दृष्टं भारतसारं च पुण्यं वृन्दावनं वनम् । तत्सारं व्रजभूमौ च सुरम्यं रासमण्डलम्
The essence of Bharata has been seen, the sacred forest of Vrindavana; its essence in the land of Vraja, and the delightful circle of the rasa dance.
तत्सारभूता गोलोकवासिन्यो गोपिकाः वराः । दृष्टा तत्मारभूता च राधा रासेश्वरी परा
The excellent gopis, residents of Goloka, who are the essence of that place, have been seen; and Radha, the supreme mistress of the rasa, who is the essence of that, has also been seen.
कदलीवनमध्ये च निर्जने सुहृदस्थले । पङ्कस्थे पङ्कजदले सजले चन्दनार्चिते
In the midst of the banana grove, in a secluded place among friends, on muddy lotus leaves, in water, adorned with sandalwood.
शयनेऽतिविषण्णा सा रत्नभूषणवर्जिता । अतीव मलिना क्षीणाऽऽच्छादिता शुक्लवाससा
She lies on a bed, deeply distressed, devoid of precious ornaments; exceedingly pale, weakened, covered in white garments.
सेविता सखिभिस्तत्र सततं श्वेतचामरैः । कृशोदरी निराहारा क्षणं श्वसिति च क्षणम्
There, she is constantly attended by her companions with white fans; her belly is thin, she takes no food, she breathes for a moment, then for another moment.
क्षणं जीवति किं वा सा विरहज्वरपीडिता । किं वा जलं स्थलं किं दा नक्तं किं वा दिनं हरे
For a moment she lives, or perhaps not, afflicted by the fever of separation; is it water, is it land, is it night, or is it day, O Hari?
नरं पशुं न जानाति किं परं किमु बान्धवम् । बाह्यज्ञानविरहिता ध्यायमाना पदं तव
She does not recognize man or beast, nor others, nor even relatives; devoid of external awareness, she meditates upon your feet.
त्रेलोक्ये यशसा भाति तन्मृत्युर्यशसंभवः । स्त्रीहत्यां नैव वाञ्छन्ति ज्ञानहीनाश्च दस्यवः
She shines with fame in the three worlds; her death is the birth of renown. Those ignorant, like robbers, do not desire the killing of women.
गच्छ शीघ्रं जगन्नाथ कदलीवनमीप्सितम् । बहिर्भूता न जगतां सा राधा त्वत्परायणा
Go quickly, Lord of the universe, to the desired banana grove; Radha, devoted to you, is no longer part of the world.
अतीव भक्ता न त्याज्या प्रभुणा रक्षिता सदा । न हि राधापरा भक्ता न भूता न भविष्यति
She is exceedingly devoted, never to be abandoned, always protected by the Lord; there has never been, nor will there be, a devotee greater than Radha.
मन्मथः शंकराद्भीतो भवांश्च तत्पुरःसुरः । भवद्विधं पतिं प्राप्य कामदग्धा च राधिका
Kāma, fearful of Śaṅkara, and you, the foremost of gods, having obtained a husband like you, Rādhā was burned by desire.
तस्मात्सर्वपरं कर्म तन्न केनापि वार्यते । मधुर्दहति चन्द्रश्च सततं किरणेन च
Therefore, the highest action is that, which no one can restrain; the moon always burns sweetly with its rays.
शश्वत्सुगन्धिवायुश्चाप्यनाथा सर्वबीडिता । तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णभा साऽधुना कज्जलोपमा
The ever-fragrant wind, though oppressed by all and without protector, her golden complexion now resembles soot.
सुवर्णवर्णकेशी च वासोवेषविवर्चिता । स्वयं विधाता त्वद्भक्तः सुराणां प्रवरो विभुः
Her hair is golden, her garments and ornaments are splendid; the Creator himself is your devotee, the foremost among the gods, the all-pervading one.
त्वद्भक्तः शंकरो देवो योगीन्द्राणां गुरोर्गुरुः । सनत्कुमारस्त्व द्भक्तो गणेशो ज्ञानितां वरः
Śaṅkara, the god, is your devotee, the guru of the greatest yogis; Sanatkumāra is your devotee, Gaṇeśa is the best among the wise.
मुनीन्द्राश्च कतिविधास्त्वद्भक्ता धरणीतले । त्वद्भक्ता यादृशी राधा न भक्तादृशोऽपरः
How many great sages on earth are your devotees! But there is no devotee like Rādhā.
ध्यायते यादृशी राधा स्वयं लक्ष्मीर्न तादृशी । हरिरायाति चेत्येवं राधाग्रे स्वीकृतं मया
Even Lakṣmī does not meditate as Rādhā does; if Hari himself comes, I have accepted this before Rādhā.
शीघ्रं गच्छ महाभाग तदेव सार्थकं कुरु । अद्धवस्य वचःश्रुत्वा जहासोवाच माधवः वेदोक्तं कथयामास सहितं सत्यसुव्रतम्
Go quickly, O greatly fortunate one, and make this fruitful; hearing the words of Addhava, Mādhava smiled and spoke, reciting what is declared in the Vedas, together with the vow of truth.
श्रीभगवानुवाच स्त्रीषु धर्मविवाहेषु वृत्त्यर्थे प्राणसंकटे । गवामर्थे ब्राह्मणार्थे नानृतं स्याज्जुगुप्सितम्
The Blessed Lord said: In matters of women, marriage, livelihood, danger to life, for the sake of cows, or for a brāhmaṇa, a lie is not considered blameworthy.
तत्स्वीकारविहीनेन कुतस्त्वं नरकः कुतः । गोलोकं याति मद्भक्तो नरकं न हि पश्यति
Without acceptance of that, how could there be hell for you? My devotee goes to Goloka and does not see hell.
त्वदङ्गीकारसाफल्यं करिष्यामि तथाऽपि च । यास्यामि स्वप्ने च गोकुलं विरहाकुलम्
Still, I will make your acceptance fruitful; I will go in a dream to Gokula, distressed by separation.
इत्याकणर्य ययौ गेहमुद्धवश्च महायशाः । हरिर्जगाम स्वप्ने च गोकुलं विर्हाकुलम्
Thus hearing, the illustrious Uddhava went home; and Hari went in a dream to Gokula, distressed by separation.
स्वप्ने राधां समाश्वास्य दत्त्वा ज्ञानं सुदुर्लभम् । संतोष्य क्रीडया तां च गोपिकाश्च यथोचितम्
In a dream, he comforted Rādhā, giving her rare knowledge; pleasing her with play, and the gopīs as was proper.
बोधयित्वा यशोदां च स्तनं पीत्वा च निद्रिताम् । गोपान्गोपशिशूंश्चैव बोधयित्वा ययौ पुनः
He awakened Yaśodā, who had fallen asleep while nursing, and after awakening the cowherds and their children, he departed again.
इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo अष्टनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-eighth chapter of the great Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, in the section of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's birth, the dialogue with Nārada.
अथ नवनवतितमोऽध्यायः नारायण उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे गर्गो वसुदेवाश्रमं ययौ । दण्डी छत्री च जटिलो दीप्तश्च ब्रह्मतेजसा
Now, the ninety-ninth chapter. Nārāyaṇa said: Meanwhile, Garga went to Vasudeva's hermitage, carrying a staff and umbrella, with matted hair, shining with the radiance of Brahman.
शुक्लयज्ञोपवीती च तपस्वी संयतः सदा । शुक्लदन्तः शुक्लवासा यदोः कुलपुरोहितः
Wearing a white sacred thread, ever austere and self-controlled, with white teeth and white garments, he was the family priest of the Yadu dynasty.
तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय देवकी प्रणनाम च । वसुदेवश्च भक्त्या च रत्नसिहासनं ददौ
Seeing him, Devakī immediately rose and bowed; and Vasudeva, with devotion, offered him a jeweled throne.
मधुपर्कं कामधेनुं वह्निशुद्धांशुकं तथा । दत्त्वा गन्धं पुष्पमाल्यं पूजयामास भक्तितः
He offered with devotion the madhuparka, a wish-fulfilling cow, fire-purified garments, as well as fragrance, flowers, and garlands.
मिष्टान्नं परमान्नं च पिण्टकं मधुरं मधु । भोजयामास यत्नेन ताम्बूलं वासितं ददौ
He served sweet rice, the finest food, sweet cakes, honey, and with care gave perfumed betel leaves.