Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya · Chapter 6
Source।। मुनय ऊचुः ।। ।। कस्मिन्देशे द्विजश्रेष्ठ तत्क्षेत्रं पुरुषोत्तमम् ।। यत्र नारायणः साक्षाद्दारुरूपी प्रकाशते ।। १ ।। ।। जैमिनि रुवाच ।। ।। उत्कलोनाम देशोऽस्ति ख्यातः परमपावनः ।। यत्र तीर्थान्यनेकानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ।।२।। दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे स तु देशः प्रतिष्ठितः ।। यत्र स्थिता वै पुरुषाः सदाचारनिदर्शनाः ।। ३ ।। वृत्ताध्ययनसंपन्ना यज्वानो यत्र भूसुराः ।। सृष्ट्यादौ क्रतवो वेदा वेदशास्त्रप्रवर्तकाः ।।४।।। अष्टादशानां विद्यानां निधानं संप्रकीर्तितम् ।। गृहे गृहे निवसति लक्ष्मीर्नारायणाज्ञया ।। ५ ।। लज्जाशीला विनीताश्च आधिव्याधिविवर्जिताः ।। पितृमातृरताः सत्यवादिनो वैष्णवा जनाः ।। ६ ।। न चात्रावैष्णवः कश्चिन्नास्तिको वापि वर्तते ।। सर्वे परहितास्तत्र न लुब्धा न शठाः खलाः ।। ७ ।। दीर्घायुषस्तत्र जनाः स्त्रियश्च पतिदेवताः ।। सुशीला धर्मशीलाश्च त्रपाचारित्रभूषिताः ।। ८ ।। रूपयौवनगर्वाढ्याः सर्वालंकारभूषिताः ।। कुलशीलवयोवृत्तानुरूपाचारचंचवः ।। ९ ।। स्वकर्मनिरतास्तत्र प्रजारक्षणदीक्षिताः ।। क्षत्रिया दानशौंडाश्च शस्त्रशास्त्रविशारदाः ।। 2.2.6.१० ।। यजंते क्रतुभिः सर्वे सततं भूरिदक्षिणैः ।। दीप्यंते चित्तयो येषां यूपाः कांचनभूषिताः ।। ११ ।। येषां गृहेष्वतिथयः कामनाधिकपूजिताः ।। वैश्याश्च कृषि वाणिज्यगोरक्षावृत्तिसंस्थिताः ।। १२ ।। देवान्गुरून्द्विजान्भक्त्या प्रीणयंति धनैरपि ।। एकस्य द्वारि यातोऽर्थी न गच्छेदन्यवेश्मनि ।। १३ ।। गीतकाव्यकलाशिल्पकुशलाः प्रियवादिनः ।। शूद्राश्च धार्मिकास्तत्र स्नानदानक्रियारताः ।। १४ ।। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा धनैश्च द्विजसेवकाः ।। येऽन्ये संकरजातास्ते स्वेस्वे धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिताः ।। १५ ।। न विपर्यंति ऋतवो नाकाले वर्षते घनः ।। न सस्यहानिर्न मरुत्क्षुन्न पीडयति प्रजाः ।। १६ ।। दुर्भिक्षमरके नात्र राष्ट्रभंगः प्रजायते ।। नालभ्यं तत्र वस्त्वस्ति यत्किंचित्पृथिवीगतम् ।। १७ ।। एवं सर्वगुणैर्युक्तो नानाद्रुमलताकुलः ।। अर्जुनाशोकपुन्नाग तालहिंतालशालकैः ।। १८ ।। प्राचीनामलकैर्लोध्रैर्बकुलैर्नागकेशरैः ।। नारिकेलैः प्रियालैश्च सरलैर्देवदारुभिः ।। ।। १९ ।। धवैश्च खदिरैर्बिल्वैः पनसैश्च कपित्थकैः ।। चंपकैः कर्णिकारैश्च कोविदारैः सपाटलैः ।। 2.2.6.२० ।। कदंबनिंबनिचुरलरसालामलकैस्तथा ।। नागरंगैश्च जंबीरैर्नीपकैर्मातुलुंगकैः ।। २१ ।। मंदारैः पारिजातैश्च न्यग्रोधागुरुचंदनैः ।। खर्जूराम्रातकैः सिद्धैर्मुचुकुंदैः सकिंशुकैः ।। २२ ।। तिंदुकैः सप्तपर्णैश्च अश्वत्थैश्च बिभीतकैः ।। अन्यैश्च विविधैर्वृक्षैः प्रकीर्णः सुमनोहरैः ।। २३ ।। मालतीकुंदबाणैश्च करवीरैः सितेतरैः ।। केतकीवनषंडैश्च अतिमुक्तैः सकुब्जकैः ।। २४ ।। एलालवंगकंकोलदाडिमैर्बीजपूरकैः ।। श्रेणीकृतैः पूगवनैरुद्यानैः शतशो वृतः ।। २५ ।। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णः पर्वतैः सिंधुर्भिर्वृतः ।। स एष देशप्रवर उत्कलाख्यो द्विजोत्तमाः ।। २६ ।। ऋषिकुल्यां समासाद्य दक्षिणोदधिगामिनीम् ।। स्वर्णरेखामहानद्योर्मध्ये देशः प्रतिष्ठितः ।। २७ ।। सन्त्यत्र पुण्यायतने क्षेत्राणि सुबहून्यपि ।। पूर्वं वस्तीर्थयात्रायां वर्णितानि मया द्विजाः ।। भूस्वर्गः सांप्रतं ह्येष कथितः पुरुषोत्तमः ।। २८ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य ओढ्रदेशवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः ।। ६ ।।
|| munaya ūcuḥ || || kasmindeśe dvijaśreṣṭha tatkṣetraṃ puruṣottamam || yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣāddārurūpī prakāśate || 1 || || jaimini ruvāca || || utkalonāma deśo'sti khyātaḥ paramapāvanaḥ || yatra tīrthānyanekāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca ||2|| dakṣiṇasyodadhestīre sa tu deśaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ || yatra sthitā vai puruṣāḥ sadācāranidarśanāḥ || 3 || vṛttādhyayanasaṃpannā yajvāno yatra bhūsurāḥ || sṛṣṭyādau kratavo vedā vedaśāstrapravartakāḥ ||4||| aṣṭādaśānāṃ vidyānāṃ nidhānaṃ saṃprakīrtitam || gṛhe gṛhe nivasati lakṣmīrnārāyaṇājñayā || 5 || lajjāśīlā vinītāśca ādhivyādhivivarjitāḥ || pitṛmātṛratāḥ satyavādino vaiṣṇavā janāḥ || 6 || na cātrāvaiṣṇavaḥ kaścinnāstiko vāpi vartate || sarve parahitāstatra na lubdhā na śaṭhāḥ khalāḥ || 7 || dīrghāyuṣastatra janāḥ striyaśca patidevatāḥ || suśīlā dharmaśīlāśca trapācāritrabhūṣitāḥ || 8 || rūpayauvanagarvāḍhyāḥ sarvālaṃkārabhūṣitāḥ || kulaśīlavayovṛttānurūpācāracaṃcavaḥ || 9 || svakarmaniratāstatra prajārakṣaṇadīkṣitāḥ || kṣatriyā dānaśauṃḍāśca śastraśāstraviśāradāḥ || 2.2.6.10 || yajaṃte kratubhiḥ sarve satataṃ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ || dīpyaṃte cittayo yeṣāṃ yūpāḥ kāṃcanabhūṣitāḥ || 11 || yeṣāṃ gṛheṣvatithayaḥ kāmanādhikapūjitāḥ || vaiśyāśca kṛṣi vāṇijyagorakṣāvṛttisaṃsthitāḥ || 12 || devāngurūndvijānbhaktyā prīṇayaṃti dhanairapi || ekasya dvāri yāto'rthī na gacchedanyaveśmani || 13 || gītakāvyakalāśilpakuśalāḥ priyavādinaḥ || śūdrāśca dhārmikāstatra snānadānakriyāratāḥ || 14 || karmaṇā manasā vācā dhanaiśca dvijasevakāḥ || ye'nye saṃkarajātāste svesve dharme pratiṣṭhitāḥ || 15 || na viparyaṃti ṛtavo nākāle varṣate ghanaḥ || na sasyahānirna marutkṣunna pīḍayati prajāḥ || 16 || durbhikṣamarake nātra rāṣṭrabhaṃgaḥ prajāyate || nālabhyaṃ tatra vastvasti yatkiṃcitpṛthivīgatam || 17 || evaṃ sarvaguṇairyukto nānādrumalatākulaḥ || arjunāśokapunnāga tālahiṃtālaśālakaiḥ || 18 || prācīnāmalakairlodhrairbakulairnāgakeśaraiḥ || nārikelaiḥ priyālaiśca saralairdevadārubhiḥ || || 19 || dhavaiśca khadirairbilvaiḥ panasaiśca kapitthakaiḥ || caṃpakaiḥ karṇikāraiśca kovidāraiḥ sapāṭalaiḥ || 2.2.6.20 || kadaṃbaniṃbanicuralarasālāmalakaistathā || nāgaraṃgaiśca jaṃbīrairnīpakairmātuluṃgakaiḥ || 21 || maṃdāraiḥ pārijātaiśca nyagrodhāgurucaṃdanaiḥ || kharjūrāmrātakaiḥ siddhairmucukuṃdaiḥ sakiṃśukaiḥ || 22 || tiṃdukaiḥ saptaparṇaiśca aśvatthaiśca bibhītakaiḥ || anyaiśca vividhairvṛkṣaiḥ prakīrṇaḥ sumanoharaiḥ || 23 || mālatīkuṃdabāṇaiśca karavīraiḥ sitetaraiḥ || ketakīvanaṣaṃḍaiśca atimuktaiḥ sakubjakaiḥ || 24 || elālavaṃgakaṃkoladāḍimairbījapūrakaiḥ || śreṇīkṛtaiḥ pūgavanairudyānaiḥ śataśo vṛtaḥ || 25 || nānādrumalatākīrṇaḥ parvataiḥ siṃdhurbhirvṛtaḥ || sa eṣa deśapravara utkalākhyo dvijottamāḥ || 26 || ṛṣikulyāṃ samāsādya dakṣiṇodadhigāminīm || svarṇarekhāmahānadyormadhye deśaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ || 27 || santyatra puṇyāyatane kṣetrāṇi subahūnyapi || pūrvaṃ vastīrthayātrāyāṃ varṇitāni mayā dvijāḥ || bhūsvargaḥ sāṃprataṃ hyeṣa kathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ || 28 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe puruṣottamakṣetramāhātmya oḍhradeśavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṣṭho'dhyāyaḥ || 6 ||
English translation
Note: Utkala is a part of modem Orissa . According to our text (vv 27-28 in this Chapter) the country Utkala was situated between the Southern Sea (The Bay of Bengal ) and the river Ṛṣikulyā ; on the other side it extended from Mahānadī to the river Suvarṇarekhā . According to BmP 47.7 Utkala and Kaliṅga were separate. In Purāṇic age the names Utkala or Oḍra were mostly used for Puri region. Strangely enough, Utkala and Oḍra are not included in the 72 countries of Kaumārikā Khaṇḍa of the SkP unless we presume Oḍḍiānā [Oḍḍiyāṇa] in the list is Oḍra.—This chapter depicts Utkala as heaven on the earth (Bhūsvarga).
The sages enquired :
1. In which land is that holy spot Puruṣottama , O excellent Brāhmaṇa , where Nārāyaṇa reveals himself directly in the form of a wooden idol?
Jaimini said :
2. There is a land named Utkala. It is famous and is very sacred. There are many Tīrthas and holy shrines there.
3. The land is situated on the shore of the Southern Sea. The persons living there are models of good conduct.
4-6, The Brāhmaṇas there are given to good behaviour and the study of the Vedas . They perform Yajñas . Ever since the beginning of the creation there have been Vedas and expounders of Vedas and Śāstras (sacred literature). This land is glorified as the home of eighteen Vidyās (lores). At the behest of Nārāyaṇa Lakṣmī dwells in every house (there). The people are by nature shy and humble. They are free from mental agony and physical ailments. They are devoted to their parents. They are truthful in speech and are followers of Viṣṇu .
7. There is no one here who is not a devotee of Viṣṇu. There is no atheist here. All the people are ever ready to bring about the welfare of others. No one is greedy, knavish or wicked.
8. All the people are long-lived. Women consider their husbands gods. They are well-behaved and righteous and they are well-adorned with bashfulness and charity.
9. They have pride in their beauty and youthfulness. They adorn themselves with all kinds of ornaments. They are great experts in the conduct of life, befitting their nobility, chastity, age and decency.
10. The Kṣatriyas there are devoted to their duties. They are scrupulously engaged in protecting the subjects. They are liberal in charitable gifts. They are well-versed in the use of weapons and learning sacred treatises.
11-13. All of them always perform Yajñas with plenty of monetary gifts. Their sacrificial altars have the sacred posts decorated with gold. In their homes guests are worshipped far beyond their expectations. The Vaiśyas are engaged in such activities as agriculture, trade and breeding cattle. They please and propitiate with devotion and also plenty of wealth Devas , preceptors and Brāhmaṇas. If any suppliant goes to any house, he has no need to go to any other house.
14. They are experts in music, poetry, arts and crafts. They are pleasing in speech. The Śūdras there are virtuous and engaged in holy baths, charitable gifts and other pious activities.
15. They serve Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas, physically, mentally, verbally and by means of wealth. Persons of mixed castes too are well-established in their respective duties.
16. The seasons do not have any vagaries; the clouds do not shower untimely. There is no damage to plants and vegetation. There is no desert land. Hunger does not afflict the subjects.
17. There is neither famine nor any epidemic (in the land). There is no split or division in the realm. There is no object not available there, if at all it exists on the earth.
18-26. This land is full of all good qualities and different kinds of trees and creepers, viz. Arjuna , Aśoka , Punnāga (Calophyllum inophyllum), Tāla (Palmyra), Hintāla (Phoenix tree), Śāla (Sal tree), Prācīnāmalaka (Flacourtia cataphracta), Lodhra (Svamplocos racemosa), Bakulas , Nāgakesaras , Coconut Palms, Priyālas , Saralas , Himālayan cedars, Dhavas , Calectu, Marmelos, Jack-fruits, Wood Apples, Caṃpakas , Karṇikāras , Kovidāras , Pāṭalas , Kadambas , Margosa , Niculas , Mangoes, Embylic myrobalans, Oranges, Citrons, Nīpakas, Pomegranates, flowering plants of various varieties such as Mandāra , Pārijāta etc., Holy Fig Trees, Agallochum, Sandal trees, Kharjūras (Date Palms), Āmrātakas , Siddhas , Mucakundas (Pterospermunt acerifolium), Kiṃśukas , Tindukas , Saptaparṇas , Aśvatthas , Bibhītakas and various other trees of very charming nature.
There are Mālatīs , Kundas , Bāṇas , Black Karavīras , Ketakīs , Atimuktas , Kubjas , Cardamom, Lavaṅga (cloves), Kaṃkolas , Dāḍimas , Bījapūrakas etc. There are rows of areca-palms and many hundreds of parks and gardens. The land is surrounded by mountains and rivers. This excellent land, O brilliant Brāhmaṇas, is named Utkala.
27-28. This land is situated between Svarṇarekhā and Mahānadī reaching as far as Ṛṣikulyā that falls into the Southern Sea. In this holy spot there are many excellent shrines and sacred temples. Formerly they have been described to you, O Brāhmaṇas, in the course of the pilgrimage by me. This land of Puruṣottama is said to be now Bhūsvarga (‘Heaven on the Earth’).
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22918, revision 71083 (2016-06-11T10:39:59Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370726.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.