स रामः सीतया सार्धं चिरं पुण्यजलप्लवे । क्रीडित्वा जलकल्लोलैर्निरगाद्धर्मसंयुतः
Rāma, together with Sītā, played for a long time in the sacred waters, delighting in the waves, and then departed, upholding righteousness.
दुकूलवासाः सकिरीटकुंडलः केयूरशोभावरकंकणान्वितः । कंदर्पकोटिश्रियमुद्वहन्नृपो राजाग्र्यवर्यैरुपसंस्तुतो बभौ
Clad in fine cloth, adorned with crown and earrings, shining with armlets and bracelets, bearing a splendor surpassing millions of Kāma gods, the king, praised by the foremost of rulers, appeared radiant.
सयागयूपं वरवर्णशोभितं कृत्वा सरित्तीरवरे महामनाः । त्रैलोक्यलोकश्रियमाप ह्यद्भुतामन्यैर्दुरापां नृपतिर्भुजैर्निजैः
Having erected a sacrificial post, resplendent with excellent color, on the riverbank, the noble-minded king attained the wondrous glory of the worlds, which is difficult for others to reach, by his own arms.
एवं जनकपुत्र्यासौ हयमेधत्रयं चरन् । त्रैलोक्ये कीर्तिमतुलां प्राप देवैः सुदुर्लभाम्
Thus, performing three horse sacrifices with Janaka's daughter, he gained incomparable fame in the three worlds, which even the gods find hard to obtain.
एवं ते वर्णितं तात यत्पृष्टो रामसत्कथाम् । विस्तृतः कथितो मेधो भूयः किं पृच्छसे द्विज
Thus, O dear one, I have described to you the noble story of Rāma as you asked; the account has been fully narrated by Medha—what more do you wish to ask, O twice-born?
यः शृणोति हरेर्भक्त्या रामचंद्रस्य सन्मखम् । ब्रह्महत्यां क्षणात्तीर्त्वा ब्रह्मशाश्वतमाप्नुयात्
Whoever listens with devotion to the sacred sacrifice of Rāma, the incarnation of Hari, instantly crosses the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa and attains the eternal Brahman.
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनो धनमाप्नुयात् । रोगार्तो मुच्यते रोगाद्बद्धो मुच्येत बंधनात्
A childless person gains children, a poor one acquires wealth, one afflicted by disease is freed from illness, and one bound is released from captivity.
यत्कथाश्रवणाद्दुष्टः श्वपचोऽपि परं पदम् । प्राप्नोति किमु विप्राग्र्यो रामभक्तिपरायणः
Even a wicked outcaste attains the supreme state by hearing this story—how much more so the foremost Brāhmaṇa devoted to Rāma!
रामं स्मृत्वा महाभागं पापिनः परमं पदम् । प्राप्नुयुः परमं स्वर्गं शक्रदेवादिदुर्लभम्
Remembering Rāma, the greatly fortunate, even sinners attain the highest state, the supreme heaven, which is difficult for Indra and other gods to reach.
ते धन्या मानवा लोके ये स्मरंति रघूत्तमम् । ते क्षणात्संसृतिं तीर्त्वा गच्छंति सुखमव्ययम्
Blessed are those people in the world who remember the best of the Raghu dynasty; they instantly cross the cycle of rebirth and attain unending happiness.
प्रत्येकमक्षरं ब्रह्महत्यावंशदवानलः । तं यः श्रावयते धीमांस्तं गुरुं संप्रपूजयेत्
Each syllable acts as a fire consuming the lineage of Brāhmaṇa-slaying; whoever recites it should be honored as a guru.
श्रुत्वा कथां वाचकाय गवां द्वंद्वं प्रदापयेत् । सपत्नीकाय संपूज्य वस्त्रालंकारभोजनैः
After hearing the story, one should give a pair of cows to the reciter, honoring him and his wife with garments, ornaments, and food.
कुंडलाभ्यां विराजंत्यौ मुद्रिकाभिरलंकृते । रामसीते स्वर्णमय्यौ प्रतिमे शोभने वरे
The golden images of Rāma and Sītā, adorned with earrings and rings, shine beautifully and splendidly.
कृत्वा तु वाचकायैव दीयते भो द्विजोत्तम । तस्य देवाश्च पितरो वैकुंठं प्राप्नुयुस्तदा
Having made them, one should give them to the reciter, O best of Brāhmaṇas; then his ancestors and the gods attain Vaikuṇṭha.
त्वया पृष्टा रामकथा मया ते कथिता पुरा । किमन्यत्कथ्यतां ब्रह्मन्पुरतस्तव धीमतः
You asked about the story of Rāma, and I have narrated it to you before; what else should be told, O wise Brāhmaṇa, in your presence?
शृण्वंति ये कथामेतां ब्रह्महत्यौघनाशिनीम् । ते यांति परमं स्थानं यच्च देवैः सुदुर्लभम्
Those who listen to this story, which destroys the multitude of Brāhmaṇa-slaying sins, attain the supreme state, which is difficult for the gods to reach.
गोघ्नश्चापि सुतघ्नश्च सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः । क्षणात्पूतो भवत्येव नात्र संशयितुं क्षमम्
Even a killer of cows, a killer of children, a drinker of liquor, or one who violates the teacher's bed becomes purified instantly; there is no room for doubt.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखण्डे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे श्रवणपठनपुण्यवर्णनं नामाष्टषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-eighth chapter, named 'The Description of the Merit of Hearing and Reciting the Rāma Horse Sacrifice,' in the dialogue between Śeṣa and Vātsyāyana in the Pātāla section of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
ऋषय ऊचुः - सम्यक्छ्रुतो महाभाग त्वत्तो रामाश्वमेधकः । इदानीं वद माहात्म्यं श्रीकृष्णस्य महात्मनः
The sages said: We have properly heard from you, O greatly fortunate one, about Rama's Ashvamedha. Now, please speak of the greatness of Shri Krishna, the exalted soul.
सूत उवाच-। शृण्वंतु मुनिशार्दूलाः श्रीकृष्णचरितामृतम् । शिवा पप्रच्छ भूतेशं यत्तद्वः कीर्तयाम्यहम्
Suta said: Listen, O foremost among sages, to the nectar of Shri Krishna's deeds. That which Shiva was asked by Parvati, I shall recount to you.
एकदा पार्वती देवी शिवं संस्निग्धमानसा । प्रणयेन नमस्कृत्य प्रोवाच वचनं त्विदम्
Once, the goddess Parvati, her mind affectionate, bowed lovingly to Shiva and spoke these words.
पार्वत्युवाच-। अनंतकोटिब्रह्मांड तद्बाह्याभ्यंतरस्थितेः । विष्णोः स्थानं परं तेषां प्रधानं वरमुत्तमम्
Parvati said: Among the countless universes, both within and beyond, Vishnu's supreme abode is the foremost and highest among them.
यत्परं नास्ति कृष्णस्य प्रियं स्थानं मनोरमम् । तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथयस्व महाप्रभो
There is no place dearer or more delightful to Krishna than the highest; I wish to hear all about it, please tell me, O great lord.
ईश्वर उवाच-। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं गुह्यं परमानंदकारकम् । अत्यद्भुतं रहःस्थानमानंदं परमं परम्
Ishvara said: The most secret of secrets, more hidden than hidden, which brings supreme bliss, wondrous and concealed, is the highest and most joyful place.
दुर्लभानां च परमं दुर्लभं मोहनं परम् । सर्वशक्तिमयं देवि सर्वस्थानेषु गोपितम्
It is the supreme, rarest, and most enchanting among all difficult-to-attain places, O Devi, filled with all powers and hidden in every abode.
सात्वतां स्थानमूर्द्धन्यं विष्णोरत्यंतदुर्लभम् । नित्यं वृंदावनं नाम ब्रह्मांडोपरि संस्थितम्
The supreme abode of the Sātvatas, exceedingly rare for Vishnu, is eternally known as Vrindavana, situated above the universe.
पूर्णब्रह्मसुखैश्वर्यं नित्यमानंदमव्ययम् । वैकुंठादि तदंशांशं स्वयं वृंदावनं भुवि
Full of the bliss and sovereignty of Brahman, eternal and imperishable, Vrindavana itself is on earth, while Vaikuntha and others are but its partial manifestations.
गोलोकैश्वर्यं यत्किंचिद्गोकुले तत्प्रतिष्ठितम् । वैकुंठवैभवं यद्वै द्वारिकायां प्रतिष्ठितम्
Whatever majesty of Goloka exists is established in Gokula; whatever glory of Vaikuntha exists is established in Dvaraka.
यद्ब्रह्मपरमैश्वर्यं नित्यं वृंदावनाश्रयम् । कृष्णधामपरं तेषां वनमध्ये विशेषतः
The supreme majesty of Brahman, eternally residing in Vrindavana, is especially found in Krishna's highest abode, in the midst of the forest.
तस्मात्त्रैलोक्यमध्ये तु पृथ्वी धन्येति विश्रुता । यस्मान्माथुरकं नाम विष्णोरेकांतवल्लभम्
Therefore, among the three worlds, the earth is renowned as blessed, because it contains Mathura, the most beloved of Vishnu.