The Tale of Dvaraka

Verse 1 (padma.6.208.1)

नारद उवाच- विमलस्तं द्विजं नीत्वा द्वारकायामिहागतः । पुनस्तौ सस्नतुं धीरौ श्रीपतेर्भक्तिकाम्यया । भूयः खे मेघगंभीरा वागासीदिति भूपते

nārada uvāca- vimalastaṁ dvijaṁ nītvā dvārakāyāmihāgataḥ punastau sasnatuṁ dhīrau śrīpaterbhaktikāmyayā bhūyaḥ khe meghagaṁbhīrā vāgāsīditi bhūpate

Narada said: 'Vimala, bringing that brahmin with him, came here to Dvaraka; then the two steadfast men, desiring devotion to the Lord of Shri, prepared to bathe together once more. Then, O king, a voice as deep as thunder arose again in the sky—'

Verse 2 (padma.6.208.2)

आकाशवागुवाच- शृणुतं द्विजशार्दूलौ हरेस्तीर्थमिदं शुभम् । एतत्तीर्थ प्रसादाद्वां विष्णुभक्तिर्भविष्यति । यया जहाति लोकोऽयमविद्या मोहमुल्बणम्

ākāśavāguvāca- śṛṇutaṁ dvijaśārdūlau harestīrthamidaṁ śubham etattīrtha prasādādvāṁ viṣṇubhaktirbhaviṣyati yayā jahāti loko'yamavidyā mohamulbaṇam

The voice from the sky said: 'Hear, you two foremost of brahmins — this is the auspicious tirtha of Hari; by its grace, devotion to Vishnu shall arise in you both, the very devotion by which this world casts off the terrible delusion of ignorance.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.208.3)

नारद उवाच- निशम्येतिद्विजश्रेष्ठौ तां वाचमशरीरिणीम् । प्रसादोऽयं हरेरासीदित्यूचाते परस्पराम्

nārada uvāca- niśamyetidvijaśreṣṭhau tāṁ vācamaśarīriṇīm prasādo'yaṁ harerāsīdityūcāte parasparām

Narada said: 'Hearing that bodiless voice, the two foremost brahmins said to one another, "This indeed is Hari's own grace."'

Verse 4 (padma.6.208.4)

स्नात्वा तौ विधिवत्तत्र लब्ध्वा भक्तिं हरेः पराम् । चेलतुः प्रणिपत्येदं भाषमाणौ मिथस्तदा

snātvā tau vidhivattatra labdhvā bhaktiṁ hareḥ parām celatuḥ praṇipatyedaṁ bhāṣamāṇau mithastadā

'Having duly bathed there and obtained supreme devotion to Hari, the two of them, having bowed down, set out, speaking thus to each other—'

Verse 5 (padma.6.208.5)

द्विजावूचतुः । यथावयोर्हि संयोगः पथिजातो विचारतः । यथा गृहकलत्रादि संयोगो भुवि जायते । सांप्रतं विरहोभावी यथा नौ मार्गवर्तिनौ

dvijāvūcatuḥ yathāvayorhi saṁyogaḥ pathijāto vicārataḥ yathā gṛhakalatrādi saṁyogo bhuvi jāyate sāṁprataṁ virahobhāvī yathā nau mārgavartinau

The two brahmins said: 'Just as this meeting of ours came about by mere chance upon the road, and just as union with house and wife and the rest occurs in this world — so too, since we are both travelers on this path, a parting must now soon follow.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.208.6)

तथादारसुतादीनां कालव्यास्यवर्तिनाम् । धन्यः स पुरुषो लोके यो दारसुतसंगमम्

tathādārasutādīnāṁ kālavyāsyavartinām dhanyaḥ sa puruṣo loke yo dārasutasaṁgamam

'—just so, the union with wife, son, and the rest stands within the very jaws of time. Blessed is that man in this world—'

Verse 7 (padma.6.208.7)

विज्ञाय क्षणिकं नित्यं संश्रयेत्श्रीपतिं भजेत् । नारद उवाच- स्मरणं करणीयं मे दासोऽहं त्वत्पदाश्रयः

vijñāya kṣaṇikaṁ nityaṁ saṁśrayetśrīpatiṁ bhajet nārada uvāca- smaraṇaṁ karaṇīyaṁ me dāso'haṁ tvatpadāśrayaḥ

'—who, knowing his union with wife and son to be fleeting, takes eternal refuge in and worships the Lord of Shri instead.' Narada said: [one said to the other:] 'Remember me; I am your servant, one who takes refuge at your feet.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.208.8)

संदेशः प्रेषणीयो मामित्युक्त्वा स्वगृहं गतौ । शृणु राजन्यथा तेन मित्रेण विमलस्य तु

saṁdeśaḥ preṣaṇīyo māmityuktvā svagṛhaṁ gatau śṛṇu rājanyathā tena mitreṇa vimalasya tu

'Send word to me now and then.' Having said this, the two went each to his own home. Now hear, O king, what happened to that friend of Vimala's.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.208.9)

मोक्षणं राक्षसीनां तु विहितं पथिगच्छता । व्रजन्स ब्राह्मणः प्राप्तस्तं देशं जलवर्जितम्

mokṣaṇaṁ rākṣasīnāṁ tu vihitaṁ pathigacchatā vrajansa brāhmaṇaḥ prāptastaṁ deśaṁ jalavarjitam

'It was on this journey that the liberation of the rakshasis came to be accomplished by him; going onward, that brahmin arrived at that waterless land—'

Verse 10 (padma.6.208.10)

यत्र ताः पापविप्लुष्टा राक्षस्यः क्षुत्तृषाकुलाः । अथ ताः पथिगच्छंतं दूराद्दृष्ट्वा द्विजोत्तमम्

yatra tāḥ pāpavipluṣṭā rākṣasyaḥ kṣuttṛṣākulāḥ atha tāḥ pathigacchaṁtaṁ dūrāddṛṣṭvā dvijottamam

'—where those sin-tainted rakshasis, tormented by hunger and thirst, dwelt. Then, seeing that foremost of brahmins walking the road from afar—'

Verse 11 (padma.6.208.11)

सजलामत्रहस्तं तं मिथस्त्विति बभाषिरे । राक्षस्य ऊचुः - आयाति पथिकः कश्चिज्जलपात्रं करे दधत्

sajalāmatrahastaṁ taṁ mithastviti babhāṣire rākṣasya ūcuḥ - āyāti pathikaḥ kaścijjalapātraṁ kare dadhat

'—carrying a water-vessel in his hand, they said to one another. The rakshasis said: "A traveler is coming, a water-pot in his hand—"'

Verse 12 (padma.6.208.12)

अस्माकं क्षुत्तृषोः शांतिर्मनागपि भविष्यति । एनं संभक्षयिष्यामः पास्यामोऽस्य करे स्थितम्

asmākaṁ kṣuttṛṣoḥ śāṁtirmanāgapi bhaviṣyati enaṁ saṁbhakṣayiṣyāmaḥ pāsyāmo'sya kare sthitam

'"—our hunger and thirst will at least be somewhat relieved. We shall eat him, and drink what he holds in his hand."'

Verse 13 (padma.6.208.13)

पात्रं जलं वयं तृष्णा क्षुधार्ताः शतवर्षतः । नारद उवाच- काचिदाहेत्यहं पूर्वमस्योष्णं कालखंडकम्

pātraṁ jalaṁ vayaṁ tṛṣṇā kṣudhārtāḥ śatavarṣataḥ nārada uvāca- kācidāhetyahaṁ pūrvamasyoṣṇaṁ kālakhaṁḍakam

'"The pot, the water, and we ourselves — tormented by hunger and thirst for a hundred years now." Narada said: 'One of them said, "I shall have the first warm morsel of his flesh."'

Verse 14 (padma.6.208.14)

भक्षयित्वा ततो रक्तं पीत्वा यास्यामि जीवितम् । अन्या प्राह कियद्द्रव्यं विद्यतेऽस्य गजानने

bhakṣayitvā tato raktaṁ pītvā yāsyāmi jīvitam anyā prāha kiyaddravyaṁ vidyate'sya gajānane

'"Having eaten and drunk his blood, I shall go on living." Another said, "How much flesh is there on him, O elephant-faced one?"'

Verse 15 (padma.6.208.15)

मम व्याघ्राननायास्तु पानायापि न दृश्यते । अन्या वै रथचक्राख्या श्रूयतां वचनं मम

mama vyāghrānanāyāstu pānāyāpi na dṛśyate anyā vai rathacakrākhyā śrūyatāṁ vacanaṁ mama

'"For me, the tiger-faced one, there does not seem enough even for a drink." Another, named Rathachakra, said, "Hear what I have to say."'

Verse 16 (padma.6.208.16)

करिष्ये कुंडलमहं केनांत्रैरस्य मेखलाम् । अन्यावददहं दंतैरेकतः श्यामलीकृतैः

kariṣye kuṁḍalamahaṁ kenāṁtrairasya mekhalām anyāvadadahaṁ daṁtairekataḥ śyāmalīkṛtaiḥ

'"I shall make earrings for myself, and a girdle from his entrails." Another said, "I, with my teeth, blackened along one side—"'

Verse 17 (padma.6.208.17)

रमे षोडशभिर्द्यूतशालायां तद्विशारदः । इत्युक्त्वा ताः मिथः सर्वास्तंद्विजं प्रति दुद्रुवुः

rame ṣoḍaśabhirdyūtaśālāyāṁ tadviśāradaḥ ityuktvā tāḥ mithaḥ sarvāstaṁdvijaṁ prati dudruvuḥ

'"—amuse myself with his sixteen pieces as though in a gaming-hall, skilled as I am in that art." Having said this among themselves, all of them rushed at the brahmin.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.208.18)

विवृतास्या ललज्जिह्वाः प्रद्योतैकमहाभुजाः । आयांतीस्ताः समालोक्य ब्राह्मणो भयविह्वलः

vivṛtāsyā lalajjihvāḥ pradyotaikamahābhujāḥ āyāṁtīstāḥ samālokya brāhmaṇo bhayavihvalaḥ

'Their mouths gaping wide, tongues lolling, their single massive arms gleaming — seeing them approach, the brahmin was overcome with fear.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.208.19)

आत्मानमभितश्चक्रे रक्षां वेदोदितां नृप । ता आगत्य स्थिता दूरं राक्षस्यो भीमविक्रमाः

ātmānamabhitaścakre rakṣāṁ vedoditāṁ nṛpa tā āgatya sthitā dūraṁ rākṣasyo bhīmavikramāḥ

'O king, he encircled himself with the protective charm enjoined by the Veda; those rakshasis of terrible might, having approached, halted some distance away.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.208.20)

तेजसा तस्य मंत्रैश्च प्रत्यादिष्टा नराधिपः । ऊचुश्च को भवानत्र कुतः प्राप्तोऽसि तद्वद

tejasā tasya maṁtraiśca pratyādiṣṭā narādhipaḥ ūcuśca ko bhavānatra kutaḥ prāpto'si tadvada

'O ruler of men, repelled by his radiance and his mantras, they said: "Who are you, and from where have you come? Tell us."'

Verse 21 (padma.6.208.21)

त्वद्दर्शनान्मनोऽस्माकं प्रसादमधिगच्छति । त्वत्पादस्पर्शनात्किं नो न विप्र भविता फलम् । अतो मूर्द्धसु नो देहि स्वकीयं पादपंकजम्

tvaddarśanānmano'smākaṁ prasādamadhigacchati tvatpādasparśanātkiṁ no na vipra bhavitā phalam ato mūrddhasu no dehi svakīyaṁ pādapaṁkajam

'"At the mere sight of you, our minds find a kind of grace; O brahmin, will not the touch of your feet bear some fruit for us as well? Therefore, place your own lotus feet upon our heads."'

Verse 22 (padma.6.208.22)

नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तासां जगाद हरिदत्तजः । द्विज उवाच- कृत्वा पवित्रतीर्थानि ब्राह्मणोऽहं समागतः

nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya vacastāsāṁ jagāda haridattajaḥ dvija uvāca- kṛtvā pavitratīrthāni brāhmaṇo'haṁ samāgataḥ

Narada said: 'Hearing their words, Haridattaja spoke. The brahmin said: "Having visited the sacred tirthas, I have come here."'

Verse 23 (padma.6.208.23)

सांप्रतं पुष्करं यामि भवतीभिः किमिच्छते । यतस्तत्प्रार्थ्यतां दातुं शक्तो दास्यामि चेत्तदा

sāṁprataṁ puṣkaraṁ yāmi bhavatībhiḥ kimicchate yatastatprārthyatāṁ dātuṁ śakto dāsyāmi cettadā

'"I am on my way now to Pushkara; what is it that you desire? Ask of me — if I am able to grant it, I shall."'

Verse 24 (padma.6.208.24)

राक्षस्य ऊचुः । येषु तीर्थेषु विप्रेंद्र त्वया स्नातं वदस्व नः । तानि सर्वाणि पुण्यानि मोचयातः कुजन्मनः । अस्मानतितरां तृष्णा क्षुद्भ्यां दारुणदुःखदात्

rākṣasya ūcuḥ yeṣu tīrtheṣu vipreṁdra tvayā snātaṁ vadasva naḥ tāni sarvāṇi puṇyāni mocayātaḥ kujanmanaḥ asmānatitarāṁ tṛṣṇā kṣudbhyāṁ dāruṇaduḥkhadāt

The rakshasis said: 'O foremost of brahmins, tell us in which tirthas you have bathed; may all that merit free us from this evil birth, from this dreadful suffering of hunger and thirst.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.208.25)

ब्राह्मण उवाच- अवंतीमाश्रमात्पूर्वमहं हरिपुरीमितः । गतोऽहं द्वारकां तस्मात्स्नात्वा सोमोद्भवा जले

brāhmaṇa uvāca- avaṁtīmāśramātpūrvamahaṁ haripurīmitaḥ gato'haṁ dvārakāṁ tasmātsnātvā somodbhavā jale

The brahmin said: 'From my hermitage I first went to Avanti; from there to Haripuri; then I went on to Dvaraka, and bathed there in the water sprung from Soma.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.208.26)

ततः प्राप्तः प्रभासाख्यं तीर्थं नीरधितीरगम् । तस्मात्सेतुनिबंधेऽहं स्नातः परमपावने

tataḥ prāptaḥ prabhāsākhyaṁ tīrthaṁ nīradhitīragam tasmātsetunibaṁdhe'haṁ snātaḥ paramapāvane

'Then I reached the tirtha called Prabhasa, on the shore of the ocean; from there I bathed at Setubandha, most purifying of places.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.208.27)

तस्मादहं महापुण्यां किष्किंधां समुपागतः । हतो यत्र तु रामेण वाली कपिगणेश्वरः

tasmādahaṁ mahāpuṇyāṁ kiṣkiṁdhāṁ samupāgataḥ hato yatra tu rāmeṇa vālī kapigaṇeśvaraḥ

'From there I came to greatly sacred Kishkindha, where Vali, lord of the monkey hosts, was slain by Rama.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.208.28)

तस्मान्मठं सरस्वत्यानर्मदातीरसंस्थितम् । समागतोऽहं यत्रास्ति भारती सर्वसेविता

tasmānmaṭhaṁ sarasvatyānarmadātīrasaṁsthitam samāgato'haṁ yatrāsti bhāratī sarvasevitā

'From there I came to the hermitage of Sarasvati on the bank of the Narmada, where Bharati is worshipped by all.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.208.29)

ततोऽहंमावेशंवेणींतांनत्वादक्षिणापथे । शिवकांची विष्णुकांच्यौ दृष्टे तत्र मया पुरौ

tato'haṁmāveśaṁveṇīṁtāṁnatvādakṣiṇāpathe śivakāṁcī viṣṇukāṁcyau dṛṣṭe tatra mayā purau

'From there, having bowed to that Veni confluence, I went on to the southern road; there I beheld the two cities of Shiva-Kanchi and Vishnu-Kanchi.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.208.30)

ययोर्मरणतो जंतुः शिवो विष्णुश्च जायते । ततोऽहंमुत्कलं प्राप्तो यत्रास्ति हरिरीश्वरः

yayormaraṇato jaṁtuḥ śivo viṣṇuśca jāyate tato'haṁmutkalaṁ prāpto yatrāsti harirīśvaraḥ

'—dying in which, a soul is reborn as Shiva or as Vishnu. From there I reached Utkala, where the Lord Hari himself resides—'

Verse 31 (padma.6.208.31)

चतुर्वर्गप्रदः साक्षाद्भक्तानामपि कांक्षितम् । तमर्चयित्वा विधिवद्भक्षयित्वा निवेदितम्

caturvargapradaḥ sākṣādbhaktānāmapi kāṁkṣitam tamarcayitvā vidhivadbhakṣayitvā niveditam

'—he who is the direct giver of the four aims of life, longed for even by his own devotees. Having duly worshipped him, and having eaten his offered food—'

Verse 32 (padma.6.208.32)

प्रसादभूतं तस्यैव गंगासागरसंगमम् । तत्र देवानृषीन्पितॄंस्तर्पयित्वा यथाविधि

prasādabhūtaṁ tasyaiva gaṁgāsāgarasaṁgamam tatra devānṛṣīnpitṝṁstarpayitvā yathāvidhi

'—I went to the meeting of the Ganga and the ocean, itself a form of his own grace. There, having duly made offerings to gods, sages, and ancestors—'

Verse 33 (padma.6.208.33)

यत्र गंगाशतमुखी जाता तत्राहमागमम् । ततो गयामुपागत्य पिंडान्दत्त्वा यथाविधि

yatra gaṁgāśatamukhī jātā tatrāhamāgamam tato gayāmupāgatya piṁḍāndattvā yathāvidhi

'—I went where the Ganga becomes hundred-mouthed. Then, arriving at Gaya, and having duly offered the funerary pindas—'

Verse 34 (padma.6.208.34)

पितृभ्यस्तुलसीपुष्पचंदनोदकपूजितान् । कोशलां शरयूं वारिकर्णधारनभस्वता

pitṛbhyastulasīpuṣpacaṁdanodakapūjitān kośalāṁ śarayūṁ vārikarṇadhāranabhasvatā

'—having thus honored my ancestors with tulasi, flowers, sandal-paste, and water, I then went to the Sarayu in Kosala, whose waters purify all people, boatmen and all, by their mere touch—'

Verse 35 (padma.6.208.35)

पवित्रिताखिलजनांस्पर्शनेनाहमागमम् । तत्रास्ति गोप्रताराख्यं तीर्थं त्रिदशदुर्ल्लभम्

pavitritākhilajanāṁsparśanenāhamāgamam tatrāsti gopratārākhyaṁ tīrthaṁ tridaśadurllabham

'—there I came. There stands the tirtha named Gopratara, hard to attain even for the gods.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.208.36)

तत्र स्नानादिकं कर्म निशाचर्यः कृतं मया । ततः काशीमहंप्राप्तो राजधानीमुमापतेः

tatra snānādikaṁ karma niśācaryaḥ kṛtaṁ mayā tataḥ kāśīmahaṁprāpto rājadhānīmumāpateḥ

'O rakshasis, there I performed the rites of bathing and the rest. From there I reached Kashi, the royal capital of Uma's Lord.'

Verse 37 (padma.6.208.37)

नत्वा विश्वेश्वरं देवं बिंदुमाधवमेव च । स्नातं मणिकर्णिकायां ज्ञानवाप्यां च भक्तितः

natvā viśveśvaraṁ devaṁ biṁdumādhavameva ca snātaṁ maṇikarṇikāyāṁ jñānavāpyāṁ ca bhaktitaḥ

'Having bowed to the god Vishveshvara, and to Bindu-Madhava as well, I bathed with devotion at Manikarnika and at Jnana-vapi.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.208.38)

त्रिरात्रिमुषितस्तत्र प्रयागं पुनरागमम् । पौषशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां साक्षाद्यत्र प्रजापतिः

trirātrimuṣitastatra prayāgaṁ punarāgamam pauṣaśuklacaturdaśyāṁ sākṣādyatra prajāpatiḥ

'Having stayed there three nights, I returned once more to Prayaga, where on the fourteenth day of Pausha's bright fortnight, Prajapati himself—'

Verse 39 (padma.6.208.39)

एकस्मिन्माघमासे तु स्नानं कृत्वाऽरुणोदये । पुनस्तस्मात्समायातो नैमिषं गोमतीतटे

ekasminmāghamāse tu snānaṁ kṛtvā'ruṇodaye punastasmātsamāyāto naimiṣaṁ gomatītaṭe

'—dwells. Having bathed one day at dawn during the month of Magha, I then went on from there to Naimisha, on the bank of the Gomati.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.208.40)

यत्र तीर्थानि सर्वाणि वसंति च स्वमायया । ततोऽहं मथुरां प्राप्तो यत्र विश्रांतिसंज्ञकम्

yatra tīrthāni sarvāṇi vasaṁti ca svamāyayā tato'haṁ mathurāṁ prāpto yatra viśrāṁtisaṁjñakam

'—where, by their own divine power, all the tirthas dwell together. From there I came to Mathura, where there is a tirtha called Vishranti.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.208.41)

तीर्थं तत्सन्निधौ पुण्यमसिकुंडाख्यमुत्तमम् । कृष्णगंगा ध्रुवाक्रूर केशिकालीयतीर्थभृत्

tīrthaṁ tatsannidhau puṇyamasikuṁḍākhyamuttamam kṛṣṇagaṁgā dhruvākrūra keśikālīyatīrthabhṛt

'Nearby is the excellent and sacred tirtha named Asikunda; and there too are Krishna-ganga, Dhruva, Akrura, and the tirthas bearing the names of Keshi and Kaliya.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.208.42)

यमुनास्ति महापुण्या यत्र सर्वार्थदायिनी । उभयोः कूलयोस्तस्या वनानि द्वादश श्रिया

yamunāsti mahāpuṇyā yatra sarvārthadāyinī ubhayoḥ kūlayostasyā vanāni dvādaśa śriyā

'There flows the greatly sacred Yamuna, granter of every desire; on both her banks stand twelve forests, resplendent—'

Verse 43 (padma.6.208.43)

राजमानानि खेचर्यः समस्तार्थकराणि च । संति तेषु नरः स्नात्वा पीत्वा भूयो न जायते

rājamānāni khecaryaḥ samastārthakarāṇi ca saṁti teṣu naraḥ snātvā pītvā bhūyo na jāyate

'—shining, home to sky-wandering nymphs, granting every end. A man who bathes there and drinks that water is not born again.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.208.44)

ततोहमागमं पुण्यं हस्तिनापुरमुत्तमम् । यत्र श्रीपतिपादाब्ज जाता गंगा सरिद्वरा

tatohamāgamaṁ puṇyaṁ hastināpuramuttamam yatra śrīpatipādābja jātā gaṁgā saridvarā

'From there I came to the sacred and excellent Hastinapura, where the Ganga, foremost of rivers, sprang from the lotus feet of the Lord of Shri.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.208.45)

ततो नारायणस्थानं हिमवद्भूमिसंस्थितम् । आगत्य माधवं दृष्ट्वा केदारमहमागमम्

tato nārāyaṇasthānaṁ himavadbhūmisaṁsthitam āgatya mādhavaṁ dṛṣṭvā kedāramahamāgamam

'From there, coming to Narayana's abode situated in the Himalayan land, and having beheld Madhava, I went on to Kedara.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.208.46)

तत्र संपूज्य विश्वेशं पीत्वा हंसोदकं पुनः । हरिद्वारं महापुण्यमागमं जाह्नवीतटे

tatra saṁpūjya viśveśaṁ pītvā haṁsodakaṁ punaḥ haridvāraṁ mahāpuṇyamāgamaṁ jāhnavītaṭe

'There, having worshipped Vishvesha and drunk of the Hansa-water, I came next to the greatly sacred Haridvara, on the bank of the Jahnavi.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.208.47)

तत्र स्नात्वापितॄन्देवानृषीन्संतर्प्य चाप्यहम् । समागतः कुरुक्षेत्रे यत्र प्राची सरस्वती

tatra snātvāpitṝndevānṛṣīnsaṁtarpya cāpyaham samāgataḥ kurukṣetre yatra prācī sarasvatī

'Having bathed there and made offerings to ancestors, gods, and sages, I came to Kurukshetra, where the eastward-flowing Sarasvati is found.'

Verse 48 (padma.6.208.48)

तत्राप्यहं क्रियाः सर्वाः कृतवान्नियतेंद्रियः । अर्चयित्वा च पादाब्जं श्रीपतेः पुष्करं प्रति

tatrāpyahaṁ kriyāḥ sarvāḥ kṛtavānniyateṁdriyaḥ arcayitvā ca pādābjaṁ śrīpateḥ puṣkaraṁ prati

'There too, with my senses restrained, I performed all the rites; and having worshipped the lotus feet of the Lord of Shri, I set out toward Pushkara.'

Verse 49 (padma.6.208.49)

चलितो मार्गमध्ये तु विमलो नाम मे सखा । मिलितो मां व्रजन्गेहमिंद्रप्रस्थात्तु तीर्थतः

calito mārgamadhye tu vimalo nāma me sakhā milito māṁ vrajangehamiṁdraprasthāttu tīrthataḥ

'As I traveled, midway on the road, my friend named Vimala met me, on his way home from the tirtha at Indraprastha.'

Verse 50 (padma.6.208.50)

नीतोऽहं तेन राक्षस्यः पुनस्तत्र द्विजन्मना । तीर्थेति मे परावृत्य शक्रप्रस्थेऽखिलार्थदे

nīto'haṁ tena rākṣasyaḥ punastatra dvijanmanā tīrtheti me parāvṛtya śakraprasthe'khilārthade

'O rakshasis, I was taken by that brahmin back again — turning around, to that tirtha at Shakraprastha, granter of every desire.'

Verse 51 (padma.6.208.51)

तत्रास्ति द्वारका पुण्या निर्मिता विष्णुना स्वयम् । तत्रावलोकितः साक्षाद्विष्णुर्वाक्यान्नरूपतः

tatrāsti dvārakā puṇyā nirmitā viṣṇunā svayam tatrāvalokitaḥ sākṣādviṣṇurvākyānnarūpataḥ

'There stands the sacred Dvaraka, fashioned by Vishnu himself; there I beheld Vishnu directly — through his voice, though not in visible form.'

Verse 52 (padma.6.208.52)

तत्राहं स च संस्नातौ विष्णुभक्तिप्रलब्धये । दत्ता सा विष्णुना मह्यं तस्मै च कृष्णमूर्तिना

tatrāhaṁ sa ca saṁsnātau viṣṇubhaktipralabdhaye dattā sā viṣṇunā mahyaṁ tasmai ca kṛṣṇamūrtinā

'There both he and I bathed, to gain devotion to Vishnu; and that devotion was granted to me and to him by Vishnu, in his form as Krishna.'

Verse 53 (padma.6.208.53)

श्रुत्वा तत्र हरेर्वाणी न रूपं वै विलोकितम् । भक्तिर्लब्धा ततः स्थानाद्यमहं पुष्करं प्रति

śrutvā tatra harervāṇī na rūpaṁ vai vilokitam bhaktirlabdhā tataḥ sthānādyamahaṁ puṣkaraṁ prati

'There I heard Hari's voice, but did not see his form; I obtained devotion, and from that place I am now on my way to Pushkara.'

Verse 54 (padma.6.208.54)

तस्य तीर्थाधिपस्येदं द्वारकाख्यस्य वै जलम् । कमंडलुगतं पुण्यं निशाचर्यो वदाम्यहम्

tasya tīrthādhipasyedaṁ dvārakākhyasya vai jalam kamaṁḍalugataṁ puṇyaṁ niśācaryo vadāmyaham

'O rakshasis, this water held in my kamandalu is the sacred water of that lord of tirthas named Dvaraka — this is what I tell you.'

Verse 55 (padma.6.208.55)

भवतीभिरहं पृष्टो यत्तदाख्यातमेव मे । दृष्ट्वा वो दुर्दशामेतां कृपा मे जायते हृदि

bhavatībhirahaṁ pṛṣṭo yattadākhyātameva me dṛṣṭvā vo durdaśāmetāṁ kṛpā me jāyate hṛdi

'You asked me, and I have told you all that you wished to know; seeing this wretched state of yours, compassion rises in my heart.'

Verse 56 (padma.6.208.56)

उच्यतां किं करोम्यद्य भवतीनां वशो ह्यहम् । ज्ञानं भवतु युष्माकमिति ताः सिषिचेंभसा

ucyatāṁ kiṁ karomyadya bhavatīnāṁ vaśo hyaham jñānaṁ bhavatu yuṣmākamiti tāḥ siṣiceṁbhasā

'Tell me what I may do for you today — I am at your disposal.' "May knowledge come to you," he said, and sprinkled them with that water.'

Verse 57 (padma.6.208.57)

तास्तज्जलाभिमर्शात्तु सर्वेषां जन्मकर्मणां । संस्मृत्य तत्यजुश्चैव राक्षसं देहमुल्बणम्

tāstajjalābhimarśāttu sarveṣāṁ janmakarmaṇāṁ saṁsmṛtya tatyajuścaiva rākṣasaṁ dehamulbaṇam

'By the mere touch of that water, remembering all the karma of their births, they cast off that terrible rakshasi body.'

Verse 58 (padma.6.208.58)

आसाद्य देवतादेहं विमानं सप्तमागतम् । आरुह्याप्सरसो भूत्वा ताः प्रणेमुर्द्विजन्मने

āsādya devatādehaṁ vimānaṁ saptamāgatam āruhyāpsaraso bhūtvā tāḥ praṇemurdvijanmane

'Attaining divine bodies, and a celestial chariot having arrived for them, they mounted it, becoming apsaras, and bowed down before that brahmin.'

Verse 59 (padma.6.208.59)

ऊचुश्च भो द्विजश्रेष्ठ द्वारकाजलसंगमात् । राक्षसत्वाद्वयं मुक्ता गच्छामस्त्रिदशालयम्

ūcuśca bho dvijaśreṣṭha dvārakājalasaṁgamāt rākṣasatvādvayaṁ muktā gacchāmastridaśālayam

'And they said: "O foremost of brahmins, by union with the water of Dvaraka we are freed from our rakshasi state; we now go to the dwelling of the gods."'

Verse 60 (padma.6.208.60)

इंद्रप्रस्थांतरावर्तिन्येषा या द्वारका द्विज । नातः परतरं लोकेऽन्यत्तीर्थमखिलार्थदम्

iṁdraprasthāṁtarāvartinyeṣā yā dvārakā dvija nātaḥ parataraṁ loke'nyattīrthamakhilārthadam

'"O brahmin, this Dvaraka that lies within Indraprastha — there is no other tirtha in this world beyond it, none that grants every desire as it does."'

Verse 61 (padma.6.208.61)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा ताःसमारूढा विमानेषु महीपते । जग्मुः प्रार्चीं दिशं तेन दत्ताज्ञा वै द्विजन्मना

nārada uvāca- ityuktvā tāḥsamārūḍhā vimāneṣu mahīpate jagmuḥ prārcīṁ diśaṁ tena dattājñā vai dvijanmanā

Narada said: 'O king, having said this, they, mounted upon their celestial chariots and given leave by that brahmin, departed toward the eastern quarter.'

Verse 62 (padma.6.208.62)

यमुनातीरवर्तिन्या द्वारकाया महीपते । शृण्वन्माहात्म्यमेतस्या नरः पापैः प्रमुच्यते

yamunātīravartinyā dvārakāyā mahīpate śṛṇvanmāhātmyametasyā naraḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate

'O king, a man who hears the glory of this Dvaraka, which stands on the bank of the Yamuna, is freed from his sins.'

Verse 63 (padma.6.208.63)

वेदज्ञानां ब्राह्मणानां शतस्येच्छासु भोजनात् । यत्फलं श्रवणादस्मान्महिम्नस्तत्प्रजायते

vedajñānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ śatasyecchāsu bhojanāt yatphalaṁ śravaṇādasmānmahimnastatprajāyate

'Whatever fruit is obtained from feeding a hundred Veda-learned brahmins to their heart's content, that same fruit arises from hearing this glory.'

Verse 64 (padma.6.208.64)

गोविंदाराधने सम्यग्यथा वै सौख्यमिंद्रियम् । माहात्म्यश्रवणादस्या द्वारकायास्तथा नृप

goviṁdārādhane samyagyathā vai saukhyamiṁdriyam māhātmyaśravaṇādasyā dvārakāyāstathā nṛpa

'O king, just as there is a true delight of the senses in the proper worship of Govinda, so too there is the same from hearing the glory of this Dvaraka.'

Verse 65 (padma.6.208.65)

सूर्येंदुग्रहणे दानात्सुवर्णपलविंशतेः । यत्फलं शृण्वतैतस्या माहात्म्यं तदवाप्यते

sūryeṁdugrahaṇe dānātsuvarṇapalaviṁśateḥ yatphalaṁ śṛṇvataitasyā māhātmyaṁ tadavāpyate

'Whatever fruit comes from donating twenty palas of gold at a solar or lunar eclipse, that same fruit is obtained by one who hears this glory.'

Verse 66 (padma.6.208.66)

विमलस्य सुतप्राप्तिं श्रुत्वा सुत इहाप्यते । तत्सख्युर्भक्तिलाभं च लभ्यते भक्तिरुत्तमा

vimalasya sutaprāptiṁ śrutvā suta ihāpyate tatsakhyurbhaktilābhaṁ ca labhyate bhaktiruttamā

'One who hears of Vimala obtaining a son shall obtain a son here as well; and hearing of his friend's gain of devotion, one obtains supreme devotion too.'

Verse 67 (padma.6.208.67)

राक्षसीनां विमोक्षं यः शृणोति श्रद्धयान्वितः । स याति ता इव श्रेष्ठं विमानेन सुरालयम्

rākṣasīnāṁ vimokṣaṁ yaḥ śṛṇoti śraddhayānvitaḥ sa yāti tā iva śreṣṭhaṁ vimānena surālayam

'Whoever hears with faith the tale of the rakshasis' liberation shall likewise go, in a fine celestial chariot, to the abode of the gods.'

Verse 68 (padma.6.208.68)

नृपवरमहिमा ते वर्णितो द्वारकायास्त्रिभुवनजनसेव्या शक्रतीर्थस्थितायाः । किमपरमतिपुण्यं वर्णयामि त्वदग्रे कथय न हि विधेयः श्रेयसि स्वे विलंबः

nṛpavaramahimā te varṇito dvārakāyāstribhuvanajanasevyā śakratīrthasthitāyāḥ kimaparamatipuṇyaṁ varṇayāmi tvadagre kathaya na hi vidheyaḥ śreyasi sve vilaṁbaḥ

'O best of kings, I have told you the glory of Dvaraka, worshipped by the people of all three worlds, standing within Shakra-tirtha. What further, greatly sacred tale shall I relate before you? Tell me — for one should never delay in pursuing one's own good.'