Original
Hindi
स्वर्गीय देवोंकी श्रवणशक्ति लुप्त हो गयी थी। नागलोकके प्राणी भी बधिरप्राय हो गये थे, तथा दिङ्नाग प्रकम्पित हो रहे थे। क्षणभरके लिये समस्त ब्रह्माण्डमें उसके अतिरिक्त अन्य कोई शब्द अवशिष्ट नहीं रहा था। ऐसी एक साथ शतसहस्र प्रलयंकर वज्रपातोंकी-सी वह प्रचण्ड ध्वनि अर्जुनवृक्षोंके धराशायी होनेपर हुई थी। किंतु अघटघटनापटीयसी योगमायाने उस ध्वनिको व्रजपुरके धरातलपर तो तबतक प्रकट नहीं होने दिया, जबतक कुबेरतनय नलकूबर-मणिग्रीव श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रका स्तवन कर चले नहीं गये। स्तुतिके समय कितने क्षण, कितने दिन, कितने मास, कितने वर्ष, कितने युग बीते थे, यह कल्पना प्राकृत मनमें समा नहीं सकती; पर जितना भी समय लगा हो, उतने कालतक तो व्रजपुर निश्चितरूपसे नीरव था। अवश्य ही गृहकार्यमें संलग्न गोपसुन्दरियोंकी एवं व्रजराजमहिषीकी कङ्कण-झंकृति, नूपुर-रव रह-रहकर उस नीरवताको भङ्ग कर देते थे। पक्षियोंका कलरव, भ्रमरका गुञ्जन तो इनमें स्थायी स्वरकी भाँति समा गया था। पर ज्यों ही कुबेरपुत्र दृष्टिपथसे ओझल हुए कि बस, समस्त व्रजपुर भी उस प्रचण्ड ध्वनिसे काँप उठा। गोवर्द्धनपरिसर, परिसरकी समलंकृत यज्ञभूमि ऐसी हिल गयी मानो भूकम्प हुआ हो। गोपोंके, गोपरामाओंके अङ्ग ऐसे नाचने लगे, मानो सहसा सबके अङ्गोंमें कम्पवायुका प्रकोप हो गया हो:
English translation
The celestial gods lost their power of hearing. The beings of Nāgaloka too became almost deaf, and the elephants of the directions trembled. For one moment, no sound other than that tremendous crash remained anywhere in the entire universe. When the two arjuna trees fell to the ground, the thunderous sound resembled hundreds of thousands of world-destroying thunderbolts striking at once. Yet Yogamāyā, expert in making the impossible possible, did not allow that sound to manifest upon the ground of Vraja until Kubera's sons, Nalakūbara and Maṇigrīva, had finished praising Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra and departed.
No material mind can conceive how many moments, days, months, years, or ages passed during their hymn of praise. Whatever the duration may have been, Vraja certainly remained silent throughout it. From time to time, the tinkling bracelets and anklets of the beautiful cowherd women and the queen of Vraja, engaged in their household duties, broke that silence. The calls of birds and humming of bees had merged into these sounds like an abiding musical note. But the moment Kubera's sons vanished from sight, the whole settlement of Vraja shook with the tremendous crash. The region around Govardhana and its beautifully adorned sacrificial ground shook as if struck by an earthquake. The limbs of the cowherd men and women began to dance as though a sudden trembling wind had afflicted every body:
Original
Braj
तरु टूटत चरके, झरमर झरके, फिरि भर-भरके भूमि परे। धर थल-थल धरके लोग नगरके, थरथर थरके, चौंकि परे॥ तहँ उर सब नरके, इमि खरखरके, जनु थनतरके झरप तहाँ। जे गिरत न सरके, ग्रह सब बरके, को कहि हरिके गुननि महाँ॥
English translation
The trees split with a crack, shed showers of leaves, and then fell upon the earth with a mighty weight. The ground heaved beneath the townspeople, who trembled and started in alarm.
Every person's heart there rattled so violently that it seemed to leap from the breast. Even the mighty planets would not remain unmoved by such a fall. Who can describe the greatness of Hari's virtues?
Original
Hindi
व्रजेश्वरीकी भी यही दशा है। साथ ही उन्हें ऊखलमें बँधे अपने नीलमणिकी स्मृति हो आयी है। श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रका उन्हें विस्मरण हो गया हो, यह बात नहीं। केवल अभी कुछ देर पहले लीलाशक्तिने उनके एवं नीलमणिके बीचमें अपना आँचल फैला रखा था, उसकी ओटमें मैया अपने जीवनधनको देखकर भी अच्छी तरह नहीं देख पा रही थीं। पर अब अञ्चल हट चुका था, उसकी आवश्यकता नहीं रही थी। इसीलिये मैयाको मानो वहींसे, कक्षकी मणिभित्तिका व्यवधान रहनेपर भी नीलमणिके स्पष्ट दर्शन होने लगे हैं। मैया उस समय भी अपने नीलमणिको खिलानेके लिये दधिमन्थन ही कर रही थीं, पर अब अवकाश कहाँ! तृणावर्तके समय भी ऐसी-सी ही ध्वनि हुई थी--इस संस्कारके जागनेमें देर थोड़े लगी। मैया मन्थनदण्डको फेंककर विद्युद्गतिसे वहाँ उस स्थानपर जा पहुँचती हैं, जहाँ वे अपने नीलमणिको ऊखलसे बाँध गयी थीं। वहाँ तो कोई है ही नहीं। हाँ, उससे कुछ ही दूरपर वे गोपशिशु कोलाहल कर रहे हैं और वे प्रकाण्ड यमलार्जुनवृक्ष धराशायी पड़े हैं--यह मैयाको दीख गया। 'आह! मेरा नीलमणि कहाँ है?'--मैया इतना ही सोच पायीं। फिर तो अङ्गोंमें रक्तसंचार स्थगित हो गया। उस समय उनके प्राण कहाँ थे? धमनियोंमें रक्तका प्रवाह न रहनेपर भी वे निष्पन्द--प्रस्तर-प्रतिमाकी भाँति ज्यों-की-त्यों खड़ी कैसे रहीं?--इनका समाधान तो सम्भव नहीं, पर मैयाकी स्थिति इस समय ठीक ऐसी ही है।
English translation
Vrajeśvarī was in the same condition, and at once she remembered her Nīlamaṇi bound to the mortar. It was not that she had forgotten Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra. Only a short while earlier, the power of līlā had spread her veil between Mother and Nīlamaṇi. Hidden behind it, Mother could not see the treasure of her life clearly even while looking directly at Him. Now that veil had been withdrawn because it was no longer needed. Thus, even with the jeweled wall of the room intervening, Mother seemed to behold Nīlamaṇi clearly from where she stood.
At that moment she was still churning yogurt to feed her Nīlamaṇi, but where was there time for that now? A similar sound had arisen when Tṛṇāvarta came, and the recollection of that impression awakened at once. Throwing aside the churning staff, Mother rushed like lightning to the place where she had left Nīlamaṇi bound to the mortar. No one was there. A short distance away she saw the cowherd boys making a commotion and the enormous twin arjuna trees lying upon the ground. "Ah! Where is my Nīlamaṇi?" This was all Mother could think. Then the circulation of blood through her limbs stopped. Where was her life-breath at that moment? How did she remain standing utterly motionless like a stone image even though no blood flowed through her veins? There is no way to explain it, but this was precisely Mother's condition.
Original
Hindi
क्षणभर भी न लगा, व्रजपुरमें जितनी गोपसुन्दरियाँ थीं, सभी नन्दभवनमें आ पहुँचीं। उनकी तो बात क्या, वे निकट थीं; सुदूर गिरिराजके प्रान्तमें व्रजेश्वर थे, व्रजपुरका समस्त गोपसमुदाय था, वे सब-के-सब आ पहुँचे। उन सबको स्मृति है केवल एकमात्र श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रकी। वृक्षपातके उस महागर्जनको सुनकर सब इतने भयभीत हो गये हैं, श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रकी अनिष्टाशङ्कासे उनका मन इतना अधिक भर गया है कि नन्दनन्दनके अतिरिक्त अन्य किसी भी वृत्तिके लिये वहाँ स्थान नहीं है। इस अवस्थामें वे आ पहुँचे हैं:
English translation
In less than a moment, every beautiful cowherd woman in Vraja arrived at Nanda's residence. They were nearby, but even Vrajeśvara and the entire community of cowherd men, who had been far away at the edge of Girirāja, all arrived. They remembered Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra alone. Hearing the mighty crash of the falling trees, they had become so frightened and their minds so overwhelmed by fear that harm had befallen Him that no thought other than Nanda's son could find a place within them. In this condition they arrived:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.11.1
गोपा नन्दादयः श्रुत्वा द्रुमयोः पततो रवम्। तत्राजग्मुः कुरुश्रेष्ठ निर्घातभयशङ्किताः॥
English translation
O best of the Kurus, hearing the sound of the two trees falling, Nanda and the other cowherd men came there, fearful and apprehensive because of the thunderous crash.
Original
Hindi
श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रमें तन्मय हो जानेपर यहाँ भी, इस प्रपञ्चमें भी देश-कालका व्यवधान नहीं रहता। फिर यह तो स्वयं भगवान् व्रजेन्द्रनन्दनकी चिदानन्दमयी लीला, उनके नित्य चिदानन्दमय परिकर, उनकी चिन्मयी व्रजभूमिसे सम्बद्ध घटना है। यहाँ व्रजेश्वर, व्रजगोप यदि गिरिराजकी सीमा, विस्तृत वनप्रदेश, व्रजपुरकी उत्तुङ्ग अट्टालिकाएँ लाँघकर क्षणभरमें वहाँ नन्दप्राङ्गणमें आ पहुँचे, तो इसमें आश्चर्य ही क्या है। यहाँ तो लीलाके लिये ही चिन्मय देश-काल हैं। लीलामें आवश्यकतानुसार उनका विस्तार-संकोच होता है। इस समय दोनोंकी आवश्यकता है। अतः नन्दव्रज एवं गिरिराजका मध्यवर्ती विशाल भूखण्ड तो संकुचित हो गया। व्रजेश्वर, गोप ऐसे आ पहुँचे मानो द्वारपर ही थे; पर वह प्राङ्गण विस्तृत हो गया, इतने स्थानमें ही समस्त पुरवासी समा गये। अस्तु, आते ही सबकी दृष्टिमें भग्न यमलार्जुनवृक्ष तो आ गये; महागर्जन इन्हींका था, यह भी ध्यानमें आ गया। पर इतने प्रकाण्ड वृक्ष मूलसे उखड़कर गिर कैसे गये, इनके धराशायी होनेमें हेतु क्या है--इसे वे सर्वथा नहीं समझ पाये। सहसा ऐसी घटना घटित हो जानेका कोई कारण वे न ढूँढ़ सके। कारण न पाकर उनका चित्त भ्रान्त होने लगा:
English translation
When one becomes wholly absorbed in Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, even here in the material world, the restrictions of space and time no longer remain. How much more is this true of an event connected with the eternally conscious and blissful līlā of Bhagavān Himself as the son of Vrajendra, with His eternal conscious and blissful associates, and with His spiritual land of Vraja? If Vrajeśvara and the cowherd men crossed the boundary of Girirāja, the vast forest region, and Vraja's lofty mansions and reached Nanda's courtyard in a single moment, what wonder is there? Here, spiritual space and time exist solely for līlā, expanding or contracting according to its needs.
At this moment, both were needed. The vast tract between Nanda's Vraja and Girirāja contracted, and Vrajeśvara and the cowherd men arrived as if they had been standing at the door. Yet the courtyard expanded, allowing every resident of the settlement to gather within that single space. As soon as they arrived, they saw the broken twin arjuna trees and understood that the mighty crash had come from them. But they could not comprehend how such enormous trees had been uprooted and fallen, or what had caused them to collapse. Unable to find any cause for such a sudden event, their minds became bewildered:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.11.2
भूम्यां निपतितौ तत्र ददृशुर्यमलार्जुनौ। बभ्रमुस्तदविज्ञाय लक्ष्यं पतनकारणम्॥
English translation
There they saw the twin arjuna trees fallen upon the ground. Unable to discern the evident cause of their fall, they became bewildered.
Original
Hindi
अबतक उन्हें श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रके दर्शन नहीं हुए हैं। अर्जुनतरुकी शाखाश्रेणी, पल्लवजालमें वे छिपे हैं। अवश्य ही गोपशिशुओंकी प्रसन्न, कौतुकपूर्ण मुद्रा देखकर उन्हें यह आश्वासन तो मिल जाता है कि नन्दनन्दन सकुशल हैं। अर्जुनतरुको घेरकर वे आश्चर्यकी मुद्रामें खड़े हो जाते हैं। इतनेमें व्रजेश्वरको एक गोपशिशु अङ्गुलिसे वृक्षमूलकी ओर देखनेका संकेत करता है। व्रजेश किंचित् उस ओर आगे बढ़कर देखते हैं और देखकर दंग रह जाते हैं। उन्हें कल्पना नहीं थी कि अपने पुत्रकी ऐसी अद्भुत अनुपम झाँकी देखनेको मिलेगी। कटिप्रदेशमें पट्टडोरी बँधी है, डोरी ऊखलसे सन्नद्ध है तथा अपने जानु एवं करतलको पृथ्वीपर टेके वे ऊखलको खींच रहे हैं तथा नेत्रोंमें भय भरा है--यह दृश्य व्रजेश्वरके समक्ष आते ही न जाने कैसे सभी गोप-गोपसुन्दरियाँ भी एक साथ यह देख लेती हैं। वास्तवमें तरुके मूलोत्पाटनका हेतु उनके सामने आ जाता है, फिर भी वे समझ नहीं पाते। किस महाबलवान् का यह कार्य है, किस हेतुसे उसने इन्हें उखाड़ फेंका--इसका कुछ भी निर्णय नहीं कर पा रहे हैं। क्षण-क्षणमें उनका आश्चर्य बढ़ता जा रहा है। अधिकांशका मन किसी महाबली दैत्यके उत्पातकी कल्पना कर व्याकुल होने लगता है:
English translation
They had not yet seen Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, for He was hidden amid the array of branches and network of leaves of the arjuna trees. The cheerful, wonder-filled faces of the cowherd boys assured them that Nanda's son was safe. They stood surrounding the trees in astonishment. Then one cowherd boy pointed toward the roots and signaled Vrajeśvara to look there. Vrajeśa stepped a little closer, looked, and was left speechless. He had never imagined that he would behold such a marvelous and incomparable sight of his son.
A silken cord was tied around Kṛṣṇa's waist and fastened to the mortar. Resting His knees and palms upon the earth, He was pulling the mortar, His eyes filled with fear. As soon as this scene appeared before Vrajeśvara, somehow all the cowherd men and women beheld it at once. The true cause of the trees being uprooted stood before them, but they still could not understand. They could not determine what mighty being had done this or why he had torn down the trees. Their astonishment increased at every moment, and most of them grew distressed at the thought that some immensely powerful demon had caused the disturbance:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.11.3
उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं च बालकम्। कस्येदं कुत आश्चर्यमुत्पात इति कातराः॥
English translation
They saw the child bound with a rope and dragging the mortar. Distressed, they wondered, "Whose deed is this? From where has this astonishing calamity arisen?"
Original
Hindi
जो कुछ अधिक धैर्यशाली हैं, वे दैत्यकृत किस मायाका अनुसन्धान करने चलते हैं। पर वैसा कोई भी चिह्न उन्हें नहीं प्राप्त होता। दैत्य नहीं आया--यह धारणा तो पुष्ट होती है; किंतु:
English translation
Those with somewhat greater composure began searching for signs of some illusion wrought by a demon, but they found no such trace. Their conviction that no demon had come grew stronger, yet they still wondered:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Gopāla-campū
विना वातं विना वर्षं विद्युत्प्रपतनं विना। विना हस्तिकृतं दोषं केनेमौ पातितौ द्रुमौ॥
English translation
With no storm, no rain, no lightning strike, and no violence caused by an elephant, who has felled these two trees?
Original
Hindi
“झंझावात नहीं आया, वर्षा नहीं आयी, आकस्मिक वज्रपात भी नहीं हुआ, यहाँ कोई मत्त गजेन्द्र भी नहीं आया, जिसकी स्वच्छन्द चेष्टासे यह अनुचित घटना घटी हो; फिर इन युग्म अर्जुन-वृक्षोंको गिराया किसने?”
English translation
"No tempest came, no rain fell, and no sudden thunderbolt struck. Nor did any intoxicated king of elephants come here whose unrestrained movements might have caused this untoward event. Then who felled these twin arjuna trees?"
Original
Hindi
यह रहस्य वे न पा सके। उनकी विस्मयभरी आँखें गोपशिशुओंकी ओर केन्द्रित हो गयीं। किंतु व्रजेश्वरका ध्यान अब इस ओर नहीं है। उनका अणु-अणु अपने इष्टदेव नारायणके प्रति कृतज्ञतासे पूर्ण हो रहा है। ऊखलमें बँधे पुत्रके अङ्गोंको अच्छी तरह टटोलकर उन्होंने देख लिया; अपना जी भर लिया कि कहीं कोई क्षत नहीं लगा और फिर तो उनका रोम-रोम पुकार रहा है--'नारायण! देव! प्रभो! अशरणशरण! दीनबन्धो! नाथ! तुम्हारी जय हो! इस अयाचित अनुकम्पाको जय हो!' व्रजेशका यह जय-जयकार अन्तस्तलमें ही सीमित नहीं रहा, वे उच्चस्वरसे श्रीनारायणदेवकी जय-घोषणा करने लगे।
English translation
They could not discover the mystery. Their wonder-filled eyes turned toward the cowherd boys, but Vrajeśvara's attention was no longer upon this question. Every particle of his being overflowed with gratitude toward his worshipful Lord Nārāyaṇa. He carefully felt the limbs of his son, who was still bound to the mortar, and satisfied himself fully that He had suffered no injury. Then every hair upon his body cried out, "Nārāyaṇa! O Lord! O Master! Refuge of the shelterless! Friend of the lowly! O Protector, all glory to You! All glory to this grace bestowed without being sought!" Vrajeśa's acclamation did not remain confined within his heart. He began loudly proclaiming the glory of Lord Nārāyaṇa.
Original
Hindi
इसी बीचमें दो शिशुओंने उनकी चादर खींचकर उनका ध्यान अपनी ओर खींचते हुए कहना आरम्भ किया--'बाबा! सुनो! हम बताते हैं, कन्हैयाने ही तो वृक्ष उखाड़े हैं, देखो; यह ऊखल खींचते हुए पहले भीतर चला गया, फिर इसने उसको तिरछा कर दिया और तब डोरी खींचने लगा। बस, वृक्ष टूट गये।' यह बात समाप्त होते-न-होते नन्दनपुत्र तोकने कहना आरम्भ किया--'इतना ही नहीं बाबा! एक और खेल हुआ। इन दोनों वृक्षोंमेंसे दो पुरुष निकले, जो आगकी तरह जल रहे थे; वे बार-बार कन्हैया भैयाके चरणोंमें गिरते थे। और बाबा! वे दोनों बड़ी देरतक गीत गा रहे थे, रो भी रहे थे; और फिर कन्हैया भैयाने भी अपने हाथ नचा-नचाकर उनसे कुछ बातें कहीं और वे फिर चले गये।' सुबल भी बोल उठा--'बाबा! हम सबोंने देखा है। इन्हीं वृक्षोंमेंसे वे दोनों निकले, कन्हैयाके साथ बातें कीं और फिर उत्तरकी ओर चले गये।' इसके बाद उपनन्दसे, अन्यान्य वयस्क गोपोंसे, अपने पिता-पितृव्यसे सभी शिशु इसी घटनाको परम उल्लासमें भरकर बताने लगे:
English translation
Meanwhile, two children tugged at Nanda's shawl to draw his attention and began to speak. "Father, listen! We shall tell you. Kanhaiyā Himself uprooted the trees. Look, He first went between them while pulling the mortar, then turned it sideways and began tugging the rope. That was all, and the trees broke apart."
Before they had finished, Nanda's son Toka began: "That is not all, Father! Another wonder took place. Two men emerged from these trees, blazing like fire. Again and again they fell at brother Kanhaiyā's feet. Father, for a long time they both sang and wept. Then brother Kanhaiyā gestured with His hands and said something to them, and they went away."
Subala also spoke up: "Father, we all saw it. Those two came out of these very trees, spoke with Kanhaiyā, and then departed toward the north." After this, filled with the greatest delight, all the children related the same event to Upananda, the other adult cowherd men, their fathers, and their uncles:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.11.4
बाला ऊचुरनेनेति तिर्यग्गतमुलूखलम्। विकर्षता मध्यगेन पुरुषावप्यचक्ष्महि॥
English translation
The boys said, "No, no, He did it. He passed between the trees while dragging the mortar crosswise, and thus they fell. We also saw two men emerge from them."
Original
Hindi
यह कहते समय उन गोपशिशुओंके मुखपर तो भय अथवा आश्चर्यकी छाया भी नहीं है। वे परम सत्य तथ्य बतला रहे हैं, इस दृढ़ताके स्पष्ट चिह्न उनके मुखमण्डलपर अवश्य अङ्कित हैं। अतिशय उत्कण्ठासे सबने इनकी बात सुनी भी; किंतु किसी भी गोपको उनकी बातपर विश्वास जो नहीं होता। सुनते ही सभी एक ही निर्णय देते हैं--'यह तो कदापि सम्भव नहीं, छोटे-से नन्दनन्दनके द्वारा यह कार्य हो, इस शिशुके बलप्रयोगसे ये वृक्ष उत्पाटित हुए हों--यह भी कहीं विश्वासकी वस्तु है? हो नहीं सकता, श्रीकृष्णके लिये यह असम्भव है।' केवल उन याज्ञिक ब्राह्मणोंको--जो गोपोंके साथ ही गिरिराजकी ओरसे दौड़कर आये थे--संदेह अवश्य होने लगा कि सम्भवतः गोपशिशुओंकी बात सत्य ही निकले। उनके ऐश्वर्यप्रवण चित्तमें स्वयं भगवान् व्रजेन्द्रनन्दन श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रके अनन्त ऐश्वर्यकी चर्चाको टिकनेके लिये स्थान है; उससे पूर्व पूतना, शकट, तृणावर्त आदिका निधन--शिशु श्रीकृष्णके द्वारा अनेकों अघटघटन होते ये भूदेव देख चुके हैं। गोपोंने, गोपसुन्दरियोंने भी देखे तो अवश्य हैं, पर उनके राग-रस-मसृण चित्तको श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रका ऐश्वर्य स्पर्श कर ले--यह तो कभी सम्भव ही नहीं है। इसीलिये गोपोंने तो इसे तनिक भी स्वीकार नहीं किया, पर ब्राह्मण संदिग्धचित्त हो गये:
English translation
As the cowherd boys spoke, not even the shadow of fear or wonder appeared upon their faces. Their countenances clearly bore the firm conviction that they were reporting the absolute truth. Everyone listened with intense eagerness, yet not one cowherd man believed what they said. As soon as they heard it, all reached the same conclusion: "This is utterly impossible. Can such a deed have been done by little Nanda's son? Can anyone believe that these trees were uprooted by the strength of this child? It cannot be. Such a thing is impossible for Śrī Kṛṣṇa."
Only the sacrificial brāhmaṇas who had run from the direction of Girirāja with the cowherd men began to wonder whether the boys' account might indeed be true. Their minds inclined toward awareness of divine majesty and therefore had room for contemplating the infinite sovereignty of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, Bhagavān Himself, who had become the son of Vrajendra. These revered brāhmaṇas had already witnessed many impossible events performed by the infant Kṛṣṇa, including the destruction of Pūtanā, Śakaṭa, and Tṛṇāvarta. The cowherd men and women had certainly witnessed them too, but it was wholly impossible for Kṛṣṇacandra's majesty to touch their hearts, softened by the nectar of intimate love. Thus the cowherd men did not accept the story in the slightest, while the brāhmaṇas became uncertain:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.11.5
न ते तदुक्तं जगृहुर्न घटेतेति तस्य तत्। बालस्योत्पाटनं तर्वोः केचित् संदिग्धचेतसः॥
English translation
They did not accept the boys' words, thinking, "It could not have happened. How could this child have uprooted the two trees?" Yet some remained doubtful at heart.
Original
Hindi
कुछ भी कारण हो, व्रजेन्द्रके लिये अब यह सम्भव नहीं कि वे हेतु विचारनेमें समय लगा सकें। श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रका परम सुन्दर, पर भयविह्वल मुखारविन्द उन्हें प्रबल वेगसे खींच रहा है:
English translation
Whatever the cause might have been, Vrajendra could no longer spend time pondering it. Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's supremely beautiful yet fear-stricken lotus face drew him with irresistible force:
Original
Braj
तिन बिच हरि बैठे छबि-ऐना। डरपे मृग-सिसु के-से नैना॥
English translation
In their midst sat Hari, a mirror of beauty, His eyes frightened like those of a young deer.
Original
Hindi
वे उसी ओर झुक पड़ते हैं। डोरीमें बँधे ऊखलको खींचते हुए अपने पुत्रको अत्यन्त निकटसे निहारकर व्रजेश्वरका मन एक बार तो विषादसे भर जाता है--'आह! कहाँ ये सुकोमल अङ्ग और कहाँ यह डोरी, यह ऊखलका भार! व्रजेश्वरी! अविवेकसे तुम तो अंधी हो गयी।' पुत्रपर इस प्रकारका शासन किसने किया है, यह किसीसे पूछनेकी आवश्यकता व्रजेश्वरको नहीं है। उनके नेत्र छल-छल करने लगते हैं; किंतु अभी अवसर दूसरा है, व्रजेश्वर अपने-आपको संवरण कर लेते हैं। वेदना छिपाकर हँसने लग जाते हैं तथा अविलम्ब बायें हाथके सहारे श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रको वक्षःस्थलसे सटाकर दाहिने हाथके द्वारा बन्धन खोल देते हैं:
English translation
He bent toward Him at once. Seeing his son from very near, bound by the cord and pulling the mortar, Vrajeśvara's heart filled with sorrow. "Ah! How tender are these limbs, and how harsh are this cord and the weight of this mortar! Vrajeśvarī, you have been blinded by a lack of discernment." Vrajeśvara did not need to ask anyone who had disciplined his son in this way. His eyes brimmed with tears, but the moment called for something else, and he restrained himself. Hiding his pain, he smiled, drew Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra against his chest with the support of his left arm, and at once untied the bonds with his right hand:
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.11.6
उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं स्वमात्मजम्। विलोक्य नन्दः प्रहसद्वदनो विमुमोच ह॥
English translation
Seeing his own son bound with a rope and dragging the mortar, Nanda smiled and released Him.
Original
Hindi
श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रके नेत्रोंसे अनर्गल अश्रुप्रवाह बह रहा है। बन्धनमोचनके अनन्तर नहीं, तभीसे जब कि व्रजेश्वर बन्धन खोलनेके उद्देश्यसे उनकी ओर चले थे। व्रजेश्वर उन्हें गोदमें उठाकर उनके अश्रुसिक्त मुखपर घन-घन चुम्बन अङ्कित करने लगते हैं। साथ ही उनका दुःखभार कम करनेके उद्देश्यसे सब कुछ जाननेपर भी अनजान बनकर सान्त्वनाके स्वरमें उनसे पूछते हैं:
English translation
An unbroken stream of tears flowed from Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's eyes. It had begun not after His bonds were removed, but from the moment Vrajeśvara approached intending to free Him. Vrajeśvara lifted Him into his lap and covered His tear-soaked face with kiss after kiss. Then, to lighten the burden of His sorrow, he pretended not to know what had happened and asked Him consolingly:
Original
Sanskrit
पुत्र कुत्रत्यः स खलु खलबुद्धिर्येन चोलूखले निर्बन्धजनितबन्धस्त्वमसीति।
English translation
"Son, where is that wicked, ill-minded person who so insistently bound you to the mortar?"
Original
Hindi
“बेटा! वह दुष्टबुद्धि प्राणी कहाँ रहता है, जिसने इतने आग्रहसे तुम्हें बाँधा?”
English translation
"My child, where does that wicked-minded person live who bound you with such determination?"
Original
Hindi
पिताके इस लाड़को पाकर श्रीकृष्णचन्द्र खिल उठते हैं। धीरेसे उनके कानमें कह देते हैं:
English translation
Receiving this tender affection from His father, Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra brightened and whispered softly into his ear:
Original
Sanskrit
तात! मातैवेति।
English translation
"Father, Mother herself did it."
Original
Hindi
“बाबा! यह तो मैयाका ही काम है।”
English translation
"Father, this was Mother's doing."
Original
Hindi
किंतु बाबा युक्तिसे इस प्रसङ्गको बदल देते हैं। व्रजेश्वरको यह अनुमान है कि व्रजरानीके हृदयमें कितनी वेदना होगी। जिस क्षण व्रजेश्वरीकी प्राणशून्य-सी हुई दृष्टिके सामने महाराज नन्दने श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रको अपने क्रोडमें धारण किया, उसी समय यशोदारानीमें अपने-आप चेतनाका संचार तो हो गया था; किंतु तुरंत दुःख एवं लज्जाके भारसे वे इतनी अधिक दब गयी थीं कि निकट जाकर पुत्रका मुख देखना तो दूर, सिर उठाकर उस ओर ताकनेकी क्षमता भी उनमें नहीं रही। विक्षिप्त-सी वे जहाँ थीं, वहीं बैठ गयीं। व्रजेश्वरने एक बार दृष्टि घुमाकर यशोदारानीकी ओर देख लिया था, वे सब कुछ समझ गये थे। उनके समीप जाना, पुत्रको सान्त्वना देनेके लिये, अपना दुःखभार हलका करनेके लिये उनकी भर्त्सना करना--यह तो व्रजेश्वरीके वात्सल्यपूरित चित्तको छन-छनकर बींध देना है। व्रजेश्वर-जैसे परम गम्भीर, नारायणचरणकिंकरके स्वभावको क्षोभ-प्रदर्शनका यह कठोर रूप छू ले, यह तो असम्भव है। इसीलिये उन्होंने इस प्रसङ्गको टाल दिया।
English translation
But Father tactfully changed the subject. Vrajeśvara understood how much pain filled the queen of Vraja's heart. The moment Mahārāja Nanda took Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra into his lap before Vrajeśvarī's almost lifeless gaze, consciousness returned to Queen Yaśodā of its own accord. Yet she was immediately crushed beneath such a weight of sorrow and shame that, far from approaching to look upon her son's face, she could not even raise her head and glance in that direction. Distraught, she sank down where she stood.
Vrajeśvara had turned his gaze toward Queen Yaśodā once and understood everything. To approach her and rebuke her in order to comfort his son or lighten his own burden of sorrow would pierce Vrajeśvarī's heart, overflowing with parental love, again and again. It was impossible for such a harsh expression of agitation to touch the nature of one as profoundly grave as Vrajeśvara, the servant of Lord Nārāyaṇa's feet. He therefore let the matter pass.
Original
Hindi
अपने पुत्रको गोदमें लिये व्रजेश श्रीयमुनातटपर जा पहुँचे। स्वयं स्नान कर श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रको स्नान कराया, ब्राह्मणोंके द्वारा स्वस्तिवाचन आदि करवाये। फिर उन्हें अमित स्वर्णभार अर्पितकर अगणित गोदान करवाये। अन्तमें पुत्रको सब विप्र एवं गुरुजनोंके आशीर्वादसे नहलाकर घर लौटे। घर आकर पूर्वाह्णभोजनकी व्यवस्थामें लगे।
English translation
Holding his son in his arms, Vrajeśa went to the bank of the sacred Yamunā. He bathed, bathed Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, and had the brāhmaṇas recite blessings and perform the other auspicious rites. Then he presented them with an immense weight of gold and arranged the gift of innumerable cows. Finally, after bathing his son in the blessings of all the brāhmaṇas and elders, he returned home and began making arrangements for the morning meal.
Original
Hindi
आज परिवेषणसम्बन्धी समस्त कार्य रोहिणीजीने किये। व्रजेश्वरी तो एक कक्षमें अकेली बैठी आँसू ढाल रही हैं। संध्या होनेको आयी। व्रजेश्वर श्रीकृष्णचन्द्र एवं श्रीरामको साथ लिये गोष्ठमें चले गये। अबतक व्रजरानीने अन्नका कण क्या, जलकी एक बूँद भी ग्रहण नहीं की है। गोष्ठसे लौटनेपर यह सूचना व्रजेश्वरको मिलती है। वे श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रसे पूछते हैं:
English translation
Today Rohiṇījī performed every duty connected with serving the meal. Vrajeśvarī sat alone in a room, shedding tears. Evening approached, and Vrajeśvara went to the cowshed with Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra and Śrī Rāma. Up to this time, the queen of Vraja had not taken a single grain of food, much less a drop of water. When Vrajeśvara returned from the cowshed, he received this news and asked Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra:
Original
Sanskrit
तात! स्वमातरं यास्यसि?
English translation
"My dear son, will You go to Your mother?"
Original
Hindi
“मेरे लाल! क्या जननीके निकट जाओगे?”
English translation
"My darling, will You go to Your mother?"
Original
Hindi
इसके उत्तरमें श्रीकृष्णचन्द्र रूठे स्वरमें बोले:
English translation
Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra replied in an aggrieved voice:
Original
Sanskrit
नहि नहि; किंतु त्वामेव समया समयान् गमयिष्यामि।
English translation
"No, no. Now, Father, I shall remain with you alone and spend My time."
Original
Hindi
“नहीं; अब तो, बाबा! मैं तुम्हारे साथ ही रहकर समय बिताऊँगा।”
English translation
"No. Now, Father, I shall remain with you alone and spend My time."
Original
Hindi
कुछ वृद्धा गोपियाँ हँसकर बोलीं:
English translation
Some elderly gopīs laughed and asked:
Original
Sanskrit
स्तनं कस्य पास्यसि?
English translation
"Whose breast milk will You drink?"
Original
Hindi
“किसके स्तनका दूध पीओगे?”
English translation
"Whose breast milk will You drink?"
Original
Hindi
श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रने इस बार दोनों कपोलोंको फुलाकर कहा:
English translation
This time Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra puffed out both cheeks and said:
Original
Sanskrit
सितासम्भविष्णु धारोष्णं पयः पास्यामि।
English translation
"I shall drink warm milk fresh from the cow, mixed with crystallized sugar."
Original
Hindi
“मिश्री मिला हुआ धारोष्ण गोदुग्ध पीऊँगा।”
English translation
"I shall drink warm milk fresh from the cow, mixed with crystallized sugar."
Original
Hindi
गोपियाँ चिढ़ाती-सी बोलीं:
English translation
The gopīs asked teasingly:
Original
Sanskrit
केन क्रीडिष्यसि?
English translation
"With whom will You play?"
Original
Hindi
“खेलोगे किसके साथ?”
English translation
"With whom will You play?"
Original
Hindi
श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रने व्रजेशकी ग्रीवामें अपनी नन्ही भुजाएँ डाल दीं और बोले:
English translation
Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra placed His tiny arms around Vrajeśa's neck and replied:
Original
Sanskrit
तातेनैव समं तथा भ्रातरमपि गमयिष्यामि।
English translation
"With Father alone, and I shall take elder brother with Me too."
Original
Hindi
“बाबाके साथ ही। और--और दाऊ भैयाको भी साथ ले लूँगा।”
English translation
"With Father alone. And, and I shall take brother Dāū with Me too."
Original
Hindi
व्रजेशके होठोंपर मुसकान छा गयी। वे धीरेसे बोले:
English translation
A smile spread across Vrajeśa's lips, and he softly asked:
Original
Sanskrit
भ्रातुर्मातरं कथं नानुगच्छसि?
English translation
"Why will You not go to Your brother's mother?"
Original
Hindi
“मेरे लाल! दाऊ भैयाकी जननी रोहिणीजीके पास जानेमें क्या हानि है?”
English translation
"My darling, what harm is there in going to Rohiṇījī, the mother of brother Dāū?"
Original
Hindi
फिर तो श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रके नेत्रोंमें रोष भर आता है। अस्वीकारकी मुद्रामें अपने मस्तकको संचालित करते हुए वे कह उठते हैं:
English translation
Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's eyes now filled with indignation. Shaking His head in refusal, He exclaimed:
Original
Sanskrit
मां विहायेयमपीयायेति।
English translation
"She too went away, leaving Me behind."
Original
Hindi
“ऊँ हूँ। यह भी मुझे छोड़कर चली गयी थी!”
English translation
"No. She too went away and left Me behind!"
Original
Hindi
श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रकी उक्ति सुनकर रोहिणी मैयाके नेत्रोंमें जल भर आता है। अञ्चलसे अश्रुमार्जन करती हुई वे धीरेसे बोलीं--'मेरे लाल! इतना कठोर तू क्यों हो गया? देख! तेरी माताको कितना दुःख हो रहा है।' किंतु श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रने तो मानो इसे सुना ही नहीं, इस प्रकारकी मुद्रामें वे बाबाका मुख देखने लग जाते हैं। इस समय व्रजेश्वरके नेत्र छल-छल करने लगे हैं:
English translation
Hearing Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's words, Mother Rohiṇī's eyes filled with tears. Wiping them with the edge of her garment, she softly said, "My darling, why have You become so hard-hearted? Look how deeply Your mother is suffering." But Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra began looking at Father's face with an expression suggesting that He had not heard her at all. At that moment Vrajeśvara's eyes brimmed with tears:
Original
Sanskrit
पुत्र! कथं कठोरायसे? माता तव दुःखायते। कृष्णस्तदेतदशृण्वन्निव सास्रं पितृमुखमीक्षते स्म॥
English translation
"Son, why have You become so hard-hearted? Your mother is suffering." Kṛṣṇa acted as though He had not heard this and gazed upon His father's tearful face.
Original
Hindi
यशोदारानीकी चर्चा करते हुए कुछ क्षण व्रजेश्वरने और लाड़ लड़ाया। श्रीकृष्णचन्द्र उतने क्षणोंमें ही अपने बन्धन-दुःखको, जननीकृत अपमानको भूलने लगे। इतना ही नहीं, उनके नेत्र सजल हो गये। दूसरे ही क्षण मैयाकी अनुपस्थिति असह्य हो गयी। न जाने कितनी बातें एक साथ उनके मनमें आ जाती हैं। श्रीरोहिणी समीप ही खड़ी हैं, श्रीकृष्णचन्द्र शङ्कित होकर उनकी गोदमें चढ़ जाते हैं, 'री छोटी मैया! मेरी मैया कहाँ है? उसके पास ले चलो।' यही बार-बार व्याकुल कण्ठसे पुकारने लगते हैं:
English translation
Vrajeśvara continued to fondle Him for a few moments while speaking of Queen Yaśodā. Within those few moments, Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra began forgetting the pain of His bondage and the humiliation He had suffered at His mother's hands. More than that, His eyes filled with tears. The very next moment, Mother's absence became unbearable. Who can say how many thoughts arose within His mind all at once?
Śrī Rohiṇī was standing nearby. Uneasy, Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra climbed into her lap and repeatedly called out in an anguished voice, "O younger Mother! Where is My mother? Take Me to her":
Original
Sanskrit
कुत्र मे माता तत्र गम्यतामिति सशङ्कं रोहिण्यङ्कं गतवान्।
English translation
Saying anxiously, "Where is My mother? Take Me to her," He climbed into Rohiṇī's lap.
Original
Hindi
श्रीरोहिणी तुरंत यशोदारानीके पास चली आती हैं। नीलमणि अपनी जननीके पास आ गये। पर जननीने तब जाना जब नीलमणिने उनकी ग्रीवाको अपनी भुजाओंमें वेष्टित कर लिया, उनके कण्ठहार बन गये।
English translation
Śrī Rohiṇī immediately went to Queen Yaśodā. Nīlamaṇi had come to His mother, yet she became aware of Him only when He encircled her neck with His arms and became the necklace upon her throat.
Original
Hindi
जननीका चिबुक श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रके मस्तकका स्पर्श कर रहा है। जननीके अश्रुपूरित कण्ठसे अपने वत्सको लालन करती हुई गौके 'घों-घों' रव-जैसी ध्वनि हो रही है। नेत्रोंसे जलकी झड़ी लग रही है, उनका विगलित हृदय ही अश्रु बनकर बाहरकी ओर बह चला है। आह! व्रजेश्वरीका यह प्रेमिल भाव सबको रुला देता है; जितनी गोपसुन्दरियाँ खड़ी हैं, सबके नेत्र बरसने लगते हैं:
English translation
The mother's chin rested upon Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's head. From her throat, choked with tears, came a low, broken sound like the call of a cow fondling her calf. A torrent poured from her eyes, as though her melted heart itself had become tears and was flowing outward. Ah! Vrajeśvarī's loving mood made everyone weep. The eyes of every beautiful cowherd woman standing there began to rain tears:
Original
Sanskrit
वत्समूर्ध्नि चिबुकं दधती सा धेनुवद्दलितघर्घरशब्दा। रोदनप्रथनया द्रवदात्मारोदयत् परिकरानपि सर्वान्॥
English translation
Resting her chin upon her child's head, she uttered a broken, choking sound like a cow. The force of her weeping revealed her melted heart and caused all her attendants to weep as well.
Original
Hindi
आकाशमें नक्षत्रपंक्ति आ विराजी है। नीलमणिकी व्यालूका समय हो चुका है। मैया थाल सजाने उठ पड़ती हैं। क्षणोंमें वे स्वर्णथालको विविध पक्कान्नसे पूर्णकर अपने नीलमणिके सामने रख देती हैं, नीलमणि भोजन आरम्भ करते हैं:
English translation
The rows of stars now adorned the sky. It was time for Nīlamaṇi's evening meal. Mother rose to prepare His plate. In moments she filled a golden plate with many cooked delicacies and placed it before her Nīlamaṇi. Nīlamaṇi began to eat:
Original
Braj. Attributed in the verse to Sūrdās
आरोगत हैं श्रीगोपाल। षटरस सौंज बनाइ जसोदा, रचि कै कंचन-थाल॥ करति बयारि, निहारति हरि-मुख, चंचल नैन बिसाल। जो भावै, सो माँगि लेहु तुम, माधुरि मधुर रसाल॥ जे दरसन सनकादिक दुर्लभ, ते देखतिं ब्रज-बाल। सूरदास प्रभु कहति जसोदा, चिरजीवौ नंद-लाल॥
English translation
Śrī Gopāla takes His meal. Yaśodā has prepared an array of all six flavors and arranged them upon a golden plate.
She fans Him while gazing upon Hari's face and His large, restless eyes. "Ask for whatever pleases You, O sweet reservoir of sweetness."
The sight that is difficult even for Sanaka and the other sages to attain is beheld by the young women of Vraja. Sūrdās says that Yaśodā tells the Lord, "May Nanda's darling son live long."