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.
छायेव कर्मसचिवाः साधवो दीनवत्सलाः । तस्मात्त्वं भगवन्मह्यं वैष्णवं धर्ममादिश
The virtuous, compassionate to the distressed, are like the shadow, ever accompanying deeds; therefore, O blessed one, instruct me in the Vaishnava dharma.
यस्योपदेशदानेन लभते वेदजं फलम् । नारद उवाच- साधु पृष्टं महीपाल विष्णुभक्तिमता त्वया
By giving instruction in it, one attains the fruit born of the Veda. Narada said: Well asked, O king, by you endowed with devotion to Vishnu.
जानता परमं धर्ममेकं माधवसेवनम् । यस्मिन्नाराधिते विष्णौ विश्वमाराधितं भवेत्
Knowing the supreme dharma, which is the sole service of Madhava; when Vishnu is worshipped, the whole universe is worshipped.
तुष्टे चराचरं तुष्टं सर्वदेवमये हरौ । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण महापातकसंहतिः
When Hari, who is the soul of all gods, is pleased, the moving and unmoving are pleased; by merely remembering Him, even a heap of great sins is destroyed.
तत्क्षणान्नाशमायाति स सेव्यो हरिरेव हि । कोऽनु राजन्निंद्रियवान्मुकुंदचरणांबुजम्
In that very moment, it perishes; for Hari alone is to be served. O king, who, possessing senses, would not worship the lotus feet of the Liberator?
न भजेत्सर्वतो मृत्युरुपास्यमृषिदैवतैः । श्रुतोऽनु पठितो ध्यात आदृतश्चानुमोदितः
He is to be worshipped by all, even by the gods and seers whom death approaches; when heard, recited, meditated upon, honored, or approved, the true dharma immediately purifies, even one hostile to the world.
सद्यः पुनाति सद्धर्मो वीरो विश्वद्रुहोऽपि हि । योयं कारणकार्यादि कारणस्यापि कारणम्
This one is the cause of causes, the origin of creation and its results, and even the cause of the cause.
अनन्यकारणं योगी जगज्जीवो जगन्मयः । अणुर्बृहत्कृशः स्थूलो निर्गुणो गुणभृन्महान्
He, the yogi, is the sole cause, the soul of the world, pervading all; subtle and vast, minute and gross, without qualities yet bearing qualities, and great.
अजो जन्मलयातीतो ध्यातव्यः स हरिः सदा । सम्यगेतद्व्यवसितं भवता पुरुषर्षभ
Unborn, beyond birth and dissolution, that Hari is always to be meditated upon; O best of men, your resolve is indeed proper.
यत्पृच्छसे भागवतान्धर्मांस्त्वं विश्वभावनान् । प्रसंगेन सतामात्ममनः श्रुति रसायनाः
You ask about the dharmas of the devotees, the sustainers of the universe; these, by their very nature, are the elixirs of the mind and heart for the virtuous.
भवंति कीर्तनीयस्य कथाः कृष्णस्य निर्मलाः । भावसाध्योह्ययं देवः स्वयं जानाति तद्भवान्
The stories of Krishna, worthy of being praised, are pure; this Lord, attainable through devotion, is known by you yourself.
तथापि वक्ष्ये जगतो हिताय तव गौरवात् । यदाहुः परमं ब्रह्म प्रधानपुरुषात्परम्
Still, for the good of the world and out of respect for you, I will declare what is called the Supreme Brahman, higher than both Pradhāna and Puruṣa.
यन्मायया ततं सर्वं सर्वं यच्छति सोऽच्युतः । पुत्रान्कलत्रं दीर्घायू राज्यं स्वर्गापवर्गकम्
By whose māyā all is pervaded, who bestows everything—Achyuta grants sons, wives, long life, kingdoms, and both heaven and liberation.
स दद्यादीप्सितं सर्वं भक्त्या संपूजितोऽजितः । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तत्परा ये हि मानवाः
That Unconquered One, when worshipped with devotion by those men who are dedicated to him in action, mind, and speech, gives all desired things.
तेषां व्रतानि वक्ष्यामि प्रीतये भूपसत्तम । अहिंसासत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यमकल्पता
For their satisfaction, O best of kings, I will tell you the vows: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and freedom from greed.
एतानि मानसान्याहुर्व्रतानि हरितुष्टये । एकभक्तं तथा नक्तमुपवासमयाचितम्
These are said to be mental vows for pleasing Hari; also, single-minded devotion, fasting at night, and accepting food only when given.
इत्येवं कायिकं पुंसां व्रतमुक्तं नरेश्वर । वेदस्याध्ययनं विष्णोः कीर्तनं सत्यभाषणम्
Thus, O lord of men, the bodily vows of humans are declared: study of the Veda, praise of Viṣṇu, and speaking the truth.
अपैशुन्यमिदं राजन्वाचिकं व्रतमुत्तमम् । चक्रायुधस्य नामानि सदा सर्वत्र कीर्तयेत्
Freedom from slander—this, O king, is the highest verbal vow; one should always and everywhere praise the names of the Discus-bearing One.
नाशौचं कीर्तने तस्य स पवित्रकरो यतः । वर्णाश्रमाचारवता पुरुषेण परः पुमान्
There is no impurity in his praise, for he is the bestower of purity; the supreme person is worshipped by one who follows the conduct of varṇa and āśrama.
विष्णुराराध्यते पंथा नान्यः संतोषकारणम् । पतिप्रियहिताभिश्च मनोवाक्कायसंयमैः
Viṣṇu is worshipped by this path; there is no other cause of satisfaction. Through self-control in mind, speech, and body, women act for the good and pleasure of their husbands.