ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣಕರ್ಣಾಮೃತಮ್, ೨: ೨೬-೫೦

SRIKRISHNA KARNAMRUTAM -ASHWASA ೨ (SLOKAS ೨೬-೫೦) 

                  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 ೨೬ to ೫೦ of the second ashwasa with a prosaic translation in English.  

ಗೋಧೂಲಿಧೂಸರಿತಕೋಮಲಕುಂತಲಾಗ್ರಂ
ಗೋವರ್ಧನೋದ್ಧರಣಕೇಲಿಕೃತಪ್ರಯಾಸಂ | 
ಗೋಪೀಜನಸ್ಯ ಕುಚಕುಂಕುಮಮುದ್ರಿತಾಂಗಂ
ಗೋವಿಂದಮಿಂದುವದನಂ ಶರಣಂ ವ್ರಜಾಮಃ || ೨೬|| 

We take refuge in Govinda who has a moon-like face, ends of whose soft hair are coated with the dust raised by the hooves of cows, who playfully lifted the Govardhana mountain and whose body bears the marks of kumkum from the breasts of gopis 

ಯದ್ರೋಮರಂಧ್ರಪರಿಪೂರ್ತಿವಿಧಾವದಕ್ಷಾಃ
ವಾರಾಹಜನ್ಮನಿ ಬಭೂವುರಮೀ ಸಮುದ್ರಾಃ| 
ತಂ ನಾಮ ನಾಥಮರವಿಂದದೃಶಂ ಯಶೋದಾ
ಪಾಣಿದ್ವಯಾಂತರಜಲೈಃ ಸ್ನಪಯಾಂ ಬಭೂವ | ೨.೨೭|| 
During the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Varaha  his body was so huge that the waters of  all the oceans were not enough to fill a single follicle of His hair. The same Lord in his incarnation as the child of Yasoda, was bathed in as little water as his mother Yashoda’s cupped hands could hold.

ವರಮಿಮಮುಪದೇಶಮಾದ್ರಿಯಧ್ವಂ
ನಿಗಮವನೇಷುನಿತಾಂತಚಾರಖಿನ್ನಾಃ
ವಿಚಿನುತ ಭವನೇಷು ವಲ್ಲವೀನಾ-
ಮುಪನಿಷದರ್ಥಮುಲೂಖಲೇ ನಿಬದ್ಧಂ || ೨. ೨೮|| 

All those who have become extremely tired of wandering in the forest of vedas ! pl hear the best of advices from me.  Search in the houses of cowherd women to find the embodiment of the meaning of Upanishads tied to a mortar.

ದೇವಕೀತನಯಪೂಜನಪೂತಃ
ಪೂತನಾರಿಚರಣೋದಕಧೌತಃ| 
ಯದ್ಯಹಂ ಸ್ಮೃತಧನಂಜಯ ಸೂತಃ
ಕಿಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯತಿ ಸ ಮೇ ಯಮದೂತಃ || ೨. ೨೯|| 

What can the messenger of Yama do to me when I have been purified by worshipping the son of Devaki, when I have been washed by the holy waters from the feet of the enemy of Putana and when I always remember the charioteer of Arjuna. 

ಭಾಸತಾಂ ಭವಭಯೈಕಭೇಷಜಂ
ಮಾನಸೇ ಮಮ ಮುಹುರ್ಮುಹುರ್ಮುಹುಃ| 
ಗೋಪವೇಷಮುಪಸೇದುಷಃ ಸ್ವಯಂ
ಯಾಪಿ ಕಾಪಿ ರಮಣೀಯತಾ ವಿಭೋಃ || ೨.೩೦|| 

May that enthralling beauty of the Lord,  who has taken on the role of a cowherd,  shine in my mind again and again and again as it is the only medicine to dispel the fear of samsara.

ಕರ್ಣಲಂಬಿತಕದಂಬಮಂಜರೀ-
ಕೇಸರಾರುಣಕಪೋಲಮಂಡಲಂ| 
ನಿರ್ಮಲಂ ನಿಗಮವಾಗಗೋಚರಂ
ನೀಲಿಮಾನಮವಲೋಕಯಾಮಹೇ || ೨.೩೧|| 

I see before my (mind’s) eyes Krishna who is of dark blue complexion, whose cheeks have a red tinge from the bunch of kadamba flowers hanging from his ears, who is without blemish and beyond the reach of words of the Vedas.


ಸಾಚಿಸಂಚಲಿತಲೋಚನೋತ್ಪಲಂ
ಸಾಮಿಕುಡ್ಮಲಿತಕೋಮಲಾಧರಂ| 
ವೇಗವದ್ಗಿತಕರಾಂಗುಲೀಮುಖಂ
ವೇಣುನಾದರಸಿಕಂ ಭಜಾಮಹೇ || ೩೨|| 


I worship Krishna who enjoys the music from his flute,  whose lotus-eyes cast sidelong glances, whose pretty lips are like half open buds and who moves his fingers with speed  (on the holes of his flute).

ಸ್ಯಂದನೇ ಗರುಡಮಂಡಿತಧ್ವಜೇ
ಕುಂಡಿನೇಶತನಯಾಧಿರೋಪಿತಾ| 
ಕೇನಚಿನ್ನವತಮಾಲಪಲ್ಲವ-
ಶ್ಯಾಮಲೇಣ ಪುರುಷೇಣ ನೀಯತೇ || ೩೩|| 

(I see before my mind’s eye) Rukmini, daughter of the King of Kundinapura, being taken away by a man of dark blue colour like that of fresh leaf buds of the tamala  tree in a chariot adorned with a flag bearing the emblem of Garuda.
                     
ಮಾ ಯಾತ ಪಾಂಥಾಃ ಪಥಿ ಭೀಮರಥ್ಯಾ
ದಿಗಂಬರಃ ಕೋಽಪಿ ತಮಾಲನೀಲಃ| 
ವಿನ್ಯಸ್ತಹಸ್ತೋಽಪಿ ನಿತಂಬಬಿಂಬೇ
ಧೂರ್ತ್ತಸ್ಸಮಾಕರ್ಷತಿ ಚಿತ್ತವಿತ್ತಂ || ೩೪|| 

Oh wayfarers!  do not take the path by the side of the Bhimarathi river where you will find someone with dark blue complexion in his birthday suit. Though he will have his hands on his hips, he will snatch your wealth which is your heart, the rogue that he is.

ಅಂಗನಾಮಂಗನಾಮಂತರೇ ಮಾಧವೋ
ಮಾಧವಂ ಮಾಧವಂ ಚಾಂತರೇಣಾಂಗನಾ| 
ಇತ್ಥಮಾಕಲ್ಪಿತೇ ಮಂಡಲೇ ಮಧ್ಯಗಃ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೩೫|| 

Between two women was Krishna and between two Krishnas was a woman. In the middle of the circle so formed was the Son of Devaki, Krishna himself playing his flute.

ಕೇಕಿಕೇಕಾದೃತಾನೇಕಪಂಕೇರುಹಾ-
ಲೀನಹಂಸಾವಲೀಹೃದ್ಯಯಾ ವಿದ್ಯಯಾ
ಕಂಸವಂಶಾಟವೀದಾಹದಾವಾನಲಃ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೩೬|| 

The son of Devaki, the fire to burn up the forest of the Kamsa clan, played his flute extremely well delighting the hearts of swans inhabiting the lotus flowers  patronized by peacocks and peahens.




ಕ್ವಾಪಿ ವೀಣಾಭಿರಾರಾವಿಣಾ ಕಂಪಿತಃ
ಕ್ವಾಪಿ ವೀಣಾಭಿರಾಕಿಂಕಿಣೀ ನರ್ತಿತಃ| 
ಕ್ವಾಪಿ ವೀಣಾಭಿರಾಮಾಂತರಂಗಾಪಿತಃ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೩೭|| 

The son of Devaki played his flute really well, somewhere shaken by those playing the Veena, some other place made to dance to the music of Veena with his anklets tinkling and yet at another place made to sing along with the music of Veena.    

ಚಾರುಚಂದ್ರಾವಲೀಲೋಚನೈಶ್ಚುಂಬಿತೋ
ಗೋಪಗೋವೃಂದಗೋಪಾಲಿಕಾವಲ್ಲಭಃ| 
ವಲ್ಲವೀವೃಂದವೃಂದಾರಕಃ ಕಾಮುಕಃ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೩೮|| 

Kissed by the beautiful eyes of the belles of Vraja, being the darling of the cowherds, cows and the cowherd belles and being the god and lover of cowherd maidens, the son of Devaki played his flute exceedingly well. 


ಮೌಲಿಮಾಲಾಮಿಲನ್ಮತ್ತಭೃಂಗೀಲತಾ
ಭೀತಭೀತಪ್ರಿಯಾವಿಭ್ರಮಾಲಿಂಗಿತಃ| 
ಸ್ರಸ್ತಗೋಪೀಕುಚಾಭೋಗಸಂಮೇಲಿತಃ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೩೯|| 

Embraced by a sweetheart frightened by the swarm of bees attracted by the garlands of flower on the head and in turn embracing the sweetheart when her upper garment slips off, the son of Devaki played his flute well indeed.  


ಚಾರುಚಾಮೀಕರಾಭಾಸಿಭಾಮಾವಿಭುಃ   
ವೈಜಯಂತಿಲತಾವಾಸಿತೋರಸ್ಥಲಃ
ನಂದವೃಂದಾವನೇ ವಾಸಿತೋ ಮಧ್ಯಗಃ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೪೦|| 

Being the Lord of Satyabhama of golden hue, his chest fragrant with the vaijayanti garland, living in Vrindavan of Nanda amidst gopis, the son of Devaki created captivating music from his flute.


ಬಾಲಿಕಾತಾಲಿಕಾತಾಲಲೀಲಾಲಯಾ-
ಸಂಗಸಂದರ್ಶಿತಭ್ರೂಲತಾವಿಭ್ರಮಃ| 
ಗೋಪಿಕಾಗೀತದತ್ತಾವಧಾನಃ ಸ್ವಯಂ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೪೧|| 



Moving his eye brows to synchronize with the beat of the music of young girls  and focusing his attention on the music, the son of Devaki created beautiful melodies from his flute.


ಪಾರಿಜಾತಂ ಸಮುದ್ಧೃತ್ಯ ರಾಧಾವರೋ
ರೋಪಯಾಮಾಸ ಭಾಮಾಗೃಹಸ್ಯಾಂಗಣೇ| 
ಶೀತಶೀತೇ ವಟೇ ಯಾಮುನೀಯೇ ತಟೇ
ಸಂಜಗೌ ವೇಣುನಾ ದೇವಕೀನಂದನಃ || ೪೨|| 


The groom of Radha lifted the parijata plant (from heaven) and planted it in the courtyard of Bhama’s house.  Sitting under a cool banyan tree on the banks of Yamuna, the son of Devaki created magic from his flute in the form of sweet songs,.


ಅಗ್ರೇ ದೀರ್ಘತರೋಽಯಮರ್ಜುನತರುಸ್ತಸ್ಯಾಗ್ರತೋ ವರ್ತನೀ
ಸಾ ಘೋಷಂ ಸಮುಪೈತಿ ತತ್ಪರಿಸರೇ ದೇಶೇ ಕಲಿಂದಾತ್ಮಜಾ | 
ತಸ್ಯಾಸ್ತೀರತಮಾಲಕಾನನತಲೇ ಚಕ್ರಂ ಗವಾಂ ಚಾರಯನ್
ಗೋಪಃ ಕ್ರೀಡತಿ ದರ್ಶಯಿಷ್ಯತಿ ಸಖೇ ಪಂಥಾನಮವ್ಯಾಹತಂ || ೨.೪೩|| 

Ahead is a tall Arjuna tree. Beyond that is a foot path that leads to the colony of milkmen in the vicinity of which is the river Yamuna on the banks of which is a forest of tamala  trees.  There you will find a gopa (cowboy) grazing a herd of cows and playing.  He will, O friend !  show you the untrodden path (that will free you from the cycle of births and deaths)

ಗೋಧೂಲಿಧೂಸರಿತಕೋಮಲಗೋಪವೇಷಂ
ಗೋಪಾಲಬಾಲಕಶತೈರನುಗಮ್ಯಮಾನಂ| 
ಸಾಯಂತನೇ ಪ್ರತಿಗೃಹಂ ಪಶುಬಂಧನಾರ್ಥಂ
ಗಚ್ಛಂತಮಚ್ಯುತಶಿಶುಂ ಪ್ರಣತೋಽಸ್ಮಿ ನಿತ್ಯಂ|| ೪೪|| 

I bow to the child Krishna in the garb of a  handsome cowherd boy with his body  covered by the dust raised by the hooves of cows, who is followed by hundreds of cowherd children and who goes to every house in the evening to tie the cows and calves (brought after grazing them). 

ನಿಧಿಂ ಲಾವಣ್ಯಾನಾಂ ನಿಖಿಲಜಗದಾಶ್ಚರ್ಯನಿಲಯಂ
ನಿಜಾವಾಸಂ ಭಾಸಾಂ ನಿರವಧಿಕನಿಃಶ್ರೇಯಸರಸಂ| 
ಸುಧಾಧಾರಾಸಾರಂ ಸುಕೃತಪರಿಪಾಕಂ ಮೃಗದೃಶಾಂ
ಪ್ರಪದ್ಯೇ ಮಾಂಗಲ್ಯಂ ಪ್ರಥಮಮಧಿದೈವಂ ಕೃತಧಿಯಾಂ || ೪೫|| 

I surrender myself to the very first God who is the embodiment of all auspiciousness, repository of all things beautiful,  the home of all the wonders of the world,  the natural source of all radiance,  the giver of good fortune without limit, the essence of the flow of nectar  and the result of the good deeds of doe-eyed gopis. 

ಆತಾಮ್ರೇ ಪಾಣಿಕಮಲಪ್ರಣಯಪ್ರತೋದ-
ಮಾಲೋಲಹಾರಮಣಿಕುಂಡಲಹೇಮಸೂತ್ರಂ| 
ಆವಿಃಶ್ರಮಾಂಬುಕಣಮಂಬುದನೀಲಮವ್ಯಾ-
ದಾದ್ಯಂ ಧನಂಜಯರಥಾಭರಣಂ ಮಹೋ ನಃ || ೪೬|| 

May that primeval effulgence,  dark blue as the cloud,  adornment of the chariot of Arjuna,  holding a whip in hands which have a red tinge, wearing ornaments like chains, ear globes and waistband, with drops of sweat glistening on the body, protect us.






ನಖನಿಯಮಿತಕಂಡೂನ್ ಪಾಂಡವಸ್ಯಂದನಾಶ್ವಾ-
ನನುದಿನಮಭಿಷಿಂಚನ್ನಂಜಲಿಸ್ಥೈಃ ಪಯೋಭಿಃ | 
ಅವತು ವಿತತಗಾತ್ರಸ್ತೋತ್ರನಿಸ್ಯೂತಮೌಲಿಃ
ದಶನವಿಧೃತರಶ್ಮಿಃ ದೇವಕೀಪುಣ್ಯರಾಶಿಃ ||  ೨.೪೭|| 
May we be protected by Krishna, wide-bodied and born to Devaki as a result of her meritorious deeds, who daily bathes the horses yoked to the chariots of the Pandavas with water gathered in his cupped hands and removes their itching by scratching their bodies with his finger nails while holding their reins between his teeth and keeping the cane stuck into the folds of his turban.

ವ್ರಜಯುವತಿಸಹಾಯೇ ಯೌವನೋಲ್ಲಾಸಿಕಾಯೇ
ಸಕಲಶುಭವಿಲಾಸೇ ಕುಂದಮಂದಾರಹಾಸೇ| 
ನಿವಸತು ಮಮ ಚಿತ್ತಂ ತತ್ಪದಾಯತ್ತವೃತ್ತಂ
ಮುನಿಸರಸಿಜಭಾನೌ ನಂದಗೋಪಾಲಸೂನೌ|| ೪೮|| 

Let my mind ever dwell at the lotus feet of Krishna, son  of Nandagopa,  who keeps company with the belles of Vraja, whose body is handsome with blooming youth, who is the repository of everything good, whose smile is bright as jasmine and mandara  flowers and who is like the sun for the lotus of sages.  


ಆರಣ್ಯಾನೀಮಾರ್ದ್ರಸ್ಮಿತಮಧುರಬಿಂಬಾಧರಸುಧಾ-
ಸರಣ್ಯಾ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತೈಸ್ಸಪದಿ ಮದಯನ್ ವೇಣುನಿನದೈಃ| 
ಧರಣ್ಯಾ ಸಾನಂದೋತ್ಪುಲಕಮುಪಗೂಢಾಂಘ್ರಿಕಮಲಃ
ಶರಣ್ಯಾನಾಮಾದ್ಯಃ ಸ ಜಯತು ಶರೀರೀ ಮಧುರಿಮಾ || ೪೯|| 


Victory to Krishna who is the very embodiment of sweetness, who is at the top of those who are capable of granting refuge, who delights the denizens of the forest by the sweet melodies from his flute surcharged with the nectar from his lips which are red like the bimba fruit and which always wear a loving smile and whose lotus feet are embraced by the goddess of Earth with ecstasy and with hairs on her body standing erect.

ವಿದಗ್ಧಗೋಪಾಲವಿಲಾಸಿನೀನಾಂ’
ಸಂಭೋಗಚಿಹ್ನಾಂಕಿತಸರ್ವಗಾತ್ರಂ| 
ಪವಿತ್ರಮಾಮ್ನಾಯಗಿರಾಮಗಮ್ಯಂ
ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಪ್ರಪದ್ಯೇ ನವನೀತಚೋರಂ || ೫೦|| 

I surrender myself to the Brahman which is pure and holy  and beyond the words of the Vedas, which in the form of Krishna, steals butter and bears the marks left by smart cowherd belles during love sport.