The Story of Hemakundala's Two Sons

Verse 1 (padma.3.30.1)

नारद उवाच । अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्निषधे नगरे वरे

nārada uvāca atra te varṇayiṣyāmi itihāsaṁ purātanam purā kṛtayuge rājanniṣadhe nagare vare

Narada said: Here I shall narrate to you an ancient history. O king, long ago in the Krita age, in the fine city named Nishadha,

Verse 2 (padma.3.30.2)

आसीद्वैश्यः कुबेराभो नामतो हेमकुंडलः । कुलीनः सत्क्रियो देवद्विजपावकपूजकः

āsīdvaiśyaḥ kuberābho nāmato hemakuṁḍalaḥ kulīnaḥ satkriyo devadvijapāvakapūjakaḥ

there was a vaishya named Hemakundala, who resembled Kubera in wealth; well-born, of good conduct, a worshipper of gods, brahmins, and fire.

Verse 3 (padma.3.30.3)

कृषिवाणिज्यकर्त्तासौ विविधक्रयविक्रयी । गोघोटकमहिष्यादि पशुपोषणतत्परः

kṛṣivāṇijyakarttāsau vividhakrayavikrayī goghoṭakamahiṣyādi paśupoṣaṇatatparaḥ

He was engaged in agriculture and trade, occupied with various kinds of buying and selling; devoted to raising cattle, horses, buffaloes, and the like.

Verse 4 (padma.3.30.4)

पयो दधीनि तक्राणि गोमयानि तृणानि च । काष्ठानि फलमूलानि लवणाद्रा र्!दिपिप्पली

payo dadhīni takrāṇi gomayāni tṛṇāni ca kāṣṭhāni phalamūlāni lavaṇādrā r!dipippalī

Milk, curds, buttermilk, cow-dung, grass, wood, fruits and roots, salt, ginger, long pepper,

Verse 5 (padma.3.30.5)

धान्यानि शाकतैलानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । धातूनिक्षुविकारांश्च विक्रीणीते स सर्वदा

dhānyāni śākatailāni vastrāṇi vividhāni ca dhātūnikṣuvikārāṁśca vikrīṇīte sa sarvadā

grains, vegetables and oil, various garments, metals, and products of sugarcane — he traded in all of these constantly.

Verse 6 (padma.3.30.6)

इत्थं नानाविधैर्वैश्य उपायैरपरैस्तथा । उपार्जयामास सदा अष्टौ हाटककोटयः

itthaṁ nānāvidhairvaiśya upāyairaparaistathā upārjayāmāsa sadā aṣṭau hāṭakakoṭayaḥ

Thus, by these various means, the vaishya continually acquired wealth, eight crores of gold pieces.

Verse 7 (padma.3.30.7)

एवं महाधनः सोथ हाकर्णपलितोभवत् । पश्चाद्विचार्य संसारक्षणिकत्वं स्वचेतसि

evaṁ mahādhanaḥ sotha hākarṇapalitobhavat paścādvicārya saṁsārakṣaṇikatvaṁ svacetasi

Thus, having become greatly wealthy, he grew gray-haired; then, having pondered in his mind the transience of worldly existence,

Verse 8 (padma.3.30.8)

तद्धनस्य षडंशेन धर्मकार्यं चकार सः । विष्णोरायतनं चक्रे गृहं चक्रे शिवस्य च

taddhanasya ṣaḍaṁśena dharmakāryaṁ cakāra saḥ viṣṇorāyatanaṁ cakre gṛhaṁ cakre śivasya ca

he devoted a sixth part of his wealth to works of dharma. He built a temple for Vishnu, and a house for Shiva as well.

Verse 9 (padma.3.30.9)

तडागं खानयामास विपुलं सागरोपमम् । वाप्यश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च बहुधा तेन कारिताः

taḍāgaṁ khānayāmāsa vipulaṁ sāgaropamam vāpyaśca puṣkariṇyaśca bahudhā tena kāritāḥ

He had a tank dug, as vast as an ocean; and step-wells and lotus-ponds too, many of them, he had made.

Verse 10 (padma.3.30.10)

वटाश्वत्थाम्रकंकोल जंबू निंबादि काननम् । स्वसत्वेन तदा चक्रे तथा पुष्पवनं शुभम्

vaṭāśvatthāmrakaṁkola jaṁbū niṁbādi kānanam svasatvena tadā cakre tathā puṣpavanaṁ śubham

A grove of banyan, pipal, mango, kankola, jambu, and neem trees and the like he made from his own wealth, and an auspicious flower-garden too.

Verse 11 (padma.3.30.11)

उदयास्तमनं यावदन्नपानं चकार सः । पुराद्बहिश्चतुर्दिक्षु प्रपां चक्रेऽतिशोभनाम्

udayāstamanaṁ yāvadannapānaṁ cakāra saḥ purādbahiścaturdikṣu prapāṁ cakre'tiśobhanām

From sunrise to sunset he provided food and drink; outside the city, in all four directions, he had most beautiful water-sheds built.

Verse 12 (padma.3.30.12)

पुराणेषु प्रसिद्धानि यानि दानानि भूपते । ददौ तानि सधर्म्मात्मा नित्यं दानपरस्तदा

purāṇeṣu prasiddhāni yāni dānāni bhūpate dadau tāni sadharmmātmā nityaṁ dānaparastadā

O lord of the earth, whatever gifts are famous in the Puranas, all of those he, that righteous soul, gave, ever devoted to charity.

Verse 13 (padma.3.30.13)

यावज्जीवकृते पापे प्रायाश्चित्तमथाकरोत् । देवपूजापरो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकः

yāvajjīvakṛte pāpe prāyāścittamathākarot devapūjāparo nityaṁ nityaṁ cātithipūjakaḥ

For whatever sin he had committed during his life, he performed atonement. He was ever devoted to worship of the gods, and ever a worshipper of guests.

Verse 14 (padma.3.30.14)

तस्येत्थं वर्त्तमानस्य संजातौ द्वौ सुतौ नृप । तौ सुप्रसिद्ध नामानौ श्रीकुंडल विकुंडलौ

tasyetthaṁ varttamānasya saṁjātau dvau sutau nṛpa tau suprasiddha nāmānau śrīkuṁḍala vikuṁḍalau

O king, as he lived thus, two sons were born to him; their well-known names were Shrikundala and Vikundala.

Verse 15 (padma.3.30.15)

तयोर्मूर्ध्नि गृहं त्यक्त्वा जगाम तपसे वनम् । तत्राराध्य परं देवं गोविंदं वरदं प्रभुम्

tayormūrdhni gṛhaṁ tyaktvā jagāma tapase vanam tatrārādhya paraṁ devaṁ goviṁdaṁ varadaṁ prabhum

Leaving his household upon their heads, he went to the forest for austerity; there, having worshipped Govinda, the giver of boons, the supreme Lord,

Verse 16 (padma.3.30.16)

तपःक्लिष्ट शरीरोऽसौ वासुदेवमनाः सदा । प्राप्तः स वैष्णवं लोकं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति

tapaḥkliṣṭa śarīro'sau vāsudevamanāḥ sadā prāptaḥ sa vaiṣṇavaṁ lokaṁ yatra gatvā na śocati

his body worn by austerity, his mind ever fixed on Vasudeva, he attained the Vaishnava world, having gone to which one grieves no more.

Verse 17 (padma.3.30.17)

अथ तस्य सुतौ राजन्महामान समन्वितौ । तरुणौ रूपसंपन्नौ धनगर्वेण गर्वितौ

atha tasya sutau rājanmahāmāna samanvitau taruṇau rūpasaṁpannau dhanagarveṇa garvitau

O king, now his two sons, filled with great pride, young, endowed with fine looks, arrogant with the pride of wealth,

Verse 18 (padma.3.30.18)

दुःशीलौ व्यसनासक्तौ धर्मकर्माद्यदर्शकौ । न वाक्यं चागतौ मातुर्वृद्धानां वचनं तथा

duḥśīlau vyasanāsaktau dharmakarmādyadarśakau na vākyaṁ cāgatau māturvṛddhānāṁ vacanaṁ tathā

were of bad character, addicted to vices, showing no regard for dharma or ritual duty; they did not heed their mother's words, nor the words of elders.

Verse 19 (padma.3.30.19)

कुमार्गगौ दुरात्मानौ पितृमित्रनिषेधकौ । अधर्मनिरतौ दुष्टौ परदाराभिगामिनौ

kumārgagau durātmānau pitṛmitraniṣedhakau adharmaniratau duṣṭau paradārābhigāminau

On the wrong path, wicked-minded, forbidding their father's friends, devoted to unrighteousness, wicked, given to approaching other men's wives.

Verse 20 (padma.3.30.20)

गीतवादित्रनिरतौ वीणावेणुविनोदिनौ । वारस्त्रीशतसंयुक्तौ गायंतौ चेरतुस्तदा

gītavāditraniratau vīṇāveṇuvinodinau vārastrīśatasaṁyuktau gāyaṁtau ceratustadā

Devoted to song and instrumental music, delighting in vina and flute, accompanied by hundreds of courtesans, they then sang and roamed about.

Verse 21 (padma.3.30.21)

चाटुकारजनैर्युक्तौ बिंबोष्ठीषु विशारदौ । सुवेषौ चारुवसनौ चारुचंदनरूषितौ

cāṭukārajanairyuktau biṁboṣṭhīṣu viśāradau suveṣau cāruvasanau cārucaṁdanarūṣitau

Surrounded by flatterers, skilled with women of painted, bimba-red lips, well-dressed, in fine garments, anointed with fine sandal-paste,

Verse 22 (padma.3.30.22)

तथा सुगंधिमालाढ्यौ कस्तूरीलक्ष्मलक्षितौ । नानालंकारशोभाढ्यौ मौक्तिकाहारहारिणौ

tathā sugaṁdhimālāḍhyau kastūrīlakṣmalakṣitau nānālaṁkāraśobhāḍhyau mauktikāhārahāriṇau

likewise rich with fragrant garlands, marked with signs of musk, adorned with the splendor of various ornaments, charming with pearl necklaces,

Verse 23 (padma.3.30.23)

गजवाजिरथौघेन क्रीडंतौ तावितस्तदा । मधुपानसमायुक्तौ परस्त्रीरतिमोहितौ

gajavājirathaughena krīḍaṁtau tāvitastadā madhupānasamāyuktau parastrīratimohitau

sporting with troops of elephants, horses, and chariots, given to drinking wine, infatuated with love for other men's wives,

Verse 24 (padma.3.30.24)

नाशयंतौ पितृद्रव्यं सहस्रं ददतुः शतम् । तस्थतुः स्वगृहे रम्ये नित्यं भोगपरायणौ

nāśayaṁtau pitṛdravyaṁ sahasraṁ dadatuḥ śatam tasthatuḥ svagṛhe ramye nityaṁ bhogaparāyaṇau

squandering their father's wealth, giving a hundred where they gave a thousand, they dwelt in their delightful house, ever devoted to pleasure.

Verse 25 (padma.3.30.25)

इत्थं तु तद्धनं ताभ्यां विनियुक्तमसद्व्ययैः । वारस्त्री विट शैलूष मल्ल चारण बंदिषु

itthaṁ tu taddhanaṁ tābhyāṁ viniyuktamasadvyayaiḥ vārastrī viṭa śailūṣa malla cāraṇa baṁdiṣu

Thus that wealth was expended by the two of them on evil expenditures — on courtesans, rogues, actors, wrestlers, bards, and prisoners.

Verse 26 (padma.3.30.26)

अपात्रे तद्धनं दत्तं क्षिप्तं बीजमिवोषरे । न सत्पात्रे च तद्दत्तं न ब्राह्मणमुखे हुतम्

apātre taddhanaṁ dattaṁ kṣiptaṁ bījamivoṣare na satpātre ca taddattaṁ na brāhmaṇamukhe hutam

That wealth was given to unworthy recipients, like seed cast upon barren soil; it was not given to a worthy recipient, nor offered into a brahmin's mouth.

Verse 27 (padma.3.30.27)

नार्चितो भूतभृद्विष्णुः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः । उभयोरेव तद्द्रव्यमचिरेण क्षयं ययौ

nārcito bhūtabhṛdviṣṇuḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanaḥ ubhayoreva taddravyamacireṇa kṣayaṁ yayau

Vishnu, the sustainer of beings, destroyer of all sin, was not worshipped. The wealth of both of them swiftly came to ruin.

Verse 28 (padma.3.30.28)

ततस्तौ दुःखमापन्नौ कार्पण्यं परमं गतौ । शोचमानौ तु मुह्यंतौ क्षुत्पीडादुःखपीडितौ

tatastau duḥkhamāpannau kārpaṇyaṁ paramaṁ gatau śocamānau tu muhyaṁtau kṣutpīḍāduḥkhapīḍitau

Then those two fell into misery, reduced to utter poverty; grieving and bewildered, afflicted with the pain of hunger.

Verse 29 (padma.3.30.29)

तयोस्तु तिष्ठतोर्गेहे नास्ति यद्भुज्यते तदा । स्वजनैर्बांधवैस्सर्वैः सेवकैरुपजीविभिः

tayostu tiṣṭhatorgehe nāsti yadbhujyate tadā svajanairbāṁdhavaissarvaiḥ sevakairupajīvibhiḥ

As the two of them remained in their house, there was then nothing to eat. By all their own kin, relatives, servants, and dependents,

Verse 30 (padma.3.30.30)

द्रव्याभावे परित्यक्तौ चिंत्यमानौ ततः पुरे । पश्चाच्चौर्य्यं समारब्धं ताभ्यां च नगरे नृप

dravyābhāve parityaktau ciṁtyamānau tataḥ pure paścāccauryyaṁ samārabdhaṁ tābhyāṁ ca nagare nṛpa

abandoned for lack of wealth, they became a subject of talk in the city. O king, then the two of them took up thievery in the city.

Verse 31 (padma.3.30.31)

राजतो लोकतो भीतौ स्वपुरान्निःसृतौ तदा । चक्रतुर्वनवासं तौ सर्वेषामुपपीडितौ

rājato lokato bhītau svapurānniḥsṛtau tadā cakraturvanavāsaṁ tau sarveṣāmupapīḍitau

Fearing the king and the people, they then left their own city; oppressed by everyone, they took up dwelling in the forest.

Verse 32 (padma.3.30.32)

जघ्नतुः सततं मूढौ शितैर्बाणैर्विषार्पितैः । नानापक्षिवराहांश्च हरिणान्रोहितांस्तथा

jaghnatuḥ satataṁ mūḍhau śitairbāṇairviṣārpitaiḥ nānāpakṣivarāhāṁśca hariṇānrohitāṁstathā

Those two fools continually killed, with sharp, poison-tipped arrows, various birds, boars, deer, and red antelope,

Verse 33 (padma.3.30.33)

शशकाञ्छल्लकान्गोधान्श्वापदांश्चेतरान्बहून् । महाबलौ भिल्लसंगावाखेटकभुजौ सदा

śaśakāñchallakāngodhānśvāpadāṁścetarānbahūn mahābalau bhillasaṁgāvākheṭakabhujau sadā

hares, porcupines, monitor lizards, and many other wild beasts; those two of great strength, ever living as hunters among bands of Bhillas.

Verse 34 (padma.3.30.34)

एवं मांसमयाहारौ पापाहारौ परंतप । कदाचिद्भूधरं प्राप्तो ह्येकोऽन्यश्च वनं गतः

evaṁ māṁsamayāhārau pāpāhārau paraṁtapa kadācidbhūdharaṁ prāpto hyeko'nyaśca vanaṁ gataḥ

O scorcher of foes, thus, subsisting on flesh, a sinful diet, once one of them came to a mountain, and the other went into a forest.

Verse 35 (padma.3.30.35)

शार्दूलेन हतो ज्येष्ठः कनिष्ठः सर्पदंशितः । एकस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्पापिष्ठौ निधनं गतौ

śārdūlena hato jyeṣṭhaḥ kaniṣṭhaḥ sarpadaṁśitaḥ ekasmindivase rājanpāpiṣṭhau nidhanaṁ gatau

The elder was slain by a tiger, and the younger was bitten by a serpent; O king, on the very same day, the two sinful ones met their death.

Verse 36 (padma.3.30.36)

यमदूतैस्ततोबद्ध्वा पापैर्नीतौ यमालयम् । गत्वाभिजगदुःसर्वे ते दूताः पापिनावुभौ

yamadūtaistatobaddhvā pāpairnītau yamālayam gatvābhijagaduḥsarve te dūtāḥ pāpināvubhau

Then, bound by the messengers of Yama, those two sinners were led to Yama's abode. Having gone there, all those messengers said —

Verse 37 (padma.3.30.37)

धर्मराज नरावेतावानीतौ तव शासनात् । आज्ञां देहि स्वभृत्येषु प्रसीद करवाम किम्

dharmarāja narāvetāvānītau tava śāsanāt ājñāṁ dehi svabhṛtyeṣu prasīda karavāma kim

'O Dharmaraja! These two men have been brought here by your command. Give your order to your servants, be pleased — what shall we do?'

Verse 38 (padma.3.30.38)

आलोच्य चित्रगुप्तेन तदा दूताञ्जगौ यमः । एकस्तु नीयतां वीर निरयं तीव्रवेदनम्

ālocya citraguptena tadā dūtāñjagau yamaḥ ekastu nīyatāṁ vīra nirayaṁ tīvravedanam

Having consulted with Chitragupta, Yama then said to the messengers: 'Let one, O hero, be led to that hell of intense torment;

Verse 39 (padma.3.30.39)

अपरः स्थाप्यतां स्वर्गेयत्र भोगा ह्यनुत्तमाः । कृतांताज्ञां ततः श्रुत्वा दूतैश्च क्षिप्रकारिभिः

aparaḥ sthāpyatāṁ svargeyatra bhogā hyanuttamāḥ kṛtāṁtājñāṁ tataḥ śrutvā dūtaiśca kṣiprakāribhiḥ

let the other be established in heaven, where the pleasures are unsurpassed.' Having heard this command of Kritanta, by the swift-acting messengers,

Verse 40 (padma.3.30.40)

निक्षिप्तो रौरवे घोरे यो ज्येष्ठो हि नराधिप । तेषां दूतवरः कश्चिदुवाच मधुरं वचः

nikṣipto raurave ghore yo jyeṣṭho hi narādhipa teṣāṁ dūtavaraḥ kaściduvāca madhuraṁ vacaḥ

O lord of men, the elder brother was cast into the terrible Raurava hell. Then a certain foremost of those messengers spoke sweet words —

Verse 41 (padma.3.30.41)

विकुंडल मया सार्द्धमेहि स्वर्गं ददामि ते । भुंक्ष्व भोगान्सुदिव्यांस्त्वमर्जितान्स्वेन कर्मणा

vikuṁḍala mayā sārddhamehi svargaṁ dadāmi te bhuṁkṣva bhogānsudivyāṁstvamarjitānsvena karmaṇā

'O Vikundala, come with me — I grant you heaven. Enjoy the most divine pleasures, earned by your own deed.'