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.
वामेऽपि चतुरः शंखान्नाममुद्रे च पूर्ववत् । चक्रमेकंगदे द्वे द्वे तयोरिति विभेदतः
On the left side as well, four conch marks and the name seal as before; one discus, two maces, two of each—thus, according to their distinction.
ललाटे च गदामेकां नाममुद्रां तथा हृदि । त्रीणित्रीणि विचित्राणि मध्ये शाखावुभावुभौ
On the forehead, a single mace; the name seal likewise on the heart; three and three varied marks in the middle, and both branches on both sides.
हृदि पार्श्वे स्तनादूर्ध्वं गदापद्मानि बाहुवत् । त्रीणि चत्वारि चक्राणि कर्णमूले द्वयोरधः
On the heart, at the side, above the breasts, maces and lotuses as on the arms; three, four discuses at the root of both ears, below.
एकमेकं तदन्येषु तिलकेषु च धारयेत् । संप्रदायजमुद्रां तु धार्या शिष्टानुसारतः
One of each should be worn on the other tilakas; the mudra of the tradition must be worn, following the custom of the virtuous.
यथारुच्यथवा धार्या न तत्र नियमा यतः । आचांडालाद्विशुद्ध्यंति तिलकस्यैव धारणात्
They may be worn as desired, or otherwise; there is no restriction in this matter, for even a chāṇḍāla is purified by wearing the tilaka.
चांडालादधिकं मन्ये वैष्णवानां हि निंदकम् । स च विष्णुसमो ज्ञेयो नात्र कार्या विचारणा
I consider one who insults Vaiṣṇavas to be worse than a chāṇḍāla; he should be regarded as equal to Viṣṇu—there is no need for deliberation here.
वैष्णवो ब्राह्मणो यस्तु विष्णुध्यानेषु तत्परः । नांतरस्तस्य वै ज्ञेयः स वै विष्णुर्भवेदिह
A Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa who is devoted to meditation on Viṣṇu—his inner nature should be known as such; he indeed becomes Viṣṇu here.
शंखचक्रधरो विप्रो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः । स वै नारायण इति वेदे चैव तु पठ्यते
A brāhmaṇa bearing the conch and discus, devoted to Vedic study, is indeed called Nārāyaṇa; so it is recited in the Veda.
तप्तचक्रधरो विप्रः पंक्तिपावनपावनः । तस्य भक्तियुतो ब्रह्मन्महापापैः प्रमुच्यते
A brāhmaṇa bearing the heated discus, purifier of the line, endowed with devotion, O brāhmaṇa, is freed from great sins.
तुलसीपत्रमालां वा तुलसीकाष्ठसंभवाम् । धृत्वा वै ब्राह्मणो भूयान्मुक्तिभागी न संशयः
Whether wearing a garland of tulasi leaves or made from tulasi wood, a brāhmaṇa surely attains liberation—there is no doubt.