Chapter Twenty-four Rāsa-krīḍāyām āsury-upākhyānam The Story of Asuri Muni in the Rāsa-dance Pastime

Śrī Nārada said: Noticing that He had come to the Yamunā's shore, Lord Kṛṣṇa proceeded to beautiful Vṛndāvana forest to enjoy pastimes with the gopīs.

With Lord Kṛṣṇa's blessing all the plants in Vṛndāvana became transformed into beautiful girls. Joining the gopīs, they approached Kṛṣṇa.

O king of Mithilā, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of Vṛndāvana, then enjoyed pastimes with the plants transformed into wonderful gopīs.

vilasat-puline ramye vaṁśīvaṭa-virājite sthito 'bhūd rādhayā sārdhaṁ rāsa-śrama-samanvitaḥ kalinda-nandinī-tīre—on the Yamunā's shore; kadambāc—from the kadamba tree; chādite—shaded; śubhe—beautiful; tri-vidhena—three kinds; samīreṇa—with breezes; sarvataḥ—everywhere; surabhī-kṛte—fragrant; vilasat—splendid; puline—on ther shore; ramye—beautiful; vaṁśīvaṭa-virājite—splendid with Vamsivata; sthitaḥ—situated; abhūt—was; rādhayā—Rādhā; sārdham—with; rāsa-śrama-samanvitaḥ—exhausted from the rasa dance. Exhausted from the rāsa dance, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa rested in a kadamba tree's shade at beautiful Vaṁśīvāṭa, fragrant with three kinds of breezes by the Yamunā's shore.

vilasat-puline ramye vaṁśīvaṭa-virājite sthito 'bhūd rādhayā sārdhaṁ rāsa-śrama-samanvitaḥ kalinda-nandinī-tīre—on the Yamunā's shore; kadambāc—from the kadamba tree; chādite—shaded; śubhe—beautiful; tri-vidhena—three kinds; samīreṇa—with breezes; sarvataḥ—everywhere; surabhī-kṛte—fragrant; vilasat—splendid; puline—on ther shore; ramye—beautiful; vaṁśīvaṭa-virājite—splendid with Vamsivata; sthitaḥ—situated; abhūt—was; rādhayā—Rādhā; sārdham—with; rāsa-śrama-samanvitaḥ—exhausted from the rasa dance. Exhausted from the rāsa dance, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa rested in a kadamba tree's shade at beautiful Vaṁśīvāṭa, fragrant with three kinds of breezes by the Yamunā's shore.

Then the demigods in the sky and the gopīs on earth played vīṇās, karatālas, mṛdaṅgas, murus, yaṣṭis, and other musical instruments.

As the demigods showered flowers and called out Victory!" the gopīs pleased Lord Kṛṣṇa by singing songs about His transcendental glories.

hindolaṁ ca jaguḥ kāścid rājan sapta-svaraiḥ saha kāścit tāsāṁ pramugdhāś ca kāścin mugdhāḥ striyo nṛpa kāścit—some; vai—indeed; megha-mallāram—megha-mallāra; dīpakam—dīpaka; ca—and; tathā—so; aparāḥ—others; mālakośam—mālakośa; bhairavam—bhairava; ca—and; śrī-rāgam—śrī-rāga; ca—and; tatha—so; eva—indeed; ca—and; hindolam—hindola; ca—and; jaguḥ—sang; kāścit—some; rājan—O king; sapta-svaraiḥ—with seven notes; saha—with; kāścit—some; tāsām—of them; pramugdhāḥ—with the charm of youth; ca—and; kāścin—some; mugdhāḥ—a little older; striyaḥ—women; nṛpa—O king. Some sang in the rāga megha-mallāra, and others in dīpaka, mālakośa, bhairava, śrī-rāga, and many melodies of seven notes. O king, some had the sweet charm of submissive youth, and some had the charm of being a little more independent.

hindolaṁ ca jaguḥ kāścid rājan sapta-svaraiḥ saha kāścit tāsāṁ pramugdhāś ca kāścin mugdhāḥ striyo nṛpa kāścit—some; vai—indeed; megha-mallāram—megha-mallāra; dīpakam—dīpaka; ca—and; tathā—so; aparāḥ—others; mālakośam—mālakośa; bhairavam—bhairava; ca—and; śrī-rāgam—śrī-rāga; ca—and; tatha—so; eva—indeed; ca—and; hindolam—hindola; ca—and; jaguḥ—sang; kāścit—some; rājan—O king; sapta-svaraiḥ—with seven notes; saha—with; kāścit—some; tāsām—of them; pramugdhāḥ—with the charm of youth; ca—and; kāścin—some; mugdhāḥ—a little older; striyaḥ—women; nṛpa—O king. Some sang in the rāga megha-mallāra, and others in dīpaka, mālakośa, bhairava, śrī-rāga, and many melodies of seven notes. O king, some had the sweet charm of submissive youth, and some had the charm of being a little more independent.

Some were agressive and independent, some were passionately in love, their hearts attached to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and some worshiped Kṛṣṇa as their paramour.

Some were attached to playing ball-games with Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Others played flower-games with Kṛṣṇa.

Some, their belts and anklets tinkling, run with Him among the flowering vines. Again and again some passionately drink the nectar of His lips.

Smiling, some tightly embrace Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whom even the great yogīs cannot attain.

Anointed with kuṅkuma, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Lord of the gopīs, the master of Vṛndāvana, and the king of the Yadus, enjoyed pastimes in the forest.

Some played the vīṇā as Kṛṣṇa played the flute. Some played the mṛdaṅga and sang songs of Lord Kṛṣṇa's glories.

Some sweetly play karatālas before Lord Kṛṣṇa. Others play murus and yaṣṭis with Lord Kṛṣṇa among the flowering mādhavī vines.

vṛndāvanasya paśyantyo śobhaṁ rājann itas tataḥ gāyantyaḥ—singing; su-sthirā—with steadiness; bhūmau—on the ground; vismṛtya—forgetting; jagataḥ—the worlds; sukham—happily; kāścil—some; latāsu—among the vines; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhuje—in arm; bāhum—arm; nidhāya—placing; ca—and. Some gracefully sing Kṛṣṇa's glories. O king, some, oblivious to all other happinesses in the universe, walk arm in arm with Kṛṣṇa among the flowering vines and gaze at the beauty of Vṛndāvana forest.

vṛndāvanasya paśyantyo śobhaṁ rājann itas tataḥ gāyantyaḥ—singing; su-sthirā—with steadiness; bhūmau—on the ground; vismṛtya—forgetting; jagataḥ—the worlds; sukham—happily; kāścil—some; latāsu—among the vines; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhuje—in arm; bāhum—arm; nidhāya—placing; ca—and. Some gracefully sing Kṛṣṇa's glories. O king, some, oblivious to all other happinesses in the universe, walk arm in arm with Kṛṣṇa among the flowering vines and gaze at the beauty of Vṛndāvana forest.

śanaiḥ śanaiḥ śobhanaṁ tac cakre śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ tāmbūlaṁ carvitaṁ hy ardhaṁ nītvā sadyo 'tha gopikāḥ carvayantyaḥ sugandhāḍhyaṁ aho tāsāṁ tapo mahat kāścic chyāma-kapoleṣu dvy-aṅgulena śanaiḥ śanaiḥ hasantyas tāḍayantyas tāḥ kadambeṣu balāt pṛthak vṛndāvanasya—of Vṛndāvana; paśyantyaḥ—seeing; śobham—beauty; rājann—O king; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there; latā—of vines; jālaiḥ—with networks; samvalitam—surrounded; gopīnām—of gopīs; hāra-sañcayam—garlands; pṛthak—specific; cakāra—did; govindaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; spṛṣṭvā—touching; tāsām—of them; uraḥ-sthalam—breasts; gopīnām—of the gopīs; nāsikā-muktā-—nose pearl; avalim—series; tat-kuntalam—hair; svayam—personally; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; śobhanam—decoration; tac—that; cakre—did; śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; tāmbūlam—betelnuts; carvitam—chewed; hy—indeed; ardham—half; nītvā—taking; sadyaḥ—at once; atha—then; gopikāḥ—the gopīs; carvayantyaḥ—chewing; sugandhāḍhyam—fragrant; ahaḥ—Oh; tāsām—of them; tapaḥ—austerity; mahāt—great; kāścic—some; chyāma—dark; kapoleṣu—on the cheeks; dvy-aṅgulena—with two fingers; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; hasantyaḥ—smiling; tāḍayantyaḥ—stricking; tāḥ—they; kadambeṣu—among the kadamba trees; balāt—forcibly; pṛthak—specific. Hidden by the flowering vines, Kṛṣṇa decorated some gopīs, gently touching their hair, nose-pearl, and breasts. He gave very fragrant half-chewed betelnuts to some gopīs and they chewed them. This happened because they had performed many pious activities in the past. Among the kadamba trees some gopīs smiled and with two fingers stroked Kṛṣṇa's dark cheeks.

śanaiḥ śanaiḥ śobhanaṁ tac cakre śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ tāmbūlaṁ carvitaṁ hy ardhaṁ nītvā sadyo 'tha gopikāḥ carvayantyaḥ sugandhāḍhyaṁ aho tāsāṁ tapo mahat kāścic chyāma-kapoleṣu dvy-aṅgulena śanaiḥ śanaiḥ hasantyas tāḍayantyas tāḥ kadambeṣu balāt pṛthak vṛndāvanasya—of Vṛndāvana; paśyantyaḥ—seeing; śobham—beauty; rājann—O king; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there; latā—of vines; jālaiḥ—with networks; samvalitam—surrounded; gopīnām—of gopīs; hāra-sañcayam—garlands; pṛthak—specific; cakāra—did; govindaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; spṛṣṭvā—touching; tāsām—of them; uraḥ-sthalam—breasts; gopīnām—of the gopīs; nāsikā-muktā-—nose pearl; avalim—series; tat-kuntalam—hair; svayam—personally; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; śobhanam—decoration; tac—that; cakre—did; śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; tāmbūlam—betelnuts; carvitam—chewed; hy—indeed; ardham—half; nītvā—taking; sadyaḥ—at once; atha—then; gopikāḥ—the gopīs; carvayantyaḥ—chewing; sugandhāḍhyam—fragrant; ahaḥ—Oh; tāsām—of them; tapaḥ—austerity; mahāt—great; kāścic—some; chyāma—dark; kapoleṣu—on the cheeks; dvy-aṅgulena—with two fingers; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; hasantyaḥ—smiling; tāḍayantyaḥ—stricking; tāḥ—they; kadambeṣu—among the kadamba trees; balāt—forcibly; pṛthak—specific. Hidden by the flowering vines, Kṛṣṇa decorated some gopīs, gently touching their hair, nose-pearl, and breasts. He gave very fragrant half-chewed betelnuts to some gopīs and they chewed them. This happened because they had performed many pious activities in the past. Among the kadamba trees some gopīs smiled and with two fingers stroked Kṛṣṇa's dark cheeks.

śanaiḥ śanaiḥ śobhanaṁ tac cakre śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ tāmbūlaṁ carvitaṁ hy ardhaṁ nītvā sadyo 'tha gopikāḥ carvayantyaḥ sugandhāḍhyaṁ aho tāsāṁ tapo mahat kāścic chyāma-kapoleṣu dvy-aṅgulena śanaiḥ śanaiḥ hasantyas tāḍayantyas tāḥ kadambeṣu balāt pṛthak vṛndāvanasya—of Vṛndāvana; paśyantyaḥ—seeing; śobham—beauty; rājann—O king; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there; latā—of vines; jālaiḥ—with networks; samvalitam—surrounded; gopīnām—of gopīs; hāra-sañcayam—garlands; pṛthak—specific; cakāra—did; govindaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; spṛṣṭvā—touching; tāsām—of them; uraḥ-sthalam—breasts; gopīnām—of the gopīs; nāsikā-muktā-—nose pearl; avalim—series; tat-kuntalam—hair; svayam—personally; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; śobhanam—decoration; tac—that; cakre—did; śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; tāmbūlam—betelnuts; carvitam—chewed; hy—indeed; ardham—half; nītvā—taking; sadyaḥ—at once; atha—then; gopikāḥ—the gopīs; carvayantyaḥ—chewing; sugandhāḍhyam—fragrant; ahaḥ—Oh; tāsām—of them; tapaḥ—austerity; mahāt—great; kāścic—some; chyāma—dark; kapoleṣu—on the cheeks; dvy-aṅgulena—with two fingers; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; hasantyaḥ—smiling; tāḍayantyaḥ—stricking; tāḥ—they; kadambeṣu—among the kadamba trees; balāt—forcibly; pṛthak—specific. Hidden by the flowering vines, Kṛṣṇa decorated some gopīs, gently touching their hair, nose-pearl, and breasts. He gave very fragrant half-chewed betelnuts to some gopīs and they chewed them. This happened because they had performed many pious activities in the past. Among the kadamba trees some gopīs smiled and with two fingers stroked Kṛṣṇa's dark cheeks.

śanaiḥ śanaiḥ śobhanaṁ tac cakre śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ tāmbūlaṁ carvitaṁ hy ardhaṁ nītvā sadyo 'tha gopikāḥ carvayantyaḥ sugandhāḍhyaṁ aho tāsāṁ tapo mahat kāścic chyāma-kapoleṣu dvy-aṅgulena śanaiḥ śanaiḥ hasantyas tāḍayantyas tāḥ kadambeṣu balāt pṛthak vṛndāvanasya—of Vṛndāvana; paśyantyaḥ—seeing; śobham—beauty; rājann—O king; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there; latā—of vines; jālaiḥ—with networks; samvalitam—surrounded; gopīnām—of gopīs; hāra-sañcayam—garlands; pṛthak—specific; cakāra—did; govindaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; spṛṣṭvā—touching; tāsām—of them; uraḥ-sthalam—breasts; gopīnām—of the gopīs; nāsikā-muktā-—nose pearl; avalim—series; tat-kuntalam—hair; svayam—personally; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; śobhanam—decoration; tac—that; cakre—did; śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; tāmbūlam—betelnuts; carvitam—chewed; hy—indeed; ardham—half; nītvā—taking; sadyaḥ—at once; atha—then; gopikāḥ—the gopīs; carvayantyaḥ—chewing; sugandhāḍhyam—fragrant; ahaḥ—Oh; tāsām—of them; tapaḥ—austerity; mahāt—great; kāścic—some; chyāma—dark; kapoleṣu—on the cheeks; dvy-aṅgulena—with two fingers; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—gradually; hasantyaḥ—smiling; tāḍayantyaḥ—stricking; tāḥ—they; kadambeṣu—among the kadamba trees; balāt—forcibly; pṛthak—specific. Hidden by the flowering vines, Kṛṣṇa decorated some gopīs, gently touching their hair, nose-pearl, and breasts. He gave very fragrant half-chewed betelnuts to some gopīs and they chewed them. This happened because they had performed many pious activities in the past. Among the kadamba trees some gopīs smiled and with two fingers stroked Kṛṣṇa's dark cheeks.

rādhā-veṣa-dharā gopyaḥ satcandrānanā-prabhāḥ toṣayantyaś ca rādhāṁ taṁ tathā rādhā-patiṁ jaguḥ pum—of males; veṣa—dress; nāyakāḥ—heroes; kāścin—some; mauli-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitāḥ—decorated with crown and earrings; nṛtyantyaḥ—dancing; kṛṣṇa-purataḥ—before Lord Kṛṣṇa; śrī-kṛṣṇa—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; iva—like; maithila—O kin gof Mithilā; rādhā-veṣa-dharā—dressed as Rādhā; gopyaḥ—gopīs; satcandrānanā-prabhāḥ—splendid as a hundred moons; toṣayantyaḥ—pleasing; ca—and; rādhām—Rādhā; tam—Her; tathā—then; rādhā-patim—the master of Rādhā; jaguḥ—sang. O king of Mithilā, some gopīs dressed as Lord Kṛṣṇa, with crown and earrings, and danced before Lord Kṛṣṇa, and some, glorious as a hundred moons, dressed as Rādhā, and by singing songs gave pleasure to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Some, overcome with ecstatic love, sat down on the ground as if they were yogīs filled with bliss.

Some sat among the trees and vines and silently gazed as Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of the goddess of fortune.

In this way the gopīs approached Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who dearly loves His devotees, and their desires were all fulfilled.

O noble-hearted king, the gopīs attained mercy even the greatest philosophers, what to speak of fruitive workers, cannot attain.

O noble-hearted one, please hear of a great wonder that happened in the rāsa dance of Rādhā's master, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

nāradādrau tapas tepe harau dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ hṛt-puṇḍarīke śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ jyotir-maṇḍalam āsthitam manojṣaṁ rādhayā sārdhaṁ nityaṁ dhyāne dadarśa ha ekadā dhyāna-madhye tu rātrau kṛṣṇo na cāgataḥ munīndra—a king of sages; āsuriḥ—Asuri; nāma—named; śrī-kṛṣṇeṣṭaḥ—a devotee of Kṛṣṇa; mahā-tapāḥ—very austere; nāradādrau—on Mount Narada; tapas tepe—performed austerities; harau—for Lord Hari; dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ—intently meditation; hṛt-puṇḍarīke—on the lotus of the heart; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; jyotir-maṇḍalam—in a circle of light; āsthitam—situated; manojṣam—handsome; rādhayā—Rādhā; sārdham—with; nityam—always; dhyāne—in meditation; dadarśa—saw; ha—indeed; ekadā—one day; dhyāna-madhye—in the middle of his meditation; tu—indeed; rātrau—at night; kṛṣṇaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; na—not; ca—and; āgataḥ—camne. There was a very austere saint named Asuri Muni, who was a king of sages and a great devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He performed austerities on Nārada Mountain and in his meditation he always saw handsome Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa standing in a circle of light on the lotus of his heart. Then, one night, Kṛṣṇa was suddenly no longer present in his meditation.

nāradādrau tapas tepe harau dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ hṛt-puṇḍarīke śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ jyotir-maṇḍalam āsthitam manojṣaṁ rādhayā sārdhaṁ nityaṁ dhyāne dadarśa ha ekadā dhyāna-madhye tu rātrau kṛṣṇo na cāgataḥ munīndra—a king of sages; āsuriḥ—Asuri; nāma—named; śrī-kṛṣṇeṣṭaḥ—a devotee of Kṛṣṇa; mahā-tapāḥ—very austere; nāradādrau—on Mount Narada; tapas tepe—performed austerities; harau—for Lord Hari; dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ—intently meditation; hṛt-puṇḍarīke—on the lotus of the heart; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; jyotir-maṇḍalam—in a circle of light; āsthitam—situated; manojṣam—handsome; rādhayā—Rādhā; sārdham—with; nityam—always; dhyāne—in meditation; dadarśa—saw; ha—indeed; ekadā—one day; dhyāna-madhye—in the middle of his meditation; tu—indeed; rātrau—at night; kṛṣṇaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; na—not; ca—and; āgataḥ—camne. There was a very austere saint named Asuri Muni, who was a king of sages and a great devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He performed austerities on Nārada Mountain and in his meditation he always saw handsome Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa standing in a circle of light on the lotus of his heart. Then, one night, Kṛṣṇa was suddenly no longer present in his meditation.

nāradādrau tapas tepe harau dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ hṛt-puṇḍarīke śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ jyotir-maṇḍalam āsthitam manojṣaṁ rādhayā sārdhaṁ nityaṁ dhyāne dadarśa ha ekadā dhyāna-madhye tu rātrau kṛṣṇo na cāgataḥ munīndra—a king of sages; āsuriḥ—Asuri; nāma—named; śrī-kṛṣṇeṣṭaḥ—a devotee of Kṛṣṇa; mahā-tapāḥ—very austere; nāradādrau—on Mount Narada; tapas tepe—performed austerities; harau—for Lord Hari; dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ—intently meditation; hṛt-puṇḍarīke—on the lotus of the heart; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; jyotir-maṇḍalam—in a circle of light; āsthitam—situated; manojṣam—handsome; rādhayā—Rādhā; sārdham—with; nityam—always; dhyāne—in meditation; dadarśa—saw; ha—indeed; ekadā—one day; dhyāna-madhye—in the middle of his meditation; tu—indeed; rātrau—at night; kṛṣṇaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; na—not; ca—and; āgataḥ—camne. There was a very austere saint named Asuri Muni, who was a king of sages and a great devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He performed austerities on Nārada Mountain and in his meditation he always saw handsome Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa standing in a circle of light on the lotus of his heart. Then, one night, Kṛṣṇa was suddenly no longer present in his meditation.

Again and again he meditated. The great sage felt frustrated and depressed. Yearning to see Lord Kṛṣṇa, he came out of his meditative trance.

When the sage went to badarī-decorated Nārāyaṇa-āśrama, he could not find Lord Kṛṣṇa in His form as Śrī Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi.

Then the brāhmaṇa sage went to Lokāloka Mountain where, to his great surprise, he could not find thousand-headed Lord Śeṣa.

When he asked the Lord's associates there, "Where did the Lord go?" they said, "We do not know." Then the sage became morose at heart.

When he went to glorious Śvetadvīpa in the milk ocean, again he could not find Lord Kṛṣṇa reclining on the couch of Śeṣa.

Depressed, and the hairs of his body erect with spiritual love, the sage asked the Lord's associates there, "Where did the Lord go?"

They said, "We do not know." Then the sage became anxious. He thought, "What sould I do, or where should I go in order to see the Lord?"

Thinking in this way, he traveled at the speed of mind to the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha. There he could not find Lord Nārāyaṇa and goddess Lakṣmī.

Not finding Them, Asuri Muni, who was the king of sages and yogīs, went, O king, to the world of Goloka.

Even in Vṛndāvana forest he could not find the Supreme Lord. Then, separated from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the sage became filled with anguish.

pṛśnigarbho yatra jātas tatraiva bhagavān svayam ity uktā āsuris tasmād asmin aṇḍe samāgataḥ papraccha—asked; pārṣadāṁḥ—the associates; tatra—there; kva—where?; gataḥ—gone; bhagavān—the Lord; itaḥ—from here; ūcuḥ—said; tam—to him; pārṣadāḥ—the associates; gopā—gopas; vāmana—of Lord Vāmana; aṇḍe—in the univesre; manohare—beautiful; pṛśnigarbhaḥ—Pṛśnigarbha; yatra—where; jātaḥ—born; tatra—there; eva—certainly; bhagavān—the Lord; svayam—Himself; ity—thus; uktā—addressed; āsuriḥ—Asuri; tasmāt—from there; asmin—in this; aṇḍe—universe; samāgataḥ—came. When he asked the Lord's gopa friends there, "Where did the Lord go?" they said, "The Lord went to the beautiful material universe where Vāmana and Pṛśnigarbha appeared." Asuri Muni went at once to that universe.

pṛśnigarbho yatra jātas tatraiva bhagavān svayam ity uktā āsuris tasmād asmin aṇḍe samāgataḥ papraccha—asked; pārṣadāṁḥ—the associates; tatra—there; kva—where?; gataḥ—gone; bhagavān—the Lord; itaḥ—from here; ūcuḥ—said; tam—to him; pārṣadāḥ—the associates; gopā—gopas; vāmana—of Lord Vāmana; aṇḍe—in the univesre; manohare—beautiful; pṛśnigarbhaḥ—Pṛśnigarbha; yatra—where; jātaḥ—born; tatra—there; eva—certainly; bhagavān—the Lord; svayam—Himself; ity—thus; uktā—addressed; āsuriḥ—Asuri; tasmāt—from there; asmin—in this; aṇḍe—universe; samāgataḥ—came. When he asked the Lord's gopa friends there, "Where did the Lord go?" they said, "The Lord went to the beautiful material universe where Vāmana and Pṛśnigarbha appeared." Asuri Muni went at once to that universe.

Not finding Lord Kṛṣṇa in that universe, the sage went to Mount Kailāsa, where he did find Lord Śiva, who was rapt in meditation on Lord Kṛṣṇa.

śrī-āsurir uvāca bhagavan sarva-brahmāṇḍaṁ mayā dṛṣṭam itas tataḥ natvā—bowing down; papraccha—asked; tat—that; rātrau—night; kinna-cetā—depressed; mahā-muniḥ—the great sage; śrī-āsuriḥ—Śrī Asuri; uvāca—said; bhagavan—O Lord; sarva-brahmāṇḍam—all the universes; mayā—by me; dṛṣṭam—seen; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there. Unhappy at heart, the great sage bowed down before Lord Śiva and spoke. Śrī Asuri said: O Lord, I have looked in all the universes . . .

. . . and I went even to Vaikuṇṭha and Goloka looking for Him, but I could not find the Supreme Lord anywhere. Where is the Lord now? O best of all-knowing philosophers, please tell.

Śrī Śiva said: O brāhmaṇa Asuri, you are fortunate. You are a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. O great sage, I know the trouble you have taken to find Lord Kṛṣṇa.

haṁsaṁ muniṁ duḥkha-gataṁ mahodadhau yaḥ sarvato mocayituṁ gatas tvaram so 'dyaiva vṛndāvipine sakhī-janaiḥ karoti rāsaṁ rasikeśvaraḥ svayam karma-indriyāni—the working senses; iha—here; yathā—as; rasādīṁḥ—the obejcts, bgeinning with taste, of the senses, tathā—so; sa-kāmā—with desire; munayaḥ—sages; sukham—happiness; yat—what; manān—slightly; na—not; jānanti—know; janaiḥ—by the people; apekṣyam—not seen; gūḍham—hidden; param—very; nirguṇa-lakṣaṇam—beyond the modes of nature; tat—that; haṁsam—Haṁsa; munim—Muni; duḥkha-gatam—unhappy; mahodadhau—in the great ocean; yaḥ—who; sarvataḥ—completely; mocayitum—to rescue; gataḥ—gone; tvaram—at once; saḥ—He;. adya—now; eva—indeed; vṛndāvipine—in Vṛndāvana; sakhī-janaiḥ—with gopī friends; karoti—does; rāsam—the rasa dance; rasikeśvaraḥ—the king of the rasa dance; svayam—Himself. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom the materialistic philosophers cannot enjoy as the working senses cannot enjoy the objects of the knowledge-acquiring senses, and who, being beyond the modes of material nature, cannot be seen by the people in genaral, went to save Haṁsa Muni from great troubles in the great ocean. Now Lord Kṛṣṇa has become the king of the rāsa dance. Now He is enjoying a rāsa dance with many gopīs in Vṛndāvana forest.

haṁsaṁ muniṁ duḥkha-gataṁ mahodadhau yaḥ sarvato mocayituṁ gatas tvaram so 'dyaiva vṛndāvipine sakhī-janaiḥ karoti rāsaṁ rasikeśvaraḥ svayam karma-indriyāni—the working senses; iha—here; yathā—as; rasādīṁḥ—the obejcts, bgeinning with taste, of the senses, tathā—so; sa-kāmā—with desire; munayaḥ—sages; sukham—happiness; yat—what; manān—slightly; na—not; jānanti—know; janaiḥ—by the people; apekṣyam—not seen; gūḍham—hidden; param—very; nirguṇa-lakṣaṇam—beyond the modes of nature; tat—that; haṁsam—Haṁsa; munim—Muni; duḥkha-gatam—unhappy; mahodadhau—in the great ocean; yaḥ—who; sarvataḥ—completely; mocayitum—to rescue; gataḥ—gone; tvaram—at once; saḥ—He;. adya—now; eva—indeed; vṛndāvipine—in Vṛndāvana; sakhī-janaiḥ—with gopī friends; karoti—does; rāsam—the rasa dance; rasikeśvaraḥ—the king of the rasa dance; svayam—Himself. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom the materialistic philosophers cannot enjoy as the working senses cannot enjoy the objects of the knowledge-acquiring senses, and who, being beyond the modes of material nature, cannot be seen by the people in genaral, went to save Haṁsa Muni from great troubles in the great ocean. Now Lord Kṛṣṇa has become the king of the rāsa dance. Now He is enjoying a rāsa dance with many gopīs in Vṛndāvana forest.

By His māyā potency the Lord has transformed the middle of the night into a period of six months. With the Lord's blessings I will now go there to see that dance. O sage, if you wish, you may also go. .pa