BOOK III – UTPATTI KAANDA
Chapter XVII – Story of the doubtful realm or reverie of lila
देशाद्देशान्तरप्राप्तौ संविदो मध्यमेव यत् ।
निमिषेण चिदाकाशं तद्विद्धि वरवर्णिनि ॥ १ ॥
deśāddeśāntaraprāptau saṃvido madhyameva yat |
nimiṣeṇa cidākāśaṃ tadviddhi varavarṇini || 1 ||
Sarasvati said:—Remove my child, the dead body of your husband to yonder shrine! and strew those flowers over it, and you shall have your husband again.
तस्मिन्निरस्तनिःशेषसंकल्पा स्थितिमेषि चेत् ।
सर्वात्मकं पदं तत्त्वं त्वं तदाप्नोष्यसंशयम् ॥ १३ ॥
tasminnirastaniḥśeṣasaṃkalpā sthitimeṣi cet |
sarvātmakaṃ padaṃ tattvaṃ tvaṃ tadāpnoṣyasaṃśayam || 13 ||
“If you will abide in that intellectual world, after forsaking all your mental desires, you will certainly come to the knowledge of that spiritual Being who comprehends all in himself.
अत्यन्ताभावसंपत्त्या जगतश्चैतदाप्यते ।
नान्यथा मद्वरेणाशु त्वं तु प्राप्स्यसि सुन्दरि ॥ १४ ॥
atyantābhāvasaṃpattyā jagataścaitadāpyate |
nānyathā madvareṇāśu tvaṃ tu prāpsyasi sundari || 14 ||
“It is only by your knowledge of the negative existence of the world, that you can come to know the positive existence of that Being, as you will now be able to do by my grace, and by no other means whatever.”
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
इत्युक्त्वा सा ययौ देवी दिव्यमात्मीयमास्पदम् ।
लीला तु लीलयैवासीन्निर्विकल्पसमाधिभाक् ॥ १५ ॥
śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca |
ityuktvā sā yayau devī divyamātmīyamāspadam |
līlā tu līlayaivāsīnnirvikalpasamādhibhāk || 15 ||
Vasishtha said:—so saying, the goddess repaired to her heavenly seat; and Lila sat gladly in her mood of steadfast meditation.
तत्तत्याज निमेषेण सान्तःकरणपञ्जरम् ।
स्वदेहं खमिवोड्डीना मुक्तनीडा विहंगमी ॥ १६ ॥
tattatyāja nimeṣeṇa sāntaḥkaraṇapañjaram |
svadehaṃ khamivoḍḍīnā muktanīḍā vihaṃgamī || 16 ||
She quitted in a moment the prison house of her body, and her soul broke out of its inner bound of the mind, to fly freely in the air, like a bird freed from its cage:
ददर्श खस्था भर्तारं तस्मिन्नेवालयाम्बरे ।
संस्थितं पृथिवीपालमास्थाने बहुराजनि ॥ १७ ॥
dadarśa khasthā bhartāraṃ tasminnevālayāmbare |
saṃsthitaṃ pṛthivīpālamāsthāne bahurājani || 17 ||
She ascended to the airy region of the Intellect, and saw (by her intellectual light) her husband seated there in his seat, amidst a group of princes and rulers of the earth.
पताकामञ्जरीकीर्णराजधानीगृहस्थितम् ।
पूर्वद्वारस्थितासंख्यमुनिविप्रर्षिमण्डलम् ॥ १९ ॥
patākāmañjarīkīrṇarājadhānīgṛhasthitam |
pūrvadvārasthitāsaṃkhyamuniviprarṣimaṇḍalam || 19 ||
The royal palace and hall were decorated with rows of flags, and there was an assemblage of unnumbered sages and saints, Brahmans and Rishis at the eastern entrance of the hall.
दक्षिणद्वारगासंख्यराजराजेशमण्डलम् ।
पश्चिमद्वारगासंख्यललनालोकमण्डलम् ॥ २० ॥
dakṣiṇadvāragāsaṃkhyarājarājeśamaṇḍalam |
paścimadvāragāsaṃkhyalalanālokamaṇḍalam || 20 ||
There stood a levy of innumerable princes and chiefs of men at the southern porch, and a bevy of young ladies standing at the western door-way.
उत्तरद्वारगासंख्यरथहस्त्यश्वसंकुलम् ।
एकभृत्यविनिर्णीतदक्षिणापथविग्रहम् ॥ २१ ॥
uttaradvāragāsaṃkhyarathahastyaśvasaṃkulam |
ekabhṛtyavinirṇītadakṣiṇāpathavigraham || 21 ||
The northern gateway was blocked by lines of horse, carriages and elephants; when a guard advanced and informed the king of a warfare in Deccan.
कर्णाटनाथरचितपूर्वदेशक्रियाक्रमम् ।
सुराष्ट्राधिपनिर्णीतसर्वम्लेच्छोत्तरापथम् ॥ २२ ॥
karṇāṭanātharacitapūrvadeśakriyākramam |
surāṣṭrādhipanirṇītasarvamlecchottarāpatham || 22 ||
He said that the chief of Karnatic, has made an attack on the eastern frontier; and that the chieftain of Surat, has brought to subjection the barbarous tribes on the north; and that the ruler of Malwa, has besieged the city of Tonkan on the west.
मालदेशसमाक्रान्तसर्वपाश्चात्यतङ्गणम् ।
दक्षिणाब्धितटायातलङ्कादूतविनोदितम् ॥ २३ ॥
māladeśasamākrāntasarvapāścātyataṅgaṇam |
dakṣiṇābdhitaṭāyātalaṅkādūtavinoditam || 23 ||
Then there was the reception of the ambassador from Lanka, coming from the coast of the southern sea.
पूर्वाब्धितटमाहेन्द्रसिद्धोक्तगगनापगम् ।
उत्तराब्धितटायातदूतवर्णितगुह्यकम् ॥ २४ ॥
pūrvābdhitaṭamāhendrasiddhoktagaganāpagam |
uttarābdhitaṭāyātadūtavarṇitaguhyakam || 24 ||
There appeared next the Siddhas, coming from the Mahendra mountains bordering the eastern main, and traversing the numerous rivers of their fluvial districts; as also the ambassador of the Guhyaka or Yaksha tribes, inhabiting the shores of the northern sea.
पश्चिमाब्धितटालोकवर्णितास्तमद्यक्रमम् ।
असंख्यवद्धभूपालकलाकीर्णाखिलाजिरम् ॥ २५ ॥
paścimābdhitaṭālokavarṇitāstamadyakramam |
asaṃkhyavaddhabhūpālakalākīrṇākhilājiram || 25 ||
There were likewise the envoys, visiting the shores of the western main, and relating the state of affairs of that territory to the king. The whole courtyard was filled with lustre by the assemblage of unnumbered chieftains from all quarters.
यज्ञवाटपठद्विप्र जिततूर्याग्रनिःस्वनम् ।
बन्दिकोलाहलोल्लासप्रतिश्रुद्वनकुञ्जरम् ॥ २६ ॥
yajñavāṭapaṭhadvipra jitatūryāgraniḥsvanam |
bandikolāhalollāsapratiśrudvanakuñjaram || 26 ||
The recitals of Brahmans on sacrificial altars, died away under the sound of the timbrels; and the loud shouts of panegyrists, were re-echoed by the uproar of elephants.
गेयवाद्योद्यतध्वानप्रध्वनद्गगनान्तरम् ।
हयहस्तिरथाराजिरजोमेघघनाम्बरम् ॥ २७ ॥
geyavādyodyatadhvānapradhvanadgaganāntaram |
hayahastirathārājirajomeghaghanāmbaram || 27 ||
The vault of heaven, resounding to the sound of the vocal and instrumental music; and the dust raised by the procession of elephants and chariots, and the trotting of horses’ hoofs, obscured the face of the sky as by a cloud.
पुष्पकर्पूरधूपाढ्यं गन्धामोदितपर्वतम् ।
सर्वमण्डलसंभाररचितानेकशासनम् ॥ २८ ॥
puṣpakarpūradhūpāḍhyaṃ gandhāmoditaparvatam |
sarvamaṇḍalasaṃbhāraracitānekaśāsanam || 28 ||
The air was perfumed by the fragrance of flowers, camphor and heaps of frankincense; and the royal hall was filled with presents sent from different provinces.
यशःकर्पूरजलदसुशुभ्राम्बरपर्वतम् ।
रोदसीस्तम्भभूतैकस्वप्रतापजितार्ककम् ॥ २९ ॥
yaśaḥkarpūrajaladasuśubhrāmbaraparvatam |
rodasīstambhabhūtaikasvapratāpajitārkakam || 29 ||
His fair fame shone forth as a burning hill of white camphor, and raised a column of splendour reaching to the sky, and casting into shade the solar light.
आरम्भमन्थरोदारकार्यसंव्यग्रभूमिपम् ।
नानानगरनिर्माणसोद्योगस्थपतीश्वरम् ॥ ३० ॥
ārambhamantharodārakāryasaṃvyagrabhūmipam |
nānānagaranirmāṇasodyogasthapatīśvaram || 30 ||
There were the rulers of districts, who were busily employed in their grave and momentous duties, and the great architects who conducted the building of many cities.
पपाताथ महारम्भा सा तां नरपतेः सभाम् ।
व्योमात्मिका व्योममयीं मिहिकेवाम्बराटवीम् ॥ ३१ ॥
papātātha mahārambhā sā tāṃ narapateḥ sabhām |
vyomātmikā vyomamayīṃ mihikevāmbarāṭavīm || 31 ||
Then the ardent Lila entered the court-hall of the ruler of men, and unseen by any, just as one void mixes with another void, and as air is lost in the air.
भ्रमन्तीं तत्र तामग्रे ददृशुस्ते न केचन ।
संकल्पमात्ररचितां पुरुषाः कामिनीमिव ॥ ३२ ॥
bhramantīṃ tatra tāmagre dadṛśuste na kecana |
saṃkalpamātraracitāṃ puruṣāḥ kāminīmiva || 32 ||
She wandered about without being seen by any body there; just as a fair figure, formed by false imagination of our fond desire, is not to be perceived by any one without ourselves.
तथा ते तां न ददृशुः संचरन्तीं पुरोगताम् ।
अन्यसंकल्परचितामन्येन नगरीं यथा ॥ ३३ ॥
tathā te tāṃ na dadṛśuḥ saṃcarantīṃ purogatām |
anyasaṃkalparacitāmanyena nagarīṃ yathā || 33 ||
In this manner she continued to walk about the palace unperceived by all, as the aerial castle built in one’s mind, is not perceived by another.
प्राक्तनानेव तान्सर्वान्स्वान्ददर्श सभागतान् ।
भूभृतेव सुसंप्रज्ञान्नगरान्नगरान्तरम् ॥ ३४ ॥
prāktanāneva tānsarvānsvāndadarśa sabhāgatān |
bhūbhṛteva susaṃprajñānnagarānnagarāntaram || 34 ||
She beheld them all assembled in the royal court in their former forms, and saw all the cities of the princes, as concentrated in that single city of her lord’s.
तद्देशांस्तत्समाचारांस्तथा तानेव बालकान् ।
ता एव बालवनितास्तांस्तानेव च मन्त्रिणः ॥ ३५ ॥
taddeśāṃstatsamācārāṃstathā tāneva bālakān |
tā eva bālavanitāstāṃstāneva ca mantriṇaḥ || 35 ||
She viewed the same places, the same dealings, the same concourse of boys, and the same sorts of men and women, and the same ministers as before.
तानेव भूमिपालांश्च तांस्तानेव च पण्डितान् ।
तानेव नर्मसचिवान्भृत्यांस्तानेव तादृशान् ॥ ३६ ॥
tāneva bhūmipālāṃśca tāṃstāneva ca paṇḍitān |
tāneva narmasacivānbhṛtyāṃstāneva tādṛśān || 36 ||
She saw the same rulers of earth, and the very same Pandits as before; the identic courtiers and the self-same servants as ever.
अथान्यानप्यपूर्वांश्च पण्डितान्सुहृदस्तथा ।
व्यवहारांस्तथान्यांश्च पौरानन्यांस्तथैव च ॥ ३७ ॥
athānyānapyapūrvāṃśca paṇḍitānsuhṛdastathā |
vyavahārāṃstathānyāṃśca paurānanyāṃstathaiva ca || 37 ||
There was the same assemblage of the learned men and friends as before, and the like throng of citizens pursuing their former course of business.
मध्याह्नकाले दिवसे घनदावाकुला दिशः ।
अन्तरिक्षं सचन्द्रार्कं साम्भोदपवनध्वनि ॥ ३८ ॥
madhyāhnakāle divase ghanadāvākulā diśaḥ |
antarikṣaṃ sacandrārkaṃ sāmbhodapavanadhvani || 38 ||
She saw on a sudden, the flames of wild fire spreading on all sides even in broad midday light; and the sun and moon appearing both at once in the sky, and the clouds roaring with a tremendous noise, with the whistling of the winds.
महीरुहनदीशैलपुरपत्तनमण्डितम् ।
नानानगरविन्यास जङ्गलग्रामसंकुलम् ॥ ३९ ॥
mahīruhanadīśailapurapattanamaṇḍitam |
nānānagaravinyāsa jaṅgalagrāmasaṃkulam || 39 ||
She saw the trees, the hills, the rivers and the cities flourishing with population; and the many towns, and villages and forests all about.
द्विरष्टवर्षं भूपालं प्राक्तन्या जरसोज्झितम् ।
प्राक्तनीं जनतां सर्वां समस्तान्ग्रामवासिनः ॥ ४० ॥
dviraṣṭavarṣaṃ bhūpālaṃ prāktanyā jarasojjhitam |
prāktanīṃ janatāṃ sarvāṃ samastāngrāmavāsinaḥ || 40 ||
She beheld her royal consort as a boy of ten years of age after shaking off his former frame of old age, sitting amidst the hall with all his former retinue, and all the inhabitants of his village.
सा तानालोक्य ललना चिन्तापरवशाभवत् ।
तस्मिन्नगरवास्तव्याः किं ते सर्वे मृता इति ॥ ४१ ॥
sā tānālokya lalanā cintāparavaśābhavat |
tasminnagaravāstavyāḥ kiṃ te sarve mṛtā iti || 41 ||
Lila having seen all these began to reflect within herself, whether the inhabitants of this place were living beings or the ghosts of their former living souls.
पुनः प्रज्ञप्तिबोधेन प्राक्तनान्तःपुरं गता ।
क्षणेन च ददर्शात्र सार्धरात्रे तथैव तान् ॥ ४२ ॥
punaḥ prajñaptibodhena prāktanāntaḥpuraṃ gatā |
kṣaṇena ca dadarśātra sārdharātre tathaiva tān || 42 ||
Then having recovered her sense at the removal of her trance, she entered into her inner apartment at midnight, and found the inmates fast bound in sleep.
अथ सोत्थापयामास निद्राक्रान्तं सखीजनम् ।
आह चातीव मे दुःखमास्थानं दीयतामिति ॥ ४३ ॥
atha sotthāpayāmāsa nidrākrāntaṃ sakhījanam |
āha cātīva me duḥkhamāsthānaṃ dīyatāmiti || 43 ||
She raised one by one her sleeping companions, and said she was anxious to visit the royal hall.
भर्तुः सिंहासनस्यास्य पार्श्वे तिष्ठाम्यहं यदि ।
पश्यामि स्वभ्यसंघातं तत्प्रजीवामि नान्यथा ॥ ४४ ॥
bhartuḥ siṃhāsanasyāsya pārśve tiṣṭhāmyahaṃ yadi |
paśyāmi svabhyasaṃghātaṃ tatprajīvāmi nānyathā || 44 ||
She wanted to be seated beside the throne of her lord, and to clear her doubt by seeing the courtiers all alive.
स राजपरिवारोऽथ तयेत्युक्ते यथाक्रमम् ।
आसीद्विनिद्रः संव्यग्रः सर्वः सर्वस्वकर्मणि ॥ ४५ ॥
sa rājaparivāro’tha tayetyukte yathākramam |
āsīdvinidraḥ saṃvyagraḥ sarvaḥ sarvasvakarmaṇi || 45 ||
The royal menials rose up at her call, and obedient to her command they said “Be it so,”and attended to their respective duties.
पौरान्सभ्यात्समानेतुं ययुर्याष्टीकपङ्क्तयः ।
व्यवहारं कलयितुमुर्व्यामर्ककरा इव ॥ ४६ ॥
paurānsabhyātsamānetuṃ yayuryāṣṭīkapaṅktayaḥ |
vyavahāraṃ kalayitumurvyāmarkakarā iva || 46 ||
A train of club-bearers ran to all sides to call the courtiers from the city, and sweepers came and swept the ground as clean as the sun had shed his rays upon it.
आस्थानभूमिं भृत्याश्च मार्जयामासुरादृताः ।
प्रावृट्पयोदमलिन खं शरद्वासरा इव ॥ ४७ ॥
āsthānabhūmiṃ bhṛtyāśca mārjayāmāsurādṛtāḥ |
prāvṛṭpayodamalina khaṃ śaradvāsarā iva || 47 ||
A better set of servants cleansed the court-yard as clean, as autumn days clear the firmament of its rainy clouds.
अङ्गणं प्रति दीपौघास्तस्थुः पीततमोम्भसः ।
आश्चर्यदर्शनायेव संप्राप्ता ऋक्षपङ्क्तयः ॥ ४८ ॥
aṅgaṇaṃ prati dīpaughāstasthuḥ pītatamombhasaḥ |
āścaryadarśanāyeva saṃprāptā ṛkṣapaṅktayaḥ || 48 ||
Rows of lights were placed about the court-yard, which looked as beautiful as clusters of stars in the clear sky.
जनताः पूरयामासुः पूरैरजिरभूमिकाः ।
अब्धीन्प्रलयसंशुष्कान्पुरासर्ग इवाम्भसा ॥ ४९ ॥
janatāḥ pūrayāmāsuḥ pūrairajirabhūmikāḥ |
abdhīnpralayasaṃśuṣkānpurāsarga ivāmbhasā || 49 ||
The ground of the court-yard was filled by throngs of people, as the earth was covered of yore by floods of the great deluge.
आजग्मुर्मन्त्रिसामन्ताः स्वंस्वं स्थानमनिन्दिताः ।
त्रैलोक्ये पुनरुत्पन्ने लोकपाला यथा दिशः ॥ ५० ॥
ājagmurmantrisāmantāḥ svaṃsvaṃ sthānamaninditāḥ |
trailokye punarutpanne lokapālā yathā diśaḥ || 50 ||
The dignified ministers and chiefs attended first and took their respective seats, and appeared as a set of the newly created rulers of people of the world on all sides, or the regents of the quarters of the sky.
ववुराकीर्णकर्पूरसान्द्रावश्यायशीतलाः ।
उत्फुल्लकुसुमोद्वान्तमांसलामोदितानिलाः ॥ ५१ ॥
vavurākīrṇakarpūrasāndrāvaśyāyaśītalāḥ |
utphullakusumodvāntamāṃsalāmoditānilāḥ || 51 ||
The cooling and fragrant odour of thickly pasted camphor filled the palace, and the sweet-scented zephyrs breathed profusely the fragrance of the lotus flowers, which they bore from all sides.
पर्यन्तेषु प्रतीहारास्तस्थुर्धवलवाससः ।
ऋष्यमूकार्कतापार्तमेघमाला इवाद्रिषु ॥ ५२ ॥
paryanteṣu pratīhārāstasthurdhavalavāsasaḥ |
ṛṣyamūkārkatāpārtameghamālā ivādriṣu || 52 ||
The chamberlains stood all around in their white garbs, and appeared as an assemblage of silvery clouds, hanging over the burning hills under the equator.
प्रभापीततमः पुञ्जाः पेतुः पुष्पोत्करा भुवि ।
चण्डमारुतविध्वस्तास्तारकानिकरा इव ॥ ५३ ॥
prabhāpītatamaḥ puñjāḥ petuḥ puṣpotkarā bhuvi |
caṇḍamārutavidhvastāstārakānikarā iva || 53 ||
The ground was strewn over by the morning breeze with heaps of flowers, bright as the beaming dawn dispelling the gloom of night, and etiolated as clusters of stars fallen upon the ground.
आस्थानं पूरयामासुर्महीपालानुयायिनः ।
उत्फुल्लकमलोत्कीर्णं हंसा इव सरोवरम् ॥ ५४ ॥
āsthānaṃ pūrayāmāsurmahīpālānuyāyinaḥ |
utphullakamalotkīrṇaṃ haṃsā iva sarovaram || 54 ||
The palace was crowded by the retinue of the chiefs of the land, and seemed as it was a lake full of full-blown lotuses, with the fair swans rambling about them.
सिंहासनसमीपस्थे हैमचित्रासने नवे ।
उपाविशदसौ लीला लीलेव स्मरचेतसि ॥ ५५ ॥
siṃhāsanasamīpasthe haimacitrāsane nave |
upāviśadasau līlā līleva smaracetasi || 55 ||
There Lila took her seat on a golden seat by the side of the throne, and appeared as the beauteous Rati seated in the joyous heart of Kama.
ददर्श तान्नृपान्सर्वान्पूर्वानेव यथास्थितान् ।
गुरूनार्यान्सखीन्सभ्यान्सुहृत्संबन्धिबान्धवान् ॥ ५६ ॥
dadarśa tānnṛpānsarvānpūrvāneva yathāsthitān |
gurūnāryānsakhīnsabhyānsuhṛtsaṃbandhibāndhavān || 56 ||
She saw all the princes seated in their order as before, and the elders of the people and the nobles of men and all her friends and relatives, seated in their proper places.
सकलमेव हि पूर्ववदेव सा समवलोक्य मुदं परमां ययौ ।
नृपतिराष्ट्रजनं खलु जीवनाभ्युदितया च बभौ शशिवच्छ्रिया ॥ ५७ ॥
sakalameva hi pūrvavadeva sā samavalokya mudaṃ paramāṃ yayau |
nṛpatirāṣṭrajanaṃ khalu jīvanābhyuditayā ca babhau śaśivacchriyā || 57 ||
She was highly delighted to behold them all in their former states, and shone forth as the moon with the brightness of her countenance, to find them all alive again.
Janamejayan's धर्म जिज्ञासा 