Chapter Three Maithily-upākhyāna The Story of the Mithilā Women

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; maithilīnām — of the women of Mithilā ; goipikānām — of the gopīs ; ākhyānam — the stopry ; śṛṇu — hear ; maithila — O king of Mithilā ; daśāśvamedha-tīrthasya — of the holy place dasasvamedha ; phaladam — giving the result ; bhakti-vardhanam — increasing devotion.

śrī-rāmasya — of Lord Rāmacandra ; varāt — from the blessing ; jātā — born ; nava-nanda-gṛheṣu — in the homes of the nine Nandas ; yāḥ — who ; kāmanīyam — handsome ; nanda-sūnum — the son of Nanda ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; tā — they ; moham — enchantment ; āsthitāḥ — attained.

mārgaśīrṣe — margasirsa ; śubhe — auspicous ; māsi — in the month ; cakruḥ — did ; kātyāyanī-vratam — a vow to worship goddess Durga ; upacāraiḥ — with offerings ; ṣoḍaśabhiḥ — sixteen ; kṛtvā — doing ; devīm — to the goddess ; mahī-mayīm — a deity made of clay.

aruṇodaya-velāyām — at sunrise ; snātāḥ — bathing ; śrī-yamunā-jale — in the Yamunā's water ; nityam — regularly ; sametā — met ; ājagmuḥ — went ; gāyantyaḥ — singing ; bhagavat — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; guṇān — the virtues.

ekadā — once ; tāḥ — they ; sva-vastrāṇi — their garments ; tīre — on the riverbank ; nyasya — placing ; vrajāṅganāḥ — the girls of Vraja ; vijahruḥ — played ; yamunā-toye — in the Yamunā's waters ; karābhyām — with their hands ; siñcatīḥ — splashing ; mithaḥ — each other.

tāsām — of them ; vāsāṁsi — the garments ; sannīya — taking ; bhagavān — the Lord ; prātaḥ — in the morning ; āgataḥ — come ; tvaram — quickly ; kadambam — a kadamba tree ; āruhya — climbing ; cauravat — like a thief ; maunam aṣṭhitaḥ — silent.

tāḥ — they ; na — not ; vīkṣya — seeing ; sva-vāsāṁsi — their garments ; vismitā — surprised ; gopa-kanyakāḥ — teh gopīs ; nīpa — in a kadamba tree ; sthitam — staying ; vilokya — seeing ; atha — then ; sa-lajjā — with shyness ; jahasuḥ — smiled ; nṛpa — O king.

pratīcchantu — may desire ; sva-vāsāṁsi — own garments ; sarvā — all ; āgatya — approaching ; ca — and ; atra — here ; vai — indeed ; anyathā — otherwise ; na — not ; hi — indeed ; dāsyāmi — I will give ; vṛkṣāt — from the tree ; kṛṣṇa — Kṛṣṇa ; uvāca — said ; ha — indeed.

rājantyaḥ — splendidly beautiful ; tāḥ — they ; śīta — in the cold ; jale — water ; hasantyaḥ — giggling ; prāhuḥ — said ; ānatāḥ — with bowed heads.

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ — the gopīs said ; he — O ; nanda-nandana — son of Nanda ; manohara — handsome ; gopa-ratna — jewel of the gopas ; gopāla — of the gopas ; vaṁśa — in the family ; nava — young ; haṁsa — swan ; mahārti-hārin — remover of sufferings ; śrī-śyāmasundara — O dark and handsome one ; tava — by You ; uditam — spoken ; adya — now ; vākyam — words ; kūrmaḥ — we do ; katham — how? ; vivasanāḥ — without garments ; kila — indeed ; te — of you ; api — certainly ; dāsyaḥ — the maidservants.

gopāṅganā-vasana-muk — a theif of the gopīs garments ; navanīta-hārī — a theif of butter ; jātaḥ — born ; vraje — in Vraja ; ati-rasikaḥ — the enjoyer of nectar ; kila — indeed ; nirbhayaḥ — fearless ; asi — You are ; vāsāṁsi — garments ; dehi — please give ; na — not ; hi — indeed ; cet — if ; mathurādhipāya — to the King of Mathurā ; vakṣyāmahe — we will tell ; anayam — misdeed ; atīva — great ; kṛtam — done ; tvayā — by You ; atra — here.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said ; dāsyaḥ — maidservants ; mama — My ; eva — indeed ; yadi — if ; sundara-manda-hāsā — O sweetly-smiling girls ; icchantu — desire ; vā — or ; etya — approaching ; kila — indeed ; ca — and ; atra — here ; kadamba-mūle — at the root of this kadamba tree ; na — not ; u — indeed ; cet — if ; samasta-vasanāni — allthe garments ; nayāmi — I will take ; gehāṁḥ — to your homes ; tasmāt — therefore ; kariṣyatha — you should do ; mama — My ; eva — indeed ; vacaḥ — words ; avilambāt — without delay.

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; tadā — then ; tā — they ; nirgatāḥ — went ; sarvā — all ; jalāt — from the water ; gopyaḥ — the gopīs ; ati-vepitāḥ — trembling ; ānatā — with bowed heads ; yonim — the pubic area ; acchādya — covering ; pāṇibhyām — with both hands ; śīta-karṣitāḥ — tormented by the cold.

kṛṣṇa-dattāni — given by Kṛṣṇa ; vāsāṁsi — the garments ; dadhuḥ — placed ; sarvāḥ — all ; vrajāṅganāḥ — the girls of Vraja ; mohitāḥ — bewildered ; ca — and ; sthitāḥ — stood ; tatra — there ; kṛṣṇe — for Kṛṣṇa ; lajjayita — shy ; īkṣaṇāḥ — glances.

jṣātvā — understanding ; tāsām — of them ; abhiprāyam — the intention ; parama-prema-lakṣaṇam — the highest love ; āha — said ; manda — gently ; smitaḥ — smiling ; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; samantāt — at all of them ; vīkṣya — glancing ; tā — them ; vacaḥ — words.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said ; bhavatībhiḥ — with you ; mārgaśīrṣe — in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa ; kṛtam — done ; kātyāyanī — to worship goddess Kātyāyanī ; vratam — a vow ; mat — of Me ; artham — for the sake ; tat — that ; ca — and ; sa-phalam — fruitful ; bhaviṣyati — will be ; na — no ; saṁśayaḥ — doubt.

paraśvaḥ — after tomorrow ; ahani — on the day ; ca — and ; aṭavyām — in the forest ; kṛṣṇā-tīre — on the Yamunā's shore ; manohare — beautiful ; yuṣmābhiḥ — with you ; ca — and ; kariṣyāmi — I will do ; rāsam — a rasa dance ; pūrṇa-manoratham — that will fulfill all your desires.

iti — thus ; uktvā — speaking ; atha — then ; gate — gone ; kṛṣṇe — Kṛṣṇa ; paripūrṇatame — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; harau — Lord Hari ; prāpta — attained ; ānandāḥ — —bliss ; manda — gentle ; hasāḥ — simles ; gopyaḥ — the gopīs ; sarvāḥ — all ; gṛhān — to their homes ; yayuḥ — went.