Passage 1
घोषवत्युवाच— अस्ति सान्तपनः शैलो रत्नसानुसमाकृतिः। नानाद्रुमवनाकीर्णो लतामण्डपमण्डितः॥१॥
Ghoṣavatī said: “There is a mountain named Sāntapana, formed with jeweled peaks, filled with forests of many kinds of trees, and adorned with bowers of vines.
Passage 2
रामनामाङ्कितशिलो महाप्रस्तरदुस्तरः। अनेकरत्नधात्वादिविचित्रितदरीगृहः॥२॥
“Its stones are marked with Rāma's name, and its immense rocky reaches are difficult to cross. Its caves are variegated with many jewels, minerals, and other wonders.
Passage 3
पारिजातद्रुमलतामण्डपैर्गहनाकृतिः। गायद्गन्धर्ववनिताविलासरहःसंस्थलः॥३॥
“Dense with bowers of pārijāta trees and vines, it contains secluded playgrounds where Gandharva women sing.
Passage 4
स्रवन्निर्झरसन्दोहसंसिक्तदृषदुत्करः। पदे पदे स्खलन्मुक्तामणिसिंहपदाङ्कितः॥४॥
“Its masses of stone are drenched by hosts of streaming waterfalls, and at every step scattered pearls, jewels, and lion tracks mark the ground.
Passage 5
मदेभमारणोद्युक्तमृगाधिपनिकेतनः। देवदारुद्रुमवनीकूजत्कोकिलकाहलः॥५॥
“It is the home of lion-kings intent on bringing down rutting elephants, and its deodar groves resound with the tumultuous calls of cuckoos.
Passage 6
कोलाहलितवर्हीकयाचिताम्भोदधर्घरः। कश्यपस्य मुनीन्द्रस्य तनूजः पर्वताकृतिः॥६॥
“Its thunderclouds roar as if petitioned by clamorous peacocks. This mountain-bodied being was a son of the great sage Kaśyapa.
Passage 7
सुमेरोस्तनयां हैमीमुपयेमे नगेश्वरः। विजहार तया सार्धं सुमेरुगिरिकन्यया॥७॥
“The mountain lord married Haimī, daughter of Sumeru, and delighted with that maiden of Mount Sumeru.
Passage 8
धनुर्बाणादिभगवच्चिह्नमण्डितगात्रया। स्वयं च भगवच्चिह्नमण्डिताखिलविग्रहः॥८॥
“Her limbs bore the Lord's signs—the bow, arrow, and others—while his entire form likewise bore divine emblems.
Passage 9
महाभागवतः शैलो विजहे बहुमङ्गलैः। तस्य चैवं विहरतो भोगैः संसरणात्मकैः॥९॥
“The mountain was a great devotee and lived amid abundant auspiciousness. As he sported in this way with the enjoyments belonging to worldly existence,
Passage 10
तस्यामेव धर्मपत्न्यां गर्भः शुद्धोऽभ्यजायत। तस्मिन्नेव तु कालेऽहं क्रीडन्ती सहजालिभिः॥१०॥
“A pure child was conceived in that lawful wife. At that very time I was sporting with Sahajā's companions,
Passage 11
रसालकुञ्जविपिने मदमत्ता व्यचीचरम्। तदैव त्रिदशानीकैः पौलस्त्यभयविप्लुतैः॥११॥
“Roaming intoxicated with love through a forest of mango bowers. Just then, hosts of gods who were overwhelmed by fear of Pulastya's descendants—
Passage 12
उपासांचक्रे भगवान् विष्णुः क्षीरपयोनिधौ। स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलास्याभिः संहिताक्रमसूक्तिभिः॥१२॥
“—worshipped Lord Viṣṇu in the ocean of milk with abundant praises and hymns arranged in the order of the sacred collections.
Passage 13
स्तुतोऽनिरुद्धो भगवान् प्रादुरास स्वयं हरिः। शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गैर्विभूषितकराम्बुजः॥१३॥
“Praised in this way, the unrestrained Lord Hari manifested in person, his lotus hands adorned with conch, discus, mace, and Śārṅga bow.
Passage 14
नीलनीरदनीलाभो मकरीचन्दनोक्षितः। पीताम्बरपरीधानः प्रद्युम्न इव कान्तिभिः॥१४॥
“He shone dark blue like a raincloud, anointed with makarikā sandal paste, wearing a yellow garment, and radiant like Pradyumna.
Passage 15
कमलाभूषितोरस्कोऽरुणपद्मजलोचनः। गम्भीरनाभिसंस्थानस्त्रिवलीललितोदरः॥१५॥
“A lotus adorned his chest and his eyes were red lotus petals. His navel was deep, and three graceful folds beautified his abdomen.
Passage 16
श्रीरत्नमेखलाकूजत्किङ्किणीगणसंकुलः। शृङ्गारपादपनिभः कुसुमाकृतिसुस्मितः॥१६॥
“Clusters of little bells sounded from his splendid jeweled girdle. He resembled a wish-fulfilling tree of love, and his lovely smile had the form of a flower.
Passage 17
वैजयन्तीयुतोरस्को बृहत्कौस्तुभमण्डितः। सान्द्रस्निग्धया वाचा प्रोवाच संस्मिताननः। ब्रह्मादींश्चैव मृडादीन् देवांश्चैव मुनींस्तथा॥१७॥
“With the Vaijayantī garland upon his chest and the great Kaustubha adorning him, he smiled and addressed Brahmā, Mṛḍa, the other gods, and the sages in a deeply gentle voice. Viṣṇu Enters Rāma's Secret Vraja Realm
Passage 18
श्रीभगवानुवाच— ज्ञातं वोऽग्रे हितं देवाः पौलस्त्यैः पीडितात्मनाम्। विरिञ्चिना च रुद्रेण पौलस्त्यास्तपसो जिताः॥१८॥
The Lord said: “‘Gods, I know the welfare you seek while suffering under the descendants of Pulastya. Through their austerities those descendants have conquered the favor of Brahmā and Rudra.
Passage 19
प्रतिलब्धवराः सर्वे निर्जेया रामं विना। सोऽहं वः प्रविधास्यामि हितं देवत्वमीयुषाम्॥१९॥
“‘Having received their boons, none of them can be defeated without Rāma. I shall therefore arrange what benefits all of you who bear divine office.
Passage 20
प्रमोदविपिनं गत्वा साकेतस्य समन्ततः। रामधाम परं गुह्यं नित्यं तज्जनमण्डितम्॥२०॥
“‘I shall go to Pramodā Forest within Sāketa, Rāma's supremely secret abode, eternally adorned by his own people.
Passage 21
तत्राहं विक्रमं कृत्वा करिष्ये वो हितं महत्। देवद्रुहां धर्मरुजां त्रयीप्रोज्झितवर्त्मनाम्॥२१॥
“‘There I shall undertake a bold endeavor for your great benefit against the enemies of the gods, the injurers of dharma, and those who have abandoned the Vedic path.
Passage 22
सतां च स्थापनं कार्यं करिष्यामि न संशयः। रामस्य सम्मुखे स्थित्वा करिष्ये विनयं बहु॥२२॥
“‘I shall undoubtedly accomplish the work of establishing the righteous. Standing before Rāma, I shall make an earnest appeal.’
Passage 23
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् विष्णुर्ब्रह्ममृड्वादिकान् गणान्। विसृज्य त्रिदशान् सर्वान् प्रमोदविपिनं गतः॥२३॥
“Having spoken thus, Lord Viṣṇu dismissed Brahmā, Mṛḍa, the other divine hosts, and all the gods, and departed for Pramodā Forest.
Passage 24
विधिमेकं पुरस्कृत्य परं धाम व्रजालयम्। दधिमन्थनदण्डोत्थनिर्घातमधुरध्वनिम्॥२४॥
“Taking Brahmā alone before him, he entered the supreme Vraja abode, sweetly resounding with the percussive rhythm raised by churning rods.
Passage 25
अदृष्टपारं वेदेष्वप्यखिलागमवेदिभिः। श्रीरामचन्द्रपूर्णेन्दुचन्द्रिकोदयनिर्भरम्॥२५॥
“Even knowers of all the scriptures and Vedas cannot see its far shore. It is filled with the rising moonlight of the full moon that is Śrī Rāmacandra.
Passage 26
संयोगविप्रयोगाख्यसुधाविषमहामृतम्। खेलद्व्रजजनानेकरत्नपुञ्जसुमञ्जुलम्॥२६॥
“There the nectar and poison called union and separation become a supreme elixir, and the many jewel-like people of Vraja at play make it exquisitely beautiful.
Passage 27
उद्यद्भावोर्मिलहरीप्रेमवीचीविराजितम्। समुद्रमिव दुर्धर्षं रामस्यालयमुत्तमम्॥२७॥
“Rising waves of devotional emotion and ripples of love adorn that highest, unfathomable abode of Rāma like an ocean.
Passage 28
गवेन्द्रसुखितानन्दं नित्यं माङ्गल्यकासुखम्। श्रीरामप्रेमव्याघूर्णद्गोपगोपीजनाञ्चितम्॥२८॥
“It is the joy of cowherd king Sukhita and the perpetual happiness of Māṅgalyakā, honored by cowherd men and women who reel with love for Śrī Rāma.
Passage 29
श्रीरामप्रियसख्युक्तकलवाक्यादिमाञ्चितम्। दूतदूतीसखीसखीनायकाख्यरसाकरम्॥२९॥
“It is graced by the sweet speech of Śrī Rāma's beloved companions and is a treasury of rasa embodied in messengers, female messengers, companions, friends, and the hero.
Passage 30
क्वचित्सरोऽवगाहाख्यदिव्यकेलीकलालयम्। क्वचिद्वसन्तसमयश्रीविलासविभूषितम्॥३०॥
“In one place it is the home of divine pastimes of bathing in a lake; elsewhere it is adorned by the splendid play of springtime.
Passage 31
क्वचिल्लसत्प्रावृषेण्यं रसमत्तदिशावलम्। क्वचिद्रामगुणोद्गानमत्तगोपवधूगणम्॥३१॥
“In one place the shining rainy season makes every direction intoxicated with rasa; elsewhere groups of cowherd women are enraptured while singing Rāma's virtues.
Passage 32
यत्र कामः कदाचित् स्वं क्रीणीतुमतुलं वपुः। आगतः स पुनर्नैव दासेनापि व्यगण्यत॥३२॥
“Once Kāma came there to offer his incomparable form for purchase, yet he was not valued even as a servant.
Passage 33
यत्र सूर्यश्च चन्द्रश्च वेशयित्वा निजं वपुः। दिव्येन मणिवेशेन न मूल्यमलभन्त ताम्॥३३॥
“There the sun and moon clothed their forms in divine jeweled attire, yet neither obtained any price at all. Ghoṣavatī's Curse and River Birth
Passage 34
माङ्गल्यकारमादासीपादाब्जनखनिर्जितः। प्रपञ्चरचनातीतं यत्र शिल्पं विधेरपि॥३४॥
“There even the artistry of Brahmā, creator of the cosmos, is surpassed by the nails of a maidservant's lotus feet; its craftsmanship transcends the construction of the manifested world.
Passage 35
चिदानन्दमयं धाम तद्दृष्ट्वा चकितावुभौ। रसालकुञ्जविपिने क्रीडन्तीं मां विलोक्य तौ॥३५॥
“The two were astonished on seeing that abode made of consciousness and bliss. They beheld me sporting in the forest of mango bowers.
Passage 36
क्व रामः पुण्डरीकाक्षः सहजानन्दिनीसखः। इत्यूचतुः सविनयं नत्वा च व्रजभक्तितः॥३६॥
“Bowing with devotion to Vraja, they humbly asked, ‘Where is lotus-eyed Rāma, the beloved companion of Sahajānandinī?’
Passage 37
अहं श्रीरामसत्प्रेमरसोन्मत्ता व्रजाङ्गना। न किञ्चिदुत्तरितवत्येतौ विनयतत्परौ॥३७॥
“I was a woman of Vraja intoxicated with the rasa of true love for Śrī Rāma, and I gave no answer at all to those two earnest petitioners.
Passage 38
तदा तु रजसा ब्रह्मा प्राविर्भूतरुषान्वितः। स्थावरत्वं प्रपद्यस्वेत्येवं शापमदात्प्रभुः॥३८॥
“Then Brahmā, overcome by rajas and manifest anger, pronounced this curse: ‘Enter an immobile condition!’
Passage 39
शापोद्यतं विधिं दृष्ट्वा विष्णुः क्षोभं तदाकरोत्। ब्रह्मन्नत्यन्तमज्ञोऽसि न जानासि व्रजस्थितिम्॥३९॥
“Seeing Brahmā intent on cursing me, Viṣṇu became agitated and said: ‘Brahmā, you are utterly ignorant; you do not understand the state of Vraja.
Passage 40
कोटयो ब्रह्मणां यत्र लुठन्ति रजसाप्लुताः। कोटयश्चापि विष्णूनां यत्र मुह्यन्ति विभ्रमैः॥४०॥
“‘Here millions of Brahmās roll in the dust, while millions of Viṣṇus become bewildered by its enchanting play.
Passage 41
कोटयश्चैव रुद्राणां यत्र नृत्यन्ति मत्तवत्। का कथेतरदेवानां पलालप्रायताजुषाम्॥४१॥
“‘Here millions of Rudras dance like those intoxicated. What then can be said of other gods, whose stature is scarcely more than straw?
Passage 42
कस्त्वं वराकः कश्चाहं यतः शब्दो निवर्तते। न च यत्र मनोवृत्तिस्तदानन्दपदं हि तत्॥४२॥
“‘Who are you, poor creature, and who am I in that realm from which words turn back and where no movement of mind can reach? That is truly the station of bliss.
Passage 43
तदिदं धाम रामस्य चिदानन्दस्य मूर्तिमत्। इयं रामप्रेममत्ता गोपिका कापि भाविनी॥४३॥
“‘This very place is the embodied abode of Rāma, who is consciousness and bliss. She is an exalted cowherd woman intoxicated with love for Rāma.
Passage 44
आवां कौ चेति जानाति को वावां चिन्मये पदे। एतद्ध्यनुचितं ब्रह्मन् यच्छापोऽभूदिमां प्रति॥४४॥
“‘Who there knows what you and I amount to within this consciousness-filled realm? Brahmā, it was wholly improper for you to curse her.
Passage 45
अपूज्यत्वं प्रयाहि त्वमस्मान्महदतिक्रमात्। इति शप्त्वा स्वयं विष्णुर्ब्रह्माणं लोकपूजितम्॥४५॥
“‘Because of this grave offense against us, become unworthy of worship.’ Thus Viṣṇu himself cursed Brahmā, though Brahmā was honored by the worlds.
Passage 46
अगात्ततस्तेन सार्धं श्रीरामं पुरुषोत्तमम्। दृष्ट्वा रामं व्रजपतिं मोहितो ब्रह्मणा सह॥४६॥
“He then went with Brahmā to Śrī Rāma, the Supreme Person. Seeing Rāma, lord of Vraja, Viṣṇu was enchanted together with Brahmā.
Passage 47
आज्ञामादाय भगवान् स्वयं विष्णुरुदारधीः। सखीभावं समाश्रित्य ज्ञातयं वितवान् स्वयम्॥४७॥
“Having received the command, magnanimous Lord Viṣṇu personally assumed the disposition and identity of a female companion.
Passage 48
तत्राविष्टः स्वयं रामो रसिकः पुरुषोत्तमः। सहजानन्दिनी चापि तत्प्रियार्थमवातरत्॥४८॥
“Rāma himself, the relisher of rasa and Supreme Person, entered that manifestation; Sahajānandinī also descended for the sake of her beloved.
Passage 49
एवं लीलारसानन्दः स्वादुतां प्रतिपद्यते। अहं च स्थावरं भावं नदीरूपं मनोहरम्॥४९॥
“In this way the bliss of līlā-rasa attains its full sweetness. I, meanwhile, entered an immobile condition in the enchanting form of a river.
Passage 50
समास्थाय सुताजाता तपनाद्रेस्तनूद्भवा। साहं शापविमोक्षस्य कालं प्राप्य तवान्वये॥५०॥
“Assuming that form, I was born as a daughter from the body of Mount Tapana. When the time arrived for release from my curse, I entered your lineage.
Passage 51
स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकृत्य जाता सीताभितुष्टये। एवं नदीरूपमेत्य ततोऽपि सहजासखी। पुनर्जातास्मि राजर्षे कन्यावत्परिपाहि माम्॥५१॥
“I manifested my true self and took birth to delight Sītā. Thus, even after entering river form, I have again been born as Sahajā's companion. Royal sage, protect me as you would a daughter.”