Continuing my Krishna Verses:

दुर्योधने सभायां त्वां बद्धुकामे नराधमे ।

निर्मितानि सहस्राणि त्वया रूपाणि माधव ।।४२१।।

When that evil man Duryodhana wanted to arrest you in his court, O Kr̥ṣṇa, you created thousands of your forms.


सर्वतो भ्रमत: कृष्णान् वीक्ष्य संभ्रान्तमानस: ।

दुर्योधन: पृच्छति त्वां कुत्रासि मधुसूदन ।।४२२।।

Confused seeing all those Kr̥ṣṇas wandering around him, Duryodhana asked you: “Where are you, O Kr̥ṣṇa?”


द्विषां कुरूणां सदसि द्रौपदी व्याकुलीकृता ।

त्यक्ता स्वपतिभिर्ब्रूते धाव त्वं मधुसूदन ।।४२३।।

In the assembly of the hateful Kauravas, Draupadī, abandoned by her husbands, was tormented, and calls upon you: “Come running, O Kr̥ṣṇa!”


रक्ष मां रक्ष मां कृष्ण भ्राता त्वं मे जनार्दन ।

पञ्चापि पतय: क्लीबा: न मां रक्षन्ति केशव ।।४२४।।

“Save me, save me, O Kr̥ṣṇa.  O Lord, you are my brother.  O Kr̥ṣṇa, all my five husbands are powerless, and they are not protecting me.”


भगिन्यास्तव गोविन्द क्रोशन्त्या: कुरु रक्षणम् ।

प्रतीक्षे त्वां दीनबन्धो कुत्रासि मधुसूदन ।।४२५।।

“O Kr̥ṣṇa, please protect your crying sister.  I am waiting for you, O Brother of the Downtrodden!  Where are you, O Kr̥ṣṇa.”


धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे रथोपस्थे स्थितोऽर्जुन: ।

पश्यन्नपि विश्वरूपं रौति कुत्रासि माधव ।।४२६।।

On the holy battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Arjuna, kneeling on the ground near his chariot, even while watching your cosmic form, cried out: “Where are you, O Mādhava.”


समीपस्थोऽपि गोविन्द दूरेऽसि महदाकृति: ।

विजानामि कथं कृष्ण कुत्रासि मधुसूदन ।।४२७।।

O Kr̥ṣṇa, though you are near, due to your massive cosmic form you are also very far.  How do I know, O Kr̥ṣṇa, where you are?


यादवास्ते यदाकुर्वन् युद्धं मूढा: स्वबान्धवै: ।

क्षतपादस्त्वं प्रयात: कुत्रासि मधुसूदन ।।४२८।।

When your relatives, the Yādavas, fought each other in delusion, you, with a wounded foot, departed.  Where are you, O Kr̥ṣṇa?


अगतो वा गतो वा त्वमिति चिन्ताकुलं जगत् ।

तवागतिं प्रतीक्षेऽहं कुत्रासि मधुसूदन ।।४२९।।

The whole world is worried whether you did or did not depart.  I am waiting for your arrival.  Where are you, O Kr̥ṣṇa?


यदि यातोऽसि वैकुण्ठं पुनरायाहि सत्वरम् ।

त्वया विना जगज्जीवेत् कथमेतज्जनार्दन ।।४३०।।

If you did go to your heavenly world [Vaikuṇṭha], please come back quickly.  O Lord, how can the world survive without you?


अगतो यदि गोविन्द दर्शनं देहि माधव ।

अदर्शनं ते कातर्यं कुरुते नो जगत्पते ।।४३१।।

If you did not depart, O Kr̥ṣṇa, then become visible to me.  Your invisibility causes fear in us, O Lord.


Madhav M. Deshpande
Professor Emeritus
Sanskrit and Linguistics
University of Michigan
[Residence: Campbell, California]