Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 24
Sourceसूत उवाच- हतं श्रुत्वा दितिः पुत्रं सुबलं बलमेव च । रुदितं करुणं कृत्वा हा हा कष्टं भृशं मम १। एवं सुकरुणं कृत्वा बहुकालं तपस्विनी । सा गता कश्यपं कांतं तमुवाच यशस्विनी २। तव पुत्रो महापाप इंद्रः सुरगणेश्वरः । सागरोपगतं दृष्ट्वा बलं मे ब्रह्मलक्षणम् ३। वज्रेण घातयामास संध्यामास्यंतमेव हि । एवं श्रुत्वा ततः क्रुद्धो मरीचितनयस्तदा ४। क्रोधेन महताविष्टः प्रजज्वालेव वह्निना । अवलुंच्य जटामेकां शुच्यग्नौ स द्विजोत्तमः ५। इंद्रस्यैव वधार्थाय पुत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम् । तस्मात्कुंडात्समुत्पन्नो हुताशनमुखादपि ६। कृष्णांजनचयोपेतः पिंगाक्षो भीषणाकृतिः । दंष्ट्राकरालवक्त्रांतो जगतां भयदायकः ७। महाचर्वरिको घोरः खड्गचर्मधरस्तथा । सर्वांगतेजसा दीप्तो महामेघोपमो बली ८। उवाच कश्यपं विप्रमादेशो मम दीयताम् । कस्मादुत्पादितो विप्र भवता कारणं वद ९। तमहं साधयिष्यामि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत । कश्यप उवाच- अस्या मनोरथं पुत्र पूरयस्व ममैव हि १०। अदित्यास्त्वं महाप्राज्ञ जहि इंद्रं दुरात्मकम् । निहते देवराजे हि ऐंद्रं पदं प्रभुंक्ष्व च ११। एवं तेन समादिष्टः कश्यपेन महात्मना । वृत्रस्तु उद्यमं चक्रे तस्येंद्रस्य वधाय च १२। धनुर्वेदस्य चाभ्यासं स चक्रे पौरुषान्वितः । बलं वीर्यं तथा क्षात्रं तेजो धैर्यसमन्वितम् १३। दृष्ट्वा हि तस्य दैत्यस्य सहस्राक्षो भयातुरः । उपायं चिंतितं तस्य वृत्रस्यापि दुरात्मनः १४। वधार्थं देवदेवेन समाहूय महामुनीन् । सप्तर्षीन्प्रेषयामास वृत्रं दैत्येश्वरं प्रति १५। भवंतस्तत्र गच्छंतु यत्र वृत्रः स तिष्ठति । संधिं कुर्वंतु वै तेन सार्द्धं मम मुनीश्वराः १६। एवं तेन समादिष्टा मुनयः सप्त ते तदा । वृत्रासुरं ततः प्रोचुः सहस्राक्ष प्रचालिताः १७। सख्यं कर्तुं प्रयच्छेत्स क्रियतां दैत्यसत्तम । ऋषयः सप्ततत्त्वज्ञा ऊचुर्वृत्रं महाबलम् १८। सहस्राक्षो महाप्राज्ञो भवता सह सत्तम । मैत्रमिच्छति वै कर्तुं तत्कथं न करोषि किम् १९। अर्धमैंद्रं पदं वीर सत्वं भुंक्ष्व सुखेन वै । वर्तंत्वर्द्धेन इंद्रस्तु असुरा देवतास्तथा २०। सुखं वर्तंतु ते सर्वे वैरं चैव विसृज्य वै । वृत्र उवाच- यदि सत्येन देवेंद्रो मैत्रमिच्छति सत्तमः २१। सत्यमाश्रित्य चैवाहं करिष्ये नात्र संशयः । छद्म चैवं पुरस्कृत्य इंद्रो द्रोहं समाचरेत् २२। तदा किं क्रियते विप्रा इत्यर्थे प्रत्ययं हि किम् । ऋषयस्त्विंद्रमाचख्युरित्यर्थं प्रत्ययं वद २३। तन्नस्त्वं सत्यतां ब्रूहि यदि सख्यमिहेच्छसि । इंद्र उवाच- यद्यऽसत्येन वर्तामि भवद्भिः सह छद्मना २४। ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्लिप्येहं नात्र संशयः । छद्म चैवं पुरस्कृत्य इंद्रो द्रोहं समाचरेत् २५। ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्लिप्येहं नात्र संशयः । इत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञ त्वामेवं स पुरंदरः २६। एतेन प्रत्ययेनापि सख्यं कुरु महामते । वृत्र उवाच- भवतां शिष्टमार्गेण सत्येनानेन तस्य च २७। मैत्रमेवं करिष्यामि तेन सार्द्धं द्विजोत्तमाः । वृत्रमिंद्रस्यसंस्थानं नीतं ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवैः २८। इन्द्रस्तमागतं दृष्ट्वा वृत्रं मित्रार्थमुद्यतः । सिंहासनात्समुत्थाय अर्घमादाय सत्वरः २९। ददौ तस्मै स धर्मात्मा वृत्राय द्विजसत्तम । अर्धं भुंक्ष्व महाप्राज्ञ ऐंद्रमेतन्महत्पदम् ३०। वर्तितव्यं सुखेनापि आवाभ्यां दैत्यसत्तम । एवं विश्वासयन्दैत्यं वृत्र मैत्रेण वै तदा ३१। गतेषु तेषु विप्रेषु स्वस्थानं द्विजसत्तम । छिद्रं पश्यति दुष्टात्मा वृत्रस्यापि सदैव हि ३२। सावधानत्वमिंद्रोपि दिवारात्रौ प्रचिंतयेत् । तस्यच्छिद्रं न पश्येत वृत्रस्यापि महात्मनः ३३। उपायं चिंतयामास तस्यैव वधहेतवे । रंभा संप्रेषिता तेन मोहयस्व महासुरम् ३४। येनकेनाप्युपायेन यथा हत्वा लभे सुखम् । तथा कुरुष्व कल्याणि संमोहाय सुरद्विषः ३५। वनं पुण्यं महादिव्यं पुण्यपादपसेवितम् । बहुवृक्षफलोपेतं मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम् ३६। विमानमंदिरैर्दिव्यैः सर्वत्र परिशोभितम् । दिव्यगंधर्वसंगीतं भ्रमराकुलितं सदा ३७। कोकिलानां रुतैः पुण्यैः सर्वत्र मधुरायतैः । शिखिसारंगनादैश्च सर्वत्र सुसमाकुलम् ३८। दिव्यैस्तु चंदनैर्वृक्षैः सर्वत्र समलंकृतम् । वापीकुंडतडागैश्च जलपूर्णैर्मनोहरैः ३९। कमलैः शतपत्रैश्च पुष्पितैः समलंकृतम् । देवगंधर्वसंसिद्धैश्चारणैश्चैव किन्नरैः ४०। मुनिभिः शुशुभे दिव्यैर्दिव्योद्यानवरेण च । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं नानाकौतुकमंगलैः ४१। हेमप्रासादसंबाधं दंडच्छत्रैश्च चामरैः । कलशैश्च पताकाभिः सर्वत्रसमलंकृतम् ४२। वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णं गीतध्वनिसमाकुलम् । एवं नंदनमासाद्य सा रंभा चारुहासिनी ४३। अप्सरोभिः समं तत्र क्रीडत्येवं विलासिनी । सूत उवाच- एकदा तु स वृत्रो वै कालाकृष्टो गतो वनम् ४४। कतिभिर्दानवैः सार्द्धं मुदया परया युतः । अलक्ष्ये भ्रमते पार्श्वं तस्यैव च महात्मनः ४५। देवराजोपि विप्रेंद्रश्छिद्रान्वेषी द्विषां किल । स हि वृत्रो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वस्तः सर्वकर्मसु ४६। इंद्रं मित्रं परं जानन्भयं चक्रे न तस्य सः । भ्रममाणो वनं पश्येत्सर्वत्र परमं शुभम् ४७। सुरम्यं कौतुकवनं वनितागणसंकुलम् । चंदनस्यापि वृक्षस्य छायां शीतां सुपुण्यदाम् ४८। समाश्रित्य विशालाक्षी रंभा तत्र प्रदीव्यति । सखीभिस्तु महाभागा दोलारूढा यशस्विनी ४९। गायते सुस्वरं गीतं सर्वविश्वप्रमोहनम् । तत्र वृत्रः समायातः कामाकुलितमानसः ५०। दोलारूढां समालोक्य रंभां चारुसुलोचनाम् ५१। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां भूमिखंडे वृत्रवंचनंनाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः २४। ।
sūta uvāca- hataṃ śrutvā ditiḥ putraṃ subalaṃ balameva ca | ruditaṃ karuṇaṃ kṛtvā hā hā kaṣṭaṃ bhṛśaṃ mama 1| evaṃ sukaruṇaṃ kṛtvā bahukālaṃ tapasvinī | sā gatā kaśyapaṃ kāṃtaṃ tamuvāca yaśasvinī 2| tava putro mahāpāpa iṃdraḥ suragaṇeśvaraḥ | sāgaropagataṃ dṛṣṭvā balaṃ me brahmalakṣaṇam 3| vajreṇa ghātayāmāsa saṃdhyāmāsyaṃtameva hi | evaṃ śrutvā tataḥ kruddho marīcitanayastadā 4| krodhena mahatāviṣṭaḥ prajajvāleva vahninā | avaluṃcya jaṭāmekāṃ śucyagnau sa dvijottamaḥ 5| iṃdrasyaiva vadhārthāya putramutpādayāmyaham | tasmātkuṃḍātsamutpanno hutāśanamukhādapi 6| kṛṣṇāṃjanacayopetaḥ piṃgākṣo bhīṣaṇākṛtiḥ | daṃṣṭrākarālavaktrāṃto jagatāṃ bhayadāyakaḥ 7| mahācarvariko ghoraḥ khaḍgacarmadharastathā | sarvāṃgatejasā dīpto mahāmeghopamo balī 8| uvāca kaśyapaṃ vipramādeśo mama dīyatām | kasmādutpādito vipra bhavatā kāraṇaṃ vada 9| tamahaṃ sādhayiṣyāmi prasādāttava suvrata | kaśyapa uvāca- asyā manorathaṃ putra pūrayasva mamaiva hi 10| adityāstvaṃ mahāprājña jahi iṃdraṃ durātmakam | nihate devarāje hi aiṃdraṃ padaṃ prabhuṃkṣva ca 11| evaṃ tena samādiṣṭaḥ kaśyapena mahātmanā | vṛtrastu udyamaṃ cakre tasyeṃdrasya vadhāya ca 12| dhanurvedasya cābhyāsaṃ sa cakre pauruṣānvitaḥ | balaṃ vīryaṃ tathā kṣātraṃ tejo dhairyasamanvitam 13| dṛṣṭvā hi tasya daityasya sahasrākṣo bhayāturaḥ | upāyaṃ ciṃtitaṃ tasya vṛtrasyāpi durātmanaḥ 14| vadhārthaṃ devadevena samāhūya mahāmunīn | saptarṣīnpreṣayāmāsa vṛtraṃ daityeśvaraṃ prati 15| bhavaṃtastatra gacchaṃtu yatra vṛtraḥ sa tiṣṭhati | saṃdhiṃ kurvaṃtu vai tena sārddhaṃ mama munīśvarāḥ 16| evaṃ tena samādiṣṭā munayaḥ sapta te tadā | vṛtrāsuraṃ tataḥ procuḥ sahasrākṣa pracālitāḥ 17| sakhyaṃ kartuṃ prayacchetsa kriyatāṃ daityasattama | ṛṣayaḥ saptatattvajñā ūcurvṛtraṃ mahābalam 18| sahasrākṣo mahāprājño bhavatā saha sattama | maitramicchati vai kartuṃ tatkathaṃ na karoṣi kim 19| ardhamaiṃdraṃ padaṃ vīra satvaṃ bhuṃkṣva sukhena vai | vartaṃtvarddhena iṃdrastu asurā devatāstathā 20| sukhaṃ vartaṃtu te sarve vairaṃ caiva visṛjya vai | vṛtra uvāca- yadi satyena deveṃdro maitramicchati sattamaḥ 21| satyamāśritya caivāhaṃ kariṣye nātra saṃśayaḥ | chadma caivaṃ puraskṛtya iṃdro drohaṃ samācaret 22| tadā kiṃ kriyate viprā ityarthe pratyayaṃ hi kim | ṛṣayastviṃdramācakhyurityarthaṃ pratyayaṃ vada 23| tannastvaṃ satyatāṃ brūhi yadi sakhyamihecchasi | iṃdra uvāca- yadya'satyena vartāmi bhavadbhiḥ saha chadmanā 24| brahmahatyādikaiḥ pāpairlipyehaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | chadma caivaṃ puraskṛtya iṃdro drohaṃ samācaret 25| brahmahatyādikaiḥ pāpairlipyehaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | ityuvāca mahāprājña tvāmevaṃ sa puraṃdaraḥ 26| etena pratyayenāpi sakhyaṃ kuru mahāmate | vṛtra uvāca- bhavatāṃ śiṣṭamārgeṇa satyenānena tasya ca 27| maitramevaṃ kariṣyāmi tena sārddhaṃ dvijottamāḥ | vṛtramiṃdrasyasaṃsthānaṃ nītaṃ brāhmaṇapuṅgavaiḥ 28| indrastamāgataṃ dṛṣṭvā vṛtraṃ mitrārthamudyataḥ | siṃhāsanātsamutthāya arghamādāya satvaraḥ 29| dadau tasmai sa dharmātmā vṛtrāya dvijasattama | ardhaṃ bhuṃkṣva mahāprājña aiṃdrametanmahatpadam 30| vartitavyaṃ sukhenāpi āvābhyāṃ daityasattama | evaṃ viśvāsayandaityaṃ vṛtra maitreṇa vai tadā 31| gateṣu teṣu vipreṣu svasthānaṃ dvijasattama | chidraṃ paśyati duṣṭātmā vṛtrasyāpi sadaiva hi 32| sāvadhānatvamiṃdropi divārātrau praciṃtayet | tasyacchidraṃ na paśyeta vṛtrasyāpi mahātmanaḥ 33| upāyaṃ ciṃtayāmāsa tasyaiva vadhahetave | raṃbhā saṃpreṣitā tena mohayasva mahāsuram 34| yenakenāpyupāyena yathā hatvā labhe sukham | tathā kuruṣva kalyāṇi saṃmohāya suradviṣaḥ 35| vanaṃ puṇyaṃ mahādivyaṃ puṇyapādapasevitam | bahuvṛkṣaphalopetaṃ mṛgapakṣisamākulam 36| vimānamaṃdirairdivyaiḥ sarvatra pariśobhitam | divyagaṃdharvasaṃgītaṃ bhramarākulitaṃ sadā 37| kokilānāṃ rutaiḥ puṇyaiḥ sarvatra madhurāyataiḥ | śikhisāraṃganādaiśca sarvatra susamākulam 38| divyaistu caṃdanairvṛkṣaiḥ sarvatra samalaṃkṛtam | vāpīkuṃḍataḍāgaiśca jalapūrṇairmanoharaiḥ 39| kamalaiḥ śatapatraiśca puṣpitaiḥ samalaṃkṛtam | devagaṃdharvasaṃsiddhaiścāraṇaiścaiva kinnaraiḥ 40| munibhiḥ śuśubhe divyairdivyodyānavareṇa ca | apsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ nānākautukamaṃgalaiḥ 41| hemaprāsādasaṃbādhaṃ daṃḍacchatraiśca cāmaraiḥ | kalaśaiśca patākābhiḥ sarvatrasamalaṃkṛtam 42| vedadhvanisamākīrṇaṃ gītadhvanisamākulam | evaṃ naṃdanamāsādya sā raṃbhā cāruhāsinī 43| apsarobhiḥ samaṃ tatra krīḍatyevaṃ vilāsinī | sūta uvāca- ekadā tu sa vṛtro vai kālākṛṣṭo gato vanam 44| katibhirdānavaiḥ sārddhaṃ mudayā parayā yutaḥ | alakṣye bhramate pārśvaṃ tasyaiva ca mahātmanaḥ 45| devarājopi vipreṃdraśchidrānveṣī dviṣāṃ kila | sa hi vṛtro mahāprājño viśvastaḥ sarvakarmasu 46| iṃdraṃ mitraṃ paraṃ jānanbhayaṃ cakre na tasya saḥ | bhramamāṇo vanaṃ paśyetsarvatra paramaṃ śubham 47| suramyaṃ kautukavanaṃ vanitāgaṇasaṃkulam | caṃdanasyāpi vṛkṣasya chāyāṃ śītāṃ supuṇyadām 48| samāśritya viśālākṣī raṃbhā tatra pradīvyati | sakhībhistu mahābhāgā dolārūḍhā yaśasvinī 49| gāyate susvaraṃ gītaṃ sarvaviśvapramohanam | tatra vṛtraḥ samāyātaḥ kāmākulitamānasaḥ 50| dolārūḍhāṃ samālokya raṃbhāṃ cārusulocanām 51| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahasrasaṃhitāyāṃ bhūmikhaṃḍe vṛtravaṃcanaṃnāma caturviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 24| |
English translation
Sūta said :
1-2. Having heard that her very powerful son Bala was killed, Diti piteously wept saying: “Oh, I am facing a great misery.” Having thus very piteously wept for a long time, the miserable, glorious one went to Kaśyapa , her husband, and said to him:
3-4a. “Seeing your son who had gone to the ocean, the very sinful Indra , the lord of the host of gods, with his thunderbolt killed him having the characteristics of a brāhmaṇa and just practising sandhyā (i.e. the daily prayer).”
4b-5. Having heard thus, (Kaśyapa) Marīci ’s son got angry at that time, and was full of great anger, as it were, burnt with fire. The best brāhmaṇa plucked a hair from his matted hair, (and putting it into) pure fire (said:)
6-10a. “I shall create a son just for killing Indra.” From that fire-pool, from the mouth of fire was produced a fierce figure, full of black collyrium (i.e. very dark), and tawny-eyed, with the interior of his mouth fearful on account of the fangs, causing fear to the worlds, capable of giving a big blow with the flat of his hand, holding a sword and a shield, bright with lustre of the entire body, resembling a large cloud and strong. He said to the brāhmaṇa viz. Kaśyapa: “Give me an order. O brāhmaṇa, tell me the purpose for which I was produced; I shall accomplish it through your favour, O you of a good vow.”
Kaśyapa said :
10b-11. O you highly intelligent one, fulfil the desire of this Aditi (Diti?) and of me also. Kill the wicked Indra; and when that king of gods (i.e. Indra) is killed, enjoy Indra’s position.
12-14. Thus ordered by that noble Kaśyapa, Vṛtra exerted to kill Indra. Endowed with valour, he practised archery. The thousand-eyed one (i.e. Indra), seeing the demon’s strength, power and his lustre with courage befitting a kṣatriya , was afflicted by fear. He thought of a means to kill that wicked Vṛtra.
15-16. Having called the Seven Great Sages, the god of gods sent them to Vṛtra, the lord of demons: “O best sages, you may please go (to the place) where Vṛtra is staying, and bring about a treaty between them (i.e. the demons and me).”
17. Thus ordered and urged by that thousand-eyed (Indra) the Seven Sages then said to that demon Vṛtra:
18-21 a. “Indra offers to make friendship (with you), O best demon; make that friendship.” The Seven Sages, knowing the fact, said to the very powerful Vṛtra: “O best one, the very wise Indra desires your friendship. Then how is it that you do not do it (i.e. do not accept his offer)? O hero, enjoy happily half the position (i.e. kingdom) of Indra; let Indra have the (remaining) half. Giving up their enmity, let all demons and gods live happily.”
Vṛtra said :
21b-23a. If the best lord of the gods really desires friendship, I (too) shall do (the same) by resorting to truth (i.e. truthfully); there is no doubt about this. O brāhmaṇas , if, by putting forward (i.e. by resorting to) dishonesty, Indra plays mischief, then what is the surety in this matter?
23b-24a. The sages said to Indra: “Give certainty about this. Tell us the truth if you desire friendship here (with Vṛtra).”
Indra said :
24b-25a. If I behave with you falsely and dishonestly, then I shall be stained with the sins of killing brāhmaṇas etc. There is no doubt about it.
25b-27a. The very powerful (brāhmaṇas) again spoke to Vṛtra, the lord of demons: “‘I shall be stained with the sins of killing brāhmaṇas etc. There is no doubt about it.’ Thus, O very wise one, Indra has said to you. O you very intelligent one, form friendship (with Indra), with this (i.e. taking those words to be the) surety.”
Vṛtra said :
27b-28a. O best brāhmaṇas, on account of your respectable manner and this truthfulness of him, I shall likewise form friendship with him.
28b-33. The chief brāhmaṇas took Vṛtra into the vicinity of Indra. Seeing Vṛtra, ready for friendship, having arrived, the pious Indra got up from his seat, and taking the material of worship quickly, offered (the same) to Vṛtra: “O very wise one, enjoy half of this great position of Indra. O best of demons, we two should stay happily.” O best brāhmaṇa, having thus produced confidence through friendship of Vṛtra, the wicked-minded one always saw his weak point. Vṛtra too was always cautious. Indra also would think day and night (to find out his weak point). He did not find out the weak point, of the noble Vṛtra.
34-43a. He thought of a stratagem to kill him. He sent Rambhā (after telling her:) “With this or that trick, delude the great demon. O auspicious one, do that to delude the great demon, so that by killing him I shall get happiness.” (Rambhā resorted to Nandanavana —Indra’s garden,) the garden which was auspicious, very divine, resorted to by pious trees, full of many trees with fruits, full of beasts and birds, looking beautiful all around with divine heavenly cars, always full of divine music of the Gandharvas and bees, full of auspicious, sweet and prolonged cooings of cuckoos everywhere, full of the notes of peacocks and the sounds of antelopes at every place, everywhere adorned with divine sandal trees and also with charming wells, pools and lakes full of water and lotuses in bloom; it looked beautiful with gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Kinnaras as well; also with divine sages and with an excellent garden. It was crowded with hosts of celestial nymphs; and with various curious and auspicious objects. It was thronged with golden paīaces, and was everywhere adorned with staffs, umbrellas and chowries, and with pitchers and banners. It was full of the sounds (of the recitation) of the Vedas and with the sounds of songs.
43b-44a. Reaching the Nandana like this, that sportive Rambhā, smiling charmingly sported there with celestial nymphs.
Sūta said :
44b-51. Once that Vṛtra, dragged by death, went very joyfully with some demons, to that forest. The lord of gods and brāhmaṇas, looking for his weak point, moved unnoticed by the side of that noble one. That very wise Vṛtra, confiding (in Indra) in all matters, and knowing Indra to be a great friend, was not afraid of him. Moving (i.e. he moved) in the great auspicious forest. The forest was very charming and (full of) curious objects and crowded with bevies of women. That glorious and noble Rambhā, of large eyes, who had resorted to the cool and very auspicious shade of a sandal-tree, was seated on a swing and was playing dice with her friends. She (also) sang a melodious song, infatuating the entire universe. Vṛtra, having come there, saw that Rambhā, with charming, large eyes with his mind full of sexual desire.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 37667, revision 333801 (2022-03-17T01:49:47Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364231.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.