वापीकूपतडागानां प्रपानां चैव वेश्मनाम् । आरामाणां च कर्तारस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who build ponds, wells, reservoirs, drinking places, houses, and gardens are destined for heaven.
असत्येष्वपि ये सत्या ऋजवो नार्जवेष्वपि । रिपुष्वपिहिता ये च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are truthful even among falsehoods, upright even among the crooked, and concealed even among enemies, are destined for heaven.
यस्मिन्कस्मिन्कुले जाता बहुपुत्राः शतायुषः । सानुक्रोशाः सदाचारास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Wherever men are born in a family, with many sons and long lives, compassionate and of good conduct, they are destined for heaven.
कुर्वंत्यवंध्यं दिवसं धर्मेणैकेन सर्वदा । व्रतं गृह्णंति ये नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who always make their days fruitful by observing a single vow of righteousness, and who daily undertake vows, are destined for heaven.
आक्रोशंतं स्तुवंतं च तुल्यं पश्यंति ये नराः । शांतात्मानो जितात्मानस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those men who see equally one who insults and one who praises, who are peaceful and self-controlled, are destined for heaven.
ये चापि भयसंत्रस्तान्ब्राह्मणांश्च तथा स्त्रियः । सार्थान्वा परिरक्षंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who protect the frightened, Brahmins, women, and travelers, are destined for heaven.
गंगायां पुष्करे तीर्थे गयायां च विशेषतः । पितृपिंडप्रदातारस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who offer ancestral oblations at the sacred places of the Ganges, Pushkara, and especially Gaya, are destined for heaven.
न वशे चेंद्रियाणां च ये नराः संयमस्थिताः । त्यक्तलोभभयक्रोधास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those men who are established in self-restraint and not under the sway of their senses, who have abandoned greed, fear, and anger, are destined for heaven.
यूका मत्कुणदंशादीन्ये जंतूंस्तुदतस्तनुम् । पुत्रवत्परिरक्षंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who protect creatures such as lice, bugs, and biting insects from their own bodies, as one would protect a son, are destined for heaven.
अज्ञानाच्च यथोक्तेन विधिना संचयंति च । सर्वद्वंद्वसहा लोके ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who, out of ignorance, accumulate according to the prescribed method, and endure all dualities in the world, are destined for heaven.
ये पूताः परदारांश्च कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । रमयंति न सत्वस्थास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those pure men who, by deed, mind, or speech, do not delight in other men's wives, being steadfast in virtue, are destined for heaven.
निंदितानि न कुर्वंति कुर्वंति विहितानि च । आत्मशक्तिं विजानंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who do not perform censured acts but do what is prescribed, and who know their own capacity, are destined for heaven.
एवं ते कथितं सर्वं मया तत्त्वेन पार्थिव । दुर्गतिः सद्गतिश्चैव प्राप्यते कर्मभिर्यथा
Thus, O king, I have told you everything in truth: both misfortune and good fortune are attained according to one's actions.
नरः परेषां प्रतिकूलमाचरन्प्रयाति घोरं नरकं सुदारुणम् । सदानुकूलस्य नरस्य जीविनः सुखावहा मुक्तिरदूरसंस्थिता
A man who acts contrary to others goes to a terrible and dreadful hell; but for one who always acts favorably towards others, happiness and liberation are close at hand.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे षण्णवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-sixth chapter, concerning the greatness of the Guru Tirtha and the story of Cyavana, in the Bhumikhanda, in the glorious Padma Purana, in the account of Vena.
सप्तनवतितमोऽध्यायः । कुंजल उवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य तां राजा मुनिना भाषितां तदा । धर्माधर्मगतिं सर्वां तं मुनिं समभाषत
Chapter ninety-seven. Kuñjala said: Hearing those words spoken by the sage, the king then addressed the sage regarding the entire course of righteousness and unrighteousness.
सुबाहुरुवाच- सोहं धर्मं करिष्यामि सोहं पुण्यं द्विजोत्तम । वासुदेवं जगद्योनिं यजिष्ये नितरां मुने
Subahu said: I shall perform righteousness, I shall do virtuous deeds, O best of twice-born; I will worship Vasudeva, the source of the universe, with utmost devotion, O sage.
होमेन तु जपेनैव पूजयेन्मधुसूदनम् । यष्ट्वा यज्ञं तपस्तप्त्वा विष्णुलोकं स भूपतिः
By offering oblations and reciting prayers, one should worship Madhusudana; having performed sacrifice and undergone austerity, that king attained the world of Vishnu.
पूजितः सर्वकामैश्च प्राप्तवान्सत्वरं मुदा । गते तस्मिन्महालोके देवदेवं न पश्यति
Honored with all desired pleasures, he quickly obtained joy; but having reached that great realm, he did not see the Lord of gods.
क्षुधा जाता महातीव्रा तृष्णा चाति प्रवर्तते । तयोश्चापि महाप्राज्ञ जीवपीडाकरा बहु
A severe hunger arose, and intense thirst began to afflict him; and, O wise one, those two caused much torment to his life.
राजापि प्रियया सार्द्धं क्षुधातृष्णाप्रपीडितः । न पश्यति हृषीकेशं दुःखेन महतान्वितः
The king, together with his beloved, afflicted by hunger and thirst, did not see Hrishikesha, overwhelmed by great suffering.
सूत उवाच- एवं स दुःखितो राजा प्रियया सह सत्तम । आकुल व्याकुलो जातः पीडितः क्षुधया भृशम्
Suta said: Thus, the king, distressed, together with his beloved, became greatly agitated and troubled, afflicted intensely by hunger.
इतश्चेतश्च वेगैश्च धावते वसुधाधिपः । सर्वाभरणशोभांगो वस्त्रचंदनभूषितः
Here and there, with haste, the lord of the earth ran; adorned with all ornaments, clothed and smeared with sandalwood.
पुष्पमालाप्रशोभांगो हारकुंडलकंकणैः । रत्नदीप्तिप्रशोभांगः प्रययौ स महीपतिः
Adorned with garlands of flowers, with necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, his limbs shining with the brilliance of jewels, that king proceeded.
एवं दुःखसमाचारः स्तूयमानश्च पाठकैः । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टः स्वप्रियां वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus, though surrounded by suffering, and praised by reciters, overwhelmed by sorrow and distress, he spoke words to his beloved.
विष्णुलोकमहं प्राप्तस्त्वया सह सुशोभने । ऋषिभिः स्तूयमानोपि विमानेनापि भामिनि
I have attained the world of Vishnu together with you, O beautiful one; though praised by sages and riding in a celestial chariot, O lovely lady.
कर्मणा केन मे चेयं क्षुधातीव प्रवर्द्धते । विष्णुलोकं च संप्राप्य न दृष्टो मधुसूदनः
By what action has this intense hunger arisen for me? Having reached the world of Vishnu, Madhusudana is not seen.
तत्किं हि कारणं भद्रे न भुनज्मि महत्फलम् । कर्मणाथ निजेनापि एतद्दुःखं प्रवर्त्तते
What is the reason, O gentle one, that I do not enjoy the great fruit? Or is it by my own action that this suffering occurs?
सैवं श्रुत्वा च तद्वाक्यं राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
She, having heard those words, spoke this to the king.
भार्योवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वया राजन्नास्ति धर्मस्य वै फलम् । वेदशास्त्रपुराणेषु ये पठंति च ब्राह्मणाः
The wife said: Truly you have spoken, O king; there is no fruit of righteousness. In the Vedas, scriptures, and Puranas, those Brahmins who recite—