प्राणाधिको मुमुक्षूणां स्तोत्रराजश्च नारद
O Narada, for those desiring liberation, it is more vital than life and is the king of hymns.
मृते मुनौ किं चकार श्रीकृष्णो भक्तवत्सलः
What did Shri Krishna, the devotee's friend, do when the sage died?
श्रीनारायण उवाच कृत्वा वक्षसि तद्देहं रुरोदोच्चैर्यथा नरः
Shri Narayana said: Placing that body upon his chest, he wept loudly like a man.
बाहुभ्यां च समाश्लिष्य पिपेषोद्रिक्तमोहतः
Embracing it with his arms, he pressed it tightly, overwhelmed by emotion.
रक्तमांसास्थिहीनं तच्छरीरं च महात्मनः
That body of the great soul was devoid of blood, flesh, and bone.
दग्धं लोहितमांसास्थि ज्वलता जठराग्निना
The blood, flesh, and bone were burned by the blazing fire of the stomach.
चितां चन्दनकाष्ठेन निर्माय मधुसूदनः
Madhusudana prepared a funeral pyre with sandalwood.
ददौ चितायामग्निं च काष्ठं दत्त्वा शवोपरि
He placed fire upon the pyre, after laying wood atop the corpse.
तद्देहे भस्मसाद्भूते नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिवि
When that body had become ashes, drums resounded in the heavens.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र रत्नसारविनिर्मितम्
Meanwhile, there appeared a chariot made from the essence of jewels.
पार्षदप्रवरैर्युक्तं श्रीकृष्णसदृशैर्वरैः 4.30.
It was accompanied by distinguished attendants, all resembling Shri Krishna.
अवरुह्य रथात्तूर्णं पार्षदप्रवरा हरेः ।। सर्वे समानरूपास्ते प्रणम्य राधिकेश्वरौ
Swiftly descending from the chariot, the foremost attendants of Hari—all of equal form—bowed to Radha and Krishna.
धृतवन्तं सूक्ष्मदेहं प्रणमय्य मुनीश्वरम्
They greeted the sage, who had assumed a subtle body, and paid their respects.
गते मुनीन्द्रे गोलोकं वृन्दावनविनोदिनी
When the chief sage departed for Goloka, Vrindavan rejoiced.
श्रीराधिकोवाच अतिखर्वजनाकारस्तेजीयानतिकुत्सितः
Śrī Rādhikā spoke: His form was extremely small, yet his brilliance was exceedingly great and he was utterly unworthy of contempt.
कथं वा निर्गतं भस्म देहादस्य किमद्भुतम्
How did ashes emerge from his body, and what is so astonishing about this?
रथस्थः पुण्यवान्सद्यो गोलकं च जगाम ह
Seated in the chariot, the virtuous one immediately reached Goloka.
त्वया कृतं च सत्कारमश्रुपूर्णेन चक्षुषा
You honored him with eyes filled with tears.
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मधुसूदनः कथां कथितुमारेभे युगान्तरगतामपि
Hearing Rādhikā's words, Madhusūdana laughed and began to recount a story from another age.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच पश्चाच्छ्रोष्यसि कालेन प्रसङ्गे विदुषां मुखात्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke: Later, in due course, you will hear it from the mouths of the learned during a suitable occasion.
अष्टावक्रो मुनीन्द्रोऽपि विख्यातो भुवनत्रये 4.30.
Even Aṣṭāvakra, the foremost sage, is renowned throughout the three worlds.
कृष्णस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विमनस्का हरिप्रिया
Hearing Kṛṣṇa's words, Hari's beloved became disheartened.
राधिकोवाच स वितृप्तो भवति किं गोष्पदोदकपानतः
Rādhikā spoke: Is he satisfied merely by drinking water from a cow's hoofprint?
वेदानां वेदवक्तॄणां विधातुर्जनकस्य च
Of the Vedas, their reciters, and the progenitor of the creator,
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा तुष्टः कृष्णो बभूव ह
Hearing Rādhikā's words, Kṛṣṇa became pleased.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच श्रवणात्कथनाद्यस्य सर्वं पापं प्रणश्यति
Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke: By hearing and narrating his story, all sin is destroyed.
महाविष्णोर्नाभिपद्माद्बभूव जगतां विधिः
From the lotus sprung from Mahāviṣṇu's navel, the creator of the worlds was born.
पुत्रा बभूवुश्चत्वारो ब्रह्मणो मानसात्पुरा
In ancient times, four sons were born from Brahmā's mind.
शिशवः पञ्चवर्षीया नग्ना अज्ञानिनो यथा
They were children, five years old, naked, and ignorant as children are.
सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः
Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana,