This dialogue is between Janamejaya, the great grandson of Arjun and Vaishampayana, the disciple of Vyasadeva. Vaishampayana is telling Janamejaya about glories of Kashmir valley. This conversation is found in Neelamat Puran.
यैव देवी उमा सैव कश्मीरा नृपसत्तम |
आसीत् सरः पूर्णजलं सुरम्यं सुमनोहरम् || 12
कल्पारम्भप्रभृति यत् पुरा मन्वन्तराणि षट् |
अस्मिन् मन्वन्तरे जातं विषयं सुमनोहरम् || 13
अस्मिन् मन्वन्तरे जातं विषयं सुमनोहरम् || 13
O best amongst the kings, the goddess Uma resides in the valley of Kashmir. Formerly, this valley was an enjoyable, heart-enrapturing lake for six Manvantaras since the beginning of the Kalpa. In this Manvantara, this region became a beautiful valley.
शालिमालाकुलं स्फ़ीतं सत्फ़लाद्यैः समन्वितम् |
स्वाध्यायध्यानेनिरतैर्यज्ञशीलैर्जनैर्युतम् || 14
तपस्विभिर्धर्मपरैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः |
क्षत्रियैः सुमहाभागैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगैः || 15
क्षत्रियैः सुमहाभागैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगैः || 15
वैश्यैः वृत्तिपरैः शूद्रैः द्विजातिपरिचारकैः |
देवतायतनोपेतं सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम् || 16
देवतायतनोपेतं सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम् || 16
Filled with rows of rice-fields, fully thriving and endowed with good fruits , this valley is inhabited by the people who perform sacrifices and are engaged in self-study and contemplation. Virtuous ascetics well-versed in the Vedas and the Vedangas live here. Highly prosperous Ksatriyas adept in the use of all the arms and weapons rule this valley. Here Vaisyas are engaged in earning the means of livelihood, and sudras are engaged in serving the twice-born Brahmins. It is bedecked with the holy temples and the holy places. This valley is very auspicious.
पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि तानि तत्र नराधिप |
ऋष्याश्रमसुसंबाधं शीतातपसुखं शुभम् || 17
ऋष्याश्रमसुसंबाधं शीतातपसुखं शुभम् || 17
0 protector of men ! all the sacred places, which are on the earth, are present in this Kashmir valley. It is thronged with the hermitages of the sages. This auspicious place is pleasant in both hot and cold seasons.
अधृशं परराष्ट्राणां तद्भयानामकोविदम् |
गोश्र्वनागादिबहुलं दुर्भिक्षातन्कवर्जितम् || 18
गोश्र्वनागादिबहुलं दुर्भिक्षातन्कवर्जितम् || 18
Unconquerable by the enemy-kingdoms, ignorant of the fears born of them, rich in cows, horses. elephants etc. it is devoid of the fear of famines.
अदेवमात्रिकं रम्यं पुण्यं प्राणभुतां हितम् |
सवसस्यगुणोपेतंह्यनातन्कं बहुप्रजम् || 19
सवसस्यगुणोपेतंह्यनातन्कं बहुप्रजम् || 19
Not dependent on rains, enjoyable, holy, beneficial for living beings, endowed with the qualities of producing all grains, it is devoid of dangers and is thickly populated.
स्त्रीभिश्र्च सुकुमाराभिर्देवालयसमश्रियम् |
दुष्टैः भुजन्गशार्दूलमहिषक्शैर्विवर्जितं || 20
दुष्टैः भुजन्गशार्दूलमहिषक्शैर्विवर्जितं || 20
Due to the presence of tender ladies, this valley possesses the grace like that of a temple . It is devoid of evil serpents, tigers, buffaloes and bears.
ब्रम्हघोशधनुघोषनित्योत्सवसमाकुलम् |
केलिप्रायजनाकीर्णं नित्यहृष्टैः जनैव्रितम् || 21
केलिप्रायजनाकीर्णं नित्यहृष्टैः जनैव्रितम् || 21
Always full of festivals and twanging of the bows and the sounds of the Vedic recitals, it is crowded with ever- sportive men and is surrounded by ever happy persons.
उद्यानारंभसंबाधं वीनापटहनादितम् |
नित्यशौण्डजनोपेतं संतां हृदयवल्लभम् || 22
नित्यशौण्डजनोपेतं संतां हृदयवल्लभम् || 22
Full of gardens and pleasure-groves and resounding with the sounds beautifully sounding musical instruments and flutes, it is always crowded with people fond of drinks and is dear to holy men.
नानापुष्पफ़लोपेतं नानादृमलतौषधं |
नानामृगगणकीर्णं सिद्धचारणसेवितम् || 23
नानामृगगणकीर्णं सिद्धचारणसेवितम् || 23
Laden with various types of flowers, fruits, trees, creepers and medicinal herbs, it is full with hosts of wild beasts and is enjoyed by the Siddhas and the Caranas.
कश्मीरामण्डलं पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थमरिन्दम |
तत्र नागहृदाः पुण्यास्तत्र पुण्याः शिलोच्चयाः || 24
तत्र नागहृदाः पुण्यास्तत्र पुण्याः शिलोच्चयाः || 24
तत्र नद्यास्तथा पुण्याः पुण्यानि च सरांस्यपि |
देवालया महापुण्यास्तेषां चैव तथाश्रमाः || 25
देवालया महापुण्यास्तेषां चैव तथाश्रमाः || 25
O controller of the enemies, the holy region of Kashmir is possessed of all the sacred places. There are sacred lakes of the Nagas and the holy mountains; there are holy rivers ; there are highly sacred temples and also the hermitages attached to them.
Notes :
1. There is further description of Kashmir in Neelamat Puran.
2. Manvantara is a period equal to lifetime of one Manu.
1 day of Brahma = 1 Kalpa
1 Kapla = 14 Manvantaras
1 Manvantara = 71 Daivayugas
1 Daivayuga = Satya yuga + Trata yuga + Dwapara yuga + Kali yuga
1 Satya yuga = 4 * Kali yuga
1 Trata yuga = 3 * Kali yuga
1 Dwapara yuga = 2 * Kali yuga
1 Satya yuga = 4 * Kali yuga
1 Trata yuga = 3 * Kali yuga
1 Dwapara yuga = 2 * Kali yuga
1 Kali yuga = 432000 solar years (human years)
Life of Brahma is 100 "Brahma years". Life of universe is same as life of Brahma.
Life of Brahma is 100 "Brahma years". Life of universe is same as life of Brahma.
3. Janamejaya is son of Maharaj Parikshit. Parikshit is son of Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu is son of Arjun. Arjuna is one of the Pandavas and a son of Kunti.
4. Neelamat puran is one of the upa-puranas and has 1453 Sanskrit verses.
5. Sidhaas and Caranaas are living beings on higher planetary systems of the universe.
