अस्याः स्तनपरिष्वंगे हारैः सर्वैर्विहन्यते । वक्षःस्थलात्प्रच्यवद्भिश्चित्रगंधादिसौरभैः
In her embrace, her breasts adorned with necklaces strike against him, and from her chest flow wondrous fragrances such as Citragandha.
अपरे मुनिवर्यास्तु सततं पूतमानसाः । वायुभक्षास्तपस्तेपुर्जपंतः परमं मनुम्
Other eminent sages, always pure in mind, subsisting on air, practiced austerities and recited the supreme mantra.
स्मरः कृष्णाय कामार्ति कलादिवृत्तिशालिने । आग्नेयीसहितं कृत्वा मंत्रं पंचदशाक्षरम्
Desiring Krishna with the pain of love, skilled in the arts, they recited the fifteen-syllable mantra together with Agneyi.
दध्युर्मुनिवराः कष्णमूर्तिं दिव्यविभूषणाम् । दिव्यचित्रदुकूलेन पूर्णपीनकटिस्थलाम्
The best of sages meditated on Krishna's form, adorned with divine ornaments, clad in wondrous silks, with a full and slender waist.
मयूरपिच्छकैः कॢप्तचूडामुज्ज्वलकुंडलाम् । सव्यजंघांत आदाय दक्षिणं चरणांबुजम्
His hair crowned with peacock feathers, shining earrings, his left leg bent, holding his right lotus foot,
भ्रमंतीं संपुटीकृत्य चारुहस्तांबुजद्वयम् । कक्षदेशविनिक्षिप्तवेणुं परिचलत्पुटीम्
Wandering, with both beautiful lotus hands joined, the flute placed at his side, his garment fluttering,
आनंदयंतीं गोपीनां नयनानि मनांसि च । परमाश्चर्यरूपेण प्रविष्टां रंगमंडपे
Delighting the eyes and minds of the gopis, entering the arena in a form of supreme wonder,
प्रसूनवर्षर्गोपीभिः पूर्यमाणां च सर्वतः । अथ कल्पांतरे देहं त्यक्त्वा जाता इहाधुना
Surrounded on all sides by showers of flowers from the gopis, then, in another kalpa, she left her body and was born here now.
यासां कर्णेषु दृश्यंते ताटंका रश्मिदीपिताः । रत्नमाल्यानि कंठेषु रत्नपुष्पाणि वेणिषु
In whose ears are seen earrings shining with rays, jeweled garlands on their necks, and jeweled flowers in their braids.
मुनिः शुचिश्रवा नाम सुवर्णो नाम चापरः । कुशध्वजस्य ब्रह्मर्षेः पुत्रौ तौ वेदपारगौ
There was a sage named Shucishrava, and another named Suvarna; both sons of the brahmarshi Kushadhvaja, accomplished in the Vedas.
ऊर्ध्वपादौ तपो घोरं तेपतुस्त्र्यक्षरं मनुम् । ह्रीं हंस इति कृत्वैव जपंतौ यतमानसौ
With their feet raised upwards, they performed severe austerity, repeating the three-syllabled mantra—'hrīṃ haṃsa'—with focused effort.
ध्यायंतौ गोकुले कृष्णं बालकं दशवार्षिकम् । कंदर्पसमरूपेण तारुण्यललितेन च
They meditated in Gokula upon Krishna, a ten-year-old boy, possessing the beauty of Cupid and the charm of youthful grace.
पश्यंतीर्व्रजबिंबोष्ठीर्मोहयंतमनारतम् । तौ कल्पांते तनूं त्यक्त्वा लब्धवंतौ जनिं व्रजे
They beheld him with lips red as the bimba fruit, ever enchanting the mind; at the end of the age, abandoning their bodies, they obtained birth in Vraja.
सुवीरनाम गोपस्य सुते परमशोभने । ययोर्हस्ते प्रदृश्येते सारिके शुभराविणी
They were born as the most beautiful daughters of the cowherd named Suvīra; in their hands appeared auspicious parrots with sweet voices.
जटिलो जंघपूतश्च घृताशी कर्बुरेव च । चत्वारो मुनयो धन्या इहामुत्र च निःस्पृहाः
Jaṭila, Jaṅghapūta, Ghṛtāśī, and Karbura—these four blessed sages, free from desire here and hereafter.
केवलेनैकभावेन प्रपन्ना बल्लवीपतिम् । तेपुस्ते सलिले मग्ना जपंतो मनुमेव च
With single-minded devotion, they surrendered to the lord of the cowherd women, performing austerity immersed in water, reciting only the mantra.
रमात्रयेण पुटितं स्मराद्यं तदशाक्षरम् । दध्युश्च गाढभावेन बल्लवीभिर्वने वने
They meditated with deep feeling upon the mantra, adorned with the three syllables of Lakshmi, the primal seed of desire, along with the cowherd women in every forest.
भ्रमंतं नृत्यगीताद्यैर्मानयंतं मनोहरम् । चंदनालिप्तसर्वांगं जपापुष्पावतंसकम्
They saw him wandering, delighting with dance and song, enchanting in every way, his whole body anointed with sandalwood, adorned with garlands of hibiscus flowers.
कल्हारमालयावीतं नीलपीतपटावृतम् । कल्पत्रयांते जातास्ते गोकुले शुभलक्षणाः
Wreathed with garlands of jasmine, clothed in blue and yellow garments, at the end of the three aeons, they were born in Gokula, marked by auspicious signs.
इमास्ताः पुरतो रम्या उपविष्टा नतभ्रुवः । यासां धर्मकृतान्येव वलयानि प्रकोष्ठके
These lovely ones, seated before you with bowed brows, wear only those bangles on their forearms that were earned by their own merit.
विचित्राणि च रत्नाद्यैर्दिव्यमुक्ताफलादिभिः । मुनिर्दीर्घतपा नाम व्यासोऽभूत्पूर्वकल्पके
Adorned with various jewels, divine pearls, and the like, the sage named Dīrghatapas became Vyāsa in a previous age.
तत्पुत्रः शुक इत्येव मुनिः ख्यातो वरः सुधीः । सोऽपि बालो महाप्राज्ञः सदैवानुस्मरन्पदम्
His son, known as Śuka, was a renowned sage of great wisdom; even as a boy, he was ever mindful of the Supreme Abode.
विहाय पितृमात्रादि कृष्णं ध्यात्वा वनं गतः । स तत्र मानसैर्दिव्यैरुपचारैरहर्निशम्
Abandoning father, mother, and all else, meditating on Krishna, he went to the forest; there, with mental offerings both day and night—
अनाहारोऽर्चयद्विष्णुं गोपरूपिणमीश्वरम् । रमया पुटितं मंत्रं जपन्नष्टादशाक्षरम्
Fasting, he worshipped Viṣṇu, the Lord in the form of a cowherd, reciting the mantra empowered by Lakshmi, the eighteen-syllabled one.
दध्यौ परमभावेन हरिं हैमतरोरधः । हैममंडपिकायां च हेमसिंहासनोपरि
He meditated with supreme devotion on Hari beneath a golden tree, in a golden pavilion, upon a golden throne.
आसीनं हेमहस्ताग्रैर्दधानं हेमवंशिकाम् । दक्षिणेन भ्रामयंतं पाणिना हेमपंकजम्
He saw him seated, holding a golden flute in hands with golden fingertips, twirling a golden lotus with his right hand.
हेमवर्णेष्टप्रियया परिकॢप्तांगचित्रकम् । हसंतमतिहर्षेण पश्यंतं निजमाश्रमम्
His limbs adorned with ornaments beloved of his golden-hued consort, his body beautifully decorated, smiling with great joy as he gazed upon his own hermitage.
हर्षाश्रुपूर्णः पुलकाचितांगः प्रसीदनाथेति वदन्नथोच्चैः । दंडप्रणामाय पपात भूमौ संवेपमानस्त्रिजगद्विधातुः
Filled with tears of joy, his body bristling with delight, he exclaimed, 'O gracious Lord!' and then, trembling, fell to the ground in prostration before the Creator of the three worlds.
तं भक्तिकामं पतितं धरण्यामायासितोस्मीति वदंतमुच्चैः । दंडप्रणामस्य भुजौ गृहीत्वा पस्पर्श हर्षोपचितेक्षणेन
Seeing him, desiring devotion and fallen upon the earth, loudly saying, 'I am exhausted,' he took hold of the arms of the one bowing in reverence, and touched him with eyes filled with joy.
उवाच च प्रियारूपं लब्धवंतं शुकं हरिः । त्वं मे प्रियतमा भद्रे सदा तिष्ठ ममांतिके
Hari spoke to the beloved, beautiful Shuka who had attained his presence: 'You are dearest to me, O gentle one; always remain by my side.'