सालतालीतमालाढ्यनीलपल्वलमालितम् । वलीवलयविन्यासविलासवलितध्रुवम्
Rich with groves of śāla, tāla, and tamāla trees, bordered by blue lotus ponds, its banks gracefully curved with the patterns of winding streams.
आलोलपल्लवलतावलितालयानाम् उत्फुल्लकन्दलसिलिन्ध्रसुगन्धितानाम् । साराववारिवलनाकुलगोकुलानाम् आनीलषष्पकुसुमस्थलशोभितानाम्
Where the homes of swaying creepers and trembling leaves are perfumed by blooming shoots and fragrant lotus stems, where herds of cows gather by swirling, nectar-filled waters, and the ground is adorned with the beauty of wind-scattered tender blossoms.
तीरद्रुमप्रकरगुप्तसरिद्रयाणाम् नीरन्ध्रपुष्पितलतोग्रवितानकानाम् । उद्यानकुन्दमकरन्दसुगन्धितानाम् गन्धान्धषट्पदकुलान्तरिताम्बुदानाम्
Of rivers concealed by dense groves of sacred trees, with canopies formed by blossoming creepers without gaps, of gardens fragrant with the nectar of jasmine flowers, where swarms of bees, intoxicated by scent, obscure the clouds above—
सौन्दर्यतर्जितपुरन्दरमन्दिराणाम् राजीवराजिरजसारुणिताम्बराणाम् । रंहोवहद्गिरिनदीरवघर्घराणाम् कुन्दावदातजलदद्युतिभासुराणाम्
Of palaces whose beauty rivals that of Indra’s own abode, whose skies are tinged red by the pollen of lotus clusters, where the rumbling of mountain streams resounds with joy, and the brilliance of white clouds shines like jasmine flowers—
सौधस्थलोल्लसितपुष्पलतालयानां लीलाविलोलकलकण्ठविहङ्गमानाम् । उल्लासिकौसुमदलास्तरणस्थयूनाम् आपादम् आवलितमाल्यविलासिनीनाम्
Of terraces adorned with blossoming creepers, where playful cuckoos wander restlessly, where groups of young women recline on beds of fresh flowers, their bodies adorned from head to toe with garlands—
सर्वं तु सुन्दरनवाङ्कुरदन्तुराणाम् हेलोल्लसद्वनलताकुलमार्गगाणाम् । सञ्जातकोमललतोपलसङ्कुलानाम् वर्षत्पयोदपटसंवलितालयाणाम्
All is covered with the tender shoots of new growth, beautiful and fresh, with paths winding through lively thickets of forest creepers, where soft young leaves cluster together, and the dwellings are veiled by the drapery of rainclouds—
नीहारहारिहरितस्थलविस्तृतानाम् सौधस्थमेघतडिदाकुलिताङ्गनानाम् । नीलोत्पलोल्लसितसौरभसुन्दराणाम् हुङ्कारहारिहरितोन्मुखगोकुलानाम्
The land is spread wide with greenery that dispels the mist, the terraces are crowded with women adorned like lightning among the clouds, the air is sweet with the fragrance of blooming blue lotuses, and herds of cows, their faces turned upward, are soothed by the cool breeze—
विध्वस्तमुग्धमृगशावगृहाङ्गनानाम् उन्मत्तबर्हिगणशीकरनिर्झराणाम् । सौगन्ध्यमत्तपवनाहृतसौरभानाम् वप्रौषधिज्वलनविस्मृतदीपकानाम्
Where the courtyards are abandoned by timid fawns, where flocks of peacocks, mad with delight, dance in the spray of waterfalls, where the wind, intoxicated by fragrance, carries away all scents, and the lamps are forgotten in the glow of medicinal herbs—
कोलाहलाकुलकुलायकुलाकुलानाम् कुल्याकुलाकलकलाश्रुतसङ्कथानाम् । मुक्ताफलप्रकरसुन्दरबिन्दुपातशीताखिलद्रुमलतातृणपल्लवानाम्
Where the air is filled with the tumult of many flocks, and the gentle murmur of streams is heard in lively conversation, where the cool drops falling from clusters of pearls beautify every tree, creeper, and blade of grass—
लक्ष्मीम् अनस्तमितपुष्पविकासभाजाम् । शक्नोति कः कलयितुं गिरिमन्दिराणाम्
Who could possibly describe the splendor of the mountain palaces, ever adorned with unfading, blossoming flowers?
तत्र ते पेततुर् देव्यौ ग्रामे ऽन्तश्शीतलात्मनि । भोगमोक्षश्रियौ शान्ते पुंसीव विदितात्मनि
There, in that village, the two goddesses descended into bodies cool within, like the twin fortunes of enjoyment and liberation entering a tranquil man who knows his own self.
कालेनैतावता लीला तेनाभ्यासेन साभवत् । शुद्धज्ञानैकदेहत्वात् त्रिकालामलदर्शिनी
In due course, by that practice, Lila became endowed with the ability to perceive the three times without stain, being of the nature of pure knowledge alone.
अथ सस्मार सर्वास् ताः प्राक्तनीस् संसृतेर् गतीः । स्वास् स्वयं स्वरसेनैव प्राग्जन्ममरणादिकाः
Then she recalled, by her own innate impulse, all those previous courses of transmigration—her own past births, deaths, and so on.
देवि देशम् इमं दृष्ट्वा त्वत्प्रसादात् स्मराम्य् अहम् । इह तत् प्राक्तनं सर्वं चेष्टितं वेष्टितान्तरम्
O goddess, seeing this place, by your grace I remember all that happened here before—every action and the various circumstances.
इहाभूवम् अहं जीर्णा सिरालाङ्गी कृशासिता । ब्राह्मणी शुष्कदर्भाग्रभेदरूक्षकरोदरा
Here, I was an old woman, with sinewy limbs, thin and dark, a brahmin wife with hands and belly roughened by the splitting of dry darbha grass.
भर्तुः कुलकरी भार्या दोहमन्थानशोभिनी । माता सकलपुत्राणाम् अतिथीनां प्रियङ्करी
I was the wife of the head of the household, skilled in churning for butter, mother of all the children, and one who delighted guests.
देवद्विजसतां भक्ता सिक्ताङ्गी घृतगोरसैः । गर्गरीचरुकुम्भादिभाण्डोपस्करशोधिनी
Devoted to gods, brahmins, and the virtuous, my limbs were anointed with clarified butter and milk; I cleaned vessels such as gargarī, caru, and kumbha.
नित्यम् अन्नलवाक्तैककाचकम्बुप्रकोष्ठका । जामातृदुहितृभ्रातृपितृमातृप्रपूजिनी
Constantly engaged with food, salt, a single garment, a water pot, and a storage room, I honored sons-in-law, daughters, brothers, fathers, and mothers.
आदेहं सद्मवृत्त्यैव प्रक्षीणदिनयामिनी । वाचं चिरं चिरम् इति वदन्त्य् अनिशम् आकुला
With her body worn down by the routines of the house and the passing of many days and nights, she anxiously repeats the same words again and again, without ceasing.
काहं क इव संसार इति स्वप्ने ऽप्य् असङ्कथा । जाया श्रोत्रियमूढस्य तादृशस्यैव दुर्धियः
Who am I? What is this world?—such questions never arise, not even in dreams, for the wife of such a deluded and ignorant householder.
एकनिष्ठा समिच्छाकगोमयेन्धनसञ्चये । म्लानकम्बलसंवीतसिरालक्षा सगात्रिका
Her sole concern is gathering cow dung and firewood for fuel; she is draped in a faded blanket, her limbs marked by the pressure of carrying heavy loads.
तर्णकीकर्णजाहस्थक्रिमिनिष्कासतत्परा । गृहशाकवनासेकसत्वरा गृहकर्मणां
She is constantly occupied with removing insects from her ears, hair, and hands, and hurries to fetch wild greens for the household, ever busy with domestic tasks.
नीलतीरतरङ्गाक्ततृणतर्पिततर्णका । प्रतिक्षणं गृहद्वारकृतचन्दनवर्णका
She feeds the cattle with grass wet from the waves of the blue river, and at every moment she marks the house door with sandalwood paste.
नीत्यर्थं गृहभृत्यानां सादिनां कृतवाच्यता । मर्यादानियमाद् अब्धिवेलेवानिशम् अच्युता
She is always ready to speak for the sake of the household servants and animals, and, unwavering in her adherence to rules and boundaries, she is like the shore that restrains the ocean.
जीर्णपर्णसवर्णैककर्णदोलाधिरूढया । कष्टतापजराभीतजीवभृत्येव चिह्निता
She is marked by the swing of an old, leaf-colored earring hanging from one ear, and, like a servant worn by hardship and age, she bears the signs of a life filled with toil and fear.
इत्य् उक्त्वा सञ्चरन्ती सा शिखरिग्रामकोटरे । सञ्चरन्त्यास् सरस्वत्या दर्शयाम् आस सा स्वयम्
Having spoken thus, she wandered in the hollow of the mountain village; as she moved about, Sarasvati herself appeared before her.
इयं मे पाटलाषण्डमण्डिता पुष्पवाटिका । इयं मे पुष्पितोद्यानमण्डपाकारवाटिका
This flower garden, adorned with clusters of crimson trees, is mine; this blossoming pavilion, shaped like a garden enclosure, is mine.
इयं पुष्करिणीतीरद्रुमग्रथिततर्णका । इयं सा कर्णिकानाम्नी तर्णिका भुक्तपर्णिका
This bank of the lotus pond, entwined with trees and lush grass, is mine; this is the tarṇikā called Karṇikā, whose leaves have been eaten.
इयं सा मेदसा क्षीणा वराकी जलहारिका । अद्याष्टमं दिनं बाष्पपूर्णाक्षी परिरोदिति
This poor one, weakened by fat and deprived of water, is mine; today is the eighth day she weeps with tear-filled eyes.
इह देवि मया प्रोक्तम् इहोषितम् इह स्थितम् । इह सुप्तम् इहातीतम् इदं दत्तम् इहाहृतम्
Here, O goddess, I have spoken, lived, stayed; here I have slept, passed time, given, and received.