पुराणं निर्मितं विप्र तस्मात्तत्परमो भवेत् । पुराणे निश्चितो धर्मो धर्मश्च केशवः स्वयम्
O Brahmin, the Purāṇa was composed for this reason; therefore, it is of the highest order. Dharma is established in the Purāṇa, and dharma itself is Keśava.
तस्मात्कृते पुराणे हि श्रुते विष्णुर्भवेदिति । साक्षात्स्वयं हरिर्विप्रः पुराणं च तथाविधम्
Therefore, it is said that Viṣṇu is present in the Purāṇa that was created and heard; O Brahmin, Hari himself is directly present in such a Purāṇa.
एतयोः संगमासाद्य हरिरेव भेवन्नरः । तथा गंगांबुसेकेन नाशयेत्किल्बिषं स्वकम्
By coming into contact with these two—Hari and the Purāṇa—a person becomes Hari himself; likewise, by bathing in the water of the Gaṅgā, one destroys one's own sins.
केशवो द्रवरूपेण पापात्तारयते महीम् । वैष्णवो विष्णुभजनस्याकांक्षी यदि वर्तते
Keśava, in liquid form, delivers the earth from sin; if a devotee of Viṣṇu desires to worship Viṣṇu, he should act accordingly.
गंगांबुसेकममलममलीकरणं चरेत् । विष्णुभक्तिप्रदा देवी गंगा भुवि च गीयते
He should perform the pure and purifying bath with Gaṅgā water; the goddess Gaṅgā is praised on earth as bestowing devotion to Viṣṇu.
विष्णुरूपा हि सा गंगा लोकविस्तारकारिणी
Indeed, she, Gaṅgā, is the very form of Viṣṇu, the one who causes the expansion of the worlds.
ब्राह्मणेषु पुराणेषु गंगायां गोषु पिप्पले । नारायणधिया पुंभिर्भक्तिः कार्या ह्यहैतुकी
In Brāhmaṇas, in the Purāṇas, in Gaṅgā, in cows, and in the holy fig tree, devotion should be rendered by people with the thought of Nārāyaṇa, without motive.
प्रत्यक्षविष्णुरूपा हि तत्वज्ञैर्निश्चिता अमी । तस्मात्सततमभ्यर्च्या विष्णुभक्त्यभिलाषिणा
These are all directly recognized by the wise as forms of Viṣṇu; therefore, they should always be worshipped by those desiring devotion to Viṣṇu.
विष्णौ भक्तिं विना नॄणां निष्फलं जन्म उच्यते । कलिकालपयोराशिं पापग्राहसमाकुलम्
Without devotion to Viṣṇu, a person's birth is said to be fruitless; the ocean of the Kali age is filled with the alligators of sin.
विषयामज्जनावर्तं दुर्बोधफेनिलं परम् । महादुष्टजनव्याल महाभीमं भयानकम्
It is a whirlpool of immersion in sense objects, extremely difficult to understand, foaming greatly, filled with the serpents of wicked people, terrifying and dreadful.
दुस्तरं च तरंत्येव हरिभक्तितरि स्थिताः । तस्माद्यतेत वै लोको विष्णुभक्तिप्रसाधने
Only those established in devotion to Hari cross over this difficult ocean; therefore, people should strive to attain devotion to Viṣṇu.
किं सुखं लभते जंतुरसद्वार्तावधारणे । हरेरद्भुतलीलस्य लीलाख्यानेन सज्जते
What happiness does a creature gain by dwelling on false matters? He becomes attached through the narration of Hari's wondrous deeds.
तद्विचित्रकथालोके नानाविषयमिश्रिताः । श्रोतव्या यदि वै नॄणां विषये सज्जते मनः
In the world of those marvelous stories, mixed with various topics, if a person's mind is attached to sense objects, those should be heard.
निर्वाणे यदि वा चित्तं श्रोतव्या तदपि द्विजाः । हेलया श्रवणाच्चापि तस्य तुष्टो भवेद्धरिः
Or, if the mind is inclined toward liberation, those should also be heard, O twice-born; even by hearing negligently, Hari becomes pleased.
निष्क्रियोपि हृषीकेशो नानाकर्म चकार सः । शुश्रूषूणां हितार्थाय भक्तानां भक्तवत्सलः
Though Hṛṣīkeśa is actionless, he performed various deeds for the benefit of those eager to listen, being affectionate to his devotees.
न लभ्यते कर्मणापि वाजपेयशतादिना । राजसूयायुतेनापि यथा भक्त्या स लभ्यते
He is not attained even by hundreds of Vājapeya sacrifices or by ten thousand Rājasūya rituals, as he is attained by devotion.
यत्पदं चेतसा सेव्यं सद्भिराचरितं मुहुः । भवाब्धितरणे सारमाश्रयध्वं हरेः पदम्
That supreme abode, which is to be served in the mind and is repeatedly practiced by the virtuous, take refuge in the feet of Hari, the essence for crossing the ocean of existence.
रे रे विषयसंलुब्धाः पामरा निष्ठुरा नराः । रौरवे हि किमात्मानमात्मना पातयिष्यथ
O you who are greedy for sense objects, you base and harsh men, why will you cast yourselves into Raurava hell by your own actions?
विना गोविंदसौम्यांघ्रिसेवनं मा गमिष्यति । अनायासेन दुःखानां तरणं यदि वांछथ
Without serving the gentle feet of Govinda, do not proceed; if you desire to cross over suffering without effort,
भजध्वं कृष्णचरणावपुनर्भवकारणे । कुत एवागतो मर्त्यः कुत एव पुनर्व्रजेत्
Worship the feet of Krishna, the cause of liberation from rebirth; from where has a mortal come, and to where would he return?
एतद्विचार्य मतिमानाश्रयेद्धर्मसंग्रहम् । नानानरकसंपातादुत्थितो यदि पूरुषः
Considering this, a wise person should resort to the collection of dharma, if he has arisen from the fall into various hells.
स्थावरादि तनुं लब्ध्वा यदि भाग्यवशात्पुनः । मानुष्यं लभते तत्र गर्भवासोतिदुःखदः
Having obtained a body such as a plant or similar, if by fortune he again attains human birth, there, the suffering of dwelling in the womb is exceedingly great.
ततः कर्मवशाज्जंतुर्यदि वा जायते भुवि । बाल्यादिबहुदोषेण पीडितो भवति द्विजाः
Then, by the force of karma, if a being is born on earth, he is afflicted, O twice-born, by the many faults of childhood and so on.
पुनर्यौवनमासाद्य दारिद्र्येण प्रपीड्यते । रोगेण गुरुणा वापि अनावृष्ट्यादिना तथा
Again, upon reaching youth, he is greatly afflicted by poverty, or by severe disease, or by drought and the like.
वार्द्धकेन लभेत्पीडामनिर्वाच्यामितस्ततः । मनसश्चलनाद्व्याधेस्ततो मरणमाप्नुयात्
In old age, he experiences unspeakable suffering, and due to the instability of the mind and disease, he then meets with death.
न तस्मादधिकं दुःखं संसारेप्यनुभूयते । ततः कर्म्मवशाज्जंतुर्यमलोके प्रपीड्यते
No greater suffering is experienced in saṃsāra than this; then, by the force of karma, the being is tormented in Yama's realm.
तत्रातियातनां भुक्त्वा पुनरेव प्रजायते । जायते म्रियते जंतु म्रियते जायते पुनः
There, having endured intense torment, he is born again; a being is born and dies, dies and is born again.
अनाराधित गोविंदचरणे त्वीदृशी दशा । अनायासेन मरणं विनायासेन जीवनम्
For one who has not worshipped Govinda's feet, such is the condition: death comes with effort, and life comes without ease.
अनाराधितगोविंदचरणस्य न जायते । धनं यदि भवेद्गेहे रक्षणात्तस्य किं फलम्
For one who has not worshipped Govinda's feet, wealth does not arise; and even if it is present in the house, what is the use of its protection?
यदासौ कृष्यते याम्यैर्दूतैः किं धनमन्वियात् । तस्माद्द्विजातिसत्कार्यं द्रविणं सर्वसौख्यदम्
When he is dragged away by Yama's messengers, what wealth will accompany him? Therefore, O twice-born, meritorious acts and wealth bring all happiness.