Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 9 • CHAPTER 29
Ch 29 Verse 1 Verse
Sanskrit Text
९.२९ एकोनत्रिंशोऽध्यायः । सावित्र्युपाख्याने कर्मविपाकवर्णनम् । श्रीनारायण उवाच । सावित्रीवचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम विस्मयं यमः । प्रहस्य वक्तुमारेभे कर्मपाकं तु जीविनाम् ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
Nārāyaṇa said :-- Yama got thunderstruck at these queries of Sāvitrī. He then began to describe, with a smiling countenance, the fruition of the several works of the Jīvas. 2-
Ch 29 Verse 2-3 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धर्म उवाच । कन्या द्वादशवर्षीया वत्से त्वं वयसाधुना । ज्ञानं ते पूर्वविदुषां ज्ञानिनां योगिनां परम् ॥ २ ॥ सावित्रीवरदानेन त्वं सावित्री कला सती । प्राप्ता पुरा भूभृता च तपसा तत्समा सुते ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
He said :-- “O Child! You are now a daughter only twelve years old. But you speak of wisdom like the Highest Jñānins and Yogis, Sanaka and others. O Child! By virtue of the boon granted by Sāvitrī, you have become incarnate of Her in part. The King Aśvapati got you before by performing severe penances.
Ch 29 Verse 4-5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यथा श्रीः श्रीपतेः क्रोडे भवानी च भवोरसि । यथादितिः कश्यपे च यथाहल्या च गौतमे ॥ ४ ॥ यथा शची महेन्द्रे च यथा चन्द्रे च रोहिणी । यथा रतिः कामदेवे यथा स्वाहा हुताशने ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
As Lakṣmī is dear and fortunate with regard to Viṣṇu, as Mahādevi is to Mahādeva, Aditi to Kaśyapa, Ahalyā to Gautama, so you are to Satyavāna in respect of affection and good-luck and other best qualities.
Ch 29 Verse 6-7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यथा स्वधा च पितृषु यथा सन्ध्या दिवाकरे । वरुणानी च वरुणे यज्ञे च दक्षिणा यथा ॥ ६ ॥ यथा वराहे पृथिवी देवसेना च कार्तिके । सौभाग्या सुप्रिया त्वं च तथा सत्यवतः प्रिये ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
As Śacī is to Mahendra, as Rohiṇī is to Moon, as Rati is to Kāma, as Svāhā is to Fire, as Svadhā is to the Pitris, as Sañjñā is to the Sun, as Varuṇānī is to Varuṇa, as Dakṣiṇā is to Yajñā, as Earth is to Varāha, as Devasenā is to Kārtika, so you are fortunate and blessed with respect to Satyavāna.
Ch 29 Verse 8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अयं तुभ्यं वरो दत्तोऽप्यपरं च यथेप्सितम् । शृणु देवि महाभागे ददामि सकलेप्सितम् ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
O Sāvitrī! I myself grant you this boon of my own accord. Now ask other boons. O highly fortunate One! I will fulfil all your desires.”
Ch 29 Verse 9-10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सावित्र्युवाच । सत्यवत औरसानां पुत्राणां शतकं मम । भविष्यति महाभाग वरमेतन्मदीप्सितम् ॥ ९ ॥ मत्पितुः पुत्रशतकं श्वशुरस्य च चक्षुषी । राज्यलाभो भवत्वेवं वरमेतन्मदीप्सितम् ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Sāvitrī said :-- “O Noble One! Let there be one hundred sons of mine by Satyavāna. This is the boon that I want. Let there be one hundred sons of my Father as well; let my Father-in-law get back his (lost) eyesight and may he get back his lost kingdom. This is another boon that I want.
Ch 29 Verse 11-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्ते सत्यवता सार्धं यास्यामि हरिमन्दिरम् । समतीते लक्षवर्षे देहीदं मे जगत्प्रभो ॥ ११ ॥ जीवकर्मविपाकं च श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम । विश्वनिस्तारबीजं च तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
Thou art the Lord of the world. So grant me this boon, too, that I may have this my very body for a lakh years when I may go to Vaikuṇṭha with Satyavāna. Now I am eager to hear the various fruitions of Karmas of several Jīvas. Kindly narrate them and oblige.”
Ch 29 Verse 13-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धर्मराज उवाच । भविष्यति महासाध्वि सर्वं मानसिकं तव । जीवकर्मविपाकं च कथयामि निशामय ॥ १३ ॥ शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां जन्म भारते । पुण्यक्षेत्रे च नान्यत्र सर्वं च भुञ्जते जनाः ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Dharma said :-- You are very chaste. So what you have thought will verily come to pass. Now I describe the fruition of Karmas of the Jīvas. Listen. Excepting this holy land of Bhārata, nowhere do the people enjoy wholly the fruition of their two-fold Karmas, good and bad.
Ch 29 Verse 15-16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुरा दैत्या दानवाश्च गन्धर्वा राक्षसादयः । नराश्च कर्मजनका न सर्वे जीविनः सति ॥ १५ ॥ विशिष्टजीविनः कर्म भुञ्जते सर्वयोनिषु । शुभाशुभं च सर्वत्र स्वर्गेषु नरकेषु च ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
It is only the Suras, Daityas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, and men that do Karmas. The beasts and the other Jīvas do not do Karmas. The special Jīvas, e.g., men, etc., experience the fruition of their Karmas in Heavens, hells and in all the other Yonis (wombs).
Ch 29 Verse 17-18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विशेषतो जीविनश्च भ्रमन्ते सर्वयोनिषु । शुभाशुभं भुञ्जते च कर्म पूर्वार्जितं परम् ॥ १७ ॥ शुभेन कर्मणा याति स्वर्लोकादिकमेव च । कर्मणा चाशुभेनैव भ्रमन्ति नरकेषु च ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
Specially, as the Jīvas roam in all the different Yonis, they enjoy their Karmas, good or bad, as the case may be, carved in their previous births. The good works get fructified in Heavens; and the bad works lead the Jīvas to hells.
Ch 29 Verse 19-20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कर्मनिर्मूलने भक्तिः सा चोक्ता द्विविधा सति । निर्वाणरूपा भक्तिश्च ब्रह्मणः प्रकृतेरिह ॥ १९ ॥ रोगी कुकर्मणा जीवश्चारोगी शुभकर्मणा । दीर्घजीवी च क्षीणायुः सुखी दुःखी च कर्मणा ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
This Karma can be got rid of by Bhakti. This Bhakti is of two kinds :-- (1) Nirguṇā of the nature of Nirvāṇa; and (2) towards Prakriti, of the astute of Brahmā, and with Māyā inherent. Diseases come as the result of bad and ignorant actions and healthiness comes from good and certain scientific Karmas. Similar are the remarks for short and long lives for happiness and pain.
Ch 29 Verse 21-22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्धादयश्चाङ्गहीनाः कर्मणा कुत्सितेन च । सिद्ध्यादिकमवाप्नोति सर्वोत्कृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥ २१ ॥ सामान्यं कथितं देवि विशेषं शृणु सुन्दरि । सुदुर्लभं सुगोप्यं च पुराणेषु स्मृतिष्वपि ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
By bad works, one becomes blind or deformed in body. So by doing excellent Karmas, one acquires Siddhis, etc.. These are spoken generally. I will now speak in detail; listen. This is very secret even in Purāṇas and Smritis.
Ch 29 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दुर्लभा मानुषी जातिः सर्वजातिषु भारते । सर्वेभ्यो ब्राह्मणः श्रेष्ठः प्रशस्तः सर्वकर्मसु ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
In this Bhāratavarṣa men are the best of all the various classes of beings. The Brāhmaṇs are the best of men and are best in all Kinds of Karmas. They are responsible, too, for their actions.
Ch 29 Verse 24-26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ब्रह्मनिष्ठो द्विजश्चैव गरीयान् भारते सति । निष्कामश्च सकामश्च ब्राह्मणो द्विविधः सति ॥ २४ ॥ सकामाज्ज प्रधानश्च निष्कामो भक्त एव च । कर्मभोगी सकामश्च निष्कामो निरुपद्रवः ॥ २५ ॥ स याति देहं त्यक्त्वा च पदं यत्तन्निरामयम् । पुनरागमनं नास्ति तेषां निष्कामिनां सति ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
O Chaste One! Of the Brāhmins, again, those that are attached to the Brāhmaṇas are the best. The Brāhmaṇas are of two kinds as they are Sakāma (with desires) or Niṣkāma (without desires). The Niṣkāmī Brāhmaṇas are superior to the Sakāmī Brāhmaṇas. For the Sakāmīs are to enjoy the fruits of their Karmas, while the Niṣkāmī Brāhmaṇas are perfectly free from any such disturbances (they have not to come back to this field of Karma). The Niṣkāma Bhakta after they quit their bodies, go to a place free from sickness or disease, pure and perfect. From there they do not come back.
Ch 29 Verse 27-28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सेवन्ते द्विभुजं कृष्णं परमात्मानमीश्वरम् । गोलोकं प्रति ते भक्ता दिव्यरूपविधारिणः ॥ २७ ॥ सकामिनो वैष्णवाश्च गत्वा वैकुण्ठमेव च । भारतं पुनरायान्ति तेषां जन्म द्विजातिषु ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
The Niṣkāma Bhaktas assuming the divine forms go to the Goloka and worship the Highest God, the Highest Self, the two-armed Kṛṣṇa. The Sakāmī Vaiṣṇavas go to Vaikuṇṭha; but they come back in Bhārata and get into the wombs of the twice-born.
Ch 29 Verse 29-30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
काले गते च निष्कामा भवन्त्येव क्रमेण च । भक्तिं च निर्मलां तेभ्यो दास्यामि निश्चितं पुनः ॥ २९ ॥ ब्राह्मणा वैष्णवाश्चैव सकामाः सर्वजन्मसु । न तेषां निर्मला बुद्धिर्विष्णुभक्तिविवर्जिताः ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
By degrees they also become Niṣkāma when they certainly acquire pure undefiled Bhakti. The Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas that are Sakāmīs in all the births, never get that pure undefiled intellect and never get the devotion to Viṣṇu.
Ch 29 Verse 31-32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तीर्थाश्रिता द्विजा ये च तपस्यानिरताः सति । ते यान्ति ब्रह्मलोकं च पुनरायान्ति भारते ॥ ३१ ॥ स्वधर्मनिरता ये च तीर्थान्यत्रनिवासिनः । व्रजन्ति ते सत्यलोकं पुनरायान्ति भारते ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmaṇas, living in the Tīrthas (sacred places of pilgrimages) and attached to Tapas go to Brahmaloka (the region of Brahmā); they again come down to Bhārata. Those that are devotedly attached to their own Dharma (religion) and reside in places other than Tīrthas, go to Satyaloka and again come to Bhārata.
Ch 29 Verse 33-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वधर्मनिरता विप्राः सूर्यभक्ताश्च भारते । व्रजन्ति ते सूर्यलोकं पुनरायान्ति भारते ॥ ३३ ॥ मूलप्रकृतिभक्ता ये निष्कामा धर्मचारिणः । मणिद्वीपं प्रयान्त्येव पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmaṇas, following their own Dharma and devoted to the Sun go to the world of the Sun and again come to Bhārata. And those who are devoted to Mūla Prakriti and devoted to Niṣkāma Dharma go to Maṇi Dvīpa and have not to come back from thither.
Ch 29 Verse 35-36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वधर्मे निरता भक्ताः शैवाः शाक्ताश्च गाणपाः । ते यान्ति शिवलोकं च पुनरायान्ति भारते ॥ ३५ ॥ ये विप्रा अन्यदेवेज्याः स्वधर्मनिरताः सति । ते यान्ति सर्वलोकं च पुनरायान्ति भारते ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
The Bhaktas of Śiva, Śakti, and Gane’sa, and attached to their own Dharmas respectively go to the Śiva Loka and return from thence. Those Brāhmaṇas that worship the other Devas and attached to their own Dharmas go to those regions of theirs respectively and again come to Bhārata.
Ch 29 Verse 37-38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हरिभक्ताश्च निष्कामाः स्वधर्मनिरता द्विजाः । ते च यान्ति हरेर्लोकं क्रमाद्भक्तिबलादहो ॥ ३७ ॥ स्वधर्मरहिता विप्रा देवान्यसेवनाः सदा । भ्रष्टाचाराश्च कामाश्च ते यान्ति नरकं ध्रुवम् ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Attached to their own Dharmas, the Niṣkāmī Bhaktas of Hari go by their Bhakti step by step to the region of Śrī Hari. Those that are not attached to their own Dharmas and do not worship the Devas and always bent on doing things as they like without any regard to their Ācāras go certainly to hells. No doubt in this.
Ch 29 Verse 39-40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वधर्मनिरता एव वर्णाश्चत्वार एव च । भवन्त्येव शुभस्यैव कर्मणः फलभोगिनः ॥ ३९ ॥ स्वकर्मरहिता ये च नरकं यान्ति ते ध्रुवम् । भारते न भवन्त्येव कर्मणः फलभोगिनः ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmaṇas and the other three Varṇas, attached to their own Dharmas all enjoy the fruits of their good works. But those who do not do their Svadharma, go verily down into hells. They do not came to Bhārata for their rebirth, they enjoy their fruits of Karmas in hells!
Ch 29 Verse 41-42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वधर्मनिरता एव वर्णाश्चत्वार एव च । स्वधर्मनिरता विप्राः स्वधर्मनिरताय च ॥ ४१ ॥ कन्यां ददति विप्राय चन्द्रलोकं प्रयान्ति ते । वसन्ति तत्र ते साध्वि यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
Therefore the four Varṇas ought to follow their own Dharmas of the Brāhmaṇas, they are to remain attached to their own Dharmas and give their daughters in marriage to the similarly qualified Brāhmaṇas. They then go to the Candraloka (the region of the Moon). There they remain for the life periods of the fourteen Indras.
Ch 29 Verse 43-44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सालङ्कृताया दानेन द्विगुणं फलमुच्यते । सकामा यान्ति तल्लोकं न निष्कामाश्च साधवः ॥ ४३ ॥ ते प्रयान्ति विष्णुलोकं फलसङ्घातवर्जिताः । गव्यं च रजतं स्वर्णं वस्त्रं सर्पिः फलं जलम् ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
And if the girl be given, with ornaments, the results obtained would be twice. If the girl be given with a desire in view, then that world is obtained; but if the girl be given without any desire but to fulfil the God’s will and God’s satisfaction only, then one would not have to go to that world. They go to Viṣṇu Loka, bereft of the fruits of all Karmas.
Ch 29 Verse 45 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ये ददत्येव विप्रेभ्यश्चन्द्रलोकं प्रयान्ति ते । वसन्ति ते च तल्लोके यावन्मन्वन्तरं सति ॥ ४५ ॥
English Translation
Those that give to the Brāhmaṇas pasture ground and cattle, silver, gold, garment, fruits and water, go to the Candraloka and live there for one Manvantara. They live long in those regions by virtue of that merit.
Ch 29 Verse 46-47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुचिरात्सुचिरं वासं कुर्वन्ति तेन ते जनाः । ये ददति सुवर्णांश्च गाश्च ताम्रादिकं सति ॥ ४६ ॥ ते यान्ति सूर्यलोकं च शुचये ब्राह्मणाय च । वसन्ति ते तत्र लोके वर्षाणामयुतं सति ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
Again those that give gold, cows, copper, etc., to the holy Brāhmaṇas, go to the Sūrya Loka (the region of the Sun) and live there for one Ayuta years (10,000 years), free from diseases, etc., for a long time.
Ch 29 Verse 48-49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विपुले सुचिरं वासं कुर्वन्ति च निरामयाः । ददाति भूमिं विप्रेभ्यो धनानि विपुलानि च ॥ ४८ ॥ स याति विष्णुलोकं च श्वेतद्वीपं मनोहरम् । तत्रैव निवसत्येव यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
Those that give lands and lots of wealth to the Brāhmins, go to the Viṣṇu Loka and to the beautiful Śveta Dvīpa (one of the eighteen minor divisions of the known continents). And there they live as long as the Sun and Moon exist. O Muni! The meritorious persons live long in that wide region. Note :-- Śveta Dvīpa may mean Vaikuṇṭha, where Viṣṇu resides.
Ch 29 Verse 50-52 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विपुले विपुलं वासं करोति पुण्यवान्मुने । गृहं ददति विप्राय ये जना भक्तिपूर्वकम् ॥ ५० ॥ ते यान्ति विष्णुलोकं च सुचिरं सुखदायकम् । गृहरेणुप्रमाणं च विष्णुलोके महत्तमे ॥ ५१ ॥ विपुले विपुलं वासं कुर्वन्ति मानवाः सति । यस्मै यस्मै च देवाय यो ददाति गृहं नरः ॥ ५२ ॥
English Translation
Those who give with devotion dwelling places to the Brāhmaṇas, go to the happy Viṣṇu Loka. And there, in that great Viṣṇu Loka, they live for years equal to the number of molecules, in that house. He who offers a dwelling house in honour of any Deva, goes to the region of that Deva and remains there for a number of years equivalent to the number of particles in that house.
Ch 29 Verse 53 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स याति तस्य लोकं च रेणुमानाब्दमेव च । सौधे चतुर्गुणं पुण्यं देशे शतगुणं फलम् ॥ ५३ ॥
English Translation
The lotus-born Brahmā said that if one offers a royal palace, one obtains a result four times and if one offers a country, one gets the result one hundred times that; again if one offers an excellent country, twice as much merit one acquires.
Ch 29 Verse 54-56 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रकृष्टे द्विगुणं तस्मादित्याह कमलोद्भवः । यो ददाति तडागं च सर्वपापापनुत्तये ॥ ५४ ॥ स याति जनलोकं च रेणुमानाब्दमेव च । वाप्यां फलं दशगुणं प्राप्नोति मानवः सदा ॥ ५५ ॥ स तु वापीप्रदानेन तडागस्य फलं लभेत् । धनुश्चतुःसहस्रेण दर्श्यमानेन निश्चितम् ॥ ५६ ॥
English Translation
One who dedicates a tank for the expiation of all one’s sins, one lives in Janar Loka (one of the pious regions) for a period equivalent to the number of particles therein). If any man offers a Vāpī (a well) in preference to other gifts, one gets ten fold fruits thereby. If one offers seven Vāpīs, one acquires the fruits of offering one tank.
Ch 29 Verse 57-58 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न्यूना वा तावती प्रस्थे सा वापी परिकीर्तिता । दशवापीसमा कन्या यदि पात्रे प्रदीयते ॥ ५७ ॥ फलं ददाति द्विगुणं यदि सालङ्कृता भवेत् । यत्फलं च तडागे च तदुद्धारे च तत्कलम् ॥ ५८ ॥
English Translation
A Vāpī is one which is four thousand Dhanus long and which is as much wide or less (Note :-- Dhanu equals a measure of four hastas). If offered to a good bridegroom, then the giving of a daughter in marriage is equivalent to a dedication of ten Vāpīs. And if the girl be offered with ornaments, twice the merits accrue. The same merit accrues in clearing the bed of the mud of a pond as in digging it. So for the Vāpī (well).
Ch 29 Verse 59-60 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वाप्याश्च पङ्कोद्धरणे वापीतुल्यफलं लभेत् । अश्वत्थवृक्षमारोप्य प्रतिष्ठां यः करोति च ॥ ५९ ॥ स प्रयाति तपोलोकं वर्षाणामयुतं सति । पुष्पोद्यानं यो ददाति सावित्रि सर्वभूतये ॥ ६० ॥
English Translation
O Chaste One! He who plants an Aśvattha tree and dedicates it to a godly purpose, lives for one Ayuta years in Tapar Loka. O Sāvitrī! He who dedicates a flower garden for the acquirement of all sorts of good, lives for one Ayuta years in Dhruva Loka.
Ch 29 Verse 61-62 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स वसेद् ध्रुवलोके च वर्षाणामयुतं धुवम् । यो ददाति विमानं च विष्णवे भारते सति ॥ ६१ ॥ विष्णुलोके वसेत्सोऽपि यावन्मन्वन्तरं परम् । चित्रयुक्ते च विपुले फलं तस्य चतुर्गुणम् ॥ ६२ ॥
English Translation
O Chaste One! He who gives a Vīmāna (any sort of excellent carriage) in honour of Viṣṇu, in this Hindoosthān, lives for one Manvantara in Visnuloka. And if one gives a Vīmāna of variegated colours and workmanship, four times the result accrues. And one who gives a palanquin, acquires half the fruits.
Ch 29 Verse 63-64 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्यार्धं शिबिकादाने फलमेव लभेद् ध्रुवम् । यो ददाति भक्तियुक्तो हरये दोलमन्दिरम् ॥ ६३ ॥ विष्णुलोके वसेत्सोऽपि यावन्मन्वन्तरं शतम् । राजमार्गं सौधयुक्तं यः करोति पतिव्रते ॥ ६४ ॥
English Translation
Again if anybody gives, out of devotion, a swinging temple (the Dol Mandir) to Bhagavān Śrī Hari, lives for one hundred Manvantras, in the region of Viṣṇu. O Chaste One! He who makes a gift of a royal road, decorated with palatial buildings on either side, lives with great honour and love in that Indraloka for one Ayuta years.
Ch 29 Verse 65-66 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वर्षाणामयुतं सोऽपि शक्रलोके महीयते । ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽथ देवेभ्यो दाने समफलं लभेत् ॥ ६५ ॥ यद्धि दत्तं च तद्भुङ्क्ते न दत्तं नोपतिष्ठते । भुक्त्वा स्वर्गादिजं सौख्यं पुण्यवाञ्जन्म भारते ॥ ६६ ॥
English Translation
Equal results follow whether the above things are offered to the Gods or to the Brāhmaṇas. He enjoys that which he gives. No giving, no enjoying. After enjoying the heavenly pleasures, etc., the virtuous person takes birth in Bhārata as a Brāhmin or in other good families, in due order, and ultimately in the Brāhmaṇa families.
Ch 29 Verse 67-68 Verse
Sanskrit Text
लभेद्विप्रकुलेष्वेव क्रमेणैवोत्तमादिषु । भारते पुण्यवान्विप्रो भुक्त्वा स्वर्गादिकं फलम् ॥ ६७ ॥ पुनः सोऽपि भवेद्विप्रश्चैवं च क्षत्रियादयः । क्षत्रियो वाथ वैश्यो वा कल्पकोटिशतेन च ॥ ६८ ॥
English Translation
The virtuous Brāhmaṇa, after he has enjoyed the heavenly pleasures, takes his birth again in Bhārata in Brāhmaṇa, Kṣattriya or in Vaiśya families. A Kṣattriya or a Vaiśya can never obtain Brāhmaṇahood, even if he performs asceticism for one Koṭi Kalpas.
Ch 29 Verse 69-71 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तपसा ब्राह्मणत्वं च न प्राप्नोति श्रुतौ श्रुतम् । नाभुक्तं क्षीयते कर्म कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ॥ ६९ ॥ अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम् । देवतीर्थसहायेन कायव्यूहेन शुध्यति । एतत्ते कथितं किञ्चित् किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ ७० ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां नवमस्कन्धे नारायणनारदसंवादे सावित्र्युपाख्याने कर्मविपाकवर्णनं नामैकोनत्रिशोऽध्यायः ॥ ९.२९॥
English Translation
This is stated in the Śrutis. Without enjoying the fruits, no Karma can be exhausted even in one hundred Koṭi Kalpas. So the fruits of the Karmas must be enjoyed, whether they be auspicious or inauspicious. By the help of seeing the Devas and seeing the Tīrthas again and again, purity is acquired. O Sāvitrī! So now I have told you something. What more d o you want to hear? Say. Here ends the Twenty-Ninth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the anecdote of Sāvitrī on the fruits of making gifts and on the effects of Karmas in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.