Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 30
Sourceनारद उवाच-। अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्निषधे नगरे वरे १। आसीद्वैश्यः कुबेराभो नामतो हेमकुंडलः । कुलीनः सत्क्रियो देवद्विजपावकपूजकः २। कृषिवाणिज्यकर्त्तासौ विविधक्रयविक्रयी । गोघोटकमहिष्यादि पशुपोषणतत्परः ३। पयो दधीनि तक्राणि गोमयानि तृणानि च । काष्ठानि फलमूलानि लवणाद्रा र्!दिपिप्पली ४। धान्यानि शाकतैलानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । धातूनिक्षुविकारांश्च विक्रीणीते स सर्वदा ५। इत्थं नानाविधैर्वैश्य उपायैरपरैस्तथा । उपार्जयामास सदा अष्टौ हाटककोटयः ६। एवं महाधनः सोथ हाकर्णपलितोभवत् । पश्चाद्विचार्य संसारक्षणिकत्वं स्वचेतसि ७। तद्धनस्य षडंशेन धर्मकार्यं चकार सः । विष्णोरायतनं चक्रे गृहं चक्रे शिवस्य च ८। तडागं खानयामास विपुलं सागरोपमम् । वाप्यश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च बहुधा तेन कारिताः ९। वटाश्वत्थाम्रकंकोल जंबू निंबादि काननम् । स्वसत्वेन तदा चक्रे तथा पुष्पवनं शुभम् १०। उदयास्तमनं यावदन्नपानं चकार सः । पुराद्बहिश्चतुर्दिक्षु प्रपां चक्रेऽतिशोभनाम् ११। पुराणेषु प्रसिद्धानि यानि दानानि भूपते । ददौ तानि सधर्म्मात्मा नित्यं दानपरस्तदा १२। यावज्जीवकृते पापे प्रायाश्चित्तमथाकरोत् । देवपूजापरो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकः १३। तस्येत्थं वर्त्तमानस्य संजातौ द्वौ सुतौ नृप । तौ सुप्रसिद्ध नामानौ श्रीकुंडल विकुंडलौ १४। तयोर्मूर्ध्नि गृहं त्यक्त्वा जगाम तपसे वनम् । तत्राराध्य परं देवं गोविंदं वरदं प्रभुम् १५। तपःक्लिष्ट शरीरोऽसौ वासुदेवमनाः सदा । प्राप्तः स वैष्णवं लोकं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति १६। अथ तस्य सुतौ राजन्महामान समन्वितौ । तरुणौ रूपसंपन्नौ धनगर्वेण गर्वितौ १७। दुःशीलौ व्यसनासक्तौ धर्मकर्माद्यदर्शकौ । न वाक्यं चागतौ मातुर्वृद्धानां वचनं तथा १८। कुमार्गगौ दुरात्मानौ पितृमित्रनिषेधकौ । अधर्मनिरतौ दुष्टौ परदाराभिगामिनौ १९। गीतवादित्रनिरतौ वीणावेणुविनोदिनौ । वारस्त्रीशतसंयुक्तौ गायंतौ चेरतुस्तदा २०। चाटुकारजनैर्युक्तौ बिंबोष्ठीषु विशारदौ । सुवेषौ चारुवसनौ चारुचंदनरूषितौ २१। तथा सुगंधिमालाढ्यौ कस्तूरीलक्ष्मलक्षितौ । नानालंकारशोभाढ्यौ मौक्तिकाहारहारिणौ २२। गजवाजिरथौघेन क्रीडंतौ तावितस्तदा । मधुपानसमायुक्तौ परस्त्रीरतिमोहितौ २३। नाशयंतौ पितृद्रव्यं सहस्रं ददतुः शतम् । तस्थतुः स्वगृहे रम्ये नित्यं भोगपरायणौ २४। इत्थं तु तद्धनं ताभ्यां विनियुक्तमसद्व्ययैः । वारस्त्री विट शैलूष मल्ल चारण बंदिषु २५। अपात्रे तद्धनं दत्तं क्षिप्तं बीजमिवोषरे । न सत्पात्रे च तद्दत्तं न ब्राह्मणमुखे हुतम् २६। नार्चितो भूतभृद्विष्णुः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः । उभयोरेव तद्द्रव्यमचिरेण क्षयं ययौ २७। ततस्तौ दुःखमापन्नौ कार्पण्यं परमं गतौ । शोचमानौ तु मुह्यंतौ क्षुत्पीडादुःखपीडितौ २८। तयोस्तु तिष्ठतोर्गेहे नास्ति यद्भुज्यते तदा । स्वजनैर्बांधवैस्सर्वैः सेवकैरुपजीविभिः २९। द्रव्याभावे परित्यक्तौ चिंत्यमानौ ततः पुरे । पश्चाच्चौर्य्यं समारब्धं ताभ्यां च नगरे नृप ३०। राजतो लोकतो भीतौ स्वपुरान्निःसृतौ तदा । चक्रतुर्वनवासं तौ सर्वेषामुपपीडितौ ३१। जघ्नतुः सततं मूढौ शितैर्बाणैर्विषार्पितैः । नानापक्षिवराहांश्च हरिणान्रोहितांस्तथा ३२। शशकाञ्छल्लकान्गोधान्श्वापदांश्चेतरान्बहून् । महाबलौ भिल्लसंगावाखेटकभुजौ सदा ३३। एवं मांसमयाहारौ पापाहारौ परंतप । कदाचिद्भूधरं प्राप्तो ह्येकोऽन्यश्च वनं गतः ३४। शार्दूलेन हतो ज्येष्ठः कनिष्ठः सर्पदंशितः । एकस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्पापिष्ठौ निधनं गतौ ३५। यमदूतैस्ततोबद्ध्वा पापैर्नीतौ यमालयम् । गत्वाभिजगदुःसर्वे ते दूताः पापिनावुभौ ३६। धर्मराज नरावेतावानीतौ तव शासनात् । आज्ञां देहि स्वभृत्येषु प्रसीद करवाम किम् ३७। आलोच्य चित्रगुप्तेन तदा दूताञ्जगौ यमः । एकस्तु नीयतां वीर निरयं तीव्रवेदनम् ३८। अपरः स्थाप्यतां स्वर्गेयत्र भोगा ह्यनुत्तमाः । कृतांताज्ञां ततः श्रुत्वा दूतैश्च क्षिप्रकारिभिः ३९। निक्षिप्तो रौरवे घोरे यो ज्येष्ठो हि नराधिप । तेषां दूतवरः कश्चिदुवाच मधुरं वचः ४०। विकुंडल मया सार्द्धमेहि स्वर्गं ददामि ते । भुंक्ष्व भोगान्सुदिव्यांस्त्वमर्जितान्स्वेन कर्मणा ४१। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ३०।
nārada uvāca-| atra te varṇayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam | purā kṛtayuge rājanniṣadhe nagare vare 1| āsīdvaiśyaḥ kuberābho nāmato hemakuṃḍalaḥ | kulīnaḥ satkriyo devadvijapāvakapūjakaḥ 2| kṛṣivāṇijyakarttāsau vividhakrayavikrayī | goghoṭakamahiṣyādi paśupoṣaṇatatparaḥ 3| payo dadhīni takrāṇi gomayāni tṛṇāni ca | kāṣṭhāni phalamūlāni lavaṇādrā r!dipippalī 4| dhānyāni śākatailāni vastrāṇi vividhāni ca | dhātūnikṣuvikārāṃśca vikrīṇīte sa sarvadā 5| itthaṃ nānāvidhairvaiśya upāyairaparaistathā | upārjayāmāsa sadā aṣṭau hāṭakakoṭayaḥ 6| evaṃ mahādhanaḥ sotha hākarṇapalitobhavat | paścādvicārya saṃsārakṣaṇikatvaṃ svacetasi 7| taddhanasya ṣaḍaṃśena dharmakāryaṃ cakāra saḥ | viṣṇorāyatanaṃ cakre gṛhaṃ cakre śivasya ca 8| taḍāgaṃ khānayāmāsa vipulaṃ sāgaropamam | vāpyaśca puṣkariṇyaśca bahudhā tena kāritāḥ 9| vaṭāśvatthāmrakaṃkola jaṃbū niṃbādi kānanam | svasatvena tadā cakre tathā puṣpavanaṃ śubham 10| udayāstamanaṃ yāvadannapānaṃ cakāra saḥ | purādbahiścaturdikṣu prapāṃ cakre'tiśobhanām 11| purāṇeṣu prasiddhāni yāni dānāni bhūpate | dadau tāni sadharmmātmā nityaṃ dānaparastadā 12| yāvajjīvakṛte pāpe prāyāścittamathākarot | devapūjāparo nityaṃ nityaṃ cātithipūjakaḥ 13| tasyetthaṃ varttamānasya saṃjātau dvau sutau nṛpa | tau suprasiddha nāmānau śrīkuṃḍala vikuṃḍalau 14| tayormūrdhni gṛhaṃ tyaktvā jagāma tapase vanam | tatrārādhya paraṃ devaṃ goviṃdaṃ varadaṃ prabhum 15| tapaḥkliṣṭa śarīro'sau vāsudevamanāḥ sadā | prāptaḥ sa vaiṣṇavaṃ lokaṃ yatra gatvā na śocati 16| atha tasya sutau rājanmahāmāna samanvitau | taruṇau rūpasaṃpannau dhanagarveṇa garvitau 17| duḥśīlau vyasanāsaktau dharmakarmādyadarśakau | na vākyaṃ cāgatau māturvṛddhānāṃ vacanaṃ tathā 18| kumārgagau durātmānau pitṛmitraniṣedhakau | adharmaniratau duṣṭau paradārābhigāminau 19| gītavāditraniratau vīṇāveṇuvinodinau | vārastrīśatasaṃyuktau gāyaṃtau ceratustadā 20| cāṭukārajanairyuktau biṃboṣṭhīṣu viśāradau | suveṣau cāruvasanau cārucaṃdanarūṣitau 21| tathā sugaṃdhimālāḍhyau kastūrīlakṣmalakṣitau | nānālaṃkāraśobhāḍhyau mauktikāhārahāriṇau 22| gajavājirathaughena krīḍaṃtau tāvitastadā | madhupānasamāyuktau parastrīratimohitau 23| nāśayaṃtau pitṛdravyaṃ sahasraṃ dadatuḥ śatam | tasthatuḥ svagṛhe ramye nityaṃ bhogaparāyaṇau 24| itthaṃ tu taddhanaṃ tābhyāṃ viniyuktamasadvyayaiḥ | vārastrī viṭa śailūṣa malla cāraṇa baṃdiṣu 25| apātre taddhanaṃ dattaṃ kṣiptaṃ bījamivoṣare | na satpātre ca taddattaṃ na brāhmaṇamukhe hutam 26| nārcito bhūtabhṛdviṣṇuḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanaḥ | ubhayoreva taddravyamacireṇa kṣayaṃ yayau 27| tatastau duḥkhamāpannau kārpaṇyaṃ paramaṃ gatau | śocamānau tu muhyaṃtau kṣutpīḍāduḥkhapīḍitau 28| tayostu tiṣṭhatorgehe nāsti yadbhujyate tadā | svajanairbāṃdhavaissarvaiḥ sevakairupajīvibhiḥ 29| dravyābhāve parityaktau ciṃtyamānau tataḥ pure | paścāccauryyaṃ samārabdhaṃ tābhyāṃ ca nagare nṛpa 30| rājato lokato bhītau svapurānniḥsṛtau tadā | cakraturvanavāsaṃ tau sarveṣāmupapīḍitau 31| jaghnatuḥ satataṃ mūḍhau śitairbāṇairviṣārpitaiḥ | nānāpakṣivarāhāṃśca hariṇānrohitāṃstathā 32| śaśakāñchallakāngodhānśvāpadāṃścetarānbahūn | mahābalau bhillasaṃgāvākheṭakabhujau sadā 33| evaṃ māṃsamayāhārau pāpāhārau paraṃtapa | kadācidbhūdharaṃ prāpto hyeko'nyaśca vanaṃ gataḥ 34| śārdūlena hato jyeṣṭhaḥ kaniṣṭhaḥ sarpadaṃśitaḥ | ekasmindivase rājanpāpiṣṭhau nidhanaṃ gatau 35| yamadūtaistatobaddhvā pāpairnītau yamālayam | gatvābhijagaduḥsarve te dūtāḥ pāpināvubhau 36| dharmarāja narāvetāvānītau tava śāsanāt | ājñāṃ dehi svabhṛtyeṣu prasīda karavāma kim 37| ālocya citraguptena tadā dūtāñjagau yamaḥ | ekastu nīyatāṃ vīra nirayaṃ tīvravedanam 38| aparaḥ sthāpyatāṃ svargeyatra bhogā hyanuttamāḥ | kṛtāṃtājñāṃ tataḥ śrutvā dūtaiśca kṣiprakāribhiḥ 39| nikṣipto raurave ghore yo jyeṣṭho hi narādhipa | teṣāṃ dūtavaraḥ kaściduvāca madhuraṃ vacaḥ 40| vikuṃḍala mayā sārddhamehi svargaṃ dadāmi te | bhuṃkṣva bhogānsudivyāṃstvamarjitānsvena karmaṇā 41| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe triṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 30|
English translation
Nārada said :
1-13. O king, now I shall tell you an old history (i.e., an account). In Kṛtayuga , in the excellent city of Niṣadha , there lived a merchant resembling Kubera and named Hemakuṇḍala . He was of a high descent, of good deeds, a worshipper of deities, brāhmaṇas and fire. He practised agriculture and trade and purchased and sold various (things). He was eagerly engaged in rearing cows, horses and buffaloes etc. He always sold milk, curds, buttermilk, cowdung, grass, wood, fruits, roots, salt, ginger, long pepper, grains, vegetables, oils, garments of various kinds, metals, sugar and molasses. By these and various other means the merchant always earned eight crores of (coins of) gold. Thus he who had great wealth became grey up to his ears. Then thinking in his mind about the transitoriness of the worldly existence, he did acts of piety with (i.e., by spending) the sixth part of that wealth. He fashioned the temple of Viṣṇu and also the abode of Śiva . He got dug a tank , big and resembling an ocean. He also constructed many wells and lakes in many ways. According to his capacity he also put up the grove of (the trees like) vaṭa , aśvattha , mango, kaṅkola , jambu , nimba etc., and also a charming garden. He gave food and drink from sunrise to sunset. In all the four directions outside the city he set up stalls where travellers could drink water. That religious-minded one, always engaged in giving gifts, gave all (kinds of) presents that were well-known in the Purāṇas . He also underwent an expiation for the sins committed during his life (time). He was always engrossed in worshipping deities and guests.
14-27a. When he was living like this two sons were born to him, O king. Their names were well-known as Śrīkuṇḍala and Vikuṇḍala . Having put the responsibility of (managing the affairs of) the house on their heads (i.e., on their shoulders) he went to a forest for (practising) penance. Having propitiated there that great god, the lord who grants boons, he with his body afflicted with penance and with his mind always set upon Vāsudeva (i.e., Viṣṇu), reached Viṣṇu’s heaven, reaching which a man does not regret. O king, both his sons were full of great pride, young, handsome, proud of their wealth. Their character was bad; they were addicted to bad habits; they did not observe religious rites; they did not obey the words of their mother and (other) elderly persons. They had gone astray; they were wicked; they refused (to recognize) their father’s friends. They were engaged in (doing) impious acts; they were wicked; and cohabited with the wives of others. They were engaged in singing and instrumental music, had diversions like playing upon the lute and flute . They were in the company of hundreds of harlots. They sang (songs). (Thus) they then lived. They were surrounded by flatterers. They were skilful (in enjoying) with beautiful women. They put on good dresses; they wore charming garments; they were adorned with pleasing sandal (-paste). They put on fragrant garlands, and the marks of musk. They richly adorned themselves with various ornaments. They put on pearl-necklaces. Here and there they sported with hosts af [of?] elephants, horses and chariots. They indulged in drinking wine; they were infatuated by sexual union with the wives of others. They wasted their father’s money. They gave (i.e., squandered) a lakh (of coins). Always intent upon enjoyment of pleasures they remained in their own house. In this way they used that wealth by spending it in improper ways. They gave that wealth to unworthy recipients (like) harlots, rogues, actors, wrestlers, singers and bards, like seed sown in a saline land. They did not give it to worthy recipients, nor did they offer it into the mouth of a brāhmaṇa . They did not worship Viṣṇu, the sustainer of the creatures, destroying all sins.
27b-35. The wealth of both of them was soon exhausted. Then they became very unhappy and were reduced to great poverty. They were lamenting; they were perplexed; they were oppressed with hunger, affliction and grief. When they remained in home, there was nothing that they (could) eat. Due to want of wealth, they, not trusted by their kinsmen, relatives, servants and dependents in that city, were deserted. O king, then they started stealing (things) in that city. Afraid of the king and the people, they then went out of their city. Troubled by all they lived in a forest. The two fools always killed with sharp arrows rubbed with poison many birds, boars, deer and rohita (a species of deer), hares, porcupines, iguanas, and many other beasts of prey. The two very strong ones always enjoyed in the company of bhilas. O you subduer of your enemies, thus they ate fleshy food, forbidden food. Some time one reached a mountain; the other one went to a forest. The elder one was killed by a tiger; the younger one was bitten by a snake. Thus, O king, one day the most sinful ones died.
36-41. Then they were bound by the wicked messengers of Yama and were taken to Yama’s abode. Going there, all the messengers spoke (about) both of them to Yama: “O Dharmarāja , these two men have been brought here by your order. Give orders to (us) your servants. (Please) be favourable (and tell us) what we should do.” Having spoken to Citragupta , Yama then spoke to the messengers: “O brave ones, one should be taken to the hell and tortured. The other one should be placed in heaven where there are excellent enjoyments.” Having heard that order of Yama, the prompt messengers threw the elder one into the terrible Raurava (hell), O king. A certain excellent messenger among them said (these) sweet words: “O Vikuṇḍala, come with me. I shall give you (i.e., lead you to) heaven. Enjoy (there) very divine pleasures which you have earned by means of your deeds.”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14280, revision 334135 (2022-03-26T01:52:09Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365249.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.