तं प्रणेमुः सुराः सर्वे मूर्ध्ना ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः
All the gods, led by Brahma, bowed to him, touching their heads to the ground.
वृत्तान्तं कथयामास स्वयं ब्रह्मा कृताञ्जलिः
Brahma himself, with hands joined in reverence, began to recount the events.
स चापश्यत्सुरगणं विपद्ग्रस्तं भयाकुलम्
He saw the host of gods, afflicted by calamity and overwhelmed by fear.
शोभाशून्यं हतश्रीकं परिवारैरनावृतम्
Devoid of splendor, bereft of fortune, and surrounded by attendants, they appeared uncovered.
नारायण उवाच दास्यामि लक्ष्मीमचलां परमैश्वर्यवर्द्धिनीम्
Narayana said: I will grant you Lakshmi, unshakable and increasing supreme prosperity.
किञ्च मद्वचनं किञ्चिच्छ्रूयतां समयोचितम्
Moreover, let my words, appropriate to the occasion, be heard.
जनाश्चासंख्यविश्वस्था मदधीनाश्च सन्ततम्
Countless people in the world are always under my authority.
यो यो रुष्टो हि मद्भक्ते मत्परे हि निरङ्कुशः 2.38.
Whoever, uncontrolled, becomes angry with my devotees or those devoted to me—
दुर्वासाः शङ्करांशश्च वैष्णवो मत्परायणः
Durvasa, a portion of Shankara, is a Vaishnava devoted to me.
यत्र शङ्खध्वनिर्नास्ति तुलसी च शिलार्चनम्
Where there is no sound of the conch, nor worship with tulasi or stone—
मद्भक्तानां च मे निन्दा यत्र यत्र भवेत्सुराः
And wherever, O gods, there is criticism of my devotees—
मद्भक्तिहीनो यो मूढो यो भुङ्क्ते हरिवासरे
Whoever is devoid of devotion to me, foolish, and eats on Hari's day—
मन्नामविक्रयी यश्च विक्रीणाति स्वकन्यकाम्
Who sells my name, or sells his own daughter—
पापिनां यो गृहं याति शूद्रश्राद्धान्नभोजिनाम्
Who enters the house of sinners, or eats the food offered at a Shudra's funeral rite—
शूद्राणां शवदाही च भाग्यहीनश्च वाडवः
Among Shudras, the one who cremates corpses, and the unfortunate horse-trader—
शूद्राणां सूपकारो यो ब्राह्मणो वृषवाहकः
Who cooks for Shudras, or the Brahmin who serves as a bull-driver—
विप्रो यवनसेवी च देवलः शूद्रयाजकः
The Brahmin who serves Yavanas, the temple priest, or the Shudra officiant—
विश्वासघाती मित्रघ्नो नरघाती कृतघ्नकः 2.38.
The betrayer of trust, the killer of friends, the slayer of men, and the ungrateful one.
अशुद्धहृदयः कूरो हिंसको निन्दको द्विजः
A Brahmin whose heart is impure, who is cruel, and who slanders others.
यो विप्रः पुंश्चलीपुत्रो महापापी च तत्पतिः
A Brahmin who is the son of an adulteress, or who is a great sinner, and his husband.
तृणं छिनत्ति नखरैस्तैर्वा यो हि लिखेन्महीम्
One who cuts grass with his nails, or who scratches the earth with them.
सूर्य्योदये च द्विर्भोजी दिवाशायी च वाडवः
One who eats twice after sunrise, or who sleeps during the day, is called a horse.
आचारहीनो यो विप्रो यश्च शूद्रप्रतिग्रही
A Brahmin who lacks proper conduct, or who accepts gifts from a Shudra.
स्निग्धपादश्च नग्नो वा यः शेते ज्ञानदुर्बलः
One whose feet are oily, or who sleeps naked, or who is weak in knowledge.
शिरस्नातश्च तैलेन योऽन्यदङ्गमुपस्पृशेत्
One who bathes his head with oil and then touches another part of his body.
व्रतोपवासहीनो यः सन्ध्याहीनोऽशुचिर्द्विजः
A Brahmin who neglects vows and fasting, who omits the twilight worship, and who is impure.
यत्र तत्र हरेरर्चा हरेरुत्कीर्त्तनं शुभम् 2.38.
Wherever there is worship of Hari, or auspicious praise of Hari.
यत्र प्रशंसा कृष्णस्य तद्भक्तस्य पितामह
Wherever there is glorification of Krishna, or of his devotee, O Grandfather.
यत्र शङ्खध्वनिः शङ्खः शिला च तुलसीदलम्
Wherever there is the sound of a conch, a conch shell, a stone, or a tulasi leaf.
शिवलिङ्गार्चनं यत्र तस्य चोत्कीर्त्तनं शुभम्
Wherever there is worship of the Shiva lingam, or auspicious praise of him.