The Account Telling the Name Padmavati

Verse 1 (skanda.5.44.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि पद्मावती यथाऽभवत्। शृणुष्व चादृतो व्यास बहुपुण्यकृतां कथाम्॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi padmāvatī yathā'bhavat| śṛṇuṣva cādṛto vyāsa bahupuṇyakṛtāṁ kathām||

Sanatkumara said: Now I shall relate how this city became Padmavati; listen respectfully, O Vyasa, to this tale of great merit.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.44.2)

एकदा सर्वरत्नानां हानिर्जाता दुरात्मभिः। धर्मग्लानिर्निरोधश्च जातो वै दुष्टदानवैः॥

ekadā sarvaratnānāṁ hānirjātā durātmabhiḥ| dharmaglānirnirodhaśca jāto vai duṣṭadānavaiḥ||

Once, through wicked beings, a loss of all jewels came about, and, through evil danavas, a decline and obstruction of dharma arose.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.44.3)

तदा सुरासुरैः सर्वैर्मिलित्वा मथितोंऽबुधिः। मेरुर्वंशोदधिः पात्रं रज्जुर्वासुकिपन्नगः॥

tadā surāsuraiḥ sarvairmilitvā mathitoṁ'budhiḥ| merurvaṁśodadhiḥ pātraṁ rajjurvāsukipannagaḥ||

Then all the gods and demons together churned the ocean; Mount Meru was the churning-rod, the ocean the vessel, and the serpent Vasuki the rope.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.44.4)

कूर्मपृष्ठे विधिं कृत्वा रत्नानि दुदुहुस्तदा। आदौ लक्ष्मीर्विनिर्याता कृष्णाय प्रतिपादिता॥

kūrmapṛṣṭhe vidhiṁ kṛtvā ratnāni duduhustadā| ādau lakṣmīrviniryātā kṛṣṇāya pratipāditā||

Having set the rod, according to rule, upon the back of the tortoise, they then drew forth the treasures; first Lakshmi emerged and was given over to Krishna.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.44.5)

तेन कृत्वा विषादोऽभूद्देवदानवयोस्तदा। एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो नारदो देवदर्शनः॥

tena kṛtvā viṣādo'bhūddevadānavayostadā| etasminnaṁtare prāpto nārado devadarśanaḥ||

Because of this, a dispute then arose between the gods and the danavas; meanwhile Narada, ever eager for the sight of the gods, arrived there.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.44.6)

वारितः कलहस्तेन देवदैत्यसमुद्भवः। महाकालवने साऽस्तु पद्मा सिंधुसमुद्भवा॥

vāritaḥ kalahastena devadaityasamudbhavaḥ| mahākālavane sā'stu padmā siṁdhusamudbhavā||

By him the quarrel that had arisen between the gods and daityas was quelled: 'Let Padma, born of the ocean, dwell in Mahakalavana.'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.44.7)

सागरांते च रत्नानि तिष्ठंति विविधानि च। तानि सर्वाणि चादाय भवतां वै ददाम्यहम्॥

sāgarāṁte ca ratnāni tiṣṭhaṁti vividhāni ca| tāni sarvāṇi cādāya bhavatāṁ vai dadāmyaham||

'And various treasures still remain at the bottom of the ocean; taking all of them, I shall give them to you.'

Verse 8 (skanda.5.44.8)

मथ्यतामुदधिः शीघ्रं नात्र कार्या विचारणा। पुनस्ते तूद्यमं चक्रुरमृतार्थं सुरासुराः॥

mathyatāmudadhiḥ śīghraṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā| punaste tūdyamaṁ cakruramṛtārthaṁ surāsurāḥ||

'Let the ocean be churned again at once — no deliberation is needed here.' Then the gods and demons made the effort once more, for the sake of nectar.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.44.9)

मथ्यमानेंऽबुधौ तेषां मणिः प्राप्तश्च कौस्तुभः। परिजाततरुः पश्चात्सुरा जाता ततः परम्॥

mathyamāneṁ'budhau teṣāṁ maṇiḥ prāptaśca kaustubhaḥ| parijātataruḥ paścātsurā jātā tataḥ param||

As they churned the ocean, the jewel Kaustubha was obtained; then the Parijata tree, and after that the goddess Sura (Varuni) was born.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.44.10)

धन्वंतरिरथोत्पन्नश्चंद्रो जातोऽपि वै ततः। कामधेनुस्ततो जाता गजरत्नं ततः परम्॥

dhanvaṁtarirathotpannaścaṁdro jāto'pi vai tataḥ| kāmadhenustato jātā gajaratnaṁ tataḥ param||

Then Dhanvantari arose, and the moon too was born after that; then the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu appeared, and after her the jewel among elephants.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.44.11)

उच्चैःश्रवा हयश्रेष्ठः सुधा रंभा ततस्ततः। ततः परं च सारंगं धनुः सर्वास्त्रसंभवम्॥

uccaiḥśravā hayaśreṣṭhaḥ sudhā raṁbhā tatastataḥ| tataḥ paraṁ ca sāraṁgaṁ dhanuḥ sarvāstrasaṁbhavam||

Uchchaihshravas, the finest of horses, the nectar, and then Rambha, one after another; and after that, the bow Saranga, source of all weapons.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.44.12)

पांचजन्यस्तथा शंखः करे तिष्ठति मुरद्विषः। निधिरेष महापद्मो विषं हालाहलं ततः॥

pāṁcajanyastathā śaṁkhaḥ kare tiṣṭhati muradviṣaḥ| nidhireṣa mahāpadmo viṣaṁ hālāhalaṁ tataḥ||

Then the conch Panchajanya, which rests in the hand of Mura's foe; this treasure, the Mahapadma; and after that the poison Halahala.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.44.13)

चतुर्दशापि रत्नानि प्राप्तानि विविधानि च। समादाय गतास्तत्र यत्र माहेश्वरं वनम्॥

caturdaśāpi ratnāni prāptāni vividhāni ca| samādāya gatāstatra yatra māheśvaraṁ vanam||

Thus all fourteen various treasures were obtained; taking them all, they went there, to where Maheshvara's forest was.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.44.14)

गत्वा ते च समासीना मंत्रं चक्रुः परस्परम्। अहंपूर्वमहंपूर्वमिति ते समयंत्रिताः॥

gatvā te ca samāsīnā maṁtraṁ cakruḥ parasparam| ahaṁpūrvamahaṁpūrvamiti te samayaṁtritāḥ||

Having gone there, they sat down together and took counsel among themselves; but bound by rivalry, each one said, 'I first! I first!'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.44.15)

कोलाहलस्तथोत्पन्नो नारदः पुनरभ्यगात्। तेषां कलिमलं दृष्ट्वा विष्णुमाराधयत्ततः॥

kolāhalastathotpanno nāradaḥ punarabhyagāt| teṣāṁ kalimalaṁ dṛṣṭvā viṣṇumārādhayattataḥ||

A great uproar thus arose; Narada came there once again, and, seeing the taint of discord among them, then worshipped Vishnu.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.44.16)

मोहनीरूपमास्थाय नारीभूत्वाभ्यगाद्धरिः। अतिरूपवती तन्वी तामालोक्य महासुराः॥

mohanīrūpamāsthāya nārībhūtvābhyagāddhariḥ| atirūpavatī tanvī tāmālokya mahāsurāḥ||

Assuming the enchanting form of Mohini, Hari came there as a woman; beholding that most beautiful and slender maiden, the great asuras—

Verse 17 (skanda.5.44.17)

विह्वलांगाश्च ते सर्वे कामबाणवशंगताः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे तेषां सुरां प्रादात्सुरेश्वरः॥

vihvalāṁgāśca te sarve kāmabāṇavaśaṁgatāḥ| etasminnaṁtare teṣāṁ surāṁ prādātsureśvaraḥ||

—all became overcome in every limb, falling under the sway of desire's arrows. Meanwhile the Lord of gods gave out the drink to them,

Verse 18 (skanda.5.44.18)

हस्तलाघवयोगेन देवानाममृतं ददौ। एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्यास राहुस्तद्रूपधारकः॥

hastalāghavayogena devānāmamṛtaṁ dadau| etasminnaṁtare vyāsa rāhustadrūpadhārakaḥ||

and, through sleight of hand, gave the nectar to the gods. Meanwhile, O Vyasa, Rahu, taking on their disguised form,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.44.19)

तेषामंतरगो भूत्वा पपौ चामृतमुत्तमम्। तज्ज्ञात्वा च द्रुतं विष्णुः शिरश्चक्रेण चाच्छिनत्॥

teṣāmaṁtarago bhūtvā papau cāmṛtamuttamam| tajjñātvā ca drutaṁ viṣṇuḥ śiraścakreṇa cācchinat||

slipped in among them and drank the excellent nectar. Learning of this, Vishnu at once severed his head with the discus.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.44.20)

सुधास्पर्शप्रसंगेन न ममारासुरस्तदा। राहुः केतुरिति ख्यातौ क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्मुनिसत्तम॥

sudhāsparśaprasaṁgena na mamārāsurastadā| rāhuḥ keturiti khyātau kṣetre'sminmunisattama||

Because he had touched the nectar, that asura did not die then; O best of sages, in this very kshetra he became known as Rahu and Ketu.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.44.21)

राहुकायात्समुद्भूतं बहु सुस्राव शोणितम्। तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महत्तीर्थं जातं तद्दोष नाशनम्॥

rāhukāyātsamudbhūtaṁ bahu susrāva śoṇitam| tasminkṣetre mahattīrthaṁ jātaṁ taddoṣa nāśanam||

Much blood flowed forth from Rahu's body; in that kshetra a great tirtha arose, the destroyer of that very affliction.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.44.22)

तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा राहोर्दर्शनतत्पराः। न तेषां जायते किंचिद्राहुपीडा कदाचन॥

tatra snātvā śucirbhūtvā rāhordarśanatatparāḥ| na teṣāṁ jāyate kiṁcidrāhupīḍā kadācana||

Those who bathe there, become pure, and are intent on the vision of Rahu never suffer any affliction from Rahu at all.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.44.23)

वांछितार्थमवाप्नोति गोसहस्रफलं भवेत्। ततस्तानि च रत्नानि महाकालवने सुराः॥

vāṁchitārthamavāpnoti gosahasraphalaṁ bhavet| tatastāni ca ratnāni mahākālavane surāḥ||

They obtain their desired object and gain the merit of a thousand cows. After this, in Mahakalavana, the gods—

Verse 24 (skanda.5.44.24)

विभज्य भागांस्ते सर्वे प्राप्य रत्नभुजोऽभवन्। मणिं पद्मां धनुः शंखं विष्णवे नारदो ददौ॥

vibhajya bhāgāṁste sarve prāpya ratnabhujo'bhavan| maṇiṁ padmāṁ dhanuḥ śaṁkhaṁ viṣṇave nārado dadau||

—divided into shares and, having received them, became enjoyers of the treasures; Narada gave the jewel, Padma, the bow, and the conch to Vishnu.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.44.25)

सूर्याय च ददौ ह्यश्वं सप्तास्यं चाब्धिसंभवम्। ऐरावतं गजश्रेष्ठं वासवाय समर्पयत्॥

sūryāya ca dadau hyaśvaṁ saptāsyaṁ cābdhisaṁbhavam| airāvataṁ gajaśreṣṭhaṁ vāsavāya samarpayat||

To Surya he gave the seven-mouthed horse born of the ocean, and to Vasava he presented Airavata, the finest of elephants.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.44.26)

पीयूषं दिविषद्गणान्ददौ चंद्रं च शंभवे। पारिजातं तरुश्रेष्ठं रंभां चैव वरांगनाम्॥

pīyūṣaṁ diviṣadgaṇāndadau caṁdraṁ ca śaṁbhave| pārijātaṁ taruśreṣṭhaṁ raṁbhāṁ caiva varāṁganām||

He gave the nectar to the hosts of heaven-dwellers, and the moon to Shambhu; the finest of trees, Parijata, and the excellent maiden Rambha,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.44.27)

इंद्रक्रीडावने रम्ये नंदने च समर्पयत्। ऋषीणां समदाद्धेनुं कामदोग्ध्रीं यज्ञसिद्धये॥

iṁdrakrīḍāvane ramye naṁdane ca samarpayat| ṛṣīṇāṁ samadāddhenuṁ kāmadogdhrīṁ yajñasiddhaye||

he presented to Indra's lovely pleasure-garden, Nandana; and he gave the wish-fulfilling cow to the sages, for the accomplishment of their sacrifices.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.44.28)

निधिरेष महापद्मः कुबेरभवनं गतः। यत्तद्धालाहलं प्रोक्तं विषं केनापि नादृतम्॥

nidhireṣa mahāpadmaḥ kuberabhavanaṁ gataḥ| yattaddhālāhalaṁ proktaṁ viṣaṁ kenāpi nādṛtam||

This treasure, the Mahapadma, went to Kubera's dwelling. And that poison called Halahala was accepted by no one at all,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.44.29)

यतोयतः प्रसरति प्रलयं यांति जंतवः। दधार तद्विषं शंभुर्जगतां हितकाम्यया॥

yatoyataḥ prasarati pralayaṁ yāṁti jaṁtavaḥ| dadhāra tadviṣaṁ śaṁbhurjagatāṁ hitakāmyayā||

for wherever it spread, living beings met their destruction; Shambhu, wishing for the welfare of the worlds, took that poison upon himself.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.44.30)

तदाप्रभृति महादेवो नीलकंठ इति स्मृतः। रत्नकुंडे नरः स्नात्वा नीलग्रीवं च पश्यति॥

tadāprabhṛti mahādevo nīlakaṁṭha iti smṛtaḥ| ratnakuṁḍe naraḥ snātvā nīlagrīvaṁ ca paśyati||

From that time on Mahadeva has been remembered as Nilakantha (the Blue-throated one); a man who bathes in the Ratnakunda beholds that Blue-throated god.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.44.31)

मुक्त्वा स सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वरत्नभुजो भवेत्। शताश्वमेधिकं पुण्यं लब्ध्वा शिवपुरं व्रजेत्॥

muktvā sa sarvapāpebhyaḥ sarvaratnabhujo bhavet| śatāśvamedhikaṁ puṇyaṁ labdhvā śivapuraṁ vrajet||

Freed from all sins, he becomes an enjoyer of every treasure; having gained the merit of a hundred horse-sacrifices, he goes to Shiva's city.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.44.32)

तदादाय सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरोगमाः। ऊचुश्च ते तदा व्यास हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः॥

tadādāya surāḥ sarve brahmaviṣṇupurogamāḥ| ūcuśca te tadā vyāsa harṣanirbharamānasāḥ||

Then all the gods, led by Brahma and Vishnu, having received this merit, O Vyasa, spoke, their minds filled with joy—

Verse 33 (skanda.5.44.33)

उज्जयिनीं समासाद्य जाता रत्नभुजो वयम्। पद्मायाश्च निवासेन यस्मात्सर्वसुखावहा॥

ujjayinīṁ samāsādya jātā ratnabhujo vayam| padmāyāśca nivāsena yasmātsarvasukhāvahā||

'Having come to Ujjayini, we have become enjoyers of treasures; and since, through Padma's dwelling here, it brings every happiness,'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.44.34)

तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु पद्मा वसतु निश्चला। अद्यप्रभृति पूरेषा पद्मावतीति च स्मृता॥

tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu padmā vasatu niścalā| adyaprabhṛti pūreṣā padmāvatīti ca smṛtā||

'—therefore let Padma dwell here, unmoving, for all time.' From this day forth, this city has been remembered by the name Padmavati.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.44.35)

य एतस्यां महाभागाः स्नानं दानं तथार्चनम्। तर्पणं चैव देवानां पितॄणां च विशेषतः॥

ya etasyāṁ mahābhāgāḥ snānaṁ dānaṁ tathārcanam| tarpaṇaṁ caiva devānāṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ||

O fortunate ones, those who perform here bathing, giving, worship, and offerings of tarpana to the gods, and especially to the ancestors,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.44.36)

न तेषां दुष्कृतं किंचिन्न दारिद्र्यं न दुर्गतिः। शतं कुलानि सर्वाणि तारयेन्निरयात्तदा॥

na teṣāṁ duṣkṛtaṁ kiṁcinna dāridryaṁ na durgatiḥ| śataṁ kulāni sarvāṇi tārayennirayāttadā||

for them no evil deed, no poverty, no misfortune occurs; he then redeems all of a hundred generations of his family from hell.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.44.37)

धनार्थी चैव पुत्रार्थो विद्यार्थो बहुकामुकः। यत्रकुत्र स्थितो भूत्वा पद्मावतीति च स्मरेत्॥

dhanārthī caiva putrārtho vidyārtho bahukāmukaḥ| yatrakutra sthito bhūtvā padmāvatīti ca smaret||

The seeker of wealth, the seeker of a son, the seeker of learning, or one of many desires — wherever he may be, let him remember the name Padmavati,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.44.38)

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति शिवः साक्षाद्भवेन्नरः। एतद्व्यास फलं नाम्नः किं चिरं सेवनेन वै॥

sarvānkāmānavāpnoti śivaḥ sākṣādbhavennaraḥ| etadvyāsa phalaṁ nāmnaḥ kiṁ ciraṁ sevanena vai||

and he obtains all his desires; that man becomes as if Shiva himself. O Vyasa, this is merely the fruit of the name — what then of long, devoted service there?

Verse 39 (skanda.5.44.39)

ये शृण्वंति कथां पुण्यां ये श्रावयंति नित्यशः। न तेषां पातकं किंचिदश्वमेधफलं लभेत्॥

ye śṛṇvaṁti kathāṁ puṇyāṁ ye śrāvayaṁti nityaśaḥ| na teṣāṁ pātakaṁ kiṁcidaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet||

Those who hear this sacred tale, or who ever cause it to be heard by others, incur no sin whatsoever, and obtain the merit of a horse-sacrifice.