एकमेव परं ब्रह्म विज्ञेयं तत्त्वमव्ययम् । स देवस्तु महादेवो नैतद्विज्ञाय बध्यते
The one supreme, imperishable Brahman alone is to be known as the truth; that God is the great Lord—one who knows this is not bound.
तस्माद्यतेत नियतं यतिः संयतमानसः । ज्ञानयोगरतः शांतो महादेवपरायणः
Therefore, the ascetic with controlled mind should constantly strive, delighting in the yoga of knowledge, peaceful, and devoted to the great Lord.
एष वः कथितो विप्रा यतीनामाश्रमः शुभः । पितामहेन मुनिना विभुना पूर्वमीरितः
O Brahmins, this auspicious order of ascetics has been described to you, as formerly spoken by the sage Pitāmaha, the lord.
नापुत्रशिष्ययोगिभ्यो दद्यादेवमनुत्तमम् । ज्ञानं स्वयंभुवा प्रोक्तं यतिधर्म्माश्रयं शिवम्
This supreme knowledge concerning the dharma of ascetics, declared by the self-born, should not be given to sons, disciples, or yogis.
इति यतिनियमानामेतदुक्तं विधानं सुरवरपरितोषे यद्भवेदेकहेतुः । न भवति पुनरेषामुद्भवो वा विनाशः प्रतिहितमनसो ये नित्यमेवाचरंति
Thus the rule for ascetics has been stated, which alone brings satisfaction to the best of gods; for those who always practice with restrained minds, there is neither birth nor destruction.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे षष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixtieth chapter in the section on heaven of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ता पुरा विप्रा व्यासेनामिततेजसा । एतावदुक्त्वा भगवान्व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
Sūta said: Thus, long ago, the Brahmins were addressed by Vyāsa of immeasurable brilliance; having said this much, the blessed Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī—
समाश्वास्य मुनीन्सर्वान्जगाम च यथागतम् । भवद्भ्यस्तु मया प्रोक्तं वर्णाश्रमविधानकम्
Having reassured all the sages, departed as he had come; and to you I have explained the rules of varṇa and āśrama.
एवं कृत्वा प्रियो विष्णोर्भवत्येव न चान्यथा । रहस्यं तत्र वक्ष्यामि शृणुत द्विजसत्तमाः
By acting thus, one surely becomes dear to Viṣṇu, and not otherwise; I will tell you a secret about this—listen, O best of twice-born.
ये चात्र कथिता धर्मा वर्णाश्रमनिबंधनाः । हरिभक्तिकलांशांश समाना न हि ते द्विजाः
The dharmas mentioned here, bound to varṇa and āśrama, are not equal to even a fraction of devotion to Hari, O Brahmins.
पुंसामेकेह वै साध्या हरिभक्तिः कलौ युगे । युगांतरेण धर्मा हि सेवितव्या नरेण हि
In this age of Kali, devotion to Hari alone is attainable for men; in other ages, indeed, dharmas must be practiced by men.
कलौ नारायणं देवं यजते यः स धर्म्मभाक् । दामोदरं हृषीकेशं पुरुहूतं सनातनम्
In Kali, whoever worships the god Nārāyaṇa is the possessor of dharma—Dāmodara, Hṛṣīkeśa, Puruhūta, the eternal one.
हृदि कृत्वा परं शांतं जितमेव जगत्त्रयम् । कलिकालोरगादंशात्किल्बिषात्कालकूटतः
Having placed the supreme, peaceful Lord in the heart, having conquered the three worlds, one is freed from the poison of Kali, from sin, from the deadly poison.
हरिभक्तिसुधां पीत्वा उल्लंघ्यो भवति द्विजः । किं जपैः श्रीहरेर्नाम गृहीतं यदि मानुषैः
Drinking the nectar of devotion to Hari, the Brahmin becomes able to cross over; what use are recitations if the name of Śrī Hari is taken by men?
किं स्नानैर्विष्णुपादांबु मस्तके येन धार्यते । किं यज्ञेन हरेः पादपद्मं येन धृतं हृदि
What use are baths if the water from Viṣṇu’s feet is borne on the head? What use is sacrifice if Hari’s lotus feet are held in the heart?
किं दानेन हरेः कर्म सभायां वै प्रकाशितम् । हरेर्गुणगणान्श्रुत्वा यः प्रहृष्येत्पुनः पुनः
What use is charity if the deeds of Hari are proclaimed in the assembly? Whoever, hearing the multitude of Hari’s virtues, rejoices again and again—
समाधिना प्रहृष्टस्य सा गतिः कृष्णचेतसः । तत्र विघ्नकराः प्रोक्ताः पाखंडालापपेशलाः
That is the path for one whose mind is joyful in concentration; there, obstacles are said to be the clever words of heretics.
नार्यस्तत्संगिनश्चापि हरिभक्तिविघातकाः । नारीणां नयनादेशः सुराणामपि दुर्जयः
Women and those who associate with them are also obstacles to devotion to Hari; the glance of women is difficult even for the gods to overcome.
स येन विजितो लोके हरिभक्तः स उच्यते । माद्यंति मुनयोप्यत्र नारीचरितलोलुपाः
He who conquers this in the world is called a devotee of Hari; even sages here become intoxicated, eager for the conduct of women.
हरिभक्तिः कुतः पुंसां नारीभक्तिजुषां द्विजाः । राक्षस्यः कामिनीवेषाश्चरंति जगति द्विजाः । नराणां बुद्धिकवलं कुर्वंति सततं हिताः
How can devotion to Hari arise in men who pursue devotion to women, O twice-born? Demonic women, adorned as lovers, roam the world, always captivating the minds of men, pretending to be beneficial.
तावद्विद्या प्रभवति तावज्ज्ञानं प्रवर्तते । तावत्सुनिर्मला मेधा सर्वशास्त्रविधारिणी
Knowledge prevails only so long, wisdom arises only so long, and pure intellect, which upholds all scriptures, lasts only so long.
तावज्जपस्तपस्तावत्तावतीर्थनिषेवणम् । तावच्च गुरुशुश्रूषा तावद्धि तरणे मतिः
Recitation, austerity, pilgrimage, service to the teacher, and the resolve to cross over all endure only so long.
तावत्प्रबोधो भवति विवेकस्तावदेव हि । तावत्सतां संगरुचिस्तावत्पौराणलालसा
Awakening occurs only so long, discernment only so long, the desire for association with the virtuous only so long, and longing for the Purāṇas only so long.
यावत्सीमंतिनी लोलनयनांदोलनं नहि । जनोपरि पतेद्विप्राः सर्वधर्मविलोपनम्
As long as the restless movement of a woman's roving eyes does not fall upon people, O twice-born, the destruction of all dharma does not occur.
तत्र ये हरिपादाब्जमधुलेशप्रसादिताः । तेषां न नारीलोलाक्षिक्षेपणं हि प्रभुर्भवेत्
Those who are favored by the honey of Hari's lotus feet are not subject to the casting of a woman's restless glance.
जन्मजन्म हृषीकेश सेवनं यैः कृतं द्विजाः । द्विजे दत्तं हुतं वह्नौ विरतिस्तत्र तत्र हि
Those who have served Hṛṣīkeśa birth after birth, O twice-born, who have given to the twice-born, offered oblations in fire, and practiced renunciation in various places—
नारीणां किल किं नाम सौंदर्य्यं परिचक्षते । भूषणानां च वस्त्राणां चाकचक्यं तदुच्यते
What, indeed, is called the beauty of women? It is said to be merely the adornment of ornaments and garments.
स्नेहात्मज्ञानरहितं नारीरूपं कुतः स्मृतम् । पूयमूत्रपुरीषासृक्त्वङ्मेदोस्थिवसान्वितम्
How can the form of a woman, devoid of affection and self-knowledge, be remembered as beautiful, being composed of pus, urine, feces, blood, skin, fat, teeth, and marrow?
कलेवरं हि तन्नाम कुतः सौंदर्य्यमत्र हि । तदेवं पृथगाचिंत्य स्पृष्ट्वा स्नात्वा शुचिर्भवेत्
How can that body be called beautiful? Thus, after considering it separately, one should bathe and become pure after touching it.
तैः संहितं शंरीरं हि दृश्यते सुंदरं जनैः । अहोतिदुर्दशा नॄणां दुर्दैव घटिता द्विजाः
That body, when united with those things, appears beautiful to people; alas, O twice-born, this is the great misfortune of men, caused by ill fate.