> > 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 Thirty-three: The Râsa Dance

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > ittham bhagavato gopyah

> > s'rutvâ vâcah su-pes'alâh

> > jahur viraha-jam tâpam

> > tad-angopacitâs'ishah

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; ittham - thus; bhagavatah - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gopyah - the cowherd girls; s'rutvâ - hearing; vâcah - the words; su-pes'alâh - most charming; jahuh - they gave up; viraha- jam - born out of their feelings of separation; tâpam - the distress; tat - His; anga - from (touching) the limbs; upacita - fulfilled; âs'ishah - whose desires.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: When the cowherd girls heard the Supreme Personality of Godhead speak these most charming words, they forgot their distress caused by separation from Him. Touching His transcendental limbs, they felt all their desires fulfilled.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > tatrârabhata govindo

> > râsa-krîdâm anuvrataih

> > strî-ratnair anvitah prîtair

> > anyonyâbaddha-bâhubhih

> > tatra - there; ârabhata - began; govindah - Lord Krishna; râsa-krîdam - the pastime of the râsa dance; anuvrataih - by the faithful (gopîs); strî - of women; ratnaih - the jewels; anvitah - joined; prîtaih - who were satisfied; anyonya - among one another; âbaddha - entwining; bâhubhih - their arms.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There on the Yamunâ's banks Lord Govinda then began the pastime of the râsa dance in the company of those jewels among women, the faithful gopîs, who joyfully linked their arms together.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3-4

> > râsotsavah sampravritto

> > gopî-mandala-manditah

> > yoges'varena krishnena

> > tâsâm madhye dvayor dvayoh

> > pravishthena grihîtânâm

> > kanthhe sva-nikatham striyah

> > yam manyeran nabhas tâvad

> > vimâna-s'ata-sankulam

> > divaukasâm sa-dârânâm

> > autsukyâpahritâtmanâm

> > râsa - of the râsa dance; utsavah - the festivity; sampravrittah - commenced; gopî- mandala - by the circle of gopîs; manditah - decorated; yoga - of mystic power; îs'varena - by the supreme controller; krishnena - Lord Krishna; tâsâm - of them; madhye - within the midst; dvayoh dvayoh - between each pair; pravishthena - present; grihîthânâm - who were held; kanthhe - by the necks; sva- nikatham - next to themselves; striyah - the women; yam - whom; manyeran - considered; nabhah - the sky; tâvat - at that time; vimâna - of airplanes; s'ata - with hundreds; sankulam - crowded; diva - of the heavenly planets; okasâm - belonging to the inhabitants; sa - accompanied; dârânâm - by their wives; autsukya - by eagerness; apahrita - carried away; âtmanâm - their minds.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The festive râsa dance commenced, with the gopîs arrayed in a circle. Lord Krishna expanded Himself and entered between each pair of gopîs, and as that master of mystic power placed His arms around their necks, each girl thought He was standing next to her alone. The demigods and their wives were overwhelmed with eagerness to witness the râsa dance, and they soon crowded the sky with their hundreds of celestial airplanes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > tato dundubhayo nedur

> > nipetuh pushpa-vrishthayah

> > jagur gandharva-patayah

> > sa-strîkâs tad-yas'o 'malam

> > tatah - then; dundubhayah - kettledrums; neduh - resounded; nipetuh - fell down; pushpa - of flowers; vrishthayah - rain; jaguh - they sang; gandharva-patayah - the chief Gandharvas; sa-strîkâh - along with their wives; tat - of Him, Lord Krishna; yas'ah - the glories; amalam - spotless.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kettledrums then resounded in the sky while flowers rained down and the chief Gandharvas and their wives sang Lord Krishna's spotless glories.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > valayânâm nûpurânâm

> > kinkinînâm ca yoshitâm

> > sa-priyânâm abhûc chabdas

> > tumulo râsa-mandale

> > valayânâm - of the armlets; nûpurânâm - ankle bells; kinkinînâm - bells worn around the waist; ca - and; yoshitâm - of the women; sa-priyânâm - who were with their beloved; abhût - there was; s'abdah - a sound; tumulah - tumultuous; râsa- mandale - in the circle of the râsa dance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A tumultuous sound arose from the armlets, ankle bells and waist bells of the gopîs as they sported with their beloved Krishna in the circle of the râsa dance.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > tatrâtis'us'ubhe tâbhir

> > bhagavân devakî-sutah

> > madhye manînâm haimânâm

> > mahâ-marakato yathâ

> > tatra - there; atis'us'ubhe - appeared most brilliant; tâbhih - with them; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; devakî-sutah - Krishna, the son of Devakî; madhye - in the midst; manînâm - of ornaments; haimânâm - golden; mahâ - great; marakatah - a sapphire; yathâ - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the midst of the dancing gopîs, Lord Krishna appeared most brilliant, like an exquisite sapphire in the midst of golden ornaments.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > pâda-nyâsair bhuja-vidhutibhih sa-smitair bhrû-vilâsair

> > bhajyan madhyais' cala-kuca-pathaih kundalair ganda-lolaih

> > svidyan-mukhyah kavara-rasanâgranthayah krishna-vadhvo

> > gâyantyas tam tadita iva tâ megha-cakre virejuh

> > pâda - of their feet; nyâsaih - by the placement; bhuja - of their hands; vidhutibhih - by the gestures; sa-smitaih - smiling; bhrû - of their eyebrows; vilâsaih - by the playful movements; bhajyan - bending; madhyaih - by their middles; cala - moving; kuca - covering their breasts; pathaih - by the cloths; kundalaih - by their earrings; ganda - on their cheeks; lolaih - rolling; svidyan - perspiring; mukhyah - whose faces; kavara - the braids of their hair; rasanâ - and their belts; âgranthayah - having tightly tied; krishna-vadhvah - the consorts of Lord Krishna; gâyantyah - singing; tam - about Him; taditah - bolts of lightning; iva - as if; tâh - they; megha-cakre - in a range of clouds; virejuh - shone.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As the gopîs sang in praise of Krishna, their feet danced, their hands gestured, and their eyebrows moved with playful smiles. With their braids and belts tied tight, their waists bending, their faces perspiring, the garments on their breasts moving this way and that, and their earrings swinging on their cheeks, Lord Krishna's young consorts shone like streaks of lightning in a mass of clouds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > uccair jagur nrityamânâ

> > rakta-kanthhyo rati-priyâh

> > krishnâbhimars'a-muditâ

> > yad-gîtenedam âvritam

> > uccaih - loudly; jaguh - they sang; nrityamânâh - while dancing; rakta - colored; kanthhyah - their throats; rati - conjugal enjoyment; priyâh - dedicated to; krishna- abhimars'a - by the touch of Lord Krishna; muditâh - joyful; yat - whose; gîtena - by the singing; idam - this entire universe; âvritam - is pervaded.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Eager to enjoy conjugal love, their throats colored with various pigments, the gopîs sang loudly and danced. They were overjoyed by Krishna's touch, and they sang songs that filled the entire universe.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > kâcit samam mukundena

> > svara-jâtîr amis'ritâh

> > unninye pûjitâ tena

> > prîyatâ sâdhu sâdhv iti

> > tad eva dhruvam unninye

> > tasyai mânam ca bahv adât

> > kâcit - a certain gopî; samam - together; mukundena - with Lord Krishna; svara- jâtîh - pure musical tones; amis'ritâh - not confused with the sounds vibrated by Krishna; unninye - she raised; pûjitâ - honored; tena - by Him; prîyatâ - who was pleased; sâdhu sâdhu iti - saying, "excellent, excellent"; tat eva - that same (melody); dhruvam - with a particular metrical pattern; unninye - vibrated (another gopî); tasyai - to her; mânam - special respect; ca - and; bahu - much; adât - He gave .

> > TRANSLATION

> > One gopî, joining Lord Mukunda in His singing, sang pure melodious tones that rose harmoniously above His. Krishna was pleased and showed great appreciation for her performance, saying "Excellent! Excellent!" Then another gopî repeated the same melody, but in a special metrical pattern, and Krishna praised her also.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > kâcid râsa-paris'rântâ

> > pârs'va-sthasya gadâ-bhritah

> > jagrâha bâhunâ skandham

> > s'lathad-valaya-mallikâ

> > kâcit - a certain gopî; râsa - by the râsa dance; paris'rântâ - fatigued; pârs'va - at Her side; sthasya - who was standing; gadâ-bhritah - of Lord Krishna, holding a baton; jagrâha - took hold of; bâhunâ - with Her arm; skandham - the shoulder; s'lathat - loosening; valaya - Her bracelets; mallikâ - and the flowers (in Her hair).

> > TRANSLATION

> > When one gopî grew tired from the râsa dance, She turned to Krishna, standing at Her side holding a baton, and grasped His shoulder with Her arm. The dancing had loosened Her bracelets and the flowers in Her hair.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > tatraikâmsa-gatam bâhum

> > krishnasyotpala-saurabham

> > candanâliptam âghrâya

> > hrishtha-româ cucumba ha

> > tatra - there; ekâ - one (gopî); amsa - upon her shoulder; gatam - placed; bâhum - the arm; krishnasya - of Lord Krishna; utpala - like a blue lotus; saurabham - the fragrance of which; candana - with sandalwood pulp; âliptam - smeared; âghrâya - smelling; hrishtha - standing on end; româ - her bodily hairs; cucumba ha - she kissed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon the shoulder of one gopî Krishna placed His arm, whose natural blue- lotus fragrance was mixed with that of the sandalwood pulp anointing it. As the gopî relished that fragrance, her bodily hair stood on end in jubilation, and she kissed His arm.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > kasyâs'cin nâthya-vikshipta

> > kundala-tvisha-manditam

> > gandam gande sandadhatyâh

> > prâdât tâmbûla-carvitam

> > kasyâs'cit - to a certain gopî; nâthya - by the dancing; vikshipta - shaken; kundala - whose earrings; tvisha - with the glitter; manditam - adorned; gandam - her cheek; gande - next to His cheek; sandadhatyâh - who was placing; prâdât - He carefully gave; tâmbûla - the betel nut; carvitam - chewed .

> > TRANSLATION

> > Next to Krishna's cheek one gopî put her own, beautified by the effulgence of her earrings, which glittered as she danced. Krishna then carefully gave her the betel nut He was chewing.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > nrityatî gâyatî kâcit

> > kûjan nûpura-mekhalâ

> > pârs'va-sthâcyuta-hastâbjam

> > s'rântâdhât stanayoh s'ivam

> > nrityatî - dancing; gâyatî - singing; kâcit - a certain gopî; kûjan - murmuring; nûpura - her ankle bells; mekhalâ - and her belt; pârs'va-stha - standing at her side; acyuta - of Lord Krishna; hasta-abjam - the lotus hand; s'rântâ - feeling tired; adhât - placed; stanayoh - upon her breasts; s'ivam - pleasing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Another gopî became fatigued as she danced and sang, the bells on her ankles and waist tinkling. So she placed upon her breasts the comforting lotus hand of Lord Acyuta, who was standing by her side.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > gopyo labdhvâcyutam kântam

> > s'riya ekânta-vallabham

> > grihîta-kanthhyas tad-dorbhyâm

> > gâyantyas tam vijahrire

> > gopyah - the gopîs; labdhvâ - having attained; acyutam - the infallible Lord; kântam - as their lover; s'riyah - of the goddess of fortune; ekânta - the exclusive; vallabham - lover; grihîta - held; kanthhyah - their necks; tat - His; dorbhyâm - by the arms; gâyantyah - singing; tam - about Him; vijahrire - they took pleasure.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having attained as their intimate lover Lord Acyuta, the exclusive consort of the goddess of fortune, the gopîs enjoyed great pleasure. They sang His glories as He held their necks with His arms.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > karnotpalâlaka-vithanka-kapola-gharma-

> > vaktra-s'riyo valaya-nûpura-ghosha-vâdyaih

> > gopyah samam bhagavatâ nanrituh sva-kes'a-

> > srasta-srajo bhramara-gâyaka-râsa-goshthhyâm

> > karna - upon their ears; utpala - with the lotus flowers; alaka - by locks of their hair; vitanka - decorated; kapola - their cheeks; gharma - with perspiration; vaktra - of their faces; s'riyah - the beauty; valaya - of their armlets; nûpura - and ankle bells; ghosha - of the reverberation; vâdyaih - with the musical sound; gopyah - the gopîs; samam - together; bhagavatâ - with the Personality of Godhead; nanrituh - danced; sva - their own; kes'a - from the hair; srasta - scattered; srajah - the garlands; bhramara - the bees; gâyaka - singers; râsa - of the râsa dance; goshthhyâm - in the assembly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Enhancing the beauty of the gopîs' faces were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of perspiration. The reverberation of their armlets and ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their chaplets scattered. Thus the gopîs danced with the Supreme Lord in the arena of the râsa dance as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > evam parishvanga-karâbhimars'a-

> > snigdhekshanoddâma-vilâsa-hâsaih

> > reme rames'o vraja-sundarîbhir

> > yathârbhakah sva-pratibimba-vibhramah

> > evam - thus; parishvanga - with embracing; kara - by His hand; abhimars'a - with touching; snigdha - affectionate; îkshana - with glances; uddâma - broad; vilâsa - playful; hâsaih - with smiles; reme - He took pleasure; ramâ - of the goddess of fortune; îs'ah - the master; vraja-sundarîbhih - with the young women of the cowherd community; yathâ - just as; arbhakah - a boy; sva - His own; pratibimba - with the reflection; vibhramah - whose playing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way Lord Krishna, the original Lord Nârâyana, master of the goddess of fortune, took pleasure in the company of the young women of Vraja by embracing them, caressing them and glancing lovingly at them as He smiled His broad, playful smiles. It was just as if a child were playing with his own reflection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > tad-anga-sanga-pramudâkulendriyâh

> > kes'ân dukûlam kuca-paththikâm vâ

> > nân'jah prativyodhum alam vraja-striyo

> > visrasta-mâlâbharanâh kurûdvaha

> > tat - with Him; anga-sanga - from the bodily contact; pramudâ - by the joy; âkula - overflowing; indriyâh - whose senses; kes'ân - their hair; dukûlam - dresses; kuca-paththikâm - the garments covering their breasts; vâ - or; na - not; an'jah - easily; prativyodhum - to keep properly arranged; alam - capable; vraja-striyah - the women of Vraja; visrasta - scattered; mâlâ - their flower garlands; âbharanâh - and ornaments; kuru-udvaha - O most eminent member of the Kuru dynasty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Their senses overwhelmed by the joy of having His physical association, the gopîs could not prevent their hair, their dresses and the cloths covering their breasts from becoming disheveled. Their garlands and ornaments scattered, O hero of the Kuru dynasty.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > krishna-vikrîditam vîkshya

> > mumuhuh khe-cara-striyah

> > kâmârditâh s'as'ânkas' ca

> > sa-gano vismito 'bhavat

> > krishna-vikrîditam - the playing of' Krishna; vîkshya - seeing; mumuhuh - -became entranced; khe-cara - traveling in the sky; striyah - the women (demigoddesses); kâma - by lusty desires; arditâh - agitated; s'as'ânkah - the moon; ca - also; sa-ganah - with his followers, the stars; vismitah - amazed; abhavat - became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The wives of the demigods, observing Krishna's playful activities from their airplanes, were entranced and became agitated with lust. Indeed, even the moon and his entourage, the stars, became astonished.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > kritvâ tâvantam âtmânam

> > yâvatîr gopa-yoshitah

> > reme sa bhagavâms tâbhir

> > âtmârâmo 'pi lîlayâ

> > kritvâ - making; tâvantam - expanded that many times; âtmânam - Himself; yâvatîh - as many as; gopa-yoshitah - cowherd women; reme - enjoyed; sah - He; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; tâbhih - with them; âtma-ârâmah - self-satisfied; api - although; lîlayâ - as a pastime.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Expanding Himself us many times as there were cowherd women to associate with, the Supreme Lord, though self-satisfied, playfully enjoyed their company.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > tâsâm rati-vihârena

> > s'rântânâm vadanâni sah

> > prâmrijat karunah premnâ

> > s'antamenânga pâninâ

> > tâsâm - of them, the gopîs; rati - of conjugal love; vihârena - by the enjoyment; s'rântânâm - who were fatigued; vadanâni - the faces; sah - He; prâmrijat - wiped; karunah - merciful; premnâ - lovingly; s'antamena - most comforting; anga - my dear (King Parîkchit); pâninâ - with His hand.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing that the gopîs were fatigued from conjugal enjoyment, my dear King, merciful Krishna lovingly wiped their faces with His comforting hand.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > gopyah sphurat-puratha-kundala-kuntala-tvid-

> > ganda-s'riyâ sudhita-hâsa-nirîkshanena

> > mânam dadhatya rishabhasya jaguh kritâni

> > punyâni tat-kara-ruha-spars'a-pramodâh

> > gopyah - the gopîs; sphurat - shining; puratha - golden; kundala - of their earrings; kuntala - and of the locks of their hair; tvith - of the effulgence; ganda - of their cheeks; s'riyâ - by the beauty; sudhita - made nectarean; hâsa - smiling; nirîkshanena - by their glances; mânam - honor; dadhatyah - giving; rishabhasya - of their hero; jaguh - they sang; kritâni - the activities; punyâni - auspicious; tat - His; kara-ruha - of the fingernails; spars'a - by the touch; pramodâh - greatly pleased.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The gopîs honored their hero with smiling glances sweetened by the beauty of their cheeks and the effulgence of their curly locks and glittering golden earrings. Overjoyed from the touch of His fingernails, they chanted the glories of His all-auspicious transcendental pastimes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > tâbhir yutah s'ramam apohitum anga-sanga-

> > ghrishtha-srajah sa kuca-kunkuma-ran'jitâyâh

> > gandharva-pâlibhir anudruta âvis'ad vâh

> > s'rânto gajîbhir ibha-râd iva bhinna-setuh

> > tâbhih - by them; yutah - accompanied; s'ramam - fatigue; apohitum - to dispel; anga- sanga - by their conjugal association; ghrishtha - crushed; srajah - whose garland; sah - He; kuca - from their breasts; kunkuma - of the vermilion powder; ran'jitâyâh - which was smeared by the color; gandharva-pa - (who appeared like) leaders of the heavenly singers; alibhih - by bees; anudrutah - swiftly followed; âvis'at - He entered; vâh - the water; s'rântah - tired; gajîbhih - together with His female elephant consorts; ibha-râth - a lordly elephant; iva - as; bhinna - having broken; setuh - the walls of a paddy field.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Krishna's garland had been crushed during His conjugal dalliance with the gopîs and colored vermilion by the kunkuma powder on their breasts. To dispel the fatigue of the gopîs, Krishna entered the water of the Yamunâ, followed swiftly by bees who were singing like the best of the Gandharvas. He appeared like a lordly elephant entering the water to relax in the company of his consorts. Indeed, the Lord had transgressed all worldly and Vedic morality just as a powerful elephant might break the dikes in a paddy field.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > so 'mbhasy alam yuvatibhih parishicyamânah

> > premnekshitah prahasatîbhir itas tato 'nga

> > vaimânikaih kusuma-varshibhir îdyamâno

> > reme svayam sva-ratir atra gajendra-lîlah

> > sah - He; ambhasi - in the water; alam - very much; yuvatibhih - by the girls; parishicyamânah - being splashed; premnâ - with love; îkshitah - glanced upon; prahasatîbhih - by them, who were laughing; itah tatah - here and there; anga - my dear King; vaimânikaih - by those traveling in their airplanes; kusuma - flowers; varshibhih - who were raining down; îdyamânah - being worshiped; reme - enjoyed; svayam - personally; sva-ratih - satisfied within Himself; atra - here; gaja-indra - of a king of the elephants; lîlah - whose playing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, in the water Krishna found Himself being splashed on all sides by the laughing gopîs, who looked at Him with love. As the demigods worshiped Him by showering flowers from their airplanes, the self-satisfied Lord took pleasure in playing like the king of the elephants.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > tatas' ca krishnopavane jala-sthala

> > prasûna-gandhânila-jushtha-dik-tathe

> > cacâra bhringa-pramadâ-ganâvrito

> > yathâ mada-cyud dviradah karenubhih

> > tatah - then; ca - and; krishnâ - of the river Yamunâ; upavane - in a small forest; jala - of the water; sthala - and the land; prasûna - of flowers; gandha - with the fragrance; anila - by the wind; jushtha - joined; dik-tathe - the edges of the directions; cacâra - He passed; bhringa - of bees; pramadâ - and women; gana - by the groups; âvritah - surrounded; yathâ - just as; mada-cyut - exuding a secretion from its forehead because of excitement; dviradah - an elephant; karenubhih - with his she-elephants.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then the Lord strolled through a small forest on the bank of the Yamunâ. This forest was filled to its limits with breezes carrying the fragrances of all the flowers growing on the land and in the water. Followed by His entourage of bees and beautiful women, Lord Krishna appeared like an intoxicated elephant with his she-elephants.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > evam s'as'ânkâms'u-virâjitâ nis'âh

> > sa satya-kâmo 'nuratâbalâ-ganah

> > sisheva âtmany avaruddha-sauratah

> > sarvâh s'arat-kâvya-kathâ-rasâs'rayâh

> > evam - in this manner; s'as'ânka - of the moon; ams'u - by the rays; virâjitâh - made brilliant; nis'âh - the nights; sah - He; satya-kâmah - whose desires are always fulfilled; anurata - constantly attached to Him abalâ-ganah - His many girlfriends; sisheve - He utilized; âtmani - within Himself; avaruddha - reserved; sauratah - conjugal feelings; sarvâh - all (the nights); s'arat - of the autumn; kâvya - poetic; kathâ - of narrations; rasa - of the transcendental moods; âs'rayâh - the repositories.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although the gopîs were firmly attached to Lord Krishna, whose desires are always fulfilled, the Lord was not internally affected by any mundane sex desire. Still, to perform His pastimes the Lord took advantage of all those moonlit autumn nights, which inspire poetic descriptions of transcendental affairs.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 27 - 28

> > s'rî-parîkshid uvâca

> > samsthâpanâya dharmasya

> > pras'amâyetarasya ca

> > avatîrno hi bhagavân

> > ams'ena jagad-îs'varah

> > sa katham dharma-setûnâm

> > vaktâ kartâbhirakshitâ

> > pratîpam âcarad brahman

> > para-dârâbhimars'anam

> > s'rî-parîkshit uvâca - S'rî Parîkchit Mahârâja said; samsthâpanâya - for the establishment; dharmasya - of religious principles; pras'amâya - for the subduing; itarasya - of the opposite; ca - and; avatîrnah - descended (upon this earth); hi - indeed; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ams'ena - with His plenary expansion (S'rî Balarâma); jagat - of the entire universe; îs'varah - the Lord;

> > sah - He; katham - how; dharma-setûnâm - of the restrictive codes of moral behavior; vaktâ - the original speaker; kartâ - the executor; abhirakshitâ - the protector; pratîpam - contrary; âcarat - behaved; brahman - O brâhmana, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî; para - of others; dâra - the wives; abhimars'anam - touching.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Parîkchit Mahârâja said: O brâhmana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, has descended to this earth along with His plenary portion to destroy irreligion and reestablish religious principles. Indeed, He is the original speaker, follower and guardian of moral laws. How, then, could He have violated them by touching other men's wives?

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > âpta-kâmo yadu-patih

> > kritavân vai jugupsitam

> > kim-abhiprâya etan nah

> > s'ams'ayam chindhi su-vrata

> > âpta-kâmah - self-satisfied; yadu-patih - the master of the Yadu dynasty; kritavân - has performed; vai - certainly ; jugupsitam - that which is contemptible; kim-abhiprâyah - with what intent; etat - this; nah - our; s'ams'ayam - doubt; chindhi - please cut; su-vrata - O faithful upholder of vows .

> > TRANSLATION

> > O faithful upholder of vows, please destroy our doubt by explaining to us what purpose the self-satisfied Lord of the Yadus had in mind when He behaved so contemptibly.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > dharma-vyatikramo drishtha

> > îs'varânâm ca sâhasam

> > tejîyasâm na doshâya

> > vahneh sarva-bhujo yathâ

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; dharma-vyatikramah - the transgression of religious or moral principles; drishthah - seen; îs'varânâm - of powerful controllers; ca - even; sâhasam - due to audacity; tejîyasâm - who are spiritually potent; na - does not; doshâya - (lead) to any fault; vahneh - of fire; sarva - everything; bhujah - devouring; yathâ - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: The status of powerful controllers is not harmed by any apparently audacious transgression of morality we may see in them, for they are just like fire, which devours everything fed into it and remains unpolluted.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > naitat samâcarej jâtu

> > manasâpi hy anîs'varah

> > vinas'yaty âcaran maudhyâd

> > yathârudro 'bdhi-jam visham

> > na - not; etat - this; samâcaret - should perform; jâtu - ever; manasâ - with the mind; api - even; hi - certainly; anîs'varah - one who is not a controller; vinas'yati - he is destroyed; âcaran - acting; maudhyât - out of foolishness; yathâ - as; arudrah - one who is not Lord Rudra; abdhijam - generated from the ocean; visham - poison.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who is not a great controller should never imitate the behavior of ruling personalities, even mentally. If out of foolishness an ordinary person does imitate such behavior, he will simply destroy himself, just as a person who is not Rudra would destroy himself if he tried to drink an ocean of poison.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > îs'varânâm vacah satyam

> > tathaivâcaritam kvacit

> > teshâm yat sva-vaco-yuktam

> > buddhimâms tat samâcaret

> > îs'varânâm - of the Lord's empowered servants; vacah - the words; satyam - true; tathâ eva - also; âcaritam - what they do; kvacit - sometimes; teshâm - of them; yat - which; sva-vacah - with their own words; yuktam - in agreement; buddhi- mân - one who is intelligent; tat - that; samâcaret - should perform.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The statements of the Lord's empowered servants are always true, and the acts they perform are exemplary when consistent with those statements. Therefore one who is intelligent should carry out their instructions.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > kus'alâcaritenaishâm

> > iha svârtho na vidyate

> > viparyayena vânartho

> > nirahankârinâm prabho

> > kus'ala - pious; âcaritena - by activity; eshâm - for them; iha - in this world; sva- arthah - selfish benefit; na vidyate - does not accrue; viparyayena - by the opposite; vâ - or; anarthah - undesirable reactions; nirahankârinâm - who are free from false ego; prabho - my dear sir.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Prabhu, when these great persons who are free from false ego act piously in this world, they have no selfish motives to fulfill, and even when they act in apparent contradiction to the laws of piety, they are not subject to sinful reactions.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > kim utâkhila-sattvânâm

> > tiryan-martya-divaukasâm

> > îs'itus' ces'itavyânâm

> > kus'alâkus'alânvayah

> > kim uta - what to speak then; akhila - of all; sattvânâm - created beings; tiryak - animals; martya - humans; diva-okasâm - and inhabitants of heaven; îs'utuh - for the controller; ca - and; îs'itavyânâm - of those who are controlled; kus'ala - with piety; akus'ala - and impiety; anvayah - causal connection.

> > TRANSLATION

> > How, then, could the Lord of all created beings - animals, men and demigods - have any connection with the piety and impiety that affect His subject creatures?

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > yat-pâda-pankaja-parâga-nisheva-triptâ

> > yoga-prabhâva-vidhutâkhila-karma-bandhâh

> > svairam caranti munayo 'pi na nahyamânâs

> > tasyecchayâtta-vapushah kuta eva bandhah

> > yat - whose; pâda-pankaja - of the lotus feet; parâga - of the dust; nisheva - by the service; triptâh - satisfied; yoga-prabhâva - by the power of yoga; vidhuta - washed away; akhila - all; karma - of fruitive activity; bandhâh - whose bondage; svairam - freely; caranti - they act; munayah - wise sages; api - also; na - never; nahyamânâh - becoming bound up; tasya - of Him; icchayâ - by His desire; âtta - accepted; vapushah - transcendental bodies; kutah - where; eva - indeed; bandhah - bondage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Material activities never entangle the devotees of the Supreme Lord, who are fully satisfied by serving the dust of His lotus feet. Nor do material activities entangle those intelligent sages who have freed themselves from the bondage of all fruitive reactions by the power of yoga. So how could there be any question of bondage for the Lord Himself, who assumes His transcendental forms according to His own sweet will?

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > gopînâm tat-patînâm ca

> > sarveshâm eva dehinâm

> > yo 'ntas' carati so 'dhyakshah

> > krîdaneneha deha-bhâk

> > gopînâm - of the gopîs; tat-patînâm - of their husbands; ca - and; sarveshâm - of all; eva - indeed; dehinâm - embodied living beings; yah - who; antah - within; carati - lives; sah - He; adhyakshah - the overseeing witness; krîdanena - for sport; iha - in this world; deha - His form; bhâk - assuming.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He who lives as the overseeing witness within the gopîs and their husbands, and indeed within all embodied living beings, assumes forms in this world to enjoy transcendental pastimes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > anugrahâya bhaktânâm

> > mânusham deham âsthitah

> > bhajate tâdris'îh krîda

> > yâh s'rutvâ tat-paro bhavet

> > anugrahâya - to show mercy; bhaktânâm - to His devotees; mânusham - humanlike; deham - a body; âsthitah - assuming; bhajate - He accepts; tâdris'îh - such; kridâh - pastimes; yâh - about which; s'rutvâ - hearing; tat-parah - dedicated to Him; bhavet - one becomes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the Lord assumes a humanlike body to show mercy to His devotees, He engages in such pastimes as will attract those who hear about them to become dedicated to Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > nâsûyan khalu krishnâya

> > mohitâs tasya mâyayâ

> > manyamânâh sva-pârs'va-sthân

> > svân svân dârân vrajaukasah

> > na asûyan - were not jealous; khalu - even; krishnâya - against Krishna; mohitâh - bewildered; tasya - His; mâyayâ - by the spiritual potency of illusion; manyamânâh - thinking; sva-pârs'va - at their own sides; sthân - standing; svân svân - each their own; dârân - wives; vraja-okasah - the cowherd men of Vraja.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The cowherd men, bewildered by Krishna's illusory potency, thought their wives had remained home at their sides. Thus they did not harbor any jealous feelings against Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > brahma-râtra upâvritte

> > vâsudevânumoditâh

> > anicchantyo yayur gopyah

> > sva-grihân bhagavat-priyâh

> > brahma-râtre - the nighttime of Brahmâ; upâvritte - being completed; vâsudeva - by Lord Krishna; anumoditâh - advised; anicchantyah - unwilling; yayuh - went; gopyah - the gopîs; sva-grihân - to their homes; bhagavat - of the Supreme Lord; priyâh - the dear consorts.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After an entire night of Brahmâ had passed, Lord Krishna advised the gopîs to return to their homes. Although they did not wish to do so, the Lord's beloved consorts complied with His command.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > vikrîditam vraja-vadhûbhir idam ca vishnoh

> > s'raddhânvito 'nus'rinuyâd atha varnayed yah

> > bhaktim parâm bhagavati pratilabhya kâmam

> > hrid-rogam âs'v apahinoty acirena dhîrah

> > vikrîditam - the sporting; vraja-vadhûbhih - with the young women of Vrindâvana; idam - this; ca - and; vishnoh - by Lord Vishnu; s'raddhâ-anvitah - faithfully; anus'rinuyât - hears; atha - or; varnayet - describes; yah - who; bhaktim - devotional service; parâm - transcendental; bhagavati - unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pratilabhya - obtaining; kâmam - material lust; hrit - in the heart; rogam - the disease; as'u - quickly; apahinoti - he drives away; acirena - without delay; dhîrah - sober.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Anyone who faithfully hears or describes the Lord's playful affairs with the young gopîs of Vrindâvana will attain the Lord's pure devotional service. Thus he will quickly become sober and conquer lust, the disease of the heart.

> > Back to the running text