अनिरुद्धपुरं पश्चाद् दिव्यरूपा महाबलाः गच्छन्ति साधकवराः स्तूयमानाः सुरासुरैः
Afterwards, the best practitioners, with divine forms and great strength, go to the city of Aniruddha, praised by gods and demons.
तत्र कोटिसहस्राणि वर्षाणां च चतुर्दश तिष्ठन्ति वैष्णवास् तत्र जरामरणवर्जिताः
There, the Vaishnavas remain for fourteen billion thousand years, free from old age and death.
प्रद्युम्नस्य पुरं पश्चाद् गच्छन्ति विगतज्वराः तत्र तिष्ठन्ति ते विप्रा लक्षकोटिशतत्रयम्
Afterwards, free from affliction, they go to the city of Pradyumna; there, O Brahmins, they remain for three hundred million lakhs.
स्वच्छन्दगामिनो हृष्टा बलशक्तिसमन्विताः गच्छन्ति योगिनः पश्चाद् यत्र संकर्षणः प्रभुः
Moving as they wish, delighted and endowed with strength and power, the yogis then go where the lord Sankarshana resides.
तत्रोषित्वा चिरं कालं भुक्त्वा भोगान् सहस्रशः विशन्ति वासुदेवैति विरूपाख्ये निरञ्जने
Having stayed there for a long time, enjoying pleasures by the thousands, they enter the abode called Vāsudeva, known as Virūpa and stainless.
विनिर्मुक्ताः परे तत्त्वे जरामरणवर्जिते तत्र गत्वा विमुक्तास् ते भवेयुर् नात्र संशयः
Freed in the supreme reality, devoid of old age and death, having gone there, they become liberated; there is no doubt about this.
एवं क्रमेण भुक्तिं ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मनीषिणः मुक्तिं च मुनिशार्दूला वासुदेवार्चने रताः
Thus, in succession, the wise attain enjoyment and liberation, O tiger among sages, those devoted to the worship of Vāsudeva.
एकादश्याम् उभे पक्षे निराहारः समाहितः स्नात्वा सम्यग् विधानेन धौतवासा जितेन्द्रियः
On the eleventh day in both lunar fortnights, fasting and concentrated, having bathed properly according to the prescribed method, wearing clean garments, and with controlled senses,
संपूज्य विधिवद् विष्णुं श्रद्धया सुसमाहितः पुष्पैर् गन्धैस् तथा दीपैर् धूपैर् नैवेद्यकैस् तथा
Having worshipped Vishnu according to proper rite, with faith and full concentration, with flowers, fragrances, lamps, incense, and offerings of food,
उपहारैर् बहुविधैर् जप्यैर् होमप्रदक्षिणैः स्तोत्रैर् नानाविधैर् दिव्यैर् गीतवाद्यैर् मनोहरैः
With various gifts, recitations, fire offerings, circumambulations, hymns of many kinds, divine songs and enchanting music,
दण्डवत्प्रणिपातैश् च जयशब्दैस् तथोत्तमैः एवं संपूज्य विधिवद् रात्रौ कृत्वा प्रजागरम्
With prostrations, and excellent cries of victory, thus having worshipped properly, keeping vigil through the night,
कथां वा गीतिकां विष्णोर् गायन् विष्णुपरायणः याति विष्णोः परं स्थानं नरो नास्त्य् अत्र संशयः
Singing stories or songs of Vishnu, devoted to Vishnu, a man attains Vishnu’s supreme abode; there is no doubt about this.
प्रजागरे गीतिकायाः फलं विष्णोर् महामुने ब्रूहि तच् छ्रोतुम् इच्छामः परं कौतूहलं हि नः
Tell us, O great sage, the fruit of singing songs during the vigil for Vishnu; we wish to hear it, for we are greatly curious.
शृणुध्वं मुनिशार्दूलाः प्रवक्ष्याम्य् अनुपूर्वशः गीतिकायाः फलं विष्णोर् जागरे यद् उदाहृतम्
Listen, O foremost among sages; I will declare in order the fruit of singing songs for Vishnu during the vigil, as it has been described.
अवन्ती नाम नगरी बभूव भुवि विश्रुता तत्रास्ते भगवान् विष्णुः शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः
There was a city named Avanti, renowned upon the earth; there dwells the Lord Vishnu, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.
तस्या नगर्याः पर्यन्ते चाण्डालो गीतिकोविदः सद्वृत्त्योत्पादितधनो भृत्यानां भरणे रतः
At the outskirts of that city lived a Chandala skilled in singing, who earned wealth through good conduct and was devoted to supporting his servants.
विष्णुभक्तः स चाण्डालो मासि मासि दृढव्रतः एकादश्यां समागम्य सोपवासो ऽथ गायति
That Chandala, devoted to Vishnu, steadfast in his vow each month, would assemble on the Ekadashi, observe fasting, and sing.
गीतिका विष्णुनामाङ्काः प्रादुर्भावसमाश्रिताः गान्धारषड्जनैषादस्वरपञ्चमधैवतैः
He sang songs bearing Vishnu’s names, based on their manifestation, using the Gandhara, Shadja, Nishada, Panchama, and Dhaivata notes.
रात्रिजागरणे विष्णुं गाथाभिर् उपगायति प्रभाते च प्रणम्येशं द्वादश्यां गृहम् एत्य च
During the night vigil, he sang to Vishnu with verses; at dawn, he would bow to the Lord, and on the twelfth day, return home.
जामातृभागिनेयांश् च भोजयित्वा सकन्यकाः ततः सपरिवारस् तु पश्चाद् भुङ्क्ते द्विजोत्तमाः
He would feed his sons-in-law, nephews, and daughters, and afterwards, together with his family, he himself would eat, O best of Brahmins.
एवं तस्यासतस् तत्र कुर्वतो विष्णुप्रीणनम् गीतिकाभिर् विचित्राभिर् वयः प्रतिगतं बहु
Thus, while he performed the pleasing of Vishnu there with various songs, many years passed for him.
एकदा चैत्रमासे तु कृष्णैकादशिगोचरे विष्णुशुश्रूषणार्थाय ययौ वनम् अनुत्तमम्
Once, during the month of Chaitra, on the dark Ekadashi, for the purpose of serving Vishnu, he went to a most excellent forest.
वनजातानि पुष्पाणि ग्रहीतुं भक्तितत्परः क्षिप्रातटे महारण्ये विभीतकतरोर् अधः
Intent on devotion, to gather flowers growing in the forest, he quickly went to the great wilderness, beneath a Vibhitaka tree.
दृष्टः स राक्षसेनाथ गृहीतश् चापि भक्षितुम् चाण्डालस् तम् अथोवाच नाद्य भक्ष्यस् त्वया ह्य् अहम्
There he was seen by a Rakshasa, who seized him to eat; the Chandala then said to him: 'Today I am not to be eaten by you.'
प्रातर् भोक्ष्यसि कल्याण सत्यम् एष्याम्य् अहं पुनः अद्य कार्यं मम महत् तस्मान् मुञ्चस्व राक्षस
'You shall eat me in the morning, O auspicious one; I will surely return. Today I have a great task, so release me, O Rakshasa.'
श्वः सत्येन समेष्यामि ततः खादसि माम् इति विष्णुशुश्रूषणार्थाय रात्रिजागरणं मया कार्यं न व्रतविघ्नं मे कर्तुम् अर्हसि राक्षस
'Tomorrow I will return truthfully; then you may devour me. For the sake of serving Vishnu, I must keep vigil tonight. Do not hinder my vow, O Rakshasa.'
तं राक्षसः प्रत्युवाच दशरात्रम् अभोजनम् ममाभूद् अद्य च भवान् मया लब्धो मतङ्गज
The rākṣasa said to him: For ten nights I have gone without food, and today, O elephant, you have been obtained by me.
न मोक्ष्ये भक्षयिष्यामि क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् निशाचरवचः श्रुत्वा मातङ्गस् तम् उवाच ह सान्त्वयञ् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा स सत्यवचनैर् दृढैः
I will not release you; tormented by hunger, I will devour you. Hearing the words of the night-wanderer, the elephant spoke to him, soothing with gentle speech and firm words of truth.
सत्यमूलं जगत् सर्वं ब्रह्मराक्षस तच् छृणु सत्येनाहं शपिष्यामि पुनरागमनाय च
All the world is founded upon truth, O brahmarākṣasa; listen to this: I will swear to you by truth, and return again.
आदित्यश् चन्द्रमा वह्निर् वायुर् भूर् द्यौर् जलं मनः अहोरात्रं यमः संध्ये द्वे विदुर् नरचेष्टितम्
The sun, the moon, fire, wind, earth, sky, water, mind, day and night, Yama, the two twilights, and the actions of men—all know.