शास्त्रे च द्विविधं मार्गं निर्दिष्टं मुनिपुङ्गव
In the scriptures, O best of sages, two paths are prescribed.
चरन्ति जीविनश्चादौ प्रवृत्तौ दुःखवर्त्मनि
Living beings, at first, walk the path of action, which leads to suffering.
आपातमधुरे लोभात्क्लेशे च सुखमानिनः
Out of greed, they consider as happiness that which is sweet at first but painful in the end.
अनेकजन्मपर्य्यन्तं कृत्वा च भ्रमणं मुदा
Thus, wandering joyfully through countless births,
ततः कृष्णानुग्रहाच्च सत्सङ्गं लभते जनः
Then, by Krishna's grace, a person attains the company of the good.
साधुः सत्त्वप्रदीपेन मुक्तिमार्गं प्रदर्शयेत्
A saint, with the lamp of purity, shows the path to liberation.
अनेकजन्मयोगेन तपसाऽनशनेन च
Through the accumulation of many births, through austerity and fasting,
इदं श्रुतं गुरोर्वक्त्रात्प्रसङ्गावसरेण च 2.36.
This was heard from the guru's mouth, on the occasion of discourse.
अधुना विधिना दत्तो विपत्तौ ज्ञानसागरः
Now, by fate, the ocean of knowledge has been given in adversity.
ज्ञानसिन्धो दीनबन्धो मह्यं दीनाय साम्प्रतम्
O ocean of knowledge, friend of the distressed, now grant me, who am afflicted, your grace.
इन्द्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ज्ञानिनां गुरुः
Hearing Indra's words, the guru of the wise smiled.
दुर्वासा उवाच आपाततो दुःखबीजं परिणामसुखावहम्
Durvasa said: In the beginning, it is the seed of suffering, but in the end, it brings happiness.
स्वगर्भयातनानाशपीडाखण्डनकारणम्
It is the cause that destroys the pain and torment of one's own womb and birth.
कर्मवृक्षाङ्कुरच्छेदकारणं सर्वतारकम्
It is the reason for cutting the sprouts of the tree of karma, and it is the universal liberator.
दानेन तपसा वाऽपि व्रतेनानशनादिना
By charity, by austerity, or by vow, including fasting,
काम्यानां कर्मणां चैव मूलं संछिद्य यत्नतः
One should diligently cut off the root of actions performed with desire.
यत्कर्म सात्त्विकं कुर्य्यादसंकल्पितमेव च
Whatever action one performs should be sattvic and without personal motive.
सांसारिकाणामेतत्तु निर्वाणं मोचकं विदुः 2.36.
This, for those bound in worldly existence, is known as liberation and deliverance.
सेवां कुर्वन्ति ते नित्यं विधायोत्तमदेहकम्
They always perform service, having attained an excellent body.
हरिसेवादिरूपां च मुक्तिमिच्छन्ति वैष्णवाः
Vaishnavas desire liberation in the form of service to Hari and similar acts.
स्मरणं कीर्त्तनं विष्णोरर्चनं पादसेवनम्
Remembrance, praise, worship of Vishnu, and service at his feet,
चरणोदकपानं च तन्मंत्रजपनं परम्
Drinking the water that has washed his feet, and especially reciting his mantras,
इदं मृत्युञ्जयज्ञानं दत्तं मृत्युञ्जयेन मे
This knowledge of the conqueror of death has been given to me by the conqueror of death.
स जन्मदाता स गुरुः स च बन्धुः सतां परः
He is the giver of birth, he is the guru, and he is the supreme friend of the virtuous.
दर्शयेदन्यमार्गं च विना श्रीकृष्णसेवनम्
He who shows another path, apart from service to Shri Krishna,
सन्ततं जगतां कृष्णनाम मङ्गलकारणम्
The name of Krishna is always the cause of auspiciousness for the worlds.
तेभ्योऽप्यपैति कालश्च मृत्युस्स्याद्रोग एव च
From them, even time departs, and death becomes merely disease.
कृष्णमन्त्रोपासकश्च ब्राह्मणः श्वपचोऽपि वा 2.36.
Whether a Brahmin or even one born in a low family, if he worships Krishna's mantra—
ब्रह्मणा पूजितः सोऽपि मधुपर्कादिना च यः
He who has been worshipped by Brahmā, with offerings such as madhuparka and others,
ज्ञानसारं तपःसारं ब्रह्मसारं परं शिवम्
The essence of knowledge, the essence of austerity, the supreme essence of Brahman, the highest auspiciousness,