ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಕರ್ಣಾಮೃತಮ್, ೩:೧-೨೫

SRIKRISHNAKARNAMRUTAM -ASHWASA ೩ (SLOKAS ೧-೨೫) 

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 third ashwasa with a prosaic translation in English.

ಅಸ್ತಿ ಸ್ವಸ್ತ್ಯಯನಂ ಸಮಸ್ತಜಗತಾಮಭ್ಯಸ್ತಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಸ್ತನಂ
ವಸ್ತು ಧ್ವಸ್ತರಜಸ್ತಮೋಭಿರನಿಶಂ ನ್ಯಸ್ತಂ ಪುರಸ್ತಾದಿವ| 
ಹಸ್ತೋದಸ್ತಗಿರೀಂದ್ರಮಸ್ತಕತರುಪ್ರಸ್ತಾರವಿಸ್ತಾರಿತ-
ಸ್ರಸ್ತಸ್ವಸ್ತರುಸೂನಸಂಸ್ತರಲಸತ್ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾವಿ ರಾಧಾಸ್ತುತಂ || ೩.೧|| 


There exists something which does good to all the worlds. It is at home with the breasts of Lakshmi. It reveals itself, as if placed before the eyes, to those who have overcome their rajasic and tamasic tendencies. It shines from the heap of flowers which fell from the wish-giving trees on the top of the Govardhana mountain when it was lifted up by its hand and it is praised and prayed to by Radha

ರಾಧಾರಾಧಿತವಿಭ್ರಮಾದ್ಭುತರಸಂ ಲಾವಣ್ಯರತ್ನಾಕರಂ
ಸಾಧಾರಣ್ಯಪದವ್ಯತೀತಸಹಜಸ್ಮೇರಾನನಾಂಭೋರುಹಂ| 
ಆಲಂಬೇ ಹರಿನೀಲಗರ್ವಗುರುತಾಸರ್ವಸ್ವನಿರ್ವಾಪಣಂ
ಬಾಲಂ ವೈಣವಿಕಂ ವಿಮುಗ್ಧಮಧುರಂ ಮೂರ್ಧಾಭಿಷಿಕ್ತಂ ಮಹಃ || ೩.೨|| 

I rely entirely on that acme of effulgence in the form of a child which plays the flute, which is worshipped by Radha, which is full of wonderful sweet things and is an ocean of beauty, which has lotus-like face lighted up by a natural smile more beautiful than the ordinary and whose dark blue complexion defeats the brilliance of the sapphire stone.

ಕರಿಣಾಮಲಂಘ್ಯಗತಿವೈಭವಂ ಭಜೇ
ಕರುಣಾವಲಂಬಿತಕಿಶೋರವಿಗ್ರಹಂ| 
ಯಮಿನಾಮನಾರತವಿಹಾರಿ ಮಾನಸೇ
ಯಮುನಾವನಾಂತರಸಿಕಂ ಪರಂ ಮಹಃ || ೩.೩|| 

I worship that supreme effulgence the gait of which the elephant cannot match, which mercifully has taken on the form of a child, which always revels in the minds and hearts of sages and which loves the forests on the banks of the river Yamuna.

ಅಯಂತ್ರಿತತ್ರಿಜಗದಪಿ ವ್ರಜಾಂಗನಾ-
ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿತಂ  ವಿಪುಲವಿಲೋಚನಾಜ್ಞಯಾ
ನಿರಂತರಂ ಮಮ ಹೃದಯೇ ವಿಜೃಂಭತಾಂ
ಸಮಂತತಃ ಸರಸತರಂ ಪರಂ ಮಹಃ || ೩.೪|| 

May that supreme effulgence which spreads sweetness all around,  which controls the three worlds but itself is controlled by the command of the wide eyes (of the belles of vraja), forever surge in my heart.


ಕಂದರ್ಪಪ್ರತಿಮಲ್ಲಕಾಂತಿವಿಭವಂ ಕಾದಂಬಿನೀಬಾಂಧವಂ
ವೃಂದಾರಣ್ಯವಿಲಾಸಿನೀವ್ಯಸನಿನಂ ವೇಷೇಣ ಭೂಷಾಮಯಂ | 
ಮಂದಸ್ಮೇರಮುಖಾಂಬುಜಂ ಮಧುರಿಮವ್ಯಾಮೃಷ್ಟಬಿಂಬಾಧರಂ
ವಂದೇ ಕಂದಲಿತಾರ್ದ್ರಯೌವನವನಂ ಕೈಶೋರಕಂ ಶಾರ್ಂಗಿಣಃ || ೩.೫|| 

I bow to the budding youthful adolescence of Vishnu ( whose weapon is the Sharnga bow) in the form of Krishna whose beauty competes with that of the god of Love, whose complexion is dark as the cloud,  who is interested in the beautiful damsels of Vrindavan, who is adorned with gold and diamond jewelry, whose lotus-face sports a smile and whose sweet lips are red as the bimba fruit.  

ಆಮುಕ್ತಮಾನುಷಮಮುಕ್ತನಿಜಾನುಭಾವ-
ಮಾರೂಢಯೌವನಮಗೂಢವಿದಗ್ಧಲೀಲಂ| 
ಆಮೃಷ್ಟಯೌವನಮನಷ್ಟಕಿಶೋರಭಾವ-
ಮಾದ್ಯಂ ಮಹಃ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಮಾದ್ಯತಿ ಮಾನಸಂ ಮೇ || ೩.೬|| 

My mind is intoxicated by that primeval effulgence which has taken a human form but is rooted in its divinity, which has entered the phase of youth but still its childish playfulness is patent,  which is in its in flowering youth but has not lost its childishness.

ತೇ ತೇ ಭಾವಾಃ ಸಕಲಜಗತೀಲೋಭನೀಯಪ್ರಭಾವಾಃ
ನಾನಾತೃಷ್ಣಾಸುಹೃದಿ ಹೃದಿ ಮೇ ಕಾಮಮಾವಿರ್ಭವಂತು| 
ಲೀಲಾವೇಣುಕ್ವಣಿತಲಸಿತಸ್ಮೇರವಕ್ತ್ರಾರವಿಂದಾ-
ನ್ನಾಹಂ ಜಾನೇ ಮಧುರಮಪರಂ ನಂದಪುಣ್ಯಾಂಬುರಾಶೇಃ || ೩.೭|| 

Let all those emotions and feelings which have the power to tempt and different kinds of desires arise in my mind. But I do not know anything sweeter than the lotus face of the ocean of punya of Nanda (Krishna),  lit by a bright smile and shining by the melodies of the playful flute.   

ಸುಕೃತಿಭಿರಾದೃತೇ ಸರಸವೇಣುನಿನಾದಸುಧಾ-
ರಸಲಹರೀವಿಹಾರನಿರವಗ್ರಹಕರ್ಣಪುಟೇ| 
ವ್ರಜವರಸುಂದರೀಮುಖಸರೋರುಹಸಾರಸಿಕೇ
ಮಹಸಿ ಕದಾ ನು ಮಜ್ಜತಿ ಮದೀಯಮಿದಂ ಹೃದಯಂ|| ೩.೮|| 

When will my heart be immersed in the effulgence which is honoured by all those who have done meritorious deeds, which has ears which revel in the waves of sweet music from the flute,  which is a bee that drinks honey from the lotus faces of the pretty belles of Vraja.  


ತೃಷ್ಣಾತುರೇ ಚೇತಸಿ ವಿಜೃಂಭಮಾಣಂ
ಮುಷ್ಣನ್ಮುಹುರ್ಮೋಹಮಹಾಂಧಕಾರಂ| 
ಪುಷ್ಣಾತು ನಃ ಪುಣ್ಯದಯೈಕಸಿಂಧೋಃ
ಕೃಷ್ಣಸ್ಯ ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಕಟಾಕ್ಷಕೇಲಿಃ || ೩.೯|| 

May the merciful and playful side long glances of Krishna who is an ocean of good deeds and compassion nurture us and steal the surging darkness of attachment  and delusion from our minds which is afflicted by greed.  

ನಿಖಿಲಾಗಮಮೌಲಿಲಾಲಿತಂ
ಪದಕಮಲಂ ಪರಮಸ್ಯ ತೇಜಸಃ| 
ವ್ರಜಭುವಿ ಬಹು ಮನ್ಮಹೇತರಾಂ
ಸರಸಕರೀಷವಿಶೇಷರೂಷಿತಂ || ೩.೧೦|| 

I greatly respect the lotus-like feet of the divine God celebrated by the top most part of Vedas, searched by great yogis with great effort and found in the wet cow dung all over Vraja.

ಉದಾರಮೃದುಲಸ್ಮಿತವ್ಯತಿಕರಾಭಿರಾಮಾನನಂ
ಮುದಾ ಮುಹುರುದೀರ್ಣಯಾ ಮುನಿಮನೋಂಬುಜಾಮ್ರೇಡಿತಂ| 
ಮದಾಲಸವಿಲೋಚನವ್ರಜವಧೂಮುಖಾಸ್ವಾದಿತಂ
ಕದಾನು ಕಮಲೇಕ್ಷಣಂ ಕಮಪಿ ಬಾಲಮಾಲೋಕಯೇ || ೩.೧೧|| 

When shall I see before my eyes the lotus-eyed child Krishna whose    face adorned with a broad soft smile is pretty, who is meditated with great joy in the lotus-like hearts of sages and whose form is drunk by the  belles of Vraja with their eyes indolent with the intoxication of love.

ವ್ರಜಜನಮದಯೋಷಿಲ್ಲೋಚನೋಚ್ಛಿಷ್ಟಶೇಷೀ
ಕೃತಮತಿಚಪಲಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಲೋಚನಾಭ್ಯಾಮುಭಾಭ್ಯಾಂ | 
ಸಕೃದಪಿ ಪರಿಪಾತುಂ ತೇ ವಯಂ ಪಾರಯಾಮಃ
ಕುವಲಯದಲನೀಲಂ ಕಾಂತಿಪೂರಂ ಕದಾ ನು || ೩.೧೨|| 

When shall we be able to drink with our eyes, just once, your form,  resplendent  and dark blue as the kuvalaya flower,  after what has been left of it by the milkmaids of Vraja who have drunk out of it with both their eyes which are never satisfied?

ಘೋಷಯೋಷಿದನುಗೀತಯೌವನಂ
ಕೋಮಲಸ್ವನಿತವೇಣುನಿಃಸ್ವನಂ| 
ಸಾರಭೂತಮಭಿರಾಮಸಂಪದಾಂ
ಧಾಮ ತಾಮರಸಲೋಚನಂ ಭಜೇ || ೩.೧೩|| 

My Prostrations to the lotus-eyed Krishna whose youth and the sweet melodies from his flute are sung about by the damsels of Vraja and who is the essence and repository of all things beautiful.


ಲೀಲಯಾ ಲಲಿತಯಾವಲಂಬಿತಂ
ಮೂಲಗೇಹಮಿವ ಮೂರ್ತಿಸಂಪದಾಂ| 
ನೀಲನೀರದವಿಕಾಸಿವಿಗ್ರಹಂ
ಬಾಲಮೇವ ವಯಮಾದ್ರಿಯಾಮಹೇ || ೩.೧೪|| 

We see before our eyes the child Krishna from whom proceed pretty playful acts, who is the prime repository of beautiful forms and whose body is the colour of dark blue clouds.
       

ವಂದೇ ಮುರಾರೇಶ್ಚರಣಾರವಿಂದ-
ದ್ವಂದ್ವಂ ದಯಾದರ್ಶಿತಶೈಶವಸ್ಯ| 
ವಂದಾರುವೃಂದಾರಕವೃಂದಮೌಲಿ
ಮಂದಾರಮಾಲಾವಿನಿಮರ್ದ್ದಭೀರು || ೩.೧೫|| 





I bow to the pair of lotus-like feet of Krishna  who has mercifully revealed his  child form and whose lotus-feet are so soft that they fear the pressure from the garlands of mandara flowers worn by the celestials on their heads  (while they prostrate before them)


ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ ನೃತ್ಯತಿ ಯಸ್ಯ ಶೇಖರಭರೈಃ ಕ್ರೌಂಚದ್ವಿಷಶ್ಚಂದ್ರಕೀ
ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ ದೃಪ್ಯತಿ ಯಸ್ಯ ಘೋಷಸುರಭಿಂ ಜಿಘ್ರನ್ ವೃಷೋ ಧೂರ್ಜಟೇಃ| 
ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ ಸಜ್ಜತಿ ಯಸ್ಯ ವಿಭ್ರಮಗತಿಂ ವಾಂಛನ್ ಹರೇ: ಸಿಂಧುರ-
ಸ್ತದ್ವೃಂದಾವನಕಲ್ಪಕದ್ರುಮವನಂ ತಂ ವಾ ಕಿಶೋರಂ ಭಜೇ || ೩.೧೬|| 

I salute the child Krishna and the forest of wish-giving trees in Vrindavan where the peacock, vehicle of Lord Subrahmanya, dances spreading its plumes, where Nandi,  the vehicle of Lord shiva,  smells the cows  and prides itself on this and where the elephant of Indra wants to imitate the gait of Krishna.

ಅರುಣಾಧರಾಮೃತವಿಶೇಷಿತಸ್ಮಿತಂ
ವರುಣಾಲಯಾನುಗತವರ್ಣವೈಭವಂ | 
ತರುಣಾರವಿಂದದೀರ್ಘಲೋಚನಂ
ಕರುಣಾಲಯಂ ಕಮಪಿ ಬಾಲಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ || ೩.೧೭|| 

I take refuge in child Krishna who is full of compassion, whose smile is sweetened  by the nectar of his red lips, whose dark complexion resembles that of the deep blue sea and whose eyes are wide and beautiful as the petals of the lotus flower.  

ಲಾವಣ್ಯವೀಚೀರಚಿತಾಂಗಭೂಷಾಂ
ಭೂಷಾಪದಾರೋಪಿತಪುಣ್ಯಬರ್ಹಾಂ| 
ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಧಾರಾಳಕಟಾಕ್ಷಮಾಲಾಂ
ಬಾಲಾಂ ಭಜೇ ವಲ್ಲವವಂಶಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಂ || ೩.೧೮|| 

I worship that girl who is the Lakshmi of the clan of cowherds, whose adornments are made of waves of beauty, who wears peacock plumes where ornaments are worn, from whose glances there is abundant flow of mercy. (This is prayer is addressed to Gopala Sundari , the feminine aspect of Krishna)

ಮಧುರೈಕರಸಂ ವಪುರ್ವಿಭೋ-
ರ್ಮಥುರಾವೀಥಿಚರಂ ಭಜಾಮಹೇ| 
ನಗರೀಮೃಗಶಾಬಲೋಚನಾ-
ನಯನೇಂದೀವರವರ್ಷವರ್ಷಿತಂ || ೩.೧೯|| 

I bow to the Lord who is the essence of sweetness, who walks on the streets of Mathura and on whom rains blue lilies which are the eyes of the doe-eyed damsels of the city of Mathura.  

ಪರ್ಯಾಕುಲೇನ ನಯನಾಂತವಿಜೃಂಭಿತೇನ
ವಕ್ತ್ರೇಣ ಕೋಮಲದರಸ್ಮಿತವಿಭ್ರಮೇಣ| 
ಮಂದ್ರೇಣ ಮಂಜುಲತರೇಣ ಚ ಜಲ್ಪಿತೇನ
ನಂದಸ್ಯ ಹಂತ ತನಯೋ ಹೃದಯಂ ಧುನೋತಿ|| ೩.೨೦|| 

The son of Nanda  captivates my heart by his shifting side long glances, by his pretty soft and budding smile and by his sweet and soft  talk.


ಕಂದರ್ಪಕಂಡೂಲಕಟಾಕ್ಷಬಂದೀ-
ರಿಂದೀವರಾಕ್ಷೀರಭಿಲಷ್ಯಮಾಣಾನ್
ಮಂದಸ್ಮಿತಾಧಾರಮುಖಾರವಿಂದಾನ್
ವಂದಾಮಹೇ ವಲ್ಲವಧೂರ್ತಪಾದಾನ್ || ೩.೨೧|| 


we bow at the feet of the paramour of the beauties of vraja who had eyes like the blue lily and who, stricken by the glances of the love god, desired  the lotus feet of Krishna whose lotus-like face always sported a smile.  


ಲೀಲಾಟೋಪಕಟಾಕ್ಷನಿರ್ಭರಪರಿಷ್ವಂಗಪ್ರಸಂಗಾಧಿಕ-
ಪ್ರೀತೇ ಗೀತಿವಿಭಂಗಸಂಕರಲಸದ್ವೇಣುಪ್ರಣಾದಾಮೃತೇ| 
ರಾಧಾಲೋಚನಲಾಲಿತಸ್ಯ ಲಲಿತಸ್ಮೇರೇ ಮುರಾರೇರ್ಮುದಾ
ಮಾಧುರ್ಯೈಕರಸೇ ಮುಖೇಂದುಕಮಲೇ ಮಗ್ನಂ ಮದೀಯಂ ಮನಃ || ೩.೨೨|| 

My mind is happily immersed in Krishna’s sweet lotus face which is  embraced by the playful sidelong glances of the gopis,  which shines by the sweet melodies of his flute, which is fondled by the eyes of Radha and which is lit up by a bewitching smile. 


ಶರಣಾಗತವಜ್ರಪಂಜರೇ
ಶರಣೇ ಶಾರ್ಂಗಧರಸ್ಯ ವೈಭವೇ| 
ಕೃಪಯಾ ಧೃತಗೋಪವಿಗ್ರಹೇ
ಕಿಯದನ್ಯನ್ಮೃಗಯಾಮಹೇ ವಯಂ || ೩.೨೩|| 

When Lord Vishnu,  whose bow is sharnga  and who is like a cage made of diamonds for those who take refuge in him, has mercifully taken the form of a cowherd (Krishna) whom it is easy to approach for refuge,  what more should we search for protection?.

ಜಗತ್ತ್ರಯೈಕಾಂತಮನೋಜ್ಞಭೂಮಿ
ಚೇತಸ್ಯಜಸ್ರಂ ಮಮ ಸನ್ನಿಧತ್ತಾಂ| 
ರಮಾಸಮಾಸ್ವಾದಿತಸೌಕುಮಾರ್ಯಂ
ರಾಧಾಸ್ತನಾಭೋಗರಸಜ್ಞಮೋಜಃ || ೩.೨೪|| 

May that effulgence,  which is the essence of the beauty of all the three worlds, which is enjoyed by Goddess Lakshmi and which knows the taste of hugging the breasts of Radha, always reside in my heart.

ವಯಮೇತೇ ವಿಶ್ವಸಿಮಃ
ಕರುಣಾಕರ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕಿಂವದಂತೀಂ ತೇ| 
ಅಪಿ ಚ ವಿಭೋ ತವ ಲಲಿತೇ
ಚಪಲತರಾ ಮತಿರಿಯಂ ಬಾಲ್ಯೇ || ೩.೨೫|| 

O merciful Krishna! We believe the hearsay about you because in your sweet childhood your mind was more fickle.