Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 34
Sourceसूत उवाच- यथा शप्ता वने पूर्वं सुशंखेन महात्मना । तासु सर्वं समाख्यातं सखीष्वेव विचेष्टितम् १। आत्मनश्च महाभागा दुःखेनातिप्रपीडिता । सुनीथोवाच- अन्यच्चैव प्रवक्ष्यामि सख्यः शृण्वंतु सांप्रतम् २। मदीयरूपसंपत्ति वयः सगुणसंपदः । विलोक्य तातश्चिंतात्मा संजातो मम कारणात् ३। देवेभ्यो दातुकामोऽसौ मुनिभ्यस्तु महायशाः । मां च हस्ते विगृह्यैव सर्वान्वाक्यमुदाहरत् ४। गुणयुक्ता सुता बाला ममेयं चारुलोचना । दातुकामोस्मि भद्रं वो गुणिने सुमहात्मने ५। मृत्योर्वाक्यं ततो देवा ऋषयः शुश्रुवुस्तदा । तमूचुर्भाषमाणं ते देवा इंद्र पुरोगमाः ६। तव कन्या गुणाढ्येयं शीलानां परमो निधिः । दोषेणैकेन संदुष्टा ऋषिशापेन तेन वै ७। अस्यामुत्पत्स्यते पुत्रो यस्य वीर्यात्पुमान्किल । भविता स महापापी पुण्यवंशविनाशकः ८। गंगातोयेन संपूर्णः कुंभ एव प्रदृश्यते । सुरायाबिन्दुनालिप्तो मद्यकुम्भः प्रजायते ९। पापस्य पापसंसर्गात्कुलं पापि प्रजायते । आरनालस्य वै बिंदुः क्षीरमध्ये प्रयाति चेत् १०। पश्चान्नाशयते क्षीरमात्मरूपं प्रकाशयेत् । तद्वद्विनाशयेद्वंशं पापः पुत्रो न संशयः ११। अनेनापि हि दोषेण तवेयं पापभागिनी । अन्यस्मै दीयतां गच्छ देवैरुक्तः पिता मम १२। देवैश्चापि सगंधर्वैर्ऋषिभिश्च महात्मभिः । तैश्चापि संपरित्यक्तः पिता मे दुःखपीडितः १३। ममान्ये चापि स्वीकारं न कुर्वंति हि सज्जनाः । एवं पापमयं कर्म मया चैव पुरा कृतम् १४। संतप्ता दुःखशोकेन वनमेव समाश्रिता । तप एव चरिष्यामि करिष्ये कायशोषणम् १५। भवतीभिः सुपृष्टाहं कार्यकारणमेव हि । मम चिंतानुगं कर्म मया तद्वः प्रकाशितम् १६। एवमुक्त्वा सुनीथा सा मृत्योः कन्या यशस्विनी । विरराम च दुःखार्ता किंचिन्नोवाच वै पुनः १७। सख्य ऊचुः- दुःखमेव महाभागे त्यज कायविनाशनम् । नास्ति कस्य कुले दोषो देवैः पापं समाश्रितम् १८। जिह्ममुक्तं पुरा तेन ब्रह्मणा हरसंनिधौ । देवैश्चापि स हि त्यक्तो ब्रह्माऽपूज्यतमोऽभवत् १९। ब्रह्महत्या प्रयुक्तोऽसौ देवराजोपि पश्य भोः । देवैः सार्धं महाभागस्त्रैलोक्यं परिभुंजति २०। गौतमस्य प्रियां भार्यामहल्यां गतवान्पुरा । परदाराभिगामी स देवत्वे परिवर्त्तते २१। ब्रह्महत्योपमं कर्म दारुणं कृतवान्हरः । ब्रह्मणस्तु कपालेन चाद्यापि परिवर्तते २२। देवानमंतितं देवमृषयो वेदपारगाः । आदित्यः कुष्ठसंयुक्तस्त्रैलोक्यं च प्रकाशयेत् २३। लोकानमंतितं देवं देवाद्याः सचराचराः । कृष्णो भुंक्ते महाशापं भार्गवेण कृतं पुरा २४। गुरुभार्यांगतश्चंद्रः क्षयी तेन प्रजायते । भविष्यति महातेजा राजराजः प्रतापवान् २५। पांडुपुत्रो महाप्राज्ञो धर्मात्मा स युधिष्ठिरः । गुरोश्चैव वधार्थाय अनृतं स वदिष्यति २६। एतेष्वेव महत्पापं वर्तते च महत्सु च । वैगुण्यं कस्य वै नास्ति कस्य नास्ति च लांछनम् २७। भवती स्वल्पदोषेण विलिप्तासि वरानने । उपकारं करिष्यामस्तवैव वरवर्णिनि २८। तवांगे ये गुणाः संति सत्यस्त्रीणां यथा शुभे । अन्यत्रापि न पश्यामस्तान्गुणांश्चारुलोचने २९। रूपमेव गुणः स्त्रीणां प्रथमं भूषणं शुभे । शीलमेव द्वितीयं च तृतीयं सत्यमेव च ३०। आर्जवत्वं चतुर्थं च पंचमं धर्ममेव हि । मधुरत्वं ततः प्रोक्तं षष्ठमेव वरानने ३१। शुद्धत्वं सप्तमं बाले अंतर्बाह्येषु योषितम् । अष्टमं हि पितुर्भावः शुश्रूषा नवमं किल ३२। सहिष्णुर्दशमं प्रोक्तं रतिश्चैकादशं तथा । पातिव्रत्यं ततः प्रोक्तं द्वादशं वरवर्णिनि ३३। तैस्त्वं संभूषिता बाले मा बिभेषि वरानने । येनोपायेन ते भर्ता भविष्यति सुधर्मधृक् ३४। तमुपायं प्रपश्यामस्तवार्थं वयमेव हि । तामूचुस्ता वराः सख्यो मा त्वं वै साहसं कुरु ३५। सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ता सुनीथा सा पुनरूचे सखीस्तु ताः । कथयध्वं ममोपायं येन भर्ता भविष्यति ३६। तामूचुस्ता वरा नार्यो रंभाद्याश्चारुलोचनाः । रूपमाधुर्यसंयुक्ता भवती भूतिवर्द्धनी ३७। ब्रह्मशापेन संभीता वयमत्र समागताः । तां प्रोचुश्च विशालाक्षीं मृत्योः कन्यां सुलोचनाम् ३८। विद्यामेकां प्रदास्यामः पुरुषाणां प्रमोहिनीम् । सर्वमायाविदां भद्रे सर्वभद्रप्रदायिनीम् ३९। विद्याबलं ततो दद्युस्तस्यैताः सुखदायकम् । यं यं मोहयितुं भद्रे इच्छस्येवं सुरादिकम् ४०। तं तं सद्यो मोहय वा इत्युक्ता सा तथाऽकरोत् । विद्यायां हि सुसिद्धायां सा सुनीथा सुनंदिता ४१। भ्रमत्येवं सखीभिस्तु पुरुषान्सा विपश्यति । अटमानागता पुण्यं नंदनं वनमुत्तमम् ४२। गंगातीरे ततो दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं रूपसंयुतम् । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सूर्यतेजः समप्रभम् ४३। रूपेणाप्रतिमं लोके द्वितीयमिव मन्मथम् । देवरूपं महाभागं भाग्यवंतं सुभाग्यदम् ४४। अनौपम्यं महात्मानं विष्णुतेजः समप्रभम् । वैष्णवं सर्वपापघ्नं विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमम् ४५। कामक्रोधविहीनं तमत्रिवंशविभूषणम् ४६। दृष्ट्वा सुरूपं तपसां स्वरूपं दिव्यप्रभावं परितप्यमानम् । पप्रच्छ रंभां सुसखीं सरागा कोयं दिविष्ठः प्रवरो महात्मा ४७। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ३४।
sūta uvāca- yathā śaptā vane pūrvaṃ suśaṃkhena mahātmanā | tāsu sarvaṃ samākhyātaṃ sakhīṣveva viceṣṭitam 1| ātmanaśca mahābhāgā duḥkhenātiprapīḍitā | sunīthovāca- anyaccaiva pravakṣyāmi sakhyaḥ śṛṇvaṃtu sāṃpratam 2| madīyarūpasaṃpatti vayaḥ saguṇasaṃpadaḥ | vilokya tātaściṃtātmā saṃjāto mama kāraṇāt 3| devebhyo dātukāmo'sau munibhyastu mahāyaśāḥ | māṃ ca haste vigṛhyaiva sarvānvākyamudāharat 4| guṇayuktā sutā bālā mameyaṃ cārulocanā | dātukāmosmi bhadraṃ vo guṇine sumahātmane 5| mṛtyorvākyaṃ tato devā ṛṣayaḥ śuśruvustadā | tamūcurbhāṣamāṇaṃ te devā iṃdra purogamāḥ 6| tava kanyā guṇāḍhyeyaṃ śīlānāṃ paramo nidhiḥ | doṣeṇaikena saṃduṣṭā ṛṣiśāpena tena vai 7| asyāmutpatsyate putro yasya vīryātpumānkila | bhavitā sa mahāpāpī puṇyavaṃśavināśakaḥ 8| gaṃgātoyena saṃpūrṇaḥ kuṃbha eva pradṛśyate | surāyābindunālipto madyakumbhaḥ prajāyate 9| pāpasya pāpasaṃsargātkulaṃ pāpi prajāyate | āranālasya vai biṃduḥ kṣīramadhye prayāti cet 10| paścānnāśayate kṣīramātmarūpaṃ prakāśayet | tadvadvināśayedvaṃśaṃ pāpaḥ putro na saṃśayaḥ 11| anenāpi hi doṣeṇa taveyaṃ pāpabhāginī | anyasmai dīyatāṃ gaccha devairuktaḥ pitā mama 12| devaiścāpi sagaṃdharvairṛṣibhiśca mahātmabhiḥ | taiścāpi saṃparityaktaḥ pitā me duḥkhapīḍitaḥ 13| mamānye cāpi svīkāraṃ na kurvaṃti hi sajjanāḥ | evaṃ pāpamayaṃ karma mayā caiva purā kṛtam 14| saṃtaptā duḥkhaśokena vanameva samāśritā | tapa eva cariṣyāmi kariṣye kāyaśoṣaṇam 15| bhavatībhiḥ supṛṣṭāhaṃ kāryakāraṇameva hi | mama ciṃtānugaṃ karma mayā tadvaḥ prakāśitam 16| evamuktvā sunīthā sā mṛtyoḥ kanyā yaśasvinī | virarāma ca duḥkhārtā kiṃcinnovāca vai punaḥ 17| sakhya ūcuḥ- duḥkhameva mahābhāge tyaja kāyavināśanam | nāsti kasya kule doṣo devaiḥ pāpaṃ samāśritam 18| jihmamuktaṃ purā tena brahmaṇā harasaṃnidhau | devaiścāpi sa hi tyakto brahmā'pūjyatamo'bhavat 19| brahmahatyā prayukto'sau devarājopi paśya bhoḥ | devaiḥ sārdhaṃ mahābhāgastrailokyaṃ paribhuṃjati 20| gautamasya priyāṃ bhāryāmahalyāṃ gatavānpurā | paradārābhigāmī sa devatve parivarttate 21| brahmahatyopamaṃ karma dāruṇaṃ kṛtavānharaḥ | brahmaṇastu kapālena cādyāpi parivartate 22| devānamaṃtitaṃ devamṛṣayo vedapāragāḥ | ādityaḥ kuṣṭhasaṃyuktastrailokyaṃ ca prakāśayet 23| lokānamaṃtitaṃ devaṃ devādyāḥ sacarācarāḥ | kṛṣṇo bhuṃkte mahāśāpaṃ bhārgaveṇa kṛtaṃ purā 24| gurubhāryāṃgataścaṃdraḥ kṣayī tena prajāyate | bhaviṣyati mahātejā rājarājaḥ pratāpavān 25| pāṃḍuputro mahāprājño dharmātmā sa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | guroścaiva vadhārthāya anṛtaṃ sa vadiṣyati 26| eteṣveva mahatpāpaṃ vartate ca mahatsu ca | vaiguṇyaṃ kasya vai nāsti kasya nāsti ca lāṃchanam 27| bhavatī svalpadoṣeṇa viliptāsi varānane | upakāraṃ kariṣyāmastavaiva varavarṇini 28| tavāṃge ye guṇāḥ saṃti satyastrīṇāṃ yathā śubhe | anyatrāpi na paśyāmastānguṇāṃścārulocane 29| rūpameva guṇaḥ strīṇāṃ prathamaṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ śubhe | śīlameva dvitīyaṃ ca tṛtīyaṃ satyameva ca 30| ārjavatvaṃ caturthaṃ ca paṃcamaṃ dharmameva hi | madhuratvaṃ tataḥ proktaṃ ṣaṣṭhameva varānane 31| śuddhatvaṃ saptamaṃ bāle aṃtarbāhyeṣu yoṣitam | aṣṭamaṃ hi piturbhāvaḥ śuśrūṣā navamaṃ kila 32| sahiṣṇurdaśamaṃ proktaṃ ratiścaikādaśaṃ tathā | pātivratyaṃ tataḥ proktaṃ dvādaśaṃ varavarṇini 33| taistvaṃ saṃbhūṣitā bāle mā bibheṣi varānane | yenopāyena te bhartā bhaviṣyati sudharmadhṛk 34| tamupāyaṃ prapaśyāmastavārthaṃ vayameva hi | tāmūcustā varāḥ sakhyo mā tvaṃ vai sāhasaṃ kuru 35| sūta uvāca- evamuktā sunīthā sā punarūce sakhīstu tāḥ | kathayadhvaṃ mamopāyaṃ yena bhartā bhaviṣyati 36| tāmūcustā varā nāryo raṃbhādyāścārulocanāḥ | rūpamādhuryasaṃyuktā bhavatī bhūtivarddhanī 37| brahmaśāpena saṃbhītā vayamatra samāgatāḥ | tāṃ procuśca viśālākṣīṃ mṛtyoḥ kanyāṃ sulocanām 38| vidyāmekāṃ pradāsyāmaḥ puruṣāṇāṃ pramohinīm | sarvamāyāvidāṃ bhadre sarvabhadrapradāyinīm 39| vidyābalaṃ tato dadyustasyaitāḥ sukhadāyakam | yaṃ yaṃ mohayituṃ bhadre icchasyevaṃ surādikam 40| taṃ taṃ sadyo mohaya vā ityuktā sā tathā'karot | vidyāyāṃ hi susiddhāyāṃ sā sunīthā sunaṃditā 41| bhramatyevaṃ sakhībhistu puruṣānsā vipaśyati | aṭamānāgatā puṇyaṃ naṃdanaṃ vanamuttamam 42| gaṃgātīre tato dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇaṃ rūpasaṃyutam | sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannaṃ sūryatejaḥ samaprabham 43| rūpeṇāpratimaṃ loke dvitīyamiva manmatham | devarūpaṃ mahābhāgaṃ bhāgyavaṃtaṃ subhāgyadam 44| anaupamyaṃ mahātmānaṃ viṣṇutejaḥ samaprabham | vaiṣṇavaṃ sarvapāpaghnaṃ viṣṇutulyaparākramam 45| kāmakrodhavihīnaṃ tamatrivaṃśavibhūṣaṇam 46| dṛṣṭvā surūpaṃ tapasāṃ svarūpaṃ divyaprabhāvaṃ paritapyamānam | papraccha raṃbhāṃ susakhīṃ sarāgā koyaṃ diviṣṭhaḥ pravaro mahātmā 47| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe bhūmikhaṃḍe venopākhyāne catustriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 34|
English translation
Sūta said :
1-2a. She, the noble one, who was very much afflicted with grief, told her friends how she was formerly cursed by the magnanimous Suśankha, and all that she did.
Sunīthā said :
2b-5. O friends, listen now; I shall tell you something else. Seeing my wealth of beauty and excellence in age (i. e. youth) and good qualities, my father became worried about me. The very glorious one desired to give me (in marriage) to (one of the) gods or sages. Holding me by the hand, he said these words to them all: “This is my young daughter, full of good qualities and having charming eyes. Well-being to you, I desire to give her (in marriage) to a virtuous and very magnanimous (god or sage).”
6-8. At that time gods and sages heard the words of Mṛtyu . Gods, led by Indra , spoke to him, who was (thus) speaking: “This your daughter is endowed with virtues, and is a great treasure of good character; but she is defiled by one fault, viz. the curse of (i.e. given by) the sage. On her will be born a son, from whose semen a man will be (born) who will be a great sinner and the destroyer of the virtuous family.
9-14. A pitcher that is seen to be full of the water of the Gaṅgā , becomes a pitcher (full) of liquor when polluted with a drop of liquor. Due to the sinful contact of a sinner, the family becomes sinful. If a drop of the sour gruel made from the fermentation of boiled rice would go to (i.e. would get mixed with) milk, it would later destroy (i.e. spoil) the milk and would present its own nature. In the same way a sinful son would destroy the family; there is no doubt about it. This your sinful (daughter) is (soiled) with this blemish. Give her to someone else. (Please) go.” Thus was my father told by gods. My father, afflicted with the grief was abandoned even by the noble gods, Gandharvas and sages; and the good men also did not accept me. Thus formerly I have committed a sinful act.
15-16. Tormented by agony and grief I have just resorted to the forest. I shall practise penance only, and shall wither my body. You have well asked me the effect and the cause. The deed, following my anxiety, has also been disclosed to you.
17. Speaking thus, that Sunīthā , Mṛtyu’s glorious daughter, afflicted with grief, ceased speaking; and then did not say anything.
The friends said :
18-27. O you noble one, give up the grief, destroying your body. There is a blemish in the family of an atheist. (Even) gods have resorted to (i.e. committed) sin. Formerly (even) that Brahma told a lie in the presence of Viṣṇu . That Brahma (though) abandoned by gods, became most adorable. O (you), look at the king of gods (i.e. Indra) who was engaged in killing a brāhmaṇa . The noble one enjoys, along with the gods (the kingdom of) the three worlds. Formerly he went to (i.e. cohabited with) Ahalyā , Gautama ’s wife. He, who was an adulterer, has become the lord (of gods). Hara (i.e. Śiva ) committed a fierce deed like killing a brāhmaṇa. Even now he lives with the skull of Brahma. Gods and sages who have mastered the Vedas salute that god. The Sun, full of (i.e. suffering from) leprosy would illuminate (i.e. illuminates) the three worlds. All the worlds, including the mobile and the immobile, and led by the gods, salute him. Kṛṣṇa enjoys (i.e. suffers from) the curse given formerly by Bhārgava . Candra (i.e. the Moon), who went to (i.e. copulated with) Guru ’s (i.e. Jupiter’s) wife, has become emaciated due to that. There will be (born) a very lustrous, valorous, very intelligent son of Pāṇḍu , viz. Yudhiṣṭhira , the king of kings. For the murder of his teacher, he will tell a lie. Great sin resides in (i.e. is committed by) these great ones. There is no defect in anyone of them nor any stigma.
28-29. O you beautiful one, you are smeared with a small sin. O you of an excellent complexion, we shall oblige you. O you of charming eyes, O you auspicious one, we do not find the qualities which you possess anywhere else (i.e. in any other woman).
30-35a. O you auspicious one, the virtue of beauty is the first ornament of women. The second one is good character; and the third one is truthfulness. The fourth one is honesty; the fifth one is piety itself. Then, O you beautiful one, sweetness is said to be the sixth one. O you young girl; internal and external purity of women is the seventh (ornament). Devotion to the father is the eighth (one). Service (to others) is the ninth one. Tolerance is said to be the tenth one, and love is the eleventh (one). O you of an excellent complexion, loyalty to husband is said to be the twelfth (one). O you young girl, you are adorned with those (ornaments); O you beautiful one, do not get frightened. We shall find out that remedy by which that highly meritorious one will be your husband; for, we are (living) for you only.
35b. The excellent friends said to her: “Do not indulge in a rash act.”
Sūta said :
36. Sunīthā, who was thus addressed, again said to those friends: “Tell me the remedy by which (he) will be my husband.”
37-4la. The excellent ladies of charming eyes, led by Rambhā , said to her: “You are endowed with beauty and sweetness; you would lead (your husband) to prosperity. You were frightened by a brāhmaṇa’s curse. (Therefore) we have come here.” They spoke to that Mṛtyu’s daughter having large and charming eyes: “We shall give you, O good one, an incantation (having the power of) giving all good and alluring men knowing all tricks.” Then these (ladies) gave her the powerful incantation giving happiness. (They said:) “Instantly allure him, whomsoever god (or other) you desire to allure, O good lady.”
41b-46. That Sunīthā, being very happy when well-equipped with the incantation, thus wandered with her friends, and observed men. While wandering she went to Indra’s paradise. (There) on the bank of the Gaṅgā, she then saw the brāhmaṇa, who was the ornament of the Atri -family, who was handsome, who was endowed with all (auspicious) marks, who resembled the sun in lustre, who was matchless in form in the world, who was, as it were, another god of love, who had god-like form, who was noble and fortunate, who bestowed bliss (on others), who had no match, who was magnanimous, who resembled Viṣṇu in lustre, who was a devotee of Viṣṇu, who destroyed all sins, whose valour was like that of Viṣṇu, and who was free from desire and anger.
47. Seeing him, who was handsome, the very form of penance, of a divine prowess, and who was tormenting himself (by austerities), she asked Rambhā, her good friend: “Who is this excellent, magnanimous one, remaining in heaven (i.e. possessing divine qualities)?”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 37676, revision 362545 (2022-11-30T23:57:57Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364241.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.