The Land of Utkala and Its Glories

Verse 1 (skanda.2.46.1)

मुनय ऊचुः । कस्मिन्देशे द्विजश्रेष्ठ तत्क्षेत्रं पुरुषोत्तमम् । यत्र नारायणः साक्षाद्दारुरूपी प्रकाशते

munaya ūcuḥ kasmindeśe dvijaśreṣṭha tatkṣetraṁ puruṣottamam yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣāddārurūpī prakāśate

The sages said: In which country, O best of the twice-born, is that field of Purushottama, where Narayana himself shines forth in the form of wood?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.46.2)

जैमिनि रुवाच । उत्कलोनाम देशोऽस्ति ख्यातः परमपावनः । यत्र तीर्थान्यनेकानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

jaimini ruvāca utkalonāma deśo'sti khyātaḥ paramapāvanaḥ yatra tīrthānyanekāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

Jaimini said: There is a country named Utkala, renowned and supremely holy, where there are many sacred fords and blessed shrines.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.46.3)

दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे स तु देशः प्रतिष्ठितः । यत्र स्थिता वै पुरुषाः सदाचारनिदर्शनाः

dakṣiṇasyodadhestīre sa tu deśaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ yatra sthitā vai puruṣāḥ sadācāranidarśanāḥ

That country lies established on the shore of the southern ocean, where the men who dwell are exemplars of good conduct.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.46.4)

वृत्ताध्ययनसंपन्ना यज्वानो यत्र भूसुराः । सृष्ट्यादौ क्रतवो वेदा वेदशास्त्रप्रवर्तकाः

vṛttādhyayanasaṁpannā yajvāno yatra bhūsurāḥ sṛṣṭyādau kratavo vedā vedaśāstrapravartakāḥ

where the earth-gods (brahmins) are endowed with good conduct and learning, performers of sacrifice, as if the sacrifices and Vedas themselves, born at the beginning of creation, had become the very propounders of the scriptures.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.46.5)

अष्टादशानां विद्यानां निधानं संप्रकीर्तितम् । गृहे गृहे निवसति लक्ष्मीर्नारायणाज्ञया

aṣṭādaśānāṁ vidyānāṁ nidhānaṁ saṁprakīrtitam gṛhe gṛhe nivasati lakṣmīrnārāyaṇājñayā

It is proclaimed to be a treasury of the eighteen branches of knowledge; by Narayana's command, Lakshmi dwells in every household there.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.46.6)

लज्जाशीला विनीताश्च आधिव्याधिविवर्जिताः । पितृमातृरताः सत्यवादिनो वैष्णवा जनाः

lajjāśīlā vinītāśca ādhivyādhivivarjitāḥ pitṛmātṛratāḥ satyavādino vaiṣṇavā janāḥ

The people there are modest and gently-mannered, free from mental and bodily affliction, devoted to father and mother, truthful, and devotees of Vishnu.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.46.7)

न चात्रावैष्णवः कश्चिन्नास्तिको वापि वर्तते । सर्वे परहितास्तत्र न लुब्धा न शठाः खलाः

na cātrāvaiṣṇavaḥ kaścinnāstiko vāpi vartate sarve parahitāstatra na lubdhā na śaṭhāḥ khalāḥ

There is not a single non-Vaishnava or atheist here; all are devoted to others' good, none greedy, deceitful, or wicked.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.46.8)

दीर्घायुषस्तत्र जनाः स्त्रियश्च पतिदेवताः । सुशीला धर्मशीलाश्च त्रपाचारित्रभूषिताः

dīrghāyuṣastatra janāḥ striyaśca patidevatāḥ suśīlā dharmaśīlāśca trapācāritrabhūṣitāḥ

The people there are long-lived, and its women regard their husbands as their very deity, being gentle, righteous, and adorned with modesty and good character.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.46.9)

रूपयौवनगर्वाढ्याः सर्वालंकारभूषिताः । कुलशीलवयोवृत्तानुरूपाचारचंचवः

rūpayauvanagarvāḍhyāḥ sarvālaṁkārabhūṣitāḥ kulaśīlavayovṛttānurūpācāracaṁcavaḥ

They take pride, becomingly, in their beauty and youth, are adorned with every ornament, and are skilled in conduct fitting their lineage, character, age, and station.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.46.10)

स्वकर्मनिरतास्तत्र प्रजारक्षणदीक्षिताः । क्षत्रिया दानशौंडाश्च शस्त्रशास्त्रविशारदाः

svakarmaniratāstatra prajārakṣaṇadīkṣitāḥ kṣatriyā dānaśauṁḍāśca śastraśāstraviśāradāḥ

The Kshatriyas there are devoted to their own duty, consecrated to the protection of the people, munificent in giving, and expert in both arms and the scriptures.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.46.11)

यजंते क्रतुभिः सर्वे सततं भूरिदक्षिणैः । दीप्यंते चित्तयो येषां यूपाः कांचनभूषिताः

yajaṁte kratubhiḥ sarve satataṁ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ dīpyaṁte cittayo yeṣāṁ yūpāḥ kāṁcanabhūṣitāḥ

All of them ceaselessly perform sacrifices with abundant priestly fees, their sacrificial fires and gold-adorned sacrificial posts ever ablaze.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.46.12)

येषां गृहेष्वतिथयः कामनाधिकपूजिताः । वैश्याश्च कृषि वाणिज्यगोरक्षावृत्तिसंस्थिताः

yeṣāṁ gṛheṣvatithayaḥ kāmanādhikapūjitāḥ vaiśyāśca kṛṣi vāṇijyagorakṣāvṛttisaṁsthitāḥ

In whose homes guests are honored beyond even their own wishes; and the Vaishyas there are established in the occupations of farming, trade, and cattle-herding.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.46.13)

देवान्गुरून्द्विजान्भक्त्या प्रीणयंति धनैरपि । एकस्य द्वारि यातोऽर्थी न गच्छेदन्यवेश्मनि

devāngurūndvijānbhaktyā prīṇayaṁti dhanairapi ekasya dvāri yāto'rthī na gacchedanyaveśmani

With devotion, and even with their wealth, they please the gods, their teachers, and the brahmins; a petitioner who has come to one man's door need never go to another's house.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.46.14)

गीतकाव्यकलाशिल्पकुशलाः प्रियवादिनः । शूद्राश्च धार्मिकास्तत्र स्नानदानक्रियारताः

gītakāvyakalāśilpakuśalāḥ priyavādinaḥ śūdrāśca dhārmikāstatra snānadānakriyāratāḥ

They are skilled in song, poetry, the arts and crafts, and gentle of speech; and even the Shudras there are righteous, devoted to the practices of bathing and giving.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.46.15)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा धनैश्च द्विजसेवकाः । येऽन्ये संकरजातास्ते स्वेस्वे धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिताः

karmaṇā manasā vācā dhanaiśca dvijasevakāḥ ye'nye saṁkarajātāste svesve dharme pratiṣṭhitāḥ

In deed, thought, word, and wealth they are servants of the twice-born; and whatever other mixed castes there may be, each stands firm in its own proper duty.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.46.16)

न विपर्यंति ऋतवो नाकाले वर्षते घनः । न सस्यहानिर्न मरुत्क्षुन्न पीडयति प्रजाः

na viparyaṁti ṛtavo nākāle varṣate ghanaḥ na sasyahānirna marutkṣunna pīḍayati prajāḥ

There the seasons never go awry, nor do clouds rain out of season; there is no loss of crops, nor does storm or hunger ever afflict the people.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.46.17)

दुर्भिक्षमरके नात्र राष्ट्रभंगः प्रजायते । नालभ्यं तत्र वस्त्वस्ति यत्किंचित्पृथिवीगतम्

durbhikṣamarake nātra rāṣṭrabhaṁgaḥ prajāyate nālabhyaṁ tatra vastvasti yatkiṁcitpṛthivīgatam

Here no famine or pestilence ever brings ruin to the kingdom; there is nothing existing anywhere on earth that cannot be obtained there.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.46.18)

एवं सर्वगुणैर्युक्तो नानाद्रुमलताकुलः । अर्जुनाशोकपुन्नाग तालहिंतालशालकैः

evaṁ sarvaguṇairyukto nānādrumalatākulaḥ arjunāśokapunnāga tālahiṁtālaśālakaiḥ

Thus endowed with every excellence, that land is thick with manifold trees and creepers — with arjuna, ashoka, punnaga, palmyra, hintala-palm and sal trees,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.46.19)

प्राचीनामलकैर्लोध्रैर्बकुलैर्नागकेशरैः । नारिकेलैः प्रियालैश्च सरलैर्देवदारुभिः

prācīnāmalakairlodhrairbakulairnāgakeśaraiḥ nārikelaiḥ priyālaiśca saralairdevadārubhiḥ

— with prachinamalaka, lodhra, bakula, nagakeshara, coconut, priyala, pine, and deodar,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.46.20)

धवैश्च खदिरैर्बिल्वैः पनसैश्च कपित्थकैः । चंपकैः कर्णिकारैश्च कोविदारैः सपाटलैः

dhavaiśca khadirairbilvaiḥ panasaiśca kapitthakaiḥ caṁpakaiḥ karṇikāraiśca kovidāraiḥ sapāṭalaiḥ

— with dhava, khadira, bilva, jackfruit, wood-apple, champaka, karnikara, kovidara, and patala,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.46.21)

कदंबनिंबनिचुरलरसालामलकैस्तथा । नागरंगैश्च जंबीरैर्नीपकैर्मातुलुंगकैः

kadaṁbaniṁbanicuralarasālāmalakaistathā nāgaraṁgaiśca jaṁbīrairnīpakairmātuluṁgakaiḥ

— with kadamba, neem, nichula, mango, myrobalan, orange, lime, nipa, and citron as well,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.46.22)

मंदारैः पारिजातैश्च न्यग्रोधागुरुचंदनैः । खर्जूराम्रातकैः सिद्धैर्मुचुकुंदैः सकिंशुकैः

maṁdāraiḥ pārijātaiśca nyagrodhāgurucaṁdanaiḥ kharjūrāmrātakaiḥ siddhairmucukuṁdaiḥ sakiṁśukaiḥ

— with coral trees, parijata, banyan, aloewood, sandalwood, date-palm, hog-plum, muchukunda, and the flame-of-the-forest,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.46.23)

तिंदुकैः सप्तपर्णैश्च अश्वत्थैश्च बिभीतकैः । अन्यैश्च विविधैर्वृक्षैः प्रकीर्णः सुमनोहरैः

tiṁdukaiḥ saptaparṇaiśca aśvatthaiśca bibhītakaiḥ anyaiśca vividhairvṛkṣaiḥ prakīrṇaḥ sumanoharaiḥ

— with ebony, saptaparna, the sacred fig, and bibhitaka, and strewn besides with many other most enchanting trees,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.46.24)

मालतीकुंदबाणैश्च करवीरैः सितेतरैः । केतकीवनषंडैश्च अतिमुक्तैः सकुब्जकैः

mālatīkuṁdabāṇaiśca karavīraiḥ sitetaraiḥ ketakīvanaṣaṁḍaiśca atimuktaiḥ sakubjakaiḥ

— adorned with malati, kunda, and bana blossoms, with oleanders both white and dark, with thickets of screw-pine, and with the atimukta and kubjaka creepers,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.46.25)

एलालवंगकंकोलदाडिमैर्बीजपूरकैः । श्रेणीकृतैः पूगवनैरुद्यानैः शतशो वृतः

elālavaṁgakaṁkoladāḍimairbījapūrakaiḥ śreṇīkṛtaiḥ pūgavanairudyānaiḥ śataśo vṛtaḥ

— surrounded by hundreds of orchards of cardamom, clove, kankola, pomegranate, and citron, and by groves of areca-palm standing in neat rows.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.46.26)

नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णः पर्वतैः सिंधुर्भिर्वृतः । स एष देशप्रवर उत्कलाख्यो द्विजोत्तमाः

nānādrumalatākīrṇaḥ parvataiḥ siṁdhurbhirvṛtaḥ sa eṣa deśapravara utkalākhyo dvijottamāḥ

Thick with manifold trees and creepers, encircled by mountains and rivers — this, O best of the twice-born, is that excellent country called Utkala.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.46.27)

ऋषिकुल्यां समासाद्य दक्षिणोदधिगामिनीम् । स्वर्णरेखामहानद्योर्मध्ये देशः प्रतिष्ठितः

ṛṣikulyāṁ samāsādya dakṣiṇodadhigāminīm svarṇarekhāmahānadyormadhye deśaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Reaching the Rishikulya, which flows toward the southern ocean, this country is established between that river and the great river Swarnarekha.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.46.28)

सन्त्यत्र पुण्यायतने क्षेत्राणि सुबहून्यपि । पूर्वं वस्तीर्थयात्रायां वर्णितानि मया द्विजाः । भूस्वर्गः सांप्रतं ह्येष कथितः पुरुषोत्तमः

santyatra puṇyāyatane kṣetrāṇi subahūnyapi pūrvaṁ vastīrthayātrāyāṁ varṇitāni mayā dvijāḥ bhūsvargaḥ sāṁprataṁ hyeṣa kathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ

In this blessed land there are yet many more sacred fields, O brahmins, which I described to you earlier in the account of the pilgrimage. Now this Purushottama has been told to you, this very earthly heaven.