शक्रो देववरैः पूज्यो ह्यद्यापि दिवि वर्तते। इंद्रस्यैतादृशी कामादवस्था द्विजसत्तम
Śakra, honored by the best of the gods, even now dwells in heaven; such is the condition of Indra, brought about by desire, O best of twice-born.
इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे अहल्याहरणंनाम चतुष्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Purāṇa, in the first section on creation, ends the fifty-fourth chapter, called 'The Abduction of Ahalyā.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच- अपरं च प्रवक्ष्यामि कामेनाधिष्ठितस्य च। पुरा भागीरथी तीरे द्विजः परमहंसकः
The Blessed Lord said: I will tell you another tale, concerning one overpowered by desire. Long ago, on the banks of the Bhāgīrathī, there was a twice-born sage of the highest order.
उपदेष्टा सहस्राणां द्विजानां शांतिदः परः। एकदंडधरः साक्षात्कूर्मवद्धरणी स्थितः
He was the teacher of thousands of twice-born, a supreme giver of peace, bearing a single staff, standing firm on the earth like a tortoise.
एकाकिनः सतस्तस्य देवागारे विनिष्कृते। पत्युर्गृहात्परं गेहं गंतुं सायं समुद्यता
While he was alone, his wife, having left the house of her husband, prepared in the evening to go to another home.
अकस्माद्युवती नारी मिलिता रूपधारिणी। दृष्ट्वा तां भगवान्विप्रो मन्मथस्य भयार्दितः
Suddenly, a young woman of striking appearance approached. Seeing her, the venerable sage was seized by the fear of Kāma.
अगारजठरे कृत्वा स चैनां प्राक्षिपत्क्षपाम्। अर्गलं सा दृढं कृत्वा देवागारे सुशोभने
He brought her into the house and locked her away for the night, securing the beautiful divine chamber with a strong bolt.
कदाचिदपि तं द्वारादागंतुं न ददाति ह। एवंभूतः समाधिस्थः क्षपां क्षिप्त्वा विलप्य सः
At no time did she allow him to enter through the door. Thus, remaining in meditation, he spent the night lamenting.
चिंतयंस्तां वरारोहां द्वारि किं वा कृतं मम। एवं संचिंत्यतामाह द्वारं देहीह नः प्रिये
Thinking of that beautiful woman, he wondered at the door, 'What have I done?' Thus reflecting, he said, 'Give me the door, beloved.'
पतिश्च वशगः कांते दयितस्ते भविष्यति। ततस्तं प्राह सा विप्रं वृद्धं कामप्रलालसम्
'Your husband, O lovely one, will be under your control; your beloved will be yours.' Then she addressed the sage, old and maddened by desire.
अनन्विता गिरःस्तात वक्तुं त्वं नार्हसि प्रभो। अथासौ भगवान्प्राह प्रचुरं चास्ति मे वसु
'Father, such words are not fitting for you to speak.' But the venerable one replied, 'I possess abundant wealth.'
तव दास्यामि कल्याणि प्रस्फोटय कपाटिकाम्। विप्रमाह पुनः सा च त्वं वै मे धर्मतः पिता
'I will give it to you, O auspicious one; open the door.' But she said again to the sage, 'You are my father by law.'
मा गच्छ पुत्रिकां मां च परयोषां च धार्मिक। मनसा स समालोच्य सुषिरेण पथा गृहान्
'Do not approach me, your daughter, nor another's wife, O righteous one.' Considering this in his mind, he sought to enter the house by a narrow passage.
बाहुनोद्धाट्यते नैव गंतुं चैव समुद्यतः। गच्छतश्चार्द्धमरर उत्तमांगं सुसंकटे
But even by lifting his arms, he could not open it, though he tried to go. As he went, his head became stuck in the narrow opening.
प्रविष्टं न पुनश्चैति पंचत्वमगमत्तदा। उषःकाले समायाता रक्षिणो ये च किंकराः
Having entered, he could not come out again, and then he died. At dawn, the guards and attendants arrived.
अद्भुतं तं शवं दृष्ट्वा तामुचुस्ते च विस्मिताः। कथं च निधनं त्वस्य संभूतं ब्रूहि सुंदरि
Seeing that wondrous corpse, they were astonished and said to her, 'O beautiful one, tell us how his death occurred.'
कथयित्वा तु तद्वृत्तमभीष्टं देशमागता। एवं कामस्य महिमा दुर्निवारो जनेषु च
After recounting that event, she arrived at the desired place. Such is the greatness of desire; it is difficult to restrain among people.
सर्वेषामपि जंतूनां सुरासुरनृणां भवेत्। दृष्ट्वाऽमोघां वरारोहां सर्वलोकपितामहः
It arises in all creatures, whether gods, demons, or humans. Having seen the flawless, beautiful woman, the grandfather of all worlds—
च्युतबीजोभवत्तत्र लौहित्यसंभवस्मृतः। पुनाति सकलान्लोकान्सर्वतीर्थमयो हि सः
His seed fell there, remembered as originating with redness. He purifies all worlds, for he is composed of all sacred waters.
यमाश्रित्य नरो याति ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम्। द्विज उवाच- कथं च ब्रह्मणो मोहो ह्यमोघा का वरांगना
By resorting to him, a man attains the peaceful realm of Brahma. The twice-born said: How did Brahma become deluded, and who is this flawless, excellent woman?
उद्भवं तीर्थराजस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। श्रीभगवानुवाच- मुनिर्देवैः समाराध्यः पद्मयोनिसमप्रभः
I wish to hear, in truth, the origin of the king of sacred places. The Blessed Lord said: The sage, radiant like the lotus-born, was worshipped by the gods.
शंतनुश्चेति विख्यातः पत्नी तस्य पतिव्रता। अमोघेति समाख्याता रूपयौवनशालिनी
He is renowned as Shantanu; his wife was devoted to her husband. She was called Amogha, possessed of beauty and youth.
अस्याश्च पतिमन्वेष्टुं यातो ब्रह्मा च तद्गृहम्। तस्मिन्काले मुनिश्रेष्ठः पुष्पाद्यर्थं वनं गतः
To seek her husband, Brahma went to their house. At that time, the foremost sage had gone to the forest for flowers and other purposes.
सा तं दृष्ट्वा सुरश्रेष्ठमर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं ददौ। दूरेभिवादनं कृत्वा सा गृहं प्रविवेश ह
Seeing the best of the gods, she offered him water for washing the feet and other rites. Having saluted him from a distance, she entered the house.
तां च दृष्ट्वा नवद्यांगीं धाता कामवशं गतः। स्रष्टात्मानं समाधायाचिंतयत्तां पुरोगताम्
Seeing her, young and beautiful, the Creator was overcome by desire. Fixing his mind, he contemplated her as she passed before him.
बीजं पपात खट्वायां ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। ततो ब्रह्मा गतस्त्रस्तस्त्वरया परिपीडितः
Brahma's seed, the supreme soul, fell upon the cot. Then Brahma, frightened, departed quickly, pressed by urgency.
अथायातो मुनिर्गेहं शुक्रं पीठे ददर्श ह। तमपृच्छद्वरारोहां कश्चाप्यत्रागतः पुमान्
Then the sage returned home and saw the semen on the seat. He asked the beautiful woman, 'Has any man come here?'
तमुवाच ततोऽमोघा ब्रह्मा ह्यत्रागतः पते। त्वामेवान्वेषितुं नाथ मया दत्तोत्र पीठकः
Then Amogha replied, 'Brahma has come here, husband. He came seeking you, and I offered him this seat.'
शुक्रस्य कारणं चात्र तपसा ज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततो ध्यानात्परिज्ञातं तेनैव च द्विजन्मना
'You should ascertain the cause of the semen here through austerity.' Then, through meditation, the twice-born understood.
ब्रह्मरेतः परं साध्वी पालयस्व ममाज्ञया। उत्पद्यते सुतस्ते तु सर्वलोकैकपावनः
'O virtuous woman, by my command, preserve Brahma's semen. A son will be born to you, the sole purifier of all worlds.'