देवः सुदेवैः परिवारितोसौ विप्रैः सुसिद्धैर्हरिभक्तियुक्तैः । आगत्य भूपं गतकल्मषं तं श्रीशंखचक्राब्जगदासिधर्ता
The god, surrounded by blessed gods, by priests, perfected beings, and those devoted to Hari, came to the king, now freed from faults, the holder of the conch, discus, lotus, and sword.
श्रीनारदो भार्गव व्यास पुण्या समागतस्तत्र मृकंडसूनुः । वाल्मीकि नामा मुनिर्विष्णुभक्तः समागतो ब्रह्मसुतो वसिष्ठः
Śrī Nārada, Bhārgava, Vyāsa, and the virtuous son of Mṛkaṇḍu gathered there; Vālmīki, the sage devoted to Viṣṇu, and Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahma, also assembled.
गर्गो महात्मा हरिभक्तियुक्तो जाबालिरैभ्यावथ कश्यपश्च । आजग्मुरेते हरिणा समेता विष्णुप्रिया भागवतां वरिष्ठाः
The great-souled Garga, devoted to Hari, along with Jābāli, Raibhyā, and Kaśyapa, all came together, united by Hari, dearest to Viṣṇu and foremost among devotees.
पुण्याः सुधन्या गतकल्मषास्ते हरेः सुपादांबुजभक्तियुक्ताः । श्रीवासुदेवं परिवार्य तस्थुः स्तुवंति भूपं विविधप्रकारैः
These virtuous, most fortunate, and sinless ones, endowed with devotion to the blessed lotus feet of Hari, stood encircling Śrī Vāsudeva, praising the king in various ways.
देवाश्च सर्वे हुतभुङ्मुखाश्च ब्रह्मा हरिश्चापि सुदिव्यदेव्यः । गायंति दिव्यं मधुरं मनोहरं गंधर्वराजादिसुगायनाश्च
All the gods, the fire-gods, Brahmā, Hari, and the most divine goddesses sang a celestial, sweet, and enchanting song, along with the king of Gandharvas and other skilled singers.
सुवेद युक्तैः परमार्थसंमितैः स्तवैः सुपुण्यैर्मुनयः स्तुवंति । दृष्ट्वा पतिं भूपतिमेव देवो हरिर्बभाषे वचनं मनोहरम्
The sages, using excellent and supremely meaningful hymns, rich in merit and rooted in true knowledge, praised him; seeing the lord, the king of the earth, the god Hari spoke these delightful words.
वरं यथेष्टं वरयस्व भूपते ददाम्यहं ते परितोषितो यतः । हरेस्तु वाक्यं स निशम्य राजा दृष्ट्वा मुरारिं वदमानमग्रे
"Choose whatever boon you wish, O king; I am pleased with you and will grant it." Hearing Hari's words, the king looked upon Mura's slayer, who spoke before him.
नीलोत्पलाभं मुरघातिनं प्रभुं तं शंखचक्रासिगदाप्रधारिणम् । श्रियासमेतं परमेश्वरं तं रत्नोज्ज्वलं कंकणहारभूषितम्
He beheld the Lord, destroyer of Mura, dark as a blue lotus, bearing conch, discus, sword, and mace, united with Śrī, the supreme Lord, adorned with bracelets and necklaces shining with jewels.
रविप्रभं देवगणैः सुसेवितं महार्घहाराभरणैः सुभूषितम् । सुदिव्यगंधैर्वरलेपनैर्हरिं सुभक्तिभावैरवनीं गतो नृपः
Radiant as the sun, well served by hosts of gods, splendidly adorned with precious garlands and ornaments, Hari, anointed with divine fragrances, as the king approached the earth with deep devotion.
दंडप्रणामैः सततं नमाम जयेति वाचाथ महानृपस्तदा । दासोस्मि भृत्योस्मि पुरः स ते सदा भक्तिं न जाने न च भावमुत्तमम्
With staff in hand, bowing repeatedly, the great king then spoke: "Victory! I am your servant, your attendant, always before you. I do not know devotion or the highest feeling."
जायान्वितं मामिह चागतं हरे प्रपाहि वै त्वां शरणं प्रपन्नम् । धन्यास्तु ते माधव मानवा द्विजाः सदैव ते ध्यानमनोविलीनाः
"Here I have come with my wife, O Hari; protect me, for I have sought refuge in you. Blessed are those men and twice-born ones, O Mādhava, who are always absorbed in meditation upon you."
समुच्चरंतो भव माधवेति प्रयांति वैकुंठमितः सुनिर्मलाः । तवैव पादांबुजनिर्गतं पयः पुण्यं तथा ये शिरसा वहंति
"Chanting 'O Mādhava!' as they depart from here, they go to Vaikuṇṭha, pure and spotless. Those who bear upon their heads the sacred water from your lotus feet are likewise blessed."
समस्ततीर्थोद्भव तोय आप्लुतास्ते मानवा यांति हरेः सुधाम
Those men who have bathed in the waters arising from all the sacred fords attain the supreme abode of Hari.
नास्ति योगो न मे भक्तिर्ज्ञानं नास्ति न मे क्रिया । कस्य पुण्यस्य संगेन वरं मह्यं प्रयच्छसि
"I have no yoga, no devotion, no knowledge, nor any ritual. By the association of what merit do you grant me this boon?"
हरिरुवाच- वासुदेवाभिधानं यन्महापातकनाशनम् । भवता विज्वलात्पुण्याच्छ्रुतं राजन्विकल्मषः
Hari said: "The name Vāsudeva, which destroys great sins, has been heard by you, O king, through blazing merit, free from impurity."
तेन त्वं मुक्तिभागी च संजातो नात्र संशयः । मम लोके प्रभुंक्ष्व त्वं दिव्यान्भोगान्मनोनुगान्
"By that, you have become eligible for liberation—of this there is no doubt. In my world, enjoy divine pleasures as you desire."
राजोवाच- यदिदेववरोदेयोममदीनस्यवैत्वया । विज्वलायप्रयच्छत्वंप्रथमंवरमुत्तमम्
The king said: "If, O Lord, I am worthy of a boon from you, who are compassionate to the lowly, then first grant the highest boon to Vijvalā."
हरिरुवाच- विज्वलस्य पिता पुण्यः कुंजलो ज्ञानमंडितः । वासुदेवमहास्तोत्रं नित्यं पठति भूपते
Hari said: "Vijvala's father, Puṇya, wise and adorned with knowledge, always recites the great hymn to Vāsudeva, O king."
पुत्रैः प्रियासमेतोऽसौ मम गेहं प्रयास्यति । एतत्तु जपते स्तोत्रं सदा दास्याम्यहं फलम्
"Surrounded by his beloved sons, he will come to my abode. Whoever always recites this hymn, I will surely grant the fruit."
एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये राजा केशवमब्रवीत् । इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं सफलं कुरु केशव
When these auspicious words were spoken, the king addressed Keśava: "O Keśava, make this great and meritorious hymn fruitful."
हरिरुवाच-। कृते युगे महाराज यदा स्तोष्यंति मानवाः । तदा मोक्षं प्रयास्यंति तत्क्षणान्नात्र संशयः
Hari said: O great king, in the Krita Yuga, whenever people praise me, they will attain liberation at that very moment—there is no doubt about this.
त्रेतायां मासमात्रेण षड्भिर्मासैस्तु द्वापरे । वर्षेणैकेन च कलौ ये जपंति च मानवाः
In the Treta Yuga, by reciting for just a month; in the Dvapara, by six months; and in the Kali Yuga, by a single year, those who recite, O men—
स्वर्गं प्रयांति राजेंद्र वैष्णवं गतिदायकम् । त्रिकालमेककालं वा स्नातो जपति ब्राह्मणः
They attain heaven, O king, and the Vaishnava realm that grants the highest goal; whether a Brahmin recites after bathing three times a day or just once—
यं यं तु वांछते कामं स स तस्य भविष्यति । क्षत्रियो जयमाप्नोति धनधान्यैरलंकृतः
Whatever desire he longs for, that will surely come to him; a Kshatriya gains victory, adorned with wealth and grain.
वैश्यो भविष्यति श्रीमान्सुखी शूद्रो भविष्यति । अंत्यजं श्रावयेद्योयं पापान्मुक्तो भविष्यति
A Vaishya becomes prosperous and happy; a Shudra is uplifted; and whoever makes an outcaste hear this will be freed from sins.
श्रावको नरकं घोरं कदाचिन्नैव पश्यति । मम स्तोत्रप्रसादाच्च सर्वसिद्धो भविष्यति
The listener will never see the terrible hell; and by the grace of my hymn, he will attain all accomplishments.
ब्राह्मणैर्भोज्यमानैश्च श्राद्धकाले पठिष्यति । पितरो वैष्णवं लोकं तृप्ता यास्यंति भूपते
If recited at the time of śrāddha by Brahmins while eating, O king, the ancestors, satisfied, will go to the Vaishnava world.
तर्पणांते जपं कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणो वाथ क्षत्रियः । पिबंति चामृतं तस्य पितरो हृष्टमानसाः
If a Brahmin or Kshatriya recites the hymn after offering libations, his ancestors, their minds delighted, drink nectar.
होमेषु यज्ञमध्ये च भावाज्जपति मानवः । तत्र विघ्ना न जायंते सर्वसिद्धिर्भविष्यति
If a man recites with devotion during homa or in the midst of a sacrifice, then no obstacles arise there, and all success is attained.
विषमे दुर्गसंस्थाने हिंस्रव्याघ्रस्य संकटे । चौराणां संकटे प्राप्ते तत्र स्तोत्रमुदीरयेत्
In dangerous, difficult places—amidst wild beasts or the threat of tigers, or when beset by thieves—there one should recite the hymn.