यस्तु रागादिनिर्मुक्तो ह्यनुतापसमन्वितः
But one who is free from passion and endowed with repentance,
महापातकयुक्तो वा युक्तो वा सर्वपातकैः
Whether joined with great sins or with all sins,
नारायणमनान्द्यन्तं विश्वाकारमनामयम्
If he fixes his mind on Narayana, the universal form, the flawless,
स्मृतो वा पूजितो वापि ध्यातः प्रणमितो ऽपि वा
Whether remembered, worshipped, meditated upon, or saluted,
संपर्काद्यदि वा मोहाद्यस्तु पूजयते हरिम्
If anyone worships Hari, whether by association or by delusion,
सकृत्संस्मरणाद्विष्णोर्नश्यन्ति क्लेशसंचयाः
By even a single remembrance of Vishnu, the accumulation of afflictions is destroyed.
मानुषं दुर्लभं जन्म प्राप्यते यैर्मुनीश्वर
O best of sages, those who obtain a human birth, which is so difficult to attain—
तस्मात्तडिल्लतालोलं मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम्
Therefore, having gained this rare human life, which is as fleeting as a flash of lightning—
सर्वे ऽन्तराया नश्यन्ति मनःशुद्धिश्च जायते
All obstacles are destroyed, and purity of mind arises.
धर्मार्थकामोक्षाख्याः पुरुषार्थाः सनातनाः
The eternal aims of human life are called dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.
पुत्रदारगृहक्षेत्रधनधान्याभिधावतीम्
Pursuing sons, wife, home, land, wealth, and grain—
संत्यज्य कामं क्रोधं च लोभं मोहं मदं तथा
Abandoning desire, anger, greed, delusion, and pride—
व्यापारान्सकलांस्त्क्त्वा पूजयध्वं जनार्दनम्
Having given up all occupations, worship Janārdana.
यावन्नायाति मरणं यावन्नायाति वै जरा
As long as death has not come, as long as old age has not arrived—
धीमान्नकुर्याद्विश्वासं शरीरे ऽस्मिन्विनश्वरे
The wise should not place trust in this perishable body.
आसन्नमरणो देहस्तस्माद्दर्प्पं विमुचत
Since the body is close to death, therefore abandon arrogance.
एतज्ज्ञात्वा महाभाग पूजयस्व जनार्दनम्
Knowing this, O highly fortunate one, worship Janārdana.
भक्त्या यजति यो विष्णुं महापातकवानपि
Even one who is burdened with great sins, if he worships Viṣṇu with devotion—
सर्वतीर्थानि यज्ञाश्च सांगा वेदाश्च सत्तम
All holy places, sacrifices with their limbs, and the Vedas, O noble one—
किं वै वेदैर्मखैः शास्त्रैः किंवा तीर्थनिषेवणैः
What use are the Vedas, sacrifices, scriptures, or even the observance of holy places—
विष्णुभक्तिविहीनानां किं तपोभिर्व्रतैरपि
For those who lack devotion to Viṣṇu, what is the use of austerities or vows?
वेदान्तवेद्यं भवरोगवैद्यं ते यान्ति मर्त्याः पदमच्युतस्य
Those mortals who attain the imperishable abode, which is known through Vedānta and is the physician for the disease of existence—
ज्योतिः स्वरुपं परमच्युताख्यं स्मृत्वा समभ्येति नरः सखायम्
Remembering the supreme, imperishable light-form, a man approaches his friend.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि यममार्गं सुदुर्गमम्
Now I wish to hear about the path of Yama, which is extremely difficult.
सुखदं पुण्यशीलानां पापिनां भयदायकम्
It brings happiness to the virtuous, and terror to the sinful.
यममार्गस्य विस्तारः कथैतः पूर्वसूरिभिः
The expanse of the path to Yama has been described by the ancient sages.
धर्मशून्या नरा यान्ति दुःखेन भृशमर्दिताः
Men devoid of righteousness go, greatly afflicted, in misery.
क्रदन्तो विस्तरं दीनाः पापिनो यान्ति तत्पथि
The sinners, wailing and distressed, travel that path in full.
हन्यमाना यमभटैः प्रतोदाद्यैस्तथायुधैः
They are struck by Yama's attendants with whips and weapons.
क्वचिद्वै दावरुपेणः तीक्ष्णधाराः शिलाः क्वचित्
In some places there are blazing fires, elsewhere sharp-edged stones.