The Contents of the Section in Brief

1-2. Om, salutation to Shri Vishnu. Om salutation to Shri Vedavyasa.

Om, having saluted Narayana, so also Nara, the best among men, and goddess Sarasvati and Vyasa, one should narrate the (god’s) glory. Salutation to the preceptor who opened the eyes of one who is blind due to the darkness of ignorance with the pencil of the collyrium of knowledge.

The sages said:

3-4. О best among the learned, we have heard the Patalakhanda full of various accounts and giving great joy, which you narrated (to us). Now we desire to hear what remains (i.e. the remaining portion) of the Padma (Purana), and which augments devotion to the lord. О preceptor, please narrate it.

Suta said:

5-7a. О sages, listen, all of you, to what Shankara, told Narada who asked him, and which is the knowledge that des­troys sins. Once Narada, dear to the lord, while roaming over the worlds went to Mandara mountain to ask Sambhu some secret. There he saluted the lord of Uma who was seated. Direct­ed by Shiva's order, he sat on a seat in front of the lord. He asked the god the same as you, the best ones, have asked.

Narada said:

7b-8. О lord, О god of gods, О lord of Parvati, О preceptor of the world, tell me that by which the knowledge abput the truth of lord can be had.

Shiva said:

9-15. О Narada, listen to the Ригаца which I shall tel

1 you, which is like the Vedas and hearing which a man is free from all sins. There is no doubt about it. First there is the glory of Uttara. Then there is the story of the Parvata (Mountain). Then there is the narration of Haridvara; then there is the account of (Ganga) rising from Vishnu’s feet. I shall also describe the holy place of Prayaga, so also the (holy place called) ASvamedhika. I shall tell (you) about the greatness of Tulasi; so also (I shall describe) the conch, the disc, the mace etc. Then there is the account of Dvaraka. (Then there are) the rules about a great festival. (So also) there is the description of the religious merit obtained from (bathing in) a lake, so also (from bathing in) a reservoir of water, a well, or a cistern; (there is the description of the views of) the Ganapatya, of the holy texts of the Vaisnavas; (then) there is (the description) of the greatness of repairs (of old temples etc.); of visiting Ganga; of the greatness of Sabhramati; so also of the banks (of rivers etc.), of the duties of women and shudras and of what (course) should be followed by those who are forsaken.

16-19. In the dialogue between Uma and Mahesha The Thousand Names of Vishw are told. That was brought from Kailasa by Narada, the brahmaija. It should be recited with a concentrated mind to the people, brahmanas, kshatriyas and especially to women and Shudras. It is holy; it is pure; it increases (the span of) life; it should be especially recited; (thereby a man) would obtain intimate union with Vishshu. That hymn con­taining the thousand names of Vishiju is known in the world to be purifying. It (i.e. the Uttarakha^a) will tell about the places of the twentyfour images.

20-24a. I shall tell about their parents and their interior. I shall also tell you about their family, their Vedas, their deeds; so also about their wives, as I see these from my knowledge. (I shall tell you) about the importance of the twentyfour Ekadashi days and DvadaSi days. (I shall narrate to you) the greatness of Godavari; so also about putting on (one’s person) the conch and ths disc. Brahma^as especially should put these on with a rite. О sage, I shall describe to you the importance of Yamuna, so also of Gan^ika. I shall undoubtedly tell you about the great­ness of Vetravati. (I shall tell you) about the religious merit due to (a visit to) the holy place called Gilli. I shall describe to you the shila Kshetra which is great.

24b-28. All that I shall describe in the Kha^la called Uttara. (I shall narrate to you) the greatness of ArbudeSvara and the holy places etc. that are there. (I shall similarly tell you about) the importance of Sarasvati and the holy place called Siddhaksetra. (I shall tell you about) the rise of Padmanabha and the wearing of Tulasi(-leaves etc.). (I shall tell you about) the greatness of gopicandana, and about the worship of the throne. (I shall describe to you) the greatness of Niranjana (i.e. Shiva); so also about the vision of knowledge; so also about offering of lights there, and especially of incense. (I shall tell you about) the importance of Kartika and also that of Magha. I shall tell you about the greatness of all vows (performed) duly.

29-33a. О Narada, I shall tell you about (the holy place of) Jagannatha, the best one, seeing whom men are freed from the sin of the murder of a brahma^a etc. (Please) listen; whatever is performed and experienced there gives (i.e. leads one to) the other world. (Even) brahmajrias, well-versed in the Vedas eat there; then what to say about other people, О you of a good vow! Here there are twentyfive serpents and various famale dancers also. On seeing Jagannatha (the sins due to murders such as) the murder of a brahmaija, the murder of a child or that of a cow, all perish. A being (just while) uttering (the name) Jagan­natha is free from great sins.

33b-36. I shall tell you about Vi^u’s worship with flowers, and its importance also. I shall tell you all that — the description of the mountains; so also the description of countries; so also the supreme greatness of worshipping the cow etc.; so also about the worship of the siddhas; (I shall also tell you about) the religious merit which is obtained when boiled rice is given (to brahmajias). (I shall tell you about) the gift of the interior of a Kadali; the gift of a tree. After that (I shall tell you about) the shift of a horse; the gift of an elephant; so also about the supreme importance of muttering (a hymn); so also about the knowledge of hymns and initiation; about the characteristics of a preceptor.

37-43. In (the Uttarakhamja) the characteristics of a dis­ciple, as the public readers of the Puranas know them, are also told. (So also it contains) the importance of the water (flowing) from the feet (of the superiors), and (the information about) sraddha etc. offered to the dead ancestors; (it also contains in­formation about) the gift to the manes on the days (fixed for making offerings to them); so also the rite of giving sapphires. (It also contains information about) the lunar and solar eclipses and (about) what gifts should be (given on these days). (It tells about) the importance of the gift of a Salagrama (stone); so also of flowers and sandal; about the time of the tenth, eleventh and twelfth (days) and about the days sacred to Vishnu. (It contains information about) their greatness and the names of Rudra etc. (It also gives the information about) the greatness of Mathura, and (about) Kuruksetra etc. (It also contains) the account of the construction of the bridge (over the sea); so also (the account) of Shri Riimesvara. (It also contains the information about) the greatness of Tryambaka, and (about) the fruit of (staying at) Pancavatl. О best brahmana, listen to the importance of the Dan^aka forest. (It tells about) the greatness of the Dan^aka forest and about the cause of the birth of Nfsimha. (It tells about) the greatness of the Gita; so also of the Bhagavata, so also the importance of Kalindi (i.e. Yamuna), and the descrip­tion of Indraprastha.

44-50. (It contains) the life of Rukmangadaand (tells about) the greatness ofa devotee of Vishnu. Obest brahmana, listen; if a devotee of Vishnu is fed but once, the man who feeds him gets that fruit which he would obtain by giving the entire earth along with ocean. The sattvika are endowed with goodness; the rajasa are said to be lustful. The tamasa are described to be vicious. The characteristics of the devotees of Vishuu are also described (in it). О Narada, I shall tell you about the greatness, as descri­bed, of the brahmanaswho are devotees of Vish(iu and who are intent upon practising the way of life as told in the Vedas. О best sage, then I shall tell you about the sin of those who, through greed for wealth, are engaged in censuring Vishiju.(I shall tell) you the account of Jvalamukhi, and (aboutjhe importance of) seeing the Himalaya. I shall describe to you the region where Brahma was bom. I shell tell you about the origin of kayasthas; so also the account of Gaya. (I shall describe to you) the nature of Gadadhara and (give you) the description of (the river at Gaya called) Phalgu.

51-56a. In the Padma (Purana), the importance of these is seen (and) is also heard (from it). (It also contains) the nature of great knowledge, and the glory of Kalki. (It contains the descrip­tion of) Ramagaya and Pretasila. I shall tell you the account of Brahma and Sila; so also the account of Brahma’s origin, and of the bunyan tree called Aksaya. Great religious merit (accrues) by (performing) a sraddha there. I shall tell (you) all about that. (I shall tell you about) the worship of Shiva done by the noble Vishnu. Even now Maharudra mutters (the names of) Anamaya(i.e. Vishnu). After that, О Narada, I shall describe to you the greatness of the ocean; so also the religious merit due to the offering of Sheshamum seeds and also due to (the offering of) barley-grains; so also (the religious merit) due to the offering of water mixed with Tulasi leaves and due to the (worship of) deity.

56b-59a. I shall tell you about its greatness as Brahma told it to me. (I shall describe to you) the greatness of the sound of the conch and religious merit of its innumerable (varieties). (I shall tell you about) the greatness of Sunday, and of abstract maditation on him called Vishnu. (I shall tell you) the import­ance of Vaidhrta and also of Vyatipata (i.e. a great calamity). О Narada, I shall tell you all this, as has been told.

59b-64. Uttarakhanda tells about the gift of food, the gift of garments, the gift of land, so also (of) a bull, about the great­ness of Janmastami, the importance of the Matsya (Purana), the importance of the Kurma (Purana) and so also of the Varaha (Purana). I shall also tell (you) the importance of the gifts of cows etc. After that I shall describe to you the greatness of the devotees like Prahlada, who are well-known on the earth. Listen, О best divine sage. О best divine sage, (it contains) the importance of keeping awake (during certain nights); so also of the gift of lamps; so also (it tells about) the fruit of the separate worship (offered) during different watches. (It contains) the account of Parasurama; so also (of) the murder of Renuka; so also (of) the gift of land made to brahmanas and whatever Ramar did.

65-66a. I shall describe fully the religious merit due to (the stay in) Rama’s hermitage. I shall tell you the account of Narmada, and that of the religious merit and the worship; so also (I shall tell you about) the gift of (the texts of) the Vedas and the Puranas and the form of the (various) stages of life.

66b-70. (I shall tell you about) the religious merit due to the gift of gold and that of the world; (about) the gift of the Padma Puraija and the nature of (its) Khantfas. The first is Srstikhaptfa; the second is Bhumikhantfa. The third is Svargakhan^a arid the fourth is called Patala. The fifth is called Uttara. These are the Khantfas in order. The noble Vyasa composed this Padma Puraija for the well-being of the people and for the welfare of brahmanas. It creates religious merit in shudras, and removes acute poverty. It gives salvation and happiness and quickly brings about inexhaustible good fortune. О Narada, having listened to it, a man should give gifts according to the rite (told therein).

 

CHAPTER TWO

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