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Check free →He took a rich cowherd woman into his house, and after her death he kept her wealth. After death he and his wife enjoy heaven for five thousand years. The remedy is good works, 500,000 japa of a Vishnu mantra, a homa, gold and silver images and a cow. It ends with a bull, a feast and land.
The English below is our translation from the Sanskrit.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
॥ शिव उवाच ॥अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि यत्कृतं पूर्वजन्मनि ॥अवन्तीपुरतो देवि पूर्वे क्रोशप्रमाणतः ॥ १ ॥
Shiva said: Now I will tell what was done in a past life. One krosha (a measure of distance) east of Avanti, O Goddess,
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
लक्ष्मणस्य पुरं ख्यातं तत्रैव बहवो जनाः ॥वसन्ति वैष्णवाः सर्वे वेदकर्मविचक्षणाः ॥ २ ॥
is the famous town of Lakshmana. Many people live there. All are worshippers of Vishnu, skilled in the Vedic rites.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
स्वर्णकारो वसत्येकः स्वकर्मनिरतः सदा ॥
Verse 29.23 gives 500,000 japa with the Vishno rarata mantra. Verses 29.24 to 29.36 add a homa, gold and silver images, a cow, a bull, a feast and land.
Verse 29.1 and verse 29.2 place it one krosha east of Avanti, in the town of Lakshmana. Its people are all worshippers of Vishnu.
A goldsmith lives there, always busy at his own work, known as Damodara. His wife was Prabhavati.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
विष्णुभक्तिरतः शान्तः सज्जनानां च सेवकः ॥पत्नी पतिव्रता तस्य पतिशुश्रूषणे रता ॥ ४ ॥
He was devoted to Vishnu, calm, and a servant of good people. His wife was faithful and glad to serve her husband.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
तस्य पुत्रद्वयं जातं गुणज्ञं पितृसेवकम् ॥एका च बल्लवी तत्र निवासाय तदागता ॥ ५ ॥
Two sons were born to him, wise and serving their father. A cowherd woman also came there to live.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
पुत्रद्वयसमायुक्ता बहुगोधनसंयुता ॥एको द्यूतरतः पुत्रो द्वितीयश्चोरसंमतः ॥ ६ ॥
She had two sons and many cows. One son loved gambling, and the second was liked by thieves.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
उपार्जितं महिषीस्वं गोधनं बहुधा तथा ॥चोरद्यूतोपचाराभ्यां धनाढ्यत्वमजायत ॥ ७ ॥
Buffaloes and cattle were gained in many ways. Through theft and gambling, they became rich.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
दुग्धादिकं महादेवि भुज्यते प्रत्यहं तदा ॥स्वर्णकारो महाद्रव्यामाभीरीं सर्वसंयुताम् ॥ ८ ॥
Milk and the like were enjoyed every day then, O great Goddess. Then the goldsmith took the cowherd woman, rich and with all she had,
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
आनीतवान् स्वगेहे तां तदा च वरवर्णिनीम् ॥ततो बहुगते काले महामारीज्वरादिना ॥ ९ ॥
into his own house, that fair woman. Then, after much time, through a great plague, fever and the like,
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
पुत्राभ्यां सममद्राक्षीद्द्रव्या मरणं तदा ॥द्रव्यं तस्यास्तदा देवि स्वर्णकारो गृहीतवान् ॥१०॥
she met death together with her two sons. Then, O Goddess, the goldsmith took her wealth. (Our text is unclear here: one blurred word in the first line.)
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
भुक्तं द्रव्यं च तत्सर्वं यावत्तिष्ठति भूतले ॥भार्यया सह पुत्राभ्यां महिषीगोधनादिकम् ॥ ११ ॥
As long as he lived on earth, he enjoyed all that wealth. With his wife and two sons, he enjoyed the buffaloes, cattle and the rest.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
ततो वयोत्तरे देवि मृत्युस्तस्याभवत्किल ॥पत्नी तस्य मृता साध्वी ताभ्यां स्वर्गमभूत्पुरा ॥१२॥
Then in old age, O Goddess, he died. His faithful wife died too. Those two went to heaven first.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
पञ्च वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे सुखमजीजनत् ॥पुनः पुण्यक्षये जाते मानुषत्वं भवेद्भुवि ॥ १३ ॥
For five thousand years they had joy in heaven. When their merit ran out, they became human again on earth.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
अयोध्यानगरादेवि सरय्वा उत्तरे तटे ॥क्रोशद्वये विशालाक्षि पुरे देहलसंज्ञके ॥ १४ ॥
Two krosha (a measure of distance) from the city of Ayodhya, O Goddess, lies a town named Dehala. It is on the north bank of the Sarayu river, O large-eyed one.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
स्वकर्मनिरतः प्राज्ञः स्वविद्यायां विचक्षणः ॥स्वदेशे चैव विख्यातः शत्रूणां च विमर्दनः ॥ १५ ॥
There the one born is busy in his own work, wise, and skilled in his own craft. He is famous in his own land and a crusher of enemies.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
पुनर्विवाहिता पत्नी साध्वी या पूर्वजन्मनि ॥तस्य नेत्रे विशालाक्षि पूर्वजन्मफलाद्गते ॥ १६ ॥
The faithful wife of his past life is married to him again. His eyes, O large-eyed one, are lost by the result of the past life.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
बाल्ये चैव तु पुत्रस्य नेत्रं वामं प्रणाशितम् ॥तेन पापेन भो देवि गतं नेत्रद्वयं शिवे ॥ १७ ॥
In childhood, the son's left eye was destroyed. By that wrong, O Goddess, both eyes were lost, O Parvati.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
भक्षितं तस्य तत्स्वर्णं न दत्तं ब्राह्मणाय वै ॥तेन पापेन भो देवि मृतः पुत्रो वरः शुभे ॥ १८ ॥
He used up that gold and did not give it to a brahmin. By that wrong, O Goddess, his best son died, O fair one.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
मित्रसंबन्धतः पापात् पुत्रपौत्रद्वयं मृतम् ॥पूर्वजन्मकृतं देवि शुभाशुभफलं तथा ॥ १९ ॥
From the wrong tied to a friend, a son and a grandson died. The good and bad fruit of past deeds, O Goddess,
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
भुज्यते प्राणिभिः सर्वैस्तथा देवि विशेषतः॥म्लेच्छसेवारतो नित्यं म्लेच्छस्यैव च संगतिः ॥२०॥
is felt by all beings, O Goddess, and here most of all. He always likes to serve a mleccha (a person outside the Vedic way). He keeps a mleccha's company.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
कुमार्गतो भवेद्देवि मर्त्यलोके जनिर्यदा ॥शान्तिं शृणु महादेवि पूर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् ॥ २१ ॥
When he is born in the mortal world, he goes on a bad path, O Goddess. O great Goddess, hear the remedy that destroys the old wrong.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
गृहवित्ताष्टमैर्भागैः पुण्यकार्यं च कारयेत् ॥गायत्रीजातवेदाभ्यां याः फली त्र्यम्बकेण वा ॥२२॥
He should do good works with one-eighth of his household wealth. He should use the Gayatri (a sacred Vedic chant). Or the Jatavedas (a name of the fire god) verse, the verse beginning 'yah phali', or the Tryambaka verse.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
विष्णोरराटमन्त्रेण जपं वै कारयेत्तथा ॥पञ्चलक्षप्रमाणेन यथा पापं प्रणश्यति ॥ २३ ॥
He should have japa (repeating a mantra) done with the Vishnu mantra (sacred words) 'Vishno rarata'. It is five hundred thousand times, so that the wrong is destroyed.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
होमं वै कारयेद्देवि दशांशं विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ततो वै तर्पणं कुर्यान्मार्जनं तु विशेषतः ॥ २४ ॥
O Goddess, he should have a homa (fire offering) done, a tenth part, by rule. Then he should do tarpana (water offering to the ancestors and gods), and especially marjana (sprinkling).
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
प्रतिमां कारयेत्तद्वद्विष्णोश्चैव सदाशिवे ॥अष्टादशपलस्यैव सुवर्णस्य हरिं विभुम् ॥ २५ ॥
In the same way, O ever-auspicious one, he should have an image of Vishnu made. It is of eighteen pala (a unit of weight) of gold, for Hari, the all-pervading.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
तद्वदेव शिवस्यैव रजतस्य परं विभुम् ॥प्रतिमां पूजयेद्देवि मन्त्रेणानेन सुव्रते ॥२६॥
Likewise, an image of Shiva, the Supreme Lord, in silver. He should worship the image with this mantra (sacred words), O one of good vows.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
ॐ गरुडध्वज देवेश चराचरगुरो हरे ॥वासुदेव जगन्नाथ पूर्वपापं विनाशय ॥ २७ ॥
Om. O Lord of gods with the Garuda banner. O teacher of all that moves and stays still, O Hari. O Vasudeva, Lord of the world, destroy my old wrong.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
ॐ नन्दिकेश्वर भूतेश देवदेव सुरेश्वर ॥मम पूजां गृहाण त्वं पूर्वपापं प्रणाशय ॥ २८ ॥
Om. O Nandikeshvara (Shiva's bull attendant), Lord of beings, God of gods, Lord of gods, accept my worship. Destroy my old wrong.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
ततः इन्द्रादिदशदिक्पालान् पूजयेत् ॥ॐ इन्द्राय नमः ॐ अग्नये नमः ॐ यमायनमः ॐ निर्ऋतये नमः ॐ वरुणाय नमः ॐवायवे नमः ॐ कुबेराय नमः ॐ ईशानाय नमःॐ ब्रह्मणे नमः ॐ अनन्ताय नमः ॥गन्धपुष्पाक्षतैः सर्वान्पूजयेच्च पृथक् पृथक् ॥ततो गां कपिलां देवि स्वर्णशृङ्गीं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ २९ ॥
Then he should worship the ten guardians of the directions, beginning with Indra. Om, salutation to Indra. Om, salutation to Agni. Om, salutation to Yama (the god of death). Om, salutation to Nirriti. Om, salutation to Varuna. Om, salutation to Vayu. Om, salutation to Kubera. Om, salutation to Ishana. Om, salutation to Brahma. Om, salutation to Ananta. He should worship each one separately with sandal paste, flowers and rice. Then, O Goddess, he should worship the tawny cow with horns of gold.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
मन्त्रेणानेन भो देवि सर्वपापहरां शुभाम् ॥ॐनमो भगवत्यै कामेश्वर्यै मम पापं व्यपोहतु स्वाहा ॥पुरा मम कृतं पापं कामधेनो सुरेश्वरि ॥कपिले त्वं जगन्मातर्मम कार्यं प्रसाधय ॥ ३० ॥
With this mantra (sacred words), O Goddess, he should worship the good cow that takes away all wrong. Om, salutation to the blessed Kameshvari. May she wipe away my wrong. Svaha (the closing word of an offering). I did a wrong before, O Kamadhenu (the wish-giving cow), Queen of gods. O Kapila, mother of the world, make my work succeed.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
ततश्च दद्याद्गां देवि ब्राह्मणाय शिवात्मने ॥दशवर्णास्ततो दद्यात् पात्राणि विविधानि च ॥३१॥
Then, O Goddess, he should give the cow to a brahmin who is Shiva in spirit. Then he should give dashavarna (a gift of ten colours) and many kinds of vessels.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
वृषभं च ततो देवि नीलवर्णं सुसंस्कृतम् ॥ब्राह्मणाय प्रदद्यात्तु सर्वपापस्य संक्षयः ॥ ३२ ॥
Then, O Goddess, he should give a well-prepared blue-coloured bull to a brahmin. All wrong is wiped out.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
भोजयेद्विविधैरन्नैः पायसैश्च समोदकैः ॥ब्राह्मणान् शतसंख्याकान् रुद्रविष्णुस्वरूपिणः३३॥
He should feed a hundred brahmins, who are Rudra (a fierce form of Shiva) and Vishnu in form. He gives many foods, sweet rice-milk and sweet balls.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
प्रतिमां दापयेत्पश्चाद्ब्राह्मणाय वराय च ॥बन्धुभिः सह भुञ्जीत ततो विप्रविसर्जनम् ॥ ३४ ॥
After that he should have an image given to a good brahmin. He should eat with his kinsmen. Then he sends the brahmins away.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
यथाशक्ति प्रदद्याद्वै ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च दक्षिणाम् ॥हरिवंशस्य श्रवणं पार्थिवस्य च पूजनम् ॥ ३५ ॥
He should give the brahmins a fee as he is able. He should hear the Harivamsha (a sacred book about Krishna), and worship the image made of earth.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
भूमिदानं विशेषेण ब्राह्मणाय च दापयेत् ॥एवं कृते वरारोहे पूर्वजन्मसमुद्भवम् ॥ ३६ ॥
He should especially have land given to a brahmin. When this is done, O fair one, the wrong born of the past life
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
पापं प्रशमयेच्छीघ्रं मम वाक्यं च नान्यथा ॥रोगादिविविधं दुःखं तत्सर्वं विलयं व्रजेत् ॥ ३७ ॥
is quickly calmed. My word is not otherwise. Disease and every other kind of sorrow come to an end.
पुनर्वसु नक्षत्र द्वितीय चरण
वंशवृद्धिर्भवेद्देवि नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ३८॥
The family grows, O Goddess. Do not doubt this.