The Five Tales

Verse 1 (padma.1.56.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच- पुरा शर्वः स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा युवती रूपशालिनीः। गंधर्वकिन्नराणां च मनुष्याणां च सर्वतः

śrībhagavānuvāca- purā śarvaḥ striyo dṛṣṭvā yuvatī rūpaśālinīḥ gaṁdharvakinnarāṇāṁ ca manuṣyāṇāṁ ca sarvataḥ

Shri Bhagavan said: Long ago Sharva beheld beautiful young women — of the gandharvas, of the kinnaras, and of men — gathered from every quarter.

Verse 2 (padma.1.56.2)

मंत्रेण ताः समाकृष्य त्वतिदूरे विहायसि। तपोव्याजपरो देवस्तासु संगतमानसः

maṁtreṇa tāḥ samākṛṣya tvatidūre vihāyasi tapovyājaparo devastāsu saṁgatamānasaḥ

Drawing them near by a spell, far off in the sky, that god, feigning austerity, became enamoured of them.

Verse 3 (padma.1.56.3)

अतिरम्यां कुटीं कृत्वा ताभिः सह महेश्वरः। क्रीडां चकार सहसा मनोभव पराभवः

atiramyāṁ kuṭīṁ kṛtvā tābhiḥ saha maheśvaraḥ krīḍāṁ cakāra sahasā manobhava parābhavaḥ

Building a most delightful hut, Maheshvara, overcome by the god of love, suddenly gave himself to sporting with them.

Verse 4 (padma.1.56.4)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे गौर्याश्चित्तमुद्भ्रांततां गतम्। अपश्यद्ध्यानयोगेन क्रीडंतं जगदीश्वरम्

etasminnaṁtare gauryāścittamudbhrāṁtatāṁ gatam apaśyaddhyānayogena krīḍaṁtaṁ jagadīśvaram

Meanwhile Gauri's heart grew disturbed. Through the power of meditation she beheld the Lord of the Universe at his sport.

Verse 5 (padma.1.56.5)

स्त्रीभिरंतर्गतं ज्ञात्वा रोषस्य वशगाभवत्। ततः क्षेमंकरी रूपा भूत्वा च प्रविवेश सा

strībhiraṁtargataṁ jñātvā roṣasya vaśagābhavat tataḥ kṣemaṁkarī rūpā bhūtvā ca praviveśa sā

Knowing him to be among those women, she fell under the sway of rage. Then, taking the form of Kshemankari, she entered that place—

Verse 6 (padma.1.56.6)

व्योमैकांतेतिदूरे च कामदेव समप्रभम्। वामातिमध्यगं शुभ्रं पुरुषं पुरुषोत्तमम्

vyomaikāṁtetidūre ca kāmadeva samaprabham vāmātimadhyagaṁ śubhraṁ puruṣaṁ puruṣottamam

—far off in a lonely region of the sky, and beheld that supreme being, radiant as Kama himself, bright, standing amid the women—

Verse 7 (padma.1.56.7)

स्त्रीभिः सह समालिग्य प्रक्रीडंतं मुहुर्मुहुः। चुंबंतं निर्भरं देवं हरं रागप्रपीडितम्

strībhiḥ saha samāligya prakrīḍaṁtaṁ muhurmuhuḥ cuṁbaṁtaṁ nirbharaṁ devaṁ haraṁ rāgaprapīḍitam

—embracing the women, sporting again and again, kissing without restraint, that god Hara, utterly overwhelmed by passion—

Verse 8 (padma.1.56.8)

वृत्तं क्षेमंकरी दृष्ट्वा निपपाताग्रतस्तदा। तासां केशेषु चाकृष्य चकार चरणाहतिम्

vṛttaṁ kṣemaṁkarī dṛṣṭvā nipapātāgratastadā tāsāṁ keśeṣu cākṛṣya cakāra caraṇāhatim

Seeing this, Kshemankari at once fell upon them; seizing those women by the hair, she struck them with her feet.

Verse 9 (padma.1.56.9)

त्रपया पीडितश्शर्वः पराङ्मुखमवस्थितः। केशेष्वाकृष्य रोषात्ताः पातयामास भूतले

trapayā pīḍitaśśarvaḥ parāṅmukhamavasthitaḥ keśeṣvākṛṣya roṣāttāḥ pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Sharva, overcome with shame, stood there with his face turned away. In her fury she seized them by the hair and flung them down upon the ground.

Verse 10 (padma.1.56.10)

स्त्रियः सर्वाधरां प्राप्य सहसा विकृताननाः। उमाशापप्रदग्धांगा म्लेच्छानां वशमागताः

striyaḥ sarvādharāṁ prāpya sahasā vikṛtānanāḥ umāśāpapradagdhāṁgā mlecchānāṁ vaśamāgatāḥ

Those women at once fell to the most degraded state, their faces disfigured; burned by Uma's curse, they came under the sway of mlechchhas.

Verse 11 (padma.1.56.11)

ताश्चांडालस्त्रियः ख्याता अधवा धवसंयुताः। अद्याप्युमाकृतं शापं सर्वास्ताश्च समश्नुयुः

tāścāṁḍālastriyaḥ khyātā adhavā dhavasaṁyutāḥ adyāpyumākṛtaṁ śāpaṁ sarvāstāśca samaśnuyuḥ

They became known as chandala women, whether widowed or wedded. Even to this day all of them bear that curse laid upon them by Uma.

Verse 12 (padma.1.56.12)

अथोमा शतधा रूपं कृत्वेशं संगता तदा। एवं प्रभावं जानीहि कामस्य सततं द्विज

athomā śatadhā rūpaṁ kṛtveśaṁ saṁgatā tadā evaṁ prabhāvaṁ jānīhi kāmasya satataṁ dvija

Then Uma, multiplying her form a hundredfold, united herself with Ishvara. Know thus, O brahmin, the ceaseless power of desire.

Verse 13 (padma.1.56.13)

ततश्चिरात्तया सार्द्धं गतः कैलासमंदिरं। अतः क्षेमंकरीं दृष्ट्वा येभिनंदंति मानवाः

tataścirāttayā sārddhaṁ gataḥ kailāsamaṁdiraṁ ataḥ kṣemaṁkarīṁ dṛṣṭvā yebhinaṁdaṁti mānavāḥ

After that, after a long time, he went with her to the abode of Kailasa. Those men who, beholding that Kshemankari, offer her homage—

Verse 14 (padma.1.56.14)

तेषां वित्तर्द्धि विभवा भवंतीह परत्र च। कुंकुमारक्तसर्वांगि कुंदेन्दुधवलानने

teṣāṁ vittarddhi vibhavā bhavaṁtīha paratra ca kuṁkumāraktasarvāṁgi kuṁdendudhavalānane

—attain wealth, prosperity and fortune, both here and hereafter. O goddess, whose whole body is red with kumkum, whose face is fair as jasmine or the moon,

Verse 15 (padma.1.56.15)

सर्वमंगलदे देवि क्षेमंकरि नमोस्तु ते। योगिनीसाम्यं तेनैव संमुखा विमुखापि वा

sarvamaṁgalade devi kṣemaṁkari namostu te yoginīsāmyaṁ tenaiva saṁmukhā vimukhāpi vā

O all-auspicious goddess, O Kshemankari, salutations to you! Like the yoginis, whether you stand facing one or turned away—

Verse 16 (padma.1.56.16)

दृष्ट्वा तां नाभिवंदेद्यस्तस्य युद्धे पराजयः। राजगृहेषु विद्यायां नमस्काराज्जयो भवेत्

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ nābhivaṁdedyastasya yuddhe parājayaḥ rājagṛheṣu vidyāyāṁ namaskārājjayo bhavet

—whoever fails to bow before her, seeing her, meets defeat in battle. In royal assemblies and in learning, victory comes only through homage to her.

Verse 17 (padma.1.56.17)

एवं कामस्य माहात्म्यं भवो मोहवशं गतः। अयं देवासुराणां च क्षमया प्रभुतां गतः

evaṁ kāmasya māhātmyaṁ bhavo mohavaśaṁ gataḥ ayaṁ devāsurāṇāṁ ca kṣamayā prabhutāṁ gataḥ

Such indeed is the greatness of desire that even Bhava was overcome by delusion; yet he, by the virtue of forbearance, attained lordship over gods and demons alike—

Verse 18 (padma.1.56.18)

अस्यैव सदृशो लोके न भूतो न भविष्यति। रामामङ्कस्थितां रम्यां क्षमातल्पगतेन च

asyaiva sadṛśo loke na bhūto na bhaviṣyati rāmāmaṅkasthitāṁ ramyāṁ kṣamātalpagatena ca

—none like him has ever been, nor shall ever be. Holding the lovely Rama upon his lap, resting upon the couch of forbearance,

Verse 19 (padma.1.56.19)

त्यक्त्वैव साधिता लोकास्सुरासुरसुदुर्लभाः। एवं वैष्णवमुख्यश्च सुरासुरगणार्चितः

tyaktvaiva sādhitā lokāssurāsurasudurlabhāḥ evaṁ vaiṣṇavamukhyaśca surāsuragaṇārcitaḥ

—having renounced even her, he attained for both gods and demons worlds most hard to reach. Thus this foremost of Vaishnavas, worshipped by hosts of gods and demons—

Verse 20 (padma.1.56.20)

यो नो ददाति भुक्त्यग्र्यं शेषं च स्वयमश्नुते। एवमभ्यासधैर्येण दीर्घकाले सुखंगते

yo no dadāti bhuktyagryaṁ śeṣaṁ ca svayamaśnute evamabhyāsadhairyeṇa dīrghakāle sukhaṁgate

—who gives us the very best portion of his food, and himself partakes only of what remains — thus, through long practice and patience, when at last happiness came—

Verse 21 (padma.1.56.21)

प्राक्संगमात्स्वभार्यां च दृष्ट्वा मां प्रददौ मुदा। द्वादशाब्दं प्रसंकल्प्य प्राग्भोगो मयि वेशितः

prāksaṁgamātsvabhāryāṁ ca dṛṣṭvā māṁ pradadau mudā dvādaśābdaṁ prasaṁkalpya prāgbhogo mayi veśitaḥ

—even before our union, seeing me, he had gladly offered his own wife to me. Vowing twelve years, he had first dedicated his very enjoyment to me.

Verse 22 (padma.1.56.22)

तेन तस्य गृहे नित्यं तिष्ठामि गृहरक्षणात्। तथा धात्रीफलस्यापि सदा स्वर समीहते

tena tasya gṛhe nityaṁ tiṣṭhāmi gṛharakṣaṇāt tathā dhātrīphalasyāpi sadā svara samīhate

Therefore I dwell forever in his house, guarding it. And of the amalaki fruit too he ever speaks with devotion in his prayer.

Verse 23 (padma.1.56.23)

तस्मादुक्तो मयान्येषां वैष्णवानां च वैष्णवः। पुरा ये विप्र मे भक्तास्सुरा मत्पथगामिनः

tasmādukto mayānyeṣāṁ vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca vaiṣṇavaḥ purā ye vipra me bhaktāssurā matpathagāminaḥ

Therefore I have called him a Vaishnava among Vaishnavas. O brahmin, among my devotees of old, the gods who walked my path—

Verse 24 (padma.1.56.24)

तैरेव न कृतं यच्च तदनेन कृतं परम्। तस्माद्वैष्णवसर्वस्वं नाम रम्यं मया कृतम्

taireva na kṛtaṁ yacca tadanena kṛtaṁ param tasmādvaiṣṇavasarvasvaṁ nāma ramyaṁ mayā kṛtam

—even what they did not do, this one has accomplished. Therefore I have given him the beautiful name 'Vaishnava-sarvasva,' the very all of a Vaishnava.

Verse 25 (padma.1.56.25)

अस्य वेश्मनि तिष्ठामि मुहूर्तं न चलाम्यहम्। अतो ये चैवमद्भक्तास्तेष्वहं सुलभो द्विज

asya veśmani tiṣṭhāmi muhūrtaṁ na calāmyaham ato ye caivamadbhaktāsteṣvahaṁ sulabho dvija

I dwell in his house and do not leave it even for a moment. O brahmin, therefore to all such devotees of mine I am easily attained.

Verse 26 (padma.1.56.26)

अस्माकं पदवीं तेभ्यो ह्यद्य दद्मि स्वकारणम्। आवयोर्विप्रसौजन्यं स्वप्नभोज्यादिकं समम्

asmākaṁ padavīṁ tebhyo hyadya dadmi svakāraṇam āvayorviprasaujanyaṁ svapnabhojyādikaṁ samam

This day I grant them my own station, for my own reasons. Between us — the brahmin and myself — the friendship, the shared dream and meal and all the rest, is equal,

Verse 27 (padma.1.56.27)

सायुज्यं च सखित्वं च पश्य भूदेवनांतरम्। ततो मूकादयः सर्वे स्वागता हरिमीश्वरम्

sāyujyaṁ ca sakhitvaṁ ca paśya bhūdevanāṁtaram tato mūkādayaḥ sarve svāgatā harimīśvaram

—as too is nearness of being and friendship itself. See, there is no difference between a brahmin and myself. Then all creatures, even the mute, welcoming Hari, the Lord—

Verse 28 (padma.1.56.28)

गंतुकामा दिवं पुण्यास्सदाराः सपरिच्छदाः। ये च तेषां गृहाभ्याशेप्यात्मनो गृहगोधिकाः

gaṁtukāmā divaṁ puṇyāssadārāḥ saparicchadāḥ ye ca teṣāṁ gṛhābhyāśepyātmano gṛhagodhikāḥ

—meritorious, wishing to go to heaven, with their wives and households, set out for the sky; and even the household lizards that lived close by their homes—

Verse 29 (padma.1.56.29)

नाना कीटादयो ये च तेषामनुययुः सुराः। व्यास उवाच- एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः

nānā kīṭādayo ye ca teṣāmanuyayuḥ surāḥ vyāsa uvāca- etasminnaṁtare devāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ

—and various kinds of insects, all of them followed after those gods. Vyasa said: Meanwhile the gods, the siddhas and the great sages—

Verse 30 (padma.1.56.30)

प्रचक्रुः पुष्पवर्षाणि साधुसाध्वित्यनादयन्। देवदुंदुभयो नेदुर्विमानेषु वनेषु च

pracakruḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi sādhusādhvityanādayan devaduṁdubhayo nedurvimāneṣu vaneṣu ca

—rained down flowers, crying out 'well done, well done!' The divine drums resounded in the celestial cars and in the forests.

Verse 31 (padma.1.56.31)

समारुह्य रथं स्वं स्वं हरिवीथीपुरं ययुः। तदद्भुतं समालोक्य विप्रोऽवोचज्जनार्दनम्

samāruhya rathaṁ svaṁ svaṁ harivīthīpuraṁ yayuḥ tadadbhutaṁ samālokya vipro'vocajjanārdanam

Mounting each his own chariot, they all went to Hari's celestial city. Beholding that wondrous sight, the brahmin said to Janardana —

Verse 32 (padma.1.56.32)

उपदेशं च देवेश ब्रूहि मे मधुसूदन। श्रीभगवानुवाच- गच्छ स्वपितरौ तात शोकविक्लवमानसौ

upadeśaṁ ca deveśa brūhi me madhusūdana śrībhagavānuvāca- gaccha svapitarau tāta śokaviklavamānasau

'O lord of gods, O Madhusudana, give me too your instruction.' Shri Bhagavan said: 'Go, my child, to your own parents, whose hearts are stricken with grief,'

Verse 33 (padma.1.56.33)

समाराध्य प्रयत्नेन मद्गृहं प्राप्स्यसेऽचिरात्। पितृमातृसमा देवा न तिष्ठंति सुरालये

samārādhya prayatnena madgṛhaṁ prāpsyase'cirāt pitṛmātṛsamā devā na tiṣṭhaṁti surālaye

'—and, worshipping them with diligence, you shall swiftly attain my abode. Parents are equal to the gods; the gods do not dwell in temples—'

Verse 34 (padma.1.56.34)

याभ्यां सुगर्हितं देहं शिशुत्वे पालितं सदा। अज्ञानदोषसहितं प्रपुष्टं चापि वर्धितम्

yābhyāṁ sugarhitaṁ dehaṁ śiśutve pālitaṁ sadā ajñānadoṣasahitaṁ prapuṣṭaṁ cāpi vardhitam

'—but those two, who all through childhood ever nurtured this body, deserving of such shame, who nourished and reared it despite all its faults of ignorance,'

Verse 35 (padma.1.56.35)

याभ्यां तयोस्समं नास्ति त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे। ततो देवगणास्सर्वे पंचभिस्तैर्मुदान्विताः

yābhyāṁ tayossamaṁ nāsti trailokye sacarācare tato devagaṇāssarve paṁcabhistairmudānvitāḥ

'—dwell in them; and in the three worlds, among all that moves and moves not, none equals those two.' Then all the hosts of gods, gladdened together with those five,

Verse 36 (padma.1.56.36)

माधवं संस्तुवंतश्च गतास्ते हरिमंदिरम्। खचितां च पुरीं रम्यां विश्वकर्मविनिर्मिताम्

mādhavaṁ saṁstuvaṁtaśca gatāste harimaṁdiram khacitāṁ ca purīṁ ramyāṁ viśvakarmavinirmitām

—praising Madhava, went to Hari's temple-city, a delightful city studded with jewels, built by Vishvakarma himself,

Verse 37 (padma.1.56.37)

रत्नाढ्यामिष्टसंपूर्णां कल्पवृक्षादिभिर्युताम्। शातकुम्भमयैर्गेहैस्सर्वरत्नैस्सकर्बुराम्

ratnāḍhyāmiṣṭasaṁpūrṇāṁ kalpavṛkṣādibhiryutām śātakumbhamayairgehaissarvaratnaissakarburām

—rich in gems, full of every desired thing, adorned with wishing-trees and the like; its houses of pure gold, dappled with every kind of jewel,

Verse 38 (padma.1.56.38)

वज्रवैडूर्यसोपानां स्वर्णदीतोयसंयुताम्। गीतवाद्यादिसंपूर्णां सर्वदुर्गसमाकुलाम्

vajravaiḍūryasopānāṁ svarṇadītoyasaṁyutām gītavādyādisaṁpūrṇāṁ sarvadurgasamākulām

—its stairways of diamond and beryl, watered by a river of gold; filled everywhere with song and music, encircled by every kind of fortification,

Verse 39 (padma.1.56.39)

कोकिलालापबहुलां सिद्धगंधर्वसेविताम्। रूपाढ्यैः सुजनैः पूर्णां प्रयांतीमिव खे पुरीम्

kokilālāpabahulāṁ siddhagaṁdharvasevitām rūpāḍhyaiḥ sujanaiḥ pūrṇāṁ prayāṁtīmiva khe purīm

—loud with the calls of cuckoos, attended by siddhas and gandharvas; that city, full of the beautiful and the noble, seemed almost to move through the sky.

Verse 40 (padma.1.56.40)

ततः स्थित्वाऽच्युताः सर्वे सर्वलोकोर्ध्वतो भृशम्। द्विजोपि पितरौ गत्वा समाराध्य प्रयत्नतः

tataḥ sthitvā'cyutāḥ sarve sarvalokordhvato bhṛśam dvijopi pitarau gatvā samārādhya prayatnataḥ

Then all those devotees of Achyuta, established there, rose high above every other world. And that brahmin too, having gone to his own parents and worshipped them with diligence,

Verse 41 (padma.1.56.41)

अचिरेणैव कालेन सकुटुंबो हरिं ययौ। पंचाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं मया ते समुदाहृतम्

acireṇaiva kālena sakuṭuṁbo hariṁ yayau paṁcākhyānamidaṁ puṇyaṁ mayā te samudāhṛtam

—in a short time attained Hari, together with his whole family. This sacred Panchakhyana, this Tale of the Five, I have thus related to you.

Verse 42 (padma.1.56.42)

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि तस्य नास्तीह दुर्गतिः। ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्न लिप्येत कदाचन

yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi tasya nāstīha durgatiḥ brahmahatyādibhiḥ pāpairna lipyeta kadācana

Whoever reads or hears it never comes to an evil end. He is never tainted by such sins as the slaying of a brahmin.

Verse 43 (padma.1.56.43)

गवां कोटिप्रदानेन यत्फलं लभते नरः। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति पंचाख्यानावगाहनात्

gavāṁ koṭipradānena yatphalaṁ labhate naraḥ tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti paṁcākhyānāvagāhanāt

The merit a man obtains by the gift of ten million cows, that same merit he obtains by immersing himself in this Panchakhyana.

Verse 44 (padma.1.56.44)

स्नानेन पुष्करे नित्यं भागीरथ्यां च सर्वदा। यत्फलं तदवाप्नोति सकृच्छ्रवणगोचरात्

snānena puṣkare nityaṁ bhāgīrathyāṁ ca sarvadā yatphalaṁ tadavāpnoti sakṛcchravaṇagocarāt

The merit one gains from daily bathing at Pushkara, and always in the Bhagirathi, that same merit is gained by merely hearing this once.

Verse 45 (padma.1.56.45)

दुःस्वप्नं नाशयेत्क्षिप्रं तथारोग्यं प्रयच्छति। लक्ष्म्यारोग्यकरं चैव तस्माच्छ्रोतव्यमेव हि

duḥsvapnaṁ nāśayetkṣipraṁ tathārogyaṁ prayacchati lakṣmyārogyakaraṁ caiva tasmācchrotavyameva hi

It swiftly destroys evil dreams and bestows good health as well. Since it grants both fortune and health, it ought indeed to be heard.