तेन पुण्यप्रभावेण गणिका गतपातका । वैकुंठं प्रति सा याति निर्गता तव दंडतः
By the power of that merit, the courtesan was freed from sin; she now goes to Vaikuntha, released from your punishment.
सूत उवाच- इति श्रुत्वा ततो दूता यमोऽपि वचनं द्विज । व्यापारे चान्यतश्चित्तं ददौ सा गणिकापि च
Suta said: 'Hearing this, Yama's messengers and Yama himself, O twice-born, turned their attention elsewhere, and so did the courtesan.'
आरूढा स्यंदने दिव्ये राजहंसयुते तथा । विष्णुलोकं ययौ सा च वेष्टिता विष्णुकिंकरैः
Mounted on a divine chariot drawn by royal swans, she went to Vishnu's realm, surrounded by Vishnu's attendants.
श्रीविष्णोराज्ञया साथ कुलकोटियुतापि च । तस्थौ सौधगृहे विप्र नानाभोगं चकार ह
By the command of Lord Vishnu, she remained there, O brahmin, in a splendid palace with countless kin, enjoying various pleasures.
भक्त्या यो वै हरेर्गेहे दद्याच्चूर्णं प्रयत्नतः । पुण्यं किं वा भवेत्तस्य न जाने द्विजपुंगव
O best of twice-born, if someone, with devotion and care, offers even powder in the house of Hari, I do not know what merit could not be his.
भक्त्याध्यायं पठेद्यो वै शृणोति सादरेण च । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो यात्यसौ हरिमंदिरम्
Whoever recites or listens with reverence to this devotional teaching becomes freed from all sins and attains the abode of Hari.
शौनक उवाच- कथयस्व महाप्राज्ञ गोलोकं याति कर्मणा । सुमते दुस्तरात्केन जनः संसारसागरात् । राधायाश्चाष्टमी सूत तस्या माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Śaunaka said: O wise one, tell me by what action a person of good mind can reach Goloka, crossing the difficult ocean of worldly existence. Also, Sūta, narrate the supreme greatness of Rādhā's Aṣṭamī.
सूत उवाच- ब्रह्माणं नारदोऽपृच्छत्पुरा चैतन्महामुने । तच्छृणुष्व समासेन पृष्टवान्स इति द्विज
Sūta said: In ancient times, Nārada asked Brahmā this, O great sage. Listen briefly, O twice-born, to what he inquired.
नारद उवाच- पितामह महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविदां वर । राधाजन्माष्टमी तात कथयस्व ममाग्रतः
Nārada said: O Grandfather, most wise, foremost among those who know all scriptures, please tell me about Rādhā's birth on the eighth day, right here before me.
तस्याः पुण्यफलं किंवा कृतं केन पुरा विभो । अकुर्वतां जनानां हि किल्बिषं किं भवेद्द्विज
O Lord, what is the merit of that observance, and who performed it in ancient times? What sin is destroyed for those who undertake it, O twice-born?
केनैव तु विधानेन कर्त्तव्यं तद्व्रतं कदा । कस्माज्जाता च सा राधा तन्मे कथय मूलतः
By what method should that vow be performed, and when? Why was Rādhā born? Tell me this from the beginning.
ब्रह्मोवाच- राधाजन्माष्टमीं वत्स शृणुष्व सुसमाहितः । कथयामि समासेन समग्रं हरिणा विना
Brahmā said: O child, listen attentively to the account of Rādhā's birth on the eighth day. I will briefly tell you everything, except for what pertains to Hari.
कथितुं तत्फलं पुण्यं न शक्नोत्यपि नारद । कोटिजन्मार्जितं पापं ब्रह्महत्यादिकं महत्
O Nārada, even I am unable to fully describe the merit and fruit of that observance; it destroys even the great sins accumulated over millions of births, including the killing of a Brāhmaṇa.
कुर्वंति ये सकृद्भक्त्या तेषां नश्यति तत्क्षणात् । एकादश्याः सहस्रेण यत्फलं लभते नरः
Those who perform it even once with devotion have their sins destroyed at that very moment; the merit gained is equal to that of performing a thousand Ekādaśī fasts.
राधाजन्माष्टमी पुण्यं तस्माच्छतगुणाधिकम् । मेरुतुल्यसुवर्णानि दत्वा यत्फलमाप्यते
Therefore, the merit of Rādhā's birth-eighth observance is a hundred times greater than that; it equals the fruit obtained by giving gold equal to Mount Meru.
सकृद्राधाष्टमीं कृत्वा तस्माच्छतगुणाधिकम् । कन्यादानसहस्रेण यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते जनैः
By performing Rādhā's Aṣṭamī even once, one attains a hundred times the merit gained by giving away a thousand maidens in marriage.
वृषभानुसुताष्टम्या तत्फलं प्राप्यते जनैः । गंगादिषु च तीर्थेषु स्नात्वा तु यत्फलं लभेत्
By observing the eighth day of Vṛṣabhānu's daughter's birth, one attains the merit that comes from bathing at holy places like the Gaṅgā and others.
कृष्णप्राणप्रियाष्टम्याः फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः । एतद्व्रतं तु यः पापी हेलया श्रद्धयापि वा
By observing the eighth day dear to Kṛṣṇa's beloved, a person obtains that fruit; whether a sinner performs this vow carelessly or with faith—
करोति विष्णुसदनं गच्छेत्कोटिकुलान्वितः । पुरा कृतयुगे वत्स वरनारी सुशोभना
—he goes to Viṣṇu's abode, accompanied by countless generations. Long ago, in the Kṛta age, O child, there was a most beautiful and excellent woman.
सुमध्या हरिणीनेत्रा शुभांगी चारुहासिनी । सुकेशी चारुकर्णी च नाम्ना लीलावती स्मृता
She had a slender waist, eyes like a doe, auspicious limbs, a lovely smile, beautiful hair, and charming ears; she was known by the name Līlāvatī.
तया बहूनि पापानि कृतानि सुदृढानि च । एकदा साधनाकांक्षी निःसृत्य पुरतः स्वतः
She had committed many strong sins, but once, desiring spiritual accomplishment, she left her home and went forth on her own.
गतान्यनगरं तत्र दृष्ट्वा सुज्ञ जनान्बहून् । राधाष्टमीव्रतपरान्सुंदरे देवतालये
She went to another city, where she saw many wise people devoted to the observance of Rādhā's Aṣṭamī in a beautiful temple of the gods.
गंधपुष्पैर्धूपदीपैर्वस्त्रैर्नानाविधैः फलैः । भक्तिभावैः पूजयंतो राधाया मूर्तिमुत्तमाम्
Worshipping the excellent image of Rādhā with fragrant flowers, incense, lamps, various garments, diverse fruits, and with devotion.
केचिद्गायंति नृत्यंति पठंति स्तवमुत्तमम् । तालवेणुमृदंगांश्च वादयंति च के मुदा
Some sing, some dance, some recite the supreme hymn; others joyfully play cymbals, flutes, and drums.
तांस्तांस्तथाविधान्दृष्ट्वा कौतूहलसमन्विता । जगाम तत्समीपं सा पप्रच्छ विनयान्विता
Seeing those various such people, filled with curiosity, she approached them and respectfully inquired.
भोभोः पुण्यात्मानो यूयं किं कुर्वंतो मुदान्विताः । कथयध्वं पुण्यवंतो मां चैव विनयान्विताम्
O virtuous souls, what are you doing so joyfully? Please tell me, you who are blessed, and also to me who approaches with humility.
तस्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा परकार्यहितेरताः । आरेभिरे तदा वक्तुं वैष्णवा व्रततत्पराः
Hearing her words, those devoted to the welfare of others and intent on vows began to speak, the Vaiṣṇavas dedicated to observances.
राधाव्रतिन ऊचुः- भाद्रे मासि सिताष्टम्यां जाता श्रीराधिका यतः । अष्टमी साद्य संप्राप्ता तां कुर्वाम प्रयत्नतः
The observers of the Rādhā vow said: 'On the bright eighth day of Bhādra month, Śrī Rādhikā was born; now that the eighth day has arrived, we perform it with effort.'
गोघातजनितं पापं स्तेयजं ब्रह्मघातजम् । परस्त्रीहरणाच्चैव तथा च गुरुतल्पजम्
Sin arising from cow-slaughter, theft, killing a Brāhmaṇa, abducting another's wife, and also from violating the teacher's bed—
विश्वासघातजं चैव स्त्रीहत्याजनितं तथा । एतानि नाशयत्याशु कृता या चाष्टमी नृणाम्
As well as sin from betrayal of trust and from killing a woman—these are quickly destroyed for those who perform the eighth day observance.