Types of Devotion and the Glory of Vaishakha

Verse 1 (padma.5.85.1)

अंबरीष उवाच- साधुसाधु मुनिश्रेष्ठ लोकानुग्रहकारक । विष्णोर्ध्यानं त्वया प्रोक्तं सगुणं निर्गुणं च यत्

aṁbarīṣa uvāca- sādhusādhu muniśreṣṭha lokānugrahakāraka viṣṇordhyānaṁ tvayā proktaṁ saguṇaṁ nirguṇaṁ ca yat

Ambarisha said: "Well said, well said, O foremost of sages, benefactor of the worlds! You have told me the meditation on Vishnu, both with and without qualities."

Verse 2 (padma.5.85.2)

अधुना लक्षणं ब्रूहि भक्तेः साधु कृपाकर । यादृशी क्रियते येन यथा यत्र यदा तथा

adhunā lakṣaṇaṁ brūhi bhakteḥ sādhu kṛpākara yādṛśī kriyate yena yathā yatra yadā tathā

"Now tell me, kindly, O compassionate one, the characteristics of devotion — of what kind it is performed, by whom, how, where, when, and in what manner."

Verse 3 (padma.5.85.3)

सूत उवाच- इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य नृपोत्तमस्य मुनिः प्रहृष्टो निजगाद भूपम् । शृणुष्व राजन्निखिलाघहारिणीं भक्तिं हरेस्ते प्रवदामि सम्यक्

sūta uvāca- ityuktamākarṇya nṛpottamasya muniḥ prahṛṣṭo nijagāda bhūpam śṛṇuṣva rājannikhilāghahāriṇīṁ bhaktiṁ hareste pravadāmi samyak

Suta said: "Hearing this speech of the excellent king, the sage, greatly delighted, said to him: 'Listen, O king, I shall properly declare to you devotion to Hari, which removes all sin.'"

Verse 4 (padma.5.85.4)

अथ भक्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि विविधां पापनाशिनीम् । विविधा भक्तिरुद्दिष्टा मनोवाक्कायसंभवा

atha bhaktiṁ pravakṣyāmi vividhāṁ pāpanāśinīm vividhā bhaktiruddiṣṭā manovākkāyasaṁbhavā

"Now I shall tell of devotion, manifold, the destroyer of sin; devotion is declared to be of various kinds, arising from mind, speech, and body."

Verse 5 (padma.5.85.5)

लौकिकी वैदिकी चापि भवेदाध्यात्मिकी तथा । ध्यानधारणया बुद्ध्या वेदानां स्मरणं हि यत्

laukikī vaidikī cāpi bhavedādhyātmikī tathā dhyānadhāraṇayā buddhyā vedānāṁ smaraṇaṁ hi yat

"It may be worldly, Vedic, and likewise spiritual. That remembrance of the Vedas performed through meditation, concentration, and intellect,"

Verse 6 (padma.5.85.6)

विष्णुप्रीतिकरी चैषा मानसी भक्तिरुच्यते । मंत्रवेदसमुच्चारैरविश्रांतविचिंतनैः

viṣṇuprītikarī caiṣā mānasī bhaktirucyate maṁtravedasamuccārairaviśrāṁtaviciṁtanaiḥ

"which brings pleasure to Vishnu, is called mental devotion. By the recitation of mantras and the Vedas, by unceasing contemplation,"

Verse 7 (padma.5.85.7)

जाप्यैश्चारण्यकैश्चैव वाचिकी भक्तिरुच्यते । व्रतोपवासनियमैः पञ्चेंद्रियजयेन च

jāpyaiścāraṇyakaiścaiva vācikī bhaktirucyate vratopavāsaniyamaiḥ pañceṁdriyajayena ca

"by japa and by the Aranyaka texts — this is called verbal devotion. By vows, fasts, observances, and by conquest of the five senses,"

Verse 8 (padma.5.85.8)

कायिकी सैव निर्दिष्टा भक्तिः सर्वार्थसाधिनी । भूषणैर्हेमरत्नांकैश्चित्राभिर्वाग्भिरेव च

kāyikī saiva nirdiṣṭā bhaktiḥ sarvārthasādhinī bhūṣaṇairhemaratnāṁkaiścitrābhirvāgbhireva ca

"that same is declared to be bodily devotion, the accomplisher of all aims. With ornaments marked with gold and jewels, with wondrous words,"

Verse 9 (padma.5.85.9)

वासः प्रतिसरैः सूत्रैः पावकव्यजनोच्छ्रितैः । नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च सर्वबल्युपहारकैः

vāsaḥ pratisaraiḥ sūtraiḥ pāvakavyajanocchritaiḥ nṛtyavāditragītaiśca sarvabalyupahārakaiḥ

"with garments, with sacred cords and threads, with fire, fans, banners raised aloft, with dance, instrumental music, and song, with offerings of every kind of tribute,"

Verse 10 (padma.5.85.10)

भक्ष्यभोज्यान्नपानैश्च या पूजा क्रियते नरैः । नारायणं समुद्दिश्य भक्तिः सा लौकिकी मता

bhakṣyabhojyānnapānaiśca yā pūjā kriyate naraiḥ nārāyaṇaṁ samuddiśya bhaktiḥ sā laukikī matā

"with edible foods, foods to be enjoyed, grain and drink — whatever worship is performed by men, directed toward Narayana, that devotion is held to be worldly."

Verse 11 (padma.5.85.11)

कायिकी सैव निर्दिष्टा भक्तिः सर्वार्थसाधिकी । ऋग्यजुःसामजाप्यानि संहिताध्ययनानि च

kāyikī saiva nirdiṣṭā bhaktiḥ sarvārthasādhikī ṛgyajuḥsāmajāpyāni saṁhitādhyayanāni ca

"That same is declared to be bodily devotion, the accomplisher of all aims. The recitation of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, and the study of the Samhitas,"

Verse 12 (padma.5.85.12)

क्रियंते विष्णुमुद्दिश्य सा भक्तिर्वैदिकोच्यते । वेदमंत्रहविर्यागैः क्रियाया वैदिकी मता

kriyaṁte viṣṇumuddiśya sā bhaktirvaidikocyate vedamaṁtrahaviryāgaiḥ kriyāyā vaidikī matā

"performed with Vishnu as the object — that devotion is called Vedic. With Vedic mantras, oblations, and sacrifices, ritual action is held to be Vedic."

Verse 13 (padma.5.85.13)

दर्शे च पौर्णमास्यां च कर्त्तव्यं चाग्निहोत्रकम् । प्राशनं दक्षिणादानं पुरोडाशं चरु क्रिया

darśe ca paurṇamāsyāṁ ca karttavyaṁ cāgnihotrakam prāśanaṁ dakṣiṇādānaṁ puroḍāśaṁ caru kriyā

"On the new-moon and full-moon days, the fire-oblation should be performed; the tasting, the giving of sacrificial fees, the purodasha and charu rites,"

Verse 14 (padma.5.85.14)

इष्टिर्धृतिः सोमपानं याज्ञियं कर्म सर्वशः । अग्निभूम्यनिलाकाश द्युति शंकर भास्करम्

iṣṭirdhṛtiḥ somapānaṁ yājñiyaṁ karma sarvaśaḥ agnibhūmyanilākāśa dyuti śaṁkara bhāskaram

"the ishti sacrifice, steadfastness, the drinking of soma, every sacrificial rite — fire, earth, wind, sky, light, Shankara, the sun —"

Verse 15 (padma.5.85.15)

तमुद्दिश्यकृतं कर्म तत्सर्वं विष्णुदैवतम् । आध्यात्मिकीति विविधा ब्रह्मभक्तिस्थिता नृप

tamuddiśyakṛtaṁ karma tatsarvaṁ viṣṇudaivatam ādhyātmikīti vividhā brahmabhaktisthitā nṛpa

"whatever action is performed with these as its object, all of that is dedicated to the deity Vishnu. This is declared to be the manifold devotion of Brahman, called spiritual, O king."

Verse 16 (padma.5.85.16)

सांख्याख्यां योगसंजातां शृणु भूप यथोदिताम् । चतुर्विंशति तत्त्वानि प्रधानादीनि संख्यया

sāṁkhyākhyāṁ yogasaṁjātāṁ śṛṇu bhūpa yathoditām caturviṁśati tattvāni pradhānādīni saṁkhyayā

"Hear now, O king, the devotion born of Yoga, called Sankhya, as it is declared: the twenty-four principles, beginning with Prakriti, in their number,"

Verse 17 (padma.5.85.17)

अचेतनानि भोग्यानि पुरुषः पंचविंशकः । चेतनः स समुद्दिष्टो कर्ता भोक्ता च कर्मणाम्

acetanāni bhogyāni puruṣaḥ paṁcaviṁśakaḥ cetanaḥ sa samuddiṣṭo kartā bhoktā ca karmaṇām

"are unconscious, objects of enjoyment; the Purusha is the twenty-fifth. He is declared to be conscious, the doer and enjoyer of actions,"

Verse 18 (padma.5.85.18)

आत्मा नित्योव्ययश्चैव अधिष्ठाता प्रयोजकः । पुरुषोऽव्यक्त नित्यः स्यात्कारणं च महेश्वरः

ātmā nityovyayaścaiva adhiṣṭhātā prayojakaḥ puruṣo'vyakta nityaḥ syātkāraṇaṁ ca maheśvaraḥ

"the Self, eternal, imperishable, the presiding overseer, the impeller. The Purusha is unmanifest, eternal; and Maheshvara is the cause."

Verse 19 (padma.5.85.19)

तत्त्वसर्गो भावसर्गो भूतसर्गश्च तत्त्वतः । संख्यायाः परिसंख्यायाः प्रधानं च गुणात्मकम्

tattvasargo bhāvasargo bhūtasargaśca tattvataḥ saṁkhyāyāḥ parisaṁkhyāyāḥ pradhānaṁ ca guṇātmakam

"The creation of principles, the creation of states of being, and the creation of elements, in truth; of number, and of the enumeration of number, Prakriti is of the very nature of the gunas."

Verse 20 (padma.5.85.20)

ज्ञात्वा साधर्म्यवैधर्म्यं प्रधानं च विधर्मि च । कारणं ब्रह्मणश्चैव कामित्वमिदमुच्यते

jñātvā sādharmyavaidharmyaṁ pradhānaṁ ca vidharmi ca kāraṇaṁ brahmaṇaścaiva kāmitvamidamucyate

"Having known the similarity and dissimilarity, Prakriti and the dissimilar Purusha — the cause of Brahman itself is thus called desire;"

Verse 21 (padma.5.85.21)

प्रयोज्यत्वं प्रधानस्य वैधर्म्यमिदमुच्यते । सर्वत्र कर्तृता ब्रह्म पुरुषस्याप्यकर्तृता

prayojyatvaṁ pradhānasya vaidharmyamidamucyate sarvatra kartṛtā brahma puruṣasyāpyakartṛtā

"the state of being an instrument of Prakriti is called this dissimilarity. Doership everywhere belongs to Brahman, while non-doership belongs even to the Purusha —"

Verse 22 (padma.5.85.22)

अचेतनप्रधानेन समत्वमिदमुच्यते । तत्त्वांतरं च तत्त्वानां कार्यकारणमेव च

acetanapradhānena samatvamidamucyate tattvāṁtaraṁ ca tattvānāṁ kāryakāraṇameva ca

"in equality with unconscious Prakriti, this is thus described. The distinctness of the principles from one another, and the relation of cause and effect,"

Verse 23 (padma.5.85.23)

प्रयोजनं प्रयोज्यत्वं ज्ञात्वा तत्त्वप्रसंख्यया । संख्यातमुच्यते प्राज्ञैर्विजयार्थविचिंतकैः

prayojanaṁ prayojyatvaṁ jñātvā tattvaprasaṁkhyayā saṁkhyātamucyate prājñairvijayārthaviciṁtakaiḥ

"the purpose, and the state of being an instrument — having known this through the enumeration of principles, it is called 'enumeration' by the wise, who ponder the goal of victory."

Verse 24 (padma.5.85.24)

इति मत्वास्य सद्भावं तत्त्वं संख्यां च तत्त्वतः । ब्रह्मतत्त्वाधिकं चापि भूततत्त्वं विदुर्बुधाः

iti matvāsya sadbhāvaṁ tattvaṁ saṁkhyāṁ ca tattvataḥ brahmatattvādhikaṁ cāpi bhūtatattvaṁ vidurbudhāḥ

"Thus, having understood the true nature, the principle, and the enumeration in truth — and knowing too the element-principle to be inferior to the Brahman-principle, the wise know this."

Verse 25 (padma.5.85.25)

सांख्यैः कृता भक्तिरेषा भक्तिराध्यात्मिकी स्मृता । योगजामपि ते भूप शृणु भक्तिं वदाम्यहम्

sāṁkhyaiḥ kṛtā bhaktireṣā bhaktirādhyātmikī smṛtā yogajāmapi te bhūpa śṛṇu bhaktiṁ vadāmyaham

"This devotion performed by the followers of Sankhya is remembered as spiritual devotion. Hear now too, O king, the devotion born of Yoga, which I shall tell you."

Verse 26 (padma.5.85.26)

प्राणायामपरो नित्यं ध्यानवान्नियतेंद्रियः । भैक्ष्यभक्षव्रती चापि सर्वप्रत्याहृतेन्द्रियः

prāṇāyāmaparo nityaṁ dhyānavānniyateṁdriyaḥ bhaikṣyabhakṣavratī cāpi sarvapratyāhṛtendriyaḥ

"Devoted ever to breath-control, possessed of meditation, with senses restrained, observing the vow of eating only begged food, with all senses withdrawn,"

Verse 27 (padma.5.85.27)

धारणं हृदये कृत्वा ध्यायमानो महेश्वरम् । हृत्पद्मकर्णिकासीनं पीतवस्त्रं सुलोचनम्

dhāraṇaṁ hṛdaye kṛtvā dhyāyamāno maheśvaram hṛtpadmakarṇikāsīnaṁ pītavastraṁ sulocanam

"having fixed concentration in the heart, meditating upon Maheshvara, seated in the whorl of the heart-lotus, clad in yellow, of beautiful eyes,"

Verse 28 (padma.5.85.28)

पश्यन्नुद्योतितमुखं ब्रह्मसूत्रकटीतटम् । श्वेतवर्णं चतुर्बाहुं वरदाभयहस्तकम्

paśyannudyotitamukhaṁ brahmasūtrakaṭītaṭam śvetavarṇaṁ caturbāhuṁ varadābhayahastakam

"beholding his radiant face, his waist girded with the sacred thread, of white hue, four-armed, his hands showing the gestures of boon-giving and fearlessness —"

Verse 29 (padma.5.85.29)

योगजा मानसीसिद्धिर्विष्णुभक्तिः परा स्मृता । य एवं भक्तिमान्देवं विष्णुभक्तिः स उच्यते

yogajā mānasīsiddhirviṣṇubhaktiḥ parā smṛtā ya evaṁ bhaktimāndevaṁ viṣṇubhaktiḥ sa ucyate

"this mental accomplishment born of yoga is remembered as the supreme devotion to Vishnu. He who is thus devoted to the god is called one possessed of devotion to Vishnu."

Verse 30 (padma.5.85.30)

एवं भक्तिः समुद्दिष्टा विविधा नृपनंदन । सात्विकी राजसी चैव तामसीभेदतस्त्विमाः

evaṁ bhaktiḥ samuddiṣṭā vividhā nṛpanaṁdana sātvikī rājasī caiva tāmasībhedatastvimāḥ

"Thus has devotion, manifold, been declared, O delight of the king. Sattvic, rajasic, and likewise tamasic — by these distinctions —"

Verse 31 (padma.5.85.31)

नानाप्रकारा विज्ञेया विष्णोरमिततेजसः । यथाग्निः सुसमृद्धार्च्चिः करोत्येधांसि भस्मसात्

nānāprakārā vijñeyā viṣṇoramitatejasaḥ yathāgniḥ susamṛddhārcciḥ karotyedhāṁsi bhasmasāt

"it should be known to be of manifold kinds, devotion to Vishnu of boundless splendor. Just as a well-kindled fire with abundant flame turns fuel to ashes,"

Verse 32 (padma.5.85.32)

पापानि भगवद्भक्तिस्तथा दहति तत्क्षणात्

pāpāni bhagavadbhaktistathā dahati tatkṣaṇāt

"so too devotion to the Lord burns away sins that very instant."

Verse 33 (padma.5.85.33)

यावज्जनो न शृणुते भुवि विष्णुभक्तिं साक्षात्सुधारसमशेषरसैकसारम् । तावज्जरामरणजन्मशताभिघातदुःखानि तानि लभते बहुदेहजानि

yāvajjano na śṛṇute bhuvi viṣṇubhaktiṁ sākṣātsudhārasamaśeṣarasaikasāram tāvajjarāmaraṇajanmaśatābhighātaduḥkhāni tāni labhate bahudehajāni

As long as a person on this earth does not hear directly of devotion to Vishnu, the sole essence of all sweetness, the very nectar-rasa — so long he obtains those sorrows born of old age, death, and birth, struck a hundredfold, arising from many bodies.

Verse 34 (padma.5.85.34)

संकीर्तितश्चिंतितकीर्तिरंतः श्रुतानुभावो भगवाननंतः । समंततोऽघविनिहंति मेघं वायुर्यथाभानुरिवांधकारम्

saṁkīrtitaściṁtitakīrtiraṁtaḥ śrutānubhāvo bhagavānanaṁtaḥ samaṁtato'ghavinihaṁti meghaṁ vāyuryathābhānurivāṁdhakāram

Praised, remembered, whose glory is heard within — the blessed, infinite Lord destroys sin on every side, as the wind destroys a cloud, as the sun destroys darkness.

Verse 35 (padma.5.85.35)

न दान देवार्चन याग तीर्थ स्नान श्रुताचार तपः क्रियाभिः । तथा विशुद्धिं लभतेंऽतरात्मा यथा हृदिस्थे भगवत्यनंते

na dāna devārcana yāga tīrtha snāna śrutācāra tapaḥ kriyābhiḥ tathā viśuddhiṁ labhateṁ'tarātmā yathā hṛdisthe bhagavatyanaṁte

Not by gifts, worship of gods, sacrifices, pilgrimage-bathing, scriptural conduct, or austerities does the inner self attain such purity, as when the infinite Lord abides in the heart.

Verse 36 (padma.5.85.36)

कथा विशुद्धा नरनाथ तथ्यास्ता एव पथ्या हरिनाथ तथ्याः । संकीर्तिता यत्र पवित्रमूर्तेः संश्रूयते च श्रुतसाधुकीर्तिः

kathā viśuddhā naranātha tathyāstā eva pathyā harinātha tathyāḥ saṁkīrtitā yatra pavitramūrteḥ saṁśrūyate ca śrutasādhukīrtiḥ

Pure indeed, O lord of men, are those true stories; beneficial and true are they, O Lord of Hari — where the pure fame, well heard, of the sacred one is recited and heard.

Verse 37 (padma.5.85.37)

धन्योसि धीरधरणीधर धर्मधुर्य्य ध्यानैकतान हृदयः पुरुषोत्तमस्य । यन्नैष्ठिकीमतिरसौ तव सौभगश्रीः श्रीकृष्णनाथसुकृतः श्रवणे प्रवृत्ता

dhanyosi dhīradharaṇīdhara dharmadhuryya dhyānaikatāna hṛdayaḥ puruṣottamasya yannaiṣṭhikīmatirasau tava saubhagaśrīḥ śrīkṛṣṇanāthasukṛtaḥ śravaṇe pravṛttā

Blessed are you, O steadfast upholder of the earth, foremost in dharma, your heart fixed solely on meditation upon Purushottama, in that this resolve of yours, your fortunate glory, has turned toward hearing of the merit of Shri Krishna the Lord.

Verse 38 (padma.5.85.38)

अनाराध्य हरिं भक्त्या वरदं विष्णुमव्ययम् । कुतः श्रेयो भवेद्भूप पुरुषस्यात्ममानिनः

anārādhya hariṁ bhaktyā varadaṁ viṣṇumavyayam kutaḥ śreyo bhavedbhūpa puruṣasyātmamāninaḥ

"Without worshipping Hari with devotion, the boon-granting, imperishable Vishnu, whence could welfare come, O king, for a man proud of his own self?"

Verse 39 (padma.5.85.39)

मायाजनिरमायोऽसौ भक्त्या राजन्नमायया । साध्यते साधुपुरुषः स्वयं जानाति तद्भवान्

māyājaniramāyo'sau bhaktyā rājannamāyayā sādhyate sādhupuruṣaḥ svayaṁ jānāti tadbhavān

"Born of maya, yet himself without maya, he is attained by devotion, O king, without deceit; the righteous man attains him — you yourself know this."

Verse 40 (padma.5.85.40)

न विद्यते ते नृप धर्मतत्त्वमज्ञातमेतद्विमलं पुनर्माम् । त्वं पृच्छसे तीर्थपदं प्रसंगात्कथारसं वैष्णव गौरवेण

na vidyate te nṛpa dharmatattvamajñātametadvimalaṁ punarmām tvaṁ pṛcchase tīrthapadaṁ prasaṁgātkathārasaṁ vaiṣṇava gauraveṇa

"There is no dharma-truth unknown to you, O king, this pure truth; again you ask me, out of your own regard, about the holy places, out of the pleasure of discourse, through your Vaishnava reverence."

Verse 41 (padma.5.85.41)

नातः परं परमतोषविशेषपोषं पश्यामि पुण्यमुचितं च परस्परेण । संतः प्रसह्य यदनंतगुणाननंतश्रेयोनिधीनधिकभावभुजो भुजंति

nātaḥ paraṁ paramatoṣaviśeṣapoṣaṁ paśyāmi puṇyamucitaṁ ca paraspareṇa saṁtaḥ prasahya yadanaṁtaguṇānanaṁtaśreyonidhīnadhikabhāvabhujo bhujaṁti

Beyond this I see no other special nourishment of supreme satisfaction, no merit more fitting for mutual exchange, than that by which the righteous, forcibly as it were, partake of the endless virtues, the treasuries of endless welfare, bearing an ever-increasing love.

Verse 42 (padma.5.85.42)

ब्राह्मणाः सुरभी सत्य श्रद्धा याग तपांसि च । श्रुति स्मृति दया दीक्षा शांतयस्तनवो हरेः

brāhmaṇāḥ surabhī satya śraddhā yāga tapāṁsi ca śruti smṛti dayā dīkṣā śāṁtayastanavo hareḥ

Brahmins, the wish-cow, truth, faith, sacrifice, and austerities, the Shrutis and Smritis, compassion, initiation, and tranquility — these are the very bodies of Hari.

Verse 43 (padma.5.85.43)

आदित्यश्चंद्रमा वायुर्भूमिरापोंऽबरं दिशः । ब्रह्माविष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च सर्वभूतमयो विभुः

ādityaścaṁdramā vāyurbhūmirāpoṁ'baraṁ diśaḥ brahmāviṣṇuśca rudraśca sarvabhūtamayo vibhuḥ

The sun, the moon, the wind, the earth, the waters, the sky, the directions, Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra — the all-pervading Lord, of the essence of all beings,

Verse 44 (padma.5.85.44)

विश्वरूपः स्वयं चक्रे जगदेतच्चराचरम् । स्वयं ब्राह्मणमाविश्य सदान्नमुपभुंजते

viśvarūpaḥ svayaṁ cakre jagadetaccarācaram svayaṁ brāhmaṇamāviśya sadānnamupabhuṁjate

the universal form, himself made this moving and unmoving world; entering into the brahmin himself, he ever partakes of food.

Verse 45 (padma.5.85.45)

ततस्तु तीर्थास्पदपादरेणून्धराधरात्मालय भूमिदेवान् । परात्मनः पूजय पुण्यलक्ष्मी सर्वस्वभूतानखिलात्मभूतान्

tatastu tīrthāspadapādareṇūndharādharātmālaya bhūmidevān parātmanaḥ pūjaya puṇyalakṣmī sarvasvabhūtānakhilātmabhūtān

Therefore worship the dust of the feet of those earth-gods, the very abodes of the holy places, of the supreme Self, the wealth of merit, the very Self of all beings, embodying all souls within themselves.

Verse 46 (padma.5.85.46)

ब्राह्मणं विष्णुबुद्ध्य्या यो विद्वांसं साधु पश्यति । स एव वैष्णवो यश्च स्वस्वकर्मैकनिष्ठितः

brāhmaṇaṁ viṣṇubuddhyyā yo vidvāṁsaṁ sādhu paśyati sa eva vaiṣṇavo yaśca svasvakarmaikaniṣṭhitaḥ

He who rightly sees a learned brahmin with the thought that he is Vishnu himself — he alone is a true Vaishnava, and likewise he who is devoted solely to his own prescribed duty.

Verse 47 (padma.5.85.47)

किंचिदेतन्मयाप्रोक्तं रहस्यं समयो हि मे । स्नातुं गंतुं च गंगायां न कथावसरोऽधिकः

kiṁcidetanmayāproktaṁ rahasyaṁ samayo hi me snātuṁ gaṁtuṁ ca gaṁgāyāṁ na kathāvasaro'dhikaḥ

"This much of the secret I have told you; my time indeed is limited — there is no further occasion for discourse, for I must go to bathe in the Ganga."

Verse 48 (padma.5.85.48)

प्राप्तोऽयं माधवो मासः पुण्यो माधववल्लभः । तस्यापि सप्तमी शुक्ला गंगायामतिदुर्ल्लभा

prāpto'yaṁ mādhavo māsaḥ puṇyo mādhavavallabhaḥ tasyāpi saptamī śuklā gaṁgāyāmatidurllabhā

"This sacred month of Madhava, beloved of Madhava, has arrived; and its bright seventh day, on the Ganga, is exceedingly rare."

Verse 49 (padma.5.85.49)

वैशाख शुक्ल सप्तम्यां जाह्नवी जह्नुना पुरा । क्रोधात्पीता पुनस्त्यक्ता कर्णरंध्रात्तु दक्षिणात्

vaiśākha śukla saptamyāṁ jāhnavī jahnunā purā krodhātpītā punastyaktā karṇaraṁdhrāttu dakṣiṇāt

"On the bright seventh of Vaishakha, the Jahnavi, formerly drunk by Jahnu in his anger, was released again from his right ear-cavity."

Verse 50 (padma.5.85.50)

तस्यां समर्चयेद्देवीं गंगां गगनमेखलाम् । स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानेन स धन्यः सुकृती नरः

tasyāṁ samarcayeddevīṁ gaṁgāṁ gaganamekhalām snātvā samyagvidhānena sa dhanyaḥ sukṛtī naraḥ

"On that day one should duly worship the goddess Ganga, the girdle of the sky. Having bathed with proper rites, that man becomes blessed and virtuous."

Verse 51 (padma.5.85.51)

तस्यां यस्तर्पयेद्देवान्पितॄन्मर्त्यो यथाविधि । साक्षात्पश्यति तं गंगा स्नातकं गतपापकम्

tasyāṁ yastarpayeddevānpitṝnmartyo yathāvidhi sākṣātpaśyati taṁ gaṁgā snātakaṁ gatapāpakam

"On that day, whatever mortal offers water-libations to the gods and ancestors, according to rule, is beheld directly by Ganga as one bathed and freed of sin."

Verse 52 (padma.5.85.52)

न माधव समो मासो न गंगा सदृशी नदी । दुर्ल्लभः खलु योगोऽयं हरिभक्त्यैव लभ्यते

na mādhava samo māso na gaṁgā sadṛśī nadī durllabhaḥ khalu yogo'yaṁ haribhaktyaiva labhyate

"There is no month equal to Madhava, no river equal to Ganga; this rare conjunction is attained only through devotion to Hari."

Verse 53 (padma.5.85.53)

विष्णुपादोदकोद्भूता ब्रह्मलोकादुपागता । त्रिभिः स्रोतोभिरश्रांता या पुनाति जगत्त्रयम्

viṣṇupādodakodbhūtā brahmalokādupāgatā tribhiḥ srotobhiraśrāṁtā yā punāti jagattrayam

"Sprung from the water that washed Vishnu's feet, come down from Brahmaloka, tireless in her three streams, she purifies the three worlds;"

Verse 54 (padma.5.85.54)

स्वर्गारोहणनिःश्रेणी सततानंदकारिणी । अनेकदुरितोद्गारहारिणी दुर्गतारिणी

svargārohaṇaniḥśreṇī satatānaṁdakāriṇī anekaduritodgārahāriṇī durgatāriṇī

"the very staircase for ascending to heaven, ever bringing bliss, taking away the outpourings of manifold sin, the deliverer from misfortune,"

Verse 55 (padma.5.85.55)

श्रीमहेशजटाजूटवासिनी दुःखनाशिनी । भजमानजनस्वांतकान्तकेलि विनाशिनी

śrīmaheśajaṭājūṭavāsinī duḥkhanāśinī bhajamānajanasvāṁtakāntakeli vināśinī

"dwelling in the matted locks of glorious Mahesha, the destroyer of sorrow, destroying the very play of death within the hearts of those who worship her,"

Verse 56 (padma.5.85.56)

सगरान्वयनिर्वाणकारिणी धर्मधारिणी । त्रिमार्गचारिणी देवी लोकालंकृतिकारिणी

sagarānvayanirvāṇakāriṇī dharmadhāriṇī trimārgacāriṇī devī lokālaṁkṛtikāriṇī

"bringing liberation to the lineage of Sagara, the upholder of dharma, coursing the three paths, the goddess who is the very ornament of the worlds,"

Verse 57 (padma.5.85.57)

दर्शन स्पर्शन स्नान कीर्त्तन ध्यान सेवनैः । पुण्यानपुण्यान्पुरुषान्पावयंती सहस्रशः

darśana sparśana snāna kīrttana dhyāna sevanaiḥ puṇyānapuṇyānpuruṣānpāvayaṁtī sahasraśaḥ

"purifying, by sight, touch, bathing, praise, meditation, and service, both righteous and sinful men, by the thousands —"

Verse 58 (padma.5.85.58)

गंगा गंगेति गंगेति यैस्त्रिसंध्यमितीरितम् । सुदूरस्थैश्च तत्पापं हंति जन्मत्रयार्जितम्

gaṁgā gaṁgeti gaṁgeti yaistrisaṁdhyamitīritam sudūrasthaiśca tatpāpaṁ haṁti janmatrayārjitam

"'Ganga, Ganga, Ganga' — those who utter this at the three daily junctures, even from far away, she destroys their sin accumulated over three lifetimes."

Verse 59 (padma.5.85.59)

योजनानां सहस्रेषु गंगां यः स्मरते नरः । अपि दुष्कृतकर्मासौ लभते परमां गतिम्

yojanānāṁ sahasreṣu gaṁgāṁ yaḥ smarate naraḥ api duṣkṛtakarmāsau labhate paramāṁ gatim

"That man who remembers the Ganga even from thousands of yojanas away — even one of evil deeds attains the supreme goal."

Verse 60 (padma.5.85.60)

वैशाखे शुक्ल सप्तम्यां दुर्ल्लभा सा विशेषतः । प्राप्यते जगतीपाल हरि विप्र प्रसादतः

vaiśākhe śukla saptamyāṁ durllabhā sā viśeṣataḥ prāpyate jagatīpāla hari vipra prasādataḥ

"On the bright seventh of Vaishakha, this is especially rare; it is obtained, O guardian of the earth, by the grace of Hari and the brahmins."

Verse 61 (padma.5.85.61)

न माधवसमो मासो न माधवसमो विभुः । गतोहि दुरितांभोधौ मज्जमानजनस्य यः

na mādhavasamo māso na mādhavasamo vibhuḥ gatohi duritāṁbhodhau majjamānajanasya yaḥ

"There is no month equal to Madhava, no Lord equal to Madhava, who goes to a person sinking in the ocean of misfortune."

Verse 62 (padma.5.85.62)

दत्तं जप्तं हुतं स्नातं यद्भक्त्या मासि माधवे । तदक्षयं भवेद्भूप पुण्यं कोटिशताधिकम्

dattaṁ japtaṁ hutaṁ snātaṁ yadbhaktyā māsi mādhave tadakṣayaṁ bhavedbhūpa puṇyaṁ koṭiśatādhikam

"Whatever is given, recited, offered, or bathed with devotion in the month of Madhava becomes imperishable, O king, meritorious a hundred times a myriad-fold."

Verse 63 (padma.5.85.63)

यथा देवेषु विश्वात्मा देवो नारायणो हरिः । यथा जप्येषु गायत्री सरितां जाह्नवी तथा

yathā deveṣu viśvātmā devo nārāyaṇo hariḥ yathā japyeṣu gāyatrī saritāṁ jāhnavī tathā

"As Narayana Hari is the universal Self among the gods, as Gayatri is among recitations, as the Jahnavi is among rivers,"

Verse 64 (padma.5.85.64)

यथोमा सर्वनारीणां तपतां भास्करो यथा । आरोग्यलाभो लाभानां द्विपदां ब्राह्मणो यथा

yathomā sarvanārīṇāṁ tapatāṁ bhāskaro yathā ārogyalābho lābhānāṁ dvipadāṁ brāhmaṇo yathā

"as Uma is among all women, as the sun is among ascetics, as the gaining of health is among gains, as the brahmin is among the two-footed,"

Verse 65 (padma.5.85.65)

परोपकारः पुण्यानां विद्यानां निगमो यथा । मंत्राणां प्रणवो यद्वद्ध्यानानामात्मचिंतनम्

paropakāraḥ puṇyānāṁ vidyānāṁ nigamo yathā maṁtrāṇāṁ praṇavo yadvaddhyānānāmātmaciṁtanam

"as helping others is among merits, as the Vedas are among knowledge, as the Pranava is among mantras, as contemplation of the Self is among meditations,"

Verse 66 (padma.5.85.66)

सत्यं स्वधर्मवर्तित्वं तपसां च यथा वरम् । शौचानामर्थशौचं च दानानामभयं यथा

satyaṁ svadharmavartitvaṁ tapasāṁ ca yathā varam śaucānāmarthaśaucaṁ ca dānānāmabhayaṁ yathā

"as truthfulness in one's own duty is among austerities, as purity of wealth is among purities, as the granting of fearlessness is among gifts,"

Verse 67 (padma.5.85.67)

गुणानां च यथा लोभक्षयो मुख्यो गुणः स्मृतः । मासानां प्रवरो मासस्तथासौ माधवो मतः

guṇānāṁ ca yathā lobhakṣayo mukhyo guṇaḥ smṛtaḥ māsānāṁ pravaro māsastathāsau mādhavo mataḥ

"and as the destruction of greed is remembered as the chief among virtues — so is that Madhava held to be the foremost among months."

Verse 68 (padma.5.85.68)

तत्र यत्क्रियते श्राद्धं यज्ञ दानमुपोषणम् । तपोऽध्ययनपूजादि तदक्षयफलं स्मृतम्

tatra yatkriyate śrāddhaṁ yajña dānamupoṣaṇam tapo'dhyayanapūjādi tadakṣayaphalaṁ smṛtam

"Whatever shraddha-rite, sacrifice, gift, fast, austerity, study, or worship is performed in it — that is remembered as of imperishable fruit."

Verse 69 (padma.5.85.69)

वैशाखांतानि पापानि सूर्यांतानि तमांसि च । परापकारपैशुन्य प्रांतानि सुकृतानि च

vaiśākhāṁtāni pāpāni sūryāṁtāni tamāṁsi ca parāpakārapaiśunya prāṁtāni sukṛtāni ca

Sins committed until the end of Vaishakha, and darkness until the end of the sun's course, and evil deeds done to others through slander until their very end — these are destroyed.

Verse 70 (padma.5.85.70)

कार्तिके मासि यत्किंचित्तुलासंस्थे दिवाकरे । स्नानदानादिकं राजंस्तत्परार्धगुणं भवेत्

kārtike māsi yatkiṁcittulāsaṁsthe divākare snānadānādikaṁ rājaṁstatparārdhaguṇaṁ bhavet

Whatever bathing, giving and the like is done in the month of Kartika, when the sun stands in Libra, O king — that becomes of half-again the merit.

Verse 71 (padma.5.85.71)

तस्मात्सहस्रगुणितं माघे मकरगे रवौ । ततोऽपि शतसंख्यातं वैशाखेमेषगे रवौ

tasmātsahasraguṇitaṁ māghe makarage ravau tato'pi śatasaṁkhyātaṁ vaiśākhemeṣage ravau

Therefore, a thousandfold that merit accrues in Magha, when the sun is in Capricorn; and a hundred times more than that, in Vaishakha, when the sun is in Aries.

Verse 72 (padma.5.85.72)

ते धन्यास्ते सुकृतिनो नरा वैशाख मासि ये । प्रातः स्नात्वा विधानेन पूजयंति मधुद्विषम्

te dhanyāste sukṛtino narā vaiśākha māsi ye prātaḥ snātvā vidhānena pūjayaṁti madhudviṣam

Blessed and virtuous are those men who, in the month of Vaishakha, bathing at dawn according to rule, worship the enemy of Madhu.

Verse 73 (padma.5.85.73)

प्रातःस्नानं च वैशाखे यज्ञदानमुपोषणम् । हविष्यं ब्रह्मचर्यं च महापातकनाशनम्

prātaḥsnānaṁ ca vaiśākhe yajñadānamupoṣaṇam haviṣyaṁ brahmacaryaṁ ca mahāpātakanāśanam

The dawn-bath in Vaishakha, sacrifice, giving, fasting, sanctified food, and celibacy destroy even the greatest sins.

Verse 74 (padma.5.85.74)

पुनः कलियुगे राजन्नेतद्गोप्यं भविष्यति । अश्वमेधादिकं यस्मान्माहात्म्यं माधवस्य यत्

punaḥ kaliyuge rājannetadgopyaṁ bhaviṣyati aśvamedhādikaṁ yasmānmāhātmyaṁ mādhavasya yat

Again, O king, in the Kali age, this shall become hidden — since the greatness of the horse-sacrifice and the like belongs to Madhava's month.

Verse 75 (padma.5.85.75)

अश्वमेधमखः पुण्यः कलौ नैव प्रवर्तते । एष माधवमासस्य हयमेध समो विधिः

aśvamedhamakhaḥ puṇyaḥ kalau naiva pravartate eṣa mādhavamāsasya hayamedha samo vidhiḥ

The meritorious rite of the horse-sacrifice does not prevail at all in the Kali age; this observance of the month of Madhava is equal to the horse-sacrifice.

Verse 76 (padma.5.85.76)

अश्वमेधस्य यत्पुण्यं स्वर्गमोक्षफलप्रदम् । न वेत्स्यंति कलौ पापा जना दुरितबुद्धयः

aśvamedhasya yatpuṇyaṁ svargamokṣaphalapradam na vetsyaṁti kalau pāpā janā duritabuddhayaḥ

The merit of the horse-sacrifice, which grants the fruit of heaven and liberation — sinful people of the Kali age, of evil intent, shall not know it.

Verse 77 (padma.5.85.77)

तस्मिन्भवैर्नरैः पापैर्गंतव्यं नरकार्णवे । अतस्तु विरलस्तस्य प्रचारो येन निर्मितः

tasminbhavairnaraiḥ pāpairgaṁtavyaṁ narakārṇave atastu viralastasya pracāro yena nirmitaḥ

Men born of sin in that age must go to the ocean of hell; therefore its practice becomes rare, by whom it has been established.