Passage 1
श्रीशुक उवाच— तया सम्मानिता देवी सरयूर्विश्वपाविनी। विश्रान्ता तत्तटे सार्धं मेधाद्याभिश्च शक्तिभिः॥१॥
Śrī Śuka said: “Honored by Virajā, the world-purifying goddess Sarayū rested upon her bank together with the powers beginning with Medhā.
Passage 2
तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे भक्तिमन्तो भवार्चिताः। जाताः प्रसन्नमनसो विरजापारवासिनः॥२॥
Seeing her, all the sages who dwelt beyond Virajā became devoted, reverent, and serene in mind.
Passage 3
तत्र तद्भाति परमं ब्रह्माक्षरमनुत्तमम्। पुरुषोत्तमस्य यद्दिव्यं कीर्तितं पदमुच्चकैः॥३॥
There shines the unsurpassed imperishable Brahman, celebrated as the divine abode of Puruṣottama.
Passage 4
स लोकस्तस्य विमलश्चिन्तामणिमयी मही। कल्पद्रुमा द्रुमाः सर्वे पूर्णपीयूषकं सरः॥४॥
That stainless realm has a ground made of wish-fulfilling jewels; every tree is a wish-granting tree, and its lake is filled with nectar.
Passage 5
ज्ञानिनां तन्निराकारं निरीहं निर्गुणं तथा। तदेव भक्तैः साकारं दृश्यते सगुणं महत्॥५॥
Knowers perceive it as formless, desireless, and without attributes, while devotees behold that same greatness in a personal form endowed with qualities.
Passage 6
तत्र प्रवर्तयामास रामभक्तिमनुत्तमाम्। सरय्वाः सलिलं पीत्वा तत्रत्यास्ते महर्षयः॥६॥
There Sarayū inaugurated unsurpassed devotion to Rāma. The great sages of that realm drank her water,
Passage 7
श्रीरामभक्तिसम्पन्ना बभूवुर्हृष्टचेतसः। ततस्तां विरजा देवी प्रोवाच विगतस्मया। दर्शनेनैव हृष्टात्मा सद्यः प्रेमवती सती॥७॥
and became filled with Śrī Rāma-bhakti, their hearts rejoicing. Then the goddess Virajā, freed from pride and made joyful and loving merely by seeing Sarayū, addressed her.
Passage 8
विरजोवाच— इह ब्रह्मैव परमं गीयते श्रुतिकोटिभिः। ज्ञानगम्यं सदा ज्ञेयं रूक्षवद्भाति तत्सुखम्॥८॥
Virajā said: “Here countless Vedic texts sing only of supreme Brahman, which must always be known through knowledge; yet its happiness now appears dry.
Passage 9
अधुना तु परं प्रेम भवत्या प्रकटीकृतम्। श्रीरामचन्द्रविषयं ब्रह्मानन्दाच्छताधिकम्॥९॥
You have now revealed supreme love directed toward Śrī Rāmacandra, a hundred times greater than Brahmānanda.
Passage 10
सहस्रलक्षकोट्यंशैः स्फुरदभ्यधिकाधिकम्। त्वं गुरुः परमास्माकं श्रीरामप्रेमशिक्षणे॥१०॥
It shines greater still by thousands, hundreds of thousands, and tens of millions of parts. You are our supreme teacher in the discipline of Śrī Rāma-prema.
Passage 11
सदास्माकं गृहे तिष्ठ ब्रह्माक्षरमहापदे। अत्र स्थित्वा ज्ञानवतां मुनीनां ब्रह्मवर्चसाम्॥११॥
Remain always in our home, this great abode of imperishable Brahman, and while staying here teach the wise, Brahman-radiant sages,
Passage 12
प्रवर्तय परां भक्तिं रसास्वादैकहेतवे। नामी विदन्ति प्रेमाणं परब्रह्मरसोत्तरम्॥१२॥
establishing supreme devotion as the sole means of tasting rasa. Even these sages do not know prema, which surpasses the rasa of Parabrahman.
Passage 13
व्यर्थमेषां ततो ज्ञानं गणितानन्दभागिनाम्। मानुषेभ्योऽधिकानन्दाः सम्राजः शतसंख्यया॥१३॥
Their knowledge is therefore fruitless while they partake only of measurable bliss. A universal emperor's joy is a hundred times that of ordinary humans;
Passage 14
सम्राजो यक्षगन्धर्वाः कर्मदेवास्ततोऽपि च। देवाश्च कर्मदेवेभ्यस्तेभ्य इन्द्रस्तथैव च॥१४॥
above emperors are Yakṣas and Gandharvas, then the gods by merit; above those are the gods by birth, and above them is Indra.
Passage 15
इन्द्राच्छताधिकानन्द आङ्गिरस उदारधीः। आङ्गिरसाधिको ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मणो ब्रह्म चाधिकम्॥१५॥
Bṛhaspati's joy is a hundred times Indra's; Brahmā's exceeds Bṛhaspati's, and Brahman's exceeds Brahmā's.
Passage 16
एषानन्दस्य गणना श्रुत्या मीमांसिता पुरा। तस्मादगणितानन्दं परं ब्रह्म प्रकीर्तितम्॥१६॥
The Veda long ago examined this gradation of bliss; therefore Parabrahman is proclaimed immeasurable bliss.
Passage 17
अक्षरात्परतः स्थानं यत्र श्रीपुरुषोत्तमः। परं ब्रह्म तदेवोक्तं साकारं रसरूपधृक्॥१७॥
Beyond the imperishable lies the abode of Śrī Puruṣottama. That alone is called Parabrahman: personal, bearing the very form of rasa.
Passage 18
परं ब्रह्म प्रेमगम्यं प्रेमा भक्तिरुदाहृता। सोऽत्र प्रवर्तितो मातस्त्वया प्रेमस्वरूपया॥१८॥
Parabrahman is reached through prema, and prema is declared to be devotion. Mother, you who embody love have established it here.
Passage 19
तस्मात्तवात्र संस्थानं सततं कामयेऽस्मि च। नो चेदत्र प्रयासि त्वं तत्र मां नय सार्थगाम्॥१९॥
Therefore I desire you to remain here always. If you must leave, then take me there as a member of your company.”
Passage 20
सरयूरुवाच— अहं निदेशात्पुरुषस्य भूम्नस्तत्र प्रयास्यामि विभाति यत्र। पुरी परानन्दपदव्ययोध्या श्रीरामसीतारसकेलिपात्रम्॥२०॥
Sarayū said: “At the command of the mighty Puruṣa I shall go where Ayodhyā shines—the city and abode of supreme bliss, the vessel of Śrī Rāma and Sītā's rasa-play.
Passage 21
तत्र प्रमोदवनमध्यगता सदाहं स्थास्यामि नित्यमुदयं दधती शुभोच्चैः। सत्या महावनिविहारकरी सदैव वर्ते प्रमुद्वनभुवि प्रमुदं दधाना॥२१॥
There, in the midst of Pramoda forest, I shall remain forever, constantly raising an exalted auspicious tide. Truly I shall always move through that great woodland, filling Pramoda's ground with joy.”
Passage 22
विरजोवाच— नय मामपि तत्रैव प्रमोदवनमद्भुतम्। अयोध्यापुरपर्यन्तस्थानमानन्दमन्दिरम्॥२२॥
Virajā said: “Take me also to wondrous Pramoda forest, the abode extending to the bounds of Ayodhyā and the temple of bliss.
Passage 23
गायन्ती त्वद्गुणांस्तत्र स्थास्यामि तव संनिधौ। श्रीरामकेलीसम्भूतपरमानन्दभाजनम्॥२३॥
There I shall remain near you singing your virtues and become a vessel of supreme bliss born from Śrī Rāma's play.”
Passage 24
श्रीशुक उवाच— तथेत्युक्त्वा सरयूस्तां स्वसार्थे सरिद्वरां विरजां जातसख्याम्। कृत्वा ततः सा प्रययौ मन्दमन्दं संशृण्वती स्तवं स्वस्य पुण्यम्॥२४॥
Śrī Śuka said: “Saying ‘So be it,’ Sarayū befriended the excellent river Virajā and included her in her own company. She then moved gently onward, hearing her own sacred hymn. The Sages Praise Sarayū
Passage 25
मुनय ऊचुः— नमो नमस्ते सरयू प्रकामं निजैस्तरङ्गैर्भुवनं पावयन्त्यै। संस्पर्शनाद्दर्शनाच्चाम्बुपानादनेकवक्रेक्षणतां ददासि॥२५॥
The sages said: “Repeated salutations to you, Sarayū, who abundantly purify the world with your waves. By touch, sight, and drinking your water, you grant vision of the Infinite's many faces.
Passage 26
त्वं देवि मायाविषमज्वरघ्नी सुधारसादभ्यधिकं गुणाढ्या। अशोकतामातनुषे जनानां भवापवर्गस्वभिलाषुकाणाम्॥२६॥
Goddess, you destroy the terrible fever of māyā and abound in qualities surpassing nectar. You free from sorrow those who desire liberation from worldly becoming.
Passage 27
तवाम्बुसंस्पर्शनतो भवन्ति पुण्यानि यानि प्रभवं गतानि। न सोमपानां न च वाजपेयिनां न वाश्वमेधावभृथाप्लुतात्मनाम्॥२७॥
The merits arising from contact with your water belong neither to Soma-drinkers, performers of Vājapeya, nor even those bathed after an Aśvamedha.
Passage 28
समीरसङ्गात्तव पाथसः कणैर्गत्वा सुदूरं पशुपक्षिभूरुहाः। विधीयन्ते ब्रह्मभूयाय योग्याः किं वाच्यस्ते महिमा स्नानजन्यः॥२८॥
Droplets of your water carried far by the wind make animals, birds, and trees fit for Brahmanhood; what then need be said of the greatness born from bathing in you?
Passage 29
पायं पायं चुलुकैस्तावकीनं पीयूषाभं वारि निषिक्तदेहः। तृण्वन् ब्रह्माणं तृणवन्मन्यमानः स्वस्थः शेते तीरदेशे तवैव॥२९॥
Drinking your nectar-like water by the palmful and bathing his body in it, a person regards even Brahmā as straw and rests contentedly upon your bank.
Passage 30
न तस्य मृत्युर्न तथापमृत्युर्न कामदीप्तिर्न च मायामदश्च। यस्ते पाथस्यवगाहं तनोति सुधास्रवणं सर्वतापामयघ्ने॥३०॥
Death, untimely death, burning desire, and māyā's pride do not touch one who immerses himself in your nectar-streaming water, destroyer of every fever and disease.
Passage 31
द्रुतो भूयाः पुरुषो रामचन्द्रः प्रेमद्रवः सोऽभवदिन्दुवर्णः। तस्यावगाहाज्जनिभाजो भवन्ति प्रेमप्लुताः सहजानन्दिनीशे॥३१॥
The cosmic Puruṣa melted and became Rāmacandra, the moon-hued liquid of love. By immersion in that stream, embodied beings are flooded with prema for the Lord of Sahajānandinī.
Passage 32
त्वं रामगङ्गा भवमुक्तिहेतुः समस्तकल्याणपदं परात्मा। शुभाय लोके प्रकटत्वमागाः श्रीरामभक्त्येकजुषां जनानाम्॥३२॥
You are Rāma-Gaṅgā, cause of freedom from becoming, the supreme Self and abode of every blessing. You appeared in the world for the welfare of people wholly devoted to Śrī Rāma-bhakti.
Passage 33
नमोऽम्ब रामगङ्गायै तुभ्यं कल्याणमूर्तये। वासिष्ठ्यै प्रेमगङ्गायै पावयन्त्यै जगत्त्रयम्॥३३॥
Salutations, Mother Rāma-Gaṅgā, embodiment of blessing; salutations to Vāsiṣṭhī, the Gaṅgā of prema who purifies the three worlds.
Passage 34
इति स्तुवन्तो मुनयः सरयूं विश्वपावनीम्। मुक्ता अपि जना जाताः प्रेमभाजो रघूद्वहे॥३४॥
Thus praising world-purifying Sarayū, even those already liberated became recipients of prema for the scion of Raghu.
Passage 35
ततः सा स्वर्गभूमीषु तत्रस्थैर्विहितस्तवा। प्लावयन्ती शुभान् स्वर्गान् क्रमेणागाद्धिमालयम्॥३५॥
Then, praised by the inhabitants of the heavenly realms, she flooded those auspicious heavens and gradually reached the Himalaya.
Passage 36
हिमाद्रेः पूर्वशिखरे संस्थिता शुभरूपिणी। स्तूयमाना देवसङ्घैर्यक्षगन्धर्वपुङ्गवैः॥३६॥
The auspiciously formed river settled upon the eastern summit of the snowy mountain, praised by hosts of gods and the foremost Yakṣas and Gandharvas.