गुरोः शिष्यस्य मंत्रस्य विधानं लक्षणं पृथक् । वदास्माकं महाभाग त्वं हि नः परमः सुहृत्
Tell us, O blessed one, the distinct procedures and characteristics of the teacher, the disciple, and the mantra; for you are our supreme friend.
सूत उवाच- एकदा यमुनातीरे समासीनं जगद्गुरुम् । नारदः प्रणिपत्याह देवदेवं सदाशिवम्
Suta said: Once, on the bank of the Yamuna, Narada, having bowed, spoke to the Lord of gods, Sadashiva, who was seated as the teacher of the world.
नारद उवाच- देवदेव महादेव सर्वज्ञ जगदीश्वर । भगवद्धर्मतत्त्वज्ञ कृष्णमंत्रविदां वर
Narada said: O Lord of gods, O great god, O all-knowing ruler of the universe, knower of the essence of divine dharma, best among those who know the Krishna mantra,
कृष्णमंत्रा मया लब्धास्त्वत्तो ये च पितुः परे । ते सर्वे साधितास्तत्वान्मंत्रराजादयो मया
The Krishna mantras I have obtained from you and from my father and others—all these, including the king of mantras, have been accomplished by me according to their essence.
बहुवर्षसहस्रैस्तु शाकमूलफलाशिना । शुष्कपर्णांबुवाय्वादि भोजिना च निराशिना
For many thousands of years, subsisting on vegetables, roots, and fruits, eating dried leaves, water, air, and other such things, and living without hope.
स्त्रीणां संदर्शनालापवर्जिना भूमिशायिना । कामादिषड्गुणं जित्वा बाह्येंद्रियनियम्यता
Avoiding the sight and conversation of women, sleeping on the ground, conquering the six passions such as desire, and restraining the external senses.
एवंकृतेऽपि नैवात्मा संतुष्टो मम शंकर । तद्ब्रूहि यत्प्रसिध्येत संस्काराद्यैर्विना प्रभो
Even after doing all this, my soul is not satisfied, O Śaṃkara; therefore, tell me, O Lord, what may succeed without rituals and other practices.
सकृदुच्चारणादेव ददाति फलमुत्तमम् । यदि योग्योऽस्मि देवेश तदा मे कृपया वद
By uttering it just once, it grants the highest result; if I am worthy, O Lord of the gods, then kindly tell me.
शिव उवाच- साधु पृष्टं महाभाग त्वया लोकहितैषिणा । सुगोप्यमपि वक्ष्यामि मंत्रचिंतामणिं तव
Śiva said: Well asked, O great one, by you who desire the welfare of the world; even though it is most secret, I will tell you the wish-fulfilling mantra.
रहस्यानां रहस्यं यद्गुह्यानां गुह्यमुत्तमम् । न मया कथितं देव्यै नाग्रजेभ्यः पुरा तव
It is the secret of secrets, the highest among all hidden things; I have not spoken it to the goddess, nor to the ancient sages before you.
वक्ष्यामि युगलं तुभ्यं कृष्णमंत्रमनुत्तमम् । मंत्रचिंतामणिर्नाम युगलं द्वयमेव च
I will tell you the pair, the supreme Kṛṣṇa mantra; the wish-fulfilling mantra is called a pair, consisting of two parts.
पर्याया अस्य मंत्रस्य तथा पंचपदीति च । गोपीजनपदं वल्लभां तं तु चरणानिति
Its alternate names are the five-word mantra, the Gopījanapada, Vallabhā, and also the Caraṇāni.
शरणं च प्रपद्ये च एष पंचपदात्मकः । मंत्रचिंतामणिः प्रोक्तः षोडशार्णो महामनुः
‘I seek refuge, I surrender’—this is the five-word form; the wish-fulfilling mantra is declared to be the great mantra of sixteen syllables.
नमो गोपीजनेत्युक्त्वा वल्लभाभ्यां वदेत्ततः । पदद्वयात्मको मंत्रो दशार्णः खलु कथ्यते
Having said ‘Salutations to the Gopī people,’ then one should say ‘Vallabhā’; the mantra consisting of two words is known as the ten-syllable mantra.
एतां पंचपदीं जप्त्वा श्रद्धयाश्रद्धया सकृत् । कृष्णप्रियाणां सान्निध्यं गच्छत्येव न संशयः
By reciting this five-word mantra, whether with faith or without, even once, one attains the presence of those dear to Kṛṣṇa, without doubt.
न पुरश्चरणप्रेक्षा नास्य न्यासविधिक्रमः । न देशकालनियमो नारिमित्रादिशोधनम्
There is no requirement for ritual preparation, nor any procedure of installation; no restriction of place or time, nor purification by water or friends.
सर्वेऽधिकारिणश्चात्र चंडालांता मुनीश्वर । स्त्रियः शूद्रादयश्चापि जडमूकादि पंगवः
All are eligible here, O best of sages, even those at the end of the social order, women, Śūdras, the dull, mute, and the lame.
अन्ये हूणाः किराताश्च पुलिंदाः पुष्कसास्तथा । आभीराय वनाः कंकाः खसाद्याः पापयोनयः
Others such as Hūṇas, Kirātas, Pulindas, Puṣkasas, Ābhīras, forest dwellers, Kaṃkas, Khasas, and those of sinful birth.
दंभाहंकारपरमाः पापाः पैशुन्यतत्पराः । गोब्राह्मणादि हंतारो महोपपातकान्विताः
Those who are full of deceit and pride, sinners, those intent on slander, killers of cows and Brahmins, and those afflicted by great sins.
ज्ञानवैराग्यरहिताः श्रवणादिविवर्जिताः । एते चान्ये च सर्वे स्युर्मनोरस्याधिकारिणः
Those devoid of knowledge and detachment, lacking hearing and other practices, and all others—these are eligible for the mantra.
यदि भक्तिर्भवेदेषां कृष्णे सर्वेश्वरेश्वरे । तदाधिकारिणः सर्वे नान्यथा मुनिसत्तम
If they have devotion to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all lords, then all are eligible; otherwise, not, O best of sages.
याज्ञिको दाननिरतः सर्वतंत्रोपसेवकः । सत्यवादी यतिर्वापि वेदवेदांगपारगः
A sacrificer, devoted to giving, a servant of all tantras, one who speaks truth, or even an ascetic, or one who has mastered the Vedas and their limbs.
ब्रह्मनिष्ठः कुलीनो वा तपस्वी व्रततत्परः । अत्राधिकारी न भवेत्कृष्णभक्तिविवर्जितः
Even one devoted to Brahman, of noble lineage, ascetic, or dedicated to vows, is not qualified here if devoid of devotion to Krishna.
तस्मादकृष्णभक्ताय कृतघ्नाय न मानिने । न च श्रद्धाविहीनाय वक्तव्यं नास्तिकाय च
Therefore, this should not be spoken to one lacking devotion to Krishna, to the ungrateful, the arrogant, the faithless, or the atheist.
न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं नासंवत्सरसेविने । श्रीकृष्णेऽनन्यभक्ताय दंभलोभविवर्जिने
Nor should it be spoken to one who does not listen, who does not serve for a year, but to one exclusively devoted to Shri Krishna, free from deceit and greed.
कामक्रोधविमुक्ताय देयमेतत्प्रयत्नतः । ऋषिश्चैवाहमेतस्य गायत्रीछंद उच्यते
It should be given with care to one freed from desire and anger; I am the sage for this, and Gayatri is declared as its meter.
देवता बल्लवीकांतो मंत्रस्य परिकीर्तितः । सप्रियस्य हरेर्दास्ये विनियोग उदाहृतः
The deity of the mantra is the beloved of the cowherd maidens; its application is stated as service to Hari together with his beloved.
आचक्राद्यैस्तथा मंत्रैः पंचांगानि प्रकल्पयेत् । अथवापि स्वबीजेन करांगन्यासकौ चरेत्
With the prescribed mantras, one should establish the five limbs; or, alternatively, perform hand and body placements with one's own seed syllable.
मंत्रस्य प्रथमो वर्णो बिंदुना मूर्ध्निभूषितः । गमित्येवं भवेद्बीजं नमः शक्तिरिहोदिता
The first syllable of the mantra, adorned with a dot on the head, forms the seed; 'namah' is declared as the power here.
अंतिमार्णैर्दशांगानि तैरेव च तथार्चनम् । गंधपुष्पादिभिस्तच्च जलैरेवाप्यसंभवे
With the final syllables, the ten limbs and worship are performed; if unavailable, it is done with fragrant flowers and water.