पतितो व्याधशस्त्रेण सायं विष्णोर्गृहाङ्गणे
Having fallen by the hunter's weapon in the evening, in the courtyard of Viṣṇu's house.
जग्राह मां स्ववक्रेण श्वभिरन्यैश्चरन्द्रुतः
He seized me with his curved hand, and others, along with dogs, rushed about.
गतः प्रदक्षिणा कारं विष्णोस्तन्मन्दिरं प्रभो
He went, performing circumambulation, to the temple of Vishnu, O Lord.
मम चापि शुनश्चापि दत्तावन्परमं पदम्
To me and even to the dog, the supreme abode has been granted.
संप्राप्तं विबुधश्रेष्ठ किं पुनः सम्यगर्चनात्
Having attained it, O best of the gods, what more could be gained by proper worship?
मनसा प्रीतिमापन्नो हरिपूजा रतो ऽभवत्
He attained joy in his mind and became devoted to the worship of Hari.
तानर्चयन्ति सततं ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः
Those are constantly worshipped by Brahma and the hosts of deities.
कथं भवत्युग्रभवस्य बन्धस्तत्सङ्गलुब्धा यदि मुक्तिभाजः
How can the bondage of fierce existence occur if those attached to it are destined for liberation?
ते सर्वपापनिकरैः परितो विमुक्ता विष्णोः पदं शुभतरं प्रतियान्ति हृष्टाः
They, freed from all sins by every means, joyfully proceed to the most auspicious abode of Vishnu.
ध्यानेन तेन हतकिल्बिषचेतनास्ते मातुः पयोधररसं न पुनः पिबन्ति
By meditation, their minds freed from sin, they do not again drink the essence of their mother's breast.
ते वा पुंनति च जगन्ति शरीरसंगात् संभाषणादपि ततो हरिरेव पूज्यः
They purify the worlds even by bodily contact or conversation; therefore, Hari alone is to be worshipped.
तत्रैव सकलं भद्रं यथा निम्ने जलं द्विज
There, all auspiciousness gathers, just as water flows into a low place, O twice-born.
हरिरेव ततः पूज्यो यतश्चेतन्यकारणम्
Hari alone is to be worshipped, for he is the cause of consciousness.
पृज्यस्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ परं श्रेयो भविष्यति
For the one who is worshipped, O best of sages, the highest welfare will result.
तेषां विष्णुः प्रसन्नात्मा सर्वान्कामान् प्रयच्छति
For them, Vishnu, with a pleased heart, grants all desires.
स प्राप्नोत्यश्वमेधस्य फलं मुनिवरोत्तम
He attains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice, O foremost among sages.
संकोचविस्तराभ्यां तु किमन्यत्कथयामि ते
What else shall I tell you, whether in brief or in detail?
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि युगानां स्थितिलक्षणम्
Now I wish to hear about the characteristics of the ages and their duration.
युगधर्मान्प्रबक्ष्यामि सर्वलोकोपकारकान्
I shall explain the duties of the ages, which benefit all worlds.
तथा विनासमायाति धर्ंम एव महीतले
Thus, when destruction approaches, only dharma remains on earth.
दिव्यैर्द्वादशभिर्ज्ञेयं वत्सरैस्तत्र सत्तम
O noble one, there, a year is to be understood as consisting of twelve divine months.
कालतो वेदितव्यानि इत्युक्तं तत्त्वा दर्शिभिः
These measures of time are to be known as declared by those who perceive the truth.
ततश्च द्वापरं प्राहुः कलिमन्त्यं विदुः क्रमात्
Thereafter, they speak of the Dvāpara age, and then, in order, they know Kali as the last.
नासन्कृतयुगे विप्र सर्वे देवसमाः स्मृताः
O brāhmaṇa, in the Kṛta age, all were regarded as equal to the gods.
वेदानां च विभागश्च न युगे कृतसंज्ञके
And there was no division of the Vedas in the age known as Kṛta.
सदा नारायणपरास्तपोध्यानपरायणाः
They were always devoted to Nārāyaṇa, intent on austerity and meditation.
धर्मसाधनचित्ताश्च गतासूया अदांभिकाः
Their minds were set on the practice of righteousness, free from envy and deceit.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः सर्वशास्त्रविचक्षणाः
They were accomplished in the study of the Vedas, and discerning in all the scriptures.
अकामफलसंयोगाः प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम्
United with the fruit of desirelessness, they attain the supreme state.
त्रेताधर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्व सुसमाहितः
I will now declare to you the dharmas of the Tretā age; listen attentively.