श्यामां सुकेशीं रुचिरां न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलाम्
Dark-complexioned, with beautiful hair, lovely, and shaped like a banyan tree,
नरा नार्य्यश्च तां दृष्ट्वा तुलनां दातुमक्षमाः
Men and women, seeing her, were unable to find any comparison.
सा च भूमिष्ठमात्रेण योग्या स्त्रीप्रकृतिर्यथा
She, by the measure of the earth, was fit, just as is the nature of women.
तत्र दैवाब्दलक्षं च चकार परमं तपः
There, for a hundred thousand divine years, she performed supreme austerity.
ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपाः शीते तोयस्था सा च सुन्दरी
In summer, she practiced the five-fold fire austerity; in winter, that beautiful one stood in water.
विंशत्सहस्रवर्षं च फलतोयाशना च सा
For twenty thousand years, she subsisted on fruits and water.
चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राब्दं वाय्वाहारा कृशोदरी
For forty thousand years, the slender-waisted one lived on air alone.
निर्लक्ष्यां चैकपादस्थां दृष्ट्वा तां कमलोद्भवः 2.15.
Seeing her, standing on one foot, subtle and difficult to perceive, the lotus-born one—
चतुर्मुखं च सा दृष्ट्वा प्राणंसीद्धंसवाहनम्
She saw the Four-faced One, whose vehicle is the swan, present there.
ब्रह्मोवाच हरिभक्तिं च मुक्तिं वाऽप्यजरामरतामपि
Brahma said: Whether it is devotion to Hari, or liberation, or even deathlessness and freedom from old age—
तुलस्युवाच सर्वज्ञस्यापि पुरतः का लज्जा मम साम्प्रतम्
Tulasi said: In the presence of the all-knowing one, what shame could there be for me now?
अहं च तुलसी गोपी गोलोकेऽहं स्थिता पुरा
And I, Tulasi, was once a gopi, dwelling in Goloka.
गोविन्देन सहासक्तामतृप्तां मां च मूर्च्छिताम्
Attached to Govinda, unsatisfied and fainting, I was—
गोविन्दं भर्त्सयामास मां शशाप रुषाऽन्विता
Radhika, angered, rebuked Govinda and cursed me.
मामुवाच स गोविन्दो मदंशं त्वं चतुर्भुजम्
Govinda said to me: 'You shall become a portion of me, four-armed.'
इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेशोऽप्यन्तर्धानमवाप सः
Having spoken thus, the Lord of the gods disappeared from sight.
अहं नारायणं कान्तं शान्तं सुन्दविग्रहम्
I beheld Narayana, my beloved, serene, with a beautiful form.
ब्रह्मोवाच तदंशश्चातितेजस्वी चालभज्जन्म भारते ।। 2.15.
Brahma said: That portion, exceedingly radiant, was born in Bharata as Alabhya.
साम्प्रतं राधिकाशापाद्दनुवंशसमुद्भवः
Now, due to Radhika's curse, he was born in the race of the Danavas.
गोलोके त्वां पुरा दृष्ट्वा कामोन्मथितमानसः
Having seen you before in Goloka, his mind was agitated by desire.
स च जातिस्मरस्तप्त्वा त्वां ललाभ वरेण च
He, remembering his past birth, performed austerities and obtained you by a boon.
अधुना तस्य पत्नी च भव भाविनि शोभने
Now, O beautiful and auspicious one, become his wife.
शापान्नारायणस्यैव कलया दैवयोगतः
By the curse of Narayana himself, through a portion and by divine arrangement—
प्रधाना सर्वपुष्पाणां विष्णुप्राणाधिका भवेत्
You shall become the foremost among all flowers, dearer to Vishnu than life.
वृन्दावने वृक्षरूपा नाम्ना वृन्दावनीति च
In Vrindavana, you will take the form of a tree, and be known by the name Vrinda.
वृक्षाधिदेवीरूपेण सार्द्धं कृष्णेन सन्ततम्
As the goddess presiding over trees, you will always be with Krishna.
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा सस्मिता हृष्टमानसा
Hearing these words, she smiled, her heart filled with joy.
तुलत्युवाच सत्यं ब्रवीमि हे तात न तथा च चतुर्भुजे।।2.15.
Tula spoke: I speak the truth, O father, it is not so with the four-armed one.
अतृप्ताऽहं च गोविन्दे दैवाच्छृङ्गारभंगतः
I am unsatisfied with Govinda, as fate has interrupted the passion.
तत्प्रसादेन गोविन्दं पुनरेव सुदुर्लभम्
By his grace, Govinda, who is extremely rare, will again be attained.