Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 75
Sourceपार्वत्युवाच-। वृंदावनरहस्यं च बहुधा कथितं विभो । केन पुण्यविशेषेण नारदः प्रकृतिं गतः १। ईश्वर उवाच- एकदाश्चर्यवृत्तांतं मया जिज्ञासितं पुरा । ब्रह्मणा कथितं गुह्यं श्रुतं कृष्णमुखांबुजात् २। नारदः पृष्टवान्मह्यं तदाहं प्राप्तवानिदम् । अहं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि तन्माहात्म्यं कथंचन ३। किं कुर्वे शपनं तस्य स्मृत्वा सीदामि मानसे । इति श्रुत्वा मम वचो दुर्मनाः सोऽभवद्यदा ४। तदा ब्रह्माणमाहूय अहमादिष्टवान्प्रिये । त्वया यत्कथितं मह्यं नारदाय वदस्व तत् ५। ब्रह्मा तदा ममवचो निशम्य सह नारदः । जगाम कृष्णसविधं नत्वा पृच्छत्तदेव तु ६। ब्रह्मोवाच- किमिदं द्वात्रिंशद्वनं वृंदारण्यं विशांपते । श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवन्यदियोग्योऽस्मि मे वद ७। श्रीभगवानुवाच- इदं वृंदावनं रम्यं मम धामैव केवलम् । यत्रेमे पशवः साक्षाद्वृक्षाः कीटा नरामराः ८। ये वसंति ममांत्ये ते मृता यांति ममांतिकम् । अत्र या गोपपत्न्यश्च निवसंति ममालये ९। योगिन्यस्तास्तु एवं हि मम देवाः परायणाः । पंचयोजनमेवं हि वनं मे देवरूपकम् १०। कालिंदीयं सुषुम्नाख्या परमामृतवाहिनी । यत्र देवाश्च भूतानि वर्त्तंते सूक्ष्मरूपतः ११। सर्वतो व्यापकश्चाहं न त्यक्ष्यामि वनं क्वचित् । आविर्भावस्तिरोभावो भवेदत्र युगेयुगे १२। तेजोमयमिदं स्थानमदृश्यं चर्मचक्षुषाम् । रहस्यं मे प्रभावं च पश्य वृंदावनं युगे १३। ब्रह्मादीनां देवतानां न दृश्यं तत्कथंचन । ईश्वर उवाच- तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदो नत्वा कृष्णं ब्रह्माणमेव च १४। आजगाम ह भूर्लोके मिश्रकं नैमिषं वनम् । तत्रासौ सत्कृतश्चापि शौनकाद्यैर्मुनीश्वरैः १५। पृष्टश्चाप्यागतो ब्रह्मन्कुतस्त्वमधुना वद । तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदः प्राह गोलोकादागतोऽस्म्यहम् १६। श्रुत्वा कृष्णमुखांभोजाद्वृंदावनरहस्यकम् । नारद उवाच- तत्र नानाविधाः प्रश्नाः कृताश्चैव पुनः पुनः १७। समस्ता मनवस्तत्र योगाश्चैव मया श्रुताः । तानेव कथयिष्यामि यथाप्रश्नं च तत्त्वतः १८। शौनकादय ऊचुः - वृंदारण्यरहस्यं हि यदुक्तं ब्रह्मणा त्वयि । तदस्माकं समाचक्ष्व यद्यस्मासु कृपा तव १९। नारद उवाच- कदाचित्सरयूतीरे दृष्टोऽस्माभिश्च गौतमः । मनस्वी च महादुःखी चिंताकुलितचेतनः २०। मां दृष्ट्वा गौतमो देवः पपात धरणीतले । उत्तिष्ठ वत्सवत्सेति तमुवाचाहमेव हि २१। कथं भवान्मनस्वीति प्रोच्य तां यदि रोचते । गौतम उवाच- श्रुतं तव मुखादेव कृष्णतत्त्वं च तादृशम् २२। द्वारकाख्यं माथुराख्यं रहस्यं बहुशो मया । वृंदावनरहस्यं तु न श्रुतं त्वन्मुखांबुजात् २३। यतो मे मनसः स्थैर्य्यं भविष्यति च सद्गुरो । नारद उवाच- इदं तु परमं गुह्यं रहस्यातिरहस्यकम् २४। पुरा मे ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तं तादृग्वृंदावनोद्भवम् । रहस्यं वद देवेश वृंदारण्यस्य मे पितः २५। इतिजिज्ञासितं श्रुत्वा क्षणं मौनी स चाभवत् । ततो माऽह महाविष्णुं गच्छ वत्स प्रभुं मम २६। मयापि तत्र गंतव्यं त्वया सह न संशयः । इत्युक्त्वा मां गृहीत्वा च गतो विष्णोश्च धामनि २७। महाविष्णौ च कथितं मयोक्तं यत्तदेव हि । तच्छ्रुत्वा च महाविष्णुः स्वयं भुवमथादिशत् २८। त्वमेवादेशतो मह्यं नीत्वा वै नारदं मुनिम् । स्नानाय विनियुंक्ष्वामुं सरस्यमृतसंज्ञके २९। महाविष्णुसमादिष्टः स्वयंभूर्मां तथाकरोत् । तत्रामृतसरश्चाहं प्रविश्य स्नानमाचरम् ३०। तत्क्षणात्तत्सरः पारे योषितां सविधेऽभवम् । सर्वलक्षणसपन्ना योषिद्रूपातिविस्मिता ३१। मां दृष्ट्वा ताः समायांतीमपृच्छंश्च मुहुर्मुहुः । स्त्रिय ऊचुः - का त्वं कुतः समायाता कथयात्मविचेष्टितम् ३२। तासां प्रियकथां श्रुत्वा मयोक्तं तन्निशामय । कुतः कोऽहं समायातः कथं वा योषिदाकृतिः ३३। स्वप्नवद्दृश्यते सर्वं किं वा मुग्धोऽस्मि भूतले । तच्छ्रुत्वा मद्वचो देवी प्रोवाच मधुरस्वनैः ३४। वृंदानाम्नी पुरी चेयं कृष्णचंद्रप्रिया सदा । अहं च ललितादेवी तुर्यातीता च निष्कला ३५। इत्युक्त्वा च महादेवी करुणा सांद्रमानसा । मां प्रत्याह पुनर्देवी समागच्छ मया सह ३६। अन्याश्च योषितः सर्वाः कृष्णपादपरायणाः । ताश्च मां प्रवदंत्येवं समागच्छानया सह ३७। ततोनुकृष्णचंद्रस्य चतुर्दशाक्षरो मनुः । कृपया कथितस्तस्या देव्याश्चापि महात्मनः ३८। तत्क्षणादेव तत्साम्यमलभं विविधोपमा । ताभिः सह गतास्तत्र यत्र कृष्णः सनातनः ३९। केवलं सच्चिदानंदः स्वयंयोषिन्मयः प्रभुः । योषिदानंदहृदयो दृष्ट्वा मां प्राब्रवीन्मुहुः ४०। समागच्छ प्रिये कांते भक्त्या मां परिरंभय । रेमे वर्षप्रमाणेन तत्र चैव द्विजोत्तम ४१। तदोक्तं रमणेशेन तां देवीं राधिकां प्रति । इयं मे प्रकृतिस्तत्र चासीन्नारदरूपधृक् ४२। नीत्वामृतसरो रम्यं स्नानार्थं संनियोजय । तया मे रमणस्यांते गदितं प्रियभाषितम् ४३। अहं च ललितादेवी राधिकाया च गीयते । अहं च वासुदेवाख्यो नित्यं कामकलात्मकः ४४। सत्यं योषित्स्वरूपोऽहं योषिच्चाहं सनातनी । अहं च ललितादेवी पुंरूपा कृष्णविग्रहा ४५। आवयोरंतरं नास्ति सत्यंसत्यं हि नारद । एवं यो वेत्ति मे तत्त्वं समयं च तथा मनुम् ४६। स समाचारसंकेतं ललिता वत्स मे प्रियः । इदं वृंदावनं नाम रहस्यं मम वै गृहम् ४७। न प्रकाश्यं कदा कुत्र वक्तव्यं न पशौ क्वचित् । ततोऽनुराधिकादेवी मां नीत्वा तत्सरोवरे ४८। स्थित्वा सा कृष्णचंद्रस्य चरणांते गता पुनः । ततो निमज्जनादेव नारदोऽहमुपागतः ४९। वीणाहस्तो गानपरस्तद्रहस्यं मुहुर्मुदा । स्वयंभुवं नमस्कृत्य तत्रागां विष्णुपार्षदम् ५०। स्वयंभुवा तथा दृष्टं नोक्तं किंचित्तदा पुनः । इति ते कथितं वत्स सुगोप्यं च मया त्वयि ५१। त्वयापि कृष्णचंद्रस्य केवलं धामचित्कलम् । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन मातुर्जारइव प्रियम् ५२। यथा प्रोक्तं मया शिष्ये गौतमे सरहस्यकम् । तथा भवत्सु कार्त्स्न्येन कथितं चातिगोपितम् ५३। यत्र कुत्र कदाचित्तु प्रकाश्यं मुनिपुंगवाः । तदा शापो भवेद्विप्राः कृष्णचंद्रस्य निश्चितम् ५४। इमं कृष्णस्य लीलाभिर्युतमध्यायमुत्तमम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स याति परमं पदम् ५५। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे वृंदावनमाहात्म्ये नारदीयानुनये पंचसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ७५।
pārvatyuvāca-| vṛṃdāvanarahasyaṃ ca bahudhā kathitaṃ vibho | kena puṇyaviśeṣeṇa nāradaḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ 1| īśvara uvāca- ekadāścaryavṛttāṃtaṃ mayā jijñāsitaṃ purā | brahmaṇā kathitaṃ guhyaṃ śrutaṃ kṛṣṇamukhāṃbujāt 2| nāradaḥ pṛṣṭavānmahyaṃ tadāhaṃ prāptavānidam | ahaṃ vaktuṃ na śaknomi tanmāhātmyaṃ kathaṃcana 3| kiṃ kurve śapanaṃ tasya smṛtvā sīdāmi mānase | iti śrutvā mama vaco durmanāḥ so'bhavadyadā 4| tadā brahmāṇamāhūya ahamādiṣṭavānpriye | tvayā yatkathitaṃ mahyaṃ nāradāya vadasva tat 5| brahmā tadā mamavaco niśamya saha nāradaḥ | jagāma kṛṣṇasavidhaṃ natvā pṛcchattadeva tu 6| brahmovāca- kimidaṃ dvātriṃśadvanaṃ vṛṃdāraṇyaṃ viśāṃpate | śrotumicchāmi bhagavanyadiyogyo'smi me vada 7| śrībhagavānuvāca- idaṃ vṛṃdāvanaṃ ramyaṃ mama dhāmaiva kevalam | yatreme paśavaḥ sākṣādvṛkṣāḥ kīṭā narāmarāḥ 8| ye vasaṃti mamāṃtye te mṛtā yāṃti mamāṃtikam | atra yā gopapatnyaśca nivasaṃti mamālaye 9| yoginyastāstu evaṃ hi mama devāḥ parāyaṇāḥ | paṃcayojanamevaṃ hi vanaṃ me devarūpakam 10| kāliṃdīyaṃ suṣumnākhyā paramāmṛtavāhinī | yatra devāśca bhūtāni varttaṃte sūkṣmarūpataḥ 11| sarvato vyāpakaścāhaṃ na tyakṣyāmi vanaṃ kvacit | āvirbhāvastirobhāvo bhavedatra yugeyuge 12| tejomayamidaṃ sthānamadṛśyaṃ carmacakṣuṣām | rahasyaṃ me prabhāvaṃ ca paśya vṛṃdāvanaṃ yuge 13| brahmādīnāṃ devatānāṃ na dṛśyaṃ tatkathaṃcana | īśvara uvāca- tacchrutvā nārado natvā kṛṣṇaṃ brahmāṇameva ca 14| ājagāma ha bhūrloke miśrakaṃ naimiṣaṃ vanam | tatrāsau satkṛtaścāpi śaunakādyairmunīśvaraiḥ 15| pṛṣṭaścāpyāgato brahmankutastvamadhunā vada | tacchrutvā nāradaḥ prāha golokādāgato'smyaham 16| śrutvā kṛṣṇamukhāṃbhojādvṛṃdāvanarahasyakam | nārada uvāca- tatra nānāvidhāḥ praśnāḥ kṛtāścaiva punaḥ punaḥ 17| samastā manavastatra yogāścaiva mayā śrutāḥ | tāneva kathayiṣyāmi yathāpraśnaṃ ca tattvataḥ 18| śaunakādaya ūcuḥ - vṛṃdāraṇyarahasyaṃ hi yaduktaṃ brahmaṇā tvayi | tadasmākaṃ samācakṣva yadyasmāsu kṛpā tava 19| nārada uvāca- kadācitsarayūtīre dṛṣṭo'smābhiśca gautamaḥ | manasvī ca mahāduḥkhī ciṃtākulitacetanaḥ 20| māṃ dṛṣṭvā gautamo devaḥ papāta dharaṇītale | uttiṣṭha vatsavatseti tamuvācāhameva hi 21| kathaṃ bhavānmanasvīti procya tāṃ yadi rocate | gautama uvāca- śrutaṃ tava mukhādeva kṛṣṇatattvaṃ ca tādṛśam 22| dvārakākhyaṃ māthurākhyaṃ rahasyaṃ bahuśo mayā | vṛṃdāvanarahasyaṃ tu na śrutaṃ tvanmukhāṃbujāt 23| yato me manasaḥ sthairyyaṃ bhaviṣyati ca sadguro | nārada uvāca- idaṃ tu paramaṃ guhyaṃ rahasyātirahasyakam 24| purā me brahmaṇā proktaṃ tādṛgvṛṃdāvanodbhavam | rahasyaṃ vada deveśa vṛṃdāraṇyasya me pitaḥ 25| itijijñāsitaṃ śrutvā kṣaṇaṃ maunī sa cābhavat | tato mā'ha mahāviṣṇuṃ gaccha vatsa prabhuṃ mama 26| mayāpi tatra gaṃtavyaṃ tvayā saha na saṃśayaḥ | ityuktvā māṃ gṛhītvā ca gato viṣṇośca dhāmani 27| mahāviṣṇau ca kathitaṃ mayoktaṃ yattadeva hi | tacchrutvā ca mahāviṣṇuḥ svayaṃ bhuvamathādiśat 28| tvamevādeśato mahyaṃ nītvā vai nāradaṃ munim | snānāya viniyuṃkṣvāmuṃ sarasyamṛtasaṃjñake 29| mahāviṣṇusamādiṣṭaḥ svayaṃbhūrmāṃ tathākarot | tatrāmṛtasaraścāhaṃ praviśya snānamācaram 30| tatkṣaṇāttatsaraḥ pāre yoṣitāṃ savidhe'bhavam | sarvalakṣaṇasapannā yoṣidrūpātivismitā 31| māṃ dṛṣṭvā tāḥ samāyāṃtīmapṛcchaṃśca muhurmuhuḥ | striya ūcuḥ - kā tvaṃ kutaḥ samāyātā kathayātmaviceṣṭitam 32| tāsāṃ priyakathāṃ śrutvā mayoktaṃ tanniśāmaya | kutaḥ ko'haṃ samāyātaḥ kathaṃ vā yoṣidākṛtiḥ 33| svapnavaddṛśyate sarvaṃ kiṃ vā mugdho'smi bhūtale | tacchrutvā madvaco devī provāca madhurasvanaiḥ 34| vṛṃdānāmnī purī ceyaṃ kṛṣṇacaṃdrapriyā sadā | ahaṃ ca lalitādevī turyātītā ca niṣkalā 35| ityuktvā ca mahādevī karuṇā sāṃdramānasā | māṃ pratyāha punardevī samāgaccha mayā saha 36| anyāśca yoṣitaḥ sarvāḥ kṛṣṇapādaparāyaṇāḥ | tāśca māṃ pravadaṃtyevaṃ samāgacchānayā saha 37| tatonukṛṣṇacaṃdrasya caturdaśākṣaro manuḥ | kṛpayā kathitastasyā devyāścāpi mahātmanaḥ 38| tatkṣaṇādeva tatsāmyamalabhaṃ vividhopamā | tābhiḥ saha gatāstatra yatra kṛṣṇaḥ sanātanaḥ 39| kevalaṃ saccidānaṃdaḥ svayaṃyoṣinmayaḥ prabhuḥ | yoṣidānaṃdahṛdayo dṛṣṭvā māṃ prābravīnmuhuḥ 40| samāgaccha priye kāṃte bhaktyā māṃ pariraṃbhaya | reme varṣapramāṇena tatra caiva dvijottama 41| tadoktaṃ ramaṇeśena tāṃ devīṃ rādhikāṃ prati | iyaṃ me prakṛtistatra cāsīnnāradarūpadhṛk 42| nītvāmṛtasaro ramyaṃ snānārthaṃ saṃniyojaya | tayā me ramaṇasyāṃte gaditaṃ priyabhāṣitam 43| ahaṃ ca lalitādevī rādhikāyā ca gīyate | ahaṃ ca vāsudevākhyo nityaṃ kāmakalātmakaḥ 44| satyaṃ yoṣitsvarūpo'haṃ yoṣiccāhaṃ sanātanī | ahaṃ ca lalitādevī puṃrūpā kṛṣṇavigrahā 45| āvayoraṃtaraṃ nāsti satyaṃsatyaṃ hi nārada | evaṃ yo vetti me tattvaṃ samayaṃ ca tathā manum 46| sa samācārasaṃketaṃ lalitā vatsa me priyaḥ | idaṃ vṛṃdāvanaṃ nāma rahasyaṃ mama vai gṛham 47| na prakāśyaṃ kadā kutra vaktavyaṃ na paśau kvacit | tato'nurādhikādevī māṃ nītvā tatsarovare 48| sthitvā sā kṛṣṇacaṃdrasya caraṇāṃte gatā punaḥ | tato nimajjanādeva nārado'hamupāgataḥ 49| vīṇāhasto gānaparastadrahasyaṃ muhurmudā | svayaṃbhuvaṃ namaskṛtya tatrāgāṃ viṣṇupārṣadam 50| svayaṃbhuvā tathā dṛṣṭaṃ noktaṃ kiṃcittadā punaḥ | iti te kathitaṃ vatsa sugopyaṃ ca mayā tvayi 51| tvayāpi kṛṣṇacaṃdrasya kevalaṃ dhāmacitkalam | gopanīyaṃ prayatnena māturjāraiva priyam 52| yathā proktaṃ mayā śiṣye gautame sarahasyakam | tathā bhavatsu kārtsnyena kathitaṃ cātigopitam 53| yatra kutra kadācittu prakāśyaṃ munipuṃgavāḥ | tadā śāpo bhavedviprāḥ kṛṣṇacaṃdrasya niścitam 54| imaṃ kṛṣṇasya līlābhiryutamadhyāyamuttamam | yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi sa yāti paramaṃ padam 55| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe vṛṃdāvanamāhātmye nāradīyānunaye paṃcasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 75|
English translation
Pārvatī said :
I. O lord, you have told me in various ways the secret of Vṛndāvana . Due to which particular religious merit did Nārada obtain the natural form?
The lord said :
2-6. Once, formerly I desired to know a wonderful account. From the lotus-like mouth of Kṛṣṇa I heard the secret told by Brahmā . Nārada asked me. Then I got this. “I am not at all able to tell its greatness. What shall I do? Remembering his oath I am distressed in my mind.” Hearing these words of mine, when he became sad, then, O dear one, I called Brahmā and ordered him: “Tell Nārada what you told me.” Then Brahmā, hearing my words, went with Nārada near Kṛṣṇa and asked him that only.
Brahmā said :
7. O you lord of the subjects, what is that Vṛndāvana forest of thirty-two (parts)? O lord, I desire to hear (about it). If I am fit (to hear about it, then) tell it to me.
Bhagavān said :
8-14a. This charming Vṛndāvana is just my unique abode where there are actually these beasts, trees, insects, men and gods, who stay near me. When they (will) die they (will) come to me. Those wives of the cowherds that live in my abode, are the female devotees. The gods (also) are devoted to me. This forest of mine, which is of a divine nature, is (having an area of) five yojanas . This Kālindī called Suṣumnā (the artery in the human body lying between Iḍā and Piṅgalā ), is a great river of nectar; and in it gods and beings live in a subtle form. I have pervaded (the forest) on all sides, and I never leave it. In every yuga appearance and disappearance take place here. This place is full of lustre, and it is invisible to the physical eyes. In the yuga, see my secret, my prowess—the Vṛndāvana. It can never be seen by gods like Brahmā.
The lord said :
14b-16. Having heard that, Nārada saluted Kṛṣṇa and Brahmā, and came to the Miśraka Naimiṣa forest on the earth. There he was well-received by the best sages like Śaunaka ; and they asked him: “O brāhmaṇa , tell us wherefrom you have come now.” Hearing that Nārada said: “Having heard the secret of Vṛndāvana from Kṛṣṇa’s lotus-like mouth, I have come from Goloka .”
Nārada said :
17-18. There repeatedly a number of questions were asked. There I heard all the hymns and spells. I shall truly tell (you) those only according to the questions (asked by you).
Śaunaka and others said :
19. If you favour us, then tell us the secret of Vṛndāvana, which Brahmā told you.
Nārada said :
20-22a. Sometime, on the bank of Sarayū we saw Gautama who was wise, very unhappy and had his mind full of anxiety. Seeing me, the divine Gautama fell on the ground (i.e. prostrated himself before me). I said to him: “O child, O child, get up. If you like, tell me why you are called wise”.
Gautama said :
22b-24a. From your mouth (i.e. from you) only, I have heard the fact about Kṛṣṇa like that. (I have also heard) many times the secret called Dvārakā and Mathura . But from your lotus-like mouth I have not heard the secret about Vṛndāvana, from (i.e. by hearing) which my mind will be steady, O good preceptor.
Nārada said :
24b-32a. This is a great secret, the secret of secrets. Formerly Brahmā told me that secret about Vṛndāvana (when I had said to him): “O lord of gods, O father, tell me the secret of Vṛndāvana.” Hearing this desire (of mine), he remained silent for a moment. Then he said to me: “O child, go to Mahā . (i.e. great) Viṣṇu , my lord. Undoubtedly I must also go there with you.” Saying so, and taking me (with him) he went to the abode of Viṣṇu. He told Mahā Viṣṇu what I had said to him. Hearing that Mahā Viṣṇu himself ordered the self-born one (i.e. Brahmā). “By my order, you take the sage Nārada, and arrange for his bath in the lake called Amṛta .” Ordered by great Viṣṇu the self-born one acted like that with me. Having entered the Amṛta lake, I took bath there. Just at that moment I was (i.e. I found myself) near women, beyond (i.e. on the other side of) the lake. (I was) turned into a woman, endowed with all (good) characteristics and was very much amazed. Seeing me coming, those (women) repeatedly asked (me):
The women said :
32b-35. Who are you? Wherefrom have you come? Explain your conduct.
Listen to what I said on hearing their agreeable talk. “Where I have come from, who I am, how I have become a woman—all this appears like a dream. I confused on the earth?” Hearing those words of mine, the goddess spoke to me in a sweet sound: “This is the city by name Vṛṇdā, which is always dear to the Moon in the form of Kṛṣṇa; and I am the goddess Lalitā , gone beyond the fourth state and without parts (i.e. whole).”
36-39a. The great goddess, who was addressed like this, and whose mind was soft with pity, again said to me: “Come along with me.” All other women, devoted to Kṛṣṇa’s feet, said the same thing to me: “Come along with her.” O you who resemble gods, the fourteen-lettered hymn of the Moon in the form of Kṛṣṇa—the noble one, and also of that goddess was then kindly narrated to me; and just at that moment, I got her resemblance.
39b-45. With them, (we) went where the eternal Kṛṣṇa remained. The lord, who was merely of the form of the Good, the Intelligence and the Joy, and of that of a woman, and whose heart was delighted due to the women, again and again said to me: “Come along O dear one, O beloved, embrace me devoutly.” O you best brāhmaṇa, there only he enjoyed (with me) for a year. Then that best lover said to that goddess Rādhikā : “This was my natural form there, which had taken the form of Nārada. Take her to the Amṛta lake, and arrange for her bath.” Then I spoke agreeable words to my lover. “I am Goddess Lalitā and that Rādhikā who is celebrated in songs. I am called Vāsudeva , who always is of the nature of the art of love. I am truly of a feminine form, and I am the ancient woman, and I am goddess Lalitā, and in a manly form I have Kṛṣṇa’s body.
46-53. O Nārada, there is no difference between us. This is the truth, the (only) truth. He, who knows, along with the (code of) conduct and convention, the fact and usual practices about me, so also the hymn (sacred to me), is dear to me like Lalitā. This sacret (place) named Vṛndāvana, is my abode. This is to be disclosed at no place. It should never be told to a brute.” After that goddess Rādhikā took me to the lake, waited there, and went (back) near the feet of the Moon in the form of Kṛṣṇa. Then immediately after plunging (into the lake) I came (back) as Nārada, having the lute in his hand, and repeatedly engaged in gladly singing that great secret. Having saluted the self-born (i.e. Brahmā), I went to Viṣṇu’s assembly. The self-born one saw that, but did not say anything at that time. O child, I have told you a great secret. You too have to guard carefully the (secret about the) unique, perfect abode of the Moon in the form of Kṛṣṇa, like (that of) the paramour of one’s mother. As I have told the agreeable (story) along with its secret to my dear disciple Gautama, in the same way I have narrated fully to you the great secret.
54-55. O brāhmaṇas , if sometime it would be disclosed wheresoever, then certainly there would be a curse from the Moon in the form of Kṛṣṇa, O best sages.
He, who would read or listen to this excellent chapter full of the sports of Kṛṣṇa goes to the highest position.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43964, revision 336101 (2022-04-18T11:32:26Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365387.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.