poem – krishna learns to walk

Kanha walks
Two steps at a time,
Yasoda’s desires see
Fulfilment sublime.
‘Runuk jhunk’ sing His anklets,
A sound
So pleasing to the mind.
He sits,
But then is up immediately,
A sight difficult to describe.
All the ladies of Braj tire
Of seeing such beauty divine.

poem – krishna begining to speak

Mohan’s begun to say ‘Maiya Maiya,’
And ‘Baba Baba’ to Nanda,
Balaram He’s calling ‘baiya’
From atop the house Yasoda shouts
Taking the name of kanhaiya.
Don’t go far to play my darling
Someone’s cow will hit ye.
The gopas and gopis celebrate boisterously
In each house there is festivity
Surdas, for a glimpse of the Lord
My all is surrendered to the Almighty.

poem – awake o ! prince of braj

Awake, Krishna,
awake the lotus-petals
open the water-lilies droop
the bumblebees have left
the creepers cocks crow,
and birds chirp on the trees.
The cows are in the byre lowing;
they run after their calves;
the moon fades before the sun.
Men and women arise
and joyfully sing their songs;
Krishna, of hands lotus-like awake,
for the day is about to dawn.

poem – krishna’s meal

Kanha eats in Yasoda’s lap.
some he eats, some he drops,
as the ladies of Nandgaon watch,
some he eats and some he puts
in Nanda’s mouth,
this joy is beyound recount.
some he eats, some gives to gopas,
butter in his hands, curd in doniyas.
The joy of Yasoda
the three worlds cannot account.
the meal is over, Kanha washes,
for Sur the left-overs count.

poem – merciful krishna

See the greatness of Krishna;
though Lord, Father and Master of the world
he willingly bears the arrogance of his close devotees
Shiva and Brahma were roaring mad
when Bhrigu kicked them,
but he gently pressed the sage’s foot
when it struck his breast!’
Which of the gods
can emulate him?
He befriends selflessly;

Embracing his foe Ravana’s brother, Vibhisana’ as lovingly as his own
brother Bharata, sending to heaven the demoness Putana

who tried to kill him’-
Such is Sura’s Lord,
the selfless Giver.

poem – nanda’s darling child

Who can contain his joy, say, on seeing the lotus-like lovely face of Nanda’s darling child when he awakes?

His beauty infatuates sages,and destroys the pride of Kama, it captivates the hearts of hundreds of young girls. When he softly smiles the gleam of his teeth seems as though rubies have been stringed with pearls.

When my Lord, Nanda’s lovely child goes out, says Suradasa, the people of Braj are bewitched by his loveliness.

Poem – Krishna Complains About His Older Brother

O mother mine, Dau (Balram)forever teases me.
you never gave birth to me,

and I was bought in the market.

this is what he tells me

o mother mihne, Dau forever teases me.

fed up of his teasing ways,

I don’t go out to play.

who is your mother?

and who is your father?

again and again he says.

Yasoda’s fair, so also Nanda,

how come you’re so dark?

Dau provokes, the gopas laugh,

and all have such a lark.

me, mother, you want to beat,

but Dau you never even scold,

seeing the anger on Mohan’s face

Yasoda’s joy was untold,

listen Kanha, Balbhadra is naughty,

wicked from his birth,

you’re my son, and I your mother,

I swear by mother cows worth! 

Poem – Krishna Denying He Stole The Butter

O mother mine, I did not eat the butter

come dawn, with the herds,

you send me to the jungle,

o, mother mine, I did not eat the butter.

all day long with my flute in the jungles

at dusk do I return home.

but a child, younger than my friends

how could I reach up to the butter?

all the gopas are against me

on my face they wipe the butter,

you mother, are much too innocent,

you believe all their chatter.

there is a flaw in your behaviour,

you consider me not yours,

take you herd-stick and the blanket

I’ll dance to your tune no longer.

Surdas, Yasoda then laughed,

and took the boy in her arms,

mother mine I did not eat the butter. 

Krishna goes to the Woods – Sant Surdas

O Krishna, darling of Gokula, awake
I have brought you milk, curd and sugar-candy come and partake of these delicacies: your pals are at the door, calling you to play; the sun has risen and it’s time to go to the woods.
Hearing her words Krishna joyfully arose and after breakfasting departed for the woods Says Suradasa, my heart’s always where the Lord is. 

Krishna Denying He Stole the Butter – Sant Surdas

O mother mine, I did not eat the butter

Come dawn, with the herds,

you send me to the jungle,

o, mother mine, I did not eat the butter.

all day long with my flute in the jungles

at dusk do I return home.

but a child, younger than my friends

how could I reach up to the butter?

all the gopas are against me

on my face they wipe the butter,

you mother, are much too innocent,

you believe all their chatter.

there is a flaw in your behaviour,

you consider me not yours,

take you herd-stick and the blanket

I’ll dance to your tune no longer.

Surdas, Yasoda then laughed,

and took the boy in her arms,

mother mine I did not eat the butter. 

The Deeds Of Krishna – Sant Surdas

There is no end to the deeds of Krishna: 

true to his promise, he tended the cows in Gokula; 

Lord of the gods and compassionate to his devotees, 

he came as Nrisingha 

and tore apart Hiranyakashipa. 

When Bali spread his dominion 

over the three worlds, 

he begged three paces of land from him 

to uphold the majesty of the gods, 

and stepped over his entire domain: 

here too he rescued the captive elephant. 

Countless such deeds figure in the Vedas and the Puranas, 

hearing which Suradasa 

humbly bows before that Lord.

Krishna Returning With The Herd – Sant Surdas

Mohan comes herding the cows, 

crown of peacock feathers on his head, 

garland of forest flowers on his chest, 

in his hand a wooden staff, 

his body wrapped in cow-dust. 

A band around his waist 

and from his feet the sound of anklets 

there amidst his cow-boy friends 

Shyam comes. His yellow garments standing out 

like lightning amidst the clouds.

Secret Signs – Sant Surdas

Krishna conveyed by signs to clever Radha. [he could not speak out as her girl friends were with her] to make a pretence of milking the cows, and picking up the milkpail come to meet him in the meadow. Nanda, his foster-father, would also be there to have the cows counted and verified, and he would bring him along too. So they would have a chance to meet. Radha’s heart rejoiced at their mutual resolve. But that lovely golden-hued girl, feeling abashed, hid her face in her arms. Krishna amorously lifting it up gazed at her lovingly. They kept their hidden love to themselves. Says Suradasa as Krishna went on speaking sweet nothings, Radha blushed with shame.

The Course Of Love – Sant Surdas

Seeing Radha stand alone, Krishna came from behind and blindfolded her with his hands. But his hands could not fully cover her large and elongated vivacious eyes. They shone out from within his fingers as a serpent’s gem which it had disgorged and hid between its fangs;” or as Rahu finding the sun and Mars together, had pounced and held them fast. Krishna does not have any self-interest, for there is nothing for him to desire or achieve. But he removes the grief of separation of those whom he loves. His eyes came close to Radha’s, and his lips were on hers. It was as though the lotuses forgetting their opposition to the moon had opened their petals to be kissed by the moon rays. Says Suradasa, Krishna’s loving embrace removed from Radha. the sorrow of her parting.

Krishna Awakes – Sant Surdas

Krishna awake, for the day has dawned: 

large, deep and lotus-like, 

your eyes are as in the love-shaped lake 

a pair of swans even a million Kamadevas cannot vie 

with the bewitching beauty of your face; 

the sun rises in the east, 

a crimson ball the night is going 

and the moonlight pales 

the lamps turn dim 

and the stars fade out 

as though the bright radiance of wisdom’s rays 

dispels the pleasures that the senses tire, 

and the light of hope chases away 

the murky darkness of despair and doubt. 
Listen, the birds sing 

aloud with glee O sweet child, 

life of my life, 

my sole wealth, 

O darling boy, 

bards and minstrels 

sing your praises, 

saying ‘victory! victory!’ 
Clusters of lotuses burst into bloom 

the bumblebees humming with sweet sound 

leave the lotuses; 

as though the devout renouncing worldly ties, 

in your love drowned 

chant your name as they go about. 
Hearing his mother’s words with love 

drenched the Lord of Mercy arose from his bed; 

the world’s woes vanished, 

maya’s net was rent. 
Says Suradasa, 

‘Seeing his lotus face delusion fled; 

all doubts and dualities were destroyed and I found in Govinda eternal joy.

Krishna Approaches Radha – Sant Surdas

Krishna said, ‘O fair beauty, who are you? 

Where do you live? Whose daughter are you? 

I never yet saw you in the lanes of Braj.’ 
Radha said, ‘What need have I to come this way? 

I keep playing by my door. 

But I hear that some son of Nanda 

is in the habit of stealing butter and curds.’ 
Krishna said, ‘Look, why should I appropriate 

anything that’s yours? Come, let’s play together.’ 
Suradasa says: By his honied words, 

Krishna, the crafty prince of amorists, 

beguiled Radha and put her at ease.

Breakfast – Sant Surdas

O Hari, ’tis morn, awake, there’s water in the jar for you to wash your face no need to hurry there’s plenty of time. 
I’ll bring you whatever you like for your breakfast- dried fruits, butter, honey and bread. 
Says Suradasa, Yashoda’s heart overflows with joy when her gaze alights on her darling boy.

The First Meeting Of Radha And Krishna – Sant Surdas

Krishna went playing in the lanes of Braj, 

a yellow silk garment round his waist, 

holding a top and a string to spin it with, 

a crown of peacock-feathers adorning his head 

his ears with charming ear-rings decked, 

his teeth flashing brighter than the sun’s rays, 

his limbs anointed with sandalwood-paste. 
On the Yamuna bank he chanced to see Radha; 

a tika mark of turmeric on her brow, 

dressed in a flowing skirt and blue blouse, 

her lovely long wreathed hair dangling behind, 

a stripling, fair, of beauty unsurpassed 

with he a bevy of fair milkmaids: 
Krishna’s eyes met her’s; 

love woke in his heart, 

says Suradasa, bewitched by her, 

he gazed and gazed.

The Lord Helps His Devotees – Sant Surdas

The voice falters 

when it sings of the deeds of the Lord 

who’s an ocean of mercy. 

He gave guileful Putana, who posed as his mother, a 

mother’s reward! 

He of whom the Vedas and the Upanishads sing as the Unmanifest, 

let Yashoda bind him with a rope, 

lamented Ugrasena’s grief, 

and after killing Kansa made him king 

paying him obeisance, bowing low; 

Freed the kings held captive by jardsandha 

at which the kingly hosts sang his praises; 

removing Gautama’s curse 

he restored life to stone-turned Ahalya:’ 

all in a moment he rescued Braj’s ruler from the sea-monster running to his 

aid as a cow to her calf,” 

he came hastening to rescue the king of the elephants; 

he got Namadeva’s hut thatched. 

says Suradasa, O, make Hari hear my prayer.

The Lord Is His Devotees Slave – Sant Surdas

Whatever is a devotee’s 

caste, clan, family, or name, 

Rama’s love for him is the same. 
Beggar and king 

are one to him. 
Say, of what caste could be 

Brahma or Shiva? 
Rama will never abide 

in the egotistic man’s heart 

therefore his slave, Suradasa, 

has abandoned pride. 
Rama was born in the Raghu clan 

Krishna found his home in Gokula. 
Words fail to tell of 

the Lord’s love 

universal, all-embracing; 

Dhruva was a Kshatriya, 

Prahlada a demon and Vidura the son of a maid: 

yet the Lord gave them his supreme love, 

Krishna washed the devotees’ feet 

at the Rajasuya. 
The Lord is the slave 

of his devotees 

age after age. 

The tongue can’t relate 

his countless deeds. 
Says Suradasa, the Puranas and Vedas 

are witness to these.

The Welcome Of The Women Of Braj – Sant Surdas

‘Tis morn, O Krishna, awake, all the pretty young milkmaids are calling for you; arise O Braj’s prince, The sun is up in the sky, the moon pales, the tender tamala trees are in full bloom . 
The women of Braj have stringed a garland of flowers of many kinds and wait to greet you. Arise dear child, wash your face and have your breakfast, O my heart’s delight! 
Says Sura, my Lord of large lotus-like eyes is the abode of bliss that never abates.

Yasoda Inducing Krishna To Stay Nearby – Sant Surdas

Kanha, don’t go so far to play, 

you do not know the ‘hau’ is here, 

I’ve learnt of it today. 

one boy came running just now 

I saw him crying away, 

the ‘hau’ clips the ears away 

of little boys astray. 

come let us be up and gone 

to near our place of stay, 

Sur, Shyam on hearing this, 

with Balaram came away.