Text* 1: Ĺukadeva GosvÄmÄŤ said: Thus the VášndÄvana forest was filled with transparent autumnal waters and cooled by breezes perfumed with the fragrance of lotus flowers growing in the clear lakes. The infallible Lord, accompanied by His cows and cowherd boyfriends, entered that VášndÄvana forest.
Text 2: The lakes, rivers and hills of VášndÄvana resounded with the sounds of maddened bees and flocks of birds moving about the flowering trees. In the company of the cowherd boys and BalarÄma, Madhupati [ĹrÄŤ KášášŁáša] entered that forest, and while herding the cows He began to vibrate His flute.
Text* 3: When the young ladies in the cowherd village of Vraja heard the song of KášášŁášaâs flute, which arouses the influence of Cupid, some of them privately began describing KášášŁášaâs qualities to their intimate friends.
Text* 4: The cowherd girls began to speak about KášášŁáša, but when they remembered His activities, O King, the power of Cupid disturbed their minds, and thus they could not speak.
Text 5: Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karášikÄra flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the VaijayantÄŤ garland, Lord KášášŁáša exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of VášndÄvana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories.
Text 6: O King, when the young ladies in Vraja heard the sound of KášášŁášaâs flute, which captivates the minds of all living beings, they all embraced one another and began describing it.
Text 7: The cowherd girls said: O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of MahÄrÄja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of VášndÄvana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision.
Text 8: Dressed in a charming variety of garments, upon which Their garlands rest, and decorating Themselves with peacock feathers, lotuses, lilies, newly grown mango sprouts and clusters of flower buds, KášášŁáša and BalarÄma shine forth magnificently among the assembly of cowherd boys. They look just like the best of dancers appearing on a dramatic stage, and sometimes They sing.
Text 9: My dear gopÄŤs, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of KášášŁášaâs lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopÄŤs, for whom that nectar is actually meant! The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body.
Text 10: O friend, VášndÄvana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of KášášŁáša, the son of DevakÄŤ. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govindaâs flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.
Text 11: Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached MahÄrÄja Nandaâs son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.
Text 12: KášášŁášaâs beauty and character create a festival for all women. Indeed, when the demigodsâ wives flying in airplanes with their husbands catch sight of Him and hear His resonant flute-song, their hearts are shaken by Cupid, and they become so bewildered that the flowers fall out of their hair and their belts loosen.
Text* 13: Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute-song flowing out of KášášŁášaâs mouth. The calves, their mouths full of milk from their mothersâ moist nipples, stand still as they take Govinda within themselves through their tear-filled eyes and embrace Him within their hearts.
Text 14: O mother, in this forest all the birds have risen onto the beautiful branches of the trees to see KášášŁáša. With closed eyes they are simply listening in silence to the sweet vibrations of His flute, and they are not attracted by any other sound. Surely these birds are on the same level as great sages.
Text 15: When the rivers hear the flute-song of KášášŁáša, their minds begin to desire Him, and thus the flow of their currents is broken and their waters are agitated, moving around in whirlpools. Then with the arms of their waves the rivers embrace MurÄriâs lotus feet and, holding on to them, present offerings of lotus flowers.
Text 16: In the company of BalarÄma and the cowherd boys, Lord KášášŁáša is continually vibrating His flute as He herds all the animals of Vraja, even under the full heat of the summer sun. Seeing this, the cloud in the sky has expanded himself out of love. He is rising high and constructing out of his own body, with its multitude of flower-like droplets of water, an umbrella for the sake of his friend.
Text 17: The aborigine women of the VášndÄvana area become disturbed by lust when they see the grass marked with reddish kuáš
kuma powder. Endowed with the color of KášášŁášaâs lotus feet, this powder originally decorated the breasts of His beloveds, and when the aborigine women smear it on their faces and breasts, they feel fully satisfied and give up all their anxiety.
Text 18: Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities â water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.
Text 19: My dear friends, as KášášŁáša and BalarÄma pass through the forest with Their cowherd friends, leading Their cows, They carry ropes to bind the cowsâ rear legs at the time of milking. When Lord KášášŁáša plays on His flute, the sweet music causes the moving living entities to become stunned and the nonmoving trees to tremble with ecstasy. These things are certainly very wonderful.
Text 20: Thus narrating to one another the playful pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He wandered about in the VášndÄvana forest, the gopÄŤs became fully absorbed in thoughts of Him.