Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 90
Sourceदेवशर्मोवाच- पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं त्वयाख्यातं ममैव तत् । शूद्रत्वेन हि विप्रेंद्र मयैवं धनमर्जितम् १। विप्रत्वं हि मया प्राप्तं तत्कथं द्विजसत्तम । तत्सर्वं कारणं ब्रूहि ज्ञानविज्ञानपंडित २। दुर्ल्लभं भारते वर्षे जन्म तस्मान्मनुष्यता । मानुष्ये ब्राह्मणत्वं च सुतरां सत्कुलोदितम् ३। तत्रापीदृग्विधा भार्या सर्वज्ञा प्रियवादिनी । सती सर्वगुणोपेता दुर्लभा सा कुतोऽभवत् ४। वसिष्ठ उवाच-। यत्त्वया चेष्टितं पूर्वं धर्मकर्मकृतं द्विज । तदहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां यदि मन्यसे ५। ब्राह्मणैकः सुधर्मात्मा सदाचारः सुपंडितः । विष्णुभक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा नित्यं विष्णुपरायणः ६। स्नानार्थमपि तीर्थानां भ्रमत्येकः स मेदिनीम् । अटमानः समायातस्तव गेहे महामतिः ७। तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण समुत्पन्न सुधीस्तव । यतो धर्मगते गेहे सतामागमनं भवेत् ८। किंकिं न लभ्यते विप्र विप्रवैष्णवसेवया । दुर्ल्लभं यच्च लोके स्यान्मोक्षस्थानमपि स्थिरम् ९। याचितं स्थानमेकं वै वासार्थं तेन सत्तम । तवैव भार्यया दत्तं त्वया च सह पुत्रकैः १०। एयतामेयतां ब्रह्मन्सुखेन च गृहे मम । वैष्णवं ब्राह्मणं पुण्यमित्युवाच पुनः पुनः ११। सुखेन स्थीयतामत्र गृहोऽयं तव सुव्रत । अद्य धन्योऽस्म्यहं पुण्यो अद्य तीर्थमहं गतः १२। अद्यतीर्थफलं प्राप्तं मया ते विप्र दर्शनात् । गवां स्थानं परं पुण्यं वासस्थानं प्रदर्शितम् १३। अंगसंवाहनं सम्यक्पादौ चैव प्रमर्दितौ । क्षालितौ च पुनस्तोयैः स्नातः पादोदकेन हि १४। सद्यो घृतं दधिक्षीरमन्यमन्यं प्रदत्तवान् । ब्राह्मणाय तदा तस्मै त्वं तथाऽदृष्टनोदितः १५। एवं संतोषितो विप्रस्त्वयैव सह भार्यया । पुत्रैः सार्धं महाभागो वैष्णवो ज्ञानपंडितः १६। अथ प्रभाते विमले स्नानार्थं मासि माधवे । गंगायां गच्छता तेन तुष्टेन दययाधिपम् १७। वैशाखस्नानमाहात्म्यमुपदिष्टं तवाग्रतः । कारितस्तु यथान्यायं सभार्या तनयो भवान् १८। यथा न वारिधि समो लोके कोपि जलाशयः । तथा मासो न वैशाखसदृशो माधवप्रियः १९। तावत्पापानि तिष्ठंति निष्प्रत्यूहं कलेवरे । यावत्किल मलध्वंसी मासो नैति स माधवः २०। तस्य वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य वैशाखे सेवनं कृतम् । तुष्टेन मनसा विप्र पूजितो मधुसूदनः २१। अवशिष्टदिनान्येव पंचमासस्य तस्य वै । एकादशीं समारभ्य स्नानं च विधिवत्कृतम् २२। ब्राह्मणस्य प्रसंगेन रेवां चानुदिने त्वया । प्रातःस्नानं कृतं विप्र वैशाखे मासि तावता २३। पूजितो देवदेवेशो मधुहा परमेश्वरः । नैवाप्तः सकलो मासः स्नानार्थं तव पूर्वतः २४। एवं स्नानं त्वया चीर्णमपि पंचदिनात्मकम् । तेन पुण्येन संगत्या ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः २५। गोविंदस्य प्रसादेन त्वं तु ब्राह्मणतां गतः । त्वया तन्मासयोगेन प्राप्तमेतन्महत्कुलम् २६। दुर्ल्लभं भूमिदेवानां सत्यधर्मसमन्वितम् । भार्यापि सुसती प्राप्ता साध्वी सर्वगुणान्विता २७। च्यवनस्य गृहोत्पन्ना सर्वज्ञा ब्रह्मवादिनी । रूपमेव परं स्त्रीणां भूषणं च महामुने २८। शीलमेव द्वितीयं च तृतीयं सत्यमेव च । सदार्यत्वं चतुर्थं तु पंचमं पुण्यमुत्तमम् २९। मधुरत्वं तथा षष्ठं शुद्धत्वं सप्तमं महत् । बाह्यांतः सततं स्त्रीणां सर्वाभरणसप्तमम् ३०। अष्टमं तु पतौ भावः शुश्रूषा नवमं किल । सहिष्णुता च दशमं रतिरेकादशं तथा ३१। पतिव्रतत्वं विप्रेंद्र द्वादशं योषितां स्मृतम् । एतैः संभूषिता भार्या साध्वी ते ब्रह्मवादिनी ३२। वैशाखस्नानयोगेन लब्धा पुण्येन सादरम् । किंकिं न दुर्ल्लभतरं प्राप्यते मासि माधवे ३३। स्नानेन परमेशस्य पूजनेन यथाविधि । अथ मोहप्रमुग्धोसि तृष्णया व्यापितं मनः ३४। पूर्वजन्मनि ते विप्र द्रव्यमेव प्रसंचितम् । न दत्तं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हि दीनेष्वन्येषु वै त्वया ३५। न बंधुवर्गो नो पुत्रदारेषु च कथंचन । म्रियमाणेन भवता लोभ एव हि चिंतितः ३६। न दत्तं न हुतं जप्तं न तीर्थे मरणं कृतम् । न हि नारायणो देवो ध्यानेनाखिल पापहा ३७। द्रव्येषु विद्यमानेषु कृपणो जायते नरः । अदत्वा म्रियते यस्तु ततो दुःखतरं नुकिम् ३८। तीर्थस्नानादि तपसा कुले जन्मैव लभ्यते । नो दत्तेन विना विप्र किंचिदेवोपतिष्ठति ३९। तस्य पापस्य भावेन दरिद्रत्वमुपागतम् । अपुत्रवान्भवाञ्जातः सततं दुःखपीडितः ४०। वैशाखस्नानमाहात्म्यादपि पंचदिनात्मकात् । तदैव हरिपूजायाः संगत्या ब्राह्मणस्य च ४१। लब्धं जन्म कुले विप्र विप्रत्वमपि दुर्ल्लभम् । सुपुत्रश्च कुलं विप्रं धनं धान्यं वरस्त्रियः ४२। सुजन्ममरणं चैव सुभोगः सुखमेव च । सदा दानेऽधिकाबुद्धिरौदार्यं धैर्यमुत्तमम् ४३। प्रसादात्तस्य देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः । नारायणस्य जायंते सिद्धयो विप्रवाञ्छिताः ४४। ऊर्ज्जे मासि तपो मासि माधवे माधवप्रिये । स्नात्वा दामोदरं भक्त्या माधवं मधुसूदनम् ४५। विशेषेण समभ्यर्च्य दत्वा दानानि भक्तितः । एहिकं सुखमासाद्य जनो याति ततो हरिम् ४६। अनेकजन्मार्जितपातकावली विलीयते माधवमज्जनेन । सूर्योदये विप्र यथा तमिस्रा वचः स्वयंभूरिदमादिदेश ४७। चकार विष्णुर्विमलं विचारं मासं विधिं माधवमेकमादौ । यमस्य गुप्तं मनसा विचिंत्य मनुष्यलोकैर्गमितुं च नाके ४८। तस्मादस्मिन्समायाते माधवे मासि माधवे । स्नात्वा पुण्यजले तीर्थे रवावनुदितेऽधुना ४९। पूजयित्वा विधानेन मुकुंदं मधुसूदनम् । पुत्रपौत्रधनं श्रेयो वांछितानि सुखानि च ५०। अनुभूय ततस्त्वंते स्वर्गमक्षयमाप्स्यसि । पूर्वजन्मकृतं सर्वं यत्त्वया परिचेष्टितम् ५१। तन्मया कथितं विप्र तवाग्रे परिचेष्टितम् । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग वैशाखे च विशेषतः ५२। स्नात्वा सम्यग्विधानेन मधुसूदनमर्चय । देवमाराध्य गोविंदं नारायणमनामयम् ५३। प्राप्स्यसि त्वं सुखं पुत्रं धनानि हरिमव्ययम् ५४। नारद उवाच- ब्रह्मात्मजेनापि महानुभावः स विप्रवर्यः परिबोधितो हि । हर्षेणयुक्तः स महानुभावो भक्त्या वसिष्ठं प्रणिपत्य तत्र ५५। आमंत्र्य विप्रं स जगाम गेहं तां प्राह भार्यां सुमनां महर्षिः । सर्वं हिवृत्तं ममपूर्वचेष्टितं तेनैव विप्रेण तवप्रसादात् ५६। भद्रे वसिष्ठेन विकाशनीतमद्यैव मोहः परिनाशितो मे । आराधयिष्येमधुसूदनंतुश्रीमाधवेमासिनिमज्ज्यभक्त्या ५७। नारद उवाच- आकर्ण्य वाक्यं परमं पवित्रं सुमंगलं मंगलहेतुमुच्चैः । हर्षेण युक्ता तमुवाच कांतं धन्योसि विप्रेण विबोधितस्त्वम् ५८। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये देवशर्मोपाख्याने नवतितमोऽध्यायः ९०।
devaśarmovāca- pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tvayākhyātaṃ mamaiva tat | śūdratvena hi vipreṃdra mayaivaṃ dhanamarjitam 1| vipratvaṃ hi mayā prāptaṃ tatkathaṃ dvijasattama | tatsarvaṃ kāraṇaṃ brūhi jñānavijñānapaṃḍita 2| durllabhaṃ bhārate varṣe janma tasmānmanuṣyatā | mānuṣye brāhmaṇatvaṃ ca sutarāṃ satkuloditam 3| tatrāpīdṛgvidhā bhāryā sarvajñā priyavādinī | satī sarvaguṇopetā durlabhā sā kuto'bhavat 4| vasiṣṭha uvāca-| yattvayā ceṣṭitaṃ pūrvaṃ dharmakarmakṛtaṃ dvija | tadahaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi śrūyatāṃ yadi manyase 5| brāhmaṇaikaḥ sudharmātmā sadācāraḥ supaṃḍitaḥ | viṣṇubhaktastu dharmātmā nityaṃ viṣṇuparāyaṇaḥ 6| snānārthamapi tīrthānāṃ bhramatyekaḥ sa medinīm | aṭamānaḥ samāyātastava gehe mahāmatiḥ 7| tasya darśanamātreṇa samutpanna sudhīstava | yato dharmagate gehe satāmāgamanaṃ bhavet 8| kiṃkiṃ na labhyate vipra vipravaiṣṇavasevayā | durllabhaṃ yacca loke syānmokṣasthānamapi sthiram 9| yācitaṃ sthānamekaṃ vai vāsārthaṃ tena sattama | tavaiva bhāryayā dattaṃ tvayā ca saha putrakaiḥ 10| eyatāmeyatāṃ brahmansukhena ca gṛhe mama | vaiṣṇavaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ puṇyamityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ 11| sukhena sthīyatāmatra gṛho'yaṃ tava suvrata | adya dhanyo'smyahaṃ puṇyo adya tīrthamahaṃ gataḥ 12| adyatīrthaphalaṃ prāptaṃ mayā te vipra darśanāt | gavāṃ sthānaṃ paraṃ puṇyaṃ vāsasthānaṃ pradarśitam 13| aṃgasaṃvāhanaṃ samyakpādau caiva pramarditau | kṣālitau ca punastoyaiḥ snātaḥ pādodakena hi 14| sadyo ghṛtaṃ dadhikṣīramanyamanyaṃ pradattavān | brāhmaṇāya tadā tasmai tvaṃ tathā'dṛṣṭanoditaḥ 15| evaṃ saṃtoṣito viprastvayaiva saha bhāryayā | putraiḥ sārdhaṃ mahābhāgo vaiṣṇavo jñānapaṃḍitaḥ 16| atha prabhāte vimale snānārthaṃ māsi mādhave | gaṃgāyāṃ gacchatā tena tuṣṭena dayayādhipam 17| vaiśākhasnānamāhātmyamupadiṣṭaṃ tavāgrataḥ | kāritastu yathānyāyaṃ sabhāryā tanayo bhavān 18| yathā na vāridhi samo loke kopi jalāśayaḥ | tathā māso na vaiśākhasadṛśo mādhavapriyaḥ 19| tāvatpāpāni tiṣṭhaṃti niṣpratyūhaṃ kalevare | yāvatkila maladhvaṃsī māso naiti sa mādhavaḥ 20| tasya vākyaṃ samākarṇya vaiśākhe sevanaṃ kṛtam | tuṣṭena manasā vipra pūjito madhusūdanaḥ 21| avaśiṣṭadinānyeva paṃcamāsasya tasya vai | ekādaśīṃ samārabhya snānaṃ ca vidhivatkṛtam 22| brāhmaṇasya prasaṃgena revāṃ cānudine tvayā | prātaḥsnānaṃ kṛtaṃ vipra vaiśākhe māsi tāvatā 23| pūjito devadeveśo madhuhā parameśvaraḥ | naivāptaḥ sakalo māsaḥ snānārthaṃ tava pūrvataḥ 24| evaṃ snānaṃ tvayā cīrṇamapi paṃcadinātmakam | tena puṇyena saṃgatyā brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ 25| goviṃdasya prasādena tvaṃ tu brāhmaṇatāṃ gataḥ | tvayā tanmāsayogena prāptametanmahatkulam 26| durllabhaṃ bhūmidevānāṃ satyadharmasamanvitam | bhāryāpi susatī prāptā sādhvī sarvaguṇānvitā 27| cyavanasya gṛhotpannā sarvajñā brahmavādinī | rūpameva paraṃ strīṇāṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ ca mahāmune 28| śīlameva dvitīyaṃ ca tṛtīyaṃ satyameva ca | sadāryatvaṃ caturthaṃ tu paṃcamaṃ puṇyamuttamam 29| madhuratvaṃ tathā ṣaṣṭhaṃ śuddhatvaṃ saptamaṃ mahat | bāhyāṃtaḥ satataṃ strīṇāṃ sarvābharaṇasaptamam 30| aṣṭamaṃ tu patau bhāvaḥ śuśrūṣā navamaṃ kila | sahiṣṇutā ca daśamaṃ ratirekādaśaṃ tathā 31| pativratatvaṃ vipreṃdra dvādaśaṃ yoṣitāṃ smṛtam | etaiḥ saṃbhūṣitā bhāryā sādhvī te brahmavādinī 32| vaiśākhasnānayogena labdhā puṇyena sādaram | kiṃkiṃ na durllabhataraṃ prāpyate māsi mādhave 33| snānena parameśasya pūjanena yathāvidhi | atha mohapramugdhosi tṛṣṇayā vyāpitaṃ manaḥ 34| pūrvajanmani te vipra dravyameva prasaṃcitam | na dattaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo hi dīneṣvanyeṣu vai tvayā 35| na baṃdhuvargo no putradāreṣu ca kathaṃcana | mriyamāṇena bhavatā lobha eva hi ciṃtitaḥ 36| na dattaṃ na hutaṃ japtaṃ na tīrthe maraṇaṃ kṛtam | na hi nārāyaṇo devo dhyānenākhila pāpahā 37| dravyeṣu vidyamāneṣu kṛpaṇo jāyate naraḥ | adatvā mriyate yastu tato duḥkhataraṃ nukim 38| tīrthasnānādi tapasā kule janmaiva labhyate | no dattena vinā vipra kiṃcidevopatiṣṭhati 39| tasya pāpasya bhāvena daridratvamupāgatam | aputravānbhavāñjātaḥ satataṃ duḥkhapīḍitaḥ 40| vaiśākhasnānamāhātmyādapi paṃcadinātmakāt | tadaiva haripūjāyāḥ saṃgatyā brāhmaṇasya ca 41| labdhaṃ janma kule vipra vipratvamapi durllabham | suputraśca kulaṃ vipraṃ dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ varastriyaḥ 42| sujanmamaraṇaṃ caiva subhogaḥ sukhameva ca | sadā dāne'dhikābuddhiraudāryaṃ dhairyamuttamam 43| prasādāttasya devasya viṣṇoścaiva mahātmanaḥ | nārāyaṇasya jāyaṃte siddhayo vipravāñchitāḥ 44| ūrjje māsi tapo māsi mādhave mādhavapriye | snātvā dāmodaraṃ bhaktyā mādhavaṃ madhusūdanam 45| viśeṣeṇa samabhyarcya datvā dānāni bhaktitaḥ | ehikaṃ sukhamāsādya jano yāti tato harim 46| anekajanmārjitapātakāvalī vilīyate mādhavamajjanena | sūryodaye vipra yathā tamisrā vacaḥ svayaṃbhūridamādideśa 47| cakāra viṣṇurvimalaṃ vicāraṃ māsaṃ vidhiṃ mādhavamekamādau | yamasya guptaṃ manasā viciṃtya manuṣyalokairgamituṃ ca nāke 48| tasmādasminsamāyāte mādhave māsi mādhave | snātvā puṇyajale tīrthe ravāvanudite'dhunā 49| pūjayitvā vidhānena mukuṃdaṃ madhusūdanam | putrapautradhanaṃ śreyo vāṃchitāni sukhāni ca 50| anubhūya tatastvaṃte svargamakṣayamāpsyasi | pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ sarvaṃ yattvayā pariceṣṭitam 51| tanmayā kathitaṃ vipra tavāgre pariceṣṭitam | evaṃ jñātvā mahābhāga vaiśākhe ca viśeṣataḥ 52| snātvā samyagvidhānena madhusūdanamarcaya | devamārādhya goviṃdaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam 53| prāpsyasi tvaṃ sukhaṃ putraṃ dhanāni harimavyayam 54| nārada uvāca- brahmātmajenāpi mahānubhāvaḥ sa vipravaryaḥ paribodhito hi | harṣeṇayuktaḥ sa mahānubhāvo bhaktyā vasiṣṭhaṃ praṇipatya tatra 55| āmaṃtrya vipraṃ sa jagāma gehaṃ tāṃ prāha bhāryāṃ sumanāṃ maharṣiḥ | sarvaṃ hivṛttaṃ mamapūrvaceṣṭitaṃ tenaiva vipreṇa tavaprasādāt 56| bhadre vasiṣṭhena vikāśanītamadyaiva mohaḥ parināśito me | ārādhayiṣyemadhusūdanaṃtuśrīmādhavemāsinimajjyabhaktyā 57| nārada uvāca- ākarṇya vākyaṃ paramaṃ pavitraṃ sumaṃgalaṃ maṃgalahetumuccaiḥ | harṣeṇa yuktā tamuvāca kāṃtaṃ dhanyosi vipreṇa vibodhitastvam 58| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye devaśarmopākhyāne navatitamo'dhyāyaḥ 90|
English translation
Devaśarman said :
1-4. You have described to me these deeds done (by me) in my former existence; for, O brāhmaṇa , I earned wealth as a śūdra only. (But) O best brāhmaṇa, how is it that I attained brāhmaṇa-hood? Tell me the reason for all this, O you who are proficient in sacred and profane knowledge. Birth in the Bharata country is difficult. More difficult is to get manhood (i.e. to be born as a human being). In manhood to be born as a brāhmaṇa is difficult; and extremely difficult is to be born in a good family. There also, due to what did I get a chaste wife, knowing everything, speaking agreeably, endowed with all virtues and difficult to obtain?
Vasiṣṭha said :
5-16. O brahmaṇa , I shall now describe the righteous deeds that you did in (your) former (existence). If you think (like-listening), listen. There was a brāhmaṇa who was highly religious-minded, who was of a good conduct, who was very wise, who was a devotee of Viṣṇu , who was religious-minded. who was always solely devoted to Viṣṇu. He always roamed over the earth for bathing at the holy places. While wandering the very intelligent one came to your house. Merely on seeing good thought was produced (in your mind), since, when the arrival of the good takes place into one’s house, what is not obtained by one, O brāhmaṇa? Whatever is difficult to be obtained in the world, even the stable place of salvation (is obtained) by service to Viṣṇu. O best one, he (i.e. that brāhmaṇa) asked for a place to stay in. Your wife and you, along with your sons, gave it to him. “O brāhmaṇa, come, come comfortably to my house.” Thus you repeatedly said to that holy brāhmaṇa, a devotee ofViṣṇu. “Stay here comfortably; this is your house, O you of a good vow. Today I am blessed; I am meritorious; I have gone to a holy place. O brāhmaṇa, on seeing you today I have obtained the fruit of (visiting) a sacred place. You have shown me the great meritorious place where cows live.” You shampooed his body, properly rubbed his feet, and washed them with water; and you bathed with the water (flowing from) his feet. You instantly gave ghee , curd, milk and many other substances to that brāhmaṇa, as you were urged by destiny. O glorious brāhmaṇa, with your wife and sons you thus pleased that brāhmaṇa, the devotee of Viṣṇu, and proficient in sacred knowledge.
17-26a. Then, in the bright morning, in the month of Vaiśākha , he who, being pleased, was going to Gaṅgā , taught you through kindness, the greatness of the bath in Vaiśākha; and he made you, with your wife and sons, bathe properly. “As in the world there is no lake like the ocean, similarly there is no (other) month like Vaiśākha, dear to Viṣṇu. Till the month of Vaiśākha, destroying sins, does not arrive, sins remain without any obstacle in the body”. O brāhmaṇa, having heard his words, you resorted (to bathing daily) in Vaiśākha, and with a pleased mind you worshipped Viṣṇu. Beginning with the eleventh day you took a morning-bath (every day) with proper rites, for the remaining five days of the month. Due to your devotion to the brāhmaṇa, you every day took bath in Revā (river) during the month of Vaiśākha. You worshipped the highest lord, the god of gods and the killer of (the demon) Madhu . You did not get (a chance) to bathe for a full month from the beginning. Thus, you could bathe (only) for five days. Due to that religious merit and especially due to the company of that brāhmaṇa, and due to the favour of Govinda (i.e. Viṣṇu) you obtained brāhmaṇa-ahood.
26b-27a. Due to your contact with that month, you got (birth in) this great family which is endowed with truth and righteousness difficult to be obtained (even) by brāhmaṇas .
27b-33a. You also obtained a very chaste wife born in the house (i.e. family) of Cyavana and a teacherofthe Vedas . O great sage, beauty alone is a great ornament of women. The second (ornament) is good character. The third is truthfulness. Always being noble is the fourth (ornament). The fifth (ornament) is excellent religious merit. Sweetness is the sixth (ornament). The seventh (ornament)—a full ornament—is their constant great purity within and without. Devotion to the husband is the eighth (ornament). Service (to him) is the ninth (ornament). Patience is the tenth (ornament). Affection is the eleventh (ornament) of women, O best brāhmaṇa. Your chaste wife, expounder of the Vedas, is adorned with these (ornaments). You have respectfully got her due to your bathing in the month of Vaiśākha.
33b-41. Which difficult things are not obtained by bathing in the month of Vaiśākha and by duly worshipping the lord? You were deluded by attachment. Your mind was occupied by avarice. O brāhmaṇa, in the former existence you amassed wealth only. You never gave it to brāhmaṇas or to other poor people or to your relatives or sons or wife. While dying you thought of greed only. You did not give (gifts); you did not offer oblations into fire; you did not mutter (prayers); you did not die at a holy place. You did not meditate upon god Nārāyaṇa who destroys all sins. When there is wealth with a man, he becomes a miser. What is more painful than that he dies without giving (gifts). By bathing at a sacred place etc., by penance a birth in a (good) family is obtained. O brāhmaṇa, nothing except (the merit due to) the gifts stands by a man. Due to that sinful thought you were reduced to poverty. You were sonless and were always tormented by affliction. Due to the peculiar virtue of bathing in Vaiśākha even for five days and to worship of Viṣṇu at that time, and due to the company of that brāhmaṇa, O brāhmaṇa, you obtained birth in a (good) family.
42-47a. Even brāhmaṇa-hood is difficult (to have). A good son, a (good) family, brāhmaṇa-hood, wealth, grains, excellent women, good birth and death, good enjoyments, so also happiness, always to have a strong desire to give (gifts), generosity, excellent courage—(thus) O brāhmaṇa, all desired accomplishments are had by the favour of that high-souled god, Viṣṇu. Having bathed (daily) in the month of Kārtika , or in the month of Phālguna , or in the month of Vaiśākha, and having worshipped Madhusūdana (i.e. Viṣṇu), having devoutly given presents, having enjoyed worldly pleasures, a man then goes to Viṣṇu. By taking a bath (every day) in the month of Vaiśākha, the row of sins committed in many existences disappears, as, O brāhmaṇa, darkness disappears at sunrise.
47b-54. The self-born one (i.e. Brahma ) told me these words. Viṣṇu conceived a pure idea; (so) he first brought about the rite (in) the month of Vaiśākha, to make people go to heaven, after having mentally thought (i.e. known) Yama ’s secret. Therefore, in this month of Vaiśākha, that has now come, having bathed, in a sacred place having holy water (every morning) before the sun has risen, and having, with proper rites, worshipped Madhusūdana, and having enjoyed (i.e. having had) sons, grandsons, wealth, good fortune and desired pleasures, you will, in the end, obtain heaven. O brāhmaṇa, I have told you all that (i.e. all those deeds which) you did in the former existence. O glorious one, having known like this, especially (the importance) of Vaiśākha, bathe (daily) and with proper rites worship Viṣṇu, Govinda, Nārāyaṇa, Anāmaya, the god that should be worshipped. (Thereby) you will obtain happiness, a son, wealth and immutable Viṣṇu.
Nārada said :
55-57. The best brāhmaṇa, of great prowess, instructed by Brahmā ’s son (i.e. Vasiṣṭha ), was glad, and the magnanimous one, having saluted Vasiṣṭha there, and having taken his leave of the brāhmaṇa, went home; and the great sage spoke to his wife, Sumanā : “Due to your favour that brāhmaṇa (i.e. Vasiṣṭha) told me all the account of my former deeds. O good one, Vasiṣṭha brought to light all of them. Today only my delusion is destroyed. I shall devoutly worship Viṣṇu, after (daily) bathing in the month of Vaiśākha.”
Nārada said :
58. Having heard these very pure, very auspicious words leading to an auspicious result, she, who was delighted, said to her dear husband: “You are blessed, since you have been, advised by the brāhmaṇa (i.e. Vasiṣṭha).”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43975, revision 336132 (2022-04-18T20:51:41Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365402.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.