चरते स्त्रीरतिस्थाने वसते नड्वलेषु च
He moves in places of women’s pleasure, and dwells in reed thickets.
नगराध्वानशालासु वसते तत्र नारद
He dwells, O Nārada, in city roads and inns.
विषगोमयकीटादिपाषाणादिषु संस्थितः
He is found among poisons, cow dung, insects, and stones.
वाजिशूरास्त्रविद्वीरः स्थायी गजरथादिषु
A hero skilled in horses and weapons, steadfast among elephants, chariots, and the like.
मकरो ऽसौ नदीचारी वसते च महोदधौ
That makara moves in rivers and dwells in the great ocean.
द्यूतशालाचरः कुम्भः स्थायी शौण्डिकसद्मसु
The pot frequents gambling houses and remains in the homes of wine-sellers.
वसते पुण्यदेशेषु देवब्राह्नणसद्मसु
He dwells in holy places, in the homes of gods and Brāhmaṇas.
न कस्यचित् त्वयाख्येयं गुह्यमेतत्पुरातनम्
This ancient secret must not be revealed by you to anyone.
पुण्यं पुराणं परमं पवित्रमाख्यातवान्पापहरं शिवं च
I have declared this ancient, supreme, and pure merit-bringing tale, which destroys sin and brings auspiciousness.
दाक्षायाणी तस्य भार्या तस्यामजनयत्सुतान्
Dakṣāyaṇī was his wife, and she bore him sons.
योगाभ्यासरतौ नित्यं हरिकृष्णौ बभूवतुः
Hari and Kṛṣṇa were always devoted to the practice of yoga.
तप्येतां च तपः सौम्यौ पुराणवृषिसत्त्मौ
Those gentle ones performed austerities, possessing the nature of ancient bulls.
गृमन्तौ तत्परं ब्रह्म गङ्गाया विपुले तटे
There, on the broad bank of the Ganga, the two remained at home, devoted to the Supreme Brahman.
तापितं तपसा ब्रह्मन् शक्रः क्षोभं तदा ययौ
O Brahman, as they were tormented by austerity, Indra then became disturbed.
रम्भाद्याप्सरसः श्रेष्ठाः प्रेषयत्स महाश्रमम्
He sent the foremost Apsarases, beginning with Rambha, to that great hermitage.
समं सहचरेणैव वसन्तेनाश्रमं गतः
Together with his companion, Vasanta, he went to the hermitage.
बदर्याश्रममागम्य विचिक्रीडुर्यथेच्छया
Arriving at the Badari hermitage, they sported as they wished.
निष्पत्राः सततं रेजुः शोमभयन्तो धरातलम्
The trees, always stripped of leaves, shone as they touched the earth with their beauty.
वसन्तकेसरी प्राप्तः पलाशकुसुमैर्मुने
O sage, the lion of spring had arrived, adorned with the blossoms of the palāśa tree.
तमेव हसतेत्युच्चैः वसन्तः कुन्दकुड्मलैः
Vasanta laughed aloud, adorned with buds of jasmine.
यथा नरेन्द्रपुत्राणि कनकाभरणानि हि
Just as the sons of kings are adorned with golden ornaments,
स्वमिसंलब्धसंमाना भृत्या राजसुतानिव
And as servants, honored by their own masters, are like the sons of kings,
भृत्वा वसन्तनृपतेः संग्रामे ऽसृक्प्लुता इव
Clad in the blood of battle, as if in the war of the king of spring,
पुलकाभिर्वृता यद्वत् सज्जनाः सुहृदागमे
Just as the virtuous are surrounded by goosebumps at the arrival of a friend,
वक्तुकामा इवाङ्गुल्या को ऽस्माकं सदृशो नगः
As if wishing to say with their fingers, 'What mountain is equal to us?'
नीलाशोककचा श्यामा विकासिकमलानना
Dark with the tresses of blue ashoka, their faces blossoming like lotuses,
प्रफुल्लकुन्ददशना मञ्जरीकरशोभिता
With teeth like blooming jasmine, adorned with the beauty of flower clusters,
पुंस्कोकिलस्वना दिव्या अङ्कोलवसना शुभा
Divine, with the voices of male cuckoos, beautiful in garments of ankola flowers,
प्राग्वंशरसना ब्रह्मन् मत्तहंसगतिस्तथा
With sashes of the eastern bamboo, O Brahman, and a gait like that of an intoxicated swan,
वसन्तलक्ष्मीः संप्राप्ता ब३ह्मन् बदरिकाश्रमे
O Brahman, the fortune of spring arrived at the Badari hermitage.