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.
तेषां च वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वपातकनाशनम् । करिष्याम्यहमित्येव परामृष्य पुनः पुनः
Hearing their words, which destroy all sins, she resolved repeatedly, saying, 'I will perform it.'
तत्रैव व्रतिभिः सार्द्धं कृत्वा सा व्रतमुत्तमम् । दैवात्सा पंचतां याता सर्पघातेन निर्मला
There, together with the observers, she performed that excellent vow; by fate, she died, purified by snakebite.
ततो यमाज्ञया दूताः पाशमुद्गरपाणयः । आगतास्तां समानेतुं बबंधुरतिकृच्छ्रतः
Then, by Yama's command, messengers arrived, holding nooses and clubs, to take her away, binding her with great difficulty.
यदा नेतुं मनश्चक्रुर्यमस्य सदनं प्रति । तदागता विष्णुदूताः शंखचक्रगदाधराः
When they intended to lead her to Yama's abode, the messengers of Viṣṇu arrived, bearing conch, discus, and mace.
हिरण्मयं विमानं च राजहंसयुतं शुभम् । छेदनं चक्रधाराभिः पाशं कृत्वा त्वरान्विताः
With a golden chariot adorned with royal swans, swiftly cutting the noose with streams from the discus, they acted with urgency.
रथे चारोपयामासुस्तां नारीं गतकिल्बिषाम् । निन्युर्विष्णुपुरं ते च गोलोकाख्यं मनोहरम्
They placed that sinless woman on the chariot and led her to Viṣṇu's city, called Goloka, enchanting to behold.
कृष्णेन राधया तत्र स्थिता व्रतप्रसादतः । राधाष्टमीव्रतं तात यो न कुर्य्याच्च मूढधीः
There, by the grace of the vow, she remained with Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā; O child, whoever does not perform the Rādhāṣṭamī vow, being dull-minded—
नरकान्निष्कृतिर्नास्ति कोटिकल्पशतैरपि । स्त्रियश्च या न कुर्वंति व्रतमेतच्छुभप्रदम्
There is no deliverance from hell, even after hundreds of thousands of aeons; and women who do not perform this auspicious vow—
राधाविष्णोः प्रीतिकरं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । अंते यमपुरीं गत्वा पतंति नरके चिरम्
The Rādhā-Viṣṇu vow brings delight and destroys all sins; at the end, after reaching Yama's city, they fall into hell for a long time.
कदाचिज्जन्मचासाद्य पृथिव्यां विधवा ध्रुवम् । एकदा पृथिवी वत्स दुष्टसंघैश्च ताडिता
Whenever, after attaining birth on earth, a woman becomes a widow, O child, once the earth was afflicted by wicked groups.
गौर्भूत्वा च भृशं दीना चाययौ सा ममांतिकम् । निवेदयामास दुःखं रुदंती च पुनः पुनः
She, having taken the form of a cow and being greatly distressed, came near me and, weeping again and again, reported her sorrow.
तद्वाक्यं च समाकर्ण्य गतोऽहं विष्णुसंनिधिम् । कृष्णे निवेदितश्चाशु पृथिव्या दुःखसंचयः
Hearing those words, I went to the presence of Viṣṇu and quickly informed Kṛṣṇa of the accumulation of the earth's suffering.
तेनोक्तं गच्छ भो ब्रह्मन्देवैः सार्द्धं च भूतले । अहं तत्रापि गच्छामि पश्चान्ममगणैः सह
He said: 'Go, O Brahmā, together with the gods to the earth; I too will go there afterwards with my own attendants.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा सहितो दैवैरागतः पृथिवीतलम् । ततः कृष्णः समाहूय राधां प्राणगरीयसीम्
Hearing this, accompanied by the gods, I came to the surface of the earth; then Kṛṣṇa summoned Rādhā, who is dearer to him than life.
उवाच वचनं देवि गच्छेहं पृथिवीतलम् । पृथिवीभारनाशाय गच्छ त्वं मर्त्त्यमंडलम्
He spoke these words: 'O goddess, I will go to the earth; you go to the mortal world to remove the burden of the earth.'
इति श्रुत्वापि सा राधाप्यागता पृथिवीं ततः । भाद्रे मासि सिते पक्षे अष्टमीसंज्ञिके तिथौ
Even after hearing this, Rādhā too descended to the earth, in the month of Bhādra, during the bright fortnight, on the day known as Aṣṭamī.
वृषभानो र्यज्ञभूमौ जाता सा राधिका दिवा । यज्ञार्थं शोधितायां च दृष्टा सा दिव्यरूपिणी
On the sacrificial ground of Vṛṣabhānu, Rādhikā was born during the day; and, purified for the sake of sacrifice, she was seen in a divine form.
राजानं दमना भूत्वा तां प्राप्य निजमंदिरम् । दत्तवान्महिषीं नीत्वा सा च तां पर्यपालयत्
Damanā, having become the king, brought her to his own house and, taking her as his queen, cared for her.
इति ते कथितं वत्स त्वया पृष्टं च यद्वचः । गोपनीयं गोपनीयं गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः
Thus, O child, I have told you what you asked; this must be kept secret, kept secret, kept secret with great care.
सूत उवाच- य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तश्चांतेयातिहरेर्गृहम्
Sūta said: Whoever hears this with devotion, which bestows the fruits of the four aims of life, becomes freed from all sins and in the end goes to the abode of Hari.