Ch 8 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

४.८ अष्टमोऽध्यायः । प्रह्लादतीर्थयात्रावर्णनम् । सूत उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्रो राज्ञा पारीक्षितेन वै । उवाच विस्तरात्सर्वं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Sūta said :-- Thus asked by the son of Parīkṣit, the king Janamejaya, the best of the Brāhmaṇas, the son of Satyavatī, Vyāsa spoke, in detail, the following :--

Ch 8 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जनमेजयोऽपि धर्मात्मा निर्वेदं परमं गतः । चित्तं दुश्चरितं मत्वा वैराटीतनयस्य वै ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

The virtuous Janamejaya became very much sorry and despondent when he heard in detail the improper acts of his own father Parīkṣit, the son of Uttarā.

Ch 8 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्यैवोद्धरणार्थाय चकार सततं मनः । विप्रावमानपापेन यमलोकं गतस्य वै ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Owing to insulting the Brāhmin boy, his father had to go to hell; and he was constantly thinking how to release his father.

Ch 8 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुन्नामनरकाद्यस्मात्त्रायते पितरं स्वकम् । पुत्रेति नाम सार्थं स्यात्तेन तस्य मुनीश्वराः ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

The son is called “Puttra” for he releases his father from the hell, named “Put”. He is the true son that can do so.

Ch 8 Verse 5-6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सर्पदष्टं नृपं श्रुत्वा हर्म्योपरि मृतं तथा । विप्रशापादौत्तरेयं स्नानदानविवर्जितम् ॥ ५ ॥ पितुर्गतिं निशम्यासौ निर्वेदं गतवान्नृपः । पारीक्षितो महाभागः सन्तप्तो भयविह्वलः ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

The fortunate son of Parīkṣit became very much tormented and bewildered with fear when he heard what was the fate of his father, who died bitten by a serpent on the top of a palace, due to the curse of a Brāhmin, void of any bathing, charities, and the purificatory acts.

Ch 8 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पप्रच्छाथ मुनिं व्यासं गृहागतमनिन्दितः । नरनारायणस्येमां कथां परमविस्मृताम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

When Vyāsa returned home, Janamejaya asked him, the whole course of events of Nara Nārāyaṇa.

Ch 8 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । स यदा निहतो रौद्रो हिरण्यकशिपुर्नृप । अभिषिक्तस्तदा राज्ये प्रह्लादो नाम तत्सुतः ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! When the terrible Hiraṇya Kaśipoo was slain, his son Prahlāda was installed on his throne.

Ch 8 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मिञ्छासति दैत्येन्द्रे देवब्राह्मणपूजके । मखैर्भूमौ नृपतयो यजन्तः श्रद्धयान्विताः ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

During the government of Prahlāda, the chief of the Daityas, the worshipper of the Brāhmaṇas and Devas, the kings on earth began with faith to do many sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Devas.

Ch 8 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्राह्मणाश्च तपोधर्मतीर्थयात्राश्च कुर्वते । वैश्याश्च स्वस्ववृत्तिस्थाः शूद्राः शुश्रूषणे रताः ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

The Brāhmaṇas were engaged in their Tapasyā, Dharma, and in frequenting the places of pilgrimages; the Vaiśyas, in their trade; and the Śūdras, in serving the other three classes.

Ch 8 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नृसिंहेन च पाताले स्थापितः सोऽथ दैत्यराट् । राज्यं चकार तत्रैव प्रजापालनतत्परः ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

The incarnation of Hari, the Nri Simha (Man-Lion) made Prahlāda, the king of the Daityas in the Pātāla (Nether regions); and Prahlāda, engaged there, spent his time in the preservation and welfare of his subjects.

Ch 8 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कदाचिद् भृगुपुत्रोऽथ च्यवनाख्यो महातपाः । जगाम नर्मदां स्नातुं तीर्थं वै व्याहृतीश्वरम् ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

Once, on a time, the great ascetics Cyavana Muni, the son of Bhṛgu went on his way to bathing in the river Narmada, at the place of pilgrimage, called Vyārhitīśvara.

Ch 8 Verse 13-14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रेवां महानदीं दृष्ट्वा ततस्तस्यामवातरत् । उत्तरन्तं प्रजग्राह नागो विषभयङ्करः ॥ १३ ॥ गृहीतो भयभीतस्तु पाताले मुनिसत्तमः । सस्मार मनसा विष्णुं देवदेवं जनार्दनम् ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

There he saw the great river Revā and, while he was descending in the river, a dreadful snake caught hold of him and carried him to the Pātāla. The Muni was greatly terrified and began to think of the Deva of the Devas, Janārdana Viṣṇu.

Ch 8 Verse 15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

संस्मृते पुण्डरीकाक्षे निर्विषोऽभून्महोरगः । न प्राप च्यवनो दुःखं नीयमानो रसातलम् ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

On remembering the lotus eyed Viṣṇu, the serpent lost his poison, and Cyavana Muni did not find any trouble, though carried to the Pātāla.

Ch 8 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

द्विजिह्वेन मुनिस्त्यक्तो निर्विण्णेनातिशङ्किना । मां शपेत मुनिः कुद्धस्तापसोऽयं महानिति ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Then the serpent, coming to know of the power of the Muni, left him for fear that the Muni might curse him; the snake afterwards repented very much.

Ch 8 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चचार नागकन्याभिः पूजितो मुनिसत्तमः । विवेशाप्यथ नागानां दानवानां महत्पुरम् ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Cyavana, the best of the Munis, worshipped by the daughters of the serpents, roamed there and entered once into a beautiful palace of the Nāgas and the Dānavas.

Ch 8 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कदाचिद्भृगुपुत्रं तं विचरन्तं पुरोत्तमे । ददर्श दैत्यराजोऽसौ प्रह्लादो धर्मवत्सलः ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

While he was walking, he was seen by the religious king of the Daityas, the Prahlāda.

Ch 8 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दृष्ट्वा तं पूजयामास मुनिं दैत्यपतिस्तदा । पप्रच्छ कारणं किं ते पातालागमने वद ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

The lord of the Daityas on seeing him worshipped him and enquired of him the cause of his coming there.

Ch 8 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रेषितोऽसि किमिन्द्रेण सत्यं ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम । दैत्यविद्वेषयुक्तेन मम राज्यदिदृक्षया ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Are you sent here by Indra? Speak truly, O best of the Brāhmaṇas. Is it to pry into my kingdom out of the enmity between the Devas and the Daityas?

Ch 8 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

च्यवन उवाच । किं मे मघवता राजन् यदहं प्रेषितः पुनः । दूतकार्यं प्रकुर्वाणः प्राप्तवान्नगरे तव ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Cyavana said :-- What have I to do with Indra? That I might be sent by him, as his spy, messenger, to your city!

Ch 8 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विद्धि मां भृगुपुत्रं तं स्वनेत्रं धर्मतत्परम् । मा शङ्कां कुरु दैत्येन्द्र वासवप्रेषितस्य वै ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

O Chief of the Daityas! Know me as Cyavana, the son of Bhṛgu, prompt in religious duties and whose eye is illumined by knowledge. Do not fear that I am sent here by Indra.

Ch 8 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्नानार्थं नर्मदां प्राप्तः पुण्यतीर्थे नृपोत्तम । नद्यामेवावतीर्णोऽहं गृहीतश्च महाहिना ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

When I went to bathe in a place of pilgrimage, in the holy Narmadā, and dropped into the river, a poisonous snake caught hold of me (and carried me here).

Ch 8 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जातोऽसौ निर्विषः सर्पो विष्णोः संस्मरणादिव । मुक्तोऽहं तेन नागेन प्रभावात्स्मरणस्य वै ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

I took the name of Viṣṇu; and the serpent, hearing the Viṣṇu’s name, became void of poison, and left me here as you see.

Ch 8 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अत्रागतेन राजेन्द्र मयाप्तं तव दर्शनम् । विष्णुभक्तोऽसि दैत्येन्द्र तद्भक्तं मां विचिन्तय ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

O king! Coming here, I see you. You are a devotee of Viṣṇu; know me, too, a devotee of the same Viṣṇu.

Ch 8 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तन्निशम्य वचः श्लक्ष्णं हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः । पप्रच्छ परया प्रीत्या तीर्थानि विविधानि च ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! Prahlāda, the son of Hiraṇya Kaśipu, on hearing his sweet words, gladly asked him about the various places of pilgrimages.

Ch 8 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रह्लाद उवाच । पृथिव्यां कानि तीर्थानि पुण्यानि मुनिसत्तम । पाताले च तथाकाशे तानि नो वद विस्तरात् ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

Prahlāda said :-- O Best of Munis! Kindly describe to me, in detail, which are the places of pilgrimages on the earth, Pātāla, and in the Heavens, that verily lead to holiness.

Ch 8 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

च्यवन उवाच । मनोवाक्कायशुद्धानां राजंस्तीर्थं पदे पदे । तथा मलिनचित्तानां गङ्गापि कीकटाधिका ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Cyavana said :-- O King! He whose body, words, and mind have grown pure, to him, his every footstep is a place of pilgrimage; he, whose heart is impure and defiled, to him the holy Ganges even is a thing more hated and worse than the Kīkaṭa country (the name of Behār).

Ch 8 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रथमं चेन्मनः शुद्धं जातं पापविवर्जितम् । तदा तीर्थानि सर्वाणि पावनानि भवन्ति वै ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

Every holy place will impart holiness to him whose mind is first pure and deprived of sin.

Ch 8 Verse 30-31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गङ्गातीरे हि सर्वत्र वसन्ति नगराणि च । व्रजाश्चैवाकरा ग्रामाः सर्वे खेटास्तथापरे ॥ ३० ॥ निषादानां निवासाश्च कैवर्तानां तथापरे । हूणबङ्गखसानां च म्लेच्छानां दैत्यसत्तम ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

O Best of the Daityas! On the banks of the Ganges, are situated good many cities, towns, villages, places to assemble, mines, small villages, the living places of the aborigines, the cāndālas, and kaivartas, the Hūṇas, Baṅgas, the Khasas and the other Mleccas.

Ch 8 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पिबन्ति सर्वदा गाङ्गं जलं ब्रह्मोपमं सदा । स्नानं कुर्वन्ति दैत्येन्द्र त्रिकालं स्वेच्छया जनाः ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

The inhabitants of the above places drink at their will the holy Ganges water, equivalent to Brāhma, and bathe therein and do other works.

Ch 8 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तत्रैकोऽपि विशुद्धात्मा न भवत्येव मारिष । किं फलं तर्हि तीर्थस्य विषयोपहतात्मसु ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

O King! There not even a single soul becomes pure. What use is a holy place to him, whose heart becomes attached to the sensual objects and who can therefore be called the lost souls.

Ch 8 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कारणं मन एवात्र नान्यद्राजन्विचिन्तय । मनःशुद्धिं प्रकर्तव्या सततं शुद्धिमिच्छता ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

Know, O king! the mind as the principal factor in any religious act or in any holy place. He who wants purity, let him first make his own mind pure.

Ch 8 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तीर्थवासी महापापी भवेत्तत्रात्मवञ्चनात् । तत्रैवाचरितं पापमानन्त्याय प्रकल्पते ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

The residents in any holy place deceive others and thus iñcur great sins. The sins committed in a place of pilgrimage can never be removed; they become unending and inexhaustible.

Ch 8 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यथेन्द्रवारुणं पक्वं मिष्टं नैवोपजायते । भावदुष्टस्तथा तीर्थे कोटिस्तातो न शुध्यति ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

As the fruit, Indravāruṇā, is never sweet though fully ripe, so whose heart is defiled, he can never be pure though he bathes hundreds and thousands of times in the Tīrtha water.

Ch 8 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रथमं मनसः शुद्धिः कर्तव्या शुभमिच्छता । शुद्धे मनसि द्रव्यस्य शुद्धिर्भवति नान्यथा ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

He who wants welfare of his own and others, he should first make his mind pure; when his mind becomes pure, then, the purity of material things and the purity of conduct can have any effect; then and then only resorting to places of pilgrimages becomes efficacious.

Ch 8 Verse 38-39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथैवाचारशुद्धिः स्यात्ततस्तीर्थं प्रसिध्यति । अन्यथा तु कृतं सर्वं व्यर्थं भवति तत्क्षणात् ॥ ३८ ॥ (हीनवर्णस्य संसर्गं तीर्थे गत्वा सदा त्यजेत् ।)॥ भूतानुकम्पनं चैव कर्तव्यं कर्मणा धिया । यदि पृच्छसि राजेन्द्र तीर्थं वक्ष्याम्यनुत्तमम् ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

Always avoid company with the lowest class of persons in the holy places; it is far better to shew one’s good will and compassion to all the souls (jīvas) by one’s intellect and by one’s acts. You have asked me about the holy places of pilgrimages; I will now tell you those that are the best.

Ch 8 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रथमं नैमिषं पुण्यं चक्रतीर्थं च पुष्करम् । अन्येषां चैव तीर्थानां सङ्ख्या नास्ति महीतले ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

O king! The holy Naimiśāraṇya is the first, next Cakratīrtha; next Puskaratīrtha; there are many others besides these that cannot be counted. O Best of kings! There are lots of other holy places in this world.

Ch 8 Verse 41-42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पावनानि च स्थानानि बहूनि नृपसत्तम । व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा नैमिषं गन्तुमुद्यतः ॥ ४१ ॥ नोदयामास दैत्यान्वै हर्षनिर्भरमानसः । प्रह्लाद उवाच । उत्तिष्ठन्तु महाभागा गमिष्यामोऽद्य नैमिषम् ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! Prahlāda, the king of the Daityas, on hearing the Muni’s words, became ready to go Naimiśraṇya and, with very much gladness, exclaimed to his followers, the Daityas :-- O Good Ones! Get up; today we will go to Naimiśāraṇya and we will see the lotus eyed, yellow robed Śrī Achyutam, the Viṣṇu.

Ch 8 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

द्रक्ष्यामः पुण्डरीकाक्षं पीतवाससमच्युतम् । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्ता विष्णुभक्तेन सर्वे ते दानवास्तदा ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! When thus addressed by Prahlāda, the Demons were exceedingly glad; and they all marched out of Pātāla.

Ch 8 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तेनैव सह पातालान्निर्ययुः परया मुदा । ते समेत्य च दैतेया दानवाश्च महाबलाः ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

The Daityas, and Demons all united went to Naimiśāraṇyam and filled with much pleasure, they all bathed on reaching that holy place.

Ch 8 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नैमिषारण्यमासाद्य स्नानं चक्रुर्मुदान्विताः । प्रह्लादस्तत्र तीर्थेषु चरन्दैत्यैः समन्वितः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

There, accompanied by the Daityas, Prahlāda roamed about the sacred places and saw the holy Sarasvatī river and Her pure clean water.

Ch 8 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सरस्वतीं महापुण्यां ददर्श विमलोदकाम् । तीर्थे तत्र नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

The highsouled Prahlāda bathed in the Sarasvatī river and his mind was satisfied.

Ch 8 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मनः प्रसन्नं सञ्जातं स्नात्वा सारस्वते जले । विधिवत्तत्र दैत्येन्द्रः स्नानदानादिकं शुभे ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

The king of the Daityas was very much pleased and he perform ablutions and charities according to due rites in that most auspicious sacred place of pilgrimage. Here ends the Eighth Chapter in the Fourth Book of Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purāṇam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣī Veda Vyāsa on going to the Tīrthas.