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2024-03-29, 8:19 PM |
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Chapter
5: Krishna's Birth
Ceremony and the
Meeting of Nanda Mahârâja and Vasudeva
(1-2) S'rî S'uka said: 'Nanda was a man of
great devotion. Overjoyed that a
son had been born, he invited the scholars conversant with
the Veda, cleansed himself with a bath and dressed himself up. In order
to
celebrate the birth [with a jâtakarma ceremony*] as
was prescribed he took care that
the mantras were chanted and
also arranged for the worship of
the forefathers and demigods. (3) To the brahmins he donated countless fully
decorated milk cows and seven mountains of sesame seed, masses of
jewels and gold-embroidered cloth. (4)
Material
things are purified by time, by washing and bathing, by rituals, by
penance, by
worship, by charity and by contentment,
but the soul is purified by self-realization. (5) The
scholars, the
storytellers, the reciters and the singers uttered words that
purified everyone and
everything, while the bherîs
and dundubhis [drums] sounded constantly. (6)
All of Vraja was swept, the doorsteps, the courtyards and the interiors
were sprinkled with water and a variety of festoons and flags decorated gates that were made with
garlands, pieces of cloth and mango leaves. (7) The cows,
bulls and calves were smeared with
turmeric oil and decorated with a variety of mineral colors, peacock
feathers, cloth, golden ornaments and flowers. (8) Oh
King, the cowherds [the gopas] gathering there carried
all kinds of gifts and were dressed in the
most precious garments with costly ornaments, coats and turbans. (9) The
cowherd
wives [the gopîs] were also glad to hear that
mother Yas'odâ had given birth to a boy and personally gave their
best by appearing in festive dresses with eye make-up and wearing
jewelry and such. (10)
With their lotus like faces most beautifully decorated
with saffron and fresh kunkuma,
they
with
offerings in their hands hurried hither
with swaying bosoms and hips. (11) The gopîs
wore
brilliantly polished jeweled earrings, strings of golden
coins around their necks and colorfully embroidered clothes. It was a feast to the eye to see them with
their swinging bangles, earrings,
breasts and garlands thus being
dressed going to Nanda's house
while a shower of flowers fell from
their hair. (12)
They all for a long time pronounced blessings for the
newborn one like 'pâhi' ['be protected'] and sprinkled
the
Unborn
Lord
with
turmeric
oil
while saying prayers. (13)
With Krishna, the Unlimited
Controller of the Entire Universe,
arriving in Nanda's cow community, many different musical
instruments
vibrated in a
great festival. (14) The gopas rejoicing threw curds, milk and buttermilk at each other and
smeared with butter. (15-16) In order to offer his child the best
prospects and to
satisfy Lord Vishnu, Nanda,
that noble soul, warm-heartedly honored the gopas, the storytellers, the reciters, the singers
and all those who
found their livelihood by their education, with whatever they
could wish for and
could use as for clothes, ornaments and cows [see also 7.14: 17]. (17) The greatly fortunate Rohinî [the
mother of Baladeva, see 10.2: 7] was congratulated by Nanda and Yas'odâ and she also,
beautifully dressed and adorned with a garland and a necklace, moved
around busily [being engaged in receiving guests]. (18) Oh
King, from that
time on the cow lands of Nanda became
opulent
with all riches, for they, now being the residence of the Lord, were by
His transcendental qualities transformed into a place for the pastimes
of Ramâ [the Goddess of
Fortune, see 8.8: 8].
(19) Nanda thereafter entrusted the protection of Gokula [the cow village] to his cowherd men and
went to Mathurâ to pay Kamsa
the yearly taxes over his
profit oh
best of the Kuru dynasty. (20) Vasudeva
who
heard
that
his
[younger
step-]brother
Nanda
[**]
had arrived [in the city] - as it turned out to pay his tribute to the
king - thereupon went to his camp. (21) When Nanda all of a sudden saw him before
his eyes, he very pleased rose to his feet as if his body had found a
new life. Overwhelmed by
love and affection he embraced his dear friend. (22) Welcoming him with all regards, he assigned him a seat and informed about his
health. Vasudeva,
attached as
he was, then asked about his two sons,
saying
the following oh ruler over the world. (23) 'Dear brother
Nanda, advanced in age and having
no son, you were desperately longing for one. What a great fortune
now to have gotten a son! (24)
What a great
fortune also to see you here today, it is like a rebirth. Despite of
being around in this world of birth and death, it is so
very hard to
meet again your loved ones! (25) Like
things that afloat in a
river are carried away
by the force of the waves, we, intimately living together, do not stay
[together]
in one place because our karmic ways are diverging. (26)
Is everything alright with your cow business? Is there enough water,
grass, plants and such in the great
forest where you are living now with your friends? (27) Oh brother, does my son who with His
mother lives in your house,
consider you His father and is He a sweet boy under
your loving care? (28) A person's
three goals of life as described in the Vedic literatures [the
regulation of one's lusts, income and
rituals], find their consequence and belief when one is together. But
that is not so when that togetherness has become difficult, then they
lose their meaning.'
(29) S'rî Nanda said: 'Kamsa killed, alas, the
many sons you had with Devakî and
also the one remaining child, the youngest, a daughter went to
heaven. (30) Fate
determines the end of all
things, providence is elevated above every living being and the unseen
is the ultimate truth of all souls. He who knows this will never get
bewildered.'
(31) S'rî Vasudeva said: 'Now that you have
paid the
king his yearly taxes and we have met, the both of us should not spend
more days in this place. Something might have happened in Gokula!'
(32) S'rî S'uka said: 'After
that advise
of Vasudeva Nanda and the gopas excused themselves, yoked their
oxen to their bullock carts and then left for Gokula.'
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