Bhagavatapurana 7.14: atha caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ

7.14.1

/0 śrīyudhiṣṭhira uvāca
gṛhastha etāṃ padavīṃ vidhinā yena cāñjasā /
yāyāddevaṛṣe brūhi mādṛśo gṛhamūḍhadhīḥ //

1. Yudhishtira said:—O divine sage, be pleased to explain that excellent course by which even a householder may find the path to heaven, though he be like me possessed of a mind clouded in the household life.

7.14.2

/0 śrīnārada uvāca
gṛheṣvavasthito rājan kriyāḥ kurvan yathocitāḥ /
vāsudevārpaṇaṃ sākṣādupāsīta mahāmunīn //

(1) Narada said:— [Thou hast, O blessed one, for the benefit of the world, started a very good enquiry, I shall truly tell thee how his duties may lead a man to Moksha].

2. O king, a person in the householder's life should do duties proper to that life, resigning them to Vasudeva directly and also worship the great sages.

7.14.3

śṛṇvan bhagavato 'bhīkṣṇamavatārakathāmṛtam /
śraddadhāno yathākālamupaśāntajanāvṛtaḥ //

3. He should be constantly listening to the nectar-like stories of the Almighty Lord's avataras with perfect faith and at proper time: (whenever possible) he should be in the association of people of pure mind.

7.14.4

satsaṅgāc chanakaiḥ saṅgamātmajāyātmajādiṣu /
vimuñcen mucyamāneṣu svayaṃ svapnavadutthitaḥ //

4. Even like a person who rises after dreams, he should, through association with the righteous and wise men, slowly cut off his attachment to his body, wife, children and the like, as they naturally become separated and rise from them.

7.14.5

yāvadarthamupāsīno dehe gehe ca paṇḍitaḥ /
virakto raktavat tatra nṛloke naratāṃ nyaset //

5. Having attended, only to the indispensable extent, to his body and house, the wise man should get free from attachments; but seeming to be one full of attachments, should exhibit himself as a mortal in the midst of the mortal world.

7.14.6

jñātayaḥ pitarau putrā bhrātaraḥ suhṛdo 'pare /
yadvadanti yadicchanti cānumodeta nirmamaḥ //

6. Free from attachment the wise man should simply give his assent to what his kinsmen, parents, sons, brothers, friends or others say or desire (propose).

7.14.7

divyaṃ bhaumaṃ cāntarīkṣaṃ vittamacyutanirmitam /
tat sarvamupayuñjāna etat kuryāt svato budhaḥ //

7. A wise man should with a free mind attend to the course of duties already described, while enjoying all that wealth as created and given by Hari whether it is of the celestial world or of this earth or of the mid-air.

7.14.8

yāvadbhriyeta jaṭharaṃ tāvat svatvaṃ hi dehinām /
adhikaṃ yo 'bhimanyeta sa steno daṇḍamarhati //

8. Creatures have a right for things only to that extent with which his stomach is to be filled; he who claims a right to anything more is a thief and deserves punishment.

7.14.9

mṛgoṣṭrakharamarkākhu sarīsṛp khagamakṣikāḥ /
ātmanaḥ putravat paśyet taireṣāmantaraṃ kiyat //

9. He should regard as his own children, beasts (deer), camels, asses, monkeys, rats, serpents, birds and musquitoes; for, very little is the difference between these animals and his own children.

7.14.10

trivargaṃ nātikṛcchreṇa bhajeta gṛhamedhyapi /
yathādeśaṃ yathākālaṃ yāvaddaivopapāditam //

10 Though a householder, he should not undergo extraordinary pains to secure the Trivarga, viz., Dharma, Artha and Kama and he should only enjoy anything to the extent ordained and afforded by Providence according to time and place.

7.14.11

āśvāghānte 'vasāyibhyaḥ kāmān saṃvibhajedyathā /
apyekāmātmano dārāṃ nṛṇāṃ svatvagraho yataḥ //

11. He should duly share the objects of his pleasures and enjoyments with dogs, sinful people down to Chandalas; and he should allow even his own wife to be helpful to other beings, though men have a peculiar notion of right for the services of their wives.

7.14.12

jahyādyadarthe svān prāṇān hanyādvā pitaraṃ gurum /
tasyāṃ svatvaṃ striyāṃ jahyādyastena hyajito jitaḥ //

12. (For) a wise man should forego his notion of right (as his own) with reference to the woman (his wife) for whose sake he (the worldly man) would give up his life or kill his father or preceptor;

and by this man through this renunciation the unconquered Lord becomes conquered (i.e., His grace is secured).

7.14.13

kṛmiviḍbhasmaniṣṭhāntaṃ kvedaṃ tucchaṃ kalevaram /
kva tadīyaratirbhāryā kvāyamātmā nabhaśchadiḥ //

13. How despicable is this worthless body that finds its end in being changed into worms, filth or ashes, as also the wife contributing to the delight of the worthless body! How far different and high is the nature of Atman that covers all space!

7.14.14

siddhairyajñāvaśiṣṭārthaiḥ kalpayedvṛttimātmanaḥ /
śeṣe svatvaṃ tyajan prājñaḥ padavīṃ mahatāmiyāt //

14. With what may be left after the sacrificial offerings out of things got by chance, he should make his living and even in respect of that remnant he should not cherish the notion of right or claim; and thereby the wise man may attain to the path of the great Paramahamsas.

7.14.15

devān ṛṣīn nṛbhūtāni pitṝn ātmānamanvaham /
svavṛttyāgatavittena yajeta puruṣaṃ pṛthak //

15. With the wealth obtained in the exercise of his own duties and by the means proper to him, he should from day to day worship separately the gods, Rishis, men, Bhutas, Pitris and Atman the Perfect Person.

7.14.16

yarhyātmano 'dhikārādyāḥ sarvāḥ syuryajñasampadaḥ /
vaitānikena vidhinā agnihotrādinā yajet //

16. Where all the materials required for regular sacrifice as well as the qualifications are richly possessed, he should worship the Lord by means of Agnihottra and other sacrifices, according to the rules laid down for the extensive and special sacrificial courses.

7.14.17

na hyagnimukhato 'yaṃ vai bhagavān sarvayajñabhuk /
ijyeta haviṣā rājan yathā vipramukhe hutaiḥ //

17. O king, this Almighty Lord Hari who accepts all sacrifice is not indeed so highly worshipped and propitiated through Agni as he is by means of offerings given through the brahmin.

7.14.18

tasmādbrāhmaṇadeveṣu martyādiṣu yathārhataḥ /
taistaiḥ kāmairyajasvainaṃ kṣetrajñaṃ brāhmaṇān anu //

18. Therefore do thou worship this Lord who is the Antaryamin (and of whom brahmin is the mouth) in the proper manner, who is present in the brahmins, in the gods, in men and other creatures with the various objects of enjoyment, in the order of the gods and brahmins and others.

7.14.19

kuryādaparapakṣīyaṃ māsi prauṣṭhapade dvijaḥ /
śrāddhaṃ pitroryathāvittaṃ tadbandhūnāṃ ca vittavān //

19. In the month of Bhadrapada, the twice-born one should, according to his means if rich enough, perform Sraddha during the dark fortnight for propitiating his parents and kinsmen.

7.14.20

ayane viṣuve kuryādvyatīpāte dinakṣaye /
candrādityoparāge ca dvādaśyāṃ śravaṇeṣu ca //

20. And also at the beginning of Uttarayana and Dakshinayana and on the first days of the months of Chaitra and Asvayuja,

on a Vyatipata day; on a day when the Thiti is shorter in length than a day during eclipse of the sun, or the moon, on Dwadasi day conjoined with Sravana;

7.14.21

tṛtīyāyāṃ śuklapakṣe navamyāmatha kārtike /
catasṛṣvapyaṣṭakāsu hemante śiśire tathā //

21. On the third day of Vaisakha and also on the ninth day of Kartika, bright half; and in the four months of Margaseersha to Phalguna during the Ashtaka days of the four dark fortnights.

7.14.22

māghe ca sitasaptamyāṃ maghārākāsamāgame /
rākayā cānumatyā ca māsarkṣāṇi yutānyapi //

22. In the month of Magha, on the seventh day of the bright half, on the full moon day of Magha, on the full moon days when the moon is not completely full and on the days on which the stars are of the same as the months;

7.14.23

dvādaśyāmanurādhā syāc chravaṇastisra uttarāḥ /
tisṛṣvekādaśī vāsu janmarkṣaśroṇayogayuk //

23. On the Dwadasi day when the nakshatra Anoradha, or Sravana or Uttaraphalguni or Uttarashada or Uttarabhadra is in the ascendant or on the Ekadasi day conjoined with Uttarashada or with the nakshatra under which one is born or with Sravana;

7.14.24

ta ete śreyasaḥ kālā nṝṇāṃ śreyovivardhanāḥ /
kuryāt sarvātmanaiteṣu śreyo 'moghaṃ tadāyuṣaḥ //

24. These are points of time for attaining prosperity, being very auspicious and on these days a person should by every means try to perform Sraddha; then his auspicious merit will be most effectual as well as favourable to (securing) long life.

7.14.25

eṣu snānaṃ japo homo vrataṃ devadvijārcanam /
pitṛdevanṛbhūtebhyo yaddattaṃ taddhyanaśvaram //

25. On these days the performance of ablutions, *Japa*, *homa*, vows of austerity, worship of the gods and brahmins and whatever is offered to Pitris, the gods, wise men and Bhutas bears lasting good indeed (is productive of great benefit).

7.14.26

saṃskārakālo jāyāyā apatyasyātmanastathā /
pretasaṃsthā mṛtāhaśca karmaṇyabhyudaye nṛpa //

26. O king, Sraddhas should be performed at the time of the purifying ceremonies observed in behalf of his wife, children or himself as also at the time of cremation of a dead body and annually on the day of death; and any other auspicious functions, such as marriage.

7.14.27

atha deśān pravakṣyāmi dharmādiśreyāavahān /
sa vai puṇyatamo deśaḥ satpātraṃ yatra labhyate //

27. Now I shall tell you of the places which may enhance the good arising from Dharma and other acts. That indeed is the most hallowed spot where a virtuous recipient is found.

7.14.28

bimbaṃ bhagavato yatra sarvametac carācaram /
yatra ha brāhmaṇakulaṃ tapovidyādayānvitam //

28. For he is the representation of the Almighty Lord in whom abides all the world, mobile and immobile. That is holy place where there is the brahmin house characterised by tapas, knowledge and kindness;

7.14.29

yatra yatra harerarcā sa deśaḥ śreyasāṃ padam /
yatra gaṅgādayo nadyaḥ purāṇeṣu ca viśrutāḥ //

29. Wherever a sacred image of Hari is set up, that is a spot for acquiring great merit and realising blessings and also those places through which flow Ganga and other rivers celebrated in the Puranas;

7.14.30

sarāṃsi puṣkarādīni kṣetrāṇyarhāśritānyuta /
kurukṣetraṃ gayaśiraḥ prayāgaḥ pulahāśramaḥ //

30. Pushkara and other lakes and the places occupied by the worshipful sages and wise men, the Kurukshetra, Gaya's head, Prayaga and the hermitage of Pulaha;

7.14.31

naimiṣaṃ phālgunaṃ setuḥ prabhāso 'tha kuśasthalī /
vārāṇasī madhupurī pampā bindusarastathā //

31. Naimisharanya, Phalguna, (Harapura or Cape Comorin); Setu (Rama's bridge), Prabhasa, Kusasthali, Benares, Madhura, Pampa, Bindusaras;

7.14.32

nārāyaṇāśramo nandā sītārāmāśramādayaḥ /
sarve kulācalā rājan mahendramalayādayaḥ //

32. The hermitage of Narayana, Nanda, Sita, the hermitage of Rama and others and, O king, all the Kulachala mountains, the Mahendra, Malaya and the like;

7.14.33

ete puṇyatamā deśā harerarcāśritāśca ye /
etān deśān niṣeveta śreyaskāmo hyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ /
dharmo hyatrehitaḥ puṃsāṃ sahasrādhiphalodayaḥ //

33. These are very holy places, as also those where the sacred images of Hari are enshrined; he who is intent upon seeking after merit should constantly visit these places; for, the righteous duty done at these places bears men more than thousand times the fruits that accrue elsewhere.

7.14.34

pātraṃ tvatra niruktaṃ vai kavibhiḥ pātravittamaiḥ /
harirevaika urvīśa yanmayaṃ vai carācaram //

34. On this question wise men, foremost among those that know the worthy recipients, have come to the conclusion that Hari is the only one recipient; for, the whole world of moving or stationary beings is constituted of Him.

7.14.35

devarṣyarhatsu vai satsu tatra brahmātmajādiṣu /
rājan yadagrapūjāyāṃ mataḥ pātratayācyutaḥ //

35. Accordingly Achyuta was conclusively shown to be worthy of being first worshipped in thy Rajasuya sacrifice, though there were present the gods, rishis and other worthy souls as well as the sons of Brahma and others.

7.14.36

jīvarāśibhirākīrṇa aṇḍakośāṅghripo mahān /
tanmūlatvādacyutejyā sarvajīvātmatarpaṇam //

36. This tree of the Universe filled with innumerable crowds of Jivas is a very large one; Hari, being the root thereof, His worship brings satisfaction to all the jivatmans.

7.14.37

purāṇyanena sṛṣṭāni nṛtiryagṛṣidevatāḥ /
śete jīvena rūpeṇa pureṣu puruṣo hyasau //

37. All these bodies going by the name of men, beasts and birds, Rishis and the gods, are created by Him and it is He who in the form of Jiva dwells in these bodies and hence called Purusha.

7.14.38

teṣveva bhagavān rājaṃstāratamyena vartate /
tasmāt pātraṃ hi puruṣo yāvān ātmā yatheyate //

38. O king, the Almighty Lord exhibits Himself with some graded difference in all these beings; therefore a Purusha (an embodied being) is a recipient in the same degree as Paramatman exhibits Himself in or is observed in the particular individual.

7.14.39

dṛṣṭvā teṣāṃ mitho nṛṇāmavajñānātmatāṃ nṛpa /
tretādiṣu harerarcā kriyāyai kavibhiḥ kṛtā //

39. O king, in Treta and other later ages, seeing that men were disposed to look upon one another with contempt and disregard, wise men instituted Hari's image for the purpose of worship and other duties towards Him.

7.14.40

tato 'rcāyāṃ hariṃ kecit saṃśraddhāya saparyayā /
upāsata upāstāpi nārthadā puruṣadviṣām //

40. Thenceforward some worship with great devotion Hari in the images. However the worship (though performed) is not fruitful to those that hate Purusha (the Perfect Lord present in His creatures).

7.14.41

puruṣeṣvapi rājendra supātraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ /
tapasā vidyayā tuṣṭyā dhatte vedaṃ harestanum //

41. O king, even among men they say that the brahmin is the worthy recipient who bears the Vedas the body of Hari, along with the virtues of tapas, knowledge and contentment.

7.14.42

nanvasya brāhmaṇā rājan kṛṣṇasya jagadātmanaḥ /
punantaḥ pādarajasā trilokīṃ daivataṃ mahat //

42. Indeed the brahmanas who purify the three worlds with the dust on their feet form the Supreme Deity to Sri Krishna, the Lord of the world.