त्रिरात्रमपि ये विप्र द्वारवत्यां पुरि स्थिताः । मज्जंति गोमती तीरे धन्यास्ते केशवप्रियाः
O Brahmin, those fortunate ones who remain for even three nights in the city of Dvaravati and bathe at the bank of the Gomati are dear to Kesava.
नरनारायणावासे त्रिरात्रं ये समाश्रिताः । मर्त्यलोके च नंदायां धन्यास्ते केशवप्रियाः
Those who take refuge for three nights in the abode of Nara-Narayana, or in Nanda on earth, are blessed and dear to Kesava.
षण्मासमुषिता विप्र पुरुषोत्तमसंनिधौ । ते नूनमच्युतात्मानो दृष्ट्वा स्युरघहारिणः
O Brahmin, those who dwell for six months in the presence of Purushottama surely become devoted to Acyuta, having seen the remover of sin.
अनेक जन्मार्जितपुण्यतोये मज्जंति तोये मणिकर्णिकायाः । नमंति विश्वेशमवाप्यकाशीं ते वै मयापीह भवंति वंद्याः
Those who bathe in the waters of Manikarnika, sanctified by merit earned over countless births, bow to the Lord of the Universe after reaching Kashi; they are honored by me even here.
पूजयित्वा हरिं ये तु भूमौ दर्भ तिलैः सह । तिलान्विकीर्य लोहं च दत्वा धेनुं पयस्विनीम्
Those who worship Hari on earth with darbha grass and sesame seeds, scattering sesame and giving iron and a milch cow—
ये मृता विधिवद्विप्र ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । उत्पाद्य पुत्रान्संस्थाप्य पितृपैतामहे पदे
—those who die in this manner, O Brahmin, are destined for heaven, having produced sons and established them in the ancestral line.
निर्ममा निरहंकारा ये मृतास्तेऽपि नाकिनः । स्तैन्यान्निवृत्ताः सततं संतुष्टाः स्वधनेन च
Those who die free from possessiveness and pride, who always refrain from theft and are content with their own wealth, they too attain heaven.
स्वभाग्येनोपजीवंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । श्लक्ष्णां वाणीं निराबाधां मधुरोपाय वर्जिताम्
Those men who live according to their own fortune, destined for heaven, speak gentle, unobstructed words, free from deceit.
स्वागतेनाभिभाषंते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां फलसंचये
Those men destined for heaven greet others with welcoming speech, whether in the accumulation of good or bad deeds.
विपाकज्ञाश्च ये विप्र ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । धनधर्मप्रवृत्तानां धर्ममार्गानुयायिनाम्
O Brahmin, those who know the results of actions, who are engaged in wealth and righteousness and follow the path of dharma, are destined for heaven.
प्रोत्साहं वर्धयंते ये मोदंते दिवि ते नराः । हेमंते वह्निदो यश्च तथा ग्रीष्मे जलप्रदः
Those who encourage others rejoice in heaven; one who gives fire in winter, or water in summer—
वर्षा स्वाश्रमदाता च स स्वर्गे मोदते चिरम् । पुण्यकालेषु सर्वेषु नित्य नैमित्तिकादिषु
—and one who gives shelter to his own hermitage during the rains, he delights in heaven for a long time; at all times of merit, whether regular or occasional.
भक्त्या यः कुरुते श्राद्धं स नूनं सुरलोकभाक्
Whoever performs śrāddha with devotion at such times surely attains the world of the gods.
दानं दरिद्रस्य विभोः क्षमित्वं यूनां तपो ज्ञानवतां च मौनम् । इच्छानिवृत्तिश्च सुखोचितानां दया च भूतेषु दिवं नयंति
The charity of the poor, forgiveness of the young, austerity of the wise, restraint of desire by those accustomed to comfort, and compassion for beings—these lead to heaven.
द्विविधः कर्मसंबंधः पापपुण्यसमुद्भवः । सत्यमेव समाश्रित्य क्रियते ह्यत्र निर्णयः
There are two kinds of karmic bonds, arising from sin and virtue; judgment here is made solely on the basis of truth.
तपोध्यानसमायुक्तं तारणाय भवांबुधेः । पापं तु पतनायोक्तं सत्यमेव न संशयः
That which is joined with austerity and meditation leads to crossing the ocean of existence; but sin, it is said, leads to downfall—this is certain, there is no doubt.
बलेन परिचारेण शौर्येणाभियुतस्य च । पुण्यहीनस्य वै पुंसस्तद्बलादिव लीयते
For a man lacking virtue, even if endowed with strength, service, and courage, all that power is dissolved, just as strength and the like disappear.
उन्नता गिरि दुर्गेषु वृक्षाः संति सुपुष्टकाः । पतंति वातवेगेन समूलास्तु घना अपि
On high mountain fortresses, there are trees that are well-nourished; yet, even those great ones are uprooted and fall by the force of the wind.
सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथा यांति यमालयम् । सामान्यं सर्वजंतूंनां बलं धर्मस्तु केवलः
In the same way, those devoid of truth and righteousness go to the abode of Yama; for all beings, strength is common, but righteousness alone is supreme.
येन संतरते जंतुरिहलोके परत्र च । मया सर्वमिदं सम्यक्स्वर्गमार्ग प्रदायकम्
By which a being crosses over in this world and the next—this I have explained fully, as that which grants the path to heaven.
समासेन समाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
I have described it in summary; what more do you wish to hear?
ब्राह्मण उवाच- एतन्मूर्खोऽपि जानाति शुभकर्मकरः पुमान् । न याति नरकं स्वर्गं तथा पापक्रिया रतः
The Brahmin said: Even a fool knows that a man who performs good deeds does not go to hell, and one who delights in sinful acts does not attain heaven.
क्रतुभिर्विविधैरिष्टैर्व्रत दान जपादिभिः । सत्येनाचारकुशलैः स्वर्गसौख्यमवाप्यते
Through various sacrifices, offerings, vows, gifts, recitation, and by truth and skill in conduct, the happiness of heaven is attained.
विद्याचारधनोपेतैर्ऋषिभिर्वेदपारगैः । प्राप्यते पुण्ययोगेन यज्ञैर्नाकस्ततः क्वचित्
By sages endowed with learning, good conduct, and wealth, who are versed in the Vedas, heaven is attained through the accumulation of merit, and never otherwise.
वित्तेन च विना दानं बहुदातुं न शक्यते । विद्यमान धनेनापि कुटुंबासक्तचेतसा
Without wealth, it is not possible to give many gifts; and even with wealth, one whose mind is attached to family cannot give.
अग्निहोत्रादयो धर्मा विशेषेण कलौ युगे । दुष्करा दानधर्मोऽपि दुष्करो भगवन्मतः
Rites like Agnihotra and others are especially difficult in the Kali age; even the practice of giving is difficult, O Blessed One, in my opinion.
अल्पायासेन धर्मेण लभ्यते धर्मसंचयः । तन्मे विशेषतो ब्रूहि धर्माधर्मप्रदर्शक
By a small effort in righteousness, a store of merit is obtained; therefore, tell me especially, O revealer of dharma and adharma.
तदेकं कथ्यतां धर्मं सर्वधर्मोत्तमोत्तमम् । कृतेनैकेन येनेह सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
Tell me that one supreme dharma, highest among all dharmas, by which, through a single act, all sins here may be destroyed.
धनं धान्यं यशो धर्ममायुर्येनाभि वर्त्तते । मर्त्यलोकेऽपि सख्यं स्यात्स्वर्गो येनाक्षयो भवेत्
By which wealth, grain, fame, righteousness, and long life increase; by which, even in the world of mortals, friendship arises, and by which heaven becomes inexhaustible.
साक्षान्नारायणो येन भक्तानामभयप्रदः । तुष्येदस्यप्रसादेन कामः करतले स्थितः
By which Lord Nārāyaṇa himself grants fearlessness to devotees; by whose grace, desire is as if held in the palm of the hand.