Brahma Purana — Chapter 137
BrP 137.1
लक्ष्मीतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं साक्षाल् लक्ष्मीविवर्धनम् अलक्ष्मीनाशनं पुण्यम् आख्यानं शृणु नारद ॥
lakṣmītīrtham iti khyātaṃ sākṣāl lakṣmīvivardhanam alakṣmīnāśanaṃ puṇyam ākhyānaṃ śṛṇu nārada //
It is known as Lakṣmī's ford, directly increasing prosperity (lakṣmī) and destroying ill fortune (alakṣmī); hear the holy story (of it), Nārada.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.2
संवादश् च पुरा त्व् आसील् लक्ष्म्याः पुत्र दरिद्रया परस्परविरोधिन्याव् उभे विश्वं समीयतुः ॥
saṃvādaś ca purā tv āsīl lakṣmyāḥ putra daridrayā parasparavirodhinyāv ubhe viśvaṃ samīyatuḥ //
Once, my son, there was a dispute between Lakṣmī and Poverty; the two, being mutually opposed, went about the whole world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.3
ताभ्याम् अव्यापृतं वस्तु तन् नास्ति भुवनत्रये मम ज्यैष्ठ्यं मम ज्यैष्ठ्यम् इत्य् ऊचतुर् उभे मिथः अहं पूर्वं समुद्भूता इत्य् आह श्रियम् ओजसा ॥
tābhyām avyāpṛtaṃ vastu tan nāsti bhuvanatraye mama jyaiṣṭhyaṃ mama jyaiṣṭhyam ity ūcatur ubhe mithaḥ ahaṃ pūrvaṃ samudbhūtā ity āha śriyam ojasā //
There is no thing in the three worlds that is not occupied by those two. "Seniority is mine, seniority is mine" — thus the two spoke to each other; "I arose first," said (Poverty) forcefully to Śrī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.4
कुलं शीलं जीवितं वा देहिनाम् अहम् एव तु मया विना देहभाजो जीवन्तो ऽपि मृता इव ॥
kulaṃ śīlaṃ jīvitaṃ vā dehinām aham eva tu mayā vinā dehabhājo jīvanto 'pi mṛtā iva //
"Family, good conduct, or the very life of embodied beings — that am I alone; without me, those who wear bodies, though alive, are as if dead."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.5
दरिद्रया च सा प्रोक्ता सर्वेभ्यो ह्य् अधिका ह्य् अहम् मुक्तिर् मदाश्रिता नित्यं दरिद्रैवं वचो ऽब्रवीत् ॥
daridrayā ca sā proktā sarvebhyo hy adhikā hy aham muktir madāśritā nityaṃ daridraivaṃ vaco 'bravīt //
And she was addressed by Poverty: "I indeed am greater than all; liberation ever depends on me" — such was the speech Poverty uttered.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.6
कामः क्रोधश् च लोभश् च मदो मात्सर्यम् एव च यत्राहम् अस्मि तत्रैते न तिष्ठन्ति कदाचन ॥
kāmaḥ krodhaś ca lobhaś ca mado mātsaryam eva ca yatrāham asmi tatraite na tiṣṭhanti kadācana //
Desire, anger, greed, intoxication, and envy too — where I am, these never abide.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.7
न भयोद्भूतिर् उन्माद ईर्ष्या उद्धतवृत्तिता यत्राहम् अस्मि तत्रैते न तिष्ठन्ति कदाचन ॥
na bhayodbhūtir unmāda īrṣyā uddhatavṛttitā yatrāham asmi tatraite na tiṣṭhanti kadācana //
No arising of fear, no madness, no jealousy, no arrogant conduct — where I am, these never abide.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.8
दरिद्राया वचः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मीस् तां प्रत्यभाषत ॥
daridrāyā vacaḥ śrutvā lakṣmīs tāṃ pratyabhāṣata //
Having heard the words of Poverty, Lakṣmī replied to her:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.9
अलंकृतो मया जन्तुः सर्वो भवति पूजितः निर्धनः शिवतुल्यो ऽपि सर्वैर् अप्य् अभिभूयते ॥
alaṃkṛto mayā jantuḥ sarvo bhavati pūjitaḥ nirdhanaḥ śivatulyo 'pi sarvair apy abhibhūyate //
Every creature adorned by me becomes honoured; but the man without wealth, though he be equal to Śiva, is despised by all.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.10
देहीति वचनद्वारा देहस्थाः पञ्च देवताः सद्यो निर्गत्य गच्छन्ति धीश्रीह्रीशान्तिकीर्तयः ॥
dehīti vacanadvārā dehasthāḥ pañca devatāḥ sadyo nirgatya gacchanti dhīśrīhrīśāntikīrtayaḥ //
Through the doorway of the word "give!", the five deities dwelling in the body — Wisdom, Prosperity, Modesty, Peace and Fame — at once go out and depart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.11
तावद् गुणा गुरुत्वं च यावन् नार्थयते परम् अर्थी चेत् पुरुषो जातः क्व गुणाः क्व च गौरवम् ॥
tāvad guṇā gurutvaṃ ca yāvan nārthayate param arthī cet puruṣo jātaḥ kva guṇāḥ kva ca gauravam //
Virtues and weightiness last only so long as one does not beg from another; if a man becomes a beggar, where are his virtues, and where his dignity?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.12
तावत् सर्वोत्तमो जन्तुस् तावत् सर्वगुणालयः नमस्यः सर्वलोकानां यावन् नार्थयते परम् ॥
tāvat sarvottamo jantus tāvat sarvaguṇālayaḥ namasyaḥ sarvalokānāṃ yāvan nārthayate param //
A creature is best of all, and the abode of all virtues, and to be bowed to by all the worlds, only so long as he does not beg from another.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.13
कष्टम् एतन् महापापं निर्धनत्वं शरीरिणाम् न मानयति नो वक्ति न स्पृशत्य् अधनं जनः ॥
kaṣṭam etan mahāpāpaṃ nirdhanatvaṃ śarīriṇām na mānayati no vakti na spṛśaty adhanaṃ janaḥ //
This is a grievous thing, a great sin for embodied beings — poverty; people do not honour, do not speak to, do not touch the man without wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.14
अहम् एव ततः श्रेष्ठा दरिद्रे शृणु मे वचः ॥
aham eva tataḥ śreṣṭhā daridre śṛṇu me vacaḥ //
Therefore I alone am the better one. Poverty, hear my word.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.15
तल् लक्ष्मीवचनं श्रुत्वा दरिद्रा वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ॥
tal lakṣmīvacanaṃ śrutvā daridrā vākyam abravīt //
Having heard that speech of Lakṣmī, Poverty spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.16
वक्तुं न लक्ष्मीर् ज्येष्ठाहम् इति वै लज्जसे मुहुः पापेषु रमसे नित्यं विहाय पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥
vaktuṃ na lakṣmīr jyeṣṭhāham iti vai lajjase muhuḥ pāpeṣu ramase nityaṃ vihāya puruṣottamam //
Lakṣmī, are you not ashamed again and again to say "I am the elder"? You constantly delight in the wicked, abandoning the Supreme Person.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.17
विश्वस्तवञ्चका नित्यं भवती श्लाघसे कथम् सुखं न तादृक् त्वत्प्राप्तौ पश्चात्तापो यथा गुरुः ॥
viśvastavañcakā nityaṃ bhavatī ślāghase katham sukhaṃ na tādṛk tvatprāptau paścāttāpo yathā guruḥ //
You are forever the deceiver of those who trust you — how do you boast? The happiness at your attainment is not so great as the remorse (that follows) is heavy.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.18
न तथा जायते पुंसां सुरया दारुणो मदः त्वत्संनिधानमात्रेण यथा वै विदुषाम् अपि ॥
na tathā jāyate puṃsāṃ surayā dāruṇo madaḥ tvatsaṃnidhānamātreṇa yathā vai viduṣām api //
Not so does the terrible intoxication arise in men from liquor as it does, even in the learned, from your mere nearness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.19
सदैव रमसे लक्ष्मीः प्रायस् त्वं पापकारिषु अहं वसामि योग्येषु धर्मशीलेषु सर्वदा ॥
sadaiva ramase lakṣmīḥ prāyas tvaṃ pāpakāriṣu ahaṃ vasāmi yogyeṣu dharmaśīleṣu sarvadā //
You, Lakṣmī, ever delight for the most part in doers of evil; I dwell always in worthy men, in those of righteous conduct,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.20
शिवविष्ण्वनुरक्तेषु कृतज्ञेषु महत्सु च सदाचारेषु शान्तेषु गुरुसेवोद्यतेषु च ॥
śivaviṣṇvanurakteṣu kṛtajñeṣu mahatsu ca sadācāreṣu śānteṣu gurusevodyateṣu ca //
in those devoted to Śiva and Viṣṇu, in the grateful and the great, in those of good conduct, the tranquil, and those intent on serving their teachers,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.21
सत्सु विद्वत्सु शूरेषु कृतबुद्धिषु साधुषु निवसामि सदा लक्ष्मीस् तस्माज् ज्यैष्ठ्यं मयि स्थितम् ॥
satsu vidvatsu śūreṣu kṛtabuddhiṣu sādhuṣu nivasāmi sadā lakṣmīs tasmāj jyaiṣṭhyaṃ mayi sthitam //
in the good, the learned, the brave, the resolute, the virtuous — there I always dwell, Lakṣmī; therefore seniority rests with me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.22
ब्राह्मणेषु शुचिष्मत्सु व्रतचारिषु भिक्षुषु निर्भयेषु वसिष्यामि लक्ष्मीस् त्वं शृणु ते स्थितिम् ॥
brāhmaṇeṣu śuciṣmatsu vratacāriṣu bhikṣuṣu nirbhayeṣu vasiṣyāmi lakṣmīs tvaṃ śṛṇu te sthitim //
Among brahmins, among the pure, among keepers of vows, among mendicants, among the fearless, I shall dwell. Lakṣmī, hear now of your own standing.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.23
राजवर्तिषु पापेषु निष्ठुरेषु खलेषु च पिशुनेषु च लुब्धेषु विकृतेषु शठेषु च ॥
rājavartiṣu pāpeṣu niṣṭhureṣu khaleṣu ca piśuneṣu ca lubdheṣu vikṛteṣu śaṭheṣu ca //
Among those who attend on kings, the sinful, the harsh, the base, the slanderous, the greedy, the perverse, and the crooked,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.24
अनार्येषु कृतघ्नेषु धर्मघातिषु सर्वदा मित्रद्रोहिष्व् अनिष्टेषु भग्नचित्तेषु वर्तसे ॥
anāryeṣu kṛtaghneṣu dharmaghātiṣu sarvadā mitradrohiṣv aniṣṭeṣu bhagnacitteṣu vartase //
among the ignoble, the ungrateful, the destroyers of dharma, the betrayers of friends, the disagreeable, the broken-minded — there you always move.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.25
एवं विवदमाने ते जग्मतुर् माम् उभे अपि तयोर् वाक्यम् उपश्रुत्य मयोक्ते ते उभे अपि ॥
evaṃ vivadamāne te jagmatur mām ubhe api tayor vākyam upaśrutya mayokte te ubhe api //
Thus disputing, the two of them came to me; and having heard the speech of both, I said to them both:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.26
मत्तः पूर्वतरा पृथ्वी आपः पूर्वतरास् ततः स्त्रीणां विवादं ता एव स्त्रियो जानन्ति नेतरे ॥
mattaḥ pūrvatarā pṛthvī āpaḥ pūrvatarās tataḥ strīṇāṃ vivādaṃ tā eva striyo jānanti netare //
"The earth is older than I, and the waters are older still than she. A dispute among women — women alone understand it, not others."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.27
विशेषतः पुनस् ताभ्यः कमण्डलुभवाश् च याः तत्रापि गौतमी देवी निश्चयं कथयिष्यति ॥
viśeṣataḥ punas tābhyaḥ kamaṇḍalubhavāś ca yāḥ tatrāpi gautamī devī niścayaṃ kathayiṣyati //
"And more particularly than those, (there are) the ones born from a water-pot; and among them too the goddess Gautamī will declare the decision."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 137.28
सैव सर्वार्तिसंहर्त्री सैव संदेहकर्तरी ते मद्वाक्याद् भुवं गत्वा भूम्या च सहिते अपि ॥
saiva sarvārtisaṃhartrī saiva saṃdehakartarī te madvākyād bhuvaṃ gatvā bhūmyā ca sahite api //
"She indeed removes all distress, she indeed is the resolver of doubt." At my word the two of them went to the earth, joined together with the earth as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 137.29
अद्भिश् च सहिताः सर्वा गौतमीं ययुर् आपगाम् भूमिर् आपस् तयोर् वाक्यं गौतम्यै क्रमशः स्फुटम् ॥
adbhiś ca sahitāḥ sarvā gautamīṃ yayur āpagām bhūmir āpas tayor vākyaṃ gautamyai kramaśaḥ sphuṭam //
And together with the waters they all went to the river Gautamī; the earth and the waters (reported) the speech of those two to Gautamī, clearly and in order,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.30
सर्वं निवेदयाम् आसुर् यथावृत्तं प्रणम्य ताम् दरिद्रायाश् च लक्ष्म्याश् च वाक्यं मध्यस्थवत् तदा ॥
sarvaṃ nivedayām āsur yathāvṛttaṃ praṇamya tām daridrāyāś ca lakṣmyāś ca vākyaṃ madhyasthavat tadā //
they made known everything as it had happened, bowing to her — the speech of the destitute woman and of Lakṣmī, impartially, then.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.31
शृण्वत्सु लोकपालेषु शृण्वत्यां भुवि नारद शृण्वतीष्व् अप्सु सा गङ्गा दरिद्रां वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् संप्रशस्य तथा लक्ष्मीं गौतमी वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ॥
śṛṇvatsu lokapāleṣu śṛṇvatyāṃ bhuvi nārada śṛṇvatīṣv apsu sā gaṅgā daridrāṃ vākyam abravīt saṃpraśasya tathā lakṣmīṃ gautamī vākyam abravīt //
While the guardians of the worlds listened, while the earth listened, Nārada, while the waters listened, that Gaṅgā spoke a word to the destitute woman; and having praised Lakṣmī, Gautamī spoke (these) words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.32
ब्रह्मश्रीश् च तपःश्रीश् च यज्ञश्रीः कीर्तिसंज्ञिता धनश्रीश् च यशश्रीश् च विद्या प्रज्ञा सरस्वती ॥
brahmaśrīś ca tapaḥśrīś ca yajñaśrīḥ kīrtisaṃjñitā dhanaśrīś ca yaśaśrīś ca vidyā prajñā sarasvatī //
"The splendour of brahman, the splendour of austerity, the splendour of sacrifice which is called fame, the splendour of wealth and the splendour of renown, knowledge, wisdom, Sarasvatī,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.33
भुक्तिश्रीश् चाथ मुक्तिश् च स्मृतिर् लज्जा धृतिः क्षमा सिद्धिस् तुष्टिस् तथा पुष्टिः शान्तिर् आपस् तथा मही ॥
bhuktiśrīś cātha muktiś ca smṛtir lajjā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā siddhis tuṣṭis tathā puṣṭiḥ śāntir āpas tathā mahī //
the splendour of enjoyment, and liberation, memory, modesty, steadfastness, patience, attainment, contentment and likewise nourishment, peace, the waters and likewise the earth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.34
अहंशक्तिर् अथौषध्यः श्रुतिः शुद्धिर् विभावरी द्यौर् ज्योत्स्ना आशिषः स्वस्तिर् व्याप्तिर् माया उषा शिवा ॥
ahaṃśaktir athauṣadhyaḥ śrutiḥ śuddhir vibhāvarī dyaur jyotsnā āśiṣaḥ svastir vyāptir māyā uṣā śivā //
the power of the 'I', and the healing herbs, sacred hearing, purity, night, the sky, moonlight, blessings, well-being, pervasion, illusion, dawn, the auspicious one —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 137.35
यत् किंचिद् विद्यते लोके लक्ष्म्या व्याप्तं चराचरम् ब्राह्मणेष्व् अथ धीरेषु क्षमावत्स्व् अथ साधुषु ॥
yat kiṃcid vidyate loke lakṣmyā vyāptaṃ carācaram brāhmaṇeṣv atha dhīreṣu kṣamāvatsv atha sādhuṣu //
whatever exists in the world, moving or unmoving, is pervaded by Lakṣmī: in brahmins, and in the steadfast, in the patient, and in the good,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.36
विद्यायुक्तेषु चान्येषु भुक्तिमुक्त्यनुसारिषु यद् यद् रम्यं सुन्दरं वा तत् तल् लक्ष्मीविजृम्भितम् ॥
vidyāyukteṣu cānyeṣu bhuktimuktyanusāriṣu yad yad ramyaṃ sundaraṃ vā tat tal lakṣmīvijṛmbhitam //
and in others endowed with knowledge, who pursue enjoyment and liberation — whatever is delightful or beautiful, all that is a manifestation of Lakṣmī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.37
किम् अत्र बहुनोक्तेन सर्वं लक्ष्मीमयं जगत् यस्मिन् कस्मिंश् च यत् किंचिद् उत्कृष्टं परिदृश्यते ॥
kim atra bahunoktena sarvaṃ lakṣmīmayaṃ jagat yasmin kasmiṃś ca yat kiṃcid utkṛṣṭaṃ paridṛśyate //
What is (the use) of much speaking here? The whole world consists of Lakṣmī. In whatever thing whatever excellence is seen,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.38
लक्ष्मीमयं तु तत् सर्वं तया हीनं न किंचन अत्रेमां सुन्दरीं देवीं स्पर्धयन्ती न लज्जसे ॥
lakṣmīmayaṃ tu tat sarvaṃ tayā hīnaṃ na kiṃcana atremāṃ sundarīṃ devīṃ spardhayantī na lajjase //
all that consists of Lakṣmī; without her there is nothing. In this matter, are you not ashamed, rivalling this beautiful goddess?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.39
गच्छ गच्छेति तां गङ्गा दरिद्रां वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ततः प्रभृति गङ्गाम्भो दरिद्रावैरकार्य् अभूत् ॥
gaccha gaccheti tāṃ gaṅgā daridrāṃ vākyam abravīt tataḥ prabhṛti gaṅgāmbho daridrāvairakāry abhūt //
"Go, go!" — such was the word Gaṅgā spoke to the destitute woman. From then on the water of Gaṅgā became the maker of enmity toward destitution.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.40
तावद् दरिद्राभिभवो गङ्गा यावन् न सेव्यते ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थम् अलक्ष्मीनाशनं शुभम् ॥
tāvad daridrābhibhavo gaṅgā yāvan na sevyate tataḥ prabhṛti tat tīrtham alakṣmīnāśanaṃ śubham //
Destitution's overpowering (of a man) lasts only so long as Gaṅgā is not resorted to. From then on that sacred ford became auspicious, the destroyer of ill fortune.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 137.41
तत्र स्नानेन दानेन लक्ष्मीवान् पुण्यवान् भवेत् तीर्थानां षट् सहस्राणि तस्मिंस् तीर्थे महामते देवर्षिमुनिजुष्टानां सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायिनाम् ॥
tatra snānena dānena lakṣmīvān puṇyavān bhavet tīrthānāṃ ṣaṭ sahasrāṇi tasmiṃs tīrthe mahāmate devarṣimunijuṣṭānāṃ sarvasiddhipradāyinām //
There, by bathing and by giving, one becomes possessed of fortune and of merit. There are six thousand sacred fords at that ford, O great-minded one, frequented by gods, seers and sages, and bestowing all attainments.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition