शांतो विमत्सरः कृष्णे भक्तोऽनन्यप्रयोजनः । अनन्यसाधनः श्रीमान्कामलोभविवर्जितः
Peaceful, free from envy, devoted to Kṛṣṇa with no other aim, relying on no other means, prosperous, free from desire and greed—
श्रीकृष्णरसतत्त्वज्ञः कृष्णमंत्रविदां वरः । कृष्णमंत्राश्रयो नित्यं मंत्रभक्तः सदा शुचिः
Knowing the essence of Kṛṣṇa's delight, foremost among those who know Kṛṣṇa's mantra, always devoted to the Kṛṣṇa mantra, always pure—
सद्धर्मशासकोनित्यं सदाचारनियोजकः । संप्रदायी कृपापूर्णो विरागी गुरुरुच्यते
Constantly teaching true dharma, establishing good conduct, belonging to the tradition, full of compassion, detached—such is called the guru.
एवमादिगुणः प्रायः शुश्रूषुर्गुरुपादयोः । गुरौ नितांतभक्तश्च मुमुक्षुः शिष्य उच्यते
With such qualities, mostly, the disciple serves at the guru's feet; one who is ever devoted to the guru, desiring liberation, is called the disciple.
यत्साक्षात्सेवनं तस्य प्रेम्णा भागवतो भवेत् । स मोक्षः प्रोच्यते प्राज्ञैर्वेदवेदांगवेदिभिः
Direct service to him, with love, is the way of the devotee; this is called liberation by the wise, who know the Veda and its branches.
आश्रित्य स्वगुरोः पादौ निजवृत्तं निवेदयेत् । स संदेहानपाकृत्य बोधयित्वा पुनः पुनः
Taking refuge at his own guru's feet, he should declare his conduct; the guru, removing all doubts, instructs him again and again.
स्वपादप्रणतं शांतं शुश्रूषुं निजपादयोः । अतिहृष्टमनाः शिष्यं मनुमध्यापयेत्परम्
Let the teacher instruct the disciple, who is calm, devoted, eager to serve at his feet, and has bowed before him, with a mind filled with great joy.
चंदनेन मृदा वापि विलिखेद्बाहुमूलयोः । वामदक्षिणयोर्विप्र शंखचक्रे यथाक्रमम्
With sandal paste or clay, let him mark the bases of the disciple’s arms, O brāhmaṇa, with the conch and discus, on the left and right respectively, in due order.
ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं ततः कुर्याद्भालादिषु विधानतः । ततोमंत्रद्वयं तस्य दक्षकर्णे विनिर्दिशेत्
Then, he should make the vertical mark (ūrdhva-puṇḍra) on the forehead and other prescribed places; after that, he should recite the two mantras into the disciple’s right ear.
मंत्रार्थं च वदेत्तस्मै यथावदनुपूर्वशः । दासशब्दयुतं नाम धार्यं तस्य प्रयत्नतः
He should explain the meaning of the mantra to him, properly and in sequence; the disciple must carefully bear a name that includes the word 'servant.'
ततोऽतिभक्त्या सस्नेहं वैष्णवान्भोजयेद्बुधः । श्रीगुरुं पूजयेच्चापि वस्त्रालंकरणादिभिः
Then, with great devotion and affection, the wise one should feed Vaiṣṇavas, and also worship the revered teacher with garments, ornaments, and the like.
सर्वस्वं गुरवे दद्यात्तदर्द्धं वा महामुने । स्वदेहमपि निक्षिप्य गुरौ स्थेयमकिंचनैः
One should give everything to the teacher, or at least half, O great sage; even one’s own body should be surrendered to the teacher, remaining without possessions.
य एतैः पंचभिर्विद्वान्संस्कारैः संस्कृतो भवेत् । दास्यभागी स कृष्णस्य नान्यथा कल्पकोटिभिः
He who is consecrated by these five sacraments by a learned teacher becomes eligible for service to Kṛṣṇa; not otherwise, even in millions of aeons.
अंकनं चोर्द्ध्वपुंड्रश्च मंत्रो नामविधारणम् । पंचमो याग इत्युक्ताः संस्काराः पूर्वसूरिभिः
Marking, vertical mark, mantra, bearing of a name, and worship—these five sacraments have been declared by the ancient sages.
अंकनं शंखचक्राद्यैः सच्छिद्रं पुंड्रमुच्यते । दासशब्दयुतं नाममंत्रो युगलसंज्ञकः
Marking is called the application of the conch and discus, and the vertical mark is the sacred mark with a split; the name must include the word 'servant,' and the mantra is known as the pair of mantras.
गुरुवैष्णवयोः पूजा याग इत्यभिधीयते । एते परमसंस्कारा मया ते परिकीर्तिताः
The worship of the teacher and the Vaiṣṇavas is called 'worship'; these supreme sacraments have been described to you by me.
अथ तुभ्यं प्रपन्नानां धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि नारद । यानास्थाय गमिष्यंति हरिधाम नराः कलौ
Now, O Nārada, I shall tell you the duties of those who have surrendered, by which men in the age of Kali will attain the abode of Hari.
इत्थं गुरोर्लब्धमंत्रो गुरुभक्तिपरायणः । सेवमानो गुरुं नित्यं तत्कृपां भावयेत्सुधीः
Thus, having received the mantra from the teacher, being devoted to the teacher, the wise one should always serve the teacher and contemplate his grace.
सतां धर्मां स्ततः शिक्षेत्प्रपन्नानां विशेषतः । स्वेष्टदेवधिया नित्यं वैष्णवान्परितोषयेत्
He should then learn the duties of the virtuous, especially those of the surrendered, and always please the Vaiṣṇavas with devotion to his chosen deity.
ताडनं भर्त्सनं कामिभोग्यत्वेन यथा स्त्रियः । गृह्णंति वैष्णवानां च तत्तद्ग्राह्यं तथा बुधैः
Just as women accept beating, rebuke, and being treated as objects of enjoyment by those they desire, so too should the wise accept whatever comes from Vaiṣṇavas.
ऐहिक्यामुष्मिकी चिंता नैव कार्या कदाचन । ऐहिकं तु सदा भाव्यं पूर्वाचरितकर्मणा
One should never concern oneself with thoughts of this world or the next; but always act in this world according to previously performed deeds.
आमुष्मिकं तथा कृष्णः स्वयमेव करिष्यति । अतो हि तत्कृते त्याज्यः प्रयत्नः सर्वथा नरैः
As for the next world, Kṛṣṇa himself will take care of it; therefore, all effort for that should be abandoned by men in every way.
सर्वोपायपरित्यागः कृष्णीयात्मतयार्चनम् । सुचिरं प्रोषिते कांते यथा पतिपरायणा
Renouncing all other means, one should worship with the sense of being Kṛṣṇa’s own, just as a devoted wife, long separated, worships her beloved husband.
प्रियानुरागिणी दीना तस्यसंगैककांक्षिणी । तद्गुणान्भावयेन्नित्यं गायत्यपि शृणोति च
Loving, devoted, and longing only for his company, she constantly contemplates his virtues, sings of them, and listens to them.
श्रीकृष्णगुणलीलादि स्मरणादि तथाचरेत् । न पुनः साधनत्वेन कार्यं तत्तु कदाचन
One should indeed engage in remembrance and other practices concerning the virtues, pastimes, and so forth of blessed Krishna; but these should never be performed as a means to an end.
चिरं प्रोष्यागतं कांतं प्राप्य कांतधिया यथा । चुंबंती वा श्लिष्यंतीव नेत्रांते न पिबंत्यपि
Just as a beloved woman, after a long separation, upon meeting her dear one, though she may kiss or embrace him, cannot fully drink him in with her eyes, even at their limit—
ब्रह्मानंदगतेवाशु सेवते परया मुदा । श्रीमदर्चावतारेण तथा परिचरेद्धरिम्
So too, one who has attained the bliss of Brahman quickly serves with supreme joy; likewise, one should serve Hari through his glorious image or incarnation.
अनन्यशरणो नित्यं तथैवानन्यसाधनः । अनन्यसाधनार्थत्वात्स्यादनन्य प्रयोजनः
He should always be exclusively surrendered, relying on no other refuge, and likewise use no other means; because the purpose is to have no other means, there should be no other aim.
नान्यं च पूजयेद्देवं न नमेत्तं स्मरेन्न च । न च पश्येन्न गायेच्च न च निंदेत्कदाचन
He should not worship, bow to, remember, see, sing of, or ever criticize any other deity.
नान्योच्छिष्टं च भुंजीत नान्यशेषं च धारयेत् । अवैष्णवानां संभाषा वंदनादि विवर्जयेत्
He should not eat food left by others, nor accept their remnants; he should avoid conversation and greetings with non-Vaishnavas.