संसारे चानृते वत्स दंपत्योः प्रीतिरेव च । परस्परं च समता प्रियसौभाग्यमीप्सितम्
In this world, O dear one, the love between husband and wife and their mutual equality is the most desired good fortune.
दंपत्योः समता नास्ति यत्र-यत्र हि मन्तिरे । अलक्ष्मीस्तत्र तत्रैव विफलं जीवनं तयोः
Wherever there is no equality between husband and wife, there, indeed, misfortune prevails, and their life is fruitless.
सुस्वामिनां विभेदश्च परं दुःखं च योषिताम् । शोकसंतापबीजं च जीवितं मरणाधिकम्
For women with good husbands, separation is the greatest sorrow, the seed of grief and pain, and life becomes worse than death.
स्वप्ने जागरणे चापि पतिः प्राणाश्च योषितः । पतिरेव गुरुः स्त्रीणामिह लोके परत्र च
In sleep and in waking, the husband is the very life of women; the husband alone is the guru of women, both in this world and the next.
अस्मात्तवयि गते नाथे मूर्च्छां संप्राप राधिका । पपात सहसा भूमौ तृणाच्छन्ने च भूतले
When you, the lord, departed, Rādhikā fell into a swoon and suddenly collapsed to the ground, covered with grass.
मया दत्तं मुखेऽस्याश्च शीतलं जलमुत्तमम् । तदा श्वासो बभूवास्याश्चेतनं बाल्यमेव च
I gave cool, excellent water into her mouth; then her breath returned, and she regained a childlike consciousness.
क्षणं वदति हे नाथ हे कृष्णेति क्षणं सखी । क्षणं रोदिति संतप्ता मूर्च्छां प्राप्नोति तत्क्षणम्
For a moment, she says, 'O Lord, O Kṛṣṇa,' for a moment, her friend speaks, for a moment, she weeps in distress, and in that instant, she falls again into a swoon.
राधिकायाः शरीरं च संतप्तं विरहानलैः । दग्धलोहयष्टिसममस्पृश्यमनलोपमम्
Rādhikā’s body, scorched by the fire of separation, became like a bar of heated iron, untouchable, resembling fire itself.
स्वप्ने जागनणे रात्रौ दिवसे च गृहे वने । जले स्थले चान्तरिक्षेऽभ्युदये चन्द्रसूर्ययोः
In dream and in waking, at night and by day, at home and in the forest, in water, on land, and in the sky, at the rising of the moon and sun—
नास्ति भेदश्च राधाया मृततुल्या जडाकृतिः । शश्वत्पश्यति स्थानस्था सर्वं विष्णुमयं जगत्
There is no separation for Rādhā, whose form is inert like one dead; she constantly beholds, wherever she is, the entire world as pervaded by Viṣṇu.
स्निग्धपङ्के पङ्कजानां सजलानि दलानि च । निपत्य तत्कृते तल्पे सुष्वाप विरहातुरा
On the moist mud, among the lotuses and their wet leaves, she, tormented by separation, lay down upon that bed and slept.
सेविता सा प्रियालीभिः संततं श्वेतचामरैः । चन्दनद्रवसंसिक्ता स्निग्धवस्त्रसमन्विता
She was attended by her dear friends, continually fanned with white chowries, sprinkled with sandalwood paste, and adorned with soft garments.
राधाङ्गस्पर्शमात्रेण पङ्कः संप्राप शुष्कताम् । स्निग्धानि पद्मपत्राणि बभूवुर्भस्मसात्क्षणम्
At the mere touch of Rādhā's body, the mud instantly became dry, and the moist lotus petals turned to ashes in a moment.
चन्दनं शुष्कतां प्राप वर्णश्चम्पकसंनिभः । बभुव कज्जलाकारः केशस्य वर्णतो हरे
The sandalwood paste became dry, its color like that of a campaka flower; and the color of her hair turned black like lamp soot.
सिन्दूरबिन्दू रुचिरः श्यामतां प्राप तत्क्षणम् । वेषो विलासो लीला च क्रीडा त्यक्ता बभूव ह
The beautiful dot of vermilion at once turned dark; her dress, her ornaments, her playfulness, and her amusements were all abandoned.
रत्नमाला तु तां दृष्ट्वा गत्वा कृष्णान्तिकं तदा । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं राधाहितकरं परम्
Then Ratnamālā, seeing her thus, went to Kṛṣṇa and spoke sweet words that were supremely beneficial for Rādhā.
रत्नमालोवाच हे कृष्ण कमलाकान्त त्वद्वियोगेन मत्सखी । प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यति शीघ्रं सा यदि नाऽऽयास्यसि ध्रुवम्
Ratnamālā said: O Kṛṣṇa, beloved of Lakṣmī, because of separation from you, my friend will soon give up her life if you do not surely come.
विचार्य मनसा कृष्ण यत्तत्समृचितं कुरु । न भवेत्कामिनीहत्या येन नीतिविशारद
Consider in your mind, Kṛṣṇa, and do what is fitting, so that the destruction of a loving woman does not occur, O wise one in righteousness.
रत्नमालावाचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्योवाच माधवः । हितं सत्यं नीतिसारं परिणमसुखावहम्
Hearing Ratnamālā's words, Mādhava smiled and spoke: 'What you have said is good, true, the essence of right conduct, and brings lasting happiness.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच ईशो यद्यपि शक्तोऽहं निषेकं खण्डितुं प्रिये । तथाऽपि न क्षमो रत्ने नियतेर्नं करोम्यहम्
The Blessed Lord said: Although I am the Lord and able, dearest, to break this separation, yet, O Ratna, I am not able to act against destiny.
ब्रह्माण्डेषु च सर्वेषु मर्यादा स्थापिता मया । तया कर्म प्रकुर्वन्ति मुनयश्च सुरा नराः
In all the universes, I have established boundaries; by these, sages, gods, and men perform their actions.
सुदामशापाद्विच्छेदः शतवर्षमनीप्सितः । भविष्यत्येव दंपत्योरावयोरेव सुन्दरि
Because of Sudāma's curse, an undesired separation of a hundred years will certainly occur between us, O beautiful one.
भेदो जागरणेऽस्याश्च मया सह सुमध्यमे । संश्लेषः संततं स्वप्ने मद्वरेण भविष्यति
In her waking state, O slender-waisted one, there will be separation from me; but in dreams, union with me will always occur by my boon.
आध्यात्मिकी मया दत्ता शोकच्छेदो भविष्यति । राधां बोधय भद्रं ते यास्यामि नन्दमन्दिरम्
I have given her spiritual knowledge; by that, her sorrow will be cut off. Awaken Rādhā—may good be yours—for I will go to Nanda's house.
इत्युक्त्वा जगतां नाथो ययौ नन्दालयं प्रति । राधिकां बोधयामासुरालिसंघाश्च नारद
Having spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds went toward Nanda's abode; and, O Nārada, the groups of friends awakened Rādhikā.
गत्वा गृहं च पितरं ननाम मातरं तथा । चकार माता क्रोडे च नवनीतं च नूतनम्
Going home, he bowed to his father and likewise to his mother; and his mother took him in her lap and gave him fresh butter.
मातृदत्तं च ताम्बूलं चखाद शीतलं जलम् । उवास तत्र जगतां नाथो मातृसमीपतः
He ate the betel nut given by his mother and drank cool water; the Lord of the worlds remained there beside his mother.
सर्वैर्गोपसमूहैश्च सेवितः श्वेतचामरैः । माल्यचन्दनताम्बूलं ते च तस्मै ददुर्मुदा
He was served by all the groups of cowherds with white fans; they joyfully offered him garlands, sandal paste, and betel nut.
अथ सप्ततितमोऽध्यायः नारायण उवाच अथाक्रूरः स्वशरणं गत्वा कंसेन प्रेषितः । चकार शयनं तल्पे भुक्त्वा मीष्टान्नमुत्तमम्
Then, the seventieth chapter: Narayana said: Afterwards, Akrura, sent by Kamsa, went to his own abode; he lay down on a bed after eating excellent sweet food.
सकर्पूरं च ताम्बूलं चखाद वासितं जलम् । जगाम निद्रां सुखतः सुखसंभोगमात्रतः
He chewed betel nut with camphor and drank fragrant water; he entered into sleep comfortably, enjoying only pleasant rest.