Skandapurana 2.6.1

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