रत्ननूपुरपादं च सद्रत्नमुकुटोज्ज्वलम्
With feet adorned by jeweled anklets and a radiant jeweled crown,
स्थिरमुद्रां दर्शयन्तं भक्तवामकरेण च
Displaying a steady gesture, with the left hand extended toward the devotee,
बालिकाबालकगणैर्नागरैः सस्मितैर्युतम्
Surrounded by groups of girls and boys, and citizens, all smiling,
तं दृष्ट्वा सम्भ्रमाच्छम्भुः सभृत्यः सहपुत्रकः
Seeing him, Shambhu, along with his attendants and son, became filled with awe,
आशिषं प्रददौ बालः सर्वेभ्यो वाञ्छितप्रदाम्
The boy bestowed blessings upon all, granting them their desired wishes,
दत्त्वा तस्मै शिवो भक्त्या तूपचारांस्तु षोडश
Having offered him, with devotion, the sixteen forms of worship, Shiva,
रत्नसिंहासनस्थं च प्रावोचच्छङ्करः स्वयम् 3.44.
To him, seated upon a jeweled throne, Shankara himself spoke:
शंकर उवाच ते शश्वत्कुशलाधाराः कुशलाः कुशलप्रदाः
Shankara said: You are the eternal abode of auspiciousness, the giver and bestower of well-being.
अयने सफलं जन्म जीवितं च सुजीवितम्
In this world, a birth is fruitful and a life is well-lived,
परिपूर्णतमः कृष्णो लोकनिस्तारहेतवे
For Krishna, who is completely perfect, is the cause of the deliverance of the worlds.
अतिथिः पूजितो येन पूजिताः सर्वदेवताः
He by whom the guest is worshipped, has worshipped all the deities.
स्नानेन सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वदानेन यत्फलम् ४५' तदेवातिथिसेवायाः कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्
The merit gained by bathing in all holy waters and by all gifts— even a sixteenth part of that is not equal to the service of a guest.
अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो याति रुष्टश्च मन्दिरात्
He whose guest departs disappointed or angry from his house,
स्त्रीगोघ्नश्च कृतघ्नश्च ब्रह्मघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः
A slayer of women, a killer of cows, an ungrateful one, a slayer of Brahmins, or one who violates the teacher's bed,
सन्ध्याहीनः स्वघाती च सत्यघ्नो हरिनिन्दकः
One who neglects the twilight worship, a suicide, a breaker of truth, or a blasphemer of Hari,
मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नश्च वृषवाहश्च सूपकृत् 3.44.
A betrayer of friends, an ungrateful one, a bullock driver, or a cook—
शूद्रश्राद्धान्नभोजी च शूद्रश्राद्धेषु भोजकः
One who eats food offered at a śūdra’s śrāddha, or who partakes in śrāddha rites performed by śūdras,
लाक्षामांसतिलानां च लवणस्य तिलस्य च
and one who consumes lac, meat, sesame, salt, or sesame seeds,
एकादशीकृष्णसेवाहीनो विप्रश्च भारते
and a brāhmaṇa in Bhārata who neglects service to Kṛṣṇa on Ekādaśī,
कालसूत्रे च नरके पतन्ति ब्रह्मणां शतम्
fall into the hell called Kālasūtra for a hundred lifetimes of Brahmā.
नारायण उवाच मेघगम्भीरया वाचा तमुवाच जगत्पतिः
Nārāyaṇa said: The Lord of the universe addressed him with a voice deep as thunderclouds.
विष्णुरुवाच अस्य रामस्य रक्षार्थं कृष्णभक्तस्य साम्प्रतम्
Viṣṇu said: For the protection of this Rāma, who is now a devotee of Kṛṣṇa,
नैतेषां कृष्णभक्तानामशुभं विद्यते क्वचित्
there is never any misfortune for these devotees of Kṛṣṇa, anywhere.
नाहं पाता गुरौ रुष्टे बलवद्गुरुहेलनम्
I do not absolve the sin when a guru is angered, nor the grave offense of disrespecting the guru.
मान्यः पूज्यश्च सर्वेभ्यः सर्वेषां जनको भवेत्
He should be honored and worshipped by all; he is to be regarded as the father of everyone.
जनको जन्मदानाच्च पालनाच्च पिता नृणाम् 3.44.
Because he gives birth and sustains, the father is called the progenitor of men.
पितुः शतगुणं माता पोषणाद्गर्भधारणात्
The mother is a hundred times greater than the father, due to nourishing and bearing the child in her womb.
मातुः शतगुणं वन्द्यः पूज्यो मान्योऽन्नदायकः
One who gives food is a hundred times more worthy of reverence, worship, and honor than the mother.
अन्नदातुः शतगुणोऽभीष्टदेवः परः स्मृतः
The cherished deity is said to be a hundred times greater than the giver of food.
अज्ञानतिमिराच्छन्नं ज्ञानदीपेन चक्षुषा
Covered by the darkness of ignorance, one attains happiness in austerity and sacrifice through the lamp of knowledge given by the guru.