The Glory of Devotion to Vishnu

Verse 1 (garuda.1.227.1)

सूत उवाच । विष्णुभक्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यया सर्वमवाप्यते । यथा भक्त्या हरिस्तुष्येत्तथा नान्येन केनचित्

sūta uvāca viṣṇubhaktiṁ pravakṣyāmi yayā sarvamavāpyate yathā bhaktyā haristuṣyettathā nānyena kenacit

Suta said: I shall now declare devotion to Vishnu, by which everything is obtained; by such devotion Hari is pleased as by nothing else whatsoever.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.227.2)

महतः श्रेयसो मूलं प्रसवः पुण्यसन्ततेः । जीवितस्य फलं स्वादु नियतं स्मरणं हरेः

mahataḥ śreyaso mūlaṁ prasavaḥ puṇyasantateḥ jīvitasya phalaṁ svādu niyataṁ smaraṇaṁ hareḥ

The root of great blessedness, the source of a continuous stream of merit, the sweet fruit of life — is the constant remembrance of Hari.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.227.3)

तस्मात्सेवा बुधैः प्रोक्ता भक्तिसाधनभूयसी । ते भक्ता लोकनाथस्य नामकर्मादिकीर्तने

tasmātsevā budhaiḥ proktā bhaktisādhanabhūyasī te bhaktā lokanāthasya nāmakarmādikīrtane

Therefore the wise have declared service to be the foremost means of devotion. Those devotees who, in glorifying the Lord's name and deeds —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.227.4)

मुञ्चन्त्यश्रूणि संहर्षाद्ये प्रहृष्टनूरुहाः । जगद्धातुर्महेशस्य दिव्याज्ञाचरणा वयम्

muñcantyaśrūṇi saṁharṣādye prahṛṣṭanūruhāḥ jagaddhāturmaheśasya divyājñācaraṇā vayam

— shed tears of joy, their body-hairs standing on end with delight — they say: 'We are the followers of the divine command of the great Lord who sustains the world.'

Verse 5 (garuda.1.227.5)

इह नित्यक्रियाः कुर्युः स्निग्धा ये वैष्णवास्तु ते । ब्रह्माक्षरं न शृण्वन्वै तया भगवतेरितम्

iha nityakriyāḥ kuryuḥ snigdhā ye vaiṣṇavāstu te brahmākṣaraṁ na śṛṇvanvai tayā bhagavateritam

Those affectionate Vaishnavas who perform the daily rites here always hear the imperishable syllable declared by the Lord.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.227.6)

प्रणामपूर्वकं भक्त्या यो वदेद्वैष्णवो हि सः । तद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यं पूजनं चानुमोदनम्

praṇāmapūrvakaṁ bhaktyā yo vadedvaiṣṇavo hi saḥ tadbhaktajanavātsalyaṁ pūjanaṁ cānumodanam

He who speaks with devotion, preceded by obeisance, is indeed a Vaishnava; affection for the devotees, their worship, and rejoicing in them —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.227.7)

तत्कथाश्रवणे प्रीतिरश्रुनेत्राङ्गविक्रियाः । येन सर्वात्मना विष्णौ भक्त्या भावो निवेशितः

tatkathāśravaṇe prītiraśrunetrāṅgavikriyāḥ yena sarvātmanā viṣṇau bhaktyā bhāvo niveśitaḥ

— delight in hearing their stories, tears in the eyes, and bodily transformation — one by whom devotion and feeling toward Vishnu are established with the whole self,

Verse 8 (garuda.1.227.8)

विप्रेभ्यश्च कृतात्मत्वान्महाभागवतो हि सः । विश्वोपकरणं नित्यं तदर्थं सङ्गवर्जनम् । स्वयमभ्यर्चनञ्चैव यो विष्णुञ्चोपजीवति

viprebhyaśca kṛtātmatvānmahābhāgavato hi saḥ viśvopakaraṇaṁ nityaṁ tadarthaṁ saṅgavarjanam svayamabhyarcanañcaiva yo viṣṇuñcopajīvati

— and who has disciplined his self toward the brahmins, he is indeed a great devotee; constant service of the universe for His sake, freedom from attachment, and self-worship — he lives by devotion to Vishnu,

Verse 9 (garuda.1.227.9)

भक्तिरष्टविधा ह्येषा यस्मिन्म्लेच्छोऽपि वर्तते । स विप्रेन्द्रो मुनिः श्रीमान्स याति परमां गतिम्

bhaktiraṣṭavidhā hyeṣā yasminmleccho'pi vartate sa viprendro muniḥ śrīmānsa yāti paramāṁ gatim

— this is the eightfold devotion. In whomsoever it exists, even a barbarian, he is the foremost of brahmins, a sage, glorious; he attains the supreme goal.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.227.10)

तस्मै देयं ततो ग्राह्यं स च पूज्यो यथा हरिः । स्मृतः संभाषितो वापि पूजितो वा द्विजोत्तमः । पुनाति भगवद्भक्तश्चण्डालोऽपि यदृच्छया

tasmai deyaṁ tato grāhyaṁ sa ca pūjyo yathā hariḥ smṛtaḥ saṁbhāṣito vāpi pūjito vā dvijottamaḥ punāti bhagavadbhaktaścaṇḍālo'pi yadṛcchayā

One should give gifts to him, receive gifts from him, and worship him as one worships Hari. Even a chandala devotee of the Lord, if remembered, spoken with, or worshipped even by chance, purifies as an excellent twice-born does.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.227.11)

दयां कुरु प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च यो वदेत् । अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दद्यादेतद्व्रतं हरेः

dayāṁ kuru prapannāya tavāsmīti ca yo vadet abhayaṁ sarvabhūtebhyo dadyādetadvrataṁ hareḥ

He who says 'have mercy on your surrendered one, I am yours' — to him fearlessness should be given by all beings; this is Hari's own vow.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.227.12)

मन्त्रजापिसहस्रेभ्यः सर्ववेदान्तपारगः । सर्ववेदान्तवित्कोट्यां विष्णुभक्तो विशिष्यते

mantrajāpisahasrebhyaḥ sarvavedāntapāragaḥ sarvavedāntavitkoṭyāṁ viṣṇubhakto viśiṣyate

A devotee of Vishnu surpasses a thousand reciters of mantras, and even one who has mastered all Vedanta; he is distinguished above ten million knowers of all Vedanta.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.227.13)

एकान्तिनः स्ववपुषा गच्छन्ति परमं पदम् । एकान्तेन समो विष्णुस्तस्मादेषां परायणः

ekāntinaḥ svavapuṣā gacchanti paramaṁ padam ekāntena samo viṣṇustasmādeṣāṁ parāyaṇaḥ

Single-minded devotees go with their very own bodies to the supreme abode; Vishnu is equal to single-minded devotion, and is therefore their refuge.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.227.14)

यस्मादेकान्तिनः प्रोक्तास्तद्भागवतचेतसः । प्रियाणामपि सर्वेषां देवदेवस्य सुप्रियः

yasmādekāntinaḥ proktāstadbhāgavatacetasaḥ priyāṇāmapi sarveṣāṁ devadevasya supriyaḥ

Because they are called single-minded, their hearts belong to the Lord alone; among all who are dear to the God of gods, the devotee is most dear.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.227.15)

आपत्स्वपि सदा भस्य भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणा । या प्रीतिरधिका विष्णोर्विषयेष्वनपायिनी

āpatsvapi sadā bhasya bhaktiravyabhicāriṇā yā prītiradhikā viṣṇorviṣayeṣvanapāyinī

Even in adversity, his devotion remains ever unwavering; that supreme love for Vishnu is not destroyed even by worldly objects.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.227.16)

विष्णुं संस्मरतः सा मे हृदयान्नोपसर्पति । दृढभक्तोऽपि वेदादिसर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः

viṣṇuṁ saṁsmarataḥ sā me hṛdayānnopasarpati dṛḍhabhakto'pi vedādisarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ

'That worldly attraction does not enter my heart, as I ever remember Vishnu' — even a firm devotee who has not mastered the meaning of the Vedas and all scriptures,

Verse 17 (garuda.1.227.17)

यो न सर्वेश्वरे भक्तस्तं विद्यात्पुरुषाधमम् । नाधीतवेदशास्त्रोऽपि न कृतोऽध्वरसम्भवः । यो भक्तिं वहते विष्णौ तेन सर्वं कृतं भवेत्

yo na sarveśvare bhaktastaṁ vidyātpuruṣādhamam nādhītavedaśāstro'pi na kṛto'dhvarasambhavaḥ yo bhaktiṁ vahate viṣṇau tena sarvaṁ kṛtaṁ bhavet

— surpasses one who is not devoted to the Lord of all, whom one should know as the lowest of men. Even one who has not studied the scriptures nor performed sacrifices — if he bears devotion to Vishnu, by him everything is accomplished.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.227.18)

यज्वानः क्रतुमुख्यानां वेदानां पारगा अपि । न तां यान्ति गतिं भक्ता यां यान्ति मुनिसत्तमाः

yajvānaḥ kratumukhyānāṁ vedānāṁ pāragā api na tāṁ yānti gatiṁ bhaktā yāṁ yānti munisattamāḥ

Even those who perform the chief sacrifices and are versed in the Vedas do not attain that destination which devotees attain — the very destination that even the greatest sages attain.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.227.19)

यः कश्चिद्वैष्णवो लोके मिथ्याचारोऽप्यनाश्रमी । पुनाति सकलांल्लोकान्सहस्रांशुरिवोदितः

yaḥ kaścidvaiṣṇavo loke mithyācāro'pyanāśramī punāti sakalāṁllokānsahasrāṁśurivoditaḥ

Whatever Vaishnava exists in this world, even one whose conduct seems feigned or who belongs to no formal life-stage, purifies all the worlds like the thousand-rayed rising sun.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.227.20)

ये नृशंसा दुरात्मानः पापाचररतास्तथा । तेऽपि यान्ति परं स्थानं नारायणपरायणाः

ye nṛśaṁsā durātmānaḥ pāpācararatāstathā te'pi yānti paraṁ sthānaṁ nārāyaṇaparāyaṇāḥ

Even those who are cruel, evil-souled, and devoted to sinful conduct — if devoted to Narayana, they too attain the supreme abode.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.227.21)

दृढा जनार्दने भक्तिर्यदैवाव्यभिचारिणी । तदा कियत्स्वर्गसुखं सैव निर्वाणहेतुका

dṛḍhā janārdane bhaktiryadaivāvyabhicāriṇī tadā kiyatsvargasukhaṁ saiva nirvāṇahetukā

When devotion to Janardana becomes firm and unwavering, then what is the worth of heavenly pleasure? That very devotion becomes the cause of liberation.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.227.22)

भ्राम्यतां तत्र संसारे नराणां कुर्मदुर्गमे । हस्तावलम्बने ह्येकं येन तुष्येज्जनार्दनः । न शृणोति गुणान्दिव्यान्देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः । स मरो बधिरो ज्ञेयः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः

bhrāmyatāṁ tatra saṁsāre narāṇāṁ kurmadurgame hastāvalambane hyekaṁ yena tuṣyejjanārdanaḥ na śṛṇoti guṇāndivyāndevadevasya cakriṇaḥ sa maro badhiro jñeyaḥ sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ

For men wandering in that impassable samsara, there is but one support by which Janardana is pleased. He who does not listen to the divine virtues of the discus-bearing God of gods should be known as dead, deaf, and excluded from all dharma.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.227.23)

नाम्नि संकीर्तिते विष्णोर्यस्य पुंसो न जायते । शरीरं पुलकोद्भासि तद्भवेत्कुणपोपमम्

nāmni saṁkīrtite viṣṇoryasya puṁso na jāyate śarīraṁ pulakodbhāsi tadbhavetkuṇapopamam

He in whom, on hearing Vishnu's name chanted, the body does not thrill with horripilation — that body is like a corpse.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.227.24)

यस्मिन्भक्तिर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ मुक्तिरप्यचिराद्भवेत् । निविष्टमनसां पुंसां सर्वथा वृजिनक्षयः

yasminbhaktirdvijaśreṣṭha muktirapyacirādbhavet niviṣṭamanasāṁ puṁsāṁ sarvathā vṛjinakṣayaḥ

O best of the twice-born, in whom devotion exists, liberation too comes swiftly; for men whose minds are absorbed in devotion, sin is destroyed completely.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.227.25)

स्वपुरुषमभिवीक्ष्य पाशहस्तं वदति यमः किल तस्य कर्णमूले । परिहर मधुसूदनप्रापन्नन्प्रभुरहमन्यनृणां न वैष्णवानाम्

svapuruṣamabhivīkṣya pāśahastaṁ vadati yamaḥ kila tasya karṇamūle parihara madhusūdanaprāpannanprabhurahamanyanṛṇāṁ na vaiṣṇavānām

Seeing his own noose-bearing servant, Yama himself, it is said, whispers into his ear: 'Spare this one who has taken refuge in Madhusudana; I am lord over other men, not over Vaishnavas.'

Verse 26 (garuda.1.227.26)

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् । साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यगव्यवसितो हि सः

api cetsudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyagavyavasito hi saḥ

Even if a man of thoroughly bad conduct worships Me with undivided devotion, he should be regarded as righteous indeed, for he has rightly resolved in his heart.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.227.27)

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं स गच्छति । विप्रेन्द्र प्रतिजानीहि विष्णुभक्तो न नश्यति

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvacchāntiṁ sa gacchati viprendra pratijānīhi viṣṇubhakto na naśyati

He swiftly becomes righteous-souled and attains everlasting peace. O foremost of brahmins, know for certain: a devotee of Vishnu never perishes.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.227.28)

धर्मार्थकामः किं तस्य मुक्तिस्तस्य करे स्थिता । समस्तजगतां मूलं यस्य भक्तिः स्थिरा हरौ

dharmārthakāmaḥ kiṁ tasya muktistasya kare sthitā samastajagatāṁ mūlaṁ yasya bhaktiḥ sthirā harau

What are dharma, artha, and kama to him? Liberation stands already in his hand — for one whose devotion to Hari, the root of all worlds, is firm.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.227.29)

दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी हरेर्माया दुरत्यया । तमेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते

daivī hyeṣā guṇamayī harermāyā duratyayā tameva ye prapadyante māyāmetāṁ taranti te

This divine, three-gunas-composed Maya of Hari is indeed difficult to cross; but those who take refuge in Him alone cross over this Maya.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.227.30)

किं यज्ञाराधने पुंसा शिष्यते हरिमेधसाम् । भक्त्यैवाराध्यते विष्णुर्नान्यत्तत्रोपकारकम्

kiṁ yajñārādhane puṁsā śiṣyate harimedhasām bhaktyaivārādhyate viṣṇurnānyattatropakārakam

For those whose minds are fixed on Hari, what remains to be accomplished through sacrificial worship? Vishnu is worshipped by devotion alone; nothing else is of help there.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.227.31)

न दानैर्विविधैर्दत्तैः पुष्पैर्नैवानुलेपनैः । तोषमेति महात्मासौ यथा भक्त्या जनार्दनः

na dānairvividhairdattaiḥ puṣpairnaivānulepanaiḥ toṣameti mahātmāsau yathā bhaktyā janārdanaḥ

Not through various gifts given, not through flowers, not through unguents does that great soul Janardana attain satisfaction as he does through devotion.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.227.32)

संसारविषवृक्षस्य द्वे फले ह्यमृतोपमे । कदाचित्केशवे भक्तिस्तद्भक्तैर्वा समागमः

saṁsāraviṣavṛkṣasya dve phale hyamṛtopame kadācitkeśave bhaktistadbhaktairvā samāgamaḥ

Of the poison-tree of samsara, there are only two fruits comparable to nectar: at some point, devotion to Keshava, or association with His devotees.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.227.33)

पत्रेषु पुष्पेषु फलेषु तोयेष्वकष्टलभ्येषु सदैव सत्सु । भक्त्यैकलभ्ये पुरुषे पुराणे मुक्त्यैकलाभे क्रियते प्रयत्नः

patreṣu puṣpeṣu phaleṣu toyeṣvakaṣṭalabhyeṣu sadaiva satsu bhaktyaikalabhye puruṣe purāṇe muktyaikalābhe kriyate prayatnaḥ

Though leaves, flowers, fruits, and water are ever available without difficulty, effort is made instead toward that ancient Purusha, attainable only through devotion, for the sole gain of liberation.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.227.34)

आस्फोटयन्ति पितरः प्रनृत्यन्ति पितामाहः । वैष्णवोस्मत्कुले जातः स नः सन्तारयिष्यति

āsphoṭayanti pitaraḥ pranṛtyanti pitāmāhaḥ vaiṣṇavosmatkule jātaḥ sa naḥ santārayiṣyati

The fathers clap in joy, the grandfathers dance: 'A Vaishnava has been born in our lineage — he will deliver us across the ocean of existence!'

Verse 35 (garuda.1.227.35)

अज्ञानिनः सुखरे समधिक्षिपन्तो यत्पापिनोऽपि शिशुपालसुयोधनाद्याः । मुक्तिं गताः स्मरणमात्रविधूतपापाः कः संशयः परमभक्तिमतां जनानाम्

ajñāninaḥ sukhare samadhikṣipanto yatpāpino'pi śiśupālasuyodhanādyāḥ muktiṁ gatāḥ smaraṇamātravidhūtapāpāḥ kaḥ saṁśayaḥ paramabhaktimatāṁ janānām

If even ignorant, sinful men like Shishupala and Suyodhana, reviling him in their comfort, attained liberation, their sins washed away by mere remembrance — what doubt can there be for people of supreme devotion?

Verse 36 (garuda.1.227.36)

शरमं तं प्रपन्ना ये ध्यानयोगविवर्जिताः । तेऽपि मृत्युमतिक्रम्य यान्ति तद्वैष्णवं पदम्

śaramaṁ taṁ prapannā ye dhyānayogavivarjitāḥ te'pi mṛtyumatikramya yānti tadvaiṣṇavaṁ padam

Those who take refuge in Him even without meditation and yoga transcend death and attain that Vaishnava abode.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.227.37)

भवोद्भवक्लेशशतैर्हतस्तथा परिभ्रमन्निन्द्रियरन्ध्रकैर्हयैः । नियम्यतां माधव ! मे मनोहयस्त्वदङ्घ्रिशङ्कौ दृढभक्तिबन्धने

bhavodbhavakleśaśatairhatastathā paribhramannindriyarandhrakairhayaiḥ niyamyatāṁ mādhava ! me manohayastvadaṅghriśaṅkau dṛḍhabhaktibandhane

Struck by the hundreds of afflictions of worldly existence, and wandering, driven by the horses of the sense-apertures — O Madhava, let the horse of my mind be reined in and bound firmly, by the bond of devotion, to the stake of your feet.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.227.38)

विष्णुरेव परं ब्रह्म त्रिभेदमिह पठ्यते । वेदसिद्धान्तमार्गेषु तन्न जानन्ति मोहिताः

viṣṇureva paraṁ brahma tribhedamiha paṭhyate vedasiddhāntamārgeṣu tanna jānanti mohitāḥ

Vishnu alone is the supreme Brahman, though read here as threefold in the paths of Vedic doctrine; the deluded do not know this truth.