Sumana's Lineage, Vedasharma's Story, and the Righteous Death

Verse 1 (padma.2.14.1)

सोमशर्मोवाच- एवंविधं महापुण्यं धर्मव्याख्यानमुत्तमम् । कथं जानासि भद्रे त्वं कस्माच्चैव त्वया श्रुतम्

somaśarmovāca- evaṁvidhaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ dharmavyākhyānamuttamam kathaṁ jānāsi bhadre tvaṁ kasmāccaiva tvayā śrutam

Somasharma said: 'Such a supremely meritorious, excellent exposition of dharma — how do you know it, O gracious one? From whom indeed have you heard it?'

Verse 2 (padma.2.14.2)

सुमनोवाच-। भार्गवाणां कुले जातः पिता मम महामते । च्यवनो नाम विख्यातः सर्वज्ञानविशारदः

sumanovāca- bhārgavāṇāṁ kule jātaḥ pitā mama mahāmate cyavano nāma vikhyātaḥ sarvajñānaviśāradaḥ

Sumana said: 'Born in the lineage of the Bhargavas, my father, O great-minded one, is renowned by the name Chyavana, skilled in every branch of knowledge.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.14.3)

तस्याहं प्रिय कन्या वै प्राणादपि च वल्लभा । यत्रयत्र व्रजत्येष तीर्थारामेषु सुव्रत

tasyāhaṁ priya kanyā vai prāṇādapi ca vallabhā yatrayatra vrajatyeṣa tīrthārāmeṣu suvrata

'I am his beloved daughter, dearer to him even than his own life. Wherever he goes, to sacred fords and pleasure-groves, O one of good vows—'

Verse 4 (padma.2.14.4)

सभासु च मुनीनां तु देवतायतनेषु च । तेन सार्द्धं व्रजाम्येका क्रीडमाना सदैव हि

sabhāsu ca munīnāṁ tu devatāyataneṣu ca tena sārddhaṁ vrajāmyekā krīḍamānā sadaiva hi

—'to the assemblies of sages and to the abodes of the gods — I alone would go with him, ever at play.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.14.5)

कौशिकान्वयसंभूतो वेदशर्मा महामतिः । पितुर्मम सखा दैवादटमानः समागतः

kauśikānvayasaṁbhūto vedaśarmā mahāmatiḥ piturmama sakhā daivādaṭamānaḥ samāgataḥ

'Vedasharma, of great mind, born in the lineage of Kaushika, was a friend of my father; wandering by fate, he came to us.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.14.6)

दुःखेन महताविष्टश्चिंतयानो मुहुर्मुहुः । समागतं महात्मानं तमुवाच पिता मम

duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭaściṁtayāno muhurmuhuḥ samāgataṁ mahātmānaṁ tamuvāca pitā mama

'Overcome with great sorrow, brooding again and again, my father spoke to that great soul who had come:'

Verse 7 (padma.2.14.7)

भवंतं दुःखसंतप्तमिति जानामि सुव्रत । कस्माद्दुःखी भवाञ्जातस्तस्मात्त्वं कारणं वद

bhavaṁtaṁ duḥkhasaṁtaptamiti jānāmi suvrata kasmādduḥkhī bhavāñjātastasmāttvaṁ kāraṇaṁ vada

'"I know you to be tormented by sorrow, O one of good vows. Tell me the reason why you have become so sorrowful."'

Verse 8 (padma.2.14.8)

एतद्वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा च्यवनस्य महात्मनः । तमुवाच महात्मानं पितरं मम सुव्रतः

etadvākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā cyavanasya mahātmanaḥ tamuvāca mahātmānaṁ pitaraṁ mama suvrataḥ

Having heard this word of the great soul Chyavana, that good-vowed Vedasharma said to my father, the great soul:

Verse 9 (padma.2.14.9)

वेदशर्मा महाप्राज्ञ सर्वदुःखस्य कारणम् । मम भार्या महासाध्वी पातिव्रत्यपरायणा

vedaśarmā mahāprājña sarvaduḥkhasya kāraṇam mama bhāryā mahāsādhvī pātivratyaparāyaṇā

Vedasharma said: 'O greatly wise one, the cause of all my sorrow is this — my wife, a most virtuous lady, wholly devoted to fidelity—'

Verse 10 (padma.2.14.10)

अपुत्रा सा हि संजाता मम वंशो न विद्यते । एतत्ते कारणं प्रोक्तं प्रश्नितोस्मि यतस्त्वया

aputrā sā hi saṁjātā mama vaṁśo na vidyate etatte kāraṇaṁ proktaṁ praśnitosmi yatastvayā

—'has remained without a son; my lineage has no continuance. This is the reason I have told you, since you have asked me.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.14.11)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तः कश्चित्सिद्धः समागतः । मम पित्रा तथा तेन ह्युत्थाय वेदशर्मणा

etasminnaṁtare prāptaḥ kaścitsiddhaḥ samāgataḥ mama pitrā tathā tena hyutthāya vedaśarmaṇā

In the meantime, a certain siddha arrived and came there; both my father and Vedasharma rose up—

Verse 12 (padma.2.14.12)

द्वाभ्यामपि च सिद्धोसौ पूजितो भक्तिपूर्वकैः । उपहारैस्स भोज्यान्नैर्वचनैर्मधुराक्षरैः

dvābhyāmapi ca siddhosau pūjito bhaktipūrvakaiḥ upahāraissa bhojyānnairvacanairmadhurākṣaraiḥ

—and that siddha was worshipped by both of them with devoted offerings, with food to eat, and with sweet-syllabled words.

Verse 13 (padma.2.14.13)

द्वाभ्यामन्तर्गतं पृष्टं पूर्वोक्तं च यथा त्वया । उभौ तौ प्राह धर्मात्मा ससखं पितरं मम

dvābhyāmantargataṁ pṛṣṭaṁ pūrvoktaṁ ca yathā tvayā ubhau tau prāha dharmātmā sasakhaṁ pitaraṁ mama

The two of them asked him about the matter already spoken of before; that righteous soul then said to my father together with his friend:

Verse 14 (padma.2.14.14)

धर्मस्य कारणं सर्वं मयोक्तं ते तथा किल । धर्मेण प्राप्यते पुत्रो धनं धान्यं तथा स्त्रियः

dharmasya kāraṇaṁ sarvaṁ mayoktaṁ te tathā kila dharmeṇa prāpyate putro dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ tathā striyaḥ

'The whole cause lies in dharma, as has indeed already been told to you: through dharma is a son obtained, and wealth, and grain, and wives.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.14.15)

ततस्तेन कृतं धर्मं संपूर्णं वेदशर्मणा । तस्माद्धर्मात्सुसंजातं महत्सौख्यं सपुत्रकम्

tatastena kṛtaṁ dharmaṁ saṁpūrṇaṁ vedaśarmaṇā tasmāddharmātsusaṁjātaṁ mahatsaukhyaṁ saputrakam

Then dharma was fully practiced by Vedasharma; from that dharma there arose great happiness for him, together with a son.

Verse 16 (padma.2.14.16)

तेन संगप्रसंगेन ममैष मतिनिश्चयः । यथा कांत तव प्रोक्तं मयैव च परं शुभम्

tena saṁgaprasaṁgena mamaiṣa matiniścayaḥ yathā kāṁta tava proktaṁ mayaiva ca paraṁ śubham

By that very association and encounter my own understanding became firm; and thus, my dear, what has been told to you by me is the highest good.

Verse 17 (padma.2.14.17)

तस्माच्छ्रुतं महासिद्धात्सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । विप्रधर्मं समाश्रित्य अनुवर्त्तस्व सर्वदा

tasmācchrutaṁ mahāsiddhātsarvasaṁdehanāśanam vipradharmaṁ samāśritya anuvarttasva sarvadā

This, then, was heard from that great siddha, dispelling every doubt: taking refuge in the dharma of the brahmin, conduct yourself accordingly always.

Verse 18 (padma.2.14.18)

सोमशर्मोवाच- धर्मेण कीदृशो मृत्युर्जन्म चैव वदस्व मे । उभयोर्लक्षणं कांते तत्सर्वं हि वदस्व मे

somaśarmovāca- dharmeṇa kīdṛśo mṛtyurjanma caiva vadasva me ubhayorlakṣaṇaṁ kāṁte tatsarvaṁ hi vadasva me

Somasharma said: 'Through dharma, what kind of death, and what kind of birth follows? Tell me the mark of both, my dear; tell me all of it.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.14.19)

सुमनोवाच- सत्य शौच क्षमा शांति तीर्थपुण्यादिकैस्तथा । धर्मश्च पालितो येन तस्य मृत्युं वदाम्यहम्

sumanovāca- satya śauca kṣamā śāṁti tīrthapuṇyādikaistathā dharmaśca pālito yena tasya mṛtyuṁ vadāmyaham

Sumana said: 'He by whom dharma has been upheld through truth, purity, forbearance, peace, and the merit of pilgrimage and the rest — of his death I shall now speak.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.14.20)

रोगो न जायते तस्य न च पीडा कलेवरे । न श्रमो वै न च ग्लानिर्न च स्वेदो भ्रमस्तथा

rogo na jāyate tasya na ca pīḍā kalevare na śramo vai na ca glānirna ca svedo bhramastathā

'No disease arises for him, nor any pain in his body; no exhaustion, no weariness, no sweating, and no confusion either.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.14.21)

दिव्यरूपधरा भूत्वा गंधर्वा ब्राह्मणास्तथा । वेदपाठसमायुक्ता गीतज्ञानविशारदाः

divyarūpadharā bhūtvā gaṁdharvā brāhmaṇāstathā vedapāṭhasamāyuktā gītajñānaviśāradāḥ

'Taking on divine forms, gandharvas and brahmins, joined with the recitation of the Veda, skilled in song and knowledge—'

Verse 22 (padma.2.14.22)

तस्य पार्श्वं समायांति स्तुतिं कुर्वंति चातुलाम् । स्वस्थो हि आसने युक्तो देवपूजारतः किल

tasya pārśvaṁ samāyāṁti stutiṁ kurvaṁti cātulām svastho hi āsane yukto devapūjārataḥ kila

—'come to his side and offer him incomparable praise. He remains at ease, seated in his place, ever devoted to the worship of the gods.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.14.23)

तीर्थं च लभते प्राज्ञः स्नानार्थं धर्मतत्परः । अग्न्यागारे च गोस्थाने देवतायतनेषु च

tīrthaṁ ca labhate prājñaḥ snānārthaṁ dharmatatparaḥ agnyāgāre ca gosthāne devatāyataneṣu ca

'That wise one, devoted to dharma, finds a holy tirtha for his bathing — in the fire-sanctuary, or a cow-pen, or in the abode of a god—'

Verse 24 (padma.2.14.24)

आरामे च तडागे च यत्राश्वत्थो वटस्तथा । ब्रह्मवृक्षं समाश्रित्य श्रीवृक्षं च तथा पुनः

ārāme ca taḍāge ca yatrāśvattho vaṭastathā brahmavṛkṣaṁ samāśritya śrīvṛkṣaṁ ca tathā punaḥ

—'in a grove, or by a pool, or where a peepal or banyan tree stands; taking refuge at the foot of a Brahma-tree, and likewise a Shri-tree—'

Verse 25 (padma.2.14.25)

अश्वस्थानं समाश्रित्य गजस्थानगतो नरः । अशोकं चूतवृक्षं च समाश्रित्य यदास्थितः

aśvasthānaṁ samāśritya gajasthānagato naraḥ aśokaṁ cūtavṛkṣaṁ ca samāśritya yadāsthitaḥ

—'or taking refuge in a stable of horses, or having gone to a place of elephants; or when a man is found at rest beneath an ashoka or a mango tree—'

Verse 26 (padma.2.14.26)

संनिधौ ब्राह्मणानां च राजवेश्मगतोथवा । रणभूमिं समाश्रित्य पूर्वं यत्र मृतो भवेत्

saṁnidhau brāhmaṇānāṁ ca rājaveśmagatothavā raṇabhūmiṁ samāśritya pūrvaṁ yatra mṛto bhavet

—'or in the presence of brahmins, or having gone to a king's palace; or taking refuge upon a battlefield where one has died in a former age—'

Verse 27 (padma.2.14.27)

मृत्युस्थानानि पुण्यानि केवलं धर्मकारणम् । गोग्रहं तु सुसंप्राप्य तथा चामरकंटकम्

mṛtyusthānāni puṇyāni kevalaṁ dharmakāraṇam gograhaṁ tu susaṁprāpya tathā cāmarakaṁṭakam

—'these are the meritorious places of death, brought about by dharma alone; and having reached a cow-shelter, or likewise Amarakantaka—'

Verse 28 (padma.2.14.28)

शुद्धधर्मकरो नित्यं धर्मतो धर्मवत्सलः । एवं स्थानं समाप्नोति यदा मृत्युं समाश्रितः

śuddhadharmakaro nityaṁ dharmato dharmavatsalaḥ evaṁ sthānaṁ samāpnoti yadā mṛtyuṁ samāśritaḥ

—'one who ever performs pure dharma, devoted to dharma out of dharma itself, obtains such a place, when he comes to embrace death there.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.14.29)

मातरं पश्यते पुण्यं पितरं च नरोत्तमः । भ्रातरं श्रेयसा युक्तमन्यं स्वजनबांधवम्

mātaraṁ paśyate puṇyaṁ pitaraṁ ca narottamaḥ bhrātaraṁ śreyasā yuktamanyaṁ svajanabāṁdhavam

'That excellent man sees, at that meritorious hour, his mother, and his father, and a brother joined with true good fortune, and other kinsmen and relatives—'

Verse 30 (padma.2.14.30)

बंदीजनैस्तथा पुण्यैः स्तूयमानं पुनःपुनः । पापिष्ठं नैव पश्येत मातृपित्रादिकं पुनः

baṁdījanaistathā puṇyaiḥ stūyamānaṁ punaḥpunaḥ pāpiṣṭhaṁ naiva paśyeta mātṛpitrādikaṁ punaḥ

—'praised again and again by meritorious bards; but he never sees his mother, father, and the rest, if they were of sinful conduct.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.14.31)

गीतं गायंति गंधर्वाः स्तुवंतिस्तावकाः स्तवैः । मंत्रपाठैस्तथा विप्रा माता स्नेहेन पूजयेत्

gītaṁ gāyaṁti gaṁdharvāḥ stuvaṁtistāvakāḥ stavaiḥ maṁtrapāṭhaistathā viprā mātā snehena pūjayet

'Gandharvas sing songs; devoted ones praise him with hymns; brahmins recite mantras; his mother honors him with affection—'

Verse 32 (padma.2.14.32)

पितास्वजनवर्गाश्च धर्मात्मानं महामतिम् । एवं दूताः समाख्याताः पुण्यस्थानानि ते विभो

pitāsvajanavargāśca dharmātmānaṁ mahāmatim evaṁ dūtāḥ samākhyātāḥ puṇyasthānāni te vibho

—'his father and the family of kinsmen too honor that righteous, great-minded one. Thus have the messengers been described, and the meritorious places, O mighty one.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.14.33)

प्रत्यक्षान्पश्यते दूतान्हास्यस्नेहसमाविलान् । न च स्वप्नेन मोहेन क्लेदयुक्तेन नैव सः

pratyakṣānpaśyate dūtānhāsyasnehasamāvilān na ca svapnena mohena kledayuktena naiva saḥ

'He sees these messengers directly, filled with laughter and affection — and not through any dream, nor through delusion, nor through any morbid disorder.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.14.34)

धर्मराजो महाप्राज्ञो भवंतं तु समाह्वयेत् । एह्येहि त्वं महाभाग यत्र धर्मः स तिष्ठति

dharmarājo mahāprājño bhavaṁtaṁ tu samāhvayet ehyehi tvaṁ mahābhāga yatra dharmaḥ sa tiṣṭhati

'Dharmaraja himself, the greatly wise one, calls out to him: "Come, come, O greatly fortunate one, to where Dharma dwells."'

Verse 35 (padma.2.14.35)

तस्य मोहो न च भ्रांतिर्न ग्लानिः स्मृतिविभ्रमः । जायते नात्र संदेहः प्रसन्नात्मा स तिष्ठति

tasya moho na ca bhrāṁtirna glāniḥ smṛtivibhramaḥ jāyate nātra saṁdehaḥ prasannātmā sa tiṣṭhati

'No delusion befalls him, nor confusion, nor weariness, nor any disturbance of memory — no doubt of it; he remains of tranquil soul.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.14.36)

ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्नः स्मरन्देवं जनार्दनम् । तैः सार्द्धं तु प्रयात्येवं संतुष्टो हृष्टमानसः

jñānavijñānasaṁpannaḥ smarandevaṁ janārdanam taiḥ sārddhaṁ tu prayātyevaṁ saṁtuṣṭo hṛṣṭamānasaḥ

'Endowed with knowledge and discernment, remembering the god Janardana, he departs together with them, content, his mind full of joy.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.14.37)

एकत्वं जायते तत्र त्यजतः स्वंकलेवरम् । दशमद्वारमाश्रित्य आत्मा तस्य स गच्छति

ekatvaṁ jāyate tatra tyajataḥ svaṁkalevaram daśamadvāramāśritya ātmā tasya sa gacchati

'Oneness with the divine arises there, as he abandons his own body; taking the tenth gate, the crown of the head, his soul then departs.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.14.38)

शिबिका तस्य आयाति हंसयानं मनोहरम् । विमानमेव चायाति हयो वा गज उत्तमः

śibikā tasya āyāti haṁsayānaṁ manoharam vimānameva cāyāti hayo vā gaja uttamaḥ

'A palanquin comes for him, or a lovely swan-drawn chariot; a heavenly aerial car comes too, or a horse, or an excellent elephant.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.14.39)

छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन चामरैर्व्यजनैस्तथा । वीज्यमानः स पुण्यात्मा पुण्यैरेवं समंततः

chatreṇa dhriyamāṇena cāmarairvyajanaistathā vījyamānaḥ sa puṇyātmā puṇyairevaṁ samaṁtataḥ

'With a parasol held over him, and with chowries and fans, that meritorious soul is fanned all around by meritorious attendants.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.14.40)

गीयमानस्तु धर्मात्मा स्तूयमानस्तु पंडितैः । बंदिभिश्चारणैर्दिव्यैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः

gīyamānastu dharmātmā stūyamānastu paṁḍitaiḥ baṁdibhiścāraṇairdivyairbrāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ

'That righteous soul is sung of, praised by the learned, by bards and divine minstrels, and by brahmins versed in the Veda—'

Verse 41 (padma.2.14.41)

साधुभिः स्तूयमानस्तु सर्वसौख्यसमन्वितः । यथादानप्रभावेण फलमाप्नोति तत्र सः

sādhubhiḥ stūyamānastu sarvasaukhyasamanvitaḥ yathādānaprabhāveṇa phalamāpnoti tatra saḥ

—'praised too by the righteous, joined with every happiness; there he obtains the fruit exactly according to the power of his giving.'

Verse 42 (padma.2.14.42)

आरामवाटिकामध्ये स प्रयाति सुखेन वै । अप्सरोभिः समाकीर्णो दिव्याभिर्मंगलैर्युतः

ārāmavāṭikāmadhye sa prayāti sukhena vai apsarobhiḥ samākīrṇo divyābhirmaṁgalairyutaḥ

'He proceeds happily into the midst of pleasure-gardens, thronged with divine apsarases, joined with every auspicious thing.'

Verse 43 (padma.2.14.43)

देवैः संस्तूयमानस्तु धर्मराजं प्रपश्यति । देवाश्च धर्मसंयुक्ता जग्मुः संमुखमेव तम्

devaiḥ saṁstūyamānastu dharmarājaṁ prapaśyati devāśca dharmasaṁyuktā jagmuḥ saṁmukhameva tam

'Praised by the gods, he beholds Dharmaraja; and the gods, joined with dharma, come out to meet him face to face.'

Verse 44 (padma.2.14.44)

एह्येहि वै महाभाग भुंक्ष्व भोगान्मनोनुगान् । एवं स पश्यते धर्मं सौम्यरूपं महामतिम्

ehyehi vai mahābhāga bhuṁkṣva bhogānmanonugān evaṁ sa paśyate dharmaṁ saumyarūpaṁ mahāmatim

—'"Come, come, O greatly fortunate one; enjoy the pleasures that follow your heart's desire." Thus does he behold Dharma, of gentle form, great-minded.'

Verse 45 (padma.2.14.45)

स्वस्य पुण्यप्रभावेण भुंक्ते च स्वर्गमेव सः । भोगक्षयात्सधर्मात्मा पुनर्जन्म प्रयाति वै

svasya puṇyaprabhāveṇa bhuṁkte ca svargameva saḥ bhogakṣayātsadharmātmā punarjanma prayāti vai

'Through the power of his own merit, he enjoys heaven itself; but when his enjoyment is exhausted, that righteous soul goes surely to rebirth again.'

Verse 46 (padma.2.14.46)

निजधर्मप्रसादात्स कुलं पुण्यं प्रयाति वै । ब्राह्मणस्य सुपुण्यस्य क्षत्रियस्य तथैव च

nijadharmaprasādātsa kulaṁ puṇyaṁ prayāti vai brāhmaṇasya supuṇyasya kṣatriyasya tathaiva ca

—'by the grace of his own dharma he surely enters a meritorious family — of a greatly meritorious brahmin, or likewise a kshatriya—'

Verse 47 (padma.2.14.47)

धनाढ्यस्य सुपुण्यस्य वैश्यस्यैव महामते । धर्मेण मोदते तत्र पुनः पुण्यं करोति सः

dhanāḍhyasya supuṇyasya vaiśyasyaiva mahāmate dharmeṇa modate tatra punaḥ puṇyaṁ karoti saḥ

—'or of a wealthy, greatly meritorious vaishya, O great-minded one. There he rejoices through dharma, and once more performs merit.'