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Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Unit 316 of 693Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 21Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 211 source entries

Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 21

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सुमतिरुवाच। एतन्माहात्म्यमतुलं गंडक्याः कर्णगोचरम् । कृत्वा कृतार्थमात्मानममन्यत नृपोत्तमः १। स्नात्वा तीर्थे पितॄन्सर्वान्संतर्प्य जहृषे महान् । शालग्रामशिलापूजां कुर्वन्वाडववाक्यतः २। चतुर्विंशच्छिलास्तत्र गृहीत्वा स नृपोत्तमः । पूजयामास प्रेम्णा च चंदनाद्युपचारकैः ३। तत्र दानानि दत्त्वा च दीनांधेभ्यो विशेषतः । गंतुं प्रचक्रमे राजा पुरुषोत्तममंदिरम् ४। एवं क्रमेण संप्राप्तो गंगासागरसंगमम् । कृत्वाक्षिगोचरं तं च ब्राह्मणं पृष्टवान्मुदा ५। स्वामिन्वद कियद्दूरे नीलाख्यः पर्वतो महान् । पुरुषोत्तमसंवासः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः ६। तदा श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं रत्नग्रीवस्य भूपतेः । उवाच विस्मयाविष्टो राजानं प्रति सादरम् ७। राजन्नेतत्स्थलं नीलपर्वतस्य नमस्कृतम् । किमर्थं दृश्यते नैव महापुण्यफलप्रदम् ८। पुनःपुनरुवाचेदं स्थलं नीलस्य भूभृतः । कथं न दृश्यते राजन्पुरुषोत्तमवासभृत् ९। अत्र स्नातं मया सम्यगत्र भिल्लाक्षिगोचराः । अनेनैव पथा राजन्नारूढं पर्वतोपरि १०। इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य विव्यथे मानसे नृपः । नीलभूधरदर्शाय कुर्वन्नुत्कंठितं मनः ११। उवाच तत्कथं विप्र दृश्येत पुरुषोत्तमः । कथं वा दृश्यते नीलस्तदुपायं वदस्व नः १२। तदा वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य रत्नग्रीवस्य भूपतेः । तापसो ब्राह्मणो वाक्यमुवाच नृप विस्मितः १३। गंगासागरसंयोगे स्नात्वास्माभिर्महीपते । स्थातव्यं तावदेवात्र यावन्नीलो न दृश्यते १४। गीयते पापहा देवः पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञितः । करिष्यते कृपामाशु भक्तवत्सलनामधृक् १५। त्यजत्यसौ न वै भक्तान्देवदेवशिरोमणिः । अनेके रक्षिता भक्तास्तद्गायस्व महामते १६। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राजा व्यथितचेतसा । स्नात्वा गंगाब्धिसंयोगे ततोनशनमादधात् १७। करिष्यति कृपां यर्हि दर्शने पुरुषोत्तमः । पूजां कृत्वाशनं कुर्यामन्यथानशनं व्रतम् १८। इति कृत्वा स नियमं गंगासागररोधसि । गायन्हरिगुणग्राममुपवासमथाचरत् १९। राजोवाच। जय दीनदयाकरप्रभो जय दुःखापह मङ्गलाह्वय । जय भक्तजनार्तिनाशन कृतवर्ष्मञ्जयदुष्टघातक २०। अंबरीषमथ वीक्ष्य दुःखितं विप्रशापहतसर्वमङ्गलम् । धारयन्निजकरे सुदर्शनं संररक्ष जठराधिवासतः २१। दैत्यराज पितृकारितव्यथः शूलपाशजलवह्निपातनैः । श्रीनृसिंहतनुधारिणा त्वया रक्षितः सपदि पश्यतः पितुः २२। ग्राहवक्त्रपतितांघ्रिमुद्भटं वारणेंद्रमतिदुःखपीडितम् । वीक्ष्य साधुकरुणार्द्रमानसस्त्वं गरुत्मति कृतारुहक्रियः २३। त्यक्तपक्षिपतिरात्तचक्रको वेगकंपयुतमालिकांबरः । गीयसे सुभिरमुष्य न क्रतो मोचकः सपदि तद्विनाशकः २४। यत्रयत्र तव सेवकार्दनं तत्र तत्र बत देहधारिणा । पाल्यते च भवता निजः प्रभो पापहारिचरितैर्मनोहरैः २५। दीननाथ सुरमौलिहीरकाघृष्टपादतल भक्तवल्लभ । पापकोटिपरिदाहक प्रभो दर्शयस्व निजदर्शनं मम २६। पापकृद्यदि जनोयमागतो मानसे तव तथा हि दर्शय । तावका वयमघौघनाशनं विस्मृतं नहि सुरासुरार्चित २७। ये वदंति तव नाम निर्मलं ते तरंति सकलाघसागरम् । संस्मृतिर्यदि कृता तदा मया प्राप्यतां सकलदुःखवारक २८। सुमतिरुवाच। एवं गायन्गुणान्रात्रौ दिवा वापि महीपतिः । क्षणमात्रं न विश्रांतो निद्रामाप न वै सुखम् २९। गायन्गच्छन्गृणंस्तिष्ठन्वदत्येतदहर्निशम् । दर्शयस्व कृपानाथ स्वतनुं पुरुषोत्तम ३०। एवं राज्ञः पंचदिनं गतं गंगाब्धिसंगमे । तदा कृपाब्धिः कृपया चिंतयामास गोपतिः ३१। असौ राजा मदीयेन गानेन विगताघकः । पश्य तान्मामकीं प्रेष्ठां सुरासुरनमस्कृताम् ३२। इति संचिंत्य भगवान्कृपापूरितमानसः । संन्यासिवेषमास्थाय ययौ राज्ञोंऽतिकं विभुः ३३। तत्र गत्वा महाराज त्रिदंडियतिवेषधृक् । भक्तानुकंपया प्राप्तो वीक्षितस्तापसेन हि ३४। ॐनमो विष्णवेत्युक्त्वा नमश्चक्रे नृपोत्तमः । अर्घ्यपाद्यासनैः पूजां चकार हरिमानसः ३५। उवाच भाग्यमतुलं यद्भवानक्षिगोचरः । अतः परं दास्यते मे गोविंदो निजदर्शनम् ३६। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं संन्यासी निजगाद तम् । राजञ्छृणुष्व कथितं मम वाक्यविनिःसृतम् ३७। अहं ज्ञानेन जानामि भूतं भव्यं भवच्च यत् । तस्मादहं ब्रुवे किंचिच्छृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः ३८। श्वो मध्याह्ने हरिर्दाता दर्शनं ब्रह्मदुर्ल्लभम् । पंचभिः स्वजनैः साकं यास्यसे परमं पदम् ३९। त्वममात्यश्च महिला तव तापस वाडवः । पुरे तव करंबाख्यः साधुश्च तं तु वायकः ४०। एतैः पंचभिरेतस्मिन्नीले पर्वतसत्तमे । यास्यसे ब्रह्मदेवेंद्र वंदितं सुरपूजितम् ४१। इत्युक्त्वाऽदृश्यतां प्राप्तो यतिः क्वापि न दृश्यते । तदाकर्ण्य नृपो हर्षं प्राप चाशु सविस्मयम् ४२। राजोवाच। स्वामिन्कोऽसौ समागत्य संन्यासी मां यदूचिवान् । न दृश्यते पुनः कुत्र गतोऽसौ चित्तहर्षदः ४३। तापस उवाच। राजंस्तव महाप्रेम्णा कृष्टचित्तः समभ्यगात् । पुरुषोत्तमनामायं सर्वपापप्रणाशनः ४४। श्वोमध्याह्ने तव पुरो भविष्यति महान्गिरिः । तमारुह्य हरिं दृष्ट्वा कृतार्थस्त्वं भविष्यसि ४५। इतिवाक्यसुधापूर नाशितस्वांत संज्वरः । हर्षं यमाप स नृपो ब्रह्मापि न हि वेत्ति तम् ४६। तदा दुंदुभयो नेदुर्वीणापणवगोमुखाः । महानंदस्तदा ह्यासीद्राजराजस्य चेतसि ४७। गायन्हरिं क्षणं तिष्ठन्हसञ्जल्पन्ब्रुवन्नमन् । आनंदं प्राप सुघनं सर्वसंतापनाशनम् ४८। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे संन्यासिदर्शनंनाम एकविंशोऽध्यायः २१ ।

sumatiruvāca| etanmāhātmyamatulaṃ gaṃḍakyāḥ karṇagocaram | kṛtvā kṛtārthamātmānamamanyata nṛpottamaḥ 1| snātvā tīrthe pitṝnsarvānsaṃtarpya jahṛṣe mahān | śālagrāmaśilāpūjāṃ kurvanvāḍavavākyataḥ 2| caturviṃśacchilāstatra gṛhītvā sa nṛpottamaḥ | pūjayāmāsa premṇā ca caṃdanādyupacārakaiḥ 3| tatra dānāni dattvā ca dīnāṃdhebhyo viśeṣataḥ | gaṃtuṃ pracakrame rājā puruṣottamamaṃdiram 4| evaṃ krameṇa saṃprāpto gaṃgāsāgarasaṃgamam | kṛtvākṣigocaraṃ taṃ ca brāhmaṇaṃ pṛṣṭavānmudā 5| svāminvada kiyaddūre nīlākhyaḥ parvato mahān | puruṣottamasaṃvāsaḥ surāsuranamaskṛtaḥ 6| tadā śrutvā mahadvākyaṃ ratnagrīvasya bhūpateḥ | uvāca vismayāviṣṭo rājānaṃ prati sādaram 7| rājannetatsthalaṃ nīlaparvatasya namaskṛtam | kimarthaṃ dṛśyate naiva mahāpuṇyaphalapradam 8| punaḥpunaruvācedaṃ sthalaṃ nīlasya bhūbhṛtaḥ | kathaṃ na dṛśyate rājanpuruṣottamavāsabhṛt 9| atra snātaṃ mayā samyagatra bhillākṣigocarāḥ | anenaiva pathā rājannārūḍhaṃ parvatopari 10| iti tadvākyamākarṇya vivyathe mānase nṛpaḥ | nīlabhūdharadarśāya kurvannutkaṃṭhitaṃ manaḥ 11| uvāca tatkathaṃ vipra dṛśyeta puruṣottamaḥ | kathaṃ vā dṛśyate nīlastadupāyaṃ vadasva naḥ 12| tadā vākyaṃ samākarṇya ratnagrīvasya bhūpateḥ | tāpaso brāhmaṇo vākyamuvāca nṛpa vismitaḥ 13| gaṃgāsāgarasaṃyoge snātvāsmābhirmahīpate | sthātavyaṃ tāvadevātra yāvannīlo na dṛśyate 14| gīyate pāpahā devaḥ puruṣottamasaṃjñitaḥ | kariṣyate kṛpāmāśu bhaktavatsalanāmadhṛk 15| tyajatyasau na vai bhaktāndevadevaśiromaṇiḥ | aneke rakṣitā bhaktāstadgāyasva mahāmate 16| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya rājā vyathitacetasā | snātvā gaṃgābdhisaṃyoge tatonaśanamādadhāt 17| kariṣyati kṛpāṃ yarhi darśane puruṣottamaḥ | pūjāṃ kṛtvāśanaṃ kuryāmanyathānaśanaṃ vratam 18| iti kṛtvā sa niyamaṃ gaṃgāsāgararodhasi | gāyanhariguṇagrāmamupavāsamathācarat 19| rājovāca| jaya dīnadayākaraprabho jaya duḥkhāpaha maṅgalāhvaya | jaya bhaktajanārtināśana kṛtavarṣmañjayaduṣṭaghātaka 20| aṃbarīṣamatha vīkṣya duḥkhitaṃ vipraśāpahatasarvamaṅgalam | dhārayannijakare sudarśanaṃ saṃrarakṣa jaṭharādhivāsataḥ 21| daityarāja pitṛkāritavyathaḥ śūlapāśajalavahnipātanaiḥ | śrīnṛsiṃhatanudhāriṇā tvayā rakṣitaḥ sapadi paśyataḥ pituḥ 22| grāhavaktrapatitāṃghrimudbhaṭaṃ vāraṇeṃdramatiduḥkhapīḍitam | vīkṣya sādhukaruṇārdramānasastvaṃ garutmati kṛtāruhakriyaḥ 23| tyaktapakṣipatirāttacakrako vegakaṃpayutamālikāṃbaraḥ | gīyase subhiramuṣya na krato mocakaḥ sapadi tadvināśakaḥ 24| yatrayatra tava sevakārdanaṃ tatra tatra bata dehadhāriṇā | pālyate ca bhavatā nijaḥ prabho pāpahāricaritairmanoharaiḥ 25| dīnanātha suramaulihīrakāghṛṣṭapādatala bhaktavallabha | pāpakoṭiparidāhaka prabho darśayasva nijadarśanaṃ mama 26| pāpakṛdyadi janoyamāgato mānase tava tathā hi darśaya | tāvakā vayamaghaughanāśanaṃ vismṛtaṃ nahi surāsurārcita 27| ye vadaṃti tava nāma nirmalaṃ te taraṃti sakalāghasāgaram | saṃsmṛtiryadi kṛtā tadā mayā prāpyatāṃ sakaladuḥkhavāraka 28| sumatiruvāca| evaṃ gāyanguṇānrātrau divā vāpi mahīpatiḥ | kṣaṇamātraṃ na viśrāṃto nidrāmāpa na vai sukham 29| gāyangacchangṛṇaṃstiṣṭhanvadatyetadaharniśam | darśayasva kṛpānātha svatanuṃ puruṣottama 30| evaṃ rājñaḥ paṃcadinaṃ gataṃ gaṃgābdhisaṃgame | tadā kṛpābdhiḥ kṛpayā ciṃtayāmāsa gopatiḥ 31| asau rājā madīyena gānena vigatāghakaḥ | paśya tānmāmakīṃ preṣṭhāṃ surāsuranamaskṛtām 32| iti saṃciṃtya bhagavānkṛpāpūritamānasaḥ | saṃnyāsiveṣamāsthāya yayau rājñoṃ'tikaṃ vibhuḥ 33| tatra gatvā mahārāja tridaṃḍiyativeṣadhṛk | bhaktānukaṃpayā prāpto vīkṣitastāpasena hi 34| oṃnamo viṣṇavetyuktvā namaścakre nṛpottamaḥ | arghyapādyāsanaiḥ pūjāṃ cakāra harimānasaḥ 35| uvāca bhāgyamatulaṃ yadbhavānakṣigocaraḥ | ataḥ paraṃ dāsyate me goviṃdo nijadarśanam 36| iti śrutvā tu tadvākyaṃ saṃnyāsī nijagāda tam | rājañchṛṇuṣva kathitaṃ mama vākyaviniḥsṛtam 37| ahaṃ jñānena jānāmi bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhavacca yat | tasmādahaṃ bruve kiṃcicchṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ 38| śvo madhyāhne harirdātā darśanaṃ brahmadurllabham | paṃcabhiḥ svajanaiḥ sākaṃ yāsyase paramaṃ padam 39| tvamamātyaśca mahilā tava tāpasa vāḍavaḥ | pure tava karaṃbākhyaḥ sādhuśca taṃ tu vāyakaḥ 40| etaiḥ paṃcabhiretasminnīle parvatasattame | yāsyase brahmadeveṃdra vaṃditaṃ surapūjitam 41| ityuktvā'dṛśyatāṃ prāpto yatiḥ kvāpi na dṛśyate | tadākarṇya nṛpo harṣaṃ prāpa cāśu savismayam 42| rājovāca| svāminko'sau samāgatya saṃnyāsī māṃ yadūcivān | na dṛśyate punaḥ kutra gato'sau cittaharṣadaḥ 43| tāpasa uvāca| rājaṃstava mahāpremṇā kṛṣṭacittaḥ samabhyagāt | puruṣottamanāmāyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanaḥ 44| śvomadhyāhne tava puro bhaviṣyati mahāngiriḥ | tamāruhya hariṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtārthastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi 45| itivākyasudhāpūra nāśitasvāṃta saṃjvaraḥ | harṣaṃ yamāpa sa nṛpo brahmāpi na hi vetti tam 46| tadā duṃdubhayo nedurvīṇāpaṇavagomukhāḥ | mahānaṃdastadā hyāsīdrājarājasya cetasi 47| gāyanhariṃ kṣaṇaṃ tiṣṭhanhasañjalpanbruvannaman | ānaṃdaṃ prāpa sughanaṃ sarvasaṃtāpanāśanam 48| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe saṃnyāsidarśanaṃnāma ekaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 21 |

English translation

Sumati said :

1-3. The best king having heard this matchless importance of Gaṇḍakī looked upon himself as blessed. Having bathed and having gratified all his (dead) ancestors, the great one was delighted. Having, according to the words of the brāhmaṇa , worshipped the śālagrāma , the best king took there twenty-four śālagrāma (stones) and with affection worshipped them with such means of worship as sandal etc.

4-5. Then the king, having given gifts there, especially to the poor and the blind, started to go to the temple of Viṣṇu . Thus, in due order, he reached the confluence of Gaṅgā an d the ocean. Having brought it within the range of his sight (i.e. having seen it), he joyfully asked the brāhmaṇa:

6. “O lord, tell me, how far is the great mountain called Nīla which is the abode of Viṣṇu and which is saluted by gods and demons.”

7-10. Having, at that time, heard the important words of (i.e. uttered by) king Ratnagrīva , he (i.e. the brāhmaṇa), full of amazement, respectfully said to the king: “O king, this is the region of the mountain Nīla which is adored. Why is it giving great religious merit not seen by you (i.e. why can you not see it)?” Again and again he said: “This is the region of the Nīla mountain. How is this (i.e. how can this), the place of the residence of Viṣṇu, not seen, (not be seen) by you? Here I had bathed properly. Here I had seen the bhillas . Along this way only I had climbed up the mountain."

11-16. Hearing these words of him, the king was mentally afflicted. Making his mind eager to see the Nīla-mountain, the king said (to him): “Tell us the means by which I shall see Viṣṇu, and I shall see the Nīla (mountain).” Then hearing the words of king Ratnagrīva, the ascetic brāhmaṇa, amazed by the king, said (these) words: “O king, having bathed at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean we should remain here as long as the Nīla (mountain) is not seen. The (praise of) the great god called Puruṣottama , and destroyer of sins, will be sung. He who has the name ‘Bhaktavatsala’ (i.e. affectionate to his devotees) will quickly do favour. He, the crest-jewel of gods will not abandon (his) devotees. Many devotees have been protected by him. Therefore, O you very intelligent one, sing (the praise of) him.”

17-19. Hearing these words, the king with his mind afflicted, bathed at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean and observed a fast. “When Puruṣottama (i.e. Viṣṇu) will show favour by appearing (before me) I shall worship him and take food; otherwise I shall (follow) the vow of non-eating.” Having made such a vow, he sang (songs praising) the multitude of virtues of Hari on the bank of the (confluence of) Gaṅgā and the ocean; and observed a fast.

The king said :

20-24. Victory to you who show compassion to the helpless; victory to you who remove misery, and who are called auspicious. Victory to you who destroy the suffering of your devotees; victory to you who have taken up a lovely form and who destroy the wicked. Seeing Ambarīṣa afflicted and with all his auspicious things destroyed due to the curse of a brāhmaṇa, you holding the Sudarśana disc in your hand protected him by living in his belly. He (i.e. Prahlāda ) who was harassed by his father, the king of demons, was at once protected by you—when his father was seeing it having the form of Nṛsiṃha , by dropping spears, nooses, water and fire. Seeing the excellent lord of elephants whose foot had fallen into (i.e. was caught in) the mouth of an alligator and which was extremely afflicted, you, with your good heart wet with (i.e. full of) pity, mounted on Garuḍa . Then you abandoned (i.e. got down from) the bird (i.e. Garuḍa), took (your Sudarśana) disc; you whose speed causes a series of tremors in the sky are (i.e. were) sung (i.e. praised) by him (i.e. the elephant) with his life (i.e. sincerely). You liberated him from the alligator and instantly destroyed him (i.e. the alligator).

25-28. O lord, wherever your worshipper is oppressed, you take up a bodily form and protect your (worshipper) by means of your acts removing sins. O you who protect the helpless, O you whose feet are rubbed by the diamonds on the heads of the gods, O you to whom the devotees are dear, O you who burn crores of sins, O lord, grant me your vision. If this sinful person has come to your mind (i.e. if you think about him) then, show (yourself to him). We are yours O you who are worshipped by gods and demons, your destroying the stream of sins is not forgotten by us. Those who utter your pure name, cross the entire ocean of sins. If I have remembered you, then, let me reach you, O you who remove all sins.

Sumati said :

29-31. Thus the king, singing the merits (of the lord) at night and by day also, did not have rest or comfort even for a moment. Singing (the lord’s virtues), going (to his image), invoking (him), standing (by his image), he day and night said this: “O lord of grace, O Puruṣottama, show me your body.” Thus the king passed five days on the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean. Then the lord of the senses, the ocean of favour, thought through compassion:

32. ‘This king has become free from sins due to singing my (virtues). Let him see my greatness honoured by gods and demons.’

33-34. Then the mighty lord, thinking like this, and with his mind full of compassion, put on the apparel of an ascetic, went near the king. O great king, having gone there after putting on the apparel of an ascetic, he reached him through compassion for the devotee and the ascetic saw him.

35-42. The best king, saying,‘Salutation to Viṣṇu’, saluted him. With his mind devoted to Viṣṇu, he worship ped him with respectful offerings, water for washing his feet and with a seat; (and) said: “Matchless is my luck that I have seen you. Hereafter Viṣṇu will appear before me.” Hearing these words of him, the ascetic said to him: “O king, listen to what I say. By means of my knowledge, I know the past, the future, and the present. Therefore, I (shall) say something. Listen with a concentrated mind. Tomorrow, at noon, Viṣṇu difficult to be seen even by Brahmā , will appear to you. With five kinsmen of you you will reach the highest place. (Those who will reach the highest place are:) you, (your) minister, your wife, the ascetic brāhmaṇa and the good weaver named Karamba (living) in your city. With these five you will go (to Viṣṇu), saluted by Brahmā and lord of gods and honoured by gods, on this best mountain Nīla.” Speaking thus the ascetic disappeared, and was not seen anywhere. Hearing those (words of the ascetic) the king became glad and amazed.

The king said :

43. O lord, who is that ascetic that came and talked to me? He is not seen again. Where has he, giving delight to my mind, gone?

The ascetic said :

44-48. O king, due to great love for you, he, named Puruṣottama, the destroyer of all sins, with his heart attracted (by you) came (to you). Tomorrow at noon there will be (i.e. appear) a big mountain before you. Climbing it up and seeing Viṣṇu, you will be blessed.

With the torment in his heart destroyed by the flood of the nectar of these words, he obtained such (great) joy as even Brahmā did not know. At that time large kettle-drums were sounded. Lutes were played upon. Musical instruments were played upon. There was then great joy in the mind of the king of kings. Singing (the virtues of) Hari, stopping for a moment, laughing, chattering, talking, saluting, he obtained very great joy destroying all affliction.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43665, revision 335918 (2022-04-16T15:00:11Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365332.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.