व्यास उवाच पूर्वं मया ते कथितं मणिद्वीपं मनोहरम् । क्रीडास्थानं सदा देव्या वल्लभं परमं स्मृतम्
Vyasa said: Previously I described to you the enchanting Mani-dvipa, always remembered as the supreme and beloved playground of the Goddess.
यत्र ब्रह्मा हरिः स्थाणुः स्त्रीभावं ते प्रपेदिरे । पुरुषत्वं पुनः प्राप्य स्वानि कार्याणि चक्रिरे
There, Brahma, Hari, and Sthanu assumed female forms; regaining their male forms, they performed their respective duties.
यः सुधासिन्धुमध्येऽस्ति द्वीपः परमशोभनः । नानारूपैः सदा तत्र विहारं कुरुतेऽम्बिका
In the midst of the nectar ocean is that most splendid island, where Ambika always delights in various forms.
स्तुता सम्पूजिता देवैः सा तत्रैव गता शिवा । यत्र संक्रीडते नित्यं मायाशक्तिः सनातनी
Praised and worshipped by the gods, She, the auspicious one, went there—where the eternal power of Maya ever sports.
देवास्तां निर्गतां वीक्ष्य देवीं सर्वेश्वरीं तथा । रविवंशोद्भवं चक्रुर्भूमिपालं महाबलम्
Seeing the Goddess, the Sovereign of all, depart, the gods then established a mighty king, born of the solar dynasty.
अयोध्याधिपतिं वीरं शत्रुघ्नं नाम पार्थिवम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं महिषस्यासने शुभे
They made Shatrughna, the valiant lord of Ayodhya, a king endowed with all auspicious marks, seat him upon the noble throne of Mahisha.
दत्त्वा राज्यं तदा तस्मै देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः । स्वकीयैर्वाहनैः सर्वे जग्मुः स्वान्यालयानि ते
Then the gods, led by Indra, gave him the kingdom; all of them departed to their own abodes on their respective vehicles.
गतेषु तेषु देवेषु पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते । धर्मराज्यं बभूवाथ प्रजाश्च सुखितास्तथा
When the gods had departed from the earth, O king, a righteous rule prevailed, and the people were likewise happy.
पर्जन्यः कालवर्षी च धरा धान्यगुणावृता । पादपाः फलपुष्पाढ्या बभूवुः सुखदाः सदा
The clouds rained in due season, the earth was rich with grain and virtue, and the trees, laden with fruit and flowers, always brought happiness.
गावश्च क्षीरसम्पना घटोध्न्यः कामदा नृणाम् । नद्यः सुमार्गगाः स्वच्छाः शीतोदाः खगसंयुताः
The cows were abundant in milk, yielding pots full, granting desires to men; the rivers flowed in good courses, clear, with cool waters, and filled with birds.
ब्राह्मणा वेदतत्त्वाश्च यज्ञकर्मरतास्तथा । क्षत्रिया धर्मसंयुक्ता दानाध्ययनतत्पराः
The Brahmins were devoted to the essence of the Vedas and engaged in sacrificial rites; likewise, the Kshatriyas were joined with righteousness and intent on giving and study.
शस्त्रविद्यारता नित्यं प्रजारक्षणतत्पराः । न्यायदण्डधराः सर्वे राजानः शमसंयुताः
They were always devoted to the science of weapons and the protection of their people; all the kings, bearing the staff of justice, were endowed with tranquility.
अविरोधस्तु भूतानां सर्वेषां सम्बभूव ह । आकरा धनदा नृणां व्रजा गोयूथसंयुताः
There was no hostility among any beings; all mines were sources of wealth for people, and herds of cattle filled the pastures.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्च नृपसत्तम । देवीभक्तिपराः सर्वे सम्बभूवुर्धरातले
O best of kings, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—all became devoted to the worship of the Goddess upon the earth.
सर्वत्र यज्ञयूपाश्च मण्डपाश्च मनोहराः । मखैः पूर्णा धराश्चासन् ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैः कृतैः
Everywhere there were sacrificial posts and beautiful pavilions; the earth was filled with sacrifices performed by Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
पतिव्रतधरा नार्यः सुशीलाः सत्यसंयुताः । पितृभक्तिपराः पुत्रा आसन्धर्मपरायणाः
Women upheld fidelity to their husbands, were of good character, and truthful; sons were devoted to their fathers and steadfast in righteousness.
न पाखण्डं न वाधर्मः कुत्रापि पृथिवीतले । वेदवादा शास्त्रवादा नान्ये वादास्तथाभवन्
Nowhere on earth was there hypocrisy or unrighteousness; only discussions of the Vedas and scriptures prevailed, and no other doctrines arose.
कलहो नैव केषाञ्चिन्न दैन्यं नाशुभा मतिः । सर्वत्र सुखिनो लोकाः काले च मरणं तथा
There was no quarrel among anyone, nor poverty, nor evil-mindedness; everywhere people were happy, and death came at its proper time.
सुहृदां न वियोगश्च नापदश्च कदाचन । नानावृष्टिर्न दुर्भिक्षं न मारी दुःखदा नृणाम्
There was never separation from friends, nor any calamity; there was no irregular rain, no famine, nor any disease that brought suffering to people.
न रोगो न च मात्सर्यं न विरोधः परस्परम् । सर्वत्र सुखसम्पन्ना नरा नार्यः सुखान्विताः
There was no illness, no envy, and no mutual hostility; everywhere men and women were filled with happiness and prosperity.
क्रीडन्ति मानवाः सर्वे स्वर्गे देवगणा इव । न चौरा न च पाखण्डा वञ्चका दम्भकास्तथा
All people played joyfully, like hosts of gods in heaven; there were no thieves, no hypocrites, no deceivers, nor pretenders.
पिशुना लम्पटाः स्तब्धा न बभूवुस्तदा नृप । न वेदद्वेषिणः पापा मानवाः पृथिवीपते
At that time, O king, there were no slanderers, libertines, or arrogant ones; nor were there any who hated the Vedas or sinful men.
सर्वधर्मरता नित्यं द्विजसेवापरायणाः । त्रिधात्वात्सृष्टिधर्मस्य त्रिविधा ब्राह्मणास्ततः
All were always devoted to all duties and intent on serving the twice-born; thus, according to the threefold nature of creation, the Brahmins were of three kinds.
सात्त्विका राजसाश्चैव तामसाश्च तथापरे । सर्वे वेदविदो दक्षाः सात्त्विकाः सत्त्ववृत्तयः
Some were sattvic, some rajasic, and others tamasic; all were skilled in the Vedas, but the sattvic were of pure disposition.
प्रतिग्रहविहीनाश्च दयादमपरायणाः । यज्ञास्ते सात्त्विकैरन्नैः कुर्वाणा धर्मतत्पराः
They were free from accepting gifts and intent on compassion and self-control; those devoted to righteousness performed sacrifices with pure foods.
पुरोडाशविधानैश्च पशुभिर्न कदाचन । दानमध्ययनञ्चैव यजनं तु तृतीयकम्
They never used animal offerings in the preparation of sacrificial cakes; giving, study, and sacrifice were their threefold duties.
त्रिकर्मरसिकास्ते वै सात्त्विका ब्राह्मणा नृप । राजसा वेदविद्वांसः क्षत्रियाणां पुरोहिताः
O king, those sattvic Brahmins delighted in these three acts; the rajasic ones, learned in the Vedas, served as priests for the Kshatriyas.
षट्कर्मनिरता सर्वे विधिवन्मांसभक्षकाः । यजनं याजनं दानं तथैव च प्रतिग्रहः
All were engaged in the six duties, and, according to rule, consumed meat; sacrifice, officiating at sacrifices, giving, and likewise accepting gifts.
अध्ययनं तु वेदानां तथैवाध्यापनं तु षट् । तामसाः क्रोधसंयुक्ता रागद्वेषपराः पुनः
The study of the Vedas, and likewise the teaching of the six (Vedāṅgas), were performed by those of tamasic nature, filled with anger, and devoted to passion and hatred.
राज्ञां कर्मकरा नित्यं किञ्चिदध्ययने रताः । महिषे निहते सर्वे सुखिनो वेदतत्पराः
The servants of kings, always engaged in their duties, took some delight in study; when the buffalo was slain, all became happy and devoted to the Vedas.