नानाप्रकारा विज्ञेया विष्णोरमिततेजसः । यथाग्निः सुसमृद्धार्च्चिः करोत्येधांसि भस्मसात्
The various kinds of devotion to Viṣṇu, of immeasurable brilliance, should be understood; just as fire with well-kindled flames turns fuel to ashes,
पापानि भगवद्भक्तिस्तथा दहति तत्क्षणात्
So too, devotion to the Blessed Lord burns away sins instantly.
यावज्जनो न शृणुते भुवि विष्णुभक्तिं साक्षात्सुधारसमशेषरसैकसारम् । तावज्जरामरणजन्मशताभिघातदुःखानि तानि लभते बहुदेहजानि
As long as a person does not hear in this world of devotion to Viṣṇu, which is truly the very essence of nectar and all delight, so long does he experience the sufferings of old age, death, and the blows of hundreds of births, all arising from many bodies.
संकीर्तितश्चिंतितकीर्तिरंतः श्रुतानुभावो भगवाननंतः । समंततोऽघविनिहंति मेघं वायुर्यथाभानुरिवांधकारम्
The infinite Lord, whose fame is sung, contemplated, and experienced within, destroys sins on all sides, just as the wind disperses clouds or the sun dispels darkness.
न दान देवार्चन याग तीर्थ स्नान श्रुताचार तपः क्रियाभिः । तथा विशुद्धिं लभतेंऽतरात्मा यथा हृदिस्थे भगवत्यनंते
Not by gifts, worship of gods, sacrifices, bathing at sacred fords, study of scripture, austerities, or rituals does the inner self attain such purity as when the infinite Lord abides in the heart.
कथा विशुद्धा नरनाथ तथ्यास्ता एव पथ्या हरिनाथ तथ्याः । संकीर्तिता यत्र पवित्रमूर्तेः संश्रूयते च श्रुतसाधुकीर्तिः
O lord of men, pure are those stories, true indeed and wholesome, O lord of Hari, truly so; wherever the glories of the holy form are sung and heard, there is heard the fame of the virtuous.
धन्योसि धीरधरणीधर धर्मधुर्य्य ध्यानैकतान हृदयः पुरुषोत्तमस्य । यन्नैष्ठिकीमतिरसौ तव सौभगश्रीः श्रीकृष्णनाथसुकृतः श्रवणे प्रवृत्ता
Blessed are you, steadfast one, upholder of the earth, pillar of righteousness, whose heart is absorbed in meditation on the Supreme Person; for your unwavering mind, O fortunate one, has turned to hearing the auspicious deeds of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
अनाराध्य हरिं भक्त्या वरदं विष्णुमव्ययम् । कुतः श्रेयो भवेद्भूप पुरुषस्यात्ममानिनः
Without worshipping Hari, the bestower of boons, Viṣṇu, the imperishable, with devotion, O King, how can there be supreme good for a person who esteems his own self?
मायाजनिरमायोऽसौ भक्त्या राजन्नमायया । साध्यते साधुपुरुषः स्वयं जानाति तद्भवान्
He who is free from illusion, born of Māyā, is attained by devotion, O King, not by illusion; the virtuous person is realized—this you yourself know.
न विद्यते ते नृप धर्मतत्त्वमज्ञातमेतद्विमलं पुनर्माम् । त्वं पृच्छसे तीर्थपदं प्रसंगात्कथारसं वैष्णव गौरवेण
O King, the true essence of dharma is not known without this pure teaching; you ask, out of respect for the Vaiṣṇavas, about the sacred path and the nectar of stories.
नातः परं परमतोषविशेषपोषं पश्यामि पुण्यमुचितं च परस्परेण । संतः प्रसह्य यदनंतगुणाननंतश्रेयोनिधीनधिकभावभुजो भुजंति
I do not see any virtue greater or more nourishing than the mutual delight of the noble, who, by force, partake of the endless qualities and the inexhaustible treasures of supreme welfare, growing ever more abundant.
ब्राह्मणाः सुरभी सत्य श्रद्धा याग तपांसि च । श्रुति स्मृति दया दीक्षा शांतयस्तनवो हरेः
Brahmins, the cow, truth, faith, sacrifice, austerities, the Vedas, tradition, compassion, initiation, and tranquility—all these are the limbs of Hari.
आदित्यश्चंद्रमा वायुर्भूमिरापोंऽबरं दिशः । ब्रह्माविष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च सर्वभूतमयो विभुः
The sun, moon, wind, earth, waters, ether, directions, Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra—the all-pervading Lord is composed of all beings.
विश्वरूपः स्वयं चक्रे जगदेतच्चराचरम् । स्वयं ब्राह्मणमाविश्य सदान्नमुपभुंजते
He himself, taking the universal form, created this world, both moving and unmoving; entering the Brahmin, he eternally enjoys food.
ततस्तु तीर्थास्पदपादरेणून्धराधरात्मालय भूमिदेवान् । परात्मनः पूजय पुण्यलक्ष्मी सर्वस्वभूतानखिलात्मभूतान्
Therefore, worship the dust of the holy places, the mountain abodes, the earth deities, and all beings, for they are manifestations of the Supreme Soul and the fortune of virtue.
ब्राह्मणं विष्णुबुद्ध्य्या यो विद्वांसं साधु पश्यति । स एव वैष्णवो यश्च स्वस्वकर्मैकनिष्ठितः
He who, with the understanding of Vishnu, sees the Brahmin as wise and virtuous—he alone is a Vaishnava, steadfast in his own prescribed duty.
किंचिदेतन्मयाप्रोक्तं रहस्यं समयो हि मे । स्नातुं गंतुं च गंगायां न कथावसरोऽधिकः
I have spoken a little of this secret; my time is limited, for I must go to bathe in the Ganga, and there is no further opportunity for discourse.
प्राप्तोऽयं माधवो मासः पुण्यो माधववल्लभः । तस्यापि सप्तमी शुक्ला गंगायामतिदुर्ल्लभा
Now the month of Madhava has arrived, sacred and dear to Madhava; even among its days, the seventh of the bright fortnight is exceedingly rare at the Ganga.
वैशाख शुक्ल सप्तम्यां जाह्नवी जह्नुना पुरा । क्रोधात्पीता पुनस्त्यक्ता कर्णरंध्रात्तु दक्षिणात्
On the seventh day of the bright fortnight in Vaishakha, Jahnavi was once swallowed in anger by Jahnu, then released again from his right ear.
तस्यां समर्चयेद्देवीं गंगां गगनमेखलाम् । स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानेन स धन्यः सुकृती नरः
On that day, one should worship the goddess Ganga, the girdle of the sky; bathing properly according to the rules, that fortunate and virtuous man is blessed.
तस्यां यस्तर्पयेद्देवान्पितॄन्मर्त्यो यथाविधि । साक्षात्पश्यति तं गंगा स्नातकं गतपापकम्
Whoever, according to the proper rites, offers oblations to the gods and ancestors in her, the mortal sees Ganga herself, purified and freed from sin after bathing.
न माधव समो मासो न गंगा सदृशी नदी । दुर्ल्लभः खलु योगोऽयं हरिभक्त्यैव लभ्यते
No month equals Madhava, no river equals Ganga; this union is truly rare, attainable only through devotion to Hari.
विष्णुपादोदकोद्भूता ब्रह्मलोकादुपागता । त्रिभिः स्रोतोभिरश्रांता या पुनाति जगत्त्रयम्
Born from the water at Vishnu’s feet, arriving from Brahma’s world, tireless in her three streams, she purifies the three worlds.
स्वर्गारोहणनिःश्रेणी सततानंदकारिणी । अनेकदुरितोद्गारहारिणी दुर्गतारिणी
She is the ladder to heaven, the giver of constant joy, remover of countless sins, and rescuer from misfortune.
श्रीमहेशजटाजूटवासिनी दुःखनाशिनी । भजमानजनस्वांतकान्तकेलि विनाशिनी
Dwelling in the matted locks of the glorious Mahesha, destroyer of sorrow, she ends the playful suffering of those who worship her.
सगरान्वयनिर्वाणकारिणी धर्मधारिणी । त्रिमार्गचारिणी देवी लोकालंकृतिकारिणी
She brings liberation to the lineage of Sagara, upholds righteousness, travels the three paths, and adorns the worlds as a goddess.
दर्शन स्पर्शन स्नान कीर्त्तन ध्यान सेवनैः । पुण्यानपुण्यान्पुरुषान्पावयंती सहस्रशः
Through sight, touch, bathing, praise, meditation, and service, she purifies thousands of people, both virtuous and non-virtuous.
गंगा गंगेति गंगेति यैस्त्रिसंध्यमितीरितम् । सुदूरस्थैश्च तत्पापं हंति जन्मत्रयार्जितम्
By uttering 'Ganga, Ganga, Ganga' at the three junctions of the day, even those far away have their sins destroyed, accumulated over three lifetimes.
योजनानां सहस्रेषु गंगां यः स्मरते नरः । अपि दुष्कृतकर्मासौ लभते परमां गतिम्
Even if a man remembers the Ganga from thousands of yojanas away, though he has committed evil deeds, he attains the highest state.
वैशाखे शुक्ल सप्तम्यां दुर्ल्लभा सा विशेषतः । प्राप्यते जगतीपाल हरि विप्र प्रसादतः
Especially rare is she on the seventh day of the bright half of Vaiśākha; she is attained, O protector of the earth, by the grace of Hari and the Brahmins.