Passage 1
इति सान्त्वनवाचाभिः सुन्दर्यः कृतसान्त्वनाः। न ययुर्विरहस्यान्तं तरण्य इव वारिधेः॥१॥
Though the beautiful women were thus consoled with soothing words, they no more reached the end of their separation than boats reach the end of the sea.
Passage 2
प्रवदन्त्यो दुःखस्राणि कथं कथमपि स्त्रियः। संस्तभ्य धैर्यं लज्जाभ्यां प्रोचुः सप्रणयं वचः॥२॥
Speaking out streams of sorrow, the women somehow steadied themselves through courage and modesty and spoke these words filled with love. The cowherd women said:
Passage 3
सिता संभक्षिता येन लोलुपेन सुजन्मना। तं सितानां कथामात्रात् कस्तर्पयितुमर्हति॥३॥
“What greedy, well-born person who has actually eaten sugar could be satisfied by nothing more than stories about sugar?
Passage 4
अमृतं येन निःपीतं भुक्त्वा देवत्वमात्मनः। तस्यामृतकथामात्रात् कः खल्वर्हति तर्पणम्॥४॥
“One who has drunk nectar to the last drop and thereby tasted divinity itself—how could such a person possibly be satisfied by a mere account of nectar?
Passage 5
तादृशो दयितोऽस्माभिर्भुक्तः कन्दर्पकेलिषु। तस्य विश्लेषयोगोऽयं किं भविष्यति जीवनम्॥५॥
“We have directly tasted such a beloved in the play of love. Now that union has become separation from him—what life can remain for us?
Passage 6
ब्रह्मानन्दरसोऽस्माकं हरते नैव मानसम्। प्रेमानन्दरसाम्भोधौ मग्नानां प्रियसन्निधौ॥६॥
“The savor of Brahman’s bliss cannot captivate the minds of those who, in the beloved’s presence, have plunged into the ocean of love’s bliss.
Passage 7
पूर्णो रामः स्वयं ब्रह्म परमात्मा सनातनः। जानीमहे ध्रुवं किंतु निर्वृत्तिं नैति नो मनः॥७॥
“We know with certainty that Rāma is the perfect Brahman himself, the eternal Supreme Self; even so, our minds find no relief.
Passage 8
प्रमोदवनकुञ्जान्तर्माधुरीमण्डपस्थितः। आनन्दयति चेद्रामो मनो निर्वृतिमेष्यति॥८॥
“Only if Rāma stands within the pavilion of sweetness in Pramoda-vana’s bower and gives us joy will the mind attain repose.
Passage 9
एवं नो मोहयित्वासौ यातः साकेतपत्तने। कथं करिष्यते राज्यमन्यायार्थसमाकुलः॥९॥
“Having bewildered us in this way, he has gone to the city of Sāketa. How will one so entangled in an unjust purpose govern a kingdom?
Passage 10
अयमेव मतोऽन्यायस्त्यक्त्वा यदबला हि नः। सुखं शेते पितुर्गेहे नैतद्युक्तं महात्मनः॥१०॥
“This alone we count as injustice: he abandoned us helpless women and sleeps comfortably in his father’s house. Such conduct does not befit a great soul.
Passage 11
अशेषनीतिविषयः साम्राज्यपदभाजने। रामः सर्वगुणारामः कथमेवं करिष्यति॥११॥
“Rāma knows every principle of right conduct and is the abode of every virtue; when he takes up the imperial office, how could he behave in this way?
Passage 12
इत्युपालभ्य बहुशो रामं गोपालबालिकाः। तेषामातिथ्यमाचेरुर्यथासंपन्नभोजनैः॥१२॥
After repeatedly reproaching Rāma in this way, the cowherd maidens honored the princes as guests with whatever foods were available.
Passage 13
गोपदारैः कृतातिथ्याः श्रीरामप्रेमभाजनैः। राजपुत्रास्तत्क्षणेन तादृग्भावमुपाययुः॥१३॥
Received as guests by the cowherd women, those vessels of love for Śrī Rāma, the princes at once entered a devotion like theirs.
Passage 14
तासां चरणधूलीभिः शिरांसि लिलिपुश्च ते। उदश्रुनयना भूत्वा ररञ्जुस्ते कुमारकाः॥१४॥
They anointed their heads with the dust of the women’s feet. With eyes filled with tears, those princes shone in devotional beauty.
Passage 15
अहो धन्या अमी देव्यः संन्यासव्रतधारिकाः। सर्वं न्यस्य चिदानन्दे रामे कृताशयाः॥१५॥
“Ah, blessed are these divine women, observers of the vow of complete renunciation! Placing everything in Rāma, consciousness and bliss itself, they have fixed their whole hearts upon him.
Passage 16
अहो आसां शुभं जन्म कालपाशविनिर्गतम्। अजरामरसाम्राज्ये स्नेहैर्निर्जितराघवम्॥१६॥
“Ah, auspicious is their birth, escaped from the noose of Time! In the deathless, undecaying kingdom of love, they have conquered Rāghava through affection.
Passage 17
राघवः श्रीहरिः साक्षाद्रामदेवः सनातनः। तस्य प्रियतमा एतास्तेन प्रतिनिधीकृताः॥१७॥
“Rāghava is directly Śrī Hari, the eternal Lord Rāma. These women are his most beloved, appointed by him as his own representatives.
Passage 18
मुक्तिसाम्राज्यश्रीदाता सत्पथां प्रभुरात्मना। तथैवैताः स्वयं गोप्यो मुक्तिसाम्राज्यदायिकाः॥१८॥
“The Lord himself bestows the splendor of liberation’s empire upon those who follow the true path; in just the same way, these cowherd women themselves bestow the empire of liberation.
Passage 19
भक्तानां भक्तिवर्धन्यः स्वर्धुनीसलिलैः समैः। यशोभिर्भूषिता गोप्यः कथं सामान्यतामियुः॥१९॥
“The cowherd women are adorned with glories that increase the devotees’ devotion and equal the waters of the heavenly Gaṅgā. How could they ever be regarded as ordinary?
Passage 20
इत्येवं ता अभिष्टूय कृत्वा भूयोऽभिवादनम्। चरणाम्बुरजो मूर्ध्नि धृत्वा तेजोभरोर्जिताः॥२०॥
Praising them in this way, the princes bowed again, placed the dust of their lotus feet upon their heads, and became resplendent with spiritual radiance.
Passage 21
रामस्नेहप्रमत्तान्तःकरणा मुक्तबन्धनाः। गोपीदासा वैष्णवाग्र्याः ज्ञाततत्त्वाः सुपेशलाः॥२१॥
Their hearts intoxicated by love for Rāma and their bonds released, those servants of the cowherd women became foremost Vaiṣṇavas—knowers of truth, gentle and refined.
Passage 22
गोपीगोरूपदेशेभ्यो वर्धिष्णुप्रेमसंपदः। आययू रामसविधे कृतार्थास्ते कुमारकाः॥२२॥
Their wealth of love increased through the land of the cowherd women and cows; fulfilled in purpose, the princes returned to Rāma’s presence.
Passage 23
तान् दृष्ट्वा रघुशार्दूलपादानतशिरोधरान्। स्वागतोक्त्याग्रहीद्रामः करुणापूर्णलोचनः॥२३॥
Seeing them with heads bowed at the feet of the tiger among the Raghus, Rāma, his eyes full of compassion, received them with words of welcome.
Passage 24
निनायैकान्तविषये प्रियाणां हरिणीदृशाम्। पर्यपृच्छत्ततोऽवस्थां सदा तद्भावमानसः॥२४॥
He led them to a secluded place and questioned them about the condition of his beloved doe-eyed women, for his mind was always absorbed in their love. The Blessed Lord said:
Passage 25
कच्चित् सुखं व्रजभुवि कच्चित् स सुखितः सुखी। कच्चिन्माता च माङ्गल्या धन्यास्ते सुखसंपदा॥२५॥
“Is all well in the land of Vraja? Is Sukhita happy? Is Mother Māṅgalyā well, blessed with her wealth of happiness?
Passage 26
कच्चिन्नन्दनराजिन्योः सहजायाश्च संततम्। कच्चिन्मे धेनवो हृद्याः साक्षात्कामदुघाश्च ताः॥२६॥
“Is all continually well with Nandanā, Rājinī, and Sahajā? Are my dear cows well—those cows who are wish-fulfilling cows made manifest?
Passage 27
तृणोदकादिसौख्येन निर्वृताः सुखमासते। कच्चित् सा सरयूः शान्ता वनं कच्चिन्निरामयम्॥२७॥
“Content with the comfort of grass, water, and the rest, do they live happily? Is the Sarayū peaceful, and is the forest free from affliction?
Passage 28
कच्चित् कुशलिनो गोप्यो गावश्च सुखमासते। आभीरकन्यका मह्यं त्यक्तलौकिकवैदिकाः॥२८॥
“Are the cowherd women well, and are the cows living happily? And what of the cowherd maidens who for my sake abandoned both worldly and Vedic convention?” The princes said:
Passage 29
सुखमास्ते व्रजभुवो यद्राजा सुखितः सुखी। माङ्गल्या सुखिनी धन्या कोटिशो गोधनेश्वरी॥२९॥
“All is well in the land of Vraja. Its king Sukhita is happy, and blessed Māṅgalyā prospers as mistress of countless herds of cattle.
Passage 30
यस्या त्वमेव तनयस्त्रैलोक्यप्रीतिवर्धनः। सुखं नन्दनराजिन्योः सहजायाश्च नित्यशः॥३०॥
“How could she not prosper when you, who increase the joy of all three worlds, are her own son? Nandanā, Rājinī, and Sahajā are perpetually well.
Passage 31
यासां त्वमेव सर्वस्वं पूर्णब्रह्म स्वरूपतः। सुखिनो लोकाः कामदुघाः शान्तोदा सरयूः शुभा॥३१॥
“You, the perfect Brahman in your own nature, are their entire wealth. The people are happy, the cows fulfill every desire, and the auspicious Sarayū flows with peaceful waters.
Passage 32
निरामयं वनं सर्वं गोपाः कुशलिनस्तव। आभीरकन्यकावृत्तं राम मा पृच्छ केवलम्॥३२॥
“The whole forest is free from affliction, and your cowherds are well. But Rāma, do not ask us only about the condition of the cowherd maidens.
Passage 33
अथ पृच्छसि चेद् वृत्तं तत्प्रतीकारमाचर। अत्यर्थं दर्शनीयं चेद् वर्णयेत् को नु मानुषः॥३३॥
“If you do ask of their condition, then act to remedy it. What mortal could adequately describe something so overwhelming to behold?
Passage 34
तां तामवस्थाविषये सर्वं जानासि राघव। पटान्तरेऽपि विश्लेषं सोढुं याभिर्न शक्यते॥३४॥
“Rāghava, you know every detail of each state endured by those who cannot bear separation from you even when only a cloth curtain stands between you.” --- Thus ends the sixty-ninth chapter, entitled “The Princes’ Return from Vraja,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The chapter begins on source leaf 430 below Chapter 68’s colophon, occupies leaves 430–433, and ends with its colophon on physical PDF page 434. All thirty-four numbered passages were transcribed directly from the 1975 scan; archive OCR was used only as a locating and typing aid. Passages 3–4 deliberately contrast direct tasting with second-hand narration: the printed सिता/सितानां in passage 3 supports the sugar image that passage 4 develops through nectar. The scan’s compressed or damaged readings in passages 12, 16, 21, 25, and 33 were resolved conservatively from grammar, meter, and the edition’s listed variants; no modern translation was used.