Chapter Twelve Śrī Holikotsave divya-tri-guṇa-vṛtti-bhūmi-gopy-upākhyānam The Story of the Gopīs That In the Holi Festival Displayed Three Transcendental Virtues

22 verses

Verse text

idaṁ mayā te kathitaṁ gopīnāṁ caritaṁ śubham anyāsāṁ caiva gopīnāṁ varṇanaṁ śṛṇu maithila

Synonyms

idam this ; mayā by me ; te to you ; kathitam spoken ; gopīnām of the gopīs ; caritam activities ; śubham beautiful ; anyāsām of others ; ca and ; eva indeed ; gopīnām gopīs ; varṇanam description ; śṛṇu please hear ; maithila O king of Mithilā.

Translation

O king of Mithilā, now that I have described the beautiful activities of these gopīs, please hear the story of some other gopīs.

Verse text

vītihotro 'gnibhuk sāmbaḥ śrīkaro gopatiḥ śrutaḥ vrajeśaḥ pāvanaḥ śānta upanandāḥ vrajebhavāḥ

Synonyms

vītihotraḥ Vītihotra ; agnibhuk Agnibhuk ; sāmbaḥ Sāmba ; śrīkaraḥ Śrīkara ; gopatiḥ Gopati ; śrutaḥ Sruta ; vrajeśaḥ Vrajesa ; pāvanaḥ Pavana ; śānta Santa ; upanandāḥ the Upanandas ; vrajebhavāḥ born in Vraja.

Translation

Born in Vraja, the Upanandas were: Vītihotra, Agnibhuk, Sāmba, Śrīkara, Gopati, Śruta, Vrajeśa, Pāvana, and Śānta.

Verse text

dhanavanto rūpavantaḥ putravanto bahu-śrutāḥ śīlādi-guṇa-sampannāḥ sarve dāna-parāyaṇāḥ

Synonyms

dhanavantaḥ wealthy ; rūpavantaḥ handsome ; putravantaḥ thew fathers of many children ; bahu-śrutāḥ learnbed ; śīlādi-guṇa-sampannāḥ endowed with noble character and many virtues ; sarve all ; dāna-parāyaṇāḥ charitable.

Translation

They were all wealthy, handsome, learned, noble, virtuous, charitable, and the fathers of many children.

Verse text

teṣu gṛheṣu saṣjātāḥ kanyakā deva-vākyataḥ kāścid divyā adivyāś ca tathā tri-guṇa-vṛttayaḥ

Synonyms

teṣu there ; gṛheṣu in the homes ; saṣjātāḥ born ; kanyakā daughters ; deva-vākyataḥ by the word of the Lord ; kāścit some ; divyā from the heavenly planets ; adivyāḥ not from the heavenly p ; ca and ; tathā so ; tri-guṇa-vṛttayaḥ endowed with three virtues.

Translation

Following the orders of the demigods, these girls, endowed with three virtues, some from the celestial planets, and some not from the celestial planets, took birth in the homes of the Upanandas.

Verse text

bhūmi-gopyaś ca saṣjātāḥ puṇyair nānā-vidhaiḥ kṛtaiḥ rādhikā-sahacaryās tāḥ sakhyo 'bhuvan videha-rāṭ

Synonyms

bhūmi-gopyaḥ gopīs on the earth ; ca and ; saṣjātāḥ born ; puṇyaiḥ with pious deeds ; nānā-vidhaiḥ many kinds ; kṛtaiḥ done ; rādhikā-sahacaryaḥ Rādhā's friends ; tāḥ they ; sakhyaḥ friends ; abhuvan became ; videha-rāṭ O king of Videha.

Translation

O king of Videha, having performed many pious deeds, these gopīs were born on the earth and became the friends of Śrī Rādhā.

Verse text

ekadā māninīṁ rādhāṁ tāḥ sarvā vraja-gopikāḥ ūcur vīkṣya hariṁ prāptaṁ holikāyā mahotsave

Synonyms

ekadā one day ; māninīm filled with jealous anger ; rādhām Rādhā ; tāḥ they ; sarvā all ; vraja-gopikāḥ the vraja-gopīs ; ūcuḥ said ; vīkṣya seeing ; harim Kṛṣṇa ; prāptam attained ; holikāyā of holi ; mahotsave the great festival.

Translation

Noticing that Kṛṣṇa was ready to celebrate the great Holi festival, these gopīs approached Rādhā, who was then filled with jealous anger, and spoke to Her.

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ rambhoru candra-vadane madhu-māninīśe rādhe vacaḥ su-lalitaṁ lalane śṛṇu tvam śrī-holikotsava-vihāram alaṁ vidhātuṁ āyāti te pura-vane vraja-bhūṣaṇo 'yam

Synonyms

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ the gopīs said ; rambhoru O girl whose thighs are like banana trees ; candra-vadane O moon-faced girl ; madhu-manini O girl sweet as honey ; īśe O queen ; rādhe Rādhā ; vacaḥ words ; su-lalitam graceful ; lalane O girl ; śṛṇu please hear ; tvam You ; śrī-holikotsava-vihāram the pastime of the Holi festuival ; alam greatly ; vidhātum to place ; āyāti comes ; te of You ; pura-vane in the forest ; vraja-bhūṣaṇaḥ the ornament of Vraja ; ayam He.

Translation

The gopīs said: O moon-face, banana-tree thigh, sweet as honey Queen Rādhā, please hear these pleasing words. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the ornament of Vraja, has come to Your forest to celebrate the Holi festival.

Verse text

śrī-yauvanonmada-vighūrṇita-locano 'sau nīlālakāli-kalitāṁsa-kapola-golaḥ sat-pīta-kaṣcuka-ghanāntam aśeṣm ārād ācālayan dhvani-matā sva-padāruṇena

Synonyms

unmada intoxication ; vighūrṇita rolling ; locanaḥ eyes ; asau He ; nīlālakāli dark locks of hair ; kalitāṁsa on His shoulders ; kapola-golaḥ and cheeks ; sat-pīta-kaṣcuka-ghanāntam the edge of the yellow garment ; aśeṣam all ; ārāt near ; acālayan moving ; dhvani-matā sound ; sva-padā with His foot ; aruṇena red.

Translation

His eyes rolling in the intoxication of glorious youth, His black locks resting on His cheeks and shoulders covered with a yellow shawl, He walks here, the anklets tinkling on His reddish feet.

Verse text

bālārka-mauli-vimalāṅgada-hāram udyad- vidyut-kṣipan-makara-kuṇḍalam ādadhānaḥ pītāmbareṇa jayati dyuti-maṇḍalo 'sau bhū-maṇḍale sa-dhanuṣeva ghano divi-sthaḥ

Synonyms

bālārka the rising sun ; mauli crown ; vimala glistening ; aṅgada armlets ; hāram necklaces ; udyat rising ; vidyut lightning ; kṣipat eclipsing ; makara shark ; kuṇḍalam earrings ; ādadhānaḥ wearing ; pītāmbareṇa with yellow garments ; jayati is glorious ; dyuti-maṇḍalaḥ in a circle of light ; asau He ; bhū-maṇḍale on the circle of the earth ; sa-dhanuṣā with its bow ; iva like ; ghanaḥ a cloud ; divi-sthaḥ in the sky.

Translation

Wearing glittering armlets, yellow garments, a crown like the rising sun, and shark earrings that eclipse lightning, He is splendid and glorious as a monsoon cloud and a rainbow.

Verse text

ābīra-kuṅkuma-rasaiś ca vilipta-deho haste gṛhita-nava-secana-yantra ārāt prekṣaṁs tavāśu sakhi vāṭam atīva rādhe tvad-rāsa-raṅga-rasa-keli-rataḥ sthitaḥ saḥ

Synonyms

ābīra-kuṅkuma-rasaiḥ with red kunkuma ; ca and ; vilipta anointed ; dehaḥ body ; haste hand ; gṛhita taken ; nava new ; secana-yantra sprinkling device ; ārāt near ; prekṣaṁḥ seeing ; tava of You ; āśu at once ; sakhī friend ; vatam courtyard garden ; atīva great ; rādhe O Rādhā ; tvad-rāsa-raṅga-rasa-keli nectar rasa-dance pastimes ; rataḥ eager ; sthitaḥ situated ; saḥ He.

Translation

Eager to enjoy a rāsa-dance with You, His body anointed with red kunkuma, and a sprinkler in His hand, He fixes His gaze on as You stay nearby in this courtyard-garden.

Verse text

nirgaccha phālguna-miṣeṇa vihāya mānaṁ dātavyam adya ca yaśaḥ kila holikāyai kartavyam āśu nija-mandira-raṅga-vāri- pāṭīra-paṅka-makaranda-cayaṁ ca tūrṇam

Synonyms

nirgaccha go ; phālguna the month of Phalguna (February-March) miṣeṇa—on the preText ; vihāya abandoning ; mānam jealous anger ; dātavyam should be given ; adya now ; ca and ; yaśaḥ fame ; kila indeed ; holikāyai to Holi ; kartavyam should be done ; āśu at once ; nija own ; mandira palace ; raṅga red ; vāri water ; pāṭīra sandal ; paṅka paste ; makaranda-cayam flower-nectar ; ca and ; tūrṇam at once.

Translation

Give up Your jealous anger, and celebrate the glorious Holi festival. Go at once and get water mixed with red dye, sandal paste, and flower-pollen.

Verse text

uttiṣṭha gaccha sahasā nija-maṇḍalībhir yatrāsti so 'pi kila tatra mahā-mate tvam etādṛśo 'pi samayo na kadāpi labhyaḥ prakṣālitaṁ kara-talaṁ viditaṁ pravāhe

Synonyms

uttiṣṭha rise ; gaccha go ; sahasā at once ; nija-maṇḍalībhiḥ with Your associates ; yatra where ; asti is ; saḥ He ; api also ; kila indeed ; tatra there ; mahā-mate O generous one ; tvam You ; etādṛśaḥ like this ; api even ; samayaḥ occasion ; na not ; kadāpi ever ; labhyaḥ is attainable ; prakṣālitam washed ; kara-talam hand ; viditam known ; pravāhe in the flood.

Translation

Stand up! Go at once! O noble-hearted one, with Your friends go to where He is! An opportunity like this will not come again. Wash Your hand in the stream of the Holi festival.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca atha mānavatī rādhā mānaṁ tyaktvā samutthitā sakhī-saṅghaiḥ parivṛtā prakartuṁ holikotsavam

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; atha then ; mānavatī filled with jealous anger ; rādhā Rādhā ; mānam jealous anger ; tyaktvā abandoning ; samutthitā risen ; sakhī-saṅghaiḥ with Her friends ; parivṛtā surrounded ; prakartum to do ; holikotsavam to Holi festival.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Then angry Rādhā put aside Her jealous anger, stood up, and, accompanied by Her friends, went to celebrate the Holi festival.

Verse text

śrīkhaṇḍāguru-kastūrī- haridra-kuṅkuma-dravaiḥ pūritābhir dṛtībhiś ca samyuktās tā vrajāṅganāḥ

Synonyms

śrīkhaṇḍa sandal ; aguru aguru ; kastūrī musk ; haridra turmeric ; kuṅkuma kunkuma ; dravaiḥ liquid ; pūritābhiḥ filled ; dṛtībhiḥ with sprinklers ; ca and ; samyuktāḥ endowed ; they ; vrajāṅganāḥ the girls of Vraja.

Translation

The girls of Vraja carried sprinklers filled with water mixed with sandal, aguru, musk, yellow turmeric, and red kuṅkuma.

Verse text

rakta-hastāḥ pīta-vastrāḥ kūjan-nūpura-mekhalāḥ gāyantyo holikā-gītir galībhir hāsya-sandhibhiḥ

Synonyms

rakta-hastāḥ red hands ; pīta-vastrāḥ yellow garmentś ; kūjan-nūpura-mekhalāḥ tinkling anklets and belts ; gāyantyaḥ singing ; holikā-gītiḥ with Holi songs ; galībhiḥ with arrogant words ; hāsya with laughter ; sandhibhiḥ mixed.

Translation

With red hands and yellow garments, and with rowdy songs and laughter, they sang about the glories of Holi.

Verse text

ābīrāruṇa-cūrṇānāṁ muṣṭibhis tā itas tataḥ kurvatyaś cāruṇaṁ bhūmiṁ dig-antaṁ cāmbaraṁ tathā

Synonyms

ābīrāruṇa-cūrṇānām with red powder ; muṣṭibhiḥ with fists ; they ; itaḥ tataḥ here and there ; kurvatyaś doing ; ca and ; aruṇam red ; bhūmim earth ; dig-antam the directions ; ca and ; ambaram the sky ; tathā so.

Translation

Throwing fistfulls of red powder, they reddened the sky, the earth, and all the directions.

Verse text

koṭiśaḥ koṭiśas tatra sphuranty ābīra-muṣṭayaḥ su-gandhāruṇa-cūrṇānāṁ koṭiśaḥ koṭiśas tathā

Synonyms

koṭiśaḥ koṭiśaḥ millions and millions ; tatra there ; sphuranty manifested ; ābīra-muṣṭayaḥ red fists ; su-gandha fragrant ; aruṇa-cūrṇānām red powder ; koṭiśaḥ koṭiśaḥ millions and millions ; tathā so.

Translation

There were millions and millions of reddish fists. Millions and millions of times they threw fragrant red powder.

Verse text

sarvato jagṛhuḥ kṛṣṇaṁ karābhyāṁ vraja-gopikāḥ yathā meghaṁ ca dāminyaḥ sandhyāyāṁ śrāvaṇasya ca

Synonyms

sarvataḥ from everywhere ; jagṛhuḥ grabbed ; kṛṣṇam Kṛṣṇa ; karābhyām with both hands ; vraja-gopikāḥ the vraja-gopīs ; yathā as ; meghaṁ a cloud ; ca and ; dāminyaḥ lightning ; sandhyāyām meeting ; śrāvaṇasya of the month of Sravana ; ca and.

Translation

As lightning flashes surround a cloud in the month of Śrāvaṇa (July-August), so the vraja-gopīs surrounded Kṛṣṇa and held Him tightly with both hands.

Verse text

tan-mukhaṁ ca vilimpantyo 'thābīrāruṇa-muṣṭibhiḥ kuṅkumākta-dṛtībhis taṁ ardrī-cakrur vidhānataḥ

Synonyms

tan-mukham His face ; ca and ; vilimpantyaḥ anointing ; atha then ; ābīra-aruṇa-muṣṭibhiḥ with fists filled with red powder ; kuṅkumākta-dṛtībhiḥ with sprinklers filled with kunbkuma water ; tam Him ; ardrī-cakruḥ sprinkled ; vidhānataḥ accordingly.

Translation

With fistfulls of red powder they anointed His face. With sprinklers of kuṅuma-water they drenched Him.

Verse text

bhagavān api tatraiva yāvatīr vraja-yoṣitaḥ dhṛtvā rūpāṇi tāvanti vijahāra nṛpeśvara

Synonyms

bhagavān the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; api also ; tatra there ; eva indeed ; yāvatīḥ as many ; vraja-yoṣitaḥ Vraja girls ; dhṛtvā manifesting ; rūpāṇi forms ; tāvanti that many ; vijahāra enjoyed pastimes ; nṛpeśvara O king of kings.

Translation

O king of kings, then the Supreme Personality of Godhead expanded into as many forms as there were vraja-gopīs.

Verse text

rādhayā suśubhe tatra holikāyā mahotsave varṣāsandhyākṣane kṛṣṇaḥ saudaminyā ghano yathā

Synonyms

rādhayā with Rādhā ; suśubhe shone ; tatra there ; holikāyā of Holi ; mahotsave in the great festival ; varṣāsandhyākṣane during a rainfall ; kṛṣṇaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; saudaminyā with lightning ; ghanaḥ a cloud ; yathā as.

Translation

As a cloud touched by lightning in the rain, so Kṛṣṇa was splendidly manifest with Rādhā in the Holi festival.

Verse text

kṛṣṇo 'pi tad-dhasta-kṛtākta-netro dattvā svakīyaṁ navam uttarīyaṁ tābhyo yayau nanda-gṛhaṁ pareśo deveṣu varṣatsu ca puṣpa-varṣam

Synonyms

kṛṣṇaḥ Lord Kṛṣṇa ; api even ; tat by Her ; dhasta hand ; kṛtākta anointed ; netraḥ eyes ; dattvā giving ; svakīyam own ; navam new ; uttarīyam upper garment ; tābhyaḥ from them ; yayau went ; nanda-gṛham to Nanda's home ; pareśaḥ the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; deveṣu as the demigods ; varṣatsu showered ; ca and ; puṣpa-varṣam a rain of flowers.

Translation

Taking a new upper garment, and His eyes now anointed by Rādhā's hand, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, left the gopīs and went to King Nanda's palace as the demigods showered flowers. .pa