Thursday, September 25, 2008

Cowherd Boys

sAhaMpUrvikam Azu dhAvitavatAM kRSNasya pazcAt puraH
pArzveSu vraja-pAla-bAla-sadasAM sammoda AsIt paraH |
yeSAM zekhara-barhi-barha-mahasA sanmaJju-guJjAvalI-
bhUSA-bhAbhir abhUn mahAjhalamalatkArA dizAM maNDalI ||

Eager to be the first to reach Krishna, the sons of the Vraja cowherds ran with great delight to him from behind, in front and from both sides. The splendor from the peacock feathers in their hair, their beautiful garlands of gunja berries and other ornaments radiated brightly in all directions. (KRSNAhnika-KaumudI 3.26)

teSAM veNu-viSANa-patra-ninadaH prodgIrNa-karNotsavaH
prItAnAM ca gavAM marAla-madhuraH sammoda-hambA-ravaH |
teSAM ca pratiniHsvanaH samabhavat kRSNa-prayANotsava-
zrI-zaMsi jaya-DinDima-dhvanir iva vyAkIrya dhairyaM divaH ||

The delightful sounds of his friends’ flutes, animal horns and other instruments reverberated along with the soft, sweet mooing of the cows. They were, it seemed, shaking the heavens with their drums of victory, proclaiming the wealth of merriment promised by their journey with Krishna. (KRSNAhnika-KaumudI 3.27)

vanAya gacchan vanajekSaNo harir yato yataH sannidadhe padAmbujam |
tatas tataH sA vraja-bhUH samutsukA prakAzayAmAsa hRd-ambujaM svakam ||

As the lotus-eyed Sri Hari walked through the forest, wherever he placed his lotus feet, the ground of Vraja eagerly revealed her own lotus heart. (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 5.12)

tac chrIpada-sparza-bhara-pramodaiH sA phulla-romAJcita-sarva-gAtrI |
nananda kRttAni tRNAni bhUyaH khuraiH kSatAGgAni ca rohayantI ||

From the delightful touch of his lotus feet, all the grass that had been trampled on and broken by the hooves of the cows sprang up again, as though the hairs on Vrajabhumi’s body were standing on end in ecstasy. (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 5.13)

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