एकदा पार्वती देवी शिवं संस्निग्धमानसा । प्रणयेन नमस्कृत्य प्रोवाच वचनं त्विदम्
Once, the goddess Parvati, her mind affectionate, bowed lovingly to Shiva and spoke these words.
पार्वत्युवाच-। अनंतकोटिब्रह्मांड तद्बाह्याभ्यंतरस्थितेः । विष्णोः स्थानं परं तेषां प्रधानं वरमुत्तमम्
Parvati said: Among the countless universes, both within and beyond, Vishnu's supreme abode is the foremost and highest among them.
यत्परं नास्ति कृष्णस्य प्रियं स्थानं मनोरमम् । तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथयस्व महाप्रभो
There is no place dearer or more delightful to Krishna than the highest; I wish to hear all about it, please tell me, O great lord.
ईश्वर उवाच-। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं गुह्यं परमानंदकारकम् । अत्यद्भुतं रहःस्थानमानंदं परमं परम्
Ishvara said: The most secret of secrets, more hidden than hidden, which brings supreme bliss, wondrous and concealed, is the highest and most joyful place.
दुर्लभानां च परमं दुर्लभं मोहनं परम् । सर्वशक्तिमयं देवि सर्वस्थानेषु गोपितम्
It is the supreme, rarest, and most enchanting among all difficult-to-attain places, O Devi, filled with all powers and hidden in every abode.
सात्वतां स्थानमूर्द्धन्यं विष्णोरत्यंतदुर्लभम् । नित्यं वृंदावनं नाम ब्रह्मांडोपरि संस्थितम्
The supreme abode of the Sātvatas, exceedingly rare for Vishnu, is eternally known as Vrindavana, situated above the universe.
पूर्णब्रह्मसुखैश्वर्यं नित्यमानंदमव्ययम् । वैकुंठादि तदंशांशं स्वयं वृंदावनं भुवि
Full of the bliss and sovereignty of Brahman, eternal and imperishable, Vrindavana itself is on earth, while Vaikuntha and others are but its partial manifestations.
गोलोकैश्वर्यं यत्किंचिद्गोकुले तत्प्रतिष्ठितम् । वैकुंठवैभवं यद्वै द्वारिकायां प्रतिष्ठितम्
Whatever majesty of Goloka exists is established in Gokula; whatever glory of Vaikuntha exists is established in Dvaraka.
यद्ब्रह्मपरमैश्वर्यं नित्यं वृंदावनाश्रयम् । कृष्णधामपरं तेषां वनमध्ये विशेषतः
The supreme majesty of Brahman, eternally residing in Vrindavana, is especially found in Krishna's highest abode, in the midst of the forest.
तस्मात्त्रैलोक्यमध्ये तु पृथ्वी धन्येति विश्रुता । यस्मान्माथुरकं नाम विष्णोरेकांतवल्लभम्
Therefore, among the three worlds, the earth is renowned as blessed, because it contains Mathura, the most beloved of Vishnu.
स्वस्थानमधिकं नामधेयं माथुरमंडलम् । निगूढं विविधं स्थानं पुर्यभ्यंतरसंस्थितम्
Mathura's region is named as Vishnu's own superior abode, a hidden and diverse place, situated within the city.
सहस्रपत्रकमलाकारं माथुरमंडलम् । विष्णुचक्रपरिभ्रामाद्धाम वैष्णवमद्भुतम्
The region of Mathura is shaped like a thousand-petaled lotus, wondrously Vaishnava, revolving by the power of Vishnu's discus.
कर्णिकापर्णविस्तारं रहस्यद्रुममीरितम् । प्रधानं द्वादशारण्यं माहात्म्यं कथितं क्रमात्
Its expanded center and petals are described as the secret grove; the chief twelve forests are recounted in order for their greatness.
भद्र श्री लोह भांडीर महाताल खदीरकाः । बकुलं कुमुदं काम्यं मधु वृंदावनं तथा
Bhadra, Shri, Loha, Bhāṇḍīra, Mahātāla, Khadīra, Bakula, Kumuda, Kāmya, Madhu, and Vrindavana as well.
द्वादशैतावती संख्या कालिंद्याः सप्त पश्चिमे । पूर्वे पंचवनं प्रोक्तं तत्रास्ति गुह्यमुत्तमम्
These twelve forests are counted thus: seven on the west of the Yamuna, five on the east; therein lies the highest secret.
महारण्यं गोकुलाख्यं मधु वृंदावनं तथा । अन्यच्चोपवनं प्रोक्तं कृष्णक्रीडारसस्थलम्
The great forest called Gokula, Madhu, Vrindavana, and another grove are described as the places of Krishna's playful pastimes.
कदंबखंडनं नंदवनं नंदीश्वरं तथा । नंदनंदनखंडं च पलाशाशोककेतकी
Kadamba forest, Nandavana, Nandiśvara, and likewise Nandanandana grove, as well as palāśa, aśoka, and ketakī trees.
सुगंधमानसं कैलममृतं भोजनस्थलम् । सुखप्रसाधनं वत्सहरणं शेषशायिकम्
The fragrant lake, Kailāsa nectar, the place of feasting, the abode of happiness, the calf-stealing, and the couch of Śeṣa.
श्यामपूर्वो दधिग्रामश्चक्रभानुपुरं तथा । संकेतं द्विपदं चैव बालक्रीडनधूसरम्
Śyāmapūrva, the village of curds, Cakrabhānu's city, the place of rendezvous, the two-footed, and the dust of children's play.
कामद्रुमं सुललितमुत्सुकं चापि काननम् । नानाविधरसक्रीडा नानालीलारसस्थलम्
The wish-fulfilling tree, beautifully adorned, and also the eager forest; various playful delights, and places of diverse amusements.
नागविस्तारविष्टंभं रहस्यद्रुममीरितम् । सहस्रपत्रकमलं गोकुलाख्यं महत्पदम्
The expanse of nāgas, the supporting pillar, the secret tree proclaimed; the thousand-petaled lotus, the great abode called Gokula.
कर्णिकातन्महद्धाम गोविंदस्थानमुत्तमम् । तत्रोपरि स्वर्णपीठे मणिमंडपमंडितम्
The vast realm of the central whorl, the supreme place of Govinda; above it, on a golden throne, adorned with a jeweled pavilion.
कर्णिकायां क्रमाद्दिक्षु विदिक्षु दलमीरितम् । यद्दलं दक्षिणे प्रोक्तं परं गुह्योत्तमोत्तमम्
From the center, in order, in the directions and sub-directions, the petals are described; the petal in the south is said to be the highest and most secret.
तस्मिन्दले महापीठं निगमागमदुर्गमम् । योगींद्रैरपि दुष्प्रापं सर्वात्मा यच्च गोकुलम्
On that petal is the great seat, difficult to reach by Vedic and Tantric paths; even yogic masters find it hard to attain, and it is the all-pervading Gokula.
द्वितीयं दलमाग्नेय्यां तद्रहस्यदलं तथा । संकेतं द्विपदं चैव कुटीद्वौ तत्कुले स्थितौ
The second petal is in the southeast, and that is also a secret petal; the place of rendezvous, the two-footed, and two huts established in that lineage.
पूर्वं दलं तृतीयं च प्रधानस्थानमुत्तमम् । गंगादिसर्वतीर्थानां स्पर्शाच्छतगुणं स्मृतम्
The eastern petal is the third, the supreme principal place; it is remembered as having a hundred times the merit of touching all holy places like the Ganges.
चतुर्थं दलमैशान्यां सिद्धपीठेऽपि तत्पदम् । व्यायामनूतनागोपी तत्र कृष्णं पतिं लभेत्
The fourth petal is in the northeast, and that place is a siddha seat; the newly exercised cowherd girl there attains Krishna as her husband.
वस्त्रालंकारहरणं तद्दले समुदाहृतम् । उत्तरे पंचमं प्रोक्तं दलं सर्वदलोत्तमम्
The taking of garments and ornaments is mentioned on that petal; in the north, the fifth petal is declared, the highest among all petals.
द्वादशादित्यमत्रैव दलं च कर्णिकासमम् । वायव्यां तु दलं षष्ठं तत्र कालीह्रदः स्मृतः
There are twelve suns here, and a petal equal to the central whorl; in the northwest, the sixth petal is remembered, and there is the lake of Kālī.
दलोत्तमोत्तमं चैव प्रधानं स्थानमुच्यते । सर्वोत्तमदलं चैव पश्चिमे सप्तमं स्मृतम्
The highest among the petals is also called the principal place; the supreme petal is remembered in the west as the seventh.