Description of the Realm of the Seven Sages

Verse 1 (skanda.4.18.1)

अगस्तिरुवाच। इति शृण्वन्कथां रम्यां शिवशर्माऽथ माथुरः। मुक्तिपुर्यां सुसंस्नातो मायापुर्यां गतासुकः

agastiruvāca iti śṛṇvankathāṁ ramyāṁ śivaśarmā'tha māthuraḥ muktipuryāṁ susaṁsnāto māyāpuryāṁ gatāsukaḥ

Agasti said: Thus listening to the delightful tale, Shivasharma, the man of Mathura, well-bathed in the city of liberation, Mayapuri, with his very life-breath given over in devotion...

Verse 2 (skanda.4.18.2)

नेत्रयोः प्राघुणी चक्रे ततः सप्तर्षिमंडलम्। व्रजन्स वैष्णवं लोकमंते विष्णुपुरीक्षणात्

netrayoḥ prāghuṇī cakre tataḥ saptarṣimaṁḍalam vrajansa vaiṣṇavaṁ lokamaṁte viṣṇupurīkṣaṇāt

...then had the constellation of the seven sages become a guest before his eyes, as he journeyed toward the Vaishnava world, at the end, upon beholding the city of Vishnu.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.18.3)

उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा स्तुतश्चारणमागधैः। प्रार्थितो देवकन्याभिस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चक्षणम्

uvāca ca prasannātmā stutaścāraṇamāgadhaiḥ prārthito devakanyābhistiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cakṣaṇam

And, with a pleased soul, praised by charanas and magadhas, celestial bards, he was entreated by the daughters of the gods, saying, 'Stay, stay, for a moment.'

Verse 4 (skanda.4.18.4)

स्थिता सुतासु निःश्वसस्य मंदभाग्या वयं त्विति। गतः पुण्यतमाँल्लोकानसौ यत्पुण्यवत्तमः

sthitā sutāsu niḥśvasasya maṁdabhāgyā vayaṁ tviti gataḥ puṇyatamā~llokānasau yatpuṇyavattamaḥ

The daughters said: 'We remain here, sighing, unfortunate as we are, while he, most meritorious of all, has gone on to the most blessed worlds.'

Verse 5 (skanda.4.18.5)

इति शृणवन्मुखात्तासां वचनानि विमानगः। देवौ कस्यायमतुलो लोकस्तेजोमयः शुभः

iti śṛṇavanmukhāttāsāṁ vacanāni vimānagaḥ devau kasyāyamatulo lokastejomayaḥ śubhaḥ

Hearing these words from their own mouths, he, traveling in the aerial chariot, asked: 'O you two divine ones, whose is this incomparable, radiant, auspicious world?'

Verse 6 (skanda.4.18.6)

इति द्विजवचः श्रुत्वा प्रोचतुर्गणसत्तमौ। शिवशर्मञ्छिवमते सदा सप्तर्षयोमलाः

iti dvijavacaḥ śrutvā procaturgaṇasattamau śivaśarmañchivamate sadā saptarṣayomalāḥ

Hearing the brahmin's words, the two best of ganas said: 'O Shivasharma, of a mind ever fixed on Shiva -- these seven immaculate sages...'

Verse 7 (skanda.4.18.7)

वसंतीह प्रजाः स्रष्टुं विनियुक्ताः प्रजासृजा। मरीचिरत्रिः पुलहः पुलस्त्यः क्रतुरङ्गिराः

vasaṁtīha prajāḥ sraṣṭuṁ viniyuktāḥ prajāsṛjā marīciratriḥ pulahaḥ pulastyaḥ kraturaṅgirāḥ

'...dwell here, appointed by the Creator of beings to create progeny: Marichi, Atri, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, and Angiras...'

Verse 8 (skanda.4.18.8)

वसिष्ठश्च महाभागो ब्रह्मणो मानसाः सुताः। सप्त ब्रह्माण इत्येते पुराणे निश्चयं गताः

vasiṣṭhaśca mahābhāgo brahmaṇo mānasāḥ sutāḥ sapta brahmāṇa ityete purāṇe niścayaṁ gatāḥ

'...and the illustrious Vasishtha -- the mind-born sons of Brahma; these seven are established in the Puranas by the name of the Seven Brahmas.'

Verse 9 (skanda.4.18.9)

संभूतिरनसूया च क्षमा प्रीतिश्च सन्नतिः। स्मृतिरूर्जा क्रमादेषां पत्न्यो लोकस्य मातरः

saṁbhūtiranasūyā ca kṣamā prītiśca sannatiḥ smṛtirūrjā kramādeṣāṁ patnyo lokasya mātaraḥ

'Sambhuti, Anasuya, Kshama, Priti, Sannati, Smriti, and Urja are, in order, their wives, the mothers of the world.'

Verse 10 (skanda.4.18.10)

एतेषां तपसा चैतद्धार्यते भुवनत्रयम्। उत्पाद्य ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमेते प्रोक्ता महर्षयः

eteṣāṁ tapasā caitaddhāryate bhuvanatrayam utpādya brahmaṇā pūrvamete proktā maharṣayaḥ

'By the austerity of these very sages, this triple world is sustained. Having brought them forth, Brahma of old spoke to these great sages, thus proclaimed:'

Verse 11 (skanda.4.18.11)

प्रजाः सृजत रे पुत्रा नानारूपाः प्रयत्नतः। ततः प्रणम्य ब्रह्माणं तपसे कृतनिश्चयाः

prajāḥ sṛjata re putrā nānārūpāḥ prayatnataḥ tataḥ praṇamya brahmāṇaṁ tapase kṛtaniścayāḥ

'"Create progeny, O my sons, of manifold forms, with diligence." Then, having bowed to Brahma, resolved upon austerity...'

Verse 12 (skanda.4.18.12)

अविमुक्तं समासाद्य क्षेत्रंक्षेत्रज्ञधिष्ठितम्। मुक्तये सर्वजंतूनामविमुक्तं शिवेन यत्

avimuktaṁ samāsādya kṣetraṁkṣetrajñadhiṣṭhitam muktaye sarvajaṁtūnāmavimuktaṁ śivena yat

'...they came to Avimukta, the field presided over by the Knower of the Field, Shiva, which is never abandoned by Shiva, for the liberation of all beings.'

Verse 13 (skanda.4.18.13)

प्रतिष्ठाप्य च लिंगानि ते स्वनाम्नांकितानि च। शिवेति परया भक्त्या तेपुरुग्रं तपो भृशम

pratiṣṭhāpya ca liṁgāni te svanāmnāṁkitāni ca śiveti parayā bhaktyā tepurugraṁ tapo bhṛśama

'Having established lingas, marked with their own names, they performed exceedingly fierce austerity, with supreme devotion, invoking the name "Shiva".'

Verse 14 (skanda.4.18.14)

तुष्टस्तत्तपसा शंभुः प्राजापत्यपदं ददौ। लिंगान्यत्रीश्वरादीनि दृष्ट्वा काश्यां प्रयत्नतः

tuṣṭastattapasā śaṁbhuḥ prājāpatyapadaṁ dadau liṁgānyatrīśvarādīni dṛṣṭvā kāśyāṁ prayatnataḥ

'Shambhu, pleased by that austerity, granted them the station of Prajapatis. Having diligently beheld the lingas -- Atrishvara and the rest -- in Kashi...'

Verse 15 (skanda.4.18.15)

प्राजापत्येऽत्र ते लोके वसंत्युज्ज्वलतेजसः। गोकर्णेशस्य सरसः प्रत्यक्तीरे प्रतिष्ठितम्

prājāpatye'tra te loke vasaṁtyujjvalatejasaḥ gokarṇeśasya sarasaḥ pratyaktīre pratiṣṭhitam

'...they, of blazing splendor, dwell in this Prajapatya world. This linga is established on the western bank of Gokarnesha's lake.'

Verse 16 (skanda.4.18.16)

लिंगमत्रीश्वरं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मतेजोभिवर्धते। कर्कोट वाप्या ईशाने मरीचेः कुंडमुत्तमम्

liṁgamatrīśvaraṁ dṛṣṭvā brahmatejobhivardhate karkoṭa vāpyā īśāne marīceḥ kuṁḍamuttamam

'Having beheld the linga Atrishvara, one's brahminical splendor increases. To the northeast of Karkota step-well is the excellent pool of Marichi.'

Verse 17 (skanda.4.18.17)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्त्या भ्राजते भास्करो यथा। मरीचीश्वर संज्ञं तु तत्र लिंगं प्रतिष्ठितम्

tatra snātvā naro bhakttyā bhrājate bhāskaro yathā marīcīśvara saṁjñaṁ tu tatra liṁgaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

'Having bathed there with devotion, a man shines forth like the sun. There, the linga named Marichishvara is established.'

Verse 18 (skanda.4.18.18)

तल्लिंगदर्शनाद्विप्र मारीचं लोकमाप्नुयात्। कांत्या मरीचिमालीव शोभते पुरुषर्षभः

talliṁgadarśanādvipra mārīcaṁ lokamāpnuyāt kāṁtyā marīcimālīva śobhate puruṣarṣabhaḥ

'By the sight of that linga, O brahmin, one attains the world of Marichi; that foremost of men shines with splendor like the sun.'

Verse 19 (skanda.4.18.19)

पुलहेश पुलस्त्येशौ स्वर्गद्वारस्य पश्चिमे। तौ दृष्ट्वा मनुजो लोके प्राजापत्ये महीयते

pulaheśa pulastyeśau svargadvārasya paścime tau dṛṣṭvā manujo loke prājāpatye mahīyate

'Pulahesha and Pulastyesha stand to the west of Svargadvara; having beheld the two, a man is exalted in the Prajapatya world.'

Verse 20 (skanda.4.18.20)

हरिकेशवने रम्ये दृष्ट्वैवांगिरसेश्वरम्। इह लोके वसेद्विप्र तेजसापरिबृंहितः

harikeśavane ramye dṛṣṭvaivāṁgiraseśvaram iha loke vasedvipra tejasāparibṛṁhitaḥ

'Having beheld Angiraseshvara in the delightful Harikeshavana, one dwells in this world, O brahmin, augmented with splendor.'

Verse 21 (skanda.4.18.21)

वरणायास्तटे रम्ये दृष्ट्वा वासिष्ठमीश्वम्। क्रत्वीश्वरं च तत्रैव लभते वसतिं त्विह

varaṇāyāstaṭe ramye dṛṣṭvā vāsiṣṭhamīśvam kratvīśvaraṁ ca tatraiva labhate vasatiṁ tviha

'Having beheld Vasishtheshvara on the delightful bank of the Varana, and Kratvishvara there too, one obtains dwelling here.'

Verse 22 (skanda.4.18.22)

काश्यामेतानि लिंगानि सेवितानि शुभैषिभिः। मनोभिवांछितं दद्युरिह लोके परत्र च

kāśyāmetāni liṁgāni sevitāni śubhaiṣibhiḥ manobhivāṁchitaṁ dadyuriha loke paratra ca

'These lingas in Kashi, served by those who seek their own well-being, grant the heart's desire, both here and hereafter.'

Verse 23 (skanda.4.18.23)

गणावूचतुः। शिवशर्मन्महाभाग तिष्ठते सात्र सुंदरी। अरुंधती महापुण्या पतिव्रतपरायणा

gaṇāvūcatuḥ śivaśarmanmahābhāga tiṣṭhate sātra suṁdarī aruṁdhatī mahāpuṇyā pativrataparāyaṇā

The two ganas said: O Shivasharma, illustrious one, here too dwells that beautiful, greatly meritorious Arundhati, devoted wholly to her vow as a chaste wife.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.18.24)

यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण गंगास्नान फलं लभेत्। अंतःपुरचरैर्द्वित्रैः पवित्रैः सहितो विभुः

yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa gaṁgāsnāna phalaṁ labhet aṁtaḥpuracarairdvitraiḥ pavitraiḥ sahito vibhuḥ

By the mere remembrance of whom one obtains the fruit of bathing in the Ganga. The Lord Vishnu, together with two or three pure attendants of his inner chamber...

Verse 25 (skanda.4.18.25)

सदा नारायणो देवो यस्याश्चक्रे कथां मुदा। कमलायाः पुरोभागे पातिव्रत्य सुतोषितः

sadā nārāyaṇo devo yasyāścakre kathāṁ mudā kamalāyāḥ purobhāge pātivratya sutoṣitaḥ

...the god Narayana always, gladly, tells her story, delighted by her chastity, before Kamala, Lakshmi.

Verse 26 (skanda.4.18.26)

पतिव्रतास्वरुंधत्याः कमले विमलाशयः। यथास्ति न तथाऽन्यस्याः कस्याश्चित्कापि भामिनि

pativratāsvaruṁdhatyāḥ kamale vimalāśayaḥ yathāsti na tathā'nyasyāḥ kasyāścitkāpi bhāmini

'O Kamala, of stainless heart, among chaste women, whatever excellence exists in Arundhati is not to be found, to that degree, in any other woman anywhere, O lady.'

Verse 27 (skanda.4.18.27)

न तद्रूपं न तच्छीलं न तत्कौलीन्यमेव च। न तत्कलासुकौशल्यं पत्युः शुश्रूषणं न तत्

na tadrūpaṁ na tacchīlaṁ na tatkaulīnyameva ca na tatkalāsukauśalyaṁ patyuḥ śuśrūṣaṇaṁ na tat

'Not that beauty, not that character, not that nobility of lineage, not that skill in the arts, not that devoted service to her husband...'

Verse 28 (skanda.4.18.28)

न माधुर्यं न गांभीर्यं न चार्यपरितोषणम्। अरुंधत्या यथा देवि तथाऽन्यासां क्वचित्प्रिये

na mādhuryaṁ na gāṁbhīryaṁ na cāryaparitoṣaṇam aruṁdhatyā yathā devi tathā'nyāsāṁ kvacitpriye

'...not that sweetness, not that dignity, not that gladdening of elders -- as is found in Arundhati, O goddess, so it is nowhere found in any other, O beloved.'

Verse 29 (skanda.4.18.29)

धन्यास्ता योषितो लोके सभाग्याः शुद्धबुद्धयः। अरुंधत्याः प्रसंगे या नामापि परिगृह्णते

dhanyāstā yoṣito loke sabhāgyāḥ śuddhabuddhayaḥ aruṁdhatyāḥ prasaṁge yā nāmāpi parigṛhṇate

'Blessed indeed, and fortunate, and pure of mind, are those women in this world who, even in the mere mention of Arundhati, take up her very name.'

Verse 30 (skanda.4.18.30)

यदा पतिव्रतानां तु कथास्मद्भवने भवेत्। तदा प्राथमिकीं रेखामेषाऽलंकुरुते सती

yadā pativratānāṁ tu kathāsmadbhavane bhavet tadā prāthamikīṁ rekhāmeṣā'laṁkurute satī

'Whenever a discourse on chaste women takes place in our own abode, this virtuous woman adorns the very first line, heading the list.'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.18.31)

ब्रुवतोरिति संकथां तथा गणयोर्वैष्णवयोर्मुदावहाम्। ध्रुवलोकउपागतस्ततो नयनातिथ्यमतथ्यवर्जितः

bruvatoriti saṁkathāṁ tathā gaṇayorvaiṣṇavayormudāvahām dhruvalokaupāgatastato nayanātithyamatathyavarjitaḥ

As the two Vaishnava ganas were telling this joyful tale, the world of Dhruva was then reached, becoming, in truth and without falsehood, a guest before his eyes.