SB 10.90.1 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच सुखं स्वपुर्यां निवसन् द्वारकायां श्रिय: पति: । सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धायां जुष्टायां वृष्णिपुङ्गवै: ॥ १ ॥ स्‍त्रीभिश्चोत्तमवेषाभिर्नवयौवनकान्तिभि: । कन्दुकादिभिर्हर्म्येषु क्रीडन्तीभिस्तडिद्‌द्युभि: ॥ २ ॥ नित्यं सङ्कुलमार्गायां मदच्युद्भ‍िर्मतङ्गजै: । स्वलङ्कृतैर्भटैरश्वै रथैश्च कनकोज्ज्वलै: ॥ ३ ॥ उद्यानोपवनाढ्यायां पुष्पितद्रुमराजिषु । निर्विशद् भृङ्गविहगैर्नादितायां समन्तत: ॥ ४ ॥ रेमे षोडशसाहस्रपत्नीनामेकवल्ल‍भ: । तावद्विचित्ररूपोऽसौ तद्गेहेषु महर्द्धिषु ॥ ५ ॥ प्रोत्फुल्ल‍ोत्पलकह्लारकुमुदाम्भोजरेणुभि: । वासितामलतोयेषु कूजद्‌द्विजकुलेषु च ॥ ६ ॥ विजहार विगाह्याम्भो ह्रदिनीषु महोदय: । कुचकुङ्कुमलिप्ताङ्ग: परिरब्धश्च योषिताम् ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

śrī-śuka uvāca sukhaṁ sva-puryāṁ nivasan dvārakāyāṁ śriyaḥ patiḥ sarva-sampat-samṛddhāyāṁ juṣṭāyāṁ vṛṣṇi-puṅgavaiḥ strībhiś cottama-veṣābhir nava-yauvana-kāntibhiḥ kandukādibhir harmyeṣu krīḍantībhis taḍid-dyubhiḥ nityaṁ saṅkula-mārgāyāṁ mada-cyudbhir mataṅ-gajaiḥ sv-alaṅkṛtair bhaṭair aśvai rathaiś ca kanakojjvalaiḥ udyānopavanāḍhyāyāṁ puṣpita-druma-rājiṣu nirviśad-bhṛṅga-vihagair nāditāyāṁ samantataḥ reme ṣoḍaśa-sāhasra- patnīnāṁ eka-vallabhaḥ tāvad vicitra-rūpo ’sau tad-geheṣu maharddhiṣu protphullotpala-kahlāra- kumudāmbhoja-reṇubhiḥ vāsitāmala-toyeṣu kūjad-dvija-kuleṣu ca vijahāra vigāhyāmbho hradinīṣu mahodayaḥ kuca-kuṅkuma-liptāṅgaḥ parirabdhaś ca yoṣitām

Synonyms

śrī — śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said ; sukham — happily ; sva — in His own ; puryām — city ; nivasan — residing ; dvārakāyām — in Dvārakā ; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune ; patiḥ — the master ; sarva — all ; sampat — in opulent features ; samṛddhāyām — which was rich ; juṣṭāyām — populated ; vṛṣṇi — puṅgavaiḥ — by the most prominent of the Vṛṣṇis ; strībhiḥ — by women ; ca — and ; uttama — excellent ; veṣābhiḥ — whose dress ; nava — new ; yauvana — of youth ; kāntibhiḥ — whose beauty ; kanduka — ādibhiḥ — with balls and other toys ; harmyeṣu — on the rooftops ; krīḍantībhiḥ — playing ; taḍit — of lightning ; dyubhiḥ — whose effulgence ; nityam — always ; saṅkula — crowded ; mārgāyām — whose roads ; mada — cyudbhiḥ — exuding mada ; matam — intoxicated ; gajaiḥ — with elephants ; su — well ; alaṅkṛtaiḥ — ornamented ; bhaṭaiḥ — with foot-soldiers ; aśvaiḥ — horses ; rathaiḥ — chariots ; ca — and ; kanaka — with gold ; ujjvalaiḥ — brilliant ; udyāna — with gardens ; upavana — and parks ; āḍhyāyām — endowed ; puṣpita — flowering ; druma — of trees ; rājiṣu — which had rows ; nirviśat — entering (therein) ; bhṛṅga — by bees ; vihagaiḥ — and birds ; nāditāyām — filled with sound ; samantataḥ — on all sides ; reme — He enjoyed ; ṣoḍaśa — sixteen ; sāhasra — thousand ; patnīnām — of wives ; eka — the only ; vallabhaḥ — beloved ; tāvat — that many ; vicitra — variegated ; rūpaḥ — having personal forms ; asau — He ; tat — their ; geheṣu — in the residences ; mahā — ṛddhiṣu — richly furnished ; protphulla — blooming ; utpala — of water lilies ; kahlāra — white lotuses ; kumuda — night-blooming lotuses ; ambhoja — and day-blooming lotuses ; reṇubhiḥ — by the pollen ; vāsita — made aromatic ; amala — pure ; toyeṣu — in bodies of water ; kūjat — cooing ; dvija — of birds ; kuleṣu — where there were flocks ; ca — and ; vijahāra — He sported ; vigāhya — diving ; ambhaḥ — into the water ; hradinīṣu — in rivers ; mahā — udayaḥ — the all-powerful Lord ; kuca — from their breasts ; kuṅkuma — by the red cosmetic powder ; lipta — smeared ; aṅgaḥ — His body ; parirabdhaḥ — embraced ; ca — and ; yoṣitām — by the women .

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvamī said: The master of the goddess of fortune resided happily in His capital city, Dvārakā, which was endowed with all opulences and populated by the most eminent Vṛṣṇis and their gorgeously dressed wives. When these beautiful women in the bloom of youth would play on the city’s rooftops with balls and other toys, they shone like flashing lightning. The main streets of the city were always crowded with intoxicated elephants exuding mada, and also with cavalry, richly adorned infantrymen, and soldiers riding chariots brilliantly decorated with gold. Gracing the city were many gardens and parks with rows of flowering trees, where bees and birds would gather, filling all directions with their songs.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Śukadeva Gosvamī said: The master of the goddess of fortune resided happily in His capital city, Dvārakā, which was endowed with all opulences and populated by the most eminent Vṛṣṇis and their gorgeously dressed wives. When these beautiful women in the bloom of youth would play on the city's rooftops with balls and other toys, they shone like flashing lightning. The main streets of the city were always crowded with intoxicated elephants exuding mada, and also with cavalry, richly adorned infantrymen, and soldiers riding chariots brilliantly decorated with gold. Gracing the city were many gardens and parks with rows of flowering trees, where bees and birds would gather, filling all directions with their songs. Lord Kṛṣṇa was the sole beloved of His sixteen thousand wives. Expanding Himself into that many forms, He enjoyed with each of His queens in her own richly furnished residence. On the grounds of these palaces were clear ponds fragrant with the pollen of blooming utpala, kahlāra, kumuda and ambhoja lotuses and filled with flocks of cooing birds. The almighty Lord would enter those ponds, and also various rivers, and enjoy sporting in the water while His wives embraced Him, leaving the red kuṅkuma from their breasts smeared on His body. KB 10.90.1-7 The concluding portion of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes is found in the Ninetieth Chapter of the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and in this chapter Śukadeva Gosvāmī wanted to explain how Kṛṣṇa lived happily at Dvārakā with all opulences. Kṛṣṇa’s opulence of strength has already been displayed in His different pastimes, and now it will be shown how His residence at Dvārakā displayed His opulences of wealth and beauty. In this material world the opulences of wealth and beauty are considered the highest of all opulences, yet they are only a perverted reflection of these opulences in the spiritual world. Therefore, while Kṛṣṇa stayed on this planet as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His opulences of wealth and beauty had no comparison within the three worlds. Kṛṣṇa enjoyed sixteen thousand beautiful wives, and it is most significant that He lived at Dvārakā as the only husband of these thousands of beautiful women. This is specifically stated—that He was the only husband of sixteen thousand wives. It is of course not unheard of in the history of the world that a powerful king would keep many hundreds of queens, but although such a king might be the only husband of so many wives, he could not enjoy all of them at one time. Lord Kṛṣṇa, however, enjoyed all of His sixteen thousand wives simultaneously. Although it may be said that yogīs also can expand their bodies into many forms, the yogī’s expansion and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s expansion are not the same. Kṛṣṇa is therefore sometimes called Yogeśvara, the master of all yogīs. In the Vedic literature we find that the yogī Saubhari Muni expanded himself into eight. But that expansion was like a television expansion. The television image is manifested in millions of expansions, but those expansions cannot act differently; they are simply reflections of the original and can only act exactly as the original does. Kṛṣṇa’s expansion is not material, like the expansion of the television or the yogī. When Nārada visited the different palaces of Kṛṣṇa, he saw that Kṛṣṇa, in His different expansions, was variously engaged in each and every palace of the queens. It is also said that Kṛṣṇa lived in Dvārakā as the husband of the goddess of fortune. Queen Rukmiṇī is the goddess of fortune, and all the other queens are her expansions. So Kṛṣṇa, the chief of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty, enjoyed with the goddess of fortune in full opulence. The queens of Kṛṣṇa are described as permanently youthful and beautiful. Although Kṛṣṇa had grandchildren and great-grandchildren, neither Kṛṣṇa nor His queens looked older than sixteen or twenty years of age. The young queens were so beautiful that when they moved they appeared like lightning moving in the sky. They were always dressed with excellent ornaments and garments and were always engaged in sportive activities like dancing, singing or playing ball on the roofs of the palaces. The dancing and tennis playing of girls in the material world are perverted reflections of the original pastimes of the original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and His wives. The roads and streets of the city of Dvārakā were always crowded with elephants, horses, chariots and infantry soldiers. When elephants are engaged in service, they are given liquor to drink, and it is said that the elephants in Dvārakā were given so much liquor that they would sprinkle a great quantity of it on the road and still walk on the streets intoxicated. The infantry soldiers passing on the streets were profusely decorated with golden ornaments, and horses and golden chariots plied along the streets. In all directions of Dvārakā City, wherever one would turn his eyes he would find green parks and gardens, each of them filled with trees and plants laden with fruits and flowers. Because there were so many nice trees of fruits and flowers, all the sweetly chirping birds and buzzing bumblebees joined together to make sweet vibrations. The city of Dvārakā thus fully displayed all opulences. The heroes in the dynasty of Yadu used to think themselves the most fortunate residents of the city, and actually they enjoyed all transcendental facilities. All the sixteen thousand palaces of Kṛṣṇa’s queens were situated in this beautiful city of Dvārakā, and Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme eternal enjoyer of all these facilities, expanded Himself into sixteen thousand forms and simultaneously engaged in different family affairs in those sixteen thousand palaces. In each and every one of the palaces there were nicely decorated gardens and lakes. The crystal-clear water of the lakes contained many blooming lotus flowers of different colors, like blue, yellow, white and red, and the saffron powder from the lotus flowers was blown all around by the breeze. All the lakes were full of beautiful swans, ducks and cranes, crying occasionally with melodious sounds. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa sometimes entered those lakes or the rivers with His wives and enjoyed swimming pastimes with them in full jubilation. Sometimes the wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who were all goddesses of fortune, would embrace the Lord in the midst of the water while swimming or taking a bath, and the red vermilion of kuṅkuma decorating their beautiful breasts would adorn the chest of the Lord with a reddish color. The impersonalists would not dare believe that in the spiritual world there are such varieties of enjoyment, but in order to demonstrate the factual, ever-blissful enjoyment in the spiritual world, Lord Kṛṣṇa descended to this planet and showed that the spiritual world is not devoid of such pleasurable facilities of life. The only difference is that in the spiritual world such facilities are eternal, never-ending occurrences, whereas in the material world they are simply impermanent perverted reflections.

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa was the sole beloved of His sixteen thousand wives. Expanding Himself into that many forms, He enjoyed with each of His queens in her own richly furnished residence. On the grounds of these palaces were clear ponds fragrant with the pollen of blooming utpala, kahlāra, kumuda and ambhoja lotuses and filled with flocks of cooing birds. The almighty Lord would enter those ponds, and also various rivers, and enjoy sporting in the water while His wives embraced Him, leaving the red kuṅkuma from their breasts smeared on His body. . One rule of poetic composition practiced by Vaiṣṇava authors is madhureṇa samāpayet: “A literary work should conclude in a mood of special sweetness.” Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the most tasteful narrator of transcendental topics, has accordingly included in this last chapter of the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam a description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s water sports in the attractive setting of Dvārakā, followed by the rapturous prayers of the Lord’s queens.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

In the ninetieth chapter the symptoms of the queens’ love while they played water sports, the power of the yadavas and eternal nature of Krsna’s pastimes are described. According to the maxim "all things should end sweetly" Sukadeva describes the water sports of Krsna. But first as an stimulus (uddipana) for that, he describes the attractiveness of the city starting in the first verse. Krsna enjoyed in all those houses, which are described in detail in the first five verses. Having described the enjoyment in the houses, he then describes the enjoyment in the water. Krsna, enjoyed in the water which was fragrant and pure. Having described the pleasure in the ponds, he describes pastimes in the rivers. Embraced by the women (parirabdhah), he enjoyed in the water.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Concentrating his mind, Śukadeva remembers a special pastime filled with the highest happiness. This continues till the end of verse 24. First six verses describe his city, the city of Svayam Bhagavān. Thus the city was by its very nature most suitable for living joyfully and performing pastimes. He lived there continually (ni—vasan) since it was greater than Vaikuṇṭha. There he lived with his extraordinary consort Rukmiṇī (śriyaḥ patiḥ—master of Lakṣmī). More and more their details are then described. They had ever fresh beauty and youth that become increasing remarkable. Having described their beauty, their attractive gestures are described. They played with balls, and also sang and danced (ādibhiḥ). As they moved about while playing they appeared to be lightning decorating the sky. Having described the inhabitants of the palaces, Śukadeva then describes what was outside the palaces. There was always an army with four parts. In the crowded streets there were intoxicated elephants, soldiers, horses and chariots, all with decorations. The chariots shone remarkably with gold. The gardens are then described. The gardens resounded with the humming of bees and chirping of birds. Kṛṣṇa played intensely (reme). How? He played with sixteen thousand wives, while being a single husband. That is, simultaneously he pleased each individual wife. That was not impossible for him, since the one form manifested as many, as Nārada explained on visiting Dvārakā. Though the city was most attractive, the houses were even more attractive (mahārddhiṣu). In relation to water pastimes, Hari-vaṁśa gives the following description: aham iṣṭā mayā sārdhaṁ jale vasati keśavaḥ / iti tā menire sarvā nārāyaṇaparāḥ striyaḥ // sarvāḥ surata-cihnāṅgyaḥ sarvāḥ surata-tarpitāḥ / mānam ūhuś ca tāḥ sarvā govinde bahumānajam // aham iṣṭāham iṣṭeti snigdhe parijane tadā / nārāyaṇa-striyaḥ sarvā mudā śaślāghire śubhāḥ // ekārpitamano-dṛṣṭyo nerṣyā tāś cakrire 'ṅganāḥ // nārāyaṇena devena tarpyamāṇa-manorathāḥ // śirāṁsi garvitāny ūhuḥ sarvā niravaśeṣataḥ / vāllabhyaṁke śiva-mayaṁ vahantyaś cāru-darśanāḥ // All the devoted wives of Kṛṣṇa thought, “He desires me. He is with me in the water.” They were all marked with signs of lovemaking and satisfied with love. They were all proud that they were honored by Kṛṣṇa. “Kṛṣṇa desires me.” All the glories wives praised their good fortune with joy while their attendants rejoiced. The women glanced at him with devotion, never with hatred. All their desires were satisfied by Kṛṣṇa. They always carried their heads with pride. The beautiful women carried their auspicious husband in their attractive laps. Kahlāra are fragrant. Upala are white lotuses and kumuda are red. The Lord would enter those ponds, and also various rivers, and enjoy sporting in the water while his wives embraced him, leaving the red kuṅkuma from their breasts smeared on his body. He played in the spotless, fragrant water (previous verse). Mention of lakes indicates other water bodies also. Hari-vaṁśa says they also played in the ocean. The word mahodayaḥ (master) indicates that he was endowed all materials necessary for playing in the water. kāścit kāṣṭha-mayais teruḥ plavaiḥ sarvāṅga-śobhanāḥ / krauñca-barhiṇa-nāgānām ākāra-sadṛśaiḥ striyaḥ // makarākṛtibhiś cānyā mīnābhair api cāparāḥ / bahu-rūpākṛti-dharaiḥ pupluvuś cāparāḥ striyaḥ // naubhir gṛha-prakārābhiś cikrīḍur aparājitāḥ / snātānulipta-muditāḥ sāyāhne 'ndhaka-vṛṣṇayaḥ // āyatāś caturasrāś ca vṛttāś ca svastikās tathā / prāsādā nauṣu kauravya vihitā viśvakarmaṇā // Bhakṣya-bhojyāni peyāni coṣyaṁ lehyaṁ tathaica ca / bahuprakāraṁ manasā dhyāte teṣāṁ bhavaty uta // nārāyaṇājñayā vṛkṣāḥ puṣpāṇi mumucur bhṛśam / ṛtavaś cānurūpāṇi vihāyasi gatās tadā // vavau manoharo vāto rati-kheda-haraḥ sukhaḥ / rajobhiḥ sarva-puṣpāṇāṁ yuktaś candana-śaityabhṛt // śītoṣṇam icchatāṁ tatra babhūva vasudhāpate / vāsudevaprasādena bhaumānāṁ krīḍatāṁ tadā // uvāha sarva-gandhāḍhyaṁ svacchaṁ vāri mahodadhiḥ / toyaṁ cālavaṇaṁ vīra vāsudevasya śāsanāt // gulpha-daghnaṁ jānu-daghnam ūru-daghnam athāpi vā / nāryas tāḥ stana-daghnaṁ vā jalaṁ samabhikāṅkṣitam // Some beautiful women crossed the water in wood boats. Some dressed up as ospreys, peacocks, and elephants. Others resembled makaras or fish. Other women bathed in the water with many forms. The unsurpassable women played in the water using house boats. Joyful with playing in the water the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis stayed there till evening. Viśvakarmā made square and round palaces in the boats. Just by meditating, foods to be chewed, licked, drunk and sucked appeared in many varieties. By the order of the Lord, flowers blossomed in profusion. The seasons appeared at suitable times. Pleasant breezes, cool as sandalwood, which gave relief from fatigue of love making, carrying flower pollen, blew in the sky. It became hot or cold by the desire of those playing, by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. The ocean was filled with clear, fragrant water. It became saltless by the order of Kṛṣṇa. The women went into the desirable water up to their calves, to their knees, to their thighs, and to their breasts.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

The supreme goal, the happiness of his pastimes is described now, at the end of the work, in twelve verses. He lived happily in his city (sva-puryām), at all times (ni-vasan). That place was suitable of living happily. It was greater than Vaikuṇṭha for living happily. It was even the happy residence of Mahālakṣmī for he was the husband of Lakṣmī (śriyaḥ patiḥ). It was endowed with increasing wealth of all types. Or this explains the reason for living happily there. Or he was the protector of Rukmiṇī (śriyaḥ patiḥ), by special, suitable pastimes, manifesting more unlimited qualities and forms than previously according to the Lord’s will. The city continually increased all wealth in newer ways, greater than in Vaikuṇṭha. The city was served by women, who were more attracdtive than the women of Vaikuṇṭha, having excellent ornaments and new youthful beauty, or beauty and youth which were more extraordinary than previously (nava). Next their skill is described. They played ball on the roofs. They also sang and danced. They were golden in complexion. Or kāntibhiḥ describes their complexion and their playing was fickle like lightning. Having described the inhabitants of the palaces, Śukadeva then describes what was outside the palaces. There was always an army with four parts. In the crowded streets there were intoxicated elephants, soldiers, horses and chariots, all with decorations. The chariots shone remarkably with gold. The gardens are then described. Udyāna means gardend with prominence of flowers. Upavana means groves with prominence of fruits. The city was endowed with these gardens. The place was filled in all directions with the sounds of birds and bees which entered into or lived in the groups of flowering trees. Kṛṣṇa played intensely (reme). How? He played with sixteen thousand wives, while being a single husband. That is, simultaneously he pleased each individual wife. That was not impossible for him since he has special powers. In relation to water pastimes, Hari-vaṁśa gives the following description: aham iṣṭā mayā sārdhaṁ jale vasati keśavaḥ / iti tā menire sarvā nārāyaṇaparāḥ striyaḥ // sarvāḥ surata-cihnāṅgyaḥ sarvāḥ surata-tarpitāḥ / mānam ūhuś ca tāḥ sarvā govinde bahumānajam // aham iṣṭāham iṣṭeti snigdhe parijane tadā / nārāyaṇa-striyaḥ sarvā mudā śaślāghire śubhāḥ // ekārpitamano-dṛṣṭyo nerṣyā tāś cakrire 'ṅganāḥ // nārāyaṇena devena tarpyamāṇa-manorathāḥ // śirāṁsi garvitāny ūhuḥ sarvā niravaśeṣataḥ / vāllabhyaṁke śiva-mayaṁ vahantyaś cāru-darśanāḥ // All the devoted wives of Kṛṣṇa thought, “He desires me. He is with me in the water.” They were all marked with signs of lovemaking and satisfied with love. They were all proud that they were honored by Kṛṣṇa. “Kṛṣṇa desires me.” All the glorious wives praised their good fortune with joy while their attendants rejoiced. The women glanced at him with devotion, never with hatred. All their desires were satisfied by Kṛṣṇa. They always carried their heads with pride. The beautiful women carried auspiciousness in their attractive bodies. He enjoyed in houses endowed with all perfections (maharddhiṣu). Though it was already mentioned that the city had ever increasing wealth, unlimited wealth is mentioned here in relation to the houses particularly. In the ponds within the palaces was pure water endowed with fragrance from pollen of fully blossoming lotuses: fragrant ones, white ones and red ones. In the houses flocks of doves chirped. Or the verse can be connected with the next verse where it is described that Kṛṣṇa played in the water.