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.
देवकन्या नागकन्या राजकन्याश्च सर्वशः । विद्याधर्यश्च गन्धर्वाश्चाऽऽययुर्वाद्यभाण्डकाः
Divine maidens, serpent maidens, princesses from everywhere, vidyadharis, gandharvas, and musicians with their instruments all arrived.
ब्राह्मणा भिक्षुका भट्टा यतयो ब्रह्मचारिणः । संन्यासिनश्चावधूता योगिनश्च समाययुः
Brahmins, mendicants, scholars, ascetics, celibates, renunciants, avadhutas, and yogis all assembled.
स्त्रीबान्धवाः स्वबन्धूनां वर्गा मातामहस्य च । बन्धूनां बान्धवाः सर्वे स्वाययुः शुभकर्मणि
Women relatives, groups from their own families, maternal uncles' families, and all the relatives of relatives came for the auspicious ceremony.
भीष्मो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्चाप्यश्वत्थामा कृपो द्विजः । सुपुत्रो धृतराष्ट्रश्च सभार्यश्च समाययौ
Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashvatthama, Kripa the twice-born, and Dhritarashtra with his wife and good son all arrived.
कुन्ती सपुत्रा विधवा हर्षशोकसमाप्लुता । नानादेशोद्भवा योग्या राजानो राजपुत्रकाः
Kunti, widowed and with her sons, overwhelmed by both joy and sorrow, came; kings and princes from various regions, worthy of respect, also arrived.
अत्रिर्वसिष्ठश्च्यवनो भरद्वाजो महातपाः । याज्ञवल्क्यश्च भीमश्च गार्ग्यो गर्गो महातपाः
Atri, Vasistha, Cyavana, Bharadvaja the great ascetic, Yajnavalkya, Bhima, Gargya, and Garga the great ascetic were present.
वत्सः सपुत्रश्च धर्मो जैगीषव्यः पराशरः । पुलहश्च पुलस्त्यश्चाप्यगस्त्यश्वापि सौभरिः
Vatsa, along with his son, Dharma, Jaigishavya, Parashara, Pulaha, Pulastya, Agastya, Ashva, and Saubhari—
सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च मनातनः । सनत्कुमारो भगवान्वोढुः पञ्चशिखस्तथा
Sanaka, Sananda, the third, Manatana, the venerable Sanatkumara, Vodhu, and also Panchashikha—
तुर्वासाश्चाङ्गिरा व्यासो व्यासपुत्रः शुकस्तथा । कुशिकः कौशिको राम ऋष्यशृङ्गो विभाण्डकः
Turvasa, Angiras, Vyasa, Vyasa's son Shuka, Kushika, Kaushika, Rama, Rishyashringa, and Vibhandaka—
शृङ्गी च वामदेवश्च गौतमश्च गुणार्णवः । क्रतुर्यतिश्चाऽऽरुणिश्च शुक्राचार्यो बृहस्पतिः
Shringi, Vamadeva, Gautama, Gunarnava, Kratu, Yati, Aruni, Shukracharya, and Brihaspati—