Bhagavata Purana

स्त्रीणां नैव तु विश्वासं दुष्टानां कारयेत् बुधः । विश्वासे यः स्थितो मूढः स दुःखैः परिभूयते

A wise person should never place trust in wicked women; the fool who relies on them is overwhelmed by suffering.

सुधामयं वचो यासां कामिनां रसवर्धनम् । हृदयं क्षुरधाराभं प्रियः को नाम योषिताम्

The words of lustful women are like nectar, enhancing pleasure; but their hearts are as sharp as a razor—who, among men, is truly dear to them?

संहृत्य वित्तं ता याताः कुलटा बहुभर्तृकाः । धुम्धुकारी बभूवाथ महान् प्रेतः कुकर्मतः

Having seized his wealth, those promiscuous women, with many husbands, departed; then Dhundhukari became a great ghost, tormented by evil deeds.

वात्यारूपधरो नित्यं धावन् दशदिशो‍न्तरम् । शीतातप परिक्लिष्टो निराहारः पिपासितः

Assuming the form of a whirlwind, he constantly ran in all ten directions, afflicted by cold and heat, without food, and thirsty.

न लेभे शरणं क्वापि हा दैवेति मुहुर्वदन् । कियत्कालेन गोकर्णो मृतं लोकादबुध्यत

He found no shelter anywhere, repeatedly crying out, 'Alas, fate!' After some time, Gokarna learned of his death from the world.

अनाथं तं विदित्वैव गयाश्राद्धं अचीकरत् । यस्मिन् तीर्थे तु संयाति तत्र श्राद्धं अवर्तयत्

Recognizing him as helpless, Gokarna performed the Gaya funeral rites; wherever he traveled to a holy place, he conducted the rites there.

एवं भ्रमन् स गोकर्णः स्वपुरं समुपेयिवान् । रात्रौ गृहांगणे स्वप्तुं आगतोऽलक्षितः परैः

Thus wandering, Gokarna returned to his own city; at night, he came to sleep in the courtyard of his house, unnoticed by others.

तत्र सुप्तं स विज्ञाय धुन्धुकारी स्वबान्धवम् । निशीथे दर्शयामास महारौद्रतरं वपुः

There, perceiving Gokarna asleep, Dhundhukari revealed himself to his relative in the dead of night, displaying a most terrifying form.

सकृन्मेषः सकृद्धस्ती सकृच्च महिषोऽभवत् । सकृदिन्द्र सकृच्चाग्निः पुनश्च पुरुषोऽभवत्

He became, in turn, a sheep, an elephant, a buffalo, Indra, Agni, and again a man—each form only once.

वैपरीत्यं इदं दृष्ट्वा गोकर्णो धैर्यसंयुतः । अयं दुर्गतिकं कोऽपि निश्चित्याथ तमब्रवीत्

Seeing this reversal, Gokarna, composed and resolute, determined that this was someone in a miserable state, and then spoke to him.

गोकर्ण उवाच - कस्त्वं उग्रतरो रात्रौ कुतो यातो दशां इमाम् । किंवा प्रेतः पिशाचो वा राक्षसोऽसीति शंस नः

Gokarna said: 'Who are you, so fierce at night? From where have you come to this condition? Are you a ghost, a goblin, or a demon? Tell us.'

सूत उवाच - एवं पृष्टस्तदा तेन रुरोदोच्चैः पुनः पुनः । अशक्तो वचनोच्चारे संज्ञामात्रं चकार ह

Suta said: Thus questioned by him, he cried out loudly again and again, unable to utter words, making only gestures of consciousness.

ततोऽञ्जलौ जलं कृत्वा गोकर्णस्तमुदैरयत् । तत्सेकहतपापोऽसौ प्रवक्तुं उपचक्रमे

Then Gokarna, taking water in his hands, raised him up; freed by that single act, the sinner began to speak.

प्रेत उवाच - अहं भ्राता त्वदीयोऽस्मि धुन्धुकारीरि नामतः । स्वकीयेनैव दोषेण ब्रह्मत्वं नाशितं मया

The ghost said: 'I am your brother, named Dhundhukari; by my own fault, I have destroyed my human birth.'

कर्मणो नास्ति संख्या मे महाज्ञाने विवर्तिनः । लोकानां हिंसकः सोऽहं स्त्रीभिर्दुःखेन मारितः

There is no count of my deeds, transformed by great ignorance; I am one who harmed the worlds, killed by women through suffering.

अतः प्रेतत्वं आपन्नो दुर्दशां च वहाम्यहम् । वाताहारेण जीवामि दैवाधीनफलोदयात्

Therefore, I have become a ghost and bear this wretched state; I live on air, receiving results only as fate allows.

अहो बन्धो कृपासिन्धो भ्रातर्मामाशु मोचय । गोकर्णो वचनं श्रुत्वा तस्मै वाक्यं अथाब्रवीत्

Oh friend, ocean of compassion, brother, quickly release me! Hearing these words, Gokarṇa then spoke to him as follows.

गोकर्ण उवाच - त्वदर्थं तु गयापिण्डो मया दत्तो विधानतः । तत्कथं नैव मुक्तोऽसि ममाश्चर्यं इदं महत्

Gokarṇa said: For your sake, I have duly offered the ancestral oblation at Gayā. How is it that you have not been liberated? This is truly astonishing to me.

गयाश्राद्धान्न मुक्तिश्चेत् उपायो नापरस्त्विह । किं विधेयं मया प्रेत तत्त्वं वद सविस्तरम्

If liberation does not come even from the Gayā śrāddha, then there is no other means here. What should I do for you, O departed one? Tell me the truth in detail.

प्रेत उवाच - गयाश्राद्धशतेनापि मुक्तिर्मे न भविष्यति । उपायं अपरं कंचित् त्वं विचारय साम्प्रतम्

The departed one said: Even with a hundred Gayā śrāddhas, I will not attain liberation. Consider now some other means for my release.

इति तद्‌वाक्यमाकर्ण्य गोकर्णो विस्मयं गतः । शतश्राद्धैर्न मुक्तिश्चेत् असाध्यं मोचनं तव

Hearing these words, Gokarṇa was amazed: If liberation is not gained even by a hundred śrāddhas, then your release is indeed difficult.

इदानीं तु निजं स्थानं आतिष्ठ प्रेत निर्भयः । त्वन्मुक्तिसाधकं किंचित् आचरिष्ये विचार्य च

Now, remain in your own place, O departed one, without fear. I will consider and perform some act that will bring about your liberation.

धुन्धुकारी निजस्थानं तेनादिष्टस्ततो गतः । गोकर्णश्चिन्तयामास तां रात्रिं न तदध्यगात्

Thus instructed by him, Dhundhukārī went to his own place. Gokarṇa spent that night in thought and did not sleep.

प्रातस्तं आगतं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रीत्याः समागताः । तत्सर्वं कथितं तेन यत् जातं च यथा निशि

In the morning, seeing him arrive, the people gathered together with joy. He told them everything that had happened during the night.

विद्वांसो योगनिष्ठाश्च ज्ञानिनो ब्रह्मवादिनः । तन्मुक्तिं नैव तेऽपश्यन् पश्यन्तः शास्त्रसंचयान्

The learned, those steadfast in yoga, the wise, and the speakers of Brahman—all of them, though examining the collections of scriptures, did not see any means for his liberation.

ततः सर्वैः सूर्यवाक्यं तन्मुक्तौ स्थापितं परम् । गोकर्णः स्तम्भनं चक्रे सूर्यवेगस्य वै तदा

Then, by all, the words of the Sun were established as supreme regarding his liberation. At that time, Gokarṇa restrained the speed of the Sun.

तुभ्यं नमो जगत् साक्षिन् ब्रूहि मे मुक्तिहेतुकम् । तत् श्रुत्वा दूरतः सूर्यः स्फुटमित्यभ्यभाषत

To you, O witness of the world, I offer my respects. Tell me the cause of liberation. Hearing this from afar, the Sun spoke clearly.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतान् मुक्तिः सप्ताहं वाचनं कुरु । इति सूर्यवचः सर्वैः धर्मरूपं तु विश्रुतम्

Recite the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam for seven days—this brings liberation. Thus spoke the Sun, and all recognized this as the true form of dharma.

सर्वेऽब्रुवन् प्रयत्‍नेन कर्तव्यं सुकरं त्विदम् । गोकर्णो निश्चयं कृत्वा वाचनार्थं प्रवर्तितः

All said: This must be done with effort, for it is indeed easy. Gokarṇa, having resolved, began the recitation.