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.
परस्वं ब्राह्मणद्रव्यं पश्यंति विषवच्च ये । हरिनैवेद्यं येऽश्नन्ति विज्ञेया वैष्णवा जनाः
Those who regard another's wealth or a Brahmin's property as poison, and those who eat food offered to Hari, are to be known as Vaishnavas.
वेदशास्त्रानुरक्ता ये तुलसीवनपालकाः । राधाष्टमीव्रतरता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who are devoted to the Vedas and scriptures, who protect tulasi groves, and who are devoted to the vow of Radhashtami, are to be known as Vaishnavas.
श्रीकृष्णपुरतो ये च दीपं यच्छंति श्रद्धया । परनिंदां न कुर्वंति विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who, with faith, offer a lamp before Shri Krishna and do not engage in slander of others—know that they are Vaishnavas.
सूत उवाच- पृष्टो जैमिनिना व्यास इत्युक्तः स यथाक्रमम् । मयेदं कथ्यते ब्रह्मन्यत्प्रसंगाद्गुरोः श्रुतम्
Suta said: Questioned by Jaimini, Vyasa replied in due order; what I narrate here, I have heard from my teacher in connection with Brahman.
अध्यायं श्रद्धया युक्तं ये शृण्वंति नरोत्तमाः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता यांति विष्णोः परं पदम्
Those excellent people who listen to the chapter with faith become free from all sins and attain the supreme abode of Vishnu.
सूत उवाच- शृणु शौनक वक्ष्यामि चान्यधर्म्मं पुरातनम् । व्यासजैमिनिसंवादं श्रोतॄणां पापनाशनम्
Suta said: Listen, Shaunaka, I will speak of another ancient dharma—the dialogue between Vyasa and Jaimini, which destroys the sins of listeners.
जैमिनिरुवाच- कर्म्मणा हि गुरो केन मंदिरं जगतीपतेः । याति तत्कथयस्वाद्य नरः पापी च मे प्रभो
Jaimini said: By what action, O Guru, does a person, even a sinner, reach the temple of the Lord of the world? Please tell me this, O Master.
व्यास उवाच- श्रीकृष्णमंदिरे यो वै लेपनं कुरुते नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः श्रांतो याति हरेर्गृहम्
Vyasa said: Whoever applies plaster in the temple of Shri Krishna, freed from all sins and exhausted, reaches the house of Hari.
यश्चांबुलेपनं कुर्यात्संक्षेपाच्छृणु जैमिने । तस्यपुण्यमहं वच्मि मंदिरे जगतीपतेः
And whoever applies clay, listen briefly, O Jaimini; I will tell you the merit of such a person in the temple of the Lord of the world.
तत्र यावंति पश्यंति रजांसि च द्विजोत्तम । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि स वसेद्विष्णुमंदिरे
O best of twice-born, for as many dust particles as one sees there, so many thousands of aeons does he reside in Vishnu's temple.
पुरासीद्दंडको नाम्ना चौरो लोकभयप्रदः । ब्रह्मस्वहारी मित्रघ्नो युगे द्वापरसंज्ञके
Once, there was a thief named Dandaka, who terrified the world; he stole Brahmin property and killed friends in the era called Dvapara.
असत्यभाषी क्रूरश्च परस्त्रीगमने रतः । गोमांसाशी सुरापश्च पाखंडजनसंगभाक्
He spoke falsehoods, was cruel, indulged in relations with others' wives, ate beef, drank liquor, and associated with heretics.
वृत्तिच्छेदी द्विजातीनां न्यासापहारकस्तथा । शरणागतहंता च वेश्याविभ्रमलोलुपः
He disrupted the livelihood of Brahmins, stole deposits, killed those who sought refuge, and was infatuated with prostitutes.
एकदा स द्विजश्रेष्ठ कस्यचिद्विष्णुमंदिरम् । जगाम हरणार्थाय विष्णोर्द्रव्यं स मूढधीः
Once, O best of Brahmins, with a deluded mind, he went to a Vishnu temple intending to steal the property of Vishnu.
अथ द्वारि प्रविश्यासावंघ्रिः कर्द्दमसंयुतः । प्रोच्छितः सकलं निम्ने भूमौ देवगृहस्य च
Then, entering the door, his feet covered in mud, he scraped all the dirt from the floor of the divine house.
तेनैव कर्म्मणा भूमिर्निम्नरिक्ता बभूव ह । लोहस्य च शलाकाभ्यां मुद्घाट्यत्वररंमुदा
By that act, the ground became hollow and empty; with iron rods, he joyfully pried it open.
प्रविवेश हरेर्गेहं वितानवरशोभितम् । रत्नकांचनदीपाढ्यं परिध्वस्त महत्तमम्
He entered Hari's house, adorned with splendid canopies, filled with gems and golden lamps, and magnificently decorated.
नानापुष्पसुगंधाढ्यं नानापात्रसमाकुलम् । सुवासितस्य तैलस्य गंधेन परिपूरितम्
It was rich with the fragrance of various flowers, crowded with various vessels, and permeated by the scent of perfumed oil.
अनेनहारकेणाथ पर्य्यंके सुमनोहरे । शायितो राधया सार्द्धं दृष्टः पीतांबरोऽच्युतः
Then, the thief was seen lying on a most delightful couch with Radha, and Achyuta, clad in yellow garments, was present.
प्रणम्य राधिकानाथं निष्पापः सोऽभवत्तदा । नेष्याम्यथ न नेष्यामि अनेन किं भवेन्मम
Having bowed to the Lord of Radha, he became sinless at that moment; 'Shall I take or not take? What will come to me from this?'