Brahma Purana — Chapter 136
BrP 136.1
विष्णुतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं तत्र वृत्तम् इदं शृणु मौद्गल्य इति विख्यातो मुद्गलस्य सुतो ऋषिः ॥
viṣṇutīrtham iti khyātaṃ tatra vṛttam idaṃ śṛṇu maudgalya iti vikhyāto mudgalasya suto ṛṣiḥ //
It is known as Viṣṇutīrtha; hear this event (that took place) there. A sage renowned as Maudgalya was the son of Mudgala.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.2
तस्य भार्या तु जाबाला नाम्ना ख्याता सुपुत्रिणी पिता ऋषिस् तथा वृद्धो मुद्गलो लोकविश्रुतः ॥
tasya bhāryā tu jābālā nāmnā khyātā suputriṇī pitā ṛṣis tathā vṛddho mudgalo lokaviśrutaḥ //
His wife was known by the name Jābālā, blessed with good sons; and his father, the aged sage Mudgala, was famed in the world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.3
तस्य भार्या तथा ख्याता नाम्ना भागीरथी शुभा स मौद्गल्यः प्रातर् एव गङ्गां स्नाति यतव्रतः ॥
tasya bhāryā tathā khyātā nāmnā bhāgīrathī śubhā sa maudgalyaḥ prātar eva gaṅgāṃ snāti yatavrataḥ //
His wife likewise was known by the name Bhāgīrathī, the auspicious one. That Maudgalya, firm in his vows, bathed in the Gaṅgā at dawn itself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.4
नित्यम् एव त्व् इदं कर्म तस्यासीन् मुनिसत्तम गङ्गातीरे कुशैर् मृद्भिः शमीपुष्पैर् अहर्निशम् ॥
nityam eva tv idaṃ karma tasyāsīn munisattama gaṅgātīre kuśair mṛdbhiḥ śamīpuṣpair aharniśam //
This was indeed his daily rite, O best of sages: on the bank of the Gaṅgā, with kuśa grass, with clay, with śamī flowers, day and night,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.5
गुरूदितेन मार्गेण स्वमानससरोरुहे आवाहनं नित्यम् एव विष्णोश् चक्रे स मौद्गलिः ॥
gurūditena mārgeṇa svamānasasaroruhe āvāhanaṃ nityam eva viṣṇoś cakre sa maudgaliḥ //
by the method told by his teacher, that son of Mudgala daily performed the invocation of Viṣṇu in the lotus of his own heart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.6
तेनाहूतस् त्वरन्न् एति लक्ष्मीभर्ता जगत्पतिः वैनतेयम् अथारुह्य शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ॥
tenāhūtas tvarann eti lakṣmībhartā jagatpatiḥ vainateyam athāruhya śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ //
Summoned by him, the husband of Lakṣmī, lord of the world, comes in haste, mounting Garuḍa, bearing conch, discus and mace.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.7
पूजितस् तेन ऋषिणा स मौद्गल्येन यत्नतः प्रब्रूते च कथाश् चित्रा मौद्गल्याय जगत्प्रभुः ॥
pūjitas tena ṛṣiṇā sa maudgalyena yatnataḥ prabrūte ca kathāś citrā maudgalyāya jagatprabhuḥ //
Worshipped diligently by that sage Maudgalya, the lord of the world also recounts wonderful tales to Maudgalya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.8
ततो ऽपराह्णसमये विष्णुः प्राह स मौद्गलिम् याहि वत्स स्वभवनं श्रान्तो ऽसीति पुनः पुनः ॥
tato 'parāhṇasamaye viṣṇuḥ prāha sa maudgalim yāhi vatsa svabhavanaṃ śrānto 'sīti punaḥ punaḥ //
Then, at the time of the afternoon, Viṣṇu says to that son of Mudgala, again and again: "Go, child, to your own house; you are tired."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.9
एवम् उक्तः स देवेन विष्णुना याति स द्विजः जगत्प्रभुस् ततो याति देवैर् युक्तः स्वमन्दिरम् ॥
evam uktaḥ sa devena viṣṇunā yāti sa dvijaḥ jagatprabhus tato yāti devair yuktaḥ svamandiram //
Addressed thus by the god Viṣṇu, that brahmin goes (home); and then the Lord of the world, joined by the gods, goes to his own abode.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.10
मौद्गल्यो ऽपि तथाभ्येत्य किंचिद् आदाय नित्यशः स्वम् एव भवनं विद्वान् भार्यायै स्वार्जितं धनम् ॥
maudgalyo 'pi tathābhyetya kiṃcid ādāya nityaśaḥ svam eva bhavanaṃ vidvān bhāryāyai svārjitaṃ dhanam //
And Maudgalya too, having come thus and taken something each day, (goes) to his own house, the learned one (giving) to his wife the wealth he had earned himself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.11
ददाति स महाविष्णुचरणाब्जपरायणः मौद्गल्यस्य प्रिया सापि पतिव्रतपरायणा ॥
dadāti sa mahāviṣṇucaraṇābjaparāyaṇaḥ maudgalyasya priyā sāpi pativrataparāyaṇā //
He, devoted to the lotus feet of the great Viṣṇu, gives (it); and she, the beloved wife of Maudgalya, is devoted to fidelity to her husband.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.12
शाकं मूलं फलं वापि भर्त्रानीतं तु यत्नतः सुसंस्कृत्याप्य् अतिथीनां बालानां भर्तुर् एव च ॥
śākaṃ mūlaṃ phalaṃ vāpi bhartrānītaṃ tu yatnataḥ susaṃskṛtyāpy atithīnāṃ bālānāṃ bhartur eva ca //
Greens, or a root, or fruit, brought with effort by her husband, she cooks well for the guests, the children, and her husband,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.13
दत्त्वा तु भोजनं तेभ्यः पश्चाद् भुङ्क्ते यतव्रता भुक्तवत्स्व् अथ सर्वेषु रात्रौ नित्यं स मौद्गलिः ॥
dattvā tu bhojanaṃ tebhyaḥ paścād bhuṅkte yatavratā bhuktavatsv atha sarveṣu rātrau nityaṃ sa maudgaliḥ //
and having given them food, she of strict vows eats afterwards. Then, when all have eaten, that Maudgali, every night,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.14
विष्णोः श्रुताः कथाश् चित्रास् तेभ्यो वक्त्य् अथ हर्षितः एवं बहुतिथे काले व्यतीते चातिविस्मिता मौद्गल्यस्य रहो भार्या भर्तारं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ॥
viṣṇoḥ śrutāḥ kathāś citrās tebhyo vakty atha harṣitaḥ evaṃ bahutithe kāle vyatīte cātivismitā maudgalyasya raho bhāryā bhartāraṃ vākyam abravīt //
delighted, tells them the wonderful stories of Viṣṇu that he has heard. When much time had passed in this way, greatly amazed, Maudgalya's wife spoke these words to her husband in private:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.15
यदि ते विष्णुर् अभ्येति समीपं त्रिदशार्चितः तथापि कष्टम् अस्माकं कस्माद् इति जगत्प्रभुम् ॥
yadi te viṣṇur abhyeti samīpaṃ tridaśārcitaḥ tathāpi kaṣṭam asmākaṃ kasmād iti jagatprabhum //
"If Viṣṇu, honoured by the thirty (gods), comes near you, then why is there hardship for us?" — (asking) thus the Lord of the world,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.16
तत् पृच्छ त्वं महाप्राज्ञ यदासौ विष्णुर् एति च यस्मिंश् च स्मृतमात्रे तु जराजन्मरुजो मृतिः नाशं यान्ति कुतो दृष्टे तस्मात् पृच्छ जगत्पतिम् ॥
tat pṛccha tvaṃ mahāprājña yadāsau viṣṇur eti ca yasmiṃś ca smṛtamātre tu jarājanmarujo mṛtiḥ nāśaṃ yānti kuto dṛṣṭe tasmāt pṛccha jagatpatim //
"therefore you, greatly wise one, ask, when that Viṣṇu comes, (him) at the mere remembrance of whom old age, birth, disease and death go to destruction — how then (do they persist) when he is seen? So ask the Lord of the world."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.17
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा प्रियावाक्यान् मौद्गल्यो नित्यवद् धरिम् पूजयित्वा विनीतश् च पप्रच्छ स कृताञ्जलिः ॥
tathety uktvā priyāvākyān maudgalyo nityavad dharim pūjayitvā vinītaś ca papraccha sa kṛtāñjaliḥ //
Saying "So be it" at his beloved's words, Maudgalya, having worshipped Hari as always, humbly asked him with joined palms:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.18
त्वयि स्मृते जगन्नाथ शोकदारिद्र्यदुष्कृतम् नाशं याति विपत्तिर् मे त्वयि दृष्टे कथं स्थिता ॥
tvayi smṛte jagannātha śokadāridryaduṣkṛtam nāśaṃ yāti vipattir me tvayi dṛṣṭe kathaṃ sthitā //
"When you are remembered, Lord of the world, sorrow, poverty and evil deeds go to destruction; how then does my misfortune remain when you are (actually) seen?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.19
स्वकृतं भुज्यते भूतैः सर्वैः सर्वत्र सर्वदा न कोपि कस्यचित् किंचित् करोत्य् अत्र हिताहिते ॥
svakṛtaṃ bhujyate bhūtaiḥ sarvaiḥ sarvatra sarvadā na kopi kasyacit kiṃcit karoty atra hitāhite //
"What one has done oneself is experienced by all beings, everywhere, always; no one here does anything for anyone, whether good or ill.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.20
यादृशं चोप्यते बीजं फलं भवति तादृशम् रसालः स्यान् न निम्बस्य बीजाज् जात्व् अपि कुत्रचित् ॥
yādṛśaṃ copyate bījaṃ phalaṃ bhavati tādṛśam rasālaḥ syān na nimbasya bījāj jātv api kutracit //
And whatever kind of seed is sown, the fruit becomes of that kind: from the seed of a nimba tree there would never, anywhere, be a mango.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.21
न कृता गौतमीसेवा नार्चितौ हरिशंकरौ न दत्तं यैश् च विप्रेभ्यस् ते कथं भाजनं श्रियः ॥
na kṛtā gautamīsevā nārcitau hariśaṃkarau na dattaṃ yaiś ca viprebhyas te kathaṃ bhājanaṃ śriyaḥ //
Those who have not performed service at the Gautamī, have not worshipped Hari and Śaṃkara, and have not given to brahmins — how are they to be vessels of prosperity?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.22
त्वया न दत्तं किंचिच् च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ममापि च यद् दीयते तद् एवेह परस्मिंश् चोपतिष्ठति ॥
tvayā na dattaṃ kiṃcic ca brāhmaṇebhyo mamāpi ca yad dīyate tad eveha parasmiṃś copatiṣṭhati //
And you have given nothing to the brahmins, nor to me; whatever is given, that alone waits for one here and in the other (world).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.23
मृद्भिर् वार्भिः कुशैर् मन्त्रैः शुचिकर्म सदैव यत् करोति तस्मात् पूतात्मा शरीरस्य च शोषणात् ॥
mṛdbhir vārbhiḥ kuśair mantraiḥ śucikarma sadaiva yat karoti tasmāt pūtātmā śarīrasya ca śoṣaṇāt //
Because he always performs the act of purification with earth, water, kuśa grass and mantras, and because of the mortifying of the body, he is one of purified self;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.24
विना दानेन न क्वापि भोगावाप्तिर् नृणां भवेत् सत्कर्माचरणाच् छुद्धो विरक्तः स्यात् ततो नरः ॥
vinā dānena na kvāpi bhogāvāptir nṛṇāṃ bhavet satkarmācaraṇāc chuddho viraktaḥ syāt tato naraḥ //
but without giving there would nowhere be any obtaining of enjoyments for men. By the practice of good works a man becomes pure, and thereafter detached;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.25
ततो ऽप्रतिहतज्ञानो जीवन्मुक्तस् ततो भवेत् सर्वेषां सुलभा मुक्तिर् मद्भक्त्या चेह पूर्ततः ॥
tato 'pratihatajñāno jīvanmuktas tato bhavet sarveṣāṃ sulabhā muktir madbhaktyā ceha pūrtataḥ //
then he comes to have unobstructed knowledge, and then becomes liberated while living. Liberation is easy for all here through devotion to me and through works of public benefit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.26
भुक्तिर् दानादिना सर्वभूतदुःखनिबर्हणात् अथवा लप्स्यसे मुक्तिं भक्त्या भुक्तिं न लप्स्यसे ॥
bhuktir dānādinā sarvabhūtaduḥkhanibarhaṇāt athavā lapsyase muktiṃ bhaktyā bhuktiṃ na lapsyase //
Enjoyment (comes) through giving and the rest, from the removal of the suffering of all beings. Or else you will obtain liberation through devotion — (but) you will not obtain enjoyment."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.27
भक्त्या मुक्तिः कथं भूयाद् भुक्तेर् मुक्तिः सुदुर्लभा जाता चेद् देहिनां मुक्तिः किम् अन्येन प्रयोजनम् ॥
bhaktyā muktiḥ kathaṃ bhūyād bhukter muktiḥ sudurlabhā jātā ced dehināṃ muktiḥ kim anyena prayojanam //
"How could liberation come about through devotion? Liberation (arising) from enjoyment is very hard to get. If liberation has come to embodied beings, what use is anything else?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.28
भक्त्या मुक्तिः सर्वपूज्या ताम् इच्छेयं जगन्मय ॥
bhaktyā muktiḥ sarvapūjyā tām iccheyaṃ jaganmaya //
Liberation through devotion is honoured by all; that is what I would wish, O you who are the world."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.29
एतद् एवान्तरं ब्रह्मन् दीयते माम् अनुस्मरन् ब्राह्मणायाथवार्थिभ्यस् तद् एवाक्षयतां व्रजेत् ॥
etad evāntaraṃ brahman dīyate mām anusmaran brāhmaṇāyāthavārthibhyas tad evākṣayatāṃ vrajet //
Just this is the difference, O brahmin: (what) is given by one who keeps me in mind — to a brahmin or to those who ask — that alone comes to be imperishable.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.30
माम् अध्यात्वाथ यद् दद्यात् तत् तन्मात्रफलप्रदम् तत् पुनर् दत्तम् एवेह न भोगायात्र कल्पते ॥
mām adhyātvātha yad dadyāt tat tanmātraphalapradam tat punar dattam eveha na bhogāyātra kalpate //
But what one gives without having meditated on me yields fruit of just that much (as was given); that, once given here, does not serve for (further) enjoyment here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 136.31
तस्माद् देहि महाबुद्धे भोज्यं किंचिन् मम ध्रुवम् अथवा विप्रमुख्याय गौतमीतीरम् आश्रितः ॥
tasmād dehi mahābuddhe bhojyaṃ kiṃcin mama dhruvam athavā vipramukhyāya gautamītīram āśritaḥ //
— tr. refused: cyber
BrP 136.32
मौद्गल्यः प्राह तं विष्णुं देयं मम न विद्यते नान्यत् किंचन देहादि यत् तत् त्वयि समर्पितम् ॥
maudgalyaḥ prāha taṃ viṣṇuṃ deyaṃ mama na vidyate nānyat kiṃcana dehādi yat tat tvayi samarpitam //
Maudgalya said to that Viṣṇu: "I have nothing to give, nor anything else — body and the rest; whatever there is, that has (already) been offered up to you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.33
ततो विष्णुर् गरुत्मन्तं प्राह शीघ्रं जगत्पतिः इहानयस्व कणिशं ममायं चार्पयिष्यति ॥
tato viṣṇur garutmantaṃ prāha śīghraṃ jagatpatiḥ ihānayasva kaṇiśaṃ mamāyaṃ cārpayiṣyati //
Then Viṣṇu, the lord of the world, said to Garuḍa: "Quickly bring an ear of grain here, and this man will offer it to me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.34
ततो योग्यान् अयं भोगान् प्राप्स्यते मनसः प्रियान् आकर्ण्य स्वामिनादिष्टं तथा चक्रे स पक्षिराट् ॥
tato yogyān ayaṃ bhogān prāpsyate manasaḥ priyān ākarṇya svāminādiṣṭaṃ tathā cakre sa pakṣirāṭ //
— tr. refused: cyber
BrP 136.35
विष्णुहस्ते कणान् प्रादात् स मौद्गल्यो यतव्रतः एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे विष्णुर् विश्वकर्माणम् अब्रवीत् ॥
viṣṇuhaste kaṇān prādāt sa maudgalyo yatavrataḥ etasminn antare viṣṇur viśvakarmāṇam abravīt //
— tr. refused: cyber
BrP 136.36
यावच् चास्य कुले सप्त पुरुषास् तावद् एव तु भवितारो महाबुद्धे तावत् कामा मनीषिताः गावो हिरण्यं धान्यानि वस्त्राण्य् आभरणानि च ॥
yāvac cāsya kule sapta puruṣās tāvad eva tu bhavitāro mahābuddhe tāvat kāmā manīṣitāḥ gāvo hiraṇyaṃ dhānyāni vastrāṇy ābharaṇāni ca //
"As long as there are seven generations of men in his line, just so long, O greatly wise one, shall there come to be for them all the objects of desire they wish for: cows, gold, grains, garments, and ornaments."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 136.37
यच् च किंचिन् मनःप्रीत्यै लोके भवति भूषणम् तत् सर्वम् आप मौद्गल्यो विष्णुगङ्गाप्रभावतः ॥
yac ca kiṃcin manaḥprītyai loke bhavati bhūṣaṇam tat sarvam āpa maudgalyo viṣṇugaṅgāprabhāvataḥ //
And whatever ornament there is in the world for the mind's delight, all that Maudgalya obtained through the power of Viṣṇu and the Gaṅgā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.38
गृहं गच्छेति मौद्गल्यो विष्णुनोक्तस् ततो ययौ आश्रमे स्वस्य सर्वर्द्धिं दृष्ट्वा ऋषिर् अभाषत ॥
gṛhaṃ gaccheti maudgalyo viṣṇunoktas tato yayau āśrame svasya sarvarddhiṃ dṛṣṭvā ṛṣir abhāṣata //
Told by Viṣṇu, "Go home," Maudgalya then departed; and seeing all the abundance in his own hermitage, the sage spoke:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.39
अहो दानप्रभावो ऽयम् अहो विष्णोर् अनुस्मृतिः अहो गङ्गाप्रभावश् च कैर् विचार्यो महान् अयम् ॥
aho dānaprabhāvo 'yam aho viṣṇor anusmṛtiḥ aho gaṅgāprabhāvaś ca kair vicāryo mahān ayam //
"Ah, this is the power of giving! Ah, the remembrance of Viṣṇu! Ah, and the power of the Gaṅgā! By whom can this greatness be measured?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.40
मौद्गल्यो भार्यया सार्धं पुत्रैः पौत्रैश् च बन्धुभिः पितृभ्यां बुभुजे भोगान् भुक्तिं मुक्तिम् अवाप च ॥
maudgalyo bhāryayā sārdhaṃ putraiḥ pautraiś ca bandhubhiḥ pitṛbhyāṃ bubhuje bhogān bhuktiṃ muktim avāpa ca //
Maudgalya, together with his wife, with his sons, grandsons and kinsmen, and with his two parents, enjoyed enjoyments, and attained both enjoyment and liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.41
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं मौद्गल्यं वैष्णवं तथा तत्र स्नानं च दानं च भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् ॥
tataḥ prabhṛti tat tīrthaṃ maudgalyaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ tathā tatra snānaṃ ca dānaṃ ca bhuktimuktiphalapradam //
From that time onward that sacred ford (became known as) Maudgalya and also as Vaiṣṇava; bathing and giving there yield the fruit of enjoyment and liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.42
तत्र श्रुतिः स्मृतिर् वापि तीर्थस्य स्यात् कथंचन तस्य विष्णुर् भवेत् प्रीतः पापैर् मुक्तः सुखी भवेत् ॥
tatra śrutiḥ smṛtir vāpi tīrthasya syāt kathaṃcana tasya viṣṇur bhavet prītaḥ pāpair muktaḥ sukhī bhavet //
If in any way a hearing or a recollection of that sacred ford should occur there, Viṣṇu becomes pleased with that (person), and he, freed from his sins, becomes happy.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 136.43
एकादश सहस्राणि तीर्थानां तीरयोर् द्वयोः सर्वार्थदायिनां तत्र स्नानदानजपादिभिः ॥
ekādaśa sahasrāṇi tīrthānāṃ tīrayor dvayoḥ sarvārthadāyināṃ tatra snānadānajapādibhiḥ //
Eleven thousand sacred fords are (there) on both banks, granting every object (of desire) to (those who worship) there by bathing, giving, muttering prayers, and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition