Subahu Rejects Heaven for the World of Vishnu

Verse 1 (padma.2.95.1)

सुबाहुरुवाच- स्वर्गस्य मे गुणान्ब्रूहि सांप्रतं द्विजसत्तम । एतत्सर्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि स्वभाविकम्

subāhuruvāca- svargasya me guṇānbrūhi sāṁprataṁ dvijasattama etatsarvaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha kariṣyāmi svabhāvikam

Subahu said: "Tell me now the merits of heaven, best of the twice-born; whatever it is, best of the twice-born, I shall naturally do it."

Verse 2 (padma.2.95.2)

जैमिनिरुवाच- नंदनादीनि रम्याणि दिव्यानि विविधानि च । तत्रोद्यानानि पुण्यानि सर्वकामयुतानि च

jaiminiruvāca- naṁdanādīni ramyāṇi divyāni vividhāni ca tatrodyānāni puṇyāni sarvakāmayutāni ca

Jaimini said: "Nandana and other lovely, divine, and various gardens - there are holy gardens there, filled with every desire,"

Verse 3 (padma.2.95.3)

सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैः शोभनानि समंततः । विमानानि सुदिव्यानि सेवितान्यप्सरोगणैः

sarvakāmaphalairvṛkṣaiḥ śobhanāni samaṁtataḥ vimānāni sudivyāni sevitānyapsarogaṇaiḥ

"- beautiful everywhere with trees bearing every desired fruit; there are most divine celestial vehicles, served by hosts of apsaras,"

Verse 4 (padma.2.95.4)

सर्वत्रैव विचित्राणि कामगानि वशानि च । तरुणादित्यवर्णानि मुक्ताजालांतराणि च

sarvatraiva vicitrāṇi kāmagāni vaśāni ca taruṇādityavarṇāni muktājālāṁtarāṇi ca

"- everywhere wondrous, moving at will, obedient to one's wishes; with the color of a young sun, and interspersed with nets of pearls,"

Verse 5 (padma.2.95.5)

चंद्रमंडलशुभ्राणि हेमशय्यासनानि च । सर्वकामसमृद्धाश्च सर्वदुःखविवर्जिताः

caṁdramaṁḍalaśubhrāṇi hemaśayyāsanāni ca sarvakāmasamṛddhāśca sarvaduḥkhavivarjitāḥ

"- as white as the orb of the moon, with golden beds and seats; filled with the fulfillment of every desire, and free from every sorrow -"

Verse 6 (padma.2.95.6)

नराः सुकृतिनस्तेषु विचरंति यथा भुवि । न तत्र नास्तिका यांति न स्तेना नाजितेंद्रियाः

narāḥ sukṛtinasteṣu vicaraṁti yathā bhuvi na tatra nāstikā yāṁti na stenā nājiteṁdriyāḥ

"- meritorious men wander about there, as if on earth. There, no unbelievers go, no thieves, none of uncontrolled senses -"

Verse 7 (padma.2.95.7)

न नृशंसा न पिशुना न कृतघ्ना न मानिनः । सत्यास्तपःस्थिताः शूरा दयावंतः क्षमापराः

na nṛśaṁsā na piśunā na kṛtaghnā na māninaḥ satyāstapaḥsthitāḥ śūrā dayāvaṁtaḥ kṣamāparāḥ

"- no cruel men, no slanderers, no ingrates, no arrogant ones; truthful men, established in austerity, heroic, compassionate, patient,"

Verse 8 (padma.2.95.8)

यज्वानो दानशीलाश्च तत्र गच्छंति ते नराः । न रोगो न जरामृत्युर्न शोको न हिमातपौ

yajvāno dānaśīlāśca tatra gacchaṁti te narāḥ na rogo na jarāmṛtyurna śoko na himātapau

"- sacrificers and men of generous giving - such men go there. There is no disease, no old age or death, no sorrow, no cold or heat,"

Verse 9 (padma.2.95.9)

न तत्र क्षुत्पिपासा च कस्य ग्लानिर्न विद्यते । एते चान्ये च बहवो गुणाः स्वर्गस्य भूपते

na tatra kṣutpipāsā ca kasya glānirna vidyate ete cānye ca bahavo guṇāḥ svargasya bhūpate

"- no hunger or thirst there, and no one experiences any weariness. These, and many other qualities, O lord of the earth, belong to heaven."

Verse 10 (padma.2.95.10)

दोषास्तत्रैव ये संति ताञ्छृणुष्व च सांप्रतम् । शुभस्य कर्मणः कृत्स्नं फलं तत्रैव भुज्यते

doṣāstatraiva ye saṁti tāñchṛṇuṣva ca sāṁpratam śubhasya karmaṇaḥ kṛtsnaṁ phalaṁ tatraiva bhujyate

"Now hear too the faults that exist there. The whole fruit of a good deed is enjoyed there alone -"

Verse 11 (padma.2.95.11)

न चात्र क्रियते भूयः सोऽत्र दोषो महान्स्मृतः । असंतोषश्च भवति दृष्ट्वा दीप्तां परां श्रियम्

na cātra kriyate bhūyaḥ so'tra doṣo mahānsmṛtaḥ asaṁtoṣaśca bhavati dṛṣṭvā dīptāṁ parāṁ śriyam

"- but no more of it is created there; this is remembered as its great fault. And discontent arises upon seeing another's blazing, superior glory -"

Verse 12 (padma.2.95.12)

सुखव्याप्तमनस्कानां सहसा पतनं तथा । इह यत्क्रियते कर्म फलं तत्रैव भुज्यते

sukhavyāptamanaskānāṁ sahasā patanaṁ tathā iha yatkriyate karma phalaṁ tatraiva bhujyate

"- and, for minds absorbed in pleasure, a sudden fall likewise. Whatever deed is done here, its fruit is enjoyed only there -"

Verse 13 (padma.2.95.13)

कर्मभूमिरियं राजन्फलभूमिरसौ स्मृता । सुबाहुरुवाच- महांतस्तु इमे दोषास्त्वया स्वर्गस्य कीर्तिताः

karmabhūmiriyaṁ rājanphalabhūmirasau smṛtā subāhuruvāca- mahāṁtastu ime doṣāstvayā svargasya kīrtitāḥ

"- this earth, O king, is remembered as the land of karma; that heaven is remembered as the land of fruit." Subahu said: "These are great faults of heaven that you have declared;"

Verse 14 (padma.2.95.14)

निर्दोषाः शाश्वता येन्ये तांस्त्वं लोकान्वद द्विज । जैमिनिरुवाच- आब्रह्मसदनादेव दोषाः संति च वै नृप

nirdoṣāḥ śāśvatā yenye tāṁstvaṁ lokānvada dvija jaiminiruvāca- ābrahmasadanādeva doṣāḥ saṁti ca vai nṛpa

"- tell me, brahmin, of those other worlds which are faultless and eternal." Jaimini said: "Up to the abode of Brahma, O king, there are faults indeed -"

Verse 15 (padma.2.95.15)

अतएव हि नेच्छंति स्वर्गप्राप्तिं मनीषिणः । आब्रह्मसदनादूर्ध्वं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्

ataeva hi necchaṁti svargaprāptiṁ manīṣiṇaḥ ābrahmasadanādūrdhvaṁ tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam

"- and for this very reason the wise do not desire the attainment of heaven. Above the abode of Brahma is that supreme abode of Vishnu,"

Verse 16 (padma.2.95.16)

शुभं सनातनं ज्योतिः परंब्रह्मेति तद्विदुः । न तत्र मूढा गच्छंति पुरुषा विषयात्मकाः

śubhaṁ sanātanaṁ jyotiḥ paraṁbrahmeti tadviduḥ na tatra mūḍhā gacchaṁti puruṣā viṣayātmakāḥ

"- the auspicious, eternal light; that they know as the Supreme Brahman. There, deluded men, absorbed in sense-objects, do not go -"

Verse 17 (padma.2.95.17)

दंभमोहभयद्रोह क्रोधलोभैरभिद्रुताः । निर्ममा निरहंकारा निर्द्वंद्वास्संयतेंद्रियाः

daṁbhamohabhayadroha krodhalobhairabhidrutāḥ nirmamā nirahaṁkārā nirdvaṁdvāssaṁyateṁdriyāḥ

"- those overcome by hypocrisy, delusion, fear, malice, anger, and greed. Those free from possessiveness, free from ego, free from the pairs of opposites, of controlled senses -"

Verse 18 (padma.2.95.18)

ध्यानयोगरताश्चैव तत्र गच्छंति साधवः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि

dhyānayogaratāścaiva tatra gacchaṁti sādhavaḥ etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yanmāṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi

"- saints devoted to meditation and yoga - such alone go there. All this I have told you, that which you asked me."

Verse 19 (padma.2.95.19)

एवं स्वर्गगुणं श्रुत्वा सुबाहुः पृथिवीपतिः । तमुवाच महात्मानं जैमिनिं वदतांवरम्

evaṁ svargaguṇaṁ śrutvā subāhuḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ tamuvāca mahātmānaṁ jaiminiṁ vadatāṁvaram

Having thus heard of the qualities of heaven, King Subahu, lord of the earth, said to that great soul Jaimini, foremost among speakers -

Verse 20 (padma.2.95.20)

सुबाहुरुवाच- नाहं स्वर्गं गमिष्यामि न चैवेच्छाम्यहं मुने । यस्माच्च पतनं प्रोक्तं तत्कर्म न करोम्यहम्

subāhuruvāca- nāhaṁ svargaṁ gamiṣyāmi na caivecchāmyahaṁ mune yasmācca patanaṁ proktaṁ tatkarma na karomyaham

Subahu said: "I shall not go to heaven, nor do I desire it, O sage; since a fall has been declared from it, I shall not perform that deed."

Verse 21 (padma.2.95.21)

दानमेकं महाभाग नाहं दास्येकदाध्रुवम् । दानाच्च फललोभाच्च तस्मात्पतति वै नरः

dānamekaṁ mahābhāga nāhaṁ dāsyekadādhruvam dānācca phalalobhācca tasmātpatati vai naraḥ

"O most fortunate one, I shall not give even a single gift with the certain expectation of fruit; for it is precisely through giving out of greed for its fruit that a man falls."

Verse 22 (padma.2.95.22)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा सुबाहुः पृथिवीपतिः । ध्यानयोगेन देवेशं यजिष्ये कमलाप्रियम्

ityevamuktvā dharmātmā subāhuḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ dhyānayogena deveśaṁ yajiṣye kamalāpriyam

Having thus spoken, the righteous King Subahu said: "I shall worship the lord of gods, the beloved of Kamala, through the yoga of meditation."

Verse 23 (padma.2.95.23)

दाहप्रलयसंवर्जं विष्णुलोकं व्रजाम्यहम् । जैमिनिरुवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वया भूप सर्वश्रेयः समाकुलम्

dāhapralayasaṁvarjaṁ viṣṇulokaṁ vrajāmyaham jaiminiruvāca- satyamuktaṁ tvayā bhūpa sarvaśreyaḥ samākulam

"I shall go to the world of Vishnu, free from burning and dissolution." Jaimini said: "You have spoken the truth, O king, filled with every excellence."

Verse 24 (padma.2.95.24)

राजानो धर्मशीलाश्च महायज्ञैर्यजंति ते । सर्वदानानि दीयंते यज्ञेषु नृपनंदन

rājāno dharmaśīlāśca mahāyajñairyajaṁti te sarvadānāni dīyaṁte yajñeṣu nṛpanaṁdana

"Kings devoted to dharma worship through great sacrifices; all manner of gifts are given at sacrifices, O delight of kings."

Verse 25 (padma.2.95.25)

आदावन्नं तु यज्ञेषु वस्त्रं तांबूलमेव च । कांचनं भूमिदानं च गोदानं प्रददंति च

ādāvannaṁ tu yajñeṣu vastraṁ tāṁbūlameva ca kāṁcanaṁ bhūmidānaṁ ca godānaṁ pradadaṁti ca

"First, at sacrifices, food is given, and clothing, and betel too; gold, land, and cows are given as well."

Verse 26 (padma.2.95.26)

सुयज्ञैर्वैष्णवं लोकं ते प्रयांति नरोत्तमाः । दानेन तृप्तिमायांति संतुष्टाः संति भूमिपाः

suyajñairvaiṣṇavaṁ lokaṁ te prayāṁti narottamāḥ dānena tṛptimāyāṁti saṁtuṣṭāḥ saṁti bhūmipāḥ

"Through fine sacrifices, those best of men go to the world of Vishnu. Through giving, kings become satisfied and content."

Verse 27 (padma.2.95.27)

तपस्विनो महात्मानो नित्यमेवं यजंति ते । सुभिक्षां याचयित्वा तु स्वस्थानं तु समागताः

tapasvino mahātmāno nityamevaṁ yajaṁti te subhikṣāṁ yācayitvā tu svasthānaṁ tu samāgatāḥ

"Ascetic great souls always sacrifice in this way; having begged for good alms, and having returned to their own place -"

Verse 28 (padma.2.95.28)

भिक्षार्थं तस्य भागानि प्रकुर्वंति च भूपते । ब्राह्मणाय विभागैकं गोग्रासं तु महामते

bhikṣārthaṁ tasya bhāgāni prakurvaṁti ca bhūpate brāhmaṇāya vibhāgaikaṁ gogrāsaṁ tu mahāmate

"- O king, they make portions of that alms. One portion for a brahmin, O wise one, and a mouthful of grass for a cow -"

Verse 29 (padma.2.95.29)

सुपार्श्ववर्तिनां चैकं प्रयच्छंति तपोधनाः । तस्यान्नस्य प्रदानेन फलं भुंजंति मानवाः

supārśvavartināṁ caikaṁ prayacchaṁti tapodhanāḥ tasyānnasya pradānena phalaṁ bhuṁjaṁti mānavāḥ

"- those rich in austerity give a portion to those seated nearby as well. By the giving of that food, men enjoy its fruit -"

Verse 30 (padma.2.95.30)

क्षुधातृषाविहीनास्ते विष्णुलोकं व्रजंति वै । तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र देहि न्यायार्जितं धनम्

kṣudhātṛṣāvihīnāste viṣṇulokaṁ vrajaṁti vai tasmāttvamapi rājeṁdra dehi nyāyārjitaṁ dhanam

"- free from hunger and thirst, they go to the world of Vishnu. Therefore you too, O king of kings, should give wealth earned by just means."

Verse 31 (padma.2.95.31)

दानाज्ज्ञानं ततः प्राप्य ज्ञानात्सिद्धिं प्रयास्यति । य इदं शृणुयान्मर्त्यः पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम्

dānājjñānaṁ tataḥ prāpya jñānātsiddhiṁ prayāsyati ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānmartyaḥ puṇyākhyānamanuttamam

"From giving comes knowledge; from knowledge one attains accomplishment. Whatever mortal hears this unsurpassed, meritorious tale -"

Verse 32 (padma.2.95.32)

तस्य सर्वार्थसिद्धिः स्यात्पापं सर्वं विलीयते । विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं सगच्छति

tasya sarvārthasiddhiḥ syātpāpaṁ sarvaṁ vilīyate vimuktaḥ sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṁ sagacchati

"- he attains the fulfillment of all his aims, and all his sin dissolves; freed from all sin, he goes to the world of Vishnu."