ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यानि वै द्विजसत्तम । तानि दानेन हन्यंते तस्माद्दानं समाचरेत्
O best of the twice-born, sins such as killing a Brahmin and others are destroyed by giving; therefore, one should practice charity.
अथ श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे चुतर्थं ब्रह्मखण्डं प्रारभ्यते श्रीवेदव्यासाय नमः शौनक उवाच- कलौ समागते सूत प्राणिनां केन कर्मणा । उद्धारो वै भवेत्तस्मात्कथयस्व ममाग्रतः
Now, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, the section called Brahmakhaṇḍa, concerning the mango tree, is begun.
सूत उवाच- साधुसाधु मुनिश्रेष्ठ पुण्यात्मनां वरो भवान् । सर्वेषां च जनानां च शुभवाञ्छो निरंतरम्
Obeisance to the venerable Vyāsa. Śaunaka said: When the age of Kali arrives, by what action can living beings be uplifted? Therefore, tell me this before me.
एतद्व्यासः पुरा विप्रः सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजितः । पृष्टो जैमिनिना तं स यदाह शृणु वैष्णव
Sūta said: Excellent, excellent, O best of sages, you are foremost among the virtuous, and you constantly wish for the welfare of all people.
दंडवत्प्रणिपत्यासौ व्यासं सर्वार्थपारगम् । गुरुं सत्यवतीसूनुं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवः
This was formerly asked by Jaimini to Vyāsa, the all-knowing and universally honored sage; listen, O Vaiṣṇava, to what he replied.
जैमिनिरुवाच- कलौ नृणां भवेत्केन मोक्षो वै कथयस्व मे । अल्पेनापि च पुण्येन मर्त्याश्चाल्पायुषो यतः
Having bowed down in reverence to Vyāsa, master of all meanings and son of Satyavatī, the eminent sage questioned his guru.
व्यास उवाच- साधुसंगाद्भवेद्विप्र शास्त्राणां श्रवणं प्रभो । हरिभक्तिर्भवेत्तस्मात्ततो ज्ञानं ततो गतिः
Jaimini said: By what means can people attain liberation in the age of Kali? Tell me, since mortals are short-lived and possess little merit.
न रोचते कथा भूमौ पापिष्ठाय जनाय वै । वैष्णवी स तु विज्ञेयः पापिष्ठप्रवरो द्विजः
Vyāsa said: O Brāhmaṇa, from association with the good comes listening to scripture, from that arises devotion to Hari, from that comes knowledge, and from knowledge, liberation.
श्रीकृष्णस्य कथां श्रुत्वाऽऽनंदी भवति वैष्णवः । असत्यां तां तु यो ब्रूयाज्ज्ञेयः स पापिनां गुरुः
The narration of sacred stories does not please a wicked person on earth; know that such a person, O twice-born, is the foremost among sinners.
यस्मिन्यस्मिन्स्थले विप्र कृष्णस्य वर्तते कथा । तस्मात्तस्माज्जगन्नाथो याति त्यक्त्वा न कर्हिचित्
A Vaiṣṇava becomes joyful upon hearing the stories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; but one who speaks falsely about them should be known as the chief among sinners.
कृष्णस्य यः कथारंभे कुर्याद्विघ्नं नराधमः । नरकान्निष्कृतिर्नास्ति मन्वंतरशतावधि
O Brāhmaṇa, wherever the story of Kṛṣṇa is told, the Lord of the universe never departs from that place.
ये पुराणकथां श्रुत्वा निंदंत्युपहसंति वै । तेषां करस्था नरका बहुक्लेशकराः सदा
He who, at the beginning of Kṛṣṇa's story, causes an obstacle, O lowest of men, finds no release from hell for hundreds of manvantaras.
जन्मांतरार्जितं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । श्रीकृष्णचरितं यो वै श्रोतुमिच्छां करोत्यपि
Those who, having heard the Purāṇic stories, mock or ridicule them, always have hells in their hands, bringing much suffering.
भक्त्या यो वै नरः कुर्यात्श्रीकृष्णचरितं तथा । न जाने श्रवणे तस्य का गतिर्वा भविष्यति
The sin accumulated over many births is destroyed instantly for one who even desires to hear the deeds of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं अकालमरणं तथा । सुरापानं तथास्तेयं सर्वं नश्यति पापिनः
I do not know what fate awaits the one who, with devotion, narrates the deeds of Śrī Kṛṣṇa or listens to them.
पापं कृत्वा तु यो मर्त्यः पश्चात्पापं निवर्तयेत् । तस्य पापं व्रजेन्नाशमग्निना तूलराशिवत्
If a mortal commits sin but later renounces it, his sin perishes like a heap of cotton consumed by fire.
श्रीकृष्णचरितं विप्र तिष्ठेद्वै पुस्तकं गृहे । तस्य गृहसमीपं हि नायांति यमकिंकराः
O Brahmin, if a book containing the deeds of Shri Krishna is kept in the house, the servants of Yama do not approach that household.
जैमिनिरुवाच- वदंति वैष्णवान्कांश्च वांच्छा ब्रूहि गुरो मम । इदानीं तान्समाज्ञातुं तेषां माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Jaimini said: Tell me, O teacher, about the Vaishnavas whom you praise; I wish to know their supreme greatness now.
व्यास उवाच- यो नरो मस्तके भक्त्या वैष्णवांघ्रिजलं द्विज । करोति सेचनं पापी तीर्थस्नानेन तस्य किम्
Vyasa said: O Brahmin, if a man with devotion sprinkles water from the feet of Vaishnavas on his head, what need has he for bathing at holy places?
साधुसंगं तु यः कुर्य्यात्क्षणं वार्द्धक्षणं द्विज । तस्य नश्यंति पापानि ब्रह्महत्यामुखानि च
O Brahmin, whoever associates with the virtuous even for a moment or half a moment, his sins, including Brahmin-killing, are destroyed.
यत्रयत्र कुले चैव एको भवति वैष्णवः । कुलं तस्य यदा पापैर्युक्तं तन्मोक्षगामि वै
Wherever, in any family, there is even one Vaishnava, if that family is burdened with sin, it attains liberation.
हिंसादंभकामक्रोधैर्वर्जिताश्चैव ये नराः । लोभमोहपरित्यक्ता ज्ञेयास्ते वैष्णवा द्विज
O Brahmin, those men who are free from violence, deceit, desire, and anger, and who have abandoned greed and delusion, are to be known as Vaishnavas.
पितृभक्ता दयायुक्ताः सर्वप्राणिहिते रताः । अमत्सरा वैष्णवा ये विज्ञेयाः सत्यभाषिणः
Those who are devoted to their fathers, endowed with compassion, engaged in the welfare of all beings, free from envy, and truthful in speech are to be known as Vaishnavas.
विप्रभक्तिरता ये च परस्त्रीषु नपुंसकाः । एकादशीव्रतरता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who are devoted to Brahmins, abstain from other women, and are devoted to the vow of Ekadashi, are to be known as Vaishnavas.
गायंति हरिनामानि तुलसीमाल्यधारकाः । हर्यंघ्रिसलिलैः सिक्ता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who sing the names of Hari, wear garlands of tulasi, and are sprinkled with water from Hari's feet, are to be known as Vaishnavas.
श्रोत्रयोर्मस्तके येषां तुलस्याः पर्णमुत्तमम् । कर्हिचिद्दृश्यते विप्र विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
O Brahmin, those in whose ears or on whose heads the excellent leaf of tulasi is ever seen are to be known as Vaishnavas.
पाखंडसंगरहिता विप्रद्वेषविवर्जिताः । सिंचेयुस्तुलसीं ये च ज्ञातव्या वैष्णवा नराः
Those who avoid association with heretics and do not hate Brahmins, and who sprinkle tulasi, are to be known as Vaishnavas.
पूजयंति हरिं ये च तुलस्या चार्चयंति ये । कन्यादानरता ये च ये वै ह्यतिथिपूजकाः
Those who worship Hari, who worship with tulasi, who are devoted to giving daughters in marriage, and who honor guests—
शृण्वंति विष्णुचरितं विज्ञेया वैष्णवा नराः । यस्य गृहे सुप्रतिष्ठेत्शालग्रामशिलापि च
Those men who listen to the deeds of Vishnu are to be known as Vaishnavas; and in whose house the Shalagrama stone is well established.
मार्जयंति हरेः स्थानं पितृयज्ञप्रवर्तकाः । जने दीने दयायुक्ता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who clean Hari's place, perform ancestral sacrifices, and are compassionate to the poor, are to be known as Vaishnavas.