Passage 1
श्रुत्वेदं रामचन्द्रस्य कौमारचरितं मम। मनः शीतलतामेति यद्वत् पीयूषधारया॥१॥
Hearing this account of Rāmacandra’s boyhood, my mind becomes cool as though bathed by a stream of nectar.
Passage 2
दत्त्वा वरं गोपिकानां नित्यमात्मप्रदं विधे। यच्चकार रघुश्रेष्ठस्तन्नः शंसितुमर्हसि॥२॥
O Brahmā, after granting the cowherd maidens the eternal boon of himself, what did the best of the Raghus do? Please relate it to us.
Passage 3
चीर्णव्रतानां विप्राणां दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्। यथा वरं ददौ रामस्तथा मे वद विस्तरात्॥३॥
Tell me in detail how Rāma granted the boon to the brāhmaṇas who had observed their vows while dwelling in Daṇḍaka Forest.
Passage 4
द्विपरार्धान्तेऽपि नित्यं सहजानन्दलोकगः। रासं चकार रामाभिः परमैश्वर्यभावितः॥४॥
Even at the end of two parārdhas, established eternally in the realm of innate bliss and endowed with supreme sovereignty, he performed rāsa with the lovely women.
Passage 5
तत्रापि दिव्यरासे तु यानि यानि शुभानि च। चक्रे रासचरित्राणि तानि मे कथय प्रभो॥५॥
Lord, tell me every auspicious deed he performed within that divine rāsa.
Passage 6
एकपत्नीव्रते स्थित्वा सत्यं लोपितवान्न च। बहुकान्तारतिं दृष्ट्वा तथा न द्वेष्टि जानकी॥६॥
How did he remain faithful to his vow of one wife without violating truth, while Jānakī saw his love for many beloved women and yet felt no aversion?
Passage 7
तदेतत् कथयास्माकं रामचारित्रमद्भुतम्। शृण्वतो मे महान् हर्षो रोमभेदश्च जायते॥७॥
Tell us this wondrous deed of Rāma. As I listen, immense joy arises in me and my hairs stand on end.
Passage 8
गद्गदश्च तथा कण्ठे चित्तस्यैव च निर्वृतिः। अहो धन्या अमी देवा मदङ्गविनिवासिनः॥८॥
My throat chokes with emotion and my mind finds fulfillment. Ah, blessed are the gods who dwell within my limbs,
Passage 9
ये पिबन्ति शुभं नित्यं रामचन्द्रकथामृतम्। धन्योऽहं कृतकृत्यश्च तिर्यग्योनिगतोऽपि सन्॥९॥
for they continually drink the auspicious nectar of Rāmacandra’s story. Though born in an animal species, I am blessed and have fulfilled life’s purpose,
Passage 10
यत्पिबाम्यमृतं ब्रह्मन् भवद्वदनविच्युतम्। ब्रह्मोवाच। अहो परिणता बुद्धिस्तव सम्यग्विभाति मे॥१०॥
for I drink the nectar falling from your mouth, O Brahmā. Brahmā replied: “Ah! Your understanding appears to me thoroughly mature.” Brahmā said
Passage 11
पुनः पुनः प्रश्नयसि यद्राराघवपतेः कथाम्। वक्षाम्यहं तु वक्तव्यमवक्तव्यं कदाचन॥११॥
Again and again you ask about the story of Lord Rāghava. I shall tell what may be told, but never what must not be spoken.
Passage 12
गोपनीयं शुकेनापि यद् योगीन्द्रेण धीमता। कथामृतैककुण्डस्य चत्वारो रक्षका वयम्॥१२॥
Even the wise king of yogīs, Śuka, must keep this hidden. Four of us are the guardians of this unique reservoir of story-nectar:
Passage 13
अहं शुकश्च शेषश्च तथा देवी तु जानकी। न ब्रूमः सकलं तत्तु गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः॥१३॥
I, Śuka, Śeṣa, and the goddess Jānakī. We do not tell it all; it must be carefully guarded.
Passage 14
वाचकान् घातयिष्यामि मातृजारप्रसङ्गवत्। अधिकारिणमालोक्य कथञ्चित् कथयामहे॥१४॥
I would have such a reciter killed, as one would a man involved in adultery with his own mother. Only after recognizing a qualified recipient do we somehow speak of it.
Passage 15
पञ्चाधिकारिणोऽप्यत्र षष्ठो नैवोपलभ्यते। त्वमण्डजौत्तरेयश्च धरणी च पतिव्रता॥१५॥
There are five qualified recipients here; a sixth is not found: you, O bird-born one, Uttareya, and the faithful Earth,
Passage 16
सौमित्रेयश्चोर्ध्वरेता तथा मारुतनन्दनः। तुभ्यं मया समाख्याता कल्पेकल्पे युगे युगे॥१६॥
the celibate son of Sumitrā, and the son of the Wind. In every kalpa and every age I have related it to you,
Passage 17
राममायाप्रभावेण पुनर्विस्मृतवानसि। शुकेन चौत्तरेयाय रामचारित्रमीर्यते॥१७॥
but through the power of Rāma’s māyā you forget it again. Śuka relates Rāma’s deeds to Uttareya,
Passage 18
इहैव शुद्धसत्त्वाय गोलोके प्रेमभागिने। पुनश्च भगवान् शेषो व्याचष्टे धरणीं प्रति॥१८॥
who possesses pure being and a share of divine love here in Goloka. Lord Śeṣa, in turn, explains it to the Earth.
Passage 19
लक्ष्मणाय तथा देवी जानकी प्रत्युवाच ह। तच्छ्रुत्वा सकलं प्रोक्तं लक्ष्मणेन हनूमते॥१९॥
The goddess Jānakī told it to Lakṣmaṇa; after hearing it all, Lakṣmaṇa related it to Hanumān.
Passage 20
पञ्चेमाः संहितास्तत्र सङ्क्षेपेण शृणु द्विज। भौशुण्डी परमेयं षट्त्रिंशत्साहस्रमीरिता॥२०॥
Hear briefly, O twice-born one, of the five saṃhitās. This supreme Bhauśuṇḍī is said to contain thirty-six thousand verses.
Passage 21
चत्वारिंशत्सहस्रं तु लक्षमात्रमुदीरितम्। हनुमत्संहितालक्षं वायुलोके विराजते॥२१॥
Another is declared to contain forty thousand and another one hundred thousand. The hundred-thousand-verse Hanumat Saṃhitā shines in the realm of Vāyu.
Passage 22
समुच्चयस्तु पञ्चानां मयोक्ता ब्रह्मसंहिता। इत्येवं रामचरितं शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्॥२२॥
The combined collection of the five is what I have called the *Brahma Saṃhitā*. Thus the deeds of Rāma extend to a hundred crores of verses.
Passage 23
प्रतिकल्पं प्रतियुगमन्यदन्यद् विभाव्यताम्। नान्तस्तस्य चरित्राणां कल्पकोटिशतैरपि॥२३॥
Understand that they differ in every kalpa and every age. Even hundreds of crores of kalpas cannot reach the end of his deeds.
Passage 24
किञ्चित् समाधावालोक्य शृणु पुत्र निगद्यते। यत्पृष्टं तु त्वया गोपीरामयोः क्रीडनं परम्॥२४॥
My son, I shall tell you what little I have beheld in samādhi. Hear now about the supreme play of the cowherd maidens and Rāma for which you asked.
Passage 25
तत्सुगोप्यं कथं वाच्यं वक्तास्यान्नारकी ध्रुवम्। अथापि शुद्धसत्त्वाय भक्ताय विमलात्मने॥२५॥
It is supremely secret—how can it be spoken? Its indiscriminate narrator would surely fall into hell. Yet to a devotee of pure being and stainless self
Passage 26
वाच्यमाचार्यवर्यैस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा तत्परो भवेत्। सत्यं सत्यं मया नित्यं चिन्त्यते मूलमन्त्रवत्॥२६॥
the finest teachers may speak it, so that upon hearing it the devotee becomes wholly absorbed in it. Truly, truly, I contemplate it constantly like the root mantra.
Passage 27
तद्ध्यानामृतयोगेन तिष्ठाम्याकल्पमण्डज। तपस्तप्तं मया पूर्वं तीव्रात्तीव्रतरं द्विज॥२७॥
Through union with the nectar of that meditation I endure for a kalpa, O bird-born one. Long ago, O twice-born one, I practiced austerity more intense than the intense.
Passage 28
तेन प्रसन्नः सीतेशः सदा मां दर्शनं ददौ। स्वलोकं दर्शयामास गोलोकात् परतस्तु यत्॥२८॥
Pleased by it, the Lord of Sītā granted me his vision and showed me his own realm, which lies beyond Goloka.
Passage 29
तत्र रासविलासादि दृष्टवानहमद्भुतम्। प्रमोदविपिने पूर्वं रामश्चक्रे सुक्रीडनम्॥२९॥
There I beheld the wondrous rāsa play and other līlās. Rāma first performed that beautiful play in Pramoda Forest.
Passage 30
तस्याप्यनुकृतिं कृष्णश्चक्रे वृन्दावने वने। श्रीरामो भगवान् पूर्णः कलाभिः पुरुषोत्तमः॥३०॥
Kṛṣṇa later performed an imitation of it in Vṛndāvana Forest. Śrī Rāma is the complete Lord, endowed with every divine power, the Supreme Person.
Passage 31
कोटिलक्ष्मीसहस्राणामंशिनी जनकात्मजा। एतयोरेव दिव्यांशौ राधाकृष्णात्मकौ व्रजे॥३१॥
Janaka’s daughter is the source from whom thousands of crores of Lakṣmīs receive their portions. Their two divine portions appear in Vraja as Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
Passage 32
कालेकाले समुद्भूय कुरुतः शाश्वतीं रतिम्। रामांशो भगवान् कृष्णः सीतांशो राधिकेश्वरी॥३२॥
Appearing age after age, they enact eternal love. Lord Kṛṣṇa is a portion of Rāma, and sovereign Rādhikā is a portion of Sītā.
Passage 33
अन्याश्च सकला गोप्यस्तदंशांशा उदीरिताः। द्वारिकायां रुक्मिणीयं महालक्ष्मी महेश्वरी॥३३॥
All the other cowherd women are declared to be portions of their portions. In Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī is this same Mahālakṣmī, the supreme goddess.
Passage 34
अन्याश्च सत्यभामाद्यास्तदंशाः सहजात्मिकाः। क्वचिदावेशरूपेण क्वचिदंशस्वरूपतः॥३४॥
Satyabhāmā and the other queens are her portions, sharing her innate nature. She manifests sometimes through divine possession and sometimes in the form of a portion.
Passage 35
क्वचित् साक्षात् स्वयं सीता रमते प्रभुणा सह। सैव रासेश्वरी तेन रमते रासमण्डले॥३५॥
At times Sītā herself directly sports with the Lord. She alone is the queen of rāsa who sports with him within the rāsa circle.
Passage 36
एकधा शतधा चैव कृत्वा रूपाणि सन्ततम्। तच्चरित्रं महागोप्यं मया ज्ञातुं न शक्यते॥३६॥
Remaining one while continually assuming a hundred forms, she sports there. That account is supremely secret and cannot be fully known even by me.
Passage 37
कुरु कल्पशतं तीव्रां तपश्चर्यां स्वशोधिकाम्। तदा ते तादृशी भक्तिर्भविष्यत्यनपायिनी॥३७॥
Practice intense, self-purifying austerity for a hundred kalpas. Then such unfailing devotion will arise in you.
Passage 38
तदा श्रीरामचारित्रं श्रोतुमर्हस्यशेषतः। नोचेन्मामेव शप्स्यन्ति योगीन्द्रास्ते शुकादयः॥३८॥
Then you will be qualified to hear the deeds of Śrī Rāma without remainder. Otherwise those kings of yogīs, Śuka and the others, will curse me.
Passage 39
अनधिकारिणे मा ब्रूयादित्युक्तं प्रभुणापि मे। इति ब्रह्मवचः श्रुत्वा भुशुण्डो नाम वै द्विजः॥३९॥
The Lord himself told me, “Do not speak it to one who is unqualified.” Hearing these words of Brahmā, the twice-born Bhuśuṇḍa
Passage 40
महतीमार्त्तिमन्वार्च्छत् प्राणान्तेऽपि गरीयसीम्। आकाशवाक् समुद्भूता तदा संशृण्वतोस्तयोः॥४०॥
fell into immense anguish, heavier even than the ending of life. As the two listened, a voice arose from the sky. The divine voice said
Passage 41
ब्रूहि ब्रह्मन्नशेषेण मम चारित्रमद्भुतम्। रासलीलाविनोदाख्यं भक्तायाण्डजरूपिणे॥४१॥
Brahmā, tell my wondrous deed without remainder—the account called “The Joy of the Rāsa Līlā”—to this devotee in the form of a bird.
Passage 42
अयं हि सुमहान् योगी ममैकान्तरतिप्रियः। शान्तो दान्तस्तितिक्षश्च कोटिकल्पकृतश्रमः॥४२॥
He is indeed a very great yogī, dear to me because of his exclusive love. He is peaceful, self-controlled, forbearing, and has labored for crores of kalpas.
Passage 43
मद्भक्तो मत्परः शान्तो मदर्थत्यक्तसंस्मृतिः। एकान्तचारी विनयी भक्तानां प्रीतिवर्द्धनः॥४३॥
He is my devotee, wholly intent upon me, peaceful, and has abandoned all other recollection for my sake. He lives in solitude, is humble, and increases the love of devotees.
Passage 44
ज्ञापयास्मै विशेषेण रामचारित्रमद्भुतम्। पीत्वा पीयूषवत् सर्वं नान्यस्मै कथयिष्यति॥४४॥
Reveal to him in full the wondrous deeds of Rāma. Having drunk everything like nectar, he will not repeat it to another.
Passage 45
इति दैवीं गिरं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा सञ्जातसम्भ्रमः। सम्पूज्य द्विजमाचष्टे रामलीलां मनोहराम्॥४५॥
Hearing this divine voice, Brahmā was filled with reverent awe. He honored the twice-born bird and began to tell him Rāma’s enchanting līlā.
Passage 46
एतामैकान्तिकीं लीलां यो ब्रूयादनधिकारिणे। स पच्येत महाघोरे नरके दैवचोदितः॥४६॥
Whoever speaks this intimate līlā to an unqualified person will, impelled by divine judgment, suffer in a dreadful hell.
Passage 47
(यः) कृष्णैकान्ततरो भक्तो रामभक्तिविवर्जितः। तस्मै न कथयेदेतां लीलां विश्वस्य पावनीम्॥४७॥
This līlā, which purifies the universe, should not be told even to an exclusive devotee of Kṛṣṇa who is devoid of devotion to Rāma. --- Thus ends the twenty-fifth chapter, “Rāma’s Rāsa,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The chapter begins on the printed leaf where Chapter 24 closes and ends on the leaf where Chapter 26 begins. Verse 10 contains the end of Bhuśuṇḍa’s speech and Brahmā’s first reply within one numbered verse. Verses 20–22 give the five-saṃhitā inventory in a compressed form: the print explicitly names the 36,000-verse Bhauśuṇḍī and the 100,000-verse Hanumat Saṃhitā, while placing the intervening counts without their titles. Verse 39 begins as Brahmā’s speech and ends as narrative. The edition prints parenthetical (यः) at the start of verse 47; it is retained.