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.
प्रातश्च बोधितो मात्रा तल्पादुत्थाय सत्वरः । कृत्वा कृष्णो दंतकाष्ठं बलदेवसमन्वितः
In the morning, awakened by his mother, Kṛṣṇa quickly rises from his couch, cleans his teeth with a twig, accompanied by Balarāma.
मात्रानुमोदितो याति गोशालां सखिभिर्वृतः । राधापि बोधिता विप्र वयस्याभिः स्वतल्पतः
Permitted by his mother, he goes to the cowshed, surrounded by his friends; and Rādhā, too, O brāhmaṇa, is awakened by her companions from her own couch.
उत्थाय दंतकाष्ठादि कृत्वाभ्यंगं समाचरेत् । स्नानवेदीं ततो गत्वा स्नापिता सा निजालिभिः
Rising, she cleans her teeth and performs anointing; then, going to the bathing place, she is bathed by her own friends.
भूषागृहे व्रजेत्तत्र वयस्या भूषयंत्यपि । भूषणैर्विविधैर्दिव्यैर्गंधमाल्यानुलेपनैः
She goes to the ornament room, where her friends adorn her with various divine ornaments, fragrant garlands, and unguents.
ततः सखीजनैस्तस्याः श्वश्रूं संप्रार्थ्य यत्नतः । कर्तुमाहूयतेस्वन्नं ससखी सा यशोदया
Then, at the earnest request of her friends, she invited her mother-in-law with great care, and together with her companions and Yaśodā, she was called to prepare food.
नारद उवाच- कथमाहूयते देवि पाकार्थं तु यशोदया । सतीषु पाककर्त्रीषु रोहिणीप्रमुखास्वपि
Nārada said: O goddess, how is it that Yaśodā calls her to cook, even though there are virtuous women like Rohiṇī and others who are skilled in cooking?
वृंदोवाच- पूर्वं दुर्वाससा दत्तो वरस्तस्यै महामुने । इति कात्यायनी वक्त्राच्छ्रुतमासीन्मया पुरा
Vṛndā said: Previously, the sage Durvāsas granted her a boon, O great sage; this I once heard from the lips of Kātyāyanī.
त्वया यत्पच्यते देवि तदन्नं मदनुग्रहात् । मिष्टं स्यादमृतस्पर्द्धि भोक्तुरायुष्करं तथा
O goddess, whatever food is cooked by you, by my grace, it will be delicious, rivaling nectar, and will grant long life to the one who eats it.
इत्याह्वयति तां नित्यं यशोदा पुत्रवत्सला । आयुष्मान्मे भवेत्पुत्रः स्वादुलोभात्तथा सती
Thus, Yaśodā, who is fond of her son, calls her every day, wishing, 'May my son be long-lived,' and also out of desire for sweet tastes.
श्रुत्वानुमोदिता हृष्टा सापि नंदालयं व्रजेत् । ससखीप्रकरा तत्र गत्वा पाकं करोति च
Hearing this, she joyfully consents and goes to Nanda's house, accompanied by her group of friends, and there she prepares the food.