The Glory of the Gita's Eighth Chapter: Bhavasharma and the Tali Tree

Verse 1 (padma.6.182.1)

शिव उवाच। अष्टमाध्यायमाहात्म्यं शृणु वक्ष्यामि पार्वति । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण परां मुदमवाप्स्यसि

śiva uvāca aṣṭamādhyāyamāhātmyaṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi pārvati yasya śravaṇamātreṇa parāṃ mudamavāpsyasi

Shiva said: Listen, O Parvati, I shall tell the glory of the eighth chapter; by the mere hearing of which you shall obtain the highest joy.

Verse 2 (padma.6.182.2)

आमर्दकं पुरं नाम्ना विश्रुतं दक्षिणापथि । द्विजन्मा भावशर्मेति तत्रासीद्गणिकापतिः

āmardakaṃ puraṃ nāmnā viśrutaṃ dakṣiṇāpathi dvijanmā bhāvaśarmeti tatrāsīdgaṇikāpatiḥ

In the southern region there is a city renowned by the name of Amardaka. There lived a twice-born man named Bhavasharma, a keeper of courtesans,

Verse 3 (padma.6.182.3)

खादन्मांसं पिबन्मद्यं चोरयन्साधुसंपदः । रममाणः परस्त्रीभिराखेटक कुतूहली

khādanmāṃsaṃ pibanmadyaṃ corayansādhusaṃpadaḥ ramamāṇaḥ parastrībhirākheṭaka kutūhalī

eating flesh, drinking liquor, stealing the wealth of the virtuous, taking pleasure with other men's wives, delighting in the hunt.

Verse 4 (padma.6.182.4)

अत्यवाहयदत्युग्रो गरीयांसं मनोरथम् । सुहृदां विटगोष्ठ्यां च तालीफलसुधारसम्

atyavāhayadatyugro garīyāṃsaṃ manoratham suhṛdāṃ viṭagoṣṭhyāṃ ca tālīphalasudhārasam

That most fierce man indulged his heavy desires to the utmost; and, in the company of his libertine friends, drinking the nectar-juice of the tali fruit,

Verse 5 (padma.6.182.5)

निपीय कंठपर्यंतमजीर्णेनातिपीडितः । मृतः कालेन पापात्मा जातस्तालीतरुर्महान्

nipīya kaṃṭhaparyaṃtamajīrṇenātipīḍitaḥ mṛtaḥ kālena pāpātmā jātastālītarurmahān

he drank it right up to his throat; and, greatly afflicted by indigestion, he died in time, that sinful soul, and was reborn as a great tali tree.

Verse 6 (padma.6.182.6)

तस्यच्छायामुपाश्रित्य निबिडामतिशीतलाम् । अभूतां दंपती कौचिद्ब्रह्मराक्षसतां गतौ

tasyacchāyāmupāśritya nibiḍāmatiśītalām abhūtāṃ daṃpatī kaucidbrahmarākṣasatāṃ gatau

Taking refuge beneath its dense and most cool shade, a certain couple, who had come to the state of brahma-rakshasas, demonic ghosts of fallen brahmins, arrived there.

Verse 7 (padma.6.182.7)

देव्युवाच। किं जातीयौ किमात्मानौ किंवृत्तावित्युदीरय । कर्मणा केन वा देव ब्रह्मराक्षसता तयोः

devyuvāca kiṃ jātīyau kimātmānau kiṃvṛttāvityudīraya karmaṇā kena vā deva brahmarākṣasatā tayoḥ

The goddess said: Of what family, of what nature, of what conduct were the two of them? Tell me this. And by what deed, O god, did they come to that state of brahma-rakshasas?

Verse 8 (padma.6.182.8)

शिव उवाच। वेदवेदांगतत्वज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदः । सदाचारोऽभवत्कश्चिद्दिवजो नाम कुशीवलः

śiva uvāca vedavedāṃgatatvajñaḥ sarvaśāstrārthakovidaḥ sadācāro'bhavatkaściddivajo nāma kuśīvalaḥ

Shiva said: There once lived a certain twice-born man, a farmer by occupation, a knower of the truth of the Veda and its auxiliary texts, learned in the meaning of every scripture, of good conduct,

Verse 9 (padma.6.182.9)

जाया च तस्य कुमति नामधेया दुराशया । स सभार्यो महादानान्याददानोऽतिलोभवान्

jāyā ca tasya kumati nāmadheyā durāśayā sa sabhāryo mahādānānyādadāno'tilobhavān

and his wife was named Kumati, of wicked intent. That man, together with his wife, though outwardly accepting great gifts, was in truth exceedingly greedy;

Verse 10 (padma.6.182.10)

महिषीं कालपुरुषं हयादीननुवासरम् । अप्रयच्छन्द्विजातिभ्यो दानलब्धां वराटिकाम्

mahiṣīṃ kālapuruṣaṃ hayādīnanuvāsaram aprayacchandvijātibhyo dānalabdhāṃ varāṭikām

a buffalo, a black bull, horses, and the like -- day after day, he would withhold from the twice-born the very cowrie-shells received in his gifts.

Verse 11 (padma.6.182.11)

कालेन दंपती प्रेतौ ब्रह्मराक्षसरूपिणौ । पर्यटंतौ महीमेतां क्षुत्तृषाकुलविग्रहौ

kālena daṃpatī pretau brahmarākṣasarūpiṇau paryaṭaṃtau mahīmetāṃ kṣuttṛṣākulavigrahau

In time that couple, having died, became brahma-rakshasas, wandering over this earth, their bodies tormented with hunger and thirst.

Verse 12 (padma.6.182.12)

विशश्रमतुरागत्य मूलं तालीतरोस्ततः । कथमेतन्महादुःखमावयोरपगच्छति

viśaśramaturāgatya mūlaṃ tālītarostataḥ kathametanmahāduḥkhamāvayorapagacchati

They came to rest at the foot of that tali tree, saying: 'How might this great suffering of ours be removed?'

Verse 13 (padma.6.182.13)

कथं वा जायते मुक्तिर्ब्रह्मराक्षसयोनितः । इति पृष्टो गृहिण्याऽसौ ब्राह्मणः समभाषत

kathaṃ vā jāyate muktirbrahmarākṣasayonitaḥ iti pṛṣṭo gṛhiṇyā'sau brāhmaṇaḥ samabhāṣata

'And how might liberation from this brahma-rakshasa birth be attained?' Thus questioned by his wife, that brahmin replied:

Verse 14 (padma.6.182.14)

ब्रह्मविद्योपदेशेन विनाध्यात्मविचारणात् । विनाकर्मविधिज्ञानात्कथं मुच्येत संकटात्

brahmavidyopadeśena vinādhyātmavicāraṇāt vinākarmavidhijñānātkathaṃ mucyeta saṃkaṭāt

'Without instruction in the knowledge of Brahman, without reflection upon the Self, without knowledge of the proper ordinance for action, how could one ever be freed from this calamity?'

Verse 15 (padma.6.182.15)

भार्योवाच। किं तद् ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम । एतावदुक्ते तत्पत्न्या यदाश्चर्यमभूच्छृणु

bhāryovāca kiṃ tad brahma kimadhyātmaṃ kiṃ karma puruṣottama etāvadukte tatpatnyā yadāścaryamabhūcchṛṇu

The wife said: What is that Brahman? What is the Self? What is action, O best of men? When his wife had said only this much, listen to the wonder that then occurred.

Verse 16 (padma.6.182.16)

अष्टमाध्यायश्लोकार्द्धश्रवणात्स तरुस्तदा । विहाय तालीरूपं तद्बभूव द्विजसत्तमः

aṣṭamādhyāyaślokārddhaśravaṇātsa tarustadā vihāya tālīrūpaṃ tadbabhūva dvijasattamaḥ

Merely by hearing half a verse of the eighth chapter, that tree, abandoning its form as a tali tree, thereupon became once more that foremost of the twice-born,

Verse 17 (padma.6.182.17)

सद्योज्ञानविधूतात्मा विमुक्तः पापकंचुकात् । तन्माहात्म्याद्विनिर्मुक्तौ दंपती तौ बभूवतुः

sadyojñānavidhūtātmā vimuktaḥ pāpakaṃcukāt tanmāhātmyādvinirmuktau daṃpatī tau babhūvatuḥ

his soul instantly cleansed by knowledge, freed from the very husk of sin. By the glory of that same half-verse, both members of that couple too became fully liberated.

Verse 18 (padma.6.182.18)

एतावदेव मुक्तं च दैवान्निर्गत्य तन्मुखात् । ततोंतरिक्षादायांतं क्वणत्किंकिणिकं शुभम्

etāvadeva muktaṃ ca daivānnirgatya tanmukhāt tatoṃtarikṣādāyāṃtaṃ kvaṇatkiṃkiṇikaṃ śubham

By fate that much alone had escaped from his own mouth; and then, from the sky above, an auspicious sound of tinkling bells came,

Verse 19 (padma.6.182.19)

दिवि दिव्यांगनावक्त्रचंद्रमंडलमंडितम् । अप्सरोवदनांभोज भ्राम्यद्भ्रमरसंकुलम्

divi divyāṃganāvaktracaṃdramaṃḍalamaṃḍitam apsarovadanāṃbhoja bhrāmyadbhramarasaṃkulam

adorned in the heavens by the moon-like faces of celestial women, crowded with bees hovering about the lotus-faces of the Apsarases,

Verse 20 (padma.6.182.20)

निर्मथ्यमानदुग्धाब्धि वेलाडिंडिरपांडुरैः । गंगातरंगसुभगैश्चामरैरुपशोभितम्

nirmathyamānadugdhābdhi velāḍiṃḍirapāṃḍuraiḥ gaṃgātaraṃgasubhagaiścāmarairupaśobhitam

beautified by chowries white as the foam upon the shore of the churned ocean of milk, as lovely as the very waves of the Ganges,

Verse 21 (padma.6.182.21)

गायद्गंधर्वसुभगं नृत्यत्सुरवधूशतम् । दिव्यं विमानमारूढौ दंपती जग्मतुर्दिवम्

gāyadgaṃdharvasubhagaṃ nṛtyatsuravadhūśatam divyaṃ vimānamārūḍhau daṃpatī jagmaturdivam

beautiful with singing Gandharvas, with hundreds of dancing celestial maidens -- mounting that divine celestial chariot, the couple went to heaven.

Verse 22 (padma.6.182.22)

अत्रत्यं वृत्तमखिलमेतद्विस्मयकारकम् । ततो लिलेख मेधावी श्लोकार्द्धमिदमादरात्

atratyaṃ vṛttamakhilametadvismayakārakam tato lilekha medhāvī ślokārddhamidamādarāt

This whole astonishing event that had occurred there, that wise brahmin then reverently inscribed, together with this same half-verse.

Verse 23 (padma.6.182.23)

ययौ वाराणसीं नाम नगरीं मुक्तिदायिनीम् । आराधयितुमन्विच्छन्देवदेवं जनार्दनम्

yayau vārāṇasīṃ nāma nagarīṃ muktidāyinīm ārādhayitumanvicchandevadevaṃ janārdanam

He then went to the city named Varanasi, the bestower of liberation, desiring to worship the god of gods, Janardana.

Verse 24 (padma.6.182.24)

स तत्र कर्तुमारेभे तपः परमुदारधीः । अत्रांतरे जगन्नाथो देवदेवो जनार्दनः

sa tatra kartumārebhe tapaḥ paramudāradhīḥ atrāṃtare jagannātho devadevo janārdanaḥ

There, that most magnanimous man began to perform austerity. Meanwhile, the Lord of the universe, the god of gods, Janardana,

Verse 25 (padma.6.182.25)

पृष्टो दुग्धाब्धिसुतया संयोज्य करसंपुटम् । निद्रापथं विहायैव स्थीयते कथ्यतामिति

pṛṣṭo dugdhābdhisutayā saṃyojya karasaṃpuṭam nidrāpathaṃ vihāyaiva sthīyate kathyatāmiti

was asked by the daughter of the ocean of milk, Lakshmi, her hands joined together: 'Why do you remain thus, having forsaken the very path of sleep? Please tell me.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.182.26)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। काश्यां भागीरथी तीरे तपस्यतितरां द्विजः । भावशर्माति मेधावी मद्भक्तिरसपूरितः

śrībhagavānuvāca kāśyāṃ bhāgīrathī tīre tapasyatitarāṃ dvijaḥ bhāvaśarmāti medhāvī madbhaktirasapūritaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: In Kashi, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, a twice-born man, exceedingly wise, named Bhavasharma, filled with the very essence of devotion to me, is performing intense austerity,

Verse 27 (padma.6.182.27)

जपन्गीताष्टमाध्यायश्लोकार्द्धं नियतेंद्रियः । संतुष्टवानहं देवि तदीयतपसा भृशम्

japangītāṣṭamādhyāyaślokārddhaṃ niyateṃdriyaḥ saṃtuṣṭavānahaṃ devi tadīyatapasā bhṛśam

reciting the very half-verse of the eighth chapter of the Gita, his senses fully restrained; and I, O goddess, have become greatly satisfied by his austerity.

Verse 28 (padma.6.182.28)

चिरं विचारयन्नेव तत्तपः सदृशं फलम् । दातुमुत्कंठितमना वर्तेयं सांप्रतं प्रिये

ciraṃ vicārayanneva tattapaḥ sadṛśaṃ phalam dātumutkaṃṭhitamanā varteyaṃ sāṃprataṃ priye

For a long while I have been considering what fruit would be worthy of that austerity; my mind now eager to grant it, I remain thus at present, my beloved.

Verse 29 (padma.6.182.29)

पार्वत्युवाच। हरिः प्रसन्नभूतोऽपि चिंतां प्राप यदि प्रभो । भावशर्मा हरेर्भक्तः प्राप्तः किं तत्फलं पुनः

pārvatyuvāca hariḥ prasannabhūto'pi ciṃtāṃ prāpa yadi prabho bhāvaśarmā harerbhaktaḥ prāptaḥ kiṃ tatphalaṃ punaḥ

Parvati said: If Hari, even though already pleased, fell into such deep thought, O lord, then what indeed was the fruit that Bhavasharma, the devotee of Hari, finally obtained?

Verse 30 (padma.6.182.30)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। ततः प्रसादमासाद्य प्रसन्नस्य मुरद्विषः । सुखमात्यंतिकं प्राप भावशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । लेभिरे पदवीं सर्वे तदीया अपि वंशजाः

śrīmahādeva uvāca tataḥ prasādamāsādya prasannasya muradviṣaḥ sukhamātyaṃtikaṃ prāpa bhāvaśarmā dvijottamaḥ lebhire padavīṃ sarve tadīyā api vaṃśajāḥ

Shri Mahadeva said: Then, having obtained the grace of the now truly pleased slayer of Mura, Bhavasharma, that foremost of the twice-born, attained absolute, unending happiness; and all of his descendants too obtained that very same station.

Verse 31 (padma.6.182.31)

तत्कर्मवशतो ये वै संप्राप्ता यातनां पुरा । एतदेवाष्टमाध्यायमाहात्म्यं किंचिदेव ते

tatkarmavaśato ye vai saṃprāptā yātanāṃ purā etadevāṣṭamādhyāyamāhātmyaṃ kiṃcideva te

Even those who, through the power of their own former deeds, had once fallen into torment -- this alone is the glory of the eighth chapter, O gazelle-eyed one, told to you here only in brief,

Verse 32 (padma.6.182.32)

कथितं मृगशावाक्षि द्रष्टव्यं तु सदैव च

kathitaṃ mṛgaśāvākṣi draṣṭavyaṃ tu sadaiva ca

and it should ever be regarded with reverence.