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Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Unit 100 of 693Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 18Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 181 source entries

Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 18

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सोमशर्मोवाच- पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं त्वयाख्यातं च मे मुने । शूद्रत्वेन तु विप्रेन्द्र मयैव परिवर्जितम् १। विप्रत्वं हि मया प्राप्तं तत्कथं द्विजसत्तम । तत्सर्वं कारणं ब्रूहि ज्ञानविज्ञानपंडित २। वसिष्ठ उवाच-। यत्त्वया चेष्टितं पूर्वं कर्मधर्माश्रितंद्विज । तदहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां यदि मन्यसे ३। ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदनघः सदाचारः सुपंडितः । विष्णुभक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा नित्यं विष्णुपरायणः ४। यात्राव्याजेन तीर्थानां भ्रमत्येकः समेदिनीम् । अटमानः समायातस्तव गेहं महामतिः ५। याचितं स्थानमेकं वै वासार्थं द्विजसत्तम । तवैव भार्यया दत्तं त्वया च सह पुत्रकैः ६। एयतामेयतां ब्रह्मन्सुखेन सुगृहे मम । वैष्णवं ब्राह्मणं पुण्यमित्युवाच पुनः पुनः ७। सुखेन स्थीयतामत्र गृहोयं तव सुव्रत । अद्य धन्योस्म्यहं पुण्यमद्य तीर्थमहं गतः ८। अद्य तीर्थफलं प्राप्तं तवांघ्रिद्वयदर्शनात् । गवां स्थानं वरं पुण्यं निवासाय निवेदितम् ९। अंगसंवाहनं कृत्वा पादौ चैव प्रमर्दितौ । क्षालितौ चपुनस्तोयैः स्नातः पादोदकेन हि १०। सद्यो घृतं दधिक्षीरमन्नं तक्रं प्रदत्तवान् । तस्मै च ब्राह्मणायैव भवानित्थं महात्मने ११। एवं संतोषितो विप्रस्त्वया च सह भार्यया । पुत्रैः सार्धं महाभागो वैष्णवो ज्ञानपंडितः १२। अथ प्रभाते संप्राप्ते दिने पुण्ये सुभाग्यदे । आषाढस्य तु शुद्धस्यैकादशी पापनाशनी १३। तस्मिन्दिने सुसंप्राप्ता सर्वपातकनाशिनी । यस्यां देवो हृषीकेशो योगनिद्रां प्रगच्छति १४। तां प्राप्य च ततो लोकास्तत्यजुर्बुद्धिपंडिताः । गृहस्य सर्वकर्माणि विष्णुध्यानरता द्विज १५। उत्सवं परमं चक्रुर्गीतमंगलवादनैः । स्तुवंति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे वेदैः स्तोत्रैः सुमंगलैः १६। एवं महोत्सवं प्राप्य स च ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । तस्मिन्दिने स्थितस्तत्र संप्राप्तं समुपोषणम् १७। एकादश्यास्तु माहात्म्यं पठितं ब्राह्मणेन वै । भार्या पुत्रैः सुतैः सार्द्धं श्रुतं धर्ममनुत्तमम् १८। श्रुते तस्मिन्महापुण्ये भार्या पुत्रैस्तु प्रेरितः । संसर्गादस्य विप्रस्य व्रतमेतत्समाचर १९। तदाकर्ण्य महद्वाक्यं सर्वपुण्यप्रदायकम् । व्रतमेतं करिष्यामि इति निश्चितमानसः २०। भार्या पुत्रैः समं गत्वा नद्यां स्नानं कृतं त्वया । हृष्टेन मनसा विप्र पूजितो मधुसूदनः २१। सर्वोपहारैः पुण्यैश्च गंधधूपादिभिस्तथा । रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा नृत्यगीतादिभिस्तथा २२। ब्राह्मणस्य प्रसंगेन नद्यां स्नानं पुनः कृतम् । पूजितो देवदेवेशः पुष्पधूपादिमंगलैः २३। भक्त्या प्रणम्य गोविंदं स्नापयित्वा पुनः पुनः । निर्वापं तादृशं दत्तं ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने २४। भक्त्या प्रणम्य तं विप्रं दत्ता तस्मै सुदक्षिणा । कृतवान्पारणं विप्र पुत्रैर्भार्यादिभिः समम् २५। प्रेषितो भक्तिपूर्वेण सद्भावेन त्वयैव सः । एवं व्रतं समाचीर्णं त्वया वै द्विजसत्तम २६। संगत्या ब्राह्मणस्यैव विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादतः । भवान्ब्राह्मणतां प्राप्तः सत्यधर्मसमन्वितः २७। तस्य व्रतस्य भावेन त्वया प्राप्तं महत्कुलम् । भूसुराणां महाप्राज्ञं सत्यधर्मसमाविलम् २८। तस्मै तु ब्राह्मणायैव वैष्णवाय महात्मने । श्रद्धया सत्यभावेन दत्तमन्नं सुसंस्कृतम् २९। तस्य दानस्य भावेन मिष्टान्नमुपतिष्ठति । महामोहैः प्रमुग्धो हि तृष्णया व्यापितं मनः ३०। पूर्वजन्मनि ते विप्र अर्थमेव प्रसंचितम् । न दत्तं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हि दीनेष्वन्येषु वै त्वया ३१। दारेषु पुत्रलोभेन म्रियमाणेन वै तदा । तस्य पापस्य भावेन दारिद्रं त्वामुपाविशत् ३२। पुत्रलोभं परित्यज्य स्नेहं त्यक्त्वा प्रदूरतः । अपुत्रवान्भवाञ्जातस्तस्य पापस्य वै फलम् ३३। सुपुत्रं च कुलं विप्र धनधान्यवरस्त्रियः । सुजन्ममरणं चैव सुभोगाः सुखमेव च ३४। राज्यं स्वर्गश्च मोक्षश्च यद्यद्दुर्लभमेव च । प्रसादात्तस्य देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः ३५। तस्मादाराध्य गोविन्दं नारायणमनामयम् । प्राप्स्यसि त्वं परं स्थानं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ३६। सुपुत्र त्वं धनं धान्यं सुभोगान्सुखमेव च । पूर्वजन्मकृतं सर्वं यत्त्वया परिचेष्टितम् ३७। तन्मया कथितं विप्र तवाग्रे परिनिष्ठितम् । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग नारायणपरो भव ३८। ब्रह्मात्मजेनापि महानुभावः स विप्रवर्यः परिबोधितो हि । हर्षेणयुक्तः स महानुभावो भक्त्या वसिष्ठं प्रणिपत्य तत्र ३९। आमंत्र्य विप्रं स जगाम गेहं तां प्राप्य भार्यां सुमनां प्रहर्षः । सर्वं हि वृत्तं ममपूर्वचेष्टितं तेनैव विप्रेण तव प्रसादात् ४०। भद्रे वसिष्ठेन विकाशनीतमद्यैव मोहं परिनाशितं मे । आराधयिष्ये मधुसूदनं हि यास्यामि मोक्षं परमं पदं तत् ४१। आकर्ण्य वाक्यं परमं महांतं सुमंगलं मंगलदायकं हि । हर्षेण युक्ता तमुवाच कांतं पुण्योसि विप्रेण विबोधितोऽसि ४२। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां भूमिखंडे-। ऐंद्रे सुमनोपाख्याने अष्टादशोऽध्यायः १८।

somaśarmovāca- pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tvayākhyātaṃ ca me mune | śūdratvena tu viprendra mayaiva parivarjitam 1| vipratvaṃ hi mayā prāptaṃ tatkathaṃ dvijasattama | tatsarvaṃ kāraṇaṃ brūhi jñānavijñānapaṃḍita 2| vasiṣṭha uvāca-| yattvayā ceṣṭitaṃ pūrvaṃ karmadharmāśritaṃdvija | tadahaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi śrūyatāṃ yadi manyase 3| brāhmaṇaḥ kaścidanaghaḥ sadācāraḥ supaṃḍitaḥ | viṣṇubhaktastu dharmātmā nityaṃ viṣṇuparāyaṇaḥ 4| yātrāvyājena tīrthānāṃ bhramatyekaḥ samedinīm | aṭamānaḥ samāyātastava gehaṃ mahāmatiḥ 5| yācitaṃ sthānamekaṃ vai vāsārthaṃ dvijasattama | tavaiva bhāryayā dattaṃ tvayā ca saha putrakaiḥ 6| eyatāmeyatāṃ brahmansukhena sugṛhe mama | vaiṣṇavaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ puṇyamityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ 7| sukhena sthīyatāmatra gṛhoyaṃ tava suvrata | adya dhanyosmyahaṃ puṇyamadya tīrthamahaṃ gataḥ 8| adya tīrthaphalaṃ prāptaṃ tavāṃghridvayadarśanāt | gavāṃ sthānaṃ varaṃ puṇyaṃ nivāsāya niveditam 9| aṃgasaṃvāhanaṃ kṛtvā pādau caiva pramarditau | kṣālitau capunastoyaiḥ snātaḥ pādodakena hi 10| sadyo ghṛtaṃ dadhikṣīramannaṃ takraṃ pradattavān | tasmai ca brāhmaṇāyaiva bhavānitthaṃ mahātmane 11| evaṃ saṃtoṣito viprastvayā ca saha bhāryayā | putraiḥ sārdhaṃ mahābhāgo vaiṣṇavo jñānapaṃḍitaḥ 12| atha prabhāte saṃprāpte dine puṇye subhāgyade | āṣāḍhasya tu śuddhasyaikādaśī pāpanāśanī 13| tasmindine susaṃprāptā sarvapātakanāśinī | yasyāṃ devo hṛṣīkeśo yoganidrāṃ pragacchati 14| tāṃ prāpya ca tato lokāstatyajurbuddhipaṃḍitāḥ | gṛhasya sarvakarmāṇi viṣṇudhyānaratā dvija 15| utsavaṃ paramaṃ cakrurgītamaṃgalavādanaiḥ | stuvaṃti brāhmaṇāḥ sarve vedaiḥ stotraiḥ sumaṃgalaiḥ 16| evaṃ mahotsavaṃ prāpya sa ca brāhmaṇasattamaḥ | tasmindine sthitastatra saṃprāptaṃ samupoṣaṇam 17| ekādaśyāstu māhātmyaṃ paṭhitaṃ brāhmaṇena vai | bhāryā putraiḥ sutaiḥ sārddhaṃ śrutaṃ dharmamanuttamam 18| śrute tasminmahāpuṇye bhāryā putraistu preritaḥ | saṃsargādasya viprasya vratametatsamācara 19| tadākarṇya mahadvākyaṃ sarvapuṇyapradāyakam | vratametaṃ kariṣyāmi iti niścitamānasaḥ 20| bhāryā putraiḥ samaṃ gatvā nadyāṃ snānaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā | hṛṣṭena manasā vipra pūjito madhusūdanaḥ 21| sarvopahāraiḥ puṇyaiśca gaṃdhadhūpādibhistathā | rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kṛtvā nṛtyagītādibhistathā 22| brāhmaṇasya prasaṃgena nadyāṃ snānaṃ punaḥ kṛtam | pūjito devadeveśaḥ puṣpadhūpādimaṃgalaiḥ 23| bhaktyā praṇamya goviṃdaṃ snāpayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | nirvāpaṃ tādṛśaṃ dattaṃ brāhmaṇāya mahātmane 24| bhaktyā praṇamya taṃ vipraṃ dattā tasmai sudakṣiṇā | kṛtavānpāraṇaṃ vipra putrairbhāryādibhiḥ samam 25| preṣito bhaktipūrveṇa sadbhāvena tvayaiva saḥ | evaṃ vrataṃ samācīrṇaṃ tvayā vai dvijasattama 26| saṃgatyā brāhmaṇasyaiva viṣṇoścaiva prasādataḥ | bhavānbrāhmaṇatāṃ prāptaḥ satyadharmasamanvitaḥ 27| tasya vratasya bhāvena tvayā prāptaṃ mahatkulam | bhūsurāṇāṃ mahāprājñaṃ satyadharmasamāvilam 28| tasmai tu brāhmaṇāyaiva vaiṣṇavāya mahātmane | śraddhayā satyabhāvena dattamannaṃ susaṃskṛtam 29| tasya dānasya bhāvena miṣṭānnamupatiṣṭhati | mahāmohaiḥ pramugdho hi tṛṣṇayā vyāpitaṃ manaḥ 30| pūrvajanmani te vipra arthameva prasaṃcitam | na dattaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo hi dīneṣvanyeṣu vai tvayā 31| dāreṣu putralobhena mriyamāṇena vai tadā | tasya pāpasya bhāvena dāridraṃ tvāmupāviśat 32| putralobhaṃ parityajya snehaṃ tyaktvā pradūrataḥ | aputravānbhavāñjātastasya pāpasya vai phalam 33| suputraṃ ca kulaṃ vipra dhanadhānyavarastriyaḥ | sujanmamaraṇaṃ caiva subhogāḥ sukhameva ca 34| rājyaṃ svargaśca mokṣaśca yadyaddurlabhameva ca | prasādāttasya devasya viṣṇoścaiva mahātmanaḥ 35| tasmādārādhya govindaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam | prāpsyasi tvaṃ paraṃ sthānaṃ tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam 36| suputra tvaṃ dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ subhogānsukhameva ca | pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ sarvaṃ yattvayā pariceṣṭitam 37| tanmayā kathitaṃ vipra tavāgre pariniṣṭhitam | evaṃ jñātvā mahābhāga nārāyaṇaparo bhava 38| brahmātmajenāpi mahānubhāvaḥ sa vipravaryaḥ paribodhito hi | harṣeṇayuktaḥ sa mahānubhāvo bhaktyā vasiṣṭhaṃ praṇipatya tatra 39| āmaṃtrya vipraṃ sa jagāma gehaṃ tāṃ prāpya bhāryāṃ sumanāṃ praharṣaḥ | sarvaṃ hi vṛttaṃ mamapūrvaceṣṭitaṃ tenaiva vipreṇa tava prasādāt 40| bhadre vasiṣṭhena vikāśanītamadyaiva mohaṃ parināśitaṃ me | ārādhayiṣye madhusūdanaṃ hi yāsyāmi mokṣaṃ paramaṃ padaṃ tat 41| ākarṇya vākyaṃ paramaṃ mahāṃtaṃ sumaṃgalaṃ maṃgaladāyakaṃ hi | harṣeṇa yuktā tamuvāca kāṃtaṃ puṇyosi vipreṇa vibodhito'si 42| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahasrasaṃhitāyāṃ bhūmikhaṃḍe-| aiṃdre sumanopākhyāne aṣṭādaśo'dhyāyaḥ 18|

English translation

Somaśarman said :

1-2. O sage, you told me about my sin in the former birth. O best brāhmaṇa , in what way was I forsaken by śūdrahood and did I obtain brāhmaṇahood? O you well-versed in spiritual and worldly knowledge, tell me all about it.

Vasiṣṭha said :

3. If you think (like listening to them) listen; I shall explain to you, O brāhmaṇa, what religious deeds you did in the former birth.

4-6. A certain innocent, well-learned brāhmaṇa of a good conduct, religious-minded, and always solely devoted to Viṣṇu wandered over the earth for pilgrimages to sacred places. He, the very intelligent one, while (thus) wandering, came to your house. O best of brāhmaṇas , he requested you for a place to stay (i.e. for accommodation). You with your wife and sons gave it to him (saying:)

7-9a. “O brāhmaṇa, come, come happily (i.e. you are welcome) to my house.” You repeatedly said these words to that brāhmaṇa, the devotee of Viṣṇu: “O you of a good vow, live here comfortably; this is your house. Today I am blessed; today I have visited a sacred place. Today I have obtained the fruit of a visit to a sacred place by seeing your two feet.”

9b-12. (Then) you showed him the cowpen for his lodging. Having massaged his body you also shampooed his feet. You also washed them with water. You also bathed with the water with whicḥ his feet were washed. You thus forthwith gave ghee , curd, milk, food and buttermilk to that noble brāhmaṇa. Thus with your wife and sons you pleased that very learned, noble brāhmaṇa, Viṣṇu’s devotee.

13-16. When it was the dawn of the auspicious and blissful day, on which fell (i.e. whicḥ was) the Ekādaśī (eleventh day) of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha (called) Pāpanaśinī (the destroyer of sins), which destroyed all sins, and on whicḥ day god Hṛṣīkeśa (i.e. Viṣṇu) goes to sleep (called) Yoganidrā , O brāhmaṇa, when that day came, all wise men having given up all domestic duties, became engrossed in meditating upon Viṣṇu. With songs and (playing upon) musical instruments they celebrated a great festival. All the brāhmaṇas praised (Viṣṇu) with (hymns from) the Vedas , and very auspicious hymns of praise.

17. When the great festival had come, the best brāhmaṇa stayed there on that day. He (also) fasted properly.

18. The brāhmaṇa recited the hymn to Ekādaśi. With your wife and sons you also listened to the excellent (account of) religious virtue.

19. When that very auspicious (account) was heard by your wife and sons they urged you: “Observe this vow in the company of this brāhmaṇa.”

20-26a. Hearing those great (i.e. very important) words, giving all merit, you were determined (to observe it and so said:) “I shall observe this vow.” Then going to the river with your wife and sons, you bathed in the river. O brāhmaṇa, with a pleased mind you worshipped Viṣṇu with all (kinds of) auspicious presents and with sandal, incense etc. You kept awake by dancing and singing songs during that night. In the company of that brāhmaṇa you again bathed in the river. Saluting Viṣṇu with devotion and bathing him again and again, you worshipped the lord of gods with auspicious (objects like) flowers, incense etc. and similarly gave apresent to that noble brāhmaṇa.O brāhmaṇa, having devoutly saluted that brāhmaṇa, you gave him ample presents. Then you broke the fast, O brāhmaṇa, with your sons, wife etc. You sent him (away) with devotion and good feelings.

26b-30a. O best brāhmaṇa, you yourself observed the vow like this, due to the company of that brāhmaṇa, and due to the favour of Viṣṇu. You, endowed with a truthful conduct became (i.e. was born as) a brāhmaṇa. Due to the efficacy of that vow you obtained (i.e. were born in) a great family of brāhmaṇas, wise and of truthful conduct. To that noble brāhmaṇa, devoted to Viṣṇu, you gave well-cooked food with faith and truthfulness. Due to the efficacy of that food sweet food comes to you.

30b-33. O brāhmaṇa, in your previous birth you were deluded through folly, and your mind was pervaded with desire. (So) you collected money only. You did not give it to brāhmaṇas or to helpless persons, or to your wife, as you died through desire for a son (not being satisfied). (So) due to the effect of that sin, poverty, non-fulfilment of your desire, and loss of affection came to you. It is just the result of that sin that you were born sonless.

34-35. O brāhmaṇa, a family with good sons, wealth, grains, excellent wife, good birth or death, excellent enjoyments and happiness, kingdom, heaven and salvation, and all that is difficult to obtain (are obtained) through the favour of that magnanimous Viṣṇu.

36-38. Therefore, by worshipping that Govinda , Nārāyaṇa , Anāmaya, you will obtain that highest position i.e. the highest position of Viṣṇu. O brāhmaṇa, I have fully told you about having good sons, wealth, grains, excellent enjoyments and happiness, and all the deeds that you did in your former birth. O blessed one, knowing thus be solely devoted to Viṣṇu.

39-41. The best brāhmaṇa of great prowess was (thus) advised by Brahmā ’s son (i.e. Vasiṣṭha ). The noble one, being full ofjoy, having saluted Vasiṣṭha there, and having taken his leave of that brāhmaṇa (i.e. Vasiṣṭha) went home. Joyfully approaching his wife Sumanā , (he said to her:) “O auspicious lady, due to your favour that brāhmaṇa, Vasiṣṭha, told me all my former account and behaviour. Today only my delusion is destroyed. I shall just propitiate Viṣṇu and shall reach that highest position, viz. salvation.”

42. Hearing those excellent, great, very auspicious words bringing about happiness, she, full ofjoy, said to her husband: “You are lucky (that) you are advised by that brāhmaṇa.”

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 37661, revision 334916 (2022-04-07T22:49:56Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364225.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.