कपाले मण्डलाकारकस्तूरीयुक्तचन्दनम् । सकलङ्कं मृगाङ्कं च शोभितं जलदे तथा
On his forehead was a circular mark of musk mixed with sandalwood, resembling the moon with its spots shining upon a cloud.
द्विभुजं श्यामलंकान्तं राधाकान्तं मनोहरम् । ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यं भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम्
He was two-armed, dark, handsome, beloved of Radha, captivating; his face was gently smiling and serene, the embodiment of grace to devotees.
रत्नकेयूरवलयरत्नमञ्जीररञ्जितम् । रुदन्तं पितुरुत्सङ्गे बलेन सहितं परम्
Adorned with jeweled armlets, bracelets, and anklets, he was crying in his father's lap, together with Balarama, supreme.
अथ मङ्गलकाले च शुभलग्ने मनोरमे । संपीक्षिते ग्रहैः सौम्यैर्जांग्रल्लग्नाधिपे स्थिते
Then, at an auspicious time, under a favorable and delightful constellation, when gentle planets were observed and the lord of the ascendant was well placed,
असद्ग्रहैरदृष्टे च सद्ग्रहेक्षित एव च । शुभकर्मसमारम्भं स्वस्तिवाचनपूर्वकम्
With malefic planets unseen and only benefic planets visible, a virtuous ceremony was begun, preceded by recitation of blessings.
चकार वसुदेवश्चाप्याज्ञया सुरविप्रयोः । दत्त्वा सुवर्णशतकं ब्राह्मणाय च सादरम्
Vasudeva, by the command of the divine sages, performed the rites, respectfully giving a hundred pieces of gold to a Brahmin.
देवेन्द्रांश्च मुनीन्द्राश्च नमस्कृत्य पुरोहितम् । गणेशं च दिनेशं च वह्निं च शंकरं शिवाम्
After honoring the chief of gods and sages, the priest, Ganesha, the sun, Agni, Shankara, and Shiva,
संपूज्य देवषट्कं च साक्षतैर्देवसंसदि । उपचारैः षोडशभिः संयतो भक्तिपूर्वकम्
He worshipped the six deities in the assembly of gods, with sixteen offerings, performed with devotion and restraint.
पुत्राधिवासनं चक्रै वेदमन्त्रेण संसदि । संपूज्य नानादेवांश्च दिक्पालांश्च नवग्रहान्
He performed the ceremony of installing the son, with Vedic mantras in the assembly, worshipping various gods, guardians of the directions, and the nine planets.
दत्त्वा पञ्चोपचारांश्च भक्त्या षोडशमातृकाः । दत्त्वा च वसुधारां च सप्तवारान्घृतेन च
He offered five kinds of worship to the sixteen mothers with devotion, and gave a stream of earth seven times with clarified butter.
चेदिराजं वसुं नत्वा संपूज्य प्रययौ पुनः । वृद्धिश्राद्धं सुनिर्वाप्य यत्किंचिद्दैविकं तथा
After bowing to King Vasu of Chedi and honoring him, he departed again, having properly performed the growth-rite and whatever else was prescribed for the gods.
यज्ञं कृत्वा तु वेदोक्तं यज्ञसूत्रं ददौ मुदा । वलदेवाग्रचायैव कृष्णाय परमात्मने
He performed the Vedic sacrifice, joyfully gave the sacrificial thread, first to Balarama and then to Krishna, the Supreme Soul.
गायत्री च ददौ ताभ्यां मुनिः सांदीपनिस्तथा । भिक्षां ददौ च प्रथमं पार्वती परमादरात्
The sage Sandipani gave the Gayatri mantra to both; Parvati, with utmost respect, gave the first alms.
अमूल्यरत्नपात्रस्थं मुक्तामाणिक्यहीरकम् । हीरसारविनिर्माणं पित्रा दत्तं च हारकम्
In a priceless jeweled vessel, pearls, rubies, and diamonds were placed; a necklace made of pure diamonds, given by the father.
शुभाशिषं च प्रददौ शुक्लपुष्पेणा दूर्वया । ततोऽदितिर्दितिश्चैव मुनिपत्न्यश्च देवकी
She bestowed auspicious blessings with white flowers and sacred grass; then Aditi, Diti, the wives of sages, and Devaki,
यशोदा रोहिणी हृष्टा सावित्री च सरस्वती । प्रत्येकं प्रददौ भिक्षां मणिकाञ्चनभूषिताम्
Yashoda, Rohini, joyful Savitri, and Sarasvati each gave alms adorned with jewels and gold.
देवकन्या नागकन्या राजकन्याः पतिव्रताः । कामिन्यो बान्धवानां च सस्मिताः स्निग्धलोचनाः
Divine maidens, serpent maidens, and royal maidens devoted to their husbands, women filled with desire, and smiling ones with gentle eyes—
इन्द्राणी वरुणानी च पवनानी च रोहिणी । कुबेरपत्नीं स्वाहा च रतिः कामस्य कामिनी
Indrani, Varunani, Pavanani, Rohini, Kubera’s wife, Svaha, and Rati, the beloved of Kama—
प्रत्येकं प्रददौ भिक्षां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम् । भिक्षां गृहीत्वा भगवान्सबलो भक्तिपूर्वकम्
Each of them gave alms adorned with jeweled ornaments; having received the alms, the Blessed Lord, together with Balarama, accepted them with devotion.
किंचिद्ददौ च गर्गाय किचित्स्वगुरवे तथा । वैदिकं कर्म निर्वाप्य गर्गाय दक्षिणां ददौ
He gave something to Garga, and likewise something to his own teacher; having completed the Vedic rite, he gave a fee to Garga.
देवांश्च भोजयामास ब्राह्मणांश्चापि सादरम् । ये ये समाययुर्यज्ञे तेच दत्त्वा शुभाशिषम्
He respectfully fed the gods and also the brahmins; all who had assembled at the sacrifice, after bestowing auspicious blessings, departed.
कृण्णाय बलदेवाय प्रहृष्टाः प्रययृर्गुहम् । नन्दः सभार्यो निर्वाप्य शुभकर्म सुतस्य वै
Joyful, they went to the cave with Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; Nanda, with his wife, having completed the auspicious rite for his son—
क्रोडे कृत्वा बलं कृष्णं चुचुम्ब वदनं तयोः । उचचै रुरोद नन्दश्च यशोदा च पतिव्रता श्रीकृष्णस्तं समाश्वास्य बोधयामास यत्नतः
He took Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa on his lap and kissed their faces; Nanda wept aloud, and so did the devoted Yaśodā. Śrī Kṛṣṇa comforted and earnestly consoled them.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच सानन्दं गच्छ हे मातर्यशोदे तातमत्वरम् । त्वमेव माता पोष्ट्री त्वं पिता च परमार्थतः
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Go with joy, O mother Yaśodā, do not delay, father; you alone are truly my mother and nourisher, and you are also my father in the highest sense.
अवन्तिनगरं तात यास्यामि सबलोऽधुना । मुनेः सांदीपनेः स्थानं वेदपाठार्थमीप्सितम्
Father, I will now go to the city of Avanti with Balarāma, to the place of the sage Sāndīpani, desiring to study the Vedas.
तत आगत्य सुचिरं काले भवति दर्शनम् । कामः करोति कलनं स च भेदं करोति च
After a long time, there will be a meeting again; desire causes union, and it also causes separation.
सर्वं कालकृतं मातर्भेदं संमीलनं नृणाम् । सुखं दुःखं च हर्षं च शोकं च मङ्गलालयम्
O mother, all union and separation among people, happiness and sorrow, joy and grief, and all auspiciousness—these are caused by time.
मया दत्तं च तत्त्वं च योगिनामपि दुर्लभम् । सर्वं नन्दश्च सानन्दं त्वामेव कथयिष्यति
The truth I have given is difficult even for yogis to attain; Nanda will tell you everything with joy.
इत्युक्त्वा जगतां नाथो वसुदेवसभां ययौ । तदाज्ञया क्षणं प्राप्य ययौ संदीपनेर्गूहम्
Having spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds went to Vasudeva’s assembly; by his command, after a moment, he went to the abode of Sāndīpani.
वसुदेवं देवकीं च संभाष्य विनयेन च । नन्दः सभार्यः प्रययौ हृदयेन विदूयता
He spoke with Vasudeva and Devakī with humility; Nanda, with his wife, departed, their hearts afflicted.