dṛṣá¹vÄtha tat-sneha-vaÅ›o 'smá¹›tÄtmÄ
sa go-vrajo 'tyÄtmapa-durga-mÄrgaḥ
dvi-pÄt kakud-grÄ«va udÄsya-puccho
'gÄd dhuá¹…ká¹›tair Äsru-payÄ javena
dṛṣá¹vÄ - when the cows saw their calves below; atha - thereafter; tat-sneha-vaÅ›aḥ - because of increased love for the calves; asmá¹›ta-ÄtmÄ - as if they had forgotten themselves; saḥ - that; go-vrajaḥ - herd of cows; ati-Ätma-pa-durga-mÄrgaḥ - escaping their caretakers because of increased affection for the calves, although the way was very rough and hard; dvi-pÄt - pairs of legs together; kakut-grÄ«vaḥ - their humps moving with their necks; udÄsya-pucchaḥ - raising their heads and tails; agÄt - came; huá¹…ká¹›taiḥ - lowing very loudly; Äsru-payÄḥ - with milk flowing from the nipples; javena - very forcibly.
Generally the calves and cows are pastured separately. The elderly men take care of the cows, and the small children see to the calves. This time, however, the cows immediately forgot their position as soon as they saw the calves below Govardhana Hill, and they ran with great force, their tails erect and their front and hind legs joined, until they reached their calves.