Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 4
Sourceजैमिनिरुवाच- गङ्गाद्वारस्य माहात्म्यं त्वत्प्रसादाच्छ्रुतं मया । प्रयागस्य च माहात्म्यमिदानीं श्रोतुमिष्यसे १। गङ्गाब्धिसङ्गमस्यापि माहात्म्यं कथ्यतां मुने । न सम्यक्कथितुं कोऽपि शक्नोति त्वदृते क्षितौ २। व्यास उवाच- प्रयागस्य फलं वत्स गङ्गाब्धिसङ्गमस्य च । सम्यग्वक्तुं न शक्नोमि संक्षेपाच्छ्रूयतां द्विज ३। कोटिब्रह्माण्डमध्येषु यानि तीर्थानि वै मुने । प्रयांति तानि सर्वाणि प्रयागप्रतिमां तु किम् ४। गङ्गाया यमुनायाश्च सरस्वत्याश्च सङ्गमे । प्रशंसंति सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः ५। मकरस्थे रवौ माघे स्नानं ये तत्र कुर्वते । तेषामागमनं नास्ति विष्णुलोकात्कदाचन ६। गवां कोटिसहस्राणि वाजिमेधमुखाध्वराः । मेरुतुल्यसुवर्णानि दानान्यन्यानि च द्विज ७। कुरुक्षेत्रे पुष्करे च प्रभासे च गयासु च । हुत्वा दत्वा च विप्रेभ्यो यत्फलं प्राप्यते बुधैः ८। माघे स्नात्वा प्रयागे तु तस्मात्कोटिगुणं भवेत् । तस्मात्समस्ततीर्थानां प्रयागः परमः स्मृतः ९। सिंहराशिस्थिते सूर्ये गोदावर्यां द्विजोत्तम । चिरमुग्रतपस्तप्त्वा स्नानदानव्रतादिभिः १०। वेदागमपुराणोक्तं यत्पुण्यमक्षयं भवेत् । माघे स्नात्वा प्रयागे तु तत्पुण्यं नात्र संशयः ११। फाल्गुने कृष्णपक्षे तु चतुर्दश्यामुपोषितः । काश्यां यत्फलमाप्नोति तन्मे निगदतः शृणु १२। कोटिजन्मार्जितैः पापैर्विमुक्तः सर्वरूपधृक् । उद्धृत्य कोटिपुरुषाञ्छिवेन सह मोदते १३। माघेमासे प्रयागे तु स्नात्वा सकृदपि द्विजः । कल्पकोटिशतं विष्णुं संपूज्यान्यत्र यत्फलम् १४। एकाहमपि संपूज्य मकरस्थे दिवाकरे । सत्यं सत्यमहं वच्मि सर्वमेवाक्षयं भवेत् १५। यावद्दिनं माघमासे तत्र तिष्ठति मानवः । तावत्कल्पशतं विप्र मोदते विष्णुना सह १६। गङ्गायमुनयोस्तोये स्नानं येन कृतं सकृत् । सद्यस्तद्दर्शनात्पापैर्मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः १७। तर्तुं यदीच्छंति जनाः संसाराब्धिं सुदुस्तरम् । गङ्गायमुनयोः स्नात्वा भक्त्या पश्यंतु माधवम् १८। यजंति मानवास्तत्र यद्यदिष्ट्वा कलेवरम् । सद्यो लभंते विप्रर्षे तत्तदेव न संशयः १९। इतिहासमिहैवाहं कथयामि निशामय । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तो भवति मानवः २०। प्रणिधिर्नाम तत्रासीद्वैश्य एको महाधनी । देवतातिथिपूजासु विप्रभक्त्येकतत्परः २१। तस्य पद्मावती नाम धर्मपत्नी पतिव्रता । चार्वङ्गी शीलयुक्ता च कुलजा प्रियवादिनी २२। स्त्रीणां योग्या गुणा ये ये सृष्टाः श्रीपरमेष्ठिना । तच्छरीरे गुणास्ते ते निवसंति द्विजोत्तम २३। अथासौप्रणिधिर्वैश्यः समादायधनं बहु । वाणिज्यार्थे गतो विप्र शुभे लग्ने शुभे तिथौ २४। धनाद्धर्मः प्रभवति धनाच्च विपुलं यशः । धनात्कुलमवाप्नोति भवेत्किं वा धनादृते २५। धनहीनं जनं दृष्ट्वा सखापि वा पलायते । मेघःशरद्यंबुहीनः खंडं खंडं नयेन्महत् २६। खादितुं प्राप्यते यावत्तावदेव हि बांधवाः । धनं यस्य कुलं तस्य बुद्धिस्तस्य स पंडितः २७। अर्थैर्विहीनः पुरुषो जीवन्नपि मृतोपमः । धर्मार्थविद्यार्जनतो मतिर्यस्य नि वर्तते २८। ज्ञेयः स मूर्खः सुतरामधिकस्याधिकं फलम् । कर्त्तव्यः सततं धर्मश्चार्जितव्यं सदाधनम् २९। शिक्षितव्या सदा विद्या पुंभिरेव विचक्षणैः । दानाद्धनं च विद्या च वर्द्धते प्रतिवासरम् ३०। धर्मस्तु वर्द्धते नैव रक्षतेन विना नृणाम् । काष्ठं तृणं तुषं वापि संप्राप्य न परित्यजेत् ३१। पुमान्संचयशीलोऽपि कदाचिन्नावसीदति । ततोऽसौ प्रणिधिर्वैश्यो नियोज्य स्त्रियमालये ३२। गृहव्यापारनिष्णातो वाणिज्येन जगाम ह । अथैकदा तस्य पत्नी गृहीत्वोद्वर्तनादिकम् ३३। सखीभिः सह विप्रर्षे जगाम स्नानहेतवे । ततो धनुर्ध्वजो नाम स्वयं च पातकाश्रयः ३४। निजेच्छया प्रकुर्वंतीं स्नानकर्म ददर्श ताम् । विकसत्स्वर्णपुष्पाढ्यां प्रफुल्लकमलाननाम् ३५। मृगशावदृशं चारु पीनोन्नतपयोधराम् । तां वैश्यपत्नीमालोक्य श्वपचोऽसौ स्मरातुरः ३६। उवाच प्रहसन्वाणीं निजमूर्तिमचिंतयन् । धनुर्ध्वज उवाच- कासि कल्याणि सुश्रोणि चारुहासिनि सुन्दरि ३७। मनो हरसि मे कस्मात्सुयौवनरसैः प्रिये । विशालजघने तन्वि मया गुणवता सह ३८। गुणवत्या त्वया सर्वं सुखमत्यनुभूयताम् । धनुर्ध्वजवचः श्रुत्वा तस्याः सख्यस्ततो द्विज ३९। ऊचुर्वाक्यं तथा क्रुद्धाः संदष्टदशनच्छदाः । सख्य ऊचुः- अरे मूढ दुराचार दुराचारकुलोद्भव ४०। पादनिष्प्रेक्षणमपि नैतस्यास्ते प्रदीयते । इयं पतिव्रता नारी धर्मकर्मपरायणा ४१। आत्मानं सुखमिच्छद्भिः पापदृष्ट्या न दृश्यते । परस्त्रीमुखसौंदर्यं परद्रव्यं च सर्वदा ४२। दृष्ट्वा कामाग्निसंखिन्ना दह्यंते मूढमानसाः । याहि पापमते दूरं मा वदोक्तिं सुदुःसहाम् ४३। वयमेव भवंतं न स्पृशामश्चरणैरपि । धनुर्ध्वज उवाच- धिगस्त्वमुं जातिशब्दं संजानन्नखिलं गुणम् ४४। संभावितो न युष्माभिः श्वपचत्वे यतोऽधुना । कनकं मदिरापूर्णं कलशाभ्यंतरस्थितम् ४५। संप्राप्य को न गृह्णाति तद्गुणग्रामवित्पुमान् । अतोऽहं युवतीमेनां यथा प्राप्नोमि सांप्रतम् ४६। तथा कुरुत हे सख्यः शरणं भो गतोस्मि यत् । इति ब्रुवंतं तं मूढं भूयोभूयो द्विजोत्तम ४७। ऊचुर्वाक्यमिदं तास्तु जातात्यंतकुतूहलाः । सख्य ऊचुः- यद्येतां रमणीं नूनमिच्छसि त्वं सुदुर्म्मते ४८। गङ्गायमुनयोः शीघ्रं शरीरं संगमे त्यज । मिथःकृतमुखालोका हसंत्यस्तास्ततो द्विज ४९। तां साधुपत्नीमादाय ययुर्निजगृहांतरम् । ततोऽसौ श्वपचो मोहाद्ब्रह्महत्यासहस्रकृत् ५० 7.4.50। गंगायमुनयोस्तोये तामिष्ट्वा पंचतां गतः । तत्स्वामिसदृशाकारः समस्तगुणवान्बली ५१। स च एव श्वपाकोऽसौ स्ववृत्तांतं स्मरन्नभूत् । ततोऽसौ प्रणिधिर्वैश्यस्तस्मिन्नेव दिने शुभे ५२। कृत्वा वाणिज्यमायातः स्वकीयं निलयं प्रति । श्वपाकोऽपि ततो विप्रस्तस्या वासं विवेश ह ५३। प्रणिधेः सदृशो रूपैर्वयोभिश्च गुणैरपि । एकाकारौ समालोक्य पुरःस्थौ तौ गुणाकरौ ५४। कस्याहं दयिता को वा मम भर्त्तेत्यचिंतयत् । ततः सा विस्मिता साध्वी विलोक्य तत्पतिद्वयम् ५५। तुष्टाव माधवं देवं वचनैः कोमलाक्षरैः ५६। पद्मावत्युवाच- नमामि गोविन्दमनन्तमूर्तिं शक्रादिदेवार्चितपादपद्मम् । योगेश्वरं योगविदां निरीहं योगप्रदं योगिभिरर्चनीयम् ५७। नमोऽस्तु ते कैटभमर्द्दनाय नमो मधुध्वंसकराय तुभ्यम् । नमोऽस्तु कंसासुरनाशनाय नमोऽस्तु चाणूरनिपातनाय ५८। नमोऽस्तु वेदोद्धरणाग्रनित्यं नमोऽस्तु भूम्युद्धरणाय तुभ्यम् । नमोस्तु पृथ्वीधरणक्षमाय नमोस्तु दैत्यांतकराय तुभ्यम् ५९। गङ्गांबुधौ तांघ्रियुगाय तुभ्यं नमोस्तु राजन्यकुलांतकाय । नमोस्तु ते रावणवंशहंत्रे अलं च दैत्यांतकराय तुभ्यम् ६०। नमोस्तु ते चाध्वरनिंदकाय नमोस्तु ते म्लेच्छकुलांतकाय । नमोऽस्तु ते हृत्कमलासनाय नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वरिपुध्वजाय ६१। प्रसीद गोपीजनवल्लभ प्रभो धृतैकहस्ताचलदेवदेव । प्रसीद लक्ष्मीमुखपद्मभृंग प्रसीद विष्णो सततं नमस्ते ६२। प्रसीद पद्मेक्षणचक्रपाणे कौमोदकीहस्तगदाधर त्वम् । प्रसीद विष्णो धृतपांचजन्य नमोस्तु ते पद्मधराय नित्यम् ६३। संसारकौतुहलमंदिरे ते मोहांधकारे च विवेकदीपे । संमोहिता केशव मायया हि त्वदीयया नित्यमहं भ्रमामि ६४। विरञ्चि सेन्द्रार्कमुखाः सुरेन्द्रा मायां न जानन्ति तवासुरारे । मानुष्यहं किं तव वेद्मि मायां पुरोभ्रमं मे हरसानुकंपम् ६५। व्यास उवाच- तस्याः स्तवं समाकर्ण्य भगवान्माधवः प्रभुः । समालोक्य जगन्नाथश्चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदः ६६। आविर्बभूव सहसा सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभः । सा मूर्ध्ना भूमिमालोक्य ववंदे तत्पदद्वयम् ६७। नमस्ते कमलाकान्त भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रद । हर मे ज्ञानहीनायाः स्वकीय मतिविभ्रमम् ६८। श्रीभगवानुवाच- भ्रमं जहीहि चार्वंगि द्वावेतौ हि पती तव । एकभावेन सुश्रोणि कुरु सेवां तयोः सदा ६९। यश्च ते प्रणिधिः स्वामी मद्भक्तस्तरुणः सुधीः । भोक्तुं सुखफलं साध्वि सोऽभवद्द्विविधः स्वयम् ७०। अनन्तरूपिणी लक्ष्मीर्यथा क्रीडे मया सह । तथा त्वमपि सुश्रोणि भुंक्ष्व ताभ्यां सुखं सदा ७१। पद्मावत्युवाच- एकस्या द्वौ पती देव न प्रशंसन्ति मानवाः । मग्नां लज्जाब्धिकल्लोले मामुद्धर दयामय ७२। श्रीभगवानुवाच- यदापकीर्तितः साध्वि बिभेषि त्वं ध्रुवं भुवि । तदा मत्पुरमागच्छ ताभ्यां सह वरानने ७३। विमानमागतं सद्यस्ततो भगवदाज्ञया । तौ समादाय वैकुण्ठं सा गंतुमुपचक्रमे ७४। अथ सा पथिगच्छन्ती भर्तृभ्यां सह जैमिने । ददर्शैकं महात्मानं रथस्थं स्त्रीसमन्वितम् ७५। धृतं कमलपत्राक्षैरतसीकुसुमप्रभैः । चतुर्भुजैर्दूतगणैरासीनैर्गरुडोपरि ७६। विष्णुदूतांस्ततस्तांस्तु विष्णुरूपान्वरांगना । कोऽयं रथस्थः पुरुष इति पप्रच्छ सा सती ७७। के वा यूयं महात्मानः पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणाः । सर्वेपि विष्णुसदृशाः शङ्खचक्रादिपाणयः ७८। ततस्ते भगवद्दूता विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमाः । विहस्योचुर्मुहुः सर्वे परमामोदसंयुताः ७९। विष्णुदूता ऊचुः । विष्णुदूता वयं साध्वि पुण्यात्मानमिमंजनम् । समादाय पदं याम उदारं लोकमुत्तमम् ८०। पद्मावत्युवाच- केन पुण्यप्रभावेन गतोऽयमीदृशीं गतिम् । विष्णुदूता महात्मानः कथ्यतामित्यहो मम ८१। विष्णुदूता ऊचुः - अयं बृहद्ध्वजो नाम राक्षसो लोकशोककृत् । अरण्यादिनिवासी च महाबलपराक्रमः ८२। परदारपरद्रव्यहारको रिपुकोद्यतः । गोमांसाशी निष्ठुरोक्तिभाषी च देवनिन्दकः ८३। यद्यत्पापरतं कर्म्म तदनेन कृतं सदा । स्वप्नेऽपि न कृतं कर्म शुभं न च पतिव्रते ८४। अयं रथं समारुह्य सततं कामपीडितः । परस्त्रीहरणार्थाय सुश्रोणि नभसि भ्रमन् ८५। यां यां सुयौवनां नारीं यत्र यत्रायमीक्षते । बलाच्चालिङ्गितस्तां तु तत्र तत्र स्मरातुरः ८६। अथैकदा भीमकेश नाम्नो नरपतेः प्रियाम् । ददर्श क्रीडामध्यस्थां सुंदरीं नवयौवनाम् ८७। अथासौ तां समालोक्य सुवर्णकुसुमप्रभाम् । इत्युवाच वचः प्रेम्णा का त्वमत्र करोषि किम् ८८। सैवोवाच ततः कांता भीमकेशस्य भूपतेः । अहं सुरतशास्त्रज्ञा केशिनी नाम भूषिता ८९। अयि सर्वगुणज्ञां मां प्रेमहृष्टां न भूपतिः । स्ववंशजां दोषहीनां पश्यति क्षणमप्यसौ ९०। स्थीयते नित्यमत्रैव भर्त्राखंडितचर्चया । मया स्वकर्मशोचंत्या विरहानलतप्तया ९१। कस्त्वं कथमिदं प्राप्तमुद्यानं प्रतिसत्तम । समायातोऽसि तत्सर्वं प्रसन्नो वक्तुमर्हसि ९२। अथायमित्याह वचः पूर्णचन्द्र निभानने । मायावी राक्षसोऽहं त्वामालिङ्गितुमिहागतः ९३। जहीहि रुष्टभर्तारं सर्वदा दोषदर्शिनम् । तन्वि मां भज सर्वं ते दास्यामि सुखमुत्तमम् ९४। ततो विहस्य साध्वीयं राक्षसेन्द्रमिमं मुदा । बबंध बाहुलतया विन्यस्य वदने मुखम् ९५। स तामालिंग्य युवतीं विवेकोद्वेगविह्वलाम् । अनया सह सुश्रोणि दिव्यमारूढवान्रथम् ९६। दंपतीभावमाश्रित्य तौ जातावतिकौतुकम् । वायुवेगरथारूढौ यातौ गगनवर्त्मनि ९७। अथैनामयमित्याह पश्यतन्विवरानने । त्वद्भर्तृदेशादायातौ गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे ९८। ततो रथस्थनारीयमधिगङ्गाब्धिसङ्गमम् । जगाम पंचतां सद्यः संदृश्यात्यंतसाध्वसैः ९९। विलप्य बहुधा साध्वीं तत्रायमपि राक्षसः । गतप्राणां समालोक्य सद्यो मृत्युं जगाम ह १०० 7.4.100। वैनतेयध्वजादेशादिमौ गलितकल्मषौ । नयामः पुण्यकर्माणौ वैकुण्ठं प्रति संप्रति १०१। जलेस्थले चांतरिक्षे गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे । देहं संत्यज्य गच्छन्ति पापिनो हि परां गतिम् १०२। त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभं तीर्थं गङ्गासागरसंगमे । माघे तपसि शुक्लायामेकादश्यामुपोषितः १०३। तत्र शुद्धिमवाप्नोति ब्रह्महापि न संशयः । गङ्गाब्धिसङ्गमे स्नात्वा हरिं दृष्ट्वा च माधवम् १०४। कार्तिकेयमुखं दृष्ट्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । कार्तिकेयो हरिः साक्षादित्यभेदः कृतः सदा १०५। ये कार्तिंकेयं पश्यंति ते सर्वे मोक्षगामिनः । सर्वतीर्थाधिकं तीर्थं गङ्गाब्धिसङ्गमं शृणु १०६। जले स्थले चांतरिक्षे मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । व्यास उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा विष्णुदूतास्ते तौ समादाय जैमिने १०७। जग्मुर्विष्णुगृहं सर्वे सह साकाशवर्त्मनि । या च पद्मावती साध्वी भर्तृद्वयसमन्विता १०८। गता सारूप्यतां विष्णोश्चतुर्वर्गप्रदायिनः । तत्र भुक्त्वाखिलान्भोगान्दुर्ल्लभान्द्विजसत्तम १०९। परमं ज्ञानमासाद्य ययुः सारूप्यतां हरेः । सर्वतीर्थमयी गङ्गा सर्वतीर्थमयो हरिः ११०। गङ्गायाश्च हरेश्चैव तस्माद्भक्तिर्विधीयते । गङ्गाब्धिसंगमे पूर्वं माधवो नाम भूभुजः १११। तप्त्वा तपश्चिरं तत्र सदारो मोक्षमाप्तवान् ११२। जैमिनिरुवाच- त्वयोक्तो माधवः कोऽसौ किं कर्म स चकार ह । कथं तेपे तपस्तन्मे सर्वं कथय सत्तम ११३। व्यास उवाच- चरितं तस्य विप्रर्षे माधवस्य महात्मनः । आकर्णय प्रवक्ष्यामि समासेन महामते ११४। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे क्रियायोगसारे व्यासजैमिनिसंवादे प्रयागवर्णनंनाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ४ ।
jaiminiruvāca- gaṅgādvārasya māhātmyaṃ tvatprasādācchrutaṃ mayā | prayāgasya ca māhātmyamidānīṃ śrotumiṣyase 1| gaṅgābdhisaṅgamasyāpi māhātmyaṃ kathyatāṃ mune | na samyakkathituṃ ko'pi śaknoti tvadṛte kṣitau 2| vyāsa uvāca- prayāgasya phalaṃ vatsa gaṅgābdhisaṅgamasya ca | samyagvaktuṃ na śaknomi saṃkṣepācchrūyatāṃ dvija 3| koṭibrahmāṇḍamadhyeṣu yāni tīrthāni vai mune | prayāṃti tāni sarvāṇi prayāgapratimāṃ tu kim 4| gaṅgāyā yamunāyāśca sarasvatyāśca saṅgame | praśaṃsaṃti surāḥ sarve brahmaviṣṇuśivādayaḥ 5| makarasthe ravau māghe snānaṃ ye tatra kurvate | teṣāmāgamanaṃ nāsti viṣṇulokātkadācana 6| gavāṃ koṭisahasrāṇi vājimedhamukhādhvarāḥ | merutulyasuvarṇāni dānānyanyāni ca dvija 7| kurukṣetre puṣkare ca prabhāse ca gayāsu ca | hutvā datvā ca viprebhyo yatphalaṃ prāpyate budhaiḥ 8| māghe snātvā prayāge tu tasmātkoṭiguṇaṃ bhavet | tasmātsamastatīrthānāṃ prayāgaḥ paramaḥ smṛtaḥ 9| siṃharāśisthite sūrye godāvaryāṃ dvijottama | ciramugratapastaptvā snānadānavratādibhiḥ 10| vedāgamapurāṇoktaṃ yatpuṇyamakṣayaṃ bhavet | māghe snātvā prayāge tu tatpuṇyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ 11| phālgune kṛṣṇapakṣe tu caturdaśyāmupoṣitaḥ | kāśyāṃ yatphalamāpnoti tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu 12| koṭijanmārjitaiḥ pāpairvimuktaḥ sarvarūpadhṛk | uddhṛtya koṭipuruṣāñchivena saha modate 13| māghemāse prayāge tu snātvā sakṛdapi dvijaḥ | kalpakoṭiśataṃ viṣṇuṃ saṃpūjyānyatra yatphalam 14| ekāhamapi saṃpūjya makarasthe divākare | satyaṃ satyamahaṃ vacmi sarvamevākṣayaṃ bhavet 15| yāvaddinaṃ māghamāse tatra tiṣṭhati mānavaḥ | tāvatkalpaśataṃ vipra modate viṣṇunā saha 16| gaṅgāyamunayostoye snānaṃ yena kṛtaṃ sakṛt | sadyastaddarśanātpāpairmucyate sarvapātakaiḥ 17| tartuṃ yadīcchaṃti janāḥ saṃsārābdhiṃ sudustaram | gaṅgāyamunayoḥ snātvā bhaktyā paśyaṃtu mādhavam 18| yajaṃti mānavāstatra yadyadiṣṭvā kalevaram | sadyo labhaṃte viprarṣe tattadeva na saṃśayaḥ 19| itihāsamihaivāhaṃ kathayāmi niśāmaya | yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mukto bhavati mānavaḥ 20| praṇidhirnāma tatrāsīdvaiśya eko mahādhanī | devatātithipūjāsu viprabhaktyekatatparaḥ 21| tasya padmāvatī nāma dharmapatnī pativratā | cārvaṅgī śīlayuktā ca kulajā priyavādinī 22| strīṇāṃ yogyā guṇā ye ye sṛṣṭāḥ śrīparameṣṭhinā | taccharīre guṇāste te nivasaṃti dvijottama 23| athāsaupraṇidhirvaiśyaḥ samādāyadhanaṃ bahu | vāṇijyārthe gato vipra śubhe lagne śubhe tithau 24| dhanāddharmaḥ prabhavati dhanācca vipulaṃ yaśaḥ | dhanātkulamavāpnoti bhavetkiṃ vā dhanādṛte 25| dhanahīnaṃ janaṃ dṛṣṭvā sakhāpi vā palāyate | meghaḥśaradyaṃbuhīnaḥ khaṃḍaṃ khaṃḍaṃ nayenmahat 26| khādituṃ prāpyate yāvattāvadeva hi bāṃdhavāḥ | dhanaṃ yasya kulaṃ tasya buddhistasya sa paṃḍitaḥ 27| arthairvihīnaḥ puruṣo jīvannapi mṛtopamaḥ | dharmārthavidyārjanato matiryasya ni vartate 28| jñeyaḥ sa mūrkhaḥ sutarāmadhikasyādhikaṃ phalam | karttavyaḥ satataṃ dharmaścārjitavyaṃ sadādhanam 29| śikṣitavyā sadā vidyā puṃbhireva vicakṣaṇaiḥ | dānāddhanaṃ ca vidyā ca varddhate prativāsaram 30| dharmastu varddhate naiva rakṣatena vinā nṛṇām | kāṣṭhaṃ tṛṇaṃ tuṣaṃ vāpi saṃprāpya na parityajet 31| pumānsaṃcayaśīlo'pi kadācinnāvasīdati | tato'sau praṇidhirvaiśyo niyojya striyamālaye 32| gṛhavyāpāraniṣṇāto vāṇijyena jagāma ha | athaikadā tasya patnī gṛhītvodvartanādikam 33| sakhībhiḥ saha viprarṣe jagāma snānahetave | tato dhanurdhvajo nāma svayaṃ ca pātakāśrayaḥ 34| nijecchayā prakurvaṃtīṃ snānakarma dadarśa tām | vikasatsvarṇapuṣpāḍhyāṃ praphullakamalānanām 35| mṛgaśāvadṛśaṃ cāru pīnonnatapayodharām | tāṃ vaiśyapatnīmālokya śvapaco'sau smarāturaḥ 36| uvāca prahasanvāṇīṃ nijamūrtimaciṃtayan | dhanurdhvaja uvāca- kāsi kalyāṇi suśroṇi cāruhāsini sundari 37| mano harasi me kasmātsuyauvanarasaiḥ priye | viśālajaghane tanvi mayā guṇavatā saha 38| guṇavatyā tvayā sarvaṃ sukhamatyanubhūyatām | dhanurdhvajavacaḥ śrutvā tasyāḥ sakhyastato dvija 39| ūcurvākyaṃ tathā kruddhāḥ saṃdaṣṭadaśanacchadāḥ | sakhya ūcuḥ- are mūḍha durācāra durācārakulodbhava 40| pādaniṣprekṣaṇamapi naitasyāste pradīyate | iyaṃ pativratā nārī dharmakarmaparāyaṇā 41| ātmānaṃ sukhamicchadbhiḥ pāpadṛṣṭyā na dṛśyate | parastrīmukhasauṃdaryaṃ paradravyaṃ ca sarvadā 42| dṛṣṭvā kāmāgnisaṃkhinnā dahyaṃte mūḍhamānasāḥ | yāhi pāpamate dūraṃ mā vadoktiṃ suduḥsahām 43| vayameva bhavaṃtaṃ na spṛśāmaścaraṇairapi | dhanurdhvaja uvāca- dhigastvamuṃ jātiśabdaṃ saṃjānannakhilaṃ guṇam 44| saṃbhāvito na yuṣmābhiḥ śvapacatve yato'dhunā | kanakaṃ madirāpūrṇaṃ kalaśābhyaṃtarasthitam 45| saṃprāpya ko na gṛhṇāti tadguṇagrāmavitpumān | ato'haṃ yuvatīmenāṃ yathā prāpnomi sāṃpratam 46| tathā kuruta he sakhyaḥ śaraṇaṃ bho gatosmi yat | iti bruvaṃtaṃ taṃ mūḍhaṃ bhūyobhūyo dvijottama 47| ūcurvākyamidaṃ tāstu jātātyaṃtakutūhalāḥ | sakhya ūcuḥ- yadyetāṃ ramaṇīṃ nūnamicchasi tvaṃ sudurmmate 48| gaṅgāyamunayoḥ śīghraṃ śarīraṃ saṃgame tyaja | mithaḥkṛtamukhālokā hasaṃtyastāstato dvija 49| tāṃ sādhupatnīmādāya yayurnijagṛhāṃtaram | tato'sau śvapaco mohādbrahmahatyāsahasrakṛt 50 7.4.50| gaṃgāyamunayostoye tāmiṣṭvā paṃcatāṃ gataḥ | tatsvāmisadṛśākāraḥ samastaguṇavānbalī 51| sa ca eva śvapāko'sau svavṛttāṃtaṃ smarannabhūt | tato'sau praṇidhirvaiśyastasminneva dine śubhe 52| kṛtvā vāṇijyamāyātaḥ svakīyaṃ nilayaṃ prati | śvapāko'pi tato viprastasyā vāsaṃ viveśa ha 53| praṇidheḥ sadṛśo rūpairvayobhiśca guṇairapi | ekākārau samālokya puraḥsthau tau guṇākarau 54| kasyāhaṃ dayitā ko vā mama bharttetyaciṃtayat | tataḥ sā vismitā sādhvī vilokya tatpatidvayam 55| tuṣṭāva mādhavaṃ devaṃ vacanaiḥ komalākṣaraiḥ 56| padmāvatyuvāca- namāmi govindamanantamūrtiṃ śakrādidevārcitapādapadmam | yogeśvaraṃ yogavidāṃ nirīhaṃ yogapradaṃ yogibhirarcanīyam 57| namo'stu te kaiṭabhamarddanāya namo madhudhvaṃsakarāya tubhyam | namo'stu kaṃsāsuranāśanāya namo'stu cāṇūranipātanāya 58| namo'stu vedoddharaṇāgranityaṃ namo'stu bhūmyuddharaṇāya tubhyam | namostu pṛthvīdharaṇakṣamāya namostu daityāṃtakarāya tubhyam 59| gaṅgāṃbudhau tāṃghriyugāya tubhyaṃ namostu rājanyakulāṃtakāya | namostu te rāvaṇavaṃśahaṃtre alaṃ ca daityāṃtakarāya tubhyam 60| namostu te cādhvaraniṃdakāya namostu te mlecchakulāṃtakāya | namo'stu te hṛtkamalāsanāya namo'stu te sarvaripudhvajāya 61| prasīda gopījanavallabha prabho dhṛtaikahastācaladevadeva | prasīda lakṣmīmukhapadmabhṛṃga prasīda viṣṇo satataṃ namaste 62| prasīda padmekṣaṇacakrapāṇe kaumodakīhastagadādhara tvam | prasīda viṣṇo dhṛtapāṃcajanya namostu te padmadharāya nityam 63| saṃsārakautuhalamaṃdire te mohāṃdhakāre ca vivekadīpe | saṃmohitā keśava māyayā hi tvadīyayā nityamahaṃ bhramāmi 64| virañci sendrārkamukhāḥ surendrā māyāṃ na jānanti tavāsurāre | mānuṣyahaṃ kiṃ tava vedmi māyāṃ purobhramaṃ me harasānukaṃpam 65| vyāsa uvāca- tasyāḥ stavaṃ samākarṇya bhagavānmādhavaḥ prabhuḥ | samālokya jagannāthaścaturvargaphalapradaḥ 66| āvirbabhūva sahasā sūryakoṭisamaprabhaḥ | sā mūrdhnā bhūmimālokya vavaṃde tatpadadvayam 67| namaste kamalākānta bhuktimuktiphalaprada | hara me jñānahīnāyāḥ svakīya mativibhramam 68| śrībhagavānuvāca- bhramaṃ jahīhi cārvaṃgi dvāvetau hi patī tava | ekabhāvena suśroṇi kuru sevāṃ tayoḥ sadā 69| yaśca te praṇidhiḥ svāmī madbhaktastaruṇaḥ sudhīḥ | bhoktuṃ sukhaphalaṃ sādhvi so'bhavaddvividhaḥ svayam 70| anantarūpiṇī lakṣmīryathā krīḍe mayā saha | tathā tvamapi suśroṇi bhuṃkṣva tābhyāṃ sukhaṃ sadā 71| padmāvatyuvāca- ekasyā dvau patī deva na praśaṃsanti mānavāḥ | magnāṃ lajjābdhikallole māmuddhara dayāmaya 72| śrībhagavānuvāca- yadāpakīrtitaḥ sādhvi bibheṣi tvaṃ dhruvaṃ bhuvi | tadā matpuramāgaccha tābhyāṃ saha varānane 73| vimānamāgataṃ sadyastato bhagavadājñayā | tau samādāya vaikuṇṭhaṃ sā gaṃtumupacakrame 74| atha sā pathigacchantī bhartṛbhyāṃ saha jaimine | dadarśaikaṃ mahātmānaṃ rathasthaṃ strīsamanvitam 75| dhṛtaṃ kamalapatrākṣairatasīkusumaprabhaiḥ | caturbhujairdūtagaṇairāsīnairgaruḍopari 76| viṣṇudūtāṃstatastāṃstu viṣṇurūpānvarāṃganā | ko'yaṃ rathasthaḥ puruṣa iti papraccha sā satī 77| ke vā yūyaṃ mahātmānaḥ puṇḍarīkanibhekṣaṇāḥ | sarvepi viṣṇusadṛśāḥ śaṅkhacakrādipāṇayaḥ 78| tataste bhagavaddūtā viṣṇutulyaparākramāḥ | vihasyocurmuhuḥ sarve paramāmodasaṃyutāḥ 79| viṣṇudūtā ūcuḥ | viṣṇudūtā vayaṃ sādhvi puṇyātmānamimaṃjanam | samādāya padaṃ yāma udāraṃ lokamuttamam 80| padmāvatyuvāca- kena puṇyaprabhāvena gato'yamīdṛśīṃ gatim | viṣṇudūtā mahātmānaḥ kathyatāmityaho mama 81| viṣṇudūtā ūcuḥ - ayaṃ bṛhaddhvajo nāma rākṣaso lokaśokakṛt | araṇyādinivāsī ca mahābalaparākramaḥ 82| paradāraparadravyahārako ripukodyataḥ | gomāṃsāśī niṣṭhuroktibhāṣī ca devanindakaḥ 83| yadyatpāparataṃ karmma tadanena kṛtaṃ sadā | svapne'pi na kṛtaṃ karma śubhaṃ na ca pativrate 84| ayaṃ rathaṃ samāruhya satataṃ kāmapīḍitaḥ | parastrīharaṇārthāya suśroṇi nabhasi bhraman 85| yāṃ yāṃ suyauvanāṃ nārīṃ yatra yatrāyamīkṣate | balāccāliṅgitastāṃ tu tatra tatra smarāturaḥ 86| athaikadā bhīmakeśa nāmno narapateḥ priyām | dadarśa krīḍāmadhyasthāṃ suṃdarīṃ navayauvanām 87| athāsau tāṃ samālokya suvarṇakusumaprabhām | ityuvāca vacaḥ premṇā kā tvamatra karoṣi kim 88| saivovāca tataḥ kāṃtā bhīmakeśasya bhūpateḥ | ahaṃ surataśāstrajñā keśinī nāma bhūṣitā 89| ayi sarvaguṇajñāṃ māṃ premahṛṣṭāṃ na bhūpatiḥ | svavaṃśajāṃ doṣahīnāṃ paśyati kṣaṇamapyasau 90| sthīyate nityamatraiva bhartrākhaṃḍitacarcayā | mayā svakarmaśocaṃtyā virahānalataptayā 91| kastvaṃ kathamidaṃ prāptamudyānaṃ pratisattama | samāyāto'si tatsarvaṃ prasanno vaktumarhasi 92| athāyamityāha vacaḥ pūrṇacandra nibhānane | māyāvī rākṣaso'haṃ tvāmāliṅgitumihāgataḥ 93| jahīhi ruṣṭabhartāraṃ sarvadā doṣadarśinam | tanvi māṃ bhaja sarvaṃ te dāsyāmi sukhamuttamam 94| tato vihasya sādhvīyaṃ rākṣasendramimaṃ mudā | babaṃdha bāhulatayā vinyasya vadane mukham 95| sa tāmāliṃgya yuvatīṃ vivekodvegavihvalām | anayā saha suśroṇi divyamārūḍhavānratham 96| daṃpatībhāvamāśritya tau jātāvatikautukam | vāyuvegarathārūḍhau yātau gaganavartmani 97| athaināmayamityāha paśyatanvivarānane | tvadbhartṛdeśādāyātau gaṅgāsāgarasaṅgame 98| tato rathasthanārīyamadhigaṅgābdhisaṅgamam | jagāma paṃcatāṃ sadyaḥ saṃdṛśyātyaṃtasādhvasaiḥ 99| vilapya bahudhā sādhvīṃ tatrāyamapi rākṣasaḥ | gataprāṇāṃ samālokya sadyo mṛtyuṃ jagāma ha 100 7.4.100| vainateyadhvajādeśādimau galitakalmaṣau | nayāmaḥ puṇyakarmāṇau vaikuṇṭhaṃ prati saṃprati 101| jalesthale cāṃtarikṣe gaṅgāsāgarasaṅgame | dehaṃ saṃtyajya gacchanti pāpino hi parāṃ gatim 102| trailokyadurlabhaṃ tīrthaṃ gaṅgāsāgarasaṃgame | māghe tapasi śuklāyāmekādaśyāmupoṣitaḥ 103| tatra śuddhimavāpnoti brahmahāpi na saṃśayaḥ | gaṅgābdhisaṅgame snātvā hariṃ dṛṣṭvā ca mādhavam 104| kārtikeyamukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā punarjanma na vidyate | kārtikeyo hariḥ sākṣādityabhedaḥ kṛtaḥ sadā 105| ye kārtiṃkeyaṃ paśyaṃti te sarve mokṣagāminaḥ | sarvatīrthādhikaṃ tīrthaṃ gaṅgābdhisaṅgamaṃ śṛṇu 106| jale sthale cāṃtarikṣe mṛto mokṣamavāpnuyāt | vyāsa uvāca- ityuktvā viṣṇudūtāste tau samādāya jaimine 107| jagmurviṣṇugṛhaṃ sarve saha sākāśavartmani | yā ca padmāvatī sādhvī bhartṛdvayasamanvitā 108| gatā sārūpyatāṃ viṣṇoścaturvargapradāyinaḥ | tatra bhuktvākhilānbhogāndurllabhāndvijasattama 109| paramaṃ jñānamāsādya yayuḥ sārūpyatāṃ hareḥ | sarvatīrthamayī gaṅgā sarvatīrthamayo hariḥ 110| gaṅgāyāśca hareścaiva tasmādbhaktirvidhīyate | gaṅgābdhisaṃgame pūrvaṃ mādhavo nāma bhūbhujaḥ 111| taptvā tapaściraṃ tatra sadāro mokṣamāptavān 112| jaiminiruvāca- tvayokto mādhavaḥ ko'sau kiṃ karma sa cakāra ha | kathaṃ tepe tapastanme sarvaṃ kathaya sattama 113| vyāsa uvāca- caritaṃ tasya viprarṣe mādhavasya mahātmanaḥ | ākarṇaya pravakṣyāmi samāsena mahāmate 114| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe kriyāyogasāre vyāsajaiminisaṃvāde prayāgavarṇanaṃnāma caturtho'dhyāyaḥ 4 |
English translation
Jaimini said :
1-2. Through your grace I have heard about the greatness of Gaṅgādvāra . Now I desire to listen to the greatness of Prayāga . O sage, also tell me about the greatness of the union of Gaṅgā and the ocean. On the earth none except you is able to tell it.
Vyāsa said :
3-9. O dear, I cannot thoroughly tell about the fruit of (the bath at) Prayāga or at the place where Gaṅgā joins the ocean. O Brāhmaṇa , listen to it in brief. O sage, do all those crores of holy places in the universe attain similarity with Prayāga? All gods like Brahmā , Viṣṇu , Śiva praise (the bath) at the confluence of Gaṅgā, Yamunā and Sarasvatī . Those who bathe there in (the month of) Māgha , when the Sun is in (the Zodiacal sign) Capricornus, never return (to his world) from the world of Viṣṇu. The fruit, O brāhmaṇa, due to bathing at Prayāga in (the month of) Māgha would be a crore-fold more than that obtained by the wise by (offering) thousands of crores of cows, (performing) sacrifices like the horse-sacrifice, (giving) gifts of gold of the measure of Meru mountain and other gifts, offering oblations into fire and giving gifts to brāhmaṇas at Kurukṣetra , Puṣkara , Prabhāsa and Gayā . Therefore, Prayāga is the best of all holy places.
10-13. Undoubtedly that inexhaustible religious merit which, O best brāhmaṇa, as told in Vedas , scriptures and Purāṇas , is had by practising a severe penance for a long time, by bathing, giving gifts and observing vows in (the water of) Godāvarī , when the Sun is in the Zodiacal sign Leo, is had by bathing at Prayāga in the month of Māgha. Hear from me who am telling it, about the fruit which a man obtains by fasting at Kāśī on Caturdaśī in the dark half of the month of Phālguna . He, freed from sins committed during crores of existences, and having every form, and emancipating a crore of men (of his family), delights with Śiva.
14-15. A brāhmaṇa gets the same fruit as he obtains by worshipping Viṣṇu for a hundred crores of kalpas at other places, by bathing just once at Prayāga in the month of Māgha and worshipping (Viṣṇu) even for a day, when the Sun is in (the Zodiacal sign) Capricornus. I am telling the truth (and) truth (only). All (that fruit) would be inexhaustible.
16-17. A man delights with Viṣṇu for as many hundred kalpas as many days a man stays there (i.e. at Prayāga) in the month of Māgha. He who has once bathed in the water of Gaṅgā and Yamunā is instantly freed from all sins by seeing it.
18-19. If men desire to cross this ocean of mundane existence very difficult to cross, they should devoutly see (the idol of) Viṣṇu after bathing in Gaṅgā and Yamunā. O brāhmaṇa sage, if men, by offering their body, worship him there, they instantly get whatever they desire. There is no doubt about it.
20-24. In this matter I shall tell you a historical account. Listen to it, hearing which a man is freed from all sins. There was a very wealthy vaisya named Praṇidhi . He was solely devoted to worshipping deities and guests, O brāhmaṇa. His wife, Padmāvatī by name, was chaste, loyal wife, of a beautiful body, endowed with good character, born of a good family and speaking in a pleasant manner. O best brāhmaṇa, all those virtues which the highest god has produced as fit to be present in the bodies of women, were present in her. O brāhmaṇa, that vaiśya Praṇidhi, having taken much wealth, went for trade at an auspicious time and on an auspicious day.
25-27. Piety springs from wealth. Great glory springs from wealth. A man secures a (noble) family through wealth. What would take place without wealth? Even a friend runs away by seeing a man without wealth. In autumn a cloud without water would be reduced to big pieces. As long as relatives get to eat, they remain (with him). He who has wealth has (i.e. is born in) a (noble) family. He (alone) is intelligent (and) wise.
28-31. A man, without wealth, though living, is like a dead one. He whose mind turns away from attaining religious merit, material wealth and knowledge should be known to be a fool. Greater is the fruit of more (exertion). Piety should always be practised. Wealth should always be earned. Knowledge should always be learnt (i.e. got) by wise men. Wealth and knowledge increase everyday by giving them (to others). Piety of men does not increase without its being preserved. A man should not abandon even (a piece of) wood or (a blade of) grass after having got them.
32-37a. A man given to storing never sinks. Then that vaiśya Praṇidhi skilled in domestic affairs, put his wife in his house, and went for trade. O brāhmaṇa sage, once his wife taking unguents to rub and cleanse the body with, went along with her friends for bathing. Then (a cāṇḍāla ), the resting place of sins, Dhanurdhvaja by name, saw her who had the beauty of an expanding golden lotus, whose face was like a blooming lotus, whose eyes were like those of a young deer, whose breasts were charming, large and raised, bathing as she liked. Seeing the vaiśya-wife that cāṇḍāla, smit with love, and not considering his own figure, laughed and said (these) words:
Dhanurdhvaja said :
37b-40a. O auspicious one, O you having large hips, O you of a charming smile, O you beautiful one, who are you? O dear one, why do you take away my mind with charms of your exuberant youth? O you of large buttocks, O you slender one, you, who are virtuous, should enjoy full happiness with me who am (also) virtuous.
O brāhmaṇa, hearing Dhanurdhvaja’s words, her friends, getting angry, and biting their lips, spoke (these) words:
The friends said :
40b-44a. O fool, O wicked one, O you born in the family -of the wicked, she will not throw even her foot at (i.e. will not even kick) you. This lady is a loyal wife, highly devoted to religious practices. Those who desire their own happiness do not look at her with an evil eye. Those who are foolish and who are afflicted with the fire of the passion of love, are burnt on seeing the beauty of the face of the wife of another person and the wealth of others. O you of a sinful mind, go away. Do not speak words which are very unbearable. We shall not touch you even with our feet.
Dhanurdhvaja said :
44b-48a. Fie upon this word ‘caste’, since you have not honoured me knowing all virtues in my cāṇḍālahood (i.e. due to my being a cāṇḍāla)! On reaching gold covered with necklaces and remaining in a pitcher, which man, conversant with the -collection of excellences, will not seize it? Therefore, O friends, act in such a way that I shall now secure this young lady. I submit myself to you.
O best brāhmaṇa, to the fool who was repeatedly speaking like this, the friends, with great curiosity produced in them, spoke these words (to him):
The friends said :
48b-53. O you very wicked one, if you indeed long for this young lady then quickly cast your body into the confluence of Gaṅgā and Yamunā.
Looking at one another’s face, and laughing, they then took the good man’s wife, and entered their houses. Then that cāṇḍāla who had killed thousands of brāhmaṇas, longing for her died in the water of Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Then that cāṇḍāla, remembering his own account, became a strong person, resembling the figure of her husband, and having all his qualities. Then that vaiśya Praṇidhi, having carried out the trade came home on just that auspicious day. The cāṇḍāla also, O brāhmaṇa, entered his house.
54-56. He resembled Praṇidhi in form, age and qualities. Seeing the two, of the same (i.e. similar) figure, who were mines of virtues, she thought (to herself): ‘Whose wife am I? Who is my husband?’ Then that chaste woman, seeing the pair of husbands, was amazed, and praised god Viṣṇu with words having pleasing letters.
Padmāvatī said :
57-61. I salute Govinda who has endless forms, whose lotus-like feet are worshipped by deities like Indra , who is the lord of deep and abstract meditation, who is desireless among those who know deep and abstract meditation, who is the giver of devotion, and who is fit to be worshipped by the meditating saints. Salutation to you, the destroyer of Kaiṭabha ; salutation to you, the destroyer of Madhu ; salutation to you who destroyed the demon Kaṃsa ; salutation to you who knocked down Cāṇūra . Salutation to you who took out the Vedas; eternal salutation to you who lifted the earth; salutation to you who are capable of bearing the earth; salutation to you who are the destroyer of the demons. Salutation to you whose feet are washed by the water of Gaṅgā; salutation to you who destroy the kṣatriyas ; salutation to you who killed Rāvaṇa ’s family; salutation to you who destroyed the demons. Salutation to you who denounced sacrifices; salutation to you who destroyed the Mleccha -families; salutation to you seated in the heart-lotus; salutation to you who are an ornament among your enemies (ripudhvaja?).
62-65. O lord, O dear to the cowherdesses, be pleased. O bee to the lotus-face of Lakṣmī , be pleased. O Viṣṇu, be pleased. I constantly salute you. O you lotus-eyed one, be pleased; O you who have the disc in your hand, O you who hold the mace called Kaumodakī in your hand, be pleased. O Viṣṇu, who has held (the conch called) Pāñcajanya , be pleased. I constantly, salute you who hold a lotus. I am constantly roaming, being deluded by you— Keśava , in the curious habitation of the mundane existence, having the darkness of ignorance and the lamp of knowledge. O enemy of the demons, Brahmā, Indra and other excellent gods do not understand your Māyā . (Then) how can I, a human being, understand your Māyā? Kindly remove (this) delusion (taking place) before (you).
Vyāsa said :
66-67. Having heard the praise of (i.e. made by) her, lord Viṣṇu, the master of the world, giving the fruits of the four goals (of human life), took notice of it, and he whose lustre was like that of a crore suns, suddenly manifested himself. She, having looked at (i.e. touched) the ground with her head, saluted the pair of his feet.
68. (She said:) O lord of Lakṣmī, O you who give enjoyment and salvation, salutation to you. Remove the confusion about my husband, of me who am without knowledge.
The lord said :
69-71. O beautiful-bodied one, give up your confusion. Both these are your husbands. O you lady of beautiful hips, always serve them devotedly. That who is your young, very intelligent husband Praṇidhi, has himself become two to enjoy the fruit of pleasure, O chaste lady. O you of beautiful buttocks, you too always enjoy pleasure with them, as Lakṣmī of infinite forms sports with me.
Padmāvati said :
72. O god, men do not approve two husbands of one woman. O you full of pity, save me who am sunk under the billow of the ocean of shame.
The lord said :
73. O chaste lady, as you are certainly afraid of infamy on the earth, the refore, O you of a beautiful face, come to my city with them.
74-75. Then by the order of the lord, an aeroplane immediately came there and taking the two (with her) she got ready to go to Vaikuṇṭha . She too, while going with her husbands along the path, saw a magnanimous person along with a lady seated in a chariot, O Jaimini .
76-79. He was supported by hosts of messengers, having eyes like lotus-petals, resembling atasī flowers, having four hands, and seated on Garuḍa . That chaste, beautiful lady then asked those messengers of Viṣṇu, of the form of Viṣṇu, “Who is this man seated in the chariot? O magnanimous ones, who are you having lotus-like eyes, all resembling Viṣṇu, having in your hands conches, discs etc.?” Then all those messengers of Viṣṇu, very much delighted, resembling Viṣṇu in valour, laughed and said:
Viṣṇu’s messengers said :
80. O chaste lady, we are Viṣṇu’s messengers. Taking this man, a meritorious soul, we are going to the high, excellent world.
Padmāvatī said :
81-84. Due to the power of which merit has he acquired such a state? O magnanimous messengers of Viṣṇu, tell it to me.
Viṣṇu’s messengers said :
This is a demon named Bṛhaddhvaja . He, causing affliction to the world, lived in a forest etc. He is very powerful and valorous. He kidnapped others’ wives, snatched others’ wealth, and was an active deceiver. He ate cow’s flesh, spoke cruel words, and censured deities. He always did acts that were sinful. O you devoted wife, even in a dream he did not do a virtuous deed.
85-88. O you of large buttocks, this one always tormented by love, getting into a chariot, moves in the sky to kidnap the wife of another man. He, smitten by love forcibly embraces whichever very young woman he sees and wherever he sees her. Once he saw the beautiful wife of a king named Bhīmakeśa (engaged) in sport, and in the prime of youth. Then seeing her bright like a golden lotus, he affectionately said these words to her: “Who are you? What are you doing h ere?”
89-94. Then that wife of king Bhīmakeśa said: “I, adorned by the name Keśinī and knowing the art of sexual enjoyment, am the wife of king Bhīmakeśa. (But) the king does not even for a moment look at (i.e. care for) me who am conversant with all virtues, who am delighted in love, who am born in his own family, and who am blemishless. I, about whom inquiry is abandoned by the husband, who am grieving over my fate, who am tormented by the fire of separation, always stay here only. O best one, being pleased, please tell me everything: Who are you? How have you come to this garden?” Then he said these words: “O you having a face like the full moon, I am a demon using tricks, and have come here to embrace you. Abandon your angry husband who always finds fault with you. O slender one, resort to me. I shall give you excellent pleasure.”
95-99. Then that virtuous (?) wife bound the demon with her creeper-like arms and put her mouth into his (i.e. kissed him). O you of fine hips, having embraced her who got perturbed due to discrimination and excitement, he got along with her into a chariot. With great eagerness they became (i.e. acted like a married) couple. Getting into a chariot with the wind’s speed, they went along the aerial path. Then he spoke these words to her: “O slender one, see, from your husband’s country we have come to the place where Gaṅgā joins the Ocean”. Then the lady in the chariot, seeing the union of Gaṅgā and the Ocean suddenly died due to great fear.
100-102. The demon also seeing the good (?) lady dead, lamented much, and died instantly. By the order of the Garuḍa-bannered (Viṣṇu) we are taking these two, of meritorious deeds and free from sins, to Vaikuṇṭha. Even sinners casting their bodies in water, on ground, or in the air at (the place of) the union of Gaṅgā and the Ocean, reach the highest position.
103-107a. The holy place at the union of Gaṅgā and the Ocean is difficult to be found in the three worlds. Even a killer of a brāhmaṇa, who observes a fast there on the Ekādaśī day in the month of Māgha in winter becomes purified. There is no doubt about this. Having bathed at the place of the union of Gaṅgā and the Ocean, and having seen (the idol of) Hari , Mādhava (i.e. Viṣṇu), and having seen Kārtikeya , rebirth does not take place. Kārtikeya is actually Viṣṇu. The identity between the two is always established. All those who see Kārtikeya, go to (i.e. attain) liberation. Hear (i.e. note) that the holy place at the union of Gaṅgā and the Ocean is superior to all (other) holy places. One who dies there in water, on ground or in the air, obtains liberation.
Vyāsa said :
107b-112. O Jaimini, speaking like this, all those messengers of Viṣṇu, taking the two, went, along the aerial path, to Viṣṇu’s abode. That (Praṇidhi’s) wife, the chaste Padmāvatī, along with the couple of husbands, became assimilated with Viṣṇu, the giver of the four goals of human life, enjoyed all pleasures there, difficult to be obtained; they obtained the highest knowledge and were assimilated with Viṣṇu. Gaṅgā is full of all holy places. Viṣṇu is full of all holy places. Therefore, devotion for Gaṅgā and for Viṣṇu is laid down. Formerly, a king named Mādhava, practised penance for a long time at (the place of) the union of Gaṅgā and the Ocean, and along with his wife, got salvation.
Jaimini said :
113. Who is this Mādhava whom you have mentioned? What acts did he do? How did he practise penance? O best one, tell all that to me.
Vyāsa said :
114. Listen to the story of that magnanimous king Mādhava, O brāhmaṇa sage. O very intelligent one, I shall narrate it in brief.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 45146, revision 336752 (2022-04-27T03:29:00Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365845.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.