Bhagavata Purana

अत्युग्रभूरिकर्माणो नास्तिका रौरवा जनाः । तेऽपि तिष्ठन्ति तीर्थेषु तीर्थसारस्ततो गतः

Those who perform extremely terrible and abundant deeds, the atheistic, hellish people—even they remain at holy places, but the essence of the holy places has departed.

कामक्रोध महालोभ तृष्णाव्याकुलचेतसः । तेऽपि तिष्ठन्ति तपसि तपःसारस्ततो गतः

Even those whose minds are agitated by great desire, anger, greed, and thirst remain engaged in austerity, but the true essence of austerity is thus lost.

मनसश्चाजयात् लोभाद् दंभात् पाखण्डसंश्रयात् । शास्त्रान् अभ्यसनाच्चैव ध्यानयोगफलं गतम्

Because of the defeat of the mind, out of greed, hypocrisy, and resorting to heresy, and even from the mere study of scriptures, the fruit of meditation and yoga is lost.

पण्डितास्तु कलत्रेण रमन्ते महिषा इव । पुत्रस्योत्पादने दक्षा अदक्षा मुक्तिसाधने

The learned delight with their wives like buffaloes, skillful in producing sons, but unskilled in attaining liberation.

न हि वैष्णवता कुत्र संप्रदायपुरःसरा । एवं प्रलयतां प्राप्तो वस्तुसारः स्थले स्थले

Nowhere is true Vaiṣṇavism found, even among the leaders of the traditions; thus, the true essence of reality has perished everywhere.

अयं तु युगधर्मो हि वर्तते कस्य दूषणम् । अतस्तु पुण्डरीकाक्षः सहते निकटे स्थितः

But this is the nature of the age; who can be blamed? Therefore, the Lotus-eyed Lord endures, standing nearby.

सूत उवाच - इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं गता । भक्तिरूचे वचो भूयः श्रूयतां तच्च शौनक

Sūta said: Hearing these words, they were filled with great wonder. Bhakti spoke again, 'Let this also be heard, O Śaunaka.'

भक्तिरुवाच - सुरर्षे त्वं हि धन्योऽसि मद्‌भाग्येन समागतः । साधूनां दर्शनं लोके सर्वसिद्धिकरं परम्

Bhakti said: O sage among the gods, you are truly blessed, for you have come here by my good fortune. The sight of the virtuous in this world bestows all perfections.

(मालिनी) जयति जयति मायां यस्य कायाधवस्ते वचनरचनमेकं केवलं चाकलय्य । ध्रुवपदमपि यातो यत्कृपातो ध्रुवोऽयं सकलकुशलपात्रं ब्रह्मपुत्रं नतास्मि

Victory, victory to him whose body is the basis of illusion, who, by a single utterance, creates all speech! By his grace, Dhruva attained the eternal state. I bow to the son of Brahmā, the vessel of all auspiciousness.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतमाहात्म्यम् - द्वितीयोऽध्यायः भक्तेः क्लेशनिवृत्तये नारदस्य उद्योगः नारद उवाच - (अनुष्टुप्) वृथा खेदयसे बाले अहो चिन्तातुरा कथम् । श्रीकृष्णचरणाम्भोजं स्मर दुःखं गमिष्यति

The glory of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam – Chapter Two. Narada's effort for the removal of Bhakti's distress. Narada said: Child, why do you grieve in vain, so troubled by anxiety? Remember the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—your sorrow will depart.

द्रौपदी च परित्राता येन कौरवकश्मलात् । पालिता गोपसुन्दर्यः स कृष्णः क्वापि नो गतः

It was he who rescued Draupadī from the calamity of the Kauravas and protected the cowherd women; where has that Kṛṣṇa gone now?

त्वंतु भक्तिः प्रिया तस्य सततं प्राणतोऽधिका । त्वयाऽऽहूतस्तु भगवान् याति नीचगृहेष्वपि

But you, Bhakti, are always dearer to him than life itself. When you call, the Lord comes even to the houses of the lowly.

सत्यादित्रियुगे बोध वैराग्यौ मुक्तिसाधकौ । कलौ तु केवला भक्तिः ब्रह्मसायुज्यकारिणी

In the first three ages, truth and knowledge, along with detachment, are the means to liberation; but in Kali, only Bhakti grants union with Brahman.

इति निश्चित्य चिद्‌रूपः सद्‌रूपां त्वां ससर्ज ह । परमानन्दचिन्मूर्ति सुंदरीं कृष्णवल्लभाम्

Thus, having decided, the Conscious One created you, who are of the same nature, as a beautiful form of supreme bliss, beloved of Kṛṣṇa.

बद्ध्वांजलिं त्वया पृष्टं किं करोमीति चैकदा । त्वां तदाऽऽज्ञापयत् कृष्णो मद्‌भक्तान् पोषयेति च

With folded hands, you once asked, 'What shall I do?' Then Kṛṣṇa instructed you: 'Nourish my devotees.'

अंगीकृतं त्वया तद्वै प्रसन्नोऽभूत् हरिस्तदा । मुक्तिं दासीं ददौ तुभ्यं ज्ञानवैराग्यकौ इमौ

You accepted that command, and Hari was pleased. He gave you Mukti as a maidservant, and these two—Jñāna and Vairāgya.

पोषणं स्वेन रूपेण वैकुण्ठे त्वं करोषि च । भूमौ भक्तविपोषाय छायारूपं त्वया कृतम्

In Vaikuṇṭha, you nourish by your own form; on earth, to nourish devotees, you manifest a shadow-form.

मुक्तिं ज्ञानं विरक्तिं च सह कृत्वा गता भुवि । कृतादि द्वापरस्यान्तं महानन्देन संस्थिता

With Mukti, Jñāna, and Vairāgya, you came to earth, and remained in great joy until the end of Dvāpara, beginning from Kṛta.

कलौ मुक्तिः क्षयं प्राप्ता पाखण्डामयपीडिता । त्वद् आज्ञया गता शीघ्रं वैकुण्ठं पुनरेव सा

In Kali, Mukti was destroyed, afflicted by heresy; by your command, she quickly returned again to Vaikuṇṭha.

स्मृता त्वयापि चात्रैव मुक्तिरायाति याति च । पुत्रीकृत्य त्वयेमौ च पार्श्वे स्वस्यैव रक्षितौ

Liberation comes and goes here as you remember, and these two, made your sons by you, are protected at your own side.

उपेक्षातः कलौ मन्दौ वृद्धौ जातौ सुतौ तव । तथापि चिन्तां मुञ्च त्वं उपायं चिन्तयाम्यहम्

Because of neglect, your two sons have become weak and old in this age of Kali; yet, do not worry—I will think of a way.

कलिना सदृशः कोऽपि युगो नास्ति वरानने । तस्मिन् त्वां स्थापयिष्यामि गेहे गेहे जने जने

O beautiful one, there is no age like Kali; in that age, I will establish you in every home, among all people.

अन्यधर्मान् तिरस्कृत्य पुरस्कृत्य महोत्सवान् । तदा नाहं हरेर्दासो लोके त्वां न प्रवर्तये

Setting aside other duties and giving priority to great festivals, at that time, I will not serve Hari, nor will I spread you in the world.

त्वद् अन्विताश्च ये जीवा भविष्यन्ति कलौ इह । पापिनोऽपि गमिष्यन्ति निर्भयं कृष्णमन्दिरम्

Those living beings who are accompanied by you in this Kali age—even if sinful—will go without fear to Krishna’s temple.

येषां चित्ते वसेद्‌भक्तिः सर्वदा प्रेमरूपिणी । नते पश्यन्ति कीनाशं स्वप्नेऽप्यमलमूर्तयः

For those whose hearts are always filled with devotion in the form of love, impure beings cannot harm them, not even in dreams.

न प्रेतो न पिशाचो वा राक्षसो वासुरोऽपि वा । भक्तियुक्तमनस्कानां स्पर्शने न प्रभुर्भवेत्

Neither ghosts, nor spirits, nor demons, nor even asuras, can overpower those whose minds are endowed with devotion, even by touch.

न तपोभिर्न वेदैश्च न ज्ञानेनापि कर्मणा । हरिर्हि साध्यते भक्त्या प्रमाणं तत्र गोपिकाः

Neither by austerities, nor by the Vedas, nor by knowledge or actions, is Hari attained—only by devotion; the gopīs are the proof of this.

नृणां जन्मसहस्रेण भक्तौ प्रीतिर्हि जायते । कलौ भक्तिः कलौ भक्तिः भक्त्या कृष्णः पुरः स्थितः

After thousands of human births, love for devotion arises; in Kali, devotion, devotion—by devotion, Krishna stands before you.

भक्तिद्रोअकरा ये च ते सीदन्ति जगत्त्रये । दुर्वासा दुःखमापन्नः पुरा भक्तविनिन्दकः

Those who are hostile to devotion sink in all three worlds; once, Durvāsā suffered misery for insulting a devotee.