स्वकं गेहं समायातः स त्वंगः सत्यतत्परः । अत्रिं पप्रच्छ पितरं प्रणतो नम्रकंधरः
Aṅga, intent on truth, returned to his own house and, bowing with head bent, questioned his father Atri.
कोऽयं पुण्यः समाचारैरिंद्रत्वं भुंजते महत् । कस्य पुण्यस्य वै पुष्टिः किं कृतं कर्म कीदृशम्
'What is that meritorious conduct by which one enjoys the great station of Indra? Whose merit is this, what deed was done, and of what kind?'
कीदृशं तप एतस्य कमाराधितवान्पुरा । एतन्मे विस्तरेण त्वं ब्रूहि सत्यवतां वर
'What sort of austerity did he perform, whom did he worship in former times? Tell me all this in detail, O best of the truthful.'
अत्रिरुवाच- साधुसाधु महाभाग यद्येवं पृच्छसे मयि । चरित्रमिंद्रस्य वत्स तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
Atri said: 'Well asked, O greatly fortunate one, since you inquire of me thus. Listen as I recount to you the deeds of Indra, my child.'
सुव्रतो नाम मेधावी पुरा ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । तेन कृष्णो हृषीकेशस्तपसा चैव तोषितः
'Once there was a wise and virtuous brāhmaṇa named Suvrata. By his austerity, he pleased Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the senses.'
पुण्यगर्भं पुनः प्राप्तो ह्यदित्याः कश्यपात्किल । विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादेन सुरराजो बभूव ह
'He was again born from Kaśyapa and Aditi, filled with merit; and by Viṣṇu's grace, he became king of the gods.'
अंग उवाच- कथमिंद्रसमः पुत्रो मम स्यात्पुत्रवत्सल । तदुपायं समाचक्ष्व भवाञ्ज्ञानवतां वरः
Aṅga said: 'How might I have a son equal to Indra, O compassionate one? Please tell me the means, O best among the wise.'
अत्रिरुवाच- समासेनैव तस्यैव सुव्रतस्य महात्मनः । चरित्रमखिलं पुण्यं निशामय महामते
Atri said: 'In brief, listen to the entire meritorious life of that great-souled Suvrata, O highly intelligent one.'
यथा सुव्रत मेधावी पुराराधितवान्हरिम् । तस्य भावं च भक्तिं च ध्यानं चैव महात्मनः
'How Suvrata, wise and steadfast, worshipped Hari in former times—his disposition, his devotion, and his meditation, O great-souled one—'
समालोक्य जगन्नाथो दत्तवान्वै महत्पदम् । स ऐंद्रं सर्वभोगाढ्यं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
'Beholding all this, the Lord of the universe granted him the supreme state; he attained the station of Indra, enjoying all pleasures in the three worlds, with all that moves and is unmoving.'
विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादाच्च पदं भुंक्ते त्रिलोकधृक् । एवं ते सर्वमाख्यातमिंद्रस्यापि विचेष्टितम्
And by the grace of Vishnu, the supporter of the three worlds attains his abode; thus I have told you all, including the deeds of Indra.
भक्त्या तुष्यति गोविंदो भावध्यानेन सत्तम । सर्वं ददाति तुष्टात्मा भक्त्या संतोषितो हरिः
Govinda is pleased by devotion, O best of men, and by meditation with pure intent; when satisfied by devotion, Hari grants all things.
तस्मादाराध्य गोविंदं सर्वदं सर्वसंभवम् । सर्वज्ञं सर्ववेत्तारं सर्वेषां पुरुषं वरम्
Therefore, worship Govinda, the giver of all, the source of all, the all-knowing, the knower of everything, the supreme among all beings.
तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि सर्वं त्वं यद्यदिच्छसि नंदन
Therefore, Nandana, you will obtain everything you desire.
सुखस्य दाता परमार्थदाता मोक्षस्य दाता जगतां हि नाथः । तस्मात्तमाराधय गच्छ पुत्र संप्राप्स्यसे इंद्रसमं हि पुत्रम्
He is the giver of happiness, the true giver of the highest good, the giver of liberation, the lord of the worlds; therefore, worship him, my son, and you will attain a son equal to Indra.
आकर्ण्य वाक्यं परमार्थयुक्तमुक्तं महात्मा ऋषिणा हि तेन । संगृह्य तत्त्वं वचनस्य तस्य प्रणम्य तं शाश्वतमभ्ययात्सः
Hearing these words, filled with the highest truth, spoken by that great sage, he grasped the essence of his speech, bowed to him, the eternal one, and departed.
आमंत्र्य चांगः पितरं महात्मा ब्रह्मात्मजं ब्रह्मसमानमेव । संप्राप्तवान्मेरुगिरेस्तु शृंगं तं कांचनै रत्नमयैः समेतम्
Having respectfully taken leave of his father, the great-souled son of Brahma, equal to Brahma himself, he arrived at the peak of Mount Meru, adorned with gold and precious gems.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां भूमिखंडे। वेनोपाख्याने एकत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-first chapter in the story of Vena, in the Bhumikhanda of the glorious Padma Purana, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.
सूत उवाच- नानारत्नैः सुदीप्तांगो हाटकेनापि सर्वतः । राजमानो गिरिश्रेष्ठो यथा सूर्यः स्वरश्मिभिः
Suta said: Radiant on all sides with many jewels and gold, the greatest of mountains shone like the sun with its own rays.
छायामशोकां संप्राप्य शीतलां सुखदायिनीम् । ध्यायंति योगिनः सर्वे उपविष्टा दृढासने
Reaching the cool, pleasant shade of the Ashoka trees, all the yogis sat in firm postures, absorbed in meditation.
क्वचित्तपंति मुनयः क्वचिद्गायंति किन्नराः । संतुष्टा ऋषिगंधर्वा वीणातालकराविलाः
In some places sages perform austerities, elsewhere Kinnaras sing; the satisfied Rishis and Gandharvas delight in the rhythms of the vina.
तालमानलये लीनाः स्वरैः सप्तभिरन्वितैः । मूर्च्छनारत्निसंयुक्तैर्व्यक्तं गीतं मनोहरम्
Absorbed in the measures and beats, with the seven notes and the jewels of musical modes, their clear and enchanting song resounds.
तस्मिन्वै पर्वतश्रेष्ठे चंदनच्छायसंश्रिताः । गंधर्वा गीततत्वज्ञा गीतं गायंति तत्पराः
On that best of mountains, sheltered by sandalwood shade, Gandharvas who know the essence of music sing with full devotion.
नृत्यंति योषितस्तत्र देवानां पर्वत्तोत्तमे । पापहा पुण्यदो दिव्यः सुश्रेयसां प्रदायकः
There, on the supreme mountain of the gods, celestial women dance; it destroys sin, bestows merit, is divine, and grants the highest good.
वेदध्वनिः समधुरः श्रूयते पर्वतोत्तमे । चंदनाशोकपुन्नागैः शालैस्तालैस्तमालकैः
On that highest mountain, the sound of the Vedas, supremely sweet, is heard, surrounded by sandalwood, Ashoka, Punnaga, Shala, Tala, and Tamala trees.
वटैस्तु मेघसंकाशै राजते पर्वतोत्तमः । संतानकैः कल्पवृक्षै रंभापादपसंकुलैः
The supreme mountain shines with banyan trees like clouds, with Santanaka and Kalpavriksha trees, and is crowded with Rambha trees.
नगेंद्रो भाति सर्वत्र नाकवृक्षैः सुपुष्पितैः । नानाधातुसमाकीर्णो नानारत्नचयो गिरिः
The lord of mountains shines everywhere with heavenly trees in full bloom, filled with various minerals and heaps of diverse jewels.
नानाकौतुकसंयुक्तो नानामंगलसंयुतः । वेदवृंदैः सुसंजुष्टो ह्यप्सरोगणसंकुलः
Endowed with many wonders and auspicious things, adorned with groups of Vedic chanters, and crowded with hosts of Apsaras.
ऋषिभिर्मुनिभिः सिद्धैर्गंधर्वैःपरिभातिसः । गजैश्चाचलसंकाशैः सिंहनादैर्विराजते
It shines forth with seers, sages, perfected beings, and Gandharvas in attendance, and with elephants, massive as mountains, resounding with lion-roars.
शरभैर्मत्तशार्दूलैर्मृगधूर्तैरलंकृतः । वापीकूपतडागैश्च संपूर्णैर्विमलोदकैः
It is adorned with sharabhas, intoxicated tigers, and clever deer, and with wells, pools, and tanks filled with pure water.