Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 22
Sourceसुमतिरुवाच। अथ सर्वं दिनं नीत्वा हरिस्मरणकीर्तनैः । रात्रौ सुष्वाप गंगाया रोधस्युरुफलप्रदे १। ददर्श स्वप्नमध्ये तु स स्वात्मानं चतुर्भुजम् । शंखचक्रगदापद्मशार्ङ्गकोदंडधारिणम् २। नृत्यंतं पुरुषोत्तमस्य पुरतः शर्वादि देवैः सह । श्रीमद्भिः स्वतनूयुतैररिगदांबूत्थाब्जहेत्यादिभिः । विष्वक्सेनवरैर्गणैः सुतनुभिः श्रीशंसदोपासितं । दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमाप लोकविषयं हर्षं तथात्यद्भुतम् ३। ददतं मनसोऽभीष्टं पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञितम् । आत्मानं च कृपापात्रममन्यत महामतिः ४। इत्येवं स्वप्नविषये ददर्श नृपसत्तमः । प्रातः प्रबुद्धो विप्राय जगाद स्वप्नमीक्षितम् ५। तच्छ्रुत्वा वाडवो धीमान्कथयामास विस्मितः । राजंस्त्वयासौ दृष्टो यः पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञितः ६। दास्यते शंखचक्रादिचिह्नितां स्वतनुं हरिः । इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं रत्नग्रीवो महामनाः ७। दापयामास दानानि दीनानां मानसोचितम् । स्नात्वा गंगाब्धिसंयोगे तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्सुरान् ८। गायन्हरिगुणग्रामं प्रत्यैक्षत च दर्शनम् । ततो मध्याह्नसमये दिविदुंदुभयो मुहुः ९। जघ्नुः सुरकराघात बहुशब्दसुशब्दिताः । अकस्मात्पुष्पवृष्टिश्च बभूव नृपमस्तके १०। धन्योसि नृपवर्यस्त्वं नीलं पश्याक्षिगोचरम् ११। शृणोतीति यदा वाक्यं नृपो देवप्रणोदितम् । तदा स सूर्यकोटीनामधिकांति धरोद्भुतः १२। राज्ञोऽक्षिगोचरो जातो नीलनामा महागिरिः । राजतैः कानकैः शृंगैः समंतात्परिराजितः १३। किमग्निः प्रज्वलत्येष द्वितीयः किमु भास्करः । किमयं वैद्युतः पुंजो ह्यकस्मात्स्थिरकांतिधृक् १४। तापस ब्राह्मणो दृष्ट्वा नीलप्रस्थं सुशोभितम् । राज्ञे निवेदयामास एष पुण्यो महागिरिः १५। तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिश्रेष्ठः शिरसा प्रणनाम ह । धन्योऽस्मि कृतकृत्योऽस्मि नीलो मे दृष्टिगोचरः १६। अमात्यो राजपत्नी च करम्बस्तंतुवायकः । नीलदर्शनसंहृष्टा बभूवुः पुरुषर्षभ १७। पंचैते विजये काले नीलपर्वतमारुहन् । महादुंदुभिनिर्घोषाञ्च्छृण्वन्तो ह्यमरैः कृतान् १८। तस्योपरितने शृंगे चित्रपादपराजिते । ददर्श हाटकाबद्धं देवालयमनुत्तमम् १९। ब्रह्मागत्य सदा पूजां करोति परमेष्ठिनः । नैवेद्यं कुरुते यत्र हरिसंतोषकारकम् २०। दृष्ट्वाथ तत्र विमलं देवायतनमुत्तमम् । प्रविवेश परीवारैः पंचभिः सह संवृतः २१। तत्र दृष्ट्वा जातरूपे महामणिविचित्रिते । सिंहासने विराजंतं चतुर्भुजमनोहरम् २२। चंड प्रचंड विजय जयादिभिरुपासितम् । प्रणनाम सपत्नीको राजा सेवकसंयुतः २३। प्रणम्य परमात्मानं महाराजः सुरोत्तमम् । स्नापयामास विधिवद्वेदोक्तैः स्नानमंत्रकैः २४। अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे प्रीतेन मनसा नृपः । चंदनेन विलिप्यैनं सुवस्त्रे विनिवेद्य च २५। धूपमारार्तिकं कृत्वा सर्वस्वादुमनोहरम् । नैवेद्यं भगवन्मूर्त्यै न्यवेदयदथो नृपः २६। प्रणम्य च स्तुतिं चक्रे तापसब्राह्मणेन च । यथामतिगुणग्रामगुंफितस्तोत्रसंचयैः २७। राजोवाच। एकस्त्वं पुरुषः साक्षाद्भगवान्प्रकृतेः परः । कार्यकारणतो भिन्नो महत्तत्त्वादिपूजितः २८। त्वन्नाभिकमलाज्जज्ञे ब्रह्मा सृष्टिविचक्षणः । तथा संहारकर्ता च रुद्रस्त्वन्नेत्रसंभवः २९। त्वयाज्ञप्तः करोत्यस्य विश्वस्य परिचेष्टितम् । त्वत्तो जातं पुराणाद्यज्जगत्स्थास्नु चरिष्णु च ३०। चेतनाशक्तिमाविश्य त्वमेनं चेतयस्यहो । तव जन्म तु नास्त्येव नांतस्तव जगत्पते । वृद्धिक्षयपरीणामास्त्वयि संत्येव नो विभो ३१। तथापि भक्तरक्षार्थं धर्मस्थापनहेतवे । करोषि जन्मकर्माणि ह्यनुरूपगुणानि च ३२। त्वया मात्स्यं वपुर्धृत्वा शंखस्तु निहतोसुरः । वेदाः सुरक्षिता ब्रह्मन्महापुरुषपूर्वज ३३। शेषो न वेत्ति महि ते भारत्यपि महेश्वरी । किमुतान्ये महाविष्णो मादृशास्तु कुबुद्धयः ३४। मनसा त्वां न चाप्नोति वागियं परमेश्वरी । तस्मादहं कथं त्वां वै स्तोतुं स्यामीश्वरः प्रभो ३५। इति स्तुत्वा स शिरसा प्रणाममकरोन्मुहुः । गद्गदस्वरसंयुक्तो रोमहर्षांकितांगकः ३६। इति स्तुत्या प्रहृष्टात्मा भगवान्पुरुषोत्तमः । उवाच वचनं सत्यं राजानं प्रति सार्थकम् ३७। श्रीभगवानुवाच। तव स्तुत्या प्रहर्षोऽभून्मम राजन्महामते । जानीहि त्वं महाराज मां च प्रकृतितः परम् ३८। नैवेद्यभक्षणं त्वं हि शीघ्रं कुरु मनोहरम् । चतुर्भुजत्वमाप्तः सन्गंतासि परमं पदम् ३९। त्वत्कृत्स्तुतिरत्नेन यो मां स्तोष्यति मानवः । तस्यापि दर्शनं दास्ये भुक्तिमुक्तिवरप्रदम् ४०। इत्येवं वचनं राजा श्रुत्वा भगवतोदितम् । नैवेद्यभक्षणं चक्रे चतुर्भिः सह सेवकैः ४१। ततो विमानं संप्राप्तं किंकिणीजालमंडितम् । अप्सरोवृंदसंसेव्यं सर्वभोगसमन्वितम् ४२। पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञं च पश्यन्राजा स धार्मिकः । ववंदे चरणौ तस्य कृपापात्रकृतात्मकः ४३। तदाज्ञया विमाने स आरुह्य महिलायुतः । जगाम पश्यतस्तस्य दिवि वैकुंठमद्भुतम् ४४। मंत्री धर्मपरो राज्ञः सर्वधर्मविदुत्तमः । ययौ साकं विमानेन ललनावृन्दसेवितः ४५। तापसब्राह्मणस्तत्र सर्वतीर्थावगाहकः । चतुर्भुजत्वं संप्राप्तो ययौ देवैर्विमानिभिः ४६। करंबोऽपि महाराज गानपुण्येन दर्शनम् । प्राप्तो ययौ सुरावासं सर्वदेवादिदुर्ल्लभम् ४७। सर्वे प्रचलिता विष्णुलोकं परममद्भुतम् । चतुर्भुजाः शंखचक्रगदापाथोजधारिणः ४८। सर्वे मेघश्रियः शुद्धा लसदंभोजपाणयः । हारकेयूरकटकैर्भूषितांगा ययुर्दिवम् ४९। तद्विमानावलीर्दृष्ट्वा लोकैः प्रकृतिभिस्तदा । दुंदुभीनां तु निर्घोषस्तैः कृतः कर्णगोचरः ५०। तदैको ब्राह्मणो ह्यासीद्विष्णुपादाब्जवल्लभः । गतस्तद्विरहाकृष्टचेता जातश्चतुर्भुजः ५१। तच्चित्रं वीक्ष्य लोकास्ते प्रशंसंतो महोदयम् । गंगासागरसंयोगे स्नात्वाऽगुस्तं पुरं प्रति ५२। अहो भाग्यं भूमिपते रत्नग्रीवस्य सन्मतेः । जगामानेन देहेन तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ५३। राजन्नसौ नीलगिरिः पुरुषोत्तमसत्कृतः । यं वीक्ष्यैव व्रजंत्यद्धा वैकुंठं परमायनम् ५४। एतन्नीलस्य माहात्म्यं यः शृणोति स भाग्यवान् । यः श्रावयति लोकान्वै तौ गच्छेतां परं पदम् ५५। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु दुःस्वप्नो नश्यति स्मृतिमात्रतः । प्रांते संसारनिस्तारं ददाति पुरुषोत्तमः ५६। योऽसौ नीलाधिवासी च स रामः पुरुषोत्तमः । सीतासाक्षान्महालक्ष्मीः सर्वकारणकारणम् ५७। हयमेधं चरित्वा स लोकान्वै पावयिष्यति । यन्नामब्रह्महत्यायाः प्रायश्चित्ते प्रदिश्यते ५८। इदानीं त्वद्धयः प्राप्तो नीलेपर्वतसत्तमे । पुरुषोत्तमदेवं त्वं नमस्कुरु महामते ५९। तत्र निष्पापिनो भूत्वा यास्यामः परमं पदम् । यस्य प्रसादाद्बहवो निस्तीर्णा भवसागरात् ६०। एवं प्रवदतस्तस्य प्राप्तोऽश्वो नीलपर्वतम् । वायुवेगेन पृथिवीं कुर्वन्संक्षुण्णमंडलाम् ६१। तदा राजापि तत्पृष्ठचारी नीलाभिधं गिरिम् । प्राप्तो गंगाब्धिसंयोगे स्नात्वागात्पुरुषोत्तमम् ६२। स्तुत्वा नत्वा च देवेशं सुरासुरनमस्कृतम् । जातं कृतार्थमात्मानममन्यत स शत्रुहा ६३। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे नीलगिरिमहिमवर्णनंनाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः २२ ।
sumatiruvāca| atha sarvaṃ dinaṃ nītvā harismaraṇakīrtanaiḥ | rātrau suṣvāpa gaṃgāyā rodhasyuruphalaprade 1| dadarśa svapnamadhye tu sa svātmānaṃ caturbhujam | śaṃkhacakragadāpadmaśārṅgakodaṃḍadhāriṇam 2| nṛtyaṃtaṃ puruṣottamasya purataḥ śarvādi devaiḥ saha | śrīmadbhiḥ svatanūyutairarigadāṃbūtthābjahetyādibhiḥ | viṣvaksenavarairgaṇaiḥ sutanubhiḥ śrīśaṃsadopāsitaṃ | dṛṣṭvā vismayamāpa lokaviṣayaṃ harṣaṃ tathātyadbhutam 3| dadataṃ manaso'bhīṣṭaṃ puruṣottamasaṃjñitam | ātmānaṃ ca kṛpāpātramamanyata mahāmatiḥ 4| ityevaṃ svapnaviṣaye dadarśa nṛpasattamaḥ | prātaḥ prabuddho viprāya jagāda svapnamīkṣitam 5| tacchrutvā vāḍavo dhīmānkathayāmāsa vismitaḥ | rājaṃstvayāsau dṛṣṭo yaḥ puruṣottamasaṃjñitaḥ 6| dāsyate śaṃkhacakrādicihnitāṃ svatanuṃ hariḥ | iti śrutvā tu tadvākyaṃ ratnagrīvo mahāmanāḥ 7| dāpayāmāsa dānāni dīnānāṃ mānasocitam | snātvā gaṃgābdhisaṃyoge tarpayitvā pitṝnsurān 8| gāyanhariguṇagrāmaṃ pratyaikṣata ca darśanam | tato madhyāhnasamaye dividuṃdubhayo muhuḥ 9| jaghnuḥ surakarāghāta bahuśabdasuśabditāḥ | akasmātpuṣpavṛṣṭiśca babhūva nṛpamastake 10| dhanyosi nṛpavaryastvaṃ nīlaṃ paśyākṣigocaram 11| śṛṇotīti yadā vākyaṃ nṛpo devapraṇoditam | tadā sa sūryakoṭīnāmadhikāṃti dharodbhutaḥ 12| rājño'kṣigocaro jāto nīlanāmā mahāgiriḥ | rājataiḥ kānakaiḥ śṛṃgaiḥ samaṃtātparirājitaḥ 13| kimagniḥ prajvalatyeṣa dvitīyaḥ kimu bhāskaraḥ | kimayaṃ vaidyutaḥ puṃjo hyakasmātsthirakāṃtidhṛk 14| tāpasa brāhmaṇo dṛṣṭvā nīlaprasthaṃ suśobhitam | rājñe nivedayāmāsa eṣa puṇyo mahāgiriḥ 15| tacchrutvā nṛpatiśreṣṭhaḥ śirasā praṇanāma ha | dhanyo'smi kṛtakṛtyo'smi nīlo me dṛṣṭigocaraḥ 16| amātyo rājapatnī ca karambastaṃtuvāyakaḥ | nīladarśanasaṃhṛṣṭā babhūvuḥ puruṣarṣabha 17| paṃcaite vijaye kāle nīlaparvatamāruhan | mahāduṃdubhinirghoṣāñcchṛṇvanto hyamaraiḥ kṛtān 18| tasyoparitane śṛṃge citrapādaparājite | dadarśa hāṭakābaddhaṃ devālayamanuttamam 19| brahmāgatya sadā pūjāṃ karoti parameṣṭhinaḥ | naivedyaṃ kurute yatra harisaṃtoṣakārakam 20| dṛṣṭvātha tatra vimalaṃ devāyatanamuttamam | praviveśa parīvāraiḥ paṃcabhiḥ saha saṃvṛtaḥ 21| tatra dṛṣṭvā jātarūpe mahāmaṇivicitrite | siṃhāsane virājaṃtaṃ caturbhujamanoharam 22| caṃḍa pracaṃḍa vijaya jayādibhirupāsitam | praṇanāma sapatnīko rājā sevakasaṃyutaḥ 23| praṇamya paramātmānaṃ mahārājaḥ surottamam | snāpayāmāsa vidhivadvedoktaiḥ snānamaṃtrakaiḥ 24| arghyapādyādikaṃ cakre prītena manasā nṛpaḥ | caṃdanena vilipyainaṃ suvastre vinivedya ca 25| dhūpamārārtikaṃ kṛtvā sarvasvādumanoharam | naivedyaṃ bhagavanmūrtyai nyavedayadatho nṛpaḥ 26| praṇamya ca stutiṃ cakre tāpasabrāhmaṇena ca | yathāmatiguṇagrāmaguṃphitastotrasaṃcayaiḥ 27| rājovāca| ekastvaṃ puruṣaḥ sākṣādbhagavānprakṛteḥ paraḥ | kāryakāraṇato bhinno mahattattvādipūjitaḥ 28| tvannābhikamalājjajñe brahmā sṛṣṭivicakṣaṇaḥ | tathā saṃhārakartā ca rudrastvannetrasaṃbhavaḥ 29| tvayājñaptaḥ karotyasya viśvasya pariceṣṭitam | tvatto jātaṃ purāṇādyajjagatsthāsnu cariṣṇu ca 30| cetanāśaktimāviśya tvamenaṃ cetayasyaho | tava janma tu nāstyeva nāṃtastava jagatpate | vṛddhikṣayaparīṇāmāstvayi saṃtyeva no vibho 31| tathāpi bhaktarakṣārthaṃ dharmasthāpanahetave | karoṣi janmakarmāṇi hyanurūpaguṇāni ca 32| tvayā mātsyaṃ vapurdhṛtvā śaṃkhastu nihatosuraḥ | vedāḥ surakṣitā brahmanmahāpuruṣapūrvaja 33| śeṣo na vetti mahi te bhāratyapi maheśvarī | kimutānye mahāviṣṇo mādṛśāstu kubuddhayaḥ 34| manasā tvāṃ na cāpnoti vāgiyaṃ parameśvarī | tasmādahaṃ kathaṃ tvāṃ vai stotuṃ syāmīśvaraḥ prabho 35| iti stutvā sa śirasā praṇāmamakaronmuhuḥ | gadgadasvarasaṃyukto romaharṣāṃkitāṃgakaḥ 36| iti stutyā prahṛṣṭātmā bhagavānpuruṣottamaḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ satyaṃ rājānaṃ prati sārthakam 37| śrībhagavānuvāca| tava stutyā praharṣo'bhūnmama rājanmahāmate | jānīhi tvaṃ mahārāja māṃ ca prakṛtitaḥ param 38| naivedyabhakṣaṇaṃ tvaṃ hi śīghraṃ kuru manoharam | caturbhujatvamāptaḥ sangaṃtāsi paramaṃ padam 39| tvatkṛtstutiratnena yo māṃ stoṣyati mānavaḥ | tasyāpi darśanaṃ dāsye bhuktimuktivarapradam 40| ityevaṃ vacanaṃ rājā śrutvā bhagavatoditam | naivedyabhakṣaṇaṃ cakre caturbhiḥ saha sevakaiḥ 41| tato vimānaṃ saṃprāptaṃ kiṃkiṇījālamaṃḍitam | apsarovṛṃdasaṃsevyaṃ sarvabhogasamanvitam 42| puruṣottamasaṃjñaṃ ca paśyanrājā sa dhārmikaḥ | vavaṃde caraṇau tasya kṛpāpātrakṛtātmakaḥ 43| tadājñayā vimāne sa āruhya mahilāyutaḥ | jagāma paśyatastasya divi vaikuṃṭhamadbhutam 44| maṃtrī dharmaparo rājñaḥ sarvadharmaviduttamaḥ | yayau sākaṃ vimānena lalanāvṛndasevitaḥ 45| tāpasabrāhmaṇastatra sarvatīrthāvagāhakaḥ | caturbhujatvaṃ saṃprāpto yayau devairvimānibhiḥ 46| karaṃbo'pi mahārāja gānapuṇyena darśanam | prāpto yayau surāvāsaṃ sarvadevādidurllabham 47| sarve pracalitā viṣṇulokaṃ paramamadbhutam | caturbhujāḥ śaṃkhacakragadāpāthojadhāriṇaḥ 48| sarve meghaśriyaḥ śuddhā lasadaṃbhojapāṇayaḥ | hārakeyūrakaṭakairbhūṣitāṃgā yayurdivam 49| tadvimānāvalīrdṛṣṭvā lokaiḥ prakṛtibhistadā | duṃdubhīnāṃ tu nirghoṣastaiḥ kṛtaḥ karṇagocaraḥ 50| tadaiko brāhmaṇo hyāsīdviṣṇupādābjavallabhaḥ | gatastadvirahākṛṣṭacetā jātaścaturbhujaḥ 51| taccitraṃ vīkṣya lokāste praśaṃsaṃto mahodayam | gaṃgāsāgarasaṃyoge snātvā'gustaṃ puraṃ prati 52| aho bhāgyaṃ bhūmipate ratnagrīvasya sanmateḥ | jagāmānena dehena tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam 53| rājannasau nīlagiriḥ puruṣottamasatkṛtaḥ | yaṃ vīkṣyaiva vrajaṃtyaddhā vaikuṃṭhaṃ paramāyanam 54| etannīlasya māhātmyaṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti sa bhāgyavān | yaḥ śrāvayati lokānvai tau gacchetāṃ paraṃ padam 55| etacchrutvā tu duḥsvapno naśyati smṛtimātrataḥ | prāṃte saṃsāranistāraṃ dadāti puruṣottamaḥ 56| yo'sau nīlādhivāsī ca sa rāmaḥ puruṣottamaḥ | sītāsākṣānmahālakṣmīḥ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam 57| hayamedhaṃ caritvā sa lokānvai pāvayiṣyati | yannāmabrahmahatyāyāḥ prāyaścitte pradiśyate 58| idānīṃ tvaddhayaḥ prāpto nīleparvatasattame | puruṣottamadevaṃ tvaṃ namaskuru mahāmate 59| tatra niṣpāpino bhūtvā yāsyāmaḥ paramaṃ padam | yasya prasādādbahavo nistīrṇā bhavasāgarāt 60| evaṃ pravadatastasya prāpto'śvo nīlaparvatam | vāyuvegena pṛthivīṃ kurvansaṃkṣuṇṇamaṃḍalām 61| tadā rājāpi tatpṛṣṭhacārī nīlābhidhaṃ girim | prāpto gaṃgābdhisaṃyoge snātvāgātpuruṣottamam 62| stutvā natvā ca deveśaṃ surāsuranamaskṛtam | jātaṃ kṛtārthamātmānamamanyata sa śatruhā 63| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe nīlagirimahimavarṇanaṃnāma dvāviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 22 |
English translation
Sumati said :
1-5. Then having passed the entire day with (i.e. in) the recollection and narration (of the glory of) Viṣṇu , at night he slept on the bank of Gaṅgā , giving a large fruit. In a dream he saw himself having four arms and holding a conch, a disc, a mace, and a bow, dancing in front of Viṣṇu with gods like Śiva with their pleasing bodies, with missiles like a disc, a mace, a conch and a lotus etc., (so also) with the excellent attendants of Viṣṇu having good bodies. Having seen (Viṣṇu) the lord of Śrī, the talk of the world, giving whatever is desired by the (devotees’) mind, and called Puruṣottama , he was amazed and obtained very wonderful joy. The very intelligent one looked upon himself as worthy of his grace. In this way the best king saw the dream. When he got up in the morning he narrated the dream that he had seen to the brāhmaṇa .
6-7a. Having heard it the intelligent brāhmaṇa, who was amazed, told (the king): “O king, that Hari (i.e. Viṣṇu), called Puruṣottama, will give you (a body resembling) his own body marked with a conch, disc etc.”
7b-10. Hearing this, Ratnagrīva , of a magnanimous mind, caused to give gifts to the poor as was thought fit by his mind. Having bathed at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean, having gratified his ancestors (with oblations), he, singing the multitude of the virtues of Viṣṇu, waited to have his vision. Then in the noon, large kettle-drums, high-sounding, were beaten by the strokes of the hands of gods in the sky. All of a sudden a shower of flowers fell on the head of the king.
11-13a. “O best king, you are fortunate; see (the mountain) Nīla which is within the range of your sight.” When the king heard these words uttered by the god, that great moutain [mountain?], called Nīla which was wonderful and had greater brilliance than that of a crore suns, came within the range of the sight of the king.
13b-16a. On all sides it was shining with silver and golden peaks. ‘Is it fire that is burning? Is it another sun? Is it the mass of lightning, which has suddenly obtained a steady lustre?’ (Such were the reactions of those who saw it.) The ascetic brāhmaṇa having seen the very beautiful peak of the mountain told the king: “This is the auspicious great mountain.” Hearing it the best king saluted (the mountain) by (bowing) his head.
16b-18. (He said:) “I am lucky, I am contented (that) (the mountain) Nīla has come within the range of my sight.” O best man, the minister, the king’s wife, the weaver Karamba also became glad on seeing Nīla. Hearing the big sounds of the large kettle-drums made by gods, the five went up the mountain at the triumphant time.
19-27. On the highest peak, adorned with variegated trees, he saw a matchless temple built in gold. Coming there always Brahmā worships Viṣṇu. Seeing an excellent, pure temple of Viṣṇu at the place where he made an offering of eatables giving pleasure to Viṣṇu, he, surrounded by the five followers, entered it. Seeing there (the lord) charming with four arms, waited upon by the fierce and very fierce Jaya and Vijaya etc. and shining on the golden throne variegated with big gems, the king with his wife and accompanied by his servants, saluted him. The great king having saluted the best god and the highest soul, bathed him to the accompaniment of hymns proper for the bath and mentioned in the Vedas . The king with a pleased mind offered him an oblation and water for washing his feet. Then the king besmeared the lord’s image with sandal, and offered two good garments. He offered (to the image) incense, waved alight and offered to the lord’s image an offering of eatables fully sweet and charming. Having saluted him, he praised him by a number of hymns according to his intellect, in which a number of his virtues were strung by the ascetic brāhmaṇa.
The king said :
28-36. Puruṣa is actually one. The lord is beyond Prakṛti . He is different from effect and cause, and is worshipped by the principles like Mahat . Brahmā clever in creation was born from the lotus in your navel. Similarly, Rudra , the destroyer, was born from your eye. Ordered by you, he does all the activities about the world. The world, immovable, has come up from you, the ancient one. Having entered the power of consciousness you make him aware. O lord of the world, you do not have a birth (i.e. origin), nor do you have an end. O mighty one, growth, decay and change do not at all exist in you. Yet, for protecting your devotees and for establishing dharma , you do the acts like birth, having befitting excellences. Taking the form of a fish, you killed demon Śaṅkha . O Brahman , O ancestor of the great Puruṣa, you protected the Vedas well. Śeṣa does not know your greatness, nor does the great goddess Sarasvatī know it; then what about people like me of bad thoughts, O great Viṣṇu? (Even) this great goddess Vāk (i.e. Sarasvatī) does not mentally obtain you (i.e. is unable to conceive you). Then, O lord, how shall I be able to praise you?
Having praised him like this, he repeatedly saluted him by (bowing) his head. His voice was faltering and his body was horripilated due to joy.
37. Viṣṇu, whose mind was pleased by means of this eulogy, said (these) significant words to the king:
The lord said :
38-40. O king of great intelligence, I am highly delighted by your praise. O great king, know me to be beyond Prakṛti. Quickly eat the charming offering of eatables. (Then) having obtained four arms, you will go to the highest position. I shall also make my appearance, giving enjoyments and salvation, to that man who will praise with the gem of eulogy (with which you praised me).
41-47. Having heard these words uttered by the lord, the king, along with his four dependents, ate the offering of eatables (made to the lord). Then an aeroplane, which was adorned with a mass of bells, which was waited upon by celestial nymphs, and which was full of all pleasures, came (there). The pious king, seeing (Viṣṇu) named Puruṣottama, saluted his feet (as) he was made the recipient of his (i.e. Viṣṇu’s) favour. When he (i.e. the lord) was observing, he, with his wife, getting into the aeroplane, went to the wonderful Vaikuṇṭha in heaven. The king’s excellent minister, very much devoted to piety, knowing all modes of behaviour, and waited upon by a bevy of women, went with (the king) by the aeroplane. The ascetic brāhmaṇa who had bathed at all the holy places obtained four arms and went with gods going in an aeroplane. O great king, Karamba too obtained the vision (of the lord) due to his merit (collected) through singing and reached the abode of the god, difficult to be reached (even) by all gods.
48-52. All (the five) having four arms, and holding conches, discs, maces and lotuses went to the very wonderful world of Viṣṇu. All of them had the splendour of clouds, were pure, had shining lotuses in their hands. With their bodies adorned with necklaces, armlets and bracelets, they went to the heaven. Seeing the rows of their aeroplanes, the people and the subjects made the sound of large kettle-drums in such a way that it may be perceived (i.e. heard) by ears. Then there was a brāhmaṇa, who loved the lotus-like feet of Viṣṇu. He, with his heart distressed by separation from them, went(after them), and became four-armed. The people, seeing that wonder, praised that great prosperity, and, having bathed in the water at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean, went (back) to the city.
53-60. (They exclaimed:) “Oh, the (great) fortune of king Ratnagrīva, of a good mind! Witht his body (of him, i.e. without casting his body), he went to the highest place of Viṣṇu.” O king, this Nīla mountain is honoured by Viṣṇu (himself). On seeing it (men) certainly go to Vaikuṇṭha, the highest destination. He who listens to this greatness of Nīla, is (indeed) fortunate. (He and) he who narrates it to people, both would go to the highest place. Having heard this a bad dream perishes just by remembering (it); and in the end Viṣṇu grants him (help to) cross the mundane existence. He who stays at the Nīla (mountain) is Rāma , Viṣṇu (himself). Sītā is actually the great Lakṣmī , the cause of causes. He whose name is prescribed in (i.e. as) the expiation for the murder of a brāhmaṇa, will, after performing the horse-sacrifice, purify the worlds. Now your horse has reached the vicinity of the Nīla mountain. O you highly intelligent one, salute god Viṣṇu; thereby we shall be sinless and shall go to the highest position. By his favour many have crossed this ocean of worldly existence.
61-63. When he was talking like this, the horse, striking against the earth with the speed of the wind, reached the Nīla mountain. Then the king also, going after him, reached and bathed at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean. He sang (the praise of) Viṣṇu. That destroyer of the enemies, having praised and saluted the lord of gods, saluted by gods and demons, regarded himself as having become blessed.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43677, revision 335919 (2022-04-16T15:05:58Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365333.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.