Srimad Bhagavatam 10.18.13-14 - Satisfy ourself by Serving Krishna (download mp3) , (download flv) and (download mp4)
by Vijay Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
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SB 10.18.13
kvacin nrtyatsu canyesu
gayakau vadakau svayam
sasamsatur maha-raja
sadhu sadhv iti vadinau
Translation:
While the other boys were dancing, O King, Krsna and Balarama would sometimes accompany them with song and instrumental music, and sometimes the two Lords would praise the boys, saying, “Very good! Very good!”
SB 10.18.14
kvacid bilvaih kvacit kumbhaih
kvacamalaka-mustibhih
asprsya-netra-bandhadyaih
kvacin mrga-khagehaya
kvacid bilvaih kvacit kumbhaih
kvacamalaka-mustibhih
asprsya-netra-bandhadyaih
kvacin mrga-khagehaya
Translation:
Sometimes the cowherd boys would play with bilva or kumbha fruits, and sometimes with handfuls of amalaka fruits. At other times they would play the games of trying to touch one another or of trying to identify somebody while one is blindfolded, and sometimes they would imitate animals and birds.
Purport:
Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word adyaih, “by other such sports,” indicates such games as chasing one another and building bridges. Another pastime would occur at noon, while Lord Krsna was taking rest. Nearby, the young cowherd girls would be passing by, singing, and Krsna’s boyfriends would pretend to inquire from them about the price of milk. Then the boys would steal yogurt and other items from them and run away. Krsna, Balarama and Their friends would also play games in which they would cross the river in boats.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura further explains that the boys would play with fruits by throwing a few in the air and then throwing others to try to hit them. The word netra-bandha indicates a game in which one boy would approach a blindfolded boy from behind and place his palms over the blindfolded boy’s eyes. Then, simply by the feel of his palms, the blindfolded boy would have to guess who the other boy was. In all such games the boys put up stakes for the winner, such as flutes or walking sticks. Sometimes the boys would imitate the various fighting methods of the forest animals, and at other times they would chirp like birds.
