Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 185
Source[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7au-mrmU-k8 यूट्यूबोपरि हिन्दीरूपान्तरणम्]देव्युवाच। इतिहासोऽयमीशान श्रेयसां साधनं परम् । आकर्ण्य करुणापूर्ण ममकांक्षा प्रवर्त्तते १। एकादशस्य माहात्म्यमध्यायस्य कथाश्रयम् । व्यावर्णय विरूपाक्ष वक्तॄणां प्रथम प्रभो २। ईश्वर उवाच-। आकर्णय कथां कांते गीतावर्णनसंश्रयाम् । विश्वरूपाभिधानस्य माहात्म्यमपि पावनम् ३। अध्यायस्य विशालाक्षि वक्तुं तावन्न शक्यते । सहस्राणि कथाः संति तत्रैका कथ्यते मया ४। प्रणीतायास्तटे नद्या[https://puranastudy.webnode.com/prajaapaala-prabhaa/pranita/ प्रणीता उपरि टिप्पणी] मेघंकरमितितीर्थं मेघकरं नाम स्वयमेव जनार्दनः।। यत्र शार्ङ्गधरो विष्णुर्मेखलायामवस्थितः। - मत्स्यपुराणम् [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/44t २२.४०], तस्य वा एतस्य यज्ञस्य मेघो हविर्धानं विद्युदग्निर्वर्षꣳ हविस्तनयित्नुर्वषट्कारो यदवस्फूर्जति सोऽनुवषट्कारो वायुरात्माऽमावास्या स्विष्टकृत्-, इति । य एवं विद्वान्मेघे वर्षति विद्योतमाने स्तनयत्यवस्फूर्जति पवमाने वायावमावास्यायाꣳ स्वाध्यायमधीते तप एव तत्तप्यते - तैआ [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/h45 २.१४.१] श्रुतम् । नगरं गरिमाधारगिरिमाधारं इति पाठभेदः तुंगप्राकारगोपुरम् ५। विशालाश्रमशालासु स्वर्णस्तंभविभूषितम् । श्रीमद्भिः सुखिभिः शांतैः सदाचारैर्जितेंद्रियैः ६। अधिष्ठितं जवैश्चारुशृंगाटकमनोहरम् । मणिस्तंभस्फुरत्स्वर्णापणचत्वरशोभितम् ७। पताकाकिंकिणीक्वाण कदंबक कलस्वरम् । वेदाध्ययननिर्घोषवाचालित दिगंतरम् ८। तूर्यसंघोषणाकीर्ण विशालव्योममंडलम् । पताकापल्लोद्भूतवातनिर्जितविग्रहम् ९। राजामार्गवरद्वारनारीमंजीरसिंजितैः । वल्लकीवेणुकैर्गीतेर्भाति वाजींद्र हेषितैः १०। प्रेक्षमाणमिवाभीक्ष्णं दिक्पालानां पुरैः समम् । आस्ते जगत्पतिर्यत्र शार्ङ्गपाणिर्विराजितः ११। मूर्तिमत्परमं ब्रह्म जगल्लोचनजीवितम्लोचनजीविनः इति पाठः । लक्ष्मीनयनराजीव पूजिताकारगौरवः १२। त्रिविक्रमवपुर्मेघश्यामलः कोमलद्युतिः । श्रीवत्सवक्षाराजीव वनमालाविभूषितः १३। अनेकभूषणोपेतः सरत्न इव वारिधिः । चलत्सौदामिनीदाम सांद्रमेघसमद्युतिः १४। तस्यास्ते मुकुटे साक्षात्शार्ङ्गपाणिः परः पुमान् । तं दृष्ट्वा मुच्यते जंतुर्जन्मसंसारबंधनात् १५। यस्मिन्पुरे महातीर्थं विद्यते मेखलाभिधम्अथ मेखलां परिहरते । अङ्गिरसो ह वै दीक्षितानबल्यमविन्दत्तेनान्यद्व्रतादशनमवाकल्पयंस्त एतामूर्जमपश्यन्त्समाप्तिं तां मध्यत आत्मन ऊर्जमदधत समाप्तिं तया समाप्नुवंस्तथो एवैष एतां मध्यत आत्मन ऊर्जं धत्ते समाप्तिं तया समाप्नोति - माश [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/erh ३.२.१.१०], [https://www.angelfire.com/in4/vedastudy/pur_index23/mekhalaa.htm मेखलाउपरि टिप्पणी] । यत्र स्नात्वा नरैर्नित्यं प्राप्यते वैष्णवं पदम् १६। तत्र वीक्ष्य जगन्नाथं नरसिंहं कृपार्णवम् । सप्तजन्मार्जिताद्धोरान्मुच्यते दुष्कृतान्नरः १७। मेखलायां गणाधीशं विलोकयति यो नरः। स निस्तरति विघ्नानि दुस्तराण्यपि सर्वदा । ब्रह्मचर्यपरो दांतो निर्ममो निरहंकृतिः १८। तस्मिन्मेघंकरे कश्चिदभूद्ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । सुनंद इति विख्यातो वेदशास्त्रविशारदः १९। वशीकृतेंन्द्रियग्रामो वासुदेवपरायणः । देवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः पार्श्वे गीताध्यायमिमं प्रिये २०। एकादशं पठत्येष विश्वरूपप्रदर्शनम् । अध्यायस्य प्रभावेन ब्रह्मज्ञानमवाप सः २१। परमानंदसंदोह श्लाघ्यसंवित्समाधिना । प्रत्यङ्मुखेंद्रियतयानिश्चलां स्थितिमीयुषा २२। सततं स्थीयते तेन जीवन्मुक्तेन योगिना । एकदा स महायोगी सिंहराशिस्थिते गुरौ २३। गोदावरीतीर्थयात्रांअस्याध्यायस्य प्रारंभं प्रणीतानदीतः, प्रेतिलक्षणतः अभवत्। गोदावरीशब्दतः प्रतीयते यत् अयं गोधावरीरूपेण एति लक्षणस्य सूचकः अस्ति। सूर्यस्य या ऊर्जा रश्मिरूपेण पृथिवी गृह्णाति, तस्याः सम्यक् धारणम्। द्र. [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/wr1 सरस्वतीरहस्योोपनिषत्] विधातुमुपचक्रमे । प्रथमेऽह्नि समागत्य विरजं तीर्थमुत्तमम् २४। नाभिमारभ्य तीर्थेषु स समभ्यर्च्य देवताम् । मज्जन्मज्जन्जगद्धात्रींमज्जन्मार्जन्जगद्धात्रीं इति पाठः कमलां स व्यलोकयत् २५। तां संपूज्य महामायां सर्वकामफलप्रदाम् । तारातीर्थे ततः स्नात्वा कपिलासंगमे ततः २६। अष्टतीर्थमसौ चक्रे विधाय पितृतर्पणम् । कुमारीशं शिवं नत्वा कपिलाद्वारमाययौ २७। तत्र निर्मज्ज्य निर्धूतप्राग्जन्मांतरदुष्कृतः । संपूज्य नत्वा श्रुत्वा च देवं वै मधुसूदनम् २८। उषित्वा तत्र तां रात्रिं प्रागात्प्रातः सह द्विजैः । नरसिंहवने तत्र तीर्थे रामस्य दीर्घिका । प्रह्लादपूजितः साक्षादास्ते यत्र नृकेसरी २९। तं दृष्ट्वा देवदेवेशं पूजयित्वा तु भक्तितः । तत्र तं दिवसं नीत्वा स ययावंबिकापुरम् ३०। अनुग्रहेण भक्तानामंबिका तत्र तिष्ठति । पूरयंति मनुष्याणां वांच्छितान्यखिलान्यपि ३१। पूजयित्वांबिकां भक्त्या पुष्पगंधानुलेपनैः । उपहारैश्च विविधैः स्तौत्रैः प्रणमनैरपि ३२। विप्रस्तस्मात्पुरा प्राप्तः कंठस्थानाभिधं पुरम् । यत्रास्ते परमा शक्तिर्महालक्ष्मीर्महाद्युतिः ३३। तामवेक्ष्य सुधाभानुभास्करद्युतिमंडलाम् । संसारतापविच्छेद पद्मपीयूषवाहिनीम् ३४। योगिराजहृदंभोज राजहंसनिषेविताम् । अनाहतमहानादमयीमद्वयरूपिणीम् ३५। महालक्ष्मीं भगवतीं वांछितार्थप्रदायिनीम् । आराध्य भक्तिभावेन चेतसा स मुनीश्वरः ३६। विवाहमंडपं प्राप पुरं विप्रैः समन्वितः । पुरे तत्र प्रतिगृहं वासस्थानमयाचत ३७। न लेभे वसतिं स्थातुं गेहे कस्मिन्नपि द्विजः । दर्शितं ग्रामपालेन विशालं वासमंदिरम् ३८। प्रविश्य वसतिं चक्रे ब्राह्मणः संगिभिः सह । ततः प्रभाते विमले सुनंदोऽसौ द्विजोत्तमः ३९। बहिरालोकयांचक्रे वासगेहान्निजं वपुः । अध्वन्यानखिलान्यत्र जातान्क्वापि यदृच्छया ४०। गम्यमानः समायांतं ग्रामपालो ददर्श सः । तं बभाषे ग्रामपाल आयुष्मानसि सर्वशः ४१। भागधेयवतां पुंसां पुण्यः पुण्यवतामसि । प्रभावो विद्यते वत्स कोपि लोकोत्तरस्त्वयि ४२। क्व प्रयाताः सहायास्ते कथं तत्सदनाद्बहिः । तत्पश्य मुनिशार्दूल कथयामि तवाग्रतः ४३। किंतु नान्यं त्वया तुल्यं पश्यामीह तपस्विनम् । किं जानासि महामंत्रं कां विद्यामवलंबसे ४४। कस्य देवस्य कारुण्याच्छक्तिर्लोकोत्तरा त्वयि । तत्कारुण्यवशात्तिष्ठ ग्रामेऽस्मिन्ब्राह्मणोत्तम ४५। शुश्रूषामखिलामेव भगवंस्ते करोम्यहम् । इति संवासयामास तस्मिन्ग्रामे मुनीश्वरम् ४६। परिचर्या च तस्यासौ भक्त्या चक्रे दिवानिशम् । दिवसेषु प्रयातेषु सप्ताष्टसु समेयिवान् ४७। प्रातरागत्य तस्याग्रे रुरोद भृशदुःखितः । अद्य मे भाग्यहीनस्य गुणवान्भक्तिमान्सुतः ४८। जाज्वल्यमानदंष्ट्रेण भक्षितो निशि रक्षसा । इत्येवं रक्षकेणोक्तं तं पप्रच्छ स संयमी ४९। क्वास्ते स राक्षसः पुत्रो भक्षितस्ते कथं वद । ग्रामपाल उवाच-। वर्तते नगरे घोरः पुरुषादो निशाचरः 6.185.५०। स खादति नरानेत्य नित्यं नगरगोचरान् । स सर्वैर्नागरैरत्र प्रार्थितः पुरुषैः पुरा ५१। रक्ष राक्षस नः सर्वान्ग्रासं ते कल्पयामहे । पथिका निशि निद्रंति ये च तान्भुंक्ष्व राक्षस ५२। एतस्मिन्सदने पांथान्ग्रामपालप्रवेशितान् । आहारं कल्पयांचक्रुरात्मीयप्राणगुप्तये ५३। भवान्सुप्तोगृहेऽमुष्मिन्नधन्यैः संयुतः परैः । ते ग्रस्ताः किल चानेन न त्वं मुक्तोसि द्विजोत्तम ५४। प्रभावं भवतो वेत्ति भवानेव द्विजोत्तम । मदीय तनयस्याद्य मित्रमेकमुपागतम् ५५। अजानता मया सोऽपि तनयस्य प्रियः सखा । अन्यैः पांथजनैः सार्द्धं तस्मिन्गेहे प्रवेशितः ५६। श्रुत्वा तत्र प्रविष्टं तं निशीथे तनयो मम । तमानेतुं गतः सोऽपि भक्षितस्तेन रक्षसा ५७। दुःखितेन मया प्रोक्तः प्रातः स पिशिताशनः । ममापि पुत्रो दुष्टात्मन्भवता निशि भक्षितः ५८। भवज्जठरनिर्मग्नः सुतोऽसौ येन जीवति । अस्ति चैवमुपायस्ते ब्रूहि मे त्वं निशाचर ५९। राक्षस उवाच-। अंतःप्रविष्टा त्वत्पुत्रमज्ञात्वाहमभक्षयम् । अजानन्भक्षितः पांथैः सहितोऽसौ सुतस्तव ६०। यथा जीवति मे कुक्षौ यथा भवति रक्षितः । तथा विहितमप्यस्ति दैवेन परमेष्ठिना ६१। गीतैकादशमध्यायं यः पठत्यनिशं द्विजः । तत्प्रभावेन मे मुक्तिर्मृतानां पुनरुद्भवः ६२। ग्रामपाल उवाच-। कथमेकादशाध्यायसामर्थ्यमिदमद्भुतम् ६३। इति पृष्टो मया विप्र स बभाषे निशाचरः ६४। पुरा गृध्रेण केनापि नभोमार्गेण गच्छता । अस्थिखंडं स्वतुंडाग्रात्पातितं क्वापि वारिणि ६५। तं जलाशयमागत्यकोऽपि ज्ञानीश्वरस्तदा । महातीर्थमिति ज्ञात्वा विदधे पितृतर्पणम् ६६। तमूचिरे जनाः सर्वे तीर्थमेतत्कथं वद । जपत्येकादशाध्यायं त्रिसन्ध्यं नियतेंद्रियः ६७। कृतमौनस्तु विप्रोऽसौ चौरैर्व्यापादितः पथि । तस्यास्थिशकलं गृध्रवदनात्पतितं जले ६८। तेन तीर्थमिदं दिव्यं जातं पातकनाशनम् । ततस्ते मानवाः सर्वे सस्नुस्तत्र जलाशये ६९। निष्कल्मषतया चैवं प्रापुस्ते परमं पदम् । एकादशस्य सामर्थ्यादध्यायस्य भविष्यति ७०। ममापि मुक्तिः पांथानां पुनरुत्थानमेव च । यो मया कश्चिदुद्गीर्णो ब्राह्मणोऽत्रैव तिष्ठति ७१। स च एकादशाध्यायं जपति स्म निरंतरम् । स तेनाध्यायमंत्रेण सप्तवाराभिमंत्रितम् ७२। विधाय वारि विप्रेंद्रः क्षिपेद्यदि ममोपरि । ततो मे शापनिर्मुक्तिर्भविष्यति न संशयः । इति तेनास्मि संदिष्टः समायातस्त्वदंतिकम् ७३। विप्र उवाच-। राक्षसः केन पापेन जातोसौ वद रक्षक । यत्क्षपायां गृहे तस्मिन्नरान्खादति निद्रितान् ७४। ग्रामपाल उवाच। अस्मिन्ग्रामे पुरा कश्चिदासीद्विप्रः कृषीवलः । एकदा शालिकेदाररक्षणे व्याकुलो द्विजः ७५। नातिदूरे महागृध्रः पांथमेकमभक्षयत् । तं विमोचयितुं दूराद्दयांचक्रेऽपि तापसः ७६। भुक्त्वा पांथं खगस्तावन्निरगादंबराध्वना । ततः स तापसः कोपात्तं बभाषे कृषीवलम् ७७। धिक्त्वां हालिक दुर्बुद्धे कठोरमतिनिर्घृण । कुक्षिभरं परत्राण विमुखं हतजीवितम् ७८। चोरैश्च दंष्ट्रिभिः सर्प्पैररिवह्निविषांबुभिः । गृध्रराक्षसभूतैश्च वेतालादिभिराहतान् ७९। जनानुपेक्षते शक्तः स तद्वधफलं लभेत् । न मोचयति यो विप्रं प्रभुश्चोरादिभिर्धृतम् ८०। स याति नरकं घोरं स पुनर्जायते वृकः । निहन्यमानं विपिने गृध्रव्याघ्रेण पीडितम् ८१। मुंचमुचेति यो वक्ति स याति परमां गतिम् । गवामर्थे हता व्याघ्रैर्व्याधैर्दुष्टैश्च राजभिः ८२। तेपि यांति पदं विष्णोर्दुष्प्राप्यं योगिनामपि । अश्वमेधसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च ८३। शरणागतसंत्राण कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् । दीनस्योपेक्षणं कृत्वा भीतस्य च शरीरिणः ८४। पुण्यवानपि कालेन कुंभीपाके स पच्यते । पश्यन्नपि भवान् पांथं दुष्टगृध्रेण भक्षितम् ८५। निवारणसमर्थोपि न चक्रे यन्निवारणम् । निष्कृपोसि यतस्तस्माद्भविष्यसि निशाचरः ८६। इमां शापं मुने श्रुत्वा कंपमानकलेवरः । प्रणम्य हालिको विप्रं बभाषे करुणं वचः ८७। अत्राहं क्षेत्ररक्षायां चिरं क्षिप्तेन चक्षुषा । न वेद्मि निकटं गृध्र हन्यमानमिमं नरम् ८८। तेन मेऽनुग्रहं कर्तुं कृपणस्य त्वमर्हसि । विप्र उवाच। यो वेत्त्येकादशाध्यायं जपत्यनुदिनं च यः ८९। तेनाभिमंत्रितं वारि यदा शिरसि तावके । पतिष्यति तदा शापात्तव मुक्तिर्भविष्यति ९०। इत्युक्त्वा तापसो यातो हालिको राक्षसोऽभवत् । तदागच्छ द्विजश्रेष्ठ तेनाध्यायेन मंत्रय । तीर्थोदकं स्वहस्तेन तस्य मूर्द्धनि निक्षिप ९१। महादेव उवाच। इति तत्प्रार्थितं तस्य श्रुत्वा च करुणाप्लुतः । तथेति सहपालेन मुनी रक्षोंतिकं ययौ ९२। एकादशेन तेनांबु विश्वरूपेण मंत्रितम् । निक्षिप्तं तस्य शिरसि तेन विप्रेण योगिना ९३। गीताध्यायप्रभावेण शापमोक्षमवाप सः । विहाय राक्षसं देहं चतुर्बाहुस्ततोऽभवत् ९४। निगीर्णा ये जनास्तेन पांथा आसन्सहस्रशः । चतुर्भुजा बभूवुस्ते शंखचक्रगदाधराः ९५। ते विमानान्यारुरुहुस्तावदूचे स राक्षसम् । मदीयस्तनयः कस्तं दर्शयस्व निशाचर ९६। इत्युक्ते ग्रामपालेन दिव्यधीराह राक्षसः । एवं चतुर्भुजं विद्धि तमालश्यामलद्युतिम् ९७। माणिक्यमुकुटं दिव्यमणिकुंडलमंडितम् । हारहारिमहास्कंधं स्वर्णकेयूरभूषितम् ९८। राजीवलोचनं स्निग्धं हस्ते कृतसरोरुहम् । दिव्यं विमानमारूढं देवत्वं प्राप्तमात्मजम् ९९। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुतं दृष्ट्वा च तादृशम् । स्वगेहं नेतुमारेभे जहास स सुतस्ततः 6.185.१००। कति वाराणि जातोऽसि त्वं पुत्रो मम रक्षक । पूर्वपुत्रस्त्वदीयोऽस्मि अधुना विबुधोऽस्म्यहम् १०१। यास्यामि वैष्णवं धाम ब्राह्मणस्य प्रसादतः । निशाचरोऽपि प्राप्तोऽयं पश्य देहं चतुर्भजम् १०२। एकादशस्य माहात्म्याद्याति स्वर्गं समं जनैः । विप्रादस्मात्तमध्यायमधीष्व त्वं जपानिशम् १०३। भविष्यति न संदेहस्तवापि गतिरीदृशी । तात तस्मात्सतां संगं दुर्लभं सर्वथा जनैः १०४। सोप्यद्य ते समुत्पन्नो ह्यात्मनः साधयेप्सितम् । किं धनैर्भोगदानैर्वा किं यज्ञैस्तपसा नु किम् १०५। किं पूर्तैर्वापरं श्रेयो विश्वरूपस्य पाठतः । तद्विष्णोः परमं रूपमध्यायस्य श्रुतेन च १०६। यत्पूर्णानंदसंदोह कृष्णब्रह्मास्यनिर्गतम् । कुरुक्षेत्रेऽर्जुने मित्रे तत्कैवल्यरसायनम् १०७। नृणां च भवभीतानामाधिव्याधिभयापहम् । अनेकजन्मदुःखघ्नं नान्यत्पश्यामि तत्स्मर । शिव उवाच। इत्युक्त्वा सह तैः सर्वैर्ययौ विष्णोः परं पदम् १०८। तमध्यायं ततो विप्राद्ग्रामपालः पपाठ सः । तावुभौ तस्य माहात्म्याज्जग्मतुर्वैष्णवं पदम् १०९। इत्येकादशमाहात्म्य कथा तुभ्यं निरूपिता । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापातकसंक्षयः ११०। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायामुत्तरखंडे गीतामाहात्म्ये सतीश्वरसंवादे पंचाशीत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः १८५।
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7au-mrmU-k8 yūṭyūbopari hindīrūpāntaraṇam]devyuvāca| itihāso'yamīśāna śreyasāṃ sādhanaṃ param | ākarṇya karuṇāpūrṇa mamakāṃkṣā pravarttate 1| ekādaśasya māhātmyamadhyāyasya kathāśrayam | vyāvarṇaya virūpākṣa vaktṝṇāṃ prathama prabho 2| īśvara uvāca-| ākarṇaya kathāṃ kāṃte gītāvarṇanasaṃśrayām | viśvarūpābhidhānasya māhātmyamapi pāvanam 3| adhyāyasya viśālākṣi vaktuṃ tāvanna śakyate | sahasrāṇi kathāḥ saṃti tatraikā kathyate mayā 4| praṇītāyāstaṭe nadyā[https://puranastudy.webnode.com/prajaapaala-prabhaa/pranita/ praṇītā upari ṭippaṇī] meghaṃkaramititīrthaṃ meghakaraṃ nāma svayameva janārdanaḥ|| yatra śārṅgadharo viṣṇurmekhalāyāmavasthitaḥ| - matsyapurāṇam [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/44t 22.40], tasya vā etasya yajñasya megho havirdhānaṃ vidyudagnirvarṣam̐ havistanayitnurvaṣaṭkāro yadavasphūrjati so'nuvaṣaṭkāro vāyurātmā'māvāsyā sviṣṭakṛt-, iti | ya evaṃ vidvānmeghe varṣati vidyotamāne stanayatyavasphūrjati pavamāne vāyāvamāvāsyāyām̐ svādhyāyamadhīte tapa eva tattapyate - taiā [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/h45 2.14.1] śrutam | nagaraṃ garimādhāragirimādhāraṃ iti pāṭhabhedaḥ tuṃgaprākāragopuram 5| viśālāśramaśālāsu svarṇastaṃbhavibhūṣitam | śrīmadbhiḥ sukhibhiḥ śāṃtaiḥ sadācārairjiteṃdriyaiḥ 6| adhiṣṭhitaṃ javaiścāruśṛṃgāṭakamanoharam | maṇistaṃbhasphuratsvarṇāpaṇacatvaraśobhitam 7| patākākiṃkiṇīkvāṇa kadaṃbaka kalasvaram | vedādhyayananirghoṣavācālita digaṃtaram 8| tūryasaṃghoṣaṇākīrṇa viśālavyomamaṃḍalam | patākāpallodbhūtavātanirjitavigraham 9| rājāmārgavaradvāranārīmaṃjīrasiṃjitaiḥ | vallakīveṇukairgīterbhāti vājīṃdra heṣitaiḥ 10| prekṣamāṇamivābhīkṣṇaṃ dikpālānāṃ puraiḥ samam | āste jagatpatiryatra śārṅgapāṇirvirājitaḥ 11| mūrtimatparamaṃ brahma jagallocanajīvitamlocanajīvinaḥ iti pāṭhaḥ | lakṣmīnayanarājīva pūjitākāragauravaḥ 12| trivikramavapurmeghaśyāmalaḥ komaladyutiḥ | śrīvatsavakṣārājīva vanamālāvibhūṣitaḥ 13| anekabhūṣaṇopetaḥ saratna iva vāridhiḥ | calatsaudāminīdāma sāṃdrameghasamadyutiḥ 14| tasyāste mukuṭe sākṣātśārṅgapāṇiḥ paraḥ pumān | taṃ dṛṣṭvā mucyate jaṃturjanmasaṃsārabaṃdhanāt 15| yasminpure mahātīrthaṃ vidyate mekhalābhidhamatha mekhalāṃ pariharate | aṅgiraso ha vai dīkṣitānabalyamavindattenānyadvratādaśanamavākalpayaṃsta etāmūrjamapaśyantsamāptiṃ tāṃ madhyata ātmana ūrjamadadhata samāptiṃ tayā samāpnuvaṃstatho evaiṣa etāṃ madhyata ātmana ūrjaṃ dhatte samāptiṃ tayā samāpnoti - māśa [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/erh 3.2.1.10], [https://www.angelfire.com/in4/vedastudy/pur_index23/mekhalaa.htm mekhalāupari ṭippaṇī] | yatra snātvā narairnityaṃ prāpyate vaiṣṇavaṃ padam 16| tatra vīkṣya jagannāthaṃ narasiṃhaṃ kṛpārṇavam | saptajanmārjitāddhorānmucyate duṣkṛtānnaraḥ 17| mekhalāyāṃ gaṇādhīśaṃ vilokayati yo naraḥ| sa nistarati vighnāni dustarāṇyapi sarvadā | brahmacaryaparo dāṃto nirmamo nirahaṃkṛtiḥ 18| tasminmeghaṃkare kaścidabhūdbrāhmaṇasattamaḥ | sunaṃda iti vikhyāto vedaśāstraviśāradaḥ 19| vaśīkṛteṃndriyagrāmo vāsudevaparāyaṇaḥ | devasya śārṅgiṇaḥ pārśve gītādhyāyamimaṃ priye 20| ekādaśaṃ paṭhatyeṣa viśvarūpapradarśanam | adhyāyasya prabhāvena brahmajñānamavāpa saḥ 21| paramānaṃdasaṃdoha ślāghyasaṃvitsamādhinā | pratyaṅmukheṃdriyatayāniścalāṃ sthitimīyuṣā 22| satataṃ sthīyate tena jīvanmuktena yoginā | ekadā sa mahāyogī siṃharāśisthite gurau 23| godāvarītīrthayātrāṃasyādhyāyasya prāraṃbhaṃ praṇītānadītaḥ, pretilakṣaṇataḥ abhavat| godāvarīśabdataḥ pratīyate yat ayaṃ godhāvarīrūpeṇa eti lakṣaṇasya sūcakaḥ asti| sūryasya yā ūrjā raśmirūpeṇa pṛthivī gṛhṇāti, tasyāḥ samyak dhāraṇam| dra. [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/wr1 sarasvatīrahasyoopaniṣat] vidhātumupacakrame | prathame'hni samāgatya virajaṃ tīrthamuttamam 24| nābhimārabhya tīrtheṣu sa samabhyarcya devatām | majjanmajjanjagaddhātrīṃmajjanmārjanjagaddhātrīṃ iti pāṭhaḥ kamalāṃ sa vyalokayat 25| tāṃ saṃpūjya mahāmāyāṃ sarvakāmaphalapradām | tārātīrthe tataḥ snātvā kapilāsaṃgame tataḥ 26| aṣṭatīrthamasau cakre vidhāya pitṛtarpaṇam | kumārīśaṃ śivaṃ natvā kapilādvāramāyayau 27| tatra nirmajjya nirdhūtaprāgjanmāṃtaraduṣkṛtaḥ | saṃpūjya natvā śrutvā ca devaṃ vai madhusūdanam 28| uṣitvā tatra tāṃ rātriṃ prāgātprātaḥ saha dvijaiḥ | narasiṃhavane tatra tīrthe rāmasya dīrghikā | prahlādapūjitaḥ sākṣādāste yatra nṛkesarī 29| taṃ dṛṣṭvā devadeveśaṃ pūjayitvā tu bhaktitaḥ | tatra taṃ divasaṃ nītvā sa yayāvaṃbikāpuram 30| anugraheṇa bhaktānāmaṃbikā tatra tiṣṭhati | pūrayaṃti manuṣyāṇāṃ vāṃcchitānyakhilānyapi 31| pūjayitvāṃbikāṃ bhaktyā puṣpagaṃdhānulepanaiḥ | upahāraiśca vividhaiḥ stautraiḥ praṇamanairapi 32| viprastasmātpurā prāptaḥ kaṃṭhasthānābhidhaṃ puram | yatrāste paramā śaktirmahālakṣmīrmahādyutiḥ 33| tāmavekṣya sudhābhānubhāskaradyutimaṃḍalām | saṃsāratāpaviccheda padmapīyūṣavāhinīm 34| yogirājahṛdaṃbhoja rājahaṃsaniṣevitām | anāhatamahānādamayīmadvayarūpiṇīm 35| mahālakṣmīṃ bhagavatīṃ vāṃchitārthapradāyinīm | ārādhya bhaktibhāvena cetasā sa munīśvaraḥ 36| vivāhamaṃḍapaṃ prāpa puraṃ vipraiḥ samanvitaḥ | pure tatra pratigṛhaṃ vāsasthānamayācata 37| na lebhe vasatiṃ sthātuṃ gehe kasminnapi dvijaḥ | darśitaṃ grāmapālena viśālaṃ vāsamaṃdiram 38| praviśya vasatiṃ cakre brāhmaṇaḥ saṃgibhiḥ saha | tataḥ prabhāte vimale sunaṃdo'sau dvijottamaḥ 39| bahirālokayāṃcakre vāsagehānnijaṃ vapuḥ | adhvanyānakhilānyatra jātānkvāpi yadṛcchayā 40| gamyamānaḥ samāyāṃtaṃ grāmapālo dadarśa saḥ | taṃ babhāṣe grāmapāla āyuṣmānasi sarvaśaḥ 41| bhāgadheyavatāṃ puṃsāṃ puṇyaḥ puṇyavatāmasi | prabhāvo vidyate vatsa kopi lokottarastvayi 42| kva prayātāḥ sahāyāste kathaṃ tatsadanādbahiḥ | tatpaśya muniśārdūla kathayāmi tavāgrataḥ 43| kiṃtu nānyaṃ tvayā tulyaṃ paśyāmīha tapasvinam | kiṃ jānāsi mahāmaṃtraṃ kāṃ vidyāmavalaṃbase 44| kasya devasya kāruṇyācchaktirlokottarā tvayi | tatkāruṇyavaśāttiṣṭha grāme'sminbrāhmaṇottama 45| śuśrūṣāmakhilāmeva bhagavaṃste karomyaham | iti saṃvāsayāmāsa tasmingrāme munīśvaram 46| paricaryā ca tasyāsau bhaktyā cakre divāniśam | divaseṣu prayāteṣu saptāṣṭasu sameyivān 47| prātarāgatya tasyāgre ruroda bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ | adya me bhāgyahīnasya guṇavānbhaktimānsutaḥ 48| jājvalyamānadaṃṣṭreṇa bhakṣito niśi rakṣasā | ityevaṃ rakṣakeṇoktaṃ taṃ papraccha sa saṃyamī 49| kvāste sa rākṣasaḥ putro bhakṣitaste kathaṃ vada | grāmapāla uvāca-| vartate nagare ghoraḥ puruṣādo niśācaraḥ 6.185.50| sa khādati narānetya nityaṃ nagaragocarān | sa sarvairnāgarairatra prārthitaḥ puruṣaiḥ purā 51| rakṣa rākṣasa naḥ sarvāngrāsaṃ te kalpayāmahe | pathikā niśi nidraṃti ye ca tānbhuṃkṣva rākṣasa 52| etasminsadane pāṃthāngrāmapālapraveśitān | āhāraṃ kalpayāṃcakrurātmīyaprāṇaguptaye 53| bhavānsuptogṛhe'muṣminnadhanyaiḥ saṃyutaḥ paraiḥ | te grastāḥ kila cānena na tvaṃ muktosi dvijottama 54| prabhāvaṃ bhavato vetti bhavāneva dvijottama | madīya tanayasyādya mitramekamupāgatam 55| ajānatā mayā so'pi tanayasya priyaḥ sakhā | anyaiḥ pāṃthajanaiḥ sārddhaṃ tasmingehe praveśitaḥ 56| śrutvā tatra praviṣṭaṃ taṃ niśīthe tanayo mama | tamānetuṃ gataḥ so'pi bhakṣitastena rakṣasā 57| duḥkhitena mayā proktaḥ prātaḥ sa piśitāśanaḥ | mamāpi putro duṣṭātmanbhavatā niśi bhakṣitaḥ 58| bhavajjaṭharanirmagnaḥ suto'sau yena jīvati | asti caivamupāyaste brūhi me tvaṃ niśācara 59| rākṣasa uvāca-| aṃtaḥpraviṣṭā tvatputramajñātvāhamabhakṣayam | ajānanbhakṣitaḥ pāṃthaiḥ sahito'sau sutastava 60| yathā jīvati me kukṣau yathā bhavati rakṣitaḥ | tathā vihitamapyasti daivena parameṣṭhinā 61| gītaikādaśamadhyāyaṃ yaḥ paṭhatyaniśaṃ dvijaḥ | tatprabhāvena me muktirmṛtānāṃ punarudbhavaḥ 62| grāmapāla uvāca-| kathamekādaśādhyāyasāmarthyamidamadbhutam 63| iti pṛṣṭo mayā vipra sa babhāṣe niśācaraḥ 64| purā gṛdhreṇa kenāpi nabhomārgeṇa gacchatā | asthikhaṃḍaṃ svatuṃḍāgrātpātitaṃ kvāpi vāriṇi 65| taṃ jalāśayamāgatyako'pi jñānīśvarastadā | mahātīrthamiti jñātvā vidadhe pitṛtarpaṇam 66| tamūcire janāḥ sarve tīrthametatkathaṃ vada | japatyekādaśādhyāyaṃ trisandhyaṃ niyateṃdriyaḥ 67| kṛtamaunastu vipro'sau caurairvyāpāditaḥ pathi | tasyāsthiśakalaṃ gṛdhravadanātpatitaṃ jale 68| tena tīrthamidaṃ divyaṃ jātaṃ pātakanāśanam | tataste mānavāḥ sarve sasnustatra jalāśaye 69| niṣkalmaṣatayā caivaṃ prāpuste paramaṃ padam | ekādaśasya sāmarthyādadhyāyasya bhaviṣyati 70| mamāpi muktiḥ pāṃthānāṃ punarutthānameva ca | yo mayā kaścidudgīrṇo brāhmaṇo'traiva tiṣṭhati 71| sa ca ekādaśādhyāyaṃ japati sma niraṃtaram | sa tenādhyāyamaṃtreṇa saptavārābhimaṃtritam 72| vidhāya vāri vipreṃdraḥ kṣipedyadi mamopari | tato me śāpanirmuktirbhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | iti tenāsmi saṃdiṣṭaḥ samāyātastvadaṃtikam 73| vipra uvāca-| rākṣasaḥ kena pāpena jātosau vada rakṣaka | yatkṣapāyāṃ gṛhe tasminnarānkhādati nidritān 74| grāmapāla uvāca| asmingrāme purā kaścidāsīdvipraḥ kṛṣīvalaḥ | ekadā śālikedārarakṣaṇe vyākulo dvijaḥ 75| nātidūre mahāgṛdhraḥ pāṃthamekamabhakṣayat | taṃ vimocayituṃ dūrāddayāṃcakre'pi tāpasaḥ 76| bhuktvā pāṃthaṃ khagastāvanniragādaṃbarādhvanā | tataḥ sa tāpasaḥ kopāttaṃ babhāṣe kṛṣīvalam 77| dhiktvāṃ hālika durbuddhe kaṭhoramatinirghṛṇa | kukṣibharaṃ paratrāṇa vimukhaṃ hatajīvitam 78| coraiśca daṃṣṭribhiḥ sarppairarivahniviṣāṃbubhiḥ | gṛdhrarākṣasabhūtaiśca vetālādibhirāhatān 79| janānupekṣate śaktaḥ sa tadvadhaphalaṃ labhet | na mocayati yo vipraṃ prabhuścorādibhirdhṛtam 80| sa yāti narakaṃ ghoraṃ sa punarjāyate vṛkaḥ | nihanyamānaṃ vipine gṛdhravyāghreṇa pīḍitam 81| muṃcamuceti yo vakti sa yāti paramāṃ gatim | gavāmarthe hatā vyāghrairvyādhairduṣṭaiśca rājabhiḥ 82| tepi yāṃti padaṃ viṣṇorduṣprāpyaṃ yogināmapi | aśvamedhasahasrāṇi vājapeyaśatāni ca 83| śaraṇāgatasaṃtrāṇa kalāṃ nārhaṃti ṣoḍaśīm | dīnasyopekṣaṇaṃ kṛtvā bhītasya ca śarīriṇaḥ 84| puṇyavānapi kālena kuṃbhīpāke sa pacyate | paśyannapi bhavān pāṃthaṃ duṣṭagṛdhreṇa bhakṣitam 85| nivāraṇasamarthopi na cakre yannivāraṇam | niṣkṛposi yatastasmādbhaviṣyasi niśācaraḥ 86| imāṃ śāpaṃ mune śrutvā kaṃpamānakalevaraḥ | praṇamya hāliko vipraṃ babhāṣe karuṇaṃ vacaḥ 87| atrāhaṃ kṣetrarakṣāyāṃ ciraṃ kṣiptena cakṣuṣā | na vedmi nikaṭaṃ gṛdhra hanyamānamimaṃ naram 88| tena me'nugrahaṃ kartuṃ kṛpaṇasya tvamarhasi | vipra uvāca| yo vettyekādaśādhyāyaṃ japatyanudinaṃ ca yaḥ 89| tenābhimaṃtritaṃ vāri yadā śirasi tāvake | patiṣyati tadā śāpāttava muktirbhaviṣyati 90| ityuktvā tāpaso yāto hāliko rākṣaso'bhavat | tadāgaccha dvijaśreṣṭha tenādhyāyena maṃtraya | tīrthodakaṃ svahastena tasya mūrddhani nikṣipa 91| mahādeva uvāca| iti tatprārthitaṃ tasya śrutvā ca karuṇāplutaḥ | tatheti sahapālena munī rakṣoṃtikaṃ yayau 92| ekādaśena tenāṃbu viśvarūpeṇa maṃtritam | nikṣiptaṃ tasya śirasi tena vipreṇa yoginā 93| gītādhyāyaprabhāveṇa śāpamokṣamavāpa saḥ | vihāya rākṣasaṃ dehaṃ caturbāhustato'bhavat 94| nigīrṇā ye janāstena pāṃthā āsansahasraśaḥ | caturbhujā babhūvuste śaṃkhacakragadādharāḥ 95| te vimānānyāruruhustāvadūce sa rākṣasam | madīyastanayaḥ kastaṃ darśayasva niśācara 96| ityukte grāmapālena divyadhīrāha rākṣasaḥ | evaṃ caturbhujaṃ viddhi tamālaśyāmaladyutim 97| māṇikyamukuṭaṃ divyamaṇikuṃḍalamaṃḍitam | hārahārimahāskaṃdhaṃ svarṇakeyūrabhūṣitam 98| rājīvalocanaṃ snigdhaṃ haste kṛtasaroruham | divyaṃ vimānamārūḍhaṃ devatvaṃ prāptamātmajam 99| iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sutaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca tādṛśam | svagehaṃ netumārebhe jahāsa sa sutastataḥ 6.185.100| kati vārāṇi jāto'si tvaṃ putro mama rakṣaka | pūrvaputrastvadīyo'smi adhunā vibudho'smyaham 101| yāsyāmi vaiṣṇavaṃ dhāma brāhmaṇasya prasādataḥ | niśācaro'pi prāpto'yaṃ paśya dehaṃ caturbhajam 102| ekādaśasya māhātmyādyāti svargaṃ samaṃ janaiḥ | viprādasmāttamadhyāyamadhīṣva tvaṃ japāniśam 103| bhaviṣyati na saṃdehastavāpi gatirīdṛśī | tāta tasmātsatāṃ saṃgaṃ durlabhaṃ sarvathā janaiḥ 104| sopyadya te samutpanno hyātmanaḥ sādhayepsitam | kiṃ dhanairbhogadānairvā kiṃ yajñaistapasā nu kim 105| kiṃ pūrtairvāparaṃ śreyo viśvarūpasya pāṭhataḥ | tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ rūpamadhyāyasya śrutena ca 106| yatpūrṇānaṃdasaṃdoha kṛṣṇabrahmāsyanirgatam | kurukṣetre'rjune mitre tatkaivalyarasāyanam 107| nṛṇāṃ ca bhavabhītānāmādhivyādhibhayāpaham | anekajanmaduḥkhaghnaṃ nānyatpaśyāmi tatsmara | śiva uvāca| ityuktvā saha taiḥ sarvairyayau viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam 108| tamadhyāyaṃ tato viprādgrāmapālaḥ papāṭha saḥ | tāvubhau tasya māhātmyājjagmaturvaiṣṇavaṃ padam 109| ityekādaśamāhātmya kathā tubhyaṃ nirūpitā | yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa mahāpātakasaṃkṣayaḥ 110| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahasrasaṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe gītāmāhātmye satīśvarasaṃvāde paṃcāśītyadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 185|
English translation
[ Note : this page corresponds to chapter 185 of the Book 6 (Uttarakhaṇḍa) of the translation of The Padmapurāṇa ]
The goddess said :
1-2. O god, this history is a great means of accomplishing the good. O merciful one, my desire is further aroused on hearing it. O Virūpākṣa , O the first (i.e. greatest) one among speakers, explain to me the importance of the eleventh chapter (of the Gītā ) supported by a story.
The lord said :
3-17. O dear one, listen to a story resting on the description of the Gītā. Even the greatness of the chapter (called) Viśvarūpa (- darśana ) is purifying. O you of large eyes, (the greatness of) the chapter cannot be told. There are thousands of stories. One of them will be told by me. On the bank of the river Pragītā there was a city known as Meghaṅkara. It had a heavily laid foundation, lofty ramparts and gates. It had big (sacrificial) halls of hermitages adorned with golden pillars. Rich, happy, calm, well-behaved men with their senses controlled and speedy in their actions lived there. It was charming with the places where four roads met. It was adorned with markets and quadrangulars where gold in the jewelled pillars was shining. In it the sweet and indistinct sound of the multitude of (moving) banners and jingling bells was (heard). The atmosphere was shaken with the loud noise of Vedic recitation. The vast sky was full of the loud sounds of musical instruments. It won battles with the breezes due to flags and foliage ( obscure ). It appeared splendid with the jingling sounds of the anklets of women on the royal path and at the excellent gates, and with (sounds of) lutes, flutes , songs and the neighings of excellent horses. It constantly appeared to be equal to the cities of the regents of the quarters. There the lord of the world, Śārṅgapāṇi, shone. He was the embodiment of the highest Brahman , and the life of the sight of the world. His great form was worshipped by the lotus-eyes of Lakṣmī ( obscure ). His body was that of Trivikrama ; he was dark like a cloud. His lustre was mild; he had Śrīvatsa (mark) on his chest; and was adorned with lotuses and garland of wood-flowers. He was having (i.e. had put on) many ornaments and was, as it were, the ocean full of jewels. His lustre was like that of a cloud with the flashing of the streak of lightning. On his (?) crown dwelt the highest soul Śārṅgapāṇi himself. On seeing him a living being is freed from the bondage of the worldly existence. In that city there was a great holy place called Mekhalā . By bathing there men always obtained the position of Viṣṇu . Having seen Narasiṃha , the lord of the world, the ocean of pity there, a man is free from a terrible sin committed during seven existences.
18-27. A man who sees the lord of gaṇas at Mekhalā always overcomes dangers, even though they are difficult to be overcome. In that Meghaṅkara (city) there lived an excellent brāhmaṇa who practised celibacy and self-control, who was free from the feeling of mineness and from egotism. He was well-known as Sunanda , and was proficient in the Vedas and in (other) holy texts. He had subjugated the group of his senses; he was highly devoted to Vāsudeva . O dear one, by the side of god Śārṅgin he recited this eleventh chapter (of the Gītā called) Manifestation of the Cosmic Form. The ascetic obtained knowledge of Brahman due to the power of the chapter. The meditating saint, enjoying liberation (even) while alive, desiring to reach a steady condition, always remained in profound intellectual meditation, praiseworthy due to the mass of great joy. Once that great meditating saint set out on a pilgrimage to Godāvarī when Jupiter was in the Zodiacal sign Leo. Having, on the first day, come to the excellent holy place Viraja , and having begun with the centre among the holy places, he bathed again and again, and saw Kamalā (i.e. Lakṣmī), the prop of the world. Having worshipped her, the great divine power, giving the fruit of all desires and then bathing at Tārātīrtha, then at the confluence of Kapilā , he visited the eight holy places. Then having offered oblations to the dead ancestors, having bowed to the lord of Kumārī , Śiva , he came to Kapilādvāra.
28-40. Having bathed there, and washed off the sins of former existences, having worshipped, saluted and heard (about) god Viṣṇu and having lived there for that night, he went with the brāhmaṇas from it in the morning. In the forest Narasiṃha there is at the holy place a well sacred to Rāma . Narasiṃha worshipped by Prahlāda himself dwells there. Having seen that lord of gods, having devoutly worshipped him, and having passed the day there, he went to the city of Ambikā . Ambikā, showering grace on her devotees, dwells there. She fulfils all the desires of men. Having devoutly worshipped Ambikā with flowers and unguents, with various hymns, and salutations also, the brāhmaṇa then reached the city called Kaṇṭhasthāna in olden times. There the great power, Mahālakṣmī , of great lustre, dwells. Having seen her, having the orb of the brightness of nectar and the sun, the river of the nectar from lotuses cutting off the torment of the worldly existence, and served by royal swans of the lotuses of the hearts of best meditating saints, full of the sound produced without beating, and of the form having no second, having worshipped with a devout heart that revered Mahālakṣī, giving desired objects, the lord of sages reached along with the brāhmaṇas, the city called Vivāhamaṇḍapa. In every house in the city he. asked for taking shelter. The brāhmaṇa could not get lodging in any house. The head of the village showed to him a big temple to stay in. The brāhmaṇa entering it with his companions stayed there. Then when it was bright morning he saw from his place of lodging his body, where by chance all travellers were produced. When he was going, the village-head saw him coming (to him).
41-50a. The village-head said to him: “You are by all means a long-lived one. You are (the best) among the lucky, and (most) auspicious among the auspicious also. O child, you have some extraordinary power. Where have your companions gone? How did they get out of that house? See that, O best sage, I shall tell you. But I do not see here any other ascetic comparable to you. Do you know a great spell? Which science do you practise? Due to the kindness of which god have you this uncommon power? O best brāhmaṇa, then please stay in this village. O revered one, I shall render you every service.” Speaking like this, he made the best sage stay in the village. He devoutly served him day and night. When seven or eight days passed, he came (to him). Having come to him in the morning, he, much grieved, wept before him. “The devout son of me who am luckless today, was eaten at night by a demon having bright fangs.” When the protector (of the village) said like this, the restrained one asked him: “Where is the demon? Tell me how your son was devoured.”
The village-head said :
50b-59. In the city there is a terrible demon eating human beings. Everyday he comes and eats men frequenting the city. All the citizens formerly requested him: “O demon, protect us all. We shall arrange for your food. O demon, eat those travellers who sleep (here) at night.” For protecting his life, he devoured the travellers that were ushered into this house by the village-head. You had slept in this house accompanied by other unlucky persons. They were eaten by him, and you were abandoned, O best brāhmaṇa. O best brāhmaṇa, you know your own power. Today a friend of my son has come. I, being ignorant, (i.e. unknowingly) put that dear (friend) of my son in the (same) house along with other travellers. Hearing that he was put into it, my son went to bring him at night. He too was eaten by the demon. I who was afflicted, said to the demon in the morning: “O wicked-minded one, at night you ate my son also. O demon, tell me if there is a means by which my son gone down into your belly will be revived.”
The demon said :
60-63a. Through ignorance I devoured your son that has gone into (my belly). This your son was eaten by me through ignorance along with the travellers. Brahma has also laid down (the way) in which he who has entered my belly, will be revived. By the power of the brāhmaṇa who constantly recites the eleventh chapter, I shall get salvation and the dead will be revived.
The village-head said :
63b-73. “How does the eleventh chapter have such wonderful power?” O brāhmaṇa, thus asked by me, the demon said: “Formerly some vulture going along the aerial path dropped from its beak a piece of bone somewhere in the water. Someone, best among the wise, having come to that lake, and taking it to be a great holy place, had offered oblations to the dead ancestors. All people said to him: ‘Tell (us) how this is a holy place’. The restrained one muttered the eleventh chapter thrice a day. The brāhmaṇa who had observed silence, was killed by thieves on the way. A piece of his bone fell from the vulture’s beak into water. Due to that this has become a divine holy place destroying sins. Then all those men bathed there in that lake. Due to their being free from sins, they obtained the highest position. Owing to the power of the eleventh chapter, I too will get salvation, and the travellers will again come back to life. The brāhmaṇa spat out by me, will stay here only. If he constantly muttered the eleventh chapter, and if that best brāhmaṇa throws on me the water that is consecrated by the hymn of the eleventh chapter, then, undoubtedly I shall be free from the curse.” Thus told by him, I have come to you.
The brāhmaṇa said :
74-89a. O protector (of the village), tell (me) due to what sin he had become a demon, eating men in the house at night.
The village-head said :
Formerly in this village there was a brāhmaṇa farmer. Once he was busy with the protection of the paddy-field. Not far from him, a great vulture devoured a traveller. An ascetic at a distance took pity on him to free him. Just then the bird ate up the traveller and went by the aerial path. Then the ascetic, through anger, said to the farmer: “O you wicked-minded, harsh-hearted, cruel ploughman, fie upon you who are selfish, averse to protecting others, and of an accursed life. One who though capable, ignores men being struck by thieves, wild boars, serpents, enemies, poisoned water, vultures, demons, evil spirits, goblins etc., would obtain the fruit of their murder. He who being capable, does not free a brāhmaṇa seized by thieves etc. goes to a horrible hell, and is again born as a wolf. He who (seeing one) being killed (or) harassed by a vulture or a tiger in a forest, says ‘Leave (him), leave (him)’, goes to the highest position. Those also who are killed while (protecting) cows by tigers, hunters or wicked kings, go to Viṣṇu’s position, difficult to be obtained even by meditating saints. Thousands of horse-sacrifices and hundreds of Vājapeya sacrifices are not worth even a sixteenth part of the protection of one seeking shelter. Even a meritorious person, by ignoring a helpless and a frightened person, is roasted in the Kumbhīpāka (hell) after (some) time. Since you were unkind, as you on seeing the traveller (being) eaten by the wicked vulture, did not ward off (the vulture) though you were capable of warding it off, you will be (born as) a demon.” Having heard this curse of the sage, the ploughman, with his body trembling, saluted the brāhmaṇa and said (these) piteous words: “With my eyes cast on protecting the field here, I did not notice this man being killed by the vulture. Therefore, please favour me who am helpless.”
The brāhmaṇa said :
89b-91. When the water consecrated by him who knows the eleventh chapter (of the Gītā) and mutters it everyday, falls on your head, then you will be free from the curse.
Speaking like this the ascetic left, and the ploughman became a demon. Therefore, O brāhmaṇa, come on; consecrate him with (the recitation of) that chapter. Drop with your (own) hand the holy water on his head.
Mahādeva said :
92-108b. Having heard this request of him, the sage, full of pity, saying ‘All right’ went with the head of the village near the demon. The brāhmaṇa, the meditating saint, dropped on his head the water consecrated with (the recitation of) the eleventh chapter (called) Viśvarūpa (-darśana). By the power of the chapter of the Gītā, he obtained freedom from the curse. Abandoning the body of the demon he became one having four arms. Those men, the travellers who were ejected, were in thousands. They became four-armed ones holding conches, discs and maces. They got into aeroplanes. At that time he said to the demon: “O demon, which is my son. Show him (to me).” Thus addressed by the village-head, the demon of divine intellect said: “Know your son to be four-armed like these and having dark lustre like the tamāla tree and having a crown of rubies, and adorned with divine, jewelled ear-rings, with great shoulders charming due to a necklace, and adorned with a golden armlet, having lotus-like eyes, affectionate, and holding a lotus in his hand, having got into a divine aeroplane, and having obtained godhead.” Hearing these words of him, and seeing his son like that, he started taking him home. Then the son laughed (and said): “O protector (of the village), for how many times have you become my son? Formerly I was your son, (but) now I am a god. Due to the brāhmaṇa’s favour I shall go to Viṣṇu’s abode. See this demon also has secured a four-armed body. Due to the greatness of the eleventh (chapter) he will go to heaven with (these) people. Learn the chapter from this brāhmaṇa and constantly mutter it. There is no doubt that you wil obtain the same position. Therefore, O father, the company of the good is always difficult to be had by men. That too has come up for you today. Accomplish your desired object. What is the use of wealth, enjoyment, gifts, sacrifices, penance, acts of pious liberality? Final bliss is obtained by the recital of the (chapter called) Viśvarūpa(-darśana). By hearing the chapter (men see) that form of Viṣṇu which is the highest, which came out of the mouth of Kṛṣṇa , the Brahman, the mass of complete joy, which—the nectar of salvation—was spoken by him to his friend Arjuna on Kurukṣetra , which removes maladies, diseases and fears of men afraid of the mundane existence, which destroys the misery of many existences. I do not see any other (hymn) like that. Remember it.”
Śiva said :
108c-110. Speaking like this, he went to Viṣṇu’s highest position with them. The village-head learnt that chapter from the brāhmaṇa. Due to its greatness both of them went to Viṣṇu’s position. Thus I have told you the account of the eleventh chapter, by merely hearing which great sins perish.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44904, revision 334328 (2022-03-31T12:30:16Z). 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/doc365767.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.