First I bow at the feet of all the wise saints -- I begin this scripture so that no obstacle may arise in it.
By the grace of saints happiness arises; by the grace of saints one's purpose is fulfilled -- by the grace of saints one attains the full abode of Purushottam.
By the grace of saints good understanding awakens; by the grace of saints, virtue -- without the grace of saints, tell me, who has attained true saintliness?
Whoever has served the saints has served everyone -- has served Shri Hari Bhagwan himself; whoever has pleased the mind of a saint has served the sages, the seers, and the gods.
Japa, tapas, pilgrimage, vows, and even yoga and sacrifice -- all these purposes are fulfilled by one who has pleased a saint.
Of such saints, crown-jewels among all -- what more can I say? In the three worlds there is nothing truly equal to a saint.
The wish-fulfilling cow, the wish-granting tree, the philosopher's stone, the four kinds of chintamani gems -- none of these, I have considered in my mind, is equal to a saint.
These other things hold only limited happiness, which comes and then fades away -- but by serving a saint, happiness arises that remains unbroken and unshaken forever.
Such saints are ever of pure and auspicious mind, having no taste at all for the faults of the world -- they give beneficial counsel to all; to such saints I bow my head.
An ocean of virtues, profound, steady of mind, exceedingly patient, without a trace of pride or conceit -- to such saints I bow my head.
Free of ego, of undivided heart, having conquered lust, anger, greed, and delusion, having mastered the senses, worshipping the Lord of the universe -- to such saints I bow my head.
Fearless, knowers of Brahman, pure, forgiving, simple of heart, capable, truthful, excellent -- to such saints I bow my head.
Complete saints, radiant in glory, austerity, and fame, possessed of knowledge, heroic in pure wisdom, of good conduct, givers of happiness -- to such saints I bow my head.
They eat only what is pure, examining it with discernment, their speech is excellent, their equanimity boundless, free from wrongdoing, envy, or quarrel -- to such saints I bow my head.
Devoted, humble, firm in judgment, giving great honor to others, remaining exceedingly pure day and night -- to such saints I bow my head.
Endowed with self-control and other disciplines, speaking so as to delight the minds of all who meet them, foremost among the learned -- to such saints I bow my head.
Their very soul is joyful, unattached, faultless, sinless, guileless, unentangled, masters of forgiveness -- to such saints I bow my head.
Dispellers of doubt, workers of true good, knowers of the Vedas and Puranas, gentle and eloquent in speech -- to such saints I bow my head.
They tell excellent and beautiful stories, remain free of greed, ever removing the suffering of others -- to such saints I bow my head.
They have not taken this body for the sake of lust, wealth, or honor -- knowledge and detachment fill their heart completely -- to such saints I bow my head.
They are always engaged in remembrance and devotion, and hold Maharaj in meditation -- great sages of such virtue -- to such saints I bow my head.
Ever vigilant, truly modest, never even glancing at worldly misconduct, of great and exceptionally pure intellect -- to such saints I bow my head.
They act so as to wash away the impurity of this age, remaining steady of mind in gain or loss, wise about both time and place -- to such saints I bow my head.
Hearing of others' faults, they bury them, for the sake of that soul's own good, and no unrighteousness enters their heart -- to such saints I bow my head.
Unwavering, unhurried, never satisfied gazing upon the Lord's form in meditation, ever steadfast in their resolve -- to such saints I bow my head.
Merciful and benevolent to others, never depleted by giving the gift of knowledge, harboring not the least slander or malice toward anyone -- to such saints I bow my head.
A refuge of coolness and comfort to all, free of disturbance, eating little, ever giving to those who take refuge in them -- to such saints I bow my head.
Without deceit, without possessions, discerning and righteous, ever pure, of auspicious appearance -- to such saints I bow my head.
Having kept the eightfold celibacy, having wholly renounced the company of women, holding aversion toward the five sense-objects -- to such saints I bow my head.
Such are the treasuries of virtue, the givers of happiness to all people, suns dispelling the darkness of ignorance -- to such saints I bow my head.
O saints so endowed with virtue, bestow your grace upon me abundantly; I shall sing the glories of Maharaj -- all of you together, lend me your aid.
And I bow to all the devotees of Hari; grant me such a blessing -- as love grows in telling of Hari's glory, may you all continue to bless me.
With limited intellect I have undertaken this scripture; I am not capable of completing it alone -- therefore I offer this praise to you; all of you together, lend me your aid.
Having made this plea again and again, I now begin to speak the story -- my heart rejoices to tell of Hari's glory; it cannot rest without telling it.
Thus ends the second chapter, named 'Praise Offered to the Saints,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.