हरि मानुषलोभेन वपुराश्चर्यमंडितम् । द्रष्टुं तदहमिच्छामि रूपं ते हरिवल्लभे
O beloved of Hari, with a form adorned in marvelous ways to attract even men, I wish to see that form of yours.
येन नंदसुतः कृष्णो मोहं समुपयास्यति । इदानीं मम कारुण्यान्निजं रूपं महेश्वरि
By which even Krishna, the son of Nanda, will be overcome by enchantment—O great goddess, now, out of compassion, reveal your own form to me.
प्रणताय प्रपन्नाय प्रकाशयितुमर्हसि । इत्युक्ता मुनिवर्य्येण तदनुव्रतचेतसा
To one who is devoted and has taken refuge, you ought to reveal yourself; thus addressed by the best of sages, whose mind was steadfast in devotion,
महामाहेश्वरीं नत्वा महानंदमयीं पराम् । महाप्रेमतरोत्कंठा व्याकुलांगीं शुभेक्षणाम्
He bowed to the great Maheshvari, the supreme one filled with great bliss, whose limbs were restless with longing from the tree of supreme love, whose glance was auspicious.
ईक्षमाणेन गोविंदमेवं वर्णयतास्थितम् । जयकृष्ण मनोहारिञ्जय वृंदावनप्रिय
Gazing upon Govinda, describing him thus, he stood, proclaiming: 'Victory to Krishna, the enchanter of hearts, victory to the beloved of Vrindavan!'
जयभ्रूभंगललित जयवेणुरवाकुल । जय बर्हकृतोत्तंस जयगोपीविमोहन
'Victory to you, charming with the playful movement of your brows, victory to you, whose flute-melody stirs all, victory to you, adorned with a peacock feather, victory to you, who enchants the cowherd maidens!'
जय कुंकुमलिप्तांग जय रत्नविभूषण । कदाहं त्वत्प्रसादेन अनया दिव्यरूपया
'Victory to you, whose limbs are smeared with saffron, victory to you, adorned with jewels! When, by your grace, will I behold you with this divine form?'
सहितं नवतारुण्य मनोहारि वपुःश्रिया । विलोकयिष्ये कैशोरे मोहनं त्वां जगत्पते
'Together with the splendor of fresh youth, with a captivating form, when will I see you, O Lord of the world, enchanting in your boyhood?'
एवं कीर्त्तयतस्तस्य तत्क्षणादेव सा पुनः । बभूव दधती दिव्यं रूपमत्यंतमोहनम्
As he was thus praising, at that very moment, she again assumed a divine form of supreme enchantment.
चतुर्दशाब्दवयसा संमितं ललितं परम् । समानवयसश्चान्यास्तदैव व्रजबालिकाः
Her form was graceful, appearing to be fourteen years of age; and at that very moment, the other cowherd maidens also became of the same age.
आगत्य वेष्टयामासुर्दिव्यभूषांबरस्रजः । मुनींद्रः स तु निश्चेष्टो बभूवाश्चर्यमोहितः
Arriving, adorned with divine ornaments, garments, and garlands, they surrounded the great sage, who became motionless, astonished and bewildered.
बालायास्तास्तदा सख्यश्चरणांबुकणैर्मुनिम् । निषिच्य बोधयामासुरूचुश्च कृपयान्विताः
Then, the girl's companions, filled with compassion, sprinkled the sage with drops of water from their feet to awaken him, and spoke to him.
मुनिवर्य महाभाग महायोगेश्वरेश्वर । त्वयैव परया भक्त्या भगवान्हरिरीश्वरः
O foremost sage, greatly fortunate one, lord among the masters of great yoga, by your supreme devotion alone, the blessed Lord Hari, the Supreme Lord,
नूनमाराधितो देवो भक्तानां कामपूरकः । यदियंब्रह्मरुद्राद्यैर्देवैः सिद्धमुनीश्वरैः
has surely been worshipped—He who fulfills the desires of His devotees—if this girl, who is difficult to attain even for Brahma, Rudra, and other gods, perfected beings, and great sages,
महाभागवतैश्चान्यैर्दुर्दर्शा दुर्गमापि च । अत्यद्भुतवयोरूपमोहिनी हरिवल्लभा
and by other great devotees, whose wondrous and enchanting form is rarely seen and hard to reach, the beloved of Hari,
केनाप्यचिंत्य भाग्येन तवदृष्टिपथं गता । उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ विप्रर्षे धैर्यमालंब्य सत्वरम्
by some inconceivable fortune, has come within your sight. Arise, arise, O best of sages, quickly compose yourself with courage.
एनां प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य नमस्कुरु पुनःपुनः । किं न पश्यसि चार्वंगीमत्यंतव्याकुलामिव
Circumambulate her and bow down again and again. Do you not see this beautiful one, as if extremely agitated?
अस्मिन्नेव क्षणे नूनमंतर्धानं गमिष्यति । नानया सह संलापः कथंचित्ते भविष्यति
In this very moment, she will surely disappear; there will hardly be any conversation with her.
दर्शनं च पुनर्नास्याः प्राप्स्यसि ब्रह्मवित्तम । किंतु वृंदावने कापि भात्यशोकलता शुभा
And you will not obtain her sight again, O knower of Brahman. However, in Vṛndāvana, a certain auspicious aśoka creeper shines forth.
सर्वकालेऽपि पुष्पाढ्या सर्वदिग्व्यापि सौरभा । गोवर्द्धनाददूरेण कुसुमाख्यसरस्तटे
Always abundant with flowers, its fragrance pervades all directions, not far from Govardhana, on the bank of the lake called Kusuma.
तन्मूले ह्यर्द्धरात्रे च द्रक्ष्यस्यस्मानशेषतः । श्रुत्वैवं वचनं तासां स्नेहविह्वलचेतसाम्
At its base, at midnight, you will see us completely. Hearing these words from those whose hearts were overcome with affection,
यावत्प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य प्रणमेद्दंडवन्मुनिः । मुहूर्त्तद्वितयं बालां नानानिर्माणशोभनाम्
As the sage circumambulated and offered prostrations, for two moments the girl, adorned with various forms, remained visible.
आहूय भानुं प्रोवाच नारदः सर्वशोभनाम् । एवं प्रभावा बालेयं न साध्या दैवतैरपि
Then Nārada, having called the radiant Sun, spoke: 'Such is the power of this girl; she is unattainable even by the gods.'
किंतु यद्गृहमेतस्याः पदचिह्नविभूषितम् । तत्र नारायणो देवः स्वयं वसति माधवः
But in the house adorned with her footprints, there, Lord Nārāyaṇa, Mādhava Himself, dwells.
लक्ष्मीश्च वसते नित्यं सर्वाभिः सर्वसिद्धिभिः । अद्य एनां वरारोहां सर्वाभरणभूषणाम्
And Lakṣmī always resides there with all perfections and all powers. Today, O noble one, protect this exalted girl, adorned with all ornaments, as you would a supreme goddess, in your house, with great care.
देवीमिव परां गेहे रक्ष यत्नेन सत्तम । इत्युक्त्वा मनसैवैनां महाभागवतोत्तमः
Having said this, the foremost great devotee, remembering her form in his mind, entered the dense forest.
तद्रूपमेव संस्मृत्य प्रविष्टो गहनं वनम् । अशोकलतिकामूलमासाद्य मुनिसत्तमः
Reaching the base of the aśoka creeper, the best of sages waited there at night for the goddess to arrive.
प्रतीक्षमाणो देवीं तां तत्रैवागमनं निशि । स्थितोऽत्र प्रेमविकलश्चिंतयन्कृष्णवल्लभाम्
He remained there, his heart overwhelmed with love, contemplating the beloved of Kṛṣṇa.
अथ मध्यनिशाभागे युवत्यः परमाद्भुताः । पूर्वं दृष्ट्वास्तथान्याश्च विचित्राभरणस्रजः
Then, at midnight, extraordinary young women appeared, some seen before and others new, adorned with wondrous ornaments and garlands.
दृष्ट्वा मनसि संभ्रांतो दंडवत्पतितो भुवि । परिवार्य मुनिं सर्वास्ताः प्रविविशुः शुभाः
Seeing them, his mind was thrown into confusion; he fell to the ground in reverence, and all those auspicious women surrounded the sage and entered.