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.'
मद्रूपं चिंतयंती च प्रेमास्पदमुपागता । द्वे च मुख्यतमे गोप्यौ समानवयसी शुभे
Thinking of my form and having come as the abode of love, there were two foremost gopis, both of equal age, O auspicious one.
एकव्रते एकनिष्ठे एकनक्षत्रनामनी । तप्तजांबूनदप्रख्या तत्रैवान्या तडित्प्रभा
Of single vow, single devotion, and bearing the same star-name, one shone like molten gold, and another there was radiant as lightning.
एकानिद्रा यमाणाक्षी परा सौम्यायतेक्षणा । सोऽर्चयत्परया भक्त्या ते हरेः सव्यदक्षिणे
One, with eyes like those of Yama, always awake, the other gentle with wide eyes; both worshipped Hari with supreme devotion, standing to his right and left.
स कल्पांते तनुं त्यक्त्वा गोकुलेऽभून्महात्मनः । उपनंदस्य दुहिता नीलोत्पलदलच्छविः
At the end of the kalpa, abandoning her body, she was born in Gokula as the daughter of Upananda, her complexion like the petals of a blue lotus.
सेयं श्रीकृष्णवनिता पीतशाटीपरिच्छदा । रक्तचोलिकया पूर्णा शातकुंभघटस्तनी
She is that lady of Shri Krishna, adorned in yellow garments, her breasts full like golden pots, covered with a red cloth.
दधाना रक्तसिंदूरं सर्वांगस्यावगुंठनम् । स्वर्णकुंडलविभ्राजद्गंडदेशां सुशोभनाम्
Wearing red sindura as a covering for her whole body, her cheeks beautifully adorned with shining golden earrings.
स्वर्णपंकजमालाढ्या कुंकुमालिप्तसुस्तनी । यस्या हस्ते चर्वणीयं दृश्यते हरिणार्पितम्
Rich in garlands of golden lotuses, her breasts smeared with saffron; in her hand is seen something to be chewed, offered by Hari.
वेणुवाद्यातिनिपुणा केशवस्य निषेवणी । कृष्णेन परितुष्टेन कदाचिद्गीतकर्मणि
Skilled in playing the flute, she serves Keshava; sometimes, when Krishna is pleased, she participates in singing.
विन्यस्ता कंबुकंठेऽस्या भाति गुंजावलि शुभा । परोक्षेपि च कृष्णस्य कांतिभिश्च स्मरार्दिता
On her conch-shell-like neck shines a beautiful string of gunja berries; even when Krishna is not present, she is afflicted by love for his radiance.
सखीभिर्वादयंतीभिर्गायंती सुस्वरं परम् । नर्त्तयेत्प्रियवेषेण वेषयित्वा वधूमिमाम्
With her friends playing instruments and singing melodiously, she dances in the attire of a beloved, dressing this bride.