मण्डितां मण्डलाकारै रत्नदर्पणकोटिभिः । विचित्रैश्चित्ररेखाभिर्नानाचित्रविचित्रिताम्
Adorned with circular arrangements of jeweled mirrors, decorated with wondrous and intricate designs of many kinds.
पद्मरागेन्द्ररचितां रुचिरां मणिपङ्कजैः । सोपानशतकैर्युक्तां स्यमन्तकविनिर्मितैः
Beautifully made with lotus-jewels by the king of Padmarāgas, equipped with hundreds of stairways crafted by Syamantaka.
पट्टसूत्रग्रन्थियुक्तैश्चारुचन्दनपल्लवैः । इन्द्रनीलस्तम्भवर्यैर्वेष्टितां सुमनोहराम्
Adorned with silk threads and knots, with lovely sandalwood leaves, and encircled by splendid pillars of blue sapphire, most enchanting.
सद्रत्नपूर्णकुम्भानां समूहैश्च समन्विताम् । पारिजातप्रसूनानां मालाजालैर्विराजिताम्
Graced by groups of golden vessels filled with precious gems, and radiant with garlands of pārijāta blossoms.
कस्तूरीकुङ्कुमारक्तैः सुगन्धिचन्दनद्रुमैः । सुसंस्कृतां तु सर्वत्र वासितां गन्धवायुना
Exquisitely prepared everywhere with fragrant sandalwood trees tinged red with musk and saffron, perfumed by gentle breezes.
विद्याधरीसमूहानां नृत्यजालैर्विराजिताम् । सहस्रयोजनायामां परिपूर्णां च किङ्करैः
Resplendent with the dances of hosts of celestial vidyādharīs, stretching a thousand yojanas and completely filled with attendants.
ददर्श श्रीहरिं ब्रह्मा शङ्करश्च सुरैः सह । वसन्तं तन्मध्यदेशे यथेन्दुं तारकावृतम्
There, Brahmā and Śrī Hari, along with Śaṅkara and the gods, beheld him dwelling in the center, like the moon surrounded by stars.
अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणचित्रसिंहासने स्थितम् । किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं वनमालाविभूषितम्
Seated upon a wondrous throne crafted from priceless jewels, crowned, adorned with earrings, and decorated with a garland of forest flowers.
चन्दनोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं बिभ्रतं केलिपङ्कजम् । पुरतो नृत्यगीतं च पश्यन्तं सस्मितं मुदा
His entire body anointed with sandalwood paste, holding a lotus of play, watching the dance and song before him, smiling with delight.
शान्तं सरस्वतीकान्तं लक्ष्मीधृतपदाम्बुजम् । लक्ष्म्या प्रदत्तं ताम्बूलं भुक्तवन्तं सुवासितम्
Peaceful, beloved of Sarasvatī, with Lakṣmī at his lotus feet, having enjoyed the fragrant betel offered by Lakṣmī.
गङ्गया परया भक्त्या सेवितं श्वेतचामरैः । सर्वैश्च स्तूयमानं च भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरैः
Served with pure devotion by Gaṅgā with white fly-whisks, and praised by all, their heads bowed low in devotion.
एवं विशिष्टं तं दृष्ट्वा परिपूर्णतमं प्रभुम् । ब्रह्मादयः सुराः सर्वे प्रणम्य तुष्टुवुस्तदा
Seeing that supreme Lord, so distinguished and complete, all the gods led by Brahmā bowed and praised him then.
पुलकाञ्चितसर्वाङ्गाः साश्रुनेत्राश्च गद्गदाः । भक्ताश्च परया भक्त्या भीता नम्रात्मकन्धराः
Their whole bodies thrilled, eyes filled with tears, voices choked with emotion, the devotees, full of deep devotion, bowed their heads in awe.
कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा विधाता जगतामपि । वृत्तान्तं कथयामास विनयेन हरेः पुरः
With hands joined in reverence, the creator of the worlds himself humbly recounted the events before Hari.
हरिस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वज्ञः सर्वभाववित् । प्रहस्योवाच ब्रह्माणं रहस्यं च मनोहरम्
Hearing these words, Hari, the all-knowing knower of all hearts, smiled and spoke to Brahmā, revealing a delightful secret.
श्रीभगवानुवाच शङ्खचूडस्य वृत्तान्तं सर्वं जानामि पद्मज । मद्भक्तस्य च गोपस्य महातेजस्विनः पुरा
The Blessed Lord said: O Padmaja, I know all the deeds of Śaṅkhacūḍa, and of my devotee, the cowherd of great splendor, from before.
शृणु तत्सर्ववृत्तान्तमितिहासं पुरातनम् । गोलोकस्यैव चरितं पापघ्नं पुण्यकारकम्
Hear now the entire ancient story, the history of Goloka itself, which destroys sin and brings merit.
सुदामा नाम गोपश्च पार्षदप्रवरो मम । स प्राप दानवीं योनिं राधाशापात्सुदारुणात्
Sudāmā by name, a cowherd and foremost of my attendants, because of Rādhā’s terrible curse, obtained a demonic birth.
तत्रैकदाहमगमं स्वालयाद्रासमण्डलम् । विरजामपि नीत्वा च मम प्राणाधिका परा
Once, I went from my own abode to the circle of the rāsa dance, taking with me Virajā, who is dearer to me than life.
सा मां विरजया सार्धं विज्ञाय किङ्करीमुखात् । पश्चात्क्रुद्धा साजगाम न ददर्श च तत्र माम्
Learning of this from the mouth of a maidservant, she came there in anger with Virajā, but did not see me there.
विरजां च नदीरूपां मां ज्ञात्वा च तिरोहितम् । पुनर्जगाम सा दृष्ट्वा स्वालयं सखिभिः सह
Recognizing me as the river Virajā and perceiving my disappearance, she returned to her own abode together with her companions.
मां दृष्ट्वा मन्दिरे देवी सुदाम्ना सहितं पुरा । भृशं सा भर्त्सयामास मौनीभूतं च सुस्थिरम्
When the goddess saw me in the temple with Sudāmā, she severely rebuked me, remaining silent and steady.
तच्छ्रुत्वासहमानश्च सुदामा तां चुकोप ह । स च तां भर्त्सयामास कोपेन मम सनिधौ
Hearing this, Sudāmā could not endure it and became angry with her; in my presence, he reproached her out of wrath.
तच्छ्रुत्वा कोपयुक्ता सा रक्तपङ्कजलोचना । बहिष्कर्तुं चकाराज्ञां संत्रस्तं मम संसदि
Hearing this, she, filled with anger and her eyes reddened like lotus petals, ordered that he be expelled, frightened in my assembly.
सखीलक्षं समुत्तस्थौ दुर्वारं तेजसोल्बणम् । बहिश्चकार तं तूर्णं जल्पन्तं च पुनः पुनः
All her companions rose up, their energy unstoppable and intense; they quickly expelled him, who kept speaking repeatedly.
सा च तत्ताडनं तासां श्रुत्वा रुष्टा शशाप ह । याहि रे दानवीं योनिमित्येवं दारुणं वचः
Hearing of their striking him, she became enraged and cursed, uttering harsh words: 'Go, take birth in a demoness's womb.'
तं गच्छन्तं शपन्तं च रुदन्तं मां प्रणम्य च । वारयामास तुष्टा सा रुदती कृपया पुनः
As he departed, cursing and weeping, he bowed to me; she, pleased and weeping out of compassion, restrained him again.
हे वत्स तिष्ठ मा गच्छ क्व यासीति पुनः पुनः । समुच्चार्य च तत्पश्चाज्जगाम सा च विक्लवम्
'O child, stay, do not go, where will you go?' she repeatedly called out, and afterwards departed in distress.
गोप्यश्च रुरुदुः सर्वा गोपाश्चापि सुदुःखिताः । ते सर्वे राधिका चापि तत्पश्चाद् बोधिता मया
All the cowherd women wept, and the cowherds were deeply afflicted; then I consoled them all, including Rādhikā.
आयास्यति क्षणार्धेन कृत्वा शापस्य पालनम् । सुदामंस्त्वमिहागच्छेत्युक्त्वा सा च निवारिता
'He will return within half a moment, after fulfilling the curse,' I said, and thus Sudāmā was restrained.