The Origin of Heresy

Verse 1 (padma.6.235.1)

श्रीपार्वत्युवाच- पाषंडानां च संवादं वर्जयेदिति यत्त्वया ।

śrīpārvatyuvāca pāṣaṁḍānāṁ ca saṁvādaṁ varjayediti yattvayā

Shri Parvati said: You told me that one should avoid even conversing with heretics —

Verse 2 (padma.6.235.2)

उक्तं ममेह भगवान्श्वपचादपि गर्हितम् । ते यादृशाः समाख्याताः कैर्लिंङ्गैश्चिह्निता भुवि । रुद्र उवाच- येऽन्यदेवं परत्वेन वदंत्यज्ञानमोहिताः ।

uktaṁ mameha bhagavānśvapacādapi garhitam te yādṛśāḥ samākhyātāḥ kairliṁṅgaiścihnitā bhuvi rudra uvāca ye'nyadevaṁ paratvena vadaṁtyajñānamohitāḥ

for you said they are more contemptible even than a dog-cooker. What are they like, and by what marks are they known on earth? Rudra said: Those who, deluded by ignorance, proclaim another deity as greater than Narayana, Lord of the universe —

Verse 3 (padma.6.235.3)

नारायणाज्जगन्नाथात्ते वै पाषंडिनः स्मृताः । कपालभस्मास्थिधरा ये ह्यवैदिकलिङ्गिनः ।

nārāyaṇājjagannāthātte vai pāṣaṁḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ kapālabhasmāsthidharā ye hyavaidikaliṅginaḥ

they indeed are remembered as heretics. Those who bear skull, ash, and bone as marks not sanctioned by the Veda —

Verse 4 (padma.6.235.4)

ऋते वनस्थाश्रमाच्च जटावल्कलधारिणः । अवैदिकक्रियोपेतास्तै वै पाषंडिनस्तथा ।

ṛte vanasthāśramācca jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇaḥ avaidikakriyopetāstai vai pāṣaṁḍinastathā

those who wear matted locks and bark-garments without belonging to the forest-dwelling stage of life, and who follow non-Vedic rites — they too are heretics.

Verse 5 (padma.6.235.5)

शंखचक्रोर्ध्वपुंड्रादि चिह्नैः प्रियतमैर्हरेः । रहिता ये द्विजा देवि ते वै पाषंडिनः स्मृताः ।

śaṁkhacakrordhvapuṁḍrādi cihnaiḥ priyatamairhareḥ rahitā ye dvijā devi te vai pāṣaṁḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ

O Goddess, those twice-born who lack the marks most dear to Hari — the conch, the discus, the urdhva-pundra and the like — they too are called heretics.

Verse 6 (padma.6.235.6)

श्रुतिस्मृत्युदिताचारं यस्तु नाचरति द्विजः । स पाषंडीति विज्ञेयः सर्वलोकेषु गर्हितः ।

śrutismṛtyuditācāraṁ yastu nācarati dvijaḥ sa pāṣaṁḍīti vijñeyaḥ sarvalokeṣu garhitaḥ

A twice-born who does not follow the conduct declared in the Shruti and Smriti should be known as a heretic, condemned in every world.

Verse 7 (padma.6.235.7)

विना वै भगवत्प्रीत्या ते वै पाषंडिनः स्मृताः । समस्तयज्ञभोक्तारं विष्णुं वै ब्रह्मदैवतम् ।

vinā vai bhagavatprītyā te vai pāṣaṁḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ samastayajñabhoktāraṁ viṣṇuṁ vai brahmadaivatam

Those who act without love for the Lord are also called heretics. Vishnu, who partakes of every sacrifice, is the very deity of the Veda —

Verse 8 (padma.6.235.8)

उदिश्य देवता एव जुहोति च ददाति च । स पाषण्डीति विज्ञेयः स्वतंत्रः सर्वकर्मसु ।

udiśya devatā eva juhoti ca dadāti ca sa pāṣaṇḍīti vijñeyaḥ svataṁtraḥ sarvakarmasu

he who, setting him aside, offers oblation or gift to some other deity should be known as a heretic — one who acts independently in every rite.

Verse 9 (padma.6.235.9)

स्वातंत्र्यात्कुरुते यस्तु कर्म वेदोदितं महत् । यस्तु नारायणं देवं ब्रह्मरुद्रादिदैवतैः ।

svātaṁtryātkurute yastu karma vedoditaṁ mahat yastu nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ brahmarudrādidaivataiḥ

He who, out of his own independent will, performs the great rites declared by the Veda without dedicating them to Vishnu is a heretic. And he who regards the god Narayana —

Verse 10 (padma.6.235.10)

सममन्यैर्निरीक्षेत स पाषंडी भवेत्सदा । अवस्थात्रितये यस्तु मनोवाक्कायकर्म्मभिः ।

samamanyairnirīkṣeta sa pāṣaṁḍī bhavetsadā avasthātritaye yastu manovākkāyakarmmabhiḥ

as equal to Brahma, Rudra, and other deities is ever a heretic. He who, in every state, through mind, speech, body, and action —

Verse 11 (padma.6.235.11)

वासुदेवं न जानाति स पाषंडी भवेद्दिवजः । किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन ब्राह्मणा येप्यवैष्णवाः ।

vāsudevaṁ na jānāti sa pāṣaṁḍī bhaveddivajaḥ kimatra bahunoktena brāhmaṇā yepyavaiṣṇavāḥ

does not know Vasudeva as supreme, that twice-born becomes a heretic. What need to say more here — even Brahmins who are not Vaishnavas —

Verse 12 (padma.6.235.12)

न स्प्रष्टव्या न वक्तव्या न द्रष्टव्याः कदाचन । पार्वत्युवाच- भगवन्परमं गुह्यं पृच्छामि सुरसत्तम ।

na spraṣṭavyā na vaktavyā na draṣṭavyāḥ kadācana pārvatyuvāca bhagavanparamaṁ guhyaṁ pṛcchāmi surasattama

should never be touched, spoken to, or even looked upon. Parvati said: O Lord, best of gods, I ask you a most secret question.

Verse 13 (padma.6.235.13)

मयि प्रीत्या समाचक्ष्व संशयो वर्त्तते भृशम् । कपालभस्मचर्म्मास्थि धारणं श्रुतिगर्हितम् ।

mayi prītyā samācakṣva saṁśayo varttate bhṛśam kapālabhasmacarmmāsthi dhāraṇaṁ śrutigarhitam

Tell me out of love, for a great doubt remains in my mind. The wearing of skull, ash, hide, and bone is condemned in the Shruti —

Verse 14 (padma.6.235.14)

तत्त्वया धार्य्यते देव गर्हितं केन हेतुना । स्त्रीचापल्येन देवेश पृच्छामि त्वां महामते ।

tattvayā dhāryyate deva garhitaṁ kena hetunā strīcāpalyena deveśa pṛcchāmi tvāṁ mahāmate

yet, O God, for what reason do you wear it? O Lord of gods, out of a woman's natural curiosity I ask you this, O great-minded one.

Verse 15 (padma.6.235.15)

महाप्रभावात्कथितं न कर्त्तव्यं क्वचिद्भवेत् । त्वयेति न पुरा प्रोक्तं विस्तरेण महाप्रभो ।

mahāprabhāvātkathitaṁ na karttavyaṁ kvacidbhavet tvayeti na purā proktaṁ vistareṇa mahāprabho

Perhaps, on account of some great power, this may somewhere not be forbidden — this you have never before explained to me in detail, O great Lord.

Verse 16 (padma.6.235.16)

अकर्त्तव्यमिति प्रश्नं क्षंतुमर्हसि मे प्रभो । वसिष्ठ उवाच- इति देव्या हरः पृष्टो रहस्ये जनवर्जिते ।

akarttavyamiti praśnaṁ kṣaṁtumarhasi me prabho vasiṣṭha uvāca iti devyā haraḥ pṛṣṭo rahasye janavarjite

Please forgive me, O Lord, for asking this question of what seems forbidden. Vasishtha said: Thus questioned by the Goddess in solitude, Hara —

Verse 17 (padma.6.235.17)

उवाच परमं गुह्यं यद्यदाचरितं स्वकम् । शिव उवाच- शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि यद्गुह्यं परमाद्भुतम् ।

uvāca paramaṁ guhyaṁ yadyadācaritaṁ svakam śiva uvāca śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi yadguhyaṁ paramādbhutam

told her the supreme secret of whatever he himself had done. Shiva said: Listen, O Goddess, I shall tell you this supremely wondrous secret —

Verse 18 (padma.6.235.18)

न वक्तव्यं त्वया देवि जनेषु कथितं मया । अपृथक्त्वाच्छरीरस्य वक्ष्यामि तव सुव्रते ।

na vaktavyaṁ tvayā devi janeṣu kathitaṁ mayā apṛthaktvāccharīrasya vakṣyāmi tava suvrate

one not to be revealed by you to other people, once I have told it. Since your body is not separate from mine, O one of good vows, I shall tell it to you.

Verse 19 (padma.6.235.19)

नमुच्याद्या महादैत्याः पुरा स्वायंभुवेंतरे । महाबला महावीर्या महावीरा महौजसः ।

namucyādyā mahādaityāḥ purā svāyaṁbhuveṁtare mahābalā mahāvīryā mahāvīrā mahaujasaḥ

Long ago, in the Svayambhuva Manvantara, there were great daityas headed by Namuchi — of great strength, great valor, great heroism, and great vigor.

Verse 20 (padma.6.235.20)

सर्वे विष्णुरताः शुद्धाः सर्वपापविवर्जिताः । त्रयीधर्मवृताः सर्वे भग्ना इंद्रपुरोगमाः ।

sarve viṣṇuratāḥ śuddhāḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ trayīdharmavṛtāḥ sarve bhagnā iṁdrapurogamāḥ

All of them were devoted to Vishnu, pure, free of every sin, observant of the threefold Vedic dharma; and they defeated the gods headed by Indra.

Verse 21 (padma.6.235.21)

विष्णोः समीपमागम्य भयार्त्ताः शरणं गताः । देवा ऊचुः। अजेयान्सर्वदेवानां तपोनिर्द्धूतकल्मषान् ।

viṣṇoḥ samīpamāgamya bhayārttāḥ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ devā ūcuḥ ajeyānsarvadevānāṁ taponirddhūtakalmaṣān

The frightened gods went to Vishnu and took refuge in him. The gods said: "These demons, unconquerable by all the gods, their sins washed away by austerity —

Verse 22 (padma.6.235.22)

त्वमेवैतान्महादैत्याञ्जेतुमर्हसि केशव । महादेव उवाच-। इत्याकर्ण्य हरिर्वाक्यं देवानां च भयानकम् ।

tvamevaitānmahādaityāñjetumarhasi keśava mahādeva uvāca ityākarṇya harirvākyaṁ devānāṁ ca bhayānakam

you alone, O Keshava, are able to conquer these great daityas." Mahadeva said: Having heard this fear-laden speech of the gods, Hari —

Verse 23 (padma.6.235.23)

तान्समाश्वास्य दिक्पालान्मामाह पुरुषोत्तमः । श्रीभगवानुवाच- त्वं हि रुद्र महाबाहो मोहनार्थे सुरद्विषाम् ।

tānsamāśvāsya dikpālānmāmāha puruṣottamaḥ śrībhagavānuvāca tvaṁ hi rudra mahābāho mohanārthe suradviṣām

reassured the guardians of the quarters and spoke to me. Shri Bhagavan said: "O Rudra, mighty-armed one, in order to delude the enemies of the gods —

Verse 24 (padma.6.235.24)

पाषंडाचरणं धर्मं कुरुष्व सुरसत्तम । तामसानि पुराणानि कथयस्व च तान्प्रति ।

pāṣaṁḍācaraṇaṁ dharmaṁ kuruṣva surasattama tāmasāni purāṇāni kathayasva ca tānprati

establish heretical practice as a 'dharma', O best of gods, and recite the Tamasic Puranas to them.

Verse 25 (padma.6.235.25)

मोहनानि च शास्त्राणि कुरुष्व च महामते । मयि मुक्ताश्च विप्रश्च भविष्यंति महर्षयः ।

mohanāni ca śāstrāṇi kuruṣva ca mahāmate mayi muktāśca vipraśca bhaviṣyaṁti maharṣayaḥ

And compose deluding scriptures too, O great-minded one. There will be great sages and Brahmins liberated in Me —

Verse 26 (padma.6.235.26)

मद्भक्त्या तान्समाविश्य कथयस्व च तामसान् । काणादं गौतमं शक्तिमुपमन्युं च जैमिनिम् ।

madbhaktyā tānsamāviśya kathayasva ca tāmasān kāṇādaṁ gautamaṁ śaktimupamanyuṁ ca jaiminim

enter into them under cover of devotion to Me, and through them proclaim Tamasic teachings — Kanada, Gautama, Shakti, Upamanyu, Jaimini,

Verse 27 (padma.6.235.27)

कपिलं चैव दुर्वासं मृकंडुं च बृहस्पतिम् । भार्गवं जामदग्न्यं च दशैतांस्तामसानृषीन् ।

kapilaṁ caiva durvāsaṁ mṛkaṁḍuṁ ca bṛhaspatim bhārgavaṁ jāmadagnyaṁ ca daśaitāṁstāmasānṛṣīn

Kapila, Durvasa, Mrikandu, Brihaspati, Bhargava, and Jamadagnya — these ten Tamasic sages,

Verse 28 (padma.6.235.28)

भावशक्त्या समाविश्य कुर्वता जगतो शिवम् । त्वच्छक्त्या च निविष्टास्ते तमसोद्रिक्तया भृशम् ।

bhāvaśaktyā samāviśya kurvatā jagato śivam tvacchaktyā ca niviṣṭāste tamasodriktayā bhṛśam

entering by the power of devotion, working for the world's good — entered too by your power, exceedingly overcome by tamas,

Verse 29 (padma.6.235.29)

तामसास्ते भविष्यंति क्षणादेव न संशयः । कथयिष्यंति ते विप्रास्तामसानि जगत्त्रये ।

tāmasāste bhaviṣyaṁti kṣaṇādeva na saṁśayaḥ kathayiṣyaṁti te viprāstāmasāni jagattraye

they will become Tamasic in an instant — there is no doubt. Those Brahmins will proclaim throughout the three worlds Tamasic —

Verse 30 (padma.6.235.30)

पुराणानि च शास्त्रणि त्वया सत्वेन बृंहिताः । कपालचर्म्मभस्मास्थि चिह्नान्यमरसर्वशः ।

purāṇāni ca śāstraṇi tvayā satvena bṛṁhitāḥ kapālacarmmabhasmāsthi cihnānyamarasarvaśaḥ

Puranas and scriptures — those very ones which you had strengthened with sattva elsewhere. The marks of skull, hide, ash, and bone, for the sake of all the immortals —

Verse 31 (padma.6.235.31)

त्वमेव धृतवान्लोकान्मोहयस्व जगत्त्रये । तथा पाशुपतं शास्त्रं त्वमेव कुरु सत्कृतः ।

tvameva dhṛtavānlokānmohayasva jagattraye tathā pāśupataṁ śāstraṁ tvameva kuru satkṛtaḥ

you alone shall bear, and delude the three worlds. Likewise, you alone, greatly honored, shall compose the Pashupata scripture,

Verse 32 (padma.6.235.32)

कंकालशैवपाषंडमहाशैवादिभेदतः । अलक्ष्यं च मतं सम्यग्वेदबाह्यं नराधमाः ।

kaṁkālaśaivapāṣaṁḍamahāśaivādibhedataḥ alakṣyaṁ ca mataṁ samyagvedabāhyaṁ narādhamāḥ

divided into Kankala-Shaiva, Pashanda, Maha-Shaiva and other branches — an imperceptible doctrine entirely outside the Veda, which the vilest of men —

Verse 33 (padma.6.235.33)

भस्मास्थिधारिणः सर्वे भविष्यंति ह्यचेतसः । त्वां परत्वेन वक्ष्यंति सर्वशास्त्रेषु तामसाः ।

bhasmāsthidhāriṇaḥ sarve bhaviṣyaṁti hyacetasaḥ tvāṁ paratvena vakṣyaṁti sarvaśāstreṣu tāmasāḥ

will follow, becoming senseless wearers of ash and bone. Those given to tamas will proclaim you as supreme in every such scripture.

Verse 34 (padma.6.235.34)

तेषां मतमधिष्ठाय सर्वे दैत्याः सनातनाः । भवेयुस्ते मद्विमुखाः क्षणादेव न संशयः ।

teṣāṁ matamadhiṣṭhāya sarve daityāḥ sanātanāḥ bhaveyuste madvimukhāḥ kṣaṇādeva na saṁśayaḥ

Relying on their doctrine, all those eternal daityas will turn away from Me in an instant — there is no doubt.

Verse 35 (padma.6.235.35)

अहमप्यवतारेषु त्वां च रुद्र महाबल । तामसानां मोहनार्थं पूजयामि युगे युगे ।

ahamapyavatāreṣu tvāṁ ca rudra mahābala tāmasānāṁ mohanārthaṁ pūjayāmi yuge yuge

I too, O mighty Rudra, in My various incarnations, worship you age after age, to delude those given to tamas.

Verse 36 (padma.6.235.36)

मतमेतदवष्टभ्य पतंत्येव न संशयः । महादेव उवाच-। तच्छ्रुत्वाहं यथोक्तं तु वासुदेवेन भामिनि ।

matametadavaṣṭabhya pataṁtyeva na saṁśayaḥ mahādeva uvāca tacchrutvāhaṁ yathoktaṁ tu vāsudevena bhāmini

Clinging to this doctrine, they will surely fall — there is no doubt." Mahadeva said: Having heard this word of Vasudeva, O radiant one —

Verse 37 (padma.6.235.37)

सुमहद्वदनो दीनो बभूवात्र वरानने । नमस्कृत्वाथ तं देवमब्रवं परमेश्वरम् ।

sumahadvadano dīno babhūvātra varānane namaskṛtvātha taṁ devamabravaṁ parameśvaram

my face grew very grave and downcast at this, O beautiful-faced one. Then, bowing to that Supreme Lord, I said —

Verse 38 (padma.6.235.38)

त्वयोदितमिदं देव करोमि यदि भूतले । तस्मान्नाशाय मे नाथ भविष्यति न संशयः ।

tvayoditamidaṁ deva karomi yadi bhūtale tasmānnāśāya me nātha bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"O God, if I do on earth what you have declared, then, O Lord, that will surely bring about my own destruction —

Verse 39 (padma.6.235.39)

तत्र शक्यं मया कर्तुमेतत्कृत्यं हरेऽधुना । त्वदाज्ञापि च नोल्लंघ्या एतद्दुःखतरं महत् ।

tatra śakyaṁ mayā kartumetatkṛtyaṁ hare'dhunā tvadājñāpi ca nollaṁghyā etadduḥkhataraṁ mahat

yet, O Hari, this task can indeed be accomplished by me now; and your command too cannot be transgressed — this is a very great sorrow for me."

Verse 40 (padma.6.235.40)

एवमुक्ते ततो देवि समाश्वास्य च मां पुनः । आत्मनाशाय तेनात्र भवत्वित्याह मां हरिः ।

evamukte tato devi samāśvāsya ca māṁ punaḥ ātmanāśāya tenātra bhavatvityāha māṁ hariḥ

When I had spoken thus, O Goddess, Hari reassured me again and said: "Let it be so here, even though seemingly for your own ruin —

Verse 41 (padma.6.235.41)

देवतानां हितार्थाय कुरुष्व वचनं मम। तवापि जीवनोपायं कथयामि सुरोत्तम ।

devatānāṁ hitārthāya kuruṣva vacanaṁ mama tavāpi jīvanopāyaṁ kathayāmi surottama

for the welfare of the gods, carry out my word. And I shall tell you, O best of gods, the means of your own preservation too."

Verse 42 (padma.6.235.42)

दत्तवान्कृपया मह्यमात्मनाम सहस्रकम् । हृदये मां समाधाय जप मंत्रं ममाव्ययम् ।

dattavānkṛpayā mahyamātmanāma sahasrakam hṛdaye māṁ samādhāya japa maṁtraṁ mamāvyayam

Out of grace, he gave me his thousand names, saying: "Fixing me in your heart, recite my imperishable mantra —

Verse 43 (padma.6.235.43)

षडक्षरं महामंत्रं तारकं ब्रह्म उच्यते । ये जपंति हि मां भक्त्या तेषां मुक्तिर्न संशयः ।

ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mahāmaṁtraṁ tārakaṁ brahma ucyate ye japaṁti hi māṁ bhaktyā teṣāṁ muktirna saṁśayaḥ

the six-syllabled great mantra, called the Taraka Brahman. Those who recite it with devotion to Me — their liberation is beyond doubt.

Verse 44 (padma.6.235.44)

इंदीवरदलश्यामं पद्मपत्रविलोचनम् । शंखांगशार्ङ्गेषुधरं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् ।

iṁdīvaradalaśyāmaṁ padmapatravilocanam śaṁkhāṁgaśārṅgeṣudharaṁ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam

[He described his form:] Dark as a blue-lotus petal, with eyes like lotus leaves, bearing conch, mace, the bow Sharnga, and arrows, adorned with every ornament —

Verse 45 (padma.6.235.45)

पीतवस्त्रं चतुर्बाहुं जानकीप्रियवल्लभम् । श्रीरामाय नम इत्येवमुच्चार्य्यं मन्त्रमुत्तमम् ।

pītavastraṁ caturbāhuṁ jānakīpriyavallabham śrīrāmāya nama ityevamuccāryyaṁ mantramuttamam

clad in yellow garments, four-armed, the beloved husband of Janaki — this excellent mantra is to be uttered thus —

Verse 46 (padma.6.235.46)

सर्वदुःखहरं चैतत्पापिनामपि मुक्तिदम् । इमं मंत्रं जपन्नित्यममलस्त्वं भविष्यसि ।

sarvaduḥkhaharaṁ caitatpāpināmapi muktidam imaṁ maṁtraṁ japannityamamalastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

'Shri Ramaya namah.' This removes every sorrow and grants liberation even to sinners. Reciting this mantra always, you shall become stainless.

Verse 47 (padma.6.235.47)

भस्मास्थिधारणाद्यत्तु संभूतं किल्बिषं त्वयि । मंगलं तदभूत्सर्वं मन्मंत्रोच्चारणाच्छुभात् ।

bhasmāsthidhāraṇādyattu saṁbhūtaṁ kilbiṣaṁ tvayi maṁgalaṁ tadabhūtsarvaṁ manmaṁtroccāraṇācchubhāt

Whatever sin arises in you from wearing ash and bone shall all turn auspicious, through the auspicious recitation of My mantra.

Verse 48 (padma.6.235.48)

तर्पितो नाशयिष्यामि पापं सर्वं सुरोत्तम । मदन्यदेवताभक्तिर्जायते न तु सुव्रत ।

tarpito nāśayiṣyāmi pāpaṁ sarvaṁ surottama madanyadevatābhaktirjāyate na tu suvrata

Being pleased, I shall destroy all your sin, O best of gods. And devotion to any deity other than Me shall not arise in you, O one of good vows.

Verse 49 (padma.6.235.49)

मनसैवार्च्चय हृदि मां नाथं पुरुषोत्तमम् । मदाज्ञां कुरु मत्प्रीत्या सर्वमेतच्छुभं तव ।

manasaivārccaya hṛdi māṁ nāthaṁ puruṣottamam madājñāṁ kuru matprītyā sarvametacchubhaṁ tava

"Worship Me, your Lord Purushottama, in your heart with mind alone. Out of love for Me, carry out my command — all this shall be auspicious for you."

Verse 50 (padma.6.235.50)

इति संदिश्य मां देवि विससर्ज मरुद्गणान् । विसृष्टास्ते ततो देवा निवृत्ताः स्वाश्रमं ययुः ।

iti saṁdiśya māṁ devi visasarja marudgaṇān visṛṣṭāste tato devā nivṛttāḥ svāśramaṁ yayuḥ

Having thus instructed me, O Goddess, he dismissed the host of Maruts. Then those gods, so dismissed, withdrew and went back to their own abodes.

Verse 51 (padma.6.235.51)

ततो मां प्रार्थयामासुर्देवा इंद्र पुरोगमाः । इन्द्रादय ऊचुः । शीघ्रं कुरु हितं देव यथोक्तं हरिणाधुना ।

tato māṁ prārthayāmāsurdevā iṁdra purogamāḥ indrādaya ūcuḥ śīghraṁ kuru hitaṁ deva yathoktaṁ hariṇādhunā

Then the gods headed by Indra entreated me. Indra and the others said: "O God, do quickly the beneficial deed just as Hari has now commanded."

Verse 52 (padma.6.235.52)

महादेव उवाच- देवतानां हितार्थाय वृत्तिं पाखंडिनां शुभे । कपालचर्मभस्मास्थिधारणं तत्कृतं मया ।

mahādeva uvāca devatānāṁ hitārthāya vṛttiṁ pākhaṁḍināṁ śubhe kapālacarmabhasmāsthidhāraṇaṁ tatkṛtaṁ mayā

Mahadeva said: For the welfare of the gods, O auspicious one, I adopted this practice of the heretics — the wearing of skull, hide, ash, and bone.

Verse 53 (padma.6.235.53)

तामसानि पुराणानि यथोक्तं विष्णुना शुभे । पाषंडशैवशास्त्राणि यथोक्तं कृतवानहम् ।

tāmasāni purāṇāni yathoktaṁ viṣṇunā śubhe pāṣaṁḍaśaivaśāstrāṇi yathoktaṁ kṛtavānaham

Just as Vishnu had said, O auspicious one, I composed the Tamasic Puranas; just as declared, I also composed the heretical Shaiva scriptures.

Verse 54 (padma.6.235.54)

मच्छक्त्यापि समाविश्य गौतमादि द्विजानपि । वेदबाह्यानि शास्त्राणि सम्यगुक्तं मयानघे ।

macchaktyāpi samāviśya gautamādi dvijānapi vedabāhyāni śāstrāṇi samyaguktaṁ mayānaghe

Entering by my own power into Gautama and the other Brahmins, O sinless one, I duly caused scriptures outside the Veda to be proclaimed.

Verse 55 (padma.6.235.55)

इमं मतमवष्टभ्य दुष्टाः सर्वे च राक्षसाः । भगवद्विमुखाः सर्वे बभूवुस्तामसावृताः ।

imaṁ matamavaṣṭabhya duṣṭāḥ sarve ca rākṣasāḥ bhagavadvimukhāḥ sarve babhūvustāmasāvṛtāḥ

Clinging to this doctrine, all the wicked demons turned away from the Lord and became enveloped in tamas.

Verse 56 (padma.6.235.56)

भस्मादिधारणं कृत्वा महोग्रतपसावृताः । मामेव पूजयांचक्रुर्म्मांसासृक्चंदनादिभिः ।

bhasmādidhāraṇaṁ kṛtvā mahogratapasāvṛtāḥ māmeva pūjayāṁcakrurmmāṁsāsṛkcaṁdanādibhiḥ

Adopting the wearing of ash and the like, engrossed in fierce austerities, they took to worshipping only me, with flesh, blood, sandal-paste, and such offerings.

Verse 57 (padma.6.235.57)

मत्तो वरप्रदानानि लब्ध्वा मदबलोद्धताः । अत्यंतविषयासक्ताः कामक्रोधसमन्विताः ।

matto varapradānāni labdhvā madabaloddhatāḥ atyaṁtaviṣayāsaktāḥ kāmakrodhasamanvitāḥ

Having obtained boons from me, and made arrogant by the power thus gained, they became utterly attached to sense-pleasures, filled with lust and anger,

Verse 58 (padma.6.235.58)

सत्वहीनास्तु निर्वीर्य्या जिता देवगणैस्तदा । सर्वधर्म्मपरिभ्रष्टाः काले यांत्यधमां गतिम् ।

satvahīnāstu nirvīryyā jitā devagaṇaistadā sarvadharmmaparibhraṣṭāḥ kāle yāṁtyadhamāṁ gatim

devoid of sattva and stripped of their valor, and were then conquered by the hosts of gods. Fallen from every dharma, in time they reach the lowest state.

Verse 59 (padma.6.235.59)

ये मे मतमवष्टभ्य चरंति पृथिवीतले । सर्वधर्मैश्च रहिताः पश्यंति निरयं सदा ।

ye me matamavaṣṭabhya caraṁti pṛthivītale sarvadharmaiśca rahitāḥ paśyaṁti nirayaṁ sadā

Those who, clinging to this doctrine of mine, conduct themselves upon the earth, devoid of every dharma, forever behold hell.

Verse 60 (padma.6.235.60)

एवं देवहितार्थाय वृत्तिर्मे देवि गर्हिता । विष्णोराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य कृतं भस्मास्थिधारणम् ।

evaṁ devahitārthāya vṛttirme devi garhitā viṣṇorājñāṁ puraskṛtya kṛtaṁ bhasmāsthidhāraṇam

Thus, O Goddess, this condemned practice of mine exists only for the welfare of the gods — honoring Vishnu's command, I took up the wearing of ash and bone.

Verse 61 (padma.6.235.61)

बाह्यचिह्नमिदं देवि मोहनार्थाय विद्विषाम् । अथांतर्हृदये नित्यं ध्यात्वा देवं जनार्दनम् ।

bāhyacihnamidaṁ devi mohanārthāya vidviṣām athāṁtarhṛdaye nityaṁ dhyātvā devaṁ janārdanam

O Goddess, this is only an outer mark for the sake of deluding the enemies. But within, in my heart, ever meditating upon the god Janardana —

Verse 62 (padma.6.235.62)

जपन्नेव च तन्मंत्रं तारकं ब्रह्मवाचकम् । सहस्रनामसदृशं विष्णोर्नारायणस्य तु ।

japanneva ca tanmaṁtraṁ tārakaṁ brahmavācakam sahasranāmasadṛśaṁ viṣṇornārāyaṇasya tu

and ever reciting that Taraka mantra which expresses the Brahman — equal in power to the thousand names of Vishnu-Narayana,

Verse 63 (padma.6.235.63)

षडक्षरं महामंत्रं रघूणां कुलवर्द्धनम् । जपन्वै सततं देवि सदानंदसुधाप्लुतम् । सुखमात्यंतिकं ब्रह्म ह्यश्नाम सततं शुभे ।

ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mahāmaṁtraṁ raghūṇāṁ kulavarddhanam japanvai satataṁ devi sadānaṁdasudhāplutam sukhamātyaṁtikaṁ brahma hyaśnāma satataṁ śubhe

reciting constantly, O Goddess, that six-syllabled great mantra which increases the line of Raghu, ever immersed in the nectar of bliss, I continually taste, O auspicious one, that ultimate happiness of Brahman.

Verse 64 (padma.6.235.64)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं त्वयापृष्टं शुभानने । किमन्यच्छ्रोतुकामासि प्रीत्या तत्परिपृच्छ माम् ।

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ tvayāpṛṣṭaṁ śubhānane kimanyacchrotukāmāsi prītyā tatparipṛccha mām

O beautiful-faced one, all that you asked has now been told to you. What else do you wish to hear? Ask me that too, with love.