Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— श्वोभाविगमनोयुक्तः श्रीनन्दन उदारधीः। आगच्छद् भरतं वक्तुं विरहेण सुविह्वलः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Noble-minded Śrīnandana, prepared to depart the next day, came to inform Bharata, who was deeply afflicted by separation.
Passage 2
तमागतं स जग्राह स्वादरेण प्रसन्नधीः। सुखासनस्थितं पश्चादुवाचेदं महामतिः॥२॥
With a gracious heart Bharata received him warmly, seated him comfortably, and then spoke.
Passage 3
सुखं वससि गोपेन्द्र पालीग्रामे मनोहरे। प्रायेण रघुनाथेन सर्वे विरहिणः कृताः॥३॥
“Cowherd lord, do you live happily in lovely Pālīgrāma? Raghunātha has left nearly everyone afflicted by separation.
Passage 4
तेषां मध्ये मनोऽस्माकं युष्माकं च व्रजौकसाम्। राम एव सदा लग्नं वियोगव्यसनाकुलम्॥४॥
“Among them, the minds of both us and you residents of Vraja remain fixed upon Rāma, distressed by the calamity of separation.
Passage 5
श्रुतो ढक्कानिनादस्ते प्रास्थानिक उदित्वरः। प्रायेण रामं गन्तारः शेषा अपि गवां दुहः॥५॥
“I heard your loud departure drums. It seems the remaining milkers of the cows will also go to Rāma.
Passage 6
न किञ्चिदिह पश्यामि नूनं मदवलम्बनम्। ननु रामप्रियैरेतैर्दिवसानत्यवाहयम्॥६॥
“I now see nothing here to support me. Until now I passed my days with these people who are dear to Rāma.
Passage 7
त इदानीं गोपवराः सर्वेऽपि प्रियसन्निधौ। गन्तार इत्यधैर्येण वेपामि निजचेतसि॥७॥
“Now all those excellent cowherds will go into the Beloved's presence. At the thought, impatience makes my heart tremble.
Passage 8
मुग्धोऽतिवाहयिष्यामि किमेतान् दिवसानहम्। रामप्राणेशविश्लेषदग्धदृगन्धान्धकारितान्॥८॥
“Bewildered, how shall I pass these days, darkened and blinded by separation from Rāma, the lord of my life?
Passage 9
देहि मे दर्शनं नित्यं पालीग्रामे त्वमावसन्। श्रीरामस्य प्रियैः सार्धं सङ्गो मे वाञ्छितः सदा॥९॥
“Continue dwelling in Pālīgrāma and grant me your sight every day. I always desire the company of those dear to Śrī Rāma.” Śrīnandana Accepts Bharata's Message
Passage 10
श्रुत्वा स भरतोदीर्णवाक्यपीयूषमादरात्। विनिवेदयितुं यानं श्रीनन्दन उवाच ह॥१०॥
Respectfully hearing the nectar of Bharata's words, Śrīnandana spoke to explain his journey.
Passage 11
याचेऽहमपि तत्रैव गन्तुं त्वां रामसम्मित। कृपास्मासु सदा कार्या स्मरणीयाः सदा वयम्॥११॥
“You who are equal to Rāma, I too ask you to go there. Always show us mercy and always remember us.
Passage 12
चिरेण विप्रयुक्ताः स्म रामेण प्रेयसा वयम्। आकारिताश्च मित्रेण सुखितेनान्तिवासिना॥१२॥
“We have long been separated from our beloved Rāma, and now our friend Sukhita, who lives near him, has summoned us.
Passage 13
द्रष्टुमीहे चिरात्प्राज्ञ तत्कान्तं प्रेयसो मुखम्। करुणालोकपीयूषवर्षि मानसहर्षणम्॥१३॥
“Wise one, after so long I yearn to behold my beloved's beautiful face, which rains the nectar of compassionate glances and delights the heart.
Passage 14
आनेष्यामि व्रजं प्रायो निवेद्य रघुवल्लभम्। मा खिद्यस्वात्मनो हेतोः क्लिष्टोऽसि विरहज्वरैः॥१४॥
“After presenting our request to Raghava, I shall probably bring Vraja back. Do not grieve on your own account; the fevers of separation have already tormented you.
Passage 15
पश्यसि प्रेयसां नूनं वियुक्तानां दशामिमाम्। पशुपक्षिद्रुमवल्लीनां परितापभृतां भृशम्॥१५॥
“You surely see the condition of those separated from their beloved: beasts, birds, trees, and vines all bear intense anguish.”
Passage 16
एवमुक्तः स तेनासौ भरतो राममानसः। उवाच संस्मृतोद्दीप्तविरहानलविह्वलः॥१६॥
Thus addressed, Bharata, whose mind belonged to Rāma, remembered him; the fire of separation flared, and he spoke in anguish.
Passage 17
हा कष्टं पतितं भूरि मय्येव विधिवैशसात्। अवलम्बाय मे कोऽपि नास्त्यत्र किल निर्जने॥१७॥
“Alas, by cruel fate this great suffering has fallen upon me alone. Here in this desolation there is truly no one to sustain me.
Passage 18
अहमाज्ञापराधीनो रघुनाथस्य यत्पुनः। न दर्शनं लभे क्वापि शून्या मे सकला दिशः॥१८॥
“I remain wholly subject to Raghunātha's command and cannot obtain his sight anywhere. Every direction is empty to me.
Passage 19
दण्डवन्नतयो वाच्या मम तस्मिन् सहानुजे। सदारे करुणासिन्धौ वाच्यं मेऽद्य निवेदनम्॥१९॥
“Offer my prostrated obeisance to that ocean of compassion, together with his wife and younger brother, and convey my submission today.
Passage 20
अयमात्मा तव स्वामिन् पदारविन्दाञ्जलीकृतः। त्वमेव विरहोद्भूतमाधिं मे लोपयिष्यसि॥२०॥
“‘Master, this very self is offered in joined hands at your lotus feet. You alone can remove the affliction raised within me by separation.’
Passage 21
इति सन्देशवचनं वाच्यं मम मुहुर्मुहुः। श्रीनन्दन त्वं धन्योऽसि यथा सुखितगोपतिः॥२१॥
“Śrīnandana, repeat this message of mine again and again. You are blessed, just like the cowherd lord Sukhita.” Śrīnandana Entrusts Ādi-vraja to Bharata
Passage 22
अथोवाचैव भरतं रघुवंशविभूषणम्। अवेक्षमाणः सततं प्रमुद्वनमिहास्व भोः॥२२॥
Śrīnandana then said to Bharata, ornament of Raghu's line: “Please remain here, continually watching over Pramoda-vana.
Passage 23
नन्दिग्रामो मनोहारी पालीग्रामश्च सम्प्रति। अवेक्षणीयः सततं भवता भूपनन्दन॥२३॥
“Prince, you must now continually watch over enchanting Nandigrāma and Pālīgrāma.
Passage 24
रामस्यातिप्रियो देश आदिव्रज उदित्वरः। पालनीयस्त्वया प्राज्ञ प्रसीदिष्यति ते प्रभुः॥२४॥
“Wise prince, glorious Ādi-vraja is exceedingly dear to Rāma. Protect it, and your Lord will be pleased with you.
Passage 25
प्रमोदवनमानन्दि सर्वर्तुकुसुमाकरम्। इदं ते चित्तरुचये विरहेऽपि भविष्यति॥२५॥
“Joy-giving Pramoda-vana is a treasury of flowers in every season. Even during separation, it will bring delight to your heart.
Passage 26
निःसहा विरहेण ते दिवसास्ते सुदुर्वहाः। प्रमुद्वनं पश्यतोऽङ्ग सुखं यास्यन्ति निश्चितम्॥२६॥
“Your days, rendered unbearable by separation, will surely become easier, dear one, as you behold Pramoda-vana.” The Vraja Community Departs
Passage 27
इत्युदीर्य वचश्चारु श्रीनन्दन उदग्रधीः। आमन्त्र्य भरतं दीनं स्वगृहानभ्यगात्सुहृत्॥२७॥
Having spoken these gracious words, high-minded Śrīnandana took leave of the sorrowful Bharata and returned home.
Passage 28
स तत्र नन्दिग्रामस्थान् गोष्ठपालान् सगोधनान्। वासयामास सुहृदः श्वः प्रस्थातुमना बुधः॥२८॥
The wise man, intending to depart the next day, lodged there his friends, the Nandigrāma cowherds and their cattle.
Passage 29
प्रातः सरय्वामाप्लुत्य कृत्वा पुण्याहवाचनम्। स्वस्तिवाचित आचान्तो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः॥२९॥
In the morning he bathed in the Sarayū and performed the auspicious-day rite. Having sipped water, he received benedictions from brāhmaṇas learned in the Veda.
Passage 30
जयेति प्रयतैरुक्तः सूतमागधवन्दिभिः। दत्त्वा द्विजेभ्यो दानानि यथावद्गाः सहस्रशः॥३०॥
Purified heralds, bards, and panegyrists proclaimed, “Victory!” He duly gave gifts to the twice-born, including thousands of cows.
Passage 31
गोपैर्गोपीभिरत्यर्थं तनुभूषणकान्तिभिः। शृङ्गवेणुरवोद्घोषैर्गीतिमाङ्गल्यसूक्तिभिः॥३१॥
Cowherd men and women shone brilliantly with bodily ornaments, while horns and flutes resounded together with songs and auspicious hymns.
Passage 32
ब्रह्मोवाच— उत्साहितमनाः श्रीमान् मनोज्ञमन आस्थितः। प्रतस्थौ चित्रकूटाद्रिं यत्र रामः स राघवः॥३२॥
Brahmā said: With an eager heart, illustrious Śrīnandana mounted his lovely conveyance and departed for Mount Citrakūṭa, where Rāghava Rāma dwelt.
Passage 33
श्रीराजिनी महोदारा सहजानन्दिनीयुता। नरयानं समारुह्य प्रतस्थौ विहितोत्सवा॥३३॥
Generous Śrī Rājinī, accompanied by Sahajānandinī, mounted a palanquin and set out amid the arranged celebration.
Passage 34
विधायाग्रतो गोधनानि प्रकामं स्वनद्वेणुशृङ्गादिवाद्यौघहृष्टाः। प्रतस्थुर्व्रजाधीश्वरस्याज्ञया ते कृतान्योऽन्ययात्रोत्सवा गोष्ठपालाः॥३४॥
Placing the abundant herds before them, the cowherds rejoiced in the massed sound of flutes, horns, and other instruments. At the lord of Vraja's command they departed, making the journey a mutual festival.
Passage 35
रामाद्याः सुहिता विहितप्रस्थानाः सख्यः प्रेमपराः सहजानन्दिन्याः। उद्गायन्त्यः कुतुकादुदितानन्दौघाः गच्छन्त्यः सजवं शुशुभुस्ताः सर्वाः॥३५॥
Rāmā and the other loving companions of Sahajānandinī, beautifully arrayed and prepared to depart, sang aloud as waves of joyful excitement arose. Moving swiftly, they all shone splendidly. *Thus ends Chapter 73 of the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa, concerning Śrīnandana's departure.*