The Protection of Brahmins

Verse 1 (padma.4.12.1)

शौनक उवाच । केन पुण्येन भो सूत चान्येन गतपातकः । नरो याति हरेः स्थानं तद्वदस्वानुकंपया ।

śaunaka uvāca kena puṇyena bho sūta cānyena gatapātakaḥ naro yāti hareḥ sthānaṁ tadvadasvānukaṁpayā

Shaunaka said: By what merit, O Suta, and by what other means does a man, freed from sin, go to Hari's abode? Tell me this out of compassion.

Verse 2 (padma.4.12.2)

सूत उवाच । ब्राह्मणस्य धनैः प्राणान्प्राणैर्वापि द्विजोत्तम । रक्षां करोति यो मर्त्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ।

sūta uvāca brāhmaṇasya dhanaiḥ prāṇānprāṇairvāpi dvijottama rakṣāṁ karoti yo martyo viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Suta said: O best of the twice-born, whatever mortal protects a Brahmin's life with wealth, or even with his own life, goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 3 (padma.4.12.3)

पुरा राजा दीननाथो द्वापरे संज्ञके युगे । आसीदपुत्रो बलवान्वैष्णवः स तु याजकः ।

purā rājā dīnanātho dvāpare saṁjñake yuge āsīdaputro balavānvaiṣṇavaḥ sa tu yājakaḥ

Formerly, in the age called Dvapara, there was a king named Dinanatha, powerful, a Vaishnava and performer of sacrifices, but sonless.

Verse 4 (padma.4.12.4)

एकदा गालवं राजा पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः । केन पुण्येन जायेत पुत्रो वै करुणार्णव ।

ekadā gālavaṁ rājā papraccha vinayānvitaḥ kena puṇyena jāyeta putro vai karuṇārṇava

One day, filled with humility, the king asked sage Galava: "O ocean of compassion, by what merit is a son obtained?"

Verse 5 (padma.4.12.5)

वदस्व मुनिशार्दूल करिष्यामि तवाज्ञया । येषां नृणां नास्ति सुतो जीवनं हि निरर्थकम् ।

vadasva muniśārdūla kariṣyāmi tavājñayā yeṣāṁ nṛṇāṁ nāsti suto jīvanaṁ hi nirarthakam

"Tell me, O foremost of sages; I shall do as you command. For those men who have no son, life itself is meaningless."

Verse 6 (padma.4.12.6)

गालव उवाच । राजन्शृणुष्वावहितो यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि तवाग्रतः । कथयामि समासेन पुत्रस्योद्भवकारणम् ।

gālava uvāca rājanśṛṇuṣvāvahito yatpṛṣṭo'smi tavāgrataḥ kathayāmi samāsena putrasyodbhavakāraṇam

Galava said: "O king, listen attentively; I shall tell you in brief the cause by which a son is born, as you have asked."

Verse 7 (padma.4.12.7)

क्रतुं च नरमेधाख्यं कुरुष्व राजसत्तम । तदा ते संततिः स्याद्वै सर्वलक्षणसंयुता ।

kratuṁ ca naramedhākhyaṁ kuruṣva rājasattama tadā te saṁtatiḥ syādvai sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutā

"Perform, O best of kings, the sacrifice called Naramedha; then your offspring shall be endowed with every auspicious mark."

Verse 8 (padma.4.12.8)

राजोवाच । नरमेधं महायज्ञं यज्ञानां प्रवरं द्विज । कीदृशं नरमानीय करिष्यामि गुरो वद ।

rājovāca naramedhaṁ mahāyajñaṁ yajñānāṁ pravaraṁ dvija kīdṛśaṁ naramānīya kariṣyāmi guro vada

The king said: "O Brahmin, this Naramedha, greatest among sacrifices — bringing what sort of man shall I perform it? Tell me, O teacher."

Verse 9 (padma.4.12.9)

गालव उवाच । सुंदरांगः सुवदनः समस्तशास्त्रविद्भवेत् । सत्कुले यदि जातः स तदा यज्ञाय कल्पते ।

gālava uvāca suṁdarāṁgaḥ suvadanaḥ samastaśāstravidbhavet satkule yadi jātaḥ sa tadā yajñāya kalpate

Galava said: "He should be of beautiful limb, fair of face, and versed in all the scriptures; if born into a good family, then he is fit for the sacrifice."

Verse 10 (padma.4.12.10)

अंगहीनः कृष्णवर्णो मूर्खो योग्यो भवेन्नहि । इत्युक्ते गालवे विप्र स राजा मनुजेश्वरः ।

aṁgahīnaḥ kṛṣṇavarṇo mūrkho yogyo bhavennahi ityukte gālave vipra sa rājā manujeśvaraḥ

"One deficient in limb, dark-complexioned, or foolish, would not be fit." When Galava had spoken thus, O Brahmin, that king, lord of men —

Verse 11 (padma.4.12.11)

प्रेषयामास दूतांश्च कथयित्वा मुनेर्वचः । द्रविणं बहु दत्वा च गालवप्रमुखान्द्विजान् ।

preṣayāmāsa dūtāṁśca kathayitvā munervacaḥ draviṇaṁ bahu datvā ca gālavapramukhāndvijān

— repeating the sage's words, sent out messengers, and, giving abundant wealth, chose Galava and other foremost Brahmins —

Verse 12 (padma.4.12.12)

यज्ञार्थे वरयामास समस्तशास्त्रपारगान् । ततो राजाज्ञया दूताः देशं देशं मुदा गताः ।

yajñārthe varayāmāsa samastaśāstrapāragān tato rājājñayā dūtāḥ deśaṁ deśaṁ mudā gatāḥ

— versed as they were in every scripture, for the sacrifice. Then, by the king's command, the messengers went joyfully from land to land,

Verse 13 (padma.4.12.13)

ग्रामे ग्रामे द्विजश्रेष्ठ पत्तनेऽपि समाहिताः । कुत्रापि न प्राप्तवंतो गता जनपदं ततः ।

grāme grāme dvijaśreṣṭha pattane'pi samāhitāḥ kutrāpi na prāptavaṁto gatā janapadaṁ tataḥ

village to village, O best of Brahmins, and even through towns, searching diligently — finding no suitable man anywhere, they went on to another country,

Verse 14 (padma.4.12.14)

नाम्ना दशपुरं विप्र प्रकीर्णं गुणिभिर्द्विजैः । यत्र नारीः सुकेशीश्च मृगशावक चक्षुषः ।

nāmnā daśapuraṁ vipra prakīrṇaṁ guṇibhirdvijaiḥ yatra nārīḥ sukeśīśca mṛgaśāvaka cakṣuṣaḥ

to a city named Dashapura, O Brahmin, full of virtuous Brahmins, where women with lovely hair, eyes like fawns —

Verse 15 (padma.4.12.15)

दृष्ट्वा मुह्यंति पुरुषाश्चंद्रमुख्यश्च ता यतः । तस्मिन्पुरे मनोरम्ये कृष्णदेव इति द्विजः ।

dṛṣṭvā muhyaṁti puruṣāścaṁdramukhyaśca tā yataḥ tasminpure manoramye kṛṣṇadeva iti dvijaḥ

— beholding whom men were enchanted, as were the moon-faced women too. In that lovely city there lived a Brahmin named Krishnadeva,

Verse 16 (padma.4.12.16)

आसीत्पुत्रैस्त्रिभिः सार्द्धं भार्यया च सुशीलया । वैष्णवः प्रियवादी च विष्णुपूजारतः सदा ।

āsītputraistribhiḥ sārddhaṁ bhāryayā ca suśīlayā vaiṣṇavaḥ priyavādī ca viṣṇupūjārataḥ sadā

living there with his three sons and his virtuous wife — a Vaishnava, gentle of speech, ever devoted to the worship of Vishnu,

Verse 17 (padma.4.12.17)

साग्निकः पितृभक्तश्च वैष्णवानां प्रियंकरः । प्रार्थनां चक्रुरथ ते राज्ञो दूता द्विजोत्तमम् ।

sāgnikaḥ pitṛbhaktaśca vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁkaraḥ prārthanāṁ cakruratha te rājño dūtā dvijottamam

keeper of the sacred fire, devoted to his ancestors, dear to Vaishnavas. Then the king's messengers made their request to that foremost Brahmin —

Verse 18 (padma.4.12.18)

पुत्रं देहीति देहीति वद ब्राह्मणसत्तम । नास्ति राज्ञो द्विजश्रेष्ठ पुत्रः संतापनाशनः ।

putraṁ dehīti dehīti vada brāhmaṇasattama nāsti rājño dvijaśreṣṭha putraḥ saṁtāpanāśanaḥ

"O best of Brahmins, give us your son, give him. O foremost of the twice-born, the king has no son to end his sorrow."

Verse 19 (padma.4.12.19)

तदर्थं नरमेधाख्ये यज्ञेभव स दीक्षितः । नेष्यामस्तव पुत्रं वै बलिं दातुं महाक्रतौ ।

tadarthaṁ naramedhākhye yajñebhava sa dīkṣitaḥ neṣyāmastava putraṁ vai baliṁ dātuṁ mahākratau

"For this reason he has been consecrated for the sacrifice called Naramedha. We shall take your son to be offered in that great rite."

Verse 20 (padma.4.12.20)

सुवर्णानां चतुर्लक्षं ब्रह्मन्नय समाहितः । सुखेन यदि दातव्यो नो पुत्रः पुत्रलालसात् ।

suvarṇānāṁ caturlakṣaṁ brahmannaya samāhitaḥ sukhena yadi dātavyo no putraḥ putralālasāt

"O Brahmin, take, with due care, four hundred thousand pieces of gold, if out of longing for a son you can give him to us willingly —"

Verse 21 (padma.4.12.21)

तदा बलेन नेष्यामो राजाज्ञाकारिणो वयम् । दूतानां वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणौ शोकविह्वलौ ।

tadā balena neṣyāmo rājājñākāriṇo vayam dūtānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā brāhmaṇau śokavihvalau

"— otherwise we, obedient to the king's command, shall take him by force." Hearing the messengers' words, that Brahmin couple, overwhelmed with grief —

Verse 22 (padma.4.12.22)

अभूतां विगतप्राणाविव संशयमानसौ । किं धनेन सुवर्णेन जीवनेनापि सद्मना । प्रोवाचेदं वचः सोऽपि ब्राह्मणो राजपूरुषान् ।

abhūtāṁ vigataprāṇāviva saṁśayamānasau kiṁ dhanena suvarṇena jīvanenāpi sadmanā provācedaṁ vacaḥ so'pi brāhmaṇo rājapūruṣān

— became as if lifeless, their minds full of doubt. "What use is wealth, or gold, or even life or home?" — so saying, that Brahmin spoke thus to the king's men —

Verse 23 (padma.4.12.23)

ब्राह्मण उवाच । यदि दूताः समानेतुं पुत्रं शोकतमोपहम् । आगता निश्चितं यूयं शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ।

brāhmaṇa uvāca yadi dūtāḥ samānetuṁ putraṁ śokatamopaham āgatā niścitaṁ yūyaṁ śṛṇudhvaṁ vacanaṁ mama

The Brahmin said: "If you messengers have truly come to take my son, plunged as I am in the darkness of grief, then hear my words."

Verse 24 (padma.4.12.24)

स्थित्वा पृथिव्यां को भ्रष्टां राजाज्ञां कर्तुमिच्छति । पुत्रं हित्वा किंतु यूयं वृद्धं मां नयत द्विजम् ।

sthitvā pṛthivyāṁ ko bhraṣṭāṁ rājājñāṁ kartumicchati putraṁ hitvā kiṁtu yūyaṁ vṛddhaṁ māṁ nayata dvijam

"Living on this earth, who would wish to defy the king's command? But rather than my son, take me instead, this aged Brahmin."

Verse 25 (padma.4.12.25)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दूताः क्रोधसमन्विताः । बलात्कारेण तद्गेहे सुवर्णानि च तत्यजुः ।

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā dūtāḥ krodhasamanvitāḥ balātkāreṇa tadgehe suvarṇāni ca tatyajuḥ

Hearing these words of his, the messengers, filled with anger, forcibly left the gold pieces there in his house,

Verse 26 (padma.4.12.26)

यदा नेतुं मनश्चक्रुस्तत्पुत्रं किल ते क्रुधा । बद्धांजलिपुटोभूत्वा रुदन्प्रोवोच स द्विजः ।

yadā netuṁ manaścakrustatputraṁ kila te krudhā baddhāṁjalipuṭobhūtvā rudanprovoca sa dvijaḥ

and, in their anger, resolved to take his son. Then that Brahmin, joining his hands, weeping, said —

Verse 27 (padma.4.12.27)

पुत्राणां ज्येष्ठपुत्रं मे हित्वान्यं पुत्रमुत्तमम् । नयतेति वचो वक्तुं वक्त्रेनायाति हे जनाः ।

putrāṇāṁ jyeṣṭhaputraṁ me hitvānyaṁ putramuttamam nayateti vaco vaktuṁ vaktrenāyāti he janāḥ

"Rather than my eldest son, take instead my other, worthy son" — before he could finish saying this, such words fell from his own mouth, O people!

Verse 28 (padma.4.12.28)

द्विजस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणीं रुदतीं सतीम् । प्रोचुर्दूताः कनीयांसं पुत्रं देहीति सत्तम ।

dvijasya vacanaṁ śrutvā brāhmaṇīṁ rudatīṁ satīm procurdūtāḥ kanīyāṁsaṁ putraṁ dehīti sattama

Hearing the Brahmin's words, and seeing his virtuous wife weeping, the messengers said, O noble one: "Give us the younger son."

Verse 29 (padma.4.12.29)

तेषामिति वचः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणी भूमितस्तदा । पपात वात्यया सार्द्धं रंभेव भृशदुःखिनी ।

teṣāmiti vacaḥ śrutvā brāhmaṇī bhūmitastadā papāta vātyayā sārddhaṁ raṁbheva bhṛśaduḥkhinī

Hearing their words, the Brahmin woman fell to the ground that very instant, like a plantain-tree struck down by a storm-wind, overcome with grief,

Verse 30 (padma.4.12.30)

मुद्गरं सा समादाय मौलौ चाताडयद्बलात् । कनिष्ठं मत्सुतं दूता नापि दास्यामि सर्वथा ।

mudgaraṁ sā samādāya maulau cātāḍayadbalāt kaniṣṭhaṁ matsutaṁ dūtā nāpi dāsyāmi sarvathā

and, seizing a club, she struck her own head with force, crying: "O messengers, I will never, under any circumstance, give you my youngest son!"

Verse 31 (padma.4.12.31)

एतस्मिन्समये विप्र विप्रस्य मध्यमः सुतः । प्रोवाच विनयाविष्टः प्रणम्य पितरौ रुदन् ।

etasminsamaye vipra viprasya madhyamaḥ sutaḥ provāca vinayāviṣṭaḥ praṇamya pitarau rudan

At this moment, O Brahmin, that couple's middle son, filled with humility, bowing to his parents, weeping, said —

Verse 32 (padma.4.12.32)

माता यदि विषं दद्यात्पित्रा विक्रीयते सुतः । राजा हरति सर्वस्वं कस्तत्र पालको भवेत् ।

mātā yadi viṣaṁ dadyātpitrā vikrīyate sutaḥ rājā harati sarvasvaṁ kastatra pālako bhavet

"If a mother would give poison, if a father would sell his son, if a king seizes everything — then who indeed would be the protector?"

Verse 33 (padma.4.12.33)

इत्युक्त्वा तत्सुतो मूर्ध्ना प्रणम्य पितरौ सह । दूतैर्जगाम त्वरितै राज्ञोऽस्य दीक्षितस्य च ।

ityuktvā tatsuto mūrdhnā praṇamya pitarau saha dūtairjagāma tvaritai rājño'sya dīkṣitasya ca

So saying, that son, bowing his head to both his parents, went with those hurrying messengers to that consecrated king.

Verse 34 (padma.4.12.34)

अथ तौ ब्राह्मणौ पुत्रविच्छेदक्लिष्टमानसौ । रुदित्वा च रुदित्वा च अंधभावं प्रजग्मतुः ।

atha tau brāhmaṇau putravicchedakliṣṭamānasau ruditvā ca ruditvā ca aṁdhabhāvaṁ prajagmatuḥ

Then those two Brahmins, their minds afflicted by separation from their son, weeping and weeping again, went blind.

Verse 35 (padma.4.12.35)

अथ ते पथ्यगच्छंत विश्वामित्रमुनेः किल । आश्रमं शिष्ययुक्तं च सेवितं मृगशावकैः ।

atha te pathyagacchaṁta viśvāmitramuneḥ kila āśramaṁ śiṣyayuktaṁ ca sevitaṁ mṛgaśāvakaiḥ

Then those messengers, with the boy, came on the way to the hermitage of the sage Vishvamitra, filled with disciples and frequented by fawns.

Verse 36 (padma.4.12.36)

स मुनी राजपुरुषान्दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ सादरम् । के यूयं हो कुत्र गता यथाका वृत्तिरुच्यताम् ।

sa munī rājapuruṣāndṛṣṭvā papraccha sādaram ke yūyaṁ ho kutra gatā yathākā vṛttirucyatām

That sage, seeing the king's men, asked respectfully: "Who are you? Where are you going? What is your business — tell me."

Verse 37 (padma.4.12.37)

राजदूता ऊचुः । शृणुष्वावहितो विप्र राज्ञः पुत्रो न जायते । तदर्थं नरमेधाख्ये यज्ञे राजा सुदीक्षितः ।

rājadūtā ūcuḥ śṛṇuṣvāvahito vipra rājñaḥ putro na jāyate tadarthaṁ naramedhākhye yajñe rājā sudīkṣitaḥ

The king's messengers said: "O Brahmin, listen attentively — the king has no son. For this reason he has been well consecrated for the sacrifice called Naramedha;"

Verse 38 (padma.4.12.38)

नयामस्तत्र बल्यर्थमिमं ब्राह्मणपुत्रकम् । इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा स विप्रः सदयोऽभवत् ।

nayāmastatra balyarthamimaṁ brāhmaṇaputrakam iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā sa vipraḥ sadayo'bhavat

"— we are taking this Brahmin's son there to be the offering." Hearing their words, that Brahmin sage was filled with compassion.

Verse 39 (padma.4.12.39)

प्राणा ममापि गच्छंतु सुखी भवतु बालकः । बालकार्थे द्विजार्थे च स्वाम्यर्थे ये जना इह ।

prāṇā mamāpi gacchaṁtu sukhī bhavatu bālakaḥ bālakārthe dvijārthe ca svāmyarthe ye janā iha

(He thought:) "Let even my own life go, but let this child be happy. For the sake of a child, for a Brahmin, for a master, those who here —"

Verse 40 (padma.4.12.40)

त्यजन्ति तृणवत्प्राणांस्तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः । विमृश्येति मुनिः स्वांते स प्रोवाच द्विजर्षभः ।

tyajanti tṛṇavatprāṇāṁsteṣāṁ lokāḥ sanātanāḥ vimṛśyeti muniḥ svāṁte sa provāca dvijarṣabhaḥ

"— give up their lives as if they were mere straw attain the eternal worlds." Reflecting thus within himself, that foremost sage said —

Verse 41 (padma.4.12.41)

यज्ञे बलिं समादातुमिमं ब्राह्मणबालकम् । हित्वा मां नयथाथाशु ह्ययं बालक उत्तमः ।

yajñe baliṁ samādātumimaṁ brāhmaṇabālakam hitvā māṁ nayathāthāśu hyayaṁ bālaka uttamaḥ

"Instead of taking this Brahmin boy to be offered in the sacrifice, take me instead, swiftly — for this excellent boy —"

Verse 42 (padma.4.12.42)

संसारे जन्मसंप्राप्य न लब्धं सुखमत्र च । अनेन बालकेनापि मरिष्यति कथं त्वयम् ।

saṁsāre janmasaṁprāpya na labdhaṁ sukhamatra ca anena bālakenāpi mariṣyati kathaṁ tvayam

"— having obtained birth in this world, has not yet tasted its happiness. How could this world let even this child perish?"

Verse 43 (padma.4.12.43)

आगतेऽस्मिन्गृहाद्दूताः पितरावस्य दुःखितौ । हतभाग्यौ गतो नूनं यमस्येव गृहं प्रति ।

āgate'smingṛhāddūtāḥ pitarāvasya duḥkhitau hatabhāgyau gato nūnaṁ yamasyeva gṛhaṁ prati

"When the messengers come home without the boy, his sorrowful parents, unfortunate as they are, will surely go, as it were, straight to the house of Death."

Verse 44 (padma.4.12.44)

एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दूताः प्रोचुरथ द्विजम् । भूपालस्य विनाज्ञां वै दीननाथस्य भूसुर ।

evaṁ tasya vacaḥ śrutvā dūtāḥ procuratha dvijam bhūpālasya vinājñāṁ vai dīnanāthasya bhūsura

Hearing his words, the messengers said to that Brahmin: "O best of Brahmins, without the king's command, O wise one,"

Verse 45 (padma.4.12.45)

नेतुं त्वां पलितं प्राज्ञ नेष्यामो हि कथं वयम् । एवमुक्त्वा च ते दूता जग्मू राज्ञः पुरीं तदा ।

netuṁ tvāṁ palitaṁ prājña neṣyāmo hi kathaṁ vayam evamuktvā ca te dūtā jagmū rājñaḥ purīṁ tadā

"— how could we possibly take you, the grey-haired one, in his place?" So saying, those messengers then went, with the boy, to the king's city.

Verse 46 (padma.4.12.46)

स मुनिर्दूतसंघैश्च गतवान्यज्ञमंदिरम् । राजानं कथयामासुर्दूता विप्रस्य चेष्टितम् ।

sa munirdūtasaṁghaiśca gatavānyajñamaṁdiram rājānaṁ kathayāmāsurdūtā viprasya ceṣṭitam

That sage too went, with the group of messengers, to the sacrificial hall. The messengers told the king of that Brahmin sage's conduct.

Verse 47 (padma.4.12.47)

तच्छ्रुत्वाशंकितमनाः प्रोवाचेदं वचः स तम् । मुने यद्यपि मे यज्ञे कृते पुत्रो भविष्यति ।

tacchrutvāśaṁkitamanāḥ provācedaṁ vacaḥ sa tam mune yadyapi me yajñe kṛte putro bhaviṣyati

Hearing this, troubled in mind, the king spoke these words: "O sage, even if, by my performing this sacrifice, I do obtain a son,"

Verse 48 (padma.4.12.48)

बलिं विनापि भो ब्रह्मन्तदा विप्रसुतं नय ।

baliṁ vināpi bho brahmantadā viprasutaṁ naya

"— still, O Brahmin, without any offering, take that Brahmin's son back unharmed."

Verse 49 (padma.4.12.49)

मुनिरुवाच । यज्ञे त्वया कृते राजन्महापुत्रो भविष्यति । अत्र ते संशयो मा भूदमोघमपि दर्शनम् ।

muniruvāca yajñe tvayā kṛte rājanmahāputro bhaviṣyati atra te saṁśayo mā bhūdamoghamapi darśanam

The sage said: "O king, by performing this sacrifice you shall indeed obtain a great son. Let there be no doubt in you of this; even this very undertaking is never fruitless."

Verse 50 (padma.4.12.50)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राजात्यंतसहर्षकः । चक्रे पूर्णाहुतिं यज्ञे समस्तैर्मुनिभिः सह ।

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājātyaṁtasaharṣakaḥ cakre pūrṇāhutiṁ yajñe samastairmunibhiḥ saha

Hearing his words, the king, filled with the greatest joy, made the final offering of the sacrifice together with all the assembled sages.

Verse 51 (padma.4.12.51)

अथातः स मुनिः श्रेष्ठो ब्राह्मणस्य सुतं च तम् । गृह्य दशपुरं नाम नगरं गतवांस्तदा ।

athātaḥ sa muniḥ śreṣṭho brāhmaṇasya sutaṁ ca tam gṛhya daśapuraṁ nāma nagaraṁ gatavāṁstadā

Then that foremost sage took the Brahmin's son with him and set out for the city named Dashapura.

Verse 52 (padma.4.12.52)

भवनं तस्य गत्वा च उक्तवान्वचनं मुनिः । गृहे त्वं तिष्ठसे विप्र तिष्ठामि मृतवन्मुने ।

bhavanaṁ tasya gatvā ca uktavānvacanaṁ muniḥ gṛhe tvaṁ tiṣṭhase vipra tiṣṭhāmi mṛtavanmune

Arriving at that Brahmin's house, the sage said: "You have remained here in the house, O Brahmin, while I have lived as if dead —"

Verse 53 (padma.4.12.53)

राजा बलेन मे पुत्रं नीतवान्किं करोम्यहम् । पुत्रे गते च भो विप्र दंपत्योरावयोः पुनः ।

rājā balena me putraṁ nītavānkiṁ karomyaham putre gate ca bho vipra daṁpatyorāvayoḥ punaḥ

"— the king forcibly took my son; what shall I do now?" (the grieving Brahmin had said). When their son had been taken away, O Brahmin, that couple's —

Verse 54 (padma.4.12.54)

गतानि चांधभावं वै क्रंदनैर्लोचनान्यपि । अथासौ मुनिशार्दूलः पुत्रं पश्य नयेति च ।

gatāni cāṁdhabhāvaṁ vai kraṁdanairlocanānyapi athāsau muniśārdūlaḥ putraṁ paśya nayeti ca

— eyes, too, had gone blind from ceaseless weeping. Then that foremost of sages, saying "Behold your son," —

Verse 55 (padma.4.12.55)

उक्तवांस्तौ यदा विप्र ब्राह्मणौ जातहर्षकौ । पुत्रायाकारणं कृत्वा गतावेतौ बहिः क्षणात् ।

uktavāṁstau yadā vipra brāhmaṇau jātaharṣakau putrāyākāraṇaṁ kṛtvā gatāvetau bahiḥ kṣaṇāt

— when he had said this, O Brahmin, that overjoyed Brahmin couple, in their delight at their son's return, came outside in an instant.

Verse 56 (padma.4.12.56)

मुनेर्वचनसिद्धित्वात्तत्क्षणं लोचनं तयोः । आलोकं तु गतं तूर्णं पुत्रस्य दर्शनादपि ।

munervacanasiddhitvāttatkṣaṇaṁ locanaṁ tayoḥ ālokaṁ tu gataṁ tūrṇaṁ putrasya darśanādapi

By the power of the sage's word, that very instant their eyes swiftly regained their sight, at the mere sight of their son.

Verse 57 (padma.4.12.57)

पुत्रस्य मुखपद्मं तौ लोचनैरलिसंनिभैः । पीत्वा मुनिं चिरंतं च नमस्कृत्य पुनः पुनः ।

putrasya mukhapadmaṁ tau locanairalisaṁnibhaiḥ pītvā muniṁ ciraṁtaṁ ca namaskṛtya punaḥ punaḥ

Drinking in, with eyes like bees, the lotus-face of their son, and bowing again and again to the sage —

Verse 58 (padma.4.12.58)

प्रोचतुर्वचनं विप्रा ब्राह्मणौ प्रियवादिनौ । अहो मुने जीवदानमावयोः सुकृतं किल ।

procaturvacanaṁ viprā brāhmaṇau priyavādinau aho mune jīvadānamāvayoḥ sukṛtaṁ kila

— those two gentle-spoken Brahmins said: "Ah, O sage, this gift of life you have given us is truly an act of great merit."

Verse 59 (padma.4.12.59)

तयोरेव वचः श्रुत्वा स मुनिः करुणार्णवः । दत्वाशिषं च तौ विप्र जगाम निजमाश्रमम् ।

tayoreva vacaḥ śrutvā sa muniḥ karuṇārṇavaḥ datvāśiṣaṁ ca tau vipra jagāma nijamāśramam

Hearing their words, that sage, an ocean of compassion, O Brahmin, gave them his blessing and returned to his own hermitage.

Verse 60 (padma.4.12.60)

मुनिः करगतं चैव कृत्वा विष्णोः परं पदम् । तपस्तेपे महाभागो दैवतैरपि दुर्ल्लभम् ।

muniḥ karagataṁ caiva kṛtvā viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam tapastepe mahābhāgo daivatairapi durllabham

That most fortunate sage, fixing his mind upon Vishnu's supreme abode, undertook austerities difficult to attain even for the gods.

Verse 61 (padma.4.12.61)

किंचित्काले गते विप्र तस्य राज्ञोऽभवत्सुतः । सुंदरो राजयोग्यश्च इंदुःक्षीरनिधाविव । पुत्रोत्सवे सोऽपि विप्र राजा दत्वा धनानि वै ।

kiṁcitkāle gate vipra tasya rājño'bhavatsutaḥ suṁdaro rājayogyaśca iṁduḥkṣīranidhāviva putrotsave so'pi vipra rājā datvā dhanāni vai

After some time had passed, O Brahmin, a son was born to that king, handsome and fit to be a king, like the moon rising from the ocean of milk. At the birth-festival, that king too, O Brahmin, having given away much wealth —

Verse 62 (padma.4.12.62)

बुभुजे देववद्भूम्यां विशोको जातकौतुकः । विप्रान्पालयते यस्तु प्राणान्दत्वा धनान्यपि ।

bubhuje devavadbhūmyāṁ viśoko jātakautukaḥ viprānpālayate yastu prāṇāndatvā dhanānyapi

— rejoiced upon the earth like a god, freed from sorrow and filled with wonder. Whoever protects Brahmins, giving even life and wealth,

Verse 63 (padma.4.12.63)

स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्ल्लभम् । पठंति येऽत्र भक्त्या च शृण्वंति विप्रतः कथाम् ।

sa yāti viṣṇubhavanaṁ punarāvṛttidurllabham paṭhaṁti ye'tra bhaktyā ca śṛṇvaṁti viprataḥ kathām

goes to the abode of Vishnu, from which return to this world is rare. Whoever reads this account here with devotion, or hears it from a Brahmin's mouth —

Verse 64 (padma.4.12.64)

आख्यानं श्लोकमेकं वा गच्छंति विष्णुमंदिरम् ।

ākhyānaṁ ślokamekaṁ vā gacchaṁti viṣṇumaṁdiram

— even a single verse of this narrative, goes to the temple, the abode, of Vishnu.