संघः सखीनां वृन्दः स्यादकारोऽप्यस्तिवाचकः
A group of friends is called a 'vṛnda', and the letter 'a' also serves as an indicator.
वृन्दावने विनोदश्च सोऽस्या ह्यस्ति च तत्र वै
In Vṛndāvana there is delight, and this indeed belongs to her there.
नखचन्द्रावलीवक्रचन्द्रोऽस्ति यत्र संततम्
Where there is always the crescent of the nails and the curved moon.
चन्द्रतुल्या कान्तिरस्ति सदा यस्या दिवानिशम्
She whose radiance is always like the moon, day and night.
शरच्चन्द्रप्रभा यस्याश्चाननेऽस्ति दिवानिशम्
She whose face always possesses the luster of the autumn moon, day and night.
इदं षोडशनामोक्तमर्थव्याख्यानसंयुतम्
Thus the sixteen names have been spoken, together with their explanations of meaning.
ब्रह्मणा च पुरा दत्तं धर्माय जनकाय मे
This was formerly given by Brahmā to my father for the sake of righteousness.
पुष्करे च महातीर्थे पुण्याहे देवसंसदि 4.17.
At Puṣkara, the great holy place, on an auspicious day, in the assembly of the gods.
इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं तुभ्यं दत्तं मया मुने
This great and meritorious hymn has been given to you by me, O sage.
यावज्जीवमिदं स्तोत्रं त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
Whoever recites this hymn at the three junctions of the day, for as long as he lives,
अन्ते लभेत्तयोर्दास्यं शश्वत्सहचरो भवेत्
In the end, he will attain servitude to those two and become their eternal companion.
व्रतदानोपवासैश्च सर्वैर्नियमपूर्वकैः
By all vows, gifts, and fasts, and by all disciplines performed previously,
सर्वेषां यज्ञतीर्थानां करणैर्विधिबोधितैः
By the performance of all sacrifices and pilgrimages as instructed by the scriptures,
शरणागतरक्षायामज्ञानां ज्ञानदानतः
By the protection of those who have taken refuge, and by the giving of knowledge to the ignorant,
तदेव स्तोत्रपाठस्य कलां नार्हति षोडशीम्
None of these equal even a sixteenth part of the recitation of this hymn.
नारद उवाच कवचं चापि देव्याश्च संसारविजयं प्रभो
Nārada said: And also the armor of the goddess, O Lord, which conquers the world—
कृतं स्तोत्रं सुयत्नेन प्राप्तं तदपि दुर्लभम्
The hymn composed with great effort has been attained, yet even so it is difficult to obtain.
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि यद्रहस्यं च तद्वद 4.17.
Now I wish to hear; tell me that secret.
श्रीनारायण उवाच अरुणोदयवेलायां जनाः सर्वे जजागरुः
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: At the time of sunrise, all the people awoke.
उत्थाय दृष्ट्वा नगरं सर्वेभ्योऽपि विलक्षणम्
Rising and seeing the city, they found it unlike any other.
काश्चिद्गोपान्केचिदूचुः कुत एतदभूदिदम्
Some of the cowherds said, 'From where has this come? How did this happen?'
बुबुधे मनसा नन्दो गर्गवाक्यमनुस्मरन्
Nanda understood in his mind, recalling the words of Garga.
ब्रह्मादितृणपर्यन्तं यस्य भ्रूभङ्गलीलया
By whose playful movement of the brow, from Brahmā down to the grass, all are governed,
विवरेष्वेव यल्लोम्नां ब्रह्माण्डान्यखिलानि च
Within the pores of whose body, all the universes exist,
ब्रह्मानन्तेशधर्माश्च ध्यायन्ते यत्पदाम्बुजम्
Brahmā, Ananta, and the righteous meditate upon whose lotus feet,
भ्रामंभ्रामं तन्नगरं दर्शंदर्शं गृहंगृहम्
Wandering about, they viewed that city, house by house.
कृत्वा शुभक्षणं नन्दो वृषभानश्च कौतुकी
Having found an auspicious moment, Nanda and Vṛṣabhānu were filled with curiosity.
सर्वे वृन्दावनस्थाश्च प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणाः 4.17.
All those dwelling in Vṛndāvana, with cheerful faces and gazes,
सर्वे मुमुदिरे गोपाः स्वेस्वे स्थाने मनोहरे
All the cowherds rejoiced in their own delightful places.
श्रीकृष्णो बलदेवश्च शिशुभिः सह कौतुकात्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva, together with the children, out of curiosity,