The Glory of the Brahmin

Verse 1 (padma.4.14.1)

शौनक उवाच । कथयस्व महाप्राज्ञ ब्राह्मणस्य कृपार्णव । माहात्म्यं सर्ववर्णानां श्रेष्ठस्य कृपया च मे ।

śaunaka uvāca kathayasva mahāprājña brāhmaṇasya kṛpārṇava māhātmyaṁ sarvavarṇānāṁ śreṣṭhasya kṛpayā ca me

Shaunaka said: Tell me, O greatly wise one, ocean of compassion, out of kindness to me, the glory of the Brahmin, foremost of all the varnas.

Verse 2 (padma.4.14.2)

सूत उवाच । ब्राह्मणः सर्ववर्णानां गुरुरेव द्विजोत्तम । सर्वामराश्रयो ज्ञेयः साक्षान्नारायणः प्रभुः ।

sūta uvāca brāhmaṇaḥ sarvavarṇānāṁ gurureva dvijottama sarvāmarāśrayo jñeyaḥ sākṣānnārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ

Suta said: O best of the twice-born, the Brahmin is indeed the guru of all the varnas; know him to be the refuge of all the gods, the Lord Narayana himself in visible form.

Verse 3 (padma.4.14.3)

कुर्यात्प्रणामं यो विप्रं हरिबुद्ध्या तु भूसुरम् । भक्त्या तस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ वर्द्धते संपदादिकम् ।

kuryātpraṇāmaṁ yo vipraṁ haribuddhyā tu bhūsuram bhaktyā tasya dvijaśreṣṭha varddhate saṁpadādikam

Whoever bows to a Brahmin, thinking of him as Hari, O best of Brahmins — through that devotion his wealth and prosperity increase.

Verse 4 (padma.4.14.4)

न नमेद्ब्राह्मणं दृष्ट्वा हेलयापि च गर्वितः । छेदनं तु तस्य शिरः कर्तुमिच्छेत्सदा हरिः ।

na namedbrāhmaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā helayāpi ca garvitaḥ chedanaṁ tu tasya śiraḥ kartumicchetsadā hariḥ

Whoever, seeing a Brahmin, does not bow to him even out of mere pride, Hari always desires to sever that man's head.

Verse 5 (padma.4.14.5)

कृतापराधं विप्रं ये द्विषंति पापबुद्धयः । हरिं द्विषंति ते ज्ञेया निरयं यांति दारुणम् ।

kṛtāparādhaṁ vipraṁ ye dviṣaṁti pāpabuddhayaḥ hariṁ dviṣaṁti te jñeyā nirayaṁ yāṁti dāruṇam

Those of sinful mind who hate a Brahmin who has done no wrong should be known to hate Hari himself; they go to a terrible hell.

Verse 6 (padma.4.14.6)

यः कर्तुं प्रार्थनां विप्रं पश्येत्क्रोधेन चागतम् । कृतांतश्चक्षुषोस्तस्य तप्तसूचीं ददाति वै ।

yaḥ kartuṁ prārthanāṁ vipraṁ paśyetkrodhena cāgatam kṛtāṁtaścakṣuṣostasya taptasūcīṁ dadāti vai

Whoever looks with anger upon a Brahmin who has come to make a request, Yama places a red-hot needle in that man's eyes.

Verse 7 (padma.4.14.7)

कुरुते भूसुरं मूढो भर्त्सनं यो नराधमः । यमदूता मुखे तस्य तप्तलोहं ददंति च ।

kurute bhūsuraṁ mūḍho bhartsanaṁ yo narādhamaḥ yamadūtā mukhe tasya taptalohaṁ dadaṁti ca

Whatever base man, in his folly, reviles a Brahmin, Yama's messengers place molten iron in his mouth.

Verse 8 (padma.4.14.8)

येषां निकेतने भुंक्ते क्ष्मासुरो वै तपोधनः । सुपर्वाणैः स्वयं कृष्णो भुंक्ते तेषां निकेतने ।

yeṣāṁ niketane bhuṁkte kṣmāsuro vai tapodhanaḥ suparvāṇaiḥ svayaṁ kṛṣṇo bhuṁkte teṣāṁ niketane

In whosever house a Brahmin rich in austerity eats, in that very house Krishna himself, together with the gods, eats.

Verse 9 (padma.4.14.9)

नश्यंति सर्वपापानि द्विजहत्यादिकानि च । कणमात्रं भजेद्यस्तु विप्रांघ्रिसलिलं नरः ।

naśyaṁti sarvapāpāni dvijahatyādikāni ca kaṇamātraṁ bhajedyastu viprāṁghrisalilaṁ naraḥ

Whoever partakes even a mere grain's worth of the water that has washed a Brahmin's feet — all his sins, even the sin of killing a Brahmin, are destroyed.

Verse 10 (padma.4.14.10)

यो नरश्चरणौधौतं कुर्याद्धस्तेन भक्तितः । द्विजातेर्वच्मि सत्यं ते स मुक्तः सर्वपातकैः ।

yo naraścaraṇaudhautaṁ kuryāddhastena bhaktitaḥ dvijātervacmi satyaṁ te sa muktaḥ sarvapātakaiḥ

Whatever man, with devotion, takes into his hand the water that has washed a Brahmin's feet — I tell you the truth — he is freed from every sin.

Verse 11 (padma.4.14.11)

पुत्रहीना च या नारी मृतवत्सा च यांगना । सपुत्रा जीववत्सा सा द्विजपद्मांघ्रिसेवनात् ।

putrahīnā ca yā nārī mṛtavatsā ca yāṁganā saputrā jīvavatsā sā dvijapadmāṁghrisevanāt

Whatever woman is childless, or whose children die, becomes, through service to a Brahmin's lotus feet, one with living children who thrive.

Verse 12 (padma.4.14.12)

ब्रह्मांडे यानि तीर्थानि तानि तीर्थानि सागरे । उदधौ यानि तीर्थानि तिष्ठंति द्विजपादयोः । द्विजांघ्रिसलिलैर्नित्यं सेचितं यस्य मस्तकम् ।

brahmāṁḍe yāni tīrthāni tāni tīrthāni sāgare udadhau yāni tīrthāni tiṣṭhaṁti dvijapādayoḥ dvijāṁghrisalilairnityaṁ secitaṁ yasya mastakam

Whatever holy places exist in the universe, whatever holy places exist in the ocean, all of them abide at the feet of a Brahmin. Whoever's head is daily sprinkled with the water of a Brahmin's feet —

Verse 13 (padma.4.14.13)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु स मुक्तः सर्वपातकैः । शृणु शौनक वक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् ।

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu sa muktaḥ sarvapātakaiḥ śṛṇu śaunaka vakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam

— has bathed in all the sacred places; he is freed from every sin. Listen, Shaunaka, I shall tell you this sin-destroying glory —

Verse 14 (padma.4.14.14)

विप्रपादोदकस्याहमितिहासं तपोधन । आसीत्पुरा द्विजश्रेष्ठ वैश्यवृत्तिपरायणः ।

viprapādodakasyāhamitihāsaṁ tapodhana āsītpurā dvijaśreṣṭha vaiśyavṛttiparāyaṇaḥ

— the tale of the water that has washed a Brahmin's feet, O ascetic. Formerly, O best of Brahmins, one devoted to the occupation of a merchant —

Verse 15 (padma.4.14.15)

शूद्रो भीमो द्वापरे च ब्रह्महत्यासहस्रकृत् । निष्ठुरः सर्वदा तुष्टः समहान्वैश्यया पुनः ।

śūdro bhīmo dvāpare ca brahmahatyāsahasrakṛt niṣṭhuraḥ sarvadā tuṣṭaḥ samahānvaiśyayā punaḥ

— a Shudra named Bhima lived in the Dvapara age, who had committed a thousand Brahmin-killings; cruel, ever content in his cruelty, sinfully bound to a certain Vaishya woman —

Verse 16 (padma.4.14.16)

शूद्राचारपरिभ्रष्टो भीमोऽसौ गुरुतल्पगः । प्रत्येकं वच्मि किं तस्य दस्योः संख्या न विद्यते ।

śūdrācāraparibhraṣṭo bhīmo'sau gurutalpagaḥ pratyekaṁ vacmi kiṁ tasya dasyoḥ saṁkhyā na vidyate

— fallen from the conduct proper to a Shudra, that Bhima had also violated his own guru's marriage-bed. What need to recount each of his sins? The crimes of that bandit cannot even be counted,

Verse 17 (padma.4.14.17)

पापानां मुनिशार्दूल भीमस्य दुष्टचेतसः । एकदा स गतः कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशनम् ।

pāpānāṁ muniśārdūla bhīmasya duṣṭacetasaḥ ekadā sa gataḥ kaścidbrāhmaṇasya niveśanam

O tiger among sages, of that evil-minded Bhima. Once he went to the house of a certain Brahmin.

Verse 18 (padma.4.14.18)

गत्वा तं तस्य गेहात्तु द्रव्यं नेतुं मनो दधे । तत्रोवास ब्राह्मणस्य बहिर्द्वारसमीपतः ।

gatvā taṁ tasya gehāttu dravyaṁ netuṁ mano dadhe tatrovāsa brāhmaṇasya bahirdvārasamīpataḥ

Going there, he resolved in his mind to carry off wealth from that house. He waited just outside the door of the Brahmin's dwelling,

Verse 19 (padma.4.14.19)

दैन्ययुक्तं वचः प्राह क्ष्मासुरं स तपोधनम् । भो स्वामिन्शृणु मे वाक्यं दयालुरिव मन्यते ।

dainyayuktaṁ vacaḥ prāha kṣmāsuraṁ sa tapodhanam bho svāminśṛṇu me vākyaṁ dayāluriva manyate

and, taking him for a kind man, spoke humble words to that Brahmin, rich in austerity: "O master, hear my words —"

Verse 20 (padma.4.14.20)

क्षुधार्तोऽहं देहि चान्नं प्राणा यास्यंति मे द्रुतम् ।

kṣudhārto'haṁ dehi cānnaṁ prāṇā yāsyaṁti me drutam

"I am afflicted with hunger; give me food, or my life will swiftly depart."

Verse 21 (padma.4.14.21)

ब्राह्मण उवाच । क्षुधार्त्त शृणु मे कश्चिद्वाक्यं कर्तुं न विद्यते । पाकं मे तंडुलानि त्वं नीत्वा भुंक्ष्व यथासुखम् ।

brāhmaṇa uvāca kṣudhārtta śṛṇu me kaścidvākyaṁ kartuṁ na vidyate pākaṁ me taṁḍulāni tvaṁ nītvā bhuṁkṣva yathāsukham

The Brahmin said: "O one afflicted with hunger, listen — there is nothing more I can do for you. Take my rice, cook it, and eat as you wish, at your ease."

Verse 22 (padma.4.14.22)

नास्ति मे जनको माता नास्ति सूनुः सहोदरः । नास्ति जाया मातृबंधुर्मृताः सर्वे विहाय माम् ।

nāsti me janako mātā nāsti sūnuḥ sahodaraḥ nāsti jāyā mātṛbaṁdhurmṛtāḥ sarve vihāya mām

"I have no father, no mother; no son, no brother; no wife, no maternal kin — all have died and left me behind."

Verse 23 (padma.4.14.23)

तिष्ठाम्येको गृहेऽकर्मा भाग्यहीनोतिथे हरिः । एको मे वसतौ चास्ति न जाने तद्विना किल ।

tiṣṭhāmyeko gṛhe'karmā bhāgyahīnotithe hariḥ eko me vasatau cāsti na jāne tadvinā kila

"I remain alone in this house, without occupation, unfortunate, yet hospitable to guests as Hari himself would be. I have but this one thing in my dwelling — beyond that, I know of nothing else."

Verse 24 (padma.4.14.24)

भीम उवाच ।मम कश्चिद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ नास्ति सेवां तवापि च । शूद्रोऽहं निलये जात्या कृत्वा स्थास्यामि ते सदा ।

bhīma uvāca mama kaściddvijaśreṣṭha nāsti sevāṁ tavāpi ca śūdro'haṁ nilaye jātyā kṛtvā sthāsyāmi te sadā

Bhima said: "O best of Brahmins, I have no service to offer you, nor anything else; I am a Shudra by birth — let me settle in your house and serve you always."

Verse 25 (padma.4.14.25)

सूत उवाच ।इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सानंदः क्ष्मासुरस्तदा । पाकं विधाय तूर्णं स ददावन्नं तपोधन ।

sūta uvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sānaṁdaḥ kṣmāsurastadā pākaṁ vidhāya tūrṇaṁ sa dadāvannaṁ tapodhana

Suta said: Hearing his words, that Brahmin, delighted, quickly prepared the food and gave it to him, O ascetic.

Verse 26 (padma.4.14.26)

सोऽपि हर्षसमायुक्तस्तस्थौ तत्र द्विजालये । सेवां कुर्वन्स्नेहयुक्तां भूसुरस्य मनोहराम् ।

so'pi harṣasamāyuktastasthau tatra dvijālaye sevāṁ kurvansnehayuktāṁ bhūsurasya manoharām

He too, filled with joy, remained there in that Brahmin's house, rendering loving and delightful service to him,

Verse 27 (padma.4.14.27)

अद्य श्वो वा हनिष्यामि द्रव्यमस्य ममापि च । नेतुं यदा करिष्यामि नेष्यामि नात्र संशयः ।

adya śvo vā haniṣyāmi dravyamasya mamāpi ca netuṁ yadā kariṣyāmi neṣyāmi nātra saṁśayaḥ

(all the while thinking to himself:) "Today or tomorrow I shall strike; I shall take his wealth for myself — when I resolve to take it, take it I shall, without doubt."

Verse 28 (padma.4.14.28)

परामृश्य च हृद्यंतः कृत्वा तस्य क्रियां वदेत् । पादधौतादिकं चासौ शिरसा गतपातकः ।

parāmṛśya ca hṛdyaṁtaḥ kṛtvā tasya kriyāṁ vadet pādadhautādikaṁ cāsau śirasā gatapātakaḥ

Yet even while brooding thus in his heart, he continued performing his duties of service — washing the feet and the like — and in this way, bowing his head, he grew free of sin.

Verse 29 (padma.4.14.29)

आचम्यांघ्रिजलं दध्रेच्छद्मना प्रतिदिनं द्विजः । एकदा हारकः कश्चिद्द्रव्यं नेतुं समागतः ।

ācamyāṁghrijalaṁ dadhrecchadmanā pratidinaṁ dvijaḥ ekadā hārakaḥ kaściddravyaṁ netuṁ samāgataḥ

That Shudra, day after day, even if under pretense, would sip the water and hold the washing of the Brahmin's feet as sacred. One day a certain robber came to steal wealth from that house.

Verse 30 (padma.4.14.30)

उत्पाट्य रात्रावररं गतोऽसौ तद्गृहांतरम् । दृष्ट्वा भीमं प्रहारार्थं दंडहस्तः समागतः ।

utpāṭya rātrāvararaṁ gato'sau tadgṛhāṁtaram dṛṣṭvā bhīmaṁ prahārārthaṁ daṁḍahastaḥ samāgataḥ

Prying open the bolt at night, he entered that house. Seeing Bhima there, he came forward, club in hand, to strike him —

Verse 31 (padma.4.14.31)

हारको मस्तकं तस्य छित्त्वा तूर्णं पलायितः । अथ तस्य भटा विष्णोः शंखचक्रगदाधराः ।

hārako mastakaṁ tasya chittvā tūrṇaṁ palāyitaḥ atha tasya bhaṭā viṣṇoḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharāḥ

the robber cut off his head and fled at once. Then Vishnu's own attendants, bearing conch, discus and mace —

Verse 32 (padma.4.14.32)

समायातास्तथा नेतुं भीमं तं वीतकिल्बिषम् । स्यंदनं चागतं दिव्यं राजहंसयुतं द्विज ।

samāyātāstathā netuṁ bhīmaṁ taṁ vītakilbiṣam syaṁdanaṁ cāgataṁ divyaṁ rājahaṁsayutaṁ dvija

— came there to take that Bhima, now cleansed of all sin. A divine chariot arrived, O Brahmin, yoked with royal swans;

Verse 33 (padma.4.14.33)

तत्रारूढो ययौ विष्णोर्भवनं दुर्लभं किल । माहात्म्यं भूमिदेवस्य मया ते तत्प्रकीर्तितम् । शृणुयाद्यो नरो भक्त्या तस्य पातकनाशनम् ।

tatrārūḍho yayau viṣṇorbhavanaṁ durlabhaṁ kila māhātmyaṁ bhūmidevasya mayā te tatprakīrtitam śṛṇuyādyo naro bhaktyā tasya pātakanāśanam

mounting it, he went to that most rare abode of Vishnu. This, the glory of the Brahmin, I have thus proclaimed to you. Whoever hears it with devotion — his sins are destroyed.