परात्परतरं यांति नारायणपरायणाः । न ते तत्र गमिष्यंति ये द्विषंति महेश्वरम्
Those devoted to Narayana attain the highest beyond the highest. Those who hate Maheshvara will not reach there.
व्याख्यानमपि च श्रुत्वा पौराणिकमभाषत । कीदृङ्नारायणः प्रोक्तः कीदृशोपि महेश्वरः
Having heard even the Purāṇic explanation, he spoke: What is said about Narayana? What is said about Maheshvara?
किं परं त्वयनं प्रोक्तं द्वेषः कीदृगुदाहृतः । किं तत्परमिति ख्यातं ततः परतरं च किम्
What is called the highest here? What kind of hatred is described? What is known as the highest, and what is beyond that?
पौराणिक उवाच- परं तद्ब्रह्मणः स्थानं सुखव्यक्तैकलक्षणम् । ततः परतरं विष्णोर्द्धाम तद्ब्रह्मणोधिकम्
The Purāṇika said: The highest is the abode of Brahman, characterized by manifest bliss alone. Beyond that is the realm of Vishnu, which surpasses Brahman.
अविनाशितया तत्तु कीर्तितं परमं पदम् । तन्मध्ये पुरुषो विष्णुस्तदंग परमं विभुः
That supreme abode is described as imperishable. In its midst is the Purusha, Vishnu, whose limb is the supreme, all-pervading one.
आपो हि नरजन्मत्वान्नाराः प्रोक्ता मनीषिभिः । नाराश्चास्यायनं यस्मात्तेन नारायणः स्मृतः
Waters are called 'nārāḥ' by the wise because they are the origin of men. Since his abode is in the waters, he is remembered as Narayana.
तत्परं वर्तनं येषां ते प्रोक्तास्तत्परायणाः । महदादीनि तत्वानि यानि तेषां य ईश्वरः
Those whose highest activity is that are called devoted to the highest. Among the principles beginning with the great, he is their lord.
सूर्याग्निशशिनेत्रोऽसौ महेशः स्यादुमापतिः । द्वेषो हि वैरं विज्ञेयमीश्वरे परमात्मनि
He is Mahesha, the husband of Uma, whose eyes are the sun, fire, and moon. Hatred is to be understood as enmity towards the supreme lord.
शंभुरुवाच- एवं पुराणभट्टेन समीरितमिदं वचः । चिंतयन्पुनरप्याह मादृशस्य कथं गतिः
Shambhu spoke: Thus, this statement was declared by the Purāṇic scholar. Reflecting, he again asked, 'What is the destiny for someone like me?'
पौराणिकोऽथ तं प्राह शृणु वक्ष्यामि ते गतिम् । कुरु सर्वेण यत्नेन प्रायश्चित्तं यथाविधि
Then the Purāṇika said to him: Listen, I will tell you your destiny. Make every effort to perform atonement according to the prescribed rules.
धर्मं चर यथाशक्ति यथाकालं यथाविधि । विमुक्तपापः पश्चात्त्वमुत्तमां गतिमेष्यसि
Practice righteousness according to your ability, according to time, and according to the rules. Once freed from sin, you will attain the highest state.
पुराणमथवा नित्यं शृणुष्वावहितश्च सन् । निराशो वा महेशानं पूजयस्व पिनाकिनम्
Either always listen to the Purāṇa with attention, or, being free from hope, worship Maheshana, the wielder of the trident.
देवं वा पुंडरीकाक्षं केशवं क्लेशनाशनम् । संन्यासमथवा नित्यं ब्रह्मज्ञानपरो भव
Worship the lotus-eyed Lord, Keśava, who removes suffering; or always be devoted to renunciation and the pursuit of knowledge of Brahman.
अथवा गच्छ काशीशं मुक्तौ वा मृतिमाप्नुहि । गयां वा गच्छ तत्र त्वं श्राद्धं कर्तुं प्रयत्नतः
Alternatively, go to Kāśī, the Lord of liberation, or attain death there; or go to Gayā and diligently perform the śrāddha rite.
अथवा सर्ववेदानां सारं पातकनाशनम् । रुद्रं रुद्रप्रियकरं जप प्रत्यहमादरात्
Or, recite daily with reverence the essence of all Vedas, which destroys sin, the Rudra mantra, pleasing to Rudra.
श्रीशैलमथवा गच्छ केदारमथवेच्छया । अथवा प्रतिवर्षे तु माघस्नानं प्रवर्तय
Or, go to Śrīśaila or to Kedāra as you wish; or, each year, undertake the Māgha bathing ritual.
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन धर्मभक्तः सदा भव । नैवं नरकवासस्ते भविता तु द्विजाधम
What need is there for many words? Always be devoted to righteousness; then, O lowest of twice-born, you will not dwell in hell.
गौतम उवाच- श्रुत्वा सर्वं करिष्यामि पुराणं भवतो मुखात् । शास्त्रं विश्वासहेतुं च वर्जं चापि वदस्व मे
Gautama said: Having heard everything from your mouth, I will do it; tell me also what should be avoided, which is the cause for faith in scripture.
पौराणिक उवाच- वर्ज्यं मांसं सुराऽन्यस्त्री भोगो द्यूतं विकत्थनम् । पारुष्यमनृतं माया देवदेवविनिंदनम्
The Purāṇika said: Avoid meat, liquor, enjoyment with other women, gambling, boasting, harshness, falsehood, deceit, and reviling gods and deities.
गुरूणां सुरवृद्धानां पुराणस्मृतिभाषिणाम् । निंदनं श्वेतवृंताकं कृतकालाबुवर्तनम्
Avoid reviling teachers, elder gods, speakers of Purāṇa and Smṛti, the white brinjal, and acting against the prescribed times.
बीजपूरं कुसुंभं च लोहितं शृंगमेव च । अररुं नालिकेरं च कूष्मांडकं तथैव च
Avoid citron, safflower, red fruits, araru, coconut, and also pumpkin.
कोविदारफलं तैलपक्वं मानवजं पयः । वार्ध्रीणस खरी दुग्धं सूतिका क्षीरमाविकम्
Avoid the fruit of the kovidāra tree, milk cooked with oil, human milk, buffalo and donkey milk, milk from a woman after childbirth, and sheep's milk.
औष्ट्रमेकशफक्षीरं मार्गमाजं नृसंभवम् । विवत्सासंधिनीक्षीरं लवणं चैव योगि यत्
Avoid camel's milk, milk from one-hoofed animals, meat from wild animals, milk from cows whose calves have died, and salt, O yogi.
नालिकेररसं कांस्ये ताम्रे मधु च सीसके । काचे तक्रं करंभांश्च घृताक्तान्नैव कारयेत्
Do not prepare coconut juice in bronze or copper vessels, honey in lead, buttermilk in glass, or food mixed with ghee in these.
होमं तु मृण्मये पात्रे पुरोडाशं तु राजते । न सेवेत परं लोके शुभार्थी तु विचक्षणः
Perform homa in an earthen vessel, and puroḍāśa in a silver one; a wise person seeking auspiciousness should not use other vessels in the world.
पात्रांतश्चूर्णलेपोऽपि तत्र भक्षणमेव च । क्रमुकस्य तथा भक्षश्चूर्णपत्रस्य चैव हि
Do not eat food with powder applied inside the vessel, nor the fruit of betel, nor powdered betel leaves.
क्रमुकस्यापि पक्वस्य भक्षणं क्रमियोगिनः । पायसे लवणं चैव केवलं च करार्पितम्
Even for the yogi, eating cooked betel fruit, adding salt to rice pudding, or simply placing it in the hand is to be avoided.
सिंधुसौराष्ट्रकांबोजमागधेषु च सिंहले । न दोषाय भवेत्तत्र क्षीरं च लवणान्वितम्
In Sindh, Saurāṣṭra, Kāṃboja, Magadha, and Siṃhala, milk mixed with salt is not blameworthy.
क्षीराणि च समस्तानि लवणानि च योगतः । देशेष्वन्येषु दोषाय पाने चैवेह संशयः
All kinds of milk and salt, when combined, are blameworthy in other regions; there is doubt about their use here.
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन सद्भिर्निंद्यं विवर्जयेत् । शंभुरुवाच- एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मनः
What need is there for many words? The virtuous should avoid what is censured.