138 - In praise of the Purāņa

Lomaharşhana said: 

1-3. Thus, o brahmins, sage Vyasa recounted the Purāna to the sages formerly in smooth voice. His words were pregnant with meaning. His statements were free from eighteen defects. They were free from impurities. They were pure. The Purāņa is full of the gist of different scriptures. It is fully endowed with pure words of good quality embellished with the principles of the systems of Samkhya and Yoga. It contains thc prima facie views of the opponent and the finally established doctrines. The highly intelligent sage Vyāsa stopped aftre recounting this duly. 

4-5. After hearing the first Purana named Brāhma which is on a par with the Vedas and which bestows the desired fruits, they became delighted and pleased as well as surprised again and again. Then they praised sage Vyasa, Krishnadvaipayana Vyāsa. 

The sages said: 

6-12. O excellent sage, the Purāņa that is on a par with the Vedas, which bestows all wished-for fruits, which dispels all sins and which contains wonderful words and letters has been re- counted by you and heard by us: O holy lord, there is nothing unknown to you in the three worlds. O extremely fortunate one, you are omniscient like Bruhaspati among Devas. We shall bow down to you, the great sage of excessive intelligence, closely adhering to Brahman. O great sage, who can recount good qualities since the meanings of the Vedic passages have been explained in the Mahabharata. After learning the four Vedas with ancillary subjects including Grammar you have composed the sacred book Bhārata. Obeisance to you who have the characteristics of perfect knowledge. Obeisance to you, O Vyāsa, of vast knowledge, of eyes resembling the wide petals of a fullblown lotus. It is by you that the light of knowledge has been made to burn filling it with the oil of Bhārata. By the collyrium rod of perfect knowledge the eyes of persons blinded by the darkness of ignorance, going astray due to evil visions, have opened up. 

Lomaharshana said: 

13. After saying this they honoured and worshipped Vyāsa and went back in the manner they had come to their respective hermitages. They were contented. 

14. In the same manner, O excellent sages, the eternal Purāna that is highly meritorious and which destroys all sins has been recounted by me. 

15. O excellent brahmins, whatever has been asked by you all, has been expounded by me by the grace of Vyasa. 

16. This should be listened to by householders, ascetics and religious students. It bestows wealth and happiness to men. It destroys all sins. 

17. Moreover this must be attentively listened to by brahmins devoted to Brahman as well as brahmins and others who are well-disciplined and who desire welfare. 

18. (By doing so) a brahmin acquires learning; a Kshatriya victory in battle; a Vaisya everlasting wealth; and a Sūdra happiness 

19. If a person of great purity listens to it meditating upon a particular desire he acquires the same whatever be the desire. 

20. This is a Purana belonging to Vişhnu. It destroys sins. It is more excellent than all other scriptural texts. It is condu cive to the fulfilment of all aims of life. 

21. This Purāņa that is on a par with the Vedas has been explained by me to you. When this is listened to the heap of sins arising from all defects, is destroyed. 

22. What a man obtains after fasting at Prayaga, Puşkhara, Kurukshetra and Arbuda, he obtains the same by listening to this. 

23. The great merit that a man obtains by performing Agnihotra extremely well for a whole year, o brahmins, is obtained by listening to this once. 

24-25. The benefit that a man derives by taking bath in the waters of Yamuna on the Dvadasi day in the month of Proşthapada, or by visiting Hari at Mathurā is obtained if the devotee dedicates his mind to Keśava and recites this Purana with great concentration, O brahmins. 

26. He who reads or listens to this Purāņa obtains that benefit which a person derives by visiting SRI. 

27. The man who reads and listens faithfully to this Purāņa which is on a par with the Vedas goes to the abode of Hari. 

28. A brahmin with mental control who recounts this on holy Parvan days and on eleventh and twelfth days of the lunar fortnight goes to the world of Visnu. 

29. This is conducive to fame and long life. It bestows happiness. It increases fame. O brahmins, it bestows strength and nourishment. It is conducive to wealth. It destroys bad dreams. 

30. A scholar who reads this excellent narrative during the three joints (i.e. dawn, noon and sunset) with faith and great concentration shall obtain all desired things. 

31. He who is distressed due to sickness is liberated from sickness. He who is in bondage is liberated from bondage. He who is frightened is released from fear and he who is caught in adversity is liberated from adversity. 

32. He obtains ability to remember births, learning, sons, intelligence, animals, courage, virtue, wealth, love and salvation. 

33. If a man reads this with pure mind he obtains all those desired things which he must have kept in his mind. 

34. He who listens to this Purāņa which bestows heavenly pleasures and salvation after bowing to Vişhnu the preceptor of the worlds, with great devotion in the mind and purity in mind and body, becomes free from sins. After enjoying happiness here and divine happiness in heaven he goes to Hari's region without impurity afterwards. He is freed from the Guņas of Prakruti. 

35. This excellent Purāņa that yields much benefit and bestows virtue, wealth and salvation should be listened to everyday by excellent brahmins who are devoutly engaged in their own pious activity and who are desirous of attaining the sole path of salvation, by leading Kshatriyas of self-control and discipline who always seek welfare, by Vaisyas born of pure family, and by virtuous Sūdras. 

36. You are all excellent men. Let your mind be diverted to virtue, that alone is favourable to one who has gone to the other world, like a relative. Riches and women though resorted to by clever persons do not attain power and stability. 

37. A man acquires a kingdom through virtue. A man acquires longevity, renown, austerity, piety and salvation through virtue. 

38. Dharma is both mother and father. Dharma is friend and companion to a man both in this world and in the other. Dharma is a saviour here. It is the bestower of salvation. There is nothing (of consequence) except Dharma. 

39. This secret and excellent Purana that is on a par with the Vedas should not be imparted to an evil mind, and particularly to an atheist. 

40. This excellent Purāņa has been narrated by me and listened to by you. It dispels sins and increasses virtue. It is extremely secret. O sages, permit me I shall go.