The Episode of Mukunda

Verse 1 (padma.6.210.1)

नारद उवाच- एवं प्रबोध्य तान्सर्वान्वचोभिः पारमार्थिकैः । स हंसः कारयामास क्रियास्तस्यात्मसंभवाः

nārada uvāca- evaṁ prabodhya tānsarvānvacobhiḥ pāramārthikaiḥ sa haṁsaḥ kārayāmāsa kriyāstasyātmasaṁbhavāḥ

Narada said: 'Having thus consoled them all with words of ultimate truth, that great soul then had the funeral rites performed for Mukunda's body.'

Verse 2 (padma.6.210.2)

अंतर्वत्नी मुकुंदस्य निर्बंधं कुर्वती वधूः । अनुगंतुं स्वभर्तारं विदुषा तेन वारिता

aṁtarvatnī mukuṁdasya nirbaṁdhaṁ kurvatī vadhūḥ anugaṁtuṁ svabhartāraṁ viduṣā tena vāritā

'Mukunda's wife, who was pregnant, insisted on following her husband in death; but that wise man restrained her.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.210.3)

तस्यास्थीनि समादाय तेन सन्यासिना समम् । तद्भ्राता प्रययौ गंगाजले पातयितुं नृप

tasyāsthīni samādāya tena sanyāsinā samam tadbhrātā prayayau gaṁgājale pātayituṁ nṛpa

'O king, taking his bones, his brother, together with that renunciant, set out to immerse them in the waters of the Ganga.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.210.4)

विप्रसन्यासिनौ तौ हि कतिभिर्वासरैर्नृप । सार्थलोकवशात्प्राप्तौ इंद्रप्रस्थेऽत्र सत्पदे

viprasanyāsinau tau hi katibhirvāsarairnṛpa sārthalokavaśātprāptau iṁdraprasthe'tra satpade

'O king, that brahmin and the renunciant, after some days, arrived here at this sacred place of Indraprastha, traveling along with a company of fellow wayfarers.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.210.5)

इंद्रप्रस्थांतरावर्तिन्येषा या कोशला नृप । अत्र सुप्तौ निशायां तौ यमुनातीरभूतले

iṁdraprasthāṁtarāvartinyeṣā yā kośalā nṛpa atra suptau niśāyāṁ tau yamunātīrabhūtale

'O king, at this tirtha called Koshala, which lies within Indraprastha, the two of them slept that night on the ground by the bank of the Yamuna.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.210.6)

आत्मनोरुभयोर्मध्ये न्यस्यास्थिपटसंपुटम् । मार्गखेदपरिक्रांतौ दशां सौषुप्तिकीं गतौ

ātmanorubhayormadhye nyasyāsthipaṭasaṁpuṭam mārgakhedaparikrāṁtau daśāṁ sauṣuptikīṁ gatau

'Placing the cloth-wrapped bundle of bones between the two of them, worn out by the fatigue of the journey, they sank into deep sleep.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.210.7)

निशीथेऽथ प्रसुप्तेषु सार्थलोकेषु कश्चन । एकः श्वा तत्र संप्राप्तः पक्वान्नादि जिहीर्षया

niśīthe'tha prasupteṣu sārthalokeṣu kaścana ekaḥ śvā tatra saṁprāptaḥ pakvānnādi jihīrṣayā

'At midnight, while the people of the caravan lay sleeping, a certain dog arrived there, wishing to steal cooked food and other such things.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.210.8)

बभ्राम सर्वशिविरे जिघ्रन्पाकस्थलीं मुहुः । भाजनानि लिहन्मूर्ध्नि क्व च दंडाहतिं सहन्

babhrāma sarvaśivire jighranpākasthalīṁ muhuḥ bhājanāni lihanmūrdhni kva ca daṁḍāhatiṁ sahan

'It roamed through the whole camp, sniffing again and again at the cooking places, licking bowls, and here and there enduring a blow on the head from a stick.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.210.9)

केनचित्ताडितो मूर्ध्नि निशब्दं विद्रुतस्ततः । प्रतिचक्रुमशक्तस्तु स्त्रीजितः स्वस्त्रिया यथा

kenacittāḍito mūrdhni niśabdaṁ vidrutastataḥ praticakrumaśaktastu strījitaḥ svastriyā yathā

'Struck on the head by someone, it fled silently from there, unable to fight back — like a man mastered by his own wife.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.210.10)

यत्रावकंडितः स श्वा दंडग्रावेष्टकादिभिः । पुनर्विवेश तत्रैव सान्नपात्रलिलिप्सया

yatrāvakaṁḍitaḥ sa śvā daṁḍagrāveṣṭakādibhiḥ punarviveśa tatraiva sānnapātralilipsayā

'Wherever that dog was pelted with sticks, stones, and bricks, it would still creep back into that very place, still craving the food-filled vessels.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.210.11)

भोगेच्छया यथा वेश्या स्नेहवान्निर्द्धनो जनः । भ्रमन्नेवं स चात्रापि यत्र सुप्तौ हि तावुभौ

bhogecchayā yathā veśyā snehavānnirddhano janaḥ bhramannevaṁ sa cātrāpi yatra suptau hi tāvubhau

'As a penniless man, still enamored, keeps returning to a courtesan out of desire for pleasure — so, wandering on, that dog came even to where those two lay asleep.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.210.12)

सारमेयस्तयोर्मध्याज्जह्रे स पटसंपुटम् । नीत्वा स कियतीं भूमिं दंतैस्तत्पटसंपुटम्

sārameyastayormadhyājjahre sa paṭasaṁpuṭam nītvā sa kiyatīṁ bhūmiṁ daṁtaistatpaṭasaṁpuṭam

'That dog snatched the cloth-wrapped bundle from between the two of them; carrying it in its teeth some distance away—'

Verse 13 (padma.6.210.13)

विदार्यास्थीनि तत्स्थानि निर्मांसान्यवलोक्य सः । एतस्याः कोशलायास्तु जलमध्ये समाक्षिपत्

vidāryāsthīni tatsthāni nirmāṁsānyavalokya saḥ etasyāḥ kośalāyāstu jalamadhye samākṣipat

'—it carried it, then tore it open, and seeing the bones within it bare of flesh, flung them into the middle of the water of this very Kosala.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.210.14)

क्षिप्तमात्रेषु तेनास्थिष्वेतदंबुनि भूपते । दिव्यं विमानमास्थाय मुकुंदोऽत्र समागतः

kṣiptamātreṣu tenāsthiṣvetadaṁbuni bhūpate divyaṁ vimānamāsthāya mukuṁdo'tra samāgataḥ

'O king, the very instant those bones were cast into this water, Mukunda, mounted on a divine chariot, arrived there.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.210.15)

दृष्ट्वा गुर्वनुजौ सुप्तौ शनैः प्राबोधयत्तदा । उवाच च नमस्कृत्य गुंरुं दिव्याकृतिर्नृप

dṛṣṭvā gurvanujau suptau śanaiḥ prābodhayattadā uvāca ca namaskṛtya guṁruṁ divyākṛtirnṛpa

'O king, seeing his guru and his brother asleep, he, now of divine form, gently woke them; and, having bowed to his guru, he spoke.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.210.16)

मुकुंद उवाच। वेदायन गुरो तुभ्यं नम आशीस्तवानुज । प्रासादाद्वां ममास्थीनि तीर्थेऽत्र पतितानि वै

mukuṁda uvāca vedāyana guro tubhyaṁ nama āśīstavānuja prāsādādvāṁ mamāsthīni tīrthe'tra patitāni vai

Mukunda said: 'O my guru Vedayana, salutations to you; blessing to you, my younger brother. By your grace, my bones have fallen here in this tirtha.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.210.17)

अयं मृत्युमहं गत्वा निरयं प्राप्य तत्फलम् । एतत्तीर्थप्रसादेन दैवी लब्धा मया गतिः

ayaṁ mṛtyumahaṁ gatvā nirayaṁ prāpya tatphalam etattīrthaprasādena daivī labdhā mayā gatiḥ

'Having died and gone to hell and suffered its fruit — it is by the grace of this tirtha alone that I have obtained this divine destiny.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.210.18)

त्वां गुरुं तीर्थभूतं तु नमस्कर्तुमिहागतः । अहं गच्छन्विमानेन दिव्येन त्रिदशालयम्

tvāṁ guruṁ tīrthabhūtaṁ tu namaskartumihāgataḥ ahaṁ gacchanvimānena divyena tridaśālayam

'I have come here to bow to you, my guru who are yourself a tirtha; and now I go, in this divine chariot, on to the abode of the gods.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.210.19)

नमस्कृतो भवानेतत्तीर्थ चायं सहोदरः । दृष्टो मामनुजानीहि यामि स्वर्गं सुखोदयम्

namaskṛto bhavānetattīrtha cāyaṁ sahodaraḥ dṛṣṭo māmanujānīhi yāmi svargaṁ sukhodayam

'I have paid homage to you, to this tirtha, and I have seen my own brother here as well; grant me your leave — I now go to heaven, the very source of joy.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.210.20)

नारद उवाच- श्रुत्वैवं वचनं तस्य मुकुंदस्य गुरुस्तदा । वेदायनो विमानस्थं तमूचे गतविस्मयः

nārada uvāca- śrutvaivaṁ vacanaṁ tasya mukuṁdasya gurustadā vedāyano vimānasthaṁ tamūce gatavismayaḥ

Narada said: 'Hearing these words of Mukunda, his guru Vedayana, now past his astonishment, spoke to him as he stood in the celestial chariot.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.210.21)

देवायन उवाच- मुकुंदाख्याहि मे सत्यं लब्ध्वा यन्मरणं भवान् । कस्मिंल्लोके गतस्तात यतो यात्यधुना दिवम्

devāyana uvāca- mukuṁdākhyāhi me satyaṁ labdhvā yanmaraṇaṁ bhavān kasmiṁlloke gatastāta yato yātyadhunā divam

Vedayana said: 'Mukunda, tell me the truth — having met your death, to what world did you go, my child, from which you now proceed to heaven?'

Verse 22 (padma.6.210.22)

किं वृत्तं तत्र ते तात तस्यलोकस्य कोऽधिपः । कीदृशी च प्रजा कीदृक्धर्मस्तत्राखिलं वद

kiṁ vṛttaṁ tatra te tāta tasyalokasya ko'dhipaḥ kīdṛśī ca prajā kīdṛkdharmastatrākhilaṁ vada

'What befell you there, my child? Who rules over that world? What are its people like, what is its dharma there — tell me all of it.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.210.23)

मुकुंद उवाच- कथयामि गुरो तुभ्यं यद्वृत्तं मरणादनु । तीर्थस्यास्य प्रसादेन स्मृतिर्मे जायतेऽधुना

mukuṁda uvāca- kathayāmi guro tubhyaṁ yadvṛttaṁ maraṇādanu tīrthasyāsya prasādena smṛtirme jāyate'dhunā

Mukunda said: 'I shall tell you, O guru, all that took place after my death; by the grace of this tirtha, its memory now returns to me.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.210.24)

यदाहं तेन निहतश्चंडकेन दुरात्मना । नापितेन तदा जग्मुर्यमभृत्याः सुदारुणाः

yadāhaṁ tena nihataścaṁḍakena durātmanā nāpitena tadā jagmuryamabhṛtyāḥ sudāruṇāḥ

'When I was slain by that evil-souled barber Chandaka, then Yama's most terrible servants came for me.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.210.25)

पिंगाक्षा रक्तकेशाश्च श्यामदेह नखाधराः । वामना दीर्घचरणा ह्रस्वनासाश्च दंतुराः

piṁgākṣā raktakeśāśca śyāmadeha nakhādharāḥ vāmanā dīrghacaraṇā hrasvanāsāśca daṁturāḥ

'Tawny-eyed, red-haired, dark of body, their lips like claws, dwarfish yet long-legged, short-nosed and fang-toothed—'

Verse 26 (padma.6.210.26)

नीयतां नीयतामेष धर्मराजस्य शासनात् । पुरीं संयमनीमेवमूचिरे ते परस्परम्

nīyatāṁ nīyatāmeṣa dharmarājasya śāsanāt purīṁ saṁyamanīmevamūcire te parasparam

'—"Take him away, take him away, by Dharmaraja's command, to the city of Samyamani" — so they said to one another.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.210.27)

इत्युक्त्वा यातना देहे मां निवेश्य महारुषा । निबध्य दारुणैः पाशैर्जघ्नुर्लोहस्य मुद्गरैः

ityuktvā yātanā dehe māṁ niveśya mahāruṣā nibadhya dāruṇaiḥ pāśairjaghnurlohasya mudgaraiḥ

'Having said this, they placed me within a body made for torment, and, binding me with dreadful cords, struck me in great fury with iron maces.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.210.28)

तैरहं नीयमानस्तु मार्गे ह्युत्तप्तवालुके । अरुदं भृशदुःखार्तस्ताडितोऽहं पुनश्च तैः

tairahaṁ nīyamānastu mārge hyuttaptavāluke arudaṁ bhṛśaduḥkhārtastāḍito'haṁ punaśca taiḥ

'As they led me along a road of scorching sand, I wept, overcome with intense pain; and they struck me again and again.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.210.29)

प्रोचुश्च ते ध्रुवं कृत्वा निर्भर्त्स्येति च मां बहु । यमदूता ऊचुः । त्वया लुप्तो गुरुर्यस्माद्वदता ब्रह्म निश्चलम्

procuśca te dhruvaṁ kṛtvā nirbhartsyeti ca māṁ bahu yamadūtā ūcuḥ tvayā lupto gururyasmādvadatā brahma niścalam

'And they cursed me firmly, and rebuked me much. The messengers of Yama said: "Since, even while speaking of the changeless Brahman, you neglected your guru—"'

Verse 30 (padma.6.210.30)

किं करोषि यमस्याग्रे द्रष्टव्यं दारुणं मुखम् । तस्य पापस्य भोक्तव्यं दारुणस्य फलं त्वया

kiṁ karoṣi yamasyāgre draṣṭavyaṁ dāruṇaṁ mukham tasya pāpasya bhoktavyaṁ dāruṇasya phalaṁ tvayā

'"—what will you do now, before Yama? You must behold his terrible face; you must suffer the terrible fruit of that sin."'

Verse 31 (padma.6.210.31)

तेनैव पाप्मना पापिन्नपमृत्युं गतो भवान् । इत्युक्त्वा मां मुहूर्तेन बहुयोजनसंस्थिताम्

tenaiva pāpmanā pāpinnapamṛtyuṁ gato bhavān ityuktvā māṁ muhūrtena bahuyojanasaṁsthitām

'"By that very sin, O sinner, you have met with an untimely death." Having said this, within a single moment they brought me many yojanas away—'

Verse 32 (padma.6.210.32)

पुरीं संयमनीं निन्युर्यत्र राजा स्वयं यमः । प्रणम्य धर्मराजानं स्थापयित्वा तु मां पुरः

purīṁ saṁyamanīṁ ninyuryatra rājā svayaṁ yamaḥ praṇamya dharmarājānaṁ sthāpayitvā tu māṁ puraḥ

'—to the city of Samyamani, where King Yama himself presides; and, having bowed to the King of Dharma, they set me before him.'

Verse 33 (padma.6.210.33)

आनीतोऽयं द्विजः पाप इति मां ते न्यवेदयन् । दृष्ट्वा मां धर्मराजोऽथ प्रोवाच स्वसभासदः

ānīto'yaṁ dvijaḥ pāpa iti māṁ te nyavedayan dṛṣṭvā māṁ dharmarājo'tha provāca svasabhāsadaḥ

'"This sinful brahmin has been brought here" — thus they announced. Seeing me, the King of Dharma then spoke to the members of his own court.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.210.34)

यम उवाच- भो सभ्या मामकीं वाचं शृण्वंतु सुसमाहिताः । यदाहं ब्रह्मणा ह्यस्मिन्नधिकारे निवेशितः

yama uvāca- bho sabhyā māmakīṁ vācaṁ śṛṇvaṁtu susamāhitāḥ yadāhaṁ brahmaṇā hyasminnadhikāre niveśitaḥ

Yama said: 'O members of my court, listen attentively to what I have to say. When I was appointed by Brahma to this office—'

Verse 35 (padma.6.210.35)

तदा मामित्युवाचासौ ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । ब्रह्मोवाच- अधर्मिणां नराणां त्वं शास्ता संयमनीपतिः

tadā māmityuvācāsau brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ brahmovāca- adharmiṇāṁ narāṇāṁ tvaṁ śāstā saṁyamanīpatiḥ

'—then Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, spoke this to me.' Brahma said: 'You are the chastiser of unrighteous men, the lord of Samyamani.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.210.36)

यथापराधमाधत्स्व दंडं चंडकरात्मज । पित्रोरपोषको यस्तु समर्थो गुरुध्रुक्तु यः । एतौ महापातकिनौ निपात्यौ निरयेषु ते

yathāparādhamādhatsva daṁḍaṁ caṁḍakarātmaja pitrorapoṣako yastu samartho gurudhruktu yaḥ etau mahāpātakinau nipātyau nirayeṣu te

'"O son of the radiant Sun, mete out punishment according to the offense. Whoever, though able, fails to support his parents, and whoever betrays his guru — these two, guilty of the gravest sins, you must cast down into the hells."'

Verse 37 (padma.6.210.37)

सर्वेषु यावद्वर्षाणां प्रत्येकमयुतं भवेत् । एतयोर्न त्वया कार्या दया जातु ककुप्पते

sarveṣu yāvadvarṣāṇāṁ pratyekamayutaṁ bhavet etayorna tvayā kāryā dayā jātu kakuppate

'"In each of all the hells, for ten thousand years apiece — O lord of the quarters, you must never show mercy to these two."'

Verse 38 (padma.6.210.38)

यम उवाच- इत्यहं ब्रह्मणो वाक्यात्स्वगुरुद्रुहि मानवे । न करोमि क्रियां सभ्यास्तथा पित्रोरपोषके

yama uvāca- ityahaṁ brahmaṇo vākyātsvagurudruhi mānave na karomi kriyāṁ sabhyāstathā pitrorapoṣake

Yama said: 'O members of the court, thus, by Brahma's own word, I show no leniency toward a man who betrays his guru, nor toward one who fails to support his parents.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.210.39)

ब्राह्मणोऽयं गुरुद्रोही तद्द्रोहादपमृत्युताम् । प्राप्तो मच्छासनाद्भृत्यैरानीतो दर्शनाक्षमः

brāhmaṇo'yaṁ gurudrohī taddrohādapamṛtyutām prāpto macchāsanādbhṛtyairānīto darśanākṣamaḥ

'This brahmin, a betrayer of his guru, has met an untimely death because of that very betrayal; by my command, my servants have brought him here — unworthy even to be seen.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.210.40)

भो भृत्याः प्रथमं घोरे रौरवे वत्सरायुते । पात्यतां च पुनस्तस्मान्निःसार्य्यान्यत्र पात्यताम्

bho bhṛtyāḥ prathamaṁ ghore raurave vatsarāyute pātyatāṁ ca punastasmānniḥsāryyānyatra pātyatām

'O servants, cast him first into the terrible Raurava hell for ten thousand years; then take him out from there and cast him into another.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.210.41)

तावंतमेव कालं वै पापोऽयं गुरुलोपकः । नरकेष्विति सर्वेषु यथाकालं स्थितं द्रुतम्

tāvaṁtameva kālaṁ vai pāpo'yaṁ gurulopakaḥ narakeṣviti sarveṣu yathākālaṁ sthitaṁ drutam

'For that same span of time — this sinner, guilty of failing his guru, shall be made to stay in each of the hells in turn." Thus, swiftly, I was made to remain, exactly as ordained.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.210.42)

मुकुंद उवाच- वेदायन गुरो स्वामिन्भृत्यास्ते यमशासनात् । नीत्वा मां रौरवे घोरे पाशैर्बध्वा न्यपातयन्

mukuṁda uvāca- vedāyana guro svāminbhṛtyāste yamaśāsanāt nītvā māṁ raurave ghore pāśairbadhvā nyapātayan

Mukunda said: 'O my guru Vedayana, my lord, those servants, by Yama's command, took hold of me and, binding me with nooses, cast me into the terrible Raurava.'

Verse 43 (padma.6.210.43)

तत्राहं तां व्यथां गुर्वी लब्धवानतिदारुणाम् । यथाकोऽपि क्षणस्तात नीतो मे युगवत्तदा

tatrāhaṁ tāṁ vyathāṁ gurvī labdhavānatidāruṇām yathāko'pi kṣaṇastāta nīto me yugavattadā

'There I suffered that heavy and most terrible agony; so much so that even a single moment there passed for me as if it were an entire age.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.210.44)

त्रिंशद्दिनानि तन्नीतं दुःखं मे तत्र तिष्ठता । एकत्रिंशतमे ह्यस्मिन्दिनेऽहं निर्गतस्तदा

triṁśaddināni tannītaṁ duḥkhaṁ me tatra tiṣṭhatā ekatriṁśatame hyasmindine'haṁ nirgatastadā

'For thirty days I remained there, enduring that suffering; and on the thirty-first day, I then came forth from it.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.210.45)

पतितेष्वस्थिखंडेषु तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नुतमोत्तमे । गुरुलोपोद्भवं पापं सद्यो नष्टं ममाभवत

patiteṣvasthikhaṁḍeṣu tīrthe'sminnutamottame gurulopodbhavaṁ pāpaṁ sadyo naṣṭaṁ mamābhavata

'The very instant the fragments of my bones fell into this most excellent tirtha, the sin born of my failure toward my guru was at once destroyed for me.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.210.46)

तीर्थस्यास्य प्रसादेन लब्धा च स्वर्गतिर्मया । सुखं स्वर्गे निवत्स्यामि यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश

tīrthasyāsya prasādena labdhā ca svargatirmayā sukhaṁ svarge nivatsyāmi yāvadiṁdrāścaturdaśa

'By the grace of this tirtha, I have obtained a heavenly destiny; I shall dwell happily in heaven for the span of fourteen Indras.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.210.47)

यमस्य नगरे तस्मिन्याः प्रजा निवसंति वै । पापिनां भयदायिन्यो धर्मिणां ता मनोहराः

yamasya nagare tasminyāḥ prajā nivasaṁti vai pāpināṁ bhayadāyinyo dharmiṇāṁ tā manoharāḥ

'The beings who dwell in that city of Yama are terrifying to sinners, but appear lovely to the righteous.'

Verse 48 (padma.6.210.48)

सिंहास्या गजकोलास्या महादंष्ट्रोन्नतोदरीः । बिडालास्याः पिंगकेश्यो भामिन्यो दीर्घपत्कराः

siṁhāsyā gajakolāsyā mahādaṁṣṭronnatodarīḥ biḍālāsyāḥ piṁgakeśyo bhāminyo dīrghapatkarāḥ

'—lion-faced, elephant- or boar-faced, with great fangs and swollen bellies; cat-faced, tawny-haired, wrathful, with long wing-like arms—'

Verse 49 (padma.6.210.49)

तीर्थस्यास्य प्रसादेन निःपापोहं यदाभवम् । तदा मया प्रजा दृष्टा दिव्यरूपा यमालये

tīrthasyāsya prasādena niḥpāpohaṁ yadābhavam tadā mayā prajā dṛṣṭā divyarūpā yamālaye

'—so they had seemed. But when, by the grace of this tirtha, I became free of sin, then I beheld the people of Yama's realm in their true, divine form.'

Verse 50 (padma.6.210.50)

सर्वास्ताः सत्यवादिन्यो विनयाचारसंचिताः । दिव्याभरणधारिण्यो दिव्यांबरविभूषिताः

sarvāstāḥ satyavādinyo vinayācārasaṁcitāḥ divyābharaṇadhāriṇyo divyāṁbaravibhūṣitāḥ

'All of them truthful in speech, full of humility and good conduct, wearing divine ornaments, adorned in celestial garments.'

Verse 51 (padma.6.210.51)

इत्येतत्कथितं तात यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयानघ । अनुजानीहि मां गंतुममरेशपुरीं प्रति

ityetatkathitaṁ tāta yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ tvayānagha anujānīhi māṁ gaṁtumamareśapurīṁ prati

'This, O sinless one, is all I have told you, just as you asked; now grant me leave to go on to the city of the lord of the gods.'

Verse 52 (padma.6.210.52)

नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य स सन्यासी स्वशिष्योक्तं वचस्तदा । भूयः पप्रच्छ धर्मात्मा मुकुंदं तं द्विजं नृप

nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya sa sanyāsī svaśiṣyoktaṁ vacastadā bhūyaḥ papraccha dharmātmā mukuṁdaṁ taṁ dvijaṁ nṛpa

Narada said: 'O king, hearing these words spoken by his own pupil, that righteous renunciant then questioned the brahmin Mukunda once more.'

Verse 53 (padma.6.210.53)

वेदायन उवाच- बाल्यावधि गुरुस्नेहं मत्तोऽधीतं त्वयाखिलम् । शब्दशास्त्रसमेतश्च वेदस्तु सपदक्रमः

vedāyana uvāca- bālyāvadhi gurusnehaṁ matto'dhītaṁ tvayākhilam śabdaśāstrasametaśca vedastu sapadakramaḥ

Vedayana said: 'From childhood, with a guru's love, you studied everything under me — the Veda together with grammar, and its Pada and Krama recitations.'

Verse 54 (padma.6.210.54)

विहिता मम शुश्रूषा भावेन भवतोत्तमा । त्वयि संति सतां साधो गुणाः शमदमादयः

vihitā mama śuśrūṣā bhāvena bhavatottamā tvayi saṁti satāṁ sādho guṇāḥ śamadamādayaḥ

'You served me with an excellent devotion; in you, O virtuous one, dwell the qualities of good men — self-restraint, self-control, and the rest.'

Verse 55 (padma.6.210.55)

गुरुलोपकृतं पापं कथं ते समजायत । एतदाख्याहि मे तात यथा जानामि तत्वतः

gurulopakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ kathaṁ te samajāyata etadākhyāhi me tāta yathā jānāmi tatvataḥ

'How, then, did this sin of failing your guru come about for you? Tell me this, my child, so that I may know it truly.'

Verse 56 (padma.6.210.56)

मुकुंद उवाच- जन्मोपवीतकन्यानां धातारो निगमस्य च । यज्ञोपवीतदातुश्च नाज्ञाभंगः कृतो मया

mukuṁda uvāca- janmopavītakanyānāṁ dhātāro nigamasya ca yajñopavītadātuśca nājñābhaṁgaḥ kṛto mayā

Mukunda said: 'Toward those who ordain the rites of birth, sacred thread, and marriage, and toward him who taught me the Veda and him who gave me my sacred thread — I broke none of their commands.'

Verse 57 (padma.6.210.57)

श्वश्रुश्वशुरयोः सेवा भृत्येनेव कृता मया । तवापि शास्त्रदातुश्च नाज्ञाभंगः कृतो मया

śvaśruśvaśurayoḥ sevā bhṛtyeneva kṛtā mayā tavāpi śāstradātuśca nājñābhaṁgaḥ kṛto mayā

'I served my wife's parents as a servant would; and toward you too, who gave me the scriptures, I broke no command.'

Verse 58 (padma.6.210.58)

पुरोधा यः कुलाचार्यो वेदवेदांतपारगः। तस्यापराद्धं केचिन्मे तत्र त्वं श्रोतुमर्हसि

purodhā yaḥ kulācāryo vedavedāṁtapāragaḥ tasyāparāddhaṁ kecinme tatra tvaṁ śrotumarhasi

'But there is some offense of mine toward our family priest, our hereditary teacher, versed in the Veda and Vedanta — that you ought to hear.'

Verse 59 (padma.6.210.59)

यद्यस्माकं कुले पुत्रो जायते धर्मकोविद । तदा पुरोधसे धेनुमेकां वा तस्य दक्षिणाम्

yadyasmākaṁ kule putro jāyate dharmakovida tadā purodhase dhenumekāṁ vā tasya dakṣiṇām

'O knower of dharma, when a son is born into our family, a cow, or some equivalent gift, is due to the priest as his dakshina.'

Verse 60 (padma.6.210.60)

दत्त्वा संच्छिद्यते नालमिति वंशस्य नः स्थितिः । पुरा ममैव पुत्रे तु जातमात्रे शुभेऽहनि

dattvā saṁcchidyate nālamiti vaṁśasya naḥ sthitiḥ purā mamaiva putre tu jātamātre śubhe'hani

'By giving it, misfortune is cut away — such is the settled custom of our lineage. Once before, when my own son had just been born, on an auspicious day—'

Verse 61 (padma.6.210.61)

कुलक्रिया मया तात न कृता मूढबुद्धिना । तस्याश्चाकरणेनैव गुरुलोपकरोऽभवम्

kulakriyā mayā tāta na kṛtā mūḍhabuddhinā tasyāścākaraṇenaiva gurulopakaro'bhavam

'—I, foolish in mind, failed to perform that family rite; and by that very omission, I became one who had failed his guru.'

Verse 62 (padma.6.210.62)

निवेदितमिदं सर्वं गुरुलोपाद्यथा मम । पापमासीदनुज्ञा मे देहि यामि सुरालयम्

niveditamidaṁ sarvaṁ gurulopādyathā mama pāpamāsīdanujñā me dehi yāmi surālayam

'All this I have now related — how the sin of failing my guru came upon me. Grant me leave now; I go on to the abode of the gods.'

Verse 63 (padma.6.210.63)

वेदायन उवाच- इंद्रप्रस्थांतरावर्तिन्येषा या कोशला शुभा । स्मृतिरस्याः प्रसादेन दृश्यते पूर्वजन्मनः

vedāyana uvāca- iṁdraprasthāṁtarāvartinyeṣā yā kośalā śubhā smṛtirasyāḥ prasādena dṛśyate pūrvajanmanaḥ

Vedayana said: 'This auspicious Kosala, which lies within Indraprastha — by its very grace, one is seen to recover the memory of a past birth.'

Verse 64 (padma.6.210.64)

केन पुण्येन तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नस्थीनि पतितानि ते । मुकुंदाख्याहि चैतस्य स्मृतिरस्ति तवानघ

kena puṇyena tīrthe'sminnasthīni patitāni te mukuṁdākhyāhi caitasya smṛtirasti tavānagha

'By what merit did your bones come to fall in this tirtha? Tell me this too, Mukunda, O sinless one — for you have memory of that as well.'

Verse 65 (padma.6.210.65)

मुकंद उवाच- एकस्तु ब्राह्मणः कश्चित्सायं मद्गृहमागतः । तस्मै स्थानं मया दत्तं भोजनं च यथाविधि

mukaṁda uvāca- ekastu brāhmaṇaḥ kaścitsāyaṁ madgṛhamāgataḥ tasmai sthānaṁ mayā dattaṁ bhojanaṁ ca yathāvidhi

Mukunda said: 'A certain brahmin once came to my house in the evening; I gave him lodging and food, in due form.'

Verse 66 (padma.6.210.66)

सोऽपि भुक्त्वा यथाकामं सुष्वाप शयने शुभे । निशीथे तस्य सर्वांगे ज्वरोऽभूदति दारुणः

so'pi bhuktvā yathākāmaṁ suṣvāpa śayane śubhe niśīthe tasya sarvāṁge jvaro'bhūdati dāruṇaḥ

'He too, having eaten his fill, lay down to sleep on a good bed; at midnight, a most terrible fever seized his entire body.'

Verse 67 (padma.6.210.67)

तेन पीडितसर्वांगो निद्रां लेभे न स द्विजः । प्रभात एव तत्याज प्राणान्मृत्यावुपस्थिते

tena pīḍitasarvāṁgo nidrāṁ lebhe na sa dvijaḥ prabhāta eva tatyāja prāṇānmṛtyāvupasthite

'Afflicted in every limb by it, that brahmin could find no sleep; and right at dawn, as death came upon him, he gave up his breath.'

Verse 68 (padma.6.210.68)

तस्य दाहादि कर्माणि विहितानि मया गुरो । तदस्थीनि च गंगायां पातितानि विधानतः

tasya dāhādi karmāṇi vihitāni mayā guro tadasthīni ca gaṁgāyāṁ pātitāni vidhānataḥ

'O guru, I duly performed his cremation and other rites; and I duly cast his bones into the Ganga.'

Verse 69 (padma.6.210.69)

तेन पुण्येन मेस्थीनि पतितानि शिवप्रदे । तीर्थेऽस्मिन्कोशले नाम्नि ब्रह्मदेवविनिर्मिते

tena puṇyena mesthīni patitāni śivaprade tīrthe'sminkośale nāmni brahmadevavinirmite

'By that same merit, my own bones came to fall in this auspicious tirtha, granter of ultimate good, named Kosala, fashioned by the god Brahma.'

Verse 70 (padma.6.210.70)

नारद उवाच- स्वचरितमितिराजन्स द्विजः प्रोच्य सद्यः सुरसुभगशरीरो द्यां ययौ यानगत्या । इदमकथित मया तं तस्करात्प्राप्य मृत्युं व्यलभत दिवमेतत्तीर्थराजप्रसादात्

nārada uvāca- svacaritamitirājansa dvijaḥ procya sadyaḥ surasubhagaśarīro dyāṁ yayau yānagatyā idamakathita mayā taṁ taskarātprāpya mṛtyuṁ vyalabhata divametattīrtharājaprasādāt

Narada said: 'O king, having thus told his own story, that brahmin, his body now as radiant and lovely as a god's, went straightaway to heaven in his celestial chariot. This is what I have told you: how, though he met his death at a thief's hands, he yet obtained heaven, by the grace of this king of tirthas.'