क्षणाच्चचाल गगने विमानं पवनेरितम् । मुहूर्ताद्वा ततः प्राप्तं देशे चान्ये मनोहरे
In a moment, the chariot moved through the sky, driven by the wind; soon after, it reached another enchanting land.
नन्दनं च वनं तत्र दृष्टमस्माभिरुत्तमम् । पारिजाततरुच्छायासंश्रिता सुरभिः स्थिता
There we saw the splendid Nandana grove, fragrant and shaded by Parijata trees.
चतुर्दन्तो गजस्तस्याः समीपे समवस्थितः । अप्सरसां तत्र वृन्दानि मेनकाप्रभृतीनि च
Near her stood a four-tusked elephant; there were groups of Apsaras, including Menaka and others.
क्रीडन्ति विविधैर्भावैर्गाननृत्यसमन्वितैः । गन्धर्वाः शतशस्तत्र यक्षा विद्याधरास्तथा
They played in various ways, accompanied by singing and dancing; hundreds of Gandharvas, as well as Yakshas and Vidyadharas, were also there.
मन्दारवाटिकामध्ये गायन्ति च रमन्ति च दृष्टः शतक्रतुस्तत्र पौलोम्या सहितः प्रभुः
In the midst of the Mandara garden, they sang and delighted; there we saw mighty Indra together with Paulomi.
वयं तु विस्मिताश्चास्म दृष्ट्वा त्रैविष्टपं तदा । यादःपतिं कुबेरं च यमं सूर्यं विभावसुम्
We were amazed to see that heavenly realm, along with the lord of the waters, Kubera, Yama, Surya, and Agni.
विलोक्य विस्मिताश्चास्म वयं तत्र सुरान्स्थितान् । तदा विनिर्गतो राजा पुरात्तस्मात्सुमण्डितात्
Seeing the gods assembled there, we were filled with wonder; then the king emerged from that splendid city.
देवराज इवाक्षोभ्यो नरवाह्यावनौ स्थितः । विमानस्था वयं तच्च चचाल तरसागतम्
Unshakable like the king of the gods, he stood on the earth with his army; as we watched from the chariot, it swiftly moved onward.
ब्रह्मलोकं तदा दिव्यं सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम् । तत्र ब्रह्माणमालोक्य विस्मितौ हरकेशवौ
Then, that divine world of Brahma, revered by all the gods—there, upon seeing Brahma, both Hara and Keshava were astonished.
सभायां तत्र वेदाश्च सर्वे साङ्गाः स्वरूपिणः । सागराः सरितश्चैव पर्वताः पन्नगोरगाः
In that assembly, all the Vedas with their branches appeared in their true forms, along with the oceans, rivers, mountains, and serpents and nagas.
मामूचतुश्चतुर्वक्त्रः कोऽयं ब्रह्मा सनातनः । ताववोचमहं नैव जाने सृष्टिपतिं पतिम्
The four-faced one said to me, 'Who is this eternal Brahma?' I replied, 'I do not know the lord and master of creation.'
कोऽहं कोऽयं किमर्थं वा भ्रमोऽयं मम चेश्वरौ । क्षणादथ विमानं तच्चचालाशु मनोजवम्
'Who am I? Who is he? For what reason is this confusion of mine, O lords?' Then, in an instant, that aerial chariot, swift as the mind, began to tremble.
कैलासशिखरे प्राप्तं रम्ये यक्षगणान्विते । मन्दारवाटिकारम्ये कीरकोकिलकूजिते
It arrived at the summit of Kailasa, beautiful and attended by hosts of yakshas, in a delightful grove of mandara trees, where peacocks and cuckoos called.
वीणामुरजवाद्यैश्च नादिते सुखदे शिवे । यदा प्राप्तं विमानं तत्तदैव सदनाच्छुभात्
With the pleasing sounds of veenas and drums resounding, bringing joy and auspiciousness, as soon as the chariot arrived, it halted at that blessed abode.
निर्गतो भगवाञ्छम्भुर्वृषारूढस्त्रिलोचनः । पञ्चाननो दशभुजः कृतसोमार्धशेखरः
The blessed Shambhu emerged, riding a bull, three-eyed, five-faced, ten-armed, adorned with the crescent moon upon his head.
व्याघ्रचर्मपरीधानो गजचर्मोत्तरीयकः । पार्ष्णिरक्षौ महावीरौ गजाननषडाननौ
Clad in a tiger skin, with an elephant hide as an upper garment, his two heroic sons stood by his heels—one with an elephant face, the other with six faces.
शिवेन सह पुत्रौ द्वौ व्रजमानौ विरेजतुः । नन्दिप्रभृतयः सर्वे गणपाश्च वराश्च ते
Together with Shiva, his two sons advanced, shining; all the attendants led by Nandi and the great hosts of ganas accompanied them.
जयशब्दं प्रयुञ्जाना व्रजन्ति शिवपृष्ठगाः । तं वीक्ष्य शङ्करं चान्यं विस्मितास्तत्र नारद
Uttering cries of victory, they proceeded behind Shiva; seeing that other Shankara, O Narada, we were all astonished there.
मातृभिः संशयाविष्टस्तत्राहं न्यवसं मुने । क्षणात्तस्माद्गिरेः शृङ्गाद्विमानं वातरंहसा
Filled with doubt by the Mothers, I remained there, O sage; then, in a moment, the chariot sped away from that mountain peak, swift as the wind.
वैकुण्ठसदनं प्राप्तं रमारमणमन्दिरम् । असम्भाव्या विभूतिश्च तत्र दृष्टा मया सुत
It reached the abode of Vaikuntha, the dwelling of the beloved of Rama; there, my son, I beheld an unimaginable splendor.
विसिष्मिये तदा विष्णुर्दृष्ट्वा तत्पुरमुत्तमम् । सदनाग्रे ययौ तावद्धरिः कमललोचनः
Then Vishnu was amazed upon seeing that supreme city; Hari, lotus-eyed, went to the front of the mansion.
अतसीकुसुमाभासः पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः । द्विजराजाधिरूढश्च दिव्याभरणभूषितः
Resembling the color of the flax flower, clad in yellow garments, four-armed, seated upon the king of birds, adorned with divine ornaments.
वीज्यमानस्तदा लक्ष्म्या कामिन्या चामरैः शुभैः । तं वीक्ष्य विस्मिताः सर्वे वयं विष्णुं सनातनम्
At that time, he was being fanned by Lakshmi, the lovely one, with auspicious fans; seeing that eternal Vishnu, we were all amazed.
परस्परं निरीक्षन्तः स्थितास्तस्मिन् वरासने । ततश्चचाल तरसा विमानं वातरंहसा
Gazing at one another, we stood there upon that excellent seat; then, suddenly, the chariot sped away swiftly as the wind.
सुधासमुद्रः सम्प्राप्तौ मिष्टवारिमहोर्मिमान् । यादोगणसमाकीर्णश्चलद्वीचिविराजितः
We arrived at the ocean of nectar, filled with sweet water and great waves, teeming with hosts of aquatic beings, adorned with moving waves.
मन्दारपारिजाताद्यैः पादपैरतिशोभितः । नानास्तरणसंयुक्तो नानाचित्रविचित्रितः
It was exceedingly beautiful with mandara, parijata, and other trees, furnished with various seats, and adorned with many wondrous decorations.
मुक्तादामपरिक्लिष्टो नानादामविराजितः । अशोकबकुलाख्यैश्च वृक्षैः कुरुबकादिभिः
Adorned with garlands of pearls and various other garlands, and graced by aśoka, bakula, kurubaka, and other trees,
संवृतः सर्वतः सौम्यैः केतकीचम्पकैर्वृतः । कोकिलारावसङ्घुष्टो दिव्यगन्धसमन्वितः
Surrounded on all sides by gentle ketakī and campaka trees, filled with the calls of cuckoos and pervaded by divine fragrances,
द्विरेफातिरणत्कारैरञ्जितः परमाद्भुतः । तस्मिन्द्वीपे शिवाकारः पर्यङ्कः सुमनोहरः
Enlivened by the humming of bees, most wondrous to behold, in that island stood a charming couch shaped like Śiva,
रत्नालिखचितोऽत्यर्थं नानारत्नविराजितः । दृष्टोऽस्माभिर्विमानस्थैर्दूरतः परिमण्डितः
Exquisitely inlaid with jewels and adorned with various precious stones, we saw it from afar, splendid among the celestial palaces,