Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 255
Sourceदिलीप उवाच- कथितं भवता ब्रह्मन्सर्वधर्ममशेषतः । सामान्यं च विशिष्टं च स्वरूपं परजीवयोः १। स्वर्गापवर्गौ कथितौ साधनं च तयोरपि । धन्योऽस्म्यहं द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वत्प्रसादात्सदागुरो २। एकमन्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ पृच्छामि त्वां कुतूहलात् । कथयस्व यथातथ्यमपि वात्सल्यगौरवात् ३। महाभागवतश्रेष्ठो रुद्रस्त्रिपुरहंतकः । कस्माद्विगर्हितं रूपं प्राप्तवान्सह भार्य्यया ४। योनिलिंगस्वरूपं च कथं स्यात्सुमहात्मनः । पंचवक्त्रश्चतुर्बाहुः शूलपाणिस्त्रिलोचनः ५। कथं विगर्हितं रूपं प्राप्तवान्द्विजपुंगव । एवं सर्वं समाचक्ष्व मित्रावरुणनंदन ६। वसिष्ठ उवाच- शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि यन्मां पृच्छसि गौरवात् । विशुद्धहृदये पुंसां बुद्धिः श्रेयसि जायते ७। स्वायंभुवो मनुः पूर्वं मंदरे पर्वतोत्तमे । जगाम मुनिभिः सार्द्धं दीर्घसत्रमनुत्तमम् ८। तस्मिन्समागताः सर्वे मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । नानाशास्त्रविदः श्रेष्ठा बालसूर्य्यानलप्रभाः ९। सर्ववेदविदो विप्राः सर्वधर्मपरायणाः । वर्तमाने महासत्रे मुनयः क्षीणकल्मषाः १०। अन्वेष्टुंदेवतातत्वंमिथः प्रोचुस्तपोधनाः । विप्राणां वेदविदुषां कः पूज्यो देवता वरः ११। ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां कः स्तुतो मुक्तिदो नृणाम् । कस्यपादोदकं सेव्यं भुक्तोच्छिष्टं च पावनम् १२। कोऽव्ययः परमं धाम परमात्मा सनातनः । कस्य प्रसादं तीर्थं च पितॄणां तृप्तिदं भवेत् १३। तेषां समुपविष्टानां इति वादो महानभूत् । रुद्रमेकमिति प्रोचुः केचिदत्र महर्षयः १४। ब्रह्मैव पूज्य इत्यन्ये वदंति मुनिसत्तमाः । सूर्य एवात्मनां पूज्य इत्यन्ये प्राहुरुत्तमाः १५। योऽसो सर्वगतः श्रीमाञ्छ्रीपतिः पुरुषोत्तमः । अव्ययः पुंडरीकाक्षो वासुदेवः परात्परः १६। अनादिनिधनो विष्णुः स एव परमेश्वरः । संपूज्यो देवताश्रेष्ठ इत्यन्ये चोचिरे द्विजाः १७। तेषां विवदतां तत्र मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत् । शुद्धसत्वमयो योऽसौ कल्याणगुणवान्प्रभुः १८। पुंडरीकेक्षणः श्रीमाञ्छ्रीपतिः पुरुषोत्तमः । विप्राणां वेदविदुषां एक एवार्चितः प्रभुः १९। विप्राणां नेतरे पूज्या रजस्तमविमिश्रिताः । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्व एव महर्षयः । भृगुं तपोनिधिं विप्रं प्रोचुः प्रांजलयस्तथा २०। ऋषय ऊचुः- अस्माकं संशयं छेत्तुं त्वं समर्थोऽसि सुव्रत । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानामंतिकं व्रज सुव्रत २१। गत्वा तेषां समीपं तु तथा दृष्ट्वा तु विग्रहान् । शुद्धसत्वगुणं तेषां यस्मिन्संविद्यते मुने २२। स एव पूज्यो विप्राणां नेतरस्तु कदाचन । शुद्धसत्वमयः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मण्यः स भविष्यति २३। तीर्थप्रसादवाँल्लोके विप्राणां स भविष्यति । देवतानां पितॄणां च तस्योच्छिष्टं सुपावनम् २४। तस्माद्याहि मुनिश्रेष्ठ विबुधानां निवासनम् । क्षिप्रं कुरु मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वलोकहितं प्रभो २५। एवमुक्तस्ततस्तूर्णं कैलासं मुनिसत्तमः । जगाम वामदेवेन यत्रास्ते वृषभध्वजः २६। गृहद्वारमुपागम्य शंकरस्य महात्मनः । शूलहस्तं महारौद्रं नंदिं द्दष्ट्वाब्रवीद्दिवजः २७। संप्राप्तोऽहं भृगुर्विप्रो हरं द्रष्टुं सुरोत्तमम् । निवेदयस्व मां शीघ्रं शंकराय महात्मने २८। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नंदी सर्वगणेश्वरः । उवाच परुषं वाक्यं महर्षिममितौजसम् २९। असांनिध्यं प्रभोस्तस्य देव्या क्रीडति शंकरः । निवर्त्तस्व मुनिश्रेष्ठ यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि ३०। एवं निराकृतस्तेन तत्रातिष्ठन्महातपाः । बहूनि दिवसान्यस्मिन्गृहद्वारि महेशितुः ३१। नारीसंगममत्तोऽसौ यस्मान्मामवमन्यते । योनिलिंगस्वरूपं वै तस्मात्तस्य भविष्यति ३२। ब्राह्मणं मावजानाति तमसा समुपागतः । अब्रह्मण्यत्वमापन्नो ह्यपूज्योऽसौ द्विजन्मनाम् ३३। तस्मादन्नं जलं पुष्पं तस्मै दत्तं हविस्तथा । निर्माल्यमस्य तत्सर्वं भविष्यति न संशयः ३४। एवं शप्त्वा महातेजाः शंकरं लोकपूजितम् । उवाच गणमत्युग्रं नंदिं शूलधरं नृप ३५। रुद्र भक्ताश्च ये लोके भस्मलिंगास्थिधारिणः । ते पाखंडत्वमापन्ना वेदबाह्या भवंतु वै ३६। एवं शप्त्वा मुनिस्तत्र रुद्रं त्रिपुरहंतकम् । जगाम ब्रह्मलोकं वै सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् ३७। तत्र दैवैः सहासीनं ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् । दृष्ट्वा प्रांजलिना देवं प्रणनाम महामतिः ३८। प्रणम्य पुरतस्तस्य तूष्णीमास महातपाः । तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलं रजोगुण समावृतः ३९। नार्चयामास धाताऽसौ महर्षिं समुपागतम् । प्रत्युत्थानं प्रियं वाक्यं न कृतं तस्य वेधसा ४०। ऐश्वर्येणैव महता तस्थौ तत्रांबुजासनः । तं दृष्ट्वा रजसोद्रिक्तं महर्षिः पंकजासनम् ४१। व्याजहार महातेजा वाक्यं लोकपितामहः । रजसा महतोद्रिक्तो यस्मान्मामवमन्यसे ४२। तस्मात्त्वं सर्वलोकानामपूज्यत्वं समाप्नुहि । एवं शप्त्वा महात्मानं ब्रह्माणं लोकपूजितम् ४३। जगाम सहसा विप्रो भगवन्मंदिरं भृगुः । प्रविश्य वैष्णवं लोकं क्षीराब्धेरुत्तरे तटे ४४। तत्रस्थितैर्महाभागैः पूज्यमानो यथार्हतः । तत्रानिवार्य्यमाणस्तु प्रविष्टोंतःपुरं द्विजः ४५। प्रविश्य तस्मिन्विमले विमाने रविसन्निभे । शयानं नागपर्यंके ददर्श कमलापतिम् ४६। लक्ष्मीकरसरोजाभ्यां मृज्यमानपदद्वयम् । तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलो भृगुः कोपसमन्वितः ४७। सव्यं पादं प्रचिक्षेप विष्णोर्वक्षसि शोभने । तूर्णमुत्थाय भगवान्धन्योस्मीति वदन्मुदा ४८। हस्ताभ्यां चरणं तस्य पीडयामास हर्षितः । शनैर्मृदित्वा तत्पादं मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ४९। धन्योस्म्यद्यैव विप्रर्षे कृतकृत्योस्मि सर्वदा । त्वत्पादस्पर्शनाद्देहे मंगलं मे भविष्यति ५० 6.255.50। समस्तसंपत्समवाप्तिहेतवः समुत्थितापत्कुलधूमकेतवः । अपारसंसारसमुद्र सेतवः पुनंतु मां ब्राह्मणपादपांसवः ५१। विप्रपादरजो यस्य देहे तिष्ठति सर्वदा । गंगादिसर्वतीर्थानि तस्य तिष्ठंत्यसंशयम् ५२। इत्युक्त्वा सहसोत्थाय देव्या सार्द्धं जनार्दनः । भक्त्या समर्चयामास दिव्यस्रक्चंदनादिभिः ५३। तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलो हर्षपूर्णोऽश्रुलोचनः । उत्थायासनमुख्यात्तं प्रणनाम दयानिधिम् । कृतांजलिपुटोभूत्वा हर्षात्प्राह महातपाः ५४। श्रीभृगुरुवाच- अहोरूपमहोशांतिरहोज्ञानमहो दया । अहो सुनिर्मला क्षांतिरहो सत्वगुणं हरेः ५५। नैसर्गिकं शुभं सत्वं तथैव गुणवारिधेः । नान्येषां विद्यते किंचित्सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम् ५६। ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च त्वमेव पुरुषोत्तमः । ब्राह्मणानां त्वमेवेशो नान्यः पूज्यः सुरः क्वचित् ५७। येऽर्चयंति सुरानन्यांस्त्वां विना पुरुषोत्तम । ते पाखंडत्वमापन्नाः सर्वलोकविगर्हिताः ५८। विप्राणां वेदविदुषां त्वमेवेज्यो जनार्दनः । नान्यः कश्चित्सुराणां तु पूजनीयः कदाचन ५९। अनर्च्याब्रह्मरुद्राद्या रजस्तमोविमिश्रिताः । त्वं शुद्धसत्वगुणवान्पूजनीयोऽग्रजन्मनाम् ६०। त्वत्पादसलिलं सेव्यं पितॄणां च दिवौकसाम् । सर्वेषां भूसुराणां च मुक्तिदं कल्मषापहम् ६१। त्वद्भुक्तोच्छिष्टशेषं वै पितॄणां च दिवौकसाम् । भूसुराणां च सेव्यं स्यान्नान्येषां तु कदाचन ६२। इतरेषां तु देवानामन्नं पुष्पं जलं तथा । अस्पृश्यं तु भवेत्सर्वं निर्माल्यं सुरयासमम् ६३। तस्माद्वै ब्राह्मणो नित्यं पूजयित्वा सनातनम् । त्वत्तीर्थं भुक्तमन्नं च भजेतैवानिशं बुधः ६४। नान्यं देवं तु वीक्षेत ब्राह्मणो न च पूजयेत् । नान्यप्रसादं भुंजीत नान्यदायतनं विशेत् ६५। न ददातीह यो विप्रः पितॄणां श्राद्धकर्मणि । त्वद्भुक्तमन्नं तीर्थं च तत्सर्वं निष्फलं भवेत् ६६। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च । पतंति पितरस्तस्य नरके पूयशोणिते ६७। निवेदितं तव विभो यो जुहोति ददाति वा । देवतानां पितॄणां च तृप्तिरानंत्यमश्नुते ६८। तस्मात्त्वमेव विप्राणां पूज्यो नान्योस्ति कश्चन । मोहाद्यः पूजयेदन्यान्स पाखंडी भविष्यति ६९। त्वं हि नारायणः श्रीमान्वासुदेवः सनातनः । विष्णुः सर्वगतो नित्यः परमात्मा महेश्वरः ७०। त्वमेव सेव्यो विप्राणां ब्रह्मण्यः शुद्धसत्ववान् । पूज्यत्वाद्ब्राह्मणानां वै शुद्धसत्वगुणादपि ७१। सर्वेषामेव देवानां ब्राह्मणत्वमवाप्नुहि । त्वामेव हि सदा विप्रा भजंति पुरुषोत्तमम् ७२। ब्राह्मणास्ते बभूवुस्तु नान्यास्तत्र न संशयः । ब्रह्मण्यो देवकीपुत्रो ब्रह्मण्यो मधुसूदनः ७३। ब्रह्मण्यः पुंडरीकाक्षो ब्रह्मण्यो विष्णुरच्युतः । ब्रह्मण्यो भगवान्कृष्णो वासुदेवोऽच्युतो हरिः ७४। ब्रह्मण्यो नारसिंहः स्यात्तथा नारायणोऽव्ययः । ब्रह्मण्यः श्रीधरः श्रीशो गोविंदो वामनस्तथा ७५। ब्रह्मण्यो यज्ञवाराहः केशवः पुरुषोत्तमः । ब्रह्मण्यो राघवः श्रीमान्रामो राजीवलोचनः ७६। ब्रह्मण्यः पद्मनाभः स्यात्तथा दामोदरः प्रभुः । ब्रह्मण्यो माधवो यज्ञस्तथा त्रिविक्रमः प्रभुः ७७। ब्रह्मण्यश्च हृषीकेशः पीतवासा जनार्दनः । नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय वासुदेवाय शार्ङ्गिणे ७८। नारायणाय श्रीशाय पुंडरीकेक्षणाय च । नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय वासुदेवाय विष्णवे ७९। कल्याणगुणपूर्णाय नमस्ते परमात्मने । नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय सर्वदेवस्वरूपिणे ८०। वाराहवपुषे नित्यं त्रयीनाथाय ते नमः । नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय नागपर्य्यंकशायिने ८१। राजीवदलनेत्राय राघवाय नमो नमः । मायया मोहिताः सर्वे देवाश्च ऋषयस्तव ८२। न जानंति महात्मानं सर्वलोकेश्वरं प्रभो । त्वां न जानंति भगवन्सर्ववेदविदोऽपि हि ८३। नामरूपगुणैः श्रीश चारित्रैरपि दुष्कृतैः । परत्वसूचकं सत्वं तव वेदितुमीश्वरः ८४। महर्षिभिः प्रेषितोऽहमागतोस्मि तवांतिकम् । तव शीलगुणाञ्ज्ञातुं चरणं मम केशव ८५। दत्तं वक्षसि गोविंद तत्क्षंतव्यं कृपानिधे । एवमुक्त्वा भृगुर्देवं प्रणम्य च मुहुर्मुहुः ८६। दिव्यैर्महर्षिभिस्तत्र पूज्यमानो महात्मभिः । पुनर्जगाम हृष्टात्मा यज्ञभूमिं शुभाह्वयाम् ८७। समागतं महात्मानं तत्र दृष्ट्वा महर्षयः । प्रत्युत्थाय नमस्कृत्वा पूजां चक्रुर्विधानतः ८८। तेषां विज्ञापयामास तत्सर्वं मुनिपुंगवः । रजस्तमगुणोद्रिक्तो विधीशानौ सुरोत्तमौ ८९। शप्तौ मया न पूज्यौ तौ विप्राणामृषिसत्तमाः । अब्रह्मण्यत्वमापन्नो गर्हितं रूपमास्थितः ९०। शप्तः कैलासशिखरे शंकरस्तमसावृतः । शुद्धसत्वमयो विष्णुः कल्याणगुणसागरः ९१। नारायणः परं ब्रह्म विप्राणां दैवतं हरिः । ब्रह्मण्यः श्रीपतिर्विष्णुर्वासुदेवो जनार्दनः ९२। ब्रह्मण्यः पुंडरीकाक्षो गोविंदो हरिरच्युतः । स एव पूज्यो विप्राणां नेतरः पुरुषर्षभाः ९३। मोहाद्यः पूजयेदन्यं स पाखंडी भविष्यति । स्मरणादेव कृष्णस्य विमुक्तिः पापिनामपि ९४। तस्य पादोदकं सेव्यं भुक्तोच्छिष्टं च पावनम् । स्वर्गापवर्गदं नॄणां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः ९५। विष्णोर्निवेदितं नित्यं देवेभ्यो जुहुयाद्धविः । पितृभ्यश्चैव तद्दद्यात्सर्वमानंत्यमश्नुते ९६। यो न दद्याद्धरेर्भुक्तं पितॄणां श्राद्धकर्मणि । अश्नंति पितरस्तस्य विण्मूत्रं सततं द्विजाः ९७। तस्माद्विष्णोः प्रसादो वै सेवितव्यो द्विजन्मनाम् । इतरेषां तु देवानां निर्माल्यं गर्हितं भवेत् ९८। सकृदेव हि योश्नाति ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानदुर्बलः । निर्माल्यं शंकरादीनां स चांडालो भवेद्ध्रुवम् ९९। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि पच्यते नरकाग्निना । निर्माल्यं भो द्विजश्रेष्ठा रुद्रादीनां दिवौकसाम् १०० 6.255.100। रक्षोयक्षपिशाचान्नं मद्यमांससमं स्मृतम् । तद्ब्राह्मणैर्न भोक्तव्यं देवानां भुंजितं हविः १०१। तस्मादन्यं परित्यज्य विष्णुमेव सनातनम् । पूजयध्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठा यावज्जीवमतंद्रिताः १०२। तद्विष्णोः परमं धाममन्यंतो गतसंशयाः । तापादिपंचसंस्कारैरन्विष्टाः शुभचेतसः १०३। अप्राकृतं हरिं सम्यगर्चयध्वं द्विजर्षभाः । चक्रांकितभुजा विप्रा भवंत्यप्राकृताः शुभाः १०४। चक्रलांछनहीनास्तु प्राकृतास्तामसा स्मृताः । तस्मात्प्राकृतसंसर्ग पापौघ दहनं हरेः १०५। प्रतप्तं बिभृयाच्चक्रं शंखं च भुजमूलयोः । उर्द्ध्वपुंड्राणि चांगेषु धृत्वा शास्त्रोक्तमार्गतः १०६। अर्चयेन्मंत्ररत्नेन विधिना पुरुषोत्तमम् । तस्य प्रसादसेवां च कुर्य्यान्नित्यमतंद्रितः १०७। तस्यावरणपूजायां त्रिदशानर्चयेत्सदा । तमेव सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्तारं परमेश्वरम् १०८। ज्ञात्वा वै जुहुयाद्दद्याज्जपेद्वै सततं द्विजाः १०९। वसिष्ठ उवाच- एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे ऋषयः क्षीणकल्मषाः । नमस्कृत्य भृगुं सम्यगूचुः प्रांजलयस्तदा ११०। ऋषय ऊचुः । भगवन्संशयछेत्ता त्वमेव द्विजसत्तम । त्वं वै लोकगतिर्ब्रह्मंस्त्वमेव परमा गतिः १११। त्वमेव परमोधर्मस्त्वमेव परमं तपः । त्वत्प्रसादाद्वयं विप्र भविष्यामो हि नान्यथा ११२। वसिष्ठ उवाच- एवं स्तुत्वा भृगुं विप्रं सर्व एव महर्षयः । तस्मात्संप्राप्तमंत्रा वै पूजयामासुरच्युतम् ११३। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं प्रसंगात्पार्थिवोत्तम । रामस्य हस्तकमलस्पर्शनाद्वै नृपोत्तम ११४। भविष्यत्यमलं तच्च रूपं लोकविगर्हितम् । राघवः सर्वदेवानां पावनः पुरुषोत्तमः ११५। स्पृष्टा दृष्टाश्च तेनैव विमलाः शंकरादयः । सर्वेषामपि देवानां पिता माता जनार्दनः ११६। त्राता च सर्वलोकानां वात्सल्यगुणसागरः । तमेव शरणं गच्छ यदीच्छेत्परमं पदम् ११७। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं पुराणं वेदसंमितम् । ब्रह्मणा कथितं राजन्मनु स्वायंभुवोंतरे ११८। विष्णुभक्तिविनीतस्य शुद्धसत्वस्य नान्यथा । तस्य संश्रावयेन्नित्यं विमुक्ता सा हरेः कथा ११९। शंखचक्रोर्द्ध्वपुंड्रादि विहितो वाचकः पुमान् । तन्मुखाच्छ्रूयतां नित्यं पुत्री भवसि नान्यथा १२०। यस्त्विदं श्रावयेन्नित्यं पठेद्वा सुसमाहितः । अनन्यभक्तिः श्रीशस्य जायते तस्य सर्वदा १२१। विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां धर्मार्थी धर्ममाप्नुयात् । मोक्षार्थी लभते मोक्षं कामार्थी लभते सुखम् १२२। द्वादश्यां श्रवणार्के च संक्रांतौ ग्रहणे तथा । अमावस्यां पौर्णमास्यां पठेद्भक्तिसमन्वितः १२३। श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा पठेद्यस्तु समाहितः । अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयः १२४। इत्येतत्कथितं गुह्यं पुराणं संहितात्मकम् । अर्चयस्व हृषीकेशं यदीच्छसि परमं पदम् १२५। सूत उवाच- एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन गुरुणा नृपसत्तमः । प्रणम्य च गुरुं राजा पूजयित्वा यथार्हतः १२६। तस्मात्संप्राप्तमंत्रोऽसौ विधिना द्विजसत्तमात् । अर्चयित्वा हृषीकेशं यावज्जीवमतंद्रितः । काले हरिपदं प्राप योगिगम्यं सनातनम् १२७। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायां वैयासिक्यामुत्तरखंडे भृगुपरीक्षाकथनंनाम पंचपंचाशदधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २५५। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे षष्ठमुत्तरखण्डं समाप्तम् ।
dilīpa uvāca- kathitaṃ bhavatā brahmansarvadharmamaśeṣataḥ | sāmānyaṃ ca viśiṣṭaṃ ca svarūpaṃ parajīvayoḥ 1| svargāpavargau kathitau sādhanaṃ ca tayorapi | dhanyo'smyahaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha tvatprasādātsadāguro 2| ekamanyaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha pṛcchāmi tvāṃ kutūhalāt | kathayasva yathātathyamapi vātsalyagauravāt 3| mahābhāgavataśreṣṭho rudrastripurahaṃtakaḥ | kasmādvigarhitaṃ rūpaṃ prāptavānsaha bhāryyayā 4| yoniliṃgasvarūpaṃ ca kathaṃ syātsumahātmanaḥ | paṃcavaktraścaturbāhuḥ śūlapāṇistrilocanaḥ 5| kathaṃ vigarhitaṃ rūpaṃ prāptavāndvijapuṃgava | evaṃ sarvaṃ samācakṣva mitrāvaruṇanaṃdana 6| vasiṣṭha uvāca- śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi yanmāṃ pṛcchasi gauravāt | viśuddhahṛdaye puṃsāṃ buddhiḥ śreyasi jāyate 7| svāyaṃbhuvo manuḥ pūrvaṃ maṃdare parvatottame | jagāma munibhiḥ sārddhaṃ dīrghasatramanuttamam 8| tasminsamāgatāḥ sarve munayaḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ | nānāśāstravidaḥ śreṣṭhā bālasūryyānalaprabhāḥ 9| sarvavedavido viprāḥ sarvadharmaparāyaṇāḥ | vartamāne mahāsatre munayaḥ kṣīṇakalmaṣāḥ 10| anveṣṭuṃdevatātatvaṃmithaḥ procustapodhanāḥ | viprāṇāṃ vedaviduṣāṃ kaḥ pūjyo devatā varaḥ 11| brahmaviṣṇumaheśānāṃ kaḥ stuto muktido nṛṇām | kasyapādodakaṃ sevyaṃ bhuktocchiṣṭaṃ ca pāvanam 12| ko'vyayaḥ paramaṃ dhāma paramātmā sanātanaḥ | kasya prasādaṃ tīrthaṃ ca pitṝṇāṃ tṛptidaṃ bhavet 13| teṣāṃ samupaviṣṭānāṃ iti vādo mahānabhūt | rudramekamiti procuḥ kecidatra maharṣayaḥ 14| brahmaiva pūjya ityanye vadaṃti munisattamāḥ | sūrya evātmanāṃ pūjya ityanye prāhuruttamāḥ 15| yo'so sarvagataḥ śrīmāñchrīpatiḥ puruṣottamaḥ | avyayaḥ puṃḍarīkākṣo vāsudevaḥ parātparaḥ 16| anādinidhano viṣṇuḥ sa eva parameśvaraḥ | saṃpūjyo devatāśreṣṭha ityanye cocire dvijāḥ 17| teṣāṃ vivadatāṃ tatra manuḥ svāyaṃbhuvo'bravīt | śuddhasatvamayo yo'sau kalyāṇaguṇavānprabhuḥ 18| puṃḍarīkekṣaṇaḥ śrīmāñchrīpatiḥ puruṣottamaḥ | viprāṇāṃ vedaviduṣāṃ eka evārcitaḥ prabhuḥ 19| viprāṇāṃ netare pūjyā rajastamavimiśritāḥ | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sarva eva maharṣayaḥ | bhṛguṃ taponidhiṃ vipraṃ procuḥ prāṃjalayastathā 20| ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- asmākaṃ saṃśayaṃ chettuṃ tvaṃ samartho'si suvrata | brahmaviṣṇumaheśānāmaṃtikaṃ vraja suvrata 21| gatvā teṣāṃ samīpaṃ tu tathā dṛṣṭvā tu vigrahān | śuddhasatvaguṇaṃ teṣāṃ yasminsaṃvidyate mune 22| sa eva pūjyo viprāṇāṃ netarastu kadācana | śuddhasatvamayaḥ sākṣādbrahmaṇyaḥ sa bhaviṣyati 23| tīrthaprasādavā~lloke viprāṇāṃ sa bhaviṣyati | devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca tasyocchiṣṭaṃ supāvanam 24| tasmādyāhi muniśreṣṭha vibudhānāṃ nivāsanam | kṣipraṃ kuru muniśreṣṭha sarvalokahitaṃ prabho 25| evamuktastatastūrṇaṃ kailāsaṃ munisattamaḥ | jagāma vāmadevena yatrāste vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ 26| gṛhadvāramupāgamya śaṃkarasya mahātmanaḥ | śūlahastaṃ mahāraudraṃ naṃdiṃ ddaṣṭvābravīddivajaḥ 27| saṃprāpto'haṃ bhṛgurvipro haraṃ draṣṭuṃ surottamam | nivedayasva māṃ śīghraṃ śaṃkarāya mahātmane 28| tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā naṃdī sarvagaṇeśvaraḥ | uvāca paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ maharṣimamitaujasam 29| asāṃnidhyaṃ prabhostasya devyā krīḍati śaṃkaraḥ | nivarttasva muniśreṣṭha yadi jīvitumicchasi 30| evaṃ nirākṛtastena tatrātiṣṭhanmahātapāḥ | bahūni divasānyasmingṛhadvāri maheśituḥ 31| nārīsaṃgamamatto'sau yasmānmāmavamanyate | yoniliṃgasvarūpaṃ vai tasmāttasya bhaviṣyati 32| brāhmaṇaṃ māvajānāti tamasā samupāgataḥ | abrahmaṇyatvamāpanno hyapūjyo'sau dvijanmanām 33| tasmādannaṃ jalaṃ puṣpaṃ tasmai dattaṃ havistathā | nirmālyamasya tatsarvaṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ 34| evaṃ śaptvā mahātejāḥ śaṃkaraṃ lokapūjitam | uvāca gaṇamatyugraṃ naṃdiṃ śūladharaṃ nṛpa 35| rudra bhaktāśca ye loke bhasmaliṃgāsthidhāriṇaḥ | te pākhaṃḍatvamāpannā vedabāhyā bhavaṃtu vai 36| evaṃ śaptvā munistatra rudraṃ tripurahaṃtakam | jagāma brahmalokaṃ vai sarvalokanamaskṛtam 37| tatra daivaiḥ sahāsīnaṃ brahmāṇaṃ parameṣṭhinam | dṛṣṭvā prāṃjalinā devaṃ praṇanāma mahāmatiḥ 38| praṇamya puratastasya tūṣṇīmāsa mahātapāḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā muniśārdūlaṃ rajoguṇa samāvṛtaḥ 39| nārcayāmāsa dhātā'sau maharṣiṃ samupāgatam | pratyutthānaṃ priyaṃ vākyaṃ na kṛtaṃ tasya vedhasā 40| aiśvaryeṇaiva mahatā tasthau tatrāṃbujāsanaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā rajasodriktaṃ maharṣiḥ paṃkajāsanam 41| vyājahāra mahātejā vākyaṃ lokapitāmahaḥ | rajasā mahatodrikto yasmānmāmavamanyase 42| tasmāttvaṃ sarvalokānāmapūjyatvaṃ samāpnuhi | evaṃ śaptvā mahātmānaṃ brahmāṇaṃ lokapūjitam 43| jagāma sahasā vipro bhagavanmaṃdiraṃ bhṛguḥ | praviśya vaiṣṇavaṃ lokaṃ kṣīrābdheruttare taṭe 44| tatrasthitairmahābhāgaiḥ pūjyamāno yathārhataḥ | tatrānivāryyamāṇastu praviṣṭoṃtaḥpuraṃ dvijaḥ 45| praviśya tasminvimale vimāne ravisannibhe | śayānaṃ nāgaparyaṃke dadarśa kamalāpatim 46| lakṣmīkarasarojābhyāṃ mṛjyamānapadadvayam | taṃ dṛṣṭvā muniśārdūlo bhṛguḥ kopasamanvitaḥ 47| savyaṃ pādaṃ pracikṣepa viṣṇorvakṣasi śobhane | tūrṇamutthāya bhagavāndhanyosmīti vadanmudā 48| hastābhyāṃ caraṇaṃ tasya pīḍayāmāsa harṣitaḥ | śanairmṛditvā tatpādaṃ madhuraṃ vākyamabravīt 49| dhanyosmyadyaiva viprarṣe kṛtakṛtyosmi sarvadā | tvatpādasparśanāddehe maṃgalaṃ me bhaviṣyati 50 6.255.50| samastasaṃpatsamavāptihetavaḥ samutthitāpatkuladhūmaketavaḥ | apārasaṃsārasamudra setavaḥ punaṃtu māṃ brāhmaṇapādapāṃsavaḥ 51| viprapādarajo yasya dehe tiṣṭhati sarvadā | gaṃgādisarvatīrthāni tasya tiṣṭhaṃtyasaṃśayam 52| ityuktvā sahasotthāya devyā sārddhaṃ janārdanaḥ | bhaktyā samarcayāmāsa divyasrakcaṃdanādibhiḥ 53| taṃ dṛṣṭvā muniśārdūlo harṣapūrṇo'śrulocanaḥ | utthāyāsanamukhyāttaṃ praṇanāma dayānidhim | kṛtāṃjalipuṭobhūtvā harṣātprāha mahātapāḥ 54| śrībhṛguruvāca- ahorūpamahośāṃtirahojñānamaho dayā | aho sunirmalā kṣāṃtiraho satvaguṇaṃ hareḥ 55| naisargikaṃ śubhaṃ satvaṃ tathaiva guṇavāridheḥ | nānyeṣāṃ vidyate kiṃcitsarveṣāṃ tridivaukasām 56| brahmaṇyaśca śaraṇyaśca tvameva puruṣottamaḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ tvameveśo nānyaḥ pūjyaḥ suraḥ kvacit 57| ye'rcayaṃti surānanyāṃstvāṃ vinā puruṣottama | te pākhaṃḍatvamāpannāḥ sarvalokavigarhitāḥ 58| viprāṇāṃ vedaviduṣāṃ tvamevejyo janārdanaḥ | nānyaḥ kaścitsurāṇāṃ tu pūjanīyaḥ kadācana 59| anarcyābrahmarudrādyā rajastamovimiśritāḥ | tvaṃ śuddhasatvaguṇavānpūjanīyo'grajanmanām 60| tvatpādasalilaṃ sevyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca divaukasām | sarveṣāṃ bhūsurāṇāṃ ca muktidaṃ kalmaṣāpaham 61| tvadbhuktocchiṣṭaśeṣaṃ vai pitṝṇāṃ ca divaukasām | bhūsurāṇāṃ ca sevyaṃ syānnānyeṣāṃ tu kadācana 62| itareṣāṃ tu devānāmannaṃ puṣpaṃ jalaṃ tathā | aspṛśyaṃ tu bhavetsarvaṃ nirmālyaṃ surayāsamam 63| tasmādvai brāhmaṇo nityaṃ pūjayitvā sanātanam | tvattīrthaṃ bhuktamannaṃ ca bhajetaivāniśaṃ budhaḥ 64| nānyaṃ devaṃ tu vīkṣeta brāhmaṇo na ca pūjayet | nānyaprasādaṃ bhuṃjīta nānyadāyatanaṃ viśet 65| na dadātīha yo vipraḥ pitṝṇāṃ śrāddhakarmaṇi | tvadbhuktamannaṃ tīrthaṃ ca tatsarvaṃ niṣphalaṃ bhavet 66| kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca | pataṃti pitarastasya narake pūyaśoṇite 67| niveditaṃ tava vibho yo juhoti dadāti vā | devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca tṛptirānaṃtyamaśnute 68| tasmāttvameva viprāṇāṃ pūjyo nānyosti kaścana | mohādyaḥ pūjayedanyānsa pākhaṃḍī bhaviṣyati 69| tvaṃ hi nārāyaṇaḥ śrīmānvāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ | viṣṇuḥ sarvagato nityaḥ paramātmā maheśvaraḥ 70| tvameva sevyo viprāṇāṃ brahmaṇyaḥ śuddhasatvavān | pūjyatvādbrāhmaṇānāṃ vai śuddhasatvaguṇādapi 71| sarveṣāmeva devānāṃ brāhmaṇatvamavāpnuhi | tvāmeva hi sadā viprā bhajaṃti puruṣottamam 72| brāhmaṇāste babhūvustu nānyāstatra na saṃśayaḥ | brahmaṇyo devakīputro brahmaṇyo madhusūdanaḥ 73| brahmaṇyaḥ puṃḍarīkākṣo brahmaṇyo viṣṇuracyutaḥ | brahmaṇyo bhagavānkṛṣṇo vāsudevo'cyuto hariḥ 74| brahmaṇyo nārasiṃhaḥ syāttathā nārāyaṇo'vyayaḥ | brahmaṇyaḥ śrīdharaḥ śrīśo goviṃdo vāmanastathā 75| brahmaṇyo yajñavārāhaḥ keśavaḥ puruṣottamaḥ | brahmaṇyo rāghavaḥ śrīmānrāmo rājīvalocanaḥ 76| brahmaṇyaḥ padmanābhaḥ syāttathā dāmodaraḥ prabhuḥ | brahmaṇyo mādhavo yajñastathā trivikramaḥ prabhuḥ 77| brahmaṇyaśca hṛṣīkeśaḥ pītavāsā janārdanaḥ | namo brahmaṇyadevāya vāsudevāya śārṅgiṇe 78| nārāyaṇāya śrīśāya puṃḍarīkekṣaṇāya ca | namo brahmaṇyadevāya vāsudevāya viṣṇave 79| kalyāṇaguṇapūrṇāya namaste paramātmane | namo brahmaṇyadevāya sarvadevasvarūpiṇe 80| vārāhavapuṣe nityaṃ trayīnāthāya te namaḥ | namo brahmaṇyadevāya nāgaparyyaṃkaśāyine 81| rājīvadalanetrāya rāghavāya namo namaḥ | māyayā mohitāḥ sarve devāśca ṛṣayastava 82| na jānaṃti mahātmānaṃ sarvalokeśvaraṃ prabho | tvāṃ na jānaṃti bhagavansarvavedavido'pi hi 83| nāmarūpaguṇaiḥ śrīśa cāritrairapi duṣkṛtaiḥ | paratvasūcakaṃ satvaṃ tava veditumīśvaraḥ 84| maharṣibhiḥ preṣito'hamāgatosmi tavāṃtikam | tava śīlaguṇāñjñātuṃ caraṇaṃ mama keśava 85| dattaṃ vakṣasi goviṃda tatkṣaṃtavyaṃ kṛpānidhe | evamuktvā bhṛgurdevaṃ praṇamya ca muhurmuhuḥ 86| divyairmaharṣibhistatra pūjyamāno mahātmabhiḥ | punarjagāma hṛṣṭātmā yajñabhūmiṃ śubhāhvayām 87| samāgataṃ mahātmānaṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā maharṣayaḥ | pratyutthāya namaskṛtvā pūjāṃ cakrurvidhānataḥ 88| teṣāṃ vijñāpayāmāsa tatsarvaṃ munipuṃgavaḥ | rajastamaguṇodrikto vidhīśānau surottamau 89| śaptau mayā na pūjyau tau viprāṇāmṛṣisattamāḥ | abrahmaṇyatvamāpanno garhitaṃ rūpamāsthitaḥ 90| śaptaḥ kailāsaśikhare śaṃkarastamasāvṛtaḥ | śuddhasatvamayo viṣṇuḥ kalyāṇaguṇasāgaraḥ 91| nārāyaṇaḥ paraṃ brahma viprāṇāṃ daivataṃ hariḥ | brahmaṇyaḥ śrīpatirviṣṇurvāsudevo janārdanaḥ 92| brahmaṇyaḥ puṃḍarīkākṣo goviṃdo hariracyutaḥ | sa eva pūjyo viprāṇāṃ netaraḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ 93| mohādyaḥ pūjayedanyaṃ sa pākhaṃḍī bhaviṣyati | smaraṇādeva kṛṣṇasya vimuktiḥ pāpināmapi 94| tasya pādodakaṃ sevyaṃ bhuktocchiṣṭaṃ ca pāvanam | svargāpavargadaṃ nṝṇāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ viśeṣataḥ 95| viṣṇorniveditaṃ nityaṃ devebhyo juhuyāddhaviḥ | pitṛbhyaścaiva taddadyātsarvamānaṃtyamaśnute 96| yo na dadyāddharerbhuktaṃ pitṝṇāṃ śrāddhakarmaṇi | aśnaṃti pitarastasya viṇmūtraṃ satataṃ dvijāḥ 97| tasmādviṣṇoḥ prasādo vai sevitavyo dvijanmanām | itareṣāṃ tu devānāṃ nirmālyaṃ garhitaṃ bhavet 98| sakṛdeva hi yośnāti brāhmaṇo jñānadurbalaḥ | nirmālyaṃ śaṃkarādīnāṃ sa cāṃḍālo bhaveddhruvam 99| kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi pacyate narakāgninā | nirmālyaṃ bho dvijaśreṣṭhā rudrādīnāṃ divaukasām 100 6.255.100| rakṣoyakṣapiśācānnaṃ madyamāṃsasamaṃ smṛtam | tadbrāhmaṇairna bhoktavyaṃ devānāṃ bhuṃjitaṃ haviḥ 101| tasmādanyaṃ parityajya viṣṇumeva sanātanam | pūjayadhvaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhā yāvajjīvamataṃdritāḥ 102| tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ dhāmamanyaṃto gatasaṃśayāḥ | tāpādipaṃcasaṃskārairanviṣṭāḥ śubhacetasaḥ 103| aprākṛtaṃ hariṃ samyagarcayadhvaṃ dvijarṣabhāḥ | cakrāṃkitabhujā viprā bhavaṃtyaprākṛtāḥ śubhāḥ 104| cakralāṃchanahīnāstu prākṛtāstāmasā smṛtāḥ | tasmātprākṛtasaṃsarga pāpaugha dahanaṃ hareḥ 105| prataptaṃ bibhṛyāccakraṃ śaṃkhaṃ ca bhujamūlayoḥ | urddhvapuṃḍrāṇi cāṃgeṣu dhṛtvā śāstroktamārgataḥ 106| arcayenmaṃtraratnena vidhinā puruṣottamam | tasya prasādasevāṃ ca kuryyānnityamataṃdritaḥ 107| tasyāvaraṇapūjāyāṃ tridaśānarcayetsadā | tameva sarvayajñānāṃ bhoktāraṃ parameśvaram 108| jñātvā vai juhuyāddadyājjapedvai satataṃ dvijāḥ 109| vasiṣṭha uvāca- evamuktāstu te sarve ṛṣayaḥ kṣīṇakalmaṣāḥ | namaskṛtya bhṛguṃ samyagūcuḥ prāṃjalayastadā 110| ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | bhagavansaṃśayachettā tvameva dvijasattama | tvaṃ vai lokagatirbrahmaṃstvameva paramā gatiḥ 111| tvameva paramodharmastvameva paramaṃ tapaḥ | tvatprasādādvayaṃ vipra bhaviṣyāmo hi nānyathā 112| vasiṣṭha uvāca- evaṃ stutvā bhṛguṃ vipraṃ sarva eva maharṣayaḥ | tasmātsaṃprāptamaṃtrā vai pūjayāmāsuracyutam 113| etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ prasaṃgātpārthivottama | rāmasya hastakamalasparśanādvai nṛpottama 114| bhaviṣyatyamalaṃ tacca rūpaṃ lokavigarhitam | rāghavaḥ sarvadevānāṃ pāvanaḥ puruṣottamaḥ 115| spṛṣṭā dṛṣṭāśca tenaiva vimalāḥ śaṃkarādayaḥ | sarveṣāmapi devānāṃ pitā mātā janārdanaḥ 116| trātā ca sarvalokānāṃ vātsalyaguṇasāgaraḥ | tameva śaraṇaṃ gaccha yadīcchetparamaṃ padam 117| etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ purāṇaṃ vedasaṃmitam | brahmaṇā kathitaṃ rājanmanu svāyaṃbhuvoṃtare 118| viṣṇubhaktivinītasya śuddhasatvasya nānyathā | tasya saṃśrāvayennityaṃ vimuktā sā hareḥ kathā 119| śaṃkhacakrorddhvapuṃḍrādi vihito vācakaḥ pumān | tanmukhācchrūyatāṃ nityaṃ putrī bhavasi nānyathā 120| yastvidaṃ śrāvayennityaṃ paṭhedvā susamāhitaḥ | ananyabhaktiḥ śrīśasya jāyate tasya sarvadā 121| vidyārthī labhate vidyāṃ dharmārthī dharmamāpnuyāt | mokṣārthī labhate mokṣaṃ kāmārthī labhate sukham 122| dvādaśyāṃ śravaṇārke ca saṃkrāṃtau grahaṇe tathā | amāvasyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ paṭhedbhaktisamanvitaḥ 123| ślokārddhaṃ ślokapādaṃ vā paṭhedyastu samāhitaḥ | aśvamedhasahasrasya phalaṃ prāpnotyasaṃśayaḥ 124| ityetatkathitaṃ guhyaṃ purāṇaṃ saṃhitātmakam | arcayasva hṛṣīkeśaṃ yadīcchasi paramaṃ padam 125| sūta uvāca- evamukto vasiṣṭhena guruṇā nṛpasattamaḥ | praṇamya ca guruṃ rājā pūjayitvā yathārhataḥ 126| tasmātsaṃprāptamaṃtro'sau vidhinā dvijasattamāt | arcayitvā hṛṣīkeśaṃ yāvajjīvamataṃdritaḥ | kāle haripadaṃ prāpa yogigamyaṃ sanātanam 127| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ vaiyāsikyāmuttarakhaṃḍe bhṛguparīkṣākathanaṃnāma paṃcapaṃcāśadadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 255| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe ṣaṣṭhamuttarakhaṇḍaṃ samāptam |
English translation
Dilīpa said :
1-6. O brāhmaṇa , you have fully told (me) about all the practices, and about the general and particular nature of the highest (lord) and the individual soul. O best brāhmaṇa, through curiosity I am asking you one other (question). Due to your great love (for me) properly tell (i.e. answer) that also. Rudra , the destroyer of Tripura , is the best among the great devotees of Viṣṇu . Due to what did he, along with his wife, have a condemned form? How did the very illustrious one have the form of clitoris? O best brāhmaṇa, how did the five-faced one, four-armed one, trident-holder and three-eyed one have a condemned form? O son of Mitra - Varuṇa , tell all this (to me).
Vasiṣṭha said :
7-13. O king, listen; I shall explain to you what you have asked me respectfully. In the pure hearts of men a thought for bliss is produced. Formerly on the best mountain Mandara Svāyambhuva Manu performed, along with sages, an excellent prolonged sacrificial session. There came all sages who had fulfilled their vows, who were proficient in various holy texts, whose lustre was like that of the young sun and fire, who, the brāhmaṇas , were well-versed in all Vedas , and who had mastered all religious practices. When the great sacrificial session took place, the sages whose sins had been exhausted, and who had penance as their wealth, spoke among themselves in order to find the truth about the deity. Which excellent deity should be honoured by brāhmaṇas proficient in the Vedas? Who, out of Brahmā , Viṣṇu and Śiva , being praised, gives salvation to men? Water of (i.e. flowing from) whose feet should be resorted to? So also the purifying remnant of whose food should be enjoyed? Who, the immutable one, is the highest abode, the highest soul and who is eternal? Whose favour and holy place would gratify the manes?
14-20. Such a great discussion took place among those who were seated. Some great sages said: “Rudra alone (is the greatest deity).” Other best sages said: “Brahmā alone is fit to be worshipped.” Other best one said that the Sun alone was fit to be worshipped among the souls. Other brāhmaṇas said: “The immutable lotus-eyed Vāsudeva , the highest one, the one without a beginning or an end (viz.) Viṣṇu alone is the highest lord. He, the best among the deities, deserves to be worshipped.” To them, who were discussing, Svāyambhuva Manu said: “He, the lord, who is full of good nature, who has auspicious qualities, who is lotus-eyed, who is glorious, who is the lord of Lakṣmī , who is the highest Brahman , is the only lord adored by brāhmaṇas, proficient in Vedas. Others mixed with passion and vice are not fit to be worshipped.” Having heard these words of him, all the great sages, joining the palms of their hands, said to the brāh- maṇa , Bhṛgu , the treasure of penance:
The sages said :
21-25. O you of a good vow, you are able to remove our doubt. Approach, O you of a good vow, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa . O sage, go near them and observe their bodies. Out of them, he who possesses the pure sattvaguṇa , is alone fit to be worshipped, and never anyone else. He, full of pure sattva , will be friendly to brāhmaṇas. To brāhmaṇas he will be a holy place and a favour. Even to deities and manes the remnants of his food will be purifying. Therefore, O best sage, go to the residence of gods. O lord, O best sage, quickly bring about the welfare of all people.
26-27. Thus addressed, the best sage, along with Vāmadeva , quickly went to Kailāsa where the bull-bannered (god) lived. Having gone near the door of the house of the magnanimous Śaṅkara and seeing very fierce Nandin with a spear in his hand, he said (to him):
28-34. “I, the brāhmaṇa Bhṛgu, have come to see Hara , the best god. Quickly announce me (i.e. my arrival) to the magnanimous Śaṅkara.” Hearing the words of him, Nandin, the lord of (Śiva’s) attendants spoke harsh words to the great sage of an unlimited splendour: “The lord is not in the vicinity. Śaṅkara is sporting with goddess ( Pārvatī ). O best sage, go back if you desire to live.” Thus repudiated by him the (sage) of a great penance remained there, at the door of the great lord, for many days. “Since he, arrogant due to the company of a woman, thinks lightly of me, he shall have the form of clitoris. Approached (i.e. overcome) by vice he slights me, a brāhmaṇa! Reduced to an impious state, he will not be adored by brāhmaṇas. Therefore, all the food, water, flowers and oblations offered to him will undoubtedly be useless.”
35-40. The very lustrous one, having thus cursed Śaṃkara honoured by the world, said to the very fierce attendant, Nan-din, holding a spear, O king: “May Śiva’s devotees, having ash, phallus and bones be impious and out of the Vedic fold.” The sage, having thus cursed Rudra, Tripura’s killer, went to Brahmā’s world, respected by all people. The very intelligent one, having seen Brahmā, saluted him by joining the palms of his hands. The great ascetic, having saluted him, remained silent before him. Seeing the best sage, Brahmā, possessed of an abundance of rajas did not honour him, the great sage that had approached him. He also did not rise to honour him, nor did he speak pleasing words.
41-45. The lotus-seated (Brahmā) remained there with great majesty. Seeing him with preponderance of rajas, the great sage, the grandsire of all worlds, who was very lustrous, said (these) words to Brahman: “Since you, having preponderance of rajas, are slighting me, therefore, be dishonoured by all people.” Bhṛgu, the brāhmaṇa, having thus cursed the magnanimous Brahmā, respected by the world, suddenly went to Viṣṇu’s residence. The brāhmaṇa, having entered Viṣṇu’s world on the northern coast of the Milky Ocean, and being properly honoured there by the glorious ones remaining there, and not being stopped there, entered the inner apartment.
46-52. Having entered that spotless palace, resembling the sun, he saw Lakṣmī’s lord lying on the bed of the serpent. Both his feet were being rubbed by the lotus-like hands of Lakṣmī. Seeing him, the best sage Bhṛgu, full of anger kicked with his left foot Viṣṇu’s chest. The lord, getting up quickly, and gladly saying, “I am fortunate”, joyfully pressed his foot with his hands. Slowly stroking his feet he spoke (these) sweet words: “O brāhmaṇa-sage, I am fortunate. I am always blessed. Due to the contact of your foot, there will be propitiousness in my body. May the dust-particles from the foot of a brāhmaṇa, which are the cause of the acquisition of affluence, which are the comets to the host of calamities that have come up, which are bridges over the boundless ocean of the mundane existence, purify me. All the holy places like Gaṅgā etc. undoubtedly remain in the body of him, on whose body dust-particles from a brāhmaṇa’s foot always remain.”
53-54. Saying so and quickly getting up with goddess (Lakṣmī), Viṣṇu devoutly honoured him with divine garlands, sandal etc. Having seen him, the best sage, with his eyes full of tears of joy, got from the best seat, and saluted that treasure of compassion. The great ascetic, having joined the palms of his hands, gladly said:
Śrī Bhṛgu said :
55-64. Oh, what a (handsome) form! Oh, (great) tranquillity! Oh, (great) knowledge! Oh, (great) pity! Oh, his patience is spotless! Oh, the goodness of Viṣṇu! Similarly the ocean of virtues has natural, auspicious, goodness. It is not at all present in all other gods. You alone are hospitable to the brāhmaṇas. You alone are the protector. You alone are the highest Brahman. You alone are the lord of brāhmaṇas. No other god is respectable. O Puruṣottama , those who worship any other god than you, have become impious, and are censured by all the world. You, Janārdana , are alone fit to be worshipped by brāhmaṇas, well-versed in the Vedas. None else among the gods is ever venerable. Brahmā, Rudra and others, mixed with rajas and tamas are not fit to be worshipped. You, having pure sattva, are fit to be worshipped by brāhmaṇas. The water (flowing) from your feet should be resorted to by manes, gods, and all brāhmaṇas. It gives salvation, and destroys sins. Manes, gods, brāhmaṇas should take what is left over after you have eaten, and not what is left over after others have eaten. The food, flowers, so also water of (i.e. offered to) other gods, would all be unfit to be touched. It is useless like liquor. Therefore, a wise brāhmaṇa should constantly worship you, the eternal one, everyday and should take water of (i.e. sanctified by) you and food eaten by you.
65-68. A brāhmaṇa should not see another god; should not worship him. He should not partake of another god’s favour; should not enter the sanctuary of any other (god). (If) a man does not give in this world the food and holy water enjoyed by you in the rite of śrāddha offered to his ancestors, all that would be fruitless. His dead ancestors fall into (and live in) the hell of pus and blood for thousands of crores of kalpas and hundreds of crores of kalpas. O master, when one offers an oblation (into fire) or gives (offerings) to deities and manes after offering them to you, there is satisfaction (of deities and manes), (i.e. he satisfies them) and he gets immortality.
69-78a. Therefore, you alone are adorable to gods, and none else. He who, through folly, would worship other (deities) will be impious. You are Nārāyaṇa ; you are glorious; you are the ancient Vāsudeva. You are omnipresent Viṣṇu. You are eternal, highest soul and the great god. You alone are fit to be worshipped by brāhmaṇas. You are hospitable to brāhmaṇas. You possess pure sattva. Due to your being venerable to brāhmaṇas and due to your virtue of having pure sattva, obtain the status of a brāhmaṇa among all the gods themselves; for all brāhmaṇas will resort to you, the highest Brahman, alone. They were brāhmaṇas and not others. There is no doubt about this. Devakī ’s son is holy. Madhusūdana is holy. The lotus-eyed one is holy. Viṣṇu, Acyuta is holy. Lord Kṛṣṇa is holy. Vāsudeva, Acyuta, Hari (is holy). Narasiṃha is holy. So also is the immutable Nārāyaṇa. Śrīdhara , Śrīśa, Govinda , Vāmana is holy. The Yajñavarāha , Keśava , Puruṣottama is holy. Glorious, lotuseyed Rāma , descendant of Raghu , is holy. Padmanābha is holy. So also Dāmodara , the lord, Mādhava , Yajña , lord Trivikrama is holy. Hṛṣīkeśa is holy; Janārdana, wearing yellow garments (is holy).
78b-87. Salutation to the holy god, to Vāsudeva, holder of the Śārṅga (bow); (Salutation) to Nārāyaṇa, Śrīśa, having lotus-like eyes. Salutation to the holy god, Vāsudeva, Viṣṇu. Salutation to the highest god full of auspicious qualities. Salutation to the holy god, of the form of all gods. Salutation to you having the body of the Boar. Salutation to you, the lord of the triad (of the Vedas). Salutation to the holy god, lying on the bed of the serpent. Repeated salutations to Rāghava having eyes like lotus-petals. O lord, all gods and sages, deluded by Maya , do not know you, the lord of all worlds and a great soul. O revered one. even all those proficient in the Vedas do not know you by your name, form and qualities and your acts difficult to be performed. I, capable of knowing your sattva, suggesting your superiority, have been sent by the great sages; (and therefore) I have approached you. O Keśava, in order to know your character and qualities, I put my foot on your chest. O Govinda, O treasure of pity, forgive it.
Speaking like this, and repeatedly saluting Viṣṇu, and being honoured there by the divine, magnanimous, great sages, Bhṛgu, with his mind delighted, again went to the place of sacrifice having an auspicious name.
88-93. The great sages, having seen the magnanimous one to have come back, rose, saluted him, and duly worshipped him. The best sage told them all that: “O best sages, Brahmā and Śiva, the best sages have preponderance of the qualities of rajas and tamas. They were cursed by me. They are not fit to be worshipped by brāhmaṇas. Śaṃkara enveloped by tamas was cursed by me on the peak of Kailāsa. Viṣṇu full of pure sattva is the ocean of auspicious qualities. Nārāyaṇa is the highest Brahman. (He i.e.) Viṣṇu is the deity of brāhmaṇas. Śrīpati , Viṣṇu, Vāsudeva, Janārdana is holy. Govinda, Hari, Acyuta of lotus-like eyes is holy. O best men, he alone is fit to be worshipped by brāhmaṇas, and none else.
94-97. He who, through folly, would worship another (god) will be impious. Even sinners get salvation just by remembering Kṛṣṇa. The water (flowing) from his feet should be taken. The remnants of the food (offered to) him are purifying. It gives heaven and salvation to men, especially to brāhmaṇas. (A man) should everyday offer an oblation which is (first) offered to Viṣṇu, to the gods. He should also offer it to his dead ancestors. (Then) he gets complete immortality. O brāhmaṇas, the dead ancestors of him who does not offer (food) enjoyed by Viṣṇu, to them at a śrāddha-rite, always eat (and drink) feces and urine.
98-101. Therefore, brāhmaṇas should always eat the remnants of the food offered to Viṣṇu. The remnants (of food offered to other gods) are useless and (therefore) condemned. A brāhmaṇa, weak in knowledge, who even once eats the remnants of food etc. offered to Śaṅkara etc., would certainly be a cāṇḍāla . For thousands of crores of kalpas he is roasted in the fire in hell. O best brāhmaṇas, the remnants of offerings to gods like Rudra, are said to be equal to food offered to demons, yakṣas , goblins and like liquor and flesh. Brāhmaṇas should not eat that food, the offering enjoyed by (these) gods.
102. Therefore, O best brāhmaṇas, leaving another god, worship diligently, till you live, the ancient Viṣṇu only.
103-109. With your doubts removed, endowed with the five purifications like imprinting the body with heated marks, with good hearts, looking upon that as the highest abode of Viṣṇu, properly worship that extraordinary Viṣṇu, O best brāhmaṇas. The brāhmaṇas marked with the disc(-impression) are good and extraordinary. Those without the disc-marks are said to be ordinary and vicious. Therefore, a man should have the heated marks of a disc and a conch at the roots of his arms, which (marks) of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu burn the stream of sins due to contact with ordinary persons. Having had the upright sectarian marks on the body according to the manner prescribed in the holy texts, he should worship Viṣṇu according to the rules with the gem of the hymn (viz. Viṣṇu- sahasranāma ). Being diligent he should also partake of the remnants of food offered to him. He should always worship gods at the time of finishing his worship. O brāhmaṇas, knowing him to be the highest lord enjoying all sacrifices, one should always offer (oblations into fire), give (presents to him) and mutter (his names).”
Vasiṣṭha said :
110. All the sages, thus addressed, and with their sins exhausted, saluted Bhṛgu and with the palms of their hands duly joined, said:
The sages said :
111-112. O revered best brāhmaṇa, you alone remove our doubts. You are the refuge ofthe people. O brāhmaṇa, you are the highest asylum. You alone are the best piety. You alone are the highest penance. We shall exist due to your favour, and not -otherwise, O brāhmaṇa.
Vasiṣṭha said :
113-117. All the great sages, having thus praised that brāhmaṇa Bhṛgu, and having got the hymn from him, worshipped Viṣṇu. O best king, I have told all this to you as the occasion has arisen. O best king, due to the touch of the lotus-like hand of Rāma the entire form condemned by the world will be spotless. Rāghava, the highest Brahman, is the purifier among al, gods. Touched and seen by him all these, Śaṃkara and others, become spotless. Viṣṇu, the ocean of the virtue of affection, is the father, the mother of all gods. He is also the protector of all people. If you desire the highest position, then seek his shelter only.
118. O king, I have told you the entire Purāṇa , acceptable to the Vedas, and narrated by Brahmā in the age of Svāyambhuva Manu.
119-125. This account, (causing) liberation, of Viṣṇu should be told to the one modest due to devotion for Viṣṇu and having pure sattva, and not otherwise (i.e. to none else). The reader (or reciter) of this should have the marks of a conch, a disc, an upright sectarian mark etc. It should always be heard from his mouth. (Then only) you will have a son. Not otherwise. In him who, being well-composed, would recite to others or read (for himself) this (Purāṇa), is always produced undivided devotion for Viṣṇu. A student obtains knowledge; one seeking religious merit obtains it. One seeking salvation obtains it. One desiring enjoyment gets happiness. A man, full of devotion, should read it on the twelfth day, when the Sun is in the Śravaṇā (constellation), on a Saṃkrānti day, or at an eclipse, or on the full-moon day or the new-moon day. He who, being composed, reads half a verse or a quarter of it, undoubtedly obtains the fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices. I have thus narrated to you this Purāṇa-text. Worship Viṣṇu if you desire the highest position.
Sūta said :
126-127. The best king ( Dilīpa ), thus addressed by his preceptor Vasiṣṭha , saluted and duly honoured him. Having properly received the hymn from the best brāhmaṇa, and having, till the end of his life, diligently worshipped Viṣṇu, he reached, in (due) time, the ancient position of Viṣṇu, fit to be reached by meditating saints.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 45096, revision 336715 (2022-04-26T10:53:36Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365840.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.