Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 207
Sourceसौभरिरुवाच- धर्मात्मज निशम्यैतद्वचस्तस्य महात्मनः । नारदस्य शिबी राजा प्रोवाचेदं विनीतवत् १। शिबिरुवाच- तिष्ठंत्यो मरुमार्गे ता राक्षस्यो मुनिपुंगव । एतस्या द्वारिकायास्तु लेभिरे सलिलं कुतः २। नारद उवाच- शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यां पूतां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । विमलाख्यस्य विप्रस्य हिमवद्द्रोणिवासिनः ३। एकस्तु हिमवद्द्रोण्यां विमलो नाम भूसुरः । देवर्षिपितृवह्नीनां पूजकोऽतिथिपूजकः ४। हरिपादार्चनरतो वेदवेदांगधर्मवित् । वासुदेवगुणग्राम पुराणश्रुतिमानसः ५। वार्द्धके तस्य पुत्रोऽभूत्प्रसादाच्चक्रपाणिनः । चकार हरिदत्तेति नाम्ना तं जनकस्तदा ६। विधिवद्विदधे चास्य क्षौरकर्मादिकं च तत् । गुरोः सकाशाज्जग्राह छंदांसि हरिदत्तकः ७। अधीत्य विधिवद्वेदान्दत्त्वा च गुरुदक्षिणाम् । प्रवव्राज विरक्तः सन्समूलं चाश्रमद्वयम् ८। ज्ञात्वा तत्कर्मतन्माता व्यलपत्पुत्रवत्सला । स्नापयंती कुचद्वंद्वं पुत्रविश्लेषजाश्रुभिः ९। मातोवाच- मामनाथां परित्यज्य तात यातोऽसि कुत्र वै । पितरं च जराग्रस्तं षट्पदो बल्वजाविव १०। वार्द्धके त्वं मया प्राप्तः श्रीपतेः पादसेवया । मां विहायाभजस्त्वं वै चरणं तस्य मुक्तये ११। अहं मूढा ध्रुवं तात ध्रुवमाराध्य यद्धरिम् । अध्रुवं वांछितवती भवन्तं तु सुखलब्धये १२। त्वं सुधीर्वत्स सर्वार्थं यद्विष्णुं भजसे स्वयम् । अध्रुवं जगदेतद्वै मत्वासीस्त्वमपि ध्रुवम् १३। किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि माया ज्ञानं छिनत्ति मे । सुफलोत्पादकं शास्त्री रंभामूलमिवोल्बणा १४। धन्यो दशरथो राजा यो मृतो रामशोकतः । धिङ्मां पुत्रस्य विश्लेषाद्धारयंती स्वजीवितम् १५। आगच्छ दर्शंन देहि तात मां परितारय । वद वेदमयीं वाणीं पितुरग्रे गुणार्णव १६। नारद उवाच- एवं विलप्य तन्माता राजन्सा पतिता भुवि । दलनाद्राहुदत्तानां लेखा चांद्रमसी यथा १७। अथाजगाम विप्रर्षिर्विमलो नृपसत्तमः । दृष्ट्वा तां पतितां भूमौ किंकिमित्यभ्यभाषत १८। कस्मादियं कीर्णकेशव्यस्तवस्त्रविभूषणा । पतिता भुवि कल्याणं हरिदत्तस्य विद्यते १९। तस्यावयस्यास्ताः सर्वाः प्रोचुस्तं विमलं नृप । वयस्या ऊचुः - अधीत्य वेदांस्ते पुत्रो दत्त्वा च गुरुदक्षिणाम् २०। नारायणपरो भूत्वा प्राव्रजद्धरिदत्तकः । तस्य विश्लेषशोकेन पतितेयं धरातले २१। नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तासां विमलो बुद्धिमत्तरः । प्राबोधयन्निजां भार्यामिति वागमृतेन सः २२। विमल उवाच- उत्तिष्ठ जाये शृणु वाक्यमीरितं मया किमर्थं पतिता विषीदसि । धन्यः सुतस्ते य इमं विनश्वरं विज्ञाय भेजे हरिपादपल्लवम् २३। धन्या त्वमप्यस्य जनि प्रदायिनी यस्याः सुतस्ते हरिपादभागभूत् । संतारयिष्यत्यपि मामसंशयं कुलं कुलोत्थानपि पूरुषान्शुभे २४। क्व विश्वमेकतच्च पतच्चलं क्व सेवनं शाश्वतलोकदं हरेः । मत्वेति भेजुर्भरतादयो नृपा यथा हरिं साध्वि तथैव ते सुतः २५। दारा धनागार शरीरबांधवा एते भवंति प्रतिजन्मदुःखदाः । तावन्नयावद्धरिपादपल्लवं भजेत धीरोऽखिलकामवर्जितः २६। नारद उवाच- एवं प्रबोधिता तेन धीरेण धरणीतलात् । उत्थाय निजभर्तारमब्रवीद्दीनया गिरा २७। भार्योवाच। सर्वं जानाम्यहं कांत यत्त्वया साधुभाषितम् । कुलधुर्यं न पश्यामि यतस्तप्यामि वै भृशम् २८। पुत्रे सति महत्तीर्थे किं वा केशवसेवया । गृह एवावयोर्मृत्युश्चेत्स्याल्लोकद्वयं तदा २९। सत्पुत्रोत्पादने यत्नः कर्त्तव्यः खलु मानवैः । तारयंति पितॄन्पुत्रा यतः संसारवारिधैः ३०। स्रष्टारं सर्वजंतूनां धातारं पुत्रकाम्यया । भज वांछसि चेत्पुत्रं कुलधुर्यं महामते ३१। नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्यवचस्तस्याः प्रत्याह विमलो द्विजः । ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं प्रयागं हि याम्यहं पुत्रकाम्यया ३२। इत्युक्त्वा चलितः सोऽथ हरिद्वारमगाद्द्विजः । स्नात्वा तत्रापि विधिवदिंद्रप्रस्थमथागमत् ३३। कतिभिर्वासरैर्वीर सायंकालेऽखिलार्थिदम् । स्नात्वा भुक्त्वा निशायां स सुष्वाप यमुनातटे ३४। निशीथे स्वपतस्तस्य विमलस्यांतिके विधिः । हंसमारुह्य देवेशस्तीर्थैः सर्वैरनुद्रुतः ३५। आगत्योत्थापयामास विमलं पुत्रवांच्छकम् । उवाच च सुरश्रेष्ठो वचनं मधुराक्षरम् ३६। ब्रह्मोवाच- जाने समीतिं चित्तं त्वदीये मनसि स्थितम् । न तत्पूरयितुं कल्पो यतस्तत्कारणं शृणु ३७ । एकदा मेरुशिखरे मिलिताः सर्वदेवताः । तुष्टुवुर्मद्भवमुखा माधवं कार्यसिद्धये ३८। स्तुतो स्मदादिविबुधैः कृपया भगवान्हरिः । प्रसन्नोभूत्तदा विष्णुर्वृणुध्वमिति चाब्रवीत् ३९। इत्युक्तास्तेन ते देवा यथाभिलषितं वरम् । श्रीपतेः प्राप्य ते जग्मुः सर्वे स्वं स्वं निकेतनम् ४०। मयोक्तमिति देवेश देहि मे वरमुत्तमम् । प्रयागं नाम मे क्षेत्रं भवत्वखिलकामदम् ४१। ततः शतगुणं भूयाद्दिवतीयं क्षेत्रकं मम । इंद्रप्रस्थगतं सम्यग्वृत्तं त्वत्तो मयानघ ४२। इत्याकर्ण्य वचो मह्यं भगवानाह मां तदा । तथास्त्विति पुनर्वाचमुवाच श्रूयतां वचः ४३। श्रीभगवानुवाच । इंद्रस्य खांडवारण्ये इंद्रप्रस्थाभिधं शुभम् । क्षेत्रं कलिंदजातीरे मत्तुल्यास्तत्र ये मृताः ४४। विरिंचे रचिता तत्र स्वकीया द्वारकापुरी । मया शतगुणांभोधी तीरस्थायाः पुरा गुणैः ४५। तामुल्लंघ्य नरो यस्तु तीर्थमन्यन्निषेव्यते । न तीर्थफलमाप्नोति स पुमान्न मृषोदितम् ४६। सर्वतीर्थोदितं पुण्यं शक्रतीर्थे लभेन्नरः । द्वारका च पुरी मायातीर्थमन्यच्च रक्षति ४७। यो निमज्ज्यान्यतीर्थेषु कृत्वा च विविधां क्रियाम् । अत्रैष्यति फलं तेभ्यः फलं प्राप्स्यति स ध्रुवम् ४८। इत्युक्त्वांतर्द्धधे विष्णुरहमप्यगमं स्वकम् । लोकं द्विजेंद्र वैकुंठादधोभागे व्यवस्थितम् ४९। प्रयागान्मामकात्क्षेत्रात्काशी शतगुणा स्मृता । काश्याः शतगुणं तीर्थं निगमोद्बोधकं तथा ५०। तीर्थसप्तकमेतत्तु त्रयं तुल्यफलं स्मृतम् । एतत्त्रयमनुल्लंघ्य यो गच्छति सितासितम् ५१। तस्याहं वांछितं विप्र ददामि खलु नान्यथा । केचिदाहुः सप्तपुरी समपुण्या महर्षयः ५२। अयोध्याद्याः शतं ताभ्य इंद्रप्रस्थं प्रचक्षते । त्वमत्रागत्य विप्रेंद्र सर्वकामफलप्रदे ५३। तीर्थे श्रीद्वारकाख्ये हि कुरु स्नानं सुतेच्छया । यावंति सर्वतीर्थानि ब्रह्मांडकलशोदरे ५४। तेभ्यो परिमितं पुण्यं शतनामनि कीर्तिते । सुतं ते कुलधौरेयं तीर्थमेतत्प्रदास्यति ५५। स्नानाच्च तव गोविंदः प्रसन्नात्मा भविष्यति । नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशो ब्रह्मा तत्र तिरोधते ५६। विमलोऽपि तदा स्नात्वा देवादीनप्यतर्पयत् । इत्युवाच स धर्मात्मा द्वारके कृष्णवल्लभे ५७। सुतं वंशकरं देहि मह्यंभक्ताय ते नमः । इत्युक्ते तेन विप्रेण देववागभवत्तदा ५८। देववागुवाच- पुत्रस्ते धर्म्मतत्वज्ञो वंशकर्त्ता भविष्यति । प्रसादादस्य तीर्थस्य सर्वतीर्थशिरोमणेः ५९। याहि गेहं विलंबं मा सुकृतं तेन मज्जनम् । नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य सतां वाणीं विश्वस्तः पुत्रजन्मनि ६०। चचाल जलमादाय द्वारकायाः कमंडलौ । मार्गे तस्य सखा विप्रो मलयाचलकेतनः ६१। मीलितश्चलितो गेहं कृत्वा तीर्थानि सर्वतः । तस्मै स्ववृत्तमाख्यातं ब्रह्मसंवादकात्मकम् ६२। यद्भूतं द्वारकातीर्थे श्रुत्वा सोऽपि विसिस्मये । उवाच स च धर्मात्मा सखे मम वचः शृणु ६३। यावंति भारते क्षेत्रे तीर्थानि विहितानि मे । तावंति कर्तुमिच्छामि त्वदुक्तं तीर्थमुत्तमम् ६४। नीत्वा मां दर्शय सखे तत्तीर्थं सर्वकामदम् । सखायस्ते वरा भूमावुपकुर्वंति ये सखीन् ६५। न तैर्ननु समो लोके पितामाताऽथवा सुतः । निर्द्धनं पुरुषं लोके सर्वे मुंचंति बांधवाः ६६। न मुंचंति सखायस्तु तस्य दुःखेन दुःखिताः । संसारार्णवनिर्मग्नान्सखीनुद्धरते सखा ६७। उपदिश्य हरेर्भक्तिमार्गं जन्मेंधनानलम् । अतस्त्वं मे सखा श्रेष्ठ उपकारं विधेहि मे ६८। दर्शयैतद्वरश्रेष्ठं तीर्थाख्यं द्वारकां द्विज ६९। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहिंतायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये सप्ताधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २०७।
saubhariruvāca- dharmātmaja niśamyaitadvacastasya mahātmanaḥ | nāradasya śibī rājā provācedaṃ vinītavat 1| śibiruvāca- tiṣṭhaṃtyo marumārge tā rākṣasyo munipuṃgava | etasyā dvārikāyāstu lebhire salilaṃ kutaḥ 2| nārada uvāca- śṛṇu rājankathāṃ divyāṃ pūtāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm | vimalākhyasya viprasya himavaddroṇivāsinaḥ 3| ekastu himavaddroṇyāṃ vimalo nāma bhūsuraḥ | devarṣipitṛvahnīnāṃ pūjako'tithipūjakaḥ 4| haripādārcanarato vedavedāṃgadharmavit | vāsudevaguṇagrāma purāṇaśrutimānasaḥ 5| vārddhake tasya putro'bhūtprasādāccakrapāṇinaḥ | cakāra haridatteti nāmnā taṃ janakastadā 6| vidhivadvidadhe cāsya kṣaurakarmādikaṃ ca tat | guroḥ sakāśājjagrāha chaṃdāṃsi haridattakaḥ 7| adhītya vidhivadvedāndattvā ca gurudakṣiṇām | pravavrāja viraktaḥ sansamūlaṃ cāśramadvayam 8| jñātvā tatkarmatanmātā vyalapatputravatsalā | snāpayaṃtī kucadvaṃdvaṃ putraviśleṣajāśrubhiḥ 9| mātovāca- māmanāthāṃ parityajya tāta yāto'si kutra vai | pitaraṃ ca jarāgrastaṃ ṣaṭpado balvajāviva 10| vārddhake tvaṃ mayā prāptaḥ śrīpateḥ pādasevayā | māṃ vihāyābhajastvaṃ vai caraṇaṃ tasya muktaye 11| ahaṃ mūḍhā dhruvaṃ tāta dhruvamārādhya yaddharim | adhruvaṃ vāṃchitavatī bhavantaṃ tu sukhalabdhaye 12| tvaṃ sudhīrvatsa sarvārthaṃ yadviṣṇuṃ bhajase svayam | adhruvaṃ jagadetadvai matvāsīstvamapi dhruvam 13| kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi māyā jñānaṃ chinatti me | suphalotpādakaṃ śāstrī raṃbhāmūlamivolbaṇā 14| dhanyo daśaratho rājā yo mṛto rāmaśokataḥ | dhiṅmāṃ putrasya viśleṣāddhārayaṃtī svajīvitam 15| āgaccha darśaṃna dehi tāta māṃ paritāraya | vada vedamayīṃ vāṇīṃ pituragre guṇārṇava 16| nārada uvāca- evaṃ vilapya tanmātā rājansā patitā bhuvi | dalanādrāhudattānāṃ lekhā cāṃdramasī yathā 17| athājagāma viprarṣirvimalo nṛpasattamaḥ | dṛṣṭvā tāṃ patitāṃ bhūmau kiṃkimityabhyabhāṣata 18| kasmādiyaṃ kīrṇakeśavyastavastravibhūṣaṇā | patitā bhuvi kalyāṇaṃ haridattasya vidyate 19| tasyāvayasyāstāḥ sarvāḥ procustaṃ vimalaṃ nṛpa | vayasyā ūcuḥ - adhītya vedāṃste putro dattvā ca gurudakṣiṇām 20| nārāyaṇaparo bhūtvā prāvrajaddharidattakaḥ | tasya viśleṣaśokena patiteyaṃ dharātale 21| nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya vacastāsāṃ vimalo buddhimattaraḥ | prābodhayannijāṃ bhāryāmiti vāgamṛtena saḥ 22| vimala uvāca- uttiṣṭha jāye śṛṇu vākyamīritaṃ mayā kimarthaṃ patitā viṣīdasi | dhanyaḥ sutaste ya imaṃ vinaśvaraṃ vijñāya bheje haripādapallavam 23| dhanyā tvamapyasya jani pradāyinī yasyāḥ sutaste haripādabhāgabhūt | saṃtārayiṣyatyapi māmasaṃśayaṃ kulaṃ kulotthānapi pūruṣānśubhe 24| kva viśvamekatacca pataccalaṃ kva sevanaṃ śāśvatalokadaṃ hareḥ | matveti bhejurbharatādayo nṛpā yathā hariṃ sādhvi tathaiva te sutaḥ 25| dārā dhanāgāra śarīrabāṃdhavā ete bhavaṃti pratijanmaduḥkhadāḥ | tāvannayāvaddharipādapallavaṃ bhajeta dhīro'khilakāmavarjitaḥ 26| nārada uvāca- evaṃ prabodhitā tena dhīreṇa dharaṇītalāt | utthāya nijabhartāramabravīddīnayā girā 27| bhāryovāca| sarvaṃ jānāmyahaṃ kāṃta yattvayā sādhubhāṣitam | kuladhuryaṃ na paśyāmi yatastapyāmi vai bhṛśam 28| putre sati mahattīrthe kiṃ vā keśavasevayā | gṛha evāvayormṛtyuścetsyāllokadvayaṃ tadā 29| satputrotpādane yatnaḥ karttavyaḥ khalu mānavaiḥ | tārayaṃti pitṝnputrā yataḥ saṃsāravāridhaiḥ 30| sraṣṭāraṃ sarvajaṃtūnāṃ dhātāraṃ putrakāmyayā | bhaja vāṃchasi cetputraṃ kuladhuryaṃ mahāmate 31| nārada uvāca- ityākarṇyavacastasyāḥ pratyāha vimalo dvijaḥ | brahmakṣetraṃ prayāgaṃ hi yāmyahaṃ putrakāmyayā 32| ityuktvā calitaḥ so'tha haridvāramagāddvijaḥ | snātvā tatrāpi vidhivadiṃdraprasthamathāgamat 33| katibhirvāsarairvīra sāyaṃkāle'khilārthidam | snātvā bhuktvā niśāyāṃ sa suṣvāpa yamunātaṭe 34| niśīthe svapatastasya vimalasyāṃtike vidhiḥ | haṃsamāruhya deveśastīrthaiḥ sarvairanudrutaḥ 35| āgatyotthāpayāmāsa vimalaṃ putravāṃcchakam | uvāca ca suraśreṣṭho vacanaṃ madhurākṣaram 36| brahmovāca- jāne samītiṃ cittaṃ tvadīye manasi sthitam | na tatpūrayituṃ kalpo yatastatkāraṇaṃ śṛṇu 37 | ekadā meruśikhare militāḥ sarvadevatāḥ | tuṣṭuvurmadbhavamukhā mādhavaṃ kāryasiddhaye 38| stuto smadādivibudhaiḥ kṛpayā bhagavānhariḥ | prasannobhūttadā viṣṇurvṛṇudhvamiti cābravīt 39| ityuktāstena te devā yathābhilaṣitaṃ varam | śrīpateḥ prāpya te jagmuḥ sarve svaṃ svaṃ niketanam 40| mayoktamiti deveśa dehi me varamuttamam | prayāgaṃ nāma me kṣetraṃ bhavatvakhilakāmadam 41| tataḥ śataguṇaṃ bhūyāddivatīyaṃ kṣetrakaṃ mama | iṃdraprasthagataṃ samyagvṛttaṃ tvatto mayānagha 42| ityākarṇya vaco mahyaṃ bhagavānāha māṃ tadā | tathāstviti punarvācamuvāca śrūyatāṃ vacaḥ 43| śrībhagavānuvāca | iṃdrasya khāṃḍavāraṇye iṃdraprasthābhidhaṃ śubham | kṣetraṃ kaliṃdajātīre mattulyāstatra ye mṛtāḥ 44| viriṃce racitā tatra svakīyā dvārakāpurī | mayā śataguṇāṃbhodhī tīrasthāyāḥ purā guṇaiḥ 45| tāmullaṃghya naro yastu tīrthamanyanniṣevyate | na tīrthaphalamāpnoti sa pumānna mṛṣoditam 46| sarvatīrthoditaṃ puṇyaṃ śakratīrthe labhennaraḥ | dvārakā ca purī māyātīrthamanyacca rakṣati 47| yo nimajjyānyatīrtheṣu kṛtvā ca vividhāṃ kriyām | atraiṣyati phalaṃ tebhyaḥ phalaṃ prāpsyati sa dhruvam 48| ityuktvāṃtarddhadhe viṣṇurahamapyagamaṃ svakam | lokaṃ dvijeṃdra vaikuṃṭhādadhobhāge vyavasthitam 49| prayāgānmāmakātkṣetrātkāśī śataguṇā smṛtā | kāśyāḥ śataguṇaṃ tīrthaṃ nigamodbodhakaṃ tathā 50| tīrthasaptakametattu trayaṃ tulyaphalaṃ smṛtam | etattrayamanullaṃghya yo gacchati sitāsitam 51| tasyāhaṃ vāṃchitaṃ vipra dadāmi khalu nānyathā | kecidāhuḥ saptapurī samapuṇyā maharṣayaḥ 52| ayodhyādyāḥ śataṃ tābhya iṃdraprasthaṃ pracakṣate | tvamatrāgatya vipreṃdra sarvakāmaphalaprade 53| tīrthe śrīdvārakākhye hi kuru snānaṃ sutecchayā | yāvaṃti sarvatīrthāni brahmāṃḍakalaśodare 54| tebhyo parimitaṃ puṇyaṃ śatanāmani kīrtite | sutaṃ te kuladhaureyaṃ tīrthametatpradāsyati 55| snānācca tava goviṃdaḥ prasannātmā bhaviṣyati | nārada uvāca- ityuktvā devadeveśo brahmā tatra tirodhate 56| vimalo'pi tadā snātvā devādīnapyatarpayat | ityuvāca sa dharmātmā dvārake kṛṣṇavallabhe 57| sutaṃ vaṃśakaraṃ dehi mahyaṃbhaktāya te namaḥ | ityukte tena vipreṇa devavāgabhavattadā 58| devavāguvāca- putraste dharmmatatvajño vaṃśakarttā bhaviṣyati | prasādādasya tīrthasya sarvatīrthaśiromaṇeḥ 59| yāhi gehaṃ vilaṃbaṃ mā sukṛtaṃ tena majjanam | nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya satāṃ vāṇīṃ viśvastaḥ putrajanmani 60| cacāla jalamādāya dvārakāyāḥ kamaṃḍalau | mārge tasya sakhā vipro malayācalaketanaḥ 61| mīlitaścalito gehaṃ kṛtvā tīrthāni sarvataḥ | tasmai svavṛttamākhyātaṃ brahmasaṃvādakātmakam 62| yadbhūtaṃ dvārakātīrthe śrutvā so'pi visismaye | uvāca sa ca dharmātmā sakhe mama vacaḥ śṛṇu 63| yāvaṃti bhārate kṣetre tīrthāni vihitāni me | tāvaṃti kartumicchāmi tvaduktaṃ tīrthamuttamam 64| nītvā māṃ darśaya sakhe tattīrthaṃ sarvakāmadam | sakhāyaste varā bhūmāvupakurvaṃti ye sakhīn 65| na tairnanu samo loke pitāmātā'thavā sutaḥ | nirddhanaṃ puruṣaṃ loke sarve muṃcaṃti bāṃdhavāḥ 66| na muṃcaṃti sakhāyastu tasya duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ | saṃsārārṇavanirmagnānsakhīnuddharate sakhā 67| upadiśya harerbhaktimārgaṃ janmeṃdhanānalam | atastvaṃ me sakhā śreṣṭha upakāraṃ vidhehi me 68| darśayaitadvaraśreṣṭhaṃ tīrthākhyaṃ dvārakāṃ dvija 69| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhiṃtāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kāliṃdīmāhātmye saptādhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 207|
English translation
Saubhari said :
1. O son of Dharma , having heard these words of that noble Nārada , king Śibi politely spoke these (words):
Śibi said :
2. O best sage, how did those demonesses, moving on the path to Maru , get the water from this Dvārakā ?
Nārada said :
3-9. O king, listen to the story, pure and destroying sin, of a brāhmaṇa named Vimala , living in the valley of the Himālaya (mountain). In the Himalayan valley lived a brāhmaṇa by name Vimala. He honoured gods, sages, his dead ancestors, and guests. He was engrossed in worshipping Viṣṇu ’s feet. He knew the Vedas , the Vedāṅgas and religious practices. His mind was (devoted to) listening to the Purāṇa containing the hosts of Viṣṇu’s virtues. In his old age a son was born to him due to Viṣṇu’s grace. The father then named him Haridatta (literally, given by Viṣṇu). He duly performed his (sacraments like) shaving etc. Haridatta received (the knowledge of) the Vedas from his teacher. Having duly studied the Vedas, having paid the fee of the teacher, he, being detached, took to renunciation, (having) completely (dropped) the two stages (viz. the second and the third) of human life. On coming to know that act of him, his mother who loved her son, bathing (i.e. making wet) her pair ofbreasts with tears due to separation from her son, wept.
The mother said :
10-16. O dear one, like a bee abandoning coarse grass, where are you going, leaving me who am helpless, and your father stricken with old age? Due to service of the feet of Viṣṇu, I got you in my old age. You have resorted to his feet for salvation after having abandoned me. O dear one, I was certainly a fool, since having propitiated that eternal Viṣṇu I longed for you, the unsteady one, for getting happiness. O child, you are intelligent since you are resorting to Viṣṇu, the all-in-all. You too are looking upon this transient world as permanent. What should I do? Where should I go? Māyā cuts off my understanding, as a strong person having a weapon cuts off a plantain tree producing good fruits (right) from its roots. Blessed was king Daśaratha who died due to agony (caused by separation) from Rāma . Fie upon me who am (still) sustaining my life (even) after separation from my son! Come, appear before me, emancipate me. O dear one, O ocean of virtues, speak to your father words consisting of (the words from) the Vedas.
Nārada said :
17-20a. Weeping like this. O king, the mother fell on the ground like a digit of the moon due to its being cut off (from other digits) given to Rāhu . O best king, the brāhmaṇa sage came there. Seeing her fallen on the ground, he said: “What is this? Why has she, with her hair dishevelled and garments and ornaments disordered, fallen on the ground? Is Haridatta well?” All those her friends said to that Vimala, O king:
The friends said :
20b-21. Your son, Haridatta, having studied the Vedas, having paid the teacher’s fee, and being highly devoted to Viṣṇu, has renounced the world. Due to the grief caused by separation from him she has fallen on the ground.
Nārada said :
22. Having heard these words of them, the very wise Vimala roused his wife with this nectar of his words.
Vimala said :
23-26. O (my) wife, get up. Listen to the words spoken by me. Why have you fallen down and are dejected? Your son who, knowing this (world to be) transient, has resorted to Viṣṇu’s foliage-like feet, is blessed. You too, his mother, whose son has served the feet of Viṣṇu, are blessed. He will also undoubtedly emancipate me, (our) family, and men born in our family, O auspicious one. What a lot of difference is there between this unsteady world, and the service of Viṣṇu’s feet, giving an eternal world! Thinking like this kings like Bharata resorted to Viṣṇu. So (has) your son (done), O chaste one. Unless a wise man, free from lust, resorts to the foliage-like feet of Viṣṇu, in every existence (of him) his wife, wealth, house, body, relatives cause grief to him.
Nārada said :
27. Thus admonished by him, the wise one, she got up from the ground, and with a piteous voice spoke to her husband:
The wife said :
28-31. O darling, I understand all that you have said well. I am very much tormented since I do not see a leader for our family. What is the use of service to Viṣṇu, when there is the great holy place in the form of a son? Even if we meet with death in our house only, we shall have (the fruit of) both the worlds then (i.e. when we have a son). Men indeed should try to beget a good son; since sons emancipate their ancestors from the ocean of the mundane existence. O you very intelligent one, if you desire a son, the foremost in the family, then, with a desire to have a son, resort to the creator and supporter of all beings.
Nārada said :
32-36. Hearing these words of her Vimala, the brāhmaṇa, said: “With a desire to have a son, I shall go to Brahmakṣetra Prayāga .” Saying so, the brāhmaṇa set out and went to Haridvāra . Having duly bathed there, he then went to Indraprastha after a few days. O brave one, having bathed there (at the holy place) giving (whatever is desired) to everyone that solicits, in the evening, and having eaten (food) he slept at night on the bank of Yamunā . Near that Vimala sleeping at night, the lord of gods along with all holy places quickly came after having mounted on a swan. Having come he raised Vimala, desiring a son; and the best got spoke sweet words.
Brahmā said :
37-43. I know the desire hidden in your mind. Since there is no way to fulfil it, listen to the reason. Once all gods, led by me and Śiva , gathered on the peak of Meru , and praised Viṣṇu for success. Being praised by gods like me lord Viṣṇu was pleased then, and said: “Choose (a boon).”Thus addressed by Viṣṇu, all gods, having received (from him) a boon as desired, went to their respective houses. I said: “O lord of gods, give me an excellent boon. May my holy place, Prayāga, give all the desired objects. May another holy place of me at Indraprastha be a hundredfold (meritorious). O sinless one, I have properly chosen it from you.” Having heard these words of me, the lord then said to me: “Let it be so,” and again spoke (certain) words. Listen to (those) words.
The lord said :
44-56a. In Indra ’s Khāṇḍava forest there is an auspicious holy place on the bank of Yamunā, called Indraprastha. Those who die there are equal to me. O Brahman , my own city of Dvārakā is a hundredfold more meritorious than when formerly it was at the shore of the ocean. A man who, having ignored it, resorts to another holy place, does not obtain the fruit of (a visit to) the holy place. This statement is not false. A man would obtain the merit said to be accruing from all holy places. The city of Dvārakā preserves another illusory holy place. He who, having bathed at other holy places, and having performed various rites, will come here, will certainly get the fruit of those holy places.
O best brāhmaṇa, having spoken these words, Viṣṇu disappeared. I too went to my world situated below Vaikuṇṭha . Kāśī is said to be a hundredfold more meritorious than Prayāga, my holy place. Similarly the hilly place Nigamodbodhaka is a hundredfold more meritorious than Kāśī. This group of seven holy places is said to have the fruit equal to the three. O brāhmaṇa, to him who goes to Prayāga without ignoring these three, I give his desired objects. Not otherwise. Some sages say that the seven, Ayodhyā etc., are equal in merit. Indraprastha is said to be hundredfold superior to those. O brāhmaṇa, having come to that holy place Śrī Dvārakā, which gives all the desired fruits, bathe there with the desire for a son. When the hundred names are uttered, unlimited religious merit accrues from them. This holy place will give you a son, the foremost in your family; and due to your bathing here, Viṣṇu will be pleased.
Nārada said :
56b-58. Speaking like this, Brahma , the lord of the chief of gods, vanished. Vimala also then bathed, and offered oblations to gods etc. Thus said the pious one: “O Dvārakā, dear to Kṛṣṇa , give me a son, your devotee. Salutation to you.” When the brāhmaṇa spoke like this, there was (heard) a divine voice.
The divine voice said :
59-60a. Due to the favour of this holy place, the crest-jewel of all holy places, you will have a son, knowing the truth of religious practices and continuing your family. Go home; do not delay. The bath is well done.
Nārada said :
60b-69. Having heard that (divine) voice, he, trusting in the birth of a son (i.e. trusting he will have a son), took water of Dvārakā in a water-pot, and left (the place). On the way he met his friend living on the Malaya mountain. He was going (back) home after having visited all holy places. He told him all the account consisting of his dialogue with Brahmā . He too was amazed on hearing what had taken place at the holy place of Dvārakā. The pious one said: “O friend, listen to my words. I desire to visit all those holy places that are fashioned in Bhārata . O friend, take me to that holy place, granting all desired objects and show it to me. On the earth those friends who oblige their friends are excellent. In the world none is like them—(even) the father, the mother, or the son. All relatives desert a poor man. But friends, afflicted by his grief, do not leave the friend. A friend emancipates his friends plunged into the ocean of mundane existence. Having taught me the devotion to Viṣṇu, capable of destroying existences, you have become my best friend. O oblige me. O brāhmaṇa, show me the best holy place called Dvārakā.”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44947, revision 336620 (2022-04-25T13:43:18Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365791.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.