Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 14
Sourceशेष उवाच। अथ स्वागतसंतुष्टं शत्रुघ्नं प्राह भूमिपः । रघुनाथकथां श्रेष्ठां शुश्रूषुः पुरुषर्षभः १। सुमद उवाच। कच्चिदास्ते सुखं रामः सर्वलोकशिरोमणिः । भक्तरक्षावतारोऽयं ममानुग्रहकारकः २। धन्या लोका इमे पुर्यां रघुनाथमुखांबुजम् । ये पिबंत्यनिशं चाक्षिपुटकैः परिमोदिताः ३। अर्थजातं मदीयं च नितरां पुरुषर्षभ । कृतार्थं कुलभूम्यादि वस्तुजातं महामते ४। कामाक्षया प्रसादो मे कृतः पूर्वं दयार्द्रया । रघुनाथमुखांभोजं द्रक्ष्येद्य सकुटुंबकः ५। इत्युक्तवति वीरे तु सुमदे पार्थिवोत्तमे । सर्वं तत्कथयामास रघुनाथगुणोदयम् ६। त्रिरात्रं तत्र संस्थित्य रघुनाथानुजः परम् । गंतुं चकार धिषणां राज्ञा सह महामतिः ७। तज्ज्ञात्वा सुमदः शीघ्रं पुत्रं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् । शत्रुघ्नेन महाराज्ञा पुष्कलेनानुमोदितः ८। वासांसि बहुरत्नानि धनानि विविधानि च । शत्रुघ्नसेवकेभ्योऽसौ प्रादात्तत्र महामतिः ९। ततो गमनमारेभे मंत्रिभिर्बहुवित्तमैः । पत्तिभिर्वाजिभिर्नागैः सदश्वैरथ कोटिभिः १०। शत्रुघ्नः सहितस्तेन सुमदेन धनुर्भृता । जगाम मार्गे विहसन्रघुनाथप्रतापभृत् ११। पयोष्णीतीरमासाद्य जगाम स हयोत्तमः । पृष्ठतोऽनुययुः सर्वे योधा वै हयरक्षिणः १२। आश्रमान्विविधान्पश्यन्नृषीणां सुतपोभृताम् । तत्रतत्र विशृण्वानो रघुनाथगुणोदयम् १३। एष धीमान्हरिर्याति हरिणा परिरक्षितः । हरिभिर्हरिभक्तैश्च हरिवर्यानुगैर्मुहुः १४। इति शृण्वञ्छुभा वाचो मुनीनां परितः प्रभुः । तुतोष भक्त्युत्कलितचित्तवृत्तिभृतां महान् १५। ददर्श चाश्रमं शुद्धं जनजंतुसमाकुलम् । वेदध्वनिहताशेषा मंगलं शृण्वतां नृणाम् १६। अग्निहोत्रहविर्धूम पवित्रितनभोखिलम् । मुनिवर्यकृतानेक यागयूपसुशोभितम् १७। यत्र गावस्तु हरिणा पाल्यंते पालनोचिताः । मूषका न खनंत्यस्मिन्बिडालस्य भयाद्बिलम् १८। मयूरैर्नकुलैः सार्द्धं क्रीडंति फणिनोनिशम् । गजैः सिंहैर्नित्यमत्र स्थीयते मित्रतां गतैः १९। एणास्तत्रत्य नीवारभक्षणेषु कृतादराः । न भयं कुर्वते कालाद्रक्षिता मुनिवृंदकैः २०। गावः कुंभसमोधस्का नंदिनी समविग्रहाः । कुर्वंति चरणोत्थेन रजसेलां पवित्रिताम् २१। मुनिवर्याः समित्पाणि पद्मैर्धर्मक्रियोचिताम् । दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छसुमतिं सर्वज्ञं राम मंत्रिणम् २२। शत्रुघ्न उवाच। सुमते कस्य संस्थानं मुनेर्भाति पुरोगतम् । निर्वैरिजंतु संसेव्यं मुनिवृंदसमाकुलम् २३। श्रोष्यामि मुनिवार्तां च विदधामि पवित्रताम् । निजं वपुस्तदीयाभिर्वार्ताभिर्वर्णनादिभिः २४। इति श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । कथयामास सचिवो रघुनाथस्य धीमतः २५। सुमतिरुवाच। च्यवनस्याश्रमं विद्धि महातापसशोभितम् । निर्वैरिजंतुसंकीर्णं मुनिपत्नीभिरावृतम् २६। योऽसौ महामुनिः स्वर्गवैद्ययोर्भागमादधात् । स्वायंभुवमहायज्ञे शक्रमानविभेदनः २७। महामुनेः प्रभावोऽयं न केनापि समाप्यते । तपोबलसमृद्धस्य वेदमूर्तिधरस्य ह २८। श्रुत्वा रामानुजो वार्तां च्यवनस्य महामुनेः । सर्वं पप्रच्छ सुमतिं शक्रमानादिभंजनम् २९। शत्रुघ्न उवाच। कदासौ दस्रयोर्भागं चकार सुरपंक्तिषु । किं कृतं देवराजेन स्वायंभुव महामखे ३०। सुमतिरुवाच। ब्रह्मवंशेऽतिविख्यातो मुनिर्भृगुरिति श्रुतः । कदाचिद्गतवान्सायं समिदाहरणं प्रति ३१। तदा मखविनाशाय दमनो राक्षसो बली । आगत्योच्चैर्जगादेदं महाभयकरं वचः ३२। कुत्रास्ति मुनिबंधुः स कुत्र तन्महिलानघा । पुनः पुनरुवाचेदं वचो रोषसमाकुलः ३३। तदाहुतवहो ज्ञात्वा राक्षसाद्भयमागतम् । दर्शयामास तज्जायामंतर्वत्नीमनिंदिताम् ३४। जहार राक्षसस्तां तु रुदंतीं कुररीमिव । भृगो रक्षपते रक्ष रक्ष नाथ तपोनिधे ३५। एवं वदंतीमार्तां तां गृहीत्वा निरगाद्बहिः । दुष्टो वाक्यप्रहारेण बोधयन्स भृगोः सतीम् ३६। ततो महाभयत्रस्तो गर्भश्चोदरमध्यतः । पपात प्रज्वलन्नेत्रो वैश्वानर इवांगजः ३७। तेनोक्तं मा व्रजाशु त्वं भस्मी भव सुदुर्मते । न हि साध्वी परामर्शं कृत्वा श्रेयोऽधियास्यसि ३८। इत्युक्तः स पपाताशु भस्मीभूतकलेवरः । माता तदार्भकं नीत्वा जगामाश्रममुन्मनाः ३९। भृगुर्वह्निकृतं सर्वं ज्ञात्वा कोपसमाकुलः । शशाप सर्वभक्षस्त्वं भव दुष्टारिसूचक ४०। तदा शप्तोऽतिदुःखार्तो जग्राहांघ्र्याशुशुक्षणिः । कुरु मेऽनुग्रहं स्वामिन्कृपार्णव महामते ४१। मयानृतं वचोभीत्या कथितं न गुरुद्रुहा । तस्मान्ममोपरि कृपां कुरु धर्मशिरोमणे ४२। तदानुग्रहमाधाच्च सर्वभक्षो भवाञ्छुचिः । इत्युक्तवान्हुतभुजं दयार्द्रो मुनितापसः ४३। गर्भाच्च्युतस्य पुत्रस्य जातकर्मादिकं शुचिः । चकार विधिवद्विप्रो दर्भपाणिः सुमंगलः ४४। च्यवनाच्च्यवनं प्राहुः पुत्रं सर्वे तपस्विनः । शनैःशनैः स ववृधे शुक्ले प्रतिपदिंदुवत् ४५। स जगाम तपः कर्तुं रेवां लोकैकपावनीम् । शिष्यैः परिवृतः सर्वैस्तपोबलसमन्वितैः ४६। गत्वा तत्र तपस्तेपे वर्षाणामयुतं महान् । अंसयोः किंशुकौ जातौ वल्मीकोपरिशोभितौ ४७। मृगा आगत्य तस्यांगे कंडूं विदधुरुत्सुकाः । न किंचित्स हि जानाति दुर्वारतपसावृतः ४८। कदाचिन्मनुरुद्युक्तस्तीर्थयात्रां प्रति प्रभुः । सकुटुंबो ययौ रेवां महाबलसमावृतः ४९। तत्र स्नात्वा महानद्यां संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः । दानानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च प्रादाद्विष्णुप्रतुष्टये ५०। तत्कन्या विचरंती सा वनमध्ये इतस्ततः । सखीभिः सहिता रम्या तप्तहाटकभूषणा ५१। तत्र दृष्ट्वाथ वल्मीकं महातरुसुशोभितम् । निमेषोन्मेषरहितं तेजः किंचिद्ददर्श सा ५२। गत्वा तत्र शलाकाभिरतुदद्रुधिरं स्रवत् । दृष्ट्वा राज्ञांगजा खेदं प्राप्तवत्यतिदुःखिता ५३। न जनन्यै तथा पित्रे शशंसाघेन विप्लुता । स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं सा शुशोच भयातुरा ५४। तदा भूश्चलिता राजन्दिवश्चोल्का पपात ह । धूम्रा दिशो भवन्सर्वाः सूर्यश्च परिवेषितः ५५। तदा राज्ञो हया नष्टा हस्तिनो बहवो मृताः । धनं नष्टं रत्नयुतं कलहोभून्मिथस्तदा ५६। तदालोक्य नृपो भीतः किंचिदुद्विग्नमानसः । जनानपृच्छत्केनापि मुनये त्वपराधितम् ५७। पारंपर्येण तज्ज्ञात्वा स्वपुत्र्याः परिचेष्टितम् । ययौ सुदुःखितस्तत्र समृद्धबलवाहनः ५८। तं वै तपोनिधिं वीक्ष्य महता तपसायुतम् । स्तुत्वा प्रसादयामास मुनिवर्य दयां कुरु ५९। तस्मै तुष्टो जगादायं मुनिवर्यो महातपाः । तवात्मजाकृतं सर्वमुत्पाताद्यमवेहि तत् ६०। तव पुत्र्या महाराज चक्षुर्विस्फोटनं कृतम् । बहुसुस्राव रुधिरं जानती त्वामुवाच न ६१। तस्मादियं महाभूप मह्यं देया यथाविधि । ततश्चोत्पातशमनं भविष्यति न संशयः ६२। तच्छ्रुत्वा दुःखितो राजा प्रज्ञाचाक्षुष आत्मजाम् । ददौ कुलवयोरूप शीललक्षणसंयुताम् ६३। दत्ता यदा नृपेणेयं कन्या कमललोचना । तदोत्पाताः शमं याताः सर्वे मुनिरुषोद्गताः ६४। राजा दत्त्वात्मजां तस्मै मुनये तपसांनिधे । प्राप स्वां नगरीं भूयो दुःखितोऽयं दयायुतः ६५। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे। च्यवनोपाख्यानंनाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः १४ ।
śeṣa uvāca| atha svāgatasaṃtuṣṭaṃ śatrughnaṃ prāha bhūmipaḥ | raghunāthakathāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ śuśrūṣuḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ 1| sumada uvāca| kaccidāste sukhaṃ rāmaḥ sarvalokaśiromaṇiḥ | bhaktarakṣāvatāro'yaṃ mamānugrahakārakaḥ 2| dhanyā lokā ime puryāṃ raghunāthamukhāṃbujam | ye pibaṃtyaniśaṃ cākṣipuṭakaiḥ parimoditāḥ 3| arthajātaṃ madīyaṃ ca nitarāṃ puruṣarṣabha | kṛtārthaṃ kulabhūmyādi vastujātaṃ mahāmate 4| kāmākṣayā prasādo me kṛtaḥ pūrvaṃ dayārdrayā | raghunāthamukhāṃbhojaṃ drakṣyedya sakuṭuṃbakaḥ 5| ityuktavati vīre tu sumade pārthivottame | sarvaṃ tatkathayāmāsa raghunāthaguṇodayam 6| trirātraṃ tatra saṃsthitya raghunāthānujaḥ param | gaṃtuṃ cakāra dhiṣaṇāṃ rājñā saha mahāmatiḥ 7| tajjñātvā sumadaḥ śīghraṃ putraṃ rājye'bhyaṣecayat | śatrughnena mahārājñā puṣkalenānumoditaḥ 8| vāsāṃsi bahuratnāni dhanāni vividhāni ca | śatrughnasevakebhyo'sau prādāttatra mahāmatiḥ 9| tato gamanamārebhe maṃtribhirbahuvittamaiḥ | pattibhirvājibhirnāgaiḥ sadaśvairatha koṭibhiḥ 10| śatrughnaḥ sahitastena sumadena dhanurbhṛtā | jagāma mārge vihasanraghunāthapratāpabhṛt 11| payoṣṇītīramāsādya jagāma sa hayottamaḥ | pṛṣṭhato'nuyayuḥ sarve yodhā vai hayarakṣiṇaḥ 12| āśramānvividhānpaśyannṛṣīṇāṃ sutapobhṛtām | tatratatra viśṛṇvāno raghunāthaguṇodayam 13| eṣa dhīmānhariryāti hariṇā parirakṣitaḥ | haribhirharibhaktaiśca harivaryānugairmuhuḥ 14| iti śṛṇvañchubhā vāco munīnāṃ paritaḥ prabhuḥ | tutoṣa bhaktyutkalitacittavṛttibhṛtāṃ mahān 15| dadarśa cāśramaṃ śuddhaṃ janajaṃtusamākulam | vedadhvanihatāśeṣā maṃgalaṃ śṛṇvatāṃ nṛṇām 16| agnihotrahavirdhūma pavitritanabhokhilam | munivaryakṛtāneka yāgayūpasuśobhitam 17| yatra gāvastu hariṇā pālyaṃte pālanocitāḥ | mūṣakā na khanaṃtyasminbiḍālasya bhayādbilam 18| mayūrairnakulaiḥ sārddhaṃ krīḍaṃti phaṇinoniśam | gajaiḥ siṃhairnityamatra sthīyate mitratāṃ gataiḥ 19| eṇāstatratya nīvārabhakṣaṇeṣu kṛtādarāḥ | na bhayaṃ kurvate kālādrakṣitā munivṛṃdakaiḥ 20| gāvaḥ kuṃbhasamodhaskā naṃdinī samavigrahāḥ | kurvaṃti caraṇotthena rajaselāṃ pavitritām 21| munivaryāḥ samitpāṇi padmairdharmakriyocitām | dṛṣṭvā papracchasumatiṃ sarvajñaṃ rāma maṃtriṇam 22| śatrughna uvāca| sumate kasya saṃsthānaṃ munerbhāti purogatam | nirvairijaṃtu saṃsevyaṃ munivṛṃdasamākulam 23| śroṣyāmi munivārtāṃ ca vidadhāmi pavitratām | nijaṃ vapustadīyābhirvārtābhirvarṇanādibhiḥ 24| iti śrutvā mahadvākyaṃ śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | kathayāmāsa sacivo raghunāthasya dhīmataḥ 25| sumatiruvāca| cyavanasyāśramaṃ viddhi mahātāpasaśobhitam | nirvairijaṃtusaṃkīrṇaṃ munipatnībhirāvṛtam 26| yo'sau mahāmuniḥ svargavaidyayorbhāgamādadhāt | svāyaṃbhuvamahāyajñe śakramānavibhedanaḥ 27| mahāmuneḥ prabhāvo'yaṃ na kenāpi samāpyate | tapobalasamṛddhasya vedamūrtidharasya ha 28| śrutvā rāmānujo vārtāṃ cyavanasya mahāmuneḥ | sarvaṃ papraccha sumatiṃ śakramānādibhaṃjanam 29| śatrughna uvāca| kadāsau dasrayorbhāgaṃ cakāra surapaṃktiṣu | kiṃ kṛtaṃ devarājena svāyaṃbhuva mahāmakhe 30| sumatiruvāca| brahmavaṃśe'tivikhyāto munirbhṛguriti śrutaḥ | kadācidgatavānsāyaṃ samidāharaṇaṃ prati 31| tadā makhavināśāya damano rākṣaso balī | āgatyoccairjagādedaṃ mahābhayakaraṃ vacaḥ 32| kutrāsti munibaṃdhuḥ sa kutra tanmahilānaghā | punaḥ punaruvācedaṃ vaco roṣasamākulaḥ 33| tadāhutavaho jñātvā rākṣasādbhayamāgatam | darśayāmāsa tajjāyāmaṃtarvatnīmaniṃditām 34| jahāra rākṣasastāṃ tu rudaṃtīṃ kurarīmiva | bhṛgo rakṣapate rakṣa rakṣa nātha taponidhe 35| evaṃ vadaṃtīmārtāṃ tāṃ gṛhītvā niragādbahiḥ | duṣṭo vākyaprahāreṇa bodhayansa bhṛgoḥ satīm 36| tato mahābhayatrasto garbhaścodaramadhyataḥ | papāta prajvalannetro vaiśvānara ivāṃgajaḥ 37| tenoktaṃ mā vrajāśu tvaṃ bhasmī bhava sudurmate | na hi sādhvī parāmarśaṃ kṛtvā śreyo'dhiyāsyasi 38| ityuktaḥ sa papātāśu bhasmībhūtakalevaraḥ | mātā tadārbhakaṃ nītvā jagāmāśramamunmanāḥ 39| bhṛgurvahnikṛtaṃ sarvaṃ jñātvā kopasamākulaḥ | śaśāpa sarvabhakṣastvaṃ bhava duṣṭārisūcaka 40| tadā śapto'tiduḥkhārto jagrāhāṃghryāśuśukṣaṇiḥ | kuru me'nugrahaṃ svāminkṛpārṇava mahāmate 41| mayānṛtaṃ vacobhītyā kathitaṃ na gurudruhā | tasmānmamopari kṛpāṃ kuru dharmaśiromaṇe 42| tadānugrahamādhācca sarvabhakṣo bhavāñchuciḥ | ityuktavānhutabhujaṃ dayārdro munitāpasaḥ 43| garbhāccyutasya putrasya jātakarmādikaṃ śuciḥ | cakāra vidhivadvipro darbhapāṇiḥ sumaṃgalaḥ 44| cyavanāccyavanaṃ prāhuḥ putraṃ sarve tapasvinaḥ | śanaiḥśanaiḥ sa vavṛdhe śukle pratipadiṃduvat 45| sa jagāma tapaḥ kartuṃ revāṃ lokaikapāvanīm | śiṣyaiḥ parivṛtaḥ sarvaistapobalasamanvitaiḥ 46| gatvā tatra tapastepe varṣāṇāmayutaṃ mahān | aṃsayoḥ kiṃśukau jātau valmīkopariśobhitau 47| mṛgā āgatya tasyāṃge kaṃḍūṃ vidadhurutsukāḥ | na kiṃcitsa hi jānāti durvāratapasāvṛtaḥ 48| kadācinmanurudyuktastīrthayātrāṃ prati prabhuḥ | sakuṭuṃbo yayau revāṃ mahābalasamāvṛtaḥ 49| tatra snātvā mahānadyāṃ saṃtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ | dānāni brāhmaṇebhyaśca prādādviṣṇupratuṣṭaye 50| tatkanyā vicaraṃtī sā vanamadhye itastataḥ | sakhībhiḥ sahitā ramyā taptahāṭakabhūṣaṇā 51| tatra dṛṣṭvātha valmīkaṃ mahātarusuśobhitam | nimeṣonmeṣarahitaṃ tejaḥ kiṃciddadarśa sā 52| gatvā tatra śalākābhiratudadrudhiraṃ sravat | dṛṣṭvā rājñāṃgajā khedaṃ prāptavatyatiduḥkhitā 53| na jananyai tathā pitre śaśaṃsāghena viplutā | svayamevātmanātmānaṃ sā śuśoca bhayāturā 54| tadā bhūścalitā rājandivaścolkā papāta ha | dhūmrā diśo bhavansarvāḥ sūryaśca pariveṣitaḥ 55| tadā rājño hayā naṣṭā hastino bahavo mṛtāḥ | dhanaṃ naṣṭaṃ ratnayutaṃ kalahobhūnmithastadā 56| tadālokya nṛpo bhītaḥ kiṃcidudvignamānasaḥ | janānapṛcchatkenāpi munaye tvaparādhitam 57| pāraṃparyeṇa tajjñātvā svaputryāḥ pariceṣṭitam | yayau suduḥkhitastatra samṛddhabalavāhanaḥ 58| taṃ vai taponidhiṃ vīkṣya mahatā tapasāyutam | stutvā prasādayāmāsa munivarya dayāṃ kuru 59| tasmai tuṣṭo jagādāyaṃ munivaryo mahātapāḥ | tavātmajākṛtaṃ sarvamutpātādyamavehi tat 60| tava putryā mahārāja cakṣurvisphoṭanaṃ kṛtam | bahususrāva rudhiraṃ jānatī tvāmuvāca na 61| tasmādiyaṃ mahābhūpa mahyaṃ deyā yathāvidhi | tataścotpātaśamanaṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ 62| tacchrutvā duḥkhito rājā prajñācākṣuṣa ātmajām | dadau kulavayorūpa śīlalakṣaṇasaṃyutām 63| dattā yadā nṛpeṇeyaṃ kanyā kamalalocanā | tadotpātāḥ śamaṃ yātāḥ sarve muniruṣodgatāḥ 64| rājā dattvātmajāṃ tasmai munaye tapasāṃnidhe | prāpa svāṃ nagarīṃ bhūyo duḥkhito'yaṃ dayāyutaḥ 65| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe| cyavanopākhyānaṃnāma caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ 14 |
English translation
Śeṣa said :
1. Then, the king, the best among men, longing to listen to the excellent account of Rāma , spoke to Śatrughna who was pleased with the reception.
Sumada said :
2-5. I hope Rāma who is the crest-jewel of the entire world, who has descended (On the earth) to protect his devotees, and who has favoured me, is happy. The people who with the cups of their eyes constantly drink the lotus in the form of Rāma’s face and are delighted, are blessed in the city (of Ayodhyā ). O you best among men, O you very intelligent one, my entire wealth and all my family, land etc. and my possessions are blessed. Formerly, Kāmākṣā, tender with kindness, showed favour to me. (She told me:) “With your family you will see the lotus-like face of Rāma.”
When that hero, the best king Sumada spoke this, he told him all the exalted virtues of the lord of Raghus (i.e. Rāma).
7-11. Having stayed there for three nights, (Śatrughna) the younger brother of the lord of Raghus, and the highly intelligent one, decided to proceed further with the king. Then knowing that, Sumada, with the approval of the great king Śatrughna and of Puṣkala , quickly consecrated his son on the kingdom (i.e. consecrated his son as the king). The highly intelligent one gave garments, many jewels and various kinds of ri ches to the servants of Śatrughna. With his highly wise ministers, foot-soldiers, horses, elephants, good horses and crores of chariots he (i.e. Śatrughna) started to go (i.e. proceed). Śatrughna, having the valour of Raghunātha , then went smiling along the way with that Sumada, the holder of a bow (i.e. the archer).
12-15. The best horse after having reached the bank of Payoṣṇī went (further). All the warriors, the protectors of the horse, went after him. (Śatrughna) saw various hermitages of sages doing excellent penance. Everywhere he heard the excellent qualities of Raghunātha (being narrated by the sages). (The sages said:) “Here goes the intelligent horse protected by Viṣṇu , so also repeatedly protected by monkeys devoted to Viṣṇu (i.e. Rāma), followed by excellent horses.” The great lord (i.e. Śatrughna) hearing everywhere these words of (i.e. uttered by) the sages with feelings saturated with devotion (for Rāma), was pleased.
16-22. And he saw a holy hermitage crowded with people and (other) beings, removing by the sounds of Veda the entire inauspicious things (i.e. sins) of people that heard (the sounds of the Veda), purifying the entire atmosphere by means of the smoke of the perpetual domestic fire, and looking charming due to the sacrificial posts (put up) for the many sacrifices of (i.e. performed by) the excellent sages. There in that hermitage cows fit to be looked after, were looked after by a lion; in it the rats did not dig a hole through the fear of a cat; snakes constantly played with peacocks and mongooses. There (i.e. in the hermitage) elephants and lions, having become friends, always stay. The black antelopes (living) there showed interest in eating the rice growing wild, and being protected by groups of sages were not afraid of death. The cows there had udders like pitchers, and their bodies were like that of Nandinī (the daughter of the divine cow, Surabhi ). They purified the earth with the dust raised by their feet (i.e. hoofs). Seeing the sages having sacred fuel fit for the religious rites in their lotus-like hands (Śatrughna said to) the all knowing minister of Rāma, viz. Sumati :
Śatrughna said :
23-25. O Sumati, of which sage is the place that appears before (us), that is resorted to by beings having no enmity (for one another), and is crowded with hosts of sages? I shall hear the account of the sages, and by means of their accounts and description s etc. I shall render my body pure.
Having heard this statement of the magnanimous Śatrughna, the minister of the intelligent Raghunātha (i.e. Rāma) told him:
Sumati said :
26-29. Know this to be Cyavana ’s hermitage adorned by great ascetics, crowded with beings free from enmity and full of the wives of the sages; and he who is the great sage (viz. Cyavana) obtained a portion of the oblation of the two physicians of gods (i.e. the Aśvins ). He broke (down) the pride of Indra in the sacrifice of the Self-born ( Brahmā ). Nobody obtains the prowess of the great sage, rich with the power of penance and having the image of the Vedas .
(Śatrughna) Rāma’s younger brother, having heard the things about the eminent Cyavana, asked everything including the breaking of Indra’s pride (i.e. Indra’s humiliation) etc.
Śatrughna said :
30. When did he receive the portion of the oblation of the two wonder-workers (i.e. the two Aśvins) in the rows of gods? What did the lord of gods do at the sacrifice performed by Brahmā?
Sumati said :
31-34. There was a famous sage named Bhṛgu in the family of Brahmā. Once in the evening he had gone (out) to collect sacred fuel. At that time a very strong demon, Damana (by name), came there and uttered these very fearful words: “Where is that so-called sage? Where is that innocent lady?” He, full of anger, repeatedly uttered these words. At that time, Fire, realising that danger was imminent from the demon, showed him the praiseworthy, pregnant wife of him (i.e. of Bhṛgu).
35-36. The demon snatched her who was crying like an osprey: “O Bhṛgu, protect me, O (my) lord, protect me; O (my) husband, O treasure of penance, protect me.” The wicked one took her who was speaking like this and who was afflicted, and went out. He admonished that chaste (wife) of Bhṛgu with the strokes of (i.e. with abusive) words.
37-39. Then from her uterus the foetus of blazing eyes, afflicted with great fear, and as it were the fire born of (her) body, fell (out). He said: “O you of a wicked mind, do not go; be reduced to ashes quickly. Having touched the chaste lady, you will not obtain bliss.” He, who was thus addressed, fell down with his body reduced to ashes. The mother, who was agitated, took the child and went to the hermitage (of her husband).
40-41. Bhṛgu, knowing all that was done by Fire, was full of anger, and cursed (him): “O you who gave a suggestion to the wicked enemy, be one who consumes everything.” Then Fire who was (thus) cursed, was afflicted with grief and seized his feet. (He said to Bhṛgu:) “O lord, ocean of compassion, O you highly intelligent one, (please) favour me. I told a lie through fear, and not through malice against (my) preceptor (i.e. you). Therefore, O you crest-jewel of piety, be kind to me.”
42. Then (Bhṛgu) favoured him. (He said:) “You will consume everything, (yet will be) pure.” Thus the ascetic, wet with (i.e. soft due to) compassion, spoke to him.
4345. The brāhmaṇa (i.e. Bhṛgu) who was very auspicious, who was pure, having darbhas in his hands, performed, according to the rule, the ceremony performed at the birth of a child, of the son that had fallen from the uterus. All the sages called him ‘Cyavana’ on account of his having fallen (from the uterus). Gradually he grew like the moon of the first night (of the month, waxing) in the bright half of(the month).
46-48. Surrounded by all his disciples who were endowed with the power of penance, he went to Revā , the only purifier of the world, to practise penance. The great one, having gone there, practised penance for a myriad of years. On his shoulders grew the kiṃśuka (trees) adorned with anthills. The eager deer, having come (to him) scratched (their bodies) against his body. Enveloped (i.e. engaged) in irresistible penance, he was aware of nothing.
49-56. Sometime lord Manu got ready for a pilgrimage. He, surrounded by a great army, went to Revā. There, having bathed in the great river, having gratified the manes and the deities, he gave gifts to brāhmaṇas to please Viṣṇu. His beautiful daughter (adorned) with ornaments of heated gold and accompanied by (her) friends, moved here and there in the forest. There she saw an anthill adorned with a great tree. She (also) saw some lustre, free from twinkling and winking (i.e. steadfast). Having gone there, she pierced it with small sticks. Seeing blood flowing (from it), the king’s daughter was sad and extremely unhappy. Covered with the sin, she told about it neither to her mother, nor to her father. She, afflicted with fear, grieved to herself. O king, the earth quacked, and a meteor fell from the sky. All the directions became smoky, and the sun was surrounded by a halo. Then the king’s horses perished, and many elephants died. Wealth, along with gems, perished; and there was feud among (the king’s men) themselves.
57-59. Seeing that, the king (i.e. Manu) was afraid, and was slightly dejected. He asked his men. (He said:) “Somebody has wronged the sage?” Successively having come to know that act of his daughter, (and) being extremely unhappy, he went there with his army and horses. Having seen the treasure of penance endowed with great penance, he praised and pleased him (and said): “O best sage, be kind to me.”
60-65. The best sage, having great penance, being pleased with him, said (to him): “Know that all that mischief is done by your daughter. O great king, your daughter burst (my) eyes. Profuse blood flew (out). (Though) aware of it, she did not say (anything) to you. Therefore, O great king, you should give her to me (i.e. in marriage) according to the proper rite. Then the calamity will cease. There is no doubt about it.” Hearing that the king was grieved and gave his daughter, endowed with youth, beauty and good character, to the blind (sage). When the king gave the lotus-eyed daughter (in marriage to the sage), all the evil things caused by the sage’s wrath, subsided. Theking, grieved and full of compassion, having given his daughter to the sage, the treasure of penance, again went (back) to his city.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 15745, revision 335880 (2022-04-16T01:07:11Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365325.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.