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.
यैः कैश्चिद्यत्र वा जन्म लब्धं येषु च जन्तुषु । जीवन्मुक्तास्तु ते पूता यान्ति काले हरेः पदम्
Wherever and in whatever beings one is born, those who are liberated while living are purified and, in time, reach the abode of Hari.
मद्भक्तियुक्तो मर्त्यश्च स मुक्तो मद्गुणान्वितः । मद्गुणाधीनवृत्तिर्यः कथाविष्टश्च सन्ततम्
A mortal endowed with devotion to Me, and adorned with My virtues, whose conduct depends on My qualities and who is ever absorbed in My stories—he is liberated.
मद्गुणश्रुतिमात्रेण सानन्दः पुलकान्वितः । सगद्गदः साश्रुनेत्रः स्वात्मविस्मृत एव च
On merely hearing My virtues, he is filled with joy, his hair stands on end, his voice falters, his eyes fill with tears, and he forgets himself.
न वाञ्छति सुखं मुक्तिं सालोक्यादिचतुष्टयम् । ब्रह्मत्वममरत्वं वा तद्वाञ्छा मम सेवने
He does not desire happiness, liberation, or any of the four types of proximity to Me; neither Brahmahood nor immortality, but only the wish to serve Me.
इन्द्रत्वं च मनुत्वं च ब्रह्मत्वं च सुदुर्लभम् । स्वर्गराज्यादिभोगं च स्वप्नेऽपि च न वाञ्छति
He does not desire the position of Indra, Manu, or even the rare status of Brahma, nor the enjoyments of sovereignty in heaven, not even in dreams.
भ्रमन्ति भारते भक्तास्तादृग्जन्म सुदुर्लभम् । मद्गुणश्रवणाः श्राव्यगानैर्नित्यं मुदान्विताः
Such devotees wander in the land of Bharata; such a birth is exceedingly rare. They are ever joyful in hearing and singing My virtues.
ते यान्ति च महीं पूत्वा नरं तीर्थं ममालयम् । इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं पद्मे कुरु यथोचितम् । तदाज्ञया तास्तच्चक्रुर्हरिस्तस्थौ सुखासने
They purify the earth and men, making them holy places, My abodes. Thus, everything has been told; do as is proper, O Padma. By that command, they did so, and Hari remained seated comfortably.
नारायणनारदसंवादे कलिमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच सरस्वती पुण्यक्षेत्रमाजगाम च भारते । गङ्गाशापेन कलया स्वयं तस्थौ हरेः पदे
The Glory of Kali is described in the dialogue between Narayana and Narada. Narayana said: Sarasvati came to the holy land of Bharata; by the curse of Ganga, she herself remained at the feet of Hari in the form of Kala.
भारती भारतं गत्वा ब्राह्मी च ब्रह्मणः प्रिया । वाण्यधिष्ठातृदेवी सा तेन वाणी प्रकीर्तिता
Bharati went to Bharata, and Brahmi, beloved of Brahma, is the goddess presiding over speech; therefore, she is called Vani.
सरो वाप्यां च स्रोतस्तु सर्वत्रैव हि दृश्यते । हरिः सरस्वांस्तस्येयं तेन नाम्ना सरस्वती
She is seen everywhere—in lakes, ponds, and streams; she belongs to Hari, and thus is called Sarasvati by name.
सरस्वती नदी सा च तीर्थरूपातिपावनी । पापिनां पापदाहाय ज्वलदग्निस्वरूपिणी
Sarasvati is a river, a holy place, supremely purifying; for sinners, she burns away sin in the form of blazing fire.
पश्चाद्भागीरथी नीता महीं भगीरथेन च । सा वै जगाम कलया वाणीशापेन नारद
Afterwards, Bhagirathi was brought to earth by Bhagiratha; she too, by the curse of Vani, went to Kala, O Narada.
तत्रैव समये तां च दधार शिरसा शिवः । वेगं सोढुमयं शक्तो भुवः प्रार्थनया विभुः
At that very time, Shiva bore her on his head; the mighty one was able to withstand her force at the request of the earth.
पद्मा जगाम कलया सा च पद्मावती नदी । भारतं भारतीशापात्स्वयं तस्थौ हरेः पदे
Padma went to Kala and became the river Padmavati; by the curse of Bharati, she herself remained at the feet of Hari.
ततोऽन्यया सा कलया लेभे जन्म च भारते । धर्मध्वजसुता लक्ष्मीर्विख्याता तुलसीति च
Then, by another portion, she took birth in Bhārata as Lakṣmī, the daughter of Dharmadhvaja, renowned as Tulasī.
पुरा सरस्वतीशापात्पश्चाच्च हरिशापतः । बभूव वृक्षरूपा सा कलया विश्वपावनी
Formerly, due to the curse of Sarasvatī and later by the curse of Hari, she, the purifier of the world, became a plant by a portion.
कलेः पञ्चसहस्रं च वर्षं स्थित्वा तु भारते । जग्मुस्ताश्च सरिद्रूपं विहाय श्रीहरेः पदम्
After remaining in Bhārata for five thousand years of Kali, they departed, taking the form of rivers, abandoning the earth for the abode of Śrī Hari.
यानि सर्वाणि तीर्थानि काशीं वृन्दावनं विना । यास्यन्ति सार्धं ताभिश्च वैकुण्ठमाज्ञया हरेः
All the sacred places, except Kāśī and Vṛndāvana, will go together with them to Vaikuṇṭha by the command of Hari.
शालग्रामः शक्तिशिवौ जगन्नाथश्च भारतम् । कलेर्दशसहस्रान्ते त्यक्त्वा यान्ति निजं पदम्
Śālagrāma, Śakti, Śiva, and Jagannātha will, at the end of ten thousand years of Kali, leave Bhārata and return to their own abodes.
साधवश्च पुराणानि शङ्खानि श्राद्धतर्पणे । वेदोक्तानि च कर्माणि ययुस्तैः सार्धमेव च
The virtuous, the Purāṇas, conch shells, and the rites of śrāddha and tarpaṇa, as well as the Vedic rituals, will depart together with them.