Garuda Purana

मुहूर्तमपि यो ध्यायेन्नारायणमतन्द्रितः । सोऽपि स्वर्गतिमाप्नोति किं पुनस्तत्परायणः ॥ १,२३०.

Even one who meditates on Nārāyaṇa for a moment, without distraction, attains heaven—how much more so one who is devoted to him.

जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तेषु योगस्थस्य च योगिनः । या काचिन्मनसो वृत्तिः सा भवत्यच्युताश्रयात् ॥ १,२३०.

For the yogin established in yoga, in waking, dreaming, or deep sleep, whatever movement of the mind occurs, that becomes established in the support of Acyuta.

उत्तिष्ठन्निपतन्विष्णुं प्रलपन्विविशंस्तथा । भुञ्जञ्जाग्रच्च गोविन्दं माधवं यश्च संस्मरेत् ॥ १,२३०.

Whether rising, lying down, speaking, entering, eating, or waking, whoever remembers Govinda or Mādhava thus—

स्वेस्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः कुर्याच्चित्तं जनार्दने । एषा शास्त्रानुसारोक्तिः किमन्यैर्बहुभाषितैः ॥ १,२३०.

One who is devoted to his own duties should direct his mind to Janārdana; this is the teaching of the scriptures—what need is there for many other words?

ध्यानमेव परो धर्मो ध्यानमेव परं तपः । ध्यानमेव परं शौचं तस्माद्ध्यानपरो भवेत् ॥ १,२३०.

Meditation alone is the highest dharma, meditation alone is the highest austerity, meditation alone is the highest purity; therefore, one should be devoted to meditation.

नास्ति विष्णोः परं ध्थेयं तपो नानशनात्परम् । तस्मात्प्रधानमत्रोक्तं वासुदेवस्य चिन्तनम् ॥ १,२३०.

There is no object of meditation higher than Viṣṇu, no austerity greater than fasting; therefore, the principal teaching here is contemplation of Vāsudeva.

यद्दुर्लभं परं प्राप्यं मनसो यन्न गोचरम् । तदप्यप्रार्थितं ध्यातो ददाति मधुसूदनः ॥ १,२३०.

That which is rare, supreme, and beyond the reach of the mind—even that, unasked, Madhusūdana gives to one who meditates on him.

प्रमादात्कुर्वतां कर्म प्रच्यवेताध्वरेषु यत् । स्मरणादेव तद्विष्णोः संपूर्णं स्यादिति श्रुतिः ॥ १,२३०.

If, through negligence, one errs in ritual acts or sacrifices, the śruti declares that by remembrance of Viṣṇu alone, that is fully accomplished.

ध्यानेन सदृशो नास्ति शोधनं पापकर्मणाम् । आगामिदेहहेतूनां दाहको योगपावकः ॥ १,२३०.

There is no purifier equal to meditation for sinful deeds; the fire of yoga burns up the causes of future bodies.

विनिष्पन्नसमाधिस्तु मुक्तिमत्रैव जन्मनि । प्राप्नोति योगी योगाग्निदग्धकर्मा च योऽचिरात् ॥ १,२३०.

The yogin who has attained perfect samādhi, whose actions are burned by the fire of yoga, attains liberation in this very life, and quickly so.

यथाग्निरुद्यतशिखः कक्षं दहति वानिलः । तथा चित्तस्थिते विष्णौ योगिना सर्वकिल्बिषम् ॥ १,२३०.

Just as fire with upraised flames burns a forest, so, when Viṣṇu is established in the mind, the yogin burns up all sin.

यथाग्नियोगात्कनकममलं संप्रजायते । संप्लुष्टो वासुदेवेन मनुष्याणां सदा मलः ॥ १,२३०.

Just as pure gold is produced by the application of fire, so too is the impurity of humans always burned away by Vāsudeva.

गङ्गास्नानसहस्रेषु पुष्करस्नानकोटिषु । यत्पापं निलययाति स्मृते नश्यति तद्धरौ ॥ १,२३०.

The sin that does not depart even after a thousand baths in the Gaṅgā or ten million baths at Puṣkara is destroyed when Hari is remembered.

प्राणायामसहस्नैस्तु यत्पापं नश्यति ध्रुवम् । क्षणमात्रेण तत्पापं हरेर्ध्यानात्प्रणश्यति ॥ १,२३०.

The sin that is certainly destroyed by a thousand prāṇāyāmas is destroyed in a single moment by meditation on Hari.

कलिप्रभावाद्दुष्टोक्तिः पाषण्डानां तथोक्तयः । न क्रामेन्मानसं तस्य यस्य चेतसि केशवः ॥ १,२३०.

Because of the influence of the Kali age, the corrupt words of heretics and their teachings do not affect the mind of one in whose heart Keśava dwells.

सा तिथिस्तदहोरात्रं स योगः स च चन्द्रमाः । लग्नं तदेव विख्यातं यत्र संस्मर्यते हरिः ॥ १,२३०.

That is the sacred day, that is the auspicious night, that is the true conjunction, that is the moon, and that is the renowned ascendant in which Hari is remembered.

सा हानिस्तन्महच्छिद्रं सा चार्थजडमूकता । चन्मुहूर्तं क्षणो वापि वासुदेवो न चिन्त्यते ॥ १,२३०.

That is loss, that is a great defect, that is dullness and muteness regarding wealth, when even for a moment or an instant Vāsudeva is not contemplated.

कलौ कृत युगं तस्य कलिस्तस्य कृते युगे । हृदि नो यस्य गोविन्दो यस्य चेतसि नाच्युतः ॥ १,२३०.

For him, Kali becomes the Kṛta age, and for him, Kṛta becomes Kali, who does not have Govinda in his heart or Acyuta in his mind.

यस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे गच्छतस्तिष्ठतोऽपि वा । गोविन्दे नियतं चेतः कृतकृत्यः सदैव सः ॥ १,२३०.

Whether going ahead, behind, walking, or standing, one whose mind is always fixed on Govinda has accomplished all duties.

वासुदेवे मनो यस्य जपहोमार्चनादिषु । तस्यान्तरायो मैत्रेय वेवेन्द्रत्वादिकं फलम् ॥ १,२३०.

O Maitreya, for one whose mind is on Vāsudeva during recitation, offering, worship, and other rites, obstacles become as fruitful as lordship over the gods.

असंत्यज्य च गार्हस्थयं स तप्त्वा च महत्तपः । छिनत्ति पौरुषीं मायां केशवार्पितमानसः ॥ १,२३०.

Without abandoning household life and even after performing great austerity, one who offers his mind to Keśava cuts through the human illusion.

क्षमां कुर्वन्ति क्रुद्धेषु दयां मूर्खेषु मानवाः । मुदञ्च धर्मशीलेषु गोविन्दे हृदयस्थिते ॥ १,२३०.

When Govinda dwells in the heart, people show forgiveness to the angry, compassion to the foolish, and joy toward the righteous.

ध्यायेन्नारायणं देवं स्नानदानादिकर्मसु । प्रायश्चितेतेषु सर्वेषु दुष्कृतेषु विशेषतः ॥ १,२३०.

One should meditate on the god Nārāyaṇa during bathing, giving, and other acts, especially in all acts of atonement for misdeeds.

लाभस्तेषां जयस्तेषां कुतस्तेषां पराभवः । येषामिन्दीवरश्यामो हृदयस्थो जनार्दनः ॥ १,२३०.

For those in whose hearts Janārdana, dark as a blue lotus, dwells, gain is theirs, victory is theirs—how could defeat be theirs?

कीटपक्षिगणानाञ्च हरौ संन्यस्तचेतसाम् । ऊर्ध्वा ह्येव गतिश्चास्ति किं पुनर्ज्ञानिनां नृणाम् ॥ १,२३०.

Even among insects and birds whose minds are fixed on Hari, there is an upward path—how much more so for humans who possess knowledge?

वासुदेवतरुच्छाया नातिशीतातितापदा । नरकद्वारशमनी सा किमर्थं न सेव्यते ॥ १,२३०.

The shade of the tree of Vāsudeva is neither too cold nor too hot; it is the pacifier of the gates of hell—why, then, is it not sought out?

न च दुर्वाससः शापो राज्यञ्चापि शचीपतेः । हन्तुं समर्थं हि सखे हृत्कृते मधुसूदने ॥ १,२३०.

Neither the curse of Durvāsas nor the kingdom of the lord of Śacī is able, my friend, to harm one whose heart is devoted to Madhusūdana.

वदतस्तिष्ठतोऽन्यद्वा स्वेच्छया कर्म कुर्वतः । नापयाति यदा चिन्ता सिद्धां मन्येत धारणाम् ॥ १,२३०.

When, whether speaking, standing, or doing other actions at will, anxiety does not arise, one should consider that concentration to be perfected.

ध्येयः सदा सवितृमण्डलमध्यवर्तो नारायणः सरसिजासनसन्निविष्टः । केयूरवान्मकरकुण्डलवान्किरीटी हारी हिरण्मयवपुर्धृतशङ्खचक्रः ॥ १,२३०.

One should always meditate on Nārāyaṇa, seated on a lotus, in the center of the solar orb, adorned with armlets, makara-shaped earrings, a crown, a necklace, a golden form, holding conch and discus.