Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa
सप्तमोऽध्यायःsaptamo’dhyāyaḥ
Chapter 7Praise of the twelve letters mantra
SYNOPSIS
This passage presents a profound dialogue emphasizing the spiritual power of mantras dedicated to Lord Viṣṇu. The Ṛṣis ask which mantra can free living beings from their sins, protect them from Alakṣmī (misfortune and inauspiciousness), and invite Lakṣmī (the goddess of wealth and prosperity) into their homes and lives. In response, Sūta recounts the teachings of Brahmā to the sage Vasiṣṭha, which extols the greatness of invoking the divine names of Viṣṇu.
Sūta explains that Viṣṇu, also known as Kṛṣṇa and Acyuta, is the eternal lord of the Devas, the remover of all sins, and the bestower of mokṣa (liberation) upon those who follow the spiritual path. By consistently chanting the name "Namo Nārāyaṇa" with devotion—whether in waking, sleeping, eating, or walking—a person is freed from all sins and achieves liberation. Sūta highlights that the mere remembrance of Viṣṇu sanctifies food, drink, and daily activities, and even drives away Alakṣmī while welcoming the presence of Lakṣmī into one's home and body.
To illustrate the power of devotion, the story of Aitareya is shared. Aitareya, a mute son of a Brāhmaṇa, was unable to speak from birth. Despite his inability to learn or recite the Vedas, he constantly remembered and uttered the name "Vāsudeva" in his heart. His father, disheartened, remarried and had other sons who excelled in learning and wealth. Aitareya’s mother lamented their misfortune, considering her son worthless compared to his stepbrothers. Deeply affected by her grief, Aitareya sought divine grace.
During a yajña (sacred ritual), Aitareya entered the ceremonial ground, and the attending Brāhmaṇas were struck dumb upon his arrival. However, when Aitareya uttered the name "Vāsudeva," their speech was miraculously restored. Recognizing the divine power within Aitareya, the Brāhmaṇas honored him, showering him with gifts and reverence. Aitareya then performed the Vedic recitations flawlessly, earning the blessings of Brahmā and the assembled sages. His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of devotion to Viṣṇu and the recitation of His name.
Sūta concludes by glorifying the twelve-lettered mantra of Viṣṇu, which he describes as ancient, powerful, and capable of granting liberation even to the sinful. This mantra leads to the realization of Vedic truths and the attainment of Viṣṇu's divine abode. Sūta emphasizes that the consistent remembrance of Viṣṇu’s name surpasses all other rituals and practices, making it the most direct path to spiritual success and divine union.
The passage conveys the central message that unwavering faith, devotion, and the recitation of Viṣṇu’s names and mantras can elevate even the most downtrodden individuals, granting them liberation, prosperity, and eternal peace in Viṣṇuloka.
Chapter 7
ऋषय ऊचुः
किंजपान्मुच्यते जंतुः सर्वलोकभयादिभिः ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम् ॥१॥
अलक्ष्मीं वाथ संत्यज्य गमिष्यति जपेन वै ।
लक्ष्मीवासो भवेन्मर्त्यः सूत वक्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ २॥
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ
kiṃjapānmucyate jaṃtuḥ sarvalokabhayādibhiḥ |
sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ prāpnoti paramāṃ gatim ||1||
alakṣmīṃ vātha saṃtyajya gamiṣyati japena vai |
lakṣmīvāso bhavenmartyaḥ sūta vaktumihārhasi || 2||
The Ṛṣis said-
"With the reciting of which one of the mantras, the living beings are freed from their sins, achieving mokṣa? With the reciting of which one of the mantras, they could escape from Alakṣmī? How could they achieve the abode of Lakṣmī in their living places?"
सूत उवाच
पुरा पितामहेनोक्तं वसिष्ठाय महात्मने ।
वक्ष्ये संक्षेपतः सर्वं सर्वलोकहिताय वै ॥ ३॥
sūta uvāca
purā pitāmahenoktaṃ vasiṣṭhāya mahātmane |
vakṣye saṃkṣepataḥ sarvaṃ sarvalokahitāya vai || 3||
Sūta said-
I shall speak out in brief for the welfare of the people, whatever had been spoken by Brahmā to Vasiṣṭha on this subject.
शृण्वंतु वचनं सर्वे प्रणिपत्य जनार्दनम् ।
देवदेवमजं विष्णुं कृष्णमच्युतमव्ययम् ॥४॥
सर्वपापहरं शुद्धं मोक्षदं ब्रह्मवादिनम् ।
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा यो विद्वान्पुण्यकर्मकृत् ॥५॥
नारायणं जपेन्नित्यं प्रणम्य पुरुषोत्तमम् ।
स्वपन्नारायणं देवं गच्छन्नारायणं तथा ॥ ६ ॥
भुञ्जन्नारायणं विप्रास्तिष्ठज्जाग्रत्सनातनम्।
उन्मिषन्निमिषन्वापि नमो नारायणेति वै ॥७॥
भोज्यं पेयं च लेह्यं च नमो नारायणेति च ।
अभिमंत्र्य स्पृशन्भुंक्ते स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ८॥
śṛṇvaṃtu vacanaṃ sarve praṇipatya janārdanam |
devadevamajaṃ viṣṇuṃ kṛṣṇamacyutamavyayam ||4||
sarvapāpaharaṃ śuddhaṃ mokṣadaṃ brahmavādinam |
manasā karmaṇā vācā yo vidvānpuṇyakarmakṛt ||5||
nārāyaṇaṃ japennityaṃ praṇamya puruṣottamam |
svapannārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ gacchannārāyaṇaṃ tathā || 6 ||
bhuñjannārāyaṇaṃ viprāstiṣṭhajjāgratsanātanam|
unmiṣannimiṣanvāpi namo nārāyaṇeti vai ||7||
bhojyaṃ peyaṃ ca lehyaṃ ca namo nārāyaṇeti ca |
abhimaṃtrya spṛśanbhuṃkte sa yāti paramāṃ gatim || 8||
Viṣṇu is the lord of the Devas, is beyond birth, is also known as Kṛṣṇa - Acyuta, and is the remover of all the sins. He bestows mokṣa to the Brahmavādins. All of you, offer your salutation to him, then listen to my words. A learned person who performs the auspicious deeds recites the names of Nārāyaṇa while remembering his name in heart, body, and speech, while sleeping, walking, eating, standing, while awake, opening the eyes, and recites the name of Nārāyaṇa, O Brāhmaṇas, one who repeats the words Namo Nārāyaṇa, who remembers Viṣṇu by his inner souls, makes use of beverages which are licked when these things are sanctified with the mantras and take these things by touching them, he surely achieves mokṣa.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नोति च सतां गतिम्।
अलक्ष्मीश्च मया प्रोक्ता पत्नी या दुःसहस्य च ॥ ९॥
नारायणपादं श्रुत्वा गच्छत्येव न संशयः ।
या लक्ष्मीर्देवदेवस्य हरेः कृष्णस्य वल्लभा ॥ १० ॥
गृहे क्षेत्रे तथावासे तनौ वसति सुव्रताः ।
आलोड्य सर्वशास्त्राणि विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ ११ ॥
इदमेकं सुनिष्पन्नं ध्येयो नारायणः सदा ।
किं तस्य बहुभिर्मंत्रैः किं तस्य बहुभिर्व्रतैः ॥ १२॥
sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ prāpnoti ca satāṃ gatim|
alakṣmīśca mayā proktā patnī yā duḥsahasya ca || 9||
nārāyaṇapādaṃ śrutvā gacchatyeva na saṃśayaḥ |
yā lakṣmīrdevadevasya hareḥ kṛṣṇasya vallabhā || 10 ||
gṛhe kṣetre tathāvāse tanau vasati suvratāḥ |
āloḍya sarvaśāstrāṇi vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ || 11 ||
idamekaṃ suniṣpannaṃ dhyeyo nārāyaṇaḥ sadā |
kiṃ tasya bahubhirmaṃtraiḥ kiṃ tasya bahubhirvrataiḥ || 12||
He is freed from all the evil things. Alakṣmī, the wife of sage Duḥsaha, about whom I had talked earlier, surely runs away on hearing the word of Nārāyaṇa. O noble people, Lakṣmī, who is the loving wife of Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa, or Deveśa, resides in the body of that person, at his residence or the living quarters. After churning out all the Śāstras and thinking over the topic again and again, the gist has emerged that one should always remember the name of Nārāyaṇa. What is the use of reciting many mantras and performing several vratas?
नमो नारायणायेति मंत्रः सर्वार्थसाधकः ।
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु नमो नारायणेति च ॥ १३॥
जपेत्स याति विप्रेंद्रा विष्णुलोकं सबांधवः ।
अन्यच्च देवदेवस्य शृण्वंतु मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ १४॥
मंत्रो मया पुराभ्यस्तः सर्ववेदार्थसाधकः ।
द्वादशाक्षरसंयुक्तो द्वादशात्मा पुरातनः ॥१५॥
तस्यैवेह च माहात्म्यं संक्षेपात्प्रवदामि वः ।
namo nārāyaṇāyeti maṃtraḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ |
tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu namo nārāyaṇeti ca || 13||
japetsa yāti vipreṃdrā viṣṇulokaṃ sabāṃdhavaḥ |
anyacca devadevasya śṛṇvaṃtu munisattamāḥ || 14||
maṃtro mayā purābhyastaḥ sarvavedārthasādhakaḥ |
dvādaśākṣarasaṃyukto dvādaśātmā purātanaḥ ||15||
tasyaiveha ca māhātmyaṃ saṃkṣepātpravadāmi vaḥ |
The mantra of Namo Nārāyaṇa is the achiever of all the success. Therefore, this mantra should be recited on all occasions. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the people who recite these mantras achieve the place of Viṣṇu, with all their kiths and kins. Listen to the other mantra of lord Viṣṇu. I have practiced myself earlier over this mantra. The mantra leads one to achieve the tattvas of the Vedas. It is quite an ancient one and comprises of the twelve letters. I shall speak out the glory of the same mantra in brief.
कश्चिद्विजो महाप्राज्ञस्तपस्तप्त्वा कथञ्चन ॥ १६॥
पुत्रमेकं तयोत्पाद्य संस्कारैश्च यथाक्रमम् ।
योजयित्वा यथाकालं कृतोपनयनं पुनः ॥ १७॥
अध्यापयामास तदा स च नोवाच किञ्चन ।
न जिह्वा स्पंदते तस्य दुःखितोऽभूद्विजोत्तमः ॥ १८ ॥
kaścidvijo mahāprājñastapastaptvā kathañcana || 16||
putramekaṃ tayotpādya saṃskāraiśca yathākramam |
yojayitvā yathākālaṃ kṛtopanayanaṃ punaḥ || 17||
adhyāpayāmāsa tadā sa ca novāca kiñcana |
na jihvā spaṃdate tasya duḥkhito’bhūdvijottamaḥ || 18 ||
There was a great intelligent Brāhmaṇa who performed severe tapas and then he got a son. In due course of time, he performed all other saṁskāras of his son and also performed his thread ceremony as well. Then he started educating him, but he could not utter a single word from his mouth. He could not move his tongue while speaking. The Brāhmaṇa then felt extremely miserable.
वासुदेवेति नियतमैतरेयो वदत्यसौ ।
पिता तस्य तथा चान्यां परिणीय यथाविधि ॥ १९ ॥
पुत्रानुत्पादयामास तथैव विधिपूर्वकम् ।
वेदानधीत्य संपन्ना बभूवुः सर्वसंमताः ॥२०॥
vāsudeveti niyatamaitareyo vadatyasau |
pitā tasya tathā cānyāṃ pariṇīya yathāvidhi || 19 ||
putrānutpādayāmāsa tathaiva vidhipūrvakam |
vedānadhītya saṃpannā babhūvuḥ sarvasaṃmatāḥ ||20||
The son of the Brāhmaṇa was known by the name of Aitareya. He always uttered Vāsudeva. His father married himself appropriately and produced several sons from his second wife. Because of their high learning in the Vedas, they became rich.
ऐतरेयस्य सा माता दुःखिता शोकमूर्च्छिता ।
उवाच पुत्राः संपन्ना वेदवेदाङ्गपारगाः॥२१॥
ब्राह्मणैः पूज्यमाना वै मोदयंति च मातरम् ।
मम त्वं भाग्यहीनायाः पुत्रो जातो निराकृतिः ॥ २२॥
मात्र निधनं श्रेयो न कथञ्चन जीवितम् ।
इत्युक्तः स च निर्गम्य यज्ञावाटं जगाम वै ॥२३॥
aitareyasya sā mātā duḥkhitā śokamūrcchitā |
uvāca putrāḥ saṃpannā vedavedāṅgapāragāḥ||21||
brāhmaṇaiḥ pūjyamānā vai modayaṃti ca mātaram |
mama tvaṃ bhāgyahīnāyāḥ putro jāto nirākṛtiḥ || 22||
mātra nidhanaṃ śreyo na kathañcana jīvitam |
ityuktaḥ sa ca nirgamya yajñāvāṭaṃ jagāma vai ||23||
Feeling miserable, the mother of Aitareya, feeling grief-stricken, once said to her son- "The sons of my co-wife, because of their high education, have become rich getting well-versed in the Vedas. They are all respected by the Brāhmaṇas and please their mother in all respects. An unfortunate mother like me has such a son who is worthless. Therefore, it is no use for my living on earth. At these words of his mother, the son went to the place of yajña.
तस्मिन्यते द्विजानां तु न मंत्राः प्रतिपेदिरे ।
ऐतरेय स्थिते तत्र ब्राह्मणा मोहितास्तदा ॥ २४॥
tasminyate dvijānāṃ tu na maṃtrāḥ pratipedire |
aitareya sthite tatra brāhmaṇā mohitāstadā || 24||
At the time of his entry in the place of yajña, the Brāhmaṇas could utter no hymns. All of them were confused about the arrival of the Brāhmaṇa named Aitareya. All the Brāhmaṇas were dumb folded after the arrival of Aitareya.
ततो वाणी समुद्भूता वासुदेवेति कीर्तनात् ।
ऐतरेयस्य ते विप्राः प्रणिपत्य यथातथम् ॥ २५ ॥
पूजां चक्रुस्ततो यज्ञं स्वयमेव समागतम् ।
ततः समाप्य तं यज्ञमैतरेयो धनादिभिः ॥ २६॥
सर्ववेदान्सदस्याह च षडङ्गान् समाहिताः ।
तुष्टुवुश्च तथा विप्रा ब्रह्माद्याश्च तथा द्विजाः ॥ २७ ॥
tato vāṇī samudbhūtā vāsudeveti kīrtanāt |
aitareyasya te viprāḥ praṇipatya yathātatham || 25 ||
pūjāṃ cakrustato yajñaṃ svayameva samāgatam |
tataḥ samāpya taṃ yajñamaitareyo dhanādibhiḥ || 26||
sarvavedānsadasyāha ca ṣaḍaṅgān samāhitāḥ |
tuṣṭuvuśca tathā viprā brahmādyāśca tathā dvijāḥ || 27 ||
But the moment, Aitareya uttered the word Vāsudeva from his mouth, the speech of all the Brāhmaṇas was released and they started reciting the mantras. All those Brāhmaṇas then offered their salutation to Aitareya, adoring him at the same time. The yajña continued thereafter. Aitareya was then offered gifts like the costumes, and cereals and was honored appropriately. Ultimately, he recited the Vedas with six aṅgas in the yajña before the Brāhmaṇas. Thereafter, Brahmā and other Brāhmaṇas eulogized Aitareya.
ससर्जु : पुष्पवर्षाणि खेचराः सिद्धचारणाः ।
एवं समाप्य वे यज्ञमैतरेयो द्विजोत्तमाः ॥२८॥
मातरं पूजयित्वा तु विष्णोः स्थानं जगाम ह।
एतद्वै कथितं सर्वं द्वादशाक्षरवैभवम्॥२९॥
पठतां शृण्वतां नित्यं महापातकनाशनम्।
जपेद्यः पुरुषो नित्यं द्वादशाक्षरमव्ययम् ॥३०॥
स याति दिव्यमतुलं विष्णोस्तत्परमं पदम् ।
अपि पापसमाचारो द्वादशाक्षरतत्परः ॥ ३१॥
प्राप्नोति परमं स्थानं नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।
किं पुनर्ये स्वधर्मस्था वासुदेवपरायणाः ॥३२॥
दिव्यं स्थानं महात्मानः प्राप्नुवंतीति सुव्रताः ॥३३॥
sasarju : puṣpavarṣāṇi khecarāḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ |
evaṃ samāpya ve yajñamaitareyo dvijottamāḥ ||28||
mātaraṃ pūjayitvā tu viṣṇoḥ sthānaṃ jagāma ha|
etadvai kathitaṃ sarvaṃ dvādaśākṣaravaibhavam||29||
paṭhatāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ nityaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam|
japedyaḥ puruṣo nityaṃ dvādaśākṣaramavyayam ||30||
sa yāti divyamatulaṃ viṣṇostatparamaṃ padam |
api pāpasamācāro dvādaśākṣaratatparaḥ || 31||
prāpnoti paramaṃ sthānaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā |
kiṃ punarye svadharmasthā vāsudevaparāyaṇāḥ ||32||
divyaṃ sthānaṃ mahātmānaḥ prāpnuvaṃtīti suvratāḥ ||33||
The Siddhas and Cāraṇas rained flowers from the sky. O Brāhmaṇas, this is the way how the yajña was concluded. Aitareya then returned to his place. He eulogized his mother and proceeded on to Viṣṇuloka. I have recited the glory of the twelve-lettered mantra, completely. A person who recites this twelve-lettered mantra, in spite of his having a sinful life, achieves the divine and beautiful supreme place of Viṣṇu. There is no doubt about it. O noble sages, one, who remains devoted to Viṣṇu and is engaged in the devotion of lord Vāsudeva, such noble person achieves the divine place of lord Viṣṇu.
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