Narada's Teaching to Vasudeva: Nimi and the Nine Yogendras

Verse 1 (bhagavata.11.2.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच गोविन्दभुजगुप्तायां द्वारवत्यां कुरूद्वह । अवात्सीन्नारदोऽभीक्ष्णं कृष्णोपासनलालसः ॥ 2.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca govinda-bhuja-guptāyāṁ dvāravatyāṁ kurūdvaha avātsīn nārado ’bhīkṣṇaṁ kṛṣṇopāsana-lālasaḥ

Shri Shuka said: O best of the Kurus, Narada, ever eager to worship Krishna, dwelt for a time in Dvaraka, that city protected by the very arms of Govinda.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.11.2.2)

को नु राजन्निन्द्रियवान् मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम् । न भजेत् सर्वतोमृत्युरुपास्यममरोत्तमैः ॥ 2.2 ॥

ko nu rājann indriyavān mukunda-caraṇāmbujam na bhajet sarvato-mṛtyur upāsyam amarottamaiḥ

O King, who among those possessed of senses, surrounded on all sides by death, would fail to worship the lotus feet of Mukunda — feet worshiped even by the greatest of the immortals?

Verse 3 (bhagavata.11.2.3)

तमेकदा तु देवर्षिं वसुदेवो गृहागतम् । अर्चितं सुखमासीनमभिवाद्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ 2.3 ॥

tam ekadā tu devarṣiṁ vasudevo gṛhāgatam arcitaṁ sukham āsīnam abhivādyedam abravīt

One day, when that sage among the gods came to his house, Vasudeva worshiped him, seated him comfortably, bowed before him, and spoke these words.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.11.2.4)

श्रीवसुदेव उवाच भगवन् भवतो यात्रा स्वस्तये सर्वदेहिनाम् । कृपणानां यथा पित्रोरुत्तमश्लोकवर्त्मनाम् ॥ 2.4 ॥

śrī-vasudeva uvāca bhagavan bhavato yātrā svastaye sarva-dehinām kṛpaṇānāṁ yathā pitror uttama-śloka-vartmanām

Shri Vasudeva said: O lord, your coming, like that of a father, is for the welfare of all embodied beings — of the most helpless as well as of those already established on the path to the Lord of glorious renown.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.11.2.5)

भूतानां देवचरितं दुःखाय च सुखाय च । सुखायैव हि साधूनां त्वादृशामच्युतात्मनाम् ॥ 2.5 ॥

bhūtānāṁ deva-caritaṁ duḥkhāya ca sukhāya ca sukhāyaiva hi sādhūnāṁ tvādṛśām acyutātmanām

The conduct of the gods brings living beings both sorrow and joy; but the conduct of saints such as you, who have made the infallible Lord your very soul, brings only joy.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.11.2.6)

भजन्ति ये यथा देवान् देवा अपि तथैव तान् । छायेव कर्मसचिवाः साधवो दीनवत्सलाः ॥ 2.6 ॥

bhajanti ye yathā devān devā api tathaiva tān chāyeva karma-sacivāḥ sādhavo dīna-vatsalāḥ

As one worships the gods, so the gods reciprocate — for they, like a shadow, are the attendants of one's own deeds; but saints are truly compassionate to the fallen.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.11.2.7)

ब्रह्मंस्तथापि पृच्छामो धर्मान् भागवतांस्तव । यान् श्रुत्वा श्रद्धया मर्त्यो मुच्यते सर्वतोभयात् ॥ 2.7 ॥

brahmaṁs tathāpi pṛcchāmo dharmān bhāgavatāṁs tava yān śrutvā śraddhayā martyo mucyate sarvato bhayāt

Yet, O brahmana, I ask you of those duties pertaining to the Lord, hearing which with faith a mortal is freed from every fear.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.11.2.8)

अहं किल पुरानन्तं प्रजार्थो भुवि मुक्तिदम् । अपूजयं न मोक्षाय मोहितो देवमायया ॥ 2.8 ॥

ahaṁ kila purānantaṁ prajārtho bhuvi mukti-dam apūjayaṁ na mokṣāya mohito deva-māyayā

Long ago on this earth, deluded by the Lord's own illusory power, I worshiped the boundless Lord, the giver of liberation — yet not for liberation, but only desiring a child.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.11.2.9)

यथा विचित्रव्यसनाद् भवद्भिर्विश्वतोभयात् । मुच्येम ह्यञ्जसैवाद्धा तथा नः शाधि सुव्रत ॥ 2.9 ॥

yathā vicitra-vyasanād bhavadbhir viśvato-bhayāt mucyema hy añjasaivāddhā tathā naḥ śādhi su-vrata

O steadfast one, instruct us in such a way that, through you, we may easily and directly be freed from this world of manifold dangers and fear on every side.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.11.2.10)

श्रीशुक उवाच राजन्नेवं कृतप्रश्नो वसुदेवेन धीमता । प्रीतस्तमाह देवर्षिर्हरेः संस्मारितो गुणैः ॥ 2.10 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca rājann evaṁ kṛta-praśno vasudevena dhīmatā prītas tam āha devarṣir hareḥ saṁsmārito guṇaiḥ

Shri Shuka said: O King, thus questioned by the wise Vasudeva, the divine sage, reminded by these very qualities of Hari, spoke to him with pleasure.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.11.2.11)

श्रीनारद उवाच सम्यगेतद् व्यवसितं भवता सात्वतर्षभ । यत् पृच्छसे भागवतान् धर्मांस्त्वं विश्वभावनान् ॥ 2.11 ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca samyag etad vyavasitaṁ bhavatā sātvatarṣabha yat pṛcchase bhāgavatān dharmāṁs tvaṁ viśva-bhāvanān

Shri Narada said: O foremost of the Satvatas, you have resolved rightly in asking about those duties toward the Lord which can purify the entire universe.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.11.2.12)

श्रुतोऽनुपठितो ध्यात आदृतो वानुमोदितः । सद्यः पुनाति सद्धर्मो देव विश्वद्रुहोऽपि हि ॥ 2.12 ॥

śruto ’nupaṭhito dhyāta ādṛto vānumoditaḥ sadyaḥ punāti sad-dharmo deva-viśva-druho ’pi hi

This true dharma, whether heard, then recited, meditated upon, faithfully honored, or merely approved when practiced by another, at once purifies even one hostile to the gods and to the world.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.11.2.13)

त्वया परमकल्याणः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः । स्मारितो भगवानद्य देवो नारायणो मम ॥ 2.13 ॥

tvayā parama-kalyāṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ smārito bhagavān adya devo nārāyaṇo mama

Today, through you, I have been reminded of my Lord — supremely auspicious Narayana, whose hearing and chanting alone confer great merit.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.11.2.14)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । आर्षभाणां च संवादं विदेहस्य महात्मनः ॥ 2.14 ॥

atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam ārṣabhāṇāṁ ca saṁvādaṁ videhasya mahātmanaḥ

On this very subject, they cite an ancient account: the conversation between the great soul of Videha and the sons of Rishabha.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.11.2.15)

प्रियव्रतो नाम सुतो मनोः स्वायम्भुवस्य यः । तस्याग्नीध्रस्ततो नाभिऋर्षभस्तत्सुतः स्मृतः ॥ 2.15 ॥

priyavrato nāma suto manoḥ svāyambhuvasya yaḥ tasyāgnīdhras tato nābhir ṛṣabhas tat-sutaḥ smṛtaḥ

Svayambhuva Manu had a son named Priyavrata; his son was Agnidhra; from him came Nabhi, whose son is remembered as Rishabha.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.11.2.16)

तमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं मोक्षधर्मविवक्षया । अवतीर्णं सुतशतं तस्यासीद् ब्रह्मपारगम् ॥ 2.16 ॥

tam āhur vāsudevāṁśaṁ mokṣa-dharma-vivakṣayā avatīrṇaṁ suta-śataṁ tasyāsīd brahma-pāragam

He, they say, was a portion of Vasudeva who descended to teach the path of liberation; he had a hundred sons, all of whom had mastered the Vedas completely.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.11.2.17)

तेषां वै भरतो ज्येष्ठो नारायणपरायणः । विख्यातं वर्षमेतद् यन्नाम्ना भारतमद्भुतम् ॥ 2.17 ॥

teṣāṁ vai bharato jyeṣṭho nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ vikhyātaṁ varṣam etad yan- nāmnā bhāratam adbhutam

The eldest among them, Bharata, was wholly devoted to Narayana; it is by his name that this wondrous land became renowned as Bharata-varsha.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.11.2.18)

स भुक्तभोगां त्यक्त्वेमां निर्गतस्तपसा हरिम् । उपासीनस्तत्पदवीं लेभे वै जन्मभिस्त्रिभिः ॥ 2.18 ॥

sa bhukta-bhogāṁ tyaktvemāṁ nirgatas tapasā harim upāsīnas tat-padavīṁ lebhe vai janmabhis tribhiḥ

Renouncing this earth and all its enjoyments, he left home and, worshiping Hari through austerity, attained His abode after three lifetimes.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.11.2.19)

तेषां नव नवद्वीपपतयोऽस्य समन्ततः । कर्मतन्त्रप्रणेतार एकाशीतिर्द्विजातयः ॥ 2.19 ॥

teṣāṁ nava nava-dvīpa- patayo ’sya samantataḥ karma-tantra-praṇetāra ekāśītir dvijātayaḥ

Of the rest, nine became rulers of the nine divisions of this land in every direction; eighty-one others became twice-born brahmanas who established the path of ritual works.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.11.2.20)

नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिनः । श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदाः ॥ 2.20 ॥

navābhavan mahā-bhāgā munayo hy artha-śaṁsinaḥ śramaṇā vāta-rasanā ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ

And nine were most fortunate sages, expounders of the highest truth, given wholly to spiritual striving, clad only in the wind, and learned in the science of the self.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.11.2.21)

कविर्हविरन्तरीक्षः प्रबुद्धः पिप्पलायनः । आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमसः करभाजनः ॥ 2.21 ॥

kavir havir antarīkṣaḥ prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ āvirhotro ’tha drumilaś camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ

Kavi, Havi, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa, and Karabhajana — these were their names.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.11.2.22)

त एते भगवद्रूपं विश्वं सदसदात्मकम् । आत्मनोऽव्यतिरेकेण पश्यन्तो व्यचरन् महीम् ॥ 2.22 ॥

ta ete bhagavad-rūpaṁ viśvaṁ sad-asad-ātmakam ātmano ’vyatirekeṇa paśyanto vyacaran mahīm

Seeing this entire universe, gross and subtle alike, as the very form of the Lord and as not different from the self, these sages wandered over the earth.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.11.2.23)

अव्याहतेष्टगतयः सुरसिद्धसाध्य- गन्धर्वयक्षनरकिन्नरनागलोकान् । मुक्ताश्चरन्ति मुनिचारणभूतनाथ- विद्याधरद्विजगवां भुवनानि कामम् ॥ 2.23 ॥

avyāhateṣṭa-gatayaḥ sura-siddha-sādhya- gandharva-yakṣa-nara-kinnara-nāga-lokān muktāś caranti muni-cāraṇa-bhūtanātha- vidyādhara-dvija-gavāṁ bhuvanāni kāmam

Free souls, moving unimpeded wherever they wished, they traveled through the worlds of gods, perfected beings, Sadhyas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, men, Kinnaras, and serpents, and, just as they pleased, through the realms of sages, celestial bards, Shiva's attendants, Vidyadharas, brahmanas, and cows.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.11.2.24)

त एकदा निमेः सत्रमुपजग्मुर्यदृच्छया । वितायमानमृषिभिरजनाभे महात्मनः ॥ 2.24 ॥

ta ekadā nimeḥ satram upajagmur yadṛcchayā vitāyamānam ṛṣibhir ajanābhe mahātmanaḥ

Once, wandering as they wished, they arrived at the sacrifice of the great soul Nimi, then being conducted by sages in the land of Ajanabha.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.11.2.25)

तान् दृष्ट्वा सूर्यसङ्काशान् महाभागवतान् नृप । यजमानोऽग्नयो विप्राः सर्व एवोपतस्थिरे ॥ 2.25 ॥

tān dṛṣṭvā sūrya-saṅkāśān mahā-bhāgavatān nṛpa yajamāno ’gnayo viprāḥ sarva evopatasthire

O King, seeing them, radiant as the sun, great devotees all, the sacrificer himself, the sacred fires, and the brahmanas — everyone rose in reverence.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.11.2.26)

विदेहस्तानभिप्रेत्य नारायणपरायणान् । प्रीतः सम्पूजयां चक्रे आसनस्थान् यथार्हतः ॥ 2.26 ॥

videhas tān abhipretya nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇān prītaḥ sampūjayāṁ cakre āsana-sthān yathārhataḥ

Recognizing them as devotees wholly devoted to Narayana, King Videha, pleased, honored them fittingly as they sat upon their seats.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.11.2.27)

तान् रोचमानान् स्वरुचा ब्रह्मपुत्रोपमान् नव । पप्रच्छ परमप्रीतः प्रश्रयावनतो नृपः ॥ 2.27 ॥

tān rocamānān sva-rucā brahma-putropamān nava papraccha parama-prītaḥ praśrayāvanato nṛpaḥ

Deeply pleased, the King bowed low in humility and questioned those nine, who shone with their own radiance and resembled the sons of Brahma.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.11.2.28)

श्रीविदेह उवाच मन्ये भगवतः साक्षात् पार्षदान् वो मधुद्विषः । विष्णोर्भूतानि लोकानां पावनाय चरन्ति हि ॥ 2.28 ॥

śrī-videha uvāca manye bhagavataḥ sākṣāt pārṣadān vo madhu-dvisaḥ viṣṇor bhūtāni lokānāṁ pāvanāya caranti hi

Shri Videha said: I take you to be the direct companions of the Lord who slew Madhu; indeed, the servants of Vishnu wander about only to purify the worlds.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.11.2.29)

दुर्लभो मानुषो देहो देहिनां क्षणभङ्गुरः । तत्रापि दुर्लभं मन्ये वैकुण्ठप्रियदर्शनम् ॥ 2.29 ॥

durlabho mānuṣo deho dehināṁ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraḥ tatrāpi durlabhaṁ manye vaikuṇṭha-priya-darśanam

The human body, hard to attain and liable to perish in an instant, is rare for embodied beings; and rarer still, I think, even within that body, is the sight of those dear to the Lord of Vaikuntha.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.11.2.30)

अत आत्यन्तिकं क्षेमं पृच्छामो भवतोऽनघाः । संसारेऽस्मिन् क्षणार्धोऽपि सत्सङ्गः शेवधिर्नृणाम् ॥ 2.30 ॥

ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato ’naghāḥ saṁsāre ’smin kṣaṇārdho ’pi sat-saṅgaḥ śevadhir nṛṇām

Therefore, O sinless ones, I ask you of the highest good; for in this cycle of birth and death, even half a moment's company with the good is a treasure for men.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.11.2.31)

धर्मान् भागवतान् ब्रूत यदि नः श्रुतये क्षमम् । यैः प्रसन्नः प्रपन्नाय दास्यत्यात्मानमप्यजः ॥ 2.31 ॥

dharmān bhāgavatān brūta yadi naḥ śrutaye kṣamam yaiḥ prasannaḥ prapannāya dāsyaty ātmānam apy ajaḥ

If you deem me fit to hear it, tell me of the duties belonging to the Lord — duties by which, when pleased, the unborn One gives even His own self to the surrendered soul.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.11.2.32)

श्रीनारद उवाच एवं ते निमिना पृष्टा वसुदेव महत्तमाः । प्रतिपूज्याब्रुवन् प्रीत्या ससदस्यर्त्विजं नृपम् ॥ 2.32 ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca evaṁ te niminā pṛṣṭā vasudeva mahattamāḥ pratipūjyābruvan prītyā sa-sadasyartvijaṁ nṛpam

Shri Narada said: O Vasudeva, thus questioned by Nimi, those great souls honored him in return and spoke to the King, affectionately, before the assembly and the priests.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.11.2.33)

श्रीकविरुवाच मन्येऽकुतश्चिद्भयमच्युतस्य पादाम्बुजोपासनमत्र नित्यम् । उद्विग्नबुद्धेरसदात्मभावाद् विश्वात्मना यत्र निवर्तते भीः ॥ 2.33 ॥

śrī-kavir uvāca manye ’kutaścid-bhayam acyutasya pādāmbujopāsanam atra nityam udvigna-buddher asad-ātma-bhāvād viśvātmanā yatra nivartate bhīḥ

Shri Kavi said: I hold that constant worship of the infallible Lord's lotus feet is the one true fearlessness in this world; for one whose mind is troubled by mistaking the unreal for the self, it is here, in that worship, that fear ceases altogether.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.11.2.34)

ये वै भगवता प्रोक्ता उपाया ह्यात्मलब्धये । अञ्जः पुंसामविदुषां विद्धि भागवतान् हि तान् ॥ 2.34 ॥

ye vai bhagavatā proktā upāyā hy ātma-labdhaye añjaḥ puṁsām aviduṣāṁ viddhi bhāgavatān hi tān

Know that those means the Lord Himself has declared for the attainment of the self — means by which even the ignorant may easily succeed — are called bhagavata-dharma.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.11.2.35)

यानास्थाय नरो राजन् न प्रमाद्येत कर्हिचित् । धावन् निमील्य वा नेत्रे न स्खलेन्न पतेदिह ॥ 2.35 ॥

yān āsthāya naro rājan na pramādyeta karhicit dhāvan nimīlya vā netre na skhalen na pated iha

O King, one who takes recourse to these means is never led astray; even running with eyes closed, he neither stumbles nor falls upon this path.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.11.2.36)

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वानुसृतस्वभावात् । करोति यद् यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयेत्तत् ॥ 2.36 ॥

kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā vānusṛta-svabhāvāt karoti yad yat sakalaṁ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayet tat

Whatever one does with body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, or purified consciousness, following one's own nature — all of it one should offer to the Supreme, saying, "This is for Narayana."

Verse 37 (bhagavata.11.2.37)

भयं द्वितीयाभिनिवेशतः स्या- दीशादपेतस्य विपर्ययोऽस्मृतिः । तन्माययातो बुध आभजेत्तं भक्त्यैकयेशं गुरुदेवतात्मा ॥ 2.37 ॥

bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād īśād apetasya viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā

Fear arises from absorption in what seems other than the self; for one who has turned from the Lord, this becomes error and forgetfulness through His own illusive power. Therefore let the wise, holding the guru as one's very deity and soul, worship that Lord with unswerving devotion alone.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.11.2.38)

अविद्यमानोऽप्यवभाति हि द्वयो ध्यातुर्धिया स्वप्नमनोरथौ यथा । तत् कर्मसङ्कल्पविकल्पकं मनो बुधो निरुन्ध्यादभयं ततः स्यात् ॥ 2.38 ॥

avidyamāno ’py avabhāti hi dvayo dhyātur dhiyā svapna-manorathau yathā tat karma-saṅkalpa-vikalpakaṁ mano budho nirundhyād abhayaṁ tataḥ syāt

Just as a dream or a daydream, though unreal, appears real to the mind of the one who conceives it, so this duality, though non-existent, appears real. Therefore let the wise restrain the mind, which forms desire and aversion toward action; thus alone does fearlessness come.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.11.2.39)

शृण्वन् सुभद्राणि रथाङ्गपाणे- र्जन्मानि कर्माणि च यानि लोके । गीतानि नामानि तदर्थकानि गायन् विलज्जो विचरेदसङ्गः ॥ 2.39 ॥

śṛṇvan su-bhadrāṇi rathāṅga-pāṇer janmāni karmāṇi ca yāni loke gītāni nāmāni tad-arthakāni gāyan vilajjo vicared asaṅgaḥ

Hearing the most auspicious births and deeds of Him who bears the chariot-wheel, as they are sung in this world, and singing His names, which convey their meaning, let one wander free of shame and unattached.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.11.2.40)

एवंव्रतः स्वप्रियनामकीर्त्या जातानुरागो द्रुतचित्त उच्चैः । हसत्यथो रोदिति रौति गाय- त्युन्मादवन्नृत्यति लोकबाह्यः ॥ 2.40 ॥

evaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā jātānurāgo druta-citta uccaiḥ hasaty atho roditi rauti gāyaty unmāda-van nṛtyati loka-bāhyaḥ

Thus vowed, chanting the name so dear to him, love awakened and heart melted, he laughs aloud, or weeps, or cries out, or sings, and dances like one possessed, heedless of the world.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.11.2.41)

खं वायुमग्निं सलिलं महीं च ज्योतींषि सत्त्वानि दिशो द्रुमादीन् । सरित्समुद्रांश्च हरेः शरीरं यत् किंच भूतं प्रणमेदनन्यः ॥ 2.41 ॥

khaṁ vāyum agniṁ salilaṁ mahīṁ ca jyotīṁṣi sattvāni diśo drumādīn sarit-samudrāṁś ca hareḥ śarīraṁ yat kiṁ ca bhūtaṁ praṇamed ananyaḥ

Ether, air, fire, water, earth, the heavenly lights, all beings, the directions, trees and the rest, rivers and oceans — all this is the body of Hari; let one, seeing nothing as separate from Him, bow before whatever exists.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.11.2.42)

भक्तिः परेशानुभवो विरक्ति- रन्यत्र चैष त्रिक एककालः । प्रपद्यमानस्य यथाश्नतः स्यु- स्तुष्टिः पुष्टिः क्षुदपायोऽनुघासम् ॥ 2.42 ॥

bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra caiṣa trika eka-kālaḥ prapadyamānasya yathāśnataḥ syus tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭiḥ kṣud-apāyo ’nu-ghāsam

Devotion, direct realization of the Supreme, and detachment from everything else — these three arise together for one who takes refuge in Him, just as, for one eating, satisfaction, nourishment, and the ending of hunger come together with every mouthful.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.11.2.43)

इत्यच्युताङ्घ्रि भजतोऽनुवृत्त्या भक्तिर्विरक्तिर्भगवत्प्रबोधः । भवन्ति वै भागवतस्य राजं- स्ततः परां शान्तिमुपैति साक्षात् ॥ 2.43 ॥

ity acyutāṅghriṁ bhajato ’nuvṛttyā bhaktir viraktir bhagavat-prabodhaḥ bhavanti vai bhāgavatasya rājaṁs tataḥ parāṁ śāntim upaiti sākṣāt

O King, thus for the devotee who worships the feet of the infallible Lord through steady practice, devotion, detachment, and true knowledge of Him arise; and from these he attains, in person, the highest peace.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.11.2.44)

श्रीराजोवाच अथ भागवतं ब्रूत यद्धर्मो यादृशो नृणाम् । यथा चरति यद् ब्रूते यैर्लिङ्गैर्भगवत्प्रियः ॥ 2.44 ॥

śrī-rājovāca atha bhāgavataṁ brūta yad-dharmo yādṛśo nṛṇām yathācarati yad brūte yair liṅgair bhagavat-priyaḥ

The King said: Now tell me of the devotee — what his duty is, of what character among men, how he behaves, what he speaks, and by what signs he is known as dear to the Lord.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.11.2.45)

श्रीहविरुवाच सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्येद् भगवद्भावमात्मनः । भूतानि भगवत्यात्मन्येष भागवतोत्तमः ॥ 2.45 ॥

śrī-havir uvāca sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyed bhagavad-bhāvam ātmanaḥ bhūtāni bhagavaty ātmany eṣa bhāgavatottamaḥ

Shri Havi said: One who sees, in all beings, the presence of the Lord as the very self, and sees all beings within the Lord who is the self of all — he is the foremost devotee.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.11.2.46)

ईश्वरे तदधीनेषु बालिशेषु द्विषत्सु च । प्रेममैत्रीकृपोपेक्षा यः करोति स मध्यमः ॥ 2.46 ॥

īśvare tad-adhīneṣu bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ

One who bears love for the Lord, friendship for those devoted to Him, compassion for the innocent, and indifference toward the hostile — he is a devotee of the middle rank.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.11.2.47)

अर्चायामेव हरये पूजां यः श्रद्धयेहते । न तद्भक्तेषु चान्येषु स भक्तः प्राकृतः स्मृतः ॥ 2.47 ॥

arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ

One who faithfully engages only in the worship of Hari's image, but not toward His devotees or others, is remembered as a devotee of the elementary kind.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.11.2.48)

गृहीत्वापीन्द्रियैरर्थान्यो न द्वेष्टि न हृष्यति । विष्णोर्मायामिदं पश्यन्स वै भागवतोत्तमः ॥ 2.48 ॥

gṛhītvāpīndriyair arthān yo na dveṣṭi na hṛṣyati viṣṇor māyām idaṁ paśyan sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ

One who, even while receiving sense-objects through the senses, neither hates nor rejoices, seeing all this as Vishnu's illusive power — he indeed is the foremost devotee.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.11.2.49)

देहेन्द्रियप्राणमनोधियां यो जन्माप्ययक्षुद्भयतर्षकृच्छ्रैः । संसारधर्मैरविमुह्यमानः स्मृत्या हरेर्भागवतप्रधानः ॥ 2.49 ॥

dehendriya-prāṇa-mano-dhiyāṁ yo janmāpyaya-kṣud-bhaya-tarṣa-kṛcchraiḥ saṁsāra-dharmair avimuhyamānaḥ smṛtyā harer bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ

One who, through remembrance of Hari, remains unbewildered by the conditions of worldly existence — the birth and decay, hunger, fear, thirst, and hardship that belong to the body, senses, life-breath, mind, and intellect — is the chief among devotees.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.11.2.50)

न कामकर्मबीजानां यस्य चेतसि सम्भवः । वासुदेवैकनिलयः स वै भागवतोत्तमः ॥ 2.50 ॥

na kāma-karma-bījānāṁ yasya cetasi sambhavaḥ vāsudevaika-nilayaḥ sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ

One in whose mind the seeds of desire and fruitive work never arise, whose sole refuge is Vasudeva — he indeed is the foremost devotee.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.11.2.51)

न यस्य जन्मकर्मभ्यां न वर्णाश्रमजातिभिः । सज्जतेऽस्मिन्नहंभावो देहे वै स हरेः प्रियः ॥ 2.51 ॥

na yasya janma-karmabhyāṁ na varṇāśrama-jātibhiḥ sajjate ’sminn ahaṁ-bhāvo dehe vai sa hareḥ priyaḥ

One in whom the sense of "I" does not attach itself to this body on account of birth, deeds, caste, or station in the social order — he indeed is dear to Hari.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.11.2.52)

न यस्य स्वः पर इति वित्तेष्वात्मनि वा भिदा । सर्वभूतसमः शान्तः स वै भागवतोत्तमः ॥ 2.52 ॥

na yasya svaḥ para iti vitteṣv ātmani vā bhidā sarva-bhūta-samaḥ śāntaḥ sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ

One for whom there is no distinction of "mine" and "another's" regarding wealth or body, who is equal-minded and at peace toward all beings — he indeed is the foremost devotee.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.11.2.53)

त्रिभुवनविभवहेतवेऽप्यकुण्ठ- स्मृतिरजितात्मसुरादिभिर्विमृग्यात् । न चलति भगवत्पदारविन्दा- ल्लवनिमिषार्धमपि यः स वैष्णवाग्य्रः ॥ 2.53 ॥

tri-bhuvana-vibhava-hetave ’py akuṇṭha- smṛtir ajitātma-surādibhir vimṛgyāt na calati bhagavat-padāravindāl lava-nimiṣārdham api yaḥ sa vaiṣṇavāgryaḥ

One whose remembrance remains unbroken even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds — sought after even by the gods and others whose very soul is the unconquerable Lord — and who does not stray from the Lord's lotus feet even for half an instant, he is the very first among Vaishnavas.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.11.2.54)

भगवत उरुविक्रमाङ्घ्रिशाखा- नखमणिचन्द्रिकया निरस्ततापे । हृदि कथमुपसीदतां पुनः स प्रभवति चन्द्र इवोदितेऽर्कतापः ॥ 2.54 ॥

bhagavata uru-vikramāṅghri-śākhā- nakha-maṇi-candrikayā nirasta-tāpe hṛdi katham upasīdatāṁ punaḥ sa prabhavati candra ivodite ’rka-tāpaḥ

When the heart's torment has been dispelled by the moonlight streaming from the jewel-like nails on the toes of the Lord's mighty feet, how can it ever again afflict those who worship Him — any more than the sun's heat can persist once the moon has risen?

Verse 55 (bhagavata.11.2.55)

विसृजति हृदयं न यस्य साक्षा- द्धरिरवशाभिहितोऽप्यघौघनाशः । प्रणयरसनया धृताङ्घ्रिपद्मः स भवति भागवतप्रधान उक्तः ॥ 2.55 ॥

visṛjati hṛdayaṁ na yasya sākṣād dharir avaśābhihito ’py aghaugha-nāśaḥ praṇaya-rasanayā dhṛtāṅghri-padmaḥ sa bhavati bhāgavata-pradhāna uktaḥ

He whose heart Hari Himself never abandons, though called upon even unintentionally — He who destroys heaps of sin — because His lotus feet are held fast by the cord of love: he is declared to be the foremost of devotees.