Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 223
Sourceशौनक उवाच- सूतसूत महाभाग धन्योसि त्वं भवांबुधौ । यन्नोऽत्यर्थं निमग्नानां पाययस्वमृतोत्करम् १। साधोऽत्र भवनिस्तार वांछतां नः समादिश । मंत्ररत्नं भावशुद्धं यन्मयं सचराचरम् २। सूत उवाच- शृणु शौनक वक्ष्यामि मंत्ररत्नं महाद्भुतम् । यद्दिलीपाय गदितं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ३। एकदा तु दिलीपेन पृष्टमेतद्गुरुं प्रति । वसिष्ठं द्विजशार्दूलं प्रणिपत्य यथा त्वया ४। दिलीप उवाच- भगवन्भवता प्रोक्तास्सर्वधर्माविशेषतः । वर्णाश्रमयुता धर्मा नित्यनैमित्तिकाः क्रियाः ५। राजधर्म्माश्च यज्ञाश्च तीर्थदानव्रतादिकम् । श्रुता मया मुनिःश्रेष्ठ अक्षय्य स्वर्गभोगदाः ६। अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि मोक्षमार्गं सनातनम् । दिष्ट्याहं येन गच्छामि तद्ब्रह्मन्वक्तुमर्हसि ७। को मंत्रं सर्वमंत्राणां भवरोगैकभेषजम् । सर्वेषामेव देहीनां को हि मोक्षप्रदः परः ८। तत्समाख्याहि तत्त्वेन मयि वात्सल्यगौरवात् ९। वसिष्ठ उवाच- साधुपृष्टं त्वया राजन्सर्वलोकहितैषिणा । वक्ष्यामि परमं गुह्यमेकं संसारतारकम् १०। पुरा महर्षयः सर्वे यज्ञदानपराः शुभाः । पप्रच्छुर्ब्रह्मणः पुत्रं नारदं मुनिसत्तमम् ११। महर्षय ऊचुः - भगवन्केन मंत्रेण गच्छामः परमं पदम् । तन्नो ब्रूहि महाभाग प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि १२। नारद उवाच-। पितामहं पुरा सर्वे योगिनः सनकादयः । पप्रच्छुरेकमेकांते मोक्षमार्गं सुदुर्ल्लभम् १३। ब्रह्मोवाच-। शृणुध्वं योगिनः सर्वे रहस्यमिदमद्भुतम् १४। न जानंति सुराः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । सर्गादौ प्रोक्तवान्देवो मह्यं नारायणोऽव्ययः १५। ईश्वर्या सह देव्या च सम्यक्संपूजितो मया । ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्मम नारायणोऽव्ययः १६। प्राजापत्यं ददौ मह्यं श्रुतिजं सर्ववाङ्मयम् । प्रकाशकानि मंत्राणि व्यापकाव्यापकानि च १७। ततस्तमब्रुवं देवं पुराणपुरुषोत्तमम् । भगवन्केन मंत्रेण संसारोत्तारणं नृणाम् १८। तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन सर्वलोकहिताय वै । को मन्त्रः सर्वमन्त्राणां पुरश्चरणवर्जितः १९। सकृदुच्चारणान्नृणां ददाति परमं पदम् । श्रीभगवानुवाच- साधुपृष्टं महाभाग सर्वलोकहितैषिणा २०। तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि ते गुह्यं येन मामाप्नुयुर्नराः २१। सर्वेषामेव मंत्राणां मंत्ररत्नं शुभावहम् । सकृत्स्मरणमात्रेण ददाति परमं पदम् २२। मंत्ररत्नद्वयं न्यासं प्रयतिः शरणागतिः । लक्ष्मीनारायणमिति मन्त्रः सर्वफलप्रदः २३। नामानि मंत्ररत्नस्य पर्य्यायेण निबोधत । तस्योच्चारणमात्रेण परितुष्टोस्मि नित्यशः २४। कुलजो वा तपस्वी वा वेदवेदांगपारगः । यज्ञदानपरो वापि सर्वतीर्थोपसेवकः २५। व्रती वा सत्यवादी वा यतिर्वा ज्ञानवानपि । मन्त्राधिकारी न भवेत्तं प्रयत्नेन वर्जयेत् २६। ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या स्त्रियः शूद्रास्तथेतराः । तस्याधिकारिणः सर्वे मम भक्तास्तु ते यदि २७। अनन्यशरणानां च तथैवानन्यसेविनाम् । अनन्यसाधकानां च वक्तव्यो मन्त्र उत्तमः २८। आर्तानामाशु फलदस्सकृदेव कृतो ह्यसौ । दृप्तानामपि जन्तूनां देहान्तरनिवारणः २९। आर्त्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी वापि प्रजापतिः । सकृन्मां शरणं याति ततः कामानवाप्नुयात् ३०। नादीक्षिताय वक्तव्यं नाभक्ताय च मानिने । नास्तिकाय न लुब्धाय न श्रद्धाविमुखाय च ३१। न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं नासंवत्सरवासिने । कामक्रोधविमुक्तस्तु दंभलोभविवर्जितः ३२। मां च यो व्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते । वक्तव्य तस्य विधिवन्मंत्ररत्नमनुत्तमम् ३३। देशकालादिनियमानरिमित्रादि शोधनम् । न्यासमुद्रादिकं तस्य पुरश्चरणसंयुतम् ३४। मच्चक्रांकितदेहत्वं मदीयाराधनं तथा । मयि सन्यस्तकर्मत्वं मदनन्यशरण्यतता ३५। मयि सर्वफलन्यासो महाविश्वासपूर्वकम् । अनन्यसाधनो यत्नस्त्वकिंचनत्वमात्मनः ३६। अवैष्णवानां संभाषा वंदनादि विवर्जनम् । अनन्यदेवतानां च वन्दनं पूजनं तथा ३७। एवमाद्यादि नियमां प्रपन्नस्य प्रकीर्तिताः । इत्यादिगुणयुक्तस्य वक्तव्यं मंत्रमुत्तमम् ३८। तस्य नारायणश्चाहमृषिर्विष्णुः सनातनः । देवता च श्रिया सार्द्धमहं वात्सल्यसागरः ३९। सर्वलोकेश्वरः श्रीमान्सुशीलः सुभगस्तथा । सर्वज्ञः सर्वशक्तिश्च सदापूर्णमनोरथः ४०। सर्वगः सर्वबंधुश्च कृपापीयूषसागरः । श्रीमन्नारायणश्चाहं देवता समुदाहृतः ४१। छंदस्तु देवी गायत्री पंचविंशाक्षरात्मिका । द्विस्सप्तषट्त्रिपंचद्विषडंगानि नियोजयेत् ४२। लक्ष्म्या मदनपायिन्या मां ध्यायेद्विश्वरूपिणम् । चक्रशंखगदापद्मपाणिनं दिव्यरूपिणम् ४३। वामांकस्थश्रिया सार्द्धं पूजयेत्प्रयतं शुचिः । अनेन मंत्ररत्नेन गंधपुष्पनिवेदनैः । सकृत्संपूज्यमानोऽपि संतुष्टोस्मि प्रजापते ४४। ब्रह्मोवाच- सम्यगुक्तं त्वया नाथ रहस्यमिदमुत्तमम् । मंत्ररत्नप्रभावश्च सर्वसिद्धिप्रदो नृणाम् ४५। पिता त्वं सर्वलोकानां माता त्वं गुरुरेव च । त्वं च स्वामी सखा भ्राता गतिस्त्वं शरणं सुहृत् ४६। अहं तु तव देवेश दासश्शिष्यस्तथा सुहृत् । तस्मान्मम दयासिंधो प्रोक्तवानिदमुत्तमम् ४७। अधुना मंत्ररत्नस्य दीक्षां सम्यग्विधानतः । ब्रूहि सर्वत्र तत्वेन लोकानां हितकाम्यया ४८। श्रीभगवानुवाच - शणु वत्स प्रवक्ष्यामि मंत्र दीक्षाविधिं परम् । आचार्यं संश्रयेत्पूर्वं मदाश्रयणसिद्धये ४९। आचार्यो वेदसंपन्नो विष्णुभक्तो विमत्सरः । मंत्रज्ञो मन्त्रभक्तश्च सदा मंत्राश्रयः शुचिः ५०। सत्संप्रदायसंयुक्तो ब्रह्मविद्याविशारदः । अनन्यसाधनश्चैव तथानन्यप्रयोजनः ५१। ब्राह्मणो वीतरागश्च क्रोधलोभविवर्जितः । सद्वृत्तौ शासिता चैव मुमुक्षुः परमात्मवित् ५२। एवमादिगुणेपेत आचार्यः स मुदा सुहृत् । आचाराञ्शासयेद्यस्तु स आचार्य इतीरितः ५३। यस्त्वाचार्यपराधीनस्सद्वृत्तौ शास्यते यदि । शासने स्थिरवृत्तश्च शिष्यः सद्भिरुदाहृतः ५४। एवं लक्षणसंयुक्तं शिष्यं सर्वगुणान्वितम् । अध्यापयेद्विधानेन मन्त्ररत्ननुत्तमम् ५५। द्वादश्यां श्रवणे वापि कर्हिचिद्वैष्णवे दिने । सदाचार्योपसंप्रीतौ तत्र दीक्षां समाचेत् ५६। सुदर्शनं पांचजन्यं सुवर्णेन प्रकारयेत् । रौप्येण वापि ताम्रेण कांस्येनापि प्रकारयेत् ५७। स्नाप्य पंचामृतैः शुद्धैरर्चयेत्पुरतो मम । अर्च्चयेद्गंधपुष्पाद्यैस्तन्मंत्रेण विधानतः ५८। तत्र संस्थापयेदग्नि स्वगृह्योक्त विधानतः । आचार्यो जुहुयादाज्यं मंत्रेणाथ द्विजोत्तमः ५९। अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं वा शतमष्टोत्तरं तु वा । जुहुयान्मंत्ररत्नेन तथान्यैर्वैष्णवैः शुभैः ६०। मंत्रैः पुरुषसूक्ताद्यैर्जुहुयाघृतपायसम् । तस्मिन्नग्नौ क्षिपेच्चक्रं शंखं च द्विजत्तमः ६१। षडक्षरेण जुहुयादाज्यं विंशतिसंख्यया । प्रतप्तं चक्रमादाय मंत्रैणैव तथा गुरुः ६२। शंखेनैवांकनं कुर्याद्बाह्वोर्दक्षिणसव्ययोः । होमशेषं समाप्याथ पुनः पूजां समाचरेत् ६३। ततः कलशमादाय पवित्रोदकपूरितम् । मंत्रेणैवाभिमंत्र्याथ तस्य मूर्ध्न्यभिषेचयेत् ६४। सितवस्त्रधरं सम्यगाचांतं विनयान्वितम् । ऊर्द्ध्वपुण्ड्रधरं शिष्यं मंत्रमध्यापयेद्गुरुः ६५। मंत्रार्थश्च प्रवक्तव्यो वृत्तिश्चैव विशेषतः । लब्धमंत्रस्तदाचार्यं पूजयेद्भूषणादिभिः ६६। अनेन विधिना मंत्रं योऽधीते वैष्णवाद्गुरोः । ततः स वैष्णवं याति नान्यथा सुरसत्तम ६७। नारद उवाच- एवमुक्त्त्वा विधातारं देवदेवो हरिः पिता । स्वचक्रेणांकयित्वा तु तस्मै मंत्रं ददौ स्वयम् ६८। सर्वलोकेश्वरो देवो ब्रह्मा मम पिता प्रभुः । ममापि विधिवन्मंत्रं स ददौ मुनिसत्तमाः ६९। तस्माद्यूयं मुनिश्रेष्ठा धारयित्वा सुदर्शनम् । नारायणपदं द्वंद्वं गच्छध्वं शरणं द्विजाः ७०। वसिष्ठ उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा मुनयः सर्वे नारदेन सुरर्षिणा । द्वयाधिकारिणः सर्वे याता विष्णोः परं पदम् ७१। तस्मात्त्वमपि राजर्षे विष्णुसायुज्यमिच्छसि । दीक्षामार्गविधानेन धारयित्वा सुदर्शनम् ७२। नारायणपदद्वंद्वं तदेकं शरणं व्रज । सर्वलोकेश्वरः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मा त्रिभुवनेश्वरः ७३। ममापि नारदस्यापि प्रोक्तवान्मंत्रमुत्तमम् । शौनकादि महर्षीणां नैमिषारण्यवासिनाम् ७४। नारदः प्रददौ मंत्रं प्रपत्तिं शरणागतिम् । एतद्गुह्यतमं राजन्न जानंति महर्षयः ७५। देवाताश्च न जानंति सिद्धा साध्याश्च दानवाः । मयापि प्रापितो मंत्रं शक्तिपुत्रः पराशरः ७६। इदं रहस्यं परमं लक्ष्मीनारायणं द्वयम् । राजंस्तवापि वक्ष्यामि प्रपत्ति शरणागतिम् ७७। द्वयात्परतरं मन्त्रं नास्ति सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते । अस्मात्परतरं धर्म्मं नास्ति लोकेषु किंचन ७८। सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं ब्रह्मणा कथितं पुरा । नारायणात्परो देवो नास्ति मुक्तिप्रदो नृणाम् ७९। तत्सेवैव भवेन्मोक्षः सर्वकर्म निकृंतनः ८०। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे वसिष्ठदिलीपसंवादे विद्योपदेशोनाम त्रयोविंशत्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २२३।
śaunaka uvāca- sūtasūta mahābhāga dhanyosi tvaṃ bhavāṃbudhau | yanno'tyarthaṃ nimagnānāṃ pāyayasvamṛtotkaram 1| sādho'tra bhavanistāra vāṃchatāṃ naḥ samādiśa | maṃtraratnaṃ bhāvaśuddhaṃ yanmayaṃ sacarācaram 2| sūta uvāca- śṛṇu śaunaka vakṣyāmi maṃtraratnaṃ mahādbhutam | yaddilīpāya gaditaṃ vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā 3| ekadā tu dilīpena pṛṣṭametadguruṃ prati | vasiṣṭhaṃ dvijaśārdūlaṃ praṇipatya yathā tvayā 4| dilīpa uvāca- bhagavanbhavatā proktāssarvadharmāviśeṣataḥ | varṇāśramayutā dharmā nityanaimittikāḥ kriyāḥ 5| rājadharmmāśca yajñāśca tīrthadānavratādikam | śrutā mayā muniḥśreṣṭha akṣayya svargabhogadāḥ 6| adhunā śrotumicchāmi mokṣamārgaṃ sanātanam | diṣṭyāhaṃ yena gacchāmi tadbrahmanvaktumarhasi 7| ko maṃtraṃ sarvamaṃtrāṇāṃ bhavarogaikabheṣajam | sarveṣāmeva dehīnāṃ ko hi mokṣapradaḥ paraḥ 8| tatsamākhyāhi tattvena mayi vātsalyagauravāt 9| vasiṣṭha uvāca- sādhupṛṣṭaṃ tvayā rājansarvalokahitaiṣiṇā | vakṣyāmi paramaṃ guhyamekaṃ saṃsāratārakam 10| purā maharṣayaḥ sarve yajñadānaparāḥ śubhāḥ | papracchurbrahmaṇaḥ putraṃ nāradaṃ munisattamam 11| maharṣaya ūcuḥ - bhagavankena maṃtreṇa gacchāmaḥ paramaṃ padam | tanno brūhi mahābhāga prasādaṃ kartumarhasi 12| nārada uvāca-| pitāmahaṃ purā sarve yoginaḥ sanakādayaḥ | papracchurekamekāṃte mokṣamārgaṃ sudurllabham 13| brahmovāca-| śṛṇudhvaṃ yoginaḥ sarve rahasyamidamadbhutam 14| na jānaṃti surāḥ sarve ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | sargādau proktavāndevo mahyaṃ nārāyaṇo'vyayaḥ 15| īśvaryā saha devyā ca samyaksaṃpūjito mayā | tataḥ prasanno bhagavānmama nārāyaṇo'vyayaḥ 16| prājāpatyaṃ dadau mahyaṃ śrutijaṃ sarvavāṅmayam | prakāśakāni maṃtrāṇi vyāpakāvyāpakāni ca 17| tatastamabruvaṃ devaṃ purāṇapuruṣottamam | bhagavankena maṃtreṇa saṃsārottāraṇaṃ nṛṇām 18| tanmamācakṣva tattvena sarvalokahitāya vai | ko mantraḥ sarvamantrāṇāṃ puraścaraṇavarjitaḥ 19| sakṛduccāraṇānnṛṇāṃ dadāti paramaṃ padam | śrībhagavānuvāca- sādhupṛṣṭaṃ mahābhāga sarvalokahitaiṣiṇā 20| tasmādvakṣyāmi te guhyaṃ yena māmāpnuyurnarāḥ 21| sarveṣāmeva maṃtrāṇāṃ maṃtraratnaṃ śubhāvaham | sakṛtsmaraṇamātreṇa dadāti paramaṃ padam 22| maṃtraratnadvayaṃ nyāsaṃ prayatiḥ śaraṇāgatiḥ | lakṣmīnārāyaṇamiti mantraḥ sarvaphalapradaḥ 23| nāmāni maṃtraratnasya paryyāyeṇa nibodhata | tasyoccāraṇamātreṇa parituṣṭosmi nityaśaḥ 24| kulajo vā tapasvī vā vedavedāṃgapāragaḥ | yajñadānaparo vāpi sarvatīrthopasevakaḥ 25| vratī vā satyavādī vā yatirvā jñānavānapi | mantrādhikārī na bhavettaṃ prayatnena varjayet 26| brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā striyaḥ śūdrāstathetarāḥ | tasyādhikāriṇaḥ sarve mama bhaktāstu te yadi 27| ananyaśaraṇānāṃ ca tathaivānanyasevinām | ananyasādhakānāṃ ca vaktavyo mantra uttamaḥ 28| ārtānāmāśu phaladassakṛdeva kṛto hyasau | dṛptānāmapi jantūnāṃ dehāntaranivāraṇaḥ 29| ārtto jijñāsurarthārthī jñānī vāpi prajāpatiḥ | sakṛnmāṃ śaraṇaṃ yāti tataḥ kāmānavāpnuyāt 30| nādīkṣitāya vaktavyaṃ nābhaktāya ca mānine | nāstikāya na lubdhāya na śraddhāvimukhāya ca 31| na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ nāsaṃvatsaravāsine | kāmakrodhavimuktastu daṃbhalobhavivarjitaḥ 32| māṃ ca yo vyabhicāreṇa bhaktiyogena sevate | vaktavya tasya vidhivanmaṃtraratnamanuttamam 33| deśakālādiniyamānarimitrādi śodhanam | nyāsamudrādikaṃ tasya puraścaraṇasaṃyutam 34| maccakrāṃkitadehatvaṃ madīyārādhanaṃ tathā | mayi sanyastakarmatvaṃ madananyaśaraṇyatatā 35| mayi sarvaphalanyāso mahāviśvāsapūrvakam | ananyasādhano yatnastvakiṃcanatvamātmanaḥ 36| avaiṣṇavānāṃ saṃbhāṣā vaṃdanādi vivarjanam | ananyadevatānāṃ ca vandanaṃ pūjanaṃ tathā 37| evamādyādi niyamāṃ prapannasya prakīrtitāḥ | ityādiguṇayuktasya vaktavyaṃ maṃtramuttamam 38| tasya nārāyaṇaścāhamṛṣirviṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ | devatā ca śriyā sārddhamahaṃ vātsalyasāgaraḥ 39| sarvalokeśvaraḥ śrīmānsuśīlaḥ subhagastathā | sarvajñaḥ sarvaśaktiśca sadāpūrṇamanorathaḥ 40| sarvagaḥ sarvabaṃdhuśca kṛpāpīyūṣasāgaraḥ | śrīmannārāyaṇaścāhaṃ devatā samudāhṛtaḥ 41| chaṃdastu devī gāyatrī paṃcaviṃśākṣarātmikā | dvissaptaṣaṭtripaṃcadviṣaḍaṃgāni niyojayet 42| lakṣmyā madanapāyinyā māṃ dhyāyedviśvarūpiṇam | cakraśaṃkhagadāpadmapāṇinaṃ divyarūpiṇam 43| vāmāṃkasthaśriyā sārddhaṃ pūjayetprayataṃ śuciḥ | anena maṃtraratnena gaṃdhapuṣpanivedanaiḥ | sakṛtsaṃpūjyamāno'pi saṃtuṣṭosmi prajāpate 44| brahmovāca- samyaguktaṃ tvayā nātha rahasyamidamuttamam | maṃtraratnaprabhāvaśca sarvasiddhiprado nṛṇām 45| pitā tvaṃ sarvalokānāṃ mātā tvaṃ gurureva ca | tvaṃ ca svāmī sakhā bhrātā gatistvaṃ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt 46| ahaṃ tu tava deveśa dāsaśśiṣyastathā suhṛt | tasmānmama dayāsiṃdho proktavānidamuttamam 47| adhunā maṃtraratnasya dīkṣāṃ samyagvidhānataḥ | brūhi sarvatra tatvena lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā 48| śrībhagavānuvāca - śaṇu vatsa pravakṣyāmi maṃtra dīkṣāvidhiṃ param | ācāryaṃ saṃśrayetpūrvaṃ madāśrayaṇasiddhaye 49| ācāryo vedasaṃpanno viṣṇubhakto vimatsaraḥ | maṃtrajño mantrabhaktaśca sadā maṃtrāśrayaḥ śuciḥ 50| satsaṃpradāyasaṃyukto brahmavidyāviśāradaḥ | ananyasādhanaścaiva tathānanyaprayojanaḥ 51| brāhmaṇo vītarāgaśca krodhalobhavivarjitaḥ | sadvṛttau śāsitā caiva mumukṣuḥ paramātmavit 52| evamādiguṇepeta ācāryaḥ sa mudā suhṛt | ācārāñśāsayedyastu sa ācārya itīritaḥ 53| yastvācāryaparādhīnassadvṛttau śāsyate yadi | śāsane sthiravṛttaśca śiṣyaḥ sadbhirudāhṛtaḥ 54| evaṃ lakṣaṇasaṃyuktaṃ śiṣyaṃ sarvaguṇānvitam | adhyāpayedvidhānena mantraratnanuttamam 55| dvādaśyāṃ śravaṇe vāpi karhicidvaiṣṇave dine | sadācāryopasaṃprītau tatra dīkṣāṃ samācet 56| sudarśanaṃ pāṃcajanyaṃ suvarṇena prakārayet | raupyeṇa vāpi tāmreṇa kāṃsyenāpi prakārayet 57| snāpya paṃcāmṛtaiḥ śuddhairarcayetpurato mama | arccayedgaṃdhapuṣpādyaistanmaṃtreṇa vidhānataḥ 58| tatra saṃsthāpayedagni svagṛhyokta vidhānataḥ | ācāryo juhuyādājyaṃ maṃtreṇātha dvijottamaḥ 59| aṣṭottarasahasraṃ vā śatamaṣṭottaraṃ tu vā | juhuyānmaṃtraratnena tathānyairvaiṣṇavaiḥ śubhaiḥ 60| maṃtraiḥ puruṣasūktādyairjuhuyāghṛtapāyasam | tasminnagnau kṣipeccakraṃ śaṃkhaṃ ca dvijattamaḥ 61| ṣaḍakṣareṇa juhuyādājyaṃ viṃśatisaṃkhyayā | prataptaṃ cakramādāya maṃtraiṇaiva tathā guruḥ 62| śaṃkhenaivāṃkanaṃ kuryādbāhvordakṣiṇasavyayoḥ | homaśeṣaṃ samāpyātha punaḥ pūjāṃ samācaret 63| tataḥ kalaśamādāya pavitrodakapūritam | maṃtreṇaivābhimaṃtryātha tasya mūrdhnyabhiṣecayet 64| sitavastradharaṃ samyagācāṃtaṃ vinayānvitam | ūrddhvapuṇḍradharaṃ śiṣyaṃ maṃtramadhyāpayedguruḥ 65| maṃtrārthaśca pravaktavyo vṛttiścaiva viśeṣataḥ | labdhamaṃtrastadācāryaṃ pūjayedbhūṣaṇādibhiḥ 66| anena vidhinā maṃtraṃ yo'dhīte vaiṣṇavādguroḥ | tataḥ sa vaiṣṇavaṃ yāti nānyathā surasattama 67| nārada uvāca- evamukttvā vidhātāraṃ devadevo hariḥ pitā | svacakreṇāṃkayitvā tu tasmai maṃtraṃ dadau svayam 68| sarvalokeśvaro devo brahmā mama pitā prabhuḥ | mamāpi vidhivanmaṃtraṃ sa dadau munisattamāḥ 69| tasmādyūyaṃ muniśreṣṭhā dhārayitvā sudarśanam | nārāyaṇapadaṃ dvaṃdvaṃ gacchadhvaṃ śaraṇaṃ dvijāḥ 70| vasiṣṭha uvāca- ityuktvā munayaḥ sarve nāradena surarṣiṇā | dvayādhikāriṇaḥ sarve yātā viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam 71| tasmāttvamapi rājarṣe viṣṇusāyujyamicchasi | dīkṣāmārgavidhānena dhārayitvā sudarśanam 72| nārāyaṇapadadvaṃdvaṃ tadekaṃ śaraṇaṃ vraja | sarvalokeśvaraḥ sākṣādbrahmā tribhuvaneśvaraḥ 73| mamāpi nāradasyāpi proktavānmaṃtramuttamam | śaunakādi maharṣīṇāṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinām 74| nāradaḥ pradadau maṃtraṃ prapattiṃ śaraṇāgatim | etadguhyatamaṃ rājanna jānaṃti maharṣayaḥ 75| devātāśca na jānaṃti siddhā sādhyāśca dānavāḥ | mayāpi prāpito maṃtraṃ śaktiputraḥ parāśaraḥ 76| idaṃ rahasyaṃ paramaṃ lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ dvayam | rājaṃstavāpi vakṣyāmi prapatti śaraṇāgatim 77| dvayātparataraṃ mantraṃ nāsti satyaṃ bravīmi te | asmātparataraṃ dharmmaṃ nāsti lokeṣu kiṃcana 78| satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ brahmaṇā kathitaṃ purā | nārāyaṇātparo devo nāsti muktiprado nṛṇām 79| tatsevaiva bhavenmokṣaḥ sarvakarma nikṛṃtanaḥ 80| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe vasiṣṭhadilīpasaṃvāde vidyopadeśonāma trayoviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 223|
English translation
Śaunaka said :
1-2. O glorious Sūta , you are blessed that you make us, plunged very much in the ocean of the mundane existence, drink a large quantity of nectar. O good one, tell us, desiring to cross the worldly existence, the gem of a formula, pure due to devotion, of which the mobile and the immobile are full.
Sūta said :
3-4. O Śaunaka , listen. I shall tell you the very wonderful gem of a formula, which the noble Vasiṣṭha spoke to Dilīpa . Once Dilīpa having saluted Vasiṣṭha, the best brāhmaṇa , his preceptor, asked him as you did (now).
Dilīpa said :
5-9. O revered one, you have particularly told me all the practices, so also practices with those of castes and the stages of life and the daily and occasional obligatory rites. O best sage, I have also heard the kingly duties, sacrifices, gifts (to be made) at holy places and vows etc., which give inexhaustible pleasures in heaven. Now I desire to hear about the ancient path leading to salvation. Tell me about it along which I can luckily go. What is the best of all sacred formulas, the only medicine for all the diseases in the worldly existence? What is the best formula giving salvation to all human beings? Tell all that truthfully and for the love and regard (that you have) for me.
Vasiṣṭha said :
10-11. O king, you desiring the good of all the world, have asked well. I shall, in private, tell you a great secret, emancipating (you) from the worldly existence. Formerly all holy sages intent on (performing) sacrifices and (giving) gifts, asked Nārada . Brahmā ’s son, the best sage:
The great sages said :
12. O revered one, by what formula shall we go to the highest position? O glorious one, tell that to us. Please favour us.
Nārada said :
13. Formerly all meditating saints— Sanaka and others—asked in private Brahma about the path to salvation, very difficult to be obtained.
Brahmā said :
14-20a. O meditating saints, listen to this wonderful secret. All gods and sages having penance as their wealth do not know it. The immutable god Nārāyaṇa told it to me at the beginning of the creation. He, along with the great goddess was worshipped by me. Then the immutable Nārāyaṇa was pleased with me. He gave me the status of the creator and all the literature having its origin in the Veda , so also illuminating formulas, pervasive and non-pervasive. Then I spoke to the god, the ancient Puruṣottama (i.e. Viṣṇu ): “O revered one, by what formula (can) men cross the mundane existence? Tell me about it truly for the good of all people. Which of all formulas, is the one without (i.e. not requiring) initiatory rite, which gives men the highest place (even) by being uttered once (only)?”
The lord said :
20b-27. O glorious one, you, desiring the good of all the people, have asked well. Therefore, I shall tell you the secret by means of which men would reach me. Of all the formulas the gem of a formula is auspicious. It gives the highest position even when it is remembered just once. The two gems of (i.e. in) the formula (are Lakṣmī , Nārāyaṇa). Nyāsa (assignment?), Prayati (purification?) and Śaraṇāgati (approaching for shelter?) are necessary. The formula ‘ Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa ’ gives all fruits. Understand in succession the names of the gem of a formula(?). Merely by its utterance I am always pleased. A man born in a (noble) family, an ascetic, one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāṅgas , one who is given to (performing) sacrifices and (giving) gifts, one resorting to all holy places, so also one who has taken a vow, one who speaks the truth, or even an ascetic having knowledge—is not entitled to the formula. He should carefully avoid it. Brāhmaṇas , kṣatriyas , vaiśyas , women, and others—all are entitled to it if they are my devotees.
28-33. The excellent formula should be given to those who do not seek the shelter of any other (deity than Viṣṇu), who do not serve any other (deity than Viṣṇu), who do not (try to) reach any other (deity than Viṣṇu). Even if recited once it gives a quick fruit to the afflicted. It keeps away another (i.e. re-)birth even of haughty beings. (If) an afflicted person, or an inquisitive person, or one longing for wealth, or a wise person or a king seeks my shelter (but) once, he would obtain all his desired objects. It should not be told to him who is not initiated, to him who is not a devotee, to a proud person, to an atheist, to a greedy person, to one who is averse to (i.e. who has no) faith. It should not be told to him who has no desire to listen (to it); to him who does not abide by Śiva , to him who is free from lust, anger, hypocrisy, greed, so also to him who resorts to me with steady devotion, this excellent gem of a formula should be duly told.
34-37. (The devotee should observe) rules with regard to place and time, (should have) exact determination of foes and friends, (should know) the nyāsa, [1] mudrā [2] etc., along with the initiatory rite; he should have his body marked with (the impression on my disc, so also do my worship, should dedicate his actions to me, should seek my shelter only. With great confidence in me he should assign all fruits to me. He should not possess anything. He should avoid talking to non-devotees of Viṣṇuor saluting them. He should also avoid saluting or worshipping other deities than (me).
38-44. Rules like this are declared for him who submits himself (to me). To a man endowed with such qualities, the excellent gem of a formula should be told. I, Nārāyaṇa, ancient Viṣṇu, am its seer; so also I, the ocean of affection, am its deity, along with Lakṣmī. I, Nārāyaṇa, the lord of the entire world, the glorious one, of a good character, fortunate, omniscient, omnipotent, with my desires always fulfilled, omnipresent, having every one as my relative, ocean of the nectar of pity am with Lakṣmī said to be its deity. Its metre is said to be the goddess Gāyatrī , having twenty-five syllables. He should twice assign seven, six, three, five,two or six limbs(?) He should meditate up on me, along with Lakṣmī not separated from me, of the form of the universe, having in my hands a disc, a conch, a mace, and a lotus, and of a divine form. He, being restrainted and pure, should worship me along with Lakṣmī seated on my left lap, with this gem of a formula, and with sandal, flowers and offerings. O lord of the beings, even if I am worshipped once I am pleased.
Brahmā said :
45-48. O lord, you have properly told this excellent secret, so also the power of the gem of a formula, which gives every success to men. You are the father of all the worlds, so also their mother and preceptor. You are the master, friend, brother, recourse, refuge and friend. O lord of gods, I am your servant, disciple and friend. Therefore, O you ocean of pity, you told this excellent (formula) tome. Now with the desire for the good of all people, tell fully accurately the initiation of this gem of a formula for its proper practice.
The lord said :
49-54. O child, listen, I shall tell you the great rite of the initiation of this gem of a formula. To secure my resort, a man should first resort to a preceptor. The preceptor (should be) endowed with (the knowledge of) the Veda, (should be) Viṣṇu’s devotee, free from jealousy, (should) know the formula, (should be) devoted to the formula, (should) always resort to the formula and (be) pure. He should belong to a good school; he should be proficient in the science of Brahman . He should not follow any other (deity than me); should not have any other aim (than me). He should be a brāhmaṇa, free from anger, attachment, and greed. He should teach good behaviour, should long for salvation, and should know the highest soul. A preceptor, a friendly one, having these qualities, who would teach (good) practices is called a preceptor. He who depends upon his preceptor when taught good behaviour, is steady in (obeying the preceptor’s) order, is said to be a disciple by the good.
55-64. A preceptor should teach the excellent gem of a formula to a disciple having these characteristics, and endowed with all virtues. On a Dvādaśī day, or when the Sun is in the Śravaṇa constellation or on some day holy to Viṣṇu, a good preceptor should initiate the pleased (disciple). He should get fashioned the Sudarśana disc or the Pāñcajanya conch out of gold, silver, copper or bell-metal. Having bathed it with pure pañcāmṛta , [3] he should worship it before me. He should duly worship it with sandal and flowers, with (the utterance of) the formula. There he should establish fire in accordance with statements from his own Gṛhya ( sūtras ). The preceptor, the best brāhmaṇa, should offer ghee (into the fire) to the accompaniment of the formula. He should make oblations one thousand and eight times, or one hundred and eight times with the repetition of this gem of a formula or other auspicious formulas sacred to Viṣṇu. With (the recitation of) the hymns like the Puruṣasūkta he should offer ghee and milk into fire. The best brāhmaṇa should drop the disc and the conch into that fire. The preceptor, to the accompaniment (of the formula) of six letters should offer ghee into the fire twenty times. The preceptor, taking a heated disc, should make a mark (with it) and with the conch, to the accompaniment of the formula, on the left and the right arms. Having finished the remaining rite, he should again perform the worship. Then having brought a pitcher full of pure water, having consecrated it with (that) formula only, he should sprinkle (the water) on his head.
65-67. The preceptor should teach the formula to the disciple who has put on a white garment, has sipped water, is polite, has put on the sectarian mark. He should explain the meaning of the formula, and especially its operation. The disciple who has received the formula, should honour the preceptor with ornaments etc. O best god, he who, in this manner, learns the formula from a preceptor, Viṣṇu’s devotee, goes to (the place) of Viṣṇu, not otherwise.
Nārada said :
68-70. The father, Viṣṇu, having thus spoken to the Creator, marked him with his own disc, and he himself gave (i.e. taught) him the formula. O best sages, the god, that lord Brahmā, my father, the lord of all worlds, duly gave (i.e. taught) the formula to me also. Therefore, O best sages, O brāhmaṇas, you too, putting on (the mark) of the Sudarśana (disc), seek the shelter of Viṣṇu’s couple of feet.
Vasiṣṭha said :
71-80. All the sages, thus addressed by Nārada, the divine sage, and entitled to the two (feet of Viṣṇu) went to the highest position of Viṣṇu. Therefore, O royal sage, you too desire absorption into Viṣṇu after putting on (the mark of) Sudarśana according to the proper rule of initiation. Seek the shelter of the two feet of Viṣṇu alone. Brahmā, the lord of all the people and the three worlds, himself told me and Nārada also this excellent formula. Nārada taught the formula, exclusive devotion (to) and seeking refuge (of Viṣṇu) to the great sages like Śaunaka living in Naimiṣāraṇya . O king, the great sages, deities, siddhas , sādhyas and demons do not know this most secret formula. I too gave to Parāśara , Śakti ’s son, this formula. O king, I shall tell you also this great secret—the couple of Lakṣmī and Viṣṇu, exclusive devotion (to) and seeking the refuge (of the two). There is no greater formula than the couple. I tell you the truth. In the worlds there is no practice superior to this. Formerly Brahmā told the truth, repeatedly(told) the truth that there is no other god than Viṣṇu who gives salvation to men. Service to him alone would be salvation, which would cut off (the fruits of) allacts.
[1]: [1] : Nyāsa: Assignment of the various parts of the body to different deities which is usually accompanied by prayer and corresponding gesticulations.
[2]: [2] : Mudrā: Certain positions of the fingers practised in devotion or religious worship.
[3]: [3] : Pañcāmṛta: The collection of five sweet things used in worshipping deities. They are: milk, sugar, ghee, curd and honey.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44995, revision 336641 (2022-04-26T00:37:26Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365807.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.