Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 192
Sourceपावर्त्युवाच- उक्तं सप्तदशाध्यायगौरवं भवता शिव । स त्वमष्टादशाध्यायमहिमानमुदीरय १। ईश्वर उवाच-। आकर्णय चिदानंद निष्पादि निगमोत्तरम् । पुण्यमष्टादशाध्यायमाहात्म्यं गिरिनंदिनि २। समस्तशास्त्रसर्वस्वं श्रोत्रप्राप्तं रसायनम् । संसारयातनाजालविदारणपरायणम् ३। परं रहस्यं सिद्धानामविद्योन्मूलनक्षमम् । चैतन्यं कैटभारातेरग्रगण्यं परं पदम् ४। विवेकवल्लरीमूलं कामक्रोधमलापहम् । पुरंदरादिगीर्वाणचित्तविश्रामकारकम् ५। सनकादिमहायोगिमनोरंजनकारणम् । पाठमात्रपराभूतकालकिंकरगर्जितम् ६। अष्टोत्तरशतव्याधिमूलोन्मूलनकारकम् । नातः परतरं किंचिद्रहस्यं हंसगामिनि ७। उपतापत्रयहरं महापातकनाशनम् । यथाकालेष्वहं नित्यो यथा पशुषु कामधुक् ८। यथा व्यासो मुनींद्रेषु व्यासेषु ब्रह्मवित्तमः । यथा दिवौकसां शक्रो गुरुः शक्राद्यथा वरः ९। यथा रसानां पीयूषमुत्तमं विश्वविश्रुतम् । तथा गिरीणां कैलासो यथा चेंद्रो दिवौकसाम् १०। तीर्थानां पुष्करं तीर्थं यथा पुष्पेषु पंकजम् । पतिव्रतासु नारीषु यथा लोकेष्वरुंधती ११। यथा मखेष्वश्वमेधो यथोद्यानेषु नंदनम् । यथारुद्रेषु सर्वेषु वीरभद्रो ममानुगः १२। यथा दानेषु भूदानं यथा सिंधुषु गौतमी । यथा लोके हरिक्षेत्रं प्रशस्तं धर्मकर्मसु १३। तथैवाष्टादशाध्यायमाहात्म्यं भुवनोत्तरम् । तत्राख्यानमिदं पुण्यं भक्त्याकर्णय पार्वति १४। यथाकर्णनमात्रेण जंतुः पापैः प्रमुच्यते । अस्ति मेरुगिरेः शृंगे पुरी रम्यामरावती १५। पुरा मम विनोदाय निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा । निरंतरं गुणयुता कोटिगीर्वाणसेविता १६। तेजःपुंजवती साक्षाद्ब्रह्मविद्येव विश्रुता । चिंतामणिशिलाबद्धाः प्रासादा यत्र कामदाः १७। जयंति मेरुशिखरे चतुर्मुखपुरावधि । यत्र कल्पद्रुमच्छाया सुखासीना पुलोमजा १८। शृणोति श्यामला गीर्भिर्गीतं गंधर्वयोषिताम् । यत्रास्ते सबलारातिर्देवैश्च दलितायुषाम् १९। दैत्यानां रक्तकल्लोलैः स्वर्धुनी शोणतां गता । पुरातनसुधास्वादु स्मारं स्मारं दिवौकसः २०। धयंति यत्र क्षुत्क्षामा कलां प्रत्यहमैंदवीम् । तस्यां कैवल्यकल्पायामासीत्पूर्वं शतक्रतुः २१। शची समन्वितः श्रीमान्सर्वगीर्वाणसेवितः । स कदाचित्सुखासीनो विष्णुदूतैरधिश्रितम् २२। सहस्रनेत्रमायांतमपश्यत्पुरुषं परम् । ततस्तदीय तेजोभिरभिभूतः पुरंदरः २३। मणिसिंहासनात्तूर्णं पतितः स्थानमंडपे । सिंहासनात्प्रयातस्य ततस्तस्य हरेर्भटाः २४। गीर्वाणगणसाम्राज्य पट्टबंधं वितेनिरे । अथ तस्याभिषिक्तस्य महेंद्रस्य पुलोमजा २५। वामांकमारुरोहाशु दिव्यदुंदुंभिनिःस्वनैः । अथ त्रिदिवसंगीत गीर्वाणाः प्रमदान्विताः २६। सुरा नीराजयामासुर्दिव्यरत्नैः सुरस्त्रियः । ततो वै ऋषयो वेदैराशीर्वादास्तदा ददुः २७। रंभाद्या ननृतुस्तस्य पुरस्तादप्सरोगणाः । गंधर्वा ललितालापाञ्जगुर्मंगलकौतुकम् २८। एवं नूतनमिंद्रं तु जुष्टं बहुभिरुत्सवैः । विना शतक्रतुं दृष्ट्वा शक्रो विस्मयमाययौ २९। न मया विहिता मार्गे तडागा न विनिर्मिताः । न रोपिता महावृक्षाः पांथविश्रांतिकारकः ३०। न कदाचिदहो दृष्टो देवस्त्रिपुरभैरवः । निधिवासे स्थिता देवी पूजिता न मदालसा ३१। मेघंकरस्थितः शार्ङ्गधरो नैव निरीक्षितः । न कृतं विरजे स्नानं नैवं काशीं पुरीं गतः ३२। न देववाटिकावासी दृष्टो नरहरिः स्वयम् । एरंडविष्णुर्हेरंबो न जातु परिशीलितः ३३। रेणुकानेक्षिता जातु माता पुरनिवासिनी । न भक्त्या पूजिता देवी दाना पुरनिवासिनी ३४। न भक्त्या त्रिपुरे दृष्टस्त्रिलिंगस्त्र्यंबकः स्वयम् । न शार्दूलतडागस्थो वीक्षितः सोमनाथकः ३५। रेवापुरस्थितो देवो घुसृणेशो न वीक्षितः । नागदंतपुरे ख्यातो नागनाथो न वेक्षितः ३६। पर्णग्रामस्थितो दृष्टो न महानमृतेश्वरः । न तुंगभद्रा तीरस्थो दृष्टो हरिहरः स्वयम् ३७। न वेंकटाद्रिनिलयः श्रीनिवासः सुलक्षितः । कावेरी कर्णिकातीरे श्रीरंगो नैव वीक्षितः ३८। दीनास्त्वनाथाः क्रोशंतः कारागारान्न मोचिताः । अन्नदानेन दौर्भिक्षे प्राणिनो नैव पूजिताः ३९। रात्रौ रात्रौ कृता क्वापिनिर्जले नोदकप्रभा ४०। न गौतम्यां कृतं स्नानं न दृष्टो हरिणेश्वरः । कृष्णवेण्यां च न कृतं स्नानं कन्यागते गुरौ ४१। दत्तं नो भूखंडमपि कवयो नैव पूजिताः । न तीर्थेषु कृतं सत्रं न ग्रामेषु कृता मखाः ४२। पुष्करिण्यो न विहिता मध्ये मार्गं बहूदकाः । न प्रासादाः कृताः क्वापि ब्रह्मविष्णुपिनाकिनाम् ४३। न जातुचिद्भयाक्रांता रक्षिताः शरणागताः । कथमेकेन पुण्येन देवदत्तमिहार्जितम् ४४। इति चिंताकुलो भूत्वा हरिं प्रष्टुं पुरंदरः । ययौ सरभसंखिन्नः क्षीरकूपारगह्वरम् ४५। तत्र प्रविश्य गोविंदं कृतनिद्रं नवैस्तवैः । अकस्मान्निजसाम्राज्यभ्रंशदुःखमुवाच ह ४६। इंद्र उवाच-। रमाकांत भवत्प्रीत्यै कृतं क्रतुशतं पुरा । तेन पुण्येन संप्राप्तं मया पौरंदरं पदम् ४७। इदानीं नूतनः कोऽपि जातो दिवि पुरंदरः । न तेन धर्मो विहितो न तेन क्रतवः कृताः ४८। मम सिंहासनं दिव्यं कथमाक्रांतमच्युत ४९। महादेव उवाच-। इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य श्रुत्वा वाचं रमापतिः । उन्मीलितस्मिताक्षो सावुवाच मधुरं वचः 6.192.५०। श्रीभगवानुवाच-। किं दानैरल्पफलदैः किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः । वर्त्तमानः क्षितितले सत्वं प्रीणितवान्पुरा ५१। इन्द्र उवाच-। भगवन्कर्मणा केन स त्वां प्रीणितवान्द्विजः । यत्प्रीत्या भगवान्प्रादात्तस्मै पौरंदरं पदम् ५२। श्रीभगवानुवाच । जपत्यष्टादशाध्याये गीतानां श्लोकपंचकम् । यत्पुण्येन च संप्राप्तं तव साम्राज्यमुत्तमम् ५३। सर्वपुण्यशिरोरत्न भूतेन त्वं स्थिरो भव । इति विष्णोर्वचः श्रुत्वा ज्ञातोपायं पुरंदरः ५४। विप्रवेषधरो भूत्वा गतो गोदावरीतटम् । तत्रापश्यत्पुरं पुण्यं कालिकाग्राममुत्तमम् ५५। यत्र कालेश्वरो देवो वर्त्तते कालमर्दनः । तत्र गोदावरी तीरे स्थितं परमधार्मिकम् ५६। अपश्यत्करुणावंतं ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम् । नित्यमष्टादशाध्यायं जपंतं दांतचेतसम् ५७। ततस्तच्चरणद्वंद्वे लुठित्वा परया मुदा । सत्वमष्टादशाध्यायमपठत्तेन शिक्षितम् ५८। अथ पुण्येन तेनाऽसौ विष्णोः सायुज्यमाययौ । हित्वा पुरंदरादीनां देवानां पदमल्पकम् ५९। ज्ञात्वातीव मुदायुक्तो वैकुंठमगमत्पुरम् । अतएव परं तत्वं मुनीनामिदमुत्तमम् ६०। दिव्यमष्टादशाध्यायमाहात्म्यं कथितं मया । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ६१। इत्येवं गीतामाहात्म्यं कथितं पापनाशनम् । पुण्यं पवित्रमायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् ६२। यः शृणोति महाभागे श्रद्धया संयुतः पुमान् । सर्वयज्ञफलं प्राप्य विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ६३। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां उत्तरखंडे सतीश्वरसंवादे गीतामाहात्म्ये द्विनवत्यधिक शततमोऽध्यायः १९२।
pāvartyuvāca- uktaṃ saptadaśādhyāyagauravaṃ bhavatā śiva | sa tvamaṣṭādaśādhyāyamahimānamudīraya 1| īśvara uvāca-| ākarṇaya cidānaṃda niṣpādi nigamottaram | puṇyamaṣṭādaśādhyāyamāhātmyaṃ girinaṃdini 2| samastaśāstrasarvasvaṃ śrotraprāptaṃ rasāyanam | saṃsārayātanājālavidāraṇaparāyaṇam 3| paraṃ rahasyaṃ siddhānāmavidyonmūlanakṣamam | caitanyaṃ kaiṭabhārāteragragaṇyaṃ paraṃ padam 4| vivekavallarīmūlaṃ kāmakrodhamalāpaham | puraṃdarādigīrvāṇacittaviśrāmakārakam 5| sanakādimahāyogimanoraṃjanakāraṇam | pāṭhamātraparābhūtakālakiṃkaragarjitam 6| aṣṭottaraśatavyādhimūlonmūlanakārakam | nātaḥ parataraṃ kiṃcidrahasyaṃ haṃsagāmini 7| upatāpatrayaharaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam | yathākāleṣvahaṃ nityo yathā paśuṣu kāmadhuk 8| yathā vyāso munīṃdreṣu vyāseṣu brahmavittamaḥ | yathā divaukasāṃ śakro guruḥ śakrādyathā varaḥ 9| yathā rasānāṃ pīyūṣamuttamaṃ viśvaviśrutam | tathā girīṇāṃ kailāso yathā ceṃdro divaukasām 10| tīrthānāṃ puṣkaraṃ tīrthaṃ yathā puṣpeṣu paṃkajam | pativratāsu nārīṣu yathā lokeṣvaruṃdhatī 11| yathā makheṣvaśvamedho yathodyāneṣu naṃdanam | yathārudreṣu sarveṣu vīrabhadro mamānugaḥ 12| yathā dāneṣu bhūdānaṃ yathā siṃdhuṣu gautamī | yathā loke harikṣetraṃ praśastaṃ dharmakarmasu 13| tathaivāṣṭādaśādhyāyamāhātmyaṃ bhuvanottaram | tatrākhyānamidaṃ puṇyaṃ bhaktyākarṇaya pārvati 14| yathākarṇanamātreṇa jaṃtuḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate | asti merugireḥ śṛṃge purī ramyāmarāvatī 15| purā mama vinodāya nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā | niraṃtaraṃ guṇayutā koṭigīrvāṇasevitā 16| tejaḥpuṃjavatī sākṣādbrahmavidyeva viśrutā | ciṃtāmaṇiśilābaddhāḥ prāsādā yatra kāmadāḥ 17| jayaṃti meruśikhare caturmukhapurāvadhi | yatra kalpadrumacchāyā sukhāsīnā pulomajā 18| śṛṇoti śyāmalā gīrbhirgītaṃ gaṃdharvayoṣitām | yatrāste sabalārātirdevaiśca dalitāyuṣām 19| daityānāṃ raktakallolaiḥ svardhunī śoṇatāṃ gatā | purātanasudhāsvādu smāraṃ smāraṃ divaukasaḥ 20| dhayaṃti yatra kṣutkṣāmā kalāṃ pratyahamaiṃdavīm | tasyāṃ kaivalyakalpāyāmāsītpūrvaṃ śatakratuḥ 21| śacī samanvitaḥ śrīmānsarvagīrvāṇasevitaḥ | sa kadācitsukhāsīno viṣṇudūtairadhiśritam 22| sahasranetramāyāṃtamapaśyatpuruṣaṃ param | tatastadīya tejobhirabhibhūtaḥ puraṃdaraḥ 23| maṇisiṃhāsanāttūrṇaṃ patitaḥ sthānamaṃḍape | siṃhāsanātprayātasya tatastasya harerbhaṭāḥ 24| gīrvāṇagaṇasāmrājya paṭṭabaṃdhaṃ vitenire | atha tasyābhiṣiktasya maheṃdrasya pulomajā 25| vāmāṃkamārurohāśu divyaduṃduṃbhiniḥsvanaiḥ | atha tridivasaṃgīta gīrvāṇāḥ pramadānvitāḥ 26| surā nīrājayāmāsurdivyaratnaiḥ surastriyaḥ | tato vai ṛṣayo vedairāśīrvādāstadā daduḥ 27| raṃbhādyā nanṛtustasya purastādapsarogaṇāḥ | gaṃdharvā lalitālāpāñjagurmaṃgalakautukam 28| evaṃ nūtanamiṃdraṃ tu juṣṭaṃ bahubhirutsavaiḥ | vinā śatakratuṃ dṛṣṭvā śakro vismayamāyayau 29| na mayā vihitā mārge taḍāgā na vinirmitāḥ | na ropitā mahāvṛkṣāḥ pāṃthaviśrāṃtikārakaḥ 30| na kadācidaho dṛṣṭo devastripurabhairavaḥ | nidhivāse sthitā devī pūjitā na madālasā 31| meghaṃkarasthitaḥ śārṅgadharo naiva nirīkṣitaḥ | na kṛtaṃ viraje snānaṃ naivaṃ kāśīṃ purīṃ gataḥ 32| na devavāṭikāvāsī dṛṣṭo narahariḥ svayam | eraṃḍaviṣṇurheraṃbo na jātu pariśīlitaḥ 33| reṇukānekṣitā jātu mātā puranivāsinī | na bhaktyā pūjitā devī dānā puranivāsinī 34| na bhaktyā tripure dṛṣṭastriliṃgastryaṃbakaḥ svayam | na śārdūlataḍāgastho vīkṣitaḥ somanāthakaḥ 35| revāpurasthito devo ghusṛṇeśo na vīkṣitaḥ | nāgadaṃtapure khyāto nāganātho na vekṣitaḥ 36| parṇagrāmasthito dṛṣṭo na mahānamṛteśvaraḥ | na tuṃgabhadrā tīrastho dṛṣṭo hariharaḥ svayam 37| na veṃkaṭādrinilayaḥ śrīnivāsaḥ sulakṣitaḥ | kāverī karṇikātīre śrīraṃgo naiva vīkṣitaḥ 38| dīnāstvanāthāḥ krośaṃtaḥ kārāgārānna mocitāḥ | annadānena daurbhikṣe prāṇino naiva pūjitāḥ 39| rātrau rātrau kṛtā kvāpinirjale nodakaprabhā 40| na gautamyāṃ kṛtaṃ snānaṃ na dṛṣṭo hariṇeśvaraḥ | kṛṣṇaveṇyāṃ ca na kṛtaṃ snānaṃ kanyāgate gurau 41| dattaṃ no bhūkhaṃḍamapi kavayo naiva pūjitāḥ | na tīrtheṣu kṛtaṃ satraṃ na grāmeṣu kṛtā makhāḥ 42| puṣkariṇyo na vihitā madhye mārgaṃ bahūdakāḥ | na prāsādāḥ kṛtāḥ kvāpi brahmaviṣṇupinākinām 43| na jātucidbhayākrāṃtā rakṣitāḥ śaraṇāgatāḥ | kathamekena puṇyena devadattamihārjitam 44| iti ciṃtākulo bhūtvā hariṃ praṣṭuṃ puraṃdaraḥ | yayau sarabhasaṃkhinnaḥ kṣīrakūpāragahvaram 45| tatra praviśya goviṃdaṃ kṛtanidraṃ navaistavaiḥ | akasmānnijasāmrājyabhraṃśaduḥkhamuvāca ha 46| iṃdra uvāca-| ramākāṃta bhavatprītyai kṛtaṃ kratuśataṃ purā | tena puṇyena saṃprāptaṃ mayā pauraṃdaraṃ padam 47| idānīṃ nūtanaḥ ko'pi jāto divi puraṃdaraḥ | na tena dharmo vihito na tena kratavaḥ kṛtāḥ 48| mama siṃhāsanaṃ divyaṃ kathamākrāṃtamacyuta 49| mahādeva uvāca-| ityevaṃ vadatastasya śrutvā vācaṃ ramāpatiḥ | unmīlitasmitākṣo sāvuvāca madhuraṃ vacaḥ 6.192.50| śrībhagavānuvāca-| kiṃ dānairalpaphaladaiḥ kiṃ tapobhiḥ kimadhvaraiḥ | varttamānaḥ kṣititale satvaṃ prīṇitavānpurā 51| indra uvāca-| bhagavankarmaṇā kena sa tvāṃ prīṇitavāndvijaḥ | yatprītyā bhagavānprādāttasmai pauraṃdaraṃ padam 52| śrībhagavānuvāca | japatyaṣṭādaśādhyāye gītānāṃ ślokapaṃcakam | yatpuṇyena ca saṃprāptaṃ tava sāmrājyamuttamam 53| sarvapuṇyaśiroratna bhūtena tvaṃ sthiro bhava | iti viṣṇorvacaḥ śrutvā jñātopāyaṃ puraṃdaraḥ 54| vipraveṣadharo bhūtvā gato godāvarītaṭam | tatrāpaśyatpuraṃ puṇyaṃ kālikāgrāmamuttamam 55| yatra kāleśvaro devo varttate kālamardanaḥ | tatra godāvarī tīre sthitaṃ paramadhārmikam 56| apaśyatkaruṇāvaṃtaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vedapāragam | nityamaṣṭādaśādhyāyaṃ japaṃtaṃ dāṃtacetasam 57| tatastaccaraṇadvaṃdve luṭhitvā parayā mudā | satvamaṣṭādaśādhyāyamapaṭhattena śikṣitam 58| atha puṇyena tenā'sau viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāyayau | hitvā puraṃdarādīnāṃ devānāṃ padamalpakam 59| jñātvātīva mudāyukto vaikuṃṭhamagamatpuram | ataeva paraṃ tatvaṃ munīnāmidamuttamam 60| divyamaṣṭādaśādhyāyamāhātmyaṃ kathitaṃ mayā | yasya śravaṇamātreṇa sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 61| ityevaṃ gītāmāhātmyaṃ kathitaṃ pāpanāśanam | puṇyaṃ pavitramāyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ svastyayanaṃ mahat 62| yaḥ śṛṇoti mahābhāge śraddhayā saṃyutaḥ pumān | sarvayajñaphalaṃ prāpya viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāpnuyāt 63| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahasrasaṃhitāyāṃ uttarakhaṃḍe satīśvarasaṃvāde gītāmāhātmye dvinavatyadhika śatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 192|
English translation
[ Note : this page corresponds to chapter 192 of the Book 6 (Uttarakhaṇḍa) of the translation of The Padmapurāṇa ]
Pārvatī said :
1. O Śiva , you have told me the greatness of the seventeenth chapter. (Now) tell me the importance of the eighteenth chapter.
The lord said :
2-15a. O you daughter of the ( Himālaya ) Mountain, listen to the greatness of the eighteenth chapter which is holy, which is the essence of all holy texts, which is the elixir that has come to the ears, which is intent on tearing off the mass of pangs in the worldly existence, which is the great secret of the siddhas , which is capable of uprooting ignorance, which is vitality, which is the best, the highest position of Kaiṭabha ’s enemy (i.e. Viṣṇu ), which is the root of the creeper of discretion, which removes the dirt of passion and anger, which gave repose to the hearts of gods like Indra , which amused the minds of the great meditating saints like Sanaka , which has given a setback to the roars of Yama merely by its being recited, which is the cause of uprooting the roots of one hundred and eight diseases. O you whose gait is like that of an elephant, there is no greater secret than this. It removes the three (kinds of) torments and destroys major sins. As I am eternal among times, as the desire-yielding cow is among the beasts, as Vyāsa is among the best sages, or as he who knows Brahman is among the Vyāsas , as Indra is among gods, as Guru (i.e. Bṛhaspati ) is superior to Śukra , as among the liquids nectar is the best and well-known in the world, as Kailāsa is among mountains, and as Indra is among gods, as Puṣkara is among the holy places, as lotus is among flowers, as in the worlds Arundhatī is among the chaste and virtuous wives, as the horse-sacrifice is among the sacrifices, as Paradise is among the gardens, as among all Rudras is my follower Vīrabhadra , as a gift of land is among gifts, as Godāvārī is among rivers, as Harikṣetra is recommended for all religious rites, so is the greatness of the eighteenth chapter excellent in the world. About it, O Pārvatī , listen devoutly to this auspicious account, so that by merely listening to it a being is free from sins.
15b-28. On the peak of Meru there was a beautiful city (named) Amarāvatī . It was formerly fashioned for my amusement by Viśvakarman . It is always full of virtues, and resorted to by crores of gods. There, palaces giving desired objects and built with desire-yielding stones, excel. It (spread) up to the city of Brahma . It possessed a mass of lustre, and is well-known like the knowledge of the Supreme Spirit. There happily sitting under the shade of the desire-yielding tree Śacī enjoyed the song sung by gandharva women. The divine river there turned bloody due to the billows of the blood of the demons whose lives were crushed by gods. There the gods, repeatedly remembering the ancient sweet ambrosia, and being emaciated with hunger, everyday drank the digit of the moon. In it, resembling final beatitude, formerly lived Indra. The prosperous one was accompanied by Śacī, and was waited upon by all gods. When once he was seated comfortably he saw a great man having a thousand eyes, waited upon by Viṣṇu’s messengers, coming (to him). Then due to his lustre Indra was overpowered. He quickly fell into the hall from his jewelled throne. When he went away from the throne, Viṣṇu’s soldiers tied him with the strap of the sovereignty over the gods. Pulomajā quickly sat on the left lap of that great Indra who was consecrated to the accompaniment of sounds of drums. Then gods along with their wives sang divine songs. The celestial ladies waved lights before him. Then sages gave him blessings with (hymns from) the Vedas . The bands of celestial nymphs like Rambhā danced before him. Gandharvas sang charming songs with auspicious desires.
29-4. Thus they served the new Indra who had not performed a hundred sacrifices. Seeing that old Indra was amazed. “By me (him?) lakes were never fashioned on the path; trees giving rest to travellers were never planted. God Tripurabhairava (i.e. Śiva) was never seen. Goddess Madālasā living in the place of treasure was never worshipped. Śārṅgadhara residing at Meghaṅkara was never seen. A bath was never taken at Viraja . The city of Kāśī was never visited. Narahari himself residing at the divine grove was never seen. Eraṇḍa Viṣṇu Heramba (?) was never contemplated upon. Mother Reṇukā living in the city was never seen. The goddess living at Dānāpura was never devoutly worshipped. Tryambaka with three phalluses was not devoutly seen at Tripura . Somanātha living at the Śārdūla lake was never seen. Ghuśṛṇeśa living at Revāpura was never seen. Nāganātha , well known in the city of Nāgadanta , was never seen. Great Amṛteśvara residing at Parṇagrāma was never seen. Harihara himself living on the bank of Tuṅgabhadrā was never seen. Śrīnivāsa residing on Veṅkaṭādri was not properly seen. Śrīraṅga residing at Kāverī Karṇikā was not at all seen. Poor and helpless and wailing people were not released from gaol. Beings were not honoured with (i.e. by giving them) food during a famine. On no night a water-fountain was erected at a place without water. A bath was not taken in Godāvarī . Hariṇeśvara was not seen. A bath was not taken in Kṛṣṇaveṇī , when Jupiter was in the Zodiacal sign Libra. Not a piece of land was given. Poets were not at all honoured. A sacrificial session was never performed at the holy places. Sacrifices also were not performed in villages. Water places containing much water were never made on the path. At no place temples of Brahmā , Viṣṇu and Śiva were built. Those that were overcome with fear and sougḥt my shelter were never protected. Due to one act of religious merit how such a divine gift was got?”
45-46. Being full of thougḥt like this, Indra, being dejected, hastily went to ask Viṣṇu to the cave in the Milky Ocean. Having entered there that Indra saw Viṣṇu who was asleep. All of a sudden he told him of his being deprived of sovereignty.
Indra said :
47-49. O Viṣṇu, in order to please you I formerly performed a hundred sacrifices. Due to that religious merit I obtained the position of Indra. Now some new person has become Indra in heaven. He has not done religious acts, nor has he performed sacrifices. O Acyuta , how is my throne ascended by him?
Mahādeva said :
50. Having heard the words of him who was speaking like this, Viṣṇu, with his eyes dilating due to smile, spoke sweet words.
The lord said :
51. What is the use of gifts, giving small fruits? What is the use of austerities or sacrifices? Remaining on the earth, he formerly pleased me.
Indra said :
52. O lord, by means of which act, did the brāhmaṇa please you, due to which being pleased you gave him Indra’s position?
The lord said :
53-63. He mutters five verses from the eighteenth chapter of the Gītā . Due to that religious merit, the crown gem of all (kinds of) religious merit, he obtained your excellent sovereign empire. Be steady.
Hearing these words of Viṣṇu, Indra, who had (thus) known the means, took the guise of a brāhmaṇa and went to the bank of Godāvarī. There he saw the very auspicious and excellent Kālikāgrāma. There god Kāleśvara , crushing Death, resides. There on the bank of Godāvarī, he saw a very religious, kind brāhmaṇa who had mastered the Vedas, who everyday muttered the eighteenth chapter and whose mind was controlled. Then having rolled at his feet with great joy, he recited the eighteenth chapter taught by him. Then due to that religious merit he secured union with Viṣṇu. And knowing the position of gods like Indra to be small, he abandoned it, and went to Viṣṇu’s city. Therefore, only this is a great truth for the sages. I have told you the divine importance of the eighteenth chapter, by just hearing which one is free from all sins. Thus I have told you the importance of the Gītā, which destroys sins, which is meritorious, purifying, which gives (long) life, which leads (one) to heaven, and which is a great means of securing prosperity. O noble one, a man who devoutly listens to it, obtains the fruit of all sacrifices and would obtain absorption into Viṣṇu.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44910, revision 333583 (2022-03-11T23:53:09Z). 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/doc365774.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.