Passage 1
नित्यसिद्धा वद ब्रह्मन् ब्रूहि साधनसिद्धिगाः। ऋग्रूपा ऋषिरूपाश्च तासां मध्ये वयं च काः॥१॥
“Brahman, describe the eternally perfected ones and tell us of those who attained perfection through practice. Who are the Ṛg-form and sage-form women, and which among them are we?” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 2
प्रमोदविपिने नित्ये चिन्मये ब्रह्मासंज्ञिते। मद्रूपा नित्यसिद्धास्ता भवत्यः पश्यत प्रियाः॥२॥
“Dear ones, behold those eternally perfected women, forms of me within the eternal and conscious Pramoda Forest known as Brahman.”
Passage 3
इत्युक्त्वा स्वाङ्करश्मिभ्यः प्रादुर्भावितवान्प्रभुः। ताः षोडशसहस्राणि प्रादुरासुः समंततः॥३॥
Having said this, the Lord manifested them from the rays of his own lap. Sixteen thousand appeared on every side.
Passage 4
एतास्ता नित्यसिद्धा ये शशिमुख्यः सुलोचनाः। प्रियाः षोडशसाहस्रं नित्यलीलाधिदेवताः॥४॥
“These moon-faced, beautiful-eyed beloveds are those eternally perfected ones: sixteen thousand presiding divinities of the eternal play.
Passage 5
तासां मध्ये षोडशैव मुख्याः स्युर्वामलोचनाः। रामा श्यामा चन्द्रकला मञ्जुला ललिता लता॥५॥
“Among them, sixteen lovely-eyed women are foremost: Rāmā, Śyāmā, Candrakalā, Mañjulā, Lalitā, Latā,
Passage 6
लासिनी भामिनी भासा सुदीप्तिः सुरुचिः प्रभा। चञ्चला कनका काम्या कामिनीति निरूपिताः॥६॥
“Lāsinī, Bhāminī, Bhāsā, Sudīpti, Suruci, Prabhā, Cañcalā, Kanakā, Kāmyā, and Kāminī.
Passage 7
स्वस्वमण्डलमुख्याश्च रामाः सर्वासु नायिकाः। सहजानन्दिनी सैव श्रीसीता जानकीत्यपि॥७॥
“Each is foremost in her own circle, and the Rāmās are heroines among all. Sahajānandinī herself is also glorious Sītā, Jānakī.
Passage 8
एतस्या अंशरूपास्तु सर्वा एताः शुचिस्मिताः। भवतीनां प्रमोदाय प्रादुर्भाव्य प्रदर्शिताः॥८॥
“All these pure-smiling women are partial forms of her. I have manifested and shown them for your delight.
Passage 9
नित्या एताः प्रमुदविपिने मत्स्वरूपादभिन्नाः श्रीसाकेतश्रिय इह भवे वावतीर्णाश्च साक्षात्। आसां पादाम्बुरुहरजसः प्राप्त्यै ब्रह्ममुख्या गीर्वाणेन्द्राः पुलकवपुषः सर्वतः कामयन्ते॥९॥
“Eternal in Pramoda Forest and nondifferent from my own form, they are the splendors of glorious Sāketa who have directly descended into this birth. Brahmā and the other lords of the gods, their bodies thrilled with rapture, long on every side to attain the dust of their lotus feet.
Passage 10
भवतीनाममर्षः स्यात्तदर्थं तु तिरोहिताः। मयि नित्यं सन्निहिताः संततानन्दहेतवः॥१०॥
“Lest resentment arise among you, they remained hidden. They are eternally present within me as causes of unbroken bliss.
Passage 11
मद्देवताः परिज्ञायेदानीं संस्तूयत प्रियाः। इत्युक्ताः प्रभुणा तास्तु स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमुः॥११॥
“Dear ones, recognize them as my divinities and now praise them.” Addressed thus by the Lord, the gopīs began their praise. The gopīs said:
Passage 12
नमो वो नित्यसिद्धाभ्यः प्रियाभ्यो राघवेशितुः। स्वरूपानन्दरूपाभ्यो युवतीभ्यः समंततः॥१२॥
“Homage on every side to you eternally perfected young women, beloveds of Lord Rāghava, whose forms are the bliss of your own true nature.
Passage 13
यत्सौन्दर्यं क्वापि लोकेऽस्ति किञ्चित् तद्युष्माकं कान्तिसारस्य लेशः। नोचेदस्मिन्पञ्चभूतात्मकाङ्गे क्वोत्कर्षः स्याच्छोकभूमावभव्ये॥१३॥
“Whatever beauty exists anywhere in the world is a mere particle of the essence of your radiance. Otherwise, how could this body made of five elements possess any excellence in an inauspicious land of sorrow?
Passage 14
अस्मास्वपि प्रभालेशो भवतीनां विजृम्भते। नोचेच्छ्रीराघवेन्द्रस्य भवेमहि कथं प्रियाः॥१४॥
“A particle of your splendor expands even within us. Otherwise, how could we have become beloveds of glorious Rāghavendra?
Passage 15
प्रमोदवनमेतद्धि भवतीनां निकेतनम्। प्रियेण नित्यसंबद्धाः खेलनं कुरुथ प्रियाः॥१५॥
“This Pramoda Forest is indeed your dwelling. Dear ones, eternally united with the Beloved, you enact your play.
Passage 16
यस्मै बिभर्थ कारुण्यं तस्मै भक्ताय साधवे। नित्यं विहरथ प्रीत्या नित्यलीलाप्रवेशनम्॥१६॥
“For whatever good devotee you bear compassion, you lovingly grant entry into the eternal play and forever sport with that person.
Passage 17
अतः परं सदास्मासु कृपालेशो विधीयताम्। येन युष्मत्संगमेत्य पत्या मोदामहेऽमुना॥१७॥
“From now on, please always bestow upon us a particle of grace, through which we may enter your company and rejoice with this Lord.
Passage 18
ब्रह्माद्या अपि देवेन्द्राः श्रीमच्चरणरेणुषु। लुठन्ति बहुधा स्नात्वा धन्यंमन्या दृढव्रताः॥१८॥
“Even Brahmā and the other lords of the gods roll in the dust of your glorious feet. Bathing in it again and again, those firm in their vows regard themselves as blessed.
Passage 19
भवतीनामहो भाग्यं वर्णयामः कथं वयम्। याभिर्वशीकृतो रामः पूर्णं ब्रह्म निजैर्गुणैः॥१९॥
“Ah! How could we describe your fortune? Through your own qualities you have brought Rāma, the complete Brahman, under the sway of love.
Passage 20
नमो नमोऽस्तु युष्मभ्यं ब्रह्मरूपाभ्य उत्तमाः। श्रीराघवेन्द्ररासाभ्यः प्रेयसीभ्यो नमोनमः॥२०॥
“Foremost ones, repeated homage to you forms of Brahman; repeated homage to the beloveds of glorious Rāghavendra’s rāsa.
Passage 21
अस्माकं भवतीष्वस्तु नाभ्यसूया कदाचन। यूयं खलु महिष्योऽस्य वयं दास्यः सदैव वः॥२१॥
“May we never bear jealousy toward you. You are truly his queens, while we are forever your maidservants.
Passage 22
करिष्यति प्रियो दृष्टिं भवतीनामनुग्रहात्। करुणार्द्रां यया शोकं तरिष्यामो वियोगजम्॥२२॥
“Through your favor, the Beloved will cast upon us a glance softened by compassion, through which we will cross the sorrow born of separation.
Passage 23
अस्मास्वन्तर्हितिस्तावन्नोचिता दासिकासु हि। भवतीनामाश्रयेण करिष्यामः प्रियं व्रजे॥२३॥
“His remaining hidden from us, who are maidservants, is not fitting. Taking refuge in you, we will please the Beloved in Vraja.
Passage 24
यूयं तावन्नित्यसिद्धाः सदानन्दनिकेतने। रमथ श्रीराघवेन्द्रे कोऽर्थो वः शिष्यतेतराम्॥२४॥
“You are eternally perfected within the abode of perpetual bliss and delight in glorious Rāghavendra. What aim at all remains for you?
Passage 25
एतावत्खलु कर्तव्यमस्मासु महिषीवराः। यत्सदा रामचन्द्रस्य कृपादृष्टिं लभामहे॥२५॥
“Foremost queens, only this much need be done for us: may we always obtain Rāmacandra’s gracious glance.
Passage 26
भवद्दर्शनजं क्षेमं भविष्यति न चान्यथा। नित्यपार्थकतां याति सज्जनानां समागमः॥२६॥
“The good born of seeing you will come to pass and not otherwise. The meeting of good people reaches an enduring distinct purpose.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 27
एताश्चिल्लोकस्वामिन्यः सेवनीयाः प्रयत्नतः। यदि वाञ्छेत्समं प्रेमपरमानन्दमन्दिरम्॥२७॥
“These mistresses of the realm of consciousness should be served with care by anyone who desires the abode of perfect love and supreme bliss.
Passage 28
एतासां हि प्रसादेन विधिकेशवशङ्कराः। मद्भक्तिपात्रतां याता विपुलक्षेमराशयः॥२८॥
“By their grace, Brahmā, Keśava, and Śaṅkara became fit vessels for devotion to me and amassed vast stores of blessedness.
Passage 29
लक्षवर्षसहस्राणि एभिस्तप्तं तपः पुरा। आसां सत्पदराज्ञीनां पादरेणूपलब्धये॥२९॥
“Formerly they practiced austerity for hundreds of thousands of years in order to obtain the foot-dust of these queens of the true realm.
Passage 30
तथापि नैव तैः प्राप्तास्तासां चरणरेणवः। ततो विशुद्धया भक्त्या प्रणताः शरणं ययुः॥३०॥
“Even then they did not obtain the dust of those women’s feet. Thereafter, bowing with utterly pure devotion, they took refuge.
Passage 31
न स्त्रियः सन्ति खल्वेताः ब्रह्मरूपाः सनातनाः। ब्रह्मा शिवश्च शेषश्च श्रीश्च ताभिः समा नहि॥३१॥
“These are not merely women; they are eternal forms of Brahman. Brahmā, Śiva, Śeṣa, and Śrī are not their equals.
Passage 32
प्राकृते प्रलये प्राप्ते व्यक्तेऽव्यक्तं गते पुरा। शिष्टे ब्रह्मणि चिन्मात्रे कालमायातिगेऽक्षरे॥३२॥
“Long ago, when material dissolution arrived and the manifest entered the unmanifest, only Brahman remained—pure consciousness, imperishable and beyond time and māyā.
Passage 33
ब्रह्मानन्दमयो लोको व्यापिवैकुण्ठसंज्ञकः। निर्गुणोऽनाद्यनन्तश्च वर्तते केवलेऽक्षरे॥३३॥
“A realm made of the bliss of Brahman, all-pervading and called Vaikuṇṭha, abides within the absolute Imperishable, beyond the guṇas, beginningless and endless.
Passage 34
अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं वेदानां स्थानमुत्तमम्। तल्लोकवासी तत्रस्थैः स्तुतोऽहं वेदराशिभिः॥३४॥
“The imperishable supreme Brahman is the highest station of the Vedas. Dwelling in that realm, I was praised there by the hosts of Vedas.
Passage 35
चिरं स्तुत्या ततस्तुष्टः परोक्षं प्राह तान्गिरम्। तुष्टोऽस्मि ब्रूत भोः प्राज्ञा वरं यन्मनसि स्थितम्॥३५॥
“Pleased after their long praise, I spoke unseen to them: ‘Wise ones, I am pleased. Tell me the boon established in your minds.’ The Śrutis said:
Passage 36
नारायणादिरूपाणि ज्ञातान्यस्माभिरच्युत। सगुणं ब्रह्म सर्वेश वस्तुबुद्धिर्न तेषु नः॥३६॥
“Infallible Lord of all, we know the forms beginning with Nārāyaṇa as Brahman with qualities, yet we do not regard ultimate reality as exhausted by them.
Passage 37
ब्रह्मेति पठ्यतेऽस्माभिर्यद्रूपं निर्गुणं परम्। वाङ्मनोगोचरातीतं ततो न ज्ञायते तु तत्॥३७॥
“We recite of a supreme form called Brahman beyond the guṇas, but because it lies beyond the reach of speech and mind, it is not known to us.
Passage 38
आनन्दमात्रमितियद्वदन्तीह पुराविदः। तद्रूपं दर्शयास्माकं यदि देयो वरो हि नः॥३८॥
“Knowers of ancient truth say it is bliss alone. If you will grant us a boon, show us that form.”
Passage 39
श्रुत्वाहं दर्शयामास स्वलोकं प्रकृतेः परम्। केवलानुभवानन्दमात्रमक्षरमध्यगम्॥३९॥
“Hearing this, I showed them my realm beyond material nature, established within the Imperishable and made solely of the bliss of pure experience:
Passage 40
यत्र प्रमोदवनं नाम वनं कामदुघैर्द्रुमैः। मनोहरनिकुञ्जाढ्यं सर्वत्र सुखसंयुतम्॥४०॥
“there is the forest named Pramoda, filled with wish-granting trees, rich in captivating bowers and joined with happiness everywhere;
Passage 41
यत्र रत्नगिरिर्नाम सुनिर्झरदरीयुतः। रत्नधातुमयः श्रीमान्द्विजालिगणसंकुलः॥४१॥
“there is the glorious mountain named Ratnagiri, made of jeweled minerals, furnished with lovely waterfalls and caves, and crowded with birds and bees;
Passage 42
यत्र निर्मलपानीया सरयूः सरितां वरा। रत्नबद्धोभयतटी हंसपक्ष्यादिसंकुला॥४२॥
“there is the Sarayū, best of rivers, whose water is pure, whose two banks are set with jewels, and which is filled with swans and other birds;
Passage 43
नानारासरसोन्मत्तं यत्र गोपीकदम्बकम्। तत्कदम्बकमध्यस्थः किशोराकृतिरित्यहम्॥४३॥
“there is a company of gopīs intoxicated by the flavors of many rāsa dances, and I stand amid that company in adolescent form.
Passage 44
दर्शयित्वेति च प्राह ब्रूत किं करवाणि वः। दृष्टो मदीयो लोकोऽयं ततो नास्ति परं वरम्॥४४॥
“Having shown them this, I said: ‘Tell me, what shall I do for you? You have seen this realm of mine; there is no boon higher than this.’ The Śrutis said:
Passage 45
कन्दर्पकोटिलावण्ये त्वयि दृष्टे मनांसि नः। कामिनीभावमासाद्य स्मरक्षुब्धान्यसंशयम्॥४५॥
“Seeing you, whose beauty equals millions of Loves, our minds have assumed a woman’s loving disposition and have unquestionably been stirred by desire.
Passage 46
यथा त्वल्लोकवासिन्यः कामतत्त्वेन गोपिकाः। भजन्ति रमणं मत्वा चिकीर्षाजनि नस्तथा॥४६॥
“Just as the gopīs dwelling in your realm worship you through the truth of love, regarding you as their lover, so the wish to do likewise has arisen in us.” The Blessed Lord said:
Passage 47
दुर्लभो दुर्घटश्चैव युष्माकं सुमनोरथः। मयानुमोदितं सम्यक्सत्यो भवितुमर्हति॥४७॥
“This beautiful wish of yours is difficult to attain and nearly impossible, yet, fully approved by me, it deserves to become true.
Passage 48
आगामिनि विरञ्चौ तु जाते सृष्ट्यर्थमुद्यते। कल्पं सारस्वतं प्राप्य व्रजे गोप्यो भविष्यथ॥४८॥
“When the next Brahmā is born and undertakes creation, upon the arrival of the Sārasvata cosmic age you will become gopīs in Vraja.
Passage 49
साकेते सारे क्षेत्रे अयोध्यामण्डले मम। प्रमुदने भविष्यामि प्रेयान्वो रासमण्डले॥४९॥
“Within my excellent field of Sāketa, in the sphere of Ayodhyā, I will be your beloved in Pramudana, within the circle of the rāsa dance.
Passage 50
जारधर्मेण सुस्नेहं सुदृढं सर्वतोऽधिकम्। मयि संप्राप्य सर्वस्वं कृतकृत्या भविष्यथ॥५०॥
“Through the mode of paramour love, you will attain toward me an exceedingly firm affection surpassing all else; surrendering everything, you will have fulfilled all that must be done.
Passage 51
श्रुत्वैतच्चिन्तयन्त्यस्ता रूपं मम मनोहरम्। उक्तं कालं समासाद्य गोप्यो भूत्वाद्य मां गताः॥५१॥
“Hearing this, the Śrutis contemplated my captivating form. When the appointed time arrived, they became gopīs and have now attained me.
Passage 52
इत्येवं श्रुतिरूपाणां माहात्म्यं कथितं मया। इदानीं मुनिरूपाणां माहात्म्यं शृणुत प्रियाः॥५२॥
“Thus I have told the greatness of those whose forms are the Śrutis. Dear ones, now hear the greatness of those whose forms are the sages.” --- Thus ends the fifty-fourth chapter, “The Great Secret of the Śrī Rāma-gītā within Rāma’s Journey,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The chapter begins near the foot of source leaf 371, occupies leaves 371–376, and ends with passage 52 and its complete colophon on physical PDF page 377. All fifty-two passage numbers are sequential in the edition. Every root line was transcribed directly from the 1975 scan; archive OCR was used only to locate and type candidate readings. The apparatus at the chapter opening explicitly says that chapter-numbering confusion begins in some witnesses at this point; the base text and colophon, however, both identify this unit as Chapter 54. Passage 9’s context and visible conjunct support प्राप्त्यै against the archive OCR’s प्राप्ये. Passage 26 retains the difficult printed नित्यपार्थकतां; the English gives the most secure contextual sense without silently substituting a smoother Sanskrit word. Passages 9 and 13 each contain four printed metrical lines under a single number, and all are preserved.