Devanagari
ऊषु: सरस्वतीतीरे जलं प्राश्य यतव्रता: ।
रजनीं तां महाभागा नन्दसुनन्दकादय: ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
ūṣuḥ sarasvatī-tīre
jalaṁ prāśya yata-vratāḥ
rajanīṁ tāṁ mahā-bhāgā
nanda-sunandakādayaḥ
Synonyms
ūṣuḥ
—
they stayed
;
sarasvatī
—
tīre — on the bank of the Sarasvatī
;
jalam
—
water
;
prāśya
—
subsisting on
;
yata
—
vratāḥ — taking strict vows
;
rajanīm
—
the night
;
tām
—
that
;
mahā
—
bhāgāḥ — the greatly fortunate ones
;
nanda
—
sunandaka — ādayaḥ — Nanda, Sunanda and the others .
Translation
Nanda, Sunanda and the other greatly fortunate cowherds spent that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī, strictly observing their vows. They fasted, taking only water.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Nanda, Sunanda and the other greatly fortunate cowherds spent that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī, strictly observing their vows. They fasted, taking only water.
KB 10.34.4
The pilgrims take a bath, worship the deity and give charity; they are also recommended to fast one day. They should go to a place of pilgrimage and stay there at least for three days. The first day is spent fasting, and at night they can drink a little water because water does not break the fast.
The cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, spent that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī. They fasted all day and drank a little water at night.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Sunanda is the younger brother of Nanda Mahārāja.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Sunanda was Nanda’s younger brother. Ka indicates his younger age. Sipping water and observing vows they resided on the bank of the river that night.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
They drank only water because they had taken a vow (yata-vratāḥ) since it was Śiva-rātri. Sunanda, the younger brother of Nanda is mentioned since he was one of the leading figures. This means that the older brother Upananda remained in Vraja to protect it since he was older in knowledge and years.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
They drank only water because they had taken a vow (yata-vratāḥ), because it was Śiva’s place or because of the journey to the place. They were greatly fortunate, or were to attain some fortune. Worship of Śiva is proper since he is a devotee of the Lord.
Sunanda was the younger brother of Nanda. This means that the older brother Upananda remained in Vraja to protect it and give advice. There other elders there also. The majority were elders and thus they are described. The boys and Kṛṣṇa did not fast since young boys are not fond of vows.