The Story of Alakshmi

Verse 1 (padma.6.116.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः। अस्पृश्यत्वे कथं जातः सूत बोधितरुस्त्वयम् । स्पृश्यत्वं च कथं प्राप्तस्तथा च शनिवासरे । एतद्विस्तरतः सर्वं वक्तुमर्हति नो भवान्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ aspṛśyatve kathaṁ jātaḥ sūta bodhitarustvayam spṛśyatvaṁ ca kathaṁ prāptastathā ca śanivāsare etadvistarataḥ sarvaṁ vaktumarhati no bhavān

The sages said: O Sūta, how did this Bodhi tree [ashvattha] come to be untouchable, and how did it come to be touchable, and that too on Saturday? You should tell us all this in full detail.

Verse 2 (padma.6.116.2)

सूत उवाच। समुद्रमथनाद्यानि रत्नान्यापुः सुरेश्वराः । श्रियं च कौस्तुभं तेषां विष्णवे प्रददुः सुराः

sūta uvāca samudramathanādyāni ratnānyāpuḥ sureśvarāḥ śriyaṁ ca kaustubhaṁ teṣāṁ viṣṇave pradaduḥ surāḥ

Sūta said: From the churning of the ocean, the lords of the gods obtained the [fourteen] jewels; and of these, the gods gave Shri [Lakshmi] and the Kaustubha jewel to Vishnu.

Verse 3 (padma.6.116.3)

यावदंगीचकारासौ लक्ष्मीं भार्यार्थमात्मनः । तावद्विज्ञापयामास लक्ष्मीस्तं चक्रपाणिनम्

yāvadaṁgīcakārāsau lakṣmīṁ bhāryārthamātmanaḥ tāvadvijñāpayāmāsa lakṣmīstaṁ cakrapāṇinam

As soon as he accepted Lakshmi as his own wife, Lakshmi at once submitted this request to the wielder of the discus.

Verse 4 (padma.6.116.4)

लक्ष्मीरुवाच। असंस्कृत्य कथं ज्येष्ठां त्वं कनिष्ठां प्रणीयसे । तस्मान्ममाग्रजामेतामलक्ष्मीं मधुसूदन

lakṣmīruvāca asaṁskṛtya kathaṁ jyeṣṭhāṁ tvaṁ kaniṣṭhāṁ praṇīyase tasmānmamāgrajāmetāmalakṣmīṁ madhusūdana

Lakshmi said: How can you take the younger sister as your wife without first arranging the marriage of the elder? Therefore, O Madhusudana, this elder sister of mine, Alakshmi —

Verse 5 (padma.6.116.5)

विवाह्य नय मां पश्चादेष धर्मः सनातनः

vivāhya naya māṁ paścādeṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

— give her in marriage first, and take me afterward; this is the eternal law.

Verse 6 (padma.6.116.6)

सूत उवाच। इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स विष्णुर्लोकभावनः । उद्दालकाय मुनये सुदीर्घतपसे तदा

sūta uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sa viṣṇurlokabhāvanaḥ uddālakāya munaye sudīrghatapase tadā

Sūta said: Hearing these words, Vishnu, the sustainer of the worlds, then gave her to the sage Uddalaka, who was of exceedingly long austerity —

Verse 7 (padma.6.116.7)

आत्मवाक्यानुरोधेन तामलक्ष्मीं ददौ किल । स्थूलास्यां शुभ्रदशनां राजतीं बिभ्रतीं तनुम्

ātmavākyānurodhena tāmalakṣmīṁ dadau kila sthūlāsyāṁ śubhradaśanāṁ rājatīṁ bibhratīṁ tanum

— in accordance with his own [Lakshmi's] request, he gave that Alakshmi indeed; she had a broad face, white teeth, and bore a body of silvery hue,

Verse 8 (padma.6.116.8)

विततां रक्तनयनां रूक्षपिंगशिरोरुहाम् । समुनिर्विष्णुवाक्यात्तामंगीकृत्य स्वमाश्रमम्

vitatāṁ raktanayanāṁ rūkṣapiṁgaśiroruhām samunirviṣṇuvākyāttāmaṁgīkṛtya svamāśramam

— broad-set, with red eyes and rough, tawny hair. That sage, at Vishnu's word, having accepted her, brought her to his own hermitage,

Verse 9 (padma.6.116.9)

वेदध्वनिसमायुक्तमानयामास धर्मवित् । होमधूमसुगंधाढ्यं विद्याघोषविनादितम्

vedadhvanisamāyuktamānayāmāsa dharmavit homadhūmasugaṁdhāḍhyaṁ vidyāghoṣavināditam

— the knower of dharma led her to that hermitage which resounded with the sound of the Vedas, fragrant with the smoke of the fire-offering, and resonant with the recitation of sacred learning.

Verse 10 (padma.6.116.10)

आश्रमं तं समालोक्य व्यथिता साब्रवीदिदम् । ज्येष्ठोवाच। न हि वासोऽनुरूपोऽयं वेदध्वनियुतो मम । नात्रागमिष्ये भो ब्रह्मन्नयस्वान्यत्र मा चिरम्

āśramaṁ taṁ samālokya vyathitā sābravīdidam jyeṣṭhovāca na hi vāso'nurūpo'yaṁ vedadhvaniyuto mama nātrāgamiṣye bho brahmannayasvānyatra mā ciram

Seeing that hermitage, she, distressed, said this. Jyeshtha [the Elder] said: This dwelling, filled with the sound of the Vedas, is not fitting for me. O brahmin, I will not come to live here; take me elsewhere without delay.

Verse 11 (padma.6.116.11)

उद्दालक उवाच। कथं नायासि किंवात्र वर्त्तते संमतं तव । तव योग्या च वसतिः का भवेच्च वदस्व तत्

uddālaka uvāca kathaṁ nāyāsi kiṁvātra varttate saṁmataṁ tava tava yogyā ca vasatiḥ kā bhavecca vadasva tat

Uddalaka said: Why will you not come? What is it here that displeases you? And what kind of dwelling would be fitting for you — tell me that.

Verse 12 (padma.6.116.12)

ज्येष्ठोवाच। वेदध्वनिर्भवेद्यस्मिन्नतिथीनां च पूजनम् । यज्ञदानादिकं वापि नैव तत्र वसाम्यहम्

jyeṣṭhovāca vedadhvanirbhavedyasminnatithīnāṁ ca pūjanam yajñadānādikaṁ vāpi naiva tatra vasāmyaham

Jyeshtha said: Wherever there is the sound of the Vedas, and the honoring of guests, or the giving of sacrifices and gifts, I do not dwell there at all.

Verse 13 (padma.6.116.13)

परस्परानुरागेण दांपत्यं यत्र वर्तते । पितृदेवार्चनं यत्र नैव तत्र वसाम्यहम्

parasparānurāgeṇa dāṁpatyaṁ yatra vartate pitṛdevārcanaṁ yatra naiva tatra vasāmyaham

Wherever a married couple lives in mutual affection, and wherever the ancestors and gods are worshipped, I do not dwell there.

Verse 14 (padma.6.116.14)

दुरोदररता यत्र परद्रव्यापहारिणः । परदाररताश्चापि तत्र स्थाने रतिर्मम

durodararatā yatra paradravyāpahāriṇaḥ paradāraratāścāpi tatra sthāne ratirmama

But where men are devoted to gambling, thieves of others' wealth, and men given to lusting after others' wives — in such a place is my delight.

Verse 15 (padma.6.116.15)

गोवधो मद्यपानं च यत्र संजायतेनिशम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि तस्मिन्स्थाने रतिर्मम । वृद्धसज्जनविप्राणां यत्र स्यादपमाननम् । निष्ठुरं भाषणं यत्र तत्र नित्यं वसाम्यहम्

govadho madyapānaṁ ca yatra saṁjāyateniśam brahmahatyādipāpāni tasminsthāne ratirmama vṛddhasajjanaviprāṇāṁ yatra syādapamānanam niṣṭhuraṁ bhāṣaṇaṁ yatra tatra nityaṁ vasāmyaham

Where the killing of cows and the drinking of liquor go on unceasingly, where sins such as the killing of a brahmin occur — in that place is my delight. Wherever the elderly, the virtuous, and brahmins are insulted, and wherever harsh speech prevails, there I dwell forever.

Verse 16 (padma.6.116.16)

सूत उवाच। इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विषण्णवदनोऽभवत् । उद्दालकमुनिर्विष्णोर्वाक्यं स्मृत्वा न चोचिवान्

sūta uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā viṣaṇṇavadano'bhavat uddālakamunirviṣṇorvākyaṁ smṛtvā na cocivān

Sūta said: Hearing these words, the sage Uddalaka became downcast in face; remembering Vishnu's own word, he said nothing.

Verse 17 (padma.6.116.17)

सोऽगच्छद्यत्र तत्रास्य पूजामालोक्य साब्रवीत् । नायामीति ततः सोऽपि भ्रमादत्यातुरोऽभवत् । उद्दालकस्ततो वाक्यं तामलक्ष्मीमुवाच ह

so'gacchadyatra tatrāsya pūjāmālokya sābravīt nāyāmīti tataḥ so'pi bhramādatyāturo'bhavat uddālakastato vākyaṁ tāmalakṣmīmuvāca ha

He went here and there [to various homes], but seeing worship being performed in each, she would say, "I will not go there." Then he too, from this wandering about, became greatly distressed. Uddalaka then spoke these words to that Alakshmi.

Verse 18 (padma.6.116.18)

उद्दालक उवाच। अश्वत्थवृक्षमूलेऽस्मिन्नलक्ष्मि स्थीयतां क्षणम् । आवासस्थानमालोक्य यावदायाम्यहं पुनः

uddālaka uvāca aśvatthavṛkṣamūle'sminnalakṣmi sthīyatāṁ kṣaṇam āvāsasthānamālokya yāvadāyāmyahaṁ punaḥ

Uddalaka said: O Alakshmi, remain for a moment here at the foot of this ashvattha tree, while I go and find a fitting dwelling place and return again.

Verse 19 (padma.6.116.19)

सूत उवाच। इति तत्र स संस्थाप्य जगामोद्दालकस्तदा । प्रतीक्षंती चिरं तत्र यदा तन्न ददर्श सा

sūta uvāca iti tatra sa saṁsthāpya jagāmoddālakastadā pratīkṣaṁtī ciraṁ tatra yadā tanna dadarśa sā

Sūta said: Having thus settled her there, Uddalaka went away. When she, waiting there a long while, did not see him [return] —

Verse 20 (padma.6.116.20)

तदा रुरोद करुणं भर्तृत्यागेन दुःखिता । तत्रस्थां रुदतीलक्ष्मीर्वैकुंठभुवनेऽशृणोत्

tadā ruroda karuṇaṁ bhartṛtyāgena duḥkhitā tatrasthāṁ rudatīlakṣmīrvaikuṁṭhabhuvane'śṛṇot

— then, grieved at being abandoned by her husband, she wept piteously. And Lakshmi, in the realm of Vaikuntha, heard her, sitting there, weeping.

Verse 21 (padma.6.116.21)

तदा विज्ञापयामास विष्णुमुद्विग्नमानसा

tadā vijñāpayāmāsa viṣṇumudvignamānasā

Then, her mind troubled, she submitted this to Vishnu.

Verse 22 (padma.6.116.22)

लक्ष्मीरुवाच। स्वामिन्मद्भगिनी ज्येष्ठा भर्तृत्यागेन दुःखिता । तामाश्वासयितुं याहि कृपालो यद्यहं प्रिया

lakṣmīruvāca svāminmadbhaginī jyeṣṭhā bhartṛtyāgena duḥkhitā tāmāśvāsayituṁ yāhi kṛpālo yadyahaṁ priyā

Lakshmi said: My lord, my elder sister is grieving at being abandoned by her husband. If I am dear to you, O merciful one, go to console her.

Verse 23 (padma.6.116.23)

सूत उवाच। लक्ष्म्या सह ततो विष्णुस्तत्रागच्छत्कृपान्वितः । आश्वासयदलक्ष्मीं तामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca lakṣmyā saha tato viṣṇustatrāgacchatkṛpānvitaḥ āśvāsayadalakṣmīṁ tāmidaṁ vacanamabravīt

Sūta said: Then Vishnu, together with Lakshmi, went there filled with compassion; he consoled that Alakshmi and spoke these words.

Verse 24 (padma.6.116.24)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच। अश्वत्थवृक्षमासाद्य सदाऽलक्ष्मि स्थिरा भव । ममांशसंभवो ह्येष आवासस्ते मया कृतः

śrīviṣṇuruvāca aśvatthavṛkṣamāsādya sadā'lakṣmi sthirā bhava mamāṁśasaṁbhavo hyeṣa āvāsaste mayā kṛtaḥ

Śrī Vishnu said: O Alakshmi, take up your abode at the ashvattha tree and remain steadfast there forever. This tree has arisen as a portion of Myself; I have made it your dwelling.

Verse 25 (padma.6.116.25)

प्रत्यहं येऽर्चयिष्यंति त्वां ज्येष्ठां गृहधर्मिणः । तेष्वियं श्रीः कनिष्ठा ते भगिनी निश्चलास्तु वै

pratyahaṁ ye'rcayiṣyaṁti tvāṁ jyeṣṭhāṁ gṛhadharmiṇaḥ teṣviyaṁ śrīḥ kaniṣṭhā te bhaginī niścalāstu vai

Those householders who worship you, the Elder, every day — in their homes this Shri, your younger sister, shall remain forever unmoving.

Verse 26 (padma.6.116.26)

सूत उवाच। इत्यूर्जस्य च माहात्म्यं ये शृण्वंति पठंति च । तेषां विष्णुपुरे वासो भवेदाभूतसंप्लवम्

sūta uvāca ityūrjasya ca māhātmyaṁ ye śṛṇvaṁti paṭhaṁti ca teṣāṁ viṣṇupure vāso bhavedābhūtasaṁplavam

Sūta said: Whoever hears or recites thus the glory of Urja [Kartika] shall dwell in the city of Vishnu until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 27 (padma.6.116.27)

रोगापहं पातकनाशकृत्परं सुबुद्धिदं पुत्रधनादिसाधनम् । मुक्तेर्निदानं न हि कार्तिकाद्वै विष्णुप्रियादन्यदिहास्ति भूतले

rogāpahaṁ pātakanāśakṛtparaṁ subuddhidaṁ putradhanādisādhanam mukternidānaṁ na hi kārtikādvai viṣṇupriyādanyadihāsti bhūtale

It removes disease, destroys sin utterly, bestows fine understanding, and is a means to sons, wealth, and the rest; there is truly nothing else on this earth that is the cause of liberation, other than this Kartika, dear to Vishnu.

Verse 28 (padma.6.116.28)

विष्णुप्रियं सकलकल्मषनाशनं च सत्पुत्रपौत्रधनधान्यसमृद्धिकारि । ऊर्जव्रतं सनियमं कुरुते मनुष्यः किं तस्य तीर्थपरिशीलनसेवया च

viṣṇupriyaṁ sakalakalmaṣanāśanaṁ ca satputrapautradhanadhānyasamṛddhikāri ūrjavrataṁ saniyamaṁ kurute manuṣyaḥ kiṁ tasya tīrthapariśīlanasevayā ca

Dear to Vishnu, destroying every stain of sin, and bringing about abundance of good sons, grandsons, wealth and grain — for the man who performs the Urja [Kartika] vow together with its rules, what further need has he even of resorting to and serving the sacred tirthas?