Narayaneeyam Dashakam 59

 

Narayaneeyam Dasakam  59 - 

Venu Gaanam (Krishna Playing the Flute)

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The Forest That Fell in Love

The forest was radiant in the softness of autumn. The waters flowed crystal clear. A gentle breeze moved through the trees, carrying the fragrance of blooming lotuses. 

Krishna, accompanied by Balarama, the cows, and the cowherd boys, entered this serene forest, took shelter under a beautiful tree, stood cross-legged and started to play his flute. 

The Music That Stilled the World

The peacocks began to dance in ecstasy, spreading their vibrant feathers as though responding to thunderclouds. To them, the music was like the gentle rumble of rain-bearing clouds.

The deer stopped in their tracks, gazing toward Krishna with wide, loving eyes. The animals stood motionless, absorbed in a stillness deeper than sleep.

The cows lifted their ears, drinking the nectar of the melody. Even the calves forgot to swallow the milk in their mouths, frozen in blissful attention.

High in the trees, birds fell silent, listening with complete absorption.

The rivers themselves seemed to pause their flow. With arms of shimmering waves, they offered lotuses at His feet, longing to embrace Him. Even the clouds gathered overhead, forming a soft umbrella, showering Him with cool droplets like offerings of white flowers.

The Gopikas and the Loss of Self

The Gopikas felt the deepest transformation. Hearing the flute, they forgot themselves completely. Their daily tasks, their identities, their world — everything dissolved in the sweetness of that sound. They spoke only of Krishna’s playful ways. They sang of Him. They became merged in remembrance.

This episode is beautifully described in the Bhagavata Purana, where the divine flute song reveals the power of pure love.

The flute itself carries a profound teaching. It is hollow. It produces music only because it is empty.

In the same way, when we empty ourselves of ego, resistance, and noise, the Divine breath flows through us. We become instruments of grace.

Bhattadri prayed to Lord Krishna, "Just as the Gopikas fortunately attained both love and salvation, may Your grace transform my suffering."

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 01

त्वद्वपुर्नवकलायकोमलं प्रेमदोहनमशेषमोहनम् ।
ब्रह्म तत्त्वपरचिन्मुदात्मकं वीक्ष्य सम्मुमुहुरन्वहं स्त्रिय: ॥१॥

tvadvapurnava kalaaya kOmalaM premadOhana masheShamOhanam |

brahmatattva parachinmudaatmakaM viikshya sammumuhuranvahaM sitrayaH || 1

The Gopis were extremely fascinated by your appearance, as beautiful as a fresh Kalaya flower, multiplying love and infatuating all, and which is the integrated form of truth, intellect and bliss.

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 02

मन्मथोन्मथितमानसा: क्रमात्त्वद्विलोकनरतास्ततस्तत: ।
गोपिकास्तव न सेहिरे हरे काननोपगतिमप्यहर्मुखे ॥२॥

manmathOnmathita maanasaaH kramaattvadvilOkanarataa statastataH |

gOpikaastava na sehire hare kaananOpagati mapyaharmukhe || 2

O Lord! The minds of these Gopikas were oppressed by Manmatha, and because of their love for you, they were always eager to see you. O Hari! They were unable to bear the separation caused by your going to the forest early in the morning to tend the cows.

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 03

निर्गते भवति दत्तदृष्टयस्त्वद्गतेन मनसा मृगेक्षणा: ।
वेणुनादमुपकर्ण्य दूरतस्त्वद्विलासकथयाऽभिरेमिरे ॥३॥

nirgate bhavati dattadR^iShTayaH tvadgatenamanasaa mR^igekshaNaaH |

veNunaada-mupakarNya duurataH tvadvilaasa kathayaa(a)bhiremire || 3

After your departure, those deer-eyed girls, with their eyes riveted on your direction and their minds following your path to the forest, were overjoyed to hear the melodious strains of your flute from a distance and passed the time talking of your divine sports.

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 04 

काननान्तमितवान् भवानपि स्निग्धपादपतले मनोरमे ।
व्यत्ययाकलितपादमास्थित: प्रत्यपूरयत वेणुनालिकाम् ॥४॥

kaananaanta-mitavaan bhavaanapi snigdhapaadapatale manOrame |

vyatyayaakalita paadamaasthitaH pratyapuurayata veNunaalikaam || 4

Having gone to the forest, you would stand cross-legged under a beautiful, shady tree and keep playing the flute and filling its pipe with life-breath.

 Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 05

मारबाणधुतखेचरीकुलं निर्विकारपशुपक्षिमण्डलम् ।
द्रावणं च दृषदामपि प्रभो तावकं व्यजनि वेणुकूजितम् ॥५॥

maarabaaNadhuta khechariikulaM nirvikaara pashupakshi maNDalam |

draavaNaM cha dR^iShadaamapi prabhO taavakaM vyajani veNukuujitam || 5

Oh Lord! The music from your flute set the hearts of the celestial maidens fluttering. It made the multitudes of animals and birds motionless, and even the stones melted.

 Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 06

वेणुरन्ध्रतरलाङ्गुलीदलं तालसञ्चलितपादपल्लवम् ।
तत् स्थितं तव परोक्षमप्यहो संविचिन्त्य मुमुहुर्व्रजाङ्गना: ॥६॥

veNurandhra taralaanguliidalaM taalasanchalita paadapallavam |

tatisthataM tava parOkshamapyahO sanvichintya mumuhurvrajaanganaaH || 6

Those cowherd maidens, though unable to see you, in physical form, could very well visualise in their minds again and again and got into a state of ecstasy. Oh, how wonderful!

,

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 07

निर्विशङ्कभवदङ्गदर्शिनी: खेचरी: खगमृगान् पशूनपि ।
त्वत्पदप्रणयि काननं च ता: धन्यधन्यमिति नन्वमानयन् ॥७॥

nirvishanka bhavadanga darshiniiH khechariiH khagamR^igaan pashuunapi |

tvatpadapraNayi kaananaM cha taaH dhanyadhanyamiti nanvamaanayan || 7

The celestial damsels were able to see your form without restrictions or hindrance. The birds, animals and cows also could see your form directly. Even the earth was always in contact with your feet and saw your form as you roamed about. The Gopikas of Vraja regarded all of them very fortunate and blessed.

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 08

आपिबेयमधरामृतं कदा वेणुभुक्तरसशेषमेकदा ।
दूरतो बत कृतं दुराशयेत्याकुला मुहुरिमा: समामुहन् ॥८॥

aapibeyamadharaamR^itaM kadaa veNubhuktarasasheShamekadaa |

duuratO bata kR^itaM duraashaye-tyaakulaa muhurimaaH samaamuhan || 8

O when for once, we will imbibe the nectar of your lips, the last of it left over by the flute.  Far-fetched indeed is this greed. Thus, the Gopikas sobbed again and again and were in great distress and despair.

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam: 09

प्रत्यहं च पुनरित्थमङ्गनाश्चित्तयोनिजनितादनुग्रहात् ।
बद्धरागविवशास्त्वयि प्रभो नित्यमापुरिह कृत्यमूढताम् ॥९॥

pratyahancha punaritthamanganaaH chittayOni janitaa danugrahaat |

baddharaagavivashaaH tvayi prabhO nityamaapuriha kR^ityamuuDhataam || 9

Oh Lord! In this manner, day after day, these maidens, smitten by their extreme love for you, by the grace of Manmatha, became more and more confused and lost interest in their household duties.

Dasakam: 59-- Slokam:10

रागस्तावज्जायते हि स्वभावा-
न्मोक्षोपायो यत्नत: स्यान्न वा स्यात् ।
तासां त्वेकं तद्द्वयं लब्धमासीत्
भाग्यं भाग्यं पाहि मां मारुतेश ॥१०॥

raagastaavajjaayate hi svabhaavaan

mOkshOpaayO yatnataH syaannavaasyaat |

taasaantvekaM taddvayaM labdhamaasiidbhaagyaM

bhaagyaM paahi vaataalayesha ||10

Love comes naturally to all; the path to liberation may be attained through effort or, at times, may not be achieved. But these damsels, being extremely fortunate, attained both love and salvation. Oh, fortunate indeed they were! Oh Guruvayurappa! May you save me.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya!