The Story of Jaya and Vijaya

Verse 1 (padma.6.110.1)

धर्मदत्त उवाच। जयश्च विजयश्चैव विष्णोर्द्वास्थौ मया श्रुतौ । किंतु ताभ्यां पुरा चीर्णं यस्मात्तद्रूपधारिणौ

dharmadatta uvāca jayaśca vijayaścaiva viṣṇordvāsthau mayā śrutau kiṁtu tābhyāṁ purā cīrṇaṁ yasmāttadrūpadhāriṇau

Dharmadatta said: I have heard that Jaya and Vijaya are Vishnu's doorkeepers. But what did they do in former times, by which they came to bear his very form?

Verse 2 (padma.6.110.2)

गणावूचतुः। तृणबिंदोस्तु कन्यायां देवहूत्यां पुरा द्विज । कर्दमस्य तु दृष्ट्यैव पुत्रौ द्वौ संबभूवतुः

gaṇāvūcatuḥ tṛṇabiṁdostu kanyāyāṁ devahūtyāṁ purā dvija kardamasya tu dṛṣṭyaiva putrau dvau saṁbabhūvatuḥ

Both attendants said: O brahmin, long ago, in Devahuti, the daughter of Trinabindu, two sons were born to Kardama through his mere glance alone.

Verse 3 (padma.6.110.3)

ज्येष्ठो जयः कनिष्ठोऽभूद्विजयश्चेति नामतः । अन्यस्यामभवत्पश्चात्कपिलो योगधर्मवित्

jyeṣṭho jayaḥ kaniṣṭho'bhūdvijayaśceti nāmataḥ anyasyāmabhavatpaścātkapilo yogadharmavit

The elder was named Jaya, and the younger was named Vijaya. Later, from another wife, was born Kapila, the knower of the discipline of yoga.

Verse 4 (padma.6.110.4)

जयश्च विजयश्चैव विष्णुभक्तिरतौ सदा । संनियम्येंद्रियग्रामं धर्मशीलौ बभूवतुः

jayaśca vijayaścaiva viṣṇubhaktiratau sadā saṁniyamyeṁdriyagrāmaṁ dharmaśīlau babhūvatuḥ

Jaya and Vijaya were both ever devoted to devotion to Vishnu, having subdued the multitude of their senses, and were both of righteous conduct.

Verse 5 (padma.6.110.5)

नित्यमष्टाक्षरी जाप्यौ विष्णुव्रतकरावुभौ । साक्षात्कारं ददौ विष्णुस्तयोर्नित्यार्चने सदा

nityamaṣṭākṣarī jāpyau viṣṇuvratakarāvubhau sākṣātkāraṁ dadau viṣṇustayornityārcane sadā

Both ever recited the eight-syllabled mantra and kept the vow to Vishnu. In their ever-continuing daily worship, Vishnu granted them his direct vision.

Verse 6 (padma.6.110.6)

मरुत्तेन कदाचित्तावाहूतौ यज्ञकर्मणि । जग्मतुर्यज्ञकुशलौ देवर्षिगणसेवितौ

maruttena kadācittāvāhūtau yajñakarmaṇi jagmaturyajñakuśalau devarṣigaṇasevitau

Once, King Marutta invited them both for a sacrificial rite. Skilled in sacrifice, attended by hosts of gods and sages, the two of them went there.

Verse 7 (padma.6.110.7)

जयस्तत्राभवद्ब्रह्मा याजको विजयोऽभवत् । ततो यज्ञविधिं कृत्स्नं परिपूर्णं च चक्रतुः

jayastatrābhavadbrahmā yājako vijayo'bhavat tato yajñavidhiṁ kṛtsnaṁ paripūrṇaṁ ca cakratuḥ

There, Jaya became the Brahma-priest, and Vijaya became the officiating priest. Then they carried out the entire sacrificial rite to completion.

Verse 8 (padma.6.110.8)

मरुतोऽवभृथस्नातस्ताभ्यां वित्तं ददौ बहु । तत्समादाय तौ वित्तं जग्मतुः स्वाश्रमं प्रति

maruto'vabhṛthasnātastābhyāṁ vittaṁ dadau bahu tatsamādāya tau vittaṁ jagmatuḥ svāśramaṁ prati

Marutta, having bathed in the concluding purificatory bath, gave them abundant wealth. Taking that wealth, the two of them set out toward their own hermitage.

Verse 9 (padma.6.110.9)

यजनाय तदा विष्णोस्तुष्ट्यर्थं तौ तदा मुने । तद्धनं विभजंतो वै पस्पर्द्धाते परस्परम्

yajanāya tadā viṣṇostuṣṭyarthaṁ tau tadā mune taddhanaṁ vibhajaṁto vai pasparddhāte parasparam

O sage, while dividing that wealth in order to worship Vishnu and please him, the two of them then began to quarrel with one another.

Verse 10 (padma.6.110.10)

जयोऽब्रवीत्समो भागः क्रियतामिति तत्र सः । विजयश्चाब्रवीत्तत्र यल्लब्धं येन तस्य तत्

jayo'bravītsamo bhāgaḥ kriyatāmiti tatra saḥ vijayaścābravīttatra yallabdhaṁ yena tasya tat

Jaya said: 'Let this be divided equally here.' And Vijaya said there: 'Whoever obtained whatever, that belongs to him alone.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.110.11)

ततो जयोऽशपत्क्रोधाद्विजयं क्षुब्धमानसः । गृहीत्वा न ददास्येतत्तस्माद्ग्राहो भवेति तम्

tato jayo'śapatkrodhādvijayaṁ kṣubdhamānasaḥ gṛhītvā na dadāsyetattasmādgrāho bhaveti tam

Then Jaya, his mind agitated, in anger cursed Vijaya: 'Since, having taken this, you will not give it to me, may you become a crocodile.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.110.12)

विजयस्तस्य तं शापं श्रुत्वा सोऽप्यशपच्च तम् । मदभ्रांतोशपद्यस्मात्तस्मान्मातंगतां व्रज

vijayastasya taṁ śāpaṁ śrutvā so'pyaśapacca tam madabhrāṁtośapadyasmāttasmānmātaṁgatāṁ vraja

Vijaya, hearing that curse of his, also cursed him in turn: 'Since, deluded by pride, you have cursed me, may you become an elephant.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.110.13)

तौ तथा चख्यतुर्विष्णुं दृष्ट्वा नित्यार्चने विभुम् । शापयोस्तुनिवृत्तिं तौ ययाचाते रमापतिम्

tau tathā cakhyaturviṣṇuṁ dṛṣṭvā nityārcane vibhum śāpayostunivṛttiṁ tau yayācāte ramāpatim

Then, beholding the all-pervading Vishnu in their daily worship, the two of them entreated the Lord of Rama for release from their respective curses.

Verse 14 (padma.6.110.14)

भक्तावावां कथं देव ग्राहमांतगयोनिगौ । भविष्यावः कृपासिंधो तच्छापो विनिवर्त्यताम्

bhaktāvāvāṁ kathaṁ deva grāhamāṁtagayonigau bhaviṣyāvaḥ kṛpāsiṁdho tacchāpo vinivartyatām

'O god, we are both your devotees — how then shall we be born into the wombs of a crocodile and an elephant? O ocean of compassion, remove that curse.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.110.15)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। मद्भक्तयोर्वचोऽसत्यं न कदाचिद्भविष्यति । मयापि नान्यथा कर्तुं शक्यते तत्कदाचन

śrībhagavānuvāca madbhaktayorvaco'satyaṁ na kadācidbhaviṣyati mayāpi nānyathā kartuṁ śakyate tatkadācana

The Blessed Lord said: 'The word of my devotees can never become untrue. Even I cannot ever make it otherwise.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.110.16)

प्रह्लादवचनात्स्तंभऽप्याविर्भूतो ह्यहं पुरा । तथांबरीषवाक्येन जातो मार्गे स्वयं किल

prahlādavacanātstaṁbha'pyāvirbhūto hyahaṁ purā tathāṁbarīṣavākyena jāto mārge svayaṁ kila

'It was because of Prahlada's word that I once appeared from a pillar, and it was because of Ambarisha's word that I myself was born upon the road.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.110.17)

तस्माद्ध्रुवमिमौ शापावनुभूय स्वयंकृतौ । लभेतां मत्पदं नित्यमित्युक्त्वांतर्दधे हरिः

tasmāddhruvamimau śāpāvanubhūya svayaṁkṛtau labhetāṁ matpadaṁ nityamityuktvāṁtardadhe hariḥ

'Therefore, having surely experienced these curses that you yourselves have wrought, you two shall attain my eternal abode.' Having said this, Hari vanished.

Verse 18 (padma.6.110.18)

गणावूचतुः । ततस्तौ ग्राहमातंगा बभूतां गंडकी तटे । जातिस्मरौ च तद्योन्यामपि विष्णुव्रते स्थितौ

gaṇāvūcatuḥ tatastau grāhamātaṁgā babhūtāṁ gaṁḍakī taṭe jātismarau ca tadyonyāmapi viṣṇuvrate sthitau

Both attendants said: Then the two of them became a crocodile and an elephant on the banks of the Gandaki river. Retaining the memory of their former birth, they remained devoted to the vow of Vishnu even in that lowly existence.

Verse 19 (padma.6.110.19)

कदाचित्स गजः स्नातुं कार्तिके गंडकीं गतः । तावज्जग्राह च ग्राहः संस्मरञ्छापकारणम्

kadācitsa gajaḥ snātuṁ kārtike gaṁḍakīṁ gataḥ tāvajjagrāha ca grāhaḥ saṁsmarañchāpakāraṇam

Once, that elephant went into the Gandaki river to bathe in Kartika. At that moment, that crocodile, remembering the cause of the curse, seized him.

Verse 20 (padma.6.110.20)

ग्राहगृहीतोऽसौ नागः संस्मार श्रीपतिं तदा । तावदाविरभूद्विष्णुः शंखचक्रगदाधरः

grāhagṛhīto'sau nāgaḥ saṁsmāra śrīpatiṁ tadā tāvadāvirabhūdviṣṇuḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ

That elephant-king, seized by the crocodile, then began to remember the Lord of Shri. At that very moment, Vishnu, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, appeared.

Verse 21 (padma.6.110.21)

तॄतस्तौ ग्राहमातंगौ चक्रं क्षिप्त्वा समुद्धृतौ । दत्त्वा च निजसारूप्यं वैकुंठमनयद्विभुः

tṝtastau grāhamātaṁgau cakraṁ kṣiptvā samuddhṛtau dattvā ca nijasārūpyaṁ vaikuṁṭhamanayadvibhuḥ

Hurling his discus, he redeemed both that crocodile and that elephant from their affliction. Granting them a form equal to his own, the all-pervading Lord took them to Vaikuntha.

Verse 22 (padma.6.110.22)

तदाप्रभृति तत्स्थानं हरिक्षेत्रमिति श्रुतम् । चक्रसंघर्षणाद्यस्मिन्पाषाणोऽपि हि लांछितः

tadāprabhṛti tatsthānaṁ harikṣetramiti śrutam cakrasaṁgharṣaṇādyasminpāṣāṇo'pi hi lāṁchitaḥ

From that time on, that place has been known as 'Harikshetra,' where, from the friction of the discus, even the stone has become marked.

Verse 23 (padma.6.110.23)

ताविमौ विश्रुतौ लोके जयश्च विजयश्च ह । नित्यं विष्णुप्रियौ द्वाःस्थौ पृष्टौ यौ हि त्वया द्विज

tāvimau viśrutau loke jayaśca vijayaśca ha nityaṁ viṣṇupriyau dvāḥsthau pṛṣṭau yau hi tvayā dvija

O brahmin, these are the very Jaya and Vijaya, renowned in the world, ever the beloved doorkeepers of Vishnu, about whom you asked.

Verse 24 (padma.6.110.24)

अतस्त्वमपि धर्मज्ञ नित्यं विष्णुव्रते स्थितः । त्यक्तमात्सर्यदंभो हि भव स्वसमदर्शनः

atastvamapi dharmajña nityaṁ viṣṇuvrate sthitaḥ tyaktamātsaryadaṁbho hi bhava svasamadarśanaḥ

Therefore, O knower of dharma, you too remain ever established in the vow of Vishnu; abandon jealousy and hypocrisy, and become one who sees all beings as equal to oneself.

Verse 25 (padma.6.110.25)

तुलामकरमेषेषु प्रातःस्नायी सदा भव । एकादशीव्रते तिष्ठ तुलसीवनपालकः

tulāmakarameṣeṣu prātaḥsnāyī sadā bhava ekādaśīvrate tiṣṭha tulasīvanapālakaḥ

In the signs of Libra, Capricorn, and Aries, ever be one who bathes at dawn. Remain established in the Ekadashi vow, and be a caretaker of a grove of tulasi.

Verse 26 (padma.6.110.26)

ब्राह्मणानपि गाश्चापि वैष्णवांश्च सदा भज । मसूराश्चारनालाश्च वृंताकानपि खाद मा

brāhmaṇānapi gāścāpi vaiṣṇavāṁśca sadā bhaja masūrāścāranālāśca vṛṁtākānapi khāda mā

Ever serve brahmins, cows, and Vaishnavas. Never eat lentils, fermented rice-water, or eggplant.

Verse 27 (padma.6.110.27)

एवं त्वमपि देहांते तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । प्राप्नोषि धर्मदत्त त्वं तद्भक्त्यैव यथा वयम्

evaṁ tvamapi dehāṁte tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam prāpnoṣi dharmadatta tvaṁ tadbhaktyaiva yathā vayam

Thus, O Dharmadatta, you too, at the end of the body, shall attain that supreme abode of Vishnu through that very devotion, just as we have attained it.

Verse 28 (padma.6.110.28)

तवाजन्मव्रतात्तस्माद्विष्णुसंतुष्टिकारकात् । न यज्ञा न च दानानि न तीर्थान्यधिकानि वै

tavājanmavratāttasmādviṣṇusaṁtuṣṭikārakāt na yajñā na ca dānāni na tīrthānyadhikāni vai

Beyond this vow of yours, kept since birth, which brings satisfaction to Vishnu, no sacrifices, no gifts, no pilgrimages are indeed greater.

Verse 29 (padma.6.110.29)

धन्योऽसि विप्राग्र्य यतस्त्वयैतद्व्रतं कृतं तुष्टिकरं जगद्गुरोः । यत्पुण्यभागाप्तफलं मुरारेः प्रणीयतेस्माभिरियं सलोकताम्

dhanyo'si viprāgrya yatastvayaitadvrataṁ kṛtaṁ tuṣṭikaraṁ jagadguroḥ yatpuṇyabhāgāptaphalaṁ murāreḥ praṇīyatesmābhiriyaṁ salokatām

O foremost of brahmins, blessed are you, for you have performed this vow that satisfies the world-teacher. By the fruit obtained from the merit-share of Murari, this woman is now being conducted by us to his very own world.

Verse 30 (padma.6.110.30)

नारद उवाच। इत्थं तौ धर्मदत्तं तमुपदिश्य विमानगौ । तया कलहया सार्द्धं वैकुंठभवनं गतौ

nārada uvāca itthaṁ tau dharmadattaṁ tamupadiśya vimānagau tayā kalahayā sārddhaṁ vaikuṁṭhabhavanaṁ gatau

Narada said: Having thus instructed Dharmadatta, those two, mounted upon the chariot, went, together with that Kalaha, to the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 31 (padma.6.110.31)

धर्मदत्तोप्यसौ जातप्रत्ययस्तद्व्रते स्थितः । देहांते तद्विभोः स्थानं भार्याभ्यामन्वितोऽभ्यगात्

dharmadattopyasau jātapratyayastadvrate sthitaḥ dehāṁte tadvibhoḥ sthānaṁ bhāryābhyāmanvito'bhyagāt

Dharmadatta, his faith now confirmed, remained established in that vow, and, at the end of the body, together with both his wives, attained that abode of the all-pervading Lord.

Verse 32 (padma.6.110.32)

इतिहासमिमं पुराभवं शृणुते यश्च पुमान्यथाविधि । हरिसंनिधिकारिणीं मतिं लभतेऽसौ कृपया जगद्गुरोः

itihāsamimaṁ purābhavaṁ śṛṇute yaśca pumānyathāvidhi harisaṁnidhikāriṇīṁ matiṁ labhate'sau kṛpayā jagadguroḥ

Whatever man duly hears this ancient history obtains, by the grace of the world-teacher, an understanding that brings him into the close presence of Hari.