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—
दुःखशोकौ विधूयेह सर्वदोषैः प्रमुच्यते । नामोच्चारेण देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव सुचक्रिणः
Here, by dispelling sorrow and suffering, one is freed from all faults; by uttering the name of the virtuous god Vishnu.
पुण्यात्मानो महाभागा ध्यायमाना जनार्दनम् । त्वयैवाराधितो देवः शंखचक्रगदाधरः
Those blessed souls, of great fortune, who meditate on Janardana; the god bearing the conch, discus, and mace has been worshipped by you.
अन्नादिदानं विप्रेभ्यो न प्रदत्तं द्विजोदितम् । फलं तस्य प्रजानामि न दृष्टो मधुसूदनः
The giving of food and such to the Brahmins, as prescribed for twice-born men, was not performed; I know the result of that, for Madhusudana was not seen.
क्षुधा मे बाधते राजंस्तृष्णा चैव प्रशोषयेत् । कुंजल उवाच- एवमुक्तस्तु प्रियया राजा चिंताकुलेंद्रियः
Hunger oppresses me, O King, and thirst dries me up as well. Kuñjala said: Thus addressed by his beloved, the king, his senses troubled by anxiety—
ततो दृष्ट्वा महापुण्यमाश्रमं श्रमनाशनम् । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं तडागैरुपशोभितम्
Then, seeing a most holy hermitage, a remover of fatigue, filled with divine trees and adorned with ponds,
वापीकुंडतडागैश्च पुण्यतोयप्रपूरितैः । हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं कह्लारैरुपशोभितम्
With wells, pools, and tanks filled with sacred waters, crowded with swans and cranes, and beautified by lotuses,
आश्रमः शोभते पुत्र मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं मृगव्रातैश्च शोभितम्
The hermitage shone, O son, with sages who know the truth, filled with divine trees and adorned by herds of deer.
नानापुष्पसमाकीर्णं हृद्यगंधसमाकुलम् । द्विजसिद्धैः समाकीर्णमृषिशिष्यैः समाकुलम्
Abundant with various flowers, pervaded by delightful fragrances, crowded with twice-born sages and their disciples.
योगियोगेंद्र संघुष्टं देववृंदैरलंकृतम् । कदलीवनसंबाधैः सुफलैः परिशोभितम्
Resounding with assemblies of yogis and great yogis, adorned by hosts of gods, and splendid with dense groves of fruitful plantains.
नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वकामसमन्वितम् । श्रीखंडैश्चारुगंधैश्च सुफलैः शोभितं सदा
Filled with various trees, granting every desire, always adorned with fragrant sandalwood and abundant fruits.