वैष्णवलक्षणनिरूपणम्
The visible and inward marks of a life centred in Hari and in the company of his devotees.
Verses 159–166
समुच्यते सम्प्रति लक्षणं सन्महात्मनां सद्गुणवैष्णवानाम्। विरिञ्चिशम्भुश्रितरामचन्द्रपदारविन्दस्थितचेतसां हि॥१५९॥
I now state the true marks of virtuous Vaiṣṇava great souls, whose minds rest at Rāmacandra’s lotus feet, sought even by Brahmā and Śiva.
धृतोर्ध्वपुण्ड्रस्तुलसीसमुद्भवां दधच्च कण्ठे शुभमालिकां जनः। तज्जन्मकर्माणि हरेरुदाहरेद् गृह्णंश्च नामानि शुभप्रदानि सः॥१६०॥
Such a person wears the upright Vaiṣṇava mark and an auspicious tulasī necklace, recounts Hari’s births and deeds, and continually receives and repeats his blessing-giving names.
सीतापतेः संशृणुयान्निरन्तरं कथां च गायेत् सुयशोऽङ्कितां मुहुः। रूपं तदीयं च चराचरात्मकं पश्यन् सतां सङ्गमुदारधीश्चरेत्॥१६१॥
The generous-hearted devotee constantly hears the story of Sītā’s Lord, repeatedly sings the tale adorned with his fair fame, beholds his form in all that moves and does not move, and seeks the company of the holy.
चापादिपञ्चायुधचिह्निताङ्गकः समीक्ष्य हृष्यंश्च हरिप्रियानथ। तथाविधान् भक्तिपरः प्रपूजयेत् सुवैष्णवान् जन्मफलादि संस्तुवन्॥१६२॥
Marked upon the body with the bow and the other five sacred weapons, the devotee rejoices on seeing those dear to Hari and reverently serves such Vaiṣṇavas, praising that meeting as a fruit of human birth.
पञ्चायुधाङ्काङ्कितवैष्णवा ये विप्रा अथ क्षत्रियवैश्यशूद्राः। स्त्रियस्तथाऽन्येऽपि च विष्णुरूपा जगत्पवित्रप्रपवित्रिणस्ते॥१६३॥
Vaiṣṇavas marked with the five weapons—whether Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, Śūdras, women, or others—are forms of Viṣṇu. They purify the world and even purify what is itself held sacred.
ते सर्वतीर्थाश्रयभूतदेहा देशे महाभागवता वसन्ति। यस्मिन् स तद्दर्शनसंस्थितिभ्यां सूते सुपुण्यं निखिलाघशून्यम्॥१६४॥
The bodies of those great devotees become abodes of every sacred ford. A land in which they dwell generates immaculate merit through seeing them and living in their presence.
तदर्चनात् तत्पदनीरपानात् तत्सङ्गतेस्तत्प्रणतेर्विधानात्। नृणां हि तच्छिष्टसुभोजनाच्च स्यात् कोटिजन्मार्जितपापनाशः॥१६५॥
By honouring them, drinking the water that has washed their feet, keeping their company, bowing to them, and receiving their blessed remnants as food, people destroy faults accumulated through millions of births.
कार्पासकैः सप्तभिरद्भुतैर्गुणैः सुनिर्मितं तत्कटिसूत्रमुत्तमम्। काषायकं वस्त्रयुगं च धारयेत्तथोर्ध्वपुण्ड्रादिकमेव वैष्णवः॥१६६॥
The renunciant Vaiṣṇava wears the fine waist-cord made from seven cotton strands, the pair of ochre garments, and the upright Vaiṣṇava marks. This verse records the community’s traditional ascetic dress.