धात्री हरीतकी चान्ये कटुतिक्ताम्लसंभवाः। सर्वे चारामतः शुद्धाः फलदाः शिवदाः सदा
The emblic, the haritaki, and others, which are of pungent, bitter, or sour origin—all these, being from the grove, are pure, always fruitful, and bestow auspiciousness.
प्रासादा यत्र सौवर्णाः सर्वरत्नविभूषिताः। सर्वाभरणसंयुक्ता विमानाश्चानिलोपमाः
There are palaces of gold, adorned with every jewel; aerial cars equipped with all ornaments, swift as the wind.
शातकुंभमया वृक्षाः सदैव सर्वदायिनः। सर्वर्तुसुखदाः सौम्यकन्यका अप्सरस्समाः
There are trees made of gold, always bestowing everything; giving comfort in every season, with gentle maidens like apsaras.
गीतनृत्यपराधीरास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वृक्षदाः। पुष्करिण्यो विशेषेण खातान्यन्यानि यानि च
There, the tree-givers stand, intent on song and dance; there are special lotus ponds, and other excavated places as well.
शुद्धोपलांतरचिता नद्यः पायसकर्द्दमाः। पुनर्दुग्धसफेनाश्च अन्नादिषड्रसान्विताः
Rivers filled with pure stones, with banks of milk and curds; and again, with foaming milk, and foods of all six tastes.
मर्त्यलोके यथा भोग्यं पुनः स्वर्गे पुनर्भुवि। पुनरेव तदभ्यासात्खातमारामकं पुनः
Just as enjoyment is found in the mortal world, so again in heaven, and again on earth; and by repeated practice, the grove is excavated again.
यथा पुण्यादिकं कृत्वा स्वर्गमर्त्याधिपः पुमान्। अशक्तस्तु प्रपां कृत्वा पुष्करिण्याः फलं लभेत्
Just as a man, having performed virtuous deeds, attains heaven and lordship among mortals, so too, one who is unable to build a lotus pond but constructs a drinking water station, obtains the fruit of a lotus pond.
प्रपाया लक्षणं चात्र सर्वपापहरं परं। सर्वभोगप्रदं शुद्धं स्वर्गापवर्गदं स्थिरं
Here, the characteristics of a drinking water station are described as supreme, removing all sins, granting every enjoyment, pure, bestowing heaven and liberation, and enduring.
लक्षणं च प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रपायाः कीर्तिवर्धनम्। निर्जलेऽध्वनि पृक्ते च स्थाने कृत्वा च मंडपम्
I will now declare the characteristics of a drinking water station, which increase fame: it should be established in a place lacking water, along a road, and constructed with a pavilion.
बहुपान्थे समायाते ग्रीष्मवर्षाशरत्स्वपि। अगरुकादि सौगंध्यं जलं पूगं सचंद्रकम्
When many travelers gather, whether in summer, rainy season, or autumn, fragrant water scented with agar and other perfumes, along with betel nuts and moonstones, should be provided.
आसनं चैव तांबूलं दत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते। एवं वर्षत्रयेणैव पुष्करिण्याः फलं लभेत्
By offering seats and betel leaves, one does not lose heaven; and in this way, within three years, one attains the fruit of a lotus pond.
स्वर्गाच्चैवाच्युतो मर्त्यो देवैरपि प्रपूज्यते। मासमेकं तु यो दद्यात्प्रपां ग्रीष्मेथ निर्जले५० 1.58.
From heaven, the mortal is never cast down and is honored even by the gods; whoever gives a drinking water station for one month in the summer, where there is no water, attains this.
कल्पैकं तु वसेत्स्वर्गे स्वर्गाद्भ्रष्टो महीयते। प्रपादास्तत्र तिष्ठंति यत्र पुष्करिणीप्रदाः
He dwells in heaven for a single age; when fallen from heaven, he is exalted on earth. Drinking water stations remain where lotus ponds have been given.
नोचेद्धर्मघटो देयः पुण्यः पापक्षयाय च। एष धर्मघटो ज्ञेयो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः
If not, then a vessel of righteousness should be given, for merit and the destruction of sin; this vessel of righteousness is to be understood as embodying Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
तवप्रसादात्सफलाः मम संतु मनोरथाः। स्वर्णमाषं चतुर्भागं दक्षिणार्थं घटस्य च
By your grace, may my wishes bear fruit; a quarter part of a gold coin should be given as a fee for the vessel.
एवं वर्षत्रयेणैव प्रपादानफलं लभेत्। यः पठेच्छ्रावयेद्वापि पुष्करिण्यादिजं फलम्
Thus, within three years, one attains the fruit of giving drinking water stations; whoever recites or causes to be heard the fruit arising from lotus ponds,
साक्षात्पापाद्भवेन्मुक्तस्तत्प्रसादात्तु सद्गतिः। जनेषु श्रावयेद्यस्तु पुण्याख्यानमिदं शुभम्
He is freed directly from sin and, by that grace, attains a good destination; whoever causes this auspicious account of merit to be heard among people,
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि सुरलोके स तिष्ठति
He dwells in the world of the gods for thousands of millions of aeons.
इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे पुष्करिण्यादिधर्मकीर्तनंनामाष्टपंचाशत्तमो। ऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, named 'The Praise of Righteousness Arising from Lotus Ponds,' in the first section of creation in the glorious Padma Purana.
एकोनषष्ठित्तमोऽध्यायः। । व्यास उवाच- अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि कीर्त्तिधर्मं परं शुभम्। सेतुबंधफलं पुण्यं ब्रह्मणा भाषितं यथा
The fifty-ninth chapter. Vyasa said: Next, I will declare the supreme and auspicious merit of fame, the fruit of constructing a bridge, as spoken by Brahma.
कांतारे दुस्तरे पंके पुरुशंकुसमाकुलं। आलिं कृत्वा भवेत्पूतो देवत्वं याति मानवः
In a difficult forest, in deep mud, filled with obstacles for men, by building a bridge, one becomes purified and attains divinity.
वितस्तौ तु लभेत्स्वर्गं दिव्यं वर्षशतं समम्। एवं संख्याविधानेन नरः स्वर्गान्न हीयते
For each span, one obtains heaven for a hundred divine years; thus, by this rule of enumeration, a man is never deprived of heaven.
कदाचित्पंकयोगाच्च स्वर्गाद्भुवि विजायते। तदा भट्टारकः श्रीमान्रोगशोकविवर्जितः
Sometimes, due to association with mud, one is born on earth from heaven; then, the blessed lord is free from disease and sorrow.
पंकादौ संक्रमांश्चैव कृत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते। सर्वपापं क्षयं तस्य संप्रयाति दिनेदिने
By constructing crossings at the beginning of the mud, one is not deprived of heaven; all his sins are destroyed, and he attains it day by day.
तथालिसंक्रमाणां च फलं तुल्यं प्रकीर्तितम्। धनप्राणाव्ययेनैव धीमता क्रियते सदा
Likewise, the result of transferring merit is said to be equal; the wise always perform it by expending wealth or life.
श्रूयतां यत्पुरावृत्तमाख्यानं वृद्धसंमतं। कश्चिच्चोरो महाभीष्मे स्तेयकर्मणि चोद्यतः
Hear now a story from the past, approved by the elders: there was once a certain thief, greatly feared, intent on the act of stealing.
कांतारे गोशिरः स्थाप्य क्रांत्वा स्तेयं गतो ह्यसौ। धनापहरणं कृत्वा गृहस्थस्य च तेन हि
In a wilderness, he placed a cow’s head, committed theft, and departed; by taking away the wealth of a householder, he did so.
गतः स्वमंदिरं तत्र जना गच्छंति वर्त्मनि। सर्वेषामेकपादस्य सुखं भवति निश्चितं
He went to his own house, while people traveled along the road; for all of them, the comfort of walking on one foot was certain.
एकपादे ह्रदे दुर्गे तारकं गोशिरः परम्। चांद्रायणं च तत्तस्य कांतारे संस्थितं शिरः
On one foot, in a pond or fortress, the cow’s head is a raft; and the Cāndrāyaṇa fast is that head placed in the wilderness.
ततश्चोरस्य निधने चित्रगुप्तप्रणीतके। धर्मस्य फलमात्रं तु एतस्य च न विद्यते
Then, upon the thief’s death, led by Citragupta, there was only the fruit of his deeds; for him, nothing else remained.