SB 10.35.21 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

कुन्ददामकृतकौतुकवेषो गोपगोधनवृतो यमुनायाम् । नन्दसूनुरनघे तव वत्सो नर्मद: प्रणयिणां विजहार ॥ २० ॥ मन्दवायुरुपवात्यनुकूलं मानयन् मलयजस्पर्शेन । वन्दिनस्तमुपदेवगणा ये वाद्यगीतबलिभि: परिवव्रु: ॥ २१ ॥

Verse text

kunda-dāma-kṛta-kautuka-veṣo gopa-godhana-vṛto yamunāyām nanda-sūnur anaghe tava vatso narma-daḥ praṇayiṇāṁ vijahāra manda-vāyur upavāty anukūlaṁ mānayan malayaja-sparśena vandinas tam upadeva-gaṇā ye vādya-gīta-balibhiḥ parivavruḥ

Synonyms

kunda — of jasmine flowers ; dāma — with a garland ; kṛta — made ; kautuka — playful ; veṣaḥ — His array ; gopa — by the cowherd boys ; godhana — and the cows ; vṛtaḥ — surrounded ; yamunāyām — along the Yamunā ; nanda — sūnuḥ — the son of Nanda Mahārāja ; anaghe — O sinless lady ; tava — your ; vatsaḥ — darling child ; narma — daḥ — amusing ; praṇayiṇām — His dear companions ; vijahāra — He has played ; manda — gentle ; vāyuḥ — the wind ; upavāti — blows ; anukūlam — favorably ; mānayan — showing honor ; malaya — ja — of (the fragrance of) sandalwood ; sparśena — the touch ; vandinaḥ — those who offer praise ; tam — Him ; upadeva — of the minor demigods ; gaṇāḥ — members of the various categories ; ye — who ; vādya — with instrumental music ; gīta — singing ; balibhiḥ — and presentation of gifts ; parivavruḥ — they have encircled .

Translation

O sinless Yaśodā, your darling child, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, has festively enhanced His attire with a jasmine garland, and He is now playing along the Yamunā in the company of the cows and cowherd boys, amusing His dear companions. The gentle breeze honors Him with its soothing fragrance of sandalwood, while the various Upadevas, standing on all sides like panegyrists, offer their music, singing and gifts of tribute.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

O sinless Yaśodā, your darling child, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, has festively enhanced His attire with a jasmine garland, and He is now playing along the Yamunā in the company of the cows and cowherd boys, amusing His dear companions. The gentle breeze honors Him with its soothing fragrance of sandalwood, while the various Upadevas, standing on all sides like panegyrists, offer their music, singing and gifts of tribute. KB 10.35.20-21 Another gopī told Mother Yaśodā, “My dear mother, when your son returns home, He decorates Himself with the buds of the kunda flower, and just to enlighten and gladden His friends, He blows His flute. The breeze blowing from the south creates a pleasing atmosphere because it is fragrant and very cool. Minor demigods like the Gandharvas and Siddhas take advantage of this atmosphere and offer prayers to your son by sounding their bugles and drums.

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that the gopīs are again in the courtyard of mother Yaśodā, the queen of Vraja. They are trying to encourage her by describing Kṛṣṇa’s return to Vṛndāvana after He has spent the day herding cows and playing. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that the Upadevas, the minor demigods mentioned here, include the Gandharvas, who are famous for their celestial music and dancing.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

When the gopis who had assembled at Yasoda’s house saw that she was disturbed because Krsna was late in coming, they pacified her by giving reasons for his lateness. To relieve himself of fatigue, Krsna has bathed in the Yamuna and then sat on the bank. In order to please his friends, who were so enthusiastic, he dressed himself comically with kunda flower garlands. As he walked on the bank of the river, the wind began to blow gently and pleasantly. Krsna gave joy to his friends by giving and receiving jokes and defeating their jests. O sinless one, you have not committed any sins previously or in this life, by which danger could come to your son. So why do you uselessly worry about danger from demons if his is a little late? He is the son of Nanda, who is famous as the jewel of piety, and is the son (vatsa object of affection ) of you, endowed with the most spotless fame (yasoda). We see that children fall into danger only when the parents have bad karma. Therefore there is no danger for your son. Listen as we tell you the reason for his being late as we have heard it from his friends. The wind, so fragrant and cool from touching the sandalwood trees of Malaya Mountain that it only blows very slowly, began to blow pleasantly on your son. The upadevatas, gandharvas, began to worshipping him in all ways including playing musical instruments as they praised his qualities. To accept this worship he has become late. Those of quality delight is seeing the person of quality. Therefore there is no need to worry for your son, for if they are worshipping him, it is your good fortune.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

They describe another pastime performed while gathering the cows as described previously, in a group including Yaśodā. He gathers the cows together after taking the cows to the water a second time. Realizing the pastime personally, when the time of arrival has passed and Yaśodā begins suffering, they approach her to comfort her with news that Kṛṣṇa is coming. This is expressed in six verses. From mention of the kunda flowers and gentle breeze it is inferred that it is Kārtika month. These flowers do not bloom in the spring, and the wind during winter and the dewy season is harsh. They comfort Yaśodā with this description since it shows that his pastimes give happiness to all and Kṛṣṇa receives comfort from everyone’s service. They explain the reason for his late arrival in this verse. He has gone to the Yamunā where he plays in the water and then plays on the bank. He needs to bathe because of fatigue in wandering all day. After that he dons a garland of kunda flowers, since it would be uncomfortable to wear a moist garland which was worn while in the water. They indicate the cause of his late arrival by describing that his pastimes gives happiness to all others. He is surrounded by friends and cows. This is to be expected since he and Balarāma are sons of Nanda. Nanda means “one who gives bliss to all.” O Yaśodā, because of you, no one has any suffering (anaghe)! He is your son and you experience only bliss (tava vatsaḥ). He is the object of the greatest affection like a calf (vatsa). Therefore it is not wrong to be anxious about him. He is surrounded by the boys and calves because they have all become motionless, satisfied with drinking water. And he gives joy to them by his jokes and pranks because they are affectionate as friends (praṇayinām). He wears a dress consisting of various ornaments like flower crowns, which gives joy or are a festival of pastimes (kautuka-veśaḥ). Thus it is understood that he has changed his dress. A soft wind blows in a pleasing manner (anukūlam). Or the wind blows from behind, favorable for his going. The wind is his assistant in Kṛṣṇa’s independent pastimes. The word manda (gentle) also suggests the wind’s assistance. The slow wind fans him or the wind blows near (upa) him. This means wherever he goes, wind also goes. It honors him with the touch of the south wind (malayaja), arising in the evening. Since it usually arises in the autumn season, the wind is here making favorable arrangements. And as well the wind blows favorably from the back. All the devatās like Gandharvas worship him with music. The words vandinaḥ and gītā indicate that they praise Kṛṣṇa by singing. The offerings (bali) and music accompany their songs. The offerings consist of attractive cloth, ornaments and foods. Because songs are most prominent, the Gandharvas are present according to Śrīdhara Svāmī. Because they surround Kṛṣṇa, he becomes late. But he will come quickly since the wind and the devatās are creating auspiciousness for his arrival.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Yaśodā returns, desiring to hear about the excellence of her son again, after recovering. Or the gopīs approach her to help her recover by giving news of her son’s return since she is suffering in separation. This is described in two verses. He is decorated with for joyful playing (kautuka) with jasmines in his hair. It is understood that he has changed his clothing. He is surrounded by a wealth of cows and cowherds, unlike any other person. On returning home in the afternoon, the cowherds are tired from playing all day. To give them relief and to have the cows drink their last water, he goes to the Yamunā. To give bliss to both parents they say “son of Nanda” and “your son.” Tava vatsaḥ (your son) indicates her great affection (vātsalya). O Yaśodā, with no knowledge of any suffering (anaghe) or who is free of suffering, because of your great affection! This is in comparison to others. In time, he will return, and you and we shall be free of suffering. This is humility natural to great prema. He is playing the water or on the bank of the Yamunā because he jokes with his friends filled with affection. These are causes of his delay in entering Vraja. The words sahacarā (persons with him) indicates some hatred on their part. The wind blows affectionately (anukūlam). The slow (manda) breeze suggests it is heavily endowed with fragrance to give joy to the suffering gopīs. It blows from the south (malayajah), being gentle, fragrant and cool. The Vidyādharas and all other devatās surround him. Singing should be first, though the order mentioned has instrumental music first. This could be a writing error. There is a version with gīta-vādya. He appears (veśaḥ) joyful (kautuka) with jasmine garlands. For playing in the dark water of the Yamunā he changes to cloth white with jasmine garlands. He is a son who gives joy (nanda-sutaḥ). Like a cow shows affection to its new born calf, Yaśodā is affection to Kṛṣṇa (vatsaḥ). The wind blows near (upavāti). It is fragrant with a touch of sandalwood (malayaja), coming from the south. This indicates spring season, which has jasmines. Vṛndāvana is endowed with all seasons. Or the wind blows cool or warm depending on the pastimes in the rāsa dance, just as the full moon always shines during the rāsa dance. By the singing everything is adjusted properly on all days. The vandis of Gokula came first. They and the devatās surround Kṛṣṇa, performing their services. They also offer scents, flowers, cloth and ornaments.