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कुचेलनामा भवतः सतीर्थ्यतां गतः स सान्दीपनिमन्दिरे द्विजः ।
त्वदेकरागेण धनादिनिःस्पृहो दिनानि निन्ये प्रशमी गृहाश्रमी ॥ ८७१॥

कुचेलनामा भवतः सतीर्थ्यतां गतः स सान्दीपनिमन्दिरे द्विजः ।
त्वदेकरागेण धनादिनिःस्पृहो दिनानि निन्ये प्रशमी गृहाश्रमी ॥ ८७१॥

Thy companion while studying in Sage Sandipani’s hermitage, a Brahmin by name Kuchela, who was totally devoted to Thee, free from wordly desires and possessed of a calm and collected disposition, was spending his days as a householder.

समानशीलाऽपि तदीयवल्लभा तथैव नो चित्तजयं समेयुषी ।
कदाचिदूचे बत वृत्तिलब्धये रमापतिः किं न सखा निषेव्यते ॥ ८७२॥

समानशीलाऽपि तदीयवल्लभा तथैव नो चित्तजयं समेयुषी ।
कदाचिदूचे बत वृत्तिलब्धये रमापतिः किं न सखा निषेव्यते ॥ ८७२॥

His wife who was of a similar detached temparament but had not attained control over her mind to the same extent, one day suggested to him that he might pay a visit to his friend, Lord of Rama (Krishna), for getting some means of livelihood.

इतीरितोऽयं प्रियया क्षुधार्तया जुगुप्समानोऽपि धने मदावहे ।
तदा त्वदालोकनकौतुकाद्ययौ वहन्पटान्ते पृथुकानुपायनम् ॥ ८७३॥

इतीरितोऽयं प्रियया क्षुधार्तया जुगुप्समानोऽपि धने मदावहे ।
तदा त्वदालोकनकौतुकाद्ययौ वहन्पटान्ते पृथुकानुपायनम् ॥ ८७३॥

Thus urged by his wife, out of her being afflicted by hunger, Kuchela, despite his revulsion towards wealth, which is the source of arrogance, nevertheless, set out, because of his eagerness to see Thee, carrying some parched, beaten rice, tied to the end of his garment, as an offering to Thee.

गतोऽयमाश्चर्यमयीं भवत्पूरीं गृहेषु शैब्याभवनं समेयिवान् ।
प्रविश्य वैकुण्ठमिवाप निर्वृतिं तवातिसम्भावनया तु किं पुनः ॥ ८७४॥

गतोऽयमाश्चर्यमयीं भवत्पूरीं गृहेषु शैब्याभवनं समेयिवान् ।
प्रविश्य वैकुण्ठमिवाप निर्वृतिं तवातिसम्भावनया तु किं पुनः ॥ ८७४॥

Arriving at Dwaraka, a city full of wonderful sights, he entered the house of Mitravinda, out of the 16,008 houses of Thy consorts, and experienced that Supreme Bliss, as though he had entered Vaikunttha itself. His joy knew no bounds on account of the extremely cordial reception accorded by Thee. What more could one wish for ?

प्रपूजितं तं प्रियया च वीजितं करे गृहीत्वाऽकथयः पुरा कृतम् ।
यदिन्धनार्थं गुरुदारचोदितैरपर्तुवर्षं तदमर्षि कानने ॥ ८७५॥

प्रपूजितं तं प्रियया च वीजितं करे गृहीत्वाऽकथयः पुरा कृतम् ।
यदिन्धनार्थं गुरुदारचोदितैरपर्तुवर्षं तदमर्षि कानने ॥ ८७५॥

After doing him the proper honours, and getting him fanned by Thy consort herself, and taking hold of his hands, Thou didst converse with him about the various memories of those days in the Ashram of Sage Sandipani, and, in particular, about the incident when both of you went to the forest at the instance of Thy teacher’s wife, to gather fuel, and were taken unawares by an untimely shower of rain.

त्रपाजुषोऽस्मात्पृथुकं बलादथ प्रगृह्य मुष्टौ सकृदाशिते त्वया ।
कृतं कृतं नन्वियतेति सम्भ्रमाद्रमा किलोपेत्य करं रुरोध ते ॥ ८७६॥

त्रपाजुषोऽस्मात्पृथुकं बलादथ प्रगृह्य मुष्टौ सकृदाशिते त्वया ।
कृतं कृतं नन्वियतेति सम्भ्रमाद्रमा किलोपेत्य करं रुरोध ते ॥ ८७६॥

On forcibly taking the beaten rice from Kuchela (who was feeling shy and hesitant to offer it to Thee), and eating one handful, Thy consort, Rukmini, rushed to Thee in alarm, and checked Thy hand, saying “This much is enough”.

भक्तेषु भक्तेन स मानितस्त्वया पुरीं वसन्नेकनिशां महासुखम् ।
बतापरेद्युर्द्रविणं विना ययौ विचित्ररूपस्तव खल्वनुग्रहः ॥ ८७७॥

भक्तेषु भक्तेन स मानितस्त्वया पुरीं वसन्नेकनिशां महासुखम् ।
बतापरेद्युर्द्रविणं विना ययौ विचित्ररूपस्तव खल्वनुग्रहः ॥ ८७७॥

After being honoured by Thee, who art the devotee of Thy devotees,Kuchela spent one night, very happily, in Thy city, and the next day, he set out on his return journey, empty-handed. Thy blessing, indeed, is multifaceted and inscrutable.

यदि ह्ययचिष्यमदास्यदच्युतो वदामि भार्यां किमिति व्रजन्नसौ ।
त्वदुक्तिलीलास्मितमग्नधीः पुनः क्रमादपश्यन्मणिदीप्रमालयम् ॥ ८७८॥

यदि ह्ययचिष्यमदास्यदच्युतो वदामि भार्यां किमिति व्रजन्नसौ ।
त्वदुक्तिलीलास्मितमग्नधीः पुनः क्रमादपश्यन्मणिदीप्रमालयम् ॥ ८७८॥

“If only I had asked, Krishna would certainly have given; what shall I tell my wife? " Thinking thus, he wound his way back home, with his mind wholly absorbed in the pleasant conversation with Thee and Thy bewitching smile. Gradually, when he reached his place, he suddenly saw before him a mansion resplendent with gems.

किं मार्गविभ्रंश इति भ्रमन्क्षणं गृहं प्रविष्टः स ददर्श वल्लभाम् ।
सखीपरीतां मणिहेमभूषितां बुबोध च त्वत्करुणां महाद्भुताम् ॥ ८७९॥

किं मार्गविभ्रंश इति भ्रमन्क्षणं गृहं प्रविष्टः स ददर्श वल्लभाम् ।
सखीपरीतां मणिहेमभूषितां बुबोध च त्वत्करुणां महाद्भुताम् ॥ ८७९॥

Perplexed for a moment whether he had lost his way, he saw his wife, bedecked in gold ornaments and jewellery, and surrounded by her companions. He then realised the marvellous nature of Thy compassion.

स रत्नशालासु वसन्नपि स्वयं समुन्नमद्भक्तिभरोऽमृतं ययौ ।
त्वमेवमापूरितभक्तवाञ्छितो मरुत्पुराधीश हरस्व मे गदान् ॥ ८७१०॥

स रत्नशालासु वसन्नपि स्वयं समुन्नमद्भक्तिभरोऽमृतं ययौ ।
त्वमेवमापूरितभक्तवाञ्छितो मरुत्पुराधीश हरस्व मे गदान् ॥ ८७१०॥

Even while residing in a gem-studded mansion, Kuchela’s intense devotion to Thee increased steadily and, in due time, he attained salvation. O Lord of Guruvayur, may Thou eradicate my afflictions.