Original
Hindi
अभी रात्रि दो घड़ी अवशिष्ट है, पर अभीसे व्रजेन्द्रके मथुरागमनकी तैयारी प्रारम्भ हो गयी है। व्रजेन्द्रकी भी अनिच्छा है, व्रजरानी भी नहीं चाहतीं; फिर भी जाना आवश्यक है, राक्षस कंसको संतुष्ट जो करना है। अतः कंसके लिये उपहार-सम्भार, रत्नराशि शकटों (छकड़ों)-में भरी जा रही है; भर जानेपर शकटोंको खींच-खींचकर गोप राजपथपर एक पंक्तिमें सजा रहे हैं। व्रजेश्वर अतिशय बलिष्ठ गोपोंको बुलाते हैं। अपने हाथोंसे सबकी पीठ ठोककर उनके हाथोंमें शस्त्र देते हैं तथा समय एवं स्थानका निर्देश करते हैं कि अमुक गोप इस समयसे इस समयतक अमुक स्थानपर सावधान होकर पहरा देता रहे। बड़ी तत्परतासे प्रत्येक गोपको अलग-अलग कुछ गुप्त परामर्श देते हैं। इतनी तत्परता इसीलिये है कि उनकी अनुपस्थितिमें कंसप्रेरित कोई विपत्ति उनके पुत्रपर न आ जाय। इस आशङ्कासे ही व्रजेश्वरको समस्त गोकुलकी पूर्ण रक्षाकी पूरी व्यवस्था करके तब कंसका वार्षिक कर चुकाने मथुरा जाना है—
English translation
Two ghaṭīs of the night still remain, yet preparations for the king of Vraja's journey to Mathurā have already begun. He himself has no desire to go, and the queen of Vraja does not wish it either. Nevertheless, he must go, for the demon Kaṁsa has to be appeased. Gifts and stores for Kaṁsa, together with a great quantity of jewels, are therefore being loaded into carts. As each cart is filled, the cowherds pull it onto the royal road and arrange the carts in a single line. The lord of Vraja summons exceptionally powerful cowherds. With his own hands he pats each one on the back, places weapons in their hands, and assigns the precise time and place at which each cowherd must remain vigilant on guard. With great urgency, he gives every cowherd some private instruction separately. He is so painstaking because he fears that, during his absence, some calamity sent by Kaṁsa may befall his son. Moved by this apprehension, the lord of Vraja must first make every provision for the complete protection of all Gokula and only then journey to Mathurā to pay Kaṁsa's annual tribute.
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.5.19
गोपान् गोकुलरक्षायां निरूप्य मथुरां गतः। नन्दः कंसस्य वार्षिक्यं करं दातुं कुरूद्वह॥
English translation
O descendant of Kuru, after appointing the cowherd men to protect Gokula, Nanda went to Mathurā to pay Kaṁsa's yearly tribute.
Original
Hindi
एक पहर दिन चढ़नेतक कहीं सारी तैयारी हो सकी। पर जानेके पूर्व व्रजराज कुछ चिन्तित हो गये, “अत्यन्त नृशंस कंसके समक्ष जा रहा हूँ; पता नहीं क्या परिणाम होगा। मैं अपने इस शिशुका मुख देखने लौट सकूँगा कि नहीं.........! जो हो, जी भरकर इसे देख तो लूँ, यह पाथेय तो साथ ले लूँ।”
English translation
Only when the day was already one watch advanced were all the preparations finally complete. Before departing, however, the king of Vraja grew troubled. “I am going before the utterly ruthless Kaṁsa. Who knows what the outcome will be? Will I return to see the face of this infant of mine again or not? Whatever may happen, let me first gaze upon Him to my heart's content. Let me at least carry this sustenance for the journey with me.”
Original
Hindi
व्रजराज दौड़कर सूतिकागारमें जा पहुँचते हैं। व्रजरानी शिशुको उनकी गोदमें रख देती हैं। वे बार-बार शिशुके चन्द्रमुखकी ओर देखने लगे, बड़ी देरतक दर्शन-सुख लेते रहे; फिर सिरसे कपोलतक बार-बार चूमकर शिशुके श्याम कलेवरको हृदयसे सटा लिया! व्रजेश आये थे तृप्त होने, पर व्याकुलता तो और बढ़ गयी!
English translation
The king of Vraja hastens into the lying-in chamber. The queen of Vraja places the infant in his lap. Again and again he gazes upon the child's moonlike face, drinking for a long while the joy of that vision. Then he repeatedly kisses Him from the crown of His head down to His cheeks and presses the infant's dark body against his heart. The lord of Vraja had come hoping to find satisfaction, but his anguish only deepened.
Original
Hindi
पासमें धात्री खड़ी थी। पिताकी गोदमें विराजित शिशुकी ओर लक्ष्य करके वह बोली, “मेरे वत्स! मेरे साँवरे! देख, तेरे पिता मथुरा जानेके लिये तेरी आज्ञा चाहते हैं। तू आज्ञा दे दे।” धात्रीका यह कहना था कि एक अतिशय आश्चर्यमय अनुपम बाल्यभङ्गिमा श्याम शिशुके मुखपर नाच उठी तथा उस भङ्गिमाके आवेशसे ही उसके अरुणिम होठोंपर एक मन्द मुसकान छा गयी। गोपेशने उसे स्पष्ट देखा। ओह! इस मुसकानने तो उनकी चिरस्थिर बुद्धिको भी चञ्चल बना डाला! पुनः स्थिर करनेका अवकाश भी नहीं, स्थिर होनेकी आशा भी नहीं, वे इस चञ्चलताको लिये ही मथुराकी ओर चल पड़े—
English translation
The nurse stood nearby. Looking toward the infant seated in His father's lap, she said, “My child, my dark darling, look! Your father seeks Your permission to go to Mathurā. Grant him leave.” As soon as the nurse spoke, an incomparably wondrous expression of infancy danced across the dark infant's face. Impelled by that expression, a gentle smile spread over His reddish lips. The lord of the cowherds saw it clearly. Oh! That smile unsettled even his long-steadfast understanding. There was no time to steady it again and no hope that it could be steadied. Carrying that very agitation within him, he set out toward Mathurā.
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Gopāla-campū
वत्स! श्याम! पिता तवायमयितुं राज्ञः पुरं त्वत्कृतानुज्ञां प्रार्थयते ततो वितरतादित्येष धात्रीरितः। आश्चर्यातुलबालभाववलनाद्ददृशे स्मितं तेन च श्रीमान् गोपजनाधिपः प्रचितधीः प्रस्थानमासेदिवान्॥
English translation
“Child! Dark one! This father of Yours seeks the permission granted by You to go to the king's city, so please bestow it.” Thus the nurse addressed Him. Through the movement of an astonishing and incomparable infant mood, a smile then appeared, and the illustrious lord of the cowherd people, his mind profoundly affected, commenced his departure.
Original
Hindi
गोपमण्डली शकटसमूहके संचालनमें लगी है। पर व्रजेन्द्रका ध्यान इस ओर सर्वथा नहीं है। उनकी आँखें तो श्याम शिशुको देख रही हैं तथा कान अन्य ग्रामसे आयी हुई, दही बेचकर लौटती हुई कुछ गोपियोंकी चर्चा सुन रहे हैं। एक गोपी कह रही है—
English translation
The company of cowherds is occupied with setting the train of carts in motion, but the king of Vraja's attention is not upon it at all. His eyes still behold the dark infant, while his ears listen to the conversation of some cowherd women from another village who are returning after selling curd. One of them is saying:
Original
Braj. Attributed in the verse to Sūrdās
सोभा-सिंधु न अनत रही री। नंदभवन भरपूरि उमगि चलि, ब्रज की बीथिनि फिरति बही री॥ देखी जाइ आज गोकुल में घर-घर बेचत फिरत दही री। कहें लगि कहाँ बनाय बहुत बिधि, कहत न मुख सेसहु निबही री॥ जसुमति उदर अगाध उदधि तें उपजी ऐसी सबन कही री। सूरदास-प्रभु इंद्रनील-मनि ब्रजबनिता उर लाइ गुही री॥
English translation
The ocean of beauty could not remain confined elsewhere. Filling Nanda's house to overflowing, it surged forth and now streams through the lanes of Vraja.
Go and see it today in Gokula, wandering from house to house as the women sell their curd. How far can anyone describe it, however many ways she may devise? Even all the mouths of Śeṣa could not bring the telling to an end.
Everyone says that this beauty arose from the fathomless ocean of Yaśodā's womb. Sūrdās says: the women of Vraja clasp the Lord, that sapphire gem, against their hearts and hold Him hidden there.