The Sages' Question and the Naming of the Padma Purana

Verse 1 (padma.3.1.1)

नमामि गोविन्दपदारविंदं सदेंदिरावंदितमुत्तमाढ्यम् । जगज्जनानां हृदि संनिविष्टं महाजनैकायनमुत्तमोत्तमम्

namāmi govindapadāraviṁdaṁ sadeṁdirāvaṁditamuttamāḍhyam jagajjanānāṁ hṛdi saṁniviṣṭaṁ mahājanaikāyanamuttamottamam

I bow to the lotus feet of Govinda — auspicious from beginning to end, ever worshipped together with Lakshmi, most exalted, dwelling in the hearts of all beings in the world, the sole refuge of the great, the best among the best.

Verse 2 (padma.3.1.2)

एकदा मुनयः सर्वे ज्वलज्ज्वलनसन्निभाः । हिमवद्वासिनः सर्वे मुनयो वेदपारगाः

ekadā munayaḥ sarve jvalajjvalanasannibhāḥ himavadvāsinaḥ sarve munayo vedapāragāḥ

Once, all the sages, radiant like blazing fire, all dwelling in the Himalayas, sages who had mastered the Vedas,

Verse 3 (padma.3.1.3)

त्रिकालज्ञा महात्मानो नानापुण्यसमाश्रयाः । महेंद्राद्रिरता ये च ये च विंध्यनिवासिनः

trikālajñā mahātmāno nānāpuṇyasamāśrayāḥ maheṁdrādriratā ye ca ye ca viṁdhyanivāsinaḥ

knowers of the three times, great souls resorting to many sacred abodes — some devoted to Mount Mahendra, others dwelling in the Vindhyas.

Verse 4 (padma.3.1.4)

येऽर्बुदारण्यनिरताः पुष्करारण्यवासिनः । श्रीशैलनिरता ये च कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनः

ye'rbudāraṇyaniratāḥ puṣkarāraṇyavāsinaḥ śrīśailaniratā ye ca kurukṣetranivāsinaḥ

Some were devoted to the Arbuda forest, others dwelt in the Pushkara forest; some were devoted to Shri Shaila, others dwelt in Kurukshetra.

Verse 5 (padma.3.1.5)

धर्म्मारण्यरता ये च दंडकारण्यवासिनः । जंबूमार्गरता ये च ये च सत्यनिवासिनः

dharmmāraṇyaratā ye ca daṁḍakāraṇyavāsinaḥ jaṁbūmārgaratā ye ca ye ca satyanivāsinaḥ

Some were devoted to Dharmaranya, others dwelt in the Dandaka forest; some were devoted to the way of Jambu, others dwelt in Satyaloka.

Verse 6 (padma.3.1.6)

एते चान्ये च बहवः सशिष्या मुनयोऽमलाः । नैमिषं समुपायाताः शौनकं द्रष्टुमुत्सुकाः

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ saśiṣyā munayo'malāḥ naimiṣaṁ samupāyātāḥ śaunakaṁ draṣṭumutsukāḥ

These and many other pure sages, together with their disciples, gathered at Naimisha forest, eager to see Shaunaka.

Verse 7 (padma.3.1.7)

तं पूजयित्वा विधिवत्तेन ते च सुपूजिताः । आसनेषु विचित्रेषु बृस्यादिषु यथाक्रमम्

taṁ pūjayitvā vidhivattena te ca supūjitāḥ āsaneṣu vicitreṣu bṛsyādiṣu yathākramam

Having duly worshipped him, they in turn were duly honored, and were seated in due order upon varied seats of kusha grass and the like.

Verse 8 (padma.3.1.8)

शौनकेन प्रदत्तेषु आसीनास्ते तपोधनाः । कृष्णाश्रिताः कथाः पुण्याः परस्परमथाब्रुवन्

śaunakena pradatteṣu āsīnāste tapodhanāḥ kṛṣṇāśritāḥ kathāḥ puṇyāḥ parasparamathābruvan

Seated upon the seats given by Shaunaka, those sages rich in austerity began to converse among themselves with sacred tales relating to Krishna.

Verse 9 (padma.3.1.9)

कथांतेषु ततस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । आजगाम महातेजाः सूतस्तत्र महाद्युतिः

kathāṁteṣu tatasteṣāṁ munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām ājagāma mahātejāḥ sūtastatra mahādyutiḥ

At the end of those tales, to those purified-hearted sages there came the greatly radiant, greatly effulgent Suta.

Verse 10 (padma.3.1.10)

व्यासशिष्यः पुराणज्ञो रोमहर्षणसंज्ञकः । तान्प्रणम्य यथान्यायं स तैश्चैवाभिपूजितः

vyāsaśiṣyaḥ purāṇajño romaharṣaṇasaṁjñakaḥ tānpraṇamya yathānyāyaṁ sa taiścaivābhipūjitaḥ

Vyasa's disciple, the knower of the Puranas known as Romaharshana, bowed to them duly, and he too was duly honored by them.

Verse 11 (padma.3.1.11)

उपविष्टं यथायोग्यं शौनकाद्या महर्षयः । व्यासशिष्यं सुखासीनं सूतं वै रोमहर्षणम्

upaviṣṭaṁ yathāyogyaṁ śaunakādyā maharṣayaḥ vyāsaśiṣyaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ sūtaṁ vai romaharṣaṇam

Shaunaka and the other great sages seated Vyasa's disciple Suta Romaharshana, comfortably placed, in a fitting position.

Verse 12 (padma.3.1.12)

तं पप्रच्छुर्महाभागाः शौनकाद्यास्तपोधनाः । ऋषय ऊचुः । पौराणिक महाबुद्धे रोमहर्षण सुव्रत

taṁ papracchurmahābhāgāḥ śaunakādyāstapodhanāḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ paurāṇika mahābuddhe romaharṣaṇa suvrata

Those greatly fortunate ascetics, Shaunaka and the others, questioned him. The sages said —

Verse 13 (padma.3.1.13)

त्वत्तः श्रुता महापुण्याः पुरा पौराणिकीः कथाः । सांप्रतं च प्रवृत्ताः स्म कथायां सक्षणा हरेः

tvattaḥ śrutā mahāpuṇyāḥ purā paurāṇikīḥ kathāḥ sāṁprataṁ ca pravṛttāḥ sma kathāyāṁ sakṣaṇā hareḥ

O teller of the Puranas, of great wisdom, Romaharshana of noble vows! In the past we have heard from you the most meritorious tales of the Puranas.

Verse 14 (padma.3.1.14)

स वै पुंसां परोधर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे । पुनः पुराणमाचक्ष्व हरिवार्ता समन्वितम्

sa vai puṁsāṁ parodharmo yato bhaktiradhokṣaje punaḥ purāṇamācakṣva harivārtā samanvitam

Just now we have engaged in the tale of Hari; that indeed is the supreme duty of men, from which devotion to the Transcendent One arises. Once more, tell us the Purana filled with the story of Hari.

Verse 15 (padma.3.1.15)

हरेरन्या कथा सूत श्मशानसदृशी स्मृता । हरिस्तीर्थस्वरूपेण स्वयं तिष्ठति तच्छ्रुतम्

hareranyā kathā sūta śmaśānasadṛśī smṛtā haristīrthasvarūpeṇa svayaṁ tiṣṭhati tacchrutam

O Suta! Any tale other than Hari's is held to be like a cremation-ground; Hari himself abides in the very form of a sacred tirtha — thus have we heard.

Verse 16 (padma.3.1.16)

तीर्थानां पुण्यदातॄणां नामानि किल कीर्तय । कुत एतत्समुत्पन्नं केन वा परिपाल्यते

tīrthānāṁ puṇyadātṝṇāṁ nāmāni kila kīrtaya kuta etatsamutpannaṁ kena vā paripālyate

Do proclaim the names of the tirthas that bestow merit. Whence did all this arise, and by whom is it sustained?

Verse 17 (padma.3.1.17)

कस्मिन्विलयमभ्येति जगदेतच्चराचरम् । क्षेत्राणि कानि पुण्यानि के च पूज्याः शिलोच्चयाः

kasminvilayamabhyeti jagadetaccarācaram kṣetrāṇi kāni puṇyāni ke ca pūjyāḥ śiloccayāḥ

Into what does this whole moving and unmoving world dissolve? Which fields are sacred, and which mountains worthy of worship?

Verse 18 (padma.3.1.18)

नद्यश्च काः पराः पुण्या नृणां पापहराः शुभाः । एतत्सर्वं महाभाग कथयस्व यथाक्रमम्

nadyaśca kāḥ parāḥ puṇyā nṛṇāṁ pāpaharāḥ śubhāḥ etatsarvaṁ mahābhāga kathayasva yathākramam

And which rivers are supremely sacred, auspicious, removers of men's sins? O greatly fortunate one, tell us all this in due order.

Verse 19 (padma.3.1.19)

सूत उवाच । साधुसाधु महाभागाः साधुपृष्टं तपोधनाः । तं प्रणम्य प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञकम्

sūta uvāca sādhusādhu mahābhāgāḥ sādhupṛṣṭaṁ tapodhanāḥ taṁ praṇamya pravakṣyāmi purāṇaṁ padmasaṁjñakam

Suta said: Well said, well said, O greatly fortunate ascetics — well indeed have you asked! Having bowed to him, I shall now proclaim the Purana named Padma.

Verse 20 (padma.3.1.20)

पाराशर्यं परमपुरुषं विश्ववेद्यैकयोनिं विद्याधारं विपुलमतिदं वेदवेदांतवेद्यम् । शश्वच्छांतं स्वमतिविषयं शुद्धतेजोविशालं वेदव्यासं विततयशसं सर्वदाहं नमामि

pārāśaryaṁ paramapuruṣaṁ viśvavedyaikayoniṁ vidyādhāraṁ vipulamatidaṁ vedavedāṁtavedyam śaśvacchāṁtaṁ svamativiṣayaṁ śuddhatejoviśālaṁ vedavyāsaṁ vitatayaśasaṁ sarvadāhaṁ namāmi

To Parashara's son, the supreme Person, the sole source known through the whole universe, the very foundation of knowledge, giver of vast understanding, knowable through the Veda and Vedanta, ever tranquil, the object of his own understanding alone, vast with pure radiance, of far-spread fame — to Vedavyasa I bow always.

Verse 21 (padma.3.1.21)

नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे । यस्य प्रसादाद्वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम्

namo bhagavate tasmai vyāsāyāmitatejase yasya prasādādvakṣyāmi nārāyaṇakathāmimām

Salutation to that Lord Vyasa of boundless radiance, by whose grace I shall speak this tale of Narayana.

Verse 22 (padma.3.1.22)

प्रवक्ष्यामि महापुण्यं पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञितम् । सहस्रं पंचपंचाशत्षड्भिः खंडैः समन्वितम्

pravakṣyāmi mahāpuṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ padmasaṁjñitam sahasraṁ paṁcapaṁcāśatṣaḍbhiḥ khaṁḍaiḥ samanvitam

I shall proclaim the greatly meritorious Purana named Padma, comprising fifty-five thousand six hundred verses, arranged in six sections.

Verse 23 (padma.3.1.23)

तत्रादावादिखंडं स्याद्भूमिखंडं ततः परम् । ब्रह्मखंडं च तत्पश्चात्ततः पातालखंडकम्

tatrādāvādikhaṁḍaṁ syādbhūmikhaṁḍaṁ tataḥ param brahmakhaṁḍaṁ ca tatpaścāttataḥ pātālakhaṁḍakam

Among these, first comes the Adi Khanda, after that the Bhumi Khanda, then the Brahma Khanda, and after that the Patala Khanda,

Verse 24 (padma.3.1.24)

क्रियाखंडं ततः ख्यातमुत्तरं खंडमंतिमम् । एतदेव महापद्ममद्भुतं यन्मयं जगत्

kriyākhaṁḍaṁ tataḥ khyātamuttaraṁ khaṁḍamaṁtimam etadeva mahāpadmamadbhutaṁ yanmayaṁ jagat

then the Kriya Khanda, and finally the celebrated Uttara Khanda, the last of all. This very Purana is the great Lotus itself, wondrous, of which this world is made.

Verse 25 (padma.3.1.25)

तद्वृत्तांताश्रयं तस्मात्पाद्ममित्युच्यते बुधैः । एतत्पुराणममलं विष्णुमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

tadvṛttāṁtāśrayaṁ tasmātpādmamityucyate budhaiḥ etatpurāṇamamalaṁ viṣṇumāhātmyamuttamam

Because its narrative rests upon that very Lotus, the wise call it Padma. This pure Purana is the supreme glorification of Vishnu.

Verse 26 (padma.3.1.26)

देवदेवोहरिर्यद्वै ब्रह्मणे प्रोक्तवान्पुरा । ब्रह्मा तन्नारदायाह नारदोऽस्मद्गुरोः पुरः

devadevohariryadvai brahmaṇe proktavānpurā brahmā tannāradāyāha nārado'smadguroḥ puraḥ

That which Hari, God of gods, once spoke to Brahma; Brahma told it to Narada; and Narada told it before my guru.

Verse 27 (padma.3.1.27)

व्यासः सर्वपुराणानि सेतिहासानि संहिताः । अध्यापयामास मुहुर्मामतिप्रियमात्मनः

vyāsaḥ sarvapurāṇāni setihāsāni saṁhitāḥ adhyāpayāmāsa muhurmāmatipriyamātmanaḥ

Vyasa repeatedly taught all the Puranas, together with the Itihasas and Samhitas, to me, his most beloved disciple.

Verse 28 (padma.3.1.28)

तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणमतिदुर्लभम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रह्महत्यादि पापेभ्यो मुच्यते नरः

tatte'haṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi purāṇamatidurlabham yacchrutvā brahmahatyādi pāpebhyo mucyate naraḥ

That very Purana, exceedingly hard to obtain, I shall now proclaim to you — hearing which a man is freed from sins beginning with the killing of a brahmin,

Verse 29 (padma.3.1.29)

सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकं च लभते शृणुते हि यः । श्रद्धया परया भक्त्या श्रुतमात्रेण मुक्तिदः

sarvatīrthābhiṣekaṁ ca labhate śṛṇute hi yaḥ śraddhayā parayā bhaktyā śrutamātreṇa muktidaḥ

and whoever hears it with faith and supreme devotion obtains the merit of bathing at all the sacred tirthas — by mere hearing it grants liberation.

Verse 30 (padma.3.1.30)

अश्रद्धयापि शृणुते लभते पुण्यसंचयम् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पद्मं श्रोत्रातिथी कुरु

aśraddhayāpi śṛṇute labhate puṇyasaṁcayam tasmātsarvaprayatnena padmaṁ śrotrātithī kuru

Even hearing it without faith, one gains an accumulation of merit. Therefore, with every effort, make the Padma Purana a guest of your ear.

Verse 31 (padma.3.1.31)

तत्रादिखंडं वक्ष्यामि पुण्यं पापविनाशनम् । शृण्वंतु मुनयः सर्वे सशिष्यास्त्वत्र ये स्थिताः

tatrādikhaṁḍaṁ vakṣyāmi puṇyaṁ pāpavināśanam śṛṇvaṁtu munayaḥ sarve saśiṣyāstvatra ye sthitāḥ

There I shall now speak the Adi Khanda, meritorious and destroyer of sin. Let all the sages present here, together with their disciples, listen.