मणिमाणिक्यमुक्तानां मालाजालविभूषितम् । वह्निशुद्धांशुकै रम्यैराच्छन्नं पीतवर्णकैः
—decorated with garlands of gems, rubies, and pearls, covered with beautiful yellow cloths purified by fire—
पार्षदप्रवरै रम्यैर्वेष्टितं श्वेतचामरैः । सद्रत्नदर्पणै रम्यैर्गोपिकाभिश्च गोपकैः
—surrounded by excellent attendants, fanned with white chauris, with beautiful jewel mirrors, with gopis and cowherd boys—
वेष्टितं च तदारुह्य कौतुकाद्यास्यसि ध्रुवम् । त्यक्त्वा च पार्थिवं देहं दिव्यदेहं विधाय च
—surrounded thus, you will ascend and, with delight, you will surely go, having abandoned the earthly body and assumed a divine form.
अयोनिसंभवा राधा राधामाता कलावती । यास्यत्येव हि तेनैव नित्यदेहेन निश्चितम्
Radha, not born from a womb, and her mother Kalavati, will certainly go with that eternal body.
पितृणां मानसी कन्या धन्या मान्या कलावती । धन्या च सीतामाता च दुर्गामाता च मेनका
Kalavati, the mind-born daughter of the ancestors, is blessed and honored; blessed too is Sita's mother, and Durga's mother, and Menaka.
अयोनिसंभवा दुर्गा तारा सीता च सुन्दरी । अयोनिसंभवास्ताश्च धन्या मेना कलावती
Durga, Tara, and Sita the beautiful are not born from a womb; all these blessed ones—Menaka and Kalavati—are also not born from a womb.
इत्येव कथितं तात गोपनीयं सुदुर्लभम् । वरोऽयं तत्तस्तुभ्यं च मया च दुर्गया तथा
Thus, O dear one, this has been told, which is to be kept secret and is exceedingly rare; this boon is given to you by me and by Durga as well.
श्रीकृष्णस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच व्रजेश्वरः । पुनरेव जगन्नाथं त द्भक्तो भक्तवात्सलम्
Hearing the words of Shri Krishna, the lord of Vraja, devoted to him and beloved of devotees, again spoke to the Lord of the universe.
नन्द उवाच युगानां च चतुर्णां च यं यं धर्म सनातनम् । क्रमेण कृष्ण विस्तीर्णं कृत्वा मां कथय प्रभो
Nanda said: O Krishna, tell me in detail, O Lord, what the eternal dharma is in each of the four ages, in order.
कलिशेषे भवेद्यद्यद्गुणदोषं कलेस्तथा । का गतिर्वा पृथिव्याश्च धर्मस्य प्रणिनां तथा
What virtues and faults will there be at the end of Kali, and what will be the fate of the earth and of dharma and living beings?
नन्दस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा हृष्टः कमललोचनः । कथां कथितुमारेभे विचित्रां मधुरान्विताम्
Hearing Nanda's words, lotus-eyed Krishna, delighted, began to tell a wondrous and sweet story.
इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्ण जन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo भगवन्न- न्दसंo एकोननवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the eighty-ninth chapter, called 'The Supreme Birth of Shri Krishna,' in the dialogue of Narada and the blessed Nanda, in the great Brahmavaivarta Purana.
अथ नवतितमोऽध्यायः श्रीकृष्ण उवाच शृणु नन्द प्रवक्ष्यमि सानन्दं मानसं यथा । कथां रम्यां सुमधुरां पुराणेषु परिष्कृताम्
Now, the ninetieth chapter. Shri Krishna said: Listen, Nanda, I will tell you with joy how the mind should be—an enchanting and most sweet story, refined in the ancient Puranas.
परिपूर्णतमो धर्मो धार्मिकाश्च कृते युगे । परिपूर्णतमं सत्यं परिपूर्णतमा दया
In the Krita Yuga, righteousness was fully complete, and the people were righteous; truth was perfectly complete, and compassion was at its fullest.
अतीव प्रज्वलद्रूपा वेदाश्चत्वार एव च । वेदाङ्गाश्चापि पिपिधासाश्चेतिहासाच संहिताः
The Vedas, in their fourfold form, shone exceedingly bright; and so too the Vedangas, the eager seekers, the Itihasas, and the Samhitas.
पुराणानि सुरम्याणि पञ्चरात्राणि पञ्च च । रुचिराणि सुभद्राणि धर्मशास्त्राणि यानि च
The Puranas were exceedingly delightful, and there were five excellent Pancharatras; the Dharma Shastras were charming, auspicious, and beautiful.
विप्रा वेदविदः सर्वे पुण्यवन्तस्तपस्विनः । नारायणं ते ध्यायन्ति तन्मन्त्रं च जपन्ति च
All the Brahmins, learned in the Vedas, were virtuous and ascetic; they meditated on Narayana and recited his mantra.
ब्राह्मणाःक्षत्रिया वैश्याश्यतुर्वर्णाश्च वैष्णवाः । शूद्रा ब्राह्मणभृत्याश्च सत्यधर्मपरायणाछ
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas—all four castes were Vaishnavas; even Shudras and servants of Brahmins were devoted to truth and righteousness.
राजानो धार्मिकाश्चैव प्रजापालनतत्पराः । गृह्णान्त्येव प्रजानां च षोडशांशकराषृपाः
The kings were righteous and devoted to protecting their people; they accepted only a sixteenth part of their subjects' earnings.
करशून्याश्च विप्राश्च पूज्याः स्वच्छन्दगामिनः । ततं सर्वसस्याढ्या रत्नाधारा वसुंधरा
The Brahmins were free from taxes, honored, and lived as they pleased; the earth was abundant with all crops and rich in gems.
गुरुभक्ताश्च शिष्याश्च पितृभक्ताः सुतास्तथा । योषितः पतिभक्ताश्च पतिव्रतपरायणाः
Disciples were devoted to their teachers, sons to their fathers; women were devoted to their husbands and steadfast in fidelity.
ऋतौ संभोगिनः सर्वे न स्त्रीलुब्धा न लम्मपटाः । न भयं दस्युचौर्याणां न तत्र पारदारिकाः
All engaged in union only at the proper season; there was no lust for women, nor were there lewd acts; there was no fear of robbers or thieves, nor was there adultery.
तरवः पूर्णफलिनः पूर्णक्षीराश्च धेनवः । बलवन्तो जनाः सर्वे दीर्घाः सौन्दर्यसंयुताः
The trees bore full fruit, cows gave abundant milk; all people were strong, tall, and endowed with beauty.
लक्षवर्षायुषः केचित्पुण्यवन्तो क्ष्यरोगिणः । यथा विप्रा विष्णुभक्ता स्त्रिवर्णां विष्णुसेविनः
Some lived for a hundred thousand years, virtuous and free from disease; just as the Brahmins were devoted to Vishnu, so too were the women of all castes.
जलपूर्णा नदा नद्यः संततं कंदरास्तथा । तीर्थपूताश्चतुर्वर्णास्तपः पूता द्विजातयः
The rivers and streams were always full of water, and the mountain caves as well; all four castes were purified by pilgrimage, and the twice-born by austerity.
मनःपूताश्च निखिलाः खलहीनं जगत्त्रयम् । सत्कीर्तिपरिबूर्णं च यशस्यं मङ्गलान्वितम्
All minds were pure, and the three worlds were free from the wicked; filled with noble fame, they were glorious and auspicious.
पितरः सर्वकालेषु तिथिकालेषु देवताः । सर्वकालेष्वतिथयः पूजिताश्च गृहे गृहे
The ancestors at all times, the gods on festival days, and guests at all times were honored in every household.
त्रिवर्णा विप्रभक्ताश्च विप्रभोजतत्पराः । ब्राह्मणस्य मुखं क्षेत्रमनूषरमकण्टकम्
The three castes were devoted to the Brahmins and eager to feed them; the Brahmin's mouth was the field, uninhabited and thornless.
नारायणोत्कीर्तनेन हर्षयुक्तास्तदुत्सवे । न शत्रवो जनानां च सर्वे सर्वंहितैषिणः
All were filled with joy at the festivals of Narayana's praise; there were no enemies among the people, and all sought the welfare of all.
नाऽऽत्मप्रशंसकाः केचित्सर्वे परगुणोत्सुकाः । न देवानां द्विजानां च विदुषां तत्र निन्दकाः
No one praised themselves; all were eager for the virtues of others; there were no slanderers of gods, Brahmins, or the learned.