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Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Unit 55 of 693Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 55Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 551 source entries

Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 55

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श्रीभगवानुवाच- अपरं च प्रवक्ष्यामि कामेनाधिष्ठितस्य च। पुरा भागीरथी तीरे द्विजः परमहंसकः१। उपदेष्टा सहस्राणां द्विजानां शांतिदः परः। एकदंडधरः साक्षात्कूर्मवद्धरणी स्थितः२। एकाकिनः सतस्तस्य देवागारे विनिष्कृते। पत्युर्गृहात्परं गेहं गंतुं सायं समुद्यता३। अकस्माद्युवती नारी मिलिता रूपधारिणी। दृष्ट्वा तां भगवान्विप्रो मन्मथस्य भयार्दितः४। अगारजठरे कृत्वा स चैनां प्राक्षिपत्क्षपाम्। अर्गलं सा दृढं कृत्वा देवागारे सुशोभने५। कदाचिदपि तं द्वारादागंतुं न ददाति ह। एवंभूतः समाधिस्थः क्षपां क्षिप्त्वा विलप्य सः६। चिंतयंस्तां वरारोहां द्वारि किं वा कृतं मम। एवं संचिंत्यतामाह द्वारं देहीह नः प्रिये७। पतिश्च वशगः कांते दयितस्ते भविष्यति। ततस्तं प्राह सा विप्रं वृद्धं कामप्रलालसम्८। अनन्विता गिरःस्तात वक्तुं त्वं नार्हसि प्रभो। अथासौ भगवान्प्राह प्रचुरं चास्ति मे वसु९। तव दास्यामि कल्याणि प्रस्फोटय कपाटिकाम्। विप्रमाह पुनः सा च त्वं वै मे धर्मतः पिता१०। मा गच्छ पुत्रिकां मां च परयोषां च धार्मिक। मनसा स समालोच्य सुषिरेण पथा गृहान्११। बाहुनोद्धाट्यते नैव गंतुं चैव समुद्यतः। गच्छतश्चार्द्धमरर उत्तमांगं सुसंकटे१२। प्रविष्टं न पुनश्चैति पंचत्वमगमत्तदा। उषःकाले समायाता रक्षिणो ये च किंकराः१३। अद्भुतं तं शवं दृष्ट्वा तामुचुस्ते च विस्मिताः। कथं च निधनं त्वस्य संभूतं ब्रूहि सुंदरि१४। कथयित्वा तु तद्वृत्तमभीष्टं देशमागता। एवं कामस्य महिमा दुर्निवारो जनेषु च१५। सर्वेषामपि जंतूनां सुरासुरनृणां भवेत्। दृष्ट्वाऽमोघां वरारोहां सर्वलोकपितामहः१६। च्युतबीजोभवत्तत्र लौहित्यसंभवस्मृतः। पुनाति सकलान्लोकान्सर्वतीर्थमयो हि सः१७। यमाश्रित्य नरो याति ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम्। द्विज उवाच- कथं च ब्रह्मणो मोहो ह्यमोघा का वरांगना१८। उद्भवं तीर्थराजस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। श्रीभगवानुवाच- मुनिर्देवैः समाराध्यः पद्मयोनिसमप्रभः१९। शंतनुश्चेति विख्यातः पत्नी तस्य पतिव्रता। अमोघेति समाख्याता रूपयौवनशालिनी२०। अस्याश्च पतिमन्वेष्टुं यातो ब्रह्मा च तद्गृहम्। तस्मिन्काले मुनिश्रेष्ठः पुष्पाद्यर्थं वनं गतः२१। सा तं दृष्ट्वा सुरश्रेष्ठमर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं ददौ। दूरेभिवादनं कृत्वा सा गृहं प्रविवेश ह२२। तां च दृष्ट्वा नवद्यांगीं धाता कामवशं गतः। स्रष्टात्मानं समाधायाचिंतयत्तां पुरोगताम्२३। बीजं पपात खट्वायां ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। ततो ब्रह्मा गतस्त्रस्तस्त्वरया परिपीडितः२४। अथायातो मुनिर्गेहं शुक्रं पीठे ददर्श ह। तमपृच्छद्वरारोहां कश्चाप्यत्रागतः पुमान्२५। तमुवाच ततोऽमोघा ब्रह्मा ह्यत्रागतः पते। त्वामेवान्वेषितुं नाथ मया दत्तोत्र पीठकः२६। शुक्रस्य कारणं चात्र तपसा ज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततो ध्यानात्परिज्ञातं तेनैव च द्विजन्मना२७। ब्रह्मरेतः परं साध्वी पालयस्व ममाज्ञया। उत्पद्यते सुतस्ते तु सर्वलोकैकपावनः२८। आवयोः सर्वकल्याणं फलिष्यति मनोगतम्। ततः पतिव्रता तस्य आज्ञामागृह्य संभवात्२९। पपौ रेतो महाभागा ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। आवर्त इव संजज्ञे रौद्रगर्भ इति स्फुरन्३०। प्रसोढुं नैव शक्ता सा शंतनुं चाब्रवीत्ततः। गर्भं धारयितुं नाथ न शक्नोम्यधुना प्रभो३१। किं करिष्यामि धर्मज्ञ प्राणो मे संचलत्यपि। आज्ञापय महाभाग गर्भं त्यक्ष्यामि यत्र च३२। पत्युराज्ञां समादाय मुक्तो गर्भो युगंधरे। पयस्तेजोमयं शुद्धं सर्वधर्मप्रतिष्ठितम्३३। तन्मध्ये पुरुषः शुद्धः किरीटी नीलवाससा। रत्नदाम्ना च विद्धांगो दुःप्रेक्ष्यो ज्योतिषां गणः३४। ततो देवगणाः स्वर्गात्पुष्पवर्षमवाकिरन्। प्रसूतः सर्वतीर्थेषु तीर्थराज इति स्मृतः३५। ततो राम इति ख्यातः प्रजातोहं भृगोः कुले। क्षत्रियान्पितृहंतॄंस्तु ससैन्यबलवाहनान्३६। हत्वा युद्धगतान्भीतान्पंकैः सर्वैर्युतो ह्यहम्। ब्रह्महत्यासमं घोरं मद्गेहे समुपस्थितम्३७। पंकयुक्तं कुठारं मे क्षालितं नैव शुद्ध्यति। ततः खे चाभवद्वाणी राम मद्वचनं कुरु३८। यत्र तीर्थे कुठारं ते निर्मलं च भवेदिह। तत्र ते सर्वपापानां जातानां च क्षयो भवेत्३९। जनानां तत्र सर्वेषां हितार्थं तिष्ठ मानद। चपलं गच्छ तीर्थानि सर्वाणि सुमहांति च४०। तेषां मध्ये महातीर्थे पर्शुः शुद्धो भवेद्यदि। तं च जानीहि तीर्थेषु मुक्तिदं परिकीर्तितम्४१। तच्छ्रुत्वा जामदग्न्यस्तु तीर्थानि प्रययौ तदा। गंगां सरस्वतीं शुभ्रां कावेरीं सरयूं तथा४२। गोदावरीं च यमुनां कद्रूं च वसुदां तथा। अन्यां च पुण्यदां रम्यां गौरीं पूर्वां स्थितां शुभाम्४३। गच्छतस्तस्य धीरस्य सदागतिसमस्य च। क्षालितः सर्वतीर्थेषु न पुनर्निर्मलोऽभवत्४४। ततो गिरिगुहां दुर्गां महारण्यं च पर्वतम्। गिरिकूटं च दुर्लभ्यं ययौ तीर्थमसौ हरिः४५। न च निर्मलतामेति कुठारस्तस्य तेन च। विषादमगमत्तत्र रामः परपुरंजयः४६। हाहेति विविधं कृत्वा चोपविश्य धरातले। प्रचिंतामगमद्वीरस्तमुवाच पुनस्तथा४७। पूर्वस्यां दिशि देवेश तीर्थं चास्ति गुहोदरे। तच्छ्रुत्वा नरशार्दूलो गत्वा कुंडं ददर्श सः४८। प्रदक्षिणं जलावर्तं शुभ्रं पापहरं शुभम्। तज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण कुठारः शुद्धतां गतः४९। ततो रामोभिषेकं तु कृतवान्प्रमुदान्वितः। शुद्धात्मनस्त्वपापस्य बुद्धिर्जाता प्रपाविनी५० 1.55.50। स रामः सुचिरं स्थित्वा तीर्थराजं प्रसाद्य तम्। ततस्ततोऽचलात्प्राप्य पुरं वेगसमन्वितः५१। ख्यातं कृत्वा ततश्चोर्व्यां गतोसौ लवणार्णवम्। अयं तीर्थवरः साक्षात्पितामहकृतो भुवि५२। सुखदः सर्वतः शुद्धो मुक्तिमार्गप्रदः किल। एवं कामप्रभावं च विद्धि दुर्वारदुःसहम्५३। कामाज्जातं वृषं पापं पुण्यं पुण्यप्रयोगतः। स जातश्चैव लौहित्यो विरंचेश्चैव चौरसः५४। शंतनो क्षेत्र संजातस्त्वमोघागर्भसंभवः। विरिञ्चिना जितः कामः शांतनोरप्यमत्सरात्५५। तस्याः पतिव्रतात्वाच्च तीर्थात्तीर्थवरो हि सः। एवं यस्तु पठेन्नित्यं पुण्याख्यानमिदं शिवम्५६। शृणुयाद्वा मुदा पृथ्व्यां मुक्तिमार्गं स गच्छति५७। इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे पंचाख्याने लौहित्योत्पत्तिर्नाम पंचपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः५५।

śrībhagavānuvāca- aparaṃ ca pravakṣyāmi kāmenādhiṣṭhitasya ca| purā bhāgīrathī tīre dvijaḥ paramahaṃsakaḥ1| upadeṣṭā sahasrāṇāṃ dvijānāṃ śāṃtidaḥ paraḥ| ekadaṃḍadharaḥ sākṣātkūrmavaddharaṇī sthitaḥ2| ekākinaḥ satastasya devāgāre viniṣkṛte| patyurgṛhātparaṃ gehaṃ gaṃtuṃ sāyaṃ samudyatā3| akasmādyuvatī nārī militā rūpadhāriṇī| dṛṣṭvā tāṃ bhagavānvipro manmathasya bhayārditaḥ4| agārajaṭhare kṛtvā sa caināṃ prākṣipatkṣapām| argalaṃ sā dṛḍhaṃ kṛtvā devāgāre suśobhane5| kadācidapi taṃ dvārādāgaṃtuṃ na dadāti ha| evaṃbhūtaḥ samādhisthaḥ kṣapāṃ kṣiptvā vilapya saḥ6| ciṃtayaṃstāṃ varārohāṃ dvāri kiṃ vā kṛtaṃ mama| evaṃ saṃciṃtyatāmāha dvāraṃ dehīha naḥ priye7| patiśca vaśagaḥ kāṃte dayitaste bhaviṣyati| tatastaṃ prāha sā vipraṃ vṛddhaṃ kāmapralālasam8| ananvitā giraḥstāta vaktuṃ tvaṃ nārhasi prabho| athāsau bhagavānprāha pracuraṃ cāsti me vasu9| tava dāsyāmi kalyāṇi prasphoṭaya kapāṭikām| vipramāha punaḥ sā ca tvaṃ vai me dharmataḥ pitā10| mā gaccha putrikāṃ māṃ ca parayoṣāṃ ca dhārmika| manasā sa samālocya suṣireṇa pathā gṛhān11| bāhunoddhāṭyate naiva gaṃtuṃ caiva samudyataḥ| gacchataścārddhamarara uttamāṃgaṃ susaṃkaṭe12| praviṣṭaṃ na punaścaiti paṃcatvamagamattadā| uṣaḥkāle samāyātā rakṣiṇo ye ca kiṃkarāḥ13| adbhutaṃ taṃ śavaṃ dṛṣṭvā tāmucuste ca vismitāḥ| kathaṃ ca nidhanaṃ tvasya saṃbhūtaṃ brūhi suṃdari14| kathayitvā tu tadvṛttamabhīṣṭaṃ deśamāgatā| evaṃ kāmasya mahimā durnivāro janeṣu ca15| sarveṣāmapi jaṃtūnāṃ surāsuranṛṇāṃ bhavet| dṛṣṭvā'moghāṃ varārohāṃ sarvalokapitāmahaḥ16| cyutabījobhavattatra lauhityasaṃbhavasmṛtaḥ| punāti sakalānlokānsarvatīrthamayo hi saḥ17| yamāśritya naro yāti brahmalokamanāmayam| dvija uvāca- kathaṃ ca brahmaṇo moho hyamoghā kā varāṃganā18| udbhavaṃ tīrtharājasya śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ| śrībhagavānuvāca- munirdevaiḥ samārādhyaḥ padmayonisamaprabhaḥ19| śaṃtanuśceti vikhyātaḥ patnī tasya pativratā| amogheti samākhyātā rūpayauvanaśālinī20| asyāśca patimanveṣṭuṃ yāto brahmā ca tadgṛham| tasminkāle muniśreṣṭhaḥ puṣpādyarthaṃ vanaṃ gataḥ21| sā taṃ dṛṣṭvā suraśreṣṭhamarghyapādyādikaṃ dadau| dūrebhivādanaṃ kṛtvā sā gṛhaṃ praviveśa ha22| tāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā navadyāṃgīṃ dhātā kāmavaśaṃ gataḥ| sraṣṭātmānaṃ samādhāyāciṃtayattāṃ purogatām23| bījaṃ papāta khaṭvāyāṃ brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ| tato brahmā gatastrastastvarayā paripīḍitaḥ24| athāyāto munirgehaṃ śukraṃ pīṭhe dadarśa ha| tamapṛcchadvarārohāṃ kaścāpyatrāgataḥ pumān25| tamuvāca tato'moghā brahmā hyatrāgataḥ pate| tvāmevānveṣituṃ nātha mayā dattotra pīṭhakaḥ26| śukrasya kāraṇaṃ cātra tapasā jñātumarhasi| tato dhyānātparijñātaṃ tenaiva ca dvijanmanā27| brahmaretaḥ paraṃ sādhvī pālayasva mamājñayā| utpadyate sutaste tu sarvalokaikapāvanaḥ28| āvayoḥ sarvakalyāṇaṃ phaliṣyati manogatam| tataḥ pativratā tasya ājñāmāgṛhya saṃbhavāt29| papau reto mahābhāgā brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ| āvarta iva saṃjajñe raudragarbha iti sphuran30| prasoḍhuṃ naiva śaktā sā śaṃtanuṃ cābravīttataḥ| garbhaṃ dhārayituṃ nātha na śaknomyadhunā prabho31| kiṃ kariṣyāmi dharmajña prāṇo me saṃcalatyapi| ājñāpaya mahābhāga garbhaṃ tyakṣyāmi yatra ca32| patyurājñāṃ samādāya mukto garbho yugaṃdhare| payastejomayaṃ śuddhaṃ sarvadharmapratiṣṭhitam33| tanmadhye puruṣaḥ śuddhaḥ kirīṭī nīlavāsasā| ratnadāmnā ca viddhāṃgo duḥprekṣyo jyotiṣāṃ gaṇaḥ34| tato devagaṇāḥ svargātpuṣpavarṣamavākiran| prasūtaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu tīrtharāja iti smṛtaḥ35| tato rāma iti khyātaḥ prajātohaṃ bhṛgoḥ kule| kṣatriyānpitṛhaṃtṝṃstu sasainyabalavāhanān36| hatvā yuddhagatānbhītānpaṃkaiḥ sarvairyuto hyaham| brahmahatyāsamaṃ ghoraṃ madgehe samupasthitam37| paṃkayuktaṃ kuṭhāraṃ me kṣālitaṃ naiva śuddhyati| tataḥ khe cābhavadvāṇī rāma madvacanaṃ kuru38| yatra tīrthe kuṭhāraṃ te nirmalaṃ ca bhavediha| tatra te sarvapāpānāṃ jātānāṃ ca kṣayo bhavet39| janānāṃ tatra sarveṣāṃ hitārthaṃ tiṣṭha mānada| capalaṃ gaccha tīrthāni sarvāṇi sumahāṃti ca40| teṣāṃ madhye mahātīrthe parśuḥ śuddho bhavedyadi| taṃ ca jānīhi tīrtheṣu muktidaṃ parikīrtitam41| tacchrutvā jāmadagnyastu tīrthāni prayayau tadā| gaṃgāṃ sarasvatīṃ śubhrāṃ kāverīṃ sarayūṃ tathā42| godāvarīṃ ca yamunāṃ kadrūṃ ca vasudāṃ tathā| anyāṃ ca puṇyadāṃ ramyāṃ gaurīṃ pūrvāṃ sthitāṃ śubhām43| gacchatastasya dhīrasya sadāgatisamasya ca| kṣālitaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu na punarnirmalo'bhavat44| tato giriguhāṃ durgāṃ mahāraṇyaṃ ca parvatam| girikūṭaṃ ca durlabhyaṃ yayau tīrthamasau hariḥ45| na ca nirmalatāmeti kuṭhārastasya tena ca| viṣādamagamattatra rāmaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ46| hāheti vividhaṃ kṛtvā copaviśya dharātale| praciṃtāmagamadvīrastamuvāca punastathā47| pūrvasyāṃ diśi deveśa tīrthaṃ cāsti guhodare| tacchrutvā naraśārdūlo gatvā kuṃḍaṃ dadarśa saḥ48| pradakṣiṇaṃ jalāvartaṃ śubhraṃ pāpaharaṃ śubham| tajjalasparśamātreṇa kuṭhāraḥ śuddhatāṃ gataḥ49| tato rāmobhiṣekaṃ tu kṛtavānpramudānvitaḥ| śuddhātmanastvapāpasya buddhirjātā prapāvinī50 1.55.50| sa rāmaḥ suciraṃ sthitvā tīrtharājaṃ prasādya tam| tatastato'calātprāpya puraṃ vegasamanvitaḥ51| khyātaṃ kṛtvā tataścorvyāṃ gatosau lavaṇārṇavam| ayaṃ tīrthavaraḥ sākṣātpitāmahakṛto bhuvi52| sukhadaḥ sarvataḥ śuddho muktimārgapradaḥ kila| evaṃ kāmaprabhāvaṃ ca viddhi durvāraduḥsaham53| kāmājjātaṃ vṛṣaṃ pāpaṃ puṇyaṃ puṇyaprayogataḥ| sa jātaścaiva lauhityo viraṃceścaiva caurasaḥ54| śaṃtano kṣetra saṃjātastvamoghāgarbhasaṃbhavaḥ| viriñcinā jitaḥ kāmaḥ śāṃtanorapyamatsarāt55| tasyāḥ pativratātvācca tīrthāttīrthavaro hi saḥ| evaṃ yastu paṭhennityaṃ puṇyākhyānamidaṃ śivam56| śṛṇuyādvā mudā pṛthvyāṃ muktimārgaṃ sa gacchati57| iti śrīpādmapurāṇe prathame sṛṣṭikhaṃḍe paṃcākhyāne lauhityotpattirnāma paṃcapaṃcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ55|

English translation

The lord said :

1-2. I shall tell you another (account) of a man overpowered by the passion of love. Formerly on the bank of Bhāgīrathī , there lived a brāhmaṇa , an ascetic of the highest order, who instructed thousands of brāhmaṇas , who gave peace (of mind to others), who was ekadaṇḍadhara, [1] and like a tortoise living on the earth.

3. When he was sitting all alone in a secluded temple, he suddenly came across a young beautiful woman going to another’s house from her husband’s house in the evening.

4-6. Seeing her, the great brāhmaṇa, being afflicted with fear caused by the passion of love, put her in the interior of his house (i.e. the temple) and passed the night. Having made the bolt (of the door) tight, she did not at all allow him to come from (i.e. through) the door. He, who was (reduced to) such (a condition), remained in meditation, and thinking about that beautiful woman, lamented.

7-8a. Thinking ‘what business have I at the door?’, he said to her: “O dear one, allow me to come in (i.e. entrance. If you do so), your husband will be under your thumb, and, O dear one, he will be dear to you.”

8b-9a. Then she said to that old brāhmaṇa, who was lustful, “O father, these words are unbecoming to you. O lord, (please) do not utter them.”

9b-10a. Then the illustrious (brāhmaṇa) said: “I have ample wealth. O auspicious lady, I shall give it to you. (Please) open the door.”

10b-11a. Again she said to the brāhmaṇa: “You are my spiritual father. Do not approach me, who am your daughter; and also do not approach another man’s wife, O you pious one.”

11b-12a. Thinking well in his mind, he proceeded to go into the house through a hole after having opened it with his hands.

12b-13a. While he was (thus) going (into the house), his head entered (and got stuck up) into a very narrow passage. It would not come out (i.e. he could not take it out), and then he died.

13b-14. At the dawn the guards and servants [2] came (there). Seeing that wonderful dead body (i.e. dead body causing wonder), they, being amazed, said to her: “O beautiful woman tell us how his death has come about.”

15a. Having told (them) the account she came to the desired region.

15b-16a. Such is the power of the passion of love. It is difficult to resist for all beings—gods, demons or men.

16b-18a. The grandsire of all the worlds, after seeing Amoghā , ejaculated. From that is said to be the rise of Lauhitya . It purifies all people. It is full of all sacred places; resorting to which a man goes to the healthy world of Brahmā .

The brāhmaṇa said :

18b-19a. How did Brahmā have (this) infatuation? Who is that beautiful lady Amoghā? I also desire to know correctly about the rise of the best sacred place.

The lord said :

19b-20. There was a well-known sage, Śantanu by name, who was honoured by gods and whose lustre was like that of the lotus-born one (i.e. Brahmā). (His) beautiful and youthful (wife) was known as Amoghā.

21. Once Brahmā went to her house to meet her husband (Śantanu). At that time, the best sage (i.e. Śantanu) had gone to the forest for (collecting) flowers etc.

22. Having seen the best of gods, she (i.e. Amoghā) gave him a respectful offering and water for washing his feet and things like that. Having saluted him (from) a distance, she entered the house.

23. Seeing that woman of a spotless body, the Creator was overpowered with the passion of love. The Creator, having composed himself, thought about her who was before him.

24. The semen of the supreme soul, Brahmā, fell on the bedstead. Then Brahmā, being afflicted and distressed, quickly left.

25. Then the sage came home, and saw (Brahmā’s) semen on the seat. He asked the beautiful woman (his wife): “Who had come here?”

26-27a. Then Amoghā said (i.e. replied) to him: “O lord, Brahmā had come here. To (allow him to) wait for you I had given this seat. By means of penance you can know the reason (why his) semen (was deposited) here.”

27b-29a. Then that brāhmaṇa understood it by means of meditation. “O good woman, please preserve by my order the very important semen of Brahmā. A son, who alone will purify all the worlds, will be born (to you). Our desire which is all auspicious will (now) be fulfilled.”

29b-30a. Then the chaste, illustrious woman, obeying his order, drank, for the birth of a son, the semen of Brahmā, the supreme soul.

30b-32. A terrible foetus throbbing like an eddy, was produced. She could not at all bear it; so she then spoke to Śantanu: “O lord, I am not now able to bear the foetus. O you, who know the dharma , what should I do now? Even my life has become unsteady. O illustrious one, tell me where I shall (i.e. should) drop the foetus.”

33-34. Obeying the husband’s order, she dropped the foetus at Yugandhara . (There) water (arose), which had all piety settled in it. In it a pure man, with a crown and with his body covered over with a blue garment and a necklace of jewels, (stood) difficult to look at like the constellation of stars.

35. Then hosts of gods scattered (i.e. threw) a shower of flowers from heaven. (This sacred place) that came up was known as the king of all sacred places.

36-37. Then was born, the well known ( Paraśu -) Rāma in Bhṛgu ’s family. Having killed the kṣatriyas , who had come to fight (with me) with their armies and vehicles, and who had killed my ancestors, and who were afraid (of me), I was fully covered with mud. A terrible (sin) like that of killing a brāhmaṇa had come up in my house (i.e. family).

38-41. My axe, full of mud, though washed, did not become clean. Then there was (heard) a voice in the sky: “Rāma, do what I say. All the sins committed by you will perish at that sacred place where your axe will be clean. O you, who cut off the pride (of the kṣatriyas), stay there for the well-being of all people. Quickly go to all very big (i.e. important) sacred places. Know that sacred place among the places (to be great) at which your axe will be clean. That (sacred place) is said to be a giver of salvation.”

42-43. Hearing that ( Paraśurāma ), the son of Jamadagni , went to (various) sacred places. (He went to) Gaṅgā , the white Sarasvatī , Kāverī , to Śarayū . (He) also (went to) Godāvarī , Yamunā , Kadrū and Vasudā , and also to auspicious Gaurī , the giver of merit, who had formerly settled there.

44-46. The axe of him, the wise one, who was going like wind (visiting various sacred places), (though) washed in all sacred places, did not become clean. That (incarnation of) Viṣṇu went to an inaccessible mountain-cave, a great forest, a mountain, and to the sacred place (on) the inaccessible mountain-peak. By (doing) that his axe did not become clean. Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma), the conqueror of enemies, then became dejected.

47. The hero was very much worried. (The divine voice) again spoke to him in the same way:

48. “O lord of gods, there is a sacred place in a cave in the eastern direction.”

49. The best among men, having heard that, went and saw the holy pool, to the south, where (i.e. in the water of which) there was an eddy, which was bright and which removed sins. (His) axe became clean merely by the touch ofits water.

50. Then Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma) with great joy bathed (there). Pure thought was produced (in the mind) of him whose mind was pure and who was sinless.

51-53a. That Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma), having lived (there) for a long time and having propitiated it, speedily reached the city from (i.e. after leaving) that mountain. Making it famous, he then went to the sea. It is said that this best sacred place has been fashioned by the grandsire himself, and that it gives happiness, is pure all round, and gives (i.e. shows) the path to salvation.

53b-54. Know thus that the power of the passion of love is irresistible and unbearable. The greatest (i.e. worst) sin is produced from the passion of love, and the greatest virtue is produced from an act of piety. That Lauhitya, was the son born from Virañci (i.e. Brahmā).

55-57. He was born on the wife of Śantanu i.e. from the womb of Amoghā. Brahmā overcame his passion of love; so also due to the absence of jealousy of Śantanu and the chastity of her (i.e. of Amoghā), it became the excellent sacred place. He, who everyday recites this auspicious and meritorious account, or would listen to it with joy, goes to the path of salvation.

[1]: [1] : Ekadaṇḍadhara—It is a class of ascetics or beggars. They are also called Haṃsa.

[2]: [2] : Kaṅkirāḥ—seems to be a misprint for Kiṅkarāḥ.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 36839, revision 334567 (2022-04-06T03:17:35Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364178.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.