निर्गत्यारण्यमचरत्तपो वै मुनिदुष्करम् । कल्पांते देहमुत्सृज्य तपसैव महामुनिः
Departing, he went to the forest and practiced austerities difficult even for sages; at the end of an aeon, the great sage relinquished his body through asceticism.
वीरगुप्ताभिधानस्य गोपस्य दुहिता शुभा । जाता चित्रकलेत्येव यस्याः स्कंधे मनोहरा
The virtuous daughter of the cowherd named Vīragupta was born, known as Citrakalā, upon whose shoulder was a charming ornament.
विपंची दृश्यते नित्यं सप्तस्वरविभूषिता । उपतिष्ठति वै वामे रत्नभृंगारमद्भुतम्
A vīṇā adorned with seven notes is always seen upon her, and on her left side is a wondrous gem-studded ornament.
दधाना दक्षिणे हस्ते सा वै रत्नपतद्ग्रहम् । अयमासीत्पुरा सर्वं तापसैरभिवंदितः
Holding a gem-studded lotus in her right hand, she was in ancient times revered by all ascetics.
मुनिः पुण्यश्रवा नाम काश्यपः सर्वधर्मवित् । पिता तस्याभवच्छैवः शतरुद्रीयमन्वहम्
Her father was the sage Puṇyaśravā, a descendant of Kaśyapa, knower of all dharma, who daily recited the Śatarudrīya.
प्रस्तुवन्देवदेवेशं विश्वेशं भक्तवत्सलम् । प्रसन्नो भगवांस्तस्य पार्वत्या सह शंकरः
While praising the Lord of gods, the Lord of the universe, who is compassionate to devotees, the blessed Śaṅkara, together with Pārvatī, became pleased with him.
चतुर्दश्यामर्द्धरात्रेः प्रत्यक्षः प्रददौ वरम् । त्वत्पुत्रो भविता कृष्णे भक्तिमान्बाल एव हि
On the fourteenth night, at midnight, he appeared before him and granted a boon: 'O Kṛṣṇa, your son will be devoted even from childhood.'
उपनीयाष्टमे वर्षे तस्मै सिद्धमनुस्त्वयम् । उपदिशैकविंशत्या यो मया ते निगद्यते
Having been initiated in his eighth year, teach him this perfected mantra of twenty-one syllables, which I am now telling you.
गोपालविद्यानामायं मंत्रो वाक्सिद्धिदायकः । एतत्साधकजिह्वाग्रे लीलाचरितमद्भुतम्
This is the Gopāla-vidyā mantra, bestower of mastery over speech; at the tip of the tongue of one who perfects this, wondrous divine play is manifest.
अनंतमूर्तिरायाति स्वयमेव वरप्रदः । काममाया रमाकंठ सेंद्रा दामोदरोज्ज्वलाः
The infinite form himself appears, bestowing boons; with his beloveds—Kāmā, Māyā, Ramā, Kaṇṭha, Indrā, and the radiant Dāmodara.
मध्ये दशाक्षरीं प्रोच्य पुनस्ता एव निर्दिशेत् । दशाक्षरोक्तऋष्यादिध्यानं चास्य ब्रवीम्यहम्
In the middle, recite the ten-syllable mantra, then again indicate those very ones; I will now tell you the meditation on the seer and others associated with the ten-syllable mantra.
पूर्णामृतनिधेर्मध्ये द्वीपं ज्योतिर्मयं स्मरेत् । कालिंद्या वेष्टितं तत्र ध्यायेद्वृंदावने वने
In the midst of the ocean of nectar, imagine a luminous island, encircled by the Kālindī river; there, meditate in the forest of Vṛndāvana.
सर्वर्तुकुसुमस्रावि द्रुमवल्लीभिरावृतम् । नटन्मत्तशिखिस्वानं गायत्कोकिलषट्पदम्
It is covered with trees and creepers dripping flowers in all seasons, resounding with the calls of dancing, intoxicated peacocks, singing cuckoos, and bees.
तस्य मध्ये वसत्येकः पारिजाततरुर्महान् । शाखोपशाखाविस्तारैः शतयोजनमुच्छ्रितः
In its center stands a single great pārijāta tree, spreading with branches and sub-branches, rising a hundred yojanas high.
तले तस्याथ विमले परितो धेनुमंडलम् । तदंतर्मंडलं गोपबालानां वेणुशृंगिणाम्
Beneath it, in a pure space, is a circle of cows all around; within that circle are cowherd boys with flutes and horns.
तदंतरे तु रुचिरं मंडलं व्रज सुभ्रुवाम् । नानोपायनपाणीनां मदविह्वलचेतसाम्
Within that, there is a beautiful circle of the noble women of Vraja, holding various gifts in their hands, their minds overwhelmed with love.
कृतांजलिपुटानां च मंडलं शुक्लवाससाम् । शुक्लाभरणभूषाणां प्रेमविह्वलितात्मनाम्
There is a circle of those dressed in white garments, adorned with white ornaments, their hands joined in reverence, their hearts overcome with love.
चिंतयेच्छ्रुतिकन्यानां गृह्णतीनां वचः प्रियम् । रत्नवेद्यां ततो ध्यायेद्दुकूलावरणं हरिम्
Meditate on the daughters of the Vedas, speaking sweet words, and then meditate upon Hari, clothed in fine garments, seated upon a jeweled throne.
ऊरौ शयानं राधायाः कदलीकांडकोपरि । तद्वक्त्रं चंद्र सुस्मेरं वीक्षमाणं मनोहरम्
Lying on the thighs of Rādhā, upon a banana stem, he gazed upon her lovely, moon-like, gently smiling face, captivating to the mind.
किंचित्कुंचितवामांघ्रिं वेणुयुक्तेन पाणिना । वामेनालिंग्य दयितां दक्षेण चिबुकं स्पृशन्
With his left foot slightly bent, holding the flute in his hand, he embraced his beloved with his left arm, and with his right hand touched her chin.
महामारकताभासं मौक्तिकच्छायमेव च । पुंडरीकविशालाक्षं पीतनिर्मलवाससम्
His appearance shone like a great emerald, with the radiance of pearls; his eyes were wide as lotuses, and he wore pure yellow garments.
बर्हभारलसच्छीर्षं मुक्ताहारमनोहरम् । गंडप्रांतलसच्चारु मकराकृतिकुंडलम्
His head was adorned with a peacock feather, shining with a charming pearl necklace, and at the edge of his cheek hung beautiful earrings shaped like makaras.
आपादतुलसीमालं कंकणांगदभूषणम् । नूपुरैर्मुद्रिकाभिश्च कांच्या च परिमंडितम्
From head to toe he was adorned with bracelets and armlets, and decorated with anklets, rings, and a girdle.
सुकुमारतरं ध्यायेत्किशोरवयसान्वितम् । पूजा दशाक्षरोक्तैव वेदलक्षं पुरस्क्रिया
One should meditate upon him as extremely delicate, endowed with youthful beauty; the worship is as prescribed by the ten-syllable mantra, with Vedic rites performed first.
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे देवो देवी च गिरिजा सती । मुनिरागत्य पुत्राय तथैवोपदिदेश ह
Having spoken thus, the god vanished, and the goddess, Girijā Satī, also; then the sage came and instructed his son in the same way.
पुण्यश्रवास्तु तन्मंत्र ग्रहणादेव केशवम् । वर्णयामास विविधैर्जित्वा सर्वान्मुनीन्स्वयम्
By merely receiving that mantra, which is holy to hear, he described Keśava in various ways, having surpassed all the sages himself.
रूपलावण्यवैदग्ध्य सौंदर्याश्चर्यलक्षणम् । तदा हृष्टमना बालो निर्गत्य स्वगृहात्ततः
He recounted the marks of beauty, charm, cleverness, and wondrous loveliness; then, with a joyful heart, the boy departed from his home.
वायुभक्षस्तपस्तेपे कल्पानामयुतत्रयम् । तदंते गोकुले जाता नंदभ्रातुर्गृहे स्वयम्
Sustained by air, he performed austerities for thirty million aeons; at the end of that, he was born in Gokula, in the house of Nanda's brother.
लवंगा इति तन्नाम कृष्णेंगित निरीक्षणा । यस्या हस्ते प्रदृश्येत मुखमार्जनयंत्रकम्
Her name was Lavaṅgā, recognized by the signs of Kṛṣṇa; in her hand was seen an instrument for cleaning the mouth.
इति ते कथिताः काश्चित्प्रधानाः कृष्णवल्लभाः
Thus, some of the chief beloveds of Kṛṣṇa have been described to you.