SECTION XIII.Parāçara said:—Sakra having departed, the cow-herds, on seeing him uplift the mountain Govardhana, said to Krishna of wonderous deeds, delightedly:—"O thou of mighty arms, thou hast saved us from a great fear; by holding up the mountain thou hast protected the cows. Wonderful are thy childish sports and insignificant is the condition of a herdsman and all thy actions are those of a god. Tell us what is the meanings of all this. Kaliya has been vanquished in the water; Pralamba has been killed; Govardhana has been lifted up; our minds are filled with surprise. We can swear by the feet of Hari, O thou of unbounded might, that beholding thy powers we do not consider thee as man. O Kesava, the woman, the children and the old of Vraja are all pleased with thee—even all the celestials cannot perform the deeds thou hast done. Thy boyhood and thy prowess; thy humiliating birth amongst us, are contradictions that fill us with surprise whenever we think of them. Be thou a god, or a demon or a Yaksha or a Gandharva, or whatever, we may consider thee, we should respect thee for thou art our friend".When they had finished, Krishna remained silent for some time as if hurt and wounded and then said to them, "Herdsmen, if you are not ashamed of my relationship, if I have deserved your praise, then what necessity have you to discuss thus concerning me? If you have any love for me, if I merit your praise, then consider me as your friend. I am neither a god, nor a Gandharva nor a Yaksha nor a demon—I am born as thy friend and you should not think otherwise of me".Parāçara said Being addressed thus, O great Muni the cow-herds remained silent and went into the woods leaving Krishna apparently displeased. Beholding the clear sky with the autumnal moon, and the air perfumed with the fragrance of the wild water-lily in whose buds the clustering bees were murmuring their songs, he felt inclined to join with the females of cow-herds in sport. Thereupon with Rāma he began singing sweet low strains in various measures such as the woman loved; and they, as soon as they heard the music, left their homes and hastened to meet the Slayer of Madhu. One damsel gently sang an accompaniment to his song, another attentively listened to his music: one called him by the name and then shrank in bashfulness: whilst another, more bold and prompted by love, pressed close to his side; one, as she came out, saw some of the seniors of her family and dared not venture satisfying herself with meditating on Krishna with closed eyes and whole-minded devotion by which immediately all acts of merit were effaced by rapture and all sin was expiated by regret at not seeing him: and others again, reflecting upon the cause of the world, in the form of the Supreme Brahma, obtained, by their sighing, final emancipation. Thus encircled by the females of cow-herds Krishna thought the lovely moon-light night of autumn suited to the Rāsa[259]dance. Many of them so imitated the different actions of Krishna that in his absence they wandered through Vrindavana representing his person. "I am Krishna" exclaims one "behold the beauty of my movements". "I am Krishna" cries another "Listen to my song". "Wait! wicked Kāliya, I am Krishna" cries out another striking her arms defiantly. A fourth cries out: "Herdsmen, fear nothing, be steady, there is no danger of the storm any more for I uplift the Govardhana for your protection," and a fifth exclaims—"Now let the cattle graze wherever they will, for I have slain Dhenuka". In this wise the females of the cow-herds imitated the various actions of Krishna, and in his absence removed their sorrow by mimicking his sports. One damsel, looking on the earth with the down of her person erect and expanded eyes, exclaims "See here are the impressions of Krishna's feet and as he has gone, he has left those marks of the banner, the thunder-bolt and the goad. What fortunate damsel is going with him inebriate with her passion as her irregular footmarks prove? Here Damodara has called flowers from on high, for we see alone the marks of the tips of his feet. Here a nymph has sat down with him be-decked with flowers, fortunate in having propitiated Vishnu in a pristine birth. Having left her in a haughty mood because he had adored her with flowers, the son of Nanda has gone by this road; for see, unable to follow him with equal steps his companion has here tripped along upon her toes; and that holding his hand, the damsel has passed on is evident from the uneven and intermingled footsteps. The wicked Krishna merely took her by the hand and then left her. The damsel, being disappointed, is returning in faltering steps—for such her foot-marks indicate. Forsooth he proposed to her that he would come back soon, for here are his own footsteps returning with speed. Here he has entered the thick forest but as the rays of the moon do not enter here his footsteps can be traced no farther". Being hopeless of beholding Krishna, the females of the cow-herds came back and arriving at the banks of the Yamuna, they began to sing his songs. They immediately saw the protector of the three worlds, with a smiling countenance, coming speedily towards them, on which one cried out "Krishna, Krishna" being unable to utter any thing else. One liked to contract her forehead with frowns as drinking with the bees of her eyes the lotus of the face of Hari: another, shutting her eyes, meditated, in her mind, upon his form as if being engaged in an act of devotion. Thereupon coming amongst them Mādhaba conciliated some with soft words some with gentle looks and some he took by the hand and the illustrious deity sported with them in the stations of the dance, after all the damsels had been propitiated. As each of the damsels attempted to remain in one place close to the side of Krishna, the circle of the dance could not be constructed. Thereupon taking each by the hand and when their eyelids were closed by the effects of such touch Hari formed the circle. Then began the dance in accompaniment with the music of their clashing bracelets and songs that celebrated in sweet melody the beauty of the autumnal season. Krishna sang the moon of autumn, a mine of gentle rays but the damsels chanted the praise of Krishna only. At times, one of them exhausted by the revolving dance, threw her arms, adorned with the tinkling bracelets round the neck of the Slayer of Madhu: another proficient in the art of singing his praises embraced him. The drops of perspiration from the arms of Hari were like fertilizing rain which produced a drop of dew upon the temples of the damsels of cow-herds. Krishna sang the melody that was suited to the dance. The damsels again and again repeated—"Bravo, Krishna," to his song. When leading, they followed him, when coming back, they met him and whether he went forwards or backwards they always followed his footsteps. Whilst sporting thus with the females of the cow-herds, they regarded one moment in his absence as a myriad of years. And although prohibited in vain by their husbands and brothers, they went out in night to sport with Krishna, the idol of their affection. Thus the deity of unbounded prowess, the remover of all imperfections, assumed the character of a youth amongst the damsels of Vraja, pervading their natures and that of their lords, by his own essence all diffusive like the wind, for even as in all creatures the elements of ether, fire, water, and air are comprehended, so also is he everywhere present and in all.[259]The Rāsa dance is danced by men and women holding each other's hands going round in a circle singing the airs to what they dance.
SECTION XIII.Parāçara said:—Sakra having departed, the cow-herds, on seeing him uplift the mountain Govardhana, said to Krishna of wonderous deeds, delightedly:—"O thou of mighty arms, thou hast saved us from a great fear; by holding up the mountain thou hast protected the cows. Wonderful are thy childish sports and insignificant is the condition of a herdsman and all thy actions are those of a god. Tell us what is the meanings of all this. Kaliya has been vanquished in the water; Pralamba has been killed; Govardhana has been lifted up; our minds are filled with surprise. We can swear by the feet of Hari, O thou of unbounded might, that beholding thy powers we do not consider thee as man. O Kesava, the woman, the children and the old of Vraja are all pleased with thee—even all the celestials cannot perform the deeds thou hast done. Thy boyhood and thy prowess; thy humiliating birth amongst us, are contradictions that fill us with surprise whenever we think of them. Be thou a god, or a demon or a Yaksha or a Gandharva, or whatever, we may consider thee, we should respect thee for thou art our friend".When they had finished, Krishna remained silent for some time as if hurt and wounded and then said to them, "Herdsmen, if you are not ashamed of my relationship, if I have deserved your praise, then what necessity have you to discuss thus concerning me? If you have any love for me, if I merit your praise, then consider me as your friend. I am neither a god, nor a Gandharva nor a Yaksha nor a demon—I am born as thy friend and you should not think otherwise of me".Parāçara said Being addressed thus, O great Muni the cow-herds remained silent and went into the woods leaving Krishna apparently displeased. Beholding the clear sky with the autumnal moon, and the air perfumed with the fragrance of the wild water-lily in whose buds the clustering bees were murmuring their songs, he felt inclined to join with the females of cow-herds in sport. Thereupon with Rāma he began singing sweet low strains in various measures such as the woman loved; and they, as soon as they heard the music, left their homes and hastened to meet the Slayer of Madhu. One damsel gently sang an accompaniment to his song, another attentively listened to his music: one called him by the name and then shrank in bashfulness: whilst another, more bold and prompted by love, pressed close to his side; one, as she came out, saw some of the seniors of her family and dared not venture satisfying herself with meditating on Krishna with closed eyes and whole-minded devotion by which immediately all acts of merit were effaced by rapture and all sin was expiated by regret at not seeing him: and others again, reflecting upon the cause of the world, in the form of the Supreme Brahma, obtained, by their sighing, final emancipation. Thus encircled by the females of cow-herds Krishna thought the lovely moon-light night of autumn suited to the Rāsa[259]dance. Many of them so imitated the different actions of Krishna that in his absence they wandered through Vrindavana representing his person. "I am Krishna" exclaims one "behold the beauty of my movements". "I am Krishna" cries another "Listen to my song". "Wait! wicked Kāliya, I am Krishna" cries out another striking her arms defiantly. A fourth cries out: "Herdsmen, fear nothing, be steady, there is no danger of the storm any more for I uplift the Govardhana for your protection," and a fifth exclaims—"Now let the cattle graze wherever they will, for I have slain Dhenuka". In this wise the females of the cow-herds imitated the various actions of Krishna, and in his absence removed their sorrow by mimicking his sports. One damsel, looking on the earth with the down of her person erect and expanded eyes, exclaims "See here are the impressions of Krishna's feet and as he has gone, he has left those marks of the banner, the thunder-bolt and the goad. What fortunate damsel is going with him inebriate with her passion as her irregular footmarks prove? Here Damodara has called flowers from on high, for we see alone the marks of the tips of his feet. Here a nymph has sat down with him be-decked with flowers, fortunate in having propitiated Vishnu in a pristine birth. Having left her in a haughty mood because he had adored her with flowers, the son of Nanda has gone by this road; for see, unable to follow him with equal steps his companion has here tripped along upon her toes; and that holding his hand, the damsel has passed on is evident from the uneven and intermingled footsteps. The wicked Krishna merely took her by the hand and then left her. The damsel, being disappointed, is returning in faltering steps—for such her foot-marks indicate. Forsooth he proposed to her that he would come back soon, for here are his own footsteps returning with speed. Here he has entered the thick forest but as the rays of the moon do not enter here his footsteps can be traced no farther". Being hopeless of beholding Krishna, the females of the cow-herds came back and arriving at the banks of the Yamuna, they began to sing his songs. They immediately saw the protector of the three worlds, with a smiling countenance, coming speedily towards them, on which one cried out "Krishna, Krishna" being unable to utter any thing else. One liked to contract her forehead with frowns as drinking with the bees of her eyes the lotus of the face of Hari: another, shutting her eyes, meditated, in her mind, upon his form as if being engaged in an act of devotion. Thereupon coming amongst them Mādhaba conciliated some with soft words some with gentle looks and some he took by the hand and the illustrious deity sported with them in the stations of the dance, after all the damsels had been propitiated. As each of the damsels attempted to remain in one place close to the side of Krishna, the circle of the dance could not be constructed. Thereupon taking each by the hand and when their eyelids were closed by the effects of such touch Hari formed the circle. Then began the dance in accompaniment with the music of their clashing bracelets and songs that celebrated in sweet melody the beauty of the autumnal season. Krishna sang the moon of autumn, a mine of gentle rays but the damsels chanted the praise of Krishna only. At times, one of them exhausted by the revolving dance, threw her arms, adorned with the tinkling bracelets round the neck of the Slayer of Madhu: another proficient in the art of singing his praises embraced him. The drops of perspiration from the arms of Hari were like fertilizing rain which produced a drop of dew upon the temples of the damsels of cow-herds. Krishna sang the melody that was suited to the dance. The damsels again and again repeated—"Bravo, Krishna," to his song. When leading, they followed him, when coming back, they met him and whether he went forwards or backwards they always followed his footsteps. Whilst sporting thus with the females of the cow-herds, they regarded one moment in his absence as a myriad of years. And although prohibited in vain by their husbands and brothers, they went out in night to sport with Krishna, the idol of their affection. Thus the deity of unbounded prowess, the remover of all imperfections, assumed the character of a youth amongst the damsels of Vraja, pervading their natures and that of their lords, by his own essence all diffusive like the wind, for even as in all creatures the elements of ether, fire, water, and air are comprehended, so also is he everywhere present and in all.[259]The Rāsa dance is danced by men and women holding each other's hands going round in a circle singing the airs to what they dance.
SECTION XIII.Parāçara said:—Sakra having departed, the cow-herds, on seeing him uplift the mountain Govardhana, said to Krishna of wonderous deeds, delightedly:—"O thou of mighty arms, thou hast saved us from a great fear; by holding up the mountain thou hast protected the cows. Wonderful are thy childish sports and insignificant is the condition of a herdsman and all thy actions are those of a god. Tell us what is the meanings of all this. Kaliya has been vanquished in the water; Pralamba has been killed; Govardhana has been lifted up; our minds are filled with surprise. We can swear by the feet of Hari, O thou of unbounded might, that beholding thy powers we do not consider thee as man. O Kesava, the woman, the children and the old of Vraja are all pleased with thee—even all the celestials cannot perform the deeds thou hast done. Thy boyhood and thy prowess; thy humiliating birth amongst us, are contradictions that fill us with surprise whenever we think of them. Be thou a god, or a demon or a Yaksha or a Gandharva, or whatever, we may consider thee, we should respect thee for thou art our friend".When they had finished, Krishna remained silent for some time as if hurt and wounded and then said to them, "Herdsmen, if you are not ashamed of my relationship, if I have deserved your praise, then what necessity have you to discuss thus concerning me? If you have any love for me, if I merit your praise, then consider me as your friend. I am neither a god, nor a Gandharva nor a Yaksha nor a demon—I am born as thy friend and you should not think otherwise of me".Parāçara said Being addressed thus, O great Muni the cow-herds remained silent and went into the woods leaving Krishna apparently displeased. Beholding the clear sky with the autumnal moon, and the air perfumed with the fragrance of the wild water-lily in whose buds the clustering bees were murmuring their songs, he felt inclined to join with the females of cow-herds in sport. Thereupon with Rāma he began singing sweet low strains in various measures such as the woman loved; and they, as soon as they heard the music, left their homes and hastened to meet the Slayer of Madhu. One damsel gently sang an accompaniment to his song, another attentively listened to his music: one called him by the name and then shrank in bashfulness: whilst another, more bold and prompted by love, pressed close to his side; one, as she came out, saw some of the seniors of her family and dared not venture satisfying herself with meditating on Krishna with closed eyes and whole-minded devotion by which immediately all acts of merit were effaced by rapture and all sin was expiated by regret at not seeing him: and others again, reflecting upon the cause of the world, in the form of the Supreme Brahma, obtained, by their sighing, final emancipation. Thus encircled by the females of cow-herds Krishna thought the lovely moon-light night of autumn suited to the Rāsa[259]dance. Many of them so imitated the different actions of Krishna that in his absence they wandered through Vrindavana representing his person. "I am Krishna" exclaims one "behold the beauty of my movements". "I am Krishna" cries another "Listen to my song". "Wait! wicked Kāliya, I am Krishna" cries out another striking her arms defiantly. A fourth cries out: "Herdsmen, fear nothing, be steady, there is no danger of the storm any more for I uplift the Govardhana for your protection," and a fifth exclaims—"Now let the cattle graze wherever they will, for I have slain Dhenuka". In this wise the females of the cow-herds imitated the various actions of Krishna, and in his absence removed their sorrow by mimicking his sports. One damsel, looking on the earth with the down of her person erect and expanded eyes, exclaims "See here are the impressions of Krishna's feet and as he has gone, he has left those marks of the banner, the thunder-bolt and the goad. What fortunate damsel is going with him inebriate with her passion as her irregular footmarks prove? Here Damodara has called flowers from on high, for we see alone the marks of the tips of his feet. Here a nymph has sat down with him be-decked with flowers, fortunate in having propitiated Vishnu in a pristine birth. Having left her in a haughty mood because he had adored her with flowers, the son of Nanda has gone by this road; for see, unable to follow him with equal steps his companion has here tripped along upon her toes; and that holding his hand, the damsel has passed on is evident from the uneven and intermingled footsteps. The wicked Krishna merely took her by the hand and then left her. The damsel, being disappointed, is returning in faltering steps—for such her foot-marks indicate. Forsooth he proposed to her that he would come back soon, for here are his own footsteps returning with speed. Here he has entered the thick forest but as the rays of the moon do not enter here his footsteps can be traced no farther". Being hopeless of beholding Krishna, the females of the cow-herds came back and arriving at the banks of the Yamuna, they began to sing his songs. They immediately saw the protector of the three worlds, with a smiling countenance, coming speedily towards them, on which one cried out "Krishna, Krishna" being unable to utter any thing else. One liked to contract her forehead with frowns as drinking with the bees of her eyes the lotus of the face of Hari: another, shutting her eyes, meditated, in her mind, upon his form as if being engaged in an act of devotion. Thereupon coming amongst them Mādhaba conciliated some with soft words some with gentle looks and some he took by the hand and the illustrious deity sported with them in the stations of the dance, after all the damsels had been propitiated. As each of the damsels attempted to remain in one place close to the side of Krishna, the circle of the dance could not be constructed. Thereupon taking each by the hand and when their eyelids were closed by the effects of such touch Hari formed the circle. Then began the dance in accompaniment with the music of their clashing bracelets and songs that celebrated in sweet melody the beauty of the autumnal season. Krishna sang the moon of autumn, a mine of gentle rays but the damsels chanted the praise of Krishna only. At times, one of them exhausted by the revolving dance, threw her arms, adorned with the tinkling bracelets round the neck of the Slayer of Madhu: another proficient in the art of singing his praises embraced him. The drops of perspiration from the arms of Hari were like fertilizing rain which produced a drop of dew upon the temples of the damsels of cow-herds. Krishna sang the melody that was suited to the dance. The damsels again and again repeated—"Bravo, Krishna," to his song. When leading, they followed him, when coming back, they met him and whether he went forwards or backwards they always followed his footsteps. Whilst sporting thus with the females of the cow-herds, they regarded one moment in his absence as a myriad of years. And although prohibited in vain by their husbands and brothers, they went out in night to sport with Krishna, the idol of their affection. Thus the deity of unbounded prowess, the remover of all imperfections, assumed the character of a youth amongst the damsels of Vraja, pervading their natures and that of their lords, by his own essence all diffusive like the wind, for even as in all creatures the elements of ether, fire, water, and air are comprehended, so also is he everywhere present and in all.[259]The Rāsa dance is danced by men and women holding each other's hands going round in a circle singing the airs to what they dance.
Parāçara said:—Sakra having departed, the cow-herds, on seeing him uplift the mountain Govardhana, said to Krishna of wonderous deeds, delightedly:—"O thou of mighty arms, thou hast saved us from a great fear; by holding up the mountain thou hast protected the cows. Wonderful are thy childish sports and insignificant is the condition of a herdsman and all thy actions are those of a god. Tell us what is the meanings of all this. Kaliya has been vanquished in the water; Pralamba has been killed; Govardhana has been lifted up; our minds are filled with surprise. We can swear by the feet of Hari, O thou of unbounded might, that beholding thy powers we do not consider thee as man. O Kesava, the woman, the children and the old of Vraja are all pleased with thee—even all the celestials cannot perform the deeds thou hast done. Thy boyhood and thy prowess; thy humiliating birth amongst us, are contradictions that fill us with surprise whenever we think of them. Be thou a god, or a demon or a Yaksha or a Gandharva, or whatever, we may consider thee, we should respect thee for thou art our friend".
When they had finished, Krishna remained silent for some time as if hurt and wounded and then said to them, "Herdsmen, if you are not ashamed of my relationship, if I have deserved your praise, then what necessity have you to discuss thus concerning me? If you have any love for me, if I merit your praise, then consider me as your friend. I am neither a god, nor a Gandharva nor a Yaksha nor a demon—I am born as thy friend and you should not think otherwise of me".
Parāçara said Being addressed thus, O great Muni the cow-herds remained silent and went into the woods leaving Krishna apparently displeased. Beholding the clear sky with the autumnal moon, and the air perfumed with the fragrance of the wild water-lily in whose buds the clustering bees were murmuring their songs, he felt inclined to join with the females of cow-herds in sport. Thereupon with Rāma he began singing sweet low strains in various measures such as the woman loved; and they, as soon as they heard the music, left their homes and hastened to meet the Slayer of Madhu. One damsel gently sang an accompaniment to his song, another attentively listened to his music: one called him by the name and then shrank in bashfulness: whilst another, more bold and prompted by love, pressed close to his side; one, as she came out, saw some of the seniors of her family and dared not venture satisfying herself with meditating on Krishna with closed eyes and whole-minded devotion by which immediately all acts of merit were effaced by rapture and all sin was expiated by regret at not seeing him: and others again, reflecting upon the cause of the world, in the form of the Supreme Brahma, obtained, by their sighing, final emancipation. Thus encircled by the females of cow-herds Krishna thought the lovely moon-light night of autumn suited to the Rāsa[259]dance. Many of them so imitated the different actions of Krishna that in his absence they wandered through Vrindavana representing his person. "I am Krishna" exclaims one "behold the beauty of my movements". "I am Krishna" cries another "Listen to my song". "Wait! wicked Kāliya, I am Krishna" cries out another striking her arms defiantly. A fourth cries out: "Herdsmen, fear nothing, be steady, there is no danger of the storm any more for I uplift the Govardhana for your protection," and a fifth exclaims—"Now let the cattle graze wherever they will, for I have slain Dhenuka". In this wise the females of the cow-herds imitated the various actions of Krishna, and in his absence removed their sorrow by mimicking his sports. One damsel, looking on the earth with the down of her person erect and expanded eyes, exclaims "See here are the impressions of Krishna's feet and as he has gone, he has left those marks of the banner, the thunder-bolt and the goad. What fortunate damsel is going with him inebriate with her passion as her irregular footmarks prove? Here Damodara has called flowers from on high, for we see alone the marks of the tips of his feet. Here a nymph has sat down with him be-decked with flowers, fortunate in having propitiated Vishnu in a pristine birth. Having left her in a haughty mood because he had adored her with flowers, the son of Nanda has gone by this road; for see, unable to follow him with equal steps his companion has here tripped along upon her toes; and that holding his hand, the damsel has passed on is evident from the uneven and intermingled footsteps. The wicked Krishna merely took her by the hand and then left her. The damsel, being disappointed, is returning in faltering steps—for such her foot-marks indicate. Forsooth he proposed to her that he would come back soon, for here are his own footsteps returning with speed. Here he has entered the thick forest but as the rays of the moon do not enter here his footsteps can be traced no farther". Being hopeless of beholding Krishna, the females of the cow-herds came back and arriving at the banks of the Yamuna, they began to sing his songs. They immediately saw the protector of the three worlds, with a smiling countenance, coming speedily towards them, on which one cried out "Krishna, Krishna" being unable to utter any thing else. One liked to contract her forehead with frowns as drinking with the bees of her eyes the lotus of the face of Hari: another, shutting her eyes, meditated, in her mind, upon his form as if being engaged in an act of devotion. Thereupon coming amongst them Mādhaba conciliated some with soft words some with gentle looks and some he took by the hand and the illustrious deity sported with them in the stations of the dance, after all the damsels had been propitiated. As each of the damsels attempted to remain in one place close to the side of Krishna, the circle of the dance could not be constructed. Thereupon taking each by the hand and when their eyelids were closed by the effects of such touch Hari formed the circle. Then began the dance in accompaniment with the music of their clashing bracelets and songs that celebrated in sweet melody the beauty of the autumnal season. Krishna sang the moon of autumn, a mine of gentle rays but the damsels chanted the praise of Krishna only. At times, one of them exhausted by the revolving dance, threw her arms, adorned with the tinkling bracelets round the neck of the Slayer of Madhu: another proficient in the art of singing his praises embraced him. The drops of perspiration from the arms of Hari were like fertilizing rain which produced a drop of dew upon the temples of the damsels of cow-herds. Krishna sang the melody that was suited to the dance. The damsels again and again repeated—"Bravo, Krishna," to his song. When leading, they followed him, when coming back, they met him and whether he went forwards or backwards they always followed his footsteps. Whilst sporting thus with the females of the cow-herds, they regarded one moment in his absence as a myriad of years. And although prohibited in vain by their husbands and brothers, they went out in night to sport with Krishna, the idol of their affection. Thus the deity of unbounded prowess, the remover of all imperfections, assumed the character of a youth amongst the damsels of Vraja, pervading their natures and that of their lords, by his own essence all diffusive like the wind, for even as in all creatures the elements of ether, fire, water, and air are comprehended, so also is he everywhere present and in all.