आदिस्वर्गमिदं श्रुत्वा तत्फलं लभते नरः । माघेमासे प्रयागे तु स्नात्वा प्रतिदिनं नरः
By hearing this Ādi-Svarga, a man obtains that fruit; and if he bathes daily at Prayāga in the month of Māgha—
यथा पापात्प्रमुच्येत तथा हि श्रवणाद्भवेत् । दत्ता तेन स्वर्णतुला दत्ता चैव धराखिला
Just as one is freed from sin by bathing, so it is by hearing; it is as if he has given gold equal to his weight, and indeed the whole earth.
कृतं वितरणं तेन द्ररिद्रे यत्कृतमृणम् । हरेर्नामसहस्राणि पठितानि ह्यभीक्ष्णशः
Whatever charity he has given, whatever debt he has paid to the poor, it is as if he has recited the thousand names of Hari again and again.
सर्वेवे दास्तथाधीतास्तत्तत्कर्मकृतं तथा । अध्यापकाश्च बहवः स्थापिता वृत्तिदानतः
All these gifts, all these studies, and all such deeds are as if performed; and many teachers have been established by giving them support.
अभयं भयलोकेभ्यो दत्तं तेन तथा द्विजाः । गुणवंतो ज्ञानवंतो धर्मवंतोनुमानिताः
He granted fearlessness to those dwelling in fear, O twice-born; he honored those endowed with virtue, knowledge, and righteousness.
मेषकर्कटयोर्मध्ये तोयं दत्तं सुशीतलम् । ब्राह्मणार्थे गवार्थे च प्राणास्त्यक्ताश्च तेन हि
Between Aries and Cancer, he gave water that was very cool; for the sake of Brahmins and cows, he even gave up his life.
अन्यानि च सुकर्माणि कृतानि तेन धीमता । येनादिखंडं सदसि श्रुतं संश्रावितं तथा
Other good deeds were also performed by that wise one; in the great assembly, he caused the ancient section to be recited and heard.
स्वर्गखंडं समाधीत्य नानाभोगान्समश्नुते । अंतःपुरगनारीणां सुखसुप्तः प्रबुध्यते
Having attained the heavenly realm, he enjoys various pleasures; amidst the women of the inner chambers, he awakens in comfort.
किंकिणीरवसन्नादैस्तथा मधुरभाषणैः । इंद्रस्यार्धासनं भुंक्ते इंद्रलोके वसेच्चिरम्
With the sounds of tinkling ornaments and sweet speech, he partakes of half the throne of Indra and dwells long in Indra's world.
ततः सूर्यस्य भवनं चंद्रलोकं ततो व्रजेत् । सप्तर्षिभवने भोगान्भुक्त्वा याति ततो ध्रुवम्
Then he goes to the abode of the Sun, and from there to the realm of the Moon; after enjoying pleasures in the house of the Seven Sages, he proceeds to the Pole Star.
ततश्च ब्रह्मणो लोकं प्राप्य तेजोमयं वपुः । तत्रैव ज्ञानमासाद्य निर्वाणं परमृच्छति
Then, reaching the world of Brahma, he attains a body of light; there, gaining knowledge, he achieves the supreme liberation.
सद्भिः सह वसेद्धीमान्सत्तीर्थे स्नानमाचरेत् । कुर्यादेव सदालापं सच्छास्त्रं शृणुयान्नरः
The wise man should dwell with the virtuous, bathe at holy places, always engage in noble conversation, and listen to true scripture.
तत्र पाद्मं महाशास्त्रं सर्वाम्नायफलप्रदम् । स्वर्गखंडं च तन्मध्ये महापुण्यफलप्रदम्
There, the great scripture Padma, which bestows the fruits of all traditions, and within it the section on heaven, grants the highest rewards of merit.
भजध्वं गोविंदं नमत हरिमेकं सुरवरं गमिष्यध्वं लोकानतिविमलभोगानतितराम् । शृणुध्वं हे लोका वदत हरिनामैकमतुलं यदीच्छावीचीनां सुखतरणमिष्टानि लभत
Worship Govinda, bow to Hari, the one supreme god; you will attain worlds of purest enjoyments. Hear, O people, and recite the matchless name of Hari; if you desire to cross the ocean of suffering, you will obtain your cherished wishes.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे द्विषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-second chapter in the section on heaven of the glorious Padma Mahapurana.
नमामि गोविन्दपदारविंदं सदेंदिरावंदितमुत्तमाढ्यम् । जगज्जनानां हृदि संनिविष्टं महाजनैकायनमुत्तमोत्तमम्
I bow to the lotus feet of Govinda, worshipped by Lakshmi, supremely exalted, who dwells in the hearts of all beings, the highest refuge of the great.
एकदा मुनयः सर्वे ज्वलज्ज्वलनसन्निभाः । हिमवद्वासिनः सर्वे मुनयो वेदपारगाः
Once, all the sages, blazing like fire, dwelling in the Himalayas, and accomplished in the Vedas,
त्रिकालज्ञा महात्मानो नानापुण्यसमाश्रयाः । महेंद्राद्रिरता ये च ये च विंध्यनिवासिनः
Knowers of the three times, great souls, established in various merits, those devoted to Mahendra mountain and those residing in Vindhya,
येऽर्बुदारण्यनिरताः पुष्करारण्यवासिनः । श्रीशैलनिरता ये च कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनः
Those devoted to the Arbudā forest, those living in the Puṣkara forest, those devoted to Śrīśaila, and those residing in Kurukṣetra,
धर्म्मारण्यरता ये च दंडकारण्यवासिनः । जंबूमार्गरता ये च ये च सत्यनिवासिनः
Those devoted to the Dharmāraṇya, those living in Daṇḍakāraṇya, those devoted to the Jambū path, and those residing in Satya,
एते चान्ये च बहवः सशिष्या मुनयोऽमलाः । नैमिषं समुपायाताः शौनकं द्रष्टुमुत्सुकाः
And many other pure sages with their disciples, all eagerly came to Naimisha to see Shaunaka.
तं पूजयित्वा विधिवत्तेन ते च सुपूजिताः । आसनेषु विचित्रेषु बृस्यादिषु यथाक्रमम्
Having worshipped him according to the proper rites, and being duly honored by him, they sat in various splendid seats in due order.
शौनकेन प्रदत्तेषु आसीनास्ते तपोधनाः । कृष्णाश्रिताः कथाः पुण्याः परस्परमथाब्रुवन्
Seated on the seats provided by Shaunaka, the ascetics devoted to austerity, who had taken refuge in Krishna, began to speak to one another of sacred stories.
कथांतेषु ततस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । आजगाम महातेजाः सूतस्तत्र महाद्युतिः
As their conversation among those sages of purified minds came to an end, the illustrious Sūta, radiant with great energy, arrived there.
व्यासशिष्यः पुराणज्ञो रोमहर्षणसंज्ञकः । तान्प्रणम्य यथान्यायं स तैश्चैवाभिपूजितः
He was the disciple of Vyāsa, learned in the Purāṇas, known by the name Romaharṣaṇa; after duly bowing to them, he was honored by them as well.
उपविष्टं यथायोग्यं शौनकाद्या महर्षयः । व्यासशिष्यं सुखासीनं सूतं वै रोमहर्षणम्
Shaunaka and the other great sages seated Romaharṣaṇa, Vyāsa's disciple, comfortably and appropriately among them.
तं पप्रच्छुर्महाभागाः शौनकाद्यास्तपोधनाः । ऋषय ऊचुः-। पौराणिक महाबुद्धे रोमहर्षण सुव्रत
Those greatly fortunate ascetics, led by Shaunaka, questioned him; the sages said: 'O wise one versed in the Purāṇas, O Romaharṣaṇa, steadfast in your vows—'
त्वत्तः श्रुता महापुण्याः पुरा पौराणिकीः कथाः । सांप्रतं च प्रवृत्ताः स्म कथायां सक्षणा हरेः
'From you we have previously heard the highly meritorious ancient tales of the Purāṇas; now we are engaged in stories concerning Hari.'
स वै पुंसां परोधर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे । पुनः पुराणमाचक्ष्व हरिवार्ता समन्वितम्
'That alone is the supreme duty of people, from which devotion to the Transcendent arises; therefore, tell again the Purāṇa filled with the stories of Hari.'
हरेरन्या कथा सूत श्मशानसदृशी स्मृता । हरिस्तीर्थस्वरूपेण स्वयं तिष्ठति तच्छ्रुतम्
'O Sūta, stories other than those of Hari are regarded as like a cremation ground; Hari himself abides in the form of holy places—this has been heard.'