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.
शमस्तु पंचमं पुष्पं दमः षष्ठं च सप्तमम् । ध्यानं सत्यं चाष्टमं च ह्येतैस्तुष्यति केशवः
Tranquility is the fifth flower, self-restraint the sixth, meditation the seventh, and truth the eighth; by these, Keśava is pleased.
एतैरेवाष्टभिः पुष्पैस्तुष्यत्येवार्चितो हरिः । पुष्पांतराणि संत्येव बाह्यानि मनुजोत्तम
Hari is indeed satisfied when worshipped with these eight flowers; other flowers exist, but they are external, O best of men.
भक्त्या कृतानि यैर्विष्णुः पूजितः परितुष्यति । वारुणं सलिलं पुष्पं सौम्यं घृतपयोदधि
By acts performed with devotion, Viṣṇu is worshipped and fully satisfied; water from Varuṇa, flowers, gentle ghee and milk-ocean offerings.
प्राजापत्यं तथान्नादि आग्नेयं धूपदीपकम् । फलपुष्पादिकं चैव वानस्पत्यं तु पंचमम्
Offerings from Prajāpati, food, fire incense and lamps, fruits and flowers, and the fifth is from trees and plants.
पार्थिवं कुशमूलाद्यं वायव्यं गंधचंदनम् । श्रद्धाख्यं विष्णुपुष्पं च वाद्यं विष्णुपदं स्मृतम्
Earthly offerings from grass roots, airy offerings of fragrant sandalwood, the flower called faith for Viṣṇu, and music is remembered as Viṣṇu's foot.
एभिस्तुपूजितः पुष्पैरपि विष्णुः प्रसीदति । सूर्योऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणोगावो वैष्णवः खं मरुज्जलम्
Even when worshipped with these flowers, Viṣṇu is pleased; the sun, fire, brāhmaṇas, cows, the Vaiṣṇava, sky, wind, and water.
भूरात्मा सर्वभूतानि पूजास्थानानि वा हरेः । सूर्य्ये तु मंत्रजाप्येन हविषाग्नौ यजेत्ततः
The earth, the soul, all beings are places of worship for Hari; in the sun, worship is by mantra recitation, in fire by offerings.
आतिथ्येन तु विप्राग्र्ये गोषु ग्रासरसादिना । वैष्णवे बंधुसत्कृत्या हृदये ध्याननिष्ठया
By hospitality to foremost brāhmaṇas, by giving food to cows, by honoring relatives in the Vaiṣṇava, and by steadfast meditation in the heart.
वायौ मुख्यधिया तोये द्रव्यैस्तोयपुरस्कृतैः । स्थंडिले मंत्रहृदयैर्भोगैरात्मानमात्मनि
In the wind, with focused mind; in water, with substances preceded by water; on the ground, with mantra-hearted offerings, one should offer oneself to the Self.
क्षेत्रज्ञं सर्वभूतेषु समत्वेनार्चयेद्विभुम् । धिष्ण्येष्वेतेषु तद्रूपं शंखचक्रगदांबुजैः
One should worship the Knower of the field, the Lord, in all beings with equality; in the seats, his form with conch, discus, mace, and lotus.