Devotion to Vishnu the Best Way to Salvation

Thus Vyasa of immeasurable lustre spoke to the brahmanas. Having said this much, having cheered up all the sages, the revered Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, went as he had come.

2b-8a. I have told you the rules about the castes and the stages of life. Having done this only, a man becomes dear to Vishnu, not otherwise. O best brahmanas, I shall tell you the secret about it. Listen. 0 brahmanas, the duties regarding castes and stages that were told now, are not equal even to the sixteenth part of the devotion to Vishnu in this world. In Kaliyuga only devotion to Hari is to be achieved. A man has to practise the duties in the other yuga. That religious man who keeping god Narayana, Vishnu, Hrsikesa, invoked by many, the ancient one, the great and the tranquil one, in his heart worships him, has conquered (all) the three worlds. A brahmana, having drunk the nectar of the devotion to Vishnu, has overcome the bite of the serpent of Kali-age, the blemish, the Kalakuta (poison).

8b-13a. What is the use of muttering (the names of other deities) if men (just) utter the name of Vishnu? What is the use of (holy) baths for him who has held the water (flowing) from Vishnu's feet on his head? What is the use of a sacrifice for him who has held the lotus-like feet of Hari in (i.e. to) his heart? What is the use of giving (gifts) for him, if he has narrated the deeds of Vishnu in an assembly? He who, having heard about the multitudes of Vishnu's virtues, would again and again be delighted, gets the same state as he whose mind is fixed on Krishna and is delighted through profound meditation. Those that bring in obstacles in it are said to be talking heretic and fraudulent things; the women who are in their company also obstruct devotion to Vishnu. The command given by the eyes of women cannot be overruled even by gods. He who has overcome it, is called Vishnu's devotee in the world.

13b-20. Even sages longing for the acts of women, become mad. O brahmanas, where can there be devotion for Vishnu for those who are fond of women? O brahmanas, they are demonesses moving in the guise of beautiful women; for they constantly eat up the minds of men. As long as there is no movement of the fickle eyes of a woman an art or science is effective, knowledge proceeds, the intellect grasping all sacred texts is very pure, muttering is (possible), resorting to sacred places is done, the preceptor is served, there is a desire to cross (the mundane existence), awakening takes place, discrimination is possible, there is a liking for the company of the good, there is a desire for (listening to) the Puranas. (Otherwise) O brahmanas, a man would fall; and all dharmas would disappear. In the case of those who are favoured with a little (portion) of the honey of the lotuses in the form of Vishnu's feet, the casting of the fickle glances of women is not powerful. Those, O brahmanas, who have birth after birth served Vishnu, have given gift to brahmanas, have offered oblations into fire, have been detached from that (i.e. being allured by women).

21-36. What indeed is said to be the beauty of women, is described as the lustre of their ornaments and garments. Why is the beauty of women described to be without love and knowledge of self? For, it is indeed the body possessing pus, urine, feces, blood, skin, marrow, bones and fat. Thinking it to be different in this way, a man having touched it would be pure after having bathed. O brahmanas, the body formed by those (i.e. bones, marrow etc.) is found beautiful by men. Oh, what a bad condition of people, which is brought about by (their) misfortune, that a man proceeds, knowing that one without breasts is a man and one (with breasts is) a woman! On (proper) thought, what is a man and what is a woman? Therefore, a good man should, by all means, avoid the company of a woman. Who, on the earth, obtains success after having met with a woman? A man should avoid contact with a woman and with one who keeps contact with her. It is seen that her company is actually Raurava. People are greedy due to ignorance; and for that reason they are duped by destiny. A man would be roasted in the vulva of a woman — a hellish pit. He would again find delight in that (hell) from which he has come to the earth! Men take delight in that from which everyday urine and semen rising from filth come out. Who then would be impure due to that? In this world there is great trouble there (i.e. in the union with a woman). Oh, the mockery (done by) destiny! Again and again a man takes delight there (i.e. in the union with a woman). Oh, the shamelessness of men! Therefore, a wise man should think over the many multitudes of the faults of women. Due to coitus there is a loss of strength; and sleep becomes very young (i.e overpowering). Due to his knowledge snatched away by sleep a man becomes short-lived. Therefore, a wise man should, with effort, look upon a woman as his death, and the wise one should cause his mind to seek delight in the lotus-like feet of Vishnu. Which great fool, leaving the service of the feet of Vishnu that gives pleasure in this world and in the next, would serve the feet of a woman? The service of the feet of Vishnu causes absence of rebirth, (while) serving a woman's vulva (i.e. cohabiting with a woman) brings about the danger of (re-) birth. He would repeatedly fall into the womb (i.e. would be reborn) as one who is cooked out of a machine. He would again long for her and that would be his mortification.

37-48a. With my hands raised I am speaking. Listen to my important words. Put your heart into Vishnu, and not into the vulva (i.e. a woman) causing torment. That man who lives by avoiding union with a woman, obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice at every step. There is no doubt that the lord of the world is pleased with him who through good luck has married a pious woman belonging to a noble family and avoids union with her after having produced a son on her. The pious ones declare that union with a woman is a bad union. When it is there, firm devotion to Vishnu comes never. Giving up all (others) attachments, he should entertain devotion to Vishnu. In my opinion devotion to Vishnu is difficult to get. There is no doubt that he who is devoted to Vishnu is happy. He should do that deed only which pleases Vishnu. When he is satisfied, the world is satisfied. When he is pleased, the world is pleased. The existence of human beings is declared to be fruitless without devotion to Vishnu. Which man would not serve that unmanifest Vishnu whom gods like Brahma and Shiva worship for pleasing him? The mother of him who keeps the pair of the feet of Vishnu in his heart, is very fortunate; (so also) his father is very blessed. Those men who say, 'O Vishnu, venerable to the world, affectionate towards those who seek your refuge' do not go to hell. Brahmanas are especially the actual forms of Vishnu. With those who worship them suitably, Vishnu is pleased.

48b-72a. Vishnu would move (i.e. moves) over this earth in the form of a brahmana. Without a brahmana no rite is ever successful. Those who have devoutly put the water (flowing) from the feet of a brahmana on their heads, have gratified their dead ancestors and have also liberated their own soul. That sweet thing which is put into the mouths of brahmanas is actually given into the mouth of Vishnu. Vishnu himself enjoys it. Such people who worship Vishnu in his images etc. when he is actually seen in the form of a brahmana, are rare. That act (of worshipping his image) is (to be done) when he (i.e. a brahmana) is not available. The earth is declared to be blessed due to its being the abode of brahmanas. Whatever is offered into their hands, is offered into the hand of Vishnu. By salutation made to them wickedness disappears. By saluting a brahmana, a man is freed from sins like killing a brahmana. Therefore, good men should propitiate a brahmana after looking upon him as Vishnu. If something is given into the mouth of a hungry brahmana (by a men), he is sprinkled for crores of kalpas with streams of nectar after death (i.e. in heaven). The mouth of a brahmana is a great holy place which is not a barren spot with saline soil and which is without thorns. If something is sown there (by a man), he would obtain crore times the fruit. He who gives him (i.e. a brahmana) food of various kinds to please a brahmana (goes to) worlds full of great pleasures giving freedom till the end of crores of kalpas. He should, after honouring a brahmana, daily listen to a Purana which is narrated by a brahmana and which is wild fire to (the forest of) sins. Of all the holy places, Purana is said to be the best holy place, by hearing even a part of which Vishnu himself is pleased. As Vishnu taking up the form of the sun, moves for giving light to all the worlds, similarly for enlightening you Vishnu, in the form of a Purana, moves among the beings. A Purana is extremely sanctifying. Therefore, if one has a mind to generate (in himself) love for Vishnu, men should constantly listen to a Purana, of the form of Vishnu. A tranquil devotee of Vishnu should listen to the narration of a Purana, which is difficult to be had, which is spotless and which very much removes blemishes. A man should look upon it as the highest, since, O brahmanas, having collected the significance of the Vedas, Vishnu, in the form of Vyasa, created the Purana. In the Purana, piety is defined; and Kesava himself is piety. Therefore, when the Purana is heard a man would become (one with) Vishnu. Hari (i.e. Vishnu) himself is a brahmana and Purana also is like that. Having the contact of these two a man would be Vishnu himself. So also he could destroy his sin by sprinkling the water of Ganga (over himself). Vishnu, in the liquid form liberates the earth. If a devotee of Vishnu in desirous of singing songs of Vishnu, he should have the sprinkling of (i.e. bath in) the water of Gaiiga, which is pure and which purifies (all other objects). The goddess Ganga is said to cause devotion to Vishnu on the earth. That Ganga is of the nature of Vishnu, and is the cause of the expansion of the world. A man should have devotion without any motive to brahmanas, Puranas, Ganga, cows and pippala (tree) looking upon them as Vishnu. The wise ones have determined these to be actually of the nature of Vishnu.

72b-87a. Therefore, he who longs for devotion to Vishnu should honour these. The existence of men is said to be fruitless without devotion to Vishnu. Men resorting to the boat in the form of devotion to Vishnu cross (the ocean of worldly existence) which has the mass of the water in the form of the Kali-age, which is full of the alligators in the form of sins, which has the eddies in the form of indulgence in the objects of senses, which has abundant foam in the form of wrong knowledge, very severe on account of the great snakes in the form of wicked people, which is fearful and difficult to cross. Therefore, people should try to secure devotion to Vishnu. What pleasure does a creature obtain by enjoying in a false profession (when) he does not adhere to the playful account of Vishnu of wonderful sport? If the mind of men clings to the objects of senses, then they should listen to the wonderful stories about Vishnu which are mixed up with many (sensuous) objects. O brahmanas, even if (they have fixed) their heart on (securing) salvation they should hear (stories about him). Even if they are casually heard, Vishnu would be pleased. Vishnu, affectionate to his devotees, though inactive, performed many acts for the well-being of his obedient devotees. He is not so (well) pleased by rites like a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices or a myriad Rajasuyas, as he is by devotion. Resort to the feet of Vishnu, which should be mentally resorted to, which were repeatedly resorted to by the good, and which are essential for crossing the ocean of mundane existence. O you wicked, cruel men, who are greedy for objects of senses, why do you yourself throw yourselves into Raurava (hell)? (The fall into hell) will come without resorting (i.e. if men do not resort) to the auspicious feet of Vishnu. If you desire to overcome your worries without any effort, then resort to the feet of Vishnu for not being reborn (i.e. to avoid rebirth). After thinking about wherefrom a mortal has come and whereto he would go, an intelligent man should collect religious merit. (Even) if a man has risen after having fallen into many hells, and after having got bodies of the immobile gets manhood (i.e. gets birth as a man, yet) there (also) remaining in the womb (of the mother) is extremely painful.

87b-103. O Brahmanas, if due to the inevitable consequence of his deeds a creature is born on the earth, he is afflicted by many blemishes like childhood. Having reached youth he is very much oppressed by poverty, or by a severe disease or by drought etc. also. A man would have indescribable trouble due to old age, or due to the mind's wanderinghere and there, or due to a disease. Then he would meet with death. Even in the mundane existence no greater grief than that is experienced. Then due to the inevitable result of his deeds a being is throubled in Yama's world. Experiencing severe tortures there, he is born again. A creature is born; he dies. He dies; he is again born. Such is the condition (of a man) when the feet of Vishnu are not worshipped (by him). Death without trouble or life without difficulty does not take place in the case of him who has not worshipped Vishnu. If there is wealth in the house what is the use of (just) preserving it? Would his wealth follow him when he is dragged by the messengers of Yama? Therefore, wealth given to brahmanas after honouring them gives all pleasure. Giving (gifts) is a staircase leading to heaven; giving (gifts)destroys sins. Resorting devoutly to Vishnu increases great religious merit. If there is strength in a mortal he should not uselessly waste it. He should carefully dance and sing in front of (the image of) Vishnu. Whatever men possess, they should dedicate it to Vishnu. What is dedicated to Vishnu gives happiness; but what is dedicated to someone else gives misery. By means of his eyes a man should observe the image etc. of Vishnu only. With his ears he should day and night hear the meritorious names of Vishnu. With their tongue the wise ones should taste the water (flowing) from the feet of Vishnu. With their nose they should smell the tulasi-leaf (put) at the feet of Vishnu. Having touched with his skin Vishnu's devotee and having with his mind meditated upon his feet a man becomes blessed. No doubt should be raised about this. A wise man should set his mind upon him; similarly he should have him in his heart. Men ultimately reach him only. No doubt should be raised about this. Which man would not resort to that beginningless and endless Vishnu who gives his own position if he is merely thought of in mind? A man should constantly fix his heart on Vishnu's lotus-like feet. To please him he should, according to his capacity, salute him, think about and take delight in him. He should think of his two feet. Such a man alone would get respect in the world.

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