Vishnu Purana — Amsha 3 — Chapter 8

ViP 3 8.1

भगवन् भगवान् देवः संसारविजिगीषुभिः समाख्याहि जगन्नाथो विष्णुर् आराध्यते यथा ॥

bhagavan bhagavān devaḥ saṃsāravijigīṣubhiḥ samākhyāhi jagannātho viṣṇur ārādhyate yathā //

Reverend sir, tell me fully how the Lord, the god, the world's master Viṣṇu, is worshipped by those who seek to conquer worldly existence.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.2

आराधिताच् च गोविन्दाद् आराधनपरैर् नरैः यत् प्राप्यते फलं श्रोतुं तच् चेच्छामि महामुने ॥

ārādhitāc ca govindād ārādhanaparair naraiḥ yat prāpyate phalaṃ śrotuṃ tac cecchāmi mahāmune //

And I wish to hear this too, great sage: what fruit is obtained by men devoted to worship from Govinda when he has been worshipped.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.3

यत् पृच्छति भवान् एतत् सगरेण महात्मना और्वः प्राह यथा पृष्टस् तन् मे कथयतः शृणु ॥

yat pṛcchati bhavān etat sagareṇa mahātmanā aurvaḥ prāha yathā pṛṣṭas tan me kathayataḥ śṛṇu //

What you ask about was asked by the great-souled Sagara, and Aurva, being asked, declared it; hear that as I relate it to you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.4

सगरः प्रणिपत्येदम् और्वं पप्रच्छ भार्गवम् विष्णोर् आराधनोपायसंबन्धं मुनिसत्तम ॥

sagaraḥ praṇipatyedam aurvaṃ papraccha bhārgavam viṣṇor ārādhanopāyasaṃbandhaṃ munisattama //

Sagara, having bowed down, asked Aurva the Bhārgava this, O best of sages: about the means of worshipping Viṣṇu,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.5

फलं चाराधिते विष्णौ यत् पुंसाम् अभिजायते स चाह पृष्टो यत् तेन तन् मैत्रेयाखिलं शृणु ॥

phalaṃ cārādhite viṣṇau yat puṃsām abhijāyate sa cāha pṛṣṭo yat tena tan maitreyākhilaṃ śṛṇu //

and the fruit that arises for men when Viṣṇu has been worshipped. And what he, being asked, said — hear all of that, Maitreya.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.6

भौमान् मनोरथान् स्वर्गं स्वर्गवन्द्यं तथास्पदम् प्राप्नोत्य् आराधिते विष्णौ निर्वाणम् अपि चोत्तमम् ॥

bhaumān manorathān svargaṃ svargavandyaṃ tathāspadam prāpnoty ārādhite viṣṇau nirvāṇam api cottamam //

When Viṣṇu has been worshipped, (a man) obtains earthly desires, heaven, and a station honoured even by heaven, and also the highest liberation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.7

यद् यद् इच्छति यावच् च फलम् आराधिते ऽच्युते तत् तद् आप्नोति राजेन्द्र भूरि स्वल्पम् अथापि वा ॥

yad yad icchati yāvac ca phalam ārādhite 'cyute tat tad āpnoti rājendra bhūri svalpam athāpi vā //

Whatever fruit he desires, and however much, when Acyuta has been worshipped, that very thing he obtains, O best of kings, whether much or little.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.8

यत् तु पृच्छसि भूपाल कथम् आराध्यते हि सः तद् अहं सकलं तुभ्यं कथयामि निबोध मे ॥

yat tu pṛcchasi bhūpāla katham ārādhyate hi saḥ tad ahaṃ sakalaṃ tubhyaṃ kathayāmi nibodha me //

But as to what you ask, O protector of the earth — how indeed is he worshipped — all that I shall tell you; learn it from me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.9

वर्णाश्रमाचारवता पुरुषेण परः पुमान् विष्णुर् आराध्यते पन्था नान्यस् तत्तोषकारणम् ॥

varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā nānyas tattoṣakāraṇam //

By a man who keeps to the practice of his class and stage of life, the supreme Person, Viṣṇu, is worshipped; there is no other path that causes his satisfaction.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.10

यजन् यज्ञान् यजत्य् एनं जपत्य् एनं जपन् नृप घ्नंस् तथान्यान् हिनस्त्य् एनं सर्वभूतो यतो हरिः ॥

yajan yajñān yajaty enaṃ japaty enaṃ japan nṛpa ghnaṃs tathānyān hinasty enaṃ sarvabhūto yato hariḥ //

Sacrificing sacrifices, one sacrifices to him; muttering prayers, one mutters to him, O king; and striking others down, one strikes at him — since Hari is all beings.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.11

तस्मात् सदाचारवता पुरुषेण जनार्दनः आराध्यते स्ववर्णोक्तधर्मानुष्ठानकारिणा ॥

tasmāt sadācāravatā puruṣeṇa janārdanaḥ ārādhyate svavarṇoktadharmānuṣṭhānakāriṇā //

Therefore Janārdana is worshipped by a man of good conduct who performs the duties prescribed for his own class.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.12

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रश् च पृथिवीपते स्वधर्मतत्परो विष्णुम् आराधयति नान्यथा ॥

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ śūdraś ca pṛthivīpate svadharmatatparo viṣṇum ārādhayati nānyathā //

A brahmin, a kṣatriya, a vaiśya, and a śūdra, O lord of the earth, intent upon his own duty, worships Viṣṇu — not otherwise.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.13

परापवादं पैशुन्यम् अनृतं च न भाषते अन्योद्वेगकरं वापि तोष्यते तेन केशवः ॥

parāpavādaṃ paiśunyam anṛtaṃ ca na bhāṣate anyodvegakaraṃ vāpi toṣyate tena keśavaḥ //

(He who) does not speak censure of others, slander, or falsehood, nor what causes distress to others — by him Keśava is pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.14

परपत्नीपरद्रव्यपरहिंसासु यो मतिम् न करोति पुमान् भूप तोष्यते तेन केशवः ॥

parapatnīparadravyaparahiṃsāsu yo matim na karoti pumān bhūpa toṣyate tena keśavaḥ //

The man who does not set his mind upon another's wife, another's property, or injury to another, O king — by him Keśava is pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.15

न ताडयति नो हन्ति प्राणिनो ऽन्यांश् च देहिनः यो मनुष्यो मनुष्येन्द्र तोष्यते तेन केशवः ॥

na tāḍayati no hanti prāṇino 'nyāṃś ca dehinaḥ yo manuṣyo manuṣyendra toṣyate tena keśavaḥ //

The man who does not beat and does not kill living creatures or other embodied beings, O lord of men — by him Keśava is pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.16

देवद्विजगुरूणां यः शुश्रूषासु सदोद्यतः तोष्यते तेन गोविन्दः पुरुषेण नरेश्वर ॥

devadvijagurūṇāṃ yaḥ śuśrūṣāsu sadodyataḥ toṣyate tena govindaḥ puruṣeṇa nareśvara //

He who is always intent upon services to gods, brahmins, and teachers — by that man Govinda is pleased, O ruler of men.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.17

यथात्मनि च पुत्रे च सर्वभूतेषु यस् तथा हितकामो हरिस् तेन तोष्यते सर्वदा सुखम् ॥

yathātmani ca putre ca sarvabhūteṣu yas tathā hitakāmo haris tena toṣyate sarvadā sukham //

He who desires the welfare of all beings as (he does) for himself and for his son — by him Hari is always pleased with ease.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.18

यस्य रागादिदोषेण न दुष्टं नृप मानसम् विशुद्धचेतसा विष्णुस् तोष्यते तेन सर्वदा ॥

yasya rāgādidoṣeṇa na duṣṭaṃ nṛpa mānasam viśuddhacetasā viṣṇus toṣyate tena sarvadā //

He whose mind is not corrupted by the faults of passion and the rest, O king — by that man of purified thought Viṣṇu is always pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.19

वर्णाश्रमेषु ये धर्माः शास्त्रोक्ता नृपसत्तम तेषु तिष्ठन् नरो विष्णुम् आराधयति नान्यथा ॥

varṇāśrameṣu ye dharmāḥ śāstroktā nṛpasattama teṣu tiṣṭhan naro viṣṇum ārādhayati nānyathā //

The duties declared in the scriptures for the classes and stages of life, O best of kings — standing in these a man worships Viṣṇu, not otherwise.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.20

तद् अहं श्रोतुम् इच्छामि वर्णधर्मान् अशेषतः तथैवाश्रमधर्मांश् च द्विजवर्य ब्रवीहि तान् ॥

tad ahaṃ śrotum icchāmi varṇadharmān aśeṣataḥ tathaivāśramadharmāṃś ca dvijavarya bravīhi tān //

Then I wish to hear the duties of the classes completely, and likewise the duties of the stages of life; tell them, O best of the twice-born.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.21

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च यथाक्रमम् त्वम् एकाग्रमना भूत्वा शृणु धर्मान् मयोदितान् ॥

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca yathākramam tvam ekāgramanā bhūtvā śṛṇu dharmān mayoditān //

Of brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras in order — becoming single-minded, hear the duties as declared by me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.22

दानं दद्याद् यजेद् देवान् यज्ञैः स्वाध्यायतत्परः नित्योदकी भवेद् विप्रः कुर्याच् चाग्निपरिग्रहम् ॥

dānaṃ dadyād yajed devān yajñaiḥ svādhyāyatatparaḥ nityodakī bhaved vipraḥ kuryāc cāgniparigraham //

Let the brahmin give gifts, worship the gods with sacrifices, be devoted to the recitation of his own Veda, perform his water-rites daily, and undertake the maintenance of the sacred fires.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.23

वृत्त्यर्थं याजयेच् चान्यान् अन्यान् अध्यापयेत् तथा कुर्यात् प्रतिग्रहादानं गुर्वर्थं न्यायतो द्विजः ॥

vṛttyarthaṃ yājayec cānyān anyān adhyāpayet tathā kuryāt pratigrahādānaṃ gurvarthaṃ nyāyato dvijaḥ //

For the sake of a livelihood the twice-born may officiate at sacrifices for others and likewise teach others, and he may accept gifts, lawfully, for the sake of a worthy purpose.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.24

सर्वलोकहितं कुर्यान् नाहितं कस्यचिद् द्विजः मैत्री समस्तभूतेषु ब्राह्मणस्योत्तमं धनम् ॥

sarvalokahitaṃ kuryān nāhitaṃ kasyacid dvijaḥ maitrī samastabhūteṣu brāhmaṇasyottamaṃ dhanam //

The twice-born should do what benefits all the world and what harms no one; friendliness toward all beings is the brahmin's highest wealth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.25

ग्राव्णि रत्ने च पारक्ये समबुद्धिर् भवेद् द्विजः ऋताव् अभिगमः पत्न्यां शस्यते चास्य पार्थिव ॥

grāvṇi ratne ca pārakye samabuddhir bhaved dvijaḥ ṛtāv abhigamaḥ patnyāṃ śasyate cāsya pārthiva //

Toward a stone and toward another's jewel the twice-born should have the same attitude; and going to his wife in her fertile season is commended for him, O king.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.26

दानानि दद्याद् इच्छातो द्विजेभ्यः क्षत्रियो ऽपि हि यजेच् च विविधैर् यज्ञैर् अधीयीत च पार्थिवः ॥

dānāni dadyād icchāto dvijebhyaḥ kṣatriyo 'pi hi yajec ca vividhair yajñair adhīyīta ca pārthivaḥ //

The kshatriya too should give gifts to the twice-born as he wishes, and the king should sacrifice with various sacrifices and should study.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.27

शस्त्राजीवो महीरक्षा प्रवरा तस्य जीविका तस्यापि प्रथमे कल्पे पृथिवीपरिपालनम् ॥

śastrājīvo mahīrakṣā pravarā tasya jīvikā tasyāpi prathame kalpe pṛthivīparipālanam //

Living by arms and the protection of the earth is his foremost livelihood; and for him too the primary rule is the guarding of the earth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.28

धरित्रीपालनेनैव कृतकृत्यो नराधिपः भवन्ति नृपतेर् अंशा यतो यज्ञादिकर्मणाम् ॥

dharitrīpālanenaiva kṛtakṛtyo narādhipaḥ bhavanti nṛpater aṃśā yato yajñādikarmaṇām //

By protecting the earth alone the ruler of men has done what he must, since a share of sacrifices and other rites accrues to the king.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.29

दुष्टानां शासनाद् राजा शिष्टानां परिपालनात् प्राप्नोत्य् अभिमतांल् लोकान् वर्णसंस्थाकरो नृपः ॥

duṣṭānāṃ śāsanād rājā śiṣṭānāṃ paripālanāt prāpnoty abhimatāṃl lokān varṇasaṃsthākaro nṛpaḥ //

By chastising the wicked and protecting the good, the king who maintains the order of the classes attains the worlds he desires.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.30

पशुपाल्यं वणिज्यं च कृषिं च मनुजेश्वर वैश्याय जीविकां ब्रह्मा ददौ लोकपितामहः ॥

paśupālyaṃ vaṇijyaṃ ca kṛṣiṃ ca manujeśvara vaiśyāya jīvikāṃ brahmā dadau lokapitāmahaḥ //

Cattle-keeping, trade, and agriculture — these Brahmā, the grandfather of the world, gave to the vaishya as his livelihood, O lord of men.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.31

तस्याप्य् अध्ययनं यज्ञो दानं धर्मश् च शस्यते नित्यनैमित्तिकादीनाम् अनुष्ठानं च कर्मणाम् ॥

tasyāpy adhyayanaṃ yajño dānaṃ dharmaś ca śasyate nityanaimittikādīnām anuṣṭhānaṃ ca karmaṇām //

For him too study, sacrifice, giving, and righteousness are commended, and the performance of the regular and occasional rites and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.32

द्विजातिसंश्रयं कर्म तादर्थ्यं तेन पोषणम् क्रयविक्रयजैर् वापि धनैः कारूद्भवेन वा ॥

dvijātisaṃśrayaṃ karma tādarthyaṃ tena poṣaṇam krayavikrayajair vāpi dhanaiḥ kārūdbhavena vā //

(For the shudra) work in dependence on the twice-born, service directed to that end, and maintenance thereby; or else by wealth arising from buying and selling, or arising from craftwork.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

ViP 3 8.33

दानं च दद्याच् छूद्रो ऽपि पाकयज्ञैर् यजेत च पित्र्यादिकं च वै सर्वं शूद्रः कुर्वीत तेन वै ॥

dānaṃ ca dadyāc chūdro 'pi pākayajñair yajeta ca pitryādikaṃ ca vai sarvaṃ śūdraḥ kurvīta tena vai //

The shudra too may give gifts and may sacrifice with the cooked-offering sacrifices; and by that (wealth) the shudra should perform all the rites for the ancestors and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.34

भृत्यादिभरणार्थाय सर्वेषां च परिग्रहः ऋतुकालाभिगमनं स्वदारेषु महीपते ॥

bhṛtyādibharaṇārthāya sarveṣāṃ ca parigrahaḥ ṛtukālābhigamanaṃ svadāreṣu mahīpate //

And for all (the classes) there is the acquiring (of wealth) for the sake of supporting dependants and the rest, and going to one's own wives at the fertile season, O lord of the earth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.35

दया समस्तभूतेषु तितिक्षा नाभिमानिता सत्यं शौचम् अनायासो मङ्गलं प्रियवादिता ॥

dayā samastabhūteṣu titikṣā nābhimānitā satyaṃ śaucam anāyāso maṅgalaṃ priyavāditā //

Compassion toward all beings, forbearance, absence of pride, truth, purity, freedom from agitation, auspiciousness, kindly speech,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.36

मैत्र्य् अस्पृहा तथा तद्वद् अकार्पण्यं नरेश्वर अनसूया च सामान्या वर्णानां कथिता गुणाः ॥

maitry aspṛhā tathā tadvad akārpaṇyaṃ nareśvara anasūyā ca sāmānyā varṇānāṃ kathitā guṇāḥ //

friendliness, absence of craving, and likewise absence of meanness, O lord of men, and freedom from envy — these are declared to be the qualities common to (all) the classes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.37

आश्रमाणां च सर्वेषाम् एते सामान्यलक्षणाः गुणांस् तथापद्धर्मांश् च विप्रादीनाम् इमाञ् छृणु ॥

āśramāṇāṃ ca sarveṣām ete sāmānyalakṣaṇāḥ guṇāṃs tathāpaddharmāṃś ca viprādīnām imāñ chṛṇu //

And these are the common characteristics of all the stages of life. Now hear these qualities, and the rules for times of distress, for brahmins and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.38

क्षात्रं कर्म द्विजस्योक्तं वैश्यकर्म तथापदि राजन्यस्य च वैश्योक्तं शूद्रकर्म न चैतयोः ॥

kṣātraṃ karma dvijasyoktaṃ vaiśyakarma tathāpadi rājanyasya ca vaiśyoktaṃ śūdrakarma na caitayoḥ //

The kshatriya's occupation is prescribed for the brahmin in distress, and likewise the vaishya's occupation; and for the kshatriya what is prescribed for the vaishya; but the shudra's occupation is not for these two.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.39

सामर्थ्ये सति तत् त्याज्यम् उभाभ्याम् अपि पार्थिव तद् एवापदि कर्तव्यं न कुर्यात् कर्मसंकरम् ॥

sāmarthye sati tat tyājyam ubhābhyām api pārthiva tad evāpadi kartavyaṃ na kuryāt karmasaṃkaram //

When capability is present, that (substitute occupation) is to be abandoned by both, O king; it is to be done only in distress, and one should not make a confusion of occupations.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

ViP 3 8.40

इत्य् एते कथिता राजन् वर्णधर्मा मया तव धर्मम् आश्रमिणां सम्यग् ब्रुवतो मे निशामय ॥

ity ete kathitā rājan varṇadharmā mayā tava dharmam āśramiṇāṃ samyag bruvato me niśāmaya //

Thus these duties of the classes have been told by me to you, O king; now listen to me as I properly declare the duty of those in the stages of life.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition