सम्यगाराधितो विष्णुः किं न यच्छति देहिनाम्
What does Vishnu, when properly worshipped, not grant to embodied beings?
यन्नामस्मरणादेव देहिनो यांति सद्गतिम् ।। 2.4.25.
By the mere remembrance of whose name, embodied beings attain the highest state.
ग्राहग्रस्तो हि नागेंद्रो यन्नामस्मरणात्पुरा
For even the king of serpents, seized by the crocodile, was freed in former times by the remembrance of whose name.
यतस्त्वयाऽर्चितो विष्णुस्तत्सान्निध्यं प्रयास्यसि
Because you have worshipped Vishnu, you will attain his presence.
ततः पुण्यक्षयेजाते यदा यास्यसि भूतलम्
Then, when your store of merit is exhausted, you will go to the earthly realm.
नाम्ना दशरथस्तत्र भार्याद्वययुतः पुनः
There, you will be known as Dasharatha, again united with your wives.
तत्राऽपि तव सान्निध्यं विष्णुर्यास्यति भूतले
Even there on earth, Vishnu will come into your presence.
तव जन्मव्रतादस्माद्विष्णुसंतुष्टिकारकात्
Because of this vow from your birth, which brings satisfaction to Vishnu,
धन्योऽसि विप्राग्र्य यतस्त्वयैतद्व्रतं कृतं तुष्टिकरं जगद्गुरोः
Blessed are you, foremost among Brahmins, for you have performed this vow that brings satisfaction to the Teacher of the world.
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमौ वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Having bowed down with his body stretched on the ground, he spoke these words.
धर्मदत्त उवाच आराधयंति सर्वेऽपि विष्णुं भक्ताऽर्तिनाशनम्
Dharmadatta said: All devotees worship Viṣṇu, the remover of suffering.
विष्णुप्रीतिकरं तेषां किंचित्सान्निध्यकारकम्
That which brings pleasure to Viṣṇu and causes His presence among them—
सेतिहासकथां पुण्यां कथ्यमानां पुराभवाम्
—is the narration of sacred ancient stories, which I shall now recount.
कांचिपुर्यां पुरा चोलश्चक्रवर्ती नृपोऽभवत्
Once, in Kāñcīpura, there was a king of the Chola dynasty, a universal sovereign.
यस्मिञ्छासति भूचक्रं दरिद्रो वाऽपि दुःखितः
During his reign, no one on earth was poor or afflicted.
यस्याप्युन्नतयज्ञस्य ताम्रपर्ण्यास्तटावुभौ
On the banks of the Tāmraparṇī, both the great sacrifices he performed—
तत्र श्रीरमणं देवं संपूज्य विधिवन्नृपः
There, the king duly worshipped the blessed Lord Ramaṇa.
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमावुपविष्टः स तत्र वै 2.4.26.
Having bowed down with his body stretched on the ground, he sat there.
देवार्चनार्थं पाणौ तु तुलस्युदकधारिणम्
For the purpose of worshipping the deity, he held water with tulasī leaves in his hand.
स तत्राभ्येत्य विप्रर्षिर्देवदेवमपूजयत्
There, a Brahmin sage approached and worshipped the God of gods.
तुलसीपूजया तस्य रत्नपूजां पुरा कृताम्
By worshipping with tulasī, he surpassed the king’s former worship with jewels.
विष्णुदास कथं सेयमाच्छन्ना तुलसीदलैः
Viṣṇudāsa, how is it that this worship is concealed by tulasī leaves?
विष्णुभक्तिं न जानासि वराकोऽसि मतो मम
You do not know devotion to Viṣṇu; in my view, you are a wretch.
इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सक्रोधः स द्विजोत्तमः
Hearing these words, that best of Brahmins became angry.
कियद्विष्णुव्रतं पूर्वं त्वया चीर्णं वदस्व तत्
Tell me, how many Viṣṇu vows have you observed before?
तद्ब्राह्मणवचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य स नृपोत्तमः
Hearing the Brahmin’s words, the best of kings laughed.
इत्थं चेद्वदसे विप्र विष्णुभक्त्याऽतिगर्वितः
If you speak thus, O Brahmin, so excessively proud because of your devotion to Vishnu,
यज्ञदानादिकं नैव विष्णोस्तुष्टिकरं कृतम् 2.4.26.
then sacrifices, gifts, and the like do not truly bring satisfaction to Vishnu.
ईदृशस्याऽपि ते गर्व एष तिष्ठति भक्तितः
Even so, this pride of yours persists, arising from your devotion.
साक्षात्कारमहं विष्णोरेष वादो गमिष्यति
I shall bring about a direct vision of Vishnu; this dispute will be resolved.