The Swing Festival of Govinda (Dolarohana)

Verse 1 (skanda.2.83.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच। फाल्गुने मासि कुर्वीत दोलारोहणमुत्तमम्। यत्र क्रीडति गोविंदो लोकानुग्रहणाय वै

jaiminiruvāca phālgune māsi kurvīta dolārohaṇamuttamam yatra krīḍati goviṁdo lokānugrahaṇāya vai

Jaimini said: In the month of Phalguna, one should hold the excellent mounting-of-the-swing festival, wherein Govinda sports for the blessing of the worlds.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.83.2)

प्रत्यर्चां देवदेवस्य गोविंदाख्यां तु कारयेत्। प्रासादपुरतः कुर्यात्षोडश स्तंभमुच्छ्रितम

pratyarcāṁ devadevasya goviṁdākhyāṁ tu kārayet prāsādapurataḥ kuryātṣoḍaśa staṁbhamucchritama

One should make a substitute image of the God of gods, called Govinda; before the temple one should raise a pavilion of sixteen tall pillars,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.83.3)

चतुरस्रं चतुर्द्वारं मण्डपं वेदिकान्वितम्। चारुचंद्रातपं माल्यचामरध्वजशोभितम्

caturasraṁ caturdvāraṁ maṇḍapaṁ vedikānvitam cārucaṁdrātapaṁ mālyacāmaradhvajaśobhitam

square, with four doors, furnished with an altar, beautiful with its moonlight-white canopy, adorned with garlands, chowries, and banners.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.83.4)

भद्रासनं वेदिकायां श्रीपर्णीकाष्ठनिर्मितम्। फल्गूत्सवं प्रकुर्वीत पञ्चाहानि त्र्यहाणि वा

bhadrāsanaṁ vedikāyāṁ śrīparṇīkāṣṭhanirmitam phalgūtsavaṁ prakurvīta pañcāhāni tryahāṇi vā

Upon the altar should be a royal seat made of shriparni wood; one should hold the Phalgu festival for five days, or for three.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.83.5)

फाल्गुन्यां पूर्वतो विप्राश्चतुर्दश्यां निशामुखे। वह्न्युत्सवं प्रकुर्वीत दोलामण्डपपूर्वतः

phālgunyāṁ pūrvato viprāścaturdaśyāṁ niśāmukhe vahnyutsavaṁ prakurvīta dolāmaṇḍapapūrvataḥ

On the fourteenth day before Phalguni, at nightfall, brahmins should hold the fire-festival before the swing-pavilion.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.83.6)

गोविंदानुगृहीतं तु यात्रांगं तत्प्रकीर्तितम्। आचार्यवरणं कृत्वा वह्निं निर्मथनोद्भवम्

goviṁdānugṛhītaṁ tu yātrāṁgaṁ tatprakīrtitam ācāryavaraṇaṁ kṛtvā vahniṁ nirmathanodbhavam

That is proclaimed as a part of the pilgrimage, graced by Govinda. Having chosen the acharya, and kindled fire produced by churning,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.83.7)

भूमिं संस्कृत्य विधिवत्तृणराशिं महोच्छ्रयम्। सुसमं कारयित्वा तु वह्निं तत्र विनिक्षिपेत्

bhūmiṁ saṁskṛtya vidhivattṛṇarāśiṁ mahocchrayam susamaṁ kārayitvā tu vahniṁ tatra vinikṣipet

having duly consecrated the ground, and having a great, tall heap of grass built up and made quite level, one should cast the fire into it there.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.83.8)

पूजयित्वा विधानेन कूष्मांडविधिना हुनेत्। गोविंदं पूजयित्वा तु भ्रामयेत्स तत विभुम्

pūjayitvā vidhānena kūṣmāṁḍavidhinā hunet goviṁdaṁ pūjayitvā tu bhrāmayetsa tata vibhum

Having worshipped it according to rite, one should offer oblation with the Kushmanda ritual; having worshipped Govinda, one should then have the mighty Lord carried around it.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.83.9)

यत्नात्तं रक्षयेद्वह्निं यावद्यात्रा समाप्यते। प्रातर्यामे चतुर्दश्यां गोविंदप्रतिमां शुभाम्

yatnāttaṁ rakṣayedvahniṁ yāvadyātrā samāpyate prātaryāme caturdaśyāṁ goviṁdapratimāṁ śubhām

One should carefully guard that fire until the pilgrimage is complete. At the morning watch of the fourteenth day, the auspicious image of Govinda

Verse 10 (skanda.2.83.10)

वासयित्वा हरेरग्रे पूजयेत्पुरुषोत्तमम्। उपचारावशिष्टैस्तु प्रत्यर्चामपि पूजयेत्

vāsayitvā hareragre pūjayetpuruṣottamam upacārāvaśiṣṭaistu pratyarcāmapi pūjayet

should be set to rest before Hari, and Purushottama worshipped; with the remaining ritual honours, one should worship the substitute image as well.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.83.11)

ततोऽवरोप्य वसनं मालां च द्विजसत्तमाः। अर्चायां विन्यसेन्मंत्री परं ज्योतिर्विभावयन्

tato'varopya vasanaṁ mālāṁ ca dvijasattamāḥ arcāyāṁ vinyasenmaṁtrī paraṁ jyotirvibhāvayan

Then, O best of brahmins, having taken down the garment and garland, the officiant, meditating on the supreme light, should place them upon the substitute image.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.83.12)

ततः सा प्रतिमा साक्षाज्जायते पुरुषोत्तमः। रत्नांदोलिकया तां वै नयेत्स्नानस्य मंडपम्

tataḥ sā pratimā sākṣājjāyate puruṣottamaḥ ratnāṁdolikayā tāṁ vai nayetsnānasya maṁḍapam

Then that image itself becomes verily Purushottama; one should carry it upon a jewelled swing to the bathing-pavilion.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.83.13)

तत्र नाना तूर्यनादैः शंखध्वनिपुरःसरम्। जयशब्दैस्तथा स्तोत्रैः पुष्पवृष्टिभिरेव च

tatra nānā tūryanādaiḥ śaṁkhadhvanipuraḥsaram jayaśabdaistathā stotraiḥ puṣpavṛṣṭibhireva ca

There, amid the sounds of various instruments led by the blast of the conch, amid cries of 'Victory!' and hymns, and amid showers of flowers,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.83.14)

छत्रध्वजपताकाभिश्चामरैर्व्यजनैस्तथा। निरंतरं दीपिकाभिस्तदा कुर्यान्महोत्सवम्

chatradhvajapatākābhiścāmarairvyajanaistathā niraṁtaraṁ dīpikābhistadā kuryānmahotsavam

with umbrellas, banners, and flags, with chowries and fans, and with unceasing rows of lamps, one should then hold the great festival.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.83.15)

आगच्छंति तदा देवाः पितामहपुरोगमाः। द्रष्टुं चर्षिगणैः सार्द्धं गोविंदस्य महोत्सवम्

āgacchaṁti tadā devāḥ pitāmahapurogamāḥ draṣṭuṁ carṣigaṇaiḥ sārddhaṁ goviṁdasya mahotsavam

At that time the gods, with the Grandsire at their head, come, together with the hosts of great sages, to behold Govinda's great festival.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.83.16)

भद्रासनेऽधिवास्यैव पूजयेदुपचारकैः। महास्नानस्य विधिना स्नपनं तस्य कारयेत्

bhadrāsane'dhivāsyaiva pūjayedupacārakaiḥ mahāsnānasya vidhinā snapanaṁ tasya kārayet

Having set him in rest upon the royal seat, one should worship him with ritual honours, and perform his bathing according to the rite of the great ablution,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.83.17)

पंचामृतैश्च सर्वैश्च तेषामन्यतमेन वा। स्नानांते गंधतोयेन श्रीसूक्तेनाभिषेचयेत्

paṁcāmṛtaiśca sarvaiśca teṣāmanyatamena vā snānāṁte gaṁdhatoyena śrīsūktenābhiṣecayet

with all the five nectars, or with any one of them; at the end of the bathing, one should anoint him with fragrant water, reciting the Shri-sukta.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.83.18)

संप्रोक्ष्य भूषयेद्देवं वस्त्रालंकारमाल्यकैः। नीराजयित्वा संपूज्य प्रासादं परिवेष्टयेत्

saṁprokṣya bhūṣayeddevaṁ vastrālaṁkāramālyakaiḥ nīrājayitvā saṁpūjya prāsādaṁ pariveṣṭayet

Having sprinkled him, one should adorn the deity with garments, ornaments, and garlands; having performed the waving-lamp rite and worshipped him, one should circumambulate the temple.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.83.19)

सप्तकृत्वस्ततो देवं दोलामंडपमानयेत्। सुसंस्कृतायां रथ्यायां पताकातोरणादिभिः। अधोदेशे मंडपं तं सप्तशो भ्रामयेत्पुनः

saptakṛtvastato devaṁ dolāmaṁḍapamānayet susaṁskṛtāyāṁ rathyāyāṁ patākātoraṇādibhiḥ adhodeśe maṁḍapaṁ taṁ saptaśo bhrāmayetpunaḥ

Then one should bring the deity to the swing-pavilion seven times; on a well-prepared road, adorned with banners and archways, one should carry that pavilion around seven times in the lower course,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.83.20)

ऊर्द्ध्वदेशे पुनः सप्त स्तंभवेद्यां च सप्त वै। यात्रावसाने च पुनर्भ्रामयेदेकविंशतिम्

ūrddhvadeśe punaḥ sapta staṁbhavedyāṁ ca sapta vai yātrāvasāne ca punarbhrāmayedekaviṁśatim

and again seven times in the upper course, and seven times around the pillared altar; and at the end of the pilgrimage, one should carry him around twenty-one times more.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.83.21)

इयं लीला भगवतः पितामहमुखेरिता। राजर्षिणेंद्रद्युम्नेन कारिता पूर्वमेव हि

iyaṁ līlā bhagavataḥ pitāmahamukheritā rājarṣiṇeṁdradyumnena kāritā pūrvameva hi

This sport of the Lord was declared by the mouth of the Grandsire himself, and was first performed of old by the royal sage Indradyumna,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.83.22)

फलपुष्पोपनम्रैश्च शाखिभिः परिकल्पिते। वृंदावनांतरे रम्ये मत्तभ्रमरराविणि

phalapuṣpopanamraiśca śākhibhiḥ parikalpite vṛṁdāvanāṁtare ramye mattabhramararāviṇi

in the lovely midst of a Vrindavana, fashioned with trees bowed down with fruit and flowers, humming with intoxicated bees,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.83.23)

कोकिलारावमधुरे नानापक्षिगणाकुले। नानोपशोभारचितनानागुरुसुधूपिते

kokilārāvamadhure nānāpakṣigaṇākule nānopaśobhāracitanānāgurusudhūpite

sweet with the calls of cuckoos, thronged with manifold flocks of birds, adorned with manifold ornaments, perfumed with the incense of manifold aloe-wood,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.83.24)

प्रफुल्लकेतकीषंडगंधामोदिदिगंतरे। मल्लिकाशोकपुन्नागचंपकैरुपशोभिते

praphullaketakīṣaṁḍagaṁdhāmodidigaṁtare mallikāśokapunnāgacaṁpakairupaśobhite

its quarters made fragrant with the scent of blossoming ketaki groves, and graced with jasmine, ashoka, punnaga, and champaka,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.83.25)

तत्काननांतर्घटिते मंडपे चारुतोरणे। भूषिते माल्यवसनचामरैरुपशोभिते

tatkānanāṁtarghaṭite maṁḍape cārutoraṇe bhūṣite mālyavasanacāmarairupaśobhite

within that grove, in a pavilion built with beautiful archways, adorned and graced with garlands, cloths, and chowries,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.83.26)

रत्नखट्वांदोलिकायां तन्मध्ये वासयेत्प्रभुम्। सद्रत्नमुकुटं तारहारशोभितवक्षसम्

ratnakhaṭvāṁdolikāyāṁ tanmadhye vāsayetprabhum sadratnamukuṭaṁ tārahāraśobhitavakṣasam

in the midst of which, upon a jewelled swinging-couch, one should seat the Lord, his chest adorned with a fine jewelled crown and a garland of pearls,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.83.27)

अनर्घ्यरत्नघटितकुंडलोद्भासितश्रुतिम्। यथास्थानं यथाशोभं दिव्यालंकारमंजुलम्

anarghyaratnaghaṭitakuṁḍalodbhāsitaśrutim yathāsthānaṁ yathāśobhaṁ divyālaṁkāramaṁjulam

his ears radiant with earrings set with priceless gems, adorned each in its place with fitting beauty, with charming divine ornaments,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.83.28)

विकचांबुजमध्यस्थं विश्वधात्र्या श्रिया युतम्

vikacāṁbujamadhyasthaṁ viśvadhātryā śriyā yutam

seated in the midst of a blossomed lotus, joined with Shri, the sustainer of the universe,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.83.29)

शंखचक्रगदापद्मधारिणं वनमालिनम्। सुप्रसन्नं सुनासं तं पीनवक्षःस्थलोज्ज्वलम्

śaṁkhacakragadāpadmadhāriṇaṁ vanamālinam suprasannaṁ sunāsaṁ taṁ pīnavakṣaḥsthalojjvalam

bearing conch, discus, mace, and lotus, garlanded with woodland flowers, of most gracious countenance, fine-nosed, his broad chest resplendent,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.83.30)

पुरो व्योमस्थितैर्देवैर्ब्रह्माद्यैर्नतमस्तकैः। कृतांजलिपुटैर्भक्त्या जयशब्दैरभिष्टुतम्

puro vyomasthitairdevairbrahmādyairnatamastakaiḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭairbhaktyā jayaśabdairabhiṣṭutam

before him the gods stationed in the sky, led by Brahma, their heads bowed, with hands folded in devotion, praising him with cries of 'Victory!',

Verse 31 (skanda.2.83.31)

गंधर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च किन्नरैः सिद्धचारणैः। हाहाहूहूप्रभृतिभिः सत्वरं दिव्यगायनैः

gaṁdharvairapsarobhiśca kinnaraiḥ siddhacāraṇaiḥ hāhāhūhūprabhṛtibhiḥ satvaraṁ divyagāyanaiḥ

by gandharvas, apsarases, kinnaras, siddhas, and charanas, and swiftly by divine singers such as Haha and Huhu,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.83.32)

अहंपूर्विकया नृत्यगीतवादित्रकारिभिः। नेत्रांबुजसहस्रैश्च पूज्यमानं मुदान्वितैः

ahaṁpūrvikayā nṛtyagītavāditrakāribhiḥ netrāṁbujasahasraiśca pūjyamānaṁ mudānvitaiḥ

vying with one another in performing dance, song, and music, worshipped with joy by thousands of lotus-eyes,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.83.33)

किरद्भिः सर्वतोदिक्षु गंधचंदनजं रजः। उपवेश्याथ गोविंदं पूजयेदुपचारकैः

kiradbhiḥ sarvatodikṣu gaṁdhacaṁdanajaṁ rajaḥ upaveśyātha goviṁdaṁ pūjayedupacārakaiḥ

scattering the dust of sandal and fragrance in every direction — having thus seated Govinda, one should worship him with ritual honours,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.83.34)

बल्लवीवृंदमध्यस्थं कदंबतरुमूलगम्। हावहास्यविलासैश्च क्रीडमानं वनांतरे

ballavīvṛṁdamadhyasthaṁ kadaṁbatarumūlagam hāvahāsyavilāsaiśca krīḍamānaṁ vanāṁtare

meditating on Jagannatha as seated in the midst of a throng of cowherd-girls, at the foot of the kadamba tree, sporting in the forest with playful glances and laughter,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.83.35)

गोपीभिश्चैव गोपालैर्लीलांदोलितयानगम्। चिंतयित्वा जगन्नाथं विकिरेद्गंधचूर्णकैः

gopībhiścaiva gopālairlīlāṁdolitayānagam ciṁtayitvā jagannāthaṁ vikiredgaṁdhacūrṇakaiḥ

with the gopis and cowherds, his vehicle rocked in play — one should scatter fragrant powders,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.83.36)

सकर्पूरै रक्तपीतशुक्लैर्दिक्षु समंततः। दिव्यैर्वस्त्रैर्दिव्यमाल्यैर्द्दिव्यैर्गंधैः सुधूपकैः

sakarpūrai raktapītaśuklairdikṣu samaṁtataḥ divyairvastrairdivyamālyairddivyairgaṁdhaiḥ sudhūpakaiḥ

mixed with camphor, red, yellow, and white, in every direction; with divine garments, divine garlands, divine fragrances, and fine incense,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.83.37)

चामरांदोलनैर्गीतैः स्तुतिभिश्च समर्चितम्। आंदोलयेद्दोलिकास्थं सप्तवाराञ्छनैः शनैः

cāmarāṁdolanairgītaiḥ stutibhiśca samarcitam āṁdolayeddolikāsthaṁ saptavārāñchanaiḥ śanaiḥ

with the waving of chowries, with songs and hymns of praise, one should worship him thus; one should swing him, seated on the swing, seven times, slowly, slowly.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.83.38)

तदा पश्यंति ये कृष्णं मुक्तिस्तेषां न संशयः। ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां पंचकानां क्षयो भवेत्

tadā paśyaṁti ye kṛṣṇaṁ muktisteṣāṁ na saṁśayaḥ brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ paṁcakānāṁ kṣayo bhavet

Those who behold Krishna at that moment attain liberation, without doubt; the five great sins, beginning with the slaying of a brahmin, are destroyed.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.83.39)

त्रिरेवं दोलयेद्देवं सर्वपापापनोदनम्। भक्त्यानुग्राहकं पुंसां भुक्तिमुक्त्येककारणम्

trirevaṁ dolayeddevaṁ sarvapāpāpanodanam bhaktyānugrāhakaṁ puṁsāṁ bhuktimuktyekakāraṇam

One should thus swing the deity thrice — he who removes every sin, who graciously blesses men through devotion, the sole cause of enjoyment and liberation,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.83.40)

लीलाविचेष्टितं यस्य कृत्रिमं सहजं तथा। अंहःसंघक्षयकरं मूलाविद्यानिवर्त्तकम्

līlāviceṣṭitaṁ yasya kṛtrimaṁ sahajaṁ tathā aṁhaḥsaṁghakṣayakaraṁ mūlāvidyānivarttakam

whose playful conduct, whether artificial or natural, destroys the mass of sin and reverses the root ignorance.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.83.41)

पश्यन्द्वितीयं हरति गोहत्याद्युपपातकम्। हरत्यशेषपापानि तृतीये नात्र संशयः

paśyandvitīyaṁ harati gohatyādyupapātakam haratyaśeṣapāpāni tṛtīye nātra saṁśayaḥ

Beholding him a second time removes secondary sins such as the killing of a cow; by the third, all sins without exception are removed, without doubt.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.83.42)

दृष्ट्वा दोलायितं देवं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। आध्यात्मिकैराधिभौतैराधिदैवैर्विमुच्यते

dṛṣṭvā dolāyitaṁ devaṁ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate ādhyātmikairādhibhautairādhidaivairvimucyate

Having beheld the deity thus swung, one is released from every sin — one is freed from afflictions mental, physical, and divine in origin.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.83.43)

इमां यात्रां कारयित्वा चक्रवर्ती भवेन्नृपः। ब्राह्मणस्तु चतुर्वेदी ज्ञानवाञ्जायते ध्रुवम्

imāṁ yātrāṁ kārayitvā cakravartī bhavennṛpaḥ brāhmaṇastu caturvedī jñānavāñjāyate dhruvam

Having performed this pilgrimage, a king becomes a universal emperor; and a brahmin assuredly becomes learned in all four Vedas.