This autumn I am re-reading "Shree Padma-Purana", making notes on some crucial points of Shakta-and-Vaishnava-Siddhanta. I am re-reading the English edition by Motilal Banasirdass (link to pdf-scans in my E-Library), the next stage will be the checking of English-translated Pramanas with the Sanskrit version, but up to now - English notes only.
Verses 1.1.43-46 say about Aupurusheya-Tattva, that is about Vedas/Puranas being non-human scriptures, but the Granthas compiled by Bhagavan Shree Narayana personally:
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.1.43-46: "Know Krishna-Dvaipayana-Vyasa to be Bhagavan Shree Narayana personally! Who else but the Lotus-Eyed Vishnu would be the author of the Mahabharata? From that Guru of the Veda (that is from Lord Shree Vishnu), The Omniscient One of bright lustre and revered in all the worlds, I learnt "Shree Padma-Purana".
Verse 1.2.51 is the great aphorism saying that
"Veda is afraid of little learning":"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.2.51: "One should nourish Veda with Itihasa and Puranas. The Veda, thinking 'he would deceive me', is afraid of a person of little learning".
In the Verses 1.3.38-40 Shreemati Bhumi-Devi (Bhu-Devi) says that She is non-distinct from Shree Madhavi-Lakshmi. Besides, any Vaishnava from Shree Ramanuja-Sampradaya can notice, that in these Verses Shreemati Bhumi-Devi also says about Prapatti and Sharira-Shariri-Siddhanta!
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.3.38-40: "For, who would attain salvation without propitiating Bhagavan Shree Vasudeva? All that form which can be mentally grasped, the external form that can be perceived by eyes etc. and that which can be defined by intelligence, is Your Form.
I am full of You; You are My Support; you have created Me and I have sought Your Refuge. Therefore the people call me "Madhavi" ("belonging to Madhava, that is to Bhagavan Shree Vishnu)".
By the way, OM VishnuPad Shree Parashara-Bhatta-Acharya also writes about Shreemati MahaLakshmi-Devi and Sharira-Shariri-Siddhanta in His Tikas to "MADHAVA"-Name from "Shree Vishnu-SahasraNama" - please refer to this scan, Mantra 741 - ॐ माधवाय नमः - OM mAdhavAya namaH - http://vishnudut1926.blogspot.com/2017/12/sri-vishnu-sahasranama-with-bhashya-of.html
Verse 1.3.154 and further Verses explain "no return from Shree Vaikuntha"-Siddhanta and "castes and Lokas"-Siddhanta:
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.3.154: "O, best among the religious people, Bhagavan Shree Vishnu prescribed the duties of castes and the stages of life and the worlds men properly practising the duties of their castes would go to".
1.3.155-157: "O king, the place of the brahmanas (i.e. the place which the brahmanas reach) is said to be of Prajapati (i.e. Brahmaloka); of kshatriyas not fleeing away from the battle the place is that of Indra; of vaishyas who follow their duties the place is of Vayu; and for sudra who adhere to the service the place is that of Gandharvas. That place which is said to be of (i.e. reached by) the 88000 sages remaining in perpetual celibacy is also of (i. e. reached by) celibate students living with their teachers".
1.3.158-164: "That place which is said to be of the Seven Sages is also said to be of (i.e. reached by) the anchorites. The place of (i.e. reached by) the householders is of Prajapati and the place of (i.e. reached by) the ascetics is called Brahma. The place of (i.e . reached by) the yogins is the immortal place, the highest place of Brahman; of the yogins always remaining in secluded places constantly exerting and meditating, the highest place is the one which the wise (alone) see.
The planets like the Moon and the Sun go and come; but those who are intent upon Bhagavan Shree Narayana do not return even now.
For those who condemn the Vedas and create obstacles in the performance of sacrifices and who give up their duties, the place that is told is the terrible hells (Tamisra, Andhatamisra and etc.)".
Verses 1.4.58-59 tell about the manifestation of Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi. This Verse is very similar to the very famous Verse 8.8.8 of "Shree Bhagavata-Purana" - the only difference is that the Verse from "Shree Padma-Purana" mentions "Shree Suktam", while "Shree Bhagavata-Purana" does not.
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.4.58-59: "Then Goddess Shree (Shree Lakshmi-Devi) with throbbing lustre and seated upon a blooming lotus, and holding a lotus came from that water. The great sages joyfully praised Her with the Hymn called "Shree-Suktam".
The other distinction is that "Shree Padma-Purana" mentions 4 famous elephants - you can often see them on the pictures with Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi (see the picture at the beginning of this post as an example):
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.4.62: "The quarter-elephants bringing pure water in golden pots, bathed Shree Lakshmi-Devi, the Great Ruler of all the worlds".
It's nice time for getting back to the Pramanas dedicated to Shreemati Bhumi-Devi here and the above-mentioned Madhavi-Lakshmi theme, because "Shree Vishnu-Dharmottara-Purana" also mentions 4 elephants of Shreemati Bhumi-Devi:
दिग्नागानां चतुर्णां सा कार्या पृष्ठगता तथा सर्वौषधियुता देवी शुक्लवर्णा ततः स्मृता
dignAgAnAM chaturNAM sA kAryA pRRiShThagatA tathA sarvauShadhiyutA devI shuklavarNA tataH smRRitA
"Shreemati Bhumi-Devi should be made seated on the back of the 4 elephants of the quarters (Dig-Nagas). Shreemati Bhumi-Devi ruling over the vegetable life, is traditionally said to be of white colour". ["Shree Vishnu-Dharmottara-Puranam", 3.61]
In the Verse 1.5.94 Narada-Muni says that Shreemati MahaGauri-Devi is "the Knower of the Vedas", a great Pramana for all the Shaktas and those ones who especially adore Shreemati Durga-Devi:
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.5.94: "She (Shreemati Gauri-Devi), the Knower of the Vedas and their significance, has taken up another body as the daughter of Himavat, born from the womb of Mena".
Verses 1.7.114-115 tell about Mukti along with Brahma. These Verses are especially important for Shree Madhwa-Sampradaya, because OM VishnuPad Shree MadhwAcharya (AnandaTirtha, Dvaita, Tattvavada) follows to the idea of Vaishnava-Mukti only via Brahma:
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.7.114: "Having created all these mobile and immobile beings in their own periods, they will, at the end of the Kalpa, obtain release (Mukti) along with Brahma".
"Shree Padma-Purana", 1.7.115: "At the end of a thousand yugas they will again and again perish, and led by Brahma will then be absorbed in Lord Shree Vishnu".
Thus ends the 1st part of my notes on "Shree Padma-Purana", Srshti-Khanda, you can find table of contents here - "TOC: SHREE PADMA-PURANA NOTES".
Vishnudut1926, Moscow, September 2018
