Krishna Leela

काम सारूनि सकळ । आले अवघे गोपाळ । जाली आतां वेळ । म्हणती आणा सिदोर्‍या ॥१॥

Having finished all their tasks, the cowherd boys gathered together. The hour had come, and they said, bring out the pro…

अवघें एके ठायीं । करूनि स्वाद त्याचा पाहीं । मजपाशीं आहे तें ही । तुम्हामाजी देत…

Gather everything into one place, and let me taste it all. What I have with me, I will also put in among yours. The cow…

या हो या चला जाऊं सकळा । पाहों हा सोहळा आजि वृंदावनींचा ॥१॥

Come, come, let us all go and see the celebration in Vrindavan today. The cowherd boy has played His flute and that sou…

फुगडी फू फुगडी घालितां उघडी राहे । लाज सांडोनि एक एकी पाहे ॥१॥

Fugadi, fu! Fugadi! When you play it openly, all is laid bare. Cast off shame and look each other straight in the eye. …

फुगडी फू सवती माझे तूं । हागुनि भरलें धू तुझ्या ढुंगा तोंडावरि ॥१॥

Fugadi, fu! You are my co-wife, O rival. You have defecated on yourself; wash your face and your backside. As she playe…

लये लये लखोटा । मूळबंदि कासोटा । भावा केलें साहें । आतां माझें पाहें ॥१॥

Toss, toss the ball! The root-lock is the waistband, and bhava is the wager. Now watch my turn. Hand to hand she was ca…

सहस्र मुखावरी हरी । शेष शिणविलें ॥१॥

Even with a thousand mouths, Hari exhausted Shesha in the telling. He leapt with the ball into the Yamuna and subdued t…

मशीं पोरा घे रे बार । तुझें बुजीन खालील द्वार ॥१॥

Take a turn with me, boy. I will seize your lower gate. Boy, let us wrestle, let us wrestle! Take the match with me, b…

हमामा रे पोरा हमामा रे । हमामा घालितां ठकलें पोर । करी येरझार चौर्‍याशीची ॥१॥

Let us wrestle, boy, let us wrestle! In wrestling, the child was thrown and now wanders through eighty-four lakh births.…

उपजोनियां पुढती येऊं । काला खाऊं दहींभात ॥१॥

Let us be born again and again, so that we may share the feast of curd and rice together. In Vaikuntha there is nothing…

याल तर या रे लागें । अवघे माझ्या मागें मागें ॥१॥

If you wish to come, then come along, all of you, follow close behind me. Today I will feed you to your heart's content…

शिंकें लावियेलें दुरी । होतों तिघांचे मी वरी ॥१॥

He hung the swing up high, and I climbed above the other three. You two, stand on either side with your mouths open wid…

पळाले ते भ्याड । त्यांसि येथें जाला नाड ॥१॥

The cowards who fled have met with ruin. The bold ones take their fill, for Hari lowers the bounty from above for them. …

धालें मग पोट । केला गड्यांनी बोभाट ॥१॥

Their bellies are full, and now the friends raise a joyful clamor. Come, come, O Narayana, let us speak in signs beyond…

पाहाती गौळणी । तंव पालथी दुधाणी ॥१॥

The milkmaids look and find the milk pots overturned. They say, the son of Nanda has surely stolen the butter today. N…

आतां ऐसें करूं । दोघां धरूनियां मारूं ॥१॥

Now let us do this: catch those two and give them a beating. Only then will they drop this habit, for they have acquire…

गडी गेले रडी । कान्हो नेदीस तूं चढी ॥१॥

The friends have gone off crying. Krishna, you will not let anyone else climb up! We refuse to play, we refuse to play;…

यमुनेतटीं मांडिला खेळ । म्हणे गोपाळ गडियांसि ॥१॥

On the banks of the Yamuna the game of Hal is set up. The cowherd boy says to his friends: Play the great game of Hal! …

बळें डाईं न पडे हरी । बुद्धि करी शाहणा तो ॥१॥

Hari does not fall by force; the wise one uses his wits. Let God play freely, so that He may be caught with equal feeli…

अनंत ब्रम्हांडे उदरीं । हरि हा बाळक नंदा घरीं ॥१॥

Infinite universes dwell within His belly, yet Hari lives as a small child in Nanda's house. How great is this wonder, …

कृष्ण गोकुळीं जन्मला । दुष्टां चळकांप सुटला ॥१॥

Krishna was born in Gokul, and a trembling terror seized the wicked. With the advent of Krishna, joy arose in every hou…

मेळउनि सकळ गोपाळ । कांहीं करिती विचार ॥१॥

Gathering all the cowherd boys together, they hatched a plan. Come, let us go steal the butter; today we shall have our…

धन्य त्या गौळणी इंद्राच्या पूजनीं । नैवेद्य हिरोनि खातो कृष्ण ॥१॥

Blessed are those milkmaids! When the offerings were laid out for Indra's worship, Krishna stole them and ate them himse…

तुम्ही गोपी बाळा मज कैशा नेणा । इंद्र अमरराणा म्यां चि केला ॥१॥

You gopis treat me like an ordinary child, as though you do not know me. I am the one who made Indra the king of the god…

कां रे गमाविल्या गाई । आली वळती तुझी जाई । मागें जालें काई । एका तें का नेणसी ॥१…

Why have you lost the cows again? Your mother has come looking for you. Do you not know what happened the last time? Yo…

कंठीं धरिला कृष्णमणी । अवघा जनीं प्रकाश ॥१॥

We have fastened the Krishna-jewel at our throats, and its light plays everywhere among the people. Let us share the fe…

कवळाचिया सुखें । परब्रम्ह जालें गोरखें । हात गोऊनि खाय मुखें । बोटासांदी लोणचें …

For the joy of a single morsel, the Supreme Brahman itself became a cowherd boy. He eats with both hands and tucks a bit…

कान्होबा आतां तुम्ही आम्ही च गडे । कोणाकडे जाऊं नेदूं ॥१॥

O Krishna, from now on, you and we are inseparable friends. We will not let you go to anyone else. I will carry your bu…

बहु काळीं बहु काळी । आम्ही देवाचीं गोवळीं ॥१॥

So dark, so dark He is. We are the cowherds of the Lord. He never lets us go hungry; He seats us beside Him and shares …

बहु बरा बहु बरा । यासांगातें मळि चारा ॥१॥

So good, so good He is. In His company, the pasture itself becomes a delight. That is why, with all my life, I have clu…

घेती पाण्यासी हुंबरी । त्यांचें समाधान करी ॥१॥

When the boys play at lowing like calves by the water, He joins right in and satisfies them all. Wherever the cowherd b…

वळी गाई धांवे घरा । आमच्या करी येरझारा ॥१॥

He rounds up the cows and runs home, going back and forth for our sake. The moment you speak His name, He is right besi…

म्हणती धालों धणीवरी । आतां न लगे शिदोरी । नये क्षणभरी । आतां यासि विसंबों ॥१॥

They say, we are satisfied to the brim; we need no more provisions now. We cannot bear to be apart from Him even for a m…

तुझिये संगति । जाली आमुची निश्चिति ॥१॥

In your company, our conviction is now firm. We have seen joys and celebrations we never knew before. At home there wer…

ब्रम्हादिकां न कळे खोळ । ते हे आकळ धरिली ॥१॥

The form that even Brahma and the gods could not grasp has been seized and held right here. He carries a shehnai and a …

कान्होबा तूं आलगट । नाहीं लाज बहु धीट । पाहिलें वाईट । बोलोनियां खोटें ॥१॥

O Krishna, you are shameless and brazen; you have no modesty at all. You have been caught doing wrong and speaking lies.…

देई निवडुनी । माते म्हणतो जननी । हात पिटूनि मेदिनी । वरि अंग घाली ॥१॥

He says to his mother, sort it out and give it to me separately. He beats the ground with his hands and throws himself d…

चला वळूं गाई । बैसों जेऊं एके ठायीं ॥१॥

Come, let us round up the cows and sit down together to eat in one place. We have wandered far too much; our feet are s…

नेणों वेळा काळ । धालों तुझ्यानें सकळ ॥१॥

We know neither time nor occasion; through you we are satisfied in every way. There is no fear at all with us, O Krishn…

माग विटूदांडू । आणीक कांही खेळ मांडूं ॥१॥

Set down the gilli-danda; let us start some other game. We have had too many turns, and no foot can find steady ground.…

पाहातां गोवळी । खाय त्यांची उष्टावळी ॥१॥

Look at the cowherd boys: He eats their leftover scraps. They chant the Name and meditate upon Krishna, their companion…

पैल आली आगी कान्हो काय रे करावें । न कळे तें कैसें आजि वांचों आम्ही जीवें ॥१॥

Look, a fire is coming, O Krishna, what shall we do? We do not know how we will survive today. Run, O Hari, we are trap…

भिऊं नका बोले झाकुनियां राहा डोळे । चालवील देव धाक नाहीं येणें वेळे ॥१॥

Do not be afraid, speak up, do not hide your eyes. God will manage everything; there is no threat at this moment. This …

नेणती तयांसि साच भाव दावी हरी । लाज नाहीं नाचे पांवा वाजवी मोहरी ॥१॥

To the innocent, Hari reveals his true nature. He dances shamelessly and plays the shehnai without a care. Come, let us…

त्यांनीं धणीवरी संग केला हरीसवें । देऊनि आपुलें तो चि देईल तें खावें ॥१॥

Those cowherd boys kept Hari's company to their heart's content; they gave him their food and ate whatever he gave in re…

घ्या रे भोंकरें भाकरी । दहींभाताची सिदोरी । ताक सांडीं दुरी । असेल तें तयापें ॥१…

Take these flatbreads and the packed lunch of curd-rice; pour the buttermilk away, whatever you have, bring it along. H…

काल्याचिये आसे । देव जळीं जाले मासे । पुसोनियां हांसे । टिरीसांगातें हात ॥१॥

Craving the communal meal, God entered the water and became a fish. He wipes his hands and laughs, playing pranks along …

एक म्हणती उगे रे उगे मागेंचि लागों । निजों नका कोणी घरीं रे आजि अवघेचि जागों ॥१॥

One says, hush, stay quiet, just follow behind. Let none sleep at home tonight; let us all stay awake. Hari, the all-kn…

आजि ओस अमरावती । काला पाहावया येती । देव विसरती । देहभाव आपुला ॥१॥

Today even the heavenly city stands empty, for the gods have come to witness the communal feast. The gods themselves for…

चला बाई पांडुरंग पाहूं वाळवंटीं । मांडियेला काला भोंवती गोपाळांची दाटी ॥१॥

Come, women, let us go see Panduranga at the sandy riverbank, where the communal feast is spread and the cowherd boys cr…

माझे गडी कोण कोण । निवडा भिन्न यांतुनी ॥१॥

Who are my true companions? Sort them out from this group. Let those who are alike come together; let us play among our…

हे चि अनुवाद सदा सर्वकाळ । करुनियां गोपाळकाला सेवूं ॥१॥

Let this be our practice at all times: to partake of the cowherd feast and serve it with devotion. The wish-fulfilling …

अधिकाचा मज कांटाळा । तुम्हां गोपाळां संगति ॥१॥

I have grown weary of those with high status; I prefer the company of you cowherd boys. What do you lack? You are rich …

जालों आतां एके ठायीं । न वंचूं कांहीं एकमेकां ॥१॥

Now we have all come together in one place; let us not deceive one another. We have settled the account by giving up ou…

या रे करूं गाई । जमा निजलेती काई । बोभाटानें आई । घरा गेल्या मारील ॥१॥

Come, let us gather the cows. Why do they lie sleeping? If we arrive home late making a commotion, our mothers will beat…

वोळलीचा दोहूं पान्हा । मज कान्हा सांगितला ॥१॥

The newly calved cow has let down her milk. Kanho himself told me about it. Take this milk in your hands and serve it c…

येइल तें घेइन भागा । नव्हे जोगा दुसरिया ॥१॥

I will accept whatever share comes my way; I am not fit for anything more. You know the love that suits each one's many…

धन्य तें गोधन कांबळी काष्ठिका । मोहरी पांवा निका ब्रीद वांकी ॥१॥

Blessed are the cattle, the blanket and the staff, the shehnai and the flute and the curved horn. Blessed is Gokul and …

गौळणी बांधिती धारणासि गळा । खेळे त्या गोपाळांमाजी ब्रम्ह ॥१॥

The milkmaids tie a rope around his neck to restrain him, yet it is Brahman itself that plays among the cowherd boys. H…

देखिलासि माती खातां । दावियानें बांधी माता ॥१॥

He was seen eating mud, and when shown the evidence, his mother tied him up. Yet he takes the blanket and the staff, he…

हा गे माझे हातीं । पाहा कवळ सांगाती ॥१॥

Look here, mother, see this morsel in my hand and this companion beside me. God himself gave me this share; do what you…

अवघें अवघीकडे । दिलें पाहे मजकडे । अशा सवंगडे । सहित थोरी लागली ॥१॥

He gave everything to everyone on all sides but just looks at me. Why have you gone silent with me, Lord? Give me my sh…

आम्ही गोवळीं रानटें । नव्हों जनांतील धीटें ॥१॥

We are wild cowherd folk of the forest, not bold people of the town. We share our packed lunches in a communal feast, d…

अवघियां दिला गोर । मजकरे पाहीना ॥१॥

He gave sweets to everyone but did not even look my way. The cowherd boy sulks, rubbing his eyes, slapping his thigh, a…

मागें पुढें पाहें सांभाळूनि दोनी ठाय । चुकावूनि जाय गडी राखे गडियांसि ॥१॥

Look ahead and behind, guarding both sides; dodge cleverly and protect your teammates. Swing the stick from both ends t…

पाहा रे तमासा तुमचा येथें नव्हे लाग । देईन तो भाग आलियाचा बाहेरी ॥१॥

Watch this sport; your tricks will not work here. I will give a share to whoever comes and send them out. Wake up, cowh…

डाई घालुनियां पोरें । त्यांचीं गुरें चुकवीलीं ॥१॥

By cheating in the game, the boy caused others to lose track of their cattle. While playing, he cracked heads open and …

आतां हें चि जेऊं हेंचि जेऊं । सवें घेऊं सिदोरी ॥१॥

Now let us eat this, only this; let us take this packed lunch together. Let us savor each morsel with the taste of Brah…

तुजसवें येतों हरी । आम्हां लाज नाहीं तरी । उचलिला गिरी । चांग तईं वांचलों ॥१॥

We come with you, Hari, for we have no shame in following you. You lifted the mountain, and that is how we were saved. …

नको आम्हांसवें गोपाळा । येऊं ओढाळा तुझ्या गाई ॥१॥

Do not come along with us, cowherd boy, for your cows are wild and unruly. Who will run after them, going back and fort…

मागायास गेलों सिदोरी । तुझ्या मायाघरीं गांजियेलों ॥१॥

I went to ask for a packed lunch at your mother's house and was harassed there. Without you, she would not give it to a…

काकुलती येतो हरी । क्षणभरी निवडितां ॥१॥

Hari pleads with folded hands, unable to bear even a moment of separation. I have grown so accustomed to your company; …

वरता वेंघोनि घातली उडी । कळंबाबुडीं यमुनेसी ॥१॥

He climbed up and leaped from the Kadamba tree into the depths of the Yamuna. Hari has drowned, cry out for help! His o…

अवघीं मिळोनि कोल्हाळ केला । आतां होता म्हणती गेला ॥१॥

All the boys gathered and raised a great clamor, saying, the one who was just with us is now gone. Each weeps according…

भ्यालीं जिवा चुकलीं देवा । नाहीं ठावा जवळीं तो ॥१॥

Frightened for their lives and unable to find God, they realize he is no longer near. They cry out in anguish, beating …

काळिया नाथूनि आला वरी । पैल हरी दाखविती ॥१॥

Having subdued the serpent Kaliya, Hari emerges from the water, and they point to him in the distance. In their confusi…

हरि गोपाळांसवें सकळां । भेटे गळ्या गळा मेळवूनी ॥१॥

Hari embraces all the cowherd boys, pressing neck to neck in a warm gathering. His love for the devoted ones is immense…

धांव कान्होबा गेल्या गाई । न म्हणे मी कोण ही काई ॥१॥

Run, Kanho, the cows have strayed! He does not stop to think about who he is or what he is. He sweetly fulfills the wor…

मुख पाहे माता । सुख न माये चित्ता । धन्य मानव संचिता । वोडवलें आजि ॥१॥

The mother gazes at the child's face, unable to contain the joy in her chitta. Blessed is the merit that has ripened tod…

चाले झडझडां उसंतूनि वाट । पाहे पाळतूनि उभा तो चि नीट वो ॥१॥

She walks on briskly, pausing now and then, and he stands watching her, perfectly still. The Lord of the gopis has cast …

मैं भुली घरजानी बाट । गोरस बेचन आयें हाट ॥१॥

I have forgotten the way home; I came to the marketplace to sell buttermilk. O Krishna, enchanter of the mind, beautiful…

भलो नंदाजीको डिकरो । लाज राखीलीन हमारो ॥१॥

Blessed is the son of Nanda; he has protected my honor. Come forward, O divine Krishna. I have left my home for your sa…

कोणे लागला गे सदैवेचे हातीं । आजि शून्य शेजे नाहीं दिसे पती वो ॥१॥

Whose fortunate hand has claimed him? Today the bed is empty; my husband is nowhere to be seen. Radha speaks to her conf…

मेळवुनी पोरें तेथें रिघे एकसरें । वेगीं आणोनी सामोरें तेथें लोणी खाय ॥१॥

He gathers the children, enters the house boldly, and quickly eats the butter right before everyone. Hari is caught, Har…

जाला पानसरा मिठी घातली पदरा । आधीं दान माझें सारा मग चाला पंथें ॥१॥

He has become a toll-collector on my path and grabbed the hem of my garment. Pay me my dues first, then go your way. Sh…

हरी तुझी कांति रे सांवळी । मी रे गोरी चांपेकळी । तुझ्या दर्शनें होईन काळी । मग ह…

O Hari, your complexion is dark, and I am fair as a champa blossom. By beholding you I will turn dark, and then the worl…

चाळवूनि नाशिली कन्याकुमरें आमुच्या सुनांसि लाविलें पिसें गे बाइये ॥१॥

He has lured and ruined our daughters and sons and driven our daughters-in-law mad, O Yashoda. Tell him properly to beha…

न सांभाळुनि अंग लोटी पाहे भोंवतीं । वेगळी च पडों पाहे कुळाहुनिया ती ॥१॥

She throws herself about without guarding her limbs, looking in every direction, ready to break away from home and famil…

कळों नेदी माया त्याचें त्यास ठाउकें । खेळतोंसें दावी लक्षलक्षापें मुकें ॥१॥

His maya does not let itself be known; only he knows his own secret. He pretends to play, yet silently strips away a hun…

मांडिले विंदान ख्याल सुखाचें संधान । अंग लपवूनी मान पिलंगत चाले ॥१॥

He has set up an elaborate game, a scheme of pure delight. Hiding himself, he moves with a dancing, leaping gait. The g…

एकली न येतें मी ऐसें काय जाणें । कोठें भरलें अवघड या राणें रे ॥१॥

I never would have come alone had I known. Who could tell this forest was so full of danger? Let go of my garment, Hari,…

चेंडू चौगुणा खेळती वाळवंटीं । चला चला म्हणती पाहूं दृष्टी वो ॥१॥

They are playing chendoo-chauguna on the sandy banks. Come, come, say the women, let us go watch. Those gopis, those lo…

कोठें मी तुझा धरूं गेलें संग । लावियेलें जग माझ्या पाठीं ॥१॥

What came over me, keeping your company? You have set the whole world upon my trail. Go away, go back, you rascal of a c…

कोणी एकी भुलली नारी । विकितां गोरस म्हणे घ्या हरी ॥१॥

A certain woman, lost in devotion, went to sell buttermilk but called out: take Hari, take Hari, instead. Having seen hi…

न येचि देव येतील कामलहरी रे । पडिली दुश्चिती तंव तो कवाड टिमकारी रे ॥१॥

Satyabhama prepares everything in her chamber and waits as waves of desire rise, but the night passes and God does not c…

मजपें दुजें आलें तें देव जाणे वो । शब्द काय हे बोलसी ते उणे वो ॥१॥

Whatever other one came to me, God alone knows. The words you speak are lesser than the truth. Look within yourself fir…

तरी कां वंचनुक सुमनासि वो । नट नाट्य बरें संपादूं जाणतोसि वो ॥१॥

Then why did you deceive the good-hearted one? You are a fine actor who knows how to play every part. Step back, step ba…

कान्हो एकली रे एकली रे । तुजसवें चुकलें रे । भय वाटे वनीं मज अबळा धाकली रे ॥१॥

O Krishna, I am alone, all alone. I was separated from you. Fear grips me in this forest, for I am a timid girl. When I…

क्याला मज आयो वारितेसी घरा । खेळतों सोकरा नंदाचा मी ॥१॥

O mother, why do you call me back home? I am playing with the darling son of Nanda. After so many days I have met him ag…

उघडें कवाड उभ्या काळोशाचे आड । साता पांचा एक भीड मौनेंची ठेल्या ॥१॥

The door stands open, yet darkness hides within; the five and seven faculties are crushed into silence. Krishna, knowing…