सर्वेषां जगतामेव हरिरालोकहेतवे । तथैवांतःप्रकाशाय पुराणावयवो हरिः
So too, Hari, for the illumination of all worlds, abides in the Purana as its essence, for the inner illumination.
विचरेदिह भूतेषु पुराणं पावनं परम् । तस्माद्यदि हरेः प्रीतेरुत्पादे धीयते मतिः
The Purana, supreme and purifying, moves among beings here; therefore, if one’s mind is set on producing the delight of Hari—
श्रोतव्यमनिशं पुंभिः पुराणं कृष्णरूपिणम् । विष्णुभक्तेन शांतेन श्रोतव्यमपि दुर्लभम्
The Purana, which is of the form of Krishna, should be heard constantly by people; it is rare even for a peaceful devotee of Vishnu to hear.
पुराणाख्यानममलममलीकरणं परम् । यस्मिन्वेदार्थमाहृत्य हरिणा व्यासरूपिणा
The narration called Purana is supremely pure and purifying; in it, Hari, in the form of Vyasa, has gathered the meaning of the Vedas.
पुराणं निर्मितं विप्र तस्मात्तत्परमो भवेत् । पुराणे निश्चितो धर्मो धर्मश्च केशवः स्वयम्
O Brahmin, the Purana was thus composed; therefore, it is supreme. Righteousness is established in the Purana, and Dharma is Kesava himself.
तस्मात्कृते पुराणे हि श्रुते विष्णुर्भवेदिति । साक्षात्स्वयं हरिर्विप्रः पुराणं च तथाविधम्
Therefore, when the Purana is recited or heard, Vishnu is truly present; O Brahmin, Hari himself is directly present in such a Purana.
एतयोः संगमासाद्य हरिरेव भेवन्नरः । तथा गंगांबुसेकेन नाशयेत्किल्बिषं स्वकम्
By attaining the union of these two—Hari and the Purana—a person becomes Hari; just as by bathing in the waters of the Ganga, one destroys one’s own sins.
केशवो द्रवरूपेण पापात्तारयते महीम् । वैष्णवो विष्णुभजनस्याकांक्षी यदि वर्तते
Kesava, in liquid form, delivers the earth from sin; if a Vaishnava aspires for the worship of Vishnu—
गंगांबुसेकममलममलीकरणं चरेत् । विष्णुभक्तिप्रदा देवी गंगा भुवि च गीयते
He should perform the pure and supremely purifying bath in the waters of the Ganga; the goddess Ganga is praised on earth as bestowing devotion to Vishnu.
विष्णुरूपा हि सा गंगा लोकविस्तारकारिणी
Indeed, she, the Ganga, is of the form of Vishnu, causing the expansion of the worlds.
ब्राह्मणेषु पुराणेषु गंगायां गोषु पिप्पले । नारायणधिया पुंभिर्भक्तिः कार्या ह्यहैतुकी
Unmotivated devotion should be cultivated by men with minds fixed on Narayana, toward Brahmins, ancient scriptures, the Ganga, cows, and the sacred fig tree.
प्रत्यक्षविष्णुरूपा हि तत्वज्ञैर्निश्चिता अमी । तस्मात्सततमभ्यर्च्या विष्णुभक्त्यभिलाषिणा
These are determined by those who know the truth to be direct forms of Vishnu; therefore, they should always be worshipped by those desiring devotion to Vishnu.
विष्णौ भक्तिं विना नॄणां निष्फलं जन्म उच्यते । कलिकालपयोराशिं पापग्राहसमाकुलम्
Without devotion to Vishnu, a person's birth is said to be fruitless, as he is caught in the ocean of the Kali age, filled with the grip of sin.
विषयामज्जनावर्तं दुर्बोधफेनिलं परम् । महादुष्टजनव्याल महाभीमं भयानकम्
It is a whirlpool of immersion in sense objects, extremely difficult to comprehend, foaming with confusion, infested with great wicked people like serpents, terrifying and dreadful.
दुस्तरं च तरंत्येव हरिभक्तितरि स्थिताः । तस्माद्यतेत वै लोको विष्णुभक्तिप्रसाधने
Only those established in devotion to Hari cross this impassable ocean; therefore, people should strive for the attainment of devotion to Vishnu.
किं सुखं लभते जंतुरसद्वार्तावधारणे । हरेरद्भुतलीलस्य लीलाख्यानेन सज्जते
What happiness does a creature gain by holding onto false matters? He becomes attached by hearing the wondrous pastimes of Hari.
तद्विचित्रकथालोके नानाविषयमिश्रिताः । श्रोतव्या यदि वै नॄणां विषये सज्जते मनः
In the world of those marvelous stories, mixed with various topics, they should be heard if a person's mind is attached to sense objects.
निर्वाणे यदि वा चित्तं श्रोतव्या तदपि द्विजाः । हेलया श्रवणाच्चापि तस्य तुष्टो भवेद्धरिः
If the mind is inclined toward liberation, those stories should also be heard, O twice-born; even by hearing them carelessly, 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 foot, to be served by the mind, repeatedly practiced by the virtuous, should be taken as refuge for crossing the ocean of existence—the foot of Hari.
रे रे विषयसंलुब्धाः पामरा निष्ठुरा नराः । रौरवे हि किमात्मानमात्मना पातयिष्यथ
O you greedy for sense objects, wretched and harsh men, why do you cast yourselves into the hell called Raurava?
विना गोविंदसौम्यांघ्रिसेवनं मा गमिष्यति । अनायासेन दुःखानां तरणं यदि वांछथ
Without service to the gentle feet of Govinda, do not go; if you desire effortless crossing of suffering.
भजध्वं कृष्णचरणावपुनर्भवकारणे । कुत एवागतो मर्त्यः कुत एव पुनर्व्रजेत्
Worship the feet of Krishna, the cause of liberation from rebirth; from where did the mortal come, and where will he return again?
एतद्विचार्य मतिमानाश्रयेद्धर्मसंग्रहम् । नानानरकसंपातादुत्थितो यदि पूरुषः
Considering this, the wise should take up the collection of dharma, if a person has arisen from falling into various hells.
स्थावरादि तनुं लब्ध्वा यदि भाग्यवशात्पुनः । मानुष्यं लभते तत्र गर्भवासोतिदुःखदः
Having obtained a body such as a plant or other immobile being, if by fortune he again attains human birth, it brings great suffering in the womb.
ततः कर्मवशाज्जंतुर्यदि वा जायते भुवि । बाल्यादिबहुदोषेण पीडितो भवति द्विजाः
Then, if a creature is born on earth by the force of karma, he is afflicted by many faults such as childhood, O twice-born.
पुनर्यौवनमासाद्य दारिद्र्येण प्रपीड्यते । रोगेण गुरुणा वापि अनावृष्ट्यादिना तथा
Again, having reached youth, he is afflicted by poverty, or by severe disease, or by drought and other calamities.
वार्द्धकेन लभेत्पीडामनिर्वाच्यामितस्ततः । मनसश्चलनाद्व्याधेस्ततो मरणमाप्नुयात्
Through old age one suffers unspeakable pain; then, due to the mind's agitation, disease arises, and from that, death is attained.
न तस्मादधिकं दुःखं संसारेप्यनुभूयते । ततः कर्म्मवशाज्जंतुर्यमलोके प्रपीड्यते
No greater suffering is experienced in this world than that; thus, by the force of karma, the creature is tormented in Yama's realm.