कर्म्मणा चाशुभेनैव भ्रमन्ति नरकेषु च
Through evil actions alone, they wander in the realms of hell.
निर्वाणरूपा सेवा च कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः 2.26.
Service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Self, is of the nature of liberation.
दीर्घजीवी च क्षीणायुः सुखी दुःखी च निश्चितम्
One is certainly long-lived or short-lived, happy or unhappy.
सिद्ध्यादिकमवाप्नोति सर्वोत्कृष्टेन कर्म्मणा
By the most excellent actions, one attains success and other achievements.
सुदुर्लभं सुभोग्यं च पुराणेषु श्रुतिष्वपि
That which is extremely rare and most enjoyable is spoken of in the Purāṇas and the Vedas.
दुर्लभा मानवी जातिः सर्वजातिषु भारते
Among all births in Bhārata, a human birth is difficult to obtain.
विष्णुभक्तो द्विजश्चैव गरीयान्भारते ततः
Therefore, in Bhārata, a twice-born devotee of Viṣṇu is the most exalted.
सकामश्च प्रधानश्च निष्कामो भक्त एव च
Whether desiring, prominent, or free from desire, only the devotee—
स याति देहं त्यक्ता च पदं विष्णोर्निरामयम्
Upon leaving the body, he attains Viṣṇu’s flawless abode.
ये सेवन्ते च द्विभुजं कृष्णमात्मानमीश्वरम्
Those who serve Kṛṣṇa, the two-armed Lord, the Self, the Lord—
ये च नारायणं भक्ताः सेवन्ते च चतुर्भुजम्
And those devotees who serve Nārāyaṇa, the four-armed One—
सकामिनो वैष्णवाश्च गत्वा वैकुण्ठमेव च 2.26.
The Vaiṣṇavas who have desires go to Vaikuṇṭha.
कालेन ते च निष्कामा भविष्यन्ति क्रमेण च
In time, they too will become free from desire, gradually.
ब्राह्मणाद्वैष्णवादन्ये सकामाः सर्वजन्मसु
Other than the brāhmaṇa Vaiṣṇavas, all others remain with desires through all births.
तीर्थाश्रिता द्विजा ये च तपस्यानिरताः सति
Those twice-born who reside at sacred fords and are devoted to austerities,
स्वधर्मनिरता विप्राः सूर्य्यभक्ताश्च भारते
The Brāhmaṇas in Bhārata who are devoted to their own duty and are worshippers of the Sun,
स्वधर्मनिरता विप्राः शैवाः शाक्ताश्च गाणपाः
The Brāhmaṇas devoted to their own duty, as well as those who are followers of Śiva, Śakti, or Gaṇeśa,
ये विप्रा अन्यदेवेष्टाः स्वधर्मनिरताः सति
Those Brāhmaṇas who worship other deities, yet remain devoted to their own duty,
हरिभक्ताश्च निष्कामाः स्वधर्म्मरहिता द्विजाः
And those desireless twice-born who are devoted to Hari but neglect their own duty,
स्वधर्म्मरहिता विप्रा देवान्यसेविनः सदा
The Brāhmaṇas who neglect their own duty and always serve other gods,
स्वधर्म्मनिरताश्चैवं वर्णाश्चत्वार एव च
Thus, those devoted to their own duty, and the four varṇas as well,
स्वधर्म्मरहितास्ते च नरकं यान्ति हि ध्रुवम् 2.26.
But those who neglect their own duty surely go to hell.
स्वधर्मनिरता विप्राः स्वधर्मनिरताय च
Brāhmaṇas devoted to their own duty, and to those devoted to their own duty,
वसंति तत्र ते साध्वि यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश
O virtuous one, they dwell there as long as the fourteen Indras exist.
सकामा यांति तल्लोकं न निष्कामाश्च वैष्णवाः
Those with desires reach that world, but the desireless Vaiṣṇavas do not.
गव्यं च रजतं भार्यां वस्त्रं सस्यं फलं जलम्
Cows, silver, wives, garments, grain, fruits, and water,
वसंति ते च तल्लोकं यावन्मन्वन्तरं सति
They dwell in that world as long as a manvantara lasts.
ये ददति सुवर्णं च गां च ताम्रादिकं सति
Those who give gold, cows, copper, and the like,
वसन्ति तत्र ते लोके वर्षाणामयुतं सति
They dwell in that world for ten thousand years.
ददाति भूमिं विप्रेभ्यो धान्यानि विपुलानि च
He who gives land and abundant grains to Brāhmaṇas,