SRIKRISHNA KARNAMRUTAM ASHWASA 2 (SLOKAS 76-110)

                    Srikrishna Karnamrutham
Srikrishna Karnamrutham is a beautiful devotional poem authored by
Bilwamangala Swami, also known as Lila Shuka because of his descriptions of the
leelas of Krishna in the same manner
in which Suka described it to Parikshit.  
Lila Suka has painted vivid word picutres of the leelas of Krishna as a child, as an adolescent boy and as a lover.
The work contains 328 verses in three aashwasas (or sargas, chapters).
Throughout the book the undercurrent is loving devotion to Krishna who is
regarded as the plenary incarnation of Mahavishnu, the purely sattwic aspect of
brahman, the Ultimate reality.  It is
said that Chaitanya mahaprabhu was acquainted with this work and he greatly
appreciated it.
Given below are slokas 76 to 110 of the second ashwasa with a prosaic
translation in English. 
संबाधे सुरभिणा-
मंबामायासयन्तमनुयान्तीम्
लंबालकमवलम्बे
तं बालं तनुविलग्न जंबाळ्म् ॥२.७६॥
I rely entirely on that child (Krishna) who tires his mother following
him among the crowd of cows and who has long hair and whose body is covered all
over with mud.
अञ्चितपिञ्छापीडं
वञ्चितसौजन्यवल्लवीवलयम्।
अधरमणिनिहितवेणुं
बालं गोपालमनिशमवलम्बे ॥२.७७॥
I rely
entirely on child Krishna who adorns his head with the plumes of peacock, who
is surrounded by loving cowherd belles whom he dodges and who plays the flute
placing it on his jewel like lips
प्रह्लादभागधेयं
निगमहाद्रेर्गुहान्तराधेयम्।
नरहरिपदाभिधेयं
विबुधविधेयं ममानुसन्धेयम् ॥२.७८॥
I meditate on (Krishna), who is the good fortune of
Prahlada, who is sought after in the caves of the Vedas which are like huge
mountains, who is named narahari meaning having a form which is part man
and part lion, and who helps devas.  
संसारे किं सारं
कंसारेश्चरणकमलपरिभजनम्।
ज्योतिः किमन्धकारे
यदन्धकारेरनुस्मरणम्॥२.७९॥
What is the essence of this samsara? It is
worshipping the lotus feet of the enemy of Kamsa.  What is light in darkness?  Thinking of (remembering) the enemy of
Adndhakasura (Krishna). 
कलशनवनीतचोरे
कमलादृक्कुमुदचन्द्रिकापूरे।
विहरतु नन्दकुमारे
चेतो मम गोपसुन्दरीजारे ॥२.८०॥

Let my mind revel in the son
of Nanda who is the paramour of the gopis, who steals fresh butter from
the pot, who is like moonlight for the lily-like eyes of Lakshmi. 
कस्त्वं बालः बलानुजः किमिह ते मन्मन्दिराशङ्कया
युक्तं तन्नवनीतपात्रविवरे हस्तं किमर्थं न्यसेः।
मातः  कञ्चन वत्सकं मृगयितुं मागा विषादं क्षणा-
दित्येवं वरवल्लवीप्रतिवचः कृष्णस्य पुष्णातु नः
॥२.८१॥
[this is a
conversation between a gopi and child Krishna who is caught red handed
while stealing butter in her house]
Gopi:     Who are you child?
Krishna:   I am the younger brother of Balarama
Gopi:      Why are you here?
Krishna:    I thought that this was my house.
Gopi:      OK, but why did you put your hands in the
pot in which butter is
           Kept?
Krishna:    Mother, I was searching for a calf (which
was missing), please
            do not worry    
 May these replies of Krishna to the queries of
the gopi nurture(protect) us
गोपालाजिरकर्दमे विहरसे विप्राध्वरे लज्जसे
ब्रूषे गोकुलहुंकृतैः स्तुतिशतैर्मौनं विधत्से विदाम्।
दास्यं गोकुलपुंश्चलीषु कुरुषे स्वाम्यं न दान्तात्मसु
ज्ञातं कृष्ण! तवाङ्घ्रियुगलं प्रेम्णा चलं मञ्जुलम् ॥२.८२॥
O Krishna!  You play in the muddy
courtyards of cowherd boys but you shy away from the sacrifice of Brahmins; you
respond to the ‘hum’ calls of cows but you are silent  when you are praised by hundreds of hymns by
wise men; you do the bidding of women of easy virtue in gokula but you
do not want to be Lord of those who have controlled their senses.  I know why it is so; your pretty lotus-like
feet are moved only by love and devotion. 
 
नमस्तस्मै यशोदाया
दायादायाऽस्तु तेजसे।
यद्धि रधामुखांभोजं
भोजं भोजं व्यववर्धत ॥२.८३॥
Salutations to that effulgence which is the son of Yasoda and which
grew up always enjoying (seeing) the lotus face of Radha.
                
    
अवतारा सन्त्वन्ये
सरसिजनयनस्य सर्वतोभद्राः।
कृष्णादन्यः को वा
प्रभवति गोगोपगोपिकामुक्त्यै॥२.८४॥
There my be many many other incarnations of the lotus-eyed Vishnu which are
auspicious in every way but, except Krishna, who else is capable of liberating
cows, cowherd men and cowherd women?
  
मध्येगोकुलमण्डलं प्रतिदिशं चांबारवोज्जृंभिते
प्रातर्द्दोहमहोत्सवे नवघनश्यामं रणन्नूपुरम्।
फाले बालविभूषणं कटिरटत्सकिङ्किणीमेखलं
कण्ठे व्याघ्रनखञ्च शैशवकलाकल्याणकार्स्न्यं भजे ॥२.८५॥
I pray to Krishna, the very acme of the beauty and
auspiciousness of childhood. In the midst of the early morning festivity of
milking the cows which fill the air with their ‘ambaa’ cry, there is
child Krishna,  dark blue as the newly
formed cloud,  anklets tinkling, forehead
adorned by a tilak, the small bells in the hip belt tinkling and  wearing a tiger-nail ornament around his
neck. 
सजलजलदनीलं दर्शितोदारलीलं
करतलधृतशैलं वेणुनादेरसालम्।
व्रजजनकुलपालं कामिनीकेलिलोलं
कलितललितमालं नौमि गोपालबालम् ॥२.८६॥
I salute
that child Gopala, who is dark blue as the water-bearing clouds, whose playful
acts are generous, who lifted up and held a mountain with one hand, who enjoys
the music of the flute, who takes care of the people of Vraja, who is fond of playing
with the belles of Vraja and who wears a beautiful garland (of wild flowers)
स्मितललितकपोलं स्निग्धसंगीतलोलं
ललितचिकुरजालं चौर्यचातुर्यलीलम्।
शतमखरिपुकालं शातकुम्भाभचेलं
कुवलयदलनीलं नौमि गोपालबालम्
॥२.८७॥
I prostrate before the child of Gopala (Krishna)  who has pretty cheeks lighted up by a
beautiful smile, who enjoys sweet music, who has beautiful locks of hair, who
is clever in his playful stealing, who is Death to the enemies of Indra and who
is of dark blue complexion as the petals of the blue lily.
मुरलिनिनदलोलं मुग्धमायूरचूडं
दलितदनुजजालं धन्यसौजन्यलीलम्।
परहितनवहेलं पद्मसद्मानुकूलं
नवजलधरनीलं नौमि गोपालबालम्
॥२.८८॥
I prostrate before the child of Gopala (Krishna) who is fond of the music
from flute, who wears beautiful plumes of peacock on his head,  who crushes the hordes of asuras, whose
playful activities are good and sweet , who does good to others, who favours
Brahma and who is dark blue as the newly formed cloud.
सरसगुणनिकायं सच्चिदानन्दकायं
शमितसकलमायं सत्यलक्ष्मीसहायम् ।
शमदमसमुदायं शान्तसर्वान्तरायं
सुहृदयजनदायं नौमि गोपालराजम् ॥२.८९॥
I bow to the king
of cowboys who is the repository of all good qualities, who is the embodiment
of Absolute Truth, Awareness and Bliss, who removes all delusions, who is the
consort of Lakshmi, who has conquered his senses and mind, who has surmounted
all obstacles and who is the friend of large-hearted and noble men.
लक्ष्मीकलत्रं ललिताब्जनेत्रं
पूर्णेन्दुवक्त्रं पुरुहूतमित्रम्।
कारुण्यपात्रं कमनीयगात्रं
वन्दे पवित्रं वसुदेवपुत्रं ॥२.९०॥
I bow to the son of Vasudeva, who is pure, who is the consort of Lakshmi,
who has beautiful lotus-like eyes, whose face is like the full moon, who is the
friend of Indra, who is full of mercy and who has a handsome body.
मदमयमदमयदुरगं
यमुनामवतीर्य वीर्यशालि यः
मम रतिममरतिरस्कृति-
शमनपरस्स क्रियात् कृष्णः ॥२.९१॥
May that Krishna create in me loving devotion to him; Krishna who
got into Yamuna and valiantly subjugated the aggressive snake kaliya and who
constantly tries to  remove the misfortunes of the celestials
मौलौ मायूरबर्हं मृगमदतिलकं चारु लालाटपट्टॆ
कर्णद्वन्द्वे च तालीदलमतिमृदुलं मौक्तिकं नासिकायाम्।
हारो मन्दारमालापरिमलभरिते कौस्तुभस्योपकण्ठे
पाणौ वेणुश्च यस्य व्रजयुवतियुतः पातु पीताम्बरो नः॥२.९२॥
May that
Krishna,   who wears bright yellow
clothes,  who gives company to the belles
of Vraja,  who adorns his head
with the plumes of the peacock, who sports a tilak of deer musk on his
pretty forehead,  who wears ear-ornaments
of soft palm leaves,  who has  nose-studs of pearls,  who wears garlands of fragrant mandara
flowers and Kaustubha  around the
neck  and 
who carries a flute in his hand, protect us. 
मुरारिणा वारिविहारकाले
मृगेक्षणानां मुषितांशुकानाम् ।
करद्वयम् वा कचसंहतिर्वा
प्रमीलनं वा परिधानमासीत् ॥२.९३॥
When, during water
sports with the doe-eyed damsels of Vraja, Murari (Krishna) stole their
clothes, the former had nothing as clothing ( to hide their shame) except their
two hands, their long hair or just closing of their eyes. 
यासां गोपाङ्गनानां लसदसिततरा लोललीलाकटाक्षा
यन्नासाचारुमुक्तामणिरुचिनिकरव्योमगंगाप्रवाहे।
मीनायन्तेऽपि तासामतिरभसचलच्चारुनीलालकान्ता
भृङ्गायन्ते यदंघ्रिद्वयसरसिरुहे पातु पीतांबरो नः
॥२.९४॥
The pretty playful glances of the belles of Vraja which are very dark look
like fish in the flow of the celestial Ganga created by the radiance of the
pearls in the beautiful nose-ornament of Krishna.  The dark curly hairs waving above their
foreheads look like a swarm of bees  when
they approach the lotus feet of Krishna. 
May that Krishna clothed in bright yellow silks protect us.
यद्वेणुश्रेणिरूपस्थितसुषिरमुखोद्गीर्णनादप्रभिन्ना
एणाक्ष्यस्तत्क्षणेन त्रुटितनिजपतिप्रेमबन्धा बभूवुः।
अस्तव्यस्तालकान्ता स्फुरदधरकुचद्वन्द्वनाभिप्रदेशाः
कामावेशप्रकर्षप्रकटितपुलकाः पातु पीतांबरो नः ॥२.९५॥
The moment the doe-eyed damsels of Vraja heard the enthralling sweet
melodies emanating from the holes of Krishna’s flute, the bonds of love binding
them to their husbands were cut asunder and, in the intensity of passion and
urge to join Krishna,  their hair became
disheveled, their lips, breasts and navel trembled and the hairs on their
bodies stood erect. May that Krishna who clothes himself in bright yellow silks
protect us.   .  
देवक्या जठरे समुदितः क्रीतो गवां पालिना
नन्देनानकदुन्दुभेर्निजसुतापण्येन पुण्यात्मना।
गोपालावलिमुग्धहारतरलो गोपीजनालंकृतिः
स्थेयान्नो हृदि सन्ततं सुमधुरः कोऽपीन्द्रनीलो मणिः
॥२.९६॥
                                           
May that sweet blue gem stone(Krishna), born of the womb of Devaki, bought
by the blessed cowherd Nanda from Vasudeva by giving his daughter as the price,
shining in the garland of cowherd boys and adornment of the gopis of vraja,
stay permanently in my heart.
पीठे पीठनिषण्णबालकगले तिष्ठन् स गोपालको
यन्त्रान्तःस्थितदुग्धभाण्डमवकृष्याछाद्यघण्टारवं ।
वक्त्रोपान्तकृताञ्जलिः कृतशिरःकंपं पिबन् यः पयः
पायादागतगोपिकानयनयोर्गण्डूषफूल्कारकृत् ॥२.९७॥
There was the stool
on which a boy was sitting and Krishna was standing on his shoulders and
reaching out to the pot in which milk was stored.  Muffling the sound of small bells tied to his
waistband, he was drawing the pot near his mouth and,  cupping his hands,  was drinking the milk, with a nod of
appreciation when a milkmaid suddenly enters the room.  Krishna spouted  the milk in his mouth on to the eyes of the
gopi.  May that Krishna protect us.
यज्ञैरीजिमहे धनं ददिमहे पात्रेषु नूनं वयं
वृद्धान् भोजिमहे तपश्चकृमहे जन्मान्तरे दुश्चरम्।
येनास्माकमभूदनन्यसुलभा भक्तिर्भवद्वेषिणि
चाणूरद्विषि भक्तकल्मषमुषि श्रेयःपुषि श्रीजुषि ॥२.९८॥
I  must have, in my previous births,  surely propitiated god by performing
sacrifices, gifted money to deserving people, fed old people and observed
austerities difficult to follow, because of which I developed love and
devotion, not easy for others, to Krishna who helps cross this samsara,
who is the slayer of Chanura,  who wipes
out the sins of devotees and  nurtures
their welfare and who is served by Goddess Lakshmi.
त्वयि प्रसन्ने मम किं गुणेन’
त्वय्यप्रसन्ने मम किं गुणेन।
रक्ते विरक्ते च वरे वधूनां
निरर्थकः कुङ्कुमपत्रभंगः ॥२.९९॥
O Lord! when you
are pleased what is the use of good qualities in me? If you are not pleased,
then also what is the use of good qualities in me? If the groom loves her,  the bride need not adorn herself with kumkumapatra.
If he does not love her, then also the kumkumapatra  is useless.
गायन्ति क्षणदावसानसमये सानन्दमिन्दुप्रभां
रुन्धन्त्यो निजदन्तकान्तिनिवहैर्गोपाङ्गना गोकुले।
मथ्नन्त्यो दधि पाणिकङ्कणझणत्कारानुकारं जवा-
द्व्यावद्गद्वसनाञ्चला यमनिशं पीतांबरोऽव्यात्स नः ॥२.१००॥
When the night ends and morning breaks the gopis of Gokula joyfully sing
the praises of Krishna blocking the brilliance of the moon with the brilliance
of their white teeth. They also sing the praises Krishna while churning curd
with the bracelets in their arms making a jingling sound and with their clothes
flying around. May that Krishna who clothes himself in bright yellow silks
protect us.  
अंसालम्बितवामकुण्डलभरं मन्दोन्नतभ्रूलतं
किञ्चित्कुञ्चितकोमलाधरपुटं साचिप्रसारेक्षणम्।
आलोलाङ्गुलिपल्लवैर्मुरलिकामापूरयन्तं मुदा
मूले कल्पतरोस्त्रिभंगललितं जाने जगन्मोहनम् ॥२.१०१॥
I know
that Krishna,  seated under the
wish-giving tree, who captivates the whole world by his beautiful form, with
ear globes hanging up to the shoulders, raised and curved eye brows, slightly
drawn down pretty lower lip, eyes casting side long glances and joyfully
playing the flute with speedily moving fingers soft and red as leaf buds.  
मल्लैः शैलेन्द्रकल्पः शिशुरितरजनैः पुष्पचापोऽङ्गनाभिः
गोपैस्तु प्राकृतात्मा दिवि कुलिशभृता विश्वकायोऽप्रमेयः।
क्रुद्धः कंसेन कालो भयचकितदृशा योगिभिर्ध्येयमूर्तिः
दृष्टो रंगावतारे हरिरमरगणानन्दकृत्पातु युष्मान् ॥२.१०२॥
When Krishna entered the stage at the Dhanuryagna of Kamsa, the wrestlers
saw him as a big mountain, ordinary people saw him as a child, women saw him as
the god of Love, the cowherds saw him as an ordinary person, Indra in heaven
saw him as the cosmic person who is beyond measurement, Kamsa, with terror in
his eyes, saw him as furious Death, yogis saw him as one who is to be
meditated upon.  May that Hari who makes
the celestials delighted protect you.
संविष्टो मणिविष्टरेऽङ्गतलमध्यासिलक्ष्मीमुखे
कस्तूरितिलकं मुदा विरचयन् हर्षात्  कुचौ संस्पृशन्।
अन्योन्यस्मितचन्द्रिकाकिसलयैराराधयन् मन्मथं
गोपीगोपपरिवृतो यदुपतिः पायाज्जगन्मोहनः ॥२.१०३॥
Krishna, seated on a  diamond-studded
throne,  puts a tilak of musk on
the forehead of Rukmini seated on his lap and gleefully touches her
breasts.  They seem to offer worship to the
god of Love by mutual exchange of smiles bright as moonlight. They are
surrounded by gopas and gopis. May that krishna, Lord of the
Yadus,  who enthralls the world by his
bewitching beauty,  protect us.
आकृष्टे वसनाञ्चले कुवलयश्यामा त्रपाधःकृता
दृष्टि: संवलिता रुचा कुचयुगे स्वर्णप्रभे श्रीमति।
बालः कश्चन चूतपल्लव इति प्रान्तस्मितास्यश्रियं
श्लिष्यंस्तामथ रुक्मिणीं नतमुखीं कृष्णः स पुष्णातु नः ॥२.१०४॥
When Krishna pulled
her upper garment she shyly cast her eyes, 
dark as the blue lily, down and 
they converged on hear pretty breasts of golden hue, her face lit up
with a beautiful smile.  Krishna embraces
Rukmini, whose face is slightly bent down,  saying that she is like a new tender leaf of
the mango tree.
उर्व्यां  कोऽपि महीधरो लघुतरो दोर्भ्यां धृतो लीलया
तेन त्वं दिवि भूतले च सततं गोवर्धनोद्धारकः।
त्वां त्रैलोक्यधरं वहामि कुचयोरग्रे न तद्गण्यते
किं वा केशव भाषणेन बहुना पुण्यैर्यशो लभ्यते॥२.१०५॥
[ This is what a gopi tells Krishna]
On this earth you
have playfully lifted up a small hill with your hand and for that  you are known as ‘Lifter of Govardhana’ both
on this earth and also in heaven.  I
support you, in whose stomach is all the three worlds,  on the tip of my breasts.  But no one seems to count this.  What is the use of mere talking, one earns
fame and becomes a celebrity only by merit (punya). 
सन्ध्यावन्दन भद्रमस्तु भवते भोः स्नान तुभ्यं नमः
भो देवाः पितरश्च तर्पणविधौ नाहं क्षमः क्षम्यताम्।
यत्र क्वापि निषिद्य यादवकुलोत्तंसस्य कंसद्विषः
स्मारं स्मारमघं हरामि तदलं मन्ये किमन्येन मे ॥२.१०६॥
O sandhya vandana! may all be well with you.  O snana (bathing)! prostration to
you.  O celestials and ancestors! forgive
me, I am incapable of  performing tarpan
for you. Sitting somewhere in a calm place and remembering the stories and
exploits of the jewel of the Yadu dynasty, Krishna, I will dissolve all my
sins.  I think this is all what I need to
do, what else is there for me to do?  (The idea is that all other rituals drop off
from the routine of the devotee who wants to remain always immersed in the
remembrance of the leelas of the Lord)
हे गोपालक हे कृपाजलनिधे  हे सिन्धुकन्यापते
हे कंसान्तक हे गजेन्द्रकरुणापारीण हे माधव
हे रामानुज हे जगत्त्रयगुरो हे पुण्डरीकाक्ष मां
हे गोपीजननाथ पालय परं जानामि न त्वां विना ॥२.१०७॥
O protector of cows!, O Ocean of mercy! O Consort of Lakshmi!, O Slayer of
Kamsa! O Merciful savior of Gajendra! Madhava! O Younger brother of Balarama! O
Teacher of the three worlds! O Lotus-eyed one! save me, protect me, I do not
know any god higher than you. 
कस्तूरीतिलकं ललाटफलके वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं
नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कङ्कणम्।
सर्वाङ्गे हरिचन्दनं च कलयन् कण्ठे च मुक्तावलिं
गोपस्त्री परिवेष्टितो विजयते गोपालचूडामणिः ॥२.१०८॥
Victory to the crest jewel of cowherds who sports a tilak of kasturi
on the forehead and kaustubha jewel on the chest, who wears a nose ring
of pearls, who carries a flute in his hands, who wears bracelets on his wrists,
he has smeared sandalwood paste all over his body, who wears a chain of pearls
around the neck and who is surrounded on all sides by gopis.
लोकानुन्मदयन् श्रुतीर्मुखरयन् क्षोणीरुहान् हर्षयन्
शैलान् विद्रवयन् मृगान् विवशयन् गोवृन्दमानन्दयन्
गोपान् संभ्रमयन् मुनीन् मुकुलयन् सप्तस्वरान् जृंभयन्
ओंकारार्थमुदीरयन् विजयते वंशीनिनादः शिशोः ॥२.१०९॥
Hearing the
melodies arising from the flute of child Krishna, the worlds become enraptured,  Vedas become vocal, trees become joyful,
mountains become soft and liquid, animals lose control over themselves, cows
are delighted, cowboys become excited, sages become meditative, the musical
notes (seven swaras) reach a crescendo and the meaning of
‘Om’ reverberates in the atmosphere.
यस्यात्मभूतस्य गुरोः प्रसादा-
दहं विमुक्तोऽस्मि शरीरबन्धात्।
सर्वोपदेष्टुः पुरुषोत्तमस्य
तस्याङ्घ्रिपद्मं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यम् ॥२.११०॥
I prostrate before
the lotus feet of that guru, the best among men, the advisor of
everything to be known, the very self in me and by the blessings of whom I was
released from the bonds of this body.

Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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