Passage 1
ते तत्र नित्यं परिवर्द्धमानाः स्वगात्रलक्ष्मीं पुपुषुः कुमाराः। सञ्जातदन्ताः स्मितवक्त्रचन्द्राः श्रिया जनानां हृदयं हरन्तः॥१॥
There the princes grew day by day and increased the beauty of their own bodies. Their teeth had begun to appear, their smiling faces were moons, and with their loveliness they stole the people’s hearts.
Passage 2
धात्रीकराङ्गुलिभरेण वितिष्ठमाना भूयो रणच्चरणनूपुरजातहर्षाः। मध्याङ्गकिङ्किणिकया कृतभूरिनृत्याः स्वानां मुदं व्यधुरुदारगुणाभिरामाः॥२॥
Standing with the support of the nurse’s fingers, they delighted in the ringing anklets upon their feet. Their waist-bells made them dance again and again, and the lovely, nobly virtuous children brought joy to their own people.
Passage 3
गोपालबालानिवहेषु विराजमानाः सद्रत्नदण्डभररम्यकटाश्चरन्तः। गोपालाङ्गणेषु नवनीतकराढ्यहस्ताः श्रीरामलक्ष्मणमुखाः शिशवो विरेजुः॥३॥
Shining amid groups of cowherd boys, they roamed with their waists beautified by fine jeweled bands. Their hands rich with fresh butter in the cowherds’ courtyards, the children led by Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa shone splendidly.
Passage 4
रामः सलक्ष्मणस्तत्र विचरन् व्रजवीथिषु। गोपालबालकैः साकं चिक्रीडे बहुधा प्रभुः॥४॥
The Lord Rāma wandered there with Lakṣmaṇa through Vraja’s lanes and played many games with the cowherd boys.
Passage 5
क्वचिद् वत्सान् समादाय धावमानो व्रजाङ्गणे। क्वचिन्मयूरशिशुभिः परिवारितविग्रहः॥५॥
Sometimes he gathered the calves and ran through Vraja’s courtyard; sometimes his figure was surrounded by young peacocks.
Passage 6
क्वचिद्धंसैश्च कादम्बैः कारण्डवकुलैस्तथा। चटकैश्च कपोतैश्च चिक्रीडे गोकुले चरन्॥६॥
As he roamed through Gokula, he sometimes played with swans, geese, flocks of kāraṇḍava ducks, sparrows, and pigeons.
Passage 7
स गोकुलवरस्त्रीणां हृदयानि प्रमोदयन्। बालकेलिं चकारोच्चैर्मोहयन् गोपकन्यकाः॥७॥
Delighting the hearts of Gokula’s finest women, he performed his childhood play openly and enchanted the cowherd maidens.
Passage 8
कस्तूरीतिलकविराजिभालदेशो मुक्तास्रङ्मणिगलचारुकण्ठहारः। नासाग्रे पृथुगजमौक्तिकं दधानो बिभ्राणः करकमलेन मञ्जुवेणुम्॥८॥
His brow shone with a musk tilaka; pearl garlands, jewels, and a lovely necklace adorned his throat. He wore a large elephant pearl at the tip of his nose and held a sweet flute in his lotus hand.
Passage 9
चूडालः करयुगहेमकङ्कणश्रीः श्रीखण्डद्रवमकरीविरोचिगात्रः। गोपालीमनसि विवर्द्धयन् मनोजं कुर्वाणो दधिनवनीतचौर्यलीलाम्॥९॥
His hair was tied in a topknot, and golden bracelets graced his two hands. Makara designs of liquid sandalwood shone upon his limbs. Increasing love in the cowherd women’s minds, he enacted the play of stealing curd and butter.
Passage 10
गृहे गृहे विशन् रामो विचरन् बालकैः सह। माङ्गल्यां चैव कौशल्यां समुपालम्भयज्जनैः॥१०॥
Entering house after house and roaming with the boys, Rāma caused people to bring complaints to Māṅgalyā and Kauśalyā.
Passage 11
ता गोपकन्याः स्मरबाणविद्धा रामेण विस्रंसयता मनांसि। समाययुः कान्तविलोकनार्थं गृहानुपालम्भमिषेण लुब्धाः॥११॥
Pierced by Love’s arrows as Rāma loosened their hearts, those cowherd maidens came eagerly to the house to behold their beloved, using a complaint as their pretext. The cowherd women said
Passage 12
हे माङ्गल्ये गवेन्द्रगेहिनि हे कौशल्ये दशरथमहिषि। तव तनया अनयाश्चत्वारस्तेषामेष सुधूर्तो रामः॥१२॥
O Māṅgalyā, lady of the cowherd chief’s house, and O Kauśalyā, Daśaratha’s queen: your four sons are here, and among them this Rāma is exceedingly mischievous.
Passage 13
कृत्वा बहु नवनीतस्तेयं भोजयति कपीन् शिशूंश्च शश्वत्। दृष्टः सपदि पलायति बालैः पुनरायाति च गालीं दत्ते॥१३॥
After stealing a great deal of fresh butter, he constantly feeds it to the monkeys and children. The moment he is seen, he runs off with the boys; then he returns and hurls an insult.
Passage 14
व्याकुलयति कुलवनिता शश्वन्मुखमवगुण्ठनपिहितं पश्यन्। आकर्षत्यधुनैव विलज्जो गोकुलकन्यातरुवसनानि॥१४॥
He continually troubles respectable women when he sees their faces hidden by veils. Even now, shamelessly, he tugs at the garments of Gokula’s maiden-like young trees.
Passage 15
उक्तः किमपि पलायति दूरे साक्षात् काम इवातिजिघांसुः। खेदयति मुहुरति विपुलश्रोणीः कुर्वन् सन्ततमलमपराधम्॥१५॥
When anyone says something to him, he runs far away, like Love himself intent on striking. Repeatedly he vexes the broad-hipped women and continually commits more than enough mischief.
Passage 16
हसति च हासयते च शिशुभ्यः कुरुते विग्नाः गोकुलरामाः। किमपि च वक्तुं न पारयामः शिक्षय मातर्ननु निजबालम्॥१६॥
He laughs and makes the children laugh, leaving Gokula’s lovely women distraught. We cannot bring ourselves to tell you everything. Mother, please discipline your own child.
Passage 17
एष स लक्ष्मणमपि शिक्षयति साधुमिमं स्वसमं च चिकीर्षुः। बहिरन्तश्च विजित्य समस्तं यथार्थनामा राजति रामः॥१७॥
Trying to make even this well-behaved Lakṣmaṇa like himself, he instructs him too. Having conquered everything without and within, Rāma shines true to his name—the one in whom all delight.
Passage 18
स्फोटयति प्रसभं दधिभाण्डं विगुणीभवति निवारित एषः। एवमादि वचनानि वदन्त्यः कान्तविलोकनपूरितकामाः। जग्मुरात्मसदनानि तरुण्यस्तमेव सततं भावयमानाः॥१८॥
He violently breaks the curd pots and only grows worse when restrained. Speaking these and similar words, the young women had their longing fulfilled by seeing their beloved. They returned to their own homes, continually meditating upon him alone.
Passage 19
कदाचिद् बालकैः साकं क्रीडन् रामो व्रजाङ्गणे। वर्जितोऽपि जनन्याऽऽद कुपथ्यं बदरीफलम्॥१९॥
One day, while playing with the boys in Vraja’s courtyard, Rāma ate an unwholesome jujube fruit although his mother had forbidden it.
Passage 20
बालैर्निवेदिता माता तर्जयामास तं शिशुम्। स तर्जितो जनन्या च प्रहसंस्तामुवाच ह॥२०॥
When the boys reported him, his mother scolded the child. Reproved by his mother, he laughed and spoke to her. Rāma said
Passage 21
मातर्नाहं जघासाद्य कुपथ्यं बदरीफलम्। नोचेदुद्घाट्य वदनं मदीयं प्रविलोकय॥२१॥
Mother, I did not eat an unwholesome jujube fruit today. If you do not believe me, open my mouth and look inside. Brahmā said
Passage 22
एवमुक्त्वा व्यात्तमुखस्तु रामः प्रदर्शयामास मुखे समस्तम्। सजङ्गमं स्थावरमेतदुच्चै- र्यद्दृश्यजातं वरिवर्ति लोके॥२२॥
Having spoken thus, Rāma opened his mouth and displayed everything within it: all that moves and stands still, the entire array of visible things that exists throughout the world.
Passage 23
अद्रयः सागरा नद्यो द्वीपाः ग्रामाः पुराणि च। नरा देवाश्च गन्धर्वा वनानि भुवनानि च॥२३॥
There were mountains, oceans, rivers, islands, villages, and cities; humans, gods, gandharvas, forests, and worlds.
Passage 24
सर्वं राममुखेऽपश्यन्माता माङ्गल्यया सह। अदृष्टमश्रुतं चैव सर्वाश्चर्यमयं जगत्॥२४॥
Together with Māṅgalyā, the mother saw everything within Rāma’s mouth—the entire wonder-filled universe, never before seen or heard of. Kauśalyā said
Passage 25
किमेष जातो मतिविभ्रमो मे स्वप्नोऽथवा देववरस्य माया। किं वाद्य किञ्चित् कुतुकं प्रदर्शितं रामेण वोचे स यथा नो वसिष्ठः॥२५॥
Has this confusion arisen in my mind? Is it a dream, or the supreme Lord’s māyā? Has Rāma shown some wonder today, just as our Vasiṣṭha told us he would?
Passage 26
इत्थं मुहुर्भ्रान्तमतिः प्रसूस्ता- मपार्यमाणा वदने विलोकितुम्। न्यमीलयन्नेत्रयुगं निजं सा पुनः समुन्मील्य मुखं ददर्श॥२६॥
Thus repeatedly bewildered, the mother could no longer continue looking into his mouth. She closed her two eyes, then opened them again and saw his face.
Passage 27
सा रामचन्द्रस्य मुखेन्दुमन्द- हासावलोकेन पुनः समोहा। पुत्रेति मत्वा समपाययत् स्तनं स्तनन्धयं राममानन्दरूपम्॥२७॥
At the sight of the gentle smile upon Rāmacandra’s moon-like face, she was again overcome by maternal enchantment. Thinking, “He is my son,” she nursed the breast-drinking Rāma, the very form of bliss.
Passage 28
एवं स आद्यः पुरुषः पुराणः स्वमायया बालभावं प्रपद्य। अरञ्जयद् गोकुलयोषितस्ता यथा तदात्मान इमा बभूवुः॥२८॥
Thus the primeval, ancient Person assumed childhood through his own māyā and delighted the women of Gokula until they became wholly identified with him.
Passage 29
तन्मग्नमनसो नित्यं तदालापनतत्पराः। तद्गीतगानमुदिता बभूवुस्तन्मयान्तराः॥२९॥
Their minds always immersed in him and intent on speaking of him, they rejoiced in singing songs about him and became inwardly filled with him. --- Thus ends the nineteenth chapter, “The Vision of the Universal Form,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes Verse 18 is printed as a three-line stanza and is retained in that form. At verse 19 the edition’s compressed जनन्याऽऽद supplies the finite verb “ate” after “although forbidden by his mother”; the translation makes that syntax explicit without changing the photographed reading. Verse 14 retains the edition’s visarga-less कुलवनिता, understood syntactically as the women whom he troubles. Verse 16’s unusual विग्नाः is translated contextually as “distraught.”