गोविंदाराधने सम्यग्यथा वै सौख्यमिंद्रियम् । माहात्म्यश्रवणादस्या द्वारकायास्तथा नृप
Just as there is pleasure for the senses in the proper worship of Govinda, O King, so too is there happiness from hearing the greatness of this Dvaraka.
सूर्येंदुग्रहणे दानात्सुवर्णपलविंशतेः । यत्फलं शृण्वतैतस्या माहात्म्यं तदवाप्यते
The merit gained by giving twenty measures of gold during a solar or lunar eclipse is attained by one who listens to this greatness.
विमलस्य सुतप्राप्तिं श्रुत्वा सुत इहाप्यते । तत्सख्युर्भक्तिलाभं च लभ्यते भक्तिरुत्तमा
Hearing the pure account of the attainment of a son, one obtains a son here; and the supreme devotion that is gained by his friend is also attained.
राक्षसीनां विमोक्षं यः शृणोति श्रद्धयान्वितः । स याति ता इव श्रेष्ठं विमानेन सुरालयम्
Whoever hears with faith about the liberation of the demonesses goes, like them, in a splendid chariot to the abode of the gods.
नृपवरमहिमा ते वर्णितो द्वारकायास्त्रिभुवनजनसेव्या शक्रतीर्थस्थितायाः । किमपरमतिपुण्यं वर्णयामि त्वदग्रे कथय न हि विधेयः श्रेयसि स्वे विलंबः
The greatness of the noble king and of Dvaraka, revered by the people of the three worlds and situated at Indra's holy place, has been described. What further supreme merit shall I narrate before you? Speak, for in the pursuit of the highest good, there should be no delay.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिन्दी। माहात्म्ये द्वारकायाख्यानंनाम अष्टाधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the two hundred and eighth chapter, entitled 'The Story of Dvaraka,' in the section on the greatness of Kalindi, in the Uttarakanda of the glorious Padma Purana, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- सौभरे कस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं नारदो मुनिः । वर्णयामास शिबये शक्रतीर्थगतस्य च
Yudhishthira said: O sage, which holy place's greatness did Narada describe to Shibi when he had gone to Indra's sacred site?
अतस्तु मम शुश्रूषा जायते मुनिपुंगवः । शिविनारदसंवादं ब्रूहि पुण्यं नताय मे
Therefore, O foremost of sages, a desire to hear arises in me; tell me the virtuous conversation between Shibi and Narada, for I bow and thirst for your nectar-like words.
सौभरिरुवाच- धर्मराज शिबीराजा श्रुत्वा नारदवर्णितम् । द्वारकायास्तु माहात्म्यं तमेवापृच्छदादरात्
Saubhari said: O king of righteousness, King Shibi, having heard Narada's account of the greatness of Dvaraka, respectfully asked him further.
शिबिरुवाच- ब्रह्मांगज सुरश्रेष्ठ श्रुतं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । इंद्रप्रस्थतटस्थाया द्वारकाया मयाद्भुतम्
Shibi said: O best of gods, son of Brahma, I have heard the supreme greatness of Dvaraka, which stands on the bank of Indraprastha, and it is wondrous to me.
अयोध्यायां यदि मुने किंचिदस्ति पवित्रकम् । चरितं मम तद्ब्रूहि पिपासोस्त्वद्वचोऽमृतम्
If, O sage, there is anything pure in Ayodhya, tell me that story of mine, for I am thirsty for your immortal words.
नारद उवाच- अस्त्यत्र चरितं पुण्यं महापातकनाशनम् । नापितस्याद्ययुक्तस्य मुकुंदस्य द्विजस्य च
Narada said: There is here a virtuous tale that destroys great sins, concerning a barber and a twice-born named Mukunda, both of whom acted recently.
ब्रह्महा नापितो राजन्नपमृत्युं गतो द्विजः । प्रसादात्कोशलायास्तु द्वावपि स्वर्गतिं गतौ
O king, the barber, a slayer of a Brahmin, and the twice-born who died prematurely, both attained heaven by the grace of Kosala.
चंद्रभागा नदी तीरे पुरी सा च निवेशिता । तत्रास्ति नापितः पापश्चंडकोनाम गर्हितः
On the bank of the river Chandrabhaga, that city was established; there lived a sinful barber named Chandaka, who was despised.
चौर्येण परवित्तानामपहर्ता स पापकृत् । घातकः शस्त्रपाशाद्यैः पांथानामवलुंठकः
By theft, he took the wealth of others, committing wicked deeds; he was a killer, robbing travelers with weapons, ropes, and other means.
द्यूतमद्यरतो नित्यं परस्त्रीलंपटेंद्रियः । भित्वा देवालयं भित्तिमिष्टिका ग्राव विक्रयी
He was always addicted to gambling and liquor, lustful for other men's wives; breaking the wall of a temple, he sold bricks and stones.
स तस्योद्वसिताभ्यासे ब्राह्मणो वसति श्रिया । संयुक्तो ब्रह्मकर्मज्ञो मुकुंदो नामतो नृप
Near his dwelling lived a Brahmin named Mukunda, endowed with wealth, skilled in Vedic rites.
स एकदा समालिंग्य तरुणीमात्मयोषितम् । सुष्वाप सुरतायास श्लथांगो निशि निर्भयम्
One night, embracing his young wife, he slept deeply, his body slack from the fatigue of lovemaking, without fear.
स चंडको निशीथेऽथ प्रविवेश तदालयम् । मुकुंदस्य समाहर्तुं हर्म्ये भूषादि वस्तु यत्
Then, in the middle of the night, Caṇḍaka entered that house to take from Mukunda's mansion whatever ornaments and valuables there were.
उपकार्या बहिस्थं यत्तद्गृहीत्वोऽगमद्गृहम् । स्वकीयं च पुनस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्याविशद्गृहम्
Taking whatever was kept outside for use, he went home, and then again entered the house of that brāhmaṇa.
कपाटोत्पाटनार्थी तु यत्नेन महताऽभवत् । लोहयंत्रावरुद्धश्च स नोद्धाटयितुं क्षमः
He tried with great effort to break open the door, but it was secured with an iron mechanism, and he was unable to force it open.
आरुरोह तदा तस्य ब्राह्मणस्याविशद्गृहम् । प्रविश्य तद्गृहं क्रूरः कृपणं पाणिनादधत्
Then he climbed up and entered the house of that brāhmaṇa; entering the house, the cruel man placed his hand on the poor man.
अट्टालिकां स पापिष्ठो नापितस्तस्करक्रियः । तत्रापश्यत्प्रसुप्तौ तौ दंपतीरतिविह्वलौ
That most wicked barber, engaged in theft, ascended the upper story and there saw the two spouses deeply distressed and asleep.
जगाम च तयोः पार्श्वे हेमभूषाजिघृक्षया । शय्याया एकदेशस्थं गृहीत्वा भूषणं बहु
He approached them, desiring their gold ornaments, and taking many ornaments that were lying on one part of the bed—
हर्तुं तदंगतो हस्तं प्रससार स नापितः । तस्करस्पर्शतो विप्रो जजागार भयातुरः
The barber stretched out his hand to take them, but the brāhmaṇa, frightened by the touch of the thief, awoke.
न किंचिदूचे संमील्य नेत्रे तत्रैव संस्थितः । यदा स तस्करः पापो गृहीत्वा देहभूषणम्
He said nothing, keeping his eyes closed and lying there; when that wicked thief took the ornaments from his body—
चलितः स तदा तेन दोर्भ्यामात्तो द्विजेन हि । पश्चादागत्य वित्तस्यासहमानेन संक्षयम्
Then, as the thief was leaving, the brāhmaṇa seized him with both arms, unable to bear the loss of his wealth.
तेनापि नृप चौरेण कृपाणेन हतो द्विजः । विदीर्णोदरमध्यस्तु तातमातरितीरयन्
Then, O King, that thief killed the brāhmaṇa with a dagger; his belly torn open, he called out for his father and mother.
वदंतः किंकिमेत्येतत्पार्श्वं तस्या ययुर्जनाः । ददृशुस्तं निःसृतांत्रं रुधिरालिप्तविग्रहम्
People came to his side, asking, 'What happened? What is this?' They saw him, his entrails protruding, his body smeared with blood.
पप्रच्छुश्च मुकुंदेदं कर्म केनेदृशं कृतम् । सोऽपि कृच्छ्रेण महता प्रोवाचेदं स्वबांधवान्
They asked Mukunda, 'By whom was this deed done?' With great difficulty, he told his relatives.