Vishnusharma's Trial by Indra, and the Four Sons' Ascent to Vaikuntha

Verse 1 (padma.2.3.1)

सूत उवाच- प्रस्थितस्तेन मार्गेण प्रविष्टो गगनांतरे । स दृष्टो देवदेवेन सहस्राक्षेण धीमता

sūta uvāca- prasthitastena mārgeṇa praviṣṭo gaganāṁtare sa dṛṣṭo devadevena sahasrākṣeṇa dhīmatā

Suta said: Setting out on that path, he entered into the midst of the sky; he was seen there by the wise god of gods, the thousand-eyed Indra.

Verse 2 (padma.2.3.2)

उद्यमं तस्य वै ज्ञात्वा चक्रे विघ्नं सुराधिराट् । मेनिकांतामुवाचेदं गच्छ त्वं मम शासनात्

udyamaṁ tasya vai jñātvā cakre vighnaṁ surādhirāṭ menikāṁtāmuvācedaṁ gaccha tvaṁ mama śāsanāt

Knowing his purpose, the king of the gods resolved to obstruct him; he said to Menaka: 'Go, by my command.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.3.3)

समाचरस्वास्य शीघ्रं गत्वा विघ्नं सुमध्यमे । अस्यैव विप्रवर्यस्य पुत्रस्य शिवशर्मणः

samācarasvāsya śīghraṁ gatvā vighnaṁ sumadhyame asyaiva vipravaryasya putrasya śivaśarmaṇaḥ

'O slender-waisted one, go quickly and place an obstacle in the path of this son of the excellent brahmin Shivasharma.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.3.4)

तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते यथा नायाति मे गृहम् । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं मेनिका प्रस्थिता त्वरात्

tathā kuruṣva bhadraṁ te yathā nāyāti me gṛham evamākarṇya tadvākyaṁ menikā prasthitā tvarāt

'Act so that he does not reach my abode — good fortune to you.' Hearing this word, Menaka set out in haste.

Verse 5 (padma.2.3.5)

सूत उवाच- रूपौदार्यगुणोपेता सर्वालंकारभूषिता । नंदनस्य वनस्यांते दोलायां समुपस्थिता

sūta uvāca- rūpaudāryaguṇopetā sarvālaṁkārabhūṣitā naṁdanasya vanasyāṁte dolāyāṁ samupasthitā

Suta said: Endowed with beauty, nobility, and virtue, adorned with every ornament, she took her seat upon a swing at the edge of the Nandana grove.

Verse 6 (padma.2.3.6)

सुस्वरेण प्रगायंती गीतं वीणास्वरोपमम् । तेन दृष्टा विशालाक्षी चतुरा चारुलोचना

susvareṇa pragāyaṁtī gītaṁ vīṇāsvaropamam tena dṛṣṭā viśālākṣī caturā cārulocanā

Singing sweetly, her song like the notes of a vina — wide-eyed, clever, lovely of glance — she caught sight of Vishnusharma.

Verse 7 (padma.2.3.7)

व्यवसायं ततो ज्ञात्वा तस्या विघ्नमनुत्तमम् । इंद्रेण प्रेषिता चैषा न च भद्रकरा भवेत्

vyavasāyaṁ tato jñātvā tasyā vighnamanuttamam iṁdreṇa preṣitā caiṣā na ca bhadrakarā bhavet

Understanding then her purpose — that supreme obstacle — he knew she had been sent by Indra, and that no good could come of her.

Verse 8 (padma.2.3.8)

एवं ज्ञात्वा जगामाथ सत्वरेण द्विजोत्तमः । तया दृष्टस्तथा पृष्टः क्व यास्यसि महामते

evaṁ jñātvā jagāmātha satvareṇa dvijottamaḥ tayā dṛṣṭastathā pṛṣṭaḥ kva yāsyasi mahāmate

Knowing this, that best of brahmins pressed swiftly on. Seeing him, she asked: 'O great-minded one, where are you going?'

Verse 9 (padma.2.3.9)

विष्णुशर्मा तदोवाच मेनिकां कामचारिणीम् । इंद्रलोकं प्रयास्यामि पितुरर्थे त्वरान्वितः

viṣṇuśarmā tadovāca menikāṁ kāmacāriṇīm iṁdralokaṁ prayāsyāmi piturarthe tvarānvitaḥ

Vishnusharma then said to Menaka, who moved as she willed: 'I am going in haste to Indra's world, for my father's sake.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.3.10)

मेनिका विष्णुशर्माणं प्रत्युवाच प्रियं पुनः । कामबाणैः प्रभिन्नाहं त्वामद्य शरणं गता

menikā viṣṇuśarmāṇaṁ pratyuvāca priyaṁ punaḥ kāmabāṇaiḥ prabhinnāhaṁ tvāmadya śaraṇaṁ gatā

Menaka replied again to that beloved Vishnusharma: 'Pierced by the arrows of desire, I have today come to you for refuge.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.3.11)

रक्षस्व द्विजशार्दूल यदि धर्ममिहेच्छसि । यावद्धि त्वं मया दृष्टः कामाकुलितचेतसा

rakṣasva dvijaśārdūla yadi dharmamihecchasi yāvaddhi tvaṁ mayā dṛṣṭaḥ kāmākulitacetasā

'O best of brahmins, protect me if you desire dharma here — for from the moment I saw you, my mind has been agitated by desire—'

Verse 12 (padma.2.3.12)

कामानलेन संदग्धा तावदेव न संशयः । संभ्रांता कामसंतप्ता प्रसादसुमुखो भव

kāmānalena saṁdagdhā tāvadeva na saṁśayaḥ saṁbhrāṁtā kāmasaṁtaptā prasādasumukho bhava

—'and I am burning in the fire of desire, no doubt of it. Bewildered and consumed by passion, be gracious to me.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.3.13)

विष्णुशर्मोवाच- चरित्रं देवदेवस्य विदितं मे वरानने । भवत्याश्चप्रजानामिनाहंचैतादृशःशुभे

viṣṇuśarmovāca- caritraṁ devadevasya viditaṁ me varānane bhavatyāścaprajānāmināhaṁcaitādṛśaḥśubhe

Vishnusharma said: 'O fair-faced one, I know well the ways of the lord of gods and of celestial women such as yourself — but I, O auspicious one, am not of that kind.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.3.14)

भवत्यास्तेजसा रूपैरन्ये मुह्यंति शोभने । विश्वामित्रादयो देवि पुत्रोहं शिवशर्मणः

bhavatyāstejasā rūpairanye muhyaṁti śobhane viśvāmitrādayo devi putrohaṁ śivaśarmaṇaḥ

'By your splendor and beauty, O lovely one, even sages like Vishvamitra are bewildered — but I, O goddess, am the son of Shivasharma.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.3.15)

योगसिद्धिं गतस्यापि तपः सिद्धस्य चाबले । कामादयो महादोषा आदावेव विनिर्जिताः

yogasiddhiṁ gatasyāpi tapaḥ siddhasya cābale kāmādayo mahādoṣā ādāveva vinirjitāḥ

'For one who has attained the perfection of yoga and of austerity, O frail one, desire and the other great faults are conquered from the very outset.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.3.16)

अन्यं भज विशालाक्षि इंद्रलोकं व्रजाम्यहम् । एवमुक्त्वा जगामाथ त्वरितो द्विजसत्तमः

anyaṁ bhaja viśālākṣi iṁdralokaṁ vrajāmyaham evamuktvā jagāmātha tvarito dvijasattamaḥ

'Turn to another, O wide-eyed one; I go on to Indra's world.' Having spoken thus, that best of brahmins pressed swiftly onward.

Verse 17 (padma.2.3.17)

निष्फला मेनका जाता पृष्टा देवेन वज्रिणा । विभीषां दर्शयामास नानारूपां पुनः पुनः

niṣphalā menakā jātā pṛṣṭā devena vajriṇā vibhīṣāṁ darśayāmāsa nānārūpāṁ punaḥ punaḥ

Menaka, her mission thwarted, returned, and was questioned by the wielder of the thunderbolt; then Indra showed, again and again, fearsome apparitions of many forms.

Verse 18 (padma.2.3.18)

यथानलेन संदग्धास्तृणानां संचया द्विजाः । भस्मीभूता भवंत्येव तथा तास्ता विभीषिकाः

yathānalena saṁdagdhāstṛṇānāṁ saṁcayā dvijāḥ bhasmībhūtā bhavaṁtyeva tathā tāstā vibhīṣikāḥ

Just as heaps of straw consumed by fire are reduced to ashes, O brahmins, so too were all those terrifying apparitions consumed—

Verse 19 (padma.2.3.19)

विप्रस्य तेजसा तस्य पितृभक्तस्य सत्तमाः । प्रलयं गतास्तु घोरास्ता दारुणा भीषिका द्विजाः

viprasya tejasā tasya pitṛbhaktasya sattamāḥ pralayaṁ gatāstu ghorāstā dāruṇā bhīṣikā dvijāḥ

—by the splendor of that brahmin devoted to his father, O worthy ones; those terrible, dreadful apparitions met their own destruction, O brahmins.

Verse 20 (padma.2.3.20)

स विघ्नान्दर्शयामास सहस्राक्षः पुनः पुनः । तेजसाऽनाशयद्विप्रः स्वकीयेन महायशाः

sa vighnāndarśayāmāsa sahasrākṣaḥ punaḥ punaḥ tejasā'nāśayadvipraḥ svakīyena mahāyaśāḥ

The thousand-eyed one displayed obstacles again and again, but that greatly renowned brahmin destroyed each one by his own splendor.

Verse 21 (padma.2.3.21)

एवं विघ्नान्बहूंस्तस्य इंद्रस्यापि महात्मनः । नाशयामास मेधावी तपसस्तेजसापि वा

evaṁ vighnānbahūṁstasya iṁdrasyāpi mahātmanaḥ nāśayāmāsa medhāvī tapasastejasāpi vā

Thus did that wise one destroy the many obstacles even of the great-souled Indra, through the splendor born of his own austerity.

Verse 22 (padma.2.3.22)

नष्टेषु तेषु विघ्नेषु दारुणेषु महत्सु च । ज्ञात्वा तस्य कृतान्विघ्नान्दारुणान्भीषणाकृतीन्

naṣṭeṣu teṣu vighneṣu dāruṇeṣu mahatsu ca jñātvā tasya kṛtānvighnāndāruṇānbhīṣaṇākṛtīn

When those terrible, great obstacles had been destroyed, and having recognized the dreadful, fearsome-formed obstacles wrought against him—

Verse 23 (padma.2.3.23)

अथ क्रुद्धो महातेजा विष्णुशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । इंद्रं प्रति महाभागो रागरक्तांतलोचनः

atha kruddho mahātejā viṣṇuśarmā dvijottamaḥ iṁdraṁ prati mahābhāgo rāgaraktāṁtalocanaḥ

—then, enraged, that greatly splendorous, greatly fortunate Vishnusharma, best of brahmins, his eyes reddened with anger, turned toward Indra—

Verse 24 (padma.2.3.24)

इंद्र लोकादहं चेंद्रं पातयिष्यामि नान्यथा । निजधर्मे रतस्याद्य यो विघ्नं तु समाचरेत्

iṁdra lokādahaṁ ceṁdraṁ pātayiṣyāmi nānyathā nijadharme ratasyādya yo vighnaṁ tu samācaret

—'I shall cast Indra down from Indra's own world, no other way — for whoever today obstructs one devoted to his own dharma—'

Verse 25 (padma.2.3.25)

तस्य दंडं प्रदास्यामि यो वै हन्यात्स हन्यते । एवमन्यं करिष्यामि देवानां पालकं पुनः

tasya daṁḍaṁ pradāsyāmi yo vai hanyātsa hanyate evamanyaṁ kariṣyāmi devānāṁ pālakaṁ punaḥ

—'upon him I shall inflict punishment; he who strikes is himself struck down. Thus shall I set another in his place as guardian of the gods.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.3.26)

एवं समुद्यतो विप्र इंद्रनाशाय सत्तमः । तावदेव समायातो देवेंद्रः पाकशासनः

evaṁ samudyato vipra iṁdranāśāya sattamaḥ tāvadeva samāyāto deveṁdraḥ pākaśāsanaḥ

While that worthy brahmin was thus resolved on Indra's downfall, at that very instant Indra, punisher of Paka, came there himself.

Verse 27 (padma.2.3.27)

भो भो विप्र महाप्राज्ञ तपसा नियमेन च । दमेन सत्यशौचाभ्यां त्वत्समो नास्ति चापरः

bho bho vipra mahāprājña tapasā niyamena ca damena satyaśaucābhyāṁ tvatsamo nāsti cāparaḥ

'O brahmin, O greatly wise one, in austerity, discipline, self-control, truth, and purity there is no other equal to you.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.3.28)

अनया पितृभक्त्या ते जितोहं दैवतैः सह । ममापराधं त्वं सर्वं क्षंतुमर्हसि सत्तम

anayā pitṛbhaktyā te jitohaṁ daivataiḥ saha mamāparādhaṁ tvaṁ sarvaṁ kṣaṁtumarhasi sattama

'By this very devotion to your father, I, together with all the gods, have been overcome by you. You should forgive, O worthy one, my entire offense.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.3.29)

वरं वरय भद्रं ते दुर्लभं च ददाम्यहम् । विष्णुशर्मा तदोवाच देवराजं तथागतम्

varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te durlabhaṁ ca dadāmyaham viṣṇuśarmā tadovāca devarājaṁ tathāgatam

'Ask a boon — good fortune to you — however hard to attain, and I shall grant it.' Vishnusharma then spoke to the king of the gods, who had come to him thus:

Verse 30 (padma.2.3.30)

विप्रतेजो महेंद्रेद्रं असह्यं देवदैवतैः । पितृभक्तस्य देवेश दुःसहं सर्वथा विभो

vipratejo maheṁdredraṁ asahyaṁ devadaivataiḥ pitṛbhaktasya deveśa duḥsahaṁ sarvathā vibho

'O Indra of great Indras, the splendor of a brahmin is unbearable even to the gods; O lord of the gods, O mighty one, that of one devoted to his father is in every way unendurable.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.3.31)

तेजोभंगो न कर्त्तव्यो ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् । पुत्रपौत्रैः समस्तैस्तु ब्रह्मविष्णुहरान्पुनः

tejobhaṁgo na karttavyo brāhmaṇānāṁ mahātmanām putrapautraiḥ samastaistu brahmaviṣṇuharānpunaḥ

'The splendor of great-souled brahmins should never be broken; should such brahmins grow wroth, they, with all their sons and grandsons, could destroy even Brahma, Vishnu, and Hara—'

Verse 32 (padma.2.3.32)

नाशयंते न संदेहो यदि रुष्टा द्विजोत्तमाः । नागच्छेद्यद्भवानद्य तदा राज्यमनुत्तमम्

nāśayaṁte na saṁdeho yadi ruṣṭā dvijottamāḥ nāgacchedyadbhavānadya tadā rājyamanuttamam

—'no doubt of it. Had you not come here yourself this day, then this your supreme kingdom—'

Verse 33 (padma.2.3.33)

आत्मतपः प्रभावेण अन्यस्मै त्वं महात्मने । दातुकामस्तु संजातो रोषपूर्णेन चक्षुषा

ātmatapaḥ prabhāveṇa anyasmai tvaṁ mahātmane dātukāmastu saṁjāto roṣapūrṇena cakṣuṣā

—'I, by the power of my own austerity, with eyes filled with wrath, had already resolved to give to another great soul.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.3.34)

भवानद्य समायातो वरं दातुमिहेच्छसि । अमृतं देहि देवेंद्र पितृभक्तिं तथाचलाम्

bhavānadya samāyāto varaṁ dātumihecchasi amṛtaṁ dehi deveṁdra pitṛbhaktiṁ tathācalām

'Since you have come here yourself today, wishing to grant a boon — give me, O lord of the gods, the nectar of immortality, and unwavering devotion to my father.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.3.35)

एवंविधं वरं देहि यदि तुष्टोसि शत्रुहन् । एवं ददामि पुण्यं ते वरं चामृतसंयुतम्

evaṁvidhaṁ varaṁ dehi yadi tuṣṭosi śatruhan evaṁ dadāmi puṇyaṁ te varaṁ cāmṛtasaṁyutam

'If you are pleased, O slayer of enemies, grant me a boon of this very kind.' Indra said: 'So be it — I grant you this meritorious boon, together with the nectar.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.3.36)

एवमाभाष्य तं विप्रममृतं दत्तवान्स्वयम् । सकुंभं दत्तवांस्तस्मै प्रीयमाणेन चात्मना

evamābhāṣya taṁ vipramamṛtaṁ dattavānsvayam sakuṁbhaṁ dattavāṁstasmai prīyamāṇena cātmanā

Having spoken thus, he himself gave the nectar to that brahmin; with a heart full of delight he gave it to him together with its vessel.

Verse 37 (padma.2.3.37)

अचला ते भवेद्विप्र भक्तिः पितरि सर्वदा । एवमाभाष्य तं विप्रं विसृज्य च सहस्रदृक्

acalā te bhavedvipra bhaktiḥ pitari sarvadā evamābhāṣya taṁ vipraṁ visṛjya ca sahasradṛk

'O brahmin, may your devotion to your father remain forever unshaken.' Having spoken thus, and taking leave of that brahmin, the thousand-eyed one—

Verse 38 (padma.2.3.38)

प्रसन्नोभूच्च तद्दृष्ट्वा विप्रतेजः सुदुःसहम् । विष्णुशर्मा ततो गत्वा पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

prasannobhūcca taddṛṣṭvā vipratejaḥ suduḥsaham viṣṇuśarmā tato gatvā pitaraṁ vākyamabravīt

—was well content, having witnessed the utterly unbearable splendor of that brahmin. Vishnusharma then went from there and spoke this word to his father:

Verse 39 (padma.2.3.39)

तात इंद्रात्समानीतममृतं व्याधिनाशनम् । अनेनापि महाभाग नीरुजो भव सर्वदा

tāta iṁdrātsamānītamamṛtaṁ vyādhināśanam anenāpi mahābhāga nīrujo bhava sarvadā

'Father, I have brought from Indra the nectar that destroys disease; by this too, O greatly fortunate one, may you be free of illness forever.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.3.40)

अमृतेन त्वमद्यैव परां तृप्तिमवाप्नुहि । एतद्वाक्यं महच्छ्रुत्वा शिवशर्मा सुतस्य हि

amṛtena tvamadyaiva parāṁ tṛptimavāpnuhi etadvākyaṁ mahacchrutvā śivaśarmā sutasya hi

'By this nectar may you attain, this very day, supreme satisfaction.' Having heard this great word of his son, Shivasharma—

Verse 41 (padma.2.3.41)

सुतान्सर्वान्समाहूय प्रीयमाणेन चेतसा । पितृभक्ताः सुता यूयं मद्वाक्यपरिपालकाः

sutānsarvānsamāhūya prīyamāṇena cetasā pitṛbhaktāḥ sutā yūyaṁ madvākyaparipālakāḥ

—summoned all his sons and said, with a delighted heart: 'You, my sons, are all devoted to your father, keepers of my every word—'

Verse 42 (padma.2.3.42)

वरं वृणुध्वं सुप्रीताः पुत्रका दुर्लभं भुवि । एवमाभाषितं तस्य शुश्रुवुः सर्वसंमताः

varaṁ vṛṇudhvaṁ suprītāḥ putrakā durlabhaṁ bhuvi evamābhāṣitaṁ tasya śuśruvuḥ sarvasaṁmatāḥ

—'ask a boon with a glad heart, my sons, however hard to attain on earth.' What he said thus was heard by them all, of one accord.

Verse 43 (padma.2.3.43)

ते सर्वे तु समालोच्य पितरं प्रत्यथाब्रुवन् । अस्माकं जीवताम्माता गता या यममंदिरम्

te sarve tu samālocya pitaraṁ pratyathābruvan asmākaṁ jīvatāmmātā gatā yā yamamaṁdiram

All of them, having deliberated, then said to their father: 'Our mother, who went to Yama's abode while we still lived—'

Verse 44 (padma.2.3.44)

नीरुजा भवनाद्देवी प्रसादात्तव सुव्रता । भवान्पिता इयं माता जन्मजन्मांतरे पितः

nīrujā bhavanāddevī prasādāttava suvratā bhavānpitā iyaṁ mātā janmajanmāṁtare pitaḥ

—'let that virtuous lady, by your grace, be freed of illness and return to us. May you remain our father, and she our mother, in birth after birth—'

Verse 45 (padma.2.3.45)

वयं सुता भवेमेति सर्वे पुण्यकृतस्तथा । शिवशर्मोवाच- अद्यैवापि मृता माता भवतां पुत्रवत्सला

vayaṁ sutā bhavemeti sarve puṇyakṛtastathā śivaśarmovāca- adyaivāpi mṛtā mātā bhavatāṁ putravatsalā

—'and may we ever be your virtuous sons.' Shivasharma said: 'Though your mother, so devoted to her sons, has indeed died today—'

Verse 46 (padma.2.3.46)

जीवमाना सुहृष्टा सा एष्यते नात्र संशयः । एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये ऋषिणा शिवशर्मणा

jīvamānā suhṛṣṭā sā eṣyate nātra saṁśayaḥ evamukte śubhe vākye ṛṣiṇā śivaśarmaṇā

—'she shall return alive and full of joy, no doubt of it.' When this auspicious word had been spoken by the sage Shivasharma—

Verse 47 (padma.2.3.47)

तेषां माता समायाता प्रहृष्टा वाक्यमब्रवीत् । एतदर्थं समुत्पन्नं सुवीर्यं तनयं सुतम्

teṣāṁ mātā samāyātā prahṛṣṭā vākyamabravīt etadarthaṁ samutpannaṁ suvīryaṁ tanayaṁ sutam

—their mother arrived there, and, filled with joy, spoke this word: 'For this very purpose was such a mighty son born to me—'

Verse 48 (padma.2.3.48)

नराः सत्पुत्रमिच्छंति कुलवंशप्रभावकम् । स्त्रियो लोके महाभागाः सुपुण्याः पुण्यवत्सलाः

narāḥ satputramicchaṁti kulavaṁśaprabhāvakam striyo loke mahābhāgāḥ supuṇyāḥ puṇyavatsalāḥ

—'men desire a good son who enhances the glory of the family line; the greatly blessed, virtuous women of this world, devoted to merit—'

Verse 49 (padma.2.3.49)

सुतमिच्छंति सर्वत्र पुण्यांगं पुण्यसाधकम् । कुक्षिं यस्या गतो गर्भः सुपुण्यः परिवर्त्तते

sutamicchaṁti sarvatra puṇyāṁgaṁ puṇyasādhakam kukṣiṁ yasyā gato garbhaḥ supuṇyaḥ parivarttate

—'everywhere desire a son of virtuous form, an accomplisher of merit. She into whose womb a meritorious child enters—'

Verse 50 (padma.2.3.50)

पुण्यान्पुत्रान्प्रसूयेत सा नारी पुण्यभागिनी । कुलाचारं कुलाधारं पितृमातृप्रतारकम्

puṇyānputrānprasūyeta sā nārī puṇyabhāginī kulācāraṁ kulādhāraṁ pitṛmātṛpratārakam

—'and who bears virtuous sons, that woman shares in merit — sons who become the family's very conduct and support, deliverers of father and mother.'

Verse 51 (padma.2.3.51)

विना पुण्यैः कथं नारी संप्राप्नोति सुतोत्तमम् । न जाने कीदृशैः पुण्यैरेष भर्ता सुपुण्यभाक्

vinā puṇyaiḥ kathaṁ nārī saṁprāpnoti sutottamam na jāne kīdṛśaiḥ puṇyaireṣa bhartā supuṇyabhāk

'Without merit, how could any woman obtain an excellent son? I do not know by what merits my own husband, himself so full of merit—'

Verse 52 (padma.2.3.52)

संजातो धर्मवीर्योपि धर्मात्मा धर्मवत्सलः । यस्य वीर्यान्मया प्राप्ता यूयं पुत्रास्ततोधिकाः

saṁjāto dharmavīryopi dharmātmā dharmavatsalaḥ yasya vīryānmayā prāptā yūyaṁ putrāstatodhikāḥ

—'came to be born mighty in dharma, righteous-souled and devoted to dharma, by whose seed I obtained you, my sons, greater still than he.'

Verse 53 (padma.2.3.53)

एवं पुण्यप्रभावोयं भवंतः पुण्यवत्सलाः । मम पुत्रास्तु संजाताः पितृभक्तिपरायणाः

evaṁ puṇyaprabhāvoyaṁ bhavaṁtaḥ puṇyavatsalāḥ mama putrāstu saṁjātāḥ pitṛbhaktiparāyaṇāḥ

'Such indeed is the power of merit — you, my sons, devoted to merit, have been born wholly given over to devotion toward your father.'

Verse 54 (padma.2.3.54)

अहो लोकेषु पुण्यैश्च सुपुत्रः परिलभ्यते । एकैकशोधिकाः पंच मया प्राप्ता महाशयाः

aho lokeṣu puṇyaiśca suputraḥ parilabhyate ekaikaśodhikāḥ paṁca mayā prāptā mahāśayāḥ

'How wondrous! In this world a good son is obtained only through merit — and I have obtained five, each surpassing the last, all noble-minded—'

Verse 55 (padma.2.3.55)

यज्वानः पुण्यशीलाश्च तपस्तेजः पराक्रमाः । एवं संवर्धितास्ते तु तया मात्रा पुनः पुनः

yajvānaḥ puṇyaśīlāśca tapastejaḥ parākramāḥ evaṁ saṁvardhitāste tu tayā mātrā punaḥ punaḥ

—'performers of sacrifice, of virtuous conduct, endowed with austerity, splendor, and valor.' Thus did their mother praise them again and again.

Verse 56 (padma.2.3.56)

हर्षेण महताविष्टाः प्रणेमुर्मातरं सुताः । पुत्रा ऊचुः- सुपुण्यैः प्राप्यते माता सन्माता सुपिता किल

harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭāḥ praṇemurmātaraṁ sutāḥ putrā ūcuḥ- supuṇyaiḥ prāpyate mātā sanmātā supitā kila

Filled with great joy, the sons bowed before their mother. The sons said: 'Only through great merit is a mother obtained — a true mother, and a true father indeed.'

Verse 57 (padma.2.3.57)

भवती पुण्यकृन्माता नो भाग्यैस्तु प्रवर्तिता । यस्या गर्भोदरं प्राप्य सुपुण्यैश्च प्रवर्द्धिताः

bhavatī puṇyakṛnmātā no bhāgyaistu pravartitā yasyā garbhodaraṁ prāpya supuṇyaiśca pravarddhitāḥ

'You are our virtuous mother, given to us by our own good fortune; in whose womb we grew and flourished through merit alone—'

Verse 58 (padma.2.3.58)

जन्मजन्मनि त्वं माता पिता चैव भविष्यथः । पितोवाच- शृणुध्वं मामकाः पुत्राः सुवरं पुण्यदायकम्

janmajanmani tvaṁ mātā pitā caiva bhaviṣyathaḥ pitovāca- śṛṇudhvaṁ māmakāḥ putrāḥ suvaraṁ puṇyadāyakam

—'in birth after birth, may you remain our mother, and he our father.' The father said: 'Listen, my sons, to this excellent, merit-bestowing boon:'

Verse 59 (padma.2.3.59)

मयि तुष्टे सुता भोगा ननु भुंजंतु चाक्षयान् । पुत्रा ऊचुः- यदि तात प्रसन्नोसि वरं दातुमिहेच्छसि

mayi tuṣṭe sutā bhogā nanu bhuṁjaṁtu cākṣayān putrā ūcuḥ- yadi tāta prasannosi varaṁ dātumihecchasi

—'being pleased with me, may my sons enjoy imperishable pleasures.' The sons said: 'Father, if you are pleased and wish to grant a boon here—'

Verse 60 (padma.2.3.60)

अस्मान्प्रेषय गोलोकं वैष्णवं दाहवर्जितम् । पितोवाच- गच्छध्वं वैष्णवं लोकं यूयं विगतकल्मषाः

asmānpreṣaya golokaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ dāhavarjitam pitovāca- gacchadhvaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ lokaṁ yūyaṁ vigatakalmaṣāḥ

—'then send us to Goloka, the realm of Vishnu, free of the burning of rebirth.' The father said: 'Go, then, all of you, free from every stain, to the realm of Vishnu—'

Verse 61 (padma.2.3.61)

मत्प्रसादात्तपोभिश्च पितृभक्त्यानया स्वया । एवमुक्ते तु तेनापि सुवाक्ये ऋषिणा ततः

matprasādāttapobhiśca pitṛbhaktyānayā svayā evamukte tu tenāpi suvākye ṛṣiṇā tataḥ

—'by my grace, by your own austerities, and by this your devotion to your father.' When this excellent word of the sage had been spoken—

Verse 62 (padma.2.3.62)

शंखचक्रगदापाणिर्गरुडारूढ आगतः । सपुत्रं शिवशर्माणमित्युवाच पुनः पुनः

śaṁkhacakragadāpāṇirgaruḍārūḍha āgataḥ saputraṁ śivaśarmāṇamityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ

—Vishnu himself came, bearing conch, discus, and mace in hand, mounted upon Garuda, and said this again and again to Shivasharma and his sons:

Verse 63 (padma.2.3.63)

सपुत्रेण त्वयाद्यैव जितो भक्त्यास्मि वै द्विज । पुत्रैः सार्द्धं समागच्छ चतुर्भिः पुण्यकारिभिः

saputreṇa tvayādyaiva jito bhaktyāsmi vai dvija putraiḥ sārddhaṁ samāgaccha caturbhiḥ puṇyakāribhiḥ

'O brahmin, today, through your devotion and your sons', I have indeed been conquered. Come now with your four meritorious sons—'

Verse 64 (padma.2.3.64)

अनया भार्यया सार्द्धं पुण्यया पतिकाम्यया । शिवशर्मोवाच- अमी गच्छंतु पुत्रा मे वैष्णवं लोकमुत्तमम्

anayā bhāryayā sārddhaṁ puṇyayā patikāmyayā śivaśarmovāca- amī gacchaṁtu putrā me vaiṣṇavaṁ lokamuttamam

—'and with this your own virtuous, devoted wife, come with me.' Shivasharma said: 'Let these my sons go to the supreme realm of Vishnu—'

Verse 65 (padma.2.3.65)

कंचित्कालं तु नेष्यामि भूमौ वै भार्यया सह । अनेनापि सुपुत्रेण अंत्येन सोमशर्मणा

kaṁcitkālaṁ tu neṣyāmi bhūmau vai bhāryayā saha anenāpi suputreṇa aṁtyena somaśarmaṇā

—'but I shall remain on this earth for some time yet, with my wife, together with this youngest and excellent son, Somasharma.'

Verse 66 (padma.2.3.66)

एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये ऋषिणा सत्यभाषिणा । तानुवाचाथ देवेशः सुपुत्राञ्छिवशर्मणः

evamukte śubhe vākye ṛṣiṇā satyabhāṣiṇā tānuvācātha deveśaḥ suputrāñchivaśarmaṇaḥ

When this auspicious word of the truth-speaking sage had been spoken, the Lord of the gods then said to Shivasharma's excellent sons:

Verse 67 (padma.2.3.67)

गच्छंतु मोक्षदं लोकं दाहप्रलयवर्जितम् । एवमुक्ते ततो विप्राश्चत्वारः सत्यचेतसः

gacchaṁtu mokṣadaṁ lokaṁ dāhapralayavarjitam evamukte tato viprāścatvāraḥ satyacetasaḥ

'Go now to the liberating realm, free from all burning and dissolution.' When this was said, those four truth-hearted brahmins—

Verse 68 (padma.2.3.68)

विष्णुरूपधराः सर्वे बभूवुस्तत्क्षणादपि । इंद्रनीलसमावर्णैः शंखचक्रगदाधराः

viṣṇurūpadharāḥ sarve babhūvustatkṣaṇādapi iṁdranīlasamāvarṇaiḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharāḥ

—all instantly assumed the very form of Vishnu, of the hue of sapphire, bearing the conch, discus, and mace—

Verse 69 (padma.2.3.69)

सर्वाभरणसौभाग्या विष्णुरूपा महौजसः । हारकंकणशोभाढ्या रत्नमालाभिशोभिताः

sarvābharaṇasaubhāgyā viṣṇurūpā mahaujasaḥ hārakaṁkaṇaśobhāḍhyā ratnamālābhiśobhitāḥ

—resplendent with every ornament, in Vishnu's own form, of great majesty, adorned with necklaces and bracelets, gleaming with garlands of jewels—

Verse 70 (padma.2.3.70)

सूर्यतेजःप्रतीकाशास्तेजोज्वालाभिरावृताः । प्रविष्टा वैष्णवं कायं पश्यतः शिवशर्मणः

sūryatejaḥpratīkāśāstejojvālābhirāvṛtāḥ praviṣṭā vaiṣṇavaṁ kāyaṁ paśyataḥ śivaśarmaṇaḥ

—radiant as the splendor of the sun, wrapped in blazing light — and, before Shivasharma's very eyes, they entered into the body of Vishnu—

Verse 71 (padma.2.3.71)

दीपं दीपा यथा यांति तद्वल्लीना महामते । गतास्ते वैष्णवं धाम पितृभक्त्या द्विजोत्तमाः

dīpaṁ dīpā yathā yāṁti tadvallīnā mahāmate gatāste vaiṣṇavaṁ dhāma pitṛbhaktyā dvijottamāḥ

—just as flames merge into a single flame, O great-minded one, so did those best of brahmins, dissolved into it, attain the abode of Vishnu through their devotion to their father.

Verse 72 (padma.2.3.72)

प्रभावं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि सुसत्यं सोमशर्मणः

prabhāvaṁ tu pravakṣyāmi susatyaṁ somaśarmaṇaḥ

Now I shall relate the true and great power of Somasharma.