Bhagavata Purana

इत्येतत्कथितं गुर्वि ज्ञानं तद्‍ब्रह्मदर्शनम् । येन अनुबुद्ध्यते तत्त्वं प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्य च

Thus has been spoken this profound knowledge, which is the vision of Brahman, by which one discerns the reality of both prakriti and purusha.

यथेन्द्रियैः पृथग्द्वारैः अर्थो बहुगुणाश्रयः । एको नानेयते तद्वद् भगवान् शास्त्रवर्त्मभिः

Just as an object, though possessing many qualities, is not divided because it is perceived through the separate gates of the senses, so too is Bhagavan, though approached by various scriptural paths.

क्रियया क्रतुभिर्दानैः तपःस्वाध्यायमर्शनैः । आत्मेन्द्रियजयेनापि सन्न्यासेन च कर्मणाम्

By action, by sacrifices, by gifts, by austerity, by study, by self-restraint, by mastery over the senses and mind, and by renunciation of actions—

योगेन विविधाङ्गेन भक्तियोगेन चैव हि । धर्मेणोभयचिह्नेन यः प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिमान्

By yoga with its various limbs, and indeed by the yoga of devotion, by dharma marked by both activity and renunciation, one who is engaged in both—

आत्मतत्त्वावबोधेन वैराग्येण दृढेन च । ईयते भगवानेभिः सगुणो निर्गुणः स्वदृक्

Through realization of the truth of the self, and by firm detachment, Bhagavan is attained by these means, both with qualities and without, by one who sees with his own self.

प्रावोचं भक्तियोगस्य स्वरूपं ते चतुर्विधम् । कालस्य चाव्यक्तगतेः योऽन्तर्धावति जन्तुषु

I have described to you the fourfold nature of bhakti-yoga, and also that which, when time has entered the unmanifest, disappears among living beings.

जीवस्य संसृतीर्बह्वीः अविद्याकर्म निर्मिताः । यास्वङ्ग प्रविशन्नात्मा न वेद गतिमात्मनः

The many cycles of transmigration of the living being, created by ignorance and action, into which the self enters, yet does not know its own path.

नैतत्खलायोपदिशेन् नाविनीताय कर्हिचित् । न स्तब्धाय न भिन्नाय नैव धर्मध्वजाय च

This should never be taught to the wicked, nor to the undisciplined, nor to the arrogant, nor to the hostile, nor to those who are only outwardly religious.

न लोलुपायोपदिशेत् न गृहारूढचेतसे । नाभक्ताय च मे जातु न मद्‍भक्तद्विषामपि

It should not be taught to the greedy, nor to one whose mind is absorbed in household life, nor ever to one who is not devoted to me, nor even to those who hate my devotees.

श्रद्दधानाय भक्ताय विनीताय अनसूयवे । भूतेषु कृतमैत्राय शुश्रूषाभिरताय च

But to one who is faithful, devoted, disciplined, free from envy, friendly to all beings, and eager to serve—

बहिर्जातविरागाय शान्तचित्ताय दीयताम् । निर्मत्सराय शुचये यस्याहं प्रेयसां प्रियः

Let this be given to one who is outwardly detached, whose mind is peaceful, who is free from envy, pure, and for whom I am the dearest among the dear.

य इदं श्रृणुयाद् अम्ब श्रद्धया पुरुषः सकृत् । यो वाभिधत्ते मच्चित्तः स ह्येति पदवीं च मे

O mother, any person who even once hears this with faith, or who recites it with mind fixed on me, surely attains my path.

महारासवर्णनं; परीक्षित्कृत शंकायाः शुकद्वारा समाधानं च - श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) इत्थं भगवतो गोप्यः श्रुत्वा वाचः सुपेशलाः । जहुर्विरहजं तापं तदङ्‌गोपचिताशिषः

Śrī Śuka said: Thus, having heard the most beautiful words of the Lord, the cowherd women let go of the pain born of separation, their desires fulfilled by his presence.

तत्रारभत गोविन्दो रासक्रीडामनुव्रतैः । स्त्रीरत्‍नैरन्वितः प्रीतैः अन्योन्याबद्धबाहुभिः

There, Govinda began the rāsa play, surrounded by devoted and joyful women, the finest of jewels among women, their arms entwined with one another.

रासोत्सवः सम्प्रवृत्तो गोपीमण्डलमण्डितः । योगेश्वरेण कृष्णेन तासां मध्ये द्वयोर्द्वयोः

The festival of rāsa commenced, adorned by the circle of gopīs, with Kṛṣṇa, the lord of yogis, standing between each pair among them.

प्रविष्टेन गृहीतानां कण्ठे स्वनिकटं स्त्रियः । यं मन्येरन् नभस्तावद् विमानशतसङ्‌कुलम्

Entering among them, he drew the women close by the neck; those who saw this would imagine the sky crowded with hundreds of flying palaces.

दिवौकसां सदाराणां औत्सुक्यापहृतात्मनाम् । ततो दुन्दुभयो नेदुः निपेतुः पुष्पवृष्टयः । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयः सस्त्रीकास्तद् यशोऽमलम्

The gods, along with their wives, their minds carried away by eagerness, watched; then drums sounded, showers of flowers fell, and the lords of the Gandharvas sang his spotless glory with their wives.

वलयानां नूपुराणां किङ्‌किणीनां च योषिताम् । सप्रियाणामभूत् शब्दः तुमुलो रासमण्डले

In the rāsa circle arose a tumultuous sound from the bracelets, anklets, and bells of the women, together with their beloveds.

तत्रातिशुशुभे ताभिः भगवान् देवकीसुतः । मध्ये मणीनां हैमानां महामरकतो यथा

Among them, the Lord, son of Devakī, shone exceedingly, as a great emerald among golden gems.

( शार्दूलविक्रीडित ) पादन्यासैर्भुजविधुतिभिः सस्मितैर्भ्रूविलासैः । भज्यन्मध्यैश्चलकुचपटैः कुण्डलैर्गण्डलोलैः । स्विद्यन्मुख्यः कवररसना ग्रन्थयः कृष्णवध्वो । गायन्त्यस्तं तडित इव ता मेघचक्रे विरेजुः

With the stamping of feet, the waving of arms, smiling glances, playful movements of brows, swaying earrings brushing their cheeks, loosened hair braids damp with sweat, the wives of Kṛṣṇa sang; they shone like lightning within a circle of clouds.

( अनुष्टुप् ) उच्चैर्जगुर्नृत्यमाना रक्तकण्ठ्यो रतिप्रियाः । कृष्णाभिमर्शमुदिता यद्‍गीतेनेदमावृतम्

Dancing, their voices raised, their throats flushed with passion, delighted by Kṛṣṇa's touch, the beloveds sang, filling the place with their song.

काचित् समं मुकुन्देन स्वरजातीरमिश्रिताः । उन्निन्ये पूजिता तेन प्रीयता साधु साध्विति । तदेव ध्रुवमुन्निन्ये तस्यै मानं च बह्वदात्

One, together with Mukunda, skillfully blended her singing with his, and being honored by him with affection and praised as 'well done, well done,' she sang again and again, and he showed her great favor.

काचिद् रासपरिश्रान्ता पार्श्वस्थस्य गदाभृतः । जग्राह बाहुना स्कन्धं श्लथद्वलयमल्लिका

One, exhausted from the rāsa, rested her arm, with loosened bracelet and jasmine garland, upon the shoulder of the mace-bearer who stood beside her.

तत्रैकांसगतं बाहुं कृष्णस्योत्पलसौरभम् । चन्दनालिप्तमाघ्राय हृष्टरोमा चुचुम्ब ह

One, taking Kṛṣṇa's arm, fragrant with blue lotus and smeared with sandalwood, to her nose, thrilled with joy, kissed it.

कस्याश्चित् नाट्यविक्षिप्त कुण्डलत्विषमण्डितम् । गण्डं गण्डे सन्दधत्याः अदात्ताम्बूलचर्वितम्

Another, her cheek adorned with the gleam of earrings tossed by her dancing, pressed her cheek to his and offered him betel she had chewed.

नृत्यती गायती काचित् कूजन् नूपुरमेखला । पार्श्वस्थाच्युतहस्ताब्जं श्रान्ताधात् स्तनयोः शिवम्

One, dancing and singing, her anklets and girdle ringing, weary, placed the lotus hand of Acyuta, who stood beside her, upon her breasts for comfort.

गोप्यो लब्ध्वाच्युतं कान्तं श्रिय एकान्तवल्लभम् । गृहीतकण्ठ्यस्तद्दोर्भ्यां गायन्त्यस्तं विजह्रिरे

The gopīs, having gained Acyuta as their beloved, the exclusive consort of Śrī, embraced him around the neck with their arms and, singing, enjoyed with him.

( वसंततिलका ) कर्णोत्पलालकविटङ्‌ककपोलघर्म वक्त्रश्रियो वलयनूपुरघोषवाद्यैः । गोप्यः समं भगवता ननृतुः स्वकेश स्रस्तस्रजो भ्रमरगायकरासगोष्ठ्याम्

With lotus earrings, locks of hair, cheeks shining with sweat, faces radiant, and the music of bracelets and anklets, the gopīs danced together with the Lord, their garlands loosened in their hair, in the company of bees singing in the cowherd's grove.

( मिश्र ) एवं परिष्वङ्‌गकराभिमर्श स्निग्धेक्षणोद्दामविलासहासैः । रेमे रमेशो व्रजसुन्दरीभिः यथार्भकः स्वप्रतिबिम्बविभ्रमः

Thus, with embraces, touches of the hand, affectionate glances, exuberant playful smiles and laughter, the Lord of Lakshmi delighted with the beautiful women of Vraja, just as a child delights in his own reflected image.