भगीरथेन सा नीता गङ्गा यास्यति भारते । पूतं कर्तुं त्रिभुवनं स्वयं तिष्ठतु मद्गृहे
Gaṅgā, brought by Bhagīratha, will go to Bhārata to purify the three worlds; let her herself remain in my house.
तत्रैव चन्द्रमौलेश्च मौलिं प्राप्स्यति दुर्लभम् । ततः स्वभावतः पूताप्यतिपूता भविष्यति
There she will attain the rare crown of the moon-crested one (Śiva); then, though already pure by nature, she will become supremely pure.
कलांशांशेन गच्छ त्वं भारते वामलोचने । पद्मावती सरिद्रूपा तुलसीवृक्षरूपिणी
You, O lotus-eyed one, go in a partial portion to Bhārata as Padmāvatī in the form of a river and as Tulasī in the form of a tree.
कलेः पञ्चसहस्रे च गते वर्षे तु मोक्षणम् । युष्माकं सरितां चैव मद्गेहे चागमिष्यथ
When five thousand years of Kali have passed, you and the rivers will come to my abode for liberation.
सम्पदा हेतुभूता च विपत्तिः सर्वदेहिनाम् । विना विपत्तेर्महिमा केषां पद्मभवे भवेत्
Calamity is the cause of prosperity for all embodied beings; without calamity, who among the lotus-born would have greatness?
मन्मन्त्रोपासकानां च सतां स्नानावगाहनात् । युष्माकं मोक्षणं पापाद्दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्तथा
For those who worship me with mantra, for the virtuous, by bathing and immersion, you will grant liberation from sin, by sight and by touch as well.
पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि सन्त्यसंख्यानि सुन्दरि । भविष्यन्ति च पूतानि मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
O beautiful one, the countless holy places that exist on earth will become pure through the touch and sight of my devotees.
मन्मन्त्रोपासका भक्ता विभ्रमन्ति च भारते । पूतं कर्तुं तारितुं च सुपवित्रां वसुन्धराम्
My mantra-worshipping devotees will wander in Bhārata to purify and deliver the supremely sacred earth.
मद्भक्ता यत्र तिष्ठन्ति पादं प्रक्षालयन्ति च । तत्स्थानं च महातीर्थं सुपवित्रं भवेद्ध्रुवम्
Wherever my devotees reside and wash their feet, that place certainly becomes a great and supremely pure pilgrimage site.
स्त्रीघ्नो गोघ्नः कृतघ्नश्च ब्रह्मघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः । जीवन्मुक्तो भवेत्पूतो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
A slayer of women, a slayer of cows, an ungrateful one, a brahmin-killer, or one who violates the teacher’s bed—such a person becomes purified and liberated by the touch or sight of my devotee.
एकादशीविहीनश्च सन्ध्याहीनोऽथ नास्तिकः । नरघाती भवेत्पूतो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
One who neglects the eleventh-day vow, omits the twilight worship, is an atheist, or a murderer of men—such a person becomes purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
असिजीवी मसीजीवी धावको ग्रामयाचकः । वृषवाहो भवेत्पूतो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
A sword-wielder, a pen-wielder, a runner, a village beggar, or a bullock-cart driver—all these become purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
विश्वासघाती मित्रघ्नो मिथ्यासाक्ष्यस्य दायकः । स्थाप्याहारी भवेत्पूतो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
A betrayer of trust, a destroyer of friendship, one who gives false testimony, or one who eats food set aside for others—all these become purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
अत्युग्रवान्दूषकश्च जारकः पुंश्चलीपतिः । पूतश्च वृषलीपुत्रो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
One who is extremely harsh, a defiler, an adulterer, the husband of a wanton woman, or the son of an outcaste woman—all these become purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
शूद्राणां सूपकारश्च देवलो ग्रामयाजकः । अदीक्षितो भवेत्पूतो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
A cook for Shudras, a temple priest, a village sacrificer, or one who is uninitiated—all these become purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
पितरं मातरं भार्यां भ्रातरं तनयं सुताम् । गुरोः कुलं च भगिनीं चक्षुर्हीनं च बान्धवम्
One who harms father, mother, wife, brother, son, daughter, the teacher’s family, sister, or a relative who is blind—
श्वश्रूं च श्वशुरं चैव यो न पुष्णाति सुन्दरि । स महापातकी पूतो मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
And one who does not support his mother-in-law or father-in-law, O beautiful one, such a great sinner becomes purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
अश्वत्थनाशकश्चैव मद्भक्तनिन्दकस्तथा । शूद्रान्नभोजी विप्रश्च पूतो मद्भक्तदर्शनात्
One who destroys a sacred fig tree, one who reviles my devotees, or a brahmin who eats food of Shudras—all these become purified by the sight of my devotee.
देवद्रव्यापहारी च विप्रद्रव्यापहारकः । लाक्षालोहरसानां च विक्रेता दुहितुस्तथा
One who steals from the gods, who steals from brahmins, who sells lac, iron, or liquids, or who sells his daughter—
महापातकिनश्चैव शूद्राणां शवदाहकः । भवेयुरेते पूताश्च मद्भक्तस्पर्शदर्शनात्
And those who commit great sins, or who cremate the dead among Shudras—all these become purified by the touch or sight of my devotee.
महालक्ष्मीरुवाच भक्तानां लक्षणं ब्रूहि भक्तानुग्रहकातर । येषां तु दर्शनस्पर्शात्सद्यः पूता नराधमाः
Mahālakṣmī said: Tell me the marks of devotees, O you who are eager to show favor to devotees, by whose sight or touch even the lowest of men are instantly purified.
हरिभक्तिविहीनाश्च महाहङ्कारसंयुतः । स्वप्रशंसारता धूर्ताः शठाश्च साधुनिन्दकाः
Those who lack devotion to Hari, are filled with great pride, delight in self-praise, are deceitful, cunning, and revilers of the virtuous—
पुनन्ति सर्वतीर्थानि येषां स्नानावगाहनात् । येषां च पादरजसा पूता पादोदकान्मही
All the sacred places are purified by the act of bathing in their waters, and the earth is purified by the dust of their feet and the water used to wash their feet.
येषां संदर्शनं स्पर्शं ये वा वाञ्छन्ति भारते । सर्वेषां परमो लाभो वैष्णवानां समागमः
Those whose sight and touch are desired in Bhārata—association with such Vaiṣṇavas is the highest gain for all.
न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवा मृच्छिलामयाः । ते पुनन्त्यपि कालेन विष्णुभक्ताः क्षणादहो
For neither earthen pilgrimage sites nor gods made of clay or stone purify as quickly as devotees of Viṣṇu, who purify instantly.
सूत उवाव महालक्ष्मीवचः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मीकान्तश्च सस्मितः । निगूढतत्त्वं कथितुमपि श्रेष्ठोपचक्रमे
Sūta said: Hearing the words of Mahālakṣmī, Lakṣmī’s beloved, smiling, began to speak the highest, most secret truth.
श्रीभगवानुवाच भक्तानां लक्षणं लक्ष्मि गूढं श्रुतिपुराणयोः । पुण्यस्वरूपं पापघ्नं सुखदं भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्
The Blessed Lord said: O Lakshmi, the true nature of devotees is hidden in the Vedas and Puranas; it is meritorious, destroys sin, brings happiness, and grants both enjoyment and liberation.
सारभूतं गोपनीयं न वक्तव्यं खलेषु च । त्वां पवित्रां प्राणतुल्यां कथयामि निशामय
It is the essence and must be kept secret; it should not be spoken to the wicked. To you, who are pure and as dear as life, I will tell it—listen attentively.
गुरुवक्त्राद्विष्णुमन्त्रो यस्य कर्णे पतिष्यति । वदन्ति वेदास्तं चापि पवित्रं च नरोत्तमम्
He into whose ear the Vishnu-mantra is uttered by the guru—him the Vedas declare to be pure and the best among men.
पुरुषाणां शतं पूर्वं तथा तज्जन्ममात्रतः । स्वर्गस्थं नरकस्थं वा मुक्तिमाप्नोति तत्क्षणात्
For a hundred generations before, and from the very moment of his birth, whether they dwell in heaven or in hell, they instantly attain liberation.