अव्यक्तमक्षराव्यक्तं ज्योतीरूपं सनातनम्
Unmanifest, imperishable, beyond the manifest, of the form of light, eternal,
दृष्ट्वा तदद्भुतं रूपं संभ्रमात्प्रणनाम तम्
Seeing that wondrous form, she bowed to him in awe.
दर्शंदर्शं मुखाम्भोजं सस्मिता वक्रलोचना
Again and again, she revealed her lotus-like face, smiling, with eyes curved in charm.
दृष्ट्वा हरिस्तामुवाच प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणः
Seeing her, Hari spoke, his face and gaze radiant with delight.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच प्राणाधिके राधिके त्वं वरं वृणु मनीषितम्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O Rādhikā, dearer to me than life, choose the boon you desire most.
कृष्णस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वरं वव्रे च राधिका
Hearing Kṛṣṇa's words, Rādhikā chose her boon.
राधिकोवाच पातुं भक्तिरसं पद्मे मधुपश्च यथा मधु
Rādhikā said: May I drink the nectar of devotion, O Padmā, just as a bee drinks honey.
मदीय प्राणनाथस्त्वं भव जन्मनि जन्मनि 4.27.
May you, my beloved lord of life, be mine, birth after birth.
तव स्मृतौ गुणे चित्तं स्वप्ने ज्ञाने दिवानिशम्
May my mind dwell on your virtues and remembrance, in dream and waking, day and night.
गोपालिका ऊचुः भविष्यसि प्राणनाथः पास्यसि प्रतिजन्मनि
The cowherd girls said: You shall be the lord of her life, and you shall drink (the nectar) in every birth.
आसां च वचनं श्रुत्वा तथाऽस्त्वेवमुवाच ह
Hearing their words, he replied, 'So be it.'
क्रीडापद्मं राधिकायै सहस्रदलसंयुतम्
He gave to Rādhikā a play-lotus adorned with a thousand petals.
मालासमूहं पुष्पाणि गोपीभ्यो गोपिकापतिः
The lord of the gopīs gave garlands and flowers to the cowherd girls.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच रासमण्डलरम्ये च वृन्दारण्ये करिष्यथ
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: In the delightful circle of the rāsa, in Vṛndāvana, you shall perform (your play).
यथाऽहं च तथा यूयं नाहं भेदः श्रुतौ श्रुतः
Just as I am, so are you; in the scriptures, no difference between us is taught.
व्रतं वो लोकरक्षार्थं न हि स्वार्थमिदं प्रियाः
This vow of yours is for the protection of the world, not for your own sake, dear ones.
इत्युक्त्वा श्रीहरिस्तत्र तस्थौ सूर्यसुतातटे 4.27.
Having spoken thus, Śrī Hari remained there, on the bank of the daughter of the Sun.
सर्वाः प्रहृष्टवदनाः सस्मिता वक्रलोचनाः
All of them, faces beaming with joy, smiling, with charming, curved eyes.
ताः शीघ्रं प्रययुर्गेहं जयं दत्त्वा पुनःपुनः
They quickly went home, again and again offering their salutations.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं हरेश्चरितमङ्गलम्
Thus, all the auspicious deeds of Hari have been told.
नारद उवाच वद केन प्रकारेण बभूव तनुसंगमः
Narada said: Tell me, by what manner did the union of bodies take place?
वृन्दावनं किंप्रकारं किंविधं रासमण्डलम्
How was Vrindavana, and what was the nature of the rasa circle?
कुतूहलं भवति मे इदं श्रोतुं नवं नवम्
I feel a constant curiosity to hear this, ever new and ever fresh.
कथा पुराणसाराणां रासयात्रा हरेरहो
O, the rasa festival of Hari is the essence of ancient stories.
सूत उवाच प्रहस्य सुप्रसन्नास्यः प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे
Suta said: Smiling, with a radiant and cheerful face, he began to speak.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शुभे शुक्लत्रयोदश्यां पूर्णे चन्द्रोदये मुने
Sri Narayana said: O sage, on the auspicious thirteenth day of the bright fortnight, when the full moon had risen,
यूथिकामालतीकुन्दमाधवीपुष्पवायुना
With the breeze carrying the fragrance of yuthika, malati, kunda, and madhavi flowers,
नवपल्लवसंयुक्तं पुंस्कोकिलरुतश्रुतम्
Adorned with fresh leaves and filled with the sound of male cuckoos,
चन्दनागुरुकस्तूरीकुंकुमेन सुवासितम्
Perfumed with sandalwood, agarwood, musk, and saffron,
प्रसूनैश्चम्पकानां च कस्तूरीचन्दनान्वितैः 4.28.
With flowers of champaka, combined with musk and sandalwood,