Vijvala's Vision in the Ananda Forest

Verse 1 (padma.2.93.1)

कुंजल उवाच- किं विज्वल त्वया दृष्टमपूर्वं भ्रमता महीम् । आश्चर्येण समायुक्तं तन्मे कथय सुव्रत

kuṁjala uvāca- kiṁ vijvala tvayā dṛṣṭamapūrvaṁ bhramatā mahīm āścaryeṇa samāyuktaṁ tanme kathaya suvrata

Kunjala said: "What have you seen, Vijvala, unprecedented, while wandering the earth? Whatever is filled with wonder, tell me that, O one of good vows."

Verse 2 (padma.2.93.2)

इतः प्रयासि कं देशमाहारार्थं तु सोद्यमी । यद्य दृष्टं त्वया चित्रं समाख्याहि सुतोत्तम

itaḥ prayāsi kaṁ deśamāhārārthaṁ tu sodyamī yadya dṛṣṭaṁ tvayā citraṁ samākhyāhi sutottama

"To what land do you go from here, striving for food? If you have seen something wondrous, tell it, best of sons."

Verse 3 (padma.2.93.3)

विज्वल उवाच- अस्ति मेरुगिरेः पृष्ठे आनंदं नाम काननम् । दिव्यवृक्षैः समाकीर्णंफ लपुष्पमयैः सदा

vijvala uvāca- asti merugireḥ pṛṣṭhe ānaṁdaṁ nāma kānanam divyavṛkṣaiḥ samākīrṇaṁpha lapuṣpamayaiḥ sadā

Vijvala said: "On the ridge of Mount Meru there is a forest called Ananda, filled always with divine trees bearing fruit and flowers,"

Verse 4 (padma.2.93.4)

देववृंदैः समाकीर्णं मुनिसिद्धसमन्वितम् । अप्सरोभिः सुरूपाभिर्गंधर्वैः किन्नरोरगैः

devavṛṁdaiḥ samākīrṇaṁ munisiddhasamanvitam apsarobhiḥ surūpābhirgaṁdharvaiḥ kinnaroragaiḥ

"- thronged with hosts of gods, accompanied by sages and siddhas, by lovely apsaras, by gandharvas, kinnaras, and serpents,"

Verse 5 (padma.2.93.5)

वापीकूपतडागैश्च नदीप्रस्रवणैस्तथा । आनंदकाननं पुण्यं दिव्यभावैः प्रभासते

vāpīkūpataḍāgaiśca nadīprasravaṇaistathā ānaṁdakānanaṁ puṇyaṁ divyabhāvaiḥ prabhāsate

"- with step-wells, wells, and pools, and with rivers and springs too - that holy Ananda forest shines with divine qualities."

Verse 6 (padma.2.93.6)

विमानैः कोटिसंख्याभिर्हंसकुंदेंदुसन्निभैः । गीतकोलाहलैः रम्यैर्मेघध्वनिनिनादितम्

vimānaiḥ koṭisaṁkhyābhirhaṁsakuṁdeṁdusannibhaiḥ gītakolāhalaiḥ ramyairmeghadhvaninināditam

"With celestial vehicles numbering in the millions, resembling swans, jasmine, and the moon, filled with the sweet tumult of song, resounding like the sound of clouds,"

Verse 7 (padma.2.93.7)

षट्पदानां निनादेन सर्वत्र मधुरायते । चंदनैश्चूतवृक्षैश्च चंपकैः पुष्पितैर्वृतम्

ṣaṭpadānāṁ ninādena sarvatra madhurāyate caṁdanaiścūtavṛkṣaiśca caṁpakaiḥ puṣpitairvṛtam

"- sweet everywhere with the hum of bees, surrounded by sandal, mango, and flowering champaka trees -"

Verse 8 (padma.2.93.8)

नानावृक्षैः प्रभात्येवमानंदवनमुत्तमम् । नानापक्षिनिनादेन बहुकोलाहलान्वितम्

nānāvṛkṣaiḥ prabhātyevamānaṁdavanamuttamam nānāpakṣininādena bahukolāhalānvitam

"- with various trees, thus that excellent Ananda forest shone, filled with the cries of many birds, full of great tumult."

Verse 9 (padma.2.93.9)

एवमानंदनं दृष्टं मया तत्र सुशोभनम् । विमलं च सरस्तात शोभते सागरोपमम्

evamānaṁdanaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ mayā tatra suśobhanam vimalaṁ ca sarastāta śobhate sāgaropamam

"Such, father, was that beautiful, joyous place I saw there. And there shines a stainless lake, like unto the ocean,"

Verse 10 (padma.2.93.10)

संपूर्णं पुण्यतोयेन पद्मसौगंधिकैः शुभैः । जलजैस्तु समाकीर्णं हंसकारंडवान्वितम्

saṁpūrṇaṁ puṇyatoyena padmasaugaṁdhikaiḥ śubhaiḥ jalajaistu samākīrṇaṁ haṁsakāraṁḍavānvitam

"- full of holy water, with auspicious lotus fragrance, thronged with water-plants, filled with swans and karandava birds."

Verse 11 (padma.2.93.11)

एवमासीत्सरस्तस्य सुमध्ये काननस्य हि । देवगंधर्वसंबाधैर्मुनिवृंदैरलंकृतम्

evamāsītsarastasya sumadhye kānanasya hi devagaṁdharvasaṁbādhairmunivṛṁdairalaṁkṛtam

"Such was that lake, in the very midst of that forest, thronged with gods and gandharvas, adorned with hosts of sages,"

Verse 12 (padma.2.93.12)

किंनरोरगगंधर्वैश्चारणैश्च सुशोभते । तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं वक्तुं तात न शक्यते

kiṁnaroragagaṁdharvaiścāraṇaiśca suśobhate tatrāścaryaṁ mayā dṛṣṭaṁ vaktuṁ tāta na śakyate

"- resplendent with kinnaras, serpents, gandharvas, and charanas. There, father, I saw a wonder that cannot be told."

Verse 13 (padma.2.93.13)

विमानेनापि दिव्येन कलशैरुपशोभते । छत्रदंडपताकाभीराजमानेन सत्तम

vimānenāpi divyena kalaśairupaśobhate chatradaṁḍapatākābhīrājamānena sattama

"It shone with a divine celestial vehicle too, adorned with pinnacles, resplendent with parasol, staff, and banner, O worthy one,"

Verse 14 (padma.2.93.14)

सर्वभोगाविलेनापि गीयमानेथ किन्नरैः । गंधर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च शोभमानोथ सुव्रत

sarvabhogāvilenāpi gīyamānetha kinnaraiḥ gaṁdharvairapsarobhiśca śobhamānotha suvrata

"- filled with every pleasure, sung of by kinnaras, resplendent with gandharvas and apsaras, O one of good vows,"

Verse 15 (padma.2.93.15)

स्तूयमानो महासिद्धऋषिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः । रूपेणाप्रतिमो लोके न दृष्टस्तादृशः क्वचित्

stūyamāno mahāsiddhaṛṣibhistattvavedibhiḥ rūpeṇāpratimo loke na dṛṣṭastādṛśaḥ kvacit

"- praised by great siddhas and sages who knew the truth - matchless in beauty in the world, such a one never seen anywhere."

Verse 16 (padma.2.93.16)

सर्वाभरणशोभांगो दिव्यमालाविशोभितः । महारत्नकृतामाला यस्योरसि विराजते

sarvābharaṇaśobhāṁgo divyamālāviśobhitaḥ mahāratnakṛtāmālā yasyorasi virājate

"His whole body resplendent with every ornament, adorned with divine garlands, a garland made of great gems shining on his chest -"

Verse 17 (padma.2.93.17)

तत्समीपे स्थिता चैका नारी दृष्टा वरानना । हेमहारैश्च मुक्तानां वलयैः कंकणैर्युता

tatsamīpe sthitā caikā nārī dṛṣṭā varānanā hemahāraiśca muktānāṁ valayaiḥ kaṁkaṇairyutā

"- near him stood a single lovely woman, adorned with golden necklaces of pearls, with bangles and bracelets,"

Verse 18 (padma.2.93.18)

दिव्यवस्त्रैश्च गंधैश्च चंदनैश्चारुलेपनैः । स्तूयमानो गीयमानः पुरुषस्तत्र चागतः

divyavastraiśca gaṁdhaiśca caṁdanaiścārulepanaiḥ stūyamāno gīyamānaḥ puruṣastatra cāgataḥ

"- with divine garments and fragrances, with sandal-paste and lovely unguents; that man, praised and sung of, came there,"

Verse 19 (padma.2.93.19)

रतिरूपा वरारोहा पीनश्रोणिपयोधरा । सर्वाभरणशोभांगी तादृशी रूपसंपदा

ratirūpā varārohā pīnaśroṇipayodharā sarvābharaṇaśobhāṁgī tādṛśī rūpasaṁpadā

"- beautiful as Rati herself, full-hipped and full-breasted, her whole body resplendent with every ornament, of such a wealth of beauty."

Verse 20 (padma.2.93.20)

द्वावेतौ तौ मया दृष्टौ विमानेनापि चागतौ । रूपलावण्यमाधुर्यौ सर्वशोभासमाविलौ

dvāvetau tau mayā dṛṣṭau vimānenāpi cāgatau rūpalāvaṇyamādhuryau sarvaśobhāsamāvilau

"I saw these two, having come by celestial vehicle as well, resplendent with beauty, grace, and sweetness, and every glory."

Verse 21 (padma.2.93.21)

समुत्तीर्णौ विमानात्तावागतौ सरसोन्तिके । स्नातौ तात महात्मानौ स्त्रीपुंसौ कमलेक्षणौ

samuttīrṇau vimānāttāvāgatau sarasontike snātau tāta mahātmānau strīpuṁsau kamalekṣaṇau

"Having descended from that vehicle, they came near the lake; those two great souls, man and woman, lotus-eyed, bathed there, father."

Verse 22 (padma.2.93.22)

प्रगृह्य तौ महाशस्त्रौ दंपती तु परस्परम् । तादृशौ च शवौ तत्र पतितौ सरसस्तटे

pragṛhya tau mahāśastrau daṁpatī tu parasparam tādṛśau ca śavau tatra patitau sarasastaṭe

"Taking up great weapons, that couple then turned toward each other - and there, on the bank of the lake, lay two corpses just like themselves."

Verse 23 (padma.2.93.23)

प्रभासे ते तदा तौ तु स्त्रीपुंसौ कमलेक्षणौ । रूपेणापि महाभाग तादृशावेव तौ शवौ

prabhāse te tadā tau tu strīpuṁsau kamalekṣaṇau rūpeṇāpi mahābhāga tādṛśāveva tau śavau

"Then those two, man and woman, lotus-eyed, shone forth; and, O most fortunate one, those two corpses too were of just that same form."

Verse 24 (padma.2.93.24)

देवरूपोपमस्तात यथा पुंसस्तथा शवः । यथारूपं हि तस्यापि तादृशस्तत्र दृश्यते

devarūpopamastāta yathā puṁsastathā śavaḥ yathārūpaṁ hi tasyāpi tādṛśastatra dṛśyate

"Father, the corpse was like that man, of godlike appearance; and its very form too was seen there, just as his."

Verse 25 (padma.2.93.25)

यथारूपं तु भार्यायास्तथा शवो द्वितीयकः । स्त्रीशवस्य तु यन्मांसं शस्त्रेणोत्कृत्य सा ततः

yathārūpaṁ tu bhāryāyāstathā śavo dvitīyakaḥ strīśavasya tu yanmāṁsaṁ śastreṇotkṛtya sā tataḥ

"And the second corpse was in the very form of his wife. Having cut flesh from the woman's corpse with the weapon, she then -"

Verse 26 (padma.2.93.26)

भक्षते तस्य मांसानि रक्ताप्लुतानि तानि तु । पुरुषो भक्षते तद्वच्छवमांसं समातुरः

bhakṣate tasya māṁsāni raktāplutāni tāni tu puruṣo bhakṣate tadvacchavamāṁsaṁ samāturaḥ

"- ate its blood-drenched flesh; and the man likewise, in his hunger, ate the flesh of the corpse."

Verse 27 (padma.2.93.27)

क्षुधया पीड्यमानौ तौ भक्षेते पिशितं तयोः । यावत्तृप्तिं समायातौ तावन्मांसं प्रभक्षितम्

kṣudhayā pīḍyamānau tau bhakṣete piśitaṁ tayoḥ yāvattṛptiṁ samāyātau tāvanmāṁsaṁ prabhakṣitam

"Afflicted by hunger, the two of them ate that flesh; until they were satisfied, that much flesh was eaten."

Verse 28 (padma.2.93.28)

सरस्यथ जलं पीत्वा संजातौ सुखितौ पितः । कियत्कालं स्थितौ तत्र विमानेन गतौ पुनः

sarasyatha jalaṁ pītvā saṁjātau sukhitau pitaḥ kiyatkālaṁ sthitau tatra vimānena gatau punaḥ

"Then, father, having drunk the lake's water, the two became content; having remained there a while, they departed again by their celestial vehicle."

Verse 29 (padma.2.93.29)

अन्ये द्वे तु स्त्रियौ तात मया दृष्टे च तत्र वै । रूपसौभाग्यसंपन्ने ते स्त्रियौ चारुलक्षणे

anye dve tu striyau tāta mayā dṛṣṭe ca tatra vai rūpasaubhāgyasaṁpanne te striyau cārulakṣaṇe

"I also saw two other women there, father - those two, endowed with beauty and good fortune, of lovely marks."

Verse 30 (padma.2.93.30)

ताभ्यां प्रभक्षितं मांसं यदा तात महावने । प्रहसेते तदा ते द्वे हास्यैरट्टाट्टकैःपुनः

tābhyāṁ prabhakṣitaṁ māṁsaṁ yadā tāta mahāvane prahasete tadā te dve hāsyairaṭṭāṭṭakaiḥpunaḥ

"When, father, they had eaten that flesh in the great forest, those two then laughed again with terrible, raucous laughter,"

Verse 31 (padma.2.93.31)

भक्षते च स्वमांसानि तावेतौ परिनित्यशः । कृत्वा स्नानादिकं मांसं पश्यतो मम तत्र हि

bhakṣate ca svamāṁsāni tāvetau parinityaśaḥ kṛtvā snānādikaṁ māṁsaṁ paśyato mama tatra hi

"- and continually ate their own flesh. Having performed their ablutions, as I watched there -"

Verse 32 (padma.2.93.32)

अन्ये स्त्रियौ महाभाग रौद्रा कारसमन्विते । दंष्ट्राकरालवदने तत्रैवाति विभीषणे

anye striyau mahābhāga raudrā kārasamanvite daṁṣṭrākarālavadane tatraivāti vibhīṣaṇe

"- O most fortunate one, two other women, of most terrible, fearsome form, their mouths grim with fangs, most dreadful -"

Verse 33 (padma.2.93.33)

ऊचतुस्तौ तदा ते तु देहिदेहीति वै पुनः । एवं दृष्टं मया तात वसता वनसंनिधौ

ūcatustau tadā te tu dehidehīti vai punaḥ evaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ mayā tāta vasatā vanasaṁnidhau

"- there, then, those two said again and again, 'Give, give!' Thus, father, I saw this while dwelling near that forest."

Verse 34 (padma.2.93.34)

नित्यमुत्कीर्य भक्ष्येते तौ द्वौ तु मांसमेव च । जायेते च सुसंपूर्णौ कायौ च शवयोः पुनः

nityamutkīrya bhakṣyete tau dvau tu māṁsameva ca jāyete ca susaṁpūrṇau kāyau ca śavayoḥ punaḥ

"Those two continually cut out and ate that very flesh; and the bodies of those two corpses would become whole again."

Verse 35 (padma.2.93.35)

नित्यमुत्तीर्य तावेवं ते चाप्यन्ये च वै पितः । कुर्वंति सदृशीं चेष्टां पूर्वोक्तां मम पश्यतः

nityamuttīrya tāvevaṁ te cāpyanye ca vai pitaḥ kurvaṁti sadṛśīṁ ceṣṭāṁ pūrvoktāṁ mama paśyataḥ

"Thus, father, continually rising up again, those and the others too, as I watched, performed the same conduct as described before."

Verse 36 (padma.2.93.36)

एतदाश्चर्य संजातं दृष्टं तात मया तदा । भवता पृच्छितं तात दृष्टमाश्चर्यमेव च

etadāścarya saṁjātaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ tāta mayā tadā bhavatā pṛcchitaṁ tāta dṛṣṭamāścaryameva ca

"This wonder occurred there, and I saw it, father. You asked, father, and I have told you the wonder I saw."

Verse 37 (padma.2.93.37)

मया ख्यातं तवाग्रे वै सर्वसंदेहकारणम् । कथयस्व प्रसादाच्च प्रीयमाणेन चेतसा

mayā khyātaṁ tavāgre vai sarvasaṁdehakāraṇam kathayasva prasādācca prīyamāṇena cetasā

"I have declared to you the whole cause of this doubt; tell me, out of your grace, with a gladdened heart."

Verse 38 (padma.2.93.38)

विमानेनागतो योसौ स्त्रिया सार्द्धं द्विजोत्तम । दिव्यरूपधरो यस्तु स कस्तु कमलेक्षणः

vimānenāgato yosau striyā sārddhaṁ dvijottama divyarūpadharo yastu sa kastu kamalekṣaṇaḥ

"That one who came by celestial vehicle together with the woman, O best of the twice-born, who bore that divine form, lotus-eyed - who is he?"

Verse 39 (padma.2.93.39)

का च नारी महाभाग महामांसं प्रभक्षति । स कश्चाप्यागतस्तात सा चैवाभ्येत्य भक्षति

kā ca nārī mahābhāga mahāmāṁsaṁ prabhakṣati sa kaścāpyāgatastāta sā caivābhyetya bhakṣati

"And who is that woman, O most fortunate one, who eats such a mass of flesh? Who is that man who came, father, and who is she who comes and eats?"

Verse 40 (padma.2.93.40)

प्रहसेते तदा ते द्वे स्त्रियौ तात वदस्व नः । ऊचतुस्तौ तथा चान्ये देहिदेहीति वा पुनः

prahasete tadā te dve striyau tāta vadasva naḥ ūcatustau tathā cānye dehidehīti vā punaḥ

"Why then do those two women laugh, father? Tell us. And why do those other two say, 'Give, give!' again and again?"

Verse 41 (padma.2.93.41)

तेद्वेत्वं मे समाचक्ष्व महाभीषणके स्त्रियौ । एतन्मे संशयं तात छेत्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत

tedvetvaṁ me samācakṣva mahābhīṣaṇake striyau etanme saṁśayaṁ tāta chettumarhasi suvrata

"Tell me of those two most terrible women. This is my doubt, father; you, O one of good vows, should resolve it."

Verse 42 (padma.2.93.42)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज विरराम स चांडजः । एवं पृष्टस्तृतीयेन विज्वलेनात्मजेन सः

evamuktvā mahārāja virarāma sa cāṁḍajaḥ evaṁ pṛṣṭastṛtīyena vijvalenātmajena saḥ

O great king, having said this, that bird fell silent. Thus questioned by his third son, Vijvala, he -

Verse 43 (padma.2.93.43)

प्रोवाच सर्वं वृत्तांतं च्यवनस्यापि शृण्वतः

provāca sarvaṁ vṛttāṁtaṁ cyavanasyāpi śṛṇvataḥ

- related the whole account, while Chyavana too listened.