Adhyaya 125

Verse 1

सूत उवाच । वेनस्याज्ञां सुसंप्राप्य पृथुः परमधार्मिकः । संबभ्रे सर्वसंभारान्नानापुण्यान्नृपात्मजः

Sūta said: Having duly received Vena’s command, Pṛthu—the supremely righteous—gathered together all the requisite provisions, many of them auspicious, O prince.

Verse 2

निमंत्र्य ब्राह्मणान्सर्वान्नानादेशोद्भवानपि । अथ वेन इयाजासावश्वमेधेन भूपतिः

Having invited all the brāhmaṇas—even those who had come from many different regions—King Vena then performed an Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice).

Verse 3

दानान्यदाद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नानारूपाण्यनेकशः । जगाम वैष्णवं लोकं सकायो जगतीपतिः

He bestowed many kinds of gifts upon the brāhmaṇas, in numerous forms and in great abundance; and the lord of the earth departed to the Vaiṣṇava realm, together with his very body.

Verse 4

विष्णुना सह धर्मात्मा नित्यमेव प्रवर्तते । एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं चरित्रं तस्य भूपतेः

That king of righteous soul ever acts in harmony with Viṣṇu. Thus, O king, I have fully recounted to you the life and deeds of that ruler.

Verse 5

सर्वपापप्रशमनं सर्वदुःखविनाशनम् । पृथुरेव स धर्मात्मा राजा पृथ्वीं प्रशासति

He pacifies all sins and destroys all sorrows; that righteous-souled King Pṛthu indeed rules the earth.

Verse 6

त्रैलोक्येन समं पृथ्वीं दुदोह नृपसत्तमः । प्रजास्तु रंजितास्तेन पुण्यधर्मानुकर्मभिः

That best of kings ‘milked’ the earth so that it yielded prosperity equal to the three worlds; and his subjects rejoiced through his practice of virtuous, righteous conduct.

Verse 7

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं भूमिखण्डमनुत्तमम् । प्रथमं सृष्टिखंडं तु द्वितीयं भूमिखंडकम्

Thus, I have fully narrated to you this unsurpassed Bhūmi-khaṇḍa. The first section is the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa, and the second is the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa.

Verse 8

भूमिखंडस्यमाहात्म्यं कथयिष्याम्यहं पुनः । अस्य खंडस्य वै श्लोकं यः शृणोति नरोत्तमः

I shall once again describe the sacred greatness of the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa. The best of men—whoever listens to a single verse of this section—

Verse 9

दिनस्यैकस्य वै पापं तस्य चैव प्रणश्यति । यो नरो भावसंयुक्तोऽध्यायं संशृणुते सुधीः

The sin of a single day is wholly destroyed for that person—whoever, endowed with sincere devotion (bhakti), listens attentively to this chapter with a discerning mind.

Verse 10

तस्य पुण्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तमाः । दत्तस्य गोसहस्रस्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यः सुपर्वणि

I shall declare its sacred merit—listen, O best of the twice-born—the merit of donating a thousand cows to the brāhmaṇas on an auspicious festival day.

Verse 11

यत्फलं तत्प्रजायेत विष्णुस्तस्य प्रसीदति । अस्य पद्मपुराणस्य पठमानस्य नित्यशः

Whatever fruit is meant to arise from this indeed comes to be; and Viṣṇu is pleased with the one who recites this Padma Purāṇa every day.

Verse 12

कलौयुगे तु विघ्नाश्च न जायंते नरस्य वै । व्यास उवाच । कस्मात्कलौ न जायंते शृण्वानस्य च पद्मज

In the age of Kali, obstacles truly do not arise for a man. Vyāsa said: “For what reason, O Padmaja (Brahmā), do obstacles not arise in Kali for one who listens (to this teaching)?”

Verse 13

नरस्य पुण्ययुक्तस्य नाना विघ्नाः सुदारुणाः । ब्रह्मोवाच । मखस्याप्यश्वमेधस्य यत्फलं परिकथ्यते

Even for a man endowed with merit, many exceedingly dreadful obstacles arise. Brahmā said: now shall be spoken the fruit that is declared for sacrifice—indeed, even for the Aśvamedha.

Verse 14

तत्फलं दृश्यते तात पुराणे पद्मसंज्ञके । अश्वमेधमखः पुण्यः कलौ नैव प्रवर्तते

That very fruit, dear one, is seen described in the Purāṇa known as the Padma. The meritorious Aśvamedha sacrifice does not, indeed, come into practice in the Kali age.

Verse 15

पुराणं चापि यत्तद्वदश्वमेधसमं किल । अश्वमेधस्य यत्पुण्यं स्वर्गमोक्षफलप्रदम्

And it is also said that that Purāṇa is indeed equal to an Aśvamedha sacrifice. The merit of the Aśvamedha bestows the fruits of heaven and liberation.

Verse 16

न भुंजंति नराः पापाः पापमार्गेषु संस्थिताः । पुराणस्यास्य पुण्यस्य पद्मसंज्ञस्य सत्तम

O best of the virtuous, sinful men who remain fixed on sinful paths do not partake of this holy Purāṇa known as the Padma.

Verse 17

अश्वमेधसमं पुण्यं न भुंजंति कलौ नराः । कलौ युगे नरैः पापैर्गंतव्यं नरकार्णवम्

In the Kali age, people do not partake of merit comparable to the Aśvamedha rite; in the Kali-yuga, sinful men proceed toward the ocean of hell.

Verse 18

कस्माच्छ्रोष्यंति तत्पुण्यं चतुर्वर्गप्रसाधनम् । येन श्रुतमिदं पुण्यं पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञकम्

Why would they not listen to that meritorious teaching which accomplishes the four aims of life—by hearing which this holy Purāṇa known as the Padma is heard?

Verse 19

सर्वं हि साधितं तेन चतुर्वर्गस्य साधनम् । अश्वमेधादयो यज्ञास्तस्मान्नष्टा महामते

For by that, indeed, all that serves as the means to the fourfold aims of life has been accomplished. Therefore, O great-minded one, sacrifices such as the Aśvamedha have become as though obsolete.

Verse 20

कलौ युगे गताः स्वर्गे सवेदाः सांगसस्वराः । यः कोपि सत्वसंपन्नः श्रद्धावान्भगवत्परः

In the age of Kali, the Vedas—together with their auxiliary disciplines and proper recitation—have, as it were, departed for heaven. Yet anyone endowed with goodness, possessed of faith, and devoted to the Blessed Lord…

Verse 21

श्रोतुमिच्छति धर्मात्मा सपुत्रो भार्यया सह । श्रवणार्थं महाश्रद्धा पूर्वं तस्य प्रजायते

That righteous-souled man, together with his son and wife, desires to listen; and for the sake of hearing, great faith arises in him beforehand.

Verse 22

शृण्वानस्य नरस्यापि महाविघ्नो न संचरेत् । अश्रद्धा जायते पूर्वं पाठकस्य नरस्य च

Even for a man who is merely listening, a great obstacle does not arise. Rather, first disbelief arises in the man who recites (the text) and in the other man involved as well.

Verse 23

लोभश्च जायते तस्य शृण्वानस्य द्विजोत्तम । प्रेषितो विष्णुदेवेन महामोहः स दारुणः

And as he listens, greed arises in him, O best of brāhmaṇas; that terrible Great Delusion, sent forth by Lord Viṣṇu, takes hold of him.

Verse 24

अकरोत्स विनाशं तु शृण्वतश्चास्य नित्यशः । दूषकाः कुत्सकाः पापाः संभवंति दिने दिने

It surely brings ruin to one who listens to it constantly; day after day, sinful people—fault-finders and scoffers—keep arising.

Verse 25

ज्ञातव्यं तु सुबुद्धेन विघ्नरूपं ममाधुना । संजातं दृश्यते व्यास तथा होमं समाचरेत्

But the wise should understand that, at present, an obstacle has arisen in my form. O Vyāsa, it is seen to have manifested; therefore, perform a fire-offering (homa) accordingly.

Verse 26

वैष्णवैश्च महामंत्रैर्विष्णुसूक्तैः सुपुण्यदैः । विष्णोरराटमंत्रेण सहस्रशीर्षकेण च

And with Vaiṣṇava great mantras, with the highly meritorious hymns to Viṣṇu, and also with Viṣṇu’s Arāṭa-mantra and the Sahasraśīrṣa (hymn of the Thousand-Headed One).

Verse 27

इदं विष्णु सुमंत्रेण आब्रह्मेण पुनः पुनः । त्र्यंबकेन च मंत्रेण होममेवं समाचरेत्

Thus, one should perform the fire-offering (homa) in this way—again and again—with this auspicious mantra of Viṣṇu, with the (invocation) extending up to Brahmā, and also with the mantra of Tryambaka (Śiva).

Verse 28

बृहत्साम्ना सुमंत्रेण द्वादशाक्षरकेण च । यस्य देवस्य यो होमस्तस्य मंत्रेण होमयेत्

With the Bṛhat-sāman, with an auspicious mantra, and also with the twelve-syllabled mantra—whatever deity the oblation (homa) is intended for, one should offer that homa using that deity’s own mantra.

Verse 29

अष्टोत्तरतिलाज्यैश्च पालाशैः समिधैरपि । ग्रहाणामपि कर्त्तव्यं स्थापनं पूजनं द्विज

With one hundred and eight offerings of sesame and ghee, and also with palāśa fuel-sticks, O brāhmaṇa, one should likewise establish and worship the Grahas, the planetary deities.

Verse 30

विघ्नेशं पूजयेत्तत्र शारदां च सुरेश्वरीम् । जातवेदां महामायां चंडिकां क्षेत्रनायकम्

There one should worship Vighneśa, and also Śāradā, the sovereign Lady of the gods; one should worship Jātavedā, Mahāmāyā, Caṇḍikā, and the guardian lord of that sacred site.

Verse 31

तिलैश्च तंदुलैराज्यैस्तेषां मंत्रसमुद्यतैः । एवं होमः प्रकर्त्तव्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददेद्धनम्

With sesame seeds, rice grains, and ghee—accompanied by the prescribed mantras—one should perform the fire-offering in this manner, and then give wealth in charity to the brāhmaṇas.

Verse 32

यथासंभाविकां तात दक्षिणां धेनुसंयुताम् । ततो विघ्नाः प्रणश्यंति पुराणं सिद्धिमाप्नुयात्

Therefore, dear one, offer a dakṣiṇā according to your means, accompanied by a cow; then obstacles are destroyed, and the Purāṇa-recitation attains success.

Verse 33

एवं न कुरुते यो हि तस्य विघ्नं वदाम्यहम् । तस्यांगे जायते रोगो बहुपीडाप्रदायकः

Whoever does not act in this manner—of him I declare the obstruction: in his body there arises a disease that brings intense suffering.

Verse 34

भार्या शोकः पुत्रशोको धनहानिः प्रजायते । नानाविधान्महारोगान्भुंजते नात्र संशयः

Grief over one’s wife, grief over one’s son, and loss of wealth arise; and one suffers many kinds of severe diseases—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 35

यस्य गेहे नास्ति वित्तमुपवासं समाचरेत् । एकादशीं सुसंप्राप्य पूजयेन्मधुसूदनम्

In whose home there is no wealth, let that person undertake fasting. Having duly reached Ekādaśī, one should worship Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu).

Verse 36

षोडशैश्चोपचारैश्च भावयुक्तेन चेतसा । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाद्यथावित्तानुसारतः

With a mind imbued with sincere devotion, one should perform worship with the sixteen customary offerings; afterwards, one should feed the Brāhmaṇas according to one’s means.

Verse 37

केशवाय ततो दत्वा संकल्पं हविषान्वितम् । स्वयं कुर्यात्ततः प्राज्ञो भोजनं सह बांधवैः

Then, having offered to Keśava a vowed intention (saṅkalpa) together with oblations, the wise person should thereafter partake of the meal himself, along with his relatives.

Verse 38

पुत्रैस्तु भार्यया युक्तस्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् । पुराणसंहितापूर्णा श्रोतव्या धर्मतत्परैः

Endowed with sons and accompanied by a wife, one then attains spiritual fulfillment. Those devoted to dharma should listen to the Purāṇa, which is complete in its compendiums (saṃhitās).

Verse 39

चतुर्वर्गस्य वै सिद्धिर्जायते तस्य नान्यथा । सपादं लक्षमेकं तु ब्रह्माख्यं पुष्करं शृणु

From that sacred place, the attainment of the four aims of human life truly arises—there is no other way. Now hear of Puṣkara, called Brahmā’s tīrtha, measuring one and a quarter lakṣa in extent.

Verse 40

कृते युगे तु निष्पापाः शृण्वंति मनुजा द्विज । लक्षस्यार्द्धं ततः कृत्स्नं पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञकम्

In the Kṛta Yuga, O brāhmaṇa, sinless people listen to the entire Purāṇa known as the Padma, amounting to half a lakṣa—fifty thousand verses.

Verse 41

श्लोकानां तु सहस्राभ्यां द्वाभ्यामेव तथाधिकम् । त्रेतायुगे तथा प्राप्ते यदा श्रोष्यंति मानवाः

It consists of two thousand verses, with two more besides. When the Tretā Yuga arrives, then human beings will hear it.

Verse 42

चतुर्वर्गफलं भुक्त्वा ते यास्यंति हरिं पुनः । द्वाविंशतिसहस्राणि संहितापद्मसंज्ञिता

Having enjoyed the fruits of the four aims of life, they will again attain Hari. The Saṃhitā known as “Padma” consists of twenty-two thousand verses.

Verse 43

द्वापरे कथिता विप्र ब्रह्मणा परमात्मना । द्वादशैव सहस्राणां पद्माख्या सा तु संहिता

O brāhmaṇa, in the Dvāpara age it was taught by Brahmā, the Supreme Self. That compilation called “Padma” consists of exactly twelve thousand verses.

Verse 44

कलौ युगे पठिष्यंति मानवा विष्णुतत्पराः । एकोर्थश्चैकभावश्च चतुर्ष्वपि प्रवर्तितः

In the age of Kali, people devoted to Viṣṇu will recite these teachings. One and the same meaning, and one and the same purport, is set forth in all four Vedas.

Verse 45

संहितास्वेव विप्रेंद्र शेषाख्यानप्रविस्तरः । द्वादशैव सहस्राणि नाशं यास्यंति सत्तम

O best of brahmins, within the Saṁhitās themselves the expanded account called the Śeṣākhyāna—twelve thousand verses in extent—will indeed pass into destruction, O noble one.

Verse 46

कलौ युगे तु संप्राप्ते प्रथमं हि भविष्यति । भूमिखंडं नरः श्रुत्वासर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

When the age of Kali has arrived, this teaching will indeed become foremost. A person who listens to the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa is freed from all sins.

Verse 47

मुच्यते सर्वदुःखेभ्यः सर्वरोगैः प्रमुच्यते । अन्यत्सर्वं परित्यज्य जपं दानं तथा श्रुतम्

One is freed from all sorrows and completely released from every disease. Renouncing everything else, one should take up japa (repetition of the sacred name/mantra), dāna (charitable giving), and śravaṇa/śruta (listening to and studying sacred teaching).

Verse 48

श्रोतव्यं हि प्रयत्नेन पद्माख्यं पापनाशनम् । प्रथमं सृष्टिखंडं तु द्वितीयं भूमिखंडकम्

Indeed, with effort one should listen to the Purāṇa called the Padma, the destroyer of sins. Its first section is the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa, and the second is the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa.

Verse 49

तृतीयं स्वर्गखंडं च पातालं तु चतुर्थकम् । पंचमं चोत्तरं खंडं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

The third is the Svarga-khaṇḍa, and the fourth is the Pātāla-khaṇḍa. The fifth is the Uttara-khaṇḍa, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 50

यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या पंचखंडान्यनुक्रमात् । गोप्रदानसहस्रस्य मानवो लभते फलम्

Whoever, with devotion, listens in proper sequence to the five sections attains merit equal to the gift of a thousand cows.

Verse 51

महाभाग्येन लभ्यंते पंचखंडानि भूसुराः । श्रुतानि मोक्षदानि स्युः सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः

O brahmins, the five sections are obtained only through great good fortune. When heard, they become bestowers of mokṣa—truth, truth; there is no doubt.

Verse 125

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां वेनोपाख्याने पंचविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one-hundred-and-twenty-fifth chapter—within the Vena episode—of the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa, in the compilation of fifty-five thousand verses.