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.
सगरः प्रणिपत्त्यैनमौर्वं पप्रच्छभार्गवम् । विष्णोराराधनोपायसंबन्धं मुनिसत्तम ॥ ३,८.
Sagara, having bowed, asked Aurva of the Bhārgava lineage, O best of sages, about the means and connection of worshipping Viṣṇu.
फलं चाराधिते विष्णो यत्पुंसामभिजायते । स चाह पृष्टो यत्नेन तस्मै तन्मेखिलं शृणु ॥ ३,८.
And he also asked what result arises for men when Viṣṇu is worshipped; Aurva, being earnestly questioned, replied to him—listen to all that he said.
और्व उवाच भौमं मनोरथं स्वर्गं स्वर्गे रम्यं च यत्पदम् । प्राप्नोत्याराधिते विष्णौ निर्वाणमपि चोत्तमम् ॥ ३,८.
Aurva said: By worshipping Viṣṇu, one attains earthly desires, heaven, the delightful realm in heaven, and even the highest liberation.
यद्यदिच्छति यावच्च फलमाराधितेऽच्युते । तत्तदाप्नोति राजेन्द्र भूरि स्वल्पमथापि वा ॥ ३,८.
Whatever result one desires, and to whatever extent, by worshipping Acyuta, O king, that is attained—whether great or small.
यत्तु पृच्छसि भूपाल कथामाराध्यते हरिः । तदहं सकलं तुभ्यं कथयामि निबोध मे ॥ ३,८.
What you ask, O ruler of the earth, about how Hari is worshipped—I will tell you everything; listen attentively to me.
वर्णाश्रमाचारवता पुरुषेणपरः पुमान् । विष्णुराराध्यते पन्था नान्यस्तत्तोषकारकः ॥ ३,८.
The supreme person is worshipped by one who observes the conduct of varṇa and āśrama; there is no other way that brings satisfaction to Him.
यजन्यज्ञान्यजत्येनं जपन्त्येनं जपन्नृप । निघ्नन्नन्यान्हिनस्त्येनं सर्वभूतो यतो हरिः ॥ ३,८.
He is worshipped by offering sacrifices, by reciting prayers, by performing japa, by destroying enemies, and by harming others—for Hari is the soul of all beings.
तस्मात्सदाचारवता पुरुषेण जनार्दनः । आराध्यस्तु स्ववर्णोक्तधर्मानुष्ठानकारिमा ॥ ३,८.
Therefore, Janārdana should be worshipped by a person of good conduct, who performs the duties prescribed for his own varṇa.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शुद्रश्च पृथिवीपते । स्वधर्मतत्परो विष्णुमाराधयति नान्यथा ॥ ३,८.
A brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, or śūdra, O lord of the earth, worships Viṣṇu by being devoted to his own prescribed duty, and not otherwise.
परापवादं पैशुन्यमनृतं च न भाषते । अन्योद्वेगकरं वापि तोष्यते तेनकेशवः ॥ ३,८.
He does not speak slander, calumny, or falsehood, nor anything that causes distress to others; Keśava is pleased by such a person.
परदारपरद्रव्यपरहिंसासु यो रतिम् । न करोति पुमान्भूप तोष्यते तेन केशवः ॥ ३,८.
He who does not delight in another's wife, another's wealth, or in harming others, O king, Keśava is pleased by him.
न ताडयति नो हन्ति प्राणिनो न च हिंसकः । यो मनुष्यो मनुष्येन्द्र तोष्यते तेन केशवः ॥ ३,८.
He does not strike, nor kill, nor harm living beings; O king of men, Keśava is pleased by such a person.
देवाद्विजगुरूणां च शुश्रूषासु सदोद्यतः । तोष्यते तेन गोविन्दः पुरुषेणनरेश्वर ॥ ३,८.
One who is always eager to serve the gods, twice-born, and teachers, O king, Govinda is pleased by such a person.
यथात्मनि च पुत्रे च सर्वभूतेषु यत्तथा । हितकामो हरिस्तेन सर्वदा तोष्यते सुखम् ॥ ३,८.
As one desires good for oneself and one's child, so for all beings; Hari is always pleased and happy with such a person.
यस्य रागादिदोषेण न दुष्टं नृप मानसम् । विशुद्धचेतसा विष्णुस्तोष्यते तेन सर्वदा ॥ ३,८.
O King, one whose mind is not corrupted by faults such as passion and others, whose heart is pure, is always pleasing to Vishnu.
वर्णाश्रमेषु ये धर्माः शास्त्रोक्ता मुनिसत्तम । तेषु तिष्ठन्नरो विष्णुमादुष्टं नृप मानसम् ॥ ३,८.
O best of sages, the duties prescribed in scripture for the castes and stages of life—when a person abides by them with an untainted mind, he is pleasing to Vishnu.
सगर उवाच तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छमि वर्णधर्मानशेषतः । तथैवाश्रमधर्मंश्च द्विजवर्य ब्रवीहि तान् ॥ ३,८.
Sagara said: Therefore, I wish to hear in full detail the duties of the castes, and likewise the duties of the stages of life; O excellent twice-born, please declare them.
और्व उवाच ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शुद्राणां च यथाकमम् । त्वमेकाग्रमतिर्भूत्वा शृणु धर्मान्मयोदितान् ॥ ३,८.
Aurva said: For Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, according to their respective roles, focus your mind and listen to the duties as I explain them.
दानं दद्याद्यजेद्देवान् यज्ञिः स्वाध्यायतत्परः । नित्योदकी भवेद्विप्रः कुर्याच्चाग्निपरिग्रहम् ॥ ३,८.
A Brahmin should give gifts, worship the gods through sacrifices, be devoted to study, always provide water, and perform the acceptance of sacred fire.
वृत्त्यर्थं याजयेच्चान्यानन्यानध्यापयेत्तथा । कुर्यात्प्रतिग्रहादानंशुक्लार्थान्न्यायतो द्विजः ॥ ३,८.
For livelihood, a Brahmin may officiate sacrifices for others, teach others, and accept gifts for pure purposes, in accordance with righteousness.