पुष्करं गच्छतं शीघ्रं भास्करं भजतं सुतौ
As they swiftly went to Puṣkara, the two sons worshipped the Sun.
तौ निषेव्य दिनेशं तं नीरुजौ संबभूवतुः
Having served that lord of the day, they both became free from illness.
सर्वविघ्नहरं सारं विघ्नेशं विघ्ननाशनम्
He who removes all obstacles, the essence, the lord of obstacles, the destroyer of hindrances.
नारद उवाच तेजसा विक्रमेणैव मत्प्रश्नं श्रोतुमर्हसि
Nārada said: By your brilliance and might alone, you are worthy to hear my question.
विघ्ननिघ्नस्य यद्विघ्नं श्रुतं तत्परमाद्भुतम्
That the remover of obstacles himself faced an obstacle is a most wondrous thing I have heard.
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं सन्देहभञ्जनम्
Now I wish to hear that which dispels the highest doubt.
स्थितेष्वन्येषु बहुषु जन्तुष्वब्जभुवः पते
O lord born from the lotus, among the many other beings who exist—
श्रीनारायण उवाच गोप्यं सर्वपुराणेषु वेदेषु च सुदुर्लभम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: This is a secret in all the Purāṇas and exceedingly rare in the Vedas.
तारणं सर्वदुःखानां कारणं सर्वसम्पदाम्
It is the deliverance from all sorrows, the cause of all prosperity.
महालक्ष्म्याश्च चरितं सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलम्
And it is the conduct of Mahālakṣmī, the most auspicious of all that is auspicious.
शृणु तात प्रवक्ष्येऽहमितिहासं पुरातनम्
Listen, dear one, I shall now recount an ancient legend.
एकदैव महेन्द्रश्च पुष्पभद्रां नदीं ययौ
Once, indeed, Mahendra went to the river Puṣpabhadrā.
तत्तीरेऽतिरहःस्थाने पुष्पोद्याने मनोहरे
On its bank, in a most delightful flower-garden, a place for long stays—
भ्रमरध्वनिसंयुक्ते पुंस्कोकिलरुतश्रवे
Where the air was filled with the hum of bees and the calls of cuckoos—
ददर्श रम्भां तत्रैव चन्द्रलोकात्समागताम्
There he saw Rambhā, who had come from the realm of the moon.
इच्छन्तीमीप्सितां क्रीडां गच्छन्तीं मदनाश्रमम्
Desiring her wished-for play, she was going to Madana's hermitage.
सुश्रोणीं सुदतीं श्यामां बिम्बाधरसरोरुहाम्
She was slender-waisted, lovely-toothed, dark-complexioned, with lips like bimba fruit and lotus-like.
सस्मितास्यशरच्चन्द्रां सुकटाक्षं च बिभ्रतीम्
Her face was smiling, like the autumn moon, and she cast charming glances.
वह्निशुद्धांशुकधरां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम्
She wore garments purified by fire and was adorned with jeweled ornaments.
नीलोत्पलदलश्यामकज्जलोज्जललोचनाम्
Her eyes shone with dark collyrium, and her complexion was like the blue petals of a lotus.
अत्युन्नतं सुकठिनं पत्रराजिविराजितम्
Her breasts were exceedingly high, firm, and splendid like the king of leaves.
सर्वशोभां सुवेषाढ्यां सुभगां सुरतोत्सुकाम्
She was endowed with every charm, beautifully dressed, fortunate, and eager for love.
वरामप्सरसां रम्यामतीव स्थिरयौवनाम्
She was the best among the celestial nymphs, exceedingly lovely, and possessed unwavering youth.
दृष्ट्वा तामतिवेषाढ्यां तत्कटाक्षेण पीडितः
Seeing her, so richly adorned, he was afflicted by her sidelong glance.
इन्द्र उवाच मया दृष्टा हि सुचिरात्कल्याणि सुभगेऽधुना
Indra said: O beautiful and fortunate one, I have seen you now after a long time.
तवान्वेषणकर्त्ताऽहं श्रुत्वा वाचिकमग्रतः
I am the one who has come searching for you, having heard your name spoken before.
सुवासितजलार्थी यः किमिच्छेत्पङ्किलं जलम्
Who, desiring fragrant water, would wish for muddy water?
सुधार्थी न सुरामिच्छेद्दुग्धार्थी नाविलं जलम्
One who seeks nectar does not desire liquor; one who seeks milk does not want impure water.
स्वर्गी च नरकं नेच्छेत्सुभोगी दुष्टभोजनम् विहाय रत्नाभरणं कोऽपीच्छेल्लोहभूषणम्
A dweller in heaven does not wish for hell; a lover of pleasures does not desire bad food. Who, abandoning jeweled ornaments, would wish for ornaments of iron?
त्वां नाश्लिष्य महाविज्ञां कां मूढो गन्तुमिच्छति
Who, not embracing you, the greatly wise, would wish, being foolish, to go elsewhere?