एतन्नो ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञ कर्मैवं यदि वर्तते । सूत उवाच- कर्मयोगः किल प्रोक्तो वर्णानां द्विजपूर्वशः
Tell us this, O all-knowing one, if such an act exists. Sūta said: The path of action, indeed, has been prescribed for the classes, beginning with the twice-born.
नानाविधो महाभागास्तत्र चैकं विशिष्यते । हरिभक्तिः कृता येन मनसा वचसा गिरा
There are many kinds, O highly fortunate ones, but one is distinguished among them: devotion to Hari, performed with mind, speech, and words.
जितं तेन जितं तेन जितमेव न संशयः । हरिरेव समाराध्यः सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वरः
By that, all is conquered, all is conquered, truly conquered—there is no doubt. Hari alone is to be worshipped, the Lord of all lords of gods.
हरिनाममहामंत्रैर्नश्येत्पापपिशाचकम् । हरेः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा सकृदप्यमलाशयाः
By the great mantras of Hari’s name, the demon of sin is destroyed. By circumambulating Hari even once, with pure intent,
सर्वतीर्थसमाप्लावं लभंते यन्न संशयः । प्रतिमां च हरेर्दृष्ट्वा सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्
one attains the merit of bathing in all holy waters—of this there is no doubt. And by seeing Hari’s image, one obtains the fruit of all holy places.
विष्णुनामपरं जप्त्वा सर्वमंत्रफलं लभेत् । विष्णुप्रसादतुलसीमाघ्राय द्विजसत्तमाः
By reciting the supreme names of Viṣṇu, one attains the fruit of all mantras. By smelling the sacred basil offered to Viṣṇu, O best of twice-born,
प्रचंडं विकरालं तद्यमस्यास्यं न पश्यति । सकृत्प्रणामी कृष्णस्य मातुः स्तन्यं पिबेन्नहि
one does not see the fierce and terrible face of Yama. He who bows even once to Kṛṣṇa does not drink the milk of his mother again.
हरिपादे मनो येषां तेभ्यो नित्यं नमोनमः । पुल्कसः श्वपचो वापि ये चान्ये म्लेच्छजातयः
To those whose minds are fixed on Hari’s feet, I offer constant salutations. Whether Pulkaśas, Śvapacas, or others of foreign birth,
तेऽपि वंद्या महाभागा हरिपादैकसेवकाः । किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा
they too are worthy of reverence, O highly fortunate ones, if they serve only Hari’s feet. What then of the blessed Brāhmaṇas, the devoted royal sages as well?
हरौ भक्तिं विधायैव गर्भवासं न पश्यति । हरेरग्रे स्वनैरुच्चैर्नृत्यंस्तन्नामकृन्नरः
Having established devotion to Hari, one does not see the womb again. Dancing before Hari, loudly singing his names,
पुनाति भुवनं विप्रा गंगादि सलिलं यथा । दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्तस्य आलापादपि भक्तितः
such a person purifies the world, O Brāhmaṇas, as the waters of the Gaṅgā and others do. By seeing, touching, or even speaking with him in devotion,
ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । हरेः प्रदक्षिणं कुर्वन्नुच्चैस्तन्नामकृन्नरः
one is freed from sins like Brahmanicide—of this there is no doubt. While circumambulating Hari, loudly uttering his names,
करतालादिसंधानं सुस्वरं कलशब्दितम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं तेनैव करतालितम्
with the clapping of hands and sweet, melodious sound, even the sin of Brahmanicide is destroyed by that clapping.
हरिभक्तिकथामुक्त्वा ख्यायिकां शृणुयाच्च यः । तस्य संदर्शनादेव पूतो भवति मानवः
He who, without speaking of Hari’s devotion, listens to stories and legends—by merely seeing such a person, a man becomes purified.
किं पुनस्तस्य पापानामाशंका मुनिपुंगवाः । तीर्थानां च परं तीर्थं कृष्णनाम महर्षयः
O foremost sages, what concern is there for the sins of one who has uttered the name of Krishna? The name of Krishna is the supreme among all sacred places, O great sages.
तीर्थीकुर्वंति जगतीं गृहीतं कृष्णनाम यैः । तस्मान्मुनिवराः पुण्यं नातः परतरं विदुः
Those by whom Krishna's name is taken sanctify the world; therefore, O eminent sages, they know that no merit surpasses this.
विष्णुप्रसादनिर्माल्यं भुक्त्वा धृत्वा च मस्तके । विष्णुरेव भवेन्मर्त्यो यमशोकविनाशनः
Having eaten and placed upon the head the remnants of Vishnu's grace, a mortal becomes Vishnu himself, the destroyer of Yama's sorrow.
अर्चनीयो नमस्कार्यो हरिरेव न संशयः । ये महाविष्णुमव्यक्तं देवं वापि महेश्वरम्
Hari alone is to be worshipped and saluted, without doubt; those who see the great, unmanifest Vishnu or the god Maheshvara as one—
एकीभावेन पश्यंति न तेषां पुनरुद्भवः । तस्मादनादिनिधनं विष्णुमात्मानमव्ययम्
—with unity of vision, for them there is no rebirth; therefore, recognize Vishnu, the beginningless, endless, imperishable self.
हरिं चैकं प्रपश्यध्वं पूजयध्वं तथैव हि । ये समानं प्रपश्यंति हरिं वै देवतांतरम्
Behold Hari alone, worship him in the same way; those who see Hari as equal to other deities—
ते यांति नरकान्घोरांन्न तांस्तु गणयेद्धीरः । मूर्खं वा पंडितं वापि ब्राह्मणं केशवप्रियम्
—they go to dreadful hells; the wise should not count them, whether foolish or learned, or even a Brahmin dear to Kesava.
श्वपाकं वा मोचयति नारायणः स्वयं प्रभुः । नारायणात्परो नास्ति पापराशि दवानलः
The Lord Narayana himself liberates even a dog-eater; there is none superior to Narayana, the wildfire of heaps of sin.
कृत्वापि पातकं घोरं कृष्णनाम्ना विमुच्यते । स्वयं नारायणो देवः स्वनाम्नि जगतां गुरुः
Even after committing terrible sin, one is freed by the name of Krishna; Narayana himself, the guru of the worlds, is present in his own name.
आत्मनोऽभ्यधिकां शक्तिं स्थापयामास सुव्रताः । अत्र ये विवदंते वै आयासलघुदर्शनात्
The virtuous established a power greater than their own; those who dispute here, seeing only the ease or difficulty—
फलानां गौरवाच्चापि ते यांति नरकं बहु । तस्माद्धरौ भक्तिमान्स्याद्धरिनामपरायणः
—and the weight of the results, they go to many hells; therefore, one should be devoted to Hari and dedicated to his name.
पूजकं पृष्ठतो रक्षेन्नामिनं वक्षसि प्रभुः । हरिनाममहावज्रं पापपर्वतदारणे
The Lord protects the worshipper from behind and the one who names him at the chest; the great thunderbolt of Hari's name shatters the mountain of sin.
तस्य पादौ तु सफलौ तदर्थं गतिशालिनौ । तावेव धन्यावाख्यातौ यौ तु पूजाकरौ करौ
His feet are fruitful, for they move toward that purpose; those hands alone are called blessed which perform worship.
उत्तमांगमुत्तमांगं तद्धरौ नम्रमेव यत् । सा जिह्वा या हरिं स्तौति तन्मनस्तत्पदानुगम्
That head is the highest which bows to Hari; that tongue is blessed which praises Hari; that mind follows his feet.
तानि लोमानि चोच्यंते यानि तन्नाम्नि चोत्थितम् । कुर्वंति तच्च नेत्रांबु यदच्युतप्रसंगतः
Those hairs stand erect which arise at his name; those tears are shed by the eyes due to the grace of Acyuta.
अहो लोका अतितरां दैवदोषेण वंचिताः । नामोच्चारणमात्रेण मुक्तिदं न भजंति वै
Alas, people are greatly deceived by fate; though the mere utterance of the name grants liberation, they do not seek it.