Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 174
Sourceमहादेव उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि व्रतं त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभम् । यं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते लोको ब्रह्महत्यादिपातकात् १। उत्पतिः स्वप्रकाशस्य भक्तानां सुखहेतवे । तिथिर्वापि समासो वै संजातः पुण्यकारकः २। यस्य नाम गृणन्देवि मुक्तिं लभति शाश्वतीम् । स एव परमात्मा च कारणानां च कारणम् ३। विश्वात्मा विश्वरूपी च सर्वेषां भगवान्प्रभुः । द्वादशार्का धृता येन नृसिंहेन महात्मना । स एव प्रकटीजातो भक्तानां शमभीप्सया ४। पार्वत्युवाच। अवतारा ह्यसंख्याताः कथिताः सुरसत्तम । नृसिंहाख्यं परं धाम वद विश्वेश्वर प्रभो । येन विज्ञानमात्रेण सुख लोकमवाप्नुयात् ५। महादेव उवाच। हिरण्यकशिपुं हत्वा देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् । सुखासीनं तदुत्संगे स्थितो वचनमब्रवीत् ६। प्रह्लादो ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः पितॄहंतारमुत्तमम् ७। प्रह्लाद उवाच। नमस्ते भगवन्विष्णो नृसिंहाद्भुतरूपिणे । त्वद्भक्तोहं सुरश्रेष्ठ त्वां पृच्छामि च तत्वतः ८। स्वामिंस्त्वयि ममाभिन्ना भक्तिर्जाता ह्यनेकधा । कथं तेऽहं प्रियो जातः कारणं वद मे प्रभो ९। नृसिंह उवाच। कथयामि महाप्राज्ञ शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः । भक्तेर्यत्कारणं वत्स प्रियत्वस्य च यत्पुनः १०। पुरा कस्य द्विजस्यापि जातस्त्वं नाप्यधीतवान् । नाम्ना तु वसुदेवो हि वेश्यायामति लंपटः ११। तस्मिन्जन्मनि नैवं च चकार सुकृतं कियत् । भुक्त्वा मधु घृतं चैव वेश्यासंगमलालसः १२। मद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेन भक्तिर्जाता तवानघ । प्रह्लादोवाच। विस्तराद्वद देवेश कस्य पुत्रस्य किं व्रतम् १३। वेश्यायां वर्तमानेन कथंचिद्धि कृतं मया । ममोपरि कृपां कृत्वा सर्वं कथय सांप्रतम् १४। नृसिंह उवाच। सृष्ट्यर्थं तु पुरा ब्रह्मा चक्रे ह्येतदनुत्तमम् । मद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेन निर्मितं सचराचरम् १५। ईश्वरेण व्रतं चीर्णं वधार्थं त्रिपुरस्यच । व्रतस्यास्यप्रभावेन त्रिपुरस्तु निपातितः १६। अन्यैश्च बहुभिर्देवैरृषिभिश्च पुरातनैः । राजभिश्च महाप्राज्ञैर्विहितं व्रतमुत्तमम् १७। व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन सर्वे सिद्धिमवाप्नुयुः । मम ते वै प्रिया जाता दिवि भोगाननेकशः १८। भुक्त्वा मयि विलीनास्तु प्रह्लाद त्वं विशस्व माम् । कार्यार्थमवतारस्ते मच्छरीरत्पृथग्यतः १९। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिर्महाकल्पशतैरपि । दरिद्रो लभते लक्ष्मीं धनदस्य च यादृशी २०। ततः कामी लभेत्कामं राज्यार्थी राज्यमुत्तमम् । आयुष्कामो लभेदायुर्यादृशं च शिवस्य हि २१। अवैधव्यकरं स्त्रीणां पुत्रदं भाग्यदं तथा । धनधान्यकरं चैव तथाशोकविनाशनम् २२। स्त्रियो वा पुरुषा वापि कुर्वंति व्रतमुत्तमम् । तेभ्यो ददाम्यहं सौख्यं भुक्ति मुक्ति फलं तथा २३। बहुनोक्तेन किं वत्स व्रतस्यास्य फलस्य हि । मद्व्रतस्य फलं वक्तुं नाहं शक्तो न शंकरः २४। प्रह्लाद उवाच। भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन श्रुतं व्रतमनुत्तमम् । व्रतस्यास्य फलं श्रोतुं त्वयि मे भक्ति कारणम् २५। अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतस्यास्य विधिं परम् । कस्मिन्मासे भवेदेव कस्मिंश्चिद्वासरे प्रभो २६। एतद्विस्तरतो देव वक्तुमर्हसि सांप्रतम् । विधिना येन वै स्वामिन्समग्रफलभाग्भवेत् २७। नृसिंह उवाच। प्रह्लाद वत्स भद्रं ते शृणुष्वैकमना व्रतम् । वैशाखेसित पक्षे तु चतुर्दश्यां समाचरेत् २८। ममाविर्भावसंयुक्तं मम संतुष्टिकारणम् । शृणु पुत्र ममोत्पत्तिं भक्तानां सुखहेतवे २९। पश्चिमायां दिशायां च संजातं कारणांतरात् । मौलिस्तानमिदं क्षेत्रं पवित्रं पापनाशनम् ३०। तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तु विख्यातो ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । हारीत इति नाम्ना च ज्ञानध्यानपरायणः ३१। तस्य स्त्री तु महापुण्या सतीरूपा सदा प्रभो । लीलावती तु नाम्ना च भर्तुर्वशपरा सदा ३२। ताभ्यां तपो महत्तप्तं कालं बहुतरं सुत । एकविंशयुगाश्चैव यातास्तत्र न संशयः । तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तु वै ताभ्यां प्रत्यक्षो वाभवत्तदा ३३। नृसिंह उवाच। यं यं वांछयसे ब्रह्मंस्तं ददामि न संशयः । ताभ्यामुक्तं तदा तस्मै दीयते चेद्वरो मम ३४। त्वादृशो मम पुत्रस्तु ह्यधुनैव भवत्विति । मयोक्तं तु तदा वत्स पुत्रोऽहं ते न संशयः ३५। विश्वकर्मा ह्यहं साक्षात्परमात्मा परात्परः । उदरेऽहं न वत्स्यामि यतोऽहं वै सनातनः ३६। हारीतेन तदा चोक्तं भवत्वेवं न संशयः । तदाप्रभृति वै क्षेत्रे स्थितोऽहं भक्तकारणात् ३७। अत्रागत्य प्रकुर्वीत दर्शनं भक्तसत्तमः । तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयामि निरंतरम् ३८। एतस्मात्कारणाच्चैव व्रतं वै विधिपूर्वकम् । ये कुर्वंति नरश्रेष्ठा न तेषां विद्यते भयम् ३९। बालरूपमयं ध्यात्वा ताभ्यां सह विशेषतः । पूजनं कुरुते रात्रौ स वै नारायणो भवेत् ४०। चतुर्भुजं महादंष्ट्रं कालरूपं दुरासदम् । सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशं यमकोटिदुरासदम् । सिंहवच्च मुखं यस्य नरवच्चांगसंयुतम् ४१। श्रीनृसिंहं दिव्यसिंहं कालरूपं भजेत्सदा । एवं ज्ञात्वा विशेषेण यः स्थानं मामकं व्रजेत् ४२। व्रतं पवित्रं परमं श्रीकदंब प्रदं महत् । अंते मुक्तिप्रदं चैव भक्तानां च न संशयः ४३। येन वै क्रियमाणेन सहस्रद्वादशी फलम् । स्वाती नक्षत्र संयोगे शनिवारे तु मद्व्रतम् ४४। सिद्धियोगस्य संयोगे वणिजे करणे तथा । योगैः सर्वैश्च संयोगं हत्याकोटि विनाशनम् ४५। एतदन्यतरैर्योगे मद्दिनं पापनाशनम् । विज्ञाय मद्दिनं यस्तु लंघयेत्स तु पापकृत् ४६। अकर्त्ता नरकं याति यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ । प्राप्ते मम दिने वत्स दंतधावनपूर्वकम् ४७। ममाग्रे व्रतसंकल्पं मद्भक्तो विजितेंद्रियः । अद्याहं ते विधास्यामि व्रतं निर्विघ्नतां नय ४८। व्रतस्थेन न कर्त्तव्यं दुष्टसंभाषणादिकम् । ततो मध्याह्नसमये नद्यादौ विमले जले ४९। गृहे वा देवखाते वा तडागे वाथ शोभने । वैदिकेन तु मंत्रेण स्नानं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः 6.174.५०। मृत्तिका गोमयेनैव तथा धात्रीफलेन च । तिलैश्च विधिवत्स्नायात्सर्वपापौघ शांतये ५१। परिधाय शुभे वस्त्रे नित्यकर्म समारभेत् । ततो गृहं विलिप्याथ कुर्यादष्टदलं शुभम् ५२। कलशं तत्र संस्थाप्य ताम्रंत्रसमन्वितम् । तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रं तंडुलैः परिपूरितम् ५३। हैमीं च तत्र मन्मूर्ति स्थाप्य लक्ष्म्या समन्विताम् । निर्माय शक्त्या स्वर्णेन स्नाप्य पंचामृतैस्ततः ५४। ततो ब्राह्मणमाहूय आचार्यं नातिलोलुपम् । शास्त्रज्ञमग्रतः कृत्वा ततो देवं समर्चयेत् ५५। मंडपं कारयेत्तत्र पुष्पस्तबक शोभितम् । ऋतुकालोद्भवैः पुष्पैः पूज्योऽहं च यथाविधि ५६। उपचारैः षोडशभिर्मंत्रैर्नियमैश्च यः । ततः पौराणिकैर्मंत्रैः पूजनीयो विशेषतः ५७। चंदनं च सकर्पूरं घनकुंकुममिश्रितम् । कालोद्भवानि पुष्पाणि तथा तुलसीदलानि च ५८। श्रीनृसिंहाय यो दद्यात्स मुक्तो नात्र संशयः । कृष्णागुरुमयं धूपं सर्वदा हरिवल्लभम् ५९। हरये गुरवे दद्यात्सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । महादीपः प्रकर्त्तव्यो ह्यज्ञानध्वांत नाशनः । महानीराजनं कुर्याद्घंटानाद पुरःसरम् ६०। नैवेद्यं शर्करां चापि भक्ष्यभौज्यसमन्वितम् । ददामि ते रमाकांत सर्वपापक्षयं कुरु ६१। नैवेद्य मंत्र। नृसिंहाच्युत देवेश तव जन्मदिने शुभे । उपवासं करिष्यामि सर्वभोगविवर्जितः ६२। तेन प्रीतो भव स्वामिन्पापं जन्म निराकुरु । रात्रौ जागरणं कार्यं गीतवादित्र निःस्वनैः ६३। पुराणपठनं नित्यं श्रीनृसिंकथाश्रयम् । ततः प्रभातसमये स्नानं कृत्वा ह्यनंतरम् ६४। पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन पूजयेन्मां प्रतर्पयन् । वैष्णवं कारयेच्छ्राद्धं मदग्रे स्वस्थमानसः ६५। ततो दानानि देयानि वक्ष्यमाणानि यान्युत । पात्रेभ्यः स द्विजेभ्यो हि लोकद्वय जिगीषया ६६। सहस्वर्णमयो देवो मम संतोषकारकः । गोभूतिलहिरण्यादि प्रददाति द्विजातये ६७। शय्या सतूलिका देया सप्तधान्यसमन्विता । अन्यानि च यथाशक्त्या देयानि निजशक्तितः ६८। वित्तशाठ्यं न कुर्वीत यथोक्तफलकांक्षया । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चात्तेभ्यो दद्यात्सुदक्षिणाम् ६९। निर्धनैरपि कर्त्तव्यं देयं शक्त्यनुसारतः । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानामधिकारोऽस्ति मद्व्रते । मद्भक्तैस्तु विशेषेण कर्त्तव्यं मत्परायणैः ७०। ततः प्रार्थना मंत्रः । मद्वंशे येन राजा ता ये भविष्याश्च मानवाः । तानुद्धरस्व देवेश दुःखदाद्भवसागरात् ७१। पातकार्णवमग्नस्य व्याधिभिश्चांबुचारिभिः । जीवैस्तु परिभूतस्य महादुःखगतस्य मे ७२। करावलंबनं देहि शेषशायी जगत्पते । व्रतेनानेन देवेश भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदो भव ७३। एवं प्रार्थ्य ततो देवं विसृज्य च यथाविधि । उपहारादिकं सर्वे आचार्याय निवेदयेत् ७४। दक्षिणाभिश्च संतोष्या ब्राह्मणांश्च विसर्जयेत् । मम ध्यान समायुक्तो भुंजीत सह बंधुभिः ७५। अकिंचनोपि नियतमुपोष्यति चतुर्दशीम् । सप्त जन्म कृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ७६। य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या व्रतं पापप्रणाशनम् । तस्य श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति ७७। पवित्रं परमं गुह्यं कीर्तयेद्यस्तु मानवः । सर्वकामानवाप्नोति व्रतस्यास्य फलं सदा ७८। य इदं कुरुते शक्त्या काले मध्याह्न संज्ञके । लीलावत्या सह ऋषिं श्रीनृसिंह प्रसादतः ७९। पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या मुक्तिं प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीम् । तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तु यो गत्वा श्रीनृसिंहं प्रपूजयेत् ८०। वांच्छितं लभते नित्यं श्रीनृसिंह प्रसादतः । श्रीनृसिंह महद्रूप कालकोटिदुरासद ८१। भैरवेश हरार्तिघ्न बालरूप नमोस्तु ते । श्रीनृसिंहाय रूपाय बालाय बालरूपिणे ८२। व्यापकाय सुनंदाय स्वात्मप्रकट रूपिणे । सर्वजीवात्मकायैव विश्वेशाय स्वरात्मने ८३। मार्तंड मंडलस्थाय दयासिंधो नमोस्तु ते । चतुर्विंशस्वरूपाय कालरुद्राग्निरूपिणे ८४। जगदेकस्वरूपाय नृसिंहाय नमोस्तु ते । भाले दधार यो देवो नृसिंहो वीरभद्र जित् ८५। द्वादशादित्यबिंबानि सुतप्तानि प्रमाणतः । तत्र सिंधु महापुण्या नदी रम्या विशेषतः ८६। तस्याः समीपे नगरं वर्त्ततेऽद्यापि सुंदरि । मौलिस्तानेति विख्यातं सर्वदा देवनिर्मितम् ८७। वसतिर्वर्त्तते तत्र हारीतस्य महात्मनः । लीलावती तु तत्रैव तिष्ठते नात्र संशयः ८८। प्रतिशब्दो भवेत्तत्र सिंधुनद्याः समीपतः । कलौ युगे तु संप्राप्ते म्लेच्छा वै पापचारिणः ८९। निवसंति तु तत्रैव बहवो नात्र संशयः । नृसिंहजन्मनि यथा शब्दोऽभूदद्भुतः परः ९०। नृसिंहेति नृसिंहेति य उच्चैर्नदते नरः । तादृशः प्रतिशब्दो वै जायते नगनंदिनि ९१। ब्रह्महा हेमहारी वा सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः । सिंधौ गत्वा विशेषेण स्नानं कुर्वंति ये जनाः ९२। मुच्यते नात्र संदेहः श्रीनृसिंह प्रसादतः । दशारात्रिप्रमाणेन मानवा ये वसंति हि ९३। ते ज्ञेयाः पुण्यकर्माणो नासत्यं मामकं वचः । निवसंति कलौ तत्र वर्णा ये द्विजपूर्वकाः ९४। म्लेच्छवत्तेऽपि विज्ञेया वेदबाह्याः सुरोत्तमैः । मांसं खादंति ते तत्र मद्यपानं पपुः सदा ९५। अतो ह्यधर्मरूपास्ते पापिष्ठा नात्र संशयः । संध्याहीना यथा विप्रा वेदबाह्यास्तथैव च ९६। निवसंति पुरे तस्मिन्पश्चिमायां सुरेश्वरि । एकमेव परं तीर्थं नृसिंहाख्यं सुविस्तरम् । यं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते पापान्नरः सद्यो न संशयः ९७। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे नृसिंहोत्पत्तिर्नाम चतुःसप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः १७४।
mahādeva uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi vrataṃ trailokyadurlabham | yaṃ śrutvā mucyate loko brahmahatyādipātakāt 1| utpatiḥ svaprakāśasya bhaktānāṃ sukhahetave | tithirvāpi samāso vai saṃjātaḥ puṇyakārakaḥ 2| yasya nāma gṛṇandevi muktiṃ labhati śāśvatīm | sa eva paramātmā ca kāraṇānāṃ ca kāraṇam 3| viśvātmā viśvarūpī ca sarveṣāṃ bhagavānprabhuḥ | dvādaśārkā dhṛtā yena nṛsiṃhena mahātmanā | sa eva prakaṭījāto bhaktānāṃ śamabhīpsayā 4| pārvatyuvāca| avatārā hyasaṃkhyātāḥ kathitāḥ surasattama | nṛsiṃhākhyaṃ paraṃ dhāma vada viśveśvara prabho | yena vijñānamātreṇa sukha lokamavāpnuyāt 5| mahādeva uvāca| hiraṇyakaśipuṃ hatvā devadevaṃ jagadgurum | sukhāsīnaṃ tadutsaṃge sthito vacanamabravīt 6| prahlādo jñānināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pitṝhaṃtāramuttamam 7| prahlāda uvāca| namaste bhagavanviṣṇo nṛsiṃhādbhutarūpiṇe | tvadbhaktohaṃ suraśreṣṭha tvāṃ pṛcchāmi ca tatvataḥ 8| svāmiṃstvayi mamābhinnā bhaktirjātā hyanekadhā | kathaṃ te'haṃ priyo jātaḥ kāraṇaṃ vada me prabho 9| nṛsiṃha uvāca| kathayāmi mahāprājña śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ | bhakteryatkāraṇaṃ vatsa priyatvasya ca yatpunaḥ 10| purā kasya dvijasyāpi jātastvaṃ nāpyadhītavān | nāmnā tu vasudevo hi veśyāyāmati laṃpaṭaḥ 11| tasminjanmani naivaṃ ca cakāra sukṛtaṃ kiyat | bhuktvā madhu ghṛtaṃ caiva veśyāsaṃgamalālasaḥ 12| madvratasya prabhāvena bhaktirjātā tavānagha | prahlādovāca| vistarādvada deveśa kasya putrasya kiṃ vratam 13| veśyāyāṃ vartamānena kathaṃciddhi kṛtaṃ mayā | mamopari kṛpāṃ kṛtvā sarvaṃ kathaya sāṃpratam 14| nṛsiṃha uvāca| sṛṣṭyarthaṃ tu purā brahmā cakre hyetadanuttamam | madvratasya prabhāvena nirmitaṃ sacarācaram 15| īśvareṇa vrataṃ cīrṇaṃ vadhārthaṃ tripurasyaca | vratasyāsyaprabhāvena tripurastu nipātitaḥ 16| anyaiśca bahubhirdevairṛṣibhiśca purātanaiḥ | rājabhiśca mahāprājñairvihitaṃ vratamuttamam 17| vratasyāsya prabhāvena sarve siddhimavāpnuyuḥ | mama te vai priyā jātā divi bhogānanekaśaḥ 18| bhuktvā mayi vilīnāstu prahlāda tvaṃ viśasva mām | kāryārthamavatāraste maccharīratpṛthagyataḥ 19| na teṣāṃ punarāvṛttirmahākalpaśatairapi | daridro labhate lakṣmīṃ dhanadasya ca yādṛśī 20| tataḥ kāmī labhetkāmaṃ rājyārthī rājyamuttamam | āyuṣkāmo labhedāyuryādṛśaṃ ca śivasya hi 21| avaidhavyakaraṃ strīṇāṃ putradaṃ bhāgyadaṃ tathā | dhanadhānyakaraṃ caiva tathāśokavināśanam 22| striyo vā puruṣā vāpi kurvaṃti vratamuttamam | tebhyo dadāmyahaṃ saukhyaṃ bhukti mukti phalaṃ tathā 23| bahunoktena kiṃ vatsa vratasyāsya phalasya hi | madvratasya phalaṃ vaktuṃ nāhaṃ śakto na śaṃkaraḥ 24| prahlāda uvāca| bhagavaṃstvatprasādena śrutaṃ vratamanuttamam | vratasyāsya phalaṃ śrotuṃ tvayi me bhakti kāraṇam 25| adhunā śrotumicchāmi vratasyāsya vidhiṃ param | kasminmāse bhavedeva kasmiṃścidvāsare prabho 26| etadvistarato deva vaktumarhasi sāṃpratam | vidhinā yena vai svāminsamagraphalabhāgbhavet 27| nṛsiṃha uvāca| prahlāda vatsa bhadraṃ te śṛṇuṣvaikamanā vratam | vaiśākhesita pakṣe tu caturdaśyāṃ samācaret 28| mamāvirbhāvasaṃyuktaṃ mama saṃtuṣṭikāraṇam | śṛṇu putra mamotpattiṃ bhaktānāṃ sukhahetave 29| paścimāyāṃ diśāyāṃ ca saṃjātaṃ kāraṇāṃtarāt | maulistānamidaṃ kṣetraṃ pavitraṃ pāpanāśanam 30| tasminkṣetre tu vikhyāto brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ | hārīta iti nāmnā ca jñānadhyānaparāyaṇaḥ 31| tasya strī tu mahāpuṇyā satīrūpā sadā prabho | līlāvatī tu nāmnā ca bharturvaśaparā sadā 32| tābhyāṃ tapo mahattaptaṃ kālaṃ bahutaraṃ suta | ekaviṃśayugāścaiva yātāstatra na saṃśayaḥ | tasminkṣetre tu vai tābhyāṃ pratyakṣo vābhavattadā 33| nṛsiṃha uvāca| yaṃ yaṃ vāṃchayase brahmaṃstaṃ dadāmi na saṃśayaḥ | tābhyāmuktaṃ tadā tasmai dīyate cedvaro mama 34| tvādṛśo mama putrastu hyadhunaiva bhavatviti | mayoktaṃ tu tadā vatsa putro'haṃ te na saṃśayaḥ 35| viśvakarmā hyahaṃ sākṣātparamātmā parātparaḥ | udare'haṃ na vatsyāmi yato'haṃ vai sanātanaḥ 36| hārītena tadā coktaṃ bhavatvevaṃ na saṃśayaḥ | tadāprabhṛti vai kṣetre sthito'haṃ bhaktakāraṇāt 37| atrāgatya prakurvīta darśanaṃ bhaktasattamaḥ | tasyāhaṃ sakalāṃ bādhāṃ nāśayāmi niraṃtaram 38| etasmātkāraṇāccaiva vrataṃ vai vidhipūrvakam | ye kurvaṃti naraśreṣṭhā na teṣāṃ vidyate bhayam 39| bālarūpamayaṃ dhyātvā tābhyāṃ saha viśeṣataḥ | pūjanaṃ kurute rātrau sa vai nārāyaṇo bhavet 40| caturbhujaṃ mahādaṃṣṭraṃ kālarūpaṃ durāsadam | sūryakoṭipratīkāśaṃ yamakoṭidurāsadam | siṃhavacca mukhaṃ yasya naravaccāṃgasaṃyutam 41| śrīnṛsiṃhaṃ divyasiṃhaṃ kālarūpaṃ bhajetsadā | evaṃ jñātvā viśeṣeṇa yaḥ sthānaṃ māmakaṃ vrajet 42| vrataṃ pavitraṃ paramaṃ śrīkadaṃba pradaṃ mahat | aṃte muktipradaṃ caiva bhaktānāṃ ca na saṃśayaḥ 43| yena vai kriyamāṇena sahasradvādaśī phalam | svātī nakṣatra saṃyoge śanivāre tu madvratam 44| siddhiyogasya saṃyoge vaṇije karaṇe tathā | yogaiḥ sarvaiśca saṃyogaṃ hatyākoṭi vināśanam 45| etadanyatarairyoge maddinaṃ pāpanāśanam | vijñāya maddinaṃ yastu laṃghayetsa tu pāpakṛt 46| akarttā narakaṃ yāti yāvaccaṃdra divākarau | prāpte mama dine vatsa daṃtadhāvanapūrvakam 47| mamāgre vratasaṃkalpaṃ madbhakto vijiteṃdriyaḥ | adyāhaṃ te vidhāsyāmi vrataṃ nirvighnatāṃ naya 48| vratasthena na karttavyaṃ duṣṭasaṃbhāṣaṇādikam | tato madhyāhnasamaye nadyādau vimale jale 49| gṛhe vā devakhāte vā taḍāge vātha śobhane | vaidikena tu maṃtreṇa snānaṃ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ 6.174.50| mṛttikā gomayenaiva tathā dhātrīphalena ca | tilaiśca vidhivatsnāyātsarvapāpaugha śāṃtaye 51| paridhāya śubhe vastre nityakarma samārabhet | tato gṛhaṃ vilipyātha kuryādaṣṭadalaṃ śubham 52| kalaśaṃ tatra saṃsthāpya tāmraṃtrasamanvitam | tasyopari nyasetpātraṃ taṃḍulaiḥ paripūritam 53| haimīṃ ca tatra manmūrti sthāpya lakṣmyā samanvitām | nirmāya śaktyā svarṇena snāpya paṃcāmṛtaistataḥ 54| tato brāhmaṇamāhūya ācāryaṃ nātilolupam | śāstrajñamagrataḥ kṛtvā tato devaṃ samarcayet 55| maṃḍapaṃ kārayettatra puṣpastabaka śobhitam | ṛtukālodbhavaiḥ puṣpaiḥ pūjyo'haṃ ca yathāvidhi 56| upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhirmaṃtrairniyamaiśca yaḥ | tataḥ paurāṇikairmaṃtraiḥ pūjanīyo viśeṣataḥ 57| caṃdanaṃ ca sakarpūraṃ ghanakuṃkumamiśritam | kālodbhavāni puṣpāṇi tathā tulasīdalāni ca 58| śrīnṛsiṃhāya yo dadyātsa mukto nātra saṃśayaḥ | kṛṣṇāgurumayaṃ dhūpaṃ sarvadā harivallabham 59| haraye gurave dadyātsarvakāmārthasiddhaye | mahādīpaḥ prakarttavyo hyajñānadhvāṃta nāśanaḥ | mahānīrājanaṃ kuryādghaṃṭānāda puraḥsaram 60| naivedyaṃ śarkarāṃ cāpi bhakṣyabhaujyasamanvitam | dadāmi te ramākāṃta sarvapāpakṣayaṃ kuru 61| naivedya maṃtra| nṛsiṃhācyuta deveśa tava janmadine śubhe | upavāsaṃ kariṣyāmi sarvabhogavivarjitaḥ 62| tena prīto bhava svāminpāpaṃ janma nirākuru | rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kāryaṃ gītavāditra niḥsvanaiḥ 63| purāṇapaṭhanaṃ nityaṃ śrīnṛsiṃkathāśrayam | tataḥ prabhātasamaye snānaṃ kṛtvā hyanaṃtaram 64| pūrvoktena vidhānena pūjayenmāṃ pratarpayan | vaiṣṇavaṃ kārayecchrāddhaṃ madagre svasthamānasaḥ 65| tato dānāni deyāni vakṣyamāṇāni yānyuta | pātrebhyaḥ sa dvijebhyo hi lokadvaya jigīṣayā 66| sahasvarṇamayo devo mama saṃtoṣakārakaḥ | gobhūtilahiraṇyādi pradadāti dvijātaye 67| śayyā satūlikā deyā saptadhānyasamanvitā | anyāni ca yathāśaktyā deyāni nijaśaktitaḥ 68| vittaśāṭhyaṃ na kurvīta yathoktaphalakāṃkṣayā | brāhmaṇānbhojayetpaścāttebhyo dadyātsudakṣiṇām 69| nirdhanairapi karttavyaṃ deyaṃ śaktyanusārataḥ | sarveṣāmeva varṇānāmadhikāro'sti madvrate | madbhaktaistu viśeṣeṇa karttavyaṃ matparāyaṇaiḥ 70| tataḥ prārthanā maṃtraḥ | madvaṃśe yena rājā tā ye bhaviṣyāśca mānavāḥ | tānuddharasva deveśa duḥkhadādbhavasāgarāt 71| pātakārṇavamagnasya vyādhibhiścāṃbucāribhiḥ | jīvaistu paribhūtasya mahāduḥkhagatasya me 72| karāvalaṃbanaṃ dehi śeṣaśāyī jagatpate | vratenānena deveśa bhuktimuktiprado bhava 73| evaṃ prārthya tato devaṃ visṛjya ca yathāvidhi | upahārādikaṃ sarve ācāryāya nivedayet 74| dakṣiṇābhiśca saṃtoṣyā brāhmaṇāṃśca visarjayet | mama dhyāna samāyukto bhuṃjīta saha baṃdhubhiḥ 75| akiṃcanopi niyatamupoṣyati caturdaśīm | sapta janma kṛtātpāpānmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ 76| ya idaṃ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā vrataṃ pāpapraṇāśanam | tasya śravaṇamātreṇa brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati 77| pavitraṃ paramaṃ guhyaṃ kīrtayedyastu mānavaḥ | sarvakāmānavāpnoti vratasyāsya phalaṃ sadā 78| ya idaṃ kurute śaktyā kāle madhyāhna saṃjñake | līlāvatyā saha ṛṣiṃ śrīnṛsiṃha prasādataḥ 79| pūjayetparayā bhaktyā muktiṃ prāpnoti śāśvatīm | tasminkṣetre tu yo gatvā śrīnṛsiṃhaṃ prapūjayet 80| vāṃcchitaṃ labhate nityaṃ śrīnṛsiṃha prasādataḥ | śrīnṛsiṃha mahadrūpa kālakoṭidurāsada 81| bhairaveśa harārtighna bālarūpa namostu te | śrīnṛsiṃhāya rūpāya bālāya bālarūpiṇe 82| vyāpakāya sunaṃdāya svātmaprakaṭa rūpiṇe | sarvajīvātmakāyaiva viśveśāya svarātmane 83| mārtaṃḍa maṃḍalasthāya dayāsiṃdho namostu te | caturviṃśasvarūpāya kālarudrāgnirūpiṇe 84| jagadekasvarūpāya nṛsiṃhāya namostu te | bhāle dadhāra yo devo nṛsiṃho vīrabhadra jit 85| dvādaśādityabiṃbāni sutaptāni pramāṇataḥ | tatra siṃdhu mahāpuṇyā nadī ramyā viśeṣataḥ 86| tasyāḥ samīpe nagaraṃ varttate'dyāpi suṃdari | maulistāneti vikhyātaṃ sarvadā devanirmitam 87| vasatirvarttate tatra hārītasya mahātmanaḥ | līlāvatī tu tatraiva tiṣṭhate nātra saṃśayaḥ 88| pratiśabdo bhavettatra siṃdhunadyāḥ samīpataḥ | kalau yuge tu saṃprāpte mlecchā vai pāpacāriṇaḥ 89| nivasaṃti tu tatraiva bahavo nātra saṃśayaḥ | nṛsiṃhajanmani yathā śabdo'bhūdadbhutaḥ paraḥ 90| nṛsiṃheti nṛsiṃheti ya uccairnadate naraḥ | tādṛśaḥ pratiśabdo vai jāyate naganaṃdini 91| brahmahā hemahārī vā surāpo gurutalpagaḥ | siṃdhau gatvā viśeṣeṇa snānaṃ kurvaṃti ye janāḥ 92| mucyate nātra saṃdehaḥ śrīnṛsiṃha prasādataḥ | daśārātripramāṇena mānavā ye vasaṃti hi 93| te jñeyāḥ puṇyakarmāṇo nāsatyaṃ māmakaṃ vacaḥ | nivasaṃti kalau tatra varṇā ye dvijapūrvakāḥ 94| mlecchavatte'pi vijñeyā vedabāhyāḥ surottamaiḥ | māṃsaṃ khādaṃti te tatra madyapānaṃ papuḥ sadā 95| ato hyadharmarūpāste pāpiṣṭhā nātra saṃśayaḥ | saṃdhyāhīnā yathā viprā vedabāhyāstathaiva ca 96| nivasaṃti pure tasminpaścimāyāṃ sureśvari | ekameva paraṃ tīrthaṃ nṛsiṃhākhyaṃ suvistaram | yaṃ śrutvā mucyate pāpānnaraḥ sadyo na saṃśayaḥ 97| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe nṛsiṃhotpattirnāma catuḥsaptatyadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 174|
English translation
Mahādeva said :
1-4. O goddess, listen to a vow difficult to be had in the three worlds, having heard about which men are free from sins like the murder of a brāhmaṇa . The becoming visible of the self-manifested one is for the happiness of the devotees. A day or a group of days has become meritorious. O goddess, he, by uttering whose name a man gets eternal salvation, is the highest soul, and the cause of causes. He is the universal soul; has the form of the universe; the revered one is the lord of all. That Nṛsiṃha , the noble one, who has held twelve suns, has become manifest with a desire for the good of (his) devotees.
Pārvatī said :
5. O best god, innumerable incarnations are enumerated. O master, O lord of the universe, tell me about the greatest abode called Nṛsiṃha, by merely knowing which one would obtain a world (full) of happiness.
Mahādeva said :
6-7. Prahlāda , the best among the wise, spoke (these) words to the best one who had killed his father, and who, after killing Hiraṇyakaśipu , was seated comfortably, and on the lap of whom, the god of gods and the lord of world, Prahlāda was seated.
Prahlāda said :
8-9. Salutation to you, O revered Viṣṇuhaving the wonderful form of Nṛsiṃha. O greatest god, I am your devotee; and am really asking you. O lord, in me unbroken devotion is produced in many ways. Tell me, O lord, how (i.e. why) I have become dear to you. (Tell me) its cause.
Nṛsiṃha said :
10-13a. O very wise one, I shall tell it to you. Listen with a concentrated mind, the cause of your devotion and of your being dear (to me). In olden times you were born (as the son) of a brāhmaṇa. You did not study. You, Vasudeva by name, were addicted to prostitutes. Greedy for the company of prostitutes, you enjoyed honey and ghee , and did not do any good deed in that existence. Due to the power of my vow, devotion (for me) in you was produced, O sinless one.
Prahlāda said :
13b-14. O lord of gods, tell me in detail, what was the vow and of whose son? What bad deeds did I, addicted to a prostitute, do? Favouring me, now tell all that (to me).
Nṛsiṃha said :
15-27. Formerly Brahma observed this excellent (vow) for the sake of creation. Due to the power of my vow he created the mobile and the immobile. God ( Śiva ) observed this vow for killing Tripura . Due to the power of this vow Tripura was knocked down. Many other ancient deities, sages, and very wise kings practised this excellent vow. Due to the efficacy of this vow all got success. They became dear to me. Having enjoyed many pleasures in heaven, they merged in me. O Prahlāda, enter me: since for (some) mission you had a form separate from my body. Even after hundreds of kalpas , they will not be reborn. A poor man obtains wealth like that of a rich man. One desiring an object will get it; one desiring a kingdom will obtain an excellent kingdom; one desiring a (long) life will get it (as long) as that of Śiva. It makes women free from widowhood; gives sons and prosperity. It brings about wealth, grains, and destroys grief. To those women or men who practise this excellent vow I give happiness, and the fruit of enjoyment and salvation. What is the use of talking much about the fruit of this vow? Neither I nor Śaṅkara is able to tell the fruit of my vow.
Prahlāda said :
O revered one, by your favour I have heard (about) this excellent vow; have heard about the fruit of this vow. Now I desire to hear about the cause of my devotion for you, and the excellent manner of this vow. O lord, in which month and on what day would it take place? O god, please tell it in detail, (tell also about) the manner, having performed in which, one would obtain its fruit.
Nṛsiṃha said :
28-33. O child Prahlāda, listen attentively to the vow. One should observe it on the Caturdaśī of the bright half of Vaiśākha . It should be observed with my manifestation, giving me pleasure. O son, listen to my becoming visible for the happiness of my devotees. For (some) other reason, this pure holy place, destroying sins and known as Maulistāna, came up in the Western direction. In that holy place (lived) a well-known brāhmaṇa, master of the Vedas , Hārīta by name, and highly devoted to knowledge and meditation. O lord, his wife was very meritorious and always of virtuous nature. Her name was Lilāvatī and she was always under the control of her husband. O son, for a long time they practised a severe vow. Surely twenty-one yugas passed (while they were practising penance). Then at that holy place the lord appeared in person before the two.
Nṛsiṃha said :
34-46. O brāhmaṇa, I shall undoubtedly give you whatever you desire.
Then the two said to him: “If a boon is to be given to me, then let a son like you be (born) to me now only. “O son”, I had then said, “I am certainly your son. But as I am eternal, I shall not remain in the womb. I am the Creator of all beings; I am actually the Supreme Spirit, and greater than the great; since I am eternal, I shall not stay in the womb.” Then Hārīta said: “Let it certainly be so.” Since then I have stayed at (this) holy place for my devotee. The best devotee, after coming here, should see me. I shall always destroy his entire suffering. And for this reason to those best men who observe this vow in the proper manner, there is no fear. A man who meditates on and worships him in a child’s form especially along with the two, at night, would become Viṣṇu . He should always worship him, having four arms, large fangs, of the nature of Death, and unassailable, resembling a crore of suns, and unconquerable for a crore of Yamas ; (he should always worship him who has a face like that of a lion, and has the body of a man, who is Nṛsiṃha, a divine lion, and of the nature of Death. Knowing this in particular, he would go to my place, and would observe the vow which is very pure, which gives a large mass of wealth, which undoubtedly gives the devotees salvation in the end, and which, being practised gives the fruit of a thousand Dvādaśī (vows). My vow should be observed on a Saturday when the Sun is in conjunction with the Svātī constellation, when there is the siddhiyoga [1] of Planets and in a division of the day [2] (a karaṇa ) known as Vaṇija . Knowing that this my day destroys crores of Hatyās, is associated with all auspicious conjunctions of stars, destroys sins (he should observe the vow). He who would pass my day (without the vow) is a sinner.
47-61. He who does not observe it goes to hell (and lives there) as long as the Moon and the Sun are (in the sky). When the day of (i.e. sacred to) me has arrived, O child, my devotee, after brushing his teeth and having subdued his senses, should (declare) before me the intention to observe this vow: “Today I shall practise your vow. Make it free from difficulties.” He who observes the vow should not talk wicked words etc. Then at mid-day, with the accompaniment of a Vedic hymn, the wise one should bathe in pure water in a river etc., at home or in a natural pond or an auspicious lake. For the appeasement of all sins, he should bathe in the proper manner (after smearing his body) with clay, cowdung and dhātrī -fruit, so also with sesamum seeds. After putting on two auspicious garments, he should begin the daily rite. Then having smeared his house, he should draw an auspicious octagon. Having placed on it a pitcher with jewels, he should put on it a vessel full of rice. Then having fashioned, according to his (financial) capacity, my golden image along with that of Lakṣmī , he should install them there. Then having bathed them with (the collection of five sweet things called) pañcāmṛta [3] , he should invite a brāhmaṇa preceptor, not very greedy, and knowing the holy texts; keeping him in front (i.e. in his presence) he should worship the deity. He should erect there a pavilion adorned with bunches of flowers. And with flowers of the season, I should be worshipped in the proper manner. Then I should be worshipped in the sixteen ways of doing homage to a deity, with hymns and restraints. Then I should be especially worshipped with the Purāṇic hymns. He who would then offer sandal with camphor, mixed with thick saffron and flowers of the seasons, so also Tulasī -leaves to Nṛsiṃha, becomes free. There is no doubt about this. He should offer incense of kṛṣṇa agaru , always dear to Viṣṇu, to the preceptor and to Viṣṇu for accomplishing all his desired objects. A great lamp, destroying the darkness of ignorance should be offered. Then he should wave the great light with the sound of bells. “O lord of Lakṣmī, I am offering you eatables, sugar along with articles of food and meal. Destroy all (my) sins.” This is the hymn for offering of eatables:
62-73. “O Nṛsiṃha, Acyuta , Deveśa, on this auspicious day of your birth, I, giving up all enjoyments, will observe a fast. O lord, be pleased with that. Keep away (from me) a sinful existence.” With the sounds of songs and musical instruments, he should keep awake during the night. Everyday a Purāṇa containing stories about Śrī Nṛsiṃha should be read. Then, in the morning after having bathed he should, gratifying me, worship me in the manner told before. With his mind steady, he should make an offering to Viṣṇu before me. Then gifts, to be told hereafter, should be given to worthy brāhmaṇas for winning (i.e. enjoying) both the worlds. The golden (image of) the deity pleases me. He (also) gives a cow, land, sesamum-seeds, gold etc. to a brāhmaṇa. A bed along with a mattress filled with cotton and with seven (kinds of) grains should be given. Other (articles) also should be given to his capacity. He should not indulge in dishonesty with regard to wealth, with the desire for the fruit as mentioned (before). Then he should feed brāhmaṇas, and give them good presents. Even the poor should observe (this vow) according to their capacity. All the castes are entitled to (observing) my vow. It should be especially observed by my devotees highly devoted to me. Then (follows) the hymn containing the prayer: “O lord of gods, emancipate from the painful ocean of the mundane existence those men who are born in my family and also those men who will be born therein. O you lord of the world lying on Śeṣa , give the support of your hand to me who am plunged in the ocean of sins, overcome by diseases and beings moving in water, and who am in a great misery. O lord of gods, by means of this vow, give me enjoyment and salvation.”
74-97. Having thus appealed to the deity, and having dismissed the deity in the proper manner, he should offer all the presents etc. to the preceptor. Having pleased the brāhmaṇas with presents etc. he should dismiss them. Engaged in meditation upon me, he should eat with his relatives. He who, though poor, certainly fasts (on) the Caturdaśī, certainly gets freed from sin committed during (the previous) seven existences. He who would devoutly listen to (the account of) this vow, would remove the sin (even) of the murder of a brāhmaṇa by merely hearing it. A man who would narrate this pure, great secret, would obtain all his desired objects. That is always the fruit of this vow. He who, according to his capacity, observes this vow at the time called madhyāhna (mid-day) and would, with great devotion, worship Līlāvatī along with the sage (Hārīta) and Śrī Nṛsiṃha also, would obtain eternal salvation. He who, having gone to that holy place, would worship Śrī Nṛsiṃha, obtains his desired fruit due to the grace of Śrī Nṛsiṃha. “O Śrī Nṛsiṃha, O you of a great form, O you unconquerable for a crore of Deaths, O Bhairaveśa, O Hara , O you destroyer of misery, O you of the form of a child, salutation to you. Salutation to Śrī Nṛsiṃha of the form of a child, and to the child, to the all-pervading, to Sunanda , to him manifesting his own form, of the nature of all beings, to the lord of all, of the nature of the heaven. Salutation to you, O ocean of pity, dwelling in the orb of the Sun, of the form of twenty-four, and of terrible fire at the time of the deluge, to Nṛsiṃha, fully of the form of the world. That god Nṛsiṃha, conqueror of Vīrabhadra , held the very much heated orbs of twelve Suns on his forhead.” There is especially very auspicious and charming Sindhu river. O beautiful lady, near her even now there is a city, always known as Maulistāna, and fashioned by gods. There is the residence of the noble Hārīta. Līlāvatī also certainly stays there only. There would be an echo near the river Sindhu. But when Kali age has arrived, many sinful mlecchas certainly live there. If a man loudly utters the word ‘Nṛsiṃha, Nṛsiṃha’, like the word ‘Nṛsiṃha’ which, great and wonderful, came up at the time of the birth of Nṛsiṃha, then, O you daughter of the ( Himālaya ) Mountain, a similar echo is produced. Those men—a killer of a brāhmaṇa, one who has stolen gold, a drunkard, or one who has violated one’s preceptor’s bed (i.e. his wife)—after having gone to Sindhu, and bathed in her (water), are undoubtedly liberated by the grace of Śrī Nṛsiṃha. Those men who stay there for ten nights, should be known to be of meritorious acts. (These) my words are not false. Those castes, led by brāhmaṇas, that stay there in the Kali age, should be known to be like the mlecchas, cast out of the fold of the Vedas by the best gods. They ate flesh there, and always drank liquor; therefore, they are certainly irreligious and most sinful. O chief goddess, like brāhmaṇas not performing sandhya , they, outside the fold of the Vedas, live there in the West. Only one sacred place called Nṛsiṃha, is very extensive, having heard about which a man is undoubtedly free from sins.
[1]: [1] : Siddhiyoga—A particular auspicious conjunction of Planets.
[2]: [2] : Karaṇa—A division of the day. These Karaṇas are eleven.
[3]: [3] : Pañcāmṛta—A collection of five sweet things used in worshipping deities. They are: milk, sugar, ghee, curd and honey.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22939, revision 334289 (2022-03-31T02:01:26Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365753.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.