The Telling of the Incarnations of Sri Vasudeva

Verse 1 (skanda.2.207.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । दर्शनं मम यज्जातं तव तत्तु महामुने । नित्यैकान्तिकभक्तत्वान्निर्दम्भत्वान्मदिच्छया

śrībhagavānuvāca darśanaṁ mama yajjātaṁ tava tattu mahāmune nityaikāntikabhaktatvānnirdambhatvānmadicchayā

The Blessed Lord said: O great sage, this vision of Me that has come to you has come through your eternal, exclusive devotion, your freedom from all pretense, and My own will.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.207.2)

अहिंसा ब्रह्मचर्यं च त्वयि नित्यं च तद्द्वयम् । स्वधर्मोपशमौ चैव वैराग्यं चात्मवेदनम्

ahiṁsā brahmacaryaṁ ca tvayi nityaṁ ca taddvayam svadharmopaśamau caiva vairāgyaṁ cātmavedanam

Non-violence and celibacy, these two, dwell in you always and constantly, together with devotion to one's own duty, tranquility, dispassion, and knowledge of the Self.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.207.3)

सत्सङ्गोऽष्टाङ्गयोगश्च सर्वथेन्द्रियनिग्रहः । मुन्यन्नवृत्तिश्च तपः सर्वव्यसनहीनता

satsaṅgo'ṣṭāṅgayogaśca sarvathendriyanigrahaḥ munyannavṛttiśca tapaḥ sarvavyasanahīnatā

Association with the good, the eightfold yoga, complete mastery of the senses, a sage's restraint in eating, austerity, and freedom from every vice -- all these are present in you.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.207.4)

मदेकान्तिकभक्तिश्च महात्म्यज्ञानपूर्विका । वर्त्तते तेन मामत्र पश्यसि त्वं हि सुव्रत

madekāntikabhaktiśca mahātmyajñānapūrvikā varttate tena māmatra paśyasi tvaṁ hi suvrata

And exclusive devotion to Me, grounded in knowledge of My greatness, abides in you as well; therefore, O one of noble vows, you behold Me here.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.207.5)

ईदृग्लक्षणसंपन्ना ये स्युरन्येपि मानवाः । तेपि मामीदृशं विप्र पश्यन्त्येकान्तिकप्रियम्

īdṛglakṣaṇasaṁpannā ye syuranyepi mānavāḥ tepi māmīdṛśaṁ vipra paśyantyekāntikapriyam

O brahmin, whatever other men also possess these same qualities, they too behold Me thus, Me who am dear to My exclusive devotees.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.207.6)

असावहमिह ब्रह्मन्नस्मिन्नक्षरधामनि । राधालक्ष्मीयुतो नित्यं वसामि स्वाश्रितैः सह

asāvahamiha brahmannasminnakṣaradhāmani rādhālakṣmīyuto nityaṁ vasāmi svāśritaiḥ saha

O brahmin, here in this imperishable abode I, this very One, dwell eternally with Radha and Lakshmi, together with those who take refuge in Me.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.207.7)

वासुदेवस्वरूपोहं सर्वकर्मफलप्रदः । अन्तर्यामितया वर्त्ते स्वतन्त्रः सर्वदेहिनाम्

vāsudevasvarūpohaṁ sarvakarmaphalapradaḥ antaryāmitayā vartte svatantraḥ sarvadehinām

I, in My form as Vasudeva, am the bestower of the fruits of all deeds; remaining ever independent, I abide as the indwelling controller of all embodied beings.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.207.8)

वैकुण्ठाख्यं महाधाम्नि लक्ष्म्या सह चतुर्भुजः । वसामि नन्दगरुडमुख्यैः साकं च पार्षदैः

vaikuṇṭhākhyaṁ mahādhāmni lakṣmyā saha caturbhujaḥ vasāmi nandagaruḍamukhyaiḥ sākaṁ ca pārṣadaiḥ

In the great abode called Vaikuntha I dwell, four-armed, together with Lakshmi, and with Nanda, Garuda, and My other chief attendants.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.207.9)

धाम्नि तेजोमये दिव्ये श्वेतद्वीपेऽन्वहं भुवि । ददामि श्वेतमुक्तेभ्यः पञ्चकालं स्वदर्शनम्

dhāmni tejomaye divye śvetadvīpe'nvahaṁ bhuvi dadāmi śvetamuktebhyaḥ pañcakālaṁ svadarśanam

In the radiant, divine abode of Shvetadvipa upon this earth, every day, at the five appointed hours, I grant the liberated Shvetas My own vision.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.207.10)

कुर्वेऽनिरुद्धप्रद्युम्नसंकर्षणसमाह्वयैः । स्वरूपैर्नैककोट्यण्डसर्गस्थित्यप्ययानहम्

kurve'niruddhapradyumnasaṁkarṣaṇasamāhvayaiḥ svarūpairnaikakoṭyaṇḍasargasthityapyayānaham

Through My forms named Aniruddha, Pradyumna, and Sankarshana, I bring about the creation, preservation, and dissolution of countless millions of universes.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.207.11)

सर्गारम्भे मया ब्रह्मा सृष्टो नाभिसरोरुहात् । तपसाराधयामास स मां यज्ञैश्च नारद

sargārambhe mayā brahmā sṛṣṭo nābhisaroruhāt tapasārādhayāmāsa sa māṁ yajñaiśca nārada

At the beginning of creation I brought forth Brahma from the lotus of My navel; and he, O Narada, worshipped Me through austerity and sacrifice.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.207.12)

ततस्तस्मै प्रसन्नोऽहं प्राददामीप्सितान्वरान् । ब्रह्मन्प्रास्यसि सामर्थ्यं प्रजानां त्वं विसर्जने

tatastasmai prasanno'haṁ prādadāmīpsitānvarān brahmanprāsyasi sāmarthyaṁ prajānāṁ tvaṁ visarjane

Then, pleased with him, I granted him the boons he desired, saying: 'O Brahma, you shall gain the power to bring forth all beings.'

Verse 13 (skanda.2.207.13)

आज्ञायामेव ताः सर्वास्तव स्थास्यन्ति मद्वरात् । वेदाश्चापि स्फुरिष्यन्ति तव बुद्धौ सनातनाः

ājñāyāmeva tāḥ sarvāstava sthāsyanti madvarāt vedāścāpi sphuriṣyanti tava buddhau sanātanāḥ

By My boon those very beings shall remain forever within your command, and the eternal Vedas too shall spontaneously arise within your understanding.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.207.14)

ज्ञानं च मत्स्वरूपस्य यथावत्ते भविष्यति । त्वया कृतां च मर्यादां नातिक्रंस्यति कश्चन

jñānaṁ ca matsvarūpasya yathāvatte bhaviṣyati tvayā kṛtāṁ ca maryādāṁ nātikraṁsyati kaścana

True knowledge of My real nature shall also come to you; and no one shall ever transgress the bounds that you establish.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.207.15)

सुरासुरगणानां च मुनीनां च महात्मनाम् । त्वमेव वरदो ब्रह्मन्वरेप्सूनां भविष्यसि

surāsuragaṇānāṁ ca munīnāṁ ca mahātmanām tvameva varado brahmanvarepsūnāṁ bhaviṣyasi

O Brahma, you alone shall become the giver of boons to the hosts of gods and demons and to the great-souled sages who seek them.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.207.16)

असाध्ये यत्र कार्ये च मोहमेष्यसि तत्त्वहम्। प्रादुर्भूय करिष्यमि स्मृतमात्रस्त्वया विधे

asādhye yatra kārye ca mohameṣyasi tattvaham prādurbhūya kariṣyami smṛtamātrastvayā vidhe

O Vidhi, whenever some impossible task leaves you bewildered, then, the very moment you but remember Me, I shall manifest and accomplish it.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.207.17)

सृज्यमाने त्वया विश्वे नष्टां पृथ्वीं महार्णवे । आनयिष्यामि स्वं स्थानं वाराहं रूपमास्थितः । हिरण्याक्षं निहत्यैव दैतेयं बलगर्वितम्

sṛjyamāne tvayā viśve naṣṭāṁ pṛthvīṁ mahārṇave ānayiṣyāmi svaṁ sthānaṁ vārāhaṁ rūpamāsthitaḥ hiraṇyākṣaṁ nihatyaiva daiteyaṁ balagarvitam

When, in the course of your creation, the earth is lost within the great ocean, I shall take the form of a Boar and, slaying the Daitya Hiranyaksha who was intoxicated with his own strength, bring her back to her rightful place.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.207.18)

दिनान्ते तव मत्स्योहं भूत्वा क्षोणीं तरीमिव । सहौषधिं धारयिष्ये मन्वादींश्च निशावधि

dinānte tava matsyohaṁ bhūtvā kṣoṇīṁ tarīmiva sahauṣadhiṁ dhārayiṣye manvādīṁśca niśāvadhi

At the close of your day I shall become a Fish and bear the earth like a vessel, together with the seed-herbs and Manu and the others, until the night has passed.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.207.19)

सुधायै मथ्नतामब्धिं काश्यपानां निराश्रयम् । मन्थानं कूर्मरूपोहं धास्ये पृष्ठे च मन्दरम्

sudhāyai mathnatāmabdhiṁ kāśyapānāṁ nirāśrayam manthānaṁ kūrmarūpohaṁ dhāsye pṛṣṭhe ca mandaram

When the offspring of Kashyapa churn the ocean for nectar and the churning-rod, Mount Mandara, is left without support, I shall become a Tortoise and bear that mountain upon My back.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.207.20)

नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुं विधे । सुरकार्ये हनिष्यामि यज्ञघ्नं दितिनन्दनम्

nārasiṁhaṁ vapuḥ kṛtvā hiraṇyakaśipuṁ vidhe surakārye haniṣyāmi yajñaghnaṁ ditinandanam

O Vidhi, taking the form of Narasimha, for the sake of the gods' cause, I shall slay Hiranyakashipu, son of Diti, the destroyer of sacrifices.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.207.21)

विरोचनस्य बलवान्बलिः पुत्रो महासुरः । भविष्यति स शक्रं च स्वाराज्याच्च्यावयिष्यति

virocanasya balavānbaliḥ putro mahāsuraḥ bhaviṣyati sa śakraṁ ca svārājyāccyāvayiṣyati

There shall be born a mighty great demon, Bali, son of Virochana; he shall cast Indra down from his own sovereignty.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.207.22)

त्रैलोक्येऽपहृते तेन विमुखे च शचीपतौ । अदित्यां द्वादशः पुत्रः संभविष्यामि कश्यपात्

trailokye'pahṛte tena vimukhe ca śacīpatau adityāṁ dvādaśaḥ putraḥ saṁbhaviṣyāmi kaśyapāt

When he has seized the three worlds and Indra stands thwarted, I shall then be born to Kashyapa in Aditi's womb as her twelfth son.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.207.23)

ततो राज्यं प्रदास्यामि देवेन्द्राय दिवः पुनः । देवताः स्थापयिष्यामि स्वेषु स्थानेष्वहं विधे । बलिं चैव करिष्यामि पातालतलवासिनम्

tato rājyaṁ pradāsyāmi devendrāya divaḥ punaḥ devatāḥ sthāpayiṣyāmi sveṣu sthāneṣvahaṁ vidhe baliṁ caiva kariṣyāmi pātālatalavāsinam

Then I shall restore the kingdom of heaven to Devendra once more; O Vidhi, I shall re-establish the gods each in their own place, and make Bali a dweller in the netherworld.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.207.24)

कर्दमाद्देवहूत्यां च भूत्वाऽथ कपिलाभिधः । प्रवर्तयिष्ये कालेन नष्टं सांख्यं विरागयुक्

kardamāddevahūtyāṁ ca bhūtvā'tha kapilābhidhaḥ pravartayiṣye kālena naṣṭaṁ sāṁkhyaṁ virāgayuk

Then, born as the son of Kardama and Devahuti under the name Kapila, I shall, in the course of time, set forth again the Sankhya teaching, lost through the ages, together with the path of dispassion.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.207.25)

दत्तो भूत्याऽनसूययामत्रेरान्विक्षिकीं ततः । प्रह्लादायोपदेक्ष्यामि विद्यां च यदवे विधे

datto bhūtyā'nasūyayāmatrerānvikṣikīṁ tataḥ prahlādāyopadekṣyāmi vidyāṁ ca yadave vidhe

O Vidhi, then, born to Atri and Anasuya under the name Datta, I shall teach the science of the Self to Prahlada and to a prince of the Yadu line.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.207.26)

मेरुदेव्यां सुतो नाभेर्भूत्वाहमृषभो भुवि । धर्मं पारमहंस्याख्यं वर्तयिष्ये सनातनम्

merudevyāṁ suto nābherbhūtvāhamṛṣabho bhuvi dharmaṁ pāramahaṁsyākhyaṁ vartayiṣye sanātanam

As Rishabha, son of Nabhi by Merudevi, upon this earth, I shall establish the eternal path known as that of the Paramahamsas, the supreme renunciants.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.207.27)

त्रेतायुगे भविष्यामि रामो भृगुकुलोद्वहः । क्षत्रं चोत्सादयिष्यामि भग्नसेतुकदध्वगम्

tretāyuge bhaviṣyāmi rāmo bhṛgukulodvahaḥ kṣatraṁ cotsādayiṣyāmi bhagnasetukadadhvagam

In the Treta age I shall become Rama, foremost of the line of Bhrigu, and shall root out the Kshatriyas who have broken the bounds of dharma and taken to evil ways.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.207.28)

सन्धौ तु समनुप्राप्ते त्रेताया द्वापरस्य च । कौशल्यायां भविष्यामि रामो दशरथादहम्

sandhau tu samanuprāpte tretāyā dvāparasya ca kauśalyāyāṁ bhaviṣyāmi rāmo daśarathādaham

Then, when the meeting-point of the Treta and Dvapara ages arrives, I shall be born of Dasharatha through Kaushalya as Rama.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.207.29)

सीताभिधाना लक्ष्मीश्च भवित्री जनकात्मजा । उद्वहिष्यामि तामैशं भंक्त्वा धनुरहं महत्

sītābhidhānā lakṣmīśca bhavitrī janakātmajā udvahiṣyāmi tāmaiśaṁ bhaṁktvā dhanurahaṁ mahat

Lakshmi shall become the daughter of Janaka under the name Sita; and I shall wed her after breaking that great bow of Shiva.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.207.30)

ततो रक्षःपतिं घोरं देवर्षिद्रोहकारिणम् । सीतापहारिणं संख्ये हनिष्यामि सहानुजम्

tato rakṣaḥpatiṁ ghoraṁ devarṣidrohakāriṇam sītāpahāriṇaṁ saṁkhye haniṣyāmi sahānujam

Then I shall slay in battle, together with his younger brother, that terrible lord of demons who wrongs the gods and sages and carries off Sita.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.207.31)

तस्य मे तु चरित्राणि वाल्मीक्याद्या महर्षयः । तदा गास्यन्ति बहुधा यच्छ्रुतेः स्यादघक्षयः

tasya me tu caritrāṇi vālmīkyādyā maharṣayaḥ tadā gāsyanti bahudhā yacchruteḥ syādaghakṣayaḥ

Then great sages headed by Valmiki shall sing of those deeds of Mine in many ways -- deeds by merely hearing which sin is destroyed.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.207.32)

द्वापरस्य कलेश्चैव सन्धौ पर्यवसानिके । भूभारासुरनाशार्थं पातुं धर्मं च धार्मिकान् । वसुदेवाद्भविष्यामि देवक्यां मथुरापुरे

dvāparasya kaleścaiva sandhau paryavasānike bhūbhārāsuranāśārthaṁ pātuṁ dharmaṁ ca dhārmikān vasudevādbhaviṣyāmi devakyāṁ mathurāpure

At the closing juncture of the Dvapara and Kali ages, to destroy the demons who burden the earth and to protect dharma and the righteous, I shall be born of Vasudeva in Devaki, in the city of Mathura.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.207.33)

कृष्णोहं वासुदेवाख्यस्तथा संकर्षणो बलः । प्रद्युम्नश्चाऽनिरुद्धश्च भविष्यन्ति यदोः कुले

kṛṣṇohaṁ vāsudevākhyastathā saṁkarṣaṇo balaḥ pradyumnaścā'niruddhaśca bhaviṣyanti yadoḥ kule

I shall be called Krishna, son of Vasudeva; and likewise Sankarshana as the mighty Bala; Pradyumna and Aniruddha too shall appear in the line of Yadu.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.207.34)

गोपस्य वृषभानोस्तु सुता राधा भविष्यति । वृन्दावने तया साकं विहरिष्यामि पद्मज

gopasya vṛṣabhānostu sutā rādhā bhaviṣyati vṛndāvane tayā sākaṁ vihariṣyāmi padmaja

O lotus-born one, Radha shall be born as the daughter of the cowherd Vrishabhanu; with her I shall sport in Vrindavana.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.207.35)

लक्ष्मीश्च भीष्मकसुता रुक्मिण्याख्या भविष्यति । उद्वहिष्यामि राजन्यान्युद्धे निर्जित्य तामहम्

lakṣmīśca bhīṣmakasutā rukmiṇyākhyā bhaviṣyati udvahiṣyāmi rājanyānyuddhe nirjitya tāmaham

And Lakshmi shall be born as the daughter of Bhishmaka under the name Rukmini; I shall wed her after conquering the assembled princes in battle.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.207.36)

धर्मद्रुहोऽसुरान्हत्वा तदाविष्टांश्च भूपतीन् । धर्मं संस्थापयन्नेव करिष्ये निर्भरां भुवम्

dharmadruho'surānhatvā tadāviṣṭāṁśca bhūpatīn dharmaṁ saṁsthāpayanneva kariṣye nirbharāṁ bhuvam

Slaying the demons hostile to dharma and the kings possessed by them, and firmly establishing righteousness, I shall relieve the earth of her burden.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.207.37)

येन केनापि भावेन यस्य कस्यापि मानसम् । मयि संयोक्ष्यते तंतं नेष्ये ब्रह्मगतिं पराम्

yena kenāpi bhāvena yasya kasyāpi mānasam mayi saṁyokṣyate taṁtaṁ neṣye brahmagatiṁ parām

Whosoever's mind, in whatever manner, becomes joined to Me, that one I shall lead to the supreme state of Brahman.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.207.38)

धर्मं भुवि स्थापयित्वा कृत्वा यदुकुलक्षयम् । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानामन्तर्द्धास्ये भुवस्ततः

dharmaṁ bhuvi sthāpayitvā kṛtvā yadukulakṣayam paśyatāṁ sarvadevānāmantarddhāsye bhuvastataḥ

Having established dharma upon the earth and brought about the destruction of the Yadu race, I shall then vanish from the earth before the eyes of all the gods.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.207.39)

कृष्णस्य मम वीर्याणि कृष्णद्वैपायनादयः । गास्यन्ति बहुधा ब्रह्मन्सद्यः पापहराणि हि

kṛṣṇasya mama vīryāṇi kṛṣṇadvaipāyanādayaḥ gāsyanti bahudhā brahmansadyaḥ pāpaharāṇi hi

O Brahma, Krishna-Dvaipayana and others shall sing in many ways of My mighty deeds as Krishna, deeds that destroy sin the instant they are heard.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.207.40)

कृष्णद्वैपायनो भूत्वा पराशरमुनेः सुतः । शाखाविभागं वेदस्य करिष्यामि तरोरिव

kṛṣṇadvaipāyano bhūtvā parāśaramuneḥ sutaḥ śākhāvibhāgaṁ vedasya kariṣyāmi taroriva

Becoming Krishna-Dvaipayana, the son of the sage Parashara, I shall divide the Veda into branches, as one divides a tree into limbs.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.207.41)

वैदिकं विधिमाश्रित्य त्रिलोकीपरिपीडकान् । छलेन मोहयिष्यामि भूत्वा बुद्धोऽसुरानहम्

vaidikaṁ vidhimāśritya trilokīparipīḍakān chalena mohayiṣyāmi bhūtvā buddho'surānaham

Taking on a semblance of Vedic ordinance, I shall become the Buddha and, by that guise, delude the demons who torment the three worlds.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.207.42)

मया कृष्णेन निहताः सार्जुनेन रणेषु ये । प्रवर्तयिष्यन्त्यसुरास्ते त्वधर्मं यदा क्षितौ

mayā kṛṣṇena nihatāḥ sārjunena raṇeṣu ye pravartayiṣyantyasurāste tvadharmaṁ yadā kṣitau

When those very demons whom I, as Krishna, together with Arjuna, had slain in battle begin once more to spread unrighteousness upon the earth...

Verse 43 (skanda.2.207.43)

धर्मदेवात्तदा भक्तादहं नारायणो मुनिः। जनिष्ये कोशले देशे भूमौ हि सामगो द्विजः

dharmadevāttadā bhaktādahaṁ nārāyaṇo muniḥ janiṣye kośale deśe bhūmau hi sāmago dvijaḥ

...then I shall be born as the sage Narayana from the devoted Dharmadeva, in the land of Koshala, as a Sama-chanting brahmin.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.207.44)

मुनिशापान्नृतां प्राप्तानृषींस्तात तथोद्धवम्। ततोऽवितासुरेभ्योऽहं सद्धर्मं स्थापयन्नज

muniśāpānnṛtāṁ prāptānṛṣīṁstāta tathoddhavam tato'vitāsurebhyo'haṁ saddharmaṁ sthāpayannaja

O son, I shall aid the sages who, through a sage's curse, had come to take birth as men, and Uddhava as well; O unborn one, thus protecting them from the demons, I shall establish the true dharma.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.207.45)

जनान्म्लेच्छमयान्भूमौ कलेरन्ते महैनसः । कल्की भूत्वा हनिष्यामि विचरन्दिव्यवाजिना

janānmlecchamayānbhūmau kalerante mahainasaḥ kalkī bhūtvā haniṣyāmi vicarandivyavājinā

At the end of the Kali age, becoming Kalki and roaming upon a divine steed, I shall destroy the deeply sinful people who have become like barbarians upon the earth.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.207.46)

यदा यदा च वेदोक्तो धर्मो नाशिष्यतेऽसुरैः। प्रादुर्भावो भविष्यो मे तद्रक्षायै तदा तदा

yadā yadā ca vedokto dharmo nāśiṣyate'suraiḥ prādurbhāvo bhaviṣyo me tadrakṣāyai tadā tadā

Whenever the dharma declared by the Vedas begins to be destroyed by demons, again and again shall My manifestation occur for its protection.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.207.47)

तस्माच्चिन्तां विहायैव प्रजाः सृज यथा पुरा । एतान्दत्त्वा वरांस्तस्मा अहमन्तर्हितोऽभवम्

tasmāccintāṁ vihāyaiva prajāḥ sṛja yathā purā etāndattvā varāṁstasmā ahamantarhito'bhavam

Therefore, laying aside all anxiety, create beings as you did before. So saying, and having granted him these boons, I disappeared.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.207.48)

यथा तस्मै वरा दत्तास्तथैव च मया कृतम् । कुर्वे करिष्ये च मुने निजशक्तिभिरञ्जसा

yathā tasmai varā dattāstathaiva ca mayā kṛtam kurve kariṣye ca mune nijaśaktibhirañjasā

Just as those boons were promised to him, so exactly have I acted; O sage, by My own powers I accomplish and shall go on accomplishing all this with ease.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.207.49)

एवंविधस्य मे ब्रह्मन्नीशितुः सर्वदेहिनाम् । दर्शनं दुर्लभं जातं तवैकान्तिकभक्तितः

evaṁvidhasya me brahmannīśituḥ sarvadehinām darśanaṁ durlabhaṁ jātaṁ tavaikāntikabhaktitaḥ

O brahmin, the vision of one such as Myself, the Lord of all embodied beings, is exceedingly rare -- yet through your exclusive devotion it has come to you.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.207.50)

वरं वरय मत्तस्त्वं स्वाभीष्टं मुनिसत्तम । प्रसन्नोस्मि भृशं तुभ्यं नाफलं मम दर्शनम्

varaṁ varaya mattastvaṁ svābhīṣṭaṁ munisattama prasannosmi bhṛśaṁ tubhyaṁ nāphalaṁ mama darśanam

O best of sages, ask of Me whatever boon you desire; I am exceedingly pleased with you -- My vision shall not go without fruit.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.207.51)

स्कन्द उवाच । श्रुत्वेति भगवद्वाक्यं नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । मन्यमानो निजं धन्यं तमुवाच प्रभुं मुने

skanda uvāca śrutveti bhagavadvākyaṁ nārado munisattamaḥ manyamāno nijaṁ dhanyaṁ tamuvāca prabhuṁ mune

Skanda said: O sage, hearing these words of the Lord, Narada, best among sages, counting himself blessed, spoke thus to the Lord.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.207.52)

दर्शनादेव ते स्वामिन्संपूर्णो मे मनोरथः । इदं हि दुर्लभं मन्ये सर्वेषामपि देहिनाम्

darśanādeva te svāminsaṁpūrṇo me manorathaḥ idaṁ hi durlabhaṁ manye sarveṣāmapi dehinām

O Lord, by the mere sight of You my heart's desire has already been fulfilled; I hold this to be rare indeed even for all embodied beings.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.207.53)

अतस्ते च त्वदीयानां त्वद्धाम्नोस्याऽमृतस्य च । साक्षात्समीक्षणादन्यत्प्राप्यं मे नास्ति वांछितम्

ataste ca tvadīyānāṁ tvaddhāmnosyā'mṛtasya ca sākṣātsamīkṣaṇādanyatprāpyaṁ me nāsti vāṁchitam

Therefore, apart from the direct vision of You, of Your devotees, of this Your abode, and of this immortal nectar, there is nothing else I wish to attain.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.207.54)

इतोन्यद्दुर्लभं क्वापि नास्ति ब्रह्माण्डगोलके । यदहं परितुष्टात्ते प्रार्थयेयमिहाच्युत

itonyaddurlabhaṁ kvāpi nāsti brahmāṇḍagolake yadahaṁ parituṣṭātte prārthayeyamihācyuta

O Achyuta, there is nothing rarer than this anywhere within this sphere of the universe that I, well content, could ask of You here.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.207.55)

लोकान्तरसुखं यत्तद्वैदिकैरेव कर्मभिः । दैवैः पित्र्यैश्च लभ्येत तच्चाप्यस्ति हि नश्वरम्

lokāntarasukhaṁ yattadvaidikaireva karmabhiḥ daivaiḥ pitryaiśca labhyeta taccāpyasti hi naśvaram

Whatever happiness in other worlds is won through Vedic rites, whether offered to gods or ancestors, that too is perishable.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.207.56)

नेच्छामि तदहं किञ्चित्सुखं त्वत्तः परं प्रभो । वरमेकं तु याचे त्वत्स्वेप्सितं वरदर्षभात्

necchāmi tadahaṁ kiñcitsukhaṁ tvattaḥ paraṁ prabho varamekaṁ tu yāce tvatsvepsitaṁ varadarṣabhāt

O Lord, therefore I desire no happiness apart from You; yet, O foremost of boon-givers, one boon alone I ask of You, at Your own pleasure.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.207.57)

तवाऽथ तव भक्तानां सदैव गुणगायने । अत्युत्सुकास्तु मे बुद्धिस्त्वयि प्रीतिविवर्द्धिनी

tavā'tha tava bhaktānāṁ sadaiva guṇagāyane atyutsukāstu me buddhistvayi prītivivarddhinī

May my mind, ever eager to sing the glories of You and of Your devotees, become a mind that only deepens my love for You.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.207.58)

स्कन्द उवाच । तथास्त्विति प्रतिश्रुत्य कृष्णस्तेनेति याचितम् । गानोपयुक्तां महतीं वीणां दत्त्वाऽब्रवीत्पुनः

skanda uvāca tathāstviti pratiśrutya kṛṣṇasteneti yācitam gānopayuktāṁ mahatīṁ vīṇāṁ dattvā'bravītpunaḥ

Skanda said: Krishna, granting his request with the word 'so be it,' gave him a great Vina fit for singing, and spoke again.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.207.59)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । अधुना गच्छ देवर्षे विशालां बदरीमितः । तत्र धर्मात्मजं भक्त्या मामाराधय सुव्रत

śrībhagavānuvāca adhunā gaccha devarṣe viśālāṁ badarīmitaḥ tatra dharmātmajaṁ bhaktyā māmārādhaya suvrata

The Blessed Lord said: Now, O divine sage, go from here to Vishala-Badari; there, O one of noble vows, worship Me, present as the son of Dharma, with devotion.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.207.60)

त्वं ह्येकान्तिकभक्तोसि मम निष्कपटान्तरः । तेन त्वामधिकं मन्ये विधेरपि पितुस्तव

tvaṁ hyekāntikabhaktosi mama niṣkapaṭāntaraḥ tena tvāmadhikaṁ manye vidherapi pitustava

You are indeed My exclusive devotee, your heart free of all deceit; therefore I hold you even greater than your own father, Vidhi.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.207.61)

यादृशोऽहं च यद्रूपो यावांश्च महिमा मम । विदुस्तत्सर्वमपि मे भक्ता एकान्तिका मुने

yādṛśo'haṁ ca yadrūpo yāvāṁśca mahimā mama vidustatsarvamapi me bhaktā ekāntikā mune

O sage, whatever I am, whatever form I bear, and however great My glory may be -- all this is known only to My exclusive devotees.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.207.62)

हृदि चिन्त्योहमेवास्मि सतां तेषां च ते मम । तेषामिष्टं न मत्तोऽन्यन्मम तेभ्यो न किञ्चन

hṛdi cintyohamevāsmi satāṁ teṣāṁ ca te mama teṣāmiṣṭaṁ na matto'nyanmama tebhyo na kiñcana

I alone am to be contemplated in the hearts of those good souls, and they are Mine; nothing apart from Me is dear to them, nor is anything of Mine apart from them.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.207.63)

यथा पतिव्रता नार्यो वशीकुर्वन्ति सत्पतिम् । निजैर्गुणैस्तथा भक्ता वशीकुर्वन्ति मामपि

yathā pativratā nāryo vaśīkurvanti satpatim nijairguṇaistathā bhaktā vaśīkurvanti māmapi

Just as devoted wives, by their own virtues, bring their good husbands under their sway, so too devotees, by their own virtues, bring even Me under theirs.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.207.64)

अनुयामि श्रिया साकं तानहं परवानिव । यत्रयत्र च ते सन्ति तत्रतत्राहमस्मि हि

anuyāmi śriyā sākaṁ tānahaṁ paravāniva yatrayatra ca te santi tatratatrāhamasmi hi

Together with Shri I follow after them as though I were not My own master; wherever they are, there without fail I am also.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.207.65)

सत्संगादेव मत्प्राप्तिर्भवेद्भुवि मुमुक्षताम् । नान्योपायेन देवर्षे सत्यमित्यवधारय

satsaṁgādeva matprāptirbhavedbhuvi mumukṣatām nānyopāyena devarṣe satyamityavadhāraya

O divine sage, know this to be true: those on earth who seek liberation attain Me only through the company of the good, and by no other means.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.207.66)

मामेव यर्हि शरणं मानुषाः प्राप्नुवन्ति ये । तर्ह्येव ते विमुच्यन्ते मायाया जीवबन्धनात्

māmeva yarhi śaraṇaṁ mānuṣāḥ prāpnuvanti ye tarhyeva te vimucyante māyāyā jīvabandhanāt

The very moment men take refuge in Me alone, at that very moment they are freed from the soul's bondage wrought by Maya.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.207.67)

मां प्रपन्नस्तु पुरुषो येन केनापि भावतः । यथेष्टं सुखमाप्नोति न तु संसृतिमन्यवत्

māṁ prapannastu puruṣo yena kenāpi bhāvataḥ yatheṣṭaṁ sukhamāpnoti na tu saṁsṛtimanyavat

But the man who has taken refuge in Me, in whatever manner, attains happiness as he wishes, and not, like others, the round of birth and death.

Verse 68 (skanda.2.207.68)

स्कन्द उवाच । एवमुक्तो भगवता प्राप्तोऽनुग्रहमीप्सितम् । प्रणम्य साश्रुनयनः पर्यावर्तत नारदः

skanda uvāca evamukto bhagavatā prāpto'nugrahamīpsitam praṇamya sāśrunayanaḥ paryāvartata nāradaḥ

Skanda said: Thus addressed by the Lord, and having received the grace he desired, Narada, his eyes filled with tears, bowed low and turned back.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.207.69)

तमेव वीणया गायञ्छ्वेतमुक्तमपश्यत । प्राग्वत्स्वाग्रे चलन्तं तमन्वगच्छद् द्विजर्षभ

tameva vīṇayā gāyañchvetamuktamapaśyata prāgvatsvāgre calantaṁ tamanvagacchad dvijarṣabha

Singing of Him alone upon his Vina, he saw once more that liberated Shveta walking ahead of him as before; O foremost of the twice-born, he followed him closely.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.207.70)

सद्यः श्वेतं महाद्वीपं प्राप्य श्वेतान्प्रणम्य तान् । निवृत्तो नारदो ब्रह्मंस्तरसा मेरुमागमत्

sadyaḥ śvetaṁ mahādvīpaṁ prāpya śvetānpraṇamya tān nivṛtto nārado brahmaṁstarasā merumāgamat

Reaching at once the great continent of Shvetadvipa, and bowing to those liberated Shvetas there, O Brahma, Narada then turned back and swiftly came to Mount Meru.

Verse 71 (skanda.2.207.71)

ततो मेरोः प्रचक्राम पर्वतं गन्धमादनम् । निपपात च खात्तूर्णं विशालां बदरीमनु

tato meroḥ pracakrāma parvataṁ gandhamādanam nipapāta ca khāttūrṇaṁ viśālāṁ badarīmanu

Then from Meru he passed on to Mount Gandhamadana, and from there swiftly descended through the sky down to Vishala-Badari.