इदं गर्गकृतं स्तोत्रं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
Whoever recites this hymn composed by Garga at the three junctions of the day—
जन्ममृत्युजरारोगशोकमोहादिसंकटात्
From the distress of birth, death, old age, disease, sorrow, delusion, and the like—
कृष्णस्य सहकालं च कृष्णसार्द्धं च मोदते
He enjoys the company of Kṛṣṇa at the proper time and delights together with Kṛṣṇa.
श्रीनारायण उवाच हरिं मुनिः स्तवं कृत्वा ददौ नन्दाय तं मुदा
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The sage, having composed a hymn to Hari, joyfully gave it to Nanda.
अहो विचित्रं संसारो मोहजालेन वेष्टितः 4.13.
Ah, how strange is this world, enwrapped in the net of delusion!
गर्गस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रुरोद नन्द एव च
Hearing the words of Garga, Nanda also wept.
सर्वशिष्यैः परिवृतं मुनीन्द्रं गन्तुमुद्यतम्
Surrounded by all his disciples, the chief of sages prepared to depart.
प्रणेमुः परमप्रीत्या चक्रुस्तं विनयं मुने
With utmost affection, they bowed to the sage and offered him their respects.
ऋषयो मुनयश्चैव बन्धुवर्गाश्च बल्लवाः
The seers, sages, and also the relatives and cowherds—
प्रजग्मुर्बन्दिनः सर्वे परिपूर्णमनोरथाः
All the bards departed, their desires completely fulfilled.
आकण्ठपूर्णा भुक्त्या च भिक्षुका गन्तुमक्षमा
The mendicants, having eaten to fullness up to their throats, were unable to depart.
सुमन्दगामिनः केचित्केचिद्भूमौ च शेरते
Some moved about very slowly, while others lay down upon the ground.
केचिदूषुः प्रमुदिता हसन्तस्तत्र केचन ।। कपर्दकानां वस्तूनां शेषांश्चोर्वरितान्बहून्
Some, delighted, laughed aloud there; others took many remaining coins and goods that had been left behind.
केचित्तानाददुः स्थित्वा दर्शयन्तश्च केचन
Some, having stood still, did not take them, while others displayed them openly.
केचिद्बहुविधा गाथाः कथयन्तः पुरातनाः 4.13.
Some recited many kinds of ancient songs.
उत्तानपादनहुषनलादीनां च याः कथाः
These were the stories of Uttānapāda, Nahuṣa, and others.
येषांयेषां नृपाणां च श्रुता वृद्धमुखात्कथाः
Stories of various kings, as heard from the mouths of elders.
स्थायंस्थायं गताः केचित्स्वापंस्वापं च केचन
Some remained standing in place, while others fell asleep here and there.
हृष्टो नन्दो यशोदा च बालं कृत्वा च वक्षसि
Nanda and Yaśodā, overjoyed, held the child to their chest.
एवं प्रवर्द्धितौ बालौ शुक्लचन्द्रकलोपमौ
Thus the two boys grew, resembling the bright phases of the white moon.
शब्दार्द्धं वा तदर्द्धं वा क्षमौ वक्तुं दिनेदिने
Day by day, they became able to speak half a word or even a part of a word.
बालो द्विपादं पादं वा गन्तुं शक्तो बभूव ह
The boy became able to walk two steps, or even one step.
वर्षाधिको हि वयसा कृष्णात्संकर्षणः स्वयम्
Saṃkarṣaṇa was, by age, older than Kṛṣṇa by more than a year.
व्रजन्तौ गोकुले बालौ प्रहृष्टगमने क्षमौ
The two boys wandered in Gokula, joyfully moving about on the ground.
गर्गो जगाम मथुरां वसुदेवाश्रमं मुने 4.13.
Garga went to Mathurā, to the hermitage of Vasudeva, O sage.
मुनिस्तं कथयामास कुशलं सुमहोत्सवम्
The sage told him of the great festival and their well-being.
देवकी परमप्रीत्या पप्रच्छ च पुनःपुनः
Devakī, with utmost affection, asked again and again.
गर्गस्तावाशिषं दत्त्वा जगाम स्वालयं मुदा
Garga, having given them his blessings, joyfully returned to his own home.
श्रीनारायण उवाच पञ्चाशत्कामिनीनां च पतिर्गन्धर्वपुङ्गवः
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The foremost among Gandharvas became the husband of fifty lustful women.
तासां प्राणाधिकस्त्वं च शृङ्गारनिपुणो युवा
Among them, you were dearest to their lives, a youthful master skilled in love.