कार्यो महात्मभिर्नित्यं कालक्षेपो मुमुक्षुभिः। परमात्मपरैरित्थं वैष्णवैरिति वर्ण्यते॥१६७॥
I shall now describe how great Vaiṣṇavas who seek liberation and are wholly devoted to the Supreme Self should pass their time each day.
कालक्षेपनिरूपणम्
How a Vaiṣṇava Passes the Time
A daily rhythm of worship, scripture, sacred place, service, recitation, and remembrance.
Verses 167–175
प्रातर्मध्याह्नसायं कृतशुचिकृतिभी राममभ्यर्च्य सम्यक् श्रीमद्रामायणेन प्रतिदिनमखिलैर्भारतेन प्रपन्नैः। शक्तैरानन्दभाष्यैश्च शुभतमाचार्यदिव्यप्रबन्धैः कालक्षेपो विधेयः सुविजितकरणैः स्वाकृतेर्यावदन्तम्॥१६८॥
Morning, noon, and evening, after purification and the proper worship of Rāma, surrendered devotees who have mastered their senses should spend their lives studying the complete Śrī Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata and, according to their capacity, the Ānanda-bhāṣyas and the divine works of the great teachers.
स्नानादिकर्माणि विधाय नित्यं ग्रन्थानमून् संशृणुयादशक्तः। श्रीरामसन्नामसुकीर्तनं च द्वयानुसन्धानमथो विदध्यात्॥१६९॥
If unable to read those books personally, one should perform the daily bathing and rites and hear them read. If that too is beyond one’s capacity, sing Śrī Rāma’s holy names and contemplate the Dvaya-mantra.
दिव्येषु देशेषु सतां प्रसङ्गं तदीयकैङ्कर्यपरायणः सन्। यावच्छरीरान्तमहर्दिवं तत्कथामुदारां शृणुयाद् भवघ्नीम्॥१७०॥
Living in sacred places, devoted to serving the holy and all that belongs to the Lord, one should hear his generous, saṃsāra-destroying story day and night until the body’s end.
तत्राप्यशक्तास्तु कुटीरमात्रं विधाय कुर्युस्त्वथ राघवाद्रौ। अन्यत्र वासं च गुरूपदिष्टान् मन्त्राञ्जपन्तो ह्यभिमानशून्याः॥१७१॥
Those unable to follow that course may make a simple hut on Rāghavādri, or live elsewhere without pride while reciting the mantras taught by the guru.
भक्त्यादियुक्तस्य तथाऽनहङ्कृतेर्महात्मनस्तस्य निदेशपालनम्। उपायमेनं चरमं निरन्तरं सुवैष्णवोऽयं विदधात्वतन्द्रितः॥१७२॥
The Vaiṣṇava should tirelessly and continuously follow this final discipline: obey the direction of the great, egoless teacher endowed with devotion and the other virtues.
तदर्थपुष्पप्रचयेन सन्ततं तथैव तन्मन्दिरमार्जनादिना। तदीयनामाभ्यसनेन तन्मनाः क्षिपेत् स कालं नितरां गतालसः॥१७३॥
Free from laziness and keeping the mind on him, one should pass the time gathering flowers for his worship, cleaning his temple, and continually practising his names.
तीर्थेषु वासेन सतां महात्मनां समागमेनाथ तदर्चनेन। जिज्ञासया तद्यशसः श्रवेण तच्छ्रावणेन स्मरणेन तस्य॥१७४॥
Pass the time dwelling at sacred fords, meeting and honouring great holy persons, inquiring into the Lord’s glory, hearing it, causing others to hear it, and remembering him.
रामस्य साङ्गस्य सपार्षदस्य सीतासमेतस्य सहानुजस्य। कैङ्कर्यमीर्ष्यारहितः प्रकुर्वन् क्षिपेत् स्वकालं सततं सुभक्तः॥१७५॥
The good devotee should spend all time serving Rāma together with Sītā, his younger brothers, divine limbs, and attendants, entirely free from jealousy toward any fellow servant.