Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— इत्थं श्रीरामचन्द्रेण कीर्तितं व्रजसुभ्रुवाम्। तत्त्वं विज्ञाय मुमुदे श्रीमती जनकात्मजा॥१॥
Brahmā said: Having understood the truth of Vraja's lovely-browed women as Śrī Rāmacandra had explained it, glorious Janaka's daughter rejoiced.
Passage 2
उवाच च परिप्रीता रामं रमणकोविदम्। चित्रकूटगिरौ लब्धव्रजलीलाकुतूहलम्॥२॥
Deeply pleased, she addressed Rāma, master of the arts of love, whose eagerness for Vraja līlā had awakened upon Mount Citrakūṭa.
Passage 3
श्रीजानक्युवाच— ज्ञातं प्रभो करुणया भवतः स्वरूपमाभीरराजदुहितुः सहजाभिधायाः। यस्यां भवानविरतं रमते रमण्यां स्वैरं समुल्लसितकोटिकलाकलापः॥३॥
Śrī Jānakī said: Lord, by your grace I have understood the nature of the cowherd king's daughter named Sahajā. You sport freely and unceasingly with that lovely one, manifesting countless arts.
Passage 4
प्रेमापरं जयति ते रघुवंशकेतो श्रीनन्दनान्वयपयोनिधिचन्द्रिकायाम्। रात्रंदिवं प्रकटिताखिलहावभावशृङ्गारसारपरमामृतपूरपूर्णः॥४॥
Banner of Raghu's line, your unsurpassed love triumphs in her who is moonlight upon the ocean of Śrī Nandana's lineage, day and night overflowing with supreme nectar—the essence of romance revealed through every gesture and emotion.
Passage 5
माधुर्यधुर्यधरणीरमणीयताढ्यः प्रावीण्यभारभरितोऽद्भुतभङ्गिपूर्णः। लावण्यभावपरिणाहकरः कलानामेकान्तकेलिभवनं युवयोर्विलासः॥५॥
Your play together is foremost in sweetness, rich in the earth's loveliness, filled with consummate skill and wondrous gestures. It expands beauty and feeling and is the intimate dwelling of every art.
Passage 6
सौन्दर्यसारसमुदायतरङ्गिणीयं चूडामणिस्त्रिभुवनाद्भुतसुन्दरीणाम्। वक्रोक्तिचारुरचनारसहर्षवर्षं प्रावृड्धरा विजयते व्रजराजपुत्री॥६॥
The daughter of Vraja's king triumphs like a monsoon stream, flowing with the gathered essence of beauty. She is the crest jewel of the three worlds' wondrous women and showers the joyful rasa of gracefully artful speech.
Passage 7
ब्रह्मादिदेवतकिरीटमणिप्ररोचिनीराज्यमानचरणाम्बुजनखाग्रमस्याः। ऐश्वर्यमत्यधिकमेव किमत्र चित्रं क्रीतो यया स्वकरगः परपूरुषस्त्वम्॥७॥
The tips of her lotus toenails shine with the light of jewels in the crowns of Brahmā and the other gods. What wonder that her sovereignty is supreme, when she has purchased you, the Supreme Person, and holds you in her hand? The Secret Love of the Divine Pair
Passage 8
नित्यं नतास्मि युवयोस्त्रिजगद्विशिष्टं प्रेमाणमेकरसतारमणीयरूपम्। स्वच्छन्दकेलिपरिणाहनिदानभूतं जीवातुमेतमखिलव्रजसुन्दरीणाम्॥८॥
I bow eternally to your love, peerless in the three worlds, beautiful in its single undivided rasa. It is the source of ever-expanding spontaneous play and the very life of all Vraja's beautiful women.
Passage 9
लक्ष्मीसहस्रसुविलासकलागभीरमौदार्यधैर्यपटुतासमुदायसीमा। नित्योत्सवन्नवनवामितमोदसिन्धुः संगश्चिरं विजयती तव गोष्ठराज्ञ्या॥९॥
May your union with the queen of the cowherd settlement ever triumph—deeper in graceful arts than a thousand Lakṣmīs, the limit of generosity, courage, and skill, and an ocean of ever-fresh festival joy.
Passage 10
को वेत्ति कान्त भुवने युवयो रहस्यं स्वच्छन्दकेलिरसनिर्वृतयोरजस्रम्। पादाम्बुजनित्यपरिचारिकयापि भूत्वा विज्ञायते न नितरामधिकं मयापि॥१०॥
Beloved, who in the world can know the mystery of you two, ceaselessly fulfilled in spontaneous playful rasa? Even though I eternally serve your lotus feet, I cannot know its full extent.
Passage 11
यद्गीयते श्रुतिशिरःशतकेन नित्यं मात्रोपजीवनपरा विबुधाश्च यस्य। आब्रह्मविष्टपमुदारगुणप्रकर्ष आनन्द एष भवतो रसकेलिरूपः॥११॥
The hundreds of Upaniṣads eternally sing of it, and the gods live upon only a measure of it. From Brahmā's realm downward, this bliss of yours in the form of rasa play is the summit of noble qualities.
Passage 12
कल्याणमन्दिरमुदारगुणाम्बुराशिमास्वाद्यमानभुवनोत्तरसौख्यसंघम्। संसारचक्रबहुपर्यटनश्रमाणां विश्रामदं विजयते तव धाम नित्यम्॥१२॥
Your eternal abode triumphs as the home of blessedness, an ocean of noble qualities, and the concentrated highest joy savored by all worlds. It gives rest to those wearied by long wandering around saṃsāra's wheel.
Passage 13
धामेश्वरी विजयते सहजेव नाथ सा तावकी परमचित्सुखभोगशक्तिः। सामर्षभूतहृदया अपि तेऽन्यवामा यद्दर्शनक्षणविलुप्तमदा बभूवुः॥१३॥
Lord, Sahajā triumphs as sovereign of the abode and as your power for enjoying supreme conscious bliss. Even your other beloved women, though their hearts had grown jealous, lost all pride the instant they saw her.
Passage 14
मूले कृतं रसनिषेचनमङ्घ्रिपस्य शाखाशिखाकुसुमपत्रफलं प्रयाति। तद्वत्प्रभो सहजया सह ते रतेन तृप्ता भवन्ति निखिला व्रजवामनेत्राः॥१४॥
When a tree's root is watered, the moisture reaches its branches, tips, flowers, leaves, and fruit. Likewise, Lord, through your love with Sahajā all Vraja's beautiful-eyed women become satisfied.
Passage 15
एकापि सर्वतरुणीसमुदायरूपा स्वैरं प्रभो विहरते भवता समं श्रीः। यद्वीक्ष्य भूरिरतिकेलिकलासमेतं मोदन्त ईश सकलाः सुदृशो व्रजस्थाः॥१५॥
Though one, Śrī assumes the form of the entire host of young women and freely sports with you, Lord. Beholding that abundant union endowed with every art of love, all Vraja's lovely-eyed women rejoice. Jealousy Dissolves in Sahajā's Beauty
Passage 16
हित्वा मम प्रणयमन्यत एष सक्तस्तत्किं करोमि सखि तामथ निश्चिनु त्वम्। दृष्टा श्रियेत तरसैव मया कचेषु प्रेयानयं तत उदास्य करे विधेयः॥१६॥
“He has abandoned his love for me and become attached elsewhere. Friend, find that woman—what else can I do? If I see her, I shall seize her by the hair, and this beloved must then be made indifferent to her.”
Passage 17
अन्यर्थमेव ननु तां समुपालभे च का त्वं ममैव रमणः स्थगितो ययेति। नैवं करिष्यसि पुनः स्मरबाणदग्धा चेत्त्वं तदाधि सरयुं प्रसभं पतेथाः॥१७॥
“I shall reproach her directly: ‘Who are you, by whom my own lover has been detained?’ If you do this again, then, scorched by Love's arrows, you should throw yourself forcibly into the Sarayū.”
Passage 18
इत्थं सपत्नतरुणीशपते सरोषं जिज्ञासती व्यतिकरं किल तावदेव। यावत्तया सह रहोविलसद्विहारां नैक्षिष्ट नन्दनसुघोषपतेः किशोरीम्॥१८॥
Thus a jealous young woman might angrily seek to learn what had happened—only until she beheld the daughter of Nandana, lord of the splendid cowherd settlement, shining in secret play with him.
Passage 19
यद्रूपमेकगुणमक्षिचकोरिकाभिः पेपीयमानमनिशं व्रजसुन्दरीणाम्। प्रेयस्त्वदीयमनया मिलितं पुनस्तद्द्वैगुण्यमाप परमप्रमुदानवाप्यम्॥१९॥
Her beauty alone is ceaselessly drunk by the cakora-like eyes of Vraja's women. When your beloved beauty joins with hers, it becomes doubled and yields incomparable delight.
Passage 20
सौदामिनीपरिचिता जलदच्छटेव सौवर्णवल्लिमिलितेव तमालपङ्क्तिः। रेखान्विता निकषनीलशिलेव हेम्नः श्रीनन्दनस्य सुतया तव भाति मूर्तिः॥२०॥
Joined with Śrī Nandana's daughter, your form shines like a bank of clouds familiar with lightning, like a row of tamāla trees entwined by a golden vine, or like a dark touchstone streaked with gold.
Passage 21
कान्तिं तव नाथ समुदीक्ष्य कृतार्थयेत् स्वे नेत्रे कलानिधिसुरक्तचकोरकाभे। रूपं त्वदीयमरविन्दविलोचनायाः श्रीनन्दनस्य सुतयाधिकजातशोभम्॥२१॥
Lord, one makes one's moon-loving, cakora-like eyes fruitful by beholding your radiance—your form gaining still greater beauty beside lotus-eyed Śrī Nandana's daughter.
Passage 22
सापत्न्यभावजममर्षमुपेयिवद्भ्यः सौन्दर्यसारपरमामृतवञ्चिताभ्यः। तस्याः स्त्रियो नु किमलम्भि विलोचनाभ्यां या त्वद्गतां प्रियतमां तव नैव पश्येत्॥२२॥
What could women overcome by co-wife jealousy, and thus deprived of the supreme nectar that is beauty's essence, ever gain from their eyes if they did not behold your dearest beloved wholly absorbed in you?
Passage 23
त्रैलोक्यरूपमदसंहतिकारि नित्यं बद्धादरं तव रघूद्वह लोचनाभ्याम्। भोज्यमानममृताधिकतर्षकारि स्वादावहं जयति तत्सहजास्वरूपम्॥२३॥
Scion of Raghu, Sahajā's form eternally destroys the combined pride of beauty in the three worlds. Reverently feasted upon by your eyes, its sweetness triumphs while producing a thirst greater than nectar can satisfy. Sītā Prays for Service
Passage 24
मां पातु नित्यरमणी तव नाथ शश्वत्प्रेमप्रमोदमयमञ्जुलमूर्तिरेषा। सामर्थ्यजुष्टश्रुतिशिरांस्यतिवर्त्य भूयो योगीन्द्रवृन्दहृदयानि च वर्तमाना॥२४॥
Lord, may this eternal beloved of yours protect me—her lovely form made of everlasting loving joy, transcending even the powerful Upaniṣads and dwelling beyond them in the hearts of the greatest yogins.
Passage 25
उद्रिक्तभूरिकरुणामृतशश्वदार्द्रा दृष्टिं दधातु मयि सा सततं स्वकीयाम्। या संददाति भवतश्चरणारविन्दे पूर्णां रतिं परमयोगिभिरर्थनीयाम्॥२५॥
May she always cast upon me her own glance, perpetually moist with the abundant nectar of overflowing compassion—the glance that grants complete love for your lotus feet, sought by the highest yogins.
Passage 26
भूयो मदीक्षणकनीनिकयोरजस्रं पीयूषवर्षि युवयोर्युगलं सलीलम्। श्रीमत्प्रमोदवनगह्वरवीथिकासु बिभ्रद्रहोविहरणं वसतु प्रकामम्॥२६॥
May your playful pair, ceaselessly showering nectar, dwell forever in the pupils of my eyes, enjoying secret wanderings along the deep pathways of glorious Pramodavana.
Passage 27
पुष्पाङ्गरागचमरातपत्रतालवृन्तताम्बूलसम्पुटविभूषणधारिकासु। या कापि संनिधिगता परिचारिकासु भूत्वापि दर्शनसुखं युवयोर्लभेय॥२७॥
May I become any attendant in your presence—one who carries flowers, cosmetics, a yak-tail fan, parasol, palm fan, betel box, or ornaments—and thereby attain the joy of seeing you both.
Passage 28
एताश्च व्रजसुभ्रुवस्तव रहःकेलिप्रमोदस्पृशः प्रेमाम्भोधिलसत्तरङ्गतरलास्तारुण्यलक्ष्मीभृतः। क्रीडन्त्यश्चिरमासतां मम दृशोस्तारा इव श्रीपते याभिर्नैव विना लभे दश दिशो गाढान्धकारावृताः॥२८॥
Lord of Śrī, may these lovely-browed women of Vraja—touched by the joy of your secret play, tremulous like shining waves on love's ocean, bearing the splendor of youth, and absorbed in play—remain forever before my eyes like stars. Without them, all ten directions appear wrapped in dense darkness.
Passage 29
इति स्तुत्वा च नत्वा च गोपीगणेश्वरीं च ताम्। सहजानन्दिनीं सीता नितान्तमरमत्तया॥२९॥
Thus Sītā, utterly absorbed in rasa, praised and bowed to Sahajānandinī, sovereign of the host of gopīs.
Passage 30
श्रीमन्नन्दननन्दिनी च विलसद्गोपीसमाजस्थिता तारामण्डलमण्डितेव सरसा ज्योत्स्नेव सा शारदी। अत्युच्चैः शुशुभेतमां जनकजासङ्गप्रमोदावृता ते चान्योन्यमुपेयतुर्निजनिजव्राताधिपत्यं तदा॥३०॥
Glorious Nandana's daughter, standing amid the radiant assembly of gopīs, shone like the lovely autumn moonlight adorned by a circle of stars. Filled with delight in Janaka's daughter's company, she gleamed supremely; then the two returned to preside over their respective circles. Source Note The Sanskrit follows source leaves 373–375 (printed pages 346–348). The chapter's thirty passages are continuously numbered; the colophon correctly identifies the chapter as ninety-eight.