Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 214
Sourceनारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यं स जगाम त्वरान्वितः । पुण्यं मधुवनं राजन्गयाशतगुणाधिकम् १। तत्तीर्थवासिनो विप्रान्सायमामंत्र्य मंत्रवित् । काले पुनः समाहूय बभाषे स्वागतं वचः २। ततः प्रक्षाल्य तत्पादौ गंधाद्यैरभिपूज्य च । पादार्घ्यमददात्प्रीत्या समेन स्वयमाचमत् ३। ततस्तान्ब्राह्मणान्नीत्वा श्राद्धदेशे न्यवेशयत् । कुशांबु तुलसीपुष्प गंधाक्षत तिलैः सह ४। पूरयित्वा कर्मपात्रं पुंडरीकाक्षमस्मरत् । देवताभ्य इति श्लोकं त्रिःकृत्वा सोऽपठद्द्विजः ५। सतिलं शोधितकुशैर्विदधे बंधनं ततः । अग्निष्वात्तेति मंत्रेण पूर्वादीनां दिशां क्रमात् ६। रक्षोभूतेति मंत्रेण नीवीबंधं व्यधाच्च सः । ततः प्रतिज्ञामाधाय ददौ द्विजकुशासनम् ७। पितॄन्समाह्वयामास स तदा ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । दत्त्वा ततस्तु हस्तार्घ्यं पात्रं न्युब्जीचकार वै ८। कृत्वा गंधादिदानं च पुनः सव्येन चाचमत् । सव्यापसव्येन तदा दत्वा पात्राणि स द्विजः ९। तैर्ब्राह्मणैरनुज्ञातश्चक्रेऽग्नौकरणं ततः । आज्यादिहविषा राजंस्तान्यमत्राण्यपूरयत् १०। अनुत्तानोत्तानपाणिः कुर्वन्पात्रावलंबनम् । पपाठ पाठितो विप्रैः पृथ्वी त्वेति द्विजन्मनाम् ११। असंस्कृतप्रणीतानामिति मंत्रेण स द्विजः । दर्भेषु दक्षिणाग्रेषु ददौ च विकिरासनम् १२। अग्निदग्धेति मंत्रेण घृतमिश्रान्नमक्षिपत् । जलेन सह राजेंद्र विष्टरे कुशकल्पिते १३। सव्येन पुनराचम्य ददौ चुलकजीवनम् । तृप्ताः स्थेति च संपृच्छ्यातृप्तास्म प्रतिभाषिताः १४। शेषान्नभोजने तेषां जग्राहाज्ञां द्विजन्मनाम् । पिंडार्थं वेदिकां कृत्वा वितस्तिप्रमितां द्विजः १५। रेखां चकार दर्भेण दक्षिणाभिमुखीं नृप । ये रूपाणीति मंत्रेण दधेऽग्निदिशि चोल्मुकम् १६। पूर्वजन्मनि या माता पिता यश्च महीपते । तयोश्च पितरौ यौ हि यौ च राजन् पितामहौ १७। यः प्रमातामहश्चापि पितरौ राजसत्तम । पित्रादीन्षट्सपत्नीकांस्तानुद्दिश्य यथाविधि १८। कुशासनानि दत्त्वा वै ददौ पिंडान्षडैव हि । गंधादिभिश्च संपूज्य मध्यपिंडविसर्जनम् १९। कृत्वाघ्राय च वामांसे पिंडपात्रं न्यवेशयेत् । जलपात्रं तदादाय वाजेवाजे पठन्निति २०। पाद्यार्घं च पुनर्दत्त्वा दक्षिणाद्यैरतूतुषत् । आद्वारं ताननुव्रज्य तेभ्यो लब्ध्वानुशासनम् २१। बुभुजे च स्वयं राजन्बांधवैः सह स द्विजः । एवं समाप्य राजेंद्र श्राद्धं स द्विजसत्तमः २२। पूर्वसबंधिनां तत्र तीर्थे मधुवने शुभे । यदा चचाल शांतात्मा पितुराश्रमकं प्रति २३। तदा संमिलिता मार्गे सर्वे ते श्राद्धभोजिनः । विमानषट्कमारूढा दिव्याभरणभूषिताः । दिव्यांबरधरा राजन्नित्यूचुस्तं द्विजोत्तमम् २४। पितर ऊचुः - भो वत्स विप्रशार्दूल वृणीष्व वरमुत्तमम् । तीर्थेऽत्र कुर्वता श्राद्धं भवता तारिता वयम् २५। वयं गणत्वमापन्नाः श्रीपतेस्त्वत्प्रसादतः । प्रार्थयस्व महाबुद्धे यदिष्टं तव चेतसि २६। मुनिपुत्र उवाच- के यूयं कुत आयाता गणत्वं हि कुतो गताः । उपकारं विना कस्माद्वरं यन्मे प्रयच्छत २७। नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्यवचस्तस्य पूर्वजन्मसुतस्य वै । पिता प्रोवाच यो दुःखाद्भक्षयित्वा विषं मृतः २८। पितोवाच - अहं तव पिता विप्र पूर्वजन्मनि भूसुरः । भार्यया व्यभिचारिण्या मात्रा ते पीडिता भृशम् २९। अतीवदुःखमापन्नो भक्षयित्वा विषं निशि । अपमृत्युं गतस्तस्मादभवं रजनीचरः ३०। एवं मन्वतरं तात शतं पंचदशाधिकम् । वर्षाणां च व्यतीतं तद्राक्षसत्वं गते मयि ३१। इदानीं षोडशाब्दे तु त्वया श्राद्धे कृतेऽत्र वै । पुण्ये मधुवने तीर्थे देवत्वं प्राप्तवानहम् ३२। एतद्विमानमायांतं स्वर्गादिंद्रप्रणोदितम् । सगणं साप्सरोवृंदं ममारोहणहेतवे ३३। अत्र तुभ्यं वरं दातुं सगणः साप्सरोगणः । विमानवरमारुह्य गच्छन्स्वर्गेऽहमागमम् ३४। वरं वरय भद्रं ते न विलंबसहा वयम् । ऐरावतगजारूढः सुरेशो मामवेक्षते ३५। नारद उवाच। इत्युक्त्वा निजवृत्तांतं दत्त्वा च निजसूनवे । तत्प्रार्थितां हरेर्भक्तिं जगाम स दिवं नृप ३६। अथ प्रोवाच तन्माता पूर्वजन्मसुतं च तम् । मातोवाच-। त्वत्प्रसादादहं जाता देवी मुक्ता च पापतः ३७। प्राप्तं शच्याः सखीत्वं मे पापयापि द्विजोत्तम । त्वयात्र विहिते श्राद्धे तीर्थे विश्रांतिसंज्ञके ३८। प्रार्थयस्व महाभाग निजचित्तसमीहितम् । ददामि ते यतोऽस्माकं देवीनां न वचो मृषा ३९। येन पापेन जाताहं गोधा च पितृकानने । नरके चिरमास्थाय तत्त्वं वेत्सि द्विजोत्तम ४०। अनुजानीहि मां पुत्र पुलोमतनया दिवि । मामपेक्षितमाकाशे वृता देवांगनागणैः ४१। नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा सापि तन्माता निष्कामाय स्वसूनवे । ययौ त्रिविष्टपं राजन्शिरसा तेन वंदिता ४२। ततः पितामहस्तस्य स्वपौत्रं तं द्विजोत्तमम् । उवाच वचनं भूयः हरेर्बिभ्रत्स्वरूपताम् ४३। पितामह उवाच- वत्सवत्स चिरंजीव लभस्व निजवांच्छितम् । त्वत्प्रसादाद्वयं तीर्णा दुस्तराद्भवसागरात् ४४। पितामहोऽहं ते वत्स तवेयं च पितामही । मृतं मानुगता साध्वी सालोक्यमचिरं गता ४५। अद्य त्वयात्र विश्रांतौ विहिते श्राद्धकर्मणि । आवयोस्तु हरेर्लोके लब्धा तस्य स्वरूपता ४६। नारद उवाच- एवमुक्त्वा तया सार्द्धं स्वस्त्रिया भूपसत्तम । ब्रह्मलोकमतिक्रम्य वैकुंठं स ययौ द्विजः ४७। अथ प्रोवाच राजेंद्र वचस्तत्प्रपितामहः । यत्ते तत्कथयाम्यद्य शृणुष्वैकमना द्विज ४८। प्रपितामह उवाच- भोभो वत्स महाभाग तवाहं प्रपितामहः । भ्रूणहत्याफलेनाहं शौकरीं योनिमाप्तवान् ४९। ततो विनिर्गतस्तात श्वाभवं पापपीडितः । ततः स्थावरतां प्राप्तो विंध्ये पर्वतसत्तमे ५०। तत्रापि चिरकालेन स्थितं स्थावरतां दधत् । हस्तिना केनचित्तात मूलादुत्पाटितो बलात् ५१। तस्मिन्नेव ततः काले त्वया श्राद्धमकारि वै । अस्मिंस्तीर्थोत्तमे तात मुक्तोऽहं स्थावरात्ततः ५२। प्राप्तोऽयं यक्षराजस्य नगर्य्यां वास उत्तमः । देह्यनुज्ञां द्विजश्रेष्ठ यामि तां त्वत्प्रसादतः ५३। त्वां दिदृक्षुरिहायातो दृष्टस्त्वं पुण्यदर्शनः । तीर्थं च सर्वतीर्थेषु श्रेष्ठं मधुवनं मया ५४। नारद उवाच- इत्युक्तस्तेन राजेंद्र मुनिपुत्रः स धर्मवित् । पप्रच्छ शिरसा नम्य तं निजं प्रपितामहम् ५५। ऋषिरुवाच- ब्राह्मणानां कुले तात जातोऽसि त्वं गरीयसि । कथं विहितवान्पापं भ्रूणहत्याभिधं गुरो ५६। येन निंद्यां समापन्नो भवान्योनिपरं पराम् । समाचक्ष्व महाभाग यदि तत्स्मृतिरस्ति ते ५७। प्रपितामह उवाच- पुराहं द्विजशार्दूल ब्राह्मणस्येव जन्मनि । मंत्रयंत्रविधानेन कृतवान्वृत्तिमात्मनः ५८। धनलोभेन नारीणां गर्भार्थमहमौषधम् । दत्तवांश्चैव नाशाय दैवोपहतचेतनः ५९। लोभो हि धनहीनानां जनानां ज्ञानमाहरेत् । शुचिकाले दिनाधीशः कुल्यानामिव जीवनम् ६०। ज्ञाने नष्टे जनस्तात पापमाचरते ध्रुवम् । पापान्नरकमाप्नोति ततो याति कुयोनिताम् ६१। काचिदेका तदा नारी गुर्विणी मामपृच्छत । किं जनिष्याम्यहं विप्र पुत्रं वेत्यथ वा स्त्रियम् ६२। तदाहमुक्तवांस्तां वै तव कन्या भविष्यति । पुत्रोत्पत्तिकृते तुभ्यं प्रदास्यामि महौषधम् ६३। इत्युक्ता च मया नारी दुर्बुद्धिस्त्रीशिरोमणिः । जग्राह मम पादौ तु दत्तं हेमपलं च मे ६४। इत्युवाच च सा मह्यं षट्कन्याजनिता मया । सप्तमीयं त्वया चोक्ता जीविष्ये स्या न जन्मनि ६५। तथा कुरु महाबुद्धे यथाहं वै न कन्यकाम् । जनयिष्यामि विप्रान्यां निजप्राणविनाशिनीम् ६६। इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्यास्तामहं पुनरुक्तवान् । प्रसूतिकाले दास्यामि पुत्रोत्पाद्यहमौषधम् ६७। तथेति सा वचो मह्यं प्रतिश्रुत्य गता गृहम् । अपेक्षमाणा तं कालं तस्थौ वाक्यप्रतीतिकृत् ६८। तस्यां गतायां भो तात चिंतया भवमातुरः । इत्यहं द्विजशार्दूल तच्छृणुष्व वदामि ते ६९। पुत्रोत्पत्तिप्रतीतेयं मह्यं दत्तवती पलम् । सुवर्णस्य न जानामि किमस्याः संभविष्यति ७०। किमत्र करणीयं मे कथमेतत्सुवर्णकम् । पलप्रमाणं तिष्ठेद्वै दरिद्रस्य गृहे मम ७१। एवं विमृश्य तद्दास्यास्तस्यै हस्तेन दापितम् । गर्भपातकरं तात मया दारुणमौषधम् ७२। तेनौषधेन तस्यास्तु गर्भस्रावेऽभवत्तदा । मासे तृतीये न ज्ञातं चिह्नं पुरुषकन्ययोः ७३। तदा सा मद्गृहं प्राप्ता विषण्णा गर्भस्रावतः । अथार्थयत्सुवर्णं तन्निराशा पुत्रजन्मनि ७४। तदाहमिष्टकाचूर्णं भस्मना च समन्वितम् । हरिद्राचूर्णसंयुक्तं सांबु तस्यै अदर्शयम् ७५। एतच्चूर्णं कृतं मातस्त्वत्पुत्रोत्पत्तये मया । त्वद्दानाद्द्विगुणं द्रव्यं लग्नमेतस्य साधने ७६। इत्युक्त्वा सा मया तात त्यक्त्वा चूर्णं गृहं ययौ । मामुक्त्वेति गृहीष्यामि काले त्वत्तो द्विजोत्तम ७७। एवं मया कृता तात भ्रूणहत्यातिदारुणा । ययातिकुत्सिते योनित्रितये भ्रमितं मया ७८। त्वत्प्रसादादहं मुक्तः सांप्रतं स्थावरत्वतः । देह्यनुज्ञां मुनिश्रेष्ठ याम्यहं ह्यलकां शुभाम् ७९। नारद उवाच- एवमुक्त्वा तु राजेंद्र तस्य तु प्रपितामहः । तेनाभिवंदितो मूर्ध्ना प्रययौ दिशमुत्तराम् ८०। विमानेन विचित्रेण किंकिणीजालमालिना । नृत्यद्गंधर्वजुष्टेन मणिप्राकारशोभिना ८१। अथ तस्य महाराज विप्रस्य प्रपितामही । उवाच स्वप्रपौत्रं तं विमानवरमास्थिता ८२। प्रपितामह्युवाच । नान्यत्र कुत्र गंतासि पुण्येनानेन सुव्रत । विना पद्मापतेः पादपद्मचिह्नितमंदिरम् ८३। अयं मम पतिः पापो मुने त्वत्प्रपितामहः । वारितोऽपि मया पापमाचचार सुदुष्टधीः ८४। सोऽपि त्वयातिपापात्मा तारितो दुःखसागरात् । शक्यते केन वै कर्तुं तावकं गुणवर्णनम् ८५। नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा सापि राजेंद्र पतिलोकं जगाम ह । अलकायां चिरं पत्या तेनैव मुमुदे सह ८६। अथ ते मुनिपुत्रस्य सर्वे मातामहादयः । सपत्नीकाः समारुह्य विमानेषु ययुर्दिवम् ८७। सोऽपि द्विजवरस्तस्मात्तीर्थात्स्वपितुराश्रमम् । गत्वा तं सर्ववृत्तांतं स्वपित्रे समवर्णयत् ८८। सोऽपि तत्र गतः सार्द्धं कुटुंबेन वने मधोः । चकार पर्णशालां वै विश्रांतेस्तु समीपतः ८९। तत्र विश्रांततीर्थं तु त्रिकालं स्नानमाचरन् । नाकरोद्विष्णुलोकेऽपि स्पृहां स मुनिसत्तमः ९०। एकदा जलमध्ये स स्नानं कुर्वन्मुनिर्नृप । आचकांक्षे च भवता कदा मे हरिदर्शनम् ९१। एवं कामयमानस्य मुनिवर्यस्य भूपते । आजगाम त्वरायुक्तो पक्षिराजासनो हरिः ९२। लक्ष्म्या वक्षःस्थया सार्द्धं चतुर्बाहुधरो हरिः । नवीनघनवर्णांगो विद्युद्वर्णांबरावृतः ९३। कौस्तुभोद्भासि सद्वक्षाः शंखचक्रगदाब्जभृत् । वनमालालसत्कंठो मकराकृतिकुंडलः ९४। फुल्लांबुजपलाशाक्षः स्वलकालं कृताननः । विद्रुमाकारकरजोरुणहस्तांघ्रिसत्तलः ९५। उवाच तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं दंतभासा विभासयन् । शरन्निशापतिस्तोम तिरस्कारकृतादिशः ९६। श्रीभगवानुवाच- भोभो द्विजवरैतन्मे तीर्थं मधुवनं शुभम् । विश्रांतसंज्ञकं स्नानात्सर्वकामोपपादकम् ९७। अत्र त्वया स्नानकाले वांछितं मम दर्शनम् । तुभ्यं हि तन्मया दत्तं ब्रह्मादिसुरदुर्लभम् ९८। त्यज देहमिमं विप्र मानुषं दिव्यमाप्नुहि । आयाहि मद्गृहं सार्द्धं मयारुह्य खगेश्वरम् ९९। नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्यवचस्तस्य श्रीपतेः स मुनीश्वरः । तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा जल एव विशांपते १००। मुनिरुवाच- श्रीपते श्रीमदंभोज संमर्दितपदांबुजम् । भवतो भवतापघ्नं वंदे त्रिदशवंदितम् १०१। त्वदीय मायया नाथ मोहिता येऽत्र जंतवः । तेषां कदाचिन्निस्तारो न कृपामंतरेण ते १०२। सत्तीर्थसेवनादीश तथा सज्जनसंगमात् । पुसां भक्तिस्तु येषां वै जायते कृपया तव १०३। साधुभिर्बहुभिरीरितं हरे यो निशम्य गुणकीर्त्तनं तव । कीर्तयत्यखिलपापनाशनं मातृगर्भकुहरे स नो पतेत् १०४। श्रीपते तव जनस्य मानसं दैवतस्तु पतितं महारणे । गुंठितं च रजसा जहाति नो निर्मलत्वमिव रत्नमुत्तमम् १०५। यः पुमान्पतति ते पदांबुजे दंडवत्पुलकमंगके दधत् । सोन्वयं नयति तावकं पदं स्वं च वांछितमशेषयोगिभिः १०६। जीव एव तव मायया विभो मोहितो भ्रमति विश्ववर्त्मसु । त्वत्कृपाललितलोचनांचलैस्तत्क्षणं तरति विश्ववारिधिम् १०७। नारद उवाच- इति संस्तुत्य गोविंदं दंडवत्तस्य पादयोः । पपात स मुनिश्रेष्ठो जयेति मुहुरीरयन् १०८। श्रीपतिस्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं दंडवत्पतितं भुवि । उत्थाप्य बाहुभिस्तूर्णं सुपर्णे समरोपयत् १०९। तत्कुटुंबं च विश्वात्मा वैकुंठं च जगाम ह । इत्येतत्कथितं राजन्शिवे मधुवनस्य वै ११०। महात्म्यं सर्वपापघ्नं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि । य इदं शृणुयान्मर्त्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते १११। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये मधुवनमाहात्म्यंनाम चतुर्दशाधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २१४ ।
nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya piturvākyaṃ sa jagāma tvarānvitaḥ | puṇyaṃ madhuvanaṃ rājangayāśataguṇādhikam 1| tattīrthavāsino viprānsāyamāmaṃtrya maṃtravit | kāle punaḥ samāhūya babhāṣe svāgataṃ vacaḥ 2| tataḥ prakṣālya tatpādau gaṃdhādyairabhipūjya ca | pādārghyamadadātprītyā samena svayamācamat 3| tatastānbrāhmaṇānnītvā śrāddhadeśe nyaveśayat | kuśāṃbu tulasīpuṣpa gaṃdhākṣata tilaiḥ saha 4| pūrayitvā karmapātraṃ puṃḍarīkākṣamasmarat | devatābhya iti ślokaṃ triḥkṛtvā so'paṭhaddvijaḥ 5| satilaṃ śodhitakuśairvidadhe baṃdhanaṃ tataḥ | agniṣvātteti maṃtreṇa pūrvādīnāṃ diśāṃ kramāt 6| rakṣobhūteti maṃtreṇa nīvībaṃdhaṃ vyadhācca saḥ | tataḥ pratijñāmādhāya dadau dvijakuśāsanam 7| pitṝnsamāhvayāmāsa sa tadā brāhmaṇottamaḥ | dattvā tatastu hastārghyaṃ pātraṃ nyubjīcakāra vai 8| kṛtvā gaṃdhādidānaṃ ca punaḥ savyena cācamat | savyāpasavyena tadā datvā pātrāṇi sa dvijaḥ 9| tairbrāhmaṇairanujñātaścakre'gnaukaraṇaṃ tataḥ | ājyādihaviṣā rājaṃstānyamatrāṇyapūrayat 10| anuttānottānapāṇiḥ kurvanpātrāvalaṃbanam | papāṭha pāṭhito vipraiḥ pṛthvī tveti dvijanmanām 11| asaṃskṛtapraṇītānāmiti maṃtreṇa sa dvijaḥ | darbheṣu dakṣiṇāgreṣu dadau ca vikirāsanam 12| agnidagdheti maṃtreṇa ghṛtamiśrānnamakṣipat | jalena saha rājeṃdra viṣṭare kuśakalpite 13| savyena punarācamya dadau culakajīvanam | tṛptāḥ stheti ca saṃpṛcchyātṛptāsma pratibhāṣitāḥ 14| śeṣānnabhojane teṣāṃ jagrāhājñāṃ dvijanmanām | piṃḍārthaṃ vedikāṃ kṛtvā vitastipramitāṃ dvijaḥ 15| rekhāṃ cakāra darbheṇa dakṣiṇābhimukhīṃ nṛpa | ye rūpāṇīti maṃtreṇa dadhe'gnidiśi colmukam 16| pūrvajanmani yā mātā pitā yaśca mahīpate | tayośca pitarau yau hi yau ca rājan pitāmahau 17| yaḥ pramātāmahaścāpi pitarau rājasattama | pitrādīnṣaṭsapatnīkāṃstānuddiśya yathāvidhi 18| kuśāsanāni dattvā vai dadau piṃḍānṣaḍaiva hi | gaṃdhādibhiśca saṃpūjya madhyapiṃḍavisarjanam 19| kṛtvāghrāya ca vāmāṃse piṃḍapātraṃ nyaveśayet | jalapātraṃ tadādāya vājevāje paṭhanniti 20| pādyārghaṃ ca punardattvā dakṣiṇādyairatūtuṣat | ādvāraṃ tānanuvrajya tebhyo labdhvānuśāsanam 21| bubhuje ca svayaṃ rājanbāṃdhavaiḥ saha sa dvijaḥ | evaṃ samāpya rājeṃdra śrāddhaṃ sa dvijasattamaḥ 22| pūrvasabaṃdhināṃ tatra tīrthe madhuvane śubhe | yadā cacāla śāṃtātmā piturāśramakaṃ prati 23| tadā saṃmilitā mārge sarve te śrāddhabhojinaḥ | vimānaṣaṭkamārūḍhā divyābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ | divyāṃbaradharā rājannityūcustaṃ dvijottamam 24| pitara ūcuḥ - bho vatsa vipraśārdūla vṛṇīṣva varamuttamam | tīrthe'tra kurvatā śrāddhaṃ bhavatā tāritā vayam 25| vayaṃ gaṇatvamāpannāḥ śrīpatestvatprasādataḥ | prārthayasva mahābuddhe yadiṣṭaṃ tava cetasi 26| muniputra uvāca- ke yūyaṃ kuta āyātā gaṇatvaṃ hi kuto gatāḥ | upakāraṃ vinā kasmādvaraṃ yanme prayacchata 27| nārada uvāca- ityākarṇyavacastasya pūrvajanmasutasya vai | pitā provāca yo duḥkhādbhakṣayitvā viṣaṃ mṛtaḥ 28| pitovāca - ahaṃ tava pitā vipra pūrvajanmani bhūsuraḥ | bhāryayā vyabhicāriṇyā mātrā te pīḍitā bhṛśam 29| atīvaduḥkhamāpanno bhakṣayitvā viṣaṃ niśi | apamṛtyuṃ gatastasmādabhavaṃ rajanīcaraḥ 30| evaṃ manvataraṃ tāta śataṃ paṃcadaśādhikam | varṣāṇāṃ ca vyatītaṃ tadrākṣasatvaṃ gate mayi 31| idānīṃ ṣoḍaśābde tu tvayā śrāddhe kṛte'tra vai | puṇye madhuvane tīrthe devatvaṃ prāptavānaham 32| etadvimānamāyāṃtaṃ svargādiṃdrapraṇoditam | sagaṇaṃ sāpsarovṛṃdaṃ mamārohaṇahetave 33| atra tubhyaṃ varaṃ dātuṃ sagaṇaḥ sāpsarogaṇaḥ | vimānavaramāruhya gacchansvarge'hamāgamam 34| varaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te na vilaṃbasahā vayam | airāvatagajārūḍhaḥ sureśo māmavekṣate 35| nārada uvāca| ityuktvā nijavṛttāṃtaṃ dattvā ca nijasūnave | tatprārthitāṃ harerbhaktiṃ jagāma sa divaṃ nṛpa 36| atha provāca tanmātā pūrvajanmasutaṃ ca tam | mātovāca-| tvatprasādādahaṃ jātā devī muktā ca pāpataḥ 37| prāptaṃ śacyāḥ sakhītvaṃ me pāpayāpi dvijottama | tvayātra vihite śrāddhe tīrthe viśrāṃtisaṃjñake 38| prārthayasva mahābhāga nijacittasamīhitam | dadāmi te yato'smākaṃ devīnāṃ na vaco mṛṣā 39| yena pāpena jātāhaṃ godhā ca pitṛkānane | narake ciramāsthāya tattvaṃ vetsi dvijottama 40| anujānīhi māṃ putra pulomatanayā divi | māmapekṣitamākāśe vṛtā devāṃganāgaṇaiḥ 41| nārada uvāca- ityuktvā sāpi tanmātā niṣkāmāya svasūnave | yayau triviṣṭapaṃ rājanśirasā tena vaṃditā 42| tataḥ pitāmahastasya svapautraṃ taṃ dvijottamam | uvāca vacanaṃ bhūyaḥ harerbibhratsvarūpatām 43| pitāmaha uvāca- vatsavatsa ciraṃjīva labhasva nijavāṃcchitam | tvatprasādādvayaṃ tīrṇā dustarādbhavasāgarāt 44| pitāmaho'haṃ te vatsa taveyaṃ ca pitāmahī | mṛtaṃ mānugatā sādhvī sālokyamaciraṃ gatā 45| adya tvayātra viśrāṃtau vihite śrāddhakarmaṇi | āvayostu harerloke labdhā tasya svarūpatā 46| nārada uvāca- evamuktvā tayā sārddhaṃ svastriyā bhūpasattama | brahmalokamatikramya vaikuṃṭhaṃ sa yayau dvijaḥ 47| atha provāca rājeṃdra vacastatprapitāmahaḥ | yatte tatkathayāmyadya śṛṇuṣvaikamanā dvija 48| prapitāmaha uvāca- bhobho vatsa mahābhāga tavāhaṃ prapitāmahaḥ | bhrūṇahatyāphalenāhaṃ śaukarīṃ yonimāptavān 49| tato vinirgatastāta śvābhavaṃ pāpapīḍitaḥ | tataḥ sthāvaratāṃ prāpto viṃdhye parvatasattame 50| tatrāpi cirakālena sthitaṃ sthāvaratāṃ dadhat | hastinā kenacittāta mūlādutpāṭito balāt 51| tasminneva tataḥ kāle tvayā śrāddhamakāri vai | asmiṃstīrthottame tāta mukto'haṃ sthāvarāttataḥ 52| prāpto'yaṃ yakṣarājasya nagaryyāṃ vāsa uttamaḥ | dehyanujñāṃ dvijaśreṣṭha yāmi tāṃ tvatprasādataḥ 53| tvāṃ didṛkṣurihāyāto dṛṣṭastvaṃ puṇyadarśanaḥ | tīrthaṃ ca sarvatīrtheṣu śreṣṭhaṃ madhuvanaṃ mayā 54| nārada uvāca- ityuktastena rājeṃdra muniputraḥ sa dharmavit | papraccha śirasā namya taṃ nijaṃ prapitāmaham 55| ṛṣiruvāca- brāhmaṇānāṃ kule tāta jāto'si tvaṃ garīyasi | kathaṃ vihitavānpāpaṃ bhrūṇahatyābhidhaṃ guro 56| yena niṃdyāṃ samāpanno bhavānyoniparaṃ parām | samācakṣva mahābhāga yadi tatsmṛtirasti te 57| prapitāmaha uvāca- purāhaṃ dvijaśārdūla brāhmaṇasyeva janmani | maṃtrayaṃtravidhānena kṛtavānvṛttimātmanaḥ 58| dhanalobhena nārīṇāṃ garbhārthamahamauṣadham | dattavāṃścaiva nāśāya daivopahatacetanaḥ 59| lobho hi dhanahīnānāṃ janānāṃ jñānamāharet | śucikāle dinādhīśaḥ kulyānāmiva jīvanam 60| jñāne naṣṭe janastāta pāpamācarate dhruvam | pāpānnarakamāpnoti tato yāti kuyonitām 61| kācidekā tadā nārī gurviṇī māmapṛcchata | kiṃ janiṣyāmyahaṃ vipra putraṃ vetyatha vā striyam 62| tadāhamuktavāṃstāṃ vai tava kanyā bhaviṣyati | putrotpattikṛte tubhyaṃ pradāsyāmi mahauṣadham 63| ityuktā ca mayā nārī durbuddhistrīśiromaṇiḥ | jagrāha mama pādau tu dattaṃ hemapalaṃ ca me 64| ityuvāca ca sā mahyaṃ ṣaṭkanyājanitā mayā | saptamīyaṃ tvayā coktā jīviṣye syā na janmani 65| tathā kuru mahābuddhe yathāhaṃ vai na kanyakām | janayiṣyāmi viprānyāṃ nijaprāṇavināśinīm 66| ityākarṇya vacastasyāstāmahaṃ punaruktavān | prasūtikāle dāsyāmi putrotpādyahamauṣadham 67| tatheti sā vaco mahyaṃ pratiśrutya gatā gṛham | apekṣamāṇā taṃ kālaṃ tasthau vākyapratītikṛt 68| tasyāṃ gatāyāṃ bho tāta ciṃtayā bhavamāturaḥ | ityahaṃ dvijaśārdūla tacchṛṇuṣva vadāmi te 69| putrotpattipratīteyaṃ mahyaṃ dattavatī palam | suvarṇasya na jānāmi kimasyāḥ saṃbhaviṣyati 70| kimatra karaṇīyaṃ me kathametatsuvarṇakam | palapramāṇaṃ tiṣṭhedvai daridrasya gṛhe mama 71| evaṃ vimṛśya taddāsyāstasyai hastena dāpitam | garbhapātakaraṃ tāta mayā dāruṇamauṣadham 72| tenauṣadhena tasyāstu garbhasrāve'bhavattadā | māse tṛtīye na jñātaṃ cihnaṃ puruṣakanyayoḥ 73| tadā sā madgṛhaṃ prāptā viṣaṇṇā garbhasrāvataḥ | athārthayatsuvarṇaṃ tannirāśā putrajanmani 74| tadāhamiṣṭakācūrṇaṃ bhasmanā ca samanvitam | haridrācūrṇasaṃyuktaṃ sāṃbu tasyai adarśayam 75| etaccūrṇaṃ kṛtaṃ mātastvatputrotpattaye mayā | tvaddānāddviguṇaṃ dravyaṃ lagnametasya sādhane 76| ityuktvā sā mayā tāta tyaktvā cūrṇaṃ gṛhaṃ yayau | māmuktveti gṛhīṣyāmi kāle tvatto dvijottama 77| evaṃ mayā kṛtā tāta bhrūṇahatyātidāruṇā | yayātikutsite yonitritaye bhramitaṃ mayā 78| tvatprasādādahaṃ muktaḥ sāṃprataṃ sthāvaratvataḥ | dehyanujñāṃ muniśreṣṭha yāmyahaṃ hyalakāṃ śubhām 79| nārada uvāca- evamuktvā tu rājeṃdra tasya tu prapitāmahaḥ | tenābhivaṃdito mūrdhnā prayayau diśamuttarām 80| vimānena vicitreṇa kiṃkiṇījālamālinā | nṛtyadgaṃdharvajuṣṭena maṇiprākāraśobhinā 81| atha tasya mahārāja viprasya prapitāmahī | uvāca svaprapautraṃ taṃ vimānavaramāsthitā 82| prapitāmahyuvāca | nānyatra kutra gaṃtāsi puṇyenānena suvrata | vinā padmāpateḥ pādapadmacihnitamaṃdiram 83| ayaṃ mama patiḥ pāpo mune tvatprapitāmahaḥ | vārito'pi mayā pāpamācacāra suduṣṭadhīḥ 84| so'pi tvayātipāpātmā tārito duḥkhasāgarāt | śakyate kena vai kartuṃ tāvakaṃ guṇavarṇanam 85| nārada uvāca- ityuktvā sāpi rājeṃdra patilokaṃ jagāma ha | alakāyāṃ ciraṃ patyā tenaiva mumude saha 86| atha te muniputrasya sarve mātāmahādayaḥ | sapatnīkāḥ samāruhya vimāneṣu yayurdivam 87| so'pi dvijavarastasmāttīrthātsvapiturāśramam | gatvā taṃ sarvavṛttāṃtaṃ svapitre samavarṇayat 88| so'pi tatra gataḥ sārddhaṃ kuṭuṃbena vane madhoḥ | cakāra parṇaśālāṃ vai viśrāṃtestu samīpataḥ 89| tatra viśrāṃtatīrthaṃ tu trikālaṃ snānamācaran | nākarodviṣṇuloke'pi spṛhāṃ sa munisattamaḥ 90| ekadā jalamadhye sa snānaṃ kurvanmunirnṛpa | ācakāṃkṣe ca bhavatā kadā me haridarśanam 91| evaṃ kāmayamānasya munivaryasya bhūpate | ājagāma tvarāyukto pakṣirājāsano hariḥ 92| lakṣmyā vakṣaḥsthayā sārddhaṃ caturbāhudharo hariḥ | navīnaghanavarṇāṃgo vidyudvarṇāṃbarāvṛtaḥ 93| kaustubhodbhāsi sadvakṣāḥ śaṃkhacakragadābjabhṛt | vanamālālasatkaṃṭho makarākṛtikuṃḍalaḥ 94| phullāṃbujapalāśākṣaḥ svalakālaṃ kṛtānanaḥ | vidrumākārakarajoruṇahastāṃghrisattalaḥ 95| uvāca taṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ daṃtabhāsā vibhāsayan | śaranniśāpatistoma tiraskārakṛtādiśaḥ 96| śrībhagavānuvāca- bhobho dvijavaraitanme tīrthaṃ madhuvanaṃ śubham | viśrāṃtasaṃjñakaṃ snānātsarvakāmopapādakam 97| atra tvayā snānakāle vāṃchitaṃ mama darśanam | tubhyaṃ hi tanmayā dattaṃ brahmādisuradurlabham 98| tyaja dehamimaṃ vipra mānuṣaṃ divyamāpnuhi | āyāhi madgṛhaṃ sārddhaṃ mayāruhya khageśvaram 99| nārada uvāca- ityākarṇyavacastasya śrīpateḥ sa munīśvaraḥ | tuṣṭāva praṇato bhūtvā jala eva viśāṃpate 100| muniruvāca- śrīpate śrīmadaṃbhoja saṃmarditapadāṃbujam | bhavato bhavatāpaghnaṃ vaṃde tridaśavaṃditam 101| tvadīya māyayā nātha mohitā ye'tra jaṃtavaḥ | teṣāṃ kadācinnistāro na kṛpāmaṃtareṇa te 102| sattīrthasevanādīśa tathā sajjanasaṃgamāt | pusāṃ bhaktistu yeṣāṃ vai jāyate kṛpayā tava 103| sādhubhirbahubhirīritaṃ hare yo niśamya guṇakīrttanaṃ tava | kīrtayatyakhilapāpanāśanaṃ mātṛgarbhakuhare sa no patet 104| śrīpate tava janasya mānasaṃ daivatastu patitaṃ mahāraṇe | guṃṭhitaṃ ca rajasā jahāti no nirmalatvamiva ratnamuttamam 105| yaḥ pumānpatati te padāṃbuje daṃḍavatpulakamaṃgake dadhat | sonvayaṃ nayati tāvakaṃ padaṃ svaṃ ca vāṃchitamaśeṣayogibhiḥ 106| jīva eva tava māyayā vibho mohito bhramati viśvavartmasu | tvatkṛpālalitalocanāṃcalaistatkṣaṇaṃ tarati viśvavāridhim 107| nārada uvāca- iti saṃstutya goviṃdaṃ daṃḍavattasya pādayoḥ | papāta sa muniśreṣṭho jayeti muhurīrayan 108| śrīpatistaṃ muniśreṣṭhaṃ daṃḍavatpatitaṃ bhuvi | utthāpya bāhubhistūrṇaṃ suparṇe samaropayat 109| tatkuṭuṃbaṃ ca viśvātmā vaikuṃṭhaṃ ca jagāma ha | ityetatkathitaṃ rājanśive madhuvanasya vai 110| mahātmyaṃ sarvapāpaghnaṃ kimanyacchrotumicchasi | ya idaṃ śṛṇuyānmartyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 111| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kāliṃdīmāhātmye madhuvanamāhātmyaṃnāma caturdaśādhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 214 |
English translation
Nārada said :
1-9. O king, having heard these words of his father, he quickly went to the holy Madhuvana , a hundred times holier than Gayā . Then the learned brāhmaṇa spoke to the brāhmaṇas living at that holy place, and again having invited them after some time, spoke to them words of welcome. Then having washed their feet and worshipped them with sandal etc. he made respectful offering at their feet, and similarly himself sipped (water). Then taking the brāhmaṇas he seated them at the place of the śrāddha . And filling the pot (used) for the rite with darbhas , water, tulasi (leaves), flowers, sandal, sacred rice grains and sesamum-seeds, he remembered Viṣṇu . The brāhmaṇas thrice recited the verse: Devatābhyaḥ .... Then he tied it containing sesamum-seeds with darbhas that were purified, in the directions beginning with the east, in the proper order with (the recital of) the hymn Agniṣvātta .... With the hymn Rakṣobhūta ... he tied the ends of the garment worn round the waist into a knot. Then taking the pledge, he gave darbha seat to the brāhmaṇas. Then the best brāhmaṇa invoked his dead ancestors. Then giving respectful offering into their hands, he turned down the vessel and made it lie on its face. Having offered sandal etc. he, with his sacred thread hanging down over the left shoulder, sipped water. Then the brāhmaṇa gave the pots after having his sacred thread (once) hanging down over the left and (once) over the right shoulder.
10-24. Permitted by the brāhmaṇas, he offered oblations like ghee into the fire. Then he filled those vessels (with water), O king. With his hand turned up and down he took the vessels and taught by the brāhmaṇas he recited (the hymn) Pṛthvī tvā ... With (the reciting of) the hymn Asaṃskṛtapraṇītānām ... the brāhmaṇas offered seats with the darbhas strewn (there) with their points in the southern direction. O king, with (the reciting of) the hymn Agnidagdha ... he put food mixed with ghee and along with water on the seats made by darbhas. Again, with his sacred thread hanging down over the left shoulder, he sipped a mouthful of water. He asked them, “Are you satisfied?” They replied, “We are satisfied.” He took the permission of those brāhmaṇas to eat the remaining food. The brāhmaṇa made an altar of the measure of the length of twelve aṅgulas , and drew a line facing the south with a darbha. He laid the firebrand with (the reciting of) the hymn Ye rūpāṇi ... in the direction of fire. O king, he duly offered darbha-seats and six piṇḍas only to them who were, in the former existence, his mother, father, so also to their parents, i.e. his grandfathers, so also, O best king, who were his maternal great-grandfather and paternal grandfather, along with their wives. Having worshipped them with sandal etc. and having cast off the middle piṇḍa and after having smelt the pot containing the piṇḍas, he put it on his left shoulder. Then taking the vessel containing water, and reciting (the hymn) Vāje vāje ... again offering respectful oblation to their feet, he pleased them with presents etc. Having followed them up to the door, and having secured their permission, the brāhmaṇa dined along with his relatives, O king. O best king, when the best brāhmaṇa, after thus finishing the śrāddha of his ancestors in the pious Madhuvana, and with his mind tranquil, started for his father’s hermitage, he met on his way those who had eaten at the śrāddha. They, seated in six aeroplanes, adorned with divine ornaments, wearing celestial garments thus spoke to the best brāhmaṇa:
The ancestors said :
25-26. O child, O best brāhmaṇa, ask for an excellent boon. You, performing a śrāddha at this holy place, have emancipated us. Due to your favour we have become Viṣṇu’s attendants. O you very intelligent one, ask for what is desired in (i.e. by) your mind.
The sage’s son said :
27. Who are you? Wherefrom have you come? How did you become (Viṣṇu’s) attendants? Why do you grant me a boon without my having obliged you?
Nārada said :
28. Hearing these words of the son in his former existence, the father, who had died after taking poison due to grief, said:
The father said :
29-35. O brāhmaṇa, I am your father, a brāhmaṇa, in your former existence. I was very much troubled by your. unchaste mother. Being extremely afflicted, I took poison at night, died prematurely, and, therefore, became a demon: O dear one, after being turned into a demon, I passed a period of Manu and one hundred and fifteen years (in that condition). Now in the (hundred and) sixteenth year, when you performed a śrāddha in this meritorious holy place Madhuvana, I attained godhead. This aeroplane sent by Indra along with attendants and a host of the celestial nymphs has arrived from heaven for me to get in. I, along with the attendants and the host of celestial nymphs, have, while going to the heaven after getting into the excellent aeroplane, come here to give you a boon. Ask for a boon. God bless you. We can’t brook any delay. Indra, mounted upon the elephant Airāvata , is waiting for me.
Nārada said :
36-37a. O king, thus telling his son his own account, and giving him the devotion for Viṣṇu (as) asked by him, he went to heaven. Then his mother spoke to him, her son in the previous existence:
The mother said :
37b-41. Due to your favour I have become a goddess and am freed from sins. O best brāhmaṇa, I, though a sinner, have become the friend of Śacī , when you performed the śrāddha at this holy place called Viśrānti. O glorious one, ask for what is desired by your mind. I shall give it to you, since the words of us, the deities, are never falsified. O best brāhmaṇa, you know the sin due to which I, after staying in the hell for a long time, became an alligator in the cremation ground. O son, allow me (to go). Śacī, surrounded by hosts of celestial ladies is waiting for me in the sky.
Nārada said :
42-43. O king, his mother too, having thus spoken to him, her desireless son, went after being saluted by him with his head (bent down) to heaven. Then his grandfather, having similarity of form with Viṣṇu, again spoke (these) words to his grandson, the best brāhmaṇa.
The grandfather said :
44-46. O child, O child, live long. Obtain what is desired by you. Due to your favour we have crossed over this ocean of mundane existence, difficult to cross. O child, I am your grandfather, and this is your grandmother. The chaste lady followed me who had died, and soon obtained residence in the same heaven (as of Viṣṇu). When today you performed the śrāddha-rite at Viśrānti, we have obtained similarity of form with Viṣṇu in his heaven.
Nārada said :
47-48. O best king, the brāhmaṇa, after having spoken like this, went along with her, his wife, to Vaikuṇṭha after having crossed Brahmā ’s world. O best king, listen attentively to the words, the brāhmaṇa, his great-grandfather spoke to him, which I am telling you.
The great-grandfather said :
49-54. O child, O glorious one, I am your great-grandfather. As a result of my causing an abortion, I obtained the stock of (i.e. was born as) a pig. Then I went out of it, and being oppressed by my sin, became a dog. Then I became an inanimate object on the best mountain, Vindhya . Then I who for a long time remained in that condition of an inanimate object, was forcibly uprooted by an elephant. Then at that time only you performed the śrāddha at this excellent holy place. And therefore I was freed from that inanimate condition and got an excellent residence in the city of the lord of yakṣas . O best brāhmaṇa, permit me. Due to your favour I (shall) go. With the desire to see you I have come here, and have seen you of a pious appearance (and) the Madhuvana, the best of all holy places.
Nārada said :
55. Thus addressed by him, the sage’s son, knowing religious merit, asked, after saluting his great-grandfather with (having bent) his head to him, his great-grandfather:
The sage said :
56-57. O dear one, you were born in a great brāhmaṇa family. How did you, O great one, commit the sin of causing abortion, due to which you obtained (i.e. were born in) a series of censurable stocks? O illustrious one, tell me that if you recollect (it).
The great-grandfather said :
58-66. O best brāhmaṇa, formerly, in the existence of a brāhmaṇa, I maintained myself by the employment of spells and amulets. Due to greed of wealth, I, with my understanding destroyed due to (ill) luck, gave them (clients) medicine for conception and abortion; for greed would take away the understanding of those having no wealth, as the sun takes away the water of the canals in the hot season. O dear one, when a man’s understanding perishes, he certainly commits a sin. Due to the sin he gets (into) a hell, and from there goes to (i.e. is born in) a bad stock. In that existence, one pregnant woman asked me: “O brāhmaṇa, shall I give birth to a son or a girl?” Then I said to her: “A daughter will be born to you. (Therefore) I shall give you a medicine for the birth of a son.” Thus addressed, the woman, the crest-jewel of the foolish, seized my feet and gave me a pala of gold. She said to me: “I have given birth to six daughters. You have now told (i.e. predicted) the seventh. After her birth I shall not live. O brāhmaṇa do that by which I shall not give birth to another daughter destroying my life.”
67-79. Hearing these words of her, I again said to her: “At the time of your delivery I shall give you a medicine (capable of) generating a son.” Saying, “All right” and having heard me she went home and believing in my words, remained waiting for that time. When she had gone, I became anxious like this. Listen as to how I became so. I (shall) tell it. ‘She convinced of the birth of a son, gave me a pala of gold. I did not know what (i.e. a boy or a girl) would be born to her. What should be done in this case? How would that (gold of) a measure of a pala remain in the house of me who am poor?’ Thinking like this, I handed over to her maid that medicine causing abortion and made her give it to her. Due to that medicine she aborted in the third month (of pregnancy). The sign of either a boy or a girl was not noticed. She, dejected due to the abortion, came to my house, and having no hope for the birth of a son, demanded (back) the gold. Then I showed her powder of bricks (mixed) with ash, and mixed with turmeric powder and with water. “O mother, for the birth of a son to you I have prepared this powder. For preparing that I required double the money that you had given me.” Thus addressed by me, she ignored the powder, and went home, saying to me, “O brāhmaṇa, I shall take it from you at the proper time.” O dear one, I have thus caused a very fearful (sin of) abortion, due to which I roamed in three very censurable stocks. Now due to your favour I am freed from the state of an inanimate object. O best sage, permit me. I (shall) go to the auspicious Alakā .
Nārada said :
80-82. O king, his great-grandfather, speaking like this, and saluted by him with his head (bent down), went to the northern direction in a beautiful aeroplane having rows of small bells with gandharvas dancing (in it) and charming with jewelled ramparts. Then the great-grandmother of the brāhmaṇa seated in an excellent aeroplane, spoke to her great-grandson, O great king:
The great-grandmother said :
83-85. O you of a good vow, due to this religious merit you have not to go anywhere else except the temple marked with Viṣṇu’s lotus-like feet. O sage, this my sinful husband is your great-grandfather. He, of a very wicked mind, though warded off by me, committed a sin. He too, of a very sinful mind, is liberated by you from the ocean of misery. Who is able to describe your virtues?
Nārada said :
86-96. Speaking like this, she too went to her husband’s world, O best king. With that same husband she rejoiced in Alakā for a long time. Then all those—grandfather etc.—got into the aeroplanes along with their wives and went to heaven. The best brāhmaṇa went from that holy place to his father’s hermitage. And he described to his father the full account. He also went along with his family to Madhuvana and prepared a hut of leaves near Viśrānti. The best sage, bathing three times (a day) at the holy place called Viśrānti, did not even long for Viṣṇu’s world. O king, once, while bathing in the water he wondered: ‘When shall I see Viṣṇu?’ O king, when the excellent sage was wondering like this, Viṣṇu, seated on the king of birds, hastily came (there). He came along with Lakṣmī (close) to his chest; he had four arms. The complexion of his body was like a fresh cloud. He was covered with a garment with the colour of lightning. His large chest was shining with the Kaustubha (jewel). He held a coṇch, a disc and a lotus. His neck shone with a garland of wood-flowers. His earrings had the shape of crocodiles. His eyes resembled the blooming lotus-flowers. His hands were tawny, and feet had good soles. Covering the directions with the mass (of lustre) like that of the moon, he spoke to the best brāhmaṇa, illumining him with his lustre:
The lord sai :
97-99. O best brāhmaṇa, this is the meritorious place known as Viśrānta, and sacred to me. It gives all desired objects on one’s bathing in it. Today at the time of your bath you longed for my sight. I have presented it, difficult to be obtained by gods, to you. O brāhmaṇa, give up this human body. Take up a divine one. Mounting on the lord of birds, come to my place along with me.
Nārada said :
100. O king, having heard these words of the lord of Lakṣmī, the chief of sages, bowing down, praised him (by remaining) in the water only.
The sage said :
101-107. O lord of Lakṣmī, your beautiful lotus-like feet have lovely lotuses offered to them. They destroy the torment of the mundane existence and are saluted by gods. O lord, those beings that are deluded by your Māyā here, can never be liberated without your grace. O lord, due to their resorting to holy places, and their company with the good, devotion (for you) in (these) men is produced due to your grace. O Viṣṇu, he who, having heard the narration of your merits uttered (i.e. made) by many good people and destroying all sins, repeats it, would not fall into the cavity of a mother’s womb. O lord of Lakṣmī, the mind of your man (i.e. devotee), (though) fallen into the great going (of the mundane existence) and covered with dust (i.e. passion), does not, like an excellent gem, give up its purity. The man who having horripilation on his body falls (prostrate) like a staff at your lotus-like feet, takes his family to your place, longed for by all meditating saints. O lord, this very soul, deluded by your Māyā roams along all paths, (but) by means of the glances of your charming eyes, crosses the ocean in the form of the world.
Nārada said :
108-111. Praising Viṣṇu like this, the best sage, saying, ‘Victory to you’, fell at his feet (prostrating himself) like a staff. Lakṣmī’s lord, raised the best sage fallen at his feet like a staff, and the universal Soul put him and (the members of) his family on Garuḍa and went to Vaikuṇṭha. O Śibi , I have told you the greatness, destroying all sins, of Madhuvana, O king. What else do you desire to hear? A man who listens to this (account) is freed from all sins.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44987, revision 336627 (2022-04-25T13:53:43Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365798.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.