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.
व्रतैराराध्यते स्त्रीभिर्वासुदेवो दयानिधिः । आगमोक्तेन मार्गेण स्त्रीशूद्रैरपिपूजनम्
By vows, women worship Vāsudeva, the ocean of compassion; by the path prescribed in the scriptures, even women and śūdras should perform worship.
कर्तव्यं कृष्णचंद्रस्य द्विजातिवररूपिणः । त्रयोवर्णास्तु वेदोक्तमार्गाराधनतत्पराः
Worship of Kṛṣṇacandra, who appears in the form of the best of twice-born, should be performed; the three varṇas should be devoted to worship according to the Vedic path.
स्त्रीशूद्रादय एव स्युर्नाम्नाऽराधनतत्पराः । न पूजनैर्न यजनैर्न व्रतैरपि माधवः
Women and śūdras, however, should be devoted to worship by name alone; Mādhava is not satisfied by rituals, sacrifices, or vows.
तुष्यते केवलं भक्तिप्रियोऽसौ समुदाहृतः । स्त्रीणां पतिव्रतानां तु पतिरेव हि दैवतम्
He is satisfied only by devotion—he is declared to be fond of devotion. For women who are devoted to their husbands, the husband alone is the deity.
स तु पूज्यो विष्णुभक्त्या मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः । कर्तव्यं श्रद्धया विष्णोश्चिंतयित्वा पतिं हृदि
He should be worshipped with devotion to Viṣṇu, by mind, speech, and bodily actions; with faith, one should think of Viṣṇu while holding the husband in the heart.
शूद्राणां चैव भवति नाम्ना वै देवतार्चनम् । सर्वेऽप्यागममार्गेण कुर्युर्वेदानुकारिणा
For śūdras too, worship of the deity is performed by name; all should act according to the scriptural path, following the Veda.
स्त्रीणामप्यधिकारोऽस्ति विष्णोराराधनादिषु । पतिप्रियरतानां च श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी
Women also have the right to worship Viṣṇu and related practices; this is the eternal teaching for those devoted to pleasing their husbands.
स्वकुलोचितधर्मेण यद्यस्य विहितं व्रतम् । तत्तदेवाचरेद्यस्तु तेन तुष्यति केशवः
Whatever vow is prescribed for each according to their own family duty, that alone should be practiced; by that, Keśava is satisfied.
हविषाग्नौ जले पुष्पैर्ध्यानेन हृदये हरिम् । यजंति सूरयो नित्यं जपेन रविमंडले
The wise worship Hari perpetually: with offerings in fire, with water, with flowers, through meditation in the heart, and by recitation in the orb of the sun.
अहिंसा प्रथमं पुष्पं द्वितीयं करणग्रहः । तृतीयकं भूतदया चतुर्थं क्षांतिरेव च
Nonviolence is the first flower, the second is the control of the senses; compassion for beings is the third, and patience is the fourth.