The King Gives Away His Own Merit: The Hell-Dwellers Freed

Verse 1 (padma.5.102.1)

यम उवाच- ततस्तु करुणावार्धिस्तेषां शोकेन पीडितः । भूपतिः श्रीहरेर्दूतान्विनयेनाह वाडव

yama uvāca- tatastu karuṇāvārdhisteṣāṁ śokena pīḍitaḥ bhūpatiḥ śrīharerdūtānvinayenāha vāḍava

Yama said: Then the king, an ocean of compassion, pained by their sorrow, spoke humbly, O Brahmin, to the messengers of Shri Hari.

Verse 2 (padma.5.102.2)

ऐश्वर्यस्याभिजात्यस्य गुणानां सुकृतस्य च । संतः फलं हि गण्यंते यद्भीतपरिरक्षणम्

aiśvaryasyābhijātyasya guṇānāṁ sukṛtasya ca saṁtaḥ phalaṁ hi gaṇyaṁte yadbhītaparirakṣaṇam

The good regard the true fruit of lordship, of noble birth, of virtues, and of merit to be this alone — the protection of the frightened.

Verse 3 (padma.5.102.3)

यद्यस्ति सुकृतं किंचिन्मम तेनैव जंतवः । स्वर्गे गच्छंतु मुक्तौघाः स्थाने तेषां वसाम्यहम्

yadyasti sukṛtaṁ kiṁcinmama tenaiva jaṁtavaḥ svarge gacchaṁtu muktaughāḥ sthāne teṣāṁ vasāmyaham

If I have any merit at all, by that alone let these beings, freed in a mass, go to heaven; I shall dwell in their place.

Verse 4 (padma.5.102.4)

एवं भूपवचः श्रुत्वा तस्य सत्यवतो हि ते । ध्यायंतः सत्यमौदार्यमब्रुवंस्ते वचो नृपम्

evaṁ bhūpavacaḥ śrutvā tasya satyavato hi te dhyāyaṁtaḥ satyamaudāryamabruvaṁste vaco nṛpam

Hearing thus the words of that truthful king, and reflecting on his truth and generosity, they spoke this word to the king.

Verse 5 (padma.5.102.5)

दूता ऊचु- अनेन तव कारुण्यकर्मणा वचसा नृप । बभूव वृद्धिर्धर्मस्य संचितस्य विशेषतः

dūtā ūcu- anena tava kāruṇyakarmaṇā vacasā nṛpa babhūva vṛddhirdharmasya saṁcitasya viśeṣataḥ

The messengers said: By this compassionate deed of yours, and by these very words, O king, there has come about a special increase of the dharma you had accumulated.

Verse 6 (padma.5.102.6)

स्नानं दानं जपो होमस्तपो देवार्चनादिकम् । कृतं यन्माधवे मासि तदनंतफलं विदुः

snānaṁ dānaṁ japo homastapo devārcanādikam kṛtaṁ yanmādhave māsi tadanaṁtaphalaṁ viduḥ

Bathing, giving, mantra-recitation, fire-offering, austerity, and worship of the gods — whatever is performed in the month of Madhava, that, they know, bears infinite fruit.

Verse 7 (padma.5.102.7)

स्वर्गे यज्वा च दाता च क्रीडते त्रिदशैः सह । वापीषु हेमपद्मासु कल्पवृक्षतलेऽपि च

svarge yajvā ca dātā ca krīḍate tridaśaiḥ saha vāpīṣu hemapadmāsu kalpavṛkṣatale'pi ca

The sacrificer and the giver sport in heaven together with the thirty gods, in pools with golden lotuses, and also beneath the wish-fulfilling trees.

Verse 8 (padma.5.102.8)

गीयमानो मुदं याति गीर्वाणरमणीगणैः । जलान्नदानतो लोकं लभते वारुणं शुभम्

gīyamāno mudaṁ yāti gīrvāṇaramaṇīgaṇaiḥ jalānnadānato lokaṁ labhate vāruṇaṁ śubham

Sung to by the hosts of celestial women, he attains joy; through the gift of water and food he obtains the auspicious world of Varuna.

Verse 9 (padma.5.102.9)

कुलानि हेलया सप्त संतारयति गोप्रदः । हयं दत्वा रवेर्लोकं याति विद्याप्रदो नरः

kulāni helayā sapta saṁtārayati gopradaḥ hayaṁ datvā raverlokaṁ yāti vidyāprado naraḥ

The giver of a cow delivers seven generations of his lineage with ease; having given a horse and knowledge, a man goes to the world of the Sun.

Verse 10 (padma.5.102.10)

ब्रह्मलोकं तथा हेमदानाद्याति सुरालये । यो ददाति तथा कन्यां विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

brahmalokaṁ tathā hemadānādyāti surālaye yo dadāti tathā kanyāṁ viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Likewise, through the gift of gold, one goes to the world of Brahma among the gods; he who gives a daughter in marriage goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 11 (padma.5.102.11)

माधवेमासि यः स्नात्वा दत्वा संपूज्य माधवम् । अवाप्य सकलान्कामान्प्रयाति पदमव्ययम्

mādhavemāsi yaḥ snātvā datvā saṁpūjya mādhavam avāpya sakalānkāmānprayāti padamavyayam

He who, in the month of Madhava, having bathed, given gifts, and duly worshipped Madhava, having obtained all his desires, goes to the imperishable abode.

Verse 12 (padma.5.102.12)

एकतोऽपि तपो दान क्रतु सुत्यादिकाः क्रियाः । एकतो विधिवन्मासो माधवश्चरितो महान्

ekato'pi tapo dāna kratu sutyādikāḥ kriyāḥ ekato vidhivanmāso mādhavaścarito mahān

On one side, austerity, giving, sacrifice, and the rites of the soma-pressing and the rest; on the other, this great month of Madhava, duly observed—

Verse 13 (padma.5.102.13)

तस्य माधवमासस्य दिनैकस्यापि भूपते । कृतं यत्सुकृतं तत्ते सर्वदानाधिकं पुरा

tasya mādhavamāsasya dinaikasyāpi bhūpate kṛtaṁ yatsukṛtaṁ tatte sarvadānādhikaṁ purā

O king, whatever merit is performed on even a single day of that month of Madhava, that has formerly been declared greater than every gift.

Verse 14 (padma.5.102.14)

कारुण्येन दिनैकस्य पुण्यं देहि धरापते । निरये पच्यमानेभ्यो दुःखितेभ्यो दयानिधे

kāruṇyena dinaikasya puṇyaṁ dehi dharāpate niraye pacyamānebhyo duḥkhitebhyo dayānidhe

Out of compassion, O lord of the earth, O ocean of mercy, give the merit of that single day to those sorrowful ones cooking in hell.

Verse 15 (padma.5.102.15)

न दयासदृशो धर्मो न दयासदृशं तपः । न दयासदृशं दानं न दयासदृशः सखा

na dayāsadṛśo dharmo na dayāsadṛśaṁ tapaḥ na dayāsadṛśaṁ dānaṁ na dayāsadṛśaḥ sakhā

There is no dharma equal to compassion, no austerity equal to compassion, no gift equal to compassion, no friend equal to compassion.

Verse 16 (padma.5.102.16)

पुण्यदः पुण्यमाप्नोति नरो लक्षगुणं सदा । कारुण्येन विशेषात्ते धर्मवृद्धिस्ततो भवेत्

puṇyadaḥ puṇyamāpnoti naro lakṣaguṇaṁ sadā kāruṇyena viśeṣātte dharmavṛddhistato bhavet

He who gives away his own merit ever obtains merit a hundred thousand times greater; through this compassion especially, an increase of your dharma will come about.

Verse 17 (padma.5.102.17)

दुःखितानां हि भूतानां दुःखोद्धर्त्ता नरो हि यः । स एव सुकृती लोके ज्ञेयो नारायणांशजः

duḥkhitānāṁ hi bhūtānāṁ duḥkhoddharttā naro hi yaḥ sa eva sukṛtī loke jñeyo nārāyaṇāṁśajaḥ

That man who delivers suffering beings from their sorrow — he alone should be known in this world as truly meritorious, born of a portion of Narayana.

Verse 18 (padma.5.102.18)

वैशाखे मासि पूर्णायां स्नानदानादिकं त्वया । यत्तीर्थे विहितं वीर सर्वाघविनिषूदनम्

vaiśākhe māsi pūrṇāyāṁ snānadānādikaṁ tvayā yattīrthe vihitaṁ vīra sarvāghaviniṣūdanam

O hero, whatever bathing, giving, and the like, all destroyers of sin, were performed by you at a sacred ford on the full-moon day of Vaishakha—

Verse 19 (padma.5.102.19)

तदेभ्यो देहि विधिवत्कृत्वा साक्ष्ये हरिं प्रभुम् । त्रिवाचिकं च निरयाद्येनामी स्वर्गमाप्नुयुः

tadebhyo dehi vidhivatkṛtvā sākṣye hariṁ prabhum trivācikaṁ ca nirayādyenāmī svargamāpnuyuḥ

—give that duly to these beings, making the Lord Hari your witness, with a threefold verbal declaration, so that they may attain heaven from hell.

Verse 20 (padma.5.102.20)

कपोतार्थं स्वमांसानि कारुण्येन पुरा शिबिः । दत्वा दयानिधिः स्वर्गे राजते कीर्तिवारिधिः

kapotārthaṁ svamāṁsāni kāruṇyena purā śibiḥ datvā dayānidhiḥ svarge rājate kīrtivāridhiḥ

Long ago, King Shibi, out of compassion, gave his own flesh for the sake of a dove; that ocean of compassion, an ocean of fame, shines in heaven.

Verse 21 (padma.5.102.21)

दधीचिरपि राजर्षिर्दत्वास्थि च यमात्मनः । त्रैलोक्यकौमुदीं कीर्तिं लब्धवान्स्वर्गमक्षयम्

dadhīcirapi rājarṣirdatvāsthi ca yamātmanaḥ trailokyakaumudīṁ kīrtiṁ labdhavānsvargamakṣayam

The royal sage Dadhichi too, having given the very bones of his own body, obtained a fame that is as moonlight to the three worlds, and imperishable heaven.

Verse 22 (padma.5.102.22)

सहस्रजिच्च राजर्षिः प्राणानिष्टान्महायशाः । ब्राह्मणार्थे परित्यज्य गतो लोकाननुत्तमान्

sahasrajicca rājarṣiḥ prāṇāniṣṭānmahāyaśāḥ brāhmaṇārthe parityajya gato lokānanuttamān

And the royal sage Sahasrajit, of great fame, having given up his own beloved life for the sake of a Brahmin, attained unsurpassed worlds.

Verse 23 (padma.5.102.23)

न स्वर्गे नापवर्गेऽपि तत्सुखं लभते नरः । यदार्तजंतुनिर्व्वाणदानोत्थमिति नो मतिः

na svarge nāpavarge'pi tatsukhaṁ labhate naraḥ yadārtajaṁtunirvvāṇadānotthamiti no matiḥ

Not even in heaven, not even in liberation, does a man obtain that happiness which arises from giving relief to a suffering being — such is our conviction.

Verse 24 (padma.5.102.24)

सर्वेषु दातृजातेषु पुरा जातोसि भूपते । कर्मणानेन संख्यासु धीर धैर्यं नियोज्य च

sarveṣu dātṛjāteṣu purā jātosi bhūpate karmaṇānena saṁkhyāsu dhīra dhairyaṁ niyojya ca

O king, you have now been counted among all the classes of givers of old through this deed; O steadfast one, having applied your resolve—

Verse 25 (padma.5.102.25)

दृष्ट्वा तवधियं धर्म दया दानं सुनिश्चलम् । अस्माभिरपि तूत्साहः क्रियते धर्म्मवादिभिः

dṛṣṭvā tavadhiyaṁ dharma dayā dānaṁ suniścalam asmābhirapi tūtsāhaḥ kriyate dharmmavādibhiḥ

—seeing your unwavering mind fixed on dharma, compassion, and giving, we too, upholders of dharma, are moved to enthusiasm.

Verse 26 (padma.5.102.26)

यदि ते रोचते राजन्न विलंबतया ततः । तदेभ्यो देहि तत्पुण्यं यातनादुःखदाहकम्

yadi te rocate rājanna vilaṁbatayā tataḥ tadebhyo dehi tatpuṇyaṁ yātanāduḥkhadāhakam

"If it pleases you, O king, then, without delay, give them that merit which burns away the sorrow of their torment."

Verse 27 (padma.5.102.27)

इत्युक्तः स तदा देवं कृत्वा साक्ष्ये गदाधरम् । तेभ्यस्त्रिवाचिकं पुण्यं दयावान्विधिना ददौ

ityuktaḥ sa tadā devaṁ kṛtvā sākṣye gadādharam tebhyastrivācikaṁ puṇyaṁ dayāvānvidhinā dadau

Thus addressed, that compassionate king then, making the god Gadadhara his witness, duly gave to them, with a threefold verbal declaration, that merit.

Verse 28 (padma.5.102.28)

दत्ते माधवमासस्य तस्मिन्नेकदिनोद्भवे । स्वकृते जंतवो याम्ययातनापरिवर्जिताः

datte mādhavamāsasya tasminnekadinodbhave svakṛte jaṁtavo yāmyayātanāparivarjitāḥ

When that merit, arisen from his own performance of a single day of the month of Madhava, was given, the beings became freed from the torments of Yama.

Verse 29 (padma.5.102.29)

विमानवरमारूढाः सर्वे ते त्रिदिवं ययुः । प्रणमंतः स्तुवंतश्च पश्यंतस्तं प्रहर्षिताः

vimānavaramārūḍhāḥ sarve te tridivaṁ yayuḥ praṇamaṁtaḥ stuvaṁtaśca paśyaṁtastaṁ praharṣitāḥ

Mounted upon excellent celestial cars, all of them went to the third heaven, bowing, praising, and, delighted, gazing back at him.

Verse 30 (padma.5.102.30)

नृपेण दत्तं तदवाप्य पुण्यं वैशाखमासैकदिनाभिजातम् । सर्वे ययुस्ते नरकाद्विमुक्ता दिवं विमानाधिगता हि चित्रम्

nṛpeṇa dattaṁ tadavāpya puṇyaṁ vaiśākhamāsaikadinābhijātam sarve yayuste narakādvimuktā divaṁ vimānādhigatā hi citram

Having obtained that merit given by the king, born of a single day of the month of Vaishakha, all of them, freed from hell, indeed wondrously went to heaven, mounted upon celestial cars.

Verse 31 (padma.5.102.31)

नूनं विचित्रो भुवि भूतवर्गः संभूतभावो बहुधा विचित्रः । तथा विचित्रोऽखिलकर्मयोगस्तत्कर्मशक्तिप्रचयो विचित्रः

nūnaṁ vicitro bhuvi bhūtavargaḥ saṁbhūtabhāvo bahudhā vicitraḥ tathā vicitro'khilakarmayogastatkarmaśaktipracayo vicitraḥ

Truly wondrous upon this earth is the host of beings, wondrous in manifold ways is the state of their becoming; likewise wondrous is the whole conjunction of deeds, and wondrous is the accumulated power of that deed.

Verse 32 (padma.5.102.32)

संस्तूयमानो मुनिदेवसंघैर्यस्तद्विशेषाधिकलब्धपुण्यः । परं पदं योगिवरैरलभ्यं ययौ जगन्नाथगणाभिवंद्यः

saṁstūyamāno munidevasaṁghairyastadviśeṣādhikalabdhapuṇyaḥ paraṁ padaṁ yogivarairalabhyaṁ yayau jagannāthagaṇābhivaṁdyaḥ

That king, praised by hosts of sages and gods, who had obtained merit especially exceeding through that act, went to the supreme abode, unattainable even by the greatest yogis, himself now venerated by the hosts of the Lord of the world.