Brahma-khaṇḍa · Chapter 25
Sourceशौनक उवाच। श्रीपदं विष्णुचरितं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् । सर्वपापक्षयकरं दुष्टग्रहनिवारणम् १। विष्णुसान्निध्यदं चैव चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम् । यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या चांते याति हरेर्गृहम् २। नामोच्चारणमाहात्म्यं श्रूयते महदद्भुतम् । यदुच्चारणमात्रेण नरो यायात्परं पदम् ३। तद्वदस्वाधुना सूत विधानं नामकीर्तने । सूत उवाच। शृणु शौनक वक्ष्यामि संवादं मोक्षसाधनम् ४। नारदः पृष्टवान्पूर्वं कुमारं तद्वदामि ते । एकदा यमुनातीरे निविष्टं शांतमानसम् ५। सनत्कुमारं पप्रच्छ नारदो रचिताञ्जलि । श्रुत्वा नानाविधान्धर्मान्धर्मव्यतिकरांस्तथा ६। श्रीनारद उवाच। योऽसौ भगवता प्रोक्तो धर्मव्यतिकरो नृणाम् । कथं तस्य विनाशः स्यादुच्यतां भगवत्प्रिय ७। श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु नारद गोविंद प्रिय गोविंदधर्मवित् । यत्पृष्टं लोकनिर्मुक्तिकारणं तमसः परम् ८। सर्वाचारविवर्जिताः शठधियो व्रात्या जगद्वञ्चकाः । दंभाहंकृतिपानपैशुनपराः पापाश्च ये निष्ठुराः ९। ये चान्ये धनदारपुत्रनिरताः सर्वेऽधमास्तेऽपि हि । श्रीगोविंदपदारविंदशरणाः शुद्धा भवंति द्विज १०। तमपि देवकरं करुणाकरस्थविरजंगममुक्तिकरं परम् । अतिचरंत्यपराधपरा जना य इह तान्वपति ध्रुवनाम हि ११। सर्वापराधकृदपि मुच्यते हरिसंश्रयः । हरेरप्यपराधान्यः कुर्याद्द्विपदपांसनः १२। नामाश्रयः कदाचित्स्यात्तरत्येव स नामतः । नाम्नो हि सर्वसुहृदो ह्यपराधात्पतत्यधः १३। श्रीनारद उवाच। के तेऽपराधा विप्रेंद्र नाम्नो भगवतः कृताः । विनिघ्नंति नृणां कृत्यं प्राकृतं ह्यानयंति च १४। श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच। सतां निंदा नाम्नः परममपराधं वितनुते । यतः ख्यातिं यांतं कथमु सहते तद्विगर्हाम् । शुभस्य* श्रीविष्णोर्य इह गुणनामादिसकलं । धियाभिन्नं पश्येत्स खलु हरिनामाहितकरः १५ *[कहीं-(शिवस्य)]। गुरोरवज्ञा श्रुतिशास्त्रनिंदनं तथार्थवादो हरिनाम्नि कल्पनम् । नामापराधस्य हि पापबुद्धिर्न विद्यते तस्य यमैर्हि शुद्धिः १६। धर्मव्रतत्याग हुतादि सर्वशुभक्रिया साम्यमपि प्रमादः । अश्रद्दधानो विमुखोऽप्यशृण्वन्यश्चोपदेशः शिवनामापराधः १७। श्रुत्वापि नाममाहात्म्यं यः प्रीतिरहितोऽधमः । अहं ममादि परमो नाम्नि सोऽप्यपराधकृत् १८। एवं नारद शंकरेण कृपया मह्यं मुनीनां परं । प्रोक्तं नामसुखावहं भगवतो वर्ज्यं सदा यत्नतः । ये ज्ञात्वापि न वर्जयंति सहसा नाम्नोऽपराधान्दश । क्रुद्धा मातरमप्यभोजनपराः खिद्यंति ते बालवत् १९। अपराधविमुक्तो हि नाम्नि जप्तं सदा चर । नाम्नैव तव देवर्षे सर्वं सेत्स्यति नान्यतः २०। श्रीनारद उवाच। सनत्कुमार प्रिय साहसानां विवेकवैराग्यविवर्जितानाम् । देहप्रियार्थात्मपरायणानां मुक्तापराधाः प्रभवंति नः कथम् २१। श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच। जाते नामापराधे तु प्रमादे तु कथंचन । सदा संकीर्तयन्नाम तदेकशरणो भवेत् २२। नामापराधयुक्तानां नामान्येव हरंत्यघम् । अविश्रांति प्रयुक्तानि तान्येवार्थ कराणि यत् २३। नामैकं यस्य चिह्नं स्मरणपथगतं श्रोत्रमूलं गतं वा । शुद्धं वाऽशुद्धवर्णं व्यवहितरहितं तारयत्येव सत्यम् । तच्चेद्देहद्रविणजनितालोभपाखण्ड मध्ये । निक्षिप्तं स्यान्न फलजनकं शीघ्रमेवात्र विप्र २४। इदं रहस्यं परमं पुरा नारद शंकरात् । श्रुतं सर्वाशुभहरमपराधनिवारकम् २५। विदुर्विष्ण्वभिधानं ये ह्यपराधपरा नराः । तेषामपि भवेन्मुक्तिः पठनादेव नारद २६। नाम्नो माहात्म्यमखिलं पुराणे परिगीयते । ततः पुराणमखिलं श्रोतुमर्हसि मानद २७। पुराणश्रवणे श्रद्धा यस्य स्याद्भ्रातरन्वहम् । तस्य साक्षात्प्रसन्नः स्याच्छिवो विष्णुश्च सानुगः २८। यत्स्नात्वा पुष्करे तीर्थे प्रयागे सिंधुसंगमे । तत्फलं द्विगुणं तस्य श्रद्धया वै शृणोति यः २९। ये पठंति पुराणानि शृण्वंति च समाहिताः । प्रत्यक्षरं लभंत्येते कपिलादानजं फलम् ३०। अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं धनार्थी लभते धनम् । विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात् ३१। ये शृण्वंति पुराणानि कोटिजन्मार्जितं खलु । पापजालं तु ते हत्वा गच्छंति हरिमंदिरम् ३२। पुराणवाचकं विप्रं पूजयेद्भक्तिभावतः । गोभूहिरण्यवस्त्रैश्च गंधपुष्पादिभिर्मुने ३३। कांस्यैर्विनिर्मितं पात्रं जलपात्रं मुदान्वितः । कर्णकुंडलकं चैव मुद्रिकां स्वर्णनिर्मिताम् ३४। आसनं तु तथा दद्यात्पुष्पमाल्यं तपोधन । वित्तशाठ्यं न कुर्वीत दानं हीनफलं यतः ३५। पुराणं वाचयेद्विप्र सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । सुवर्णं रजतं वस्त्रं पुष्पमाल्यं तु चंदनम् ३६। दद्याद्यो पुस्तकं भक्त्या सगच्छेद्धरिमंदिरम् । कुर्वंति विधिनानेन संपूर्णं पुस्तकं च ये । तेषां नामानि लिंपेत चित्रगुप्तोऽर्चनाद्द्विज ३७। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे ब्रह्मखंडे सूतशौनकसंवादे। पंचविंशतितमोऽध्यायः २५।
śaunaka uvāca| śrīpadaṃ viṣṇucaritaṃ sarvopadravanāśanam | sarvapāpakṣayakaraṃ duṣṭagrahanivāraṇam 1| viṣṇusānnidhyadaṃ caiva caturvargaphalapradam | yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā cāṃte yāti harergṛham 2| nāmoccāraṇamāhātmyaṃ śrūyate mahadadbhutam | yaduccāraṇamātreṇa naro yāyātparaṃ padam 3| tadvadasvādhunā sūta vidhānaṃ nāmakīrtane | sūta uvāca| śṛṇu śaunaka vakṣyāmi saṃvādaṃ mokṣasādhanam 4| nāradaḥ pṛṣṭavānpūrvaṃ kumāraṃ tadvadāmi te | ekadā yamunātīre niviṣṭaṃ śāṃtamānasam 5| sanatkumāraṃ papraccha nārado racitāñjali | śrutvā nānāvidhāndharmāndharmavyatikarāṃstathā 6| śrīnārada uvāca| yo'sau bhagavatā prokto dharmavyatikaro nṛṇām | kathaṃ tasya vināśaḥ syāducyatāṃ bhagavatpriya 7| śrīsanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu nārada goviṃda priya goviṃdadharmavit | yatpṛṣṭaṃ lokanirmuktikāraṇaṃ tamasaḥ param 8| sarvācāravivarjitāḥ śaṭhadhiyo vrātyā jagadvañcakāḥ | daṃbhāhaṃkṛtipānapaiśunaparāḥ pāpāśca ye niṣṭhurāḥ 9| ye cānye dhanadāraputraniratāḥ sarve'dhamāste'pi hi | śrīgoviṃdapadāraviṃdaśaraṇāḥ śuddhā bhavaṃti dvija 10| tamapi devakaraṃ karuṇākarasthavirajaṃgamamuktikaraṃ param | aticaraṃtyaparādhaparā janā ya iha tānvapati dhruvanāma hi 11| sarvāparādhakṛdapi mucyate harisaṃśrayaḥ | harerapyaparādhānyaḥ kuryāddvipadapāṃsanaḥ 12| nāmāśrayaḥ kadācitsyāttaratyeva sa nāmataḥ | nāmno hi sarvasuhṛdo hyaparādhātpatatyadhaḥ 13| śrīnārada uvāca| ke te'parādhā vipreṃdra nāmno bhagavataḥ kṛtāḥ | vinighnaṃti nṛṇāṃ kṛtyaṃ prākṛtaṃ hyānayaṃti ca 14| śrīsanatkumāra uvāca| satāṃ niṃdā nāmnaḥ paramamaparādhaṃ vitanute | yataḥ khyātiṃ yāṃtaṃ kathamu sahate tadvigarhām | śubhasya* śrīviṣṇorya iha guṇanāmādisakalaṃ | dhiyābhinnaṃ paśyetsa khalu harināmāhitakaraḥ 15 *[kahīṃ-(śivasya)]| guroravajñā śrutiśāstraniṃdanaṃ tathārthavādo harināmni kalpanam | nāmāparādhasya hi pāpabuddhirna vidyate tasya yamairhi śuddhiḥ 16| dharmavratatyāga hutādi sarvaśubhakriyā sāmyamapi pramādaḥ | aśraddadhāno vimukho'pyaśṛṇvanyaścopadeśaḥ śivanāmāparādhaḥ 17| śrutvāpi nāmamāhātmyaṃ yaḥ prītirahito'dhamaḥ | ahaṃ mamādi paramo nāmni so'pyaparādhakṛt 18| evaṃ nārada śaṃkareṇa kṛpayā mahyaṃ munīnāṃ paraṃ | proktaṃ nāmasukhāvahaṃ bhagavato varjyaṃ sadā yatnataḥ | ye jñātvāpi na varjayaṃti sahasā nāmno'parādhāndaśa | kruddhā mātaramapyabhojanaparāḥ khidyaṃti te bālavat 19| aparādhavimukto hi nāmni japtaṃ sadā cara | nāmnaiva tava devarṣe sarvaṃ setsyati nānyataḥ 20| śrīnārada uvāca| sanatkumāra priya sāhasānāṃ vivekavairāgyavivarjitānām | dehapriyārthātmaparāyaṇānāṃ muktāparādhāḥ prabhavaṃti naḥ katham 21| śrīsanatkumāra uvāca| jāte nāmāparādhe tu pramāde tu kathaṃcana | sadā saṃkīrtayannāma tadekaśaraṇo bhavet 22| nāmāparādhayuktānāṃ nāmānyeva haraṃtyagham | aviśrāṃti prayuktāni tānyevārtha karāṇi yat 23| nāmaikaṃ yasya cihnaṃ smaraṇapathagataṃ śrotramūlaṃ gataṃ vā | śuddhaṃ vā'śuddhavarṇaṃ vyavahitarahitaṃ tārayatyeva satyam | tacceddehadraviṇajanitālobhapākhaṇḍa madhye | nikṣiptaṃ syānna phalajanakaṃ śīghramevātra vipra 24| idaṃ rahasyaṃ paramaṃ purā nārada śaṃkarāt | śrutaṃ sarvāśubhaharamaparādhanivārakam 25| vidurviṣṇvabhidhānaṃ ye hyaparādhaparā narāḥ | teṣāmapi bhavenmuktiḥ paṭhanādeva nārada 26| nāmno māhātmyamakhilaṃ purāṇe parigīyate | tataḥ purāṇamakhilaṃ śrotumarhasi mānada 27| purāṇaśravaṇe śraddhā yasya syādbhrātaranvaham | tasya sākṣātprasannaḥ syācchivo viṣṇuśca sānugaḥ 28| yatsnātvā puṣkare tīrthe prayāge siṃdhusaṃgame | tatphalaṃ dviguṇaṃ tasya śraddhayā vai śṛṇoti yaḥ 29| ye paṭhaṃti purāṇāni śṛṇvaṃti ca samāhitāḥ | pratyakṣaraṃ labhaṃtyete kapilādānajaṃ phalam 30| aputro labhate putraṃ dhanārthī labhate dhanam | vidyārthī labhate vidyāṃ mokṣārthī mokṣamāpnuyāt 31| ye śṛṇvaṃti purāṇāni koṭijanmārjitaṃ khalu | pāpajālaṃ tu te hatvā gacchaṃti harimaṃdiram 32| purāṇavācakaṃ vipraṃ pūjayedbhaktibhāvataḥ | gobhūhiraṇyavastraiśca gaṃdhapuṣpādibhirmune 33| kāṃsyairvinirmitaṃ pātraṃ jalapātraṃ mudānvitaḥ | karṇakuṃḍalakaṃ caiva mudrikāṃ svarṇanirmitām 34| āsanaṃ tu tathā dadyātpuṣpamālyaṃ tapodhana | vittaśāṭhyaṃ na kurvīta dānaṃ hīnaphalaṃ yataḥ 35| purāṇaṃ vācayedvipra sarvakāmārthasiddhaye | suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ vastraṃ puṣpamālyaṃ tu caṃdanam 36| dadyādyo pustakaṃ bhaktyā sagaccheddharimaṃdiram | kurvaṃti vidhinānena saṃpūrṇaṃ pustakaṃ ca ye | teṣāṃ nāmāni liṃpeta citragupto'rcanāddvija 37| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe brahmakhaṃḍe sūtaśaunakasaṃvāde| paṃcaviṃśatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 25|
English translation
Śaunaka said :
1-4a. That man who devoutly listens to the account of Viṣṇu , which is the abode of glory, which removes all harms, which destroys all sins, which wards off all evil planets, which gives proximity with Viṣṇu, which gives the fruit of the four goals of human life, goes to Viṣṇu’s abode in the end. The importance of the utterance of (Viṣṇu’s) names is said to be very wonderful; merely by uttering it a man would go to the highest position. Therefore, O Sūta , now tell me the manner of the utterance of (Viṣṇu’s) names.
Sūta said :
4b-6. O Śaunaka , listen, I shall tell you the dialogue (between Sanatkumāra and Nārada ), which would accomplish salvation. I shall tell you what formerly Nārada asked ( Sanat ) kumāra . Having heard various kinds of prescribed courses of conduct and their (various) mixtures Nārada, having joined the palms of his hands, once asked Sanatkumāra, of a tranquil mind, who was seated on the bank of the Yamunā :
Śrī Nārada said :
7. O you dear to the lord, tell me how there would be the destruction of the obstacles of dharma about which you had told (me) formerly.
Śrī Sanatkumāra said :
8-13. Listen, O Nārada, dear to Viṣṇu, and knowing the way to reach Govinda (i.e. Viṣṇu). (I shall tell you) that which you asked, viz. the cause of freedom from the world which is beyond the darkness (of ignorance). O brāhmaṇa . even all those mean men who are destitute of (i.e. who do notpractise)all (good) ways of behaviour, who are of a wicked mind, who are outcaste. who deceive the world, who are intent upon religious hypocrisy, pride, drinking liquor, and wickedness, who are sinful and cruel, who are interested in another man’s wealth, wife or sons, become pure if they resort to the lotus-like feet of Viṣṇu. The name (of Viṣṇu), sure (to succeed) here, protects those sinful men who transgress even him who causes divinity, who, the kind one, the great one, gives salvation to the immobile and the mobile. A man who has done all sins, is freed if he resorts to Viṣṇu. If a contemptible, wicked biped would commit sin against Viṣṇu, and by chance resorts to his name, he is emancipated due to the name. A man falls down due to his sin against (Viṣṇu’s) name which is the friend of all.
Śrī Nārada said :
14. O best brāhmaṇa, which are those sins against the name of the lord, which, when done, impede men’s acts and take them to a low status?
Śrī Sanatkumāra said
15-20. The censure of the good causes a great sin against the name (of Viṣṇu). How does (i.e. would) it tolerate the censure of those on account of whom it has become famous? He indeed does ill to the name of Viṣṇu, who, in this world, would regard all (things) about the auspicious Śrī Viṣṇu, as different from his own mind. He who does not disrespect his preceptor, who does not censure sacred texts, who does not look upon Viṣṇu’s name as (merely) glorificatory, who does not have a wicked idea about (i.e. to look upon) name (as) sinful, has purification by means of restraints. Indifference to religious vows, sacrifice (for others), offering oblations, all good actions is also a fault. Not having faith, turning away one’s face, not listening to advice is also a sin against the auspicious name. He, the mean man, who, even after hearing the greatness of (Viṣṇu’s) name, remains without love for it, and is only intent upon ‘I’, ‘mine’ etc. (i.e. is selfish), has committed sin against the name (of Viṣṇu). O Nārada, Śiva , with grace, told the sages and me the great name of the lord, bringing happiness. It should always be carefully preserved. They who even knowing (the importance of name), do not suddenly avoid the ten sins against the name, are like children, who being angry, afflict their mother. Being free from sins, always mutter the name (of Viṣṇu). O divine sage, due to name only you will accomplish everything and not by any other means.
Śrī Nārada said :
21. O Sanatkumāra, how is it that those who like rash acts, who are bereft of discrimination and detachment, who are intent upon themselves as they love their own bodies, arise from (amongst) us?
Śrī Sanatkumāra said :
22-29. When somehow a sin or a blemish takes place against the name, the man should always recite the name and seek its refuge only. Names alone remove the sin of those having (i.e. who have committed) the sin against the names (of Viṣṇu), since they alone, employed (i.e. recited) without rest (i.e. continuously) bring wealth. It is the name (alone) which being the characteristic mark, when remembered or heard, either in a pure form or with incorrect syllables, would protect a man, when it is recited without interruption. This alone is the truth. If it is resorted to hypocritically or for greed born of love for body or wealth, it would not quickly produce the fruit here, O brāhmaṇa. O Nārada, this great secret, which removes all inauspiciousness, and keeps off sins, was formerly heard (by me) from Śiva. O Nārada, even those who are intent on committing sins, but who know the names of Viṣṇu, would be liberated merely by reciting them. The entire greatness of the name (of Viṣṇu) is sung (i.e. narrated) in the Purāṇas . Therefore, O you who respect (others), please listen to a Purāṇa . O brother, Śiva, Viṣṇu himself with his followers would be pleased with him who has faith in listening to Purāṇas day after day. The fruit of him who listens with faith is double the fruit that accrues by bathing at the holy place Puṣkara or at Prayāga or at the confluence (of a holy river) with the ocean.
30-37. Those who attentively recite the Purāṇas or listen to them, obtain for every letter the fruit of giving a tawny cow. A man who is sonless obtains a son; he who desires wealth obtains it; he who longs for knowledge gets it; he who desires salvation secures it. Those who listen to the Purāṇas, having destroyed the mass of their sins earned during crores of existences, go to Viṣṇu’s abode. O sage, a man should devoutly worship the brāhmaṇa who reads a Purāṇa, with (the gift of) a cow, land, gold, garments, sandal, flowers etc. O ascetic, he should joyfully give (the brāhmaṇa) a pot made of bell-metal, a water-vessel, so also an ear-ring or a ring made of gold, so also a seat, flowers and garlands. He should not do (i.e. show) wickedness in (giving) wealth (to the brāhmaṇa), since, in that case the gift would be without its fruit. O brāhmaṇa, a man should read a Purāṇa for the accomplishment of all objects. He who would devoutly give gold, silver, garments, flowers and garlands, sandal or a book, would go to Viṣṇu’s abode. O brāhmaṇa, Citragupta would respectfully write the names of those who would in this manner get the entire book (read).
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43552, revision 335813 (2022-04-15T09:03:57Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365309.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.