एकदा तु मया पृष्टं यदेतद् भवतोदितम् । प्राह कालिङ्गको विप्रः स्मृत्वा तस्य मुनेर्वचः
Once, I asked him about what you have now inquired; the Brāhmaṇa Kāliṅgaka, recalling the words of that sage, spoke.
जातिस्मरेण कथितो रहस्यः परमो मम । यम-किङ्गरयोर्योऽभूत् संवादस्तं ब्रवीमि ते
He, who remembered his past births, told me this supreme secret: the conversation that once took place between Yama and his messengers—I will tell you that.
स्वपुरुषमभिवीक्ष्य पाशह्सतं वदति यमः किल तस्य कर्णामूले । परिहर मधुसूदनप्रपन्नान् प्रभुरहमन्यनृणां न वैष्णवानाम्
Looking at his own servant holding a noose, Yama is said to speak at his ear: 'Avoid those who have taken refuge in Madhusūdana; I am the lord over others, but not over the devotees of Viṣṇu.'
अहममरघणर्चितेन धात्रा यम इति लोकहिताहिते नियुक्तः । हरिगुरुवशगोऽस्मि न स्वतन्त्रः प्रभवति संयमने ममापि विष्णुः
'I, Yama, am appointed by the Creator, who is worshipped by the immortals, for the welfare and harm of the world; but I am under the authority of Hari and his teachers, not independent—Viṣṇu himself controls even my power of restraint.'
कटकमुकुटकर्णिकादिबेदैः कनकमभेदमपीष्यते यथैकम । सुरपशुमनुजादिकल्पनाभि हरिरखिलाभिरुदीर्य्यते तथैकः
Just as gold, though fashioned into bracelets, crowns, earrings, and the like, is considered one, so too is Hari, though described by various conceptions as god, animal, human, and so on, always one.
क्षितिजलपरमाणावोऽनिलान्ते पुनरपि यान्ति यथैकतां धरिव्याः । सुरपशुमनुजादयस्तथान्ते गुणकलुषेण सनातनेन तेन
Just as earth, water, and atoms return to unity at the end, so too do gods, animals, humans, and others, at the end, merge through the eternal quality of guṇa and impurity.
हरिममरगणर्चिताञघ्रिपह्मं प्रणमति यः परमार्थतो हि मर्त्त्यः । तमपगतसमस्तपापबन्धं व्रज परिह्टत्य यथाग्रिगाज्यसिक्तम्
Whoever, in truth, bows to the lotus feet of Hari, worshipped by hosts of immortals, is freed from all bonds of sin and goes, as clarified butter poured on fire, to liberation.
इति यमवचनं निशम्य पाशी कथय मम विभो ! समस्तधातु यमपुरुषस्तमुवाच धर्मराजम् । र्भवति हरेः खलु यादृशोऽस्य भक्तः
Hearing these words of Yama, the noose-bearer said: 'Tell me, O Lord of all beings!' And Yama's servant spoke to the king of righteousness: 'The fate of one devoted to Hari is as his devotion.'
न चलति निजवर्णाधर्मतो यः सममतिरात्मसुह्टदविपक्षपक्षे न हरति न च हन्ति किञ्चिदुच्चैः सितमनसं तमवैहि विष्णभक्तम्
He who does not stray from the duties of his own class, whose mind is impartial toward friend and foe, who neither steals nor kills anything, whose mind is pure—know him to be a devotee of Vishnu.
कलिकलूषमलेन यस्य नात्मा विमलमतेर्मलिनीकृतोऽस्तमोहे । मनसि कृतजनार्दनं मनुष्यं सततमवेहि हररतीव भक्तम्
He whose self is not tainted by the impurity of the Kali age, whose pure mind is not stained by delusion, who has installed Janardana in his heart—know that man to be ever devoted to Hari.
कनकमपि रहस्यवेक्ष्य बुद्धया तृर्णामिव यः समवैति वै परस्वम । भवति च भगवत्यनन्यचेताः पुरुषवरं तमवेहि विष्णुभक्तम्
He who regards another’s wealth, even if it be gold, as mere straw, who remains solely devoted to the Blessed Lord—know that best of men to be a devotee of Vishnu.
स्फटिकगिरिशिलामलः क्व बिष्णुर्मनसि नृणां क्व च मत्सरादिदोषः । न हि तुहिनमयूखरश्मिपुञ्ज भवति हुताशनदीप्तिजः प्रतापः
Where is the pure crystal mountain, and where are the faults of envy and the like in the minds of men? Just as the heat born of blazing fire cannot exist amid the rays of cool moonlight.
विमलमतिविमत्सरः प्रशान्तः शुचिचरितोऽखिलसत्वमित्रबूतः । प्रियहितवचनोऽस्तमानमायो वसति सदा ह्टदि तस्य वासुदेवः
He who is pure, free from envy, tranquil, of pure conduct, a friend to all beings, who speaks words that are dear and beneficial, free from pride and deceit—Vasudeva ever dwells in his heart.
वसति ह्टदि सनातने च तस्मिन् भवति पुमान् जगतोऽस्य सौम्यरूपः । क्षितिरसमतिरम्यमात्मनोऽन्तः कथयति चारुतयैव शालपोतः
In the heart of such a person, the eternal, gentle form of the Lord of the world resides. The earth, though not pleasing, becomes delightful within, just as a tender shoot is charming.
यमनियमविदूतकल्मषाणा मनुदिनमच्युतसक्तमानसानाम् । अपगतमद-मान-मत्सराणं त्यज भट!दूरतरेण मानवानाम
O warrior, abandon from afar those men whose minds are stained, who are devoid of self-control and discipline, whose hearts are not attached to the imperishable, who are filled with pride, arrogance, and envy.
ह्टदि यदि भगवाननादिररास्ते हरिरसिशङ्खगदाधरोऽव्ययात्मा । तदघमघविघातकर्तृभिन्नं भवति कथं सति चान्धकारमर्के
If the beginningless Lord Hari, bearer of the conch and mace, dwells in the heart, how can sin remain there, just as darkness cannot remain when the sun is present?
हरति परधनं निहन्ति जन्तून् वदति तथानृतनिष्ठु राणि यश्व । असुभजनितदुर्मदस्य पु सः कलुषमतेह्ट दि तस्य नास्त्यनन्तः
He who steals others’ wealth, kills creatures, speaks persistent falsehoods—such a person, whose mind is impure from evil company, has no end to his misfortune.
न सहति परसम्पदं विनिन्दां कलुषमतिः कुरुते सतामसाधुः । न यजति न ददाति यश्व सन्तं मनसि न तस् जनार्दनोऽधमस्य
He who cannot tolerate others’ prosperity, who slanders, whose mind is impure, who acts wickedly toward the good, who neither sacrifices nor gives—Janardana does not dwell in the heart of such a base person.
परमसुद्टदि बान्धवे कलत्रे सुततनयापितृमातृभृत्यवर्गे। शठमतिरुपयाति योऽर्थतृष्णां तमधमचेष्टमवैहि नास्य भक्तम्
He who is supremely attached to relatives, wife, children, parents, and servants, whose mind is deceitful and greedy for wealth—know that ignoble man is not a devotee.
अशुभमतिरसत्प्रवृत्तिसक्तः सततमनार्य्यविशालसङ्गमत्तः । अनुदिनकृतपापबन्धयत्नः पुरुषपशुर्नहि वासुदेवभक्तः
He whose mind is evil, attached to unrighteous acts, always intoxicated by the company of the wicked, who daily strives to bind himself with sinful deeds—such a man is like a beast, not a devotee of Vasudeva.
सकलमिदमहञ्च वासुदेवः परमपुनाम् परमेश्वरः स एकः । इति मतिरचला भवत्यनन्ते ह्टदयगते व्रज तान् विहाय दूरात्
He whose unwavering thought is: 'All this, and I myself, are Vasudeva, the supreme purifier, the one supreme Lord'—when this understanding arises in the heart, go to such people, leaving others far behind.
कमलनयन वासुदेव विष्णो धरणिधराच्युत शह्घचक्रपोणो! भव शरणमितीरयन्ति ये वै त्यज भट दूरतरेण तानपापान्
O lotus-eyed Vasudeva, Vishnu, upholder of the earth, imperishable, bearer of the conch and discus! Those who say, 'Be my refuge!'—O warrior, abandon those sinners from afar.
वसति मनसि यस्य सोऽव्ययात्मा पुरुषवरस्य न तस्य दृष्टिपाते । तव गतिरथवा ममास्ति चक्र प्रतिहतवीर्य्यबलस्य सोऽन्यलोक्यः
He in whose heart the imperishable Self dwells, that best of men—within his gaze, O discus-bearer, is your path or mine; he is not to be overcome by the strength or power of others.
इतं निं जभटशासनाय देवो रवितनयः स किलाह धर्मराजः । मम कथितामिदञ्च तेन तुभ्यं कुरुवर! सम्यगिदं मयापि चोक्तम्
Thus, for the enforcement of your command, O god, the sun’s son, Dharmaraja, spoke these words. What he told me, I have now properly related to you, O best of the Kurus.
नकुलैतन्ममाख्यातं पूर्वं तेन द्रिजन्मना । कलिङ्गदेशादभ्येत्य प्रीयता सुमहात्मना
This was previously told to me by Nakula, who was born twice, coming from the land of Kalinga, by the greatly noble and pleased one.
मयाप्येतदू यथान्याय सम्यग् वत्स! तवोदितम् । यथा विष्णुमृते नान्यत् त्राणं संसारसागरे
I have now properly related this to you, dear child, just as you asked. For apart from Vishnu, there is no other refuge in the ocean of worldly existence.
किङ्गरा पाशदण्डाश्व न यमो न च याताः । समर्थस्तस्य यस्यात्मा केशवालम्बनः सदा
Neither the messengers, nor the noose, nor the staff, nor the horse of Yama, nor Yama himself, nor his servants, have power over one whose soul always relies upon Keśava.
मैत्रेय उवाच भगवन्भगवान्देवः संसारविजिगीषुभिः । समाख्याहि जगन्नाथो विष्णुराराध्यते यथा ॥ ३,८.
Maitreya said: O revered one, please explain how the Lord of the universe, Viṣṇu, is worshipped by those who wish to transcend worldly existence.
आराधिताच्च गोविन्दादाराधनपरैर्नरैः । यत्प्राप्यते फलं श्रोतुं तच्चेच्छामि महामुने ॥ ३,८.
And, O great sage, I wish to hear what result is obtained by men devoted to the worship of Govinda.
श्रीपराशर उवाच यत्पृच्छति भवानेतत्सगरेण महात्मना । और्वः प्राह यथा पृष्टस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ ३,८.
Śrī Parāśara said: What you ask was once questioned by the great Sagara; listen as I recount what Aurva replied when he was thus asked.