Vimala's Quest for a Son

Verse 1 (padma.6.207.1)

सौभरिरुवाच- धर्मात्मज निशम्यैतद्वचस्तस्य महात्मनः । नारदस्य शिबी राजा प्रोवाचेदं विनीतवत्

saubhariruvāca- dharmātmaja niśamyaitadvacastasya mahātmanaḥ nāradasya śibī rājā provācedaṁ vinītavat

Saubhari said: O son of Dharma, having heard this speech of the great-souled Narada, King Shibi spoke thus, with humility.

Verse 2 (padma.6.207.2)

शिबिरुवाच- तिष्ठंत्यो मरुमार्गे ता राक्षस्यो मुनिपुंगव । एतस्या द्वारिकायास्तु लेभिरे सलिलं कुतः

śibiruvāca- tiṣṭhaṁtyo marumārge tā rākṣasyo munipuṁgava etasyā dvārikāyāstu lebhire salilaṁ kutaḥ

Shibi said: 'O foremost of sages, those rakshasis dwelling along the desert track — from where did they come to obtain the water of this Dvarika?'

Verse 3 (padma.6.207.3)

नारद उवाच- शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यां पूतां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । विमलाख्यस्य विप्रस्य हिमवद्द्रोणिवासिनः

nārada uvāca- śṛṇu rājankathāṁ divyāṁ pūtāṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm vimalākhyasya viprasya himavaddroṇivāsinaḥ

Narada said: 'Hear, O king, the divine and sacred tale — destroyer of sin — of the brahmin named Vimala, who dwelt in a valley of the Himalayas.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.207.4)

एकस्तु हिमवद्द्रोण्यां विमलो नाम भूसुरः । देवर्षिपितृवह्नीनां पूजकोऽतिथिपूजकः

ekastu himavaddroṇyāṁ vimalo nāma bhūsuraḥ devarṣipitṛvahnīnāṁ pūjako'tithipūjakaḥ

'In a valley of the Himalayas there lived a brahmin named Vimala, a worshipper of gods, sages, ancestors, and the sacred fire, and one who honored his guests as well.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.207.5)

हरिपादार्चनरतो वेदवेदांगधर्मवित् । वासुदेवगुणग्राम पुराणश्रुतिमानसः

haripādārcanarato vedavedāṁgadharmavit vāsudevaguṇagrāma purāṇaśrutimānasaḥ

'Devoted to worshipping the feet of Hari, learned in the Vedas, the Vedangas, and dharma, his mind delighted in hearing the Puranas that tell of Vasudeva's host of virtues.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.207.6)

वार्द्धके तस्य पुत्रोऽभूत्प्रसादाच्चक्रपाणिनः । चकार हरिदत्तेति नाम्ना तं जनकस्तदा

vārddhake tasya putro'bhūtprasādāccakrapāṇinaḥ cakāra haridatteti nāmnā taṁ janakastadā

'In his old age, a son was born to him by the grace of the discus-bearing Lord; and his father then gave him the name Haridatta.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.207.7)

विधिवद्विदधे चास्य क्षौरकर्मादिकं च तत् । गुरोः सकाशाज्जग्राह छंदांसि हरिदत्तकः

vidhivadvidadhe cāsya kṣaurakarmādikaṁ ca tat guroḥ sakāśājjagrāha chaṁdāṁsi haridattakaḥ

'He duly performed the tonsure and other rites for him; and Haridatta received the Vedic hymns from his guru.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.207.8)

अधीत्य विधिवद्वेदान्दत्त्वा च गुरुदक्षिणाम् । प्रवव्राज विरक्तः सन्समूलं चाश्रमद्वयम्

adhītya vidhivadvedāndattvā ca gurudakṣiṇām pravavrāja viraktaḥ sansamūlaṁ cāśramadvayam

'Having duly studied the Vedas, and having paid his guru's fee, he grew detached and renounced the world entirely, forsaking both earlier stages of life at their very root.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.207.9)

ज्ञात्वा तत्कर्मतन्माता व्यलपत्पुत्रवत्सला । स्नापयंती कुचद्वंद्वं पुत्रविश्लेषजाश्रुभिः

jñātvā tatkarmatanmātā vyalapatputravatsalā snāpayaṁtī kucadvaṁdvaṁ putraviśleṣajāśrubhiḥ

'Learning of this, his mother, so tender toward her son, fell to lamenting, drenching her breast with tears born of separation from her son.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.207.10)

मातोवाच- मामनाथां परित्यज्य तात यातोऽसि कुत्र वै । पितरं च जराग्रस्तं षट्पदो बल्वजाविव

mātovāca- māmanāthāṁ parityajya tāta yāto'si kutra vai pitaraṁ ca jarāgrastaṁ ṣaṭpado balvajāviva

The mother said: 'O child, abandoning me, helpless, where have you gone — and your father too, worn by old age, as a bee abandons the balvaja grass?'

Verse 11 (padma.6.207.11)

वार्द्धके त्वं मया प्राप्तः श्रीपतेः पादसेवया । मां विहायाभजस्त्वं वै चरणं तस्य मुक्तये

vārddhake tvaṁ mayā prāptaḥ śrīpateḥ pādasevayā māṁ vihāyābhajastvaṁ vai caraṇaṁ tasya muktaye

'In my old age I obtained you through service to the Lord of Shri's feet; and now, abandoning me, you have gone to serve those same feet for the sake of liberation.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.207.12)

अहं मूढा ध्रुवं तात ध्रुवमाराध्य यद्धरिम् । अध्रुवं वांछितवती भवन्तं तु सुखलब्धये

ahaṁ mūḍhā dhruvaṁ tāta dhruvamārādhya yaddharim adhruvaṁ vāṁchitavatī bhavantaṁ tu sukhalabdhaye

'I am truly foolish, O child — for even while worshipping Hari, the constant one, I desired you, the inconstant, merely for my own happiness.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.207.13)

त्वं सुधीर्वत्स सर्वार्थं यद्विष्णुं भजसे स्वयम् । अध्रुवं जगदेतद्वै मत्वासीस्त्वमपि ध्रुवम्

tvaṁ sudhīrvatsa sarvārthaṁ yadviṣṇuṁ bhajase svayam adhruvaṁ jagadetadvai matvāsīstvamapi dhruvam

'You are truly wise, my child, in that you yourself worship Vishnu above all else; knowing this world to be impermanent, you yourself have become steadfast.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.207.14)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि माया ज्ञानं छिनत्ति मे । सुफलोत्पादकं शास्त्री रंभामूलमिवोल्बणा

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi māyā jñānaṁ chinatti me suphalotpādakaṁ śāstrī raṁbhāmūlamivolbaṇā

'What am I to do, where am I to go — delusion cuts away my understanding, as a raging torrent cuts away the root of a good, fruit-bearing plantain tree.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.207.15)

धन्यो दशरथो राजा यो मृतो रामशोकतः । धिङ्मां पुत्रस्य विश्लेषाद्धारयंती स्वजीवितम्

dhanyo daśaratho rājā yo mṛto rāmaśokataḥ dhiṅmāṁ putrasya viśleṣāddhārayaṁtī svajīvitam

'Blessed was King Dasharatha, who died of grief at his separation from Rama; shame on me, who bears the sorrow of separation from my son and still clings to my own life.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.207.16)

आगच्छ दर्शंन देहि तात मां परितारय । वद वेदमयीं वाणीं पितुरग्रे गुणार्णव

āgaccha darśaṁna dehi tāta māṁ paritāraya vada vedamayīṁ vāṇīṁ pituragre guṇārṇava

'Come, O child, grant me your sight, deliver me; speak your Veda-filled words before your father, O ocean of virtues.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.207.17)

नारद उवाच- एवं विलप्य तन्माता राजन्सा पतिता भुवि । दलनाद्राहुदत्तानां लेखा चांद्रमसी यथा

nārada uvāca- evaṁ vilapya tanmātā rājansā patitā bhuvi dalanādrāhudattānāṁ lekhā cāṁdramasī yathā

Narada said: 'O king, having lamented thus, that mother fell to the ground, like a digit of the moon shattered by Rahu's grip.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.207.18)

अथाजगाम विप्रर्षिर्विमलो नृपसत्तमः । दृष्ट्वा तां पतितां भूमौ किंकिमित्यभ्यभाषत

athājagāma viprarṣirvimalo nṛpasattamaḥ dṛṣṭvā tāṁ patitāṁ bhūmau kiṁkimityabhyabhāṣata

'Then, O best of kings, the sage-brahmin Vimala arrived; seeing her fallen upon the ground, he cried out, "What is it, what has happened?"'

Verse 19 (padma.6.207.19)

कस्मादियं कीर्णकेशव्यस्तवस्त्रविभूषणा । पतिता भुवि कल्याणं हरिदत्तस्य विद्यते

kasmādiyaṁ kīrṇakeśavyastavastravibhūṣaṇā patitā bhuvi kalyāṇaṁ haridattasya vidyate

'"Why has she fallen to the ground, her hair disheveled, her garments and ornaments in disarray? Is Haridatta well?"'

Verse 20 (padma.6.207.20)

तस्यावयस्यास्ताः सर्वाः प्रोचुस्तं विमलं नृप । वयस्या ऊचुः - अधीत्य वेदांस्ते पुत्रो दत्त्वा च गुरुदक्षिणाम्

tasyāvayasyāstāḥ sarvāḥ procustaṁ vimalaṁ nṛpa vayasyā ūcuḥ - adhītya vedāṁste putro dattvā ca gurudakṣiṇām

O king, all her companions then spoke to Vimala. The companions said: 'Having studied the Vedas and paid his guru's due, your son—'

Verse 21 (padma.6.207.21)

नारायणपरो भूत्वा प्राव्रजद्धरिदत्तकः । तस्य विश्लेषशोकेन पतितेयं धरातले

nārāyaṇaparo bhūtvā prāvrajaddharidattakaḥ tasya viśleṣaśokena patiteyaṁ dharātale

'—has become wholly devoted to Narayana and has gone forth as a renunciant; it is from grief at his loss that she has fallen to the ground.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.207.22)

नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तासां विमलो बुद्धिमत्तरः । प्राबोधयन्निजां भार्यामिति वागमृतेन सः

nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya vacastāsāṁ vimalo buddhimattaraḥ prābodhayannijāṁ bhāryāmiti vāgamṛtena saḥ

Narada said: 'Hearing their words, Vimala, wisest of men, then consoled his own wife with this speech, sweet as nectar.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.207.23)

विमल उवाच- उत्तिष्ठ जाये शृणु वाक्यमीरितं मया किमर्थं पतिता विषीदसि । धन्यः सुतस्ते य इमं विनश्वरं विज्ञाय भेजे हरिपादपल्लवम्

vimala uvāca- uttiṣṭha jāye śṛṇu vākyamīritaṁ mayā kimarthaṁ patitā viṣīdasi dhanyaḥ sutaste ya imaṁ vinaśvaraṁ vijñāya bheje haripādapallavam

Vimala said: 'Rise, my wife, hear what I have to say; why do you lie fallen in sorrow? Blessed is your son, who, knowing this world to be perishable, has taken refuge at the tender lotus feet of Hari.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.207.24)

धन्या त्वमप्यस्य जनि प्रदायिनी यस्याः सुतस्ते हरिपादभागभूत् । संतारयिष्यत्यपि मामसंशयं कुलं कुलोत्थानपि पूरुषान्शुभे

dhanyā tvamapyasya jani pradāyinī yasyāḥ sutaste haripādabhāgabhūt saṁtārayiṣyatyapi māmasaṁśayaṁ kulaṁ kulotthānapi pūruṣānśubhe

'Blessed too are you, O auspicious one, who gave him birth — you whose son has become a partaker of Hari's feet; without doubt he will deliver me as well, and our whole lineage, and even those yet to be born in it.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.207.25)

क्व विश्वमेकतच्च पतच्चलं क्व सेवनं शाश्वतलोकदं हरेः । मत्वेति भेजुर्भरतादयो नृपा यथा हरिं साध्वि तथैव ते सुतः

kva viśvamekatacca pataccalaṁ kva sevanaṁ śāśvatalokadaṁ hareḥ matveti bhejurbharatādayo nṛpā yathā hariṁ sādhvi tathaiva te sutaḥ

'Where does this whole world stand — ever falling, ever unstable — and where is the service of Hari, giver of the eternal world? Thinking thus, kings like Bharata worshipped Hari — and, virtuous one, your son has done exactly the same.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.207.26)

दारा धनागार शरीरबांधवा एते भवंति प्रतिजन्मदुःखदाः । तावन्नयावद्धरिपादपल्लवं भजेत धीरोऽखिलकामवर्जितः

dārā dhanāgāra śarīrabāṁdhavā ete bhavaṁti pratijanmaduḥkhadāḥ tāvannayāvaddharipādapallavaṁ bhajeta dhīro'khilakāmavarjitaḥ

'Wife, wealth, house, body, and kinsmen — all of these become sources of sorrow, birth after birth. Therefore let the wise, free of every desire, worship only the tender lotus of Hari's feet.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.207.27)

नारद उवाच- एवं प्रबोधिता तेन धीरेण धरणीतलात् । उत्थाय निजभर्तारमब्रवीद्दीनया गिरा

nārada uvāca- evaṁ prabodhitā tena dhīreṇa dharaṇītalāt utthāya nijabhartāramabravīddīnayā girā

Narada said: 'Thus reassured by that steadfast man, she rose from the ground and spoke to her own husband in a plaintive voice.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.207.28)

भार्योवाच। सर्वं जानाम्यहं कांत यत्त्वया साधुभाषितम् । कुलधुर्यं न पश्यामि यतस्तप्यामि वै भृशम्

bhāryovāca sarvaṁ jānāmyahaṁ kāṁta yattvayā sādhubhāṣitam kuladhuryaṁ na paśyāmi yatastapyāmi vai bhṛśam

The wife said: 'My husband, I know well everything you have rightly said; but seeing no one to carry forward our lineage, I am deeply tormented.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.207.29)

पुत्रे सति महत्तीर्थे किं वा केशवसेवया । गृह एवावयोर्मृत्युश्चेत्स्याल्लोकद्वयं तदा

putre sati mahattīrthe kiṁ vā keśavasevayā gṛha evāvayormṛtyuścetsyāllokadvayaṁ tadā

'With a son, what need is there even of a great tirtha, or of service to Keshava? If, with a son present, our death should come even at home, both worlds would still be won.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.207.30)

सत्पुत्रोत्पादने यत्नः कर्त्तव्यः खलु मानवैः । तारयंति पितॄन्पुत्रा यतः संसारवारिधैः

satputrotpādane yatnaḥ karttavyaḥ khalu mānavaiḥ tārayaṁti pitṝnputrā yataḥ saṁsāravāridhaiḥ

'Men must surely strive to beget a worthy son, for it is sons who ferry their forefathers across the ocean of worldly existence.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.207.31)

स्रष्टारं सर्वजंतूनां धातारं पुत्रकाम्यया । भज वांछसि चेत्पुत्रं कुलधुर्यं महामते

sraṣṭāraṁ sarvajaṁtūnāṁ dhātāraṁ putrakāmyayā bhaja vāṁchasi cetputraṁ kuladhuryaṁ mahāmate

'O great-minded one, if you desire a son to carry forward our lineage, then, out of that desire, worship the Creator and Sustainer of all beings.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.207.32)

नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्यवचस्तस्याः प्रत्याह विमलो द्विजः । ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं प्रयागं हि याम्यहं पुत्रकाम्यया

nārada uvāca- ityākarṇyavacastasyāḥ pratyāha vimalo dvijaḥ brahmakṣetraṁ prayāgaṁ hi yāmyahaṁ putrakāmyayā

Narada said: 'Hearing her words, the brahmin Vimala replied: "I shall go, out of desire for a son, to Prayaga, the domain of Brahma."'

Verse 33 (padma.6.207.33)

इत्युक्त्वा चलितः सोऽथ हरिद्वारमगाद्द्विजः । स्नात्वा तत्रापि विधिवदिंद्रप्रस्थमथागमत्

ityuktvā calitaḥ so'tha haridvāramagāddvijaḥ snātvā tatrāpi vidhivadiṁdraprasthamathāgamat

'Having said this, the brahmin set out and went to Haridvara; having duly bathed there as well, he then arrived at Indraprastha.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.207.34)

कतिभिर्वासरैर्वीर सायंकालेऽखिलार्थिदम् । स्नात्वा भुक्त्वा निशायां स सुष्वाप यमुनातटे

katibhirvāsarairvīra sāyaṁkāle'khilārthidam snātvā bhuktvā niśāyāṁ sa suṣvāpa yamunātaṭe

'O hero, after some days, at evening time, having bathed in that wish-granting tirtha and eaten, he lay down to sleep that night on the bank of the Yamuna.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.207.35)

निशीथे स्वपतस्तस्य विमलस्यांतिके विधिः । हंसमारुह्य देवेशस्तीर्थैः सर्वैरनुद्रुतः

niśīthe svapatastasya vimalasyāṁtike vidhiḥ haṁsamāruhya deveśastīrthaiḥ sarvairanudrutaḥ

'At midnight, as Vimala slept, Vidhi, lord of the gods, mounted on his swan and attended by all the sacred tirthas, drew near him.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.207.36)

आगत्योत्थापयामास विमलं पुत्रवांच्छकम् । उवाच च सुरश्रेष्ठो वचनं मधुराक्षरम्

āgatyotthāpayāmāsa vimalaṁ putravāṁcchakam uvāca ca suraśreṣṭho vacanaṁ madhurākṣaram

'Arriving there, he woke Vimala, who longed for a son, and that foremost of gods spoke to him in sweet and gentle words.'

Verse 37 (padma.6.207.37)

ब्रह्मोवाच- जाने समीतिं चित्तं त्वदीये मनसि स्थितम् । न तत्पूरयितुं कल्पो यतस्तत्कारणं शृणु

brahmovāca- jāne samītiṁ cittaṁ tvadīye manasi sthitam na tatpūrayituṁ kalpo yatastatkāraṇaṁ śṛṇu

Brahma said: 'I know the wish that dwells in your mind; but I am not able to fulfill it — hear the reason why.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.207.38)

एकदा मेरुशिखरे मिलिताः सर्वदेवताः । तुष्टुवुर्मद्भवमुखा माधवं कार्यसिद्धये

ekadā meruśikhare militāḥ sarvadevatāḥ tuṣṭuvurmadbhavamukhā mādhavaṁ kāryasiddhaye

'Once, all the gods gathered on the peak of Meru; headed by myself and Shiva, we praised Madhava for the fulfillment of a certain task.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.207.39)

स्तुतो स्मदादिविबुधैः कृपया भगवान्हरिः । प्रसन्नोभूत्तदा विष्णुर्वृणुध्वमिति चाब्रवीत्

stuto smadādivibudhaiḥ kṛpayā bhagavānhariḥ prasannobhūttadā viṣṇurvṛṇudhvamiti cābravīt

'Praised by us and the other gods, the Lord Hari, out of grace, became pleased; and Vishnu then said, "Ask for a boon."'

Verse 40 (padma.6.207.40)

इत्युक्तास्तेन ते देवा यथाभिलषितं वरम् । श्रीपतेः प्राप्य ते जग्मुः सर्वे स्वं स्वं निकेतनम्

ityuktāstena te devā yathābhilaṣitaṁ varam śrīpateḥ prāpya te jagmuḥ sarve svaṁ svaṁ niketanam

'Thus addressed, those gods each obtained from the Lord of Shri the boon that he desired, and all then went to their own abodes.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.207.41)

मयोक्तमिति देवेश देहि मे वरमुत्तमम् । प्रयागं नाम मे क्षेत्रं भवत्वखिलकामदम्

mayoktamiti deveśa dehi me varamuttamam prayāgaṁ nāma me kṣetraṁ bhavatvakhilakāmadam

'I said: "O lord of the gods, grant me this excellent boon — let my domain named Prayaga become a granter of every desire."'

Verse 42 (padma.6.207.42)

ततः शतगुणं भूयाद्दिवतीयं क्षेत्रकं मम । इंद्रप्रस्थगतं सम्यग्वृत्तं त्वत्तो मयानघ

tataḥ śataguṇaṁ bhūyāddivatīyaṁ kṣetrakaṁ mama iṁdraprasthagataṁ samyagvṛttaṁ tvatto mayānagha

'"And let my second domain, at Indraprastha, be made a hundredfold greater still, well established by you, O sinless one."'

Verse 43 (padma.6.207.43)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचो मह्यं भगवानाह मां तदा । तथास्त्विति पुनर्वाचमुवाच श्रूयतां वचः

ityākarṇya vaco mahyaṁ bhagavānāha māṁ tadā tathāstviti punarvācamuvāca śrūyatāṁ vacaḥ

'Hearing this, the Lord then said to me, "So be it," and spoke further — hear now what he said.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.207.44)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । इंद्रस्य खांडवारण्ये इंद्रप्रस्थाभिधं शुभम् । क्षेत्रं कलिंदजातीरे मत्तुल्यास्तत्र ये मृताः

śrībhagavānuvāca iṁdrasya khāṁḍavāraṇye iṁdraprasthābhidhaṁ śubham kṣetraṁ kaliṁdajātīre mattulyāstatra ye mṛtāḥ

The blessed Lord said: 'In Indra's Khandava forest, on the bank of Kalinda's daughter, there lies the auspicious domain named Indraprastha; those who die there become equal to me.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.207.45)

विरिंचे रचिता तत्र स्वकीया द्वारकापुरी । मया शतगुणांभोधी तीरस्थायाः पुरा गुणैः

viriṁce racitā tatra svakīyā dvārakāpurī mayā śataguṇāṁbhodhī tīrasthāyāḥ purā guṇaiḥ

'O Virinchi, there I have fashioned my own city of Dvaraka — greater by a hundredfold, through its own virtues, than the Dvaraka that stands upon the ocean's shore.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.207.46)

तामुल्लंघ्य नरो यस्तु तीर्थमन्यन्निषेव्यते । न तीर्थफलमाप्नोति स पुमान्न मृषोदितम्

tāmullaṁghya naro yastu tīrthamanyanniṣevyate na tīrthaphalamāpnoti sa pumānna mṛṣoditam

'Whatever man bypasses this and resorts to some other tirtha instead does not obtain the fruit of a tirtha at all — this is no false claim.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.207.47)

सर्वतीर्थोदितं पुण्यं शक्रतीर्थे लभेन्नरः । द्वारका च पुरी मायातीर्थमन्यच्च रक्षति

sarvatīrthoditaṁ puṇyaṁ śakratīrthe labhennaraḥ dvārakā ca purī māyātīrthamanyacca rakṣati

'At Shakra-tirtha, a man obtains the merit declared for all the tirthas together; and my city of Dvaraka safeguards the merit of every other tirtha as well.'

Verse 48 (padma.6.207.48)

यो निमज्ज्यान्यतीर्थेषु कृत्वा च विविधां क्रियाम् । अत्रैष्यति फलं तेभ्यः फलं प्राप्स्यति स ध्रुवम्

yo nimajjyānyatīrtheṣu kṛtvā ca vividhāṁ kriyām atraiṣyati phalaṁ tebhyaḥ phalaṁ prāpsyati sa dhruvam

'Whoever, after bathing in other tirthas and performing various rites, then comes here — he shall surely obtain the fruit of those as well.'

Verse 49 (padma.6.207.49)

इत्युक्त्वांतर्द्धधे विष्णुरहमप्यगमं स्वकम् । लोकं द्विजेंद्र वैकुंठादधोभागे व्यवस्थितम्

ityuktvāṁtarddhadhe viṣṇurahamapyagamaṁ svakam lokaṁ dvijeṁdra vaikuṁṭhādadhobhāge vyavasthitam

'Having said this, Vishnu vanished from sight; and I too, O foremost of brahmins, returned to my own world, which lies below Vaikuntha.'

Verse 50 (padma.6.207.50)

प्रयागान्मामकात्क्षेत्रात्काशी शतगुणा स्मृता । काश्याः शतगुणं तीर्थं निगमोद्बोधकं तथा

prayāgānmāmakātkṣetrātkāśī śataguṇā smṛtā kāśyāḥ śataguṇaṁ tīrthaṁ nigamodbodhakaṁ tathā

'Kashi is remembered as a hundred times greater than my own domain of Prayaga; and the tirtha called Nigamodbodhaka is likewise a hundred times greater than Kashi.'

Verse 51 (padma.6.207.51)

तीर्थसप्तकमेतत्तु त्रयं तुल्यफलं स्मृतम् । एतत्त्रयमनुल्लंघ्य यो गच्छति सितासितम्

tīrthasaptakametattu trayaṁ tulyaphalaṁ smṛtam etattrayamanullaṁghya yo gacchati sitāsitam

'Of this set of seven tirthas, three are held to be equal in their fruit; whoever, without bypassing these three, goes on to any other place, bright or dark—'

Verse 52 (padma.6.207.52)

तस्याहं वांछितं विप्र ददामि खलु नान्यथा । केचिदाहुः सप्तपुरी समपुण्या महर्षयः

tasyāhaṁ vāṁchitaṁ vipra dadāmi khalu nānyathā kecidāhuḥ saptapurī samapuṇyā maharṣayaḥ

'—to him, O brahmin, I truly grant his wish, and never otherwise. Some great sages say that the seven sacred cities are of equal merit.'

Verse 53 (padma.6.207.53)

अयोध्याद्याः शतं ताभ्य इंद्रप्रस्थं प्रचक्षते । त्वमत्रागत्य विप्रेंद्र सर्वकामफलप्रदे

ayodhyādyāḥ śataṁ tābhya iṁdraprasthaṁ pracakṣate tvamatrāgatya vipreṁdra sarvakāmaphalaprade

'Ayodhya and the other cities are surpassed a hundredfold, and beyond them Indraprastha is declared supreme. Having come here, O foremost of brahmins, to this place that grants the fruit of every desire—'

Verse 54 (padma.6.207.54)

तीर्थे श्रीद्वारकाख्ये हि कुरु स्नानं सुतेच्छया । यावंति सर्वतीर्थानि ब्रह्मांडकलशोदरे

tīrthe śrīdvārakākhye hi kuru snānaṁ sutecchayā yāvaṁti sarvatīrthāni brahmāṁḍakalaśodare

'—bathe here, out of desire for a son, in this tirtha named Shri Dvaraka; for however many tirthas exist within the vessel of the cosmic egg—'

Verse 55 (padma.6.207.55)

तेभ्यो परिमितं पुण्यं शतनामनि कीर्तिते । सुतं ते कुलधौरेयं तीर्थमेतत्प्रदास्यति

tebhyo parimitaṁ puṇyaṁ śatanāmani kīrtite sutaṁ te kuladhaureyaṁ tīrthametatpradāsyati

'—the merit of them all is contained within this hundredfold-named tirtha; this tirtha shall grant you a son to carry forward your lineage.'

Verse 56 (padma.6.207.56)

स्नानाच्च तव गोविंदः प्रसन्नात्मा भविष्यति । नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशो ब्रह्मा तत्र तिरोधते

snānācca tava goviṁdaḥ prasannātmā bhaviṣyati nārada uvāca- ityuktvā devadeveśo brahmā tatra tirodhate

'And through this bathing, Govinda will become pleased with you.' Narada said: 'Having said this, Brahma, lord of gods and of the gods themselves, vanished there.'

Verse 57 (padma.6.207.57)

विमलोऽपि तदा स्नात्वा देवादीनप्यतर्पयत् । इत्युवाच स धर्मात्मा द्वारके कृष्णवल्लभे

vimalo'pi tadā snātvā devādīnapyatarpayat ityuvāca sa dharmātmā dvārake kṛṣṇavallabhe

'Vimala too then bathed and offered libations even to the gods; that righteous man spoke thus at Dvaraka, so dear to Krishna.'

Verse 58 (padma.6.207.58)

सुतं वंशकरं देहि मह्यंभक्ताय ते नमः । इत्युक्ते तेन विप्रेण देववागभवत्तदा

sutaṁ vaṁśakaraṁ dehi mahyaṁbhaktāya te namaḥ ityukte tena vipreṇa devavāgabhavattadā

'"Grant a son to continue my lineage to me, your devotee; salutations to you." When the brahmin had spoken thus, a divine voice then rang out.'

Verse 59 (padma.6.207.59)

देववागुवाच- पुत्रस्ते धर्म्मतत्वज्ञो वंशकर्त्ता भविष्यति । प्रसादादस्य तीर्थस्य सर्वतीर्थशिरोमणेः

devavāguvāca- putraste dharmmatatvajño vaṁśakarttā bhaviṣyati prasādādasya tīrthasya sarvatīrthaśiromaṇeḥ

The divine voice said: 'By the grace of this tirtha, crown-jewel of all tirthas, your son shall become a knower of the truth of dharma and the founder of your line.'

Verse 60 (padma.6.207.60)

याहि गेहं विलंबं मा सुकृतं तेन मज्जनम् । नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य सतां वाणीं विश्वस्तः पुत्रजन्मनि

yāhi gehaṁ vilaṁbaṁ mā sukṛtaṁ tena majjanam nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya satāṁ vāṇīṁ viśvastaḥ putrajanmani

'Go home now, delay no longer — your bathing has borne good fruit.' Narada said: 'Hearing this word of the virtuous voice, and now assured of a son's birth—'

Verse 61 (padma.6.207.61)

चचाल जलमादाय द्वारकायाः कमंडलौ । मार्गे तस्य सखा विप्रो मलयाचलकेतनः

cacāla jalamādāya dvārakāyāḥ kamaṁḍalau mārge tasya sakhā vipro malayācalaketanaḥ

'—he set out, carrying the water of Dvaraka in his kamandalu; on the way, a friend of his, a brahmin who dwelt upon Mount Malaya—'

Verse 62 (padma.6.207.62)

मीलितश्चलितो गेहं कृत्वा तीर्थानि सर्वतः । तस्मै स्ववृत्तमाख्यातं ब्रह्मसंवादकात्मकम्

mīlitaścalito gehaṁ kṛtvā tīrthāni sarvataḥ tasmai svavṛttamākhyātaṁ brahmasaṁvādakātmakam

'—met him, and together, visiting tirthas along the way, they set out for home; to him, Vimala related his own story, the account of his dialogue with Brahma.'

Verse 63 (padma.6.207.63)

यद्भूतं द्वारकातीर्थे श्रुत्वा सोऽपि विसिस्मये । उवाच स च धर्मात्मा सखे मम वचः शृणु

yadbhūtaṁ dvārakātīrthe śrutvā so'pi visismaye uvāca sa ca dharmātmā sakhe mama vacaḥ śṛṇu

'Hearing of what had taken place at the Dvaraka tirtha, he too was astonished; and that righteous man said, "Friend, hear what I have to say."'

Verse 64 (padma.6.207.64)

यावंति भारते क्षेत्रे तीर्थानि विहितानि मे । तावंति कर्तुमिच्छामि त्वदुक्तं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

yāvaṁti bhārate kṣetre tīrthāni vihitāni me tāvaṁti kartumicchāmi tvaduktaṁ tīrthamuttamam

'"As many tirthas as I had vowed to visit throughout the land of Bharata — I now wish, instead, to make this one excellent tirtha you have described serve for them all."'

Verse 65 (padma.6.207.65)

नीत्वा मां दर्शय सखे तत्तीर्थं सर्वकामदम् । सखायस्ते वरा भूमावुपकुर्वंति ये सखीन्

nītvā māṁ darśaya sakhe tattīrthaṁ sarvakāmadam sakhāyaste varā bhūmāvupakurvaṁti ye sakhīn

'"Take me, friend, and show me that tirtha which grants every desire. The best of friends in this world are those who do good for their friends."'

Verse 66 (padma.6.207.66)

न तैर्ननु समो लोके पितामाताऽथवा सुतः । निर्द्धनं पुरुषं लोके सर्वे मुंचंति बांधवाः

na tairnanu samo loke pitāmātā'thavā sutaḥ nirddhanaṁ puruṣaṁ loke sarve muṁcaṁti bāṁdhavāḥ

'"In this world, not even father, mother, or son is equal to true friends. A penniless man is abandoned in this world by all his kinsmen."'

Verse 67 (padma.6.207.67)

न मुंचंति सखायस्तु तस्य दुःखेन दुःखिताः । संसारार्णवनिर्मग्नान्सखीनुद्धरते सखा

na muṁcaṁti sakhāyastu tasya duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ saṁsārārṇavanirmagnānsakhīnuddharate sakhā

'"But friends do not forsake him; they share and grieve in his sorrow. A friend it is who raises up his friends when they are drowning in the ocean of worldly existence."'

Verse 68 (padma.6.207.68)

उपदिश्य हरेर्भक्तिमार्गं जन्मेंधनानलम् । अतस्त्वं मे सखा श्रेष्ठ उपकारं विधेहि मे

upadiśya harerbhaktimārgaṁ janmeṁdhanānalam atastvaṁ me sakhā śreṣṭha upakāraṁ vidhehi me

'"To teach the path of devotion to Hari is itself the fire that burns away the fuel of repeated birth. Therefore, my most excellent friend, do me this one favor."'

Verse 69 (padma.6.207.69)

दर्शयैतद्वरश्रेष्ठं तीर्थाख्यं द्वारकां द्विज

darśayaitadvaraśreṣṭhaṁ tīrthākhyaṁ dvārakāṁ dvija

'"Show me, O brahmin, this most excellent tirtha called Dvaraka."'