The Sages' Question and the Revelation of Purushottama Kshetra

Verse 1 (skanda.2.41.1)

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्

nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayamudīrayet

Having saluted Narayana, and Nara who is the best among men, and having bowed to the goddess Sarasvati and to Vyasa, one should then recite the work called Jaya.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.41.2)

मुनय ऊचुः । भगवन्सर्वशास्त्रज्ञ सर्वतीर्थमहत्त्ववित् । कथितं यत्त्वया पूर्वं प्रस्तुते तीर्थकीर्तने । पुरुषोत्तमाख्यं सुमहत्क्षेत्रं परमपावनम्

munaya ūcuḥ bhagavan sarvaśāstrajña sarvatīrthamahattvavit kathitaṁ yattvayā pūrvaṁ prastute tīrthakīrtane puruṣottamākhyaṁ sumahatkṣetraṁ paramapāvanam

The sages said: O Lord, knower of all scriptures, who knows the greatness of all sacred fords — that which you spoke of earlier, in the course of describing the tirthas, the very great and supremely purifying field named Purushottama —

Verse 3 (skanda.2.41.3)

यत्रास्ते दारवतनुः श्रीशो मानुषलीलया । दर्शनान्मुक्तिदः साक्षात्सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदः

yatrāste dāravatanuḥ śrīśo mānuṣalīlayā darśanānmuktidaḥ sākṣātsarvatīrthaphalapradaḥ

— where the Lord of Shri dwells in a wooden body through human-like play, granting liberation by mere sight, directly bestowing the fruit of all sacred fords —

Verse 4 (skanda.2.41.4)

तन्नो विस्तरतो ब्रूहि तत्क्षेत्रं केन निर्मितम् । ज्योतिःप्रकाशो भगवान्साक्षान्नारायणः प्रभुः

tanno vistarato brūhi tatkṣetraṁ kena nirmitam jyotiḥprakāśo bhagavānsākṣānnārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ

— tell us that in detail: by whom was that field created, and how the Lord Narayana, who is the very light of luminosity himself —

Verse 5 (skanda.2.41.5)

कथं दारुमयस्तस्मिन्नास्ते परमपूरुषः । वद त्वं वदतां श्रेष्ठ सर्वलोकगुरो मुने । श्रोतुमिच्छामहे ब्रह्मन्परं कौतूहलं हि नः

kathaṁ dārumayastasminnāste paramapūruṣaḥ vada tvaṁ vadatāṁ śreṣṭha sarvalokaguro mune śrotumicchāmahe brahman paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

— how does the Supreme Person dwell there in wooden form? Tell us, O best of speakers, O sage who is the guru of all worlds — we long to hear it, O Brahmin, for our curiosity is great.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.41.6)

जैमिनिरुवाच । शृणुध्वं मुनयः सर्वे रहस्यं परमं हि तत्

jaiminiruvāca śṛṇudhvaṁ munayaḥ sarve rahasyaṁ paramaṁ hi tat

Jaimini said: Listen, all you sages, for that is a supreme secret.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.41.7)

अवैष्णवानां श्रवणे भक्तिस्तव न जायते । यस्य संकीर्तनादेव सकलं लीयते तमः

avaiṣṇavānāṁ śravaṇe bhaktistava na jāyate yasya saṁkīrtanādeva sakalaṁ līyate tamaḥ

In the mere hearing of those without devotion to Vishnu, devotion does not arise — [I speak] of him by whose glorification alone all darkness melts away.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.41.8)

यद्यप्येष जगन्नाथः सर्वगः सर्वभावनः । स्कन्देन कथितं पूर्वं श्रुत्वा शंभोर्मुखाम्बुजात् । संति क्षेत्राणि चान्यानि सर्वपापहराणि वै

yadyapyeṣa jagannāthaḥ sarvagaḥ sarvabhāvanaḥ skandena kathitaṁ pūrvaṁ śrutvā śaṁbhormukhāmbujāt santi kṣetrāṇi cānyāni sarvapāpaharāṇi vai

Although this Lord Jagannatha is all-pervading and dwells in every heart — as was told before by Skanda, having heard it from the lotus mouth of Shambhu — there do exist other fields as well that remove every sin;

Verse 9 (skanda.2.41.9)

एतत्क्षेत्रं परं चास्य वपुर्भूतं महात्मनः । स्वयं वपुष्मांस्तत्रास्ते स्वनाम्ना ख्यापितं हि तत्

etatkṣetraṁ paraṁ cāsya vapurbhūtaṁ mahātmanaḥ svayaṁ vapuṣmāṁstatrāste svanāmnā khyāpitaṁ hi tat

— but this field is that great soul's own supreme body; he himself, embodied, resides there, and it is indeed known by his own name.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.41.10)

तत्र ये स्थातुमिच्छंति तेपि सर्वे हतांहसः । किं पुनस्तव तिष्ठंतो ये पश्यन्ति गदाधरम्

tatra ye sthātumicchanti tepi sarve hatāṁhasaḥ kiṁ punastava tiṣṭhanto ye paśyanti gadādharam

Even those who merely wish to dwell there have all their sins destroyed — how much more, then, those who abide there and behold Gadadhara!

Verse 11 (skanda.2.41.11)

अहो तत्परमं क्षेत्रं विस्तृतं दशयोजनम् । तीर्थराजस्य सलिलादुत्थितं वालुकाचितम्

aho tatparamaṁ kṣetraṁ vistṛtaṁ daśayojanam tīrtharājasya salilādutthitaṁ vālukācitam

Ah, that supreme field extends ten yojanas, risen from the waters of the king of sacred fords, heaped over with sand,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.41.12)

नीलाचलेन महता मध्यस्थेन विराजितम् । एकस्तनमिव पृथ्व्याः सुदूरात्परिभावितम्

nīlācalena mahatā madhyasthena virājitam ekastanamiva pṛthvyāḥ sudūrātparibhāvitam

— adorned by the great Nilachala standing in its midst, and seen from afar as though it were the earth's single breast.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.41.13)

वराहरूपिणा पूर्वं समुद्धृत्य वसुन्धराम् । सर्वतः सुसमां कृत्वा पर्वतैः सुस्थिरीकृताम्

varāharūpiṇā pūrvaṁ samuddhṛtya vasundharām sarvataḥ susamāṁ kṛtvā parvataiḥ susthirīkṛtām

In ages past, having in the form of the Boar lifted up the Earth, having made her level on every side, and having stabilized her with mountains,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.41.14)

सृष्ट्वा चराचरं सर्वं तीर्थानि सरिदब्धिकान् । क्षेत्राणि च यथास्थानं संनिवेश्य यथा पुरा

sṛṣṭvā carācaraṁ sarvaṁ tīrthāni saridabdhikān kṣetrāṇi ca yathāsthānaṁ saṁniveśya yathā purā

— having created all moving and unmoving beings, the sacred fords, the rivers and the oceans, and having arranged the sacred fields each in its own place as before,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.41.15)

ब्रह्मा विचिन्तयामास सृष्टिभारनिपीडितः । पुनरेतां क्रियां गुर्वीं नारभेय कथं त्विति

brahmā vicintayāmāsa sṛṣṭibhāranipīḍitaḥ punaretāṁ kriyāṁ gurvīṁ nārabheya kathaṁ tviti

— Brahma, wearied by the burden of creation, pondered: 'How might I avoid undertaking this heavy task once more?'

Verse 16 (skanda.2.41.16)

तापत्रयाभिभूता हि मुच्यंते जंतवः कथम् । एवं चिन्तयमानस्य मतिरासीत्प्रजापतेः

tāpatrayābhibhūtā hi mucyante jantavaḥ katham evaṁ cintayamānasya matirāsītprajāpateḥ

'And how might creatures overwhelmed by the three-fold afflictions be released?' As he pondered thus, this thought arose in the mind of the Lord of creatures:

Verse 17 (skanda.2.41.17)

मुक्त्येककारणं विष्णुं स्तोष्येऽहं परमेश्वरम् । ब्रह्मोवाच । नमस्ते जगदाधार शङ्खचक्रगदाधर

muktyekakāraṇaṁ viṣṇuṁ stoṣye'haṁ parameśvaram brahmovāca namaste jagadādhāra śaṅkhacakragadādhara

'I shall praise Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, the sole cause of liberation.' Brahma said: Salutations to you, O support of the universe, bearer of conch, discus, and mace,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.41.18)

यन्नाभिपंकजादेव जातोऽहं विश्वसृष्टिकृत् । परमार्थस्वरूपं ते त्वं वै वेत्सि जगन्मय

yannābhipaṅkajādeva jāto'haṁ viśvasṛṣṭikṛt paramārthasvarūpaṁ te tvaṁ vai vetsi jaganmaya

— from whose very lotus navel I, the maker of the universe's creation, was born. Your supreme true nature, O you who pervade the universe, only you yourself know.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.41.19)

यन्मायया जगत्सर्वं निर्मितं महदादिकम् । यन्निःश्वाससमुद्भूतं शब्दब्रह्म त्रिधाऽभवत्

yanmāyayā jagatsarvaṁ nirmitaṁ mahadādikam yanniḥśvāsasamudbhūtaṁ śabdabrahma tridhā'bhavat

By whose maya the entire universe, beginning with the cosmic intellect, was fashioned; from whose very breath there arose the Word-Brahman, which became threefold —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.41.20)

उपजीव्य तदेवाहमसृजं भुवनानि वै । त्वत्तो नान्यः स्थूलसूक्ष्मदीर्घह्रस्वादि किंचन

upajīvya tadevāhamasṛjaṁ bhuvanāni vai tvatto nānyaḥ sthūlasūkṣmadīrghahrasvādi kiṁcana

— relying upon that alone I created the worlds. Apart from you, nothing at all exists, whether gross or subtle, long or short.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.41.21)

विकारभेदैर्भगवंस्त्वमेवेदं चराचरम् । कटकादि यथा स्वर्णं गुणत्रयविभागशः

vikārabhedairbhagavaṁstvamevedaṁ carācaram kaṭakādi yathā svarṇaṁ guṇatrayavibhāgaśaḥ

Through the diversity of transformations, O Lord, you alone are this whole moving and unmoving world — just as a bracelet and the like are but gold — divided according to the three gunas.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.41.22)

स्रष्टा सृज्यं त्वमेवात्र पोष्टा पोष्यं जगत्प्रभो । आधारो ध्रियमाणं च धर्त्ता त्वं परमेश्वर

sraṣṭā sṛjyaṁ tvamevātra poṣṭā poṣyaṁ jagatprabho ādhāro dhriyamāṇaṁ ca dharttā tvaṁ parameśvara

O Lord of the world, you alone are here the creator and the created, the nourisher and the nourished; O Supreme Lord, you are the support, that which is supported, and the sustainer.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.41.23)

त्वत्प्रेरितमतिः सर्वश्चरते च शुभाऽशुभम् । ततः प्राप्नोति सदृशीं त्वयैव विहितां गतिम्

tvatpreritamatiḥ sarvaścarate ca śubhā'śubham tataḥ prāpnoti sadṛśīṁ tvayaiva vihitāṁ gatim

With mind impelled by you, everyone engages in good and evil actions, and thereafter attains a corresponding destiny, ordained by you alone.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.41.24)

जगतोऽस्य गतिर्भर्त्ता साक्षी त्वं परमेश्वर । चराचरगुरो सर्वजीवभूत कृपामय । प्रसीदाद्य जगन्नाथ नित्यं त्वच्छरण्यस्य मे

jagato'sya gatirbharttā sākṣī tvaṁ parameśvara carācaraguro sarvajīvabhūta kṛpāmaya prasīdādya jagannātha nityaṁ tvaccharaṇyasya me

O Supreme Lord, you are the refuge, the master, and the witness of this world; O guru of all moving and unmoving beings, full of compassion for every living creature — be gracious now, O Jagannatha, to me who ever takes refuge in you.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.41.25)

जैमिनिरुवाच । एवं संस्तूयमानश्च ब्रह्मणा गरुडध्वजः । नीलजीमूतसंकाशः शंखचक्रादिचिह्नितः

jaiminiruvāca evaṁ saṁstūyamānaśca brahmaṇā garuḍadhvajaḥ nīlajīmūtasaṁkāśaḥ śaṁkhacakrādicihnitaḥ

Jaimini said: Thus praised by Brahma, the one whose banner bears Garuda, dark as a blue cloud, marked with the conch, the discus and other emblems —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.41.26)

पतगेंद्रसमारूढः स्फुरद्वदनपंकजः । आविरासीद्द्विजश्रेष्ठा विवक्षुः स्फुरिताधरः

patageṁdrasamārūḍhaḥ sphuradvadanapaṁkajaḥ āvirāsīddvijaśreṣṭhā vivakṣuḥ sphuritādharaḥ

— mounted upon the king of birds, his lotus face gleaming, O best of the twice-born, appeared with lips trembling, about to speak.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.41.27)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । यदर्थं मां स्तुषे ब्रह्मन्न शक्यः प्रतिभाति सः

śrībhagavānuvāca yadarthaṁ māṁ stuṣe brahmanna śakyaḥ pratibhāti saḥ

The Blessed Lord said: O Brahma, that for whose sake you praise me does not appear to be an easy thing to accomplish.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.41.28)

अनाद्यविद्या सुदृढा सुश्छेद्या कर्मबंधनैः । प्रभवंत्यां कथं तस्यां ह्रीयेते मृतिजन्मनी

anādyavidyā sudṛḍhā suśchedyā karmabaṁdhanaiḥ prabhavaṁtyāṁ kathaṁ tasyāṁ hrīyete mṛtijanmanī

Beginningless ignorance is deeply fixed, hard to sever through the bonds of karma; while it prevails, how could birth and death ever be diminished?

Verse 29 (skanda.2.41.29)

तथापि चेदत्र कृते व्यवसायस्तवानघ । क्रमेण येन हि भवेत्तत्ते वक्ष्यामि कारणम्

tathāpi cedatra kṛte vyavasāyastavānagha krameṇa yena hi bhavettatte vakṣyāmi kāraṇam

Yet, O sinless one, since your resolve is fixed upon this, I shall tell you the means, and the order, by which it may come to pass.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.41.30)

अहं त्वं त्वमहं ब्रह्मन्मन्मयं चाखिलं जगत् । चिस्ते यत्र मे तत्र नान्यथेति विचारय

ahaṁ tvaṁ tvamahaṁ brahmanmanmayaṁ cākhilaṁ jagat ciste yatra me tatra nānyatheti vicāraya

I am you, you are me, O Brahma, and the entire universe is made of me. Wherever your awareness rests, know that I am there — and not otherwise.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.41.31)

सागरस्योत्तरे तीरे महानद्यास्तु दक्षिणे । स प्रदेशः पृथिव्यां हि सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदः

sāgarasyottare tīre mahānadyāstu dakṣiṇe sa pradeśaḥ pṛthivyāṁ hi sarvatīrthaphalapradaḥ

On the northern shore of the ocean, and to the south of the great river, that region of the earth grants the fruit of all sacred fords.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.41.32)

तत्र ये मनुजा ब्रह्मन्निवसंति सुबुद्धयः । जन्मांतरकृतानां च पुण्यानां फलभागिनः

tatra ye manujā brahmannivasaṁti subuddhayaḥ janmāṁtarakṛtānāṁ ca puṇyānāṁ phalabhāginaḥ

O Brahma, the men of good understanding who dwell there share in the fruit of merits performed in former births.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.41.33)

नाल्पपुण्याः प्रजायंते नाभक्ता मयि पद्मज । एकाम्रकाननाद्यावद्दक्षिणोदधितीरभूः

nālpapuṇyāḥ prajāyaṁte nābhaktā mayi padmaja ekāmrakānanādyāvaddakṣiṇodadhitīrabhūḥ

Those of little merit are not born there, O lotus-born one, nor those without devotion to me — from Ekamra-kanana onward to the shore-lands of the southern ocean.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.41.34)

पदात्पदाच्छ्रेष्ठतमः क्रमात्परमपावनः । सिन्धुतीरं तु यो बह्मन्राजते नीलपर्वतः

padātpadācchreṣṭhatamaḥ kramātparamapāvanaḥ sindhutīraṁ tu yo bahmanrājate nīlaparvataḥ

Step by step it grows ever more excellent, in due order supremely purifying, until, O Brahma, the Blue Mountain shines upon the shore of the sea.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.41.35)

पृथिव्यां गोपितं स्थानं तव चापि सुदुर्लभम् । सुरासुराणां दुर्ज्ञेयं माययाछादितं मम

pṛthivyāṁ gopitaṁ sthānaṁ tava cāpi sudurlabham surāsurāṇāṁ durjñeyaṁ māyayāchāditaṁ mama

It is a place hidden upon the earth, difficult to attain even for you, hard for gods and demons alike to know, veiled by my own maya.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.41.36)

सर्वसंगपरित्यक्तस्तत्र तिष्ठामि देहभृत् । क्षराक्षरावतिक्रम्य वर्त्तेऽहं पुरुषोत्तमे

sarvasaṁgaparityaktastatra tiṣṭhāmi dehabhṛt kṣarākṣarāvatikramya vartte'haṁ puruṣottame

Having renounced all attachment, I dwell there in embodied form; transcending both the perishable and the imperishable, I abide in Purushottama.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.41.37)

सृष्ट्या लयेन नाक्रान्तं क्षेत्रं मे पुरुषोत्तमम् । यथा मां पश्यसि ब्रह्मन्रूपं चक्रादिचिह्नितम्

sṛṣṭyā layena nākrāntaṁ kṣetraṁ me puruṣottamam yathā māṁ paśyasi brahmanrūpaṁ cakrādicihnitam

My field of Purushottama is untouched by both creation and dissolution. Just as you now behold me, O Brahma, in this form marked with the discus and other emblems,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.41.38)

ईदृशं तत्र गत्वैव द्रक्ष्यसे मां पितामह । नीलाद्रेरंतरभुवि कल्पन्यग्रोधमूलतः

īdṛśaṁ tatra gatvaiva drakṣyase māṁ pitāmaha nīlādreraṁtarabhuvi kalpanyagrodhamūlataḥ

— just so, O Grandsire, having gone there you shall see me, in the land within the Blue Mountain, at the root of the eternal banyan tree.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.41.39)

वारुण्यां दिशि यत्कुण्डं रौहिणं नाम विश्रुतम् । तत्तीरे निवसन्तं मां पश्यन्तश्चर्मचक्षुषा

vāruṇyāṁ diśi yatkuṇḍaṁ rauhiṇaṁ nāma viśrutam tattīre nivasantaṁ māṁ paśyantaścarmacakṣuṣā

In the western quarter there is a pool renowned by the name Rohina; those who behold me, dwelling upon its bank, with their own fleshly eyes —

Verse 40 (skanda.2.41.40)

तदम्भसा क्षीणपापा मम सायुज्यमाप्नुयुः । तत्र व्रज महाभाग दृष्ट्वा मां ध्यायतस्तव

tadambhasā kṣīṇapāpā mama sāyujyamāpnuyuḥ tatra vraja mahābhāga dṛṣṭvā māṁ dhyāyatastava

— having their sins destroyed by that water, attain union with me. Go there, O greatly fortunate one; having seen me, and as you meditate upon me,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.41.41)

प्रकाशं यास्यते तस्य क्षेत्रस्य महिमाऽपरः । आश्चर्यभूतः परमस्तवापि च भविष्यति

prakāśaṁ yāsyate tasya kṣetrasya mahimā'paraḥ āścaryabhūtaḥ paramastavāpi ca bhaviṣyati

— that field's further glory shall come to light, and it shall prove, for you too, a source of supreme wonder.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.41.42)

श्रुतिस्मृतीहासपुराणगोपितं मन्मायया तन्न हि कस्य गोचरम् । प्रसादतो मे स्तुवतस्तवाधुना प्रकाशमायास्यति सर्वगोचरम्

śrutismṛtīhāsapurāṇagopitaṁ manmāyayā tanna hi kasya gocaram prasādato me stuvatastavādhunā prakāśamāyāsyati sarvagocaram

That which lies hidden by my maya within the Shrutis, Smritis, Itihasas and Puranas is not within anyone's perception; but now, by my grace, since you have praised me, it shall become manifest, perceptible to all.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.41.43)

व्रतेषु तीर्थेषु च यज्ञदानयोः पुण्यं यदुक्तं विमलात्मनां हि तत् । अहर्निवासाल्लभतेऽत्र सर्वं निःश्वास वासात्खलु चाश्वमेधिकम्

vrateṣu tīrtheṣu ca yajñadānayoḥ puṇyaṁ yaduktaṁ vimalātmanāṁ hi tat aharnivāsāllabhate'tra sarvaṁ niḥśvāsa vāsātkhalu cāśvamedhikam

Whatever merit is declared for the pure of soul through vows, sacred fords, sacrifice and gift — all of it is gained here by merely a day's stay; and by staying merely the span of a breath, indeed the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.41.44)

इत्यादिश्य विधिं विप्रास्तदासौ पुरुषोत्तमः । पश्यतस्तस्य तत्रैव प्रभुरन्तरधीयत

ityādiśya vidhiṁ viprāstadāsau puruṣottamaḥ paśyatastasya tatraiva prabhurantaradhīyata

Having thus instructed him in the rite, O Brahmins, that Lord Purushottama then vanished right there, before his very eyes.