Skandapurana 2.6: bhāgavatamāhātmyam

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Table of Contents

The Devanāgarī Unicode transcription of the Śrībhāgavatamāhātmya in the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa of the Skandapurāṇa was made on the date 23-8-2015 CE (Śrāvaṇa Śukla Aṣṭamī, Vikrama Saṃvat 2072) by means of InPage OCR software integrated with an advanced dictionary file.

Now begins the glorious Bhāgavatamāhātmya.

Vyāsa said:

To Kṛṣṇa, whose true nature is concentrated being, consciousness, and bliss, and who showers infinite happiness,

the cause of the origination, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe, we bow incessantly to attain the aesthetic experience of devotion. (1)

Having greeted the great-minded Sūta seated in Naimiṣa,

The seers, skilled in relishing the nectar of holy discourse, said:

The seers said:

Having consecrated Vajra in the land of holy Mathurā and his own grandson in Hastināpura,

when the king departed, what did those two do, and how?

Sūta said:

Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa, and to Nara, best of men,

and to the goddess Sarasvatī, and to Vyāsa, one should then utter "Victory!"

When the king had gone upon the Great Journey, King Parīkṣit,

O brahmins, went to Mathurā, wishing to see Vajranābha.

Learning that his uncle had arrived, Vajra, overflowing with love,

went out to meet him, bowed down, and then led him to his own palace.

Embracing him, the heroic king, his mind fixed solely on Kṛṣṇa,

entered the abode and paid homage to Hari's wives, headed by Rohiṇī.

Greatly honoured by them, King Parīkṣit

rested, and seated comfortably, addressed Vajranābha:

Glorious Parīkṣit said:

"Dear boy, truly by your fathers were our fathers and grandfathers

delivered from a flood of immense grief, and I was protected.

I am not able, dear boy, to repay that kindness properly;

therefore I request you, dear one: apply yourself happily to your kingdom.

Worry arising from the treasury, the army, and such, as well as from subduing enemies and the like,

must not be felt by you in the least; rather, the mothers should be well served.

Having reported [any trouble] to me, all mental anguish must be cast away."

Hearing this, Vajra, exceedingly pleased, replied to him:

Glorious Vajranābha said:

"O king, what you speak to us is proper.

And I was benefited by your father through the instruction in the science of archery.

Therefore not even the slightest worry is mine, who have attained firm martial virtue.

Yet there is one supreme worry; please consider it somewhat:

Though consecrated in Mathurā, I am dwelling in a deserted forest.

Where indeed have the subjects belonging here gone, over whom kingship is enjoyable?"

Thus addressed, Viṣṇurāta quickly summoned Śāṇḍilya,

the family priest of Nanda and others, to remove Vajra's doubt.

Then Śāṇḍilya quickly left his hut and arrived.

Venerated by Vajranābha, he sat upon an excellent seat.

Viṣṇurāta immediately provided the introductory remarks, and then

he, exceedingly pleased, spoke, comforting them both:

Glorious Śāṇḍilya said:

"Listen with attentive minds to my secret regarding the land of Vraja.

By the statement that 'wandering' (vrajana) means pervading, it is called Vraja because of its all-pervading nature.

Vraja is said to be the supreme Brahman beyond the guṇas, all-pervading,

eternal bliss, supreme light, the imperishable realm of the liberated.

Within it, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda, whose embodiment is eternal bliss,

delighting in the Self and having all desires fulfilled, is experienced by those anointed with love.

His Self, indeed, is Rādhikā; because of sporting with her alone,

he is described as 'delighting in the Self' by the wise who know hidden truths.

His desires, indeed, are what is longed for: the cows, the cowherds, and the cowherd maidens;

eternal are all [his] pastimes and the rest; therefore he is 'one who has attained his desires'.

This secret of his, however, is said to be beyond material nature.

As he plays through material nature, his divine play is experienced by others,

wherein creation, preservation, and dissolution occur through the guṇas of rajas, sattva, and tamas.

Thus his play is of two kinds: real and conventional.

The real is known to him himself; the conventional is for living beings.

Without the primary, the secondary does not exist; the secondary never enters into the primary.

This realm within our sight, however, is his conventional play,

wherein are the earth and other worlds, and on earth the circle of Mathurā.

Right here is that land of Vraja, where the reality is well concealed;

it shines everywhere at certain times to those who are full of love.

Sometimes, at the end of the Dvāpara age, when those eligible for the secret play

are gathered together here as they are now, then Hari

descends together with his own [companions], those desired ones, so that they enter into his own forms.

Then the gods and others too descend from all around. // 30

Having fulfilled the desire of all, Hari disappeared.

Therefore three kinds of people stayed here previously, there is no doubt: // 31

by distinction, the eternal companions, those desirous of obtaining that, and the gods and others.

Among them, the gods and others were earlier taken to Dvārikā by Kṛṣṇa, // 32

and then, through the incident of the club, they were restored to their own administrative posts.

And making those desirous of obtaining that into the very embodiment of love and bliss, // 33

Kṛṣṇa then caused them to merge into his own eternal companions.

All the eternal companions also became invisible to unqualified persons. // 34

Because those situated in the worldly līlā are not qualified for that,

those who come here see desolation all around. // 35

Therefore you should not worry, O Vajranābha; by my command,

settle many villages here; your success will come to pass. // 36

Giving them names everywhere in accordance with Kṛṣṇa's pastimes,

settle those villages; this supreme land should be served by you. // 37

At Govardhana, Dīrghapura, Mathurā, Mahāvana,

Nandīgrāma, and Bṛhatsānu, you must establish your royal seat. // 38

As you tend to the rivers, valleys of the mountains, ponds, and bowers,

the subjects in your kingdom will be very prosperous, and you will be pleased. // 39

This land of being, consciousness, and bliss must be zealously served by you.

May the places of Kṛṣṇa manifest here to you by my grace. // 40

O Vajra, by serving this [land], Uddhava will meet you;

then, from him, you along with your mother will obtain the secret."

Having spoken thus, Śāṇḍilya departed, constantly remembering Kṛṣṇa;

then Viṣṇurāta and Vajra experienced supreme joy. // 42

Thus ends the first chapter, named 'Description of the Glory of the Land of Vraja Taught by Śāṇḍilya', in the Glorious Bhāgavatamāhātmya in the second Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses. // 1

The seers said:

"When Śāṇḍilya had instructed the two of them and returned to his hermitage,

what did those two kings do, and how? Tell that, O Sūta." // 1

Śrī Sūta said:

"Then, by Viṣṇurāta, thousands of heads of guilds

were brought from Indraprastha and settled in the area of Mathurā. // 2

Having recognized that the local brahmins of Mathurā and the ancient monkeys there

were worthy of honor, the sovereign king established respect toward them. // 3

And Vajra, with his assistance and by the grace of Śāṇḍilya,

gradually identified the places of pastime of Govinda, the cowherds, and the gopīs; // 4

designating them by name, he settled many villages.

Through charitable works such as ponds and wells, by consecrating Śiva and other [deities], // 5

and by installing images of Govinda, Harideva, and others,

he spread single-minded devotion to Kṛṣṇa in his kingdom and rejoiced. // 6

His subjects were delighted, dedicated to chanting the praises of Kṛṣṇa,

and endowed with supreme bliss, they praised his very rule. // 7

Once, Kṛṣṇa's wives, afflicted with the pain of separation from Śrī Kṛṣṇa,

seeing Kālindī joyful, freed from jealousy, asked her: // 8

The wives of Śrī Kṛṣṇa said:

"Just as we are Kṛṣṇa's wives, so are you also, O fair one;

we are afflicted by the sorrow of separation, but you are not, O Kālindī; explain that!" // 9

Hearing that, smiling, Kālindī spoke these words;

seeing that they were co-wives, her mind was filled with the utmost compassion. // 10

Śrī Kālindī said:

"Of Kṛṣṇa, who delights in the self, Rādhikā is surely the self;

through the power of servitude to her, separation cannot touch us. // 11

All the heroines of Śrī Kṛṣṇa are expansions of portions of her alone;

there is eternal enjoyment indeed through being turned toward her. // 12

He is she, and she is he; the flute is the embodiment of their love;

from contact with the array of moons of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's nails, Candrāvalī is remembered. // 13

Assuming another form out of intense longing for the service of the two,

the absorption of Rukmiṇī and others has been seen right here by me. // 14

For you as well, there is never any separation from Kṛṣṇa at all.

“However, you do not know this; therefore you have fallen into distress. // 15

In this very way, in the past, at the time of Akrūra, for the milkmaids here,

the mere semblance of separation was resolved by Uddhava. // 16

If your meeting should take place right here through him,

then you will obtain eternal pastimes with your beloved.” // 17

Śrī Sūta said:

Addressed thus, those wives, longing to meet their beloved through the sight of Uddhava,

spoke again to the delighted [Kālindī]: // 18

The wives of Śrī Kṛṣṇa said:

“You are fortunate, O friend, who have no separation from your beloved!

Since your own purpose has been accomplished, we have become your servants. // 19

However, by attaining Uddhava, the accomplishment of all our goals would come about.

Therefore tell us, Kālindī, how finding him may also happen.” // 2.6.2.20

Śrī Sūta said:

Addressed thus, Kālindī, embodying the sixteen digits,

remembering moon-like Kṛṣṇa, then replied to them in that way: // 21

“The realm of practice, Badarī, was designated to his counselor by Kṛṣṇa as he was departing.

There he dwells in visible form, imparting that knowledge to the people. // 22

The land of Vraja, the realm of the fruit [of practice], was given to him beforehand along with its secret.

The fruit having become concealed here, that Uddhava is now invisible in this place. // 23

Desiring the dust of that place, near Mount Govardhana in Sakhīsthala,

that Uddhava truly remains in the form of sprouts and creepers growing there. // 24

The nature of his own festival was surely conferred on him by Hari.

Therefore, staying there on the bank of the Kusumasaras lake with Vajra, // 25

a festival must be commenced with lutes, flutes, and mṛdaṅga drums,

with delightful music, songs of praise, poems, and the like, having gathered the people devoted to Hari. // 26

There, when the great festival is spread out, the sight of Uddhava will surely take place;

he alone, the producer of ceremonies, will bring about the fulfillment of your desires.” // 27

Śrī Sūta said:

Having heard this, pleased, they bowed to Kālindī

and, returning, related that to Vajra and Parīkṣit. // 28

Hearing that, Viṣṇurāta, pleased, together with them then

went right there and quickly had all of it done. // 29

Not far from Govardhana, in the Vṛnda forest at Sakhīsthala,

at Kusumasaras, the festival of the chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s names commenced. // 2.6.2.30

As the pastimes of the beloved of Vṛṣabhānu's daughter were, as it were, visibly manifested

through the splendor of the kīrtana, everyone looked at nothing else. // 31

Then, while all were watching, out of the thicket of grass, shrubs, and creepers

came Uddhava, wearing a garland, dark-complexioned, clad in yellow garments, // 32

bearing a necklace of guñjā beads, singing repeatedly of the lover of the cowherd maidens.

By his arrival, the festival of kīrtana shone brilliantly, // 33

just as the gem in an upper turret of crystal [shines] with the arrival of moonlight.

Then, submerged in an ocean of joy, everyone forgot everything. // 34

Regaining their senses after a moment, having seen him who bore the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa,

they worshipped Uddhava, their desires attained. // 35

Thus ends the second chapter, titled “The Description of the Vision of Uddhava by Parīkṣit and Others near Mount Govardhana,” in the Śrīmadbhāgavatamāhātmya in the second Vaiṣṇava section of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses. // 2

Śrī Sūta said:

Then Uddhava, having seen them intent on chanting the praises of Kṛṣṇa,

honored them, embraced them, and spoke to Parīkṣit: // 1

Uddhava said:

“You are fortunate, O King; you are ever filled with exclusive devotion to Kṛṣṇa,

since your mind is submerged in the festival of chanting the praises of Kṛṣṇa. // 2

Providentially, love has arisen [in you] toward Kṛṣṇa's wives and toward Vajra.

This is worthy of you, dear one, whose body and majesty were bestowed by Kṛṣṇa! // 3

Among all those dwelling in Dvārakā, these are fortunate without doubt,

for whose residence in Vraja the Lord commanded Pārtha. // 4

The moon of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mind, endowed with the radiance of Rādhā’s face,

ever shines, adorning his forest of pastimes with its rays. // 5

The moon of Kṛṣṇa is ever full; its sixteen digits,

indivisible from the radiance of thousands of spiritual consciousnesses, have their essential nature here.” // 6

In this way, O king of kings, the thunderbolt destroys the fear of those who have taken refuge.

Its place is on the right foot of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

In this incarnation, Yogamāyā was intensely projected by Kṛṣṇa;

by her power, through forgetfulness of the self, these [beings] surely perish.

Without the manifestation of Kṛṣṇa, indeed, no one attains knowledge of one's own self;

and his manifestation is perpetually veiled from living beings by māyā.

When, at the end of the twenty-eighth Dvāpara age, Hari himself

removes his own māyā, then his manifestation occurs.

That time, however, has passed away; therefore hear this other [means]: