शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति
One who is deeply versed in the sound-Brahman attains the supreme Brahman.
परमा त्वक्षरप्राप्तिरृग्वेदादिमया परा
The highest, indeed, is the attainment of the imperishable, which is supreme and consists of the Ṛgveda and the rest.
अनिर्देश्यमरूपं च पाणिपादादिसंयुतम्
It is indescribable, formless, yet endowed with hands, feet, and so on.
व्याप्यं व्याप्तं यतः सर्वं तं वै पश्यन्ति सूरयः
That which pervades and is pervaded by all—sages indeed see that.
श्रुतिवाक्योदितं सूक्ष्मं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्
That subtle, supreme abode of Viṣṇu, spoken of in the words of the Vedas.
वाचको भगवच्छब्दस्तस्योद्दिष्टो ऽक्षयात्मनः
The word 'Bhagavat' is the designation for Him whose essence is imperishable.
ज्ञायते येन तज्ज्ञानं परमन्यत्रयीमयम्
That by which knowledge is known—that supreme knowledge is distinct from the threefold Veda.
पूजायां भगवच्छब्दः क्रियते ह्यौपचारिकः
In worship, the word 'Bhagavat' is used in a figurative sense.
भगवन्भगवच्छब्दः सर्वकारणकारणे तेनागमपिता स्रष्टा गकारो ऽयं तथा मुने
O sage, the word 'Bhagavat' refers to the cause of all causes; thus, in the scriptures, 'ga' is called the father and creator.
ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश्चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा
And 'bhaga' is said to be the sixfold excellence of knowledge and detachment.
सर्वभूतेष्वशेषेषु वकारार्थस्ततो ऽव्ययः
Therefore, the meaning of 'va' is imperishable among all beings without exception.
परमब्रह्मभूतस्य वासुदेवस्य नान्यगः
There is no other for Vāsudeva, who is of the nature of the supreme Brahman.
शब्दो ऽयं नोपचारेण चान्यत्र ह्युपचारतः
This word is not used figuratively, except elsewhere by convention.
वेत्ति विद्यामविद्यां च स वाच्यो भगवानिति
He who knows both knowledge and ignorance is rightly called 'Bhagavān.'
भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि विना हेयैर्गुणादिभिः
Those denoted by the word 'Bhagavat' are without faults such as undesirable qualities.
भूतेषु वसनादेव वासुदेवस्ततः स्मृतः
Because He dwells in all beings, He is therefore remembered as Vāsudeva.
नामव्याख्यामनन्तस्य वासुदेवस्य तत्त्वतः
The true explanation of the names of the infinite Vāsudeva.
धाता विधाता जगतां वासुदेवस्ततः प्रभुः
He is the creator and ordainer of the worlds; thus, Vāsudeva is the Lord.
अतीतसर्वावरणो ऽखिलात्मा तेनास्तृतं यद्भुवनान्तरालम्
He transcends all coverings, is the soul of all; by him, the space between worlds is pervaded.
इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितो ऽसौ
Assuming a mighty form as he wills, he accomplishes the welfare of all worlds.
परः पराणां सकला न यत्र क्लेशादयः संति परावरेशे
He is the supreme among the supreme, where there is no suffering or the like, the Lord of the higher and lower.
सर्वेश्वरः सर्वनिसर्गवेत्ता समस्कशक्तिः परमेश्वराख्यः
He is the Lord of all, the knower of all creation, endowed with all powers, called the Supreme Lord.
तत्प्राप्तिकारणं ब्रह्म तवेतत्प्रतिपद्यते
That Brahman, which is the cause for attaining him, is thus realized by you.
स्वाध्याययोगसंपत्त्या परमात्मा प्रकाशते
Through the attainment of self-study and yoga, the Supreme Self becomes manifest.
न मांसचक्षुषा द्रष्टुं ब्रह्मभूतः स शक्यते
He who has become Brahman cannot be seen with the fleshly eye.
ज्ञाते यन्नाखिलाधारं पश्येयं परमेश्वरम्
When known, I would see the Supreme Lord, the support of all.
जनकाय पुरा योगं तथाहं कथयामि ते
I will tell you, as I once told Janaka, about yoga.
कथं तयोश्च संवादो योगसंबन्धवानभूत्
How did the conversation between those two, connected with yoga, take place?
कृतध्वजो ऽस्य भ्राताभूत्सदाध्यात्मरतिर्नृपः
Kritadhvaja, his brother, was a king always devoted to the Self.
पुत्रो ऽमितव्वजस्यापि खाण्डिक्यजनकाभिधः पुरोधसा मन्त्रिभिश्च समवेतो ऽल्पसाधनः
His son, though possessing little wealth, named Janaka of the Khaṇḍikya line, was surrounded by priests and ministers.