SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 10

S'rî S'uka said: 'Surrounded by His happy-natured folk singing His glories entered Krishna thereafter [after the forest fire] Vraja that was so beautiful with its herds of cows.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thereafter [after the forest fire] entered Krishna surrounded by his happy-natured folk singing His glories Vraja so beautiful with its herds of cows. (Vedabase)

Text 2

Sporting this way in Vraja in the disguise of a cowherd, approached the summer season that is not so pleasing to the living beings.

Sporting this way in Vraja by the illusion of the cowherd-disguise, approached the summer season that by living beings is not very favored. (Vedabase)

Text 3

Notwithstanding this was Vrindâvana, in which the Supreme Lord Kes'ava together with Râma personally were staying, manifesting the qualities as if it was the time of spring.

Notwithstanding this was Vrindâvana, in which the Supreme Lord of Kes'ava together with Râma personally were staying, manifesting the qualities as if it was the time of spring. (Vedabase)

Text 4

The constant noise of the waterfalls covered there the sound of the crickets while the groups of trees embellishing the area were moistened by their spray.

There did the constant noise of the waterfalls cover that of the crickets and were the groups of trees embellishing moistened by their spray. (Vedabase)

Text 5

From the waves and currents, the rivers and the lakes transported cool breezes the pollen of the kahlâra, kañja and utpala lotuses so that there, for the people living in the forest, was not the tormenting heat of the sun or the forest fires to the summer season, but the growth of an abundance of grass instead.

Of the rivers and lakes transported the breezes over the waves and currents the pollen of the kahlâra, kañja and utpala lotuses so that there, for the people living in the forest, was not the tormenting heat of the sun or the forest fires to the summer season, but the growth of an abundance of grass. (Vedabase)

Text 6

The water of the very deep rivers drenched the shores, giving muddy banks on all sides, over which the fierce sun radiating its venomous rays could not take away the juice and greenness of the earth.

The water of the very deep rivers drenched the shores, giving muddy banks on all sides, over which the fierce sun with its venomous rays could not take away the juice and greenness of the earth. (Vedabase)

Text 7

The forest full of flowers most beautiful resounded with all sorts of animals and birds singing, peacocks and bees and the cooing of cuckoos and cranes.

The forest full of flowers most beautiful resounded with all sorts of animals and birds singing, peacocks and bees and the cooing of cuckoos and cranes. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Intend on playing was the forest area entered by Krishna, the Supreme Lord sounding His flute in the company of Balarâma, the gopas and the cows.

Intend on playing entered there Krishna, the Supreme Lord sounding His flute in the company of Balarâma, the gopas and the cows. (Vedabase)

Text 9

With fresh leaves, peacock feathers, bunches of small flowers, garlands and colorful minerals for ornaments were Krishna, Râma and the gopas singing, dancing and romping about.

With fresh leaves, peacock feathers, bunches of small flowers, garlands and colorful minerals as their ornaments were Krishna, Râma and the gopas singing, dancing and romping about. (Vedabase)

Text 10

With Krishna dancing, sang some of them, played some on flutes, cymbals and horns while others offered praise.

=As Krishna danced, sang some of them, some played on flutes, cymbals and horns while others offered praise. (Vedabase)

Text 11

Disguised as cowherd folk worshiped the demigods [see 10.1: 22] Krishna and Râma in their form of cow-protectors the same way professional dancers encourage another dancer, o King.

Disguised as cowherd folk did the demigods [see 10.1: 22] worship Krishna and Râma in their form of cow-protectors just as professional dancers cheer to another dancer, o King. (Vedabase)

Text 12

Whirling, jumping, throwing, slapping and dragging they played and sometimes, as they wrestled, held they each other by the locks of their hair.

Whirling, jumping, throwing, slapping and dragging they played, sometimes, wrestling, holding each other by the locks of their hair. (Vedabase)

Text 13

At times when the others danced were They the singers and played They the instruments, themselves being of praise, o King, saying: 'How good, how good this is!'

At times when the others danced were they the singers and played they the instruments, themselves being of praise, o King, saying: 'How good, how good this is!'. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Now and then played they with bilva fruits and then with kumbha fruits or with palmfuls of âmalaka [myrobalan] fruits; they played tag [aspris'ya] or blindman's buff [netra-bandha] and such games and sometimes mimicked the animals and birds.

Now and then played they with bilva fruits and then with kumba fruits or with palmfuls of âmalaka [myrobalan] fruits; they played tag [aspris'a] or blindman's buff [netra-banda] and such games and sometimes mimicked the animals and birds. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Then they jumped like frogs, told all kinds of jokes and then again they were swinging or pretended they to be kings.

Then they jumped like frogs, told all kinds of jokes and then they were swinging or pretended to be kings. (Vedabase)

Text 16

The two this way engaged in common human play roamed the forests, mountains, rivers and valleys, bowers, lakes, and groves around.

The two this way with common human play roamed the forests, mountains, rivers and valleys, bowers, lakes, and groves around. (Vedabase)

Text 17

One day, while Râma and Krishna together with the gopas were herding the animals in that forest arrived there the demon Pralamba in the form of a gopa with the intent to kidnap Them.

As Râma and Krishna together with the gopas were herding the animals in that forest arrived there the demon Pralamba in the form of a gopa with the intent to kidnap Them. (Vedabase)

Text 18

Knowing him, since He stemming from the house of Das'ârha was the Supreme Lord omniscient, accepted He, thinking of killing him, to be friends with him.

Knowing him, since He of Das'ârha was the Supreme Lord omniscient, accepted He, thinking of killing him, to be friends with him. (Vedabase)

Text 19

Next calling together the gopas said Krishna, the knower of all games: 'O gopas, let's play and divide us in two matching teams'.

Next calling together the gopas said Krishna, the knower of all games: 'O gopas, let's play and divide us in two matching teams'. (Vedabase)

Text 20

To that appointed the gopas Râma and Janârdana their leaders so that some belonged to Krishna's group while others joined with Râma.

To that appointed the gopas Râma and Janârdana their leaders so that some belonged to Krishna's group while others joined with Râma. (Vedabase)

Text 21

They engaged in several games of 'carrier and carried' [harinâkrîdanam] which were known by the rule that the winners could mount the defeated who then had to carry them.

They engaged in several games of 'carrier and carried' [harinâkrîdanam] that were known by the rule that the winners could mount the defeated that then had to carry them. (Vedabase)

Text 22

Carrying and being carried tended they meanwhile the cows and went they, led by Krishna, to a banyan tree named Bhândîraka [*].

Carrying and being carried tended they meanwhile the cows and went they, led by Krishna, to a banyan tree named Bhândîraka [*]. (Vedabase)

Text 23

When Râma's party with S'rîdâmâ, Vrishabha and others had won the contest would each of them be carried by Krishna and the members of His party, o King.

When Râma's party with S'rîdâmâ, Vrishabha and others had won the contest would each of them be carried by Krishna and the members of His party, o King. (Vedabase)

Text 24

Being defeated carried the Supreme Lord Krishna S'rîdâmâ; was Vrishabha carried by Bhadrasena and carried Pralamba [the Asura] the son of Rohinî [Râma].

Defeated carried the Supreme Lord Krishna S'rîdâmâ; was Vrishabha carried by Bhadrasena and carried Pralamba [the asura] the son of Rohinî [Râma]. (Vedabase)

Text 25

Considering Krishna invincible set that foremost demon in great haste off carrying [his passenger Râma] beyond the finish line of dismounting.

Considering Krishna invincible set that foremost demon in great haste off carrying [his passenger Râma] beyond the finish line of dismounting. (Vedabase)

Text 26

As he held Him high lost the demon his momentum though with Him [growing] as heavy as the king of the earth and the planets [mount Meru]. He thereupon resumed his original body which was covered by golden ornaments, because of which he shone like a cloud flashing with lightening in carrying the moon.

As he held Him high lost the demon his momentum with Him [growing] as heavy as the king of the earth and the planets [mount Meru], and resumed he his original body with a covering of golden ornaments, shining just like a cloud flashing with lightening that carries the moon. (Vedabase)

Text 27

Seeing that body fast moving in the sky with blazing eyes, frowned eyebrows, the rows of his terrible teeth, his wild hair, his armlets, crown and his earrings, was the Carrier of the Plow, stunned about the effulgence, a bit daunted.

Seeing that body fast moving in the sky with blazing eyes, frowned eyebrows, the rows of his terrible teeth, his wild hair, his armlets, crown and his earrings, got the Carrier of the Plow, stunned about the effulgence, a little frightened. (Vedabase)

Text 28

Then remembering Himself, stroke the fearless Balarâma who was moving away from the company like He was being kidnapped, him angrily hard with His fist on the head as fast as the king of the gods would hit a mountain with his thunderbolt.

Then remembering Himself, did the fearless Balarâma, moving away from the company like He was being kidnapped, angrily strike him hard with His fist on the head as fast as the king of the gods would hit a mountain with his thunderbolt. (Vedabase)

Text 29

Being struck split the head of the demon immediately in two and fell he, giving up blood from his mouth, lifeless to the ground with a loud noise that sounded as if a mountain was hit by Indra's weapon.

Struck split his head right away open and fell he, giving up blood from his mouth, lifeless to the ground with a loud noise sounding like a mountain hit by Indra's weapon. (Vedabase)

Text 30

Seeing Pralamba killed by Balarâma's display of power were the gopas most astonished and exclaimed they 'Good so, well done!' ['sâdhu, sâdhu'].

Seeing Pralamba killed by the self-evident power of Balarâma were the gopas most astonished and expressed they the words 'Good so, well done!' ['sâdhu, sâdhu']. (Vedabase)

Text 31

Pronouncing benedictions praised they Him who had been so deserving, as if he had returned from death and closed they Him in their arms with their hearts overwhelmed by love.

Pronouncing benedictions praised they Him, so deserving, as if he had returned from death and embraced they Him with their hearts overwhelmed by love. (Vedabase)

Text 32

With the sinful Pralamba killed heaped the demigods, utterly satisfied, garlands of flowers over Him, and offered they prayers exclaiming 'Bravo, excellent!' '

With the sinful Pralamba killed heaped the demigods, utterly satisfied, garlands of flowers over Him, and offered they prayers exclaiming 'Bravo, excellent!' (Vedabase)

* S'rîla Sanâtana Gosvâmî quotes the following verses from S'rî Harivams'a (Vishnu-parva 11.18 - 22), which describe the banyan tree:

dadars'a vipulodagra-
s'âkhinam s'âkhinâm varam
sthitam dharanyâm meghâbham
nibidam dala-sañcayaih
gaganârdhocchritâkâram
parvatâbhoga-dhârinam
nîla-citrânga-varnais' ca
sevitam bahubhih khagaih
phalaih pravâlais' ca ghanaih
sendracâpa-ghanopamam
bhavanâkâra-vithapam
latâ-pushpa-sumanditam
vis'âla-mûlâvanatam
pâvanâmbhoda-dhârinam
âdhipatyam ivânyeshâm
tasya des'asya s'âkhinâm
kurvânam s'ubha-karmânam
nirâvarsham anâtapam
nyagrodham parvatâgrâbham
bhândîram nâma nâmatah

"They saw that best of all trees, which had many long branches. With its dense covering of leaves, it resembled a cloud sitting on the earth. Indeed, its form was so large that it appeared like a mountain covering half the sky. Many birds with charming blue wings frequented that great tree whose dense fruits and leaves made it seem like a cloud accompanied by a rainbow or like a house decorated with creepers and flowers. It spread its broad roots downward and carried upon itself the sanctified clouds. That banyan tree was like the lordly master of all other trees in that vicinity, as it performed the all-auspicious functions of warding off the rain and the heat of the sun. Such was the appearance of that nyagrodha tree known as Bhândîra, which appeared just like the peak of a great mountain."