अथ उवाच महाविष्णुः
भगवन्तं प्रजापतिम् |
ब्रह्मन् महत्त्व विज्ञाने
प्रजा सर्गे च चेत् मतिः |
पञ्च श्लोकीम् इमां विद्यां
वत्स दत्तां निबोध मे ॥ ५७ ॥
athovāca mahā-viṣṇur
bhagavantaṁ prajāpatim
brahman mahattva-vijñāne
prajā-sarge ca cen matiḥ
pañca-ślokīm imāṁ vidyāṁ
vatsa dattāṁ nibodha me
atha - then; uvāca - said; mahā-viṣṇuḥ - the Supreme Lord; bhagavantam - unto the glorious; prajāpatim - Lord Brahmā; brahman - O Brahmā; mahattva - of the glory (of Godhead); vijñāne - in real knowledge; prajā-sarge - in creating offspring; ca - and; cet - if; matiḥ - the inclination; pañca-ślokīm - five ślokas; imām - this; vidyām - science; vatsa - O beloved; dattām - given; nibodha - hear; me - from Me.
The Supreme Lord became propitious when Brahmā with great eagerness chanted the names, "Kṛṣṇa" and "Govinda" expressive of the form, attribute and pastimes. Brahmā was actuated by the desire for mundane creation. Kṛṣṇa then said to Brahmā how pure unalloyed devotion can be practiced by souls engaged in worldly occupations by combining the same with the desire for carrying out the behest of the Supreme Lord. "The knowledge absolute is knowledge of the glory of Godhead; if you want to procreate offspring being endowed with such knowledge, listen attentively to the science of devotion that is contained in the following five ślokas."
(How bhakti is practiced by performing worldly duties in the form of carrying out the commands of the Supreme Lord, is being described).