श्रीकृष्णचरितं ह्येतद्यः पठेत्प्रयतः शुचिः । शृणुयाद्वापि यो भक्त्या गोविंदे लभते रतिम्
Whoever recites this account of Shri Krishna with devotion and purity, or hears it with faith, attains love for Govinda.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे कृष्णचरिते सप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventieth chapter, 'The Deeds of Krishna,' in the Pātāla Section of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
श्रीदेव्युवाच- भगवन्सर्वभूतेश सर्वात्मन्सर्वसंभव । देवेश्वर महादेव सर्वज्ञ करुणाकर
Shri Devi said: O Lord, ruler of all beings, soul of all, origin of everything, lord of the gods, great god, all-knowing, ocean of compassion,
त्वयानुकंपितैवाहं भूयोऽप्याहानुकंपया । त्रैलोक्यमोहना मंत्रास्त्वया मे कथिताः प्रभो
By your grace alone I have spoken again, out of your compassion; O master, you have told me the mantras that enchant the three worlds.
तेन देवेन गोपीभिर्महामोहनरूपिणा । केन केन विशेषण चिक्रीडे तद्वदस्व मे
By which qualities did that god, in the form of supreme enchantment, sport with the gopis? Tell me this.
महादेव उवाच। एकदा वादयन्वीणां नारदो मुनिपुंगवः । कृष्णावतारमाज्ञाय प्रययौ नंदगोकुलम्
Mahadeva said: Once, playing the vina, Narada, foremost among sages, learned of Krishna's incarnation and went to Nanda's cowherd village.
गत्वा तत्र महायोगमयेशं विभुमच्युतम् । बालनाट्यधरं देवदर्शनं नंदवेश्मनि
Arriving there, he saw the lord, the master of yoga, the imperishable one, engaged in childlike play, a divine sight in Nanda's house.
सुकोमलपटास्तीर्णहेमपर्यंकिकोपरि । शयानं गोपकन्याभिः प्रेक्षमाणं सदा मुदम्
Lying upon a golden couch spread with soft cloths, always watched with joy by the daughters of the cowherds,
अतीव सुकुमारांगं मुग्धं मुग्धविलोकनम् । विस्रस्तनीलकुटिलकुंतलावनिमंडलम्
His body exceedingly delicate, his gaze innocent and charming, his loose, dark, curly hair forming a halo around him,
किंचित्स्मितांकुरव्यंजदेकद्विरदकुड्मलम् । स्वप्रभाभिर्भासयंतं समंताद्भवनोदरम्
A slight smile budding on his lips, resembling the unopened flower of an elephant's trunk, illuminating the interior of the house with his own radiance,
दिग्वाससं समालोक्य सोऽतिहर्षमवाप ह । संभाष्य गोपतिं नंदमाह सर्वप्रभुप्रियः
Seeing him clothed only by the directions, Narada was filled with great delight; speaking to Nanda, the beloved of all lords, he said:
नारायणपराणां तु जीवनं ह्यतिदुर्लभम् । अस्य प्रभावमतुलं न जानंतीह केचन
The life of those devoted to Narayana is exceedingly rare; none here know his incomparable power.
भव ब्रह्मादयोऽप्यस्मिन्रतिं वांच्छन्ति शाश्वतीम् । चरितं चास्य बालस्य सर्वेषामेव हर्षणम्
Even Shiva, Brahma, and others desire eternal love for him; the deeds of this child bring joy to all.
मुदा गायंति शृण्वंति चाभिनंदंति तादृशाः । अस्मिंस्तव सुतेऽचिंत्यप्रभावे स्निग्धमानसाः
They sing with delight, listen, and rejoice—such are those whose hearts are affectionate toward your son, whose power is unfathomable.
नराः संति न तेषां वै भवबाधा भविष्यति । मुंचेह परलोकेच्छाः सर्वा बल्लवसत्तम
Among men, those who are so devoted will not suffer worldly afflictions; O best of cowherds, all desire for the next world is abandoned here.
एकांतेनैकभावेन बालेऽस्मिन्प्रीतिमाचर । इत्युक्त्वा नंदभवनान्निष्क्रांतो मुनिपुंगवः
With single-minded devotion, cultivate love for this child; having said this, the foremost sage departed from Nanda's house.
तेनार्चितो विष्णुबुद्ध्या प्रणम्य च विसर्जितः । अथासौ चिंतयामास महाभागवतो मुनिः
Having been worshipped with the thought of Viṣṇu and bowed to, he was then dismissed; thereafter, that great devotee sage began to reflect.
अस्य कांता भगवती लक्ष्मीर्नारायणे हरौ । विधाय गोपिकारूपं क्रीडार्थं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः
The beloved of this Lord, the divine Lakṣmī, having assumed the form of a cowherd girl for play, is with Nārāyaṇa, the wielder of Śārṅga.
अवश्यमवतीर्णा सा भविष्यति न संशयः । तामहं विचिनोम्यद्य गेहेगेहे व्रजौकसाम्
She will certainly descend—of this there is no doubt; today I will search for her in the homes of the residents of Vraja.
विमृश्यैवं मुनिवरो गेहानि व्रजवासिनाम् । प्रविवेशातिथिर्भूत्वा विष्णुबुद्ध्या सुपूजितः
Thus reflecting, the eminent sage entered the houses of the Vraja-dwellers, becoming a guest, and was worshipped with devotion as Viṣṇu.
सर्वेषां बल्लवादीनां रतिं नंदसुते पराम् । दृष्ट्वा मुनिवरः सर्वान्मनसा प्रणनाम ह
Seeing the supreme affection of all the cowherds for the son of Nanda, the best of sages mentally bowed to them all.
गोपालानां गृहे बालां ददर्श श्वेतरूपिणीम् । स दृष्ट्वा तर्कयामास रमा ह्येषा न संशयः
In the house of a cowherd, he saw a girl of fair complexion; seeing her, he reasoned, 'This is surely Ramā, there is no doubt.'
प्रविवेश ततो धीमान्नंदसख्युर्महात्मनः । कस्यचिद्गोपवर्य्यस्य भानुनाम्नो गृहं महत्
Then the wise one entered the great house of Bhānu, a noble cowherd, a friend of Nanda.
अर्चितो विधिवत्तेन सोऽप्यपृच्छन्महामनाः । साधो त्वमसि विख्यातो धर्मनिष्ठतया भुवि
He was duly worshipped by him, and that noble-minded one inquired: 'O holy one, you are renowned on earth for your steadfastness in dharma.'
तवाहं धनधान्यादि समृद्धिं संविभावये । कच्चित्ते योग्यः पुत्रोऽस्ति कन्या वा शुभलक्षणा
I bestow upon you prosperity in wealth, grain, and more; do you have a worthy son or a daughter with auspicious marks?
यतस्ते कीर्तिरखिलं लोकं व्याप्य भविष्यति । इत्युक्तो मुनिवर्य्येण भानुरानीय पुत्रकम्
Because your fame will spread throughout the whole world—thus addressed by the eminent sage, Bhānu brought his son.
महातेजस्विनं दृप्तं नारदायाभ्यवादयत् । दृष्ट्वा मुनिवरस्तं तु रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि
He respectfully greeted Nārada with his son, who was radiant and proud; seeing him, the best of sages beheld one unequalled in beauty on earth.
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षं सुग्रीवं सुंदरभ्रुवम् । चारुदंतं चारुकर्णं सर्वावयवसुंदरम्
With eyes wide as lotus petals, a fine neck, beautiful brows, charming teeth, lovely ears, and all limbs graceful.
तं समाश्लिष्य बाहुभ्यां स्नेहाश्रूणि विमुच्य च । ततः स गद्गद प्राह प्रणयेन महामुनिः
Embracing him with his arms and shedding tears of affection, then, with a choked voice, the great sage spoke with deep feeling.
नारद उवाच-। अयं शिशुस्ते भविता सुसखा रामकृष्णयोः । विहरिष्यति ताभ्यां च रात्रिंदिवमतंद्रितः
Nārada said: 'This boy of yours will become a dear friend of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa; he will play with them tirelessly, day and night.'