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.
मार्जयंति हरेः स्थानं पितृयज्ञप्रवर्तकाः । जने दीने दयायुक्ता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who clean the place of Hari, who perform ancestral rites, and who are compassionate to the poor—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
परस्वं ब्राह्मणद्रव्यं पश्यंति विषवच्च ये । हरिनैवेद्यं येऽश्नन्ति विज्ञेया वैष्णवा जनाः
Those who regard the wealth of others and the property of Brāhmaṇas as poison, and who eat only food offered to Hari—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
वेदशास्त्रानुरक्ता ये तुलसीवनपालकाः । राधाष्टमीव्रतरता विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who are devoted to the Vedas and scriptures, who care for tulasī groves, and who are steadfast in the vow of Rādhāṣṭamī—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
श्रीकृष्णपुरतो ये च दीपं यच्छंति श्रद्धया । परनिंदां न कुर्वंति विज्ञेयास्ते च वैष्णवाः
Those who faithfully offer a lamp before Śrī Kṛṣṇa and do not speak ill of others—know them as Vaiṣṇavas.
सूत उवाच- पृष्टो जैमिनिना व्यास इत्युक्तः स यथाक्रमम् । मयेदं कथ्यते ब्रह्मन्यत्प्रसंगाद्गुरोः श्रुतम्
Sūta said: Thus, when questioned by Jaimini, Vyāsa replied in order; what I have told you, O Brāhmaṇas, is what I heard from my teacher on this very topic.
अध्यायं श्रद्धया युक्तं ये शृण्वंति नरोत्तमाः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता यांति विष्णोः परं पदम्
Those noble men who listen with faith to this chapter become freed from all sins and attain the supreme abode of Viṣṇu.
सूत उवाच- शृणु शौनक वक्ष्यामि चान्यधर्म्मं पुरातनम् । व्यासजैमिनिसंवादं श्रोतॄणां पापनाशनम्
Sūta said: O Śaunaka, listen as I recount another ancient duty—the dialogue between Vyāsa and Jaimini, which destroys the sins of those who hear it.
जैमिनिरुवाच- कर्म्मणा हि गुरो केन मंदिरं जगतीपतेः । याति तत्कथयस्वाद्य नरः पापी च मे प्रभो
Jaimini said: By what action, O revered teacher, does even a sinful person attain the temple of the Lord of the world? Please tell me this today, O master.
व्यास उवाच- श्रीकृष्णमंदिरे यो वै लेपनं कुरुते नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः श्रांतो याति हरेर्गृहम्
Vyāsa said: Whoever applies plaster to the temple of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, that person, freed from all sins, wearily reaches the abode 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 one in the temple of the Lord of the world.
तत्र यावंति पश्यंति रजांसि च द्विजोत्तम । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि स वसेद्विष्णुमंदिरे
For as many specks of dust as are seen there, O best of twice-born, for that many thousands of aeons he dwells in Viṣṇu’s temple.
पुरासीद्दंडको नाम्ना चौरो लोकभयप्रदः । ब्रह्मस्वहारी मित्रघ्नो युगे द्वापरसंज्ञके
Long ago there was a thief named Daṇḍaka, who terrified the world—he stole Brahmins’ wealth, killed friends, and lived in the age called Dvāpara.
असत्यभाषी क्रूरश्च परस्त्रीगमने रतः । गोमांसाशी सुरापश्च पाखंडजनसंगभाक्
He was a liar, cruel, addicted to other men’s wives, ate beef, drank liquor, and kept company with heretics.
वृत्तिच्छेदी द्विजातीनां न्यासापहारकस्तथा । शरणागतहंता च वेश्याविभ्रमलोलुपः
He deprived twice-born men of their livelihood, stole sacred 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, that foolish-minded man went to a Viṣṇu temple, intending to steal the property of Viṣṇu.
अथ द्वारि प्रविश्यासावंघ्रिः कर्द्दमसंयुतः । प्रोच्छितः सकलं निम्ने भूमौ देवगृहस्य च
Then, entering the doorway, his feet covered in mud, he slipped and fell completely into a hollow on the floor of the divine house.
तेनैव कर्म्मणा भूमिर्निम्नरिक्ता बभूव ह । लोहस्य च शलाकाभ्यां मुद्घाट्यत्वररंमुदा
By that very act, the ground became hollowed out, and with two iron rods he joyfully pried open the lock.
प्रविवेश हरेर्गेहं वितानवरशोभितम् । रत्नकांचनदीपाढ्यं परिध्वस्त महत्तमम्
He entered Hari’s house, adorned with splendid canopies, filled with lamps of jewels and gold, and magnificently decorated.
नानापुष्पसुगंधाढ्यं नानापात्रसमाकुलम् । सुवासितस्य तैलस्य गंधेन परिपूरितम्
It was filled with the fragrance of many flowers, crowded with various vessels, and suffused with the scent of perfumed oil.
अनेनहारकेणाथ पर्य्यंके सुमनोहरे । शायितो राधया सार्द्धं दृष्टः पीतांबरोऽच्युतः
There, as the thief, he saw Acyuta, clad in yellow garments, lying on a most delightful couch with Rādhā.