Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 89
Sourceएकोननवतितमोऽध्यायः 5.89 नारद उवाच- एवं संबोधितो विप्रो देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । पुनः प्राह प्रियां भार्यां सहितां ज्ञानवादिनीम् १। सत्यमुक्तं त्वया भद्रे सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । तथा हि वंशमिच्छंति साधवः सत्यपंडिताः २। यथा पुत्रस्य चिंता मे न धनस्य तथा प्रिये । येनकेनाप्युपायेन पुत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम् ३। सुमनोवाच- पुत्रेण लोकाञ्जयति पुत्रस्तारयते कुलम् । सुपुत्रेण महाभाग पितामाता प्रजीवतः ४। एकः पुत्रो वरः कांत बहुभिर्निर्गुणैस्तु किम् । एकस्तारयते वंशमन्ये संतापकारकाः ५। पूर्वमेव मया प्रोक्तमन्ये संबंधभागिनः । पुण्येन प्राप्यते पुत्रः पुण्येन प्राप्यते कुलम् ६। सुगर्भः प्राप्यते पुण्यैर्दुर्मृत्युः पातकैस्तथा । सुखानां निचयं कांत सत्यमेव वदाम्यहम् ७। ब्रह्मचर्येण सत्येन तपसा नित्यवर्तनैः । दानेन नियमैश्चापि क्षमा शौचेन वल्लभ ८। अहिंसया च शक्त्या वाऽस्तेयेनापि प्रवर्तते । एतैर्दशभिरंगैश्च धर्ममेवं प्रसूयते ९। संपूर्णो जायते धर्म अंगैर्गर्भो यथोदरे । धर्मं सृजति धर्मात्मा त्रिविधेनैव कर्मणा १०। तस्य धर्मः प्रसन्नात्मा पुण्य सौख्यं प्रयच्छति । यंयं चिंतयते प्राज्ञस्तंतं प्राप्नोति दुर्लभम् ११। देवशर्म्मोवाच- सर्वं देवि समाख्यातं धर्माख्यं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । कथं पुत्रमहं विंद्यां वैष्णवं गुणसंयुतम् १२। वद त्वं मे महाभागे यदि जानासि सुव्रते । धर्ममार्गस्त्वया सर्व्वः पितुः प्राप्तः पुरानघे १३। ममैतद्विदितं कांते भवती ब्रह्मवादिनी । च्यवनस्य प्रसादेन विष्णोस्तुष्टस्य ते पुरा १४। सुमनोवाच- वसिष्ठं गच्छ धर्मज्ञ तं प्रार्थय महामुनिम् । तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि तं पुत्रं धर्मज्ञं धर्मवत्सलम् १५। एवमुक्ते तया वाक्ये देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । करिष्ये तव कल्याणि मतमेवं न संशयः १६। एवमुक्त्वा जगामासौ देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । वसिष्ठं सर्ववेत्तारं दीप्यंतं तपतां वरम् १७। गंगातीरे स्थितं पुण्यमासनस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । तेजोज्वालासमाकीर्णं द्वितीयमिव भास्करम् १८। राजमानं महात्मानं ब्रह्मसिंहं द्विजोत्तमम् । भक्त्या प्रणम्य स मुनिं दंडवत्तं पुनःपुनः १९। तमुवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मसूनुरकल्मषम् । उपविशासने पुण्ये सुखेन सुमहामते २०। नारद उवाच- उपविष्टः स योगींद्र पुनः प्राह तपोधनम् । गृहे पुरुष ते वत्स दारभृत्येषु सर्वदा २१। क्षेममस्ति महाभाग पुण्यकर्मसु चाग्निषु । निरामयोऽसि चांगेषु धर्मं पालयसे सदा २२। एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः पुनः प्राह महीसुरम् । किं करोमि प्रियं कामं सुप्रियं ते द्विजोत्तम २३। नारद उवाच- एवं संभाष्य तं विप्रं विरराम शुभं वचः । ततो विप्रो महाभागो वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम् २४। स होवाच महात्मानं वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यं विच्छेदय द्विजोत्तम २५। दारिद्र्यं केन भावेन पुत्रसौख्यं कथं नहि । एतन्मे संशयं तात कस्मात्पापाद्वदस्व मे २६। महामोहेन संमुग्धः प्रियया बोधितो द्विज । तयाहं प्रेषितस्तात तव पार्श्वं समागतः २७। तत्सर्वं हि समाचक्ष्व सर्वसंदेहनाशकम् । मुक्तिदाता भव स्वत्वं ममसंसारबंधनात् २८। वसिष्ठ उवाच- पुत्रा मित्रास्तथा भ्राता अन्ये स्वजनबांधवाः । पंचभेदास्तु संबंधाः पुरुषस्य भवंति ते २९। तेते सुमनसा प्रोक्ताः पूर्वमेव तवाग्रतः । ऋणसंबंधिनः सर्वे ते कुपुत्रा द्विजोत्तम ३०। पुत्रस्य लक्षणं पुण्यं तवाग्रे प्रवदाम्यहम् । पुण्यप्रसक्तो यस्यात्मा सत्यधर्मरतः सदा ३१। शुद्धिमाञ्ज्ञानसंपन्नस्तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरः । सर्वकर्मसुसंवीतो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः ३२। सर्वशास्त्रप्रवेदी च देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । याज्ञिकः सर्वयज्ञानां दाता त्यागी प्रियंवदः ३३। विष्णुध्यानपरो नित्यं शांतोदांतः सुहृत्सदा । पितृमातृपरो नित्यं सर्वस्वजनवत्सलः ३४। कुलस्य तारको विद्वान्स्वकुलं परिपोषकः । एवंगुणैस्तु संयुक्तः सुपुत्रः सुखदायकः ३५। अन्ये संबंधयुक्ताश्च शोकसंतापकारकाः । उदासीनेन किं कार्यं फलहीनेन तेऽनघ ३६। आयांति यांति ते सर्वे दुःखं दत्वा सुदारुणम् । पुत्ररूपेण ते सर्वे संसारे द्विजसत्तम ३७। पूर्वजन्मकृतं कर्म यत्त्वया परिपालितम् । तत्सर्वं हि प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामद्भुतं पुनः ३८। भवाञ्छूद्रो महाप्राज्ञ पूर्वजन्मनि नान्यथा । कृषिकर्त्ता ज्ञानहीनो महालोभेन संयुतः ३९। एकभार्यः सदा द्वेषी बहुपुत्रो ह्यदत्तवान् । धर्मं नैव विजानासि सत्यं च परिनिष्ठितम् ४०। दानं नैव त्वया दत्तं शास्त्रं नैव परिश्रुतम् । कृतं नैव त्वया तीर्थं न च यात्रा महामते ४१। एवं कृतस्त्वया विप्र कृषिमार्गः पुनःपुनः । पशूनां पालनं पूर्वंग च्छंश्चैव द्विजोत्तम ४२। महिषीणां तथाश्वीनां पालनं च पुनःपुनः । एवं पूर्वं कृतं कर्म त्वयैव च द्विजोत्तम ४३। विपुलं तु धनं तद्वल्लोभेन परिसंचितम् । तस्य व्ययस्तु पुण्येन न कृतस्तु त्वया कदा ४४। पात्रे दानं न दत्तं हि दृष्ट्वा वा दुर्बलं च तत् । कृषिं कृत्वा न दत्तं तु भवता धनमेव हि ४५। गोमयं हि त्विदं सर्वं पशूनां संचयं च वै । विक्रयित्वा धनं विप्र संचितं विपुलं त्वया ४६। तक्रं घृतं तथा क्षीरं विक्रीतं सततं दधि । दुष्कालश्चिंतितो विप्र मोहितो विष्णुमायया ४७। कृत्वा महार्घमेवैतद्धनं ब्राह्मणसत्तम । निर्दयेन त्वया दानं न दत्तं तु तदा किल ४८। देवानां पूजनं विप्र भवता न कृतं सदा । पर्वाणि प्राप्य विप्रेभ्यो द्रव्यं नैव समर्पितम् ४९। श्राद्धकालं च संप्राप्य श्रद्धया न कृतं त्वया । भार्या वदति ते साध्वी दिनमध्ये समागते ५०। श्वशुरश्राद्धकालश्च श्वश्र्वाश्चैव महामते । तच्छ्रुत्वा तद्वचस्तेषां गृहं त्यक्त्वा पलायसे ५१। धर्ममार्गो न दृष्टो हि श्रुतो नैव कदा त्वया । लोभो मातापिता भ्राता लोभः स्वजनबांधवाः ५२। पालितो लोभ एवैकस्त्यक्त्वा धर्मं सदैव हि । तस्माद्दुःखी भवाञ्जातो दारिद्रेणाति पीडितः ५३। दिनेदिने महातृष्णा हृदये ते प्रवर्त्तते । यदायदा गृहे द्रव्यं वृद्धिमायाति ते सदा ५४। तृष्णया दह्यमानस्तु तदा त्वं वह्निरूपया । रात्रौ वा त्वं प्रसुप्तस्तु लोभं चिंतयसेऽधिकम् ५५। दिनं प्राप्य महामोहैर्व्यापितो हि सदैव हि । सहस्रं लक्षतः कोटिः कदावार्बुदमेव च ५६। भविष्यति कदा खर्वो निखर्वश्चाथ मे गृहे । एवं सहस्रलक्षं च कोटिरर्बुदमेव च ५७। खर्वो निखर्वः संजातस्तृष्णा नैव प्रगच्छति । एवं कालं परित्यज्य वृद्धिमायाति सर्वदा ५८। नैव दत्तं हुतं विप्र भुक्तं नैव कदा त्वया । निश्चितं भूमिमध्ये तत्क्षिप्तं पुत्रानजानते ५९। अन्यमेवमुपायं तु द्रव्यागमनकारणात् । कुरुषे सर्वदा विप्र लोकान्पृच्छसि बुद्धिमान् ६०। खनित्रमंजनं वादं धातुवादमतःपरम् । पृच्छमानो भ्रमस्येकस्तृष्णया परिमोहितः ६१। सर्वांश्चिंतयसे नित्यं कल्पान्सिद्धि प्रदायकान् । प्रवेशं चित्रवर्णानां चिंतामणिं च पृच्छसि ६२। तृष्णानलेनदग्धोसि सुखं नैव प्रगच्छसि । तृष्णानलप्रदीप्तोसि हाहाभूतोऽप्रचेतनः ६३। एवंभूतोसि विप्रेंद्र गतस्त्वं कालवश्यताम् । दारपुत्रेषु तद्द्रव्यं पृच्छमानेषु वै त्वया ६४। कथितं नैव तद्दत्तं प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा गतो यमम् । एवं सर्वंम याख्यातं वृत्तांतं तव पूर्वकम् ६५। अनेन कर्मणा विप्र निर्धनोसि दरिद्रवान् । संसारे यस्य सत्पुत्रा भक्तिमंतः सदैव हि ६६। सुशीला ज्ञानसंपन्नाः सत्यधर्मरताः सदा । संभवंति गृहे तस्य यस्य विष्णुः प्रसीदति ६७। धनं धान्यं कलत्रं तु पुत्रपौत्रमनंतकम् । सभुंक्ते मर्त्यलोके वै यस्य विष्णुः प्रसन्नवान् ६८। विना विष्णोः प्रसादेन दाराः पुत्रा भवंति न । सुजन्म च कुले विप्र तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ६९। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये देवशर्मोपाख्याने एकोननवतितमोऽध्यायः ८९।
ekonanavatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 5.89 nārada uvāca- evaṃ saṃbodhito vipro devaśarmā dvijottamaḥ | punaḥ prāha priyāṃ bhāryāṃ sahitāṃ jñānavādinīm 1| satyamuktaṃ tvayā bhadre sarvasaṃdehanāśanam | tathā hi vaṃśamicchaṃti sādhavaḥ satyapaṃḍitāḥ 2| yathā putrasya ciṃtā me na dhanasya tathā priye | yenakenāpyupāyena putramutpādayāmyaham 3| sumanovāca- putreṇa lokāñjayati putrastārayate kulam | suputreṇa mahābhāga pitāmātā prajīvataḥ 4| ekaḥ putro varaḥ kāṃta bahubhirnirguṇaistu kim | ekastārayate vaṃśamanye saṃtāpakārakāḥ 5| pūrvameva mayā proktamanye saṃbaṃdhabhāginaḥ | puṇyena prāpyate putraḥ puṇyena prāpyate kulam 6| sugarbhaḥ prāpyate puṇyairdurmṛtyuḥ pātakaistathā | sukhānāṃ nicayaṃ kāṃta satyameva vadāmyaham 7| brahmacaryeṇa satyena tapasā nityavartanaiḥ | dānena niyamaiścāpi kṣamā śaucena vallabha 8| ahiṃsayā ca śaktyā vā'steyenāpi pravartate | etairdaśabhiraṃgaiśca dharmamevaṃ prasūyate 9| saṃpūrṇo jāyate dharma aṃgairgarbho yathodare | dharmaṃ sṛjati dharmātmā trividhenaiva karmaṇā 10| tasya dharmaḥ prasannātmā puṇya saukhyaṃ prayacchati | yaṃyaṃ ciṃtayate prājñastaṃtaṃ prāpnoti durlabham 11| devaśarmmovāca- sarvaṃ devi samākhyātaṃ dharmākhyaṃ jñānamuttamam | kathaṃ putramahaṃ viṃdyāṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ guṇasaṃyutam 12| vada tvaṃ me mahābhāge yadi jānāsi suvrate | dharmamārgastvayā sarvvaḥ pituḥ prāptaḥ purānaghe 13| mamaitadviditaṃ kāṃte bhavatī brahmavādinī | cyavanasya prasādena viṣṇostuṣṭasya te purā 14| sumanovāca- vasiṣṭhaṃ gaccha dharmajña taṃ prārthaya mahāmunim | tasmātprāpsyasi taṃ putraṃ dharmajñaṃ dharmavatsalam 15| evamukte tayā vākye devaśarmā dvijottamaḥ | kariṣye tava kalyāṇi matamevaṃ na saṃśayaḥ 16| evamuktvā jagāmāsau devaśarmā dvijottamaḥ | vasiṣṭhaṃ sarvavettāraṃ dīpyaṃtaṃ tapatāṃ varam 17| gaṃgātīre sthitaṃ puṇyamāsanasthaṃ dvijottamam | tejojvālāsamākīrṇaṃ dvitīyamiva bhāskaram 18| rājamānaṃ mahātmānaṃ brahmasiṃhaṃ dvijottamam | bhaktyā praṇamya sa muniṃ daṃḍavattaṃ punaḥpunaḥ 19| tamuvāca mahātejā brahmasūnurakalmaṣam | upaviśāsane puṇye sukhena sumahāmate 20| nārada uvāca- upaviṣṭaḥ sa yogīṃdra punaḥ prāha tapodhanam | gṛhe puruṣa te vatsa dārabhṛtyeṣu sarvadā 21| kṣemamasti mahābhāga puṇyakarmasu cāgniṣu | nirāmayo'si cāṃgeṣu dharmaṃ pālayase sadā 22| evamuktvā mahāprājñaḥ punaḥ prāha mahīsuram | kiṃ karomi priyaṃ kāmaṃ supriyaṃ te dvijottama 23| nārada uvāca- evaṃ saṃbhāṣya taṃ vipraṃ virarāma śubhaṃ vacaḥ | tato vipro mahābhāgo vasiṣṭhaṃ munipuṃgavam 24| sa hovāca mahātmānaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ tapatāṃ varam | bhagavañchrūyatāṃ vākyaṃ vicchedaya dvijottama 25| dāridryaṃ kena bhāvena putrasaukhyaṃ kathaṃ nahi | etanme saṃśayaṃ tāta kasmātpāpādvadasva me 26| mahāmohena saṃmugdhaḥ priyayā bodhito dvija | tayāhaṃ preṣitastāta tava pārśvaṃ samāgataḥ 27| tatsarvaṃ hi samācakṣva sarvasaṃdehanāśakam | muktidātā bhava svatvaṃ mamasaṃsārabaṃdhanāt 28| vasiṣṭha uvāca- putrā mitrāstathā bhrātā anye svajanabāṃdhavāḥ | paṃcabhedāstu saṃbaṃdhāḥ puruṣasya bhavaṃti te 29| tete sumanasā proktāḥ pūrvameva tavāgrataḥ | ṛṇasaṃbaṃdhinaḥ sarve te kuputrā dvijottama 30| putrasya lakṣaṇaṃ puṇyaṃ tavāgre pravadāmyaham | puṇyaprasakto yasyātmā satyadharmarataḥ sadā 31| śuddhimāñjñānasaṃpannastapasvī vāgvidāṃ varaḥ | sarvakarmasusaṃvīto vedādhyayanatatparaḥ 32| sarvaśāstrapravedī ca devabrāhmaṇapūjakaḥ | yājñikaḥ sarvayajñānāṃ dātā tyāgī priyaṃvadaḥ 33| viṣṇudhyānaparo nityaṃ śāṃtodāṃtaḥ suhṛtsadā | pitṛmātṛparo nityaṃ sarvasvajanavatsalaḥ 34| kulasya tārako vidvānsvakulaṃ paripoṣakaḥ | evaṃguṇaistu saṃyuktaḥ suputraḥ sukhadāyakaḥ 35| anye saṃbaṃdhayuktāśca śokasaṃtāpakārakāḥ | udāsīnena kiṃ kāryaṃ phalahīnena te'nagha 36| āyāṃti yāṃti te sarve duḥkhaṃ datvā sudāruṇam | putrarūpeṇa te sarve saṃsāre dvijasattama 37| pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ karma yattvayā paripālitam | tatsarvaṃ hi pravakṣyāmi śrūyatāmadbhutaṃ punaḥ 38| bhavāñchūdro mahāprājña pūrvajanmani nānyathā | kṛṣikarttā jñānahīno mahālobhena saṃyutaḥ 39| ekabhāryaḥ sadā dveṣī bahuputro hyadattavān | dharmaṃ naiva vijānāsi satyaṃ ca pariniṣṭhitam 40| dānaṃ naiva tvayā dattaṃ śāstraṃ naiva pariśrutam | kṛtaṃ naiva tvayā tīrthaṃ na ca yātrā mahāmate 41| evaṃ kṛtastvayā vipra kṛṣimārgaḥ punaḥpunaḥ | paśūnāṃ pālanaṃ pūrvaṃga cchaṃścaiva dvijottama 42| mahiṣīṇāṃ tathāśvīnāṃ pālanaṃ ca punaḥpunaḥ | evaṃ pūrvaṃ kṛtaṃ karma tvayaiva ca dvijottama 43| vipulaṃ tu dhanaṃ tadvallobhena parisaṃcitam | tasya vyayastu puṇyena na kṛtastu tvayā kadā 44| pātre dānaṃ na dattaṃ hi dṛṣṭvā vā durbalaṃ ca tat | kṛṣiṃ kṛtvā na dattaṃ tu bhavatā dhanameva hi 45| gomayaṃ hi tvidaṃ sarvaṃ paśūnāṃ saṃcayaṃ ca vai | vikrayitvā dhanaṃ vipra saṃcitaṃ vipulaṃ tvayā 46| takraṃ ghṛtaṃ tathā kṣīraṃ vikrītaṃ satataṃ dadhi | duṣkālaściṃtito vipra mohito viṣṇumāyayā 47| kṛtvā mahārghamevaitaddhanaṃ brāhmaṇasattama | nirdayena tvayā dānaṃ na dattaṃ tu tadā kila 48| devānāṃ pūjanaṃ vipra bhavatā na kṛtaṃ sadā | parvāṇi prāpya viprebhyo dravyaṃ naiva samarpitam 49| śrāddhakālaṃ ca saṃprāpya śraddhayā na kṛtaṃ tvayā | bhāryā vadati te sādhvī dinamadhye samāgate 50| śvaśuraśrāddhakālaśca śvaśrvāścaiva mahāmate | tacchrutvā tadvacasteṣāṃ gṛhaṃ tyaktvā palāyase 51| dharmamārgo na dṛṣṭo hi śruto naiva kadā tvayā | lobho mātāpitā bhrātā lobhaḥ svajanabāṃdhavāḥ 52| pālito lobha evaikastyaktvā dharmaṃ sadaiva hi | tasmādduḥkhī bhavāñjāto dāridreṇāti pīḍitaḥ 53| dinedine mahātṛṣṇā hṛdaye te pravarttate | yadāyadā gṛhe dravyaṃ vṛddhimāyāti te sadā 54| tṛṣṇayā dahyamānastu tadā tvaṃ vahnirūpayā | rātrau vā tvaṃ prasuptastu lobhaṃ ciṃtayase'dhikam 55| dinaṃ prāpya mahāmohairvyāpito hi sadaiva hi | sahasraṃ lakṣataḥ koṭiḥ kadāvārbudameva ca 56| bhaviṣyati kadā kharvo nikharvaścātha me gṛhe | evaṃ sahasralakṣaṃ ca koṭirarbudameva ca 57| kharvo nikharvaḥ saṃjātastṛṣṇā naiva pragacchati | evaṃ kālaṃ parityajya vṛddhimāyāti sarvadā 58| naiva dattaṃ hutaṃ vipra bhuktaṃ naiva kadā tvayā | niścitaṃ bhūmimadhye tatkṣiptaṃ putrānajānate 59| anyamevamupāyaṃ tu dravyāgamanakāraṇāt | kuruṣe sarvadā vipra lokānpṛcchasi buddhimān 60| khanitramaṃjanaṃ vādaṃ dhātuvādamataḥparam | pṛcchamāno bhramasyekastṛṣṇayā parimohitaḥ 61| sarvāṃściṃtayase nityaṃ kalpānsiddhi pradāyakān | praveśaṃ citravarṇānāṃ ciṃtāmaṇiṃ ca pṛcchasi 62| tṛṣṇānalenadagdhosi sukhaṃ naiva pragacchasi | tṛṣṇānalapradīptosi hāhābhūto'pracetanaḥ 63| evaṃbhūtosi vipreṃdra gatastvaṃ kālavaśyatām | dāraputreṣu taddravyaṃ pṛcchamāneṣu vai tvayā 64| kathitaṃ naiva taddattaṃ prāṇāṃstyaktvā gato yamam | evaṃ sarvaṃma yākhyātaṃ vṛttāṃtaṃ tava pūrvakam 65| anena karmaṇā vipra nirdhanosi daridravān | saṃsāre yasya satputrā bhaktimaṃtaḥ sadaiva hi 66| suśīlā jñānasaṃpannāḥ satyadharmaratāḥ sadā | saṃbhavaṃti gṛhe tasya yasya viṣṇuḥ prasīdati 67| dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ kalatraṃ tu putrapautramanaṃtakam | sabhuṃkte martyaloke vai yasya viṣṇuḥ prasannavān 68| vinā viṣṇoḥ prasādena dārāḥ putrā bhavaṃti na | sujanma ca kule vipra tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam 69| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye devaśarmopākhyāne ekonanavatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 89|
English translation
Nārada said :
1-3. Thus addressed (by his wife) the best brāhmaṇa , Devaśarman , again spoke to his wife, having (his) welfare in mind, and talking wisely: “O good one, you have told the truth which destroys (i.e. removes) all doubts, for it has been said that good men, the truly wise ones, desire (the continuity of) their family. O dear one, I am not so much anxious about (getting) wealth as about (having) a son. With whatever means I shall produce (i.e. have) a son.”
Sumanā said :
4-11. A man wins the worlds through a son. A son emancipates (his) family. O glorious one, due to a good son, the father and mother survive. O dear one, it is better to have one son (only). What is the use of (having) many worthless sons? One son emancipates the family; the others (i.e. many sons) cause torment. Formerly only I have said that (these) others (simply) enjoy relation. Due to religious merit a good son is had; due to religious merit (birth in a noble) family is obtained. A good womb (i.e. being conceived by a noble woman) is obtained through religious merit, and a bad death is had as a result of sins. A heap of pleasures (is had due to religious merit), O dear one. I am telling the truth only. A man lives by celibacy, truth, penance, necessary means of living, gifts, restraints, forgiveness, purity, O dear one; so also by harmlessness, might and non-stealing also. By means of these ten constituents he produces Dharma only. By means of these constituents Dharma becomes complete as the foetus (becomes complete) by means of limbs in the womb. A righteous person produces Dharma with three kinds of acts (viz. of body, of mind and of speech). Dharma being pleased with him, gives him meritorious pleasures. The wise one obtains whatever he thinks of.
Devaśarman said :
12-14. O respectable lady, you have told me the entire excellent knowledge called Dharma. O glorious one, O you of a good vow, if you know, tell me how I would obtain a son devoted to Viṣṇu and possessing virtues. O sinless one, you have obtained (i.e. learnt) the whole way of Dharma from your father. O dear one, I know that due to the favour of Cyavana , with whom Viṣṇu was formerly pleased, you are one who expounds the Vedas .
Sumanā said :
15-20. O you who know religious merit, go to Vasiṣṭha . Request that great sage. From him you will obtain the son knowing religious merit, to whom religious merit is dear.
When these words were uttered by her, the best brāhmaṇa Devaśarman (said:) “O auspicious one, I shall follow your advice. There is no doubt about it.” Saying so, that best brāhmaṇa Devaśarman went to Vasiṣṭha who knew everything, who was bright, who was the best among those who practised penance, who, the best brāhmaṇa, remained on a seat on the bank of Gaṅgā , who was surrounded by flames of lustre, who was, as it were, another sun, who, the glorious one, was shining, who was the lion among brāhmaṇas and the best brāhmaṇa. He repeatedly and devoutly saluted, (prostrating himself) like a staff, that sage. That very lustrous son of Brahmā (i.e. Vasiṣṭha) said to the sinless one: “O you very intelligent one, be comfortably seated on the auspicious seat.”
Nārada said :
21-23. The best among the meditating saints who was seated, said to (Devaśarman) the treasure of penance: “O dear man, O glorious one, in your house, your wife and servants are well, so also everything is well with fires, with which sacred rites. are performed. You are healthy in all limbs; and you always practise righteous things.” Saying so, the very wise (Vasiṣṭha) again said to the brāhmaṇa: “O best brāhmaṇa, what cherished desire of yours (should) I fulfil?”
Nārada said :
24-28. Having spoken these good words to the brāhmaṇa, he ceased speaking. Then that glorious brāhmaṇa said to Vasiṣṭha, the best among sages, the magnanimous one, and the best among those who practised penance: “O revered best brāhmaṇa, (please) listen to my words; you may interrupt (me). Due to which condition (I am suffering from) poverty? How (is it that I am) not having the happiness of (having) a son? O dear one, this is my doubt. Tell me due to which sin (I am poor and sonless). Perplexed by great delusion I was advised by my dear wife, O brāhmaṇa. O dear one, sent by her, I have come to you. Tell me all that which will remove all doubt. (Please) be my emancipator from the bondage of the worldly existence.”
Vasiṣṭha said :
29-30. For a man there are five kinds of connections: Sons, friends, so also a brother and other kinsmen and relatives. These respective ones have been already explained to you by Sumanā . O best brāhmaṇa, those (sons) that are related (to the father) through debt, are bad sons.
31-36a. I shall explain to you the auspicious characteristic(s) of a son. He is attached to religious merit; his mind is always engaged in the practice of truth: he is pure; he is endowed with knowledge; he practised penance; he is the best among the eloquent; he is well-adorned with all rites; he is intent upon Vedic studies; he well knows all sacred texts; he honours gods and brāhmaṇas; he performs all (kinds of) sacrifices; he is a giver and a donor; is sweet-speaking; he is always engaged in the meditation upon Viṣṇu; he is calm; controlled; he is always friendly; he is always devoted to his father and mother; he is learned; he maintains his family. A good son having these qualities gives happiness (to his parents). Others having relation (with a man) cause grief and torment.
36b-38. O sinless one, what have you to do with a neutral son (giving) no fruit? All of them come in the form of sons to the worldly existence, and all of them go after giving terrible grief, O best brāhmaṇa. I shall explain all the wonderful deeds you did and preserved in the former existence.
39-53a. Listen, O you very wise one, you were in your former existence a śūdra , and none else; you were a cultivator of land, you did not have knowledge; you were extremely greedy. You had one wife; you always hated (others); you had many sons; you never gave (gifts); you never knew righteousness and perfect truth. You never gave gifts; you never studied sacred texts; you never visited a holy place; you never undertook a pilgrimage, O you very intelligent one. O brāhmaṇa, you thus repeatedly practised cultivation (of land), and O you best brāhmaṇa, you also formerly reared beasts, so also again and again you reared she-buffaloes and mares. O best brāhmaṇa, you yourself did such deeds formerly (i.e. in your former existence). Similarly, you greedily amassed much wealth. But you never spent it in a righteous way, even after seeing a worthy but feeble recipient; having cultivated land you did not give wealth (to others). O brāhmaṇa, having sold all cow-dung and your cattle, you amassed large wealth. You always sold butter-milk, so also ghee and milk and curd. Infatuated by the illusion caused by Viṣṇu, O brāhmaṇa, you thought of bad times and made this money (through making things) very costly. Indeed, you, the pitiless one never gave gifts at that time. O brāhmaṇa, you never worshipped the deities. On the parvan days (in a month) you never gave wealth to brāhmaṇas. On the arrival of the time for offering a śrāddha , you never performed one devoutly. When the forenoon of the day came, your virtuous wife said to you: “O very intelligent one, it is the time to offer śrāddha to (my) father-in-law, so also the mother-in-law.” Hearing these words of them (i.e. your wife and others), you left the house and ran (away). You never realised the path of righteousness, nor did you ever listen to it. Greed was your mother, father, brother. Greed was your relatives and kinsmen. Giving up righteousness, you always preserved greed only.
53b-65a. Therefore, you became unhappy, and were very much tormented by poverty. Day by day great avarice was produced in your mind. Whenever wealth always increased in your house, you were burnt by avarice of the nature of fire. (When) at night you slept, you thought more of greed. When you reached (i.e. when it was) the day, you were always filled with great delusions. (You thought:) When (would this money) be a thousand, a lakh , a crore, a hundred millions, a thousand millions, a million millions in my house? Thus, a thousand, a lakh, a crore, a hundred millions, a thousand millions, a million millions (worth of wealth) was (amassed); but (your) avarice never left (you). Thus, disregarding the time, it always increased. You never gave (gifts); you never offered oblations into fire; you never enjoyed (your wealth), O brāhmaṇa. Definitely you put (i.e. buried) it into the ground. (Your) sons did not know (it). O brāhmaṇa, you always adopted other means for the acquisition of wealth. Being intelligent you always asked people. Deluded by avarice, and asking other(s) about a spade, collyrium, having discussions, and asking (others) about alchemy, you wandered alone. You always thought about formulae that would give you success. You consulted the desire-yielding gem and (others) about entering into various castes. You were burnt by the fire of avarice, you did not move happily. You were blazing with the fire of avarice, you waited, and had lost your intelligence. O best brāhmaṇa, you who were (reduced to a condition) like this, were under the influence of destiny. When your wife and sons asked about that wealth, you never told them, nor did you give it to them, and having died you went to Yama .
65b-69. I have thus told you your whole former account. Due to these deeds, you are not having wealth, you are poor, O brāhmaṇa. Viṣṇu is pleased with him, in whose worldly existence his sons are always devoted, are of good character, endowed with knowledge, always engaged in truthfulness and righteousness. He with whom Viṣṇu is pleased, enjoys wealth, grains, a wife, sons, grandsons endlessly. Without Viṣṇu’s favour a (good) wife and (good) sons are not (obtained), O brāhmaṇa, to have a good birth in a family (i.e. to be born in a good family) is (indeed) the highest position of Viṣṇu.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 15406, revision 336131 (2022-04-18T20:50:37Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365401.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.