Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 90 Verses 1-7

śrī-śukah uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; sukham — happily; sva — in His own; puryām — city; nivasan — residing; dvārakāyām — in Dvārakā; śriyah — of the goddess of fortune; patih — the master; sarva — all; sampat — in opulent features; samriddhāyām — which was rich; jushtāyām — populated; vrishni-puńgavaih — by the most prominent of the Vrishnis; strībhih — by women; ca — and; uttama — excellent; veshābhih — whose dress; nava — new; yauvana — of youth; kāntibhih — whose beauty; kanduka-ādibhih — with balls and other toys; harmyeshu — on the rooftops; krīdantībhih — playing; tadit — of lightning; dyubhih — whose effulgence; nityam — always; sańkula — crowded; mārgāyām — whose roads; mada-cyudbhih — exuding mada; matam — intoxicated; gajaih — with elephants; su — well; alańkritaih — ornamented; bhataih — with foot-soldiers; aśvaih — horses; rathaih — chariots; ca — and; kanaka — with gold; ujjvalaih — brilliant; udyāna — with gardens; upavana — and parks; ādhyāyām — endowed; pushpita — flowering; druma — of trees; rājishu — which had rows; nirviśat — entering (therein); bhrińga — by bees; vihagaih — and birds; nāditāyām — filled with sound; samantatah — on all sides; reme — He enjoyed; shodaśa — sixteen; sāhasra — thousand; patnīnām — of wives; eka — the only; vallabhah — beloved; tāvat — that many; vicitra — variegated; rūpah — having personal forms; asau — He; tat — their; geheshu — in the residences; mahā-riddhishu — richly furnished; protphulla — blooming; utpala — of water lilies; kahlāra — white lotuses; kumuda — night-blooming lotuses; ambhoja — and day-blooming lotuses; renubhih — by the pollen; vāsita — made aromatic; amala — pure; toyeshu — in bodies of water; kūjat — cooing; dvija — of birds; kuleshu — where there were flocks; ca — and; vijahāra — He sported; vigāhya — diving; ambhah — into the water; hradinīshu — in rivers; mahā-udayah — the all-powerful Lord; kuca — from their breasts; kuńkuma — by the red cosmetic powder; lipta — smeared; ańgah — His body; parirabdhah — embraced; ca — and; yoshitām — by the women.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvamī said: The master of the goddess of fortune resided happily in His capital city, Dvārakā, which was endowed with all opulences and populated by the most eminent Vrishnis and their gorgeously dressed wives. When these beautiful women in the bloom of youth would play on the city's rooftops with balls and other toys, they shone like flashing lightning. The main streets of the city were always crowded with intoxicated elephants exuding mada, and also with cavalry, richly adorned infantrymen, and soldiers riding chariots brilliantly decorated with gold. Gracing the city were many gardens and parks with rows of flowering trees, where bees and birds would gather, filling all directions with their songs.

Lord Krishna was the sole beloved of His sixteen thousand wives. Expanding Himself into that many forms, He enjoyed with each of His queens in her own richly furnished residence. On the grounds of these palaces were clear ponds fragrant with the pollen of blooming utpala, kahlāra, kumuda and ambhoja lotuses and filled with flocks of cooing birds. The almighty Lord would enter those ponds, and also various rivers, and enjoy sporting in the water while His wives embraced Him, leaving the red kuńkuma from their breasts smeared on His body.

PURPORT

One rule of poetic composition practiced by Vaishnava authors is madhurena samāpayet: "A literary work should conclude in a mood of special sweetness." Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the most tasteful narrator of transcendental topics, has accordingly included in this last chapter of the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam a description of Lord Krishna's water sports in the attractive setting of Dvārakā, followed by the rapturous prayers of the Lord's queens.

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