Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 101
Sourceयम उवाच- अथ कालकटाक्षेण लक्षितो नृपतिस्तदा । मृतोऽतिरतिसेवोत्थ क्षयक्षीणकलेवरः १। नीयमानो यमगणैस्ताड्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः । क्रन्दमानो महारावान्स स्मरन्निजपातकम् २। विष्णुदूतैः समागम्य ताडयित्वा ममानुगान् । धर्मवानयमित्युक्त्वा विमानमथ रोपितः ३। नीतो हरिपुरं भूपः स्तूयमानोऽप्सरोगणैः । प्रातःस्नानेन वैशाखमासस्य क्षीणपातकः ४। अथ धर्मविहीनोऽयमिति मत्वा च तैः पुनः । देवदूतैर्निदेशेन विष्णोर्भूमिपतिस्तदा । अदूरादेव निरयवर्त्मना स समाहितः ५। स गच्छन्नपि शुश्राव जीवानां क्रंदतां पुनः । निरये पच्यमानानामारावं विविधं तदा ६। पापिनां क्वथ्यमानानामाक्रंदमतिदारुणम् । श्रुत्वा विस्मयवान्विप्र राजाभूदतिदुःखितः ७। प्रोवाच दूताः किमयमाक्रंदो दारुणः श्रुतः । पुनर्न श्रूयते तन्मे कारणं वक्तुमर्हथ ८। दूता ऊचु- जंतवस्त्यक्तमर्यादाः पापास्त्वाचारवर्जिताः । निरयेषु च घोरेषु तामिस्रादिषु पातिताः ९। कृतपातकिनस्त्वत्र प्राणत्यागादनंतरम् । याम्यं पंथानमाश्रित्य दुःखमश्नंति दारुणम् १०। यमस्य पुरुषैर्घोरैः कृष्यमाणा इतस्ततः । अंधकारे निपतिता भक्ष्यंते ह्यतिदारुणैः ११। श्वभिः शृगालैः क्रव्यादैः काककंकबकादिभिः । अग्नितुंडैर्वृकव्याघ्रैर्भुजगैर्वृश्चिकादिभिः १२। अग्निना दाह्यमानाश्च तुद्यमानाश्च कंटकैः । क्रकचैः पाट्यमानाश्च पीड्यमानाश्च तृष्णया १३। क्षुधया बाध्यमानाश्च घोरैर्व्याधिगणैस्तथा । पूयशोणितगंधेन मूर्छ्यमानाः पदेपदे १४। क्वाथ्यंते च क्वचित्तैलैस्ताड्यन्ते मुशलैः क्वचित् । आयसीषु प्रपच्यंते शिलासु क्वचिदेव च १५। क्वचिद्वांतमथाश्नंति क्वचित्पूयमसृक्क्वचित् । क्वचिद्विष्ठां क्वचिन्मांसं पूतिगंधिषु दारुणम् १६। कृमिभिर्भक्ष्यमाणाश्च वह्नितुंडैः क्वचित्क्वचित् । केशशोणितमांसासृग्वसास्थिनिकरेषु च १७। अस्थिताः कुणपाः कीर्णाः कृमिभिर्भक्षिताः स्फुटम् । काककंकमहागृध्रवदनैर्ध्वंसितेषु च १८। शिवदुर्गंधनीरंध्र संघट्टशतकोटिषु । करपत्रशिलापत्रतप्त निस्तैलकेषु च १९। लोहतैलवसास्तंभ कूटशाल्मलसद्मसु । क्षुरकंटककीलोग्र ज्वालास्तंभविभातिषु २०। तप्तं वैतरणीपूयपूरितेषु पृथक्पृथक् । असिपत्रवनोत्कृत्त नरनारीस्तनेषु च २१। घोरांधकारग्रहणदारुणेषु मुहुर्मुहुः । पापच्यमानाः क्रंदंतो दारुणैर्विविधैर्वधैः २२। कंठेषु बद्धपाशाश्च भुजगावेष्टिताः क्वचित् । पीड्यमानास्तथा यंत्रैः कृष्यमाणाश्च जानुभिः २३। भग्नपृष्ठशिरोग्रीवाः स्तब्धकंठाः सुदारुणाः । कूटागारे भ्राम्यमाणाः शरीरैर्यातनाक्षमैः २४। पीड्यंते पापिनो राजन्क्रंदमाना विकर्मिणः । सहितं विषयास्वादैः क्रंदनं तैर्विधीयते २५। भुज्यते च कृतं पूर्वमेतत्सर्वैश्च जंतुभिः । परस्त्रीषु कृतः संगः प्रीतये दुःखदो हि सः २६। मुहूर्तविषयास्वादो जातोऽनेकाब्ददुःखदः । वपुषस्तव राजेंद्र प्रातःस्नानस्य माधवे २७। विधिना पावनस्यैते प्राप्य स्पर्शं च मारुतः । लब्धसौख्याः क्षणं जाता महसाप्यायितास्तव २८। आक्रंदरहितास्तेन जातास्ते निरये स्थिताः । नामापि पुण्यशीलानां श्रुतं सौख्याय कीर्तितम् २९। जायते तद्वपुस्पर्शवायुस्पर्शः सुखावहः । यम उवाच- इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा स राजा करुणानिधिः ३०। प्रत्युवाच हतान्दूतान्विष्णोरद्भुतकर्मणः । कोमलं हृदयं नूनं साधूनां नवनीतवत् ३१। वह्निसंतापसंतप्तं तद्यथा द्रवति स्फुटम् । राजोवाच- नार्तं जंतुमहं हित्वा पीडितुं गंतुमुत्सहे ३२। तं पापिष्ठं धिगार्तानामार्तिं शक्तो न हंति यः । मदंगसंगमोच्छिष्टवायुस्पर्शेन ते यदि ३३। जंतवः सुखिनो जातास्तस्मात्तत्र नयंतु माम् । पवित्रयंति जननीमवनीमपि ते नराः ३४। परतापच्छिदो ये तु चंदना इव चंदनम् । परोपकृतये ये तु पीड्यंते कृतिनो हि ते ३५। संतस्त एव ये लोके परदुःखविदारणाः । आर्तानामार्तिनाशार्थं प्राणा येषां तृणोपमाः ३६। तैरियं धार्यते भूमिर्नरैः परहितोद्यतैः । मनसो यत्सुखं नित्यं तत्स्वर्गो नरकोपमः ३७। तस्मात्परसुखेनैव सुखिनः साधवः सदा । वरं निरयपातोऽत्र वरं प्राणवियोजनम् ३८। न पुनः क्षणमार्तानामार्तिनाशमृते सुखम् । दूता ऊचु- जंतवो निरये घोरे पच्यंते तेत्र पापिनः ३९। स्वकर्मैवोपजीवंति मोहस्थानं न विद्यते । यैर्न दत्तं न च हुतं तीर्थे स्नानं न वा कृतम् ४०। पुनर्नोपकृतं भक्त्या सुकृतं न कृतं परम् । नेष्टं न तप्तं नो जप्तं यैर्न हृष्टतया नृप ४१। परस्मिन्निह घोरेषु पच्यंते निरयेषु ते । दुःशीला ये दुराचारा विहाराहारनिंदिताः ४२। परापकारिणः पापकारिणो दुर्विहारिणः । विदारिणो हि मर्मोक्त्या पापाः परहृदां हि ये ४३। निरये ते विपच्यंते ये परस्त्रीविहारिणः । एहि नूनं महीपाल गच्छामो हरिमंदिरम् ४४। न ते पुण्यवता युक्तमिहस्था तु मतः परम् । राजोवाच- यद्यहं सुकृती दूताः कस्मादस्मिन्महाभये ४५। नारके पथि वा नीतः किं वा मे सुकृतं परम् । मयापि न कृतं तादृक्सुकृतं कामशालिना ४६। कथं पुरि हरेर्गंता संशयानोऽहमस्मि वै । दूता ऊचु- सुकृतं न कृतं सत्यं त्वया कामवशात्मना ४७। नेष्टं यज्ञैर्न वा यज्ञावशिष्टं भवताशितम् । किंतु माधवमासे यद्विधिना वत्सरत्रयम् ४८। प्रातः स्नात्वा गुरुवचः प्रेरितेन पुरा त्वया । भक्त्या संपूजितो विष्णुर्विश्वेशो मधुसूदनः ४९। महापापातिपापौघ निहंता भक्तवत्सलः । सर्वधर्मैकसारेण तेनैकेन नरेश्वर ५०। नीयते पुण्यभवनं पूज्यमानो मरुद्गणैः । महतामपि पापानां निहंता माधवोऽर्चितः ५१। तथैव माधवो मासो मर्त्यानां विधिनोदितः । यथैव विस्फुलिंगेन ज्वाल्यते तृणसंचयः ५२। प्रातःस्नानेन वैशाखे तथाघौघोऽपि दह्यते । तावद्वपुषि पापानि प्रभवंति महान्त्यपि ५३। यावन्न माधवे मासि तीर्थे मज्जति चोषसि । वैशाखे मासि यो युक्तो यथोक्तनियमैर्नरः ५४। हरिभक्त्यैव पापौघैर्मुक्तोऽच्युतगृहं व्रजेत् । आजन्मनो हि सुकृतं यत्त्वया न पुरा कृतम् ५५। तेन त्वं निरयस्थानमार्गं नीतो नरेश्वर । अथ भूमिपते तूर्णमस्माभिस्तु मरुद्गणैः ५६। स्तूयमानो विमानेन गच्छ गोविंदमंदिरम् ५७। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये । एकोत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः १०१।
yama uvāca- atha kālakaṭākṣeṇa lakṣito nṛpatistadā | mṛto'tiratisevottha kṣayakṣīṇakalevaraḥ 1| nīyamāno yamagaṇaistāḍyamāno muhurmuhuḥ | krandamāno mahārāvānsa smarannijapātakam 2| viṣṇudūtaiḥ samāgamya tāḍayitvā mamānugān | dharmavānayamityuktvā vimānamatha ropitaḥ 3| nīto haripuraṃ bhūpaḥ stūyamāno'psarogaṇaiḥ | prātaḥsnānena vaiśākhamāsasya kṣīṇapātakaḥ 4| atha dharmavihīno'yamiti matvā ca taiḥ punaḥ | devadūtairnideśena viṣṇorbhūmipatistadā | adūrādeva nirayavartmanā sa samāhitaḥ 5| sa gacchannapi śuśrāva jīvānāṃ kraṃdatāṃ punaḥ | niraye pacyamānānāmārāvaṃ vividhaṃ tadā 6| pāpināṃ kvathyamānānāmākraṃdamatidāruṇam | śrutvā vismayavānvipra rājābhūdatiduḥkhitaḥ 7| provāca dūtāḥ kimayamākraṃdo dāruṇaḥ śrutaḥ | punarna śrūyate tanme kāraṇaṃ vaktumarhatha 8| dūtā ūcu- jaṃtavastyaktamaryādāḥ pāpāstvācāravarjitāḥ | nirayeṣu ca ghoreṣu tāmisrādiṣu pātitāḥ 9| kṛtapātakinastvatra prāṇatyāgādanaṃtaram | yāmyaṃ paṃthānamāśritya duḥkhamaśnaṃti dāruṇam 10| yamasya puruṣairghoraiḥ kṛṣyamāṇā itastataḥ | aṃdhakāre nipatitā bhakṣyaṃte hyatidāruṇaiḥ 11| śvabhiḥ śṛgālaiḥ kravyādaiḥ kākakaṃkabakādibhiḥ | agnituṃḍairvṛkavyāghrairbhujagairvṛścikādibhiḥ 12| agninā dāhyamānāśca tudyamānāśca kaṃṭakaiḥ | krakacaiḥ pāṭyamānāśca pīḍyamānāśca tṛṣṇayā 13| kṣudhayā bādhyamānāśca ghorairvyādhigaṇaistathā | pūyaśoṇitagaṃdhena mūrchyamānāḥ padepade 14| kvāthyaṃte ca kvacittailaistāḍyante muśalaiḥ kvacit | āyasīṣu prapacyaṃte śilāsu kvacideva ca 15| kvacidvāṃtamathāśnaṃti kvacitpūyamasṛkkvacit | kvacidviṣṭhāṃ kvacinmāṃsaṃ pūtigaṃdhiṣu dāruṇam 16| kṛmibhirbhakṣyamāṇāśca vahnituṃḍaiḥ kvacitkvacit | keśaśoṇitamāṃsāsṛgvasāsthinikareṣu ca 17| asthitāḥ kuṇapāḥ kīrṇāḥ kṛmibhirbhakṣitāḥ sphuṭam | kākakaṃkamahāgṛdhravadanairdhvaṃsiteṣu ca 18| śivadurgaṃdhanīraṃdhra saṃghaṭṭaśatakoṭiṣu | karapatraśilāpatratapta nistailakeṣu ca 19| lohatailavasāstaṃbha kūṭaśālmalasadmasu | kṣurakaṃṭakakīlogra jvālāstaṃbhavibhātiṣu 20| taptaṃ vaitaraṇīpūyapūriteṣu pṛthakpṛthak | asipatravanotkṛtta naranārīstaneṣu ca 21| ghorāṃdhakāragrahaṇadāruṇeṣu muhurmuhuḥ | pāpacyamānāḥ kraṃdaṃto dāruṇairvividhairvadhaiḥ 22| kaṃṭheṣu baddhapāśāśca bhujagāveṣṭitāḥ kvacit | pīḍyamānāstathā yaṃtraiḥ kṛṣyamāṇāśca jānubhiḥ 23| bhagnapṛṣṭhaśirogrīvāḥ stabdhakaṃṭhāḥ sudāruṇāḥ | kūṭāgāre bhrāmyamāṇāḥ śarīrairyātanākṣamaiḥ 24| pīḍyaṃte pāpino rājankraṃdamānā vikarmiṇaḥ | sahitaṃ viṣayāsvādaiḥ kraṃdanaṃ tairvidhīyate 25| bhujyate ca kṛtaṃ pūrvametatsarvaiśca jaṃtubhiḥ | parastrīṣu kṛtaḥ saṃgaḥ prītaye duḥkhado hi saḥ 26| muhūrtaviṣayāsvādo jāto'nekābdaduḥkhadaḥ | vapuṣastava rājeṃdra prātaḥsnānasya mādhave 27| vidhinā pāvanasyaite prāpya sparśaṃ ca mārutaḥ | labdhasaukhyāḥ kṣaṇaṃ jātā mahasāpyāyitāstava 28| ākraṃdarahitāstena jātāste niraye sthitāḥ | nāmāpi puṇyaśīlānāṃ śrutaṃ saukhyāya kīrtitam 29| jāyate tadvapusparśavāyusparśaḥ sukhāvahaḥ | yama uvāca- iti dūtavacaḥ śrutvā sa rājā karuṇānidhiḥ 30| pratyuvāca hatāndūtānviṣṇoradbhutakarmaṇaḥ | komalaṃ hṛdayaṃ nūnaṃ sādhūnāṃ navanītavat 31| vahnisaṃtāpasaṃtaptaṃ tadyathā dravati sphuṭam | rājovāca- nārtaṃ jaṃtumahaṃ hitvā pīḍituṃ gaṃtumutsahe 32| taṃ pāpiṣṭhaṃ dhigārtānāmārtiṃ śakto na haṃti yaḥ | madaṃgasaṃgamocchiṣṭavāyusparśena te yadi 33| jaṃtavaḥ sukhino jātāstasmāttatra nayaṃtu mām | pavitrayaṃti jananīmavanīmapi te narāḥ 34| paratāpacchido ye tu caṃdanā iva caṃdanam | paropakṛtaye ye tu pīḍyaṃte kṛtino hi te 35| saṃtasta eva ye loke paraduḥkhavidāraṇāḥ | ārtānāmārtināśārthaṃ prāṇā yeṣāṃ tṛṇopamāḥ 36| tairiyaṃ dhāryate bhūmirnaraiḥ parahitodyataiḥ | manaso yatsukhaṃ nityaṃ tatsvargo narakopamaḥ 37| tasmātparasukhenaiva sukhinaḥ sādhavaḥ sadā | varaṃ nirayapāto'tra varaṃ prāṇaviyojanam 38| na punaḥ kṣaṇamārtānāmārtināśamṛte sukham | dūtā ūcu- jaṃtavo niraye ghore pacyaṃte tetra pāpinaḥ 39| svakarmaivopajīvaṃti mohasthānaṃ na vidyate | yairna dattaṃ na ca hutaṃ tīrthe snānaṃ na vā kṛtam 40| punarnopakṛtaṃ bhaktyā sukṛtaṃ na kṛtaṃ param | neṣṭaṃ na taptaṃ no japtaṃ yairna hṛṣṭatayā nṛpa 41| parasminniha ghoreṣu pacyaṃte nirayeṣu te | duḥśīlā ye durācārā vihārāhāraniṃditāḥ 42| parāpakāriṇaḥ pāpakāriṇo durvihāriṇaḥ | vidāriṇo hi marmoktyā pāpāḥ parahṛdāṃ hi ye 43| niraye te vipacyaṃte ye parastrīvihāriṇaḥ | ehi nūnaṃ mahīpāla gacchāmo harimaṃdiram 44| na te puṇyavatā yuktamihasthā tu mataḥ param | rājovāca- yadyahaṃ sukṛtī dūtāḥ kasmādasminmahābhaye 45| nārake pathi vā nītaḥ kiṃ vā me sukṛtaṃ param | mayāpi na kṛtaṃ tādṛksukṛtaṃ kāmaśālinā 46| kathaṃ puri harergaṃtā saṃśayāno'hamasmi vai | dūtā ūcu- sukṛtaṃ na kṛtaṃ satyaṃ tvayā kāmavaśātmanā 47| neṣṭaṃ yajñairna vā yajñāvaśiṣṭaṃ bhavatāśitam | kiṃtu mādhavamāse yadvidhinā vatsaratrayam 48| prātaḥ snātvā guruvacaḥ preritena purā tvayā | bhaktyā saṃpūjito viṣṇurviśveśo madhusūdanaḥ 49| mahāpāpātipāpaugha nihaṃtā bhaktavatsalaḥ | sarvadharmaikasāreṇa tenaikena nareśvara 50| nīyate puṇyabhavanaṃ pūjyamāno marudgaṇaiḥ | mahatāmapi pāpānāṃ nihaṃtā mādhavo'rcitaḥ 51| tathaiva mādhavo māso martyānāṃ vidhinoditaḥ | yathaiva visphuliṃgena jvālyate tṛṇasaṃcayaḥ 52| prātaḥsnānena vaiśākhe tathāghaugho'pi dahyate | tāvadvapuṣi pāpāni prabhavaṃti mahāntyapi 53| yāvanna mādhave māsi tīrthe majjati coṣasi | vaiśākhe māsi yo yukto yathoktaniyamairnaraḥ 54| haribhaktyaiva pāpaughairmukto'cyutagṛhaṃ vrajet | ājanmano hi sukṛtaṃ yattvayā na purā kṛtam 55| tena tvaṃ nirayasthānamārgaṃ nīto nareśvara | atha bhūmipate tūrṇamasmābhistu marudgaṇaiḥ 56| stūyamāno vimānena gaccha goviṃdamaṃdiram 57| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye | ekottaraśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 101|
English translation
Yama said :
1-7. Then the king, observed by the glance of Death, and with his body emaciated due to consumption caused by extreme sexual enjoyment, died. He was being taken by the attendants of Yama , was repeatedly being beaten, was wailing with loud cries, and remembered his sins. Then Viṣṇu ’s messengers, having come, beat my followers, and saying, ‘He is righteous’, they put him into an aeroplane. The king, with his sins exhausted due to the morning bath in the month of Vaiśākha , and being praised by the hosts of celestial nymphs, was taken to Viṣṇu’s city. Then, thinking that he was unrighteous, the king was again put by the divine messengers at the behest of Viṣṇu, not far from the path to hell. While going, he heard the various wailings of beings, being roasted in hell. Hearing the very awful cries of the sinners being boiled, the king was amazed and became extremely afflicted.
8. He said: “O messengers, what is this awful wailing that is heard and is not heard again. Please tell me the reason of it.”
The messengers said :
9-17. Beings who have abandoned bounds of morality, who are sinful, and who are bereft of (good) behaviour are thrown into awful hells like Tāmisra . Those who have committed sins here (i.e. in this world), after death resort to the path of (the abode of) Yama, suffer very terrible grief. Being dragged by fierce men of Yama, and fallen into darkness, they are eaten up by very awful dogs, foxes, carnivorous animals, crows, herons, cranes etc. and by wolves and tigers having fire-like mouths and by serpents, scorpions etc. Being burnt by fire, being pricked by thorns, being cut off by saws, being troubled by thirst, and being oppressed by hunger, so also by awful hosts of diseases, fainting at every step due to the odour of pus and blood, they are at times boiled in oils, at times beaten with pestles, are roasted in iron-vessels or at times on stones. At times they eat what is vomitted; at times (they eat) pus and blood. At times they eat feces; at times awful flesh at places with a foul smell. At times they are eaten by insects with fire-like mouths.
18-24. They, wailing in various tones, are again and again roasted in houses where, in the heaps of hair, blood, flesh, marrow and bones, the dead bodies are scattered in a disorderly manner and are clearly eaten by insects, which (houses) are destroyed bythemouths ofcrows, herons and great vulturesand have crores of bodies put very closely without interstices, which have saws and small flat stones for grinding and have no oil, which are made of trees with sharp thorns, and have the pillars of iron, oil and marrow, which are bright with pillars with fierce flames and razors, thorns and nails, which are full with the hot pus of Vaitaraṇī , and the breasts of men and women cut off with swords, and which are awful on account of being seized with fearful darkness. They have nooses tied round their necks; at places they are surrounded by serpents; at places they are squeezed by machines, and at places they are dragged with their knees (seized).
25-29. O king, the sinners, doing bad acts, and wailing, with their backs, heads and necks broken, with their throats choked, (appearing) very awful, they with bodies capable of suffering torment, being whirled in an apartment on the top of the house, are troubled. They wail along with the enjoyment of sensual objects. All beings sufer this (due to) what they have done before. The union (that was had) for love with another’s wife, gives pain. The enjoyment of objects of senses for a short while, has turned out to be giving pain for many years. O best king, having got the touch of the breezes coming from the body of you who bathed duly in the morning in Vaiśākha, they are delighted for a moment and due to your lustre have become-strong. Therefore, they who remain in the hell are free from wailing. Even the name of those who have a meritorious character is said to lead to happiness. The touch of the breezes that had the touch of their bodies causes delight.
Yama said :
30-32a. Hearing these words, the king, the treasure of compassion, said to the messengers of Viṣṇu of wonderful acts: “The heart of the good is indeed soft like fresh butter, which heated with fire, certainly melts.”
The king said :
32b-39a. Abandoning an oppressed and unhappy being, I am not able to go. Fie upon him who, though capable, does not remove the affliction of the oppressed. If these beings became happy due to the touch of the breezes that left after touching my body, then you may take me there. As the sandal-trees that remove the torment of others purify sandal, in the same way those men who remove the affliction of others purify their mother, are blessed. Those alone are the good, who, in this world remove the affliction of others, and for whom their life is (as insignificant) as a blade of grass in the matter of removing the affliction of the afflicted. This earth is sustained by those men who are bent on (doing) good to others. The constant happiness of mind is heaven; it may resemble hell (outwardly). Therefore, the good are always happy with (i.e. due to) the happiness of others. It is better to fall into hell, it is better to die, than having pleasure for a moment except the one that is had by removing the affliction of the afflicted.
The messengers said :
39b-45a. Sinful beings are roasted here in the awful hell. They live by (the fruits of) their own deeds. There is no place for misunderstanding. Those who have, in the other world (i.e. on the earth), not given (gifts), not offered oblations, or (have) not bathed at a holy place, (have) also not obliged (any one), or (have) not done, with devotion, a great meritorious act, (have) not offered sacrifices, (have) not practised penance, (have) not muttered (prayers) with joy, are roasted in awful hells. Those who are of a bad character, whose practices are bad, who are condemned due to their diversions and food, who harm others, who commit sins, who amuse themselves in a bad manner, who cut asunder the hearts of others with words cutting the vitals, so also those who sport with the wives of others, are roasted in a hell. Come on, O king, we shall go to Viṣṇu’s abode. It is not proper for a meritorious person like you to stay here hereafter.
The king said :
45b-57. O messengers, if I have done meritorious deeds, then why am I brought along this path leading to hell? Or what is my great religious merit? I, given to carnal pleasures, have not done any meritorious act like that. (Then) how shall I go to the city of Viṣṇu? I have a doubt.
The messengers said :
It is true, you, with your mind influenced by lust, did not do a meritorious act, did not perform sacrifices, did not eat the leftovers of a sacrifice; but, formerly, you, impelled by the words of your teacher, bathed duly in the morning (every day) in the month of Vaiśākha for three years and devoutly worshipped Viṣṇu, the lord of the universe and the killer of (the demon) Madhu . He to whom his devotees are dear, destroys the stream of major and heinous sins. O lord of men, by means of that, the essence of all religious practices, he being honoured by the hosts of gods, is taken to an auspicious place. Viṣṇu, when worshipped, destroys even major sins. In the same way the month of Vaiśākha is declared (to be destroying sins) by Brahmā . As by a spark of fire a heap of grass (hay) is burnt, in the same way by the (daily) morning bath in Vaiśākha the stream of sins is burnt. As long as a man does not bathe in the morning (every day) in the month of Vaiśākha, even the major sins originate in his body. A man who is engaged in vows as laid down (in sacred texts), is freed from streams of sins due to devotion to Viṣṇu and would go to Viṣṇu’s abode. O lord of men, since, formerly you did not do meritorious acts from your birth, you were taken along the path to hell. Now, O lord of the earth, being praised by us and the hosts of gods quickly go by an aeroplane to Viṣṇu’s abode.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43983, revision 333753 (2022-03-16T02:40:11Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365413.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.