Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 66
Sourceनारद उवाच- यमस्याराधनं ब्रूहि मद्धितार्थं सुरोत्तम । कथं न गम्यते देव नरेण नरकांतरे १। श्रूयते यमलोके तु सदा वैतरणी नदी । अनाधृष्यात्वपारा च दुस्तरा बहुशोणिता २। दुस्तरा सर्वभूतानां सा कथं सुतरा भवेत् । भयमेतन्महादेव यमलोकं प्रति प्रभो ३। तस्य निर्मोचनार्थाय ब्रूहि कृत्यमशेषतः । भगवन्देवदेवेश कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि ४। महादेव उवाच- द्वारवत्यां पुरा विप्र स्नातोऽहं लवणांभसि । ददृशे मुनिमायांतं मुद्गलं नाम वाडव ५। ज्वलंतमिवचादित्यं तपसा द्योततांगकम् । मां प्रणम्य मुनिः प्राह मुद्गलो विस्मयान्वितः ६। मुद्गल उवाच- अकस्मान्मूर्च्छितो देव पतितोऽस्मि धरातले । प्रज्वलंति ममांगानि गृहीतो यमकिंकरैः ७। बलादाकृष्यमाणोऽहं पुरुषॐगुष्ठमात्रकः । बद्धो यमभटैर्गाढं नीतोऽस्मि शमनांतिकम् ८। क्षणात्सभायां पश्यामि यमं पिंगललोचनम् । कृष्णमुखं महारौद्रं मृत्युव्याधिशतान्वितम् ९। वातपित्त श्लेष्मदोषैर्मूर्तिमद्भिस्तु सेवितम् । कायशोषज्वरातंक स्फोटिका लूतकादिभिः १०। ज्वालांगमर्दशीर्षार्ति भगंदर बलक्षयैः । कंठमालाक्षिरोगैश्च मूत्रकृच्छ्रज्वरव्रणैः ११। विमूर्च्छिका गलग्राह हृद्रोगैर्भूततस्करैः । इत्थं बहुविधै रौद्रैर्नानारूपैर्भयंकरैः १२। कपालशिरोहस्तैश्च संग्रामे नरके तथा । राक्षसैर्दानवैर्घोरैरुपविष्टैः पुरः स्थितैः १३। धर्माधिकारिभिश्चात्र चित्रगुप्तादि लेखकैः । व्याघ्र सिंह वराहैश्च शिखासर्पैः सुदुर्द्धरैः १४। वृश्चिकैर्दंष्ट्रिभिर्भूतैः कीटकैर्मत्कुणादिभिः । वृक चित्रादि शुनकैः कंकैर्गृध्रैश्च जंबुकैः १५। तस्करैर्भूतदारिद्रैर्मारिभिर्डाकिनीग्रहैः । मुक्तकेशैः श्वासकासैर्भ्रुकुटी कुटिलाननैः १६। बृहत्प्रतापैर्नोभीतैः शासकैः पापकर्मणाम् । यमः सभायां शुशुभे सेव्यमानः परिग्रहैः १७। भीमाटविकजीवैश्च यथा व्यालांजनो गिरिः । ततो विश्वेश्वरः प्राह समयः किंकरान्प्रति १८। नामभ्रांतैर्भवद्भिश्च समानीतः कथं मुनिः । भीमकस्यात्मजो ग्रामे कौंडिन्ये मुद्गलाभिधः १९। क्षीणायुः क्षत्रियः सोऽस्ति आनेयो मुच्यतामसौ । श्रुत्वैतत्ते गतास्तस्मादायाताः पुनरेव ते २०। धर्मराजं पुनः प्राहुः सर्वे ते यमकिंकराः । तत्रास्माभिर्गतैर्देही क्षीणायुर्नोपलक्षितः २१। यम उवाच- किं कारणमदृश्यास्ते प्रायेण भवतां नराः । सुकृता द्वादशीयैस्तु ख्याता वैतरणी नदी २२। उज्जयिन्यां प्रयागे वा यमुनायां च ये मृताः । तिलहस्तिहिरण्यादि दत्तं यैस्तु गवाह्निकम् २३। दूता ऊचुः - तद्व्रतं कीदृशं ब्रह्मन्ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः । किं तत्र देव कर्त्तव्यं पुरुषैस्तवतोषदम् २४। येन कृता नरश्रेष्ठ द्वादशी कृष्णपक्षजा । उपवासे च तेनैव कथं पापात्प्रमुच्यते २५। तद्व्रतं केन विधिना कर्त्तव्यं च यथा वद । सुप्रसन्नेन वक्तव्यं दयां कृत्वा दयानिधे २६। श्रीमुद्गल उवाच- दूतानां वचनं श्रुत्वा उवाच मधुरं तदा । सर्वं वदामि भो दूता यथादृष्टं यथाश्रुतम् २७। यम उवाच- मार्गशीर्षादि मासे तु या इमाः कृष्णपक्षजाः । तासु पूर्वासु विधिवद्दूता वैतरणीव्रतम् २८। प्रतिमासं च कर्त्तव्यं यावद्वर्षं भवेद्ध्रुवम् । यां तु कृत्वा तु भो दूता मुच्यते नात्र संशयः २९। उपवासस्य नियमः कर्त्तव्यो विष्णु तुष्टिदः । अद्य मे देवदेवेश उपवासो भविष्यति ३०। द्वादश्यां पूज्य गोविंदं भक्तिभावसमन्वितम् । स्वप्नेंद्रियस्य वैकल्याद्भोजनं यच्च मैथुनम् ३१। तत्सर्वं क्षम मे देव कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि । एवं वै नियमं कृत्वा मध्याह्ने तीर्थमाव्रजेत् ३२। मृद्गोमय तिलान्नीत्वा गंतव्यं विधिपूर्वकम् । स्नानं तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं व्रतसंपूर्णहेतवे ३३। अश्वक्रांतेति मंत्रेण स्नानं कुर्याद्विशेषतः । अश्वक्रांते रथक्रांते विष्णुक्रांते वसुंधरे ३४। मृत्तिके हर मे पापं यन्मया पूर्वसंचितम् । तया हतेन पापेन सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ३५। काश्यां चैव तु संभूतास्तिला वै विष्णुरूपिणः । तिलस्नानेन गोविंदः सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति ३६। विष्णुदेहोद्भवा देवि महापापापहारिणी । सर्वं पापं हर त्वं वै सर्वेषां हि नमोऽस्तु ते ३७। तुलसीपत्रकं धृत्वा नामोच्चारणपूर्वकम् । स्नानं सुकृतिभिः प्रोक्तं कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम् ३८। एवं स्नात्वा समुत्तीर्य परिधाय सुवाससी । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवांस्ततो विष्णोस्तु पूजनम् ३९। संस्थाप्य चाव्रणं कुंभं पंचपल्लवसंयुतम् । पंचरत्नसमोपेतं दिव्यस्रग्गंधवासितम् ४०। जलपूर्णं सद्रव्यंच ताम्रपात्रसमन्वितम् । तत्रस्थं श्रीधरं देवं देवदेवं तपोनिधिम् ४१। पूर्णेन विधिना राजन्कुर्यात्पूजां गरीयसीम् । मृद्गोमयादिरचितं मंडलं कारयेच्छुभम् ४२। तंडुलैः शुक्लधौतैश्च अश्मपिष्टैश्च कारयेत् । धर्मराजः प्रकर्त्तव्यो हस्ताद्यव यवान्वितः ४३। नदीं वैतरणीं ताम्रां स्थापयित्वा तदग्रतः । पूजयेच्च पृथक्सम्यक्समावाहनपूर्वकम् ४४। आवाहयामि देवेशं यमं वै विश्वरूपिणम् । इहाभ्येहि महाभाग सान्निध्यं कुरु केशव ४५। इदं पाद्यं श्रियः कांत सोपविष्टं हरे प्रभो । विश्वोद्यानरतो नित्यं कृपां कुरु ममोपरि ४६। भूतिदाय नमः पादावशोकाय च जानुनी । उरू नमः शिवायेति विश्वमूर्ते नमः कटिम् ४७। कंदर्पाय नमो मेढ्रमादित्याय फलं तथा । दामोदराय जठरं वासुदेवाय वै स्तनौ ४८। श्रीधराय मुखं केशान्केशवायेति वै नमः । पृष्ठं शार्ङ्गधरायेति चरणौ वरदाय च ४९। स्वनाम्ना शंखचक्रासिगदापरशुपाणये । सर्वात्मने नमस्तुभ्यं शिर इत्यभिधीयते 6.66.५०। मत्स्यं कूर्मं च वाराहं नारसिंहं च वामनम् । रामं रामं च कृष्णं च बुधं कल्किं नमोऽस्तु ते५१। सर्वपापौघनाशार्थं पूजयामि नमो नमः । एभिश्च सर्वशो मंत्रैर्विष्णुं ध्यात्वा प्रपूजयेत् ५२। धर्मराज नमस्तेऽस्तु धर्मराज नमोऽस्तु ते । दक्षिणाशापते तुभ्यं नमो महिषवाहन ५३। चित्रगुप्त नमस्तुभ्यं विचित्राय नमोनमः । नरकार्तिप्रशांत्यर्थं कामान्यच्छ ममेप्सितान् ५४। यमाय धर्मराजाय मृत्यवे चांतकाय च । वैवस्वताय कालाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च ५५। वृकोदराय चित्राय चित्रगुप्ताय वै नमः । नीलाय चैव दध्नाय नित्यं कुर्यान्नमो नमः ५६। एवं द्वादशभिः पूज्यो नामभिर्धर्मराट्प्रभुः। वैतरणी सुदुःपारे पापघ्नि सर्वकामदे ५७। इहाभ्येहि महाभागे गृहाणार्घं मया कृतम् । यमद्वारपथे घोरे ख्याता वैतरणी नदी ५८। तस्यामुद्धरणार्थाय जन्ममृत्युजरातिगा । या दुस्तरा दुष्कृतिभिः सर्वप्राणिभयापहा ५९। यस्यां भयात्प्रमज्जंति प्राणिनो यातनापराः । तर्तुकामस्तु तां घोरं जया देवि नमोनमः ६०। तस्यां देवाधितिष्ठंति या सा वैतरणी नदी । सा चापि पूजिता भक्त्या प्रीत्यर्थं केशवस्य च ६१। यस्यास्तटे प्रविशंति ऋषयः पितरस्तथा । सा चापि सिंधुरूपेण पूजिता पापहारिका ६२। तरीतुं तां प्रदास्यामि सर्वपापविमुक्तये । पुण्यार्थं संप्रवक्ष्यामि तुभ्यं वैतरणी नदीम् ६३। मयासि पूजिता भक्त्या प्रीत्यर्थं केशवस्य च । कृष्णकृष्णजगन्नाथ संसारादुद्धरस्व माम् ६४। नामग्रहणमात्रेण सर्वं पापं हरस्व मे । यज्ञोपवीतं परमं कारितं नवतंतुभिः ६५। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व देवेश प्रीतो यच्छ ममेप्सितम् । इदं तव च तांबूलं यथाशक्त्या सुशोभनम् ६६। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व देवेश मामुद्धर भवार्णवात् । पंचवर्ती प्रदीपोऽयं देवेशारार्तिकं तव ६७। मोहांधकारद्युमणे भक्तियुक्तो भवार्तिहृत् । परमान्नं सुपक्वान्नं समस्तरससंयुतम् ६८। निवेदितं मया भक्त्या भगवन्प्रतिगृह्यताम् । द्वादशाक्षरमंत्रेण यथासंख्य जपेन च ६९। प्रीयतां मे श्रियःकांतः प्रीतो यच्छतु वांछितम् । पंच गावः समुत्पन्ना मथ्यमाने महोदधौ ७०। तासां मध्ये तु या नंदा तस्यै धेन्वै नमोनमः । गां संपूज्य विधानेन अर्घ्यं दद्यात्समाहितः ७१। सर्वकामदुघे देवि सर्वांतकनिवारिणी । आरोग्यं संततिं दीर्घां देहि नंदिनि मे सदा ७२। पूजिता च वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता । कपिले हर मे पापं यन्मया पूर्वसंचितम् ७३। गावो ममाग्रतः संतु गावो मे संतु पृष्ठतः । नाके मामुपतिष्ठंतु हेमशृंगी पयोमुचः ७४। सुरभ्यः सौरभेयाश्च सरितः सागरा यथा । सर्वदेवमये देवि सुभद्रे भक्तवत्सले ७५। एवं संपूज्य विधिवद्दद्याद्गोषु गवाह्निकम् । सौरभेयः सर्वहिताः पवित्राः पापनाशनाः ७६। प्रतिगृह्णंतु मे ग्रासं गावस्त्रैलोक्यमातरः । गंगदायै नमो भूत्यै सर्वपापप्रहाणये ७७। अनेनैव तु मंत्रेण गदां वैधारयेद्बुधः । पं नमः पद्मनाभाय पद्मं वै धारयेत्सुधीः ७८। चं चक्ररूपिणे विष्णो धारणं चक्रजं स्मृतम् । शं शंखरूपिणे तुभ्यं नमोऽस्तु सुखकारिणे ७९। मंत्रेणानेन वै दूता धारणं शंखजं स्मृतम् । चतुर्णामायुधानां तु धारणं मुनिभिः स्मृतम् ८०। अग्निहोत्रं यथा नित्यं वेदस्याध्ययनं तथा । ब्राह्मणस्य तथैवेदं तप्तमुद्रादि धारणम् ८१। चंदनेन सुगंधेन गोपिकाचंदनेन तु । धारणं च विशेषेण ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः ८२। चांडालोऽपि भवेच्छुद्धो धारणाच्च न संशयः । ऊर्ध्वं पुंड्रमृजुं सौम्यं सचिह्नं धारयेद्यदि ८३। स चांडालोऽपि शुद्धात्मा पूज्य एव सदा द्विजैः । चांडालानां गृहे दूतास्तुलसी यत्र दृश्यते ८४। तत्रत्या तुलसी ग्राह्या भक्तिभावेन चेतसा ८५। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे उत्तरखंडे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यांसंहितायामुमापतिनारदसंवादे यमाराधनं नाम षट्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः ६६।
nārada uvāca- yamasyārādhanaṃ brūhi maddhitārthaṃ surottama | kathaṃ na gamyate deva nareṇa narakāṃtare 1| śrūyate yamaloke tu sadā vaitaraṇī nadī | anādhṛṣyātvapārā ca dustarā bahuśoṇitā 2| dustarā sarvabhūtānāṃ sā kathaṃ sutarā bhavet | bhayametanmahādeva yamalokaṃ prati prabho 3| tasya nirmocanārthāya brūhi kṛtyamaśeṣataḥ | bhagavandevadeveśa kṛpāṃ kṛtvā mamopari 4| mahādeva uvāca- dvāravatyāṃ purā vipra snāto'haṃ lavaṇāṃbhasi | dadṛśe munimāyāṃtaṃ mudgalaṃ nāma vāḍava 5| jvalaṃtamivacādityaṃ tapasā dyotatāṃgakam | māṃ praṇamya muniḥ prāha mudgalo vismayānvitaḥ 6| mudgala uvāca- akasmānmūrcchito deva patito'smi dharātale | prajvalaṃti mamāṃgāni gṛhīto yamakiṃkaraiḥ 7| balādākṛṣyamāṇo'haṃ puruṣaoṃguṣṭhamātrakaḥ | baddho yamabhaṭairgāḍhaṃ nīto'smi śamanāṃtikam 8| kṣaṇātsabhāyāṃ paśyāmi yamaṃ piṃgalalocanam | kṛṣṇamukhaṃ mahāraudraṃ mṛtyuvyādhiśatānvitam 9| vātapitta śleṣmadoṣairmūrtimadbhistu sevitam | kāyaśoṣajvarātaṃka sphoṭikā lūtakādibhiḥ 10| jvālāṃgamardaśīrṣārti bhagaṃdara balakṣayaiḥ | kaṃṭhamālākṣirogaiśca mūtrakṛcchrajvaravraṇaiḥ 11| vimūrcchikā galagrāha hṛdrogairbhūtataskaraiḥ | itthaṃ bahuvidhai raudrairnānārūpairbhayaṃkaraiḥ 12| kapālaśirohastaiśca saṃgrāme narake tathā | rākṣasairdānavairghorairupaviṣṭaiḥ puraḥ sthitaiḥ 13| dharmādhikāribhiścātra citraguptādi lekhakaiḥ | vyāghra siṃha varāhaiśca śikhāsarpaiḥ sudurddharaiḥ 14| vṛścikairdaṃṣṭribhirbhūtaiḥ kīṭakairmatkuṇādibhiḥ | vṛka citrādi śunakaiḥ kaṃkairgṛdhraiśca jaṃbukaiḥ 15| taskarairbhūtadāridrairmāribhirḍākinīgrahaiḥ | muktakeśaiḥ śvāsakāsairbhrukuṭī kuṭilānanaiḥ 16| bṛhatpratāpairnobhītaiḥ śāsakaiḥ pāpakarmaṇām | yamaḥ sabhāyāṃ śuśubhe sevyamānaḥ parigrahaiḥ 17| bhīmāṭavikajīvaiśca yathā vyālāṃjano giriḥ | tato viśveśvaraḥ prāha samayaḥ kiṃkarānprati 18| nāmabhrāṃtairbhavadbhiśca samānītaḥ kathaṃ muniḥ | bhīmakasyātmajo grāme kauṃḍinye mudgalābhidhaḥ 19| kṣīṇāyuḥ kṣatriyaḥ so'sti āneyo mucyatāmasau | śrutvaitatte gatāstasmādāyātāḥ punareva te 20| dharmarājaṃ punaḥ prāhuḥ sarve te yamakiṃkarāḥ | tatrāsmābhirgatairdehī kṣīṇāyurnopalakṣitaḥ 21| yama uvāca- kiṃ kāraṇamadṛśyāste prāyeṇa bhavatāṃ narāḥ | sukṛtā dvādaśīyaistu khyātā vaitaraṇī nadī 22| ujjayinyāṃ prayāge vā yamunāyāṃ ca ye mṛtāḥ | tilahastihiraṇyādi dattaṃ yaistu gavāhnikam 23| dūtā ūcuḥ - tadvrataṃ kīdṛśaṃ brahmanbrūhi sarvamaśeṣataḥ | kiṃ tatra deva karttavyaṃ puruṣaistavatoṣadam 24| yena kṛtā naraśreṣṭha dvādaśī kṛṣṇapakṣajā | upavāse ca tenaiva kathaṃ pāpātpramucyate 25| tadvrataṃ kena vidhinā karttavyaṃ ca yathā vada | suprasannena vaktavyaṃ dayāṃ kṛtvā dayānidhe 26| śrīmudgala uvāca- dūtānāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā uvāca madhuraṃ tadā | sarvaṃ vadāmi bho dūtā yathādṛṣṭaṃ yathāśrutam 27| yama uvāca- mārgaśīrṣādi māse tu yā imāḥ kṛṣṇapakṣajāḥ | tāsu pūrvāsu vidhivaddūtā vaitaraṇīvratam 28| pratimāsaṃ ca karttavyaṃ yāvadvarṣaṃ bhaveddhruvam | yāṃ tu kṛtvā tu bho dūtā mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ 29| upavāsasya niyamaḥ karttavyo viṣṇu tuṣṭidaḥ | adya me devadeveśa upavāso bhaviṣyati 30| dvādaśyāṃ pūjya goviṃdaṃ bhaktibhāvasamanvitam | svapneṃdriyasya vaikalyādbhojanaṃ yacca maithunam 31| tatsarvaṃ kṣama me deva kṛpāṃ kṛtvā mamopari | evaṃ vai niyamaṃ kṛtvā madhyāhne tīrthamāvrajet 32| mṛdgomaya tilānnītvā gaṃtavyaṃ vidhipūrvakam | snānaṃ tatra prakartavyaṃ vratasaṃpūrṇahetave 33| aśvakrāṃteti maṃtreṇa snānaṃ kuryādviśeṣataḥ | aśvakrāṃte rathakrāṃte viṣṇukrāṃte vasuṃdhare 34| mṛttike hara me pāpaṃ yanmayā pūrvasaṃcitam | tayā hatena pāpena sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 35| kāśyāṃ caiva tu saṃbhūtāstilā vai viṣṇurūpiṇaḥ | tilasnānena goviṃdaḥ sarvaṃ pāpaṃ vyapohati 36| viṣṇudehodbhavā devi mahāpāpāpahāriṇī | sarvaṃ pāpaṃ hara tvaṃ vai sarveṣāṃ hi namo'stu te 37| tulasīpatrakaṃ dhṛtvā nāmoccāraṇapūrvakam | snānaṃ sukṛtibhiḥ proktaṃ kartavyaṃ vidhipūrvakam 38| evaṃ snātvā samuttīrya paridhāya suvāsasī | tarpayitvā pitṝndevāṃstato viṣṇostu pūjanam 39| saṃsthāpya cāvraṇaṃ kuṃbhaṃ paṃcapallavasaṃyutam | paṃcaratnasamopetaṃ divyasraggaṃdhavāsitam 40| jalapūrṇaṃ sadravyaṃca tāmrapātrasamanvitam | tatrasthaṃ śrīdharaṃ devaṃ devadevaṃ taponidhim 41| pūrṇena vidhinā rājankuryātpūjāṃ garīyasīm | mṛdgomayādiracitaṃ maṃḍalaṃ kārayecchubham 42| taṃḍulaiḥ śukladhautaiśca aśmapiṣṭaiśca kārayet | dharmarājaḥ prakarttavyo hastādyava yavānvitaḥ 43| nadīṃ vaitaraṇīṃ tāmrāṃ sthāpayitvā tadagrataḥ | pūjayecca pṛthaksamyaksamāvāhanapūrvakam 44| āvāhayāmi deveśaṃ yamaṃ vai viśvarūpiṇam | ihābhyehi mahābhāga sānnidhyaṃ kuru keśava 45| idaṃ pādyaṃ śriyaḥ kāṃta sopaviṣṭaṃ hare prabho | viśvodyānarato nityaṃ kṛpāṃ kuru mamopari 46| bhūtidāya namaḥ pādāvaśokāya ca jānunī | urū namaḥ śivāyeti viśvamūrte namaḥ kaṭim 47| kaṃdarpāya namo meḍhramādityāya phalaṃ tathā | dāmodarāya jaṭharaṃ vāsudevāya vai stanau 48| śrīdharāya mukhaṃ keśānkeśavāyeti vai namaḥ | pṛṣṭhaṃ śārṅgadharāyeti caraṇau varadāya ca 49| svanāmnā śaṃkhacakrāsigadāparaśupāṇaye | sarvātmane namastubhyaṃ śira ityabhidhīyate 6.66.50| matsyaṃ kūrmaṃ ca vārāhaṃ nārasiṃhaṃ ca vāmanam | rāmaṃ rāmaṃ ca kṛṣṇaṃ ca budhaṃ kalkiṃ namo'stu te51| sarvapāpaughanāśārthaṃ pūjayāmi namo namaḥ | ebhiśca sarvaśo maṃtrairviṣṇuṃ dhyātvā prapūjayet 52| dharmarāja namaste'stu dharmarāja namo'stu te | dakṣiṇāśāpate tubhyaṃ namo mahiṣavāhana 53| citragupta namastubhyaṃ vicitrāya namonamaḥ | narakārtipraśāṃtyarthaṃ kāmānyaccha mamepsitān 54| yamāya dharmarājāya mṛtyave cāṃtakāya ca | vaivasvatāya kālāya sarvabhūtakṣayāya ca 55| vṛkodarāya citrāya citraguptāya vai namaḥ | nīlāya caiva dadhnāya nityaṃ kuryānnamo namaḥ 56| evaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ pūjyo nāmabhirdharmarāṭprabhuḥ| vaitaraṇī suduḥpāre pāpaghni sarvakāmade 57| ihābhyehi mahābhāge gṛhāṇārghaṃ mayā kṛtam | yamadvārapathe ghore khyātā vaitaraṇī nadī 58| tasyāmuddharaṇārthāya janmamṛtyujarātigā | yā dustarā duṣkṛtibhiḥ sarvaprāṇibhayāpahā 59| yasyāṃ bhayātpramajjaṃti prāṇino yātanāparāḥ | tartukāmastu tāṃ ghoraṃ jayā devi namonamaḥ 60| tasyāṃ devādhitiṣṭhaṃti yā sā vaitaraṇī nadī | sā cāpi pūjitā bhaktyā prītyarthaṃ keśavasya ca 61| yasyāstaṭe praviśaṃti ṛṣayaḥ pitarastathā | sā cāpi siṃdhurūpeṇa pūjitā pāpahārikā 62| tarītuṃ tāṃ pradāsyāmi sarvapāpavimuktaye | puṇyārthaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi tubhyaṃ vaitaraṇī nadīm 63| mayāsi pūjitā bhaktyā prītyarthaṃ keśavasya ca | kṛṣṇakṛṣṇajagannātha saṃsārāduddharasva mām 64| nāmagrahaṇamātreṇa sarvaṃ pāpaṃ harasva me | yajñopavītaṃ paramaṃ kāritaṃ navataṃtubhiḥ 65| pratigṛhṇīṣva deveśa prīto yaccha mamepsitam | idaṃ tava ca tāṃbūlaṃ yathāśaktyā suśobhanam 66| pratigṛhṇīṣva deveśa māmuddhara bhavārṇavāt | paṃcavartī pradīpo'yaṃ deveśārārtikaṃ tava 67| mohāṃdhakāradyumaṇe bhaktiyukto bhavārtihṛt | paramānnaṃ supakvānnaṃ samastarasasaṃyutam 68| niveditaṃ mayā bhaktyā bhagavanpratigṛhyatām | dvādaśākṣaramaṃtreṇa yathāsaṃkhya japena ca 69| prīyatāṃ me śriyaḥkāṃtaḥ prīto yacchatu vāṃchitam | paṃca gāvaḥ samutpannā mathyamāne mahodadhau 70| tāsāṃ madhye tu yā naṃdā tasyai dhenvai namonamaḥ | gāṃ saṃpūjya vidhānena arghyaṃ dadyātsamāhitaḥ 71| sarvakāmadughe devi sarvāṃtakanivāriṇī | ārogyaṃ saṃtatiṃ dīrghāṃ dehi naṃdini me sadā 72| pūjitā ca vasiṣṭhena viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā | kapile hara me pāpaṃ yanmayā pūrvasaṃcitam 73| gāvo mamāgrataḥ saṃtu gāvo me saṃtu pṛṣṭhataḥ | nāke māmupatiṣṭhaṃtu hemaśṛṃgī payomucaḥ 74| surabhyaḥ saurabheyāśca saritaḥ sāgarā yathā | sarvadevamaye devi subhadre bhaktavatsale 75| evaṃ saṃpūjya vidhivaddadyādgoṣu gavāhnikam | saurabheyaḥ sarvahitāḥ pavitrāḥ pāpanāśanāḥ 76| pratigṛhṇaṃtu me grāsaṃ gāvastrailokyamātaraḥ | gaṃgadāyai namo bhūtyai sarvapāpaprahāṇaye 77| anenaiva tu maṃtreṇa gadāṃ vaidhārayedbudhaḥ | paṃ namaḥ padmanābhāya padmaṃ vai dhārayetsudhīḥ 78| caṃ cakrarūpiṇe viṣṇo dhāraṇaṃ cakrajaṃ smṛtam | śaṃ śaṃkharūpiṇe tubhyaṃ namo'stu sukhakāriṇe 79| maṃtreṇānena vai dūtā dhāraṇaṃ śaṃkhajaṃ smṛtam | caturṇāmāyudhānāṃ tu dhāraṇaṃ munibhiḥ smṛtam 80| agnihotraṃ yathā nityaṃ vedasyādhyayanaṃ tathā | brāhmaṇasya tathaivedaṃ taptamudrādi dhāraṇam 81| caṃdanena sugaṃdhena gopikācaṃdanena tu | dhāraṇaṃ ca viśeṣeṇa brāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ 82| cāṃḍālo'pi bhavecchuddho dhāraṇācca na saṃśayaḥ | ūrdhvaṃ puṃḍramṛjuṃ saumyaṃ sacihnaṃ dhārayedyadi 83| sa cāṃḍālo'pi śuddhātmā pūjya eva sadā dvijaiḥ | cāṃḍālānāṃ gṛhe dūtāstulasī yatra dṛśyate 84| tatratyā tulasī grāhyā bhaktibhāvena cetasā 85| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe uttarakhaṃḍe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃsaṃhitāyāmumāpatināradasaṃvāde yamārādhanaṃ nāma ṣaṭṣaṣṭitamo'dhyāyaḥ 66|
English translation
Nārada said :
1-4. O best god, for my well-being, tell me about the propitiation of Yama . O god, how (i.e. by doing what) a man does not go to hell? It is heard that in Yama’s world there is the river Vaitaraṇī . She is unapproachable, boundless, difficult to be crossed, and contains much blood. How can she, difficult to be crossed by all beings, be easily crossed? O lord, this is just the great fear about Yama’s world? O revered one, having favoured me, tell me the entire act to be free from that (fear).
Mahādeva said :
5-6. O brāhmaṇa , formerly I had bathed in the salty ocean at Dvārāvatī . O brāhmaṇa, I (there) saw a sage named Mudgala who came there. He was blazing like the sun. His body was shining with penance. Having saluted me, the sage Mudgala, being amazed, said:
Mudgala said :
7-21. O god, suddenly I fainted and fell on the ground. My limbs are burning. I am seized by Yama’s servants. I, this soul of the size of the thumb, was dragged forcibly, was bound tightly by Yama’s soldiers and taken near Yama. In a moment I saw in the assembly Yama of tawny eyes, of a dark face, very fierce, and possessing hundreds of fatal diseases, and waited upon in person by (the three humours in the human body viz.) wind, bile , phlegm—the (three) deficiencies—so also by diseases like fever parching up the body, by boils and cuts etc. (He was also served by) crushing of the body with burning (sensation), head-ache, by fistula in the anus, (all) destroying the strength; by inflammation of the glands of the neck, eye-diseases, strangury, fever and sores. (He was also waited upon) by (diseases like) swooning, throat-disease, heat-disease, by goblins and thieves. Thus he was (served) by many that were fierce, terrible and of various forms. (He was served) by fiends, demons having skulls and heads in their hands in the battle as well as in hell, who were fierce and who were seated and who stood before him. (He was waited upon) by superintendents of religious affairs, so also by scribes like Citragupta , by tigers, lions and pigs, so also by serpents with locks of hair on their hoods and very difficult to catch. (He was waited upon by) scorpions, fanged beings, insects like bugs, wolves and dogs like (i.e. in the form of) spotted leprosy, herons, vultures and jackals. (So also he was waited upon) by thieves, poor beings, plagues, by female and male imps with their hair loose, and by asthmas with knitted eye-brows and crooked faces. They were of a mighty valour, were not timid, and punished the sinners. Yama, being waited upon by his attendants, shone in the assembly, as the Vyālāñjana mountain shines with fearful wild animals. Then Yama, the lord of all, said to his servants: “How have you, being confused about the name, brought this sage insted [instead?] of Bhīmaka’s son named Mudgala, (living) in the village of Kauṇḍinya ? The life of that kṣatriya has come to an end. He should be brought. Free this one.” Hearing this they went from him and again came (back to him). All those servants of Yama again said to Dharmarāja (i.e. Yama). “We who had gone there, did not see a man whose life had come to an end. O Sun’s son, we, with our minds somehow confused, do not know (what to do).”
Yama said :
22-23. Generally those men who have observed the auspicious Dvādaśī and are told about the Vaitaraṇā river, are invisible to you, (my) servants. So also they who die at Ujjayinī , Prayāga , or in Yamunā , or who have offered sesamum-seeds, an elephant or gold, or cows, and (have performed) daily rites.
The messengers (i.e. the servants) said :
24-26. O brāhmaṇa, tell us fully what kind of vow it is. O god, what should be done in that vow which would please you? O best man, how is he who has observed the Dvādaśī(-vow) of the dark half and observed a fast, freed from a sin? Tell (us), in what manner the vow is to be observed. O treasure of pity, be pleased, show compassion, and tell (about it).
Śrī Mudgala said :
27. Hearing the words of the messengers, he spoke sweetly: “O messengers, I (shall) tell (you) as I have observed and seen (it).”
Yama said :
28-43. On these foremost (Dvādaśīs) falling in the dark half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa , the Vaitaraṇī-vow should be duly observed, O messengers. Till the year ends, this should be certainly duly observed. Having done it, O messengers, (a man) is undoubtedly freed. The vow of a fast, pleasing Viṣṇu , should be observed. ‘O great god of gods, today will be my fast.’ He should, on the Dvādaśī day, devoutly worship Viṣṇu; and should pray to him, ‘All that (sin) of mine, committed due to the defect of my indolent senses should be pardoned by favouring me.’ Having made such a restraint, he should go to a holy place in the mid-day. Taking with him clay, cow-dung, sesamum-seeds, he should duly go there. For the fulfilment of the vow he should bathe there. He should bath particularly with (the accompaniment of) the hymn Aśvakrānte . ‘O earth, you who are trampled by horses and chariots and by Viṣṇu, remove my sin accumulated by me formerly.’ When she removes the sin, he is freed from all sins. The sesamum-seeds, of the form of Viṣṇu, have sprung up in Kāśī . By means of the bath with sesamum, Viṣṇu removes all sins. ‘O goddess, you are born from Viṣṇu’s body. You remove great sins. You remove all sins of all. Salutation to you.’ All the meritorious ones have said that bath, with the utterance of Viṣṇu’s names, and by holding Tulasī -leaf, should be duly taken. Having bathed like this, and having come out, and having put on good garments, he should gratify his manes, and then worship Viṣṇu. Then he should put a jar which is scratchless, which contains leaves, which has five gems in it, and which is perfumed with divine fragrances, which is full of water, which contains coins, and which is accompanied by a copper-vessel. O king, a man should offer a great worship to god Viṣṇu, god of gods, treasure of penance residing in it, with the full rite. He should also get fashioned an auspicious circle with clay, cow-dung, etc. Or he should get it fashioned with white, washed rice, and powders of stone. He should (also) get fashioned (an image of) Dharmarāja (i.e. Yama) having limbs like hands etc.
44-54. Then having placed before it, (the representation of) the reddish river Vaitaraṇī, he should separately but duly worship it with invocation. ‘I am invoking Yama, lord of gods and of a universal form. O noble Viṣṇu, come here and give your proximity. O lord, Lakṣmī ’s dear husband, this is water for washing your feet. You who always are engaged in going out into the universe, show me favour.’ (He should touch) the feet (of the image saying) ‘Salutation to Bhutidā’. (He should touch) the knees (saying ‘Salutation) to Aśoka .’ (He should touch) the thighs (saying) ‘Salutation to Śiva .’ (He should touch) the waist (saying) ‘O Viśvamūrti, salutation (to you).’ (He should touch) the penis (saying) ‘Salutation to Kandarpa .’ (He should) in the same way (touch) the testicle (saying) ‘Salutation to Āditya .’ (He should touch) the belly (saying) ‘Salutation to Dāmodara .’ (He should touch) the breasts (saying) ‘Salutation to Vāsudeva .’ (He should touch) the face (saying) ‘Salutation to Śrīdhara .’ (He should touch) the hair (saying) ‘Salutation to Keśava .’ (He should touch) the back (saying) ‘Salutation to Śārṅgadhara ’. (He should touch) the feet (saying) ‘Salutation to Varada ’. (He should touch) the head, (uttering) his own name (and saying) ‘Salutation to you, the soul of all, and having in your hands a conch, a disc, a sword, a mace and an axe.’ Thus it is told. ‘Salutation to you, Matsya , Kūrma , and Varāha , Narasiṃha and Vāmana , ( Paraśu -) rāma , Rāma, Kṛṣṇa , Buddha and Kalki . For the destruction of the streams of all sins, I am worshipping you. My repeated salutations to you.’ Having by all means meditated upon Viṣṇu with these hymns, he should worship him. ‘O Dharmarāja, I salute you. Salutation to you, O Dharmarāja. Salutation to you, O lord of the Southern direction, O you, whose vehicle is a buffalo. O Citragupta, salutation to you. Salutation to Vicitra (i.e. the lovely one) for the cessation of suffering in hell. Give me my desired objects.’
55-77. He should always salute Yama, Dharmarāja, Mṛtyu , Antaka , Vaivasvata , Kāla , and Sarvabhūtakṣaya (destroyer of all beings). (He should always salute) Vṛkodara , Citra , Vicitra, Citragupta, Nīla , and Dadhna. Thus with these twelve names the lord Dharmarāṭ should be worshipped. ‘O Vaitaraṇī, very difficult to be crossed, sin-destroyer, granting all desired objects, come here, O noble one. Accept the respectful offering made by me.’ The well-known river Vaitaraṇī (flows) by the fierce gates of Yama. Beings going beyond birth, death and old age (bathe) in her for emancipation. She is difficult to cross for the sinners and removes the fears of all beings. In her, beings suffering from great pangs bathe through fear. ‘O Jayādevī, desiring to cross that fierce one, I repeatedly salute you.’ That is the Vaitaraṇī river in which the gods live. She too is devoutly worshipped for pleasing Viṣṇu. She, to whose bank sages and men come, and who removes sins, is also worshipped in the form of a river. I shall give you (a vow) to cross her in order to be free from all sins. For religious merit I shall tell you (about) the river Vaitaraṇā. ‘You are devoutly worshipped by me and also for pleasing Viṣṇu. O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Jagannātha , emancipate me from the mundane existence. Merely by means of my uttering your name, remove all my sin. I have made a great sacred thread with nine strands. Accept it, O lord of gods, and being pleased, grant my desired (objects). This is the very charming tāmbūla for you, prepared according to my capacity. O lord of gods, accept it (and) emancipate me from the ocean of the worldly existence. This is the lamp with five wicks (offered to you) for being waved before you. O you the sun (removing) the darkness of illusion, be attached (to us) and remove (our) misery. I have offered you with devotion good food, well cooked food having all the (six) flavours. O lord, accept it. By means of the hymn of twelve letters (viz, Om namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya ), and the muttering done according to the number, may the lord of Śrī be pleased with me, and grant me my desired (object). When the great ocean was churned, five cows sprang up. Repeated salutations to the cow Nandā which is among them.’ Having duly worshipped the cow, and being composed, one should offer the respectful offering. ‘O Nandinī , O you granter of all desires, O you goddess, removing all destructive (elements), always give me good health and a long (line of) progeny. O Kapilā , worshipped by the intelligent Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra , remove my sin accumulated in former (existences). May golden-horned milch-cows, like Surabhi , and those born from her, always remain, like rivers and oceans, in front of me, behind me. May they stand by me in heaven, O goddess, full of all gods, very auspicious, and loving your devotees.’ Having thus worshipped he should offer the daily rite to the cow. ‘May the daughters of Surabhi, pure, sin-destroying and beneficial to all, may the mothers of the three worlds accept the food offered by me. Salutation to Gaṅgadā, the auspicious one, for the destruction of all sins.’
78-85. With this hymn only the wise one should hold the mace. (Saying) ‘Paṃ, salutation to Padmanābha ’, the very intelligent one should have the lotus. (He should say) ‘Caṃ, salutation to the Cakrarūpin Viṣṇu’. Its having said to be due to the disc. ‘Śaṃ, salutation to him of the form of the concḥ. Salutation to you, who bring about happiness.’ O messengers, the having (the mark of) the conch said to be done with this hymn. The putting on (of the marks) of the four weapons is declared by the sages. This having the marks burnt (on the skin with red-hot iron on the body) for a brāhmaṇa is as obligatory as the maintenance of the sacred fire and the study of the Vedas . The brāhmaṇas who have mastered the Vedas should especially have (the marks made) by fragrant sandal or gopīcandana . By having (the marks) even a cāṇḍāla would be purified. Even if a cāṇḍāla, one who would have the vertical, soft, pleasing (sectarian) mark, would be purified, and is always respected by brāhmaṇas. When, in a house of cāṇḍālas a Tulasī(-plant) is seen, the Tulasī from there should be taken with a devoted heart.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14245, revision 336462 (2022-04-22T22:33:06Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365643.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.