Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ नावां सहस्रेण गुहोपनमितेन सः। भागीरथीं समुत्तीर्य परं पारमुपेयिवान्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Then, with a thousand boats supplied by Guha, Sukhita crossed the Bhāgīrathī and reached the farther bank.
Passage 2
गोपानां तद्बलं भूरि शकटीवृषभाकुलम्। अतारज्जह्नवीं नौभिः साधनैः किं नु दुर्घटम्॥२॥
That vast cowherd host, crowded with carts and bulls, crossed Jahnu's daughter in boats. What is difficult when the proper means are available?
Passage 3
तेष्वेव रामजानक्योरावासोटजसद्मसु। पश्यन्तो महतीं शोभां भारद्वाजाश्रमं गताः॥३॥
Beholding great beauty in the very leaf-huts where Rāma and Jānakī had stayed, they arrived at Bhāradvāja's hermitage.
Passage 4
तत्र माङ्गल्यया सार्धं सस्नौ तीर्थे सितासिते। अदात् सुखितगोपेन्द्रो द्विजेभ्यः कोटिशश्च गाः॥४॥
There Sukhita, lord of the cowherds, bathed with Māṅgalyakā at the confluence of the pale and dark rivers and gave millions of cows to brāhmaṇas.
Passage 5
तमागतमुपश्रुत्य भारद्वाजो महामुनिः। अगृह्णात् परया प्रीत्या परमाहृतमानसः॥५॥
Hearing that he had arrived, the great sage Bhāradvāja received him with supreme affection, his heart utterly captivated.
Passage 6
तमातिथ्येन जगृहे गोपराजं महामुनिः। उपविष्टं सुखेनाथ व्याहरच्छुभया गिरा॥६॥
The great sage welcomed the cowherd king with hospitality. Once Sukhita was comfortably seated, Bhāradvāja addressed him with auspicious words. Bhāradvāja Praises Pramoda-vana
Passage 7
त्वय्येव रघुवर्यस्य परं प्रेम विजृम्भते। तदेकवश्य एवासौ निरपेक्षो जगत्त्रये॥७॥
“In you alone the foremost Raghu's supreme love fully unfolds. Though independent throughout the three worlds, he is governed by that love alone.
Passage 8
भाग्येन खलु दृष्टोऽसि त्वं गोपनृपते मया। क्व नु रामप्रियाः दृश्याः प्रेमापूरितमानसाः॥८॥
“Cowherd king, only through good fortune have I seen you. Where else can one behold Rāma's beloved people, their hearts overflowing with love?
Passage 9
त्वयैव शोभतेऽत्यर्थं गोपेन्द्र प्रमुदाटवी। नवं नवं महं सूते शृणुमः सन्ततं वयम्॥९॥
“Lord of cowherds, Pramuda forest is splendid above all because of you. We continually hear how it gives birth to ever-new festivals.
Passage 10
अपास्य ममतामुच्चैर्गृहेषु स्वजनेषु च। श्रेयोऽर्थी किं न सेवेत भवतस्तत्प्रमुद्वनम्॥१०॥
“What seeker of the highest good would not abandon possessiveness toward home and family and serve that Pramuda-vana of yours?
Passage 11
साक्षाद्रामभवनं स्वर्गादतिमनोहरम्। प्रेमपाटलसत्कण्ठकलकण्ठकुलाकुलम्॥११॥
“It is directly Rāma's abode, more enchanting than heaven, filled with flocks of sweet-throated cuckoos whose necks are crimsoned by love.
Passage 12
जाने न तत्समं धाम क्वचिदस्ति महीतले। तथापि स्वगृहाशाभिर्भ्रष्टा इव वयं सखे॥१२॥
“Friend, I know of no abode equal to it anywhere upon earth. Yet hopes bound to our own homes have left us as though fallen away from it.
Passage 13
येभ्यो भवान् कृपयते गोपवंशशिखामणे। कतिचित्ते सुकृतिनो निवसन्ति प्रमुद्वने॥१३॥
“Crest-jewel of the cowherd line, the few meritorious souls upon whom you bestow mercy are the ones who dwell in Pramuda-vana.
Passage 14
कर्मणां साङ्ख्ययोगानामुपासनशुभाध्वनाम्। दूरे फलं सञ्चिनुषे रामप्रेमरसामृतम्॥१४॥
“Far beyond the fruit of ritual acts, Sāṅkhya, yoga, and the auspicious paths of worship, you gather the nectar of the rasa of love for Rāma.
Passage 15
न ब्रह्मशिवशेषाद्या लभन्ते श्रेय ईदृशम्। यादृशं भवता लब्धं श्रीरामप्रेमसञ्चितम्॥१५॥
“Neither Brahmā, Śiva, Śeṣa, nor the others attain a good like yours, amassed through love for Śrī Rāma.”
Passage 16
इति स्तुत्वा मुनिस्तस्य प्रेममानसमुत्तमम्। तां रात्रिं तत्र तत्सार्धं चक्रे गोष्ठीं रसोत्तराम्॥१६॥
Having thus praised Sukhita's excellent loving heart, the sage spent that night there with him in conversation filled with the highest rasa. Following Rāma's Forest Path
Passage 17
ततः प्रभाते सञ्जाते मुनिदिष्टेन वर्त्मना। जगाम यमुनां तीर्त्वा गोपराजो महद्वनम्॥१७॥
When morning came, the cowherd king followed the path indicated by the sage, crossed the Yamunā, and entered the great forest.
Passage 18
अतिक्रम्याटवीं नीलां हरित्पर्णमयैर्द्रुमैः। तमेकवटमासाद्य मुमुदे गोकुलेश्वरः॥८॥
Passing through the dark forest of green-leaved trees, the lord of Gokula reached that solitary banyan and rejoiced. The edition prints marker 8 for this independent eighteenth passage.
Passage 19
यत्र रामः पुराश्रान्तः पथि स्वप्रिययान्वितः। सम्प्राप्य शीतलच्छायमापेदे विश्रमं क्षणम्॥१९॥
There, long before, Rāma had grown weary on the road with his beloved, reached the tree's cooling shade, and rested for a moment. The Splendor of Citrakūṭa
Passage 20
अथाससाद गोपेन्द्रः शैलराजं मनोरमम्। नभः सानुसमूहेन समन्ताद्व्याप्य संस्थितम्॥२०॥
Then the lord of the cowherds reached the enchanting king of mountains, whose masses of plateaus seemed to occupy the sky on every side.
Passage 21
श्वेतपीतहरिद्रक्तनानाशिखरशोभितम्। सर्वस्वमिव मेदिन्या गर्भस्थं बहिरुद्गतम्॥२१॥
Its many peaks shone white, yellow, green, and red, as though all the earth's treasure hidden in her womb had emerged outside.
Passage 22
सद्रत्नशिखरस्तम्भत्विषा पूरितदिक्तटम्। छुरन्तमिव चाकाशं दिवारात्रिप्रकाशया॥२२॥
The radiance of its pillar-like peaks of precious gems filled the horizons and seemed to cover the sky with light by day and night.
Passage 23
आलिङ्गन्तमिवार्केन्दू शिखरैरुच्छ्रितैर्भुजैः। क्वचित्कर्पूरधवलं क्वचित्सिन्दूरशोणितम्॥२२॥
With lofty peaks like raised arms it seemed to embrace the sun and moon. In some places it was white as camphor, and in others crimson as vermilion. The edition repeats printed marker 22 for this independent twenty-third passage.
Passage 24
सरःसु विकचाम्भोजैर्हसन्तमिव सर्वतः। भणन्तमिव सत्सूक्तीः कोकिलाकाकलीरवैः॥२४॥
Through the open lotuses in its lakes it seemed to smile on every side, and through the cuckoos' sweet calls it seemed to utter noble sayings.
Passage 25
पश्यन्तमिव शोभां स्वां चन्द्रकैर्वनकेकिनाम्। स्पृशन्तमिव दिक्कान्ताः समन्ताद्वनजालिभिः॥२५॥
Through the eye-spots of the forest peacocks it seemed to behold its own beauty, and through its networks of woods it seemed to touch the beloved quarters on every side.
Passage 26
काननैः पत्रसञ्छन्नैर्वसानमिव वाससी। सर्वकौतूहलमयं सर्वशोभासमन्वितम्॥२६॥
With leaf-covered forests it seemed clothed in garments, filled with every wonder and endowed with every beauty.
Passage 27
मन्दाकिनीजलस्रोतःसिक्तपुष्टमहीरुहम्। सर्वतो हंसचक्राह्वसारसौघनिनादितम्॥२७॥
Its great trees flourished, watered by the Mandākinī's currents, while flocks of swans, cakravāka birds, and cranes resounded everywhere.
Passage 28
रत्नवैदूर्यभित्तित्विट्परिशोभितविग्रहम्। जाम्बूनदमयैः शृङ्गैः क्वाप्यावृतनभस्तलम्॥२८॥
Its form shone with the luster of walls of gems and cat's-eye stone, and in places its golden peaks seemed to cover the sky.
Passage 29
आसाद्य चित्रशिखरं गिरिमद्वितीयश्रीशोभितं मुमुदिरे हृदि गोपवर्याः। श्रीरामचन्द्रमुखचन्द्रनिरीक्षणोत्थभूयोमुदामभवदागम एव चैषाम्॥२९॥
Reaching the many-peaked mountain, radiant with peerless splendor, the foremost cowherds rejoiced in their hearts. Their very arrival became the source of ever greater joy born from the prospect of beholding the moon of Śrī Rāmacandra's face.