Garuda Purana

एतच्छ्रुत्वा नलो वीन्द्र पुत्रीवाक्यं सुनिर्मलम् । नमस्कारं च कृतवान्यथाशक्त्या प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ ३,२०.

Hearing these pure words from Indra's son, Nala performed salutations and circumambulation to the best of his ability.

सापि प्रदक्षिणं चक्रे नमस्कारं सदा हरेः । एवं बहुदिनं कृत्वा ध्यात्वा नारायणं परम् ॥ ३,२०.

She too performed circumambulation and salutations to Hari; after doing so for many days, she meditated on the supreme Narayana.

कलेवरं च तत्याज मरणे हरिचिन्तया । मत्पितुर्वसुदेवस्य भगिन्या उदरे खग ॥ ३,२०.

At the time of death, she abandoned her body while thinking of Hari; in the womb of my father Vasudeva's sister, O bird.

कैकेयीति च नाम्ना सा त्वभवद्भद्रसंज्ञका । यस्माद्भद्रगुणैर्युक्ता भद्रा सा भद्रनामिका ॥ ३,२०.

She became known as Kaikeyi, called Bhadrasaṃjñakā; because she was endowed with auspicious qualities, she was called Bhadra, the auspicious one.

तस्यात्मजैश्च कैकेयैः पञ्चभिः खगसत्तम । प्रत्याहृतामिमां भद्रां प्राप्तवान् खगसत्तम ॥ ३,२०.

O best of birds, with her five sons born of Kaikeyi, she was brought back by them, O best of birds, and attained.

वक्ष्येहं मित्रविन्दायाः पाणिग्रहणकारणम् । सावधानमना भूत्वा शृणु पक्षीन्द्र सत्तम ॥ ३,२०.

I shall now speak of the reason for Mitravinda's marriage; listen attentively, O king of birds, O noble one.

मित्रविन्दोवाच । यान्पूर्वसर्गेप्यवृणोन्निकामतो ह्यग्नीषोमान्नामिका मित्रविन्दा । मित्रं हरिं प्राप्तुकामा सदैक तत्रोपायं चिन्तयामासदेवी ॥ ३,२०.

Mitravinda spoke: In the previous creation, I chose, out of desire, the name Agniṣomā, called Mitravinda; always wishing to attain Hari as my friend, the goddess pondered the means there.

हरिप्राप्तौ साधनाः संति तेषु मुख्यं कचिच्चिन्तयामास देवी । तेषां मध्ये श्रवणं श्रेष्ठमाहुः पुराणानां सात्त्विकानां सदापि ॥ ३,२०.

When seeking to attain Hari, there are many means; among them, the goddess considered which is foremost. Of these, hearing is said to be the best, especially of the sattvic Puranas.

विष्णोरुत्कर्षो वर्तते यत्र वायोस्तथोत्कर्षः सज्जनानां पुराणे । श्राद्धं सदा विष्णुबुद्ध्या सदैव नान्यच्छ्राव्यं साधनं तत्र चैव ॥ ३,२०.

Where the greatness of Vishnu is present, there too is the greatness of Vayu and of virtuous people in the Purana. One should always perform shraddha with the thought of Vishnu; nothing else should be heard as a means there.

यस्मिन्दिने श्रवणं नास्ति विष्णोस्तेषां जन्म व्यर्थमाहुः कथायाम् । स्नान जपः पञ्चयज्ञं व्रतं च इष्टापूर्ते कृच्छ्रचान्द्रो च दत्तम् ॥ ३,२०.

On any day when there is no hearing of Vishnu's stories, their birth is said to be wasted, according to the tradition. Bathing, recitation, the five sacrifices, vows, acts of charity, and austerities—all are in vain.

सर्वं व्यर्थं वैष्णवानां च दीक्षा कथां विना सम्यगनुष्ठितां वै । यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणं ससंप्रदायैर्गुरुभिः संयुतैश्च ॥ ३,२०.

All is futile for those initiated into Vishnu's path if the stories are not properly performed. Those who have not heard the Bhagavata Purana, accompanied by proper lineage and teachers, are deprived.

यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणं यैर्न श्रुतं ब्रह्मकाण्डं पुराणम् । तेषां जन्म व्यर्थमाहुर्ममहान्तस्तस्माच्छ्राव्या हरिवार्ता सदैव ॥ ३,२०.

Those who have not heard the Bhagavata Purana, nor the Brahma section of the Purana, their birth is said to be wasted by the great ones. Therefore, the stories of Hari should always be heard.

न यत्र गोविन्दकथामहानदी न यत्र नारायणपादसंश्रयः । न यत्र विष्णोः सततं वचोस्ति न संवसेत्तत्क्षणमात्रं कथञ्चित् ॥ ३,२०.

Where the great river of Govinda's stories does not flow, where there is no refuge at Narayana's feet, where Vishnu's words are not constantly present, one should not dwell there even for a moment.

यस्मिन् ग्रामे भागवतं न शास्त्रं न वर्तते भागवता रसज्ञाः । यस्मिन् गृहे नास्ति गीतार्थसारः यस्मिन् ग्रामे नाम सहस्रकं वा ॥ ३,२०.

In any village where the Bhagavata scripture does not exist, where connoisseurs of the Bhagavata are not found, in any house where the essence of the Gita is absent, or in any village lacking the thousand names (of Vishnu),

तयो रसज्ञा यत्र न सन्ति तत्र न संवसेत्क्षणमात्रं कथञ्चित् । यस्मिन् दिने दिव्यकथा च विष्णोर्न वास्ति जन्तोस्तस्य चायुर्वृथैव ॥ ३,२०.

Wherever those connoisseurs are not present, one should not reside there even for a moment. On any day when there is no divine story of Vishnu, the lifespan of that creature is truly wasted.

गर्भे गते नात्र विचार्यमस्ति तन्मन्यते दुर्लभं मर्त्यलोके । कर्णं कल्पैर्भूषितं सुंदरं च न सुंदरं चाहुरार्या रसज्ञाः ॥ ३,२०.

Once in the womb, there is no further deliberation; it is considered rare in the mortal world. An ear adorned with beautiful ornaments is not truly beautiful, say the noble connoisseurs.

विष्णोः कथाख्याभरणैश्च युक्तं तदेव कर्णं सुंदरं चाहुरार्याः । तस्मात्सदा भागवतार्थसारं शृण्वन्ति ये सततं वाचयन्ति ॥ ३,२०.

An ear adorned with the ornaments of Vishnu's stories alone is said to be beautiful by the noble ones. Therefore, those who always listen to and recite the essence of the Bhagavata are blessed.

तेषां जन्म स्वस्थमाहुर्महान्तो महत्फलं चास्ति तथैव तेषाम् । सोष्णीषकञ्चुकयुताश्च हरेः कथां वै शृण्वन्ति येपि च पठन्ति सदैव मर्त्याः ॥ ३,२०.

The birth of such people is considered auspicious by the great ones, and they attain great fruit. Even those mortals who, wearing turbans and cloaks, listen to or recite Hari's stories are always blessed.

सर्वेपि ते पूजनीया हि लोके न वै शिश्रे चोदरे चैव सक्ताः । ये दाक्षिण्यादर्थलोभाद्वदन्ति सदा पुराणं भगवत्तत्त्वसारम् ॥ ३,२०.

All of them are worthy of worship in the world, not those attached to children or to the belly. Those who, out of generosity or greed for wealth, always speak the Purana, the essence of the divine truth,

प्रच्छादयन्ते तत्त्वगोप्यानि ये तु तेषां गतिः सूर्यसूनुः सदैव । ये धर्मकाण्डे कर्मकाण्डे सदैव उत्पादयन्ते सुरुचिं तत्र नित्यम् ॥ ३,२०.

Those who conceal the truths out of secrecy, their destination is always the son of the sun. Those who always inspire delight in the sections of dharma and karma are ever praiseworthy.

मौल्येन ये कथयेयुः पुराणं तेषां गतिः सूर्य सुनः सदैव । मौल्येन ये भागवतं पुराणं शृण्वन्ति वै हरिशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वम् ॥ ३,२०.

Those who recite the Purana for a fee, their destination is always the son of the sun. Those who listen to the Bhagavata Purana for a fee truly grasp the essence of Hari's scriptures.

मौल्येन वेदाध्ययनं प्रकुर्वते तेषां गतिः सूर्यसूनुः सदैव । यदृच्छया प्राप्तधनेन ये तु संतुष्टास्ते ह्यत्र योग्याः सदैव ॥ ३,२०.

Those who study the Vedas for a fee, their destination is always the son of the sun. Those who are content with wealth obtained by chance are always worthy here.

धनार्जने ये त्वतितृष्णाभियुक्तास्तेषां न वै भागवतेधिकारः । मत्वा लोके हरिरेवति नित्यमन्तर्यामी नास्ति तदन्य ईशः ॥ ३,२०.

Those who are excessively greedy in acquiring wealth have no right to the Bhagavata. Knowing that Hari alone is eternally present as the inner ruler, there is no other lord.

एवं सदा ये प्रविचिन्तयन्ति योगक्षेमं बिभृयाद्विष्णुरेषाम् । सद्वैष्णवानामशुभं नास्ति नास्ति प्रदृश्यते संशयज्ञानरूपात् ॥ ३,२०.

Those who always contemplate thus, Vishnu provides their welfare and security. For true Vaishnavas, there is no misfortune, nor is there any doubt arising from ignorance.

कर्मानुसारेण हरिर्ददाति फलं शुभानामशुभस्य चैव । अतस्तदर्थं नैव यत्नं च कुर्याद्धनार्थं वै हरितत्त्वे च कुर्यात् ॥ ३,२०.

Hari gives the result according to one's actions, whether auspicious or inauspicious. Therefore, one should not strive for wealth, but should act for the sake of Hari's truth.

अतः स्नात्वा दिव्यमन्त्रं जपित्वा विसर्जयित्वा विष्णुनिर्माल्यगन्धम् । शुचिर्भूत्वा भागवतं पुराणं संश्रावयेत्सर्ववेत्तापि नित्यम् ॥ ३,२०.

Therefore, after bathing, reciting a divine mantra, and offering the garland and sandal paste that adorned Viṣṇu, one should, being pure, have the Bhāgavata Purāṇa recited, even if one is all-knowing, and this should be done always.

कर्मानुसारेण धनार्जनं च वेदार्जनं शास्त्रसमार्जनं च । भविष्यति श्रवणं चापि विष्णोरत्यादराच्छ्रवणं दुर्घटं च ॥ ३,२०.

According to one's actions, there will be acquisition of wealth, mastery of the Vedas, and thorough study of the scriptures; but to listen with utmost devotion to Viṣṇu is rare and difficult to attain.

अत्यादराद्भागवतस्य सारमास्वादयेद्दुर्घटं मर्त्यलोके । आस्वाद्य तद्भागवतं पुराणमानन्दबाष्पैर्युक्तता दुर्घटा च ॥ ३,२०.

By great devotion, one should relish the essence of the Bhāgavata, which is difficult to experience in the mortal world; having tasted that Bhāgavata Purāṇa, being filled with tears of joy is also rare.

श्रुत्वा तत्त्वा नां निर्णयं धारणं च सुदुर्घटं चाहुरार्याः समस्तम् । श्रुत्वा तत्त्वानां धारणानन्तरं च कामक्रुधोर्जारणं दुर्घटं च ॥ ३,२०.

Hearing the decisive understanding of the truths and retaining them is said by the noble ones to be extremely difficult; and after hearing and retaining the truths, to conquer desire and anger is also difficult.