The Marks of a Vaishnava

Verse 1 (padma.6.82.1)

पार्वत्युवाच । वैष्णवानां लक्षणं च कीदृशं प्रतिपादितम् । महिमा कीदृशश्चैव वद विश्वेश्वर प्रभो

pārvatyuvāca vaiṣṇavānāṁ lakṣaṇaṁ ca kīdṛśaṁ pratipāditam mahimā kīdṛśaścaiva vada viśveśvara prabho

Parvati said: What are the defining marks of Vaishnavas, and what is their glory? O Lord of the universe, O Master, tell me this.

Verse 2 (padma.6.82.2)

महादेव उवाच । विष्णोरयं यतः प्रोक्तो ह्यतो वै वैष्णवो मतः । सर्वस्यादिस्तु विज्ञेयो ब्रह्मारूपधरस्ततः

mahādeva uvāca viṣṇorayaṁ yataḥ prokto hyato vai vaiṣṇavo mataḥ sarvasyādistu vijñeyo brahmārūpadharastataḥ

Mahadeva said: Since this term derives from Vishnu, one so devoted is called a Vaishnava. Vishnu alone should be known as the origin of all; after him comes the one who bears the form of Brahma.

Verse 3 (padma.6.82.3)

यतः सकाशात्संजाता ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः । ते वैष्णवास्तु विज्ञेया नैवान्ये तु कदाचन

yataḥ sakāśātsaṁjātā brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ te vaiṣṇavāstu vijñeyā naivānye tu kadācana

Those from whom brahmins learned in the Vedas have arisen — they alone should be known as Vaishnavas, never any others.

Verse 4 (padma.6.82.4)

शौचसत्यक्षांतियुक्तो रागद्वेषविवर्जितः । वेदविद्याविचारज्ञो यः स वैष्णव उच्यते

śaucasatyakṣāṁtiyukto rāgadveṣavivarjitaḥ vedavidyāvicārajño yaḥ sa vaiṣṇava ucyate

One who is endowed with purity, truthfulness, and forbearance, who is free of attachment and aversion, and who knows the discernment of Vedic knowledge — he is called a Vaishnava.

Verse 5 (padma.6.82.5)

अग्निहोत्ररतो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकः । पितृभक्तो मातृभक्तः स वै वैष्णव उच्यते

agnihotrarato nityaṁ nityaṁ cātithipūjakaḥ pitṛbhakto mātṛbhaktaḥ sa vai vaiṣṇava ucyate

One who is ever devoted to the fire-sacrifice, ever a worshipper of guests, devoted to his father and devoted to his mother — he is called a Vaishnava.

Verse 6 (padma.6.82.6)

दयाधर्मेण संयुक्तस्तथा पापपराङ्मुखः । शंखचक्रांकितोयो वै स वै वैष्णव उच्यते

dayādharmeṇa saṁyuktastathā pāpaparāṅmukhaḥ śaṁkhacakrāṁkitoyo vai sa vai vaiṣṇava ucyate

One who is joined with the virtue of compassion, turned away from sin, and marked with the signs of the conch and discus — he is called a Vaishnava.

Verse 7 (padma.6.82.7)

कंठे मालाधरो यस्तु मुखे रामं सदोच्चरेत् । गानं कुर्यात्सदा भक्त्या स नरो वैष्णवः स्मृतः

kaṁṭhe mālādharo yastu mukhe rāmaṁ sadoccaret gānaṁ kuryātsadā bhaktyā sa naro vaiṣṇavaḥ smṛtaḥ

The man who wears a garland around his neck, ever utters the name of Rama with his mouth, and ever sings with devotion — he is remembered as a Vaishnava.

Verse 8 (padma.6.82.8)

पुराणेषु रता नित्यं यज्ञेषु चरताः सदा । ते नरा वैष्णवा ज्ञेयाः सर्वधर्मेषु संमताः

purāṇeṣu ratā nityaṁ yajñeṣu caratāḥ sadā te narā vaiṣṇavā jñeyāḥ sarvadharmeṣu saṁmatāḥ

Those men who are ever devoted to the Puranas and ever engaged in sacrifices should be known as Vaishnavas, honored in every branch of dharma.

Verse 9 (padma.6.82.9)

तेषां निंदां प्रकुर्वंति ये नराः पापकारिणः । ते मृतास्तु कुयोनिं वै गच्छंति च पुनः पुनः

teṣāṁ niṁdāṁ prakurvaṁti ye narāḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ te mṛtāstu kuyoniṁ vai gacchaṁti ca punaḥ punaḥ

Those sinful men who slander such Vaishnavas, after death repeatedly go to degraded births.

Verse 10 (padma.6.82.10)

गोपालनाम्नीं मूर्तिं च येऽर्चयंति द्विजाः सदा । धातुमात्रमयीं कृत्वा चतुर्हस्तां सुशोभिताम्

gopālanāmnīṁ mūrtiṁ ca ye'rcayaṁti dvijāḥ sadā dhātumātramayīṁ kṛtvā caturhastāṁ suśobhitām

The brahmins who ever worship the image called Gopala — made purely of metal, four-armed, and beautifully adorned —

Verse 11 (padma.6.82.11)

पूजां कुर्वंति ये विप्रास्ते ज्ञेयाः पुण्यभाजिनः । कृत्वा पाषाणजां मूर्तिं कृष्णाख्यां रूपसुंदरीम्

pūjāṁ kurvaṁti ye viprāste jñeyāḥ puṇyabhājinaḥ kṛtvā pāṣāṇajāṁ mūrtiṁ kṛṣṇākhyāṁ rūpasuṁdarīm

— should be known as sharers of great merit. Those who, having made an image of stone called Krishna, beautiful in form —

Verse 12 (padma.6.82.12)

पूजां कुर्वंति ये विप्रास्ते ज्ञेयाः पुण्यमूर्त्तयः । शालग्रामशिला यत्र यत्र द्वारवती शिला

pūjāṁ kurvaṁti ye viprāste jñeyāḥ puṇyamūrttayaḥ śālagrāmaśilā yatra yatra dvāravatī śilā

— worship it, should themselves be known as embodiments of merit. Wherever there is a shaligrama stone, and wherever there is a dvaravati stone —

Verse 13 (padma.6.82.13)

उभयोः संगमो यत्र मुक्तिस्तत्र न संशयः । मूर्तिं मंत्रेण संस्थाप्य पूजनं क्रियते यदि

ubhayoḥ saṁgamo yatra muktistatra na saṁśayaḥ mūrtiṁ maṁtreṇa saṁsthāpya pūjanaṁ kriyate yadi

— and wherever the two meet together, liberation is assured there, without doubt. If a murti is installed with mantras and worshipped —

Verse 14 (padma.6.82.14)

तदर्चनं कोटिगुणं धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदम् । नवधा तत्र वै भक्तिः कर्तव्या च जनार्दने । अतः पाषाणजा मूर्तिस्तथा धातुमयी त्वया

tadarcanaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ dharmakāmārthamokṣadam navadhā tatra vai bhaktiḥ kartavyā ca janārdane ataḥ pāṣāṇajā mūrtistathā dhātumayī tvayā

— then that worship becomes a million times more fruitful, granting dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. There, nine-fold devotion should be practiced toward Janardana. Therefore you should have an image made of stone or of metal.

Verse 15 (padma.6.82.15)

तस्यां भक्तैः प्रकर्त्तव्यं ध्यानं पूजनमेव च । राजोपचारकीं पूजां मूर्तौ तत्र प्रकल्पयेत्

tasyāṁ bhaktaiḥ prakarttavyaṁ dhyānaṁ pūjanameva ca rājopacārakīṁ pūjāṁ mūrtau tatra prakalpayet

Devotees should perform meditation and worship upon it. One should conduct royal-style worship, with all the honors due a king, toward that image.

Verse 16 (padma.6.82.16)

सर्वात्मानं स्मरेन्नित्यं भगवंतमधोक्षजम् । दीनानाथैकशरणं लोकानां वृत्तिकारणम्

sarvātmānaṁ smarennityaṁ bhagavaṁtamadhokṣajam dīnānāthaikaśaraṇaṁ lokānāṁ vṛttikāraṇam

One should ever remember the Lord Adhokshaja, the Self of all, the sole refuge of the poor and helpless, the very cause of the sustenance of all worlds.

Verse 17 (padma.6.82.17)

मूर्त्तौ तत्र स्मरेन्नित्यं महापातकनाशनम् । गोपालोऽयं तथा कृष्णो रामोऽयमिति च ब्रुवन्

mūrttau tatra smarennityaṁ mahāpātakanāśanam gopālo'yaṁ tathā kṛṣṇo rāmo'yamiti ca bruvan

In that image one should ever remember the destroyer of great sins, saying, 'This is Gopala,' 'This is Krishna,' 'This is Rama' —

Verse 18 (padma.6.82.18)

पूजां करोति यः सम्यक्स वै भागवतो नरः । गोकुले तु यथा रूपं धृतं वै केशवेन तु

pūjāṁ karoti yaḥ samyaksa vai bhāgavato naraḥ gokule tu yathā rūpaṁ dhṛtaṁ vai keśavena tu

— whoever thus worships properly is a true Bhagavata. As Keshava assumed a particular form in Gokula —

Verse 19 (padma.6.82.19)

तादृग्रूपं प्रकर्त्तव्यं वैष्णवैर्नरसत्तमैः । आत्मसंतोषणार्थाय स्वरूपं कारयेद्बुधः

tādṛgrūpaṁ prakarttavyaṁ vaiṣṇavairnarasattamaiḥ ātmasaṁtoṣaṇārthāya svarūpaṁ kārayedbudhaḥ

— such a form should be fashioned by excellent Vaishnava men. The wise man should have that image made for the satisfaction of his own soul.

Verse 20 (padma.6.82.20)

यतो भक्तिस्तु बहुला जायते नात्र संशयः । शंखचक्रगदादीनि विष्णोश्चैवायुधानि च

yato bhaktistu bahulā jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ śaṁkhacakragadādīni viṣṇoścaivāyudhāni ca

— for from this, devotion arises in abundance, without doubt. The conch, discus, mace, and the other weapons of Vishnu —

Verse 21 (padma.6.82.21)

तस्यां मूर्तौ विशेषेण कर्त्तव्यानि प्रमाणतः । चतुर्भुजां द्विनेत्रां च शंखचक्रगदाधराम्

tasyāṁ mūrtau viśeṣeṇa karttavyāni pramāṇataḥ caturbhujāṁ dvinetrāṁ ca śaṁkhacakragadādharām

— should be made upon that image, specifically, according to the prescribed measure. Four-armed, two-eyed, bearing the conch, discus, and mace —

Verse 22 (padma.6.82.22)

पीतवासः परीधानां शोभमानां गरीयसीम् । वनमालां दधानां तां लसद्वैडूर्यकुंडलाम्

pītavāsaḥ parīdhānāṁ śobhamānāṁ garīyasīm vanamālāṁ dadhānāṁ tāṁ lasadvaiḍūryakuṁḍalām

— clad in yellow, resplendent, most majestic, wearing a garland of forest flowers, and with shining beryl-gem earrings —

Verse 23 (padma.6.82.23)

मुकुटे मणिसंयुक्तां कौस्तुभोद्भासितां सदा । सौवर्णीं चाथ रौप्यां वा ताम्रजां चाथ पैत्तलीम्

mukuṭe maṇisaṁyuktāṁ kaustubhodbhāsitāṁ sadā sauvarṇīṁ cātha raupyāṁ vā tāmrajāṁ cātha paittalīm

— with gems set in the crown, and ever radiant with the Kaustubha gem — such an image, whether of gold, silver, copper, or brass —

Verse 24 (padma.6.82.24)

कारयेत्परया भक्त्या वैष्णवैर्द्विजसत्तमैः । आगमोक्तैर्वेदमंत्रैः प्रतिष्ठाप्य विशेषतः

kārayetparayā bhaktyā vaiṣṇavairdvijasattamaiḥ āgamoktairvedamaṁtraiḥ pratiṣṭhāpya viśeṣataḥ

— should be made by excellent Vaishnava brahmins with supreme devotion, and it should be specifically consecrated with Vedic mantras as prescribed in the scriptural texts.

Verse 25 (padma.6.82.25)

पश्चाद्वै अर्चनं कार्यं यथाशास्त्रानुसारतः । षोडशोपचारैर्मंत्रैः पूजनं विधिपूर्वकम्

paścādvai arcanaṁ kāryaṁ yathāśāstrānusārataḥ ṣoḍaśopacārairmaṁtraiḥ pūjanaṁ vidhipūrvakam

Thereafter, worship should be conducted according to scripture — the sixteen ritual offerings and mantras, performed duly.

Verse 26 (padma.6.82.26)

पूजिते तु जगन्नाथे सर्वे देवाश्च पूजिताः । अतो येन प्रकारेण पूजनीयो महाप्रभुः

pūjite tu jagannāthe sarve devāśca pūjitāḥ ato yena prakāreṇa pūjanīyo mahāprabhuḥ

When Jagannatha is worshipped, all the gods are thereby worshipped. Therefore, by whatever means possible, the great Lord should be worshipped.

Verse 27 (padma.6.82.27)

अनादिनिधनो देवः शंखचक्रगदाधरः । सर्वं ददाति सर्वेशो वैष्णवान्पुण्यरूपिणः

anādinidhano devaḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ sarvaṁ dadāti sarveśo vaiṣṇavānpuṇyarūpiṇaḥ

That god is without beginning or end, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace. The Lord of all grants everything to Vaishnavas, who are the very embodiment of merit.

Verse 28 (padma.6.82.28)

यथा विष्णुस्तथा शर्वो नांतरं वर्त्तते क्वचित् । एवं ज्ञात्वा तु भो देवि ह्युभयोर्मूर्तिकल्पनम्

yathā viṣṇustathā śarvo nāṁtaraṁ varttate kvacit evaṁ jñātvā tu bho devi hyubhayormūrtikalpanam

As Vishnu is, so is Shiva — there is no difference between them anywhere. O goddess, knowing this, the conception of images for both should be undertaken.

Verse 29 (padma.6.82.29)

शिवपूजां प्रकुर्वाणो विष्णुनिंदासु तत्परः । रौरवेषु नरकेषु वसते नात्र संशयः

śivapūjāṁ prakurvāṇo viṣṇuniṁdāsu tatparaḥ rauraveṣu narakeṣu vasate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever, while performing worship of Shiva, is bent on slandering Vishnu, dwells in the Raurava hell — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 30 (padma.6.82.30)

अहं विष्णुरहं रुद्रो ह्यहं ब्रह्मा पितामहः । सर्वभूतेषु सततं संवसामि पुनः पुनः

ahaṁ viṣṇurahaṁ rudro hyahaṁ brahmā pitāmahaḥ sarvabhūteṣu satataṁ saṁvasāmi punaḥ punaḥ

[Shiva says:] I myself am Vishnu, I myself am Rudra, I myself am the grandsire Brahma. I myself dwell continually, again and again, within all beings.

Verse 31 (padma.6.82.31)

पार्वत्युवाच । के दासा वैष्णवाः के तु के भक्ता भुवि कीर्तिताः । तेषां वै लक्षणं ब्रूहि यथार्थं वै महेश्वर

pārvatyuvāca ke dāsā vaiṣṇavāḥ ke tu ke bhaktā bhuvi kīrtitāḥ teṣāṁ vai lakṣaṇaṁ brūhi yathārthaṁ vai maheśvara

Parvati said: Who are the servants among Vaishnavas, and who are called devotees upon this earth? O Maheshvara, tell me their true defining marks.

Verse 32 (padma.6.82.32)

महादेव उवाच । शूद्रा भवंति वै दासा वैष्णवा नारदादयः । प्रह्लादश्चांबरीषाद्या भक्तास्ते नगनंदिनि

mahādeva uvāca śūdrā bhavaṁti vai dāsā vaiṣṇavā nāradādayaḥ prahlādaścāṁbarīṣādyā bhaktāste naganaṁdini

Mahadeva said: Vaishnava shudras are called 'servants' (dasa), while Narada and others, Prahlada, Ambarisha, and the like are called 'devotees' (bhakta), O daughter of the mountain.

Verse 33 (padma.6.82.33)

ब्रह्मक्रियारतो नित्यं वेदवेदांगपाठकः । शंखचक्रांकितो यस्तु स वै वैष्णव उच्यते

brahmakriyārato nityaṁ vedavedāṁgapāṭhakaḥ śaṁkhacakrāṁkito yastu sa vai vaiṣṇava ucyate

As said before, of brahmins and the higher classes: one ever devoted to sacred rites, a reciter of the Vedas and their auxiliaries, marked with the conch and discus — he is called a Vaishnava.

Verse 34 (padma.6.82.34)

द्विजसेवारतो नित्यं नित्यं विष्णुप्रपूजकः । शृणोति बहुधा चैव पुराणं वेदसंमितम्

dvijasevārato nityaṁ nityaṁ viṣṇuprapūjakaḥ śṛṇoti bahudhā caiva purāṇaṁ vedasaṁmitam

Now, regarding the shudra servant: one who is ever devoted to serving the twice-born, ever worships Vishnu, and repeatedly listens to the Purana, equal in authority to the Veda —

Verse 35 (padma.6.82.35)

स शूद्रो हरिदासस्तु इत्युक्तो नगनंदिनि । पंचवर्षत्वमाश्रित्य कृता भक्तिरनेकधा

sa śūdro haridāsastu ityukto naganaṁdini paṁcavarṣatvamāśritya kṛtā bhaktiranekadhā

— such a shudra, O daughter of the mountain, is called a 'servant of Hari.' One who, from the age of five years, has practiced devotion in many forms —

Verse 36 (padma.6.82.36)

स वै भक्त इति प्रोक्तः सर्वसाधुषु संमतः । ध्रुवादयस्ते विज्ञेया अंबरीषादयश्च ये

sa vai bhakta iti proktaḥ sarvasādhuṣu saṁmataḥ dhruvādayaste vijñeyā aṁbarīṣādayaśca ye

— he is truly called a 'devotee,' honored among all the saintly. Dhruva and others, and Ambarisha and the like, should be known in this same category.

Verse 37 (padma.6.82.37)

भक्ताश्च मुनिभिः प्रोक्ताः सर्वकालेषु भामिनि । कलौ धन्यतमाः शूद्रा विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः

bhaktāśca munibhiḥ proktāḥ sarvakāleṣu bhāmini kalau dhanyatamāḥ śūdrā viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

O gracious one, the sages have declared devotees to be thus in every age. In the Kali age, shudras devoted to meditation on Vishnu are the most blessed of all.

Verse 38 (padma.6.82.38)

इहलोके सुखं भुक्त्वा यांति विष्णोः सनातनम् । शंखचक्रांकितो यस्तु विष्णुभक्तिप्रकारकः

ihaloke sukhaṁ bhuktvā yāṁti viṣṇoḥ sanātanam śaṁkhacakrāṁkito yastu viṣṇubhaktiprakārakaḥ

They, having enjoyed happiness in this world, go to Vishnu's eternal abode. One who bears the marks of the conch and discus and practices devotion to Vishnu —

Verse 39 (padma.6.82.39)

चतुर्विधमहोत्साहकर्त्ता चैव विशेषतः । स शूद्रो विष्णुदासस्तु यथादृष्टं यथाश्रुतम्

caturvidhamahotsāhakarttā caiva viśeṣataḥ sa śūdro viṣṇudāsastu yathādṛṣṭaṁ yathāśrutam

— and who especially organizes the four kinds of great festivals — such a shudra is called a 'servant of Vishnu.' I have told this just as it has been seen and heard.