Continuing my Krishna verses:
कदाचिन्निशि सुप्तोऽहमशब्दं सर्वतो जगत् ।
मम कर्णपथे यातं कृष्णस्य वचनं तदा ।।५१०।।
Once I was asleep at night and the world around me was silent. Then these words of Krishna reached my ears.
[Partly inspired by James Dillet Freeman’s 1947 poem “I am there,” taken to the moon by astronaut James B. Irwin on Apollo 15]
मा भैषीरहमेवास्मि तवाहं परम: सखा ।
इच्छामि ते कथयितुं किञ्चित् तच्छृणु मे सुहृद् ।।५११।।
Don’t be afraid. Its Me, your best friend. O friend, I want to tell you something. Listen.
अहमस्मि समीपे ते साहाय्यं मे यदीच्छसि ।
अन्वेष्टुं मा गमोऽन्यत्र व्यथां ते कथयस्व मे ।।५१२।।
If you want my help, I am near you. Don’t go elsewhere to search for me. Tell me what is bothering you.
प्रियोऽसि मे सुहृद् भक्त स्मर मां ते सहायकम् ।
त्वदर्थं सत्वरं मित्र नागच्छेयमहं कथम् ।।५१३।।
O friend, my devotee, your are dear to me. Remember me as your helper. O friend, how shall I not come quickly for you?
Madhav M. Deshpande
Professor Emeritus
Sanskrit and Linguistics
University of Michigan
[Residence: Campbell, California]