Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 115
Sourceश्रीराम उवाच- कथं पातकसंघात संक्रमे ब्राह्मणाधमे । पुराणज्ञः कथं व्याख्यां चकार द्विजसत्तम १। शंभुरुवाच- अध्यापने चाध्ययने जायते चाथ संगमः । संगतौ वत्सरं राम याति पातकि पातकम् २। पुराणज्ञे तु काकुत्स्थ सर्वतत्वार्थवेदिनि । अपिपातकसंदोह चीर्णपापं प्रणश्यति ३। प्रभूतवह्निनाशे हि धूमराशिर्यथैव हि । शलभो दीपनाशाय वह्निनाशाय न प्रभुः ४। कृतं पापं तथान्येषां नाशनाय पुराणिकः । भूतादिग्रस्तमर्त्यानां भूतादि भयमोचकः ५। समंत्रवानपनयेद्यथा न स्वयमातुरः । पौराणिकस्तथा पापं न किंचित्प्राप्तुमर्हति ६। आत्मना च कृतं पापमन्यैरपि च यत्कृतम् । पुराणज्ञो नाशयति त्वतिदुष्टं स्वकर्म्म वा ७। भवानीशे हृषीकेशे समवृत्तिर्विवेकवान् । लोकवेदक्रियावेत्ता रुद्रजाप्यतिनिःस्पृहः ८। तुष्टः शांतः क्रियादक्षः प्रभूतो योगकृद्वशी । यथैव ते पुराणज्ञो वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः ९। नियोगात्तव भूपाल अयोध्यायामतिष्ठत । अपालयद्भुवं कृत्स्नां त्वां च रक्षः समापतत् १०। स च शुक्रोपदेशेन राक्षसस्त्वामथाभ्यगात् । निद्रासक्तं हनिष्यामि नान्यथावसरस्त्विति ११। अथ विप्रो विदित्वैतद्वसिष्ठस्त्वद्धितप्रियः । सुप्तं प्रमत्तं काकुत्स्थं रक्षो हंति न संशयः १२। ब्रह्मावाप्तवरं तद्धि मया कार्यं निवारणम् । इति संचिंत्य विप्रर्षिः सेनामादाय निर्गतः १३। रक्षो हंतुमशक्तस्तु मृत्युहीनं ततो मुनिः । स्वयं च राक्षसो भूत्वा वाक्यमाह महामुनिः १४। किमर्थमागतोसीह वनं मुनिनिषेवितम् । स आह राजा रक्षोघ्नस्तमहं हंतुमागतः १५। मुनिरप्याह किं तेन जीवितेन मृतेन वा । भुक्त्वामिषं मदीयं तु युद्धं कृत्वा जयं व्रज १६। राक्षस उवाच- कथं त्वं राक्षसो मह्यं भक्षणाय भविष्यसि । वसिष्ठोऽप्यथ मानुष्यमास्थाय वियति स्थितः १७। निष्ठीव्य मस्तके तस्य मुष्टिना तमताडयत् । ताडितो राक्षसस्तेन व्यद्रावयदृषिश्च तम् १८। पलायमानावन्योन्यं जलधिं तु गतावुभौ । तत्रस्थेन ग्रहेणासौ गृहीतो राक्षसस्तदा १९। मुनिः पुनरयोध्यायां पूर्ववत्समतिष्ठत । शंभुरुवाच- तस्मात्स्वाभिमतं कुर्यात्पुराणज्ञो विमत्सरः २०। श्रवणस्य विधानं च कथयामि शुभं शृणु । शुक्लपक्षे दिने शुद्धे वारनक्षत्रयोगतः २१। करणे चापि लग्ने च ग्रहताराबलान्विते । अमूढेन ग्रहे बाले न च वृद्धौ गुरौस्थिते २२। न कृष्णपक्षे ग्रहणे न च नास्तिकसंनिधौ । पूर्वोक्तलक्षणोपेतं पुराणं शृणुयादिति २३। शुद्धगेहेऽथवा शुद्धवेदिकायां मठेथ वा । नदीतीरे देवगेहे सभामंडप एव च २४। रथ्या मठेथ वा रम्ये पुण्यशालासु राघव । स्वयं नमस्य विप्रेंद्रान्पुराणज्ञं विशेषतः २५। आसनं कल्पितं कुर्य्यादूर्ध्वं सर्वविशेषितम् । एहि धर्म्मासनमिति वक्तव्यं स्यादनिष्ठुरम् २६। पुराणप्रक्रमदिने यत्कार्यं तदुदीरयेत् । व्याख्यातारं पुराणस्य वस्त्राद्यैः परिपूजयेत् २७। शुभानि दत्वा वस्त्राणि सूक्ष्माणि च नवानि च । करकंठविभूषादि पात्रमासनमेव च २८। गंधपुष्पाक्षतैः पूज्य तांबूलं विनिवेद्य च । शुक्लांबरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् २९। प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत्सर्वविघ्नोपशांतये । सभासदश्च संपूज्य गणेशं प्रार्थयेत्ततः ३०। ॐनमेत्यादि मंत्रेण पूजनं भारती नुतिः । प्रातःकाले पुराणस्य प्रक्रमं प्रारभेदिति ३१। उपक्रमदिने राम त्रिपंचदश वा शुभाः । श्लोका द्वितीये दिवसे ततो द्विगुणिताः शुभाः ३२। तृतीये दिवसे राम ततश्चाधिकमिष्यते । दिनानामव्यवच्छेदाद्व्याख्यानं श्रवणं तथा ३३। व्यवस्थितिर्यदा जाता तदा पौराणिकं गुरुम् । तांबूलादिप्रदायाथ परेद्युः शृणुयादपि ३४। पुराणमेवं श्रोतव्यं दैनंदिनमिति श्रुतिः । व्रतरूपेण यः कश्चित्पुराणं शृणुयान्नरः ३५। यदैवं तत्पुराणं तु तत्र याति न संशयः । पुराणं श्रोतुकामेन श्लोकश्चैकोपि चेच्छ्रुतः ३६। तद्दिने तु कृतं पापं नाशयेत्तु न संशयः ३७। एवं पुराणं शृणुयाच्च यस्तु स ब्रह्महत्याकृतपापबंधात् । सुरापीतिः स्वर्णहरश्च राम गुर्वंगनागश्च विमुक्तिमेति ३८। पापानि चान्यानि कृतानि पुंभिः सर्वाणि नश्यंति पुराकृतानि । इहापि यान्यब्दशतार्जितानि श्रोतुर्विनश्यंति तथा च वक्तुः ३९। कलौ समस्तविप्राणां सर्वज्ञत्वं न विद्यते । विगुणापि ततो व्याख्या फलदा दानकर्मवत् ४०। पुराणानामभिप्रायं व्यासो वेद न चापरः । अहं वेद्मि विशेषेण व्यासादपि विधेरपि ४१। न स्वाध्यायस्तपो वापि न मंत्रो न जुहोतयः । फलंति न तथा तिष्ये पुराणश्रवणं यथा ४२। एकैकश्रवणादेव पातकं महदेव तु । नाशमाप्नोत्यसंदेहः श्रीशैले वर्तनादिव ४३। अतो गुरुः पुराणज्ञः श्रोतृवंद्योऽघनाशनः । न तस्मादधिकः कश्चिद्गुरुरस्ति गतिप्रदः ४४। मंत्रेषु गुरवो ये च वेदशास्त्रेषु ये मताः । नेशते सर्वविज्ञानं दातुं तस्मान्न बोधकाः ४५। पिशाचाः प्रायशो राम ब्रह्मराक्षसनामिनः । वेदमंत्रस्य वेत्तारो दृश्यंते न पुराणवित् ४६। पुराणविमुखो नैव सर्वः सर्वं हि पश्यति । पुराणज्ञो हि तस्तस्मात्पापनाशकरः प्रभुः ४७। तत्पूजा सर्वपूजा स्यात्सर्वद्रोहोऽस्य पीडनम् । यथा समस्तदानानां विद्यादानं प्रशस्यते ४८। पौराणिकस्तथा धन्यस्तत्र दानं महत्फलम् । राम उवाच-। किं वा पौराणिके देयं कियत्कीदृशमेव च ४९। पुराणं कीदृशं वर्ज्यं वर्ज्यः कीदृक्पुराणवित् । शंभुरुवाच- षड्रसानन्नपानानि स्नेहद्रव्याणि यानि च ५०। गृहं सोपस्करं राम पुराणज्ञाय दापयेत् । पर्याप्तान्येव सर्वाणि अधिकानि फलाधिकात् ५१। दद्याद्द्रव्यमतो भूयः सचैलं शोभितं मृदु । भूषणानि यथार्हाणि स्वशक्त्या प्रतिपादयेत् ५२। गंधपुष्पं प्रतिदिनं केवलं गंधमेव च । केवलं च तथा पुष्पं फलकाले फलान्यपि ५३। तांबूलं च तथा दद्यान्नमस्कुर्याच्च भक्तितः । पुराणस्य समाप्तौ तु दद्याद्दानादिकं तथा ५४। अधिकं तु तथा देयं भूहिरण्यादिकं नृप । न च तूष्णीमुपक्रम्य श्रोतुमर्हति कश्चन ५५। सभासद्भिः कृता चैव या पूजैकेन वा कृता । देवस्थाने यथाशक्ति सर्वैः पूजनमिष्यते ५६। तीर्थेपि च यथा राम पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च । स्वशक्त्या पूजनं कुर्यात्पुराणज्ञाय राघव ५७। श्रोतुस्तु लक्षणं पूर्वं मयोक्तं तु भवेन्नृप । पौराणिकस्य सर्वस्य लक्षणं कथयामि ते ५८। कुलहीनो महाव्याधिर्महापापी तिरस्कृतः । शौचाचारविहीनश्च वेदस्मृतिविवर्जितः ५९। अन्यदेवः पूतिवचो व्यंगश्चाप्यधिकांगवान् । परपूर्वापतिः स्तेनः प्राणिहंता निराकृतिः ६०। अथ वर्ज्यं पुराणं ते कथयामि नृपोत्तम । पूर्वज्ञैरुच्यमानं च यत्प्रोक्तं मुनिभिः परैः ६१। व्यासादयो मुनिवरा यत्प्रोचुस्तदुदीरयेत् । पुराणस्थं पठेद्ग्रन्थं व्याख्यायेत विचारयन् ६२। यया कयापि वा राम भाषयादेशभाषतः । न देशभाषा रचितं ग्रंथं श्रुत्वा फलं लभेत् ६३। व्याख्या या कापि काकुत्स्थ पुराणस्य हिता हि सा । तस्मात्त्वं देवयाचस्व व्याख्यास्ये यत्पुराणकम् ६४। शंभुरुवाच- एवं पौराणिकेनोक्तं श्रुतवानपि गौतमः । स्वयं वस्त्रत्रयं प्रादाद्ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने ६५। कौर्मं पुराणं प्रथमं श्रुतवानिति नः श्रुतम् । दत्तवान्स्वर्णमधिकं वस्त्राणि च शुभानि च ६६। अथ लैंगं च शुश्राव वैष्णवं वामनं तथा । पाद्मं च गारुडं चैव सौरं ब्राह्ममथैव च ६७। एवमष्ट स शुश्राव पुराणानि स गौतमः । अथ रामायणं चैव कौर्ममेव पुनश्च सः ६८। शिवनारायणेत्येवं जपं चक्रे सदैव हि । अवाप निधनं चापि स गतो ब्रह्मणः पदम् ६९। ब्रह्मा संपूज्य तं विप्रं विष्णुलोकमथागमत् । विष्णुना पूजितः सोऽथ जगाम शिवमंदिरम् ७०। सर्वेषामेव वंद्योऽसौ गौतमो मुनिसत्तमः । भारतश्रवणे चापि नियमा ये मयेरिताः ७१। पुरा व्यासेन मुनिना त्रिवर्षाद्यत्कृतं शुभम् । श्रवणात्तस्य कृत्स्नस्य व्याकर्ता भारतस्य यः ७२। न किंचित्प्रणमेद्विप्रं मुक्त्वा योगिनमुत्तमम् । सर्वेषामेव वंद्योसौ भारतं व्याकरोति यः ७३। यो महाभारतं नित्यं व्याख्यास्यति पठेच्च वा । स सर्वेभ्योधिको विप्रस्तारयेच्चैव मानवान् ७४। व्याकरोति च पर्वैकं सर्वाणि कतिचित्तु वा । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो हव्ये कव्ये विशिष्यते ७५। तमेव प्रणमेद्विप्रं तमेवार्हं च पूजयेत् । तमेव भोजयेन्नित्यं सर्वं तस्मै निवेदयेत् ७६। तस्य पूजाविधिः प्रोक्तो व्याख्यानसमये द्विजः । प्रतिपूज्योऽथ वस्त्राद्यैः पूजयेद्विधिमार्गतः ७७। आदिपर्वसमाप्तौ च सूक्ष्मवस्त्रत्रयं ददेत् । सुवर्णं च यथाशक्ति सभापर्वणि वाससी ७८। आनुशासनिकारण्यस्वर्गारोहेषु पर्वसु । आदिपर्वणि पूजा या सा पूजा नृपपुंगव ७९। कर्णाश्वमेधवैराटशल्यद्रोणेषु पर्वसु । सूक्ष्मवस्त्रत्रयं शुद्धं निष्कद्वयमथापि वा ८०। क्षुद्रपर्वस्वथान्येषु निष्कावथ समानयेत् । हरिवंशे सनिष्कं तु वस्त्रत्रितयमेव तु ८१। भारतस्याखिलस्यैव समाप्तौ क्षेत्रदो भवेत् । रामायणस्य श्रवणे कांडेकांडे प्रपूजयेत् ८२। क्षेत्रं पर्याप्तमथवा सुवर्णमपि दापयेत् । व्याख्यातुर्गुरुवाक्यस्य सर्वकल्मषनाशनः ८३। अर्थोधर्म्मश्च कामश्च मोक्षश्च नृपसत्तम । व्याख्याश्रवणतः सर्वे सिद्धयंति च सुबुद्धयः ८४। ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां सर्वेषामपि नाशनम् । एकेन श्रवणेनास्य किं नरैर्न श्रुतं भुवि ८५। यानवसुसुवर्णाद्यैर्नित्यमेनं प्रपूजयेत् । व्याख्यातारं यतः पापसंदोहस्य विनाशनम् ८६। अन्यान्यपि पुराणानि मुनिप्रोक्तानि तान्यपि । श्रोतॄणां पापनाशाय वक्तुश्चापि विशेषतः ८७। यश्च सर्वपुराणानि षट्त्रिंशत्तु प्रकीर्तयेत् । शृणोति वा न तस्यास्ति चित्तच्छेदः कदाचन ८८। ब्राह्मं पुराणं प्रथमं द्वितीयं पाद्ममुच्यते । तृतीयं वैष्णवं चैव चतुर्थं शैवमुच्यते ८९। अथ भागवतं प्रोक्तं पंचमं षष्ठमुच्यते । भविष्यं नारदीयं च सप्तमं परिकीर्तितम् ९०। मार्कंडेयमिति प्रोक्तमष्टमं नवमं तथा । आग्नेयं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं दशमं परिकीर्तितम् ९१। लैंगं च वामनं चैव स्कांदं मात्स्यमथैव च । कौर्मं वाराहमुदितं गारुडं वाथ कीर्तितम् ९२। ब्रह्मांडमित्यष्टादशपुराणानि विदुर्बुधाः । तथा चोपपुराणानि कथयिष्याम्यतः परम् ९३। आद्यं सनत्कुमाराख्यं नारसिंहमतः परम् । तृतीयमांडमुद्दिष्टं दौर्वाससमथैव च ९४। नारदीयमथान्यं च कापिलं मानवं तथा । तद्वदौशनस प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मांडं च ततः परम् ९५। वारुणं कालिकाह्वानं माहेशं सांबमेव च । सौरं पाराशरं चैव मारीचं भार्गवाह्वयम् ९६। कौमारं च पुराणानि कीर्तितान्यष्ट वै दश । अष्टादशपुराणानां व्याकर्ता तु भवेन्मनुः ९७। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शिवराघवसंवादे पुराणमाहात्म्यकथनंनाम पंचदशोत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः ११५।
śrīrāma uvāca- kathaṃ pātakasaṃghāta saṃkrame brāhmaṇādhame | purāṇajñaḥ kathaṃ vyākhyāṃ cakāra dvijasattama 1| śaṃbhuruvāca- adhyāpane cādhyayane jāyate cātha saṃgamaḥ | saṃgatau vatsaraṃ rāma yāti pātaki pātakam 2| purāṇajñe tu kākutstha sarvatatvārthavedini | apipātakasaṃdoha cīrṇapāpaṃ praṇaśyati 3| prabhūtavahnināśe hi dhūmarāśiryathaiva hi | śalabho dīpanāśāya vahnināśāya na prabhuḥ 4| kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tathānyeṣāṃ nāśanāya purāṇikaḥ | bhūtādigrastamartyānāṃ bhūtādi bhayamocakaḥ 5| samaṃtravānapanayedyathā na svayamāturaḥ | paurāṇikastathā pāpaṃ na kiṃcitprāptumarhati 6| ātmanā ca kṛtaṃ pāpamanyairapi ca yatkṛtam | purāṇajño nāśayati tvatiduṣṭaṃ svakarmma vā 7| bhavānīśe hṛṣīkeśe samavṛttirvivekavān | lokavedakriyāvettā rudrajāpyatiniḥspṛhaḥ 8| tuṣṭaḥ śāṃtaḥ kriyādakṣaḥ prabhūto yogakṛdvaśī | yathaiva te purāṇajño vasiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ 9| niyogāttava bhūpāla ayodhyāyāmatiṣṭhata | apālayadbhuvaṃ kṛtsnāṃ tvāṃ ca rakṣaḥ samāpatat 10| sa ca śukropadeśena rākṣasastvāmathābhyagāt | nidrāsaktaṃ haniṣyāmi nānyathāvasarastviti 11| atha vipro viditvaitadvasiṣṭhastvaddhitapriyaḥ | suptaṃ pramattaṃ kākutsthaṃ rakṣo haṃti na saṃśayaḥ 12| brahmāvāptavaraṃ taddhi mayā kāryaṃ nivāraṇam | iti saṃciṃtya viprarṣiḥ senāmādāya nirgataḥ 13| rakṣo haṃtumaśaktastu mṛtyuhīnaṃ tato muniḥ | svayaṃ ca rākṣaso bhūtvā vākyamāha mahāmuniḥ 14| kimarthamāgatosīha vanaṃ muniniṣevitam | sa āha rājā rakṣoghnastamahaṃ haṃtumāgataḥ 15| munirapyāha kiṃ tena jīvitena mṛtena vā | bhuktvāmiṣaṃ madīyaṃ tu yuddhaṃ kṛtvā jayaṃ vraja 16| rākṣasa uvāca- kathaṃ tvaṃ rākṣaso mahyaṃ bhakṣaṇāya bhaviṣyasi | vasiṣṭho'pyatha mānuṣyamāsthāya viyati sthitaḥ 17| niṣṭhīvya mastake tasya muṣṭinā tamatāḍayat | tāḍito rākṣasastena vyadrāvayadṛṣiśca tam 18| palāyamānāvanyonyaṃ jaladhiṃ tu gatāvubhau | tatrasthena graheṇāsau gṛhīto rākṣasastadā 19| muniḥ punarayodhyāyāṃ pūrvavatsamatiṣṭhata | śaṃbhuruvāca- tasmātsvābhimataṃ kuryātpurāṇajño vimatsaraḥ 20| śravaṇasya vidhānaṃ ca kathayāmi śubhaṃ śṛṇu | śuklapakṣe dine śuddhe vāranakṣatrayogataḥ 21| karaṇe cāpi lagne ca grahatārābalānvite | amūḍhena grahe bāle na ca vṛddhau gurausthite 22| na kṛṣṇapakṣe grahaṇe na ca nāstikasaṃnidhau | pūrvoktalakṣaṇopetaṃ purāṇaṃ śṛṇuyāditi 23| śuddhagehe'thavā śuddhavedikāyāṃ maṭhetha vā | nadītīre devagehe sabhāmaṃḍapa eva ca 24| rathyā maṭhetha vā ramye puṇyaśālāsu rāghava | svayaṃ namasya vipreṃdrānpurāṇajñaṃ viśeṣataḥ 25| āsanaṃ kalpitaṃ kuryyādūrdhvaṃ sarvaviśeṣitam | ehi dharmmāsanamiti vaktavyaṃ syādaniṣṭhuram 26| purāṇaprakramadine yatkāryaṃ tadudīrayet | vyākhyātāraṃ purāṇasya vastrādyaiḥ paripūjayet 27| śubhāni datvā vastrāṇi sūkṣmāṇi ca navāni ca | karakaṃṭhavibhūṣādi pātramāsanameva ca 28| gaṃdhapuṣpākṣataiḥ pūjya tāṃbūlaṃ vinivedya ca | śuklāṃbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam 29| prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyetsarvavighnopaśāṃtaye | sabhāsadaśca saṃpūjya gaṇeśaṃ prārthayettataḥ 30| oṃnametyādi maṃtreṇa pūjanaṃ bhāratī nutiḥ | prātaḥkāle purāṇasya prakramaṃ prārabhediti 31| upakramadine rāma tripaṃcadaśa vā śubhāḥ | ślokā dvitīye divase tato dviguṇitāḥ śubhāḥ 32| tṛtīye divase rāma tataścādhikamiṣyate | dinānāmavyavacchedādvyākhyānaṃ śravaṇaṃ tathā 33| vyavasthitiryadā jātā tadā paurāṇikaṃ gurum | tāṃbūlādipradāyātha paredyuḥ śṛṇuyādapi 34| purāṇamevaṃ śrotavyaṃ dainaṃdinamiti śrutiḥ | vratarūpeṇa yaḥ kaścitpurāṇaṃ śṛṇuyānnaraḥ 35| yadaivaṃ tatpurāṇaṃ tu tatra yāti na saṃśayaḥ | purāṇaṃ śrotukāmena ślokaścaikopi cecchrutaḥ 36| taddine tu kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ nāśayettu na saṃśayaḥ 37| evaṃ purāṇaṃ śṛṇuyācca yastu sa brahmahatyākṛtapāpabaṃdhāt | surāpītiḥ svarṇaharaśca rāma gurvaṃganāgaśca vimuktimeti 38| pāpāni cānyāni kṛtāni puṃbhiḥ sarvāṇi naśyaṃti purākṛtāni | ihāpi yānyabdaśatārjitāni śroturvinaśyaṃti tathā ca vaktuḥ 39| kalau samastaviprāṇāṃ sarvajñatvaṃ na vidyate | viguṇāpi tato vyākhyā phaladā dānakarmavat 40| purāṇānāmabhiprāyaṃ vyāso veda na cāparaḥ | ahaṃ vedmi viśeṣeṇa vyāsādapi vidherapi 41| na svādhyāyastapo vāpi na maṃtro na juhotayaḥ | phalaṃti na tathā tiṣye purāṇaśravaṇaṃ yathā 42| ekaikaśravaṇādeva pātakaṃ mahadeva tu | nāśamāpnotyasaṃdehaḥ śrīśaile vartanādiva 43| ato guruḥ purāṇajñaḥ śrotṛvaṃdyo'ghanāśanaḥ | na tasmādadhikaḥ kaścidgururasti gatipradaḥ 44| maṃtreṣu guravo ye ca vedaśāstreṣu ye matāḥ | neśate sarvavijñānaṃ dātuṃ tasmānna bodhakāḥ 45| piśācāḥ prāyaśo rāma brahmarākṣasanāminaḥ | vedamaṃtrasya vettāro dṛśyaṃte na purāṇavit 46| purāṇavimukho naiva sarvaḥ sarvaṃ hi paśyati | purāṇajño hi tastasmātpāpanāśakaraḥ prabhuḥ 47| tatpūjā sarvapūjā syātsarvadroho'sya pīḍanam | yathā samastadānānāṃ vidyādānaṃ praśasyate 48| paurāṇikastathā dhanyastatra dānaṃ mahatphalam | rāma uvāca-| kiṃ vā paurāṇike deyaṃ kiyatkīdṛśameva ca 49| purāṇaṃ kīdṛśaṃ varjyaṃ varjyaḥ kīdṛkpurāṇavit | śaṃbhuruvāca- ṣaḍrasānannapānāni snehadravyāṇi yāni ca 50| gṛhaṃ sopaskaraṃ rāma purāṇajñāya dāpayet | paryāptānyeva sarvāṇi adhikāni phalādhikāt 51| dadyāddravyamato bhūyaḥ sacailaṃ śobhitaṃ mṛdu | bhūṣaṇāni yathārhāṇi svaśaktyā pratipādayet 52| gaṃdhapuṣpaṃ pratidinaṃ kevalaṃ gaṃdhameva ca | kevalaṃ ca tathā puṣpaṃ phalakāle phalānyapi 53| tāṃbūlaṃ ca tathā dadyānnamaskuryācca bhaktitaḥ | purāṇasya samāptau tu dadyāddānādikaṃ tathā 54| adhikaṃ tu tathā deyaṃ bhūhiraṇyādikaṃ nṛpa | na ca tūṣṇīmupakramya śrotumarhati kaścana 55| sabhāsadbhiḥ kṛtā caiva yā pūjaikena vā kṛtā | devasthāne yathāśakti sarvaiḥ pūjanamiṣyate 56| tīrthepi ca yathā rāma puṇyeṣvāyataneṣu ca | svaśaktyā pūjanaṃ kuryātpurāṇajñāya rāghava 57| śrotustu lakṣaṇaṃ pūrvaṃ mayoktaṃ tu bhavennṛpa | paurāṇikasya sarvasya lakṣaṇaṃ kathayāmi te 58| kulahīno mahāvyādhirmahāpāpī tiraskṛtaḥ | śaucācāravihīnaśca vedasmṛtivivarjitaḥ 59| anyadevaḥ pūtivaco vyaṃgaścāpyadhikāṃgavān | parapūrvāpatiḥ stenaḥ prāṇihaṃtā nirākṛtiḥ 60| atha varjyaṃ purāṇaṃ te kathayāmi nṛpottama | pūrvajñairucyamānaṃ ca yatproktaṃ munibhiḥ paraiḥ 61| vyāsādayo munivarā yatprocustadudīrayet | purāṇasthaṃ paṭhedgranthaṃ vyākhyāyeta vicārayan 62| yayā kayāpi vā rāma bhāṣayādeśabhāṣataḥ | na deśabhāṣā racitaṃ graṃthaṃ śrutvā phalaṃ labhet 63| vyākhyā yā kāpi kākutstha purāṇasya hitā hi sā | tasmāttvaṃ devayācasva vyākhyāsye yatpurāṇakam 64| śaṃbhuruvāca- evaṃ paurāṇikenoktaṃ śrutavānapi gautamaḥ | svayaṃ vastratrayaṃ prādādbrāhmaṇāya mahātmane 65| kaurmaṃ purāṇaṃ prathamaṃ śrutavāniti naḥ śrutam | dattavānsvarṇamadhikaṃ vastrāṇi ca śubhāni ca 66| atha laiṃgaṃ ca śuśrāva vaiṣṇavaṃ vāmanaṃ tathā | pādmaṃ ca gāruḍaṃ caiva sauraṃ brāhmamathaiva ca 67| evamaṣṭa sa śuśrāva purāṇāni sa gautamaḥ | atha rāmāyaṇaṃ caiva kaurmameva punaśca saḥ 68| śivanārāyaṇetyevaṃ japaṃ cakre sadaiva hi | avāpa nidhanaṃ cāpi sa gato brahmaṇaḥ padam 69| brahmā saṃpūjya taṃ vipraṃ viṣṇulokamathāgamat | viṣṇunā pūjitaḥ so'tha jagāma śivamaṃdiram 70| sarveṣāmeva vaṃdyo'sau gautamo munisattamaḥ | bhārataśravaṇe cāpi niyamā ye mayeritāḥ 71| purā vyāsena muninā trivarṣādyatkṛtaṃ śubham | śravaṇāttasya kṛtsnasya vyākartā bhāratasya yaḥ 72| na kiṃcitpraṇamedvipraṃ muktvā yoginamuttamam | sarveṣāmeva vaṃdyosau bhārataṃ vyākaroti yaḥ 73| yo mahābhārataṃ nityaṃ vyākhyāsyati paṭhecca vā | sa sarvebhyodhiko viprastārayeccaiva mānavān 74| vyākaroti ca parvaikaṃ sarvāṇi katicittu vā | sarvapāpavinirmukto havye kavye viśiṣyate 75| tameva praṇamedvipraṃ tamevārhaṃ ca pūjayet | tameva bhojayennityaṃ sarvaṃ tasmai nivedayet 76| tasya pūjāvidhiḥ prokto vyākhyānasamaye dvijaḥ | pratipūjyo'tha vastrādyaiḥ pūjayedvidhimārgataḥ 77| ādiparvasamāptau ca sūkṣmavastratrayaṃ dadet | suvarṇaṃ ca yathāśakti sabhāparvaṇi vāsasī 78| ānuśāsanikāraṇyasvargāroheṣu parvasu | ādiparvaṇi pūjā yā sā pūjā nṛpapuṃgava 79| karṇāśvamedhavairāṭaśalyadroṇeṣu parvasu | sūkṣmavastratrayaṃ śuddhaṃ niṣkadvayamathāpi vā 80| kṣudraparvasvathānyeṣu niṣkāvatha samānayet | harivaṃśe saniṣkaṃ tu vastratritayameva tu 81| bhāratasyākhilasyaiva samāptau kṣetrado bhavet | rāmāyaṇasya śravaṇe kāṃḍekāṃḍe prapūjayet 82| kṣetraṃ paryāptamathavā suvarṇamapi dāpayet | vyākhyāturguruvākyasya sarvakalmaṣanāśanaḥ 83| arthodharmmaśca kāmaśca mokṣaśca nṛpasattama | vyākhyāśravaṇataḥ sarve siddhayaṃti ca subuddhayaḥ 84| brahmahatyādipāpānāṃ sarveṣāmapi nāśanam | ekena śravaṇenāsya kiṃ narairna śrutaṃ bhuvi 85| yānavasusuvarṇādyairnityamenaṃ prapūjayet | vyākhyātāraṃ yataḥ pāpasaṃdohasya vināśanam 86| anyānyapi purāṇāni muniproktāni tānyapi | śrotṝṇāṃ pāpanāśāya vaktuścāpi viśeṣataḥ 87| yaśca sarvapurāṇāni ṣaṭtriṃśattu prakīrtayet | śṛṇoti vā na tasyāsti cittacchedaḥ kadācana 88| brāhmaṃ purāṇaṃ prathamaṃ dvitīyaṃ pādmamucyate | tṛtīyaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ caiva caturthaṃ śaivamucyate 89| atha bhāgavataṃ proktaṃ paṃcamaṃ ṣaṣṭhamucyate | bhaviṣyaṃ nāradīyaṃ ca saptamaṃ parikīrtitam 90| mārkaṃḍeyamiti proktamaṣṭamaṃ navamaṃ tathā | āgneyaṃ brahmavaivartaṃ daśamaṃ parikīrtitam 91| laiṃgaṃ ca vāmanaṃ caiva skāṃdaṃ mātsyamathaiva ca | kaurmaṃ vārāhamuditaṃ gāruḍaṃ vātha kīrtitam 92| brahmāṃḍamityaṣṭādaśapurāṇāni vidurbudhāḥ | tathā copapurāṇāni kathayiṣyāmyataḥ param 93| ādyaṃ sanatkumārākhyaṃ nārasiṃhamataḥ param | tṛtīyamāṃḍamuddiṣṭaṃ daurvāsasamathaiva ca 94| nāradīyamathānyaṃ ca kāpilaṃ mānavaṃ tathā | tadvadauśanasa proktaṃ brahmāṃḍaṃ ca tataḥ param 95| vāruṇaṃ kālikāhvānaṃ māheśaṃ sāṃbameva ca | sauraṃ pārāśaraṃ caiva mārīcaṃ bhārgavāhvayam 96| kaumāraṃ ca purāṇāni kīrtitānyaṣṭa vai daśa | aṣṭādaśapurāṇānāṃ vyākartā tu bhavenmanuḥ 97| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śivarāghavasaṃvāde purāṇamāhātmyakathanaṃnāma paṃcadaśottaraśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 115|
English translation
Śrī Rāma said :
1. O best brāhmaṇa , how did (the brāhmaṇa) knowing the Purāṇa explain it to the mean brāhmaṇa to whom heaps of sins had come?
Śambhu said :
2-7. Union takes place in teaching and learning. When they go together, O Rāma , in a year the sin of a sinner goes away. O you descendant of Kakutstha , when the knower (i.e. the reader) of a Purāṇa knows all the essential things, then even repeated heap of sins perishes, as the heap (i.e. column) of smoke perishes when a large fire perishes. A moth is capable of destroying a lamp, (but) not (capable of) destroying fire. As one who frees the mortals seized with the fear of ghosts etc., so a public reader of Purāṇas destroys the sin committed by others. One who knows a spell would send away (the ghost etc.), and not he who is afflicted. Similarly, a public reader of Purāṇas does not receive any sin. One who knows Purāṇas, destroys the sin committed by himself or by others, and even (the fruit of) a very wicked sin.
8-11. One who has discrimination looks equally upon ( Śiva ) the lord of Pārvatī and upon Viṣṇu . He knows the acts of the world and those that are told in the Vedas ; he mutters the Rudra (-hymn); he is very desireless. He is contented; he is calm; he is diligent in work; he is mature; he practises abstract meditation; and is controlled, as your reader of Purāṇas—the revered sage Vasiṣṭha —is, who has remained by your command in Ayodhyā and has protected the entire earth. The demon rushed to you. At the advice of Śukra the demon came to (attack) you. (He thought:) ‘I shall kill him when he is asleep. Otherwise there is no chance.’
12-16. Then the brāhmaṇa Vasiṣṭha, to whom your well-being was dear, knowing this (thought:). ‘There is no doubt that the demon will kill Rāma who is asleep and unaware. The demon has obtained a boon from Brahmā . I have to keep him off’. Thinking like this, the brāhmaṇa sage took the army and went out. The sage was unable to kill the demon who was immune to death. Then the great sage himself became a demon and said (these) words: “Why have you come to this forest resorted to by sages?” He said: “The king (i.e. Rāma) kills the demons. I have come to kill him.” The sage said: “What have you to do with him, alive or dead? Having eaten my flesh, and having fought with me, go (back).”
The demon said :
17-20a. How can you, a demon, be fit for my food?
Then Vasiṣṭha too, becoming a human being, stood in the sky (i.e. air). He spat on his head and struck him with his fist. He struck the demon. The sage made him flee. The two running (after each other) went to the ocean. At that time, the demon was seized by a crocodile living there. The sage was in Ayodhyā as before.
Śambhu said :
20b-22. Therefore, he who knows a Purāṇa, should do what is agreeable to him. I shall tell you the auspicious manner of listening (to a Purāṇa). On a holy day in the bright half (of a month), when the day and constellation are in union, when there is the (proper) Karaṇa , an auspicious moment, when there is the strength of the planets and stars, when old Jupiter remains with a young, wise Planet (a Purāṇa should be heard).
23-25a. (It should not be heard) in a dark fortnight, on an eclipse-day, or in the vicinity of an atheist. A man should listen to a Purāṇa having the characteristics as stated before. (He should listen to it) in a pure house, or on a pure altar, or in a place of learning, on the bank of a river, in a temple, in an assembly hall, in a beautiful monastery on the road, or in auspicious halls, O Rāma.
25b-30a. Having himself saluted the best brāhmaṇas , and especially him who knows the Purāṇa, a man should fashion a seat above (all other seats) and superior to all (other seats). He should gently say (to the reader of the Purāṇa): “Come to (this) religious seat.” He should declare what is to be done on the day of the commencement of (the recital of) the Purāṇa. Having given the expounder of the Purāṇa auspicious, fine, new garments and ornaments for his hands, neck etc., so also a proper seat, he should honour him with garments etc. After having worshipped Viṣṇu having the complexion like that of the moon and having four hands, and having put on a white garment, with sandal, flowers and sacred grains, and having offered him a tāmbūla , he should, for the removal of all difficulties, reflect upon him, of a pleasing face.
30b-34. Having honoured the members of the assembly, he should then pray to Gaṇeśa . He should worship him with the hymn: Oṃ namaḥ etc. (Then should follow) the eulogy of Sarasvatī . The commencement (of the recital) of the Purāṇa should be done in the morning. O Rāma, on the day of commencement three, five or ten auspicious verses (should be read). Double this number (should be read) on the second day. O Rāma, (the reading of) more verses than on the second day is prescribed for the third day. The narration and the hearing should go on without a break on all days. When (proper) arrangement is made, he should give the preceptor, the reader of the Purāṇa, tāmbūla etc. and should also listen to it on the next day.
35-39. The scripture says that every day Purāṇa should be listened to. If a man listens to the Purāṇa as a vow, he undoubtedly goes to that place wherefrom the Purāṇa (has come). There is no doubt that the sin committed on the day would perish, if he who desires to listen to (the recital of) the Purāṇa, has heard even one verse. He who would listen to the Purāṇa like this, would be free from the bond of the sin of a brāhmaṇa’s murder; so also from (sins due to) drinking liquor, snatching gold, and the sin due to (enjoying) his teacher’s wife. So also all the other sins which are committed and were formerly committed by men (perish). So also sins committed by the listener and the speaker in this world (perish).
40-49a. In Kaliyuga all brāhmaṇas do not know all things. Therefore, even if the narration is faulty, it gives fruit like the act of charity. Vyāsa , and none else, understood the import of the Purāṇas. I know it especially more than even Vyāsa or even Brahmā. In Kaliyuga, self-study, penance, hymns or oblation do not become so fruitful as listening to Purāṇa (is fruitful). There is no doubt that by listening to each Purāṇa even great sin perishes, as by living on Śrīśaila . Therefore, the knower of Purāṇa is the preceptor. He is venerable to the listeners and destroys (their) sins. There is no preceptor superior to him who would give the highest position. Those preceptors who are regarded as knowers of the hymns and Vedas, are not capable of giving all knowledge. Therefore, they are not teachers. O Rāma, generally goblins who are the ghosts of brāhmaṇas know the Vedic hymns, and not ones who know the Purāṇas. All who are averse to Purāṇas do not see (i.e. know) everything. Therefore, one who knows Purāṇas is a master who destroys sins. His worship is the worship of all. Troubling him is offending all. As among all gifts, gift of knowledge is praised, in the same way the public reader of Purāṇas is blessed; and giving a gift to him gives great fruit.
Rāma said :
49b-50a. What should be given to the public reader of Purāṇas? How much (should be given)? In what way (should it be given)? What kind of Purāṇa should be avoided? What kind of the reader of Purāṇas should be avoided?
Śambhu said :
50b-54a. O Rāma, a man should cause to give (i.e. should give) (the eatables having) the six flavours, food, drinks, oily substances, a house with furniture. All these are sufficient. (If) more (are given) greater fruit (is had). He should also give much wealth, a soft, decorated garment, ornaments of proper value. (These) he should give according to his capacity. Every day he should give sandal, flowers, or only sandal, or merely a flower, and seasonal fruits also. Similarly he should give him a tāmbūla, and salute him devoutly.
54b-58. At the close (of the reading session) of the Purāṇa, he should give gifts etc. O king, more (things) like land, gold etc. should also be given. Nobody remaining silent (i.e. not giving anything) should listen (to the Purāṇa). The worship (should be) done by the members of the assembly or by one only. At a temple worship should be done by all according to their capacity. O Rāma, a man should honour the knower of Purāṇas at a sacred place. O king, I have already told you the characteristics of a listener. I shall now tell you about the characteristics of a public reader of Purāṇas.
59-60. (A public reader of Purāṇas having the characteristics mentioned below should be avoided:) A man without a family (i.e. one not born in a noble family), a man having a great (i.e. an incurable) disease, a great sinner, a man who is condemned, a man without pure conduct, a man without (i.e. not versed in) Vedas and codes of laws. Also, a man having (i.e. a devotee of) another god, a man having a stinking speech, a defective man or a man having an additional limb, a man who has married a woman having a husband, a thief, one who harms beings and one who is condemned.
61-64. O best king, now I shall tell you about the Purāṇa that should be avoided. (The reader) should recite that Purāṇa which is narrated by the ancient wise ones, or one which is narrated by the great sages, or which the sages like Vyāsa have narrated. He should read the text of the Purāṇa, and should explain it after (properly) thinking over it in any language (like) a regional language, O Rāma. A man would not get the (desired) fruit by listening to a text in the regional language. Whatever the explanation, it is good for the Purāṇa. Therefore, O lord, ask for the Purāṇa which I shall (i.e. should) expound.
Śambhu said :
65-68a. Thus spoke the public reader of the Purāṇa. Gautama also listened to it. He himself gave three garments to the noble brāhmaṇa. It is learnt by us that he first listened to the Kaurma Purāṇa. He gave the (reader) more gold and bright garments. Then he listened to Laiṅga (Purāṇa), then to Vaiṣṇava and Vāmana also. So also to Pādma , Gāruḍa , and Saura , and Brāhma as well. Thus that Gautama listened to eight Purāṇas.
68b-73. Then he listened to Rāmāyaṇa , and also to Kaurma again. He always muttered the hymn Śiva Nārāyaṇa . He died, and went to Brahmā’s place. Brahmā honoured that brāhmaṇa who then went to Viṣṇu’s heaven. Being honoured by Viṣṇu, he then went to Śiva’s abode. That best sage Gautama was honoured by all. I have also narrated the rules for listening to Bhārata . Formerly Vyāsa composed that auspicious book in three years. By listening to it (a man gets religious merit). He who expounds Bhārata should not salute any brāhmaṇa except an excellent meditating sage. He who expounds Bhārata should be honoured by all.
74-77. That brāhmaṇa who every day expounds or would read Mahābhārata , is superior to all, and would emancipate all men. He who expounds one parvan or all parvans or some par-vans, becomes free from all sins, and is distinguished in the offering to gods and deceased ancestors. A man should salute that brāhmaṇa only; he should honour that worthy brāhmaṇa only; he should always feed him only; he should offer everything to him. The manner of honouring him at the time of exposition (is:). He should be honoured with garments etc. and a man should honour him according to the rules.
78-81. At the conclusion (of the recital) of Ādiparvan, (a man) should give (the reader) three garments, so also gold according to his capacity. At (the conclusion of the recital of) Sabḥāparvan, a pair of garments (should be given). At the conclusion of the recital of Ānuśāsika, Āraṇya and Svargāroha, the same (kind of) honour should be done (to the reader) as is done at the time (of the conclusion of the recital) of the Ādiparvan, O best among men. At (the conclusion of the recital of the) Karṇa , Aśvamedha , Virāṭa , Śalya and Droṇa parvans, three fine, pure garments should be given, or a couple of niṣkas . At (the time of the conclusion of the recital of) other small parvans, he should bring (and give to the reader) two niṣkas. At (the time of the conclusion of the recital of) Harivaṃśa , he should give the reader three garments with a niṣka .
82-84a. He should give (the reader a piece of) land at the time of the conclusion (of the recital) of the entire Bhārata. A man should worship the reader at the conclusion of the recital of every kāṇḍa , when Rāmāyaṇa is listened to. He should cause to give (i.e. should give) enough land or even gold. The words of the speaker, i.e. the preceptor destroy all sins. O best king, (they lead to) material welfare, religious merit, fulfilment of desires and salvation.
84b-88. All wise men become successful due to their listening to the exposition (of a Purāṇa-text). By (just) one listening (i.e. by listening just once to a Purāṇa) all sins like the murder of a brāhmaṇa perish. Have the men not heard about it on the earth? A man should every day honour the expounder (of the Purāṇa) with (the gifts of) a vehicle, wealth, gold etc. so that the heap of his sins perishes. Even other Purāṇas recited by sages destroy the sins of the listeners, especially of the speaker. The mind of him who would expound all the thirty-six Purāṇas, or listens to them, is never divided.
89-93a. The first Purāṇa is Brāhma; the second is said to be Pādma; the third one is Vaiṣṇava (i.e. Viṣṇu Purāṇa ); the fourth one is said to be Śaiva ; the fifth is said to be Bhāgavata . Bhaviṣya is said to be the sixth; Nāradīya is declared to be the seventh; Mārkaṇḍeya is said to be the eighth; the ninth is Āgneya (i.e. Agni Purāṇa ); Brahmavaivarta is said to be the tenth; then (there are) Laiṅga (i.e. Liṅga Purāṇa ), Vāmana, Skānda (i.e. Skanda Purāṇa ), Mātsya (i.e. Matsya Purāṇa ), Kaurma (i.e. Kūrma Purāṇa ); Vārāha (i.e. Varāha Purāṇa ) is also said (to be one of the Purāṇas); Gāruḍa (i.e. Garuḍa Purāṇa ) is also said (to be a Purāṇa); so also Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa . Thus the wise know the Purāṇas to be eighteen.
93b-97. Similarly I shall tell about the Upapurāṇas hereafter. The first one is Sanatakumāra; after that (comes) Nārasiṃha ; the third one is said to be Māṇḍa ; then there is Daurvāsasa (i.e. Durvāsas ); then Nāradīya; the next is Kāpila ; then is Mānava ; then is said to be Auśanasa ; then comes Brahmāṇḍa ; then there is Vāruṇa ; there is one called Kālikā ; so also there are Māheśa and Sāmba , Saura and Pārāśara , Mārīca , and the one called Bhārgava ; so also Kaumāra . (These) are said to be eighteen Upa(purāṇas). Manu would be (i.e. is) the expounder of the eighteen Purāṇas.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 36811, revision 336205 (2022-04-20T01:56:32Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365427.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.