बाहुभ्यां च समाश्लिष्य पिपेषोद्रिक्तमोहतः
Embracing it with both arms, he pressed it tightly, overwhelmed by intense delusion.
रक्तमांसास्थिहीनं तच्छरीरं च महात्मनः
That body of the great soul was devoid of blood, flesh, and bone.
दग्धं लोहितमांसास्थि ज्वलता जठराग्निना
The blood, flesh, and bone were burned up by the blazing fire of the stomach.
चितां चन्दनकाष्ठेन निर्माय मधुसूदनः
Madhusudana constructed a funeral pyre from sandalwood.
ददौ चितायामग्निं च काष्ठं दत्त्वा शवोपरि
He placed fire upon the pyre, setting wood atop the corpse.
तद्देहे भस्मसाद्भूते नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिवि
When that body had become ashes, drums resounded in the heavens.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र रत्नसारविनिर्मितम्
Meanwhile, there appeared a chariot made from the essence of jewels.
पार्षदप्रवरैर्युक्तं श्रीकृष्णसदृशैर्वरैः 4.30.
It was attended by excellent companions, noble ones resembling Shri Krishna.
अवरुह्य रथात्तूर्णं पार्षदप्रवरा हरेः ।। सर्वे समानरूपास्ते प्रणम्य राधिकेश्वरौ
Swiftly descending from the chariot, the foremost attendants of Hari—all of similar form—bowed to Radha and Krishna.
धृतवन्तं सूक्ष्मदेहं प्रणमय्य मुनीश्वरम्
They greeted the sage, who had assumed a subtle body, and paid their respects to the lord among sages.
गते मुनीन्द्रे गोलोकं वृन्दावनविनोदिनी
When the chief sage departed for Goloka, Vrindavan rejoiced.
श्रीराधिकोवाच अतिखर्वजनाकारस्तेजीयानतिकुत्सितः
Shri Radha said: His form was exceedingly short, radiant, and not at all contemptible.
कथं वा निर्गतं भस्म देहादस्य किमद्भुतम्
How did ashes emerge from his body, and what was so wondrous about it?
रथस्थः पुण्यवान्सद्यो गोलकं च जगाम ह
Seated in the chariot, the virtuous one immediately went to Goloka.
त्वया कृतं च सत्कारमश्रुपूर्णेन चक्षुषा
You performed the rites with eyes full of tears.
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मधुसूदनः कथां कथितुमारेभे युगान्तरगतामपि
Hearing Radha's words, Madhusudana smiled and began to recount a story from another age.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच पश्चाच्छ्रोष्यसि कालेन प्रसङ्गे विदुषां मुखात्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Later, in due course, you will hear this in context from the mouths of the learned.
अष्टावक्रो मुनीन्द्रोऽपि विख्यातो भुवनत्रये 4.30.
Even Aṣṭāvakra, the foremost sage, is renowned throughout the three worlds.
कृष्णस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विमनस्का हरिप्रिया
Hearing Kṛṣṇa's words, Hari's beloved became troubled in mind.
राधिकोवाच स वितृप्तो भवति किं गोष्पदोदकपानतः
Rādhikā said: Is one ever satisfied by drinking water from a cow's hoofprint?
वेदानां वेदवक्तॄणां विधातुर्जनकस्य च
Of the Vedas, their teachers, and the progenitor of the creator as well.
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा तुष्टः कृष्णो बभूव ह
Hearing Rādhikā's words, Kṛṣṇa became pleased.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच श्रवणात्कथनाद्यस्य सर्वं पापं प्रणश्यति
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: By hearing or reciting this, all one's sins are destroyed.
महाविष्णोर्नाभिपद्माद्बभूव जगतां विधिः
From the lotus at the navel of Mahāviṣṇu, the creator of the worlds arose.
पुत्रा बभूवुश्चत्वारो ब्रह्मणो मानसात्पुरा
Long ago, four sons were born from the mind of Brahmā.
शिशवः पञ्चवर्षीया नग्ना अज्ञानिनो यथा
They were five-year-old boys, naked, and ignorant as children are.
सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः
Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana,
तानुवाच जगद्धाता सृष्टिं कुरुत पुत्रकाः 4.30.
To them, the creator of the world said: 'Sons, create progeny.'
विधाता विमनस्कश्च तनयेषु गतेषु च
The creator was disheartened when his sons departed.
ज्ञानेन निर्ममे पुत्रान्स्वाङ्गेषु च तपोधनान्
By knowledge, he created sons endowed with austerity from his own limbs.