SB 10.21.13 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

गावश्च कृष्णमुखनिर्गतवेणुगीत- पीयूषमुत्तभितकर्णपुटै: पिबन्त्य: । शावा: स्‍नुतस्तनपय:कवला: स्म तस्थु- र्गोविन्दमात्मनि द‍ृशाश्रुकला: स्पृशन्त्य: ॥ १३ ॥

Verse text

gāvaś ca kṛṣṇa-mukha-nirgata-veṇu-gīta pīyūṣam uttabhita-karṇa-puṭaiḥ pibantyaḥ śāvāḥ snuta-stana-payaḥ-kavalāḥ sma tasthur govindam ātmani dṛśāśru-kalāḥ spṛśantyaḥ

Synonyms

gāvaḥ — the cows ; ca — and ; kṛṣṇa — mukha — from the mouth of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; nirgata — emitted ; veṇu — of the flute ; gīta — of the song ; pīyūṣam — the nectar ; uttabhita — raised high ; karṇa — with their ears ; puṭaiḥ — which were acting as vessels ; pibantyaḥ — drinking ; śāvāḥ — the calves ; snuta — exuding ; stana — from their udders ; payaḥ — the milk ; kavalāḥ — whose mouthfuls ; sma — indeed ; tasthuḥ — stood still ; govindam — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; ātmani — within their minds ; dṛśā — with their vision ; aśru — kalāḥ — their eyes full of tears ; spṛśantyaḥ — touching .

Translation

Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute-song flowing out of Kṛṣṇa’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.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute-song flowing out of Kṛṣṇa'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. KB 10.21.13 Another gopī said to her friends, “My dear friends, the cows are also charmed as soon as they hear the transcendental sound of the flute of Kṛṣṇa. It sounds to them like the pouring of nectar, and they immediately spread their long ears just to catch the liquid nectar of the flute. As for the calves, they are seen with the nipples of their mothers pressed in their mouths, but they cannot suck the milk. They remain struck with devotion, and tears glide down from their eyes, illustrating vividly how they are embracing Kṛṣṇa heart to heart.” These phenomena indicate that even the cows and calves in Vṛndāvana knew how to cry for Kṛṣṇa and embrace Him heart to heart. Actually, the perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be culminated in the shedding of tears from the eyes.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

"One cannot say that the bewilderment from the flute is generated only from conjugal desire of the female only. See the example of the cows and their calves. In fearing of spilling the nectar, the cows have raised their ears like cups to hear the flute. The cause of bewilderment is not just vatsalya bhava towards Krsna, for their calves also, without vatsalya bhava, were bewildered. The calves who had just begun to drink their mothers’ milk, on hearing the flute, perked up their ears to drink that sound also. Not able to drink the udder milk, the milk fell from their open mouths and they stood as if stunned. The cows brought Govinda close with their glances, and through their eyes, they had him enter their hearts. Touching him in their minds (atmani), their minds placed him on their laps out of vatsalya bhava. They then become stunned. Out of bliss tears fell from their eyes. In this way, all living entities had love of Krsna. They are all fortunate to meet Krsna, but we are unfortunate, being separated from him."

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Other gopīs speak three verses. First they describe the cows which have maternal affection which is contrary to their mādhurya-bhāva, in order to hide their emotions as previously. However their words are suitable since there is no contradiction with the general affection that mothers show. The word ca means “even.” Even the cows, famous among the people for not being able to distinguish the good from the bad, relish the sound of his flute, which comes from his moon-like mouth endowed with more nectar than billions of moons (which also have nectar). Kṛṣṇa is the intense embodiment of the highest bliss. Sma indicates astonishment. They simply stand, stunned, overcome by sāttvika-bhāva. Govinda indicates their master (lord of the cows). They touch him with affection. Śrīdhara Svāmī accepts the version snuta-stana-payaḥ. The calves have mouthfuls of their mothers’ milk flowing from their mouths. Or, from some of the calves’ mouths the milk from their mothers flows, whereas other calves’ mouths have grass in their mouths (kavalāḥ) which they have been chewing. Their eyes begin to flow with tears which were previously filling their throats. They embrace in their minds, via their eyes, Govinda, or they offer themselves to Govinda in their minds since they cannot see him directly since their eyes are raining (kalāḥ) with tears. Since their eyes are covered with tears, they see him in their minds. We are most unfortunate since we cannot even see him.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Four verses describe the words of another gopī (describing cows, birds, rivers and clouds). Or one can explain the verse as a continuation of what was previously written. In other words as the verses proceed, lesser and lesser individuals are gradually described. Though there should be nothing inferior in Vraja to the women from heaven or spiritual objects (flute or dhāma), because of the colorful motions of prema, they make these verses by selecting certain details (to express their misfortune). There is good fortune for exalted women of heaven. Thus there is also good fortune for the animals, humans and cows who can see Kṛṣṇa. Thus now cows are described. The word ca means “but.” Previously Kṛṣṇa’s moonlike face was described as full of nectar. By mentioning his face, nectar is suggested. Kṛṣṇa has a form of the highest bliss. Therefore there is nectar flowing from the flute song emanating from his moon-like face. Sma indicates astonishment or certainty. They simply stand, stunned, overcome by sāttvika-bhāvas. Govinda indicates their master (lord of the cows). The cows touch him with affection. Even though the calves were with them, the milk stopped flowing from their udders, and even though they had grass in their mouths, they did not chew or swallow, but simply stood there (śāvāsnuta-stana-payaḥ kavalāḥ). The accepted version has śāva. Milk coming from their udders (snuta-stana-payaḥ) out of affection for the Lord as a calf, with grass in their mouths, the cows remain stunned. This is the accepted version. Taking the word śāvāḥ to make a separate statement the meaning is “From some of the calves’ mouths the milk coming from their mothers flowed out, whereas other calves’ mouths have grass in their mouths (kavalāḥ) which they have been chewing.” The cows embrace Govinda in their minds, via their eyes, or they offer themselves to Govinda in their minds since they cannot see him directly since their eyes are raining (kalāḥ) with tears. Since their eyes are covered with tears, they see him in their minds. Or the cows remain standing, touching Govinda by licking him, using their eyes (dṛśā). We are most unfortunate since we cannot touch him. The deer and heavenly women heard the flute and saw his form. The cows simply on hearing the flute developed love. That is the difference between them indicated by the word ca.