Garuda Purana

वनाद्वनान्तरं निन्युर्नदीनदसमाकुलम् । स तत्र नगरं राजन् ददर्श बहुविस्तरम् ॥ २,६.

They led him from forest to forest, through regions filled with rivers and streams; there, O King, he saw a city of great extent.

गोपुरद्वाररचितं सौधप्रासादमण्डितम् । चत्वरापणपण्यादिनरनारीसमाकुलम् ॥ २,६.

With gateways adorned with towers, embellished with mansions and palaces, and crowded with squares, markets, merchants, and men and women.

तूर्यद्वन्द्वाभिनिर्घोषवीणापटहनादितम् । कांश्चित्क्षुधार्दितान्दीनान्मलिनान्विगतौजसः ॥ २,६.

Resounding with the clamor of paired musical instruments, the sounds of lutes and drums; and there, some people, afflicted by hunger, wretched, dirty, and devoid of strength.

ततोऽतितुष्टान्मलिनान्वस्त्रखण्डसमावृतान् । अग्रतो हृष्टपुष्टांश्च स्वर्णवस्त्रोपशोभितान् ॥ २,६.

Then, he saw some exceedingly content, though clothed in tattered garments, and ahead, others who were joyful and well-nourished, adorned with golden ornaments and fine goods.

ततोऽपि सुरसंकाशान्स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितोऽभवत् । किं स्वप्न उत माया वै मदीयो मानसो भ्रमः ॥ २,६.

Beyond that, seeing some who shone like gods, he became astonished: 'Is this a dream, or an illusion, or some confusion of my own mind?'

सन्दिहानं द्विजं निन्युः पुरुषा राजसन्निधिम् । सतद्ददर्श विप्रस्तु स्वर्णप्रासादमन्दिरे ॥ २,६.

While he was doubting, men led the twice-born to the royal presence; and there, the Brahmin saw a palace adorned with gold.

सिंहासनंमहादिव्यं छत्रचामरवीजितम् । तत्रोप विष्टं राजानं किरीटकनकोज्ज्वलम् ॥ २,६.

A great, divine throne, fanned with umbrellas and yak-tail whisks; and upon it sat a king, his crown shining with gold.

महत्या च श्रिया युक्तं स्तूयमानं सुवन्दिभिः । राजापि दृष्ट्वा तं विप्रं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः ॥ २,६.

Endowed with immense splendor, praised by excellent bards; and the king, seeing the Brahmin, rose to greet him with joined palms.

पूजयामास विधिवन्मधुपर्कास नादिभिः । सन्तुष्टमनसं देवमस्तौषीत्परया मुदा ॥ २,६.

He worshipped him according to proper rites, with offerings such as madhuparka; his mind satisfied, he praised the god with supreme joy.

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म पावितञ्च कुलं प्रभो । विष्णुभक्तस्य धर्मस्य यत्ते दृग्गोचरं गतः ॥ २,६.

'Today my birth is fruitful, and my lineage purified, O Lord, for a devotee of Vishnu and of righteousness has come within your sight.'

नत्वा स्तुत्वा बहुविधमुवाचानुवसन्नृपः । यतः समागतो देवः पुनस्तत्रैव नीयताम् ॥ २,६.

Having bowed and offered many kinds of praise, the king, seated, spoke: 'Since the god has arrived, let him be led back there again.'

इति श्रुत्वा वचो राज्ञः पप्रच्छ द्विजपुङ्गवः । ब्राह्मण उवाच । कोऽयं देश कुतो लोका उत्तमा मध्यमाधमाः ॥ २,६.

Hearing these words of the king, the foremost of Brahmins asked: The Brahmin said: 'What is this place? From where are these worlds—superior, middling, and inferior?'

केन पुण्येन तु भवान्पारमेष्ट्यविभूषितः । किमर्थमहमानीतः पुनस्तत्रैव नीयते ॥ २,६.

'By what merit have you been adorned with the splendor of Brahma? For what reason have I been brought here, and why am I to be led back there again?'

अपूर्वमिव पश्यामि सर्वं स्वप्नगतो यथा । राजोवाच । स्वधर्मनिरतो यस्तु हरिभक्तिरतः सदा ॥ २,६.

'I see everything as if unprecedented, as if in a dream.' The king said: 'He who is devoted to his own duty and always engaged in devotion to Hari—'

विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः स मे पूज्यो न संशयः । तीर्थयात्रापरो नित्यं वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित् ॥ २,६.

'Detached from sense objects, he is worthy of my worship, without doubt; always intent on pilgrimages, and knowing the special rites of bull-offering.'

सत्यदानपरो यस्तु स नमस्यो दिवौकसाम् । दर्शनार्थमिहानीतः पूजार्हश्च परन्तप ॥ २,६.

'He who is devoted to truth and charity is to be honored even by the gods; he has been brought here for a vision, and is worthy of worship, O subduer of foes.'

अनुगृहाण मां देव क्षमस्व मम साहसम् । इत्युक्त्वा दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणां संज्ञया भ्रुवः ॥ २,६.

'Grant me your favor, O god, forgive my offense.' Having spoken thus, he signaled with his eyebrows to his ministers.

वदिष्यति समग्रं ते स्वयं वक्तुं न साम्प्रतम् । सामन्तः सर्ववेदज्ञो ज्ञात्वा हार्दं नृपस्य च ॥ २,६.

'He will tell you everything in full; it is not the time for me to speak now.' The chief minister, knowing all the Vedas and the king's heart—

विपश्चिदुवाच । पूर्वजन्मनि वैश्योऽयं विश्वम्भर इति श्रुतः । विराधनगरे विप्र द्विजदेवविभूषिते ॥ २,६.

The learned one said: 'In a previous birth, this one was a Vaiśya named Viśvambhara, in the city of Virādhana, O Brahmin, renowned for its Brahmins and gods.'

वैश्यवृत्त्या सदा जीवन्कुटुम्बपरिपालकः । गवां शुश्रूषको नित्यं ब्राह्मणानाञ्च पूजकः ॥ २,६.

Always living by the occupation of a Vaiśya, maintaining his family, ever caring for cows, and honoring the Brāhmaṇas.

पात्रदानपरो नित्यमातिथेयाग्निसेवकः । गार्हस्थ्यं विधिवच्चक्रे भार्यया सत्यमेधया ॥ २,६.

Constantly devoted to giving gifts, serving guests and the sacred fire, he performed household duties properly with his faithful and truthful wife.

स्मार्तेन लोकानजयच्छ्रौतेन त हविर्भुजः । कदाचिद्बन्धुभिः साकं कृत्वा तीर्थानि भूरिशः ॥ २,६.

By the rites prescribed in the Smṛtis he attained the worlds, and by the Śrauta rites he became a partaker of the oblations; sometimes, together with relatives, he visited many holy places.

यावदायाति सदनं दृष्टवांल्लोमशं पथि । दण्डवत्प्रणिपत्याशु कृताञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम् ॥ २,६.

As he was returning home, he saw Lomaśa on the path, and quickly bowed down in prostration, standing with hands joined in reverence.

पप्रच्छ विनयोपेतं करुणावारिवारिधिः । ऋषिरुवाच । कुत आगम्यते साधो ब्राह्मणैर्बन्धुभिर्युतः ॥ २,६.

The sage, an ocean of compassion, asked him, who was endowed with humility: 'From where do you come, O good man, accompanied by Brāhmaṇas and relatives?'

दृष्ट्वा त्वां धर्मनिलयं प्रक्लिन्नं मानसं मम । विश्वम्भर उवाच । शीर्यमाणं शरीरं हि ज्ञात्वा मृत्युं पुरः स्थितम् ॥ २,६.

Seeing you, O abode of righteousness, my mind has become deeply moved. Viśvambhara said: 'Knowing that my body is decaying and death stands before me—'

भार्यया धर्मचारिण्या तीर्थयात्रां विनिर्गतः । कृत्वा तीर्थानि विधिवद्विश्राण्य विपुलं वसु ॥ २,६.

'With my virtuous wife, I set out on pilgrimage; having duly visited the holy places, I distributed abundant wealth.'

यावद्व्रजाम्यहं वेश्म भवान् दृष्टिपथं गतः । लोमश उवाच । तीर्थानि सन्ति भूरीणि वर्षैऽस्मिन् भारते शुभे ॥ २,६.

'As I was returning home, you came into my sight.' Lomaśa said: 'There are many holy places in this blessed land of Bhārata.'

यत्त्वया ह्युपचीर्णानि तानि सर्वाणि मे वद । वैश्य उवाच । गङ्गा च सूर्य तनया महापुण्या सरस्वती ॥ २,६.

'Tell me all the holy places you have visited.' The Vaiśya said: 'The Gaṅgā, the highly meritorious Sarasvatī, daughter of the Sun—'

दशाश्वमेधैरयजद्यत्र ब्रह्मा सुरेश्वरः । तीर्थराजस्ततः काशी महादेवो दयानिधिः ॥ २,६.

'Where Brahmā, lord of the gods, performed ten Aśvamedha sacrifices; then Kāśī, the king of holy places, and Mahādeva, the ocean of compassion.'