दानं दाता प्रतिग्राही न स्मरेच्च न याचते । निरये चोभयोर्वासो यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ
The giver and the receiver of a gift should neither recall nor request it; both dwell in hell as long as the moon and sun endure.
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यानि वै द्विजसत्तम । तानि दानेन हन्यंते तस्माद्दानं समाचरेत्
O best of 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 Mahapurana, the section called Brahmakhanda concerning the mango tree begins. Salutation to the venerable Vyasa. Shaunaka said: O Suta, when the age of Kali arrives, by what action can living beings be uplifted? Therefore, tell me this before me.
सूत उवाच- साधुसाधु मुनिश्रेष्ठ पुण्यात्मनां वरो भवान् । सर्वेषां च जनानां च शुभवाञ्छो निरंतरम्
Suta said: Excellent, excellent, O best of sages! You are foremost among the virtuous, always wishing well for all people.
एतद्व्यासः पुरा विप्रः सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजितः । पृष्टो जैमिनिना तं स यदाह शृणु वैष्णव
O Vaishnava, long ago, the all-knowing and universally revered Vyasa was asked this by Jaimini; listen to what he said.
दंडवत्प्रणिपत्यासौ व्यासं सर्वार्थपारगम् । गुरुं सत्यवतीसूनुं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवः
Having bowed down in full prostration to Vyasa, master of all meanings, the eminent sage, son of Satyavati, was questioned by the foremost among sages.
जैमिनिरुवाच- कलौ नृणां भवेत्केन मोक्षो वै कथयस्व मे । अल्पेनापि च पुण्येन मर्त्याश्चाल्पायुषो यतः
Jaimini said: By what means can people attain liberation in the Kali age? Tell me, for mortals are short-lived and have little opportunity for merit.
व्यास उवाच- साधुसंगाद्भवेद्विप्र शास्त्राणां श्रवणं प्रभो । हरिभक्तिर्भवेत्तस्मात्ततो ज्ञानं ततो गतिः
Vyasa said: O Brahmin, from association with the good comes hearing of the scriptures, from that arises devotion to Hari, from that knowledge, and from knowledge, liberation.
न रोचते कथा भूमौ पापिष्ठाय जनाय वै । वैष्णवी स तु विज्ञेयः पापिष्ठप्रवरो द्विजः
The narration of divine stories does not appeal to the most sinful person on earth; know that such a one, though a Brahmin, is foremost among sinners.
श्रीकृष्णस्य कथां श्रुत्वाऽऽनंदी भवति वैष्णवः । असत्यां तां तु यो ब्रूयाज्ज्ञेयः स पापिनां गुरुः
A Vaishnava becomes joyful upon hearing the stories of Shri Krishna; but one who speaks them falsely should be known as the chief among sinners.
यस्मिन्यस्मिन्स्थले विप्र कृष्णस्य वर्तते कथा । तस्मात्तस्माज्जगन्नाथो याति त्यक्त्वा न कर्हिचित्
O Brahmin, wherever the story of Krishna is told, from that place the Lord of the universe never departs.
कृष्णस्य यः कथारंभे कुर्याद्विघ्नं नराधमः । नरकान्निष्कृतिर्नास्ति मन्वंतरशतावधि
The worst of men who causes an obstacle at the beginning of Krishna's story finds no release from hell for hundreds of ages of Manu.
ये पुराणकथां श्रुत्वा निंदंत्युपहसंति वै । तेषां करस्था नरका बहुक्लेशकराः सदा
Those who, having heard the stories of the Puranas, mock or ridicule them, always have hells in their hands, bringing much suffering.
जन्मांतरार्जितं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । श्रीकृष्णचरितं यो वै श्रोतुमिच्छां करोत्यपि
The sin accumulated over many births is destroyed instantly for one who even desires to hear the deeds of Shri Krishna.
भक्त्या यो वै नरः कुर्यात्श्रीकृष्णचरितं तथा । न जाने श्रवणे तस्य का गतिर्वा भविष्यति
I do not know what fate awaits the one who, with devotion, narrates or listens to the deeds of Shri Krishna.
ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं अकालमरणं तथा । सुरापानं तथास्तेयं सर्वं नश्यति पापिनः
Sins such as killing a Brahmin, untimely death, drinking liquor, and theft—all these are destroyed for the sinner.
पापं कृत्वा तु यो मर्त्यः पश्चात्पापं निवर्तयेत् । तस्य पापं व्रजेन्नाशमग्निना तूलराशिवत्
If a mortal, having committed sin, later turns away from it, his sin is destroyed like a heap of cotton by fire.
श्रीकृष्णचरितं विप्र तिष्ठेद्वै पुस्तकं गृहे । तस्य गृहसमीपं हि नायांति यमकिंकराः
O Brahmin, if a book containing the deeds of Shri Krishna remains in a house, the servants of Yama do not approach that dwelling.
जैमिनिरुवाच- वदंति वैष्णवान्कांश्च वांच्छा ब्रूहि गुरो मम । इदानीं तान्समाज्ञातुं तेषां माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Jaimini said: O revered teacher, please tell me which qualities the Vaiṣṇavas possess and what blessings they grant; I wish to know their supreme greatness now.
व्यास उवाच- यो नरो मस्तके भक्त्या वैष्णवांघ्रिजलं द्विज । करोति सेचनं पापी तीर्थस्नानेन तस्य किम्
Vyāsa said: O twice-born, if a man with devotion pours the water that has washed a Vaiṣṇava’s feet upon his head, what need has he for bathing in holy rivers to remove sin?
साधुसंगं तु यः कुर्य्यात्क्षणं वार्द्धक्षणं द्विज । तस्य नश्यंति पापानि ब्रह्महत्यामुखानि च
O twice-born, whoever associates with the virtuous, even for a moment or half a moment, his sins—including the gravest, like killing a Brāhmaṇa—are destroyed.
यत्रयत्र कुले चैव एको भवति वैष्णवः । कुलं तस्य यदा पापैर्युक्तं तन्मोक्षगामि वै
Wherever, in whatever family, even a single Vaiṣṇava is found, that family, though burdened with sins, surely attains liberation.
हिंसादंभकामक्रोधैर्वर्जिताश्चैव ये नराः । लोभमोहपरित्यक्ता ज्ञेयास्ते वैष्णवा द्विज
O twice-born, those men who are free from violence, hypocrisy, desire, and anger, and who have abandoned greed and delusion, should be known as Vaiṣṇavas.
पितृभक्ता दयायुक्ताः सर्वप्राणिहिते रताः । अमत्सरा वैष्णवा ये विज्ञेयाः सत्यभाषिणः
Those who are devoted to their ancestors, filled with compassion, intent on the welfare of all beings, free from envy, and truthful in speech—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
विप्रभक्तिरता ये च परस्त्रीषु नपुंसकाः । एकादशीव्रतरता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who delight in devotion to Brāhmaṇas, are indifferent to other men’s wives, and are steadfast in observing the Ekādaśī fast—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
गायंति हरिनामानि तुलसीमाल्यधारकाः । हर्यंघ्रिसलिलैः सिक्ता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who sing the names of Hari, wear garlands of tulasī, and are sprinkled with water that has washed the feet of Hari—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
श्रोत्रयोर्मस्तके येषां तुलस्याः पर्णमुत्तमम् । कर्हिचिद्दृश्यते विप्र विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
O Brāhmaṇa, those in whose ears or upon whose heads the excellent leaf of tulasī is ever seen—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
पाखंडसंगरहिता विप्रद्वेषविवर्जिताः । सिंचेयुस्तुलसीं ये च ज्ञातव्या वैष्णवा नराः
Those who avoid the company of heretics and are free from hatred of Brāhmaṇas, and who water the tulasī plant—such men should be known as Vaiṣṇavas.
पूजयंति हरिं ये च तुलस्या चार्चयंति ये । कन्यादानरता ये च ये वै ह्यतिथिपूजकाः
Those who worship Hari, who also worship with tulasī, 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 Viṣṇu, and in whose house the śālagrāma stone is firmly established—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.