The Recovery of the Vedas and the Glory of Badarikashrama

Verse 1 (padma.6.91.1)

नारद उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्विष्णुः शफरीतुल्यरूपधृक् । स पपातांजलौ विंध्ये निवासे कश्यपस्य च

nārada uvāca ityuktvā bhagavānviṣṇuḥ śapharītulyarūpadhṛk sa papātāṁjalau viṁdhye nivāse kaśyapasya ca

Narada said: Having said this, Lord Vishnu, taking the form of a small fish, fell into the handful of water at the hermitage of Kashyapa in the Vindhya region.

Verse 2 (padma.6.91.2)

स तं कमंडलौ क्षिप्रं कृपया क्षिप्तवान्मुनिः । तावत्स न ममौ तत्र ततः कूपे न्यवेशयत्

sa taṁ kamaṁḍalau kṣipraṁ kṛpayā kṣiptavānmuniḥ tāvatsa na mamau tatra tataḥ kūpe nyaveśayat

That sage, out of compassion, quickly placed it in his water-pot. But it did not fit there, so he then put it into a well.

Verse 3 (padma.6.91.3)

तत्रापि न ममौ तावत्कासारे प्राक्षिपत्सताम् । एवं स सागरे क्षिप्तस्तत्र सोऽप्यन्ववर्द्धत

tatrāpi na mamau tāvatkāsāre prākṣipatsatām evaṁ sa sāgare kṣiptastatra so'pyanvavarddhata

There too it did not fit, so it was placed in a pond. Thus, at last, it was placed in the ocean, and there too it kept growing.

Verse 4 (padma.6.91.4)

ततोऽवधीत्स तं शंखं विष्णुर्वै मत्स्यरूपधृक् । अथ तं स्वकरे धृत्वा बदरीवनमागतः

tato'vadhītsa taṁ śaṁkhaṁ viṣṇurvai matsyarūpadhṛk atha taṁ svakare dhṛtvā badarīvanamāgataḥ

Then Vishnu, having assumed the form of a fish, slew that Shankha demon. Then, taking him in his own hand, he came to Badarikashrama.

Verse 5 (padma.6.91.5)

तत्राहूय ऋषीन्सर्वानिदमाज्ञापयद्विभुः । श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । जलांतरे विशीर्णांस्तु यूयं वेदान्प्रमार्जथ

tatrāhūya ṛṣīnsarvānidamājñāpayadvibhuḥ śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca jalāṁtare viśīrṇāṁstu yūyaṁ vedānpramārjatha

There, calling all the sages together, that all-pervading Lord gave this command. Shri Krishna said: You should gather up the Vedas, scattered within the water.

Verse 6 (padma.6.91.6)

आनयध्वं च त्वरिताः सरहस्यं जलांतरात् । तावत्प्रयागे तिष्ठामि देवतागणसंयुतः

ānayadhvaṁ ca tvaritāḥ sarahasyaṁ jalāṁtarāt tāvatprayāge tiṣṭhāmi devatāgaṇasaṁyutaḥ

Bring them quickly, together with their inner mysteries, out from within the water. Meanwhile I shall remain at Prayaga, together with the assembled gods.

Verse 7 (padma.6.91.7)

नारद उवाच । ततस्तैः सर्वमुनिभिस्तपोबलसमन्वितैः । उद्धारिताः षडंगास्ते वेदा यज्ञसमन्विताः

nārada uvāca tatastaiḥ sarvamunibhistapobalasamanvitaiḥ uddhāritāḥ ṣaḍaṁgāste vedā yajñasamanvitāḥ

Narada said: Then all those sages, endowed with the power of austerity, recovered those Vedas, together with their six auxiliary sciences and their sacrifices.

Verse 8 (padma.6.91.8)

तेषु यावन्मितं येन लब्धं तावन्मितस्य हि । स स एव ऋषिर्जातस्तदाप्रभृति पार्थिव

teṣu yāvanmitaṁ yena labdhaṁ tāvanmitasya hi sa sa eva ṛṣirjātastadāprabhṛti pārthiva

O king, of those Vedas, whoever recovered whatever portion became, from that time on, the seer-sage of that very portion.

Verse 9 (padma.6.91.9)

अथ सर्वेऽपि संगम्य प्रयागं मुनयो ययुः । विष्णवे सविधात्रे ते लब्धान्वेदान्न्यवेदयन्

atha sarve'pi saṁgamya prayāgaṁ munayo yayuḥ viṣṇave savidhātre te labdhānvedānnyavedayan

Then all the sages, gathering together, went to Prayaga and offered the recovered Vedas to Vishnu, together with Brahma.

Verse 10 (padma.6.91.10)

लब्ध्वा वेदान्सयज्ञांस्तु ब्रह्माहर्षसमन्वितः । अयजच्चाश्वमेधेन देवर्षिगणसंवृतः

labdhvā vedānsayajñāṁstu brahmāharṣasamanvitaḥ ayajaccāśvamedhena devarṣigaṇasaṁvṛtaḥ

Having recovered the Vedas together with their sacrifices, Brahma, filled with joy, and surrounded by the hosts of gods and sages, performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 11 (padma.6.91.11)

यज्ञा ते देवदेवेश सिद्धपन्नगगुह्यकाः । निपत्य दंडवद्भूमौ विज्ञप्तिं तत्र चक्रिरे

yajñā te devadeveśa siddhapannagaguhyakāḥ nipatya daṁḍavadbhūmau vijñaptiṁ tatra cakrire

O God of gods, at that sacrifice, the siddhas, serpents, and guhyakas too, prostrating themselves flat upon the ground, made this petition there.

Verse 12 (padma.6.91.12)

देवा ऊचुः। देवदेवजगन्नाथ विज्ञप्तिं शृणु नः प्रभो । हर्षकालोऽयमस्माकं तस्मात्त्वं वरदो भव

devā ūcuḥ devadevajagannātha vijñaptiṁ śṛṇu naḥ prabho harṣakālo'yamasmākaṁ tasmāttvaṁ varado bhava

The gods said: O God of gods, O Lord of the universe, O Master, hear our petition. This is a time of joy for us; therefore, be the granter of a boon to us.

Verse 13 (padma.6.91.13)

स्थानेऽस्मिन्नृषयो वेदान्नष्टान्प्रापुः पुनः स्वयम् । यज्ञभागान्वयं प्राप्तास्त्वत्प्रसादाद्रमापते

sthāne'sminnṛṣayo vedānnaṣṭānprāpuḥ punaḥ svayam yajñabhāgānvayaṁ prāptāstvatprasādādramāpate

In this very place, the sages themselves recovered the lost Vedas once more. O Lord of Rama (Lakshmi), by your grace, we too have obtained our shares of the sacrifice.

Verse 14 (padma.6.91.14)

स्थानमेतदपि श्रेष्ठं पृथिव्यां पुण्यवर्द्धनम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं चास्तु प्रसादाद्भवतः सदा

sthānametadapi śreṣṭhaṁ pṛthivyāṁ puṇyavarddhanam bhuktimuktipradaṁ cāstu prasādādbhavataḥ sadā

May this place too become supreme upon the earth, increasing merit. By your grace, may it ever bestow both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 15 (padma.6.91.15)

कालोऽप्ययं महापुण्यो ब्रह्मघ्नादिविशुद्धिकृत् । दत्ताक्षयकरश्चास्तु वरमेतद्वदस्व नः

kālo'pyayaṁ mahāpuṇyo brahmaghnādiviśuddhikṛt dattākṣayakaraścāstu varametadvadasva naḥ

May this season also be one of great merit, purifying even the sin of killing a brahmin. May it also render gifts given here imperishable — grant us this boon.

Verse 16 (padma.6.91.16)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच। ममाप्येतन्मतं देवा यद्भवद्भिरुदाहृतम् । तत्तथास्तु लभत्वेतद्ब्रह्मक्षेत्रमिति प्रथाम्

śrīviṣṇuruvāca mamāpyetanmataṁ devā yadbhavadbhirudāhṛtam tattathāstu labhatvetadbrahmakṣetramiti prathām

Shri Vishnu said: O gods, what you have said is my own view as well. So let it be. May this place attain fame under the name 'Brahmakshetra.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.91.17)

सूर्यवंशोद्भवो राजा गंगामत्रानयिष्यति । सा सूर्यकन्यया चात्र कालिंद्या संगमिष्यति

sūryavaṁśodbhavo rājā gaṁgāmatrānayiṣyati sā sūryakanyayā cātra kāliṁdyā saṁgamiṣyati

A king born in the solar dynasty shall bring the Ganga here. That Ganga shall here meet in confluence with Kalindi (the Yamuna), the daughter of the sun.

Verse 18 (padma.6.91.18)

यूयं च सर्वे ब्रह्माद्या निवसध्वं मया सह । तीर्थराजेऽति विख्यातं तीर्थमेतद्भविष्यति

yūyaṁ ca sarve brahmādyā nivasadhvaṁ mayā saha tīrtharāje'ti vikhyātaṁ tīrthametadbhaviṣyati

You all, headed by Brahma, dwell here together with me. This sacred ford shall become exceedingly famous as 'Tirtharaja,' the king of sacred fords.

Verse 19 (padma.6.91.19)

दानं तपो व्रतं होमो जपपूजादिकाः क्रियाः । अनंतफलदाः संतु मत्सांनिध्यप्रदाः सदा

dānaṁ tapo vrataṁ homo japapūjādikāḥ kriyāḥ anaṁtaphaladāḥ saṁtu matsāṁnidhyapradāḥ sadā

May gifts, austerities, vows, fire-offerings, recitation, worship, and other rites performed here bestow endless fruit, and ever grant closeness to me.

Verse 20 (padma.6.91.20)

ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि बहुजन्मकृतान्यपि । दर्शनादस्य तीर्थस्य विनाशं यांतु तत्क्षणात्

brahmahatyādi pāpāni bahujanmakṛtānyapi darśanādasya tīrthasya vināśaṁ yāṁtu tatkṣaṇāt

May sins such as the killing of a brahmin, committed even across many births, be destroyed the very instant one beholds this sacred ford.

Verse 21 (padma.6.91.21)

देहत्यागं तथा धीराः कुर्वंति मम सन्निधौ । मत्तनुं प्रविशंत्येव पुनर्जन्मनि नो नराः

dehatyāgaṁ tathā dhīrāḥ kurvaṁti mama sannidhau mattanuṁ praviśaṁtyeva punarjanmani no narāḥ

Those steadfast men who relinquish their bodies here in my presence enter into my very own body; such men do not undergo rebirth.

Verse 22 (padma.6.91.22)

पितॄन्निर्दिश्य ये श्राद्धं कुर्वंत्यत्र समागताः । तेषां पितृगणाः सर्वे यांतु ते मत्सलोकताम्

pitṝnnirdiśya ye śrāddhaṁ kurvaṁtyatra samāgatāḥ teṣāṁ pitṛgaṇāḥ sarve yāṁtu te matsalokatām

Those who come here and perform the shraddha rite dedicated to their ancestors — may all their ancestors thereby attain residence in my very world.

Verse 23 (padma.6.91.23)

कालोऽप्येष महापुण्यफलदोऽस्तु सदा नृणाम् । सूर्य्ये मकरगे प्रातः स्नायिनां पापनाशनम्

kālo'pyeṣa mahāpuṇyaphalado'stu sadā nṛṇām sūryye makarage prātaḥ snāyināṁ pāpanāśanam

May this season too ever bestow great merit upon men. When the sun enters the sign of Capricorn, may it destroy the sins of those who bathe at dawn.

Verse 24 (padma.6.91.24)

मकरस्थरवौ माघे प्रातः स्नानं प्रकुर्वताम् । दर्शनादेव पापानि यांति सूर्याद्यथा तमः

makarastharavau māghe prātaḥ snānaṁ prakurvatām darśanādeva pāpāni yāṁti sūryādyathā tamaḥ

In Magha, when the sun is in Capricorn, the sins of those who perform the morning bath depart at the mere sight of it, just as darkness departs at the sun.

Verse 25 (padma.6.91.25)

सलोकत्वं सरूपत्वं समीपत्वं त्रयं क्रमात् । नृणां ददाम्यहं स्नानान्माघे मकरगे रवौ

salokatvaṁ sarūpatvaṁ samīpatvaṁ trayaṁ kramāt nṛṇāṁ dadāmyahaṁ snānānmāghe makarage ravau

By bathing in Magha, when the sun is in Capricorn, I grant to men, in succession, residence in my world, likeness of form to me, and closeness to me — these three.

Verse 26 (padma.6.91.26)

यूयं मुनीश्वराः सर्वे शृणुध्वं वरदोऽस्मि वः । बदरीवनमध्येऽहं सदा तिष्ठामि सर्वगः

yūyaṁ munīśvarāḥ sarve śṛṇudhvaṁ varado'smi vaḥ badarīvanamadhye'haṁ sadā tiṣṭhāmi sarvagaḥ

Listen, all you great sages — I am the granter of a boon to you. Though all-pervading, I ever dwell in the midst of Badarikashrama.

Verse 27 (padma.6.91.27)

अन्यत्र दशभिर्वर्षैस्तपसावाप्यते फलम् । तदत्र दिवसैकेन भवद्भिः प्राप्यते सदा

anyatra daśabhirvarṣaistapasāvāpyate phalam tadatra divasaikena bhavadbhiḥ prāpyate sadā

The fruit that is obtained elsewhere through ten years of austerity is here always obtained by you in a single day.

Verse 28 (padma.6.91.28)

स्थानस्य दर्शनं तस्य ये कुर्वंति नरोत्तमाः । जीवन्मुक्तास्तदा तेषु पापं नैवावतिष्ठते

sthānasya darśanaṁ tasya ye kurvaṁti narottamāḥ jīvanmuktāstadā teṣu pāpaṁ naivāvatiṣṭhate

Those excellent men who behold this place become liberated even while living; sin never remains within them.

Verse 29 (padma.6.91.29)

सूत उवाच । एवं देवान्देवदेवस्तदुक्त्वा तत्रैवांतर्द्धानमागात्स वेधाः । देवाः सर्वेऽप्यंशकैस्तत्र तस्थुश्चांतर्द्धानं प्रापुरिंद्रादयस्ते

sūta uvāca evaṁ devāndevadevastaduktvā tatraivāṁtarddhānamāgātsa vedhāḥ devāḥ sarve'pyaṁśakaistatra tasthuścāṁtarddhānaṁ prāpuriṁdrādayaste

Suta said: Thus, having spoken these words to the gods, the God of gods, the Creator, vanished right there. All the gods too remained established there in their partial forms, while Indra and the others became invisible.

Verse 30 (padma.6.91.30)

इमां च गाथां शृणुयान्नरोत्तमो यः श्रावयेद्वापि विशुद्धचित्तः । स तीर्थराजं बदरीवनं यत्कृत्वा फलं मां समवाप्नुयाच्च

imāṁ ca gāthāṁ śṛṇuyānnarottamo yaḥ śrāvayedvāpi viśuddhacittaḥ sa tīrtharājaṁ badarīvanaṁ yatkṛtvā phalaṁ māṁ samavāpnuyācca

Whatever excellent man, with a purified mind, hears this tale, or recites it to others, obtains the very fruit of pilgrimage to Badarikashrama, the king of sacred fords, and attains me.