Devanagari
चूतप्रवालबर्हस्तबकोत्पलाब्ज-
मालानुपृक्तपरिधानविचित्रवेशौ ।
मध्ये विरेजतुरलं पशुपालगोष्ठ्यां
रङ्गे यथा नटवरौ क्व च गायमानौ ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
cūta-pravāla-barha-stabakotpalābja
mālānupṛkta-paridhāna-vicitra-veśau
madhye virejatur alaṁ paśu-pāla-goṣṭhyāṁ
raṅge yathā naṭa-varau kvaca gāyamānau
Synonyms
cūta
—
of a mango tree
;
pravāla
—
with young sprouts
;
barha
—
peacock feathers
;
stabaka
—
bunches of flowers
;
utpala
—
lotuses
;
abja
—
and lilies
;
mālā
—
with garlands
;
anupṛkta
—
touched
;
paridhāna
—
Their garments
;
vicitra
—
with great variety
;
veśau
—
being dressed
;
madhye
—
in the midst
;
virejatuḥ
—
the two of Them shone forth
;
alam
—
magnificently
;
paśu
—
pāla — of the cowherd boys
;
goṣṭhyām
—
within the assembly
;
raṅge
—
upon a stage
;
yathā
—
just as
;
naṭa
—
varau — two most excellent dancers
;
kvaca
—
sometimes
;
gāyamānau
—
Themselves singing .
Translation
Dressed in a charming variety of garments, upon which Their garlands rest, and decorating Themselves with peacock feathers, lotuses, lilies, newly grown mango sprouts and clusters of flower buds, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma shine forth magnificently among the assembly of cowherd boys. They look just like the best of dancers appearing on a dramatic stage, and sometimes They sing.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Dressed in a charming variety of garments, upon which Their garlands rest, and decorating Themselves with peacock feathers, lotuses, lilies, newly grown mango sprouts and clusters of flower buds, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma shine forth magnificently among the assembly of cowherd boys. They look just like the best of dancers appearing on a dramatic stage, and sometimes They sing.
KB 10.21.8
Another gopī expressed her opinion that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, while tending the cows with the cowherd boys, appeared just like actors going to play on a dramatic stage. Kṛṣṇa was dressed in glowing garments of yellow, Balarāma in blue, and They held new twigs of mango tree, peacock feathers and bunches of flowers in Their hands. Dressed with garlands of lotus flowers, They were sometimes singing very sweetly among Their friends. One gopī told her friends, “How is it Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are looking so beautiful?”
Purport
The
gopīs
continue singing their ecstatic song as they remember the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The
gopīs
wanted to go to the forest where Kṛṣṇa was performing His pastimes and, while remaining concealed, peer through the leaves of the creepers and see the wonder of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma dancing and singing with Their boyfriends. This was their desire, but because they could not go, they sang this song in ecstatic love.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"How will we deal with disgrace? We should not go."
"No, we should go anyway."
"But because he is with Baladeva, our motive in going will not be fulfilled. Therefore from far off, through the leaves of creepers, we will taste the nectar of his beauty and songs and see him dance. Then we can quickly return home." That is the intention of this verse.
With tender mango leaves, (cuta prabala), peacock feather (marhah) and bunches of flowers (stavaka) in the hair; in the two ears lotus buds; in the right hand a play lotus; and around the neck a garland; wearing sewn garments, colored red, yellow and black like those of an actor, Krsna and Balarama displayed colorful dress. Among the boys who were dancing, they also danced and sometimes they sang (gaya manau). Gaya manau can also mean they were satisfied (mana) with the singing of others (gaya) who praising them. Or it can mean that they were proud of their singing. "No one in the three worlds can sing like us. Who are you insignificant cowherd boys?"
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Wondering whether they should reveal their true emotions by double meanings, they conceal their emotions with great attention in their second verse. Because of intense feelings of love, they can no longer conceal that love in the third verse. In the fourth and other verses they can conceal their love to some degree. They were decorated on their heads with bunches of flowers, within which were placed mango buds and peacock feathers. In their ears were the inner portions of water lilies and in their right hands were play lotuses. They had garlands over their clothing. In this way they were attractively dresses (vicitra-veśau). They appeared glorious amidst the gathering of cowherd boys in various ways (vi—rejatuḥ) or because of the beauty of each item. They were like two dancers in a dancing arena. This indicates that they would also dance and express their joy at will, and that even the other cowherd boys would play instruments and dress skillfully. Otherwise dancing would not be so beautiful. They would sometimes be amidst the other boys because of unsteadiness due to absorption in their playing. They were more splendid here (alam) than in Vraja because in Vraja they could not sing or dance with the same abandon.
Or, there is a gradual development in the first five verses that the gopīs speak. The intention of the previous verses was “The cowherd boys had success for their eyes since they could see Kṛṣṇa at that time.” The present verse expresses “Not only do they see him, but they experience happiness with singing and dancing amidst a group where the two are present.” They also sang. Or, they were glorified by others singing special songs. Or sometimes they would sing, since they became too absorbed in dancing. Or, they became proud in singing. “Of you two who is the best singer? Let the best one sing.” In this way the two became proud and sang. This is a particular sweetness of their play. Oh! These cowherds are fortunate and we gopīs are unfortunate, since we cannot freely associate with them because of fear of public opinion! This unspoken statement is understood from their emotions. This statement may be added to later verses also. The reason for frustration has been stated here: fear of public opinion.