आवृतं मङ्गलघटैः फलपल्लवसंयुतैः । दधिलाजैश्च पर्णैश्च स्निग्धदूर्वाङ्कुरैः फलैः
Surrounded by auspicious pots, fruits, and shoots, with curds, grains, leaves, tender blades of grass, and fruits.
श्रीरामकदलीस्तम्भैरसंख्यैश्च मनोहरैः । पट्टसूत्रनिबद्धैश्च स्निग्धैश्चन्दनपल्लवैः
With countless enchanting pillars of banana trees, bound with silk threads, and tender sandalwood leaves.
चन्दनासक्तमाल्यैश्च भूषणैश्च विभूषितम् । अमूल्यरत्नरचितं शतशृङ्गमनोहरम्
Adorned with garlands attached to sandalwood and ornaments, made of priceless gems, and enchanting with a hundred peaks.
कोटियोजनमूर्ध्वं च दैर्ध्यं शतगुणोत्तरम् । शैलप्रस्थपरिमितं पञ्चाशत्कोटियोजनम्
Its height is a crore yojanas upward, its length a hundred times greater, measured by mountain plateaus, fifty crore yojanas.
अतीव कमनीयं य वेदानिर्वचनीयकम् । प्राकारमिव तस्यापि गोललोकस्य मनोहरम्
It is exceedingly beautiful, indescribable even by the Vedas, like a most enchanting wall surrounding that Goloka world.
परितो वेष्टितं रम्यं हीरहारसमन्वितम् । तत्र वृन्दावनं रम्यं युक्तं चन्दनपादपैः
All around, it is encircled delightfully, adorned with strings of golden gems; there, the charming Vṛndāvana is filled with sandalwood trees.
कल्पवृक्षैश्च नम्यैश्च मन्दारैः कामधेनुभिः । शोभितं शोभनाढ्यैश्च पुष्पोद्यानैर्मनोहरैः
It is beautified by wish-fulfilling trees, bowing trees, coral trees, and wish-granting cows, and by splendid, enchanting flower gardens rich in beauty.
क्रीडासरोवरै रम्यैः सुरम्यै रतिमन्दिरैः । अतीव रम्यं रहसि रासयोग्यस्थलान्वितम्
There are delightful lakes for play, exceedingly pleasing pleasure palaces, and in the most charming secret places, sites suitable for the dance of Rāsa.
रक्षितं रक्षकै रम्यैरसंख्यैर्गोपिकागणैः । परितो वर्तुलाकारं त्रिलक्षयोजनं वनम्
It is guarded by countless lovely groups of gopīs as protectors; all around, the forest is circular in shape and measures three hundred thousand yojanas.
षट्पदध्वनिसंयुक्तं पुंस्कोकिलरुतान्वितम् । तत्राक्षयो वटो रम्यो रहस्ये बहृविस्तृतः
It is filled with the sound of bees and the calls of male cuckoos; there stands the inexhaustible, beautiful banyan tree, vast and secluded.
सहस्रयोजनोर्ध्वश्च परितश्च चतुर्गुणः । गोपीनां कल्पवृक्षश्च सर्ववाञ्छाफलप्रदः
It rises a thousand yojanas high, and its spread is four times that; it is the wish-fulfilling tree of the gopīs, granting all desired fruits.
क्रीडान्वितैरावृतश्च राधादासीत्रिलक्षकैः । विरजातीरनिराणां वायुना शीतलेन च
It is surrounded by three hundred thousand Rādhās engaged in play, and by the cool, flower-laden breezes from the banks of the Virajā.
पुष्पान्वितेन मन्देन पवित्रश्च सुगन्धिना । दासीगणैरसंख्यैश्च वृन्दावनविनोदिनी
With gentle, fragrant, flower-scented, and pure breezes, and by countless groups of maidservants, Vṛndāvana delights the heart.
तत्र क्रीडति राधा सा मम प्राणाधिदेवता । सेयं श्रीदामशापेन वृषभानसुताऽधुना
There, Rādhā, who is the goddess of my very life, plays; she is now the daughter of Vṛṣabhānu due to the curse of Śrīdāma.
ब्रह्मादिदेवैः सिद्धेन्द्रैर्मुनीन्द्रैः पूजिता व्रज । सिद्धैर्गुणैर्बलैर्बुद्ध्या ज्ञानयोगैश्च विद्यया
She is worshipped in Vraja by Brahmā and the other gods, by the best of Siddhas and sages, and by those endowed with powers, virtues, intelligence, knowledge, yoga, and learning.
तात सर्वप्रकारेण वन्द्या सत्सदृशी प्रिया । इत्येवं कथितं नन्द ब्रह्माण्डानां च वर्णनम्
O father, in every way she is worthy of worship, a beloved equal to the good; thus, O Nanda, the description of the universes has been told.
अथ पञ्चाशीतितमोऽध्यायः नन्द उवाच वर्णानां च चतुर्णां च भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं च सांप्रतम् । विपाकं कर्मणां चैव सर्वेषां प्राणिनामपि
Nanda said: Now, please tell me about the four castes, what is to be eaten and not eaten, the results of actions for all beings, and the cause of causes.
कथयस्व महाभाग कारणानां च कारणम् । त्वत्तोऽन्यं कं च पृच्छामि नितान्तं सन्तमीश्वरम्
Tell me, O greatly fortunate one, the ultimate cause of all causes; whom else could I ask, O Lord, who is supremely true?
श्रीभगवानुवाच भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं चतुर्णां च वर्णानां च यथोचितम् । वेदोक्तं श्रूयता तात सावधानं निशामय
The Blessed Lord said: The proper foods and forbidden foods for the four castes, as stated in the Vedas, listen attentively, O father, as I declare them.
अयःपात्रे पयःपानं गव्यं सिद्धान्नमेव च । भृष्टादिकं पधु गुडं नालिकेरोदकं तथा
Drinking milk from an iron vessel, cow products, cooked food, fried items, molasses, and coconut water—
फलं मूलं च यत्किंचिदभक्षयं मनुरब्रवीत् । दग्धान्नं तप्तसौवीरमभक्ष्यं व्रह्मनिर्मितम्
Any fruit or root that is forbidden, so said Manu; burnt food and hot soured drinks are forbidden, as declared by Brahmā.
नालिकेरोदकं कांस्ये ताम्रपात्रे स्थितं मधु । गव्यं च ताम्रपात्रस्थं सर्वं मद्यं घृतं विना
Coconut water in a bronze vessel, honey in a copper vessel, cow products in a copper vessel, and all liquor except for ghee—
ताम्रपात्रे पयःपानमुच्छिष्टे घृतभोजनम् । दुग्धं सलवणं चैव सद्यो गोमांसभक्षणम्
Drinking milk from a copper vessel, eating food that is remnants, milk mixed with salt, and immediately eating cow meat are all prohibited.
अभक्ष्यं मधुमिक्षं च घृतं तैलं गुडं तथा । आर्द्रकं गुडसंयुक्तमभक्ष्यं श्रुतिसंमतम्
Honey, molasses, clarified butter, oil, and jaggery, as well as ginger mixed with jaggery, are all considered unfit for eating according to the scriptures.
पीतशेषजलं चैव माघे च मूलकं तथा । जपादिकं च शयने सदा प्राज्ञः परित्यजेत्
Water left after drinking, radish during the month of Māgha, and recitation or similar acts while lying down should always be avoided by the wise.
द्विर्भोजनं च दिवसे संध्ययोह्भोजनं तथा । भक्ष्यं च रात्रिशेषे च ध्रुवं प्राज्ञः परित्यजेत्
Eating twice in a day, eating at the two twilights, and eating food late at night—these should certainly be abandoned by the wise.
पानीयं पायसं चूर्णं घुतं लवणमेव च । स्वस्तिकं गुडकं चैव क्षीरं तक्रं तथा मधु
Water, rice pudding, powders, clarified butter, salt, svastika (fermented food), jaggery, milk, buttermilk, and honey—
हस्ताद्धस्तगृहीतं च सद्यो गोमांसमेव च । कर्पूरं रौप्यपात्रस्थमभक्ष्यं श्रुतिसंमतम्
—food taken from hand to hand, freshly killed cow meat, and camphor kept in a silver vessel are all considered unfit for eating according to the scriptures.
परिवेषणकारी चेद्भोक्तारं स्पृशते यदि । मभक्ष्यं च तदन्नं च सर्वेषामेव संमतम्
If the server touches the eater while serving, that food is considered unfit for eating by all, according to tradition.
नकुलानां गण्डकानां महिषाणां च पक्षिणाम् । सर्पाणां सूकराणां च गर्दभानां विशेषतः
The flesh of mongooses, moles, buffaloes, birds, snakes, pigs, and especially donkeys—