The Divine Messenger's Teaching, and the Deliverance of Vikundala's Brother

Verse 1 (padma.3.31.1)

नारद उवाच । ततो हृष्टमनाः सोऽथ दूतं पप्रच्छ तं पथि । संदेहं हृदि कृत्वा तु विस्मयं परमं गतः । विचारयन्हृदि स्वर्गः कस्य हेतोः फलं मम

nārada uvāca tato hṛṣṭamanāḥ so'tha dūtaṁ papraccha taṁ pathi saṁdehaṁ hṛdi kṛtvā tu vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ vicārayanhṛdi svargaḥ kasya hetoḥ phalaṁ mama

Narada said: Then, glad at heart, he asked the messenger on the way, his mind full of doubt, filled with the greatest wonder, pondering in his heart, "For what reason is heaven the fruit granted to me?"

Verse 2 (padma.3.31.2)

विकुंडल उवाच । हे दूतवर पृच्छामि संशयं त्वामहं परम् । आवां जातौ कुले तुल्ये तुल्यं कर्म तथा कृतम्

vikuṁḍala uvāca he dūtavara pṛcchāmi saṁśayaṁ tvāmahaṁ param āvāṁ jātau kule tulye tulyaṁ karma tathā kṛtam

Vikundala said: "O excellent messenger, I ask you my deepest doubt. We two were born in the same family, and we performed the same deeds."

Verse 3 (padma.3.31.3)

दुर्मृत्युरपि तुल्योभूत्तुल्यो दृष्टो यमस्तथा । कथं स नरके क्षिप्तस्तुल्यकर्म्मा ममाग्रजः

durmṛtyurapi tulyobhūttulyo dṛṣṭo yamastathā kathaṁ sa narake kṣiptastulyakarmmā mamāgrajaḥ

"Our evil deaths, too, were alike, and Yama looked upon us the same way. How then was my elder brother, whose deeds equalled mine, cast into hell?"

Verse 4 (padma.3.31.4)

ममाभवत्कथं नाकमिति मे छिंधि संशयम् । देवदूत न पश्यामि मम स्वर्गस्य कारणम्

mamābhavatkathaṁ nākamiti me chiṁdhi saṁśayam devadūta na paśyāmi mama svargasya kāraṇam

"How did heaven come to be mine? Cut away this doubt of mine. O divine messenger, I see no reason for my own heaven."

Verse 5 (padma.3.31.5)

देवदूत उवाच । माता पिता सुतो जाया स्वसा भ्राता विकुंडल । जन्महेतोरियं संज्ञा जंतोः कर्म्मोपभुक्तये

devadūta uvāca mātā pitā suto jāyā svasā bhrātā vikuṁḍala janmahetoriyaṁ saṁjñā jaṁtoḥ karmmopabhuktaye

The divine messenger said: "Mother, father, son, wife, sister, brother — O Vikundala, these are but names given by reason of birth, for a creature to experience the fruits of its own deeds."

Verse 6 (padma.3.31.6)

एकस्मिन्पादपे यद्वच्छकुनानां समागमः । यद्यत्समीहितं कर्म कुरुते पूर्वभावितः

ekasminpādape yadvacchakunānāṁ samāgamaḥ yadyatsamīhitaṁ karma kurute pūrvabhāvitaḥ

"As birds chance to gather together upon a single tree, so does a being, driven by its past, perform whatever deed it is inclined to."

Verse 7 (padma.3.31.7)

तस्य तस्य फलं भुंक्ते कर्म्मणः पुरुषः सदा । सत्यं वदामि ते प्रीत्या नरैः कर्म्म शुभाशुभम्

tasya tasya phalaṁ bhuṁkte karmmaṇaḥ puruṣaḥ sadā satyaṁ vadāmi te prītyā naraiḥ karmma śubhāśubham

"A man always reaps the fruit of each and every deed he performs. I tell you truly, out of affection, that good and evil deeds belong to each man alone."

Verse 8 (padma.3.31.8)

स्वकृतं भुज्यते वैश्य कालेकाले पुनःपुनः । एकः करोति कर्माणि एकस्तत्फलमश्नुते

svakṛtaṁ bhujyate vaiśya kālekāle punaḥpunaḥ ekaḥ karoti karmāṇi ekastatphalamaśnute

"O Vaishya, one's own deeds are experienced again and again, in time after time. One person performs the actions, and that very person alone eats their fruit."

Verse 9 (padma.3.31.9)

अन्यो न लिप्यते वैश्य कर्मणान्यस्य कुत्रचित् । अपतन्नरके पापैस्तवभ्राता सुदारुणैः । त्वं च धर्मेण धर्मज्ञ स्वर्गं प्राप्नोषि शाश्वतम्

anyo na lipyate vaiśya karmaṇānyasya kutracit apatannarake pāpaistavabhrātā sudāruṇaiḥ tvaṁ ca dharmeṇa dharmajña svargaṁ prāpnoṣi śāśvatam

"No one else, O Vaishya, is ever touched by another's deeds. By his own terrible sins your brother fell into hell, while you, O knower of dharma, have attained everlasting heaven through your own righteousness."

Verse 10 (padma.3.31.10)

विकुंडल उवाच । आबाल्यान्मम पापेषु न पुण्येषु रतं मनः । अस्मिञ्जन्मनि हे दूत दुष्कृतं हि कृतं मया

vikuṁḍala uvāca ābālyānmama pāpeṣu na puṇyeṣu rataṁ manaḥ asmiñjanmani he dūta duṣkṛtaṁ hi kṛtaṁ mayā

Vikundala said: "From childhood my mind was ever inclined to sin, never to virtue. In this very birth, O messenger, I have done nothing but evil."

Verse 11 (padma.3.31.11)

देवदूत न जानामि सुकृतं कर्म चात्मनः । यदि जानासि मत्पुण्यं तन्मे त्वं कृपया वद

devadūta na jānāmi sukṛtaṁ karma cātmanaḥ yadi jānāsi matpuṇyaṁ tanme tvaṁ kṛpayā vada

"O divine messenger, I know of no good deed of my own. If you know of any merit of mine, kindly tell it to me."

Verse 12 (padma.3.31.12)

देवदूत उवाच । शृणु वैश्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्त्वया पुण्यमर्जितम् । जानामि तदहं सर्वं न त्वं वेत्सि सुनिश्चितम्

devadūta uvāca śṛṇu vaiśya pravakṣyāmi yattvayā puṇyamarjitam jānāmi tadahaṁ sarvaṁ na tvaṁ vetsi suniścitam

The divine messenger said: "Listen, O Vaishya, I shall tell you what merit you earned. I know it all; you certainly do not know it yourself."

Verse 13 (padma.3.31.13)

हरिमित्रसुतो विप्रः सुमित्रो वेदपारगः । आसीत्तस्याश्रमः पुण्यो यमुना दक्षिणेतटे

harimitrasuto vipraḥ sumitro vedapāragaḥ āsīttasyāśramaḥ puṇyo yamunā dakṣiṇetaṭe

"There was a brahmin named Sumitra, son of Harimitra, learned to the far shore of the Vedas. His sacred hermitage stood on the southern bank of the Yamuna."

Verse 14 (padma.3.31.14)

तेन सख्यं वने तस्मिंस्तव जातं विशांवर । तत्संगेन त्वया स्नातं माघमासद्वयं तथा

tena sakhyaṁ vane tasmiṁstava jātaṁ viśāṁvara tatsaṁgena tvayā snātaṁ māghamāsadvayaṁ tathā

"O lord of the Vaishyas, in that forest a friendship arose between you and him. Through that companionship you bathed there for two months of Magha."

Verse 15 (padma.3.31.15)

कालिंदी पुण्यपानीये सर्वपापहरे वरे । तत्तीर्थे लोकविख्याते नाम्ना पापप्रणाशने

kāliṁdī puṇyapānīye sarvapāpahare vare tattīrthe lokavikhyāte nāmnā pāpapraṇāśane

"In the sacred waters of the Kalindi, that finest of streams which removes every sin, at that tirtha renowned throughout the world by the name Papapranashana ('destroyer of sin') —"

Verse 16 (padma.3.31.16)

एकेन सर्वपापेभ्यो विमुक्तस्त्वं विशांपते । द्वितीयमाघपुण्येन प्राप्तः स्वर्गस्त्वयानघ

ekena sarvapāpebhyo vimuktastvaṁ viśāṁpate dvitīyamāghapuṇyena prāptaḥ svargastvayānagha

"— by that first month you were freed from all your sins, O lord of the Vaishyas; and by the merit of the second month of Magha, O sinless one, you attained heaven."

Verse 17 (padma.3.31.17)

त्वं तत्पुण्यप्रभावेण मोदस्व सततं दिवि । नरकेषु तव भ्राता महतीं पापयातनाम्

tvaṁ tatpuṇyaprabhāveṇa modasva satataṁ divi narakeṣu tava bhrātā mahatīṁ pāpayātanām

"By the power of that merit, rejoice forever in heaven. Your brother, meanwhile, in the hells, endures a terrible torment for his sins —"

Verse 18 (padma.3.31.18)

छिद्यमानोऽसिपत्रैश्च भिद्यमानस्तु मुद्गरैः । चूर्ण्यमानः शिलापृष्ठे तप्तांगारेषु भर्जितः

chidyamāno'sipatraiśca bhidyamānastu mudgaraiḥ cūrṇyamānaḥ śilāpṛṣṭhe taptāṁgāreṣu bharjitaḥ

"— cut by sword-leaves, pierced by iron clubs, ground upon slabs of stone, roasted on burning coals."

Verse 19 (padma.3.31.19)

इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा भ्रातृदुःखेन दुःखितः । पुलकांकित सर्वांगो दीनोऽसौ विनयान्वितः

iti dūtavacaḥ śrutvā bhrātṛduḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ pulakāṁkita sarvāṁgo dīno'sau vinayānvitaḥ

Hearing these words of the messenger, grieved by his brother's suffering, his whole body covered in gooseflesh, that wretched Vikundala, full of humility —

Verse 20 (padma.3.31.20)

उवाच तं देवदूतं मधुरं निपुणं वचः । मैत्री सप्तपदी साधो सतां भवति सत्फला

uvāca taṁ devadūtaṁ madhuraṁ nipuṇaṁ vacaḥ maitrī saptapadī sādho satāṁ bhavati satphalā

— spoke to that divine messenger sweet and skillful words: "O virtuous one, even the friendship of seven steps together bears true fruit among the good."

Verse 21 (padma.3.31.21)

मित्रभावं विचिंत्य त्वं मामुपाकर्तुमर्हसि । ततो हि श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वज्ञस्त्वं मतो मम

mitrabhāvaṁ viciṁtya tvaṁ māmupākartumarhasi tato hi śrotumicchāmi sarvajñastvaṁ mato mama

"Considering our bond of friendship, you ought to help me. For I now wish to hear from you — I hold you to be all-knowing."

Verse 22 (padma.3.31.22)

यमलोकं न पश्यंति कर्मणा केन मानवाः । गच्छंति निरयं येन तन्मे त्वं कृपया वद

yamalokaṁ na paśyaṁti karmaṇā kena mānavāḥ gacchaṁti nirayaṁ yena tanme tvaṁ kṛpayā vada

"By what deeds do men never behold the world of Yama, and by what do they go to hell? Kindly tell me this."

Verse 23 (padma.3.31.23)

देवदूत उवाच । सम्यक्पृष्टं त्वया वैश्य नष्टपापोऽसि सांप्रतम् । विशुद्धे हृदये पुंसां बुद्धिः श्रेयसि जायते

devadūta uvāca samyakpṛṣṭaṁ tvayā vaiśya naṣṭapāpo'si sāṁpratam viśuddhe hṛdaye puṁsāṁ buddhiḥ śreyasi jāyate

The divine messenger said: "You have asked well, O Vaishya; you are now free of sin. When a man's heart is purified, his understanding turns toward what is truly good."

Verse 24 (padma.3.31.24)

यद्यप्यवसरोनास्ति मम सेवापरस्य वै । तथापि च तव स्नेहात्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथामति

yadyapyavasaronāsti mama sevāparasya vai tathāpi ca tava snehātpravakṣyāmi yathāmati

"Although I, being occupied with my own service, have no time to spare, yet out of affection for you I shall tell you according to my understanding."

Verse 25 (padma.3.31.25)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वावस्थासु सर्वदा । परपीडां न कुर्वंति न ते यांति यमालयम्

karmaṇā manasā vācā sarvāvasthāsu sarvadā parapīḍāṁ na kurvaṁti na te yāṁti yamālayam

"Those who, in deed, thought, and word, in every state and at all times, never cause pain to another — they do not go to the abode of Yama."

Verse 26 (padma.3.31.26)

न वेदैर्न च दानैश्च न तपोभिर्न चाध्वरैः । कथंचित्स्वर्गतिं यांति पुरुषाः प्राणिहिंसकाः

na vedairna ca dānaiśca na tapobhirna cādhvaraiḥ kathaṁcitsvargatiṁ yāṁti puruṣāḥ prāṇihiṁsakāḥ

"Not through the Vedas, nor through gifts, nor through austerities, nor through sacrifices, do men who kill living creatures ever attain the path to heaven."

Verse 27 (padma.3.31.27)

अहिंसा परमो धर्मो ह्यहिंसैव परं तपः । अहिंसा परमं दानमित्याहुर्मुनयः सदा

ahiṁsā paramo dharmo hyahiṁsaiva paraṁ tapaḥ ahiṁsā paramaṁ dānamityāhurmunayaḥ sadā

"Non-violence is the highest dharma; non-violence indeed is the highest austerity. Non-violence is the highest gift — thus the sages have always declared."

Verse 28 (padma.3.31.28)

मशकान्सरीसृपान्दंशान्यूकाद्यान्मानवांस्तथा । आत्मौपम्येन पश्यंति मानवा ये दयालवः

maśakānsarīsṛpāndaṁśānyūkādyānmānavāṁstathā ātmaupamyena paśyaṁti mānavā ye dayālavaḥ

"Those compassionate men who look upon mosquitoes, crawling creatures, biting insects, lice and the like, as well as fellow men, with the same regard as they hold for themselves —"

Verse 29 (padma.3.31.29)

तप्तांगारमयस्कीलं मादंप्रेतरंगिणीम् । दुर्गतिं नैव गच्छंति कृतांतस्य च ते नराः

taptāṁgāramayaskīlaṁ mādaṁpretaraṁgiṇīm durgatiṁ naiva gacchaṁti kṛtāṁtasya ca te narāḥ

"— such men never go to the evil realms of burning coals, the iron-nailed hell, the intoxicating hell of Pretarangini, or of Death's own dreadful abode."

Verse 30 (padma.3.31.30)

भूतानि येऽत्र हिंसंति जलस्थलचराणि च । जीवनार्थं च ते यांति कालसूत्रं च दुर्गतिम्

bhūtāni ye'tra hiṁsaṁti jalasthalacarāṇi ca jīvanārthaṁ ca te yāṁti kālasūtraṁ ca durgatim

"Those who, for the sake of their own livelihood, harm creatures that move in water and on land — they go to the hell called Kalasutra, and to evil states."

Verse 31 (padma.3.31.31)

श्वमांसभोजनास्तत्र पूयशोणितपायिनः । मज्जंतश्च वसापंके दष्टाः कीटैरधोमुखैः

śvamāṁsabhojanāstatra pūyaśoṇitapāyinaḥ majjaṁtaśca vasāpaṁke daṣṭāḥ kīṭairadhomukhaiḥ

"There they are made to eat the flesh of dogs, to drink pus and blood, to sink in a mire of fat, and to be bitten by worms while hanging head-down."

Verse 32 (padma.3.31.32)

परस्परं च खादंतो ध्वांते चान्योन्य घातिनः । वसंति कल्पानेकांस्ते रुदंतो दारुणं रवम्

parasparaṁ ca khādaṁto dhvāṁte cānyonya ghātinaḥ vasaṁti kalpānekāṁste rudaṁto dāruṇaṁ ravam

"Devouring one another, slaying each other in the darkness, they dwell there for many kalpas, weeping with a terrible wail."

Verse 33 (padma.3.31.33)

कृमियोनि शतं गत्वा स्थावराः स्युश्चिरं तु ते । ततोच्छंति ते क्रूरास्तिर्यग्योनि शतेषु च

kṛmiyoni śataṁ gatvā sthāvarāḥ syuściraṁ tu te tatocchaṁti te krūrāstiryagyoni śateṣu ca

"After passing through a hundred births as worms, they long remain fixed as motionless plants; then those cruel beings rise again into hundreds of animal births."

Verse 34 (padma.3.31.34)

पश्चाद्भवंति जातांधाः काणाः कुब्जाश्च पंगवः । दरिद्राश्चांगहीनाश्च मानुषाः प्राणिहिंसकाः

paścādbhavaṁti jātāṁdhāḥ kāṇāḥ kubjāśca paṁgavaḥ daridrāścāṁgahīnāśca mānuṣāḥ prāṇihiṁsakāḥ

"After that, those who killed living creatures are born as men — blind from birth, one-eyed, hunchbacked, lame, poverty-stricken, and maimed in limb."

Verse 35 (padma.3.31.35)

तस्माद्वैश्य परत्रेह कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । लोकद्वयसुखप्रेप्सुर्धर्मज्ञो न तदाचरेत्

tasmādvaiśya paratreha karmaṇā manasā girā lokadvayasukhaprepsurdharmajño na tadācaret

"Therefore, O Vaishya, whoever knows dharma and desires happiness in both this world and the next should never commit such acts in deed, mind, or word."

Verse 36 (padma.3.31.36)

लोकद्वयेन विंदंति सुखानि प्राणिहिंसकाः । येन हिंसन्ति भूतानि न ते बिभ्यति कुत्रचित्

lokadvayena viṁdaṁti sukhāni prāṇihiṁsakāḥ yena hiṁsanti bhūtāni na te bibhyati kutracit

"Killers of living creatures find no happiness in either world; but those who do no harm to any creature are never afraid, anywhere."

Verse 37 (padma.3.31.37)

प्रविशंति यथा नद्यः समुद्रमृजुवक्रगाः । सर्वे धर्मा अहिंसायां प्रविशंति तथा दृढम्

praviśaṁti yathā nadyaḥ samudramṛjuvakragāḥ sarve dharmā ahiṁsāyāṁ praviśaṁti tathā dṛḍham

"As rivers, straight or winding, all enter into the ocean, so do all forms of dharma firmly converge into non-violence."

Verse 38 (padma.3.31.38)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः । अभयं येन भूतेभ्यो दत्तमत्र विंशांवर

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu sarvayajñeṣu dīkṣitaḥ abhayaṁ yena bhūtebhyo dattamatra viṁśāṁvara

"He by whom freedom from fear has been given to all creatures, O lord of the Vaishyas, has thereby bathed in every sacred water and been consecrated in every sacrifice."

Verse 39 (padma.3.31.39)

ये नियोगांश्च शास्त्रोक्तान्धर्माधर्म विमिश्रितान् । पालयंतीह ये वैश्य न ते यांति यमालयम्

ye niyogāṁśca śāstroktāndharmādharma vimiśritān pālayaṁtīha ye vaiśya na te yāṁti yamālayam

"Those, O Vaishya, who observe here the duties enjoined by the scriptures, discerning dharma from adharma amid their mixture, do not go to the abode of Yama."

Verse 40 (padma.3.31.40)

ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थो यतिस्तथा । स्वधर्मनिरताः सर्वे नाकपृष्ठे वसंति ते

brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprastho yatistathā svadharmaniratāḥ sarve nākapṛṣṭhe vasaṁti te

"The celibate student, the householder, the forest-dweller, and the renunciate — all who remain devoted to their own dharma dwell upon the summit of heaven."

Verse 41 (padma.3.31.41)

यथोक्तचारिणः सर्वे वर्णाश्रमसमन्विताः । नरा जितेंद्रिया यांति ब्रह्मलोकं तु शाश्वतम्

yathoktacāriṇaḥ sarve varṇāśramasamanvitāḥ narā jiteṁdriyā yāṁti brahmalokaṁ tu śāśvatam

"All men who conduct themselves as prescribed, established in the duties of their varna and ashrama, with senses conquered, attain the everlasting world of Brahma."

Verse 42 (padma.3.31.42)

इष्टापूर्तरता ये च पंचयज्ञरताश्च ये । दयान्विताश्च ये नित्यं नेक्षंते ते यमालयम्

iṣṭāpūrtaratā ye ca paṁcayajñaratāśca ye dayānvitāśca ye nityaṁ nekṣaṁte te yamālayam

"Those devoted to sacrificial and charitable works (iṣṭa and pūrta), those devoted to the five great sacrifices, and those ever filled with compassion — these never behold the abode of Yama."

Verse 43 (padma.3.31.43)

इंद्रियार्थनिवृत्ता ये समर्था वेदवादिनः । अग्निपूजारता नित्यं ते विप्राः स्वर्गगामिनः

iṁdriyārthanivṛttā ye samarthā vedavādinaḥ agnipūjāratā nityaṁ te viprāḥ svargagāminaḥ

"Those brahmins who have turned away from sense-objects, who are capable expounders of the Veda, and who are ever devoted to the worship of Agni — they go to heaven."

Verse 44 (padma.3.31.44)

अदीनवदनाः शूराः शत्रुभिः परिवेष्टिताः । आहवेषु विपन्ना ये तेषां मार्गो दिवाकरः

adīnavadanāḥ śūrāḥ śatrubhiḥ pariveṣṭitāḥ āhaveṣu vipannā ye teṣāṁ mārgo divākaraḥ

"Heroes who, their faces never downcast, though surrounded by enemies, perish in battle — for them the sun himself becomes the path."

Verse 45 (padma.3.31.45)

अनाथ स्त्री द्विजार्थे च शरणागतपालने । प्राणांस्त्यजंति ये वैश्य न च्यवंति दिवस्तु ते

anātha strī dvijārthe ca śaraṇāgatapālane prāṇāṁstyajaṁti ye vaiśya na cyavaṁti divastu te

"Those, O Vaishya, who give up their lives for the sake of a helpless woman, for a brahmin, or in protecting one who has come for refuge — they never fall from heaven."

Verse 46 (padma.3.31.46)

पंग्वंधबालवृद्धांश्च रोग्यनाथदरिद्रितान् । ये पुष्णंति सदा वैश्य ते मोदंति सदा दिवि

paṁgvaṁdhabālavṛddhāṁśca rogyanāthadaridritān ye puṣṇaṁti sadā vaiśya te modaṁti sadā divi

"O Vaishya, those who always support the lame, the blind, children, the aged, the sick, the helpless, and the poor — they rejoice forever in heaven."

Verse 47 (padma.3.31.47)

गां दृष्ट्वा पंकनिर्मग्नां रोगमग्नं द्विजं तथा । उद्धरंति नरा ये च तेषां लोकोऽश्वमेधिनाम्

gāṁ dṛṣṭvā paṁkanirmagnāṁ rogamagnaṁ dvijaṁ tathā uddharaṁti narā ye ca teṣāṁ loko'śvamedhinām

"Those men who, seeing a cow sunk in mud, or a brahmin sunk in disease, rescue them — theirs is the world of those who have performed the horse sacrifice."

Verse 48 (padma.3.31.48)

गोग्रासं ये प्रयच्छंति ये शुश्रूषंति गाः सदा । येनारोहंति गोपृष्ठे ते स्वर्लोकनिवासिनः

gogrāsaṁ ye prayacchaṁti ye śuśrūṣaṁti gāḥ sadā yenārohaṁti gopṛṣṭhe te svarlokanivāsinaḥ

"Those who offer a morsel of grass to cows, those who always tend to cows' welfare, and those by whose help creatures mount upon a cow's back, they dwell in the world of heaven."

Verse 49 (padma.3.31.49)

गर्तमात्रं तु ये चक्रुर्यत्र गौरतृषा भवेत् । यमलोकमदृष्ट्वैव ते यांति स्वर्गतिं नराः

gartamātraṁ tu ye cakruryatra gauratṛṣā bhavet yamalokamadṛṣṭvaiva te yāṁti svargatiṁ narāḥ

"Those who dig even a small pit at a place where a cow might suffer thirst — such men go to the path of heaven without ever beholding the world of Yama."

Verse 50 (padma.3.31.50)

अग्निपूजा देवपूजा गुरुपूजा रताश्च ये । द्विजपूजा रता नित्यं ते विप्राः स्वर्गगामिनः

agnipūjā devapūjā gurupūjā ratāśca ye dvijapūjā ratā nityaṁ te viprāḥ svargagāminaḥ

"Those brahmins devoted to the worship of fire, of the gods, of the guru, and ever devoted to the worship of brahmins — they go to heaven."

Verse 51 (padma.3.31.51)

वापीकूपतडागादौ धर्मस्यांतो न विद्यते । पिबंति स्वेच्छया यत्र जलस्थल चरास्तदा

vāpīkūpataḍāgādau dharmasyāṁto na vidyate pibaṁti svecchayā yatra jalasthala carāstadā

"In building step-wells, wells, and reservoirs, there is no end to the merit gained, where creatures of water and land may drink freely at will."

Verse 52 (padma.3.31.52)

नित्यं दानपरः सोऽत्र कथ्यते विबुधैरपि । यथायथा च पानीयं पिबंति प्राणिनो भृशम्

nityaṁ dānaparaḥ so'tra kathyate vibudhairapi yathāyathā ca pānīyaṁ pibaṁti prāṇino bhṛśam

"He is declared by even the wise to be forever devoted to giving; for in whatever measure creatures continually drink that water —"

Verse 53 (padma.3.31.53)

तथातथाऽक्षयः स्वर्गो धर्मबुद्ध्या विशां वर । प्राणिनां जीवनं वारि प्राणा वारिणि संस्थिताः

tathātathā'kṣayaḥ svargo dharmabuddhyā viśāṁ vara prāṇināṁ jīvanaṁ vāri prāṇā vāriṇi saṁsthitāḥ

"— in that same measure, O lord of the Vaishyas, does imperishable heaven accrue to the giver's righteous intent; for water is the very life of creatures, and their vital breath rests upon water."

Verse 54 (padma.3.31.54)

नित्यस्नानेन पूयंते येऽपि पातकिनो नराः । प्रातःस्नानं हरेद्वैश्य बाह्माभ्यंतरजं मलम्

nityasnānena pūyaṁte ye'pi pātakino narāḥ prātaḥsnānaṁ haredvaiśya bāhmābhyaṁtarajaṁ malam

"Even sinful men are purified through daily bathing. O Vaishya, the morning bath removes impurity, both outer and inner."

Verse 55 (padma.3.31.55)

प्रातःस्नानेन निष्पापो नरो न निरयं व्रजेत् । स्नानं विना तु यो भुंक्ते मलाशी स सदा नरः

prātaḥsnānena niṣpāpo naro na nirayaṁ vrajet snānaṁ vinā tu yo bhuṁkte malāśī sa sadā naraḥ

"Through the morning bath a man becomes free of sin and does not go to hell; but he who eats without bathing is, in effect, always a man who eats filth."

Verse 56 (padma.3.31.56)

अस्नायी यो नरस्तस्य विमुखा पितृदेवताः । स्नानहीनो नरः पापः स्नानहीनो नरोऽशुचिः

asnāyī yo narastasya vimukhā pitṛdevatāḥ snānahīno naraḥ pāpaḥ snānahīno naro'śuciḥ

"The man who does not bathe — from him the ancestors and gods turn away. A man without bathing is sinful; a man without bathing is impure."

Verse 57 (padma.3.31.57)

अस्नायी नरकं भुंक्ते पुंस्कीटादिषु जायते । ये पुनः स्रोतसि स्नानमाचरंतीह पर्वणि

asnāyī narakaṁ bhuṁkte puṁskīṭādiṣu jāyate ye punaḥ srotasi snānamācaraṁtīha parvaṇi

"He who does not bathe suffers hell and is born among worms and the like. But those who bathe in a river on sacred occasions —"

Verse 58 (padma.3.31.58)

ते नैव नरकं यांति न जायंते कुयोनिषु । दुःस्वप्ना दुष्टचिंताश्च वंध्या भवंति सर्वदा

te naiva narakaṁ yāṁti na jāyaṁte kuyoniṣu duḥsvapnā duṣṭaciṁtāśca vaṁdhyā bhavaṁti sarvadā

"— they do not go to hell, nor are they born into evil wombs; troubled dreams, wicked thoughts, and childlessness, by contrast, are forever the lot of those who neglect it."

Verse 59 (padma.3.31.59)

प्रातःस्नानेन शुद्धानां पुरुषाणां विशांवर । तिलांश्च तिलपात्रांश्च तिलप्रस्थं यथाविधि

prātaḥsnānena śuddhānāṁ puruṣāṇāṁ viśāṁvara tilāṁśca tilapātrāṁśca tilaprasthaṁ yathāvidhi

"O lord of the Vaishyas, for men purified by the morning bath — sesame seeds, vessels of sesame, and a prastha-measure of sesame, given duly —"

Verse 60 (padma.3.31.60)

दत्त्वा प्रेतपतेर्भूमौ न व्रजंति नराः क्वचित् । पृथिवीं कांचनं गां च दत्वा दानानि षोडश

dattvā pretapaterbhūmau na vrajaṁti narāḥ kvacit pṛthivīṁ kāṁcanaṁ gāṁ ca datvā dānāni ṣoḍaśa

"— given on earth to the lord of the departed (Yama), such men never go anywhere near him. Having given the earth, gold, a cow, and the sixteen great gifts —"

Verse 61 (padma.3.31.61)

गत्वा न विनिवर्तंते स्वर्गलोकाद्विकुंडल । पुण्यासु तिथिषु प्राज्ञो व्यतीपाते च संक्रमे

gatvā na vinivartaṁte svargalokādvikuṁḍala puṇyāsu tithiṣu prājño vyatīpāte ca saṁkrame

"— O Vikundala, once gone to the world of heaven they never return from it. The wise man, on sacred lunar days, on Vyatipata, and on Sankranti —"

Verse 62 (padma.3.31.62)

स्नात्वा दत्त्वा च यत्किंचिन्नैव मज्जति दुर्गतौ । नैवाक्रामंति दातारो दारुणं रौरवं पथम् । इहलोके न जायंते कुले धनविवर्जिते

snātvā dattvā ca yatkiṁcinnaiva majjati durgatau naivākrāmaṁti dātāro dāruṇaṁ rauravaṁ patham ihaloke na jāyaṁte kule dhanavivarjite

"— having bathed and given whatever he can, never sinks into an evil state. Such givers never tread the dreadful path to the hell of Raurava; nor are they born in this world into a family bereft of wealth."

Verse 63 (padma.3.31.63)

सत्यवादी सदा मौनी प्रियवादी च यो नरः । अक्रोधनः समाचारो नातिवाद्यनसूयकः

satyavādī sadā maunī priyavādī ca yo naraḥ akrodhanaḥ samācāro nātivādyanasūyakaḥ

"The man who is truthful, ever restrained in speech, gentle in speaking, free of anger, of good conduct, not given to harsh argument, and without envy —"

Verse 64 (padma.3.31.64)

सदा दाक्षिण्यसंपन्नः सदा भूतदयान्वितः । गोप्ता च परमर्माणां वक्ता परगुणस्य च

sadā dākṣiṇyasaṁpannaḥ sadā bhūtadayānvitaḥ goptā ca paramarmāṇāṁ vaktā paraguṇasya ca

"— ever endowed with courtesy, ever filled with compassion for creatures, a guardian of others' hidden weaknesses, and a speaker only of others' virtues —"

Verse 65 (padma.3.31.65)

परस्वं तृणमात्रं च मनसापि न यो हरेत् । न पश्यंति विशांश्रेष्ठ ह्येते नरकयातनाम्

parasvaṁ tṛṇamātraṁ ca manasāpi na yo haret na paśyaṁti viśāṁśreṣṭha hyete narakayātanām

"— and who, in his mind, would not take even a blade of grass belonging to another — O best of the Vaishyas, such men never behold the torments of hell."

Verse 66 (padma.3.31.66)

परापवादी पाखंडः पापेभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः । पच्यते नरके तावद्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

parāpavādī pākhaṁḍaḥ pāpebhyo'pi mato'dhikaḥ pacyate narake tāvadyāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

"The slanderer of others, the hypocrite, is held to be worse even than sinners; he is cooked in hell until the very dissolution of all beings."

Verse 67 (padma.3.31.67)

वक्ता परुषवाक्यानां मंतव्यो नरकागतः । संदेहो न विशांश्रेष्ठ पुनर्याति च दुर्गतिम्

vaktā paruṣavākyānāṁ maṁtavyo narakāgataḥ saṁdeho na viśāṁśreṣṭha punaryāti ca durgatim

"He who speaks harsh words should be regarded as one already come from hell; there is no doubt, O best of the Vaishyas, that he goes again to an evil state."

Verse 68 (padma.3.31.68)

न तीर्थैर्न तपोभिश्च कृतघ्नस्यास्ति निष्कृतिः । सहते यातनां घोरां स नरो नरके चिरम्

na tīrthairna tapobhiśca kṛtaghnasyāsti niṣkṛtiḥ sahate yātanāṁ ghorāṁ sa naro narake ciram

"Neither by sacred waters nor by austerities is there any expiation for the ungrateful man. That man endures dreadful torment in hell for a long time."

Verse 69 (padma.3.31.69)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि तेषु मज्जति यो नरः । जितेंद्रियो जिताहारो न स याति यमालयम्

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni teṣu majjati yo naraḥ jiteṁdriyo jitāhāro na sa yāti yamālayam

"Whatever sacred waters exist on earth — the man who bathes in them, with senses conquered and diet mastered, does not go to the abode of Yama."

Verse 70 (padma.3.31.70)

न तीर्थे पातकं कुर्यान्न च तीर्थोपजीवनम् । तीर्थे प्रतिग्रहस्त्याज्यस्त्याज्यो धर्मस्य विक्रयः

na tīrthe pātakaṁ kuryānna ca tīrthopajīvanam tīrthe pratigrahastyājyastyājyo dharmasya vikrayaḥ

"One should not commit sin at a sacred site, nor make one's living off a sacred site. Accepting gifts at a sacred site should be shunned, as should the selling of dharma."

Verse 71 (padma.3.31.71)

दुर्जरं पातकं तीर्थे दुर्जरश्च प्रतिग्रहः । तीर्थे च दुर्जरं सर्वमेतत्किन्नरकं व्रजेत्

durjaraṁ pātakaṁ tīrthe durjaraśca pratigrahaḥ tīrthe ca durjaraṁ sarvametatkinnarakaṁ vrajet

"Sin committed at a sacred site is hard to escape unpunished, and gifts accepted there are hard to escape unpunished as well; everything at a sacred site is thus hard to escape — how then would such a one not go to hell?"

Verse 72 (padma.3.31.72)

सकृद्गंगांभसि स्नातः पूतो गांगेयवारिणा । न नरो नरकं याति अपि पातकराशिकृत्

sakṛdgaṁgāṁbhasi snātaḥ pūto gāṁgeyavāriṇā na naro narakaṁ yāti api pātakarāśikṛt

"He who has bathed even once in the waters of the Ganga, purified by that Gangetic water, does not go to hell, even if he has committed a mountain of sins."

Verse 73 (padma.3.31.73)

व्रतदानतपो यज्ञाः पवित्राणीतराणि च । गंगाबिंद्वभिषिक्तस्य न समा इति नः श्रुतम्

vratadānatapo yajñāḥ pavitrāṇītarāṇi ca gaṁgābiṁdvabhiṣiktasya na samā iti naḥ śrutam

"We have heard that vows, gifts, austerities, sacrifices, and other purifying acts are not equal to a single drop of Ganga water sprinkled upon oneself."

Verse 74 (padma.3.31.74)

अन्यतीर्थसमां गंगां यो ब्रवीति नराधमः । स याति नरकं वैश्य दारुणं रौरवं महत्

anyatīrthasamāṁ gaṁgāṁ yo bravīti narādhamaḥ sa yāti narakaṁ vaiśya dāruṇaṁ rauravaṁ mahat

"The basest of men, who declares the Ganga equal to any other sacred water — he, O Vaishya, goes to the dreadful, great hell of Raurava."

Verse 75 (padma.3.31.75)

धर्मद्रवं ह्यपां बीजं वैकुंठचरणच्युतम् । धृतं मूर्ध्नि महेशेन यद्गांगममलं जलम्

dharmadravaṁ hyapāṁ bījaṁ vaikuṁṭhacaraṇacyutam dhṛtaṁ mūrdhni maheśena yadgāṁgamamalaṁ jalam

"That stainless Gangetic water is the very fluid of dharma, the seed of all waters, having fallen from the feet of Vaikuntha (Vishnu), and borne upon the head by Mahesha (Shiva) himself."

Verse 76 (padma.3.31.76)

तद्ब्रह्मैव न संदेहो निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम् । तेन किं समतां गच्छेदपि ब्रह्मांडगोचरे

tadbrahmaiva na saṁdeho nirguṇaṁ prakṛteḥ param tena kiṁ samatāṁ gacchedapi brahmāṁḍagocare

"That is Brahman itself, without doubt — attributeless, beyond material nature. What then, in the whole range of the cosmos, could ever be its equal?"

Verse 77 (padma.3.31.77)

गंगागंगेति यो ब्रूयाद्योजनानां शतैरपि । नरो न नरकं याति किं तया सदृशं भवेत् । नान्येन दह्यते सद्यः क्रिया नरकदायिनी

gaṁgāgaṁgeti yo brūyādyojanānāṁ śatairapi naro na narakaṁ yāti kiṁ tayā sadṛśaṁ bhavet nānyena dahyate sadyaḥ kriyā narakadāyinī

"Whoever utters 'Ganga, Ganga' even from hundreds of yojanas away does not go to hell — what could be equal to her? By no other means are the acts that give rise to hell instantly burned away."

Verse 78 (padma.3.31.78)

गंगांभसि प्रयत्नेन स्नातव्यं तेन मानवैः । प्रतिगृह निवृत्तो यः प्रतिग्रहक्षमोऽपि सन् । स द्विजो द्योतते वैश्य तारारूपश्चिरं दिवि

gaṁgāṁbhasi prayatnena snātavyaṁ tena mānavaiḥ pratigṛha nivṛtto yaḥ pratigrahakṣamo'pi san sa dvijo dyotate vaiśya tārārūpaściraṁ divi

"Men should therefore make every effort to bathe in the waters of the Ganga. The brahmin who abstains from accepting gifts, even though qualified to accept them, shines, O Vaishya, in the form of a star in heaven for a long time."

Verse 79 (padma.3.31.79)

गामुद्धरंति ये पंकाद्ये रक्षंति च रोगिणः । म्रियंते गोगृहे ये च तेषां नभसि तारकाः । यमलोकं न पश्यंति प्राणायामपरायणाः

gāmuddharaṁti ye paṁkādye rakṣaṁti ca rogiṇaḥ mriyaṁte gogṛhe ye ca teṣāṁ nabhasi tārakāḥ yamalokaṁ na paśyaṁti prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ

"Those who rescue a cow from mud, who protect the sick, and who die in a cow-shelter — for them there are stars in the sky. Those devoted to breath-control never behold the world of Yama."

Verse 80 (padma.3.31.80)

अपि दुष्कृतकर्माणस्तैरेव हतकिल्बिषाः । दिवसे दिवसे वैश्य प्राणायामास्तु षोडश । अपि ब्रह्महणं साक्षात्पुनंत्यहरहः कृताः

api duṣkṛtakarmāṇastaireva hatakilbiṣāḥ divase divase vaiśya prāṇāyāmāstu ṣoḍaśa api brahmahaṇaṁ sākṣātpunaṁtyaharahaḥ kṛtāḥ

"Even those of evil deeds have their sins destroyed by this very practice. O Vaishya, sixteen rounds of pranayama performed day after day purify even one who has directly slain a brahmin."

Verse 81 (padma.3.31.81)

तपांसि यानि तप्यंते व्रतानि नियमाश्च ये । गोसहस्रप्रदानं च प्राणायामस्तु तत्समः

tapāṁsi yāni tapyaṁte vratāni niyamāśca ye gosahasrapradānaṁ ca prāṇāyāmastu tatsamaḥ

"Whatever austerities are performed, whatever vows and observances are kept, and the gift of a thousand cows — pranayama is their equal."

Verse 82 (padma.3.31.82)

अब्बिंदुं यः कुशाग्रेण मासेमासे नरः पिबेत् । संवत्सरशतं साग्रं प्राणायामस्तु तत्समः

abbiṁduṁ yaḥ kuśāgreṇa māsemāse naraḥ pibet saṁvatsaraśataṁ sāgraṁ prāṇāyāmastu tatsamaḥ

"A man who, month after month, drinks a single drop of water on the tip of a kusha blade, for a full hundred years and more — pranayama equals even that."

Verse 83 (padma.3.31.83)

पातकं तु महद्यच्च तथा क्षुद्रोपपातकम् । प्राणायामैः क्षणात्सर्वं भस्मसात्कुरुते नरः

pātakaṁ tu mahadyacca tathā kṣudropapātakam prāṇāyāmaiḥ kṣaṇātsarvaṁ bhasmasātkurute naraḥ

"Whatever great sin there is, and whatever minor sin as well — through pranayama a man reduces all of it to ashes in an instant."

Verse 84 (padma.3.31.84)

मातृवत्परदारान्ये मन्यंते वै नरोत्तमाः । न ते यांति नरश्रेष्ठ कदाचिद्यम यातनाम्

mātṛvatparadārānye manyaṁte vai narottamāḥ na te yāṁti naraśreṣṭha kadācidyama yātanām

"Those best of men who regard the wives of others as their own mothers — O best of men, they never at any time undergo the torment of Yama."

Verse 85 (padma.3.31.85)

मनसापि परेषां यः कलत्राणि न सेवते । सह लोकद्वये नास्ति तेन वैश्य धरा धृता

manasāpi pareṣāṁ yaḥ kalatrāṇi na sevate saha lokadvaye nāsti tena vaiśya dharā dhṛtā

"He who, even in his mind, does not covet the wives of others — by him alone, O Vaishya, is the earth truly upheld, together with both worlds."

Verse 86 (padma.3.31.86)

तस्माद्धर्म्मान्वितैस्त्याज्यं परदारोपसेवनम् । नयंति परदारास्तु नरकानेकविंशतिम्

tasmāddharmmānvitaistyājyaṁ paradāropasevanam nayaṁti paradārāstu narakānekaviṁśatim

"Therefore, those endowed with dharma must abandon the pursuit of others' wives; for adultery leads a man to twenty-one hells."

Verse 87 (padma.3.31.87)

लोभो न जायते येषां परदारेषु मानसे । ते यांति देवलोकं तु न यमं वैश्यसत्तम

lobho na jāyate yeṣāṁ paradāreṣu mānase te yāṁti devalokaṁ tu na yamaṁ vaiśyasattama

"O best of the Vaishyas, those in whose minds no greed arises for others' wives — they go to the world of the gods, and not to Yama."

Verse 88 (padma.3.31.88)

शश्वत्क्रोधनिदानेषु यः क्रोधेन न जीयते । जितस्वर्गः स मंतव्यः पुरुषोऽक्रोधनो भुवि

śaśvatkrodhanidāneṣu yaḥ krodhena na jīyate jitasvargaḥ sa maṁtavyaḥ puruṣo'krodhano bhuvi

"He who, amid constant causes for anger, is never conquered by anger — that man free of anger on earth should be regarded as one who has already won heaven."

Verse 89 (padma.3.31.89)

मातरं पितरं पुत्र आराधयति देववत् । अप्राप्ते वार्द्धके काले न याति च यमालयम्

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ putra ārādhayati devavat aprāpte vārddhake kāle na yāti ca yamālayam

"The son who worships his mother and father like gods does not go to the abode of Yama, even if death should come before old age."

Verse 90 (padma.3.31.90)

पितुश्चाधिकभावेन येऽर्चयंति गुरुं नराः । भवंत्यतिथयो लोके ब्रह्मणस्ते विशांवर

pituścādhikabhāvena ye'rcayaṁti guruṁ narāḥ bhavaṁtyatithayo loke brahmaṇaste viśāṁvara

"O lord of the Vaishyas, those men who honor their guru with even greater regard than their father become, in that world, guests of Brahma himself."

Verse 91 (padma.3.31.91)

इह चैव स्त्रियो धन्याः शीलस्य परिरक्षणात् । शीलभंगे च नारीणां यमलोकः सुदारुणः

iha caiva striyo dhanyāḥ śīlasya parirakṣaṇāt śīlabhaṁge ca nārīṇāṁ yamalokaḥ sudāruṇaḥ

"In this very world, women are blessed through the safeguarding of their virtue; but for women whose virtue is broken, the world of Yama is exceedingly terrible."

Verse 92 (padma.3.31.92)

शीलं रक्ष्यं सदा स्त्रीभिर्दुष्टसंगविवर्जनात् । शीलेन हि परः स्वर्गः स्त्रीणां वैश्य न संशयः

śīlaṁ rakṣyaṁ sadā strībhirduṣṭasaṁgavivarjanāt śīlena hi paraḥ svargaḥ strīṇāṁ vaiśya na saṁśayaḥ

"Women must always guard their virtue by avoiding evil company. Through virtue alone, O Vaishya, women attain the highest heaven — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 93 (padma.3.31.93)

शूद्रस्य पाकयज्ञेन निषिद्धाचरणेन च । दुर्गतिर्विहिता वैश्य तस्य सा नारकी गतिः

śūdrasya pākayajñena niṣiddhācaraṇena ca durgatirvihitā vaiśya tasya sā nārakī gatiḥ

"For a shudra, through paka-sacrifices and forbidden conduct, an evil fate is ordained, O Vaishya — that fate leading to hell."

Verse 94 (padma.3.31.94)

विचारयंति ये शास्त्रं वेदाभ्यासरताश्च ये । पुराणं संहितां ये च श्रावयंति पठंति च

vicārayaṁti ye śāstraṁ vedābhyāsaratāśca ye purāṇaṁ saṁhitāṁ ye ca śrāvayaṁti paṭhaṁti ca

"Those who ponder the scriptures, who are devoted to the study of the Veda, and who recite and cause others to hear the Puranas and the Samhitas —"

Verse 95 (padma.3.31.95)

व्याकुर्वंति स्मृतिर्ये च ये धर्मप्रतिबोधकाः । वेदांतेषु निषण्णा ये तैरियं जगती धृता

vyākurvaṁti smṛtirye ca ye dharmapratibodhakāḥ vedāṁteṣu niṣaṇṇā ye tairiyaṁ jagatī dhṛtā

"— who expound the Smritis, who awaken others to dharma, and who are established in the Vedanta — by them alone is this world upheld."

Verse 96 (padma.3.31.96)

तत्तदभ्यासमाहात्म्यैः सर्वे ते हतकिल्बिषाः । गच्छंति ब्रह्मणो लोकं यत्र मोहो न विद्यते

tattadabhyāsamāhātmyaiḥ sarve te hatakilbiṣāḥ gacchaṁti brahmaṇo lokaṁ yatra moho na vidyate

"By the greatness of each of these disciplines, all such men, their sins destroyed, go to the world of Brahma, where delusion does not exist."

Verse 97 (padma.3.31.97)

ज्ञानमज्ञाय यो दद्याद्वेदशास्त्रसमुद्भवम् । अपि वेदास्तमर्चंति भवबंधविदारणम्

jñānamajñāya yo dadyādvedaśāstrasamudbhavam api vedāstamarcaṁti bhavabaṁdhavidāraṇam

"He who imparts, to one lacking knowledge, the wisdom born of the Vedas and the scriptures, which tears apart the bondage of worldly existence — even the Vedas themselves honor him."

Verse 98 (padma.3.31.98)

श्रूयतामद्भुतं ह्येतद्रहस्यं वैश्यसत्तम । सम्मतं धर्मराजस्य सर्वलोकामृतप्रदम्

śrūyatāmadbhutaṁ hyetadrahasyaṁ vaiśyasattama sammataṁ dharmarājasya sarvalokāmṛtapradam

"Hear now, O best of the Vaishyas, this wondrous secret, accepted by Dharmaraja himself, which grants the nectar of immortality to all worlds."

Verse 99 (padma.3.31.99)

न यमं यमलोकं च न भूतान्घोरदर्शनान् । पश्यंति वैष्णवा नूनं सत्यं सत्यं मयोदितम्

na yamaṁ yamalokaṁ ca na bhūtānghoradarśanān paśyaṁti vaiṣṇavā nūnaṁ satyaṁ satyaṁ mayoditam

"Vaishnavas assuredly never behold Yama, nor the world of Yama, nor his fearsome-visaged attendants — truly, truly do I declare this."

Verse 100 (padma.3.31.100)

प्राहास्मान्यमुना भ्राता सदैव हि पुनःपुनः । भवद्भिर्वैष्णवास्त्याज्या न ते स्युर्ममगोचराः

prāhāsmānyamunā bhrātā sadaiva hi punaḥpunaḥ bhavadbhirvaiṣṇavāstyājyā na te syurmamagocarāḥ

"Yama, the brother of Yamuna, has told us this indeed, again and again, always: 'Vaishnavas are always to be shunned by you; they must never fall within my sight.'"

Verse 101 (padma.3.31.101)

स्मरंति ये सकृद्भूताः प्रसंगेनापि केशवम् । ते विध्वस्ताखिलाघौघा यांति विष्णोः परं पदम्

smaraṁti ye sakṛdbhūtāḥ prasaṁgenāpi keśavam te vidhvastākhilāghaughā yāṁti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

"Those who, even by chance, remember Keshava but once — their entire mass of sins destroyed, they go to the supreme abode of Vishnu."

Verse 102 (padma.3.31.102)

दुराचारो दुष्कृतोऽपि सदाचाररतोऽपि यः । भवद्भिः स सदा त्याज्यो विष्णुं च भजते नरः

durācāro duṣkṛto'pi sadācārarato'pi yaḥ bhavadbhiḥ sa sadā tyājyo viṣṇuṁ ca bhajate naraḥ

"Whether he be of evil conduct and evil deed, or devoted to good conduct — any man who worships Vishnu is always to be left alone by you."

Verse 103 (padma.3.31.103)

वैष्णवो यद्गृहे भुंक्ते येषां वैष्णवसंगतिः । तेऽपि वः परिवार्याः स्युस्तत्संगहतकिल्बिषाः

vaiṣṇavo yadgṛhe bhuṁkte yeṣāṁ vaiṣṇavasaṁgatiḥ te'pi vaḥ parivāryāḥ syustatsaṁgahatakilbiṣāḥ

"In whosever house a Vaishnava eats, and whoever keeps company with Vaishnavas — they too must be shunned by you, their sins destroyed by that very association."

Verse 104 (padma.3.31.104)

इत्थं वैश्यानुशास्त्यस्मान्देवो दंडधरः सदा । अतो नो वैष्णवा यांति राजधानीं यमस्य तु

itthaṁ vaiśyānuśāstyasmāndevo daṁḍadharaḥ sadā ato no vaiṣṇavā yāṁti rājadhānīṁ yamasya tu

"Thus, O Vaishya, the wielder of the rod (Yama) himself always instructs us in this way; therefore Vaishnavas never come to the capital city of Yama."

Verse 105 (padma.3.31.105)

विष्णुभक्तिं विना नॄणां पापिष्ठानां विशां वर । उपायो नास्ति नास्त्यन्यः संतर्तुं नरकांबुधिम्

viṣṇubhaktiṁ vinā nṝṇāṁ pāpiṣṭhānāṁ viśāṁ vara upāyo nāsti nāstyanyaḥ saṁtartuṁ narakāṁbudhim

"O lord of the Vaishyas, apart from devotion to Vishnu there is no other means, none whatsoever, for the most sinful of men to cross over the ocean of hell."

Verse 106 (padma.3.31.106)

श्वपाकमपि नेक्षेत लोकेष्टं वैश्य वैष्णवम् । वैष्णवो वर्णबाह्योऽपि पुनाति भुवनत्रयम्

śvapākamapi nekṣeta lokeṣṭaṁ vaiśya vaiṣṇavam vaiṣṇavo varṇabāhyo'pi punāti bhuvanatrayam

"O Vaishya, one should never regard a Vaishnava dear to the world as a mere outcaste; a Vaishnava, even if outside the varna system, purifies all three worlds."

Verse 107 (padma.3.31.107)

एतावता लमघनिर्हरणाय पुंसां संकीर्तनं भगवतो गुणकर्मनाम्नाम् । विक्रुश्य पुत्र मघवान्यदजामिलोऽपि नारायणेति म्रियमाण इयाय मुक्तिम्

etāvatā lamaghanirharaṇāya puṁsāṁ saṁkīrtanaṁ bhagavato guṇakarmanāmnām vikruśya putra maghavānyadajāmilo'pi nārāyaṇeti mriyamāṇa iyāya muktim

"By this much alone — the chanting of the Blessed Lord's qualities, deeds, and names — is enough to strip away men's sins; for when the dying Ajamila cried out to his son by calling 'Narayana!', he too attained liberation."

Verse 108 (padma.3.31.108)

नरके तु चिरं मग्नाः पूर्वे ये च कुलद्वये । तदैव यांति ते स्वर्गं यदार्चंति मुदा हरिम्

narake tu ciraṁ magnāḥ pūrve ye ca kuladvaye tadaiva yāṁti te svargaṁ yadārcaṁti mudā harim

"Even those ancestors, on both sides of the family, who had long been sunk in hell — the very moment their descendant worships Hari with joy, they go to heaven."

Verse 109 (padma.3.31.109)

विष्णुभक्तस्य ये दासा वैष्णवान्न भुजश्च ये । ते तु क्रतुभुजां वैश्य गतिं यांति निराकुलाः

viṣṇubhaktasya ye dāsā vaiṣṇavānna bhujaśca ye te tu kratubhujāṁ vaiśya gatiṁ yāṁti nirākulāḥ

"Those who are servants of a devotee of Vishnu, and those who feed Vaishnavas — they, O Vaishya, attain, untroubled, the same destination as those who partake of sacrifices."

Verse 110 (padma.3.31.110)

प्रार्थर्यद्वैष्णवस्यान्नं प्रयत्नेन विचक्षणः । सर्वपापविशुद्ध्यर्थं तदभावे जलं पिबेत्

prārtharyadvaiṣṇavasyānnaṁ prayatnena vicakṣaṇaḥ sarvapāpaviśuddhyarthaṁ tadabhāve jalaṁ pibet

"A discerning man should earnestly seek the food-remnant of a Vaishnava for the purification of all his sins; failing that, he should drink water used by a Vaishnava."

Verse 111 (padma.3.31.111)

गोविंदेति जपन्मंत्रं कुत्रचिन्म्रियते यदि । स नरो न यमं पश्येत्तं च नेक्षामहे वयम्

goviṁdeti japanmaṁtraṁ kutracinmriyate yadi sa naro na yamaṁ paśyettaṁ ca nekṣāmahe vayam

"If a man, chanting the mantra 'Govinda,' should die anywhere at all, that man will never behold Yama — indeed, we ourselves cannot even look upon him."

Verse 112 (padma.3.31.112)

सांगं समुद्रं सध्यानं सऋषिः छंददैवतम् । दीक्षयाविधिवन्मंत्रं जपेद्वै द्वादशाक्षरम्

sāṁgaṁ samudraṁ sadhyānaṁ saṛṣiḥ chaṁdadaivatam dīkṣayāvidhivanmaṁtraṁ japedvai dvādaśākṣaram

"He who, having received initiation, duly recites the twelve-syllable mantra together with its limbs, its meditation-form, its sage, its meter, and its presiding deity —"

Verse 113 (padma.3.31.113)

अष्टाक्षरं च मंत्रेशं ये जपंति नरोत्तमाः । तान्दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्महा शुद्ध्यद्भ्राजते विष्णुवत्स्वयम्

aṣṭākṣaraṁ ca maṁtreśaṁ ye japaṁti narottamāḥ tāndṛṣṭvā brahmahā śuddhyadbhrājate viṣṇuvatsvayam

"— and those best of men who recite the eight-syllable lordly mantra — merely by beholding them, even a slayer of a brahmin is purified and shines forth like Vishnu himself."

Verse 114 (padma.3.31.114)

शंखिनश्चक्रिणो भूत्वा ब्रह्माभ्यंतरगामिनः । वसंति वैष्णवे लोके विष्णुरूपेण ते नराः

śaṁkhinaścakriṇo bhūtvā brahmābhyaṁtaragāminaḥ vasaṁti vaiṣṇave loke viṣṇurūpeṇa te narāḥ

"Becoming bearers of the conch and discus, moving even within the realm of Brahma, such men dwell in the world of Vishnu, themselves in the very form of Vishnu."

Verse 115 (padma.3.31.115)

हृदि सूर्ये जले वाथ प्रतिमा स्थंडिलेपि च । समभ्यर्च्य हरिं यांति नरास्तद्वैष्णवं पदम्

hṛdi sūrye jale vātha pratimā sthaṁḍilepi ca samabhyarcya hariṁ yāṁti narāstadvaiṣṇavaṁ padam

"Worshipping Hari duly in the heart, in the sun, in water, in an image, or upon a consecrated altar of earth — men attain that supreme abode of Vishnu."

Verse 116 (padma.3.31.116)

अथवा सर्वदा पूज्यो वासुदेवो मुमुक्षुभिः । शालग्रामे मणौ चक्रे वज्रकीटविनिर्मिते

athavā sarvadā pūjyo vāsudevo mumukṣubhiḥ śālagrāme maṇau cakre vajrakīṭavinirmite

"Or Vasudeva, ever worthy of worship by those who seek liberation, is worshipped in the shalagrama stone, in a gem, or in a discus fashioned by the diamond-worm."

Verse 117 (padma.3.31.117)

अधिष्ठानं हि तद्विष्णोः सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । सर्वपुण्यप्रदं वैश्य सर्वेषामपि मुक्तिदम्

adhiṣṭhānaṁ hi tadviṣṇoḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam sarvapuṇyapradaṁ vaiśya sarveṣāmapi muktidam

"That indeed is the very abode of Vishnu, the destroyer of all sin; O Vaishya, it grants all merit and bestows liberation upon all."

Verse 118 (padma.3.31.118)

यः पूजयेद्धरिं चक्रे शालग्रामशिलोद्भवे । राजसूयसहस्रेण तेनेष्टं प्रतिवासरे

yaḥ pūjayeddhariṁ cakre śālagrāmaśilodbhave rājasūyasahasreṇa teneṣṭaṁ prativāsare

"He who worships Hari in the discus that arises from the shalagrama stone has, on each day, thereby performed the equivalent of a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices."

Verse 119 (padma.3.31.119)

सदामनंति वेदांता ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमच्युतम् । तत्प्रसादो भवेन्नॄणां शालग्रामशिलार्चनात्

sadāmanaṁti vedāṁtā brahmanirvāṇamacyutam tatprasādo bhavennṝṇāṁ śālagrāmaśilārcanāt

"That which the Vedanta always proclaims as Brahma-nirvana, the imperishable — the grace of that very reality comes to men through the worship of the shalagrama stone."

Verse 120 (padma.3.31.120)

महाकाष्ठस्थितो वह्निर्मखस्थाने प्रकाशते । यथा तथा हरिर्व्यापी शालग्रामे प्रकाशते

mahākāṣṭhasthito vahnirmakhasthāne prakāśate yathā tathā harirvyāpī śālagrāme prakāśate

"As fire, though present within a great log, shines forth only at the place of sacrifice, so does the all-pervading Hari shine forth in the shalagrama."

Verse 121 (padma.3.31.121)

अपि पापसमाचाराः कर्म्मण्यनधिकारिणः । शालग्रामार्चका वैश्य नैव यांति यमालयम्

api pāpasamācārāḥ karmmaṇyanadhikāriṇaḥ śālagrāmārcakā vaiśya naiva yāṁti yamālayam

"Even those of sinful conduct, disqualified from Vedic rites — O Vaishya, worshippers of the shalagrama never go to the abode of Yama."

Verse 122 (padma.3.31.122)

न तथा रमते लक्ष्म्यां न तथा स्वपुरे हरिः । शालग्रामशिलाचक्रे यथा स रमते सदा

na tathā ramate lakṣmyāṁ na tathā svapure hariḥ śālagrāmaśilācakre yathā sa ramate sadā

"Not so does Hari delight in Lakshmi, nor so does he delight in his own city (Vaikuntha), as he ever delights in the discus of the shalagrama stone."

Verse 123 (padma.3.31.123)

अग्निहोत्रं कृतं तेन दत्ता पृथ्वी ससागरा । येनार्चितो हरिश्चक्रे शालग्रामशिलोद्भवे

agnihotraṁ kṛtaṁ tena dattā pṛthvī sasāgarā yenārcito hariścakre śālagrāmaśilodbhave

"By him who has worshipped Hari in the discus arisen from the shalagrama stone, the Agnihotra has been performed, and the whole earth with its oceans has been given away in gift."

Verse 124 (padma.3.31.124)

शिला द्वादश भो वैश्य शालग्रामशिलोद्भवाः । विधिवत्पूजिता येन तस्य पुण्यं वदामि ते

śilā dvādaśa bho vaiśya śālagrāmaśilodbhavāḥ vidhivatpūjitā yena tasya puṇyaṁ vadāmi te

"O Vaishya, there are twelve types of shalagrama stones; I shall tell you the merit of one by whom they have been duly worshipped."

Verse 125 (padma.3.31.125)

कोटिद्वादशलिंगैस्तु पूजितैः स्वर्णपंकजैः । यत्स्याद्द्वादशकालेषु दिनेनैकेन तद्भवेत्

koṭidvādaśaliṁgaistu pūjitaiḥ svarṇapaṁkajaiḥ yatsyāddvādaśakāleṣu dinenaikena tadbhavet

"Whatever merit accrues from worshipping twelve crore lingas with golden lotuses across twelve time-periods — that same merit arises in a single day of shalagrama worship."

Verse 126 (padma.3.31.126)

यः पुनः पूजयेद्भक्त्या शालग्रामशिला शतम् । उषित्वा स हरेर्लोके चक्रवर्त्तीह जायते

yaḥ punaḥ pūjayedbhaktyā śālagrāmaśilā śatam uṣitvā sa harerloke cakravarttīha jāyate

"He who, moreover, worships with devotion a hundred shalagrama stones dwells, after residing in the world of Hari, born here again as a universal sovereign."

Verse 127 (padma.3.31.127)

कामैः क्रोधैः प्रलोभैश्च व्याप्तो यत्र नराधमः । सोऽपि याति हरेर्लोकं शालग्रामशिलार्चनात्

kāmaiḥ krodhaiḥ pralobhaiśca vyāpto yatra narādhamaḥ so'pi yāti harerlokaṁ śālagrāmaśilārcanāt

"Even the basest of men, overcome by desire, anger, and greed, attains the world of Hari through the worship of the shalagrama stone."

Verse 128 (padma.3.31.128)

यः पूजयेच्च गोविंदं शालग्रामे मुदा नरः । आभूतसंप्लवं यावन्न स प्रच्यवते दिवः

yaḥ pūjayecca goviṁdaṁ śālagrāme mudā naraḥ ābhūtasaṁplavaṁ yāvanna sa pracyavate divaḥ

"The man who worships Govinda joyfully in the shalagrama does not fall from heaven until the very dissolution of all beings."

Verse 129 (padma.3.31.129)

विना तीर्थैर्विना दानैर्विना यज्ञैर्विना मतिम् । मुक्तिं यांति नरा वैश्य शालग्रामशिलार्चनात्

vinā tīrthairvinā dānairvinā yajñairvinā matim muktiṁ yāṁti narā vaiśya śālagrāmaśilārcanāt

"O Vaishya, without pilgrimage, without gifts, without sacrifices, and even without philosophical understanding, men attain liberation through the worship of the shalagrama stone."

Verse 130 (padma.3.31.130)

नरकं गर्भवासं च तिर्यक्त्वं कृमियोनिताम् । न याति वैश्य पापोऽपि शालग्रामशिलार्चकः

narakaṁ garbhavāsaṁ ca tiryaktvaṁ kṛmiyonitām na yāti vaiśya pāpo'pi śālagrāmaśilārcakaḥ

"O Vaishya, even a sinner who worships the shalagrama stone never goes to hell, to residence in the womb, to birth as an animal, or to birth as a worm."

Verse 131 (padma.3.31.131)

दीक्षाविधान मंत्रज्ञो यश्चक्रे बलिमाहरेत् । गंगा गोदावरी रेवा नद्यो मुक्तिप्रदाश्च याः

dīkṣāvidhāna maṁtrajño yaścakre balimāharet gaṁgā godāvarī revā nadyo muktipradāśca yāḥ

"He who, knowing the mantras of the rite of initiation, offers oblation to the discus gains great merit. The Ganga, the Godavari, the Reva (Narmada), and whatever other rivers bestow liberation —"

Verse 132 (padma.3.31.132)

निवसंति हिताः सर्वाः शालग्रामशिला जले । नैवेद्यैर्विविधैः पुष्पैर्धूपदीपैर्विलेपनैः

nivasaṁti hitāḥ sarvāḥ śālagrāmaśilā jale naivedyairvividhaiḥ puṣpairdhūpadīpairvilepanaiḥ

"— all of them, favorably disposed, dwell within the water used for the shalagrama stone. With various offerings of food, flowers, incense, lamps, and sandal-paste —"

Verse 133 (padma.3.31.133)

गीतवादित्रस्तोत्राद्यैः शालग्रामशिलार्चनम् । कुरुते मानवो यस्तु कलौ भक्तिपरायणः

gītavāditrastotrādyaiḥ śālagrāmaśilārcanam kurute mānavo yastu kalau bhaktiparāyaṇaḥ

"— and with song, music, hymns of praise, and the like, that man who, in the Kali age, devoted to bhakti, performs the worship of the shalagrama stone —"

Verse 134 (padma.3.31.134)

कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि रमते सन्निधौ हरेः । लिंगैस्तु कोटिभिर्दृष्टैर्यत्फलं पूजितैस्तु तैः

kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi ramate sannidhau hareḥ liṁgaistu koṭibhirdṛṣṭairyatphalaṁ pūjitaistu taiḥ

"— he dwells for thousands of crores of kalpas in the presence of Hari. Whatever fruit is obtained by beholding and worshipping crores of lingas —"

Verse 135 (padma.3.31.135)

शालग्रामशिलायास्तु ह्येकेनाह्ना हि तत्फलम् । सकृदभ्यर्चिते लिंगे शालग्रामशिलोद्भवे

śālagrāmaśilāyāstu hyekenāhnā hi tatphalam sakṛdabhyarcite liṁge śālagrāmaśilodbhave

"— that very fruit comes from the shalagrama stone in a single day; for the linga arising in the shalagrama stone, worshipped even once —"

Verse 136 (padma.3.31.136)

मुक्तिं प्रयांति मनुजा नूनं सांख्येन वर्जिताः । शालग्रामशिलारूपी यत्र तिष्ठति केशवः

muktiṁ prayāṁti manujā nūnaṁ sāṁkhyena varjitāḥ śālagrāmaśilārūpī yatra tiṣṭhati keśavaḥ

"— men certainly attain liberation, even without the philosophical discipline of Sankhya. Wherever Keshava abides in the form of the shalagrama stone —"

Verse 137 (padma.3.31.137)

तत्र देवाः सुरा यक्षा भुवनानि चतुर्दश । शालग्रामशिलायां तु यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नरः

tatra devāḥ surā yakṣā bhuvanāni caturdaśa śālagrāmaśilāyāṁ tu yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute naraḥ

"— there dwell the gods, celestials, yakshas, and all the fourteen worlds. The man who performs the shraddha rite at the shalagrama stone —"

Verse 138 (padma.3.31.138)

पितरस्तस्य तिष्ठंति तृप्ताः कल्पशतं दिवि । ये पिबंति नरा नित्यं शालग्रामशिलाजलम्

pitarastasya tiṣṭhaṁti tṛptāḥ kalpaśataṁ divi ye pibaṁti narā nityaṁ śālagrāmaśilājalam

"— his ancestors remain satisfied in heaven for a hundred kalpas. Those men who drink daily the water of the shalagrama stone —"

Verse 139 (padma.3.31.139)

पंचगव्यसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम् । कोटितीर्थसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम्

paṁcagavyasahasraistu sevitaiḥ kiṁ prayojanam koṭitīrthasahasraistu sevitaiḥ kiṁ prayojanam

"— what need have they of a thousand servings of panchagavya taken? What need have they of a thousand crore sacred waters visited?"

Verse 140 (padma.3.31.140)

तोयं यदि पिबेत्पुण्यं शालग्रामशिलांगजम् । शालग्राम शिला यत्र तत्तीर्थं योजनत्रयम्

toyaṁ yadi pibetpuṇyaṁ śālagrāmaśilāṁgajam śālagrāma śilā yatra tattīrthaṁ yojanatrayam

"— if he drinks that sacred water sprung from the body of the shalagrama stone. Wherever a shalagrama stone is present, that place is a sacred tirtha for three yojanas around."

Verse 141 (padma.3.31.141)

तत्र दानं च होमं च सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत् । शालग्रामशिला तोयं यः पिबेद्बिंदुना समम्

tatra dānaṁ ca homaṁ ca sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet śālagrāmaśilā toyaṁ yaḥ pibedbiṁdunā samam

"There, whatever gift or offering is made becomes a crore times its merit. Whoever drinks even a single drop's worth of the shalagrama stone's water —"

Verse 142 (padma.3.31.142)

मातृस्तन्यं पुनर्नैव स पिबेद्विष्णुभाङ्नरः । शालग्राम समीपे तु क्रोशमात्रं समंततः

mātṛstanyaṁ punarnaiva sa pibedviṣṇubhāṅnaraḥ śālagrāma samīpe tu krośamātraṁ samaṁtataḥ

"— that man, having partaken of Vishnu, need never again drink at his mother's breast, that is, need never again be born from a womb. Within a single krosha all around a shalagrama stone —"

Verse 143 (padma.3.31.143)

कीटकोपि मृतो याति वैकुंठं भवनं परम् । शालग्रामशिलाचक्रं यो दद्याद्दानमुत्तमम्

kīṭakopi mṛto yāti vaikuṁṭhaṁ bhavanaṁ param śālagrāmaśilācakraṁ yo dadyāddānamuttamam

"— even a worm that dies there goes to Vaikuntha, that supreme abode. He who gives, as the most excellent gift, a shalagrama stone with its discus —"

Verse 144 (padma.3.31.144)

भूचक्रं तेन दत्तं स्यात्सशैलवनकाननम् । शालग्रामशिलाया यो मूल्यमुत्पादयेन्नरः

bhūcakraṁ tena dattaṁ syātsaśailavanakānanam śālagrāmaśilāyā yo mūlyamutpādayennaraḥ

"— by him the entire circle of the earth, with its mountains, forests, and woodlands, is thereby given in gift. But the man who sets a price on a shalagrama stone —"

Verse 145 (padma.3.31.145)

विक्रेता चानुमंता यः परीक्षासु च मोदते । ते सर्वे नरकं यांति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

vikretā cānumaṁtā yaḥ parīkṣāsu ca modate te sarve narakaṁ yāṁti yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

"— the seller, and he who approves of it, and he who takes pleasure in appraising it — all of these go to hell until the very dissolution of all beings."

Verse 146 (padma.3.31.146)

ततः संवर्जयेद्वैश्य चक्रस्य क्रयविक्रयम् । बहुनोक्तेन किं वैश्य कर्तव्यं पापभीरुणा

tataḥ saṁvarjayedvaiśya cakrasya krayavikrayam bahunoktena kiṁ vaiśya kartavyaṁ pāpabhīruṇā

"Therefore, O Vaishya, one should altogether avoid the buying and selling of the discus. What need is there of saying more, O Vaishya? This alone should be done by one who fears sin."

Verse 147 (padma.3.31.147)

स्मरणं वासुदेवस्य सर्वपापहरं हरेः । तपस्तप्त्वा नरो घोरमरण्ये नियतेंद्रियः

smaraṇaṁ vāsudevasya sarvapāpaharaṁ hareḥ tapastaptvā naro ghoramaraṇye niyateṁdriyaḥ

"The mere remembrance of Vasudeva-Hari removes all sin. Even a man who has performed terrible austerities in the forest, his senses restrained —"

Verse 148 (padma.3.31.148)

यत्फलं समवाप्नोति तन्नत्वा गरुडध्वजम् । कृत्वापि बहुशः पापं नरो मोहसमन्वितः

yatphalaṁ samavāpnoti tannatvā garuḍadhvajam kṛtvāpi bahuśaḥ pāpaṁ naro mohasamanvitaḥ

"— whatever fruit he obtains, that same fruit is gained merely by bowing to the Garuda-bannered Lord. Even a man overcome by delusion, who has committed sin many times over —"

Verse 149 (padma.3.31.149)

न याति नरकं गत्वा सर्वपापहरं हरिम् । पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

na yāti narakaṁ gatvā sarvapāpaharaṁ harim pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

"— does not go to hell if he has taken refuge in Hari, the remover of all sin. Whatever sacred waters and holy abodes exist upon the earth —"

Verse 150 (padma.3.31.150)

तानि सर्वाण्यवाप्नोति विष्णोर्नामानुकीर्तनात् । देवं शार्ङ्गधरं विष्णुं ये प्रपन्नाः परायणाः

tāni sarvāṇyavāpnoti viṣṇornāmānukīrtanāt devaṁ śārṅgadharaṁ viṣṇuṁ ye prapannāḥ parāyaṇāḥ

"— all of them are attained merely through the chanting of Vishnu's name. Those who have taken refuge in, and are wholly devoted to, the Lord Vishnu, the bearer of the Sharnga bow —"

Verse 151 (padma.3.31.151)

न तेषां यमसालोक्यं न ते स्युर्नरकौकसः । वैष्णवः पुरुषो वैश्य शिवनिंदां करोति यः

na teṣāṁ yamasālokyaṁ na te syurnarakaukasaḥ vaiṣṇavaḥ puruṣo vaiśya śivaniṁdāṁ karoti yaḥ

"— for them there is no dwelling in Yama's world, nor do they ever become inhabitants of hell. But, O Vaishya, that Vaishnava who reviles Shiva —"

Verse 152 (padma.3.31.152)

न विंदेद्वैष्णवं लोकं स याति नरकं महत् । उपोष्यैकादशीमेकां प्रसंगेनापि मानवः

na viṁdedvaiṣṇavaṁ lokaṁ sa yāti narakaṁ mahat upoṣyaikādaśīmekāṁ prasaṁgenāpi mānavaḥ

"— he does not attain the world of Vishnu; he goes instead to a great hell. A man who fasts on even a single Ekadashi, even by mere chance —"

Verse 153 (padma.3.31.153)

न याति यातनां यामीमिति लोमशतः श्रुतम् । नेदृशं पावनं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते

na yāti yātanāṁ yāmīmiti lomaśataḥ śrutam nedṛśaṁ pāvanaṁ kiṁcittriṣu lokeṣu vidyate

"— never undergoes the torment of Yama; thus it has been heard from the sage Lomasha. Nothing so purifying as this exists in the three worlds."

Verse 154 (padma.3.31.154)

उभयं पद्मनाभस्य दिनं पातकनाशनम् । तावत्पापानि देहेऽस्मिन्वसंतीह विशांवर

ubhayaṁ padmanābhasya dinaṁ pātakanāśanam tāvatpāpāni dehe'sminvasaṁtīha viśāṁvara

"Both Ekadashis, of the bright and dark fortnights, are days of Padmanabha (Vishnu) that destroy sin. O lord of the Vaishyas, sins remain lodged in this body only —"

Verse 155 (padma.3.31.155)

यावन्नोपवसेज्जंतुः पद्मनाभदिनं शुभम् । अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च

yāvannopavasejjaṁtuḥ padmanābhadinaṁ śubham aśvamedhasahasrāṇi rājasūyaśatāni ca

"— until such time as a creature does not observe a fast on the auspicious day of Padmanabha. A thousand horse-sacrifices, and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices —"

Verse 156 (padma.3.31.156)

एकादश्युपवासस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् । एकादशेंद्रियैः पापं यत्कृतं वैश्य मानवैः

ekādaśyupavāsasya kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm ekādaśeṁdriyaiḥ pāpaṁ yatkṛtaṁ vaiśya mānavaiḥ

"— are not worth even a sixteenth part of the merit of fasting on Ekadashi. Whatever sin, O Vaishya, is committed by men through the eleven senses —"

Verse 157 (padma.3.31.157)

एकादश्युपवासेन तत्सर्वं विलयं व्रजेत् । एकादशीसमं किंचित्पुण्यं लोके न विद्यते

ekādaśyupavāsena tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ vrajet ekādaśīsamaṁ kiṁcitpuṇyaṁ loke na vidyate

"— all of it is dissolved through the Ekadashi fast. There is nothing in this world whose merit equals that of Ekadashi."

Verse 158 (padma.3.31.158)

व्याजेनापि कृता यैस्तु वशं यांति न भास्करेः । स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदा ह्येषा शरीरारोग्यदायिनी

vyājenāpi kṛtā yaistu vaśaṁ yāṁti na bhāskareḥ svargamokṣapradā hyeṣā śarīrārogyadāyinī

"Even those who perform it merely as a pretext do not come under the sway of Yama, the son of Bhaskara. This fast bestows heaven and liberation, and grants freedom from bodily disease."

Verse 159 (padma.3.31.159)

सुकलत्रप्रदा ह्येषा जीवत्पुत्रप्रदायिनी । न गंगा न गया वैश्य न काशी न च पुष्करम्

sukalatrapradā hyeṣā jīvatputrapradāyinī na gaṁgā na gayā vaiśya na kāśī na ca puṣkaram

"This fast bestows a good spouse, and grants long-lived sons. O Vaishya, neither the Ganga, nor Gaya, nor Kashi, nor Pushkara —"

Verse 160 (padma.3.31.160)

न चापि वैष्णवं क्षेत्रं तुल्यं हरिदिनेन तु । यमुना चन्द्रभागा न तुल्या हरिदिनेन तु

na cāpi vaiṣṇavaṁ kṣetraṁ tulyaṁ haridinena tu yamunā candrabhāgā na tulyā haridinena tu

"— nor even any Vaishnava holy site, is equal to the day of Hari (Ekadashi). Neither the Yamuna nor the Chandrabhaga river is equal to the day of Hari."

Verse 161 (padma.3.31.161)

अनायासेन येनात्र प्राप्यते वैष्णवं पदम् । रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा समुपोष्य हरेर्दिने

anāyāsena yenātra prāpyate vaiṣṇavaṁ padam rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā samupoṣya harerdine

"By which, without difficulty, the supreme abode of Vishnu is attained here — by keeping vigil through the night, and fasting on the day of Hari —"

Verse 162 (padma.3.31.162)

दश वै पैतृके पक्षे मातृके दश पूर्वजाः । प्रियाया दश ये वैश्य तानुद्धरति निश्चितम्

daśa vai paitṛke pakṣe mātṛke daśa pūrvajāḥ priyāyā daśa ye vaiśya tānuddharati niścitam

"— ten ancestors on the paternal side, ten forebears on the maternal side, and ten, O Vaishya, on the side of one's beloved wife — he certainly delivers all of these."

Verse 163 (padma.3.31.163)

द्वंद्वसंग परित्यक्ता नागारि कृतकेतनाः । स्रग्विणः पीतवसनाः प्रयांति हरिमंदिरम्

dvaṁdvasaṁga parityaktā nāgāri kṛtaketanāḥ sragviṇaḥ pītavasanāḥ prayāṁti harimaṁdiram

"Freed from the bonds of duality, borne upon the banner of Garuda, foe of serpents, garlanded and clad in yellow garments, they go to the abode of Hari."

Verse 164 (padma.3.31.164)

बालत्वे यौवने वापि वार्द्धके वा विशांवर । उपोष्यैकादशीं नूनं नैति पापोऽतिदुर्गतिम्

bālatve yauvane vāpi vārddhake vā viśāṁvara upoṣyaikādaśīṁ nūnaṁ naiti pāpo'tidurgatim

"O lord of the Vaishyas, whether in childhood, in youth, or in old age, one who fasts on Ekadashi certainly never falls, sinner though he be, into utter misfortune."

Verse 165 (padma.3.31.165)

उपोष्येह त्रिरात्राणि कृत्वा वा तीर्थमज्जनम् । दत्वा हेमतिलान्गाश्च स्वर्गं यांतीह मानवाः

upoṣyeha trirātrāṇi kṛtvā vā tīrthamajjanam datvā hematilāngāśca svargaṁ yāṁtīha mānavāḥ

"By fasting for three nights, or by bathing at a sacred site, and by giving gold, sesame, and cows, men attain heaven."

Verse 166 (padma.3.31.166)

तीर्थे स्नांति न ये वैश्य न दत्तं कांचनं च यैः । नैव तप्तं तपः किंचित्ते स्युः सर्वत्र दुःखिताः

tīrthe snāṁti na ye vaiśya na dattaṁ kāṁcanaṁ ca yaiḥ naiva taptaṁ tapaḥ kiṁcitte syuḥ sarvatra duḥkhitāḥ

"O Vaishya, those who do not bathe at sacred sites, who give no gold, and who perform no austerity whatsoever — they remain miserable everywhere."

Verse 167 (padma.3.31.167)

संक्षिप्य कथितं धर्म्मं नरकस्य निरूपणम् । अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु वाङ्मनः काय कर्मभिः

saṁkṣipya kathitaṁ dharmmaṁ narakasya nirūpaṇam adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu vāṅmanaḥ kāya karmabhiḥ

"I have told you dharma in brief, and the description of hell. Freedom from malice toward all beings, in speech, mind, body, and deed —"

Verse 168 (padma.3.31.168)

इंद्रियाणां निरोधश्च दानं च हरिसेवनम् । वर्णाश्रमक्रियाणां च पालनं विधितः सदा

iṁdriyāṇāṁ nirodhaśca dānaṁ ca harisevanam varṇāśramakriyāṇāṁ ca pālanaṁ vidhitaḥ sadā

"— restraint of the senses, giving of gifts, service to Hari, and the ever-dutiful observance of the duties of one's varna and ashrama —"

Verse 169 (padma.3.31.169)

स्वर्गार्थी सर्वदा वैश्य तपोदानं न कीर्तयेत् । यथाशक्ति तथा दद्यादात्मनो हितकाम्यया

svargārthī sarvadā vaiśya tapodānaṁ na kīrtayet yathāśakti tathā dadyādātmano hitakāmyayā

"— this is the whole of dharma. O Vaishya, one who desires heaven should never boast of his austerity or his giving; he should give according to his ability, desiring only his own good."

Verse 170 (padma.3.31.170)

उपानद्वस्त्रमन्नानि पत्रं मूलं फलं जलम् । अवंध्यं दिवसं कार्य्यं दरिद्रेणापि वैश्यक

upānadvastramannāni patraṁ mūlaṁ phalaṁ jalam avaṁdhyaṁ divasaṁ kāryyaṁ daridreṇāpi vaiśyaka

"Sandals, clothes, food, a leaf, a root, a fruit, or water — even a poor man, O Vaishya, should never let a day pass without such giving."

Verse 171 (padma.3.31.171)

इहलोके परे चैव न दत्तं नोपतिष्ठते । दातारो नैव पश्यंति तां तां वै यमयातनाम्

ihaloke pare caiva na dattaṁ nopatiṣṭhate dātāro naiva paśyaṁti tāṁ tāṁ vai yamayātanām

"What is not given remains of no avail, neither in this world nor in the next. Givers never behold those various torments of Yama."

Verse 172 (padma.3.31.172)

दीर्घायुषो धनाढ्याश्च भवंतीह पुनःपुनः । किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन यांत्यधर्मेण दुर्गतिम्

dīrghāyuṣo dhanāḍhyāśca bhavaṁtīha punaḥpunaḥ kimatra bahunoktena yāṁtyadharmeṇa durgatim

"They become long-lived and wealthy, again and again, in this world. What need is there to say more? Through unrighteousness one goes to an evil state."

Verse 173 (padma.3.31.173)

आरोहंति दिवं धर्म्मे नराः सर्वत्र सर्वदा

ārohaṁti divaṁ dharmme narāḥ sarvatra sarvadā

"Through dharma, men ascend to heaven, everywhere and always."

Verse 174 (padma.3.31.174)

तेन बालत्वमारभ्य कर्तव्यो धर्मसंग्रहः । इति ते कथितं सर्वं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

tena bālatvamārabhya kartavyo dharmasaṁgrahaḥ iti te kathitaṁ sarvaṁ kimanyacchrotumicchasi

"Therefore, from childhood onward, one should devote oneself to the accumulation of dharma. Thus have I told you everything; what else do you wish to hear?"

Verse 175 (padma.3.31.175)

विकुंडल उवाच । श्रुत्वा त्वद्वचनं सौम्य प्रसन्नं चित्तमेव मे । गंगोदं पापहं सद्यः पापहारि सतां वचः

vikuṁḍala uvāca śrutvā tvadvacanaṁ saumya prasannaṁ cittameva me gaṁgodaṁ pāpahaṁ sadyaḥ pāpahāri satāṁ vacaḥ

Vikundala said: "Having heard your words, O gentle one, my mind has become truly serene. The water of the Ganga instantly removes sin, but so too does the sin-removing speech of the virtuous."

Verse 176 (padma.3.31.176)

उपकर्तुं प्रियं वक्तुं गुणो नैसर्गिकः सताम् । शीतांशुः क्रियते केन शीतलोऽमृतमंडलः

upakartuṁ priyaṁ vaktuṁ guṇo naisargikaḥ satām śītāṁśuḥ kriyate kena śītalo'mṛtamaṁḍalaḥ

"To help others and speak pleasantly is the natural virtue of the good. By whom, after all, is the cool, nectar-orbed moon made cooling?"

Verse 177 (padma.3.31.177)

देवदूत ततो ब्रूहि कारुण्यान्मम पृच्छतः । नरकान्निष्कृतिः सद्यो भ्रातुर्मे जायते कथम्

devadūta tato brūhi kāruṇyānmama pṛcchataḥ narakānniṣkṛtiḥ sadyo bhrāturme jāyate katham

"O divine messenger, tell me then, out of compassion, in answer to my asking — how may my brother's swift release from hell come about?"

Verse 178 (padma.3.31.178)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदूतो जगाद ह । ध्यानं दृष्ट्वा क्षणं ध्यात्वा तन्मैत्री रज्जुबन्धनः

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devadūto jagāda ha dhyānaṁ dṛṣṭvā kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvā tanmaitrī rajjubandhanaḥ

Hearing these words of his, the divine messenger spoke thus. Having looked within through meditation, and having pondered for a moment — that bond of friendship being a very rope that binds —

Verse 179 (padma.3.31.179)

यत्ते वैश्याष्टमे पुण्यं त्वया जन्मनि संचितम् । तद्भ्रात्रे दीयतां सर्वं स्वर्गं तस्य यदीच्छसि

yatte vaiśyāṣṭame puṇyaṁ tvayā janmani saṁcitam tadbhrātre dīyatāṁ sarvaṁ svargaṁ tasya yadīcchasi

"— he said: 'O Vaishya, whatever merit you accumulated in your eighth birth from now — give all of it to your brother, if you desire heaven for him.'"

Verse 180 (padma.3.31.180)

विकुंडल उवाच । किं तत्पुण्यं कथं जातं किं जन्म च पुरातनम् । तत्सर्वं कथ्यतां दूत ततो दास्यामि सत्वरम्

vikuṁḍala uvāca kiṁ tatpuṇyaṁ kathaṁ jātaṁ kiṁ janma ca purātanam tatsarvaṁ kathyatāṁ dūta tato dāsyāmi satvaram

Vikundala said: "What is that merit, how did it arise, and what was that ancient birth? Tell me all of it, O messenger, and I shall then give it at once."

Verse 181 (padma.3.31.181)

देवदूत उवाच । शृणु वैश्य प्रवक्ष्यामि तत्पुण्यं च सहेतुकम् । पुरा मधुवने पुण्ये ऋषिरासीच्च शाकुनिः

devadūta uvāca śṛṇu vaiśya pravakṣyāmi tatpuṇyaṁ ca sahetukam purā madhuvane puṇye ṛṣirāsīcca śākuniḥ

The divine messenger said: "Listen, O Vaishya, I shall tell you that merit together with its cause. Long ago, in the sacred Madhuvana, there lived a sage named Shakuni."

Verse 182 (padma.3.31.182)

तपोऽध्ययन संपन्नस्तेजसां ब्रह्मणा समः । जज्ञिरे तस्य रेवत्यां नव पुत्रा ग्रहा इव

tapo'dhyayana saṁpannastejasāṁ brahmaṇā samaḥ jajñire tasya revatyāṁ nava putrā grahā iva

"Endowed with austerity and Vedic learning, equal to Brahma in radiance — to him, through his wife Revati, were born nine sons, like the nine planets."

Verse 183 (padma.3.31.183)

ध्रुवः शीलो बुधस्तारो ज्योतिष्मानुत पंचमः । अग्निहोत्ररता ह्येते गृहधर्मेषु रेमिरे

dhruvaḥ śīlo budhastāro jyotiṣmānuta paṁcamaḥ agnihotraratā hyete gṛhadharmeṣu remire

"Dhruva, Shila, Budha, Tara, and Jyotishman as the fifth — these, devoted to the Agnihotra, delighted in the duties of household life."

Verse 184 (padma.3.31.184)

निर्मोहो जितकामश्च ध्यानकोशो गुणाधिकः । एते गृहविरक्ताश्च चत्वारो द्विजसूनवः

nirmoho jitakāmaśca dhyānakośo guṇādhikaḥ ete gṛhaviraktāśca catvāro dvijasūnavaḥ

"Nirmoha, Jitakama, Dhyanakosha, and Gunadhika — these four sons of the brahmin, by contrast, were detached from household life."

Verse 185 (padma.3.31.185)

चतुर्थाश्रममापन्नाः सर्वकामविनिस्पृहाः । ग्रामैकवासिनः सर्वे निःसंगा निष्परिग्रहाः

caturthāśramamāpannāḥ sarvakāmavinispṛhāḥ grāmaikavāsinaḥ sarve niḥsaṁgā niṣparigrahāḥ

"They had entered the fourth ashrama, sannyasa, free from all desire, dwelling in no single village, unattached, and without possessions."

Verse 186 (padma.3.31.186)

निराशा निष्प्रयत्नाश्च सम लोष्टाश्मकांचनाः । येनकेनचिदाच्छन्ना येनकेनचिदाशिताः

nirāśā niṣprayatnāśca sama loṣṭāśmakāṁcanāḥ yenakenacidācchannā yenakenacidāśitāḥ

"Free of expectation, free of striving, regarding clod, stone, and gold with equal eye — covered with whatever came to hand, and fed on whatever came to hand."

Verse 187 (padma.3.31.187)

सायंग्रहास्तथा नित्यं विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः । जितनिद्रा जिताहारा वातशीतसहिष्णवः

sāyaṁgrahāstathā nityaṁ viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇāḥ jitanidrā jitāhārā vātaśītasahiṣṇavaḥ

"Taking only what came in the evening's begging round, ever devoted to meditation on Vishnu, having conquered sleep and appetite, enduring wind and cold —"

Verse 188 (padma.3.31.188)

पश्यंतो विष्णुरूपेण जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् । चरंति लीलया पृथ्वद्यंतेऽन्योन्यं मौनमास्थिताः

paśyaṁto viṣṇurūpeṇa jagatsarvaṁ carācaram caraṁti līlayā pṛthvadyaṁte'nyonyaṁ maunamāsthitāḥ

"— beholding the entire moving and unmoving universe in the form of Vishnu, they wandered the earth at ease, meeting one another while abiding in silence."

Verse 189 (padma.3.31.189)

न कुर्वंति क्रियां कांचिदर्थमात्रं हि योगिनः । दृष्टज्ञाना असंदेहाश्चिद्विकार विशारदाः

na kurvaṁti kriyāṁ kāṁcidarthamātraṁ hi yoginaḥ dṛṣṭajñānā asaṁdehāścidvikāra viśāradāḥ

"Such yogis perform no action for the sake of worldly purpose alone; their knowledge is realized through direct vision, free of doubt, and skilled in understanding the transformations of consciousness."

Verse 190 (padma.3.31.190)

एवं ते तव विप्रस्य पूर्वमष्टमजन्मनि । तिष्ठतो मध्यदेशेषु पुत्रदारकुटुंबिनः

evaṁ te tava viprasya pūrvamaṣṭamajanmani tiṣṭhato madhyadeśeṣu putradārakuṭuṁbinaḥ

"Thus these four renunciate sons, while you — that same brahmin, in your former eighth birth — were dwelling in the middle country, encumbered with son, wife, and family —"

Verse 191 (padma.3.31.191)

गेहं तावकमाजग्मुर्मध्याह्ने क्षुत्पिपासिताः । वैश्वदेवांतरे काले त्वया दृष्टा गृहांगणे

gehaṁ tāvakamājagmurmadhyāhne kṣutpipāsitāḥ vaiśvadevāṁtare kāle tvayā dṛṣṭā gṛhāṁgaṇe

"— they came to your house at midday, hungry and thirsty, at the time following the Vaishvadeva rite; and you saw them there in the courtyard of your home."

Verse 192 (padma.3.31.192)

सगद्गदं साश्रुनेत्रं सहर्षं च ससंभ्रमम् । दंडवत्प्रणिपातेन बहुमानपुरःसरम्

sagadgadaṁ sāśrunetraṁ saharṣaṁ ca sasaṁbhramam daṁḍavatpraṇipātena bahumānapuraḥsaram

"With a voice choked with emotion, eyes filled with tears, with joy and with eagerness, prostrating full-length upon the ground, showing them the greatest honor —"

Verse 193 (padma.3.31.193)

प्रणम्य चरणौ मूर्ध्ना कृत्वा पाणियुगाञ्जलिम् । तदाभिनन्दिताः सर्वे तया सूनृतया गिरा

praṇamya caraṇau mūrdhnā kṛtvā pāṇiyugāñjalim tadābhinanditāḥ sarve tayā sūnṛtayā girā

"— bowing your head to their feet, joining both hands in reverence — thereupon all of them were welcomed by you with these gracious words:"

Verse 194 (padma.3.31.194)

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं सफलं तथा । अद्य विष्णुः प्रसन्नो मे सनाथोऽद्यास्मि पावनः

adya me saphalaṁ janma jīvitaṁ saphalaṁ tathā adya viṣṇuḥ prasanno me sanātho'dyāsmi pāvanaḥ

"'Today my birth is fruitful, and my life too is fruitful. Today Vishnu is pleased with me; today I have a protector, today I am purified.'"

Verse 195 (padma.3.31.195)

धन्योऽस्म्यद्य गृहं धन्यं धन्या अद्य कुटुंबिनः । ममाद्य पितरो धन्या धन्या गावः श्रुतं धनम्

dhanyo'smyadya gṛhaṁ dhanyaṁ dhanyā adya kuṭuṁbinaḥ mamādya pitaro dhanyā dhanyā gāvaḥ śrutaṁ dhanam

"'Today I am blessed, my house is blessed, today my family members are blessed. Today my ancestors are blessed, my cows are blessed, and my learning and wealth are blessed.'"

Verse 196 (padma.3.31.196)

यद्दृष्टौ भवतां पादौ तापत्रयहरौ मया । भवतां दर्शनं यस्माद्धन्यस्यैव हरेरिव

yaddṛṣṭau bhavatāṁ pādau tāpatrayaharau mayā bhavatāṁ darśanaṁ yasmāddhanyasyaiva hareriva

"'For I have now beheld your feet, which remove the three kinds of suffering; for your very sight is that of one truly blessed — like the sight of Hari himself.'"

Verse 197 (padma.3.31.197)

एवं संपूज्य कृत्वा तु पादप्रक्षालनं तथा । धृतं मूर्ध्नि विशांश्रेष्ठ श्रद्धया परया तदा

evaṁ saṁpūjya kṛtvā tu pādaprakṣālanaṁ tathā dhṛtaṁ mūrdhni viśāṁśreṣṭha śraddhayā parayā tadā

"Having thus honored them, and having washed their feet, O best of the Vaishyas, you then bore that water upon your head with the deepest reverence."

Verse 198 (padma.3.31.198)

यत्र पादोदकं वैश्य श्रद्धया शिरसा धृतम् । गंधपुष्पाक्षतैर्धूपैर्दीपैर्भावपुरःसरम्

yatra pādodakaṁ vaiśya śraddhayā śirasā dhṛtam gaṁdhapuṣpākṣatairdhūpairdīpairbhāvapuraḥsaram

"O Vaishya, where the water of their feet was thus borne with reverence upon the head — with sandal-paste, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, and lamps, with heartfelt devotion —"

Verse 199 (padma.3.31.199)

संपूज्य सुंदरान्नेन भोजिता यतयस्तथा । तृप्ताः परमहंसास्ते विश्रांता मंदिरे निशि

saṁpūjya suṁdarānnena bhojitā yatayastathā tṛptāḥ paramahaṁsāste viśrāṁtā maṁdire niśi

"— having worshipped them and fed those ascetics with fine food, those paramahamsas, now satisfied, rested that night in your home —"

Verse 200 (padma.3.31.200)

ध्यायंतश्च परं ब्रह्म यज्ज्योतिर्ज्योतिषां मतम् । तेषामातिथ्यजं पुण्यं जातं यत्ते विशांवर

dhyāyaṁtaśca paraṁ brahma yajjyotirjyotiṣāṁ matam teṣāmātithyajaṁ puṇyaṁ jātaṁ yatte viśāṁvara

"— meditating upon the Supreme Brahman, that light regarded as the light of all lights. O lord of the Vaishyas, the merit that arose from that hospitality of yours to them —"

Verse 201 (padma.3.31.201)

न तद्वक्त्रसहस्रेण वक्तुं शक्नोम्यहं खलु । भूतानां प्राणिनः श्रेष्ठाः प्राणिनां मतिजीविनः

na tadvaktrasahasreṇa vaktuṁ śaknomyahaṁ khalu bhūtānāṁ prāṇinaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ prāṇināṁ matijīvinaḥ

"— that indeed I am unable to describe even with a thousand mouths. Among beings, living creatures are the highest; among living creatures, those who live by intelligence are highest —"

Verse 202 (padma.3.31.202)

मतिमत्सु सुराः श्रेष्ठा नरेषु ब्रह्मजातयः । ब्राह्मणेषु च विद्वांसो विद्वत्सु कृतबुद्धयः

matimatsu surāḥ śreṣṭhā nareṣu brahmajātayaḥ brāhmaṇeṣu ca vidvāṁso vidvatsu kṛtabuddhayaḥ

"— among the intelligent, the gods are highest; among men, those born as brahmins; among brahmins, the learned; and among the learned, those of realized understanding —"

Verse 203 (padma.3.31.203)

कृतबुद्धिषु कर्तारः कर्तृषु ब्रह्मवेदिनः । अतएव सुपूज्यास्ते तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठा जगत्त्रये

kṛtabuddhiṣu kartāraḥ kartṛṣu brahmavedinaḥ ataeva supūjyāste tasmācchreṣṭhā jagattraye

"— among those of realized understanding, the doers of good works are highest; and among doers, the knowers of Brahman. Therefore they are supremely worthy of worship, and hence the most exalted in all three worlds."

Verse 204 (padma.3.31.204)

तत्संगतिर्विशांश्रेष्ठ महापातकनाशिनी । विश्रांता गृहिणो गेहे संतुष्टा ब्रह्मवेदिनः

tatsaṁgatirviśāṁśreṣṭha mahāpātakanāśinī viśrāṁtā gṛhiṇo gehe saṁtuṣṭā brahmavedinaḥ

"O best of the Vaishyas, association with such knowers of Brahman destroys even the greatest sins. When knowers of Brahman rest, contented, in a householder's home —"

Verse 205 (padma.3.31.205)

आजन्मसंचितं पापं नाशयंतीक्षणेन वै । संचितं यद्गृहस्थस्य पापमामरणांतिकम्

ājanmasaṁcitaṁ pāpaṁ nāśayaṁtīkṣaṇena vai saṁcitaṁ yadgṛhasthasya pāpamāmaraṇāṁtikam

"— they destroy, in an instant, all the sin accumulated since birth. Whatever sin has been accumulated by a householder up until the very time of death —"

Verse 206 (padma.3.31.206)

विनिर्दहति तत्सर्वमेकरात्रोषितो यतिः । स्वभ्रात्रे देहि तत्पुण्यं नरकाद्येन मुच्यते

vinirdahati tatsarvamekarātroṣito yatiḥ svabhrātre dehi tatpuṇyaṁ narakādyena mucyate

"— an ascetic who has stayed there but a single night burns it all away. Give that merit to your own brother, that he may be freed from hell by it."

Verse 207 (padma.3.31.207)

इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा ददौ पुण्यं स सत्वरम् । हृष्टेन चेतसा भ्राता निरयात्सोऽपि निर्गतः

iti dūtavacaḥ śrutvā dadau puṇyaṁ sa satvaram hṛṣṭena cetasā bhrātā nirayātso'pi nirgataḥ

Hearing these words of the messenger, he at once gave up his merit; and with a joyful heart, his brother too was thereby delivered from hell.

Verse 208 (padma.3.31.208)

देवैस्तु पुष्पवर्षेण पूजितौ च दिवंगतौ । ताभ्यां संपूजितः सम्यग्गतो दूतो यथागतः

devaistu puṣpavarṣeṇa pūjitau ca divaṁgatau tābhyāṁ saṁpūjitaḥ samyaggato dūto yathāgataḥ

The gods honored the two brothers with a shower of flowers as they ascended to heaven; duly honored in turn by the two of them, the messenger departed just as he had come.

Verse 209 (padma.3.31.209)

अखिलभुवनबोधं देवदूतस्यवाक्यं निगमवचनतुल्यं वैश्यपुत्रो निशम्य । स्वकृतसुकृतदानाद्भ्रातरं तारयित्वा सुरपतिवरलोकं तेन सार्द्धं जगाम

akhilabhuvanabodhaṁ devadūtasyavākyaṁ nigamavacanatulyaṁ vaiśyaputro niśamya svakṛtasukṛtadānādbhrātaraṁ tārayitvā surapativaralokaṁ tena sārddhaṁ jagāma

Having heard the divine messenger's words — words equal to the utterance of scripture itself, awakening knowledge for all the world — that son of the Vaishya, having delivered his brother by the gift of his own merit, went together with him to the excellent world of Indra.

Verse 210 (padma.3.31.210)

इतिहासमिमं राजन्यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि । स गोसहस्रदानस्य विशोको लभते फलम्

itihāsamimaṁ rājanyaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādapi sa gosahasradānasya viśoko labhate phalam

"O king, whoever reads this history, or even hears it, attains, free of sorrow, the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows."