Gopis with their hearts captivated by Lord Krishna, unperceived by one another in their attempts to meet Him, hastened to the place where their beloved Lord was, with their ear-rings rocking to and fro.
Some left their houses while milking the cow. Some did not wait to see the boiling of milk. Some did not take down boiled wheat from the oven. Some were serving food. Some had been suckling their babes, some had been serving their husbands, some had been taking their meals, some had been cleansing their bodies, some had been painting their eyes with collyrium. But they all left their work half-finished. They hurriedly went to Krishna with their garments and ornaments all in disorder in consequence of their great hurry.
When the Gopis drew near, Krishna addressed them thus: "O Blessed ones! What good can I do for you? O Gopis! You may bear love to Me in other ways such as hearing My virtues and deeds, by seeing My form and meditating on Me and by singing My glories than by living near Me. Therefore please return to your homes."
The Gopis said: "O Almighty Lord! It is not fit for Thee to utter these unkind words. We have abandoned everything and sought Thy feet alone. Do not abandon us. Accept us Thy devout servants, just as Lord Narayana accepts His devotees They were prohibited and obstructed by their husbands, parents, brothers and other relatives. But they were going as if in a trance. Their hearts had been completely charmed by Govinda. They did not turn back to their home.
Thou then decided to carry out the festival of the love god, which Thou had promised to the Gopikaas when their vows had ended. One the full moon night, with the bright light of all the directions were cool, in the forest on the banks of the river Yamuna, He played on His flute as sweetly as to enchant the Gopis and to steal their hearts.
O Lord! The enchanting notes emerging from Thy flute, with their ascending and descending emerged in a musical strain hypnotized the entire world and the Gopis.They attained an unparalleled and incomparable captivating state of their mind.
Maddened by the irresistible music, these lotus-eyed maidens,who were engaged in their household duties, such as, tending their children, orserving their husbands, forsook everything and rushed out to the forest.
Some of the damsels were dressing up and adorning their bodies with jewels. As they heard the resounding sound of the flute, they came to Thee having adorned themselves halfway. For Thy eyes they were far more pleasing indeed than those who were fully adorned.
Dasakam: 065 -- Slokam: 05
हारं नितम्बभुवि काचन धारयन्ती
काञ्चीं च कण्ठभुवि देव समागता त्वाम् ।
हारित्वमात्मजघनस्य मुकुन्द तुभ्यं
व्यक्तं बभाष इव मुग्धमुखी विशेषात् ॥५॥
haaraM nitambabhuvi kaachana dhaarayantii
kaa~nchii~ncha kaNThabhuvi deva samaagataa tvaam |
O Lord! One woman, in her haste, came to Thee wearing a necklace on the hips and the waist band in the neck area. It was as if the charming faced one clearly indicated to Thee in particular the attractiveness of her own hips.
Another, in her excitement, forgetting to cover her breasts with any garment, but notnoticed by the other women, who were equally excited, approached Thee, as though It was as if she was weighed down by the unparalleled intense love she carried as water pitchers as breasts for the celebration of Thy coronation in the kingdom of love.
Some others, O Lord, being unable (for whatever reason) to leave their houses, meditated on Thee with intense devotion and concentration, and, abandoning their physical bodies, of divine joy and attained salvation, it is said, became one with Thee And to me it appears as if they are indeed greatly blessed.
These women thought of Thee and remembered Thee not with the feeling of godliness, but as their lover, and, they attained the state of liberation with Thee...and attained this state which cannot be easily got by even great sages. O Supreme Resplendent form! Fixing my mind constantly on Thy effulgent form, with firmness and devotion, one way or the other, may I also attain liberation without effort.
Dasakam: 065 -- Slokam: 09
अभ्यागताभिरभितो व्रजसुन्दरीभि-
र्मुग्धस्मितार्द्रवदन: करुणावलोकी ।
निस्सीमकान्तिजलधिस्त्वमवेक्ष्यमाणो
विश्वैकहृद्य हर मे पवनेश रोगान् ॥९॥
abhyaagataabhirabhitO vrajasundariibhiH
mugdhasmitaardra vadanaH karuNaavalOkii |
nissiima kaanti jaladhistvamavekshyamaaNO
vishvaikahR^idya hara me paramesha rOgaan ||9
Those lovely maidens, who were gazing steadily at Thee, wert bathed by Thee Thee, were looking at Thee. Thou had a captivating smile lighting Thy face, glancing with compassion. O Hari! The stealer of the world's heart! , O Lord of Guruvaayur! May Thou eradicate all my maladies
All the cowherds after seeing and after witnessing, Thy superhuman deeds suchGreat acts of yours like the lifting of Govardhana,Started thinking that thy indeed were Lord of all,And they again asked Nandagopa ,about Thy horoscope.
Thy father told his clansmen of what sage Garg had prophesied about Thy greatness. Thence forward their love and also great respect for Thee increased much more than before.
Dasakam: 064 -- Slokam: 03
ततोऽवमानोदिततत्त्वबोध: सुराधिराज: सह दिव्यगव्या।
उपेत्य तुष्टाव स नष्टगर्व: स्पृष्ट्वा पदाब्जं मणिमौलिना ते ॥३॥
tatO(a)vamaanOdita tattvabOdhaH suraadhiraajaH saha divyagavyaa |
upetya tuShTaava sa naShTagarvaH spR^iShTvaa padaabjaM maNi maulinaa te || 3
Indra realized the truth about Thee. He came to Thee with the divine cow Kaamadhenu, and sang Thy praises. He touched Thy lotus feet with his bejewelled crowned head.
Dasakam: 064 -- Slokam: 04
स्नेहस्नुतैस्त्वां सुरभि: पयोभिर्गोविन्दनामाङ्कितमभ्यषिञ्चत् ।
ऐरावतोपाहृतदिव्यगङ्गापाथोभिरिन्द्रोऽपि च जातहर्ष: ॥४॥
airaavatOpaahR^ita divya gangaa paathObhirindrO(a)pi cha jaataharShaH || 4
The divine cow Kaamadhenu annointed Thee with her milk overflowing with love for Thee and so Thou were named 'Govinda', the Lord of cows. Indra too, with great enthusiasm, bathed Thee in the waters of the celestial Ganga, brought by his elephant, Airavata.
On Thee, the Lord of the Three Worlds, being crowned as Lord of Gokula, that land of Gokula did, on account of Thy glory, attain prosperity and status,unattainable even in heaven or Vaikunttha itself.
Once very early in the morning, Thy father was bathing in the river Yamunaa. He was taken away by the emissary of Varuna. To bring him back and also to fulfill the purpose of Thy taking human form, Thou went to the city of Varuna .
The Lord of the waters, Varuna, was taken by surprise at Thy unexpected appearance. Being welcomed with great respect by Varuna and duly honored by him, Thou were well worshipped by him. Thou immediately returned home with Thy father. Thy father, Nanda, later narrated this incident to his clansmen.
niriikshya viShNO paramaM padaM tad duraapamanyaistvamadiidR^ishastaan || 8
The Gopas, being firmly assured in their heart of hearts that Thou wert Hari Himself,thirsted for experiencing Thy state of Supreme Bliss. There upon. Thou showed them that state which is not attainable to men without devotion
That family of Gopas did, indeed, remain submerged for a long time in the ocean of divine joy of salvation for a very long time, and By Thee alone they were drawn back to their worldly state of consciousness.
Dasakam: 064 -- Slokam: 10
करबदरवदेवं देव कुत्रावतारे
निजपदमनवाप्यं दर्शितं भक्तिभाजाम् ।
तदिह पशुपरूपी त्वं हि साक्षात् परात्मा
पवनपुरनिवासिन् पाहि मामामयेभ्य: ॥१०॥
karabadaravadevaM deva kutraavataare
nijapadamanavaapyaM darshitaM bhaktibhaajaam |
tadiha pashuparuupii tvaM hi saakshaat paraatmaa
pavana puranivaasin paahi maamaamayebhyaH ||10
O Lord! Thy unattainable abode was revealed to the devotees with such ease and clearly as a berry in one's palm. In which other incarnation of Thee has such a thing happened? So, it is certain that here in the form of a cowherd, Thou are the Supreme Self. O Guruvaayurappa! save me from ailments.
"Father, we have no towns, countries, territories, villages or houses to call our homes. We are forest-dwellers, living in jungles or on mountains. It is the mountain Govardhana that gives us fruits and food. It’s on its slopes that our cattle graze; therefore, why don’t you worship Govardhana instead? Let us now initiate a ritual sacrifice for the propitiation of cows, Brahmins and Mount Govardhana. It can be accomplished with the very materials for Indra’s sacrifice. all seniors of Vrindavana happily accepted them and set out to worship the supremely auspicious mountain Govardhana. Nanda and other Gopas approved what Krishna said. They did everything in accordance with Sri Krishna's instructions. They made offerings to the cows, to the Brahmins and to the hill Govardhana .Brahmins started chanting sacred mantras and the young cowherds, friends of Krishna started to carry water from the river Yamuna to bathe Govardhana.
They went round the hill. Krishna said, "I am the Hill." Sri Krishna assumed another gigantic form and manifested Himself on the top of the hill in order to confirm the faith of the Gopas. He told the people that He was the deity presiding over the mountain. He then began to consume the offerings that were made to the Hill.Indra became extremely angry with Nanda and the other Gopas. He sent forth his clouds and winds and there were rains, thunder and hail-storms in Brindavan. Krishna lifted up the Govardhana hill with one hand and the people of Brindavan with their cows took shelter beneath the mountain. There was continuous rain for seven days. Sri Krishna held up the hill for seven days continuously without moving an inch.
Indra was quite amazed. His pride was destroyed. He withdrew the clouds and winds. The Gopas went to their own places with their cows and property. Sri Krishna set down the mountain in its original place. The Gopas were struck with wonder. They came to Nanda and said, "This boy of seven years uprooted the Govardhana hill from the earth and held it up with one hand continuously for seven days. This marvellous feat cannot be done by an ordinary man. Your son is certainly the Lord of all Lords. He is the Atman of all beings." Indra and Surabhi came down from Heaven. Indra fell at the feet of Sri Krishna and glorified Him. Indra said, "Thou art the father, the preceptor and the supreme Lord of all the worlds. In order to fulfil the desires of your devotees, you assume a personal form at your own will.
Those who like myself are ignorant and are conceited as rulers of the world, get cured of their pride and touch of haughtiness by Thy grace and Darshan. They then take to the path of devotion. O Lord, each of your acts is intended for the punishment and correction of the wicked. I disregarded you as I was intoxicated with the pride of wealth and power. I was devoid of pure understanding, discretion, and discrimination, and so I was ignorant of your greatness. O Lord, forgive me! Grant me pure intellect. Free me from my pride. Salutations unto Thee again and again."
Krishna said to him, "O Indra! I did you a great favour by causing a break in your Yajna. You were extremely proud of your position and power and so you forgot Me. I did this in order to make you remember Me. Power and position produce intoxication in men and Devas. They become haughty. They are rendered blind by power and position. If I wish to do favour to any one, I take away his powers and wealth. O Indra! Go to your celestial abode and do your duties in a satisfactory manner. Abandon pride completely. Follow my commandments. Try to realise constantly My presence. May you be happy!"said Krishna.
Even at that time, over the sky above Gokula, were seen by Thee massive rain clouds continuously roaring and spreading all the eight directions. , shaking all the quarters with loud and unceasing thunder-claps, and rivaling Thy splendorous, dark-blue complexion.
vachanamajita shR^iNvan maa bibhiitetyabhaaNiiH || 2
There was torrential rain in all directions accompanied by huge enormous hail stones. The groups of cowherds were tormented by the wrathful action of Indra. They all cried and prayed to be protected. O Invincible One! Hearing there that Thou told them not to fear.
Dasakam: 063 -- Slokam: 03
कुल इह खलु गोत्रो दैवतं गोत्रशत्रो-
र्विहतिमिह स रुन्ध्यात् को नु व: संशयोऽस्मिन् ।
इति सहसितवादी देव गोवर्द्धनाद्रिं
त्वरितमुदमुमूलो मूलतो बालदोर्भ्याम् ॥३॥
kula iha khalu gOtrO daivataM gOtrashatrOH
vihatimiha sa rundhyaat kO nu vaH samshayO(a)smin |
iti sahasita vaadii deva gOvardhanaadriM
tvaritamudamumuulO muulatO baaladOrbhyaam || 3
You told them with a smile “Is not the mountain, the mountain is the deity. Indra is the enemy of mountains. This mountain, Govardhan, will resist Indra's attack. O Lord! Assuring them, Thou quickly uprooted the Govardhana Mountain with Thy two tender arms.
Then Thou held aloft the lifted up mountain with Thy lotus like arm. The soft sand bed of the mountain was well protected from the rain water. The cows and cowherds all gathered under the uplifted mountain along with their belongings and were also well protected.
As Thou were holding the mountain, Thou enthusiastically engaged the girls and boys of Thy age group in playful conversation. The cows gathered around Thee and Thou caressed them with one hand. The cowherds were all very satisfied and delighted.
The Gopas who were standing looking at you, told among themselves” "How wonderful that this big mountain is being held aloft by Krishna for such a longtime with his tender, lotus-like left hand alone; Could it be due to the power of the mountain ? " So said the Gopas with their gaze steadily on Thee all the while.
Indra caused the heavy rains to continue pouring for seven consecutive days, telling himself that, Oh! The arrogance of this small boy! When his hands pain by the weight of the mountain, When he will put it back in place.' .
Dasakam: 063 -- Slokam: 08
अचलति त्वयि देव पदात् पदं
गलितसर्वजले च घनोत्करे ।
अपहृते मरुता मरुतां पति-
स्त्वदभिशङ्कितधी: समुपाद्रवत् ॥८॥
achalati tvayi deva padaatpadaM
galita sarvajale cha ghanOtkare |
apahR^ite marutaa marutaaM pati
stvadabhishankitadhiiH samupaadravat || 8
Oh God you stood very firmly in the place you stood, All the clouds were drained and exhausted of their waters. They were drifted away and scattered by the winds. Noticing all this, the head of the gods, Indra was scared of Thy might and fled.
The heavy rain had then subsided and the cows and cowherds had come out from under the mountain. O Lord! Thou then replaced the mountain on the earth and were embraced by the overjoyed cowherds.
The gods praised Thee saying that long ago incarnation as a great boar,You had lifted the entire earth by your tusk, And so it was not difficult to raise a very small mountain,”Oh Lord of Guruvayurappa , please protect me from my afflictions.
Traditionally, the residents of Vrindavan including Nanda Maharaj and all the cowherd men would annually worshipped Indra, the King of Heaven, who is responsible for supplying water. One day, Krishna observed that the people were preparing for the worship of Indra. He asked His father Nanda "Tell me, O father! What is this occasion for your great festivity? What is the object? To whom is it intended? By whom and how is the sacrifice to be performed?"
Nanda replied, "My beloved child! Indra is the Lord of the clouds. He will give us rain by worshiping him. The rains give life to all beings. Therefore, people worship Indra by these sacrificial offerings. Whatever is left after offering him in sacrifice, we use for our subsistence in order to attain the three objects of life, viz., Dharma (righteousness), Artha (earthly possessions) and Kama (worldly enjoyments). Indra is the dispenser of the fruit of our exertions."
However, Krishna convinced his father to forgo the sacrifice to Indra and instead worship Govardhan Hill. He explained to his father Nanda Maharaj “This cosmic manifestation is going on under the influence of three modes of material nature—goodness, passion and ignorance. These three modes are the causes of creation, maintenance and destruction. The cloud is caused by the action of the mode of passion; therefore it is the mode of passion which causes the rainfall. And after the rainfall, the living entities derive the result—success in agricultural work. What, then, has Indra to do in this affair? Even if you do not please Indra, what can he do? We do not derive any special benefit from Indra. Even if he is there, he pours water on the ocean also, where there is no need of water. So he is pouring water on the ocean or on the land; it does not depend on our worshiping him. As far as we are concerned, we do not need to go to another city or village. There are palatial buildings in the cities, but we are satisfied living in this forest of Vrindavan.
Our specific relationship is with Govardhana Hill and Vrindavan forest and nothing more"O revered father! By the force of Karma a creature is born, and by the force of Karma it passes away. The birth and death of men are shaped by their own Karma. Happiness and misery, fear, safety, these are all the effects of Karma. If there be any God who dispenses the fruits of Karma, he must also follow that Karma. He cannot act independently. When people are governed by their own Karma, where does Indra come in? What has Indra to do with creatures here who simply follow the course of their Karmas. Karmic tendency is decreed by fate. Man is subject to his nature formed by the latent Samskaras of his past deeds. He follows his own nature.
The whole universe consisting of Devas, Asuras, men, etc., lives, moves and has its being in Nature. By the force of his Karma a creature attains to several corporeal existences high or low, and also loses them. Karma is one's guide. Karma is the supreme ruler. "What can Indra do?. I therefore request you, My dear father, to begin a sacrifice which will satisfy the local brahmanas and Govardhana Hill, and let us have nothing to do with Indra.” Therefore, let us make offerings to our cows, our Brahmins, our hills, and fallen people. Let dogs be properly fed. Let the cows be supplied with fodder."
Krishna thereafter instructed Nanda Maharaj to proceed with the Govardhan puja by preparing various foodstuffs to offer to Govardhan, give charity to brahmanas and decorate the cows and feed them. The ceremony of offering various foodstuffs to the Govardhan is also called Annakuta festival.
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 01
कदाचिद्गोपालान् विहितमखसम्भारविभवान्
निरीक्ष्य त्वं शौरे मघवमदमुद्ध्वंसितुमना: ।
विजानन्नप्येतान् विनयमृदु नन्दादिपशुपा-
नपृच्छ: को वाऽयं जनक भवतामुद्यम इति ॥१॥
apR^ichChaH kO vaa(a)yaM janaka bhavataamudyama iti || 1
Oh God who was born in the clan of Surasena,Once you saw the Gopas collecting things to perform a Yaga,And deciding to put an end to the pride of Indra,In spite of knowing all about it asked Nanda and others, cowherds,“Oh father , What, about the purpose of these preparations.?
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 02
बभाषे नन्दस्त्वां सुत ननु विधेयो मघवतो
मखो वर्षे वर्षे सुखयति स वर्षेण पृथिवीम् ।
नृणां वर्षायत्तं निखिलमुपजीव्यं महितले
विशेषादस्माकं तृणसलिलजीवा हि पशव: ॥२॥
babhaaShe nandastvaaM suta nanu vidheyO maghavatO
makhO varShe varShe sukhayati sa varSheNa pR^ithiviim |
visheShaadasmaakaM tR^iNasalilajiivaa hi pashavaH || 2
Nanda replied that every year a sacrifice needed to be performed to propitiate Indra, He gives happiness to the earth by rain. The livelyhood of all human beings on earth depends on rain. Especially so for us, because our cattle live on grass and water alone.'
O Lord! Hearing this, Thou said with sweet reasoning, 'Oh no, this is not true, to say that the rain is generated by Indra. Rain is generated by the unseen past actions of the living beings, as required. In this big forest, . Indeed, what do large trees in the forest offer to Indra? Thou asked.
Thou said to Thy people,'this is true that the cows are the wealth of our tribe. This mountain (Govardhana) provides them with their requisite grass and water. So the offerings should be made to the mountain. The holy men on the earth are indeed greater than the gods, so they also deserve to be worshipped.'
Hearing Thy words the cowherds also worshipped the holy men with high regards offered worship,To the Brahmins with more care and devotion,And performed a very great sacrifice to please the mountain,And also went round the mountain and offered salutations to it. Thou becoming the soul of the mountain ate all the entire offerings in front of the cowherds.
You also told them, "Do you now believe my words ?Did you not see the Mountain personally receiving the sacrifice,And I am sure that even if Indra becomes angry with us, this mountain is capable of protecting everyoneand hearing your words,All the people of the entire Gokula became happy.
As the Gopas, along with Thee, returned home,Indra knowing that the sacrifice addressed to him has been stopped, he did not tolerate it because his mind was overcome by Rajo Guna. Indra knew Thee well and was also aware that his own high position was given by you, yet he was enraged.
pravR^ittastvaaM jetuM sa kila maghavaa durmadanidhiH || 8
Indra was full of false pride and set out to win Thee. He reasoned that even if it was Vishnu himself, the slayer of Madhu, in human form, if he shows disrespect to the gods, whatever their prestige, would be lost. So he made up his mind to destroy the lowly cowherd (Krishna) and all his prosperity, and to win Thee.
To destroy Thy residence Vraja, Indra released deluge causing clouds in the skies. He took along thunderbolt and set out riding on his white elephant Airaavata. He was accompanied by other gods, fire(Agni), wind(Vaayu),etc., who cautiously contempted him. And Oh Guruvayurappa , whom does not Thy Maya afflict? By your illusion , for all the world obeys your word.
marudgehaadhiisha praNuda muravairin mama gadaan ||10
You consoled the cowherds by the words,“ we need not be upset by the rage of Devendra,Because we have the blessings of Brahmins,And the mercy shown by Govardhana towards us,” saying so Thou certainly convinced the cowherds. Then Thou stood waiting and wondering why Indra had not yet come. O Lord of Guruvaayurappa! O Slayer of Mura! Do eradicate my ailments.