Third Skandha · Chapter 3
Sourceब्रह्मोवाच विमानं तन्मनोवेगं यत्र स्थानान्तरे गतम् । न जलं तत्र पश्यामो विस्मिताः स्मो वयं तदा ॥ १ ॥ वृक्षाः सर्वफला रम्याः कोकिलारावमण्डिताः । मही महीधराः कामं वनान्युपवनानि च ॥ २ ॥ नार्यश्च पुरुषाश्चैव पशवश्च सरिद्वराः । वाप्यः कूपास्तडागाश्च पल्वलानि च निर्झराः ॥ ३ ॥ पुरतो नगरं रम्यं दिव्यप्राकारमण्डितम् । यज्ञशालासमायुक्तं नानाहर्म्यविराजितम् ॥ ४ ॥ प्रत्यभिज्ञा तदा जाताप्यस्माकं प्रेक्ष्य तत्पुरम् । स्वर्गोऽयमिति केनासौ निर्मितोस्ति तदाद्भुतम् ॥ ५ ॥ राजानं देवसङ्काशं व्रजन्तं मृगयां वने । अस्माभिः संस्थिता दृष्टा विमानोपरि चाम्बिका ॥ ६ ॥ क्षणाच्चचाल गगने विमानं पवनेरितम् । मुहूर्ताद्वा ततः प्राप्तं देशे चान्ये मनोहरे ॥ ७ ॥ नन्दनं च वनं तत्र दृष्टमस्माभिरुत्तमम् । पारिजाततरुच्छायासंश्रिता सुरभिः स्थिता ॥ ८ ॥ चतुर्दन्तो गजस्तस्याः समीपे समवस्थितः । अप्सरसां तत्र वृन्दानि मेनकाप्रभृतीनि च ॥ ९ ॥ क्रीडन्ति विविधैर्भावैर्गाननृत्यसमन्वितैः । गन्धर्वाः शतशस्तत्र यक्षा विद्याधरास्तथा ॥ १० ॥ मन्दारवाटिकामध्ये गायन्ति च रमन्ति च दृष्टः शतक्रतुस्तत्र पौलोम्या सहितः प्रभुः ॥ ११ ॥ वयं तु विस्मिताश्चास्म दृष्ट्वा त्रैविष्टपं तदा । यादःपतिं कुबेरं च यमं सूर्यं विभावसुम् ॥ १२ ॥ विलोक्य विस्मिताश्चास्म वयं तत्र सुरान्स्थितान् । तदा विनिर्गतो राजा पुरात्तस्मात्सुमण्डितात् ॥ १३ ॥ देवराज इवाक्षोभ्यो नरवाह्यावनौ स्थितः । विमानस्था वयं तच्च चचाल तरसागतम् ॥ १४ ॥ ब्रह्मलोकं तदा दिव्यं सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम् । तत्र ब्रह्माणमालोक्य विस्मितौ हरकेशवौ ॥ १५ ॥ सभायां तत्र वेदाश्च सर्वे साङ्गाः स्वरूपिणः । सागराः सरितश्चैव पर्वताः पन्नगोरगाः ॥ १६ ॥ मामूचतुश्चतुर्वक्त्रः कोऽयं ब्रह्मा सनातनः । ताववोचमहं नैव जाने सृष्टिपतिं पतिम् ॥ १७ ॥ कोऽहं कोऽयं किमर्थं वा भ्रमोऽयं मम चेश्वरौ । क्षणादथ विमानं तच्चचालाशु मनोजवम् ॥ १८ ॥ कैलासशिखरे प्राप्तं रम्ये यक्षगणान्विते । मन्दारवाटिकारम्ये कीरकोकिलकूजिते ॥ १९ ॥ वीणामुरजवाद्यैश्च नादिते सुखदे शिवे । यदा प्राप्तं विमानं तत्तदैव सदनाच्छुभात् ॥ २० ॥ निर्गतो भगवाञ्छम्भुर्वृषारूढस्त्रिलोचनः । पञ्चाननो दशभुजः कृतसोमार्धशेखरः ॥ २१ ॥ व्याघ्रचर्मपरीधानो गजचर्मोत्तरीयकः । पार्ष्णिरक्षौ महावीरौ गजाननषडाननौ ॥ २२ ॥ शिवेन सह पुत्रौ द्वौ व्रजमानौ विरेजतुः । नन्दिप्रभृतयः सर्वे गणपाश्च वराश्च ते ॥ २३ ॥ जयशब्दं प्रयुञ्जाना व्रजन्ति शिवपृष्ठगाः । तं वीक्ष्य शङ्करं चान्यं विस्मितास्तत्र नारद ॥ २४ ॥ मातृभिः संशयाविष्टस्तत्राहं न्यवसं मुने । क्षणात्तस्माद्गिरेः शृङ्गाद्विमानं वातरंहसा ॥ २५ ॥ वैकुण्ठसदनं प्राप्तं रमारमणमन्दिरम् । असम्भाव्या विभूतिश्च तत्र दृष्टा मया सुत ॥ २६ ॥ विसिष्मिये तदा विष्णुर्दृष्ट्वा तत्पुरमुत्तमम् । सदनाग्रे ययौ तावद्धरिः कमललोचनः ॥ २७ ॥ अतसीकुसुमाभासः पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः । द्विजराजाधिरूढश्च दिव्याभरणभूषितः ॥ २८ ॥ वीज्यमानस्तदा लक्ष्म्या कामिन्या चामरैः शुभैः । तं वीक्ष्य विस्मिताः सर्वे वयं विष्णुं सनातनम् ॥ २९ ॥ परस्परं निरीक्षन्तः स्थितास्तस्मिन् वरासने । ततश्चचाल तरसा विमानं वातरंहसा ॥ ३० ॥ सुधासमुद्रः सम्प्राप्तौ मिष्टवारिमहोर्मिमान् । यादोगणसमाकीर्णश्चलद्वीचिविराजितः ॥ ३१ ॥ मन्दारपारिजाताद्यैः पादपैरतिशोभितः । नानास्तरणसंयुक्तो नानाचित्रविचित्रितः ॥ ३२ ॥ मुक्तादामपरिक्लिष्टो नानादामविराजितः । अशोकबकुलाख्यैश्च वृक्षैः कुरुबकादिभिः ॥ ३३ ॥ संवृतः सर्वतः सौम्यैः केतकीचम्पकैर्वृतः । कोकिलारावसङ्घुष्टो दिव्यगन्धसमन्वितः ॥ ३४ ॥ द्विरेफातिरणत्कारैरञ्जितः परमाद्भुतः । तस्मिन्द्वीपे शिवाकारः पर्यङ्कः सुमनोहरः ॥ ३५ ॥ रत्नालिखचितोऽत्यर्थं नानारत्नविराजितः । दृष्टोऽस्माभिर्विमानस्थैर्दूरतः परिमण्डितः ॥ ३६ ॥ नानास्तरणसंछन्न इन्द्रचापसमन्वितः । पर्यङ्कप्रवरे तस्मिन्नुपविष्टा वराङ्गना ॥ ३७ ॥ रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरा रक्तगन्धानुलेपना । सुरक्तनयना कान्ता विद्युत्कोटिसमप्रभा ॥ ३८ ॥ सुचारुवदना रक्तदन्तच्छदविराजिता । रमाकोट्यधिका कान्त्या सूर्यबिम्बनिभाखिला ॥ ३९ ॥ वरपाशाङ्कुशाभीष्टधरा श्रीभुवनेश्वरी । अदृष्टपूर्वा दृष्टा सा सुन्दरी स्मितभूषणा ॥ ४० ॥ ह्रीङ्कारजपनिष्ठैस्तु पक्षिवृन्दैर्निषेविता । अरुणा करुणामूर्तिः कुमारी नवयौवना ॥ ४१ ॥ सर्वशृङ्गारवेषाढ्या मन्दस्मितमुखाम्बुजा । उद्यत्पीनकुचद्वन्द्वनिर्जिताम्भोजकुड्मला ॥ ४२ ॥ नानामणिगणाकीर्णभूषणैरुपशोभिता । कनकाङ्गदकेयूरकिरीटपरिशोभिता ॥ ४३ ॥ कनकच्छ्रीचक्रताटङ्कविटङ्कवदनाम्बुजा । हृल्लेखा भुवनेशीति नामजापपरायणैः ॥ ४४ ॥ सखीवृन्दैः स्तुता नित्यं भुवनेशी महेश्वरी । हृल्लेखाद्याभिरमरकन्याभिः परिवेष्टिता ॥ ४५ ॥ अनङ्गकुसुमाद्याभिर्देवीभिः परिवेष्टिता । देवी षट्कोणमध्यस्था यन्त्रराजोपरि स्थिता ॥ ४६ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तां विस्मिताः सर्वे वयं तत्र स्थिताऽभवन् । केयं कान्ता च किं नाम न जानीमोऽत्र संस्थिताः ॥ ४७ ॥ सहस्रनयना रामा सहस्रकरसंयुता । सहस्रवदना रम्या भाति दूरादसंशयम् ॥ ४८ ॥ नाप्सरा नापि गन्धर्वी नेयं देवाङ्गना किल । इति संशयमापन्नास्तत्र नारद संस्थिताः ॥ ४९ ॥ तदाऽसौ भगवान्विष्णुर्दृष्ट्वा तां चारुहासिनीम् । उवाचाम्बां स्वविज्ञानात्कृत्वा मनसि निश्चयम् ॥ ५० ॥ एषा भगवती देवी सर्वेषां कारणं हि नः । महाविद्या महामाया पूर्णा प्रकृतिरव्यया ॥ ५१ ॥ दुर्ज्ञेयाऽल्पधियां देवी योगगम्या दुराशया । इच्छा परात्मनः कामं नित्यानित्यस्वरूपिणी ॥ ५२ ॥ दुराराध्याऽल्पभाग्यैश्च देवी विश्वेश्वरी शिवा । वेदगर्भा विशालाक्षी सर्वेषामादिरीश्वरी ॥ ५३ ॥ एषा संहृत्य सकलं विश्वं क्रीडति संक्षये । लिङ्गानि सर्वजीवानां स्वशरीरे निवेश्य च ॥ ५४ ॥ सर्वबीजमयी ह्येषा राजते साम्प्रतं सुरौ । विभूतयः स्थिताः पार्श्वे पश्यतां कोटिशः क्रमात् ॥ ५५ ॥ दिव्याभरणभूषाढ्या दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनाः । परिचर्यापराः सर्वाः पश्यतां ब्रह्मशङ्करौ ॥ ५६ ॥ धन्या वयं महाभागाः कृतकृत्याः स्म साम्प्रतम् । यदत्र दर्शनं प्राप्तं भगवत्याः स्वयं त्विदम् ॥ ५७ ॥ तपस्तप्तं पुरा यत्नात्तस्येदं फलमुत्तमम् । अन्यथा दर्शनं कुत्र भवेदस्माकमादरात् ॥ ५८ ॥ पश्यन्ति पुण्यपुञ्जा ये ये वदान्यास्तपस्विनः । रागिणो नैव पश्यन्ति देवीं भगवतीं शिवाम् ॥ ५९ ॥ मूलप्रकृतिरेवैषा सदा पुरुषसङ्गता । ब्रह्माण्डं दर्शयत्येषा कृत्वा वै परमात्मने ॥ ६० ॥ द्रष्टाऽसौ दृश्यमखिलं ब्रह्माण्डं देवताः सुरौ । तस्यैषा कारणं सर्वा माया सर्वेश्वरी शिवा ॥ ६१ ॥ क्वाहं वा क्व सुराः सर्वे रम्भाद्याः सुरयोषितः । लक्षांशेन तुलामस्या न भवामः कथञ्चन ॥ ६२ ॥ सैषा वराङ्गना नाम या वै दृष्टा महार्णवे । बालभावे महादेवी दोलयन्तीव मां मुदा ॥ ६३ ॥ शयनं वटपत्रे च पर्यङ्के सुस्थिरे दृढे । पादाङ्गुष्ठं करे कृत्वा निवेश्य मुखपङ्कजे ॥ ६४ ॥ लेलिहन्तञ्च क्रीडन्तमनेकैबालचेष्टितैः । रममाणं कोमलाङ्गं वटपत्रपुटे स्थितम् ॥ ६५ ॥ गायन्ती दोलयन्ती च बालभावान्मयि स्थिते । सेयं सुनिश्चितं ज्ञातं जातं मे दर्शनादिव ॥ ६६ ॥ कामं नो जननी सैषा शृणु तं प्रवदाम्यहम् । अनुभूतं मया पूर्वं प्रत्यभिज्ञा समुत्थिता ॥ ६७ ॥
brahmovāca vimānaṃ tanmanovegaṃ yatra sthānāntare gatam | na jalaṃ tatra paśyāmo vismitāḥ smo vayaṃ tadā || 1 || vṛkṣāḥ sarvaphalā ramyāḥ kokilārāvamaṇḍitāḥ | mahī mahīdharāḥ kāmaṃ vanānyupavanāni ca || 2 || nāryaśca puruṣāścaiva paśavaśca saridvarāḥ | vāpyaḥ kūpāstaḍāgāśca palvalāni ca nirjharāḥ || 3 || purato nagaraṃ ramyaṃ divyaprākāramaṇḍitam | yajñaśālāsamāyuktaṃ nānāharmyavirājitam || 4 || pratyabhijñā tadā jātāpyasmākaṃ prekṣya tatpuram | svargo'yamiti kenāsau nirmitosti tadādbhutam || 5 || rājānaṃ devasaṅkāśaṃ vrajantaṃ mṛgayāṃ vane | asmābhiḥ saṃsthitā dṛṣṭā vimānopari cāmbikā || 6 || kṣaṇāccacāla gagane vimānaṃ pavaneritam | muhūrtādvā tataḥ prāptaṃ deśe cānye manohare || 7 || nandanaṃ ca vanaṃ tatra dṛṣṭamasmābhiruttamam | pārijātatarucchāyāsaṃśritā surabhiḥ sthitā || 8 || caturdanto gajastasyāḥ samīpe samavasthitaḥ | apsarasāṃ tatra vṛndāni menakāprabhṛtīni ca || 9 || krīḍanti vividhairbhāvairgānanṛtyasamanvitaiḥ | gandharvāḥ śataśastatra yakṣā vidyādharāstathā || 10 || mandāravāṭikāmadhye gāyanti ca ramanti ca dṛṣṭaḥ śatakratustatra paulomyā sahitaḥ prabhuḥ || 11 || vayaṃ tu vismitāścāsma dṛṣṭvā traiviṣṭapaṃ tadā | yādaḥpatiṃ kuberaṃ ca yamaṃ sūryaṃ vibhāvasum || 12 || vilokya vismitāścāsma vayaṃ tatra surānsthitān | tadā vinirgato rājā purāttasmātsumaṇḍitāt || 13 || devarāja ivākṣobhyo naravāhyāvanau sthitaḥ | vimānasthā vayaṃ tacca cacāla tarasāgatam || 14 || brahmalokaṃ tadā divyaṃ sarvadevanamaskṛtam | tatra brahmāṇamālokya vismitau harakeśavau || 15 || sabhāyāṃ tatra vedāśca sarve sāṅgāḥ svarūpiṇaḥ | sāgarāḥ saritaścaiva parvatāḥ pannagoragāḥ || 16 || māmūcatuścaturvaktraḥ ko'yaṃ brahmā sanātanaḥ | tāvavocamahaṃ naiva jāne sṛṣṭipatiṃ patim || 17 || ko'haṃ ko'yaṃ kimarthaṃ vā bhramo'yaṃ mama ceśvarau | kṣaṇādatha vimānaṃ taccacālāśu manojavam || 18 || kailāsaśikhare prāptaṃ ramye yakṣagaṇānvite | mandāravāṭikāramye kīrakokilakūjite || 19 || vīṇāmurajavādyaiśca nādite sukhade śive | yadā prāptaṃ vimānaṃ tattadaiva sadanācchubhāt || 20 || nirgato bhagavāñchambhurvṛṣārūḍhastrilocanaḥ | pañcānano daśabhujaḥ kṛtasomārdhaśekharaḥ || 21 || vyāghracarmaparīdhāno gajacarmottarīyakaḥ | pārṣṇirakṣau mahāvīrau gajānanaṣaḍānanau || 22 || śivena saha putrau dvau vrajamānau virejatuḥ | nandiprabhṛtayaḥ sarve gaṇapāśca varāśca te || 23 || jayaśabdaṃ prayuñjānā vrajanti śivapṛṣṭhagāḥ | taṃ vīkṣya śaṅkaraṃ cānyaṃ vismitāstatra nārada || 24 || mātṛbhiḥ saṃśayāviṣṭastatrāhaṃ nyavasaṃ mune | kṣaṇāttasmādgireḥ śṛṅgādvimānaṃ vātaraṃhasā || 25 || vaikuṇṭhasadanaṃ prāptaṃ ramāramaṇamandiram | asambhāvyā vibhūtiśca tatra dṛṣṭā mayā suta || 26 || visiṣmiye tadā viṣṇurdṛṣṭvā tatpuramuttamam | sadanāgre yayau tāvaddhariḥ kamalalocanaḥ || 27 || atasīkusumābhāsaḥ pītavāsāścaturbhujaḥ | dvijarājādhirūḍhaśca divyābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ || 28 || vījyamānastadā lakṣmyā kāminyā cāmaraiḥ śubhaiḥ | taṃ vīkṣya vismitāḥ sarve vayaṃ viṣṇuṃ sanātanam || 29 || parasparaṃ nirīkṣantaḥ sthitāstasmin varāsane | tataścacāla tarasā vimānaṃ vātaraṃhasā || 30 || sudhāsamudraḥ samprāptau miṣṭavārimahormimān | yādogaṇasamākīrṇaścaladvīcivirājitaḥ || 31 || mandārapārijātādyaiḥ pādapairatiśobhitaḥ | nānāstaraṇasaṃyukto nānācitravicitritaḥ || 32 || muktādāmaparikliṣṭo nānādāmavirājitaḥ | aśokabakulākhyaiśca vṛkṣaiḥ kurubakādibhiḥ || 33 || saṃvṛtaḥ sarvataḥ saumyaiḥ ketakīcampakairvṛtaḥ | kokilārāvasaṅghuṣṭo divyagandhasamanvitaḥ || 34 || dvirephātiraṇatkārairañjitaḥ paramādbhutaḥ | tasmindvīpe śivākāraḥ paryaṅkaḥ sumanoharaḥ || 35 || ratnālikhacito'tyarthaṃ nānāratnavirājitaḥ | dṛṣṭo'smābhirvimānasthairdūrataḥ parimaṇḍitaḥ || 36 || nānāstaraṇasaṃchanna indracāpasamanvitaḥ | paryaṅkapravare tasminnupaviṣṭā varāṅganā || 37 || raktamālyāmbaradharā raktagandhānulepanā | suraktanayanā kāntā vidyutkoṭisamaprabhā || 38 || sucāruvadanā raktadantacchadavirājitā | ramākoṭyadhikā kāntyā sūryabimbanibhākhilā || 39 || varapāśāṅkuśābhīṣṭadharā śrībhuvaneśvarī | adṛṣṭapūrvā dṛṣṭā sā sundarī smitabhūṣaṇā || 40 || hrīṅkārajapaniṣṭhaistu pakṣivṛndairniṣevitā | aruṇā karuṇāmūrtiḥ kumārī navayauvanā || 41 || sarvaśṛṅgāraveṣāḍhyā mandasmitamukhāmbujā | udyatpīnakucadvandvanirjitāmbhojakuḍmalā || 42 || nānāmaṇigaṇākīrṇabhūṣaṇairupaśobhitā | kanakāṅgadakeyūrakirīṭapariśobhitā || 43 || kanakacchrīcakratāṭaṅkaviṭaṅkavadanāmbujā | hṛllekhā bhuvaneśīti nāmajāpaparāyaṇaiḥ || 44 || sakhīvṛndaiḥ stutā nityaṃ bhuvaneśī maheśvarī | hṛllekhādyābhiramarakanyābhiḥ pariveṣṭitā || 45 || anaṅgakusumādyābhirdevībhiḥ pariveṣṭitā | devī ṣaṭkoṇamadhyasthā yantrarājopari sthitā || 46 || dṛṣṭvā tāṃ vismitāḥ sarve vayaṃ tatra sthitā'bhavan | keyaṃ kāntā ca kiṃ nāma na jānīmo'tra saṃsthitāḥ || 47 || sahasranayanā rāmā sahasrakarasaṃyutā | sahasravadanā ramyā bhāti dūrādasaṃśayam || 48 || nāpsarā nāpi gandharvī neyaṃ devāṅganā kila | iti saṃśayamāpannāstatra nārada saṃsthitāḥ || 49 || tadā'sau bhagavānviṣṇurdṛṣṭvā tāṃ cāruhāsinīm | uvācāmbāṃ svavijñānātkṛtvā manasi niścayam || 50 || eṣā bhagavatī devī sarveṣāṃ kāraṇaṃ hi naḥ | mahāvidyā mahāmāyā pūrṇā prakṛtiravyayā || 51 || durjñeyā'lpadhiyāṃ devī yogagamyā durāśayā | icchā parātmanaḥ kāmaṃ nityānityasvarūpiṇī || 52 || durārādhyā'lpabhāgyaiśca devī viśveśvarī śivā | vedagarbhā viśālākṣī sarveṣāmādirīśvarī || 53 || eṣā saṃhṛtya sakalaṃ viśvaṃ krīḍati saṃkṣaye | liṅgāni sarvajīvānāṃ svaśarīre niveśya ca || 54 || sarvabījamayī hyeṣā rājate sāmprataṃ surau | vibhūtayaḥ sthitāḥ pārśve paśyatāṃ koṭiśaḥ kramāt || 55 || divyābharaṇabhūṣāḍhyā divyagandhānulepanāḥ | paricaryāparāḥ sarvāḥ paśyatāṃ brahmaśaṅkarau || 56 || dhanyā vayaṃ mahābhāgāḥ kṛtakṛtyāḥ sma sāmpratam | yadatra darśanaṃ prāptaṃ bhagavatyāḥ svayaṃ tvidam || 57 || tapastaptaṃ purā yatnāttasyedaṃ phalamuttamam | anyathā darśanaṃ kutra bhavedasmākamādarāt || 58 || paśyanti puṇyapuñjā ye ye vadānyāstapasvinaḥ | rāgiṇo naiva paśyanti devīṃ bhagavatīṃ śivām || 59 || mūlaprakṛtirevaiṣā sadā puruṣasaṅgatā | brahmāṇḍaṃ darśayatyeṣā kṛtvā vai paramātmane || 60 || draṣṭā'sau dṛśyamakhilaṃ brahmāṇḍaṃ devatāḥ surau | tasyaiṣā kāraṇaṃ sarvā māyā sarveśvarī śivā || 61 || kvāhaṃ vā kva surāḥ sarve rambhādyāḥ surayoṣitaḥ | lakṣāṃśena tulāmasyā na bhavāmaḥ kathañcana || 62 || saiṣā varāṅganā nāma yā vai dṛṣṭā mahārṇave | bālabhāve mahādevī dolayantīva māṃ mudā || 63 || śayanaṃ vaṭapatre ca paryaṅke susthire dṛḍhe | pādāṅguṣṭhaṃ kare kṛtvā niveśya mukhapaṅkaje || 64 || lelihantañca krīḍantamanekaibālaceṣṭitaiḥ | ramamāṇaṃ komalāṅgaṃ vaṭapatrapuṭe sthitam || 65 || gāyantī dolayantī ca bālabhāvānmayi sthite | seyaṃ suniścitaṃ jñātaṃ jātaṃ me darśanādiva || 66 || kāmaṃ no jananī saiṣā śṛṇu taṃ pravadāmyaham | anubhūtaṃ mayā pūrvaṃ pratyabhijñā samutthitā || 67 ||
English translation
1-5. Brahma said “We were very much astonished not to find water where our beautiful aeroplane landed us. We saw earth resonated with the sweet cooings of the cuckoos, filled with beautiful fruit-laden trees, forests and gardens. Big rivers, wells, tanks, ponds, water-springs, small pools, women, men all are there. Next we saw, in front of us, a nice city enclosed by a divine wall, containing many sacrificial halls and various palatial buildings and magnificent edifices. Oh! We thoughtIt is Heaven! What a great wonder! Who built this?
6-11. Next we saw a king looking like a Deva is going out on a hunting excursion in the forest. The Devi Ambika, Whom we saw before, is staying on the chariot. In an instant, our aeroplane, propelled by air got high up above the sky and reached in the twinkling of an eye at a lovely place. We saw there a divine Nandana garden. There Surabhi, the cow of plenty, was staying under the shade of the Parijata tree. Close by her, there was an elephant having four tusks; and Menaka and other hosts of Apsaras were there with their various gestures and postures, playing, dancing and singing. There were hundred of Yaksas, Gandharbhas, Vidyadharas within that Mandara garden playing and singing. Within this there was the Lord Satakratu with S'achi, the daughter of Puloma.
12-34. Next we saw with great wonder, Varuna, the lord of the aquatic animals, Kuvera, Yama, Surya (sun), fire and the other Devas; then we saw that in our front, Indra the Lord of the Devas, was coming out from a well decorated city. He was there situated in his palanquin, calm and quiet and carried by men. Then the car, where we were situated, began to get up high in the sky, and in the twinkling of an eye, we reached Brahma loka, that is saluted by all
the Devas. There S'ambhu and Kes'ava were greatly bewildered to see Brahma of that place. In the council hall of Brahma, the Vedas with their Angas, the serpents, hills, oceans and rivers were seen. Seeing all these, Visnu and MahesVara asked me “O Four-faced one! Who is this eternal Brahma? I replied I do not know who is this Brahma? Who am I? and who is He? why has this error come over me? You, too, also are gods so you can better ponder over it.” Next our car, going with the swiftness of mind went, in the twinkling of an eye, to the beautiful all auspicious Kailas'a mountain surrounded by bliss-giving Yaksas. It was beautified by the Mandara garden, resonated by the sweet cooings of S'ukas and cuckoos and the sweet sounds of lutes and small drums and tabors. When we reached there we saw the five faced, three-eyed Bhagavan S'ashi S'ekhara, with ten hands, wearing tiger skin, and the upper garment of the elephant skin. He was then, getting out of his abode, riding on a bull. His two sons, the great heroes, Ganes'a and Kartikeya, beautifully adorned, were attending Him as His body guards. Nandi and all other hosts were following Him, chanting victories to Him. O Muni Narada! we were greatly wondered to see another S'ankara, surrounded by the Matrikas. So much so, that perplexed with doubts, I sat down there. Next our aeroplane went on with the force of wind; and in an instant reached the abode of Vaikuntha, the amusement court of Laksmi. O Suta! There at Vaikuntha, we saw a wonderful manifestation of power. Our companion Visnu was greatly surprised to see that excellent city. We saw there four-armed Visnu, of the colour of Atasi flower, wearing yellow garments, adorned with divine ornaments sitting on Garuda. Laksmi Devi is fanning wonderful chowry to Him. Struck with wonder at the sight of the eternal Visnu, we took our seat on the car and looked at one another's face.
Next the balloon ascended with the swiftness of wind; and, in the twinkling of an eye, reached to the ocean of nectar, the Sudha- Sagar, with waves playing sweetly on it. This ocean Sudha Sagara is filled with aquatic animals and agitated with ripples. We saw and went along and came to a very wonderful place called the Mani DvTpa (the island of gems) in the midst of the Ocean. It was adorned
with Mandara and Parijata an other heavenly flower trees (plants?), with various beautiful carpets, with variegated trees As'oka, Vakula, Ketaki, Champaka, Kuravaka, etc., adorned with lustrous gems and pearls. It was resonated with the sweet cooings of the cuckoos and the humming sounds of bees; and it presented the sight of a sweet harmonious music playing there.
35-67. Sitting on our aeroplane, we saw, from a distance, within that Dvipa, a beautiful cot known as S'ivakara (i.e. whose four legs represent Brahma, Visnu, Rudra, etc., and whose top portion represents Sada S’iva looking like a rainbow, with exquisitely beautiful carpet spread over it and decked with various gems and jewels and inlaid with pearls. We saw a Divine Lady, sitting on the cot, wearing a red garment and a garland of red cloth and bedewed with red sandal paste. Her eyes were dark-red; that beautiful faced red-lipped lady looked more beautiful than ten millions of lightnings and ten millions of Laksmis and lustrous like the Sun. The Bhagavati BhuvanesVari was sitting with a sweet smile on Her lips and holding in Her four hands noose, goad, and signs indicating as if She was ready to grant boons and asking Her devotees discard all fear. We never saw before such a form. Even the birds of that place repeat the mystic incantation Hrim and serve that Lady, Who is of the colour of the rising Sun, all merciful, and in the full bloom of youth. That lotus-faced smiling lady was adorned with all the beauties of Nature. Her high breasts defied the lotus bud. She was holding various jewelled ornaments, e.g., armplates, bracelets, diadems, etc.
Her lotus-face looked exceedingly beautiful with jewelled ear-rings of the shape of the S’ri Yantra (yantra of Tripura Sundari). Hrillekha and other Deva girls were surrounding Her. There were Sakhis on the four sides - always chanting hymns to MahesVari, the Lady of the world. She was surrounded on Her all sides by Ananga kusuma and other Devis. She was sitting in the middle of the Satkona (six angled) Yantra. We were all wondered at the sight of this Wonderful Form never seen before and we thought“Who is this Lady? What is Her
name? we know nothing of Her, from such a distance.” Thus while we were gazing at Her, that four armed Lady became gradually thousand eyed, with thousand hands and thousand feet; so it seemed to us. O Narada! We became very much embarrassed with doubts and thought within ourselves “Is She Apsara (nymph) or a Gandharva daughter or any other Deva Girl? who is She?” At this juncture Bhagavan Visnu saw closely the sweet smiling Devi and by his intelligence came to a definite conclusion and spoke to us “This is the Devi Bhagavati Mahavidya Maha Maya, undecaying and eternal; She is the Full, the Prakriti; She is the Cause of us all. This Devi is inconceivable to those who are of dull intellects; only the Yogis can see Her by their Yoga-powers. She is eternal (Brahma) and also non-eternal (Maya). She is the Will-force of the Supreme Self. She is the First Creatrix of this world.
This Devi with wide eyes, the Lady of the Universe, has produced the Vedas. The less-fortunate persons cannot worship Her. During the time of Pralaya, She destroys all the Universe, draws within Her body all the subtle bodies (Linga-Sariras), and plays. O two Devas! At present She is residing in the form of the Seed of the Universe. Behold! On Her sides are seen duly all the Vibhutis (manifestations of powers). They are all adorned with divine ornaments and anointed with divine scents and are serving Her. O Brahman! O S'ankara! To¬ day we are blessed and highly fortunate that we have got the sight of this Devi. The tapasya (asceticisms) that we practised of yore have yielded to us this fruit. Else why Bhagavati has shown so carefully Her own form? Those who are highly meritorious by tapasyas and gifts of abundant wealth, those high souled persons are able to see this all-auspicious Bhagavati. The person attached to sensual objects can never see Her. It is She that is the Mula Prakriti, united with the Chidananda Person. It is She that creates this Brahmanda and exhibits it to the Paramatma (the Supreme Self). O two Devas! This whole Universe and all the Seers and Seen and other things contained therein owe to Her as their sole cause. She is the Maya assuming all forms; She is the Goddess of all. Where is I myself! Where are the Devas! Where are Laksmi and the other Devis! We
cannot compare to one-hundred thousandth part of Her. It is this all- excellent Lady, Whom I saw in the great Ocean when She reckoned Me who was baby then with greatest gladness. In former days, when I was sleeping on the cot made of immoveable fixed leaves of a banyan tree and licking my toe, making it enter within my mouth and playing like an ordinary baby, this Lady rocked my gentle body to and fro on the banyan leaves singing songs like a Mother. Now I recollect all what I felt before at Her sight and recognise that She is the Bhagavati. These very things I now communicate to you. Hear attentively that She is this Lady and She is our Mother.”
Thus ends the third chapter of the Third Skandha on seeing the Devi in the Maha Puranam S’rimad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyas.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24729, revision 75582 (2016-08-03T11:26:15Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk03ch03.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.