सर्वर्तुकुसुमस्रावि द्रुमवल्लीभिरावृतम् । नटन्मत्तशिखिस्वानं गायत्कोकिलषट्पदम्
It is covered with trees and creepers dripping flowers in all seasons, resounding with the calls of dancing, intoxicated peacocks, and the songs of cuckoos and bees.
तस्य मध्ये वसत्येकः पारिजाततरुर्महान् । शाखोपशाखाविस्तारैः शतयोजनमुच्छ्रितः
In its center stands a single great pārijāta tree, with branches and sub-branches spreading wide, rising a hundred yojanas high.
तले तस्याथ विमले परितो धेनुमंडलम् । तदंतर्मंडलं गोपबालानां वेणुशृंगिणाम्
At its pure base, all around, is a circle of cows; within that circle are cowherd boys, holding flutes and horns.
तदंतरे तु रुचिरं मंडलं व्रज सुभ्रुवाम् । नानोपायनपाणीनां मदविह्वलचेतसाम्
Within that, there is a beautiful circle of the noble women of Vraja, holding various gifts in their hands, their minds overwhelmed with love.
कृतांजलिपुटानां च मंडलं शुक्लवाससाम् । शुक्लाभरणभूषाणां प्रेमविह्वलितात्मनाम्
There is a circle of those with hands joined in reverence, clad in white garments, adorned with white ornaments, their hearts overcome with love.
चिंतयेच्छ्रुतिकन्यानां गृह्णतीनां वचः प्रियम् । रत्नवेद्यां ततो ध्यायेद्दुकूलावरणं हरिम्
One should contemplate the daughters of the Vedas, speaking sweet words; then, on a jeweled platform, meditate on Hari, covered with fine cloth.
ऊरौ शयानं राधायाः कदलीकांडकोपरि । तद्वक्त्रं चंद्र सुस्मेरं वीक्षमाणं मनोहरम्
He is lying on the lap of Rādhā, upon a banana-stem couch; his face, like the moon, is beautifully smiling and enchanting to behold.
किंचित्कुंचितवामांघ्रिं वेणुयुक्तेन पाणिना । वामेनालिंग्य दयितां दक्षेण चिबुकं स्पृशन्
His left foot is slightly bent, his hand holding a flute; with his left arm he embraces his beloved, with his right he touches her chin.
महामारकताभासं मौक्तिकच्छायमेव च । पुंडरीकविशालाक्षं पीतनिर्मलवाससम्
He shines with the hue of a great emerald, with the luster of pearls, his eyes wide as lotuses, clad in pure yellow garments.
बर्हभारलसच्छीर्षं मुक्ताहारमनोहरम् । गंडप्रांतलसच्चारु मकराकृतिकुंडलम्
His head is adorned with a peacock-feather crown, charming with a pearl necklace; at the edge of his cheek hangs a beautiful earring shaped like a makara.
आपादतुलसीमालं कंकणांगदभूषणम् । नूपुरैर्मुद्रिकाभिश्च कांच्या च परिमंडितम्
Adorned with anklets, bracelets, armlets, and rings, decorated with a waistband and garlands reaching to the feet.
सुकुमारतरं ध्यायेत्किशोरवयसान्वितम् । पूजा दशाक्षरोक्तैव वेदलक्षं पुरस्क्रिया
One should meditate upon a most delicate youth, endowed with youthful age; the worship is as prescribed by the ten-syllable mantra, with the Veda as its foundation.
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे देवो देवी च गिरिजा सती । मुनिरागत्य पुत्राय तथैवोपदिदेश ह
Having spoken thus, the god disappeared, and the goddess Girijā, Sati, also vanished; the sage arrived and instructed his son in the same manner.
पुण्यश्रवास्तु तन्मंत्र ग्रहणादेव केशवम् । वर्णयामास विविधैर्जित्वा सर्वान्मुनीन्स्वयम्
O you of auspicious hearing, he described that mantra to Keśava, who, conquering all the sages himself, narrated it in various ways.
रूपलावण्यवैदग्ध्य सौंदर्याश्चर्यलक्षणम् । तदा हृष्टमना बालो निर्गत्य स्वगृहात्ततः
The qualities of form, beauty, cleverness, and wondrous features—then the boy, his mind delighted, departed from his own house.
वायुभक्षस्तपस्तेपे कल्पानामयुतत्रयम् । तदंते गोकुले जाता नंदभ्रातुर्गृहे स्वयम्
He practiced austerity subsisting on air for thirty thousand aeons; at the end of that, he was born in Gokula, in the house of Nanda's brother.
लवंगा इति तन्नाम कृष्णेंगित निरीक्षणा । यस्या हस्ते प्रदृश्येत मुखमार्जनयंत्रकम्
Her name is Lavangā, marked by Krishna's gestures and glances; in whose hand may be seen the implement for cleaning the mouth.
इति ते कथिताः काश्चित्प्रधानाः कृष्णवल्लभाः
Thus have some principal beloveds of Krishna been described to you.
हरिविविधरसाद्यैर्युक्तमध्यायमेतद्व्रजवरतनयाभिश्चारुहासेक्षणाभिः । पठति य इह भक्त्या पाठयेद्वा मनुष्यो व्रजति भगवतः श्रीवासुदेवस्य धाम
This chapter, filled with various delights of Hari and adorned by the daughters of the best of Vraja with their rising glances—whoever recites or has it recited here with devotion attains the abode of the blessed Vāsudeva.
ईश्वर उवाच-। यत्त्वया पृष्टमाश्चर्यं तन्मया भाषितं क्रमात् । यत्र मुह्यंति ब्रह्माद्यास्तत्र को वा न मुह्यति
Īśvara said: That wondrous thing you asked about, I have explained to you step by step; where even Brahmā and others are bewildered, who then would not be bewildered?
तथापि ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यदुक्तं परमर्षिणा । महाराजमंबरीषं विष्णुभक्तं शिवान्वितम्
Still, I will tell you what was spoken by the supreme sage, concerning King Ambarīṣa, devoted to Viṣṇu and accompanied by Śiva.
बदर्याश्रममासाद्य समासीनं जितेंद्रियम् । राजा प्रणम्य तुष्टाव विष्णुधर्मविवित्सया
Having reached the hermitage at Badarī, seated with senses controlled, the king bowed and praised him, desiring to know the dharma of Viṣṇu.
वेदव्यासं महाभागं सर्वज्ञं पुरुषोत्तमम् । मां त्वं संसारदुष्पारे परित्रातुमिहार्हसि
To Vedavyāsa, greatly fortunate, all-knowing, the supreme person, he said: You should rescue me here from the difficult ocean of worldly existence.
विषयेषु विरक्तोऽस्मि नमस्तेभ्यो नमोखिलम् । यत्तत्पदमनुद्विग्नं सच्चिदानंदविग्रहम्
I am detached from sense objects; salutations to them, salutations to all; that undisturbed state, the embodiment of existence, consciousness, and bliss.
परं ब्रह्म पराकाशमनाकाशमनामयम् । यत्साक्षात्कृत्य मुनयो भवांभोधिं तरंति हि
The supreme Brahman, the highest space, without space, without affliction; by realizing which, sages cross the ocean of becoming.
तत्राहं मनसो नित्यं कथं गतिमवाप्नुयाम् । व्यास उवाच-। अतिगोप्यं त्वया पृष्टं यन्मया न शुकं प्रति
How may I, in that place, always attain the path of the mind? Vyāsa said: You have asked a most secret question, which I did not even tell to Śuka.
गदितं स्वसुतं किंतु त्वां वक्ष्यामि हरिप्रियम् । आसीदिदं परं विश्वं यद्रूपं यत्प्रतिष्ठितम्
I spoke it only to my own son, but to you, dear to Hari, I will declare it; this supreme universe existed, with its form and foundation.
अव्याकृतमव्यथितं तदीश्वरमयं शृणु । मया कृतं तपः पूर्वं बहुवर्षसहस्रकम्
Unmanifest, undisturbed, that which is pervaded by the Lord—listen; I performed austerity in former times for many thousands of years.
फलमूलपलाशांबु वाय्वाहारनिषेविणा । ततो मामाहभगवान्स्वध्याननिरतं हरिः
Subsisting on fruits, roots, leaves, water, and air, I was thus engaged in self-study; then the glorious Lord Hari appeared before me.
कस्मिन्नर्थे चिकीर्षाते विवित्सा वा महामते । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वृणुष्व त्वं वरं च वरदर्षभात्
For what purpose do you seek to act or to know, O wise one? I am pleased; ask for a boon from the bestower of blessings.