The Universal Worship of Vasudeva

Verse 1 (skanda.2.192.1)

नारद उवाच । वेदेषु सपुराणेषु सांगोपांगेषु गीयसे । त्वमेव शाश्वतो धाता नियन्तामृतमच्युत । त्वं विधाता च सततं त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत्

nārada uvāca vedeṣu sapurāṇeṣu sāṁgopāṁgeṣu gīyase tvameva śāśvato dhātā niyantāmṛtamacyuta tvaṁ vidhātā ca satataṁ tvayi sarvamidaṁ jagat

Narada said: In the Vedas together with the Puranas and their limbs and sub-limbs, you alone are sung as the eternal Sustainer, the Controller, the Undecaying, the Immortal One. You are ever the Ordainer, and in you rests this entire universe.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.192.2)

चत्वारो ह्याश्रमा देव सर्वे वर्णाश्च कर्मभिः । यजन्ते त्वामहरहर्न्नानामूर्त्तिसमास्थितम्

catvāro hyāśramā deva sarve varṇāśca karmabhiḥ yajante tvāmaharaharnnānāmūrttisamāsthitam

O God, all the four ashramas and all the varnas, through their respective rites, worship you day after day, present as you are in manifold forms.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.192.3)

पिता माता च सर्वस्य दैवतं त्वं हि शाश्वतम् । कं त्वं च यजसे देवं पितरं वा न विद्महे

pitā mātā ca sarvasya daivataṁ tvaṁ hi śāśvatam kaṁ tvaṁ ca yajase devaṁ pitaraṁ vā na vidmahe

You are indeed the eternal father, mother, and deity of all. Yet which god, or which ancestor, you yourself worship — this we do not know.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.192.4)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । नैतद्रहस्यं वक्तव्यमात्मगुह्यमथापि ते । मयि भक्तिमते ब्रह्मन्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथातथम्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca naitadrahasyaṁ vaktavyamātmaguhyamathāpi te mayi bhaktimate brahmanpravakṣyāmi yathātatham

Shri Narayana said: This secret, hidden even as my own mystery, is not ordinarily to be spoken; yet to you, O brahmin, devoted to me, I shall declare it exactly as it is.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.192.5)

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं यो ब्रह्मेति श्रुतिवर्णितः । त्रिगुणव्यतिरिक्तश्च पुरुषो दिव्यविग्रहः

satyaṁ jñānamanantaṁ yo brahmeti śrutivarṇitaḥ triguṇavyatiriktaśca puruṣo divyavigrahaḥ

He who is described by the Shruti as Brahman — truth, knowledge, the infinite — who is beyond the three gunas, the Purusha of divine form —

Verse 6 (skanda.2.192.6)

महापुरुष इत्युक्तो वासुदेवश्च यः प्रभुः । नारायण ऋषिर्विष्णुः कृष्णश्च भगवानिति

mahāpuruṣa ityukto vāsudevaśca yaḥ prabhuḥ nārāyaṇa ṛṣirviṣṇuḥ kṛṣṇaśca bhagavāniti

Who is called Mahapurusha, the Lord who is Vasudeva, the sage Narayana, Vishnu, and the Blessed Krishna —

Verse 7 (skanda.2.192.7)

एकः स एव देवो नौ पितरौ चेति विद्धि भोः । आवाभ्यां पूज्यतेऽसौ हि दैवे पित्र्ये च कल्पिते

ekaḥ sa eva devo nau pitarau ceti viddhi bhoḥ āvābhyāṁ pūjyate'sau hi daive pitrye ca kalpite

Know, O sir, that he alone is the one God, and he is the father of us both; he alone is worshipped by us both in the rites appointed for gods and for ancestors.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.192.8)

नास्ति तस्मात्परतरः पिता देवोऽथ वा द्विज । आत्मा हि नौ स विज्ञेयः कृष्णो ब्रह्मपुरेश्वरः

nāsti tasmātparataraḥ pitā devo'tha vā dvija ātmā hi nau sa vijñeyaḥ kṛṣṇo brahmapureśvaraḥ

There is no father or god higher than him, O brahmin; that Krishna, the Lord of Brahmapura, alone should be known as the very Self of us both.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.192.9)

तेनैषा प्रथिता ब्रह्मन्मर्यादा लोकभावनी । दैवं पित्र्यं च कर्तव्यमिति लोकहितैषिणा

tenaiṣā prathitā brahmanmaryādā lokabhāvanī daivaṁ pitryaṁ ca kartavyamiti lokahitaiṣiṇā

By him, O brahmin, who desires the welfare of the world, this world-benefiting ordinance has been established: that rites for the gods and for the ancestors are to be performed.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.192.10)

प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च द्वेधा कर्मास्ति वैदिकम् । यथाधिकारं विहितं पुरुषार्थोपलब्धये

pravṛttaṁ ca nivṛttaṁ ca dvedhā karmāsti vaidikam yathādhikāraṁ vihitaṁ puruṣārthopalabdhaye

Vedic action is of two kinds — pravritti (engaged action) and nivritti (renunciate action) — each enjoined according to one's qualification, for the attainment of the goals of human life.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.192.11)

तन्त्रवेदोक्तविधिना स्वोचितस्त्रीपरिग्रहः । वित्तार्जनं च न्यायेन द्रव्ययज्ञाः सकामनाः

tantravedoktavidhinā svocitastrīparigrahaḥ vittārjanaṁ ca nyāyena dravyayajñāḥ sakāmanāḥ

Marriage suited to oneself, according to the procedure taught in the tantras and Vedas; the earning of wealth by righteous means; and sacrifices performed with material offerings, made with desire —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.192.12)

वासो ग्रामे च नगरे पूर्तमिष्टं च कर्म यत् । प्रवृत्तं तत्तु सकलमशान्तिकृदुदीरितम्

vāso grāme ca nagare pūrtamiṣṭaṁ ca karma yat pravṛttaṁ tattu sakalamaśāntikṛdudīritam

Dwelling in village or town, and whatever public-welfare and sacrificial works are performed — all of this is called pravritti action, and is declared to bring about restlessness.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.192.13)

स्त्रीद्रव्ययोः परित्यागः कामलोभक्रुधां तथा । वनवासश्च वैराग्यं तपः क्षान्तिः शमो दमः

strīdravyayoḥ parityāgaḥ kāmalobhakrudhāṁ tathā vanavāsaśca vairāgyaṁ tapaḥ kṣāntiḥ śamo damaḥ

The abandonment of women and wealth, and likewise of desire, greed, and anger; dwelling in the forest, renunciation, austerity, forbearance, tranquility, self-control —

Verse 14 (skanda.2.192.14)

ब्रह्मयज्ञा योगयज्ञा ज्ञानयज्ञाश्च सर्वशः । जपयज्ञाश्चेति मुने निवृत्तं कर्म कीर्तितम्

brahmayajñā yogayajñā jñānayajñāśca sarvaśaḥ japayajñāśceti mune nivṛttaṁ karma kīrtitam

The sacrifice of Vedic recitation, the sacrifice of yoga, in every way the sacrifice of knowledge, and the sacrifice of japa — thus, O sage, is nivritti action described.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.192.15)

त्रिलोक्यां गतयो धर्मं प्रवृत्तमनुतिष्ठताम् । स्वर्गलोकावधि मुने मनुष्याणां भवन्ति वै

trilokyāṁ gatayo dharmaṁ pravṛttamanutiṣṭhatām svargalokāvadhi mune manuṣyāṇāṁ bhavanti vai

O sage, for men who follow the pravritti dharma, their destinies within the three worlds extend only as far as the heavenly world.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.192.16)

इन्द्रचन्द्राग्निलोकादौ स्वस्वपुण्यफलं च ते । भोगैश्वर्यं वहुविधमभीष्टं भुञ्जते खलु

indracandrāgnilokādau svasvapuṇyaphalaṁ ca te bhogaiśvaryaṁ vahuvidhamabhīṣṭaṁ bhuñjate khalu

In the worlds of Indra, Chandra, Agni and so forth, they indeed enjoy the manifold desired pleasures and powers that are the fruit of their own merit.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.192.17)

यावत्पुण्यं तावदेव भुक्त्वा तत्ते सुराऽस्ततः । क्षीणे तु सुकृते भूयः पतन्ति विवशा भुवि

yāvatpuṇyaṁ tāvadeva bhuktvā tatte surā'stataḥ kṣīṇe tu sukṛte bhūyaḥ patanti vivaśā bhuvi

Having enjoyed that divine state only for as long as their merit lasts, when their good deeds are exhausted they fall back helplessly to the earth once more.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.192.18)

भोगैश्वर्यादिनाशो हि कालवेगेन जायते । अनिच्छतामपि मुने तेषां पुण्यक्षये सति

bhogaiśvaryādināśo hi kālavegena jāyate anicchatāmapi mune teṣāṁ puṇyakṣaye sati

The destruction of their enjoyment and power comes about through the force of time, O sage, even against their will, once their merit is exhausted.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.192.19)

आधिकारिकदेवानामपि ब्रह्मदिने मुहुः । इष्टभोगैश्वर्यनाशो जायते कालरंहसा

ādhikārikadevānāmapi brahmadine muhuḥ iṣṭabhogaiśvaryanāśo jāyate kālaraṁhasā

Even for the presiding deities of the various offices, again and again within a single day of Brahma, the destruction of their desired enjoyment and power comes about through the swift force of time.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.192.20)

निवृत्तधर्मनिष्ठा ये योगिनश्च तपस्विनः । जनादीन्यान्ति लोकांस्त्रींस्ते तु त्रैलोक्यतो बहिः

nivṛttadharmaniṣṭhā ye yoginaśca tapasvinaḥ janādīnyānti lokāṁstrīṁste tu trailokyato bahiḥ

But those established in the nivritti dharma, the yogis and ascetics, attain the three worlds beginning with Janaloka, which lie beyond the ordinary three worlds.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.192.21)

तत्तल्लोकैश्वर्यभोगान्भुञ्जते ते निजेप्सितान् । दैनन्दिनेपि प्रलये वर्त्तन्ते ते यथासुखम्

tattallokaiśvaryabhogānbhuñjate te nijepsitān dainandinepi pralaye varttante te yathāsukham

They enjoy the lordships and pleasures of those respective worlds, just as they themselves desire, and even through the daily dissolution they remain there in comfort.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.192.22)

ब्रह्मणो द्विपरार्द्धान्ते तद्भोगैश्वर्यसंपदः । नश्यन्ति कालशक्त्यैव लोकास्तेषां च नारद

brahmaṇo dviparārddhānte tadbhogaiśvaryasaṁpadaḥ naśyanti kālaśaktyaiva lokāsteṣāṁ ca nārada

O Narada, at the end of Brahma's two parardhas, those riches of enjoyment and power, and those very worlds of theirs, perish by the power of time alone.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.192.23)

अथैतद्विविधं कर्म गुणात्मकमपि द्विज । कृतं चेद्विष्णुसंबद्धं निर्गुणं स्यात्तदा तु तत्

athaitadvividhaṁ karma guṇātmakamapi dvija kṛtaṁ cedviṣṇusaṁbaddhaṁ nirguṇaṁ syāttadā tu tat

Now, O brahmin, this action of both kinds, though bound to the gunas, if performed in connection with Vishnu, then becomes free of the gunas.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.192.24)

तत्फलं चाक्षयं स्याद्धि स्वेष्टादप्यधिकं नृणाम् । भक्तास्ते भगवद्धाम यान्त्यष्टावृत्तितः परम्

tatphalaṁ cākṣayaṁ syāddhi sveṣṭādapyadhikaṁ nṛṇām bhaktāste bhagavaddhāma yāntyaṣṭāvṛttitaḥ param

Its fruit for men becomes imperishable, and greater than what they themselves desired; such devotees go to the abode of the Lord, beyond the eightfold manifest existence.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.192.25)

अतो विवेकिनो नित्यं विष्णुभक्त्यन्विताः क्रियाः । प्रवृत्ता वा निवृत्ता वा कुर्वते सकला अपि

ato vivekino nityaṁ viṣṇubhaktyanvitāḥ kriyāḥ pravṛttā vā nivṛttā vā kurvate sakalā api

Therefore the discerning ever perform all their actions, whether of pravritti or nivritti, joined with devotion to Vishnu.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.192.26)

ब्रह्मा स्थाणुर्मनुर्द्दक्षो भृगुर्द्धर्मस्तथा यमः । मरीचिरङ्गिराश्चात्रिः पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः

brahmā sthāṇurmanurddakṣo bhṛgurddharmastathā yamaḥ marīciraṅgirāścātriḥ pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ

Brahma, Sthanu (Shiva), Manu, Daksha, Bhrigu, and likewise Dharma and Yama; Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu —

Verse 27 (skanda.2.192.27)

वैभ्राजश्च वसिष्ठश्च विवस्वान्सोम एव च । कश्यपः कर्द्दमाद्याश्च प्रजानां पतयो मुने

vaibhrājaśca vasiṣṭhaśca vivasvānsoma eva ca kaśyapaḥ karddamādyāśca prajānāṁ patayo mune

Vaibhraja and Vasishtha, Vivasvan and Soma, Kashyapa, Kardama, and the rest — O sage, all these lords of creatures —

Verse 28 (skanda.2.192.28)

देवाश्च ऋषयः सर्वे सर्वे वर्णास्तथाश्रमाः । पूजयन्ति तमेवेशं प्रवृत्तं धर्ममास्थिताः

devāśca ṛṣayaḥ sarve sarve varṇāstathāśramāḥ pūjayanti tameveśaṁ pravṛttaṁ dharmamāsthitāḥ

And all the gods and sages, and all the varnas and ashramas, established in the pravritti dharma, worship that very Lord.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.192.29)

सनः सनत्सुजातश्च सनकः स सनन्दनः । सनत्कुमारः कपिल आरुणिश्च सनातनः

sanaḥ sanatsujātaśca sanakaḥ sa sanandanaḥ sanatkumāraḥ kapila āruṇiśca sanātanaḥ

Sana, Sanatsujata, Sanaka and Sanandana; Sanatkumara, Kapila, and the eternal Aruni —

Verse 30 (skanda.2.192.30)

ऋभुर्यतिश्च हंसाद्या मुनयो नैष्ठिकव्रताः । तमेव पूजयन्तीशं निवृत्तं धर्ममास्थिताः

ṛbhuryatiśca haṁsādyā munayo naiṣṭhikavratāḥ tameva pūjayantīśaṁ nivṛttaṁ dharmamāsthitāḥ

Ribhu, Yati, and the sages beginning with Hamsa, of lifelong vows, established in the nivritti dharma, worship that same Lord.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.192.31)

वासुदेवस्याङ्गतया भावयित्वा सुरान्पितॄन् । अहिंसपूजाविधिना यजन्ते चान्वहं हि ते

vāsudevasyāṅgatayā bhāvayitvā surānpitṝn ahiṁsapūjāvidhinā yajante cānvahaṁ hi te

Regarding the gods and ancestors as limbs of Vasudeva, they worship them daily indeed through a rite of worship free of violence.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.192.32)

यथाधिकारमेते हि तेन यत्र नियोजिताः । प्रवृत्ते वा निवृत्ते वा धर्मे ते पालयन्ति तम् । तस्य देवस्य मर्यादां न क्रामन्त्युभयेपि ते

yathādhikāramete hi tena yatra niyojitāḥ pravṛtte vā nivṛtte vā dharme te pālayanti tam tasya devasya maryādāṁ na krāmantyubhayepi te

According to their respective qualification, wherever they have been appointed by him, whether in the pravritti or nivritti dharma, they faithfully observe it; neither group ever transgresses the ordinance of that God.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.192.33)

चतुर्वर्गे तेषु यस्य यद्यदिष्टतमं भवेत् । तत्तत्संपूरयत्येव सर्व शक्तिपतिः प्रभुः

caturvarge teṣu yasya yadyadiṣṭatamaṁ bhavet tattatsaṁpūrayatyeva sarva śaktipatiḥ prabhuḥ

Among the four goals of life, whatever is most desired by each of them, the Lord, master of all powers, fulfills completely.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.192.34)

भक्त्या कृतस्याप्यल्पस्य भगवान्पुण्यकर्मणः । प्रीतो ददात्येव फलं महदक्षयमीप्सितम्

bhaktyā kṛtasyāpyalpasya bhagavānpuṇyakarmaṇaḥ prīto dadātyeva phalaṁ mahadakṣayamīpsitam

Even for a small virtuous act performed with devotion, the Blessed Lord, being pleased, indeed grants a great and imperishable, desired fruit.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.192.35)

तेषु तद्भक्तितो लोके ये त्वेकान्तित्वमास्थिताः । वासुदेवं विनान्यत्र संक्षीणाशेषवासनाः

teṣu tadbhaktito loke ye tvekāntitvamāsthitāḥ vāsudevaṁ vinānyatra saṁkṣīṇāśeṣavāsanāḥ

Among these, those in the world who through devotion to him are established in single-minded exclusiveness, every trace of whose desire elsewhere than for Vasudeva has been extinguished —

Verse 36 (skanda.2.192.36)

देहान्ते ते तु संप्राप्य तस्य धाम तमःपरम् । देहैरप्राकृतैरेव प्रेम्णा परिचरन्ति तम्

dehānte te tu saṁprāpya tasya dhāma tamaḥparam dehairaprākṛtaireva premṇā paricaranti tam

At the end of the body, they attain his abode beyond darkness, and with bodies not of material nature, serve him there in love.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.192.37)

अन्ये तु भक्ताः कालेन तदुपासनदार्ढ्यतः । वासनानां क्षये जाते यान्त्येकान्तिकवद्धि तम्

anye tu bhaktāḥ kālena tadupāsanadārḍhyataḥ vāsanānāṁ kṣaye jāte yāntyekāntikavaddhi tam

Other devotees, too, in time, through the firmness of their worship of him, once their worldly desires are exhausted, attain him just as the single-minded ones do.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.192.38)

येन केनापि भावेन तेन संबध्यते तु यः । संसृतिं न प्रयात्येव स तु क्वाप्यन्यजीववत्

yena kenāpi bhāvena tena saṁbadhyate tu yaḥ saṁsṛtiṁ na prayātyeva sa tu kvāpyanyajīvavat

Whoever becomes connected with him through any disposition whatsoever never again goes to worldly transmigration like any other ordinary soul.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.192.39)

कर्मयोगस्य संसिद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगस्य चेप्सिता । तस्याश्रयादेव नृणां निर्विघ्नं भवति द्रुतम्

karmayogasya saṁsiddhirjñānayogasya cepsitā tasyāśrayādeva nṛṇāṁ nirvighnaṁ bhavati drutam

The desired perfection of karma-yoga and of jnana-yoga comes to men swiftly and without hindrance through taking refuge in him alone.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.192.40)

तस्मात्स एव भगवान्सवर्रैपि जनैरिह । स्वाभीष्टफलसिद्ध्यर्थं प्रीत्योपास्यो यथाविधि

tasmātsa eva bhagavānsavarraipi janairiha svābhīṣṭaphalasiddhyarthaṁ prītyopāsyo yathāvidhi

Therefore that Bhagavan alone should here be worshipped with love, according to due procedure, by all people, for the accomplishment of their own desired ends.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.192.41)

ब्रह्मैक्यमाप्ता निर्विघ्ना अपि ब्रह्मशिवादयः । श्रीविष्णोः कुर्वते भक्तिं सन्तीत्थं तन्महागुणाः

brahmaikyamāptā nirvighnā api brahmaśivādayaḥ śrīviṣṇoḥ kurvate bhaktiṁ santītthaṁ tanmahāguṇāḥ

Even Brahma, Shiva and the others, who have attained oneness with Brahman and are free of every hindrance, render devotion to Shri Vishnu — such indeed are his great glories.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.192.42)

इति गुह्यसमुद्देशस्तव नारद कीर्त्तितः । अतिप्रेम्णा हि सततं मयि भक्तिमतोऽखिलः

iti guhyasamuddeśastava nārada kīrttitaḥ atipremṇā hi satataṁ mayi bhaktimato'khilaḥ

Thus, O Narada, this entire secret teaching has been declared to you, because you are ever devoted to me with the deepest and most constant love.