Shloka 26
Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water
प्रयच्छ तानि न: कृष्ण गन्धलोभितचेतसाम् । वाञ्छास्ति महती राम गम्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ २६ ॥
prayaccha tāni naḥ kṛṣṇa gandha-lobhita-cetasām vāñchāsti mahatī rāma gamyatāṁ yadi rocate
कृष्ण, तानि फलानि नः प्रयच्छ; गन्धेन लोभितचेतसाम्। हे राम, तेषु महती वाञ्छा; यदि रोचते तर्हि तालवनं गम्यताम्॥
Although neither man nor bird nor beast could even approach the Tāla forest, the cowherd boys had so much faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma that they took it for granted the two Lords could effortlessly kill the sinful ass demons and acquire the delicious tāla fruits. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s cowherd boyfriends are exalted, self-realized souls who would not ordinarily become greedy for sweet fruits. In fact, they are simply joking with the Lord and enthusing His pastimes, urging Him to perform unprecedented heroic feats in the Tāla forest. Innumerable demons disturbed the sublime atmosphere of Vṛndāvana during Lord Kṛṣṇa’s presence there, and the Lord would kill such demons as a popular daily event.
FAQs
This verse shows the Vraja boys’ hearts being drawn to Kṛṣṇa through something as simple as fragrance—illustrating how even the senses, when centered on Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, become channels of bhakti.
In the flow of playful Vṛndāvana pastimes, the boys—captivated by a delightful fragrance—ask Kṛṣṇa to return the items and request to go where their longing leads, speaking with the intimacy of friendship.
Channel natural attractions (sound, beauty, fragrance, taste) toward remembrance of God—through kīrtana, sacred reading, tulasī and incense in worship, and mindful association—so desire becomes devotional rather than distracting.