Passage 1
श्रीशुक उवाच— इतः सा ववृधे पूर्णा कलाभिः सहजेश्वरी। ततश्च ववृधे रामः प्रमोदवनचन्द्रमाः॥१॥
Śrī Śuka said: From that time Sahajeśvarī grew, complete in all her powers, and Rāma, the moon of Pramodavana, also grew.
Passage 2
कलाः समग्राः प्रबभूवुरेतयोर्लोकोत्तरं श्रीसहजानन्दिनीशयोः। यथा नभस्यद्भुतशारदातपः पूर्णेन्दुसान्द्रद्युतिकौमुदीरुचोः॥२॥
All the powers of Śrī Sahajānandinī and her Lord became transcendent, like the wondrous autumn brilliance in the sky and the dense moonlight radiating from a full moon.
Passage 3
सरय्वाः पुलिने रम्यौ घोषावुत्तरदक्षिणौ। उत्तरे नन्दनो राजा दक्षिणे सुखिताभिधः॥३॥
On the Sarayū's bank stood two delightful cowherd settlements, one to the north and one to the south. Nandana was king in the north, and the southern king was named Sukhita.
Passage 4
व्रजेश्वरी गोपराजौ भुवं जुगुपतुर्व्रजे। समृद्धपशुपालश्रीसंदोहसमुपासितौ॥४॥
The cowherd queen and cowherd king protected the land of Vraja, attended by throngs whose wealth lay in flourishing herds.
Passage 5
लोकेशसम्पदुत्कर्षसावमर्शेश्रियान्वितौ। व्रजस्त्रीजनसंचारप्रेधमानपुरश्रियौ॥५॥
They possessed a splendor that rivaled the exalted fortune of the rulers of worlds, while the beauty of their towns swelled with the coming and going of Vraja's women.
Passage 6
नन्दिग्रामः सुखितस्याभवद्वै स्थानं सम्पत्संयुतं राजधानी। पालीग्रामो योजनार्धेन तस्य स्थानं तद्वै नन्दनस्य प्रसिद्धम्॥६॥
Prosperous Nandigrāma was Sukhita's capital. Half a yojana away stood the renowned Pālīgrāma, the dwelling of Nandana.
Passage 7
सरयूसुरसां वातैः सेव्यमानावुभौ व्रजौ। पुण्यतीर्थमहास्थानौ गोपीजनसुखास्पदौ॥७॥
The fragrant breezes of the Sarayū served both settlements. They were great and holy places of pilgrimage and abodes of joy for the cowherd women.
Passage 8
मध्ये मञ्जुवटो नाम योजनोच्छ्रायमण्डितः। योजनार्धार्धमायामबहुपादविराजितः॥८॥
Between them stood the banyan called Mañjuvaṭa, rising a yojana high, spreading a quarter-yojana wide, and splendid with its many trunks and roots.
Passage 9
हरिन्मणिलसत्पर्णो नवमाणिक्यपल्लवः। रत्नवर्षी मधुसुधाधारारञ्जितमूलकः॥९॥
Its leaves shone like green jewels and its young shoots like new rubies. It rained gems, and streams of honeyed nectar delighted its roots.
Passage 10
सुवर्णविटपस्तोमः सुच्छायः श्रीभरान्वितः। त्रिविधानिलसंसेव्यबहुशोभाकुटीगृहः॥१०॥
Masses of golden branches gave lovely shade, and it overflowed with beauty. Three kinds of breeze served its many charming bowers and dwellings.
Passage 11
ज्योतिर्गणेश्वरो नाम लिङ्गं यन्मूलसंश्रितम्। यस्योपरि न तिष्ठन्ति पक्षिणश्च समन्ततः॥११॥
At its root rested the liṅga named Jyotirgaṇeśvara. No birds perched above it anywhere.
Passage 12
दिव्यदेवतारूपोऽसौ सिद्धिदाता महावटः। वनं तु परितस्तस्य कुञ्जपुञ्जसुमङ्गलम्॥१२॥
That great banyan had the form of a divine deity and bestowed accomplishment. Around it lay an all-auspicious forest filled with clusters of bowers.
Passage 13
वनोपवनसंदोहवेष्टितौ तावुभौ व्रजौ।<br+इतो निर्गच्छति पुरा ततः श्रीसहजेश्वरी॥१३॥
Both cowherd settlements were encircled by masses of forests and groves. In those days Śrī Sahajeśvarī would set out from there toward this meeting place. Childhood Play and the One Love in Two Hearts
Passage 14
मध्ये मञ्जुवटस्तत्र नित्यं द्वावपि खेलतः। यावद्बाल्यदशारभ्य स्वस्वदिव्यसखीयुतौ॥१४॥
There at Mañjuvaṭa between the two settlements, both played every day from the very beginning of childhood, each accompanied by divine companions.
Passage 15
कुमारौ संविहरतो नानाकेलिकलाकुलौ। अतीते बाल्यभावे तु सहजारामसुन्दरौ॥१५॥
Beautiful Sahajā and Rāma roamed together as children, absorbed in the arts of many kinds of play, and continued as childhood passed.
Passage 16
परस्परालोकलीलारसं पुपुषतुर्भृशम्। एकासने चैकदेशे एकपात्रस्थभुक्तिषु॥१६॥
They greatly nourished the rasa of playful mutual glances while sitting on one seat, remaining in one place, and eating from a single vessel.
Passage 17
एकशय्याभिशयने संगतौ तौ बभूवतुः। सखीभिः सहिता झोलाछामा सहजेश्वरी॥१७॥
The two came together to rest upon one couch, while Sahajeśvarī, surrounded by her companions, delighted in games upon the swing.
Passage 18
विजहार वने फुल्लकुसुमावचयादिभिः। इति गोचारणादेस्तु छायाविश्रमणादिभिः॥१८॥
She sported in the forest by gathering blossoming flowers and in other ways, while he grazed the cattle, rested in the shade, and enjoyed similar pastimes.
Passage 19
विचचार वने रामो मकराकारकुण्डलः। पीताम्बरोऽरविन्दाक्षो वनमालाविभूषितः॥१९॥
Rāma wandered through the forest wearing makara-shaped earrings, yellow garments, and a garland of forest flowers, his eyes like lotuses.
Passage 20
पौगण्डवेशरुचिरः सर्वस्य हृदयंगमः। आयुधेषु क्रियाः शिक्षन् वीरेभ्यो राजधर्मतः॥२०॥
Charming in the dress of boyhood and dear to every heart, he learned the use of weapons from warriors in accordance with royal duty.
Passage 21
श्रीनन्दनस्य नन्दिन्यामासक्तया गोदुहोऽभवत्। तामासक्तिमहं वक्तुं न क्षमोऽस्मि विवेचितुम्॥२१॥
Through his attachment to Śrī Nandana's daughter, he became a milker of cows. I am not capable of describing or fully examining that attachment.
Passage 22
नित्यप्रेमरसानन्दानन्दिनोः सहजेशयोः। एक एव परः प्रेमा विभक्त इव चाभवत्॥२२॥
Sahajā and her Lord rejoiced in the bliss of eternal love-rasa. Their one supreme love appeared as though divided.
Passage 23
श्रीरामालम्बनो ह्येकः सहजालम्बनः परः। सहजा सेविता नित्यमादिलक्ष्म्यातितुष्टया॥२३॥
One current of that love took Śrī Rāma as its support, and the other took Sahajā. The primordial Lakṣmī, supremely delighted, served Sahajā eternally.
Passage 24
तेन प्रेमस्वरूपा सा सञ्जाता गोदुहां कुले। प्रेमभक्तेः पूर्णरूपा श्रीमती सहजाभवत्॥२४॥
Therefore she who is love itself was born in a clan of cowherds. Glorious Sahajā became the complete form of prema-bhakti.
Passage 25
अत एव प्रियाश्रेष्ठा रामस्य प्रणिगद्यते। स्वाभाविकस्तयोः प्रेमा प्रत्यहं बहुवृद्धिमान्॥२५॥
For this very reason she is proclaimed the foremost of Rāma's beloveds. Their innate love increased greatly with every passing day. Their First Overwhelming Meeting
Passage 26
पौगण्डे रामचन्द्रस्य प्राकट्यं तु समागतम्। बालो वृद्धो युवा चापि चकोरश्चन्द्रमाश्रयः॥२६॥
When Rāmacandra's boyhood manifestation arrived, children, elders, and youths alike looked toward him as cakora birds look toward the moon.
Passage 27
तथा प्रेमवतीनेत्रं रामकान्तिवराश्रयम्। बाल्य एव क्षणे तस्या रामचन्द्रदृशा विना॥२७॥
So too her love-filled eyes found their supreme refuge in Rāma's beauty. Even in childhood, if for a moment she lacked the sight of Rāmacandra,
Passage 28
अभूतामतिविग्लाने पद्मे ग्रीष्माकुले इव। इत्थं क्रमेण तद्वृद्धं प्रेमास्याः सहजाधियः॥२८॥
they became exceedingly languid like two lotuses distressed by summer. In this way the love within Sahajā's heart gradually increased.
Passage 29
आचकर्ष बलाद्रामं विसस्मारेतरं यथा। एकदा पञ्चवार्षिक्यां सहजायां रघूद्वहः॥२९॥
It drew Rāma powerfully until he forgot everything else. One day, when Sahajā was five years old, the scion of Raghu—
Passage 30
मात्रा शृङ्गारितो रामः षड्वार्षिक उदारधीः। वत्सान् सम्पालयन्नित्यं ययौ मञ्जुवटं प्रति॥३०॥
the noble-minded six-year-old Rāma, adorned by his mother—went as usual toward Mañjuvaṭa while tending the calves.
Passage 31
तत्र तां दृष्टवान् सर्वभूषणस्तोमभूषिताम्। सहजामनवद्याङ्गीं बालकेलीविशारदाम्॥३१॥
There he saw Sahajā, her faultless limbs adorned with a host of ornaments and herself accomplished in childhood play.
Passage 32
शारदस्य विधोः पूर्णां चन्द्रिकामिव सोदयाम्। धात्रीपार्श्वे विराजन्तीं स्मयमानां मुदावहाम्॥३२॥
She shone beside her nurse, smiling and bringing joy, like the full, newly risen moonlight of an autumn moon.
Passage 33
उदारगुणसंदोहां वर्धिष्णुतनुमाधुरीम्। यथावयोवेशभूषावासोवैशिष्ट्यभूषिताम्॥३३॥
She was a treasury of noble virtues, her bodily sweetness ever increasing, and beautifully distinguished by dress, ornaments, and garments suited to her age.
Passage 34
सापि तं नीलमेघाङ्गं दिव्यरत्नावतंसिनम्। उद्दामरूपसौभाग्यं ददर्श प्रियमादरात्॥३४॥
She too lovingly and reverently beheld her beloved, whose body resembled a dark rain cloud, who wore divine jeweled earrings, and whose magnificent beauty overflowed with good fortune. The Mutual Swoon
Passage 35
मुमोह सहजा देवी प्रियदर्शनमात्रतः। स्तब्धा वटतरोर्मूलमवलम्ब्य कृताश्रया॥३५॥
At the mere sight of her beloved, goddess Sahajā became entranced. Motionless, she took support by clinging to the base of the banyan.
Passage 36
खिन्नगात्राभवत्सद्यः पुलकौघविसंष्ठुला। कम्पमानतनुस्तन्वी घूर्णमाना पुनः पुनः॥३६॥
Her limbs immediately weakened and were overwhelmed by waves of horripilation. The slender girl trembled and reeled again and again.
Passage 37
विवर्णवदना भूत्वा साश्रुनेत्राभवत्ततः। मूर्च्छामिव सुसम्पन्ना प्रलीनसकलेन्द्रिया॥३७॥
Her face lost its color and her eyes filled with tears. All her senses withdrew as she entered what seemed a complete swoon.
Passage 38
मग्ना रामसुधासिन्धावुत्थातुमपि चाक्षमा। एवं भावसुसम्पन्नां सहजां वीक्ष्य मातरः॥३८॥
Immersed in the nectar-ocean of Rāma, she could not even rise. Seeing Sahajā thus filled with devotional emotion, the matrons—
Passage 39
धात्रीभावगताः सर्वा विस्मिता अभवन् स्त्रियः। अङ्कमारोप्य तां निन्युः पालीग्रामं मनोहरम्॥३९॥
all those women endowed with a nurse's maternal feeling—were astonished. They lifted her into their arms and carried her to lovely Pālīgrāma.
Passage 40
रामं च तत्सखायस्ते कथं कथमपि द्रुमात्। मूर्च्छायितं गृहं निन्युः सुखितस्य व्रजं प्रति॥४०॥
Rāma's companions likewise somehow took him from the tree, unconscious, and carried him home toward Sukhita's cowherd settlement.