पूर्वं स्वविषयं चाहं न गृह्णामि प्रयत्नतः
Formerly, even with effort, I did not accept my own subject.
तदा मां कथयामास पिता तद्गुणकीर्त्तनम्
Then my father recounted to me the praise of those qualities.
तद्गुणं स न जानाति तदन्यस्य च का कथा
He does not know those qualities; what then of another?
सर्वान्तरात्मा भगवान्सर्वकारणकारणम्
The Blessed Lord is the inner soul of all, the cause of all causes.
नित्यरूपी नित्यदेही नित्यानन्दो निराकृतिः
He is of eternal form, eternal body, eternal bliss, and without form.
निर्लिप्तः सर्वसाक्षी च सर्वाधारः परात्परः
Unattached, the witness of all, the support of all, supreme among the supreme.
स्वयं पुमांश्च प्रकृतिः स्वयं च प्रकृतेः परः
He is himself the person, himself nature, and also beyond nature.
अतीव कमनीयं च सुन्दरं सुमनोहरम् 2.34.
He is exceedingly lovely, beautiful, and most enchanting.
कन्दर्पकोटिलावण्यलीलाधाम मनोहरम्
The abode of the playful beauty of ten million Cupids, enchanting to the mind.
शरत्पार्वणकोटीन्दुशोभासंशोभिताननम्
His face shines, adorned with the radiance of ten million autumn full moons.
सस्मितं शोभितं शश्वदमूल्याऽऽपीतवाससा
Ever smiling, splendid, and clothed in priceless yellow garments.
सुखदृश्यं च शान्तं च राधाकान्तमनन्तकम्
Pleasant to behold, serene, the endless beloved of Rādhā.
रासमण्डलमध्यस्थं रत्नसिंहासनस्थितम्
Seated at the center of the rāsa circle, upon a jeweled throne.
कौस्तुभेन मणीन्द्रेण सुन्दरं वक्षसोज्ज्वलम्
His beautiful chest gleams, adorned with the Kaustubha, the foremost of jewels.
चारुचम्पकमालाब्जमालतीमाल्यमण्डितम्
Adorned with charming garlands of campaka, lotus, and mālatī flowers.
ध्यायन्ति चैवम्भूतं वै भक्ता भक्तिपरिप्लुताः
Devotees, filled with devotion, meditate upon Him in this way.
करोति लेखनं कर्मानुरूपं सर्वदेहिनाम्
He inscribes the deeds of all embodied beings according to their actions.
विष्णुः पाता च सर्वेषां यद्भयात्पाति सन्ततम् 2.34.
Viṣṇu protects all, ever guarding them out of fear of Him.
शिवो मृत्युञ्जयश्चैव ज्ञानिनां च गुरोर्गुरुः
Śiva, the conqueror of death, is the guru of the wise and the guru of gurus.
परमानन्द युक्तश्च भक्तिवैराग्यसंयुतः
He is endowed with supreme bliss, united with devotion and detachment.
तपनश्च प्रतपति यद्भयात्सन्ततं सति
The sun shines continually out of fear of Him.
यदाज्ञया दहेद्वह्निर्जलमेव सुशीतलम्
By His command, fire burns and water remains cool.
भ्रमन्ति राशिचक्राणि ग्रहा वै यद्भयेन च
The planets and the zodiacal signs revolve out of fear of Him.
भयात्फलानि पक्वानि निष्फलास्तरवो भयात्
Fruits ripen and trees become barren out of fear of Him.
तथा स्थले जलस्थाश्च न जीवन्ति यदाज्ञया
Likewise, those on land and in water do not live without His command.
कालश्च कलयेत्सर्वं भ्रमत्येव यदाज्ञया
Time measures all and moves only by His command.
ज्वलदग्नौ पतन्तं च गभीरे च जलार्णवे
Falling into blazing fire and into the deep ocean of water,
नानाशस्त्रास्त्रविद्धं च रणेषु विषमेषु च 2.34.
Pierced by various weapons and missiles, and in the midst of perilous battles,
शयानं तन्त्रमन्त्रैश्च काले कालो हरेद्भयात्
Lying down, bound by spells and incantations, time seizes one out of fear at the appointed hour,
कूर्मोऽनन्तं स च क्षोणीं समुद्रान्सप्तपर्वतान्
The tortoise supports Ananta, and he supports the earth, the seven oceans, and the mountains,