Skip to main content

Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Unit 679 of 693Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 12Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 121 source entries

Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 12

Source

व्यास उवाच- फाल्गुने ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ श्रीकृष्णं सुरवंदितम् । पूजयेद्भक्तिभावेन प्रत्यहं वैष्णवो जनः १। फाल्गुने स्नापयेद्यस्तु सर्पिषा देवकीसुतम् । फलं तस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यतः सम्यङिनशामय २। सर्वयज्ञफलं प्राप्य सर्वदानफलं तथा । अंते याति हरेः स्थानं सर्वपापविवर्जितः ३। युगकोटिसहस्राणि भुक्त्त्वा भोगं हरेर्गृहे । तत्रैव मोक्षमाप्नोति संप्राप्य ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ४। यस्तु यच्छति कृष्णाय शिशिरे गोपमूर्तये । तिलानां मोदकं दिव्यं स गच्छेद्धरिमंदिरम् ५। यो दुग्धलड्डुकान्दद्यात्केशवाय महात्मने । स पिबेदमृतं स्वर्गे मन्वंतरशतावधि ६। हरये ललितं खंडं यस्तु यच्छति जैमिने । तस्य विष्णुः प्रसन्नात्मा छिनत्ति भवबंधनम् ७। विचित्रं फलितं दिव्यं दद्याद्भगवते द्विज । अंते शक्रपुरं गत्वा स भवेत्सुरवंदितः ८। निर्मलां शर्करां यच्छेद्यस्तु कृष्णाय भक्तिमान् । स किं न लभते विप्र वासुदेवप्रसादतः ९। सुपक्वं फाल्गुने मासि मधुरं बदरीफलम् । यस्तु यच्छति कृष्णाय फलं तस्य निशामय १०। इह भुङ्क्ते सुखं सर्वं पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः । अंते हरेर्गृहं याति रथमारुह्य शोभनम् ११। न दद्याद्गुडसंयुक्तं हरये बदरीफलम् । अज्ञानाद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ दद्याच्चेन्नारकीभवेत् १२। फाल्गुने मासि यो दद्याद्धरये दाडिमीफलम् । सुपक्वं तत्फलं विप्र वदतो मे निशामय १३। तत्र यावंति बीजानि तिष्ठंति दाडिमीफले । तावन्मन्वंतरं विष्णोर्गृहे तिष्ठति भाग्यवान् १४। फाल्गुने मासि यो दद्याद्धरये गुडपिष्टकम् । स विज्ञेयो द्विजश्रेष्ठ वाजिमेधसहस्रकृत् १५। चैत्रे मासि द्विजश्रेष्ठ मधुना मधुसूदनम् । स्नापयेल्लभते मर्त्यस्तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् १६। मधुना स्नापयेद्यस्तु नारायणमनामयम् । न चर्चा क्रियते तस्य कदाचिद्रविसूनुना १७। चैत्रे किंशुकपुष्पेण योऽर्चयेत्कमलापतिम् । तन्नाम चित्रगुप्तेन पंजिकायां न लिख्यते १८। चैत्रके जगतामीशं कृष्णं तिलकपुष्पकैः । पूजतो नास्ति वै जन्म पुनरस्मिन्महीतले १९। कृष्णवंजुलपुष्पेण सर्वदेवशिरोमणिम् । पूजयन्मनुजो विप्र लभते नापदं क्वचित् २०। वासंतीभिः सुगंधीभिर्वसंते यस्तु पूजयेत् । भगवंतं प्रसन्नात्मा स देवैरपि पूज्यते २१। तथा किसलयैर्दिव्यैरखण्डैर्योऽर्चयेद्धरिम् । तं वंदते समुत्थाय स्वयं पीठासनोपि च २२। धात्रीपत्रैर्नवैर्यस्तु कोमलैर्हरिमर्चयेत् । अचिरेणैव लभते सकलं वांछितं जनः २३। शांडिल्या खंडपत्रैश्च धत्तूरैश्चार्कपुष्पकैः । योऽर्चयेद्विष्णुमीशं च स संसाराब्धिपारगः २४। यो दद्याद्विष्णवे विप्र कदलीफलमुत्तमम् । शक्राद्यास्त्रिदशाः सर्वे वंदंते तमहर्निशम् २५। यो दद्याच्चैत्रके मासि भक्त्या गोपालरूपिणे । गोधूमपिष्टकं विप्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते २६। आयाते माधवे मासि पवित्रे माधव प्रिये । आमिषं मैथुनं तैलं विष्णुभक्तः परित्यजेत् २७। प्राप्तः समाचरेत्स्नानं माधवे मासि वैष्णवः । परित्यजेत्परान्नं च न कुर्याच्च द्विभोजनम् २८। प्रभाते पूजयेद्विष्णुंपू र्वोक्तविधिना द्विज । वैशाखे स्नापयेद्विष्णुं पुष्पवासितवारिणा २९। स्नापयेच्छीततोयेषु संध्यापर्यंतमच्युतम् । त्रिसंध्यं पूजयेद्भक्त्या नैवेद्यैर्विविधैः प्रभुम् ३०। वैशाखे दमनस्रग्भिर्लक्ष्मीपतिरलंकृतः । न किं ददाति विप्रर्षे प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः ३१। वैशाखे मासि यो दद्याद्यवान्नं चक्रपाणये । तस्य पुण्यानि संख्यातुं कः समर्थोऽस्ति पंडितः ३२। यत्किंचिन्माधवे मासि माधवप्रीतिहेतवे । दीयते माधवायैव तत्सर्वमक्षयं भवेत् ३३। यदन्यत्सुकृतं कर्म क्रियते मासि माधवे । माधवप्रीतये विप्र क्षयस्तस्य न विद्यते ३४। वैशाखे मासि यः कुर्यात्प्रपां माधवतुष्टये । दिनेदिनेऽश्वमेधस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः ३५। वैशाखो दुर्ल्लभो मासः सर्वकर्मफलप्रदः । पूजितव्यो हरिस्तत्र हित्वा कर्मशतान्यपि ३६। एकाहमपि यः पूजां वैशाखे कुरुते हरेः । षड्वर्षं हरिं पूजित्वा यत्फलं लभते स तत् ३७। वैशाखे मासि यो नित्यं विष्णुमश्वत्थरूपिणम् । चतुर्वर्गफलप्राप्तिहेतवे वैष्णवो जनः ३८। गण्डूषमात्रतो येन कुर्याद्योऽश्वत्थसेवनम् । सोऽपि याति परं स्थानं विमुक्तः कोटिपातकैः ३९। अश्वत्थमूलं विप्रर्षे यो बध्नाति शिलादिभिः । अश्वत्थरूपी भगवान्किं किं तस्मै न यच्छति ४०। अश्वत्थद्रुममालोक्य प्रणामं कुरुते यदि । सोऽपि याति परं स्थानमायुर्वृद्धिर्न संशयः ४१। यदश्वत्थतले विप्र धर्मकर्म करोति यः । न्यूनातिरिक्तता न स्यात्तस्मिन्कर्मणि जैमिने ४२। तत्र तीर्थानि सर्वाणि त्रिस्त्रोतादीनि जैमिने । यत्राश्वत्थतरुस्तिष्ठेदेकोपि शाखिनां वरः ४३। अश्वत्थं पूजयेद्यस्तु स एव विष्णुपूजकः । अश्वत्थमूर्तिर्भगवान्स्वयमेव यतो द्विज ४४। अवज्ञानाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ योऽश्वत्थं हंति मूढधीः । संसारे नास्ति तत्कर्म यत्कृत्वा स च शुद्ध्यति ४५। अश्वत्थो वृक्षराजोऽयं हरिमूर्तिः प्रकीर्तितः । तस्मादश्वत्थहंतॄणां त्राता कोऽपि न विद्यते ४६। अश्वत्थं पश्यतो विप्र स्पृशतः परतस्तथा । देहस्थं पातकं सर्वं हरेत्प्रणमतो हरिः ४७। विलोक्याश्वत्थहंतारं यः शक्तो न निवारयेत्। तन्नेत्रयुग्मं बडिशैर्यमेनोत्पाट्यते स्वयम् ४८। अश्वत्थच्छेदनं मूढो मा कुर्विति वदेन्न यः । तस्य जिह्वां छुरिकया स्वयं कृंतति प्रेतराट् ४९। अश्वत्थशाखामेकां यः स्वल्पामपि निहंति वै । स कोटिब्रह्महत्यानां फलमाप्नोति मानवः ५० 7.12.50। यत्पापं ब्रह्महत्यायां गुरुस्त्रीगमनेन च । सुरापाने तथास्तेये न्यासापहरणेऽपि च ५१। यत्पापं भ्रूणहत्यायां गोहत्यायां द्विजोत्तम । स्त्रीहत्यायां च यत्पापं परस्त्रीगमने तथा ५२। शरणागत हत्यायां हत्यायां सुहृदस्तथा । विश्वासवाक्याकथने पतिहिंसाविधौ च यत् ५३। यत्पापं परनिंदायां हरिवासरभोजने । अश्वत्थच्छेदनाद्धोरं तत्पापं प्राप्यते जनैः ५४। विष्णुमूर्त्तेर्जनो मोहादश्वत्थस्य निहंति यः । तत्तुल्यः पातकी कोऽपि न श्रुतः क्षितिमंडले ५५। वदाम्यश्वत्थमाहात्म्यं सर्वपापविनाशनम् । सेतिहासं द्विजश्रेष्ठ शृणु वत्स समाहितः ५६। पूर्वं धनंजयो नाम ब्राह्मणो हरिभक्तिकृत् । आसीत्त्रेतायुगे विप्र सर्वप्राणिहिते रतः ५७। ज्ञातिपूजारतो नित्यं दीपदाने रतः सदा । सत्यवादी जितक्रोधो हिंसादंभविवर्जितः ५८। मुमुक्षुः स द्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वदा परमेश्वरम् । पूजयामास परया भक्त्या नारायणं प्रभुम् ५९। तस्य भक्तिं ततो ज्ञात्वा महतीं सुदृढां प्रभुः । जहार सकलं वित्तं हेतुमात्रेण केनचित् ६०। तथापि स द्विजश्रेष्ठः केशवस्य महात्मनः । पूजामनुदिने चक्रे भक्त्या परमया सुधीः ६१। दुःखेनोपार्जितं वित्तं विनष्टं सकलं द्विज । दृष्ट्वापि तेन विप्रेण दुःखेनाचिंत्यचेतसा ६२। भक्षणे वर्जनं चक्रे स विप्रः परमार्थवित् । महाविष्णुसपर्यायां दृढं बद्ध्वा मनो निजम् ६३। भूयोऽपि तस्य विप्रस्य भक्तिं ज्ञात्वा जनार्दनः । चकार बंधुविच्छेदं सुदृढः शमदस्ततः ६४। बांधवास्तस्य विप्रस्य विष्णुमायाविमोहिताः । हिंसामारेभिरे कर्तुं सर्वदैव द्विजोत्तम ६५। ततो विप्रो हि निर्वृत्तो निर्बंधैः पुरुषोत्तमम् । पूजयामास सततं प्रीतः प्रचुरभक्तितः ६६। परिकल्प्य च भूदेवो धनं केशवपूजने । माधवं च जगन्नाथं सबंधुशुचमत्यजत् ६७। भूय एव महाविष्णुः कौतुकी तस्य जैमिने । जहार सानुकंपोऽपि पुत्रानपि दिने दिने ६८। तथापि स द्विजश्रेष्ठः केशवं क्लेशनाशनम् । पूर्वद्विगुणया भक्त्या नित्यं विष्णुमपूजयत् ६९। तस्य पत्नी ततो विप्र दुःखशोकातिदुःखिता । पितृगेहं गता विष्णोर्मायया परिमोहिता ७०। अथैकाकी स भूदेवो विष्णुभक्तिपरायणः । विपदं चिंतयामास न कदापि सुचेतसा ७१। एकदा स द्विजश्रेष्ठ विष्णुभक्तिमतां वरः । स्कंधे परशुमादाय काष्ठार्थं विपिने ययौ ७२। वनात्काष्ठं समादाय नित्यमेव च स द्विजः । हिमागमे वस्त्रहीनः कुरुते शीतवारणम् ७३। कदाचिद्विपिनं गंतुं नाशक्नोद्द्विजसत्तमः । जघान प्रांगणस्थस्य शाखामश्वत्थशाखिनः ७४। अत्रांतरे महाविष्णुस्तस्मादश्वत्थ पादपात् । निश्चक्राम सुरश्रेष्ठो व्यथाव्यथितमानसः ७५। ददर्श विष्णुं पुरतः स विप्रश्चतुर्भुजं पद्मदलायताक्षम् । पीतांबरं कुडलिनं सुकेशं दधानमब्जादि निजायुधानि ७६। परिस्रवद्विस्तररक्तधारा संध्यासु शोणीकृतनव्यमेघम् । विभावसुं चैव सुखं परेशं संदृश्यते देवगणैरदृश्यम् । हर्षाश्रुधारा रुचिराक्षियुग्मस्तुष्टाव विप्रो मृदुलैर्वचोभिः ७७। ब्राह्मण उवाच- हरे मुरारे जगदेकनाथ गोविंद दामोदर माधवेति । लक्ष्मीपते केशवकेशिशत्रो नारायणानंत विभो प्रसीद ७८। तवावतारं किमहं ब्रवीमि त्वया विना नास्ति भुवीह कोऽपि । किं वा गुणव्याप्तसमस्तलोकं किं वा दयां मित्रपरैकतुल्याम् ७९। दत्वा स्वीयां कस्यचिदीश विष्णो भक्तिं हरस्य च्युतदेहसंस्थाम् । श्रियं समादाय मुदं प्रदास्ये भक्तिः प्रदत्तामहतः सुधन्या ८०। मन्ये महात्मानमनंतमूर्त्ते पापात्मनां श्रेष्ठमिवानिशं यत् । तदर्थमेवांघ्रियुगं त्वदीयं न पातकी पश्यति दैवचिंत्यम् ८१। यद्यप्यहं दुःखवतां वरिष्ठो मन्ये तथापीन्द्रमिवाद्य विष्णो । आत्मानमात्मा जगतां भवंतं साक्षात्समीक्षेयत ईक्षणाभ्याम् ८२। पूजां तवाल्पामपि वेद्मि नाहं द्रव्यं कदापि न ददामि तुभ्यम् । तथापि चाग्रे मम मूर्तिमांस्त्वं दृष्टोसि मे केशव एक पूज्यः ८३। दत्तस्त्वयायं ममभक्ति वृक्षो धमार्थकामत्रय एव सोऽयम् । त्वद्दर्शनांभो मयवृष्टिसिक्तः प्रभोऽद्यकैवल्यफलं दधार ८४। मूर्धा मदीयोऽखिललोकमूर्ध्नां श्रेष्ठो भवेत्केशवविश्वमूर्तेः । त्वत्पादपाथोजयुगेमनो मे संयाति वै संप्रतिदेवदेव ८५। व्यासउवाच- इत्थं स्तुत्वा जगन्नाथं नारायणमनामयम् । कृतांजलिपुनःप्राह भक्त्या तमिति स द्विजः ८६। ब्राह्मण उवाच- देवदेव जगन्नाथ लोकानुग्रहकारक । कशाप्रहरणैरेतद्गात्रं ते रुधिरोक्षितम् ८७। सर्वेषामेव दैत्यानां युधि वंशास्त्वया हताः । त्वां हंतुं कः क्षमः पृथ्व्यां प्रभोऽद्भुतमिदं महत् ८८। भगवानुवाच- वत्स सत्यमिदं प्रोक्तं त्वया नास्त्यत्र संशयः । दानवो राक्षसो वापि मां हंतुं कोऽपि न क्षमः ८९। अश्वत्थमूतिरेवाहं कुठारेण हतस्त्वया । अतोऽजनि शरीरे मे रक्तपातोऽधुना द्विज ९०। व्यास उवाच- तस्यवाक्यमिदं श्रुत्वा स विप्रो भयविह्वलः । निनिंद स्वयमात्मानमात्मना बहुधा द्विजः ९१। धिगस्तु तत्वतो भाग्यं सर्वपातकिनां वरम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपतेर्दाता हृदये महतीं व्यथाम् ९२। सर्वपापहरो विष्णुः समया व्याधितः कृतः । एतत्पापं मया पारं कर्तुं नैकेन शक्यते ९३। यस्मिंस्तुष्टे पापिनोऽपि भवंति सुरवंदिताः । मद्दत्तया स व्यथया व्यथितो हा हतोऽस्म्यहम् ९४। प्रसादयंति यं देवा ब्रह्माद्या अतिभक्तितः । अहो मया पापवता तस्य दत्ता हृदि व्यथा ९५। किं तपोभिर्जपैः किं वा किं गृहैर्जीवनैश्च मे । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां दातैकोऽयं व्यथातुरः ९६। इत्युक्त्वा स द्विजश्रेष्ठ तमेव परशुं निजे । दातुं कंठे मनश्चक्रे विष्णुप्रीणनहेतवे ९७। तस्यभक्तिं दृढां ज्ञात्वा दयालुः कमलापतिः । तद्धस्तात्तत्परं निन्ये जवेन भक्तवत्सलः ९८। श्रीभगवानुवाच- कथं त्वमेव कुरुषे वत्स कर्मातिदारुणम् । आत्महत्याकृतां पुंसां तुष्टोस्मि न कदाप्यहम् ९९। तव भक्त्यातितुष्टोऽस्मि भीतिं मा कुरुसत्तम । वरं वरय विप्रेन्द्र यत्ते मनसि वर्तते १०० 7.12.100। ब्राह्मण उवाच- मया व्यथाप्रदत्तेयं महती परमेश्वर । मा तिष्ठतु शरीरे ते याचे वरमिमं प्रभो १०१। श्रीभगवानुवाच- अज्ञानाद्भवता वत्स कर्मेदं विहितं द्विज । अतोऽपराधो नेतव्यो महानपि न ते यथा १०२। नित्यं तवानुपाल्योऽस्मि भक्तश्रेष्ठो यतो भवान् । भवदीयानहं मन्ये दोषान्वत्स दिनेदिने १०३। तथापि ममभक्तिस्ते ववृधे महती सदा । तस्माद्वत्स तवानृण्यं गंतुमिच्छामि संप्रति १०४। विहाय सकलां भीतिं वंर वृणु ममाग्रतः । ब्राह्मण उवाच- त्वयि सर्वसुरश्रेष्ठ मम जन्मनिजन्मनि १०५। तिष्ठतां सुदृढा भक्तिर्हरे किमपरैर्वरैः । व्यास उवाच- श्रुत्वा वाक्यमिदं तस्य केशवप्रणयोदितम् १०६। निजकण्ठस्थितां मालां प्रीतस्तस्मै ददौ ततः । समालिङ्ग्य ततो विप्रं पिता पुत्रमिव प्रभुः १०७। चतुर्भिर्बाहुभिर्दीर्घैरुवाच मृदुलं वचः । श्रीभगवानुवाच- मद्भक्तोऽसि यदा विप्र तथा ते मत्प्रसादतः १०८। अचिरेणैव सकलं भद्रं विप्र भविष्यति । अश्वत्थरूपं मां नित्यं क्रियायोगेन सत्तम १०९। समाराधय सर्वं ते साधयिष्यामि वांछितम् । इत्युक्त्वा तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं भूयोऽप्यालिङ्ग्य केशवः ११०। अभवत्सहसादृश्यस्तत्रैव करुणालयः । विष्णोः कंठस्रजं प्राप्य स विप्रो वैष्णवोत्तमः १११। कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मत्वा तस्थौ निजेगृहे । ततः कुबेरो विप्रर्षे तस्य विप्रस्य सद्मनि ११२। स्वयं ववर्ष वित्तानि बहूनि केशवाज्ञया । प्रासादो रचितस्तस्य शिल्पिना विश्वकर्मणा ११३। नारायणाज्ञया तत्र वैजयंत इवोत्तमः । दासदासीसमायुक्तो नानावस्तुविभूषितः ११४। गजाश्वकोटिसंकीर्णं विबभौ तस्य मन्दिरम् । बभुवुः संगतास्तस्य नष्टा अपि च बांधवाः ११५। कृतावज्ञा च तत्पत्नी स्वयं तद्गृहमाययौ । मृतपुत्रापि तत्पत्नी केशवस्यानुकंपया ११६। स्थिरप्रजाभवद्विप्र स्वामिभक्तिपरायणा । चिरं भुक्त्वाखिलान्भोगान्पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः ११७। आयुषोंऽते ययौ मोक्षं सदारो विप्रसत्तमः । व्यास उवाच- साक्षादेव स्वयं विष्णुरश्वत्थो वृक्षसत्तमः ११८। तद्भक्तिं कुर्वतां पुंसां विद्यते नाशुभं क्वचित् । अश्वत्थं सेवते यस्तु विष्णुं ध्यात्वा नरोत्तम ११९। तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान्ददाति परमं पदम् १२०। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे क्रियायोगसारे अश्वत्थमाहात्म्ये द्वादशोऽध्यायः १२।

vyāsa uvāca- phālgune brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha śrīkṛṣṇaṃ suravaṃditam | pūjayedbhaktibhāvena pratyahaṃ vaiṣṇavo janaḥ 1| phālgune snāpayedyastu sarpiṣā devakīsutam | phalaṃ tasya pravakṣyāmi yataḥ samyaṅinaśāmaya 2| sarvayajñaphalaṃ prāpya sarvadānaphalaṃ tathā | aṃte yāti hareḥ sthānaṃ sarvapāpavivarjitaḥ 3| yugakoṭisahasrāṇi bhukttvā bhogaṃ harergṛhe | tatraiva mokṣamāpnoti saṃprāpya jñānamuttamam 4| yastu yacchati kṛṣṇāya śiśire gopamūrtaye | tilānāṃ modakaṃ divyaṃ sa gaccheddharimaṃdiram 5| yo dugdhalaḍḍukāndadyātkeśavāya mahātmane | sa pibedamṛtaṃ svarge manvaṃtaraśatāvadhi 6| haraye lalitaṃ khaṃḍaṃ yastu yacchati jaimine | tasya viṣṇuḥ prasannātmā chinatti bhavabaṃdhanam 7| vicitraṃ phalitaṃ divyaṃ dadyādbhagavate dvija | aṃte śakrapuraṃ gatvā sa bhavetsuravaṃditaḥ 8| nirmalāṃ śarkarāṃ yacchedyastu kṛṣṇāya bhaktimān | sa kiṃ na labhate vipra vāsudevaprasādataḥ 9| supakvaṃ phālgune māsi madhuraṃ badarīphalam | yastu yacchati kṛṣṇāya phalaṃ tasya niśāmaya 10| iha bhuṅkte sukhaṃ sarvaṃ putrapautrasamanvitaḥ | aṃte harergṛhaṃ yāti rathamāruhya śobhanam 11| na dadyādguḍasaṃyuktaṃ haraye badarīphalam | ajñānādbrāhmaṇaśreṣṭha dadyāccennārakībhavet 12| phālgune māsi yo dadyāddharaye dāḍimīphalam | supakvaṃ tatphalaṃ vipra vadato me niśāmaya 13| tatra yāvaṃti bījāni tiṣṭhaṃti dāḍimīphale | tāvanmanvaṃtaraṃ viṣṇorgṛhe tiṣṭhati bhāgyavān 14| phālgune māsi yo dadyāddharaye guḍapiṣṭakam | sa vijñeyo dvijaśreṣṭha vājimedhasahasrakṛt 15| caitre māsi dvijaśreṣṭha madhunā madhusūdanam | snāpayellabhate martyastadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam 16| madhunā snāpayedyastu nārāyaṇamanāmayam | na carcā kriyate tasya kadācidravisūnunā 17| caitre kiṃśukapuṣpeṇa yo'rcayetkamalāpatim | tannāma citraguptena paṃjikāyāṃ na likhyate 18| caitrake jagatāmīśaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ tilakapuṣpakaiḥ | pūjato nāsti vai janma punarasminmahītale 19| kṛṣṇavaṃjulapuṣpeṇa sarvadevaśiromaṇim | pūjayanmanujo vipra labhate nāpadaṃ kvacit 20| vāsaṃtībhiḥ sugaṃdhībhirvasaṃte yastu pūjayet | bhagavaṃtaṃ prasannātmā sa devairapi pūjyate 21| tathā kisalayairdivyairakhaṇḍairyo'rcayeddharim | taṃ vaṃdate samutthāya svayaṃ pīṭhāsanopi ca 22| dhātrīpatrairnavairyastu komalairharimarcayet | acireṇaiva labhate sakalaṃ vāṃchitaṃ janaḥ 23| śāṃḍilyā khaṃḍapatraiśca dhattūraiścārkapuṣpakaiḥ | yo'rcayedviṣṇumīśaṃ ca sa saṃsārābdhipāragaḥ 24| yo dadyādviṣṇave vipra kadalīphalamuttamam | śakrādyāstridaśāḥ sarve vaṃdaṃte tamaharniśam 25| yo dadyāccaitrake māsi bhaktyā gopālarūpiṇe | godhūmapiṣṭakaṃ vipra sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 26| āyāte mādhave māsi pavitre mādhava priye | āmiṣaṃ maithunaṃ tailaṃ viṣṇubhaktaḥ parityajet 27| prāptaḥ samācaretsnānaṃ mādhave māsi vaiṣṇavaḥ | parityajetparānnaṃ ca na kuryācca dvibhojanam 28| prabhāte pūjayedviṣṇuṃpū rvoktavidhinā dvija | vaiśākhe snāpayedviṣṇuṃ puṣpavāsitavāriṇā 29| snāpayecchītatoyeṣu saṃdhyāparyaṃtamacyutam | trisaṃdhyaṃ pūjayedbhaktyā naivedyairvividhaiḥ prabhum 30| vaiśākhe damanasragbhirlakṣmīpatiralaṃkṛtaḥ | na kiṃ dadāti viprarṣe prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ 31| vaiśākhe māsi yo dadyādyavānnaṃ cakrapāṇaye | tasya puṇyāni saṃkhyātuṃ kaḥ samartho'sti paṃḍitaḥ 32| yatkiṃcinmādhave māsi mādhavaprītihetave | dīyate mādhavāyaiva tatsarvamakṣayaṃ bhavet 33| yadanyatsukṛtaṃ karma kriyate māsi mādhave | mādhavaprītaye vipra kṣayastasya na vidyate 34| vaiśākhe māsi yaḥ kuryātprapāṃ mādhavatuṣṭaye | dinedine'śvamedhasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ 35| vaiśākho durllabho māsaḥ sarvakarmaphalapradaḥ | pūjitavyo haristatra hitvā karmaśatānyapi 36| ekāhamapi yaḥ pūjāṃ vaiśākhe kurute hareḥ | ṣaḍvarṣaṃ hariṃ pūjitvā yatphalaṃ labhate sa tat 37| vaiśākhe māsi yo nityaṃ viṣṇumaśvattharūpiṇam | caturvargaphalaprāptihetave vaiṣṇavo janaḥ 38| gaṇḍūṣamātrato yena kuryādyo'śvatthasevanam | so'pi yāti paraṃ sthānaṃ vimuktaḥ koṭipātakaiḥ 39| aśvatthamūlaṃ viprarṣe yo badhnāti śilādibhiḥ | aśvattharūpī bhagavānkiṃ kiṃ tasmai na yacchati 40| aśvatthadrumamālokya praṇāmaṃ kurute yadi | so'pi yāti paraṃ sthānamāyurvṛddhirna saṃśayaḥ 41| yadaśvatthatale vipra dharmakarma karoti yaḥ | nyūnātiriktatā na syāttasminkarmaṇi jaimine 42| tatra tīrthāni sarvāṇi tristrotādīni jaimine | yatrāśvatthatarustiṣṭhedekopi śākhināṃ varaḥ 43| aśvatthaṃ pūjayedyastu sa eva viṣṇupūjakaḥ | aśvatthamūrtirbhagavānsvayameva yato dvija 44| avajñānāddvijaśreṣṭha yo'śvatthaṃ haṃti mūḍhadhīḥ | saṃsāre nāsti tatkarma yatkṛtvā sa ca śuddhyati 45| aśvattho vṛkṣarājo'yaṃ harimūrtiḥ prakīrtitaḥ | tasmādaśvatthahaṃtṝṇāṃ trātā ko'pi na vidyate 46| aśvatthaṃ paśyato vipra spṛśataḥ paratastathā | dehasthaṃ pātakaṃ sarvaṃ haretpraṇamato hariḥ 47| vilokyāśvatthahaṃtāraṃ yaḥ śakto na nivārayet| tannetrayugmaṃ baḍiśairyamenotpāṭyate svayam 48| aśvatthacchedanaṃ mūḍho mā kurviti vadenna yaḥ | tasya jihvāṃ churikayā svayaṃ kṛṃtati pretarāṭ 49| aśvatthaśākhāmekāṃ yaḥ svalpāmapi nihaṃti vai | sa koṭibrahmahatyānāṃ phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ 50 7.12.50| yatpāpaṃ brahmahatyāyāṃ gurustrīgamanena ca | surāpāne tathāsteye nyāsāpaharaṇe'pi ca 51| yatpāpaṃ bhrūṇahatyāyāṃ gohatyāyāṃ dvijottama | strīhatyāyāṃ ca yatpāpaṃ parastrīgamane tathā 52| śaraṇāgata hatyāyāṃ hatyāyāṃ suhṛdastathā | viśvāsavākyākathane patihiṃsāvidhau ca yat 53| yatpāpaṃ paraniṃdāyāṃ harivāsarabhojane | aśvatthacchedanāddhoraṃ tatpāpaṃ prāpyate janaiḥ 54| viṣṇumūrtterjano mohādaśvatthasya nihaṃti yaḥ | tattulyaḥ pātakī ko'pi na śrutaḥ kṣitimaṃḍale 55| vadāmyaśvatthamāhātmyaṃ sarvapāpavināśanam | setihāsaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha śṛṇu vatsa samāhitaḥ 56| pūrvaṃ dhanaṃjayo nāma brāhmaṇo haribhaktikṛt | āsīttretāyuge vipra sarvaprāṇihite rataḥ 57| jñātipūjārato nityaṃ dīpadāne rataḥ sadā | satyavādī jitakrodho hiṃsādaṃbhavivarjitaḥ 58| mumukṣuḥ sa dvijaśreṣṭha sarvadā parameśvaram | pūjayāmāsa parayā bhaktyā nārāyaṇaṃ prabhum 59| tasya bhaktiṃ tato jñātvā mahatīṃ sudṛḍhāṃ prabhuḥ | jahāra sakalaṃ vittaṃ hetumātreṇa kenacit 60| tathāpi sa dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ keśavasya mahātmanaḥ | pūjāmanudine cakre bhaktyā paramayā sudhīḥ 61| duḥkhenopārjitaṃ vittaṃ vinaṣṭaṃ sakalaṃ dvija | dṛṣṭvāpi tena vipreṇa duḥkhenāciṃtyacetasā 62| bhakṣaṇe varjanaṃ cakre sa vipraḥ paramārthavit | mahāviṣṇusaparyāyāṃ dṛḍhaṃ baddhvā mano nijam 63| bhūyo'pi tasya viprasya bhaktiṃ jñātvā janārdanaḥ | cakāra baṃdhuvicchedaṃ sudṛḍhaḥ śamadastataḥ 64| bāṃdhavāstasya viprasya viṣṇumāyāvimohitāḥ | hiṃsāmārebhire kartuṃ sarvadaiva dvijottama 65| tato vipro hi nirvṛtto nirbaṃdhaiḥ puruṣottamam | pūjayāmāsa satataṃ prītaḥ pracurabhaktitaḥ 66| parikalpya ca bhūdevo dhanaṃ keśavapūjane | mādhavaṃ ca jagannāthaṃ sabaṃdhuśucamatyajat 67| bhūya eva mahāviṣṇuḥ kautukī tasya jaimine | jahāra sānukaṃpo'pi putrānapi dine dine 68| tathāpi sa dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ keśavaṃ kleśanāśanam | pūrvadviguṇayā bhaktyā nityaṃ viṣṇumapūjayat 69| tasya patnī tato vipra duḥkhaśokātiduḥkhitā | pitṛgehaṃ gatā viṣṇormāyayā parimohitā 70| athaikākī sa bhūdevo viṣṇubhaktiparāyaṇaḥ | vipadaṃ ciṃtayāmāsa na kadāpi sucetasā 71| ekadā sa dvijaśreṣṭha viṣṇubhaktimatāṃ varaḥ | skaṃdhe paraśumādāya kāṣṭhārthaṃ vipine yayau 72| vanātkāṣṭhaṃ samādāya nityameva ca sa dvijaḥ | himāgame vastrahīnaḥ kurute śītavāraṇam 73| kadācidvipinaṃ gaṃtuṃ nāśaknoddvijasattamaḥ | jaghāna prāṃgaṇasthasya śākhāmaśvatthaśākhinaḥ 74| atrāṃtare mahāviṣṇustasmādaśvattha pādapāt | niścakrāma suraśreṣṭho vyathāvyathitamānasaḥ 75| dadarśa viṣṇuṃ purataḥ sa vipraścaturbhujaṃ padmadalāyatākṣam | pītāṃbaraṃ kuḍalinaṃ sukeśaṃ dadhānamabjādi nijāyudhāni 76| parisravadvistararaktadhārā saṃdhyāsu śoṇīkṛtanavyamegham | vibhāvasuṃ caiva sukhaṃ pareśaṃ saṃdṛśyate devagaṇairadṛśyam | harṣāśrudhārā rucirākṣiyugmastuṣṭāva vipro mṛdulairvacobhiḥ 77| brāhmaṇa uvāca- hare murāre jagadekanātha goviṃda dāmodara mādhaveti | lakṣmīpate keśavakeśiśatro nārāyaṇānaṃta vibho prasīda 78| tavāvatāraṃ kimahaṃ bravīmi tvayā vinā nāsti bhuvīha ko'pi | kiṃ vā guṇavyāptasamastalokaṃ kiṃ vā dayāṃ mitraparaikatulyām 79| datvā svīyāṃ kasyacidīśa viṣṇo bhaktiṃ harasya cyutadehasaṃsthām | śriyaṃ samādāya mudaṃ pradāsye bhaktiḥ pradattāmahataḥ sudhanyā 80| manye mahātmānamanaṃtamūrtte pāpātmanāṃ śreṣṭhamivāniśaṃ yat | tadarthamevāṃghriyugaṃ tvadīyaṃ na pātakī paśyati daivaciṃtyam 81| yadyapyahaṃ duḥkhavatāṃ variṣṭho manye tathāpīndramivādya viṣṇo | ātmānamātmā jagatāṃ bhavaṃtaṃ sākṣātsamīkṣeyata īkṣaṇābhyām 82| pūjāṃ tavālpāmapi vedmi nāhaṃ dravyaṃ kadāpi na dadāmi tubhyam | tathāpi cāgre mama mūrtimāṃstvaṃ dṛṣṭosi me keśava eka pūjyaḥ 83| dattastvayāyaṃ mamabhakti vṛkṣo dhamārthakāmatraya eva so'yam | tvaddarśanāṃbho mayavṛṣṭisiktaḥ prabho'dyakaivalyaphalaṃ dadhāra 84| mūrdhā madīyo'khilalokamūrdhnāṃ śreṣṭho bhavetkeśavaviśvamūrteḥ | tvatpādapāthojayugemano me saṃyāti vai saṃpratidevadeva 85| vyāsauvāca- itthaṃ stutvā jagannāthaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam | kṛtāṃjalipunaḥprāha bhaktyā tamiti sa dvijaḥ 86| brāhmaṇa uvāca- devadeva jagannātha lokānugrahakāraka | kaśāpraharaṇairetadgātraṃ te rudhirokṣitam 87| sarveṣāmeva daityānāṃ yudhi vaṃśāstvayā hatāḥ | tvāṃ haṃtuṃ kaḥ kṣamaḥ pṛthvyāṃ prabho'dbhutamidaṃ mahat 88| bhagavānuvāca- vatsa satyamidaṃ proktaṃ tvayā nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ | dānavo rākṣaso vāpi māṃ haṃtuṃ ko'pi na kṣamaḥ 89| aśvatthamūtirevāhaṃ kuṭhāreṇa hatastvayā | ato'jani śarīre me raktapāto'dhunā dvija 90| vyāsa uvāca- tasyavākyamidaṃ śrutvā sa vipro bhayavihvalaḥ | niniṃda svayamātmānamātmanā bahudhā dvijaḥ 91| dhigastu tatvato bhāgyaṃ sarvapātakināṃ varam | trailokyādhipaterdātā hṛdaye mahatīṃ vyathām 92| sarvapāpaharo viṣṇuḥ samayā vyādhitaḥ kṛtaḥ | etatpāpaṃ mayā pāraṃ kartuṃ naikena śakyate 93| yasmiṃstuṣṭe pāpino'pi bhavaṃti suravaṃditāḥ | maddattayā sa vyathayā vyathito hā hato'smyaham 94| prasādayaṃti yaṃ devā brahmādyā atibhaktitaḥ | aho mayā pāpavatā tasya dattā hṛdi vyathā 95| kiṃ tapobhirjapaiḥ kiṃ vā kiṃ gṛhairjīvanaiśca me | dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṃ dātaiko'yaṃ vyathāturaḥ 96| ityuktvā sa dvijaśreṣṭha tameva paraśuṃ nije | dātuṃ kaṃṭhe manaścakre viṣṇuprīṇanahetave 97| tasyabhaktiṃ dṛḍhāṃ jñātvā dayāluḥ kamalāpatiḥ | taddhastāttatparaṃ ninye javena bhaktavatsalaḥ 98| śrībhagavānuvāca- kathaṃ tvameva kuruṣe vatsa karmātidāruṇam | ātmahatyākṛtāṃ puṃsāṃ tuṣṭosmi na kadāpyaham 99| tava bhaktyātituṣṭo'smi bhītiṃ mā kurusattama | varaṃ varaya viprendra yatte manasi vartate 100 7.12.100| brāhmaṇa uvāca- mayā vyathāpradatteyaṃ mahatī parameśvara | mā tiṣṭhatu śarīre te yāce varamimaṃ prabho 101| śrībhagavānuvāca- ajñānādbhavatā vatsa karmedaṃ vihitaṃ dvija | ato'parādho netavyo mahānapi na te yathā 102| nityaṃ tavānupālyo'smi bhaktaśreṣṭho yato bhavān | bhavadīyānahaṃ manye doṣānvatsa dinedine 103| tathāpi mamabhaktiste vavṛdhe mahatī sadā | tasmādvatsa tavānṛṇyaṃ gaṃtumicchāmi saṃprati 104| vihāya sakalāṃ bhītiṃ vaṃra vṛṇu mamāgrataḥ | brāhmaṇa uvāca- tvayi sarvasuraśreṣṭha mama janmanijanmani 105| tiṣṭhatāṃ sudṛḍhā bhaktirhare kimaparairvaraiḥ | vyāsa uvāca- śrutvā vākyamidaṃ tasya keśavapraṇayoditam 106| nijakaṇṭhasthitāṃ mālāṃ prītastasmai dadau tataḥ | samāliṅgya tato vipraṃ pitā putramiva prabhuḥ 107| caturbhirbāhubhirdīrghairuvāca mṛdulaṃ vacaḥ | śrībhagavānuvāca- madbhakto'si yadā vipra tathā te matprasādataḥ 108| acireṇaiva sakalaṃ bhadraṃ vipra bhaviṣyati | aśvattharūpaṃ māṃ nityaṃ kriyāyogena sattama 109| samārādhaya sarvaṃ te sādhayiṣyāmi vāṃchitam | ityuktvā taṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ bhūyo'pyāliṅgya keśavaḥ 110| abhavatsahasādṛśyastatraiva karuṇālayaḥ | viṣṇoḥ kaṃṭhasrajaṃ prāpya sa vipro vaiṣṇavottamaḥ 111| kṛtakṛtyamivātmānaṃ matvā tasthau nijegṛhe | tataḥ kubero viprarṣe tasya viprasya sadmani 112| svayaṃ vavarṣa vittāni bahūni keśavājñayā | prāsādo racitastasya śilpinā viśvakarmaṇā 113| nārāyaṇājñayā tatra vaijayaṃta ivottamaḥ | dāsadāsīsamāyukto nānāvastuvibhūṣitaḥ 114| gajāśvakoṭisaṃkīrṇaṃ vibabhau tasya mandiram | babhuvuḥ saṃgatāstasya naṣṭā api ca bāṃdhavāḥ 115| kṛtāvajñā ca tatpatnī svayaṃ tadgṛhamāyayau | mṛtaputrāpi tatpatnī keśavasyānukaṃpayā 116| sthiraprajābhavadvipra svāmibhaktiparāyaṇā | ciraṃ bhuktvākhilānbhogānputrapautrasamanvitaḥ 117| āyuṣoṃ'te yayau mokṣaṃ sadāro viprasattamaḥ | vyāsa uvāca- sākṣādeva svayaṃ viṣṇuraśvattho vṛkṣasattamaḥ 118| tadbhaktiṃ kurvatāṃ puṃsāṃ vidyate nāśubhaṃ kvacit | aśvatthaṃ sevate yastu viṣṇuṃ dhyātvā narottama 119| tasya prasanno bhagavāndadāti paramaṃ padam 120| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe kriyāyogasāre aśvatthamāhātmye dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ 12|

English translation

Vyāsa said :

1-2. O best brāhmaṇa , a devotee of Viṣṇu should everyday in (the month of) Phalguna devoutly worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa saluted by gods. Listen properly to the fruit which I shall tell, of (i.e. obtained by) him who would bathe Devakī ’s son with clarified butter in Phālguna .

3-6. He, having received the fruit of all sacrifices and of all gifts, and freed from all sins goes in the end to Viṣṇu’s place. Having enjoyed pleasures in Viṣṇu’s abode for thousands of crores of yugas , he, having obtained excellent knowledge, obtains liberation there only. He who offers, in winter, sweet-meat made of sesamum-seeds to Kṛṣṇa, of the form of a cowherd, would go to Viṣṇu’s abode. He who would offer sweet balls made with ghee to Viṣṇu, the highest soul, would drink nectar in heaven for a period of hundreds of Manu ’s ages.

7-9. Viṣṇu, with his mind pleased, cuts off the bond of the mundane existence of him who offers pleasing candied sugar to Viṣṇu, O Jaimini . O brāhmaṇa, a man should offer a beautiful fruit to the god. In the end he goes to Indra ’s city and would be honoured by gods. What does he who, the devoted one, would offer pure sugar to Kṛṣṇa, not obtain through Vāsudeva ’s grace, O brāhmaṇa?

10-12. Listen to the fruit of (i.e. obtained by) him who offers a very ripe, sweet, badari -fruit to Kṛṣṇa in the month of Phālguna? Along with his sons and grandsons he enjoys all pleasures here (i.e. in this world), and getting into a beautiful chariot, goes to Viṣṇu’s abode in the end. A man should not give a badari-fruit with jaggery to Viṣṇu. O best brāhmaṇa, if, through ignorance, he would give it, he would be a resident of hell.

13-16. O brāhmaṇa, listen from me who am telling it, to the fruit of (i.e. obtained by) him who offers a very ripe pomegranate to Viṣṇu in the month of Phālguna. The lucky one stays for as many ages of Manu as there are seeds in the pomegranate in Viṣṇu’s abode. O best brāhmaṇa, he who offers a mixture of flour and molasses ground and boiled together to Viṣṇu in the month of Phālguna, should be known to be the performer of a thousand horse-sacrifices. O best brāhmaṇa, the man who would bathe (the image of) Viṣṇu with honey in the month of Caitra , obtains the highest position of Viṣṇu.

17-18. The Sun’s son (i.e. Yama ) never makes an inquiry of him who would bathe (the image of) Nārāyaṇa , Anāmaya with honey (in the month of Caitra). The name of him who would bathe (the image of) Lakṣmī ’s lord with a kiṃśuka flower, is not written by Citragupta in his record.

19-21. When in Caitra Kṛṣṇa, the lord of the worlds, is worshipped with tilaka flowers by a man, then he is not reborn on the earth. A man worshipping Kṛṣṇa, the crest-jewel of all gods, with a black aśoka flower, never meets with a calamity. He who with a pleased mind, worships in the spring, the lord with fragrant vernal (flowers), is honoured even by gods.

22. The lord, seated on the altar, himself gets up and honours him who would worship Viṣṇu with divine, unbroken sprouts.

23-24. A man who would worship Viṣṇu with fresh, tender dhātrī leaves, soon obtains his desired object. He who would worship lord Viṣṇu with bilva leaves, with flower of white thorn-apple and flowers of sun-plant, crosses the ocean of the worldly existence.

25. O brāhmaṇa, all gods like Indra day and night honour him who would offer an excellent plantain fruit to Viṣṇu.

26. O brāhmaṇa, he who would devoutly offer wheat-flour to Viṣṇu of the form of a cowherd, is freed from all sins.

27-32. When the sacred month ofVaiśākha, dear to Viṣṇu, arrives, a devotee of Viṣṇu should abandon flesh, coitus and oil. In the month of Vaiśākha a devotee of Viṣṇu should bathe in the morning, should avoid the food of others, and should not eat twice (a day). In the morning, O brāhmaṇa, he should worship Viṣṇu according to the mode mentioned already. In (the month of) Vaiśākha he should bathe (the image of) Viṣṇu with water made fragrant with flowers. Till twilight he should bathe (the image of Viṣṇu) in cold water. Thrice a day (i.e. at dawn, in the noon and at sunset) he should devoutly worship the lord with various offerings of eatables. O brāhmaṇa sage, what would the lord of Lakṣmī, the highest god, decorated with the garlands of damana in Vaiśākha, and (therefore) pleased, not give (to the devotee)? Which wise man is able to measure the religious merit of him who would offer barley-food to the Disc-holder (i.e. Viṣṇu) in the month of Vaiśākha?

33-34. All that is offered to Viṣṇu only in the month of Vaiśākha to please him, would be inexhaustible. O brāhmaṇa, any other good act done in the month of Vaiśākha to please Viṣṇu, does not perish.

35-38. A man who puts up a place where water is distributed to travellers in the month of Vaiśākha to please Viṣṇu, everyday gets the fruit of a horse-sacrifice. Vaiśākha is a month difficult to be had. It gives the fruits of all acts. Abandoning even hundreds of other acts Viṣṇu should be worshipped during that month. He who worships Viṣṇu even for a day in Vaiśākha, obtains that fruit which is obtained by having worshipped Viṣṇu for six years. A man should worship Viṣṇu of the form of the holy fig tree everyday in Vaiśākha for securing the four goals of human life.

39-42. He who would worship the holy fig tree with a handful of water, would, after being free from crores of sins, go to the highest place. What would the lord in the form of the holy fig tree not give to him who binds the roots (i.e. puts up a platform around the roots) of the holy fig tree with stones etc., O brahmaṇa sage? He also, who, on seeing the holy fig tree, salutes it, goes to the highest place. (The span of) his life increases. There is no doubt about this. O Jaimini, there is no want or excess in the rite which, O brāhmaṇa, a man performs at theroot of the holy fig tree.

43-55. O Jaimini, all holy places like the Three-streamed ( Gaṅgā ) are present there where even one holy fig tree, the best among the trees, stands. O brāhmaṇa, he who would worship the holy fig tree, worships Viṣṇu, since the lord himself is of the form of the holy fig tree. There is no act in the world doing which he who, a fool, through disrespect, hurts the holy fig tree, is purified, O best brāhmaṇa. This holy fig tree, the lord of trees, is glorified to be Viṣṇu’s form. Therefore, there is no savior of those who hurt a holy fig tree. O brāhmaṇa, Viṣṇu would remove the sin remaining in the body of him who seeing a holy fig tree, afterwards touches it and salutes it. Yama himself extracts with fish-hooks the eyes of him who sees him who harms a holy fig tree, and though capable, would not ward him off. Yama himself cuts off with a knife the tongue of him who, a fool, would not say: ‘Do not cut off the holy fig tree.’ That man who hurts even one small branch of a holy fig tree, obtains the fruit of a crore of murders of brāhmaṇas . That fierce sin which is involved in the murder of a brāhmaṇa, in violating the wife of one’s preceptor, in drinking liquor, so also in snatching others’ deposits, that sin which is involved in causing an abortion, in killing a cow, in the murder of a woman, in adultery, in killing him who has sought one’s refuge, so also in killing one’s friend, in not speaking in confidence, in killing one’s husband, in censuring others, in eating on a day of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu, is committed by men by cutting off a holy fig tree. No sinner, comparable to him who hurts a holy fig tree, Viṣṇu’s form, is heard on the earth.

56. I am telling the importance of the holy fig tree along with its history. O best brāhmaṇa, O dear, listen to it attentively.

57-63. O brāhmaṇa, formerly in Tretāyuga there was a brāhmaṇa devoted to Viṣṇu and engaged in the welfare of all beings. He was always delighted in honouring his relatives; he was always delighted in offering a lamp (to Viṣṇu). He spoke the truth; he had conquered his anger. He was harmless and without religious hypocrisy. O best brāhmaṇa, he, striving after final emancipation, always worshipped lord Viṣṇu, the highest god, with great devotion. The lord, knowing his very firm devotion, took away his entire wealth with some motive. Yet that very intelligent, best brāhmaṇa, everyday worshipped the noble Viṣṇu with great devotion. O brāhmaṇa, all his wealth earned with difficulty, perished. The brāhmaṇa, knowing the highest truth, seeing that also with grief that cannot be conceived by mind, gave up eating (food) after making his mind firm in the worship of the great Viṣṇu.

64-67. Knowing the devotion of that brāhmaṇa Viṣṇu, giving tranquillity, also again brought about the destruction of his relatives. O best brāhmaṇa, the brāhmaṇa’s relatives, deluded by Viṣṇu’s Māyā , always commenced doing harm (to others). The brāhmaṇa accomplished by means of restrictions and pleased, always worshipped Viṣṇu with great devotion. The brāhmaṇa, having made arrangement to secure money for the worship of Viṣṇu, (worshipped) Mādhava , the lord of the world, and gave up grief for his relatives.

68-69. O Jaimini, great Viṣṇu, though kind to him, being curious, took away even his sons day by day. Yet that best brāhmaṇa everyday worshipped Viṣṇu, the destroyer of distress, with double the former devotion.

70-73. O brāhmaṇa, then his wife, extremely distressed due to griefand affliction, and being deluded by Viṣṇu’ s Māyā, went to her father’s house. That lonely brāhmaṇa, highly given to Viṣṇu’s devotion, never minded any calamity on account of his good heart. O best brāhmaṇa, once he, the best among Viṣṇu’s devotees, taking an axe on his shoulder went to a forest. The brāhmaṇa, having no clothes, warded off cold everyday in winter after bringing wood from the forest.

74-77. Once the best brāhmaṇa was unable to go to the forest. (So) he cut off a branch of a holy fig tree standing in the courtyard (of his house). Meantime great Viṣṇu, the best of gods, with his mind distressed by agony came out of the holy fig tree. In front of him the brāhmaṇa happily saw Viṣṇu, the highest god, having four arms, large eyes like lotus-petals, having worn a yellow garment, having ear-rings, good hair, and having his weapons like the lotus etc., resembling a new cloud, very much reddened in the evening, due to large streams of blood flowing (from his body), (resembling) fire, and invisible (even) to the hosts of gods. The brāhmaṇa with his pair of eyes charming due to streams of tears of joy, praised (him) with soft words.

The brāhmaṇa said :

78-85. O Hari , Murāri , the only lord of the world, Govinda , Dāmodara , Mādhava, lord of Lakṣmī, Keśava , enemy of Keśin , Nārāyaṇa, infinite one, lord, be pleased. How can I describe your advent? In this world there is none else except you. O Acyuta , having given one the entire world full of virtues or having given compassion whereby one looks upon one’s own (persons) and others as equal, why do you, O Viṣṇu, why do you take away the devotion for you, which resides in one’s body? By getting (i.e. if I get) wealth I shall give (i.e. part with) my joy. Devotion given to the great is very blessed. Since I constantly look upon the greatest sinner as a noble one, a sinner (like me) never sees your pair of feet meditated upon by gods. Though I am the greatest among the unhappy, yet I myself, with my eyes, am actually seeing you, like Indra, the soul of the worlds. I do not know even a small worship of you. Nor have I ever given any wealth to you. Yet, O Keśava, in front of me you, the only adorable one, are seen in a bodily form. You have given me this tree of devotion. It is full of piety, material welfare, and desire of sensual enjoyments. O lord, it, sprinkled with the water of your sight, has today borne the fruit of final emancipation. O Keśava, O you of a universal form, of all the heads in the world my head will be the best. O god of gods, my mind now goes to the couple of your lotus-like feet.

Vyāsa said :

86. That brāhmaṇa, having thus praised Jagannātha (i.e. lord of the world), Nārāyaṇa, Anāmaya, again, with the palms of his hands joined, devoutly spoke to him thus:

The brāhmaṇa said :

87-88. O god of gods, O lord of the world, O you who favour the world, with these strokes of the whip your body is wet with blood. In a battle you killed the members of the family of the demons. O lord, on the earth who is able to kill you? This is very wonderful.

The lord said :

89-90. O dear, you have undoubtedly spoken the truth. Neither a demon nor a fiend can kill me. O brāhmaṇa, I am just of the form of the holy fig tree. You cut me off with an axe. Therefore, there was now bleeding from my body.

Vyāsa said :

91-94. Hearing these words of him the brāhmaṇa, distressed with fear, censured himself in many ways. “Fie upon me, the unfortunate one and the greatest among sinners, who caused great grief to the heart of the lord of the three worlds. Viṣṇu removes all sins and he was hurt by me. Who can make me go beyond this sin? He, on whose being pleased sinners are honoured by gods, is distressed due to the trouble given by me. Oh, I am doomed!

95-96. I, a sinner, have caused pain to the heart of him whom gods like Brahmā please with great devotion. What is the use of austerities, mutterings of hymns, or life in the house to me, (since) this only giver of piety, material welfare, of sensual enjoyments and liberation is distressed with pain.”

97-98. O best brāhmaṇa, speaking like this he decided to put that axe only at his throat (i.e. to cut off his throat with that axe), to please Viṣṇu. Seeing his great devotion, the kind lord of Lakṣmī, loving his devotees, quickly took it away from his hand.

The lord said :

99-100. O dear, how (i.e. why) do you do such a very dreadful act? I am never pleased with men who commit suicide? I am very much pleased with your devotion. O best one, do not entertain fear. O best brāhmaṇa, choose a boon that is in your mind.

The brāhmaṇa said :

101. O highest god, I caused great pain to you. O lord, may it not remain in your body. This is the boon I choose, O lord.

The lord said :

102-105a. O dear, O brāhmaṇa, you did this act through ignorance. You should not, therefore, even regard it as a great offence. I am always obedient to you, since you are the greatest among devotees. Everyday I know your errors (i.e. you erred). Yet your devotion for me always increased. Therefore, O dear, I now desire to be free from your debt. Giving up all fear, choose a boon in front of (i.e. from) me.

The brāhmaṇa said :

105b-106a. O Viṣṇu, O best god, may I have very strong devotion for you in every birth.

Vyāsa said :

106b-108a. Hearing these words of him spoken due to affection for Viṣṇu, (Viṣṇu) being pleased, then gave him the garland that was (put) around his own neck. Then as a father embraces his son, he embraced the brāhmaṇa, with his four long arms, and spoke (these) soft words (to him):

The lord said :

108b-114. O brāhmaṇa, since you are my devotee, therefore you will soon have all prosperity. O brāhmaṇa, O best one, everyday propitiate me in the form of the Aśvattha tree with the employment of (proper) rites. I shall accomplish all your desired objects.

Speaking like this to the best brāhmaṇa and embracing him again, Viṣṇu, the abode of compassion, disappeared just there. That best devotee of Viṣṇu, that brāhmaṇa, having received the garland from the neck of Viṣṇu, regarded himself as having done his duty and remained in his own house. Then, O brāhmaṇa sage, Kubera himself, by Viṣṇu’s order, showered much wealth into his house. The architect (of gods) Viśvakarman fashioned for him, by Viṣṇu’s order, an excellent palace like that of Indra. It was having male and female servants. It was adorned with various things.

115-118. His abode crowded with crores of elephants and horses, shone. Even his relatives who were dead, were (again) united with him. His wife who had disrespected him, came home of her own accord. O brāhmaṇa, his wife whose sons were dead, had stable progeny due to the favour of Viṣṇu, and she was highly devoted to her husband. That best brāhmaṇa, having, for a long time, along with his sons and grandsons, enjoyed all pleasures, attained at the end of his life along with his wife liberation.

Vyāsa said :

119-120. The excellent, holy fig tree is actually Viṣṇu himself. Those men who worship it, never face any calamity. O best man, Viṣṇu, being pleased, gives him who, meditating upon Viṣṇu, worships the holy fig tree, the highest position.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 45188, revision 336760 (2022-04-27T03:40:58Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365853.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.