The Liberation of Dhundhukari

Verse 1 (padma.6.197.1)

कुमारा ऊचुः। पितर्येवं वनं प्राप्ते पश्चादागत्य नारद । जननीं तर्जयामास धुंधुकारी महाखलः

kumārā ūcuḥ pitaryevaṁ vanaṁ prāpte paścādāgatya nārada jananīṁ tarjayāmāsa dhuṁdhukārī mahākhalaḥ

The Kumaras said: O Narada, after his father had thus gone to the forest, the great scoundrel Dhundhukari came back and began to threaten his mother.

Verse 2 (padma.6.197.2)

क्व वित्तं तिष्ठति ब्रूहि मातरं प्रति नारद । सर्वथा त्वां हनिष्यामि न चेद्ब्रूया निधानकम्

kva vittaṁ tiṣṭhati brūhi mātaraṁ prati nārada sarvathā tvāṁ haniṣyāmi na cedbrūyā nidhānakam

‘Where is the money kept? Tell me!’ — thus, O Narada, he said to his mother. ‘I shall surely kill you if you do not tell me where the hoard is.’

Verse 3 (padma.6.197.3)

सा तस्य वचनात्त्रस्ता रात्रौ दुःखितमानसा । निपत्य कूपे तु मृता लोकैर्ज्ञात्वा बहिः कृता

sā tasya vacanāttrastā rātrau duḥkhitamānasā nipatya kūpe tu mṛtā lokairjñātvā bahiḥ kṛtā

Terrified by his words, sorrowful at heart, she fell into a well at night and died; people, learning of it, removed her body.

Verse 4 (padma.6.197.4)

गोकर्णस्तां तु निर्हृत्य द्विजैस्तज्ज्ञातिबांधवैः । तीर्थयात्रां ययौ प्राज्ञः समदुःखसुखो मुने

gokarṇastāṁ tu nirhṛtya dvijaistajjñātibāṁdhavaiḥ tīrthayātrāṁ yayau prājñaḥ samaduḥkhasukho mune

Gokarna, having performed her last rites with the brahmins, his kinsmen and relatives, then set out, O sage, on pilgrimage, wise and equanimous in both sorrow and joy.

Verse 5 (padma.6.197.5)

धुंधुकारी गृहे तिष्ठन्स्वके पण्यवधूवृतः । अत्युग्रकर्माचारेण तत्पोषणविमूढधीः

dhuṁdhukārī gṛhe tiṣṭhansvake paṇyavadhūvṛtaḥ atyugrakarmācāreṇa tatpoṣaṇavimūḍhadhīḥ

Dhundhukari, remaining in his own house, surrounded by courtesans, his mind deluded by the desire to support them through the most terrible deeds—

Verse 6 (padma.6.197.6)

भूषणान्यभिलिप्स्यंत्यस्तमूचुर्वारयोषितः । भोभो प्रिय वयं सर्वांस्त्वयानाथेन संगताः

bhūṣaṇānyabhilipsyaṁtyastamūcurvārayoṣitaḥ bhobho priya vayaṁ sarvāṁstvayānāthena saṁgatāḥ

—the courtesans, desiring ornaments, said to him: ‘O beloved! All of us have joined ourselves to you, though you are but a helpless man—’

Verse 7 (padma.6.197.7)

स्थिता नैवात्र कोप्यन्यो धनदोभ्येति मानद । तस्मात्सूक्ष्माणि वस्त्राणि भूषणानि द्युमंति च

sthitā naivātra kopyanyo dhanadobhyeti mānada tasmātsūkṣmāṇi vastrāṇi bhūṣaṇāni dyumaṁti ca

‘—no one else remains here who might come to give us wealth, O giver of honor. Therefore, give us fine garments and brilliant ornaments—’

Verse 8 (padma.6.197.8)

देहि नोचेद्व्रजिष्यामस्त्वत्सकाशान्नरांतरम् । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तासां चिंतयित्वा क्षणं स च

dehi nocedvrajiṣyāmastvatsakāśānnarāṁtaram iti śrutvā vacastāsāṁ ciṁtayitvā kṣaṇaṁ sa ca

‘—or else we shall go from you to some other man.’ Hearing their words, and pondering for a moment, he—

Verse 9 (padma.6.197.9)

निर्गतः स्वगृहाद्रात्रौ कामांधो मृत्युमस्मरन् । मुषित्वा कस्यचिद्गेहाद्वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च

nirgataḥ svagṛhādrātrau kāmāṁdho mṛtyumasmaran muṣitvā kasyacidgehādvastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca

—went out from his own house at night, blinded by lust, not thinking of death, and, having stolen garments and ornaments from someone's house—

Verse 10 (padma.6.197.10)

ददौ ताभ्यो मुदायुक्तः प्रीत्यै तासां स नारद । तानि दृष्ट्वा ह्यमूल्यानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च

dadau tābhyo mudāyuktaḥ prītyai tāsāṁ sa nārada tāni dṛṣṭvā hyamūlyāni vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca

—gave them, joyfully, O Narada, to please them. But seeing that those garments and ornaments were priceless—

Verse 11 (padma.6.197.11)

ताः स्त्रियश्चिंतयामासुश्चौर्येणैतानि चामुना । आहृतानीति निश्चित्य परस्परममंत्रयन्

tāḥ striyaściṁtayāmāsuścauryeṇaitāni cāmunā āhṛtānīti niścitya parasparamamaṁtrayan

—those women thought: ‘These have surely been brought by him through theft’ — and, having determined this, they consulted with one another:

Verse 12 (padma.6.197.12)

चौर्यं करोत्यसौ नित्यमेनं राजा गृहीष्यति । वित्तं हृत्वा पुनश्चैव मारयिष्यति निश्चितम्

cauryaṁ karotyasau nityamenaṁ rājā gṛhīṣyati vittaṁ hṛtvā punaścaiva mārayiṣyati niścitam

‘He commits theft constantly; the king will seize him, take away the wealth, and surely have him killed as well—’

Verse 13 (padma.6.197.13)

अतो रहसि चास्माभिर्हत्वामुं चौर्यकारिणम् । वित्तं च बहु संगृह्य किमन्यत्र न गम्यते

ato rahasi cāsmābhirhatvāmuṁ cauryakāriṇam vittaṁ ca bahu saṁgṛhya kimanyatra na gamyate

‘—therefore let us kill this thief secretly ourselves, gather up much wealth, and go elsewhere — what is there to stop us?’

Verse 14 (padma.6.197.14)

इति ताः क्रूरहृदयाः सुप्तं कंठग्रहं तदा । पाशैः सुतीक्ष्णैर्बद्ध्वा च व्यापादयितुमुद्यताः

iti tāḥ krūrahṛdayāḥ suptaṁ kaṁṭhagrahaṁ tadā pāśaiḥ sutīkṣṇairbaddhvā ca vyāpādayitumudyatāḥ

Thus, those cruel-hearted women, as he slept, seizing him by the throat and binding him with sharp nooses, set about to kill him.

Verse 15 (padma.6.197.15)

यदा च न मृतश्चासौ भृशं कंठग्रहेण वै । तदांगाराणि बहुशो मुखे चास्य विचिक्षिपुः

yadā ca na mṛtaścāsau bhṛśaṁ kaṁṭhagraheṇa vai tadāṁgārāṇi bahuśo mukhe cāsya vicikṣipuḥ

When he did not die from the tight grip on his throat, they then threw many burning coals into his mouth.

Verse 16 (padma.6.197.16)

अग्निज्वालातिदुःखेन व्याकुलो निधनं गतः । तद्देहं चिक्षिपुर्गर्ते प्रायः साहसिकाः स्त्रियः

agnijvālātiduḥkhena vyākulo nidhanaṁ gataḥ taddehaṁ cikṣipurgarte prāyaḥ sāhasikāḥ striyaḥ

Overcome with the terrible pain of the fire's flame, he died; and those bold women threw his body into a pit.

Verse 17 (padma.6.197.17)

न ज्ञातं तच्चरित्रं तु केनापि मुनिसत्तम । लोकैः पृष्टा वदंति स्म दूरे यातः पतिर्हि नः

na jñātaṁ taccaritraṁ tu kenāpi munisattama lokaiḥ pṛṣṭā vadaṁti sma dūre yātaḥ patirhi naḥ

O best of sages, this deed was known to no one; when asked by the people, they said: ‘Our husband has gone far away—’

Verse 18 (padma.6.197.18)

आगमिष्यति दीर्घेण कालेन धनकर्षितः । अतः स्त्रीणां न विश्वासः कर्त्तव्यो विदुषां वरैः

āgamiṣyati dīrgheṇa kālena dhanakarṣitaḥ ataḥ strīṇāṁ na viśvāsaḥ karttavyo viduṣāṁ varaiḥ

‘—he will return after a long time, having earned wealth.’ Therefore, the wisest of men should place no trust in women.

Verse 19 (padma.6.197.19)

विश्वस्तं सर्वथा घ्नंति प्रार्थयंत्यो नवं नवम् । सुधामयं वचो यासां कामिनां रसवर्द्धनम्

viśvastaṁ sarvathā ghnaṁti prārthayaṁtyo navaṁ navam sudhāmayaṁ vaco yāsāṁ kāmināṁ rasavarddhanam

They kill entirely one who trusts them, always seeking a new man; their words are like nectar, ever increasing passion—

Verse 20 (padma.6.197.20)

हृदयं क्षुरधाराभं प्रियः को नाम योषिताम् । अथ ता बहुलं वित्तं गृहीत्वा वारयोषितः

hṛdayaṁ kṣuradhārābhaṁ priyaḥ ko nāma yoṣitām atha tā bahulaṁ vittaṁ gṛhītvā vārayoṣitaḥ

—yet their hearts are like the edge of a razor; what man can truly be dear to such women? Then those courtesans, having taken his abundant wealth—

Verse 21 (padma.6.197.21)

ग्रामांतरं ययुः शीघ्रं भयाद्राज्ञोऽतिविह्वलाः । धुंधुकारी बभूवाथ महाप्रेतः कुकर्मकृत्

grāmāṁtaraṁ yayuḥ śīghraṁ bhayādrājño'tivihvalāḥ dhuṁdhukārī babhūvātha mahāpretaḥ kukarmakṛt

—went quickly to another village, greatly agitated with fear of the king. Dhundhukari, having done such evil deeds, then became a great preta.

Verse 22 (padma.6.197.22)

वात्यारूपधरो नित्यं धावन्दुर्मृत्युतो दिशः । शीतातपपरिक्लिष्टो निराहारः पिपासितः

vātyārūpadharo nityaṁ dhāvandurmṛtyuto diśaḥ śītātapaparikliṣṭo nirāhāraḥ pipāsitaḥ

Taking the form of a whirlwind, ever running through the directions, on account of his evil death, tormented by cold and heat, without food, thirsting—

Verse 23 (padma.6.197.23)

न च लेभे सुखं क्वापि हाहेति प्रवदन्मुहुः। कियत्कालांतरे त्वेनं मृतं चैवावबुध्य च

na ca lebhe sukhaṁ kvāpi hāheti pravadanmuhuḥ kiyatkālāṁtare tvenaṁ mṛtaṁ caivāvabudhya ca

—he found peace nowhere, crying out ‘Alas! Alas!’ again and again. After some time, learning of his death—

Verse 24 (padma.6.197.24)

गोकर्णस्तीर्थयात्रायां गयाश्राद्धमथाकरोत् । समाप्य तीर्थयात्रां तु स्वंपुरं समुपेयिवान

gokarṇastīrthayātrāyāṁ gayāśrāddhamathākarot samāpya tīrthayātrāṁ tu svaṁpuraṁ samupeyivāna

—Gokarna, during his pilgrimage, performed the Shraddha rite for him at Gaya; and, having completed his pilgrimage, he came to his own city.

Verse 25 (padma.6.197.25)

सभाजितः सपौरैस्तु प्रीत्या स्वजनबांधंवैः । उवास स्वगृहे चैव दिनानि कतिचिद्दिवजः

sabhājitaḥ sapauraistu prītyā svajanabāṁdhaṁvaiḥ uvāsa svagṛhe caiva dināni katiciddivajaḥ

Honored with affection by the townsfolk, his relatives and kinsmen, that brahmin dwelt in his own house for a few days.

Verse 26 (padma.6.197.26)

रात्रौ प्रसुप्तं गोकर्णं ज्ञात्वा वेश्मांगणे स तु । धुंधुकारी महादुष्टो रौद्रं रूपं व्यदर्शयत्

rātrau prasuptaṁ gokarṇaṁ jñātvā veśmāṁgaṇe sa tu dhuṁdhukārī mahāduṣṭo raudraṁ rūpaṁ vyadarśayat

Knowing Gokarna to be asleep at night in the courtyard of the house, that most wicked Dhundhukari showed a terrifying form.

Verse 27 (padma.6.197.27)

क्षणं नागः क्षणं चोष्ट्रः क्षणं स महिषोऽभवत् । क्षणमग्निः क्षणं सर्पः क्षणेन पुरुषोऽभवत्

kṣaṇaṁ nāgaḥ kṣaṇaṁ coṣṭraḥ kṣaṇaṁ sa mahiṣo'bhavat kṣaṇamagniḥ kṣaṇaṁ sarpaḥ kṣaṇena puruṣo'bhavat

For a moment he became an elephant, for a moment a camel, for a moment a buffalo; for a moment fire, for a moment a serpent, and in an instant a man.

Verse 28 (padma.6.197.28)

वैपरीत्यमिदं दृष्ट्वा गोकर्णो धैर्यसंयुतः । चिंतयामास मेधावी किमेतदिति विस्मितः

vaiparītyamidaṁ dṛṣṭvā gokarṇo dhairyasaṁyutaḥ ciṁtayāmāsa medhāvī kimetaditi vismitaḥ

Seeing this bizarre transformation, Gokarna, filled with courage, wise, wondered, astonished: ‘What is this?’

Verse 29 (padma.6.197.29)

अयं दुर्गतिमापन्नः कोप्यस्ति पुरुषाधमः । इति निश्चित्य मनसा तमुवाच दयान्वितः

ayaṁ durgatimāpannaḥ kopyasti puruṣādhamaḥ iti niścitya manasā tamuvāca dayānvitaḥ

‘This must be some most base man who has fallen into a wretched state’ — having determined this in his mind, he, filled with compassion, spoke to him:

Verse 30 (padma.6.197.30)

गोकर्ण उवाच- कस्त्वमुग्रतरो रात्रौ भीषयन्मामुपागतः । प्रेतो चाथ पिशाचो वा कुतः प्राप्तो दशामिमाम्

gokarṇa uvāca- kastvamugrataro rātrau bhīṣayanmāmupāgataḥ preto cātha piśāco vā kutaḥ prāpto daśāmimām

Gokarna said: ‘Who are you, so terrible, who have come to frighten me in the night? Are you a preta, or a pishacha? Whence have you come to this state?’

Verse 31 (padma.6.197.31)

तद्ब्रूहि त्वं महाभाग किं कार्यं ते मयाधुना । घोररूपो यतो रात्रौ मत्समीपमुपागतः

tadbrūhi tvaṁ mahābhāga kiṁ kāryaṁ te mayādhunā ghorarūpo yato rātrau matsamīpamupāgataḥ

‘Tell me this, O greatly fortunate one — what business do you have with me now, that you, in this terrible form, have come to me at night?’

Verse 32 (padma.6.197.32)

इति श्रुत्वा वचो भ्रातुर्धुंधुकारी महाखलः । प्रेतभावमनुप्राप्तो रुरोद भृशमातुरः

iti śrutvā vaco bhrāturdhuṁdhukārī mahākhalaḥ pretabhāvamanuprāpto ruroda bhṛśamāturaḥ

Hearing his brother's words, that great scoundrel Dhundhukari, having attained the state of a ghost, wept bitterly, in great distress.

Verse 33 (padma.6.197.33)

वक्तुं नैव क्षमो वाचा प्रेतत्वेन विमोहितः । संज्ञया निर्दिदेशाथ जलं पातुं पिपासितः

vaktuṁ naiva kṣamo vācā pretatvena vimohitaḥ saṁjñayā nirdideśātha jalaṁ pātuṁ pipāsitaḥ

Unable to speak, bewildered by his ghostly state, he indicated by a gesture, thirsting, that he wished to drink water.

Verse 34 (padma.6.197.34)

अथासौ सुमहाभागो गोकर्णः साधुसंमतः । स्वकांजलौ जलं कृत्वा प्राक्षिपत्तमुदीरयन्

athāsau sumahābhāgo gokarṇaḥ sādhusaṁmataḥ svakāṁjalau jalaṁ kṛtvā prākṣipattamudīrayan

Then that greatly blessed Gokarna, esteemed by the virtuous, taking water in his own cupped hands, sprinkled it upon him, uttering a mantra.

Verse 35 (padma.6.197.35)

तत्क्षिप्तं तज्जलं भ्रात्रा गोकर्णेन महात्मना । उपस्थितं च तृप्त्यर्थं प्रेतस्य धुंधुकारिणः

tatkṣiptaṁ tajjalaṁ bhrātrā gokarṇena mahātmanā upasthitaṁ ca tṛptyarthaṁ pretasya dhuṁdhukāriṇaḥ

That water, sprinkled by his brother, the great-souled Gokarna, appeared before the preta Dhundhukari for the sake of his satisfaction.

Verse 36 (padma.6.197.36)

अथोवाचागतज्ञानः प्रदत्तेनांबुनामुना । पुण्यात्मनात्मनो भ्रात्रा गोकर्णेन च नारद

athovācāgatajñānaḥ pradattenāṁbunāmunā puṇyātmanātmano bhrātrā gokarṇena ca nārada

Then, his consciousness restored by that water given by his own righteous brother Gokarna, O Narada, he spoke.

Verse 37 (padma.6.197.37)

प्रेत उवाच- अहं भ्राता त्वदीयोऽस्मि धुंधुकारीति नामतः । आत्मनः कर्मदोषेण प्रेतत्वं समुपागतः

preta uvāca- ahaṁ bhrātā tvadīyo'smi dhuṁdhukārīti nāmataḥ ātmanaḥ karmadoṣeṇa pretatvaṁ samupāgataḥ

The preta said: ‘I am your own brother, named Dhundhukari; through the fault of my own deeds, I have come to this state of a ghost.’

Verse 38 (padma.6.197.38)

मम माता मृता दुःखाद्बहुशस्तर्जिता मया । द्रव्यहेतोस्ततः पश्चाद्वारस्त्रीपोषणोत्सुकः

mama mātā mṛtā duḥkhādbahuśastarjitā mayā dravyahetostataḥ paścādvārastrīpoṣaṇotsukaḥ

‘My mother, threatened by me many times, died of sorrow. After that, eager to support courtesans for the sake of wealth—’

Verse 39 (padma.6.197.39)

निषिद्धं कृतवान्कर्म चौर्यादिधनलोभतः । एकदा प्रार्थितस्ताभिर्भूषणान्यंबराण्यहम्

niṣiddhaṁ kṛtavānkarma cauryādidhanalobhataḥ ekadā prārthitastābhirbhūṣaṇānyaṁbarāṇyaham

‘—I did forbidden deeds, driven by greed for money through theft and the like. Once, being entreated by them for ornaments and garments—’

Verse 40 (padma.6.197.40)

धनिकस्य गृहाद्रात्रौ मुषित्वा तान्युपानयम् । ततस्ता धनलोभेन पाशैर्बद्ध्वा गले बलात्

dhanikasya gṛhādrātrau muṣitvā tānyupānayam tatastā dhanalobhena pāśairbaddhvā gale balāt

‘—I stole them at night from a rich man's house and brought them to them. Then, out of greed for wealth, they forcibly bound me by the neck with nooses—’

Verse 41 (padma.6.197.41)

मां तु व्यापादयामासुर्वह्निक्षेपेण मानद । गृहीत्वा मद्धनं भूरि ताः सर्वा भूपतेर्भयात्

māṁ tu vyāpādayāmāsurvahnikṣepeṇa mānada gṛhītvā maddhanaṁ bhūri tāḥ sarvā bhūpaterbhayāt

‘—and killed me by throwing fire into my mouth, O honored one. Having taken all my abundant wealth, all of them, out of fear of the king—’

Verse 42 (padma.6.197.42)

पलायिताः पुरादस्मात्स्वार्थोन्मूलित सौहृदाः । अतः प्रेतत्वमापन्नो भ्रातरद्य त्वयांबुना

palāyitāḥ purādasmātsvārthonmūlita sauhṛdāḥ ataḥ pretatvamāpanno bhrātaradya tvayāṁbunā

‘—fled from this city, their affection uprooted by their own self-interest. Thus I attained the state of a preta; today, brother, by the water given by you—’

Verse 43 (padma.6.197.43)

सिक्तः संज्ञामहं प्राप्तः पुण्येनातिकृपालुना । वाताहारेण जीवामि दैवादिष्टफलोदयः

siktaḥ saṁjñāmahaṁ prāptaḥ puṇyenātikṛpālunā vātāhāreṇa jīvāmi daivādiṣṭaphalodayaḥ

‘—sprinkled, I have regained consciousness, by the merit of your great compassion. I live on air alone, the fruit of what fate has ordained.’

Verse 44 (padma.6.197.44)

अपश्यं त्वामहं सुप्तं भ्रातरं स्वगृहांगणे । ततस्त्वामनभिज्ञं मां धर्षणाय कृतोद्यमः

apaśyaṁ tvāmahaṁ suptaṁ bhrātaraṁ svagṛhāṁgaṇe tatastvāmanabhijñaṁ māṁ dharṣaṇāya kṛtodyamaḥ

‘I saw you, my brother, asleep in the courtyard of our own home; then, not recognizing you, I set about to assault you—’

Verse 45 (padma.6.197.45)

अभवं सहसा साधो ज्ञातश्चाहं त्वयाधुना । दीनबंधो दयासिंधो भ्रातर्मामाशु मोचय

abhavaṁ sahasā sādho jñātaścāhaṁ tvayādhunā dīnabaṁdho dayāsiṁdho bhrātarmāmāśu mocaya

‘—but now, O sadhu, I have suddenly been recognized by you. O friend of the wretched, ocean of compassion, brother, free me quickly—’

Verse 46 (padma.6.197.46)

प्रेतभावादमुष्मात्त्वं कृतार्थोऽसि न संशयः । इति श्रुत्वा वचो भ्रातुर्गोकर्णो ज्ञानवान्सुधीः

pretabhāvādamuṣmāttvaṁ kṛtārtho'si na saṁśayaḥ iti śrutvā vaco bhrāturgokarṇo jñānavānsudhīḥ

‘—from this state of a preta; you are fulfilled, without doubt.’ Hearing his brother's words, Gokarna, wise and full of knowledge—

Verse 47 (padma.6.197.47)

भ्रातरं प्राह खिन्नात्मा दुःखितं धुंधुकारिणम् । गोकर्ण उवाच- तुभ्यं दत्तो मया पिंडो गयायां त्वामहं भृतम्

bhrātaraṁ prāha khinnātmā duḥkhitaṁ dhuṁdhukāriṇam gokarṇa uvāca- tubhyaṁ datto mayā piṁḍo gayāyāṁ tvāmahaṁ bhṛtam

—his mind grieved, spoke to his sorrowful brother Dhundhukari. Gokarna said: ‘I offered the rice-ball for you at Gaya, believing you dead—’

Verse 48 (padma.6.197.48)

श्रुत्वा लोकमुखाद्भ्रातस्त्वं कथं प्रेततां गतः । गयापिंडप्रदानेन दुर्गतोऽपि शुभां गतिम्

śrutvā lokamukhādbhrātastvaṁ kathaṁ pretatāṁ gataḥ gayāpiṁḍapradānena durgato'pi śubhāṁ gatim

‘—having heard from people's mouths, O brother; how then have you become a preta? By the offering of the pinda at Gaya, even one in a wretched state should attain an auspicious destiny—’

Verse 49 (padma.6.197.49)

प्राप्नोति नात्र संदेहस्त्वं कथं न दिवं गतः । भ्रातुरित्थंवचः श्रुत्वा गोकर्णस्य महात्मनः

prāpnoti nātra saṁdehastvaṁ kathaṁ na divaṁ gataḥ bhrāturitthaṁvacaḥ śrutvā gokarṇasya mahātmanaḥ

‘—there is no doubt of this; how then have you not gone to heaven?’ Hearing these words of his great-souled brother Gokarna—

Verse 50 (padma.6.197.50)

धुंधुकारी दुःखितात्मा प्रोवाच पुरतः स्थितः । गयाश्राद्धशतेनापि न मे मुक्तिर्भविष्यति

dhuṁdhukārī duḥkhitātmā provāca purataḥ sthitaḥ gayāśrāddhaśatenāpi na me muktirbhaviṣyati

—Dhundhukari, his soul sorrowful, standing before him, said: ‘Even by a hundred Gaya-shraddhas, no liberation shall come to me.’

Verse 51 (padma.6.197.51)

उपायोऽन्यश्चिंतनीयो ममोद्धाराय वै त्वया । इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य गोकर्णो विस्मयं गतः

upāyo'nyaściṁtanīyo mamoddhārāya vai tvayā iti tadvākyamākarṇya gokarṇo vismayaṁ gataḥ

‘Some other means must be devised by you for my deliverance.’ Hearing these words, Gokarna was filled with astonishment.

Verse 52 (padma.6.197.52)

प्राह श्राद्धैर्न मुक्तिश्चेत्तर्ह्यसाध्या गतिस्तव । इदानीं त्वं निजस्थानमातिष्ठ प्रेत निर्भयः

prāha śrāddhairna muktiścettarhyasādhyā gatistava idānīṁ tvaṁ nijasthānamātiṣṭha preta nirbhayaḥ

He said: ‘If liberation does not come through shraddha rites, then your deliverance is indeed most difficult. For now, go back, O preta, without fear, to your own place—’

Verse 53 (padma.6.197.53)

विचार्याहं करिष्यामि मुक्त्युपायं परं तव । इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य धुंधुकारी ततो गतः

vicāryāhaṁ kariṣyāmi muktyupāyaṁ paraṁ tava iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya dhuṁdhukārī tato gataḥ

‘—having thought it over, I shall devise a supreme means for your liberation.’ Hearing these words, Dhundhukari then departed—

Verse 54 (padma.6.197.54)

निजं स्थानं श्मशानस्थं कलिद्रुममतः परम् । शेषां रात्रिं स गोकर्णश्चिंतयन्नेव नारद

nijaṁ sthānaṁ śmaśānasthaṁ kalidrumamataḥ param śeṣāṁ rātriṁ sa gokarṇaściṁtayanneva nārada

—to his own place, a certain tree in the cremation ground. For the rest of the night, O Narada, Gokarna continued pondering—

Verse 55 (padma.6.197.55)

तस्य मुक्तिं स्थितस्तत्र तदुपायं न चाध्यगात् । प्रातस्ततः स गोकर्णः स्वज्ञाति कुलबांधवान्

tasya muktiṁ sthitastatra tadupāyaṁ na cādhyagāt prātastataḥ sa gokarṇaḥ svajñāti kulabāṁdhavān

—remaining fixed on his brother's liberation, but he did not arrive at the means. Then, in the morning, Gokarna told his own kinsmen and family relatives—

Verse 56 (padma.6.197.56)

धर्मशास्त्रविदोविप्रान्रात्रिवृत्तं न्यवेदयत् । ते विचार्य च तद्वृत्तं शास्त्रेषु बहुशो द्विजाः

dharmaśāstravidoviprānrātrivṛttaṁ nyavedayat te vicārya ca tadvṛttaṁ śāstreṣu bahuśo dvijāḥ

—brahmins learned in the scriptures of dharma, the events of the night. Those brahmins, having deliberated over the matter, searching the scriptures extensively—

Verse 57 (padma.6.197.57)

यदा न ज्ञातवंतस्तद्वृत्तं सूर्यं तदा स्तुवन् । द्विजा ऊचुः- नमस्ते भास्करादित्य तमोहंतर्गभस्तिमन्

yadā na jñātavaṁtastadvṛttaṁ sūryaṁ tadā stuvan dvijā ūcuḥ- namaste bhāskarāditya tamohaṁtargabhastiman

—when they could not determine what should be done, they then praised the sun. The brahmins said: ‘Salutation to you, O Bhaskara, Aditya, destroyer of darkness, radiant one—’

Verse 58 (padma.6.197.58)

लोकसाक्षिन्जगद्धाम सुरासुरनमस्कृत । द्वादशात्मन्हरिहय भास्वन्लोकप्रबोधक

lokasākṣinjagaddhāma surāsuranamaskṛta dvādaśātmanharihaya bhāsvanlokaprabodhaka

‘—witness of all worlds, the very abode of the universe, honored by gods and demons alike, twelve-fold self, whose steeds are the horses of Hari, radiant one, awakener of the worlds—’

Verse 59 (padma.6.197.59)

त्वं गतिः सर्वलोकानां सततं धर्मशीलिनाम् । त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं हरिः शूली सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशकृत्

tvaṁ gatiḥ sarvalokānāṁ satataṁ dharmaśīlinām tvaṁ brahmā tvaṁ hariḥ śūlī sṛṣṭisthitivināśakṛt

‘—you are the refuge of all worlds, ever, for those devoted to dharma. You are Brahma, you are Hari, you are the trident-bearer, the maker of creation, preservation, and destruction—’

Verse 60 (padma.6.197.60)

त्वामृते नास्ति लोकेस्मिञ्छरणं प्राणिनां विभो । शर्वस्त्वं क्षितिरूपोऽसि भवोऽसि जलरूपधृक्

tvāmṛte nāsti lokesmiñcharaṇaṁ prāṇināṁ vibho śarvastvaṁ kṣitirūpo'si bhavo'si jalarūpadhṛk

‘—without you there is no refuge for beings in this world, O mighty one. You are Sharva in the form of earth; you are Bhava, bearing the form of water—’

Verse 61 (padma.6.197.61)

त्वमग्निरुपो रूद्रोसि वायुरस्युग्ररूपधृक् । भीमोस्याकाशदेहस्त्वं यज्वा पशुपतिः स्वयम्

tvamagnirupo rūdrosi vāyurasyugrarūpadhṛk bhīmosyākāśadehastvaṁ yajvā paśupatiḥ svayam

‘—you are Rudra in the form of fire; you are the wind, bearing a fierce form; you are Bhima, whose body is the sky; you yourself are the sacrificer, Pashupati—’

Verse 62 (padma.6.197.62)

महादेवः सोममूर्तिरीशानः सूर्य एव हि । तवाष्टौमूर्त्तयो दिव्या इज्यंते वेदवादिभिः

mahādevaḥ somamūrtirīśānaḥ sūrya eva hi tavāṣṭaumūrttayo divyā ijyaṁte vedavādibhiḥ

‘—Mahadeva, of the form of the moon, Ishana, and the very sun. These eight divine forms of yours are worshipped by those versed in the Vedas—’

Verse 63 (padma.6.197.63)

सर्वकामसमृद्ध्यर्थं व्याप्तलोकत्रयस्य च । मत्स्यस्त्वं वेदधृक् चासि कूर्मश्चाद्रिधरो वरः

sarvakāmasamṛddhyarthaṁ vyāptalokatrayasya ca matsyastvaṁ vedadhṛk cāsi kūrmaścādridharo varaḥ

‘—for the fulfillment of every desire, pervading the three worlds. You are the fish, the bearer of the Vedas; you are the tortoise, the excellent bearer of the mountain—’

Verse 64 (padma.6.197.64)

धराधरो वराहोसि लोकधृक्त्वं त्रिविक्रमः । ब्रह्मध्रुग्घ्नो भार्गवस्त्वं लोकध्रुक्ग्घ्नोसि राघवः

dharādharo varāhosi lokadhṛktvaṁ trivikramaḥ brahmadhrugghno bhārgavastvaṁ lokadhrukgghnosi rāghavaḥ

‘—you are the boar, bearer of the earth; you are Trivikrama, sustainer of the worlds; you are the son of Bhrigu, slayer of those who wrong brahmins; you are Raghava, slayer of those who wrong the world—’

Verse 65 (padma.6.197.65)

भूभारहंता कृष्णोसि बुद्धोस्यसुरमोहकृत् । कल्क्यसि म्लेच्छहंता त्वं धर्मग्लानौ युगेयुगे

bhūbhārahaṁtā kṛṣṇosi buddhosyasuramohakṛt kalkyasi mlecchahaṁtā tvaṁ dharmaglānau yugeyuge

‘—you are Krishna, remover of the earth's burden; you are the Buddha, deluder of demons; you are Kalki, destroyer of barbarians, in age after age when dharma declines—’

Verse 66 (padma.6.197.66)

देवासुरमनुष्याणां पशुपक्ष्यंबुचारिणाम् । नानाविधानं जीवानां त्वं स्रष्टा ब्रह्मरूपधृक्

devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṁ paśupakṣyaṁbucāriṇām nānāvidhānaṁ jīvānāṁ tvaṁ sraṣṭā brahmarūpadhṛk

‘—of gods, demons, and men, of beasts, birds, and creatures that move in water, of all the various kinds of living beings, you are the creator, bearing the form of Brahma—’

Verse 67 (padma.6.197.67)

इंद्रोसि धर्मराजोसि वरुणस्त्वं धनेश्वरः । लोकपालस्वरूपेण वर्त्तसे गोगणेश्वर

iṁdrosi dharmarājosi varuṇastvaṁ dhaneśvaraḥ lokapālasvarūpeṇa varttase gogaṇeśvara

‘—you are Indra, you are the King of Dharma, you are Varuna, you are the Lord of Wealth; in the form of the guardians of the world you abide, O lord of the herds of cattle—’

Verse 68 (padma.6.197.68)

त्रयीमूर्त्तिस्त्रिकालेज्यस्त्रिधामा त्रिगुणात्मकः । त्वमेव पूज्यसे लोकैस्त्रिधा भिन्नो दिवाकरः

trayīmūrttistrikālejyastridhāmā triguṇātmakaḥ tvameva pūjyase lokaistridhā bhinno divākaraḥ

‘—of the form of the three Vedas, worshipped at the three times, of triple abode, of the nature of the three gunas — you alone, though divided threefold, are worshipped by the worlds as the maker of day—’

Verse 69 (padma.6.197.69)

पद्मप्रबोधनकरस्त्वमेवासि जगत्पते । इत्युदीर्य द्विजश्रेष्ठा यावत्तस्थुर्मुनीश्वर

padmaprabodhanakarastvamevāsi jagatpate ityudīrya dvijaśreṣṭhā yāvattasthurmunīśvara

‘—you alone are the one who awakens the lotus, O lord of the universe.’ Having uttered this, O lord of sages, as those foremost brahmins stood there—

Verse 70 (padma.6.197.70)

तावदाकाशगः प्राह स्फुटं तेषां तु शृण्वताम् । श्रीसूर्य उवाच- श्रूयतांभोद्विजश्रेष्ठा यदर्थं वर्णितोस्म्यहम्

tāvadākāśagaḥ prāha sphuṭaṁ teṣāṁ tu śṛṇvatām śrīsūrya uvāca- śrūyatāṁbhodvijaśreṣṭhā yadarthaṁ varṇitosmyaham

—the one moving through the sky spoke clearly, as they listened. Shri Surya said: ‘Listen, O foremost brahmins, to the purpose for which I have been praised.’

Verse 71 (padma.6.197.71)

भवद्भिर्धुंधुलीसूनोर्महापातकशांतये । आत्मदेवस्य पुण्येन गोकर्णो रौहिणो ह्ययम्

bhavadbhirdhuṁdhulīsūnormahāpātakaśāṁtaye ātmadevasya puṇyena gokarṇo rauhiṇo hyayam

‘By you, for the pacification of the great sin of Dhundhuli's son — by the merit of Atmadeva, this Gokarna, born of the cow—’

Verse 72 (padma.6.197.72)

श्रीभागवतसप्ताहस्तस्योद्धर्ता भविष्यति । यद्भवद्भिः कृतं स्तोत्रं मम वैभववर्णनम्

śrībhāgavatasaptāhastasyoddhartā bhaviṣyati yadbhavadbhiḥ kṛtaṁ stotraṁ mama vaibhavavarṇanam

‘—the seven-day recitation of the Shri Bhagavata shall be his deliverer. The hymn you have composed, describing my majesty—’

Verse 73 (padma.6.197.73)

तेन स्तुत्वा नरोविप्रा देवयानं लभिष्यति । पुत्रार्थी च धनार्थी च धर्मार्थी मोक्षकामुकः

tena stutvā naroviprā devayānaṁ labhiṣyati putrārthī ca dhanārthī ca dharmārthī mokṣakāmukaḥ

‘—by praising me with it, a man, O brahmins, shall obtain the path of the gods. One desiring a son, one desiring wealth, one desiring dharma, one desiring liberation—’

Verse 74 (padma.6.197.74)

वांछा चिंतामणिस्तोत्रं पठित्वात्यंतमाप्नुयात् । इत्युक्त्वा भास्करो देवो विरराम दिविस्थितः

vāṁchā ciṁtāmaṇistotraṁ paṭhitvātyaṁtamāpnuyāt ityuktvā bhāskaro devo virarāma divisthitaḥ

‘—by reciting this hymn, which is like a wish-fulfilling gem, shall fully attain his desire.’ Having said this, the god Bhaskara, dwelling in the sky, fell silent.

Verse 75 (padma.6.197.75)

ते द्विजाः साध्विति प्रोचुर्गोकर्णं हृष्टमानसाः । ततः समाजे विप्राणां तुंगभद्रा तटे शुभे

te dvijāḥ sādhviti procurgokarṇaṁ hṛṣṭamānasāḥ tataḥ samāje viprāṇāṁ tuṁgabhadrā taṭe śubhe

Those brahmins, delighted in mind, said ‘Well done!’ to Gokarna. Then, in an assembly of brahmins, on the auspicious bank of the Tungabhadra—

Verse 76 (padma.6.197.76)

कौतुकं सुमहद्द्रष्टुं तत्रागान्नागरीप्रजा । गोकर्णो ज्ञाततत्वार्थो वक्ताध्यासनमास्थितः

kautukaṁ sumahaddraṣṭuṁ tatrāgānnāgarīprajā gokarṇo jñātatatvārtho vaktādhyāsanamāsthitaḥ

—the city's people came to witness that great wonder. Gokarna, having grasped the truth of the matter, took his seat upon the speaker's throne.

Verse 77 (padma.6.197.77)

नारायणादिकान्नत्वा सप्ताहं समवर्त्तयन् । श्रीहरेस्तु वचः शास्त्रं तीर्थपादाब्जसंभवम्

nārāyaṇādikānnatvā saptāhaṁ samavarttayan śrīharestu vacaḥ śāstraṁ tīrthapādābjasaṁbhavam

Bowing to Narayana and the others, he began the seven-day recitation of the scripture — the very word of Shri Hari, arisen from the lotus-feet of the world's holy places.

Verse 78 (padma.6.197.78)

यदि सत्यं तदाप्नोतु धुंधुलीतनयो गतिम् । इति संकल्प्य मनसा श्रीमद्भागवताभिधम्

yadi satyaṁ tadāpnotu dhuṁdhulītanayo gatim iti saṁkalpya manasā śrīmadbhāgavatābhidham

‘If this be true, may Dhundhuli's son attain his destined state’ — resolving thus in his mind, he began the recitation of that scripture called Shrimad Bhagavata—

Verse 79 (padma.6.197.79)

जन्माद्यस्य यतश्चेति धीमह्यंतमुपावदत् । तत्र प्रेतं समागत्य स्थानं पश्यन्नितस्ततः

janmādyasya yataśceti dhīmahyaṁtamupāvadat tatra pretaṁ samāgatya sthānaṁ paśyannitastataḥ

—beginning with the verse ‘from whom this universe's birth...’ and reciting up to its end. There, the preta, having come and looking here and there for a place—

Verse 80 (padma.6.197.80)

सप्तग्रंथियुतं वंशं प्रविष्टो वातरूपधृक् । शृण्वत्सु वैष्णवाग्र्येषु ब्राह्मणेष्वथ नारद

saptagraṁthiyutaṁ vaṁśaṁ praviṣṭo vātarūpadhṛk śṛṇvatsu vaiṣṇavāgryeṣu brāhmaṇeṣvatha nārada

—entered, in the form of the wind, a bamboo cane possessing seven knots. O Narada, as the foremost Vaishnavas and the brahmins listened—

Verse 81 (padma.6.197.81)

शुश्राव धुंधुलीपुत्रो ग्रंथिछिद्रस्थितोऽन्वहम् । यदा कथाविरामोऽभूत्प्रथमेऽहनि नारद

śuśrāva dhuṁdhulīputro graṁthichidrasthito'nvaham yadā kathāvirāmo'bhūtprathame'hani nārada

—Dhundhuli's son listened too, day after day, positioned at a crack in one of the knots. O Narada, when the story paused on the first day—

Verse 82 (padma.6.197.82)

तदैकाकी चकग्रंथिः पुस्फोटात्यद्भुतं ह्यभूत्। द्वितीयादिष्वहःस्वेवमेकैकग्रंथिभेदनम्

tadaikākī cakagraṁthiḥ pusphoṭātyadbhutaṁ hyabhūt dvitīyādiṣvahaḥsvevamekaikagraṁthibhedanam

—one single knot burst open, most wondrously. In the same way, on the second and following days, one knot after another burst open—

Verse 83 (padma.6.197.83)

बभूव सप्तमे भिन्ने स सद्यः प्रेततां जहौ । दिव्यरूपधरो भूत्वा तुलसीदाममंडितः

babhūva saptame bhinne sa sadyaḥ pretatāṁ jahau divyarūpadharo bhūtvā tulasīdāmamaṁḍitaḥ

—and, when the seventh knot burst, he at once abandoned his ghostly state, and, taking on a divine form, adorned with a garland of tulasi—

Verse 84 (padma.6.197.84)

पीतवासा घनश्यामः प्रबभौ भूषणान्वितः । गोकर्णं भ्रातरं नत्वा प्रोवाचाखिल तत्वदृक्

pītavāsā ghanaśyāmaḥ prababhau bhūṣaṇānvitaḥ gokarṇaṁ bhrātaraṁ natvā provācākhila tatvadṛk

—clad in yellow, dark as a rain-cloud, shone forth adorned with ornaments; and, bowing to his brother Gokarna, he, now perceiving the whole truth, said:

Verse 85 (padma.6.197.85)

त्वयाऽहं मोचितो बंधो कृपया प्रेतकश्मलात् । धन्या भागवतीवार्ता प्रेतत्वोन्मूलिनी श्रुता

tvayā'haṁ mocito baṁdho kṛpayā pretakaśmalāt dhanyā bhāgavatīvārtā pretatvonmūlinī śrutā

‘I have been freed, brother, by your grace, from the taint of my ghostly state. Blessed is the Bhagavata's account, which I have heard, uprooting that very state of a preta.’

Verse 86 (padma.6.197.86)

सप्ताहोपि तथा धन्यो विष्णुलोकगतिप्रदः । यत्प्रभावाद्विमुक्तोऽहं प्रेतभावाद्भृशातुरः

saptāhopi tathā dhanyo viṣṇulokagatipradaḥ yatprabhāvādvimukto'haṁ pretabhāvādbhṛśāturaḥ

‘Blessed too is the seven-day recitation, which grants passage to the abode of Vishnu; by its power I, so greatly afflicted, have been freed from my state as a preta.’

Verse 87 (padma.6.197.87)

आर्द्रं शुष्कं लघुस्थूलं वाङ्मनः कर्मभिः कृतम् । पातकं भस्मसात्कुर्यात्सप्ताहोऽग्निरिवेंधनम्

ārdraṁ śuṣkaṁ laghusthūlaṁ vāṅmanaḥ karmabhiḥ kṛtam pātakaṁ bhasmasātkuryātsaptāho'gniriveṁdhanam

‘Sin — whether fresh or old, small or great, committed by word, mind, or deed — the Saptaha reduces it to ash, as fire reduces firewood.’

Verse 88 (padma.6.197.88)

अस्मिन्वै भारते वर्षे देवानामप्यभीप्सिते । शृण्वतां भगवच्छास्त्रं गतिरत्युत्तमा भवेत्

asminvai bhārate varṣe devānāmapyabhīpsite śṛṇvatāṁ bhagavacchāstraṁ gatiratyuttamā bhavet

‘In this very land of Bharata, longed for even by the gods, for those who hear the Lord's scripture, a most supreme destiny comes to be.’

Verse 89 (padma.6.197.89)

स्नाय्वस्थि मज्जा मांसासृक्संघातं देहमुच्यते । शुचि भागवतास्वादादशुचित्वन्यथा मतम्

snāyvasthi majjā māṁsāsṛksaṁghātaṁ dehamucyate śuci bhāgavatāsvādādaśucitvanyathā matam

‘The body, a mass of sinews, bone, marrow, flesh, and blood, is called pure only through the taste of the Bhagavata; otherwise it is held to be impure.’

Verse 90 (padma.6.197.90)

कर्मकश्मलसंदुष्टो देहो नरकभाजनम् । अतो दोषनिवृत्यर्थमेतदेव हि साधनम्

karmakaśmalasaṁduṣṭo deho narakabhājanam ato doṣanivṛtyarthametadeva hi sādhanam

‘A body sullied by the taint of karma is a vessel fit for hell; therefore, for the removal of that fault, this alone is the true means.’

Verse 91 (padma.6.197.91)

बुद्बुदा इव तोयेषु मशका इव जंतुषु । जायंते मरणायैव भगवच्छास्त्रवर्जिताः

budbudā iva toyeṣu maśakā iva jaṁtuṣu jāyaṁte maraṇāyaiva bhagavacchāstravarjitāḥ

‘Like bubbles in water, like gnats among creatures, those devoid of the Lord's scripture are born only to die.’

Verse 92 (padma.6.197.92)

भिद्यते हृदयग्रंथिश्छिद्यंते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयंते चास्य कर्माणि श्रुते भागवते द्विजाः

bhidyate hṛdayagraṁthiśchidyaṁte sarvasaṁśayāḥ kṣīyaṁte cāsya karmāṇi śrute bhāgavate dvijāḥ

‘O brahmins, when the Bhagavata is heard, the knot of the heart is pierced, all doubts are cut away, and one's works are exhausted.’

Verse 93 (padma.6.197.93)

एवं ब्रुवति वै तस्मिन्विमानवरमागतम् । वैकुंठात्तदधिष्ठाय गतोऽसौ विष्णुमंदिरम्

evaṁ bruvati vai tasminvimānavaramāgatam vaikuṁṭhāttadadhiṣṭhāya gato'sau viṣṇumaṁdiram

As he was speaking thus, an excellent celestial chariot arrived from Vaikuntha; mounting it, he went to the temple-abode of Vishnu.

Verse 94 (padma.6.197.94)

विष्णुलोकं गतेतस्मिन्सर्वे विस्मितमानसाः । बभूवुश्चापि पप्रच्छुर्गोकर्णं ते द्विजोत्तमाः

viṣṇulokaṁ gatetasminsarve vismitamānasāḥ babhūvuścāpi papracchurgokarṇaṁ te dvijottamāḥ

When he had thus gone to the world of Vishnu, all present were filled with astonishment, and those foremost brahmins questioned Gokarna:

Verse 95 (padma.6.197.95)

द्विजा ऊचुः । श्रुतं भागवतं सर्वैरस्माभिरिह संगतैः । किं कारणं महाभाग त्वद्भ्रातैको गतो हरिम्

dvijā ūcuḥ śrutaṁ bhāgavataṁ sarvairasmābhiriha saṁgataiḥ kiṁ kāraṇaṁ mahābhāga tvadbhrātaiko gato harim

The brahmins said: ‘The Bhagavata has been heard by all of us assembled here alike; what then, O greatly fortunate one, is the reason that your brother alone has gone to Hari?’

Verse 96 (padma.6.197.96)

गोकर्ण उवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि कारणं भातृसद्गतौ । यच्छ्रुत्वा यूयमेवापि गोलोकं च गमिष्यथ

gokarṇa uvāca- śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi kāraṇaṁ bhātṛsadgatau yacchrutvā yūyamevāpi golokaṁ ca gamiṣyatha

Gokarna said: ‘Listen, I shall tell you the reason for my brother's good destiny; hearing it, you too shall go to Goloka.’

Verse 97 (padma.6.197.97)

सप्ताहश्रवणं कार्यमुपवासपरायणैः । कृष्णैकतानमतिभिर्गोलोक गतिदायकम्

saptāhaśravaṇaṁ kāryamupavāsaparāyaṇaiḥ kṛṣṇaikatānamatibhirgoloka gatidāyakam

‘The seven-day hearing should be undertaken by those devoted to fasting, their minds fixed single-mindedly on Krishna — it bestows the destiny of Goloka.’

Verse 98 (padma.6.197.98)

पुनः शुणुध्वं सप्ताहं श्रीमद्भागवतं द्विजाः । एकाग्रचित्ताः सततं कृष्णप्रेमामृतप्रदम्

punaḥ śuṇudhvaṁ saptāhaṁ śrīmadbhāgavataṁ dvijāḥ ekāgracittāḥ satataṁ kṛṣṇapremāmṛtapradam

‘Hear again, O brahmins, the seven-day recitation of the Shrimad Bhagavata, with single-pointed minds, continually — it bestows the nectar of love for Krishna.’

Verse 99 (padma.6.197.99)

इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य गोकर्णस्य द्विजोत्तमाः । पुनः श्रोतुं भागवतं सप्ताहं समुपावसन्

iti śrutvā vacastasya gokarṇasya dvijottamāḥ punaḥ śrotuṁ bhāgavataṁ saptāhaṁ samupāvasan

Hearing these words of Gokarna, those foremost brahmins settled down again to hear the seven-day recitation of the Bhagavata.

Verse 100 (padma.6.197.100)

कृष्णैकतानमतयो नियमेन च नारद । पुनस्ते शुश्रुवुः सर्वे श्रीमद्भागवतं द्विजाः

kṛṣṇaikatānamatayo niyamena ca nārada punaste śuśruvuḥ sarve śrīmadbhāgavataṁ dvijāḥ

O Narada, with minds fixed single-mindedly on Krishna, and following the proper discipline, all those brahmins heard the Shrimad Bhagavata once more.

Verse 101 (padma.6.197.101)

कथावसाने भगवान्कृष्णः कमललोचनः । आविरासीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठ शंखचक्रगदाब्जधृक्

kathāvasāne bhagavānkṛṣṇaḥ kamalalocanaḥ āvirāsīnmuniśreṣṭha śaṁkhacakragadābjadhṛk

At the conclusion of the story, O best of sages, the lotus-eyed Lord Krishna himself appeared, bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus.

Verse 102 (padma.6.197.102)

किरीटकुंडलधरो वनमाली विभूषितः । पीतवासा घनश्यामः कटकांगदभूषितः

kirīṭakuṁḍaladharo vanamālī vibhūṣitaḥ pītavāsā ghanaśyāmaḥ kaṭakāṁgadabhūṣitaḥ

Wearing crown and earrings, adorned with a forest garland, clad in yellow, dark as a rain-cloud, adorned with bracelets and armlets—

Verse 103 (padma.6.197.103)

तं दृष्ट्वा ते द्विजाः सर्वे विष्वक्सेनादिभिर्युतम् । पार्षदप्रवरैर्हृष्टाः प्रणेमुर्भुवि संगताः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā te dvijāḥ sarve viṣvaksenādibhiryutam pārṣadapravarairhṛṣṭāḥ praṇemurbhuvi saṁgatāḥ

—seeing him, accompanied by Vishvaksena and other foremost attendants, all those brahmins, filled with joy, gathered on the ground and bowed before him.

Verse 104 (padma.6.197.104)

जयशब्दो नमः शब्दस्तदासीत्सर्वतो मुने । अथ शंखध्वनिं चक्रे हरिः संहर्षयन्द्विजान्

jayaśabdo namaḥ śabdastadāsītsarvato mune atha śaṁkhadhvaniṁ cakre hariḥ saṁharṣayandvijān

O sage, cries of ‘Jaya!’ and ‘Namah!’ arose on every side; then Hari sounded his conch, filling the brahmins with joy.

Verse 105 (padma.6.197.105)

तदानेके विमानास्तु वैकुंठात्समुपागताः । द्विजानां पश्यतां तत्र पार्षदप्रवरैर्युताः

tadāneke vimānāstu vaikuṁṭhātsamupāgatāḥ dvijānāṁ paśyatāṁ tatra pārṣadapravarairyutāḥ

Then many celestial chariots arrived from Vaikuntha, accompanied by his foremost attendants, as the brahmins looked on.

Verse 106 (padma.6.197.106)

गोकर्णं तु समालिंग्य ददौ सारूप्यमात्मनः । श्रोतॄनन्यान्घनश्यामान्पीतकौशेयवाससः

gokarṇaṁ tu samāliṁgya dadau sārūpyamātmanaḥ śrotṝnanyānghanaśyāmānpītakauśeyavāsasaḥ

Embracing Gokarna, he gave him his own form; and the other listeners too he made dark as rain-clouds, clad in yellow silken garments—

Verse 107 (padma.6.197.107)

किरीटिनः कुंडलिनो हारिणो वनमालिनः । चकार तत्क्षणात्तत्र महदाश्चर्यमप्यभूत्

kirīṭinaḥ kuṁḍalino hāriṇo vanamālinaḥ cakāra tatkṣaṇāttatra mahadāścaryamapyabhūt

—crowned, wearing earrings, necklaces, and forest garlands, all in that very instant; and there occurred a great wonder.

Verse 108 (padma.6.197.108)

तस्मिन्ग्रामे स्थिता ये तु आचांडालजना मुने । समारुह्य विमानांस्तान्ययुः कृष्णाज्ञया दिवम्

tasmingrāme sthitā ye tu ācāṁḍālajanā mune samāruhya vimānāṁstānyayuḥ kṛṣṇājñayā divam

O sage, all the people dwelling in that village, even down to the outcastes, mounted those celestial chariots and, by Krishna's command, went to heaven.

Verse 109 (padma.6.197.109)

गोकर्णसहितः कृष्णो गोपगोपीजनप्रियः । गोलोकं समनुप्राप्तः सर्वलोकोपरिस्थितम् । यत्र वृंदावनं रम्यं शतशृंगसमावृतम्

gokarṇasahitaḥ kṛṣṇo gopagopījanapriyaḥ golokaṁ samanuprāptaḥ sarvalokoparisthitam yatra vṛṁdāvanaṁ ramyaṁ śataśṛṁgasamāvṛtam

Krishna, together with Gokarna, beloved of the cowherd men and women, arrived at Goloka, situated above all the worlds, where lovely Vrindavana is surrounded by a hundred peaks—

Verse 110 (padma.6.197.110)

तद्बाह्ये परितोवृतं विजययाह्यत्यद्भुतं राजतेऽरण्यं यत्र तु मंडपानि सुबहून्यच्छोदवाप्यो ह्रदाः ।। गावः कामदुघाः सुरद्रुमततिच्छायाश्रिता गोपकैः क्रीडातत्परमानसैः परिवृतो नंदात्मजः क्रीडति

tadbāhye paritovṛtaṁ vijayayāhyatyadbhutaṁ rājate'raṇyaṁ yatra tu maṁḍapāni subahūnyacchodavāpyo hradāḥ gāvaḥ kāmadughāḥ suradrumataticchāyāśritā gopakaiḥ krīḍātatparamānasaiḥ parivṛto naṁdātmajaḥ krīḍati

Outside it, encircled all about by the river Vijaya, a most wondrous forest shines forth, where stand many pavilions, and clear-watered pools and lakes; where wish-granting cows rest in the shade of clustered celestial trees, and, surrounded by cowherd boys given over to play, the son of Nanda sports.

Verse 111 (padma.6.197.111)

मध्ये त्वस्य सुकाननस्य रचितो वृंदावनेशेच्छया रम्यं रत्नसमूहभर्मखचितं प्राकारमुद्भासयन् । न्यग्रोधः सुमहांस्ततः प्रतिदिशं गोपीजनाध्यासितं वत्सालंकृतमद्भुताकृति महच्छ्रीगोकुलं राजते

madhye tvasya sukānanasya racito vṛṁdāvaneśecchayā ramyaṁ ratnasamūhabharmakhacitaṁ prākāramudbhāsayan nyagrodhaḥ sumahāṁstataḥ pratidiśaṁ gopījanādhyāsitaṁ vatsālaṁkṛtamadbhutākṛti mahacchrīgokulaṁ rājate

In the midst of that lovely woodland, fashioned by the will of the Lord of Vrindavana, a beautiful rampart inlaid with clusters of jewels shines forth, illumined by a vast banyan tree; and beyond it, in every direction, the great and glorious Gokula shines forth, of wondrous form, inhabited by the gopis, adorned with calves.

Verse 112 (padma.6.197.112)

तन्मध्ये भवनं हरेरधिकृतं प्रोद्भासते भास्वरं यस्मिन्नंदगृहेश्वरी समुदितास्ते राधया राधिताः । यद्भाग्यं महदप्युमापतिमुखैश्चिंत्यं सदाभ्यंतरैस्तत्सूनोर्मधुराकृतेरधिचकास्त्यंडौघभास्यांशुभिः

tanmadhye bhavanaṁ hareradhikṛtaṁ prodbhāsate bhāsvaraṁ yasminnaṁdagṛheśvarī samuditāste rādhayā rādhitāḥ yadbhāgyaṁ mahadapyumāpatimukhaiściṁtyaṁ sadābhyaṁtaraistatsūnormadhurākṛteradhicakāstyaṁḍaughabhāsyāṁśubhiḥ

In the midst of it, the radiant dwelling of Hari, foremost of all, shines forth, in which the mistress of Nanda's house, together with her joyful companions, sits gladdened by Radha; that great fortune, ever contemplated inwardly even by beings such as Shiva, shines forth all the more, radiant with the rays of that sweetly-formed son.

Verse 113 (padma.6.197.113)

वातांबुपर्णाशनदेहशोषणैस्तपोभिरुग्रैर्जपयज्ञकर्मभिः । असाध्यमप्यायसधेनुसंभवो लोकं न गाहाख्यमखप्रवर्त्तनात्

vātāṁbuparṇāśanadehaśoṣaṇaistapobhirugrairjapayajñakarmabhiḥ asādhyamapyāyasadhenusaṁbhavo lokaṁ na gāhākhyamakhapravarttanāt

That world, unattainable even through fierce austerities that dry the body by a diet of wind, water, and leaves, unattainable through rites of japa and sacrifice, and unattainable even through the performance of the rite born of the gift of an iron cow—

Verse 114 (padma.6.197.114)

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि।। । सोऽपि गोलोकमभ्येति किं श्रीभागवतं पुनः

itihāsamimaṁ puṇyaṁ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādapi so'pi golokamabhyeti kiṁ śrībhāgavataṁ punaḥ

—whoever reads or even merely hears this sacred history attains that Goloka nonetheless; what then to say of the Shrimad Bhagavata itself!