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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 8, 2021 3:42:34 GMT -6
SB.X.47.19-21
As the hunter with sweet music deceives The black buck's consort deadly wound receives; We took as truth his sweet words as he smiled, And we were captivated and beguiled; Even so Cupid with torment assails, When he would scratch us with his fingernails. Therefore, faithful messenger and envoy, On other topics now your speech employ! 19
(Seeing that the bee flew away for a moment and then returns)
What! O dear friend you have come back again, Has my beloved sent you to explain? I honour you and reverence convey, What is it that you have come here to say? O gentle one, how would you take us there, When he is seated by his consort fair? Who always keeps her in his arms compressed, And she always reclines upon his chest. 20
Alas, O gentle one. Oh woe betide! In Madhu city Nanda's son doth bide; Doth he recall his father's household here? Doth he recall the cowherds, his friends dear? Doth he recall his maidservants, and thus, Sometime find occasion to talk of us? When will he place his hand upon our head, Which doth the fragrance of Aguru shed? 21
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 8, 2021 12:26:30 GMT -6
SB.X.47.22-25
(Sri Suka said) Now Uddhava when hearing all this knew Their eager longing for Krishna to view; He gave them assurances and consoled, And their beloved's message to them told. 22
(Sri Uddhava said) Oh wondrous! ye have reaped the full reward, Supreme perfection, by the world adored; Since ye have dedicated and consigned To Almighty Vasudeva your mind. 23
By vows and sacrifice and charity, By chanting, study and austerity, And other good deeds piously maintained, The love for Lord Krishna can be attained. 24
But ye have an exalted state achieved, In the exclusive love ye have conceived, For Uttama-sloka, and have made plain Perfection that sages can hardly gain. 25
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 9, 2021 13:20:19 GMT -6
Continuing SB.X.47.26-28. Uddhava to the cowherd damsels.
It is the greatest fortune I declare, That lords, sons, body, and home ye forswear; And have chosen the Supreme male adored, Called Krishna, and have taken him as Lord. 26
Ye have attained, wholehearted and complete, Adhoksaja's favour with love replete, By showing me your love's perplexity, O blessed ones! ye have shown grace to me. 27
Now hearken to his message and envoy, A love letter dispatched to bring you joy. O blessed ones, I shall the same declare, Who am his confidential minister. 28
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 10, 2021 4:12:01 GMT -6
SB.X.47.29-33. Uddhava begins to convey Krishna's message to the cowherd damsels.
(The Illustrious one said;) O dear ones, we can never be apart, I am the self in every creatures heart; As sky, air, fire, water, earth beside, Subsist in their evolutes and abide., So mind, senses and breath I permeate, I am of the attributes the substrate. 29
Within myself I create and sustain, Within myself I withdraw all again; Within my Maya power all exist, I am the self in whom gunas subsist. 30
The self is full of consciousness refined, Distinct, and by the gunas unconfined; But the self deluded of faculties, With sleep, dream, and waking identifies. 31
Just as the man awakening is seen, To undergo sublation of his dream. Therefore, the vigilant with mind and soul, Should practice self-restraint and sense-control. 32
This is the consummation of the wise, Of study, yoga and austerities, Renunciation, truth and charity, As rivers disembogue into the sea. 33
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 10, 2021 5:23:05 GMT -6
SB.X.47.34-38, concluding Krishna's message conveyed by Uddhava.
Far distant now I from your sight remain, That you may deep contemplation attain; And thus attract your mind exclusively, And augment your fond affection for me. 34
When a damsel's beloved is away, She thinks on him intently every way; More so than when her beloved is nigh, And present before her observing eye. 35
Now you have invested your mind in me, And from the diverse faculties are free; Constant recollection of me maintain, And soon I will be with you once again. 36
Those damsels who could not egress contrive, Nor at the night Rasa dancing arrive; Those blessed ones contemplation maintained, Enamoured of my deeds, and me attained. 37
(Sri Suka said;) Vraja's damsels when the message had heard, Were consoled and with admiration stirred; Their beloved's counsel put them at ease, Then spoke to Uddhava in words like these. 38
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 10, 2021 8:40:14 GMT -6
SB.X.47.39-42
(The cowherd damsels said) 'Tis fortunate that Kamsa has been slain With all his kin, who gave the Yadus pain; 'Tis fortunate, fulfilled Acyuta lives, Surrounded now by his fond relatives. 39
O gentle one, does Gada's elder now His love for the fair city women show? That love was meant for us, but with their wiles, With bashful glances and generous smiles, He has become the city women's Lord, And is now by their fond glances adored. 40
How now! in fine arts of amorous play, The city women over him hold sway, With their gestures and talks of love profound, He must be by their fond affection bound. 41
Does Govinda recall, O pious one, Do we come up in his conversation? Does he with the city damsels discus The subject of mere village girls like us? 42
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 10, 2021 11:51:30 GMT -6
ŚB X.47.43-45
Does he recall those pleasant moonlit nights, In Vrindavan, with us, in vast delights? Where lilies and jessamine sweets convey, And the moon shed his cool and balmy ray; Where in the Rasa dancing, circling round, The chiming of ankle bells did resound; And as we did the deep forest traverse, We sang his praises in exquisite verse. 43
Will Dasarha ever come here again, To us tormented with sorrow and pain? Will he revive us, and misery end, With his touch, as when Indra's rains descend. 44
But wherefore should Krishna come here again, Who has attained kingdom and his foes slain? There he with friends affectionate abides, Surrounded by a throng of princess brides. 45
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 10, 2021 13:50:43 GMT -6
SB.X.47.46-52
For the Great one, husband of Goddess Shri, What are mere rustic damsels such as we? Who could serve his purpose who is self-willed, Complete and perfect in himself fulfilled? 46
Indeed, happiness is hopes to forsake, As once Pingala the courtesan spake; Albeit of this truth we are aware, Fond hopes for Krishna we cannot forswear. 47
Who could from sweet conversation refrain With Uttama-sloka, of worthy fame? Though he care not, the Goddess Shri still cleaves And always clings to him and never leaves. 48
When Krishna and Sankarshana were here, They tended herds of kine, O master dear, They played upon their flutes and wandered round, The rivers and the hills and pasture ground. 49
All these awaken deep recollection, Of the cowherd chief Nanda's darling son; His footprints marking the ground here and there, Will not let us forget him or forswear. 50
Oh! how can we forget his charming ways, His smiling glance that playful art displays, His honeyed speech expressive of love's wiles, Subdued our hearts attended with his smiles. 51
O Lord! O Lord of Rama, Goddess fair! O Vraja's Lord! remover of despair! O dear Govinda uplift from the brink Of sorrow in which Gokula doth sink. 52
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 11, 2021 4:44:53 GMT -6
SB.X.47.53-57
(Sri Suka said) Thus hearing of Krishna's secret message, Their fever of severance did assuage; They honoured Uddhava with worship due, Whom as Adhoksaja himself they knew. 53
There for a few more months he did remain, And dispelled all the cowherd damsel's pain, And songs of Krishna's exploits did recite, And filled all Gokula with pure delight. 54
So long as Uddhava was resident In Nanda-gopa's cowherd settlement, For the cowherds it seemed a moment's time, Absorbed in accounts of Krishna sublime. 55
He saw the rivers, forests, hills and vales, Flowers, at which Hari's servant regales; In the cowherds inspired memory, Reminding them of Krishna constantly. 56
Thus Uddhava was fortunate to see, The cowherd damsel's fond anxiety, He made for them of praise an offering, And with respect Uddhava gan to sing. 57
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 11, 2021 7:28:54 GMT -6
SB.X.47.58-61. Here begins Uddhava's encomium. The text does not have 'Uddhava said' because the preceding verse intimated the same.
Among all living beings incarnate, These cowherd dames have gained the supreme state, The highest ecstasy that can be gained, In Govinda, the All-soul, have attained; The transcendental object of desire, To which the fearful in this world aspire, Which sages, and ourselves, would fain acquire. Sans talks on Ananta, what is the worth Of noble pedigree or brahman birth? 58
Where are these dames that roam the forest round, Of loose morals, and where such love profound, For Krishna in such sentiment extreme, Who is the divine Lord and soul supreme? Certes for one who worships constantly The Lord shows grace, though ignorant he be, As medicine to the patient bestows A cure, though of its virtue little knows. 59
Nor Shri, his consort who dwells on his chest, Nor lotus scented nymphs of heaven blest, And what of others, how may they compare, In their fortunes, with the attainment rare? These while in festive Rasa dancing paced, They were by his serpentine arms embraced; These lovesome damsels of Vraja have won Perfection and the rarest benison. 60
They have forsaken home and family, Transgressed the principles of chastity, Which is attended with hardship and pain, The shelter of Mukunda's feet to gain. Which the scriptures themselves whom others teach, Still find the object far beyond their reach. Let me be born a bush, or vine, or shrub, That me with their dusty feet they may rub. 61
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 11, 2021 12:44:06 GMT -6
SB.X.47.62-69. Concluding Uddhava's speech.
Indeed, he is adored by Goddess Shri, Birthless Brahma worships his dignity, The masters of yoga power refined, Can only contemplate him in the mind; But Lord Krishna his lotus-feet did press Upon their breasts, assuaging hot distress. 62
I bow in the dust of the holy feet Of Vraja's damsels and for grace entreat; By whom Hari in song is glorified, And the three worlds are cleansed and purified. 63
(Sri Suka said) Now from the cowherd dames he took his leave, Did Nanda and Yashoda's grace receive, And as the cowherds did farewell convey, Dasarha clomb his car to ride away, 64
But as he was thence about to depart, The cowherds brought in hand gifts to impart; Nanda with affection as tears forth broke, Then with the other cowherds to him spoke. 65
May our mental faculties be consigned, And unto Krishna's lotus-feet resigned, May our bodies to him prostrate remain, And may our words express his holy name. 66
Though in this world inured to wander still, Wherever as the Almighty doth will, May worship, gifts, our holy sacrament, Fond attachment for Lord Krishna augment. 67
Thus having honoured him, the cowherds there, O king, their love for Krishna did declare; Again to Mathura Uddhava hied, Where Krishna was the guardian and guide. 68
There at Krishna's feet he prostration made, The cowherds messages and love conveyed, To Rama and Vasudeva did bring, Gifts and fine presentations for the king. 69
Here ends canto forty seven in book ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, the text beloved of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 11, 2021 15:23:47 GMT -6
If the five cantos of the Rasa Lila are supposed to represent the five vital airs of the corpus/body of the Bhagavata, I wonder what might be said of cantos 46-47. The heart and soul maybe.
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 28, 2021 5:44:17 GMT -6
A couple of stanzas from Book three.
ŚB 3.22.37 शारीरा मानसा दिव्या वैयासे ये च मानुषा: । भौतिकाश्च कथं क्लेशा बाधन्ते हरिसंश्रयम् ॥ ३७ ॥ śārīrā mānasā divyā vaiyāse ye ca mānuṣāḥ bhautikāś ca kathaṁ kleśā bādhante hari-saṁśrayam
Maitreya to Vidura on the character of Svayambhuva Manu.
Nor body, nor destinies, nor the mind, Nor brute creations, no, nor humankind, Distress, O Vaiyasa*, a devotee; How can they suffer sheltered in Hari?
*Vidura, son of Vyasa
ŚB 3.25.25 सतां प्रसङ्गान्मम वीर्यसंविदो भवन्ति हृत्कर्णरसायना: कथा: । तज्जोषणादाश्वपवर्गवर्त्मनि श्रद्धा रतिर्भक्तिरनुक्रमिष्यति ॥ २५ ॥ satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati
Kapila to Devahuti.
In company of devotees proceeds Fond discourses on my heroic deeds; Accounts of which form sublime elixir, Delightsome to the heart and to the ear; The path of freedom is traversed with ease, And by progress, augmented by degrees, From loving faith to deep affinity, The aspirant attains love's ecstasy.
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 1, 2021 4:22:18 GMT -6
ŚB 11.2.42 भक्ति: परेशानुभवो विरक्ति- रन्यत्र चैष त्रिक एककाल: । प्रपद्यमानस्य यथाश्नत: स्यु- स्तुष्टि: पुष्टि: क्षुदपायोऽनुघासम् ॥ ४२ ॥ bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra caiṣa trika eka-kālaḥ prapadyamānasya yathāśnataḥ syus tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭiḥ kṣud-apāyo ’nu-ghāsam
Nava yogi, Kavi to Nimi raja.
For who these disciplines would fain pursue, At once, for certain, three effects ensue; Fond affection for the object adored, Direct perception of the Supreme Lord, And to other objects indifference. Following in due order and sequence, As one when eating is nourished and pleased, And hunger with each morsel is appeased.
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 12, 2021 23:51:22 GMT -6
न कामये नाथ तदप्यहं क्वचिन् न यत्र युष्मच्चरणाम्बुजासव: । महत्तमान्तर्हृदयान्मुखच्युतो विधत्स्व कर्णायुतमेष मे वर: ॥ २४ ॥ na kāmaye nātha tad apy ahaṁ kvacin na yatra yuṣmac-caraṇāmbujāsavaḥ mahattamāntar-hṛdayān mukha-cyuto vidhatsva karṇāyutam eṣa me varaḥ
Adiraja Prithu's prayer.
O Lord! for salvation I do not care At any time, if I cannot find there Your foot-nectar, distilled within the heart Of great ones, who then from their mouths impart; The blessing most worthy to me appears, Is that you grant to me millions of ears. (SB.4.20.24)
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