Shri Vallabhacharya bestowed this concise teaching upon Rana Vyasa and Bhagavandas Sanchora. Each verse offers a grace-filled interpretation of one of life’s four pursuits: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation).

For us, dharma is the worship of Shri Vallabhacharya, and our true wealth is Shri Krishna Himself. Our desires find fulfillment when He resides within our hearts, and liberation is attained through constant service and remembrance of Him.


sarvadā sarva-bhāvena bhajanīyaḥ vraja-adhipaḥ ।
svasyā ayam eva dharmaḥ hi na anyaḥ kva api kadācana ॥ 1 ॥
सर्वदा सर्व-भावेन भजनियः व्रज-अधिपः ।
स्वस्य अयम् एव धर्मः हि न अन्यः क्व अपि कदाचन ॥ १ ॥
sarvadā sarvabhāvena bhajanīyo vrajādhipaḥ ।
svasyāyameva dharmohi nānyaḥ kvāpi kadācana ॥ 1 ॥
सर्वदा सर्वभावेन भजनीयो व्रजाधिपः ।
स्वस्यायमेव धर्मोहि नान्यः क्वापि कदाचन ॥ १ ॥
The lord of Vraja (vraja-adhipaḥ) is to be worshiped always (sarvadā) and in every manner (sarva-bhāvena bhajanīyaḥ). This alone is one's true duty (svasyā ayam eva dharmaḥ), and no other (na anyaḥ kva api kadācana).

evaṁ sadā sma karttavyaṁ svayam eva kariṣyati ।
prabhuḥ sarva-samarthaḥ hi tataḥ niścintatāṁ vrajet ॥ 2 ॥
एवं सदा स्म कर्त्तव्यं स्वयं एव करिष्यति ।
प्रभुः सर्व-समर्थः हि ततः निश्चिन्ततां व्रजेत् ॥ २ ॥
evaṁ sadā sma karttavyaṁ svayameva kariṣyati ।
prabhuḥ sarvasamartho hi tato niścintatāṁ vrajet ॥ 2 ॥
एवं सदा स्म कर्त्तव्यं स्वयमेव करिष्यति ।
प्रभुः सर्वसमर्थो हि ततो निश्चिन्ततां व्रजेत् ॥ २ ॥
Thus, one should always act accordingly (evaṁ sadā sma karttavyaṁ), as the Lord (prabhuḥ), who is all-capable (sarva-samarthaḥ hi), will accomplish everything Himself (svayam eva kariṣyati). Therefore (tataḥ), one should attain a state of complete worry-free surrender (niścintatāṁ vrajet).

yadi śrī-gokula-adhīśaḥ dhṛtaḥ sarva-ātmanā hṛdi ।
tataḥ kim-aparaṁ brūhi laukikaiḥ vaidikaiḥ api ॥ 3 ॥
यदि श्री-गोकुल-अधीशः धृतः सर्व-आत्मना हृदि ।
ततः किम्-अपरं ब्रूहि लौकिकैः वैदिकैः अपि ॥ ३ ॥
yadi śrīgokulādhīśo dhṛtaḥ sarvātmanā hṛdi ।
tataḥ kimaparaṁ brūhi laukikairvaidikairapi ॥ 3 ॥
यदि श्रीगोकुलाधीशो धृतः सर्वात्मना हृदि ।
ततः किमपरं ब्रूहि लौकिकैर्वेदिकैरपि ॥ ३ ॥
If the Lord of Gokula (śrī-gokula-adhīśaḥ) is firmly held in the heart with complete dedication (dhṛtaḥ sarva-ātmanā hṛdi), then what else remains to be said (tataḥ kim-aparaṁ brūhi) about worldly (laukikaiḥ) or Vedic practices (vaidikaiḥ api)? Everything becomes fulfilled in Him.

ataḥ sarva-ātmanā śaśvat gokuleśvara pādayoḥ ।
smaraṇaṁ bhajanaṁ ca api na tyājyam iti me matiḥ ॥ 4 ॥
अतः सर्व-आत्मना शश्वत् गोकुलेश्वर पादयोः ।
स्मरणं भजनं च अपि न त्याज्यम् इति मे मतिः ॥ ४ ॥
ataḥ sarvātmanā śaśvadgokuleśvara pādayoḥ ।
smaraṇaṁ bhajanaṁ cāpi na tyājyamiti me matiḥ ॥ 4 ॥
अतः सर्वात्मना शश्वद्‌गोकुलेश्वर पादयोः ।
स्मरणं भजनं चापि न त्याज्यमिति मे मतिः ॥ ४ ॥
Therefore (ataḥ), with complete dedication (sarva-ātmanā) and forever (śaśvat), remembrance (smaraṇaṁ) and worship (bhajanaṁ) of the feet of the Lord of Gokula (gokuleśvara pādayoḥ) should never be abandoned (na tyājyam). This is my firm conviction (iti me matiḥ).

Thus ends the 'Chatuḥślokī' composed by Shri Vallabhacharya.