प्रातःस्नायी निजाचारग्राही हिंसा विवर्जितः । एकादशीव्रतरतो ज्ञातिपूजापरायणः
He bathed at dawn, observed his own daily duties, refrained from violence, practiced the vow of Ekadashi, and was devoted to honoring his relatives.
कदाचित्स द्विजश्रेष्ठः स्वप्नेऽपश्यच्च केशवम् । श्यामं विरजपद्माक्षं स्मेरास्यं पीतवाससम्
Once, O best of twice-born, he saw Keshava in a dream—dark-hued, with spotless lotus-like eyes, a smiling face, and clad in yellow garments.
स्वर्णकुण्डलमञ्जीरकिरीटोज्ज्वलविग्रहम् । कौस्तुभोद्भासितोरस्कं वनमालाविभूषितम्
He beheld a radiant form adorned with golden earrings, anklets, and a crown, his chest shining with the Kaustubha gem and decorated with a garland of forest flowers.
चतुर्बाहुं शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मधरं प्रभुम् । समस्तैर्लक्षणैर्युक्तं स्वर्णयज्ञोपवीतिनम्
He saw the Lord with four arms, holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus, endowed with all auspicious marks, and wearing a golden sacred thread.
संप्राप्य दर्शनं स्वप्ने स विप्रो जगतीपतेः । कृताञ्जलिस्तमस्तौषीद्रोमांचिततनुर्मुदा
Having attained the vision of the Lord of the world in his dream, that Brahmin, with joined palms and hair standing on end from joy, praised him.
तुभ्यं नमोऽस्तु जगतः सकलस्यभर्त्त्रे सल्लोकशोकभयरोगविनाशनाय । नारायणाय कमलाहृदयप्रियाय धर्मार्थकामपरमामृतदाय तुभ्यम्
Salutations to you, Lord of all the worlds, destroyer of sorrow, fear, and disease for all beings, O Narayana, beloved of Lakshmi's heart, giver of the supreme nectar of righteousness, prosperity, desire, and liberation.
पापानि चैव सकलानि मया कृतानि मत्तेन मोहवशगेन सदा मुरारे । तस्माद्बिभेमि जगदंबुनिधेर्गभीरान्मामुद्धरस्व निजभक्तितरीं प्रदाय
All the sins I have committed, O enemy of Mura, have been done by me out of intoxication and delusion; therefore I fear the deep ocean of worldly existence—lift me up by granting me the boat of your devotion.
जानामि यद्यपि हरे दुरितं मनुष्यो व्यामोहमाशुचलभे भुवि कैटभारे । पापं तथापि च मुदा सततं करोमि तस्मान्न कोऽप्यहमिवास्ति जनो विमूढः
Although I know, O Hari, that human beings, deluded, incur sin on earth, still I always commit evil with pleasure; thus, there is truly no one as foolish as I am.
पुण्यद्रुमः सुखफलं सहसैव धत्ते किं वेद्मि नेति नृहरे कृतपातकोऽहम् । पुष्पद्रुमार्पणविधौ न ममास्ति वित्तं नाथ प्रसीद भगवन्किमहं करोमि
The tree of merit quickly bears the fruit of happiness, but what do I know, O slayer of the demon Naraka? I am a sinner. I have no wealth for the offering of flower-trees; O Lord, be gracious—what can I do?
त्वत्पादपद्मयुगलं परमामृतस्य स्थानं विहाय मम चित्तमधुव्रतोऽयम् । नारीमुखं व्रजति देवमृतिप्रदं यच्छ्लेष्मप्रकीर्णमनिशं कमलभ्रमेण
Forsaking your pair of lotus feet, the abode of supreme nectar, my mind, like a bee, ever wanders to the faces of women, which bestow only death, smeared always with mucus, deluded like a bee after a lotus.
पाणिःप्रदानरहितोऽनृतभाषिवक्त्रं कर्णौ च पापश्रवणाय सदैव दक्षौ । दोषानिमान्मम हरे हर सेवकस्य यस्मान्नु नाथ शरणागतदोषहंता
My hands do not give gifts, my mouth speaks falsehood, my ears are ever eager to hear evil; O Hari, remove these faults of your servant, for you, O Lord, are the destroyer of the faults of those who seek your refuge.
संसारघोरजलधौ नृहरे कदाचित्त्वद्भक्तिनौरिह मया सुदृढा च लब्धा । तत्रापि दैववशगोऽहमहो दुरात्मा वर्तेत एव सततं ममदुःखकालः
O slayer of Naraka, even if I have obtained the sturdy boat of your devotion in this dreadful ocean of worldly existence, still, alas, I am subject to fate, of wicked mind, and my time is always spent in sorrow.
संसारपारगमनाय लसत्पथोऽस्ति किं सर्वदुःखरहितः सदयः प्रसन्नः । अंधीकृतस्य मम मोहमहत्तमिस्रैर्दृष्टिस्त्वयीह न कदापि च याति विष्णो
Is there a shining path to cross the ocean of worldly existence, free from all suffering, compassionate and gracious? My vision, blinded by the great darkness of delusion, never turns to you here, O Vishnu.
पापात्मनोऽपि मम चित्तमिदं मुरारे नष्टं विनष्टजनकष्टविनष्टिकारि । यस्त्वां समस्तसुरवंदितपादपद्म स्वप्नेऽपि केशिमथनाद्य विभो समीक्षे
Even though I am sinful, my mind is lost, ruined, the cause of my own destruction; yet, O slayer of Keshi, today I behold you, whose lotus feet are worshipped by all the gods, even in a dream, O Lord.
व्यास उवाच- इति तेन स्तुतो देवो भगवान्कमलापतिः । उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः संसारार्णवतारकः
Vyasa said: Thus praised by him, the blessed Lord, consort of Lakshmi, the knower of speech, who carries across the ocean of worldly existence, spoke these words.
श्रीभगवानुवाच- भक्तिभिस्तव विप्रेंद्र तुष्टोऽहं नित्यमेव च । तस्मात्तवाचिरेणैव सर्वं भद्रं भविष्यति
The Blessed Lord said: O best of Brahmins, I am always pleased by your devotion; therefore, very soon, all good fortune will come to you.
पापिनोऽपि तवोद्धारो मया पूर्वं कृतो द्विज । अधुना मम भक्तोऽसि न विपत्तिर्भविष्यति
Even before, I delivered you from sin, O Brahmin; now you are my devotee—no misfortune will befall you.
ब्राह्मण उवाच। कोऽहं तस्थौ पुरा विष्णो किं वा पापं मया कृतम् । पापिनोऽपि ममोद्धारः कथं पूर्वं त्वया कृतः
The Brahmin said: Who was I before, O Vishnu? What sin did I commit? How did you deliver me from sin in the past?
संसारेऽस्मिन्कथं जातो जनितोऽहं कथं त्वया । एतत्सर्वं विभो ब्रूहि यतस्त्वं सदयः सदा
In this world, how was I born, and how was I brought forth by you? O Lord, please tell me all of this, for you are always compassionate.
श्रीभगवानुवाच- अप्रकाश्यमिदं गुह्यं यद्यपि द्विजसत्तम । तथापि तव वात्सल्यान्निगदामि निशामय
The Blessed Lord said: Although this is a secret and not to be revealed, O best of the twice-born, still, out of affection for you, I will tell it—listen.
पुरा त्वं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ पक्षिवंशसमुद्भवः । भूतोऽसि भूमिभागेषु निजकर्मविपाकतः
Formerly, O foremost of Brahmins, you were born in the lineage of birds, having arisen on earth as a result of your own actions.
क्षुधया तृषया वापि सततं व्याकुलो भवान् । बभ्राम भक्षयन्कीटान्निर्झरोष्णोदकं तथा
Constantly troubled by hunger or thirst, you wandered about, eating insects and also drinking water from hot springs.
नानादुःखं सदा भुंजन्पक्षियोनौ समुद्भवः । चतुर्वर्षसहस्राणि स्थितोऽसि त्वं पुरा क्षितौ
Enduring various kinds of suffering, always born as a bird, you remained on earth for four thousand years.
एकदा कुलभद्राख्यो ब्राह्मणः सर्वतत्ववित् । पूजयामास मां भक्त्या नैवेद्याद्यैर्नदीतटे
Once, a Brahmin named Kulabhadra, knower of all truths, worshipped me with devotion and offerings on the riverbank.
समभ्यर्च्य स विप्रेंद्रो मम नैवेद्यतंदुलम् । ययौ तत्रैव निक्षिप्य भूय एव निजं गृहम्
Having worshipped me, that best of Brahmins left the rice offered to me there and returned again to his own home.
ततो वृक्षात्समागत्य क्षुधिना पक्षिणा त्वया । मम नैवेद्यसंबंधि भक्षितं सर्वतंदुलम्
Then, coming from a tree, driven by hunger, you, as a bird, ate all the rice that was connected to my offering.
भुक्त्वैव सद्यो मुक्तोऽसि पातकैरतिदारुणैः । कदाचित्प्राप्तकालस्त्वं कालधर्मगतो द्विज
Having eaten, you were immediately freed from very terrible sins; and when your time came, O Brahmin, you went to the realm of death.
त्वामानेतुं मया दूताः प्रेषिताः सर्वथा निजाः । ततो रथे समारोप्य भवंतं नष्टकल्मषम्
To bring you, I sent my own messengers in every way; then, placing you—purified from sin—on a chariot,
सद्यो दूतगणाः सर्वे समायाताः परं पदम् । युगकोटिसहस्राणि स्थितोऽसि मम सन्निधौ
All the hosts of messengers immediately brought you to the supreme abode, where you remained in my presence for thousands of aeons.
भुंजन्सुखानि सर्वाणि दुर्ल्लभानि सुरैरपि । ततो यातोऽसि विप्रेन्द्र विशुद्धे ब्राह्मणान्वये
Enjoying all pleasures, even those difficult for the gods to obtain, you then took birth, O best of Brahmins, in a pure Brahmin family.