प्रीतश्च सर्वमेतन्मे हिताय जगतो वद । भक्तिप्रियोऽसौ भगवान्कया भक्त्या प्रसीदति
Kindly tell me all this for the good of the world, for he, the Lord, is pleased by devotion. By what kind of devotion does he become gracious?
कथं तस्मिन्भवेद्भक्तिः सर्वैराराध्यते कथम् । वैष्णवोसि हरेस्तस्य प्रियोऽसि परमार्थवित्
How does devotion arise in him, and how is he worshipped by all? You are a Vaiṣṇava, dear to Hari, a knower of the highest truth.
तेन त्वामेव पृच्छामि ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मविदुत्तम । श्रोतारमथ वक्तारं प्रष्टारं पुरुषं हरेः
Therefore, O best knower of Brahman, I ask you alone—whether as listener, speaker, or questioner—about the Lord Hari.
प्रश्नः पुनाति कृष्णस्य तदंघ्रिसलिलं यथा । दुर्ल्लभो मानुषो देहो देहिनां क्षणभंगुरः
A question about Kṛṣṇa purifies, just as water from his feet does. The human body is rare and perishable in a moment for embodied beings.
तत्रापि दुर्ल्लभं मन्ये वैकुंठप्रियदर्शनम् । संसारेस्मिन्क्षणार्धोऽपि सत्संगः शेवधिर्नृणाम्
Even among these, I consider the sight of Vaikuntha's beloved to be exceedingly rare; in this world, even half a moment in the company of the virtuous is a treasure for people.
यस्मादवाप्यते सर्वं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् । भगवन्भवतो यात्रा स्वस्तये सर्वदेहिनाम्
For from such association, one attains all four aims of human life; O Lord, your presence brings welfare to all embodied beings.
बालानां तु यथा पित्रोरुत्तमश्लोकवर्त्मनाम् । भूतानां देवचरितं दुःखाय च सुखाय च
Just as children follow the path of their parents who praise the Supreme, so too do living beings find the deeds of the gods to bring both sorrow and joy.
सुखायैव हि साधूनां त्वादृशामच्युतात्मनाम् । भजंति ये यथा देवान्देवा अपि तथैव तान्
But for the virtuous, for those like you whose hearts are fixed on the imperishable, such deeds bring only happiness; those who worship the gods are themselves worshipped by the gods in the same way.
छायेव कर्मसचिवाः साधवो दीनवत्सलाः । तस्मात्त्वं भगवन्मह्यं वैष्णवं धर्ममादिश
Like a shadow, the virtuous are companions to action, showing compassion to the distressed; therefore, O Lord, instruct me in the Vaishnava dharma.
यस्योपदेशदानेन लभते वेदजं फलम् । नारद उवाच- साधु पृष्टं महीपाल विष्णुभक्तिमता त्वया
By giving such instruction, one attains the fruit born of the Vedas; Narada said: Well asked, O king, by you who are devoted to Vishnu.
जानता परमं धर्ममेकं माधवसेवनम् । यस्मिन्नाराधिते विष्णौ विश्वमाराधितं भवेत्
Knowing the supreme dharma, it is the sole service to Madhava; when Vishnu is worshipped, the whole universe is worshipped.
तुष्टे चराचरं तुष्टं सर्वदेवमये हरौ । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण महापातकसंहतिः
When Hari, who contains all gods, is pleased, the moving and unmoving are pleased; by merely remembering him, the mass of great sins
तत्क्षणान्नाशमायाति स सेव्यो हरिरेव हि । कोऽनु राजन्निंद्रियवान्मुकुंदचरणांबुजम्
is destroyed at that very instant; indeed, Hari alone is to be served. Who, O king, possessing senses, would not worship the lotus feet of the liberator?
न भजेत्सर्वतो मृत्युरुपास्यमृषिदैवतैः । श्रुतोऽनु पठितो ध्यात आदृतश्चानुमोदितः
He is not worshipped by all, though death is served by the sages and gods; heard, recited, meditated upon, honored, and approved,
सद्यः पुनाति सद्धर्मो वीरो विश्वद्रुहोऽपि हि । योयं कारणकार्यादि कारणस्यापि कारणम्
the true dharma purifies instantly, even one hostile to the world; this cause and effect, and the cause of causes,
अनन्यकारणं योगी जगज्जीवो जगन्मयः । अणुर्बृहत्कृशः स्थूलो निर्गुणो गुणभृन्महान्
the yogi, the soul of the world, who is the world itself, has no other cause; subtle and vast, slender and gross, without qualities yet bearing qualities, great.
अजो जन्मलयातीतो ध्यातव्यः स हरिः सदा । सम्यगेतद्व्यवसितं भवता पुरुषर्षभ
Unborn, beyond birth and dissolution, Hari is always to be meditated upon; this has been rightly resolved by you, O best of men.
यत्पृच्छसे भागवतान्धर्मांस्त्वं विश्वभावनान् । प्रसंगेन सतामात्ममनः श्रुति रसायनाः
You ask about the dharmas of the devotees, those who sustain the universe; through association with the virtuous, the mind and soul are nourished by the nectar of hearing.
भवंति कीर्तनीयस्य कथाः कृष्णस्य निर्मलाः । भावसाध्योह्ययं देवः स्वयं जानाति तद्भवान्
The pure stories of Krishna, worthy of praise, arise through such association; this god is attained through devotion, and you yourself know this.
तथापि वक्ष्ये जगतो हिताय तव गौरवात् । यदाहुः परमं ब्रह्म प्रधानपुरुषात्परम्
Yet, for the benefit of the world, I shall speak, out of respect for you; that which is called the supreme Brahman, higher than the primordial and the person,
यन्मायया ततं सर्वं सर्वं यच्छति सोऽच्युतः । पुत्रान्कलत्रं दीर्घायू राज्यं स्वर्गापवर्गकम्
by whose power all is pervaded, who bestows all, that is Achyuta; sons, wives, long life, kingdom, heaven, and liberation,
स दद्यादीप्सितं सर्वं भक्त्या संपूजितोऽजितः । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तत्परा ये हि मानवाः
He grants all desired things when worshipped with devotion, the unconquered one; those people who are devoted to him in action, mind, and speech.
तेषां व्रतानि वक्ष्यामि प्रीतये भूपसत्तम । अहिंसासत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यमकल्पता
I shall declare their vows for your satisfaction, O best of kings: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness.
एतानि मानसान्याहुर्व्रतानि हरितुष्टये । एकभक्तं तथा नक्तमुपवासमयाचितम्
These are said to be mental vows for pleasing Hari; also, taking food once a day, fasting at night, and accepting alms.
इत्येवं कायिकं पुंसां व्रतमुक्तं नरेश्वर । वेदस्याध्ययनं विष्णोः कीर्तनं सत्यभाषणम्
Thus, O lord of men, the bodily vow for humans is stated: study of the Veda, praise of Vishnu, and speaking the truth.
अपैशुन्यमिदं राजन्वाचिकं व्रतमुत्तमम् । चक्रायुधस्य नामानि सदा सर्वत्र कीर्तयेत्
Freedom from slander, O king, is the highest verbal vow; one should always and everywhere praise the names of the discus-bearing One.
नाशौचं कीर्तने तस्य स पवित्रकरो यतः । वर्णाश्रमाचारवता पुरुषेण परः पुमान्
There is no impurity in his praise, for he is the bestower of purity; a man who follows the conduct of varna and ashrama worships the Supreme Person, Vishnu.
विष्णुराराध्यते पंथा नान्यः संतोषकारणम् । पतिप्रियहिताभिश्च मनोवाक्कायसंयमैः
No other path causes satisfaction; only by restraining mind, speech, and body for the sake of the husband's pleasure and welfare.
व्रतैराराध्यते स्त्रीभिर्वासुदेवो दयानिधिः । आगमोक्तेन मार्गेण स्त्रीशूद्रैरपिपूजनम्
By such vows, women worship Vasudeva, the treasure of compassion; by the path prescribed in the scriptures, women and shudras also perform worship.
कर्तव्यं कृष्णचंद्रस्य द्विजातिवररूपिणः । त्रयोवर्णास्तु वेदोक्तमार्गाराधनतत्पराः
Worship of Krishna Chandra, who appears as the best among twice-born, should be performed; the three varnas should be devoted to worship according to the Vedic path.