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,
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं निर्माणं नगरस्य च
Thus everything has been told, including the creation of the city.
अहो किमद्भुतं सूत रहस्यं सुमनोहरम्
Ah, what a wondrous thing, O Sūta! The secret is most enchanting.
सूत उवाच पप्रच्छ कृष्णचरितमपरं सुमनोहरम्
Sūta said: He asked about another most enchanting story of Kṛṣṇa.
नारद उवाच ज्ञानसिंधो निगद मां शिष्यं च शरणागतम्
Nārada said: O ocean of knowledge, speak to me and to my disciple who has taken refuge.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मुदा नारायणः स्वयम्
Hearing Narada's words, Narayana himself became joyful.
श्रीनारायण उवाच जगाम श्रीमधुवनं यमुनातीरनीरजम्
Sri Narayana spoke: He went to the splendid Madhuvana, the sandy bank of the Yamuna.
विचेरुर्गोसहस्रैश्च चिक्रीडुर्बालकास्तदा
He wandered with thousands of cows and played with the boys at that time.
तमूचुर्गोपशिशवः श्रीकृष्णं परया मुदा
The cowherd boys addressed Sri Krishna with great delight.
शिशूनां वचनं श्रुत्वा तानुवाच दयानिधिः
Hearing the words of the children, the compassionate one spoke to them.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच अन्नं याचत ताञ्छीघ्रं ब्राह्मणांश्च क्रतून्मुखान्
Sri Krishna spoke: Quickly ask for food from the Brahmins who are engaged in sacrifice.