The Glory of Bhalla Tirtha (with the tale of Krishna's departure)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.352.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि भल्लतीर्थमनुत्तमम्। तस्याश्च पश्चिमे भागे यत्र विष्णुश्चतुर्भुजः

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi bhallatīrtham anuttamam| tasyāśca paścime bhāge yatra viṣṇuścaturbhujaḥ

Ishvara said: O Great Goddess, one should then go to the unrivalled Bhallatirtha, in whose western part the four-armed Vishnu is present.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.352.2)

यत्र त्यक्तं शरीरं तु विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। तस्मिन्मित्रवने रम्ये योजनार्द्धार्द्धविस्तृते

yatra tyaktaṁ śarīraṁ tu viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā| tasminmitravane ramye yojanārdhārdhavistṛte

Where the body was relinquished by the mighty Vishnu, in that lovely Mitra-vana (Mitra's grove), extending across half a yojana.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.352.3)

युगेयुगे महादेवि कल्पमन्वतरादिषु। तत्रैव संस्थितिर्विष्णोर्नान्यत्र च रतिर्भवेत्

yuge yuge mahādevi kalpamanvantarādiṣu| tatraiva saṁsthitirviṣṇornānyatra ca ratirbhavet

In every yuga, O Great Goddess, throughout the kalpas and manvantaras, Vishnu's abode remains there alone; nowhere else does he delight.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.352.4)

क्षेत्राणामादिक्षेत्रं तु वैष्णवं तद्विदुर्बुधाः। तिस्रः कोट्यर्द्धकोटिश्च तीर्थानां प्रवराणि च

kṣetrāṇāmādikṣetraṁ tu vaiṣṇavaṁ tadvidurbudhāḥ| tisraḥ koṭyardhakoṭiśca tīrthānāṁ pravarāṇi ca

The wise know that Vaishnava field to be the primal field among all sacred fields; three and a half crore of the foremost sacred tirthas are there.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.352.5)

दिवि भुव्यंतरिक्षे च तानि तत्रैव भामिनि। तत्र मूर्तिमती गंगा स्वयमेव व्यवस्थिता

divi bhuvyantarikṣe ca tāni tatraiva bhāmini| tatra mūrtimatī gaṅgā svayameva vyavasthitā

Whatever tirthas exist in heaven, on earth, and in the atmosphere, O radiant one, are there indeed; there the Ganga, in her embodied form, abides of her own accord.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.352.6)

विष्णोः संप्लवनार्थाय प्राणिनां च हिताय वै। गंगा गया कुरुक्षेत्रं नैमिषं पुष्कराणि च

viṣṇoḥ saṁplavanārthāya prāṇināṁ ca hitāya vai| gaṅgā gayā kurukṣetraṁ naimiṣaṁ puṣkarāṇi ca

For the sake of Vishnu's cleansing rite (samplavana), and for the welfare of living beings, the sacred tirthas of Ganga, Gaya, Kurukshetra, Naimisha, and the Pushkaras —

Verse 7 (skanda.7.352.7)

पुरी द्वारवतीं त्यक्त्वा अत्रैव वसते हरिः। तस्यौर्ध्वदैहिकं देवि प्रकरोमि युगेयुगे

purīṁ dvāravatīṁ tyaktvā atraiva vasate hariḥ| tasyaurdhvadaihikaṁ devi prakaromi yuge yuge

— having left the city of Dvaravati, Hari dwells here alone. O Goddess, I perform his post-death rites (urdhva-daihika) in every age.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.352.8)

नभस्ये द्वादशीयोगे तत्र गत्वा स्वयं प्रिये। करोमि तद्विधानेन तत्र ब्राह्मणपुंगवैः

nabhasye dvādaśīyoge tatra gatvā svayaṁ priye| karomi tadvidhānena tatra brāhmaṇapuṁgavaiḥ

At the conjunction of the twelfth tithi in the month of Nabhasya (Bhadrapada), having gone there myself, O beloved, I perform it according to rule together with the foremost Brahmins.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.352.9)

तत्र दत्त्वा तु दानानि विधिवद्वेदपारगे। तत्रैव द्वादशीयोगे स्नात्वा चैव विधानतः

tatra dattvā tu dānāni vidhivadvedapārage| tatraiva dvādaśīyoge snātvā caiva vidhānataḥ

Having there duly given gifts to Brahmins learned in the Vedas, and, at that same twelfth-tithi conjunction, having bathed according to rule —

Verse 10 (skanda.7.352.10)

सन्तर्प्य च पितॄन्भक्त्या मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः। तत्र विष्णुं तु संपूज्य कृत्वा जागरणं निशि

santarpya ca pitṝnbhaktyā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ| tatra viṣṇuṁ tu saṁpūjya kṛtvā jāgaraṇaṁ niśi

— and having devotedly offered libations to the ancestors, one is released from all sins. Having duly worshipped Vishnu there, and having kept vigil through the night,

Verse 11 (skanda.7.352.11)

दीपादिदानं कृत्वा तु कृतकृत्योऽभिजायते

dīpādidānaṁ kṛtvā tu kṛtakṛtyo'bhijāyate

— and having given lamps and other offerings, one becomes one whose purpose in life has been fulfilled.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.352.12)

अथ तस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि पुरावृत्तमहं प्रिये। संहृत्य यादवान्सर्वान्वासुदेवः प्रतापवान्

atha tasya pravakṣyāmi purāvṛttamahaṁ priye| saṁhṛtya yādavānsarvānvāsudevaḥ pratāpavān

Now, O beloved, I shall relate to you its ancient history: the mighty Vasudeva, having brought about the destruction of all the Yadavas —

Verse 13 (skanda.7.352.13)

दुर्वाससाऽनुलिप्तेन पायसेन पदस्तले। वज्रांगभूतदेहस्तु सर्वव्यापी जनार्द्दनः

durvāsasā'nuliptena pāyasena padastale| vajrāṅgabhūtadehastu sarvavyāpī janārdanaḥ

— his sole having been smeared with rice-pudding by Durvasas [thereby rendered adamantine except for that one spot], his body now like adamant, the all-pervading Janardana —

Verse 14 (skanda.7.352.14)

गत्वा तीरे समुद्रस्य समाधिस्थो बभूव ह। सर्वस्रोतांसि संयम्य निवेश्यात्मानमात्मनि

gatvā tīre samudrasya samādhistho babhūva ha| sarvasrotāṁsi saṁyamya niveśyātmānamātmani

— went to the shore of the ocean and became absorbed in meditation, having restrained all the channels of the senses and settled his self within his self.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.352.15)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो बाणहस्तो जराभिधः। दाशपुत्रोऽतिकृष्णांगो मत्स्यघाती च पापकृत्

etasminnantare prāpto bāṇahasto jarābhidhaḥ| dāśaputro'tikṛṣṇāṅgo matsyaghātī ca pāpakṛt

Meanwhile there arrived one named Jara, arrow in hand — a fisherman's son, very dark of limb, a slayer of fish and a doer of sinful deeds.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.352.16)

तेन दृष्टस्ततो दूरान्निषादात्मसमुद्भवः। विष्णोः पदं मृगं मत्वा शरं तस्य मुमोच ह

tena dṛṣṭastato dūrānniṣādātmasamudbhavaḥ| viṣṇoḥ padaṁ mṛgaṁ matvā śaraṁ tasya mumoca ha

That man, born of Nishada stock, seeing him from afar and mistaking Vishnu's foot for a deer, let fly his arrow at it.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.352.17)

ततोऽसौ पश्यते यावद्गत्वा तस्य च संनिधौ। चतुर्बाहुं महाकायं शंखचक्रगदाधरम्

tato'sau paśyate yāvadgatvā tasya ca saṁnidhau| caturbāhuṁ mahākāyaṁ śaṅkhacakragadādharam

Then, as he went and looked into his presence, he beheld one four-armed and vast of frame, bearing the conch, discus, and mace —

Verse 18 (skanda.7.352.18)

पुरुषं नीलमेघाभं पुडरीकनिभे क्षणम्। तं दृष्ट्वा भयभीतस्तु वेपमानः कृतांजलिः। अब्रवीन्न मया ज्ञातस्त्वं विभो दिव्यरूपधृक्

puruṣaṁ nīlameghābhaṁ puḍarīkanibhe kṣaṇam| taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhayabhītastu vepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ| abravīnna mayā jñātastvaṁ vibho divyarūpadhṛk

— a being dark as a rain-cloud, for an instant resembling a full-blown lotus. Seeing him, terrified and trembling, with folded hands he said: 'I did not know you, O Mighty One, bearer of a divine form.'

Verse 19 (skanda.7.352.19)

अज्ञानात्त्वं मया विद्धस्त्वत्पदाग्रे सुरोत्तम। क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे नाथ न त्वं क्रोद्धुमिहार्हसि

ajñānāttvaṁ mayā viddhastvatpadāgre surottama| kṣantumarhasi me nātha na tvaṁ kroddhumihārhasi

'Out of ignorance, O best of gods, I have pierced you at the tip of your foot. You should forgive me, my Lord; it is not fitting that you be angered by this.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.352.20)

विष्णुरुवाच। शापस्यांतोद्य मे भद्र शरपातात्कृतस्त्वया। तस्मात्त्वं मत्प्रसादेन स्वर्गं गच्छ महाद्युते

viṣṇuruvāca| śāpasyāntodya me bhadra śarapātātkṛtastvayā| tasmāttvaṁ matprasādena svargaṁ gaccha mahādyute

Vishnu said: 'Today, O good soul, by the fall of your arrow, an end has been brought to a curse upon me. Therefore, O greatly radiant one, go to heaven by my grace.'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.352.21)

ये चान्ये मामिहागत्य द्रक्ष्यंति हि नरोत्तमाः। ते यास्यंति परं स्थानं यत्राहं नित्यसंस्थितः

ye cānye māmihāgatya drakṣyanti hi narottamāḥ| te yāsyanti paraṁ sthānaṁ yatrāhaṁ nityasaṁsthitaḥ

'And whatever other excellent men come here and behold me, they too shall attain the supreme abode where I dwell eternally.'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.352.22)

भल्लेनाहं यतो विद्धस्त्वया पादतले शुभे। भल्लतीर्थमिति ख्यातं ततो ह्येतद्भविष्यति

bhallenāhaṁ yato viddhastvayā pādatale śubhe| bhallatīrthamiti khyātaṁ tato hyetadbhaviṣyati

'Since I was pierced here, at the sole of my auspicious foot, by your arrow (bhalla), this place shall henceforth be known as Bhallatirtha.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.352.23)

हरिक्षेत्रमिति प्रोक्तं पूर्वं स्वायंभुवेऽन्तरे

harikṣetramiti proktaṁ pūrvaṁ svāyaṁbhuve'ntare

'In former times, during the Svayambhuva manvantara, it was called Harikshetra.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.352.24)

ईश्वर उवाच। इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे विष्णुर्लुब्धकोऽपि दिवं गतः। येऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यंति भक्त्या परमया युताः। विष्णुलोकं गमिष्यंति प्रीत्या ते मत्प्रसादतः

īśvara uvāca| ityuktvāntardadhe viṣṇurlubdhako'pi divaṁ gataḥ| ye'tra snānaṁ kariṣyanti bhaktyā paramayā yutāḥ| viṣṇulokaṁ gamiṣyanti prītyā te matprasādataḥ

Ishvara said: Having spoken thus, Vishnu vanished; the hunter too went to heaven. Whoever shall bathe here, endowed with supreme devotion, shall attain, out of love, the world of Vishnu, by my grace.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.352.25)

येऽत्र श्राद्धं करिष्यंति पितृभक्तिपरायणाः। तृप्तिं तेषां गमिष्यंति पितरश्चैव तर्पिताः

ye'tra śrāddhaṁ kariṣyanti pitṛbhaktiparāyaṇāḥ| tṛptiṁ teṣāṁ gamiṣyanti pitaraścaiva tarpitāḥ

Whoever performs the shraddha here, devoted to reverence for the ancestors — for them the ancestors, being duly propitiated, shall attain contentment.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.352.26)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्राप्य तत्क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्। दृश्यो देवश्चतुर्बाहुः स्नात्वा तीर्थे तु भल्लके

tasmātsarvaprayatnena prāpya tatkṣetramuttamam| dṛśyo devaścaturbāhuḥ snātvā tīrthe tu bhallake

Therefore, with every effort, having reached that excellent field, one should bathe at the Bhalla tirtha and behold the four-armed God.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.352.27)

मद्भक्तिबलदर्पिष्ठा मत्प्रियं न नमंति ये। वासुदेवं न ते ज्ञेया मद्भक्ताः पापिनो हि ते

madbhaktibaladarpiṣṭhā matpriyaṁ na namanti ye| vāsudevaṁ na te jñeyā madbhaktāḥ pāpino hi te

Those who, made arrogant by the strength of their devotion to me, fail to bow to what is dear to me — should not be counted among the devotees of Vasudeva; though calling themselves my devotees, they are indeed sinners.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.352.28)

मद्भक्तोऽपि हि यो भूत्वा भुंक्त एकादशीदिने। मल्लिंगस्यार्चनं कार्यं न तेन पापबुद्धिना

madbhakto'pi hi yo bhūtvā bhuṅkta ekādaśīdine| malliṅgasyārcanaṁ kāryaṁ na tena pāpabuddhinā

Even one who, being my devotee, eats food on the day of Ekadashi — worship of my linga should not be performed by one of such sinful intent.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.352.29)

या तिथिर्दयिता विष्णोः सा तिथिर्मम वल्लभा। न तां चोपोषयेद्यस्तु स पापिष्ठतराधिकः

yā tithirdayitā viṣṇoḥ sā tithirmama vallabhā| na tāṁ copoṣayedyastu sa pāpiṣṭharādhikaḥ

Whatever tithi is dear to Vishnu, that same tithi is dear to me as well. Whoever does not keep a fast on that day is exceedingly sinful.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.352.30)

तद्वत्स द्वादशीयोगे भल्लतीर्थस्य संनिधौ। यस्तु मां पूजयेद्भक्त्या नारी वाऽपि नरोऽपि वा। तस्य जन्मसहस्राणि गृहभंगो न जायते

tadvatsa dvādaśīyoge bhallatīrthasya saṁnidhau| yastu māṁ pūjayedbhaktyā nārī vā'pi naro'pi vā| tasya janmasahasrāṇi gṛhabhaṅgo na jāyate

Likewise, at the conjunction of the twelfth tithi, in the vicinity of Bhallatirtha, whoever worships me with devotion — woman or man — for that person, through a thousand births, no destruction of the household shall occur.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.352.31)

इत्येतत्कथितं देवि माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम्। भल्लतीर्थस्य विष्णोस्तु सर्वपातकनाशनम्

ityetatkathitaṁ devi māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam| bhallatīrthasya viṣṇostu sarvapātakanāśanam

Thus, O Goddess, has this sin-destroying glory been told to you — the glory of Vishnu's Bhallatirtha, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.352.32)

तत्र विष्णोस्तु सांनिध्ये वायव्ये कुम्भमुत्तमम्। भल्लतीर्थं तु विख्यातं यत्र भल्लहतो हरिः

tatra viṣṇostu sānnidhye vāyavye kumbhamuttamam| bhallatīrthaṁ tu vikhyātaṁ yatra bhallahato hariḥ

There, in the presence of Vishnu, to the northwest, is an excellent tank; Bhallatirtha is renowned as the very place where Hari was struck by the bhalla-arrow.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.352.33)

तत्र देयानि वासांसि पदं गावो विधानतः। देयानि विप्रमुख्येभ्यः सम्यग्यात्राफलेप्सुभिः

tatra deyāni vāsāṁsi padaṁ gāvo vidhānataḥ| deyāni vipramukhyebhyaḥ samyagyātrāphalepsubhiḥ

There, garments, footwear (sandals), and cows should be duly given to the foremost Brahmins by those who desire the full fruit of the pilgrimage.