Passage 1
तत आविरभूद्रासस्तासां विरहकातरः। वामभागसमासक्तसीतालिङ्गितविग्रहः॥१॥
Then Rāsa appeared before those women who were anguished by separation. His body was embraced by Sītā, who clung to his left side.
Passage 2
मधुराननसंशोभिकोटिचन्द्रोज्ज्वलस्मितः। तडित्कान्तिचमत्कारिपीताम्बरसमावृतः॥२॥
His smile, radiant as ten million moons, beautified his sweet face. He was wrapped in a yellow garment that flashed with the splendor of lightning.
Passage 3
नवीनपुष्पग्रथितां पञ्चवर्णस्रजं दधत्। अनेकरत्नसञ्जुष्टहेमचन्द्रावतंसकः॥३॥
He wore a five-colored garland woven from fresh flowers and golden, moon-shaped earrings set with many jewels.
Passage 4
सम्भ्रान्तपद्महस्ताभिस्तडिदुज्ज्वलकान्तिभिः। सम्पन्ननिष्ककण्ठीभिः श्यामाभिः शुभदृष्टिभिः॥४॥
Around them stood dark-complexioned women of auspicious gaze, their lotus-hands stirring, their beauty bright as lightning, and their necks adorned with splendid gold ornaments.
Passage 5
रत्नाकल्पमनोज्ञाभिः कान्तपीयूषवृष्टिभिः। सहस्राधिकरामाभिः संसेवितशुभाननाम्॥५॥
More than a thousand lovely women, charming in jeweled adornments and showering the nectar of beauty, attended her auspicious face.
Passage 6
कल्याणकारिणीं दिव्यां दिव्यकेलिविभूषिताम्। निजवामांससंसक्तां सहजानन्दरूपिणीम्॥६॥
She brought all welfare, was divine and adorned by divine play, clung to his own left side, and embodied innate bliss.
Passage 7
वामभागे प्रियां रासो जुषमाणः सुलोचनः। कस्तूरीतिलकोपेतपूर्णभालस्थलप्रभः॥७॥
Beautiful-eyed Rāsa delighted in his beloved upon his left. His broad forehead shone beneath a musk tilaka.
Passage 8
प्रेमासवरसास्वादपूर्णमानहृदुन्मदः। वामाक्षिहृदयोल्लासकारिवीक्षणकारकः॥८॥
His heart was intoxicated and his sense of self filled by tasting the savor of love’s wine. His glances made the heart of the woman at his left rejoice.
Passage 9
महामारकतोद्योतिमयूराकृतिकुण्डलः। दिव्यचूडासमावद्धमल्लीमाल्यमनोहरः॥९॥
His peacock-shaped earrings gleamed like great emeralds, and he was captivating with jasmine garlands fastened into his divine crest of hair.
Passage 10
रत्नकेयूरसुभगबाहुद्वयविराजितः। रत्नहारमनोहारिविशालसदुरस्थलः॥१०॥
His two arms shone beautifully with jeweled armlets, while jeweled necklaces made his broad and noble chest enchanting.
Passage 11
रत्नकाञ्चीगुणाबद्धकटिवस्त्रविभूषितः। निम्ननाभिहृदोदग्रवलित्रयविराजितः॥११॥
He was adorned with a waistcloth bound by the cord of a jeweled girdle. Above his deep navel, three folds rose beautifully toward his heart.
Passage 12
वामपादसमाक्रान्तदक्षपादप्रियाकृतिः। त्रिभङ्गीललिताश्यामवामकामदविग्रहः॥१२॥
His lovely left foot crossed over his right. His dark body curved gracefully in three places and fulfilled the desire of the beloved on his left.
Passage 13
लसन्नूपुरमञ्जीरकिङ्किणीपादपङ्कजः। नासाग्रमिहितोत्तुङ्गनवमौक्तिकमञ्जुलः॥१३॥
His lotus feet shone with anklets, little bells, and tinkling ornaments. A large fresh pearl placed at the tip of his nose made him beautiful.
Passage 14
ताम्बूलीदलसंस्निग्धरञ्जिताधरपल्लवः। पुरुषायितकामिन्या क्रीडोचितलसद्वपुः॥१४॥
His tender lips were moist and reddened by betel leaf. His shining body was suited to erotic play with a beloved woman taking the man’s position.
Passage 15
अश्मश्रुचिबुकोन्नद्धतिलबिन्दुविराजितः। महिलाजनदृग्भङ्गपीयमानमुखासवः॥१५॥
A sesame-like beauty mark stood out upon his subtly bearded chin. The wine of his face was drunk through the sidelong glances of the women.
Passage 16
भूयः षोडशवर्षेण वयोमाधुर्यमञ्जिमा। नित्यलीलाचमत्कारि श्रीविग्रहविराजितः॥१६॥
He possessed the fresh sweetness and beauty of sixteen years. His splendid form shone with the wonder of eternal play.
Passage 17
तं वीक्ष्यं गतिमात्मानं प्रणयोल्लासिलोचनाः। सर्वास्ताः सहसा तत्र समुत्तस्थुर्मृगीदृशः॥१७॥
Seeing him, their own refuge and very self, all the doe-eyed women suddenly rose there, their eyes blossoming with love.
Passage 18
देवतास्तत्त्वरूपिण्यो यथापूर्वमचेतनाः। चैतन्यमुपलभ्याथ प्रविष्टे तु परात्मनि॥१८॥
They were like deities embodying the cosmic principles, previously unconscious, who recover consciousness when the Supreme Self enters them.
Passage 19
काचित्तदीयकरपङ्कजमञ्जुलस्थे कृत्वा सुखेन निदधाति निजे कपोले। काचिच्च सङ्गमयते नयनद्वयेन काचिच्च वक्षसि च नाभिहृदे च काचित्॥१९॥
One happily took his lotus hand into her lovely hand and placed it upon her cheek. Another joined it to both her eyes; another placed it upon her breast, another upon her navel, and another upon her heart.
Passage 20
काचिच्च तस्य भुजदण्डमहीन्द्रभोग- श्रीखण्डवृक्षविटपप्रतिमं गृहीत्वा। अंसे दधाति च कापि च मूर्द्ध्नि कापि काचित्सहर्षमुपगृह्य जहाति पापम्॥२०॥
One grasped his arm, which resembled both the body of a great serpent and the branch of a sandalwood tree, and placed it upon her shoulder; another placed it on her head. Another embraced him joyfully and cast off all sin.
Passage 21
ताम्बूलचर्वितकमञ्जलिना च काचिद् गृह्णाति तन्निपतदर्द्धपथे निरुध्य। काचित्तदङ्घ्रिकमलं विरहज्वरेण सन्तापिनि स्तनयुगे निदधाति तन्वी॥२१॥
One caught his chewed betel in her cupped hands, intercepting it halfway as it fell. A slender woman placed his lotus foot upon her pair of breasts, which burned with the fever of separation.
Passage 22
अन्या च काचन निमेषविवर्जिताभ्यां दृग्भ्यां प्रियस्य वदनाम्बुरुहं पिबन्ती। नैवाद्य तृप्तिमबला सुखसिन्धुमग्ना चित्रार्पितेव विटपाश्रयिणी बभूव॥२२॥
Another drank the lotus of her beloved’s face with unblinking eyes. The woman found no satisfaction even now; immersed in an ocean of happiness and leaning against a tree, she became motionless as a painted figure.
Passage 23
काचित्तमीक्षणपथेन हृदि प्रविश्य नेत्रे निमील्य पुलकौघविसंस्थुलाङ्गी। दोर्भ्यां दृढं समवगृह्य निबद्धमौना योगीव चित्सुखमहोदधिनिर्वृतास्ते॥२३॥
One made him enter her heart along the path of sight, closed her eyes, and, her body overwhelmed by waves of horripilation, held him firmly in both arms. Silent and fulfilled in the vast ocean of conscious bliss, she remained like a yogin.
Passage 24
काचिन्मनोजधनुषा भृकुटिद्वयेन संयोज्य तीक्ष्णविशिखान्कुटिलान्कटाक्षान्। दृष्ट्वा रुषेव दशनैर्दशनच्छदं स्व- मैक्षिष्ट कान्तमतुलप्रणयाघ्नतीव॥२४॥
One made her two brows into Love’s bow and fitted to it the sharp, crooked arrows of her sidelong glances. Looking as though angry, she bit her own lip and gazed at her lover as if striking him with incomparable love.
Passage 25
अन्ये सुवर्णलतिकेव रुचा स्फुरन्त्यौ तस्यांसयुग्ममवलम्ब्य विरोचमाने। तत्र प्रमोदवनदिव्यतमालकान्ति- मत्यद्भुतां पुपुषतुः प्रभयानुरूपे॥२५॥
Two others, flashing in beauty like golden creepers, shone as they clung to his two shoulders. Their corresponding radiance greatly increased there the wondrous beauty of Pramoda Forest’s divine tamāla tree.
Passage 26
काचित्तदीयममलं मुकुरायमानं स्वच्छं कपोलतलमुत्प्रणया चुचुम्ब। अन्या तदक्षियुगलं रदनच्छदाभ्यां ताम्बूलिकादलरसैरनुरज्यमानम्॥२६॥
One, overcome by love, kissed the spotless surface of his cheek, clear and mirror-like. Another kissed his pair of eyes with lips reddened by the juice of betel leaf.
Passage 27
एका तदीयमधरं मधुरं सुधायाः संस्थानमन्दिरमिवापिबदाननेन। अन्या मदेन परिरभ्य निवृत्तलज्जा स्वानन्दसिन्धुरसवीचिषु निर्ममज्ज॥२७॥
One drank his sweet lower lip with her mouth as though it were the very temple in which nectar dwelt. Another, intoxicated and freed from modesty, embraced him and plunged into waves of rasa in the ocean of her own bliss.
Passage 28
इत्थं रमण्यस्ताः सर्वाः प्रियदर्शननिर्वृताः। सन्तापं विजहुर्यद्वत्प्राप्यानन्दमयं जनाः॥२८॥
Thus all the women, fulfilled by seeing their beloved, cast off their torment as people do when they attain the one made entirely of bliss.
Passage 29
भूयस्तदङ्गसङ्गिन्यै सच्चिदानन्दशक्तये। पश्यन्त्यस्तदभेदेन नाभ्यसूयन्मृगीदृशः॥२९॥
The doe-eyed women then looked upon the power of being, consciousness, and bliss who was joined to his body. Seeing her as nondifferent from him, they felt no jealousy.
Passage 30
एषास्य सहजानन्दशक्तिर्लीलाविनोदिनी। नानारसासवावासा प्रमोदविपिनेश्वरी॥३०॥
“She is his Sahajānanda-śakti, delighting in divine play, the abode of the wine of many rasas, and the sovereign of Pramoda Forest.
Passage 31
एषा श्रीः सततं चास्य पुरुषस्य महात्मनः। यामाद्यां सहजां शक्तिं मुनयः सम्प्रचक्षते॥३१॥
“She is eternally the Śrī of this great Puruṣa, whom the sages declare to be his primordial, innate power.
Passage 32
प्राप्स्यामो भूरिदौर्भाग्यमनया रहिता वयम्। प्रियोऽपि नास्मत्सविधे संस्थास्यत्यनया विना॥३२॥
“Without her we shall meet with immense misfortune. Without her, even our beloved will not remain near us.
Passage 33
अहो चन्द्रमसः सेयं चन्द्रिकेव विराजिता। कोऽर्थोऽनया विनास्माकं दासीनां प्रभुतुल्यया॥३३॥
“Ah, she shines like the moonlight belonging to the moon. What could we handmaids accomplish without her, who is equal to our Lord?
Passage 34
वयमेनां समाराध्य कामदां कामयामहे। पुत्रीं जनकराजस्य प्रमोदविपिनेश्वरीम्॥३४॥
“We shall worship her perfectly and seek as our wish-fulfilling Lady the daughter of King Janaka, sovereign of Pramoda Forest.
Passage 35
जय देवि महाराज्ञि यासि त्वं नः परानिधिः। नित्यं परिचरिष्यामस्त्वां वयं दासिका इव॥३५॥
“Victory to you, Goddess and great Queen. You are our supreme treasure. We shall always attend you as your maidservants.”
Passage 36
ततोऽनयाभ्यनुज्ञाताः समस्तास्ता मृगीदृशः। व्यरुचन्परितस्तस्य चन्द्रस्योडुगणा इव॥३६॥
Then, with her permission, all those doe-eyed women shone around him like hosts of stars surrounding the moon.
Passage 37
सोऽपि ताभिर्विनिर्धूतविरहामलकान्तिभिः। स्वशक्तिभिः समग्राभिः शुशुभे पुरुषोत्तमः॥३७॥
Puruṣottama too shone with all his powers, whose stainless beauty had cast off the pain of separation.
Passage 38
यूथव्यूहं समादाय वामदक्षिणयोर्विभुः। सरय्वाः पुलिनं रामः प्राविशत्केलिकाम्यया॥३८॥
The all-powerful Rāma arranged the companies of women upon his left and right and entered the bank of the Sarayū, desiring amorous play.
Passage 39
नित्यं विकसितानन्तदिव्यानेकसुरद्रुमम्। गुञ्जद्भ्रमरसङ्घुष्टनिकुञ्जललिताङ्गणम्॥३९॥
That place held countless kinds of divine trees eternally in bloom and graceful courtyards within bowers resonant with humming bees.
Passage 40
वीचीभुजसमास्तीर्णकोमलस्वच्छवालुकम्। उपर्यास्तीर्णवनितावेषचन्द्राच्छचन्द्रिकम्॥४०॥
Its soft, clean sand was spread by the arm-like waves. Above it lay pure moonlight from the moon costumed as a beautiful woman.
Passage 41
मन्दारविपिनान्दोलसुरभ्यनिलसेवितम्। रत्नवेदीसमुत्थांशुसंव्याप्तगगनान्तरम्॥४१॥
It was attended by fragrant breezes that stirred the mandāra groves. Rays rising from jeweled platforms filled the intervening sky.
Passage 42
उदञ्चत्पञ्चमालापविकस्वरपिकस्वरम्। राजहंसवधूवृन्दानुकृतप्रमदागणम्॥४२॥
The clear voices of cuckoos rose in the fifth musical note, while companies of women were imitated by flocks of female royal swans.
Passage 43
नानारतिरहस्योत्थशब्दचाटुशुकीरवम्। उद्गतानन्दकन्दर्पसपर्यायोग्यसंविधम्॥४३॥
Parrots repeated charming words born from the many secrets of lovemaking. Every arrangement was fit for worshiping the Kandarpa of bliss who had now arisen.
Passage 44
प्रियेण तास्तत्र समेत्य निर्वृता- स्तदाननालोकसुधात्तभोजनाः। विधूतविश्लेषरुजो मृगीदृशो निकाममापुः सकलान्मनोरथान्॥४४॥
Reunited there with their beloved, the doe-eyed women were fulfilled, taking as their food the nectar of gazing upon his face. Their pain of separation dispelled, they obtained every desire in full.
Passage 45
निजोत्तरीयैः कुचकुम्भलेपित- श्रीखण्डचन्द्रागुरुकुङ्कुमाङ्कितैः। अरीरचन्नद्भुतलीलनोत्सुका प्राणेश्वरायातिमहार्हमासनम्॥४५॥
Eager for wondrous play, they fashioned an exceedingly precious seat for the Lord of their lives from their upper garments, marked by sandal paste, white agaru, and kuṅkuma transferred from their breast-jars.
Passage 46
तत्रास्थितोऽसौ शुशुभे रघूद्वहः प्राणेश्वरो लोचनलास्यलालितः। पारेपरार्द्धस्मररूपदर्पहा गोपाङ्गनामण्डलमण्डनाकृतिः॥४६॥
Seated there, the scion of Raghu and Lord of their lives shone, caressed by the dance of their eyes. His form humbled the pride of inconceivable hosts of Love-gods and adorned the circle of cowherd women.
Passage 47
परस्परालापनिरीक्षणस्मित- भ्रूविभ्रमाश्लेषकरग्रहादिभिः। सम्पूज्य संस्तुत्य तथात्मनः प्रियं प्रियाः समेताः किमपीदमूचिरे॥४७॥
Through mutual conversation, glances, smiles, playful brows, embraces, holding hands, and other gestures, the assembled beloved women worshiped and praised the one dear to their souls. Then they spoke these words. The gopīs said:
Passage 48
ये सेवमाना ननु सेवमाना असेवमानानपि सेवमानाः। ये सेवमानान्परितो सेवमाना न सेवमानास्त इमे के वदस्व॥४८॥
“Tell us who these three are: those who serve only while they themselves are being served; those who serve even people who do not serve them; and those who, though thoroughly served by others, do not serve in return.
Passage 49
मातॄः पितॄन्स्निग्धतमानपत्य- भ्रात्रादिकान्सुहृदश्चात्मबन्धून्। हित्वा च पादाब्जतलं प्रपद्य त्वं सेवमानान्परिपासि कच्चित्॥४९॥
“We abandoned mothers, fathers, dearly loving children, brothers and other kin, friends, and our own relations, then took refuge at your lotus feet. Do you protect those who serve you?
Passage 50
किंवा भवैकान्तरतानभव्यान् निन्दापरान्लम्पटान्नीचसत्त्वान्। कन्दर्पानुध्यानपथे प्रवृत्तां- स्त्वसेव्यमानान्भजसे नाथ कच्चित्॥५०॥
“Or, Lord, do you attend those who do not serve you: the unworthy, absorbed solely in worldly becoming, devoted to blame, promiscuous, base in nature, and set upon the path of contemplating desire?
Passage 51
किंवोभयभ्रष्टहृदः शिलामयान् कुयोगिनो नासि पापेषु निष्ठान्। ईदृग्विधान्मानुषाख्यान्पशूंस्त्वं प्रपूर्णरङ्गं भजसे नाथ कच्चित्॥५१॥
“Or, Lord, do you delight in neither kind, but instead in hearts fallen from both courses, stone-like false yogins fixed in sin, beasts of this sort who merely bear the name ‘human,’ while you remain full of play?”
Passage 52
इत्येवमुक्तो भृशमाभीरदारैः परात्परो भगवान्रामचन्द्रः। श्रियायुतः कोटिकन्दर्पकान्तिः स्मित्वा रेभे प्रतिवक्तुं महात्मा॥५२॥
Addressed so earnestly by the cowherd women, Bhagavān Rāmacandra, higher than the highest, accompanied by Śrī and radiant as ten million Love-gods, smiled. The great soul then began to reply. Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 53
विहाय संसारमपारसान्तरं भवादृशान्भजतः प्राकृतौघान्। भजामि नित्यं निजवामाङ्गभागं रमामपि प्रेयसीं संविहाय॥५३॥
“I always attend people like you who serve me after abandoning the world, whose inner expanse is boundless, and the flood of material things. For their sake I even leave Ramā, my beloved who forms my own left side.
Passage 54
संसारिणो विषयैकान्तलुब्धान् न मां परं भजतो नो भजामि। कामानुरूपां गतिमेषां ददामि कुर्वे सुरानासुरीष्वेव भूषु॥५४॥
“I do not attend worldlings who are wholly greedy for sense objects and do not worship me as the Supreme. I give them a destiny matching their desire and make them gods only upon demonic planes of birth.
Passage 55
नान्यानहं सेवमानान्भजामि जनान्प्रसिद्धोभयधर्महीनान्। प्रपद्यन्ते ये यथा मां मनुष्याः प्रपद्येऽहं तांस्तथा भावयुक्तः॥५५॥
“I do not attend other people who serve me while lacking both recognized forms of dharma. In whatever manner human beings approach me, in that same manner, filled with the corresponding disposition, I approach them.
Passage 56
न वस्तुतोऽहं भजतो भजामि कुतश्चैवाभजतो भूमिजन्तून्। आत्मारामः सन्निजैकान्तकेलि- र्लोकातीतः क्रीडमानश्च नित्यम्॥५६॥
“In ultimate truth, I do not attend even those earth-born beings who worship me; how then could I attend those who do not? Rejoicing in the Self, absorbed in my own exclusive play, I transcend the world and sport eternally.
Passage 57
भजाम्यहं क्वापि भजतोऽपि जन्तून् कृपावशस्तत्कृतमीक्ष्यमाणः। स्नेहातुरान्दैवदृष्ट्यावरार्थान् तथातुरान्मानहीनानशक्तान्॥५७॥
“Yet at times I do attend creatures who worship me. Moved by compassion, I look upon what they have done: those afflicted by love, reduced by the eye of fate, distressed, without honor, and powerless.
Passage 58
यत्सङ्गता मद्वपुषोंऽशवः प्रियाः यथेयं श्रीर्भाति वामाङ्गसंस्था। इतोऽपि सख्योऽभ्यधिका रासकाले यदेवमन्तर्मयि मानसं वः॥५८॥
“Beloved friends, joined with me you are portions of my own body, just as this Śrī shines established upon my left side. At the time of rāsa you are more precious even than this, because your minds abide inwardly in me.
Passage 59
मदङ्गसङ्गोपचिता शिखावद्यूयं प्राणेभ्योऽपि मे प्रेयसीः स्थः। न पारयेऽहं भवतीप्रेमबन्धं निष्कारणं मित्रभावं जुषाणाः॥५९॥
“Nourished through contact with my limbs like flames, you are dearer to me even than life. I cannot repay the bond of your love, for you cherish a causeless disposition of friendship.
Passage 60
भवतीनां वै विप्रलम्भानुभूत्यै तिरोहितो भवतीस्थो मयात्मा। आविर्भावं प्रापितस्तत्क्षणेन मा मा हिंसीज्जातवेदाः स्मरोत्थः॥६०॥
“To let you experience separation, my own self, though dwelling within you, became hidden. It was made manifest again in that very instant. May the fire born of Love never, never harm you.
Passage 61
तन्मेऽसूया नैव कार्या कदाचित् प्रेम्णौदार्यं वीक्ष्यमाणाय शश्वत्। लोके प्रेम्णः पदवीं शिक्षयाणः किं किं चित्रं नैव कुर्वे रमण्यः॥६१॥
“Therefore you must never resent me as I continually behold love’s generosity. Beautiful women, while teaching the path of love in the world, what marvel would I not perform?
Passage 62
लीलावैचित्र्यात्सहजानन्दरूपा- प्यन्तर्द्धानं यावदेषा जगाम। नैवामुष्यां मद्वियोगः कदाचिद् दृष्टो भूतः स्वप्नभावे सुषुप्तौ॥६२॥
“For the sake of variety in play, even this embodiment of Sahajānanda went into concealment for a time. Yet separation from me has never occurred in her, not in waking life, dream, or deep sleep.
Passage 63
सम्पूर्णाः शरदो भजमानाः प्रियं मां धन्या धन्या धन्यधन्याश्च धन्याः। प्राप्तं मनागीदृशं प्रेम दिव्यं युष्मास्वेवं प्रियमेकान्तवत्यः॥६३॥
“You who have served your beloved me through complete autumn seasons are blessed, blessed, blessed upon blessed, and blessed again. In you alone, single-minded beloveds, even a little divine love of this kind has appeared.
Passage 64
संसेवनीयः किमुतान्यैर्मयापि पुण्यस्तीर्थो भवतीपादरेणुः। स्त्रियो भूत्वा पौरुषं दिव्यमेवं यूयं प्राप्ताः शङ्कराद्यैरलभ्यम्॥६४॥
“The sacred pilgrimage-place formed by the dust of your feet deserves the service not only of others but even of me. Though women, you have attained a divine spiritual potency of this kind that is unobtainable even by Śaṅkara and the other gods.
Passage 65
प्रेम्णामलेनान्तरात्मप्रसादात् प्रीतः क्रीतो भवतीभिः सदाहम्। अविप्रयुक्तः सततं चैव रंस्ये वश्यां वृत्तिं दर्शयानः समग्राम्॥६५॥
“Through the inner heart’s grace born of stainless love, I am forever pleased with you and purchased by you. Never separated, I shall always sport with you, displaying complete submission.
Passage 66
नित्ये धाम्नि दिव्यसाकेतसंज्ञे सरयूपुलिने परे नित्यरम्ये। सीतालोके भूरि प्रमुदवने यत्र क्रीडेऽहं तत्र तत्र स्थ यूयम्॥६६॥
“In the eternal realm called divine Sāketa, upon the transcendent and eternally lovely bank of the Sarayū, in Sītāloka and the abundant Pramoda Forest—wherever I play, there you dwell.
Passage 67
यूयं नित्याः कीर्तिता वेदमूर्ध्नि नित्यानन्दा नित्यगा नित्यसिद्धाः। लोकोऽयं वो नित्यसच्चित्सुखात्मा किञ्चिज्ज्ञात्वा कामितो ब्रह्मविद्भिः॥६७॥
“You are eternal, celebrated at the summit of the Veda, eternally blissful, eternally present, and eternally perfected. This realm of yours is eternal being, consciousness, and bliss; knowing even a little of it, knowers of Brahman yearn for it.
Passage 68
तेऽमी स्थिताः पुरतोऽग्नेः कुमाराः ब्रह्म विन्दन्तः षष्टिसाहस्रसङ्ख्याः। तद्वत्स्थिताः श्रुतयोऽमूः पुरो वो ब्रह्म विन्दन्तीः सततं कामयानाः॥६८॥
“Those sixty thousand Kumāras stand before Agni, seeking Brahman. In the same way, the revealed scriptures stand before you, eternally desiring to attain Brahman.
Passage 69
अन्ये च सिद्धा ऋषयो ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः ब्रह्मर्षयो वन्दिता नारदाद्यैः। नेमे लोकं प्राप्तुमर्हन्ति सख्यो यद्यप्येते कामतत्त्वेन विद्धाः॥६९॥
“There are also perfected sages established in Brahman and Brahmarṣis honored by Nārada and others. Friends, even though pierced by the principle of divine desire, they are not qualified to attain this realm.
Passage 70
सर्वस्योर्ध्वं भाति वैकुण्ठधाम ऊर्ध्वं वैकुण्ठाद्यादिवैकुण्ठधाम। राधालोकं तस्य चोर्ध्वं विभाति सीतालोकस्तस्य चाप्यूर्ध्व एषः॥७०॥
“Above everything shines Vaikuṇṭha-dhāma. Above Vaikuṇṭha is Ādi Vaikuṇṭha-dhāma. Above that shines Rādhāloka, and above it is this Sītāloka.
Passage 71
नातः परं लोकसंस्थागमेषु दृष्ट्वा क्वचित्सरहस्येषु तेषु। चिल्लोकोऽयं मामकीनो मदात्मा पूर्णः सदा पूर्णपूर्णः सुपूर्णः॥७१॥
“No realm beyond this has been seen anywhere in the secret teachings of the Āgamas. This realm of consciousness is mine and is my own self: always full, full beyond fullness, perfectly full.
Passage 72
आनन्दात्मा स्वे महिम्नि प्रतिष्ठः सत्याकारः सत्यधर्मा सुसत्यः। चिद्रूपोऽयं चित्प्रतिष्ठाप्रतिष्ठः कालातीतो मायया चाप्यधृष्यः॥७२॥
“Its essence is bliss, established in its own majesty. Its form is truth, its dharma truth, and it is truth itself. This realm is consciousness, both the ground and ungrounded ground of consciousness, beyond time and unassailable even by māyā.
Passage 73
यस्माज्जातः पूरुषः कोऽपि कालः श्रीमान्विष्णुर्लोकलोकेशनाथः। जिष्णुर्विष्णुः कृष्ण इत्याद्यनेकै- र्नाम्नां वृन्दैः कीर्तितः सोऽपि चांशः॥७३॥
“From this realm arose a certain cosmic Puruṣa, Time itself, the glorious Viṣṇu and Lord of all worlds and their rulers. Praised by hosts of names such as Jiṣṇu, Viṣṇu, and Kṛṣṇa, even he is only a portion.
Passage 74
यल्लोकोऽसौ कीर्तितो रामलोकः सीतालोकस्तत्र चानन्दलोकः। ईदृक्प्रेम्णा तमिमं प्राप्य यूयं जाताः सख्यः कृतकृत्याः पुरैव॥७४॥
“That realm is proclaimed as Rāmaloka; there it is Sītāloka and Ānandaloka. Through love of this kind you attained it, friends, and became completely fulfilled long ago.
Passage 75
न यत्र दुःखं न जरा न मृत्यु- र्न कालबाधा प्रकृतेर्न प्रभावः। नित्ये सत्ये तत्र यूयं रमध्वं रसेन संयुग्विप्रयोगात्मकेन॥७५॥
“There is neither sorrow, old age, nor death, neither affliction by time nor the influence of material nature. In that eternal reality, delight in the rasa whose nature is both union and separation.
Passage 76
संयोगाद्विप्रयोगो मे प्रियो नित्याभिभाषितः। रामात्मनाहं संयोगी रामात्मा विप्रयोगवान्॥७६॥
“Separation is dearer to me than union; this has eternally been declared. As the self of Rāma I possess union, and as Rāma’s own self I possess separation.
Passage 77
संयोगरसभोगाय रामोऽहं वै वसे वने। विप्रयोगानुभूत्यै तु रामः साकेतपत्तने॥७७॥
“As Rāma I dwell in the forest to enjoy the rasa of union, while Rāma dwells in the city of Sāketa to experience separation.
Passage 78
रसनामा तु रामोऽहं रासोऽहं रासनायकः। उभयोर्नित्यभोगाय प्रमोदवनमास्थितः॥७८॥
“I am Rāma whose very name is rasa; I am rāsa and the leader of rāsa. Established in Pramoda Forest, I eternally enjoy both union and separation.
Passage 79
गावो गोपास्तथा गोप्यो नित्यलीलापरिच्छदाः। राजन्ति स्वस्वभावेन प्रमोदविपिने मम॥७९॥
“The cows, cowherds, and cowherd women are the retinue of my eternal play. They shine in their own respective natures within my Pramoda Forest.” --- Thus ends the thirty-fourth chapter, “Rāma’s Rāsa,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The chapter begins on source leaf 282, occupies leaves 282–289, and ends with passage 79 and its complete colophon on physical PDF page 290. All seventy-nine passage numbers are sequential in the edition. The scan controls रासः and रासो against the auxiliary transcription’s रामः and रामो in passages 1 and 7, विनिर्धूतविरहा against भावनिर्द्धूतविरहा in passage 37, सरयूपुलिने against सरयपुलिने in passage 66, and रासोऽहं against रामोऽहं in passage 78. The bracketed editorial completion in the second line of passage 70 is incorporated as वैकुण्ठाद्यादिवैकुण्ठधाम so the edition’s intended hierarchy remains explicit. Difficult primary readings, including मञ्जुलस्थे (19), अश्मश्रु (15), असुरीष्वेव भूषु (54), and शिखावद्यूयं (59), are retained rather than silently replaced by readings from the edition’s apparatus. Sanskrit compounds and sandhi are otherwise normalized only where word division introduces no textual choice.