स्वेच्छामयं परं ब्रह्म निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम् 2.54.
He is the Supreme Brahman, beyond qualities and nature, existing by his own will.
प्रियैर्द्वादशगोपालैः सेवितं श्वेतचामरैः
Attended by his beloved twelve cowherd companions, with white yak-tail fans.
पीडितैः कामबाणैश्च शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनैः
Struck by the arrows of desire, ever in the prime of youth, steadfast and beautiful.
रासमण्डलमध्यस्थं श्रीकृष्णं च परात्परम्
Śrī Krishna, the supreme of the supreme, standing at the center of the rāsa circle.
स्तुतं चतुर्भिवेदैश्च मूर्तिमद्भिर्मनोहरैः
Praised by the four Vedas, manifest in delightful forms.
श्रुतवन्तं च सङ्गीतं यन्त्रवक्त्रोत्थितं शिवे
Hearing music sung, arising from instruments and voices, O Śiva.
शश्वत्पूजितपादाब्जमखण्डतुलसीदलैः
His lotus feet ever worshipped with unbroken leaves of holy basil.
दूर्वाभिरक्षताभिश्च पारिजातप्रसूनकैः
With blades of dūrvā grass, grains of rice, and flowers of the pārijāta tree.
सुप्रसन्नं स्वतन्त्रं च सर्वकारणकारणम्
Ever serene, independent, the cause of all causes.
सर्वमङ्गलरूपं च सर्वमङ्गलकारणम् 2.54.
The embodiment of all auspiciousness, the source of all that is auspicious.
तं दृष्ट्वा नृपतिस्त्रस्तो ह्यवरुह्य रथात्त्वरन्
Seeing him, the king, seized by fear, quickly descended from his chariot.
परमात्मा ददौ तस्मै स्वदास्यं च शुभाशिषम्
The Supreme Self granted him service and blessed him with auspicious wishes.
राधाऽवरुह्य स्वरथात्कृष्णवक्षस्युवास सा
Rādhā descended from her own chariot and embraced Krishna's chest.
सम्भाषिता श्रीकृष्णेन सस्मितेन च पूजिता
She was addressed by Śrī Krishna, honored with a smile.
आदौ राधां समुच्चार्य्य पश्चात्कृष्णं च माधवम्
First, utter the name of Rādhā, then that of Kṛṣṇa Mādhava.
विपर्य्ययं ये वदन्ति ये निन्दन्ति जगत्प्रसूम्
Those who speak in reverse order, or who revile the mother of the world,
ते पच्यन्ते कालसूत्रे यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरम्
They are tormented upon the thread of Time for as long as the moon and sun endure.
इत्येवं कथितं दुर्गे राधिकाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Thus has the supreme tale of Rādhikā been narrated in the presence of Durgā.
नारायणी विष्णुमाया मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी
She is Nārāyaṇī, the power of Viṣṇu, the primal nature, the sovereign goddess.
स्त्रीजातिष्वधिदेवी च परा जातिस्मरा वरा 2.54.
Among women she is the presiding deity, the highest, the best, and the one who remembers birth.
श्रीपार्वत्युवाच कथं जग्राह राधाया मन्त्रं वै वैष्णवो नृपः
Śrī Pārvatī said: How did the Vaiṣṇava king receive the mantra of Rādhā?
किं विधानं च किं ध्यानं किं स्तोत्रं कवचं च किम्
What is its procedure, what is its meditation, what hymn and what protective charm?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच शीघ्रं प्राप्नोमि गोलोकं कस्याराधनतो मुने
Śrī Maheśvara said: By whose worship, O sage, do I swiftly attain Goloka?
इत्युक्तवन्तं राजेन्द्रमुवाच ब्राह्मणोत्तमः
Having spoken thus, the foremost brāhmaṇa addressed the king.
तत्प्राणाधिष्ठातृदेवीं भज राधां परात्पराम्
Worship Rādhā, the supreme of the supreme, the goddess who presides over vital breath.
इत्युक्त्वा राधिकामन्त्रं ददौ तस्मै षडक्षरम्
Having said this, he gave him the Rādhikā mantra, consisting of six syllables.
प्राणायामं भूतशुद्धिं मन्त्रन्यासं तथैव च
He taught him breath control, purification of the elements, and placement of the mantra.
स्तोत्रं च कवचं तं च शिक्षयामास भक्तितः
He instructed him in the hymn and the protective charm, with devotion.
ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं मंगलानां च मंगलम्
He also taught him the meditation described in the Sāma Veda, the most auspicious of auspicious things.
श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां कोटिचन्द्रसमप्रभाम् सुश्रोणीं सुनितम्बां च पक्वबिम्बाधरां वराम्।।2.55.
Her radiance is like white campaka flowers, equal to ten million moons; she is beautiful, with graceful hips and waist, and lips like ripe bimba fruit.