चकार संहितां दिव्यां नानाख्यानसमन्विताम्
He composed a divine Saṃhitā, filled with various narratives.
निवृत्तिनिरतं पुत्रं शुकमध्यापयञ्च ताम्
He taught that Saṃhitā to his son Śuka, who was devoted to renunciation.
अधीतवान्संहितां वै नित्यं विष्णुजनप्रियाम्
He thoroughly learned the Saṃhitā, which is ever dear to the devotees of Viṣṇu.
पठतां शृण्वतां चापि हरिभक्तिविवर्द्धनाः
For those who recite and listen to it, devotion to Hari increases.
यत्त्वया पायिता विद्वन्वयं कृष्णकथामृतम्
O wise one, the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's stories that you have made us drink—
सनन्दनमुखोद्गीतान्किं पप्रच्छं ततः परम्
What further did I ask, after that, of those led by Sanandana?
चरन्ति लोकानन्तसिद्धा लोकोद्धरणतत्पराः
Perfected beings, intent on uplifting the worlds, move among the infinite worlds.
तेषां समागमे भद्रा का कथा लोकपावनी
In their company, what auspicious and world-purifying stories are there?
कथयिष्यामि तत्सर्वं यत्पृष्ट नारदर्षिणा
I shall recount all that was asked by Nārada, the seer.
नारदो भार्गवश्रेष्ठ पुनः पप्रच्छ तान्मुनीन्
Nārada, best of Bhārgavas, again questioned those sages.
समाराध्यः स एवात्र सर्वैः सर्वार्थकाङ्क्षिभिः
He alone is to be worshipped here by all who desire every object.
के देवाः पूजनीयाश्च विष्णुपादपरायणैः
Which gods are to be worshipped by those devoted to the feet of Viṣṇu?
दीक्षणं प्रातराद्यं च कृत्यं स्याद्यत्तदुच्यताम्
Let the morning initiation and the prescribed rite be declared, whatever it may be.
प्रीयेत परमात्मा वै तद्ब्रूत मम मानदाः
May the Supreme Self be pleased; tell me that, O givers of honor.
सनत्कुमारो भगवानुवाचार्कसमद्युतिः
The venerable Sanatkumara, radiant like the sun, spoke.
यज्ज्ञात्वामलया भक्त्या साधयेद्विष्णुमव्ययम्
By knowing this, with pure devotion, one attains the imperishable Vishnu.
भोगमोक्षक्रियाचर्याह्वया पादाः प्रकीर्तिताः
The stages called enjoyment, liberation, action, and conduct are enumerated.
पतिस्तत्र शिवोह्येको जीवास्तु पशवः स्मृताः
There, Shiva alone is the master; the living beings are remembered as the cattle.
तावत्पशुत्वमेतेषां द्वैतवत्पश्य नारद
So long as duality exists, O Narada, these beings remain in the state of cattle.
पशवस्त्रिविधाश्चापि विज्ञाताः कलसंज्ञिकाः
The cattle are also known to be threefold, bearing the designation 'kala.'
तत्राद्यो मलसंयुक्तो मलकर्मयुतः परः
Among them, the first is joined with impurity, the second with impurity and action.
आद्यस्तु द्विविधस्तत्र समासकलुषस्तथा
The first is again twofold: grossly impure and subtly impure.
पक्वापक्वमलेनैव द्विविधः परिकीर्तितः
It is said that the second is of two kinds, with ripe and unripe impurity.
कलादितत्त्वनियतः सकलः पर्यटत्ययम्
Bound by the principle beginning with kala, this 'sakala' wanders.
पाशाः पञ्च तथा तत्र प्रथमौ मलकर्मजौ
There are five bonds; among them, the first two arise from impurity and action.
एको ऽप्यनेकशक्तिर्दृक्क्रियाच्छादनकोमलः
Though one, it possesses manifold powers; it is subtle, veiling perception and action.
धर्माधर्मात्मकं कर्म विचित्रफलभोगदम्
Action, consisting of virtue and vice, yields enjoyment of various fruits.
इत्येतौ प्रथमौ चाथ मायेयाद्यान् शृणुद्विज
These two are the first; now hear, O twice-born, those arising from maya and others.
पतिर्जयति सर्वेषामेको बीजं विभुः परम्
The master, supreme and all-pervading, is victorious over all; he alone is the seed.
वर्वर्ति दृक्क्रियारूपं तत्तेजः शांभवं परम्
He abides as perception and action; that supreme energy is of Shambhu.