Canto Ten - Chapter 5

Śrī Śuka said: When a son was born to Nanda, that high-minded man was filled with joy. He bathed, purified and adorned himself, and summoned brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas.

After having auspicious benedictions recited, he duly arranged the birth ceremony for his son, together with worship of the ancestors and the gods.

He gave the brāhmaṇas two million fully ornamented cows and seven hills of sesame seed covered with masses of jewels and cloth woven with gold.

Material things are purified by time; the body by bathing and cleansing; birth by the prescribed sacraments; the senses by austerity; and possessions by worship, charity and contentment. The self is purified by knowledge of the Self.

The brāhmaṇas spoke words of good fortune, while the heralds, genealogists, praise-singers and musicians sang. Kettledrums and great drums sounded again and again.

Vraja's doorways, courtyards and interiors had been swept and sprinkled. They were decorated with multicolored standards, banners, garlands, cloths and arches of leafy branches.

The cows, bulls and young calves were anointed with turmeric and oil and adorned with colorful minerals, peacock feathers, garlands, cloth and gold ornaments.

O King, the cowherd men arrived carrying many kinds of gifts in their hands, dressed in costly garments, ornaments, jackets and turbans.

Hearing with delight that Yaśodā had borne a son, the cowherd women adorned themselves with fine clothing, ornaments, collyrium and other cosmetics.

Their lotus faces shone with fresh saffron and pollen. Bearing offerings, the broad-hipped women hurried forward, their breasts swaying as they went.

The cowherd women wore brilliantly polished jeweled earrings and gold necklaces, and their garments were richly colored. As they hurried along the road, flowers fell in showers from their braided hair. With their bracelets, swinging earrings and necklaces shining upon their breasts, they looked radiant as they approached Nanda's home.

Offering blessings to the child, they said, "May You long protect us!" They sprinkled the birthless Lord with turmeric powder, oil and water, and sang aloud.

At that great festival, many kinds of musical instruments resounded because Kṛṣṇa, the infinite Lord of the universe, had come to Nanda's Vraja.

The delighted cowherd men drenched and smeared one another with mixtures of yogurt, milk, ghee and water, and pelted one another with fresh butter.

Great-hearted Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cattle to them, to the heralds, genealogists and praise-singers, and to others who lived by their learning and skill.

Generous and undiminished in spirit, he honored each person appropriately with the gift that person desired, both to worship Viṣṇu and to secure his son's well-being.

The greatly fortunate Rohiṇī, honored by Nanda Gopa, moved about dressed in divine garments and garlands and adorned with necklaces.

From that time onward, O King, Nanda's Vraja became full of every prosperity. Because Hari dwelt there, it became, through His own qualities, a playground of Ramā, the goddess of fortune.

After appointing cowherd men to protect Gokula, Nanda went to Mathurā, O descendant of Kuru, to pay Kaṃsa's annual tax.

When Vasudeva heard that his brother Nanda had arrived and learned that he had paid the king's tax, he went to the place where Nanda was staying.

On seeing Vasudeva, Nanda rose at once as though his body had regained its life-breath. Overwhelmed with affection, he joyfully embraced his dearest friend with both arms.

After being honored and comfortably seated, Vasudeva respectfully asked about Nanda's welfare. His thoughts absorbed in his two sons, he then spoke as follows, O ruler of men.

It is fortunate, brother, that now, in your old age, when you were childless and had given up hope of offspring, a son has at last been born to you.

It is fortunate that, while we move within this wheel of worldly existence, I have found you again today. The sight of one who is dear is exceedingly difficult to obtain.

Dear friends whose lives are shaped by differing deeds do not remain together in one place, just as rafts swept along by a river's current cannot stay together.

Is the great forest where you now live with your friends suitable for the cattle and free from disease, with abundant water, grass and vegetation?

Brother, is my son living happily with His mother in your Vraja? Does He regard you as His father, and is He lovingly cherished by you both?

A man's three aims of life are truly fulfilled when his friends also share in their benefit. If those friends suffer, the three aims cannot serve their purpose.

Śrī Nanda said: Alas, many sons of Devakī were killed by Kaṃsa. Only one child remained, her youngest daughter, and even she has gone to heaven.

Surely every person rests upon unseen destiny and is ultimately governed by that unseen power. One who understands unseen destiny as the truth governing his own condition is not bewildered.

Śrī Vasudeva said: You have paid the king his annual tax, and we have also seen you. You should not remain here for many days, for disturbances are arising in Gokula.

Śrī Śuka said: Thus advised by Śauri, Nanda and the other cowherd men took their leave of him and set out for Gokula in carts yoked with oxen.