Dhruva's Rejection and the Sages' Counsel

Verse 1 (vishnu.1.11.1)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ मनोः स्वायम्भुवस्य तु । द्वौ पुत्रौ सुमहावीर्यौ धर्मज्ञौ कथितौ तव

śrīparāśara uvāca priyavratottānapādau manoḥ svāyambhuvasya tu dvau putrau sumahāvīryau dharmajñau kathitau tava

Parashara said: Priyavrata and Uttanapada, the two sons of Svayambhuva Manu, of very great might and knowers of dharma, have already been told to you.

Verse 2 (vishnu.1.11.2)

तयोर् उत्तानपादस्य सुरुच्याम् उत्तमः सुतः । अभीष्टायाम् अभूद् ब्रह्मन् पितुर् अत्यन्तवल्लभः

tayor uttānapādasya surucyām uttamaḥ sutaḥ abhīṣṭāyām abhūd brahman pitur atyantavallabhaḥ

Of these two, to Uttanapada, through Suruchi — his most cherished wife — was born a son named Uttama, O brahmin, exceedingly dear to his father.

Verse 3 (vishnu.1.11.3)

सुनीतिर् नाम या राज्ञस् तस्याभून् महिषी द्विज । स नातिप्रीतिमांस् तस्यां तस्याश् चाभूद् ध्रुवः सुतः

sunītir nāma yā rājñas tasyābhūn mahiṣī dvija sa nātiprītimāṁs tasyāṁ tasyāś cābhūd dhruvaḥ sutaḥ

Sunīti was the name of that king's chief queen, O twice-born, though the king held no great affection for her; from her was born a son named Dhruva.

Verse 4 (vishnu.1.11.4)

राजासनस्थितस्याङ्कं पितुर् भ्रातरम् आश्रितम् । दृष्ट्वोत्तमं ध्रुवश् चक्रे तम् आरोढुं मनोरथम्

rājāsanasthitasyāṅkaṁ pitur bhrātaram āśritam dṛṣṭvottamaṁ dhruvaś cakre tam āroḍhuṁ manoratham

One day, seeing his beloved brother seated upon their father's lap as the king sat on the throne, Dhruva too conceived the wish to climb up there.

Verse 5 (vishnu.1.11.5)

प्रत्यक्षं भूपतिस् तस्याः सुरुच्या नाभ्यनन्दत । प्रणयेनागतं पुत्रम् उत्सङ्गारोहणोत्सुकम्

pratyakṣaṁ bhūpatis tasyāḥ surucyā nābhyanandata praṇayenāgataṁ putram utsaṅgārohaṇotsukam

But the king, in Suruchi's very presence, did not welcome his son, who had come out of affection, eager to climb upon his lap.

Verse 6 (vishnu.1.11.6)

सपत्नी तनयं दृष्ट्वा तम् अङ्कारोहणोत्सुकम् । स्वपुत्रं च तथारूढं सुरुचिर् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

sapatnī tanayaṁ dṛṣṭvā tam aṅkārohaṇotsukam svaputraṁ ca tathārūḍhaṁ surucir vākyam abravīt

Seeing her co-wife's son thus eager to climb up, and her own son already seated there, Suruchi spoke these words.

Verse 7 (vishnu.1.11.7)

क्रियते किं वृथा वत्स महान् एष मनोरथः । अन्यस्त्रीगर्भजातेन असंभूय ममोदरे । उत्तमोत्तमम् अप्राप्यम् अविवेकोऽभिवाञ्छसि

kriyate kiṁ vṛthā vatsa mahān eṣa manorathaḥ anyastrīgarbhajātena asaṁbhūya mamodare uttamottamam aprāpyam aviveko 'bhivāñchasi

'Why, child, do you cherish so great a longing in vain? Having been born not from my womb, you thoughtlessly desire that highest of positions which is unattainable for you.'

Verse 8 (vishnu.1.11.8)

सत्यं सुतस् त्वम् अप्य् अस्य किन्तु न त्वं मया धृतः

satyaṁ sutas tvam apy asya kintu na tvaṁ mayā dhṛtaḥ

'True, you too are his son — but you were not carried by me.'

Verse 9 (vishnu.1.11.9)

एतद् राजासनं सर्वभूभृत्संश्रयकेतनम् । योग्यं ममैव पुत्रस्य किम् आत्मा क्लिश्यते त्वया

etad rājāsanaṁ sarvabhūbhṛtsaṁśrayaketanam yogyaṁ mamaiva putrasya kim ātmā kliśyate tvayā

'This royal throne, the emblem sheltering all rulers of the earth, befits only my son — why torment yourself in vain?'

Verse 10 (vishnu.1.11.10)

उच्चैर् मनोरथस् तेऽयं मत्पुत्रस्येव किं वृथा । सुनीत्याम् आत्मनो जन्म किं त्वया नावगम्यते

uccair manorathas te 'yaṁ matputrasyeva kiṁ vṛthā sunītyām ātmano janma kiṁ tvayā nāvagamyate

'Why is this lofty longing of yours, as though you were my own son, in vain? Do you not understand that your birth is from Sunīti?'

Verse 11 (vishnu.1.11.11)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । उत्सृज्य पितरं बालस् तच् छ्रुत्वा मातृभाषितम् । जगाम कुपितो मातुर् निजाया द्विज मन्दिरम्

śrīparāśara uvāca utsṛjya pitaraṁ bālas tac chrutvā mātṛbhāṣitam jagāma kupito mātur nijāyā dvija mandiram

Parashara said: Hearing these words of his mother, the boy, angered, left his father and went, O twice-born, to his own mother's chamber.

Verse 12 (vishnu.1.11.12)

तं दृष्ट्वा कुपितं पुत्रम् ईषत्प्रस्फुरिताधरम् । सुनीतिर् अङ्कम् आरोप्य मैत्रेयैतद् अभाषत

taṁ dṛṣṭvā kupitaṁ putram īṣatprasphuritādharam sunītir aṅkam āropya maitreyaitad abhāṣata

Seeing her son angry, his lower lip slightly trembling, Sunīti took him upon her lap and spoke thus, O Maitreya.

Verse 13 (vishnu.1.11.13)

श्रीसुनीतिर् उवाच । वत्स कः कोपहेतुस् ते कश् च त्वां नाभिनन्दति । कोऽवजानाति पितरं तव यस् तेऽपराध्यति

śrīsunītir uvāca vatsa kaḥ kopahetus te kaś ca tvāṁ nābhinandati ko 'vajānāti pitaraṁ tava yas te 'parādhyati

Shri Sunīti said: 'Child, what is the cause of your anger? Who has failed to welcome you? Who so disrespects your father as to have wronged you?'

Verse 14 (vishnu.1.11.14)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । इत्य् उक्तः सकलं मात्रे कथयाम् आस तद् यथा । सुरुचिः प्राह भूपालप्रत्यक्षम् अतिगर्विता

śrīparāśara uvāca ity uktaḥ sakalaṁ mātre kathayām āsa tad yathā suruciḥ prāha bhūpālapratyakṣam atigarvitā

Parashara said: Thus asked, he told his mother everything just as it had happened — what the exceedingly proud Suruchi had said in the very presence of the king.

Verse 15 (vishnu.1.11.15)

निःश्वस्य सेति कथिते तस्मिन् पुत्रेण दुर्मनाः । श्वासक्षामेक्षणा दीना सुनीतिर् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

niḥśvasya seti kathite tasmin putreṇa durmanāḥ śvāsakṣāmekṣaṇā dīnā sunītir vākyam abravīt

Hearing this told by her son, Sunīti, her mind distressed, sighed; her eyes wasted with sighing, sorrowful, she spoke these words.

Verse 16 (vishnu.1.11.16)

श्रीसुनीतिर् उवाच । सुरुचिः सत्यम् आहेदं स्वल्पभाग्योऽसि पुत्रक । न हि पुण्यवतां वत्स सपत्नैर् एवम् उच्यते

śrīsunītir uvāca suruciḥ satyam āhedaṁ svalpabhāgyo 'si putraka na hi puṇyavatāṁ vatsa sapatnair evam ucyate

Shri Sunīti said: 'My little one, what Suruchi has said is true — you are of little fortune. To the fortunate, my child, a co-wife does not speak thus.'

Verse 17 (vishnu.1.11.17)

नोद्वेगस् तात कर्तव्यः कृतं यद् भवता पुरा । तत् कोऽपहर्तुं शक्नोति दातुं कश् चाकृतं त्वया

nodvegas tāta kartavyaḥ kṛtaṁ yad bhavatā purā tat ko 'pahartuṁ śaknoti dātuṁ kaś cākṛtaṁ tvayā

'Dear one, you need not be distressed; what you have done in a former life — who can take that from you, and who can give what you have not done?'

Verse 18 (vishnu.1.11.18)

राजासनं तथा छत्रं वराश्वा वरवारणाः । यस्य पुण्यानि तस्यैव मत्वैतच् छाम्य पुत्रक

rājāsanaṁ tathā chatraṁ varāśvā varavāraṇāḥ yasya puṇyāni tasyaiva matvaitac chāmya putraka

'The royal throne, the royal umbrella, fine horses and fine elephants — these belong to him whose merit has earned them; understanding this, my child, be at peace.'

Verse 19 (vishnu.1.11.19)

अन्यजन्मकृतैः पुण्यैः सुरुच्यां सुरुचिर् नृपः । भार्येति प्रोच्यते चान्या मद्विधा पुण्यवर्जिता

anyajanmakṛtaiḥ puṇyaiḥ surucyāṁ surucir nṛpaḥ bhāryeti procyate cānyā madvidhā puṇyavarjitā

'By merit earned in another birth, King Suruchi holds Suruchi dear and calls her his wife; and another woman, devoid of such merit, like me, is called his wife too.'

Verse 20 (vishnu.1.11.20)

पुण्योपचयसंपन्नस् तस्याः पुत्रस् तथोत्तमः । मम पुत्रस् तथा जातः स्वल्पपुण्यो ध्रुवो भवान्

puṇyopacayasaṁpannas tasyāḥ putras tathottamaḥ mama putras tathā jātaḥ svalpapuṇyo dhruvo bhavān

'Her son, endowed with an accumulated store of merit, has thus become the foremost; and you, my son, O Dhruva, were born with but little merit.'

Verse 21 (vishnu.1.11.21)

तथापि दुःखं न भवान् कर्तुम् अर्हति पुत्रक । यस्य यावत् स तेनैव स्वेन तुष्यति बुद्धिमान्

tathāpi duḥkhaṁ na bhavān kartum arhati putraka yasya yāvat sa tenaiva svena tuṣyati buddhimān

'Even so, my child, you ought not to grieve; the wise man remains content with just so much as is truly his own.'

Verse 22 (vishnu.1.11.22)

यदि चेद् दुःखम् अत्यर्थं सुरुच्या वचनात् तव । तत् पुण्योपचये यत्नं कुरु सर्वफलप्रदे

yadi ced duḥkham atyarthaṁ surucyā vacanāt tava tat puṇyopacaye yatnaṁ kuru sarvaphalaprade

'Yet if this distress caused by Suruchi's words weighs too heavily upon you, then strive to increase that merit which grants every fruit.'

Verse 23 (vishnu.1.11.23)

सुशीलो भव धर्मात्मा मैत्रः प्राणिहिते रतः । निम्नं यथापः प्रवणाः पात्रम् आयान्ति संपदः

suśīlo bhava dharmātmā maitraḥ prāṇihite rataḥ nimnaṁ yathāpaḥ pravaṇāḥ pātram āyānti saṁpadaḥ

'Be of good conduct, righteous of soul, friendly to all, devoted to the welfare of living beings; as waters flow down toward a low place, so do fortunes come to a fit vessel.'

Verse 24 (vishnu.1.11.24)

श्रीध्रुव उवाच । अम्ब यत् त्वम् इदं प्राह प्रशमाय वचो मम । नैतद् दुर्वचसा भिन्ने हृदये मम तिष्ठति

śrīdhruva uvāca amba yat tvam idaṁ prāha praśamāya vaco mama naitad durvacasā bhinne hṛdaye mama tiṣṭhati

Shri Dhruva said: 'Mother, what you have spoken to soothe me does not remain in my heart, torn as it is by those harsh words.'

Verse 25 (vishnu.1.11.25)

सोऽहं तथा यतिष्यामि यथा सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् । स्थानं प्राप्स्याम्य् अशेषाणां जगताम् अभिपूजितम्

so 'haṁ tathā yatiṣyāmi yathā sarvottamottamam sthānaṁ prāpsyāmy aśeṣāṇāṁ jagatām abhipūjitam

'I shall strive in such a way that I shall attain that position, honored above all, the very highest among all the worlds without exception.'

Verse 26 (vishnu.1.11.26)

सुरुचिर् दयिता राज्ञस् तस्या जातोऽस्मि नोदरात् । प्रभावं पश्य मेऽम्ब त्वं धृतस्यापि तवोदरे

surucir dayitā rājñas tasyā jāto 'smi nodarāt prabhāvaṁ paśya me 'mba tvaṁ dhṛtasyāpi tavodare

'Suruchi is the king's beloved, and I was not born of her womb; behold, mother, my own power, even though I was carried in your womb.'

Verse 27 (vishnu.1.11.27)

उत्तमः स मम भ्राता यो गर्भेण धृतस् तया । स राजासनम् आप्नोतु पित्रा दत्तं तथास्तु तत्

uttamaḥ sa mama bhrātā yo garbheṇa dhṛtas tayā sa rājāsanam āpnotu pitrā dattaṁ tathāstu tat

'Let that brother of mine, borne in her womb, be the foremost; let him obtain the royal throne given by our father — so let it be.'

Verse 28 (vishnu.1.11.28)

नान्यदत्तम् अभीप्स्यामि स्थानम् अम्ब स्वकर्मणा । इच्छामि तद् अहं स्थानं यन् न प्राप पिता मम

nānyadattam abhīpsyāmi sthānam amba svakarmaṇā icchāmi tad ahaṁ sthānaṁ yan na prāpa pitā mama

'I do not desire a position given by another, mother; by my own action alone, I desire that position which even my father did not attain.'

Verse 29 (vishnu.1.11.29)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । निर्जगाम गृहान् मातुर् इत्य् उक्त्वा मातरं ध्रुवः । पुराच् च निर्गम्य ततस् तद्बाह्योपवनं ययौ

śrīparāśara uvāca nirjagāma gṛhān mātur ity uktvā mātaraṁ dhruvaḥ purāc ca nirgamya tatas tadbāhyopavanaṁ yayau

Parashara said: Having said this to his mother, Dhruva went forth from her house, and, leaving the city, went then to the grove outside it.

Verse 30 (vishnu.1.11.30)

स ददर्श मुनींस् तत्र सप्त पूर्वागतान् ध्रुवः । कृष्णाजिनोत्तरीयेषु विष्टरेषु समास्थितान्

sa dadarśa munīṁs tatra sapta pūrvāgatān dhruvaḥ kṛṣṇājinottarīyeṣu viṣṭareṣu samāsthitān

There Dhruva saw seven sages who had arrived before him, seated upon seats, black antelope skins draped as their upper garments.

Verse 31 (vishnu.1.11.31)

स राजपुत्रस् तान् सर्वान् प्रणिपत्याभ्यभाषत । प्रश्रयावनतः सम्यग् अभिवादनपूर्वकम्

sa rājaputras tān sarvān praṇipatyābhyabhāṣata praśrayāvanataḥ samyag abhivādanapūrvakam

That prince, bowing before all of them, addressed them, bent low in humility, with due greeting first offered.

Verse 32 (vishnu.1.11.32)

श्रीध्रुव उवाच । उत्तानपादतनयं मां निबोधत सत्तमाः । जातं सुनीत्यां निर्वेदाद् युष्माकं प्राप्तम् अन्तिकम्

śrīdhruva uvāca uttānapādatanayaṁ māṁ nibodhata sattamāḥ jātaṁ sunītyāṁ nirvedād yuṣmākaṁ prāptam antikam

Shri Dhruva said: 'Know me, O most excellent ones, as the son of Uttanapada, born of Sunīti, who out of dejection has come into your presence.'

Verse 33 (vishnu.1.11.33)

ऋषय ऊचुः । चतुःपञ्चाब्दसंभूतो बालस् त्वं नृपनन्दन । निर्वेदकारणं किंचित् तव नाद्यापि विद्यते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ catuḥpañcābdasaṁbhūto bālas tvaṁ nṛpanandana nirvedakāraṇaṁ kiṁcit tava nādyāpi vidyate

The sages said: 'O son of a king, you are but a child of four or five years — no cause for dejection can yet exist for you.'

Verse 34 (vishnu.1.11.34)

न चिन्त्यं भवतः किंचिद् ध्रियते भूपतिः पिता । न चैवेष्टवियोगादि तव पश्याम बालक

na cintyaṁ bhavataḥ kiṁcid dhriyate bhūpatiḥ pitā na caiveṣṭaviyogādi tava paśyāma bālaka

'We see nothing in your case to cause concern; your father the king is alive, nor, O child, do we see any loss of what you hold dear.'

Verse 35 (vishnu.1.11.35)

शरीरे न च ते व्याधिर् अस्माभिर् उपलक्ष्यते । निर्वेदः किंनिमित्तस् ते कथ्यतां यदि विद्यते

śarīre na ca te vyādhir asmābhir upalakṣyate nirvedaḥ kiṁnimittas te kathyatāṁ yadi vidyate

'Nor do we perceive any illness in your body; tell us, if you know it, the cause of your dejection.'

Verse 36 (vishnu.1.11.36)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । ततः स कथयाम् आस सुरुच्या यद् उदाहृतम् । तन् निशम्य ततः प्रोचुर् मुनयस् ते परस्परम्

śrīparāśara uvāca tataḥ sa kathayām āsa surucyā yad udāhṛtam tan niśamya tataḥ procur munayas te parasparam

Parashara said: Then he related what Suruchi had said; hearing this, the sages spoke among themselves.

Verse 37 (vishnu.1.11.37)

अहो क्षात्रं परं तेजो बालस्यापि यद् अक्षमा । सपत्न्या मातुर् उक्तस्य हृदयान् नापसर्पति

aho kṣātraṁ paraṁ tejo bālasyāpi yad akṣamā sapatnyā mātur uktasya hṛdayān nāpasarpati

'Ah, how great is the pride of the Kshatriya spirit, that even in a child the intolerance at his mother's co-wife's words does not leave his heart!'

Verse 38 (vishnu.1.11.38)

भो भोः क्षत्रियदायाद निर्वेदाद् यत् त्वयाधुना । कर्तुं व्यवसितं तन् नः कथ्यतां यदि रोचते

bho bhoḥ kṣatriyadāyāda nirvedād yat tvayādhunā kartuṁ vyavasitaṁ tan naḥ kathyatāṁ yadi rocate

'O scion of the Kshatriyas, whatever you have now resolved to do out of this dejection — tell us, if it seems fit to you.'

Verse 39 (vishnu.1.11.39)

यच् च कार्यं तवास्माभिः साहाय्यम् अमितद्युते । तद् उच्यतां विवक्षुस् त्वम् अस्माभिर् उपलक्ष्यसे

yac ca kāryaṁ tavāsmābhiḥ sāhāyyam amitadyute tad ucyatāṁ vivakṣus tvam asmābhir upalakṣyase

'O one of measureless splendor, tell us what help you need from us in this task; we can see that you wish to speak.'

Verse 40 (vishnu.1.11.40)

श्रीध्रुव उवाच । नाहम् अर्थम् अभीप्सामि न राज्यं द्विजसत्तमाः । तत् स्थानम् एकम् इच्छामि भुक्तं नान्येन यत् पुरा

śrīdhruva uvāca nāham artham abhīpsāmi na rājyaṁ dvijasattamāḥ tat sthānam ekam icchāmi bhuktaṁ nānyena yat purā

Shri Dhruva said: 'O best of the twice-born, I desire neither wealth nor kingdom; I desire only that one position which none other has enjoyed before.'

Verse 41 (vishnu.1.11.41)

एतन् मे क्रियतां सम्यक् कथ्यतां प्राप्यते यथा । स्थानम् अग्र्यं समस्तेभ्यः स्थानेभ्यो मुनिसत्तमाः

etan me kriyatāṁ samyak kathyatāṁ prāpyate yathā sthānam agryaṁ samastebhyaḥ sthānebhyo munisattamāḥ

'Tell me this properly, O best of sages — how is that position, foremost of all positions, to be attained?'

Verse 42 (vishnu.1.11.42)

मरीचिर् उवाच । अनाराधितगोविन्दैर् नरैः स्थानं नृपात्मज । न हि संप्राप्यते श्रेष्ठं तस्माद् आराधयाच्युतम्

marīcir uvāca anārādhitagovindair naraiḥ sthānaṁ nṛpātmaja na hi saṁprāpyate śreṣṭhaṁ tasmād ārādhayācyutam

Marichi said: 'By men who have not propitiated Govinda, O prince, that highest position is not attained; therefore worship the Undying One.'

Verse 43 (vishnu.1.11.43)

अत्रिर् उवाच । परः पराणां पुरुषो यस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः । स प्राप्नोत्य् अक्षयं स्थानम् एतत् सत्यं मयोदितम्

atrir uvāca paraḥ parāṇāṁ puruṣo yasya tuṣṭo janārdanaḥ sa prāpnoty akṣayaṁ sthānam etat satyaṁ mayoditam

Atri said: 'The Supreme Being, higher than the highest, with whom Janardana, once pleased, grants imperishable position — this I have spoken as truth.'

Verse 44 (vishnu.1.11.44)

अङ्गिरा उवाच । यस्यान्तः सर्वम् एवेदम् अच्युतस्याव्ययात्मनः । तम् आराधय गोविन्दं स्थानम् अग्र्यं यदीच्छसि

aṅgirā uvāca yasyāntaḥ sarvam evedam acyutasyāvyayātmanaḥ tam ārādhaya govindaṁ sthānam agryaṁ yadīcchasi

Angiras said: 'He within whom all this exists, the Undying, of imperishable self — worship that Govinda, if you desire the foremost position.'

Verse 45 (vishnu.1.11.45)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । परं ब्रह्म परं धाम योऽसौ ब्रह्म तथा परम् । तम् आराध्य हरिं याति मुक्तिम् अप्य् अतिदुर्लभाम्

pulastya uvāca paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma yo 'sau brahma tathā param tam ārādhya hariṁ yāti muktim apy atidurlabhām

Pulastya said: 'He who is the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Abode, and the Supreme Brahman itself — worshipping that Hari, one attains even liberation, most difficult to reach.'

Verse 46 (vishnu.1.11.46)

क्रतुर् उवाच । यो यज्ञपुरुषो यज्ञे योगे यः परमः पुमान् । तस्मिंस् तुष्टे यद् अप्राप्यं किं तद् अस्ति जनार्दने

kratur uvāca yo yajñapuruṣo yajñe yoge yaḥ paramaḥ pumān tasmiṁs tuṣṭe yad aprāpyaṁ kiṁ tad asti janārdane

Kratu said: 'He who is the Person of sacrifice in sacrifice, and the Supreme Being in yoga — when Janardana is pleased, what remains unattainable?'

Verse 47 (vishnu.1.11.47)

पुलह उवाच । ऐन्द्रम् इन्द्रः परं स्थानं यम् आराध्य जगत्पतिम् । प्राप यज्ञपतिं विष्णुं तम् आराधय सुव्रत

pulaha uvāca aindram indraḥ paraṁ sthānaṁ yam ārādhya jagatpatim prāpa yajñapatiṁ viṣṇuṁ tam ārādhaya suvrata

Pulaha said: 'That very lordship of Indra which Indra obtained by worshipping the lord of the world — worship that same lord of sacrifice, Vishnu, O one of good vows.'

Verse 48 (vishnu.1.11.48)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । प्राप्नोष्य् आराधिते विष्णौ मनसा यद् यद् इच्छसि । त्रैलोक्यान्तर्गतं स्थानं किम् उ वत्सोत्तमोत्तमम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca prāpnoṣy ārādhite viṣṇau manasā yad yad icchasi trailokyāntargataṁ sthānaṁ kim u vatsottamottamam

Vasishtha said: 'Whatever you desire in your mind, you shall obtain once Vishnu is worshipped — what then, dear child, of a mere position within the three worlds, however excellent?'

Verse 49 (vishnu.1.11.49)

श्रीध्रुव उवाच । आराध्यः कथितो देवो भवद्भिः प्रणतस्य मे । मया तत्परितोषाय यज् जप्तव्यं तद् उच्यताम्

śrīdhruva uvāca ārādhyaḥ kathito devo bhavadbhiḥ praṇatasya me mayā tatparitoṣāya yaj japtavyaṁ tad ucyatām

Shri Dhruva said: 'You who bow before me have told me who the god to be worshipped is; now tell me what I must recite for his satisfaction.'

Verse 50 (vishnu.1.11.50)

यथा चाराधनं तस्य मया कार्यं महात्मनः । प्रसादसुमुखास् तन् मे कथयन्तु महर्षयः

yathā cārādhanaṁ tasya mayā kāryaṁ mahātmanaḥ prasādasumukhās tan me kathayantu maharṣayaḥ

'And how the worship of that great-souled one is to be performed by me — let the great sages, gracious of countenance, tell me this too.'

Verse 51 (vishnu.1.11.51)

ऋषय ऊचुः । राजपुत्र यथा विष्णोर् आराधनपरैर् नरैः । कार्यम् आराधनं तन् नो यथावच् छ्रोतुम् अर्हसि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ rājaputra yathā viṣṇor ārādhanaparair naraiḥ kāryam ārādhanaṁ tan no yathāvac chrotum arhasi

The sages said: 'O prince, hear properly from us how the worship of Vishnu is to be performed by men intent upon that worship.'

Verse 52 (vishnu.1.11.52)

बाह्यार्थाद् अखिलाच् चित्तं त्याजयेत् प्रथमं नरः । तस्मिन्न् एव जगद्धाम्नि ततः कुर्वीत निश्चलम्

bāhyārthād akhilāc cittaṁ tyājayet prathamaṁ naraḥ tasminn eva jagaddhāmni tataḥ kurvīta niścalam

'A man should first withdraw his mind entirely from all external objects, and then fix it, unwavering, upon that very abode of the universe.'

Verse 53 (vishnu.1.11.53)

एवम् एकाग्रचित्तेन तन्मयेन धृतात्मना । जप्तव्यं यन् निबोधैतत् तन् नः पार्थिवनन्दन

evam ekāgracittena tanmayena dhṛtātmanā japtavyaṁ yan nibodhaitat tan naḥ pārthivanandana

'Thus, with a one-pointed mind, absorbed in him, with self restrained — hear from us what is to be recited, O son of a king.'

Verse 54 (vishnu.1.11.54)

हिरण्यगर्भपुरुषप्रधानव्यक्तरूपिणे । ओं नमो वासुदेवाय शुद्धज्ञानस्वभाविने

hiraṇyagarbhapuruṣapradhānavyaktarūpiṇe oṁ namo vāsudevāya śuddhajñānasvabhāvine

''Om, salutation to Vasudeva, of the nature of pure knowledge, who assumes the manifest forms of Hiranyagarbha, Purusha, and Pradhana' —

Verse 55 (vishnu.1.11.55)

एतज् जजाप भगवान् जप्यं स्वायम्भुवो मनुः । पितामहस् तव पुरा तस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः

etaj jajāpa bhagavān japyaṁ svāyambhuvo manuḥ pitāmahas tava purā tasya tuṣṭo janārdanaḥ

'this the blessed Svayambhuva Manu, your grandfather, recited of old as his japa; Janardana, pleased by him,'

Verse 56 (vishnu.1.11.56)

ददौ यथाभिलषिताम् ऋद्धिं त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभाम् । तथा त्वम् अपि गोविन्दं तोषयैतत् सदा जपन्

dadau yathābhilaṣitām ṛddhiṁ trailokyadurlabhām tathā tvam api govindaṁ toṣayaitat sadā japan

'granted him prosperity, difficult to attain in all the three worlds, exactly as he desired; do you too, ever reciting this, gladden Govinda.'