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.
तत्रातियातनां भुक्त्वा पुनरेव प्रजायते । जायते म्रियते जंतु म्रियते जायते पुनः
There, having endured extreme torment, one is born again; the creature is born and dies, dies and is born again.
अनाराधित गोविंदचरणे त्वीदृशी दशा । अनायासेन मरणं विनायासेन जीवनम्
Without worshipping Govinda's feet, such a condition arises: effortless death, and life full of toil.
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 home, what benefit is there in its protection?
यदासौ कृष्यते याम्यैर्दूतैः किं धनमन्वियात् । तस्माद्द्विजातिसत्कार्यं द्रविणं सर्वसौख्यदम्
When he is seized by Yama's messengers, what use is wealth then? Therefore, the wealth spent on honoring the twice-born brings all happiness.
दानं स्वर्गस्य सोपानं दानं किल्बिषनाशनम् । गोविंदभक्तिभजनं महापुण्यविवर्द्धनम्
Charity is the stairway to heaven; charity destroys sin; devotion and worship of Govinda greatly increase merit.
बलं यदि भवेन्मर्त्ये न वृथा तद्व्ययं चरेत् । हरेरग्रे नृत्यगीतं कुर्यादेवमतंद्रितः
If strength exists in a mortal, let him not waste it in vain; he should, with diligence, dance and sing before Hari.
यत्किंचिद्विद्यते पुंसां तच्च कृष्णे समर्पयेत् । कृष्णार्पितं कुशलदमन्यार्पितमसौख्यदम्
Whatever exists for a person, let him offer it to Krishna; what is offered to Krishna brings well-being, what is offered elsewhere brings no happiness.
चक्षुर्भ्यां श्रीहरेरेव प्रतिमादिनिरूपणम् । श्रोत्राभ्यां कलयेत्कृष्ण गुणनामान्यहर्निशम्
With the eyes, one should contemplate the image of Shri Hari; with the ears, one should constantly listen to Krishna's qualities and names.
जिह्वया हरिपादांबु स्वादितव्यं विचक्षणैः । घ्राणेनाघ्राय गोविंदपादाब्जतुलसीदलम्
With the tongue, the wise should taste the water from Hari's feet; with the nose, smell the tulasi leaf from Govinda's lotus feet.
त्वचा स्पृष्ट्वा हरेर्भक्तं मनसाध्याय तत्पदम् । कृतार्थो जायते जंतुर्नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Touching Hari's devotee with the skin, and meditating on His feet with the mind, the creature becomes fulfilled; there is no need for further inquiry.