82 - The Benefit of Listening to the Nārada Purana

This chapter is divided into two parts. Part I-VV. 3-22 describe the performance of pilgrimage to various sacred places by Mohini. VV. 23 ff describe the period of Vedha (overlapping of Tithis) assigned to Mohini which should be avoided by the obseryer of the Ekadashi fast.

VV. 29-49 describe the merit accrued by listening to the NP. 

VV. 50 ff show the catholicity of outlook of the NP. The one-ness non-duality) of Brahman is the main thesis of the NP. 

In V. 62, the author thanks his audience as it is due to them that he was reminded of Hari, 'the cause of all causes' 

The sages said: 

1. O Sūta, o virtuous saint, the nectar-like story of Śhri Kriśhņa recounted by you has been heard. We are blessed thereby, thanks to your favour. 

2. What did Mohini, the daughter of Brahma do after Vasu had departed to the world of Brahma. It behoves you to narrate it to us. 

Sūta said: 

3. Osages, hear ye all, the auspicious story of Mohini, the pilgrimage she undertook afterwards to the holy centres. 

4. In the manner indicated by Vasu, Mohini, the daughter of Brahmã went to the banks of the celestial river (the Ganga) in accordance with the injunctions for the pilgrimage. 

5. After going there, the daughter of Vedhas (god Brahmä) took a holy bath therein and journeyed over the Gangā and other holy rivers) with a delighted mind, in the company of Brāhmaṇas. 

6. She resorted to each of the holy centres in the manner laid down by her preceptor Vasu and took the journey of pilgrimage. 

7. In those Tirthas she worshipped Vişhnu and other deities. She offered different charitable gifts to the Brahmaņas. 

8. At Gaya, she duly offered Pinda to her husband. After worshipping Viśhveśhvara at Kāsi she went over to the holy centre Puruśhottama (Jagannatha of Puri). 

9. At that holy centre she partook of Naivedya of the lord of the universe and purified her body. She then reached the mountain Laksmaņāchala. 

10. After duly worshipping at the shrine there, she went to Setu and worshipped Rameśhvara. At Mahendra mountain, she pail obeisance to Bhargava Parashurama. 

11. O Brāhmaṇa, she went to the holy centre of Shiva, viz: Gokarna and worshipped Isvara. Then along with those excellent Brāhmaṇas, she went to Prabhasa. 

12. She took a holy dip and performed Tarpaņa rites for the Devas and others. After completing the pilgrimage, she visited Hari at Dvarakā and went to Kurukshetra. 

13. There also the queen of men duly fulfilled the prescribed rites of pilgrimage and came to Gangadvära where she took holy bath in accordance with injunctions. 

14-15. After visiting and joyously bowing to Kämodā, she reached Badaryåśhrama and worshipped the sages Nara and Nārāyana. She then hastened to visit Kämākṣhi. After bowing to Siddhanátha, she went to Ayodhya. 

16. After duly taking a huly dip in the Sarayū and after worshipping the lord of Sitā, she resorted to the pilgrimage of middle centres, she then went to Amarakantaka. 

17. After worshipping Mahesha there, she went up the current of the Narmadā. After serving Omkāra and visiting Išhāna she went to Mähiśhmati. 

18-19a. After worshipping Tryambakeśha, she reached Tripushkara. After giving inany charitable gifts at the Puşhkara in accordance with the injunctions, she reached Mathura, the most excellent of all excellent Tīrthas. 

19b-21. She performed the inner pilgrimage (Abhyantari Yatrā) upto twenty Yojanas. (240 KMs.). After going all over the city, she visited Chaturvyūha (the fourfold incarnation of the lord). After taking a holy dip in the Vimsati Tirtha, she concluded the circumambulation. To the citizens of Mathura, she gifted ten thousand cows, all richly adorned after feeding them with excellent cooked rice and with her mind melting with devout feelings. 

22. She bowed to them and bade farewell to them. She entered Kalindi the divine river that destroys sins. 

23-25a. Therein she stabilised herself in the end of Yama's Tithi. She has not emerged out of it till today. When Mohini attains the point of sunrise she deliles all Smärta rites (rites laid down in Smrtis). When Mohinī attains the point of Arunodaya (predawn), she defiles the Shrauta rites (those laid down in Srutis) and wlien she attains the inidnight point, she defiles Vaishnava (pertaining to the followers of Vishņu) rites. The man must observe fast on the Ekidaśhī day when there is no Vedha (overlapping of Tithi) of Mohini and worship Vishņu on the Dvādaśhī day. Thereby undoubtedly he goes to Vaikuntha. 

25b-26a. O Brälımaņas, goddess Mohini was born of god Brahma and Ekādashi was born of Vishņu. It was due to a spirit of rivalry against Vishnujā, the daughter of Viśhnu that Mohini was created by Brahmā. 

266-28. The saintly king Rukmångada was devoted to Vishņu's loyal devotion. She was not competent enough to prevent him from the holy vow of Ekadashi. When the king went to the world of Viśhnu accompanied by his wife and son, Mohini stationed at the end of Yama's Tithi, vies with Ekadashi Tithi. Thus, leading Brāhmaṇa, the story of Mohini has been recounted by me. 

29. I have told you this also viz., Why she was created by Brahma and how she stationed herself there. Thus the latter half of the Náradiya Purāņa is recounted. It yields worldly pleasures and salvation. 

30. In this work, Hari's devotion is achieved at every step of men. The Nāradīya Purāņa is endowed with all the ten characteristics. 

31. It is the effective cause of the four aims viz. virtue, wealth, love and liberation. The man who listens devoutly to this shall attain the region of Viśhņu. 

32-33. This is the eternal seed of all other Purăņas. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, everything, viz.: Pravṛtta and Nivśhtta (the worldly activities and their renunciation) has been men tioned in detail by the intelligent son of Parāśhara. Nāradiya Purāņa is full of superhuman stories. 

34. It should not be imparted to anyone and everyone indiscriminately. It has been recounted to me by Vyäsa overlooking Paila and other disciples. He recounted this Nārada samhitā to me and not to them. 

35-36a. Obeisance to that Vedavyāsa who is identical with Viśhņu, and who expounded the Närada Saṁhitā i.e. the Nārada Purāņa to me. It was Sanaka and other highly blessed sages who revealed this Purāņa Samhitā to Nārada, the learned. 

36b-38. The lord in the form of a swan had instructed the eternal Brahman enhanced by perfect knowledge to these sages. The same thing, Närada of spiritual vision, revealed to sage Veda-Vyāsa. He told him the esoteric secret. This is difficult to be obtained in the world and it has been revealed by me. 

39. To men who listen and narrate it is conducive to the fulfilment of fourfold aims of life. A Brāhmaṇa shall become the storehouse of the Vedas, a Kşhatriya will conquer the Earth. 

40. A Vaiśhya shall be richly endowed with wealth, a Shūdra shall be liberated from misery. This Samhità is glorified as containing twenty-five thousand verses (?). 

41. It consists of sive Pādas (sections) as mentioned by Kriśhņa Dvaipāyana. When this is being heard, all doubts of men who are devotees with some specific desires are cleared. 

42-44. Those men who are devoid of desires, are liberated. The devotees shall visit holy Tirthas such as Naimiśha, Puşhkara, Gayà, Mathura, Dvārakā, the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, Kurukshetra, Narmadā and the holy centre Sri Puruśhottama. He should then confine himself to a diet of Haviśhya (cooked rice soaked in ghee), should lie (sleep) on the bare ground. He should avoid sexual intercourse. He should conquer all the sense-organs. Thereafter, if he reads this Samhita, he is liberated from the ocean of worldly existence. 

45-46. Just as Ekādashi is the most excellent of all holy vows, just as the Ganges is the holiest of all rivers, just as Vrundāvana is the most excellent of all forests, just as Kurukshetra is the most excellent of all holy centres, just as Kaśhī is "the most excellent of all cities, just as Mathura is the best of all holy Tīrthas, and just as Puşhkara is the holiest of all lakes, so also, O Brāhmaṇas, this is the best of all Purāņas. 

47. Devotees of Ganesa, Sūrya, Viśhņu, Shakti and Shambhu—all these are authorized in this Purāņa whether they have any desire to fulfil or not. 

48. Whether a man or a woman listens to this or narrates this with a specific desire in the mind, he or she shall certainly attain that. 

49. By regularly reading the Nāradiya Purāņa, one who is dejected due to ailments, shall be liberated from ailments. 

One who is overwhelmed by fear, shall become fearless. He who is desirous of victory shall be victorious over the enemies. 

50. Obeisance to that lord identical with all, the Atman of all, who creates the universe in the beginning by the attribute of Rajas, who maintains it in the middle by the quality of Sattva and who swallows it in the end by the quality of Tamas. 

51. Obeisance to that Brahmātman by whom the sages, Manus, Siddhas, guardians of the quarters and Prajāpatis, Brahmā etc., have been created. 

52. One shall know that 10 be the real form of Ātman that is formless and identical with knowledge that form from which words recede and in whom the mind does not penetrate. 

53. I salute that attributeless Being beyond darkness which has a wonderful form and by the truth of which this universe evolves and develops truly, 

54. The lord is birthless, single and imperishable in the beginning, in the middle and in the end. He shines in different forms. I salute that unsullied Being. 

55. This universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings is born of the unsullied Being. That is the truth, knowledge and non-dualistic entity, that in which the world stands and is dissolved. 

56-57. The followers of Shiva call that supreme Being Shiva, the knowers of the Sānkhya call him Pradhana. O Brāhmaṇas, the Yogins call that Puruśha, and the people who follow Mimāṁsā call him Karman. The Vaiśheşhikas and others call him Vibhu, those who ponder over Shakti call him Chicchakti. I salute that non-dualistic Brahman that is the cause of different forms and activities? 

58. Devotion of men to the lord facilitates the assumption of the lord's form. Who except a brute desires for other benefits after attaining that devotion. 

59. O Brāhmaṇas, except through the association with the good, those worldly men who are averse to the lord cannot hope to gain liberation from the forest of worldly existence. 

60. Virtuous men of good conduct are always conducive to the welfare of the worlds. O Brāhmaṇas, they are sympathetic towards the wretched ones. Indeed, they redeem those who seek refuge in them. 

61. You are the most blessed sages in this world. You have gained approbation of the righteous ones since you glorify the renown of Vasudeva, fresh at every time like the fresh tender sprouts. 

62. I am lucky and blessed. I have been obliged by you all, since you have reminded me of Hari, the auspiciousness of the world, who is the cause of all causes.

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