Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 197
Sourceकुमारा ऊचुः। पितर्येवं वनं प्राप्ते पश्चादागत्य नारद । जननीं तर्जयामास धुंधुकारी महाखलः १। क्व वित्तं तिष्ठति ब्रूहि मातरं प्रति नारद । सर्वथा त्वां हनिष्यामि न चेद्ब्रूया निधानकम् २। सा तस्य वचनात्त्रस्ता रात्रौ दुःखितमानसा । निपत्य कूपे तु मृता लोकैर्ज्ञात्वा बहिः कृता ३। गोकर्णस्तां तु निर्हृत्य द्विजैस्तज्ज्ञातिबांधवैः । तीर्थयात्रां ययौ प्राज्ञः समदुःखसुखो मुने ४। धुंधुकारी गृहे तिष्ठन्स्वके पण्यवधूवृतः । अत्युग्रकर्माचारेण तत्पोषणविमूढधीः ५। भूषणान्यभिलिप्स्यंत्यस्तमूचुर्वारयोषितः । भोभो प्रिय वयं सर्वांस्त्वयानाथेन संगताः ६। स्थिता नैवात्र कोप्यन्यो धनदोभ्येति मानद । तस्मात्सूक्ष्माणि वस्त्राणि भूषणानि द्युमंति च ७। देहि नोचेद्व्रजिष्यामस्त्वत्सकाशान्नरांतरम् । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तासां चिंतयित्वा क्षणं स च ८। निर्गतः स्वगृहाद्रात्रौ कामांधो मृत्युमस्मरन् । मुषित्वा कस्यचिद्गेहाद्वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च ९। ददौ ताभ्यो मुदायुक्तः प्रीत्यै तासां स नारद । तानि दृष्ट्वा ह्यमूल्यानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च १०। ताः स्त्रियश्चिंतयामासुश्चौर्येणैतानि चामुना । आहृतानीति निश्चित्य परस्परममंत्रयन् ११। चौर्यं करोत्यसौ नित्यमेनं राजा गृहीष्यति । वित्तं हृत्वा पुनश्चैव मारयिष्यति निश्चितम् १२। अतो रहसि चास्माभिर्हत्वामुं चौर्यकारिणम् । वित्तं च बहु संगृह्य किमन्यत्र न गम्यते १३। इति ताः क्रूरहृदयाः सुप्तं कंठग्रहं तदा । पाशैः सुतीक्ष्णैर्बद्ध्वा च व्यापादयितुमुद्यताः १४। यदा च न मृतश्चासौ भृशं कंठग्रहेण वै । तदांगाराणि बहुशो मुखे चास्य विचिक्षिपुः १५। अग्निज्वालातिदुःखेन व्याकुलो निधनं गतः । तद्देहं चिक्षिपुर्गर्ते प्रायः साहसिकाः स्त्रियः १६। न ज्ञातं तच्चरित्रं तु केनापि मुनिसत्तम । लोकैः पृष्टा वदंति स्म दूरे यातः पतिर्हि नः १७। आगमिष्यति दीर्घेण कालेन धनकर्षितः । अतः स्त्रीणां न विश्वासः कर्त्तव्यो विदुषां वरैः १८। विश्वस्तं सर्वथा घ्नंति प्रार्थयंत्यो नवं नवम् । सुधामयं वचो यासां कामिनां रसवर्द्धनम् १९। हृदयं क्षुरधाराभं प्रियः को नाम योषिताम् । अथ ता बहुलं वित्तं गृहीत्वा वारयोषितः २०। ग्रामांतरं ययुः शीघ्रं भयाद्राज्ञोऽतिविह्वलाः । धुंधुकारी बभूवाथ महाप्रेतः कुकर्मकृत् २१। वात्यारूपधरो नित्यं धावन्दुर्मृत्युतो दिशः । शीतातपपरिक्लिष्टो निराहारः पिपासितः २२। न च लेभे सुखं क्वापि हाहेति प्रवदन्मुहुः। कियत्कालांतरे त्वेनं मृतं चैवावबुध्य च २३। गोकर्णस्तीर्थयात्रायां गयाश्राद्धमथाकरोत् । समाप्य तीर्थयात्रां तु स्वंपुरं समुपेयिवान २४। सभाजितः सपौरैस्तु प्रीत्या स्वजनबांधंवैः । उवास स्वगृहे चैव दिनानि कतिचिद्दिवजः २५। रात्रौ प्रसुप्तं गोकर्णं ज्ञात्वा वेश्मांगणे स तु । धुंधुकारी महादुष्टो रौद्रं रूपं व्यदर्शयत् २६। क्षणं नागः क्षणं चोष्ट्रः क्षणं स महिषोऽभवत् । क्षणमग्निः क्षणं सर्पः क्षणेन पुरुषोऽभवत् २७। वैपरीत्यमिदं दृष्ट्वा गोकर्णो धैर्यसंयुतः । चिंतयामास मेधावी किमेतदिति विस्मितः २८। अयं दुर्गतिमापन्नः कोप्यस्ति पुरुषाधमः । इति निश्चित्य मनसा तमुवाच दयान्वितः २९। गोकर्ण उवाच- कस्त्वमुग्रतरो रात्रौ भीषयन्मामुपागतः । प्रेतो चाथ पिशाचो वा कुतः प्राप्तो दशामिमाम् ३०। तद्ब्रूहि त्वं महाभाग किं कार्यं ते मयाधुना । घोररूपो यतो रात्रौ मत्समीपमुपागतः ३१। इति श्रुत्वा वचो भ्रातुर्धुंधुकारी महाखलः । प्रेतभावमनुप्राप्तो रुरोद भृशमातुरः ३२। वक्तुं नैव क्षमो वाचा प्रेतत्वेन विमोहितः । संज्ञया निर्दिदेशाथ जलं पातुं पिपासितः ३३। अथासौ सुमहाभागो गोकर्णः साधुसंमतः । स्वकांजलौ जलं कृत्वा प्राक्षिपत्तमुदीरयन् ३४। तत्क्षिप्तं तज्जलं भ्रात्रा गोकर्णेन महात्मना । उपस्थितं च तृप्त्यर्थं प्रेतस्य धुंधुकारिणः ३५। अथोवाचागतज्ञानः प्रदत्तेनांबुनामुना । पुण्यात्मनात्मनो भ्रात्रा गोकर्णेन च नारद ३६। प्रेत उवाच- अहं भ्राता त्वदीयोऽस्मि धुंधुकारीति नामतः । आत्मनः कर्मदोषेण प्रेतत्वं समुपागतः ३७। मम माता मृता दुःखाद्बहुशस्तर्जिता मया । द्रव्यहेतोस्ततः पश्चाद्वारस्त्रीपोषणोत्सुकः ३८। निषिद्धं कृतवान्कर्म चौर्यादिधनलोभतः । एकदा प्रार्थितस्ताभिर्भूषणान्यंबराण्यहम् ३९। धनिकस्य गृहाद्रात्रौ मुषित्वा तान्युपानयम् । ततस्ता धनलोभेन पाशैर्बद्ध्वा गले बलात् ४०। मां तु व्यापादयामासुर्वह्निक्षेपेण मानद । गृहीत्वा मद्धनं भूरि ताः सर्वा भूपतेर्भयात् ४१। पलायिताः पुरादस्मात्स्वार्थोन्मूलित सौहृदाः । अतः प्रेतत्वमापन्नो भ्रातरद्य त्वयांबुना ४२। सिक्तः संज्ञामहं प्राप्तः पुण्येनातिकृपालुना । वाताहारेण जीवामि दैवादिष्टफलोदयः ४३। अपश्यं त्वामहं सुप्तं भ्रातरं स्वगृहांगणे । ततस्त्वामनभिज्ञं मां धर्षणाय कृतोद्यमः ४४। अभवं सहसा साधो ज्ञातश्चाहं त्वयाधुना । दीनबंधो दयासिंधो भ्रातर्मामाशु मोचय ४५। प्रेतभावादमुष्मात्त्वं कृतार्थोऽसि न संशयः । इति श्रुत्वा वचो भ्रातुर्गोकर्णो ज्ञानवान्सुधीः ४६। भ्रातरं प्राह खिन्नात्मा दुःखितं धुंधुकारिणम् । गोकर्ण उवाच- तुभ्यं दत्तो मया पिंडो गयायां त्वामहं भृतम् ४७। श्रुत्वा लोकमुखाद्भ्रातस्त्वं कथं प्रेततां गतः । गयापिंडप्रदानेन दुर्गतोऽपि शुभां गतिम् ४८। प्राप्नोति नात्र संदेहस्त्वं कथं न दिवं गतः । भ्रातुरित्थंवचः श्रुत्वा गोकर्णस्य महात्मनः ४९। धुंधुकारी दुःखितात्मा प्रोवाच पुरतः स्थितः । गयाश्राद्धशतेनापि न मे मुक्तिर्भविष्यति 6.197.५०। उपायोऽन्यश्चिंतनीयो ममोद्धाराय वै त्वया । इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य गोकर्णो विस्मयं गतः ५१। प्राह श्राद्धैर्न मुक्तिश्चेत्तर्ह्यसाध्या गतिस्तव । इदानीं त्वं निजस्थानमातिष्ठ प्रेत निर्भयः ५२। विचार्याहं करिष्यामि मुक्त्युपायं परं तव । इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य धुंधुकारी ततो गतः ५३। निजं स्थानं श्मशानस्थं कलिद्रुममतः परम् । शेषां रात्रिं स गोकर्णश्चिंतयन्नेव नारद ५४। तस्य मुक्तिं स्थितस्तत्र तदुपायं न चाध्यगात् । प्रातस्ततः स गोकर्णः स्वज्ञाति कुलबांधवान् ५५। धर्मशास्त्रविदोविप्रान्रात्रिवृत्तं न्यवेदयत् । ते विचार्य च तद्वृत्तं शास्त्रेषु बहुशो द्विजाः ५६। यदा न ज्ञातवंतस्तद्वृत्तं सूर्यं तदा स्तुवन् । द्विजा ऊचुः- नमस्ते भास्करादित्य तमोहंतर्गभस्तिमन् ५७। लोकसाक्षिन्जगद्धाम सुरासुरनमस्कृत । द्वादशात्मन्हरिहय भास्वन्लोकप्रबोधक ५८। त्वं गतिः सर्वलोकानां सततं धर्मशीलिनाम् । त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं हरिः शूली सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशकृत् ५९। त्वामृते नास्ति लोकेस्मिञ्छरणं प्राणिनां विभो । शर्वस्त्वं क्षितिरूपोऽसि भवोऽसि जलरूपधृक् ६०। त्वमग्निरुपो रूद्रोसि वायुरस्युग्ररूपधृक् । भीमोस्याकाशदेहस्त्वं यज्वा पशुपतिः स्वयम् ६१। महादेवः सोममूर्तिरीशानः सूर्य एव हि । तवाष्टौमूर्त्तयो दिव्या इज्यंते वेदवादिभिः ६२। सर्वकामसमृद्ध्यर्थं व्याप्तलोकत्रयस्य च । मत्स्यस्त्वं वेदधृक् चासि कूर्मश्चाद्रिधरो वरः ६३। धराधरो वराहोसि लोकधृक्त्वं त्रिविक्रमः । ब्रह्मध्रुग्घ्नो भार्गवस्त्वं लोकध्रुक्ग्घ्नोसि राघवः ६४। भूभारहंता कृष्णोसि बुद्धोस्यसुरमोहकृत् । कल्क्यसि म्लेच्छहंता त्वं धर्मग्लानौ युगेयुगे ६५। देवासुरमनुष्याणां पशुपक्ष्यंबुचारिणाम् । नानाविधानं जीवानां त्वं स्रष्टा ब्रह्मरूपधृक् ६६। इंद्रोसि धर्मराजोसि वरुणस्त्वं धनेश्वरः । लोकपालस्वरूपेण वर्त्तसे गोगणेश्वर ६७। त्रयीमूर्त्तिस्त्रिकालेज्यस्त्रिधामा त्रिगुणात्मकः । त्वमेव पूज्यसे लोकैस्त्रिधा भिन्नो दिवाकरः ६८। पद्मप्रबोधनकरस्त्वमेवासि जगत्पते । इत्युदीर्य द्विजश्रेष्ठा यावत्तस्थुर्मुनीश्वर ६९। तावदाकाशगः प्राह स्फुटं तेषां तु शृण्वताम् । श्रीसूर्य उवाच- श्रूयतांभोद्विजश्रेष्ठा यदर्थं वर्णितोस्म्यहम् ७०। भवद्भिर्धुंधुलीसूनोर्महापातकशांतये । आत्मदेवस्य पुण्येन गोकर्णो रौहिणो ह्ययम् ७१। श्रीभागवतसप्ताहस्तस्योद्धर्ता भविष्यति । यद्भवद्भिः कृतं स्तोत्रं मम वैभववर्णनम् ७२। तेन स्तुत्वा नरोविप्रा देवयानं लभिष्यति । पुत्रार्थी च धनार्थी च धर्मार्थी मोक्षकामुकः ७३। वांछा चिंतामणिस्तोत्रं पठित्वात्यंतमाप्नुयात् । इत्युक्त्वा भास्करो देवो विरराम दिविस्थितः ७४। ते द्विजाः साध्विति प्रोचुर्गोकर्णं हृष्टमानसाः । ततः समाजे विप्राणां तुंगभद्रा तटे शुभे ७५। कौतुकं सुमहद्द्रष्टुं तत्रागान्नागरीप्रजा । गोकर्णो ज्ञाततत्वार्थो वक्ताध्यासनमास्थितः ७६। नारायणादिकान्नत्वा सप्ताहं समवर्त्तयन् । श्रीहरेस्तु वचः शास्त्रं तीर्थपादाब्जसंभवम् ७७। यदि सत्यं तदाप्नोतु धुंधुलीतनयो गतिम् । इति संकल्प्य मनसा श्रीमद्भागवताभिधम् ७८। जन्माद्यस्य यतश्चेति धीमह्यंतमुपावदत् । तत्र प्रेतं समागत्य स्थानं पश्यन्नितस्ततः ७९। सप्तग्रंथियुतं वंशं प्रविष्टो वातरूपधृक् । शृण्वत्सु वैष्णवाग्र्येषु ब्राह्मणेष्वथ नारद ८०। शुश्राव धुंधुलीपुत्रो ग्रंथिछिद्रस्थितोऽन्वहम् । यदा कथाविरामोऽभूत्प्रथमेऽहनि नारद ८१। तदैकाकी चकग्रंथिः पुस्फोटात्यद्भुतं ह्यभूत्। द्वितीयादिष्वहःस्वेवमेकैकग्रंथिभेदनम् ८२। बभूव सप्तमे भिन्ने स सद्यः प्रेततां जहौ । दिव्यरूपधरो भूत्वा तुलसीदाममंडितः ८३। पीतवासा घनश्यामः प्रबभौ भूषणान्वितः । गोकर्णं भ्रातरं नत्वा प्रोवाचाखिल तत्वदृक् ८४। त्वयाऽहं मोचितो बंधो कृपया प्रेतकश्मलात् । धन्या भागवतीवार्ता प्रेतत्वोन्मूलिनी श्रुता ८५। सप्ताहोपि तथा धन्यो विष्णुलोकगतिप्रदः । यत्प्रभावाद्विमुक्तोऽहं प्रेतभावाद्भृशातुरः ८६। आर्द्रं शुष्कं लघुस्थूलं वाङ्मनः कर्मभिः कृतम् । पातकं भस्मसात्कुर्यात्सप्ताहोऽग्निरिवेंधनम् ८७। अस्मिन्वै भारते वर्षे देवानामप्यभीप्सिते । शृण्वतां भगवच्छास्त्रं गतिरत्युत्तमा भवेत् ८८। स्नाय्वस्थि मज्जा मांसासृक्संघातं देहमुच्यते । शुचि भागवतास्वादादशुचित्वन्यथा मतम् ८९। कर्मकश्मलसंदुष्टो देहो नरकभाजनम् । अतो दोषनिवृत्यर्थमेतदेव हि साधनम् ९०। बुद्बुदा इव तोयेषु मशका इव जंतुषु । जायंते मरणायैव भगवच्छास्त्रवर्जिताः ९१। भिद्यते हृदयग्रंथिश्छिद्यंते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयंते चास्य कर्माणि श्रुते भागवते द्विजाः ९२। एवं ब्रुवति वै तस्मिन्विमानवरमागतम् । वैकुंठात्तदधिष्ठाय गतोऽसौ विष्णुमंदिरम् ९३। विष्णुलोकं गतेतस्मिन्सर्वे विस्मितमानसाः । बभूवुश्चापि पप्रच्छुर्गोकर्णं ते द्विजोत्तमाः ९४। द्विजा ऊचुः । श्रुतं भागवतं सर्वैरस्माभिरिह संगतैः । किं कारणं महाभाग त्वद्भ्रातैको गतो हरिम् ९५। गोकर्ण उवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि कारणं भातृसद्गतौ । यच्छ्रुत्वा यूयमेवापि गोलोकं च गमिष्यथ ९६। सप्ताहश्रवणं कार्यमुपवासपरायणैः । कृष्णैकतानमतिभिर्गोलोक गतिदायकम् ९७। पुनः शुणुध्वं सप्ताहं श्रीमद्भागवतं द्विजाः । एकाग्रचित्ताः सततं कृष्णप्रेमामृतप्रदम् ९८। इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य गोकर्णस्य द्विजोत्तमाः । पुनः श्रोतुं भागवतं सप्ताहं समुपावसन् ९९। कृष्णैकतानमतयो नियमेन च नारद । पुनस्ते शुश्रुवुः सर्वे श्रीमद्भागवतं द्विजाः 6.197.१००। कथावसाने भगवान्कृष्णः कमललोचनः । आविरासीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठ शंखचक्रगदाब्जधृक् १०१। किरीटकुंडलधरो वनमाली विभूषितः । पीतवासा घनश्यामः कटकांगदभूषितः १०२। तं दृष्ट्वा ते द्विजाः सर्वे विष्वक्सेनादिभिर्युतम् । पार्षदप्रवरैर्हृष्टाः प्रणेमुर्भुवि संगताः १०३। जयशब्दो नमः शब्दस्तदासीत्सर्वतो मुने । अथ शंखध्वनिं चक्रे हरिः संहर्षयन्द्विजान् १०४। तदानेके विमानास्तु वैकुंठात्समुपागताः । द्विजानां पश्यतां तत्र पार्षदप्रवरैर्युताः १०५। गोकर्णं तु समालिंग्य ददौ सारूप्यमात्मनः । श्रोतॄनन्यान्घनश्यामान्पीतकौशेयवाससः १०६। किरीटिनः कुंडलिनो हारिणो वनमालिनः । चकार तत्क्षणात्तत्र महदाश्चर्यमप्यभूत् १०७। तस्मिन्ग्रामे स्थिता ये तु आचांडालजना मुने । समारुह्य विमानांस्तान्ययुः कृष्णाज्ञया दिवम् १०८। गोकर्णसहितः कृष्णो गोपगोपीजनप्रियः । गोलोकं समनुप्राप्तः सर्वलोकोपरिस्थितम् । यत्र वृंदावनं रम्यं शतशृंगसमावृतम् १०९। तद्बाह्ये परितोवृतं विजययाह्यत्यद्भुतं राजतेऽरण्यं यत्र तु मंडपानि सुबहून्यच्छोदवाप्यो ह्रदाः ।। गावः कामदुघाः सुरद्रुमततिच्छायाश्रिता गोपकैः क्रीडातत्परमानसैः परिवृतो नंदात्मजः क्रीडति ११०। मध्ये त्वस्य सुकाननस्य रचितो वृंदावनेशेच्छया रम्यं रत्नसमूहभर्मखचितं प्राकारमुद्भासयन् । न्यग्रोधः सुमहांस्ततः प्रतिदिशं गोपीजनाध्यासितं वत्सालंकृतमद्भुताकृति महच्छ्रीगोकुलं राजते १११। तन्मध्ये भवनं हरेरधिकृतं प्रोद्भासते भास्वरं यस्मिन्नंदगृहेश्वरी समुदितास्ते राधया राधिताः । यद्भाग्यं महदप्युमापतिमुखैश्चिंत्यं सदाभ्यंतरैस्तत्सूनोर्मधुराकृतेरधिचकास्त्यंडौघभास्यांशुभिः ११२। वातांबुपर्णाशनदेहशोषणैस्तपोभिरुग्रैर्जपयज्ञकर्मभिः । असाध्यमप्यायसधेनुसंभवो लोकं न गाहाख्यमखप्रवर्त्तनात् ११३। इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि।। । सोऽपि गोलोकमभ्येति किं श्रीभागवतं पुनः ११४।
kumārā ūcuḥ| pitaryevaṃ vanaṃ prāpte paścādāgatya nārada | jananīṃ tarjayāmāsa dhuṃdhukārī mahākhalaḥ 1| kva vittaṃ tiṣṭhati brūhi mātaraṃ prati nārada | sarvathā tvāṃ haniṣyāmi na cedbrūyā nidhānakam 2| sā tasya vacanāttrastā rātrau duḥkhitamānasā | nipatya kūpe tu mṛtā lokairjñātvā bahiḥ kṛtā 3| gokarṇastāṃ tu nirhṛtya dvijaistajjñātibāṃdhavaiḥ | tīrthayātrāṃ yayau prājñaḥ samaduḥkhasukho mune 4| dhuṃdhukārī gṛhe tiṣṭhansvake paṇyavadhūvṛtaḥ | atyugrakarmācāreṇa tatpoṣaṇavimūḍhadhīḥ 5| bhūṣaṇānyabhilipsyaṃtyastamūcurvārayoṣitaḥ | bhobho priya vayaṃ sarvāṃstvayānāthena saṃgatāḥ 6| sthitā naivātra kopyanyo dhanadobhyeti mānada | tasmātsūkṣmāṇi vastrāṇi bhūṣaṇāni dyumaṃti ca 7| dehi nocedvrajiṣyāmastvatsakāśānnarāṃtaram | iti śrutvā vacastāsāṃ ciṃtayitvā kṣaṇaṃ sa ca 8| nirgataḥ svagṛhādrātrau kāmāṃdho mṛtyumasmaran | muṣitvā kasyacidgehādvastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca 9| dadau tābhyo mudāyuktaḥ prītyai tāsāṃ sa nārada | tāni dṛṣṭvā hyamūlyāni vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca 10| tāḥ striyaściṃtayāmāsuścauryeṇaitāni cāmunā | āhṛtānīti niścitya parasparamamaṃtrayan 11| cauryaṃ karotyasau nityamenaṃ rājā gṛhīṣyati | vittaṃ hṛtvā punaścaiva mārayiṣyati niścitam 12| ato rahasi cāsmābhirhatvāmuṃ cauryakāriṇam | vittaṃ ca bahu saṃgṛhya kimanyatra na gamyate 13| iti tāḥ krūrahṛdayāḥ suptaṃ kaṃṭhagrahaṃ tadā | pāśaiḥ sutīkṣṇairbaddhvā ca vyāpādayitumudyatāḥ 14| yadā ca na mṛtaścāsau bhṛśaṃ kaṃṭhagraheṇa vai | tadāṃgārāṇi bahuśo mukhe cāsya vicikṣipuḥ 15| agnijvālātiduḥkhena vyākulo nidhanaṃ gataḥ | taddehaṃ cikṣipurgarte prāyaḥ sāhasikāḥ striyaḥ 16| na jñātaṃ taccaritraṃ tu kenāpi munisattama | lokaiḥ pṛṣṭā vadaṃti sma dūre yātaḥ patirhi naḥ 17| āgamiṣyati dīrgheṇa kālena dhanakarṣitaḥ | ataḥ strīṇāṃ na viśvāsaḥ karttavyo viduṣāṃ varaiḥ 18| viśvastaṃ sarvathā ghnaṃti prārthayaṃtyo navaṃ navam | sudhāmayaṃ vaco yāsāṃ kāmināṃ rasavarddhanam 19| hṛdayaṃ kṣuradhārābhaṃ priyaḥ ko nāma yoṣitām | atha tā bahulaṃ vittaṃ gṛhītvā vārayoṣitaḥ 20| grāmāṃtaraṃ yayuḥ śīghraṃ bhayādrājño'tivihvalāḥ | dhuṃdhukārī babhūvātha mahāpretaḥ kukarmakṛt 21| vātyārūpadharo nityaṃ dhāvandurmṛtyuto diśaḥ | śītātapaparikliṣṭo nirāhāraḥ pipāsitaḥ 22| na ca lebhe sukhaṃ kvāpi hāheti pravadanmuhuḥ| kiyatkālāṃtare tvenaṃ mṛtaṃ caivāvabudhya ca 23| gokarṇastīrthayātrāyāṃ gayāśrāddhamathākarot | samāpya tīrthayātrāṃ tu svaṃpuraṃ samupeyivāna 24| sabhājitaḥ sapauraistu prītyā svajanabāṃdhaṃvaiḥ | uvāsa svagṛhe caiva dināni katiciddivajaḥ 25| rātrau prasuptaṃ gokarṇaṃ jñātvā veśmāṃgaṇe sa tu | dhuṃdhukārī mahāduṣṭo raudraṃ rūpaṃ vyadarśayat 26| kṣaṇaṃ nāgaḥ kṣaṇaṃ coṣṭraḥ kṣaṇaṃ sa mahiṣo'bhavat | kṣaṇamagniḥ kṣaṇaṃ sarpaḥ kṣaṇena puruṣo'bhavat 27| vaiparītyamidaṃ dṛṣṭvā gokarṇo dhairyasaṃyutaḥ | ciṃtayāmāsa medhāvī kimetaditi vismitaḥ 28| ayaṃ durgatimāpannaḥ kopyasti puruṣādhamaḥ | iti niścitya manasā tamuvāca dayānvitaḥ 29| gokarṇa uvāca- kastvamugrataro rātrau bhīṣayanmāmupāgataḥ | preto cātha piśāco vā kutaḥ prāpto daśāmimām 30| tadbrūhi tvaṃ mahābhāga kiṃ kāryaṃ te mayādhunā | ghorarūpo yato rātrau matsamīpamupāgataḥ 31| iti śrutvā vaco bhrāturdhuṃdhukārī mahākhalaḥ | pretabhāvamanuprāpto ruroda bhṛśamāturaḥ 32| vaktuṃ naiva kṣamo vācā pretatvena vimohitaḥ | saṃjñayā nirdideśātha jalaṃ pātuṃ pipāsitaḥ 33| athāsau sumahābhāgo gokarṇaḥ sādhusaṃmataḥ | svakāṃjalau jalaṃ kṛtvā prākṣipattamudīrayan 34| tatkṣiptaṃ tajjalaṃ bhrātrā gokarṇena mahātmanā | upasthitaṃ ca tṛptyarthaṃ pretasya dhuṃdhukāriṇaḥ 35| athovācāgatajñānaḥ pradattenāṃbunāmunā | puṇyātmanātmano bhrātrā gokarṇena ca nārada 36| preta uvāca- ahaṃ bhrātā tvadīyo'smi dhuṃdhukārīti nāmataḥ | ātmanaḥ karmadoṣeṇa pretatvaṃ samupāgataḥ 37| mama mātā mṛtā duḥkhādbahuśastarjitā mayā | dravyahetostataḥ paścādvārastrīpoṣaṇotsukaḥ 38| niṣiddhaṃ kṛtavānkarma cauryādidhanalobhataḥ | ekadā prārthitastābhirbhūṣaṇānyaṃbarāṇyaham 39| dhanikasya gṛhādrātrau muṣitvā tānyupānayam | tatastā dhanalobhena pāśairbaddhvā gale balāt 40| māṃ tu vyāpādayāmāsurvahnikṣepeṇa mānada | gṛhītvā maddhanaṃ bhūri tāḥ sarvā bhūpaterbhayāt 41| palāyitāḥ purādasmātsvārthonmūlita sauhṛdāḥ | ataḥ pretatvamāpanno bhrātaradya tvayāṃbunā 42| siktaḥ saṃjñāmahaṃ prāptaḥ puṇyenātikṛpālunā | vātāhāreṇa jīvāmi daivādiṣṭaphalodayaḥ 43| apaśyaṃ tvāmahaṃ suptaṃ bhrātaraṃ svagṛhāṃgaṇe | tatastvāmanabhijñaṃ māṃ dharṣaṇāya kṛtodyamaḥ 44| abhavaṃ sahasā sādho jñātaścāhaṃ tvayādhunā | dīnabaṃdho dayāsiṃdho bhrātarmāmāśu mocaya 45| pretabhāvādamuṣmāttvaṃ kṛtārtho'si na saṃśayaḥ | iti śrutvā vaco bhrāturgokarṇo jñānavānsudhīḥ 46| bhrātaraṃ prāha khinnātmā duḥkhitaṃ dhuṃdhukāriṇam | gokarṇa uvāca- tubhyaṃ datto mayā piṃḍo gayāyāṃ tvāmahaṃ bhṛtam 47| śrutvā lokamukhādbhrātastvaṃ kathaṃ pretatāṃ gataḥ | gayāpiṃḍapradānena durgato'pi śubhāṃ gatim 48| prāpnoti nātra saṃdehastvaṃ kathaṃ na divaṃ gataḥ | bhrāturitthaṃvacaḥ śrutvā gokarṇasya mahātmanaḥ 49| dhuṃdhukārī duḥkhitātmā provāca purataḥ sthitaḥ | gayāśrāddhaśatenāpi na me muktirbhaviṣyati 6.197.50| upāyo'nyaściṃtanīyo mamoddhārāya vai tvayā | iti tadvākyamākarṇya gokarṇo vismayaṃ gataḥ 51| prāha śrāddhairna muktiścettarhyasādhyā gatistava | idānīṃ tvaṃ nijasthānamātiṣṭha preta nirbhayaḥ 52| vicāryāhaṃ kariṣyāmi muktyupāyaṃ paraṃ tava | iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya dhuṃdhukārī tato gataḥ 53| nijaṃ sthānaṃ śmaśānasthaṃ kalidrumamataḥ param | śeṣāṃ rātriṃ sa gokarṇaściṃtayanneva nārada 54| tasya muktiṃ sthitastatra tadupāyaṃ na cādhyagāt | prātastataḥ sa gokarṇaḥ svajñāti kulabāṃdhavān 55| dharmaśāstravidoviprānrātrivṛttaṃ nyavedayat | te vicārya ca tadvṛttaṃ śāstreṣu bahuśo dvijāḥ 56| yadā na jñātavaṃtastadvṛttaṃ sūryaṃ tadā stuvan | dvijā ūcuḥ- namaste bhāskarāditya tamohaṃtargabhastiman 57| lokasākṣinjagaddhāma surāsuranamaskṛta | dvādaśātmanharihaya bhāsvanlokaprabodhaka 58| tvaṃ gatiḥ sarvalokānāṃ satataṃ dharmaśīlinām | tvaṃ brahmā tvaṃ hariḥ śūlī sṛṣṭisthitivināśakṛt 59| tvāmṛte nāsti lokesmiñcharaṇaṃ prāṇināṃ vibho | śarvastvaṃ kṣitirūpo'si bhavo'si jalarūpadhṛk 60| tvamagnirupo rūdrosi vāyurasyugrarūpadhṛk | bhīmosyākāśadehastvaṃ yajvā paśupatiḥ svayam 61| mahādevaḥ somamūrtirīśānaḥ sūrya eva hi | tavāṣṭaumūrttayo divyā ijyaṃte vedavādibhiḥ 62| sarvakāmasamṛddhyarthaṃ vyāptalokatrayasya ca | matsyastvaṃ vedadhṛk cāsi kūrmaścādridharo varaḥ 63| dharādharo varāhosi lokadhṛktvaṃ trivikramaḥ | brahmadhrugghno bhārgavastvaṃ lokadhrukgghnosi rāghavaḥ 64| bhūbhārahaṃtā kṛṣṇosi buddhosyasuramohakṛt | kalkyasi mlecchahaṃtā tvaṃ dharmaglānau yugeyuge 65| devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṃ paśupakṣyaṃbucāriṇām | nānāvidhānaṃ jīvānāṃ tvaṃ sraṣṭā brahmarūpadhṛk 66| iṃdrosi dharmarājosi varuṇastvaṃ dhaneśvaraḥ | lokapālasvarūpeṇa varttase gogaṇeśvara 67| trayīmūrttistrikālejyastridhāmā triguṇātmakaḥ | tvameva pūjyase lokaistridhā bhinno divākaraḥ 68| padmaprabodhanakarastvamevāsi jagatpate | ityudīrya dvijaśreṣṭhā yāvattasthurmunīśvara 69| tāvadākāśagaḥ prāha sphuṭaṃ teṣāṃ tu śṛṇvatām | śrīsūrya uvāca- śrūyatāṃbhodvijaśreṣṭhā yadarthaṃ varṇitosmyaham 70| bhavadbhirdhuṃdhulīsūnormahāpātakaśāṃtaye | ātmadevasya puṇyena gokarṇo rauhiṇo hyayam 71| śrībhāgavatasaptāhastasyoddhartā bhaviṣyati | yadbhavadbhiḥ kṛtaṃ stotraṃ mama vaibhavavarṇanam 72| tena stutvā naroviprā devayānaṃ labhiṣyati | putrārthī ca dhanārthī ca dharmārthī mokṣakāmukaḥ 73| vāṃchā ciṃtāmaṇistotraṃ paṭhitvātyaṃtamāpnuyāt | ityuktvā bhāskaro devo virarāma divisthitaḥ 74| te dvijāḥ sādhviti procurgokarṇaṃ hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | tataḥ samāje viprāṇāṃ tuṃgabhadrā taṭe śubhe 75| kautukaṃ sumahaddraṣṭuṃ tatrāgānnāgarīprajā | gokarṇo jñātatatvārtho vaktādhyāsanamāsthitaḥ 76| nārāyaṇādikānnatvā saptāhaṃ samavarttayan | śrīharestu vacaḥ śāstraṃ tīrthapādābjasaṃbhavam 77| yadi satyaṃ tadāpnotu dhuṃdhulītanayo gatim | iti saṃkalpya manasā śrīmadbhāgavatābhidham 78| janmādyasya yataśceti dhīmahyaṃtamupāvadat | tatra pretaṃ samāgatya sthānaṃ paśyannitastataḥ 79| saptagraṃthiyutaṃ vaṃśaṃ praviṣṭo vātarūpadhṛk | śṛṇvatsu vaiṣṇavāgryeṣu brāhmaṇeṣvatha nārada 80| śuśrāva dhuṃdhulīputro graṃthichidrasthito'nvaham | yadā kathāvirāmo'bhūtprathame'hani nārada 81| tadaikākī cakagraṃthiḥ pusphoṭātyadbhutaṃ hyabhūt| dvitīyādiṣvahaḥsvevamekaikagraṃthibhedanam 82| babhūva saptame bhinne sa sadyaḥ pretatāṃ jahau | divyarūpadharo bhūtvā tulasīdāmamaṃḍitaḥ 83| pītavāsā ghanaśyāmaḥ prababhau bhūṣaṇānvitaḥ | gokarṇaṃ bhrātaraṃ natvā provācākhila tatvadṛk 84| tvayā'haṃ mocito baṃdho kṛpayā pretakaśmalāt | dhanyā bhāgavatīvārtā pretatvonmūlinī śrutā 85| saptāhopi tathā dhanyo viṣṇulokagatipradaḥ | yatprabhāvādvimukto'haṃ pretabhāvādbhṛśāturaḥ 86| ārdraṃ śuṣkaṃ laghusthūlaṃ vāṅmanaḥ karmabhiḥ kṛtam | pātakaṃ bhasmasātkuryātsaptāho'gniriveṃdhanam 87| asminvai bhārate varṣe devānāmapyabhīpsite | śṛṇvatāṃ bhagavacchāstraṃ gatiratyuttamā bhavet 88| snāyvasthi majjā māṃsāsṛksaṃghātaṃ dehamucyate | śuci bhāgavatāsvādādaśucitvanyathā matam 89| karmakaśmalasaṃduṣṭo deho narakabhājanam | ato doṣanivṛtyarthametadeva hi sādhanam 90| budbudā iva toyeṣu maśakā iva jaṃtuṣu | jāyaṃte maraṇāyaiva bhagavacchāstravarjitāḥ 91| bhidyate hṛdayagraṃthiśchidyaṃte sarvasaṃśayāḥ | kṣīyaṃte cāsya karmāṇi śrute bhāgavate dvijāḥ 92| evaṃ bruvati vai tasminvimānavaramāgatam | vaikuṃṭhāttadadhiṣṭhāya gato'sau viṣṇumaṃdiram 93| viṣṇulokaṃ gatetasminsarve vismitamānasāḥ | babhūvuścāpi papracchurgokarṇaṃ te dvijottamāḥ 94| dvijā ūcuḥ | śrutaṃ bhāgavataṃ sarvairasmābhiriha saṃgataiḥ | kiṃ kāraṇaṃ mahābhāga tvadbhrātaiko gato harim 95| gokarṇa uvāca- śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi kāraṇaṃ bhātṛsadgatau | yacchrutvā yūyamevāpi golokaṃ ca gamiṣyatha 96| saptāhaśravaṇaṃ kāryamupavāsaparāyaṇaiḥ | kṛṣṇaikatānamatibhirgoloka gatidāyakam 97| punaḥ śuṇudhvaṃ saptāhaṃ śrīmadbhāgavataṃ dvijāḥ | ekāgracittāḥ satataṃ kṛṣṇapremāmṛtapradam 98| iti śrutvā vacastasya gokarṇasya dvijottamāḥ | punaḥ śrotuṃ bhāgavataṃ saptāhaṃ samupāvasan 99| kṛṣṇaikatānamatayo niyamena ca nārada | punaste śuśruvuḥ sarve śrīmadbhāgavataṃ dvijāḥ 6.197.100| kathāvasāne bhagavānkṛṣṇaḥ kamalalocanaḥ | āvirāsīnmuniśreṣṭha śaṃkhacakragadābjadhṛk 101| kirīṭakuṃḍaladharo vanamālī vibhūṣitaḥ | pītavāsā ghanaśyāmaḥ kaṭakāṃgadabhūṣitaḥ 102| taṃ dṛṣṭvā te dvijāḥ sarve viṣvaksenādibhiryutam | pārṣadapravarairhṛṣṭāḥ praṇemurbhuvi saṃgatāḥ 103| jayaśabdo namaḥ śabdastadāsītsarvato mune | atha śaṃkhadhvaniṃ cakre hariḥ saṃharṣayandvijān 104| tadāneke vimānāstu vaikuṃṭhātsamupāgatāḥ | dvijānāṃ paśyatāṃ tatra pārṣadapravarairyutāḥ 105| gokarṇaṃ tu samāliṃgya dadau sārūpyamātmanaḥ | śrotṝnanyānghanaśyāmānpītakauśeyavāsasaḥ 106| kirīṭinaḥ kuṃḍalino hāriṇo vanamālinaḥ | cakāra tatkṣaṇāttatra mahadāścaryamapyabhūt 107| tasmingrāme sthitā ye tu ācāṃḍālajanā mune | samāruhya vimānāṃstānyayuḥ kṛṣṇājñayā divam 108| gokarṇasahitaḥ kṛṣṇo gopagopījanapriyaḥ | golokaṃ samanuprāptaḥ sarvalokoparisthitam | yatra vṛṃdāvanaṃ ramyaṃ śataśṛṃgasamāvṛtam 109| tadbāhye paritovṛtaṃ vijayayāhyatyadbhutaṃ rājate'raṇyaṃ yatra tu maṃḍapāni subahūnyacchodavāpyo hradāḥ || gāvaḥ kāmadughāḥ suradrumataticchāyāśritā gopakaiḥ krīḍātatparamānasaiḥ parivṛto naṃdātmajaḥ krīḍati 110| madhye tvasya sukānanasya racito vṛṃdāvaneśecchayā ramyaṃ ratnasamūhabharmakhacitaṃ prākāramudbhāsayan | nyagrodhaḥ sumahāṃstataḥ pratidiśaṃ gopījanādhyāsitaṃ vatsālaṃkṛtamadbhutākṛti mahacchrīgokulaṃ rājate 111| tanmadhye bhavanaṃ hareradhikṛtaṃ prodbhāsate bhāsvaraṃ yasminnaṃdagṛheśvarī samuditāste rādhayā rādhitāḥ | yadbhāgyaṃ mahadapyumāpatimukhaiściṃtyaṃ sadābhyaṃtaraistatsūnormadhurākṛteradhicakāstyaṃḍaughabhāsyāṃśubhiḥ 112| vātāṃbuparṇāśanadehaśoṣaṇaistapobhirugrairjapayajñakarmabhiḥ | asādhyamapyāyasadhenusaṃbhavo lokaṃ na gāhākhyamakhapravarttanāt 113| itihāsamimaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādapi|| | so'pi golokamabhyeti kiṃ śrībhāgavataṃ punaḥ 114|
English translation
Kumāras said :
1-10a. O Nārada , when the father had thus gone to the forest, the very wicked Dhundhukārin came and threatened his mother. O Nārada, (he said) to his mother: “Tell me where the wealth is. If you do not tell me about the grains, by all means I shall kill you. She, frightened by his words, and with her mind affiicted, fell at night in a well and died. After knowing it people took her out. Gokarṇa took out the dead body with the help of brāhmaṇas , her relatives. O sage, the wise one, to whom pleasure and pain were alike, went on a pilgrimage. Dhundhukārin lived in his house, and was surrounded by harlots. Dueto his practice of very fierce deeds, he did not know how to feed them. The harlots, desiring ornaments, said to him: “O dear one, all of us have been associated with you, our protector, and have stayed (with you). O you who respect others, here there is no other giver of wealth. Therefore, give us fine garments and bright ornaments. Otherwise, we shall go to another man from (i.e. leaving) you.” Hearing these words of them, he thought for a moment, and then he, blind due to desire for sensual enjoyment, and not being aware of death, went out of his house at night, stole from someone’s house garments and ornaments, and O Nārada, he, full of joy, gave those to them to please them.
10b-22. Seeing those priceless garments and ornaments, the women thought: ‘He has brought these by stealing them’. Deciding like this, they consulted one another. Everyday he commits thefts. The king will arrest him. Having snatched his wealth, he will certainly beat him. Then, why should we not secretly kill him committing thefts, and collecting much wealth go to another place? (Deliberating) like this, those wicked ones were intent on killing him, when asleep, binding him at the neck with very strong cords. When he did not die even after his neck was pressed, they threw many burning charcoals on his face. Being oppressed by the great affliction due to the flames of fire, he died. The almost rash women threw his body in a ditch. O best sage, nobody knew his whereabouts. When asked by people, they said, “Our lord has gone away. After getting wealth he will come (back) after a long time.” Therefore, the best learned men should not trust women. They always hurt the one that trusts them, and go to newer and newer (men). Their words are full of nectar, increasing the interest of the passionate; (but) their heart is like the edge of a razor. Who indeed is dear to women? Then those prostitutes, taking the large wealth, much perturbed by the fear of the king, quickly went to another village. Dhundhukārin, doing bad deeds, became a big evil spirit. Taking up the form of a storm, he everyday ran (away) into the directions away from wicked death. He was troubled by cold and heat, was without food, and thirsty.
23-29. Repeatedly crying loudly “Ha! ha!” he did not get happiness anywhere. Knowing, after some time, that he was dead, Gokarṇa performed a śrāddha at Gaya during his pilgrimage. After completing his pilgrimage, he came (back) to his village. The villagers, his kinsmen and relatives honoured him. The brāhmaṇa stayed at home for a few days. Knowing that Gokarṇa was asleep in the yard of his house at night, wicked Dhundhukārin showed him his fierce form. For a moment he became an elephant; in a moment he became a camel; in a moment he became a buffalo; in a moment he became fire; in a moment he became a serpent; and a man in a moment. Seeing this inauspiciousness, the intelligent Gokarṇa, very much amazed, mustered courage and thought: ‘What is this? This is some mean man, reduced to a miserable condition.’ Deciding like this to his mind, he, full of pity, said:
Gokarṇa said :
30-36. Who are you so fierce, that have come at night to frighten me? Are you an evil spirit or a goblin? Due to what are you reduced to this condition? O glorious one, tell me what I should do for you now, since you, of a fierce form, have approached me at night.
Hearing these words of his brother, that very wicked Dhundhukārin who was reduced to the condition of an evil spirit, and who was very much afflicted, wept. Confused by his condition of an evil spirit, he was not able to speak with words. Being thirsty, he indicated with signs (that he wanted) to drink water. Then that highly virtuous Gokarṇa, esteemed by the good, took water in the hollow of his hands, and raising it, threw it (on him). That water thrown by the noble Gokarṇa, his brother, came to satisfy the evil spirit, Dhundhukārin. Then having obtained consciousness due to the water given by his virtuous brother, Gokarṇa, he spoke, O Nārada:
The evil spirit said :
37-47a. I am your brother named Dhundhukārin. Due to the fault of my deeds, I have been reduced to the condition of an evil spirit. My mother, terrified by me in many ways, died through grief. Then eager to feed the prostitutes, I, for getting money, committed prohibited acts like stealing, through greed of money. Once they asked me for excellent ornaments. Stealing them from a rich man’s house at night, I brought them. Then through greed of wealth, O you who give respect (to others), they forcibly tied me at the neck, and killed me by throwing fire on me. Taking that abundant wealth, all of them, having given up the goodness of heart, ran away from this town through the fear of the king. I was reduced to the condition of an evil spirit. O brother, today being sprinkled by you, the kind one, with water due to (my) religious merit, I regained consciousness. I live on air. Due to my luck, the desired thing has come up. I saw you, my brother, asleep in the yard of your house. Then I suddenly exerted to attack you who did not know me. O good one, now I have been recognised by you. O my brother, O brother of the helpless, O ocean of pity, quickly free me from this condition of an evil spirit. There is no doubt that you are blessed.
Hearing these words of his brother, the wise, very intelligent Gokarṇa, with his mind dejected, spoke to his brother Dhundhukārin, who was afflicted:
Gokarṇa said :
47b-51. Hearing from the people’s mouths that you were dead, I offered you a piṇḍa at Gayā . How have you been reduced to the condition of an evil spirit, O brother? Even one reduced to a miserable condition secures an auspicious course by means of a piṇḍa offered to him at Gaya. There is no doubt about this. How is it that you did not go to heaven?
Hearing these words of Gokarṇa, the noble one, Dhundhukārin who was in front of him and whose mind was afflicted, said: “Even by the śrāddha at Gaya I shall not be liberated. You should think of a means for my emancipation.” Hearing these words of him Gokarṇa was amazed.
52-57a. He said: “If by means of śraddhas you are not getting liberation, then your reaching heaven is impossible. O evil spirit, now, being fearless, resort to your own place. After having thought I shall adopt a means for your liberation.” Having heard these words, Dhundhukārin went from there to his place, the bibhitaka tree in the cremation ground. Then, O Nārada, the remaining night Gokarṇa remained there thinking about his liberation. He did not find a means for that. In the morning that Gokarṇa told the account of the night to his relatives and members of his family, so also to brāhmaṇas who knew sacred treatises. When after having pondered over the matter (consulting) sacred treatises, they did not find the means, they eulogized the Sun.
The brāhmaṇas said :
57b-70a. Salutation to you, O Bhāskara , Āditya , Tamohantā (Dispeller of darkness), Gabhastimat (Possesser of rays), Lokasākṣin (Observer of the world), Jagaddhāman (Resort of the world), to you who are saluted by gods and demons, O Dvādaśātman, Harihayabhāsvan (Shining with bay horses), Lokaprabodhaka (Awakener of the world), you always are the resort of the people of pious nature. You are Brahmā ; you are Viṣṇu ; you are Śiva —the authors of creation, maintenance and destruction. O lord, except you there is no refuge of the living beings in the world. You are Śarva , of the form of the earth, and Bhava , taking up the form of water. You are of the form of fire; you are Rudra ; you are air, taking up a fierce form. You are fearful, having the sky as your body. You are the sacrifices, and the lord of beings. You are Mahādeva , Īśāna , the form of the moon, so also the sun. Eight divine images of you pervading the three worlds are offered oblations by the teachers of the Vedas for accomplishing all desires. You are the Fish, holding the Vedas. You are the excellent Tortoise, supporting the mountain. You are Varāha , supporting the earth; you hold the three worlds; you are Trivikrama (i.e. Viṣṇu); you are Bhārgava (i.e. Paraśurāma ) destroying the harmers of brāhmaṇas. You are Rāghava killing those who harm the world. You are Kṛṣṇa removing the burden of the earth. You are Buddha deluding the demons. You are Kalki , the killer of the Mlecchas in every age when piety is declining. You, taking up the form of Brahman , are the creator of gods, demons, men, beasts and birds, of beings moving in the water, of beings of many kinds. O Lord of the host of senses, you are Indra , Dharmarāja (i.e. Yama ), Varuṇa , Kubera . You live in the form of the regent of a quarter. You are of three forms; you are to be offered oblations three times (a day); you are having three abodes; you are of the nature of three constituents. You, the Sun, separated in three ways, are alone worshipped by people. O lord of the world, you alone cause the lotuses to bloom.
O best sage, when, having spoken like this, the best brāhmaṇas stood (there), (the Sun) moving in the sky spoke distinctly when they were listening:
Śrī Sūrya said :
70b-84. O best brāhmaṇas, since you extolled me for pacifying the major sin of Dhundhulī’s son, listen. This Gokarṇa, a calf, will emancipate him by means of (the reading of) the Bhā-gavata for seven days, due to the religious merit of Ātmadeva . By eulogizing (me) with the hymn composed by you, and describing my glory, a man will obtain a divine vehicle, O brāhmaṇas. A man desiring sons, wealth, piety, salvation, will obtain it surely by reciting the Vāñchācintāmaṇi hymn.
Saying so, god Bhāskara, remaining in the sky, ceased (speaking). The brāhmaṇas, with their minds delighted, said ‘Well (done)’ to Gokarṇa. Then to the assembly of the brāhmaṇas on the auspicious bank of Tuṅgabhadrā , the citizens went to see the very great wonder. Gokarṇa, who had known the truth, who was the reciter, was seated on a high seat. Having saluted Nārāyaṇa and others, he commenced (the reading of the Bhāgavata for) seven days. ‘If the holy text, the word of Viṣṇu is truly a holy place, springing from his lotus like feet, then may the son of Dhundhulī obtain heaven.’ Mentally resolving like this, he recited (the Purāṇa ) called Bhāgavata, beginning with Janmādyasya yataḥ and ending with Dhīmahi . Then the evil spirit, having come there, and looking for a seat here and there, took up the form of air and entered a bamboo having seven knots. O Nārada, while the brāhmaṇas, the foremost among the best brāhmaṇas were listening, the son of Dhundhulī, remaining in the hole of the knot everyday listened (to the Purāṇa). When, O Nārada, on the first day the narration came to an end, one knot of the bamboo bursted. It was a great wonder. On the second and other days also the knots bursted like this. When the seventh (knot) bursted he instantly abandoned his condition of an evil spirit. Being one having a divine form, and being adorned with a garland of Tulasī (leaves), wearing yellow garments, dark like a cloud, and full of ornaments, he shone. Saluting his brother Gokarṇa, he, seeing the entire truth, said:
85-95. “O brother, you have kindly freed me from the foulness of an evil spirit. The account of the lord is indeed blessed, which is known to remove the condition of an evil spirit. The (recitation of the Bhāgavata for a) week is also blessed, leading one to Viṣṇu’s world. Due to its power, I who was much afflicted, am freed from the condition of an evil spirit. The (recitation of the Bhāgavata for a) week would reduce to ash deliberate, non-deliberate, minor or major sins of speech, mind or act, as fire reduces the fuel to ash. Listen to the holy text of the Bhāgavata in this Bhārata liked even by gods. (Your) position (thereby) would be excellent. The body is said to be an aggregate of sinews, bones, marrow, flesh, blood. It is said to be pure due to relishing the Bhāgavata; and impure otherwise. The body, polluted due to the blemishes of acts, is the recipient of hell. To remove the blemish due to that, it alone is the means. Those (who live) without (reading or listening to) the divine holy text, are born to die only like bubbles in water or gnats among beings. The knot of the heart is broken. All doubts are cut off (i.e. removed). The (effects of his) deeds diminish, when the Bhāgavata is listened to, O brāhmaṇas.” When he was speaking like this, an excellent aeroplane came there from Vaikuṇṭha ; getting into it, he went to Viṣṇu’s abode. When he went to Viṣṇu’s heaven, the minds of all were amazed, and they asked Gokarṇa, the best brāhmaṇa:
The brāhmaṇas said :
O glorious one, all of us, that have gathered here, have listened to the Bhāgavata. For what reason has your brother alone gone to Viṣṇu?
Gokarṇa said :
96-104. Listen. I shall tell (you) the reason for the good course of my brother, hearing which you will also go to Goloka . For a week (the Bhāgavata) should be heard (by you) intent on (observing) a fast, and with (your) minds concentrated upon Kṛṣṇa. That gives an access to Goloka. O brāhmaṇas, again listen to the Bhāgavata for a week, with concentrated minds. It always gives the nectar in the form of Kṛṣṇa’s love.
Hearing these words of that Gokarṇa, the best brāhmaṇas settled to listen to the Bhāgavata for a week. O Nārada, with restraint, and with their minds concentrated on Kṛṣṇa, all the brāhmaṇas again listened to the Bhāgavata. At the end (of the narration) of the story, O best sage, lord Kṛṣṇa appeared there. He was lotus-eyed; he held a conch, a disc, a mace and a lotus. He had put on a crown and ear-rings; he was adorned with a garland of wood-flowers. He had put on yellow garments; he was dark like a cloud. He was adorned with bracelets and armlets. Seeing him accompanied by the excellent companions like Viṣvaksena , the sages, gathered on the earth, being delighted, saluted him. O sage, at that the shouts of victory and salutation prevailed everywhere. Then, Viṣṇu, delighting the brāhmaṇas made the sound of (i.e. blew) his conch.
105-114. Then, when the brāhmaṇas were looking on, many aeroplanes, with excellent attendants, came there from Vaikuṇṭha. (Viṣṇu) having embraced Gokarṇa, gave him similarity of his form. At that moment only, he made other listeners dark like clouds wearing yellow, silken garments and crowns and ear-rings; (made them) charming, and wearing garlands of wood-flowers. There was a great wonder also. By Kṛṣṇa’s order all the people up to (i.e. including) the cāṇḍālas got into the aeroplanes and went to heaven. Kṛṣṇa, dear to the cowherds and the cowherdesses, went, along with Gokarṇa, to Goloka, situated above all (other) worlds. There is the charming Vṛndāvana , covered with a hundred peaks. Outside it shines a very wonderful forest covered with hemp . There are many pavilions, wells like Acchoda and pools. There are desire-yielding cows, resorting to the shades of the celestial trees; the son of Nanda , surrounded by young cowherds, with their minds intent upon sporting, plays there. In the midst of this excellent grove is fixed a great fig tree, brightening the charming rampart, decked with masses of gems and gold according to the desire of the Lord of Vṛndāvana. Then shines Śrī Gokula of a wonderful form, resorted to by cowherdesses and adorned by calves in every direction. In it the bright house resided in by Hari (i.e. Kṛṣṇa) shines, in which house of Nanda, they, the lofty ones, are propitiated by Rādhā . The great fortune of the child of a charming figure, meditated upon by (gods) led by (Śiva) the lord of Umā, with their minds, shines more by means of the rays of the lustre of the worlds. By means of the commencement of the seven-day rite called (Bhāgavata) Saptāha, he (i.e. Gokarṇa), born of a cow, obtained the world impossible to be got by means of subsisting on air, water, leaves, parching up one’s body, severe austerities, mutterings and sacrificial rites. He who would read or listen to this holy account, goes to Goloka. Then what to say of (him who would read or listent to) Śrī Bhāgavata!
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24845, revision 333682 (2022-03-15T05:17:02Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365781.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.