Chapter 19 - Swallowing up of a Forest-conflagration

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka continued:

1. While the cowherds were deeply engrossed in playing, their cows roamed to a great distance, grazing at will, and lured by green pasture, strayed into an inaccessible part of the dense jungle.

2. Entering from one forest (-area) to another, the she- goats, cows and she-buffaloes became thirsty while wandering in the forest, began to cry loudly and got into a thicket of reeds.

3. Not finding the cattle, cowherds, of whom Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were prominent, felt repentance (for their dereliction of duty). Despite their search for the cows, they were at a loss to know where they could have gone.

4. Having thus lost their means of livelihood, the cowherds got perplexed not knowing what to do. Then all of them followed the track of the cows marked with their footprints and blades of grass cut by their hoofs.

5. Finding their wealth of cattle strayed from its path in the jungle of Muñja-grass and lowing helplessly, they directed their herds back and were overwhelmed with fatigue and thirst.

[Bhāgavata Candrikā’s text adds:]

5(A). Climbing up to the top of a tall tree and showing his personality dark like a cloud in complexion, Kṛṣṇa loudly called out those distressed cows by their individual names.

6. Being called by their names by the glorious Lord in a tone deep like the thundering of clouds, the cows became overwhelmed with joy to hear the sound of their names, and responded with lowing loudly.

7. Thereafter, as the Fate would have it, there broke out, on all side, a forest conflagration causing havoc in all the inhabitants of the forest. And helped by its assistant, the strong wind, the great fire appeared desirous of lapping up all the mobile and immobile creatures with its tongues of dreadful flames.

8. Observing the advance of the forest-fire on all sides, the cowherds and cows got horrified. Just as people afflicted with the fear of death seek asylum with Lord Hari, they resorted to Kṛṣṇa along with Balarām, for shelter and prayed to Him.

9. “Oh Kṛṣṇa! Oh Kṛṣṇa of infinite prowess! Oh Balarāma! Balarāma of immeasurable power! It now behoves you to protect us who are being burnt by fire, and have approached you for asylum.

10. We are really your kinsmen and as such, should not be destroyed thus. You are the knower of all that is righteousness. We are all devoted to you and have in you our saviour.”

Śrī Śuka said:

11. Hearing the pitiful appeal of his cowherd-comrades, Lord Hari assured them, “Don’t be afraid. Please close your eyes.”

12. With the words ‘Be it so’, they closed their eyes when, in the meanwhile, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Master of Yoga swallowed up that menacing conflagration and completely saved them from that calamity.

13. Then, on opening their eyes, they were extremely surprised to find themselves and their cows safe from danger, and brought over to Bhāṇḍīra^[1].

14. Observing that it was due to the yogic power of Kṛṣṇa and the manifestation of his Yogic Potency (yogamāyā) that they were delivered from (death from) the forest fire, they came to believe in his divine nature.

15. Tending homewards the cows in the evening, Kṛṣṇa along with Balarāma, returned to Vraja, playing on his flute, while the cowherd boys were singing his praise.

16. The very sight of Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) filled the Gopīs (cowherd-women) with Supreme delight, as every moment of separation from him was felt by them as a hundred ages (yugas).

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

From the details given in VT. about the bunyan tree called Bhāṇḍīra, it appears that at the time of Jīva Gosvāmī. they located it to the Northwest of the Śiva temple called ‘Spāro’ (?) near Vṛndāvana, and the jungle of muñja grass where the conflagration was swallowed up by Kṛṣṇa was ten miles to the south of the bunyan tree.—Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10.19.13 (Vrindabana Edn Vol. I P. 673)