Passage 1
द्युम्नोवाच— सुकलो नाम गोपालः प्रमोदविपिने महत्। कुलं रूपं च बिभ्राणो धनं चाभिजनं तथा॥१॥
Dyumnā said: “In Pramodā Forest lived a cowherd named Sukala, endowed with a great family, beauty, wealth, and noble birth.
Passage 2
रामं नटन्तं संश्रुत्य प्रमोदविपिनान्तरे। गणैः स्त्रीणां मृगाक्षीणां प्रत्येकं श्लिष्टबाहुभिः॥२॥
“He heard that Rāma danced within Pramodā Forest among groups of doe-eyed women, each one clasping him with her arms.
Passage 3
बभूव गोपवंश्यस्य हृदये परमा स्पृहा। ईदृशाय मनोज्ञाय नायकाय महात्मने॥३॥
“A supreme longing then arose in the heart of that descendant of cowherds: for such a captivating, great-souled hero,
Passage 4
सुन्दरी चेद्भवेत्पुत्री ध्यात्वा सोऽयं पतिं भजेत्। तदा तस्याः प्रसङ्गेन वयं यास्याम धन्यताम्॥४॥
“‘If a beautiful daughter were born to me, she could regard him as her husband and worship him. Through our association with her, we too would attain blessedness.’
Passage 5
अयं हि पूर्णपुरुषो रामः कमललोचनः। कामतत्त्वैकलीलाभिः सेवते स्वात्मसम्पदम्॥५॥
“This lotus-eyed Rāma is indeed the Complete Person. Through līlās that embody the very principle of divine desire, he delights in the treasure of his own being.
Passage 6
इति विज्ञाय रामस्य सहजं गोपराट् स्वयम्। रामलीलामुपासीन आरराध परां श्रियम्॥६॥
“Knowing this to be Rāma's innate nature, the cowherd king himself devoted his heart to Rāma's līlā and worshipped supreme Śrī.
Passage 7
परा श्री रामसौन्दर्यमोहितापूर्वमेव सा। उद्यमाद्गोपराजस्य तपोव्रतसमाधिभिः॥७॥
“That supreme Śrī had already been enchanted by Rāma's beauty. Through the cowherd king's exertion, austerities, vows, and meditative absorption,
Passage 8
तोषिता त्वरिता प्राह भूत्वा साक्षात्तमिन्दिरा। अहमेव भविष्यामि गोपराज गृहे तव॥८॥
“Indirā became pleased, immediately appeared before him, and said: ‘Cowherd king, I myself will be born in your home.
Passage 9
वशीकृत्य तथा रामं दास्यामि करयोस्तव। ततः सर्वसुखोपेते समये स्त्रीग्रहोदये॥९॥
“‘Bringing Rāma under my loving sway, I shall place him in your hands.’ Then, at a time endowed with every happiness, when an auspicious feminine constellation arose,
Passage 10
अजायत सुता तस्य गोपवर्यस्य वेश्मनि। वामाङ्गी विद्युदाकारा प्रभापुञ्जनिभाकृतिः॥१०॥
“A daughter was born in the eminent cowherd's home. Lovely-limbed and lightning-formed, her figure resembled a mass of radiance.
Passage 11
उत्फुल्लपद्मवदना तथेन्दीवरलोचना। तस्यां संजातमात्रायां रक्तबिम्बाधरत्विषा॥११॥
“Her face was a fully opened lotus and her eyes were blue water lilies. As soon as she was born, the glow of her lips, red as bimba fruit,
Passage 12
प्राची रागो दिशां जातः प्रमोदश्च व्यवर्धत। द्युम्नेति नाम चक्रेऽस्याः स्वयं तत्र प्रजापतिः॥१२॥
“Colored the eastern quarter among all the directions, and joy increased. Prajāpati himself gave her the name Dyumnā.
Passage 13
दिने दिने वर्धमाना वपुषा कान्तिधोरणी। सहजेनैव देहेन व्यधोतन्त दिशोऽखिलाः॥१३॥
“Growing day by day, she was a torrent of splendor in bodily form. Every direction flashed with the radiance of her natural body.
Passage 14
दुन्दुभीनां निनादश्च देवलोके व्यजायत। कदाचित्सप्तमं वर्षमतीत्याष्टममागता॥१४॥
“The sounding of celestial drums arose in the world of the gods. In due course she passed her seventh year and entered her eighth. Rāma's Enchantment and Sahajā's Curse
Passage 15
ईषद्विभक्तावयवा दृष्टा रामेण संसदि। मूर्छितो न्यपतद् रामो मुग्धवद्धरणीतले॥१५॥
“When her limbs had begun to show the first signs of maturity, Rāma saw her in the assembly. He fainted and fell upon the ground like one utterly enchanted.
Passage 16
सुखितस्य गवेन्द्रस्य कुमारं रूपसुन्दरम्। धावित्वा गोकुलात्सद्यः पर्यरक्षन् मुनीश्वराः॥१६॥
“Great sages immediately ran from Gokula and gathered protectively around the handsome prince of the cowherd king Sukhita.
Passage 17
सुखितश्चैव माङ्गल्या गोपीनां च तथा गणाः। धनं निर्मञ्छयांचक्रुः स्वात्मानमपि दुर्लभम्॥१७॥
“Sukhita, Māṅgalyā, and the groups of cowherd women performed the rite of warding off evil with their wealth and even with their own precious selves.
Passage 18
केनचिद्भौतिकी छाया भूतावेशेति केनचित्। दृष्टिप्रचारेति परैः कूटमुष्टीति केनचित्॥१८॥
“One person called it the shadow of an elemental being, another spirit possession; others called it the effect of an evil glance, and still another a concealed blow.
Passage 19
बहुधा तर्कयामासुः प्रभो मायामयीं गतिम्। यस्यादिदं समुद्भूतं तत्र केचन जज्ञिरे॥१९॥
“In many ways they reasoned about the Lord's condition, fashioned by māyā. Yet some recognized there the one from whom all this universe has arisen.
Passage 20
ततः पूर्वानुरागाख्यं प्रेम संववृधेतराम्। बाल्यशेषं समुल्लङ्घ्य वर्तमानो दिने दिने॥२०॥
“Then the love called prior attraction grew exceedingly. Passing beyond the remainder of childhood, it advanced day by day.
Passage 21
कैशोर्यं लोकसुखदौ सर्वानन्दौ बभूवतुः। अहो द्युम्नाख्यया गोपकन्यया हृदयं हृतम्॥२१॥
“The two entered adolescence, giving happiness to the world and becoming complete bliss. ‘Ah, the cowherd maiden named Dyumnā has stolen Rāma's heart!’
Passage 22
रामस्य स्वाभिरामस्येत्येवं स मुमुदेतराम्। सुकलो नाम गोपालो मन्यमानो जनुः फलम्॥२२॥
“Thinking thus about the self-delighting Rāma, the cowherd Sukala rejoiced exceedingly and regarded his birth as fruitful.
Passage 23
इति श्रुत्वा तु सहजा न सेहे व्यभिचारिताम्। रामस्य विश्वारामस्य द्युम्नां दग्धुं मनो दधे॥२३॥
“But when Sahajā heard this, she could not bear what she saw as the unfaithfulness of Rāma, the repose of the universe, and resolved to burn Dyumnā.
Passage 24
ततः कदाचिन्निविडे निकुञ्जे द्युम्नावतीं रामसम्प्रसक्ताम्। श्रुत्वा सपत्नीं स्वसखीमुखेभ्यो जवेन तं देशमुपाजगाम॥२४॥
“Later she heard from her own companions that her rival Dyumnāvatī was deeply attached to Rāma in a secluded bower, and she rushed to that place.
Passage 25
अये त्वमस्मत्प्रियमीड्यरूपं भूपं यथा श्रीः परराजधानी। का त्वं वशीकृत्य रहोऽभिभुङ्क्षे व्यक्तं तवेदं प्रबभूव चौर्यम्॥२५॥
“‘Hey! Who are you to bring our beloved, worshipful king under your control and enjoy him in secret, like sovereign splendor occupying another's capital? Your theft has now become plain.’
Passage 26
इत्युदीर्य रुषारक्ता संरब्धा सहजेश्वरी। स्थावरीं योनिमायास्वेत्येवं सहसाशपत्॥२६॥
“Speaking thus, sovereign Sahajā reddened with anger and, greatly enraged, suddenly cursed her: ‘Enter an immobile form of birth!’
Passage 27
अहं च तस्याः सौन्दर्यं सहजानन्दिनी श्रियः। संवीक्ष्य द्रवतां याता नदीरूपा ततोऽभवम्॥२७॥
“Beholding the beauty of that glorious Sahajānandinī, I melted and thereafter became a river. The River's Appeal and the Path Back to Rāma
Passage 28
कदाचिन्मज्जले शीते चन्द्रचन्दनसौरभे। ग्रीष्मे समाप्लुतो रामः प्रससाद चिरं स्थितम्॥२८॥
“One summer Rāma immersed himself in my cool water, fragrant with moonlight and sandalwood. Remaining there for a long time, he became pleased.
Passage 29
रामं प्रसन्नमालक्ष्य समुत्थाय नदीजलात्। अहं पुरःस्फुरद्रूपा प्रार्थयामास तं प्रभुम्॥२९॥
“Seeing Rāma pleased, I rose from the river water, manifested my form before him, and petitioned the Lord.
Passage 30
राम राम गुणाराम स्वाराम सुखसम्पदाम्। विरामय स्थावरत्वं मदीयमिदमीश्वर॥३०॥
“‘Rāma, Rāma—delight of all virtues, self-delighting treasury of bliss—Lord, bring this immobile condition of mine to an end.’
Passage 31
श्रीराम उवाच— व्यक्तं गता स्थावरता तवेयं स्त्रीरूपमासाद्य पुरो विभासि। महार्हमाणिक्यमयीं विशालां मालां समन्तादुरसा वहन्ती॥३१॥
Śrī Rāma said: “‘Your immobile condition has plainly passed away. Having assumed a woman's form, you shine before me, bearing across your breast a broad garland made of precious jewels.
Passage 32
तदाहं रामसौन्दर्यसन्दोहप्रवशीकृता। प्रत्युवाच प्रभुं स्मित्वा लोकोत्तरगुणाकृतिम्॥३२॥
“Subjugated by the mass of Rāma's beauty, I smiled and replied to the Lord, whose form embodies virtues beyond this world.
Passage 33
त्वमेव पूर्ववद् राम कान्तो भव ममानिशम्। प्रमोदवनवीथीषु रंस्यावो दिव्यरतिभिः॥३३॥
“‘Rāma, be my beloved forever, just as before. Let us delight in divine loves along the pathways of Pramodā Forest.’
Passage 34
श्रीराम उवाच— इदं तु सहजानन्दा प्राणेशो वेत्ति सर्वशः। विना तस्या अनुमतिं प्रतिजानामि नैव च॥३४॥
Śrī Rāma said: “‘Sahajānandā, sovereign of my life, knows all of this. Without her permission, I will make no promise.
Passage 35
यावत्सारस्वतं कल्पं सहजाऽऽराध्यतां त्वया। प्राप्ते सारस्वते कल्पे कृतकृत्या भविष्यसि॥३५॥
“‘Until the Sārasvata kalpa arrives, worship Sahajā. When that kalpa comes, you will have accomplished your purpose.’
Passage 36
साहमेतावदाराध्य प्रमोदवनकेलिनीम्। सहजां साधितवती रामकान्तवराप्तये॥३६॥
“Thus, for all this time, I worshipped Sahajā, who sports in Pramodā Forest, and won her favor so that I might receive the boon of Rāma as my beloved.
Passage 37
इदानीं श्रीव्रजेशानीसहजाकरुणादृशा। रामं कान्तं समासाद्य गमिष्यामि कृतार्थताम्॥३७॥
“Now, through the compassionate glance of Sahajā, glorious queen of Vraja, I shall attain Rāma as my beloved and fulfill my purpose.
Passage 38
दानेन ज्ञानकर्मभ्यां ध्यानेन तपसा तथा। समाधिनार्पणेनापि रामे भक्तिः प्रसाध्यते॥३८॥
“Devotion to Rāma is perfected through generosity, knowledge and sacred action, meditation, austerity, absorption, and self-offering.
Passage 39
सिद्धायां फलभक्तौ तु स्वयं रामोऽपि साधितः। तेनाहं सहजानन्दासार्धं जनक ते गृहे। अवतीर्णास्मि कन्येति पालनीयास्मि साम्प्रतम्॥३९॥
“When devotion ripens into its fruit, Rāma himself is won. Therefore, Janaka, I have descended into your home together with Sahajānandā as a daughter; now I too am to be cherished and protected.”