> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Twenty-one: The Gopîs Glorify the Song of Krishna's Flute

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > ittham s'arat-svaccha-jalam

> > padmâkara-sugandhinâ

> > nyavis'ad vâyunâ vâtam

> > sa -go-gopâlako 'cyutah

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; ittham - in this way; s'arat - of the fall season; svaccha - clear; jalam - having water; padma-âkara - from the lake filled with lotus flowers; su-gandhinâ - with the sweet fragrance; nyavis'at - He entered; vâyunâ - by the breeze; vâtam - ventilated; sa - with; go - the cows; gopâlakah - and the cowherd boys; acyutah - the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus the Vrindâvana forest was filled with transparent autumnal waters and cooled by breezes perfumed with the fragrance of lotus flowers growing in the clear lakes. The infallible Lord, accompanied by His cows and cowherd boyfriends, entered that Vrindâvana forest.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > kusumita-vanarâji-s'ushmi-bhringa

> > dvija-kula-ghushtha-sarah-sarin-mahîdhram

> > madhupatir avagâhya cârayan gâh

> > saha-pas'u-pâla-balas' cukûja venum

> > kusumita - flowering; vana-râji - among the groups of trees; s'ushmi - maddened; bhringa - with bees; dvija - of birds; kula - and flocks; ghushtha - resounding; sarah - its lakes; sarit - rivers; mahîdhram - and hills; madhu-patih - the Lord of Madhu (Krishna); avagâhya - entering; cârayan - while tending; gâh - the cows; saha- pas'u-pâla-balah - in the company of the cowherd boys and Lord Balarâma; cukûja - vibrated; venum - His flute.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The lakes, rivers and hills of Vrindâvana resounded with the sounds of maddened bees and flocks of birds moving about the flowering trees. In the company of the cowherd boys and Balarâma, Madhupati [S'rî Krishna] entered that forest, and while herding the cows He began to vibrate His flute.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > tad vraja-striya âs'rutya

> > venu-gîtam smarodayam

> > kâs'cit paroksham krishnasya

> > sva-sakhîbhyo 'nvavarnayan

> > tat - that; vraja-striyah - the ladies in the cowherd village; âs'rutya - hearing; venu-gîtam - the song of the flute; smara-udayam - which gives rise to the influence of Cupid; kâs'cit - some of them; paroksham - privately; krishnasya - about Krishna; sva-sakhîbhyah - to their intimate companions; anvavarnayan - described.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the young ladies in the cowherd village of Vraja heard the song of Krishna's flute, which arouses the influence of Cupid, some of them privately began describing Krishna's qualities to their intimate friends.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > tad varnayitum ârabdhâh

> > smarantyah krishna-ceshthitam

> > nâs'akan smara-vegena

> > vikshipta-manaso nripa

> > tat - that; varnayitum - to describe; ârabdhâh - beginning; smarantyah - remembering; krishna-ceshthitam - the activities of Krishna; na as'akan - they were incapable; smara-vegena - by the force of Cupid; vikshipta - agitated; manasah - whose minds; nripa - O King Parîkchit.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cowherd girls began to speak about Krishna, but when they remembered His activities, O King, the power of Cupid disturbed their minds, and thus they could not speak.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > barhâpîdam natha-vara-vapuh karnayoh karnikâram

> > bibhrad vâsah kanaka-kapis'am vaijayantîm ca mâlâm

> > randhrân venor adhara-sudhayâpûrayan gopa-vrindair

> > vrindâranyam sva-pada-ramanam prâvis'ad gîta-kîrtih

> > barha - a peacock feather; âpîdam - as the decoration of His head; natha-vara - of the best of dancers; vapuh - the transcendental body; karnayoh - on the ears; karnikâram - a particular kind of blue lotuslike flower; bibhrat - wearing; vâsah - garments; kanaka - like gold; kapis'am - yellowish; vaijayantîm - named Vaijayantî; ca - and; mâlâm - the garland; randhrân - the holes; venoh - of His flute; adhara - of His lips; sudhayâ - with the nectar; âpûrayan - filling up; gopa-vrindaih - by the cowherd boys; vrindâ-aranyam - the forest of Vrindâvana; sva-pada - because of the marks of His lotus feet; ramanam - enchanting; prâvis'at - He entered; gîta - being sung; kîrtih - His glories.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karnikâra flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayantî garland, Lord Krishna exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vrindâvana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > iti venu-ravam râjan

> > sarva-bhûta-manoharam

> > s'rutvâ vraja-striyah sarvâ

> > varnayantyo 'bhirebhire

> > iti - thus; venu-ravam - the vibration of the flute; râjan - 0 King Parîkchit; sarva-bhûta - of all living beings; manah-haram - stealing the minds; s'rutvâ - hearing; vraja-striyah - the ladies standing in the village of Vraja; sarvâh - all of them; varnayantyah - engaged in describing; abhirebhire - embraced one another.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, when the young ladies in Vraja heard the sound of Krishna's flute, which captivates the minds of all living beings, they all embraced one another and began describing it.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > s'rî-gopya ûcuh

> > akshanvatâm phalam idam na param vidâmah

> > sakhyah pas'ûn anavives'ayator vayasyaih

> > vaktram vrajes'a-sutayor anavenu-jushtham

> > yair vâ nipîtam anurakta-kathâksha-moksham

> > s'rî-gopyah ûcuh - the gopîs said; akshanvatâm - of those who have eyes; phalam - the fruit; idam - this; na - not; param - other; vidâmah - we know; sakhyah - O friends; pas'ûn - the cows; anuvives'ayatoh - causing to enter one forest after another; vayasyaih - with Their friends of the same age; vaktram - the faces; vraja-îs'a - of Mahârâja Nanda; sutayoh - of the two sons; anu-venu-jushtham - possessed of flutes; yaih - by which; vâ - or; nipîtam - imbibed; anurakta - loving; katha-aksha - glances; moksham - giving off.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cowherd girls said: O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Mahârâja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vrindâvana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > cûta-pravâla-barha-stabakotpalâbja

> > mâlânuprikta-paridhâna-vicitra-ves'au

> > madhye virejatur alam pas'u-pâla-goshthhyâm

> > range yathâ natha-varau kvaca gâyamânau

> > cûta - of a mango tree; pravâla - with young sprouts; barha - peacock feathers; stabaka - bunches of flowers; utpala - lotuses; abja - and lilies; mâlâ - with garlands; anuprikta - touched; paridhâna - Their garments; vicitra - with great variety; ves'au - being dressed; madhye - in the midst; virejatuh - the two of Them shone forth; alam - magnificently; pas'u-pâla - of the cowherd boys; goshthhyâm - within the assembly; range - upon a stage; yathâ - just as; natha- varau - two most excellent dancers; kvaca - sometimes; gâyamânau - Themselves singing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dressed in a charming variety of garments, upon which Their garlands rest, and decorating Themselves with peacock feathers, lotuses, lilies, newly grown mango sprouts and clusters of flower buds, Krishna and Balarâma shine forth magnificently among the assembly of cowherd boys. They look just like the best of dancers appearing on a dramatic stage, and sometimes They sing.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > gopyah kim âcarad ayam kus'alam sma venur

> > dâmodarâdhara-sudhâm api gopikânâm

> > bhunkte svayam yad avas'ishtha-rasam hradinyo

> > hrishyat-tvaco 's'ru mumucus taravo yathâryah

> > gopyah - O gopîs; kim - what; âcarat - performed; ayam - this; kus'alam - auspicious activities; sma - certainly; venuh - the flute; dâmodara - of Krishna; adhara- sudhâm - the nectar of the lips; api - even; gopikânâm - which is owed to the gopîs; bhunkte - enjoys; svayam - independently; yat - from which; avas'ishtha - remaining; rasam - the taste only; hradinyah - the rivers; hrishyat - feeling jubilant; tvacah - whose bodies; as'ru - tears; mumucuh - shed; taravah - the trees; yathâ - exactly like; âryâh - old forefathers.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear gopîs, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Krishna's lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopîs, for whom that nectar is actually meant! The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > vrindâvanam sakhi bhuvo vitanoti kîritim

> > yad devakî-suta-padâmbuja-labdha-lakshmi

> > govinda-venum anu matta-mayûra-nrityam prekshyâdri-sânv-avaratânya-samasta- sattvam

> > vrindâvanam - Vrindâvana; sakhi - O friend; bhuvah - of the earth; vitanoti - spreads; kîrtim - the glories; yat - because; devakî-suta - of the son of Devakî; pada-ambuja - from the lotus feet; labdha - received; lakshmi - the treasure; govinda-venum - the flute of Govinda; anu - upon hearing; matta - maddened; mayûra - of the peacocks; nrityam - in which there is the dancing; prekshya - seeing; adri-sânu - upon the peaks of the hills; avarata - stunned; anya - other; samasta - all; sattvam - creatures.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O friend, Vrindâvana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devakî. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > dhanyâh sma mûdha-gatayo 'pi harinya etâ

> > yâ nanda-nandanam upâtta-vicitra-ves'am

> > âkarnya venu-ranitam saha-krishna-sârâh

> > pûjâm dadhur viracitâm pranayâvalokaih

> > dhanyâh - fortunate, blessed; sma - certainly; mûdha-gatayah - having taken birth in an ignorant animal species; api - although; harinyah - she-deer; etâh - these; yâh - who; nanda-nandanam - the son of Mahârâja Nanda; upâtta-vicitra- ves'am - dressed very attractively; âkarnya - hearing; venu-ranitam - the sound of His flute; saha-krishna-sârâh - accompanied by the black deer (their husbands); pûjâm dadhuh - they worshiped; viracitâm - performed; pranaya-avalokaih - by their affectionate glances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Mahârâja Nanda's son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > krishnam nirîkshya vanitotsava-rûpa-s'îlam

> > s'rutvâ ca tat-kvanita-venu-vivikta-gîtam

> > devyo vimâna-gatayah smara-nunna-sârâ

> > bhras'yat-prasûna-kabarâ mumuhur vinîvyah

> > krishnam - Lord Krishna; nirîkshya - observing; vanitâ - for all women; utsava - a festival; rûpa - whose beauty; s'îlam - and character; s'rutvâ - hearing; ca - and; tat - by Him; kvanita - vibrated; venu - of the flute; vivikta - clear; gîtam - song; devyah - the wives of the demigods; vimâna-gatayah - traveling in their airplanes; smara - by Cupid; nunna - agitated; sârâh - their hearts; bhras'yat - slipping; prasûna-kabarâh - the flowers tied in their hair; mumuhuh - they became bewildered; vinîvyah - their belts loosening.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Krishna's beauty and character create a festival for all women. Indeed, when the demigods' wives flying in airplanes with their husbands catch sight of Him and hear His resonant flute-song, their hearts are shaken by Cupid, and they become so bewildered that the flowers fall out of their hair and their belts loosen.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > gâvas' ca krishna-mukha-nirgata-venu-gîta

> > pîyûsham uttabhita-karna-puthaih pibantyah

> > s'âvâh snuta-stana-payah-kavalâh sma tasthur

> > govindam âtmani dris'âs'ru-kalâh spris'antyah

> > gâvah - the cows; ca - and; krishna-mukha - from the mouth of Lord Krishna; nirgata - emitted; venu - of the flute; gîta - of the song; pîyûsham - the nectar; uttabhita - raised high; karna - with their ears; puthaih - which were acting as vessels; pibantyah - drinking; s'âvâh - the calves; snuta - exuding; stana - from their udders; payah - the milk; kavalâh - whose mouthfuls; sma - indeed; tasthuh - stood still; govindam - Lord Krishna; âtmani - within their minds; dris'â - with their vision; as'ru-kalâh - their eyes full of tears; spris'antyah - touching.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute-song flowing out of Krishna's mouth. The calves, their mouths full of milk from their mothers' moist nipples, stand still as they take Govinda within themselves through their tear-filled eyes and embrace Him within their hearts.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > prâyo batâmba vihagâ munayo vane 'smin

> > krishnekshitam tad-uditam kala-venu-gîtam

> > âruhya ye druma-bhujân rucira-pravâlân

> > s'rinvanti mîlita-dris'o vigatânya-vâcah

> > prâyah - almost; bata - certainly; amba - O mother; vihagâh - the birds; munayah - great sages; vane - in the forest; asmin - this; krishna-îkshitam - in order to see Krishna; tat-uditam - created by Him; kala-venu-gîtam - sweet vibrations made by playing the flute; âruhya - rising; ye - who; druma-bhujân - to the branches of the trees; rucira-pravâlân - having beautiful creepers and twigs; s'rinvanti - they hear; mîlita-dris'ah - closing their eyes; vigata-anya- vâcah - stopping all other sounds.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O mother, in this forest all the birds have risen onto the beautiful branches of the trees to see Krishna. With closed eyes they are simply listening in silence to the sweet vibrations of His flute, and they are not attracted by any other sound. Surely these birds are on the same level as great sages.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > nadyas tadâ tad upadhârya mukunda-gîtam

> > âvarta-lakshita-manobhava-bhagna-vegâh

> > âlingana-sthagitam ûrmi-bhujair murârer

> > grihnanti pâda-yugalam kamalopahârâh

> > nadyah - the rivers; tadâ - then; tat - that; upadhârya - perceiving; mukunda - of Lord Krishna; gîtam - the song of His flute; âvarta - by their whirlpools; lakshita - manifest; manah-bhava - by their conjugal desire; bhagna - broken; vegâh - their currents; âlingana - by their embrace; sthagitam - held stationary; ûrmi-bhujaih - by the arms of their waves; murâreh - of Lord Murâri; grihnanti - they seize; pâda-yugalam - the two lotus feet; kamala- upahârâh - carrying offerings of lotus flowers.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the rivers hear the flute-song of Krishna, their minds begin to desire Him, and thus the flow of their currents is broken and their waters are agitated, moving around in whirlpools. Then with the arms of their waves the rivers embrace Murâri's lotus feet and, holding on to them, present offerings of lotus flowers.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > drishthvâtape vraja-pas'ûn saha râma-gopaih

> > san'cârayantam anu venum udîrayantam

> > prema-pravriddha uditah kusumâvalîbhih

> > sakhyur vyadhât sva-vapushâmbuda âtapatram

> > drishthvâ - seeing; âtape - in the full heat of the sun; vraja-pas'ûn - the domestic animals of Vraja; saha - together with; râma-gopaih - Lord Balarâma and the cowherd boys; san'cârayantam - herding together; anu - repeatedly; venum - His flute; udîrayantam - loudly playing; prema - out of love; pravriddhah - expanded; uditah - rising high; kusuma-âvalîbhih - (with droplets of water vapor, which are like) groups of flowers; sakhyuh - for his friend; vyadhât - he constructed; sva-vapushâ - out of his own body; ambudah - the cloud; âtapatram - an umbrella.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the company of Balarâma and the cowherd boys, Lord Krishna is continually vibrating His flute as He herds all the animals of Vraja, even under the full heat of the summer sun. Seeing this, the cloud in the sky has expanded himself out of love. He is rising high and constructing out of his own body, with its multitude of flower-like droplets of water, an umbrella for the sake of his friend.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > pûrnâh pulindya urugâya-padâbja-râga

> > s'rî-kunkumena dayitâ-stana-manditena

> > tad-dars'ana-smara-rujas trina-rûshitena

> > limpantya ânana-kuceshu jahus tad-âdhim

> > pûrnâh - fully satisfied; pulindyah - the wives of the S'abara tribe; urugâya - of Lord Krishna; pada-abja - from the lotus feet; râga - of reddish color; s'rî- kunkumena - by the transcendental kunkuma powder; dayitâ - of His girlfriends; stana - the breasts; manditena - which had decorated; tat - of that; dars'ana - by the sight; smara - of Cupid; rujah - feeling the torment; trina - upon the blades of grass; rûshitena - attached; limpantyah - smearing; ânana - upon their faces; kuceshu - and breasts; jahuh - they gave up; tat - that; âdhim - mental pain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The aborigine women of the Vrindâvana area become disturbed by lust when they see the grass marked with reddish kunkuma powder. Endowed with the color of Krishna's lotus feet, this powder originally decorated the breasts of His beloveds, and when the aborigine women smear it on their faces and breasts, they feel fully satisfied and give up all their anxiety.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > hantâyam adrir abalâ hari-dâsa-varyo

> > yad râma-krishna-carana-sparas'a-pramodah

> > mânam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat

> > pânîya-sûyavasa-kandara-kandamûlaih

> > hanta - oh; ayam - this; adrih - hill; abalâh - O friends; hari-dâsa-varyah - the best among the servants of the Lord; yat - because; râma-krishna-carana - of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna and Balarâma; sparas'a - by the touch; pramodah - jubilant; mânam - respect; tanoti - offers; saha - with; go-ganayoh - the cows, calves and cowherd boys; tayoh - to Them (S'rî Krishna and Balarâma); yat - because; pânîya - with drinking water; sûyavasa - very soft grass; kandara - caves; kanda-mûlaih - and edible roots.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Krishna and Balarâma, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities - water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balarâma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > gâ gopakair anu-vanam nayator udâra

> > venu-svanaih kala-padais tanu-bhritsu sakhyah

> > aspandanam gati-matâm pulakas tarunâm

> > niryoga-pâs'a-krita-lakshanayor vicitram

> > gâh - the cows; gopakaih - with the cowherd boys; anu-vanam - to each forest; nayatoh - leading; udâra - very liberal; venu-svanaih - by the vibrations of the Lord's flute; kala-padaih - having sweet tones; tanubhritsu - among the living entities; sakhyah - O friends; aspandanam - the lack of movement; gati-matâm - of those living entities that can move; pulakah - the ecstatic jubilation; tarunam - of the otherwise nonmoving trees; niryoga-pâs'a - the ropes for binding the rear legs of the cows; krita-lakshanayoh - of those two (Krishna and Balarâma), who are characterized by; vicitram - wonderful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear friends, as Krishna and Balarâma pass through the forest with Their cowherd friends, leading Their cows, They carry ropes to bind the cows' rear legs at the time of milking. When Lord Krishna plays on His flute, the sweet music causes the moving living entities to become stunned and the nonmoving trees to tremble with ecstasy. These things are certainly very wonderful.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > evam-vidhâ bhagavato

> > yâ vrindâvana-cârinah

> > varnayantyo mitho gopyah

> > krîdâs tan-mayatâm yayuh

> > evam-vidhâh - such; bhagavatah - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yâh - which; vrindâvana-cârinah - who was wandering in the Vrindâvana forest; varnayantyah - engaged in describing; mithah - among one another; gopyah - the gopîs; krîdah - the pastimes; tat-mayatâm - fullness in ecstatic meditation upon Him; yayuh - they attained.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus narrating to one another the playful pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He wandered about in the Vrindâvana forest, the gopîs became fully absorbed in thoughts of Him.

> > Back to the running text