Parva 2 Chapter 10: prā vṛḍvarṇanam - Description of the Rainy Season

vaiśaṁpāyana said: (O janamejaya), after arriving at vṛndāvana, the two handsome sons of vasudeva wandered in the forest tending to calves. pūrṇastu gharmasamayastayostatra vane sukham | krīḍatoḥ saha gopālairyamunāṁ cāvagāhatoḥ ||2-10-2 They completed the (remaining) summer time in the forest happily, playing with gopa-boys and bathing in the river yamunā. tataḥ prāvṛḍanuprāptā manasaḥ kāmadīpinī | pravavarṣurmahāmeghāḥ śakracāpāṅkitodarāḥ ||2-10-3 Then the rainy season lighting desires in the mind arrived. Great clouds adorned with rainbows (śakracāpa) on the belly, covered the sky and it started raining heavily. babhūvādarśanaḥ sūryo bhūmiścādarśanā tṛṇaiḥ | patatā meghavātena navatoyānukarṣiṇā ||2-10-4 saṁmārjitatalā bhūmiryauvanastheva lakṣyate ||2-10-5 It was difficult to see the sun. The earth covered with grass was not visible. The earth appeared as if it regained youth since its surface was swept by strong winds spraying fresh water. na vavarṣāvasiktāni śakragopakulāni ca | naṣṭadāvāgnidhūmāni vanāni pracakāśire ||2-10-6 The insects such as indragopakula drenched in the rain. The forest fires and the smokes were extinguished completely. The forest looked charming. nṛtyavyāpārakālaścha mayūrāṇāṁ kalāpinām | madaraktāḥ pravṛttāścha kekāḥ paṭuravāstathā ||2-10-7 It was the time for peacocks with large feathers to dance. The sounds of their joyful mingling could be heard everywhere. navaprāvṛṣi kāntāṇāṁ ṣaṭpadāhāradāyinām | yauvanasthakadambānāṁ navābhrairbhrājate vapuḥ ||2-10-8 In the new rains, the trunks of young kadamba trees looked beautiful with the new clouds, providing food for butterflies and bees. hāsitaṁ kuṭajairvṛkṣaiḥ kadambairvāsitaṁ vanam | nāśitaṁ jaladairuṣṇaṁ toṣitā vasudhā jalaiḥ | The kuṭaja and kadamba trees enhanced the beauty of the forest with their flowers and fragrance. The clouds destroyed the heat of summer. The earth was happy with rain water. saṁtaptā bhāskarakarairabhitaptā davāgnibhiḥ ||2-10-9 jalairbalāhakotsṛṣṭairucchvasantīva parvatāḥ | The hills which were scorched by the sun rays and burned by blazing forest fires, breathed new life after being soaked with rain water. mahāvātasamudbhūtaṁ mahāmeghagaṇārpitam | mahī mahārāja puraistulyamāpadyate nabhaḥ ||2-10-10 Strong winds blew everywhere. Huge clouds showered heavy rains. The earth, taken over by the sky, appeared like the city of a king. (strong winds blew like flags and huge clouds appeared like huge palaces of a king's city - nīlakaṇṭha). kvachitkadambahāsāḍhyaṁ śilīndhrābharaṇaṁ kvachit | saṁpradīptamivābhāti phullanīpadrumaṁ vanam ||2-10-11 In some places, kadamba trees were in full bloom. In some other places, mushrooms flourished like ornaments. The forest appeared lit with nīpa flowers in full bloom. aindreṇa payasā siktaṁ mārutena ca vistṛtam | pārthivaṁ gandhamāghrāya lokaḥ kṣubhitamānasaḥ ||2-10-12 Drenched by indra's rain water, the fragrance of earth spread by winds, agitated the minds of people everywhere. dṛptasāraṅganādena darduravyāhatena ca | navaishcha śikhivikruṣṭairavakīrṇā vasundharā ||2-10-13 The entire earth was filled with the sound of humming bees, croaking frogs and singing peacocks. bhramattūrṇamahāvartā varṣaprāptamahārayāḥ | harantyastīrajānvṛkṣānvistāraṁ yāṁti nimnagāḥ ||2-10-14 Flowing forcefully with large whirlpools and abundant water obtained from the rains, the rivers increased their breadth uprooting trees from the banks. santatāsāraniryatnāḥ klinnayatnottaracchadāḥ | na tyajanti nagāgrāṇi śrāntā iva patatriṇaḥ ||2-10-15 The birds with their wings wet in the heavy rain, refused to leave the tree tops as though they were exhausted. toyagambhīralambeṣu sravatsu ca nadatsu ca | udareṣu navābhrāṇāṁ majjatīva divākaraḥ ||2-10-16 The sun was immersed in the bellies of the rain clouds, which were dense with water and rumbling with rain, in the sky. mahīruhairutpatitaiḥ salilotpīḍasaṅkulā | anviṣyamārgā vasudhā bhāti śādvalamālinī ||2-10-17 Covered with green grass and drenched in heavy rain, it became difficult to find paths which were indicated by the trees on both sides. vajreṇevāvarugṇānāṁ nagānāṁ nagaśālinām | srotobhiḥ parikṛttāni patanti śikharāṇyadhaḥ ||2-10-18 The peaks of hills having trees whose top branches were cut as though struck by vajra, crumbled on the ground due to strong currents of water. patatā meghavarṣeṇa yathā nimnānusāriṇā | palvalotkīrṇamuktena pūryante vanarājayaḥ ||2-10-19 The rain water from the clouds flowed through the land, according to the level. The low areas became full, flooding the forest. hastocchritamukhā vanyā meghanādānusāriṇaḥ | bhrāntātivṛṣṭyā mātaṅgā gāṁ gatā iva toyadāḥ ||2-10-20 In the heavy rain, following the thunder of the clouds, wild elephants raised their heads, holding their trunks up. It appeared as though the clouds have descended on earth. prāvṛṭpravṛttiṁ saṁdṛśya dṛṣṭvā cāmbudharānghanān | rauhiṇeyo mithaḥ kāle kṛṣṇaṁ vacanamabravīt ||2-10-21 Seeing that the rainy season has arrived and water bearing clouds have covered the sky, the son of rohiṇi (balarāma) spoke these appropriate words to kṛṣṇa. pashya kṛṣṇa ghanānkṛṣṇānbalākojjvalabhūṣaṇān | gagane tava gātrasya varṇachorānsamucchritān ||2-10-22 kṛṣṇa, look at the dark clouds which are shining with groups of birds, as though decorated with ornaments. Stealing the colour of your body, they have gone up in the sky. tava nidrākaraḥ kālastava gātropamaṁ nabhaḥ | tvamivājṣātavasatiṁ chandro vasati vārṣikīm ||2-10-23 This is the time for you to sleep. (It is known in purāṇā-s that viṣṇu sleeps during the four months of the rainy season -footnote on page 295, harivaṁśa - gītā press). The sky has the colour of your body. In the rainy season, the moon remains incognito, like you. (Refer rāma observing cāturmāsya vow during the rainy season). etannīlāmbudaśyāmaṁ nīlotpaladalaprabham | saṁprāpte durdine kāle durdinaṁ bhāti vai nabhaḥ ||2-10-24 When the rainy season arrives, the blue sky appears black due to the presence of black rain clouds and shines like a blue lotus flower, as if bad days have come. pashya kṛṣṇa jalodagraiḥ kṛṣṇairudgrathitairghanaiḥ | govardhano yathā ramyo bhāti govardhano giriḥ ||2-10-25 See kṛṣṇa, covered by the dark rain clouds, the govardhana hill which nourishes the cows, appears beautiful. patitenāmbhasā hyete samantānmadadarpitāḥ | bhrājante kṛṣṇasāraṅgāḥ kānaneṣu mudānvitāḥ ||2-10-26 Because of rain water, the black deer have become intoxicated. They appear happy as they roam in the forest. etānyambuprahṛṣṭāni haritāni mṛdūni ca | tṛṇāni śatapatrākṣa patrairgūhanti medinīm ||2-10-27 O lotus eyed one! Bathed by rain water, the new green grass is happily covering the earth fully with blades. kṣarajjalānāṁ śailānāṁ vanānāṁ jaladāgame | sasasyāṇāṁ ca sīmānāṁ na lakṣmīrvyatiricyate ||2-10-28 Because of the arrival of rain clouds, there is no shortage of wealth (lakshmi) for the hills, the source of rivers, the forests and the land with plants. śīghravātasamudbhūtāḥ proṣitautsukyakāriṇaḥ | dāmodaroddāmaravāḥ prāgalbhyaṁ yānti toydāḥ ||2-10-29 O dāmodara! The rain clouds, which induce people living in foreign lands to return home, forced by fast winds, roar loudly and show their pride. hare haryaśvacāpena trivarṇena trivikrama | vibāṇajyena rachitaṁ tavedaṁ madhyamaṁ padam ||2-10-30 O hari who took the form of trivikrama! Without arrows and string, the tricoloured rainbow decorates your third foot (sky). nabhasyeṣa nabhaścakṣurna bhātyeva carannabhaḥ | meghaiḥ śītātapakaro virashmiriva raśmivān ||2-10-31 The sun, the eye of sky, does not shine while moving in the sky (in the rainy season). The sun's heat producing rays are cooled by the clouds and it looks ray-less. dyāvāpṛthivyoḥ saṁsargaḥ satataṁ vitataiḥ kṛtaḥ | avyavaccinnadhāraughaiḥ samudraughasamairghanaiḥ ||2-10-32 The clouds shower incessant rain, spreading in the sky like a group of oceans. The clouds unite the sky with earth. nīpārjunakadambānāṁ pṛthivyāṁ cātivṛṣṭibhiḥ | gandhaiḥ kolāhalā vānti vātā madanadīpanāḥ ||2-10-33 Due to heavy rainfall on earth, the strong wind blows carrying the fragrance of the flowers of nīpa, arjuna and kadambā trees, stimulating the minds of people. saṁpravṛttamahāvarṣaṁ lambamānamahāṁbudam | bhātyagādhamaparyantaṁ sasāgaramivāmbaram ||2-10-34 It has started raining heavily. Big clouds have come closer to the earth. It looks as if the sky has merged with a deep and unlimited ocean. dhārānirmalanārācaṁ vidyutkavacavarmiṇam | śakracāpāyudhadharaṁ yuddhasajjamivāṁbaram ||2-10-35 It looks as if the sky is getting ready for a battle, with a sword of rain, shield of lightning and a weapon of rainbow. śailānāṁ ca vanānāṁ ca drumāṇāṁ ca varānana | praticchannāni bhāsante śikharāṇi ghanairghanaiḥ ||2-10-36 O Handsome! (kṛṣṇa)! The mountain peaks, the top of forests and the tree tops look enchanting, covered by dark clouds. gajānīkairivākīrṇaṁ salilodgāribhirghanaiḥ | varṇasārūpyatāṁ yāti gaganaṁ sāgarasya ca ||2-10-37 The sky covered with dark clouds resembling a herd of elephants spraying water with their trunks, appears having the same colour as the ocean. samudroddhūtajanitā lolaśāḍvalakampinaḥ | śītāḥ sapṛṣatoddāmāḥ karkaśā vānti mārutāḥ ||2-10-38 The cool wind coming from the waves of the ocean is blowing carrying small drops of water, shaking the grass and keepers. niśāsu suptacandrāsu muktatoyāsu toyadaiḥ | magnasūryasya nabhaso na vibhānti disho daśa ||2-10-39 Because of the water released by the rain clouds, the moon has disappeared in the night. The sun is drowned in the sky. The ten directions are not seen. cetanaṁ puṣkaraṁ kośaiḥ kṣudhādhmātaiḥ samantataḥ | na ghṛṇīnāṁ na ramyāṇām vivekaṁ yaṁti kṛṣṭayah |2-10-40 The entire sky is alive with the clouds agitated by winds. The farmers are unable to differentiate between day and night. gharmadoṣaparityaktaṁ meghatoyavibhūṣitam | pashya vṛndāvanaṁ kṛṣṇa vanaṁ chaitrarathaṁ yathā ||2-10-41 kṛṣṇa! See vṛndāvanaṁ, devoid of the bad effects of heat and decorated by the water showered by the clouds, beautiful as the chaitraratha forest. evaṁ prāvṛḍguṇānsarvāṣchrīmānkṛṣnasya pūrvajaḥ | kathayanneva balavānvrajameva jagāma ha ||2-10-42 Thus glorifying the rainy season in vṛndāvana, kṛṣṇa's mighty elder brother, returned to vraja. anyonyaṁ ramamāṇau tu kṛṣṇasaṅkarṣaṇāvubhau | tatkālajṣātibhiḥ sārddhaṁ ceratustadvanaṁ mahat ||2-10-43 Playing together, the two brothers, kṛṣṇa and saṅkarṣaṇa, along with friends of that time, enjoyed in that great forest. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivāṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi prāvṛḍvarṇane daśamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the tenth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, description of rainy season. nīlakaṇṭha commentary etasmindaśame'dhyāye prāvṛḍavarṇanamucyate | śrīnivāsanivāsena ghoṣotkarṣattathā divaḥ || · 2-10-1 tāviti || · 2-10-8 kāntānāṁ kadambānāmiti sāmānādhikaraṇyam || · 2-10-9 hāsitam vikāśitam || · 2-10-10 ucchvāsantīva bāṣpamudgirantītyarthaḥ | mahī puraistulyaṁ vapurāpadyate tatra dṛṣṭānte mahāvātāḥ patākāḥ mahāmeghā mahāprasādāḥ || · 2-10-11 śilīndrāḥ chatrākāḥ || · 2-10-12 kṣubhitamānasaḥ kāmāturo'bhūt || · 2-10-13 dṛptasāraṅganādena mattabhramaradhvaninā dardurā bhekāḥ avakīrṇā vyāptā || · 2-10-15 saṁtato ya āsāro dhārāsaṁpātastena niryatnāḥ jaḍīkṛtāḥ nagāgrāṇi vṛkṣaśākhāgrāṇi || · 2-10-16 toyena gambhīrāṇi nibiḍāni lambāni vistṛtāni ca teṣudareṣu || · 2-10-17 mahīruhairmārgachihnabhūtairanveṣyo jalacchanno mārgoyasyāḥ sā || · 2-10-19 palvalebhya utkīrṇam utsiktaṁ yattoyaṁ tena varṣeṇa || 2-10-20 hastaḥ śuṇḍā tayā saha ucchritam mukhaṁ yeṣāṁ te hastocchritamukhā || 2-10-23 chandro nabhovasatiṁ vasati Aste vārṣikīṁ varṣābhavām || · 2-10-24 durdine meghacchanne'hni kāle pravṛḍakāle durdine meghairācchannam || · 2-10-25 govardhano nāmataḥ gavāṁ vardhayitā || · 2-10-26 kṛṣṇasāraṅgā bhramarāḥ || · 2-10-27 gūhantyāccādayanti || · 2-10-28 sīmānāṁ kṛṣṭabhūmināṁ trayāṇāmapi lakṣmirna vyatiricyate nādhikā bhavatyapi tu samānairvetyarthaḥ || · 2-10-29 proṣitānāṁ pravāsināṁ autsukyaṁ gṛhāgamane tatkāriṇaḥ || · 2-10-30 haryasvacāpena indradhanuṣā rachitaṁ miśritaṁ madhyamaṁ padamantarīkṣam || · 2-10-31 nabhasi śrāvaṇe nabhaścakṣuḥ sūryaḥ || 2-10-32 saṁsargaḥ saṁbandhaḥ samudraughanibhaiḥ kṣubdhairityarthaḥ || · 2-10-33 nīpāḥ kadambaānāmavāntarajātayaḥ pṛthivyāṁ sṛṣṭairiti śeṣaḥ || kolāhalāḥ kalakalāḥ || · 2-10-35 yairvidyutkavacairmeghairvarmiṇaṁ varmavatpuṁstvamārṣam || · 2-10-36 ghanairnibhiḍairmeghaiḥ || · 2-10-37 gajā jalagajāsteṣāmanīkaiḥ || · 2-10-38 uddhūtam uddhūnanam kampinaḥ kaṁpahetavaḥ sapṛṣataḥ sabindavaḥ uddāmāḥ mahāntaḥ | sapṛṣatoddāmā iti sandhirārṣaḥ || · 2-10-39 supto adṛśyaḥ chandro yāsu || · 2-10-40 chetanamiti | kṣudhādhmātairvāyunā pūritaiḥ kośaiścharmakośasadṛśairmegharūpalakṣitaṁ puṣkaramambaraṁ chetanāmiva bhātīti luptopamā | sarvatashchaladbhirmeghairnabhopi calatīvetyarthaḥ | evamapi kṛṣṭayaḥ prajāḥ ramyāṇāṁ rātriṇāṁ ghṛṇināṁ divasānāṁ ca vivekam anyonyataḥ pṛthaktvaṁ na yāntīti na apitu yāntyeveti yojanā | meghotthāndhakārāvṛtāni dināni rātrikalpānyabhūvannityarthaḥ || · 2-10-43 tatkālajṣātibhiḥ na tu yādavavajjanmajṣātibhiḥ || iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ daśamodhyāyaḥ ||