यथा विष्णौ भवेद् भक्तिस् तन् नो ब्रूहि महामते तपसा कर्मणा येन श्रोतुम् इच्छाम सांप्रतम्
O greatly wise one, tell us how devotion to Vishnu arises—by what austerity or action—this we now wish to hear.
शृणुध्वं मुनिशार्दूलाः प्रवक्ष्याम्य् अनुपूर्वशः यथा कृष्णे भवेद् भक्तिः पुरुषस्य महाफला
Hear, O best of sages, I will explain in order how devotion to Krishna, which yields great fruit to a person, arises.
संसारे ऽस्मिन् महाघोरे सर्वभूतभयावहे महामोहकरे नॄणां नानादुःखशताकुले
In this terrible cycle of existence, which brings fear to all beings, which causes great delusion and is filled with hundreds of various sufferings for people—
तिर्यग्योनिसहस्रेषु जायमानः पुनः पुनः कथंचिल् लभते जन्म देही मानुष्यकं द्विजाः
Being born again and again in thousands of animal wombs, somehow, O twice-born, an embodied being attains human birth.
मानुषत्वे ऽपि विप्रत्वं विप्रत्वे ऽपि विवेकिता विवेकाद् धर्मबुद्धिस् तु बुद्ध्या तु श्रेयसां ग्रहः
Even in human birth, one attains brahminhood; even among brahmins, discrimination; from discrimination comes understanding of dharma, and through understanding, the grasping of what is truly beneficial.
यावत् पापक्षयं पुंसां न भवेज् जन्म संचितम् तावन् न जायते भक्तिर् वासुदेवे जगन्मये
Until the accumulated karma of sins is destroyed for a person, devotion to Vasudeva, the soul of the universe, does not arise.
तस्माद् वक्ष्यामि भो विप्रा भक्तिः कृष्णे यथा भवेत् अन्यदेवेषु या भक्तिः पुरुषस्येह जायते
Therefore, O brahmins, I will explain how devotion to Krishna arises, and how the devotion that a person has for other deities arises here.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तद्गतेनान्तरात्मना तेन तस्य भवेद् भक्तिर् यजने मुनिसत्तमाः
By action, by mind, by speech, with the inner self absorbed in that, thus devotion arises for him in worship, O best of sages.
स करोति ततो विप्रा भक्तिं चाग्नेः समाहितः तुष्टे हुताशने तस्य भक्तिर् भवति भास्करे
He then, O brahmins, performs devotion to Agni with concentration; when the fire is pleased, his devotion turns to the Sun.
पूजां करोति सततम् आदित्यस्य ततो द्विजाः प्रसन्ने भास्करे तस्य भक्तिर् भवति शंकरे
He constantly performs worship of the Sun, O twice-born; when the Sun is pleased, his devotion turns to Shankara.
पूजां करोति विधिवत् स तु शंभोः प्रयत्नतः तुष्टे त्रिलोचने तस्य भक्तिर् भवति केशवे
He who performs worship of Śaṃbhu according to the proper method, with diligence—when the Three-eyed One is pleased, his devotion turns toward Keśava.
संपूज्य तं जगन्नाथं वासुदेवाख्यम् अव्ययम् ततो भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च स प्राप्नोति द्विजोत्तमाः
Having duly worshipped that Lord of the universe, the imperishable one called Vāsudeva, he attains both enjoyment and liberation, O best of twice-born.
अवैष्णवा नरा ये तु दृश्यन्ते च महामुने किं ते विष्णुं नार्चयन्ति ब्रूहि तत्कारणं द्विज
O great sage, those men who are seen to be non-Vaiṣṇavas—why do they not worship Viṣṇu? Tell me the reason for this, O twice-born.
द्वौ भूतसर्गौ विख्यातौ लोके ऽस्मिन् मुनिसत्तमाः आसुरश् च तथा दैवः पुरा सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा
O best of sages, two types of beings are known in this world: the demonic and the divine—both were created long ago by the self-born.
दैवीं प्रकृतिम् आसाद्य पूजयन्ति ततो ऽच्युतम् आसुरीं योनिम् आपन्ना दूषयन्ति नरा हरिम्
Those who attain the divine nature worship Acyuta; those who fall into the demonic womb revile Hari.
मायया हतविज्ञाना विष्णोस् ते तु नराधमाः अप्राप्य तं हरिं विप्रास् ततो यान्त्य् अधमां गतिम्
Deprived of true understanding by illusion, those lowest of men do not attain Hari, O brāhmaṇas, and thus go to a degraded state.
तस्य या गह्वरी माया दुर्विज्ञेया सुरासुरैः महामोहकरी नॄणां दुस्तरा चाकृतात्मभिः
His illusion, which is like a deep cavern, is difficult for gods and demons to comprehend; it causes great delusion among people and is insurmountable for those of impure mind.
इच्छामस् तां महामायां ज्ञातुं विष्णोः सुदुस्तराम् वक्तुम् अर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परं कौतूहलं हि नः
We wish to know that great illusion of Viṣṇu, which is so hard to overcome. You, who know dharma, ought to tell us, for we are greatly curious.
स्वप्नेन्द्रजालसंकाशा माया सा लोककर्षणी कः शक्नोति हरेर् मायां ज्ञातुं तां केशवाद् ऋते
That illusion, resembling a dream or a magic show, draws in the world—who is able to know the illusion of Hari, except for Keśava himself?
या वृत्ता ब्राह्मणस्यासीन् मायार्थे नारदस्य च विडम्बनां तु तां विप्राः शृणुध्वं गदतो मम
Now hear from me, O brāhmaṇas, as I recount the deception that once befell a brāhmaṇa and also Nārada, for the sake of illustrating illusion.
प्राग् आसीन् नृपतिः श्रीमान् आग्नीध्र इति विश्रुतः नगरे कामदमनस् तस्याथ तनयः शुचिः
Long ago there was a renowned king named Āgnīdhra, prosperous in the city of Kāmadamana; he had a son who was pure.
धर्मारामः क्षमाशीलः पितृशुश्रूषणे रतः प्रजानुरञ्जको दक्षः श्रुतिशास्त्रकृतश्रमः
He delighted in righteousness, was patient by nature, devoted to serving his father, skilled in pleasing his subjects, and diligent in the study of the Vedas and scriptures.
पितास्य त्व् अकरोद् यत्नं विवाहाय न चैच्छत तं पिता प्राह किम् इति नेच्छसे दारसंग्रहम्
His father made efforts to arrange his marriage, but he did not wish for it. The father asked him, 'Why do you not desire to take a wife?'
सर्वम् एतत् सुखार्थं हि वाञ्छन्ति मनुजाः किल सुखमूला हि दाराश् च तस्मात् तं त्वं समाचर
Indeed, all people desire these things for the sake of happiness; wives are the root of happiness, so you should do this.
स पितुर् वचनं श्रुत्वा तूष्णीम् आस्ते च गौरवात् मुहुर् मुहुस् तं च पिता चोदयाम् आस भो द्विजाः
Hearing his father's words, he remained silent out of respect; again and again, the father urged him, O brāhmaṇas.
अथासौ पितरं प्राह तात नामानुरूपता मया समाश्रिता व्यक्ता वैष्णवी परिपालिनी
Then he spoke to his father: 'Father, I have embraced a name and conduct befitting a Vaiṣṇava, which is clearly protective.'
तं पिता प्राह संगम्य नैष धर्मो ऽस्ति पुत्रक न विधारयितव्या स्यात् पुरुषेण विपश्चिता
The father, having approached him, said: 'This is not the proper way, my son; a wise man should not maintain this.'
कुरु मद्वचनं पुत्र प्रभुर् अस्मि पिता तव मा निमज्ज कुलं मह्यं नरके संततिक्षयात्
Do as I say, my son, for I am your father and lord; do not plunge my lineage into hell by ending the family line.
स हि तं पितुर् आदेशं श्रुत्वा प्राह सुतो वशी प्रीतः संस्मृत्य पौराणीं संसारस्य विचित्रताम्
He, having heard his father's command, spoke as an obedient and pleased son, recalling the ancient tales and the manifold diversity of worldly existence.
शृणु तात वचो मह्यं तत्त्ववाक्यं सहेतुकम् नामानुरूपं कर्तव्यं सत्यं भवति पार्थिव
Listen, father, to my words—truthful and reasoned speech. One must act in accordance with one's name; this is indeed true, O king.