Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— श्रुत्वा शूरस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रीनन्दन उदारधीः। सुखितेन समाहूतस्तदा गन्तुमना अभूत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Hearing Śūra's message, noble-minded Śrīnandana resolved to go, having been summoned by Sukhita.
Passage 2
विहस्यानन्दमधुरमुखपङ्कुजशोभितः। उवाच शृण्वतां तत्र सदसि स्वे महीयसाम्॥२॥
Smiling, his lotus face lovely with sweet joy, he spoke before the eminent people listening in his assembly.
Passage 3
आहूतः सुखितेनाहं गन्तुमिच्छामि सस्पृहः। चित्रकूटो गिरिर्यत्र तं देशं भूरिभावुकम्॥३॥
“Sukhita has summoned me, and I eagerly wish to go to that deeply enchanting country where Mount Citrakūṭa stands.
Passage 4
सङ्गः स्यात्सुहृदा तेन रामचन्द्रस्य चेक्षणम्। वसतिश्चित्रकूटाद्रौ शुभं मे किमतः परम्॥४॥
“I shall have the company of that friend, the sight of Rāmacandra, and a home upon Citrakūṭa. What greater blessing could be mine?
Passage 5
अहो स्वभावमधुरः स सुहृन्मे महत्तमः। यस्य देवा अपीच्छन्ति सङ्गमं खलु दुर्लभम्॥५॥
“Ah, that greatest of friends is sweet by nature. Even the gods desire his company, which is truly difficult to obtain.
Passage 6
दर्शनं रामचन्द्रस्य सुधातोऽप्यतिरिच्यते। केऽपि भाग्यवतां मुख्या लभन्ते तदनुग्रहात्॥६॥
“The sight of Rāmacandra exceeds even nectar. Only certain foremost among the fortunate obtain it through his grace.
Passage 7
यावन्ति भुवि तीर्थानि सन्ति द्वीपेषु सप्तसु। पुण्यं तदवगाहोत्थं चित्रकूटेऽधिकं ततः॥७॥
“Whatever holy places exist throughout the earth's seven continents, the merit born from bathing in all of them is surpassed at Citrakūṭa.
Passage 8
सर्वात्मना खलु शुभं समुपस्थितं मे यास्यामि सानुगसुहृत्परिवारवर्गः। द्रक्ष्यामि कोसलपतेस्तनयस्य वक्त्रं चन्द्रादपीच्यममृतस्रुतिसारशोभम्॥८॥
“Every blessing has now come fully before me. I shall go with followers, friends, and household, and behold the son of Kosala's lord—his face lovelier than the moon and beautiful with the very essence of streaming nectar.” Śrīnandana Addresses His Household
Passage 9
इत्युक्त्वा सदसि श्रीमानन्तःपुरमियाय सः। श्रीराजिनीमुवाचेदं सुतयाश्चापि तद्यथा॥९॥
Having spoken in the assembly, the illustrious man entered the inner apartments and addressed Śrī Rājinī and also the daughter as follows.
Passage 10
सुमुखि सुखितगोपेनाहमाकारितोऽस्मि प्रणयपरहृदा मे चित्रकूटे महीध्रे। कुवलयसुखदायी सर्वसम्पद्विधायी स जयति रघुनाथो यत्र सम्पूर्णचन्द्रः॥१०॥
“Fair-faced one, the cowherd Sukhita, whose heart is wholly affectionate toward me, has summoned me to Mount Citrakūṭa. There Raghunātha shines like the full moon, delighting the earth and bestowing every prosperity.
Passage 11
सुचिरविरहतप्तं मानसं मे करिष्ये किमपि रघुवरस्यालोकपीयूषपात्रम्। बहुलदिवसलग्नं तीव्रसन्तापदाहं तदहनि शमयिष्ये चक्षुषोरेकदैव॥११॥
“I shall make my heart, long scorched by separation, a vessel for the indescribable nectar of beholding Raghava. On that very day, with a single sight, I shall extinguish the fierce burning anguish that has clung to me for so many days.
Passage 12
शशिमुखि भवती यच्चेतसा साध्व्यजस्रं स्पृहयति तदिदानीं वेधसा योजितं वै। रघुवरवरवंशीनादपीयूषपूरैः सुखय सुखय शश्वत्कर्णरन्ध्रप्रपूर्य॥१२॥
“Moon-faced, virtuous lady, what your heart has always desired has now truly been arranged by Providence. Delight yourself again and again by forever filling your ears with the flooding nectar of Raghava's excellent flute.
Passage 13
तदतुलसुखधाम श्यामलं चित्रकूट- क्षितिधरवनमन्तःसान्द्रकुञ्जान्यकारम्। रघुपतिमुखचन्द्रज्योत्स्नया सुप्रकाशं भवतु बहुलकेलीभाजनं मामकानाम्॥१३॥
“May the dark forest of Mount Citrakūṭa—that incomparable abode of happiness, densely fashioned within by bowers and brightly illumined by the moonlight of Raghupati's face—become the scene of abundant play for all my people.”
Passage 14
भार्यामुद्दिश्य कथितं श्रीनन्दनमनीषिणा। श्रुत्वा श्रीसहजा देहे जुगूहे पुलकावलीम्॥१४॥
Hearing the wise Śrīnandana's words addressed to his wife, Śrī Sahajā tried to conceal the rows of horripilation upon her body.
Passage 15
प्रसरत्पुलकावलीपरीता बहुलस्वेदभरेण पूर्णगात्रा। प्रणयिस्मरणेन कम्पमाना विवशा विह्वलतां भृशं जगाम॥१५॥
Encircled by spreading waves of horripilation, her limbs covered with abundant perspiration, she trembled at remembrance of her beloved and, helpless, fell into profound agitation.
Passage 16
श्यामा रामादयः सख्यो विज्ञातविरहोदयाम्। सहजामन्यतो निन्युर्निगृह्य वसनाञ्चलैः॥१६॥
Śyāmā, Rāmā, and the other companions understood that separation's emotion had arisen in Sahajā. Holding her by the hems of their garments, they led her to one side.
Passage 17
भर्तुर्वचनमाकर्ण्य देवी श्रीराजिनी तदा। अन्तःसुखसघूर्णाक्षी जगाद स्मितशालिनी॥१७॥
Hearing her husband's words, Goddess Śrī Rājinī's eyes rolled with inward joy; smiling, she spoke. Rājinī's Auspicious Dreams
Passage 18
अद्य मे नाथ सुप्ताया निशि यामे तुरीयके। अजनि स्वप्न ईदृशस्तं निबोध व्रजाधिप॥१८॥
“My lord, while I slept during the fourth watch of the night, such a dream arose before me. Hear it, lord of Vraja.
Passage 19
जाने शरत्स्वच्छनभःप्रदेशो सम्पूर्णताराधिपमण्डलेन। विकीर्णमच्छं भुवि चन्द्रिकौघं पिबन्ति बद्धोत्कलिकाश्चकोराः॥१९॥
“I seemed to see an autumn sky, perfectly clear and filled by the full orb of the moon, while eager cakora birds drank the pure flood of moonlight scattered over the earth.
Passage 20
जाने प्रभातारुणरश्मिशोभा बन्धूकपुष्पद्युतिबन्धुरकः। उल्लासयत्यम्बुजिनीवनानि दिशां तमिस्रं किरणैर्निरस्य॥२०॥
“I seemed to see dawn's lovely crimson rays, charming with the radiance of bandhūka blossoms. Driving away the darkness of the quarters, their beams caused the lotus groves to bloom.
Passage 21
जाने स्थिता क्षीरसमुद्रमध्ये सुविस्तृते पुष्करपर्णपात्रे। भुञ्ज्मि सुस्वादु सिताविमिश्रं मनोहरं पायसमाप्तकामा॥२१॥
“I seemed to stand in the middle of the Ocean of Milk upon a broad vessel made of a lotus leaf, eating delightful, delicious rice pudding mixed with sugar until my desire was fulfilled.
Passage 22
इत्येवं भाविकल्याणसूचकानि ददर्श ह। अहं स्वप्नेषु वस्तूनि तैरासं विस्मिताशया॥२२॥
“Thus I saw in dreams objects that foretold coming good fortune, and they left my heart filled with wonder.
Passage 23
भवेन्नः शुभं स्वेष्टरघूद्वहेन विश्लेषदुःखोद्वहनक्षमाणाम्। इत्थं मुहुश्चेतसि चिन्तयन्ती लब्धावलम्बा ह्यधुनाहमासम्॥२३॥
“‘May good now come from our beloved Raghava to us who have endured the sorrow of separation.’ Thinking this repeatedly in my heart, I have now found something to sustain me.
Passage 24
ये स्वयं गन्तुकामाः स्म स्वेष्टदर्शनसस्पृहाः। ते चेत्सुहृद्भिराहूताः सम्पन्नास्तन्मनोरथाः॥२४॥
“If those of us who already wished to go, longing to see our beloved, have now been summoned by friends, then that desire has been fulfilled.” Śūra Summons the Cowherd Settlements
Passage 25
इति भार्यामतं सम्यगादाय व्रजनायकः। श्रीनन्दनश्चित्रकूटगिरिं गन्तुमसज्जत॥२५॥
The lord of Vraja fully accepted his wife's counsel, and Śrīnandana prepared to go to Mount Citrakūṭa.
Passage 26
गच्छ शूर गृहानद्य भुक्तभोज्यः सुविश्रम। श्वोभूतेऽहं गमिष्यामि चित्रकूटं सहानुगः॥२६॥
“Śūra, go home today, eat your meal, and rest well. Tomorrow I shall depart for Citrakūṭa with my followers.”
Passage 27
स तदाज्ञामुपादाय पालीग्रामं विलोक्य च। नन्दिग्राममुपागच्छद् यस्मिन् सुखितगोधनम्॥२७॥
Receiving that command, Śūra visited Pālīgrāma and then reached Nandigrāma, where Sukhita's cattle were kept.
Passage 28
गत्वा गोष्ठानि सर्वाणि मिलित्वा गोष्ठपालकैः। सन्दिदेश यदादिष्टं सुखितेन मनीषिणा॥२८॥
He went to every cattle station, met with the cowherds, and conveyed what wise Sukhita had commanded.
Passage 29
हे गोष्ठपालाः शृण्वन्तु यदुक्तमधिपेन वः। गोधनानि पुरोधाय यूयं मामुपगच्छथ॥२९॥
“Cowherds, hear what your lord has said: place the herds before you and come join me.
Passage 30
एष साधुतमो देशो गवां गोष्ठेभ्य उत्तमः। चारयन्त्विह गा गोपाः यावद्वसति राघवः॥३०॥
“This excellent country is best for the cattle and superior to the old pens. Cowherds, let the cows graze here for as long as Rāghava remains.
Passage 31
प्रमुदनादनूनं च चित्रकूटगिरेर्वनम्। इदं विद्धि सदास्थायि सर्वर्तुसुखभाजनम्॥३१॥
“Know that the forest of Mount Citrakūṭa is no less than Pramoda-vana: it is an enduring abode of happiness in every season.
Passage 32
मन्दाकिन्याः पुलिनभूर्वशाद्वलशालिनी। विरच्य तत्र गोष्ठानि सुचिरं वसत प्रियाः॥३२॥
“The Mandākinī's riverbank is rich with luxuriant grass. Dear ones, establish cattle stations there and dwell for a long time.
Passage 33
न चेह दुर्लभं किञ्चिद् रामचन्द्रप्रभावतः। आपदो दूरतः सर्वाः सम्पदोऽत्र ममोन्मुखाः॥३३॥
“Through Rāmacandra's power nothing is difficult to obtain here. Every calamity remains far away, while prosperity turns toward us.
Passage 34
फलपत्रपुष्पपरिणाहिसम्पदां भरमुद्वहन्ति गिरिगह्वरद्रुमाः। अवलोक्य यान् सकलसौख्यदायिनस्- त्रिदशद्रुमा अपि मयावहेलिताः॥३४॥
“Trees in the mountain caverns bear the weight of abundant fruit, leaves, and flowers. Seeing these bestowers of every happiness, I have come to disregard even the trees of heaven.
Passage 35
अतोऽत्र सुचिरं गिरौ वसत गोष्ठपालाः सुखं रघूद्वहमुखक्वणन्मुरलिकानिनादामृतैः। सुसिक्तनवभूरुहे हरितपर्णमालाधरे वने विहरतानिशं सह सुखाञ्चितैर्गोधनैः॥३५॥
“Therefore, cowherds, live happily upon this mountain for a long time. Roam unceasingly with your contented cattle through the forest—its fresh trees well watered by the nectar of the flute sounding at Raghava's lips and adorned with garlands of green leaves.” Vraja Prepares to Depart
Passage 36
निशम्य शूरस्य वचो मनोहरं ते गोष्ठपालाः सुखितस्य सर्वशः। निर्घोषयामासुरशेषके व्रजे ढक्काः परेद्युर्गमनोद्यमाय वै॥३६॥
Hearing Śūra's enchanting message from Sukhita, the cowherds caused drums to resound throughout all Vraja, calling everyone to prepare to leave the next day.
Passage 37
आकर्ण्य ढक्कानिनदं घनोपमं श्वोभाविन्यां प्रस्थितौ सर्वलोकाः। अनांसि सज्जन्त धनैरनेकशो देशान्तरेभ्यश्चानयन् गोधनानि॥३७॥
Hearing the cloudlike thunder of the drums, everyone prepared for the next day's departure. They readied numerous wagons with their goods and brought the cattle in from distant regions. *Thus ends Chapter 72 of the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa, concerning Śrīnandana's departure.*