Site menuChapter 30: The Gopîs Search for Krishna Gone with Râdhâ
(14) The gopîs thus speaking madly got, distraught in their search for Krishna, fully immersed in Him, to which each of them acted out a pastime of their Lord of Fortune. (15) One of them as Krishna drank with another one as Pûtanâ like an infant from her breast, while another acting for the cart was kicked over by the foot of another gopî crying [see chapters 10.6 and 7]. (16) One gopî acting for Krishna was carried away by another gopî imitating a Daitya [Trinâvarta, see 10.7] while yet another one crawling about was tinkling with her anklebells as she dragged her feet. (17) Two as Krishna and Râma and some acting like the gopas killed one doing Vatsâsura while another one with one more did Bakâsura [see 10.11]. (18) Just like Krishna calling for the cows far away was one, who playing in imitation vibrated a flute, by the other gopîs praised with 'Good so!' (19) One of them walked about with her arm placed over a shoulder and declared: 'Look, I am Him, moving so graciously!' and was thus keeping her mind on Him. (20) 'Don't you fear that wind and rain, your deliverance has been arranged by Me' thus spoke one with one hand managing to lift up her upper garment [like it was Govardhana Hill, see: 10.25]. (21) O master of men, one that climbed on top of another one declared with her foot on her head: 'O wicked snake, go away, I have taken birth as the one to chastise the envious!' [see 10.16] (22) Then one said: 'O gopas, see the forest fire so fierce; quickly close your eyes, I'll arrange for your protection as easy as that!' (23) One slender gopî tied up by another gopî with a flower garland said: 'There You are, I bind You to the mortar, You potbreaker and butterthief!' and with that spoken covered one her face and beautiful eyes pretending to be afraid.
(24) This way engaged and asking everywhere in
Vrindâvana the trees and the creepers where He was, saw they at
one spot in the forest the Supreme Soul His footprints: (25) 'Indeed these are clearly the footprints of
the son of Nanda as evidenced by the flag, the lotus, the thunderbolt,
the barleycorn and the elephant goad [see footnote*]. (26) Guided by the
various footprints following His trail noticed the girls to their
dismay that they all the way were accompanied by the footprints of one
of them, upon which they said: (27) 'And to whom of us belong these footprints
next to the ones of the son of Nanda; over whose shoulder has He as a
bull with a she-elephant placed His arm? (28)
He must have been perfectly venerated [ârâdhitah,
see Râdhâ] as the Supreme One Lord and Controller by
Her since Govinda so being pleased has turned us down and taken Her
separate. (29) O girls, how sacred are the particles of
dust of Govinda's lotus feet that by Brahmâ, S'iva and
Ramâdevî [Lakshmî] are taken on their heads to dispel
the sins. (30) For us are these footprints of Her more then
unsettling because who of us gopîs was taken aside to
enjoy Acyuta's lips in seclusion? Look, here we don't see Her feet, the
blades of grass and sprouts must have hurt the soles of Her tender feet
so that Her Love lifted His Sweetheart up. (31)
Carrying His sweetheart pressed the footprints much deeper, just see o gopîs,
how, burdened by the weight, our so intelligent object of desire
Krishna has placed His girlfriend down to pick some flowers. (32) And see these half footprints here; to
gather flowers for His Sweetheart made the Beloved this imprint
standing on His toes. (33) Further to
arrange the design of Her hair sat the affectionate one with His
longing girl down precisely here in order to make for His Beloved from
the flowers a crown.'(34) [S'rî S'uka said:] 'He, even though He by the Soul was perfectly contented and in Himself complete, had a good time with Her and thus demonstrated the state of being fallen typical for people in love, as also the self-centered of its femininity. (35-36) This way thus showing for which gopî Krishna had abandoned the other women, the other gopîs who completely bewildered wandered in the forest, thought She therefrom of Herself: 'With Me as the best of all women, is He, rejecting the gopîs that are lead by lust, accepting Me as His Beloved!'
(37) Going then to that spot in the forest said She, getting proud, to Krishna: 'I cannot move on, please carry Me to wherever You want'.
(38) Thus addressed said He to His Beloved: 'Climb on my back' and with these words Krishna disappeared to the pain of His consort.
(39) 'O Master, o Lover, o Dearest, where are You, where are You? O mighty armed One, please My friend show Yourself to Me, Your wretched maidservant!'
(40) S'rî S'uka said: 'The gopîs not far away following the trail of the Supreme Lord discovered their unhappy friend in a state of being bewildered about Her separation from Her Beloved. (41) To their utter amazement heard they Her saying that She had received Mâdhava's respect but that He also because of Her being demanding had let Her down. (42) They thereupon entered as far as the light of the moon permitted into the forest, but finding themselves in the dark desisted the women. (43) Absorbed in Him, discussing Him, imitating Him and filled with His presence simply singing His qualities they no longer remembered their homes [see also 7.5: 23-24]. (44) Turning back to the bank of the Yamunâ meditated they, all singing together, on Krishna, eagerly awaiting His arrival.'
