Devanagari
अथाह सुरभि: कृष्णमभिवन्द्यमनस्विनी
स्वसन्तानैरुपामन्त्र्य गोपरूपिणमीश्वरम् ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
athāha surabhiḥ kṛṣṇam
abhivandya manasvinī
sva-santānair upāmantrya
gopa-rūpiṇam īśvaram
Synonyms
atha
—
then
;
āha
—
spoke
;
surabhiḥ
—
the mother of the cows, Surabhi
;
kṛṣṇam
—
to Kṛṣṇa
;
abhivandya
—
offering respects
;
manasvinī
—
peaceful in mind
;
sva
—
santānaiḥ — together with her progeny, the cows
;
upāmantrya
—
begging for His attention
;
gopa
—
rūpiṇam — appearing as a cowherd boy
;
īśvaram
—
the Supreme Lord .
Translation
Mother Surabhi, along with her progeny, the cows, then offered her obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Respectfully requesting His attention, the gentle lady addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was present before her as a cowherd boy.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Mother Surabhi, along with her progeny, the cows, then offered her obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Respectfully requesting His attention, the gentle lady addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was present before her as a cowherd boy.
KB 10.27.18
After this, the transcendental surabhi cow who had come with Indra to see Kṛṣṇa offered her respectful obeisances unto Him and worshiped Him. The surabhi offered her prayer as follows:
Purport
The statement here that the heavenly cow Surabhi approached Lord Kṛṣṇa along with her progeny (
sva-santānaiḥ
) is a reference to the transcendental cows who play with Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. Although Lord Kṛṣṇa’s cows are transcendental, the heavenly cow Surabhi affectionately saw them, as indeed Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself did, as related to her. Since Lord Kṛṣṇa was appearing in the form of a cowherd boy, the whole situation was quite congenial, and Surabhi took the opportunity to offer the following prayers.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Though the offspring of the Surabhi from svarga are material, she thought of the spiritual cows of Vraja as her own offspring, though they were offspring of the spiritual surabhi. Similarly, though Krsna is actually coming from the dynasty of the spiritual moon, the material moon often thinks of Krsna as her offspring. Surabhi with the cows of Vraja (thinking of them as her own children) addressed Krsna (upamantrya) and offered prayers.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Then (atha) Surabhi approached. She had intended that Indra first speak privately with Kṛṣṇa. She offered respects completely—with prayers and surrender (abhi—vandhya) along with her offspring. Just as Kṛṣṇa appeared in the moon dynasty with his eternal associates, Surabhi appeared with her constant associates, a multitude of cows. Another version has abhinandya with the same meaning. Not only did she offer respects but prayed (upāmantrya) for his complete attention when calling his name in the next verse. She revealed her desires because he had the form of a cowherd (gopa-rūpiṇam). She offered respects because he was the Lord (īśvaram). “Why did she not plead on his behalf first to help Indra?” She was wise (manasvinī). She desired personally to witness the omniscience and generous nature of the Lord and Indra’s confession. And as well, considering the special nature of her request, she did not speak first.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
After Kṛṣṇa spoke merciful words or after his skillful words (atha) Surabhi spoke. She was thoughtful (manasvinī), controlling herself and not speaking first in order to respect Indra who had come with her, or to fulfill her own purposes. Or she thought, “If the great offender who has come with me gets the Lord’s mercy, then I can without worry make my request.” Or intelligently she thought, “The Lord will not give him direct mercy because he is a great offender, doing violence to Gokula while speaking bad words.”
Offering respects with joy (abhivandya) she addressed (upamantrya) the Lord. “O Lord, affectionate to the devotees! O crown jewel of the cowherd! O protector of Gokula! O son of Nanda! O son of Yaśodā!” Or she requested, “At the bathing ceremony, use my milk.” He was worthy of request because, though he was the Lord of the universe, he had a cowherd form. He was thus Surabhi’s master.