विप्रभार्या हरिं नत्वा जग्मुर्गोलोकमीप्सितम्
Having bowed to Hari along with their wives, the Brahmins departed for the desired Goloka.
हरिश्छायां विनिर्माय तासां च विष्णुमायया
Hari created his own shadow for them by the power of Vishnu's Maya.
विप्राश्च भार्या उद्दिश्य परमोद्विग्नमानसाः
The Brahmins, thinking of their wives, became extremely distressed in mind.
दृष्ट्वोचुर्ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे तास्ते च विनयान्विताः
Seeing this, all the Brahmins spoke, and those women responded with humility.
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः अस्माकं जीवनं व्यर्थं वेदपाठोऽप्यनर्थकः
The Brahmins said: Our lives are wasted, even our recitation of the Vedas is fruitless.
वेदे पुराणे सर्वत्र विद्वद्भिः परिकीर्तिताः
In the Vedas and Purāṇas everywhere, the learned have proclaimed,
तपो जपो व्रतं ज्ञानं वेदा ध्ययनमर्चनम्
Austerity, recitation, vows, knowledge, study of the Vedas, and worship—
श्रीकृष्णः सेवितो येन किं तस्य तपसां फलैः
For one who has served Śrī Kṛṣṇa, what is the use of the fruits of austerities?
श्रीकृष्णो हृदये यस्य तस्य किं कर्मभिः कृतैः ।।4.18.
For one who has Śrī Kṛṣṇa in his heart, what is the use of actions performed?
इत्येवमुक्त्वा विप्राश्च गृहीत्वा कामिनीवराः
Thus speaking, the Brahmins took their excellent wives with them.
तासां ततोऽधिकं प्रेम क्रीडासु सर्वकर्मसु
Their love for them increased even more in play and in all activities.
अथ नारायणः सोऽयं बलेन शिशुभिः सह
Then Nārāyaṇa, together with the children, by his strength,
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं हरेर्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Thus, everything has been told regarding the supreme greatness of Hari.
नारद उवाच मुनीन्द्रयोगसिद्धानां दुर्लभा गतिरीश्वरी
Nārada said: The divine destination is difficult to attain even for the greatest sages accomplished in yoga.
इमाः का वा पुण्यवत्यः पुरा तस्थुर्महीतलम्
Who were these virtuous women who once dwelled upon the earth?
सप्तर्षीणां रमण्यश्च रूपेणाप्रतिमाः पराः
They were the beautiful wives of the seven sages, unparalleled in form and excellence.
नवीनयौवनाः सर्वाः पीनश्रोणि पयोधराः
All were in the freshness of youth, with full hips and breasts.
तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभाः स्मेराननसरोरुहाः
Their faces bloomed with smiles, shining like molten gold.
दृष्ट्वा तासां स्तनश्रोणिमुखानि सुन्दराणि च 4.18.
Seeing their beautiful breasts, hips, and faces,
अग्निस्थानस्थितानां च शिखया सुरतोन्मुखः
and the women standing by the fire altar, his mind turned to passion.
पतिव्रता न जानन्ति पतिपादाब्जमानसाः
Chaste wives, their minds fixed on the lotus feet of their husbands, do not know this.
वह्नेश्च मानसं ज्ञात्वा भगवानङ्गिरा मुनिः
Knowing the mind of Agni, the venerable sage Angiras
वह्निः सचेतनो भूत्वा तुष्टाव मुनिपुंगवम्
Then Agni, becoming conscious, praised the foremost of sages.
क्रुद्धो मुनिवरः स्पृष्टाः कामिन्यश्च शशाप ह
But the great sage, angered, cursed the lustful women who had touched him.
भारते ब्राह्मणानां च गृहे लभत जन्म वै
In Bharata, you shall be born in the houses of Brahmins.
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मुनेस्ताश्च रुरुदुः प्रेमविह्वलाः
Hearing the sage's words, they wept, overcome with love.
मुनिपत्न्य ऊचुः अजानन्त्यः परस्पृष्टा न च नस्त्यक्तुमर्हसि
The wives of the sages said: 'We touched unknowingly; you should not abandon us.'
भक्तानां किंकरीणां च न दण्डं कर्तुमर्हसि
'You should not punish your devoted servants.'
खड्गच्छेदाद्वज्रपातात्सर्वप्रहरणान्मुने 4.18.
'O sage, not even by sword, thunderbolt, or any weapon—'
ब्रह्मिष्ठानां गुणवतां परान्कान्तान्महामुनीन्
'—should the beloveds of the most virtuous, the great sages, be harmed.'