Passage 1
श्रीराम उवाच— यतिश्च श्रद्धया युक्त एवमुक्तं समाश्रयेत्। धर्माणां परमो धर्मो यस्ते पूर्वं निरूपितः॥१॥
Śrī Rāma said: A renunciant endowed with faith should take refuge in what has thus been taught—the supreme dharma among all dharmas, which I explained to you before.
Passage 2
तस्य तीर्थविशेषेषु भवेत् पर्यटनं वरम्। एकस्थानाश्रयादेव विक्षेपो मनसो भवेत्॥२॥
For such a person, wandering among the foremost sacred places is best. By settling in a single place, distraction of mind can arise.
Passage 3
भजने प्रतिबन्धश्च जनानामाग्रहस्तथा। परपीडादिकं चापि तेन पर्यटनं शुभम्॥३॥
Obstacles to worship may appear there, along with people's demands and the possibility of burdening others. Therefore continual pilgrimage is auspicious.
Passage 4
यथा यज्ञास्तथा तीर्थान्युपक्लप्तानि विष्णुना। तदन्नान्नाधिकं भैक्षं प्रतिगृह्णीत सद्यतिः॥४॥
Just as sacrifices were established, so sacred places were appointed by Viṣṇu. The true renunciant should accept in alms only the food needed there, and no excess.
Passage 5
नामानि च चरित्राणि पठेन्नित्यं गतत्रपः। एकाकी निःस्पृहः शान्तो मोहाहङ्कारवर्जितः॥५॥
Free from self-conscious shame, one should constantly recite my names and deeds—solitary, without craving, peaceful, and free from delusion and ego.
Passage 6
कुर्यात्पर्यटनं नित्यं मत्परो वीतकल्मषः। देहपातनपर्यन्तमव्यग्रं पर्यटेत्सदा॥६॥
Devoted to me and cleansed of fault, one should keep wandering. Without agitation, one should journey continually until the body falls.
Passage 7
उत्तमोत्तमधर्मोऽसौ पूर्वमुत्तम ईरितः। गृहं सर्वात्मना त्याज्यं संसृतिं निस्तितीर्षुभिः॥७॥
This is the highest of the highest dharmas, previously declared supreme. Those who long to cross saṃsāra should abandon the household with their whole being.
Passage 8
न शक्यते चेत् संत्यक्तुं तन्मदर्थं निवेदयेत्। अहं हि घोरसंसारमोचको गृहमेधिनाम्॥८॥
If one cannot renounce it, one should dedicate it to me and use it for my sake. I am indeed the liberator of householders from terrible saṃsāra.
Passage 9
यदीश्वरत्वेन मम कार्यं स चेत्कर्तुं न शक्यते। मदर्थं सम्प्रयुञ्जीत सर्वानर्थनिवारणात्॥९॥
If a person cannot perform my work while recognizing me as Lord, that person should nevertheless employ the household for my sake, turning it away from every harmful purpose.
Passage 10
न्यासिनां कठिनो धर्मः प्रतिकूलैस्तथोचितः। अतश्च सर्वदा भाव्यं भक्तेन गृहमेधिना॥१०॥
The renunciant's dharma is difficult and suited to one who can endure adverse conditions. A householder devoted to me should therefore remain constantly vigilant.
Passage 11
इन्द्रियाणि हरन्त्येनं घनौघमिव वायवः। अतश्च सर्वदा भाव्यं वैष्णवैर्गृहमेधिभिः॥११॥
The senses carry such a person away as winds carry a mass of clouds. Vaiṣṇava householders must therefore remain watchful at all times.
Passage 12
पत्नीपुत्रास्तथापत्यं बान्धवाः सुहृदस्तथा। यत्र सर्वेऽपि मत्पक्षे ईदृशं दुर्लभं गृहम्॥१२॥
A home in which wife, sons, descendants, relatives, and friends all stand on my side is rare indeed.
Passage 13
गृहमेध्याश्रमे तत्र तिष्ठेत मद्भक्तितत्परः। कर्मण्यपि प्रकुर्वाणो लीलया तरते नरः॥१३॥
In such a householder's āśrama, one may remain wholly intent upon devotion to me. Even while carrying out one's duties, a person crosses over with ease.
Passage 14
सात्त्विकादिप्रभेदेन तेषां कर्माणि च त्रिधा। सात्त्विकं कर्म कुर्वाणो यथाश्रुतफलोत्सुकः॥१४॥
Their actions are threefold according to the divisions of sattva and the other guṇas. One who performs sattvic action, eager for the reward described in scripture—
Passage 15
साधयेत्स्वर्गलोकं वा विमानस्त्रीसुखात्मकम्। पुण्ये क्षीणे पुण्यशेषं समादाय धरातले॥१५॥
—may attain a heaven characterized by celestial vehicles, women, and pleasure. When that merit is exhausted, the person carries the remainder of merit back toward the earth.
Passage 16
समीचीनेषु लोकेषु जायते स्वेन कर्मणा। राजसं कर्म कुर्वाणो मेरवादिषु सुखं लभेत्॥१६॥
By one's own karma one is born in corresponding worlds. A person who performs rajasic action obtains pleasure in realms such as Meru.
Passage 17
तामसं कर्म कुर्वाणः पातालेषु सुखी भवेत्। राजसं सात्त्विकं कुर्वन् दैत्यस्वर्गानवाप्नुयात्॥१७॥
One who performs tamasic action may enjoy the subterranean worlds. By action mixed of rajas and sattva, one attains the heavens of the Daityas.
Passage 18
राजसं कर्म कुर्वाणश्चन्द्रलोके महीयते। पुण्यशेषे ततो वृष्टिद्वारा भूत्वात्र रूपभाक्॥१८॥
One who performs rajasic action is honored in the lunar world. When only residual merit remains, that soul descends through rain and takes embodied form here.
Passage 19
रेतोरूपं समास्थाय रेतोजन्मसु जायते। तामसं कर्म कुर्वाणो गन्धर्वेषु प्रजायते॥१९॥
Entering the form of seed, the soul is born among seed-born creatures. One who performs tamasic action may also be born among the Gandharvas.
Passage 20
तामसं सात्त्विकं कुर्वन् गन्धर्वप्रवरो भवेत्। क्षीणे पुण्ये पुनर्भूत्वा वृष्टिद्वारा स जन्मभाक्॥२०॥
By action mixed of tamas and sattva, one may become foremost among Gandharvas. When the merit is exhausted, that soul again descends through rain and takes birth.
Passage 21
तामसं कर्म कुर्वाणः सर्पादिषु सुखी भवेत्। एवं त्रयीधर्मपराः पुनरावृत्तिमाप्नुयुः॥२१॥
One who performs tamasic action may find pleasure among serpents and similar beings. Thus those devoted only to the threefold ritual dharma remain subject to return.
Passage 22
देवताश्चेदुपासीत आजन्म नियतव्रतः। तत्तत्सायुज्यमात्रं तु तस्य स्यात्परमं फलम्॥२२॥
If a person worships particular deities throughout life with regulated vows, the highest result is only union with each respective deity.
Passage 23
एवं कर्मगतिर्ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मणोऽपि दुरत्यया। दुर्बोधा चैव सर्वेषां फले चाल्पत्वकारिणी॥२३॥
Such is the course of karma, brāhmaṇa: difficult even for Brahmā to cross, hard for anyone to understand, and productive of only limited fruit.
Passage 24
मदर्पितं पुनस्तत् स्यान्मद्भक्त्यङ्गं न संशयः। ज्ञानस्य कर्मणश्चापि तथोपास्तेरवद्यताम्॥२४॥
Yet when any of it is offered to me, it becomes a limb of devotion to me—there is no doubt. Knowledge, action, and worship otherwise retain their defectiveness.
Passage 25
भक्तिर्हरति मदिष्टा सद्य एव न संशयः। तत्सर्वं प्रकुर्वाणोऽप्याश्रयेन्मामनन्यधीः॥२५॥
Devotion beloved by me removes that defect immediately—there is no doubt. Even while performing all these disciplines, one should take refuge in me with an undivided mind.
Passage 26
केवलं कर्मनिष्ठानां प्रवाहपतनं भवेत्। तस्मादुद्धर्तुमात्मानं मत्प्रेमपरमो भवेत्॥२६॥
Those devoted to action alone fall into its onward-flowing current. Therefore, to lift oneself out, one should make love for me the highest aim.