The Glory of the Kalindi: Indra's Sacrifice

Verse 1 (padma.6.199.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः- कालिंद्याश्चैव माहात्म्यं वद सूत सविस्तरम् । यस्मै प्रकाशितं येन तदाख्यानसमन्वितम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- kāliṁdyāścaiva māhātmyaṁ vada sūta savistaram yasmai prakāśitaṁ yena tadākhyānasamanvitam

The sages said: Tell us, O Suta, in full detail, the glory of the Kalindi — to whom it was revealed, and by whom, together with that account.

Verse 2 (padma.6.199.2)

सूत उवाच- एकदा पांडुतनयः शुश्रूषुः सौभरेः शुभम् । ज्ञानं तत्स्थानमभ्येत्य नत्वा तमिति पृष्टवान्

sūta uvāca- ekadā pāṁḍutanayaḥ śuśrūṣuḥ saubhareḥ śubham jñānaṁ tatsthānamabhyetya natvā tamiti pṛṣṭavān

Suta said: Once, the son of Pandu, desiring to hear the auspicious knowledge of Saubhari, came to that place, and, bowing to him, asked him thus.

Verse 3 (padma.6.199.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच- ब्रह्मन्मार्तंडतनया तीर तीर्थेषु यच्छुभम् । तीर्थं तद्वद वैकुंठ जन्मभूमिपरात्परम्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca- brahmanmārtaṁḍatanayā tīra tīrtheṣu yacchubham tīrthaṁ tadvada vaikuṁṭha janmabhūmiparātparam

Yudhishthira said: O brahmin, tell me of that auspicious tirtha on the bank of the daughter of the Sun, among all the tirthas — that supreme birthplace of Vaikuntha, higher than the highest.

Verse 4 (padma.6.199.4)

सौभरिरुवाच- एकदा तु मुनिश्रेष्ठौ दिवि नारदपर्वतौ । गच्छंतौ खांडवं पश्यन्पश्यतः सुमनोहरम्

saubhariruvāca- ekadā tu muniśreṣṭhau divi nāradaparvatau gacchaṁtau khāṁḍavaṁ paśyanpaśyataḥ sumanoharam

Saubhari said: Once, those two foremost sages, Narada and Parvata, traveling through the sky, saw the most enchanting Khandava forest as they looked down.

Verse 5 (padma.6.199.5)

तत्रावतीर्णो नभस उपविष्टौ तटे शुभे । कालिंद्याः क्षणविश्रांतौ स्नातुं विविशतुर्जले

tatrāvatīrṇo nabhasa upaviṣṭau taṭe śubhe kāliṁdyāḥ kṣaṇaviśrāṁtau snātuṁ viviśaturjale

Descending there from the sky, they sat upon the auspicious bank of the Kalindi; resting a moment, they then entered the water to bathe.

Verse 6 (padma.6.199.6)

शिबिरौशीनरो राजा मृगयांतौ चरन्वने । दृष्ट्वा तान्निर्गमापेक्षी निषसाद सरित्तटे

śibirauśīnaro rājā mṛgayāṁtau caranvane dṛṣṭvā tānnirgamāpekṣī niṣasāda sarittaṭe

King Shibi of Ushinara, hunting there in the forest, saw them and, awaiting their emergence, sat down on the bank of the river.

Verse 7 (padma.6.199.7)

तौ मुनी विधिवत्स्नात्वा परिधायांबराणि च । वंदितौ शिरसा राज्ञा तेनोपाविशतां तटे

tau munī vidhivatsnātvā paridhāyāṁbarāṇi ca vaṁditau śirasā rājñā tenopāviśatāṁ taṭe

Those two sages, having duly bathed and put on their garments, were honored with a bow of the head by the king, and sat down on the bank with him.

Verse 8 (padma.6.199.8)

तत्रालोक्य सुवर्णस्य शिबिर्यूपान्सहस्रशः । नारदं गर्वरहितः पर्वतं च जगाद सः

tatrālokya suvarṇasya śibiryūpānsahasraśaḥ nāradaṁ garvarahitaḥ parvataṁ ca jagāda saḥ

There, seeing thousands of golden sacrificial posts, Shibi, free of pride, spoke to Narada and Parvata.

Verse 9 (padma.6.199.9)

शिबिरुवाच- कथ्यतां मुनिशार्दूलौ कस्येमा यागयष्टयः । केनात्र विहितो यज्ञः सुरेणाथ नरेण वा

śibiruvāca- kathyatāṁ muniśārdūlau kasyemā yāgayaṣṭayaḥ kenātra vihito yajñaḥ sureṇātha nareṇa vā

Shibi said: ‘Tell me, O tigers among sages, whose are these sacrificial posts? By whom was this sacrifice performed here, by a god or by a man?’

Verse 10 (padma.6.199.10)

मुक्त्वा काश्यादितीर्थानि यज्ञैरीज्येऽत्र कः पुमान् । को विशेषोऽत्र तीर्थेभ्यस्तेभ्यो विज्ञानसन्निधिः

muktvā kāśyāditīrthāni yajñairījye'tra kaḥ pumān ko viśeṣo'tra tīrthebhyastebhyo vijñānasannidhiḥ

‘Leaving aside Kashi and the other tirthas, what man is worshipped here with sacrifices? What special quality does this place have over those other tirthas, that brings the presence of true knowledge?’

Verse 11 (padma.6.199.11)

नारद उवाच- पुरा हिरण्यकशिपुर्जित्वा शक्रादिदेवताः । त्रैलोक्यराज्यमासाद्य सो खर्वं गर्वमाददे

nārada uvāca- purā hiraṇyakaśipurjitvā śakrādidevatāḥ trailokyarājyamāsādya so kharvaṁ garvamādade

Narada said: ‘Formerly, Hiranyakashipu, having conquered Indra and the other gods, and having obtained the sovereignty of the three worlds, took on boundless pride.’

Verse 12 (padma.6.199.12)

प्रह्लादस्तस्य तनयो नारायणपरायणः । तस्मै सो द्रुह्यताभीक्ष्णं पापात्मा नष्टमंगलः

prahlādastasya tanayo nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaḥ tasmai so druhyatābhīkṣṇaṁ pāpātmā naṣṭamaṁgalaḥ

‘His son Prahlada was devoted wholly to Narayana; that sinful, ill-fated father constantly sought to do him harm.’

Verse 13 (padma.6.199.13)

तद्द्रोहाद्विष्णुना सद्यो नृसिंहतनुधारिणा । हत्वा दैत्यपतिं स्वर्गराज्यं स्वःपतयेऽर्पितम्

taddrohādviṣṇunā sadyo nṛsiṁhatanudhāriṇā hatvā daityapatiṁ svargarājyaṁ svaḥpataye'rpitam

‘On account of that violence, Vishnu, taking on the form of Narasimha, at once slew the lord of the demons, and restored the sovereignty of heaven to the lord of heaven.’

Verse 14 (padma.6.199.14)

स्वपदं प्राप्य देवेशो बृहस्पतिमथावदत् । मूर्ध्नाभिवंद्य तत्पादौ नारायणगुणान्स्मरन्

svapadaṁ prāpya deveśo bṛhaspatimathāvadat mūrdhnābhivaṁdya tatpādau nārāyaṇaguṇānsmaran

‘Having regained his own position, the lord of the gods, bowing his head to Brihaspati's feet, remembering the virtues of Narayana, spoke to him.’

Verse 15 (padma.6.199.15)

इंद्र उवाच- गुरो नृसिंहरूपेण हरिणा लोकधारिणा । दत्तं मे देवताराज्यं यष्टुमिच्छामि तं मखैः

iṁdra uvāca- guro nṛsiṁharūpeṇa hariṇā lokadhāriṇā dattaṁ me devatārājyaṁ yaṣṭumicchāmi taṁ makhaiḥ

Indra said: ‘O guru, my sovereignty over the gods has been restored by Hari, sustainer of the worlds, in the form of Narasimha; I wish to worship him with sacrifices.’

Verse 16 (padma.6.199.16)

स्थानं पवित्रं कथय ब्राह्मणांश्चैव मे गुरो । न विधेयो विलंबोऽत्र त्वया नो हितकारिणा

sthānaṁ pavitraṁ kathaya brāhmaṇāṁścaiva me guro na vidheyo vilaṁbo'tra tvayā no hitakāriṇā

‘Tell me of a sacred place, and of brahmins as well, O guru; you, who work for our welfare, should not delay in this.’

Verse 17 (padma.6.199.17)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच- अस्ति ते खांडववनं रम्यं परमपावनम् । केतक्यशोकबकुलमधुमत्त मधुव्रतम्

bṛhaspatiruvāca- asti te khāṁḍavavanaṁ ramyaṁ paramapāvanam ketakyaśokabakulamadhumatta madhuvratam

Brihaspati said: ‘There is your Khandava forest, lovely and supremely sacred, filled with the ketaki, ashoka, and bakula trees, its bees intoxicated with honey.’

Verse 18 (padma.6.199.18)

तत्रास्ति यमुना पुण्या धन्या त्रैलोक्यपावनी । ददाति स्मरणे स्वर्गं मरणे ब्रह्मणः पदम्

tatrāsti yamunā puṇyā dhanyā trailokyapāvanī dadāti smaraṇe svargaṁ maraṇe brahmaṇaḥ padam

‘There is the sacred, blessed Yamuna, purifier of the three worlds; she grants heaven at mere remembrance, and the state of Brahma at death.’

Verse 19 (padma.6.199.19)

तत्तीरे यज देवेश केशवं बहुभिर्मखैः । यदीच्छसि स्वकीयानां कल्याणं त्वं निरंतरम्

tattīre yaja deveśa keśavaṁ bahubhirmakhaiḥ yadīcchasi svakīyānāṁ kalyāṇaṁ tvaṁ niraṁtaram

‘On her bank, O lord of gods, worship Keshava with many sacrifices, if you desire the constant welfare of your own people.’

Verse 20 (padma.6.199.20)

नारद उवाच- गुरोर्वचनमाकर्ण्य तूर्णमारुह्य वाहनम् । शिवप्रदमिमं शक्रः स्वकीयवनमागमत्

nārada uvāca- gurorvacanamākarṇya tūrṇamāruhya vāhanam śivapradamimaṁ śakraḥ svakīyavanamāgamat

Narada said: Hearing the guru's words, Shakra at once mounted his vehicle and came to this very forest of his own, which bestows well-being.

Verse 21 (padma.6.199.21)

गुरुणा सह देवैश्च यज्ञोपकरणैस्तथा । अत्रागत्य विलोक्यैतद्वनं लेभे मुदं पराम्

guruṇā saha devaiśca yajñopakaraṇaistathā atrāgatya vilokyaitadvanaṁ lebhe mudaṁ parām

Coming here together with his guru, the gods, and the implements for sacrifice, and beholding this forest, he attained the highest joy.

Verse 22 (padma.6.199.22)

गुरुणा नोदितः शक्रो सप्तर्षीन्ब्रह्मणः सुतान् । वसिष्ठादीन्द्विजान्वृत्वा यजति स्म जगत्पतिम्

guruṇā noditaḥ śakro saptarṣīnbrahmaṇaḥ sutān vasiṣṭhādīndvijānvṛtvā yajati sma jagatpatim

Urged on by his guru, Shakra, having chosen the seven sages, sons of Brahma, Vasishtha and the other brahmins, worshipped the lord of the universe.

Verse 23 (padma.6.199.23)

तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान्ब्रह्मेशाभ्यां सहागतः । क्रतौ शतक्रतोर्यत्र महानभवदुत्सवः

tasya prasanno bhagavānbrahmeśābhyāṁ sahāgataḥ kratau śatakratoryatra mahānabhavadutsavaḥ

Pleased with him, the Blessed Lord came, together with Brahma and Ishvara, to that sacrifice of Shatakratu, where a great celebration took place.

Verse 24 (padma.6.199.24)

देवत्रयीं सतां वीक्ष्य शक्रो वक्रमतिस्तदा । उत्थायासनतस्तूर्णं ववंदे मुनिभिः सह

devatrayīṁ satāṁ vīkṣya śakro vakramatistadā utthāyāsanatastūrṇaṁ vavaṁde munibhiḥ saha

Seeing the triad of gods present there, Shakra, his mind humbled, then rose at once from his seat and bowed, together with the sages.

Verse 25 (padma.6.199.25)

वाहनेभ्योऽवरुह्याशु तदंतेषूपविश्य ते । आसनेषु सुहैमेषु बभुर्वेदीष्विवाग्नयः

vāhanebhyo'varuhyāśu tadaṁteṣūpaviśya te āsaneṣu suhaimeṣu babhurvedīṣvivāgnayaḥ

Quickly descending from their vehicles, they sat down close by, upon golden seats, shining like fires upon their altars.

Verse 26 (padma.6.199.26)

सितरक्तांगयोः शंभु ब्रह्मणोर्हरिराबभौ । नीलच्छविः पीतवासास्तडित्वानिव शृंगयोः

sitaraktāṁgayoḥ śaṁbhu brahmaṇorharirābabhau nīlacchaviḥ pītavāsāstaḍitvāniva śṛṁgayoḥ

Between the white-limbed Shiva and the red-limbed Brahma, Hari, dark of hue and clad in yellow, shone forth like a streak of lightning between two peaks.

Verse 27 (padma.6.199.27)

शक्रः प्रक्षाल्य तत्पादान्मूर्ध्ना तज्जलमादधे । अब्रवीच्च मुदायुक्तो वचनं मधुराक्षरम्

śakraḥ prakṣālya tatpādānmūrdhnā tajjalamādadhe abravīcca mudāyukto vacanaṁ madhurākṣaram

Shakra, having washed his feet, placed that water upon his own head, and, filled with joy, spoke sweet words:

Verse 28 (padma.6.199.28)

इंद्र उवाच-। विहितोऽयं मया देव यज्ञोऽद्य सफलोऽभवत्

iṁdra uvāca- vihito'yaṁ mayā deva yajño'dya saphalo'bhavat

Indra said: ‘O Lord, this sacrifice performed by me has today become fruitful.’

Verse 29 (padma.6.199.29)

यद्ययं दर्शनं प्राप्ता दुर्लक्ष्या अपि योगिभिः। एकेनैव त्वया विष्णो कृता मूर्तिस्त्रयीमयी

yadyayaṁ darśanaṁ prāptā durlakṣyā api yogibhiḥ ekenaiva tvayā viṣṇo kṛtā mūrtistrayīmayī

‘In that I have obtained the sight of you, so hard to perceive even for yogis. By you alone, O Vishnu, has been made this threefold form—’

Verse 30 (padma.6.199.30)

गुणैस्तथापि नानात्वं स्फटिकस्येव ते मृषा । यथा दारुषु गूढोऽग्निर्घर्षणेन विना विभो

guṇaistathāpi nānātvaṁ sphaṭikasyeva te mṛṣā yathā dāruṣu gūḍho'gnirgharṣaṇena vinā vibho

‘—yet the apparent multiplicity through gunas is as illusory as that of a crystal. Just as fire, hidden in wood, does not manifest without friction—’

Verse 31 (padma.6.199.31)

नाविर्भवति भूतानां हृत्सु भक्त्या तथा भवान् । एकस्य त्वयि भक्तिः स्यात्सर्वभूतोपकारिणी

nāvirbhavati bhūtānāṁ hṛtsu bhaktyā tathā bhavān ekasya tvayi bhaktiḥ syātsarvabhūtopakāriṇī

‘—so you do not manifest in the hearts of beings except through devotion. Devotion to you on the part of even one being becomes a benefit to all beings.’

Verse 32 (padma.6.199.32)

बभूवुः सुखिनो देवाः प्रह्लादकृतया तया। वयं विषयिणो देव त्वन्मायावृतचेतसः

babhūvuḥ sukhino devāḥ prahlādakṛtayā tayā vayaṁ viṣayiṇo deva tvanmāyāvṛtacetasaḥ

‘The gods became happy through that devotion which Prahlada practiced. We, O Lord, are given over to sense-objects, our minds veiled by your Maya—’

Verse 33 (padma.6.199.33)

न जानीमः स्वरूपं ते यथावत्पादसेवकाः । भो ब्रह्मन्भो महादेव युवामपि जगद्गुरू

na jānīmaḥ svarūpaṁ te yathāvatpādasevakāḥ bho brahmanbho mahādeva yuvāmapi jagadgurū

‘—and, though servants at your feet, we do not know your true nature as it is. O Brahma, O Mahadeva, you two also, as teachers of the world—’

Verse 34 (padma.6.199.34)

एतस्यैव गुरुत्वेन यतो नातः पृथक्युवाम् । यत्किंचिदुच्यते वाचा मनसा च विचिंत्यते । अस्यैव माया तत्सर्वे तद्द्वयीदूरवर्त्तिनः

etasyaiva gurutvena yato nātaḥ pṛthakyuvām yatkiṁciducyate vācā manasā ca viciṁtyate asyaiva māyā tatsarve taddvayīdūravarttinaḥ

‘—act as teachers only through his very own teacherhood, since you two are not separate from him. Whatever is spoken by voice or conceived in mind — all of that is his Maya alone, while the pair of you, in your ultimate nature, stand far removed from it.’

Verse 35 (padma.6.199.35)

प्रपंचजातं यदिदं विलोक्य तेन सत्यमित्येव विचिंतयेन्न सः । भजंति विष्णोश्चरणं तरंति ते यदंबुमूर्ध्ना हर धार्यते त्वया

prapaṁcajātaṁ yadidaṁ vilokya tena satyamityeva viciṁtayenna saḥ bhajaṁti viṣṇoścaraṇaṁ taraṁti te yadaṁbumūrdhnā hara dhāryate tvayā

‘One who, beholding this manifest universe, does not think of it as ultimately real, worships the feet of Vishnu; such people cross over the ocean of existence — the very water of whose feet, O Hara, is borne by you upon your head.’

Verse 36 (padma.6.199.36)

विधेस्य भूयादनुजन्मपादयो रतिर्मदीया कमलाभयोर्भृशम् । यदीक्षण क्षोभितया तया जगत्समस्तमेतन्महदादि जायते

vidhesya bhūyādanujanmapādayo ratirmadīyā kamalābhayorbhṛśam yadīkṣaṇa kṣobhitayā tayā jagatsamastametanmahadādi jāyate

‘May my devotion be, birth after birth, intensely fixed upon the two lotus-like feet of this creator; by whose glance, and by the primal nature agitated by it, this entire universe, beginning with the Great Principle, comes into being.’

Verse 37 (padma.6.199.37)

भवादृशो नास्ति कृपापरोपरो विपक्षपक्षे वितनोषि यत्सुखम् । स्वलोकशोकापनये कृपालुता यदुच्यते ते नृहरे तदज्ञता

bhavādṛśo nāsti kṛpāparoparo vipakṣapakṣe vitanoṣi yatsukham svalokaśokāpanaye kṛpālutā yaducyate te nṛhare tadajñatā

‘There is none more supremely compassionate than one such as you, who extend happiness even to the party opposed to you. O Man-Lion, that which is called your compassion — shown merely in removing the sorrow of your own worlds — is, in comparison, but a small ignorance of your true, far greater compassion.’

Verse 38 (padma.6.199.38)

नारद उवाच- इत्यभिष्टूय देवेशं केशवं प्रणतोऽग्रतः । तस्थौ तद्वाक्यशुश्रुषा दत्तचित्तो महीयते

nārada uvāca- ityabhiṣṭūya deveśaṁ keśavaṁ praṇato'grataḥ tasthau tadvākyaśuśruṣā dattacitto mahīyate

Narada said: Having thus praised the lord of gods, Keshava, and bowed before him, he stood, his mind given over to listening for his words, and was honored.

Verse 39 (padma.6.199.39)

एवमाकर्ण्य मुनय स्तुतिं तस्य रमापतेः । कृतामिंद्रेण सदसि साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्

evamākarṇya munaya stutiṁ tasya ramāpateḥ kṛtāmiṁdreṇa sadasi sādhusādhviti cābruvan

Hearing thus this hymn of praise to the Lord of Rama, offered by Indra in the assembly, the sages said, ‘Well done, well done!’

Verse 40 (padma.6.199.40)

शतमन्यो वर्षशतं ये कुर्वंति महत्तपः । न तेषामीदृशी भक्तिर्यादृशी तव माधवे

śatamanyo varṣaśataṁ ye kurvaṁti mahattapaḥ na teṣāmīdṛśī bhaktiryādṛśī tava mādhave

‘O Shatamanyu, those who perform great austerities for a hundred years do not have such devotion to Madhava as yours.’

Verse 41 (padma.6.199.41)

न योगः सुलभोष्टांगः ख्यातिर्येनाधिगम्यते । समत्वेन च तत्त्यागस्तद्भक्तिः शरणं नृणाम्

na yogaḥ sulabhoṣṭāṁgaḥ khyātiryenādhigamyate samatvena ca tattyāgastadbhaktiḥ śaraṇaṁ nṛṇām

‘Nor is the eight-limbed yoga easily attained, by which discriminative knowledge is reached, together with the renunciation of it through equanimity; devotion is the true refuge for men.’

Verse 42 (padma.6.199.42)

स्वधर्मार्जितवित्तैर्यद्यथा विधि विधीयते । कर्मतस्यार्पणं विष्णौ भक्तिरेषा शिवप्रदाः

svadharmārjitavittairyadyathā vidhi vidhīyate karmatasyārpaṇaṁ viṣṇau bhaktireṣā śivapradāḥ

‘Whatever is duly performed with wealth earned through one's own dharma, the offering of the fruit of that action to Vishnu — this is devotion, the giver of auspiciousness.’

Verse 43 (padma.6.199.43)

न निंदेद्देवतामन्यां विष्णुबुद्ध्यां च यो नमेत् । न त्यजेद्वेदवाक्यानि स भक्तोऽस्य हरेः प्रियः

na niṁdeddevatāmanyāṁ viṣṇubuddhyāṁ ca yo namet na tyajedvedavākyāni sa bhakto'sya hareḥ priyaḥ

‘One who does not revile any other deity, who bows to them with the understanding that they too are Vishnu, and who does not abandon the words of the Vedas — he is a devotee, dear to Hari.’

Verse 44 (padma.6.199.44)

ये शृण्वंति हरेर्गुणानहरहः कुर्वंति ये कीर्तनं ये चास्य स्मरणं यदोश्च भजनं येऽमुं यजंते तथा

ye śṛṇvaṁti harerguṇānaharahaḥ kurvaṁti ye kīrtanaṁ ye cāsya smaraṇaṁ yadośca bhajanaṁ ye'muṁ yajaṁte tathā

‘Those who hear the virtues of Hari day after day, those who perform his kirtan, those who remember him, those who serve the descendant of Yadu, those who worship him—’

Verse 45 (padma.6.199.45)

ये दास्येन नमंति चैनममुना कुर्वंति ये मित्रतां ये च स्वं च निवेदयंति नहि ते वांच्छंति मुक्त्यादिकम्

ye dāsyena namaṁti cainamamunā kurvaṁti ye mitratāṁ ye ca svaṁ ca nivedayaṁti nahi te vāṁcchaṁti muktyādikam

‘—those who bow to him in the spirit of servanthood, those who form friendship with him, and those who offer up their very selves to him — such people do not even desire liberation and the like.’

Verse 46 (padma.6.199.46)

इंद्र भक्त्या त्वमप्येनमाराधय जगद्गुरुम् । न कामये किमप्यास्मत्कृतकृत्यो भविष्यति

iṁdra bhaktyā tvamapyenamārādhaya jagadgurum na kāmaye kimapyāsmatkṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyati

‘O Indra, you too should worship this teacher of the universe with devotion; I desire nothing else — through this you shall become fulfilled.’

Verse 47 (padma.6.199.47)

नारद उवाच- मुनिभिरिति शिक्षिते समस्तसेव्यां त्रिभुवनपारपदप्रदां निशम्य । हरिरनिशगुरुः कृतां स्वभक्तिं मधुरमुवाच वचो हरिं समाजे

nārada uvāca- munibhiriti śikṣite samastasevyāṁ tribhuvanapārapadapradāṁ niśamya hariraniśaguruḥ kṛtāṁ svabhaktiṁ madhuramuvāca vaco hariṁ samāje

Narada said: Thus instructed by the sages, and having heard of this devotion offered to himself — worthy of service by all, granting the state beyond the three worlds — Hari, the eternal teacher, spoke sweet words to that assembly.