Narasimha Purana — Chapter 28
NsP 28.1
स्यन्दनारोहणे पूर्वम् अशक्तिः शांतनोः कथम् पश्चाच् छक्तिः कथं चासीत् तस्य वै तद् वदस्व नः
syandanārohaṇe pūrvam aśaktiḥ śāṃtanoḥ katham paścāc chaktiḥ kathaṃ cāsīt tasya vai tad vadasva naḥ
How was Śāṃtanu at first unable to mount his chariot, and how did that power of his come to him afterwards? Tell us that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.2
भरद्वाज शृणुष्वैतत् पुरावृत्तं वदामि ते सर्वपापहरं तद् धि चरितं शांतनोर् नृणाम्
bharadvāja śṛṇuṣvaitat purāvṛttaṃ vadāmi te sarvapāpaharaṃ tad dhi caritaṃ śāṃtanor nṛṇām
Bharadvāja, listen to this: I shall tell you what happened long ago; for that deed of Śāṃtanu removes all the sins of men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.3
बभूव शांतनुर् भक्तो नरसिंहतनौ पुरा नारदोक्तविधानेन पूजयाम्_अस माधवम्
babhūva śāṃtanur bhakto narasiṃhatanau purā nāradoktavidhānena pūjayām_asa mādhavam
Śāṃtanu was of old a devotee of the body of Narasiṃha; by the rule declared by Nārada he worshipped Mādhava.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.4
नरसिंहस्य देवस्य निर्माल्यं तेन लङ्घितम् राज्ञा शांतनुना विप्र तस्मात् स्यन्दनम् उत्तमम्
narasiṃhasya devasya nirmālyaṃ tena laṅghitam rājñā śāṃtanunā vipra tasmāt syandanam uttamam
By him the leavings of the offerings to the god Narasiṃha were stepped over — by king Śāṃtanu, O brahmin; for that reason his excellent chariot,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.5
देवदत्तं तद् आरोढुम् अशक्तस् तत्क्षणाद् अभूत् किम् इयं मे गतिर् भग्ना सहसा वै रथात् ततः
devadattaṃ tad āroḍhum aśaktas tatkṣaṇād abhūt kim iyaṃ me gatir bhagnā sahasā vai rathāt tataḥ
given by the gods, he became unable to mount from that very moment. "Why has this power of movement of mine been suddenly broken?" — thus (he thought), down from the chariot.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NsP 28.6
दुःखं चिन्तयतस् तस्य संप्राप्तो नारदः किल किं विषण्णः स्थितो राजन्न् इति पृष्टः स शांतनुः
duḥkhaṃ cintayatas tasya saṃprāpto nāradaḥ kila kiṃ viṣaṇṇaḥ sthito rājann iti pṛṣṭaḥ sa śāṃtanuḥ
As he was brooding on his misery, Nārada arrived, it is said. "Why do you stand dejected, O king?" — thus was Śāṃtanu asked.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.7
नारदैतन् न जानामि गतिभङ्गस्य कारणम् इत्युक्तो नारदो ध्यात्वा ज्ञात्वा तत्कारणं ततः
nāradaitan na jānāmi gatibhaṅgasya kāraṇam ityukto nārado dhyātvā jñātvā tatkāraṇaṃ tataḥ
"Nārada, I do not know this—the cause of the breaking of (my) going." Thus addressed, Nārada, having meditated and thereby known the cause of it,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.8
शांतनुं प्राह राजानं विनयेन यतः स्थितः यत्र क्वापि त्वया राजन् नरसिंहस्य वै ध्रुवम्
śāṃtanuṃ prāha rājānaṃ vinayena yataḥ sthitaḥ yatra kvāpi tvayā rājan narasiṃhasya vai dhruvam
spoke to King Śāṃtanu, courteously, from where he stood: "Somewhere or other, O king, by you, assuredly, of Narasiṃha—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.9
निर्माल्यो लङ्घितस् तस्माद् रथारोहणकर्मणि गतिर् भग्ना महाराज श्रूयताम् अत्र कारणम्
nirmālyo laṅghitas tasmād rathārohaṇakarmaṇi gatir bhagnā mahārāja śrūyatām atra kāraṇam
—the leavings of the offering (nirmālya) were stepped over; therefore, in the act of mounting the chariot, your going was broken, great king. Let the reason for this be heard.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.10
अन्तर्वेद्यां पुरा राजन्न् आसीत् कश्चिन् महामतिः मालाकारो रविर् नाम्ना तेन वृन्दावनं कृतम्
antarvedyāṃ purā rājann āsīt kaścin mahāmatiḥ mālākāro ravir nāmnā tena vṛndāvanaṃ kṛtam
Formerly, O king, in the Antarvedi (the land between the rivers) there was a certain very intelligent garland-maker, Ravi by name; by him a flower-grove was made,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.11
विविधानि च पुष्पार्थं वनानि सुकृतानि वै मल्लिकामालतीजातिबकुलादीनि सर्वशः
vividhāni ca puṣpārthaṃ vanāni sukṛtāni vai mallikāmālatījātibakulādīni sarvaśaḥ
and, for the sake of flowers, groves of many kinds were well laid out—jasmine, mālatī, jāti, bakula and the rest, on every side.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.12
प्राकारम् उच्छ्रितं तस्य स्वभूमौ चापि विस्तृतम् अलङ्घ्यम् अप्रवेश्यं च कृत्वा चक्रे स्वकं गृहम्
prākāram ucchritaṃ tasya svabhūmau cāpi vistṛtam alaṅghyam apraveśyaṃ ca kṛtvā cakre svakaṃ gṛham
Having made for it a high wall, extended over his own ground too, impossible to climb over and impossible to enter, he built his own house (there),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.13
गृहं प्रविश्य तद्द्वारं भवेन् नान्यत्र सत्तम एवं कृत्वा नु वसतो मालाकारस्य धीमतः
gṛhaṃ praviśya taddvāraṃ bhaven nānyatra sattama evaṃ kṛtvā nu vasato mālākārasya dhīmataḥ
so that the gate of it (the grove) would be by entering the house and nowhere else, O best of beings. While the wise garland-maker dwelt there, having done thus,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.14
पुष्पितं तद् वनं त्व् आसीद् गन्धामोदितदिङ्मुखम् भार्यया सह पुष्पाणि समाहृत्य दिने दिने
puṣpitaṃ tad vanaṃ tv āsīd gandhāmoditadiṅmukham bhāryayā saha puṣpāṇi samāhṛtya dine dine
that grove came to be in flower, the quarters made fragrant by its scent; and gathering the flowers day after day together with his wife,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.15
कृत्वा मालां यथान्यायं नरसिंहस्य नित्यशः ददौ काश्चिद् द्विजेभ्यश् च काश्चिद् विक्रीय पोषणम्
kṛtvā mālāṃ yathānyāyaṃ narasiṃhasya nityaśaḥ dadau kāścid dvijebhyaś ca kāścid vikrīya poṣaṇam
making a garland in the proper manner for Narasiṃha every day, he gave some (flowers) to brahmins, and by selling some (obtained) his sustenance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.16
चक्रे समात् प्रजीवी च भार्यादेर् आत्मनस् तथा अथ स्वर्गाद् उपागम्य इन्द्रपुत्रो रथेन वै
cakre samāt prajīvī ca bhāryāder ātmanas tathā atha svargād upāgamya indraputro rathena vai
And, living on that, he provided equally for his wife and the rest and for himself. Now, coming from heaven by chariot, the son of Indra,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NsP 28.17
अप्सरोगणसंयुक्तो निशि पुष्पाणि संहरेत् तद्गन्धलिप्सुः सर्वाणि विचित्याहृत्य गच्छति
apsarogaṇasaṃyukto niśi puṣpāṇi saṃharet tadgandhalipsuḥ sarvāṇi vicityāhṛtya gacchati
accompanied by a troop of apsarases, would carry off the flowers by night; eager for their fragrance, he plucks and takes away all of them and goes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.18
दिने दिने हृते पुष्पे मालाकारो ऽप्य् अचिन्तयत् नान्यद् द्वारं वनस्यास्यालङ्घ्यप्राकारम् उन्नतम्
dine dine hṛte puṣpe mālākāro 'py acintayat nānyad dvāraṃ vanasyāsyālaṅghyaprākāram unnatam
When the flowers were carried off day after day, the garland-maker reflected: "This grove has no other gate; its wall is high and unclimbable.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.19
समस्तपुष्पजातस्य हरणे निशि वै नृणाम् अहं शक्तिं न पश्यामि किम् इदं नु परीक्षये
samastapuṣpajātasya haraṇe niśi vai nṛṇām ahaṃ śaktiṃ na paśyāmi kim idaṃ nu parīkṣaye
I do not see in men the power to carry off the whole crop of flowers in the night. What is this, then? Let me investigate."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.20
इति संचिन्त्य मेधावी जाग्रद् रात्रौ वने स्थितः तथैवागत्य पुष्पाणि संगृहीत्व गतः पुमान्
iti saṃcintya medhāvī jāgrad rātrau vane sthitaḥ tathaivāgatya puṣpāṇi saṃgṛhītva gataḥ pumān
Having reflected thus, the intelligent man stayed in the grove at night, awake; and just as before a man came, gathered the flowers, and went.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.21
तं दृष्ट्वा दुःखितो ऽतीव माल्यजीवी वने ऽभवत् ततो निद्रां गतः स्वप्ने दृष्टवांस् तं नृकेसरिम्
taṃ dṛṣṭvā duḥkhito 'tīva mālyajīvī vane 'bhavat tato nidrāṃ gataḥ svapne dṛṣṭavāṃs taṃ nṛkesarim
Seeing him, the garland-monger became exceedingly grieved there in the grove. Then, having fallen asleep, he saw in a dream that man-lion,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.22
तद्वाक्यं श्रुतवांश् चैवं निर्माल्यं मम पुत्रक आनीय क्षिप्यतां क्षिप्रं पुष्पारामसमीपतः
tadvākyaṃ śrutavāṃś caivaṃ nirmālyaṃ mama putraka ānīya kṣipyatāṃ kṣipraṃ puṣpārāmasamīpataḥ
and heard his words thus: "My son, bring the leavings of my offering and let them be thrown down quickly near the flower-garden.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.23
इन्द्रपुत्रस्य दुष्टस्य नान्यद् अस्ति निवारणम् इति श्रुत्वा हरेर् वाक्यं नरसिंहस्य धीमतः
indraputrasya duṣṭasya nānyad asti nivāraṇam iti śrutvā harer vākyaṃ narasiṃhasya dhīmataḥ
For the wicked son of Indra there is no other means of prevention." Having heard this speech of Hari, of the wise Narasiṃha,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.24
बुद्ध्वानीय तु निर्माल्यं तथा चक्रे यथोदितम् सो ऽप्य् आगत्य यथापूर्वं रथेनालक्षितेन तु
buddhvānīya tu nirmālyaṃ tathā cakre yathoditam so 'py āgatya yathāpūrvaṃ rathenālakṣitena tu
on waking he brought the nirmālya and did just as had been told. And he too came, as before, with his chariot unseen;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.25
रथाद् उत्तीर्य पुष्पाणि विचिन्वंस् तद्भुवि स्थितम् निर्माल्यं लङ्घयाम्_अस इन्द्रसूनुर् अनिष्टकृत्
rathād uttīrya puṣpāṇi vicinvaṃs tadbhuvi sthitam nirmālyaṃ laṅghayām_asa indrasūnur aniṣṭakṛt
and descending from the chariot, while plucking the flowers, Indra's son, the doer of harm, stepped over the nirmālya lying there on the ground.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.26
ततस् तस्य न शक्तिः स्यद् रथारोहणकर्मणि उक्तः सारथिना चैव रथस्यारोहणे तव
tatas tasya na śaktiḥ syad rathārohaṇakarmaṇi uktaḥ sārathinā caiva rathasyārohaṇe tava
Then he had no power for the act of mounting the chariot, and he was told by his charioteer: "For your mounting the chariot
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.27
नरसिंहस्य निर्माल्यलङ्घने नास्ति योग्यता गच्छामि दिवम् एवाहं त्वं भूम्यां वस मारुह
narasiṃhasya nirmālyalaṅghane nāsti yogyatā gacchāmi divam evāhaṃ tvaṃ bhūmyāṃ vasa māruha
"There is no fitness (for you) after stepping over the discarded offerings of Narasiṃha. I am going to heaven; you, dwell on the earth—do not mount (the chariot)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.28
तेनैवम् उक्तो मतिमांस् तम् आह हरिनन्दनः पापस्य नोदनं त्व् अत्र कर्मणा येन मे भवेत्
tenaivam ukto matimāṃs tam āha harinandanaḥ pāpasya nodanaṃ tv atra karmaṇā yena me bhavet
Addressed thus by him, the wise son of Hari said to him: "But what act is there here by which the removal of the sin may come about for me?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.30
द्विजोच्छिष्टापनयनं कृत्वा त्वं शुद्धिम् एष्यसि इत्य् उक्त्वासौ गतः स्वर्गं सारथिर् देवसेवितम्
dvijocchiṣṭāpanayanaṃ kṛtvā tvaṃ śuddhim eṣyasi ity uktvāsau gataḥ svargaṃ sārathir devasevitam
"By performing the clearing away of brahmins' food-leavings you will attain purity." Having said this, that charioteer went to heaven, which is frequented by the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.31
इन्द्रसूनुः कुरुक्षेत्रं प्राप्तः सारस्वतं तटम् रामसत्त्रे तथा कुर्याद् द्विजोच्छिष्टस्य मार्जनम्
indrasūnuḥ kurukṣetraṃ prāptaḥ sārasvataṃ taṭam rāmasattre tathā kuryād dvijocchiṣṭasya mārjanam
Indra's son, having reached Kurukṣetra, the bank of the Sarasvatī, would there at Rāma's sacrificial session perform the wiping away of the brahmins' leavings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.32
पूर्णे द्वादशमे वर्षे तम् ऊचुः शङ्किता द्विजाः कस् त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग नित्यम् उच्छिष्टमार्जकः
pūrṇe dvādaśame varṣe tam ūcuḥ śaṅkitā dvijāḥ kas tvaṃ brūhi mahābhāga nityam ucchiṣṭamārjakaḥ
When the twelfth year was complete, the brahmins, grown suspicious, said to him: "Who are you? Tell us, greatly fortunate one, you who constantly wipe away the leavings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.33
न भुञ्जसे च नः सत्त्रे शङ्का नो महती भवेत् इत्युक्तः कथयित्वा तु यथावृत्तम् अनुक्रमात्
na bhuñjase ca naḥ sattre śaṅkā no mahatī bhavet ityuktaḥ kathayitvā tu yathāvṛttam anukramāt
"And you do not eat at our session; great doubt has arisen in us." Addressed thus, he told them what had happened, in order,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.34
जगाम त्रिदिवं क्षिप्रं रथेन तनयो हरेः तस्मात् त्वम् अपि भूपाल ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टम् आदरात्
jagāma tridivaṃ kṣipraṃ rathena tanayo hareḥ tasmāt tvam api bhūpāla brāhmaṇocchiṣṭam ādarāt
and the son of Hari went swiftly to heaven by (his) chariot. Therefore you too, O king, (should wipe away) the brahmins' leavings, reverently:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.35
मार्जनं कुरु रामस्य सत्त्रे द्वादशवार्षिके ब्राह्मणेभ्यः परं नास्ति सर्वपापहरं परम्
mārjanaṃ kuru rāmasya sattre dvādaśavārṣike brāhmaṇebhyaḥ paraṃ nāsti sarvapāpaharaṃ param
perform the wiping (of leavings) at Rāma's twelve-year sacrificial session. There is nothing higher than brahmins, nothing higher that removes all sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.36
एवं कृते देवदत्तस्यन्दनारोहणे गतिः भविष्यति महीपाल प्रायश्चित्ते कृते तव
evaṃ kṛte devadattasyandanārohaṇe gatiḥ bhaviṣyati mahīpāla prāyaścitte kṛte tava
When this is done, O ruler of the earth, when your expiation has been performed, there will be the means of mounting the god-given chariot.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.37
अत ऊर्ध्वं च निर्माल्यं मा लङ्घय महामते नरसिंहस्य देवस्य तथान्येषां दिवौकसाम्
ata ūrdhvaṃ ca nirmālyaṃ mā laṅghaya mahāmate narasiṃhasya devasya tathānyeṣāṃ divaukasām
And from now on, O greatly wise one, do not step over the offering-remnants of the god Narasiṃha, nor those of the other dwellers in heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.38
इत्युक्तः शांतनुस् तेन ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टमार्जनम् कृतवान् द्वादशाब्दं तु आरुरोह रथं च तम्
ityuktaḥ śāṃtanus tena brāhmaṇocchiṣṭamārjanam kṛtavān dvādaśābdaṃ tu āruroha rathaṃ ca tam
Addressed thus by him, Śāṃtanu performed the wiping away of the brahmins' leavings for twelve years, and (then) mounted that chariot.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.39
एवं पुर्वम् अशक्तिः स्याद् रथारोहे महीक्षितः पश्चात् तस्यैव विप्रेन्द्र शक्तिर् एवम् अजायत
evaṃ purvam aśaktiḥ syād rathārohe mahīkṣitaḥ paścāt tasyaiva viprendra śaktir evam ajāyata
Thus at first the king had no power to mount the chariot; afterwards, O best of brahmins, the power arose for that very man in this way.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.40
एवं ते कथितो विप्र दोषो निर्माल्यलङ्घने पुण्यं तथा द्विजानां तु प्रोक्तम् उच्छिष्टमार्जने
evaṃ te kathito vipra doṣo nirmālyalaṅghane puṇyaṃ tathā dvijānāṃ tu proktam ucchiṣṭamārjane
Thus, O brahmin, the fault in stepping over offering-remnants has been told to you, and likewise the merit declared in wiping away the brahmins' leavings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 28.41
भक्त्या द्विजोच्छिष्टम् इहापमार्जयेच् छुचिर् नरो यः सुसमाहितात्मा स पापबन्धं प्रविहाय भुङ्क्ते गवां प्रदानस्य फलं दिवि स्थितः
bhaktyā dvijocchiṣṭam ihāpamārjayec chucir naro yaḥ susamāhitātmā sa pāpabandhaṃ pravihāya bhuṅkte gavāṃ pradānasya phalaṃ divi sthitaḥ
The pure man of well-composed mind who here devotedly wipes away the brahmins' leavings, casting off the bondage of sin, enjoys, stationed in heaven, the fruit of the gift of cows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition