यद्रहोऽनुभवस्तस्य पार्थेनापि महात्मना । दृष्टं कृतं च यद्यत्तत्प्रसंगात्कथितं मयि
Whatever secret experiences that great-souled Pārtha saw or did there, I have recounted to you as they arose.
तत्तेऽहं कथयाम्येतच्छृणुष्वावहितः परम् । किंत्वेतद्यत्र कुत्रापि न प्रकाश्यं कदाचन
Now I shall tell you this—listen most attentively; but know that this must never be revealed anywhere, at any time.
अर्जुन उवाच-। शंकराद्यैर्विरिंच्याद्यैरदृष्टमश्रुतं च यत् । सर्वमेतत्कृपांभोधे कृपया कथय प्रभो
Arjuna said: O Lord, out of your ocean of compassion, please tell me everything that has never been seen or heard by the likes of Shiva, Brahma, and others.
किं त्वया कथितं पूर्वमाभीर्यस्तव वल्लभाः । तास्ताः कतिविधा देव कति वा संख्यया पुनः
But, O Lord, you previously spoke of the Abhira women who are dear to you—how many are they, and what is their number?
नामानि कति वा तासां का वा कुत्र व्यवस्थिताः । तासां वा कति कर्माणि वयोवेषश्च कः प्रभो
How many names do they have, what are they, and where are they situated? What are their deeds, and what is their age and appearance, O Lord?
काभिः सार्द्धं क्व वा देव विहरिष्यसि भो रहः । नित्ये नित्यसुखे नित्यविभवे च वने वने
With whom, and where, O Lord, will you sport in secret—ever, in eternal happiness and everlasting prosperity, in forest after forest?
तत्स्थानं कीदृशं कुत्र शाश्वतं परमं महत् । कृपा चेत्तादृशी तन्मे सर्वं वक्तुमिहार्हसि
What is that place like, where is it, and how is it supreme and eternal? If you are so gracious, please tell me everything here.
यदपृष्टं मयाप्येवमज्ञातं यद्रहस्तव । आर्तार्तिघ्न महाभाग सर्वं तत्कथयिष्यसि
Whatever I have not asked, whatever remains unknown or secret to me—O great and compassionate one, destroyer of suffering—please tell me all of that as well.
श्रीभगवानुवाच-। तत्स्थानं वल्लभास्ता मे विहारस्तादृशो मम । अपि प्राणसमानानां सत्यं पुंसामगोचरः
The Blessed Lord said: That place, and those beloved ones of mine, and such sport of mine—even for those as dear as life itself, truly, it is beyond the reach of men.
कथिते दृष्टुमुत्कंठा तव वत्स भविष्यति । ब्रह्मादीनामदृश्यं यत्किं तदन्य जनस्य वै
If I were to describe it, my child, you would long to see it; it is unseen even by Brahma and others, and certainly by all other beings.
तस्माद्विरम वत्सैतत्किं नु तेन विना तव । एवं भगवतस्तस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यं सुदारुणम्
Therefore, desist from this, my child—what would you do without it? Thus, having heard these harsh words of the Blessed Lord—
दीनः पादांबुजद्वंद्वे दंडवत्पतितोऽर्जुनः । ततो विहस्य भगवान्दोर्भ्यामुत्थाप्य तं विभुः
Arjuna, dejected, fell prostrate like a staff at the Lord's lotus feet; then the Blessed Lord, smiling, raised him up with his arms.
उवाच परमप्रेम्णा भक्ताय भक्तवत्सलः । तत्किं तत्कथनेनात्र द्रष्टव्यं चेत्त्वया हि यत्
The Lord, affectionate to his devotees, spoke to his devotee with supreme love: 'Why speak of that here, if you are to see it yourself?'
यस्यां सर्वं समुत्पन्नं यस्यामद्यापि तिष्ठति । लयमेष्यति तां देवीं श्रीमत्त्रिपुरसुंदरीम्
That goddess from whom all arises, in whom all still abides, and into whom all will dissolve—worship the glorious Tripurasundari with supreme devotion.
आराध्य परया भक्त्या तस्यै स्वं च निवेदय । तां विनैतत्पदं दातुं न शक्नोमि कदाचन
Offer yourself to her as well; without her, I am never able to grant that supreme state.
श्रुत्वैतद्भगवद्वाक्यं पार्थो हर्षाकुलेक्षणः । श्रीमत्यास्त्रिपुरादेव्या ययौ श्रीपादुकातलम्
Hearing these words of the Blessed Lord, Partha, his eyes brimming with joy, went to the glorious footstool of the illustrious Tripura goddess.
तत्र गत्वा ददर्शैनां श्रीचिंतामणिवेदिकाम् । नानारत्नैर्विरचितैः सोपानैरतिशोभिताम्
There, having arrived, he beheld her at the platform of the wish-fulfilling gem, adorned with steps fashioned from various jewels.
तत्र कल्पतरुं नाना पुष्पैः फलभवैर्नतम् । सर्वर्त्तुकोमलदलैः स्नवन्माध्वीकशीकरैः
There stood the wish-fulfilling tree, bowed down with many flowers and fruits, with ever-tender leaves and dripping with honeyed dew.
वर्षद्भिर्वायुनालोलैः पल्लवैरुज्ज्वलीकृतम् । शुकैश्च कोकिलगणैः सारिकाभिः कपोतकैः
Its shining foliage was stirred by the wind, raining down, and it was brightened by parrots, flocks of cuckoos, mynas, and doves.
लीलाचकोरकै रम्यैः पक्षिभिश्च निनादितम् । यत्र गुंजद्भृंगराज कोलाहलसमाकुलम्
It resounded with charming playful chakora birds and other birds, and was filled with the tumult of humming king bees.
मणिभिर्भास्वरैरुद्यद्दावानल मनोहरम् । श्रीरत्नमंदिरं दिव्यं तले तस्य महाद्भुतम्
A splendid, divine jewel temple, wondrous in its beauty, shone with radiant gems like blazing fire on its floor.
रत्नसिंहासनं तत्र महाहैमाभिमोहनम् । तत्र बालार्कसंकाशां नानालंकारभूषिताम्
There was a throne of jewels, magnificent and golden, enchanting to behold; upon it sat one adorned with various ornaments, shining like the rising sun.
नवयौवनसंपन्नां सृणिपाशधनुः शरैः । राजच्चतुर्भुजलतां सुप्रसन्नां मनोहराम्
She was endowed with youthful vigor, holding a noose, bow, and arrows, a royal four-armed creeper, serene and captivating.
ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशादि किरीटमणिरश्मिभिः । विराजितपदांभोजामणिमादिभिरावृताम्
Her lotus feet were radiant, surrounded by gems and other jewels, and she was adorned with crowns whose jewels shone like those of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara.
प्रसन्नवदनां देवीं वरदां भक्तवत्सलाम् । अर्जुनोऽहमिति ज्ञातः प्रणम्य च पुनःपुनः
The goddess, with a cheerful face, bestower of boons and affectionate to devotees, was recognized by me as Arjuna; I bowed again and again.
विहितांजलिरेकांते स्थितो भक्तिभरान्वितः । सा तस्योपासितं ज्ञात्वा प्रसादं च कृपानिधिः
Standing aside with hands joined, filled with devotion, she, knowing his worship, bestowed her grace, being a treasury of compassion.
उवाच कृपया देवी तस्य स्मरणविह्वला । भगवत्युवाच-। किं वा दानं त्वया वत्स कृतं पात्राय दुर्लभम्
The goddess, overwhelmed with remembrance, spoke to him with kindness: 'O child, what rare gift have you given to a worthy recipient?'
इष्टं यज्ञेन केनात्र तपो वा किमनुष्ठितम् । भगवत्यमला भक्तिः का वा प्राक्समुपार्ज्जिता
'What sacrifice have you performed here, or what austerity undertaken? What pure devotion did you previously acquire, O blessed one?'
किं वास्मिन्दुर्लभं लोके किं वा कर्म शुभं महत् । प्रसादस्त्वयि येनायं प्रपन्ने च मुदा किल
'What is rare in this world, or what great auspicious deed has been done, by which this grace has come to you, and you have approached with joy?'
गूढातिगूढश्चानन्य लभ्यो भगवता कृतः । नैतादृङ्मर्त्यलोकानां न च भूतलवासिनाम्
'This favor, hidden and exceedingly rare, is granted by the Lord; it is not found among mortals or those dwelling on earth.'