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.
शौनक उवाच। श्रीपदं विष्णुचरितं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् । सर्वपापक्षयकरं दुष्टग्रहनिवारणम्
Śaunaka said: The glorious abode, the deeds of Viṣṇu, destroy all calamities, bring about the end of all sins, and ward off evil influences.
विष्णुसान्निध्यदं चैव चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम् । यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या चांते याति हरेर्गृहम्
It brings the presence of Viṣṇu and grants the fruits of the four aims of life; whoever listens with devotion, at the end, attains the house of Hari.
नामोच्चारणमाहात्म्यं श्रूयते महदद्भुतम् । यदुच्चारणमात्रेण नरो यायात्परं पदम्
The greatness of uttering the Name is heard to be vast and wondrous; by merely uttering it, a person attains the supreme state.
तद्वदस्वाधुना सूत विधानं नामकीर्तने । सूत उवाच। शृणु शौनक वक्ष्यामि संवादं मोक्षसाधनम्
Therefore, tell us now, Sūta, the method of chanting the Name. Sūta said: Listen, Śaunaka, I will speak of the dialogue that is the means to liberation.
नारदः पृष्टवान्पूर्वं कुमारं तद्वदामि ते । एकदा यमुनातीरे निविष्टं शांतमानसम्
Nārada previously questioned Kumāra; I will tell you that. Once, on the bank of the Yamunā, he sat with a tranquil mind.
सनत्कुमारं पप्रच्छ नारदो रचिताञ्जलि । श्रुत्वा नानाविधान्धर्मान्धर्मव्यतिकरांस्तथा
Nārada, with folded hands, questioned Sanatkumāra, having heard various dharmas and their transgressions.
श्रीनारद उवाच। योऽसौ भगवता प्रोक्तो धर्मव्यतिकरो नृणाम् । कथं तस्य विनाशः स्यादुच्यतां भगवत्प्रिय
Śrī Nārada said: That transgression of dharma among men, spoken of by the Blessed One—how can its destruction occur? Tell me, O beloved of the Lord.
श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु नारद गोविंद प्रिय गोविंदधर्मवित् । यत्पृष्टं लोकनिर्मुक्तिकारणं तमसः परम्
Śrī Sanatkumāra said: Listen, Nārada, dear to Govinda, knower of Govinda's dharma; what you have asked is the cause of liberation from the world, the highest beyond darkness.
सर्वाचारविवर्जिताः शठधियो व्रात्या जगद्वञ्चकाः । दंभाहंकृतिपानपैशुनपराः पापाश्च ये निष्ठुराः
Those devoid of all proper conduct, deceitful-minded, outcastes, deceivers of the world, absorbed in hypocrisy, pride, intoxication, slander, and those sinful and harsh—
ये चान्ये धनदारपुत्रनिरताः सर्वेऽधमास्तेऽपि हि । श्रीगोविंदपदारविंदशरणाः शुद्धा भवंति द्विज
And others absorbed in wealth, wives, and sons, all these lowest ones—even they, O twice-born, become pure by taking refuge at the lotus feet of Śrī Govinda.
तमपि देवकरं करुणाकरस्थविरजंगममुक्तिकरं परम् । अतिचरंत्यपराधपरा जना य इह तान्वपति ध्रुवनाम हि
Even those who transgress against the compassionate, ancient, moving and unmoving, liberating Lord, those who are devoted to offenses—he certainly uplifts them by his name.
सर्वापराधकृदपि मुच्यते हरिसंश्रयः । हरेरप्यपराधान्यः कुर्याद्द्विपदपांसनः
Even one who commits all offenses is freed by taking refuge in Hari; but if someone commits offenses against Hari, he is like dust among bipeds.
नामाश्रयः कदाचित्स्यात्तरत्येव स नामतः । नाम्नो हि सर्वसुहृदो ह्यपराधात्पतत्यधः
If one ever takes shelter in the Name, he surely crosses over by that Name; but from offense against the Name, even the best of friends fall down.
श्रीनारद उवाच। के तेऽपराधा विप्रेंद्र नाम्नो भगवतः कृताः । विनिघ्नंति नृणां कृत्यं प्राकृतं ह्यानयंति च
Śrī Nārada said: What are those offenses, O foremost of Brahmins, committed against the Name of the Blessed One, which destroy people's actions and bring them to a base state?
श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच। सतां निंदा नाम्नः परममपराधं वितनुते । यतः ख्यातिं यांतं कथमु सहते तद्विगर्हाम् । शुभस्य* श्रीविष्णोर्य इह गुणनामादिसकलं । धियाभिन्नं पश्येत्स खलु हरिनामाहितकरः १५ *[कहीं-(शिवस्य)]। गुरोरवज्ञा श्रुतिशास्त्रनिंदनं तथार्थवादो हरिनाम्नि कल्पनम् । नामापराधस्य हि पापबुद्धिर्न विद्यते तस्य यमैर्हि शुद्धिः
Śrī Sanatkumāra said: Criticizing the virtuous spreads the greatest offense against the Name, for how can one bear the reproach of one who has attained fame? Whoever, with a divided mind, sees all the qualities and names of auspicious Viṣṇu as different, is indeed a doer of harm to Hari's Name. Disrespect to the teacher, criticism of scripture, and making up meanings, as well as inventing meanings for Hari's Name—these are offenses against the Name. One with sinful intent has no purification by any means.
धर्मव्रतत्याग हुतादि सर्वशुभक्रिया साम्यमपि प्रमादः । अश्रद्दधानो विमुखोऽप्यशृण्वन्यश्चोपदेशः शिवनामापराधः
Abandoning dharma, vows, sacrifices, and all auspicious acts, or even equating them out of carelessness; lacking faith, being averse, not listening, or giving wrong instruction—these are offenses against the Name of Śiva.
श्रुत्वापि नाममाहात्म्यं यः प्रीतिरहितोऽधमः । अहं ममादि परमो नाम्नि सोऽप्यपराधकृत्
Even after hearing the greatness of the Name, one who is devoid of delight, the lowest, whose mind is absorbed in ego and possessiveness, is also a perpetrator of offense against the Name.
एवं नारद शंकरेण कृपया मह्यं मुनीनां परं । प्रोक्तं नामसुखावहं भगवतो वर्ज्यं सदा यत्नतः । ये ज्ञात्वापि न वर्जयंति सहसा नाम्नोऽपराधान्दश । क्रुद्धा मातरमप्यभोजनपराः खिद्यंति ते बालवत्
Thus, O Nārada, out of compassion, Śaṃkara spoke to me the supreme teaching for sages: the name of the Lord, which brings happiness, must always be avoided with utmost carelessness. Those who, even knowing this, do not avoid the ten offenses against the Name, become agitated like children, neglecting even their mother and food, when angered.
अपराधविमुक्तो हि नाम्नि जप्तं सदा चर । नाम्नैव तव देवर्षे सर्वं सेत्स्यति नान्यतः
One who is free from offenses, constantly reciting the Name, O sage, will attain everything through the Name alone, and not by any other means.
श्रीनारद उवाच। सनत्कुमार प्रिय साहसानां विवेकवैराग्यविवर्जितानाम् । देहप्रियार्थात्मपरायणानां मुक्तापराधाः प्रभवंति नः कथम्
Śrī Nārada said: O Sanatkumāra, dear one, how can those who are reckless, lacking discernment and detachment, devoted to the body, pleasure, and self-interest, become free from offenses?
श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच। जाते नामापराधे तु प्रमादे तु कथंचन । सदा संकीर्तयन्नाम तदेकशरणो भवेत्
Śrī Sanatkumāra said: When an offense against the Name occurs, or through negligence in any way, one should always chant the Name and take refuge in it alone.
नामापराधयुक्तानां नामान्येव हरंत्यघम् । अविश्रांति प्रयुक्तानि तान्येवार्थ कराणि यत्
For those afflicted by offenses against the Name, only the Names themselves remove sin, when applied without ceasing; those alone accomplish the intended purpose.
नामैकं यस्य चिह्नं स्मरणपथगतं श्रोत्रमूलं गतं वा । शुद्धं वाऽशुद्धवर्णं व्यवहितरहितं तारयत्येव सत्यम् । तच्चेद्देहद्रविणजनितालोभपाखण्ड मध्ये । निक्षिप्तं स्यान्न फलजनकं शीघ्रमेवात्र विप्र
The Name, whether remembered, heard, or uttered, pure or impure in pronunciation, without interruption, truly delivers; but if it is placed amid greed born of body, wealth, or hypocrisy, it will not quickly bear fruit, O sage.
इदं रहस्यं परमं पुरा नारद शंकरात् । श्रुतं सर्वाशुभहरमपराधनिवारकम्
This supreme secret, O Nārada, was formerly heard from Śaṃkara; it removes all inauspiciousness and prevents offenses.
विदुर्विष्ण्वभिधानं ये ह्यपराधपरा नराः । तेषामपि भवेन्मुक्तिः पठनादेव नारद
Even those men who are absorbed in offenses against the Name of Viṣṇu, O Nārada, may attain liberation simply by reciting it.
नाम्नो माहात्म्यमखिलं पुराणे परिगीयते । ततः पुराणमखिलं श्रोतुमर्हसि मानद
The entire glory of the Name is sung in the Purāṇas; therefore, O honored one, you should listen to the whole Purāṇa.
पुराणश्रवणे श्रद्धा यस्य स्याद्भ्रातरन्वहम् । तस्य साक्षात्प्रसन्नः स्याच्छिवो विष्णुश्च सानुगः
Brother, whoever has faith in hearing the Purāṇa daily, Śiva and Viṣṇu, along with their retinues, become directly pleased with him.
यत्स्नात्वा पुष्करे तीर्थे प्रयागे सिंधुसंगमे । तत्फलं द्विगुणं तस्य श्रद्धया वै शृणोति यः
The result obtained by bathing at Puṣkara, Prayāga, or the confluence of rivers is doubled for one who listens with faith.
ये पठंति पुराणानि शृण्वंति च समाहिताः । प्रत्यक्षरं लभंत्येते कपिलादानजं फलम्
Those who recite and listen to the Purāṇas with concentration obtain, for each syllable, the fruit gained by Kapila and others.