Description of the Liberated Souls of Shvetadvipa

Verse 1 (skanda.2.193.1)

स्कन्द उवाच । स एवमुक्तोत्मविदां वरिष्ठो नारायणेनोत्तमपूरुषेण । जगाद वाक्यं जगतां गरिष्ठं तमच्युतं लोकहिताधिवासम्

skanda uvāca sa evamuktotmavidāṁ variṣṭho nārāyaṇenottamapūruṣeṇa jagāda vākyaṁ jagatāṁ gariṣṭhaṁ tamacyutaṁ lokahitādhivāsam

Skanda said: Thus addressed by Narayana, the Supreme Person, he — foremost among the knowers of the Self — spoke this weighty word to that Achyuta, the very abode of the world's welfare.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.193.2)

नारद उवाच । श्रुतं मया देव समं त्वयोक्तमृष्याकृतिच्छादितभूरिधाम्ना । तवैव लीला सकलेयमीश सर्वेश्वरस्येति विदामि चित्ते

nārada uvāca śrutaṁ mayā deva samaṁ tvayoktamṛṣyākṛticchāditabhūridhāmnā tavaiva līlā sakaleyamīśa sarveśvarasyeti vidāmi citte

Narada said: O God, I have fully heard what has been spoken by you, whose vast splendor lies concealed beneath a sage's form. I know in my heart, O Lord, that this is entirely the play of you who are the Lord of all.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.193.3)

त्वद्दर्शनेनैव हि पूर्णकामो भवामि भूमन्स्वहृदीप्सितेन । तथाप्यहं तत्तव पूर्वरूपं प्रभो दिदृक्षामि हि कौतुकं मे

tvaddarśanenaiva hi pūrṇakāmo bhavāmi bhūmansvahṛdīpsitena tathāpyahaṁ tattava pūrvarūpaṁ prabho didṛkṣāmi hi kautukaṁ me

By the mere sight of you, desired in my own heart, O infinite one, I become one whose every wish is fulfilled; yet still, O Lord, I long to see that earlier form of yours — such is my curiosity.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.193.4)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । न तत्स्वरूपं मम दानयज्ञयोगैश्च वैदेस्तपसापि दृश्यम् । एकान्तिकैर्भक्तवरैस्तु भक्त्या ह्यनन्यया नारद दृश्यते तत्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca na tatsvarūpaṁ mama dānayajñayogaiśca vaidestapasāpi dṛśyam ekāntikairbhaktavaraistu bhaktyā hyananyayā nārada dṛśyate tat

Shri Narayana said: That form of mine cannot be seen through charity, sacrifice, yoga, Vedic study, or even austerity; but, O Narada, it is seen by the finest single-minded devotees through unswerving devotion alone.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.193.5)

भक्तिस्तव त्वस्ति मयि ह्यनन्या ज्ञानं च वैराग्ययुतं स्वधर्मः । अतश्च तद्दर्शनमाप्स्यसि त्वं सुरेश्वराद्यैरपि यद्दुरापम्

bhaktistava tvasti mayi hyananyā jñānaṁ ca vairāgyayutaṁ svadharmaḥ ataśca taddarśanamāpsyasi tvaṁ sureśvarādyairapi yaddurāpam

You indeed have unswerving devotion to me, knowledge joined with renunciation, and your own proper conduct; therefore you shall attain that vision which is hard to obtain even for the lords of the gods.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.193.6)

त्वदीयभक्त्याऽतितरा प्रसन्नस्त्वाज्ञापयाम्यद्य तदीक्षणाय । सितान्तरीपं व्रज तत्र तेऽयं मनोरथः सेत्स्यति विप्रवर्य

tvadīyabhaktyā'titarā prasannastvājñāpayāmyadya tadīkṣaṇāya sitāntarīpaṁ vraja tatra te'yaṁ manorathaḥ setsyati vipravarya

Exceedingly pleased by your devotion, I now command you: go, for the sake of that vision, to Shvetadvipa, the White Isle; there, O best of brahmins, this desire of yours shall be fulfilled.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.193.7)

स्कन्द उवाच । श्रुत्वेति वाचं परमेष्ठिपुत्रः सोप्यर्च्चयित्वा तमृषिं पुराणम् । खमुत्पपातोत्तमयोगयुक्तस्ततोधिमेरौ सहसा निपेते

skanda uvāca śrutveti vācaṁ parameṣṭhiputraḥ sopyarccayitvā tamṛṣiṁ purāṇam khamutpapātottamayogayuktastatodhimerau sahasā nipete

Skanda said: Having heard this word, the son of Brahma, having worshipped that ancient sage, rose into the sky endowed with the highest yogic power, and then suddenly alighted upon Mount Meru.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.193.8)

तस्यावतस्थे च मुनिर्मुहूर्त्तमेकान्तमासाद्य गिरेः स शृंगे । आलोकयन्नुत्तरपश्चिमेन ददर्श चात्यद्भुतमन्तरीपम्

tasyāvatasthe ca munirmuhūrttamekāntamāsādya gireḥ sa śṛṁge ālokayannuttarapaścimena dadarśa cātyadbhutamantarīpam

The sage paused there a moment, having reached a solitary spot on the peak of that mountain; gazing toward the north-west, he beheld an utterly wondrous island.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.193.9)

क्षीरोदधेरुत्तरतो हि द्वीपः श्वेतः स नाम्ना प्रथितो विशालः । देदीप्यमानो विततेन सर्वतो ज्योतिश्चयेनातिसि तेन नित्यम्

kṣīrodadheruttarato hi dvīpaḥ śvetaḥ sa nāmnā prathito viśālaḥ dedīpyamāno vitatena sarvato jyotiścayenātisi tena nityam

To the north of the Ocean of Milk lies that vast island, famed by the name 'White', ever blazing on every side with an extensive, exceedingly white mass of light.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.193.10)

आम्रैरनेकैरसनैरशोकैराम्रातकैर्निम्बकदम्बनीपैः । बिल्वैर्मधूकैः सुरदारुभिश्च प्लक्षैर्वटैः किंशुकचन्दनैश्च

āmrairanekairasanairaśokairāmrātakairnimbakadambanīpaiḥ bilvairmadhūkaiḥ suradārubhiśca plakṣairvaṭaiḥ kiṁśukacandanaiśca

Adorned with many mango, asana, ashoka, hog-plum, neem, kadamba, and nipa trees; with bilva, mahua, and deodar trees, with plaksha and banyan trees, with kimshuka and sandalwood —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.193.11)

सर्ज्जैश्च शालैः पनसैस्तमालैर्मुनिद्रुमैः केतकचम्पकैश्च । कुन्दैश्च जातीसुरमल्लिकाभिद्रुमैर्वृतः पुष्पफलावनम्रैः

sarjjaiśca śālaiḥ panasaistamālairmunidrumaiḥ ketakacampakaiśca kundaiśca jātīsuramallikābhidrumairvṛtaḥ puṣpaphalāvanamraiḥ

With sarja and sala trees, jackfruit and tamala trees, sages' trees, ketaki and champaka; surrounded by kunda, jati, and lovely mallika-flowering trees, bent low with blossoms and fruit —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.193.12)

कल्पद्रुमाणां बहुभिश्च वृन्दैः सुवर्णरम्भाक्रमुकालिभिश्च । महद्भिरुद्यानवरैरनेकैः सरित्सरोभिर्विकचाम्बुजैश्च । हंसादिभिः पक्षिवरैः सुशब्दैर्गणैर्मृगाणां रुचिरैश्चलद्भिः

kalpadrumāṇāṁ bahubhiśca vṛndaiḥ suvarṇarambhākramukālibhiśca mahadbhirudyānavarairanekaiḥ saritsarobhirvikacāmbujaiśca haṁsādibhiḥ pakṣivaraiḥ suśabdairgaṇairmṛgāṇāṁ ruciraiścaladbhiḥ

With many groves of wish-fulfilling trees, with rows of golden plantains and areca palms; with many great and excellent gardens, with rivers and lakes full of blooming lotuses; and with fine-voiced flocks of swans and other splendid birds, and lovely, roaming herds of deer —

Verse 13 (skanda.2.193.13)

सर्वेपि जीवाः किल यत्र मुक्ता वसन्ति च स्थावरजङ्गमाश्च । तं वीक्षमाणेन च तेन दृष्टा भक्तोत्तमाः श्रीपुरुषोत्तमस्य

sarvepi jīvāḥ kila yatra muktā vasanti ca sthāvarajaṅgamāśca taṁ vīkṣamāṇena ca tena dṛṣṭā bhaktottamāḥ śrīpuruṣottamasya

There indeed dwell all liberated beings, both the immobile and the mobile; and as he gazed upon that island, he beheld the finest devotees of Shri Purushottama.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.193.14)

अतीन्द्रिया निर्गतसर्वपापा निष्यन्दहीनाश्च सुगन्धिनश्च । द्विबाहवः केपि चतुर्भुजाश्च श्वेताश्च केचिन्नवनीरदाभाः

atīndriyā nirgatasarvapāpā niṣyandahīnāśca sugandhinaśca dvibāhavaḥ kepi caturbhujāśca śvetāśca kecinnavanīradābhāḥ

Beyond the senses, from whom all sin had departed, free from bodily impurity and fragrant; some two-armed, some four-armed; some white, and some of the hue of a fresh rain-cloud —

Verse 15 (skanda.2.193.15)

पद्मच्छदाक्षाः सममानगात्राः सुरूपदिव्यावयवाः सुसाराः । विकीर्णकेशाश्च सदा किशोरा सद्भिश्च चिह्नैर्न्निखिलैरुपेताः

padmacchadākṣāḥ samamānagātrāḥ surūpadivyāvayavāḥ susārāḥ vikīrṇakeśāśca sadā kiśorā sadbhiśca cihnairnnikhilairupetāḥ

With eyes like lotus petals, with well-proportioned bodies, beautiful divine limbs, and great vigor; with flowing hair, ever youthful, and endowed with every auspicious mark of the virtuous —

Verse 16 (skanda.2.193.16)

सरोजरेखाङ्कितपाणिपादाः षडूर्मिहीना मिहिरातितेजसः । सितांशुका ध्यानपराश्च सौम्याः कालोपि येभ्यो भयमेति नित्यम्

sarojarekhāṅkitapāṇipādāḥ ṣaḍūrmihīnā mihirātitejasaḥ sitāṁśukā dhyānaparāśca saumyāḥ kālopi yebhyo bhayameti nityam

With hands and feet marked with lotus lines, free from the six waves of worldly change, of splendor exceeding the sun; clad in white garments, absorbed in meditation and gentle — of whom even Time itself is ever afraid.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.193.17)

सावर्णिरुवाच । अतीन्द्रिया निरातङ्का अनिष्यन्दाः सुगन्धिनः । के ते नराः कथं जातास्तादृशाः का च तद्गतिः

sāvarṇiruvāca atīndriyā nirātaṅkā aniṣyandāḥ sugandhinaḥ ke te narāḥ kathaṁ jātāstādṛśāḥ kā ca tadgatiḥ

Savarni said: Who are those men — transcending the senses, free from fear, free of bodily impurity, and fragrant? How did they come to be such, and what is their final destiny?

Verse 18 (skanda.2.193.18)

श्वेतद्वीपः पयोम्भोधौ वर्त्तते हि धरातले । तद्वासिनामपि कथं प्रोक्ताऽतीन्द्रियता त्वया

śvetadvīpaḥ payombhodhau varttate hi dharātale tadvāsināmapi kathaṁ proktā'tīndriyatā tvayā

Shvetadvipa, after all, lies within the Ocean of Milk, upon the surface of the earth — how then have you spoken of its inhabitants as being beyond the senses?

Verse 19 (skanda.2.193.19)

ये ब्रह्मण्यक्षरे धाम्नि सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणि । स्थिताः स्युश्चिन्मया मुक्तास्ते तथा स्युर्न्नहीतरे

ye brahmaṇyakṣare dhāmni saccidānandarūpiṇi sthitāḥ syuścinmayā muktāste tathā syurnnahītare

Those who abide in the imperishable abode of Brahman, whose very form is being-consciousness-bliss — such liberated souls, made of pure consciousness, may indeed be so, but no others.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.193.20)

एतं मे संशयं छिन्धि परं कौतूहलं हि मे । त्वं हि सर्वकथाभिज्ञस्ततस्त्वामाश्रितोस्मयहम्

etaṁ me saṁśayaṁ chindhi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me tvaṁ hi sarvakathābhijñastatastvāmāśritosmayaham

Resolve this doubt of mine, for it is a matter of great curiosity to me; you indeed know every such account — therefore I have taken refuge in you.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.193.21)

स्कन्द उवाच । एकान्तोपासनेनैव प्राक्कल्पेषु रमापतेः । ये ब्रह्मभावं संप्राप्ता अजरामरतां गताः

skanda uvāca ekāntopāsanenaiva prākkalpeṣu ramāpateḥ ye brahmabhāvaṁ saṁprāptā ajarāmaratāṁ gatāḥ

Skanda said: In former kalpas, through single-minded worship of the Lord of Lakshmi alone, those who attained the state of Brahman and reached freedom from age and death —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.193.22)

अक्षराख्याः पुमांसस्ते श्वेतद्वीपेऽत्र धामनि । सेवितुं वासुदेवं तं स्थिता देवर्षिणेक्षिताः

akṣarākhyāḥ pumāṁsaste śvetadvīpe'tra dhāmani sevituṁ vāsudevaṁ taṁ sthitā devarṣiṇekṣitāḥ

Those men, called the Imperishable, dwell here in the abode of Shvetadvipa in order to serve that Vasudeva — and it was they whom the divine sage beheld.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.193.23)

प्राप्ते प्रलयकाले तु पुनश्चाक्षरधामनि । स्थास्यन्ति ते स्वतन्त्राश्च कालमायाभयोज्झिताः

prāpte pralayakāle tu punaścākṣaradhāmani sthāsyanti te svatantrāśca kālamāyābhayojjhitāḥ

But when the time of dissolution comes, they shall again abide in the Imperishable abode, self-sufficient and free from the fear of time and maya.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.193.24)

अत्रापि पुरुषा ये तु मायाजाता अतः क्षराः । तेपि सद्भिः साधनैर्वै जायन्ते तादृशाः किल

atrāpi puruṣā ye tu māyājātā ataḥ kṣarāḥ tepi sadbhiḥ sādhanairvai jāyante tādṛśāḥ kila

Even here, those persons who are born of maya and hence perishable — they too, indeed, through true and proper practice, come to be born as such imperishable ones.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.193.25)

अहिंसया च तपसा स्वधर्मेण विरागतः । वासुदेवस्य माहात्म्यज्ञानेनैवात्मनिष्ठया

ahiṁsayā ca tapasā svadharmeṇa virāgataḥ vāsudevasya māhātmyajñānenaivātmaniṣṭhayā

Through non-violence, austerity, one's own proper duty, through dispassion, and through knowledge of the glory of Vasudeva joined with devotion to the Self —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.193.26)

भक्त्या परमया नित्यं प्रसङ्गेन महात्मनाम् । हरिसेवाविहीनानां मुक्तीनामप्यनिच्छया

bhaktyā paramayā nityaṁ prasaṅgena mahātmanām harisevāvihīnānāṁ muktīnāmapyanicchayā

Through supreme and constant devotion, through the company of great souls, and through indifference even toward liberation itself when it lacks the service of Hari —

Verse 27 (skanda.2.193.27)

सिद्धीनामणिमादीनां सर्वासां चाप्यकांक्षया । अन्योन्यं श्रुतिकीर्तिभ्यां श्रीहरेर्जन्मकर्मणाम् । भवन्ति तादृशा नूनं पुरुषा मुनिसत्तम

siddhīnāmaṇimādīnāṁ sarvāsāṁ cāpyakāṁkṣayā anyonyaṁ śrutikīrtibhyāṁ śrīharerjanmakarmaṇām bhavanti tādṛśā nūnaṁ puruṣā munisattama

And through freedom from desire for all the powers such as anima and the rest, and through mutually hearing and reciting the births and deeds of Shri Hari — O best of sages, in this way men surely come to be such.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.193.28)

जगत्सर्गे जायमानेप्येते कालवशात्क्वचित् । न जायन्ते स्वतंत्रत्वान्न नश्यन्ति लयेऽन्यवत्

jagatsarge jāyamānepyete kālavaśātkvacit na jāyante svataṁtratvānna naśyanti laye'nyavat

Even when the creation of the universe occurs, these, through their own independence, are never born by the force of time as others are, nor do they perish at dissolution as others do.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.193.29)

अत्र ते कथयिष्यामि कथां पौराणिकीं मुने । यथात्रत्योपि मनुजस्तथा भावमुपेयिवान्

atra te kathayiṣyāmi kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ mune yathātratyopi manujastathā bhāvamupeyivān

O sage, in this regard I shall tell you an ancient legend, showing how even an ordinary man of this world attained to that same state.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.193.30)

विस्तीर्णैषा कथा ब्रह्मञ्छ्रुता मे पितृसन्निधौ । सैषाद्य तव वक्तव्या कथासारो हि स स्मृतः

vistīrṇaiṣā kathā brahmañchrutā me pitṛsannidhau saiṣādya tava vaktavyā kathāsāro hi sa smṛtaḥ

O brahmin, this is an extensive story, which I heard in the presence of my father; that very essence of the story shall now be told to you.