Abhanga 4517

A 30-verse extended-narrative. Each (does) sevā in his own way, sings the song, playing for Deva. Khelu māṇḍiyelā Yamune pābaḷī — yā re cheṇḍu-phaḷī kheḷūm ātām — the game is set on Yamunā's bank, come, let's play cheṇḍu-phaḷī now. Brought out the ḍāngas, four-times the kāṭhīs; sitting, divide-the-partners. When (Krṣṇa) looks for a partner like-himself, Nārāyaṇa says — there is no second. Knowing all their bhāva, Govinda tells them the upāya: 'all on one side; keep my ball, friends; I need no other companion; many must-watch my cries; meet my-shout-with-shout, don't fall-apart; stay-in-one-tukā; whoever-goes (after it), catch the ball.' Saying so, (he) stands separately-alone. He winds and shoots the ball ūrdhva-mukha; all stand-watching. They stand watching, not-moving — he says quickly 'catch!' Only one of strength catches; others can't reach. Not work, not strength, not buddhi — the low can't catch without the high. The gopāḷas fall to thinking; he says: 'all come after me.' Mārga Devāviṇa na dise āṇikā — chatura hōta kā bahuta jana — without Deva no other sees the path, however many become clever. Chatura cintitī bahuta māraga — Hari jāya lāga pāhōniyām — clever-ones think many paths; Hari goes seeing-the-track. Yā māgēm je gele govindā gopāḷa — te nele śītaḷa pantha ṭhāyā — those gopāḷas who went after Govinda — were taken to a cool path-place. Those who strayed by their own mati — their hāla follows them. Hāla to both — the leader and followers — when the path is mistaken. The followers must open their eyes. He who has no maturity-of-age, no thinking — is body-equal to a child. He who doesn't-hear-the-hita with ears — the bhalle shouldn't follow him. Doing-what's-against-the-śreṣṭha's-mana — that is the only true mūrkha. (They) became rāna-bharī, didn't know the path; then Śrīranga was remembered. Shedding shame, they-yell-out — heard by Vaikuṇṭha-nāyaka. The four vedas praise his fame — his special prīti is for the gopāḷas. Gopāḷāmcā dhāvā āikilā kānīm — sōyī chakrapāṇi pālavilēm — heard the gopāḷas' cry in his ears, Chakrapāṇi waved (his) flap. Coming under his shade, they reached Hari; small and great were protected. Sāmbhāḷile Tukā mhaṇe sakaḷa hi — sukhī jhāle te hi Hari-mukhē — Tukā says: (he) protected all — they became sukhī by Hari-mukha.