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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 13, 2020 12:26:23 GMT -6
Continuing SB X.XLI
The washerman's attendants in affright, Threw down their bundles and hastened their flight. Of the scattered garments strewn on the ground, Lord Achyuta took up the best he found. 38
Krishna and Sankarshan did then attire Their persons according to their desire; And all the other garments on the ground, Were picked up by the cowherd youths around. 39
Then a pious tailor with loving care, Drew forward to adorn the princely pair, And thus they were with varied garment dight, Of fine silk and ornaments shining bright. 40
Rama and Krishna thus appeared to view, In fine raiment contrasting with their hue, Like elephants adorned for festival, One shining fair, one dark and beautiful. 41
Propitiated thus, the mighty Lord, Granted sameness of form for his reward; And in this world strength, grace and affluence, Memory and capacity of sense. 42
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 0:25:47 GMT -6
SB X.XLI. 43-49
The noble youths proceeded on and came To the wreath weaver, Sudama by name, Who, rising up toward the brothers sped, And bowing, placed upon the ground his head. 43
He greeted them and brought a worthy seat, Water to rinse their hands and wash their feet; And worshipped with their friends, the noble pair, With wreaths, betel wraps, and unguent rare. 44
Sudama said, My birth is sanctified, My ancestral manes are purified; The gods and sages must be pleased with me, Since both of you afford high sanctity. 45
Ye both are Masters of the world indeed, The cause ultimate whence all things proceed, Who by thy emanated parts appear, Incarnate for the world's weal and welfare. 46
There is no respect of persons in thee, The well wisher who views all equally; In all thou dwellest indiscriminate, But with thy worshipper reciprocate. 47
Therefore, as servant I before ye stand, What would ye have me, issue thy command He is most fortunate in high degree, And blest, who has been commanded by thee. 48
Thus he, and understanding their intent, Sudama with affection did present, Fresh garlands of flowers of fragrance rare, And with honour adorned the princely pair. 49
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 2:34:12 GMT -6
Thus Krishna and Rama with their friends dear, Engarlanded, beautiful did appear; Those granters of boons, on him, bowing low, The choicest benedictions did bestow. 50
The first boon for which Sudama implored Was unwavering love for him, the Lord, The self of all; and then he also chose Amicable fraternity with those Devoted souls; and in the general, To entertain deep compassion for all. 51
Thus, on Sudama, his true worshipper, All those desired boons he did confer; And also granted wealth, vigour and fame, A fair increase and ever worthy name; And did also a handsome form impart, Then with his elder brother did depart. 52
Here endeth Canto forty one in Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, the text of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 4:10:57 GMT -6
Well, having sped Canto forty one, the next thing to do, I suppose is Canto forty two This Canto continues the narrative of Rama and Krishna's grand entry into Madhu Puri, viz. Mathura.
(Sri Suka said) Now Madhava espied as on he strode, A damsel with vessels on the King's road; With unguents and ointments of rare scent, She came, her body in three places bent; Although her face did not in beauty lack, She had a heapy hump upon her back. Then he, the yielder of joy and desire, With charming smiles did of her thus inquire. 1
Who art thou, sturdy thighed damsel most fair? Ah me! I see you carry perfumes there; For whom is it intended, beauteous? Methinks you should give some of it to us. And by this gift you will find very soon, The accomplishment of a mighty boon. 2
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 5:38:13 GMT -6
(The slave girl said) I am a serving maid, Oh handsome bright, Of king Kamsa, and as Trivakra hight; (Since as you may observe and plainly see, My body is deformed in places three) I varied ointments and perfumes distil The Bhoja's lord regards me for my skill; But one more worthy I could not conceive Than you, my Lord, this perfume to receive. 3
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 7:59:35 GMT -6
Continuing the episode of the hunch back damsel. SB.X.XLII.4-8
Enamoured of the sweetness of his mien, His smiling glances and his speech serene, With all her soul the pair she beautified, And thick scented paste on their limbs applied. 4
The brothers twain besmeared, appeared to view, With tints and dyes contrasting with their hue, Shining with lustre of beauty divine, Displaying thus their excellence sublime. 5
The Lord Supreme was pleased to show his grace, To the hump back damsel of lovely face, And determined to straighten her upright, And show what fruit is gained by his mere sight. 6
His feet upon her toes he firmly pressed, Her chin with his two fingers he compressed; And raising her, Achyuta, in delight, Lifted her chin and made her stand upright. 7
At Lord Mukunda's touch she did uprise, With symmetrical limbs and sturdy thighs, And with full milky fountain breasts became, A most accomplished and delightsome dame. 8
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 8:18:21 GMT -6
Now endued with grace, beauty and attire, She felt the shafts of amorous desire, And seizing on his cloth, her love expressed To keshava, and words like these addressed. 9
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 8:46:49 GMT -6
O come away, O noble hero, come, And let me welcome you in my own home, I cannot bear to leave you here, be kind, Since, best of men, you have captured my mind. 10
Entreated by the damsel thus for grace, Krishna observed the look on Rama's face; Who with the cowherds gazed on curious, Then Lord Krishna, smiling, addressed her thus. 11
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 14, 2020 14:03:18 GMT -6
Oh damsel of the comely brows, indeed, I shall in due course to your home proceed; But, O generous damsel, not until My purpose in coming here I fulfil; And then I shall indeed with you consort; For wayfarers like us, a sure resort. 12
Connecting the Kubja episode with the ensuing events, stanza thirteen shifts the scene.
He took leave with sweet words and compliment, Then further on the road his steps he bent; And entered on the market street, and there, Was greeted with respect and pious care; With wreaths, perfumes, and betel flavorous; Was honoured with his elder brother thus. 13
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 15, 2020 3:56:06 GMT -6
Continuing SB X.XLII. 14-17
The city women, struck by Cupid's dart, Of loving perturbation felt the smart; And perceived not their weeds in disarray, Their bangles and their braids to slip away; And stood as if in reverie or dream, Still as the figures painted in a scene. 14
Then Achyuta questioned the people there To show the way to the arena where The grand bow sacrifice was to be held; The massy bow like Indra's then beheld. 15
The bow was worshipped and guarded with care, By the armed guards and people gathered there, But mighty Krishna pushed the guards aside, And lifted up the bow in conscious pride. 16
Thus in a twinkling and in direct view, He lifted up the bow and the cord drew, Then pulled with force and snapped the bow in twain, As the wild tusker breaks the sugar cane. 17
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 15, 2020 5:24:16 GMT -6
The cracking bow reverberating round, Made earth and sky and quarters to resound, His present doom, which when Kamsa had heard, Was startled and with perturbation stirred. 18
The guards with fury were disquieted, And raising up their weapons forward sped T'ward him and his companions for the fray, And cried, Seize him, seize him! spare not but slay! 19
Now when Bala and Keshava espied Their ill intent, between them did decide, And taking up each half the broken bow, They struck out with vigour and laid them low. 20
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 15, 2020 11:14:25 GMT -6
Continuing SB.X.XLII.21-23. I hope I am not the only one enjoying this. Another band of guards they swiftly slew, Deputed by Kamsa, then did pursue, Their exit from the gate to view the town, And see the sights of opulent renown; And thus the brothers twain roamed in delight, Surveyed the city and enjoyed the sight 21 Having observed the puissance of these two, Their audacity, wonderful to view, The city dwellers measured up the odds, And deemed they must be two prominent gods. 22 And as they ambled careless in the town, The lord Aditya began to roll down, They left the city with their friends and went Back to the cowherd's wagon settlement. 23
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 15, 2020 11:49:37 GMT -6
In this stanza Suka muni alludes to a previous statement that the cowherd women made on Krishna's departure. Here is the verse along with the earlier verse in question,
The cowherd dames, when Mukunda had left, Distressed by his departure were bereft. And by their prediction they augured true, That when Madhupurians had the view Of him, the gem ornament of mankind, They would the highest benediction find; To see him for whom Lakshmi did forsake All others, though they would her favours take. (SB.XLII. 24)
A couplet from Griffith's Valmiki
She, fondly, of the lotus sprung, To lotus bearing Vishnu clung.
Then the earlier verse which the forgoing verse refers to,
Oh, what a blessed good morning 'twill be For those ladies who dwell in the city, For certainly they shall reap the reward, To look upon the face of Vraja's Lord. And drink with their side glances to the full, The nectar of his face most beautiful. (SB.X.XXXIX.23)
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 17, 2020 5:24:21 GMT -6
Continuing SB X.XLII. 25-27
After Suka's observation of the cowherd women's predictions, the narrative continues.
After the brothers twain had washed their feet, They drank some milk and rice pudding did eat; Although they were aware of the intent Of Kamsa, spent the night in calm content. 25
Meantime, Kamsa was fearful, learning how, The brothers had broken the sacred bow; How Govinda and Rama in their might, Had slain the guards and put others to flight; How this they had accomplished as in play, Filled him with ill boding and sore dismay. He saw bad omens sleeping and awake, And harbingers of death that made him quake. 26/27.
Vide Kamsa's dream from Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 17, 2020 18:24:09 GMT -6
Just going through Bibek Debroy's modern prose translation of SB. I really like it; it has an easy flowing style and lends itself well to reading out loud.
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