माहात्म्यं कथितं ब्रह्मन्तुलस्याः पापनाशनम् । कुर्वंति सेवां ये भक्त्या न जाने किं भवेन्मुने
O Brahman, the greatness of Tulasi, which destroys sin, has been described. Those who serve her with devotion—I do not know what they might become, O sage.
शौनक उवाच। कथयस्व मुने सूत माहात्म्यं कलुषक्षयम् । शेषपंचदिनस्यापि कार्त्तिकस्यानुकंपया
Śaunaka said: O sage Sūta, tell us the greatness that removes impurity, out of compassion, even of the last five days of Kārtika.
सूत उवाच। शृणु शौनक यत्पृष्टं माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । वक्ष्याम्यहं वै चोर्जस्य शेषपंचदिनस्य च
Sūta said: Hear, O Śaunaka, the greatness that destroys sin, which you have asked about. I will indeed speak of the merit of the last five days.
व्रतानां मुनिशार्दूल प्रवरं विष्णुपंचकम् । तस्मिन्यः पूजयेद्भक्त्या श्रीहरिं राधया सह
Among vows, O best of sages, the foremost is the Viṣṇu-pañcaka. Whoever worships Śrī Hari together with Rādhā with devotion during that time—
गंधपुष्पैर्धूपदीपैर्वस्त्रैर्नानाविधैः फलैः । स याति विष्णुसदनं सर्वपापविवर्जितः
With fragrances, flowers, incense, lamps, garments, and various kinds of fruits—he goes to the abode of Viṣṇu, free from all sin.
ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वा वानप्रस्थोऽथवा यतिः । न प्राप्नोति परं स्थानमकृत्वा विष्णुपंचकम्
Whether celibate, householder, forest-dweller, or renunciant—none attains the supreme state without performing the Viṣṇu-pañcaka.
सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं विख्यातं विष्णुपंचकम् । तत्र स्नानं तु यः कुर्यात्सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्
The Viṣṇu-pañcaka is renowned as holy and remover of all sin. Whoever bathes there obtains the fruit of all sacred waters.
श्रीहरेः पुरतो विप्र तुलस्याश्च समीपतः । प्रदीपं सर्पिषा पूर्णं दद्याद्यो भक्तिभावतः
Whoever, with devotion, offers a lamp filled with ghee before Śrī Hari and near Tulasi—
नभसि श्रीहरेः प्रीत्यै याति स विष्णुमंदिरम् । पापी याति हरेर्धाम सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
For the pleasure of Śrī Hari in the heavens, he goes to the abode of Viṣṇu. Even a sinner goes to the realm of Hari—this I declare to be true.
स्नापयेच्चाच्युतं भक्त्या मधुक्षीरघृतादिभिः । दद्यात्किं नो हरिः प्रीतस्तस्मै साधुजनाय वै
If one bathes Acyuta with devotion, with honey, milk, ghee, and the like, what would Hari, pleased, not give to such a virtuous person?
नैवेद्यं देवदेवेशं परमान्नं निवेदयेत् । तस्य पुण्यं प्रसंख्यातुं न शक्तो वै चतुर्मुखः
Let him offer the best food as an offering to the Lord of gods. Even Four-faced Brahmā is not able to count the merit of that act.
अर्चयित्वा हृषीकेशमेकादश्यां समाहितः । निष्प्राप्य गोमयं सम्यक्मंत्रवत्समुपासते
Having worshipped Hṛṣīkeśa with concentration on Ekādaśī, even if he does not obtain cow-dung, he should worship properly with mantras.
गोमूत्रं मंत्रवद्भूयो द्वादश्यां प्राशयेद्व्रती । क्षीरं तथा त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां तथा दधि
On Dvādaśī, the observer of the vow should again drink cow urine with mantras; on Trayodaśī, milk; and on Caturdaśī, curd.
संप्राप्य पापशुद्ध्यर्थं लंघयित्वा चतुर्दिनम् । पंचमे तु दिने स्नात्वा विधिवत्पूज्य केशवम्
Thus, for the sake of purifying sin, having fasted for four days, on the fifth day, after bathing and duly worshipping Keśava—
भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् । ततो नक्तं समश्नीयात्पंचगव्यं सुमंत्रितम्
He should feed brāhmaṇas with devotion and give them gifts; then, at night, he should eat pañcagavya, well sanctified with mantras.
एवं कर्तुमशक्तो यः फलमूलं च भोजनम् । कुर्याद्धविष्यं वा विप्र यथोक्तविधिना ह वै
If one is unable to do this, O brāhmaṇa, he may eat fruits and roots, or cooked sacrificial food, according to the prescribed rule.
श्रीहरेः पंचकं विप्र कुर्याद्यस्तुलसीदलैः । पूजयेत्तं स विज्ञेयः स्वयं नारायणः प्रभुः
O brāhmaṇa, whoever performs the Viṣṇu-pañcaka with Tulasi leaves, worshipping him, should be known as Nārāyaṇa himself, the Lord.
पुरा त्रेतायुगे शूद्रो दस्युवृत्तिपरायणः । नाम्ना दंडकरो नित्यं धर्मनिंदां करोति यः
Long ago, in the Tretā age, there was a Śūdra named Daṇḍakara, always intent on wicked deeds, who constantly reviled dharma.
असत्यभाषी मित्रघ्नो वेश्याविभ्रम लोलुपः । ब्रह्मस्वहारी क्रूरश्च परस्त्रीगमने रतः
One who speaks falsehood, betrays friends, is restless with prostitutes, steals sacred property, is cruel, and delights in intercourse with another's wife.
शरणागतहंता च पाखंडजनसंगभाक् । गोमांसाशी सुरापश्च परनिंदाकरः सदा
One who kills those seeking refuge, associates with heretics, eats beef, drinks liquor, and always engages in slandering others.
विश्वासघाती ज्ञातीनां वृत्तिच्छेदी द्विजोत्तम । दुष्टं सर्वे समालोक्य तादृशं तद्गृहे द्विजः
One who betrays trust, deprives relatives of their livelihood, O best of twice-born, all seeing such wickedness in that person’s house.
आगता ज्ञातयः क्रुद्धास्तस्य पापपरायणम् । ज्ञातय ऊचुः। रे रे मूढ दुराचार विनाशं प्रतिनीयते । या प्रतिष्ठार्जिता पूर्वैरस्माकं निर्मलेऽन्वये
Relatives arrived, angry at his devotion to sin; the relatives said: 'Hey, foolish one of evil conduct, destruction is brought upon the pure lineage established by our ancestors.'
इति क्रुद्धा द्विजश्रेष्ठ अपकीर्तिभयादपि । पापिनां प्रवरं सर्वे तत्यजुस्तं कुलादरम्
Thus, angered, O best of Brahmins, out of fear of disgrace, all abandoned that foremost sinner, the disgrace of the family.
ततो गतो महारण्यं विनष्टाखिल वैभवः । कुर्यात्स दस्युभिः सार्द्धं दस्युकर्म निरंतरम्
Then he went to the great forest, all his wealth destroyed; he continually performed the deeds of bandits together with them.
पथि प्रगच्छतां तेषां भयाद्विप्र न खादितुम् । प्राप्तं किंचित्क्षुधार्त्तास्ते गताश्चान्य स्थलं प्रति
While traveling on the road, out of fear, O Brahmin, they could not eat anything; hungry, they went to another place.
तत्र प्रविष्टास्ते सर्वे दृष्ट्वा पुण्यजनान्बहून् । धात्रीमूले स्थितान्ब्रह्मन्वैष्णवान्द्विजसत्तमान्
There, entering, they all saw many virtuous people, Brahmins and Vaishnavas, standing at the base of a fig tree.
सर्वे ते दस्यवो विप्र गता दंडकरोऽपि सः । तेषां परिसरं गत्वा प्रणामं वै चकार ह
All those bandits, O Brahmin, went there, including Dandaka; approaching their vicinity, he made obeisance.
दंडकर उवाच। क्षुधार्तोऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्राणा यास्यंति मे ध्रुवम् । ददध्वं खादितुं किंचिद्युष्माकं शरणं गतः
Dandaka said: 'I am hungry, O best of Brahmins; surely my life will depart. Give me something to eat, I have come to you for refuge.'
आकर्ण्य वचनं तस्य चोचुस्ते धर्मतत्पराः । सर्वपापहरे त्वं च विख्याते विष्णुपंचके
Hearing his words, those devoted to dharma replied: 'You are renowned as the remover of all sins in the Vishnu Panchaka.'
कथमन्नं खादितुं ते वांछा त्वद्य हरेर्दिने । विशेषं ते ब्रूहि संज्ञा काते भवति सांप्रतम्
How do you desire to eat food today, on the day of Hari? Tell us specifically, what is your current identity?