SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 10

S'rî S'uka said: 'Nanda overjoyed that a son had been born, broad of mind invited the learned conversant with the Veda, cleansed himself with a bath and dressed himself up. To celebrate the birth [in jâtakarma*] had he the mantras chanted and arranged he as well for the worship of the forefathers and demigods as prescribed.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Nanda Mahârâja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord S'rî Krishna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brâhmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brâhmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers. (Vedabase)

Text 3

To the brahmins he donated countless fully decorated milk-cows and seven mountains of sesame seed, covered with jewels and gold-embroidered cloth.

Nanda Mahârâja gave two million cows, completely decorated with cloth and jewels, in charity to the brâhmanas. He also gave them seven hills of grain, covered with jewels and with cloth decorated with golden embroidery. (Vedabase)

Text 4

By time, by bathing, by purification ceremonies, by austerity and by worship becomes in charity and contentment all that one has purified, but the soul is purified by selfrealization.

O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the brâhmanas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is purified; and by self-realization, or Krishna consciousness, the soul is purified. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Under the constant vibrations of bheris and dundubhis [drums] uttered the learned, the storytellers, the reciters and the singers words that purified all and everything.

The brâhmanas recited auspicious Vedic hymns, which purified the environment by their vibration. The experts in reciting old histories like the Purânas, the experts in reciting the histories of royal families, and general reciters all chanted, while singers sang and many kinds of musical instruments, like bherîs and dundubhis, played in accompaniment. (Vedabase)

Text 6

All of Vraja was cleaned; all doorsteps, the courtyards and the interiors were washed and a variety of festoons and flags decorated arches with garlands, pieces of cloth and mango-leaves.

Vrajapura, the residence of Nanda Mahârâja, was fully decorated with varieties of festoons and flags, and in different places, gates were made with varieties of flower garlands, pieces of cloth, and mango leaves. The courtyards, the gates near the roads, and everything within the rooms of the houses were perfectly swept and washed with water. (Veda b ase)

Text 7

The cows, bulls and calves were smeared with turmeric-oil and decorated with a variety of mineral colors, peacock feathers, cloth, golden ornaments and flowers.

The cows, the bulls and the calves were thoroughly smeared with a mixture of turmeric and oil, mixed with varieties of minerals. Their heads were bedecked with peacock feathers, and they were garlanded and covered with cloth and golden ornaments. (Vedabase)

Text 8

O King, the cowherds [the gopas] gathering were dressed with the most precious ornaments and garments like coats and turbans and took all kinds of gifts with them.

O King Parîkchit, the cowherd men dressed very opulently with valuable ornaments and garments such as coats and turbans. Decorated in this way and carrying various presentations in their hands, they approached the house of Nanda Mahârâja. (Vedabase)

Text 9

The cowherd wives [the gopîs] were also glad to hear of mother Yas'odâ giving birth to a boy and gave personally their best appearing in festive dresses with their eyes made up and wearing jewelry and such.

The gopî wives of the cowherd men were very pleased to hear that mother Yas'odâ had given birth to a son, and they began to decorate themselves very nicely with proper dresses, ornaments, black ointment for the eyes, and so on. (Vedabase)

Text 10

With their most beautiful lotuslike faces and decorations, saffron and fresh kunkum, hurried they with swaying bosoms and hips hither with offerings in their hands.

Their lotuslike faces extraordinarily beautiful, being decorated with saffron and newly grown kunkuma, the wives of the cowherd men hurried to the house of mother Yas'odâ with presentations in their hands. Because of natural beauty, the wives had full hips and full breasts, which moved as they hurried along. (Vedabase)

Text 11

The gopîs wore dazzling jeweled earrings, strings of gold coins around their necks and had their vestments colorful embroidered while on their way towards Nanda's house a shower of flowers fell from their garlands; with the raiment and their swinging bangles, earrings, breasts and garlands were they a feast to the eye.

In the ears of the gopîs were brilliantly polished jeweled earrings, and from their necks hung metal lockets. Their hands were decorated with bangles, their dresses were of varied colors, and from their hair, flowers fell onto the street like showers. Thus while going to the house of Mahârâja Nanda, the gopîs, their earrings, breasts and garlands moving, were brilliantly beautiful. (Vedabase)

Text 12

All for long offered blessings to the newborn one like 'pâhi' ['be protected'] and sprinkled with prayers the Unborn Lord with turmeric-oil.

Offering blessings to the newborn child, Krishna, the wives and daughters of the cowherd men said, "May You become the King of Vraja and long maintain all its inhabitants." They sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil and water upon the birthless Supreme Lord and offered their prayers. (Vedabase)

Text 13

With the arrival in Nanda's cow-community of Krishna, the Unlimited Controller of the Entire Universe, vibrated a diversity of musical instruments in a great festival.

Now that the all-pervading, unlimited Lord Krishna, the master of the cosmic manifestation, had arrived within the estate of Mahârâja Nanda, various types of musical instruments resounded to celebrate the great festival. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Rejoicing threw the gopas with curds, milk and buttermilk and smeared they one another with the butter.

Being merciless and cruel, I have forsaken all my relatives and friends. Therefore, like a person who has killed a brâhmana, I do not know to which planet I shall go, either after death or while breathing. (Vedabase)

Text 15-16:

To offer his child the best prospects was that noble soul, Nanda, being of the greatest mind towards them as well as towards the storytellers, the reciters, the singers and others who found their livelihood by their education, for the purpose of satisfying Lord Vishnu of worship with whatever they could wish for and use as for clothes, ornaments and cows [see also 7.14: 17].

The great-minded Mahârâja Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cows in charity to the cowherd men in order to please Lord Vishnu, and thus he improved the condition of his own son in all respects. He distributed charity to the sûtas, the mâgadhas, the vandîs, and men of all other professions, according to their educational qualifications, and satisfied everyone's desires. (Vedabase)

Text 17

The greatly fortunate Rohinî [the mother of Baladeva hiding out there, see 10.2: 7] was also made happy by the guardian that was Nanda and was busily going around beautiful with her dress, garland and the decoration of a necklace.

The most fortunate Rohinî, the mother of Baladeva, was honored by Nanda Mahârâja and Yas'odâ, and thus she also dressed gorgeously and decorated herself with a necklace, a garland and other ornaments. She was busy wandering here and there to receive the women who were guests at the festival. (Vedabase)

Text 18

O King, from that time on became the cow-lands of Nanda opulent with all riches as they, as the residence of the Lord, by His transcendental qualities had become the place for the pastimes of Ramâ [the Goddess of Fortune, see 8.8: 8].

O Mahârâja Parîkchit, the home of Nanda Mahârâja is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from Lord Krishna's appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune. (Vedabase)

Text 19

Nanda, after entrusting the cowherd men the protection of Gokula [the cow-village], went to Mathurâ to pay of his profit his yearly taxes to Kamsa, o best of the Kuru-dynasty.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: Thereafter, my dear King Parîkchit, O best protector of the Kuru dynasty, Nanda Mahârâja appointed the local cowherd men to protect Gokula and then went to Mathurâ to pay the yearly taxes to King Kamsa. (Vedabase)

Text 20

Vasudeva, when he heard that his [younger step-]brother Nanda [**] had left - as he found out in order to pay his tribute to the king - went to where he stayed.

When Vasudeva heard that Nanda Mahârâja, his very dear friend and brother, had come to Mathurâ and already paid the taxes to Kamsa, he went to Nanda Mahârâja's residence. (Vedabase)

Text 21

Seeing him [Vasudeva] so suddenly, he pleased got up as if his body had found new life and overwhelmed by love and affection embraced he his dear friend.

When Nanda Mahârâja heard that Vasudeva had come, he was overwhelmed with love and affection, being as pleased as if his body had regained its life. Seeing Vasudeva suddenly present, he got up and embraced him with both arms. (Vedabase)

Text 22

With all honors welcomed, asked about his health and assigned a place to sit asked he [Vasudeva], attached as he was, about his own two sons saying the following, o ruler over the world.

O Mahârâja Parîkchit, having thus been received and welcomed by Nanda Mahârâja with honor, Vasudeva sat down very peacefully and inquired about his own two sons because of intense love for them. (Vedabase)

Text 23

'Dear brother Nanda, what a great fortune has befallen you now perchance to have gotten the son for which you, so advanced in age and having none, were so desperately longing.

My dear brother Nanda Mahârâja, at an advanced age you had no son at all and were hopeless of having one. Therefore, that you now have a son is a sign of great fortune. (Vedabase)

Text 24

What a great fortune also to have you today here, it is like a rebirth; it is so very hard, despite of being around in this world of birth and death, to meet one's beloved once again!

It is also by good fortune that I am seeing you. Having obtained this opportunity, I feel as if I have taken birth again. Even though one is present in this world, to meet with intimate friends and dear relatives in this material world is extremely difficult. (Vedabase)

Text 25

Like things afloat in a river carried away by the force of the waves do we, intimately living together, not remain in one place differing in our karmic ways.

Many planks and sticks, unable to stay together, are carried away by the force of a river's waves. Similarly, although we are intimately related with friends and family members, we are unable to stay together because of our varied past deeds and the waves of time. (Vedabase)

Text 26

Is everything okay with your cow-business, is there enough water, grass, plants and all of that in the great forest where you are living now with your friends?

My dear friend Nanda Mahârâja, in the place where you are living with your friends, is the forest favorable for the animals, the cows? I hope there is no disease or inconvenience. The place must be full of water, grass and other plants. (Vedabase)

Text 27

O brother, does my son, living with His mother in your house, consider you His father and is He sweet under the care of you both?

My son Baladeva, being raised by you and your wife, Yas'odâdevî, considers you His father and mother. Is he living very peacefully in your home with His real mother, Rohinî? (Vedabase)

Text 28

The three enjoined aims of life of a person [of regulated lusts, income and rituals] find their meaning and effect in one's being together, but that is not so if that togetherness has become difficult, then they run futile.'

When one's friends and relatives are properly situated, one's religion, economic development and sense gratification, as described in the Vedic literatures, are beneficial. Otherwise, if one's friends and relatives are in distress, these three cannot offer any happiness. (Vedabase)

Text 29

S'rî Nanda said: 'How regrettable it is that the many sons you had with Devakî were killed by Kamsa and that also the one remaining child, the youngest, a daughter has gone to heaven.

Nanda Mahârâja said: Alas, King Kamsa killed so many of your children, born of Devakî. And your one daughter, the youngest child of all, entered the heavenly planets. (Vedabase)

Text 30

From the One Unseen find all things their fulfillment, the Unseen One is the ultimate for each alive; that destiny is one's ultimate truth and he who knows that will not get bewildered.

Every man is certainly controlled by destiny, which determines the results of one's fruitive activities. In other words, one has a son or daughter because of unseen destiny, and when the son or daughter is no longer present, this also is due to unseen destiny. Destiny is the ultimate controller of everyone. One who knows this is never bewildered. (Vedabase)

Text 31

S'rî Vasudeva said: 'Now you've paid the king his yearly taxes and we have met, should the both of us not stay here in this place for long, something might have happened in Gokula!'

Vasudeva said to Nanda Mahârâja: Now, my dear brother, since you have paid the annual taxes to Kamsa and have also seen me, do not stay in this place for many days. It is better to return to Gokula, since I know that there may be some disturbances there. (Vedab a se)

Text 32

S'rî S'uka said: 'With that advise excusing himself yoked Nanda and his companions their oxen to their bullock-carts and left they for Gokula.'

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: After Vasudeva advised Nanda Mahârâja in this way, Nanda Mahârâja and his associates, the cowherd men, took permission from Vasudeva, yoked their bulls to the bullock carts, and started riding for Gokula. (Vedabase)

* The jâtakarma birth ceremony, which can take place when the umbilical cord, connecting the child and the placenta, is cut, entails the touching of the tongue of the new-born trice with ghee preceded by introductory prayers. The birth ceremony for Krishna is also called Nandotsava. The day of yearly celebrating His birth is called Janmâshthamî [the eight day of the month of Bhâdra or S'râvana (August-September)].

** The paramparâ elucidates: 'Vasudeva and Nanda Mahârâja were so intimately connected that they lived like brothers. Furthermore, it is learned from the notes of S'rîpâda Madhvâcârya that Vasudeva and Nanda Mahârâja were stepbrothers. Vasudeva 's father, S'ûrasena, married a vais'ya girl, and from her Nanda Mahârâja was born. Later, Nanda Mahârâja himself married a vais'ya girl, Yas'odâ. Therefore his family is celebrated as a vais'ya family, and Krishna, identifying Himself as their son, took charge of vais'ya activities (krishi-go-rakshya-vânijyam, B.G. 18: 44)'.