The Vision of Sri Vasudeva

Verse 1 (skanda.2.206.1)

स्कन्द उवाच । तत्त्वेककालसंभूतकोटिकोट्यर्कसन्निभम् । स व्यचष्ट महत्तेजो दिव्यं सिततरं मुने

skanda uvāca tattvekakālasaṁbhūtakoṭikoṭyarkasannibham sa vyacaṣṭa mahattejo divyaṁ sitataraṁ mune

Skanda said: He then beheld that great divine effulgence, whiter than white, blazing as if countless millions of suns had risen together in a single instant, O sage.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.206.2)

दिशश्च विदिशः सर्वा ऊर्द्ध्वाधो व्याप्नुवच्च यत्। अक्षरं ब्रह्म कथितं सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणम्

diśaśca vidiśaḥ sarvā ūrddhvādho vyāpnuvacca yat akṣaraṁ brahma kathitaṁ saccidānandalakṣaṇam

That effulgence, pervading all the directions and intermediate quarters, above and below, is declared to be the imperishable Brahman, whose nature is existence, consciousness, and bliss.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.206.3)

प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चोभौ तत्कार्याण्यपि सर्वशः । व्याप्तं यद्योगसंसिद्धाः षट्चक्राणि निजान्तरे । व्यतीत्य मूर्ध्नि पश्यन्ति वासुदेवप्रसादतः

prakṛtiṁ puruṣaṁ cobhau tatkāryāṇyapi sarvaśaḥ vyāptaṁ yadyogasaṁsiddhāḥ ṣaṭcakrāṇi nijāntare vyatītya mūrdhni paśyanti vāsudevaprasādataḥ

That same light pervades Prakriti and Purusha and all their manifold effects; and it is this that yogis perfected in their discipline behold above the crown of the head, having passed beyond the six subtle centers within themselves, by the grace of Vasudeva.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.206.4)

यद्भासा भासितः सूर्यो वह्निरिन्दुश्च तारकाः । भासयन्ति जगत्सर्वं स्वप्रकाशं तथामृतम्

yadbhāsā bhāsitaḥ sūryo vahnirinduśca tārakāḥ bhāsayanti jagatsarvaṁ svaprakāśaṁ tathāmṛtam

By whose radiance the sun, fire, moon, and stars are lit, and, thus made self-luminous, illumine the whole world in turn -- that same light is itself immortal nectar.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.206.5)

यद्ब्रह्मपुरमित्याहुर्भगवद्धाम सात्वताः । यस्यान्तिकेषु परितस्तिष्ठन्त्यर्चककोटयः

yadbrahmapuramityāhurbhagavaddhāma sātvatāḥ yasyāntikeṣu paritastiṣṭhantyarcakakoṭayaḥ

That abode the Satvatas call 'Brahmapura,' the very dwelling of the Lord, around which countless millions of worshippers stand in attendance.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.206.6)

ब्रह्मशंकर वृन्दानि ह्युपर्युपरि संभ्रमात् । पतन्ति बलिहस्तानि गोपगोपीव्रजाश्च यत्

brahmaśaṁkara vṛndāni hyuparyupari saṁbhramāt patanti balihastāni gopagopīvrajāśca yat

where hosts of Brahmas and Shankaras, eager and hurrying, fall prostrate one above the other with offerings in their hands, and where throngs of cowherds and cowherd-maidens also dwell.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.206.7)

कृष्णस्यानुग्रहो यस्मिन्स तेजसि तमीक्षते । केवलं तेज एवान्ये पश्यन्ति न तु तं मुने

kṛṣṇasyānugraho yasminsa tejasi tamīkṣate kevalaṁ teja evānye paśyanti na tu taṁ mune

He upon whom Krishna's grace has fallen sees Him within that light; others behold only the bare radiance, O sage, but not Him.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.206.8)

तस्मिन्ददर्शाद्भुतदिव्यमन्दिरं विचित्ररत्नेन्द्रमयं मनोज्ञम् । रत्नोज्ज्वलस्तम्भसहस्रकान्तं महासभा मण्डपदर्शनीयम्

tasmindadarśādbhutadivyamandiraṁ vicitraratnendramayaṁ manojñam ratnojjvalastambhasahasrakāntaṁ mahāsabhā maṇḍapadarśanīyam

There he saw a wondrous, divine mansion, enchanting, wrought of every kind of splendid jewel, resplendent with a thousand gem-bright pillars, a sight to behold like a vast assembly-hall pavilion.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.206.9)

सौधालिभिर्भूरिभिरुज्ज्वलाभिः स्वोपासकानां परितो विराजितम् । विचित्रसूक्ष्माम्बररत्नभूषाविभूषितानां हि नृणां च योषिताम्

saudhālibhirbhūribhirujjvalābhiḥ svopāsakānāṁ parito virājitam vicitrasūkṣmāmbararatnabhūṣāvibhūṣitānāṁ hi nṛṇāṁ ca yoṣitām

It was ringed about by rows upon rows of gleaming mansions belonging to His devotees, and thronged with men and women adorned in wondrous fine raiment and jeweled ornaments.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.206.10)

सिंहासनं तत्र मणीन्द्रसारै रत्नेन्द्रसारैश्च विनिर्मितं सः । आश्चर्यकृन्प्रेक्षकमानसानां दिव्य मुनिः प्रैक्षत भूरिहर्षः

siṁhāsanaṁ tatra maṇīndrasārai ratnendrasāraiśca vinirmitaṁ saḥ āścaryakṛnprekṣakamānasānāṁ divya muniḥ praikṣata bhūriharṣaḥ

There he saw a throne wrought of the choicest gems and precious jewels, astonishing to the minds of all who beheld it; and the divine sage gazed upon it filled with great delight.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.206.11)

तत्राऽथ कृष्णं भगवन्तमैक्षन्नारायणं निर्गुणमास्थितं सः । सर्वज्ञमीशं पुरुषोत्तमं च यं वासुदेवं च वदन्ति सात्वताः

tatrā'tha kṛṣṇaṁ bhagavantamaikṣannārāyaṇaṁ nirguṇamāsthitaṁ saḥ sarvajñamīśaṁ puruṣottamaṁ ca yaṁ vāsudevaṁ ca vadanti sātvatāḥ

There he beheld Lord Krishna, seated as Narayana beyond the three gunas, the all-knowing Lord, the Supreme Person, whom the Satvatas call Vasudeva.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.206.12)

यं केचिदाहुः परमात्मसंज्ञं केचित्परं ब्रह्म परात्परं च । ब्रह्मेति केचिद्भगवन्तमेके विष्णुं च भक्ताः परमेश्वरं च

yaṁ kecidāhuḥ paramātmasaṁjñaṁ kecitparaṁ brahma parātparaṁ ca brahmeti kecidbhagavantameke viṣṇuṁ ca bhaktāḥ parameśvaraṁ ca

Him whom some call by the name Paramatma, others the Supreme Brahman beyond the highest; some name Him Lord Brahma, while devotees call Him Vishnu, the Supreme Lord.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.206.13)

कन्दर्पसाहस्रमनोहराङ्गं सदा किशोरं करुणानिधानम् । अतिप्रशांताकृतिदर्शनीयं क्षराक्षरेभ्यश्च परं स्वतन्त्रम्

kandarpasāhasramanoharāṅgaṁ sadā kiśoraṁ karuṇānidhānam atipraśāṁtākṛtidarśanīyaṁ kṣarākṣarebhyaśca paraṁ svatantram

His limbs more beautiful than a thousand Cupids, ever a youth, a very treasury of compassion, of a most tranquil and lovely form to behold, beyond both the perishable and the imperishable, and utterly independent.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.206.14)

नैकाण्डसर्गस्थितिनाशलीलाविधायकापांगनिरीक्षणं च । अनेककोट्यण्डमहाधिराजं विश्वैकवन्द्यं नटवर्यवेषम्

naikāṇḍasargasthitināśalīlāvidhāyakāpāṁganirīkṣaṇaṁ ca anekakoṭyaṇḍamahādhirājaṁ viśvaikavandyaṁ naṭavaryaveṣam

By whose mere sidelong glance the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of countless universes are accomplished as sport; the great sovereign lord of many millions of universes, worshipped by the whole world, arrayed like a peerless dancer.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.206.15)

अनर्घ्यदिव्योत्तमपीतवाससमनेकसद्रत्नविभूषणाढ्यम् । नवीनजीमूतसमानवर्णं कर्णोल्लसत्सन्मकराभकुण्डलम्

anarghyadivyottamapītavāsasamanekasadratnavibhūṣaṇāḍhyam navīnajīmūtasamānavarṇaṁ karṇollasatsanmakarābhakuṇḍalam

Wearing a priceless, divine, exquisite yellow garment, richly adorned with many fine jewels; his complexion like that of a fresh monsoon cloud, with lovely makara-shaped earrings gleaming upon his ears.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.206.16)

निजांगनिर्यत्सितभूरितेजश्चयावृतत्वात्सितवर्णमुक्तम् । सद्रत्नसारोज्ज्वलसत्किरीटं शरत्सरोजच्छदचारुनेत्रम्

nijāṁganiryatsitabhūritejaścayāvṛtatvātsitavarṇamuktam sadratnasārojjvalasatkirīṭaṁ śaratsarojacchadacārunetram

Appearing white only because he was enveloped in the abundant white radiance streaming from his own limbs; wearing a crown ablaze with the finest jewels, his lovely eyes like the petals of an autumn lotus.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.206.17)

सुगन्धिसच्चन्दनचर्चितांगं श्रीवत्सलक्ष्माङ्कितहृत्कपाटम् । निनादयन्तं मधुरं च वेणुं कृत्वा मुखाग्रेम्बुजचारुदोर्भ्याम्

sugandhisaccandanacarcitāṁgaṁ śrīvatsalakṣmāṅkitahṛtkapāṭam ninādayantaṁ madhuraṁ ca veṇuṁ kṛtvā mukhāgrembujacārudorbhyām

His body anointed with fragrant sandal-paste, his broad chest marked with the sign of Shrivatsa, sounding a sweet melody upon a flute held to his lips with his lovely lotus-like arms.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.206.18)

जयासुशीलाललितामुखानां वृन्दैः सखीनां सह राधया च । समर्च्यमानं रमया च भामा कलिन्दजा जाम्बवतीमुखानाम्

jayāsuśīlālalitāmukhānāṁ vṛndaiḥ sakhīnāṁ saha rādhayā ca samarcyamānaṁ ramayā ca bhāmā kalindajā jāmbavatīmukhānām

Worshipped by throngs of companions headed by Jaya, Susheela, and Lalita, together with Radha, and likewise by Rama, Satyabhama, Kalindi, Jambavati, and the others.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.206.19)

धर्मेण वेदैरखिलैर्भगैश्च ज्ञानादिभिः संयतपाणियुग्मैः । निषेव्यमाणं च सुदर्शनाद्यैर्निजायुधैर्मूर्तिधरैरनेकैः

dharmeṇa vedairakhilairbhagaiśca jñānādibhiḥ saṁyatapāṇiyugmaiḥ niṣevyamāṇaṁ ca sudarśanādyairnijāyudhairmūrtidharairanekaiḥ

Attended by Dharma, by all the Vedas, and by the divine powers beginning with Knowledge, all standing with folded hands, and served too by his own many weapons, led by the Sudarshana discus, each taking on an embodied form.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.206.20)

मसारमाणिक्यसुवर्णवर्णैः सितैश्च कैश्चिन्निजपार्षदाग्र्यैः । उपासितं चक्रगदाब्जशङ्खलसद्भुजैर्नन्दसुनन्दमुख्यैः

masāramāṇikyasuvarṇavarṇaiḥ sitaiśca kaiścinnijapārṣadāgryaiḥ upāsitaṁ cakragadābjaśaṅkhalasadbhujairnandasunandamukhyaiḥ

Attended by his foremost companions of emerald, ruby, golden, and some pale hues, led by Nanda and Sunanda, their fine arms adorned with the discus, mace, lotus, and conch.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.206.21)

श्रीदाममुख्यैरथ गोपवेषैर्भक्त्यावनम्रैर्द्विभुजैरनेकैः । उपास्यमानं गरुडेन चाग्रतो विभूतिभिश्चाष्टभिरानताभिः

śrīdāmamukhyairatha gopaveṣairbhaktyāvanamrairdvibhujairanekaiḥ upāsyamānaṁ garuḍena cāgrato vibhūtibhiścāṣṭabhirānatābhiḥ

and by many two-armed attendants garbed as cowherds, led by Shridama, bowing in devotion, and served in front by Garuda and by the eight divine powers, all bowed low before him.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.206.22)

मूर्त्या च शान्त्या दयया च सेवितं पुष्ट्या च तुष्ट्या ह्यथ मेधया च । श्रद्धाक्रिया ह्युन्नतिभिश्च मैत्र्या तथा तितिक्षास्मृतिबुद्धिभिश्च

mūrtyā ca śāntyā dayayā ca sevitaṁ puṣṭyā ca tuṣṭyā hyatha medhayā ca śraddhākriyā hyunnatibhiśca maitryā tathā titikṣāsmṛtibuddhibhiśca

Attended by the personified powers of Embodiment, Peace, Compassion, Nourishment, Contentment, Intelligence, Faith, Right Action, Prosperity, Friendliness, and also Forbearance, Memory, and Discernment.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.206.23)

दृष्ट्वा तमत्यद्भुतदिव्यमूर्त्ति तद्रूपसौरभ्यहृताखिलेन्द्रियः । आनन्दवारिप्रतिरुद्धदृष्टिः प्रेम्णोर्द्ध्वरोमा सुखसंभृतोऽभूत्

dṛṣṭvā tamatyadbhutadivyamūrtti tadrūpasaurabhyahṛtākhilendriyaḥ ānandavāripratiruddhadṛṣṭiḥ premṇorddhvaromā sukhasaṁbhṛto'bhūt

Beholding that most wondrous divine form, all his senses were ravished by the fragrance of that form; his gaze was checked by tears of bliss welling up, the hairs of his body stood on end in love, and he became filled with joy.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.206.24)

दण्डवत्तं नमस्कृत्य नारदः प्रेमविह्वलः । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटस्तस्थौ वीक्षमाणस्तदाननम्

daṇḍavattaṁ namaskṛtya nāradaḥ premavihvalaḥ baddhāñjalipuṭastasthau vīkṣamāṇastadānanam

Narada, overwhelmed with love, prostrated himself flat like a staff in salutation, and stood there with joined palms, gazing upon that divine face.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.206.25)

तं मानयामास हरिः पृष्ट्वा स्वागतमादरात् । भक्तमेकान्तिकं स्वस्य स्वेनैव च दिदृक्षितम्

taṁ mānayāmāsa hariḥ pṛṣṭvā svāgatamādarāt bhaktamekāntikaṁ svasya svenaiva ca didṛkṣitam

Hari honoured him, courteously asking of his welfare -- him, His own exclusive devotee, whom the Lord Himself had also longed to behold.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.206.26)

भगवद्वाक्यपीयूषास्वादप्राप्तात्मसंस्मृतिः । तद्दर्शनमहानन्दो भक्त्या तुष्टाव तं मुनिः

bhagavadvākyapīyūṣāsvādaprāptātmasaṁsmṛtiḥ taddarśanamahānando bhaktyā tuṣṭāva taṁ muniḥ

Recovering full awareness of himself upon tasting the nectar of the Lord's words, and filled with great bliss at that vision, the sage then praised Him with devotion.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.206.27)

नारद उवाच । जय श्रीकृष्ण भगवन्नारायण जगत्प्रभो । वासुदेवाऽखिलावास सदैकान्तिकवल्लभ

nārada uvāca jaya śrīkṛṣṇa bhagavannārāyaṇa jagatprabho vāsudevā'khilāvāsa sadaikāntikavallabha

Narada said: Victory to You, O Sri Krishna, Lord Narayana, Master of the universe! O Vasudeva, the dwelling place of all, ever beloved of Your exclusive devotees!

Verse 28 (skanda.2.206.28)

अप्याश्चर्यार्चनीयाङ्घ्रे राधिकाकमलादिभिः । त्वमेवात्यन्तिकं श्रेयोऽभीप्सतां परमा गतिः

apyāścaryārcanīyāṅghre rādhikākamalādibhiḥ tvamevātyantikaṁ śreyo'bhīpsatāṁ paramā gatiḥ

O you whose feet are wondrously worshipped by Radhika, Kamala, and others -- You alone are the ultimate refuge of those who long for the highest good.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.206.29)

नित्यानामात्मनां नित्य आत्मा चेतनचेतनः । क्षराक्षरेभ्यश्च परस्त्वं ब्रह्म परमं हरे

nityānāmātmanāṁ nitya ātmā cetanacetanaḥ kṣarākṣarebhyaśca parastvaṁ brahma paramaṁ hare

You are the eternal Self even of eternal souls, the consciousness within both the sentient and insentient; O Hari, You are the Supreme Brahman, transcending both the perishable and the imperishable.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.206.30)

यथा विशुद्धिः सिद्धिश्च भक्त्या परमया तव । तथा न स्यान्नृणामन्यैः साधनैस्तप आदिभिः

yathā viśuddhiḥ siddhiśca bhaktyā paramayā tava tathā na syānnṛṇāmanyaiḥ sādhanaistapa ādibhiḥ

The purity and perfection that men attain through supreme devotion to You cannot be gained by any other means, such as austerity and the like.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.206.31)

त्वदङ्घ्रिदिव्यज्योत्स्नैका मुमुक्षूणां हृदि स्थितम् । महत्सन्तमसंहर्तुं सद्यः शक्तास्ति सत्पते

tvadaṅghridivyajyotsnaikā mumukṣūṇāṁ hṛdi sthitam mahatsantamasaṁhartuṁ sadyaḥ śaktāsti satpate

O Lord of the righteous, it is the single divine moonlight of Your feet alone that, once seated in the heart of those who seek liberation, has the power to dispel instantly that great darkness of ignorance.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.206.32)

सर्वैर्वेदैस्त्वमेवेज्य उपास्यो ज्ञेय एव च । निरूपितोसि भगवन्सर्वकारणकारणम्

sarvairvedaistvamevejya upāsyo jñeya eva ca nirūpitosi bhagavansarvakāraṇakāraṇam

By all the Vedas You alone are declared to be worthy of sacrifice, of worship, and of knowledge; O Lord, You alone are proclaimed the cause of all causes.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.206.33)

एकैकस्मिन्रोमकूपे यत्तवास्ति सितं महः । शान्तमानंदरूपं च तत्कोटीन्दुप्रभाधिकम्

ekaikasminromakūpe yattavāsti sitaṁ mahaḥ śāntamānaṁdarūpaṁ ca tatkoṭīnduprabhādhikam

The white radiance present in each single pore of Your body, tranquil and blissful in nature, outshines the brilliance of millions of moons.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.206.34)

अस्मिंस्त्वमक्षरे धाम्नि निर्गुणेऽमृतसञ्ज्ञके । महःपुञ्जे सदैवास्से निर्गुणः पुरुषोत्तमः

asmiṁstvamakṣare dhāmni nirguṇe'mṛtasañjñake mahaḥpuñje sadaivāsse nirguṇaḥ puruṣottamaḥ

In this imperishable abode beyond the gunas, known as the immortal, in this very mass of effulgence, You, the Supreme Person beyond the gunas, forever dwell.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.206.35)

ब्रह्माण्डभयदात्कालान्मायायाश्च महाभयात् । मुक्ता भक्ता भवन्त्येव त्वदीयोपासनाबलात्

brahmāṇḍabhayadātkālānmāyāyāśca mahābhayāt muktā bhaktā bhavantyeva tvadīyopāsanābalāt

By the strength of worshipping You alone, devotees become freed from Time, which strikes terror into the universe, and from Maya, the source of great fear.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.206.36)

तं त्वामहमुपेतोस्मि शरणं जगदीश्वरम् । सर्वात्मानं विभुं ब्रह्म महापुरुषमच्युतम्

taṁ tvāmahamupetosmi śaraṇaṁ jagadīśvaram sarvātmānaṁ vibhuṁ brahma mahāpuruṣamacyutam

I have come to You alone for refuge, O Lord of the universe, the Self of all, the all-pervading Brahman, the Supreme Person, the Unfallen One.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.206.37)

यथा त्वच्चरणाम्भोजे भक्तिर्मे निश्चला सदा । भवेत्तथैव देवेश कर्त्तुमर्हस्यनुग्रहम्

yathā tvaccaraṇāmbhoje bhaktirme niścalā sadā bhavettathaiva deveśa karttumarhasyanugraham

O Lord of the gods, be pleased to grant me such grace that my devotion to Your lotus feet may remain ever unshaken.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.206.38)

स्कन्द उवाच । इत्थं देवर्षिणा भक्त्या संस्तुतः परमेश्वरः । तमाहानन्दयन्वाचा सुधासंमितया मुनिम्

skanda uvāca itthaṁ devarṣiṇā bhaktyā saṁstutaḥ parameśvaraḥ tamāhānandayanvācā sudhāsaṁmitayā munim

Skanda said: Thus praised with devotion by the divine sage, the Supreme Lord then spoke to him, delighting that sage with words as sweet as nectar.