Seventh Sarga: Delighting in the Journey to the Forest

Seventh Sarga, entitled 'Delighting in the Journey to the Forest.'

'Mother, why do you detain me by putting on tilaka, ornaments, and all the rest? Even now I have been unable to leave the house. What am I to do?' (1)

'My entire circle of friends has already assembled here at daybreak, and that friend of mine who is an ocean of affection waits for me on the road, eager to go to the forest.' (2)

'Why are You so agitated? Here is the protective jewel of Vraja. My son, I am only tying this pacifying gem upon Your wrist.' (3)

'No sound of the cows has been heard upon the road, and the day's departure has not yet begun. Your friends have not left their homes, so why have You alone become so restless?' (4)

His mother lovingly cleansed, anointed, and adorned Him with jeweled and golden ornaments, while His circle of sakhīs laughed at their friend, who looked like a stage decorated beyond all measure. (5)

Even His mother's fond caresses seemed like bonds to Him. His eyes were distracted with longing for His dear friend's arrival and became apprehensive at the mere sound of a distant signal. (6)

Vasudāma, Sudāma, Kiṅkiṇi, Subala, and the others gathered from every direction and reached Hari's town like waves arriving at the shore of an ocean of happiness. (7)

Then a cowherd arrived and loudly announced, 'Children, hear what the king of Vraja, who remains at the cowsheds, has ordered for you here. (8)

'Let Acyuta sleep happily for a moment. Do not wake Him by force. I myself have only now released the rows of cows, so prepare them without haste.' (9)

As soon as they heard this, the boys joyfully set out for the cowsheds. A few, including Subala, quietly entered the private quarters of their dearest friend. (10)

Those followers whose love impels them to honor Hari, never to dishonor Him, approached the queen of Vraja first, among them Raktaka and Patraka. (11)

One attendant took up the lovely row of modakas she had entrusted to him for her son's delight. It resembled a garland of fruits bending upon the vine of her boundless maternal affection. (12)

Carrying it upon his shoulder inside a wooden chest inlaid with jewels, he regarded it with loving care as more worthy of attention than even hundreds of millions of lives. (13)

Another shone while carrying a large, beautifully fashioned moonstone pitcher filled with moon-cooled water and wrapped in a still, reddish cloth jacket. (14)

What incomparable jewel of good fortune did this servant carry outward for all to see? It seemed the pure white movement of his own mind, liquefied and concealed beneath the color of affection. (15)

Another carried a superb crystal casket containing betel rolls shaped like serpent vines. Holding it beneath his arm, did he bear the lunar disc that was the presiding deity of his own mind? (16)

One attendant carried many kinds of garments, ornaments, and other things for his Lord to wear, articles destined to become instruments of enchantment for the beautiful-eyed girls and to bewilder even the radiant gods. (17)

Suddenly Hari emerged, hearing the chatter of His circle of friends. He was like a rain cloud coming forth after the close embrace of a beloved who resembled a flash of lightning. (18)

As He walked, He covered Himself with the fresh saffron cloth that the same companion had placed upon Him. Could the restless lightning have wrapped the cloud because she was unable to let Him go? (19)

His sakhīs laughed, showering the flowers of smiles whose white brilliance shamed all other white radiance. After they completed the work of adorning His limbs, He entered the great palace courtyard. (20)

His Kaustubha spread excellent rays like the sun raising a staff of light, and the circle of peacock-feather eyes upon His crown shone like a brilliant rainbow. (21)

The splendor of His swaying pearl necklaces eclipsed rows of young cranes, while bees clustered around His radiant forest garland, whose powerful fragrance continually arose. (22)

Hari, remover of Vraja's hundreds of torments, passed through the city gate and appeared before His assembled mothers, swiftly flooding them with the waters of joy. (23)

The queen of Vraja suddenly came out with Ambikā, Kilimbā, her sisters, and her brothers' wives, all with tear-filled eyes. Rādhikā followed behind with Her companions. (24)

One clear cry, 'Mukunda is going to the forest!' arose and entered the ears of the townspeople, where it seemed to give birth to many different sounds. (25)

'Friend, go without delay and turn the cows toward the forest path. Today let us enjoy wrestling with Hari in the arena upon the mountain slope.' (26)

Young brāhmaṇas, holding darbha grass, sprinkled Hari with drops consecrated by benedictory hymns and peace-invoking verses. 'Go before us quickly and attain delight.' (27)

'Cowherd, take me from here by force so that the nectar of my grandson's lotus face may cool my eyes. Without him I cannot bear even to live.' (28)

'Clever friend, devise some delightful pretext that will deceive the old woman. By a secluded path I shall reach the forest bower that is our appointed meeting place.' (29)

'Friend, what can I do? The sounds rising from Hari's cowherd town have increased my thirst. My body has become motionless, and I have not even the strength to climb to the rooftop.' (30)

'Enough of arranging my hair here. My breast is uncovered and entirely unadorned, but if only I may behold Mādhava once I shall live. Friend, release me from here.' (31)

'Let whatever must happen come. Let my husband inflict an unbearable punishment upon me today. I shall go even while my elders watch, for this opportunity will not remain.' (32)

'You shameless girl, why are you crying out? Do you think I am leaving your house alone? What chaste young wife is now departing from her own home? Stay here!' (33)

Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa then led the cows from the cowsheds toward the forest with His friends. Surrounded by herds as dark as sapphire, He moved forward, making every direction appear wonderfully green. (34)

His parents, scorched by separation from their son, followed Him and drenched the road with drops of tears flowing from their eyes. (35)

Absorbed in gazing upon their son and forgetful of every bodily action, the two parents stood motionless for a moment like painted images. (36)

Under the pretext of embracing his son, did the cowherd king place his very heart within Him? For as soon as his son went far away, Nanda's own consciousness departed with Him. (37)

'Tender child, if You must go to the forest to herd the cows, then we too shall follow. Do not deceive our sight by disappearing. Walk plainly before us.' (38)

'Son, do not carry the current of our affection away from Your side to some other place. Do not bear to see Your friends' hearts afflicted by the blazing weapons of the fire of separation from You. (39)

'Adornment of the town, this city and these homes become only blemishes when You depart. They seem to swallow by force the useless lives that still remain within us. (40)

'The coming three watches, unable to pass away, will strike us, and You will not return here quickly. What, then, are we to do? (41)

'How far apart are the rows of petals of a red lotus, which resemble the tender, spotless soles of Your feet, and that forest ground marked by grass, thorns, and sharp stones upon which You intend to walk? (42)

'How far apart are Your body, soft as fresh butter and sprinkled with liquid musk, and these fierce rays of the sun, which grow more intense each moment like a terrible poison? (43)

'Since our life airs do not visibly burst apart when we lose the good fortune of being Your mothers, alas, supreme cruelty must have established its absolute sovereignty within us. (44)

'Let the cowherd men themselves protect the white cows, or let the king of Vraja go. Alas, child, You will not abandon Your obstinacy. How can Your own kinspeople continue to breathe here? (45)

'Tender child, were You born into the auspicious cowherd dynasty only to suffer the humiliation of following herds that wander after grass? (46)

The mothers spoke an ocean of pleas in choked syllables. Hearing them, Kṛṣṇa could neither continue His journey nor remain standing before them. (47)

Then the queen of Vraja perceived that her departing life had somehow regained steadiness. Bathing her son in her tears, she embraced Him for a long time. (48)

The maternal affection that is expert in securing her child's welfare quickly arose and forcibly restored her awareness, driving away the strange derangement that had spread through her. (49)

Utterly distraught, she protected every limb of her son by reciting the names of Nṛsiṁha, then addressed Balabhadra, Subhadra, Vardhana, and the other boys standing before her. (50)

'How could I not know that He is your younger brother, your friend, and your very life? Yet what mother lives without repeating the same request every day? (51)

'Though tender, Hari is foremost among the restless. Though intelligent, He has not yet developed mature foresight. Though still weak, He is exceedingly daring. Stand on every side and protect Him well. (52)

'He does not submit so readily to His father, His uncles, or His mother as He does to you. Therefore my entreaty to you will not prove fruitless. (53)

'If you see the violent outbreak of any demon serving cruel Kaṁsa, then flee at once. Abandon all the cows if necessary and return together to us. (54)

'Subala, Ujjvala, Kokila, and all you blessed boys, do not wrestle forcibly with your friend. Are there not many other games in this world for people to play? (55)

'Raktaka, Patraka, and the other attendants, though you are expert in service, listen. I shall explain the nature of these two sons, and you should understand what they desire. (56)

'Alas, when their minds are absorbed in play, the two do not recognize hunger even when tormented by it, thirst even when it dries their throats, or indeed their own bodies. (57)

'Today my son will wander upon a path whose sand blazes in the sun, while His mother remains inside a palace built of golden bricks. Just consider this. (58)

'While I remain safe and attend to household duties, I shamelessly bear the title mother, and these people even praise me as such. (59)

'Through kinship with you, His father has acquired a hardness like a thunderbolt. Yet our son, by His own virtues, has delighted even that heart whose true nature is soft as a flower. (60)

Kṛṣṇa fashioned His mother's words into a celebrated ornament for His ears, then slightly soothed her burning heart by sprinkling it with the nectar flowing from the moon of His smile. (61)

'Alas, we shall simply lead the cows near the groves along the Yamunā and sport happily among clusters of trees whose dense shade is cool and fragrant. (62)

'No fatigue caused by tending them will even have a chance to arise for me, for I have trained my flute to be expert in gathering and directing the newly formed herds. (63)

'The path is swept by masses of yak-tail whisks, sprinkled with drops of flower nectar, shaded everywhere by groves of trees, and deeply perfumed by musk deer wandering upon it. (64)

'At every step that road feels like a soft, spotless cotton mattress spread beneath the feet. Mother, you have never seen the path that you so forcefully condemn. (65)

'All around it, vines laden with flowers of many colors bend and sway in the gentle breeze, while cool streams of extraordinary fragrance and beauty pour forth. (66)

'At every step my mind is drawn by mountain slopes, bowers, and caves filled with cuckoo singers, peacock dancers, and roaming companies of bees serving as bards. (67)

'The forest's splendor reduces the beauty of hosts of jeweled palaces to dullness. Adorned by my circle of companions, I shall rest happily there. Why do you grieve so deeply? (68)

Then, unnoticed by the assembly, the corner of His eye moved secretly. The dancing gaze of the jewel among young women rushed forth and swiftly embraced that exceedingly swift glance. (69)

The two beautiful ones expertly understood each other's inner condition and the charming message conveyed by their eyes. From that exchange, the life airs of the youthful pair regained steadiness and bore a lovely smile. (70)

The young brāhmaṇa said, 'Mother, why do you torment yourself? Hear the truth: not even a particle of the happiness found in the forest exists here in your town. (71)

'We quickly knock bananas, jackfruit, mangoes, pomegranates, and other fully ripe and fragrant fruits from the trees, then eat them at once in happiness. (72)

'My friend goes to the forest desiring to gather fruits, fresh shoots, and flowers from rows of wish-fulfilling vines. That desire cannot be properly fulfilled within your house. (73)

Thus Acyuta destroyed the incomparable anguish of His kinspeople. Summoned by the cows' lowing, He showed that, despite His great hunger, they would not take even one step without Him. With effort He turned His parents back, then joyfully adorned the lovely forest ground with the marks of the disc, lotus, and other signs upon His feet. (74)

'The hearts of my beloveds reveal the pain of separation from me. I shall therefore take those hearts with me and go to the forest in their company.' When Hari departed, their eyes followed Him, for what other object could they have? Only their bodies entered their respective homes by the force of habit, resembling souls already liberated. (75)

Thus ends the Seventh Sarga, entitled 'Delighting in the Journey to the Forest,' in the great poem Śrī Kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta.