The Glory of Kosala

Verse 1 (padma.6.212.1)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा तस्य विप्रस्य पितरौ दिव्यरूपिणौ । विमानवरमारुह्य गतौ हरिपुरं प्रति

nārada uvāca- ityuktvā tasya viprasya pitarau divyarūpiṇau vimānavaramāruhya gatau haripuraṁ prati

Narada said: 'Having said this, that brahmin's parents, now of divine form, mounted a fine celestial chariot and departed toward the city of Hari.'

Verse 2 (padma.6.212.2)

तयोः पुत्रस्तु तत्रैव कोशलायां दिनत्रयम् । उषित्वा स्वगृहं प्रायात्चिंतयंस्तीर्थवैभवम्

tayoḥ putrastu tatraiva kośalāyāṁ dinatrayam uṣitvā svagṛhaṁ prāyātciṁtayaṁstīrthavaibhavam

'Their son, having stayed there at Kosala for three days, meditating on the majesty of the tirtha, then set out for his own home.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.212.3)

इयमेव तु कथ्यंते विबुधैः कोशला नृप । कथयिष्यामि तत्तेऽहं श्रवणोत्सुकचेतसे

iyameva tu kathyaṁte vibudhaiḥ kośalā nṛpa kathayiṣyāmi tatte'haṁ śravaṇotsukacetase

'O king, this same tirtha is called Kosala by the learned; I shall now tell you of it, since your mind is eager to hear.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.212.4)

ते दाक्षिणात्या बटवस्तस्यामूषु मुमूर्षवः । समर्थार्थप्रदायिन्यां कोशलायां विपद्यताम्

te dākṣiṇātyā baṭavastasyāmūṣu mumūrṣavaḥ samarthārthapradāyinyāṁ kośalāyāṁ vipadyatām

'Those southern brahmacharins, wishing to die, had come to that capable, all-desire-granting Kosala to meet their end.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.212.5)

कश्चिदेकस्तदा तेषु तामनादृत्य कोशलाम् । गच्छन्नारायणस्थानं विष्णुना वारितः पथि

kaścidekastadā teṣu tāmanādṛtya kośalām gacchannārāyaṇasthānaṁ viṣṇunā vāritaḥ pathi

'Among them, one, disregarding that Kosala, went on toward Narayana's abode; on the way, he was stopped by Vishnu—'

Verse 6 (padma.6.212.6)

वृद्धब्राह्मणरूपेण प्रोक्तं चेति द्विजं प्रति । वृद्धब्राह्मण उवाच- क्व यासि ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ त्यक्त्वेमां कोशलां शुभाम्

vṛddhabrāhmaṇarūpeṇa proktaṁ ceti dvijaṁ prati vṛddhabrāhmaṇa uvāca- kva yāsi brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha tyaktvemāṁ kośalāṁ śubhām

'—in the guise of an aged brahmin, and this was said to him. The aged brahmin said: "O foremost of brahmins, where are you going, having abandoned this auspicious Kosala?"'

Verse 7 (padma.6.212.7)

इंद्रप्रस्थमिदं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं द्विज । कोशला ह्यत्र पुत्रेयं मुक्तिदा विष्णुवल्लभा

iṁdraprasthamidaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvatīrthottamaṁ dvija kośalā hyatra putreyaṁ muktidā viṣṇuvallabhā

'"O brahmin, this tirtha of Indraprastha is the best of all tirthas; and this Kosala here, granter of liberation, is dear to Vishnu."'

Verse 8 (padma.6.212.8)

यत्र यासि विहायैनां निष्कामपददायिनीम् । न सिद्धिर्भविता तत्र विष्णुस्ते च पराङ्मुखः

yatra yāsi vihāyaināṁ niṣkāmapadadāyinīm na siddhirbhavitā tatra viṣṇuste ca parāṅmukhaḥ

'"Where you are going, abandoning this granter of the desireless state, there shall be no attainment, and Vishnu shall turn his face away from you."'

Verse 9 (padma.6.212.9)

मुक्तिं चेदिच्छसे विप्र तीर्थेन्या संप्रगृह्य च । यस्य यस्येच्छया स्नासि तं तं वर्गं प्रदास्यति

muktiṁ cedicchase vipra tīrthenyā saṁpragṛhya ca yasya yasyecchayā snāsi taṁ taṁ vargaṁ pradāsyati

'"O brahmin, if you desire liberation, take hold of this tirtha alone; whatever you wish for as you bathe here, that very class of boon it shall grant you."'

Verse 10 (padma.6.212.10)

तव दृष्टिपथे विप्र सर्पोऽपि सुरतामियात् । अस्याः प्रसादतो मुक्तौ स्वर्गस्थौ विप्रदंपती

tava dṛṣṭipathe vipra sarpo'pi suratāmiyāt asyāḥ prasādato muktau svargasthau vipradaṁpatī

'"O brahmin, even a serpent, merely crossing your line of sight, would attain divinity. By this tirtha's grace alone that brahmin couple attained liberation and now dwell in heaven."'

Verse 11 (padma.6.212.11)

संजातप्रत्ययोऽपि त्वमेतन्माहात्म्यदर्शनात् । लब्ध्वा भाग्योदयेनापि कथमेनां विमुंचसि

saṁjātapratyayo'pi tvametanmāhātmyadarśanāt labdhvā bhāgyodayenāpi kathamenāṁ vimuṁcasi

'"Even you, having witnessed this glory, have come to believe in it; having obtained it through the rise of your own good fortune, how can you abandon it?"'

Verse 12 (padma.6.212.12)

यथा कश्चित्तृषार्तोऽपि लब्ध्वाप्यमृतवारिधिम् । तं त्यक्त्वा याति पंकांभस्तद्वत्त्वं मूढ दृश्यसे

yathā kaścittṛṣārto'pi labdhvāpyamṛtavāridhim taṁ tyaktvā yāti paṁkāṁbhastadvattvaṁ mūḍha dṛśyase

'"As one tormented by thirst, even after finding an ocean of nectar, might abandon it and go toward muddy water — O fool, so do you appear."'

Verse 13 (padma.6.212.13)

यथा चिंतामणिं कश्चित्कूपे क्षिपति मोहितः । हस्तस्थं या गतिस्तस्य दृश्यते सा गतिस्तव

yathā ciṁtāmaṇiṁ kaścitkūpe kṣipati mohitaḥ hastasthaṁ yā gatistasya dṛśyate sā gatistava

'"As one deluded might cast a wish-fulfilling gem, held right in his hand, down into a well — whatever fate awaits him, that same fate is seen for you."'

Verse 14 (padma.6.212.14)

आराध्य विष्णुं विश्वेशं यथा कश्चित्पुमान्कुधीः । सुखमैंद्रियकं तुच्छं याचते सा गतिस्तव

ārādhya viṣṇuṁ viśveśaṁ yathā kaścitpumānkudhīḥ sukhamaiṁdriyakaṁ tucchaṁ yācate sā gatistava

'"As some dull-witted man might worship Vishnu, lord of the universe, and yet beg for some paltry sensory pleasure — that is your fate as well."'

Verse 15 (padma.6.212.15)

न याति कोशलामेनां त्यक्त्वा सर्वार्थदायिनीम् । स्नातस्यात्र दिव प्राप्तिर्मृतस्यामृतसंस्थितिः

na yāti kośalāmenāṁ tyaktvā sarvārthadāyinīm snātasyātra diva prāptirmṛtasyāmṛtasaṁsthitiḥ

'"No one abandons this all-desire-granting Kosala. Whoever bathes here attains heaven, and whoever dies here attains the state of immortality."'

Verse 16 (padma.6.212.16)

नारद उवाच- राजन्नाकर्ण्य विप्रोऽसौ द्विजश्रेयभृतो हरेः । वाक्यं प्रोवाच विप्राय श्रेष्ठं बदरिकाश्रमम्

nārada uvāca- rājannākarṇya vipro'sau dvijaśreyabhṛto hareḥ vākyaṁ provāca viprāya śreṣṭhaṁ badarikāśramam

Narada said: 'O king, having heard this speech of Hari, spoken for the good of brahmins, that brahmin replied, extolling the excellent Badarikashram to him.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.212.17)

विप्र उवाच- भो भो विप्रवर श्रद्धा तव वाक्येन जायते । मम श्रुतवतः पूर्वमल्पग्रामस्य वैभवम्

vipra uvāca- bho bho vipravara śraddhā tava vākyena jāyate mama śrutavataḥ pūrvamalpagrāmasya vaibhavam

The brahmin said: 'O excellent brahmin, your words do stir faith in me; but I had earlier heard of the majesty of a small village.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.212.18)

इंद्रप्रस्थमिदं तीर्थं न कदाचिन्मया श्रुतम् । कुतस्तु कोशलावृद्ध एतदंतरवर्तिनी

iṁdraprasthamidaṁ tīrthaṁ na kadācinmayā śrutam kutastu kośalāvṛddha etadaṁtaravartinī

'This tirtha of Indraprastha I have never heard of. Where has this Kosala come from, in between, O elder?'

Verse 19 (padma.6.212.19)

यत्र नारायणः साक्षान्मुक्ता यत्र च योगिनः । मुक्त्वा तमाश्रमं पुण्यं तिष्ठाम्यत्र कथं द्विज

yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣānmuktā yatra ca yoginaḥ muktvā tamāśramaṁ puṇyaṁ tiṣṭhāmyatra kathaṁ dvija

'The place where Narayana himself dwells in person, where liberated yogis abide — how, O brahmin, can I stay here, abandoning that sacred hermitage?'

Verse 20 (padma.6.212.20)

यथागत्य स्वयं विष्णुरित्युक्त्वा मां निवारयेत् । बदर्याश्चाधिकं क्षेत्रमिंद्रप्रस्थमिदं द्विज

yathāgatya svayaṁ viṣṇurityuktvā māṁ nivārayet badaryāścādhikaṁ kṣetramiṁdraprasthamidaṁ dvija

'Even if Vishnu himself were to come and speak thus, restraining me — is this domain of Indraprastha, O brahmin, greater than Badari?'

Verse 21 (padma.6.212.21)

तदाहं न प्रतिष्ठामि चालितोऽपि तमाश्रमम् । मुक्तिकामः स्वसदनान्नान्यथा स्थितिरत्र मे

tadāhaṁ na pratiṣṭhāmi cālito'pi tamāśramam muktikāmaḥ svasadanānnānyathā sthitiratra me

'Even so, I shall not turn away from that hermitage, even if forced to; desiring liberation, I hold to my own resolve — there is no other course left for me here.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.212.22)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्ते तेन विप्रेण प्रादुरासीच्चतुर्भुजः । विहाय प्राकृतं रूपं दिव्यरूपधरो हरिः

nārada uvāca- ityukte tena vipreṇa prādurāsīccaturbhujaḥ vihāya prākṛtaṁ rūpaṁ divyarūpadharo hariḥ

Narada said: 'When the brahmin had said this, Hari, casting off his ordinary form, manifested himself, four-armed and clothed in divine splendor.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.212.23)

उवाच च महाभागं तं द्विजं मोक्षकामुकम् । विष्णुरुवाच- इंद्रप्रस्थमिदं विप्र सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् । ब्रह्मज्ञेष्विव सर्वेषु शंभुर्गंगानदीष्विव

uvāca ca mahābhāgaṁ taṁ dvijaṁ mokṣakāmukam viṣṇuruvāca- iṁdraprasthamidaṁ vipra sarvatīrthottamottamam brahmajñeṣviva sarveṣu śaṁbhurgaṁgānadīṣviva

'And he spoke to that most fortunate brahmin, who desired liberation. Vishnu said: "O brahmin, this Indraprastha is the very best among all tirthas — as Shambhu is among knowers of Brahman, as the Ganga is among rivers."'

Verse 24 (padma.6.212.24)

हिमवानिव शैलेषु पक्षिराडिव पक्षिषु । त्रिदशेषु यथा शक्रो वैष्णवेष्विव नारदः

himavāniva śaileṣu pakṣirāḍiva pakṣiṣu tridaśeṣu yathā śakro vaiṣṇaveṣviva nāradaḥ

'"As the Himalaya is among mountains, as the king of birds is among birds, as Indra is among the thirty gods, as Narada is among Vaishnavas—"'

Verse 25 (padma.6.212.25)

तेजस्विषु यथा सूर्यः क्षीराब्धिरिव चाब्धिषु । यथा वर्णेषु भूदेवः सृष्टिष्विव पितामहः

tejasviṣu yathā sūryaḥ kṣīrābdhiriva cābdhiṣu yathā varṇeṣu bhūdevaḥ sṛṣṭiṣviva pitāmahaḥ

'"—as the sun is among luminous bodies, as the ocean of milk is among oceans, as the brahmin is among the castes, as Grandsire Brahma is among creations—"'

Verse 26 (padma.6.212.26)

विष्णोर्यथावतारेषु कौशल्या जनितो वरः । तथा समस्ततीर्थेषु शक्रप्रस्थमिदं वरम्

viṣṇoryathāvatāreṣu kauśalyā janito varaḥ tathā samastatīrtheṣu śakraprasthamidaṁ varam

'"—as, among Vishnu's own incarnations, the excellent one born of Kaushalya is supreme, so too, among all tirthas, this Shakraprastha is supreme."'

Verse 27 (padma.6.212.27)

निष्कामो वा सकामो वा याति तीर्थे क्वचिन्नरः । तत्र तत्र समस्तात्मा फलदाताहमेव वै

niṣkāmo vā sakāmo vā yāti tīrthe kvacinnaraḥ tatra tatra samastātmā phaladātāhameva vai

'"Whether desireless or desirous, whatever tirtha a man goes to, there, in every case, I myself, the Self of all, am the giver of the fruit."'

Verse 28 (padma.6.212.28)

इंद्रप्रस्थांतरगतां त्यक्त्वा यो याति कोशलाम् । स नो फलमवाप्नोति भक्तो वरदवृंदपात्

iṁdraprasthāṁtaragatāṁ tyaktvā yo yāti kośalām sa no phalamavāpnoti bhakto varadavṛṁdapāt

'"Whoever leaves behind this Kosala, which lies within Indraprastha, and goes elsewhere, obtains no fruit — such a devotee remains deprived of the whole host of boon-givers."'

Verse 29 (padma.6.212.29)

नारद उवाच- एवं निशम्य तद्वाक्यं दृष्ट्वा तद्रूपमुत्तमम् । प्रणिपत्य रमाकांतं तस्यामेवागमद्द्विजः

nārada uvāca- evaṁ niśamya tadvākyaṁ dṛṣṭvā tadrūpamuttamam praṇipatya ramākāṁtaṁ tasyāmevāgamaddvijaḥ

Narada said: 'Hearing this word, and beholding that excellent form, the brahmin bowed to the Lord of Lakshmi and went straight to that Kosala.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.212.30)

भगवानपि विश्वात्मा सपद्यंतर्दधे विभुः । तत्त्वमुद्दिश्य तं विप्रं तेन भावेन पूजितः

bhagavānapi viśvātmā sapadyaṁtardadhe vibhuḥ tattvamuddiśya taṁ vipraṁ tena bhāvena pūjitaḥ

'The blessed Lord too, the all-pervading Soul of the universe, vanished at that very moment, having shown himself in truth to that brahmin who had worshipped him with such devotion.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.212.31)

तत्रागत्य स विप्रोऽसौ कोशलायां नराधिप । कथयामास तद्वृत्तं सर्वं सर्वान्स्वसंगिनः

tatrāgatya sa vipro'sau kośalāyāṁ narādhipa kathayāmāsa tadvṛttaṁ sarvaṁ sarvānsvasaṁginaḥ

'O ruler of men, having come there to Kosala, that brahmin related this whole account to all his companions.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.212.32)

तेपि श्रुत्वा महाभागा दाक्षिणात्या द्विजातयः । तस्यामनशनं कृत्वा तत्यजुः प्राकृतं वपुः

tepi śrutvā mahābhāgā dākṣiṇātyā dvijātayaḥ tasyāmanaśanaṁ kṛtvā tatyajuḥ prākṛtaṁ vapuḥ

'Those great and fortunate southern brahmins, hearing this, likewise fasted unto death right there at that Kosala, and cast off their ordinary bodies.'

Verse 33 (padma.6.212.33)

तदेव गरुडारूढः श्रीविष्णुं समुपागतः । विमानैः स्वगणैः सार्द्धं तावद्भिर्दीप्तिभास्वरैः

tadeva garuḍārūḍhaḥ śrīviṣṇuṁ samupāgataḥ vimānaiḥ svagaṇaiḥ sārddhaṁ tāvadbhirdīptibhāsvaraiḥ

'That very instant, Shri Vishnu himself, mounted upon Garuda, arrived there, together with his own attendants and just as many radiant, brilliant celestial chariots.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.212.34)

ते तं दृष्ट्वा समायांतं विमानं गणसंयुतम् । वपुषा दिव्यरूपेण दंडवत्पतिता भुवि

te taṁ dṛṣṭvā samāyāṁtaṁ vimānaṁ gaṇasaṁyutam vapuṣā divyarūpeṇa daṁḍavatpatitā bhuvi

'Seeing him approach thus, upon his chariot, attended by his hosts, in that divine form, they all fell prostrate upon the ground like fallen staffs.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.212.35)

तुष्टवुश्च द्विजाः सर्वे दिव्यज्ञानवपुर्द्धराः । तं दिव्यरूपिणं देवदेववंद्यपदांबुजम्

tuṣṭavuśca dvijāḥ sarve divyajñānavapurddharāḥ taṁ divyarūpiṇaṁ devadevavaṁdyapadāṁbujam

'And all those brahmins, now clothed in bodies of divine knowledge, began to praise that divinely formed one, whose lotus feet are worshipped by the god of gods themselves.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.212.36)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः - नमस्तेऽतसीपुष्पसंकाशभासं तनुं बिभ्रते पीतवासो वृताय । लसत्कुंडलप्रोतनानोपलाय श्रुतौ चंचला व्यापिनीलांबुदाय

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ - namaste'tasīpuṣpasaṁkāśabhāsaṁ tanuṁ bibhrate pītavāso vṛtāya lasatkuṁḍalaprotanānopalāya śrutau caṁcalā vyāpinīlāṁbudāya

The brahmins said: 'Salutations to you, whose radiance is like the blossom of the flax flower, clad in yellow, your cheeks graced by gleaming earrings, your ears restless, vast and dark as a rain-cloud!'

Verse 37 (padma.6.212.37)

भक्तिस्त्वदीया किल कल्पवल्ली समाश्रिता यच्छति चित्तवांच्छितम् । यथा तथैषा तव कोशला विभो जनैरुभे ते कृपया तवाप्यते

bhaktistvadīyā kila kalpavallī samāśritā yacchati cittavāṁcchitam yathā tathaiṣā tava kośalā vibho janairubhe te kṛpayā tavāpyate

'Your devotion is indeed a wish-fulfilling vine, granting the mind's every desire to those who take refuge in it; O lord, and just as this devotion, so too this Kosala of yours is obtained by people through your grace alone.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.212.38)

वंदामहे ते चरणारविंदं वृदांरकैर्वृंदितमीश्वराद्यैः । विचिंत्यमानं हृदि योगिवृंदैः कंदं परानंदभुवो विमुक्तेः

vaṁdāmahe te caraṇāraviṁdaṁ vṛdāṁrakairvṛṁditamīśvarādyaiḥ viciṁtyamānaṁ hṛdi yogivṛṁdaiḥ kaṁdaṁ parānaṁdabhuvo vimukteḥ

'We bow to that lotus foot of yours, which is thronged by Ishvara and the other great gods, which the multitudes of yogis contemplate in their hearts, which is the very root of liberation, the abode of supreme bliss.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.212.39)

प्राप्ताः कामं श्रीपतेत्वत्स्वरूपं श्रीवत्साद्यैर्लक्षितं चारुचिह्नैः । वांच्छामस्ते दासभावं तथापि प्राप्तं सर्वैरादृतं नारदाद्यैः

prāptāḥ kāmaṁ śrīpatetvatsvarūpaṁ śrīvatsādyairlakṣitaṁ cārucihnaiḥ vāṁcchāmaste dāsabhāvaṁ tathāpi prāptaṁ sarvairādṛtaṁ nāradādyaiḥ

'O Lord of Shri, we have now obtained, as we desired, your own form, marked by the fair signs of Shrivatsa and the rest; and yet we still long for that state of your servant — the very state attained by Narada and all your revered devotees.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.212.40)

यत्सौख्यं ते दासभावं गतानां तन्नो लक्ष्म्या वक्षसोंतर्वसंत्याः । तज्जानाति श्रीपते श्रीमहेशो नान्यो लोके येन तच्चानुभूतम्

yatsaukhyaṁ te dāsabhāvaṁ gatānāṁ tanno lakṣmyā vakṣasoṁtarvasaṁtyāḥ tajjānāti śrīpate śrīmaheśo nānyo loke yena taccānubhūtam

'That happiness which belongs to those who have attained your servitude — the very happiness known even to Lakshmi, who dwells ever upon your breast — that, O Lord of Shri, only Shri Mahesha knows; no one else in the world, for no one else has experienced it.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.212.41)

मध्येऽस्माकं श्रीपते सेवकानां नीरागाणामप्यसौ माननीयः । अस्मात्तं ते नारदाद्या मुनीशास्त्वद्भक्ताप्तैर्लोकनाथं भजंते

madhye'smākaṁ śrīpate sevakānāṁ nīrāgāṇāmapyasau mānanīyaḥ asmāttaṁ te nāradādyā munīśāstvadbhaktāptairlokanāthaṁ bhajaṁte

'O Lord of Shri, even among us, your dispassionate servants, that one alone is most honored; therefore Narada and the other great sages too worship that lord of the world, attained through your own devotees.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.212.42)

कामं ब्रह्मानंदमासोंतरात्मा त्वद्दास्ये नो तृप्तिमायाति शंभुः । वारंवारं त्वद्गुणानाग्रहीतुं नृत्यत्युच्चैस्त्वत्परो भावयुक्तः

kāmaṁ brahmānaṁdamāsoṁtarātmā tvaddāsye no tṛptimāyāti śaṁbhuḥ vāraṁvāraṁ tvadguṇānāgrahītuṁ nṛtyatyuccaistvatparo bhāvayuktaḥ

'Though Shambhu tastes the bliss of Brahman within his own soul, still he finds no satiety in your service; again and again, to seize upon your virtues, overcome with feeling, he dances aloud, wholly devoted to you.'

Verse 43 (padma.6.212.43)

हेतोरस्माद्देहिनः स्वस्य दास्यं यत्प्राप्तानां नोर्मयः संभवंति । त्वच्चिह्नांगौ द्वारपालौ तदीयौ मोहाद्धामप्राप्य तौ तत्स्वकीयम्

hetorasmāddehinaḥ svasya dāsyaṁ yatprāptānāṁ normayaḥ saṁbhavaṁti tvaccihnāṁgau dvārapālau tadīyau mohāddhāmaprāpya tau tatsvakīyam

'For this very reason, no ripple of change arises in those embodied beings who attain your servitude. Even your own two gatekeepers, bearing your own marks, having reached your abode through delusion, come to think of it as their very own.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.212.44)

लोकादस्मादंतरेण त्वदिच्छा त्वल्लोकानां नोद्यते चाशुपातः । को जानीयात्तावकीमत्र मायां दुर्विज्ञेयां ब्रह्म शर्वादिदेवैः

lokādasmādaṁtareṇa tvadicchā tvallokānāṁ nodyate cāśupātaḥ ko jānīyāttāvakīmatra māyāṁ durvijñeyāṁ brahma śarvādidevaiḥ

'Apart from your own will, no swift fall ever comes upon your worlds. Who indeed could know this Maya of yours, so hard to fathom even for Brahma, Shiva, and the other gods?'

Verse 45 (padma.6.212.45)

नारद उवाच- एवं तैः स्तूयमानः स प्रभुर्निजपदोन्मुखः । उवाच तान्दाक्षिणात्यान्मेघगंभीरया गिरा

nārada uvāca- evaṁ taiḥ stūyamānaḥ sa prabhurnijapadonmukhaḥ uvāca tāndākṣiṇātyānmeghagaṁbhīrayā girā

Narada said: 'Thus praised by them, that Lord, his face turned now toward his own abode, spoke to those southern brahmins in a voice deep as thunder.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.212.46)

श्रीभगवानुवाच- भोभो द्विजा भवंतोऽस्या कोशलायाः प्रसादतः । सारूप्यमपि मे प्राप्ता दासभावं च यास्यथ

śrībhagavānuvāca- bhobho dvijā bhavaṁto'syā kośalāyāḥ prasādataḥ sārūpyamapi me prāptā dāsabhāvaṁ ca yāsyatha

The blessed Lord said: 'O brahmins, you all, by the grace of this Kosala, have obtained my own form, and now you shall obtain my servitude as well.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.212.47)

अद्यप्रभृति मे विप्रास्तीर्थमेतदनुत्तमम् । दक्षिणकोशलेत्युच्चैर्नाम्ना ख्यातं भविष्यति

adyaprabhṛti me viprāstīrthametadanuttamam dakṣiṇakośaletyuccairnāmnā khyātaṁ bhaviṣyati

'O brahmins, from this day on, this incomparable tirtha of mine shall become renowned far and wide by the name "Dakshina Kosala."'

Verse 48 (padma.6.212.48)

यत्र दाशरथी भूत्वा निहनिष्यद्दशाननम् । सा कथ्यते मुनिवरैः सर्वैरुत्तरकोशला

yatra dāśarathī bhūtvā nihaniṣyaddaśānanam sā kathyate munivaraiḥ sarvairuttarakośalā

'The place where, having become the son of Dasharatha, I shall slay Dashanana — that place all the foremost sages call "Uttara Kosala."'

Verse 49 (padma.6.212.49)

विपन्नो ज्ञानवान्यस्या वैकुंठमधिरोहति । विनापि तद्वसेद्योऽस्यां सोऽपि स्वर्गं च गच्छति

vipanno jñānavānyasyā vaikuṁṭhamadhirohati vināpi tadvasedyo'syāṁ so'pi svargaṁ ca gacchati

'Whoever, endowed with knowledge, dies at that place ascends to Vaikuntha; and whoever merely dwells there, even without such knowledge, goes to heaven as well.'

Verse 50 (padma.6.212.50)

इमां ततो दशगुणामाहुर्दक्षिणकोशलाम् । एकादशगुणामेके सम्यगाहुर्मुनीश्वराः

imāṁ tato daśaguṇāmāhurdakṣiṇakośalām ekādaśaguṇāmeke samyagāhurmunīśvarāḥ

'Then again, people say this Dakshina Kosala is tenfold greater than that; some among the great sages rightly declare it elevenfold greater.'

Verse 51 (padma.6.212.51)

इयानेव विशेषोऽस्ति तस्या अस्या मतिर्मम । तस्यां मृतं नयंत्येते वैकुंठं मामका गणाः

iyāneva viśeṣo'sti tasyā asyā matirmama tasyāṁ mṛtaṁ nayaṁtyete vaikuṁṭhaṁ māmakā gaṇāḥ

'Between that place and this, in my own view, this alone is the difference — one who dies at that place is led to Vaikuntha by my own attendants.'

Verse 52 (padma.6.212.52)

अस्यां मृतं स्वयमहमनन्यवदमानसम् । आरोप्य गरुडं दत्त्वा सारूप्यं प्रापयामि तत्

asyāṁ mṛtaṁ svayamahamananyavadamānasam āropya garuḍaṁ dattvā sārūpyaṁ prāpayāmi tat

'But whoever dies right here, his mind fixed on me and none other, him I myself mount upon Garuda, and grant him my own form directly.'

Verse 53 (padma.6.212.53)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा तान्द्विजान्विष्णुर्नीत्वा वैकुंठमभ्यगात् । महिमानं स्तुवन्नस्य स्वयं तीर्थस्य भूपते

nārada uvāca- ityuktvā tāndvijānviṣṇurnītvā vaikuṁṭhamabhyagāt mahimānaṁ stuvannasya svayaṁ tīrthasya bhūpate

Narada said: 'Having said this, O king, Vishnu, taking those brahmins with him, went on to Vaikuntha, himself extolling the greatness of this tirtha as he went.'

Verse 54 (padma.6.212.54)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं कारणं जगतीपते । येनेयं कथ्यते विज्ञैरिह दक्षिणकोशला

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ kāraṇaṁ jagatīpate yeneyaṁ kathyate vijñairiha dakṣiṇakośalā

'O lord of the earth, this whole account I have now told you — the reason why the wise here call this place "Dakshina Kosala."'

Verse 55 (padma.6.212.55)

कलिमलकुलहंता शृण्वतां मानवानां कमलनयनपादप्राप्तये वांच्छितश्च । नृपवर महिमा ते वर्णितः कोशलाया मधुवनभववृत्तं शृण्वतस्ते वदामि

kalimalakulahaṁtā śṛṇvatāṁ mānavānāṁ kamalanayanapādaprāptaye vāṁcchitaśca nṛpavara mahimā te varṇitaḥ kośalāyā madhuvanabhavavṛttaṁ śṛṇvataste vadāmi

'O best of kings, this glory of Kosala — destroyer of the mass of Kali-taint for those who hear it, and longed for as a means to reach the feet of the lotus-eyed one — has now been told to you; now let me tell you the account of what took place at Madhuvana, which you wish to hear.'