Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 204
Sourceशिवशर्मोवाच- विष्णुशर्मंस्ततो वैश्यः शरभः सह भार्यया । नीत्वा पूजोपकरणं ययौ श्रीचंडिकालयम् १। तत्र तौविधिवत्स्नात्वा सुमनो धूपदीपकैः । आनर्चतुर्भक्तियुक्तौ चंडिकां पुत्रकाम्यया २। श्रद्धया पूजिता ताभ्यां दिनैः सप्तभिरंबिका । उवाच वाचा प्रत्यक्षं भूत्वा विशदमानसा ३। पार्वत्युवाच- भो भो वैश्य प्रसन्नास्मि भक्त्या सुदृढया तव । ददामि पुत्रं ते साधो यदर्थे यत्नवानसि ४। गच्छ त्वं मा विलंबस्व वनमैद्रं च खांडवम् । तत्र तीर्थं महापुण्यमिंद्रप्रस्थाख्यमुत्तमम् ५। निगमोद्बोधकं तत्र तीर्थं निखिलकामदम् । बृहस्पतिकृतं तत्र स्नाहि त्वं सुतवांछया ६। भविष्यति सुतस्तात तव स्नानेन तत्र हि । तत्र स्नात्वा मयाप्यंग लब्धः स्कंदः सुरारिहा ७। शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचो देव्याः पिता मम सहस्त्रिया । अत्राजगाम सत्तीर्थे सस्नौ च सुतवांछया ८। उपस्करवतीर्धेनूर्द्विजेभ्यः प्रददौ शतम् । देवान्पितॄंश्च संतर्प्य यथाविध्यत्र बुद्धिमान् ९। सप्तरात्रमुषित्वा तु दंपती यतमानसौ । जग्मतुः स्वगृहानिष्टलाभोत्फुल्लमुखांबुजौ १०। तस्मिन्नेवाभवद्गर्भो मासि मातुर्ममान्वहम् । व्यतीते नवमे मासि जातोऽहं दशमे शुभे ११। विष्णुशर्मन्यदुक्तं ते पुरावृत्तमिदं मया । दशाब्दद्वयमेवैतच्छ्रुतं सर्वं पितुर्मुखात् १२। एकदा क्षममालोक्य गृहकर्मणि मां पिता । गृहं मामर्पयामास विश्वाद्वैराग्यमाप्नुवन् १३। मां चोवाच स धर्मात्मा गोविंदासक्तमानसः । विनिंदन्विषयासक्तिं विष्णुभक्तिं स्तुवन्मुहुः १४। पितोवाच- सुमते वार्द्धकं प्राप्तं पलिताश्चिकुरा मम । गोविंदचरणांभोजं सेविष्ये साधुसेवितम् १५। तत्सैवया भवेत्स्वच्छं मनो यस्य च सुस्थिरम् । स पुमानात्मसंतुष्टो न किंचिदभिवांछति १६। निष्कामः सुखदुःखाभ्यां भुंजन्सुकृतदुष्कृते । प्राकृते तत्समाप्तौ च त्यजन्देहं भवत्यजः १७। तां वद्द्रव्यं गुणसुखं यावत्प्राप्तं न चित्सुखम् । तत्प्राप्तौ तद्भवेत्तुच्छं सुधाया इव तक्रकम् १८। हरेर्मायाबलवतीयं मोहयति देहिनम् । हितानि तं न जानाति स यथा मदिरामदः १९। प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च विद्ययाविद्यया च सः । करोति स्वेच्छया काले बाललीलो हि स प्रभुः २०। वेदोदितं यदा कर्म क्रियते फलमिच्छता । प्रवृत्तिं सा परा तात तेषामर्पणमीश्वरे २१। यथा निर्दग्धाबीजानि न प्ररोहंति यत्नतः । यथा कर्माणि विश्वेशे निःकामेनार्पितानि तु २२। कर्मणां च लयो मोक्षः सुखदुःखप्रदायिनाम् । तदुत्पत्तिस्तु बंधः स्यादित्यसौ शास्त्रनिर्णयः २३। अतोऽहं कर्मवेदोक्तं कुर्वन्नाभिलषन्फलम् । पर्यटिष्यामि तीर्थेषु हृदि भक्ति दधद्धरेः २४। एवं प्रारब्धकर्माणि भुंजन्नान्यान्यतर्जयन्। हनिष्यामि जगद्रोगं पीत्वा सत्संगमौषधम् २५। शिवशर्मोवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य वचनं तस्याहं पितुरात्मनः । अवदं विष्णुशर्मस्त्वं तन्निशामय तत्वतः २६। वैश्यपुत्र उवाच- अयं जनो दुराराध्यः कथयिष्यति नो यशः । दुष्टकुटुंबादुद्विज्य निःसृत्य गत इत्ययम् २७। इयं विष्णुपदी तात भुवनत्रयपावनी । स्मृता हरत्यघं दूरात्कस्मादेनां विमुंचसि २८। पापकारी जनस्तात म्रियते मगधे तु यः । सोप्यस्तपापो गंगायां स्वर्याति त्यजमाशुभम् २९। पुत्राः षष्टिसहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मनः । कपिलक्रोधनिर्दग्धा गतायत्स्पर्शनाद्दिवम् ३०। तामिमां त्रिदिवश्रेणीं मुक्तेरपि विधायिनीम् । मुमुक्षुसेवितां तात मुक्त्वा मान्यत्र गम्यताम् ३१। मावजानीहि सामीप्ये गंगा त्रिदशमानिताम् । यदिच्छसि महाभाग सेवितैषा प्रदास्यति ३२। तिर्यंचोऽपि विना ज्ञानाज्जले चेत्स्युर्गतासवः । भवेयुस्तर्हि ते ब्रह्म सा कथं त्यज्यते त्वया ३३। शिवशर्मोवाच- निशम्यैतद्वचस्तातस्ततो मम ऋतप्रियः । उवास सदने सर्वविषयेभ्यः पराङ्मुखः ३४। त्रिषु कालेषुं गगायां प्रत्यहं स्नानमाचरन् । पुराणं स्याद्गृहे यत्र तत्र याति स नित्यशः ३५। एकदाकर्णयन्धीरो यमुनातीर्थगौरवम् । तत्र शुश्राव माहात्म्यमस्यतीर्थस्य पुत्र सः ३६। अविमुक्त हरिद्वार प्रयागेभ्यश्च पुष्करात् । अयोध्याद्वारिका कांची मथुराभ्यस्तथान्यतः ३७। सर्वतीर्थमयस्यास्य पुण्यं शतगुणाधिकम् । कथितं तेन विदुषा सुतेनाकर्ण्यमत्पिता ३८। त्यक्त्वा गृहमगादत्र तीर्थे सर्वैरलक्षितः । आवामिव महाभागो गोविंदपदसेवकः ३९। अत्रागत्य महाभागो मत्पिता मोक्षवांछया । निगमोद्बोधके तीर्थे त्रिकालं स्नानमाचरन् ४०। उवास कतिचिन्मासानत्र तीर्थोत्तमे हि सः ४१। कुर्वन्निजक्रियां धीमान्निस्पृहोप्यजवेश्मनि । एकदा सहसा तस्य ज्वरोऽभूदतिदारुणः ४२। महत्या पीडया तस्य मुमोह गतचेतनः । मुहूर्तं स पिता मुह्यं तदवस्थो व्यतिष्ठित ४३। पश्चात्समागतप्राणो विचिंत्य यदिदं तदा । अहो मे कष्टमापन्नं दूरे पुत्रः स धार्मिकः ४४। यो मां ज्वरवितप्तांगमाश्वासयति बुद्धिमान् । अगम्यागमनं पापं कृतं यन्मे सुदारुणम् ४५। प्रायश्चित्तं न तस्यापि कृतं कामे गतिर्भवेत् । आगमिष्यति पुत्रो मे तस्मै दास्यामि वस्विति ४६। यन्मया गोपितं गेहे न दृष्टं च तदप्यहम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- इति चिंतयतस्तस्य पान्थो वर्षेण पीडितः ४७। शीतार्तः कंपितवपुरुटजं प्राविशत्तदा । स तं संविष्टमालोक्य भूयो गत्वा तदंतिके ४८। मुनिरेष इति ज्ञात्वा ववंदे शिरसाध्वगः । ऊचे च कस्मात्सुप्तोसि मुने संध्या समागता ४९। रविरस्तं प्रयात्येष न सुप्तेः काल एष ते । इत्युक्तमात्रे वचसि पथिकेन पिता मम ५०। शरभो ज्वरतप्तांगस्तमाह कथमप्यहो । शरभ उवाच- श्रूयतां वचनं पांथ यद्वदामि पुरस्तव ५१। श्रुत्वा मद्भाग्ययातेन त्वया साधो विधीयताम् । वैश्योऽहं शरभो नाम्ना कान्यकुब्जे गृहं मम ५२। अत्रागतो निषिद्धोपि जायामित्रसुतैरहम् । अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा सूनुमुखेरितम् ५३। मासास्तु कतिचित्साधो व्यतीता मयि चागते । दिनत्रयमतिक्रांतं ज्वरितस्य ममाधुना ५४। प्राणा मे विगता आसन्नद्यभूयः समागताः । कियानप्यायुषः शेषः साधो मे खलु तिष्ठति ५५। शमनस्य गृहं दृष्ट्वा यदहं पुनरागतः । भाग्योदयेन केनापि ममात्र त्वं समागतः ५६। नय मां मद्गृहं मित्र द्रव्यं बहु ददामि ते । दास्याम्यपि गृहं गत्वा कृपां कुरु कृपानिधे ५७। इह भूभाग उत्खाय गृह्यतां मामकं धनम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य स दुर्बुद्धिर्ग्राम्यो विषयलंपटः ५८। उवाच धनलुब्धस्तं त्वदुक्तं साधयाम्यहम् । इत्युक्त्वा धनमुत्खाय तस्माद्भूभागतस्तदा ५९। अग्रतः स्थापयामास शरभस्याह चाध्वगः । अध्वग उवाच- धनमेतद्विशांनाथ तव भूभागतो मया ६०। निष्कासितं प्रयच्छाशु शिबिकानयनाय मे । यामारोप्य ज्वरार्तं त्वां नयामि तव केतनम् ६१। शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्तस्तेन स तदा ददौ स्वर्णपलत्रयम् । सोपि नीत्वा पितुर्द्रव्यं ययौ लवणपत्तनम् ६२। उषित्वा रात्रिमेकां तु शिबिकां सपरिच्छदाम् । सवाहामानयत्पुत्र दत्त्वा स्वर्णपलद्वयम् ६३। पलं द्वयं गृहीतं तत्तेनैवाधर्मबुद्धिना । आरोप्य शिबिकां तं तु शरभं वैश्यसत्तमम् ६४। पांथः स चलितो वाहांस्त्वरयन्कान्यकुब्जकम् । अस्य तीर्थवरस्याथ कमंडलुजलं धृतम् ६५। पाययन्नल्पमल्पं तं तृषार्तं सोध्वगो ययौ । अथ ते सरसस्तीरे उत्तीर्णा भोक्तुमध्वनि ६६। स्नात्वा भुक्त्वा पुनस्तस्मात्स्थानाच्चेलुस्त्वरान्विताः । कियंति भूमिमुल्लंघ्य तृषार्तांस्ते कमंडलोः ६७। जलं पीत्वा तृषार्तं तं शरभं चाप्यपाययत् । अथ कश्चिन्महाभीमो विकटो नाम राक्षसः ६८। विचरन्निर्जनेऽरण्ये गच्छतस्तानवैक्षत । तान्दृष्ट्वा स क्षुधाक्रांतो वेगवान्विवृताननः ६९। अभिदुद्राव चरणाघातेनाकंपयन्महीम् । आगत्य तरसा पार्श्वे तान्वाहान्पथिकं च तम् ७०। सकोशेषु समादाय भ्रामयामास खेचरः । गतासून्भ्रामणेनैव भूतले तानपोथयत् ७१। चखाद पिशितं तेषां पपौ कोशाच्च शोणितम् । कुत्र यास्यति रोगार्तो नरोऽयं पुरतो मम ७२। एनं तु भक्षयिष्यामि पश्चादंबु पिबाम्यहम् । इति कृत्वा मतिर्वारितीर्थस्यास्य कमंडलोः ७३। मुखे चिक्षेप स तदा रजनीचरपुंगवः । क्षिप्तमात्रे जले तस्य पूर्वजन्मभवा स्मृतिः ७४। जाता स तु वधात्तस्य शरभस्य न्यवर्तत । पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं तदपि स्मृतिमागमत् ७५। येन राक्षसभावस्तु भूतो विप्रोद्भवादपि । स्मृत्वा पापमुपेत्याशु समीपे शरभस्य तु । उवाच ज्ञानमापन्नो राक्षसः पितरं मम ७६। राक्षस उवाच- भो भो मनुष्यशार्दूल कस्त्वं के च जना अमी । भक्षिता ये मया घोर रूपेणाधमरक्षसा ७७। कस्य तीर्थवरस्येदं जलं यस्य प्रभावतः । पापिनोऽपि स्मृतिर्जाता पूर्वजन्मभवा मम ७८। वैश्य उवाच- वैश्योऽहं राक्षसश्रेष्ठ कान्यकुब्जे गृहं मम । तीर्थानि पर्यटन्निंद्रप्रस्थेऽहं समुपागतः ७९। तत्राहमभवं दुःखी ज्वरेण विधियोगतः । ततो मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना गंतुं गृहमसत्पथ । तत्र कश्चित्समायातः पांथो वर्षेण पीडितः ८०। प्रार्थितः स मयानीय शिबिकां मां गृहं नय । स चायं शिबिकां पांथः समुपानीय सत्वरः ८१। मामारोप्य च तां धीरश्चलितो मद्गृहं प्रति । स पांथस्ते च शिबिकावाहाः संप्रति भक्षिताः ८२। त्वया जलमिदं यस्य तीर्थस्यापि च तच्छृणु । इंद्रस्य खांडववने यमुनास्ति सरिद्वरा ८३। तत्तीरेऽस्ति हरिप्रस्थं तीर्थं तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् । सुराचार्यस्य तत्रास्ति तीर्थं सर्वार्थसाधकम् ८४। निगमोद्बोधकं जाता स्मृतिस्ते यज्जलाशनात् । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहंमिह त्वया ८५। पृच्छामि त्वामहं किंचित्तद्वदाशु निशाचर । पूर्वजन्मकृतं कर्म स्मरसि त्वमिहाधुना । वद किं ते कृतं पापं येन जातोऽसि राक्षसः ८६। राक्षस उवाच- पुराहमभवं विप्रः पुण्ये वेदविदां कुले । दुराचारो ह्यधर्मात्मा शृणु सर्वं वदामि ते ८७। क्रीडता हि मया नित्यं द्यूतेन सह तद्विदैः । हारितं द्रविणं भूरि स्वकीयं पितुरेव च ८८। पित्रा निवेद्य भूपाय मामकं कर्म तज्जनैः । पुरान्निःसारितो निःस्वो गतोऽहं ग्राममंतिके ८९। तत्रासीन्मे सखा नाम देवको ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । तेनाऽहं रक्षितो गेहे कुर्वता चिरमादरम् ९०। वस्तुं तत्र सुखेनाहं तद्भार्यां रूपशालिनीम् । कामातुरोऽहमभजं बलान्मित्रे गते क्वचित् ९१। सा मृता तत्क्षणात्साध्वी भक्षयित्वा महाविषम् । तां दृष्ट्वा तमसायुक्ते निशीथेऽहं पलायितः ९२। पलायमानस्तरसा धृतोऽहं राजकिंकरैः । चौरोऽयमिति खङ्गेन चिच्छिदुस्ते शिरो मम ९३। मृतं मां यातनादेहमावेश्य यमकिंकराः । रौरवे निरयघोरे चिक्षिपुर्यमशासनात् ९४। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि तत्राऽहं तीव्रयातनाम् । भुक्त्वा तेनैव पापेन राक्षसत्वमुपागतः ९५। शतवर्षाण्यतीतानि राक्षसत्वे विशांपते । वदामि तमुपायं मे येनास्मान्मुक्तिमाप्नुयाम् ९६। पुण्यं तदर्पिते साधो वदामि शृणु सादरम् । येन तीर्थवरस्येदं जलं मम मुखे गतम् ९७। तत्रैव जन्मनि मया कृत्वा हरिदिने व्रतम् । संसर्गान्नेच्छया वैश्य रात्रौ जागरणं कृतम् ९८। द्वादश्यामथ संस्नात्वा भोक्तुंमपि समुद्यते । मद्गृहे कश्चिदायातो वैष्णवो विष्णुरूपधृक् ९९। कुपितोऽहं तमालोक्य दुर्वचो वदमग्रतः । क्व गच्छसि दुराचार दांभिकस्त्रीजनांतरे १००। इत्युक्तं स मया धीरस्तुल्यो मानापमानयोः । तूष्णीमेव निकेतान्मे निर्गत्य चलितो यदा १०१। तदाभिमुखमायांती पत्नी मम पतिव्रता । पतित्वा पादयोस्तस्य तं साधुं गृहमानयत् १०२। मयापमानितस्यापि न क्रोधोऽभून्महात्मनः । तयादृतस्याप्यानंदो यतः सोरि सुहृत्समः १०३। तमर्चयित्वा विधिवद्विष्टरे चोपवेश्य सा । भोज्यं भोजय जीवेश जयताद्भुवनत्रयम् १०४। इत्युक्तोऽहं तया साध्व्या न्यगदं तं महाशयम् । म्लानवक्त्रः प्रसन्नास्यमुत्तिष्ठ शमय क्षुधाम् १०५। इत्युक्त्वा तस्य चरणौ नोदितस्तनुमध्यमा । प्राक्षालयं पुनस्तं तु निवेश्यासनमुत्तमम् १०६। अददां पात्रमन्नेन पूर्णं तस्मै विवेकिने । जलं च तत्करे साध्व्या प्रेरितोऽहं तया मुहुः १०७। उपभुज्य स धर्मात्मा स्वैरं विगतविक्रियः । हरेराम हरेकृष्ण जपन्निति जगाम ह १०८। कृतं पुण्यमिदं वैश्य नोदितेन मया स्त्रिया । पूर्वजन्मनि येनेदं प्रापितं तीर्थवारि मे १०९। शिवशर्मोवाच- विष्णुशर्मन्निदं वाक्यमुक्त्वा तिष्ठति राक्षसे । पथिकः स च ते वाहाः प्राहुः खे दिव्यदेहिनः ११०। पथिकवाहा ऊचुः भो भो विशांपते साधो प्राप्ता अप्यपमृत्युताम् । त्वत्प्रसादादिदं वारि पीत्वा देवत्वमागताः १११। त्वत्संगे धनलोभेन विट्पते चलिता यतः । विगता न धनाकांक्षा मरणावसरेप्यतः ११२। तीर्थराजजलस्यास्य तिष्ठतो जठरे हि नः । मरणे ह्यनुभावात्तु मैत्री प्राप्ता धनेशितुः ११३। नमामस्त्वां वयं यामो धनेश नगरीं प्रभो । विमानैस्तद्गणानीतैर्नानामणिविभूषितैः ११४। प्रयाहि मा विलंबस्व तीर्थे निगमबोधके । त्वमनेनसमं साधो तारयैनमपि द्रुतम् ११५। शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्त्वा ते गतास्तात दिश्युदीच्यां समंततः । विमानकिंकिणीनादैर्नादयंतोऽथ रोदसी ११६। अथ वैश्यो मम पिता तमाह रजनीचरम् । शरभ उवाच- उत्तिष्ठ नय मामाशु तीर्थे निगमबोधके ११७। ज्वरार्त्तेन मया पद्भ्यां तत्र गंतुं न शक्यते । यो मां नयति तत्तीर्थं त्वदन्यो नास्ति कश्चन ११८। शिवशर्मोवाच- तथेति तमथाश्वास्य वैश्यं स रजनीचरः । स्कंधमारोप्य वेगेन तत्तीर्थं पावनं ययौ ११९। ऊषतुस्तावुभौ तत्र विश्पतिः स च राक्षसः । कुर्वंतौ स्नानमात्रं तु सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमे १२०। अथाऽहं पितुराकर्ण्य महतीं गुरुवेदनाम् । तं प्रति प्रेरितो मात्रा चलितो निजसद्मतः १२१। अत्रागत्य मया दृष्टः स महाज्वरपीडितः । मूर्ध्ना च वंदितस्तेन दत्ताशीर्मेऽभ्यभाषि च १२२। शरभ उवाच- किमर्थमिह भो तात दूरमार्गे समागतः । दिनानि कतिचित्तिष्ठन्कुर्वन्नत्र निजक्रियाम् १२३। विकटो नाम मे मित्रः राक्षसः समुपैति वै । उत्तिष्ठ वपुषामुष्य दंडवत्पत पादयोः १२४। न भेतव्यं त्वयामुष्मात्त्यक्तहिंसादि कर्मणः । अधुना तीर्थमासाद्य सन्निधौ मम तिष्ठति १२५। शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा पित्रा शरभेण महात्मना । उत्थाय पतितस्तस्य पादयोर्दंडवद्भुवि १२६। दोर्भ्यामुत्थाप्य मां सोऽथ गाढमालिंग्य राक्षसः । स्वागतं मित्रपुत्रेति जगादाशिषमीरयन् १२७। राक्षस उवाच- भाग्यवानसि भो तात यत्त्वमत्र समागतः । पितुर्धर्मात्मनः श्रुत्वा ज्वरपीडां सुदारुणाम् १२८। पितुराण्यमाप्नोषि तीर्थे कृत्वा तिलोदकम् । स्नात्वा कुरु क्रियां स्वीयाः पूर्वजन्मस्मरिष्यसि १२९। शिवशर्मोवाच- एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन स्नातुं तीर्थे वरांभसि । प्रविष्टोऽहं स्मरंस्तात पूर्वजन्मशुभाशुभम् १३०। स्नात्वा विधिवदत्रैव पितुरंतिकमागतः । अपृच्छं रक्षसो वृत्तं कुतोऽयं धर्मधीरिति १३१। पित्रोक्तं रक्षसो वृत्तं वाहानां पथिकस्य च । श्रुत्वाऽहं तीर्थराजस्य स्तुतिमस्य चकार वै १३२। पिता मे रोगनिर्मुक्तो भविष्यति यदा तदा । यास्यामि गृहमित्यत्र दशोषितमहानि मे १३३। दशाहाभ्यंतरे तात तातस्य मरणं मम । अभूदर्धजले ह्यस्य तीर्थराजस्य पश्यतः १३४। अथो गरुडमारुह्य वक्षसो धारयन्श्रियम् । आजगाम स्वयं विष्णुर्नवीन घनविग्रहः १३५। पीतवासा चतुर्बाहुः पंकजारुणलोचनः । ब्रह्मेंद्रादिभिरादिव्यैः सनाथैरंधकारिणा १३६। सेव्यमानो गुणग्रामान्गायद्भिः किन्नरैः सह । हाहाहूहूप्रभृतिभिः स्तूयमानश्च सर्वतः १३७। दत्त्वा स्वकीय सारूप्यमारोप्य गरुडं तदा । पितरं मम ब्रह्माद्यैर्वृतो वैकुंठमारुहत् १३८। पितुः सारूप्यमालोक्य विष्णोरहमचिंतयम् । इति चित्ते तदालोक्य जाततत्वोदये तदा १३९। न हि वर्णयितुं शक्यो ह्यस्य तीर्थशिरोमणेः । महिमा यज्जलार्द्धे स्यान्मृतो जंतुश्चतुर्भुजः १४०। न मया सर्वथा त्याज्यं तीर्थराजमिदं ननु । अंजसा दृढमाहात्म्यं धनरोगादितृष्ण्या १४१। पितुरत्रोटजे तावत्स्थातव्यं हि मया मम । यावत्तु कर्मणां भुक्तः प्रारब्धानां महीतले १४२। एवं विचिंतयित्वा च पितुः कृत्वा तु सत्क्रियाम् । रक्षसा तेन सहितः स्थितोऽहं मोक्षवांछया १४३। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये चतुरधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २०४।
śivaśarmovāca- viṣṇuśarmaṃstato vaiśyaḥ śarabhaḥ saha bhāryayā | nītvā pūjopakaraṇaṃ yayau śrīcaṃḍikālayam 1| tatra tauvidhivatsnātvā sumano dhūpadīpakaiḥ | ānarcaturbhaktiyuktau caṃḍikāṃ putrakāmyayā 2| śraddhayā pūjitā tābhyāṃ dinaiḥ saptabhiraṃbikā | uvāca vācā pratyakṣaṃ bhūtvā viśadamānasā 3| pārvatyuvāca- bho bho vaiśya prasannāsmi bhaktyā sudṛḍhayā tava | dadāmi putraṃ te sādho yadarthe yatnavānasi 4| gaccha tvaṃ mā vilaṃbasva vanamaidraṃ ca khāṃḍavam | tatra tīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyamiṃdraprasthākhyamuttamam 5| nigamodbodhakaṃ tatra tīrthaṃ nikhilakāmadam | bṛhaspatikṛtaṃ tatra snāhi tvaṃ sutavāṃchayā 6| bhaviṣyati sutastāta tava snānena tatra hi | tatra snātvā mayāpyaṃga labdhaḥ skaṃdaḥ surārihā 7| śivaśarmovāca- ityākarṇya vaco devyāḥ pitā mama sahastriyā | atrājagāma sattīrthe sasnau ca sutavāṃchayā 8| upaskaravatīrdhenūrdvijebhyaḥ pradadau śatam | devānpitṝṃśca saṃtarpya yathāvidhyatra buddhimān 9| saptarātramuṣitvā tu daṃpatī yatamānasau | jagmatuḥ svagṛhāniṣṭalābhotphullamukhāṃbujau 10| tasminnevābhavadgarbho māsi māturmamānvaham | vyatīte navame māsi jāto'haṃ daśame śubhe 11| viṣṇuśarmanyaduktaṃ te purāvṛttamidaṃ mayā | daśābdadvayamevaitacchrutaṃ sarvaṃ piturmukhāt 12| ekadā kṣamamālokya gṛhakarmaṇi māṃ pitā | gṛhaṃ māmarpayāmāsa viśvādvairāgyamāpnuvan 13| māṃ covāca sa dharmātmā goviṃdāsaktamānasaḥ | viniṃdanviṣayāsaktiṃ viṣṇubhaktiṃ stuvanmuhuḥ 14| pitovāca- sumate vārddhakaṃ prāptaṃ palitāścikurā mama | goviṃdacaraṇāṃbhojaṃ seviṣye sādhusevitam 15| tatsaivayā bhavetsvacchaṃ mano yasya ca susthiram | sa pumānātmasaṃtuṣṭo na kiṃcidabhivāṃchati 16| niṣkāmaḥ sukhaduḥkhābhyāṃ bhuṃjansukṛtaduṣkṛte | prākṛte tatsamāptau ca tyajandehaṃ bhavatyajaḥ 17| tāṃ vaddravyaṃ guṇasukhaṃ yāvatprāptaṃ na citsukham | tatprāptau tadbhavettucchaṃ sudhāyā iva takrakam 18| harermāyābalavatīyaṃ mohayati dehinam | hitāni taṃ na jānāti sa yathā madirāmadaḥ 19| pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca vidyayāvidyayā ca saḥ | karoti svecchayā kāle bālalīlo hi sa prabhuḥ 20| vedoditaṃ yadā karma kriyate phalamicchatā | pravṛttiṃ sā parā tāta teṣāmarpaṇamīśvare 21| yathā nirdagdhābījāni na prarohaṃti yatnataḥ | yathā karmāṇi viśveśe niḥkāmenārpitāni tu 22| karmaṇāṃ ca layo mokṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhapradāyinām | tadutpattistu baṃdhaḥ syādityasau śāstranirṇayaḥ 23| ato'haṃ karmavedoktaṃ kurvannābhilaṣanphalam | paryaṭiṣyāmi tīrtheṣu hṛdi bhakti dadhaddhareḥ 24| evaṃ prārabdhakarmāṇi bhuṃjannānyānyatarjayan| haniṣyāmi jagadrogaṃ pītvā satsaṃgamauṣadham 25| śivaśarmovāca- evamākarṇya vacanaṃ tasyāhaṃ piturātmanaḥ | avadaṃ viṣṇuśarmastvaṃ tanniśāmaya tatvataḥ 26| vaiśyaputra uvāca- ayaṃ jano durārādhyaḥ kathayiṣyati no yaśaḥ | duṣṭakuṭuṃbādudvijya niḥsṛtya gata ityayam 27| iyaṃ viṣṇupadī tāta bhuvanatrayapāvanī | smṛtā haratyaghaṃ dūrātkasmādenāṃ vimuṃcasi 28| pāpakārī janastāta mriyate magadhe tu yaḥ | sopyastapāpo gaṃgāyāṃ svaryāti tyajamāśubham 29| putrāḥ ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmanaḥ | kapilakrodhanirdagdhā gatāyatsparśanāddivam 30| tāmimāṃ tridivaśreṇīṃ mukterapi vidhāyinīm | mumukṣusevitāṃ tāta muktvā mānyatra gamyatām 31| māvajānīhi sāmīpye gaṃgā tridaśamānitām | yadicchasi mahābhāga sevitaiṣā pradāsyati 32| tiryaṃco'pi vinā jñānājjale cetsyurgatāsavaḥ | bhaveyustarhi te brahma sā kathaṃ tyajyate tvayā 33| śivaśarmovāca- niśamyaitadvacastātastato mama ṛtapriyaḥ | uvāsa sadane sarvaviṣayebhyaḥ parāṅmukhaḥ 34| triṣu kāleṣuṃ gagāyāṃ pratyahaṃ snānamācaran | purāṇaṃ syādgṛhe yatra tatra yāti sa nityaśaḥ 35| ekadākarṇayandhīro yamunātīrthagauravam | tatra śuśrāva māhātmyamasyatīrthasya putra saḥ 36| avimukta haridvāra prayāgebhyaśca puṣkarāt | ayodhyādvārikā kāṃcī mathurābhyastathānyataḥ 37| sarvatīrthamayasyāsya puṇyaṃ śataguṇādhikam | kathitaṃ tena viduṣā sutenākarṇyamatpitā 38| tyaktvā gṛhamagādatra tīrthe sarvairalakṣitaḥ | āvāmiva mahābhāgo goviṃdapadasevakaḥ 39| atrāgatya mahābhāgo matpitā mokṣavāṃchayā | nigamodbodhake tīrthe trikālaṃ snānamācaran 40| uvāsa katicinmāsānatra tīrthottame hi saḥ 41| kurvannijakriyāṃ dhīmānnispṛhopyajaveśmani | ekadā sahasā tasya jvaro'bhūdatidāruṇaḥ 42| mahatyā pīḍayā tasya mumoha gatacetanaḥ | muhūrtaṃ sa pitā muhyaṃ tadavastho vyatiṣṭhita 43| paścātsamāgataprāṇo viciṃtya yadidaṃ tadā | aho me kaṣṭamāpannaṃ dūre putraḥ sa dhārmikaḥ 44| yo māṃ jvaravitaptāṃgamāśvāsayati buddhimān | agamyāgamanaṃ pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ yanme sudāruṇam 45| prāyaścittaṃ na tasyāpi kṛtaṃ kāme gatirbhavet | āgamiṣyati putro me tasmai dāsyāmi vasviti 46| yanmayā gopitaṃ gehe na dṛṣṭaṃ ca tadapyaham | śivaśarmovāca- iti ciṃtayatastasya pāntho varṣeṇa pīḍitaḥ 47| śītārtaḥ kaṃpitavapuruṭajaṃ prāviśattadā | sa taṃ saṃviṣṭamālokya bhūyo gatvā tadaṃtike 48| munireṣa iti jñātvā vavaṃde śirasādhvagaḥ | ūce ca kasmātsuptosi mune saṃdhyā samāgatā 49| ravirastaṃ prayātyeṣa na supteḥ kāla eṣa te | ityuktamātre vacasi pathikena pitā mama 50| śarabho jvarataptāṃgastamāha kathamapyaho | śarabha uvāca- śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ pāṃtha yadvadāmi purastava 51| śrutvā madbhāgyayātena tvayā sādho vidhīyatām | vaiśyo'haṃ śarabho nāmnā kānyakubje gṛhaṃ mama 52| atrāgato niṣiddhopi jāyāmitrasutairaham | asya tīrthasya māhātmyaṃ śrutvā sūnumukheritam 53| māsāstu katicitsādho vyatītā mayi cāgate | dinatrayamatikrāṃtaṃ jvaritasya mamādhunā 54| prāṇā me vigatā āsannadyabhūyaḥ samāgatāḥ | kiyānapyāyuṣaḥ śeṣaḥ sādho me khalu tiṣṭhati 55| śamanasya gṛhaṃ dṛṣṭvā yadahaṃ punarāgataḥ | bhāgyodayena kenāpi mamātra tvaṃ samāgataḥ 56| naya māṃ madgṛhaṃ mitra dravyaṃ bahu dadāmi te | dāsyāmyapi gṛhaṃ gatvā kṛpāṃ kuru kṛpānidhe 57| iha bhūbhāga utkhāya gṛhyatāṃ māmakaṃ dhanam | śivaśarmovāca- ityākarṇya sa durbuddhirgrāmyo viṣayalaṃpaṭaḥ 58| uvāca dhanalubdhastaṃ tvaduktaṃ sādhayāmyaham | ityuktvā dhanamutkhāya tasmādbhūbhāgatastadā 59| agrataḥ sthāpayāmāsa śarabhasyāha cādhvagaḥ | adhvaga uvāca- dhanametadviśāṃnātha tava bhūbhāgato mayā 60| niṣkāsitaṃ prayacchāśu śibikānayanāya me | yāmāropya jvarārtaṃ tvāṃ nayāmi tava ketanam 61| śivaśarmovāca- ityuktastena sa tadā dadau svarṇapalatrayam | sopi nītvā piturdravyaṃ yayau lavaṇapattanam 62| uṣitvā rātrimekāṃ tu śibikāṃ saparicchadām | savāhāmānayatputra dattvā svarṇapaladvayam 63| palaṃ dvayaṃ gṛhītaṃ tattenaivādharmabuddhinā | āropya śibikāṃ taṃ tu śarabhaṃ vaiśyasattamam 64| pāṃthaḥ sa calito vāhāṃstvarayankānyakubjakam | asya tīrthavarasyātha kamaṃḍalujalaṃ dhṛtam 65| pāyayannalpamalpaṃ taṃ tṛṣārtaṃ sodhvago yayau | atha te sarasastīre uttīrṇā bhoktumadhvani 66| snātvā bhuktvā punastasmātsthānāccelustvarānvitāḥ | kiyaṃti bhūmimullaṃghya tṛṣārtāṃste kamaṃḍaloḥ 67| jalaṃ pītvā tṛṣārtaṃ taṃ śarabhaṃ cāpyapāyayat | atha kaścinmahābhīmo vikaṭo nāma rākṣasaḥ 68| vicarannirjane'raṇye gacchatastānavaikṣata | tāndṛṣṭvā sa kṣudhākrāṃto vegavānvivṛtānanaḥ 69| abhidudrāva caraṇāghātenākaṃpayanmahīm | āgatya tarasā pārśve tānvāhānpathikaṃ ca tam 70| sakośeṣu samādāya bhrāmayāmāsa khecaraḥ | gatāsūnbhrāmaṇenaiva bhūtale tānapothayat 71| cakhāda piśitaṃ teṣāṃ papau kośācca śoṇitam | kutra yāsyati rogārto naro'yaṃ purato mama 72| enaṃ tu bhakṣayiṣyāmi paścādaṃbu pibāmyaham | iti kṛtvā matirvāritīrthasyāsya kamaṃḍaloḥ 73| mukhe cikṣepa sa tadā rajanīcarapuṃgavaḥ | kṣiptamātre jale tasya pūrvajanmabhavā smṛtiḥ 74| jātā sa tu vadhāttasya śarabhasya nyavartata | pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tadapi smṛtimāgamat 75| yena rākṣasabhāvastu bhūto viprodbhavādapi | smṛtvā pāpamupetyāśu samīpe śarabhasya tu | uvāca jñānamāpanno rākṣasaḥ pitaraṃ mama 76| rākṣasa uvāca- bho bho manuṣyaśārdūla kastvaṃ ke ca janā amī | bhakṣitā ye mayā ghora rūpeṇādhamarakṣasā 77| kasya tīrthavarasyedaṃ jalaṃ yasya prabhāvataḥ | pāpino'pi smṛtirjātā pūrvajanmabhavā mama 78| vaiśya uvāca- vaiśyo'haṃ rākṣasaśreṣṭha kānyakubje gṛhaṃ mama | tīrthāni paryaṭanniṃdraprasthe'haṃ samupāgataḥ 79| tatrāhamabhavaṃ duḥkhī jvareṇa vidhiyogataḥ | tato me buddhirutpannā gaṃtuṃ gṛhamasatpatha | tatra kaścitsamāyātaḥ pāṃtho varṣeṇa pīḍitaḥ 80| prārthitaḥ sa mayānīya śibikāṃ māṃ gṛhaṃ naya | sa cāyaṃ śibikāṃ pāṃthaḥ samupānīya satvaraḥ 81| māmāropya ca tāṃ dhīraścalito madgṛhaṃ prati | sa pāṃthaste ca śibikāvāhāḥ saṃprati bhakṣitāḥ 82| tvayā jalamidaṃ yasya tīrthasyāpi ca tacchṛṇu | iṃdrasya khāṃḍavavane yamunāsti saridvarā 83| tattīre'sti hariprasthaṃ tīrthaṃ tīrthottamottamam | surācāryasya tatrāsti tīrthaṃ sarvārthasādhakam 84| nigamodbodhakaṃ jātā smṛtiste yajjalāśanāt | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yatpṛṣṭo'haṃmiha tvayā 85| pṛcchāmi tvāmahaṃ kiṃcittadvadāśu niśācara | pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ karma smarasi tvamihādhunā | vada kiṃ te kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ yena jāto'si rākṣasaḥ 86| rākṣasa uvāca- purāhamabhavaṃ vipraḥ puṇye vedavidāṃ kule | durācāro hyadharmātmā śṛṇu sarvaṃ vadāmi te 87| krīḍatā hi mayā nityaṃ dyūtena saha tadvidaiḥ | hāritaṃ draviṇaṃ bhūri svakīyaṃ pitureva ca 88| pitrā nivedya bhūpāya māmakaṃ karma tajjanaiḥ | purānniḥsārito niḥsvo gato'haṃ grāmamaṃtike 89| tatrāsīnme sakhā nāma devako brāhmaṇottamaḥ | tenā'haṃ rakṣito gehe kurvatā ciramādaram 90| vastuṃ tatra sukhenāhaṃ tadbhāryāṃ rūpaśālinīm | kāmāturo'hamabhajaṃ balānmitre gate kvacit 91| sā mṛtā tatkṣaṇātsādhvī bhakṣayitvā mahāviṣam | tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tamasāyukte niśīthe'haṃ palāyitaḥ 92| palāyamānastarasā dhṛto'haṃ rājakiṃkaraiḥ | cauro'yamiti khaṅgena cicchiduste śiro mama 93| mṛtaṃ māṃ yātanādehamāveśya yamakiṃkarāḥ | raurave nirayaghore cikṣipuryamaśāsanāt 94| ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi tatrā'haṃ tīvrayātanām | bhuktvā tenaiva pāpena rākṣasatvamupāgataḥ 95| śatavarṣāṇyatītāni rākṣasatve viśāṃpate | vadāmi tamupāyaṃ me yenāsmānmuktimāpnuyām 96| puṇyaṃ tadarpite sādho vadāmi śṛṇu sādaram | yena tīrthavarasyedaṃ jalaṃ mama mukhe gatam 97| tatraiva janmani mayā kṛtvā haridine vratam | saṃsargānnecchayā vaiśya rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kṛtam 98| dvādaśyāmatha saṃsnātvā bhoktuṃmapi samudyate | madgṛhe kaścidāyāto vaiṣṇavo viṣṇurūpadhṛk 99| kupito'haṃ tamālokya durvaco vadamagrataḥ | kva gacchasi durācāra dāṃbhikastrījanāṃtare 100| ityuktaṃ sa mayā dhīrastulyo mānāpamānayoḥ | tūṣṇīmeva niketānme nirgatya calito yadā 101| tadābhimukhamāyāṃtī patnī mama pativratā | patitvā pādayostasya taṃ sādhuṃ gṛhamānayat 102| mayāpamānitasyāpi na krodho'bhūnmahātmanaḥ | tayādṛtasyāpyānaṃdo yataḥ sori suhṛtsamaḥ 103| tamarcayitvā vidhivadviṣṭare copaveśya sā | bhojyaṃ bhojaya jīveśa jayatādbhuvanatrayam 104| ityukto'haṃ tayā sādhvyā nyagadaṃ taṃ mahāśayam | mlānavaktraḥ prasannāsyamuttiṣṭha śamaya kṣudhām 105| ityuktvā tasya caraṇau noditastanumadhyamā | prākṣālayaṃ punastaṃ tu niveśyāsanamuttamam 106| adadāṃ pātramannena pūrṇaṃ tasmai vivekine | jalaṃ ca tatkare sādhvyā prerito'haṃ tayā muhuḥ 107| upabhujya sa dharmātmā svairaṃ vigatavikriyaḥ | harerāma harekṛṣṇa japanniti jagāma ha 108| kṛtaṃ puṇyamidaṃ vaiśya noditena mayā striyā | pūrvajanmani yenedaṃ prāpitaṃ tīrthavāri me 109| śivaśarmovāca- viṣṇuśarmannidaṃ vākyamuktvā tiṣṭhati rākṣase | pathikaḥ sa ca te vāhāḥ prāhuḥ khe divyadehinaḥ 110| pathikavāhā ūcuḥ bho bho viśāṃpate sādho prāptā apyapamṛtyutām | tvatprasādādidaṃ vāri pītvā devatvamāgatāḥ 111| tvatsaṃge dhanalobhena viṭpate calitā yataḥ | vigatā na dhanākāṃkṣā maraṇāvasarepyataḥ 112| tīrtharājajalasyāsya tiṣṭhato jaṭhare hi naḥ | maraṇe hyanubhāvāttu maitrī prāptā dhaneśituḥ 113| namāmastvāṃ vayaṃ yāmo dhaneśa nagarīṃ prabho | vimānaistadgaṇānītairnānāmaṇivibhūṣitaiḥ 114| prayāhi mā vilaṃbasva tīrthe nigamabodhake | tvamanenasamaṃ sādho tārayainamapi drutam 115| śivaśarmovāca- ityuktvā te gatāstāta diśyudīcyāṃ samaṃtataḥ | vimānakiṃkiṇīnādairnādayaṃto'tha rodasī 116| atha vaiśyo mama pitā tamāha rajanīcaram | śarabha uvāca- uttiṣṭha naya māmāśu tīrthe nigamabodhake 117| jvarārttena mayā padbhyāṃ tatra gaṃtuṃ na śakyate | yo māṃ nayati tattīrthaṃ tvadanyo nāsti kaścana 118| śivaśarmovāca- tatheti tamathāśvāsya vaiśyaṃ sa rajanīcaraḥ | skaṃdhamāropya vegena tattīrthaṃ pāvanaṃ yayau 119| ūṣatustāvubhau tatra viśpatiḥ sa ca rākṣasaḥ | kurvaṃtau snānamātraṃ tu sarvatīrthottamottame 120| athā'haṃ piturākarṇya mahatīṃ guruvedanām | taṃ prati prerito mātrā calito nijasadmataḥ 121| atrāgatya mayā dṛṣṭaḥ sa mahājvarapīḍitaḥ | mūrdhnā ca vaṃditastena dattāśīrme'bhyabhāṣi ca 122| śarabha uvāca- kimarthamiha bho tāta dūramārge samāgataḥ | dināni katicittiṣṭhankurvannatra nijakriyām 123| vikaṭo nāma me mitraḥ rākṣasaḥ samupaiti vai | uttiṣṭha vapuṣāmuṣya daṃḍavatpata pādayoḥ 124| na bhetavyaṃ tvayāmuṣmāttyaktahiṃsādi karmaṇaḥ | adhunā tīrthamāsādya sannidhau mama tiṣṭhati 125| śivaśarmovāca- ityukto'haṃ tadā pitrā śarabheṇa mahātmanā | utthāya patitastasya pādayordaṃḍavadbhuvi 126| dorbhyāmutthāpya māṃ so'tha gāḍhamāliṃgya rākṣasaḥ | svāgataṃ mitraputreti jagādāśiṣamīrayan 127| rākṣasa uvāca- bhāgyavānasi bho tāta yattvamatra samāgataḥ | piturdharmātmanaḥ śrutvā jvarapīḍāṃ sudāruṇām 128| piturāṇyamāpnoṣi tīrthe kṛtvā tilodakam | snātvā kuru kriyāṃ svīyāḥ pūrvajanmasmariṣyasi 129| śivaśarmovāca- evamuktastadā tena snātuṃ tīrthe varāṃbhasi | praviṣṭo'haṃ smaraṃstāta pūrvajanmaśubhāśubham 130| snātvā vidhivadatraiva pituraṃtikamāgataḥ | apṛcchaṃ rakṣaso vṛttaṃ kuto'yaṃ dharmadhīriti 131| pitroktaṃ rakṣaso vṛttaṃ vāhānāṃ pathikasya ca | śrutvā'haṃ tīrtharājasya stutimasya cakāra vai 132| pitā me roganirmukto bhaviṣyati yadā tadā | yāsyāmi gṛhamityatra daśoṣitamahāni me 133| daśāhābhyaṃtare tāta tātasya maraṇaṃ mama | abhūdardhajale hyasya tīrtharājasya paśyataḥ 134| atho garuḍamāruhya vakṣaso dhārayanśriyam | ājagāma svayaṃ viṣṇurnavīna ghanavigrahaḥ 135| pītavāsā caturbāhuḥ paṃkajāruṇalocanaḥ | brahmeṃdrādibhirādivyaiḥ sanāthairaṃdhakāriṇā 136| sevyamāno guṇagrāmāngāyadbhiḥ kinnaraiḥ saha | hāhāhūhūprabhṛtibhiḥ stūyamānaśca sarvataḥ 137| dattvā svakīya sārūpyamāropya garuḍaṃ tadā | pitaraṃ mama brahmādyairvṛto vaikuṃṭhamāruhat 138| pituḥ sārūpyamālokya viṣṇorahamaciṃtayam | iti citte tadālokya jātatatvodaye tadā 139| na hi varṇayituṃ śakyo hyasya tīrthaśiromaṇeḥ | mahimā yajjalārddhe syānmṛto jaṃtuścaturbhujaḥ 140| na mayā sarvathā tyājyaṃ tīrtharājamidaṃ nanu | aṃjasā dṛḍhamāhātmyaṃ dhanarogāditṛṣṇyā 141| pituratroṭaje tāvatsthātavyaṃ hi mayā mama | yāvattu karmaṇāṃ bhuktaḥ prārabdhānāṃ mahītale 142| evaṃ viciṃtayitvā ca pituḥ kṛtvā tu satkriyām | rakṣasā tena sahitaḥ sthito'haṃ mokṣavāṃchayā 143| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kāliṃdīmāhātmye caturadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 204|
English translation
Śivaśarman said :
1-3. O Viṣṇuśarman, then Śarabha , taking the materials of worship went with his wife to the temple of Śrī Caṇḍikā . Having duly bathed there, they, full of devotion, worshipped Caṇḍikā with flowers, incense and lights with a desire for (getting) a son. Ambikā , devoutly propitiated by them for seven days, spoke with a clear mind (these) words directly addressed to them:
Pārvatī said :
4-7. O merchant, by means of your very firm devotion I am pleased with you. O good one, I shall give you a son for whom you are striving. Go to the Khāṇḍava (forest) of Indra . Do not delay. There is the excellent, very auspicious holy place called Indraprastha . There is the holy place, fulfilling all desires and fashioned by Bṛhaspati . With a desire to have a son, bath there. By means of a bath there, O dear one, you will have a son. O dear one, by bathing there, I obtained Skanda , the killer of foes.
Śivaśarman said :
8-14. Hearing these words of the goddess, my father, with his wife, came here and with a desire for (having) a son bathed (here). The intelligent one gave a hundred cows with household materials to brāhmaṇas after having gratified gods and the dead ancestors properly. After having stayed there with their minds controlled for seven nights, the couple with their lotus-like faces blooming due to having secured the desired object, went home. In the same month my mother conceived; and when, day by day, nine months passed, I was born in the tenth auspicious month. O Viṣṇuśarman, the old account which I told you, was heard by me from my father when I was twenty years old. Once my father, seeing me capable of managing the household affairs and being detached from everything, handed over to me (the management of) the house. He, having his mind attached to Govinda and a religious nature, condemning addiction to objects of senses and repeatedly praising devotion for Viṣṇu , said to me:
The father said :
15-25. O you intelligent one, old age has come to me. My hair has grown grey. I shall resort to the lotus-like feet of Viṣṇu, that are resorted to by the good. That man whose mind becomes clear and quite steady due to service to him, is self-contented, and does not long for anything. Having no desire for pleasure and aversion to pain, and experiencing the natural (results of) good or bad deeds, he, at the end of them, casts his body and becomes unborn (i.e. is not reborn). Wealth gives excessive pleasure till the bliss of self-realization is not obtained. When it is obtained, it (i.e. the former) is small like buttermilk as contrasted with nectar. This Māyā of Viṣṇu is strong. It deludes a man. He like one intoxicated by liquor, does not know what is beneficial and what is not. The lord causes, as he wills, active worldly life or its absence, through knowledge or ignorance; for his sport is like that of a child. O dear one, when an act as told in the Veda is done by one desiring its fruit, it is great active worldly life. They (i.e. the acts) should be dedicated to the lord. As burnt seeds do not grow in spite of effort, similarly acts dedicated through desirelessness to the lord of the universe do not (fructify). Salvation is the destruction of (the fruits of) acts that give pleasure or pain. Bondage is their origin. This is the verdict of the holy texts. Therefore, I doing acts as told in the Vedas and not desiring their fruits and having devotion for Viṣṇu in my heart, am moving in (i.e. visiting) the holy places. Thus experiencing the (fruits of) acts that were commenced, and not censuring others, I shall destroy the disease due to (the life in) the world by drinking the medicine in the form of the company of the good.
Śivaśarman said :
26. O Viṣṇuśarman, listen accurately to what I said to my father after I had heard these words of him:
The merchants son said :
27-33. The people are difficult to please; they will not give you any credit. (They will say:) He has gone leaving the bad family being dejected with it. These feet of Viṣṇu purify the three worlds. (Even) when remembered from a distance they remove sins. Why do you leave them? O father, even a sinful person who dies in Magadha , has his sins washed in Gaṅgā . He goes to heaven. Do not give up the auspicious (Gaṅgā), (since) sixty thousand sons of the noble Sagara , who were burnt by Kapila ’s anger, went to heaven due to her touch. O father, do not go elsewhere after abandoning her; that is a series (of steps) leading to heaven, that even brings about salvation, and is resorted to by those who desire salvation. Do not disregard Gaṅgā honoured by gods, (which is) in your vicinity. O glorious one, she, when resorted to, will give you what you desire. Even if lower animals, through ignorance, would die in her water, they would become Brahman . How do you abandon her?
Śivaśarman said :
34-47a. Hearing these words my father to whom sacred law was dear, being averse to all objects of senses, lived in the house. Everyday he thrice bathed in Gaṅgā, and always went to the house where a Purāṇa would be (read). O son, once listening to the greatness of Yamunā-tīrtha , the wise one heard about the greatness of this holy place. The religious merit of this holy place full of all holy places is a hundred times better than holy places like Avimukta , Haridvāra , Prayāga , Puṣkara , Ayodhyā , Dvārikā, Kāñcī , Mathurā and others. My father, having heard what the learned son had told him, went, unnoticed by all, to this holy place, after abandoning the house. My illustrious father, serving the feet of Viṣṇu like us came here with a desire for salvation. Bathing thrice (a day) at the Nigamodbodhaka Tīrtha he, the wise one, doing his rites and being desireless, lived at this best holy place—the abode of the unborn—for a few months. Once he had very severe fever. Due to the great pain (caused) by the fever he, losing his consciousness, fainted. For a while the father remained in the condition of unconsciousness. When later he regained his consciousness he thought like this: ‘Oh! misery has befallen me. My very intelligent, religious son, who would console me, with my body hot due to fever, is away. I have not atoned for the very fearful sin of illicit intercourse. What would be my fate? (If) my son will come I shall give him the wealth which I have hidden in my house and which even I have not seen.’
Śivaśarman said :
47b-51a. While he was thinking like this, a traveller, troubled by rain, afflicted by cold, and with his body trembling, entered the hut. Seeing him asleep, the traveller again went near him, and knowing him to be an ascetic saluted him with (i.e. by bending) his head, and said to him: “O sage, why are you sleeping? The evening has come. This sun is setting. This is not the time for sleeping for you.” When the traveller had just uttered these words, Śarabha, my father, with his body hot with fever, somehow spoke to him:
Śarabha said :
51b-58a. O traveller, listen to the words which I am speaking to you. Listening to the course of my fate you do (what is proper), O good one. I am a merchant named Śarabha. My house is in Kānyakubja . Though prevented by my wife, friends and son I came here on hearing the greatness of this holy place told by my son. O good one, some months have passed after I came here. Now for the last three days I have been suffering from fever. My life had departed. Today it has come (back) again. O good one, some portion of my life still remains (to be passed). I have come (back) after having seen Yama ’s place, and due to my good fortune you have come here. O friend, take me to my house; I shall give you much wealth after reaching home. O you treasure of kindness, favour me. Dig a portion of the land here and take my wealth.
Śivaśarman said :
58b-60a. Having heard this, the wicked-minded rustic, addicted to sensuous pleasures and greedy of wealth, said to him: “I shall do as told by you.” Speaking like this, and digging the wealth from that piece of land, the traveller placed it before Śarabha and said:
The traveller said:
60b-61. O chief of merchants, I have taken out this your wealth from the piece of land. Quickly give (some money) to me to bring a palanquin; having placed you, suffering from fever, in it, I shall take you to your place.
Śivaśarman said :
62-76. Thus addressed by him, he gave him three golden palas . He too took that money and went to the city of Lavaṇa . O son, having stayed there for a night, he, having paid a couple of palas, brought a palanquin with attendants and carriers. The wicked one took the two palas for himself only. Having put the excellent merchant, Śarabha, in the palanquin, the traveller, hastening the carriers, started for Kānyakubja. The traveller, repeatedly making him (i.e. giving him) who was oppressed with thirst, drink a small quantity of water collected from that holy place in a water-pot, proceeded. Then, on the way, they got to the bank of a lake to eat (food). Having bathed and eaten food, they hastily moved from that place. Having crossed some portion of the land, they were oppressed by thirst. (The traveller) drank the water from the water-pot and made Śarabha also drink it. Then a very fierce demon, Vikaṭa by name, moving in the solitary forest, saw them going. Seeing them, he, with his mouth open, and overcome by hunger, and causing the earth to tremble with the strokes (i.e. the plantings) of his feet, speedily ran (to them), and coming near them speedily, he seized the traveller and the carriers at their testicles and he, moving in the sky, whirled them. He dropped them who were dead due to being whirled only, on the ground. He ate their flesh and drank blood from their testicles. Thinking, ‘Where will this man suffering from a disease go from my presence? I shall (first) eat him up, and then drink the water’, that chief among the demons then threw water from the water-pot on his face. As soon as the water was thrown he had the recollection of his former birth. He turned away from killing that Śarabha. He also got the recollection of the sin committed by him in his former existence, due to which he obtained demonhood though he was born as a brāhmaṇa . The demon, having recollected his sin, and having got knowledge, quickly approached Śarabha (my father) and said to my father:
The demon said :
77-78. “O best man, who are you? And who are these men whom, I, a mean demon, of a fierce form. devoured? Of which excellent holy place is this water, due to whose power even a sinner like me had the recollection of my former existence?”
The merchant said :
79-86. O best demon, I am a merchant. My home is in Kānyakubja. Travelling to (various) holy places I came to Indraprastha. There I suffered from fever due to fate. O you having bad ways, then an idea to go home arose in me. Some traveller troubled by rain came there. I requested him to bring a palanquin and take me home. And this is that wise traveller who quickly brought a palanquin and having put me in it, had proceeded to my house. Now that traveller and the carriers of the palanquin have been eaten by you. Hear of which holy place this water is. In the Khāṇḍava Vana of Indra there is the excellent river Yamunā . On her bank is the best holy place called Hariprastha. The preceptor of gods lives there. The holy place accomplishes everything (and is called) Nigamodbodhaka, drinking the water of which you got the recollection. I have told you all this that you had asked me. O demon, I shall ask you something. Tell (i.e. answer) me quickly about it. Now (and) here you will recollect the deeds in your former existence. Tell me what sin you committed, due to which you became a demon.
The demon said :
87-100. Listen. I shall tell you everything. Formerly I was a brāhmaṇa (born) in the family of those proficient in the Vedas. I was wicked and sinful. While playing with dice everyday with those conversant with it, I lost much wealth, mine as well as of my father. My father having reported my act to the king, formerly got me having no wealth, out of the house. I went to a village nearby. There was a friend, the best brāhmaṇa named Devaka . He, respecting me, allowed me to live comfortably in his house for a long time. When my friend had gone somewhere, I, afflicted by sexual urge, forcibly enjoyed his beautiful wife. At that moment only that very chaste lady, drinking strong poison, died. Seeing her (dead) I ran away at the dark night. I who was running (away) was arrested by the officers of the king. Saying, ‘This is a thief’, they cut off my head. Causing me to take up a body full of torment the servants of Yama threw me into the terrible Raurava hell by Yama’s order. Having experienced severe torture there for sixty thousand years, I obtained demonhood due to that sin only. O chief of merchants, I have passed a hundred years as a demon. I (shall) tell (you) that remedy due to which I (shall) get salvation. O good one, you gave me religious merit. I shall speak (i.e. tell) it. Listen carefully to that by which this water of the excellent holy place got into my mouth. O merchant, in that same existence I observed the vow of Viṣṇu’s day (i.e. Ekādaśī ) due to company and not (my) desire, and kept awake at night. Having bathed on the Dvādaśī-day I got ready to eat also. (At that time) some devotee of Viṣṇu, having Viṣṇu’s form, came to my house. Seeing him I got angry and uttered abusive words: “O hypocrite, O wicked one, why are you going amidst the ladies?”
101-109. When, addressed by me, the wise one, who looked equally upon respect or disrespect, silently went out of my house, my loyal wife, coming towards him, fell at his feet and brought the good man to the house. Though insulted by me, the noble one did not get angry. He was delighted when honoured by her, since he was one to whom enemies and friends were alike. She, having seated him on a seat (said to me): “O lord of my life, make him enjoy (i.e. offer him) food. Conquer the three worlds.” Thus addressed by the chaste one, I, with a gloomy face, spoke to the noble-hearted one, of a pleasing face, “(Please) get up, pacify your hunger.” Speaking like this, I, prompted by my slender-waisted (wife), again seated him on a seat and washed his feet. To the judicious one I offered a plate full of food. My good wife gave (i.e. poured) water on his hand. I was repeatedly prompted by her. The virtuous one, free from perturbation, went at will, muttering. ‘Hare Rāma , Hare Kṛṣṇa .’ O merchant, due to this religious merit which I, prompted by my wife, did in the previous existence, this water of the holy place was brought to me.
Śivaśarman said :
110. O Viṣṇuśarman, when the demon got up after saying these words, the traveller and the carriers, having divine bodies, spoke in the sky:
The traveller and the carriers said :
111-115. O chief merchant, O good one, though we met with death immaturely, we obtained godhead after drinking this water due to your favour. O chief of merchants, since we went with you through greed of wealth, our desire for wealth had not left (us) even at the time of death. By the power of the water of this best holy place in our belly, we secured at death the friendship of the lord of wealth. O lord, we salute you; we are going to the city of the lord of wealth in aeroplanes which are brought by his attendants, which are decorated with various jewels. Go to the holy place Nigamodbodhaka. Do not delay. O good one, along with you quickly emancipate him also.
Śivaśarman said :
116-117a. O dear one, speaking like this, they went, all around, to the northern direction, producing sound in the sky and on the earth with small bells of the aeroplanes. Then my father, the merchant, spoke to the demon:
Śarabha said :
117b-118. Get up. Quickly take me to the holy place Nigamodbodhaka. I, suffering from fever, cannot go there on foot. There is none else except you, who (would) take me to that holy place.
Śivaśarman said :
119-122. The demon, comforting the merchant with the words ‘All right’ put him on his shoulder, and speedily went to that purifying holy place. Both, the chief merchant and the demon, just bathing at the best of all holy places, stayed there. I having heard about the great agony of my father, and urged by my mother (to go to him) moved from my house. Having come here, I saw him, suffering from severe fever. I saluted him with (i.e. by bending my) head. He blessed me and said:
Śarabha said :
123-125. O dear one, why have you come here along a distant (i.e. long) path? My friend, a demon by name Vikaṭa, has come here, and (is) staying here doing his own rites. Get up, and fall at his feet (i.e. prostrate before him) like a staff. You should not be afraid of him who has given up harmful acts. Now, having reached this holy place, he stays near me.
Śivaśarman said :
126-127. Thus told by my father, that noble Śarabha, I got up and fell at his feet (prostrating myself) like a staff. He raised me (seizing me) with my arms, and closely embracing me and giving me a blessing said, “Welcome to you, O my friend’s son.”
The demon said :
128-129. O dear one, you are fortunate that you have come here on hearing your father’s very severe suffering due to fever. Performing the rite with water mixed with sesamum-seeds, you will be free from the debt of your dead ancestors. Having bathed perform your rites; (thereby) you will remember your former existence.
Śivaśarman said :
130-143. O dear one, thus told by him, I, remembering the auspicious and inauspicious acts of the former existence, entered the holy place having excellent water. Having duly bathed here, I came near my father. I asked him the account of the demon: “Why has he become religious-minded?” Having heard the account of the demon, the carriers and the traveller, I praised this best holy place. Thinking, ‘I shall go home when my father will be free from the disease’, I stayed there for ten days. Within (those) ten days, while I watched (i.e. before me) the death of my father occurred in the (half) quantity of the water of this best holy place. Then, Viṣṇu, having a body like a fresh cloud, and holding Lakṣmī close to his bosom, came after having mounted Garuḍa . He had put on yellow garments; had four arms; his lotus-like eyes were tawny. He was served by the divine Brahmā and others along with Andhakārin, and by the kinnaras singing the hosts of his virtues. He was being praised on all sides by Hāhā , Hūhū and others. Giving my father identity with his own form, and putting him on Garuḍa, and surrounded by Brahmā and others, Viṣṇu went up to heaven. Seeing my father’s sameness of form with Viṣṇu, I thought, when, at that time, there sprang the truth in my heart: ‘It is the greatness of this crest-jewel of holy places that in half of its water a being that is dead becomes four-armed. I shall rightly not at all leave this best holy place having a strong efficacy urged by thirst for the disease in the form of wealth. I shall stay in this hut of my father till (I get) freedom from the (fruits of) acts that have been commenced on the earth.’ Having thought like this and performed proper rites (in honour) of my father, I stayed (there) with a desire for salvation along with the demon.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 16182, revision 336617 (2022-04-25T13:38:57Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365788.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.