एष देवो महादेवः केवलः परमं शिवः । तदेवाक्षरमद्वैतं तदा नित्यं परं पदम्
This god, the great god, is alone the highest Śiva; that alone is the imperishable nondual, that eternal supreme abode.
तस्मान्महीयते देवे स्वधाम्नि ज्ञानसंज्ञिते । आत्मयोगात्परे तत्वे महादेवस्ततः स्मृतः
Therefore, the god is exalted in his own abode, known as knowledge; through union with the self in the highest truth, he is called Mahādeva.
नान्यं देवं महादेवाद्व्यतिरिक्तं प्रपश्यति । तमेवात्मानमन्वेति यः स याति परं पदम्
He sees no other god apart from Mahādeva; whoever follows him as the self attains the supreme abode.
मन्यंते ये स्वमात्मानं विभिन्नं परमेश्वरात् । न ते पश्यंति तं देवं वृथा तेषां परिश्रमः
Those who consider their own self as separate from the Supreme Lord do not see that god; their effort is in vain.
एकमेव परं ब्रह्म विज्ञेयं तत्त्वमव्ययम् । स देवस्तु महादेवो नैतद्विज्ञाय बध्यते
The one supreme Brahman, the imperishable truth, is to be known; that god is Mahādeva—without knowing this, one remains bound.
तस्माद्यतेत नियतं यतिः संयतमानसः । ज्ञानयोगरतः शांतो महादेवपरायणः
Therefore, the ascetic should strive constantly, with a controlled mind, devoted to knowledge and yoga, peaceful, and dedicated to Mahādeva.
एष वः कथितो विप्रा यतीनामाश्रमः शुभः । पितामहेन मुनिना विभुना पूर्वमीरितः
This auspicious discipline for ascetics has been told to you, O Brāhmaṇas, as previously spoken by the venerable ancestor and sage.
नापुत्रशिष्ययोगिभ्यो दद्यादेवमनुत्तमम् । ज्ञानं स्वयंभुवा प्रोक्तं यतिधर्म्माश्रयं शिवम्
One should not impart this supreme god, the dharma of ascetics, and the teaching of knowledge spoken by the self-born, to sons, disciples, or yogis.
इति यतिनियमानामेतदुक्तं विधानं सुरवरपरितोषे यद्भवेदेकहेतुः । न भवति पुनरेषामुद्भवो वा विनाशः प्रतिहितमनसो ये नित्यमेवाचरंति
Thus has the prescribed procedure for ascetics been stated, which is the sole cause for pleasing the best of gods. For those whose minds are steadfast, neither birth nor destruction occurs again; they always practice this.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे षष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixtieth chapter in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ता पुरा विप्रा व्यासेनामिततेजसा । एतावदुक्त्वा भगवान्व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
Sūta said: In ancient times, the sages were addressed by Vyāsa, whose brilliance is immeasurable. Having spoken thus, the blessed Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī,
समाश्वास्य मुनीन्सर्वान्जगाम च यथागतम् । भवद्भ्यस्तु मया प्रोक्तं वर्णाश्रमविधानकम्
Having reassured all the sages, departed as he had come. The regulations of varna and ashrama have been explained to you by me.
एवं कृत्वा प्रियो विष्णोर्भवत्येव न चान्यथा । रहस्यं तत्र वक्ष्यामि शृणुत द्विजसत्तमाः
By acting thus, one becomes dear to Viṣṇu, and not otherwise. I will now speak the secret; listen, O best of twice-born.
ये चात्र कथिता धर्मा वर्णाश्रमनिबंधनाः । हरिभक्तिकलांशांश समाना न हि ते द्विजाः
The dharmas mentioned here, bound to varna and ashrama, are not equal to the portions of devotion to Hari; O twice-born, they are not the same.
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, dharmas must indeed be practiced by men.
कलौ नारायणं देवं यजते यः स धर्म्मभाक् । दामोदरं हृषीकेशं पुरुहूतं सनातनम्
In Kali, whoever worships the god Nārāyaṇa is a possessor of dharma: Dāmodara, Hṛṣīkeśa, Puruhūta, the eternal one.
हृदि कृत्वा परं शांतं जितमेव जगत्त्रयम् । कलिकालोरगादंशात्किल्बिषात्कालकूटतः
Having placed the supreme, tranquil Lord in the heart, and conquering the three worlds, one is protected from the poison of Kali, from sin, and from the deadly venom.
हरिभक्तिसुधां पीत्वा उल्लंघ्यो भवति द्विजः । किं जपैः श्रीहरेर्नाम गृहीतं यदि मानुषैः
Having drunk the nectar of devotion to Hari, the twice-born transcends. What need is there for recitations, if the name of Śrī Hari is taken by men?
किं स्नानैर्विष्णुपादांबु मस्तके येन धार्यते । किं यज्ञेन हरेः पादपद्मं येन धृतं हृदि
What need is there for bathing, if the water from Viṣṇu's feet is borne upon the head? What need is there for sacrifice, if Hari's lotus feet are held in the heart?
किं दानेन हरेः कर्म सभायां वै प्रकाशितम् । हरेर्गुणगणान्श्रुत्वा यः प्रहृष्येत्पुनः पुनः
What need is there for charity, if the actions of Hari are made manifest in the assembly? Whoever, hearing the multitude of Hari's virtues, rejoices again and again—
समाधिना प्रहृष्टस्य सा गतिः कृष्णचेतसः । तत्र विघ्नकराः प्रोक्ताः पाखंडालापपेशलाः
For one whose mind is delighted in samādhi, that is the path for one whose heart is fixed on Kṛṣṇa. There, those who cause obstacles are called imposters and clever deceivers.
नार्यस्तत्संगिनश्चापि हरिभक्तिविघातकाः । नारीणां नयनादेशः सुराणामपि दुर्जयः
Women and their associates are also obstructers of devotion to Hari. The glance of women is difficult to overcome, even for the gods.
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, being eager for the conduct of women.
हरिभक्तिः कुतः पुंसां नारीभक्तिजुषां द्विजाः । राक्षस्यः कामिनीवेषाश्चरंति जगति द्विजाः । नराणां बुद्धिकवलं कुर्वंति सततं हिताः
How can there be devotion to Hari among men who indulge in devotion to women, O twice-born? Demonesses, adorned as desirous women, roam the world, O twice-born, always seizing the intellect of men for their own benefit.
तावद्विद्या प्रभवति तावज्ज्ञानं प्रवर्तते । तावत्सुनिर्मला मेधा सर्वशास्त्रविधारिणी
Knowledge flourishes only so long, wisdom is active only so long, and pure intelligence, which upholds all scriptures, remains only so long—
तावज्जपस्तपस्तावत्तावतीर्थनिषेवणम् । तावच्च गुरुशुश्रूषा तावद्धि तरणे मतिः
Recitation, austerity, pilgrimage, service to the guru, and the resolve to cross over—these endure only so long.
तावत्प्रबोधो भवति विवेकस्तावदेव हि । तावत्सतां संगरुचिस्तावत्पौराणलालसा
Awakening lasts only so long, discernment only so long; only so long does one delight in the company of the virtuous, only so long does one long for the Purāṇas.
यावत्सीमंतिनी लोलनयनांदोलनं नहि । जनोपरि पतेद्विप्राः सर्वधर्मविलोपनम्
O Brāhmaṇas, as long as the restless glancing of women does not fall upon people, there is no destruction of all dharmas among men.
तत्र ये हरिपादाब्जमधुलेशप्रसादिताः । तेषां न नारीलोलाक्षिक्षेपणं हि प्रभुर्भवेत्
Those who are graced by the honey-lord of Hari's lotus feet—upon them, the casting of women's restless eyes has no power.
जन्मजन्म हृषीकेश सेवनं यैः कृतं द्विजाः । द्विजे दत्तं हुतं वह्नौ विरतिस्तत्र तत्र हि
O twice-born, those who have served Hṛṣīkeśa birth after birth, who have given to Brāhmaṇas, offered oblations into fire, and practiced detachment here and there—