सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथा यांति यमालयम् । सामान्यं सर्वजंतूंनां बलं धर्मस्तु केवलः
Those devoid of truth and righteousness likewise go to the abode of Yama; strength is common to all creatures, but righteousness alone is paramount.
येन संतरते जंतुरिहलोके परत्र च । मया सर्वमिदं सम्यक्स्वर्गमार्ग प्रदायकम्
By which a creature crosses over in this world and the next; by me, all this has been properly explained, which leads to the path of heaven.
समासेन समाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
In brief, it has been declared; what more do you wish to hear?
ब्राह्मण उवाच- एतन्मूर्खोऽपि जानाति शुभकर्मकरः पुमान् । न याति नरकं स्वर्गं तथा पापक्रिया रतः
The Brahmin said: Even a fool knows this—that a man who performs auspicious deeds does not go to hell, while one devoted to sinful acts does not attain heaven.
क्रतुभिर्विविधैरिष्टैर्व्रत दान जपादिभिः । सत्येनाचारकुशलैः स्वर्गसौख्यमवाप्यते
Happiness in heaven is attained through various sacrifices, vows, gifts, recitation, truthfulness, and skillful conduct.
विद्याचारधनोपेतैर्ऋषिभिर्वेदपारगैः । प्राप्यते पुण्ययोगेन यज्ञैर्नाकस्ततः क्वचित्
By sages accomplished in knowledge, conduct, and wealth, and who have mastered the Vedas, heaven is attained through the accumulation of merit by sacrifices—never otherwise.
वित्तेन च विना दानं बहुदातुं न शक्यते । विद्यमान धनेनापि कुटुंबासक्तचेतसा
Without wealth, it is not possible to give many gifts; even when wealth exists, those whose minds are attached to their families cannot give.
अग्निहोत्रादयो धर्मा विशेषेण कलौ युगे । दुष्करा दानधर्मोऽपि दुष्करो भगवन्मतः
Rites such as Agnihotra and other duties are especially difficult in the Kali age; even the duty of giving is considered difficult, O Lord.
अल्पायासेन धर्मेण लभ्यते धर्मसंचयः । तन्मे विशेषतो ब्रूहि धर्माधर्मप्रदर्शक
By a duty that requires little effort, a store of merit can be obtained; therefore, tell me in detail, O revealer of right and wrong.
तदेकं कथ्यतां धर्मं सर्वधर्मोत्तमोत्तमम् । कृतेनैकेन येनेह सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
Tell me that one supreme duty, the highest of all duties, by which, if performed here, all sins are destroyed.
धनं धान्यं यशो धर्ममायुर्येनाभि वर्त्तते । मर्त्यलोकेऽपि सख्यं स्यात्स्वर्गो येनाक्षयो भवेत्
By which wealth, grain, fame, righteousness, and long life increase; by which, even in the world of mortals, friendship is gained, and by which heaven becomes inexhaustible.
साक्षान्नारायणो येन भक्तानामभयप्रदः । तुष्येदस्यप्रसादेन कामः करतले स्थितः
By which Lord Nārāyaṇa himself grants fearlessness to devotees; by whose grace, desire is as if held in the palm of one's hand.
सर्वयज्ञ तपोदानतीर्थसेवाधिकं फलम् । लभ्यते येन यद्यस्ति वैवस्वत तदादिश
By which the fruit surpasses all sacrifices, austerities, gifts, and pilgrimages; if such exists, O son of Vivasvat, declare it.
अनुग्राह्यो ह्यहं देव यदि धर्मोपदेशतः । सर्वधर्मक्रियासारं तदेकं कृपया वद
If I am worthy of your favor, O god, for the sake of instruction in righteousness, tell me with compassion that one essence of all righteous acts.
पापानामनुरूपाणि प्रायश्चित्तानि यद्यथा । तथा तथैव संस्मृत्य कथितानि मनीषिभिः
For each sin, the corresponding expiations have been described by the wise, recalling them as appropriate.
कर्तुं तानि न शक्यंते देव प्रत्येकशो नरैः । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यमेकं चेदस्ति तद्वद
But, O god, people are not able to perform them all individually; if there is one merit that removes all sins, tell me that.
सूत उवाच-। इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो यमं धर्मस्वरूपिणम् । तुष्टाव प्रयतो भूत्वा सूक्ष्मधर्माभिकामुकः
Sūta said: Having spoken thus, the best of Brāhmaṇas, desiring subtle righteousness, became intent and praised Yama, the embodiment of Dharma.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- नमस्ते सर्वशमन नमस्ते जगतांपते । नमोऽस्तु देवरूपाय स्वर्गमार्गप्रदायिने
The Brāhmaṇa said: Salutations to you, remover of all, salutations to you, Lord of the worlds; salutations to you, of divine form, giver of the path to heaven.
धर्मशास्त्रस्वरूपाय धर्मराज नमोस्तुते । त्वया भूः पाल्यते देवाप्यंतरिक्षं च द्यौर्महः
Salutations to you, King of Dharma, embodiment of the law of righteousness; by you the earth, the gods, the atmosphere, and the great heaven are protected.
जनस्तपस्तथासत्यं सर्वस्वं पाल्यते त्वया । न त्वया रहितं किंचिज्जगत्स्थावर जंगमम्
The world of Jana, Tapas, and Satya, and all else are protected by you; there is nothing, whether moving or unmoving, in the world that is without you.
विद्यते त्वद्गृहीतं तु सद्यो नश्यति वै जगत् । त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानां सतां सत्वस्वरूपवान्
What exists is held by you; if abandoned by you, the world would instantly perish. You are the self of all beings, the embodiment of the essence of the good.
राजसानां रजस्त्वं च तामसानां तमस्तथा । चतुष्पदां भवान्देव चतुःशृंगस्त्रिलोचनः
You are rajas among those of rajas quality, and tamas among those of tamas; among four-footed beings you are the god with four horns and three eyes.
सप्तहस्तस्त्रिधा बद्धो वृषरूप नमोस्तु ते । सर्वयज्ञमयो धर्मस्त्वयि विग्रहविग्रहः
O bull-formed one, bound with threefold cords and seven hands, I bow to you; you are the embodiment of all sacrifices, Dharma itself, the form of forms.
साक्षाद्दृष्टोसि लोकेश देव तुभ्यं नमोनमः । हृदिस्थः सर्वभूतानां पुण्यपापेक्षिता भवान्
Directly seen, O Lord of the world, O god, I bow again and again to you; you dwell in the hearts of all beings, you are sought by the virtuous.
तेन शास्ता च भूतानां दाता देव प्रशासिता । प्रवर्त्तको हि धर्मस्य देवदंडधरो भुवि
Thus you are the ruler of beings, the giver, O god, the governor; truly, you are the upholder of Dharma, the divine wielder of the rod on earth.
सर्वधर्ममयं सारमेकं वद सुनिश्चितम् । यम उवाच- परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते विप्र स्तोत्रेण च विशेषतः
Speak with certainty the single essence of all Dharma; Yama said: I am pleased with you, O Brahmin, especially by your hymn.
तथाप्यागम धर्मेण मान्योसि मम सत्तम । यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं तद्गोप्यं परमं मम
Yet, according to scriptural Dharma, you are honored by me, O excellent one; what has not been told to anyone, that is my highest secret.
सारमुद्धृत्य सर्वेषां यदेकं निश्चितं मया । महानिरयसंघातान्निर्वासनकरं परम्
Having extracted the essence of all, that one thing determined by me, which is supreme and leads to release from the great mass of hells,
अनाख्येयमपि ब्रह्मन्वक्ष्ये विनयतोषितः
Even though it is not to be declared, O Brahmin, I will speak it, pleased by your humility.
स्युर्मोहाय चराचरस्य जगतस्ते ते पुराणागमास्तां तामेव हि देवतां परमिकां जल्पंतु कल्पे विधौ । सिद्धांते पुनरेक एव भगवान्विष्णुः समस्तागम-व्यापारेषु विवेकिनां व्यतिकरं नीतेषु निश्चीयते
Let those ancient scriptures, for the delusion of the moving and unmoving world, speak of that supreme goddess in the course of creation; but in the conclusion, only the one Lord Viṣṇu is determined by the wise, after examining all scriptures and resolving contradictions.