rule

 

Arunodaya-kîrt./Jiv Jâgo

 

 

 

Canto 10

 

Chapter 83

 

Draupadî Meets the Queens of Krishna

 (1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the spiritual master and goal of the gopîs, this way showing His favor, then with Yudhishthhira inquired after the welfare of all [of His family] and His well-wishers. (2) They, by seeing His feet having their sins destroyed, thus questioned by the Lord of the World felt very honored and replied gladly: (3) 'From where would there be inauspiciousness to those who of Your lotuslike feet ever drank the intoxicating nectar poured out by the minds and mouths of the great souls, to those who with the drinking cups of their ears drank to their fill, o Master, Destroyer of the forgetfulness about the Doer of the materially embodied. (4) Indeed by the light of Your personal form are the three material conditions [or the miseries, originating from oneself, others and nature] as created by material consciousness dispelled, and are we, totally immersed, of spiritual happiness, having bowed down to You, the goal of the perfected saint [the paramahamsa], who for the protection of the unlimited and ever fresh vedic knowledge under the threat of time, by the power of Your illusion has assumed this form.' 

(5) The great sage said: 'As His people were thus glorifying the crest jewel of all personalities hailed in the scriptures, met the women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans to discuss among one another the topics of Govinda sung in the three worlds; please listen as I describe them to you. (6-7) S'rî Draupadî said: 'O Vaidarbhî [Rukminî], Bhadrâ, Jâmbavatî and Kaus'alâ [Nâgnajitî]; o Satyabhâmâ, Kâlindî, S'aibyâ [Mitravindâ], Rohinî [see 10.61*] and Lakshmanâ [Mâdrâ] and other wives of Krishna, please tell us this: how was it that Acyuta, the Supreme Lord Himself, by His own mystic power following the ways of the world, got married to you?' 

(8) S'rî Rukminî said: 'Like a lion taking his share from a herd of goats and sheep, took He who puts the dust of His feet upon the heads of invincible fighters, me away when the kings with their bows stood ready in order to offer me to S'is'upâla; may the feet of Him, the abode of S'rî, be my object of worship [see 10.52-54].' 

(9) S'rî Satyabhâmâ said: 'To my father whose heart was distressed with the death of his brother, returned He, being accused, to clear His name, the jewel back after defeating the king of the bears [Jâmbavân]; afraid because of this offered my father me to the Lord although I was spoken for already [see 10.56]. 

(10) S'rî Jâmbavatî said: 'The maker of this body unaware of Him, the Husband of Sîtâ , as being his master and worshipable deity, fought for twenty-seven days with Him. Having come to his senses recognizing Him he presented me together with the jewel taking hold of His feet; I'm His maid-servant [see also 10.56].

(11) S'rî Kâlindî said: 'Knowing that I with the desire of touching His feet was executing penances, came He together with His friend [Arjuna] and took He my hand; I am the one cleaning His residence [10.58: 12-23]. 

(12) S'rî Mitravindâ said: 'During my svayamvara coming forward stole He me away the way the enemy of the elephants [a lion] claims his share from a pack of dogs; after defeating the kings and my brothers insulting Him, took He me to His capital where S'rî resides; may there for me, life after life, be the service of washing His feet [10.58: 31]. 

(13-14) S'rî Satyâ said: 'Seven great bulls most strong and vital with the sharpest horns, by my father arranged to test the prowess of the kings, destroyed the pride of the heroes; but they were quickly subdued and tied up by Him with the ease of children playing with young goats. This way paying for me with His valor took He me, protected by maid-servants, with Him, with an army of four divisions along the road defeating the kings; may there be my servitude to Him [10.58: 32-55]. 

(15-16) S'rî Bhadrâ said: 'With me in love with Him, o Krishnâ [Draupadî], gave my father, on his own accord inviting my maternal cousin Krishna, me to Him together with female companions and a guarding akshauhini of troops; let there for me, birth after birth wandering of my karma, be that betterment of myself in touching His feet [10.58: 56].

(17) S'rî Lakshmanâ said: 'O Queen, time and again hearing Nârada glorifying Acyuta's births and activities became my heart fixed upon Mukunda, He who after due consideration in rejection of the rulers of the world, indeed was chosen by her [the goddess S'rî] holding the lotus. (18) My father known as Brihatsena, o saintly lady, knowing of my state of mind arranged being affectionate with his daughter, a means to this end. (19)  Just as in your svayamvara, o Queen, was a fish being used [hung high as a target] that to be won by Arjuna, hidden from sight however, was only to be seen as a reflection in water [in a pot below]. (20) Hearing of this came from everywhere all the kings expert in the art of shooting and wielding other weapons to my father's city along with their thousands of teachers. (21) My father honored in full all of them, each according his strength and age, after which they who had set their minds upon me, in the assembly took up their bow and arrows to take a shot. (22) Some of them after lifting [the bow] were unable to string it and some having pulled the bowstring came to fall being hit by it. (23) Other heroes, the kings of Magadha [Jarâsandha], Cedi [S'is'upâla] and Ambashthha as well as Bhîma, Duryodhana and Karna, managed to string but couldn't determine its [the targets'] location. (24) Managing to locate it, took Arjuna, aiming carefully looking at the reflection of the fish in the water, a shot, but the arrow not piercing, only touched it. (25-26) When the proud kings defeated in their pride had given up, did the Supreme Lord, playfully taking up the bow, stringing it and then fixing an arrow on it, pierce the fish with its shaft, with the sun situated in Abhijit [in 'victory', or at noon] only once having looked at it in the water. (27) Kettledrums resounded in the sky together with the sound of 'Jaya' of the godly on earth who overwhelmed with joy released torrents of flowers. (28) Next did I, with a shy smile on my face and a wreath of flowers in my hair, enter the arena with gently tinkling anklebells on my feet, wearing a necklace of gold with brilliant jewels and a pair of fine silken, new garments held together with a belt. (29) Lifting my face with its many locks of hair and the cheeks effulgent of the earrings, looked I all around at the kings with a cool smile casting sidelong glances and placed I slowly my necklace around the neck of Murâri who had captured my heart. (30) At that moment resounded conchshells, mridangas, tabors, kettle drums and wardrums and such, and sang the singers as male and female dancers danced. (31) My thus having chosen for the Supreme Lord as my master could by the leading kings not be tolerated, o Draupadî; they became quarrelsome upset with a heart of abuse. (32) At that point lifting me in the chariot with its four gems of horses stood He, preparing His S'ârnga and donning His armor, on the battleground with His four arms [displayed in full]. (33) Before the kings to see drove Dâruka the chariot trimmed with gold, o Queen, as if He was the king of animals before animals. (34) They, the kings, like village dogs with a lion, went after Him, while some of them to check Him on the path, stood ready with their bows raised. (35) From the floods of arrows shot from S'ârnga fell some of them with their arms, legs and necks severed, while some others, gave it up and fled. (36) Then entered the Lord of the Yadus like the sun reaching his abode [or the western horizon] Dvârakâ, His city glorified in heaven and on earth, profusely decorated with wonderful archways and banners on flagpoles blocking the sun. (37) My father honored his friends, immediate relations and other family members with the most valuable clothing and jewelry and with beds, thrones and other furniture. (38) Along with maidservants endowed with all riches, infantry, elephantry, chariotry and cavalry, gave he the Lord of the Complete [Pûrnasya] out of devotion the most valuable weapons. (39) By the austerity of the abrupt breaking off of our material association have we indeed all become these maidservants in the home of Him, the One Satisfied Within Himself.

(40) The other queens said [by mouth of Rohinî]: 'Killing the demon Bhauma along with his followers in battle knew He us, by him being imprisoned, as the daughters of the kings defeated during his conquest of the earth; releasing us, constantly remembering His lotus feet as the source of liberation from a material existence has He, the One Fulfilled in All His desires, married us. (41-42) O saintly lady, we do not desire rulership over the earth, a heavenly kingdom, unlimited pleasures even or mystic power, to be the supreme divinity, immortality or the abode of Hari, we desire to carry on our heads the dust of the divine feet of the Wielder of the Club, enriched by the fragrance of the kunkuma from the bosom of S'rî [see also 10.47: 60 , ** and the s'ikshâshtaka verse 4]. (43) We desire the same as what the Pulinda women [the gopîs] desire, as what the grass and the plants and the grazing cows and the gopas of Vraja desire: the contact of the feet of the Supreme Soul.'

 

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Source Texts:

Draupadî Meets the Queens of Krishna

 

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the spiritual master and goal of the gopîs, this way showing His favor, then with Yudhishthhira inquired after the welfare of all [of His family] and His well-wishers.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus Lord Krishna, the spiritual master of the gopîs and the very purpose of their life, showed them His mercy. He then met with Yudhishthhira and all His other relatives and inquired from them about their welfare.

 

Text 2

They, by seeing His feet having their sins destroyed, thus questioned by the Lord of the World felt very honored and replied gladly:

Feeling greatly honored, King Yudhishthhira and the others, freed of all sinful reactions by seeing the feet of the Lord of the universe, gladly answered His inquiries.

  

Text 3

'From where would there be inauspiciousness to those who of Your lotuslike feet ever drank the intoxicating nectar poured out by the minds and mouths of the great souls, to those who with the drinking cups of their ears drank to their fill, o Master, Destroyer of the forgetfulness about the Doer of the materially embodied.

[Lord Krishna's relatives said:] O master, how can misfortune arise for those who have even once freely drunk the nectar coming from Your lotus feet? This intoxicating liquor pours into the drinking cups of their ears, having flowed from the minds of great devotees through their mouths. It destroys the embodied souls' forgetfulness of the creator of their bodily existence.

 

Text 4

Indeed by the light of Your personal form are the three material conditions [or the miseries, originating from oneself, others and nature] as created by material consciousness dispelled, and are we, totally immersed, of spiritual happiness, having bowed down to You, the goal of the perfected saint [the paramahamsa], who for the protection of the unlimited and ever fresh vedic knowledge under the threat of time, by the power of Your illusion has assumed this form.'

The radiance of Your personal form dispels the threefold effects of material consciousness, and by Your grace we become immersed in total happiness. Your knowledge is indivisible and unrestricted. By Your Yogamâyâ potency You have assumed this human form for protecting the Vedas, which had been threatened by time. We bow down to You, the final destination of perfect saints.

     

 Text 5

The great sage said: 'As His people were thus glorifying the crest jewel of all personalities hailed in the scriptures, met the women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans to discuss among one another the topics of Govinda sung in the three worlds; please listen as I describe them to you.

The great sage S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: As Yudhishthhira and the others were thus praising Lord Krishna, the crest jewel of all sublimely glorified personalities, the women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans met with one another and began discussing topics about Govinda that are sung throughout the three worlds. Please listen as I relate these to you.

 

Text 6-7

S'rî Draupadî said: 'O Vaidarbhî [Rukminî], Bhadrâ, Jâmbavatî and Kaus'alâ [Nâgnajitî]; o Satyabhâmâ, Kâlindî, S'aibyâ [Mitravindâ], Rohinî [see 10.61*] and Lakshmanâ [Mâdrâ] and other wives of Krishna, please tell us this: how was it that Acyuta, the Supreme Lord Himself, by His own mystic power following the ways of the world, got married to you?

S'rî Draupadî said: O Vaidarbhî, Bhadrâ and Jâmbavatî, O Kaus'alâ, Satyabhâmâ and Kâlindî, O S'aibyâ, Rohinî, Lakshmanâ and other wives of Lord Krishna, please tell me how the Supreme Lord Acyuta, imitating the ways of this world by His mystic power, came to marry each of you.

 

Text 8

S'rî Rukminî said: 'Like a lion taking his share from a herd of goats and sheep, took He who puts the dust of His feet upon the heads of invincible fighters, me away when the kings with their bows stood ready in order to offer me to S'is'upâla; may the feet of Him, the abode of S'rî, be my object of worship [see 10.52-54].

S'rî Rukminî said: When all the kings held their bows at the ready to assure that I would be presented to S'is'upâla, He who puts the dust of His feet on the heads of invincible warriors took me from their midst, as a lion forcibly takes his prey from the midst of goats and sheep. May I always be allowed to worship those feet of Lord Krishna, the abode of Goddess S'rî.

 

Text 9

S'rî Satyabhâmâ said: 'To my father whose heart was distressed with the death of his brother, returned He, being accused, to clear His name, the jewel back after defeating the king of the bears [Jâmbavân]; afraid because of this offered my father me to the Lord although I was spoken for already [see 10.56].

S'rî Satyabhâmâ said: My father, his heart tormented by his brothers death, accused Krishna of killing him. To remove the stain on His reputation, the Lord defeated the king of the bears and took back the Syamantaka jewel, which He then returned to my father. Fearing the consequences of his offense, my father offered me to the Lord, even though I had already been promised to others.

 

 Text 10

S'rî Jâmbavatî said: 'The maker of this body unaware of Him, the Husband of Sîtâ , as being his master and worshipable deity, fought for twenty-seven days with Him. Having come to his senses recognizing Him he presented me together with the jewel taking hold of His feet; I'm His maid-servant [see also 10.56].

S'rî Jâmbavatî said: Unaware that Lord Krishna was none other than his own master and worshipable Deity, the husband of Goddess Sîtâ, my father fought with Him for twenty-seven days. When my father finally came to his senses and recognized the Lord, he took hold of His feet and presented Him with both me and the Syamantaka jewel as tokens of his reverence. I am simply the Lord's maidservant.

    

 Text 11

S'rî Kâlindî said: 'Knowing that I with the desire of touching His feet was executing penances, came He together with His friend [Arjuna] and took He my hand; I am the one cleaning His residence [10.58: 12-23].

S'rî Kâlindî said: The Lord knew I was performing severe austerities and penances with the hope of one day touching His lotus feet. So He came to me in the company of His friend and took my hand in marriage. Now I am engaged as a sweeper in His palace.

 

Text 12

S'rî Mitravindâ said: 'During my svayamvara coming forward stole He me away the way the enemy of the elephants [a lion] claims his share from a pack of dogs; after defeating the kings and my brothers insulting Him, took He me to His capital where S'rî resides; may there for me, life after life, be the service of washing His feet [10.58: 31].

S'rî Mitravindâ said: At my svayam-vara ceremony He came forward, defeated all the kings present - including my brothers, who dared insult Him - and took me away just as a lion removes his prey from amidst a pack of dogs. Thus Lord Krishna, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, brought me to His capital city. May I be allowed to serve Him by washing His feet, life after life.

 

Text 13-14

S'rî Satyâ said: 'Seven great bulls most strong and vital with the sharpest horns, by my father arranged to test the prowess of the kings, destroyed the pride of the heroes; but they were quickly subdued and tied up by Him with the ease of children playing with young goats. This way paying for me with His valor took He me, protected by maid-servants, with Him, with an army of four divisions along the road defeating the kings; may there be my servitude to Him [10.58: 32-55].

S'rî Satyâ said: My father arranged for seven extremely powerful and vigorous bulls with deadly sharp horns to test the prowess of the kings who desired my hand in marriage. Although these bulls destroyed the false pride of many heroes, Lord Krishna subdued them effortlessly, tying them up in the same way that children playfully tie up a goat's kids. He thus purchased me with His valor. Then He took me away with my maidservants and a full army of four divisions, defeating all the kings who opposed Him along the road. May I be granted the privilege of serving that Lord.

 

Text 15-16

S'rî Bhadrâ said: 'With me in love with Him, o Krishnâ [Draupadî], gave my father, on his own accord inviting my maternal cousin Krishna, me to Him together with female companions and a guarding akshauhini of troops; let there for me, birth after birth wandering of my karma, be that betterment of myself in touching His feet [10.58: 56].

S'rî Bhadrâ said: My dear Draupadî, of his own free will my father invited his nephew Krishna, to whom I had already dedicated my heart, and offered me to Him as His bride. My father presented me to the Lord with an akshauhini military guard and a retinue of my female companions. My ultimate perfection is this: to always be allowed to touch Lord Krishna's lotus feet as I wander from life to life, bound by my karma.

 

Text 17

S'rî Lakshmanâ said: 'O Queen, time and again hearing Nârada glorifying Acyuta's births and activities became my heart fixed upon Mukunda, He who after due consideration in rejection of the rulers of the world, indeed was chosen by her [the goddess S'rî] holding the lotus.

S'rî Lakshmanâ said: O Queen, I repeatedly heard Nârada Muni glorify the appearances and activities of Acyuta, and thus my heart also became attached to that Lord, Mukunda. Indeed, even Goddess Padmahastâ chose Him as her husband after careful consideration, rejecting the great demigods who rule various planets.

   

Text 18

My father known as Brihatsena, o saintly lady, knowing of my state of mind arranged being affectionate with his daughter, a means to this end.

My father, Brihatsena, was by nature compassionate to his daughter, and knowing how I felt, O saintly lady, he arranged to fulfill my desire.

 

 Text 19

 Just as in your svayamvara, o Queen, was a fish being used [hung high as a target] that to be won by Arjuna, hidden from sight however, was only to be seen as a reflection in water [in a pot below].

Just as a fish was used as a target in your svayam-vara ceremony, O Queen, to assure that you would obtain Arjuna as your husband, so a fish was also used in my ceremony. In my case, however, it was concealed on all sides, and only its reflection could be seen in a pot of water below.

 

 Text 20

Hearing of this came from everywhere all the kings expert in the art of shooting and wielding other weapons to my father's city along with their thousands of teachers.

Hearing of this, thousands of kings expert in shooting arrows and in wielding other weapons converged from all directions on my father's city, accompanied by their military teachers.

 

 Text 21

My father honored in full all of them, each according his strength and age, after which they who had set their minds upon me, in the assembly took up their bow and arrows to take a shot.

My father properly honored each king according to his strength and seniority. Then those whose minds were fixed on me took up the bow and arrow and one by one tried to pierce the target in the midst of the assembly.

  

 Text 22

Some of them after lifting [the bow] were unable to string it and some having pulled the bowstring came to fall being hit by it.

Some of them picked up the bow but could not string it, and so they threw it aside in frustration. Some managed to pull the bowstring toward the tip of the bow, only to have the bow spring back and knock them to the ground.

 

 Text 23

Other heroes, the kings of Magadha [Jarâsandha], Cedi [S'is'upâla] and Ambashthha as well as Bhîma, Duryodhana and Karna, managed to string but couldn't determine its [the targets'] location.

A few heroes - namely Jarâsandha, S'is'upâla, Bhîma, Duryodhana, Karna and the King of Ambashthha - succeeded in stringing the bow, but none of them could find the target.

  

 Text 24

Managing to locate it, took Arjuna, aiming carefully looking at the reflection of the fish in the water, a shot, but the arrow not piercing, only touched it.

Then Arjuna looked at the reflection of the fish in the water and determined its position. When he carefully shot his arrow at it, however, he did not pierce the target but merely grazed it.

  

 Text 25-26

When the proud kings defeated in their pride had given up, did the Supreme Lord, playfully taking up the bow, stringing it and then fixing an arrow on it, pierce the fish with its shaft, with the sun situated in Abhijit [in 'victory', or at noon] only once having looked at it in the water.

After all the arrogant kings had given up, their pride broken, the Supreme Personality of Godhead picked up the bow, easily strung it and then fixed His arrow upon it. As the sun stood in the constellation Abhijit, He looked at the fish in the water only once and then pierced it with the arrow, knocking it to the ground.

 

 Text 27

Kettledrums resounded in the sky together with the sound of 'Jaya' of the godly on earth who overwhelmed with joy released torrents of flowers.

Kettledrums resounded in the sky, and on the earth people shouted "Jaya! Jaya!" Overjoyed, demigods showered flowers.

 

 Text 28

Next did I, with a shy smile on my face and a wreath of flowers in my hair, enter the arena with gently tinkling anklebells on my feet, wearing a necklace of gold with brilliant jewels and a pair of fine silken, new garments held together with a belt.

Just then I walked onto the ceremonial ground, the ankle bells on my feet gently tinkling. I was wearing new garments of the finest silk, tied with a belt, and I carried a brilliant necklace fashioned of gold and jewels. There was a shy smile on my face and a wreath of flowers in my hair.

 

 Text 29

Lifting my face with its many locks of hair and the cheeks effulgent of the earrings, looked I all around at the kings with a cool smile casting sidelong glances and placed I slowly my necklace around the neck of Murâri who had captured my heart.

I lifted my face, which was encircled by my abundant locks and effulgent from the glow of my earrings reflected from my cheeks. Smiling coolly, I glanced about. Then, looking around at all the kings, I slowly placed the necklace on the shoulder of Murâri, who had captured my heart.

 

 Text 30

At that moment resounded conchshells, mridangas, tabors, kettle drums and wardrums and such, and sang the singers as male and female dancers danced.

Just then there were loud sounds of conchshells and mridanga, pathaha, bherî and ânaka drums, as well as other instruments. Men and women began to dance, and singers began to sing.

 

 Text 31

My thus having chosen for the Supreme Lord as my master could by the leading kings not be tolerated, o Draupadî; they became quarrelsome upset with a heart of abuse.

The leading kings there could not tolerate my having chosen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Draupadî. Burning with lust, they became quarrelsome.

 

 Text 32

At that point lifting me in the chariot with its four gems of horses stood He, preparing His S'ârnga and donning His armor, on the battleground with His four arms [displayed in full].

The Lord then placed me on His chariot, drawn by four most excellent horses. Donning His armor and readying His bow S'ârnga, He stood on the chariot, and there on the battleground He manifested His four arms.

 

 Text 33

Before the kings to see drove Dâruka the chariot trimmed with gold, o Queen, as if He was the king of animals before animals.

Dâruka drove the Lord's gold-trimmed chariot as the kings looked on, O Queen, like small animals helplessly watching a lion.

 

 Text 34

They, the kings, like village dogs with a lion, went after Him, while some of them to check Him on the path, stood ready with their bows raised.

The kings pursued the Lord like village dogs chasing a lion. Some kings, raising their bows, stationed themselves on the road to stop Him as He passed by.

 

 Text 35

From the floods of arrows shot from S'ârnga fell some of them with their arms, legs and necks severed, while some others, gave it up and fled.

These warriors were deluged by arrows shot from the Lord's bow, S'ârnga. Some of the kings fell on the battlefield with severed arms, legs and necks; the rest gave up the fight and fled.

 

 Text 36

Then entered the Lord of the Yadus like the sun reaching his abode [or the western horizon] Dvârakâ, His city glorified in heaven and on earth, profusely decorated with wonderful archways and banners on flagpoles blocking the sun.

The Lord of the Yadus then entered His capital city, Kus'asthalî [Dvârakâ], which is glorified in heaven and on earth. The city was elaborately decorated with flagpoles carrying banners that blocked the sun, and also with splendid archways. As Lord Krishna entered, He appeared like the sun-god entering his abode..

 

 Text 37

My father honored his friends, immediate relations and other family members with the most valuable clothing and jewelry and with beds, thrones and other furniture.

My father honored his friends, family and in-laws with priceless clothing and jewelry and with royal beds, thrones and other furnishings.

 

 Text 38

Along with maidservants endowed with all riches, infantry, elephantry, chariotry and cavalry, gave he the Lord of the Complete [Pûrnasya] out of devotion the most valuable weapons.

With devotion he presented the perfectly complete Lord with a number of maidservants bedecked with precious ornaments. Accompanying these maidservants were guards walking on foot and others riding elephants, chariots and horses. He also gave the Lord extremely valuable weapons.

 

 Text 39

By the austerity of the abrupt breaking off of our material association have we indeed all become these maidservants in the home of Him, the One Satisfied Within Himself.

Thus, by renouncing all material association and practicing austere penances, we queens have all become personal maidservants of the self- satisfied Supreme Lord.

 

 Text 40

The other queens said [by mouth of Rohinî]: 'Killing the demon Bhauma along with his followers in battle knew He us, by him being imprisoned, as the daughters of the kings defeated during his conquest of the earth; releasing us, constantly remembering His lotus feet as the source of liberation from a material existence has He, the One Fulfilled in All His desires, married us.

Rohinî-devi, speaking for the other queens, said: After killing Bhaumâsura and his followers, the Lord found us in the demon's prison and could understand that we were the daughters of the kings whom Bhauma had defeated during his conquest of the earth. The Lord set us free, and because we had been constantly meditating upon His lotus feet, the source of liberation from material entanglement, He agreed to marry us, though His every desire is already fulfilled.

 

 Text 41-42

O saintly lady, we do not desire rulership over the earth, a heavenly kingdom, unlimited pleasures even or mystic power, to be the supreme divinity, immortality or the abode of Hari, we desire to carry on our heads the dust of the divine feet of the Wielder of the Club, enriched by the fragrance of the kunkuma from the bosom of S'rî [see also 10.47: 60 , ** and the s'ikshâshtaka verse 4].

O saintly lady, we do not desire dominion over the earth, the sovereignty of the King of heaven, unlimited facility for enjoyment, mystic power, the position of Lord Brahmâ, immortality or even attainment of the kingdom of God. We simply desire to carry on our heads the glorious dust of Lord Krishna's feet, enriched by the fragrance of kunkuma from His consort's bosom.

 

 Text 43

We desire the same as what the Pulinda women [the gopîs] desire, as what the grass and the plants and the grazing cows and the gopas of Vraja desire: the contact of the feet of the Supreme Soul.'

We desire the same contact with the Supreme Lord's feet that the young women of Vraja, the cowherd boys and even the aborigine Pulinda women desire - the touch of the dust He leaves on the plants and grass as He tends His cows.

 

*The one called Rohinî here is not Rohini, the mother of Balarâma, but the one queen representing the 16000 queens that Krishna wed next to his eight principal queens.

** The paramparâ points out that the S'rî referred to here is the supreme goddess of fortune as identified by the 'Brihad-gautamîya-tantra':

devî krishna-mayî proktâ
râdhikâ para-devatâ
sarva-lakshmî-mayî sarva
kântih sammohinî parâ

"The transcendental goddess S'rîmatî Râdhârânî is the direct counterpart of Lord S'rî Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord."

 

 

 

 

For this original translation was used the Vedabase of the BBT offering the work
that Svâmi Prabhupâda's pupils did to complete his translation of the Bhâgavatam.
See the
S'rîmad Bhâgavatam links-page
for this and more books of Prabhupâda.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


 

 

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