The Glory of Mathura

Verse 1 (skanda.2.150.1)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। कस्मिन्क्षेत्रे हि देवेश मार्गशीर्षोऽधिकः स्मृतः ।। किं फलं च भवेत्तस्मिन्नेतत्सर्वं वद प्रभो

brahmovāca kasminkṣetre hi deveśa mārgaśīrṣo'dhikaḥ smṛtaḥ kiṁ phalaṁ ca bhavettasminnetatsarvaṁ vada prabho

Brahma said: In which sacred field, O Lord of gods, is Margashirsha remembered as most excellent? And what fruit occurs there? Tell me all this, O Lord.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.150.2)

।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। मधुरेति सुविख्यातमस्ति क्षेत्रं परं मम ।। सुरम्या च प्रशस्ता च जन्मभूमिः प्रिया मम

śrībhagavānuvāca madhureti suvikhyātamasti kṣetraṁ paraṁ mama suramyā ca praśastā ca janmabhūmiḥ priyā mama

The Blessed Lord said: There is a supreme sacred field of mine, well-renowned as Mathura — most beautiful, most excellent, and my dear birthplace.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.150.3)

पदेपदे तीर्थफलं मधुरायां चतुर्मुख ।। यत्रयत्र नरः स्नातो मुच्यते घोरकिल्बिषात्

padepade tīrthaphalaṁ madhurāyāṁ caturmukha yatrayatra naraḥ snāto mucyate ghorakilbiṣāt

O four-faced one, at every single step in Mathura is the fruit of a tirtha; wherever a man bathes there, he is freed from terrible sin.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.150.4)

सर्वधर्मविहीनानां पुरुषाणां दुरात्मनाम् ।। नरकार्तिहरा पुत्र मधुरा पापनाशिनी

sarvadharmavihīnānāṁ puruṣāṇāṁ durātmanām narakārtiharā putra madhurā pāpanāśinī

For men utterly devoid of dharma, of wicked soul, Mathura, my son, removes the torment of hell and destroys sin.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.150.5)

कृतघ्नश्च सुरापश्च चौरो भग्नव्रतस्तथा ।। मधुरां प्राप्य मनुजो मुच्यते घोरपातकात्

kṛtaghnaśca surāpaśca cauro bhagnavratastathā madhurāṁ prāpya manujo mucyate ghorapātakāt

The ungrateful, the wine-drinker, the thief, and likewise the vow-breaker — a man, upon reaching Mathura, is freed from terrible sin.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.150.6)

सूर्यौदये तमो नश्येद्यथा वज्रभयान्नगाः ।। तार्क्ष्यं दृष्ट्वा यथा सर्पा मेघा वातहता यथा

sūryaudaye tamo naśyedyathā vajrabhayānnagāḥ tārkṣyaṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā sarpā meghā vātahatā yathā

As darkness vanishes at sunrise, as serpents flee from the fear of the thunderbolt, as snakes flee on seeing Garuda, as clouds are struck and scattered by the wind—

Verse 7 (skanda.2.150.7)

तत्त्वज्ञानाद्यथा दुःखं हरिं दृष्ट्वा यथा गजाः ।। तथा पापानि नश्यंति मथुरादर्शनात्सुत

tattvajñānādyathā duḥkhaṁ hariṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā gajāḥ tathā pāpāni naśyaṁti mathurādarśanātsuta

—as sorrow vanishes through knowledge of truth, as elephants flee on seeing a lion — so, my son, do sins vanish at the mere sight of Mathura.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.150.8)

श्रद्धया भक्तियुक्तस्तु दृष्ट्वा मधुपुरीं नरः ।। ब्रह्महाऽपि विशुध्येत किं पुनस्त्वन्यपातकी

śraddhayā bhaktiyuktastu dṛṣṭvā madhupurīṁ naraḥ brahmahā'pi viśudhyeta kiṁ punastvanyapātakī

A man who beholds Madhupuri with faith and devotion — even a slayer of a brahmin becomes purified; how much more, then, one guilty of any other sin!

Verse 9 (skanda.2.150.9)

मथुरां स्नातुकामस्य गच्छतस्तु पदेपदे ।। निराशानि व्रजंत्येव पापानि च शरीरतः

mathurāṁ snātukāmasya gacchatastu padepade nirāśāni vrajaṁtyeva pāpāni ca śarīrataḥ

For one desiring to bathe in Mathura, at every single step as he goes, sins depart from his body, hopeless of remaining.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.150.10)

अनुषंगेण गच्छंति वाणिज्येनाऽपि सेवया ।। मधुरास्नानमात्रेण दिवं यांति गतांहसः

anuṣaṁgeṇa gacchaṁti vāṇijyenā'pi sevayā madhurāsnānamātreṇa divaṁ yāṁti gatāṁhasaḥ

They depart even through mere incidental connection — through trade, or through service; by simply bathing in Mathura, men freed of sin go to heaven.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.150.11)

नामाऽपि गृह्णतामस्याः सदा मुक्तिर्न संशयः ।। सदा कृतयुगं तत्र सदा चैवोत्तरायणम्

nāmā'pi gṛhṇatāmasyāḥ sadā muktirna saṁśayaḥ sadā kṛtayugaṁ tatra sadā caivottarāyaṇam

For those who even merely utter its name, liberation is ever certain, without doubt; there it is ever the Krita Yuga, and ever the northern solstice.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.150.12)

यः शृणोति चतुर्वक्त्र माधुरं मम मंदिरम् ।। अन्येनोच्चारिते सद्यः सोऽपि पापात्प्रमुच्यते

yaḥ śṛṇoti caturvaktra mādhuraṁ mama maṁdiram anyenoccārite sadyaḥ so'pi pāpātpramucyate

O four-faced one, whoever hears of my temple at Mathura — even when spoken by another — he too is instantly freed from sin.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.150.13)

त्रिरात्रमपि ये तत्र वसंति मनुजाः सुत ।। तेषां पुनंति सहृष्टाः स्पृष्टाश्चरणरेणवः

trirātramapi ye tatra vasaṁti manujāḥ suta teṣāṁ punaṁti sahṛṣṭāḥ spṛṣṭāścaraṇareṇavaḥ

Those men, my son, who dwell there even for three nights — the dust of their feet, gladly touched, purifies others too.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.150.14)

यथा तृणसमूहं तु ज्वलयंति स्फुलिंगकाः ।। तथा महांति पापानि दहते मथुरा पुरी

yathā tṛṇasamūhaṁ tu jvalayaṁti sphuliṁgakāḥ tathā mahāṁti pāpāni dahate mathurā purī

As sparks set ablaze a heap of grass, so does the city of Mathura burn away even great sins.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.150.15)

स्नानेन सर्वतीर्थानां यः स्यात्सुकृतसंचयः ।। ततोऽधिकतरं प्रोक्ता मथुरा सर्वमंडले

snānena sarvatīrthānāṁ yaḥ syātsukṛtasaṁcayaḥ tato'dhikataraṁ proktā mathurā sarvamaṁḍale

Whatever accumulation of merit comes from bathing at all the tirthas, Mathura is declared to be greater than that, in the whole circle of the world.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.150.16)

चतुर्णामपि वेदानां पुण्यमध्ययनाच्च यत् ।। तत्पुण्यं जायते तत्र मथुरां स्मरतां नृणाम्

caturṇāmapi vedānāṁ puṇyamadhyayanācca yat tatpuṇyaṁ jāyate tatra mathurāṁ smaratāṁ nṛṇām

Whatever merit arises from the study of all four Vedas, that same merit is obtained there by men who merely remember Mathura.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.150.17)

अन्यत्र हि कृतं पापं तीर्थमासाद्य नश्यति ।। तीर्थेषु यत्कृतं पापं वज्रलेपो भविष्यति

anyatra hi kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tīrthamāsādya naśyati tīrtheṣu yatkṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vajralepo bhaviṣyati

Sin committed elsewhere is destroyed upon reaching a tirtha; but sin committed at other tirthas becomes fixed, ineradicable as a diamond-seal.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.150.18)

मथुरायां कृतं पापं मथुरायां प्रणश्यति ।। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं स्थित्वा तत्र लभेन्नरः

mathurāyāṁ kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ mathurāyāṁ praṇaśyati dharmārthakāmamokṣākhyaṁ sthitvā tatra labhennaraḥ

Sin committed in Mathura is destroyed in Mathura alone; having dwelt there, a man obtains what are called dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.150.19)

अन्यत्र दशभिर्वर्षैः प्रारब्धं भुज्यते हि यत् ।। किल्विषं च चतुर्वक्त्र माथुरे दशभिर्दिनैः

anyatra daśabhirvarṣaiḥ prārabdhaṁ bhujyate hi yat kilviṣaṁ ca caturvaktra māthure daśabhirdinaiḥ

O four-faced one, whatever sin is undergone elsewhere over ten years of accumulated karma, that same sin is exhausted in Mathura within ten days.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.150.20)

दिवि नैव न पाताले नांतरिक्षे न मानुषे ।। समं तु मथुरायां हि प्रियं मम सदैव हि

divi naiva na pātāle nāṁtarikṣe na mānuṣe samaṁ tu mathurāyāṁ hi priyaṁ mama sadaiva hi

Neither in heaven, nor in the netherworld, nor in the atmosphere, nor among men, is there anything equal to Mathura — it is ever, ever dear to me.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.150.21)

सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां माथुरं परमं महत् ।। बालक्रीडनरूपाणि कृतानि सह गोपकैः

sarveṣāmeva tīrthānāṁ māthuraṁ paramaṁ mahat bālakrīḍanarūpāṇi kṛtāni saha gopakaiḥ

Of all tirthas whatsoever, that of Mathura is the supreme and greatest — there the forms of childhood play were performed together with the cowherd boys.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.150.22)

त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि त्रिंशद्वर्षशतानि च ।। यत्फलं भारते वर्षे तत्फलं मथुरां स्मरन्

triṁśadvarṣasahasrāṇi triṁśadvarṣaśatāni ca yatphalaṁ bhārate varṣe tatphalaṁ mathurāṁ smaran

Whatever fruit is obtained in the land of Bharata over thirty thousand years and three thousand years — that same fruit is obtained by merely remembering Mathura.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.150.23)

सन्निहत्यां तु यत्पुण्यं राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे ।। ततोधिकं लभेत्पुत्र मथुरायां दिनेदिने

sannihatyāṁ tu yatpuṇyaṁ rāhugraste divākare tatodhikaṁ labhetputra mathurāyāṁ dinedine

Whatever merit there is at the Sannihatya tirtha when the sun is seized by Rahu — greater than that, my son, is obtained daily in Mathura.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.150.24)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु तीर्थराजे तु यत्फलम् ।। तत्फलं लभते पुत्र सहोमासे मधोः पुरे

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu tīrtharāje tu yatphalam tatphalaṁ labhate putra sahomāse madhoḥ pure

O son, whatever fruit is obtained at the king of tirthas over a full thousand years, that same fruit is obtained in the city of Madhu in the month of Sahoma.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.150.25)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु वाराणस्यां च यत्फलम् ।। तत्फलं लभते पुत्र मथुरायां सहो दिने

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu vārāṇasyāṁ ca yatphalam tatphalaṁ labhate putra mathurāyāṁ saho dine

O son, whatever fruit is obtained at Varanasi over a full thousand years, that same fruit is obtained in Mathura in a single day of Saha.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.150.26)

गोदावरीद्वारकयोर्नरो यः क्षेत्रे कुरूणां क्षितिदायको यः ।। षण्मासकात्साधयते गयायां समं भवेन्नो दिनमेकमाथुरम्

godāvarīdvārakayornaro yaḥ kṣetre kurūṇāṁ kṣitidāyako yaḥ ṣaṇmāsakātsādhayate gayāyāṁ samaṁ bhavenno dinamekamāthuram

Whatever a man achieves at the Godavari and Dvaraka, in the land of the Kurus, as a giver of land, or in six months at Gaya — none of it equals a single day in Mathura.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.150.27)

न द्वारका काशिकांची न माया गदाधरो यस्य समं न तीर्थम् ।। संतर्पिता यद्यमुनाजलेन वांछंति नो वै पितरः पिंडदानम्

na dvārakā kāśikāṁcī na māyā gadādharo yasya samaṁ na tīrtham saṁtarpitā yadyamunājalena vāṁchaṁti no vai pitaraḥ piṁḍadānam

Neither Dvaraka, nor Kashi, nor Kanchi, nor Ayodhya, nor Gaya is a tirtha equal to it; the ancestors, once satisfied with the water of the Yamuna, do not wish for the pinda-offering elsewhere.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.150.28)

मथुरायां प्रकुर्वंति पुरीसाधारणीदृशम् ।। ये नरास्तेऽपि विज्ञेयाः पापराशिभिरन्विताः

mathurāyāṁ prakurvaṁti purīsādhāraṇīdṛśam ye narāste'pi vijñeyāḥ pāparāśibhiranvitāḥ

Those men who regard Mathura as merely an ordinary city — they too should be known as laden with heaps of sin.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.150.29)

न दृष्टा मथुरा येन दिदृक्षा यस्य जायते ।। यत्र तत्र मृतस्याऽपि माथुरे जन्म जायते

na dṛṣṭā mathurā yena didṛkṣā yasya jāyate yatra tatra mṛtasyā'pi māthure janma jāyate

He by whom Mathura has not been seen, in whom the desire to see it does not arise — wherever such a one may die, birth in Mathura shall still be his.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.150.30)

भूमे रजांसि गणयेत्कालेनाऽपि चतुर्मुख ।। माथुरे यानि तीर्थानि तेषां संख्या न विद्यते

bhūme rajāṁsi gaṇayetkālenā'pi caturmukha māthure yāni tīrthāni teṣāṁ saṁkhyā na vidyate

O four-faced one, one might, given all of time, count the specks of dust on the earth — but the number of tirthas in Mathura cannot be known.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.150.31)

कुरु भोः कुरु भो वासं मथुराख्यां पुरीं प्रति ।। वसामि सततं तस्यां गोपकन्याभिरावृतः

kuru bhoḥ kuru bho vāsaṁ mathurākhyāṁ purīṁ prati vasāmi satataṁ tasyāṁ gopakanyābhirāvṛtaḥ

'Come, O come, dwell in the city called Mathura; I dwell there constantly, surrounded by cowherd maidens.'

Verse 32 (skanda.2.150.32)

रेरे संसारमग्नाश्च शिष्या मे शृणुताऽपरे ।। यदीच्छथ सुखं सांद्रं वासं कुरुत मत्पुरीम्

rere saṁsāramagnāśca śiṣyā me śṛṇutā'pare yadīcchatha sukhaṁ sāṁdraṁ vāsaṁ kuruta matpurīm

'O my disciples sunk in worldly existence, listen further: if you desire dense, unbroken happiness, make your dwelling in my city.'

Verse 33 (skanda.2.150.33)

अहो लोको महानंदो नेत्रयुक्तो न पश्यति ।। माथुरे विद्यमानेऽपि संसृतिं भजते सदा

aho loko mahānaṁdo netrayukto na paśyati māthure vidyamāne'pi saṁsṛtiṁ bhajate sadā

Alas, the world is greatly deluded — possessing eyes, it does not see; even while Mathura exists, it ever clings to the cycle of rebirth.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.150.34)

मानुषीं योनिमतुलां लब्ध्वा भाग्यस्य योगतः ।। वृथैवायुर्गतं तेषां न दृष्टा मथुरापुरी

mānuṣīṁ yonimatulāṁ labdhvā bhāgyasya yogataḥ vṛthaivāyurgataṁ teṣāṁ na dṛṣṭā mathurāpurī

Having obtained the incomparable human birth through the working of good fortune, their lifespan is spent in vain who have not seen Mathura-puri.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.150.35)

अहो मतेः सुदौर्बल्यमहो भाग्यस्य दुर्विधिः ।। अहो मोहस्य महिमा मथुरा नैव सेव्यते

aho mateḥ sudaurbalyamaho bhāgyasya durvidhiḥ aho mohasya mahimā mathurā naiva sevyate

Alas, the great weakness of the intellect! Alas, the perversity of fate! Alas, the greatness of delusion! — that Mathura is not resorted to.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.150.36)

मथुरां तु परित्यज्य योऽन्यत्र कुरुते मतिम् ।। मूढो भ्रमति संसारे मोहितो मम मायया

mathurāṁ tu parityajya yo'nyatra kurute matim mūḍho bhramati saṁsāre mohito mama māyayā

Whoever, abandoning Mathura, fixes his mind elsewhere, wanders deluded in samsara, bewildered by my maya.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.150.37)

मथुरामपि संप्राप्य योऽन्यत्र कुरुते स्पृहाम् ।। दुर्बुद्धेस्तस्य किं ज्ञानं सोऽज्ञानेन विजृंभितः ।।

mathurāmapi saṁprāpya yo'nyatra kurute spṛhām durbuddhestasya kiṁ jñānaṁ so'jñānena vijṛṁbhitaḥ

And whoever, having even reached Mathura, still longs for elsewhere — what wisdom does that dull-witted man have? He is puffed up merely with ignorance.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.150.38)

मात्रा पित्रा परित्यक्ता ये त्यक्ता निजबंधुभिः ।। येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां मम पुरी गतिः

mātrā pitrā parityaktā ye tyaktā nijabaṁdhubhiḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ mama purī gatiḥ

For those abandoned by mother and father, abandoned by their own kin, for whom there is no refuge anywhere — my city is their refuge.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.150.39)

पापराशिभिराक्रांता ये दारिद्र्य पराजिताः ।। येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां मम पुरी गतिः

pāparāśibhirākrāṁtā ye dāridrya parājitāḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ mama purī gatiḥ

For those overwhelmed by heaps of sin, defeated by poverty, for whom there is no refuge anywhere — my city is their refuge.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.150.40)

सारात्सारतरं स्थानं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं परम् ।। गतिमन्वेषमाणानां मथुरा परमा गतिः

sārātsārataraṁ sthānaṁ guhyādguhyataraṁ param gatimanveṣamāṇānāṁ mathurā paramā gatiḥ

A place more essential than the essential, more secret than the most secret — for those seeking a refuge, Mathura is the supreme refuge.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.150.41)

न तत्पुण्यैर्न तद्दानैर्न तपोभिर्न तु स्तवैः ।। न लभ्यं विविधैर्योगैर्लभ्यं मदनुभावतः

na tatpuṇyairna taddānairna tapobhirna tu stavaiḥ na labhyaṁ vividhairyogairlabhyaṁ madanubhāvataḥ

It is not obtained by merits, nor by gifts, nor by austerities, nor by hymns of praise, nor by various forms of yoga — it is obtained only through my grace.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.150.42)

मयि येषां स्थिरा भक्तिर्भूयसी येषु मत्कृपा ।। तेषामेव हि धन्यानां मथुरायां भवेद्गतिः

mayi yeṣāṁ sthirā bhaktirbhūyasī yeṣu matkṛpā teṣāmeva hi dhanyānāṁ mathurāyāṁ bhavedgatiḥ

For those alone whose devotion to me is steadfast, and upon whom my grace is abundant — for those blessed ones alone is attainment in Mathura obtained.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.150.43)

या गतिर्योगयुक्तस्य ब्रह्मज्ञस्य मनीषिणः ।। सा गतिस्त्यजतः प्राणान्मथुरायां नरस्य च

yā gatiryogayuktasya brahmajñasya manīṣiṇaḥ sā gatistyajataḥ prāṇānmathurāyāṁ narasya ca

Whatever goal is attained by one accomplished in yoga, a knower of Brahman, a wise sage — that same goal belongs to a man giving up his life in Mathura.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.150.44)

काश्यादिपुर्यो यदि संति लोके तासां तु मध्ये मथुरैव धन्या ।। या जन्ममौंजीव्रतमुक्तिदानैर्नृणां चतुर्धा विदधाति मुक्तिम् ।।

kāśyādipuryo yadi saṁti loke tāsāṁ tu madhye mathuraiva dhanyā yā janmamauṁjīvratamuktidānairnṛṇāṁ caturdhā vidadhāti muktim

If there are cities such as Kashi and the rest in this world, among them Mathura alone is blessed, which grants men liberation in four ways — through birth there, through the sacred-thread vow taken there, through life lived there, and through the final offering of the body there.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.150.45)

न योगैर्या गतिर्लभ्या मन्वंतरशतैरपि ।। अन्यत्र हेलया साऽत्र लभ्यते मत्प्रसादतः

na yogairyā gatirlabhyā manvaṁtaraśatairapi anyatra helayā sā'tra labhyate matprasādataḥ

What is not obtained even through yoga across hundreds of Manvantaras is obtained here, elsewhere with ease, through my grace.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.150.46)

न पापेभ्यो भयं यत्र न भयं यत्र वै यमात् ।। न गर्भवासभीर्यत्र तत्क्षेत्रं को न संश्रयेत्

na pāpebhyo bhayaṁ yatra na bhayaṁ yatra vai yamāt na garbhavāsabhīryatra tatkṣetraṁ ko na saṁśrayet

Where there is no fear of sins, no fear whatsoever of Yama, no fear of dwelling again in the womb — who would not take refuge in that sacred field?

Verse 47 (skanda.2.150.47)

मथुरायां च यत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यस्य फलं शृणु ।। मथुरायां समासाद्य मथुरायां मृता हि ये

mathurāyāṁ ca yatpuṇyaṁ tatpuṇyasya phalaṁ śṛṇu mathurāyāṁ samāsādya mathurāyāṁ mṛtā hi ye

Hear now the fruit of the merit that belongs to Mathura: those who, having reached Mathura, die in Mathura itself—

Verse 48 (skanda.2.150.48)

अपि कीटपतंगाद्या जायंते ते चतुर्भुजाः ।। कूलात्पतंति ये वृक्षास्तेऽपि यांति परां गतिम्

api kīṭapataṁgādyā jāyaṁte te caturbhujāḥ kūlātpataṁti ye vṛkṣāste'pi yāṁti parāṁ gatim

—even if born as worms or moths and the like, they eventually attain a four-armed, divine form; even trees that fall from its riverbank attain the supreme goal.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.150.49)

मूका जडांधबधिरास्तपोनियमवर्जिताः ।। कालेनैव मृता ये च मम लोकं व्रजंति ते

mūkā jaḍāṁdhabadhirāstaponiyamavarjitāḥ kālenaiva mṛtā ye ca mama lokaṁ vrajaṁti te

The mute, the dull, the blind, the deaf, those devoid of austerity and discipline, who simply die there in the course of time — they too go to my world.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.150.50)

सर्पदष्टाः पशुहताः पावकांबुविनाशिताः।। लब्धाऽपमृत्यवो ये च माथुरे मम लोकगाः

sarpadaṣṭāḥ paśuhatāḥ pāvakāṁbuvināśitāḥ labdhā'pamṛtyavo ye ca māthure mama lokagāḥ

Those bitten by serpents, killed by animals, destroyed by fire or water, who meet an untimely death in Mathura — they go to my world.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.150.51)

सत्यं सत्यं मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रुवे शपथपूर्वकम् ।। सर्वाऽभीष्टप्रदं नान्यन्मथुरायाः समं क्वचित्

satyaṁ satyaṁ muniśreṣṭha bruve śapathapūrvakam sarvā'bhīṣṭapradaṁ nānyanmathurāyāḥ samaṁ kvacit

O best of sages, I declare this truly, truly, with an oath: nothing anywhere grants all one's desires as does Mathura.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.150.52)

त्रिवर्गदा कामिनां या मुमुक्षूणां च मुक्तिदा ।। भक्तीच्छोर्भक्तिदा कस्तां मथुरां नाऽऽश्रयेद्बुधः

trivargadā kāmināṁ yā mumukṣūṇāṁ ca muktidā bhaktīcchorbhaktidā kastāṁ mathurāṁ nā''śrayedbudhaḥ

It grants the threefold aim of dharma, artha, and kama to those desiring enjoyment; it grants liberation to those seeking release; and it grants devotion to those desiring devotion — what wise man would not take refuge in that Mathura?

Verse 53 (skanda.2.150.53)

एतादृशी मधुपुरी कर्त्तव्या मार्गशीर्षके ।। तदभावे पुष्करं हि कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम्

etādṛśī madhupurī karttavyā mārgaśīrṣake tadabhāve puṣkaraṁ hi kartavyaṁ vidhipūrvakam

Such a pilgrimage to Madhupuri should be undertaken in Margashirsha; in its absence, a visit to Pushkara should be made, according to rule.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.150.54)

ज्येष्ठं हि ब्रह्मणः कुण्डं मध्यं कुण्डं च वैष्णवम् ।। कनिष्ठं रुद्रदैवत्यमिति जानीहि बुद्धिमन्

jyeṣṭhaṁ hi brahmaṇaḥ kuṇḍaṁ madhyaṁ kuṇḍaṁ ca vaiṣṇavam kaniṣṭhaṁ rudradaivatyamiti jānīhi buddhiman

The eldest is Brahma's pond, the middle one is Vishnu's, and the youngest belongs to the deity Rudra — know this, O wise one.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.150.55)

एषु स्नानं च दानं च श्राद्धं च विधिपूर्वकम् ।। पूजा च महती कार्या मम प्रीतिकरा सुत

eṣu snānaṁ ca dānaṁ ca śrāddhaṁ ca vidhipūrvakam pūjā ca mahatī kāryā mama prītikarā suta

In these, bathing, giving, shraddha performed according to rule, and great worship — pleasing to me, my son — should be performed.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.150.56)

पूर्णा या तु भवेत्पुत्र सहोमासे मम प्रिया ।। तस्यां यत्क्रियते पुण्यं मम प्रीतिकरं भवेत्

pūrṇā yā tu bhavetputra sahomāse mama priyā tasyāṁ yatkriyate puṇyaṁ mama prītikaraṁ bhavet

O son, whatever full-moon day is my beloved in the month of Sahoma — whatever merit is performed on it becomes pleasing to me.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.150.57)

गोदानमन्नदानं च हेमदानं च पुत्रक ।। धरादानं च कर्तव्यं पूर्णायां विधिपूर्वकम्

godānamannadānaṁ ca hemadānaṁ ca putraka dharādānaṁ ca kartavyaṁ pūrṇāyāṁ vidhipūrvakam

The gift of a cow, the gift of food, the gift of gold, and the gift of land, my son — all this should be made on the full-moon day, according to rule.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.150.58)

सहोमासे हि पूर्णायां सद्मदानं च कारयेत् ।। यत्किंचित्क्रियते पूर्णं तदक्षय्यफलं भवेत्

sahomāse hi pūrṇāyāṁ sadmadānaṁ ca kārayet yatkiṁcitkriyate pūrṇaṁ tadakṣayyaphalaṁ bhavet

On the full-moon day of Sahoma, the gift of a dwelling too should be made; whatever is done completely on this day yields imperishable fruit.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.150.59)

ब्रह्मभोज्यं हि कर्तव्यं यथाविभवसारतः ।। पूर्णायामेव कर्तव्य उत्सवो व्रतपूर्त्तये

brahmabhojyaṁ hi kartavyaṁ yathāvibhavasārataḥ pūrṇāyāmeva kartavya utsavo vratapūrttaye

The feeding of brahmins should be done according to one's means; for the completion of the vow, the festival should be held on the full-moon day alone.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.150.60)

यादृशी मथुरा पुत्र सहोमासे मम प्रिया ।। न तथा तीर्थराजाद्यास्तदभावे च पुष्करम्

yādṛśī mathurā putra sahomāse mama priyā na tathā tīrtharājādyāstadabhāve ca puṣkaram

O son, in the month of Sahoma, Mathura is dear to me as not even the king of tirthas and the others are; and in its absence, Pushkara.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.150.61)

पुष्करे मथुरायां वै पूर्णा कार्या विचक्षणैः ।। यत्र कुत्रापि वा कार्या विधियुक्ता च पूर्णिमा

puṣkare mathurāyāṁ vai pūrṇā kāryā vicakṣaṇaiḥ yatra kutrāpi vā kāryā vidhiyuktā ca pūrṇimā

The discerning should perform the full-moon rite at Pushkara or at Mathura; or, wherever they may be, the full-moon observance should be performed with due ritual.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.150.62)

स्नानं दानं तथा पूजां पूर्णायां न करोति यः ।। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि पच्यते रौरवादिषु

snānaṁ dānaṁ tathā pūjāṁ pūrṇāyāṁ na karoti yaḥ ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi pacyate rauravādiṣu

Whoever does not perform bathing, giving, and worship on the full-moon day is cooked for sixty thousand years in Raurava and the other hells.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.150.63)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मान्या पूर्णा विचक्षणैः ।। मार्गशीर्षेण संयुक्ता अनंतफलदायिनी

tasmātsarvaprayatnena mānyā pūrṇā vicakṣaṇaiḥ mārgaśīrṣeṇa saṁyuktā anaṁtaphaladāyinī

Therefore the full-moon day, joined with Margashirsha and bestowing endless fruit, must be honored by the discerning with every effort.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.150.64)

यथा ते कथितं वत्स मार्गशीर्षं मम प्रियम् ।। करोति यो नरो भक्त्या तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

yathā te kathitaṁ vatsa mārgaśīrṣaṁ mama priyam karoti yo naro bhaktyā tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

O son, as I have declared to you that Margashirsha is dear to me — whatever man performs it with devotion, hear the fruit of his merit.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.150.65)

तीर्थायुतेषु यत्पुण्यं यत्पुण्यं व्रतकोटिभिः ।। सर्वयज्ञेषु यत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यं समवाप्नुयात्

tīrthāyuteṣu yatpuṇyaṁ yatpuṇyaṁ vratakoṭibhiḥ sarvayajñeṣu yatpuṇyaṁ tatpuṇyaṁ samavāpnuyāt

Whatever merit lies in ten thousand tirthas, whatever merit lies in a crore vows, whatever merit lies in all sacrifices — all that merit he fully obtains.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.150.66)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं निर्धनो धनमेव च ।। विद्यार्थी च तथा विद्यां रूपार्थी रूपमाप्नुयात्

aputro labhate putraṁ nirdhano dhanameva ca vidyārthī ca tathā vidyāṁ rūpārthī rūpamāpnuyāt

The one without a son obtains a son, the poor obtain wealth; the seeker of knowledge obtains knowledge, and the seeker of beauty obtains beauty.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.150.67)

ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् ।। वैश्यो निधिपतित्वं च शूद्रः शुद्ध्येत पातकात्

brāhmaṇo brahmavarcasvī kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet vaiśyo nidhipatitvaṁ ca śūdraḥ śuddhyeta pātakāt

The brahmin becomes radiant with Brahmanic splendor, the kshatriya becomes victorious; the vaishya becomes lord of treasure, and the shudra is purified of sin.

Verse 68 (skanda.2.150.68)

यद्दुर्लभं च दुष्प्राप्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु मानद ।। तत्सर्वं प्राप्नुयान्मर्त्यः सहोमासे न संशयः

yaddurlabhaṁ ca duṣprāpyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu mānada tatsarvaṁ prāpnuyānmartyaḥ sahomāse na saṁśayaḥ

Whatever is difficult to obtain and hard to attain in the three worlds, O giver of honor — all of that a mortal obtains in the month of Sahoma, without doubt.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.150.69)

यद्यप्येतेषु कामेषु सक्ता ये मानवाः सुत ।। तुष्टा ह्यंते चतुर्वक्त्र न कामार्हा महाभुज

yadyapyeteṣu kāmeṣu saktā ye mānavāḥ suta tuṣṭā hyaṁte caturvaktra na kāmārhā mahābhuja

Yet, my son, those men who remain attached to these very desires, O four-faced one, O mighty-armed one, even though satisfied in the end, are not truly worthy of mere desires.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.150.70)

सुदुर्लभा हि सद्भक्तिर्मम वश्यकरी शुभा ।। सा वै संप्राप्यते पुत्र सहोमासे श्रुते तथा

sudurlabhā hi sadbhaktirmama vaśyakarī śubhā sā vai saṁprāpyate putra sahomāse śrute tathā

My auspicious devotion, which brings me under its sway, is exceedingly rare to obtain — but it too, my son, is obtained by hearing the glory of the month of Sahoma.

Verse 71 (skanda.2.150.71)

मम प्रीतिकरं मासं सर्वदा मम वल्लभम् ।। सर्वं संप्राप्यतेऽमुष्मान्मत्प्रसादाच्चतुर्मुख

mama prītikaraṁ māsaṁ sarvadā mama vallabham sarvaṁ saṁprāpyate'muṣmānmatprasādāccaturmukha

O four-faced one, this month, which ever pleases me and is ever dear to me — through my grace, everything is obtained from it.