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.
प्रणम्य कृष्णं मनसा सबलं तं विलोक्य च । उवाच वसुदेवं च देवकीं च पतिव्रताम्
After bowing mentally to Krishna and seeing him with Balarama, he addressed Vasudeva and the devoted Devaki.
गर्ग उवाच वसुदेव निबोधेनं सवलं पश्य पुत्रकम् । उवनीतोचितं शुद्धं वयमा सांप्रतं वरम्
Garga said: Vasudeva, listen and behold Balarama, O son; now we shall perform the pure and proper rite of initiation.
वसुदेव उवाच शुभक्षणं कुरु गृरो यदूनां पूज्यदैवत । उपनीतोचितं शुद्धं प्रशंस्यं च सतामपि
Vasudeva said: Perform the auspicious rite, O revered one, you who are the worshipful deity of the Yadus; the pure and praiseworthy initiation, honored even by the virtuous.
गर्ग उवाच सर्वेम्यो बान्धवेम्योऽपि देह्यामन्त्रणपत्रिकाम् । संभारं कुरु यत्नेन वसुदेव वसुपम
Garga said: Invite all relatives and friends, and send out the invitation letters; Vasudeva, gather all the necessary items with care, O best of the wealthy.
परश्वः सुभमेवास्ति चोपेनतुमिहार्हसि । दिनं सतामपि मतं विशुद्धं चन्द्रतारयोः
The day after tomorrow is truly auspicious; you should perform the initiation then. That day, favored by the virtuous, is pure according to the lunar and stellar calendar.
गर्गस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वसुदेवो वसूपमः । प्रस्थापयामास सर्वान्बन्धून्मङ्गलपत्रिकाम्
Hearing Garga's words, Vasudeva, best among the wealthy, sent out the auspicious invitations to all his relatives.
घृतकुल्यां दुग्धकुल्यां दधिकुल्यां मनोहराम् । मधुकुल्यां गुडकुल्यां प्रचकार समन्वितः
He prepared delightful rows of clarified butter, milk, curds, honey, and jaggery, all arranged together.
राशिं नानोपहाराणां मणिरत्नं सुवर्णकम् । नानालंकारवस्त्रं च मुक्तामाणिक्यहीरकम्
He assembled heaps of various offerings: jewels, gems, gold, diverse ornaments and garments, pearls, rubies, and diamonds.
श्रीकृष्णो देववर्गाश्च मुनीन्द्रसिद्धपुंगवान् । सस्मार मनसा भक्त्या भक्ताश्च भक्तवत्सलः
Sri Krishna, the hosts of gods, the foremost sages and perfected beings, and the devotees—Krishna, lover of devotees—remembered all with devotion in their minds.
शुभे दिने च संप्राप्ते ते च सर्वे समाययुः । मुनीन्द्रा बान्धवा देवा राजानो बहुशस्तथा
When the auspicious day arrived, all of them gathered: the foremost sages, relatives, gods, and many kings.