हरि भक्ति युता दैवी तद्धीना ह्यासुरी महा
Divine devotion to Hari is accompanied by faith; lacking that, it is truly demonic.
श्रेष्ठाः सर्वत्र विख्याता यतो भक्तिः सुदुर्लभा
The best are renowned everywhere, for devotion is very rare.
कामादिरहिता ये च तेषां तुष्यति केशवः
Those who are free from desire and the like—Kesava is pleased with them.
सत्पात्रदाननिरताः प्रयान्ति परमं पदम्
Those devoted to giving to worthy recipients attain the supreme state.
पठतां शुण्वतां सद्यः पापराशिः प्रणश्यति
For those who recite and those who listen, heaps of sin are instantly destroyed.
यजन्ति ज्ञानयोगेन ज्ञानरूपिणमव्ययम्
They worship the imperishable one, who is of the nature of knowledge, through the yoga of knowledge.
यजन्ति कर्मयोगेन सर्वधातारमच्युतम्
They worship the unfailing supporter of all, through the yoga of action.
अजरामरवन्मूढास्तिष्टन्ति नरकीटकाः
Deluded ones, like worms in hell, remain as if they were ageless and deathless.
न यजन्ति जगन्नाथं सर्वश्रैयोविधायकम्
They do not worship the Lord of the universe, the bestower of all prosperity.
दैवात्के ऽपीह जायन्ते लोकानुग्रहतत्पराः
Even here, by divine will, those devoted to the welfare of the world are born.
स याति परमं स्थानं सर्वलोकोत्तमोत्तमम्
He attains the highest state, the supreme among all worlds.
पठतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
For those who recite and listen, it destroys all sins.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण वाचिमेध फलं लभेत्
By merely hearing it, one obtains the fruit of eloquence and intelligence.
वेदमालिरिति ख्यातो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
He is known as Vedamāli, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
पुत्रमित्रकलत्रार्थं धनार्जनपरो ऽभवत्
He became intent on earning wealth for the sake of son, friend, wife, and possessions.
चण्डालाद्यैरपि तथा संभषी तत्प्रतिग्रही
He conversed and accepted gifts even from outcastes and others.
परार्थं तीर्थगमनं कलत्रार्थमकारयत्
He undertook pilgrimages for the sake of others, and for his wife’s sake.
यज्ञमाली सुमाली च यमलावतिशोभनौ
Yajñamāli and Sumāli, the two brothers, were exceedingly splendid.
पोषयामास वात्सल्याद्बहुभिः साधनैस्तदा
Then, out of affection, he supported them with many means.
स्वधनं गणयामास कियत्स्यादिति वेदितुम्
He began to count his own wealth, to know how much there was.
विगणय्य स्वयं दृष्टो विस्मितश्चार्थचिन्तया
Having counted it himself, he was astonished, pondering over the wealth.
मेया तपो विक्रयाद्यैरेतद्धनमुपार्जितम्
This wealth was acquired by these means—by austerity, by trade, and so on.
मेरुतुल्यसुवर्णानि ह्यसंख्यातानि वाञ्छति
He desires gold equal to Mount Meru, even in countless amounts.
सर्वान्कामानवांप्नोति पुनरन्यञ्च काङ्क्षति
He obtains all desired objects, yet again wishes for something else.
चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णेका तरुणायते
The eyes and ears grow old, but desire alone remains ever young.
बलं हतं च जरसा तृष्णा तरुणतां गता
Strength is destroyed by old age, yet desire attains youthfulness.
सुशान्तो ऽपि प्रमन्युः स्याद्धीमानप्यतिमूढधीः
Even a very peaceful man may become angry, and a wise man may become utterly deluded.
तस्मादाशां त्यजेत्प्राज्ञो यदीच्छेच्छाश्वतं सुखम्
Therefore, if one desires lasting happiness, the wise should abandon hope.
तथैव सत्कुले जन्म आशा हत्यतिवेगतः
In the same way, birth in a noble family is destroyed at once by hope.
किञ्चिद्दातापि चाण्डालस्तस्मादधिकतां गतः
Even a lowly outcaste who gives a little surpasses one who is noble by birth.