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.'
स्वर्गिणां देवतादीनां तपस्वीश्वरयोगिनाम् । भक्तानां नैव सर्वेषां नैव नैव च नैव च
'Nor among the gods in heaven, nor among ascetics, lords, yogis, nor among all devotees—no, not at all, not at all.'
प्रसादस्तु कृतो वत्स तव विश्वात्मना यथा । तदेहि भज बुद्ध्वैव कुलकुंडं सरो मम
'O child, this grace has been granted to you by the Soul of the Universe; therefore, come, worship after knowing my family pond.'
सर्वकामप्रदा देवी त्वनया सह गम्यताम् । तत्रैव विधिवत्स्नात्वा द्रुतमागम्यतामिह
'The goddess who grants all desires, go with her; there, bathe according to the prescribed method and quickly return here.'
तदैव तत्र गत्वा स स्नात्वा पार्थस्तथागतः । आगतं तं कृतस्नानं न्यासमुद्रार्पणादिकम्
Then, going there, Partha bathed as instructed; having arrived, having bathed, he performed the offering of gestures and other rites.
कारयित्वा ततो देव्या तस्य वै दक्षिणश्रुतौ । सद्यः सिद्धिकरी बाला विद्यानिगदिता परा
Afterwards, by the goddess, in his right ear, the supreme knowledge was spoken, which immediately grants success, the young maiden's secret.
हकारार्द्धपरा द्वीपा द्वितीया विश्वभूषिता । अनुष्ठानं च पूजां च जपं च लक्षसंख्यकम्
The second, adorned with the world, is the half 'ha' syllable, the dvipa; the observance, worship, and recitation were performed in hundreds of thousands.
कोरकैः करवीराणां प्रयोगं च यथातथम् । निर्वर्त्य तमुवाचेदं कृपया परमेश्वरी
With the proper use of oleander flowers, the ritual was completed as prescribed; then the supreme goddess spoke to him kindly.
अनेनैव विधानेन क्रियतां मदुपासनम् । ततो मयि प्रसन्नायां तवानुग्रहकारणात्
'Let my worship be performed in this very manner; then, when I am pleased, for the sake of your blessing...'
ततस्तु तत्र पर्य्यंतेष्वधिकारो भविष्यति । इत्ययं नियमः पूर्वं स्वयं भगवता कृतः
Then, at the end there, authority will be established; this rule was formerly made by the Blessed Lord himself.
श्रुत्वैवमर्जुनस्तेन वर्मणा तां समर्चयत् । ततः पूजां जपं चैव कृत्वा देवी प्रसादिता
Hearing thus, Arjuna worshipped her with that armor; then, after performing worship and recitation, the goddess was pleased.
कृत्वा ततः शुभं होमं स्नानं च विधिना ततः । कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं प्राप्तप्रायमनोरथम्
Then, having performed an auspicious offering and bathed according to the rite, he felt as if his purpose was accomplished and his cherished desire attained.
करस्थां सर्वसिद्धिं च स पार्थः सममन्यत । अस्मिन्नवसरे देवी तमागत्य स्मितानना
That son of Pritha considered all success to be in his grasp; at that moment, the goddess approached him, her face adorned with a smile.
उवाच गच्छ वत्स त्वमधुना तद्गृहांतरे । ततः ससंभ्रमः पार्थः समुत्थाय मुदान्वितः
She said, 'Go now, dear one, into that other house.' Then Partha, full of excitement, rose up, filled with joy.
असंख्यहर्षपूर्णात्मा दंडवत्तां ननाम ह । आज्ञप्तस्तु तया सार्द्धं देवी वयस्ययार्जुनः
His heart overflowing with immeasurable delight, he bowed to her like a staff; commanded by her, Arjuna went together with the goddess, his companion.
गतो राधापतिस्थानं यत्सिद्धैरप्यगोचरम् । ततश्च स उपादिष्टो गोलोकादुपरिस्थितम्
He went to the abode of Radha's Lord, which even the perfected beings cannot perceive; and there he was instructed about the realm above Goloka.
स्थिरं वायुधृतं नित्यं सत्यं सर्वसुखास्पदम् । नित्यं वृंदावनं नाम नित्यरासमहोत्सवम्
It is firm, upheld by the wind, eternal, true, and the abode of all happiness; it is called the eternal Vrindavana, the place of the everlasting festival of the rasa dance.
अपश्यत्परमं गुह्यं पूर्णप्रेमरसात्मकम् । तस्या हि वचनादेव लोचनैर्वीक्ष्य तद्रहः
He beheld the supreme secret, composed of the essence of complete love; by her words alone, he saw that mystery with his own eyes.
विवशः पतितस्तत्र विवृद्धप्रेमविह्वलः । ततः कृच्छ्राल्लब्धसंज्ञो दोर्भ्यामुत्थापितस्तया
Overwhelmed, he fell there, his heart overcome with ever-increasing love; then, regaining consciousness with difficulty, he was raised up by her arms.
सांत्वनावचनैस्तस्याः कथंचित्स्थैर्यमागतः । ततस्तपः किमन्यन्मे कर्त्तव्यं विद्यते वद
By her words of consolation, he somehow regained composure; then he asked, 'What other austerity remains for me to perform? Tell me.'
इति तद्दर्शनोत्कंठाभरेण तरलोऽभवत् । ततस्तया करे तस्य धृत्वा तत्पददक्षिणे
Thus, filled with the weight of longing for that vision, he became restless; then she took his hand and, to the right of her feet—