Chapter Ten Rajaka-vayaka-sudāmopakhyāna The Stories of the Washerman, Weaver, and Florist

GS 5.10.1

Content

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca śrī-kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ puṇyaṁ mayā tava mukhāc chrutam punaḥ śrotuṁ manaś cādya tṛṣito vā jalaṁ gataḥ śrī-bahulāśva uvāca—Śrī Bahulāśva said; śrī-kṛṣṇa-caritam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa's pastimes; puṇyam—sacred; mayā—by me; tava—of you; mukhāt—from the mouth; śrutam——heard; punaḥ—again; śrotum—to hear; manaḥ—heart; ca—and; adya—npow; tṛṣitaḥ—thirsty; vā—or; jalam—to water; gataḥ—gone. Śrī Bahulāśva said: Although my heart has already heard Lord Kṛṣṇa's sacred pastimes from your mouth, it thirsts to hear them again. Although it has already drunk this nectar, it thirsts to drink it again.

GS 5.10.2

Verse text

kaṁsasya janma-karmāṇi

tvayoktāni śrutāni me

keśy-ādi-daitya-varyāṇāṁ

pūrva-janma-kṛtaṁ śrutam

Synonyms

kaṁsasya — of Kaṁsa ; janma-karmāṇi — the birth and deeds ; tvayā — by you ; uktāni — spoken ; śrutāni — heard ; me — by me ; keśy-ādi-daitya-varyāṇām — of the demons headed by Kesi ; pūrva-janma-kṛtam — done in the previous birth ; śrutam — heard.

Translation

I have already heard from you the description of the deeds of Kaṁsa in his previous birth and the deeds of Keśī and other demons in their previous births.

GS 5.10.3

Verse text

ko 'yaṁ tu rajakaḥ pūrvaṁ

avadhīd yaṁ hariḥ katham

aho yasya mahaj-jyotiḥ

kṛṣṇe līnaṁ babhūva ha

Synonyms

kaḥ — who? ; ayam — he ; tu — indeed ; rajakaḥ — the washerman ; pūrvam — before ; avadhīt — killed ; yam — whom ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; katham — why? ; ahaḥ — Oh ; yasya — of whom ; mahaj-jyotiḥ — the greqat light ; kṛṣṇe — in Lord Kṛṣṇa ; līnam — merged ; babhūva — was ; ha — certainly.

Translation

Who was the washerman in his previous birth? Why did Lord Kṛṣṇa kill him? Why did his spiritual effulgence merge in Lord Kṛṣṇa's body?

GS 5.10.4

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca

tretā-yuge tv ayodhyāyāṁ

rāma-rājye videha-rāṭ

caraṇaṁ śṛṇvatāṁ kaścid

rajako hy avadat priyām

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; tretā-yuge — in Tretā-yuga ; tv — indeed ; ayodhyāyām — in Ayodhyā ; rāma-rājye — in Lord Rāma's kingdom ; videha-rāṭ — O king of Videha ; cārāṇām — of ther king's spies ; śṛṇvatām — hearing ; kaścit — someone ; rajakaḥ — washerman ; hi — indeed ; avadat — said ; priyām — to his wife.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king of Videha, in Tretā-yuga, in Lord Rāma's kingdom, in Ayodhyā, as Lord Rāma's spies overheard, this same washerman said to his wife:

GS 5.10.5

Verse text

nāhaṁ bibharmi tvāṁ duṣṭāṁ

uṣatīṁ para-veṣma-gām

strī-lobhī bibhryāt sītāṁ

rāmo nāhaṁ bhaje punaḥ

Synonyms

na — not ; aham — I ; bibharmi — maintain ; tvam — you ; duṣṭam — wicked ; uṣatīm — at sunrise ; para-veṣma-gām — returning from another's house ; strī — after His wife ; lobhī — greedy ; bibhryāt — may maintain ; sītām — Sītā ; rāmaḥ — Rāma ; na — not ; aham — I ; bhaje — do ; punaḥ — again.

Translation

I will not maintain you, a sinner that returns at dawn from another's house. Rāmacandra, who is greedy to enjoy with His wife, may continue to maintain His Sītā, but I am not like Him.

GS 5.10.6

Verse text

iti lokād bahu-mukhād

vākyaṁ śrutvātha rāghavaḥ

sītāṁ tatyāja sahasā

vane lokāpavādataḥ

Synonyms

iti — thus ; lokāt — from the people ; bahu-mukhāt — many mouths ; vākyam — the words ; śrutvā — hearing ; atha — then ; rāghavaḥ — Lord Rāma ; sītām — Sītā ; tatyāja — rejected ; sahasā — at once ; vane — in the forest ; loka — of the people ; apavādataḥ — because of the criticsm.

Translation

Hearing from many mouths that the people were criticizing Him, Lord Rāmacandra at once exiled Sītā to the forest.

GS 5.10.7

Verse text

tasmai daṇḍaṁ dātum icchāṁ

na cakre rāghavottamaḥ

mathurāyāṁ dvāparānte

rajakaḥ sa babhūva ha

Synonyms

tasmai — to him ; daṇḍam — punishment ; dātum — to give ; icchām — desire ; na — not ; cakre — did ; rāghavottamaḥ — Lord Rāma ; mathurāyām — in Mathurā ; dvāparānte — at the end of Dvapara-yuga ; rajakaḥ — washerman ; sa — he ; babhūva — became ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Lord Rāmacandra had no wish to punish him, and in due course this person became a washerman in Mathurā at the end of Dvaspara-yuga.

GS 5.10.8

Verse text

ku-vākya-dosa-śānty-arthaṁ

taṁ jaghāna hariḥ svayam

tad api pradadau mokṣaṁ

tasmai śrī-karuṇā-nidhiḥ

Synonyms

ku-vākya — of bad words ; doṣa — the fault ; śānti — peace ; artham — for the purpose ; tam — him ; jaghāna — killed ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; svayam — Himself ; tat — that ; api — also ; pradadau — gave ; mokṣam — liberation ; tasmai — to him ; śrī-karuṇā-nidhiḥ — an ocean of mercy.

Translation

To stop his blasphemy, however, Lord Kṛṣṇa killed him. Then the Lord, who is an ocean of mercy, gave him liberation.

GS 5.10.9

Verse text

dayāloḥ kṛṣṇacandrasya

caritraṁ paramādbhutam

etat te kathitaṁ rājan

kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi

Synonyms

dayāloḥ — merciful ; kṛṣṇacandrasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; caritram — the pastimes ; paramādbhutam — very wonderful ; etat — this ; te — to you ; kathitam — spoken ; rājan — O king ; kim — what? ; bhūyaḥ — more ; śrotum — to hear ; icchasi — you wish.

Translation

O king, now I have spoke to you Lord Kṛṣṇacandra's very wonderful pastimes. What more do you wish to hear?

GS 5.10.10

Verse text

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca

purā vai vāyakaḥ ko 'pi

nitarāṁ muni-sattama

yasmai dadau ca sārūpyaṁ

śrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān hariḥ

Synonyms

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca — Śrī Bahulāśva said ; purā — before ; vai — indeed ; vāyakaḥ — the weaver ; kaḥ — who? ; api — also ; nitarām — greatly ; muni-sattama — O best of sages ; yasmai — to whom ; dadau — gave ; ca — and ; sārūpyam — a form like His ; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ — Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Śrī Bahulāśva said: O best of sages, in his previous life who was the weaver that received from Lord Kṛṣṇa a transcendental form like His own?

GS 5.10.11

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca

mithilā-nagare pūrvaṁ

vāyako hari-bhakti-kṛt

śrī-rāmodvāha-samaye

śiradhvaja-nṛpājṣayā

Translation

rāma-lakṣmaṇa-veṣārthaṁ vāsāṁsi racayan kila laghu-sūtraiḥ parivayan kuśalo vastra-karmasu śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; mithilā-nagare—in Mithila City; pūrvam—before; vāyakaḥ—a weaver; hari-bhakti-kṛt—a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa; śrī-rāmodvāha-samaye—at the time of Lord Rāma's wedding; śiradhvaja-nṛpājṣayā—by the order of King Siradhvaja; rāma-lakṣmaṇa—for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; veṣārtham—for garments; vāsāṁsi—garments; racayan—making; kila—indeed; laghu-sūtraiḥ—with fine threads; parivayan—weaving; kuśalaḥ—expert; vastra-karmasu—in making garments. Śrī Nārada said: In his previous life he was a weaver in Mithilā City. A great devotee of the Lord and an expert weaver, on King Śiradhvaja's order he made very fine garments for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to wear on Lord Rāma's wedding day.

GS 5.10.12

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca

mithilā-nagare pūrvaṁ

vāyako hari-bhakti-kṛt

śrī-rāmodvāha-samaye

śiradhvaja-nṛpājṣayā

Translation

rāma-lakṣmaṇa-veṣārthaṁ vāsāṁsi racayan kila laghu-sūtraiḥ parivayan kuśalo vastra-karmasu śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; mithilā-nagare—in Mithila City; pūrvam—before; vāyakaḥ—a weaver; hari-bhakti-kṛt—a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa; śrī-rāmodvāha-samaye—at the time of Lord Rāma's wedding; śiradhvaja-nṛpājṣayā—by the order of King Siradhvaja; rāma-lakṣmaṇa—for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; veṣārtham—for garments; vāsāṁsi—garments; racayan—making; kila—indeed; laghu-sūtraiḥ—with fine threads; parivayan—weaving; kuśalaḥ—expert; vastra-karmasu—in making garments. Śrī Nārada said: In his previous life he was a weaver in Mithilā City. A great devotee of the Lord and an expert weaver, on King Śiradhvaja's order he made very fine garments for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to wear on Lord Rāma's wedding day.

GS 5.10.13

Verse text

koṭi-kandarpa-lāvaṇyau

sundarau rāma-lakṣmaṇau

tau vīkṣya vāyako rājan

mohito 'bhūn mahā-manāḥ

Synonyms

koṭi — millions ; kandarpa — of Kāmadevas ; lāvaṇyau — handsome ; sundarau — handsome ; rāma-lakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa ; tau — Them ; vīkṣya — seeing ; vāyakaḥ — the weaver ; rājan — O king ; mohitaḥ — charmed ; mahā-manāḥ — noble-hearted.

Translation

O king, when he saw Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, who are more handsome than millions of Kāmadevas, the noble-hearted weaver became enchanted.

GS 5.10.14

Verse text

ahaṁ sva-hastair vastrāṇi

tayor aṅgeṣu sarvataḥ

paridhānaṁ kārayāmi

cakre cetthaṁ manoratham

Synonyms

aham — I ; sva-hastaiḥ — with my own hand ; vastrāṇi — garments ; tayoḥ — of Them ; aṅgeṣu — on the limbs ; sarvataḥ — in all respects ; paridhānam — placing ; kārayāmi — I will cause ; cakre — did ; ca — and ; ittham — thus ; manoratham — the desire.

Translation

In his heart he desired, "I wish with my own hands I could make garments to place on Their limbs."

GS 5.10.15

Verse text

manasāpi varaṁ rāmo

dadau tasmā aśeṣa-vit

dvāparānte bhārate ca

bhaviṣyati manorathaḥ

Synonyms

manasā — with a thought ; api — also ; varam — benediction ; rāmaḥ — Lord Rāma ; dadau — gave ; tasmā — to him ; aśeṣa-vit — omniscient ; dvāparānte — at the ende of Dvapara-yuga ; bhārate — ion Bharata-varsa ; ca — and ; bhaviṣyati — will be ; manorathaḥ — the desire.

Translation

In His heart all-knowing Lord Rāma blessed him that his desire would be fulfilled in Bharata-varṣa at the end of Dvāpara-yuga.

GS 5.10.16

Verse text

śrī-rāmasya varāt so 'yaṁ

mathurāyāṁ babhūva ha

tayor veṣaṁ kārayitvā

tat-sārūpyaṁ jagāma ha

Synonyms

śrī-rāmasya — of Lord Rāma ; varāt — from the blessing ; saḥ — he ; ayam — he ; mathurāyām — in Mathurā ; babhūva — became ; ha — indeed ; tayoḥ — of Them ; veṣam — the garment ; kārayitvā — making ; tat-sārūpyam — a transcendental form like Theirs ; jagāma — attained ; ha — indeed.

Translation

By the blessings of Lord Rāma he took birth in Mathurā City. He personally made garments for Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and he attained a transcendental form like Theirs.

GS 5.10.17

Verse text

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca

sudāmnā malinā brahman

kiṁ kṛtaṁ sukṛtaṁ vada

yad-gṛhaṁ jagmatuḥ sākṣād

rāma-kṛṣṇau manoharau

Synonyms

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca — Śrī Bahulāśva said ; sudāmnā — Sudama ; malinā — the florist ; brahman — O brāhmaṇa ; kim — what? ; kṛtam — done ; sukṛtam — pious deed ; vada — please tell ; yad-gṛham — in whose home ; jagmatuḥ — went ; sākṣāt — directly ; rāma-kṛṣṇau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma ; manoharau — hansome.

Translation

Śrī Bahulāśva said: O brāhmaṇa, what pious deeds did the florist Sudāmā perform that handsome Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma personally came to his home? Please describe that to me.

GS 5.10.18

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca

rāja-rāja-vanaṁ ramyaṁ

nāmnā caitrarathaṁ śubham

tasya vai puṣpa-baṭuko

hemamālīti-nāma-bhāk

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; rāja-rāja-vanam — the forest of Kuvera ; ramyam — beautriful ; nāmnā — —by name ; caitraratham — Caitraratha ; śubham — glorious ; tasya — of that ; vai — indeed ; puṣpa-baṭukaḥ — a puspa-batuka ; hemamālī — Hemamali ; iti — thus ; nāma-bhāk — named.

Translation

In Kuvera's beautiful Caitraratha gardens there was a florist named Hemamālī.

GS 5.10.19

Verse text

viṣṇu-bhakti-rataḥ śānto

dānī sat-saṅga-kṛn mahān

śrī-viṣṇudeva-prāpty-arthaṁ

deva-pūjāṁ cakāra ha

Synonyms

viṣṇu-bhakti-rataḥ — devoted to Lord Viṣṇu ; śāntaḥ — peaceful ; dānī — generous ; sat-saṅga-kṛn — asscoiating with devotees ; mahān — noble ; deva-pūjām — the worship of the demigods ; cakāra — did ; ha — indeed.

Translation

He was peaceful, generous, and devoted to Lord Viṣṇu. He associated with saintly persons. He worshiped Lord Śiva to attain the company of Lord Viṣṇu.

GS 5.10.20

Verse text

samāḥ pañca-sahasrāṇi

padmānāṁ ca śata-trayaṁ

nityaṁ nītvā dhūrjaṭaye

puro dhṛtvā nanāma ha

Synonyms

samāḥ — years ; pañca-sahasrāṇi — five thousdand ; padmānām — of lotus flowers ; ca — and ; śata-trayam — three hundred ; nityam — always ; nītvā — taking ; dhūrjaṭaye — to Lord Śiva ; puraḥ — before ; dhṛtvā — taking ; nanāma — bowed ; ha — certainly.

Translation

For five thousand years he daily took three hundred lotus flowers, placed them before Lord Śiva, and bowed down.

GS 5.10.21

Verse text

ekadāti-prasanno 'bhūt

try-abjakaḥ karuṇā-nidhiḥ

mālākāra mahā-buddhe

varaṁ brūhīty uvāca ha

Synonyms

ekadā — one day ; ati-prasannaḥ — very pleased ; abhūt — became ; try-abjakaḥ — Lord śiva ; karuṇā-nidhiḥ — an ocean of mercy ; mālākāra — O garland-maker ; mahā-buddhe — intelligent ; varam — a blessing ; brūhi — ask ; iti — thus ; uvāca — said ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Lord Śiva, who is an ocean of mercy, was very pleased. One day he said, "Intelligent florist, ask for a boon."

GS 5.10.22

Verse text

hemamālī tadā devaṁ

namaskṛtya kṛtāñjaliḥ

pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya puraḥ

sthitvā prāha natānanaḥ

Synonyms

hemamālī — Hemamali ; tadā — then ; devam — to the Lord ; namaskṛtya — bowing ; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with folded hands ; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya — circumambulating ; puraḥ — before ; sthitvā — standing ; prāha — said ; natānanaḥ — his head bowed.

Translation

With folded hands bowing before Lord Śiva, circumambulating him, and standing before him with bowed head, Hemamālī spoke.

GS 5.10.23

Verse text

śrī-hemamāly uvāca

paripūrṇatamaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ

kvacin no gṛham āgatam

paśyāmi dṛgbhyāṁ taṁ sākṣāt

tvad-vareṇa bhaved idam

Synonyms

śrī-hemamāly uvāca — Śrī Hemamali said ; paripūrṇatamam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa ; kvacin — somewhere ; naḥ — of us ; gṛham — home ; āgatam — come ; paśyāmi — I see ; dṛgbhyām — with both eyes ; tam — Him ; sākṣāt — directly ; tvad-vareṇa — by Your blessing ; bhavet — may be ; idam — this.

Translation

Śrī Hemamālī said: By your blessings may I be able to see with my own eyes the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, enter my home.

GS 5.10.24

Verse text

śrī-mahādeva uvāca

dvāparānte bhārate ca

mathurāyāṁ mahā-mate

manorathas te sa-phalo

bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-mahādeva uvāca — Lord Śuva said ; dvāparānte — at the end of Dvbapara-yuga ; bhārate — in Bharata-varsa ; ca — and ; mathurāyām — in Mathurā ; mahā-mate — O noble-hearted one ; manorathaḥ — the desire ; te — of you ; sa-phalaḥ — fruitful ; bhaviṣyati — will be ; na — no ; saṁśayaḥ — doubt.

Translation

Lord Śiva said: O noble-hearted one, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, in Bharata-varṣa, in Mathurā City, your desire will bear fruit. Of this there is no doubt.

GS 5.10.25

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca

maheśvara-vareṇāsau

hemamālī mahā-manāḥ

mālākāro dvāparānte

sudāmā sambabhūva ha

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; maheśvara — of Lord śuva ; vareṇa — by the blessings ; asau — he ; hemamālī — Hemamali ; mahā-manāḥ — noble-hearted ; mālākāraḥ — florist ; dvāparānte — at the end of Dvapara-yuga ; sudāmā — Sudama ; sambabhūva — became ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: By Lord Śiva's blessings, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga noble-hearted Hemamālī was born as the florist Sudāmā.

GS 5.10.26

Verse text

tasmād asya gṛhaṁ sākṣāj

jagmatū rāma-keśavau

śiva-vākyam ṛtaṁ kartuṁ

kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi

Synonyms

tasmāt — because of that ; asya — of him ; gṛham — to the home ; sākṣāj — directlky ; jagmatū — came ; rāma-keśavau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma ; śiva-vākyam — the words of Lord Śiva ; ṛtam — true ; kartum — to do ; kim — what? ; bhūyaḥ — more ; śrotum — to hear ; icchasi — you wish.

Translation

To keep Lord Śiva's promise, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered Sudāmā's home. What more do you wish to hear? .pa