महापातकिनश्चैते शूद्राणां शवदाहकाः
These are all great sinners, and those who cremate the dead among the Shudras.
लक्ष्मीरुवाच येषां सन्दर्शनस्पर्शात्सद्यः पूता नराधमाः
Lakshmi said: By seeing or touching such people, even the lowest of men are instantly purified.
हरिभक्तिविहीनाश्च महाहङ्कारसंयुताः
Those devoid of devotion to Hari and filled with great pride,
पुनन्ति सर्वतीर्थानि येषां स्नानावगाहनात्
All sacred places are purified by the immersion and bathing of such people.
येषां सन्दर्शनं स्पर्शं देवा वाञ्छन्ति भारते
The gods in Bharata desire the sight and touch of such people.
न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवा मृच्छिलामयाः 2.6.
For the sacred places are not mine, nor are the gods made of clay or stone.
सौतिरुवाच निगूढतत्त्वं कथितुमृषिश्रेष्ठोपचक्रमे
Sauti said: The foremost sage began to reveal the hidden truth.
श्रीनारायण उवाच पुण्यस्वरूपं पापघ्नं सुखदं भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: It possesses the nature of virtue, destroys sin, grants happiness, and bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation.
सारभूतं गोपनीयं न वक्तव्यं खलेषु च
It is the essence, to be kept secret, and must not be spoken among the wicked.
गुरुवक्त्राद्विष्णुमन्त्रो यस्य कर्णे विशेद्वरः
When the excellent Viṣṇu mantra enters someone's ear from the mouth of the guru,
पुरुषाणां शतं पूर्वं पूतं तज्जन्ममात्रतः
A hundred previous births of that person are purified from the very moment of birth.
यैः कैश्चिद्यत्र वा जन्म लब्धं येषु च जंतुषु
Whatever births have been obtained, wherever, and among whatever creatures,
मद्भक्तियुक्तो मत्पूजानियुक्तो मद्गुणान्वितः
One who is devoted to me, engaged in my worship, and endowed with my qualities,
मद्गुणश्रुतिमात्रेण सानन्दः पुलकान्वितः
Just by hearing my qualities, with joy and with hairs standing on end,
न वाञ्छन्ति सुखं मुक्तिं सालोक्यादि चतुष्टयम्
They do not desire happiness, liberation, or any of the four types of proximity to me.
इन्द्रत्वं च मनुत्वं च देवत्वं च सुदुर्लभम् 2.6.
Even the status of Indra, Manu, or the gods, which is extremely rare,
ब्रह्माण्डानि विनश्यन्ति देवा ब्रह्मादयस्तथा
Universes perish, and the gods, including Brahmā, likewise.
भ्रमन्ति भारते भक्ता लब्ध्वा जन्म सुदुर्लभम्
Devotees wander in Bhārata, having obtained a birth that is exceedingly rare.
इत्येतत्कथितं सर्वं कुरु पद्मे यथोचितम्
Thus, everything has been spoken as appropriate in the Padma.
नारायण उवाच गङ्गाशापेन कलया स्वयं तस्थौ हरेः पदे
Nārāyaṇa said: By the curse of Gaṅgā, she herself remained at the feet of Hari in the age of Kali.
भारती भारतं गत्वा ब्राह्मी च ब्रह्मणः प्रिया
Bhāratī went to Bhārata, and Brāhmī, the beloved of Brahmā,
सर्वं विश्वं परिव्याप्य स्रोतस्येव हि दृश्यते
Having pervaded the entire universe, she appears like a stream.
सरस्वती नदी सा च तीर्थरूपाऽतिपावनी
That Sarasvatī is a river, in the form of a sacred place, supremely purifying.
पश्चाद्भगीरथानीता महीं भागीरथी शुभा
Afterwards, brought by Bhagiratha, the auspicious Bhāgīrathī came to earth.
तत्रैव समये तां च दधार शिरसा शिवः
At that very moment, Shiva placed her upon his head.
पद्मा जगाम कलया सा च पद्मावती नदी
Padma departed in her form, and became the river Padmavati.
ततोऽन्यया सा कलया चालभज्जन्म भारते
Then, by another form, she took birth in Bharata.
पुरा सरस्वतीशापात्तत्पश्चाद्धरिशापतः
Formerly, by Sarasvati's curse, and afterwards by Hari's curse,
कलेः पञ्चसहस्रं च वर्षं स्थित्वा च भारते 2.7.
After remaining in Bharata for five thousand years of Kali,
यानि सर्वाणि तीर्थानि काशीं वृन्दावनं विना
All the sacred places, except Kashi and Vrindavana,