Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 199
Sourceऋषय ऊचुः- कालिंद्याश्चैव माहात्म्यं वद सूत सविस्तरम् । यस्मै प्रकाशितं येन तदाख्यानसमन्वितम् १। सूत उवाच- एकदा पांडुतनयः शुश्रूषुः सौभरेः शुभम् । ज्ञानं तत्स्थानमभ्येत्य नत्वा तमिति पृष्टवान् २। युधिष्ठिर उवाच- ब्रह्मन्मार्तंडतनया तीर तीर्थेषु यच्छुभम् । तीर्थं तद्वद वैकुंठ जन्मभूमिपरात्परम् ३। सौभरिरुवाच- एकदा तु मुनिश्रेष्ठौ दिवि नारदपर्वतौ । गच्छंतौ खांडवं पश्यन्पश्यतः सुमनोहरम् ४। तत्रावतीर्णो नभस उपविष्टौ तटे शुभे । कालिंद्याः क्षणविश्रांतौ स्नातुं विविशतुर्जले ५। शिबिरौशीनरो राजा मृगयांतौ चरन्वने । दृष्ट्वा तान्निर्गमापेक्षी निषसाद सरित्तटे ६। तौ मुनी विधिवत्स्नात्वा परिधायांबराणि च । वंदितौ शिरसा राज्ञा तेनोपाविशतां तटे ७। तत्रालोक्य सुवर्णस्य शिबिर्यूपान्सहस्रशः । नारदं गर्वरहितः पर्वतं च जगाद सः ८। शिबिरुवाच- कथ्यतां मुनिशार्दूलौ कस्येमा यागयष्टयः । केनात्र विहितो यज्ञः सुरेणाथ नरेण वा ९। मुक्त्वा काश्यादितीर्थानि यज्ञैरीज्येऽत्र कः पुमान् । को विशेषोऽत्र तीर्थेभ्यस्तेभ्यो विज्ञानसन्निधिः १०। नारद उवाच- पुरा हिरण्यकशिपुर्जित्वा शक्रादिदेवताः । त्रैलोक्यराज्यमासाद्य सो खर्वं गर्वमाददे ११। प्रह्लादस्तस्य तनयो नारायणपरायणः । तस्मै सो द्रुह्यताभीक्ष्णं पापात्मा नष्टमंगलः १२। तद्द्रोहाद्विष्णुना सद्यो नृसिंहतनुधारिणा । हत्वा दैत्यपतिं स्वर्गराज्यं स्वःपतयेऽर्पितम् १३। स्वपदं प्राप्य देवेशो बृहस्पतिमथावदत् । मूर्ध्नाभिवंद्य तत्पादौ नारायणगुणान्स्मरन् १४। इंद्र उवाच- गुरो नृसिंहरूपेण हरिणा लोकधारिणा । दत्तं मे देवताराज्यं यष्टुमिच्छामि तं मखैः १५। स्थानं पवित्रं कथय ब्राह्मणांश्चैव मे गुरो । न विधेयो विलंबोऽत्र त्वया नो हितकारिणा १६। बृहस्पतिरुवाच- अस्ति ते खांडववनं रम्यं परमपावनम् । केतक्यशोकबकुलमधुमत्त मधुव्रतम् १७। तत्रास्ति यमुना पुण्या धन्या त्रैलोक्यपावनी । ददाति स्मरणे स्वर्गं मरणे ब्रह्मणः पदम् १८। तत्तीरे यज देवेश केशवं बहुभिर्मखैः । यदीच्छसि स्वकीयानां कल्याणं त्वं निरंतरम् १९। नारद उवाच- गुरोर्वचनमाकर्ण्य तूर्णमारुह्य वाहनम् । शिवप्रदमिमं शक्रः स्वकीयवनमागमत् २०। गुरुणा सह देवैश्च यज्ञोपकरणैस्तथा । अत्रागत्य विलोक्यैतद्वनं लेभे मुदं पराम् २१। गुरुणा नोदितः शक्रो सप्तर्षीन्ब्रह्मणः सुतान् । वसिष्ठादीन्द्विजान्वृत्वा यजति स्म जगत्पतिम् २२। तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान्ब्रह्मेशाभ्यां सहागतः । क्रतौ शतक्रतोर्यत्र महानभवदुत्सवः २३। देवत्रयीं सतां वीक्ष्य शक्रो वक्रमतिस्तदा । उत्थायासनतस्तूर्णं ववंदे मुनिभिः सह २४। वाहनेभ्योऽवरुह्याशु तदंतेषूपविश्य ते । आसनेषु सुहैमेषु बभुर्वेदीष्विवाग्नयः २५। सितरक्तांगयोः शंभु ब्रह्मणोर्हरिराबभौ । नीलच्छविः पीतवासास्तडित्वानिव शृंगयोः २६। शक्रः प्रक्षाल्य तत्पादान्मूर्ध्ना तज्जलमादधे । अब्रवीच्च मुदायुक्तो वचनं मधुराक्षरम् २७। इंद्र उवाच-। विहितोऽयं मया देव यज्ञोऽद्य सफलोऽभवत् २८। यद्ययं दर्शनं प्राप्ता दुर्लक्ष्या अपि योगिभिः। एकेनैव त्वया विष्णो कृता मूर्तिस्त्रयीमयी २९। गुणैस्तथापि नानात्वं स्फटिकस्येव ते मृषा । यथा दारुषु गूढोऽग्निर्घर्षणेन विना विभो ३०। नाविर्भवति भूतानां हृत्सु भक्त्या तथा भवान् । एकस्य त्वयि भक्तिः स्यात्सर्वभूतोपकारिणी ३१। बभूवुः सुखिनो देवाः प्रह्लादकृतया तया। वयं विषयिणो देव त्वन्मायावृतचेतसः ३२। न जानीमः स्वरूपं ते यथावत्पादसेवकाः । भो ब्रह्मन्भो महादेव युवामपि जगद्गुरू ३३। एतस्यैव गुरुत्वेन यतो नातः पृथक्युवाम् । यत्किंचिदुच्यते वाचा मनसा च विचिंत्यते । अस्यैव माया तत्सर्वे तद्द्वयीदूरवर्त्तिनः ३४। प्रपंचजातं यदिदं विलोक्य तेन सत्यमित्येव विचिंतयेन्न सः । भजंति विष्णोश्चरणं तरंति ते यदंबुमूर्ध्ना हर धार्यते त्वया ३५। विधेस्य भूयादनुजन्मपादयो रतिर्मदीया कमलाभयोर्भृशम् । यदीक्षण क्षोभितया तया जगत्समस्तमेतन्महदादि जायते ३६। भवादृशो नास्ति कृपापरोपरो विपक्षपक्षे वितनोषि यत्सुखम् । स्वलोकशोकापनये कृपालुता यदुच्यते ते नृहरे तदज्ञता ३७। नारद उवाच- इत्यभिष्टूय देवेशं केशवं प्रणतोऽग्रतः । तस्थौ तद्वाक्यशुश्रुषा दत्तचित्तो महीयते ३८। एवमाकर्ण्य मुनय स्तुतिं तस्य रमापतेः । कृतामिंद्रेण सदसि साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन् ३९। शतमन्यो वर्षशतं ये कुर्वंति महत्तपः । न तेषामीदृशी भक्तिर्यादृशी तव माधवे ४०। न योगः सुलभोष्टांगः ख्यातिर्येनाधिगम्यते । समत्वेन च तत्त्यागस्तद्भक्तिः शरणं नृणाम् ४१। स्वधर्मार्जितवित्तैर्यद्यथा विधि विधीयते । कर्मतस्यार्पणं विष्णौ भक्तिरेषा शिवप्रदाः ४२। न निंदेद्देवतामन्यां विष्णुबुद्ध्यां च यो नमेत् । न त्यजेद्वेदवाक्यानि स भक्तोऽस्य हरेः प्रियः ४३। ये शृण्वंति हरेर्गुणानहरहः कुर्वंति ये कीर्तनं ये चास्य स्मरणं यदोश्च भजनं येऽमुं यजंते तथा ४४। ये दास्येन नमंति चैनममुना कुर्वंति ये मित्रतां ये च स्वं च निवेदयंति नहि ते वांच्छंति मुक्त्यादिकम् ४५। इंद्र भक्त्या त्वमप्येनमाराधय जगद्गुरुम् । न कामये किमप्यास्मत्कृतकृत्यो भविष्यति ४६। नारद उवाच- मुनिभिरिति शिक्षिते समस्तसेव्यां त्रिभुवनपारपदप्रदां निशम्य । हरिरनिशगुरुः कृतां स्वभक्तिं मधुरमुवाच वचो हरिं समाजे ४७। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे। कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये इंद्रयागविधिनोनाम एकोनद्विशततमोऽध्यायः१९९।
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- kāliṃdyāścaiva māhātmyaṃ vada sūta savistaram | yasmai prakāśitaṃ yena tadākhyānasamanvitam 1| sūta uvāca- ekadā pāṃḍutanayaḥ śuśrūṣuḥ saubhareḥ śubham | jñānaṃ tatsthānamabhyetya natvā tamiti pṛṣṭavān 2| yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- brahmanmārtaṃḍatanayā tīra tīrtheṣu yacchubham | tīrthaṃ tadvada vaikuṃṭha janmabhūmiparātparam 3| saubhariruvāca- ekadā tu muniśreṣṭhau divi nāradaparvatau | gacchaṃtau khāṃḍavaṃ paśyanpaśyataḥ sumanoharam 4| tatrāvatīrṇo nabhasa upaviṣṭau taṭe śubhe | kāliṃdyāḥ kṣaṇaviśrāṃtau snātuṃ viviśaturjale 5| śibirauśīnaro rājā mṛgayāṃtau caranvane | dṛṣṭvā tānnirgamāpekṣī niṣasāda sarittaṭe 6| tau munī vidhivatsnātvā paridhāyāṃbarāṇi ca | vaṃditau śirasā rājñā tenopāviśatāṃ taṭe 7| tatrālokya suvarṇasya śibiryūpānsahasraśaḥ | nāradaṃ garvarahitaḥ parvataṃ ca jagāda saḥ 8| śibiruvāca- kathyatāṃ muniśārdūlau kasyemā yāgayaṣṭayaḥ | kenātra vihito yajñaḥ sureṇātha nareṇa vā 9| muktvā kāśyāditīrthāni yajñairījye'tra kaḥ pumān | ko viśeṣo'tra tīrthebhyastebhyo vijñānasannidhiḥ 10| nārada uvāca- purā hiraṇyakaśipurjitvā śakrādidevatāḥ | trailokyarājyamāsādya so kharvaṃ garvamādade 11| prahlādastasya tanayo nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaḥ | tasmai so druhyatābhīkṣṇaṃ pāpātmā naṣṭamaṃgalaḥ 12| taddrohādviṣṇunā sadyo nṛsiṃhatanudhāriṇā | hatvā daityapatiṃ svargarājyaṃ svaḥpataye'rpitam 13| svapadaṃ prāpya deveśo bṛhaspatimathāvadat | mūrdhnābhivaṃdya tatpādau nārāyaṇaguṇānsmaran 14| iṃdra uvāca- guro nṛsiṃharūpeṇa hariṇā lokadhāriṇā | dattaṃ me devatārājyaṃ yaṣṭumicchāmi taṃ makhaiḥ 15| sthānaṃ pavitraṃ kathaya brāhmaṇāṃścaiva me guro | na vidheyo vilaṃbo'tra tvayā no hitakāriṇā 16| bṛhaspatiruvāca- asti te khāṃḍavavanaṃ ramyaṃ paramapāvanam | ketakyaśokabakulamadhumatta madhuvratam 17| tatrāsti yamunā puṇyā dhanyā trailokyapāvanī | dadāti smaraṇe svargaṃ maraṇe brahmaṇaḥ padam 18| tattīre yaja deveśa keśavaṃ bahubhirmakhaiḥ | yadīcchasi svakīyānāṃ kalyāṇaṃ tvaṃ niraṃtaram 19| nārada uvāca- gurorvacanamākarṇya tūrṇamāruhya vāhanam | śivapradamimaṃ śakraḥ svakīyavanamāgamat 20| guruṇā saha devaiśca yajñopakaraṇaistathā | atrāgatya vilokyaitadvanaṃ lebhe mudaṃ parām 21| guruṇā noditaḥ śakro saptarṣīnbrahmaṇaḥ sutān | vasiṣṭhādīndvijānvṛtvā yajati sma jagatpatim 22| tasya prasanno bhagavānbrahmeśābhyāṃ sahāgataḥ | kratau śatakratoryatra mahānabhavadutsavaḥ 23| devatrayīṃ satāṃ vīkṣya śakro vakramatistadā | utthāyāsanatastūrṇaṃ vavaṃde munibhiḥ saha 24| vāhanebhyo'varuhyāśu tadaṃteṣūpaviśya te | āsaneṣu suhaimeṣu babhurvedīṣvivāgnayaḥ 25| sitaraktāṃgayoḥ śaṃbhu brahmaṇorharirābabhau | nīlacchaviḥ pītavāsāstaḍitvāniva śṛṃgayoḥ 26| śakraḥ prakṣālya tatpādānmūrdhnā tajjalamādadhe | abravīcca mudāyukto vacanaṃ madhurākṣaram 27| iṃdra uvāca-| vihito'yaṃ mayā deva yajño'dya saphalo'bhavat 28| yadyayaṃ darśanaṃ prāptā durlakṣyā api yogibhiḥ| ekenaiva tvayā viṣṇo kṛtā mūrtistrayīmayī 29| guṇaistathāpi nānātvaṃ sphaṭikasyeva te mṛṣā | yathā dāruṣu gūḍho'gnirgharṣaṇena vinā vibho 30| nāvirbhavati bhūtānāṃ hṛtsu bhaktyā tathā bhavān | ekasya tvayi bhaktiḥ syātsarvabhūtopakāriṇī 31| babhūvuḥ sukhino devāḥ prahlādakṛtayā tayā| vayaṃ viṣayiṇo deva tvanmāyāvṛtacetasaḥ 32| na jānīmaḥ svarūpaṃ te yathāvatpādasevakāḥ | bho brahmanbho mahādeva yuvāmapi jagadgurū 33| etasyaiva gurutvena yato nātaḥ pṛthakyuvām | yatkiṃciducyate vācā manasā ca viciṃtyate | asyaiva māyā tatsarve taddvayīdūravarttinaḥ 34| prapaṃcajātaṃ yadidaṃ vilokya tena satyamityeva viciṃtayenna saḥ | bhajaṃti viṣṇoścaraṇaṃ taraṃti te yadaṃbumūrdhnā hara dhāryate tvayā 35| vidhesya bhūyādanujanmapādayo ratirmadīyā kamalābhayorbhṛśam | yadīkṣaṇa kṣobhitayā tayā jagatsamastametanmahadādi jāyate 36| bhavādṛśo nāsti kṛpāparoparo vipakṣapakṣe vitanoṣi yatsukham | svalokaśokāpanaye kṛpālutā yaducyate te nṛhare tadajñatā 37| nārada uvāca- ityabhiṣṭūya deveśaṃ keśavaṃ praṇato'grataḥ | tasthau tadvākyaśuśruṣā dattacitto mahīyate 38| evamākarṇya munaya stutiṃ tasya ramāpateḥ | kṛtāmiṃdreṇa sadasi sādhusādhviti cābruvan 39| śatamanyo varṣaśataṃ ye kurvaṃti mahattapaḥ | na teṣāmīdṛśī bhaktiryādṛśī tava mādhave 40| na yogaḥ sulabhoṣṭāṃgaḥ khyātiryenādhigamyate | samatvena ca tattyāgastadbhaktiḥ śaraṇaṃ nṛṇām 41| svadharmārjitavittairyadyathā vidhi vidhīyate | karmatasyārpaṇaṃ viṣṇau bhaktireṣā śivapradāḥ 42| na niṃdeddevatāmanyāṃ viṣṇubuddhyāṃ ca yo namet | na tyajedvedavākyāni sa bhakto'sya hareḥ priyaḥ 43| ye śṛṇvaṃti harerguṇānaharahaḥ kurvaṃti ye kīrtanaṃ ye cāsya smaraṇaṃ yadośca bhajanaṃ ye'muṃ yajaṃte tathā 44| ye dāsyena namaṃti cainamamunā kurvaṃti ye mitratāṃ ye ca svaṃ ca nivedayaṃti nahi te vāṃcchaṃti muktyādikam 45| iṃdra bhaktyā tvamapyenamārādhaya jagadgurum | na kāmaye kimapyāsmatkṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyati 46| nārada uvāca- munibhiriti śikṣite samastasevyāṃ tribhuvanapārapadapradāṃ niśamya | hariraniśaguruḥ kṛtāṃ svabhaktiṃ madhuramuvāca vaco hariṃ samāje 47| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe| kāliṃdīmāhātmye iṃdrayāgavidhinonāma ekonadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ199|
English translation
The sages said :
1. O Sūta tell us the glory of Yamunā in detail—to whom it was spoken, and by whom it was spoken—along with a story.
Sūta said :
2. Once Pāṇḍu ’s son, desiring to hear auspicious knowledge from Saubhari , went to his place, and having saluted him, asked him like this:
Yudhiṣṭhira said :
3. O brāhmaṇa , tell me about that holy place which is (the best) among the holy places on the bank of Yamunā, and which is (even) superior to the land of the birth of Viṣṇu .
Saubhari said :
4-8. Once the two pre-eminent sages, Nārada and Parvata , moving in the sky, (while) looking (here and there), saw the very beautiful Khāṇḍava forest. From the sky they descended there and sat on the auspicious bank of Kālindī , and having rested awhile, entered her water to bathe. King Śibi , son of Uśīnara , hunting in the forest, saw the two, and waiting for them to come out, sat on the bank of the river. The two who after having duly bathed had put on garments, who were saluted by the king with his head (bent down), sat on the bank. Seeing thousands of golden sacrificial posts there, Śibi, free from pride, spoke to Nārada and Parvata:
Śibi said :
9-10. O pre-eminent sages, tell me, whose sacrificial posts these are. Who performed a sacrifice here-(was it) a god or a man? Leaving holy places like Kāśī , which man performed a sacrifice here? What peculiarity, O treasures of knowledge, does it have (in a greater extent) than other holy places?
Nārada said :
11-14. Formerly Hiraṇyakaśipu , having conquered deities like Indra , secured the kingdom of the three worlds, and entertained great pride. His son was Prahlāda , highly devoted to Nārāyaṇa . The wicked (Hiraṇyakaśipu), whose auspiciousness had perished, bore a great malice against him. Due to that malice, Viṣṇu, taking up the body of Nṛsiṃha , instantly killed the lord of demons, and gave the kingdom of heaven to (Indra) the lord of heaven. Having obtained his own position, the lord of gods, remembering the virtues of Viṣṇu, and saluting Bṛhas - pati ’s feet with his head (bent down) said to him:
Indra said :
15-16. O preceptor, Viṣṇu, the supporter of the world, taking up the form of Nṛsiṃha, gave me the kindom of deities. I desire to worship him with sacrifices. O Guru , tell me (about) a pure place and also (about) the brāhmaṇas . You, doing good to us, should not delay in this matter.
Bṛhaspati said :
17-19. For you there is the charming and extremely holy Khāṇḍava forest which contains (the trees like) ketakī , aśoka , bakula and (also) bees intoxicated by honey. There is Yamunā, auspicious, holy and purifying the three worlds. On remembering her she gives heaven, and on death Brahma ’s position. O lord of gods, if you desire the continuous well-being of your relatives, worship Viṣṇu with many sacrifices on her bank.
Nārada said :
20-27. Having heard Bṛhaspati ’s words, and quickly getting into a vehicle, Indra came to this forest of him which caused happiness, along with Bṛhaspati and the materials of sacrifice. Having come here, and having seen this forest, he obtained great joy. Prompted by Guru, Indra, choosing the seven sages, the sons of Brahmā , the brāhmaṇas, worshipped the lord of the world with sacrifices. The lord, pleased with him, came, along with Brahmā and Śiva , to Indra’s sacrifice, where there was a great festivity. That Indra, of a crooked mind, seeing the triad of gods, quickly got up from his seat, and along with the sages, saluted them. Quickly getting down from their vehicles, they sat near him on seats of excellent gold, and shone like fires on altars. With Śiva and Brahmā who had white and red bodies, Viṣṇu, of a dark complexion, wearing yellow garments, shone like a cloud on two peaks. Indra washed their feet and took that water on his head. Being full of joy, he spoke sweet words:
Indra said :
28-37. O gods, this sacrifice performed by me has become instantly fruitful, since you, difficult to see even by meditating saints are seen (by me). O Viṣṇu, you alone have taken up the three forms. Yet as in a crystal, the appearance of multiplicity in you in respect of qualities is false. As fire concealed in pieces of wood does not manifest itself without friction, in the same way you remaining in the hearts of your devotees (do not manifest yourself) without deep devotion. Devotion to you alone, would be helpful to all beings. By that (devotion) entertained by Prahlāda, gods became happy. O god, we, given to sensual pleasures, have our hearts screened by your Māyā . We, the servants of your feet, do not know your nature correctly. O Brahman , O Mahādeva , since you two also are the preceptors of the world due to his greatness, you are not different from him. Whatever is said with words, thought of by the mind is his Māya only. So all are away from that pair(?). He who sees this entire visible world to be unreal, would not think of (sensuous pleasures). O Śiva, those who resort to Viṣṇu's feet, cross the water held by you on your head. O Brahman, may I have, in existence after existence, a great liking for his feet, resembling lotuses. Due to it being agitated by her (Māyā’s) glance, the entire world, Mahat etc. springs up. There is none else given to kindness like you who give happiness (even) to your enemies. That which is described as your kindness, that removes the misery of your people is (just) (due to) ignorance, O Nṛhari.
Nārada said :
38-46. Having thus praised Viṣṇu, the lord of gods remained bent before him. He who had applied (i.e. concentrated) his mind with a desire to hear his words, looked great.
The sages, having thus heard the praise of Ramā ’s lord, done by Indra in the assembly, said: “Well (done), well done.” (They said:) “O Indra, (even) the devotion of those who practise severe penance for a hundred years is not like your devotion to Viṣṇu. The Yoga with eight parts, by means of which glory is obtained, is not easy. The refuge of men is renunciation with equanimity of mind and devotion to him. When the dedication of that act which is performed with the wealth earned in pursuance of the duties of one’s own caste is made to Viṣṇu, that is devotion, giving happiness. He should not censure other deity, (and) him who salutes (the deity) with Viṣṇu in his mind. He should not ignore Vedic words. Such a devotee is dear to those who everyday listen to the virtues of Viṣṇu, who sing his glory, who remember him, resort to him, worship him, who salute him with servitude, who form friendship with him, who offer him their possessions, who do not desire salvation etc. O Indra, you also devoutly propitiate the lord of the world. Do not desire anything from him. Then you will be blessed.”
Nārada said :
47. When Indra was thus advised by the sages, Viṣṇu, the lord, having heard about the devotion that was done to him, that could be resorted to by all, and that would cause the crossing of the three worlds, spoke sweet words to Indra in the assembly.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44911, revision 333684 (2022-03-15T05:21:05Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365783.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.