Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.15.16
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
pallava talpeṣu
—
upon beds made from new twigs and buds
pallava (twig, sprout) + talpa (bed). Gauḍīya: in Vraja, the natural world is Kṛṣṇa's furniture. He sleeps on twigs because Vraja itself is His bedroom; the forest is one continuous palace.
-
vṛkṣa-mūla
—
at the base of a tree
vṛkṣa (tree) + mūla (root, base). The classical sannyāsī's residence — vṛkṣa-mūla-vāsa. Gauḍīya note: Kṛṣṇa Himself models vṛkṣa-mūla rest; the renunciate's sleeping-place is also the Lord's preferred one.
-
gopa-utsaṅga-upabarhaṇaḥ
—
with the lap of a cowherd boy as His pillow
gopa + utsaṅga (lap) + upabarhaṇa (pillow). The full compound captures the picture. Gauḍīya: the sakhā's lap is more comfortable than Anantaśeṣa for Kṛṣṇa in Vraja — preference proves rasa-rank.
-
śete
—
He lay down
Third person of √śī — to lie down. Same root from which Śeṣa-nāga (the sleeping serpent) gets His name. Gauḍīya: in Vaikuṇṭha He śayana on Śeṣa; in Vraja He śayana on a friend's lap. The same verb, lower position, higher rasa.
-
karśitaḥ
—
worn out
Past participle of √karś — to be emaciated, worn. Gauḍīya: this karśita is līlā-karśita, fatigue performed for the rasa's sake; the Lord chooses to look tired so the sakhā can take pride in offering a pillow.
The word pallava-talpeṣu implies that Lord Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself into many forms and lay down upon the many beds of twigs, leaves and flowers hastily constructed by His enthusiastic cowherd friends.
In concluding there is description of resting pastimes. The great good fortune of the cowherd friends is described in three verses. They would make beds of new shoots and as well, soft petals and buds of flowers. There were many beds because all groups of five boys would team up to make separate beds. Pleased with the boys for making all the beds, by his inconceivable power stimulated by his prema, he lay down on each bed in an expanded form, which no one could see. This is an example of īśa-ceṣṭitaḥ (powers of the Lord) mentioned in verse 19. Kṛṣṇa would be fatigued after wrestling with the boys and would appear to be weak (karśitaḥ), with beads of perspiration on his cheeks. This indicates the strength of the other boys. It is said gopaiḥ samāna-guṇa-śīla-vayo-vilāsa-veśaiḥ: the boys had similar qualities, character, age, actions and dress. But we see that they had no inclination to kill demons themselves. His līlā-śakti which aims for Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure stopped such inclination in them though everyone in Vraja had great powers. Since he rested on their laps, it is understood they were somewhat older than he. They had made pillows for him, but he rejected these in favor of their laps.
In concluding, there is description of resting pastimes. The great good fortune of the cowherd friends is described in three verses. They would make beds of new shoots and as well, soft petals and buds of flowers. But there were also beds only of shoots in order to offer them quickly. Because many boys made them quickly, in the fever of prema, out of great respect, there were many beds. All the boys, being very expert, made separate beds. Being affection to each boy, he lay down on each bed by expanding his form into many by his special powers, while each boy could not see. Even at this time he used his powers, for it is said in verse 20 that the performed acts as the Lord (iśa-ceṣṭitaḥ). From exertions of wrestling, he had beads of perspiration, like pearls on his cheeks and seemed to become tired (karśitaḥ). The lap of Śrīdāma, Rādhā’s brother, became his pillow. Like Śrīdāma there were many others whose laps served as Kṛṣṇa’s pillow. Or among the boys, some of the boys’ laps served as pillows. Though he had a pillow on the bed, the pillow was taken away by the boys because he rejected that in order to enjoy the happiness of the lap of a boy.
- What small 'bed of twigs' have I built for Kṛṣṇa and not noticed He has come to rest in?
- Whose simple offering do I dismiss as too small to actually matter?
A great king's son, tired from wrestling, sleeps in a bedroom of leaves with his head on a friend's lap — the friend's leg the most luxurious cushion he has ever had. Kṛṣṇa, owner of every palace, prefers Vraja's twig-bed. Material comfort is not what produces rest; love-soaked friendship is. The Lord teaches comfort's true definition by His sleeping habits.
My note
Source: vedabase.io