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.
नान्यत्पश्यामि जंतूनां प्रायश्चित्तं परं मुने । यद्भ्रूनर्तनवर्तिन्यः श्रूयंते सिद्धयोऽखिलाः
I see no other supreme atonement for creatures, O sage, than that by which all attainments are heard to arise from the movement of the brows.
कथमाराध्यतेसोऽयं केशवः क्लेशनाशनः । उपास्यते स भगवान्कथं नारायणो नरैः
How is that Kesava, destroyer of affliction, to be worshipped? How is the blessed Narayana to be served by men?
प्रीतश्च सर्वमेतन्मे हिताय जगतो वद । भक्तिप्रियोऽसौ भगवान्कया भक्त्या प्रसीदति
Pleased, I ask you to tell me all this for the welfare of the world: by what devotion does the Blessed Lord, who delights in devotion, become pleased?
कथं तस्मिन्भवेद्भक्तिः सर्वैराराध्यते कथम् । वैष्णवोसि हरेस्तस्य प्रियोऽसि परमार्थवित्
How does devotion arise towards Him, and how is He worshipped by all? You are a devotee of Hari, dear to Him, and a knower of the highest truth.
तेन त्वामेव पृच्छामि ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मविदुत्तम । श्रोतारमथ वक्तारं प्रष्टारं पुरुषं हरेः
Therefore, O best knower of Brahman, I ask you alone, O Brahman: you are both a listener and a speaker, a questioner of the Lord Hari.
प्रश्नः पुनाति कृष्णस्य तदंघ्रिसलिलं यथा । दुर्ल्लभो मानुषो देहो देहिनां क्षणभंगुरः
A question about Krishna purifies, just as water from His feet does; the human body is rare and, for embodied beings, perishes in a moment.
तत्रापि दुर्ल्लभं मन्ये वैकुंठप्रियदर्शनम् । संसारेस्मिन्क्षणार्धोऽपि सत्संगः शेवधिर्नृणाम्
Even more rare, I think, is the sight of one dear to Vaikuntha; even half a moment of association with the good is a treasure for people in this world of transmigration.
यस्मादवाप्यते सर्वं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् । भगवन्भवतो यात्रा स्वस्तये सर्वदेहिनाम्
From that, all four aims of human life are attained; O blessed one, your presence brings well-being to all embodied beings.
बालानां तु यथा पित्रोरुत्तमश्लोकवर्त्मनाम् । भूतानां देवचरितं दुःखाय च सुखाय च
Just as children are guided by their parents on the path of the glorious Lord, so the deeds of the gods bring both sorrow and joy to beings.
सुखायैव हि साधूनां त्वादृशामच्युतात्मनाम् । भजंति ये यथा देवान्देवा अपि तथैव तान्
But for the virtuous, whose hearts are fixed on the Imperishable, such as you, it brings only joy; those who worship the gods in this way are themselves worshipped by the gods.