ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಕರ್ಣಾಮೃತಮ್, ೨:೧-೨೫

SRIKRISHNA KARNAMRUTAM - ASHWASA ೨ (SLOKAS ೧ TO ೨೫) 

                  Srikrishna Karnamrutham



Srikrishna Karnamrutham is a beautiful devotional poem authored by Bilwamangala Swami, also known as Lila Shuka because of his descriptions of the leelas of Krishna in the same manner in which Suka described it to Parikshit.   Lila Suka has painted vivid word picutres of the leelas of Krishna as a child, as an adolescent boy and as a lover. The work contains ೩೨೮ verses in three aashwasas (or sargas, chapters). Throughout the book the undercurrent is loving devotion to Krishna who is regarded as the plenary incarnation of Mahavishnu, the purely sattwic aspect of brahman, the Ultimate reality.  It is said that Chaitanya mahaprabhu was acquainted with this work and he greatly appreciated it.

Given below are slokas ೧ to ೨೫ of the second ashwasa with a prosaic translation in English.  



ಅಭಿನವನವನೀತಸ್ನಿಗ್ಧಮಾಪೀತದುಗ್ಧಂ

ದಧಿಕಣಪರಿದಿಗ್ಧಂ ಮುಗ್ಧಮಂಗಂ ಮುರಾರೇಃ| 

ದಿಶತು ಭುವನಕೃಚ್ಛ್ರಚ್ಛೇದಿ ತಾಪಿಂಛಗುಚ್ಛ-

ಚ್ಛವಿ ನವಶಿಖಿಪಿಂಛಲಾಂಛಿತಂ ವಾಂಛಿತಂ ನಃ|| ೧|| 



May Lord Krishna grant us our wishes; Krishna whose pretty body, nurtured by drinking milk, is as smooth as freshly prepared butter and is smeared all over with drops of curd, which destroys the suffering of the three worlds, which is dark blue as the tapinjha flowers and is adorned with the fresh plumes of peacock.





ಯಾಂ ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ಯಮುನಾಂ ಪಿಪಾಸುರನಿಶಂ ವ್ಯೂಹೋ ಗವಾಂ ಗಾಹತೇ

ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ವಾನಿತಿ ನೀಲಕಂಠನಿವಹೋ ಯಾಂ ದ್ರಷ್ಟುಮುತ್ಕಂಠತೇ | 

ಉತ್ತಂಸಾಯ ತಮಾಲಪಲ್ಲವಮಿತಿ ಛಿಂದಂತಿ ಯಂ ಗೋಪಿಕಾಃ

ಕಾಂತಿಃ ಕಾಲಿಯಶಾಸನಸ್ಯ ವಪುಷಃ ಸಾ ಪಾವನೀ ಪಾತು ನಃ|| ೨.೨|| 



(The dark complexion of Krishna causes confusion in the minds of cows who, thinking that it is the river Yamuna (which is also dark) enter it urged by thirst. The peacocks think that it is a dark cloud and are raring to see it.  The milkmaids think it is the tender leaf of the tamala tree and plucks it to adorn their hair. May that purifying luster of the discipliner of Kaliya (Krishna) protect us.

ದೇವಃ ಪಾಯಾತ್ ಪಯಸಿ ವಿಮಲೇ ಯಾಮುನೇ ಮಜ್ಜತೀನಾಂ

ಯಾಚಂತೀನಾಮನುನಯಪದೈರ್ವಂಚಿತಾನ್ಯಂಶುಕಾನಿ| 

ಲಜ್ಜಾಲೋಲೈರಲಸವಿಲಸೈರುನ್ಮಿಷತ್ಪಂಚಬಾಣೈಃ

ಗೋಪಸ್ತ್ರೀಣಾಂ ನಯನಕುಸುಮೈರರ್ಚಿತಃ ಕೇಶವೋ ನಃ || ೨.೩|| 



May Keshava (Krishna) protect us who is worshipped by the eye-flowers of the milkmaids whose robes had been taken away while they were bathing in the pure waters of the Yamuna and, embarrassed and stricken by love, they were persuading and entreating him to give back their clothes.



ಮಾತರ್ನಾತಃಪರಮನುಚಿತಂ ಯತ್ ಖಲಾನಾಂ ಪುರಸ್ತಾ-

ದಸ್ತಾಶಂಕಂ ಜಠರ ಪಿಠರೀಪೂರ್ತಯೇ ನರ್ತಿತಾಸಿ  | 

ತತ್ ಕ್ಷಂತವ್ಯಂ ಸಹಜಸರಲೇ ವತ್ಸಲೇ ವಾಣಿ ಕುರ್ಯಾಂ

ಪ್ರಾಯಶ್ಚಿತ್ತಂ ಗುಣಗಣನಯಾ ಗೋಪವೇಷಸ್ಯ ವಿಷ್ಣೋಃ|| ೨.೪|| 



O Mother Vani (Goddess of Learning)!  We have been making you dance ( composing verses of praise) before wicked kings just for the sake of filling our stomachs.  Now we have understood that it is not proper and we should not do it any more.  You are very affectionate  and by nature you are very simple.  Please forgive us.  We shall atone for this misbehavior by praising the qualities of Lord Vishnu incarnated in the guise of a gopa





ಅಂಗುಲ್ಯಗ್ರೈರರುಣಕಿರಣೈರ್ಮುಕ್ತಸಂರುದ್ಧರಂಧ್ರಂ

ವಾರಂ ವಾರಂ ವದನಮರುತಾ ವೇಣುಮಾಪೂರಯಂತಂ| 

ವ್ಯತ್ಯಸ್ತಾಂಘ್ರಿಂ ವಿಕಚಕಮಲಚ್ಛಾಯವಿಸ್ತಾರಿನೇತ್ರಂ

ವಂದೇ ವೃಂದಾವನಸುಚರಿತಂ ನಂದಗೋಪಾಲಸೂನಂ || ೨.೫|| 



I bow to the son of Nandagopa (Krishna),  who created history for Vrindavana, who alternately opens and closes the holes in his flute with his fingertips the nails of which radiate rays of red colour, who again and again fills the flute with the air from his mouth, whose posture is with his legs crossed and whose eyes are wide resembling the petals a of blooming lotus.



ಮಂದಂ ಮಂದಂ ಮಧುರನಿನದೈರ್ವೇಣುಮಪೂರಯಂತಂ

ವೃಂದಂ ವೃಂದಾವನಭುವಿ ಗವಾಂ ಚಾರಯಂತಂ ಚರಂತಂ| 

ಛಂದೋಭಾಗೇ ಶತಮಖಮಖಧ್ವಂಸಿನಾಂ ದಾನವಾನಾಂ

ಹಂತಾರಂ ತಂ ಕಥಯ ರಸನೇ ಗೋಪಕನ್ಯಾಭುಜಂಗಂ || ೨.೬|| 





O tongue!  Chant the names of Krishna who slowly and slowly fills his flute with sweet melodies, who grazes the herd of cows in Vrindavan, who strolls in the Upanishads (i.e. he is talked about in the Upanishads), who kills the demons who put obstacles in the sacrifices performed by Indra and who rests in  the arms of the gopis of Vridavan.



ವೇಣೀಮೂಲೇ ವಿರಚಿತ ಘನಶ್ಯಾಮಪಿಂಛಾವಚೂಡೋ

ವಿದ್ಯುಲ್ಲೇಖಾವಲಯಿತ ಇವ ಸ್ನಿಗ್ಧಪೀತಾಂಬರೇಣ| 

ಮಾಮಾಲಿಂಗನ್ಮರತಕಮಣಿಸ್ತಂಭಗಂಭೀರಬಾಹುಃ

ಸ್ವಪ್ನೇ ದೃಷ್ಟಸ್ತರುಣತುಲಸೀಭೂಷಣೋ ನೀಲಮೇಘಃ || ೨.೭|| 



I  dreamed Krishna embracing me with his majestic hands resembling pillars of emerald, wearing garlands of fresh tulsi leaves and his complexion dark as the clouds. His hair was adorned with peacock plumes dark as the cloud and he was wearing bright yellow robes which gave the impression that he was enveloped by streaks of lightning.







ಕ್ರುಷ್ಣೇ ಹೃತ್ವಾ ಸಿಚಯ ನಿಚಯಂ ಕೂಲಕುಂಜಾಧಿರೂಢೇ

ಮುಗ್ದ್ಧಾ ಕಾಚಿನ್ಮುಹುರನುನಯೈಃ ಕಿನ್ವಿತಿ ವ್ಯಾಹರಂತೀ| 

ಸಭ್ರೂಭಂಗಂ ಸದರಹಸಿತಂ ಸತ್ರಪಂ ಸಾನುರಾಗಂ

ಛಾಯಾಶೌರೇಃ ಕರತಲಗತಾನ್ಯಂಬರಾಣ್ಯಾಚಕರ್ಷ|| ೨.೮|| 



When Krishna took the robes of the gopis (milkmaids) and went up a tree on the banks of the river, one innocent gopi,  saying it was no use making requests, started pulling the clothes from the hands of Krishna’s shadow reflected in the Yamuna,  with her brows arched and a smile on her face,  overcome by shyness and love.



ಅಪಿ ಜನುಷಿ ಪರಸ್ಮಿನ್ನಾತ್ತಪುಣ್ಯೋ ಭವೇಯಂ

ತಟಭುವಿ ಯಮುನಾಯಾಸ್ತಾದೃಶೋ ವಂಶನಾಲಃ | 

ಅನುಭವತಿ ಯ ಏಷಃ ಶ್ರೀಮದಾಭೀರಸೂನೋ-

ರಧರಮಣಿಸಮೀಪನ್ಯಾಸಧನ್ಯಾಮವಸ್ಥಾಂ|| | ೨.೯|| 

Let me earn enough merit (by doing good things) and in my next incarnation take birth on the banks of the Yamuna as a bamboo tree from the like of which is made Krishna’s flute which experiences the joy of being placed on the lips of Krishna.



ಅಯಿ ಪರಿಚಿನು ಚೇತಃ ಪ್ರಾತರಂಭೋಜನೇತ್ರಂ

ಕಬರಕಲಿತಚಂಚತ್ ಪಿಂಛದಾಮಾಭಿರಾಮಂ| 

ವಲಭಿದುಪಲನೀಲಂ ವಲ್ಲವೀ ಭಾಗಧೇಯಂ

ನಿಖಿಲನಿಗಮವಲ್ಲೀಮೂಲಕಂದಂ ಮುಕುಂದಂ || ೨.೧೦|| 



O Mind! Meditate on the form of Mukunda with eyes beautiful as the lotus at sunrise, hair prettily done with a garland of peacock plumes,  complexion

dark blue as the sapphire, the good fortune of the Gopis and the root of all the Vedas which are like creepers





ಅಯಿ ಮುರಲಿ ಮುಕುಂದಸ್ಮೇರವಕ್ತ್ರಾರವಿಂದ-

ಶ್ವಸನಮಧುರಸಜ್ಞೇ ತ್ವಾಂ ಪ್ರಣಮ್ಯಾದ್ಯ ಯಾಚೇ | 

ಅಧರಮಣಿಸಮೀಪಂ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತವತ್ಯಾಂ ಭವತ್ಯಾಂ

ಕಥಯ ರಹಸಿ ಕರ್ಣೇ ಮದ್ದಶಾಂ ನಂದಸೂನೋಃ|| ೧೧|| 



O  Murali! You have experienced the sweetness of the breath from the smiling lotus face of Mukunda (Krishna). I prostrate before you and beg of you this: When you reach near the jewel like lips of Krishna secretly whisper in the ears of the son of Nanda my miserable state because of the separation from him. 



ಸಜಲಜಲದನೀಲಂ ವಲ್ಲವೀಕೇಲಿಲೋಲಂ

ಶ್ರಿತಸುರತರುಮೂಲಂ ವಿದ್ಯುದುಲ್ಲಾಸಿಚೇಲಂ| 

ಸುರರಿಪುಕುಲಕಾಲಂ ಸನ್ಮನೋಬಿಂಬಲೀಲಂ

ನುತಸುರಮುನಿಜಾಲಂ ನೌಮಿ ಗೋಪಾಲಬಾಲಂ || ೧೨|| 



I bow to krishna, child of Nandagopa, dark as the water-laden cloud, interested in playful activities with the cowherd belles, resting under the celestial wish-giving tree,  wearing clothes bright as lightning, death to the enemies of the denizens of heaven, playing in the hearts of the good and saintly people and eulogized by the celestials and hermits.   



ಅಧರಬಿಂಬವಿಡಂಬಿತವಿದ್ರುಮಂ

ಮಧುರವೇಣುನಿನಾದವಿನೋದಿನಂ

ಕಮಲಕೋಮಲಕಮ್ರಮುಖಾಂಬುಜಂ

ಕಮಪಿ ಗೋಪಕುಮಾರಮುಪಾಸ್ಮಹೇ || ೧೩|| 



We worship and meditate on some child of a gopa whose lips resemble corals, who revels in the sweet music from the flute and who has a handsome face soft and pretty as the lotus.



ಅಧರೇ ವಿನಿವೇಶ್ಯ ವಂಶನಾಲಂ

ವಿವರಾಣ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಸಲೀಲಮಂಗುಲೀಭಿಃ

ಮುಹುರಂತರಯನ್ಮುಹುರ್ವಿವೃಣ್ವನ್

ಮಧುರಂ ಗಾಯತಿ ಮಾಧವೋ ವನಾಂತೇ || ೧೪|| 

Placing the flute on the lower lip and playfully now closing and now opening its holes alternately with his fingers, Madhava sings sweetly in the forests of Vrindavan



ವದನೇ ನವನೀತಗಂಧವಾಹಂ

ವಚನೇ ತಸ್ಕರಚಾತುರೀಧುರೀಣಂ | 

ನಯನೇ ಕುಹನಾಶ್ರುಮಾಶ್ರಯೇಥಾ-

ಶ್ಚರಣೇ ಕೋಮಲತಾಂಡವಂ ಕುಮಾರಂ|| ೨.೧೫|| 

Take refuge in the child Krishna whose mouth smells of fresh butter, whose speech is that of clever thieves, whose eyes are full of fake tears and whose feet are capable of beautiful dance.



ಅಮುನಾಖಿಲಗೋಪಗೋಪನಾರ್ಥಂ

ಯಮುನಾರೋಧಸಿ ನಂದನಂದನೇನ| 

ದಮುನಾವನಸಂಭವಃ ಪಪೇ ನಃ

ಕಿಮು ನಾಸೌ ಶರಣಾರ್ಥಿನಾಂ ಶರಣ್ಯಃ || ೧೬|| 



By this son of Nanda, Krishna, the forest fire on the banks of the Yamuna was swallowed in order to protect all the cowherds.  Is he not one in whom people can seek refuge when they need refuge?  



ಜಗದಾದರಣೀಯಜಾರಭಾವಂ

ಜಲಜಾಪತ್ಯವಚೋವಿಚಾರಗಮ್ಯಂ| 

ತನುತಾಂ ತನುತಾಂ ಶಿವೇತರಾಣಾಂ

ಸುರನಾಥೋಪಲಸುಂದರಂ ಮಹೋ ನಃ || ೧೭|| 



May that effulgence (Krishna) radiant as the blue gem stone,   whose status as the paramour of the gopis has got the approval of the world and  who can be attained by reflecting and meditating on the thoughts of Brahma, destroy everything that is not auspicious.





ಯಾ ಶೇಖರೇ ಶ್ರುತಿಗಿರಾಂ ಹೃದಿ ಯೋಗಭಾಜಾಂ

ಪಾದಾಂಬುಜೇ ಚ ಸುಲಭಾ ವ್ರಜಸುಂದರೀಣಾಂ | 

ಸಾ ಕಾಽಪಿ ಸರ್ವಜಗತಾಮಭಿರಾಮಸೀಮಾ

ಕಾಮಾಯ ನೋ ಭವತು ಗೋಪಕಿಶೋರಮೂರ್ತಿಃ || ೨.೧೮|| 

That which is at the top of vedic texts, in the heart of the Yogis and at the lotus-feet of the beauties of Vraja and is the very acme of all that is beautiful in this world, may that in the form of Krishna, the young cowherd boy, fulfill all our desires.



ಅತ್ಯಂತಬಾಲಮತಸೀಕುಸುಮಪ್ರಕಾಶಂ

ದಿಗ್ವಾಸಸಂ ಕನಕಭೂಷಣಭೂಷಿತಾಂಗಂ| 

ವಿಸ್ರಸ್ತಕೇಶಮರುಣಾಧರಮಾಯತಾಕ್ಷಂ

ಕೃಷ್ಣಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಶಿರಸಾ ವಸುದೇವಸೂನುಂ || ೨.೧೯|| 



I prostrate before Krishna, son of Vasudeva, who is a little baby, who has a dark blue radiance like that of the atasi flower, who has only the eight directions as clothes, who is adorned by golden ornaments, whose hair is scattered ,whose lips are red and eyes are wide.



ಹಸ್ತಾಂಘ್ರಿಕ್ವಣಿತ ಕಂಕಣಕಿಂಕಿಣೀಕಂ

ಮಧ್ಯೇನಿತಂಬಮವಲಂಬಿತಹೇಮಸೂತ್ರಂ| 

ಮುಕ್ತಾಕಲಾಪಮುಕುಲೀಕೃತಕಾಕಪಕ್ಷಂ

ವಂದಾಮಹೇ ವ್ರಜಚರಂ ವಸುದೇವಭಾಗ್ಯಂ|| ೨೦|| 



We worship Krishna who wanders in Vraja, who is the good fortune of Vasudeva,  whose bracelets and anklets in the hands and feet make sweet tinkling sound,  who has a golden thread tied around his hips and whose hair is tied together by a string of pearls 



ವೃಂದಾವನಂದ್ರುಮತಲೇಷು ಗವಾಂ ಗಣೇಷು

ವೇದಾವಸಾನಸಮಯೇಷು ಚ ದೃಶ್ಯತೇ ಯತ್ | 

ತದ್ವೇಣುವಾದನಪರಂ ಶಿಖಿಪಿಂಛಚೂಡಂ

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಸ್ಮರಾಮಿ ಕಮಲೇಕ್ಷಣಮಭ್ರನೀಲಂ || ೨. ೨೧|| 



That which is seen underneath the trees of Vrindavan, in the group of cows, in the concluding portions of Vedas (Upanishads) -  on that Brahman  I meditate visualising it as playing the flute, sporting a peacock feather on its head, with lotus-like eyes and dark-blue complexion of the water-charged clouds.



ವ್ಯತ್ಯಸ್ತಪಾದಮವತಂಸಿತಬರ್ಹಿಬರ್ಹಂ

ಸಾಚೀಕೃತಾನನನಿವೇಶಿತವೇಣುರಂಧ್ರಂ | 

ತೇಜಃ ಪರಂ ಪರಮಕಾರುಣಿಕಂ ಪುರಸ್ತಾತ್

ಪ್ರಾಣಪ್ರಯಾಣಸಮಯೇ ಮಮ ಸನ್ನಿಧತ್ತಾಂ || ೨. ೨೨|| 



May the  resplendent form of Krishna, full of compassion and kindness,  with legs crossed,  peacock feather adorning the head,  the hole of the flute placed at the lips and with face slightly tilted to the side,  be at my bedside when life is ebbing out of this body



ಘೋಷಪ್ರಘೋಷಶಮನಾಯ ಮಥೋಗುಣೇನ

ಮಧ್ಯೇ ಬಬಂಧ ಜನನೀ ನವನೀತಚೋರಂ| 

ತತ್ಬಂಧನಂ ತ್ರಿಜಗತಾಮುದರಾಶ್ರಯಾಣಾ-

ಮಾಕ್ರೋಶಕಾರಣಮಹೋ ನಿತರಾಂ ಬಭೂವ || ೨.೨೩|| 



To pacify the gopis who complained against the mischief of Krishna who stole fresh butter, the mother tied him in the stomach with the rope used for churning curd.  That knot on the stomach caused much discomfort to the living beings of the three worlds in his stomach.





ಶೈವಾ ವಯಂ ನ ಖಲು ತತ್ರ ವಿಚಾರಣೀಯಂ

ಪಂಚಾಕ್ಷರೀಜಪಪರಾ ನಿತರಾಂ ತಥಾಪಿ| 

ಚೇತೋಮದೀಯಮತಸೀಕುಸುಮಾವಭಾಸಂ’

ಸ್ಮೇರಾನನಂ ಸ್ಮರತಿ ಗೋಪವಧೂಕಿಶೋರಂ || ೨೪|| 



We are shaivites, there is no doubt about it and we do very much chant the  panchakshari mantra. In spite of this our minds always remember the child of  Yashoda with his smiling face and his shining  dark blue colour like that of the atasi  flower.   



ರಾಧಾ ಪುನಾತು ಜಗದಚ್ಯುತದತ್ತಚಿತ್ತಾ

ಮಂಥಾನಮಾಕಲಯತಿ ದಧಿರಿಕ್ತಪಾತ್ರೇ | 

ತ್ತಸ್ಯಾಃ ಸ್ತನಸ್ತಬಕಚಂಚಲಲೋಲದೃಷ್ಟಿಃ

ದೇವೋಪಿ ದೋಹನಧಿಯಾ ವೃಷಭಂ ನಿರುಂಧನ್|| ೨. ೨೫|| 



May this world be purified by Radha who, her heart completely with Krishna, is churning the curd in the pot unaware that the pot is empty.   Krishna, with his roving eyes watching the movement of Radha’s breasts while she churns,  prepares to milk the cow unaware that what he had brought for milking was a bull. [Each one’s heart is thinking of the other completely forgetting what they are doing]