श्रीभगवानुवाच मद्भक्तस्य च गोपस्य महातेजस्विनः पुरा
The Blessed Lord spoke: Formerly, my devotee, the mighty Gopa,
सुराः शृणुत तत्सर्वमितिहासं पुरातनम्
O gods, listen to that entire ancient story.
सुदामा नाम गोपश्च पार्षदप्रवरो मम
Sudāmā by name, a Gopa, foremost among my attendants.
तत्रैकदाऽहमगमं स्वालयाद्रासमण्डलम्
There, once, I went from my own abode to the circle of Rāsa.
सा मां विरजया सार्द्धं विज्ञाय किंकरीमुखात्
She, having learned from the attendants about me together with Virajayā,
विरजां च नदीरूपां मां ज्ञात्वा च तिरोहितम् 2.16.
and recognizing me as Virajā in the form of a river, saw that I had disappeared.
मां दृष्ट्वा मन्दिरे देवी सुदाम सहितं पुरा
Once, the goddess saw me in the palace together with Sudāma.
तच् त्वा च सुमहांश्च सुदामा तां चुकोप ह
Then, Sudāma became greatly angry with you and her.
तच्छ्रुत्वा सा कोपयुक्ता रक्तपङ्कजलोचना
Hearing this, she became enraged, her eyes red like lotus petals.
सखीलक्षं समुत्तस्थौ दुर्वारं तेजसोज्ज्वलम्
She rose up with all her companions, her radiance blazing and unstoppable.
सा च तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा समारुष्टा शशाप तम्
Hearing those words, she, filled with anger, cursed him.
हे वत्स तिष्ठ मा गच्छ क्व यासीति पुनः पुनः
"O child, stay, do not go! Where are you going?"—she said again and again.
गोप्यश्च रुरुदुः सर्वा गोपाश्चेति सुदुःखिताः
All the gopīs wept, and the gopas too, deeply distressed.
आयास्यति क्षणार्धेन कृत्वा शापस्य पालनम्
"He will return in half a moment, after fulfilling the curse."
गोलोकस्य क्षणार्द्धेन चैकमन्वन्तरं भवेत् 2.16.
In Goloka, half a moment is equal to one manvantara.
स एव शंखचूडश्च पुनस्तत्रैव यास्यति
That very Śaṃkhacūḍa will return there again.
मम शूलं गृहीत्वा च शीघ्रं गच्छत भारतम्
"Take up my trident and quickly go to Bhārata."
ममैव कवचं कण्ठे सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलम्
"Wear my own auspicious armor around your neck."
तत्र ब्रह्मन्स्थिते कण्ठे न कोऽपि हिंसितुं क्षमः
"O Brahman, while that armor is on your neck, no one will be able to harm you."
सतीत्वभङ्गस्तत्पत्न्या यत्र काले भविष्यति
There will come a time when his wife's chastity will be broken.
तत्पत्न्याश्चोदरे वीर्य्यमर्पयिष्यामि निश्चितम्
"I will surely deposit my seed in the womb of his wife."
पश्चात्सा देहमुत्सृज्य भविष्यति प्रिया मम
Afterwards, she will abandon her body and become my beloved.
शूलं दत्त्वा ययौ शीघ्रं हरिरभ्यन्तरं मुदा
Having offered the spear, Hari swiftly entered within, with joy.
नारायण उवाच जगाम स्वालयं तूर्णं यथास्थानं महामुने
Nārāyaṇa said: He went quickly to his own abode, to his proper place, O great sage.
चन्द्रभागानदीतीरे वटमूले मनोहरे
On the bank of the river Candrabhāgā, beneath a charming banyan tree,
दूतं कृत्वा पुष्पदन्तं गन्धर्वेश्वरमीप्सितम्
He appointed Puṣpadanta, the lord of Gandharvas, as his messenger, as desired.
स चेश्वराज्ञया शीघ्रं ययौ तन्नगरं वरम्
By the command of the lord, he swiftly went to that excellent city.
पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णं दैर्घ्ये तद्द्विगुणं मुने सप्तभिः परिखाभिश्च दुर्गमाभिः समन्वितम्
That city, O sage, was five yojanas wide and twice as long, endowed with seven difficult moats.
ज्वलदग्निनिभैर्नित्यं शोभितं रत्नकोटिभिः
It was always adorned with countless jewels, shining like blazing fire.
परितो वणिजां संघैर्नानावस्तुविराजितैः
All around were groups of merchants, resplendent with various goods.