Passage 1
अतः परं तु युष्माकं पूर्वजन्म वदाम्यहम्। कृतं हुतं तपस्तप्तं तत्सर्वमवधार्यताम्॥१॥
“Now I shall tell you of your former birth. Attend to all that you did—the offerings you made and the austerity you practiced.
Passage 2
…… …… …… …… …… स्मरसुन्दरम्। विलोक्य मां विप्रमुखः स्नेहनिर्व्यूढमानसाः॥२॥
“Seeing me, beautiful as Love—the beginning of this passage is lost in the printed witness—your minds became deeply established in affection.
Passage 3
कृष्णावतारिणं कान्तं श्रीवृन्दावनगोचरम्। आबाल्यतो मां निरीक्ष्य बभूवुर्मद्वशीकृताः॥३॥
“From childhood you gazed upon me as lovely Kṛṣṇa, moving through glorious Vṛndāvana, and came wholly under my sway.
Passage 4
मन्मनस्का मदालापा मदात्मानो मदन्तराः। बभूवुर्विप्रयोगेन मोहिताः स्मरपीडिताः॥४॥
“Your minds rested in me, your speech was always of me, your very selves were mine, and I dwelt within you. In separation you became bewildered and afflicted by love.
Passage 5
ततो मत्प्राप्तये चक्रुः कात्यायन्यर्चनव्रतम्। हेमन्ते यमुनावारिष्वाप्लुत्य शुचिमानसाः॥५॥
“Then, to attain me, you undertook the vow of worshiping Kātyāyanī. During winter you bathed in the Yamunā’s waters with purified minds.
Passage 6
स्थाणुं संपूज्य तत्पार्श्वे देवीं च प्रत्यपूजयन्। नन्दनन्दनमेवैकं वाञ्छन्त्यः पतिमात्मनः॥६॥
“You worshiped Śiva and then the Goddess beside him, desiring Nanda’s son alone as your husband.
Passage 7
ततः प्रसन्ना सा देवी साक्षाद्भूताब्रवीद्वचः। एष देवः परं ब्रह्म पतित्वे वाञ्छितं हि वः॥७॥
“Pleased, the Goddess appeared before you and said, ‘This Lord whom you desire as husband is the Supreme Brahman.
Passage 8
ब्रह्मादीनामपि परं दुर्लभोऽयं मनोरथः। तेनैव पूरितुं योग्यो ब्रह्मणा नरमूर्तिना॥८॥
“‘Even for Brahmā and the other gods this supreme desire is difficult to attain. It can be fulfilled only by that Brahman in human form.’
Passage 9
ततोऽन्येद्युर्व्रतार्थाय जले तस्थुर्निमज्ज्य ताः। कृष्णो विवसना ज्ञात्वा शनैः पर्यहरत्पटान्॥९॥
“On another day, to perform the vow, you stood immersed in the water. Kṛṣṇa, knowing you had left your clothes aside, quietly carried the garments away.
Passage 10
नग्नास्ताः सूर्यजातोयात्समुत्थाय सुमध्यमाः। पाणिभ्यामपिधायाङ्गान्यूचुर्मां शशिलोचनाः॥१०॥
“You slender-waisted, moon-eyed women rose unclothed from the water born of the Sun and, covering your bodies with your hands, addressed me.
Passage 11
कृष्ण कृष्ण महाबाहो देहि वासांसि नः प्रभो। जलमध्येऽतिशीतार्ता वयं वेपामहेऽधुना॥११॥
“‘Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, mighty-armed Lord, give us our clothes. Tormented by the intense cold in the water, we are trembling now.’
Passage 12
ततो नमस्कारयित्वा कराभ्यां शिरसा सह। दत्तवानहमेतासां वसनानि मृगीदृशाम्॥१२॥
“After making those doe-eyed women bow with hands joined above their heads, I gave them their garments.
Passage 13
तासां ततो व्रतसमाप्तिचिकीर्षयाहं कृष्णावतारसमये वरमभ्यदां च। एताः क्षपाः प्रकृतिकालगुणाद्यतीता यूयं मया सह रमध्वमपेतकृत्याः॥१३॥
“Then, wishing to bring their vow to completion, I granted this boon during the Kṛṣṇa incarnation: ‘Freed from every remaining duty, you shall sport with me through nights beyond material nature, time, and the guṇas.’
Passage 14
ततः कृष्णावतारेऽहं तासां वाञ्छितपूर्तये। स्वं लोकमभ्यदां पूर्णं सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणम्॥१४॥
“Thus, in the Kṛṣṇa incarnation, to fulfill their desire I gave them my own complete realm, whose nature is being, consciousness, and bliss.
Passage 15
यत्र वृन्दावनं नाम वनं दिव्यमनुत्तमम्। यदेव पश्यथ प्रेष्ठाः प्रमोदवनमुत्तमम्॥१५॥
“There lies the unsurpassed divine forest called Vṛndāvana—the very place, dearest ones, that you behold here as supreme Pramoda Forest.
Passage 16
यत्रोत्तरङ्गसलिला यमुना सरितांवरा। येयं श्रीसरयूस्तत्र राजहंसनिषेविता॥१६॥
“There the Yamunā, best of rivers, flows with surging waters; she is this very glorious Sarayū, frequented by royal swans.
Passage 17
उच्चैः कटाहनिर्भेत्री कोटिब्रह्माण्डभेदिनी। हरिविष्णुब्रह्ममयी भक्तानां हितकारिणी॥१७॥
“She rises high, pierces the cosmic shell and penetrates millions of universes. She embodies Hari, Viṣṇu, and Brahmā and works for the welfare of devotees.
Passage 18
प्रेमपूर्णप्रवाहाढ्या भावरूपतरङ्गिणी। शृङ्गारसारसलिला रतिरङ्गतटद्वया॥१८॥
“Her current is full of love and her waves are formed of devotional feeling; her water is the essence of śṛṅgāra, and the two banks are the play of affection.
Passage 19
यत्र गोवर्धनो नाम गिरिः कोटिमणिप्रभः। योऽयं रत्नगिरिर्भाति भवतीनां पुरः प्रियाः॥१९॥
“There stands Mount Govardhana, radiant like ten million jewels. Dear ones, he is this very jeweled mountain shining before you.
Passage 20
यत्र श्रीमथुरा नाम नगरी रत्ननिर्मिता। येयं साकेतनगरी भासते भवनैः शुभैः॥२०॥
“There lies glorious Mathurā, a city fashioned of jewels; she is this very city of Sāketa, radiant with auspicious mansions.
Passage 21
यत्र नन्दव्रजः श्रीमान् गोपगोपीभिरन्वितः। सर्वर्तुसुखशोभाढ्यो देवानामपि कामितः॥२१॥
“There is Nanda’s splendid cowherd settlement, filled with cowherd men and women, beautiful with the pleasures of every season and desired even by the gods.
Passage 22
योऽयं सुखितराजस्य गोपवर्यस्य वै व्रजः। मत्क्रीडास्थानभूतत्वात्सर्वसौख्यविहारदः॥२२॥
“It is this very settlement of Sukhitarāja, foremost of cowherds. Because it is the place of my play, it grants pastimes filled with every happiness.
Passage 23
यत्र प्रियतमा गोप्यो मम लीलापरायणाः। मद्गुणानेव गायन्त्यो बाल्यात्कैशोरकावधि॥२३॥
“There my dearest gopīs are wholly devoted to my līlā, singing only of my qualities from childhood through adolescence.
Passage 24
ता यूयमेव सकला जानीतात्मानमङ्गनाः। यं ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यथ मत्समाः॥२४॥
“Women, all those gopīs are you yourselves. Know your own identity; knowing it, you who are like me will never again fall into such bewilderment.
Passage 25
अहं कृष्णश्च रामश्च वृन्दावनविहारवान्। प्रमोदवनसारङ्गोऽप्यशोकवनसारवित्॥२५॥
“I am both Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, the one who sports in Vṛndāvana—a bee in Pramoda Forest and a knower of the essence of Aśoka Forest.
Passage 26
यत्र मे रमणी राधा वृषभानुसुता स्वयम्। मत्स्वरूपैकनिरता सदा मद्रूपसङ्गिनी॥२६॥
“There my beloved Rādhā, Vṛṣabhānu’s own daughter, is wholly absorbed in my essential form and always united with my form.
Passage 27
भक्तिरूपा भावरूपा रतिरूपा रतिप्रिया। अनङ्गकेलिनो लास्यकारिणी मदसुप्रिया॥२७॥
“She is the form of devotion, feeling, and love, and she delights in love. She dances in Love’s play and is exceedingly dear to me.
Passage 28
सेयं श्रीः सहजानन्दा प्रेमालयपताकिका। नानया सदृशी लक्ष्मीर्न शेषो न विधिः शिवः॥२८॥
“She is Śrī, innate bliss, the banner above the abode of love. Neither Lakṣmī, Śeṣa, Brahmā, nor Śiva is equal to her.
Passage 29
अनया वाशिता लक्ष्मीर्मद्रूपैकत्वमुपागता। नानयां रहितां तां च कामये किमुतेतराम्॥२९॥
“Brought under her influence, Lakṣmī attained oneness with my form. I do not desire even Lakṣmī apart from her—how much less any other.
Passage 30
भवतीष्वियमाविश्य राधिका सहजात्मिका। भुङ्क्ते भोगान्मया सार्धं भवतीनां प्रसादकृत्॥३०॥
“Entering you, Rādhikā, whose nature is innate, enjoys delights together with me and thereby bestows grace upon you.
Passage 31
नानया रहिता यूयमंशिन्या स्वांशविग्रहाः। एकैव बहुरूपेण क्रीडति व्रजवीथिषु॥३१॥
“You are never separate from her, the source whose forms are her own portions. She alone assumes many forms and plays through the lanes of Vraja.
Passage 32
यूयं हि पूर्वजन्मसु ब्रह्माणो वासवाः शिवाः। आदित्या वसवो विश्वे भास्करा अनिलादयः॥३२॥
“In former births you were Brahmās, Indras, Śivas, Ādityas, Vasus, Viśvedevas, Suns, Winds, and other deities.
Passage 33
शुद्धभक्ता मामुपास्य मत्सान्निध्यमुपागताः। या या तु भावना यस्य तस्य तां तां बिभर्म्यहम्॥३३॥
“As pure devotees you worshiped me and entered my presence. Whatever devotional disposition each one has, that very disposition I sustain for that devotee.
Passage 34
कदाचिद्विधिराराद्धुं श्वेतद्वीपपतिं प्रभुम्। यातः क्षीरसमुद्रान्तं यत्र देवो हरिः स्वयम्॥३४॥
“Once Brahmā went to the shore of the Milk Ocean to worship the Lord of Śvetadvīpa, where Lord Hari himself abides.
Passage 35
तत्र याताः सुराः सर्वे लोकपालाः सवासवाः। आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा ये चान्येऽग्नियमादयः॥३५॥
“All the gods went there—the guardians of the worlds with Indra, the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and others such as Agni and Yama.
Passage 36
सर्वेषां प्रवरो ब्रह्मा स्तौति नित्यं प्रभुं च तम्। स्तोत्रैर्ऋग्यजुषैः सामाथर्वभिः सूक्तिभिस्तथा॥३६॥
“Brahmā, foremost among them all, continually praises that Lord with hymns from the Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva Vedas and with sacred invocations.
Passage 37
नमस्ते श्वेतद्वीपाधिपतये पूर्णब्रह्मस्वरूपाय परमात्मने सकलजगदानन्दनिदानसद्धर्ममूर्तये अक्षररूपाय कलाविलासनित्यदीक्षिताय प्रपन्नजनकल्पतरवे श्रीमतेऽनिरुद्धाय॥३७॥
“Homage to you, Lord of Śvetadvīpa: the form of complete Brahman, the Supreme Self, the source of joy for all worlds, the embodiment of true dharma, the imperishable form, eternally consecrated to the play of your powers, the wish-granting tree of those who take refuge, glorious Aniruddha.
Passage 38
योऽयं धर्मस्त्रयीवाग्निभृतनिगदितो ब्रह्मणः सा क्रियाख्या शक्तिस्ते तत्स्वरूपं भुवनसुखकरं नित्यमिष्टं च पूर्तम्। रक्षायै तस्य नित्यं त्वमिह विजयसे क्षीरसिन्धोस्तटान्ते श्वेतद्वीपे मनोज्ञे स्वयमथ भगवानादिनारायणाख्यः॥३८॥
“This dharma proclaimed by the Vedic word and the bearers of sacred fire is Brahmā’s power called action. Its very form is your power, bringing happiness to the worlds through perpetual sacrifice and public beneficence. To protect it, you abide victorious here at the Milk Ocean’s shore, in lovely Śvetadvīpa, yourself the Lord called primordial Nārāyaṇa.
Passage 39
तस्मै नमस्ते गरुडध्वजाय रमाकलत्राय सुरारिहन्त्रे। सशङ्खचक्राब्जगदाधराय निषङ्गिणे शार्ङ्गधनुर्धराय॥३९॥
“Homage to him whose banner bears Garuḍa, Lakṣmī’s husband and the destroyer of the gods’ foes; to him who holds conch, discus, lotus, and mace, who bears a quiver and the Śārṅga bow.
Passage 40
यो वासुदेवः सत्त्वमूर्जस्वलं यत्संकर्षणो यो भगवान्कालमूर्तिः। यः प्रद्युम्नो वेदवेदाङ्गरूपः स त्वं साक्षादनिरुद्धोऽसि धर्मः॥४०॥
“You are Vāsudeva, radiant strength of sattva; you are Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, the form of Time; you are Pradyumna, the form of the Vedas and their limbs; and you are Aniruddha himself, dharma embodied.
Passage 41
यदि त्वमनया मूर्त्या प्रकटो न भवेः प्रभो। तदा विप्लवमागच्छेद्धर्मसेतुः सनातनः॥४१॥
“Lord, if you did not manifest in this form, the eternal bridge of dharma would fall into ruin.
Passage 42
साधूनां रक्षणार्थाय धर्मस्य स्थापनाय च। दुष्टानां दमनाय त्वं प्रसिद्धो भगवान्स्वयम्॥४२॥
“You, the Lord himself, are manifest to protect the good, establish dharma, and subdue the wicked.
Passage 43
नित्यं कृपय देवेश भक्तेभ्यो नः सदा प्रभो। यथास्मान्कमलाकान्त त्वद्भक्तिरनपायिनी॥४३॥
“Lord of the gods, be ever gracious to us, your devotees. Beloved of Kamalā, may unfailing devotion to you always abide in us.
Passage 44
एवं ब्रह्मादयो देवाः स्तुवन्ति परमेश्वरम्। स्तुत्वा नत्वोपास्य नित्यमायान्ति स्वस्वविष्टपान्॥४४॥
In this way Brahmā and the other gods praise the Supreme Lord. Having praised, bowed to, and worshiped him, they regularly return to their respective realms.
Passage 45
कदाचिच्छ्रीमाननिरुद्धश्चतुर्भुजः। पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां बभूव प्रेमसंप्लुतः॥४५॥
Once, as all the gods watched, glorious four-armed Aniruddha became flooded with divine love.
Passage 46
अक्ष्णोरश्रुकलापूर्णः पुलकाङ्गः सुनिर्वृतः। स्तब्धः खिन्नः सकम्पश्च भावयुक्तः पदे पदे॥४६॥
His eyes filled with streams of tears, his body thrilled, and he entered deep bliss. Motionless, overcome, and trembling, he displayed devotional emotion at every moment.
Passage 47
तद्दृष्ट्वा रूपमीशस्य ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच सादरम्। अहो श्रीदेवदेवेश त्वं साक्षाद्भगवान्परः॥४७॥
Seeing that condition of the Lord, Brahmā reverently said, “Ah, glorious Lord of the gods, you are the Supreme Lord himself.
Passage 48
कस्यानुस्मरणात्पूर्णप्रेमयुक्तोऽद्य लक्ष्यसे। किं वा स्वात्मानन्दवृत्तो नित्यं प्रेममयाकृतिः॥४८॥
“By remembering whom do you now appear filled with perfect love? Or is this the movement of your own intrinsic bliss, your form being eternally made of love?
Passage 49
तथापि ध्येयतां याति तत्किंरूपं परं पदम्। कर्ताविता वा संहर्ता जगतोऽस्य त्वमेव हि॥४९॥
“Even so, what form is that supreme reality which becomes an object of your meditation? You alone are surely this world’s creator, guide, and destroyer.” Aniruddha said:
Passage 50
सर्वे भवन्तो गच्छन्तु प्रमोदवनमेव हि। तत्र दिव्ये रामकुण्डे स्नानं कुरुत देवताः॥५०॥
“All of you should go to Pramoda Forest. Gods, bathe there in the divine Rāma-kuṇḍa.
Passage 51
तदा श्रीरामलीलायाः साक्षात्कारो भविष्यति। तद्रूपं मे परं ध्येयं गेयं प्राप्यं च सर्वदा॥५१॥
“Then you will directly behold Śrī Rāma’s līlā. His form is forever my supreme object of meditation, song, and attainment.
Passage 52
तस्यानुस्मरणादेव प्रेमपूर्णोऽस्मि संप्रति। अश्रुबिन्दुपरीताक्षः पुलकाञ्चितविग्रहः॥५२॥
“Merely by remembering him I am now filled with love, my eyes surrounded by teardrops and my body covered in horripilation.”
Passage 53
श्रुत्वेदमनिरुद्धस्य वाक्यं प्रमोदवनं वै। ययौ ब्रह्मा सुरैः सार्धं स्वाधिकारानुवर्तिभिः॥५३॥
Hearing these words of Aniruddha, Brahmā went to Pramoda Forest with the gods who carried out their appointed cosmic offices.
Passage 54
स गत्वा रामकुण्डान्तर्निमज्ज्य विबुधैः सह। बभूव दिव्यस्त्रीवेशी देवाः स्त्रीरूपधारिणः॥५४॥
Arriving there, he submerged himself in Rāma-kuṇḍa together with the gods. Brahmā assumed the appearance of a divine woman, and the gods took female forms.
Passage 55
बभूवुस्तत्क्षणादेव रामकुण्डप्रभावतः। विसस्मरुश्च स्वात्मानं ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः॥५५॥
Through the power of Rāma-kuṇḍa they were transformed at that very moment, and Brahmā and the hosts of gods forgot their former identities.
Passage 56
क्वाहं कुतः समायातः किं करिष्यामि खल्वहम्। इति व्यामुग्धचित्तास्ते न मनोनिर्वृतिं ययुः॥५६॥
“Where am I? From where have I come? What indeed am I to do?” Their minds thus utterly bewildered, they found no peace.
Passage 57
तस्मिन्क्षणे रामकुण्डतीरभूमौ सुरेश्वराः। मृदङ्गध्वनिमाकर्ण्य बभूवुर्दिव्यदृष्टयः॥५७॥
At that moment, on the bank of Rāma-kuṇḍa, the divine lords heard the sound of a mṛdaṅga and gained divine sight.
Passage 58
स मृदङ्गो रामरासे गोपीहस्तप्रणोदितः। वादयति प्रसभं तुद्धुंकारध्वनिसुन्दरः॥५८॥
That mṛdaṅga, struck by a gopī’s hands in Rāma’s rāsa, sounded powerfully, beautiful with its resonant tuddhuṃ.
Passage 59
तदा श्रीमाधुरीकुञ्जाद्रामकुण्डं प्रगच्छती। तैर्दृष्टा दिव्यमाल्यानि बिभ्रती गोपिका करे॥५९॥
Then they saw a gopī coming from glorious Mādhurī Grove toward Rāma-kuṇḍa, carrying divine garlands in her hand.
Passage 60
सा पृष्टा तैः शशिमुखी रामकुञ्जानुयायिनी। का त्वं सखि क्व यासीति सा नोवाच जवाद्ययौ॥६०॥
They asked the moon-faced attendant of Rāma’s grove, “Friend, who are you, and where are you going?” She gave no answer and hurried onward.
Passage 61
तेऽपि तत्पृष्ठसंलग्ना ययुर्ब्रह्मादयः सुराः। सा च कुञ्जं विवेशाग्रे ते प्रतीहारवारिताः॥६१॥
Brahmā and the other gods followed closely behind her. She entered the grove ahead of them, but the gatekeeper stopped them.
Passage 62
शिवः पञ्चमुखः साक्षात्प्रतीहारोऽत्र संस्थितः। तान्विषण्णहृदो दृष्ट्वा शिक्षयन्नवदच्छिवः॥६२॥
Five-faced Śiva himself stood there as gatekeeper. Seeing their despondent hearts, Śiva instructed them and spoke.
Passage 63
रे नार्यः किं विषादेन तप्यध्वं परमं तपः। रामं विशुद्धया भक्त्या सेवध्वं यदि वाञ्छथ॥६३॥
“Women, what use is despondency? Practice the highest austerity. If you wish to enter, serve Rāma with pure devotion.
Passage 64
रामकुञ्जे प्रवेशाय भूरिभाग्याभिरन्विते। इत्युक्तास्ते तदा देवास्तपस्तेपुः सुदुश्चरम्॥६४॥
“That will admit you to Rāma’s grove, endowed with immeasurable fortune.” Thus instructed, the gods performed exceedingly difficult austerity.
Passage 65
स्नात्वा सरयूजले वै लक्षवर्षमजायत। तेन पुण्यप्रभावेण संजाताः सरयूकुले॥६५॥
They bathed in the Sarayū’s waters for what became a hundred thousand years. Through the power of that merit, they were born in families along the Sarayū.
Passage 66
नित्यं रामं प्रेमपरा जारधर्मेऽनुवर्तिताः। सोऽहं रामः स्वयं ब्रह्मावतीर्णोऽस्मि पुनर्व्रजे॥६६॥
Forever devoted to love of Rāma, they followed the path of paramour-love. I am that Rāma, Brahman himself, now descended once again in this cowherd settlement.
Passage 67
सुखितेश्वरगेहे तु प्रमोदवनमध्यगे। तं मामनुव्रता यूयमवतीर्णा इह प्रियाः॥६७॥
Beloved ones, faithful to me, you have descended here in Sukhiteśvara’s home at the center of Pramoda Forest.
Passage 68
ता एव व्रजसुन्दर्यो याः स्थिताः सरयूतटे॥६८॥
You are those very beauties of Vraja who dwelt on the bank of the Sarayū.” --- Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter of the great account of the 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 380, occupies leaves 380–385, and ends with its colophon on physical PDF page 386. Every surviving root line was transcribed directly from the 1975 scan; archive OCR was used only as a locating and typing aid. Passage 2 begins with a lacuna represented by a long run of dots in the edition. Its notes state that the missing material is absent from the Ayodhyā and Rewa witnesses and that a reading in the Mathurā witness was covered with yellow correction pigment. The surviving words are translated without supplying conjectural Sanskrit. Passage 68 is printed as a single pāda-like line and is retained as one numbered passage. Difficult transmitted forms, including विप्रमुखः in passage 2, मदसुप्रिया in passage 27, वाशिता in passage 29, and त्रयीवाग्निभृतनिगदितो in passage 38, are preserved rather than silently regularized. Passage 4 likewise retains the printed मन्मनस्का without supplying a final visarga.