ब्रह्महत्यासमं तेन कर्त्तव्यं व्रतमेव च
For that, a vow equal to the expiation for killing a Brahmin must be performed.
अपहर्त्ता तु निरयी यस्यार्थस्तस्य तत्फलम्
But the thief goes to hell; the one whose property was stolen receives its result.
यतिनिन्दापरो राजन् शिलानमात्रे प्रयाति हि
O King, one intent on reviling ascetics attains the state of a stone.
श्वभोजनं ततः सर्वा भुञ्जते यातनाः क्रमात्
Then, all the torments are experienced in order, eating the food of dogs.
पुष्पारामभिदश्चैव यां गतिं यान्ति तच्छृणु
And now, hear of the fate of those who destroy flower gardens.
ततश्च विष्टाकृमयः कल्पानामेकविंशतिम्
After that, they become beings made of excrement for twenty-one kalpas.
ग्रामविध्वं सकानां तु दाहकानां च लुम्पताम्
Those who destroy villages, burn them, or plunder them—
उच्छिष्टभोजिनो ये च मित्रद्रोहपराश्व ये
Those who eat leftovers, and those intent on betraying friends—
उच्छिन्नपितॄदेवेज्या वेन्दमार्गबहिःस्थिताः
Those who have abandoned ancestral and divine rites, and who remain outside the path of the Vedas—
एवं बहुविधा भूप यातनाः पापकारिणणाम्
Thus, O King, there are many kinds of torments for evil-doers.
पापानां यातनानां च धर्माणां चापि भूपते
Of the torments for the wicked and the duties of the righteous, O King—
एतेषां सर्वपापानां धर्मशास्त्रविधानतः
For all these sins, according to the ordinances of the Dharma Shastra—
प्रायश्चित्तानि कार्याणि समीपे कमलापतेः
Atonements must be performed in the presence of the Lord of the Lotus.
गङ्गा चतुलसी चैव सत्सङ्गो हरिकीर्त्तनम्
The Ganga, the Tulasi, association with the virtuous, and the praise of Hari—
विष्ण्वर्पितानि कर्माणि सफलानि भवन्ति हि
Deeds offered to Vishnu indeed become fruitful.
नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं यच्चान्यन्मोक्षमाधनम्
Whatever is regular, occasional, or desire-motivated, and whatever else leads to liberation—
हरिभक्तिः परा नृणां सर्वं पापप्राणाशिनी
Devotion to Hari, supreme among people, destroys all sins.
तामसै राजसैश्वैव सात्त्विकैश्च नृपोत्तम
O best of kings, it is indeed of the nature of tamas, rajas, and sattva.
सा तामस्यधमा भक्तिः खलभावधरा यतः
That devotion which is of tamasic nature is considered the lowest, for it is based on wickedness.
नारायणं जगन्नाथं तामसी मध्यमा तु सा
Tamasic devotion, O Lord of the world, is directed not to Narayana but elsewhere; it is considered middling.
सा भक्तिः पृथिवीपाल तामसी चोत्तमा स्मृता
O protector of the earth, that devotion which is tamasic is also remembered as the highest among tamasic types.
श्रद्धया परया युक्तः सा राजस्यधमा स्मृता
Endowed with great faith, that is remembered as the lowest form of rajasic devotion.
अर्चयेत्परया भक्त्या सा मध्या राजसी मता
Worshipping with supreme devotion is regarded as the middle form of rajasic devotion.
सा राजस्युत्तमा भक्तिः कीर्तिता पृथिवीपते
O king, that devotion which is rajasic is called the highest among rajasic types.
श्रद्धया परयोपेतः सा सात्त्विक्यधमा स्मृता
Endowed with supreme faith, that is remembered as the lowest form of sattvic devotion.
श्रद्धया संयुतो भूयः सात्त्विकी मध्यमा तु सा
Again, joined with faith, that is the middle sattvic devotion.
भक्तीनां प्रवरा सा तु उत्तमा सात्त्विकी स्मृता
Among devotions, that is the best, remembered as the highest sattvic devotion.
तन्मयत्वेन संतुष्टः सा भक्तिरुत्तमोत्तमा
Being satisfied through complete absorption, that devotion is the highest of the highest.
इति यः सततं पश्येत्तं विद्यादुत्तमोत्तमम् तत्ते वक्ष्यामि सुमते सावधानं निशामय
One who always perceives thus should be known as the highest of the highest; I will explain this to you, O wise one, listen attentively.
तत्रापि सात्त्विकी भक्तिः सर्वकामफल प्रदा
Even among these, sattvic devotion grants all desired results.