Brahma Purana — Chapter 138
BrP 138.1
भानुतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं सर्वसिद्धिकरं नृणाम् तत्रेदं वृत्तम् आख्यास्ये महापातकनाशनम् ॥
bhānutīrtham iti khyātaṃ sarvasiddhikaraṃ nṛṇām tatredaṃ vṛttam ākhyāsye mahāpātakanāśanam //
(There is a ford) known as Bhānutīrtha, which brings about all attainments for men. I shall relate what happened there, which destroys the great sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.2
शर्यातिर् इति विख्यातो राजा परमधार्मिकः तस्य भार्या स्थविष्ठेति रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि ॥
śaryātir iti vikhyāto rājā paramadhārmikaḥ tasya bhāryā sthaviṣṭheti rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi //
There was a king renowned as Śaryāti, supremely righteous; his wife was called Sthaviṣṭhā, unequalled on earth in beauty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.3
मधुच्छन्दा इति ख्यातो वैश्वामित्रो द्विजोत्तमः पुरोधास् तस्य नृपतेर् ब्रह्मर्षिः शमिनां प्रभुः ॥
madhucchandā iti khyāto vaiśvāmitro dvijottamaḥ purodhās tasya nṛpater brahmarṣiḥ śamināṃ prabhuḥ //
One known as Madhucchandas, a descendant of Viśvāmitra, the best of twice-born, was that king's chaplain — a brahmin-seer, a master among those who are self-controlled.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.4
दिशो विजेतुं स जगाम राजा पुरोधसा तेन नृपप्रवीरः पुरोधसं प्राह महानुभावं जित्वा दिशश् चाध्वनि संनिविष्टः
diśo vijetuṃ sa jagāma rājā purodhasā tena nṛpapravīraḥ purodhasaṃ prāha mahānubhāvaṃ jitvā diśaś cādhvani saṃniviṣṭaḥ
That king went to conquer the quarters, together with that chaplain; and the foremost hero among kings, having conquered the quarters and having halted on the road, spoke to the chaplain of great dignity,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.5
पप्रच्छेदं केन खेदं गतो ऽसि हेतुं वदस्वेति महानुभाव त्वम् एव राज्ये मम सर्वमान्यः समस्तविद्यानिरवद्यबोधः
papracchedaṃ kena khedaṃ gato 'si hetuṃ vadasveti mahānubhāva tvam eva rājye mama sarvamānyaḥ samastavidyāniravadyabodhaḥ
(The king) asked him this: "By what have you been brought to distress? Tell (me) the cause, O greatly dignified one. You alone in my kingdom are honoured by all, one whose understanding of every branch of learning is beyond reproach."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.6
विधूतपापः परितापशून्यः किम् अन्यचेता इव लक्ष्यसे त्वम् जितेयम् उर्वी विजिता नरेन्द्रा हर्षस्य हेतौ महतीह जाते
vidhūtapāpaḥ paritāpaśūnyaḥ kim anyacetā iva lakṣyase tvam jiteyam urvī vijitā narendrā harṣasya hetau mahatīha jāte
Your sins are shaken off, you are void of affliction — why do you appear as though your mind were elsewhere? This earth is conquered, the kings are subdued; when so great a cause for joy has arisen here (why this mood)?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.7
किं त्वं कृशो मे वद सत्यम् एव द्विजातिवर्यातिमहानुभाव संबोध्य शर्यातिम् उवाच विप्रश् छन्दोमधुः प्रेममयीं प्रियोक्तिम्
kiṃ tvaṃ kṛśo me vada satyam eva dvijātivaryātimahānubhāva saṃbodhya śaryātim uvāca vipraś chandomadhuḥ premamayīṃ priyoktim
Why are you thin? Tell me the very truth, O best of the twice-born, exceedingly dignified one. Addressing Śaryāti, the brahmin Madhucchandas spoke a loving, affectionate speech.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.8
शृणु भूपाल मद्वाक्यं भार्यया यद् उदीरितम् स्थिते यामे वयं यामो यामिनी चार्धगामिनी ॥
śṛṇu bhūpāla madvākyaṃ bhāryayā yad udīritam sthite yāme vayaṃ yāmo yāminī cārdhagāminī //
Hear, O protector of the earth, my words, which were spoken by my wife: "While one watch remains we shall go, and the night is (already) half gone."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 138.9
स्वामिनी चास्य देहस्य कामिनी मां प्रतीक्षते स्मृत्वा तत् कामिनीवाक्यं शोषं याति कलेवरम् विकारे स्मरसंजाते जीवातुर् नलिनानना ॥
svāminī cāsya dehasya kāminī māṃ pratīkṣate smṛtvā tat kāminīvākyaṃ śoṣaṃ yāti kalevaram vikāre smarasaṃjāte jīvātur nalinānanā //
And the mistress of this body, my loving wife, awaits me. Remembering that wife's words, (my) frame goes to withering; when the disturbance of love has arisen, the lotus-faced woman is (my) means of life.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.10
विहस्य चाब्रवीद् राजा पुरोधसम् अरिंदमः ॥
vihasya cābravīd rājā purodhasam ariṃdamaḥ //
And the king, subduer of foes, laughed and said to the household priest:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.11
त्वं गुरुर् मम मित्रं च किम् आत्मानं विडम्बसे किम् अनेन महाप्राज्ञ मम वाक्येन मानद क्षणविध्वंसिनि सुखे का नामास्था महात्मनाम् ॥
tvaṃ gurur mama mitraṃ ca kim ātmānaṃ viḍambase kim anena mahāprājña mama vākyena mānada kṣaṇavidhvaṃsini sukhe kā nāmāsthā mahātmanām //
"You are my teacher and my friend — why do you make a mockery of yourself? What is (the use) of this speech of mine, O greatly wise one, O giver of honour? In a pleasure that perishes in a moment, what regard indeed can great-souled men have?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.12
एतद् आकर्ण्य मतिमान् मधुच्छन्दा वचो ऽब्रवीत् ॥
etad ākarṇya matimān madhucchandā vaco 'bravīt //
Having heard this, the intelligent Madhucchandas spoke (these) words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.13
यत्रानुकूल्यं दंपत्योस् त्रिवर्गस् तत्र वर्धते न चेदं दूषणं राजन् भूषणं चातिमन्यताम् ॥
yatrānukūlyaṃ daṃpatyos trivargas tatra vardhate na cedaṃ dūṣaṇaṃ rājan bhūṣaṇaṃ cātimanyatām //
"Where there is mutual accord between husband and wife, there the three (aims of life) increase. And this is no blemish, O king, but rather an ornament, for one who esteems it highly."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 138.14
आजगाम स्वकं देशं महत्या सेनया वृतः परीक्षार्थं च तत्प्रेम पुर्यां वार्त्ताम् अदीदिशत् ॥
ājagāma svakaṃ deśaṃ mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ parīkṣārthaṃ ca tatprema puryāṃ vārttām adīdiśat //
He came to his own country, surrounded by a great army; and in order to test her love, he had news sent into the city.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.15
दिशो विजेतुं शर्यातौ याते राक्षसपुंगवः हत्वा रसातलं यातो राजानं सपुरोधसम् ॥
diśo vijetuṃ śaryātau yāte rākṣasapuṃgavaḥ hatvā rasātalaṃ yāto rājānaṃ sapurodhasam //
(The report was:) "When Śaryāti had gone forth to conquer the quarters, a bull among rākṣasas, having slain the king together with his household priest, went to Rasātala."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.16
राज्ञो भार्या निश्चयाय प्रवृत्ता मुनिसत्तम वार्त्तां श्रुत्वा दूतमुखान् मधुच्छन्दःप्रिया पुनः ॥
rājño bhāryā niścayāya pravṛttā munisattama vārttāṃ śrutvā dūtamukhān madhucchandaḥpriyā punaḥ //
The king's wife proceeded to (make) her resolve, O best of sages; and Madhucchandas's beloved too, having heard the news from the mouths of the messengers —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 138.17
तदैवाभूद् गतप्राणा तद् विचित्रम् इवाभवत् तस्या वृत्तं तु ते दृष्ट्वा दूता राज्ञे न्यवेदयन् ॥
tadaivābhūd gataprāṇā tad vicitram ivābhavat tasyā vṛttaṃ tu te dṛṣṭvā dūtā rājñe nyavedayan //
— that very moment became bereft of life; that was as if a marvel. Having seen her conduct, the messengers reported it to the king,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.18
यत् कृतं राजपत्नीभिः प्रियया च पुरोधसः विस्मितो दुःखितो राजा पुनर् दूतान् अभाषत ॥
yat kṛtaṃ rājapatnībhiḥ priyayā ca purodhasaḥ vismito duḥkhito rājā punar dūtān abhāṣata //
(and) what had been done by the king's wives and by the beloved of the household priest. Amazed and grieved, the king spoke again to the messengers:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.19
शीघ्रं गच्छन्तु हे दूता ब्राह्मण्या यत् कलेवरम् रक्षन्तु वार्त्तां कुरुत राजागन्ता पुरोधसा ॥
śīghraṃ gacchantu he dūtā brāhmaṇyā yat kalevaram rakṣantu vārttāṃ kuruta rājāgantā purodhasā //
"Let the messengers go quickly! Let them guard the body of the brahmin woman; spread the news: 'The king is coming with his household priest.'"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.20
इति चिन्तातुरे राज्ञि वाग् उवाचाशरीरिणी ॥
iti cintāture rājñi vāg uvācāśarīriṇī //
While the king was thus stricken with anxiety, a bodiless voice spoke:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.21
विधास्यत्य् अखिलं गङ्गा राजंस् तव समीहितम् सर्वाभिषङ्गशमनी पावनी भुवि गौतमी ॥
vidhāsyaty akhilaṃ gaṅgā rājaṃs tava samīhitam sarvābhiṣaṅgaśamanī pāvanī bhuvi gautamī //
"The Ganges will accomplish your whole desire, O king — the Gautamī, who quells every affliction, the purifier upon the earth."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.22
एतच् छ्रुत्वा स शर्यातिर् गौतमीतटम् आश्रितः ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा तर्पयित्वा पितॄन् द्विजान् ॥
etac chrutvā sa śaryātir gautamītaṭam āśritaḥ brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṃ dattvā tarpayitvā pitṝn dvijān //
Having heard this, that Śaryāti took his station on the bank of the Gautamī; having given wealth to the brahmins and gratified the ancestors and the twice-born,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.23
पुरोहितं द्विजश्रेष्ठं प्रेषयित्वा धनान्वितम् अन्यत्र तीर्थे सार्थेषु दानं देहि प्रयत्नतः ॥
purohitaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ preṣayitvā dhanānvitam anyatra tīrthe sārtheṣu dānaṃ dehi prayatnataḥ //
having sent away the household priest, best of the twice-born, provided with wealth (saying): "Give gifts diligently at another sacred ford, among the travelling companies" —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 138.24
एतत् सर्वं न जानाति राज्ञः कृत्यं पुरोहितः गते तस्मिन् गुरौ राजा वैश्वामित्रे महात्मनि ॥
etat sarvaṃ na jānāti rājñaḥ kṛtyaṃ purohitaḥ gate tasmin gurau rājā vaiśvāmitre mahātmani //
— the household priest knows nothing of all this deed of the king. When that teacher, the great-souled son of Viśvāmitra, had gone, the king
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.25
सर्वं बलं प्रेषयित्वा गङ्गातीरे ऽग्निम् आविशत् इत्य् उक्त्वा स तु राजेन्द्रो गङ्गां भानुं सुरान् अपि ॥
sarvaṃ balaṃ preṣayitvā gaṅgātīre 'gnim āviśat ity uktvā sa tu rājendro gaṅgāṃ bhānuṃ surān api //
Having sent away his whole army, he entered the fire on the bank of the Gaṅgā — that lord of kings, speaking thus to the Gaṅgā, to the sun, and to the gods as well:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.26
यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं यदि त्राता प्रजा मया तेन सत्येन सा साध्वी ममायुष्येण जीवतु ॥
yadi dattaṃ yadi hutaṃ yadi trātā prajā mayā tena satyena sā sādhvī mamāyuṣyeṇa jīvatu //
"If I have given, if I have made offerings, if I have protected my subjects, by that truth let that virtuous woman live by (the merit of) my own lifespan."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.27
इत्य् उक्त्वाग्नौ प्रविष्टे तु शर्यातौ नृपसत्तमे तदैव जीविता भार्या राज्ञस् तस्य पुरोधसः ॥
ity uktvāgnau praviṣṭe tu śaryātau nṛpasattame tadaiva jīvitā bhāryā rājñas tasya purodhasaḥ //
Having said this, when Śaryāti, the best of kings, entered the fire, at that very moment the wife of that king's chaplain came to life.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.28
अग्निप्रविष्टं राजानं श्रुत्वा विस्मयकारणम् पतिव्रतां तथा भार्यां मृतां जीवान्वितां पुनः ॥
agnipraviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ śrutvā vismayakāraṇam pativratāṃ tathā bhāryāṃ mṛtāṃ jīvānvitāṃ punaḥ //
Hearing (of it) — of the king who had entered the fire, a cause of amazement, and of his wife, devoted to her husband, who had died and been restored to life again —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.29
तदर्थं चापि राजानं त्यक्तात्मानं विशेषतः आत्मनश् च पुनः कृत्यम् अस्मरन् नृपतेर् गुरुः ॥
tadarthaṃ cāpi rājānaṃ tyaktātmānaṃ viśeṣataḥ ātmanaś ca punaḥ kṛtyam asmaran nṛpater guruḥ //
and (hearing) that for her sake the king had, above all, given up his own self, the king's teacher, recalling once more his own duty (thought):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.30
अहम् अप्य् अग्निम् आवेक्ष्य उत यास्ये प्रियान्तिकम् अथवेह तपस् तप्स्ये ततो निश्चयवान् द्विजः ॥
aham apy agnim āvekṣya uta yāsye priyāntikam athaveha tapas tapsye tato niścayavān dvijaḥ //
"I too shall enter the fire, or else I shall go to my beloved's presence; or else I shall practise austerity here" — then the brahmin, having resolved (said):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.31
एतद् एवात्मनः कृत्यं मन्ये सुकृतम् एव च जीवयामि च राजानं ततो यामि प्रियां पुनः ॥
etad evātmanaḥ kṛtyaṃ manye sukṛtam eva ca jīvayāmi ca rājānaṃ tato yāmi priyāṃ punaḥ //
"This very thing I consider my own duty, and indeed a good deed: I shall bring the king back to life, and then I shall go again to my beloved.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.32
एतद् एव शुभं मे स्यात् ततस् तुष्टाव भास्करम् न ह्य् अन्यः कोपि देवो ऽस्ति सर्वाभीष्टप्रदो रवेः ॥
etad eva śubhaṃ me syāt tatas tuṣṭāva bhāskaram na hy anyaḥ kopi devo 'sti sarvābhīṣṭaprado raveḥ //
This alone would be auspicious for me." Then he praised the maker of light, for there is no other god at all who grants all that is desired as the Sun does.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.33
नमो ऽस्तु तस्मै सूर्याय मुक्तये ऽमिततेजसे छन्दोमयाय देवाय ॐकारार्थाय ते नमः ॥
namo 'stu tasmai sūryāya muktaye 'mitatejase chandomayāya devāya oṃkārārthāya te namaḥ //
"Homage be to that Sun, to liberation, to the one of measureless brilliance; to the god who consists of the metres, to you whose meaning is the syllable Oṃ, homage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.34
विरूपाय सुरूपाय त्रिगुणाय त्रिमूर्तये स्थित्युत्पत्तिविनाशानां हेतवे प्रभविष्णवे ॥
virūpāya surūpāya triguṇāya trimūrtaye sthityutpattivināśānāṃ hetave prabhaviṣṇave //
To the misshapen one, to the beautiful one, to the one of three qualities, to the one of three forms, to the cause of the persistence, arising and destruction (of things), to the mighty and pervading one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.35
ततः प्रसन्नः सूर्यो ऽभूद् वरयस्वेत्य् अभाषत ॥
tataḥ prasannaḥ sūryo 'bhūd varayasvety abhāṣata //
Then the Sun became pleased and said, "Choose (a boon)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.36
राजानं देहि देवेश भार्यां च प्रियवादिनीम् आत्मनश् च शुभान् पुत्रान् राज्ञश् चैव शुभान् वरान् ॥
rājānaṃ dehi deveśa bhāryāṃ ca priyavādinīm ātmanaś ca śubhān putrān rājñaś caiva śubhān varān //
"Lord of gods, give (back) the king, and my wife of sweet speech, and good sons for myself, and auspicious boons for the king too."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.37
ततः प्रादाज् जगन्नाथः शर्यातिं रत्नभूषितम् तां च भार्यां वरान् अन्यान् सर्वं क्षेममयं तथा ॥
tataḥ prādāj jagannāthaḥ śaryātiṃ ratnabhūṣitam tāṃ ca bhāryāṃ varān anyān sarvaṃ kṣemamayaṃ tathā //
Then the lord of the world gave (back) Śaryāti, adorned with jewels, and that wife, and other boons, and everything full of well-being.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.38
ततो यातः प्रियाविष्टः प्रीतेन च पुरोधसा ययौ सुखी स्वकं देशं तत् तु तीर्थं शुभं स्मृतम् ॥
tato yātaḥ priyāviṣṭaḥ prītena ca purodhasā yayau sukhī svakaṃ deśaṃ tat tu tīrthaṃ śubhaṃ smṛtam //
Then he went off, joined with his beloved, and together with the gratified chaplain the (king) went happily to his own country; and that place of pilgrimage is remembered as auspicious.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.39
तत्र त्रीणि सहस्राणि तीर्थानि गुणवन्ति च ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं भानुतीर्थम् उदाहृतम् ॥
tatra trīṇi sahasrāṇi tīrthāni guṇavanti ca tataḥ prabhṛti tat tīrthaṃ bhānutīrtham udāhṛtam //
There are three thousand sacred fords there, and they are endowed with virtue; from then on that ford has been called Bhānutīrtha (the Sun's ford),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.40
मृतसंजीवनं चैव शार्यातं चेति विश्रुतम् माधुच्छन्दसमाख्यातं स्मरणात् पापनुन् मुने ॥
mṛtasaṃjīvanaṃ caiva śāryātaṃ ceti viśrutam mādhucchandasamākhyātaṃ smaraṇāt pāpanun mune //
and it is renowned as "Reviver of the Dead" and as "Śaryāti's," and as "named after Madhucchandas"; by mere remembrance it drives away sin, O sage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 138.41
तेषु स्नानं च दानं च सर्वक्रतुफलप्रदम् मृतसंजीवनं तत् स्याद् आयुरारोग्यवर्धनम् ॥
teṣu snānaṃ ca dānaṃ ca sarvakratuphalapradam mṛtasaṃjīvanaṃ tat syād āyurārogyavardhanam //
Bathing and giving in them yields the fruit of all sacrifices; that Reviver of the Dead would increase long life and health.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition