नारद उवाच राजा केन प्रकारेण सिषेवे प्रकृतिं पराम्
Nārada said: By what means did the king worship the supreme Nature?
समाधिर्नाम वैश्यो वा निष्कामं निर्गुणं विभुम्
And the Vaiśya named Samādhi, being desireless, worshipped the attribute-less Lord.
किं वा पूजाविधानं च ध्यानं वा मनुरेव च
What was the method of worship, or was it meditation, or was it a mantra?
वैश्याय प्रकृतिस्तस्मै किं वा ज्ञानं ददौ परम्
What supreme knowledge did the goddess give to that Vaiśya?
ज्ञानं संप्राप्य वैश्यश्च किं पदं प्राप दुर्लभम्
Having attained knowledge, what rare state did the Vaiśya reach?
श्रीनारायण उवाच स्तोत्रं च कवचं देव्या ध्यानं चैव पुरस्क्रियाम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: He performed the hymn, the protective mantra of the goddess, meditation, and the prescribed rites.
स्नात्वा त्रिकालं वर्षं च ततः शुद्धो बभूव सः
Bathing three times a day for a year, he then became purified.
राज्ञे ददौ राज्यवरं मनुत्वं वाञ्छितं सुखम्
To the king, she granted the boon of the kingdom and the happiness he desired.
यद्दत्तं शूलिने पूर्वं कृष्णेन परमात्मना
That which was previously given to Śiva by Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul.
रुरोद कृत्वा क्रोडे तमचेष्टं श्वासवर्जितम् 2.63.
He wept, holding him in his lap, motionless and without breath.
चेतनां च ददौ तस्मै स्वयं चैतन्यरूपिणी
And she, who is herself the very form of consciousness, granted him awareness.
तमुवाच प्रसन्नाऽसौ कृपयाऽतिकृपामयी
Then, being exceedingly compassionate, she spoke to him with a gracious mind.
श्रीप्रकृतिरुवाच ब्रह्मत्वममरत्वं वा ततो वाऽतिसुदुर्लभम्
Śrī Prakṛti said: Brahmahood or immortality, or that which is extremely rare—
इन्द्रत्वं वा मनुत्वं वा सर्वसिद्धत्वमेव च
The status of Indra, or Manu, or even all perfections—
वैश्य उवाच ततोऽतिदुर्लभं किं वा न जाने तदभीप्सितम्
The Vaiśya said: Then, what is even more difficult to attain? I do not know what to desire.
त्वय्येव शरणापन्नो देहि यद्वाञ्छितं तव
I have taken refuge in you alone; grant me whatever you wish.
प्रकृतिरुवाच यतो यास्यसि गोलोकं पदमेव सुदुर्लभम्
Prakṛti said: Therefore, you shall go to Goloka, the supreme abode, which is exceedingly rare.
सर्वसारं च यज्ज्ञानं सुरर्षीणां सुदुर्लभम्
And the essence of all knowledge, which is extremely difficult for the gods and sages to obtain.
स्मरणं वन्दनं ध्यानमर्चनं गुणकीर्त्तनम्
Remembrance, praise, meditation, worship, and glorification of virtues—
एतदेवं वैष्णवानां नवधा भक्तिलक्षणम् 2.63.
These, in this way, are the ninefold characteristics of devotion among Vaiṣṇavas.
आयुर्हरति लोकानां रविरेव हि सन्ततम्
The sun alone constantly takes away the lifespan of beings.
भक्तास्तद्गतचित्ताश्च वैष्णवाश्चिरजीविनः
But devotees whose minds are fixed on Him, the Vaiṣṇavas, live long.
शिवः शेषश्च धर्मश्च ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्महान्विराट्
Śiva, Śeṣa, Dharma, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the great Virāṭ—
वोढुः पञ्चशिखो दक्षो नारदश्च सनातनः
Voḍhu, Pañcaśikha, Dakṣa, Nārada, and Sanātana—
मेधावी लोमशः शुक्रो वसिष्ठः क्रतुरेव च
The wise Lomasha, Śukra, Vasiṣṭha, and also Kratu—
मार्कण्डेयो बलिश्चैव प्रह्लादश्च गणेश्वरः
Markandeya, Bali, Prahlāda, and Gaṇeśvara—
अकूपार उलूकश्च नाडीजंघश्च वायुजः
Akūpāra, Ulūka, Nāḍījaṅgha, and Vāyuja—
नवधा भक्तियुक्ताश्च कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः
All these are endowed with ninefold devotion to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul.
ये तद्भक्तास्ते तदंशा जीवन्मुक्ताश्च सन्ततम्
Those who are devoted to Him are His own portions, and they are ever liberated while living.
ऊर्ध्वं च सप्त स्वर्गाश्च सप्तद्वीपा वसुन्धरा 2.63.
Above are the seven heavens, and the earth with its seven continents.