The Conclusion of the Glory of Vastrapatha-kshetra

Verse 1 (skanda.7.384.1)

राजोवाच गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां दैत्यान्महाविष्णुर्जनार्दनः ॥ । चकार किं ममाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि मे

rājovāca gṛhītvā dakṣiṇāṁ daityānmahāviṣṇurjanārdanaḥ | cakāra kiṁ mamācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

The king said: Having taken the sacrificial gift from the daityas, what did the great Vishnu Janardana then do? Tell me, for I am filled with the greatest curiosity.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.384.2)

सारस्वत उवाच एवं स्तुतः सुरैर्देवो गृहीत्वा मेदिनीं हरिः । बलिं निर्वासयामास संपूर्णे यज्ञकर्मणि । यज्ञांते दक्षिणां लब्ध्वा संपूर्णोऽभूदथाध्वरः

sārasvata uvāca evaṁ stutaḥ surairdevo gṛhītvā medinīṁ hariḥ | baliṁ nirvāsayāmāsa saṁpūrṇe yajñakarmaṇi | yajñāṁte dakṣiṇāṁ labdhvā saṁpūrṇo'bhūdathādhvaraḥ

Sarasvata said: Thus praised by the gods, the god Hari, having taken the earth, banished Bali, the sacrificial rite now complete; having received the sacrificial gift at the sacrifice's end, that rite became fully accomplished.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.384.3)

भगवानप्यसंपूर्णे तृतीये तु क्रमे विभुः । समभ्येत्य बलिं प्राह ईषत्प्रस्फुरिताधरः

bhagavānapyasaṁpūrṇe tṛtīye tu krame vibhuḥ | samabhyetya baliṁ prāha īṣatprasphuritādharaḥ

The lord, though the third stride remained unfulfilled, approached Bali and, his lip trembling slightly, spoke to him -

Verse 4 (skanda.7.384.4)

ऋणे भवति दैत्येन्द्र बंधनं घोरदर्शनम् । त्वं पूरय पदं तन्मे नोचेद्बन्धं प्रतीच्छ भोः

ṛṇe bhavati daityendra baṁdhanaṁ ghoradarśanam | tvaṁ pūraya padaṁ tanme nocedbandhaṁ pratīccha bhoḥ

'When a debt remains, O lord of daityas, terrible bondage results. Fulfil that pace of mine, or else accept binding, sir.'

Verse 5 (skanda.7.384.5)

तन्मुरारिवचः श्रुत्वा पुरो भूत्वा बलेः सुतः । बाणो वामनमाचष्टे तदा तं विश्वरूपिणम्

tanmurārivacaḥ śrutvā puro bhūtvā baleḥ sutaḥ | bāṇo vāmanamācaṣṭe tadā taṁ viśvarūpiṇam

Hearing those words of Murari, Bali's son Bana came forward and addressed that Vamana, now revealed in his cosmic form -

Verse 6 (skanda.7.384.6)

कृत्वा महीमल्पतरां वपुः कृत्वा तु वामनम् । पदत्रयं याचयित्वा विश्वरूपमगाः कथम्

kṛtvā mahīmalpatarāṁ vapuḥ kṛtvā tu vāmanam | padatrayaṁ yācayitvā viśvarūpamagāḥ katham

'Having made the earth exceedingly small, and having taken the form of a dwarf, having asked for three paces - how have you now become of universal form?'

Verse 7 (skanda.7.384.7)

यदि तृतीयं क्रमणं याचसे जगदीश्वर । पुनर्वामनतां याहि बलिर्दास्यति तत्पदम्

yadi tṛtīyaṁ kramaṇaṁ yācase jagadīśvara | punarvāmanatāṁ yāhi balirdāsyati tatpadam

'If you ask for a third stride, O lord of the universe, become a dwarf once more, and Bali shall give you that pace.'

Verse 8 (skanda.7.384.8)

यादृग्विधाय बलिना वामनायोदकं कृतम् । तत्तादृशाय दातव्यमथ किं विश्वरूपिणे

yādṛgvidhāya balinā vāmanāyodakaṁ kṛtam | tattādṛśāya dātavyamatha kiṁ viśvarūpiṇe

'In whatever form Bali made the water-offering to Vamana, in that same form it should be given - so what claim has the universal form upon it?'

Verse 9 (skanda.7.384.9)

भवत्कृतमिदं विश्वं विश्वस्मिन्वर्तते बलिः । छद्मना नैव गृह्णन्ति साधवो ये महेश्वर

bhavatkṛtamidaṁ viśvaṁ viśvasminvartate baliḥ | chadmanā naiva gṛhṇanti sādhavo ye maheśvara

'This universe is your own creation, and Bali abides within that universe. The virtuous, O great lord, never take anything by deceit.'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.384.10)

जगदेतज्जगन्नाथ तावकं यदि मन्यसे । ज्ञात्वा बलिममर्यादं भवद्भक्तिपराङ्मुखम्

jagadetajjagannātha tāvakaṁ yadi manyase | jñātvā balimamaryādaṁ bhavadbhaktiparāṅmukham

'If you consider this world, O lord of the world, to be your own, why consider Bali to be without limits, turned away from devotion to you?'

Verse 11 (skanda.7.384.11)

कंठपाशेन निष्कास्य केन वै वार्यते भवान् । गोपालमन्यं कुरुते रक्षणाय च गोपतिः । सुतृणं चारयन्पूर्वो गोपः किं कुरुते तदा

kaṁṭhapāśena niṣkāsya kena vai vāryate bhavān | gopālamanyaṁ kurute rakṣaṇāya ca gopatiḥ | sutṛṇaṁ cārayanpūrvo gopaḥ kiṁ kurute tadā

'Drawing him out by a noose round his neck, who indeed could restrain you? But if a cowherd's master appoints a different cowherd for protection, what does the former cowherd, who had grazed the cattle on good grass, do then?'

Verse 12 (skanda.7.384.12)

इत्येवमुक्ते तेनाथ वचने बलिसूनुना । प्रोवाच भगवान्वाक्यमादिकर्ता जनार्दनः

ityevamukte tenātha vacane balisūnunā | provāca bhagavānvākyamādikartā janārdanaḥ

When these words had thus been spoken by Bali's son, the lord Janardana, the primal creator, replied with these words:

Verse 13 (skanda.7.384.13)

यान्युक्तानि वचांसीत्थं त्वया बालेन सांप्रतम् । तेषां त्वं हेतुसंयुक्तं शृणु प्रत्युत्तरं मम

yānyuktāni vacāṁsītthaṁ tvayā bālena sāṁpratam | teṣāṁ tvaṁ hetusaṁyuktaṁ śṛṇu pratyuttaraṁ mama

'Hear my reasoned reply to these words that you, a mere boy, have just now spoken.'

Verse 14 (skanda.7.384.14)

पूर्वमुक्तस्तव पिता मया बाण पदत्रयम् । देहि मह्यं प्रमाणेन तदेतत्समनुष्ठितम्

pūrvamuktastava pitā mayā bāṇa padatrayam | dehi mahyaṁ pramāṇena tadetatsamanuṣṭhitam

'Earlier, Bana, your father was asked by me for three paces, according to a set measure - and that measure has now been fulfilled.'

Verse 15 (skanda.7.384.15)

किं न वेत्ति प्रमाणं मे बलिस्तव पिता सुत । बलेरपि हितार्थाय कृतमेतत्पदत्रयम्

kiṁ na vetti pramāṇaṁ me balistava pitā suta | balerapi hitārthāya kṛtametatpadatrayam

'Does your father Bali, O son, not know my measure? This taking of three paces was done even for Bali's own benefit.'

Verse 16 (skanda.7.384.16)

तस्माद्यन्मम बालेय त्वत्पित्रांऽबु करे महत् । दत्तं तेनास्य सुतले कल्पं यावद्वसिष्यति

tasmādyanmama bāleya tvatpitrāṁ'bu kare mahat | dattaṁ tenāsya sutale kalpaṁ yāvadvasiṣyati

'Therefore, O boy, since your father poured that great water into my hand, by that very act he shall dwell in Sutala for the duration of a kalpa.'

Verse 17 (skanda.7.384.17)

गते मन्वन्तरे बाण श्राद्धदेवस्य साम्प्रतम् । सावर्णिके त्वागते च बलिरिन्द्रो भविष्यति

gate manvantare bāṇa śrāddhadevasya sāmpratam | sāvarṇike tvāgate ca balirindro bhaviṣyati

'O Bana, when this present Manvantara of Shraddhadeva has passed, and the Savarni Manvantara has come, Bali shall become Indra.'

Verse 18 (skanda.7.384.18)

इति प्रोक्त्वा बलिसुतं बाणं देवस्त्रिविक्रमः । प्रोवाच बलिमभ्येत्य वचनं मधुराक्षरम्

iti proktvā balisutaṁ bāṇaṁ devastrivikramaḥ | provāca balimabhyetya vacanaṁ madhurākṣaram

Having said this to Bali's son Bana, the god Trivikrama then approached Bali and spoke sweet words to him.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.384.19)

श्रीभगवानुवाच अपूर्णदक्षिणे यागे गच्छ राजन्महातलम् । सुतलंनाम पातालं वस तत्र निरामयः

śrībhagavānuvāca apūrṇadakṣiṇe yāge gaccha rājanmahātalam | sutalaṁnāma pātālaṁ vasa tatra nirāmayaḥ

Shri Bhagavan said: 'Since the sacrificial gift remains incomplete, go, O king, to Mahatala; dwell there in that netherworld called Sutala, free from affliction.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.384.20)

बलिरुवाच सुतलस्थस्य मे नाथ कथं चरणयोस्तव । दर्शनं पूजनं भोगो निवसामि यथासुखम् श्रीभगवानुवाच दैत्येन्द्र हदये नित्यं तावके निवसाम्यहम् । अतस्ते दर्शनं प्राप्तः पुनः स्थास्ये तवान्तिकम्

baliruvāca sutalasthasya me nātha kathaṁ caraṇayostava | darśanaṁ pūjanaṁ bhogo nivasāmi yathāsukham śrībhagavānuvāca daityendra hadaye nityaṁ tāvake nivasāmyaham | ataste darśanaṁ prāptaḥ punaḥ sthāsye tavāntikam

Bali said: 'O lord, dwelling in Sutala, how shall I have the sight of your feet, or worship you, or dwell there in happiness?' Shri Bhagavan said: 'O lord of daityas, I dwell always in your heart; therefore you have already attained my sight, and I shall abide near you once more -'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.384.21)

तथान्यमुत्सवं पुण्यं वृत्ते शक्रमहोत्सवे । दीपप्रतिपन्नामाऽसौ तत्र भावी महोत्सवः

tathānyamutsavaṁ puṇyaṁ vṛtte śakramahotsave | dīpapratipannāmā'sau tatra bhāvī mahotsavaḥ

'-and there shall be, besides, another sacred festival - when the great festival of Indra has passed, a great celebration called "Dipa-pratipada" shall come to be there.'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.384.22)

तत्र त्वां नरशार्दूला हृष्टाः पुष्टाः स्वलंकृताः । पुष्पदीपप्रदानेन अर्चयिष्यंति यत्नतः ।

tatra tvāṁ naraśārdūlā hṛṣṭāḥ puṣṭāḥ svalaṁkṛtāḥ | puṣpadīpapradānena arcayiṣyaṁti yatnataḥ |

'There, O tiger among men, joyful, prosperous, well-adorned people shall worship you diligently with offerings of flowers and lamps.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.384.23)

तत्रोत्सवः पुण्यतमो भविष्यति धरातले । तव नामांकितो दैत्य तेन त्वं वत्सरं सुखी

tatrotsavaḥ puṇyatamo bhaviṣyati dharātale | tava nāmāṁkito daitya tena tvaṁ vatsaraṁ sukhī

'That festival shall become the most sacred upon the earth, O daitya, marked with your very name; by it you shall be happy throughout the year -'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.384.24)

भविष्यसि नरा ये तु दृढभक्तिसहा न्विताः । त्वामर्चयन्ति विधिवत्तेऽपि स्युः सुखभागिनः

bhaviṣyasi narā ye tu dṛḍhabhaktisahā nvitāḥ | tvāmarcayanti vidhivatte'pi syuḥ sukhabhāginaḥ

'-and those men too who are endowed with firm devotion, and who worship you duly, shall likewise share in happiness.'

Verse 25 (skanda.7.384.25)

यथैव राज्यं भवतस्तु सांप्रतं तथैव सा भाव्यथ कौमुदीति । इत्येवमुक्त्वा मधुमदितीश्वरं निवासयित्वा सुतलं सभार्यकम्

yathaiva rājyaṁ bhavatastu sāṁprataṁ tathaiva sā bhāvyatha kaumudīti | ityevamuktvā madhumaditīśvaraṁ nivāsayitvā sutalaṁ sabhāryakam

'Just as your kingdom is now, so shall it be then - and that festival shall be called Kaumudi.' Having said this, the slayer of Madhu, having settled the lord of the daityas, together with his wife, in Sutala -

Verse 26 (skanda.7.384.26)

उर्वी समादाय जगाम तूर्णं स शक्रसद्मामरसंघजुष्टम् । दत्त्वा मघोने मधुजित्त्रिविष्टपं कृत्वा तु देवान्मखभागभोगिनः

urvī samādāya jagāma tūrṇaṁ sa śakrasadmāmarasaṁghajuṣṭam | dattvā maghone madhujittriviṣṭapaṁ kṛtvā tu devānmakhabhāgabhoginaḥ

-took up the earth and went swiftly to the abode of Shakra, thronged with hosts of immortals; giving the three worlds to Indra, and restoring to the gods their portions in the sacrifice,

Verse 27 (skanda.7.384.27)

अन्तर्दधे विश्वपतिर्महेशः संपश्यतां वै वसुधाधिपानाम्

antardadhe viśvapatirmaheśaḥ saṁpaśyatāṁ vai vasudhādhipānām

the lord of the universe, the great ruler, vanished from sight, even as the lords of the earth looked on.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.384.28)

गृहीत्वेति बले राज्यं मनुपुत्रे नियोजितम् । द्वीपांतरे च ते दैत्याः प्रेषिताश्चाज्ञया स्वयम्

gṛhītveti bale rājyaṁ manuputre niyojitam | dvīpāṁtare ca te daityāḥ preṣitāścājñayā svayam

Having thus taken the kingdom, it was entrusted to the son of Manu; and those daityas were sent off, by his own command, to other continents -

Verse 29 (skanda.7.384.29)

पातालनिलया ये तु ते तत्रैव निवेशिताः । देवानां परमो हर्षः संजातो बलिनिग्रहे

pātālanilayā ye tu te tatraiva niveśitāḥ | devānāṁ paramo harṣaḥ saṁjāto balinigrahe

while those whose dwelling was Patala were established there itself. Supreme joy arose among the gods at Bali's subjugation.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.384.30)

निवासाय पुनश्चक्रे वामनो वामनो मनः । तत्र क्षेत्रे स्वनगरे वामनः स न्युवास ह

nivāsāya punaścakre vāmano vāmano manaḥ | tatra kṣetre svanagare vāmanaḥ sa nyuvāsa ha

Vamana then turned his mind again to his own dwelling; and Vamana settled in his own city, in that very sacred field.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.384.31)

सारस्वत उवाच प्रादुर्भावस्ते कथितो नरेन्द्र पुण्यः शुचिर्वामनस्याघहारी । स्मृते यस्मिन्संश्रुते कीर्तिते च पापं यायात्संक्षयं पुण्यमेति

sārasvata uvāca prādurbhāvaste kathito narendra puṇyaḥ śucirvāmanasyāghahārī | smṛte yasminsaṁśrute kīrtite ca pāpaṁ yāyātsaṁkṣayaṁ puṇyameti

Sarasvata said: Thus, O lord of men, has been told the sacred, pure, sin-removing manifestation of Vamana; by remembering it, hearing it, or proclaiming it, sin comes to its utter end, and merit arises.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.384.32)

ईश्वर उवाच इति सारस्वतवचः श्रुत्वा भोजः स भूपतिः । नमस्कृत्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं पूजयामास भक्तितः

īśvara uvāca iti sārasvatavacaḥ śrutvā bhojaḥ sa bhūpatiḥ | namaskṛtya muniśreṣṭhaṁ pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

Ishvara said: Having heard these words of Sarasvata, King Bhoja bowed to that foremost of sages and worshipped him with devotion.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.384.33)

ततो यथोक्तविधिना स भोजो नृपसत्तमः । वस्त्रापथक्षेत्र यात्रां परिवारजनैः सह । कृत्वा कृतार्थतां प्राप्तो जगामान्ते परं पदम्

tato yathoktavidhinā sa bhojo nṛpasattamaḥ | vastrāpathakṣetra yātrāṁ parivārajanaiḥ saha | kṛtvā kṛtārthatāṁ prāpto jagāmānte paraṁ padam

Then, according to the rule that had been declared, that most excellent of kings, Bhoja, having made the pilgrimage to the sacred field of Vastrapatha together with his family and attendants, attained fulfilment, and in the end went to the supreme abode.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.384.34)

एतन्मया पुण्यतमं प्रभासक्षेत्रे च वस्रापथमीरितं ते । श्रुत्वा पठित्वा परया समेतो भक्त्या तु विष्णोः पदमभ्युपैति

etanmayā puṇyatamaṁ prabhāsakṣetre ca vasrāpathamīritaṁ te | śrutvā paṭhitvā parayā sameto bhaktyā tu viṣṇoḥ padamabhyupaiti

This most sacred account of Vastrapatha, within the field of Prabhasa, has been told to you by me; he who hears or recites it, filled with supreme devotion, attains the abode of Vishnu.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.384.35)

यथा पापानि धूयंते गंगावारिविगाहनात् । तथा पुराणश्रवणाद्दुरितानां विना शनम्

yathā pāpāni dhūyaṁte gaṁgāvārivigāhanāt | tathā purāṇaśravaṇādduritānāṁ vinā śanam

Just as sins are washed away by immersion in the waters of the Ganga, so too, through the hearing of this Purana, the destruction of sins comes about without delay.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.384.36)

इदं रहस्यं परमं तवोक्तं न वाच्यमेतद्धरिभक्तिवर्जिते । द्विजस्य निन्दानिरतेऽतिपापे गुरावभक्ते कृतपापबुद्धौ

idaṁ rahasyaṁ paramaṁ tavoktaṁ na vācyametaddharibhaktivarjite | dvijasya nindānirate'tipāpe gurāvabhakte kṛtapāpabuddhau

This supreme secret has been told to you; it should not be spoken to one devoid of devotion to Hari, to one intent on reviling brahmins, to one exceedingly sinful, to one lacking devotion to his guru, or to one whose mind is set on wrongdoing.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.384.37)

इदं पठेद्यो नियतं मनुष्यः कृतभावनः । तस्य भक्तिः शिवे कृष्णे निश्चला जायते धुवम्

idaṁ paṭhedyo niyataṁ manuṣyaḥ kṛtabhāvanaḥ | tasya bhaktiḥ śive kṛṣṇe niścalā jāyate dhuvam

Whatever man reads this regularly, with disciplined devotion, his faith in Shiva and Krishna surely becomes unwavering.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.384.38)

तद्भक्त्या सकलानर्थान्प्राप्नोति पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ । पुराणवाचिने दद्याद्गोभूस्वर्णविभूषणम्

tadbhaktyā sakalānarthānprāpnoti puruṣottamaḥ | purāṇavācine dadyādgobhūsvarṇavibhūṣaṇam

By that devotion, the most excellent of men attains the fulfilment of all his aims; to the reciter of this Purana one should give a cow, land, gold, and ornaments.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.384.39)

वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यं कुर्वन्दारिद्र्यमाप्नुयात् । त्रिःकृत्वा प्रपठञ्छृण्वंन्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

vittaśāṭhyaṁ na kartavyaṁ kurvandāridryamāpnuyāt | triḥkṛtvā prapaṭhañchṛṇvaṁnsarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

One should not be miserly with wealth in this; he who is, incurs poverty. He who reads or hears this account three times over obtains all his desires.