तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मत्प्रियां शरणं व्रजेत् । आश्रित्य मत्प्रियां रुद्र मां वशीकर्त्तुमर्हसि
Therefore, with every effort, one should seek refuge in my beloved; by relying on my beloved, O Rudra, you are fit to bring me under your control.
इदं रहस्यं परमं मया ते परिकीर्तितम् । त्वयाप्येतन्महादेव गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः
This highest secret I have proclaimed to you; you too, O Mahadeva, must carefully keep it concealed.
त्वमप्येनां समाश्रित्य राधिकां मम वल्लभाम् । जपन्मे युगलं मंत्रं सदा तिष्ठ मदालये
You also, taking shelter in Radhika, my dearest, should always recite my paired mantra and remain in my abode.
शिव उवाच-। इत्युक्त्वा दक्षिणे कर्णे मम कृष्णो दयानिधिः । उपदिश्य परं मंत्रं संस्कारांश्च विधाय हि
Shiva said: Having spoken thus into my right ear, Krishna, the ocean of compassion, instructed me in the supreme mantra and performed the rites.
सगणोंऽतर्दधे विप्र तत्रैव मम पश्यतः । अहमप्यत्र तिष्ठामि तदारभ्य निरंतरम्
Along with his attendants, he vanished there itself before my eyes; from that moment, I too remain here without interruption.
सर्वमेतन्मया तुभ्यं सांगमेव प्रकीर्त्तितम् । अधुना वद विप्रेंद्र किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
All this I have related to you at the confluence; now, tell me, O best of Brahmins, what more you wish to hear.
नारद उवाच- भगवन्सर्वमाख्यातं यद्यत्पृष्टं मया गुरो । अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि भावमार्गमनुत्तमम्
Narada said: O Lord, everything I asked has been told by you, O Guru; now I wish to hear the supreme path of devotion.
शिव उवाच- साधु विप्र त्वया पृष्टं सर्वलोकहितैषिणा । रहस्यमपि वक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
Shiva said: Well asked, O Brahmin, by you who desire the welfare of all worlds; I will speak even the secret—listen as I declare it.
दास्यः सखायः पितरौ प्रेयस्यश्च हरेरिह । सर्वे नित्या मुनिश्रेष्ठ वसंति गुणशालिनः
Servants, friends, parents, and beloveds of Hari—all these, O best of sages, are eternal and full of virtues.
यथा प्रकटलीलायां पुराणेषु प्रकीर्तिताः । तथा ते नित्यलीलायां संति वृंदावने भुवि
Just as they are described in the manifest pastimes in the Puranas, so too they exist in the eternal pastimes in Vrindavan on earth.
गमनागमने नित्यं करोति वनगोष्ठयोः । गोचारणं वयस्यैश्च विनाऽसुरविघातनम्
In the forest and cowherd settlements, he always goes and comes, tending the cows with his friends, except for the slaying of demons.
करकीयाभिमानिन्यस्तथा तस्य प्रिया जनाः । प्रच्छन्नेनैव भावेन रमयंति निजप्रियम्
Those proud of their own hands, and likewise his beloved people, delight their dear one with hidden feelings.
आत्मानं चिंतयेत्तत्र तासां मध्ये मनोरमाम् । रूपयौवनसंपन्नां किशोरीं प्रमदाकृतिम्
There, among them, one should imagine oneself as a charming maiden, endowed with beauty and youth, with the form of a young woman.
नानाशिल्पकलाभिज्ञां कृष्णभोगानुरूपिणीम् । प्रार्थितामपि कृष्णेन तत्र भोगपराङ्मुखीम्
Skilled in various arts and crafts, suited to Krishna's enjoyments, even desired by Krishna but indifferent to those pleasures.
राधिकानुचरीं तत्र तत्सेवनपरायणाम् । कृष्णादप्यधिकं प्रेम राधिकायां प्रकुर्वतीम्
There, as a follower of Radhika, devoted to her service, showing greater love for Radhika than even for Krishna.
प्रीत्यानुदिवसं यत्नात्तयोः संगमकारिणीम् । तत्सेवनसुखाह्लादभावेनातिसुनिर्वृताम्
Striving daily with affection to bring about their union, and feeling supreme contentment in the joy and delight of serving her.
इत्यात्मानं विचिंत्यैव तत्र सेवां समाचरेत् । ब्राह्मं मुहूर्त्तमारभ्य यावत्स्यात्तु महानिशा
Thus, having reflected upon oneself in this way, one should perform service there, beginning from the Brahma-muhūrta until the deep night.
नारद उवाच- हरेर्दैनंदिनीं लीलां श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः । लीलामजानता सेव्यो मनसा तु कथं हरिः
Nārada said: I wish to hear, in truth, the daily pastimes of Hari; for one who does not know these pastimes, how is Hari to be served in the mind?
शिव उवाच- नाहं जानामि तां लीलां हरेर्नारदतत्त्वतः । वृंदादेवीमितो गच्छ सा ते लीलां प्रवक्ष्यति
Śiva said: I do not know those pastimes of Hari in their true nature, O Nārada; go to Vṛndādevī from here—she will tell you the pastimes.
अविदूर इतः स्थानात्केशीतीर्थसमीपतः । सखीसंघवृता सास्ते गोविंदपरिचारिका
Not far from this place, near the Keśī-tīrtha, she dwells surrounded by a group of companions, serving Govinda.
सूत उवाच- इत्युक्तस्तं परिक्रम्य हृष्टो नत्वा पुनः पुनः । वृंदाश्रमं जगामाथ नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
Sūta said: Thus addressed, he circumambulated him, joyfully bowing again and again; then the best of sages, Nārada, went to Vṛndā's hermitage.
वृंदापि नारदं दृष्ट्वा प्रणम्य च पुनःपुनः । उवाच च मुनिश्रेष्ठ कथमत्रागतिस्तव
And Vṛndā, seeing Nārada, bowed repeatedly and said: O best of sages, what is the reason for your coming here?
नारद उवाच- त्वत्तो वेदितुमिच्छामि नैत्यकं चरितं हरेः । तदादितो मम ब्रूहि यदि योग्योऽस्मि शोभने
Nārada said: I wish to learn from you the daily activities of Hari; please tell me from the beginning, if I am worthy, O beautiful one.
वृंदोवाच- रहस्यमपिवक्ष्यामि कृष्णभक्तोसि नारद । न प्रकाश्यं त्वयाप्येतद्गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं महत्
Vṛndā said: I will tell you even the secret, for you are a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, O Nārada; but you too must not reveal this, for it is most confidential and great.
मध्ये वृंदावने रम्ये पंचाशत्कुंजमंडिते । कल्पवृक्षनिकुंजे तु दिव्यरत्नमये गृहे
In the midst of beautiful Vṛndāvana, adorned with fifty bowers, in a grove of wish-fulfilling trees, within a house made of divine jewels—
निद्रितौ तिष्ठतस्तल्पे निबिडालिंगितौ मिथः । मदाज्ञाकारिभिः पश्चात्पक्षिभिर्बोधितावपि
They lie asleep together on the couch, closely embraced; later, though awakened by birds who act on my command, they—
गाढालिंगनजानंदमाप्तौ तद्भंगकातरौ । न मनः कुरुतस्तल्पात्समुत्थातुं मनागपि
Having attained the joy of a deep embrace, and fearful of its interruption, their minds do not wish to rise from the couch, not even a little.
ततश्च सारिकासंघैः शुकाद्यैः परितो मुहुः । बोधितौ विविधैर्वाक्यैः स्वतल्पादुदतिष्ठताम्
Then, again and again, awakened all around by flocks of śārikā birds and parrots with various words, they rise from their own couch.
उपविष्टौ ततो दृष्ट्वा सख्यस्तल्पे मुदान्वितौ । प्रविश्य सेवां कुर्वंति तत्काले ह्युचितां तयोः
Seeing them seated joyfully on the couch, the companions enter and render service to them at that time, as is appropriate.
पुनश्च सारिकावाक्यैस्तावुत्थाय स्वतल्पतः । गच्छतः स्वस्वभवनं भीत्युत्कंठाकुलौ ततः
Again, at the words of the śārikā birds, they rise from their couch and, overwhelmed by fear and longing, go to their respective homes.