Svakrita verses.

[madanmohandas]

The Immortal Acts of Hari

Indra bowed in humility,
And approached Krishna privily,
Aware he had transgressed,
And at his feet his head he lays,
In lofty strains he sings his praise,
In seeking to be bless'd.

Then Surabhi comes forth and bows,
The sacred mother of all cows,
On Brahma's order sent,
And consecrates his bathing rite,
Which filled the world with vast delight,
All beings with content.

Thus Krishna was adored and named,
And henceforth as Govinda famed,
Then with his friends proceeds,
The cows from pasture homeward brings,
While worthless Madanmohan sings,
His most excellent deeds.

………………….

To wipe his face her hand applied,
And as he yawned, mouth open wide,
Within his mouth appears,
Of planets bright the multitude,
The Sun and Moon therein she viewed,
The high and lower spheres;

She saw the mountain streams and floods,
She saw the dark and dreary woods,
And waters of the sea;
Her mind was fraught with fear and awe;
As the world in his mouth she saw,
And was amazed to see.

And she was seized with much affright,
At seeing such a wondrous sight,
And closed her fawn-like eyes;
The cowherd queen was fortunate,
Which Madanmohan doth relate,
Who on mercy relies.

…………………..


The dame Yashoda on a day,
Did on her lap her Gopal lay,
And gazed upon his face;
And by fond love she was beguiled,
As he gazed back and mildly smiled,
Whereon she did embrace.

But while she kept him on her knee,
His weight increased to vast degree,
Then placed him on the ground,
Then Whirlwind sudden rolls the clouds,
The directions from vision shrouds,
And scatters dust around.

Trinavarta with dreadful roar,
Took up the babe from off the floor,
And rose up in the sky,
They sought Mukunda here and there,
But could not find him anywhere,
Whereat they wail and cry.

But soon Krishna increased his weight,
Which did the demons' force abate,
And seized him by the throat,
Then from the sky he tumbled down,
As Shiva felled the triple town,
And on a rock he smote.

Yet free from scathe the infant lay,
Upon the demons chest at play;
The cowherds were amazed.
Restored him to his mothers' arms,
Enamoured of his playful charms,
And his high fortune praised.

[madanmohandas]

All hail to him who held on high
Mount Govardhan to blot the sky,
And save his cowherd friends,
While Shakra raging storm had sent,
The cows and cowherds to torment,
The hail and rain descends.

But Krishna to display his grace,
Plucked up from its deep rocky base,
The Govardhan mountain,
To shield the cowherds gainst all odds,
From Indra and his demigods,
His own vow to maintain.

The cowherd people were amazed,
As they upon his beauty gazed;
For eyes the blessed fruit;
Says Madanmohan, I bow down,
To him who wears a peacock crown,
And plays a sweet toned flute.

…………..

Rama and Krishna gan to move
On hands and knees around they rove,
And make a tinkling sound;
With anklets on their soft feet placed,
A belt of bells girt round the waist,
And crawl the muddy ground.

They see a stranger passer by,
Follow some way then gin to cry
And for their mothers yearn;
Who take them in their loving arms,
Enchanted by their lovesome charms,
When they to them return.

While on their comely faces play
Delightsome smiles, new teeth display,
Like buds of jessamine,
And Madanmohan doth entreat,
Low bowing at those lotus-feet,
His causeless grace divine.

[madanmohandas]

Ye all probably think I'm cracked, and maybe I am, but I thought putting my name was kind of quaint; and I hope it elicits a smile and not a frown.

The cowherd maids for grace implore,
And by Kalindi's shelving shore,
Worship the Great Goddess;
With offerings of holy rice,
They offer up their sacrifice,
And solemn hymns address.

They sought of her the benison,
Their husband should be Nanda' son,
And having honour paid,
In waters of Kalindi they
Enter to bathe and sport and play,
Their weeds on the bank laid.

Now Govinda soon there arrived,
To steal the garments he contrived,
And clomb a lofty tree;
He urged them to come forth the while,
And take their garments with a smile,
And they must needs agree.

Thus their desire was fulfilled,
To have his contact they were thrilled,
Which rapture to them brings,
And though he is devoid of wit,
Unqualified and quite unfit,
Still Madanmohan sings.

[madanmohandas]

Nanda awoke to find with joy,
His good wife had brought forth a boy,
And was with rapture filled;
He summoned poets to recite,
And brahmans to perform the rite,
And those in scripture skilled.

He clad himself in fine attire,
Who had accomplished his desire,
And gave in charity,
To holy brahmans strict in vows,
Gold, grain and rice and milking cows,
And heaps of sesame.

The brahmans chant, the poets sing,
Great drums boom forth and cymbals ring,
The instruments resound,
The roads were swept and sprinkled clean,
And garlands on the gates were seen,
And curds were scattered round.

The cowherds wore their best garments,
Silken turbans and ornaments,
Gifts in their hands they bear.
When cowherd dames the news had heard,
'Yashoda got a son!' were stirred,
And to her house repair.

They then the benediction gave,
'Live long and all your people save!'
And gems and garments bring;
The cowherds to merriment stirred,
Pelted around the cream and curd,
And Krishna's praises sing.

Nanda bestowed of wealth a horde,
Brahmans and poets to reward,
And they were gratified,
If Madanmohan das were there,
He might receive an ample share,
Immensely satisfied.

[madanmohandas]

Here is another one.

Commissioned by the Bhoja king,
Came Putana the evil thing,
With murderous intent;
Coursing the yielding air she flies,
Assuming a deceptive guise,
To Nanda's palace went.

Transfigured by her mystic skill,
She took a lovely form at will,
In flowing raiment dressed,
And cast fond glances here and there,
The cowherd damsels on her stare,
The cowherds were impressed.

While gazing on her form they ween
She was Fortuna, Beauty's Queen,
Come to the cowherd land,
To greet with honour her dear Lord,
The most beloved and adored,
A lotus in her hand.

She entered Nanda's house, where she
The child upon the bed could see,
While he peaceful reposed;
And she like who a rope might take,
Which ipso facto is a snake;
He lay there with eyes closed.

With poison smeared upon her pap,
She lifted him upon her lap,
Into his mouth she pressed;
But he sucked with her milk her life,
Which brought on her anguish and strife,
While he squeezed hard her breast.

She was afflicted sore with pain,
Cried, "Leave off!' over and again,
And bulging were her eyes;
She fell and made the mountains quake,
The heavens vault to creek and shake,
With her tremendous cries.

When saw they him upon her breast,
The matrons then toward him pressed,
Then to his dame restored,
Yashoda and Rohini led,
And sacred incantations read,
Protection to afford.

Though she was of the demon brood,
And quaffed of children sanguine blood,
She gained the supreme state;
Says Madanmohan, be it so,
Where else should we for refuge go?
To Krishna I prostrate.

[madanmohandas]

Dame Yashoda cowherds invites
To celebrate the holy rites
Of Utthanika named;
And consecrate at the right time,
Three months after his birthday sign,
Where guests are entertained.

The brahmans chant, the poets sing,
The woodwind mingles with the string,
Enhancing the delight;
She honoured holy brahmans there
With gifts, raiment and dainty fare;
To solemnise the rite.

When saw she his eyes droop and close,
She laid Krishna in soft repose,
Upon a cot below
A wooden cart that stood nearby.
Anon she did not hear him cry,
His weeping did not know.

The child annoyed, indignant grew,
Around his legs and feet he threw,
While on the cot he lay;
Against the cart his foot he dashed,
The cart was overturned and smashed,
The vessels roll away.

The cowherders foregathered there,
Were fraught with wonder, struck with fear,
And looking all about,
They thought it a calamity,
'How could the wagon broken be?'
And were assailed with doubt.

The children said, 'we speak the truth,
This baby broke the cart forsooth';
But none could this believe;
Thus his exploits Krishna displays,
And wretched Madanmohan prays,
When will I grace receive?

[madanmohandas]

Suprabhaatam.

Now Garga from the city came,
The Yadu's teacher known to fame,
By Vasudeva sent.
When Nanda saw his worthy guest,
He stood with palms together pressed,
And low his head he bent.

To him of holy saints the best,
Nanda some humble words addressed,
'O welcome holy one!
O great one, tell us of your will,
And we shall your commands fulfil,
And let thy will be done.

Great mysteries are known to you,
Past, present and the future view,
You have all wisdom stored,
So let the naming rite proceed,
As in the sacred texts decreed,
If it please you my lord.

'It is well known,' Garga replied,
I am the Yadu's priest and guide;
If I the rite commence,
The news may reach vile Kamsa's ear,
The cause of all our woe and fear,
Which may have consequence.'

Then Nanda hearing what he said,
Urged that the rites be secret sped,
Unknown to kith and kin,
And as it was his true desire,
According as the texts require,
He did the rite begin.

'This handsome son of Rohini,
The darling of his friends shall be,
For mighty puissance famed,
And since this wondrous lovely boy
Shall be the source of immense joy,
Is Balarama named.

This younger child was incarnate,
In many colours alternate,
By many names addressed,
Now since he bears a darksome hue,
As Krishna shall be known to you,
Thus you are truly bless'd.'

He urged him to take special care,
As Krishna was Narayan's peer,
The God pre-eminent,
And having done the holy rite,
Good Nanda was filled with delight,
And Garga homeward went.

Thus Krishna's deeds are sweet to hear,
Like pouring nectar in the ear,
Contemning other joys;
Albeit Madanmohan das,
Is no more than a foolish ass,
His pen and ink employs.

[madanmohandas]

The One Almighty with his friends,
And Rama, playful, the day spends,
And much mischief ensues,
The cowherd dames came to convey,
And to his mother gin to say,
And tell her all the news.

'He lets the calves free before time,
Who drain the milk of mother kine;
When chastened and reviled,
He then the challenger defied,
The charges laid firmly denied,
And just pleasantly smiled.

He devises many a scheme,
To steal the tasty curds and cream,
And each pot that he takes,
Their sweet and tasty contents drains,
When in the pot nothing remains,
He throws the pot and breaks!

The contents of the pots are known,
That from the ceiling ropes hang down,
And blocks of wood he piles,
Then holes within the pots he makes,
And all the liquid contents takes,
With relish and with smiles.

When I have cleaned my household shrine,
He passes ordure and urine,
And novel means contrives;
When in the dark parlour he goes,
With gems upon his person glows,
And much pleasure derives.

Yashoda heard, and saw his eyes
Look guilty, but did not chastise;
To see him brings content;
To look on him they were beguiled,
As he but glanced around and smiled,
And stood there innocent.

The cowherd dames were pleased to see
The naughty exploits of Hari,
And revelled in delight;
And though he is unauthorised,
This Madanmohan has devised,
Some halting lines to write.

[madanmohandas]

With Rama and his friends one day,
Mukunda was absorbed in play,
And took some mud to taste;
But they to the fond mother sped,
'Krishna has eaten mud!' they said,
And she went off in haste.

She seized upon him by the hand,
And then began to reprimand,
And angrily addressed,
'Wherefore this restless attitude,
Why eat you mud in solitude?'
Whereat he was distressed.

'Your brother and your friends all say,
That you have eaten muddy clay,
Ah me! Alas, my son.
'O mother mine this I deny,'
Said Krishna, 'and my friends all lie;
Truly I have not done!

If you think they speak truthfully,
Then look into my mouth and see,
And she said, 'let it be'.
He then stretched his mouth open wide,
And she saw wonders great inside.
The glory of Hari.

She saw the universe in one,
And all the vasty creation,
The sky covering all;
She saw the mountains and the sea,
The radiance and majesty,
Around this earthly ball.

The balmy moon, stars shining bright,
The motions of the heavens' height,
Perception and the mind,
The stars that in their courses steer,
Above the mighty atmosphere,
On set pathways defined.

When she herself and Vraja saw,
She was perplexed and struck with awe,
And thought, 'what have I seen?
Has power of my son confused,
Or is my intellect abused,
Or is it but a dream?'

From her who saw the truth and knew,
His mystic Vishnu spell withdrew,
And cast aside the veil;
She then forgot all that she saw,
Was no more struck with dread and awe,
And pure love did prevail.

She took him in her loving arms,
Devouring his lovesome charms,
While gazing on his face.
Though Madanmohan is unfit,
He doth pen to paper commit,
And prays for causeless grace,

[madanmohandas]

Three more,

The cowherd queen the maids had sent
To do their tasks, while she, content,
Sat down to churn the curd;
And as she worked she did rehearse,
The doings of her child in verse,
With fond affection stirred.

A yellow raiment round her thighs
Was girt about with golden ties,
The churning rod she plied;
And laboured with vigorous pace,
The sweat drops trickle from her face,
Her veil was loosely tied.

Her bracelets made a chiming sound,
Blooms from her hair fall to the ground,
Milk trickled from her breast;
Meantime, thirsty, unto his dame,
While she was churning, Hari came,
Her labour to arrest.

She stopped her work, looked on her child,
And picked him up by love beguiled,
And to her breast applied;
But when the milk boiling she found,
She anxious sped off at a bound,
Left him unsatisfied.

Incensed he bites his lips and cries,
Augmenting redness in his eyes,
He took a stone and dashed
Against a pot that cream contained,
And he its contents quickly drained,
And then the pot he smashed.

He went to some sequestered nook,
And lumps of butter eager took,
With guilt writ on his face;
When his mother with stick he spies,
He quickly from the mortar flies,
While she took up the chase.

Impeded by her breasts and thighs,
To catch the culprit still she tries,
And caught him from behind;
She straightly took him by the hand,
And mildly gan to reprimand,
And thought it well to bind.

'I shall him to the mortar bind,
And keep the restless child confined',
So she deliberates.
And thought to have him with rope tied,
Who has no outside nor inside,
And who the world creates.

The rope two inches short she found,
And to that rope another bound,
But still it was futile;
Still too short was the rope she had,
And more rope to that rope did add,
And could do naught but smile.

When he her weariness perceived,
Blooms from her hair the ground received,
He deigned to show his grace;
And let himself be bound and tied,
And willing with her wish complied,
And stayed there in that place.

Though all obey his high decrees,
Subjection shows to devotees,
Subject to their control;
And Madanmohan sings for grace,
Although he is quite mean and base,
For cleansing of the soul.
......................

While standing to the mortar tied,
At no great distance Hari spied,
A pair of Arjun trees;
And though tight to the mortar bound,
He crossed the intervening ground,
And crawled upon his knees.

Thus Krishna dragged the mortar twixt
The Arjun trees, which crosswise fixed,
And while stuck there at length,
He tugged the rope, the branches quake,
The taproot groans, the leaves all shake,
Exhibiting his strength.

The trees came crashing to the ground,
With creaking and a thunderous sound,
Two beings forward came;
And stood with palms together pressed,
A divine hymn to him addressed.
And sung his sacred fame.

Much pleased with them, Yashoda's son,
Bestowed on them rare benison,
Of all blessings the source;
They were thus freed from all offence,
And having prayed with eloquence,
To heaven held their course.

Nalakuvara, known to fame,
Also Manigreeva by name,
Were sons of treasures' lord,
In forms of Arjun trees did bide,
As Narada had prophesied,
To heaven now restored.

Now when the cowherds heard the sound,
Of the trees falling to the ground,
They were seized with affright;
They feared the worst, and terrified,
In consternation thither hied,
And saw a wondrous sight.

The signs visible they perceived,
But wherefore could not be conceived;
It seemed the strangest thing;
And Madanmohan cannot say,
How and why he unfolds his play,
Yet still persists to sing.
..................

A fruit vendor to Vraja hied,
'Come buy my juicy fruits!' she cried;
Which Krishna having heard,
He takes a handful of fine rice,
To make exchange of a fair price,
By playful humour stirred.

He comes to where the vendor stands,
But drops the rice from his small hands,
And though the rice was spilled,
She gave the fruits, gazing the while,
Which he took, grateful, with a smile,
Her pot with gems was filled!

Rama and Krishna, gone all day,
Down by the stream immersed in play,
Rohini thither went,
And though she tried to bring them home,
They were engrossed and would not come,
So Yashoda was sent.

Yashoda with affection bless'd,
To bring them home her way addressed,
And called Krishna to come;
She told Rama it was now late,
That father Nanda did await,
And led the two boys home.

She fed them with all dainty fare,
With a fond mothers' anxious care,
Then led them off to rest;
And Madanmohan doth recite,
Hoping to get and give delight,
And seeking to be bless'd

[madanmohandas]

Nanda in the assembly sate,
And called the elders for debate;
What measures they should take,
Against foreseen calamities,
In dread portents and auguries,
For all the cowherds sake.

Wise Upananda mid the peers,
Regarded for wisdom and years,
In the assembly rose,
Considering due time and place,
And reasoning the cause to trace,
He did his thought disclose.

'The children are in danger here,
We would do well to move elsewhere,
With all our property,
We should depart even today,
Our effects on wagons convey,
Ore strikes calamity.'

The peers and elders were agreed,
The cattle wealth ahead proceed,
Their carts and wagons load,
The winding flutes and bugles' blare,
Involves the sky and fills the air,
As thus they take the road.

When entered they Vrindavan's bound,
They camped their wagons half-moon round,
And tents and shelters rear,
Sometime contented there they pass,
The cows are pleased with the fresh grass,
That grows throughout the year.

Rama and Madhava surveyed,
Vrindavan's beauty thus displayed,
Yamuna's bank they viewed,
Saw Govardhan of mounts the best,
The groves with luscious verdure bless'd,
And felt beatitude.

They now small calves to pasture drive,
And many sports and games contrive,
And relish vast delights,
They knock ripe fruit down from the trees,
Leap with monkeys and sing with bees,
And engage in mock fights.

[madanmohandas]

While tending calves a demon came,
Intent to kill the brothers twain,
In a calves form disguised,
Hari at Baladeva glanced,
Toward the demon then advanced,
As if unrecognised.

Then Krishna did Vatsa assail,
And seized his hind legs and his tail,
And spun him round and round,
And flung him to a high treetop,
Whence mellow Kapitha fruits drop,
That fall upon the ground.

When saw they he the fight had won,
His friends cried, 'bravo!' and 'well done!'
Gods wondered at his powers;
Vile Vatsasura was destroyed,
Celestials were overjoyed,
And drop heavenly flowers.

[madanmohandas]

One day as they the cattle guide,
They came down to the water side,
Eager their thirst to slake;
And led the cows down to the brink
Of the water to let them drink,
While they themselves partake.

They then beheld an awesome sight;
A being of a mountains' height,
That to the river came;
A feathered crane of giant size,
With a sharp beak and cruel eyes,
And Baka was his name.

That wicked crane did Krishna seize,
And swallowed him with seeming ease,
The cowherds were assailed
With woe and sore perplexity,
And lost their wonted faculty,
And faint; their senses failed.

But Nanda's son now in his turn,
Made wicked Baka's palate burn,
And effected release,
Then Baka came with beak enlarged,
But Hari caught him as he charged,
The gods above to please;

Then with his sturdy grip he takes
The monster by the beak and breaks,
Like weaver splitting reeds;
The gods above congratulate,
And drop flowers precipitate;
His friends all praise his deeds.

The sons of cowherds were amazed,
At how Krishna by gods was praised,
Their faculties revived;
And Madanmohan doth rehearse,
Madhusoodana's deeds in verse,
From olden texts derived.

[madanmohandas]

Once Hari did at dawn awake,
His breakfast in the wood to take,
And wakened all his friends;
Who join in Hari's company,
Dressed and adorned attractively,
With them his way he wends.

Each in his hand a cane doth bear,
With thousands of calves in their care;
His calves Krishna doth bring;
Then with his friends and calves proceeds,
And devises manifold deeds,
Beyond all reckoning.

Adorned with tender leaves and blooms,
Goonja berries and peacock plumes,
With mountain pigments dight;
Away a comrades bag would fling,
To tease and then again would bring;
And so they took delight.

When Govinda would move away,
The verdant beauty to survey,
The boys joyfully cry,
And as they run his side to gain,
'Me first!, No, me first! they proclaim;
While they to touch him try.

To coo like cuckoos they began,
And under the birds' shadow ran,
And playful imitate
In emulation of the crane,
Still standing on one foot remain,
And copy the swans' gait.

Some climb high branches of the trees,
And seize on the tails of monkeys,
In true boyhood delights;
When into the deep caves they cried,
They rail at their echos and chide;
And wrestle in mock fights.

Who is the source of ecstasy,
For the discerning devotee,
Played as a cowherd boy;
And Madanmohan bowing prays,
While at those feet his head he lays,
Bestow abundant joy.

...................

But now a mighty demon came,
Known as Aghaasura by name,
Who could not bear their joy;
And in his vengeful, hateful mind,
A most heinous plan he designed,
The children to destroy.

Brother of Baka, Baki twain,
Who had by Mukunda been slain,
And thus the wicked one,
His bulk upon the path unwound,
And stretched his coils along the ground,
In form of a python.

His lower lip on the earth spread,
His upper like clouds overhead,
His maw was dark and drear,
His long tongue stretched out like a road,
Hot wind his breath, his eyes hot glowed,
Thus frightful did appear.

Beholding this the boys all ween,
It was a pleasant sylvan scene,
Or a deep shady grot.
'Let us enter the python dread.'
And as they entered someone said,
'Will it eat us or not?'

Thus while they gazed on Baka's foe,
Into the pythons' bowels they go,
And undertook to act,
They thought the deadly snake to be
No more than a fine sight to see,
Ignorant of the fact.

But Krishna knowing all things well,
Who doth within all creatures dwell,
Knew that they had mistook,
'I must the snake of life deprive,
And to protect my friends contrive'.
Thus measures undertook.

Into the pythons' maw he strode,
Along the tongue spread like a road,
The gods cried out, 'Alas!'
The friends of Kamsa were rejoiced,
And loud their acclamation voiced,
As he inside did pass.

Then grew he to a vast extent,
And blocked his throat and shut the vent,
The demon writhed in pain,
As Krishna's body did dilate,
He did the foe asphyxiate,
And thus his life did drain.

The inward pressure burst a hole
In its head letting out the soul,
Then Krishna with his friends,
Having on them his glances poured,
Reviving them to life restored,
From out the python wends.

[madanmohandas]

The soul emerged from the serpent,
Self refulgent and radiant,
And as the gods looked on,
The soul toward Lord Krishna came,
Of glorious and hallowed fame,
And entering was gone.

Now gods from their dwelling on high,
Precipitated from the sky,
Fair flowers from above,
According to their expertise,
They dance and sing the Lord to please,
Expressive of their love.

The choristers of heaven sing,
They beat the drum and pluck the string,
His deed to celebrate,
Gandharvas make sweet melodies,
And dance the fair apsarasees,
Sages congratulate.

Now Brahma from his lofty sphere,
Did sounds of celebration hear,
In curiosity,
Descending on the earth did light,
And was astonied at the sight,
Absorbed in revery.

He wondered how such deed was done,
By a cowherder's princely son,
And came unto that place.
And so this Madanmohan says,
As at those feet his head he lays,
May all attain good grace.