FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.35.20-21

कुन्ददामकृतकौतुकवेषो गोपगोधनवृतो यमुनायाम् । नन्दसूनुरनघे तव वत्सो नर्मद: प्रणयिणां विजहार ॥ २० ॥ मन्दवायुरुपवात्यनुकूलं मानयन् मलयजस्पर्शेन । वन्दिनस्तमुपदेवगणा ये वाद्यगीतबलिभि: परिवव्रु: ॥ २१ ॥
kunda-dāma-kṛta-kautuka-veṣo
[kunda-daama-krita-kautuka-vesho]
gopa-godhana-vṛto yamunāyām
[gopa-godhana-vrito yamunaayaam]
nanda-sūnur anaghe tava vatso
[nanda-soonur anaghe tava vatso]
narma-daḥ praṇayiṇāṁ vijahāra
[narma-dah pranayinaam vijahaara]
manda-vāyur upavāty anukūlaṁ
[manda-vaayur upavaaty anukoolam]
mānayan malayaja-sparśena
[maanayan malayaja-sparshena]
vandinas tam upadeva-gaṇā ye
[vandinas tam upadeva-ganaa ye]
vādya-gīta-balibhiḥ parivavruḥ
[vaadya-geeta-balibhih parivavruh]
kunda — of jasmine flowers dāma — with a garland kṛta — made kautuka — playful veṣaḥ — His array gopa — by the cowherd boys godhana — and the cows vṛtaḥ — surrounded yamunāyām — along the Yamunā nanda - sūnuḥ — the son of Nanda Mahārāja anaghe — O sinless lady tava — your vatsaḥ — darling child narma - daḥ — amusing praṇayiṇām — His dear companions vijahāra — He has played manda — gentle vāyuḥ — the wind upavāti — blows anukūlam — favorably mānayan — showing honor malaya - ja — of (the fragrance of) sandalwood sparśena — the touch vandinaḥ — those who offer praise tam — Him upadeva — of the minor demigods gaṇāḥ — members of the various categories ye — who vādya — with instrumental music gīta — singing balibhiḥ — and presentation of gifts parivavruḥ — they have encircled .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kunda-dāma-kṛta-kautuka-veṣo
kunda
of jasmine flowers
dāma
with a garland
kṛta
made
kautuka
playful
veṣaḥ
His array
gopa-godhana-vṛto yamunāyām
gopa
by the cowherd boys
godhana
and the cows
vṛtaḥ
surrounded
yamunāyām
along the Yamunā
nanda-sūnur anaghe tava vatso
nanda - sūnuḥ
the son of Nanda Mahārāja
anaghe
O sinless lady
tava
your
vatsaḥ
darling child
narma-daḥ praṇayiṇāṁ vijahāra
narma - daḥ
amusing
praṇayiṇām
His dear companions
vijahāra
He has played
manda-vāyur upavāty anukūlaṁ
manda
gentle
vāyuḥ
the wind
upavāti
blows
anukūlam
favorably
mānayan malayaja-sparśena
mānayan
showing honor
malaya - ja
of (the fragrance of) sandalwood
sparśena
the touch
vandinas tam upadeva-gaṇā ye
vandinaḥ
those who offer praise
tam
Him
upadeva
of the minor demigods
gaṇāḥ
members of the various categories
ye
who
vādya-gīta-balibhiḥ parivavruḥ
vādya
with instrumental music
gīta
singing
balibhiḥ
and presentation of gifts
parivavruḥ
they have encircled .
  • kunda-dāma — with a garland of jasmine flowers
    Compound: kunda (jasmine) + dāma (garland, rope). Kunda is the white jasmine specifically associated with Vraja's autumn. Each flower-garland in the Bhāgavatam is keyed to season and mood; kunda signals the post-rāsa autumn intimacy.
  • anaghe — O sinless lady
    Vocative: a (not) + agha (sin). The gopīs address Yaśodā as 'sinless one' — befitting the mother of Bhagavān. Gauḍīyas read this as the standard humility of the female devotee who lacks vātsalya-adhikāra speaking to the one who has it most.
  • narma-daḥ praṇayiṇām — the giver of joy to His dear companions
    Compound: narma (jest, playful joy) + daḥ (giver); praṇayiṇām (of loving companions). The same epithet recurs from verse 4-5. Kṛṣṇa's primary occupation in Vraja is dispensing narma — the playful, teasing joy that defines sakhya and mādhurya.
  • malaya-ja-sparśena — by the touch of (the fragrance of) sandalwood
    Compound: malaya (Malaya mountain) + ja (born) + sparśena (by touch). Sandalwood from the Malaya range. The wind that touches Kṛṣṇa is fragrant; the touch is honor (mānayan). Even breeze is a courtier in Vraja.
  • upadeva-gaṇāḥ — members of the various categories of minor demigods
    Compound: upa (sub-) + deva (demigod) + gaṇāḥ (groups). Gandharvas, Cāraṇas, Vidyādharas — the celestial bards. They appear around Kṛṣṇa as professional singers around a king. Gauḍīyas read: Kṛṣṇa's līlā includes its own admiring audience built in.
  • balibhiḥ parivavruḥ — they have encircled with gifts of tribute
    Bali (tribute, offering) + parivavruḥ (they encircled). The Upadevas form a ring around Kṛṣṇa, offering bali. Bali is the gift the inferior brings the superior — even the demigods recognize their place when Kṛṣṇa plays.
O sinless Yaśodā, your darling child, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, has festively enhanced His attire with a jasmine garland, and He is now playing along the Yamunā in the company of the cows and cowherd boys, amusing His dear companions. The gentle breeze honors Him with its soothing fragrance of sandalwood, while the various Upadevas, standing on all sides like panegyrists, offer their music, singing and gifts of tribute.

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that the gopīs are again in the courtyard of mother Yaśodā, the queen of Vraja. They are trying to encourage her by describing Kṛṣṇa’s return to Vṛndāvana after He has spent the day herding cows and playing. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that the Upadevas, the minor demigods mentioned here, include the Gandharvas, who are famous for their celestial music and dancing.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O sinless Yaśodā, your darling child, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, has festively enhanced His attire with a jasmine garland, and He is now playing along the Yamunā in the company of the cows and cowherd boys, amusing His dear companions. The gentle breeze honors Him with its soothing fragrance of sandalwood, while the various Upadevas, standing on all sides like panegyrists, offer their music, singing and gifts of tribute.
Commentary

When the gopis who had assembled at Yasoda’s house saw that she was disturbed because Krsna was late in coming, they pacified her by giving reasons for his lateness. To relieve himself of fatigue, Krsna has bathed in the Yamuna and then sat on the bank. In order to please his friends, who were so enthusiastic, he dressed himself comically with kunda flower garlands. As he walked on the bank of the river, the wind began to blow gently and pleasantly. Krsna gave joy to his friends by giving and receiving jokes and defeating their jests. O sinless one, you have not committed any sins previously or in this life, by which danger could come to your son. So why do you uselessly worry about danger from demons if his is a little late? He is the son of Nanda, who is famous as the jewel of piety, and is the son (vatsa object of affection ) of you, endowed with the most spotless fame (yasoda). We see that children fall into danger only when the parents have bad karma. Therefore there is no danger for your son. Listen as we tell you the reason for his being late as we have heard it from his friends. The wind, so fragrant and cool from touching the sandalwood trees of Malaya Mountain that it only blows very slowly, began to blow pleasantly on your son. The upadevatas, gandharvas, began to worshipping him in all ways including playing musical instruments as they praised his qualities. To accept this worship he has become late. Those of quality delight is seeing the person of quality. Therefore there is no need to worry for your son, for if they are worshipping him, it is your good fortune.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

They describe another pastime performed while gathering the cows as described previously, in a group including Yaśodā. He gathers the cows together after taking the cows to the water a second time. Realizing the pastime personally, when the time of arrival has passed and Yaśodā begins suffering, they approach her to comfort her with news that Kṛṣṇa is coming. This is expressed in six verses. From mention of the kunda flowers and gentle breeze it is inferred that it is Kārtika month. These flowers do not bloom in the spring, and the wind during winter and the dewy season is harsh. They comfort Yaśodā with this description since it shows that his pastimes give happiness to all and Kṛṣṇa receives comfort from everyone’s service. They explain the reason for his late arrival in this verse. He has gone to the Yamunā where he plays in the water and then plays on the bank. He needs to bathe because of fatigue in wandering all day. After that he dons a garland of kunda flowers, since it would be uncomfortable to wear a moist garland which was worn while in the water. They indicate the cause of his late arrival by describing that his pastimes gives happiness to all others. He is surrounded by friends and cows. This is to be expected since he and Balarāma are sons of Nanda. Nanda means “one who gives bliss to all.” O Yaśodā, because of you, no one has any suffering (anaghe)! He is your son and you experience only bliss (tava vatsaḥ). He is the object of the greatest affection like a calf (vatsa). Therefore it is not wrong to be anxious about him. He is surrounded by the boys and calves because they have all become motionless, satisfied with drinking water. And he gives joy to them by his jokes and pranks because they are affectionate as friends (praṇayinām). He wears a dress consisting of various ornaments like flower crowns, which gives joy or are a festival of pastimes (kautuka-veśaḥ). Thus it is understood that he has changed his dress. A soft wind blows in a pleasing manner (anukūlam). Or the wind blows from behind, favorable for his going. The wind is his assistant in Kṛṣṇa’s independent pastimes. The word manda (gentle) also suggests the wind’s assistance. The slow wind fans him or the wind blows near (upa) him. This means wherever he goes, wind also goes. It honors him with the touch of the south wind (malayaja), arising in the evening. Since it usually arises in the autumn season, the wind is here making favorable arrangements. And as well the wind blows favorably from the back. All the devatās like Gandharvas worship him with music. The words vandinaḥ and gītā indicate that they praise Kṛṣṇa by singing. The offerings (bali) and music accompany their songs. The offerings consist of attractive cloth, ornaments and foods. Because songs are most prominent, the Gandharvas are present according to Śrīdhara Svāmī. Because they surround Kṛṣṇa, he becomes late. But he will come quickly since the wind and the devatās are creating auspiciousness for his arrival.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Yaśodā returns, desiring to hear about the excellence of her son again, after recovering. Or the gopīs approach her to help her recover by giving news of her son’s return since she is suffering in separation. This is described in two verses. He is decorated with for joyful playing (kautuka) with jasmines in his hair. It is understood that he has changed his clothing. He is surrounded by a wealth of cows and cowherds, unlike any other person. On returning home in the afternoon, the cowherds are tired from playing all day. To give them relief and to have the cows drink their last water, he goes to the Yamunā. To give bliss to both parents they say “son of Nanda” and “your son.” Tava vatsaḥ (your son) indicates her great affection (vātsalya). O Yaśodā, with no knowledge of any suffering (anaghe) or who is free of suffering, because of your great affection! This is in comparison to others. In time, he will return, and you and we shall be free of suffering. This is humility natural to great prema. He is playing the water or on the bank of the Yamunā because he jokes with his friends filled with affection. These are causes of his delay in entering Vraja. The words sahacarā (persons with him) indicates some hatred on their part. The wind blows affectionately (anukūlam). The slow (manda) breeze suggests it is heavily endowed with fragrance to give joy to the suffering gopīs. It blows from the south (malayajah), being gentle, fragrant and cool. The Vidyādharas and all other devatās surround him. Singing should be first, though the order mentioned has instrumental music first. This could be a writing error. There is a version with gīta-vādya. He appears (veśaḥ) joyful (kautuka) with jasmine garlands. For playing in the dark water of the Yamunā he changes to cloth white with jasmine garlands. He is a son who gives joy (nanda-sutaḥ). Like a cow shows affection to its new born calf, Yaśodā is affection to Kṛṣṇa (vatsaḥ). The wind blows near (upavāti). It is fragrant with a touch of sandalwood (malayaja), coming from the south. This indicates spring season, which has jasmines. Vṛndāvana is endowed with all seasons. Or the wind blows cool or warm depending on the pastimes in the rāsa dance, just as the full moon always shines during the rāsa dance. By the singing everything is adjusted properly on all days. The vandis of Gokula came first. They and the devatās surround Kṛṣṇa, performing their services. They also offer scents, flowers, cloth and ornaments.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
Kṛṣṇa, jasmine-garlanded, plays along the Yamunā with cows and cowherd boys while a sandalwood-scented breeze and minor demigods serve Him with music and tribute. The Lord's ordinary outdoor afternoon is itself a royal procession the universe attends.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'royal procession' is hidden in your ordinary afternoon that you fail to notice?
  • How could you celebrate Kṛṣṇa today with the simple gestures of breeze, scent, and song?

Kṛṣṇa, jasmine-garlanded and surrounded by cowherd boys and cattle, plays beside the Yamunā while a sandalwood-scented breeze fans Him and the Upadevas line the bank like court bards, offering songs and gifts. The whole environment of Vraja organizes itself into a royal court without anyone being told to — Bhagavān is recognized by the wind before He is recognized by the demigods.

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