Skandapurana 2.2.9
English (machine translation) 2.2.9
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Jaimini said:
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When the brahmin had returned, then, at evening time, thronged by the gods,
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at the time of worshiping Mādhava, a wind of violent speed blew. (1)
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And it scattered golden sand everywhere.
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Their eyes obscured by it, the gods were unable to see. (2)
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O brahmins, they then meditated on Puruṣottama, the beloved of Śrī.
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While those heaven-dwellers had their gaze fixed in meditation for an hour, (3)
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at the end of their meditation they saw a heap of sand, not Mādhava,
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nor the Rauhiṇa pool; their senses were thrown into distress. (4)
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They fell into great anxiety and wept bitterly, crying ‘Alas! Alas!’:
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“What is this misfortune of ours that has suddenly befallen all at once? (5)
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The Lord of Śrī, who gladdened our eyes, is no longer found in an instant!
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What fault of ours has been seen, O Puruṣottama, (6)
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that leaving all Your servants at once, You are no longer seen?
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For whose sake, O Jagannātha, You assumed a body, (7)
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leaving them helpless in the forest, why do You forsake them?
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Abandoning us, the manifestations of Your own body, O lotus-eyed Lord, (8)
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why do You unexpectedly reduce the heaven-dwellers to a mere memory?
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Sacrificers sacrifice indeed unto all of us who are Your parts, (9)
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for Your pleasure, O Yajñapuruṣa, [to us] who grant fruits ordained by You.
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Having bodies born of Your ego-sense, living only by Your grace, (10)
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whither can we go, fleeing in fear, neglected by You now?
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What is the use of places in heaven, without seeing You, O Mādhava? (11)
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Unfulfilled, deprived of You, we will become forest-dwellers.
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Surpassing the charm of the spotless nectar-beamed moon, (12)
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if we do not see Your face, we shall not go to the abode of the gods.
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Undertaking supreme austerity right here, firm in our vows, (13)
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We shall live on forest food, wearing matted hair and bark garments,
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until we see you, O lotus-eyed one! 14
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O ocean of innate compassion, you ought to protect us who are miserable,
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helpless, wretched at heart, who have taken refuge in you alone. 15
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Drowning in the sole ocean of grief caused by not seeing you,
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deliver us, O Lord of the universe, with the boat of your auspicious gaze! 16
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While all the denizens of heaven were thus lamenting there,
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a bodiless voice once again arose: 17
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“O gods, you should not make a futile effort in this matter.
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From today onward, the darśana of the deity is difficult to obtain on earth. 18
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Even at this place, by bowing to him, one shall obtain the fruit of his darśana.
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Having gone into the presence of the Self-manifest [Brahmā], you will learn the exact reason.” 19
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Having heard that, all the gods approached Brahmā.
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Having heard the account of the grace shown to Yama and the descent in wooden form, 20
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all of them, their minds satisfied, went to heaven.
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The brahmin Vidyāpati, however, mounted on his chariot, thought: 21
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“My task has been accomplished, since Nīlamādhava has been seen.
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Let me wander all around and behold this sacred field, 22
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never seen before, supreme, extremely sacred, whose recitation removes impurities —
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having circumambulated this best of sacred fields named Śrī Puruṣottama, I shall swiftly depart. 23
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Those who walk around the forest that destroys all sins attain a hundredfold the fruit of circumambulating the earth;
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my friend on the seashore pointed out to me this [field] named Puruṣottama, adorned by Nīlādri.” 24
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Having thought thus, the best of twice-born [brahmins] then wandered about,
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beholding the sacred field and the forest filled with various kinds of trees, 25
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resounding with flocks of various birds, woven with humming bees,
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impervious to the rays of the sun, covered with clusters of shade-giving trees, 26
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endowed with blossoms of all seasons, adorned with creepers and shrubs,
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filled with calling sārusa cranes relying on various reservoirs of water, 27
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splendid with lotuses, white water-lilies, night-lotuses, and blossoming blue water-lilies.
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No water there was destitute of flowers, creepers, and the like. 28
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Having quickly gone around that sacred field, the excellent twice-born [brahmin] then departed.
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Meditating, fasting, the wise man arrived at Avantī at the end of the day. 29
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O brahmins, having heard from messengers previously sent that he who had been far away had arrived,
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King Indradyumna experienced supreme joy. 30
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Yearning for his arrival, having worshiped Janārdana,
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he remained with learned brahmins, his mind delighted. 31
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Meanwhile, O brahmins, that twice-born Vidyāpati,
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guided along the path by ushering door-keepers holding reeds in hand,
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and approved by the curious citizens,
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holding in his hand the very beautiful garland of flowers offered to the deity named Nīlamādhava,
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entered in haste before the king. 33
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Seeing him, the king then rose from his excellent seat,
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and saying, “Be gracious, O Lord of the universe!” approached his side. 34
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“Today my life has become fruitful through the deeds of my birth,
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in that I see Mādhava here in the form of a garland of offered flowers! 35
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I bow to the garland from Mukunda’s head, whose charming fragrance, gained from incomparable bliss, surpasses the heavenly tree,
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which blinds the swarms of bees, and whose scent, carried by the breeze, destroys the impurities of the world. 36
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Through contact with the dust falling from his lotus feet, Brahmā and others attained supreme prosperity;
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I bow to this garland, an abode of flowers clinging to the unguents illuminating the body of that Viṣṇu! 37
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It laughs, with its blossoming lovely flowers, at its co-wife Padmā,
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who dwells in the heart-lotus and is proud of resting on Viṣṇu’s lap. 38
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Remaining where, did this radiant garland carry away glory,
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which was on the body of the abode of Śrī, pervading all his limbs for a long time? 39
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Victory to you, O ornament of the crest of Nīlādri, O burner of sins,
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O remover of the distress of those who bow, O glorious one, protect me who have taken refuge! 40”
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Speaking thus with a voice choked with tears,
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the ruler of the earth went to the ground with his head, bristling with horripilation like an armor. 41
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That brahmin Vidyāpati too, with all his sins destroyed,
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possessing a divine body, stood before the king meditating on Mādhava, 42
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the wise man washing away the sins of all the worlds with his splendor.
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"May the Lord whose dwelling is on the peak of Nīlādri bless you.
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This command of the Lord of Śrī has been revealed to you in the form of a garland,
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that you may go to behold His very self, the giver of liberation, who resides in the supreme sacred field."
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Speaking thus, he placed the garland around the king's neck.
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Then the king arose, and looking upon the garland hanging upon his chest,
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he felt as though the beloved of Śrī had entered directly into his heart.
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Placing his hands upon his head, his eyes half-closed,
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his face bathed in tears of joy, he praised Hari:
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Indradyumna said:
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"Victory, O Creator whose art is the creation, maintenance, and destruction of all the worlds,
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O bearer of the burden of cosmic eggs as numerous as the hairs on Your playfully assumed universal body!
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O inner ruler of all, O Lord who removes the distress of those who bow before You,
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whose lotus feet are variegated by the diadems of Brahmā, Indra, and Rudra!
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O You who are solely intent on ever protecting the wretched, the helpless, and the distressed,
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O ocean of unfeigned waters of compassion, higher than the highest!
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Pitiable, having no other refuge than You, weighed down by beginningless delusion,
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protect me, O Lord of the universe, You who constantly cherish Your devotees!"
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Praising Him thus, the king sat down upon his throne,
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surrounded by householders, celibate students, ascetics, and forest hermits,
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by twice-born sacrificers skilled in the eighteen sciences,
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along with leading citizens, elder servants, and ministers at their head.
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Having honoured Vidyāpati with great respect,
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having seated him before him on a stool and first inquired after his welfare,
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attentively and joyfully he asked about the greatness and the true form
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of Puruṣottama-kṣetra and of Viṣṇu whose body is made of blue sapphire stone.
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Questioned by the kṣatriya about his personal experience,
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from his entry into the Bhilla region up to his bathing in the ocean,
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the brāhmaṇa related at length the account of that supreme sacred field:
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the ascent of Nīlādri, the darśana of Nīlamādhava,
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the bath in the Rauhiṇa pool, the greatness of the banyan tree,
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the eight Śambhus beginning with Nṛsiṃha, the presence of the eight Śaktis,
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and the length and breadth of the sacred field observed by traversing it by chariot—
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he described all that accurately and in proper order.
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Hearing that incomparable marvel, which had been announced previously by the pilgrim,
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firmly convinced and gladdened in mind, the king spoke to him again:
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Indradyumna said:
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"O venerable one, I had heard of it before, but from you I have heard what is exceedingly hard to attain. / Describe to me now, O best of the twice-born, that supreme sacred field,
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and the true form of Viṣṇu whose image is made of blue sapphire."
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Vidyāpati said:
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"Ah, I shall tell you of the divine image of the Lord of the universe,
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beholding which with fleshy eyes, one becomes a vessel of liberation.
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It is an ancient image made of blue sapphire stone,
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worshipped daily by the gods led by Brahmā, Rudra, and Indra.
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This divine garland was placed upon it by the gods during worship;
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it does not wither, O king, nor is it devoid of fragrance.
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Even though many days have passed, such is this garland produced from the earth.
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Having eaten the divine offering, the remnants of worship, my sins are destroyed;
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do you not see, O king, my superhuman radiance?
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By eating of it even once, hunger, thirst, and loss of strength
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do not afflict a man, O best of kings; one should infer the unseen from what is seen.
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Both enjoyment and liberation abide together there, O king;
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for there exists no suffering there, such as old age, disease, or sorrow,
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where the omnipresent Lord of the universe is manifest with a gracious countenance,
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His eyes like petals of a blooming blue lotus, granting nectar and liberation to those who surrender."
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Thus ends the ninth chapter in the section on Viṣṇu in the glorious Puruṣottama-māhātmya, in the dialogue between the sage Jaimini, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit