Passage 1
अथ तत्रागमत् कापि रामनामप्रिया सखी। खेलन्ती पङ्कजं हस्ते बिभ्राणा श्रीरिवापरा॥१॥
Then a certain companion devoted to Rāma's name came there, playfully holding a lotus in her hand and appearing like another goddess Śrī.
Passage 2
चरणाम्भोजमञ्जीरनादेनातिपटीयसा। नादयन्ती दिशः सर्वाः कर्षन्ती राजहंसिकाः॥२॥
With the exquisite music of anklets upon her lotus feet, she filled every quarter with sound and drew the royal swans toward her.
Passage 3
मन्दमन्दमनोहारि पादन्यासं प्रकुर्वती। रञ्जयन्ती वने देहकान्त्यासौ विधुदक्षया॥३॥
Placing her feet in gentle, captivating steps, she delighted the forest with the moon-like radiance of her body.
Passage 4
अङ्गसौरभ्यलोभेन परितो विनिपातितः। लीलाकमलकम्पेन तर्जयन्ती शिलीमुखान्॥४॥
Bees fell all around her, overcome by longing for the fragrance of her limbs; she teasingly threatened them by shaking the lotus in her hand.
Passage 5
स्वाभाविकेन सौरभ्यसम्भारेणातिभूयसा। मन्दवायुपनीतेन सूचयन्ती समागमम्॥५॥
The gentle breeze carried her immense natural fragrance ahead of her, announcing her approach.
Passage 6
तनुवस्त्रसमुद्गच्छदच्छच्छविकदम्बकैः। दीपिकेव मनोजस्य हरन्ती तमसां ततीः॥६॥
Pure clusters of radiance streamed through her fine garment. Like a lamp belonging to Love, she dispelled every mass of darkness.
Passage 7
मुखचन्द्रचमत्कारिचञ्चद्रुचिररोचिषा। रमयन्ती चमत्कारं चकोरीलोचनव्रजे॥७॥
The lovely, dancing brilliance of her wondrous moon-face filled the flock of cakora-like eyes with astonished delight.
Passage 8
चुम्बन्तीवाचिराच्चित्तं प्रविशन्तीव चक्षुषोः। आलिङ्गन्तीव सर्वाङ्गं छादयन्तीव चाखिलम्॥८॥
She seemed at once to kiss the heart, enter through the eyes, embrace every limb, and envelop everything.
Passage 9
परिस्फुरन्तीव पुरः सृजन्तीवाद्भुतं जगत्। बोधयन्तीव भावौघं शोधयन्तीव मानसम्॥९॥
She appeared to flash before him and create a wondrous world, awakening a flood of feeling and purifying the mind.
Passage 10
क्रोधयन्तीव मदनं हेलयन्तीव हावकैः। उद्देलयन्तीवानन्दं मेलयन्तीव वाञ्छितम्॥१०॥
With her gestures she seemed to provoke the god of Love and then dismiss him, causing bliss to overflow and joining the heart to its desired object.
Passage 11
तां विलोक्य मुदं प्राप दूरात् कमललोचनः। कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मेने वाञ्छितवस्तुनि॥११॥
Seeing her from afar, lotus-eyed Rāma rejoiced and considered himself wholly fulfilled upon beholding what he desired.
Passage 12
तां विलोक्य पुरः प्रोद्यन्नवनीलमणिप्रभाम्। अपूर्वतरुसौन्दर्यशोभिताशेषकाननाम्॥१२॥
Before him he saw her rising with the radiance of a fresh blue jewel, while the beauty of extraordinary trees adorned the entire forest around her.
Passage 13
पुष्पपत्रभरानम्रतरुशाखावलम्बिनीम्। कान्तां षोडशवर्षीयां मदनस्येव वल्लभाम्॥१३॥
The beautiful sixteen-year-old leaned upon a tree branch bowed beneath its weight of flowers and leaves, appearing like Love's own beloved.
Passage 14
इन्दीवरदलोत्कर्षतनुमञ्जिममण्डिताम्। अन्तर्लग्नमनोजाधिविमनायितमानसाम्॥१४॥
Her delicate beauty surpassed blue-lotus petals. Her mind appeared withdrawn, absorbed inwardly in a heart-deep anguish of love.
Passage 15
जपन्तीं सहजानाम मुखचन्द्रे मुहुर्मुहुः। तेनैव शमयन्तीं च प्रदीप्तं विरहानलम्॥१५॥
Again and again she repeated Sahajā's name to the moon of her face, and by that alone sought to quiet the blazing fire of separation.
Passage 16
इयाय परमाश्चर्यं स्तम्भितेवाभवद्धृदि। आः केयममृतासारैः सिञ्चन्तीव विलोचने॥१६॥
Rāma entered supreme astonishment, his heart seemingly stunned: “Ah! Who is this maiden who bathes my eyes in streams of nectar?” Rāma marvels at her beauty
Passage 17
कर्पूररसधारेव शमयत्यक्षिणी नृणाम्। मनोरथानां सम्पत्तिमूर्तेयं विधिनिर्मिता॥१७॥
“Like a stream of liquid camphor, she cools the eyes of everyone. Brahmā has fashioned her as the embodied fulfillment of all desires.
Passage 18
नेदृशं भुवने रूपं क्वचिद् दृष्टं श्रुतं तथा। प्राणेश्वरीयं भविता व्रजस्यास्य न संशयः॥१८॥
“Beauty such as this has never been seen or even heard of anywhere in the world. Without doubt, she must become the sovereign of this Vraja's life.
Passage 19
लावण्यमन्यदेवास्या वृत्तिरन्यैव दृश्यते। उत्कीर्य रूपमाधुर्यात्केनेषा प्रकटीकृता॥१९॥
“Her loveliness is altogether different, and her bearing is unlike anyone else's. Who carved her from the very sweetness of beauty and made her manifest?
Passage 20
दृशो तिरयतो दृष्ट्या नीलपङ्केरुहश्रियम्। सामान्यब्रह्मणो नैषा रेखा सम्भाव्यते मम॥२०॥
“With a glance she eclipses the splendor of blue lotuses. I cannot imagine that ordinary Brahmā drew the lines of such a form.
Passage 21
अवतारोऽथवा कश्चिद्रूपसारस्य भूतले। न मानुषी न गान्धर्वी न दैवी नापि चासुरी॥२१॥
“Perhaps she is an incarnation upon earth of beauty's own essence. She is not human, Gandharva, divine, or demonic.
Passage 22
न नागकन्या धन्येषा नगकन्या न वा भवेत्। कस्य सौभाग्यभाग्येन विधिना प्रकटीकृता॥२२॥
“This blessed maiden is neither a Nāga princess nor a daughter of the mountains. Through whose extraordinary good fortune did destiny reveal her?
Passage 23
पश्यतां जगतामेषा चक्षुषां पुण्यधोरणी। कमालप्यशुभं वाक्यं मनस्यानन्दयिष्यति॥२३॥
“For all who behold her, she is a flood of merit entering through the eyes. Whatever words she speaks will delight the mind.
Passage 24
अङ्गमेव विभूषास्याः कान्तिसन्दोहभूषितम्। कुर्वतोऽपि विधेरेषा हस्तस्पर्शं जगाम न॥२४॥
“Her own body is her ornament, adorned by masses of radiance. Although Brahmā made her, it seems she never suffered even the touch of his hand.
Passage 25
प्रायो मलिनतां याति लोचनस्पर्शतोऽप्यसौ। प्राचीनसुकृतस्तो मे भून्मे लोचनातिथिः॥२५॥
“Indeed, she may be sullied even by the touch of my eyes. Only the accumulated merit of former lives has made her a guest of my sight.
Passage 26
रूपसारसुधौघस्य साक्षादेषा तरङ्गिणी। तारुण्यमपि लब्ध्वैनां हर्षोत्कर्षमुपैष्यति॥२६॥
“She is a river formed directly from the flood of nectar that is beauty's essence. Youth itself, upon gaining her, will attain the height of joy.
Passage 27
विधेः कार्मणकर्मैव जगतां मोहनीकृते। नर्माणि हावभावाश्च सर्वे प्रोल्लासमाययुः॥२७॥
“She is Brahmā's work of enchantment, made to captivate the worlds. In her, every playful word, gesture, and expression has reached full brilliance.
Passage 28
कवितां तिरयत्येषा कवीनामपि वाग्मिनाम्। साक्षात्प्रकटतां यातः पटिमाद्य च वेधसः॥२८॥
“She defeats even the poetry of eloquent poets; through her the creator's highest artistry has become directly manifest.
Passage 29
प्राणा वै पञ्चबाणस्य दृश्यन्ते मूर्तिकारिणः। मुकुरोल्लासिसर्वाङ्गी सौकुमार्यकलानिधिः॥२९॥
“The very life-forces of five-arrowed Love seem to have taken bodily form in her. Every limb shines like a mirror; she is a treasury of delicate grace.
Passage 30
इहैकस्थं सर्वमेव रूपवस्तु विलोक्यते। चूडामणिरयं साक्षात्सहजाया अपि स्फुटम्॥३०॥
“Every substance of beauty is visible here, gathered into one place. She is plainly the crest-jewel even among Sahajā's companions.
Passage 31
सहजापि किमेतस्या रूपस्य प्रतिरूपकम्। हरेस्तन्मोहिनीरूपं गर्वहीनं करोत्यसौ॥३१॥
“Could even Sahajā be a counterpart to this beauty? This maiden would humble the pride of Hari's own enchanting Mohinī form.
Passage 32
स्वप्नो वा दृश्यते कश्चिद्रूपसारैकगोचरः। नेयमेतादृशी तु स्यादियमेवेदृशी भवेत्॥३२॥
“Am I seeing a dream whose sole object is beauty's essence? No other could be as she is; only she herself can equal this form.
Passage 33
रूपसारमयीं भिक्षां ददात्यन्यमृगीदृशाम्। एषामालिङ्ग्य चावङ्गीमङ्गानि तु कृतार्थये॥३३॥
“She grants the other doe-eyed maidens their portions from the essence of beauty. If I embrace this lovely-limbed one, I shall fulfill every limb of my own body.
Passage 34
आलप्य चानया श्रोत्रे जनुःफलमुपेष्यतः। वञ्चितोऽयं नु भवितानुरूपवरहानितः॥३४॥
“If she speaks with me, my ears and my birth will attain their fruit. Could she have been wronged by being denied a bridegroom worthy of her?
Passage 35
अतीत्य शैशवकलां यौवनं भासते ह्यसौ। किं कृतं विधिनेतस्या नानुरूपो वरः कृतः॥३५॥
“She has passed beyond childhood and now shines in youth. What has destiny done, that no suitable bridegroom was created for her?
Passage 36
उज्जीवयत्यतनुमक्षितरङ्गितेन प्लुष्टं हरेण विहितप्रतिपक्षभावा। बिम्बाधराश्रयिसुधारससेचनेन दिव्यस्य कस्य शमयिष्यति चित्तदावम्॥३६॥
“By the play of her eyes she revives bodiless Love, whom Śiva burned and made his foe. By sprinkling nectar from her bimba-fruit lips, whose divine forest fire of the heart will she extinguish?
Passage 37
नूनं नवीनरचना जगतो विधातुर्नाद्यापि कुत्रचन सञ्जनितेत्यवेमि। एनां विधाय सुकृती विधिरद्य रूपनिर्माणगोचरमनःपटिमानमैच्छत्॥३७॥
“Surely she is a wholly new creation of the world's maker, never produced anywhere before. Having fashioned her today, fortunate Brahmā desired to measure his own skill in creating beauty.
Passage 38
अस्यास्त्विषा प्रमुदकाननमेतदुच्चैर्दीपितं शतसहस्ररवीन्दुभासा। देशोऽपि धन्यतम एष नितान्तमस्याः श्रीविग्रहाधिकरणत्वमपेत्य भाग्यैः॥३८॥
“Her brilliance has intensely illuminated Pramoda forest with the light of hundreds of thousands of suns and moons. This place is supremely blessed by the fortune of becoming the seat of her glorious form.
Passage 39
धन्ये दृशौ सुकृतसारमयं बभूव जन्मेतयोः सुखकरीमुपलभ्य बालाम्। एनां स्पृशत्यपि विलोचनतारकाभिश्चित्ते बिभेमि मलिनीकरणं हा प्रयात्॥३९॥
“Blessed are my eyes, and their birth has become the essence of accumulated merit, for they have found this joy-giving maiden. Yet I fear in my heart that even the pupils of my eyes may defile her by touching her.
Passage 40
धन्यं जनुः सफलमद्य बभूव लोके धन्यं कुलं च मम दर्शनभाग्यवत्याः। वेलातिगं सुखपयोनिधिमद्य जाने प्रेमोदधिप्रसरवेगभरेण शश्वत्॥४०॥
“My life has become blessed and fruitful today; blessed too is my lineage, for I was fortunate enough to see her. Through the surging force of this ocean of love, I now know an everlasting sea of joy beyond every shore.”
Passage 41
इत्यालपन्ती हृदयेन रामा वैकल्यमन्दैश्चरणक्रमैस्ताम्। कथञ्चनाङ्गानि विवोढुमीशा मुदां निधिं सन्निधिगां चकार॥४१॥
Speaking thus within her heart, Rāmā—moving slowly, her steps weakened by emotion—somehow managed to carry her limbs near that treasury of joy.
Passage 42
गत्वा तस्याः सन्निधौ तत्र रामा प्रेमोत्कण्ठाकुण्ठिताशेषबुद्धिः। नत्वा नत्वा लौकिकाकारवत्वादात्मानं च सन्ततं निर्भ्रमञ्छ॥४२॥
Reaching her presence, Rāmā's entire understanding was overwhelmed by loving longing. Because she appeared outwardly as an ordinary maiden, Rāmā bowed again and again while maintaining the disguise.
Passage 43
हर्षाश्रुगद्गदं कण्ठं संस्तभ्योदितधैर्यका। उवाच वचनं रामा प्रेमस्रोतःसमुज्ज्वलम्॥४३॥
Steadying a throat choked with tears of joy and summoning courage, Rāmā spoke words radiant with a stream of love. Rāma questions the maiden Rāmā said:
Passage 44
कासि त्वमत्र विजने विपिने चरन्ती सौन्दर्यसारसमुदायमयी मृगाक्षि। अङ्गानि तेऽभिनवनीलमणिप्रभौघ- न्यक्कारकाणि हृदयं मम मोहयन्ति॥४४॥
“Doe-eyed maiden, who are you, wandering here in this secluded forest, formed from the gathered essence of beauty? Your limbs put floods of fresh sapphire radiance to shame and enchant my heart.
Passage 45
त्वमङ्गकैर्मन्मथमङ्गलप्रदैरलङ्कुरोष्याभरणानि यानि। त्वदीयसौन्दर्यसुधापयोनिधौ मज्जत्यथोन्मज्जति मानसं मम॥४५॥
“With limbs that bestow auspiciousness even upon Love, you adorn the very ornaments you wear. My mind sinks and rises again in the nectarean ocean of your beauty.
Passage 46
त्वमस्य लोकस्य दृशां मृगेक्षणे पारेपरार्धादतिभाग्यसम्पदा। महीतलेऽस्मिन् प्रकटत्वमागता नो चेत्क्व लोकः क्व च ते नु दर्शनम्॥४६॥
“Doe-eyed maiden, the eyes of this world possess fortune beyond measure because you have appeared upon earth. Otherwise, what worth would the world have, and where could your vision be found?
Passage 47
भाग्येन मम सख्यास्त्वं सखीत्वं किमु यास्यसि। यद्यास्तवोचितं रूपं त्रैलोक्येऽपि विलोक्यते॥४७॥
“Will you, by my good fortune, become my friend? If anywhere in the three worlds a form suited to yours can be seen, it is among these companions.
Passage 48
नवनीलमेघविद्युद्घटनासंघटनापटीयसेव। विधिना त्वमकारि भाग्यवत्या मम सख्यः किल सख्ययोजनाय॥४८॥
“As lightning is expertly joined to a fresh blue cloud, destiny appears to have fashioned you precisely to join fortunate me in friendship.
Passage 49
मरकतमणेर्वर्णः स्वर्णोचितः प्रतिभाति चेत् कनकलतया योगो योग्यस्तमालतरोरपि। अथ समुचिता हेमी रेखापि चेन्निकषोपले तदिह तव मत्सख्या सख्यं स्तुतये नृणाम्॥४९॥
“If emerald's color rightly belongs beside gold, if a golden vine properly embraces a tamāla tree, and if a streak of gold suits the touchstone, then your friendship with me will be praised by everyone.
Passage 50
अथ कथय कथं करोषि कान्ते त्वमनु सवं किल कस्य नामजाप्यम्। स क इह पुरुषोत्तमोऽथवा स्त्री सणिरणिमादिनिधिस्तवाशये यः॥५०॥
“Now tell me, lovely one: whose name do you repeat at every moment? Who dwells within your heart—a supreme man, or a woman who is a treasury of powers such as aṇimā?
Passage 51
त्वदुरसि रसिकेऽस्ति यस्य बद्धा कनकमयी प्रतिमा गुणेनिबद्धा। अनवरतमसावुपास्यमाना व्रतवनकुङ्कुमचारुचर्चिताङ्गी॥५१॥
“Upon your breast, rasika maiden, a golden image of that person is fastened with a cord. You worship it constantly, its lovely limbs anointed with the saffron of your sacred observance.
Passage 52
यमनुसवमथो विचिन्तयन्ती विरहजतापभरेण कर्शितासि त्वम्। तरुणि नवशिरीषकोमलाङ्गी कमलदलायतलोचना ललामा॥५२॥
“Thinking of that person at every moment, you have grown thin beneath the heavy fever of separation. Young maiden, your limbs are soft as fresh śirīṣa blossoms and your splendid eyes broad as lotus petals.
Passage 53
किमलङ्कुरुषे कुलं स्वजन्या कतरस्ते जनकश्च का जनित्री। इति मे विनिवार्य संशयं त्वं समसख्या नयनातिथिर्भवित्री॥५३॥
“What family do you adorn? Who are your relatives, your father, and your mother? Remove my uncertainty and become my equal friend and the cherished guest of my eyes.”
Passage 54
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्याः प्रणयप्रणतात्मनः। मन्दस्मितसुधासिक्तमुवाचेदं रहोवचः॥५४॥
Hearing the words of one whose heart bowed with affection, the maiden spoke this confidential reply, bathed in the nectar of a gentle smile. The maiden answers The new companion said:
Passage 55
कस्यचिद्गोपवर्यस्य तनयाहं दयावति। नन्दिग्रामे वसाम्यद्धा सुखितो यत्र भूपतिः॥५५॥
“Compassionate one, I am the daughter of a certain eminent cowherd. I live in Nandigrāma, where Sukhita is king.
Passage 56
जपामि विरहोत्तापशान्तये नित्यमाकुला। सहजानन्दिनीनाम भवत्याः खलु या सखी॥५६॥
“Tormented constantly, I repeat the name Sahajānandinī to quiet the burning of separation. She is indeed your companion.
Passage 57
सैव मच्चित्तवेश्मान्तरधितिष्ठति सन्ततम्। अणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धीनामाश्रयत्वमुपागता॥५७॥
“She dwells continually within the house of my heart and has become the abode of the eight perfections beginning with aṇimā.
Passage 58
तस्याः स्वर्णमयी चैषा प्रतिमा मदुरःस्थलम्। अलङ्करोति रक्तेन विनिबद्धा गुणेन या॥५८॥
“This golden image of her adorns my breast, bound there by a crimson cord.
Passage 59
उपास्यतेऽनिशं सैव भाग्यपूर्णे भवत्सखी। चन्दनैः कुङ्कुमक्षोदरञ्जितैः सौरभाञ्चितैः॥५९॥
“Fortunate maiden, I worship your companion day and night with fragrant sandal paste colored by saffron powder,
Passage 60
पुष्पैर्धूपैस्तथा दीपैर्बलिभिश्चोपकारकैः। यथा मां प्राप्नुयाच्छीघ्रं हतभाग्यकदम्बकाम्॥६०॥
“with flowers, incense, lamps, offerings, and every service, praying that she may quickly come to unfortunate me.
Passage 61
कठिनं मम मानसं दयालो रचितं वज्रकठोरसारतश्च। तदपारवियोगयोगकीलाकुलितं चापि सहस्रधा न दीर्णम्॥६१॥
“Compassionate one, my heart must have been fashioned from the hard core of a thunderbolt: pierced by the spike of her boundless separation, it still has not split into a thousand pieces.
Passage 62
कठिना च भवत्सखी नितान्तं सुमनोगर्भशिरीषकोमलापि। हृदि यास्ति दिवानिशं विशन्ती मम विश्लेषभवं रुजं न वेत्ति॥६२॥
“Your companion too is exceedingly hardhearted, though softer than the inner filament of a śirīṣa flower. Entering and dwelling in my heart day and night, she does not recognize the pain her absence creates.
Passage 63
इदमस्मि बिभेमि साधितिष्ठत्यनिशं प्रज्वलितं वियोगिचित्तम्। इति तत्प्रशमाय वाष्पधारासलिलैः सेकमहर्निशं करोमि॥६३॥
“I fear that this heart, blazing day and night in separation, may cease to remain. Therefore I continually bathe it with streams of tears to cool it.
Passage 64
नूनं तद्विरहेणासौ तनुः पञ्चत्वमेति नः। आशाकवचमात्रेण रक्षितं दुःखहेतवे॥६४॥
“Surely this body would die from separation from her. Only the armor of hope preserves it, prolonging the cause of my suffering.
Passage 65
किं कस्मै कथयाम्यद्धा प्रलापं ज्ञास्यते जनः। अधिष्ठिता मद्धृदये सर्वं वेत्स्यति किं न सा॥६५॥
“To whom can I truthfully tell this lament, and who would understand it? Since she dwells within my heart, does she not know everything?
Passage 66
कामिन्यप्यस्मि कामिन्या विरहेण दुनोमि चेत्। तद्रूपं पश्यतां दृष्ट्या पुरुषस्य दशा नु का॥६६॥
“If I, though myself a woman, am tormented by separation from that beautiful woman, what must be the condition of a man who beholds her form?
Passage 67
महत्तमिश्रव्याप्तत्वाद्दिवसो रजनीयते। इतीव विरहात्तप्ता वेद्मि सूर्यं सुधाकरम्॥६७॥
“Overcome by the immense darkness of separation, day turns into night for me; burning in that absence, I mistake the sun for the moon.” The world transformed by separation
Passage 68
वियोगातपसंव्याप्ता रजनी दिवसायते। इतीव शीतलोऽप्यालि चन्द्रश्चण्डकरायते॥६८॥
“Companion, night, pervaded by the heat of separation, becomes like day; thus even the cooling moon turns into the fiercely burning sun.
Passage 69
राजीवविपिनं दृष्टं प्रज्वलत्पावकायते। धूमधारायते तस्मात्तदुपर्यलिघोरणी॥६९॥
“A lotus thicket, when seen, becomes a blazing fire, and the dense swarm of bees above it appears to be the column of smoke rising from that fire.
Passage 70
निर्दयो ग्रामलोकोऽयं समन्तात्प्रज्वलत्तमम्। किंशुकाटविदावाग्निं निर्वापयति नाम्बुभिः॥७०॥
“How merciless are these villagers: why do they not extinguish with water the forest fire that seems to blaze everywhere through the woodland of kiṃśuka flowers?
Passage 71
पुरा रासेण कलितं निर्विषं सरयूजलम्। अकस्मादुत्थिता केयं गरलज्वालिका ततः॥७१॥
“Formerly the Sarayū's water, graced by the rāsa, was free of poison. How has this sudden flame of venom arisen from it now?
Passage 72
करपत्रायते नित्यं केतकीकाननं मम। निपतद्धृदयं तत्र द्विधा दीर्णं यदन्तरा॥७२॥
“The ketakī grove always becomes a saw for me: falling between its teeth, my heart is split in two. A wish for the elements to return to her
Passage 73
प्राप्यापि पञ्चतामालि समीहे वपुषो दशाम्। तत्पदन्यासधरणौ धरणिः प्रविलीयताम्॥७३॥
“Companion, I long for this body to attain its fivefold dissolution. Let its earth merge into the ground that bears the impressions of her feet.
Passage 74
तल्लीलासरसीतोये तोयं यातु लयं ततः। तदादर्शतले ज्योतिरप्ययं प्रतिगच्छतु॥७४॥
“Then let its water dissolve into the water of the lake where she sports, and let its light return to the surface of her mirror.
Passage 75
तदीयतालवृन्तेषु वायुरप्येतु मामकः। तद्गत्या गतिमार्गे च व्योमालयमुपेतु च॥७५॥
“Let my air enter the palm-leaf fans used for her, and let my space find dissolution in the path along which she moves.
Passage 76
अत्युत्कण्ठावशेनाहं धावं धावं मुहुर्मुहुः। परिरभ्य नभो नित्यं पतामि धरणीतले॥७६॥
“Overpowered by unbearable longing, I run again and again; embracing empty space, I continually fall upon the ground. Images of longing
Passage 77
इन्दीवरवने मिश्रा पुण्डरीकवने सखि। गङ्गायमुनयोः सङ्गे स्नातुमिच्छति मानसम्॥७७॥
“Companion, my mind wishes to bathe at the confluence of Gaṅgā and Yamunā, where a forest of blue lotuses mingles with a forest of white lotuses.
Passage 78
ईप्सितक्षिप्तविरहोच्छित्तये सुकृतोदयम्। किं न्वेष कुरुते विघ्नं कन्दर्पाख्यो महासुरः॥७८॥
“I desire the arising of merit that will cast away and sever this separation; why does this great demon named Kandarpa place an obstacle in its way?
Passage 79
विश्लेषज्वालयोद्दीप्तं मनश्चम्पककानने। प्रदीप्तानलबुद्ध्येव सखि निमङ्क्तुमिच्छति॥७९॥
“Companion, my mind, already blazing with the flame of separation, sees the campaka grove as a kindled fire and wishes to plunge into it.
Passage 80
विरहाग्निवृतं चित्तं किमध्यास्ते भवत्सखी। अनर्गलाश्रुधाराभिः सिक्ते नोपैति लोचने॥८०॥
“What occupies your companion's heart, encircled by the fire of separation? Even when the eyes are drenched by unbroken streams of tears, that fire does not depart.
Passage 81
संवरीतुं वियोगार्तिनाशकं गुरुसंनिधौ। नहि गोपाय्यते वह्निः पटे सत्पुरुषैरपि॥८१॥
“In the presence of elders I try to cover the anguish that separation brings; yet even the virtuous cannot conceal a fire merely by laying cloth over it.
Passage 82
खिद्यामि सखि देहेन संतप्ता विरहाग्निना। किमु कम्पमुपैम्यद्धा तुषारेणेव पीडिता॥८२॥
“Companion, my body languishes, scorched by separation's fire; why, then, do I also tremble as though plainly afflicted by frost?
Passage 83
अत्युच्छ्रायवतीं मनोरथमहाप्रासादनिःश्रेणिका- मारोहादवरोहतश्च विगलद्गात्रोऽतिमात्रं भजन्। श्वासोच्छ्वासपरम्पराभयमहाहिन्दोलिकान्दोलितः श्रान्तः खिन्नतनुः कदापि कलये विश्रान्तिमन्तर्न च॥८३॥
“Climbing and descending the exceedingly high staircase of longing's great palace, my limbs utterly failing, and swinging upon the fearsome great swing of one breath after another, I am exhausted and my body is distressed; never do I find rest within.
Passage 84
कापि पुण्यवती भामा भविष्यति नु किं भवे। या मल्लोचनयोस्तस्या दर्शनं प्रविधास्यति॥८४॥
“Might there be some fortunate lady in this world who will grant my two eyes the sight of her? Rāma questions her claim Rāmā said:
Passage 85
कदा तव तदासक्तिर्हृदयेऽङ्कुरिता सखि। बद्धमूलतया यस्याः परिणामोऽयमीदृशः॥८५॥
“Companion, when did that attachment sprout in your heart? It has taken such deep root that its consequence has become like this.
Passage 86
सा वै गोपालराजस्य श्रीनन्दनमहामतेः। तनया सप्तकक्षाद्यप्रासादान्तरगोचरा॥८६॥
“She is the daughter of the great-minded Śrī Nanda, king of the cowherds, and she remains within a palace protected by seven successive chambers.
Passage 87
अहो असूर्यम्पश्यायास्तस्याः क्व नु विलोकनम्। यस्यास्तनुलतागन्धग्रहो वातोऽपि दुर्लभः॥८७॥
“Ah! How could one behold her, secluded where even the sun cannot see? Even a breeze that has caught the fragrance of her vine-like body is difficult to obtain.
Passage 88
आवृतं च मनस्तस्या गुरुलज्जापटान्तरे। यस्य वाञ्छाप्रभामात्रमपि वै बहिरेव हि॥८८॥
“Her mind is enclosed behind the curtain of profound modesty; only the faintest radiance of its desire ever reaches the outside.
Passage 89
वयस्यापि च का तस्या मनःप्रत्ययभाजनम्। छायापि न स्पृशत्येनां वारिता तनुरोचिता॥८९॥
“And what companion could receive the confidence of her heart? Not even a shadow touches her, held away by the brilliance of her body.
Passage 90
इत्यपूर्वतमं प्रेम तव वीक्ष्य रतिप्रभे। भवामि संदिहानाहं तस्या वृत्तान्तवेदिनी॥९०॥
“Radiant as Rati, seeing this utterly unprecedented love of yours, I—who know her circumstances—am filled with doubt.
Passage 91
इत्युदीरितमाकर्ण्य सहजेशीवयस्यया। प्रत्युवाच वचः श्यामा स्मितज्योत्स्नासमुज्ज्वलम्॥९१॥
Hearing what had been spoken by the companion of Sahajeśī, the dark-complexioned maiden replied in words made radiant by the moonlight of her smile. The maiden recounts her dream The new companion said:
Passage 92
कः संशयस्तदासक्तौ तव संजायते सखि। याखिलव्रजलोकस्य साक्षाल्लोचनतारिका॥९२॥
“Companion, what doubt can arise in you concerning my attachment to her? She is directly the pupil of the eye of the entire world of Vraja.
Passage 93
तथापि कथयाम्यस्या रहो मम समागमम्। प्रेमसाक्षिसमुच्छ्रायबीजप्रदमहं सखि॥९३॥
“Even so, I shall tell you of my secret meeting with her, companion. It gave the seed from which this towering, visible evidence of love has grown.
Passage 94
एकदा स्वप्नगायां मदक्ष्णोर्मीलितरूपयोः। सिद्धनाड्या सुसंयुज्य तूष्णींभूते च मानसे॥९४॥
“Once, while I had entered dream, my two eyes had closed, the subtle channel was perfectly joined, and the mind had become silent.
Passage 95
रहस्यं मम सर्वस्वं निद्रया समदर्शि सा। येन रूपेण दृष्टा च तद्रूपं प्रतिबोधने॥९५॥
“Sleep revealed her to me—my secret and my all. The very form in which I saw her remained before me when I awoke.
Passage 96
रम्भाकाण्डस्य तालोपरि कमलतले शारदः शीतरश्मि- स्तस्मिन्नम्भोजमग्नं सृजति मुहुरुडुस्थूलमुक्ताफलानि। बन्धूकं धूनयन्नुत्प्रचलति पवनो गन्धफल्याः कवोष्णः कीर्णाश्च ध्वान्तधारा हिमकरमभितः सर्वमेतल्लतायाम्॥९६॥
“Upon plantain-like stems and above their joined palms was a lotus, and upon that lotus the cool-rayed autumn moon. From the lotus sunk within it, stars like great pearls appeared again and again. A slightly warm breeze from the fragrant fruit stirred the bandhūka blossom, while streams of darkness spread about the moon—all of this appeared upon that single vine-like form.
Passage 97
सौवर्णी सापि शश्वन्नवजलदघटा विप्रयोगात्कृशाङ्गी दृष्टा क्लिष्टैव कष्टं बहुलतरमिता शुष्यती चानुवेलम्। वीक्ष्यैतत्संदिहाना किमिदमिति जवात्प्रष्टुमीहामि यावत् तावत्सख्या कयाचित्कथितमियमहो कन्यका नन्दनस्य॥९७॥
“That golden one appeared thin through constant separation from a mass of fresh rainclouds. She looked afflicted, having undergone abundant pain and withering every moment. Seeing this, I wondered what it meant and was about to ask at once, when one of her companions told me, ‘Ah, this is Nanda's daughter.’
Passage 98
जङ्घाकाण्डस्थबाहुः करतलनिहितास्यानिशं लोचनाभ्यां मुञ्चन्ती वाष्पबिन्दून् चलदधरदला श्वासचण्डानिलेन। दुःखादुन्मुक्तकेशावलिवृतवदना ज्ञायतां स्विन्नगात्रा श्यामायास्ते वियोगादिति तदनु च जातास्मि निद्रादरिद्रा॥९८॥
“Her arms rested upon her thigh-like stems and her face lay in her palms. Her eyes ceaselessly shed teardrops; the petals of her lips trembled in the fierce wind of her breath. Her face was covered by hair loosened in grief, and her limbs were wet with perspiration. ‘Know this to be from separation from your dark beloved,’ I was told. Then I became bereft of sleep.
Passage 99
सखि तद्दिनमारभ्य सहजानन्दनात्मजा। मम चित्तमधिष्ठाय स्थिता विरहनिर्भरा॥९९॥
“Companion, from that day onward the daughter of Sahajānanda has occupied my heart, filling it with separation.
Passage 100
इति ते गदितं सख्ये तस्यां प्रेम यथाभवत्। स्वस्वामिन्यै निवेद्यैतद्यथोचितमिहाचर॥१००॥
“Companion, I have now told you how my love for her arose. Report this to your mistress and then act here as is fitting.” Rāma promises a meeting Sukaṇṭha said:
Passage 101
ततः प्रोवाच रामाख्या सखी तां श्यामविग्रहाम्। अत्यद्भुतगुणप्रेमवयोवेषविभूषिताम्॥१०१॥
Then the companion named Rāmā addressed that dark-complexioned maiden, who was adorned with exceedingly marvelous virtues, love, youth, and dress.
Passage 102
सखि श्यामले काप्यपूर्वा गुणैस्त्वं मम स्वामिनी भवित्री प्राणदात्री। परं तावदत्रैव तिष्ठ द्रुमाधः सखीं यावदानीय ते दर्शयामि॥१०२॥
“Dark-complexioned companion, you are unique and unprecedented in virtue. You will become my mistress and the giver of my very life. But remain just here beneath this tree until I bring my companion and show her to you.
Passage 103
त्वद्रूपगुणप्रेमवयोवेशादिमाधुरीम्। मत्तः श्रुत्वा मत्सखी ते दर्शनार्थमिहैष्यति॥१०३॥
“When my companion hears from me the sweetness of your form, virtues, love, youth, dress, and all the rest, she will come here to see you.
Passage 104
त्वादृशी सद्गुणैराढ्या मत्सख्या विरहातुरा। मयोपकरणीयासि वाञ्छन्त्या सख्यमच्युतम्॥१०४॥
“Rich in virtues as you are and anguished by separation from my companion, you must be helped by me, for I desire an unfailing friendship.
Passage 105
इत्युक्त्वा श्यामलां रामा किञ्चिदाशावलम्बिनीम्। कदम्बमूले संस्थाप्य शनैः पर्यचलत्ततः॥१०५॥
Having spoken thus, Rāmā left the dark-complexioned maiden leaning upon a slender hope beneath the kadamba tree and slowly departed from there. Colophon इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे पूर्वखण्डे दशरथतीर्थयात्रायां व्रजागमने एकविंशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः॥ १२१ ॥ “Thus ends Chapter 121, concerning the coming to Vraja within Daśaratha's pilgrimage, in the Pūrva-khaṇḍa of the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the venerable Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.” Source control note Chapter 121 occupies registered source leaves 838–847 of the Pūrva-khaṇḍa volume (physical PDF pages 839–848). It contains 105 continuously numbered passages, followed immediately by the Chapter 121 colophon. All ten source pages were reviewed directly against the scan in batches of no more than two rendered pages, and the English is a fresh translation from the scan-controlled Sanskrit.