Srimad Bhagavatam 10.90.01-07 - Immersing In Krishna Katha To Come Out Of Life's Miseries (download mp3)
by Vishwarup Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.com
SB 10.90.1-7
sri-suka uvaca
sukham sva-puryam nivasan
dvarakayam sriyah patih
sarva-sampat-samrddhayam
justayam vrsni-pungavaih
stribhis cottama-vesabhir
nava-yauvana-kantibhih
kandukadibhir harmyesu
kridantibhis tadid-dyubhih
nityam sankula-margayam
mada-cyudbhir matan-gajaih
sv-alankrtair bhatair asvai
rathais ca kanakojjvalaih
udyanopavanadhyayam
puspita-druma-rajisu
nirvisad-bhrnga-vihagair
naditayam samantatah
reme sodasa-sahasra-
patninam eka-vallabhah
tavad vicitra-rupo ’sau
tad-gehesu maharddhisu
protphullotpala-kahlara-
kumudambhoja-renubhih
vasitamala-toyesu
kujad-dvija-kulesu ca
vijahara vigahyambho
hradinisu mahodayah
kuca-kunkuma-liptangah
parirabdhas ca yositam
Translation:
Sukadeva Gosvami said: The master of the goddess of fortune resided happily in His capital city, Dvaraka, which was endowed with all opulences and populated by the most eminent Vrsnis and their gorgeously dressed wives. When these beautiful women in the bloom of youth would play on the city’s rooftops with balls and other toys, they shone like flashing lightning. The main streets of the city were always crowded with intoxicated elephants exuding mada, and also with cavalry, richly adorned infantrymen, and soldiers riding chariots brilliantly decorated with gold. Gracing the city were many gardens and parks with rows of flowering trees, where bees and birds would gather, filling all directions with their songs.
Purport:
Lord Krsna was the sole beloved of His sixteen thousand wives. Expanding Himself into that many forms, He enjoyed with each of His queens in her own richly furnished residence. On the grounds of these palaces were clear ponds fragrant with the pollen of blooming utpala, kahlara, kumuda and ambhoja lotuses and filled with flocks of cooing birds. The almighty Lord would enter those ponds, and also various rivers, and enjoy sporting in the water while His wives embraced Him, leaving the red kunkuma from their breasts smeared on His body..
One rule of poetic composition practiced by Vaisnava authors is madhurena samapayet: “A literary work should conclude in a mood of special sweetness.” Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, the most tasteful narrator of transcendental topics, has accordingly included in this last chapter of the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam a description of Lord Krsna’s water sports in the attractive setting of Dvaraka, followed by the rapturous prayers of the Lord’s queens.
