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Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Unit 205 of 693Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 123Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 1231 source entries

Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 123

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सिद्ध उवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि ज्ञानरूपं तवाग्रतः । ज्ञानस्य नास्ति वै देहो हस्तौ पादौ च चक्षुषी १। नासाकर्णौ न ज्ञानस्य नास्ति चैवास्थिसंग्रहः । केन दृष्टं तु वै ज्ञानं कानि लिंगानि तस्य वै २। आकारैर्वर्जितं नित्यं सर्वं वेत्ति स सर्ववित् । दिवाप्रकाशकः सूर्यो रात्रौ प्रकाशयेच्छशी ३। गृहं प्रकाशयेद्दीपो लोकमध्ये स्थिता अमी । तत्पदं केन वै धाम्ना दृश्यते शृणु सत्तम ४। न विंदंति हि मूढास्ते मोहिता विष्णुमायया । कायमध्ये स्थितं ज्ञानं ध्यानदीप्तमनौपमम् ५। तत्पदं तेन दृश्येत चंद्रसूर्यादिभिर्न च । हस्तपादौ विना ज्ञानमचक्षुः कर्णवर्जितम् ६। तस्य सर्वत्र गतिरस्ति सर्वं गृह्णाति पश्यति । सर्वमाघ्राति विप्रेंद्र शृणोत्येवं न संशयः ७। नास्ति ज्ञानसमो दीपः सर्वांधकारनाशने । स्वर्गे भूमौ च पाताले स्थाने स्थाने च दृश्यते ८। कायमध्ये स्थितं ज्ञानं न विंदंति कुबुद्धयः । ज्ञानस्थानं प्रवक्ष्यामि यस्माज्ज्ञानं प्रजायते ९। प्राणिनां हृदये नित्यं निहितं सर्वदा द्विज । कामादीन्सुमहाभोगान्महामोहादिकांस्तथा १०। विवेकवह्निना सर्वान्दिधक्षति सदैव यः । सर्वशांतिमयोभूत्वा इंद्रियार्थं प्रमर्द्दयेत् ११। ततस्तु जायते ज्ञानं सर्वतत्त्वार्थदर्शकम् । तत्त्वमूलमिदं ज्ञानं निर्मलं सर्वदर्शकम् १२। तस्माच्छांतिं कुरुष्व त्वं सर्वसौख्यप्रवर्द्धिनीम् । समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च यथात्मनि तथापरे १३। भव स्वनियतो नित्यं जिताहारो जितेंद्रियः । मैत्रं नैव प्रकर्तव्यं वैरं दूरे परित्यजेत् १४। निःसंगो निःस्पृहो भूत्वा एकांतस्थानमाश्रितः । सर्वप्रकाशको ज्ञानी सर्वदर्शी भविष्यसि १५। एकस्थानस्थितो वत्स त्रैलोक्ये यद्भविष्यति । वृत्तांतं वेत्स्यसि त्वं तु मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः १६। कुंजल उवाच- सिद्धेन तेन मे विप्र ज्ञानरूपं प्रकाशितम् । तस्य वाक्ये स्थितो नित्यं तद्भावेनापि भावितः १७। त्रैलोक्ये वर्त्तते यद्यदेकस्थाने स्थितो ह्यहम् । तत्तदेव प्रजानामि प्रसादात्तस्य सद्गुरोः १८। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमात्मवृत्तांतमेव हि । अन्यत्किं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तद्ब्रूहि द्विजसत्तम १९। च्यवन उवाच- कीरयोनिं कथं प्राप्तो भवाञ्ज्ञानवतां वरः । तन्मे त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् २०। कुंजल उवाच- संसर्गाज्जायते पापं संसर्गात्पुण्यमेव हि । तस्माद्विवर्जयेच्छुद्धो भव्यं विरुद्धमेव च २१। लुब्धकेनापि पापेन केनाप्येकः शुकः शिशुः । बंधयित्वा समानीतो विक्रयार्थं समुद्यतः २२। चाटुकांर सुरूपं तं पटुवाक्यं समीक्ष्य च । गृहीतो ब्राह्मणैकेन मम प्रीत्या समर्पितः २३। ज्ञानध्यानस्थितो नित्यमहमेव द्विजोत्तम । समे बालस्वभावेन कौतुकात्करसंस्थितः २४। तस्य कौतुकवाक्यैर्वा मुग्धोऽहं द्विजसत्तम । शुकस्य पुत्ररूपस्य नित्यं तत्परमानसः २५। मामेवं वदते सोपि ताततातेति आस्यताम् । स्नातुं गच्छ महाभाग देवमर्चय सांप्रतम् २६। इत्यादिचाटुकैर्वाक्यैर्मामेवं परिभाषयेत् । तस्यवाक्यविनोदेन विस्मृतं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् २७। पुष्पार्थं फलभोगार्थं गतोहं वनमेव च । नीतः शुको बिडालेन मम दुःखस्य हेतवे २८। मम संसर्गिभिः सर्वैर्वयस्यैः साधुचारिभिः । बिडालेन हतः पक्षी तेनैव भक्षितो हि सः २९। श्रुत्वा मृत्युं गतं विप्र शुकं तं चाटुकारकम् । महता दुःखभावेन असुखेनातिदुःखितः ३०। तस्य दुःखेन मुग्धोस्मि तीव्रेणापि सुपीडितः । महता मोहजालेन बद्धोऽहं द्विजपुंगव ३१। प्रालपं रामचंद्रेति शुकराजेति पंडित । श्लोकराजेति तं विप्र मोहाच्चलितमानसः ३२। ततोऽहं दुःखसंतप्तः संजातः स्वेनकर्मणा । वियोगेनापि विप्रेंद्र शुकस्य शृणु सांप्रतम् ३३। विस्मृतं तन्मया ज्ञानं सिद्धेनापि प्रकाशितम् । संस्मरञ्छोकसंतप्तस्तं शुकं चाटुकारकम् ३४। वत्सवत्सेति नित्यं वै प्रलपञ्छृणु भार्गव । गद्यपद्यमयैर्वाक्यैः संस्कृताक्षरसंयुतैः ३५। त्वां विना कश्च मां वत्स बोधयिष्यति सांप्रतम् । कथाभिस्तु विचित्राभिः पक्षिराजप्रसाद्य माम् ३६। अस्मिन्सुनिर्जनोद्याने विहाय क्व गतो भवान् । केन दोषेण लिप्तोस्मि तन्मे कथय सांप्रतम् ३७। एवंविधैरहं वाक्यैः करुणैस्तैस्तु मोहितः । एवमादि प्रलप्याहं शोकेनापि सुपीडितः ३८। मृतोहं तेन मोहेन तद्भावेनापि मोहितः । मरणे यादृशो भावो मतिश्चासीच्च यादृशी ३९। तादृशेनापि भावेन जातोऽहं द्विजसत्तम । गर्भवासो मया प्राप्तो ज्ञानस्मृतिविधायकः ४०। स्मृतं पूर्वकृतं कर्म स्वयमेव विचेष्टितम् । मया पापेन मूढेन किं कृतं ह्यकृतात्मना ४१। गर्भयोगसमारूढः पुनस्तं चिंतयाम्यहम् । तेन मे निर्मलं ज्ञानं जातं वै सर्वदर्शकम् ४२। गुरोस्तस्य प्रसादाच्च प्राप्तं वै ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । तस्यवाक्योदकैः स्वच्छैः कायस्य मलमेव च ४३। सबाह्याभ्यंतरं विप्र क्षालितं निर्मलं कृतम् । तिर्यक्त्वं च मया प्राप्तं शुकजातिसमुद्भवम् ४४। शुकस्य ध्यानभावेन मरणे समुपस्थिते । तस्मिन्काले मृतो विप्र तद्भावेनापि भावितः ४५। तादृशोऽस्मि पुनर्जातः शुकरूपो महीतले । मरणे यादृशो भावः प्राणिनां परिजायते ४६। तादृशाः स्युस्तु सत्वास्ते तद्रूपास्तत्परायणाः । तद्गुणास्तत्स्वरूपास्ते भावभूता भवंति हि ४७। मृत्यकालस्य विप्रेंद्र भावेनापि न संशयः । अतुलं प्राप्तवाञ्ज्ञानमहमत्र महामते ४८। तेन सर्वं विपश्यामि यद्भूतं यद्भविष्यति । वर्तमानं महाप्राज्ञ ज्ञानेनापि महामते ४९। सर्वं विदाम्यहं ह्यत्र संस्थितोपि न संशयः । तारणाय मनुष्याणां संसारे परिवर्तताम् ५०। नास्ति तीर्थं गुरुसमं बंधच्छेदकरं द्विज । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शृणु भार्गवनंदन ५१। यत्त्वया पृच्छितं विप्र तत्ते सर्वं प्रकाशितम् । स्थलजाच्चोदकात्सर्वं बाह्यं मलं प्रणश्यति ५२। जन्मांतरकृतान्पापान्गुरुतीर्थं प्रणाशयेत् । संसारतारणायैव जंगमं तीर्थमुत्तमम् ५३। विष्णुरुवाच- शुक एवं महाप्राज्ञश्च्यवनाय महात्मने । तत्त्वं प्रकाशयित्वा तु विरराम नृपोत्तम ५४। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं जंगमं तीर्थमुत्तमम् । वरं वरय भद्रं ते यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते ५५। वेन उवाच- नाहं राज्यस्य कामार्थी नान्यत्किंचित्प्रकामये । सदेहो गंतुमिच्छामि तव कायं जनार्दन ५६। एवं वरमहं मन्ये यदि दातुमिहेच्छसि । विष्णुरुवाच- यज त्वमश्वमेधेन राजसूयेन भूपते ५७। गो भू स्वर्णाम्बुधान्यानां कुरु दानं महामते । दानान्नश्यति वै पापं ब्रह्मवध्यादिघोरकम् ५८। चतुर्वर्गस्तु दानेन सिद्ध्यत्येव न संशयः । तस्माद्दानं प्रकर्तव्यं मामुद्दिश्य च भूपते ५९। यादृशेनापि भावेन मामुद्दिश्य ददाति यः । तादृशं तस्य वै भावं सत्यमेवं करोम्यहम् ६०। ऋषीणां दर्शनात्स्पर्शाद्भ्रष्टस्ते पापसंचयः । आगमिष्यसि यज्ञांते मम देहं न संशयः ६१। एवमाभाष्य तं वेनमंतर्द्धानं गतो हरिः ६२।

siddha uvāca- śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi jñānarūpaṃ tavāgrataḥ | jñānasya nāsti vai deho hastau pādau ca cakṣuṣī 1| nāsākarṇau na jñānasya nāsti caivāsthisaṃgrahaḥ | kena dṛṣṭaṃ tu vai jñānaṃ kāni liṃgāni tasya vai 2| ākārairvarjitaṃ nityaṃ sarvaṃ vetti sa sarvavit | divāprakāśakaḥ sūryo rātrau prakāśayecchaśī 3| gṛhaṃ prakāśayeddīpo lokamadhye sthitā amī | tatpadaṃ kena vai dhāmnā dṛśyate śṛṇu sattama 4| na viṃdaṃti hi mūḍhāste mohitā viṣṇumāyayā | kāyamadhye sthitaṃ jñānaṃ dhyānadīptamanaupamam 5| tatpadaṃ tena dṛśyeta caṃdrasūryādibhirna ca | hastapādau vinā jñānamacakṣuḥ karṇavarjitam 6| tasya sarvatra gatirasti sarvaṃ gṛhṇāti paśyati | sarvamāghrāti vipreṃdra śṛṇotyevaṃ na saṃśayaḥ 7| nāsti jñānasamo dīpaḥ sarvāṃdhakāranāśane | svarge bhūmau ca pātāle sthāne sthāne ca dṛśyate 8| kāyamadhye sthitaṃ jñānaṃ na viṃdaṃti kubuddhayaḥ | jñānasthānaṃ pravakṣyāmi yasmājjñānaṃ prajāyate 9| prāṇināṃ hṛdaye nityaṃ nihitaṃ sarvadā dvija | kāmādīnsumahābhogānmahāmohādikāṃstathā 10| vivekavahninā sarvāndidhakṣati sadaiva yaḥ | sarvaśāṃtimayobhūtvā iṃdriyārthaṃ pramarddayet 11| tatastu jāyate jñānaṃ sarvatattvārthadarśakam | tattvamūlamidaṃ jñānaṃ nirmalaṃ sarvadarśakam 12| tasmācchāṃtiṃ kuruṣva tvaṃ sarvasaukhyapravarddhinīm | samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca yathātmani tathāpare 13| bhava svaniyato nityaṃ jitāhāro jiteṃdriyaḥ | maitraṃ naiva prakartavyaṃ vairaṃ dūre parityajet 14| niḥsaṃgo niḥspṛho bhūtvā ekāṃtasthānamāśritaḥ | sarvaprakāśako jñānī sarvadarśī bhaviṣyasi 15| ekasthānasthito vatsa trailokye yadbhaviṣyati | vṛttāṃtaṃ vetsyasi tvaṃ tu matprasādānna saṃśayaḥ 16| kuṃjala uvāca- siddhena tena me vipra jñānarūpaṃ prakāśitam | tasya vākye sthito nityaṃ tadbhāvenāpi bhāvitaḥ 17| trailokye varttate yadyadekasthāne sthito hyaham | tattadeva prajānāmi prasādāttasya sadguroḥ 18| etatte sarvamākhyātamātmavṛttāṃtameva hi | anyatkiṃ te pravakṣyāmi tadbrūhi dvijasattama 19| cyavana uvāca- kīrayoniṃ kathaṃ prāpto bhavāñjñānavatāṃ varaḥ | tanme tvaṃ kāraṇaṃ brūhi sarvasaṃdehanāśanam 20| kuṃjala uvāca- saṃsargājjāyate pāpaṃ saṃsargātpuṇyameva hi | tasmādvivarjayecchuddho bhavyaṃ viruddhameva ca 21| lubdhakenāpi pāpena kenāpyekaḥ śukaḥ śiśuḥ | baṃdhayitvā samānīto vikrayārthaṃ samudyataḥ 22| cāṭukāṃra surūpaṃ taṃ paṭuvākyaṃ samīkṣya ca | gṛhīto brāhmaṇaikena mama prītyā samarpitaḥ 23| jñānadhyānasthito nityamahameva dvijottama | same bālasvabhāvena kautukātkarasaṃsthitaḥ 24| tasya kautukavākyairvā mugdho'haṃ dvijasattama | śukasya putrarūpasya nityaṃ tatparamānasaḥ 25| māmevaṃ vadate sopi tātatāteti āsyatām | snātuṃ gaccha mahābhāga devamarcaya sāṃpratam 26| ityādicāṭukairvākyairmāmevaṃ paribhāṣayet | tasyavākyavinodena vismṛtaṃ jñānamuttamam 27| puṣpārthaṃ phalabhogārthaṃ gatohaṃ vanameva ca | nītaḥ śuko biḍālena mama duḥkhasya hetave 28| mama saṃsargibhiḥ sarvairvayasyaiḥ sādhucāribhiḥ | biḍālena hataḥ pakṣī tenaiva bhakṣito hi saḥ 29| śrutvā mṛtyuṃ gataṃ vipra śukaṃ taṃ cāṭukārakam | mahatā duḥkhabhāvena asukhenātiduḥkhitaḥ 30| tasya duḥkhena mugdhosmi tīvreṇāpi supīḍitaḥ | mahatā mohajālena baddho'haṃ dvijapuṃgava 31| prālapaṃ rāmacaṃdreti śukarājeti paṃḍita | ślokarājeti taṃ vipra mohāccalitamānasaḥ 32| tato'haṃ duḥkhasaṃtaptaḥ saṃjātaḥ svenakarmaṇā | viyogenāpi vipreṃdra śukasya śṛṇu sāṃpratam 33| vismṛtaṃ tanmayā jñānaṃ siddhenāpi prakāśitam | saṃsmarañchokasaṃtaptastaṃ śukaṃ cāṭukārakam 34| vatsavatseti nityaṃ vai pralapañchṛṇu bhārgava | gadyapadyamayairvākyaiḥ saṃskṛtākṣarasaṃyutaiḥ 35| tvāṃ vinā kaśca māṃ vatsa bodhayiṣyati sāṃpratam | kathābhistu vicitrābhiḥ pakṣirājaprasādya mām 36| asminsunirjanodyāne vihāya kva gato bhavān | kena doṣeṇa liptosmi tanme kathaya sāṃpratam 37| evaṃvidhairahaṃ vākyaiḥ karuṇaistaistu mohitaḥ | evamādi pralapyāhaṃ śokenāpi supīḍitaḥ 38| mṛtohaṃ tena mohena tadbhāvenāpi mohitaḥ | maraṇe yādṛśo bhāvo matiścāsīcca yādṛśī 39| tādṛśenāpi bhāvena jāto'haṃ dvijasattama | garbhavāso mayā prāpto jñānasmṛtividhāyakaḥ 40| smṛtaṃ pūrvakṛtaṃ karma svayameva viceṣṭitam | mayā pāpena mūḍhena kiṃ kṛtaṃ hyakṛtātmanā 41| garbhayogasamārūḍhaḥ punastaṃ ciṃtayāmyaham | tena me nirmalaṃ jñānaṃ jātaṃ vai sarvadarśakam 42| gurostasya prasādācca prāptaṃ vai jñānamuttamam | tasyavākyodakaiḥ svacchaiḥ kāyasya malameva ca 43| sabāhyābhyaṃtaraṃ vipra kṣālitaṃ nirmalaṃ kṛtam | tiryaktvaṃ ca mayā prāptaṃ śukajātisamudbhavam 44| śukasya dhyānabhāvena maraṇe samupasthite | tasminkāle mṛto vipra tadbhāvenāpi bhāvitaḥ 45| tādṛśo'smi punarjātaḥ śukarūpo mahītale | maraṇe yādṛśo bhāvaḥ prāṇināṃ parijāyate 46| tādṛśāḥ syustu satvāste tadrūpāstatparāyaṇāḥ | tadguṇāstatsvarūpāste bhāvabhūtā bhavaṃti hi 47| mṛtyakālasya vipreṃdra bhāvenāpi na saṃśayaḥ | atulaṃ prāptavāñjñānamahamatra mahāmate 48| tena sarvaṃ vipaśyāmi yadbhūtaṃ yadbhaviṣyati | vartamānaṃ mahāprājña jñānenāpi mahāmate 49| sarvaṃ vidāmyahaṃ hyatra saṃsthitopi na saṃśayaḥ | tāraṇāya manuṣyāṇāṃ saṃsāre parivartatām 50| nāsti tīrthaṃ gurusamaṃ baṃdhacchedakaraṃ dvija | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ śṛṇu bhārgavanaṃdana 51| yattvayā pṛcchitaṃ vipra tatte sarvaṃ prakāśitam | sthalajāccodakātsarvaṃ bāhyaṃ malaṃ praṇaśyati 52| janmāṃtarakṛtānpāpāngurutīrthaṃ praṇāśayet | saṃsāratāraṇāyaiva jaṃgamaṃ tīrthamuttamam 53| viṣṇuruvāca- śuka evaṃ mahāprājñaścyavanāya mahātmane | tattvaṃ prakāśayitvā tu virarāma nṛpottama 54| etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ jaṃgamaṃ tīrthamuttamam | varaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te yatte manasi varttate 55| vena uvāca- nāhaṃ rājyasya kāmārthī nānyatkiṃcitprakāmaye | sadeho gaṃtumicchāmi tava kāyaṃ janārdana 56| evaṃ varamahaṃ manye yadi dātumihecchasi | viṣṇuruvāca- yaja tvamaśvamedhena rājasūyena bhūpate 57| go bhū svarṇāmbudhānyānāṃ kuru dānaṃ mahāmate | dānānnaśyati vai pāpaṃ brahmavadhyādighorakam 58| caturvargastu dānena siddhyatyeva na saṃśayaḥ | tasmāddānaṃ prakartavyaṃ māmuddiśya ca bhūpate 59| yādṛśenāpi bhāvena māmuddiśya dadāti yaḥ | tādṛśaṃ tasya vai bhāvaṃ satyamevaṃ karomyaham 60| ṛṣīṇāṃ darśanātsparśādbhraṣṭaste pāpasaṃcayaḥ | āgamiṣyasi yajñāṃte mama dehaṃ na saṃśayaḥ 61| evamābhāṣya taṃ venamaṃtarddhānaṃ gato hariḥ 62|

English translation

The siddha said :

1-16. Listen, I shall tell you the nature of knowledge. Knowledge has no body, no hands, no feet, and no eyes. It has no nose, no ears. Knowledge does not have the collection of bones. Who indeed has seen knowledge? What are its characteristic marks? It is without any form, it is eternal. The omniscient one knows everything. The sun illumines by day; the moon illumines at night; a lamp would illumine (i.e. illumines) the house. These remain in the world. O best one, listen, (I shall tell you) by what lustre is that place seen? Fools, deluded by Viṣṇu ’s Māyā do not obtain it. Knowledge remaining in the body is inflamed by concentration and is matchless. That (highest) place will be seen through that (knowledge) and not by means of the moon, the sun etc. Knowledge is without hands and feet. It is eyeless, and is without ears. It moves everywhere. It grasps and sees everything. O best brāhmaṇa , it smells everything; it does hear; there is no doubt about this. There is no lamp like knowledge for the destruction of all darkness (of ignorance). It is seen in the heaven, on the earth, in the nether world—at every place. Those of wicked minds are not conscious of the knowledge that remains in the body. I shall explain to you the place of knowledge, from which knowledge springs up. O brāhmaṇa, it has always been kept in the hearts of beings. He who always desires to bum with the fire of discrimination the great sensual pleasures like sex and great allurements, becoming full of all tranquility, would crush objects of senses. Then would knowledge be born manifesting the full truth. This knowledge has the first principle as its basis; it is spotless and it manifests everything. Therefore have tranquility which enhances all pleasures. Be equanimous towards your enemy and your friend; and always restrict your food and control your senses. You should not form friendship (with anyone); enmity should be cast at a distance. Being without attachment, being desireless, and having resorted to a solitary place, you will possess spiritual knowledge, explaining everything. O child, there is no doubt that by my grace you, remaining at one place, will know the account of what is taking place in the three worlds.

Kuñjala said :

17-19. O brāhmaṇa, that siddha showed me the nature of knowledge. I always remained within his words (i.e. obeyed him).

I am pervaded by his existence. By the favour of that good preceptor, I, (even though) seated at one place, know everything that takes place in the three worlds. I have told you my entire account. O best brāhmaṇa, tell me what else I should tell you.

Cyavana said :

20. How did you, the best among the learned, reach (i.e. get birth in) the species of parrots? Tell me the reason of it that will dispel all my doubt.

Kuñjala said :

21-27. Sin is produced through contact, and also merit is produced through contact. Therefore an honest person should avoid a worthy (person) or the opposite of him. (Once) a sinful hunter had brought a young one of a parrot after catching it. He was eager to sell it. Seeing it to be beautiful and speaking agreeably and cleverly, a brāhmaṇa took (i.e. purchased) it, and affectionately gave it to me. O best brāhmaṇa, everyday I remained in intellectual meditation. Due to its child-like nature it perched on my hand out of curiosity. O you best brāhmaṇa, I, with my mind always set upon the parrot of the form of (i.e. like) my son, was infatuated by its impatient words. It too used to instruct me: “O father, father, (please) be seated; O glorious one, go for a bath; now worship the god.” It would talk to me in such pleasant words. Due to the diversion caused by its words I forgot my excellent knowledge.

28-33. (Once) I went to a forest for (collecting) flowers and enjoying fruits. The bird was taken away by a cat to cause me (i.e. which caused me) grief. I heard from my well-behaved associates living in my company that the bird was killed by a cat and eaten by it only. (Thus) O brāhmaṇa, hearing that the bird talking agreeably was dead I was extremely afflicted with great grief and unhappiness. I was bewildered due to grief on this account and was very much pained. O best brāhmaṇa, I was caught in a great mesh of infatuation. With my mind moved by infatuation I cried: ‘O Rāmacandra , O king of parrots, O lord of celebrity’, O brāhmaṇa. O best brāhmaṇa, now listen: then I became tormented with grief and separation due to my act.

34-38. I forgot the knowledge made clear to me by the siddha also. I, tormented with grief, remembered that parrot speaking agreeably. O Bhārgava , crying like: ‘O child, O child, who, except you, will now advise me with sentences, with well-formed words. O lord of birds, having pleased me with wonderful stories, and abandoned me in this solitary garden, where have you gone? Tell me now by which fault I am stained.’ Being perplexed I lamented with (i.e. uttering) such piteous words, and was very much tormented with grief.

39-42a. Due to that embarassment and deluded by affection for it I died. O best brāhmaṇa, I was born with that temperament and thought with which I died. I was put in the womb which caused knowledge and remembrance (in me). I remembered the former deed done by me—a sinner and a fool. (I thought:) ‘What have I, whose spirit is not disciplined, to do?’ Being in the womb, I thought about it only.

42b-53. Due to that I obtained knowledge which was pure and which manifested everything (to me); and by the grace of that preceptor I got excellent knowledge. O brāhmaṇa, by the clean water of his words the dirt of my body—internal and external—was washed, and it was made pure. I obtained the birth of a bird as a parrot. O brāhmaṇa, when I, thinking of the parrot—thus conceiving thoughts about it (only), died, I was again born on the earth in the form of a parrot. Beings are born with that form, and are intent upon that, have those virtues, that appearance, about which thoughts occur to them at the time of their death. O best brāhmaṇa, O you very intelligent one, there is no doubt that due to the thought at the time of my death I obtained incomparable knowledge here (i.e. in my existence as a parrot). Therefore, I (am able) to see what has taken place and what will happen. There is no doubt that even though I am staying here I know the entire present due to my knowledge. O very wise and very intelligent one. O brāhmaṇa, for the emancipation of human beings moving in the mundane existence there is no holy place cutting the bonds (of karman ) like a preceptor. O Bhārgava, listen; I have told you all this. O Brāhmaṇa, I have explained to you all that you had asked. The holy place (in the form) of a preceptor removes all external dirt from a place on the land or in water. The holy place in the form of a preceptor would destroy sins committed in other (i.e. former) births. This moving holy place (in the form of a preceptor) is excellent.

Viṣṇu said :

54. O best king, that very intelligent parrot, having thus explained the truth to that noble Cyavana , ceased (speaking).

55. I have explained to you this excellent moving holy place (in the form of a preceptor). Well-being to you; ask for a boon that you have in your mind.

Vena said :

56-57a. I do not desire a kingdom; nor do I long for anything (else). O Janārdana (i.e. Viṣṇu), with my body (intact) I desire to reach your body. If you desire to grant a boon I think (you should give me) this boon.

Viṣṇu said :

57b-62. O king, perform a horse sacrifice and Rājasūya sacrifice. O you very intelligent one, make presents of cows, land, gold, water and grains. By making presents a terrible sinlike killing a brāhmaṇa perishes. There is no doubt that by making gifts all the four goals of human life are definitely accomplished. Therefore, O king, presents should be made dedicating them to me. I fulfil the intention of the person with which he gives (presents) dedicating them to me. Due to your having seen the sages and having come in contact with them, the heap of your sins has dropped down. There is no doubt that at the end of the sacrifice you will reach my body.

Speaking thus to that Vena Viṣṇu vanished.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 25208, revision 335692 (2022-04-12T19:16:02Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365216.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.