युक्तं नवभिरारोहैरिन्द्रनीलविनिर्मितैः अत्युच्छ्रितं मनोरम्यं सर्वतोऽपि विलक्षणम्
Adorned with nine ascending tiers, crafted from sapphire, exceedingly tall and delightful, distinct in every aspect.
नारद उवाच यत्नतो यद्गृहं रम्यं निर्ममे सुरकारुणा
Nārada said: With great effort, the divine architect constructed that charming house.
श्रीकृष्णार्द्धांशसंभूता तेन तुल्या च तेजसा यस्यां च सुदृढां भक्तिं सन्तो वाञ्छंति सन्ततम् ।। 4.17.
Born from a portion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, equal in radiance to him, in whom the steadfast devotion is constantly desired by the virtuous.
नारद उवाच मानवः केन पुण्येन कथमाप सुदुर्लभाम्
Nārada said: By what merit did a mortal obtain that exceedingly rare blessing?
वृषभानुर्व्रजपतिः पुराऽऽसीत्को महानहो
Vṛṣabhānu, the lord of Vraja, was once a great soul.
सूत उवाच प्रहस्योवाच प्रीत्या तमितिहासं पुरातनम्
The Sūta said: Smiling, he affectionately spoke that ancient tale.
नारायण उवाच
Nārāyaṇa said:
कलावती रत्नमाला मेनकाश्चातिदुर्लभाः
Kalāvatī, Ratnamālā, and Menakā are exceedingly rare.
शैलाधिपं हरेरंशं मेनका सा हिमालयम्
Menakā is the daughter of the lord of mountains, a portion of Hari, namely Himālaya.
श्रीरामपत्नी श्रीः साक्षात्सीता सत्यपरायणा
Śrī, the wife of Rāma, is truly Sītā, devoted to truth.
कलावती सुचन्द्रं च मनुवंशसमुद्भवम्
Kalāvatī gave birth to Sucandra, descended from the lineage of Manu.
मन्ये गुणवतां श्रेष्ठमात्मानमतिसुन्दरम् 4.17.
I consider him the foremost among the virtuous, exceedingly beautiful in self.
सुकोमलाङ्गं ललितं शरच्चन्द्राधिकाननम्
His limbs are soft and graceful, his face surpasses the autumn moon.
कटाक्षैर्मोहितुं शक्ता मुनीन्द्राणां च मानसम्
With glances, she is able to enchant the minds of even the foremost sages.
स्तनद्वयं सुकठिनमतिपीनोन्नतं मुने
Her two breasts are firm, exceedingly full and prominent, O sage.
हस्तौ पादौ च रक्तौ च पक्वबिम्बफलाधरम्
Her hands and feet are red, and her lips resemble ripe bimba fruit.
शरन्मध्याह्नपद्मानां प्रभामोचनलोचनम्
Her eyes release the radiance of midday autumn lotuses.
इतीव मत्वा दृष्ट्वा च कामबाणप्रपीडितः
Thinking and seeing thus, he was afflicted by the arrows of desire.
क्रीडां चकार रहसि स्थानेस्थाने मनोहरे
He engaged in playful pastimes in various charming secluded places.
चारुचम्पकपुष्पाणां तल्पे रतिसुखावहे
On a bed of beautiful campaka flowers, which brought the delight of love.
पुष्पभद्रानदीतीरे निर्जने केतकीवने
On the bank of the auspicious river, in a solitary ketaki grove.
नन्दने मन्दरद्रोण्यां कावेरीतीरजे वने 4.17.
In Nandana, in the valley of Mandara, and in the forest on the bank of the Kaveri.
द्वीपेद्वीपे तु रहसि स रेमे वामया सह
In secret, on island after island, he sported with his beloved.
एवं वर्षसहस्रं तद्गतमेव मुहूर्तवत्
In this way, a thousand years passed, seeming only a moment to them.
जगाम तपसे विन्ध्यशैलं तीर्थं तया सह
He went for penance to the Vindhya mountain, to the holy place, together with her.
तपस्तेपे नृपस्तत्र दिव्यवर्षसहस्रकम्
There, the king performed austerities for a thousand divine years.
मूर्छामाप मुनिश्रेष्ठ ध्यात्वा कृष्णपदाम्बुजम्
Immersed in meditation on Krishna's lotus feet, O best of sages, he fell into a faint.
निश्चेष्टितं पतिं दृष्ट्वा त्यक्तं प्राणैश्च पञ्चभिः
Seeing her husband motionless, having abandoned the five vital airs,
उच्चै रुरोद शोकार्ता निर्जने तु कलावती
Kalavati, stricken with grief, cried out loudly in that lonely place.
विललाप महादीना पतिव्रतपरायणा
Utterly miserable, devoted to her husband, she lamented.