वंचितास्ते च कलुषाः स्त्रीणां संगप्रसंगतः । प्रतिष्ठंति च लोमानि येषां नो कृष्णशब्दने
Those impure ones are deceived, attached to the company of women; their hairs do not stand erect at the sound of Krishna's name.
ते मूर्खा ह्यकृतात्मानः पुत्रशोकादि विह्वलाः । रुदंति बहुलालापैर्न कृष्णाक्षरकीर्तने
They are fools, unrefined in self, overwhelmed by grief for sons and the like; they weep with many tears, but not in praise of Krishna's syllables.
जिह्वां लब्ध्वापि लोकेऽस्मिन्कृष्णनामजपेन्नहि । लब्ध्वापि मुक्तिसोपानं हेलयैव च्यवंति ते
Even having obtained a tongue in this world, if one does not recite the names of Krishna, then, though having gained the very means to liberation, they fall away from it out of negligence.
तस्माद्यत्नेन वै विष्णुं कर्मयोगेन मानवः । कर्मयोगार्च्चितो विष्णुः प्रसीदत्येव नान्यथा
Therefore, a person should, with effort, worship Vishnu through the yoga of action; for Vishnu, worshipped by the yoga of action, is indeed pleased—never otherwise.
तीर्थादप्यधिकं तीर्थं विष्णोर्भजनमुच्यते । सर्वेषां खलु तीर्थानां स्नानपानावगाहनैः
The worship of Vishnu is said to be a holy place greater than any holy place; for whatever result a mortal gains from bathing, drinking, or immersing in all holy places,
यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यस्तत्फलं कृष्णसेवनात् । यजंते कर्मयोगेन धन्या एव नरा हरिम्
that very result is obtained by serving Krishna; truly blessed are those men who worship Hari through the yoga of action.
तस्माद्भजध्वं मुनयः कृष्णं परममंगलम्
Therefore, O sages, worship Krishna, the supreme source of auspiciousness.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे विष्णुभक्तिप्रशंसनं नाम पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fiftieth chapter named 'The Praise of Devotion to Vishnu' in the Svarga-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
ऋषय ऊचु- कर्मयोगः कथं सूत येन चाराधितो हरिः । प्रसीदति महाभाग वद नो वदतां वर
The sages said: O Sūta, how is the yoga of action performed, by which Hari is worshipped and becomes pleased? O most fortunate one, tell us, best of speakers.
येनासौ भगवानीशः समाराध्यो मुमुक्षुभिः । तद्वदाखिललोकानां रक्षणं धर्मसंग्रहम्
By which means is that Lord, the Blessed One, to be properly worshipped by those seeking liberation? Tell that for the protection of all worlds and the collection of dharma.
तं कर्मयोगं वद नः सूत मूर्तिमयस्तु यः । इति शुश्रूषवो विप्रा भवदग्रे व्यवस्थिताः
O Sūta, tell us of that yoga of action, which is embodied in form; thus, eager to hear, the Brahmins stand before you.
सूत उवाच- एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । ऋषिभिरग्निसंकाशैर्व्यासस्तानाह तच्छृणु
Sūta said: In the same way, long ago, Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, was asked by sages shining like fire; Vyāsa spoke to them—listen to that.
व्यास उवाच- शृणुध्वंमृषयः सर्वे वक्ष्यमाणं सनातनम् । कर्मयोगं ब्राह्मणानामात्यंतिकफलप्रदम्
Vyāsa said: O sages, all of you listen to what I am about to declare—the eternal yoga of action for Brahmins, which bestows the highest fruit.
आम्नायसिद्धमखिलं ब्राह्मणार्थं प्रदर्शितम् । ऋषीणां शृण्वतां पूर्वं मनुराह प्रजापतिः
All that is established in the tradition and shown for the sake of Brahmins, Prajāpati Manu formerly spoke to the listening sages.
सर्वव्याधिहरं पुण्यमृषिसंघैर्निषेवितम् । समाहितधियो यूयं शृणुध्वं गदतो मम
It removes all diseases, is meritorious, and practiced by groups of sages; you, whose minds are composed, listen as I speak.
कृतोपनयनो वेदानधीयीत द्विजोत्तमः । गर्भाष्टमेऽष्टमेवाब्दे स्वसूत्रोक्तविधानतः
Having undergone the initiation ceremony, the best of twice-born should study the Vedas in the eighth month from conception, or in the eighth year, according to the rule stated in his own sūtra.
दंडी च मेखली सूत्री कृष्णाजिनधरो मुनिः । भिक्षाहारो गुरुहितो वीक्ष्यमाणो गुरोर्मुखम्
Carrying a staff, a girdle, a sacred thread, and wearing a black antelope skin, the sage should live on alms, devoted to the teacher, and gaze upon the teacher’s face.
कार्पासमुपवीतार्थं निर्मितं ब्रह्मणा पुरा । ब्राह्मणानां त्रिवृत्सूत्रं कौशं वा वस्त्रमेव वा
The threefold sacred thread, made of cotton or cloth, was formerly created by Brahmā for the sake of the sacred thread ceremony for Brahmins.
सदोपवीती चैव स्यात्सदाबद्ध शिखो द्विजः । अन्यथा यत्कृतं कर्म्म तद्भवत्ययथाकृतम्
A twice-born should always wear the sacred thread and always keep the topknot tied; otherwise, whatever action is performed becomes fruitless.
वसेदविकृतं वासः कार्पासं वा कषायकम् । तदेव परिधानीयं शुक्लं तांतवमुत्तमम्
He should wear unaltered garments, or a cotton dyed cloth; that alone should be worn—white and of the best woven fabric.
उत्तरं तु समाम्नातं वासः कृष्णाजिनं शुभम् । अभावे गावयमपि रौरवं वा विधीयते
The upper garment prescribed is a pure black antelope skin; in its absence, one may use cowhide or ruru deer skin.
उद्धृत्य दक्षिणं बाहुं सव्यबाहौ समर्पितम् । उपवीतं भवेन्नित्यं निवीतं कंठसज्जने
Having raised the right arm, the sacred thread placed over the left shoulder becomes 'upavīta' (properly worn); when it is around the neck, it is called 'nivīta.'
सव्यबाहुं समुद्धृत्य दक्षिणे तु धृतं द्विजाः । प्राचीनावीतमित्युक्तं पित्र्येकर्मणि योजयेत्
When the left arm is raised and the thread is held on the right, O twice-born, it is called 'prācīnāvīta,' and should be used in ancestral rites.
अग्न्यागारे गवां गोष्ठे होमे तप्ये तथैव च । स्वाध्याये भोजने नित्यं ब्राह्मणानां च सन्निधौ
In the fire chamber, in the cowshed, during offerings, in penance, during study, at meals, and always in the presence of Brahmins—
उपासने गुरूणां च संध्ययोः साधुसंगमे । उपवीती भवेन्नित्यं विधिरेष सनातनः
In the service of teachers, at the two twilights, and in the company of the virtuous, one should always wear the thread as 'upavīta'; this is the eternal rule.
मौंजी त्रिवृत्समां श्लिष्टां कुर्याद्विप्रस्य मेखलाम् । मुंजाभावे कुशेनाहुर्ग्रंथिनैकेन वा त्रिभिः
A Brahmin should make his girdle of threefold muñja grass, well-twisted; in the absence of muñja, they say it may be made of kuśa grass or with one or three knots.
धारयेद्वैणवपालाशौ दंडौ केशांतिकौ द्विजः । यज्ञार्हवृक्षजं वाथ सौम्यमव्रणमेव च
The twice-born should carry two staffs, one of bamboo and one of palāśa, cut to the length of his hair; or else, one made from a tree fit for sacrifice, gentle and unblemished.
सायंप्रातर्द्विजः संध्यामुपासीत समाहितः । कामाल्लोभाद्भयान्मोहात्त्यक्त्वैनां पतितो भवेत्
A twice-born should perform the twilight worship with concentration, morning and evening; if he neglects it out of desire, greed, fear, or delusion, he becomes fallen.
अग्निकार्यं ततः कुर्यात्सायंप्रातः प्रसन्नधीः । स्नात्वा संतर्पयेद्देवानृषीन्पितृगणांस्तथा
After that, he should perform the fire ritual, morning and evening, with a clear mind; having bathed, he should satisfy the gods, seers, and groups of ancestors.
देवताभ्यर्चनं कुर्यात्पुष्पैः पत्रैर्यवांबुभिः । अभिवादनशीलः स्यान्नित्यं वृद्धेषु धर्मतः
He should worship the deities with flowers, leaves, barley, and water; he should always, by duty, be respectful in greeting elders.