सुप्ता वा तिष्ठतस्तत्र सेव्यमानौ निजालिभिः । इति ते सर्वमाख्यातं नैत्यकं चरितं हरेः
There, whether sleeping or awake, they are served by their own companions; thus, I have told you all of Hari's daily activities.
पापिनोऽपि विमुच्यंते श्रवणादस्य नारद । नारद उवाच- धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि त्वया देवि न संशयः
Even sinners are released by hearing this, O Nārada. Nārada said: I am blessed, I am favored by you, O goddess, without a doubt.
हरेर्दैनंदिनीलीला यतो मेऽद्य प्रकाशिता । सूत उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा तां परिक्रम्य तया चापि प्रपूजितः
For today you have revealed to me the daily pastimes of Hari. Sūta said: Having spoken thus and circumambulated her, and being duly honored by her,
अंतर्धानं गतो ब्रह्मन्नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । मयाप्येतच्चानुपूर्व्यात्सर्वमेव प्रकीर्तितम्
The great sage Nārada, O brāhmaṇa, disappeared; and I too have narrated all this in order.
जपेन्नित्यं प्रयत्नेन मंत्रयुग्ममनुत्तमम् । कृष्णवक्त्रादिदं लब्धं पुरा रुद्रेण यत्नतः
One should always recite with effort this supreme pair of mantras, which was once obtained by Rudra from the mouth of Kṛṣṇa with great care.
तेनोक्तं नारदायापि नारदेन ममोदितम् । संस्कारांश्च विधायैव मयाप्येतत्तवोदितम्
That was spoken to Nārada by him, and by Nārada revealed to me; having performed the proper rites, I have also told this to you.
त्वयाप्येतद्गोपनीयं रहस्यं परमाद्भुतम् । शौनक उवाच- कृतकृत्योभवं साक्षात्त्वत्प्रसादादहं गुरो
You too must keep this most wondrous secret concealed.
रहस्यानां रहस्यं यत्त्वया मह्यं प्रकाशितम् । सूत उवाच- धर्मानेतानुपातिष्ठञ्जल्पन्मंत्रमहर्निशम्
Śaunaka said: By your grace, O teacher, I have truly accomplished my purpose.
अचिरादेव तद्दास्यमवाप्स्यसि न संशयः । मयापि गम्यते ब्रह्मन्नित्यमायतनं विभोः
The secret of secrets you have revealed to me. Sūta said: Following these duties and reciting the mantra day and night,
गुरोर्गुरोर्भानुजायाः कूले गोपीश्वरस्य च
Very soon you will attain that service, without doubt; I too, O brāhmaṇa, go always to the abode of the Lord,
इदं चरित्रं परमं पवित्रं प्रोक्तं महेशेन महानुभावम् । शृण्वंति ये भक्तियुता मनुष्यास्ते यांति नित्यं पदमच्युतस्य
On the bank of the Yamunā, at the place of the lord of the gopīs, and at the wife of the guru's guru.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यमारोग्याभीष्टसिद्धिदम् । स्वर्गापवर्गसंपत्तिकारणं पापनाशनम्
This supreme and most sacred story, proclaimed by the great Lord Maheśa, whoever hears it with devotion, they attain the eternal abode of Acyuta.
भक्त्या पठंति ये नित्यं मानवा विष्णुतत्पराः । न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिर्विष्णुलोकात्कथंचन
It brings blessedness, fame, long life, health, and the fulfillment of desires; it is the cause of attainment of heaven and liberation, and destroys sin.
ऋषय ऊचुः - सूतसूत महाभाग रोमहर्षणनंदन । कथा रम्या त्वया प्रोक्ता लोकस्यानंददायिनी
The sages said: O Sūta, O highly fortunate one, O son of Romaharṣaṇa, you have told a delightful story that brings joy to the world.
श्रीकृष्णस्य महाभाग चरितं महदद्भुतम् । श्रुतं सर्वं त्वया प्रोक्तं निर्वृतिस्तेन चाभवत्
The great and wondrous deeds of Shri Krishna, O fortunate one, have all been heard by you as spoken; and through them, contentment has arisen.
अहो श्रीकृष्णमाहात्म्यं भक्तानां गतिदायकम् । यतस्तेन महाभाग निर्वृतिं को न चाप्नुयात्
Ah, the greatness of Shri Krishna grants deliverance to his devotees; from this, O fortunate one, who would not attain contentment?
अतः पुनरपि श्रीमत्कृष्णस्य चरितं महत् । श्रोतुमिच्छामहे चान्यद्व्रतदानार्हणादिकम्
Therefore, again, we desire to hear the great deeds of glorious Krishna, and also other acts such as vows, gifts, and worship.
स्नानं वापि महाभाग यथा येन कृतं पुरा । तत्सर्वं विस्तराद्ब्रूहि यथा नो निर्वृतिर्भवेत्
O fortunate one, tell in detail how, and by whom, bathing and other rites were performed in ancient times, so that we may find contentment.
सूत उवाच- साधु पृष्टं द्विजश्रेष्ठा लोकानां तारणं परम् । यूयं कृतार्थाः कृष्णस्य भक्त्या संपूर्णमानसाः
Suta said: Well asked, O best of twice-born, for it is the supreme means of uplifting the worlds; you are fulfilled, your minds complete through devotion to Krishna.
श्रीकृष्णचरितं पुण्यं साधूनां हर्षदं परम् । प्रवक्ष्यामि द्विजश्रेष्ठा महदाख्यानमुत्तमम्
O best of twice-born, I will speak the sacred and supremely joyful deeds of Shri Krishna, the excellent and great narrative.
एकदा नारदो लोकान्पर्यटन्भगवत्प्रियः । मथुरायामंबरीषं कृष्णाराधनतत्परम्
Once, Narada, beloved of the Lord, was wandering among the worlds; in Mathura, he saw Ambarisha, absorbed in Krishna's worship.
महाभागं व्रतपरं ददर्श मुनिसत्तमः । स आगतं मुनिवरं सत्कृत्य मुनिसत्तमः
The sage, devoted to vows and most fortunate, was seen by the eminent sage; and having arrived, the eminent sage was duly honored.
भवंत इव पप्रच्छ श्रद्धया हृष्टमानसः । अंबरीष उवाच-। यन्मुने परमं ब्रह्म वेदवादिभिरुच्यते
With faith and a joyful heart, he questioned him as you do; Ambarisha said: O sage, that supreme Brahman spoken of by the Vedic scholars—
स देवः पुंडरीकाक्षः स्वयं नारायणः परः । योऽमूर्तो मूर्तिमानीशो व्यक्तोऽव्यक्तः सनातनः
That god, with lotus eyes, is Narayana himself, the supreme; he is formless and yet has form, the lord, manifest and unmanifest, eternal.
सर्वभूतमयोऽचिंत्यो ध्यातव्यः स कथं हरिः । यस्मिन्सर्वमिदं विश्वमोतं प्रोतं प्रतिष्ठितम्
He is the essence of all beings, inconceivable, to be meditated upon; in him, this entire universe is woven, pervaded, and established.
अव्यक्तमेकं परमं परमात्मेति विश्रुतम् । यतो जन्मादि जगतो यो निर्माय स्वयं भुवम्
The one unmanifest, supreme, known as the Supreme Self, from whom the world originates, who himself creates the earth—
ददौ तस्मै च निगमानात्मन्येव व्यवस्थितान् । कथमाराध्यते सोऽयं समग्रपुरुषार्थदः
He gave to him the Vedas, established in himself; how is he worshipped, who grants all the goals of life?
योगिनामपि दुर्गम्यस्तदेतत्कृपया वद । अनाराधित गोविंदा न विदंति हितोदयम्
Even for yogis, he is difficult to reach; please tell this out of compassion. Without worshipping Govinda, one does not know the arising of benefit.
न तपो यज्ञदानानां लभते फलमुत्तमम् । अनास्वादितगोविंदपदांबुजरसश्च यः
He who has not tasted the nectar of Govinda's lotus feet does not obtain the highest fruit of austerity, sacrifice, or charity.
मनोरथपथातीतं स्फीतं नाकलयेत्फलम् । हरेराराधनं हित्वा दुरितौघ निवारणम्
One does not perceive the abundant fruit that lies beyond the path of mere desire, having abandoned the worship of Hari, which removes heaps of sin.