कया वा संपदा भक्त विस्मरामि च तं प्रभुम् । प्रबोधो नास्ति तद्भेदे येन मां बोधयेद्बुधः
By what wealth, O devotee, could I ever forget that Lord? There is no awakening in separation from Him by which any wise one could enlighten me.
मां च बोधयितुं शक्ता न सावित्री सरस्वती । न वेदा न च वेदाङ्गाः के वा सन्तश्च के सुराः
Neither Sāvitrī nor Sarasvatī, nor the Vedas nor the limbs of the Vedas, nor any sages nor gods are able to awaken me to Him.
सहस्रवक्त्रोऽनन्तश्च वेदानां जनको विधिः । न शंभुनं गणेशाश्च योगीन्द्राणां गुरोर्गुरुः
Neither the thousand-headed Ananta, nor Brahmā, the origin of the Vedas, nor Śiva, nor Gaṇeśa, nor the guru of the yogis’ gurus.
स्थितेर्गतिश्चिन्तनीया मार्गशून्ये कुतो गतिः । कालसाध्यं च सर्व च सुखं दुःखं शुभाशुभम्
The course of existence is to be contemplated; where there is no path, how can there be progress? All happiness, sorrow, auspicious and inauspicious things are subject to time.
दुर्निवारः स कालश्च कालसाध्यं जगत्सु च । उत्तिष्ठ मथुरां गच्छ सुखं वत्स मनोहरम्
That Time is irresistible, and all things in the worlds are subject to Time; arise, go to Mathurā, O child, to that delightful place.
व्रजवाकं परित्यज्य भवांश्च गमनोत्सुकः । सुचिरं कृष्णविच्छेदो दुःखाय न सुखाय च
Leaving Vraja behind, you are eager to depart; long separation from Kṛṣṇa brings sorrow, not happiness.
पश्य चन्द्रमुखं तस्य जन्ममृत्युजरापहम् । राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा रुरोद भृशमुद्धवः रुदतीं राधिकां दृष्ट्वा बन्धुविच्छेदकातराम्
Behold His moon-like face, which removes birth, death, and old age; hearing Rādhā’s words, Uddhava wept greatly, and seeing Rādhā weeping, distressed by separation from her kin.
इतिo श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo राधोद्धवसंo पञ्चनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-fifth chapter of the great Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, in the section of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s birth, the conversation of Nārada, Rādhā, and Uddhava.
अथ षण्णवतितमोऽध्यायः नारायण उवाच श्रीकृष्णस्मरणं कृत्वा गमनोन्मुखमुद्धवम् । नतं राधापदाम्भोजे शिरसा पुलकाञ्चितम्
Now, the ninety-sixth chapter. Nārāyaṇa said: Remembering Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava, ready to depart, bowed his head, adorned with horripilation, at Rādhā’s lotus feet.
उवाच माधवी गोपी रुदती प्रेमविह्वला । भक्तं रुदन्तमुच्छैश्च राधाविच्छेदकातरम्
Mādhavī, the cowherd woman, weeping and overwhelmed with love, spoke to the devotee, who was also weeping loudly and distressed by separation from Rādhā.
माधव्युवाच उद्धव शृणु वक्ष्यामि क्षणं तिष्ठ यथोचितम् । निगूढं परमं ज्ञानं यत्ते मनसि वाञ्छितम्
Mādhavī said: Uddhava, listen, I will speak; wait a moment as is proper. I will tell you the supreme secret knowledge that you desire in your heart.
सुदुर्लभं पुराणेषु वेदेषु गोपनीयकम् । प्रश्नं कुरु महाभाग राधिकां त्रिजगत्प्रसूम्
It is most rare in the Purāṇas and the Vedas, and is to be kept hidden. Ask, O highly fortunate one, about Rādhikā, the mother of the three worlds.
इत्युक्त्वा सा च गोपीशा समुवास मुसंसदि । उवाच मधुरं शान्तामुद्धवश्चापि राधिकाम्
Having spoken thus, the queen of the cowherd women remained in that assembly, and Uddhava addressed Rādhikā with gentle and sweet words.
उद्धवउवाच एकाकी भवमायाति यात्येकाकी पुनः पुनः । प्राणी कर्मानुरोधेन स्वकर्मफलभुक्पुमान्
Uddhava said: Alone one is born, alone one departs again and again; a living being, according to his karma, enjoys the results of his own actions.
कर्मणा जायते जन्तुः कर्मणौव प्रलीयते । सुखं दुःखं भयं शोकं कर्मणैवाभिपद्यते
By action a creature is born, and by action alone he dissolves; happiness, sorrow, fear, and grief are all attained only through action.
जन्तुर्भोगावशेषेण भोगं भुङ्क्ते भवेषु च । पुनश्च कर्मणो भोगात्समायाति च याति च
A being, compelled by the residue of enjoyment, experiences pleasure in various births; and again, from the enjoyment of actions, he comes and goes.
रत्नादिकं च यत्किचिन्मह्यं दत्तं त्वया सति । मया सार्ध न यात्येव तेन मे किं प्रयोजनम्
Whatever jewels or other things you have given me, O virtuous one, do not go with me; what use have I for them?
भवाब्थितारणे देवि भवती तरणिर्वरा । कर्णधारः स्वयं कृष्णः सर्वेषां पारकारकः
O goddess, in the ocean of existence, you are the excellent boat, and Kṛṣṇa himself is the helmsman, the one who carries all across.
किंचिद्यानं देहि मह्यं भवाब्धिपारकारणम् । प्राप्य प्रसातं यास्यामि मथुरां कृष्ममूलकम्
Grant me some knowledge that will carry me across the ocean of existence; having received your favor, I will go to Mathurā, the root of all.
यां यां कालगतिं मातः सुराणां च नृणामपि । पितॄणां ब्रह्मलोकस्य तदूर्ध्वस्य च तां वद
Mother, tell me of the course of time as it pertains to the gods, to men, to the ancestors, to Brahmā's world, and to those above it.
तामेव दुस्तरां घोरां तीर्त्वा यामि हरेः पदम् । एवंभूतमुपायं च देहि मे कमलालये
Crossing that very difficult and terrible path, I will reach the feet of Hari; O Kamalālayā, give me such a means.
दूरतो यत्पदाम्भोजं ध्यायन्ते च दिवानिशम् । देवा ब्रह्मेशशेषाद्यास्त्वं तद्वक्षः स्थलस्थिता
The gods, Brahmā, Śiva, Śeṣa, and others meditate day and night from afar upon his lotus feet; but you dwell upon that very chest.
उद्धवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा जहास कमलालया । वाससा नेत्रनीरं च संभार्ज्य तमुवाच सा
Hearing Uddhava's words, Kamalālayā smiled; wiping the tears from her eyes with her garment, she spoke to him.
राधोवाच माधवीवचनेनैव करोषि प्रश्नमुद्धव । स्त्रीजातिरबला लोके किं वा ज्ञानं ददामि ते
Rādhā said: Because of Mādhavī's words you ask this question, Uddhava; but women are weak in this world—what knowledge can I give you?
शुद्धां कालगतिं वत्स जानाति भगवान्हरिः । ब्रह्म महेशः शेषश्च वेदाश्चत्वार एव च
Child, only Bhagavān Hari, Brahmā, Maheśa, Śeṣa, and the four Vedas know the pure course of time.
किंचिद्वेदानुसारेण सन्तो जानन्ति पुत्रक । श्रूयतां कुष्णवक्त्रेण गोलोके रासमण़्डले
Some saints, my son, know a little according to the Vedas; listen now to what was spoken by Kṛṣṇa in the circle of the rāsa in Goloka.
गोलोके चापि वैकुण्ठे ब्रह्मलोके च सांप्रतम् । या च दृष्टा कालगतिस्तामेव कथयामि ते
In Goloka, in Vaikuṇṭha, and now in Brahmā's world, whatever course of time is seen, that I will tell you.
नृणां पितॄणां देवानां ब्रह्मलोकादिकस्य च । बहिर्लोकस्य ब्रह्माण्डात्पातालानां च निश्चितम्
The course of time for men, ancestors, gods, Brahmā's world and others, for the outer worlds, the cosmic egg, and the netherworlds—this is certain.
दुरत्ययां कालगतिं येनोपायेन पण्डिताः । निस्तरन्ति बुधश्रेष्ठ कथयामि निशामय
By what means the wise cross over the insurmountable course of time, O best of the learned, I will tell you—listen.
भजन्ति जगतां नाथं कालकालं जगद्गुरुम् । निर्गुणं च निरीहं च परमात्मानमीश्वरम्
They worship the Lord of the worlds, the time of time, the teacher of the universe, the one who is without qualities, without desire, the supreme soul, the Lord.