Adhyaya 90

Verse 1

सूतौवाच । एवमाकर्ण्य तत्सर्वं समुज्ज्वलस्य भाषितम् । कुंजलः स हि धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच सुतं प्रति

Sūta said: Having thus heard all that Samujjvala had spoken, Kuñjala—indeed a righteous-souled one—replied to his son.

Verse 2

कुंजल उवाच । संप्रवक्ष्याम्यहं तात श्रूयतां स्थिरमानसः । सर्वसंदेहविध्वंसं चरित्रं पापनाशनम्

Kuñjala said: “Dear child, I shall now relate it—listen with a steady mind. It is a sacred account that destroys all doubts and eradicates sin.”

Verse 3

इंद्रलोके प्रववृते संवादो देव कौतुकः । सभायां तस्य देवस्य इंद्रस्यापि महात्मनः

In Indra’s realm, a divine dialogue, wondrous with celestial delight, began—in the assembly hall of that great-souled god Indra.

Verse 4

देवं द्रष्टुं सहस्राक्षं नारदस्त्वरितं ययौ । समागतं सहस्राक्षः सूर्यतेजःसमप्रभम्

Eager to behold the god Sahasrākṣa (Indra), Nārada hastened there. Then Sahasrākṣa appeared, radiant with a splendor equal to the sun’s brilliance.

Verse 5

तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षमायातः समुत्थाय महामतिः । ददावर्घं च पाद्यं च भक्त्या प्रणतमानसः

Seeing him, the great-minded one was filled with joy; rising up, and with a heart bowed in devotion, he offered arghya and water for the washing of the feet.

Verse 6

बद्धांजलिपुटोभूत्वा प्रणाममकरोत्तदा । आसने कोमले पुण्ये विनिवेश्य द्विजोत्तमम्

Then, joining his hands in reverence, he bowed down; and seating the best of the twice-born upon a soft and sacred seat, he honored him.

Verse 7

पप्रच्छ प्रणतो भूत्वा श्रद्धया परया युतः । कस्माच्चागमनं तेऽद्य कारणं वद सांप्रतम्

Having bowed down, endowed with supreme faith, he asked: “For what reason have you come here today? Tell me the cause at once.”

Verse 8

इत्युक्तो देवराजेन प्रत्युवाच महामुनिः । भवंतं द्रष्टुमायातः पृथिव्यास्तु पुरंदरः

Thus addressed by the king of the gods, the great sage replied: “O Purandara, you have come to behold the Earth.”

Verse 9

स्नात्वा पुण्यप्रदेशेषु तीर्थेषु च सुश्रद्धया । देवान्पितॄन्समभ्यर्च्य दृष्ट्वा तीर्थान्यनेकशः

Having bathed with deep faith at sacred places and at the holy tīrthas, and having duly worshipped the gods and the ancestors, one has visited many tīrthas again and again.

Verse 10

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्त्वया पृच्छितं पुरा । देवेंद्र उवाच । दृष्टानि पुण्यतीर्थानि सुक्षेत्राणि त्वया मुने

“All this has been fully explained to you—what you asked earlier.” Indra, lord of the gods, said: “O sage, you have seen the holy tīrthas and the auspicious kṣetras.”

Verse 11

किं तीर्थं प्राप्य मुच्येत ब्रह्मघ्नो ब्रह्महत्यया । सुरापोमुच्यतेपापाद्गोघ्नोहेमापहारकः

By reaching which tīrtha is a slayer of a brāhmaṇa freed from the sin of brahmahatyā? And by which tīrtha is a drinker of liquor released from sin—likewise a killer of a cow and a thief of gold?

Verse 12

स्वामिद्रोहान्महाभाग नारीहंता कथं सुखी । नारद उवाच । यानि कानि च तीर्थानि गयादीनि सुरेश्वर

O fortunate one, how could a person who betrays his master, or who kills a woman, ever be happy? Nārada said: “O lord of the gods, whatever tīrthas there are—beginning with Gayā—…”

Verse 13

तेषां नैव प्रजानामि विशेषं पापनाशनम् । सुपुण्यानि सुदिव्यानि पापघ्नानि समानि च

Of them, I know no special distinction at all in the power to destroy sin; all are equally most meritorious, truly divine, and sin-destroying.

Verse 14

सर्वाण्येव सुतीर्थानि जानाम्यहं पुरंदर । अविशेषं विशेषं वै नैव जानामि सांप्रतम्

O Purandara, I know all the excellent tīrthas; yet at present I do not know what is ‘general’ and what is ‘special’ among them.

Verse 15

प्रत्ययं क्रियतां देव तीर्थानां गतिदायकम् । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं नारदस्य महात्मनः

“O Deva, please grant a convincing assurance—one that bestows access to the sacred tīrthas.” Thus, having heard the words of the great-souled Nārada, …

Verse 16

समाहूतानि चेंद्रेण तीर्थानि भूगतानि च । मूर्तिवर्तीनि दिव्यानि समायातानि शासनात्

Summoned by Indra, the sacred tīrthas—even those situated upon the earth—divine and embodied, came together in obedience to his command.

Verse 17

बद्धांजलीनि दिव्यानि भूषितानि सुभूषणैः । दिव्यांबराणि स्निग्धानि तेजोवंति च सुव्रत

With hands joined in reverence, radiant and divine, adorned with splendid ornaments, wearing heavenly garments—lustrous and gleaming with brilliance, O you of noble vows.

Verse 18

स्त्रीपुंसोश्च स्वरूपाणि कृतानि च विशेषतः । हेमचंदनकाशानि दिव्यरूपधराणि च

And, in particular, the forms of women and men were fashioned—radiant like gold and sandalwood, and bearing divine appearances.

Verse 19

मुक्ताफलस्यवर्णेन प्रभासंति नरेश्वर । तप्तकांचनवर्णानि सारुण्यानि च तत्र वै

O king, they shine with the hue of pearls; and there indeed appear forms of the color of heated gold, tinged with a ruddy glow.

Verse 20

कति शुक्ल सुपीतानि प्रभावंति सभांतरे । कानि पद्मनिभान्येव मूर्तिवर्तीनि तानि तु

How many are they—white and richly yellow—shining within the assembly hall? And which among them are lotus-like in appearance, endowed with visible forms?

Verse 21

सूर्यतेजः प्रकाशानि तडित्तेजः समानि च । पावकाभानि चान्यानि प्रभासंति सभांतरे

Within the hall, many radiant lights shone forth—some gleaming with the brilliance of the sun, some equal to the flash of lightning, and others resembling the glow of fire.

Verse 22

सर्वाभरणशोभाढ्यैः प्रशोभंते नरेश्वर । हारकंकणकेयूरमालाभिस्तु सुचंदनैः

O lord of men, they shine splendidly—adorned with the beauty of every ornament—wearing necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and garlands, and anointed with fine sandalwood.

Verse 23

दिव्यचंदनदिग्धानि सुरभीणि गुरूणि च । कमंडलुकराण्येव आयातानि सभांतरे

Smeared with celestial sandal paste, fragrant and weighty, the kamaṇḍalu vessels and their attendant implements arrived into the midst of the assembly hall.

Verse 24

गंगा च नर्मदा पुण्या चंद्रभागा सरस्वती । देविका बिंबिका कुब्जा कुंजला मंजुला श्रुता

The sacred rivers are Gaṅgā, Narmadā, the holy Candrabhāgā, and Sarasvatī; likewise Devikā, Bimbikā, Kubjā, Kuñjalā, Mañjulā, and Śrutā.

Verse 25

रंभा भानुमती पुण्या पारा चैव सुघर्घरा । शोणा च सिंधुसौवीरा कावेरी कपिला तथा

Rambhā, Bhānumatī, Puṇyā, and also Pārā and Sughargharā; likewise Śoṇā, Sindhu-Sauvīrā, Kāverī, and Kapilā.

Verse 26

कुमुदा वेदनदी पुण्या सुपुण्या च महेश्वरी । चर्मण्वती तथा ख्याता लोपा चान्या सुकौशिकी

Kumudā, Vedanadī, Puṇyā, Supuṇyā, and Maheśvarī; likewise the river famed as Carmaṇvatī; also Lopā, and another known as Sukauśikī.

Verse 27

सुहंसी हंसपादा च हंसवेगा मनोरथा । सुरुथास्वारुणा वेणा भद्र वेणा सुपद्मिनी

Suhaṃsī, Haṃsapādā, Haṃsavegā, Manorathā; Suruthā, Svāruṇā, Veṇā, Bhadrā, Veṇā, and Supadminī—these are the names being enumerated.

Verse 28

नाहलीसुमरी चान्या पुण्या चान्या पुलिंदिका । हेमा मनोरथा दिव्या चंद्रिका वेदसंक्रमा

And another is Nāhalī-sumarī; another is Puṇyā; another is Puliṃdikā; and also Hemā, Manorathā, Divyā, Caṃdrikā, and Veda-saṃkramā.

Verse 29

ज्वालाहुताशनी स्वाहा काला चैव कपिंजला । स्वधा च सुकला लिंगा गंभीरा भीमवाहिनी

Jvālāhutāśanī, Svāhā, Kālā, and also Kapiñjalā; Svadhā, Sukalā, Liṅgā, Gambhīrā, and Bhīmavāhinī—these are the names being enumerated.

Verse 30

देवद्रीची वीरवाहा लक्षहोमा अघापहा । पाराशरी हेमगर्भा सुभद्रा वसुपुत्रिका

Devadrīcī, Vīravāhā, Lakṣahomā—the Remover of Sin; Pārāśarī, Hemagarbhā, Subhadrā, and Vasuputrikā—these are (her) names.

Verse 31

एता नद्यो महापुण्या मूर्तिमत्यो नरेश्वर । सर्वाभरणशोभाढ्याः कुंभहस्ताः सुपूजिताः

O lord of men, these rivers are supremely meritorious—embodied as divine forms—adorned with the splendor of every ornament, bearing water-pitchers in their hands, and duly worshipped.

Verse 32

प्रयागः पुष्करश्चैव अर्घदीर्घो मनोरथा । वाराणसी महापुण्या ब्रह्महत्या व्यपोहिनी

Prayāga and Puṣkara, as well as Arghadīrgha and Manorathā, and Vārāṇasī—supremely sacred—are places that remove even the sin of brahmin-slaying (brahmahatyā).

Verse 33

द्वारावती प्रभासश्च अवंती नैमिषस्तथा । चंडकश्च महारत्नो महेश्वरकलेश्वरौ

Dvārāvatī, Prabhāsa, Avantī, and likewise Naimiṣa; also Caṇḍaka, Mahāratna, and the two holy shrines—Maheśvara and Kaleśvara.

Verse 34

कलिंजरो ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं माथुरो मानवाहकः । मायाकांती तथान्यानि दिव्यानि विविधानि च

Kaliñjara, Brahmakṣetra, Mathurā, and Mānavāhaka; Māyākāntī as well—along with other divine sacred places of many kinds.

Verse 35

अष्टषष्टिः सुतीर्थानि नदीनां शतकोटयः । गोदावरीमुखाः सर्वा समायातास्तदाज्ञया

Sixty-eight excellent sacred fords and hundreds of crores of rivers—beginning with the Godāvarī—have all assembled here by his command.

Verse 36

द्वीपानां तु समस्तानि सुतीर्थानि महांति च । मूर्तिलिंगधराण्येव सहस्राक्षं सुरेश्वरम्

Indeed, across all the islands (dvīpas) there are sacred fords (tīrthas), and great ones too; and there are also forms bearing images and liṅgas—(all venerating) Sahasrākṣa, the lord of the gods.

Verse 37

समाजग्मुः समस्तानि तदादेशकराणि च । प्रणेमुर्देवदेवेशं नतशीर्षाणि सर्वशः

Then all of them—those who carried out his command—assembled together and, with heads bowed on every side, offered obeisance to the Lord of lords, the God of gods.

Verse 38

सूत उवाच । तैः प्रोक्तं तु महातीर्थैर्देवराजं यशस्विनम् । कस्मात्त्वया समाहूता देवदेव वदस्व नः

Sūta said: Then those great sacred tīrthas addressed the illustrious king of the gods: “O God of gods, tell us—why have we been summoned by you?”

Verse 39

ब्रूहि नः कारणं सर्वं नमस्तुभ्यं सुराधिप । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं देवराजोभ्यभाषत

“Tell us the entire reason for this, O Lord of the gods—salutations to you.” Having heard their words, the king of the gods replied.

Verse 40

कः समर्थो महातीर्थो ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहितुम् । गोवधाख्यं महापापं स्त्रीवधाख्यमनुत्तमम्

What great sacred ford (mahātīrtha) is able to remove the sin of brahmin-slaying—together with the great sin known as cow-killing, and the unsurpassed sin known as woman-slaying?

Verse 41

स्वामिद्रोहाच्च संभूतं सुरापानाच्च दारुणम् । हेमस्तेयात्तथा जातं गुरुनिंदा समुद्भवम्

It arises from betraying one’s master and is dreadful through the drinking of liquor; it is likewise born of stealing gold and originates from reviling one’s teacher.

Verse 42

भ्रूणहत्यां महाघोरां नाशयेत्कः समर्थवान् । राजद्रोहान्महापापं बहुपीडाप्रदायकम्

Who is capable of destroying the exceedingly dreadful sin of killing an embryo? And who can remove the great sin of treason against the king, which brings many sufferings?

Verse 43

मित्रद्रोहात्तथा चान्यदन्यद्विश्वासघातकम् । देवभेदं तथा चान्यं लिंगभेदमतः परम्

Likewise, betrayal of a friend—and any other deed that violates trust; likewise, sowing division among the gods, and further still, creating division on the basis of sectarian marks (liṅga).

Verse 44

वृत्तिच्छेदं च विप्राणां गोप्रचारप्रणाशनम् । आगारदहनं चान्यद्गृहदीपनकं तथा

Cutting off the livelihood of brāhmaṇas, destroying the grazing and movement of cattle, setting houses on fire, and likewise other acts such as burning dwellings—

Verse 45

षोडशैते महापापा अगम्यागमनं तथा । स्वामित्यागात्समुद्भूतं रणस्थानात्पलायनात्

These are the sixteen great sins—such as approaching one who should not be approached; and the grievous sin born of abandoning one’s rightful master, namely fleeing from the battlefield.

Verse 46

एतानि नाशयेत्को वै समर्थस्तीर्थौत्तमः । समर्थो भवतां मध्ये प्रायश्चित्तं विना ध्रुवम्

O best of sacred tīrthas, who indeed is able to destroy these sins? Among you there is surely one who can do so—truly, even without any prāyaścitta (expiatory rite).

Verse 47

पश्यतां देवतानां च नारदस्य च पश्यतः । ब्रुवंतु सर्वे संचिंत्य विचार्यैवं सुनिश्चितम्

While the gods looked on—and Nārada as well—let everyone speak, after reflecting and deliberating, with this decision firmly ascertained.

Verse 48

एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये देवराज्ञामहात्मना । संमंत्र्य तीर्थराजेन प्रोचुः शक्रं सभागतम्

When the great-souled Lord of the gods had spoken these auspicious words, they consulted with the King of Tīrthas, and then addressed Śakra (Indra), who had come into the assembly.

Verse 49

तीर्थान्यूचुः । श्रूयतामभिधास्यामो देवराज नमोस्तु ते । संति वै सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वपापहराणि च

The sacred Tīrthas said: “Hear us—we shall declare it. O king of the gods, salutations to you. Indeed, all pilgrimage places exist, and they too remove every sin.”

Verse 50

ब्रह्महत्यादिकान्यांश्च त्वया प्रोक्तान्सुरेश्वर । महाघोरान्सुदीप्तांश्च नाशितुं नैव शक्नुमः

O Lord of the gods, those sins beginning with brahma-hatyā (the slaying of a brāhmaṇa) and the other dreadful, fiercely blazing ones that you have described—we are not able to destroy them.

Verse 51

प्रयागः पुष्करश्चैव अर्घतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । वाराणसी महाभाग समर्था पापनाशिनी

Prayāga and Puṣkara as well—along with the unsurpassed Argha-tīrtha; and Vārāṇasī, O greatly fortunate one—are fully capable of destroying sins.

Verse 52

महापातकनाशार्थे चत्वारोमितविक्रमाः । उपपातकनाशार्थं चत्वारोमितविक्रमाः

To destroy the great sins (mahāpātakas), four measured strides are prescribed; and to destroy the minor sins (upapātakas), four measured strides are likewise prescribed.

Verse 53

सृष्टा धात्रा च देवेंद्र पुष्कराद्या महाबलाः । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं तीर्थानां सुरराट् ततः

O Indra, the mighty sacred places—beginning with Puṣkara—were created by the Creator, Dhātṛ. Having heard those words concerning the tīrthas, the king of the gods then took action.

Verse 54

हर्षेण महताविष्टस्तेषां स्तोत्रं चकार सः

Overcome with great joy, he composed a hymn of praise for them.

Verse 90

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये । च्यवनचरित्रे नवतितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the ninetieth chapter, “The Deeds of Cyavana,” in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the Śrī Padma Purāṇa, within the Vena narrative and the glorification of Guru-tīrtha.