दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वा स्थापयामास तं प्रभुम् । तस्मिन्पुरे नरान्सर्वा सन्नियोज्यास्य वीक्षणे
Assuming a divine form, he installed that Lord, and in that city he appointed all the people to attend upon Him.
शुभमायतनं विष्णोस्तस्मिन्ग्रामे सदा जनैः । पूर्णं तु ब्राह्मणादीनां पूजयित्वा कदंबकम्
In that village, the auspicious temple of Viṣṇu was always filled with people, and after worshipping the brāhmaṇas and others, they offered the kadamba flowers.
इतिहासपुराणज्ञं वाचकं तु विशेषतः । पूजयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठं विद्याश्रेष्ठं महामतिः
Especially, the wise king worshipped the best among twice-born, learned in history and Purāṇas, a man of great intellect and knowledge.
पुस्तकं चापि संपूज्य गंधपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् । ततस्तमाह राजासौ वाचकं विनयान्वितः
He also worshipped the book itself, with fragrance, flowers, and so forth, in due order. Then the king, full of humility, addressed the reciter.
एतदायतनं विष्णोः कारितं च तवाग्रतः । चातुर्वर्ण्यमिदं चापि श्रोतुकामं कदंबकम्
'This temple of Viṣṇu has been established before you; I wish to hear the entire account of the four varṇas.'
तिष्ठतीह द्विजश्रेष्ठ कुरु पुस्तकवाचनम् । यावत्संवत्सरं विप्र गृह्य वृत्तिं त्वनुत्तमाम्
'Remain here, best of twice-born, and recite the book. For a full year, O brāhmaṇa, receive the best livelihood from me.'
स्वर्णनिष्कशतं चात्र ततो दास्ये तथापरम् । पूर्णे वर्षे द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रेयोऽथ महमात्मनः
'I will give here a hundred gold coins, and then more besides. At the end of the year, O best of twice-born, I will further grant you my own highest good.'
एवं प्रवर्तितं तत्र पुण्यं पुस्तकवाचनम् । वर्षसंगतमात्रे तु तथा च मुनिसत्तम
Thus, the meritorious recitation of the book was established there, to be performed annually, O best of sages.
अथायुषः क्षयाच्चायं कालधर्ममुपेयिवान् । मया चास्य विमानं हि विष्णुना प्रेरितं दिवः
Then, when his lifespan ended, he attained the law of time (death); and by me, prompted by Viṣṇu, his celestial chariot was sent from heaven.
इत्येषा कर्मणां व्युष्टिः पुण्यमाख्यानसंज्ञकम् । श्रुतं पाद्मं महत्पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्
Thus is the result of actions called the merit of sacred narrative: the great, holy, sin-destroying Padma has been heard.
गंधपुष्पोपहारैस्तु न तुष्टिर्जायते तथा । देवानामिह सर्वेषां पुराणश्रवणाद्यथा
By offerings of fragrance and flowers, satisfaction is not produced for all the gods here as it is by hearing the Purāṇas.
स्वर्णरत्नादिवस्तूनां वस्त्राणां चापि कृत्स्नशः । ग्रामाणां नगराणां च दानात्तुष्टिर्भवेन्नहि
Not even by giving gold, jewels, and other objects, or all kinds of garments, or even villages and cities, does satisfaction arise.
यथा स्याद्धर्मश्रवणात्प्रीतिः सर्वदिवौकसाम् । इतिहासपुराणानां श्रवणे मुनिसत्तम
Just as all the gods feel delight from hearing the Dharma, so too, O best of sages, is there joy in listening to the histories and ancient tales.
तथा स्यान्मे महाप्रीतिः साध्ये सर्वार्थकामिके । कन्यादाने महाप्रीतिर्मम स्यान्मुनिसत्तम
In the same way, may I have great joy in the fulfillment of all desires; O best of sages, may I have great joy in the giving of a maiden.
न तथा रोचते सा च यथा पुस्तकवाचनात् । अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन नान्यत्प्रीतिकरं मम
Yet, that joy is not as pleasing to me as the reading of books; so why speak at length? Nothing else brings me such delight.
पुण्याख्यानमृते विप्र गुह्यमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् । यश्चायमपरो विप्र इहायातो नरोत्तमः
O Brahmin, apart from the narration of meritorious stories, this secret has been declared; and this other excellent man has come here, O best of men.
संगत्यानुगतश्चायं धर्मश्रवणमुत्तमम् । श्रुत्वा भक्तिरभूदस्य श्रद्धया परमात्मनः
He has joined the assembly and followed this supreme hearing of Dharma; upon listening, devotion arose in him with faith toward the Supreme Self.
कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं तस्य वाचकस्य महात्मनः । एष विप्रो मुनिश्रेष्ठ ददौ स्वर्णस्य माषकम्
After circumambulating the great-hearted reciter, this Brahmin, O best of sages, gave a single measure of gold.
नान्यद्दानं कदा चक्रे लोभाविष्टेन चेतसा । पात्रदानात्फलप्राप्तिस्त्वस्य जाता न संशयः
He never gave any other gift, his mind seized by greed; yet, by giving to a worthy recipient, he certainly attained the fruit.
इत्येतत्कथितं कर्म आभ्यां चैव महामुने
Thus, O great sage, this act has been described, as performed by these two.
महादेव उवाच- एतत्पुण्यस्य माहात्म्यं ये शृण्वंति मनीषिणः । न तेषां दुर्गतिः कच्चिज्जन्मजन्मनि जायते
Mahadeva said: Those wise ones who hear this greatness of merit—never does misfortune arise for them, in any birth.
महादेव उवाच- अथान्यत्संप्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु देवर्षिसत्तम । गोपीचंदनमाहात्म्यं यथादृष्टं श्रुतं मया
Mahadeva said: Now I shall tell you something else; listen, O best of divine sages, to the greatness of Gopīchandana, as I have seen and heard.
ब्राह्मणो वाथ वैश्यो वा शूद्रो वाप्यथवा द्विजः । गोपीचंदनलिप्तांगो मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
Whether a Brahmin, a merchant, a servant, or even a twice-born, whoever anoints their body with Gopīchandana is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
तिलकं कुरुते यस्तु गोपीचंदनसंभवम् । मद्यपानादिदोषैस्तु मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Whoever marks their forehead with a tilaka made from Gopīchandana is freed from the faults of drinking liquor and the like—of this there is no doubt.
गोपीचंदनलिप्तांगो वैष्णवो विष्णुतत्परः । सर्वदोषैः प्रमुच्येत यथा गंगांभसा पुनः
A devotee of Vishnu, absorbed in Vishnu, who anoints their body with Gopīchandana, is freed from all faults, just as by the water of the Ganges.
ब्रह्महा मद्यपानी च स्वर्णस्तेयी तथैव च । गुरुतल्पगमो वाथ शूद्रो वाप्यथ वै द्विजः
A Brahmin-killer, a drinker of liquor, a gold thief, one who approaches the teacher's wife, or even a servant or a twice-born—
स सद्यो मुच्यते पापादाजन्मशतकारणात् । द्वादशतिलकं प्रोक्तं सर्वेषां वै विशेषतः
Such a one is instantly freed from sin, even if it has accumulated over a hundred births; the twelve-fold tilaka is prescribed especially for all.
वैष्णवानां ब्राह्मणानां कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छताम् । दंडाकारं ललाटे स्यात्पद्माकारं तु वक्षसि
For Vaishnava Brahmins who desire prosperity, it is to be made: in the shape of a staff on the forehead, and in the shape of a lotus on the chest.
वेणुपत्रनिभं बाहुमूलेऽन्यद्दीपकाकृति । उच्चैश्चक्राणि चत्वारि बाहुमूले तु दक्षिणे
In the form of a bamboo leaf at the root of the arm, and another in the shape of a lamp; four tall chakras on the right arm's root.
नाममुद्राद्वयं नीचैः शंखमेकं तयोरपि । मध्ये ततः पार्श्वयोस्तु द्वे द्वे पद्मे च धारयेत्
Two name-seals are to be placed below, and a single conch among them; then, on the sides, two lotuses each are to be worn.