Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 176
Sourceश्रीभगवानुवाच । आदिमस्यैवमाख्यानमुदीरितमनुत्तमम् । शृणु माहात्म्यमन्येषामध्यायानामपींदिरे १। दक्षिणस्यां दिशि श्रीमानासीदाम्नायवादिनाम् । पुरे पुरंदराह्वाने देवशर्मेति विश्रुतः २। अर्चितातिथिराम्नातो वेदशास्त्रविशारदः । आहर्ता क्रतुसंघानां तापसानां प्रियः सदा ३। देवान्संतर्पयामास हव्यैर्हुतवहं चिरम् । न चोपलेभे धर्मात्मा शांतिमेकांतिकीं ततः ४। निःश्रेयसं स जिज्ञासुस्तापसाननुवासरम् । सिषेवे सत्यसंकल्पाननल्पैरेव कल्पकैः ५। एवमाचरतस्तस्य काले महति गच्छति । मुक्तकर्मा ततः कश्चित्प्रादुरासीत्पुरा भुवि ६। अनुभूतनिराकांक्षी नासाग्रन्यस्तलोचनः । शांतचेताः परं ब्रह्म ध्यायन्नानंदनिर्भरः ७। पादौ तस्योपसंगृह्य प्रणतेनांतरात्मना । चकार विधिवत्तस्मै विद्वानतिथिसत्क्रियाम् ८। तं च शुद्धेन भावेन परितुष्टं तपस्विनम् । प्रणतः परिपप्रच्छ निर्वाणस्थितिमात्मनः ९। स तस्मै कथयामास पुरेऽसौ पुरनामनि । मित्रवंतमजापालमुपदेष्टारमात्मवित् १०। स चाभिवंद्य तत्पादावेत्यसौ पुरमूर्जितम् । तस्योत्तरदिशोभागे ददर्श विपुलं वनम् ११। मारुतांदोलितानेक कुसुमामोदसुंदरम् । उन्मत्तभ्रमरोद्गीत नादापूरितदिङ्मुखम् १२। तस्मिन्वने सरित्तीरे निषीदंतं शिलातले । मित्रवंतं ददर्शाथ सानंदस्तिमितेक्षणम् १३। अपि स्वाभाविकं वैरं हित्वान्योन्यं विरोधिभिः । सत्वैरावृतमुद्याने मंदस्यंदनभास्वति १४। शांतेषु मृगयूथेषु दशानंदमनोज्ञया । कृपानुविद्धया भूमिं निषिंचंतमिवामृतम् १५। उपेत्य विनयेनामुमुन्मनाः प्रीतमानसः । किंचिदानम्रशिरसा तेनापि स तु सत्कृतः १६। उपतस्थे ततो विद्वान्मित्रवंतमनन्यधीः । समाप्तध्यानकालं स पर्यपृच्छत्समाहितः १७। देवशर्मोवाच। आत्मानं वेत्तुमिच्छामि तदमुष्मिन्मनोरथे । लब्धसिद्धिमुपायं मामुपदेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि १८। श्रीभगवानुवाच। परामृश्य क्षणं सोऽपि मित्रवानिदमब्रवीत् । मित्रवानुवाच। विद्वन्विद्धि पुरावृत्तमुच्यमानमिदं मया १९। अस्ति गोदावरीतीरे प्रतिष्ठानाभिधं पुरम् । तत्र दुर्दमनामासीदन्वये च मनीषिणाम् २०। तत्रास्ति विक्रमो नाम सेव्यमानो महीपतिः । दानानि प्रत्यहं गृह्णन्वर्त्तते उदरंभरः २१। कालेन कालपाशेन बद्धानीतो यमालयम् । निरयेषु समग्रेषु यातना अनुभूय च २२। कस्मिंश्चित्स कुले जातो दुर्वृत्तानां द्विजन्मनाम् । भवांतरानुवर्तिन्या विद्यया स पुरस्कृतः २३। उपयेमे दुराधर्षां कन्यकामधमे कुले । कालेन सा वयो हित्वा शैशवं यौवनं ययौ २४। पीनस्तनी च सुश्रोणी मदविह्वललोचना । पतिं न सेहे दुर्वृत्तं चकमे स्वपतीन्परान् २५। वृत्तिमाहर्तुकामस्मिन्निर्गता सा पुराद्बहिः । संगता कामुकेनासौ चिरं चांडालजन्मना २६। दधे गर्भमसौ तस्मात्सा च कन्योपपद्यते । सैव भार्यापि तस्यासीत्पूर्वपापप्रसंगतः २७। सैव वृद्धा ततः काले डाकिनी समजायत । कुसंगात्कुमतिर्जाता दुष्टनारीप्रसंगतः २८। चखाद व्याधितं व्याधमसृगास्वादलालसा । भ्रमंती विपिने घोरे जनैर्दृष्ट्वा बहिष्कृता २९। परेतलोकमासाद्य व्याधौ व्याघ्रोऽभ्यवर्त्तत । नरकान्दारुणान्भुक्त्वा जीवहिंसा प्रभावतः ३०। सापि कालेन दुष्टात्मा मृत्युवेगमुपागता । निरयानेत्य दुर्द्धर्षानजाजायत मद्गृहे ३१। तामन्या अप्यहं विद्वन्पालयन्काननांतरे । अपश्यन्द्वीपिनं घोरं जिघांसंतमिवाखिलम् ३२। समालोक्य तमायांतं भयेन प्रपलायितम् । अजायूथं परित्यज्य मया मरणभीरुणा ३३। उपदुद्राव स द्वीपी पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन् । अजा तु तत्समीपेऽगात्सत्वरं सरिदंतिके ३४। तत्र सा भयमुत्सृज्य हित्वा वैरमनर्गला । अवतस्थे स च द्वीपी तूष्णीमासीदमत्सरः ३५। तं तथाविधमालोक्य सा वक्तुमुपचक्रमे । द्वीपिन्नभीप्सितं भुंक्ष्व मांसमुद्धृत्य सादरः ३६। नेयं भवति ते बुद्धिः कथं वैरमतिं त्यजः । इत्याकर्ण्य तदा वाक्यं प्राह द्वीपी विमत्सरः ३७। स्थानेऽस्मिन्मे गतो द्वेषः क्षुत्पिपासा च निर्ययौ । न प्रार्थयामि तेन त्वां समीपे समुपस्थिताम् ३८। सैवमुक्ता पुनः प्राह जाताहं निर्भया कथम् । किमत्र कारणं वेत्सि यदि मे वक्तुमर्हसि ३९। एवमुक्तः पुनर्द्वीपी तामाहाजां न वेद्म्यहम् । पुरोगतमिमं प्रष्टुं महांतमिति निर्गतौ ४०। ताभ्यामुभाभ्यामागत्य पृष्टोऽहं बहुविस्मयः । अहं च सहितस्ताभ्यामपृच्छं वानरेश्वरम् ४१। मया पृष्टः स विप्रेदमब्रवीत्सादरं कपिः । शृणु वक्ष्याम्यजापाल वृत्तमत्र पुरातनम् ४२। इदमायतनं पश्य पुरोवनगतं महत् । अत्र त्र्यंबकलिंगं हि द्रुहिणेन प्रतिष्ठितम् ४३। सुकर्मानाम मेधावी पर्युपास्ते तपश्चरन् । वनपुष्पाण्यपाहृत्य सुरपूज्यं पुरोभवम् ४४। संस्नाप्य सरिदंभोभिः केवलं कर्मणा वसन् । काले महति तस्यागादतिथिः कश्चिदंतिकम् ४५। उपाहृत्य फलाहारं स तस्मै पर्यकल्पयत् । तेनातिथ्येन संप्रीतः सुकर्माणमभाषत ४६। किमिदं कर्मणो मूलं फलं भुक्त्वा तु तिष्ठसि । गतानुगतया वृत्त्या किं वा केवलमीहसे ४७। स एवमुक्तः प्रायेण प्रीतेनात्मविदा तदा । प्रत्युवाच वचः स्पष्टमात्मनो हितमुत्तमम् ४८। विद्वन्न वेद्मि तत्वेन फलमेतस्य कर्मणः । बुभुत्सया परः शंभुः सेव्यते केवलं यया ४९। फलमेतस्य सेवायाः परिपाकं कपर्दिनः । यन्मांसमनुगृह्णासि संस्पृश्यात्ममनोरथम् 6.176.५०। तस्यैवं सूनृतं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा प्रीतस्तपोधनः । द्वितीयमालिलेखाऽसौ गीताध्यायं शिलातले ५१। आदिदेशाशु तं विप्रं पठनाभ्यसनाय च । फलिष्यत्यात्मनः स्वैरं परितस्ते मनोरथः ५२। इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे धीमान्पुरतस्तस्य पश्यतः । विस्मितस्तस्य चादेशात्सोऽन्वतिष्ठदनारतम् ५३। ततः कालेन महता भावितात्मा प्रसन्नधीः । यत्रयत्र चचारासौ शांतं तत्तत्तपोवनम् ५४। न द्वंद्वबाधा नैव क्षुत्पिपासा न च वा भयम् । तपसा तस्य जानीहि द्वितीयाध्यायजापिनः ५५। मित्रवानुवाच। एवमुक्तश्च तेनाऽहं ख्यापयित्वा परां कथाम् । अनुज्ञातप्रसंनेन च्छागीव्याघ्रयुतोगमम् ५६। गत्वा शिलातले पश्यमध्यायं लिखितं पठेत् । तस्यैवावर्त्तनादाप्तं तपसः पारमुत्तमम् ५७। तेन त्वमपि कल्याण नित्यमाहर्तुमर्हसि । अध्यायं तेन ते मुक्तिरदूरस्था भविष्यति ५८। देवशर्मा समादिष्टस्तेन मित्रवता स्वयम् । अभ्यर्च्य प्रणतो भूत्वा पुरंदरपुरं ययौ ५९। तत्रात्मविदमासाद्य देवतायतने क्वचित् । वृत्तमेतन्निवेद्यादावध्यायमपठत्ततः ६०। शिक्षितस्तेन पूतात्मा पठन्नध्यायमादरात् । द्वितीयमाससादोच्चैर्निरवद्यं परं पदम् ६१। द्वितीयस्येदमाख्यानं कथितं शृणु सांप्रतम् । तृतीयस्याथ वक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यमपि चेंदिरे ६२। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे गीता। माहात्म्ये सतीश्वरसंवादे षट्सप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः १७६।
śrībhagavānuvāca | ādimasyaivamākhyānamudīritamanuttamam | śṛṇu māhātmyamanyeṣāmadhyāyānāmapīṃdire 1| dakṣiṇasyāṃ diśi śrīmānāsīdāmnāyavādinām | pure puraṃdarāhvāne devaśarmeti viśrutaḥ 2| arcitātithirāmnāto vedaśāstraviśāradaḥ | āhartā kratusaṃghānāṃ tāpasānāṃ priyaḥ sadā 3| devānsaṃtarpayāmāsa havyairhutavahaṃ ciram | na copalebhe dharmātmā śāṃtimekāṃtikīṃ tataḥ 4| niḥśreyasaṃ sa jijñāsustāpasānanuvāsaram | siṣeve satyasaṃkalpānanalpaireva kalpakaiḥ 5| evamācaratastasya kāle mahati gacchati | muktakarmā tataḥ kaścitprādurāsītpurā bhuvi 6| anubhūtanirākāṃkṣī nāsāgranyastalocanaḥ | śāṃtacetāḥ paraṃ brahma dhyāyannānaṃdanirbharaḥ 7| pādau tasyopasaṃgṛhya praṇatenāṃtarātmanā | cakāra vidhivattasmai vidvānatithisatkriyām 8| taṃ ca śuddhena bhāvena parituṣṭaṃ tapasvinam | praṇataḥ paripapraccha nirvāṇasthitimātmanaḥ 9| sa tasmai kathayāmāsa pure'sau puranāmani | mitravaṃtamajāpālamupadeṣṭāramātmavit 10| sa cābhivaṃdya tatpādāvetyasau puramūrjitam | tasyottaradiśobhāge dadarśa vipulaṃ vanam 11| mārutāṃdolitāneka kusumāmodasuṃdaram | unmattabhramarodgīta nādāpūritadiṅmukham 12| tasminvane sarittīre niṣīdaṃtaṃ śilātale | mitravaṃtaṃ dadarśātha sānaṃdastimitekṣaṇam 13| api svābhāvikaṃ vairaṃ hitvānyonyaṃ virodhibhiḥ | satvairāvṛtamudyāne maṃdasyaṃdanabhāsvati 14| śāṃteṣu mṛgayūtheṣu daśānaṃdamanojñayā | kṛpānuviddhayā bhūmiṃ niṣiṃcaṃtamivāmṛtam 15| upetya vinayenāmumunmanāḥ prītamānasaḥ | kiṃcidānamraśirasā tenāpi sa tu satkṛtaḥ 16| upatasthe tato vidvānmitravaṃtamananyadhīḥ | samāptadhyānakālaṃ sa paryapṛcchatsamāhitaḥ 17| devaśarmovāca| ātmānaṃ vettumicchāmi tadamuṣminmanorathe | labdhasiddhimupāyaṃ māmupadeṣṭuṃ tvamarhasi 18| śrībhagavānuvāca| parāmṛśya kṣaṇaṃ so'pi mitravānidamabravīt | mitravānuvāca| vidvanviddhi purāvṛttamucyamānamidaṃ mayā 19| asti godāvarītīre pratiṣṭhānābhidhaṃ puram | tatra durdamanāmāsīdanvaye ca manīṣiṇām 20| tatrāsti vikramo nāma sevyamāno mahīpatiḥ | dānāni pratyahaṃ gṛhṇanvarttate udaraṃbharaḥ 21| kālena kālapāśena baddhānīto yamālayam | nirayeṣu samagreṣu yātanā anubhūya ca 22| kasmiṃścitsa kule jāto durvṛttānāṃ dvijanmanām | bhavāṃtarānuvartinyā vidyayā sa puraskṛtaḥ 23| upayeme durādharṣāṃ kanyakāmadhame kule | kālena sā vayo hitvā śaiśavaṃ yauvanaṃ yayau 24| pīnastanī ca suśroṇī madavihvalalocanā | patiṃ na sehe durvṛttaṃ cakame svapatīnparān 25| vṛttimāhartukāmasminnirgatā sā purādbahiḥ | saṃgatā kāmukenāsau ciraṃ cāṃḍālajanmanā 26| dadhe garbhamasau tasmātsā ca kanyopapadyate | saiva bhāryāpi tasyāsītpūrvapāpaprasaṃgataḥ 27| saiva vṛddhā tataḥ kāle ḍākinī samajāyata | kusaṃgātkumatirjātā duṣṭanārīprasaṃgataḥ 28| cakhāda vyādhitaṃ vyādhamasṛgāsvādalālasā | bhramaṃtī vipine ghore janairdṛṣṭvā bahiṣkṛtā 29| paretalokamāsādya vyādhau vyāghro'bhyavarttata | narakāndāruṇānbhuktvā jīvahiṃsā prabhāvataḥ 30| sāpi kālena duṣṭātmā mṛtyuvegamupāgatā | nirayānetya durddharṣānajājāyata madgṛhe 31| tāmanyā apyahaṃ vidvanpālayankānanāṃtare | apaśyandvīpinaṃ ghoraṃ jighāṃsaṃtamivākhilam 32| samālokya tamāyāṃtaṃ bhayena prapalāyitam | ajāyūthaṃ parityajya mayā maraṇabhīruṇā 33| upadudrāva sa dvīpī pūrvavairamanusmaran | ajā tu tatsamīpe'gātsatvaraṃ saridaṃtike 34| tatra sā bhayamutsṛjya hitvā vairamanargalā | avatasthe sa ca dvīpī tūṣṇīmāsīdamatsaraḥ 35| taṃ tathāvidhamālokya sā vaktumupacakrame | dvīpinnabhīpsitaṃ bhuṃkṣva māṃsamuddhṛtya sādaraḥ 36| neyaṃ bhavati te buddhiḥ kathaṃ vairamatiṃ tyajaḥ | ityākarṇya tadā vākyaṃ prāha dvīpī vimatsaraḥ 37| sthāne'sminme gato dveṣaḥ kṣutpipāsā ca niryayau | na prārthayāmi tena tvāṃ samīpe samupasthitām 38| saivamuktā punaḥ prāha jātāhaṃ nirbhayā katham | kimatra kāraṇaṃ vetsi yadi me vaktumarhasi 39| evamuktaḥ punardvīpī tāmāhājāṃ na vedmyaham | purogatamimaṃ praṣṭuṃ mahāṃtamiti nirgatau 40| tābhyāmubhābhyāmāgatya pṛṣṭo'haṃ bahuvismayaḥ | ahaṃ ca sahitastābhyāmapṛcchaṃ vānareśvaram 41| mayā pṛṣṭaḥ sa vipredamabravītsādaraṃ kapiḥ | śṛṇu vakṣyāmyajāpāla vṛttamatra purātanam 42| idamāyatanaṃ paśya purovanagataṃ mahat | atra tryaṃbakaliṃgaṃ hi druhiṇena pratiṣṭhitam 43| sukarmānāma medhāvī paryupāste tapaścaran | vanapuṣpāṇyapāhṛtya surapūjyaṃ purobhavam 44| saṃsnāpya saridaṃbhobhiḥ kevalaṃ karmaṇā vasan | kāle mahati tasyāgādatithiḥ kaścidaṃtikam 45| upāhṛtya phalāhāraṃ sa tasmai paryakalpayat | tenātithyena saṃprītaḥ sukarmāṇamabhāṣata 46| kimidaṃ karmaṇo mūlaṃ phalaṃ bhuktvā tu tiṣṭhasi | gatānugatayā vṛttyā kiṃ vā kevalamīhase 47| sa evamuktaḥ prāyeṇa prītenātmavidā tadā | pratyuvāca vacaḥ spaṣṭamātmano hitamuttamam 48| vidvanna vedmi tatvena phalametasya karmaṇaḥ | bubhutsayā paraḥ śaṃbhuḥ sevyate kevalaṃ yayā 49| phalametasya sevāyāḥ paripākaṃ kapardinaḥ | yanmāṃsamanugṛhṇāsi saṃspṛśyātmamanoratham 6.176.50| tasyaivaṃ sūnṛtaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvā prītastapodhanaḥ | dvitīyamālilekhā'sau gītādhyāyaṃ śilātale 51| ādideśāśu taṃ vipraṃ paṭhanābhyasanāya ca | phaliṣyatyātmanaḥ svairaṃ paritaste manorathaḥ 52| ityuktvāṃtardadhe dhīmānpuratastasya paśyataḥ | vismitastasya cādeśātso'nvatiṣṭhadanāratam 53| tataḥ kālena mahatā bhāvitātmā prasannadhīḥ | yatrayatra cacārāsau śāṃtaṃ tattattapovanam 54| na dvaṃdvabādhā naiva kṣutpipāsā na ca vā bhayam | tapasā tasya jānīhi dvitīyādhyāyajāpinaḥ 55| mitravānuvāca| evamuktaśca tenā'haṃ khyāpayitvā parāṃ kathām | anujñātaprasaṃnena cchāgīvyāghrayutogamam 56| gatvā śilātale paśyamadhyāyaṃ likhitaṃ paṭhet | tasyaivāvarttanādāptaṃ tapasaḥ pāramuttamam 57| tena tvamapi kalyāṇa nityamāhartumarhasi | adhyāyaṃ tena te muktiradūrasthā bhaviṣyati 58| devaśarmā samādiṣṭastena mitravatā svayam | abhyarcya praṇato bhūtvā puraṃdarapuraṃ yayau 59| tatrātmavidamāsādya devatāyatane kvacit | vṛttametannivedyādāvadhyāyamapaṭhattataḥ 60| śikṣitastena pūtātmā paṭhannadhyāyamādarāt | dvitīyamāsasādoccairniravadyaṃ paraṃ padam 61| dvitīyasyedamākhyānaṃ kathitaṃ śṛṇu sāṃpratam | tṛtīyasyātha vakṣyāmi māhātmyamapi ceṃdire 62| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe gītā| māhātmye satīśvarasaṃvāde ṣaṭsaptatyadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 176|
English translation
[ Note : this page corresponds to chapter 176 of the Book 6 (Uttarakhaṇḍa) of the translation of The Padmapurāṇa ]
The lord said :
1-17. The excellent account of the first chapter has been narrated. O Lakṣmī , also listen to the importance of the other chapters. In the southern direction, in the city called Purandara , (a city) of the teachers of sacred texts, there lived a rich man, well-known as Devaśarman . He honoured guests; he was a learned person; he was proficient in the Vedas and (other) sacred texts; he offered hosts of sacrifices and was always dear to the ascetics. Offering oblations into fire, he pleased the gods for a long time. The religious-minded one did not obtain conclusive peace. Desiring beatitude, he everyday waited upon ascetics with truthful intentions, with not a few rites. When he was doing like this, and when a long time had elapsed, some Muktakarman formerly appeared on the earth. He had direct knowledge (of the supreme spirit); had no desire; had fixed his gaze on the tip of his nose; his mind was tranquil; he meditated on the highest Brahman ; and was full of joy. The learned one, having held (i.e. touched) his feet with an humble mind, offered him reception due to a guest in the proper manner. Bowing to the ascetic, pleased with his pure disposition, he asked him about his final beatitude. The sage told him about a teacher, a goatherd, named Mitravat, (living) in the city named Saupura. He, having saluted his feet, went to the prosperous Saupura and saw a large forest in the region to its north. It was charming with the fragrance of many flowers tossed by the wind. It had filled the quarters with the sound of the humming of the intoxicated bees. In that forest on the bank of a river, he saw Mitravat with his eyes fixed and seated on a stone-slab. He was surrounded by animals which, though mutually hostile, had given up their natural hostility, in the garden, resplendent with slow breezes. He was as it were sprinkling nectar on the earth, with (his mind) full of pity and charming with the delight of destiny, when the herds of deer were peaceful. He, excited and with his mind pleased, and with his head slightly bent, politely approached him too and honoured him. Then the learned one, with his mind concentrated, remained by the side of Mitravat. He, being composed, asked him whose time of meditation was over.
Devaśarmann said :
18. I desire to know myself. So, regarding this desire, please teach me the means that has secured success.
The lord said :
19a. Having thought for a while, that Mitravat also spoke like this:
Mitravat said :
19b-38. O learned one, know an old account being narrated by me. On the bank of Godāvarī , there was a city named Pratiṣṭhāna . There was (a man) Durdama by name (born) in the family of the learned. There was king Vikrama , being served (by people); everyday he accepted gifts, and (thus) fed his belly. Binding him with the noose of Death, Death took him to Yama ’s abode. Having experienced torments in all hells, he was born in a family of brāhmaṇas of a bad character. He was attended by learning (obtained) in the previous birth. He married a haughty girl from a mean family. In course of time, she abandoned childhood and entered youth. Her breasts were stout, buttocks fine, eyes perturbed with passion; she did not put up with her husband of a bad character; and loved other men as husbands. Desiring to earn her livelihood, she went out of the city. For a long time she was sexually united with a lustful man born as a cāṇḍāla . As a result of union with him she conceived, and a daughter was born. She was his wife only due to a former sinful attachment. The same, (getting) old, was born as a female imp. Due to bad company and attachment to bad women she became wicked-minded. Having an ardent desire for tasting blood she ate a diseased fowler. She roamed in the fearful forest, and was outcast by people, on seeing her. Having reached the world of the dead, the fowler became a tiger, due to the efficacy of the killing, after having stayed in fierce hells. She too, of a wicked mind, died in course of time. Having gone to dreadful hells, she was born as a female goat in my house. O learned one, I, not noticing a fearful tiger, as it were devouring everything, looked after her and others. Seeing him to have come, I, afraid of death, left the flock of the female goats, and ran (away) due to fear. The tiger, remembering former hostility came near. The female goat quickly went near him having plough-like fangs. She giving up her fear and abandoning her hostility, stood there unrestrained. The tiger too, free from hatred, was quiet. Seeing him like that, she started speaking: “O tiger, lift me up carefully and eat me as desired by you. You are not having this intention. How did you give up your hostile intention?” Hearing these words the tiger, free from hatred, then spoke these words: “At this place my hatred has gone (away); my hunger and thirst have passed (away). Therefore, 1 do not long for you who have stood by me.”
39-55. Thus addressed, she spoke again: “How did I become fearless? What do you know to be the cause of this? If (you know), please tell (it) to me”. The tiger, thus addressed (by her), again spoke to the female goat: “I do not know it”. Then they moved out to ask the great one who had gone ahead. The two having come to me, asked me who was much amazed. With the two I asked the lord of monkeys. The monkey, O brāhmaṇa , (on being) asked by me, respectfully said to him these words: “O goatherd, listen; about this I shall tell (you) an old account. See, this great abode was formerly in a forest. Here Druhiṇa had installed Śiva ’s Phallus. An itntelligent (person), Sukarman by name, practising penance, worshipped Śiva honoured by gods after having brought wild flowers. Having bathed (the Phallus) with the river-water, he lived there just by that deed (of worshipping Śiva). After a long time a guest came to him. Having fetched fruits, he offered them to him. Being pleased with that hospitality, he said to Sukarman: “What is the root of the act, enjoying the fruit of which you are staying here? Why do you just desire to live in the way of servile imitation?” He, thus addressed by the sage who was mostly pleased, spoke in reply clear words, most beneficial to himself: “O learned one, I really know the fruit of this act. Śambhu is served merely for the desire of enjoyment. The fruit—the result—of this service of Śiva is that you will favour me, knowing my desire.” Having heard these true and pleasant words of him, the ascetic, being pleased, wrote the second chapter of the Gītā on the stone-slab and ordered the brāhmaṇa to recite and study it quickly: “Your desire will easily bear fruit everywhere.” The intelligent one, speaking like this, disappeared (even) when he was watching. He, being amazed, constantly remained (reciting the Gītā) by his order. Then, after a long time, wherever the devout one, of a pleased mind, went, the penance grove became quiet. There was no antagonism, no hunger, no thirst, no fear due to the penance of him, muttering the second chapter.
Mitravat said :
56-62. Thus addressed by him, and having heard a great story, I, allowed by the pleased one, went with the female goat and the tiger. Having gone to the stono-slab I saw the chapter that is written (there). One should recite it. By its revision only. he reached the excellent, concluding limit of penance. O good one, therefore, you should everyday recite that chapter. Due to. that your salvation will not be a remote occurrence.
Devaśarman was (thus) advised by Mitravat himself. Bowing down and honouring him, he went to the city of Purandara. Having met there in a temple certain wise man, he told him this account, and then recited this chapter. Taught by him, the pure-minded one carefully recited the second chapter and obtained the blameless, highest position. I have thus told you the account of the second chapter. Now listen, O Indirā , I shall tell you the importance of the third chapter.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 15376, revision 333585 (2022-03-11T23:57:03Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavad-gita-mahatmya/d/doc365755.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.