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.
प्रष्टुकामोऽपि स मुनिः किंचित्स्वाभिमतं प्रियम् । नाशकत्प्रेमलावण्यप्रियभाषाप्रधर्षितः
The sage wished to ask something dear to his heart, but was unable, overwhelmed by their loving beauty and sweet words.
अथागता मुनिश्रेष्ठं कृतांजलिमवस्थितम् । भक्तिभारानतग्रीवं सविस्मयं ससंभ्रमम्
Then, one of them approached the foremost sage, standing with hands joined, her neck bowed with the weight of devotion, filled with wonder and agitation.
सुविनीततमं प्राह तत्रैव करुणान्विता । अशोकमालिनी नाम्ना अशोकवनदेवता
There, with utmost humility and compassion, she spoke; her name was Ashokamalini, the goddess of the Ashoka grove.
अशोकमालिन्युवाच। अशोककलिकायां तु वसाम्यस्यां महामुने । रक्तांबरधरा नित्यं रक्तमालानुलेपना
Ashokamalini said: In this Ashoka grove, O great sage, I dwell; I always wear red garments, red garlands, and red ointments.
रक्तसिंदूरकलिका रक्तोत्पलवतंसिनी । रक्तमाणिक्यकेयूर मुकुटादिविभूषिता
With red sindūra buds, adorned with red lotus crowns, and decorated with bracelets of red rubies and a jeweled diadem.
एकदा प्रियया सार्द्धं विहरंत्यो मधूत्सवे । तत्रैव मिलिता गोपबालिकाश्चित्रवाससः
Once, during the spring festival, while enjoying with my beloved, we met there the cowherd girls, dressed in splendid attire.
अहं चाशोकमालाभिर्गोपवेषधरं हरिम् । रमारूपाश्च ताः सर्वा भक्त्या सम्यगपूजयम्
With Ashoka garlands, I worshipped Hari, who was dressed as a cowherd, and all those women, radiant as Lakshmi, worshipped him with devotion.
ततः प्रभृति चैतासां मध्ये तिष्ठामि सर्वदा । भूषाभिर्विविधाभिश्च तोषयित्वा रमापतिम्
From that time onward, I always remain among them, pleasing the Lord of Lakshmi with various ornaments.
परात्परमहं सर्वं विजानामीह सर्वतः । गोगोपगोपिकादीनां रहस्यं चापि वेद्म्यहम्
I know everything here, the highest and the lowest; I also know the secrets of cows, cowherds, and cowherd women.
तव जिज्ञासितं सर्वं हृदि प्रत्यभिभाषितम् । तां देवीमद्भुताकारामद्भुतानंददायिनीम्
All that you have inquired is spoken within your heart; that goddess, wondrous in form and giver of wondrous joy—