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.'
तत आभाष्य तं गोपप्रवरं मुनिपुंगवः । यदा गंतुं मनश्चक्रे तत्रैवं भानुरब्रवीत्
Then, having spoken to that foremost cowherd, the eminent sage, when he wished to depart, Bhānu spoke thus:
एकास्ति पुत्रिका देव देवपत्न्युपमा मम । कनीयसी शिशोरस्य जडांधबधिराकृतिः
I have a daughter, O divine one, comparable to the wives of the gods; she is younger than this boy, but appears dull, blind, and deaf.
उत्साहाद्वृद्धये याचे त्वां वरं भगवत्तम । प्रसन्नदृष्टिमात्रेण सुस्थिरां कुरु बालिकाम्
Out of eagerness for her growth, I beg you for a boon, O most exalted sage; with a single gracious glance, make the girl steady and well.
श्रुत्वैवं नारदो वाक्यं कौतुकाकृष्टमानसः । अथ प्रविश्य भवनं लुठंतीं भूतले सुताम्
Hearing these words, Nārada, his mind drawn by curiosity, then entered the house and saw his daughter crawling on the ground.
उत्थाप्यांके निधायातिस्नेहविह्वलमानसः । भानुरप्याययौ भक्तिनम्रो मुनिवरांतिकम्
Lifting her up and placing her on his lap, his mind overwhelmed with deep affection, Bhānu approached the revered sage, bowing with devotion.
अथ भागवतश्रेष्ठः कृष्णस्यातिप्रियो मुनिः । दृष्ट्वा तस्याः परं रूपमदृष्टाश्रुतमद्भुतम्
Then, the foremost devotee, the sage most dear to Kṛṣṇa, seeing her extraordinary form—unseen, unheard of, and wondrous—
अभूत्पूर्वसमं मुग्धो हरिप्रेमा महामुनिः । विगाह्य परमानंदसिंधुमेकरसायनम्
became as if enchanted as before, the great sage filled with love for Hari, plunging into the ocean of supreme bliss, a single essence of nectar.
मुहूर्त्तद्वितयं तत्र मुनिरासीच्छिलोपमः । मुनींद्रः प्रतिबुद्धस्तु शनैरुन्मील्य लोचने
For two moments, the sage sat there like a stone; then, the chief of sages, regaining awareness, slowly opened his eyes.
महाविस्मयमापन्नस्तूष्णीमेव स्थितोऽभवत् । अंतर्हृदि महाबुद्धिरेवमेवं व्यचिंतयत्
Struck with great astonishment, he remained silent, and within his heart, the wise one reflected thus:
भ्रांतं सर्वेषु लोकेषु मया स्वच्छंदचारिणा । अस्या रूपेण सदृशी दृष्ट्वा नैव च कुत्रचित्
I have wandered freely through all the worlds, yet nowhere have I seen anyone comparable to her in form.
ब्रह्मलोके रुद्रलोक इंद्रलोके च मे गतिः । न कोपि शोभाकोट्यंशः कुत्राप्यस्या विलोकितः
In Brahmā’s world, Rudra’s world, and Indra’s world I have traveled, but nowhere have I seen even a fraction of her splendor.
महामाया भगवती दृष्टा शैलेंद्रनंदिनी । यस्या रूपेण सकलं मुह्यते सचराचरम्
I have seen the great goddess Mahāmāyā, daughter of the mountain lord, by whose form all moving and unmoving beings are bewildered.
साप्यस्याः सुकुमारांगी लक्ष्मीं नाप्नोति कर्हिचित् । लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती कांति विद्याद्याश्च वरस्त्रियः
Yet even Lakṣmī, of delicate limbs, never attains her beauty; Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Kānti, Vidyā, and other excellent women—
छायामपि स्पृशंत्यस्याः कदाचिन्नैव दृश्यते । विष्णोर्यन्मोहिनीरूपं हरो येन विमोहितः
never even touch her shadow; this is the form of Viṣṇu’s enchantress, by whom even Hara was deluded.
मया दृष्टं च तदपि कुतोऽस्यासदृशं भवेत् । ततोऽस्यास्तत्त्वमाज्ञातुं न मे शक्तिः कथंचन
I too have seen that form, yet how could it compare to hers? Therefore, I have no power whatsoever to know her true nature.
अन्ये चापि न जानंति प्रायेणैनां हरेः प्रियाम् । अस्याः संदर्शनादेव गोविंदचरणांबुजे
Nor do others generally know this beloved of Hari; just by seeing her, devotion to Govinda’s lotus feet arises.
या प्रेमर्द्धिरभूत्सा मे भूतपूर्वा न कर्हिचित् । एकांते नौमि भवतीं दर्शयित्वातिवैभवम्
Such abundance of love as arose in me has never existed before; in solitude, I bow to you, O Lady, who have revealed such majesty.
कृष्णस्य संभवत्यस्या रूपं परमतुष्टये । विमृश्यैवं मुनिर्गोपप्रवरं प्रेष्य कुत्रचित्
This form of hers arises for Kṛṣṇa’s supreme satisfaction; thus reflecting, the sage sent the foremost of cowherds somewhere.
निभृते परितुष्टाव बालिकां दिव्यरूपिणीम् । अपि देवि महायोगमायेश्वरि महाप्रभे
In private, he praised the divine girl of celestial form: ‘O Goddess, O great Yogamāyā, O sovereign of great power!’
महामोहनदिव्यांगि महामाधुर्यवर्षिणि । महाद्भुतरसानंदशिथिलीकृतमानसे
‘O you of enchanting, divine limbs, who shower supreme sweetness, whose mind is loosened by the wondrous nectar of supreme bliss!’