Devanagari
गाश्चारयन् स गोपालै: सरामो दूरमागत: ।
बुभुक्षितस्य तस्यान्नं सानुगस्य प्रदीयताम् ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
gāś cārayan sa gopālaiḥ
sa-rāmo dūram āgataḥ
bubhukṣitasya tasyānnaṁ
sānugasya pradīyatām
Synonyms
gāḥ
—
the cows
;
cārayan
—
tending
;
saḥ
—
He
;
gopālaiḥ
—
in the company of the cowherd boys
;
sa
—
rāmaḥ — together with Lord Balarāma
;
dūram
—
from far away
;
āgataḥ
—
has come
;
bubhukṣitasya
—
who is hungry
;
tasya
—
for Him
;
annam
—
food
;
sa
—
anugasya — together with His companions
;
pradīyatām
—
should be given .
Translation
He has come a long way with the cowherd boys and Lord Balarāma, tending the cows. Now He is hungry, so some food should be given for Him and His companions.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
He has come a long way with the cowherd boys and Lord Balarāma, tending the cows. Now He is hungry, so some food should be given for Him and His companions.
KB 10.23.17
“They have come here with the cows, and you may know also that we have come here under Their instructions. All of us are very hungry; therefore, we have come to you for some food. Please give us something to eat for Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and ourselves.”
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Hearing Krsna’s name they began to faint in bliss. To bring them back to consciousness, the boys began to explain why they had come to their houses, beginning in a gentle way, and ending boldly. "Krsna and Balarama are not far off (aduram)." Seeing they had become alert on hearing this, the boys then thought of exciting them by mentioning that Krsna and Balarama wanted some food. "Krsna and his friends are suffering from hunger."
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
They call Balarāma by the name Rāma to indicate that he always gives joy to Kṛṣṇa. They do not show formality at this time. Previously Kṛṣṇa used the name Saṅkarṣaṇa to indicate Balarāma’s powers. But the boys called him Rāma to indicate his absorption in Kṛṣṇa. Previously it was suitable to show reverence, but now because of the attraction for Kṛṣṇa in the wives, such reverence was not necessary. Another version has aduramitaḥ. This is repetition, to indicate that they can go and meet Kṛṣṇa. Food should be given to Kṛṣṇa along with Balarāma and the other boys (sānugasya). It should be given excellently, with sweet rice and cups for drinking. Previously on instructions they only asked for rice for the two boys. Now they asked for excellent food for everyone, without having received instructions. They joke with them because of hearing about the wives’ great attraction to Kṛṣṇa. It was possible that they would go quickly to Kṛṣṇa without bringing any food.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
They call Balarāma by the name Rāma to indicate that he always gives joy to Kṛṣṇa. They do not show formality at this time. He has travelled far from his house. Therefore they could not bring food with him. Or the word can be aduram (not far). He has come and is not far away. This is repetition from the previous verse. The wives could thus go to him. Give food to Kṛṣṇa with Balarāma and other followers (sānugasya) along with tasty sweet rice, water and cups (pra). Previously they asked the brāhmaṇas for rice only for the two boys but now they ask for others as well, and with other items also because they had heard of the wives great devotion to the Lord.
The instruction of the Lord to get rice was only to get relief from hunger. Now they request rice or food for all the followers. If they only said that Kṛṣṇa had arrived, the wives may have quickly gone to meet him without bringing any food.