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Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Unit 179 of 693Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 97Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 971 source entries

Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 97

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सप्तनवतितमोऽध्यायः । कुंजल उवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य तां राजा मुनिना भाषितां तदा । धर्माधर्मगतिं सर्वां तं मुनिं समभाषत १। सुबाहुरुवाच- सोहं धर्मं करिष्यामि सोहं पुण्यं द्विजोत्तम । वासुदेवं जगद्योनिं यजिष्ये नितरां मुने २। होमेन तु जपेनैव पूजयेन्मधुसूदनम् । यष्ट्वा यज्ञं तपस्तप्त्वा विष्णुलोकं स भूपतिः ३। पूजितः सर्वकामैश्च प्राप्तवान्सत्वरं मुदा । गते तस्मिन्महालोके देवदेवं न पश्यति ४। क्षुधा जाता महातीव्रा तृष्णा चाति प्रवर्तते । तयोश्चापि महाप्राज्ञ जीवपीडाकरा बहु ५। राजापि प्रियया सार्द्धं क्षुधातृष्णाप्रपीडितः । न पश्यति हृषीकेशं दुःखेन महतान्वितः ६। सूत उवाच- एवं स दुःखितो राजा प्रियया सह सत्तम । आकुल व्याकुलो जातः पीडितः क्षुधया भृशम् ७। इतश्चेतश्च वेगैश्च धावते वसुधाधिपः । सर्वाभरणशोभांगो वस्त्रचंदनभूषितः ८। पुष्पमालाप्रशोभांगो हारकुंडलकंकणैः । रत्नदीप्तिप्रशोभांगः प्रययौ स महीपतिः ९। एवं दुःखसमाचारः स्तूयमानश्च पाठकैः । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टः स्वप्रियां वाक्यमब्रवीत् १०। विष्णुलोकमहं प्राप्तस्त्वया सह सुशोभने । ऋषिभिः स्तूयमानोपि विमानेनापि भामिनि ११। कर्मणा केन मे चेयं क्षुधातीव प्रवर्द्धते । विष्णुलोकं च संप्राप्य न दृष्टो मधुसूदनः १२। तत्किं हि कारणं भद्रे न भुनज्मि महत्फलम् । कर्मणाथ निजेनापि एतद्दुःखं प्रवर्त्तते १३। सैवं श्रुत्वा च तद्वाक्यं राजानमिदमब्रवीत् १४। भार्योवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वया राजन्नास्ति धर्मस्य वै फलम् । वेदशास्त्रपुराणेषु ये पठंति च ब्राह्मणाः १५। दुःखशोकौ विधूयेह सर्वदोषैः प्रमुच्यते । नामोच्चारेण देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव सुचक्रिणः १६। पुण्यात्मानो महाभागा ध्यायमाना जनार्दनम् । त्वयैवाराधितो देवः शंखचक्रगदाधरः १७। अन्नादिदानं विप्रेभ्यो न प्रदत्तं द्विजोदितम् । फलं तस्य प्रजानामि न दृष्टो मधुसूदनः १८। क्षुधा मे बाधते राजंस्तृष्णा चैव प्रशोषयेत् । कुंजल उवाच- एवमुक्तस्तु प्रियया राजा चिंताकुलेंद्रियः १९। ततो दृष्ट्वा महापुण्यमाश्रमं श्रमनाशनम् । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं तडागैरुपशोभितम् २०। वापीकुंडतडागैश्च पुण्यतोयप्रपूरितैः । हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं कह्लारैरुपशोभितम् २१। आश्रमः शोभते पुत्र मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं मृगव्रातैश्च शोभितम् २२। नानापुष्पसमाकीर्णं हृद्यगंधसमाकुलम् । द्विजसिद्धैः समाकीर्णमृषिशिष्यैः समाकुलम् २३। योगियोगेंद्र संघुष्टं देववृंदैरलंकृतम् । कदलीवनसंबाधैः सुफलैः परिशोभितम् २४। नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वकामसमन्वितम् । श्रीखंडैश्चारुगंधैश्च सुफलैः शोभितं सदा २५। एवं पुण्यं समाकीर्णं ब्रह्मलक्ष्मसमायुतम् । स सुबाहुस्ततो राजा तया सुप्रियया सह २६। प्रविवेश महापुण्यं तद्वनं सर्वकामदम् । भासमानो दिशः सर्वा यत्रास्ते सूर्यसंनिभः २७। राजमानो महादीप्त्या परया सूर्यसंनिभः । योगासनसमारूढो योगपट्टेन संवृतः २८। वामदेवऋषिश्रेष्ठो वैष्णवानां वरस्तथा । ध्यायमानो हृषीकेशं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् २९। वामदेवं महात्मानं तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिसत्तमम् । त्वरं गत्वा प्रणम्यैव स राजा प्रियया सह ३०। वामदेवस्ततो दृष्ट्वा प्रणतं राजसत्तमम् । आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव राजानं प्रिययान्वितम् ३१। उपवेश्यासने पुण्ये सुबाहुं राजसत्तमम् । आसनादि ततः पाद्यैरर्घपूजादिभिस्तथा ३२। मुनिना पूजितो भूपः प्रियया सह चागतः । अथ पप्रच्छ राजानं महाभागवतोत्तमम् ३३। वामदेव उवाच- त्वामहं विष्णुधर्मज्ञं विष्णुभक्तं नरोत्तमम् । जाने ज्ञानेन राजेंद्र दिव्येन चोलभूमिपम् ३४। निरामयश्चागतोसि तार्क्ष्यया भार्यया सह । राजोवाच- निरामयश्चागतोऽस्मि प्राप्तो विष्णोः परं पदम् ३५। मया हि परया भक्त्या देवदेवो जनार्दनः । आराधितो जगन्नाथो भक्तिप्रीतः सुरेश्वरम् ३६। कस्मात्पश्याम्यहं तात न देवं कमलापतिम् । क्षुधा मे बाधते तात तृष्णातीव सुदारुणा ३७। ताभ्यां शांतिं न गच्छाव सुखं विंदाव नैव च । एतन्मेकारणं दुःखं संजातं मुनिसत्तम ३८। तन्मे त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि प्रसादात्सुमुखो भव । वामदेव उवाच- त्वं तु भक्तोसि राजेंद्र श्रीकृष्णस्य सदैव हि ३९। आराधितस्त्वया भक्त्या परया मधुसूदनः । भक्त्योपचारैः स्नानाद्यैर्गंधपुष्पादिभिस्तथा ४०। न पूजितोऽथ नैवेद्यैः फलैश्च जगतांपतिः । दशमीं प्राप्य राजेंद्र त्वयैव च सदा कृतम् ४१। एकभक्तं न दत्तं तु ब्राह्मणाय सुभोजनम् । एकादशीं तु संप्राप्य न कृतं भोजनं त्वया ४२। विष्णुमुद्दिश्य विप्राय न दत्तं भोजनं त्वया । अन्नं चामृतरूपेण पृथिव्यां संस्थितं सदा ४३। अन्नदानं विशेषेण कदा दत्तं न हि त्वया । ओषध्यश्च महाराज नानाभेदास्तु ताः शृणु ४४। कटु तिक्त कषायाश्च मधुराम्लाश्च क्षारकाः । हिंग्वाद्योपस्कराः सर्वे नानारूपाश्च भूपते ४५। अमृताज्जज्ञिरे सर्वा ओषध्यः पुष्टिहेतवः । अन्नमेव सुसंस्कृत्य औषधव्यंजनान्वितम् ४६। देवेभ्यो विष्णुरूपेभ्य इति संकल्प्य दीयते । पितृभ्यो विष्णुरूपेभ्यो हस्ते च ब्राह्मणस्य हि ४७। अतिथिभ्यस्ततो दत्वा परिजनं प्रभोजयेत् । स्वयं तु भुंजते पश्चात्तदन्नममृतोपमम् ४८। प्रेत्य दुःखं न चैवास्ति तस्य सौख्यं तु भूपते । ब्राह्मणाः पितरो देवाः क्षत्ररूपाश्च भूपते ४९। यथा हि कर्षकः कश्चित्सुकृषिं कुरुते सदा । तद्वन्मर्त्यः कृषिं कुर्यात्क्षेत्रे विप्रास्यके नृप ५०। स्वभावलांगलेनापि श्रद्धा शस्त्रेण भेदयेत् । वृषभौ तु मतौ नित्यं बुद्धिश्चैव तपस्तथा ५१। सत्यज्ञानानुभावीशः शुद्धात्मा तु प्रतोदकः । विप्रनाम्नि महाक्षेत्रे नमस्कारैर्विसर्जयेत् ५२। स्फोटयेत्कल्मषं नित्यं कृषिको हि यथा नृप । क्षेत्रस्य उद्यमे युक्तो विष्णुकामः प्रसादयेत् ५३। तद्वद्वाक्यैः शुभैः पुण्यैर्विप्रांश्चापि प्रसादयेत् । पर्वतीर्थाप्तिकालश्च घनरूपोभिवर्षणे ५४। वप्तुकामो भवेत्क्षेत्री ततः क्षेत्रे प्रवापयेत् । तद्वद्भूपप्रसन्नाय विप्राय परिदीयते ५५। क्षेत्रस्य उप्तबीजस्य यथा क्षेत्री प्रभुंजति । फलमेव महाराज तथा दाता भुनक्ति च ५६। प्रेत्य चात्रैव नित्यं च तृप्तो भवति नान्यथा । ब्राह्मणाः पितरो देवाः क्षेत्ररूपा न संशयः ५७। मानवानां महाराज वापिताः प्रददंति च । फलमेवं न संदेहो यादृशं तादृशं ध्रुवम् ५८। कटुकाद्धि न जायेत राजन्मधुर एव च । तद्वच्च मधुराख्याच्च न जायेत्कटुकः पुनः ५९। यादृशं वपते बीजं तादृशं फलमश्नुते । न वापयति यः क्षेत्रं न स भुंजति तत्फलम् ६०। तद्वद्विप्राश्च देवाश्च पितरः क्षेत्ररूपिणः । दर्शयंति फलं राजन्दत्तस्यापि न संशयः ६१। यादृशं हि कृतं कर्म त्वयैव च शुभाशुभम् । तादृशं भुंक्ष्व वै राजन्नन्यथा तन्न जायते ६२। न पुरा देवविप्रेभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च कदाचन । मिष्टान्नपानमेवापि दत्तं सुमनसा तदा ६३। सुभोज्यैर्भोजनैर्मृष्टैर्मधुरैश्चोष्यपेयकैः । सुभक्ष्यैरात्मना भुक्तं कस्मै दत्तं न च त्वया ६४। स्वशरीरं त्वया पुष्टमन्नैरमृतसन्निभैः । यस्मात्कृतं महाराज तस्मात्क्षुधा प्रवर्तते ६५। कर्मैव कारणं राजन्नराणां सुखदुःखयोः । जन्ममृत्य्वोर्महाभाग भुंक्ष्व तत्कर्मणः फलम् ६६। पूर्वेपि च महात्मानो दिवं प्राप्ताः स्वकर्मणा । पुनः प्रयाता भूर्लोकं कर्मणः क्षयकालतः ६७। नलो भगीरथश्चैव विश्वामित्रो युधिष्ठिरः । कर्मणैव हि संप्राप्ताः स्वर्गं राजन्स्वकालतः ६८। दिष्टं हि प्राक्तनं कर्म तेन दुःखं सुखं लभेत् । तदुल्लंघयितुं राजन्कः समर्थोपि हीश्वरः ६९। अथ तस्मान्नृपश्रेष्ठ स्वर्गतस्यापि तेऽभवत् । क्षुत्तृष्णासंभवो वेगस्ततो दुष्टं हि कर्म ते ७०। यदि ते क्षुत्प्रतीकारो ह्यभीष्टो नृपसत्तम । तद्गत्वा भुंक्ष्व कायं स्वमानंदारण्यसंस्थितम् ७१। तव चेयं महाराज्ञी क्षुत्क्षामातीव दृश्यते । सुबाहुरुवाच- कियत्कालमिदं कर्म कर्तव्यं प्रियया सह ७२। तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभागानुग्रहो दृश्यते कदा । कस्य दानेन किं पुण्यं द्रव्यस्य मुनिसत्तम ७३। तत्प्रब्रूहि महाप्राज्ञ यदि तुष्टोसि सांप्रतम् । वामदेव उवाच- अन्नदानान्महासौख्यमुदकस्य महामते ७४। भुंजंति मर्त्याः स्वर्गं वै पीड्यंते नैव पातकैः । यदा दानं न दत्तं तु भवेदपि हि मानवैः ७५। मृत्युकालेपि संप्राप्ते दानं सर्वे ददंति च । आदावेव प्रदातव्यमन्नं चोदकसंयुतम् ७६। सुच्छत्रोपानहौ दद्याज्जलपात्रं सुशोभनम् । भूमिं सुकांचनं धेनुमष्टौ दानानि योऽर्पयेत् ७७। स्वर्गे न जायते तस्य क्षुधातृष्णादिसंभवः । क्षुधा न बाधते राजन्नन्नदानात्स तृप्तिमान् ७८। तृष्णा तीव्रा नहि स्याद्वै तृप्तो भवति सर्वदा । पादुकायाः प्रदानेन च्छत्रदानेन भूपते ७९। छायामाप्नोति दाता वै वाहनं च नृपोत्तम । उपानहप्रदानेन अन्यदेवं वदाम्यहम् ८०। भूमिदानान्महाभाग सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात् । गोदानेन महाराज रसैः पुष्टो भवेत्सदा ८१। सर्वान्भोगान्प्रभुंजानः स्वर्गलोके वसेन्नरः । तृप्तो भवति वै दाता गोदानेन न संशयः ८२। नीरुजः सुखसंपन्नः संतुष्टस्तु धनान्वितः । कांचनेन सुवर्णस्तु जायते नात्र संशयः ८३। श्रीमांश्च रूपवांस्त्यागी रत्नभोक्ता भवेन्नरः । मृत्युकाले तु संप्राप्ते तिलदानं प्रयच्छति ८४। सर्वभोगपतिर्भूत्वा विष्णुलोकं प्रयाति सः । एवं दानविशेषेण प्राप्यते परमं सुखम् ८५। गोदानं भूमिदानं तु अन्नोदके च वै त्वया । जीवमानेन राजेंद्र न दत्तं ब्राह्मणाय वै ८६। मृत्युकालेपि नो दत्तं तस्मात्क्षुधा प्रवर्तते । एतत्ते कारणं प्रोक्तं जातं कर्मवशानुगम् ८७। यादृशं तु कृतं कर्म तादृशं परिभुज्यते । सुबाहुरुवाच- कथं क्षुधा प्रशांतिं मे प्रयाति मुनिसत्तम ८८। अनया शोषितः कायो ह्यतीव परिदूयते । क्षुधां प्रति द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रायश्चित्तं वदस्व नौः ८९। कर्मणश्चास्यघोरस्य यथा शांतिर्भवेन्मम । वामदेव उवाच- प्रायश्चित्तं न चैवास्ति ऋतेभोगान्नृपोत्तम ९०। कर्मणोस्य फलं सर्वं भवान्स्वस्थः प्रभोक्ष्यति । यत्र ते पतितः कायः प्रियायाश्चैव भूपते ९१। युवाभ्यां हि प्रगंतव्यमितश्चैव न संशयः । उभाभ्यामपि भोक्तव्यं कायमक्षयमेव तत् ९२। स्वंस्वं राजन्न संदेहस्त्वया वै प्रियया सह । राजोवाच- कियत्कालं प्रभोक्तव्यं मयैवं प्रियया सह ९३। तदादिश महाभाग प्रमाणं तद्वचो मम । वामदेव उवाच- वासुदेव महास्तोत्रं महापातकनाशनम् ९४। यदा त्वं श्रोष्यसे पुण्यं तदा मोक्षं प्रयास्यसि । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं गच्छ राजन्प्रभुंक्ष्वहि ९५। एवं श्रुत्वा ततो राजा भार्यया सह वै पुनः । स्वशरीरस्य वै मांसं भक्षते प्रियया सह ९६। नित्यमेव महाप्राज्ञ तद्वत्पूर्णं भवेद्वपुः । नित्यं प्रभक्षते राजा राज्ञी तस्य च पुत्रक ९७। यथायथा च राजा च भक्षते च कलेवरम् । हसेते वै सदा नार्यौ तयोर्भावं वदाम्यहम् ९८। प्रज्ञा सार्द्धं महासाध्वी चरित्रं तस्य भूपतेः । हास्यं हि कुरुते नित्यं तस्य श्रद्धानपायिनी ९९। प्रज्ञया प्रेर्यमाणेन न दत्तं श्रद्धयान्वितम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यः सुसंकल्प्य अन्नमुद्दिश्य वैष्णवे १००। एवं स भक्षते मांसं स्वस्य कायस्य नित्यदा । योषिदप्यात्मकायं च रसैश्चामृतसन्निभैः १०१। ततो वर्षशतांते तु वामदेवं महामुनिम् । स्मृत्वा स गर्हयामास आत्मानं प्रति सुव्रत १०२। न दत्तं पितृदेवेभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः कदा मया । न दत्तमतिथिभ्यो हि वृद्धेभ्यश्च विशेषतः १०३। दीनेभ्यो हि न दत्तं च कृपया चातुराय च । एवं स भुंक्ते स्वं मांसं गर्हयन्स्वीय कर्म च १०४। एवं स्वमांसं भुंजानं सुबाहुं प्रियया सह । हसेते च तदा दृष्ट्वा प्रज्ञा श्रद्धा च द्वे स्त्रियौ १०५। तस्य कर्मविपाकस्य शुभात्मा हसते नृप । मम संगप्रसंगेन न दत्तं पापचेतन १०६। प्रज्ञा च वचनैस्तैस्तु राजानं हसते पुनः । क्वगतोसौ महामोहो येन त्वं मोहितो नृप १०७। लोभेन मोहयुक्तेन तमोगर्ते निपात्यते । तत्रापतित्वा मामैव पतितं दुःखसंकटे १०८। दानमार्गं परित्यज्य लोभमार्गं गतो नृप । भार्यया सह भुंक्ष्व त्वं व्यापितः क्षुधया भृशम् १०९। एवं तं हसते प्रज्ञा सुबाहुं प्रिययान्वितम् । एतद्धि कारणं सर्वं तयोर्हासस्य पुत्रक ११०। भक्ष्यमाणस्य भूपस्य देहं स्वं दुःखिते तदा । ऊचतुर्देहिदेहीति याच्यमानः सदैव हि १११। क्षुधातृष्णामहाप्राज्ञ भीमरूपे भयानके । पयसा मिश्रितं भक्षं याचेते नृपतीश्वरम् ११२। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्त्वया परिपृच्छितम् । अन्यत्किं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तद्वदस्व महामते ११३। विज्वल उवाच- वासुदेवाभिधानं तत्स्तोत्रं कथय मे पितः । येन मोक्षं व्रजेद्राजा तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ११४। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे सप्तनवतितमोऽध्यायः ९७।

saptanavatitamo'dhyāyaḥ | kuṃjala uvāca- evamākarṇya tāṃ rājā muninā bhāṣitāṃ tadā | dharmādharmagatiṃ sarvāṃ taṃ muniṃ samabhāṣata 1| subāhuruvāca- sohaṃ dharmaṃ kariṣyāmi sohaṃ puṇyaṃ dvijottama | vāsudevaṃ jagadyoniṃ yajiṣye nitarāṃ mune 2| homena tu japenaiva pūjayenmadhusūdanam | yaṣṭvā yajñaṃ tapastaptvā viṣṇulokaṃ sa bhūpatiḥ 3| pūjitaḥ sarvakāmaiśca prāptavānsatvaraṃ mudā | gate tasminmahāloke devadevaṃ na paśyati 4| kṣudhā jātā mahātīvrā tṛṣṇā cāti pravartate | tayoścāpi mahāprājña jīvapīḍākarā bahu 5| rājāpi priyayā sārddhaṃ kṣudhātṛṣṇāprapīḍitaḥ | na paśyati hṛṣīkeśaṃ duḥkhena mahatānvitaḥ 6| sūta uvāca- evaṃ sa duḥkhito rājā priyayā saha sattama | ākula vyākulo jātaḥ pīḍitaḥ kṣudhayā bhṛśam 7| itaścetaśca vegaiśca dhāvate vasudhādhipaḥ | sarvābharaṇaśobhāṃgo vastracaṃdanabhūṣitaḥ 8| puṣpamālāpraśobhāṃgo hārakuṃḍalakaṃkaṇaiḥ | ratnadīptipraśobhāṃgaḥ prayayau sa mahīpatiḥ 9| evaṃ duḥkhasamācāraḥ stūyamānaśca pāṭhakaiḥ | duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭaḥ svapriyāṃ vākyamabravīt 10| viṣṇulokamahaṃ prāptastvayā saha suśobhane | ṛṣibhiḥ stūyamānopi vimānenāpi bhāmini 11| karmaṇā kena me ceyaṃ kṣudhātīva pravarddhate | viṣṇulokaṃ ca saṃprāpya na dṛṣṭo madhusūdanaḥ 12| tatkiṃ hi kāraṇaṃ bhadre na bhunajmi mahatphalam | karmaṇātha nijenāpi etadduḥkhaṃ pravarttate 13| saivaṃ śrutvā ca tadvākyaṃ rājānamidamabravīt 14| bhāryovāca- satyamuktaṃ tvayā rājannāsti dharmasya vai phalam | vedaśāstrapurāṇeṣu ye paṭhaṃti ca brāhmaṇāḥ 15| duḥkhaśokau vidhūyeha sarvadoṣaiḥ pramucyate | nāmoccāreṇa devasya viṣṇoścaiva sucakriṇaḥ 16| puṇyātmāno mahābhāgā dhyāyamānā janārdanam | tvayaivārādhito devaḥ śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ 17| annādidānaṃ viprebhyo na pradattaṃ dvijoditam | phalaṃ tasya prajānāmi na dṛṣṭo madhusūdanaḥ 18| kṣudhā me bādhate rājaṃstṛṣṇā caiva praśoṣayet | kuṃjala uvāca- evamuktastu priyayā rājā ciṃtākuleṃdriyaḥ 19| tato dṛṣṭvā mahāpuṇyamāśramaṃ śramanāśanam | divyavṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ taḍāgairupaśobhitam 20| vāpīkuṃḍataḍāgaiśca puṇyatoyaprapūritaiḥ | haṃsakāraṃḍavākīrṇaṃ kahlārairupaśobhitam 21| āśramaḥ śobhate putra munibhistattvavedibhiḥ | divyavṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ mṛgavrātaiśca śobhitam 22| nānāpuṣpasamākīrṇaṃ hṛdyagaṃdhasamākulam | dvijasiddhaiḥ samākīrṇamṛṣiśiṣyaiḥ samākulam 23| yogiyogeṃdra saṃghuṣṭaṃ devavṛṃdairalaṃkṛtam | kadalīvanasaṃbādhaiḥ suphalaiḥ pariśobhitam 24| nānāvṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ sarvakāmasamanvitam | śrīkhaṃḍaiścārugaṃdhaiśca suphalaiḥ śobhitaṃ sadā 25| evaṃ puṇyaṃ samākīrṇaṃ brahmalakṣmasamāyutam | sa subāhustato rājā tayā supriyayā saha 26| praviveśa mahāpuṇyaṃ tadvanaṃ sarvakāmadam | bhāsamāno diśaḥ sarvā yatrāste sūryasaṃnibhaḥ 27| rājamāno mahādīptyā parayā sūryasaṃnibhaḥ | yogāsanasamārūḍho yogapaṭṭena saṃvṛtaḥ 28| vāmadevaṛṣiśreṣṭho vaiṣṇavānāṃ varastathā | dhyāyamāno hṛṣīkeśaṃ bhuktimuktipradāyakam 29| vāmadevaṃ mahātmānaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā munisattamam | tvaraṃ gatvā praṇamyaiva sa rājā priyayā saha 30| vāmadevastato dṛṣṭvā praṇataṃ rājasattamam | āśīrbhirabhinaṃdyaiva rājānaṃ priyayānvitam 31| upaveśyāsane puṇye subāhuṃ rājasattamam | āsanādi tataḥ pādyairarghapūjādibhistathā 32| muninā pūjito bhūpaḥ priyayā saha cāgataḥ | atha papraccha rājānaṃ mahābhāgavatottamam 33| vāmadeva uvāca- tvāmahaṃ viṣṇudharmajñaṃ viṣṇubhaktaṃ narottamam | jāne jñānena rājeṃdra divyena colabhūmipam 34| nirāmayaścāgatosi tārkṣyayā bhāryayā saha | rājovāca- nirāmayaścāgato'smi prāpto viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam 35| mayā hi parayā bhaktyā devadevo janārdanaḥ | ārādhito jagannātho bhaktiprītaḥ sureśvaram 36| kasmātpaśyāmyahaṃ tāta na devaṃ kamalāpatim | kṣudhā me bādhate tāta tṛṣṇātīva sudāruṇā 37| tābhyāṃ śāṃtiṃ na gacchāva sukhaṃ viṃdāva naiva ca | etanmekāraṇaṃ duḥkhaṃ saṃjātaṃ munisattama 38| tanme tvaṃ kāraṇaṃ brūhi prasādātsumukho bhava | vāmadeva uvāca- tvaṃ tu bhaktosi rājeṃdra śrīkṛṣṇasya sadaiva hi 39| ārādhitastvayā bhaktyā parayā madhusūdanaḥ | bhaktyopacāraiḥ snānādyairgaṃdhapuṣpādibhistathā 40| na pūjito'tha naivedyaiḥ phalaiśca jagatāṃpatiḥ | daśamīṃ prāpya rājeṃdra tvayaiva ca sadā kṛtam 41| ekabhaktaṃ na dattaṃ tu brāhmaṇāya subhojanam | ekādaśīṃ tu saṃprāpya na kṛtaṃ bhojanaṃ tvayā 42| viṣṇumuddiśya viprāya na dattaṃ bhojanaṃ tvayā | annaṃ cāmṛtarūpeṇa pṛthivyāṃ saṃsthitaṃ sadā 43| annadānaṃ viśeṣeṇa kadā dattaṃ na hi tvayā | oṣadhyaśca mahārāja nānābhedāstu tāḥ śṛṇu 44| kaṭu tikta kaṣāyāśca madhurāmlāśca kṣārakāḥ | hiṃgvādyopaskarāḥ sarve nānārūpāśca bhūpate 45| amṛtājjajñire sarvā oṣadhyaḥ puṣṭihetavaḥ | annameva susaṃskṛtya auṣadhavyaṃjanānvitam 46| devebhyo viṣṇurūpebhya iti saṃkalpya dīyate | pitṛbhyo viṣṇurūpebhyo haste ca brāhmaṇasya hi 47| atithibhyastato datvā parijanaṃ prabhojayet | svayaṃ tu bhuṃjate paścāttadannamamṛtopamam 48| pretya duḥkhaṃ na caivāsti tasya saukhyaṃ tu bhūpate | brāhmaṇāḥ pitaro devāḥ kṣatrarūpāśca bhūpate 49| yathā hi karṣakaḥ kaścitsukṛṣiṃ kurute sadā | tadvanmartyaḥ kṛṣiṃ kuryātkṣetre viprāsyake nṛpa 50| svabhāvalāṃgalenāpi śraddhā śastreṇa bhedayet | vṛṣabhau tu matau nityaṃ buddhiścaiva tapastathā 51| satyajñānānubhāvīśaḥ śuddhātmā tu pratodakaḥ | vipranāmni mahākṣetre namaskārairvisarjayet 52| sphoṭayetkalmaṣaṃ nityaṃ kṛṣiko hi yathā nṛpa | kṣetrasya udyame yukto viṣṇukāmaḥ prasādayet 53| tadvadvākyaiḥ śubhaiḥ puṇyairviprāṃścāpi prasādayet | parvatīrthāptikālaśca ghanarūpobhivarṣaṇe 54| vaptukāmo bhavetkṣetrī tataḥ kṣetre pravāpayet | tadvadbhūpaprasannāya viprāya paridīyate 55| kṣetrasya uptabījasya yathā kṣetrī prabhuṃjati | phalameva mahārāja tathā dātā bhunakti ca 56| pretya cātraiva nityaṃ ca tṛpto bhavati nānyathā | brāhmaṇāḥ pitaro devāḥ kṣetrarūpā na saṃśayaḥ 57| mānavānāṃ mahārāja vāpitāḥ pradadaṃti ca | phalamevaṃ na saṃdeho yādṛśaṃ tādṛśaṃ dhruvam 58| kaṭukāddhi na jāyeta rājanmadhura eva ca | tadvacca madhurākhyācca na jāyetkaṭukaḥ punaḥ 59| yādṛśaṃ vapate bījaṃ tādṛśaṃ phalamaśnute | na vāpayati yaḥ kṣetraṃ na sa bhuṃjati tatphalam 60| tadvadviprāśca devāśca pitaraḥ kṣetrarūpiṇaḥ | darśayaṃti phalaṃ rājandattasyāpi na saṃśayaḥ 61| yādṛśaṃ hi kṛtaṃ karma tvayaiva ca śubhāśubham | tādṛśaṃ bhuṃkṣva vai rājannanyathā tanna jāyate 62| na purā devaviprebhyaḥ pitṛbhyaśca kadācana | miṣṭānnapānamevāpi dattaṃ sumanasā tadā 63| subhojyairbhojanairmṛṣṭairmadhuraiścoṣyapeyakaiḥ | subhakṣyairātmanā bhuktaṃ kasmai dattaṃ na ca tvayā 64| svaśarīraṃ tvayā puṣṭamannairamṛtasannibhaiḥ | yasmātkṛtaṃ mahārāja tasmātkṣudhā pravartate 65| karmaiva kāraṇaṃ rājannarāṇāṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ | janmamṛtyvormahābhāga bhuṃkṣva tatkarmaṇaḥ phalam 66| pūrvepi ca mahātmāno divaṃ prāptāḥ svakarmaṇā | punaḥ prayātā bhūrlokaṃ karmaṇaḥ kṣayakālataḥ 67| nalo bhagīrathaścaiva viśvāmitro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | karmaṇaiva hi saṃprāptāḥ svargaṃ rājansvakālataḥ 68| diṣṭaṃ hi prāktanaṃ karma tena duḥkhaṃ sukhaṃ labhet | tadullaṃghayituṃ rājankaḥ samarthopi hīśvaraḥ 69| atha tasmānnṛpaśreṣṭha svargatasyāpi te'bhavat | kṣuttṛṣṇāsaṃbhavo vegastato duṣṭaṃ hi karma te 70| yadi te kṣutpratīkāro hyabhīṣṭo nṛpasattama | tadgatvā bhuṃkṣva kāyaṃ svamānaṃdāraṇyasaṃsthitam 71| tava ceyaṃ mahārājñī kṣutkṣāmātīva dṛśyate | subāhuruvāca- kiyatkālamidaṃ karma kartavyaṃ priyayā saha 72| tanme brūhi mahābhāgānugraho dṛśyate kadā | kasya dānena kiṃ puṇyaṃ dravyasya munisattama 73| tatprabrūhi mahāprājña yadi tuṣṭosi sāṃpratam | vāmadeva uvāca- annadānānmahāsaukhyamudakasya mahāmate 74| bhuṃjaṃti martyāḥ svargaṃ vai pīḍyaṃte naiva pātakaiḥ | yadā dānaṃ na dattaṃ tu bhavedapi hi mānavaiḥ 75| mṛtyukālepi saṃprāpte dānaṃ sarve dadaṃti ca | ādāveva pradātavyamannaṃ codakasaṃyutam 76| succhatropānahau dadyājjalapātraṃ suśobhanam | bhūmiṃ sukāṃcanaṃ dhenumaṣṭau dānāni yo'rpayet 77| svarge na jāyate tasya kṣudhātṛṣṇādisaṃbhavaḥ | kṣudhā na bādhate rājannannadānātsa tṛptimān 78| tṛṣṇā tīvrā nahi syādvai tṛpto bhavati sarvadā | pādukāyāḥ pradānena cchatradānena bhūpate 79| chāyāmāpnoti dātā vai vāhanaṃ ca nṛpottama | upānahapradānena anyadevaṃ vadāmyaham 80| bhūmidānānmahābhāga sarvakāmānavāpnuyāt | godānena mahārāja rasaiḥ puṣṭo bhavetsadā 81| sarvānbhogānprabhuṃjānaḥ svargaloke vasennaraḥ | tṛpto bhavati vai dātā godānena na saṃśayaḥ 82| nīrujaḥ sukhasaṃpannaḥ saṃtuṣṭastu dhanānvitaḥ | kāṃcanena suvarṇastu jāyate nātra saṃśayaḥ 83| śrīmāṃśca rūpavāṃstyāgī ratnabhoktā bhavennaraḥ | mṛtyukāle tu saṃprāpte tiladānaṃ prayacchati 84| sarvabhogapatirbhūtvā viṣṇulokaṃ prayāti saḥ | evaṃ dānaviśeṣeṇa prāpyate paramaṃ sukham 85| godānaṃ bhūmidānaṃ tu annodake ca vai tvayā | jīvamānena rājeṃdra na dattaṃ brāhmaṇāya vai 86| mṛtyukālepi no dattaṃ tasmātkṣudhā pravartate | etatte kāraṇaṃ proktaṃ jātaṃ karmavaśānugam 87| yādṛśaṃ tu kṛtaṃ karma tādṛśaṃ paribhujyate | subāhuruvāca- kathaṃ kṣudhā praśāṃtiṃ me prayāti munisattama 88| anayā śoṣitaḥ kāyo hyatīva paridūyate | kṣudhāṃ prati dvijaśreṣṭha prāyaścittaṃ vadasva nauḥ 89| karmaṇaścāsyaghorasya yathā śāṃtirbhavenmama | vāmadeva uvāca- prāyaścittaṃ na caivāsti ṛtebhogānnṛpottama 90| karmaṇosya phalaṃ sarvaṃ bhavānsvasthaḥ prabhokṣyati | yatra te patitaḥ kāyaḥ priyāyāścaiva bhūpate 91| yuvābhyāṃ hi pragaṃtavyamitaścaiva na saṃśayaḥ | ubhābhyāmapi bhoktavyaṃ kāyamakṣayameva tat 92| svaṃsvaṃ rājanna saṃdehastvayā vai priyayā saha | rājovāca- kiyatkālaṃ prabhoktavyaṃ mayaivaṃ priyayā saha 93| tadādiśa mahābhāga pramāṇaṃ tadvaco mama | vāmadeva uvāca- vāsudeva mahāstotraṃ mahāpātakanāśanam 94| yadā tvaṃ śroṣyase puṇyaṃ tadā mokṣaṃ prayāsyasi | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ gaccha rājanprabhuṃkṣvahi 95| evaṃ śrutvā tato rājā bhāryayā saha vai punaḥ | svaśarīrasya vai māṃsaṃ bhakṣate priyayā saha 96| nityameva mahāprājña tadvatpūrṇaṃ bhavedvapuḥ | nityaṃ prabhakṣate rājā rājñī tasya ca putraka 97| yathāyathā ca rājā ca bhakṣate ca kalevaram | hasete vai sadā nāryau tayorbhāvaṃ vadāmyaham 98| prajñā sārddhaṃ mahāsādhvī caritraṃ tasya bhūpateḥ | hāsyaṃ hi kurute nityaṃ tasya śraddhānapāyinī 99| prajñayā preryamāṇena na dattaṃ śraddhayānvitam | brāhmaṇebhyaḥ susaṃkalpya annamuddiśya vaiṣṇave 100| evaṃ sa bhakṣate māṃsaṃ svasya kāyasya nityadā | yoṣidapyātmakāyaṃ ca rasaiścāmṛtasannibhaiḥ 101| tato varṣaśatāṃte tu vāmadevaṃ mahāmunim | smṛtvā sa garhayāmāsa ātmānaṃ prati suvrata 102| na dattaṃ pitṛdevebhyo brāhmaṇebhyaḥ kadā mayā | na dattamatithibhyo hi vṛddhebhyaśca viśeṣataḥ 103| dīnebhyo hi na dattaṃ ca kṛpayā cāturāya ca | evaṃ sa bhuṃkte svaṃ māṃsaṃ garhayansvīya karma ca 104| evaṃ svamāṃsaṃ bhuṃjānaṃ subāhuṃ priyayā saha | hasete ca tadā dṛṣṭvā prajñā śraddhā ca dve striyau 105| tasya karmavipākasya śubhātmā hasate nṛpa | mama saṃgaprasaṃgena na dattaṃ pāpacetana 106| prajñā ca vacanaistaistu rājānaṃ hasate punaḥ | kvagatosau mahāmoho yena tvaṃ mohito nṛpa 107| lobhena mohayuktena tamogarte nipātyate | tatrāpatitvā māmaiva patitaṃ duḥkhasaṃkaṭe 108| dānamārgaṃ parityajya lobhamārgaṃ gato nṛpa | bhāryayā saha bhuṃkṣva tvaṃ vyāpitaḥ kṣudhayā bhṛśam 109| evaṃ taṃ hasate prajñā subāhuṃ priyayānvitam | etaddhi kāraṇaṃ sarvaṃ tayorhāsasya putraka 110| bhakṣyamāṇasya bhūpasya dehaṃ svaṃ duḥkhite tadā | ūcaturdehidehīti yācyamānaḥ sadaiva hi 111| kṣudhātṛṣṇāmahāprājña bhīmarūpe bhayānake | payasā miśritaṃ bhakṣaṃ yācete nṛpatīśvaram 112| etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yattvayā paripṛcchitam | anyatkiṃ te pravakṣyāmi tadvadasva mahāmate 113| vijvala uvāca- vāsudevābhidhānaṃ tatstotraṃ kathaya me pitaḥ | yena mokṣaṃ vrajedrājā tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam 114| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe bhūmikhaṃḍe venopākhyāne gurutīrthamāhātmye cyavanacaritre saptanavatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 97|

English translation

Kuñjala said :

1. The king, having heard all the result of good and bad conduct as told by the sage at that time, said to the sage:

Subāhu said :

2. O best brāhmaṇa , that I (who am thus advised by you) will practise righteousness; I shall (do) meritorious (acts); O sage, I shall very much worship Vāsudeva (i.e. Viṣṇu ), the source of the world.

3-6. The king would worship (i.e. worshipped) Madhusūdana (i.e. Viṣṇu) by performing sacrifices and muttering prayers. He, having performed a sacrifice, and having practised penance, and being endowed with all desired objects gladly and quickly reached Viṣṇu’s heaven (along with the queen). Having gone there he did not (i.e. could not) see the lord of gods in that great world. Great hunger arose in them, and great thirst proceeded (i.e. they felt extremely hungry and thirsty) which very much troubled their soul. The king too oppressed by hunger and thirst along with his wife and full of great grief did not see Viṣṇu.

Sūta said :

7-14. O best one, the king, along with his wife, was thus very much grieved, was perturbed and perplexed and was very much oppressed by hunger. That lord of the earth, speedily ran hither and thither. That king, with his entire body adorned with ornaments, decorated with garments and sandal (-paste applied to his body), with his body (looking) lovely on account of garlands of flowers, and with necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, and with his limbs (looking) elegant due to the lustre of jewels, moved. Thus, proceeding unhappily, being praised by bards, and full of sorrow and affliction he said (these) words to his wife: “O you very auspicious one, O you beautiful lady, being praised by the sages, I have, along with you, reached Viṣṇu’s heaven in an aeroplane. Due to which act (of mine) great hunger springs (in me); and (even) after having reached Viṣṇu’s world I have not seen (i.e. I have not been able to see) Madhusūdana (i.e. Viṣṇu). O good one, what (then) is the cause due to which I am not enjoying the great fruit(of my good deeds)? This unhappiness has arisen due to (my) own deeds.” Having thus heard his words, she said to the king:

The wife said :

15-19a. O king, you have said the truth. There is no fruit of good conduct, (though) the meritorious and noble brāhmaṇas declare in the Vedas , sacred texts and Purāṇas that a man merely by the utterance of the names of Viṣṇu, the holder of the good (i.e. powerful) disc, casts off his grief and affliction, and becomes free from all blemishes. You did propitiate the god, the holder of the conch, disc, and mace; but you did not give food to brāhm aṇas, as told by them. I understand that its fruit is that you have not seen (i.e. you could not see) Viṣṇu. O king, hunger is troubling me; thirst also would dry me up.

Kuñjala said :

19b-26a. Thus addressed by his wife, the king had his senses confounded due to anxiety. Then he saw a holy hermitage, which removed fatigue, which was crowded with divine trees, which looked beautiful with lakes, and with wells, pools and tanks full of holy water,which was crowded with swans and ducks and which looked charming with white lotuses. O son, the hermitage was splendid by the presence of philosopher-sages. (He saw) the hermitage, which was crowdel with divine trees and which looked beautiful with herds of deer. It was abounding in various flowers; it was full of agreeable fragrance; it was crowded with brāhmaṇas and siddhas ; it was full of the disciples of sages; it was adorned with hosts of gods; it looked beautiful with throngs of the clusters of plantain trees having abundant fruits. It was full of many kinds of trees and was endowed with all desired objects; it was always beautiful with sandal (trees) having pleasing fragrance and with fruits.

26b-33. That king Subāhu entered with his wife that very meritorious forest satisfying desires, which was thus full of merit and had the characteristics of austerity. There was the best sage Vāmadeva , the best among the devotees of Viṣṇu, brightening all the directions like the sun, shining like the sun with very great lustre, sitting in a posture suited to profound and abstract meditation and covered with a cloth used at the time of profound and abstract meditation, and meditating upon Viṣṇu, the giver of enjoyments and salvation. Having seen that noble Vāmadeva, the best of the sages, he quickly went with his wife to him, and saluted him. Then Vāmadeva having seen the best king bent before him, having greeted the king accompanied by his wife with blessings, seated the best Subāhu on an auspicious seat and the sage (thus) honoured the king that had arrived with his wife, with a seat etc., (honoured him) by giving him water for washing his feet and respectful offerings. Then the great devotee of Viṣṇu asked the king:

Vāmadeva said :

34-35a. O lord of kings, by means of my divine knowledge I know you to be knowing the Vaiṣṇava practices, to be a devotee of Viṣṇu and to be the best man, and to be the lord of Cola . You, the guileless one, have come here with your wife Tārkṣyā.

The king said :

35b-39a. I, the guileless one, have come here, and have reached the highest place of Viṣṇu. With great devotion I have propitiated Viṣṇu, the god of gods, the lord of the world, who is pleased with devotion. O father, why do I not see the lord of gods, the husband of Kamalā (i.e. Lakṣmī )? Hunger is troubling me, so also very poignant thirst (is troubling me), O father. Due to them we two (i.e. my wife and I) are not obtaining peace and are not at all having happiness. O best sage, this is the cause of my unhappiness. Do me a favour and be well disposed (and) tell me the cause (of this).

Vāmadeva said :

39b-51 a. O lord of kings, you are always devoted to Śrīkṛṣṇa . With great devotion you have propitiated Viṣṇu by means of devoted service, by bathing (his idol) and by means of sandal, flowers etc. also. (But) you have not honoured the lord of the worlds with offerings of eatables and fruits. When you reached the tenth day (of the month, i.e. when the tenth day arrived) you have always done (this viz.) you have not given identical good food to brāhmaṇas. Having reached the eleventh day (i.e. when the eleventh day came), you did not take food. You did not give food to a brāhmaṇa, dedicating it to Viṣṇu. Food always remains in the form of nectar on the earth. Especially you have never made a present of food. O king, herbs are of various kinds. Listen to them: (They are) bitter, pungent, astringent, sweet, sour and saline; there are condiments like Asafoetida, and they are of various forms, O king. All herbs causing nourishment have sprung up from nectar. Food alone, after consecrating it with Vedic hymns, and accompanied by herbal sauces is given with an intention of dedicating it to gods in the form of Viṣṇu and the manes in the form of Viṣṇu, into the hand of a brāhmaṇa. Then after giving it to the guests one should feed his attendants. Mter that he himself eats the food resembling nectar. O king, he has no grief after death, but has happiness. O king, brāhmaṇas are manes, and gods have the form of kṣatriyas . O king, as a farmer always carries on good agriculture, in the same way a man should do agriculture in the field of the mouth of a brāhmaṇa. He should cleave it with the plough of his innate disposition and with the weapon of faith.

51b-54. Similarly intellect and penance are always looked upon as the bulls. His truthfulness, knowledge and prowess are the controller and his pure soul is the whip. He should give it up with salutations into the great field in the form of a brāhmaṇa, O king, as a farmer, engaged in an assiduous effort in farming, cleaves, dirt, in the same way, one who desires (to reach) Viṣṇu should propitiate (him). Similarly with good, meritorious words he should please brāhmaṇas also.

55-60. O king, as a farmer desiring to sow (seeds) when the cloud showers would sow (seeds), in the same way on a parvan day or at a holy place (a present) is given to a brāhmaṇa who is pleased. O great king, as a farmer enjoys the fruit of the seed sown by him, similarly a giver enjoys the fruit (of the gift given by him). He always becomes satisfied after death (i.e. in the next world) and here (i.e. in this world) (by giving a gift and) not in any other way. Brāhmaṇas are manes and gods are of the nature of fields; there is no doubt about this. So when presents are offered to them in a sacrifice, they certainly give fruits of that nature. There is no doubt about this. O king, sweet things would not spring from bitter ones; in the same way bitter things would not be produced from the ones that are known as sweet. One gets the fruit as one sows the seed. He who does not sow (seeds in) the field, does not get its fruit.

61-65. Similarly, O king, brāhmaṇas, gods and manes of the nature of a field, present the fruit of what is given. There is no doubt about it. O king, enjoy (the fruit of) your good or bad deeds in the same manner as you have done them. That cannot be otherwise. Formerly you never gave with a good mind (i.e. sincerely) sweet food and drink. You yourself enjoyed good purified eatables, food, articles of food that are sucked and drinks and (other) articles of food; but you never gave these (to brāhmaṇas etc.). You nourished your own body with food resembling nectar. O great king, since you did (this), therefore hunger has been produced (in you).

66-72a. O king, (one’s) deeds are the cause of (one’s) happiness and unhappiness, (so also) of one’s birth and death. O illustrious one, enjoy the fruit of those deeds. Formerly also noble souls reached heaven due to their deeds. After the exhaustion of (the fruit of) the deeds according to their destiny, they have again gone to (i.e. born on) the earth. Nala , Bhagīratha , so also Viśvāmitra and Yudhiṣṭhira obtained (i.e. reached) heaven by means of their deeds according to their destiny. The former deeds are destined to bear fruit; and due to them one would get happiness or unhappiness. O king, which lord (even) is able to resist it? Therefore, O greatest king, you had the affliction due to hunger and thirst, even though you have come to heaven. Therefore, (it is presumed that) your deeds were bad. If, O best king, you desire to satisfy your hunger, then go and eat your own body lying in the Ānanda forest. This your great queen also seems to be very much emaciated due to hunger.

Subāhu said :

72b-74a. O glorious one, how long have I to do that act along with my wife? (Please) tell me that. When will the grace of (Viṣṇu) be perceived? O best sage, which religious merit would be obtained by giving which gift? O you highly intelligent one, tell me that if you are pleased now.

Vāmadeva said :

74b-87a. O you very intelligent one, great happiness is obtained by the gift of food (and) of water. Mortals enjoy heaven and are not at all harassed by their sins. When men might not have given gifts (during their life-time), all (men) give gifts at the time of death. (Therefore) right from the first (a man) should give food with water. He who would offer (these) eight (kinds of) gifts (like) a good umbrella, shoes, a good vessel for (storing) water, land, pure gold, does not feel hungry or thirsty etc. in heaven. O king, by giving food hunger does not oppress (the giver, since) he is satisfied. His thirst is not acute, (since) he is fully satisfied. O king, the giver by giving the gifts of sandals and an umbrella obtains shade, and by giving shoes he obtains a vehicle, O best king. Thus I am telling something else. O noble one, by giving the gift of land he would obtain all his desired objects. O great king, by giving a cow one would always prosper with desires (i.e. desired objects). The man enjoying all pleasures would live in heaven. There is no doubt that the giver (of a cow) becomes satisfied by giving a cow. He is free from diseases, is endowed with pleasures, is content, and possesses wealth. Due to the gift of gold he becomes (a man) of good complexion; there is no doubt about it. A man would become rich, handsome, heroic, and enjoyer of gems. He who gives sesamum seeds when the time of death has come, becomes the lord of all enjoyments and goes to Viṣṇu’s world. Thus by special gifts great happiness in obtained. O lord of kings, when you were alive, you did not give a cow (or) land (or) food and water to a brāhmaṇa. You did not give (any of these objects) even at the time of death. Therefore hunger has arisen in you.

87b-88a. Thus I have told you the cause that arose due to your deeds. As a deed is done so it (i.e. its fruit) is enjoyed.

Subāhu said :

88b-90a. O best sage, how will my hunger be satiated? My body, parched up with it is extremely afflicted. O best brāhmaṇa, tell us too about our hunger and about the atonement for our terrible deeds, so that I shall have peace.

Vāmadeva said :

90b-93a. O best king, there is no other atonement than eating (your own bodies). Relying on your own exertions you will enjoy all the fruit of these deeds. O king, from here you should go (there) where your body fell, so also of your wife. There is no doubt about it. O king, both of you, you and your wife, should eat up your own inexhaustible body. There is no doubt about this.

The king said :

93b-94a. O noble one, advise me about the measure (i.e. the length of) time as to how long I, with my wife, have to eat (up our own bodies).

Vāmadeva said :

94b-95. When you will hear the great hymn (in honour) of Vāsudeva, destroying great sins, you will obtain meritorious salvation. O king, I have told you all this. Go and eat up (your own body).

96-113. Hearing (the words) like this, the king, along with his wife ate up the flesh of his own body. Everyday like that (i.e. as already told) the body again would become (i.e. became) full, O very intelligent one. O son, the king and the queen ate up (the flesh) of their (own bodies). As the king went on eating (his own) body, the two ladies laughed. I shall tell you about their temperament. With ( Śraddhā ) very chaste Prajñā laughed at the behaviour of the king. The imperishable Śraddhā (also) always laughed at him. Being urged by Prajñā, you did not give with reverence food to brāhmaṇas after dedicating it to Viṣṇu. In this way (the king) everyday ate up the flesh of his own body. His wife also ate up her own body with nectar-like taste. O you of a good vow, then at the end of a hundred years, he, remembering the great sage Vāmadeva, condemned himself. (He said to himself:) ‘I never gave (food) to manes and deities and to brāhmaṇas. I did not give (food) to guests, especially to old ones. I did not, through pity, give (food) to the poor and the weak.’ Thus condemning his deeds, he ate his own flesh. Then seeing Subāhu, along with his wife, eating (their) own flesh, the two ladies— Prājñā and Śraddhā laughed (at them). His pure soul laughed at the fruit of those deeds. (The soul said:) ‘O you of a sinful heart, (even) due to my company and close contact, you did not give (gifts).’ Prajñā also with the words, ‘O king, where has the great folly, by which you were deluded, gone?’ laughed (at him). (A man) is thrown into the ditch of darkness due to greed along with delusion. Having fallen there, you threw me into a painful peril. O king, having left the path of giving gifts you went to the path of greed. Being very much afflicted by hunger eat along with your wife (the flesh of your own body).’ Thus that Prajñā laughed at that Subāhu accompanied by his wife. O son, this is the reason ol their laughing. When, O you very wise one, the king was eating (the flesh), the two, viz. hunger and thirst being pained always begged of him and said: ‘Give (us), give (us the flesh).’ The two asked the lord of kings for food mixed with milk (or water). I have told you all that you had asked me. O you very intelligent one, what else I shall (i.e. should) narrate to you?

Vijvala said :

114. O father, tell me that hymn called (the hymn in honour of) Vāsudeva, by (reciting) which the king would reach salvation—that highest place of Viṣṇu.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 15147, revision 335597 (2022-04-11T11:27:54Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365190.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.