Free description of Sveta dvipa
Skanda said:
After hearing Sriman Narayana speaking thus, Sage Narada, the greatest among the self-realized, always interested in the welfare of the world, addressed the Lord known as Achyuta and the preceptor of the world, thus: (1)
Narada asked:
Oh Lord! I have listened to your words; You take the form of a sage; You are the repository of great wealth; O Lord of the world! I think all that is visible in this world is your divine sport itself. (2)
Oh, Great Soul! By merely seeing you, all the desires of my heart are fulfilled; now I have become totally content. Oh, Lord! Even then, I desire to see your earlier form. I am very anxious to so. (3)
Shree Narayana said:
It is not possible to see my form by giving away donations, performing sacrifices and yoga, or penance. O Narada! Only those excellent, sincere devotees with their matchless devotion can see me. (4)
You have matchless devotion unto me. Your knowledge coupled with detachment (towards worldly things) is your own distinctive quality. Hence, you will see that form of mine, which is very difficult to see for the chief of the gods and others. (5)
I am very much pleased with your devotion. Now, I command you to see that form. Go to the island called ‘Swethadvipa’. Oh, excellent Brahmin! There you will have you desires fulfilled. (6)
Skanda said:
Narada, the son of Brahma, after listening to these words, worshipped the Lord, who Himself was a sage. Then, being a capable Yogi, he traveled in the sky and descended at once on the Meru mountain. (7)
Then the sage stood on the peak of the mountain in solitude for a short time (about 48 minutes). While standing, he saw a wonderful island in the northwest direction. (8)
That island was to the north of the Milky Ocean. It was famous as ‘sweta’ or white. It was vast. It was shining very bright with its mass of white light all around. (9)
It was full of the trees of mango, Asava (yellow Sal tree), Ashoka, hog, plum, Nimba, Kadamba (a kind of tree - said to put forth buds at the roaring of shimmering clouds), Neepa (a species of Kadamba tree) Bilva, Madhuka (a kind of Ashoka tree), Devadaru, Plaksha (Indian fig tree), Vata, Kinshuka, Sandal, Sarja, Saala, Jack, Neem, Kedaga, Champak and other fruit and flower bearing trees. It also had Kunda, Jaati, Suramallika and other flower bowers; the trees were bending down with fruits and flowers. With all these, the island was very pleasing to the eyes. (10-11)
This white island was full of several gardens of Areka and Kalpa trees containing golden plantains. There were several big beautiful parks, rivers and lakes with blossoming lotus, all enchanting with swans and other beautiful birds; fine groups of animals moving hither and thither, filled with their musical voices; thus the island was casting its charm. All the animate and inanimate beings that had attained salvation were living there. While Narada was seeing the island, the great devotees of the great Lord known as ‘Purushottama’ (best of all humans) came into his view. (12-13)
All of them had powers that were beyond the cognizance of the senses; they were free from all sins; they would not sweat or release anything dirty. They were spreading fragrance; some of them had two arms; some others four arms. Some were whitish and some were shining like the early morning sky. (14)
Some had eyes shining like the lotus bud; they had proportionate bodies, that were very handsome; they had divine limbs which were very powerful; with curvy hairs on their heads; they were eternally youthful (always having the age of twenty five); they had all the agreeable auspicious signs. (15) Their arms and limbs were bright with signs of a kind of lotus.
All of them were free from six kinds of undesirable entities – sorrow, attachment, old age, death, hunger and thirst; wearing white clothes, they were shining like the sun, engaged in meditation; they were people of poise. Even Yama, the Lord of death, would fear them. (16)
Savarni asked:
Who are those men, having powers beyond the senses, free from anxiety, sweat etc., and spreading sweet fragrance? How were they born? How is it that they have such a beautiful condition? Is the Swetadvipa situated central part of the Milky Ocean? How did you say that those who dwell there have powers that we cannot know about? (17-18)
They verily live in Brahman the Supreme Being, who is known as ‘Sachidananda’ (the form of eternal bliss); He is the eternal shelter of all! Only those who are full of pure intellect, free from bondage alone, can dwell here. Others cannot do so!(19)
Oh sage! Please clear my doubt. I am very inquisitive to know. You know very well about these things. Hence, I have approached you. Please instruct me. (20)
Skanda said:
Oh, Savarni! Those who have, in the previous Kalpas (a unit of thousands of millenniums), meditated on the Lord of Lakshmi, Lord Narayana in solitude, obtain the form of Brahman. They are free from birth and death. (21)
They are imperishable; they live in this island to serve Lord Vasudeva. Sage Narada saw them. (22)
When the dissolution of the world occurs, they are safely protected in the Akshaya-dhama (the eternal abode of the Lord that cannot perish). They are free people, with no fear of time and illusion. Even those possessing illusory knowledge overcome it by undertaking spiritual practices. (23-24) Oh, great sage! non-violence, penance, following ones own Dharma, renunciation, understanding the greatness of Vasudeva, loyalty to one’s own soul, limitless devotion, keeping constant company of great souls, not desiring salvation that is devoid of the service of Sri Hari, or other minor accomplishments like Anima etc., always listening to Sri Hari’s divine incarnations and divine activities — by these activities, men truly become equal to the dwellers of that Svethadvipa. (25-27)
Though they take birth at the time of the creation of the world, as they are free, they will not be born again and again (like bonded souls). They will not perish like others during the time of dissolution of the Universe. (28) O Sage! Listen! I will tell you an old story which mentions how ordinary men living here obtained that exalted state. (29)
Oh Brahmin! This is a long story. I heard this story in the presence of my father Parashiva (Lord Shiva). Now I will narrate it to you. That is the essence of the story. (30)
End of the fourth chapter known as ‘Free Desription of Sveta Dveepa’ in the second part of Vaishnava Khanda known as Sri Vasudeva Mahatmya