The Glory of Expounding the Scriptures

Verse 1 (padma.6.28.1)

महादेव उवाच ।अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । पुराणं परमं पुण्यं सर्वपापहरं शुभम्

mahādeva uvāca atrāpyudāharaṁtīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam purāṇaṁ paramaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvapāpaharaṁ śubham

Mahadeva said: Here too they cite this ancient history — this supreme, meritorious Purana, auspicious and destroyer of all sin.

Verse 2 (padma.6.28.2)

कुमारेण च लोकानां नमस्कृत्य पितामहम् । प्रोक्तं चेदं ममाख्यानं देवर्षे ब्रह्मसूनुना

kumāreṇa ca lokānāṁ namaskṛtya pitāmaham proktaṁ cedaṁ mamākhyānaṁ devarṣe brahmasūnunā

O divine sage, Sanatkumara, having bowed to the Grandsire of the worlds, this son of Brahma told me this account.

Verse 3 (padma.6.28.3)

सनत्कुमार उवाच ।गतोऽहं धर्मराजानं द्रष्टुं संपूजितो मुदा । श्रुतिभिः परया भक्त्या तेनोक्तोऽस्मि सुखासने

sanatkumāra uvāca gato'haṁ dharmarājānaṁ draṣṭuṁ saṁpūjito mudā śrutibhiḥ parayā bhaktyā tenokto'smi sukhāsane

Sanatkumara said: I went to see Dharmaraja, and was honored with joy; with words of the finest devotion, he had me seated on a comfortable seat.

Verse 4 (padma.6.28.4)

मया तत्रोपविष्टेन दृष्टं किंचिन्महाद्भुतम् । कांचनेन विमानेन वैडूर्यकृतवेदिना

mayā tatropaviṣṭena dṛṣṭaṁ kiṁcinmahādbhutam kāṁcanena vimānena vaiḍūryakṛtavedinā

Seated there, I saw something utterly wondrous — a golden aerial car, with an altar-platform made of cat's-eye gem,

Verse 5 (padma.6.28.5)

मणिमुक्तविचित्रेण किंकिणीजालशोभिना । आगतं पुरुषं तत्र आसनाद्देवसत्तम

maṇimuktavicitreṇa kiṁkiṇījālaśobhinā āgataṁ puruṣaṁ tatra āsanāddevasattama

adorned with strange, wondrous jewels and pearls, resplendent with a net of little bells; O best of gods, a person, descending from his seat upon that car, arrived there.

Verse 6 (padma.6.28.6)

ससंभ्रमं समुत्थाय दृष्ट्वा धर्मः स्वयं विभुः । गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे पाणौ पूजितोऽर्घेण वै ततः

sasaṁbhramaṁ samutthāya dṛṣṭvā dharmaḥ svayaṁ vibhuḥ gṛhītvā dakṣiṇe pāṇau pūjito'rgheṇa vai tataḥ

Seeing him, the Lord Dharma himself rose in haste, and, taking him by the right hand, honored him with an offering.

Verse 7 (padma.6.28.7)

शिरस्याघ्राय देवेशः पुरः स्थाप्य ततः परम् । पूजयित्वा तु तं धर्म इदं वाक्यमुवाच ह

śirasyāghrāya deveśaḥ puraḥ sthāpya tataḥ param pūjayitvā tu taṁ dharma idaṁ vākyamuvāca ha

Having smelled his head, the Lord of gods seated him before himself, and, having thus honored him, Dharma spoke these words —

Verse 8 (padma.6.28.8)

सुस्वागतं धर्मदर्शिन्प्रीतोऽस्मि दर्शनात्तव । समीपे मम तिष्ठस्व किंचिज्ज्ञानं वदस्व मे

susvāgataṁ dharmadarśinprīto'smi darśanāttava samīpe mama tiṣṭhasva kiṁcijjñānaṁ vadasva me

'Welcome, O seer of dharma! I am pleased at your sight. Stay near me, and tell me some piece of knowledge.

Verse 9 (padma.6.28.9)

पुनर्यास्यसि तत्स्थानं यत्र ब्रह्मा व्यवस्थितः । इत्युक्ते च ततश्चान्यो विमानवरमास्थितः

punaryāsyasi tatsthānaṁ yatra brahmā vyavasthitaḥ ityukte ca tataścānyo vimānavaramāsthitaḥ

'You shall go once more to that place where Brahma resides.' As this was said, then another, mounted upon a fine celestial car,

Verse 10 (padma.6.28.10)

आगतः पुरुषो देवो यत्र तिष्ठति धर्मराट् । स पूजितो विमानस्थः प्रश्रयावनतेन च

āgataḥ puruṣo devo yatra tiṣṭhati dharmarāṭ sa pūjito vimānasthaḥ praśrayāvanatena ca

a divine person arrived there, where Dharmaraja was seated; he too was honored, with humility, [Dharma] descending from his own seat,

Verse 11 (padma.6.28.11)

सामपूर्वं तथोक्त्वा तु यथापूर्वं नरः स्वयम् । किमनेन कृतं कर्म यस्य तुष्टो भवान्भृशम्

sāmapūrvaṁ tathoktvā tu yathāpūrvaṁ naraḥ svayam kimanena kṛtaṁ karma yasya tuṣṭo bhavānbhṛśam

speaking conciliatory words as before. That man himself asked: 'What deed has this one done, that you are so greatly pleased with him?

Verse 12 (padma.6.28.12)

अत्र मे कौतुकं जातं कृता हि स्वयमेव तु । यदस्य भवता पूजा सविस्मयमनंतरम्

atra me kautukaṁ jātaṁ kṛtā hi svayameva tu yadasya bhavatā pūjā savismayamanaṁtaram

'I feel curiosity about this — the worship you yourself performed for him has left me in wonder.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.28.13)

तथैवास्य कृता पूजा द्वितीयस्य नरस्य तु । मेनेऽहं शुभकर्माणौ विमानं वरसत्तमौ

tathaivāsya kṛtā pūjā dvitīyasya narasya tu mene'haṁ śubhakarmāṇau vimānaṁ varasattamau

Immediately after, worship was likewise performed for this second man too; I thought — these two performers of auspicious deeds, mounted upon such fine celestial cars —

Verse 14 (padma.6.28.14)

यस्त्वमाभ्यां स्वयं पूजां कुरुषे धर्मकारणात् । ब्रह्माविष्णुशिवाद्यैस्तु पूज्यसे त्वं सदानिशम्

yastvamābhyāṁ svayaṁ pūjāṁ kuruṣe dharmakāraṇāt brahmāviṣṇuśivādyaistu pūjyase tvaṁ sadāniśam

'You yourself, who perform worship of these two for dharma's sake — you are worshipped forever, day and night, by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the rest!

Verse 15 (padma.6.28.15)

यस्येदृक्परमं पुण्यं किमेतौ कर्म चक्रतुः । कथ्यतां मम सर्वज्ञ फलं दिव्यमवापतुः

yasyedṛkparamaṁ puṇyaṁ kimetau karma cakratuḥ kathyatāṁ mama sarvajña phalaṁ divyamavāpatuḥ

'What supreme merit is this one's — what deed have they done? O all-knowing one, tell me — what divine fruit have they obtained?'

Verse 16 (padma.6.28.16)

तच्छ्रुत्वा स तु मां प्राह शृणु कर्मानयोः कृतम् । यत्कृत्वार्हमिहायातौ तच्छृणुष्व महामते

tacchrutvā sa tu māṁ prāha śṛṇu karmānayoḥ kṛtam yatkṛtvārhamihāyātau tacchṛṇuṣva mahāmate

Hearing this, he said to me: 'Listen to the deed done by these two; O wise one, hear what they did to become worthy of this honor here.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.28.17)

धर्म उवाच ।वैदिशं नाम नगरं पृथिव्यामस्ति विश्रुतम् । तत्राभूत्पृथिवीपालो धरापाल इति श्रुतः

dharma uvāca vaidiśaṁ nāma nagaraṁ pṛthivyāmasti viśrutam tatrābhūtpṛthivīpālo dharāpāla iti śrutaḥ

Dharma said: There is a city named Vaidisha, renowned upon the earth; there was a protector of the earth there, known by the name Dharapala.

Verse 18 (padma.6.28.18)

कस्मिन्काले पुरा देवी शशाप स्वगणं क्रुधा । मदृतेन परा नारी भर्त्तुर्यन्मे निवेशिता

kasminkāle purā devī śaśāpa svagaṇaṁ krudhā madṛtena parā nārī bhartturyanme niveśitā

Once, long ago, a goddess, in anger, cursed her own attendant: 'Without me, another excellent woman has been seated beside my husband —

Verse 19 (padma.6.28.19)

तस्माद्द्वादशवर्षाणि जंबुकस्त्वं भविष्यसि । इत्युक्तः स च बभ्राम जंबुको मेदिनीतलम्

tasmāddvādaśavarṣāṇi jaṁbukastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi ityuktaḥ sa ca babhrāma jaṁbuko medinītalam

'therefore you shall become a jackal for twelve years.' Thus cursed, he became a jackal and wandered the earth.

Verse 20 (padma.6.28.20)

वेतसी वेत्रवत्योस्तु संगमे लोकविश्रुते । शापांतो भविता पुत्र इत्युक्तं गिरिकन्यया

vetasī vetravatyostu saṁgame lokaviśrute śāpāṁto bhavitā putra ityuktaṁ girikanyayā

'My son, at the world-renowned confluence of the Vetasi and Vetravati, your curse shall end' — thus spoke the mountain's daughter.

Verse 21 (padma.6.28.21)

तत्र चानशनं कृत्वा क्षेत्रे प्राणांस्ततोऽत्यजत् । दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वा जगाम विष्णुसन्निधौ

tatra cānaśanaṁ kṛtvā kṣetre prāṇāṁstato'tyajat divyarūpavapurbhūtvā jagāma viṣṇusannidhau

There, having fasted, he gave up his life in that field; taking on a divine form and body, he went into Vishnu's presence.

Verse 22 (padma.6.28.22)

तत्राश्चर्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा धरापालो महीपतिः । विष्णोरायतनं कृत्वा क्षेत्रे प्राणंस्ततोऽत्यजत्

tatrāścaryaṁ mahaddṛṣṭvā dharāpālo mahīpatiḥ viṣṇorāyatanaṁ kṛtvā kṣetre prāṇaṁstato'tyajat

Seeing that great wonder there, King Dharapala, the lord of the earth, built a temple to Vishnu and then gave up his own life in that very field,

Verse 23 (padma.6.28.23)

दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वा स्थापयामास तं प्रभुम् । तस्मिन्पुरे नरान्सर्वा सन्नियोज्यास्य वीक्षणे

divyarūpavapurbhūtvā sthāpayāmāsa taṁ prabhum tasminpure narānsarvā sanniyojyāsya vīkṣaṇe

and, taking on a divine form and body, he established that Lord there. In that city he gathered all the people to behold him.

Verse 24 (padma.6.28.24)

शुभमायतनं विष्णोस्तस्मिन्ग्रामे सदा जनैः । पूर्णं तु ब्राह्मणादीनां पूजयित्वा कदंबकम्

śubhamāyatanaṁ viṣṇostasmingrāme sadā janaiḥ pūrṇaṁ tu brāhmaṇādīnāṁ pūjayitvā kadaṁbakam

That auspicious temple of Vishnu in that village was ever full of people; having worshipped the assembled group of brahmins and others,

Verse 25 (padma.6.28.25)

इतिहासपुराणज्ञं वाचकं तु विशेषतः । पूजयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठं विद्याश्रेष्ठं महामतिः

itihāsapurāṇajñaṁ vācakaṁ tu viśeṣataḥ pūjayitvā dvijaśreṣṭhaṁ vidyāśreṣṭhaṁ mahāmatiḥ

and having especially honored that reciter, learned in Itihasa and Purana, the greatest of the twice-born and greatest in learning, that wise-minded one,

Verse 26 (padma.6.28.26)

पुस्तकं चापि संपूज्य गंधपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् । ततस्तमाह राजासौ वाचकं विनयान्वितः

pustakaṁ cāpi saṁpūjya gaṁdhapuṣpādibhiḥ kramāt tatastamāha rājāsau vācakaṁ vinayānvitaḥ

having also worshipped the book itself with fragrance, flowers, and the rest in due order, then that king said, with humility, to that reciter —

Verse 27 (padma.6.28.27)

एतदायतनं विष्णोः कारितं च तवाग्रतः । चातुर्वर्ण्यमिदं चापि श्रोतुकामं कदंबकम्

etadāyatanaṁ viṣṇoḥ kāritaṁ ca tavāgrataḥ cāturvarṇyamidaṁ cāpi śrotukāmaṁ kadaṁbakam

'This temple of Vishnu has been built right before you. And this assembly of the four castes too is eager to hear it,

Verse 28 (padma.6.28.28)

तिष्ठतीह द्विजश्रेष्ठ कुरु पुस्तकवाचनम् । यावत्संवत्सरं विप्र गृह्य वृत्तिं त्वनुत्तमाम्

tiṣṭhatīha dvijaśreṣṭha kuru pustakavācanam yāvatsaṁvatsaraṁ vipra gṛhya vṛttiṁ tvanuttamām

'which is present here, O best of the twice-born; perform the recitation of the book for a full year, O brahmin, receiving your excellent livelihood.

Verse 29 (padma.6.28.29)

स्वर्णनिष्कशतं चात्र ततो दास्ये तथापरम् । पूर्णे वर्षे द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रेयोऽथ महमात्मनः

svarṇaniṣkaśataṁ cātra tato dāsye tathāparam pūrṇe varṣe dvijaśreṣṭha śreyo'tha mahamātmanaḥ

'I shall give a hundred gold coins here, and more besides; O best of the twice-born, when the year is complete, this shall be for my own welfare.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.28.30)

एवं प्रवर्तितं तत्र पुण्यं पुस्तकवाचनम् । वर्षसंगतमात्रे तु तथा च मुनिसत्तम

evaṁ pravartitaṁ tatra puṇyaṁ pustakavācanam varṣasaṁgatamātre tu tathā ca munisattama

Thus the meritorious recitation of the book was instituted there; and, O best of sages, it continued so for a whole year.

Verse 31 (padma.6.28.31)

अथायुषः क्षयाच्चायं कालधर्ममुपेयिवान् । मया चास्य विमानं हि विष्णुना प्रेरितं दिवः

athāyuṣaḥ kṣayāccāyaṁ kāladharmamupeyivān mayā cāsya vimānaṁ hi viṣṇunā preritaṁ divaḥ

Then, his lifespan spent, he attained the dharma of time; and for him, sent by Vishnu, I myself sent a celestial car from heaven.

Verse 32 (padma.6.28.32)

इत्येषा कर्मणां व्युष्टिः पुण्यमाख्यानसंज्ञकम् । श्रुतं पाद्मं महत्पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्

ityeṣā karmaṇāṁ vyuṣṭiḥ puṇyamākhyānasaṁjñakam śrutaṁ pādmaṁ mahatpuṇyaṁ pavitraṁ pāpanāśanam

Such is the fruit of these deeds — this account named 'merit'; this great, meritorious, purifying, sin-destroying tale of the Padma has been heard.

Verse 33 (padma.6.28.33)

गंधपुष्पोपहारैस्तु न तुष्टिर्जायते तथा । देवानामिह सर्वेषां पुराणश्रवणाद्यथा

gaṁdhapuṣpopahāraistu na tuṣṭirjāyate tathā devānāmiha sarveṣāṁ purāṇaśravaṇādyathā

By offerings of fragrance and flowers, such satisfaction is not produced as by the hearing of the Purana here,

Verse 34 (padma.6.28.34)

स्वर्णरत्नादिवस्तूनां वस्त्राणां चापि कृत्स्नशः । ग्रामाणां नगराणां च दानात्तुष्टिर्भवेन्नहि

svarṇaratnādivastūnāṁ vastrāṇāṁ cāpi kṛtsnaśaḥ grāmāṇāṁ nagarāṇāṁ ca dānāttuṣṭirbhavennahi

for all the gods. Nor by the gift of gold, jewels, and other things, or garments, or even the gift of villages and cities does such satisfaction arise,

Verse 35 (padma.6.28.35)

यथा स्याद्धर्मश्रवणात्प्रीतिः सर्वदिवौकसाम् । इतिहासपुराणानां श्रवणे मुनिसत्तम

yathā syāddharmaśravaṇātprītiḥ sarvadivaukasām itihāsapurāṇānāṁ śravaṇe munisattama

as compared to the joy that comes to all the heaven-dwellers from the hearing of dharma. O best of sages, in the hearing of Itihasas and Puranas,

Verse 36 (padma.6.28.36)

तथा स्यान्मे महाप्रीतिः साध्ये सर्वार्थकामिके । कन्यादाने महाप्रीतिर्मम स्यान्मुनिसत्तम

tathā syānme mahāprītiḥ sādhye sarvārthakāmike kanyādāne mahāprītirmama syānmunisattama

I too find just such great pleasure, which accomplishes every purpose. O best of sages, in the gift of a maiden there is great pleasure for me,

Verse 37 (padma.6.28.37)

न तथा रोचते सा च यथा पुस्तकवाचनात् । अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन नान्यत्प्रीतिकरं मम

na tathā rocate sā ca yathā pustakavācanāt atha kiṁ bahunoktena nānyatprītikaraṁ mama

but it does not please me as much as the recitation of a book does. What need is there to say more — nothing else is more pleasing to me than this.

Verse 38 (padma.6.28.38)

पुण्याख्यानमृते विप्र गुह्यमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् । यश्चायमपरो विप्र इहायातो नरोत्तमः

puṇyākhyānamṛte vipra guhyametatprakīrtitam yaścāyamaparo vipra ihāyāto narottamaḥ

O brahmin, apart from this meritorious account, this secret too has been proclaimed. And this other excellent brahmin who has come here,

Verse 39 (padma.6.28.39)

संगत्यानुगतश्चायं धर्मश्रवणमुत्तमम् । श्रुत्वा भक्तिरभूदस्य श्रद्धया परमात्मनः

saṁgatyānugataścāyaṁ dharmaśravaṇamuttamam śrutvā bhaktirabhūdasya śraddhayā paramātmanaḥ

he too came along, accompanying this excellent hearing of dharma; hearing it, devotion to the Supreme Self arose in him through faith.

Verse 40 (padma.6.28.40)

कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं तस्य वाचकस्य महात्मनः । एष विप्रो मुनिश्रेष्ठ ददौ स्वर्णस्य माषकम्

kṛtvā pradakṣiṇaṁ tasya vācakasya mahātmanaḥ eṣa vipro muniśreṣṭha dadau svarṇasya māṣakam

Having circumambulated that great-souled reciter, O best of sages, this brahmin gave a mashaka of gold —

Verse 41 (padma.6.28.41)

नान्यद्दानं कदा चक्रे लोभाविष्टेन चेतसा । पात्रदानात्फलप्राप्तिस्त्वस्य जाता न संशयः

nānyaddānaṁ kadā cakre lobhāviṣṭena cetasā pātradānātphalaprāptistvasya jātā na saṁśayaḥ

with a mind possessed by greed he never made any other gift; yet through this gift to a worthy recipient, the attainment of this fruit came to him, without doubt.

Verse 42 (padma.6.28.42)

इत्येतत्कथितं कर्म आभ्यां चैव महामुने

ityetatkathitaṁ karma ābhyāṁ caiva mahāmune

O great sage, thus has this deed of these two been told to you.

Verse 43 (padma.6.28.43)

महादेव उवाच ।एतत्पुण्यस्य माहात्म्यं ये शृण्वंति मनीषिणः । न तेषां दुर्गतिः कच्चिज्जन्मजन्मनि जायते

mahādeva uvāca etatpuṇyasya māhātmyaṁ ye śṛṇvaṁti manīṣiṇaḥ na teṣāṁ durgatiḥ kaccijjanmajanmani jāyate

Mahadeva said: Those wise ones who hear this glory of merit — no misfortune ever befalls them, birth after birth.