नृसिंहेति नृसिंहेति य उच्चैर्नदते नरः । तादृशः प्रतिशब्दो वै जायते नगनंदिनि
Whoever loudly calls out 'Nṛsiṃha! Nṛsiṃha!'—such an echo is indeed produced, O delight of the mountain.
ब्रह्महा हेमहारी वा सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः । सिंधौ गत्वा विशेषेण स्नानं कुर्वंति ये जनाः
Whether a slayer of a Brahmin, a thief of gold, a drinker of liquor, or one who approaches his teacher’s wife—those who especially bathe in the Sindhu river,
मुच्यते नात्र संदेहः श्रीनृसिंह प्रसादतः । दशारात्रिप्रमाणेन मानवा ये वसंति हि
Are freed—there is no doubt—by the grace of Śrī Nṛsiṃha; and those humans who dwell there for ten nights,
ते ज्ञेयाः पुण्यकर्माणो नासत्यं मामकं वचः । निवसंति कलौ तत्र वर्णा ये द्विजपूर्वकाः
Should be known as doers of virtuous deeds—my words are not false; in the Kali age, those who dwell there, whose classes are descended from twice-born ancestors,
म्लेच्छवत्तेऽपि विज्ञेया वेदबाह्याः सुरोत्तमैः । मांसं खादंति ते तत्र मद्यपानं पपुः सदा
Are to be regarded as outcastes, excluded from the Veda, by the best of gods, even though they appear as foreigners; they eat meat there and always drink wine.
अतो ह्यधर्मरूपास्ते पापिष्ठा नात्र संशयः । संध्याहीना यथा विप्रा वेदबाह्यास्तथैव च
Therefore, they are of unrighteous nature, most sinful—of this there is no doubt; just as Brahmins without the twilight rites are outside the Veda, so are they.
निवसंति पुरे तस्मिन्पश्चिमायां सुरेश्वरि । एकमेव परं तीर्थं नृसिंहाख्यं सुविस्तरम् । यं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते पापान्नरः सद्यो न संशयः
In that city, O queen of the gods, in the west, there is only one supreme and vast holy place, called Nṛsiṃha; hearing of it, a man is instantly freed from sin—there is no doubt.
इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे नृसिंहोत्पत्तिर्नाम चतुःसप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttarakhaṇḍa, in the section of fifty-five thousand verses, this is the one hundred and seventy-fourth chapter, named 'The Origin of Nṛsiṃha.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच । आदिमस्यैवमाख्यानमुदीरितमनुत्तमम् । शृणु माहात्म्यमन्येषामध्यायानामपींदिरे
Śrī Bhagavān said: Thus the excellent story of the beginning has been told; now, O Indirā, listen to the greatness of other chapters as well.
दक्षिणस्यां दिशि श्रीमानासीदाम्नायवादिनाम् । पुरे पुरंदराह्वाने देवशर्मेति विश्रुतः
In the southern direction, there was a city called Purandara, known among those who uphold the tradition; there, a man named Devaśarman was renowned.
अर्चितातिथिराम्नातो वेदशास्त्रविशारदः । आहर्ता क्रतुसंघानां तापसानां प्रियः सदा
Honored guests according to tradition, skilled in Vedic scriptures, he was the arranger of many sacrificial rites and always dear to ascetics.
देवान्संतर्पयामास हव्यैर्हुतवहं चिरम् । न चोपलेभे धर्मात्मा शांतिमेकांतिकीं ततः
He satisfied the gods for a long time with offerings in the fire, yet that righteous soul did not attain absolute peace.
निःश्रेयसं स जिज्ञासुस्तापसाननुवासरम् । सिषेवे सत्यसंकल्पाननल्पैरेव कल्पकैः
Desiring the highest good, he served ascetics day after day, those steadfast in truth, with many proper observances.
एवमाचरतस्तस्य काले महति गच्छति । मुक्तकर्मा ततः कश्चित्प्रादुरासीत्पुरा भुवि
As he acted thus, with much time passing, someone freed from actions appeared on earth long ago.
अनुभूतनिराकांक्षी नासाग्रन्यस्तलोचनः । शांतचेताः परं ब्रह्म ध्यायन्नानंदनिर्भरः
Free from desire for experience, his gaze fixed at the tip of his nose, his mind tranquil, he meditated on the supreme Brahman, full of bliss.
पादौ तस्योपसंगृह्य प्रणतेनांतरात्मना । चकार विधिवत्तस्मै विद्वानतिथिसत्क्रियाम्
He approached and took hold of his feet, with a reverent heart, and performed the proper guest-honoring rites for him, as a learned man.
तं च शुद्धेन भावेन परितुष्टं तपस्विनम् । प्रणतः परिपप्रच्छ निर्वाणस्थितिमात्मनः
With pure intent, he questioned that satisfied ascetic, bowing, about the state of nirvana for himself.
स तस्मै कथयामास पुरेऽसौ पुरनामनि । मित्रवंतमजापालमुपदेष्टारमात्मवित्
He told him, in that ancient city, about Mitravan, the knower of self, the teacher of Ajapala.
स चाभिवंद्य तत्पादावेत्यसौ पुरमूर्जितम् । तस्योत्तरदिशोभागे ददर्श विपुलं वनम्
Having bowed and touched his feet, he entered that splendid city, and in its northern region he saw a vast forest.
मारुतांदोलितानेक कुसुमामोदसुंदरम् । उन्मत्तभ्रमरोद्गीत नादापूरितदिङ्मुखम्
Beautiful with many flowers swayed by the wind, fragrant, its directions filled with the sound of intoxicated bees singing.
तस्मिन्वने सरित्तीरे निषीदंतं शिलातले । मित्रवंतं ददर्शाथ सानंदस्तिमितेक्षणम्
In that forest, on the riverbank, seated on a stone, he saw Mitravan, joyful, with a gaze full of contentment.
अपि स्वाभाविकं वैरं हित्वान्योन्यं विरोधिभिः । सत्वैरावृतमुद्याने मंदस्यंदनभास्वति
Even natural enmity was set aside by opposing creatures; in the garden, surrounded by gentle animals, with the sun shining mildly.
शांतेषु मृगयूथेषु दशानंदमनोज्ञया । कृपानुविद्धया भूमिं निषिंचंतमिवामृतम्
Among peaceful herds of deer, with a delightful and blissful state, compassion seemed to pour onto the earth like nectar.
उपेत्य विनयेनामुमुन्मनाः प्रीतमानसः । किंचिदानम्रशिरसा तेनापि स तु सत्कृतः
Approaching with humility, his mind uplifted and joyful, he bowed his head slightly, and was honored by him as well.
उपतस्थे ततो विद्वान्मित्रवंतमनन्यधीः । समाप्तध्यानकालं स पर्यपृच्छत्समाहितः
Then the learned man, single-minded, approached Mitravan, and when his meditation was complete, he questioned him attentively.
देवशर्मोवाच। आत्मानं वेत्तुमिच्छामि तदमुष्मिन्मनोरथे । लब्धसिद्धिमुपायं मामुपदेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि
Devaśarman said: I wish to know the self; in this desire of mine, you should instruct me in the means to attain success.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। परामृश्य क्षणं सोऽपि मित्रवानिदमब्रवीत् । मित्रवानुवाच। विद्वन्विद्धि पुरावृत्तमुच्यमानमिदं मया
The Blessed Lord said: After reflecting for a moment, Mitravan spoke this. Mitravan said: Wise one, know that I will tell you what happened long ago.
अस्ति गोदावरीतीरे प्रतिष्ठानाभिधं पुरम् । तत्र दुर्दमनामासीदन्वये च मनीषिणाम्
On the bank of the Godāvarī, there is a city called Pratiṣṭhāna; there, among the wise, was one named Durdama.
तत्रास्ति विक्रमो नाम सेव्यमानो महीपतिः । दानानि प्रत्यहं गृह्णन्वर्त्तते उदरंभरः
There is a king named Vikrama there, who, being served, lives only to fill his belly, accepting gifts every day.
कालेन कालपाशेन बद्धानीतो यमालयम् । निरयेषु समग्रेषु यातना अनुभूय च
Bound by the noose of time, he is led to the abode of Yama, and, having experienced all the torments in hell,