Passage 1
श्रीशुक उवाच— इत्यादिष्टा सरयूः पुरुषेण भूम्ना तत्रस्थैर्महायोगिभिश्च भूयः। भूयो वन्दिता गङ्गया च कालिन्द्या चाप्यर्चिता दिव्यभावैः॥१॥
Śrī Śuka said: “Thus instructed by the mighty Puruṣa, Sarayū was again honored by the great yogins present there; Gaṅgā bowed to her, and Kālindī worshiped her with divine feeling.
Passage 2
तामुवाच ततो गङ्गा श्रीमद्विष्णुपदोद्गता। प्रश्रयावनता भूत्वा विनयेन कृताञ्जलिः॥२॥
Then Gaṅgā, who arose from glorious Viṣṇu's foot, bowed humbly before her, joined her palms, and spoke with reverence.
Passage 3
गङ्गोवाच— धन्यासि भवती मातः श्रीरामप्रेमरूपिणी। ये च त्वयि निमज्जन्ति तेऽपि धन्या नरा भुवि॥३॥
Gaṅgā said: “Blessed are you, Mother, embodiment of Śrī Rāma-prema; blessed too are the people on earth who immerse themselves in you.
Passage 4
त्वमयोध्यापुरे स्थित्वा प्रमोदवनमण्डिते। रामलीलारसं नित्यं द्रक्ष्यसि प्रतिवासरम्॥४॥
Dwelling at Ayodhyā, adorned by Pramoda forest, you will behold the rasa of Rāma's līlā every day.
Passage 5
त्वं चेन्मां निजसार्थेन कृपयिष्यसि भाविनी। तदाहमपि वै रामलीलां द्रष्टास्मि चिन्मयीम्॥५॥
O loving one, if you graciously include me in your company, then I too shall behold that consciousness-filled Rāma-līlā.”
Passage 6
यमुनोवाच— नमस्ते सरयूरूपे श्रीरामप्रेमसम्पदे। त्वत्सङ्गादहमप्यवगन्तास्मि परमं पदम्॥६॥
Yamunā said: “Salutations to you, Sarayū, treasure of Śrī Rāma-prema. Through your company I too shall attain the supreme abode,
Passage 7
यदामनन्ति मुनयः प्रमोदवनसंज्ञकम्। चिदानन्दमयं नित्यं रामलीलामहास्पदम्॥७॥
which the sages call Pramoda forest—the eternal, consciousness-bliss-filled, great seat of Rāma's līlā.
Passage 8
तन्मां दर्शय कारुण्यान्निजसङ्गं च देहि मे। यथाहमपि पश्येयं रामलीलां मनोहराम्॥८॥
Out of compassion, show it to me and grant me your company, so that I too may behold enchanting Rāma-līlā.”
Passage 9
सरस्वत्युवाच— प्रेमानन्दमयी साक्षाद्रामलीलाविशारदा। प्रसीद मयि मातस्त्वं सरयूर्विश्वपाविनी॥९॥
Sarasvatī said: “You are love's bliss itself and expert in Rāma-līlā. Mother Sarayū, purifier of the universe, be gracious to me.
Passage 10
निजसार्थे स्थापयास्मान् यथा पश्येम तत्पदम्। रामलीलारसागारं प्रमोदवनमुत्तमम्॥१०॥
Place us in your own company so that we may behold that supreme Pramoda forest, the treasury of the rasa of Rāma's līlā.
Passage 11
कथं तद्दृश्यतां मातर्विना त्वत्करुणाभरम्। तस्माद्यत्र स्थास्यसि त्वं तत्र स्थास्यामहे वयम्॥११॥
Mother, how can it be seen without the fullness of your compassion? Therefore, wherever you dwell, there we too shall dwell.”
Passage 12
गायत्र्युवाच— अहं वै छन्दसां माता वाञ्छामि तव संनिधिम्। प्रमोदविपिने रामलीलारससुखाप्तये॥१२॥
Gāyatrī said: “I am the mother of the Vedic meters, and I long for your presence so that I may attain the joy of Rāma-līlā's rasa in Pramoda forest.”
Passage 13
सावित्र्युवाच— यत्ते विज्ञापितं मातर्गायत्र्या सुरसेव्यया। तदेव मम विज्ञाप्यं श्रूयतां करुणावति॥१३॥
Sāvitrī said: “Compassionate Mother, my request is the very one that god-served Gāyatrī has placed before you; please hear it.”
Passage 14
अरुन्धत्युवाच— असारं जगदेवेदं सारं ब्रह्म परं महः। तच्च रामस्वरूपं तत्प्रेममात्रेण लभ्यते॥१४॥
Arundhatī said: “This world is without lasting essence; the true essence is Brahman, the supreme radiance. That is Rāma's own form and is attained only through prema for him.
Passage 15
तत्प्रेम चित्सुखाकारं भवत्याः परमं वपुः। तस्मात्त्वत्सार्थगा नित्यं निवत्स्यामि महोदके॥१५॥
That love, formed of conscious bliss, is your supreme body. Therefore, great river, I shall remain forever in your company.”
Passage 16
लोपामुद्रोवाच— अहं जानामि ते रूपं रामप्रेमैकविग्रहम्। तस्मात्त्वां न विहास्यामि साररूपां सनातनीम्॥१६॥
Lopāmudrā said: “I know your form to be the single embodiment of Rāma-prema. Therefore I shall not leave you, eternal one whose form is the essence.
Passage 17
प्रमोदवनमभ्येत्य स्थास्यामि तव संनिधौ। द्रक्ष्यामि तां प्रभोर्लीलां श्रीरामस्य परात्मनः॥१७॥
Reaching Pramoda forest, I shall stay beside you and behold the līlā of Lord Śrī Rāma, the Supreme Self.”
Passage 18
गार्ग्युवाच— अहं भर्तुः प्रसादेन ब्रह्मानन्दमहोदधौ। निमग्ना त्वत्प्रसादेन प्रेमानन्दं प्रकामये॥१८॥
Gārgī said: “By my husband's grace I am immersed in the great ocean of Brahmānanda; through your grace I now long for the bliss of prema.”
Passage 19
मैत्रेय्युवाच— कृपयस्व परं मातर्यथाहमपि सन्ततम्। श्रीरामप्रेमपाथोधौ लमे किमपि विप्रुषः॥१९॥
Maitreyī said: “Supreme Mother, show me compassion so that I too may always receive at least one drop from the ocean of Śrī Rāma-prema.”
Passage 20
पार्वत्युवाच— अहं वंशीरवं श्रुत्वा रामस्य सुमनोहरम्। पत्युः शिवस्याङ्कस्थापि जहामि मनसो धृतिम्॥२०॥
Pārvatī said: “Hearing the enchanting sound of Rāma's flute, I lose all composure even while seated upon my husband Śiva's lap.
Passage 21
तदहं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि रामं त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरम्। त्वत्सार्थेन गमिष्यामि प्रमोदवनमुत्तमम्॥२१॥
I desire to behold Rāma, beauty of the three worlds, and shall go with your company to supreme Pramoda forest.”
Passage 22
लक्ष्मीरुवाच— अहं वैकुण्ठगा नित्यं विष्णोर्वक्षसि संस्थिता। तथापि कामये रामं लीलानन्दरसात्मकम्॥२२॥
Lakṣmī said: “I dwell eternally in Vaikuṇṭha upon Viṣṇu's chest, yet still I long for Rāma, whose essence is the rasa of līlā-bliss.
Passage 23
तस्मात्त्वत्सार्थगा भूत्वा यास्यामि प्रमुदाटवीम्। कृपया मां निरीक्षस्व श्रीरामप्रेमसिद्धये॥२३॥
Therefore I shall join your company and go to Pramoda forest. Look upon me with grace so that I may perfect Śrī Rāma-prema.”
Passage 24
रतिरुवाच— अहं ते दासिका काचित्पादाब्जपरिचारिका। न मां त्वं त्यक्तुमर्हासि रामप्रेमाभिलाषुकाम्॥२४॥
Rati said: “I am your humble servant, an attendant of your lotus feet. You should not abandon me, for I yearn for Rāma-prema.”
Passage 25
शच्युवाच— यथा रतिस्तथैवाहं दासी ते प्रेमरूपिणी। न मां वै रोचते लोको यत्रेन्द्रद्युतिभूतयः॥२५॥
Śacī said: “Like Rati, I too am your servant, O embodiment of love. I take no delight in the world where Indra's splendors abound.
Passage 26
नय मां निजसार्थेन प्रमोदवनभूमिकाम्। अगम्यामितरैर्लोकैः श्रीरामरतिवर्जितैः॥२६॥
Lead me with your company to the ground of Pramoda forest, inaccessible to other realms devoid of love for Śrī Rāma.”
Passage 27
अनसूयोवाच— भर्ता मे भगवान् साक्षाच्चित्रकूटे यदाश्रमः। श्रीरामप्रेमसंयुक्तस्तस्याहं परमा प्रिया। त्वत्संनिधौ स्थातुमर्हा न मां त्वं त्यक्तुमर्हसि॥२७॥
Anasūyā said: “My husband is a manifest lord whose āśrama stands at Citrakūṭa, and he is filled with Śrī Rāma-prema; I am supremely dear to him. I am fit to remain beside you, so you should not leave me.”
Passage 28
दित्यदिती ऊचतुः— आवां प्रजापतेर्भार्ये देवतासुरमातरी। तव सङ्गेन वै मातर्भविष्यावो हरी रते॥२८॥
Diti and Aditi said: “We are the two wives of Prajāpati, mothers of gods and Asuras. Through your company, Mother, we shall become devoted to Hari.
Passage 29
तस्मादावां नेष्यसि त्वं कृपया श्रीकृपावती। प्रमोदवनमत्यर्थं रामलीलामनोहरम्॥२९॥
Therefore, gracious one, kindly take us to Pramoda forest, utterly enchanting through Rāma's līlā.”
Passage 30
देवहूतिरुवाच— अहं कपिलदेवस्य जननी कर्दमस्य च। प्रजापतेः प्रिया भार्या रामप्रेमाभिलाषुका॥३०॥
Devahūti said: “I am mother of Lord Kapila and beloved wife of the Prajāpati Kardama, and I long for Rāma-prema.
Passage 31
तदर्थं त्वामहं प्राप्ता यास्यामि प्रमुदाटवीम्। हस्तावलम्बं वितर त्वं परप्रेमरूपिणी॥३१॥
For that purpose I have come to you and shall go to Pramoda forest. O embodiment of supreme love, extend your supporting hand to me.”
Passage 32
मेधाद्या दशपीठस्थाः शक्तयः सरयूं प्रति। ऊचिरे वचनं सर्वाः सानुरागाः पृथक् पृथक्॥३२॥
Then the ten powers who dwell in the sacred seats, beginning with Medhā, each lovingly addressed Sarayū.
Passage 33
मेधाद्या ऊचुः— पार्वत्यो देवता दिव्या विष्णुरुद्रादिरूपिणः। तासां वयं पीठशक्तिरूपेण खलु संस्थिताः॥३३॥
Medhā and the others said: “The Pārvatīs are divine goddesses bearing forms such as Viṣṇu and Rudra; we indeed abide as the powers of their sacred seats.
Passage 34
अधुना त्वामभ्युपेताः श्रीरामप्रेमकामुकाः। दोलान्तसंस्थिता नित्यं याने पीठान्तसंस्थिताः॥३४॥
Now, desiring Śrī Rāma-prema, we have approached you. We shall remain within your swing and abide upon the seats in your vehicle.
Passage 35
नित्यं त्वां सेवयिष्यामो यत्र यत्र गमिष्यसि। प्रमोदवनमभ्येत्य स्थास्यामस्तव संनिधौ॥३५॥
We shall always serve you wherever you go, and upon reaching Pramoda forest we shall dwell beside you.”
Passage 36
इति विज्ञाप्य सरयूं सकलास्ताः पृथक् पृथक्। द्रवरूपेण सम्भूय विविशुस्तन्महोदके॥३६॥
Having each made her request to Sarayū, all of them assumed liquid form and entered her great waters.
Passage 37
गङ्गा च यमुना चैव तथा देवी सरस्वती। द्रवरूपं समास्थाय विविशुः सरयूजले॥३७॥
Gaṅgā, Yamunā, and the goddess Sarasvatī assumed liquid form and entered Sarayū's water.
Passage 38
अन्याश्च देवताः सर्वा लोपामुद्रादयस्तदा। द्रवीभूय सरय्वां ता विविशुः सुखितान्तराः॥३८॥
All the other goddesses too, beginning with Lopāmudrā, melted into liquid and joyfully entered Sarayū.
Passage 39
ततः सा सरयूदेवी महाकल्लोलनिःस्वनैः। तरङ्गबाहुसाहस्रैरम्पती कनकावनीम्॥३९॥
Then the goddess Sarayū, roaring with great waves and extending a thousand wave-arms, filled the golden earth.
Passage 40
सुसङ्गता विरजया ब्रह्मनद्या महौजसा। ततश्च तामभिप्राप्ता सरयू प्रेमरूपिणी॥४०॥
The love-formed Sarayū then reached the greatly radiant Virajā, the river of Brahman, and joined her in blessed union.
Passage 41
अभिजग्राह विरजा ब्रह्मलोकमहानदी। अत्यादरेण मिलिता सम्मुखीभूय सा ततः। तरङ्गबाहुप्रसरैरालिलिङ्ग सरिद्वराम्॥४१॥
Virajā, the great river of Brahmaloka, received her. Meeting Sarayū face to face with the highest honor, she embraced the excellent river with her outspread wave-arms.