Part 4

77. Reading and listening to the exploits of Vish.nu, singing his praises, solemn worship, repetition of his mantra ("Great K.rish.na is my refuge"), recitation of the hymn of praise (i.e. of the thousand names of Vish.nu), reverential circumambulations (from left to right with the right side towards the object adored),

78. Prostration with the eight members (of the body) these are considered the best religious observances; any one of these ought to be performed with special devotion.

79. The fasts of all the eleventh days (of the waxing and waning moon) should be carefully observed; also of the birthdays of K.rish.na; and of the night of Šiva (Šiva-râtri) with rejoicings during the day.

80. On a fast-day sleeping by day should most carefully be avoided, since by such sleep the merit of fasting is lost to men, quite as much as by sexual intercourse.

81. Whatever appointed order of religious fasts and festivals (vrata and utsava) was enjoined by Šrî Vi.th.thaleša (Vi.th.thala-natha), who was the son of Šrî Vallabhâçârya, the most eminent of Vaish.navas.

82. Having conformed to that order, all religious fasts and festivals should be observed accordingly; and the form of worshipping K.rish.na directed by him (Vi.th.thaleša) should be adopted.

83. A pilgrimage to the Tîrthas, or holy places, of which Dvârikâ (K.rish.na's city in Gujarât) is the chief, should be performed according to rule. Love and Charity should be shown towards the poor by all, according to ability.

84. Vish.nu, Šiva, Ga.na-pati (Ga.neša), Pârvatî, and the Sun, these five deities should be honoured with worship by my followers. [Footnote: It is evident from this verse, as from verse 47, that although Vaish.navas give preferential worship to Vish.nu, they are really Pantheists in the sense of honouring other deities, as manifestations of the Supreme Being. It may be observed that although five deities are here mentioned, Ga.napati and Pârvatî are connected with Šiva, as the Sun is with Vish.nu.]

85. When at any place a calamity is caused by a demon or by any similar cause, the charm called Nârâya.na should be recited or the mantra of Hanumân should be muttered, but not the mantra of any inferior god less esteemed.

86. On the occurrence of eclipses of the sun and moon, all my followers should immediately suspend their other business, and, having purified themselves, should make repetition of the (eight-syllabled) mantra of K.rish.na.

87. When the eclipse has passed off, they should bathe with their clothes on, and those who are householders should distribute gifts according to their ability. Other persons (who have no worldly means) should engage in the worship of the supreme Lord (Vish.nu).

88. Those followers of mine who belong to the four classes should observe, in conformity with the Šâstras, the rules in regard to the contraction of impurity through births and deaths, according to the degree of kinship.

89. Brâhmans should possess tranquillity of mind, self-restraint, forbearance, contentment and similar virtues. Kshatriyas (or the soldier caste) should be remarkable for bravery, fortitude, and the like qualities.

90. Vaišyas (or the agricultural and commercial caste) should occupy themselves in mercantile pursuits, money-lending, and the like. Šûdras (or the servile class) should be employed in serving the twice-born, etc.

91. The twice-born should perform at the proper seasons, and according to their means--each according to his own domestic rules--the twelve purificatory rites [Footnote: Of these only six are now generally performed, viz.:--1, the birth-ceremony, or touching the tongue of a new-born infant with clarified butter, etc.; 2, the name-giving ceremony on the tenth day; 3, tonsure; 4, induction into the privileges of the twice-born, by investiture with the sacred thread; 5, solemn return home from the house of a preceptor after completing the prescribed course of study; 6, marriage. See Indian Wisdom, p. 246.] (sanskâra), the (six) daily duties [Footnote: The six daily duties (called Nitya-karman), according to Parâšara, are:--1, bathing; 2, morning and evening prayer (sandhyâ); 3, repetition of sacred texts; 4, offerings to fire (homa); 5, worship of ancestors; 6, worship of the gods. The six daily acts enjoined by Manu are different. See Indian Wisdom, p. 244.], and the Šraddha offerings to the spirits of departed ancestors.

92. If intentionally or unintentionally any sin, great or small, be committed, the proper penance must be performed according to ability.

93. The Vedas, the Vedânta-sûtras of Vyasa, the Bhâgavata-purâ.na and the thousand names of Vish.nu in the Mahâbhârata,

94. The Bhagavad-gîtâ and the precepts of Vidura, the Vâsudeva-mâhâtmya from the Vaish.nava-kha.n.da of the Skanda-Purâ.na,

95. And the Sm.riti of Yâj"navalkya, which is one of the Dharma-Šâstras, these eight sacred books are approved by me as authorities. [Footnote: I commend this list to the attention of those European scholars who wish to be guided by Indian authorities in determining the real "sacred books" of India.]

96. All my twice-born disciples who wish good to themselves should recite these sacred books and hear them recited.

97. In deciding questions of ancient usage (âçâra), or practice, or penance, the code of Yâj"navalkya, with its commentary the Mitâksharâ, should be taken (as the best authority).

98. The tenth and fifth books of the Bhâgavata Purâ.na are to be regarded as having the preeminence over all the other sacred books for the understanding of the glory of K.rish.na.

99. The tenth and fifth books of the Bhâgavata Purâ.na and the code of Yâj"navalkya are respectively my Bhakti-šâstra (manual of faith), Yoga-šâstra (manual of devotion), and Dharma-šâstra (manual of law).

100. As a treatise on the soul, the commentary on the Bhagavad-Gîtâ as well as that on the Šârîraka-Sûtras of Vyâsa, made by Râmânujâçârya, commends itself to my approval.

101. Whatever precepts in these sacred books have for their subject the excessive exaltation of K.rish.na and of Justice (V.risha), of faith and of indifference to the world--

102. Such precepts should be regarded as taking precedence over all others. Their essential doctrine is that devotion to K.rish.na should be joined with the performance of duty.

103. Duty (dharma) is that good practice which is enjoined both by the Veda (Šruti) and by the law (Sm.riti) founded on the Veda. Devotion (bhakti) is intense love for K.rish.na, accompanied with a due sense of his glory.

104. Indifference to worldly objects means absence of satisfaction in any object except K.rish.na. True knowledge consists in discriminating rightly between the nature of the personal soul (jiva), of the external world (Mâyâ), and of the Supreme Being (Κa).