The Rakshasa's Redemption

Verse 1 (padma.6.204.1)

शिवशर्मोवाच- विष्णुशर्मंस्ततो वैश्यः शरभः सह भार्यया । नीत्वा पूजोपकरणं ययौ श्रीचंडिकालयम्

śivaśarmovāca- viṣṇuśarmaṁstato vaiśyaḥ śarabhaḥ saha bhāryayā nītvā pūjopakaraṇaṁ yayau śrīcaṁḍikālayam

Shivasharma said: O Vishnusharma, then the merchant Sharabha, together with his wife, taking the materials for worship, went to the temple of Shri Chandika.

Verse 2 (padma.6.204.2)

तत्र तौविधिवत्स्नात्वा सुमनो धूपदीपकैः । आनर्चतुर्भक्तियुक्तौ चंडिकां पुत्रकाम्यया

tatra tauvidhivatsnātvā sumano dhūpadīpakaiḥ ānarcaturbhaktiyuktau caṁḍikāṁ putrakāmyayā

There, having duly bathed, the two of them, filled with devotion, worshipped Chandika with flowers, incense, and lamps, desiring a son.

Verse 3 (padma.6.204.3)

श्रद्धया पूजिता ताभ्यां दिनैः सप्तभिरंबिका । उवाच वाचा प्रत्यक्षं भूत्वा विशदमानसा

śraddhayā pūjitā tābhyāṁ dinaiḥ saptabhiraṁbikā uvāca vācā pratyakṣaṁ bhūtvā viśadamānasā

Worshipped by them with faith for seven days, Ambika, her mind gracious, appeared visibly and spoke aloud.

Verse 4 (padma.6.204.4)

पार्वत्युवाच- भो भो वैश्य प्रसन्नास्मि भक्त्या सुदृढया तव । ददामि पुत्रं ते साधो यदर्थे यत्नवानसि

pārvatyuvāca- bho bho vaiśya prasannāsmi bhaktyā sudṛḍhayā tava dadāmi putraṁ te sādho yadarthe yatnavānasi

Parvati said: ‘O merchant, I am pleased by your steadfast devotion. O good man, I grant you the son for whose sake you have made this effort.’

Verse 5 (padma.6.204.5)

गच्छ त्वं मा विलंबस्व वनमैद्रं च खांडवम् । तत्र तीर्थं महापुण्यमिंद्रप्रस्थाख्यमुत्तमम्

gaccha tvaṁ mā vilaṁbasva vanamaidraṁ ca khāṁḍavam tatra tīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyamiṁdraprasthākhyamuttamam

‘Go, without delay, to Indra's Khandava forest; there is an excellent, greatly sacred tirtha there, named Indraprastha.’

Verse 6 (padma.6.204.6)

निगमोद्बोधकं तत्र तीर्थं निखिलकामदम् । बृहस्पतिकृतं तत्र स्नाहि त्वं सुतवांछया

nigamodbodhakaṁ tatra tīrthaṁ nikhilakāmadam bṛhaspatikṛtaṁ tatra snāhi tvaṁ sutavāṁchayā

‘There is the tirtha named Nigamodbodhaka there, which grants every desire, made by Brihaspati; bathe there, desiring a son.’

Verse 7 (padma.6.204.7)

भविष्यति सुतस्तात तव स्नानेन तत्र हि । तत्र स्नात्वा मयाप्यंग लब्धः स्कंदः सुरारिहा

bhaviṣyati sutastāta tava snānena tatra hi tatra snātvā mayāpyaṁga labdhaḥ skaṁdaḥ surārihā

‘A son shall be born to you, my child, through bathing there; for there, by bathing myself, I too obtained Skanda, slayer of the gods' enemies.’

Verse 8 (padma.6.204.8)

शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचो देव्याः पिता मम सहस्त्रिया । अत्राजगाम सत्तीर्थे सस्नौ च सुतवांछया

śivaśarmovāca- ityākarṇya vaco devyāḥ pitā mama sahastriyā atrājagāma sattīrthe sasnau ca sutavāṁchayā

Shivasharma said: Hearing the goddess's words, my father, together with his wife, came here to this excellent tirtha, and bathed, desiring a son.

Verse 9 (padma.6.204.9)

उपस्करवतीर्धेनूर्द्विजेभ्यः प्रददौ शतम् । देवान्पितॄंश्च संतर्प्य यथाविध्यत्र बुद्धिमान्

upaskaravatīrdhenūrdvijebhyaḥ pradadau śatam devānpitṝṁśca saṁtarpya yathāvidhyatra buddhimān

He gave a hundred cows, each with their calf and equipment, to the brahmins; that wise man duly propitiated the gods and ancestors there.

Verse 10 (padma.6.204.10)

सप्तरात्रमुषित्वा तु दंपती यतमानसौ । जग्मतुः स्वगृहानिष्टलाभोत्फुल्लमुखांबुजौ

saptarātramuṣitvā tu daṁpatī yatamānasau jagmatuḥ svagṛhāniṣṭalābhotphullamukhāṁbujau

Having stayed there seven nights, that disciplined couple went to their own home, their lotus-faces blossomed with joy at attaining their desire.

Verse 11 (padma.6.204.11)

तस्मिन्नेवाभवद्गर्भो मासि मातुर्ममान्वहम् । व्यतीते नवमे मासि जातोऽहं दशमे शुभे

tasminnevābhavadgarbho māsi māturmamānvaham vyatīte navame māsi jāto'haṁ daśame śubhe

In that very month, my mother conceived, day by day; when the ninth month had passed, I was born in the auspicious tenth.

Verse 12 (padma.6.204.12)

विष्णुशर्मन्यदुक्तं ते पुरावृत्तमिदं मया । दशाब्दद्वयमेवैतच्छ्रुतं सर्वं पितुर्मुखात्

viṣṇuśarmanyaduktaṁ te purāvṛttamidaṁ mayā daśābdadvayamevaitacchrutaṁ sarvaṁ piturmukhāt

O Vishnusharma, this ancient account which I have told you — all of this I heard from my father's own mouth by the time I was twenty years old.

Verse 13 (padma.6.204.13)

एकदा क्षममालोक्य गृहकर्मणि मां पिता । गृहं मामर्पयामास विश्वाद्वैराग्यमाप्नुवन्

ekadā kṣamamālokya gṛhakarmaṇi māṁ pitā gṛhaṁ māmarpayāmāsa viśvādvairāgyamāpnuvan

Once, seeing me capable in household affairs, my father, attaining dispassion for the world, entrusted the household to me.

Verse 14 (padma.6.204.14)

मां चोवाच स धर्मात्मा गोविंदासक्तमानसः । विनिंदन्विषयासक्तिं विष्णुभक्तिं स्तुवन्मुहुः

māṁ covāca sa dharmātmā goviṁdāsaktamānasaḥ viniṁdanviṣayāsaktiṁ viṣṇubhaktiṁ stuvanmuhuḥ

That righteous man, his mind attached to Govinda, spoke to me, condemning attachment to sense-objects and repeatedly praising devotion to Vishnu:

Verse 15 (padma.6.204.15)

पितोवाच- सुमते वार्द्धकं प्राप्तं पलिताश्चिकुरा मम । गोविंदचरणांभोजं सेविष्ये साधुसेवितम्

pitovāca- sumate vārddhakaṁ prāptaṁ palitāścikurā mama goviṁdacaraṇāṁbhojaṁ seviṣye sādhusevitam

My father said: ‘O wise son, old age has come upon me, my hair has grown grey; I shall serve the lotus feet of Govinda, served by the virtuous.’

Verse 16 (padma.6.204.16)

तत्सैवया भवेत्स्वच्छं मनो यस्य च सुस्थिरम् । स पुमानात्मसंतुष्टो न किंचिदभिवांछति

tatsaivayā bhavetsvacchaṁ mano yasya ca susthiram sa pumānātmasaṁtuṣṭo na kiṁcidabhivāṁchati

‘Through that service, the mind becomes clear and steady; such a man, content in the self, desires nothing further.’

Verse 17 (padma.6.204.17)

निष्कामः सुखदुःखाभ्यां भुंजन्सुकृतदुष्कृते । प्राकृते तत्समाप्तौ च त्यजन्देहं भवत्यजः

niṣkāmaḥ sukhaduḥkhābhyāṁ bhuṁjansukṛtaduṣkṛte prākṛte tatsamāptau ca tyajandehaṁ bhavatyajaḥ

‘Free of desire, experiencing his good and bad deeds through pleasure and pain, and, when they and material nature come to their end, giving up the body, he becomes unborn.’

Verse 18 (padma.6.204.18)

तां वद्द्रव्यं गुणसुखं यावत्प्राप्तं न चित्सुखम् । तत्प्राप्तौ तद्भवेत्तुच्छं सुधाया इव तक्रकम्

tāṁ vaddravyaṁ guṇasukhaṁ yāvatprāptaṁ na citsukham tatprāptau tadbhavettucchaṁ sudhāyā iva takrakam

‘Whatever worldly happiness, born of the gunas, is obtained is like a mere object — as long as the bliss of consciousness is not attained; once that is attained, all else becomes as insignificant as buttermilk beside nectar.’

Verse 19 (padma.6.204.19)

हरेर्मायाबलवतीयं मोहयति देहिनम् । हितानि तं न जानाति स यथा मदिरामदः

harermāyābalavatīyaṁ mohayati dehinam hitāni taṁ na jānāti sa yathā madirāmadaḥ

‘This powerful Maya of Hari deludes the embodied soul; the soul knows not what is beneficial for it, just as one intoxicated with liquor does not.’

Verse 20 (padma.6.204.20)

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च विद्ययाविद्यया च सः । करोति स्वेच्छया काले बाललीलो हि स प्रभुः

pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca vidyayāvidyayā ca saḥ karoti svecchayā kāle bālalīlo hi sa prabhuḥ

‘He brings about both activity and cessation, through knowledge and ignorance, by his own will, in due season — for that Lord is at play, like a child.’

Verse 21 (padma.6.204.21)

वेदोदितं यदा कर्म क्रियते फलमिच्छता । प्रवृत्तिं सा परा तात तेषामर्पणमीश्वरे

vedoditaṁ yadā karma kriyate phalamicchatā pravṛttiṁ sā parā tāta teṣāmarpaṇamīśvare

‘When action enjoined by the Veda is performed by one desiring its fruit, that is mere activity; O son, the offering up of that fruit to the Lord is the higher path.’

Verse 22 (padma.6.204.22)

यथा निर्दग्धाबीजानि न प्ररोहंति यत्नतः । यथा कर्माणि विश्वेशे निःकामेनार्पितानि तु

yathā nirdagdhābījāni na prarohaṁti yatnataḥ yathā karmāṇi viśveśe niḥkāmenārpitāni tu

‘Just as thoroughly burnt seeds do not sprout, however carefully tended, so too are the actions offered up, free of desire, to the Lord of the universe—’

Verse 23 (padma.6.204.23)

कर्मणां च लयो मोक्षः सुखदुःखप्रदायिनाम् । तदुत्पत्तिस्तु बंधः स्यादित्यसौ शास्त्रनिर्णयः

karmaṇāṁ ca layo mokṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhapradāyinām tadutpattistu baṁdhaḥ syādityasau śāstranirṇayaḥ

‘—rendered incapable of binding. The dissolution of actions that bring pleasure and pain is liberation; their continued generation is bondage — this is the conclusion of the scriptures.’

Verse 24 (padma.6.204.24)

अतोऽहं कर्मवेदोक्तं कुर्वन्नाभिलषन्फलम् । पर्यटिष्यामि तीर्थेषु हृदि भक्ति दधद्धरेः

ato'haṁ karmavedoktaṁ kurvannābhilaṣanphalam paryaṭiṣyāmi tīrtheṣu hṛdi bhakti dadhaddhareḥ

‘Therefore, performing Vedic action without craving its fruit, I shall wander among the tirthas, holding devotion to Hari in my heart.’

Verse 25 (padma.6.204.25)

एवं प्रारब्धकर्माणि भुंजन्नान्यान्यतर्जयन्। हनिष्यामि जगद्रोगं पीत्वा सत्संगमौषधम्

evaṁ prārabdhakarmāṇi bhuṁjannānyānyatarjayan haniṣyāmi jagadrogaṁ pītvā satsaṁgamauṣadham

‘Thus, experiencing my accumulated destined karma, not initiating any new ones, I shall destroy the disease of worldly existence by drinking the medicine of the company of the saintly.’

Verse 26 (padma.6.204.26)

शिवशर्मोवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य वचनं तस्याहं पितुरात्मनः । अवदं विष्णुशर्मस्त्वं तन्निशामय तत्वतः

śivaśarmovāca- evamākarṇya vacanaṁ tasyāhaṁ piturātmanaḥ avadaṁ viṣṇuśarmastvaṁ tanniśāmaya tatvataḥ

Shivasharma said: Hearing these words of my own father, I spoke — O Vishnusharma, listen to it truly.

Verse 27 (padma.6.204.27)

वैश्यपुत्र उवाच- अयं जनो दुराराध्यः कथयिष्यति नो यशः । दुष्टकुटुंबादुद्विज्य निःसृत्य गत इत्ययम्

vaiśyaputra uvāca- ayaṁ jano durārādhyaḥ kathayiṣyati no yaśaḥ duṣṭakuṭuṁbādudvijya niḥsṛtya gata ityayam

The merchant's son said: ‘People, hard to satisfy, will say of us: “This man, disgusted with his wicked family, left it and went away.”’

Verse 28 (padma.6.204.28)

इयं विष्णुपदी तात भुवनत्रयपावनी । स्मृता हरत्यघं दूरात्कस्मादेनां विमुंचसि

iyaṁ viṣṇupadī tāta bhuvanatrayapāvanī smṛtā haratyaghaṁ dūrātkasmādenāṁ vimuṁcasi

‘This Vishnupadi, O father, purifies the three worlds; merely remembered from afar, it removes sin — why do you abandon it?’

Verse 29 (padma.6.204.29)

पापकारी जनस्तात म्रियते मगधे तु यः । सोप्यस्तपापो गंगायां स्वर्याति त्यजमाशुभम्

pāpakārī janastāta mriyate magadhe tu yaḥ sopyastapāpo gaṁgāyāṁ svaryāti tyajamāśubham

‘O father, even a man of sinful deeds, dying in Magadha, if his ashes are cast into the Ganga, becomes free of sin and goes to heaven, quickly leaving inauspiciousness behind.’

Verse 30 (padma.6.204.30)

पुत्राः षष्टिसहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मनः । कपिलक्रोधनिर्दग्धा गतायत्स्पर्शनाद्दिवम्

putrāḥ ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmanaḥ kapilakrodhanirdagdhā gatāyatsparśanāddivam

‘The sixty thousand sons of the great-souled Sagara, though burnt to ash by Kapila's wrath, went to heaven by her mere touch.’

Verse 31 (padma.6.204.31)

तामिमां त्रिदिवश्रेणीं मुक्तेरपि विधायिनीम् । मुमुक्षुसेवितां तात मुक्त्वा मान्यत्र गम्यताम्

tāmimāṁ tridivaśreṇīṁ mukterapi vidhāyinīm mumukṣusevitāṁ tāta muktvā mānyatra gamyatām

‘Do not, O father, abandon this very stairway to heaven, which even grants liberation, served by those seeking liberation, and go elsewhere.’

Verse 32 (padma.6.204.32)

मावजानीहि सामीप्ये गंगा त्रिदशमानिताम् । यदिच्छसि महाभाग सेवितैषा प्रदास्यति

māvajānīhi sāmīpye gaṁgā tridaśamānitām yadicchasi mahābhāga sevitaiṣā pradāsyati

‘Do not disdain her, honored by the gods, merely for being close by. Whatever you desire, O greatly fortunate one, she, when served, shall grant.’

Verse 33 (padma.6.204.33)

तिर्यंचोऽपि विना ज्ञानाज्जले चेत्स्युर्गतासवः । भवेयुस्तर्हि ते ब्रह्म सा कथं त्यज्यते त्वया

tiryaṁco'pi vinā jñānājjale cetsyurgatāsavaḥ bhaveyustarhi te brahma sā kathaṁ tyajyate tvayā

‘Even animals, without any knowledge, if their lives depart in her waters, attain Brahman — how then is she to be abandoned by you?’

Verse 34 (padma.6.204.34)

शिवशर्मोवाच- निशम्यैतद्वचस्तातस्ततो मम ऋतप्रियः । उवास सदने सर्वविषयेभ्यः पराङ्मुखः

śivaśarmovāca- niśamyaitadvacastātastato mama ṛtapriyaḥ uvāsa sadane sarvaviṣayebhyaḥ parāṅmukhaḥ

Shivasharma said: Hearing these words, my father, who loved truth, then dwelt at home, turned away from all sense-objects.

Verse 35 (padma.6.204.35)

त्रिषु कालेषुं गगायां प्रत्यहं स्नानमाचरन् । पुराणं स्याद्गृहे यत्र तत्र याति स नित्यशः

triṣu kāleṣuṁ gagāyāṁ pratyahaṁ snānamācaran purāṇaṁ syādgṛhe yatra tatra yāti sa nityaśaḥ

Bathing daily in the Ganga at the three times of day, he would go constantly wherever the Purana was being recited in any house.

Verse 36 (padma.6.204.36)

एकदाकर्णयन्धीरो यमुनातीर्थगौरवम् । तत्र शुश्राव माहात्म्यमस्यतीर्थस्य पुत्र सः

ekadākarṇayandhīro yamunātīrthagauravam tatra śuśrāva māhātmyamasyatīrthasya putra saḥ

Once, that steadfast man, listening to praise of the tirthas of the Yamuna, O son, heard there the glory of this very tirtha—

Verse 37 (padma.6.204.37)

अविमुक्त हरिद्वार प्रयागेभ्यश्च पुष्करात् । अयोध्याद्वारिका कांची मथुराभ्यस्तथान्यतः

avimukta haridvāra prayāgebhyaśca puṣkarāt ayodhyādvārikā kāṁcī mathurābhyastathānyataḥ

—that its merit exceeds Avimukta, Haridvara, Prayaga, Pushkara, Ayodhya, Dvaraka, Kanchi, Mathura, and other such places—

Verse 38 (padma.6.204.38)

सर्वतीर्थमयस्यास्य पुण्यं शतगुणाधिकम् । कथितं तेन विदुषा सुतेनाकर्ण्यमत्पिता

sarvatīrthamayasyāsya puṇyaṁ śataguṇādhikam kathitaṁ tena viduṣā sutenākarṇyamatpitā

—since it is composed of all tirthas, its merit is a hundredfold greater; my father heard this, told by a certain wise man's son.

Verse 39 (padma.6.204.39)

त्यक्त्वा गृहमगादत्र तीर्थे सर्वैरलक्षितः । आवामिव महाभागो गोविंदपदसेवकः

tyaktvā gṛhamagādatra tīrthe sarvairalakṣitaḥ āvāmiva mahābhāgo goviṁdapadasevakaḥ

—leaving his home, that greatly fortunate servant of Govinda's feet came here to this tirtha, unnoticed by anyone, just as we ourselves have come.

Verse 40 (padma.6.204.40)

अत्रागत्य महाभागो मत्पिता मोक्षवांछया । निगमोद्बोधके तीर्थे त्रिकालं स्नानमाचरन्

atrāgatya mahābhāgo matpitā mokṣavāṁchayā nigamodbodhake tīrthe trikālaṁ snānamācaran

Coming here, that greatly fortunate father of mine, desiring liberation, bathed three times a day at the Nigamodbodhaka tirtha.

Verse 41 (padma.6.204.41)

उवास कतिचिन्मासानत्र तीर्थोत्तमे हि सः

uvāsa katicinmāsānatra tīrthottame hi saḥ

He dwelt for some months here, at this most excellent of tirthas.

Verse 42 (padma.6.204.42)

कुर्वन्निजक्रियां धीमान्निस्पृहोप्यजवेश्मनि । एकदा सहसा तस्य ज्वरोऽभूदतिदारुणः

kurvannijakriyāṁ dhīmānnispṛhopyajaveśmani ekadā sahasā tasya jvaro'bhūdatidāruṇaḥ

That wise man, performing his own daily rites, though free of worldly desire, in a hut of dried grass — once, suddenly, a most terrible fever came upon him.

Verse 43 (padma.6.204.43)

महत्या पीडया तस्य मुमोह गतचेतनः । मुहूर्तं स पिता मुह्यं तदवस्थो व्यतिष्ठित

mahatyā pīḍayā tasya mumoha gatacetanaḥ muhūrtaṁ sa pitā muhyaṁ tadavastho vyatiṣṭhita

Overcome by great pain, he swooned, his consciousness gone; for a moment my father, thus swooning, remained in that state.

Verse 44 (padma.6.204.44)

पश्चात्समागतप्राणो विचिंत्य यदिदं तदा । अहो मे कष्टमापन्नं दूरे पुत्रः स धार्मिकः

paścātsamāgataprāṇo viciṁtya yadidaṁ tadā aho me kaṣṭamāpannaṁ dūre putraḥ sa dhārmikaḥ

Afterward, his life-breath returning, he reflected thus: ‘Ah, this suffering has come upon me — my righteous son is far away—’

Verse 45 (padma.6.204.45)

यो मां ज्वरवितप्तांगमाश्वासयति बुद्धिमान् । अगम्यागमनं पापं कृतं यन्मे सुदारुणम्

yo māṁ jvaravitaptāṁgamāśvāsayati buddhimān agamyāgamanaṁ pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ yanme sudāruṇam

‘—that wise one who would console me, my body burning with fever. The most terrible sin I once committed, of going where I should not have gone—’

Verse 46 (padma.6.204.46)

प्रायश्चित्तं न तस्यापि कृतं कामे गतिर्भवेत् । आगमिष्यति पुत्रो मे तस्मै दास्यामि वस्विति

prāyaścittaṁ na tasyāpi kṛtaṁ kāme gatirbhavet āgamiṣyati putro me tasmai dāsyāmi vasviti

‘—for that too, no atonement has been made; may my desired end come. My son shall come; to him I shall give my wealth—’

Verse 47 (padma.6.204.47)

यन्मया गोपितं गेहे न दृष्टं च तदप्यहम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- इति चिंतयतस्तस्य पान्थो वर्षेण पीडितः

yanmayā gopitaṁ gehe na dṛṣṭaṁ ca tadapyaham śivaśarmovāca- iti ciṁtayatastasya pāntho varṣeṇa pīḍitaḥ

‘—which I have hidden away at home, unseen even by me.’ Shivasharma said: As he was thinking thus, a traveler, afflicted by the rain—

Verse 48 (padma.6.204.48)

शीतार्तः कंपितवपुरुटजं प्राविशत्तदा । स तं संविष्टमालोक्य भूयो गत्वा तदंतिके

śītārtaḥ kaṁpitavapuruṭajaṁ prāviśattadā sa taṁ saṁviṣṭamālokya bhūyo gatvā tadaṁtike

—tormented by cold, his body trembling, then entered his hut. Seeing him lying there, he went closer to him—

Verse 49 (padma.6.204.49)

मुनिरेष इति ज्ञात्वा ववंदे शिरसाध्वगः । ऊचे च कस्मात्सुप्तोसि मुने संध्या समागता

munireṣa iti jñātvā vavaṁde śirasādhvagaḥ ūce ca kasmātsuptosi mune saṁdhyā samāgatā

—thinking him to be a sage, that traveler bowed his head, and said: ‘Why do you sleep, O sage? Evening has come—’

Verse 50 (padma.6.204.50)

रविरस्तं प्रयात्येष न सुप्तेः काल एष ते । इत्युक्तमात्रे वचसि पथिकेन पिता मम

ravirastaṁ prayātyeṣa na supteḥ kāla eṣa te ityuktamātre vacasi pathikena pitā mama

‘—the sun is setting; this is not the time for you to sleep.’ The moment this was said by the traveler, my father—

Verse 51 (padma.6.204.51)

शरभो ज्वरतप्तांगस्तमाह कथमप्यहो । शरभ उवाच- श्रूयतां वचनं पांथ यद्वदामि पुरस्तव

śarabho jvarataptāṁgastamāha kathamapyaho śarabha uvāca- śrūyatāṁ vacanaṁ pāṁtha yadvadāmi purastava

—Sharabha, his body burning with fever, said to him, somehow: Sharabha said: ‘Listen, O traveler, to what I say before you.’

Verse 52 (padma.6.204.52)

श्रुत्वा मद्भाग्ययातेन त्वया साधो विधीयताम् । वैश्योऽहं शरभो नाम्ना कान्यकुब्जे गृहं मम

śrutvā madbhāgyayātena tvayā sādho vidhīyatām vaiśyo'haṁ śarabho nāmnā kānyakubje gṛhaṁ mama

‘Having heard it, may you, come here by my good fortune, O good man, act upon it. I am a merchant, named Sharabha; my home is in Kanyakubja.’

Verse 53 (padma.6.204.53)

अत्रागतो निषिद्धोपि जायामित्रसुतैरहम् । अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा सूनुमुखेरितम्

atrāgato niṣiddhopi jāyāmitrasutairaham asya tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ śrutvā sūnumukheritam

‘I came here, though forbidden by my wife, friends, and sons, having heard of the glory of this tirtha, spoken from the mouth of a son.’

Verse 54 (padma.6.204.54)

मासास्तु कतिचित्साधो व्यतीता मयि चागते । दिनत्रयमतिक्रांतं ज्वरितस्य ममाधुना

māsāstu katicitsādho vyatītā mayi cāgate dinatrayamatikrāṁtaṁ jvaritasya mamādhunā

‘O good man, some months have passed since I came; and now, three days have passed since I fell ill with fever.’

Verse 55 (padma.6.204.55)

प्राणा मे विगता आसन्नद्यभूयः समागताः । कियानप्यायुषः शेषः साधो मे खलु तिष्ठति

prāṇā me vigatā āsannadyabhūyaḥ samāgatāḥ kiyānapyāyuṣaḥ śeṣaḥ sādho me khalu tiṣṭhati

‘My life-breath had left me; today it has returned once more. Some little remainder of my life still remains, O good man.’

Verse 56 (padma.6.204.56)

शमनस्य गृहं दृष्ट्वा यदहं पुनरागतः । भाग्योदयेन केनापि ममात्र त्वं समागतः

śamanasya gṛhaṁ dṛṣṭvā yadahaṁ punarāgataḥ bhāgyodayena kenāpi mamātra tvaṁ samāgataḥ

‘Since I have, having glimpsed the house of Yama, returned once more — by some rise of fortune, you have come to me here.’

Verse 57 (padma.6.204.57)

नय मां मद्गृहं मित्र द्रव्यं बहु ददामि ते । दास्याम्यपि गृहं गत्वा कृपां कुरु कृपानिधे

naya māṁ madgṛhaṁ mitra dravyaṁ bahu dadāmi te dāsyāmyapi gṛhaṁ gatvā kṛpāṁ kuru kṛpānidhe

‘Take me to my home, O friend; I shall give you much wealth. I shall give you more once we reach home; show compassion, O ocean of compassion.’

Verse 58 (padma.6.204.58)

इह भूभाग उत्खाय गृह्यतां मामकं धनम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य स दुर्बुद्धिर्ग्राम्यो विषयलंपटः

iha bhūbhāga utkhāya gṛhyatāṁ māmakaṁ dhanam śivaśarmovāca- ityākarṇya sa durbuddhirgrāmyo viṣayalaṁpaṭaḥ

‘Dig here, in this patch of ground, and take my wealth.’ Shivasharma said: Hearing this, that evil-minded, rustic man, given to sense-pleasures—

Verse 59 (padma.6.204.59)

उवाच धनलुब्धस्तं त्वदुक्तं साधयाम्यहम् । इत्युक्त्वा धनमुत्खाय तस्माद्भूभागतस्तदा

uvāca dhanalubdhastaṁ tvaduktaṁ sādhayāmyaham ityuktvā dhanamutkhāya tasmādbhūbhāgatastadā

—greedy for wealth, said to him: ‘I shall accomplish what you say.’ Having said this, digging up the wealth from that patch of ground—

Verse 60 (padma.6.204.60)

अग्रतः स्थापयामास शरभस्याह चाध्वगः । अध्वग उवाच- धनमेतद्विशांनाथ तव भूभागतो मया

agrataḥ sthāpayāmāsa śarabhasyāha cādhvagaḥ adhvaga uvāca- dhanametadviśāṁnātha tava bhūbhāgato mayā

—he placed it before Sharabha, and the traveler said: The traveler said: ‘This wealth, O lord of merchants, has been extracted by me from your patch of ground—’

Verse 61 (padma.6.204.61)

निष्कासितं प्रयच्छाशु शिबिकानयनाय मे । यामारोप्य ज्वरार्तं त्वां नयामि तव केतनम्

niṣkāsitaṁ prayacchāśu śibikānayanāya me yāmāropya jvarārtaṁ tvāṁ nayāmi tava ketanam

‘—now give me some quickly for bringing a palanquin, upon which, mounting you, feverish as you are, I shall take you to your own home.’

Verse 62 (padma.6.204.62)

शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्तस्तेन स तदा ददौ स्वर्णपलत्रयम् । सोपि नीत्वा पितुर्द्रव्यं ययौ लवणपत्तनम्

śivaśarmovāca- ityuktastena sa tadā dadau svarṇapalatrayam sopi nītvā piturdravyaṁ yayau lavaṇapattanam

Shivasharma said: Thus addressed, he then gave three palas of gold; and he, taking my father's wealth, went to the salt-city.

Verse 63 (padma.6.204.63)

उषित्वा रात्रिमेकां तु शिबिकां सपरिच्छदाम् । सवाहामानयत्पुत्र दत्त्वा स्वर्णपलद्वयम्

uṣitvā rātrimekāṁ tu śibikāṁ saparicchadām savāhāmānayatputra dattvā svarṇapaladvayam

Having stayed there one night, O son, he brought a palanquin with all its equipment and bearers, having given two palas of gold.

Verse 64 (padma.6.204.64)

पलं द्वयं गृहीतं तत्तेनैवाधर्मबुद्धिना । आरोप्य शिबिकां तं तु शरभं वैश्यसत्तमम्

palaṁ dvayaṁ gṛhītaṁ tattenaivādharmabuddhinā āropya śibikāṁ taṁ tu śarabhaṁ vaiśyasattamam

That two palas were kept by that same unrighteous-minded man. Then, placing that most excellent merchant Sharabha upon the palanquin—

Verse 65 (padma.6.204.65)

पांथः स चलितो वाहांस्त्वरयन्कान्यकुब्जकम् । अस्य तीर्थवरस्याथ कमंडलुजलं धृतम्

pāṁthaḥ sa calito vāhāṁstvarayankānyakubjakam asya tīrthavarasyātha kamaṁḍalujalaṁ dhṛtam

—the traveler set off, urging the bearers on toward Kanyakubja, having taken a kamandalu of water from this excellent tirtha—

Verse 66 (padma.6.204.66)

पाययन्नल्पमल्पं तं तृषार्तं सोध्वगो ययौ । अथ ते सरसस्तीरे उत्तीर्णा भोक्तुमध्वनि

pāyayannalpamalpaṁ taṁ tṛṣārtaṁ sodhvago yayau atha te sarasastīre uttīrṇā bhoktumadhvani

—giving him small sips whenever he thirsted, that traveler journeyed on. Then they came down at the bank of a lake to eat, along the road.

Verse 67 (padma.6.204.67)

स्नात्वा भुक्त्वा पुनस्तस्मात्स्थानाच्चेलुस्त्वरान्विताः । कियंति भूमिमुल्लंघ्य तृषार्तांस्ते कमंडलोः

snātvā bhuktvā punastasmātsthānāccelustvarānvitāḥ kiyaṁti bhūmimullaṁghya tṛṣārtāṁste kamaṁḍaloḥ

Bathing and eating, they set off again hastily from that place. Having crossed some distance, when they grew thirsty, from the kamandalu—

Verse 68 (padma.6.204.68)

जलं पीत्वा तृषार्तं तं शरभं चाप्यपाययत् । अथ कश्चिन्महाभीमो विकटो नाम राक्षसः

jalaṁ pītvā tṛṣārtaṁ taṁ śarabhaṁ cāpyapāyayat atha kaścinmahābhīmo vikaṭo nāma rākṣasaḥ

—they drank water, and gave the thirsty Sharabha some to drink as well. Then a certain most terrible rakshasa, named Vikata—

Verse 69 (padma.6.204.69)

विचरन्निर्जनेऽरण्ये गच्छतस्तानवैक्षत । तान्दृष्ट्वा स क्षुधाक्रांतो वेगवान्विवृताननः

vicarannirjane'raṇye gacchatastānavaikṣata tāndṛṣṭvā sa kṣudhākrāṁto vegavānvivṛtānanaḥ

—wandering in the desolate forest, saw them as they traveled. Seeing them, overcome with hunger, swift, his mouth gaping open—

Verse 70 (padma.6.204.70)

अभिदुद्राव चरणाघातेनाकंपयन्महीम् । आगत्य तरसा पार्श्वे तान्वाहान्पथिकं च तम्

abhidudrāva caraṇāghātenākaṁpayanmahīm āgatya tarasā pārśve tānvāhānpathikaṁ ca tam

—he charged toward them, shaking the earth with the stamp of his feet. Coming swiftly to their side, those bearers and that traveler—

Verse 71 (padma.6.204.71)

सकोशेषु समादाय भ्रामयामास खेचरः । गतासून्भ्रामणेनैव भूतले तानपोथयत्

sakośeṣu samādāya bhrāmayāmāsa khecaraḥ gatāsūnbhrāmaṇenaiva bhūtale tānapothayat

—that sky-goer seized, along with their scabbarded weapons, and whirled them about; by the mere whirling, their lives gone, he crushed them upon the ground.

Verse 72 (padma.6.204.72)

चखाद पिशितं तेषां पपौ कोशाच्च शोणितम् । कुत्र यास्यति रोगार्तो नरोऽयं पुरतो मम

cakhāda piśitaṁ teṣāṁ papau kośācca śoṇitam kutra yāsyati rogārto naro'yaṁ purato mama

He ate their flesh and drank their blood from the vessels of their bodies. (He thought:) ‘Where will this sick man before me go now?’

Verse 73 (padma.6.204.73)

एनं तु भक्षयिष्यामि पश्चादंबु पिबाम्यहम् । इति कृत्वा मतिर्वारितीर्थस्यास्य कमंडलोः

enaṁ tu bhakṣayiṣyāmi paścādaṁbu pibāmyaham iti kṛtvā matirvāritīrthasyāsya kamaṁḍaloḥ

‘I shall devour him too; afterward I shall drink water.’ Having thus resolved, he then poured the water of this tirtha's kamandalu—

Verse 74 (padma.6.204.74)

मुखे चिक्षेप स तदा रजनीचरपुंगवः । क्षिप्तमात्रे जले तस्य पूर्वजन्मभवा स्मृतिः

mukhe cikṣepa sa tadā rajanīcarapuṁgavaḥ kṣiptamātre jale tasya pūrvajanmabhavā smṛtiḥ

—into his mouth, that foremost of night-wanderers. The moment that water was poured, the memory of his former birth—

Verse 75 (padma.6.204.75)

जाता स तु वधात्तस्य शरभस्य न्यवर्तत । पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं तदपि स्मृतिमागमत्

jātā sa tu vadhāttasya śarabhasya nyavartata pūrvajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tadapi smṛtimāgamat

—arose in him, and he turned back from killing Sharabha. The sin committed in his former birth also came into his memory—

Verse 76 (padma.6.204.76)

येन राक्षसभावस्तु भूतो विप्रोद्भवादपि । स्मृत्वा पापमुपेत्याशु समीपे शरभस्य तु । उवाच ज्ञानमापन्नो राक्षसः पितरं मम

yena rākṣasabhāvastu bhūto viprodbhavādapi smṛtvā pāpamupetyāśu samīpe śarabhasya tu uvāca jñānamāpanno rākṣasaḥ pitaraṁ mama

—by which he had become a rakshasa, though born of brahmin stock. Having remembered his sin, and quickly coming near to Sharabha, that rakshasa, now possessed of knowledge, spoke to my father:

Verse 77 (padma.6.204.77)

राक्षस उवाच- भो भो मनुष्यशार्दूल कस्त्वं के च जना अमी । भक्षिता ये मया घोर रूपेणाधमरक्षसा

rākṣasa uvāca- bho bho manuṣyaśārdūla kastvaṁ ke ca janā amī bhakṣitā ye mayā ghora rūpeṇādhamarakṣasā

The rakshasa said: ‘O tiger among men, who are you, and who were these people I have devoured, I, a base rakshasa in this terrible form?’

Verse 78 (padma.6.204.78)

कस्य तीर्थवरस्येदं जलं यस्य प्रभावतः । पापिनोऽपि स्मृतिर्जाता पूर्वजन्मभवा मम

kasya tīrthavarasyedaṁ jalaṁ yasya prabhāvataḥ pāpino'pi smṛtirjātā pūrvajanmabhavā mama

‘Of which excellent tirtha is this water, by whose power a memory of my own former birth has arisen in me, sinner though I am?’

Verse 79 (padma.6.204.79)

वैश्य उवाच- वैश्योऽहं राक्षसश्रेष्ठ कान्यकुब्जे गृहं मम । तीर्थानि पर्यटन्निंद्रप्रस्थेऽहं समुपागतः

vaiśya uvāca- vaiśyo'haṁ rākṣasaśreṣṭha kānyakubje gṛhaṁ mama tīrthāni paryaṭanniṁdraprasthe'haṁ samupāgataḥ

The merchant said: ‘I am a merchant, O foremost of rakshasas; my home is in Kanyakubja. Wandering the tirthas, I came here to Indraprastha.’

Verse 80 (padma.6.204.80)

तत्राहमभवं दुःखी ज्वरेण विधियोगतः । ततो मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना गंतुं गृहमसत्पथ । तत्र कश्चित्समायातः पांथो वर्षेण पीडितः

tatrāhamabhavaṁ duḥkhī jvareṇa vidhiyogataḥ tato me buddhirutpannā gaṁtuṁ gṛhamasatpatha tatra kaścitsamāyātaḥ pāṁtho varṣeṇa pīḍitaḥ

‘There I fell into misery, afflicted by fever through the working of fate. Then the thought arose in me to go home. There, a certain traveler, tormented by the rain, came—’

Verse 81 (padma.6.204.81)

प्रार्थितः स मयानीय शिबिकां मां गृहं नय । स चायं शिबिकां पांथः समुपानीय सत्वरः

prārthitaḥ sa mayānīya śibikāṁ māṁ gṛhaṁ naya sa cāyaṁ śibikāṁ pāṁthaḥ samupānīya satvaraḥ

‘—I entreated him: “Bring a palanquin and take me home.” And this very traveler, having quickly brought a palanquin—’

Verse 82 (padma.6.204.82)

मामारोप्य च तां धीरश्चलितो मद्गृहं प्रति । स पांथस्ते च शिबिकावाहाः संप्रति भक्षिताः

māmāropya ca tāṁ dhīraścalito madgṛhaṁ prati sa pāṁthaste ca śibikāvāhāḥ saṁprati bhakṣitāḥ

‘—that steady man, placing me upon it, set off toward my home. That very traveler, and those bearers of the palanquin, have just now been devoured by you.’

Verse 83 (padma.6.204.83)

त्वया जलमिदं यस्य तीर्थस्यापि च तच्छृणु । इंद्रस्य खांडववने यमुनास्ति सरिद्वरा

tvayā jalamidaṁ yasya tīrthasyāpi ca tacchṛṇu iṁdrasya khāṁḍavavane yamunāsti saridvarā

‘And as for whose water this is, that you drank — listen: in Indra's Khandava forest is the excellent river Yamuna—’

Verse 84 (padma.6.204.84)

तत्तीरेऽस्ति हरिप्रस्थं तीर्थं तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् । सुराचार्यस्य तत्रास्ति तीर्थं सर्वार्थसाधकम्

tattīre'sti hariprasthaṁ tīrthaṁ tīrthottamottamam surācāryasya tatrāsti tīrthaṁ sarvārthasādhakam

‘—on its bank is Hariprastha, a tirtha, the very best of the best of tirthas; there is the tirtha of the teacher of the gods, which accomplishes every goal—’

Verse 85 (padma.6.204.85)

निगमोद्बोधकं जाता स्मृतिस्ते यज्जलाशनात् । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहंमिह त्वया

nigamodbodhakaṁ jātā smṛtiste yajjalāśanāt etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'haṁmiha tvayā

‘—named Nigamodbodhaka; by drinking that water, your memory has arisen. All of this, which you asked me here, I have now told you.’

Verse 86 (padma.6.204.86)

पृच्छामि त्वामहं किंचित्तद्वदाशु निशाचर । पूर्वजन्मकृतं कर्म स्मरसि त्वमिहाधुना । वद किं ते कृतं पापं येन जातोऽसि राक्षसः

pṛcchāmi tvāmahaṁ kiṁcittadvadāśu niśācara pūrvajanmakṛtaṁ karma smarasi tvamihādhunā vada kiṁ te kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ yena jāto'si rākṣasaḥ

‘I ask you something now — tell me quickly, O night-stalker. You now remember the deeds of your former birth here — tell me, what sin did you commit, by which you became a rakshasa?’

Verse 87 (padma.6.204.87)

राक्षस उवाच- पुराहमभवं विप्रः पुण्ये वेदविदां कुले । दुराचारो ह्यधर्मात्मा शृणु सर्वं वदामि ते

rākṣasa uvāca- purāhamabhavaṁ vipraḥ puṇye vedavidāṁ kule durācāro hyadharmātmā śṛṇu sarvaṁ vadāmi te

The rakshasa said: ‘Formerly I was a brahmin, born in a sacred family of Veda-knowers; but I was of evil conduct, unrighteous of soul — listen, I shall tell you everything.’

Verse 88 (padma.6.204.88)

क्रीडता हि मया नित्यं द्यूतेन सह तद्विदैः । हारितं द्रविणं भूरि स्वकीयं पितुरेव च

krīḍatā hi mayā nityaṁ dyūtena saha tadvidaiḥ hāritaṁ draviṇaṁ bhūri svakīyaṁ pitureva ca

‘Constantly gambling with those skilled in dice, I lost much wealth, both my own and my father's.’

Verse 89 (padma.6.204.89)

पित्रा निवेद्य भूपाय मामकं कर्म तज्जनैः । पुरान्निःसारितो निःस्वो गतोऽहं ग्राममंतिके

pitrā nivedya bhūpāya māmakaṁ karma tajjanaiḥ purānniḥsārito niḥsvo gato'haṁ grāmamaṁtike

‘My father reported my conduct to the king through those men; expelled from the city, penniless, I went to a nearby village.’

Verse 90 (padma.6.204.90)

तत्रासीन्मे सखा नाम देवको ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । तेनाऽहं रक्षितो गेहे कुर्वता चिरमादरम्

tatrāsīnme sakhā nāma devako brāhmaṇottamaḥ tenā'haṁ rakṣito gehe kurvatā ciramādaram

‘There I had a friend named Devaka, an excellent brahmin; by him I was sheltered in his house, treated with respect for a long time.’

Verse 91 (padma.6.204.91)

वस्तुं तत्र सुखेनाहं तद्भार्यां रूपशालिनीम् । कामातुरोऽहमभजं बलान्मित्रे गते क्वचित्

vastuṁ tatra sukhenāhaṁ tadbhāryāṁ rūpaśālinīm kāmāturo'hamabhajaṁ balānmitre gate kvacit

‘Dwelling there in comfort, tormented by lust, I forcibly assaulted his beautiful wife once, when my friend had gone somewhere.’

Verse 92 (padma.6.204.92)

सा मृता तत्क्षणात्साध्वी भक्षयित्वा महाविषम् । तां दृष्ट्वा तमसायुक्ते निशीथेऽहं पलायितः

sā mṛtā tatkṣaṇātsādhvī bhakṣayitvā mahāviṣam tāṁ dṛṣṭvā tamasāyukte niśīthe'haṁ palāyitaḥ

‘That chaste woman, having eaten deadly poison, died at that very moment. Seeing her, I fled in the depth of that dark night.’

Verse 93 (padma.6.204.93)

पलायमानस्तरसा धृतोऽहं राजकिंकरैः । चौरोऽयमिति खङ्गेन चिच्छिदुस्ते शिरो मम

palāyamānastarasā dhṛto'haṁ rājakiṁkaraiḥ cauro'yamiti khaṅgena cicchiduste śiro mama

‘As I fled swiftly, I was seized by the king's servants; taking me for a thief, they severed my head with a sword.’

Verse 94 (padma.6.204.94)

मृतं मां यातनादेहमावेश्य यमकिंकराः । रौरवे निरयघोरे चिक्षिपुर्यमशासनात्

mṛtaṁ māṁ yātanādehamāveśya yamakiṁkarāḥ raurave nirayaghore cikṣipuryamaśāsanāt

‘When I had died, Yama's servants, having caused me to enter a body of torment, cast me, by Yama's command, into the terrible hell of Raurava.’

Verse 95 (padma.6.204.95)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि तत्राऽहं तीव्रयातनाम् । भुक्त्वा तेनैव पापेन राक्षसत्वमुपागतः

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi tatrā'haṁ tīvrayātanām bhuktvā tenaiva pāpena rākṣasatvamupāgataḥ

‘There, for sixty thousand years, I endured intense torment; and by that very sin, I then attained the state of a rakshasa.’

Verse 96 (padma.6.204.96)

शतवर्षाण्यतीतानि राक्षसत्वे विशांपते । वदामि तमुपायं मे येनास्मान्मुक्तिमाप्नुयाम्

śatavarṣāṇyatītāni rākṣasatve viśāṁpate vadāmi tamupāyaṁ me yenāsmānmuktimāpnuyām

‘A hundred years have passed in this rakshasa-state, O lord of merchants. I shall tell that means by which we might attain liberation.’

Verse 97 (padma.6.204.97)

पुण्यं तदर्पिते साधो वदामि शृणु सादरम् । येन तीर्थवरस्येदं जलं मम मुखे गतम्

puṇyaṁ tadarpite sādho vadāmi śṛṇu sādaram yena tīrthavarasyedaṁ jalaṁ mama mukhe gatam

‘Listen with reverence — I shall tell you that merit by which this water of the excellent tirtha reached my mouth.’

Verse 98 (padma.6.204.98)

तत्रैव जन्मनि मया कृत्वा हरिदिने व्रतम् । संसर्गान्नेच्छया वैश्य रात्रौ जागरणं कृतम्

tatraiva janmani mayā kṛtvā haridine vratam saṁsargānnecchayā vaiśya rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtam

‘In that very birth, O merchant, having observed the vow on Hari's day, not desiring the association of food, I kept vigil that night.’

Verse 99 (padma.6.204.99)

द्वादश्यामथ संस्नात्वा भोक्तुंमपि समुद्यते । मद्गृहे कश्चिदायातो वैष्णवो विष्णुरूपधृक्

dvādaśyāmatha saṁsnātvā bhoktuṁmapi samudyate madgṛhe kaścidāyāto vaiṣṇavo viṣṇurūpadhṛk

‘Then, on the twelfth day, having bathed and being about to eat, some Vaishnava, bearing the very form of Vishnu, came to my house.’

Verse 100 (padma.6.204.100)

कुपितोऽहं तमालोक्य दुर्वचो वदमग्रतः । क्व गच्छसि दुराचार दांभिकस्त्रीजनांतरे

kupito'haṁ tamālokya durvaco vadamagrataḥ kva gacchasi durācāra dāṁbhikastrījanāṁtare

‘Angered at seeing him, I spoke harsh words before him: “Where are you going, you of evil conduct, you hypocrite, among the women of the household?”’

Verse 101 (padma.6.204.101)

इत्युक्तं स मया धीरस्तुल्यो मानापमानयोः । तूष्णीमेव निकेतान्मे निर्गत्य चलितो यदा

ityuktaṁ sa mayā dhīrastulyo mānāpamānayoḥ tūṣṇīmeva niketānme nirgatya calito yadā

‘Thus addressed by me, that steady man, equal in honor and dishonor, silently left my dwelling and, as he was departing—’

Verse 102 (padma.6.204.102)

तदाभिमुखमायांती पत्नी मम पतिव्रता । पतित्वा पादयोस्तस्य तं साधुं गृहमानयत्

tadābhimukhamāyāṁtī patnī mama pativratā patitvā pādayostasya taṁ sādhuṁ gṛhamānayat

‘—then my chaste wife, coming toward him, falling at his feet, brought that good man back into the house.’

Verse 103 (padma.6.204.103)

मयापमानितस्यापि न क्रोधोऽभून्महात्मनः । तयादृतस्याप्यानंदो यतः सोरि सुहृत्समः

mayāpamānitasyāpi na krodho'bhūnmahātmanaḥ tayādṛtasyāpyānaṁdo yataḥ sori suhṛtsamaḥ

‘That great soul, though insulted by me, felt no anger; and though honored by her, he felt no joy either, since he regarded both foe and friend alike.’

Verse 104 (padma.6.204.104)

तमर्चयित्वा विधिवद्विष्टरे चोपवेश्य सा । भोज्यं भोजय जीवेश जयताद्भुवनत्रयम्

tamarcayitvā vidhivadviṣṭare copaveśya sā bhojyaṁ bhojaya jīveśa jayatādbhuvanatrayam

‘Having duly honored him and seated him upon a seat, she said: “Feed him with food, O life of my life; may the three worlds be victorious!”’

Verse 105 (padma.6.204.105)

इत्युक्तोऽहं तया साध्व्या न्यगदं तं महाशयम् । म्लानवक्त्रः प्रसन्नास्यमुत्तिष्ठ शमय क्षुधाम्

ityukto'haṁ tayā sādhvyā nyagadaṁ taṁ mahāśayam mlānavaktraḥ prasannāsyamuttiṣṭha śamaya kṣudhām

‘Thus addressed by that virtuous woman, I, my face downcast, said to that noble-minded man, whose own face was serene: “Rise, satisfy your hunger.”’

Verse 106 (padma.6.204.106)

इत्युक्त्वा तस्य चरणौ नोदितस्तनुमध्यमा । प्राक्षालयं पुनस्तं तु निवेश्यासनमुत्तमम्

ityuktvā tasya caraṇau noditastanumadhyamā prākṣālayaṁ punastaṁ tu niveśyāsanamuttamam

‘Having said this, urged on by my slender-waisted wife, I washed his feet, and, seating him again upon an excellent seat—’

Verse 107 (padma.6.204.107)

अददां पात्रमन्नेन पूर्णं तस्मै विवेकिने । जलं च तत्करे साध्व्या प्रेरितोऽहं तया मुहुः

adadāṁ pātramannena pūrṇaṁ tasmai vivekine jalaṁ ca tatkare sādhvyā prerito'haṁ tayā muhuḥ

‘—I gave that discerning man a vessel full of food, and water in his hand, again and again, urged on by that virtuous woman.’

Verse 108 (padma.6.204.108)

उपभुज्य स धर्मात्मा स्वैरं विगतविक्रियः । हरेराम हरेकृष्ण जपन्निति जगाम ह

upabhujya sa dharmātmā svairaṁ vigatavikriyaḥ harerāma harekṛṣṇa japanniti jagāma ha

‘That righteous man, having eaten at his ease, free of any disturbance, chanting “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna” thus, departed.’

Verse 109 (padma.6.204.109)

कृतं पुण्यमिदं वैश्य नोदितेन मया स्त्रिया । पूर्वजन्मनि येनेदं प्रापितं तीर्थवारि मे

kṛtaṁ puṇyamidaṁ vaiśya noditena mayā striyā pūrvajanmani yenedaṁ prāpitaṁ tīrthavāri me

‘This merit, O merchant, was performed by me only when urged on by my wife, in that former birth — by which this tirtha-water has now reached me.’

Verse 110 (padma.6.204.110)

शिवशर्मोवाच- विष्णुशर्मन्निदं वाक्यमुक्त्वा तिष्ठति राक्षसे । पथिकः स च ते वाहाः प्राहुः खे दिव्यदेहिनः

śivaśarmovāca- viṣṇuśarmannidaṁ vākyamuktvā tiṣṭhati rākṣase pathikaḥ sa ca te vāhāḥ prāhuḥ khe divyadehinaḥ

Shivasharma said: O Vishnusharma, as the rakshasa, having said this, stood there, that traveler and those bearers, now possessed of divine bodies, spoke from the sky:

Verse 111 (padma.6.204.111)

पथिकवाहा ऊचुः भो भो विशांपते साधो प्राप्ता अप्यपमृत्युताम् । त्वत्प्रसादादिदं वारि पीत्वा देवत्वमागताः

pathikavāhā ūcuḥ bho bho viśāṁpate sādho prāptā apyapamṛtyutām tvatprasādādidaṁ vāri pītvā devatvamāgatāḥ

The traveler and bearers said: ‘O good merchant, though we met a violent death, by your grace, having drunk this water, we have attained divinity.’

Verse 112 (padma.6.204.112)

त्वत्संगे धनलोभेन विट्पते चलिता यतः । विगता न धनाकांक्षा मरणावसरेप्यतः

tvatsaṁge dhanalobhena viṭpate calitā yataḥ vigatā na dhanākāṁkṣā maraṇāvasarepyataḥ

‘O lord of merchants, since we set out in your company out of greed for wealth, and since our craving for wealth had not departed even at the hour of death—’

Verse 113 (padma.6.204.113)

तीर्थराजजलस्यास्य तिष्ठतो जठरे हि नः । मरणे ह्यनुभावात्तु मैत्री प्राप्ता धनेशितुः

tīrtharājajalasyāsya tiṣṭhato jaṭhare hi naḥ maraṇe hyanubhāvāttu maitrī prāptā dhaneśituḥ

‘—yet, because this king of tirthas' water remained in our very bellies, by its power, even in death, we attained the friendship of the Lord of Wealth.’

Verse 114 (padma.6.204.114)

नमामस्त्वां वयं यामो धनेश नगरीं प्रभो । विमानैस्तद्गणानीतैर्नानामणिविभूषितैः

namāmastvāṁ vayaṁ yāmo dhaneśa nagarīṁ prabho vimānaistadgaṇānītairnānāmaṇivibhūṣitaiḥ

‘We bow to you; we now go, O lord, to the city of the Lord of Wealth, in celestial chariots, brought by his attendants, adorned with various jewels.’

Verse 115 (padma.6.204.115)

प्रयाहि मा विलंबस्व तीर्थे निगमबोधके । त्वमनेनसमं साधो तारयैनमपि द्रुतम्

prayāhi mā vilaṁbasva tīrthe nigamabodhake tvamanenasamaṁ sādho tārayainamapi drutam

‘Go, without delay, to the tirtha of Nigamodbodhaka; O good man, together with him, swiftly cross over there too.’

Verse 116 (padma.6.204.116)

शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्त्वा ते गतास्तात दिश्युदीच्यां समंततः । विमानकिंकिणीनादैर्नादयंतोऽथ रोदसी

śivaśarmovāca- ityuktvā te gatāstāta diśyudīcyāṁ samaṁtataḥ vimānakiṁkiṇīnādairnādayaṁto'tha rodasī

Shivasharma said: Having said this, O son, they departed, in the northern direction, filling the whole sky and earth with the sound of their chariots' little bells.

Verse 117 (padma.6.204.117)

अथ वैश्यो मम पिता तमाह रजनीचरम् । शरभ उवाच- उत्तिष्ठ नय मामाशु तीर्थे निगमबोधके

atha vaiśyo mama pitā tamāha rajanīcaram śarabha uvāca- uttiṣṭha naya māmāśu tīrthe nigamabodhake

Then the merchant, my father, said to that night-stalker. Sharabha said: ‘Rise, take me quickly to the tirtha of Nigamodbodhaka.’

Verse 118 (padma.6.204.118)

ज्वरार्त्तेन मया पद्भ्यां तत्र गंतुं न शक्यते । यो मां नयति तत्तीर्थं त्वदन्यो नास्ति कश्चन

jvarārttena mayā padbhyāṁ tatra gaṁtuṁ na śakyate yo māṁ nayati tattīrthaṁ tvadanyo nāsti kaścana

‘Afflicted with fever, I am unable to go there on foot; there is no one other than you who could take me to that tirtha.’

Verse 119 (padma.6.204.119)

शिवशर्मोवाच- तथेति तमथाश्वास्य वैश्यं स रजनीचरः । स्कंधमारोप्य वेगेन तत्तीर्थं पावनं ययौ

śivaśarmovāca- tatheti tamathāśvāsya vaiśyaṁ sa rajanīcaraḥ skaṁdhamāropya vegena tattīrthaṁ pāvanaṁ yayau

Shivasharma said: Saying ‘so be it,’ consoling the merchant, that night-stalker, placing him upon his shoulder, went swiftly to that purifying tirtha.

Verse 120 (padma.6.204.120)

ऊषतुस्तावुभौ तत्र विश्पतिः स च राक्षसः । कुर्वंतौ स्नानमात्रं तु सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमे

ūṣatustāvubhau tatra viśpatiḥ sa ca rākṣasaḥ kurvaṁtau snānamātraṁ tu sarvatīrthottamottame

Both of them, the merchant and that rakshasa, dwelt there, doing nothing but bathe, at that most excellent of all excellent tirthas.

Verse 121 (padma.6.204.121)

अथाऽहं पितुराकर्ण्य महतीं गुरुवेदनाम् । तं प्रति प्रेरितो मात्रा चलितो निजसद्मतः

athā'haṁ piturākarṇya mahatīṁ guruvedanām taṁ prati prerito mātrā calito nijasadmataḥ

Then I, hearing of my father's great suffering, urged on by my mother toward him, set off from my own home.

Verse 122 (padma.6.204.122)

अत्रागत्य मया दृष्टः स महाज्वरपीडितः । मूर्ध्ना च वंदितस्तेन दत्ताशीर्मेऽभ्यभाषि च

atrāgatya mayā dṛṣṭaḥ sa mahājvarapīḍitaḥ mūrdhnā ca vaṁditastena dattāśīrme'bhyabhāṣi ca

Coming here, I saw him, afflicted with a great fever; I bowed my head to him, and, having given me his blessing, he spoke to me:

Verse 123 (padma.6.204.123)

शरभ उवाच- किमर्थमिह भो तात दूरमार्गे समागतः । दिनानि कतिचित्तिष्ठन्कुर्वन्नत्र निजक्रियाम्

śarabha uvāca- kimarthamiha bho tāta dūramārge samāgataḥ dināni katicittiṣṭhankurvannatra nijakriyām

Sharabha said: ‘For what reason have you come here, O son, along this long road? Stay here for a few days, performing your own duties here.’

Verse 124 (padma.6.204.124)

विकटो नाम मे मित्रः राक्षसः समुपैति वै । उत्तिष्ठ वपुषामुष्य दंडवत्पत पादयोः

vikaṭo nāma me mitraḥ rākṣasaḥ samupaiti vai uttiṣṭha vapuṣāmuṣya daṁḍavatpata pādayoḥ

‘Vikata by name, a rakshasa, my friend, is approaching now; rise, and prostrate yourself, falling like a rod at the feet of his body.’

Verse 125 (padma.6.204.125)

न भेतव्यं त्वयामुष्मात्त्यक्तहिंसादि कर्मणः । अधुना तीर्थमासाद्य सन्निधौ मम तिष्ठति

na bhetavyaṁ tvayāmuṣmāttyaktahiṁsādi karmaṇaḥ adhunā tīrthamāsādya sannidhau mama tiṣṭhati

‘You need not fear him, for he has given up violence and such deeds; having now attained this tirtha, he remains close by me.’

Verse 126 (padma.6.204.126)

शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा पित्रा शरभेण महात्मना । उत्थाय पतितस्तस्य पादयोर्दंडवद्भुवि

śivaśarmovāca- ityukto'haṁ tadā pitrā śarabheṇa mahātmanā utthāya patitastasya pādayordaṁḍavadbhuvi

Shivasharma said: Thus told by my great-souled father Sharabha, I rose and fell, like a rod, upon the ground at his feet.

Verse 127 (padma.6.204.127)

दोर्भ्यामुत्थाप्य मां सोऽथ गाढमालिंग्य राक्षसः । स्वागतं मित्रपुत्रेति जगादाशिषमीरयन्

dorbhyāmutthāpya māṁ so'tha gāḍhamāliṁgya rākṣasaḥ svāgataṁ mitraputreti jagādāśiṣamīrayan

Raising me up with both his arms, and embracing me tightly, that rakshasa said, ‘Welcome, son of my friend,’ uttering a blessing:

Verse 128 (padma.6.204.128)

राक्षस उवाच- भाग्यवानसि भो तात यत्त्वमत्र समागतः । पितुर्धर्मात्मनः श्रुत्वा ज्वरपीडां सुदारुणाम्

rākṣasa uvāca- bhāgyavānasi bho tāta yattvamatra samāgataḥ piturdharmātmanaḥ śrutvā jvarapīḍāṁ sudāruṇām

The rakshasa said: ‘You are fortunate, O son, that you have come here, having heard of the most terrible fever-affliction of your righteous father.’

Verse 129 (padma.6.204.129)

पितुराण्यमाप्नोषि तीर्थे कृत्वा तिलोदकम् । स्नात्वा कुरु क्रियां स्वीयाः पूर्वजन्मस्मरिष्यसि

piturāṇyamāpnoṣi tīrthe kṛtvā tilodakam snātvā kuru kriyāṁ svīyāḥ pūrvajanmasmariṣyasi

‘You shall obtain freedom from debt to your father, having offered sesame-water at this tirtha; bathe, perform your own rites, and you shall remember your former birth.’

Verse 130 (padma.6.204.130)

शिवशर्मोवाच- एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन स्नातुं तीर्थे वरांभसि । प्रविष्टोऽहं स्मरंस्तात पूर्वजन्मशुभाशुभम्

śivaśarmovāca- evamuktastadā tena snātuṁ tīrthe varāṁbhasi praviṣṭo'haṁ smaraṁstāta pūrvajanmaśubhāśubham

Shivasharma said: Thus told by him, I then entered the excellent water of the tirtha to bathe, O son, and remembered the good and bad deeds of my former birth.

Verse 131 (padma.6.204.131)

स्नात्वा विधिवदत्रैव पितुरंतिकमागतः । अपृच्छं रक्षसो वृत्तं कुतोऽयं धर्मधीरिति

snātvā vidhivadatraiva pituraṁtikamāgataḥ apṛcchaṁ rakṣaso vṛttaṁ kuto'yaṁ dharmadhīriti

Having duly bathed, right here, I came to my father's side, and asked about the story of the rakshasa — how had he come to have such righteous understanding?

Verse 132 (padma.6.204.132)

पित्रोक्तं रक्षसो वृत्तं वाहानां पथिकस्य च । श्रुत्वाऽहं तीर्थराजस्य स्तुतिमस्य चकार वै

pitroktaṁ rakṣaso vṛttaṁ vāhānāṁ pathikasya ca śrutvā'haṁ tīrtharājasya stutimasya cakāra vai

Having heard the story of the rakshasa, and of the bearers and the traveler, told by my father, I then indeed sang the praise of this king of tirthas.

Verse 133 (padma.6.204.133)

पिता मे रोगनिर्मुक्तो भविष्यति यदा तदा । यास्यामि गृहमित्यत्र दशोषितमहानि मे

pitā me roganirmukto bhaviṣyati yadā tadā yāsyāmi gṛhamityatra daśoṣitamahāni me

Thinking ‘When my father is freed from his illness, then I shall go home’ — I remained there for ten days.

Verse 134 (padma.6.204.134)

दशाहाभ्यंतरे तात तातस्य मरणं मम । अभूदर्धजले ह्यस्य तीर्थराजस्य पश्यतः

daśāhābhyaṁtare tāta tātasya maraṇaṁ mama abhūdardhajale hyasya tīrtharājasya paśyataḥ

Within those ten days, O son, my own father's death occurred, half-submerged in the water of this king of tirthas, before my very eyes.

Verse 135 (padma.6.204.135)

अथो गरुडमारुह्य वक्षसो धारयन्श्रियम् । आजगाम स्वयं विष्णुर्नवीन घनविग्रहः

atho garuḍamāruhya vakṣaso dhārayanśriyam ājagāma svayaṁ viṣṇurnavīna ghanavigrahaḥ

Then, mounted upon Garuda, bearing Shri upon his breast, Vishnu himself came, his form like a fresh rain-cloud—

Verse 136 (padma.6.204.136)

पीतवासा चतुर्बाहुः पंकजारुणलोचनः । ब्रह्मेंद्रादिभिरादिव्यैः सनाथैरंधकारिणा

pītavāsā caturbāhuḥ paṁkajāruṇalocanaḥ brahmeṁdrādibhirādivyaiḥ sanāthairaṁdhakāriṇā

—clad in yellow, four-armed, his eyes red as the lotus, accompanied by Brahma, Indra, and the other celestial beings led by the foe of Andhaka—

Verse 137 (padma.6.204.137)

सेव्यमानो गुणग्रामान्गायद्भिः किन्नरैः सह । हाहाहूहूप्रभृतिभिः स्तूयमानश्च सर्वतः

sevyamāno guṇagrāmāngāyadbhiḥ kinnaraiḥ saha hāhāhūhūprabhṛtibhiḥ stūyamānaśca sarvataḥ

—being served, and praised on every side by kinnaras such as Haha and Huhu, singing his host of virtues—

Verse 138 (padma.6.204.138)

दत्त्वा स्वकीय सारूप्यमारोप्य गरुडं तदा । पितरं मम ब्रह्माद्यैर्वृतो वैकुंठमारुहत्

dattvā svakīya sārūpyamāropya garuḍaṁ tadā pitaraṁ mama brahmādyairvṛto vaikuṁṭhamāruhat

—having granted my father his own form, and having mounted him upon Garuda, then, surrounded by Brahma and the others, he ascended to Vaikuntha.

Verse 139 (padma.6.204.139)

पितुः सारूप्यमालोक्य विष्णोरहमचिंतयम् । इति चित्ते तदालोक्य जाततत्वोदये तदा

pituḥ sārūpyamālokya viṣṇorahamaciṁtayam iti citte tadālokya jātatatvodaye tadā

Beholding my father's attainment of Vishnu's own form, I reflected — having witnessed this in my heart, the truth then dawning within me:

Verse 140 (padma.6.204.140)

न हि वर्णयितुं शक्यो ह्यस्य तीर्थशिरोमणेः । महिमा यज्जलार्द्धे स्यान्मृतो जंतुश्चतुर्भुजः

na hi varṇayituṁ śakyo hyasya tīrthaśiromaṇeḥ mahimā yajjalārddhe syānmṛto jaṁtuścaturbhujaḥ

—the glory of this crest-jewel of tirthas cannot indeed be described, by which a creature dying even half-immersed in its water becomes four-armed.

Verse 141 (padma.6.204.141)

न मया सर्वथा त्याज्यं तीर्थराजमिदं ननु । अंजसा दृढमाहात्म्यं धनरोगादितृष्ण्या

na mayā sarvathā tyājyaṁ tīrtharājamidaṁ nanu aṁjasā dṛḍhamāhātmyaṁ dhanarogāditṛṣṇyā

—this king of tirthas must never, in any way, be abandoned by me; its greatness is directly and firmly established, unlike craving after wealth, health, and the like.

Verse 142 (padma.6.204.142)

पितुरत्रोटजे तावत्स्थातव्यं हि मया मम । यावत्तु कर्मणां भुक्तः प्रारब्धानां महीतले

pituratroṭaje tāvatsthātavyaṁ hi mayā mama yāvattu karmaṇāṁ bhuktaḥ prārabdhānāṁ mahītale

I should remain here, in my father's own hut, for as long as the karma I have accumulated for consumption on this earth continues.

Verse 143 (padma.6.204.143)

एवं विचिंतयित्वा च पितुः कृत्वा तु सत्क्रियाम् । रक्षसा तेन सहितः स्थितोऽहं मोक्षवांछया

evaṁ viciṁtayitvā ca pituḥ kṛtvā tu satkriyām rakṣasā tena sahitaḥ sthito'haṁ mokṣavāṁchayā

Having thus resolved, and having performed my father's proper funeral rites, I remained there together with that rakshasa, desiring liberation.