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Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 235

Chapter 235

Unit 647 of 693Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 235Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 2351 source entries

Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 235

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श्रीपार्वत्युवाच- पाषंडानां च संवादं वर्जयेदिति यत्त्वया १। उक्तं ममेह भगवान्श्वपचादपि गर्हितम् । ते यादृशाः समाख्याताः कैर्लिंङ्गैश्चिह्निता भुवि । रुद्र उवाच- येऽन्यदेवं परत्वेन वदंत्यज्ञानमोहिताः २। नारायणाज्जगन्नाथात्ते वै पाषंडिनः स्मृताः । कपालभस्मास्थिधरा ये ह्यवैदिकलिङ्गिनः ३। ऋते वनस्थाश्रमाच्च जटावल्कलधारिणः । अवैदिकक्रियोपेतास्तै वै पाषंडिनस्तथा ४। शंखचक्रोर्ध्वपुंड्रादि चिह्नैः प्रियतमैर्हरेः । रहिता ये द्विजा देवि ते वै पाषंडिनः स्मृताः ५। श्रुतिस्मृत्युदिताचारं यस्तु नाचरति द्विजः । स पाषंडीति विज्ञेयः सर्वलोकेषु गर्हितः ६। विना वै भगवत्प्रीत्या ते वै पाषंडिनः स्मृताः । समस्तयज्ञभोक्तारं विष्णुं वै ब्रह्मदैवतम् ७। उदिश्य देवता एव जुहोति च ददाति च । स पाषण्डीति विज्ञेयः स्वतंत्रः सर्वकर्मसु ८। स्वातंत्र्यात्कुरुते यस्तु कर्म वेदोदितं महत् । यस्तु नारायणं देवं ब्रह्मरुद्रादिदैवतैः ९। सममन्यैर्निरीक्षेत स पाषंडी भवेत्सदा । अवस्थात्रितये यस्तु मनोवाक्कायकर्म्मभिः १०। वासुदेवं न जानाति स पाषंडी भवेद्दिवजः । किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन ब्राह्मणा येप्यवैष्णवाः ११। न स्प्रष्टव्या न वक्तव्या न द्रष्टव्याः कदाचन । पार्वत्युवाच- भगवन्परमं गुह्यं पृच्छामि सुरसत्तम १२। मयि प्रीत्या समाचक्ष्व संशयो वर्त्तते भृशम् । कपालभस्मचर्म्मास्थि धारणं श्रुतिगर्हितम् १३। तत्त्वया धार्य्यते देव गर्हितं केन हेतुना । स्त्रीचापल्येन देवेश पृच्छामि त्वां महामते १४। महाप्रभावात्कथितं न कर्त्तव्यं क्वचिद्भवेत् । त्वयेति न पुरा प्रोक्तं विस्तरेण महाप्रभो १५। अकर्त्तव्यमिति प्रश्नं क्षंतुमर्हसि मे प्रभो । वसिष्ठ उवाच- इति देव्या हरः पृष्टो रहस्ये जनवर्जिते १६। उवाच परमं गुह्यं यद्यदाचरितं स्वकम् । शिव उवाच- शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि यद्गुह्यं परमाद्भुतम् १७। न वक्तव्यं त्वया देवि जनेषु कथितं मया । अपृथक्त्वाच्छरीरस्य वक्ष्यामि तव सुव्रते १८। नमुच्याद्या महादैत्याः पुरा स्वायंभुवेंतरे । महाबला महावीर्या महावीरा महौजसः १९। सर्वे विष्णुरताः शुद्धाः सर्वपापविवर्जिताः । त्रयीधर्मवृताः सर्वे भग्ना इंद्रपुरोगमाः २०। विष्णोः समीपमागम्य भयार्त्ताः शरणं गताः । देवा ऊचुः। अजेयान्सर्वदेवानां तपोनिर्द्धूतकल्मषान् २१। त्वमेवैतान्महादैत्याञ्जेतुमर्हसि केशव । महादेव उवाच-। इत्याकर्ण्य हरिर्वाक्यं देवानां च भयानकम् २२। तान्समाश्वास्य दिक्पालान्मामाह पुरुषोत्तमः । श्रीभगवानुवाच- त्वं हि रुद्र महाबाहो मोहनार्थे सुरद्विषाम् २३। पाषंडाचरणं धर्मं कुरुष्व सुरसत्तम । तामसानि पुराणानि कथयस्व च तान्प्रति २४। मोहनानि च शास्त्राणि कुरुष्व च महामते । मयि मुक्ताश्च विप्रश्च भविष्यंति महर्षयः २५। मद्भक्त्या तान्समाविश्य कथयस्व च तामसान् । काणादं गौतमं शक्तिमुपमन्युं च जैमिनिम् २६। कपिलं चैव दुर्वासं मृकंडुं च बृहस्पतिम् । भार्गवं जामदग्न्यं च दशैतांस्तामसानृषीन् २७। भावशक्त्या समाविश्य कुर्वता जगतो शिवम् । त्वच्छक्त्या च निविष्टास्ते तमसोद्रिक्तया भृशम् २८। तामसास्ते भविष्यंति क्षणादेव न संशयः । कथयिष्यंति ते विप्रास्तामसानि जगत्त्रये २९। पुराणानि च शास्त्रणि त्वया सत्वेन बृंहिताः । कपालचर्म्मभस्मास्थि चिह्नान्यमरसर्वशः ३०। त्वमेव धृतवान्लोकान्मोहयस्व जगत्त्रये । तथा पाशुपतं शास्त्रं त्वमेव कुरु सत्कृतः ३१। कंकालशैवपाषंडमहाशैवादिभेदतः । अलक्ष्यं च मतं सम्यग्वेदबाह्यं नराधमाः ३२। भस्मास्थिधारिणः सर्वे भविष्यंति ह्यचेतसः । त्वां परत्वेन वक्ष्यंति सर्वशास्त्रेषु तामसाः ३३। तेषां मतमधिष्ठाय सर्वे दैत्याः सनातनाः । भवेयुस्ते मद्विमुखाः क्षणादेव न संशयः ३४। अहमप्यवतारेषु त्वां च रुद्र महाबल । तामसानां मोहनार्थं पूजयामि युगे युगे ३५। मतमेतदवष्टभ्य पतंत्येव न संशयः । महादेव उवाच-। तच्छ्रुत्वाहं यथोक्तं तु वासुदेवेन भामिनि ३६। सुमहद्वदनो दीनो बभूवात्र वरानने । नमस्कृत्वाथ तं देवमब्रवं परमेश्वरम् ३७। त्वयोदितमिदं देव करोमि यदि भूतले । तस्मान्नाशाय मे नाथ भविष्यति न संशयः ३८। तत्र शक्यं मया कर्तुमेतत्कृत्यं हरेऽधुना । त्वदाज्ञापि च नोल्लंघ्या एतद्दुःखतरं महत् ३९। एवमुक्ते ततो देवि समाश्वास्य च मां पुनः । आत्मनाशाय तेनात्र भवत्वित्याह मां हरिः ४०। देवतानां हितार्थाय कुरुष्व वचनं मम। तवापि जीवनोपायं कथयामि सुरोत्तम ४१। दत्तवान्कृपया मह्यमात्मनाम सहस्रकम् । हृदये मां समाधाय जप मंत्रं ममाव्ययम् ४२। षडक्षरं महामंत्रं तारकं ब्रह्म उच्यते । ये जपंति हि मां भक्त्या तेषां मुक्तिर्न संशयः ४३। इंदीवरदलश्यामं पद्मपत्रविलोचनम् । शंखांगशार्ङ्गेषुधरं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् ४४। पीतवस्त्रं चतुर्बाहुं जानकीप्रियवल्लभम् । श्रीरामाय नम इत्येवमुच्चार्य्यं मन्त्रमुत्तमम् ४५। सर्वदुःखहरं चैतत्पापिनामपि मुक्तिदम् । इमं मंत्रं जपन्नित्यममलस्त्वं भविष्यसि ४६। भस्मास्थिधारणाद्यत्तु संभूतं किल्बिषं त्वयि । मंगलं तदभूत्सर्वं मन्मंत्रोच्चारणाच्छुभात् ४७। तर्पितो नाशयिष्यामि पापं सर्वं सुरोत्तम । मदन्यदेवताभक्तिर्जायते न तु सुव्रत ४८। मनसैवार्च्चय हृदि मां नाथं पुरुषोत्तमम् । मदाज्ञां कुरु मत्प्रीत्या सर्वमेतच्छुभं तव ४९। इति संदिश्य मां देवि विससर्ज मरुद्गणान् । विसृष्टास्ते ततो देवा निवृत्ताः स्वाश्रमं ययुः ५०। ततो मां प्रार्थयामासुर्देवा इंद्र पुरोगमाः । इन्द्रादय ऊचुः । शीघ्रं कुरु हितं देव यथोक्तं हरिणाधुना ५१। महादेव उवाच- देवतानां हितार्थाय वृत्तिं पाखंडिनां शुभे । कपालचर्मभस्मास्थिधारणं तत्कृतं मया ५२। तामसानि पुराणानि यथोक्तं विष्णुना शुभे । पाषंडशैवशास्त्राणि यथोक्तं कृतवानहम् ५३। मच्छक्त्यापि समाविश्य गौतमादि द्विजानपि । वेदबाह्यानि शास्त्राणि सम्यगुक्तं मयानघे ५४। इमं मतमवष्टभ्य दुष्टाः सर्वे च राक्षसाः । भगवद्विमुखाः सर्वे बभूवुस्तामसावृताः ५५। भस्मादिधारणं कृत्वा महोग्रतपसावृताः । मामेव पूजयांचक्रुर्म्मांसासृक्चंदनादिभिः ५६। मत्तो वरप्रदानानि लब्ध्वा मदबलोद्धताः । अत्यंतविषयासक्ताः कामक्रोधसमन्विताः ५७। सत्वहीनास्तु निर्वीर्य्या जिता देवगणैस्तदा । सर्वधर्म्मपरिभ्रष्टाः काले यांत्यधमां गतिम् ५८। ये मे मतमवष्टभ्य चरंति पृथिवीतले । सर्वधर्मैश्च रहिताः पश्यंति निरयं सदा ५९। एवं देवहितार्थाय वृत्तिर्मे देवि गर्हिता । विष्णोराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य कृतं भस्मास्थिधारणम् ६०। बाह्यचिह्नमिदं देवि मोहनार्थाय विद्विषाम् । अथांतर्हृदये नित्यं ध्यात्वा देवं जनार्दनम् ६१। जपन्नेव च तन्मंत्रं तारकं ब्रह्मवाचकम् । सहस्रनामसदृशं विष्णोर्नारायणस्य तु ६२। षडक्षरं महामंत्रं रघूणां कुलवर्द्धनम् । जपन्वै सततं देवि सदानंदसुधाप्लुतम् । सुखमात्यंतिकं ब्रह्म ह्यश्नाम सततं शुभे ६३। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं त्वयापृष्टं शुभानने । किमन्यच्छ्रोतुकामासि प्रीत्या तत्परिपृच्छ माम् ६४। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे पाषंडोत्पत्तिवर्णनंनाम पंचत्रिंशदधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २३५।

śrīpārvatyuvāca- pāṣaṃḍānāṃ ca saṃvādaṃ varjayediti yattvayā 1| uktaṃ mameha bhagavānśvapacādapi garhitam | te yādṛśāḥ samākhyātāḥ kairliṃṅgaiścihnitā bhuvi | rudra uvāca- ye'nyadevaṃ paratvena vadaṃtyajñānamohitāḥ 2| nārāyaṇājjagannāthātte vai pāṣaṃḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ | kapālabhasmāsthidharā ye hyavaidikaliṅginaḥ 3| ṛte vanasthāśramācca jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇaḥ | avaidikakriyopetāstai vai pāṣaṃḍinastathā 4| śaṃkhacakrordhvapuṃḍrādi cihnaiḥ priyatamairhareḥ | rahitā ye dvijā devi te vai pāṣaṃḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ 5| śrutismṛtyuditācāraṃ yastu nācarati dvijaḥ | sa pāṣaṃḍīti vijñeyaḥ sarvalokeṣu garhitaḥ 6| vinā vai bhagavatprītyā te vai pāṣaṃḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ | samastayajñabhoktāraṃ viṣṇuṃ vai brahmadaivatam 7| udiśya devatā eva juhoti ca dadāti ca | sa pāṣaṇḍīti vijñeyaḥ svataṃtraḥ sarvakarmasu 8| svātaṃtryātkurute yastu karma vedoditaṃ mahat | yastu nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ brahmarudrādidaivataiḥ 9| samamanyairnirīkṣeta sa pāṣaṃḍī bhavetsadā | avasthātritaye yastu manovākkāyakarmmabhiḥ 10| vāsudevaṃ na jānāti sa pāṣaṃḍī bhaveddivajaḥ | kimatra bahunoktena brāhmaṇā yepyavaiṣṇavāḥ 11| na spraṣṭavyā na vaktavyā na draṣṭavyāḥ kadācana | pārvatyuvāca- bhagavanparamaṃ guhyaṃ pṛcchāmi surasattama 12| mayi prītyā samācakṣva saṃśayo varttate bhṛśam | kapālabhasmacarmmāsthi dhāraṇaṃ śrutigarhitam 13| tattvayā dhāryyate deva garhitaṃ kena hetunā | strīcāpalyena deveśa pṛcchāmi tvāṃ mahāmate 14| mahāprabhāvātkathitaṃ na karttavyaṃ kvacidbhavet | tvayeti na purā proktaṃ vistareṇa mahāprabho 15| akarttavyamiti praśnaṃ kṣaṃtumarhasi me prabho | vasiṣṭha uvāca- iti devyā haraḥ pṛṣṭo rahasye janavarjite 16| uvāca paramaṃ guhyaṃ yadyadācaritaṃ svakam | śiva uvāca- śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi yadguhyaṃ paramādbhutam 17| na vaktavyaṃ tvayā devi janeṣu kathitaṃ mayā | apṛthaktvāccharīrasya vakṣyāmi tava suvrate 18| namucyādyā mahādaityāḥ purā svāyaṃbhuveṃtare | mahābalā mahāvīryā mahāvīrā mahaujasaḥ 19| sarve viṣṇuratāḥ śuddhāḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ | trayīdharmavṛtāḥ sarve bhagnā iṃdrapurogamāḥ 20| viṣṇoḥ samīpamāgamya bhayārttāḥ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ | devā ūcuḥ| ajeyānsarvadevānāṃ taponirddhūtakalmaṣān 21| tvamevaitānmahādaityāñjetumarhasi keśava | mahādeva uvāca-| ityākarṇya harirvākyaṃ devānāṃ ca bhayānakam 22| tānsamāśvāsya dikpālānmāmāha puruṣottamaḥ | śrībhagavānuvāca- tvaṃ hi rudra mahābāho mohanārthe suradviṣām 23| pāṣaṃḍācaraṇaṃ dharmaṃ kuruṣva surasattama | tāmasāni purāṇāni kathayasva ca tānprati 24| mohanāni ca śāstrāṇi kuruṣva ca mahāmate | mayi muktāśca vipraśca bhaviṣyaṃti maharṣayaḥ 25| madbhaktyā tānsamāviśya kathayasva ca tāmasān | kāṇādaṃ gautamaṃ śaktimupamanyuṃ ca jaiminim 26| kapilaṃ caiva durvāsaṃ mṛkaṃḍuṃ ca bṛhaspatim | bhārgavaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ ca daśaitāṃstāmasānṛṣīn 27| bhāvaśaktyā samāviśya kurvatā jagato śivam | tvacchaktyā ca niviṣṭāste tamasodriktayā bhṛśam 28| tāmasāste bhaviṣyaṃti kṣaṇādeva na saṃśayaḥ | kathayiṣyaṃti te viprāstāmasāni jagattraye 29| purāṇāni ca śāstraṇi tvayā satvena bṛṃhitāḥ | kapālacarmmabhasmāsthi cihnānyamarasarvaśaḥ 30| tvameva dhṛtavānlokānmohayasva jagattraye | tathā pāśupataṃ śāstraṃ tvameva kuru satkṛtaḥ 31| kaṃkālaśaivapāṣaṃḍamahāśaivādibhedataḥ | alakṣyaṃ ca mataṃ samyagvedabāhyaṃ narādhamāḥ 32| bhasmāsthidhāriṇaḥ sarve bhaviṣyaṃti hyacetasaḥ | tvāṃ paratvena vakṣyaṃti sarvaśāstreṣu tāmasāḥ 33| teṣāṃ matamadhiṣṭhāya sarve daityāḥ sanātanāḥ | bhaveyuste madvimukhāḥ kṣaṇādeva na saṃśayaḥ 34| ahamapyavatāreṣu tvāṃ ca rudra mahābala | tāmasānāṃ mohanārthaṃ pūjayāmi yuge yuge 35| matametadavaṣṭabhya pataṃtyeva na saṃśayaḥ | mahādeva uvāca-| tacchrutvāhaṃ yathoktaṃ tu vāsudevena bhāmini 36| sumahadvadano dīno babhūvātra varānane | namaskṛtvātha taṃ devamabravaṃ parameśvaram 37| tvayoditamidaṃ deva karomi yadi bhūtale | tasmānnāśāya me nātha bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ 38| tatra śakyaṃ mayā kartumetatkṛtyaṃ hare'dhunā | tvadājñāpi ca nollaṃghyā etadduḥkhataraṃ mahat 39| evamukte tato devi samāśvāsya ca māṃ punaḥ | ātmanāśāya tenātra bhavatvityāha māṃ hariḥ 40| devatānāṃ hitārthāya kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama| tavāpi jīvanopāyaṃ kathayāmi surottama 41| dattavānkṛpayā mahyamātmanāma sahasrakam | hṛdaye māṃ samādhāya japa maṃtraṃ mamāvyayam 42| ṣaḍakṣaraṃ mahāmaṃtraṃ tārakaṃ brahma ucyate | ye japaṃti hi māṃ bhaktyā teṣāṃ muktirna saṃśayaḥ 43| iṃdīvaradalaśyāmaṃ padmapatravilocanam | śaṃkhāṃgaśārṅgeṣudharaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam 44| pītavastraṃ caturbāhuṃ jānakīpriyavallabham | śrīrāmāya nama ityevamuccāryyaṃ mantramuttamam 45| sarvaduḥkhaharaṃ caitatpāpināmapi muktidam | imaṃ maṃtraṃ japannityamamalastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi 46| bhasmāsthidhāraṇādyattu saṃbhūtaṃ kilbiṣaṃ tvayi | maṃgalaṃ tadabhūtsarvaṃ manmaṃtroccāraṇācchubhāt 47| tarpito nāśayiṣyāmi pāpaṃ sarvaṃ surottama | madanyadevatābhaktirjāyate na tu suvrata 48| manasaivārccaya hṛdi māṃ nāthaṃ puruṣottamam | madājñāṃ kuru matprītyā sarvametacchubhaṃ tava 49| iti saṃdiśya māṃ devi visasarja marudgaṇān | visṛṣṭāste tato devā nivṛttāḥ svāśramaṃ yayuḥ 50| tato māṃ prārthayāmāsurdevā iṃdra purogamāḥ | indrādaya ūcuḥ | śīghraṃ kuru hitaṃ deva yathoktaṃ hariṇādhunā 51| mahādeva uvāca- devatānāṃ hitārthāya vṛttiṃ pākhaṃḍināṃ śubhe | kapālacarmabhasmāsthidhāraṇaṃ tatkṛtaṃ mayā 52| tāmasāni purāṇāni yathoktaṃ viṣṇunā śubhe | pāṣaṃḍaśaivaśāstrāṇi yathoktaṃ kṛtavānaham 53| macchaktyāpi samāviśya gautamādi dvijānapi | vedabāhyāni śāstrāṇi samyaguktaṃ mayānaghe 54| imaṃ matamavaṣṭabhya duṣṭāḥ sarve ca rākṣasāḥ | bhagavadvimukhāḥ sarve babhūvustāmasāvṛtāḥ 55| bhasmādidhāraṇaṃ kṛtvā mahogratapasāvṛtāḥ | māmeva pūjayāṃcakrurmmāṃsāsṛkcaṃdanādibhiḥ 56| matto varapradānāni labdhvā madabaloddhatāḥ | atyaṃtaviṣayāsaktāḥ kāmakrodhasamanvitāḥ 57| satvahīnāstu nirvīryyā jitā devagaṇaistadā | sarvadharmmaparibhraṣṭāḥ kāle yāṃtyadhamāṃ gatim 58| ye me matamavaṣṭabhya caraṃti pṛthivītale | sarvadharmaiśca rahitāḥ paśyaṃti nirayaṃ sadā 59| evaṃ devahitārthāya vṛttirme devi garhitā | viṣṇorājñāṃ puraskṛtya kṛtaṃ bhasmāsthidhāraṇam 60| bāhyacihnamidaṃ devi mohanārthāya vidviṣām | athāṃtarhṛdaye nityaṃ dhyātvā devaṃ janārdanam 61| japanneva ca tanmaṃtraṃ tārakaṃ brahmavācakam | sahasranāmasadṛśaṃ viṣṇornārāyaṇasya tu 62| ṣaḍakṣaraṃ mahāmaṃtraṃ raghūṇāṃ kulavarddhanam | japanvai satataṃ devi sadānaṃdasudhāplutam | sukhamātyaṃtikaṃ brahma hyaśnāma satataṃ śubhe 63| etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ tvayāpṛṣṭaṃ śubhānane | kimanyacchrotukāmāsi prītyā tatparipṛccha mām 64| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe pāṣaṃḍotpattivarṇanaṃnāma paṃcatriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 235|

English translation

Śrī Pārvatī said :

1-2b. O lord, you told me that one should avoid conversation with heretics, and that it is more censurable than (talking to) a cāṇḍāla . (Tell me) of what kind they are said to be, and with what signs they are marked.

Rudra said :

2c-12a. Those who, deluded by ignorance, describe any other deity as being superior to Viṣṇu , the lord of the world, are said to be heretics. Those who use skulls, apply ash, use bones, have non-Vedic marks, have matted hair and bark-garments though they do not belong to the hermit-stage of life are (said to be) heretics. Those brāhmaṇas who are without such marks dear to Viṣṇu as conches, discs, ūrdhvapuṇḍra (upright sectarian marks on the forehead) are said to be heretics. That brāhmaṇa who does not follow the practices laid down in the holy texts and codes of laws should be known as a heretic and is condemned among all people. Those that have no devotion for the lord are said to be heretics. He who is free in all acts (i.e. performs all acts as he likes) and offers oblations into fire and gives gifts directed to deities (other than) Viṣṇu, the enjoyer of the fruit of all sacrifices and the deity of the brāhmaṇas, and who independently does all great acts laid down in the Vedas , should be known as a heretic. He who looks upon god Viṣṇu as equal to other deities like Brahma , Rudra , would always be (called) a heretic. That brāhmaṇa who, in the three conditions, does not recognise Viṣṇu by means of speech, body and acts, would be a heretic. What is the use of saying much in this regard? Those brāhmaṇas who are not devotees of Viṣṇu, should never be asked (any question), should never be talked to and should never be seen.

Pārvatī said :

12b-15a. O lord, O best of gods, I am asking (you) a secret. Through love for me tell it. There is a great doubt. The holy texts have condemned wearing (i.e. using) skulls, (applying) ash and (wearing) hide. You wear (i.e. use) them. (Then), O god, for what purpose is it condemned? O lord of gods, O you highly intelligent one, through fickleness of (i.e. natural to) women I am asking it. It may be that due to your great power what is told ought not to be done by you. (But) you have not formerly told me in detail what ought not to be done. Therefore, O lord, please pardon me my question.

Vasiṣṭha said :

15b-17a. Thus by the goddess Śiva was asked in a lonely place, free from people. He told her the great secret, viz. whatever he did.

Śiva said :

17b-2la. O goddess, listen. I shall tell you that secret which is very wonderful. O goddess, you should not speak what I have told you among people. O you of a good vow, I shall tell it to you since your body is not separate from mine. In the age of Svāyambhuva ( Manu ) in olden times there were great demons like Namuci , who were very powerful, very valorous, very strong and great heroes. All of them were devoted to Viṣṇu, were pure, and free from all sins. They followed the practices (laid down) in the triad of the Vedas. All gods, being frustrated, led by Indra , and overcome by fear, approached Viṣṇu and sought his shelter.

Gods said :

21b-22a. O Keśava , you alone can conquer these great demons who cannot be conquered by all gods, and who have washed off their sins with penance.

Mahādeva said :

22b-25. Hearing these frightful words of the gods, Viṣṇu, Puruṣottama , consoled those regents of the quarters, and said to me:

The lord said :

O Rudra, O you of mighty arms, O you best god, for deluding the enemies of gods prepare a course of conduct to be followed by heretics. Narrate to them the dark Purāṇas (i.e. Purāṇas that will take them astray). O you very intelligent one, also fashion confusing holy texts. There will be brāhmaṇas and great sages who have given themselves away to me.

26-33. Approaching them through devotion for me, tell the vicious ones: Kaṇāda , Gautama , Śakti , Upamanyu , Jaimini , Kapila , Durvāsas , Mṛkaṇḍu , Bṛhaspati , Bhārgava and Jāmadagnya are the ten (?) vicious sages. Desiring to do the good of the world, approach them with your power of suggestion (bhāvaśakti?). By your power increased in viciousness infused into them they will be vicious in a moment. There is no doubt about it. Those brāhmaṇas with greater viciousness caused by you, will narrate the vicious Purāṇas and doctrines in the three worlds. O god, you yourself, wearing the marks like a skull, hide, ash, bones, fully delude the people in the three worlds. So also you, Śiva, prepare the Pāśupata order with its divisions like Kaṅkāla , Śaiva , Pāṣaṇḍa and Mahāśaiva; so also properly prepare the doctrine having no particular marks and outside the Vedic fold. All the mean men will wear ash, bones etc. and will be insensible. The vicious ones will describe you as the highest (god).

34-36a. Taking to their doctrine all the ancient demons will be averse to me in a moment. There is no doubt (about it). O very powerful Rudra, in my incarnations I too shall worship you in every age to delude the vicious ones. Having upheld this doctrine, they will undoubtedly fall.

Mahādeva said :

36b-37. O you beautiful one, having heard what Viṣṇu had said, I, though having a very large mouth (i.e. though a good speaker) became helpless then. Then having saluted the highest god, I said:

38-43. “O god, if I do what you have said on the earth, it will certainly lead to my destruction. O Viṣṇu, it is possible for me to carry out this mission. Your command is not to be disobeyed. This is very painful.” O goddess, when I spoke like this, Viṣṇu, having again cheered me up, said: “Let this not lead to your destruction. Do as I order you for the good of the deities. O best god, I shall also tell you about the means for your livelihood.” Then with compassion he gave me his thousand names (i.e. the hymn called Viṣṇusahasranāma ): “Installing me in your heart, mutter my indestructible formula. The very great, six-syllabled formula is said to be Brahman , the emancipating one. Those who worship me with devotion obtain salvation. There is no doubt about this.

44-46. (Salutation to) him dark like the petal of a blue lotus, having eyes like lotus-petals, holding a conch, a disc, and the Śārṅga bow, and adorned with all ornaments. (To him) having put on a yellow garment, having four arms, the dear lord of Jānakī . ‘Salutation to Śrī Rāma ’: this excellent formula should be muttered. It removes all sins, and gives salvation even to sinners. Muttering this formula everyday you will be free from blemishes.

47-5la. All that sin produced in you due to having (applied) ash and having bones, has all become auspicious due to the auspicious utterance of my formula. O best god, being gratified I shall destroy all sin. O you of a good vow, devotion to other god than me will not come up. Worship me, the lord, the Supreme Being, mentally in your heart. Obey my order. Due to my love, all this will be auspicious for you.” Having thus ordered me, O goddess, he dismissed the hosts of gods. The gods, dismissed by him went to their own abodes. Then gods, led by Indra, requested me.

Indra and others said :

51b. O god, quickly do that beneficial act as told by Viṣṇu now.

Mahādeva said :

52-56. O auspicious one, for the good of the gods, I took to the way of the heretics, and had skulls, hides, ash and bones. O auspicious one, as told by Viṣṇu, I prepared the vicious Purāṇas and the heretic Śaiva doctrines. O sinless one, having entered through my power, Gautama and other brāhmaṇas I proclaimed the texts outside the Vedic fold. Resorting to this doctrine, all the wicked demons became averse to the lord (i.e. Viṣṇu), and were enveloped in viciousness. Applying ash to their bodies, covered with (i.e. having) very severe penance, they worshipped me only with flesh, blood and sandal.

57-64. On receiving from me grants of boons, they were haughty with pride and power. They were very much attached to objects of senses, and were full of lust and anger. They, void of goodness and powerless, were then defeated by the hosts of gods. Fallen from all righteous paths, they wil go to a mean position in (due) time. Those who, bereft of righteous paths, move on the earth by resorting to this doctrine of mine, always see (i.e. go to) hell. O goddess, (this) my course, that is censured, is thus (followed by me) (only) for the good of the gods. Following Viṣṇu’s order I have (applied) ash and (use) bones. O goddess, this is an external mark intended for deluding the foes. In the heart however, I, always meditating upon god Viṣṇu, just mutter that emancipating formula, telling about Brahman. It is like the (hymn) Sahasranāma of Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa . O auspicious one, constantly muttering the great six-syllabled formula which increased the Raghu -race, we constantly obtain that Brahman which is filled with the nectar of constant joy, which is permanent happiness. O you of an auspicious face, I have told you all this that you had asked. What else do you desire to hear? Ask me that with affection.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 45057, revision 336653 (2022-04-26T00:50:45Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365819.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.