Vidyapati's Vision of Nila-Madhava through the Shabara Vishvavasu

Verse 1 (skanda.2.48.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच । इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण शबरश्चिंतयाकुलः । अस्माकमुपजीव्योऽसौ रहस्यस्थो जनार्दनः

jaiminiruvāca ityuktastena vipreṇa śabaraściṁtayākulaḥ asmākamupajīvyo'sau rahasyastho janārdanaḥ

Jaimini said: When the brahmin had spoken thus, the Shabara became troubled with anxiety — "That Janardana, on whom our very livelihood depends, dwells here as a secret;

Verse 2 (skanda.2.48.2)

उपस्थितं नो दुर्दैवं येन स्यात्सार्वलौकिकः । न दर्शयामि चेद्विप्रं शापं मेऽसौ प्रदास्यति

upasthitaṁ no durdaivaṁ yena syātsārvalaukikaḥ na darśayāmi cedvipraṁ śāpaṁ me'sau pradāsyati

— a misfortune has now come upon us, by which this secret will become known to all the world. If I do not show this brahmin the god, he will curse me;

Verse 3 (skanda.2.48.3)

सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणो मान्यो विशेषादतिथिस्त्वयम् । यस्मिन्विफलकामे तु द्वौ लोकौ विफलौ मम

sarveṣāṁ brāhmaṇo mānyo viśeṣādatithistvayam yasminviphalakāme tu dvau lokau viphalau mama

— a brahmin is to be honored by all, and this one, moreover, is my guest; should his desire go unfulfilled, both my worlds, this one and the next, would be lost."

Verse 4 (skanda.2.48.4)

एवं विचारयन्विश्वावसुः शबरपुंगवः । जनप्रवादं सस्मार पुराणं शबरालये

evaṁ vicārayanviśvāvasuḥ śabarapuṁgavaḥ janapravādaṁ sasmāra purāṇaṁ śabarālaye

Reflecting thus, Vishvavasu, foremost of the Shabaras, called to mind an old tradition current among the dwellings of the Shabaras —

Verse 5 (skanda.2.48.5)

अस्मिन्नंतर्हिते देवे भूम्यंतर्लीनमाधवे । इन्द्रद्युम्नो नरपतिः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः

asminnaṁtarhite deve bhūmyaṁtarlīnamādhave indradyumno narapatiḥ śakratulyaparākramaḥ

— that when this god would vanish, Madhava merging into the earth, then King Indradyumna, mighty as Indra himself,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.48.6)

मनुष्यवपुषा यो वै ब्रह्मलोकं व्रजेदपि । सोऽस्मिन्प्रजाभिरागत्य वाजिमेधशतेन च

manuṣyavapuṣā yo vai brahmalokaṁ vrajedapi so'sminprajābhirāgatya vājimedhaśatena ca

— who, in his very human body, would even attain the world of Brahma, would come here with his subjects, and, with a hundred horse-sacrifices,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.48.7)

इष्ट्वा दारुमयं विष्णुं चतुर्द्धा स्थापयिष्यति । अस्य चेद्भाग्यमुत्पन्नं ब्राह्मणस्यातिथेर्भृशम्

iṣṭvā dārumayaṁ viṣṇuṁ caturddhā sthāpayiṣyati asya cedbhāgyamutpannaṁ brāhmaṇasyātitherbhṛśam

— perform sacrifice and establish the wooden Vishnu in four forms. If the fortune of this guest-brahmin has arisen exceedingly strong,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.48.8)

अंतर्द्धानं भगवतः सन्निधानमथो भवेत् । तदेनं दर्शयिष्यामि नीलेंद्रमणिमच्युतम्

aṁtarddhānaṁ bhagavataḥ sannidhānamatho bhavet tadenaṁ darśayiṣyāmi nīleṁdramaṇimacyutam

— whether the Lord be about to vanish or still be present, then I shall show him the imperishable one of blue sapphire;

Verse 9 (skanda.2.48.9)

न पौरुषेयं कस्यापि कर्तव्ये देवनिर्मिते । इत्थं विचार्य मनसा शबरश्च पुनःपुनः

na pauruṣeyaṁ kasyāpi kartavye devanirmite itthaṁ vicārya manasā śabaraśca punaḥpunaḥ

— for in a matter fashioned by the god himself, no human effort has any part." Having thus reflected again and again within himself, the Shabara

Verse 10 (skanda.2.48.10)

उवाच विप्रं पुरतो ध्यायंतं विष्णुमव्ययम्

uvāca vipraṁ purato dhyāyaṁtaṁ viṣṇumavyayam

spoke to the brahmin before him, who sat meditating on the imperishable Vishnu —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.48.11)

शबर उवाच । अस्माभिः पूर्वतोऽप्येष उदंतः श्रुत एव हि । इंद्रद्युम्नो नरपतिरत्र वासं करिष्यति

śabara uvāca asmābhiḥ pūrvato'pyeṣa udaṁtaḥ śruta eva hi iṁdradyumno narapatiratra vāsaṁ kariṣyati

The Shabara said: We too have already heard this news beforehand, that King Indradyumna will come to dwell here.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.48.12)

ततोऽपि भाग्यवांस्त्वं हि यदग्रे नीलमाधवम् । चक्षुषा पश्यसे ब्रह्मन्नेहि यामो ह्यधित्यकाम्

tato'pi bhāgyavāṁstvaṁ hi yadagre nīlamādhavam cakṣuṣā paśyase brahmannehi yāmo hyadhityakām

Yet you are even more fortunate than that, O brahmin, for you shall be the first to behold Nilamadhava with your own eyes; come, let us go up to the hilltop.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.48.13)

इत्युक्त्वा तं करे धृत्वा वर्त्मना गहनं ययौ । उपर्युपर्युपारुह्य शिलाविषमवर्त्मनि

ityuktvā taṁ kare dhṛtvā vartmanā gahanaṁ yayau uparyuparyupāruhya śilāviṣamavartmani

So saying, taking him by the hand, he set off along the dense forest path, climbing upward, higher and higher, along a rugged, rock-strewn track,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.48.14)

एकैकनरगम्ये च कंटकाचितदुर्गमे । तमःप्राये पथि गतं बोधयन्वचसा द्विजम्

ekaikanaragamye ca kaṁṭakācitadurgame tamaḥprāye pathi gataṁ bodhayanvacasā dvijam

— passable to but one man at a time, thick with thorns and hard to traverse; and, on that path all but lost in darkness, he encouraged the brahmin with his words,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.48.15)

मुहूर्ताभ्यां रौहिणस्य कुंडस्याविशतां तटे । तं दृष्ट्वा सोऽब्रवीद्विप्रं कुंडमेतद्द्विजोत्तम

muhūrtābhyāṁ rauhiṇasya kuṁḍasyāviśatāṁ taṭe taṁ dṛṣṭvā so'bravīdvipraṁ kuṁḍametaddvijottama

In two muhurtas, the two of them reached the bank of Rohina pool. Seeing it, he said to the brahmin: "O best of the twice-born, this is that pool,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.48.16)

रौहिणाख्यं महत्तीर्थं कारणं सर्वपाथसाम् । अत्र स्नात्वा नरो याति वैकुंठभवनं द्विज

rauhiṇākhyaṁ mahattīrthaṁ kāraṇaṁ sarvapāthasām atra snātvā naro yāti vaikuṁṭhabhavanaṁ dvija

named Rohina, the great sacred ford, the very source of all the waters; O twice-born one, bathing here, a man attains to the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.48.17)

एतस्य पूर्वभागेऽसो कल्पच्छायावटो महान् । छायां यस्य समाक्रम्य ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

etasya pūrvabhāge'so kalpacchāyāvaṭo mahān chāyāṁ yasya samākramya brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati

On its eastern side stands that great eternal banyan, merely by entering whose shade the sin of killing a brahmin is dispelled.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.48.18)

एतयोरंतरे ब्रह्मन्निकुंजाभ्यंतरे स्थितम् । पश्य साक्षाजगन्नाथं वेदांतप्रतिपादितम्

etayoraṁtare brahmannikuṁjābhyaṁtare sthitam paśya sākṣājagannāthaṁ vedāṁtapratipāditam

O brahmin, between these two, standing within a bower of creepers, behold the Lord of the universe himself, he of whom the Vedanta speaks.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.48.19)

दृष्ट्वा जहीहि सकलं विविधं पापसंचयम् । इत ऊर्ध्वं न शोचस्व पतितो भवसागरे

dṛṣṭvā jahīhi sakalaṁ vividhaṁ pāpasaṁcayam ita ūrdhvaṁ na śocasva patito bhavasāgare

Beholding him, cast off the whole accumulated mass of your manifold sins; from now on, grieve no more at having fallen into the ocean of worldly existence."

Verse 20 (skanda.2.48.20)

जैमिनिरुवाच । स तु कुंडे द्विजः स्नात्वा संप्रदृष्टमनाः सुधी । दूरात्प्रणम्य शिरसा मनसा वचसा हरिम्

jaiminiruvāca sa tu kuṁḍe dvijaḥ snātvā saṁpradṛṣṭamanāḥ sudhī dūrātpraṇamya śirasā manasā vacasā harim

Jaimini said: That wise brahmin, having bathed in the pool, his mind fixed and intent, bowed his head from afar, saluting Hari in mind and speech,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.48.21)

तुष्टाव चैकाग्रमना हर्षगद्गदया गिरा

tuṣṭāva caikāgramanā harṣagadgadayā girā

and, his mind one-pointed, began to praise him in a voice choked with joy.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.48.22)

विद्यापतिरुवाच । प्रधानपुरुषातीत सर्वव्यापिन्परात्पर । चराचरपरीणाम परमार्थ नमोऽस्तु ते

vidyāpatiruvāca pradhānapuruṣātīta sarvavyāpinparātpara carācaraparīṇāma paramārtha namo'stu te

Vidyapati said: O you who transcend both primordial matter and spirit, all-pervading, higher than the highest, the very transformation of the moving and unmoving, the supreme reality — salutation to you!

Verse 23 (skanda.2.48.23)

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेतिहास संप्रतिपादितैः । कर्मभिस्त्वं समाराध्य एक एव जगत्पते

śrutismṛtipurāṇetihāsa saṁpratipāditaiḥ karmabhistvaṁ samārādhya eka eva jagatpate

O Lord of the universe, through the rites enjoined by the Vedas, the codes of law, the Puranas and the epics, you alone are to be worshipped.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.48.24)

त्वत्त एतज्जगत्सर्वं सृष्टौ संपद्यते विभो । त्वदाधारमिदं देव त्वयैव परिपाल्यते

tvatta etajjagatsarvaṁ sṛṣṭau saṁpadyate vibho tvadādhāramidaṁ deva tvayaiva paripālyate

From you alone, O all-pervading one, this entire universe comes into being at creation; upon you alone it rests, O god, and by you alone it is sustained.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.48.25)

कल्पांते संहृतं सर्वं त्वत्कुक्षौ सावकाशकम् । सुखं वसति सर्वात्मन्नंतर्यामिन्नमोऽस्तु ते

kalpāṁte saṁhṛtaṁ sarvaṁ tvatkukṣau sāvakāśakam sukhaṁ vasati sarvātmannaṁtaryāminnamo'stu te

At the end of the aeon, everything, gathered back in, dwells at ease, each in its place, within your very belly; salutation to you, O Self of all, O inner controller!

Verse 26 (skanda.2.48.26)

नमस्ते देवदेवाय त्रयीरूपाय ते नमः । चंद्रसूर्यादिरुपेण जगद्भासयते सदा

namaste devadevāya trayīrūpāya te namaḥ caṁdrasūryādirupeṇa jagadbhāsayate sadā

Salutation to you, god of gods; salutation to you, whose very form is the threefold Veda, who, in the form of moon and sun and the rest, ever illumines the universe.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.48.27)

सर्वतीर्थमयी गंगा यस्य पादाब्जसंगमात् । पुनाति सकलाँल्लोकांस्तस्मै पावयते नमः

sarvatīrthamayī gaṁgā yasya pādābjasaṁgamāt punāti sakalām̐llokāṁstasmai pāvayate namaḥ

He, by contact with whose lotus feet the Ganga, embodying every sacred ford, purifies all the worlds — salutation to that purifier!

Verse 28 (skanda.2.48.28)

हवींषि मंत्रपूतानि सम्यग्दत्तानि वह्निषु । परिणामकृते तुभ्यं .जगज्जीवयते नमः

havīṁṣi maṁtrapūtāni samyagdattāni vahniṣu pariṇāmakṛte tubhyaṁ .jagajjīvayate namaḥ

The oblations, purified by sacred formulas, duly offered into the fires, come at last to you, who bring about their fruit; salutation to you who give life to the universe.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.48.29)

यदंशमुपजीवंति जगंत्यानंदरूपिणः । सर्वकल्मषहीनाय तस्मै ब्रह्मात्मने नमः

yadaṁśamupajīvaṁti jagaṁtyānaṁdarūpiṇaḥ sarvakalmaṣahīnāya tasmai brahmātmane namaḥ

O you of the very form of bliss, upon a mere fragment of whom all the worlds subsist — salutation to that one, free of all taint, whose very self is Brahman!

Verse 30 (skanda.2.48.30)

निर्मलाय स्वरूपाय शुभरूपाय मायिने । सर्वसंगविहीनाय नमस्ते विश्वसाक्षिणे

nirmalāya svarūpāya śubharūpāya māyine sarvasaṁgavihīnāya namaste viśvasākṣiṇe

To you of stainless, blessed form, the wielder of maya, free of every attachment, the witness of the universe — salutation to you!

Verse 31 (skanda.2.48.31)

बहुपादाक्षिशीर्षास्यबाहवे सर्वजिष्णवे । सर्वजीवस्वरूपाय नमस्ते सर्वरूपिणे

bahupādākṣiśīrṣāsyabāhave sarvajiṣṇave sarvajīvasvarūpāya namaste sarvarūpiṇe

To you of manifold feet, eyes, heads, faces, and arms, all-conquering, the very form of every living being, the form of everything — salutation to you!

Verse 32 (skanda.2.48.32)

नमस्ते कमलाकांत नमस्ते कमलासन । नमः कमलपत्राक्ष त्राहि मां पुरुषोत्तम

namaste kamalākāṁta namaste kamalāsana namaḥ kamalapatrākṣa trāhi māṁ puruṣottama

Salutation to you, beloved of Kamala! Salutation to you, seated on the lotus! Salutation to you, whose eyes are like lotus petals! Save me, O Purushottama!

Verse 33 (skanda.2.48.33)

असारसंसारपरिभ्रमेण निपीड्यमानं खलु रोगशोकैः । मामुद्धरास्माद्भवदुःखजातात्पादाब्जयोस्ते शरणं प्रपन्नम्

asārasaṁsāraparibhrameṇa nipīḍyamānaṁ khalu rogaśokaiḥ māmuddharāsmādbhavaduḥkhajātātpādābjayoste śaraṇaṁ prapannam

Rescue me — utterly worn down by illness and grief through this wandering in a hollow, insubstantial world, come now to take refuge at your two lotus feet — from this mass of worldly suffering.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.48.34)

जैमिनिरुवाच । इति स्तुत्वा सुरेशानं देवं प्रणवरूपिणम् । प्रणतः प्रणवं मंत्रं जजाप पुरतो हरेः

jaiminiruvāca iti stutvā sureśānaṁ devaṁ praṇavarūpiṇam praṇataḥ praṇavaṁ maṁtraṁ jajāpa purato hareḥ

Jaimini said: Having thus praised the Lord of the gods, the god whose very form is the syllable Om, he bowed and repeated the Pranava mantra before Hari.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.48.35)

जपांते शांतमनसं कृतांजलिमुपस्थितम् । मन्यमानं कृतार्थं स्वं प्रोवाच शबरो द्विजम्

japāṁte śāṁtamanasaṁ kṛtāṁjalimupasthitam manyamānaṁ kṛtārthaṁ svaṁ provāca śabaro dvijam

When the recitation was done, the Shabara spoke to that brahmin, who stood there with joined palms, his mind at peace, deeming himself now fulfilled:

Verse 36 (skanda.2.48.36)

विश्वावसुरुवाच । कृतार्थस्त्वं प्रभुं दृष्ट्वा सांप्रतं द्विजपुंगव । दिनांतोऽभूद्गृहं यावः क्षुधितोऽसि श्रमान्वितः

viśvāvasuruvāca kṛtārthastvaṁ prabhuṁ dṛṣṭvā sāṁprataṁ dvijapuṁgava dināṁto'bhūdgṛhaṁ yāvaḥ kṣudhito'si śramānvitaḥ

Vishvavasu said: O foremost of the twice-born, having now beheld the Lord, you have attained fulfillment; the day is ending — let us go home. You are hungry and weary.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.48.37)

वासोऽप्यरण्ये हिंस्राणां नास्माकमुचिता स्थितिः । यावद्भानोर्भाति भासस्तावद्यामो निजालयम्

vāso'pyaraṇye hiṁsrāṇāṁ nāsmākamucitā sthitiḥ yāvadbhānorbhāti bhāsastāvadyāmo nijālayam

Nor is it fitting for us to remain in the forest among beasts of prey; while the sun's light still shines, let us make our way home.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.48.38)

इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणं पाणौ गृहीत्वा शबरः पुनः । आजगाम द्विजश्रेष्ठाः स्वाश्रमं त्वरयान्वितः

ityuktvā brāhmaṇaṁ pāṇau gṛhītvā śabaraḥ punaḥ ājagāma dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ svāśramaṁ tvarayānvitaḥ

So saying, O best of the twice-born, the Shabara took the brahmin by the hand once more, and hastened back toward his own dwelling.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.48.39)

ब्राह्मणोऽपि जगन्नाथं ध्यायन्नानंदसागरम् । क्षुत्तृषाश्रमजातानि दुःखानि बुबुधे न हि

brāhmaṇo'pi jagannāthaṁ dhyāyannānaṁdasāgaram kṣuttṛṣāśramajātāni duḥkhāni bubudhe na hi

The brahmin too, meditating on the Lord of the universe, that ocean of bliss, did not even perceive the pains of hunger, thirst, and fatigue.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.48.40)

शिलाविषममार्गेऽपि कंटकोत्करदुर्गमे । व्रजन्न दुःखं लेभेऽसौ शरीरानास्थया मुदा

śilāviṣamamārge'pi kaṁṭakotkaradurgame vrajanna duḥkhaṁ lebhe'sau śarīrānāsthayā mudā

Even walking that rugged, rock-strewn path, thick with heaps of thorns, he felt no distress at all, so joyfully indifferent had he become to his own body.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.48.41)

एवं व्रजंतौ तौ विप्र शबरौ शबरालयम् । सायाह्ने तमनुप्राप्तौ वैष्णवाग्र्यौ तु भो द्विजाः

evaṁ vrajaṁtau tau vipra śabarau śabarālayam sāyāhne tamanuprāptau vaiṣṇavāgryau tu bho dvijāḥ

O brahmins, thus proceeding, the two of them, brahmin and Shabara — both foremost among Vaishnavas — arrived at the Shabara's dwelling by evening.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.48.42)

तत्रातिथिमनुप्राप्तं ब्राह्मणं शबरोत्तमः । भक्ष्यभोज्य विधानैश्च विविधैः समपूजयत्

tatrātithimanuprāptaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ śabarottamaḥ bhakṣyabhojya vidhānaiśca vividhaiḥ samapūjayat

There the foremost of Shabaras honored his guest, the brahmin, with a variety of foods, both to be chewed and to be eaten.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.48.43)

ततोऽभितृप्तस्तद्दत्तैरुपचारैर्नृपोचितैः । विस्मयं परमं लेभे शबरस्य सुदुर्लभैः

tato'bhitṛptastaddattairupacārairnṛpocitaiḥ vismayaṁ paramaṁ lebhe śabarasya sudurlabhaiḥ

Then, fully satisfied by those hospitalities he had offered, fit for a king, he was struck with the greatest astonishment — such rare things, in the possession of a mere Shabara!

Verse 44 (skanda.2.48.44)

शबरोऽयं निवसति विषमे काननांतरे । आरण्यकैर्वर्त्तमानः कथमस्य गृहांतरे

śabaro'yaṁ nivasati viṣame kānanāṁtare āraṇyakairvarttamānaḥ kathamasya gṛhāṁtare

"This Shabara dwells deep within a rugged forest, subsisting on wild produce — how, then, within his very house,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.48.45)

राजार्हभक्ष्यभोज्यानि सुलभान्यद्भुतं महत् । इति विस्मयमापन्नं ब्राह्मणं शबरस्तदा

rājārhabhakṣyabhojyāni sulabhānyadbhutaṁ mahat iti vismayamāpannaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ śabarastadā

— are such foods, fit for a king, so readily available? This is truly a great wonder!" To the brahmin thus struck with astonishment, the Shabara then,

Verse 46 (skanda.2.48.46)

प्रोवाच स्निग्धवचसा विनयावनतो भृशम्

provāca snigdhavacasā vinayāvanato bhṛśam

bowing low in the utmost humility, spoke in a voice full of affection.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.48.47)

शबर उवाच । भो विप्र श्रमहीनोऽसि कच्चित्क्षुत्तृड्विवर्जितः । आरण्यकानां भवने नागराणां कुतः सुखम्

śabara uvāca bho vipra śramahīno'si kaccitkṣuttṛḍvivarjitaḥ āraṇyakānāṁ bhavane nāgarāṇāṁ kutaḥ sukham

The Shabara said: O brahmin, is your weariness now gone, are you free of hunger and thirst? How could city-dwellers like you find comfort in the dwelling of forest-folk like us?

Verse 48 (skanda.2.48.48)

अज्ञाता नागरी वृत्तिः शबरैस्तु विशेषतः । राजोपजीविनां श्रेष्ठौ राजामात्यपुरोहितौ

ajñātā nāgarī vṛttiḥ śabaraistu viśeṣataḥ rājopajīvināṁ śreṣṭhau rājāmātyapurohitau

The ways of city life are especially unknown to the Shabaras; foremost among those who depend upon a king are the king's minister and priest,

Verse 49 (skanda.2.48.49)

तयो राजसमः पूज्यः पुरोधाः शास्त्रसंमतः । इन्द्रद्युम्नो नरपतिः सार्वभौमः प्रतापवान्

tayo rājasamaḥ pūjyaḥ purodhāḥ śāstrasaṁmataḥ indradyumno narapatiḥ sārvabhaumaḥ pratāpavān

— and of the two, the priest is to be honored equally with the king, as the scriptures affirm. King Indradyumna, sovereign of the whole earth, mighty in valor,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.48.50)

त्वयि तुष्टे स संतुष्टो ध्रुवं विप्र भविष्यति । इत्युक्तवत्यरण्यस्थे स तु प्रीततरो द्विजः । उवाच शबरं प्रीत्या विनयाद्भुतवादिनम्

tvayi tuṣṭe sa saṁtuṣṭo dhruvaṁ vipra bhaviṣyati ityuktavatyaraṇyasthe sa tu prītataro dvijaḥ uvāca śabaraṁ prītyā vinayādbhutavādinam

— if you are pleased, O brahmin, he will surely be pleased too." When the forest-dwelling Shabara had spoken thus, that brahmin, greatly pleased, spoke with affection to the Shabara, who spoke with such wondrous humility —

Verse 51 (skanda.2.48.51)

विद्यापतिरुवाच । साधो मदुपचाराय हृतान्येतानि यानि ते । वस्तुन्यमानुषाणीह यान्यदृष्टानि राजभिः

vidyāpatiruvāca sādho madupacārāya hṛtānyetāni yāni te vastunyamānuṣāṇīha yānyadṛṣṭāni rājabhiḥ

Vidyapati said: O good man, these superhuman things which you have brought here for my entertainment, things which even kings have never beheld —

Verse 52 (skanda.2.48.52)

चित्रमेतद्दिव्यवस्तुसंचयः शबरालये । एतत्ख्यातुं कौतुकं मे साधो संवर्द्धते महत्

citrametaddivyavastusaṁcayaḥ śabarālaye etatkhyātuṁ kautukaṁ me sādho saṁvarddhate mahat

— it is astonishing that such a store of divine things exists in a Shabara's dwelling! O good man, my curiosity to know the reason grows ever greater.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.48.53)

शबर उवाच । एतत्प्रकाशितुं विप्र मतिर्नोत्सहते मम । तथापि ते द्विजश्रेष्ठाऽतिथिभक्त्या वदाम्यहम्

śabara uvāca etatprakāśituṁ vipra matirnotsahate mama tathāpi te dvijaśreṣṭhā'tithibhaktyā vadāmyaham

The Shabara said: O brahmin, my mind is reluctant to reveal this; yet still, O best of the twice-born, out of devotion to my guest, I shall tell you.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.48.54)

शक्रादयो देवगणाः समायान्त्यन्वहं द्विज । दिव्योपचारानादाय पूजनाय जगत्पतेः

śakrādayo devagaṇāḥ samāyāntyanvahaṁ dvija divyopacārānādāya pūjanāya jagatpateḥ

O twice-born one, Indra and the other gods come here every day, bringing divine offerings, to worship the Lord of the universe.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.48.55)

पूजयित्वा जगन्नाथं स्तुत्वा नत्वा च भक्तितः । गीतशवादित्रनृत्यैश्च संतोष्य पुरुषोत्तमम्

pūjayitvā jagannāthaṁ stutvā natvā ca bhaktitaḥ gītaśavāditranṛtyaiśca saṁtoṣya puruṣottamam

Having worshipped the Lord of the universe, having praised and bowed to him with devotion, and having gratified Purushottama with song, music, and dance,

Verse 56 (skanda.2.48.56)

पुनः प्रयांति सततं त्रिदिवं सुरसत्तमाः । दिव्यान्येतानि वस्तूनि निर्माल्यानि जगत्पतेः

punaḥ prayāṁti satataṁ tridivaṁ surasattamāḥ divyānyetāni vastūni nirmālyāni jagatpateḥ

those foremost of gods return again, ceaselessly, to heaven. All these divine things you see are the leftover offerings of the Lord of the universe,

Verse 57 (skanda.2.48.57)

दत्तानि तुभ्यं विदुषे कथं विस्मयते भवान् । विष्णोर्निर्माल्यभोगेन क्षीणरोगजरा वयम्

dattāni tubhyaṁ viduṣe kathaṁ vismayate bhavān viṣṇornirmālyabhogena kṣīṇarogajarā vayam

given to you, O learned one — why then do you marvel? By partaking of Vishnu's leftover offerings, we ourselves are free from the wasting of disease and old age.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.48.58)

सपुत्रबांधवाः सर्वे निवसामोऽयुतायुषः । विष्णुनिर्माल्यभोगेन क्षीयते पापसंहतिः

saputrabāṁdhavāḥ sarve nivasāmo'yutāyuṣaḥ viṣṇunirmālyabhogena kṣīyate pāpasaṁhatiḥ

All of us, together with our sons and kinsmen, live for ten thousand years; and by partaking of Vishnu's leftover offerings the mass of our sins is also worn away.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.48.59)

न तच्चित्रं द्विजश्रेष्ठ येन स्यान्मुक्तिभाजनम् । श्रुत्वैतद्दुर्लभं कर्म ब्राह्मणो रोमहर्षणः

na taccitraṁ dvijaśreṣṭha yena syānmuktibhājanam śrutvaitaddurlabhaṁ karma brāhmaṇo romaharṣaṇaḥ

O best of the twice-born, it is no wonder, then, that this should even make one fit for liberation." Hearing this rare account, the brahmin's hair stood on end with wonder,

Verse 60 (skanda.2.48.60)

आनंदाश्रुविलुप्ताक्षः स्वं कृतार्थममन्यत । अहो शबरजन्मासौ पश्यत्यव्ययमीश्वरम्

ānaṁdāśruviluptākṣaḥ svaṁ kṛtārthamamanyata aho śabarajanmāsau paśyatyavyayamīśvaram

his eyes veiled with tears of joy, and he counted himself blessed. "Ah! Though born a Shabara, this man beholds the imperishable Lord,

Verse 61 (skanda.2.48.61)

तदुच्छिष्टं दिव्यभोगमुपभुंक्ते दिवानिशम् । नान्योऽस्य सदृशो लोके पृथिव्यां सचराचरे

taducchiṣṭaṁ divyabhogamupabhuṁkte divāniśam nānyo'sya sadṛśo loke pṛthivyāṁ sacarācare

and, day and night, partakes of the remnants of his divine repast; there is none other like him in all this moving and unmoving world upon earth.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.48.62)

यादृशो विष्णुभक्तोऽयं शबरो नीलपर्वते । किं गत्वा स्वगृहे मेऽद्य कुटुंबेनाऽसुखात्मना

yādṛśo viṣṇubhakto'yaṁ śabaro nīlaparvate kiṁ gatvā svagṛhe me'dya kuṭuṁbenā'sukhātmanā

Such a devotee of Vishnu is this Shabara upon the Blue Mountain — what shall I gain by going back today to my own home, to a family whose life brings no true happiness?

Verse 63 (skanda.2.48.63)

अनेन सख्यं निष्पाद्य स्थास्याम्यत्र वनांतरे । चिन्तयित्वा चिरं विप्रः श्रीकृष्णासक्तमानसः

anena sakhyaṁ niṣpādya sthāsyāmyatra vanāṁtare cintayitvā ciraṁ vipraḥ śrīkṛṣṇāsaktamānasaḥ

I shall make friends with him and remain here in this forest itself." Thus, his mind fixed upon Shri Krishna, the brahmin, after long reflection,

Verse 64 (skanda.2.48.64)

पुनः प्रोवाच शबरं मयि ते चेदनुग्रहः । साधो सख्यं त्वया कार्यमिति मे निश्चयो महान्

punaḥ provāca śabaraṁ mayi te cedanugrahaḥ sādho sakhyaṁ tvayā kāryamiti me niścayo mahān

spoke again to the Shabara: "If you have any grace toward me, O good man, then it is my firm resolve to make friendship with you.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.48.65)

किं गत्वा सेवया राज्ञः परत्रासुखहेतुना । अत्र स्थित्वा त्वया सार्धमुपास्य मधुसूदनम्

kiṁ gatvā sevayā rājñaḥ paratrāsukhahetunā atra sthitvā tvayā sārdhamupāsya madhusūdanam

What use is it to me to go back and serve a king, in a service that brings no happiness even in the world to come? Better to remain here, worshipping Madhusudana together with you,

Verse 66 (skanda.2.48.66)

यथा पुनर्देहबंधो यतिष्ये न भवेन्मम । साधु मित्र त्वया सार्द्धं भाग्यान्मे संगमोऽभवत्

yathā punardehabaṁdho yatiṣye na bhavenmama sādhu mitra tvayā sārddhaṁ bhāgyānme saṁgamo'bhavat

— so that I may strive never again to fall into the bondage of another body. O friend, it is by good fortune that this meeting of ours has come about, and a most excellent thing it is.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.48.67)

दुस्तारं भवसंसारं तरिष्ये त्वत्प्रसादतः । सारमेतत्प्रशंसंति संसारे भवसागरे

dustāraṁ bhavasaṁsāraṁ tariṣye tvatprasādataḥ sārametatpraśaṁsaṁti saṁsāre bhavasāgare

By your grace I shall cross this well-nigh impassable cycle of worldly existence. This alone, they say, is the true essence in this ocean of existence —

Verse 68 (skanda.2.48.68)

यद्वैष्णवेन मित्रत्वं दुःखसंसारपारदम् । मित्रस्य सहवासेन पुनः प्रत्यक्षमेष्यति

yadvaiṣṇavena mitratvaṁ duḥkhasaṁsārapāradam mitrasya sahavāsena punaḥ pratyakṣameṣyati

friendship with a devotee of Vishnu, which carries one across this sorrowful existence. Through the company of a friend, he will surely become manifest again,

Verse 69 (skanda.2.48.69)

भगवान्पुण्डरीकाक्षः शंखचक्रगदाधरः । इंद्रद्युम्नो नरपतिर्मयि प्रत्यागते सखे

bhagavānpuṇḍarīkākṣaḥ śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ iṁdradyumno narapatirmayi pratyāgate sakhe

— that lotus-eyed Lord, bearer of conch, discus, and mace. O friend, when King Indradyumna, upon my return,

Verse 70 (skanda.2.48.70)

भगवंतं समाराद्धुमिहैव स निवत्स्यति । प्रासादं विपुलं चात्र चिकीर्षुर्भगवत्प्रियम्

bhagavaṁtaṁ samārāddhumihaiva sa nivatsyati prāsādaṁ vipulaṁ cātra cikīrṣurbhagavatpriyam

comes here to reside, to worship the Lord — he will wish to build a vast temple here, pleasing to the Lord,

Verse 71 (skanda.2.48.71)

सहस्रमुपचाराणां पूजनाय जगत्पतेः । रचयिष्यामीति महत्प्रतिज्ञासीन्महीपतेः

sahasramupacārāṇāṁ pūjanāya jagatpateḥ racayiṣyāmīti mahatpratijñāsīnmahīpateḥ

and shall arrange a thousand rites of service for the worship of the Lord of the universe — this was the great vow that king had made,

Verse 72 (skanda.2.48.72)

प्रतिश्रुतं तत्पुरतः प्रीतस्तन्मेऽनुमन्यताम्

pratiśrutaṁ tatpurataḥ prītastanme'numanyatām

made as a promise before him; be pleased, O friend, and give your consent to this."

Verse 73 (skanda.2.48.73)

शबर उवाच । सखे पुरातनी वार्त्ता प्रसिद्धैवात्र तादृशी

śabara uvāca sakhe purātanī vārttā prasiddhaivātra tādṛśī

The Shabara said: O friend, an old tradition to just that effect is already well known here —

Verse 74 (skanda.2.48.74)

त्वया यथैव कथितं इन्द्रद्युम्नसमागमः । केवलं माधवं तत्र न द्रक्ष्यति महीपतिः

tvayā yathaiva kathitaṁ indradyumnasamāgamaḥ kevalaṁ mādhavaṁ tatra na drakṣyati mahīpatiḥ

just as you have said, King Indradyumna will indeed come; but the king will not, on his arrival, behold Madhava himself,

Verse 75 (skanda.2.48.75)

अचिरादेव भगवान्स्वर्णवालुकयावृतः । प्रतिजज्ञे यमायैतदन्तर्द्धानं गमिष्यति

acirādeva bhagavānsvarṇavālukayāvṛtaḥ pratijajñe yamāyaitadantarddhānaṁ gamiṣyati

for the Lord, covered soon by golden sand, will himself vanish — this he has already promised to Yama.

Verse 76 (skanda.2.48.76)

महाभाग्यपरीपाकात्प्रत्यक्षोऽयं त्वया कृतः । इन्द्रद्युम्नागमाभ्यासे ध्रुवं स व्यवधास्यति

mahābhāgyaparīpākātpratyakṣo'yaṁ tvayā kṛtaḥ indradyumnāgamābhyāse dhruvaṁ sa vyavadhāsyati

It was only through the ripening of great merit that you have beheld him directly; as Indradyumna's arrival draws near, he will surely conceal himself.

Verse 77 (skanda.2.48.77)

एषोऽर्थस्तु त्वया मित्र न वक्तव्यो नृपाग्रतः । आगत्य सोऽत्र नृपतिरदृष्ट्वा परमेश्वरम्

eṣo'rthastu tvayā mitra na vaktavyo nṛpāgrataḥ āgatya so'tra nṛpatiradṛṣṭvā parameśvaram

But this matter, O friend, you must not speak of before the king. When that king comes here and, failing to see the Supreme Lord,

Verse 78 (skanda.2.48.78)

प्रायोपवेशव्रतवान्स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा गदाधरम् । तदादेशाद्दारुमयं प्रभोर्लिंगचतुष्टयम्

prāyopaveśavratavānsvapne dṛṣṭvā gadādharam tadādeśāddārumayaṁ prabhorliṁgacatuṣṭayam

takes the vow of fasting unto death, he will behold the Wielder of the Mace in a dream, and, by his very command, will establish

Verse 79 (skanda.2.48.79)

पूजयिष्यति भक्त्या च प्रतिष्ठाय स्वयंभुवा । स्थितिरत्र हरेर्यावदावयोर्वंशसंस्थितिः

pūjayiṣyati bhaktyā ca pratiṣṭhāya svayaṁbhuvā sthitiratra hareryāvadāvayorvaṁśasaṁsthitiḥ

the four wooden images of the Lord and worship them with devotion. Hari's presence here will endure for as long as our two lineages continue to dwell here.

Verse 80 (skanda.2.48.80)

अनुग्रहाद्भगवतो नात्र कार्या विचारणा । तदत्रार्थे सखे खेदं मा व्रज क्षिप्रमेव हि

anugrahādbhagavato nātra kāryā vicāraṇā tadatrārthe sakhe khedaṁ mā vraja kṣiprameva hi

By the Lord's own grace, there is no need to doubt this at all. So, O friend, do not grieve over this matter, and quickly so;

Verse 81 (skanda.2.48.81)

निर्वर्त्स्यतेऽचिरादेव मित्रेदानीं सुखं स्वप । प्रातर्दृष्ट्वा पुनर्देवं नीलेन्द्राश्ममयं विभुम्

nirvartsyate'cirādeva mitredānīṁ sukhaṁ svapa prātardṛṣṭvā punardevaṁ nīlendrāśmamayaṁ vibhum

this will soon come to pass, O friend — sleep peacefully now. Tomorrow morning, after beholding once more that all-pervading Lord fashioned of blue sapphire,

Verse 82 (skanda.2.48.82)

सिंधौ स्नात्वा तस्य तटे निवासाय महीपतेः । द्रक्ष्यामः साधु संस्थानं यथाभिलषितं सखे

siṁdhau snātvā tasya taṭe nivāsāya mahīpateḥ drakṣyāmaḥ sādhu saṁsthānaṁ yathābhilaṣitaṁ sakhe

and bathing in the sea, we shall look, upon its shore, O friend, for a fitting place for the king's residence, exactly as we desire.

Verse 83 (skanda.2.48.83)

इत्यन्याश्च कथाः पुण्याः कृत्वा तौ च परस्परम् । शुभस्थाने चास्वपतां शयने पल्लवास्तृते

ityanyāśca kathāḥ puṇyāḥ kṛtvā tau ca parasparam śubhasthāne cāsvapatāṁ śayane pallavāstṛte

Thus, exchanging many other holy tales between them, the two lay down to sleep in an auspicious place, on a bed strewn with leaves.

Verse 84 (skanda.2.48.84)

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां तीर्थराजोदकेन तौ । स्नानं निर्वर्त्य विधिवन्माधवं प्रणिपत्य च

prabhātāyāṁ tu śarvaryāṁ tīrtharājodakena tau snānaṁ nirvartya vidhivanmādhavaṁ praṇipatya ca

When the night had given way to dawn, the two of them duly bathed in the waters of the King of sacred fords, and, having bowed to Madhava,

Verse 85 (skanda.2.48.85)

राजार्हस्थानं निर्णीय निवासाय गतौ पुनः । तत्र मित्रेणाभिमन्त्र्य राज्ञो निर्देशकारणात्

rājārhasthānaṁ nirṇīya nivāsāya gatau punaḥ tatra mitreṇābhimantrya rājño nirdeśakāraṇāt

determined a place fit for the king's residence, and then returned. There, having taken counsel with his friend, for the purpose of bringing word to the king,

Verse 86 (skanda.2.48.86)

रथमारुह्य विप्रः स त्ववंतीपुरमाययौ

rathamāruhya vipraḥ sa tvavaṁtīpuramāyayau

the brahmin mounted his chariot and made his way back to the city of Avanti.