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.
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं धनार्थी लभते धनम् । विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात्
The childless obtain a son, the seeker of wealth obtains wealth, the seeker of knowledge obtains knowledge, and the seeker of liberation attains liberation.
ये शृण्वंति पुराणानि कोटिजन्मार्जितं खलु । पापजालं तु ते हत्वा गच्छंति हरिमंदिरम्
Those who listen to the Purāṇas destroy the web of sin accumulated over millions of births and proceed to the abode of Hari.
पुराणवाचकं विप्रं पूजयेद्भक्तिभावतः । गोभूहिरण्यवस्त्रैश्च गंधपुष्पादिभिर्मुने
One should worship the brāhmaṇa who recites the Purāṇa with devotion, O sage, with cows, land, gold, garments, fragrance, flowers, and the like.
कांस्यैर्विनिर्मितं पात्रं जलपात्रं मुदान्वितः । कर्णकुंडलकं चैव मुद्रिकां स्वर्णनिर्मिताम्
One should joyfully give a vessel made of bronze, a water pot, earrings, and a ring made of gold.
आसनं तु तथा दद्यात्पुष्पमाल्यं तपोधन । वित्तशाठ्यं न कुर्वीत दानं हीनफलं यतः
One should also give a seat, flowers, and a garland, O ascetic; one should not act with miserliness in giving, for stingy gifts yield inferior results.
पुराणं वाचयेद्विप्र सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । सुवर्णं रजतं वस्त्रं पुष्पमाल्यं तु चंदनम्
The brāhmaṇa should recite the Purāṇa for the fulfillment of all desires; gold, silver, garments, flowers, garlands, and sandalwood should be given.
दद्याद्यो पुस्तकं भक्त्या सगच्छेद्धरिमंदिरम् । कुर्वंति विधिनानेन संपूर्णं पुस्तकं च ये । तेषां नामानि लिंपेत चित्रगुप्तोऽर्चनाद्द्विज
Whoever donates a book with devotion, or completes a book according to this injunction, shall reach the abode of Hari; O twice-born, let Citragupta record the names of those who worship thus.
शौनक उवाच। श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते प्राज्ञ कथयस्व समूलकम् । प्रतिज्ञापालने पुण्यं खंडने किं च किल्बिषम्
Śaunaka said: O wise one, I wish to hear from you in detail: what merit arises from keeping a vow, and what sin from breaking it?
अनृते शपथे किं वा सत्ये किंचिद्भवेन्मुने । दक्षिणं किंकरं दत्वा कृपां कृत्वा कृपार्णव
What happens, O sage, if one swears falsely or truthfully? If one gives a fee to an assistant, O ocean of compassion, please tell me kindly.
सूत उवाच। शृणुष्व मुनिशार्दूल कथयामि समूलतः । वैष्णवानां त्वमग्र्योऽसि सर्वलोकहिते रतः
Sūta said: Listen, O tiger among sages, I shall tell you everything in full; you are foremost among Vaiṣṇavas and devoted to the welfare of all worlds.