Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 19
Sourceब्राह्मण उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं भिल्लानामहमद्भुतम् । अत्याश्चर्यमिदं मत्वा प्रहृष्टोऽभवमित्युत १। गंगासागरसंयोगे स्नात्वा पुण्यकलेवरः । शृंगमारुरुहे तत्र मणिमाणिक्यचित्रितम् २। तत्रापश्यं महाराज देवं देवादिवंदितम् । नमस्कृत्वा कृतार्थोऽहं जातोन्नप्राशनेन च ३। चतुर्भुजत्वं संप्राप्तः शंखचक्रादिचिह्नितम् । पुरुषोत्तमदर्शनेन न पुनर्गर्भमाविशम् ४। राजंस्त्वमपि तत्राशु गच्छ नीलाभिधं गिरिम् । कृतार्थं कुरु चात्मानं गर्भदुःखविवर्जितम् ५। इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य वाडवाग्र्यस्य धीमतः । पप्रच्छ हृष्टगात्रस्तु तीर्थयात्राविधिं मुनिम् ६। राजोवाच। साधु विप्राग्र्य हे साधो त्वया प्रोक्तं ममानघ । पुरुषोत्तममाहात्म्यं शृण्वतां पापनाशनम् ७। ब्रूहि तत्तीर्थयात्रायां विधिं श्रुतिसमन्वितम् । विधिना केन संपूर्ण फलप्राप्तिर्नृणां भवेत् ८। ब्राह्मण उवाच। शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थयात्राविधिं शुभम् । येन संप्राप्यते देवः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः ९। वलीपलितदेहो वा यौवनेनान्वितोऽपि वा । ज्ञात्वा मृत्युमनिस्तीर्यं हरिं शरणमाव्रजेत् १०। तत्कीर्तने तच्छ्रवणे वंदने तस्य पूजने । मतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या नान्यत्र वनितादिषु ११। सर्वं नश्वरमालोक्य क्षणस्थायि सुदुःखदम् । जन्ममृत्युजरातीतं भक्तिवल्लभमच्युतम् १२। क्रोधात्कामाद्भयाद्द्वेषाल्लोभाद्दंभान्नरः पुनः । यथाकथंचिद्विभजन्न स दुःखं समश्नुते १३। स हरिर्जायते साधुसंगमात्पापवर्जितात् । येषां कृपातः पुरुषा भवंत्यसुखवर्जिताः १४। ते साधवः शांतरागाः कामलोभविवर्जिताः । ब्रुवंति यन्महाराज तत्संसारनिवर्तकम् १५। तीर्थेषु लभ्यते साधू रामचंद्र परायणः । यद्दर्शनं नृणां पापराशिदाहाशुशुक्षणिः १६। तस्मात्तीर्थेषु गंतव्यं नरैः संसारभीरुभिः । पुण्योदकेषु सततं साधुश्रेणिविराजिषु १७। तानि तीर्थानि विधिना दृष्टानि प्रहरंत्यघम् । तं विधिं नृपशार्दूल कुरुष्व श्रुतिगोचरम् १८। विरागं जनयेत्पूर्वं कलत्रादि कुटुंबके । असत्यभूतं तज्ज्ञात्वा हरिं तु मनसा स्मरेत् १९। क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा रामरामेति च ब्रुवन् । तत्र तीर्थादिषु स्नात्वा क्षौरं कुर्याद्विधानवित् २०। मनुष्याणां च पापानि तीर्थानि प्रति गच्छताम् । केशानाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति तस्माद्वपनमाचरेत् २१। ततो दंडं तु निर्ग्रन्थिं कमंडलुमथाजिनम् । बिभृयाल्लोभनिर्मुक्तस्तीर्थवेषधरो नरः २२। विधिना गच्छतां नॄणां फलावाप्तिर्विशेषतः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तीर्थयात्राविधिं चरेत् २३। यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंहितम् । विद्या तपश्च कीर्तिश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते २४। हरेकृष्ण हरेकृष्ण भक्तवत्सल गोपते । शरण्य भगवन्विष्णो मां पाहि बहुसंसृतेः २५। इति ब्रुवन्रसनया मनसा च हरिं स्मरन् । पादचारी गतिं कुर्यात्तीर्थं प्रति महोदयः २६। यानेन गच्छन्पुरुषः समभागफलं लभेत् । उपानद्भ्यां चतुर्थांशं गोयाने गोवधादिकम् २७। व्यवहर्ता तृतीयांशं सेवयाष्टमभागभाक् । अनिच्छया व्रजंस्तत्र तीर्थमर्धफलं लभेत् २८। यथायथं प्रकर्तव्या तीर्थानामभियात्रिका । पापक्षयो भवत्येव विधिदृष्ट्या विशेषतः २९। तत्र साधून्नमस्कुर्यात्पादवंदनसेवनैः । तद्द्वारा हरिभक्तिर्हि प्राप्यते पुरुषोत्तमे ३०। इति तीर्थविधिः प्रोक्तः समासेन न विस्तरात् । एवं विधिं समाश्रित्य गच्छ त्वं पुरुषोत्तमम् ३१। तुभ्यं तुष्टो महाराज दास्यते भक्तिमच्युतः । यथा संसारनिर्वाहः क्षणादेव भविष्यति ३२। तीर्थयात्राविधिं श्रुत्वा सर्वपातकनाशनम् । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्य उग्रेभ्यः पुरुषर्षभ ३३। सुमतिरुवाच । इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य ववंदे चरणौ महान् । तत्तीर्थदर्शनौत्सुक्य विह्वलीकृतमानसः ३४। आदिदेश निजामात्यं मंत्रवित्तममुत्तमम् । तीर्थयात्रेच्छया सर्वान्सह नेतुं मनो दधत् ३५। मंत्रिन्पौरजनान्सर्वानादिश त्वं ममाज्ञया । पुरुषोत्तमपादाब्जदर्शनप्रीतिहेतवे ३६। ये मदीये पुरे लोका ये च मद्वाक्यकारकाः । सर्वे निर्यांतु मत्पुर्या मया सह नरोत्तमाः ३७। ये तु मद्वाक्यमुल्लंघ्य स्थास्यंति पुरुषा गृहे । ते दंड्या यमदंडेन पापिनोऽधर्महेतवः ३८। किं तेन सुतवृंदेन बांधवैः किं सुदुर्नयैः । यैर्नदृष्टः स्वचक्षुर्भ्यां पुण्यदः पुरुषोत्तमः ३९। सूकरीयूथवत्तेषां प्रसूतिर्विट्प्रभक्षिका । येषां पुत्राश्च पौत्रा वा हरिं न शरणं गताः ४०। यो देवो नाममात्रेण सर्वान्पावयितुं क्षमः । तं नमस्कुरुत क्षिप्रं मदीयाः प्रकृतिव्रजाः ४१। इति वाक्यं मनोहारि भगवद्गुणगुंफितम् । प्रजहर्ष महामात्य उत्तमः सत्यनामधृक् ४२। हस्तिनं वरमारोप्य पटहेन व्यघोषयत् । यदादिष्टं नृपेणेह तीर्थयात्रां समिच्छता ४३। गच्छंतु त्वरिता लोका राज्ञा सह महागिरिम् । दृश्यतां पापसंहारी पुरुषोत्तमनामधृक् ४४। क्रियतां सर्वसंसारसागरो गोष्पदं पुनः । भूष्यतां शंखचक्रादिचिह्नैः स्वस्व तनुर्नरैः ४५। इत्यादिघोषयामास राज्ञादिष्टं यदद्भुतम् । सचिवो रघुनाथांघ्रि ध्याननिर्वारितश्रमः ४६। तच्छ्रुत्वा ताः प्रजाः सर्वा आनंदरससंप्लुताः । मनो दधुः स्वनिस्तारे पुरुषोत्तमदर्शनात् ४७। निर्ययुर्ब्राह्मणास्तत्र शिष्यैः सह सुवेषिणः । आशिषं वरदानाढ्यां ददतो भूमिपं प्रति ४८। क्षत्त्रिया धन्विनो वीरा वैश्या वस्तुक्रयाञ्चिताः । शूद्राः संसारनिस्तारहर्षित स्वीयविग्रहाः ४९। रजकाश्चर्मकाः क्षौद्राः किराता भित्तिकारकाः । सूचीवृत्त्या च जीवंतस्तांबूलक्रयकारकाः ५०। तालवाद्यधरा ये च ये च रंगोपजीविनः । तैलविक्रयिणश्चैव वस्त्रविक्रयिणस्तथा ५१। सूता वदंतः पौराणीं वार्तां हर्षसमन्विताः । मागधा बंदिनस्तत्र निर्गता भूमिपाज्ञया ५२। भिषग्वृत्त्या च जीवंतस्तथा पाशककोविदाः । पाकस्वादुरसाभिज्ञा हास्यवाक्यानुरंजकाः ५३। ऐंद्रजालिकविद्याध्रास्तथा वार्तासुकोविदाः । प्रशंसंतो महाराजं निर्ययुः पुरमध्यतः ५४। राजापि तत्र निर्वर्त्य प्रातःसंध्यादिकाः क्रियाः । ब्राह्मणं तापसश्रेष्ठमानिनाय सुनिर्मलम् ५५। तदाज्ञया महाराजो निर्जगाम पुराद्बहिः । लोकैरनुगतो राजा बभौ चंद्र इवोडुभिः ५६। क्रोशमात्रं स गत्वाथ क्षौरं कृत्वा विधानतः । दंडं कमंडलुं बिभ्रन्मृगचर्म तथा शुभम् ५७। शुभवेषेण संयुक्तो हरिध्यानपरायणः । कामक्रोधादिरहितं मनो बिभ्रन्महायशाः ५८। तदा दुंदुभयो भेर्य आनकाः पणवास्तथा । शंखवीणादिकाश्चैवाध्मातास्तद्वादकैर्मुहुः ५९। जय देवेश दुःखघ्न पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञित । दर्शयस्व तनुं मह्यं वदंतो निर्ययुर्जनाः ६०। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे रत्नग्रीवस्य तीर्थप्रयाणंनामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः १९ ।
brāhmaṇa uvāca| iti śrutvā tu tadvākyaṃ bhillānāmahamadbhutam | atyāścaryamidaṃ matvā prahṛṣṭo'bhavamityuta 1| gaṃgāsāgarasaṃyoge snātvā puṇyakalevaraḥ | śṛṃgamāruruhe tatra maṇimāṇikyacitritam 2| tatrāpaśyaṃ mahārāja devaṃ devādivaṃditam | namaskṛtvā kṛtārtho'haṃ jātonnaprāśanena ca 3| caturbhujatvaṃ saṃprāptaḥ śaṃkhacakrādicihnitam | puruṣottamadarśanena na punargarbhamāviśam 4| rājaṃstvamapi tatrāśu gaccha nīlābhidhaṃ girim | kṛtārthaṃ kuru cātmānaṃ garbhaduḥkhavivarjitam 5| ityākarṇya vacastasya vāḍavāgryasya dhīmataḥ | papraccha hṛṣṭagātrastu tīrthayātrāvidhiṃ munim 6| rājovāca| sādhu viprāgrya he sādho tvayā proktaṃ mamānagha | puruṣottamamāhātmyaṃ śṛṇvatāṃ pāpanāśanam 7| brūhi tattīrthayātrāyāṃ vidhiṃ śrutisamanvitam | vidhinā kena saṃpūrṇa phalaprāptirnṛṇāṃ bhavet 8| brāhmaṇa uvāca| śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi tīrthayātrāvidhiṃ śubham | yena saṃprāpyate devaḥ surāsuranamaskṛtaḥ 9| valīpalitadeho vā yauvanenānvito'pi vā | jñātvā mṛtyumanistīryaṃ hariṃ śaraṇamāvrajet 10| tatkīrtane tacchravaṇe vaṃdane tasya pūjane | matireva prakartavyā nānyatra vanitādiṣu 11| sarvaṃ naśvaramālokya kṣaṇasthāyi suduḥkhadam | janmamṛtyujarātītaṃ bhaktivallabhamacyutam 12| krodhātkāmādbhayāddveṣāllobhāddaṃbhānnaraḥ punaḥ | yathākathaṃcidvibhajanna sa duḥkhaṃ samaśnute 13| sa harirjāyate sādhusaṃgamātpāpavarjitāt | yeṣāṃ kṛpātaḥ puruṣā bhavaṃtyasukhavarjitāḥ 14| te sādhavaḥ śāṃtarāgāḥ kāmalobhavivarjitāḥ | bruvaṃti yanmahārāja tatsaṃsāranivartakam 15| tīrtheṣu labhyate sādhū rāmacaṃdra parāyaṇaḥ | yaddarśanaṃ nṛṇāṃ pāparāśidāhāśuśukṣaṇiḥ 16| tasmāttīrtheṣu gaṃtavyaṃ naraiḥ saṃsārabhīrubhiḥ | puṇyodakeṣu satataṃ sādhuśreṇivirājiṣu 17| tāni tīrthāni vidhinā dṛṣṭāni praharaṃtyagham | taṃ vidhiṃ nṛpaśārdūla kuruṣva śrutigocaram 18| virāgaṃ janayetpūrvaṃ kalatrādi kuṭuṃbake | asatyabhūtaṃ tajjñātvā hariṃ tu manasā smaret 19| krośamātraṃ tato gatvā rāmarāmeti ca bruvan | tatra tīrthādiṣu snātvā kṣauraṃ kuryādvidhānavit 20| manuṣyāṇāṃ ca pāpāni tīrthāni prati gacchatām | keśānāśritya tiṣṭhaṃti tasmādvapanamācaret 21| tato daṃḍaṃ tu nirgranthiṃ kamaṃḍalumathājinam | bibhṛyāllobhanirmuktastīrthaveṣadharo naraḥ 22| vidhinā gacchatāṃ nṝṇāṃ phalāvāptirviśeṣataḥ | tasmātsarvaprayatnena tīrthayātrāvidhiṃ caret 23| yasya hastau ca pādau ca manaścaiva susaṃhitam | vidyā tapaśca kīrtiśca sa tīrthaphalamaśnute 24| harekṛṣṇa harekṛṣṇa bhaktavatsala gopate | śaraṇya bhagavanviṣṇo māṃ pāhi bahusaṃsṛteḥ 25| iti bruvanrasanayā manasā ca hariṃ smaran | pādacārī gatiṃ kuryāttīrthaṃ prati mahodayaḥ 26| yānena gacchanpuruṣaḥ samabhāgaphalaṃ labhet | upānadbhyāṃ caturthāṃśaṃ goyāne govadhādikam 27| vyavahartā tṛtīyāṃśaṃ sevayāṣṭamabhāgabhāk | anicchayā vrajaṃstatra tīrthamardhaphalaṃ labhet 28| yathāyathaṃ prakartavyā tīrthānāmabhiyātrikā | pāpakṣayo bhavatyeva vidhidṛṣṭyā viśeṣataḥ 29| tatra sādhūnnamaskuryātpādavaṃdanasevanaiḥ | taddvārā haribhaktirhi prāpyate puruṣottame 30| iti tīrthavidhiḥ proktaḥ samāsena na vistarāt | evaṃ vidhiṃ samāśritya gaccha tvaṃ puruṣottamam 31| tubhyaṃ tuṣṭo mahārāja dāsyate bhaktimacyutaḥ | yathā saṃsāranirvāhaḥ kṣaṇādeva bhaviṣyati 32| tīrthayātrāvidhiṃ śrutvā sarvapātakanāśanam | mucyate sarvapāpebhya ugrebhyaḥ puruṣarṣabha 33| sumatiruvāca | iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya vavaṃde caraṇau mahān | tattīrthadarśanautsukya vihvalīkṛtamānasaḥ 34| ādideśa nijāmātyaṃ maṃtravittamamuttamam | tīrthayātrecchayā sarvānsaha netuṃ mano dadhat 35| maṃtrinpaurajanānsarvānādiśa tvaṃ mamājñayā | puruṣottamapādābjadarśanaprītihetave 36| ye madīye pure lokā ye ca madvākyakārakāḥ | sarve niryāṃtu matpuryā mayā saha narottamāḥ 37| ye tu madvākyamullaṃghya sthāsyaṃti puruṣā gṛhe | te daṃḍyā yamadaṃḍena pāpino'dharmahetavaḥ 38| kiṃ tena sutavṛṃdena bāṃdhavaiḥ kiṃ sudurnayaiḥ | yairnadṛṣṭaḥ svacakṣurbhyāṃ puṇyadaḥ puruṣottamaḥ 39| sūkarīyūthavatteṣāṃ prasūtirviṭprabhakṣikā | yeṣāṃ putrāśca pautrā vā hariṃ na śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ 40| yo devo nāmamātreṇa sarvānpāvayituṃ kṣamaḥ | taṃ namaskuruta kṣipraṃ madīyāḥ prakṛtivrajāḥ 41| iti vākyaṃ manohāri bhagavadguṇaguṃphitam | prajaharṣa mahāmātya uttamaḥ satyanāmadhṛk 42| hastinaṃ varamāropya paṭahena vyaghoṣayat | yadādiṣṭaṃ nṛpeṇeha tīrthayātrāṃ samicchatā 43| gacchaṃtu tvaritā lokā rājñā saha mahāgirim | dṛśyatāṃ pāpasaṃhārī puruṣottamanāmadhṛk 44| kriyatāṃ sarvasaṃsārasāgaro goṣpadaṃ punaḥ | bhūṣyatāṃ śaṃkhacakrādicihnaiḥ svasva tanurnaraiḥ 45| ityādighoṣayāmāsa rājñādiṣṭaṃ yadadbhutam | sacivo raghunāthāṃghri dhyānanirvāritaśramaḥ 46| tacchrutvā tāḥ prajāḥ sarvā ānaṃdarasasaṃplutāḥ | mano dadhuḥ svanistāre puruṣottamadarśanāt 47| niryayurbrāhmaṇāstatra śiṣyaiḥ saha suveṣiṇaḥ | āśiṣaṃ varadānāḍhyāṃ dadato bhūmipaṃ prati 48| kṣattriyā dhanvino vīrā vaiśyā vastukrayāñcitāḥ | śūdrāḥ saṃsāranistāraharṣita svīyavigrahāḥ 49| rajakāścarmakāḥ kṣaudrāḥ kirātā bhittikārakāḥ | sūcīvṛttyā ca jīvaṃtastāṃbūlakrayakārakāḥ 50| tālavādyadharā ye ca ye ca raṃgopajīvinaḥ | tailavikrayiṇaścaiva vastravikrayiṇastathā 51| sūtā vadaṃtaḥ paurāṇīṃ vārtāṃ harṣasamanvitāḥ | māgadhā baṃdinastatra nirgatā bhūmipājñayā 52| bhiṣagvṛttyā ca jīvaṃtastathā pāśakakovidāḥ | pākasvādurasābhijñā hāsyavākyānuraṃjakāḥ 53| aiṃdrajālikavidyādhrāstathā vārtāsukovidāḥ | praśaṃsaṃto mahārājaṃ niryayuḥ puramadhyataḥ 54| rājāpi tatra nirvartya prātaḥsaṃdhyādikāḥ kriyāḥ | brāhmaṇaṃ tāpasaśreṣṭhamānināya sunirmalam 55| tadājñayā mahārājo nirjagāma purādbahiḥ | lokairanugato rājā babhau caṃdra ivoḍubhiḥ 56| krośamātraṃ sa gatvātha kṣauraṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ | daṃḍaṃ kamaṃḍaluṃ bibhranmṛgacarma tathā śubham 57| śubhaveṣeṇa saṃyukto haridhyānaparāyaṇaḥ | kāmakrodhādirahitaṃ mano bibhranmahāyaśāḥ 58| tadā duṃdubhayo bherya ānakāḥ paṇavāstathā | śaṃkhavīṇādikāścaivādhmātāstadvādakairmuhuḥ 59| jaya deveśa duḥkhaghna puruṣottamasaṃjñita | darśayasva tanuṃ mahyaṃ vadaṃto niryayurjanāḥ 60| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe ratnagrīvasya tīrthaprayāṇaṃnāmaikonaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 19 |
English translation
The brāhmaṇa said :
1-5. Having heard the highly amazing words of the bhillas and thinking that it was a great wonder, I was delighted. Having bathed at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean, with my body rendered auspicious, I climbed up the peak, variegated with gems and rubies. O great king, there I saw the god saluted by gods and others. I had become blessed by saluting him and by having eaten the food (from the offering). Due to having seen the lord Viṣṇu , I obtained the four-armed condition, marked with a conch, a disc etc. (and) did not enter a womb again (i.e. did not have rebirth). O king, you too quickly go to the mountain called Nīla , and make yourself blessed and free from the agony of remaining in the womb (i.e. being born).
6. Having heard these words of the intelligent best brāhmaṇa , he, with his body delighted, asked the sage, the manner in which the pilgrimage (was to be undertaken).
The king said :
7-8. O good one, O best brāhmaṇa, O sinless one, you have nicely described to me the greatness of the lord which destroys the sins of those who listen to it. Tell me the mode of the pilgrimage, along with (i.e. astold in) the scriptures. By which mode would men obtain the entire fmit?
The brāhmaṇa said :
9-16. O king listen, I shall tell you the auspicious mode of pilgrimage by means of which the god saluted by gods and demons, is obtained. Even if one’s body is wrinkled (and) grey or one is endowed with youth, one should, realising death to be insurmountable, submit oneself to Hari . One should put one's heart into narration about him, listening about him, saluting and worshipping him, and not anywhere else like woman etc. Realising that everything is perishable and momentary and very painful, a man who somehow greatly worships Viṣṇu who is beyond birth and death, to whom devotion is dear, and who is infallible, (even) through anger, desire of carnal gratification, fear, hatred or greed, does not experience unhappiness. That Viṣṇu is reached through the sinless contact with the good. That which the good, with their attachment ceased and free from desire and greed, say, keeps one away from the worldly existence. Due to their grace men become free from unhappiness. At the holy places is found a good man highly devoted to Rāmacandra , whose sight is the fire burning the heaps of men's sins.
17-18a. Therefore, a man, afraid of the mundane existence, should always visit the holy places, having holy water and adorned with the rows of good people. The holy places, properly visited, destroy sins.
18b-20. O best king, listen to the mode (of visiting them). First a man should create in himself detachment from his wife and (other) members of his family. Knowing (all) that to be unreal, he should mentally recollect Viṣṇu. Having gone from there to a distance of a krośa uttering (the name) ‘ Rāma , Rāma’, he should, knowing the (proper) way, having bathed at the holy places, get himself shaved.
21-23. The sins of men visiting holy places, go (with them) resorting to their hair. Therefore, one should get shaved. Then a man, free from greed and having put on the dress proper for a holy place, should hold a staff, a knotless garment, a pitcher and a piece of deer-skin. A special fruit is obtained by those men who go there according to the proper mode. Therefore, with all efforts a man should go through the rite of pilgrimage.
24-30. He whose hands, feet, and mind are well controlled, and who has knowledge, penance and fame, obtains the fruit of (a visit to) the holy places. The very lucky man, saying with his tongue ‘O Hari, O Kṛṣṇa , O Hari, O Kṛṣṇa, O you to whom your devotees are dear, O you lord of senses, O you fit to be resorted to, O revered one, O Viṣṇu, protect me from the many (births in) the worldly life,’and mentally recollecting Hari, should visit a holy place on foot. A man going in a vehicle would obtain equal fruit. A man (going to a holy place) with his shoes on would obtain one fourth fruit, and the fruit obtained by killing a cow by going in a vehicle (to which) bulls (are yoked). A usurer obtains one third of the fruit, and a man gets one eighth by serving (i.e. one who serves others gets one eighth part of the religious merit). A man going to a holy place reluctantly would obtain half the fruit. A man should visit holy places properly. His sins perish, especially by observing the (proper) rites. There he should salute the good men by resorting to their feet etc. By that devotion to Hari, Puruṣottama , is secured.
31-33. Thus I have told you in brief and not in detail, the mode of visiting the holy places. Resorting to this mode go to Puruṣottama (i.e. Viṣṇu). Acyuta (i.e. Viṣṇu) being pleased (with you), O great king, will give (i.e. bring about) devotion to (i.e. in) you, so that in a moment there will be the end of the mundane existence. O best man, having heard the mode of visiting holy places, which destroys all sins, a man is freed from all severe sins.
Sumati said :
34-35. The great one, having heard these words, and with his mind agitated through curiosity to see that holy place, saluted his feet, and ordered his minister, an excellent counsellor. Desiring to visit the sacred place, he decided to take all persons with him. (He said to the minister:)
36-38. “O minister, at my behest, advise all the citizens: ‘The best men, who live in my city, who obey my orders, should move with me out of my city to please (Viṣṇu) by seeing the lotus-like feet of (that) Puruṣottama (i.e. Viṣṇu); but those sinful men, of irreligious intentions, who, violating my words (i.e. my order) stay (back) in their houses, should be punished with Yama ’s (i.e. capital) punishment.
39-42a. What is the use of that host of sons or those relatives of bad conduct who have not seen with their eyes Puruṣottama who gives religious merit? The birth of them whose sons and grandsons have not sought the shelter of Viṣṇu, is like that of a herd of pigs eating excretion. O multitudes of my subjects, quickly salute that god who by merely his name (being uttered) is capable of purifying all.’” Such charming words strung together with the virtue of the lord (were uttered by him).
42b-45. His chief minister Uttama , having the true name (i.e. true to his name), was much delighted. Having put (the announcer) on an excellent elephant he proclaimed by means (of the sound) of the drum: “Since it is ordered by the king desiring to go on a pilgrimage, all people should quickly go with the king to the great mountain. They should see there (the lord) having the name Puruṣottama and destroying sins. They should make (i.e. look upon) the entire ocean of the worldly existence (just as) a small puddle.”
46-54. The minister, whose fatigue was removed by meditation upon the feet of Raghunātha (i.e. Rāma) made such a wonderful proclamation as ordered by the king. Hearing it, all the subjects swimming in the fluid of joy, decided to emancipate themselves by seeing Puruṣottama. Brāhmaṇas , well-dressed and accompanied by their disciples, and giving a blessing rich with boons to the king, then moved out. Brave kṣatriyas holding bows, vaiśyas graceful due to sale of objects, śūdras with their bodies delighted due to crossing the worldly existence, washermen, lovely shoe-makers, kirātas , wall-builders, those who lived on a needle (i.e. tailors), those who dealt in tāmbūla , those who kept musical instruments, those who subsisted on dyeing, the sellers of oil and the sellers of garments, bards, panegyrists, heralds full of delight and narrating old accounts moved out by the king’s order. Those who knew the sweet taste of food, those who amused (others) with words causing laughter, magicians, vidyādharas , those who were proficient in intelligence, praising the great king went out of the city.
55-60. The king too, having finished the rites like the morning prayer, brought (there) the brāhmaṇa, the best ascetic and extremely pure. By his order the king went out of the city. The king, followed by people, shone like the moon with stars. He went over just a krośa, and getting himself shaved, held a staff and a water-pot, and wore an auspicious (deer-)hide. He had put on an auspicious dress and was engrossed in meditation on Viṣṇu. He, of a great glory, had his mind free from passion and anger. At that time the musicians repeatedly beat large kettledrums, large military drums, and played upon other musical instruments, (blew) conches, and (played upon) lutes. People saying, ‘O lord of gods, O you who remove grief, O you who are known as Puruṣottama, show me your body’, went out (of the city).
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43663, revision 335885 (2022-04-16T01:17:07Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365330.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.