Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya · Chapter 2
Source।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। ततो ब्रह्मागमत्तूर्णं यत्रास्ते भगवान्स्वयम् ।। स्तवान्तेऽसौ यथा दृष्टस्तथाद्राक्षीत्प्रभुं तदा ।। १ ।। प्रत्यभिज्ञानसंहृष्टस्तं दृष्ट्वा परमेश्वरम् ।। अत्यद्भुतज्ञाननिधिर्बभूवासौ द्विजोत्तमाः ।। २ ।। यावत्स्तोतुं समारेभे हर्षसंफुल्ललोचनः ।। तावदेव समागत्य कुतश्चिद्वायसोत्तमः ।। ३ ।। कारुण्योदकसंपूर्णे तस्मिन्कुण्डे निमज्य तम् ।। विलोक्य माधवं नीलरत्नकांतिं कृपानिधिम् ।। ४ ।। काकदेहं समुत्सृज्य लुठमानो मुहुः क्षितौ ।। शंखचक्रगदापाणिस्तस्य पार्श्वे व्यवस्थितः ।। ५ ।। तिरश्चस्तां गतिं दृष्ट्वा योगींद्राणां सुदुर्लभाम् ।। मेनेऽसौ मुनयः सृष्टिः क्रमात्क्षीणा भविष्यति ।। ६ ।। मनुष्याधिकृते मुक्तौ वेदांते संशयोऽभवत्।। न किंचिद्दुर्लभं चेह विष्णुभक्तस्य विद्यते ।। ७ ।। प्रत्यक्षोऽभूद्द्विजश्रेष्ठाः पुराणपुरुषोदिते ।। संकीर्त्य यन्नाम नरः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। ८ ।। तस्य संदर्शने विप्रा मुक्तिः किं खलु दुर्लभा ।। मनसा ध्याययन्विष्णुं त्यजन्प्राणान्विमुच्यते ।। ९ ।। साक्षात्कृतो भगवतः किं चित्रं मुक्तिमेति यत् ।। पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञस्य क्षेत्रस्य महिमाद्भुतः ।। 2.2.2.१० ।। यत्र काकोऽपि च हरिं साक्षात्पश्यति भो द्विजाः ।। सुदुर्लभं क्षेत्रमिदमज्ञानां च विमोचनम् ।। अहो क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं काकस्यापि विमुक्तिदम् ।। किं पुनः सततं शांति वैराग्यज्ञानसंयुजाम् ।। ११ ।। ।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। नीलाख्यं माधवं दृष्ट्वा किं चकार पितामहः ।। १२ ।। तद्दर्शने क्षणान्नष्टदेहबन्धं च वायसम् ।। १३ ।। ।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। अत्यद्भुतमयं दृष्ट्वा यावद्ध्यायति माधवम् ।। तावत्पितृपतिः स्वाधिकारसंयमनाकुलः ।। १४ ।। दीनाननो निःश्वसन्वै तत्र यातस्त्वरान्वितः ।। नीलाद्रौ माधवं दृष्ट्वा साऽष्टांगं प्रणिपत्य च ।। १५ ।। तुष्टाव स जगन्नाथं स्वाधिकारदृढस्थितौ ।। ।। ।। यम उवाच ।। ।। नमस्ते देवदेवेश सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारण ।। १६ ।। त्वयि प्रोतमिदं सर्वं सूत्रे मणिगणा यथा ।। त्वया धृतं त्वया सृष्टं त्वया चाप्यायितं जगत् ।। १७ ।। चन्द्रसूर्यादिरूपेण नित्यं भासयसेऽखिलम् ।। विश्वेश्वरं जगद्योनिं विश्वावासं जगद्गुरुम् ।। ।। १८ ।। विश्वसाक्षिणमाद्यन्तवर्जितं प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। नमः परमकारुण्यजलसंभृतसिन्धवे ।। १९ ।। परापरपरातीतविभवे विश्वसंभवे ।। ।। 2.2.2.२० ।। भवसंतापनीहारभानवे दीनबन्धवे ।। स्वमायारचिताशेष भवे गुणरज्जवे ।। २१ ।। नमः कमलकिंजल्क पीतनिर्मलवाससे ।। महाहवरिपुस्कन्ध कृंतचक्राय चक्रिणे ।। २२ ।। दंष्ट्रोद्धृत क्षितिभृते त्रयीमूर्तिमते नमः ।। नमो यज्ञवराहाय चन्द्रसूर्याग्निचक्षुषे ।। २३ ।। नरसिंहाय दंष्ट्रोग्रमूर्तिद्रावितशत्रवे ।। यदपांगविलासैक सृष्टिस्थित्युपसंहृतिः ।। २४ ।। उच्चावचात्मको ह्येष भवः संभवते मुहुः ।। तममुं नीलमेघाभं नीलाश्ममणिविग्रहम् ।। २५ ।। नीलाचलगुहावासं प्रणमामि कृपानिधिम् ।। शंखचक्रगदापद्मधारिणं शुभदायिनम् ।। २६ ।। प्रणताशेषपापौघदारिणं मुरवैरिणम् ।। नमस्ते कमलापांग संगसंस्कारचक्षुषे ।। २७ ।। श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोद्भासि मनोहृद्व्यूढवक्षसे ।। यत्पादपंकजद्वंद्वसंश्रयैश्वर्यभागिनी ।। ।। २८ ।। श्रीः संश्रिता जनैः शश्वत्पृथगैश्वर्यदायिनी ।। या परापरसंभिन्ना प्रकृतिस्ते सिसृक्षया ।। २९ ।। निर्विकारं परं ब्रह्म विकारि ससृजेंऽजसा।। सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णा लक्षितां शुभलक्षणैः ।। लक्ष्मीशोरसि नित्यस्था लक्ष्मीं तां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। 2.2.2.३० ।। ।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। तदेवं धर्मराजेन श्रीकांतः परितोषितः ।। पार्श्वस्थां वल्लकीहस्तां नेत्रांतेनादिशच्छ्रियम् ।। ३१ ।। तेन संभाविता लक्ष्मीर्भवदुःखविनाशिनी ।। शुभाय सर्वलोकानां यमं प्रोवाच लीलया ३२ ।। ।। लक्ष्मीरुवाच ।। ।। यदर्थमावां संस्तौषि क्षेत्रेस्मिन्दुर्लभं हि तत् ।। अत्याज्यमावयोरेतत्क्षेत्रं श्रीपुरुषोत्तमम् ।। ३३ ।। कल्पावसानेप्यावां वै ध्रियेते परमेष्ठिना ।। ब्रह्मादिदिक्प्रभूणां हि स्वामित्वं नेह विद्यते ।। ३४ ।। नेह कर्मपरीपाकाः संभवंति कदाचन।। अत्र प्रवसतां नृणां तिरश्चामपि दुष्कृताम्।। ३५ ।। दह्यते ज्वलिताग्नौ हि तूलराशिर्यथा भृशम् ।। ये बद्धा पापपुण्याभ्यां निगडाभ्यामहर्निशम् ।। ३६ ।। तेषां संयमिता त्वं हि यमः पूर्वं विनिर्मितः ।। अत्र साक्षाद्वपुष्मंतं नीलेन्द्रमणिमंजुलम् ।। ३७ ।। दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं मुच्यते कर्मबन्धनात् ।। अतोऽन्यतः कर्मभूमौ प्रभुत्वं सूर्यसंभव ।। ३८ ।। वैक्लव्यं क्षेत्रराजेस्मिन्मा गास्त्वं यम संयमे ।। तवापि भगवानेष विधाता प्रपितामहः ।। ३९ ।। तिर्यंचं विष्णुसारूप्यं प्राप्तं पश्यति कौतुकात् ।। एष कर्मपरीपाकं सर्वेषां वेत्ति कंजजः ।। 2.2.2.४० ।। ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं स्तौति देवं गदाधरम्।। त्वद्वशं गंतुमुचिता नेह तिष्ठंति जंतवः ।। ४१ ।। वैवस्वत वसंत्यत्र जीवन्मुक्ता मुमुक्षवः ।। तया संबोधितस्त्वेवं विष्णुना स्त्रीस्वरूपिणा ।। ततोऽहंकारलज्जाभ्यां विनीतः प्राब्रवीद्यमः ।। ४२ ।। ।। यम उवाच ।। ।। मातस्त्वया यदाज्ञप्तं पुरा नैतन्मया श्रुतम्।। ४३ ।। अज्ञानोपहतो वेद्मि रहस्यं कथमुत्तमम् ।। यस्य स्वरूपं वेदाश्च न च वेत्ति पितामहः।।४४।। महिमानं कथं तस्य वेद्म्यहंकार मोहितः।। यदादिष्टं सुरेशानि क्षेत्रमेतद्विमु्क्तिदम्।।४५।। सान्निध्याद्वासुदेवस्य ईश्वरेच्छा निरंकुशा।। अन्यत्र बन्धदो विष्णुरत्र मोक्षं ददाति यत्।। ४६।। ममापि निरयाणां च स्रष्टासौ त्रिदिवस्य च।। मृतानामत्र मुक्तिश्चेत्तन्मामंब सुविस्तरम्।।४७।। क्षेत्रसंस्थाप्रमाणं हि तत्र स्थिति फलं हि यत् ।। तीर्थानि कानि संत्यत्र किमन्यद्वा रहस्यकम् ।। ४८ ।। किमधिष्ठातृकं क्षेत्रं तत्सर्वं कथयस्व मे ।। तदहं संपरित्यज्य निर्भयः संचरे यथा।। ४९ ।। ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशातिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये जैमिनिऋषिसंवादे द्वितीयोऽध्यायः ।। २ ।।
|| jaiminiruvāca || || tato brahmāgamattūrṇaṃ yatrāste bhagavānsvayam || stavānte'sau yathā dṛṣṭastathādrākṣītprabhuṃ tadā || 1 || pratyabhijñānasaṃhṛṣṭastaṃ dṛṣṭvā parameśvaram || atyadbhutajñānanidhirbabhūvāsau dvijottamāḥ || 2 || yāvatstotuṃ samārebhe harṣasaṃphullalocanaḥ || tāvadeva samāgatya kutaścidvāyasottamaḥ || 3 || kāruṇyodakasaṃpūrṇe tasminkuṇḍe nimajya tam || vilokya mādhavaṃ nīlaratnakāṃtiṃ kṛpānidhim || 4 || kākadehaṃ samutsṛjya luṭhamāno muhuḥ kṣitau || śaṃkhacakragadāpāṇistasya pārśve vyavasthitaḥ || 5 || tiraścastāṃ gatiṃ dṛṣṭvā yogīṃdrāṇāṃ sudurlabhām || mene'sau munayaḥ sṛṣṭiḥ kramātkṣīṇā bhaviṣyati || 6 || manuṣyādhikṛte muktau vedāṃte saṃśayo'bhavat|| na kiṃciddurlabhaṃ ceha viṣṇubhaktasya vidyate || 7 || pratyakṣo'bhūddvijaśreṣṭhāḥ purāṇapuruṣodite || saṃkīrtya yannāma naraḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 8 || tasya saṃdarśane viprā muktiḥ kiṃ khalu durlabhā || manasā dhyāyayanviṣṇuṃ tyajanprāṇānvimucyate || 9 || sākṣātkṛto bhagavataḥ kiṃ citraṃ muktimeti yat || puruṣottamasaṃjñasya kṣetrasya mahimādbhutaḥ || 2.2.2.10 || yatra kāko'pi ca hariṃ sākṣātpaśyati bho dvijāḥ || sudurlabhaṃ kṣetramidamajñānāṃ ca vimocanam || aho kṣetrasya māhātmyaṃ kākasyāpi vimuktidam || kiṃ punaḥ satataṃ śāṃti vairāgyajñānasaṃyujām || 11 || || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || nīlākhyaṃ mādhavaṃ dṛṣṭvā kiṃ cakāra pitāmahaḥ || 12 || taddarśane kṣaṇānnaṣṭadehabandhaṃ ca vāyasam || 13 || || jaiminiruvāca || || atyadbhutamayaṃ dṛṣṭvā yāvaddhyāyati mādhavam || tāvatpitṛpatiḥ svādhikārasaṃyamanākulaḥ || 14 || dīnānano niḥśvasanvai tatra yātastvarānvitaḥ || nīlādrau mādhavaṃ dṛṣṭvā sā'ṣṭāṃgaṃ praṇipatya ca || 15 || tuṣṭāva sa jagannāthaṃ svādhikāradṛḍhasthitau || || || yama uvāca || || namaste devadeveśa sṛṣṭisthityantakāraṇa || 16 || tvayi protamidaṃ sarvaṃ sūtre maṇigaṇā yathā || tvayā dhṛtaṃ tvayā sṛṣṭaṃ tvayā cāpyāyitaṃ jagat || 17 || candrasūryādirūpeṇa nityaṃ bhāsayase'khilam || viśveśvaraṃ jagadyoniṃ viśvāvāsaṃ jagadgurum || || 18 || viśvasākṣiṇamādyantavarjitaṃ praṇamāmyaham || namaḥ paramakāruṇyajalasaṃbhṛtasindhave || 19 || parāparaparātītavibhave viśvasaṃbhave || || 2.2.2.20 || bhavasaṃtāpanīhārabhānave dīnabandhave || svamāyāracitāśeṣa bhave guṇarajjave || 21 || namaḥ kamalakiṃjalka pītanirmalavāsase || mahāhavaripuskandha kṛṃtacakrāya cakriṇe || 22 || daṃṣṭroddhṛta kṣitibhṛte trayīmūrtimate namaḥ || namo yajñavarāhāya candrasūryāgnicakṣuṣe || 23 || narasiṃhāya daṃṣṭrogramūrtidrāvitaśatrave || yadapāṃgavilāsaika sṛṣṭisthityupasaṃhṛtiḥ || 24 || uccāvacātmako hyeṣa bhavaḥ saṃbhavate muhuḥ || tamamuṃ nīlameghābhaṃ nīlāśmamaṇivigraham || 25 || nīlācalaguhāvāsaṃ praṇamāmi kṛpānidhim || śaṃkhacakragadāpadmadhāriṇaṃ śubhadāyinam || 26 || praṇatāśeṣapāpaughadāriṇaṃ muravairiṇam || namaste kamalāpāṃga saṃgasaṃskāracakṣuṣe || 27 || śrīvatsakaustubhodbhāsi manohṛdvyūḍhavakṣase || yatpādapaṃkajadvaṃdvasaṃśrayaiśvaryabhāginī || || 28 || śrīḥ saṃśritā janaiḥ śaśvatpṛthagaiśvaryadāyinī || yā parāparasaṃbhinnā prakṛtiste sisṛkṣayā || 29 || nirvikāraṃ paraṃ brahma vikāri sasṛjeṃ'jasā|| sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpūrṇā lakṣitāṃ śubhalakṣaṇaiḥ || lakṣmīśorasi nityasthā lakṣmīṃ tāṃ praṇamāmyaham || 2.2.2.30 || || jaiminiruvāca || || tadevaṃ dharmarājena śrīkāṃtaḥ paritoṣitaḥ || pārśvasthāṃ vallakīhastāṃ netrāṃtenādiśacchriyam || 31 || tena saṃbhāvitā lakṣmīrbhavaduḥkhavināśinī || śubhāya sarvalokānāṃ yamaṃ provāca līlayā 32 || || lakṣmīruvāca || || yadarthamāvāṃ saṃstauṣi kṣetresmindurlabhaṃ hi tat || atyājyamāvayoretatkṣetraṃ śrīpuruṣottamam || 33 || kalpāvasānepyāvāṃ vai dhriyete parameṣṭhinā || brahmādidikprabhūṇāṃ hi svāmitvaṃ neha vidyate || 34 || neha karmaparīpākāḥ saṃbhavaṃti kadācana|| atra pravasatāṃ nṛṇāṃ tiraścāmapi duṣkṛtām|| 35 || dahyate jvalitāgnau hi tūlarāśiryathā bhṛśam || ye baddhā pāpapuṇyābhyāṃ nigaḍābhyāmaharniśam || 36 || teṣāṃ saṃyamitā tvaṃ hi yamaḥ pūrvaṃ vinirmitaḥ || atra sākṣādvapuṣmaṃtaṃ nīlendramaṇimaṃjulam || 37 || dṛṣṭvā nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ mucyate karmabandhanāt || ato'nyataḥ karmabhūmau prabhutvaṃ sūryasaṃbhava || 38 || vaiklavyaṃ kṣetrarājesminmā gāstvaṃ yama saṃyame || tavāpi bhagavāneṣa vidhātā prapitāmahaḥ || 39 || tiryaṃcaṃ viṣṇusārūpyaṃ prāptaṃ paśyati kautukāt || eṣa karmaparīpākaṃ sarveṣāṃ vetti kaṃjajaḥ || 2.2.2.40 || jñātvā kṣetrasya māhātmyaṃ stauti devaṃ gadādharam|| tvadvaśaṃ gaṃtumucitā neha tiṣṭhaṃti jaṃtavaḥ || 41 || vaivasvata vasaṃtyatra jīvanmuktā mumukṣavaḥ || tayā saṃbodhitastvevaṃ viṣṇunā strīsvarūpiṇā || tato'haṃkāralajjābhyāṃ vinītaḥ prābravīdyamaḥ || 42 || || yama uvāca || || mātastvayā yadājñaptaṃ purā naitanmayā śrutam|| 43 || ajñānopahato vedmi rahasyaṃ kathamuttamam || yasya svarūpaṃ vedāśca na ca vetti pitāmahaḥ||44|| mahimānaṃ kathaṃ tasya vedmyahaṃkāra mohitaḥ|| yadādiṣṭaṃ sureśāni kṣetrametadvimuktidam||45|| sānnidhyādvāsudevasya īśvarecchā niraṃkuśā|| anyatra bandhado viṣṇuratra mokṣaṃ dadāti yat|| 46|| mamāpi nirayāṇāṃ ca sraṣṭāsau tridivasya ca|| mṛtānāmatra muktiścettanmāmaṃba suvistaram||47|| kṣetrasaṃsthāpramāṇaṃ hi tatra sthiti phalaṃ hi yat || tīrthāni kāni saṃtyatra kimanyadvā rahasyakam || 48 || kimadhiṣṭhātṛkaṃ kṣetraṃ tatsarvaṃ kathayasva me || tadahaṃ saṃparityajya nirbhayaḥ saṃcare yathā|| 49 || || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśātisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe puruṣottamakṣetramāhātmye jaiminiṛṣisaṃvāde dvitīyo'dhyāyaḥ || 2 ||
English translation
Jaimini said :
1. Then Brahmā hastened to the place where the Lord was present. He then saw the Lord in the same form as was seen at the end of the prayer.
2. On seeing the great Lord, he recognized him and became extremely delighted. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas , he became the storehouse of excessively wonderful knowledge.
3-7. With his eyes beaming with delight, he began to eulogize when an excellent crow arrived there from somewhere. It plunged into that holy pit full of merciful waters. On seeing Mādhava , the receptacle of mercy, having the lustre of blue gems and jewels, [1] it cast off its physical body of a crow and rolled on the ground. The Lord with the conch, the discus and the iron club stood at his side. [2] On seeing that achievement of a creature of lower order, not easily accessible even to eminent Yogins , O sages, Brahmā thought that the creation would gradually wear away. He then began to doubt the truth of the Upaniṣaḍic statement that only humans beings are entitled to salvation. There is nothing in this world which is difficult for a devotee of Viṣṇu to get.
8-11. He was able to see directly the truth of what had been said by the ancient Lord, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. By pronouncing his name a man is liberated from all sins. Is salvation difficult to get, O Brāhmaṇas, on his direct perception? If one casts off one’s life mentally meditating on Viṣṇu, one is liberated. What wonder is there that anyone having the direct perception of the Lord attains salvation?
Wonderful indeed is the greatness of the sacred place named Puruṣottama , where, O Brāhmaṇas, even a crow perceived Hari directly.
Rare indeed is this holy spot that releases even ignorant ones. Wonderful is the greatness of this holy spot bestowing liberation on even a crow. What then in regard to those who are always endowed with calmness, detachment and perfect knowledge!
The sages said :
12-17. What did Brahmā do on seeing Mādhava called Nīla , as well as the crow that destroyed all physical bondage within a moment after seeing him?
Jaimini said :
On seeing that wonderful event, Brahmā began to meditate on Mādhava. By that time Pitṛpati (god of Death, Yama ) came hurriedly to that place. He was agitated in the matter of retaining his authority. His face indicated distress. He heaved sighs. On seeing Mādhava on the Nīla mountain, he prostrated before him with eight limbs (touching the ground). He eulogized the Lord for the stabilization of his authority.
Yama said :
Obeisance to you, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas , O cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution. All the worlds are fixed and fastened to you like groups of beads strung into a garland. The universe is supported by you, created by you and nourished by you.
18-24a. You always illuminate everything in the form of the Moon and the Sun; I bow down to the Lord of the universe, the source of origin of ail the worlds, the abode of the whole Cosmos, the sire of the worlds, the witness of the entire universe, the Lord devoid of beginning and end. Obeisance to the origin of the universe, to the ocean full of the waters in the form of the highest mercifulness, to the Lord whose power transcends the highest, the lowest and what is beyond the highest.
Obeisance to the Lord who is like the Sun unto the frost of the distress of worldly existence. Hail to the kinsman of the wretched ones, to the Lord who has created all other powerful Lords by means of his own Māyā . Obeisance to Him whose ropes (controlling powers) are Guṇas (like Sattva etc.). I bow to the Lord whose robes are yellow and devoid of impurities like the filaments of a lotus flower; to the discus-bearing Lord whose discus cuts off the shoulders of the enemies in great battles.
Obeisance to the Lord who held the Earth uplifted by means of his curved teeṃ. Obeisance to the Lord, the embodiment of the three Vedas . Obeisance to the Varāha form of Yajña ; salute to the Lord whose eyes are the Moon, the Sun and the Fire. Obeisance to the Lord Narasiṃha (Man-Lion), who has driven away the enemies through his fierce form with curved teeth.
24b-30. The creation, sustenance and annihilation of the universe is a graceful sport of his side glance and thereby the creation of the variegated world consisting of beings of higher and lower order takes place frequently. I bow unto that Lord of the lustre of the blue clouds, whose appearance is like that of the precious stone sapphire, whose abode is a cave within the Nīla mountain and who is the storehouse of mercy.
I bow down to the enemy of Mura , the Lord who holds the conch, the discus, the iron club and the lotus, who grants auspiciousness and who dispels the entire mass of sins of those who bow down (to him).
Hail to you whose eyes are consecrated by contact with the outer corners of the eyes of Kamalā , to you whose chest is broad, fascinating to the minds and shining on account of the Śrīvatsa [3] and the gem Kaustubha .
Śrī possesses prosperity and glory by resorting to the pair of lotus-like feet of the Lord. On being resorted to by the people, Śrī grants them separately prosperity and perpetual glory.
Lakṣmī is Prakṛti and is of two different forms, viz. the Parā (superior) and the Aparā (inferior). Because of your desire to create, the Supreme Brahman without any modification or change has been immediately created (transformed) into one characterized by changes. I bow down unto that Lakṣmī who is full of all good characteristics, who is marked with auspicious features and who is permanently stationed on the chest of Viṣṇu.
Jaimini said :
31. Śrīkānta (Lord Viṣṇu) who was thus propitiated by Dharmarāja (Yama) directed Śrī who was at his side with the lute in her hands. The Lord gave the directive by means of the outer corner of his eyes.
32. Honoured by him, Lakṣmī, the destroyer of the misery of worlds, sportingly said to Yama for the sake of the welfare of all the people:
Lakṣmī said :
33. The object with which you eulogize us both in this holy place is indeed difficult to be acquired. This sacred spot of Śrīpuruṣottama cannot be abandoned by us.
34-39a. Even at the close of the Kalpa this abode is sustained by Parameṣṭhin. Brahma , the Lords of the Quarters etc. have no jurisdiction over this place.
Fruition of Karmas cannot take place here. (Sins) of men staying here, even if they be wicked, as well as of the creatures of lower order are burned like a heap of cotton in a blazing fire. Formerly you were created as the restrainer of those who, day and night, are fettered by the shackles of sin and merit. But (now) one is liberated from the bondage of Karma by seeing Lord Nārāyaṇa here, who has taken up a physical form and is as beautiful as sapphire. O son of Sun, your authority is restricted to the land of Karma (which is) other than this place. O Yama, do not be disheartened by this restriction being imposed on your jurisdiction so far as this holy spot is concerned.
39b-42. Brahmā, the grandfather (of the universe), is a Lord superior to you. He watches out of curiosity the lower animals attaining identity with Viṣṇu. This Lotus-born Lord knows the ripening of Karmas of everyone. After knowing the greatness of this holy place, he eulogizes Lord Gadādhara . Creatures which come under your jurisdiction do not remain here. O son of Sun, those who are liberated while living and those who are desirous of liberation reside here.
On being addressed thus by her, by Viṣṇu in female form, Yama who was devoid of pride and shyness (?) spoke these words:
Yama said :
43-46. O Mother, what has been ordered by you now has never before been heard by me. I am overwhelmed by ignorance. How can I know the excellent secret? I am deluded by egotism. How can I understand the greatness of that Lord whose form neither Brahmā nor the Vedas know? O Goddess of Suras , it has been commanded by you that this holy spot is the bestower of salvation due to the presence of Vāsudeva . God’s will cannot be resisted. Viṣṇu who causes bondage elsewhere grants salvation here.
47-49. He is the creator of hells under my control as well as of heaven. If all those who die here attain salvation, O Mother, tell me in detail all these things: e.g. the area of the holy land; the situation; the benefit of residing there; what are the various Tīrthas that are present here; if there is any thing by way of secret etc.; who is the presiding deity of this (particular) holy spot? Recount all these, so that I can move about fearlessly avoiding (what should be avoided).
[1]: [1] : Nila-mādhava: The ancient form of Jagannātha as originally worshipped by Śabaras was an idol of azure blue stone and not the present wooden form.
[2]: [2] : This crow was named Bhuṣaṇḍa [Bhuṣuṇḍa?] Kāka and is installed near the Rohiṇa Kuṇḍa inside Jagannātha Temple. The crow image has four hands holding a disc, a conch-shell, a club and a lotus-like Lord Viṣṇu. In view of this, the line may be interpreted “The crow as transfigured as holder of a conch-shell, discus and iron-club.”
[3]: [3] : Śrīvatsa is the curl of hair on the chest of Viṣṇu.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 16141, revision 71079 (2016-06-11T10:33:09Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370722.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.