The Rules for Pilgrimage to Dvaraka

Verse 1 (skanda.7.451.1)

॥ श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ एवं संपूजितस्तेन हरिणा ब्राह्मणोत्तमः। उवाच परिसन्तुष्टो वरं ब्रूहीति केशवम्॥

śrīprahlāda uvāca| evaṁ sampūjitastena hariṇā brāhmaṇottamaḥ| uvāca parisantuṣṭo varaṁ brūhīti keśavam||

Shri Prahlada said: Thus honoured by Hari, that foremost of brahmins, greatly pleased, said to Keshava, 'Ask for a boon.'

Verse 2 (skanda.7.451.2)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ यदि तुष्टोऽसि भगवन्यदि देयो वरो मम। स्थातव्यमत्र भवता न त्यक्तव्यं कदाचन॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si bhagavanyadi deyo varo mama| sthātavyamatra bhavatā na tyaktavyaṁ kadācana||

Shri Krishna said: If you are pleased, O revered one, and if you would grant me a boon, then you must dwell here always, and never depart from this place.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.451.3)

॥ दुर्वासा उवाच ॥ यदि तिष्ठाम्यहं कृष्ण तथा त्वमपि केशव। तिष्ठस्व षोडशकलो नित्यं मद्वचनेन हि॥

durvāsā uvāca| yadi tiṣṭhāmyahaṁ kṛṣṇa tathā tvamapi keśava| tiṣṭhasva ṣoḍaśakalo nityaṁ madvacanena hi||

Durvasa said: Krishna, if I am to remain here, then you too, Keshava, by my word, shall remain here always, endowed with your sixteen divine powers.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.451.4)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ येऽत्र पश्यंति भक्त्या त्वां मां चापि द्विजसत्तम। किं दास्यसि फलं तेषां भाविनां भगवन्वद॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| ye'tra paśyanti bhaktyā tvāṁ māṁ cāpi dvijasattama| kiṁ dāsyasi phalaṁ teṣāṁ bhāvināṁ bhagavanvada||

Shri Krishna said: O best of brahmins, tell me, revered one — what fruit will you bestow upon those who in future come here and behold you and me with devotion?

Verse 5 (skanda.7.451.5)

॥ दुर्वासा उवाच ॥ यः स्नात्वा संगमे कृष्ण गोमत्याः सागरस्य च। त्वां मां समर्चति नरः सर्वपापैः समुच्यते॥

durvāsā uvāca| yaḥ snātvā saṅgame kṛṣṇa gomatyāḥ sāgarasya ca| tvāṁ māṁ samarcati naraḥ sarvapāpaiḥ samucyate||

Durvasa said: Krishna, whoever bathes at the confluence of the Gomati and the ocean, and worships both you and me, is freed from all sins.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.451.6)

तथान्यच्छृणु कृष्णात्र स्नात्वा दास्यति यद्धनम्। मम दत्तस्य देवेश प्राप्नुयात्षोडशोत्तरम्॥

tathānyacchṛṇu kṛṣṇātra snātvā dāsyati yaddhanam| mama dattasya deveśa prāpnuyātṣoḍaśottaram||

Hear this too, Krishna: whoever bathes here and gives away wealth in charity shall, O lord of gods, receive sixteen times the fruit of gifts given to me.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.451.7)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ यो नरः पूजयित्वा त्वां पूजयिष्यति मामिह। तस्य मुक्तिं प्रदास्यामि या सुरैरपि दुर्लभा॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| yo naraḥ pūjayitvā tvāṁ pūjayiṣyati māmiha| tasya muktiṁ pradāsyāmi yā surairapi durlabhā||

Shri Krishna said: Whoever worships you first and then worships me here, to him I shall grant liberation — that which is difficult to attain even for the gods.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.451.8)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ परस्परं वरौ दत्त्वा कृष्णदुर्वाससौ मुदा। ततः प्रभृति विप्रेन्द्रास्तस्मिन्स्थाने ह्यतिष्ठताम्। वरदानमिति प्रोक्तं तत्तीर्थं सर्वकामदम्॥

prahlāda uvāca| parasparaṁ varau dattvā kṛṣṇadurvāsasau mudā| tataḥ prabhṛti viprendrāstasminsthāne hyatiṣṭhatām| varadānamiti proktaṁ tattīrthaṁ sarvakāmadam||

Prahlada said: Thus Krishna and Durvasa each joyfully granted the other a boon, and from that time on, O foremost of brahmins, both have dwelt in that very place. That sacred place is called 'Varadana' (the giving of boons), granting every desire.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.451.9)

वरदाने नरः स्नातो गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्। विष्णुदुर्वाससोर्यत्र वरदानमभूत्पुरा॥

varadāne naraḥ snāto gosahasraphalaṁ labhet| viṣṇudurvāsasoryatra varadānamabhūtpurā||

One who bathes at Varadana obtains the fruit of donating a thousand cows — the very place where, of old, boons were exchanged between Vishnu and Durvasa.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.451.10)

तदाप्रभृति विप्रेन्द्रास्तिष्ठते द्वारकां हरिः। दुर्वाससा गिरा बद्धो न जहाति कदाचन॥

tadāprabhṛti viprendrāstiṣṭhate dvārakāṁ hariḥ| durvāsasā girā baddho na jahāti kadācana||

From that time on, O foremost of brahmins, Hari has dwelt in Dvaraka; bound by Durvasa's word, he never abandons it.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.451.11)

यत्र त्रैविक्रमी मूर्तिर्वहते यत्र गोमती। नरा मुक्तिं प्रयास्यंति चक्रतीर्थेन संगताः॥

yatra traivikramī mūrtirvahate yatra gomatī| narā muktiṁ prayāsyanti cakratīrthena saṅgatāḥ||

Where the image of Trivikrama stands and where the Gomati flows, there, joined with Chakra-tirtha, men shall attain liberation.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.451.12)

कलेवरं परित्यक्तं प्रभासे हरिणा यदा। कलाभिः सहितं तेजस्तस्यां मूर्तौ निवेशितम्॥

kalevaraṁ parityaktaṁ prabhāse hariṇā yadā| kalābhiḥ sahitaṁ tejastasyāṁ mūrtau niveśitam||

When Hari cast off his body at Prabhasa, his entire radiance, together with his divine powers, was invested into that image.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.451.13)

तस्मात्कलियुगे विप्रा नान्यत्र प्राप्यते हरिः। यदि कार्यं हि कृष्णेन तत्र गच्छत मा चिरम्॥

tasmātkaliyuge viprā nānyatra prāpyate hariḥ| yadi kāryaṁ hi kṛṣṇena tatra gacchata mā ciram||

Therefore, O brahmins, in the Kali age Hari is not to be found anywhere else. If you have any purpose with Krishna, go there without delay.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.451.14)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ साधु भागवतश्रेष्ठ साधु मार्गप्रदर्शक। यत्त्वया हि परिज्ञातं तन्न जानाति कश्चन॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| sādhu bhāgavataśreṣṭha sādhu mārgapradarśaka| yattvayā hi parijñātaṁ tanna jānāti kaścana||

The sages said: Well spoken, O foremost of devotees! Well spoken, O guide upon the path! What you have come to know, no one else knows.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.451.15)

किं फलं गमने तस्यां किं फलं कृष्णदर्शने। कानि तीर्थानि तत्रैव के देवास्तद्वदस्व नः॥

kiṁ phalaṁ gamane tasyāṁ kiṁ phalaṁ kṛṣṇadarśane| kāni tīrthāni tatraiva ke devāstadvadasva naḥ||

What is the fruit of journeying to that city, what the fruit of beholding Krishna? What sacred sites are there, and what deities? Tell us all this.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.451.16)

कस्मिन्मासे तिथौ कस्यां कस्मिन्पर्वणि मानवैः। गंतव्यं कानि देयानि दानानि दनुजर्षभ॥

kasminmāse tithau kasyāṁ kasminparvaṇi mānavaiḥ| gantavyaṁ kāni deyāni dānāni danujarṣabha||

In which month, on which lunar day, on which festival should men undertake this journey, O bull among the demons, and what gifts should be given?

Verse 17 (skanda.7.451.17)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ इति पृष्टस्तदा तैस्तु महाभागवतोऽसुरः। कथयामास विप्रेभ्यो भगवद्भक्तिसंयुतः॥

sūta uvāca| iti pṛṣṭastadā taistu mahābhāgavato'suraḥ| kathayāmāsa viprebhyo bhagavadbhaktisaṁyutaḥ||

Suta said: Thus questioned by them, that great devotee among the demons, filled with devotion to the Lord, began to tell those brahmins.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.451.18)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ भो भूमिदेवाः शृणुत परं गुह्यं सनातनम्। यत्कस्यचिन्न चाख्यातं तद्वदामि सुविस्तरात्॥

prahlāda uvāca| bho bhūmidevāḥ śṛṇuta paraṁ guhyaṁ sanātanam| yatkasyacinna cākhyātaṁ tadvadāmi suvistarāt||

Prahlada said: Listen, O gods on earth — I shall now declare to you in full that supreme, eternal secret which has never been told to anyone before.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.451.19)

यदा मतिं च कुरुते द्वारकागमनं प्रति। तदा नरकनिर्मुक्ता गायन्ति पितरो दिवि॥

yadā matiṁ ca kurute dvārakāgamanaṁ prati| tadā narakanirmuktā gāyanti pitaro divi||

The very moment a man resolves in his mind to journey to Dvaraka, at that moment his ancestors are released from hell and break into song in heaven.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.451.20)

यावत्पदानि कृष्णस्य मार्गे गच्छति मानवः। पदेपदेऽश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य लभते फलम्॥

yāvatpadāni kṛṣṇasya mārge gacchati mānavaḥ| padepade'śvamedhasya yajñasya labhate phalam||

For every step a man takes on the road to Krishna, at every single step he obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.451.21)

यात्रार्थं देवदेवस्य यः प्रेरयति चापरान्। मानवान्नात्र सन्देहो लभते वैष्णवं पदम्॥

yātrārthaṁ devadevasya yaḥ prerayati cāparān| mānavānnātra sandeho labhate vaiṣṇavaṁ padam||

Whoever encourages other people to undertake the pilgrimage to the god of gods obtains, without doubt, the abode of Vishnu.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.451.22)

द्वारकां गच्छमानस्य यो ददाति प्रतिश्रयम्। तथैव मधुरां वाचं नन्दते क्रीडते हि सः॥

dvārakāṁ gacchamānasya yo dadāti pratiśrayam| tathaiva madhurāṁ vācaṁ nandate krīḍate hi saḥ||

Whoever gives shelter to a pilgrim journeying to Dvaraka, and speaks kindly to him, shall indeed live in joy and delight.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.451.23)

अध्वनि श्रांतदेहस्य वाहनं यः प्रयच्छति। हंसयुक्तेन स नरो विमानेन दिवं व्रजेत्॥

adhvani śrāntadehasya vāhanaṁ yaḥ prayacchati| haṁsayuktena sa naro vimānena divaṁ vrajet||

Whoever provides a mount to one whose body is exhausted on the road shall travel to heaven upon a chariot yoked with swans.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.451.24)

यात्रायां गच्छमानस्य मध्याह्ने क्षुधितस्य च। अन्नं ददाति यो भक्त्या शृणु तस्यापि यद्भवेत्॥

yātrāyāṁ gacchamānasya madhyāhne kṣudhitasya ca| annaṁ dadāti yo bhaktyā śṛṇu tasyāpi yadbhavet||

Listen too to what befalls one who devotedly gives food at midday to a hungry pilgrim on the journey.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.451.25)

गयाश्राद्धेन यत्पुण्यं लभते मानवो भुवि। अन्नदानेन तत्पुण्यं पितॄणां तृप्तिरक्षया॥

gayāśrāddhena yatpuṇyaṁ labhate mānavo bhuvi| annadānena tatpuṇyaṁ pitṝṇāṁ tṛptirakṣayā||

The merit a man obtains on earth by performing the shraddha rites at Gaya, that same merit he obtains through this gift of food, and the satisfaction of his ancestors becomes imperishable.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.451.26)

उपानहौ तु यो दद्याद्द्वारकां प्रति गच्छताम्। कृष्णप्रसादात्स नरो गजस्कन्धेन गच्छति॥

upānahau tu yo dadyāddvārakāṁ prati gacchatām| kṛṣṇaprasādātsa naro gajaskandhena gacchati||

Whoever gives sandals to those journeying toward Dvaraka shall, by Krishna's grace, travel mounted upon the shoulders of an elephant.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.451.27)

विघ्नमाचरते यस्तु द्वारकां प्रति गच्छताम्। नरके मज्जते मूढः कल्पमात्रं तु रौरवे॥

vighnamācarate yastu dvārakāṁ prati gacchatām| narake majjate mūḍhaḥ kalpamātraṁ tu raurave||

Whoever obstructs those journeying toward Dvaraka, that fool sinks into the hell of Raurava for a full kalpa.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.451.28)

मार्गस्थितस्य यो धन्यः प्रयच्छति कमण्डलुम्। प्रपादानसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः॥

mārgasthitasya yo dhanyaḥ prayacchati kamaṇḍalum| prapādānasahasrasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ||

That fortunate man who gives a water-pot to one standing along the road obtains the merit of establishing a thousand water-sheds for travellers.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.451.29)

यात्रायां गच्छमानस्य पादाभ्यंगं ददाति यः। पादप्रक्षालनं चैव सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्॥

yātrāyāṁ gacchamānasya pādābhyaṅgaṁ dadāti yaḥ| pādaprakṣālanaṁ caiva sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt||

Whoever massages the feet of a pilgrim on the journey and washes them shall obtain all his desires.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.451.30)

गाथां शृणोति यो विष्णोर्गीतं च गायतः पथि। दानं ददाति विप्रेन्द्राः तस्माद्धन्यतरो न हि॥

gāthāṁ śṛṇoti yo viṣṇorgītaṁ ca gāyataḥ pathi| dānaṁ dadāti viprendrāḥ tasmāddhanyataro na hi||

Whoever, O foremost of brahmins, listens on the road to one singing the tales and songs of Vishnu is no less blessed than one who gives gifts in charity.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.451.31)

कैलासशिखरावासं श्वेताभ्रमिव निर्मलम्। प्रासादं कृष्णदेवस्य यः पश्यति नरोत्तमः॥

kailāsaśikharāvāsaṁ śvetābhramiva nirmalam| prāsādaṁ kṛṣṇadevasya yaḥ paśyati narottamaḥ||

That best of men who beholds the palace of Lord Krishna — a dwelling like the peak of Kailasa, pure as a white cloud —

Verse 32 (skanda.7.451.32)

दूराद्धेममयं दृष्ट्वा कलशं ध्वजसंयुतम्। वाहनं संपरित्यज्य लुठते धरणीं गतः॥

dūrāddhemamayaṁ dṛṣṭvā kalaśaṁ dhvajasaṁyutam| vāhanaṁ samparityajya luṭhate dharaṇīṁ gataḥ||

seeing from afar the golden finial with its flag, gives up his conveyance and rolls upon the ground in prostration.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.451.33)

पञ्चसूनाकृतं पापं तथाऽधर्मकृतं च यत्। कृमिकीटपतंगाश्च निहताः पथि गच्छता। परान्नं परपानीयमस्पृश्य स्पर्शसंगमम्। तत्सर्वं नाशमाप्नोति भगवत्केतुदर्शनात्॥

pañcasūnākṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tathā'dharmakṛtaṁ ca yat| kṛmikīṭapataṅgāśca nihatāḥ pathi gacchatā| parānnaṁ parapānīyamaspṛśya sparśasaṅgamam| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāpnoti bhagavatketudarśanāt||

Whatever sin arises from the five household acts of violence, whatever wrong is done through unrighteousness, whatever worms, insects, and moths are unwittingly killed while walking the road, and whatever fault comes from unknowingly touching another's food or water — all of this is destroyed merely by the sight of the Lord's banner.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.451.34)

पठेन्नामसहस्रं तु स्तवराजमथापि वा। गजेन्द्रमोक्षणं चैव पथि गच्छञ्छनैः शनैः॥

paṭhennāmasahasraṁ tu stavarājamathāpi vā| gajendramokṣaṇaṁ caiva pathi gacchañchanaiḥ śanaiḥ||

Walking slowly along the road, one should recite the Thousand Names, or the King of Hymns, or the tale of Gajendra's liberation.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.451.35)

गायमानो भगवतः प्रादुर्भावाननेकधा। नृत्यद्भिर्हर्षसंयुक्तैर्हृष्यमाणः पुनःपुनः। स्वयं नृत्यन्हर्षयुक्तो भक्तो गच्छेद्धरेः पुरम्॥

gāyamāno bhagavataḥ prādurbhāvānanekadhā| nṛtyadbhirharṣasaṁyuktairhṛṣyamāṇaḥ punaḥpunaḥ| svayaṁ nṛtyanharṣayukto bhakto gaccheddhareḥ puram||

Singing of the Lord's manifold divine appearances, rejoicing again and again amid dancing, joyful devotees, the devotee, himself dancing with delight, should proceed onward to Hari's city.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.451.36)

विष्णोः क्रीडाकरं स्थानं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्। यस्मिन्दृष्टे कलौ नॄणां मुक्तिरेवोपजायते॥

viṣṇoḥ krīḍākaraṁ sthānaṁ bhuktimuktipradāyakam| yasmindṛṣṭe kalau nṝṇāṁ muktirevopajāyate||

This is the ground of Vishnu's divine play, granting both worldly enjoyment and liberation; merely by beholding it, in the Kali age, men attain liberation itself.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.451.37)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ पूर्वं हि देवराजेन बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः। प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या पृष्टश्च स महामतिः॥

prahlāda uvāca| pūrvaṁ hi devarājena bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ| praṇamya parayā bhaktyā pṛṣṭaśca sa mahāmatiḥ||

Prahlada said: Of old, the king of gods, bowing with the deepest devotion, questioned Brihaspati, that noble-minded and wise preceptor.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.451.38)

॥ इन्द्र उवाच ॥ द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यं कथयस्व प्रसादतः। चतुर्युगं यथाभागैर्धर्मवृद्धिं जनो लभेत्॥

indra uvāca| dvārakāyāśca māhātmyaṁ kathayasva prasādataḥ| caturyugaṁ yathābhāgairdharmavṛddhiṁ jano labhet||

Indra said: Kindly declare to me the glory of Dvaraka — how, across the four ages, according to their respective portions, a person attains the growth of dharma.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.451.39)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महेन्द्रस्य वचनं मुनिसत्तमाः। बृहस्पतिरुवाचैनं महेन्द्रं देव संवृतम्॥

etacchrutvā mahendrasya vacanaṁ munisattamāḥ| bṛhaspatiruvācainaṁ mahendraṁ deva saṁvṛtam||

O foremost of sages, hearing this word of the great Indra, Brihaspati spoke to that great Indra, surrounded by the gods:

Verse 40 (skanda.7.451.40)

॥ बृहस्पतिरुवाच ॥ कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्च सुरसत्तम। चतुर्युगमिदं प्रोक्तं तत्त्वतो मुनिसत्तमैः॥

bṛhaspatiruvāca| kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliśca surasattama| caturyugamidaṁ proktaṁ tattvato munisattamaiḥ||

Brihaspati said: O best of gods, Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali — these four, the foremost sages have truly declared, together constitute the four ages.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.451.41)

कृते धर्मश्चतुष्पादो वेदादिफलमेव च। तीर्थं दानं तपो विद्या ध्यानमायुररोगता॥

kṛte dharmaścatuṣpādo vedādiphalameva ca| tīrthaṁ dānaṁ tapo vidyā dhyānamāyurarogatā||

In the Krita age, Dharma stood complete on all four feet, and the fruit of the Vedas and such was full — pilgrimage, charity, austerity, learning, meditation, longevity, and health were all whole.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.451.42)

पादहीनं सर्वमेतद्युगं त्रेताभिधं प्रभो। पादद्वयं द्वापरे तु सर्वस्यैतस्य वासव॥

pādahīnaṁ sarvametadyugaṁ tretābhidhaṁ prabho| pādadvayaṁ dvāpare tu sarvasyaitasya vāsava||

In the age called Treta, O lord, all of this fell short by one quarter; and in Dvapara, O Vasava, by two quarters of the whole.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.451.43)

पादेनैकेन तत्सर्वं विभागे प्रथमे कलौ। ऊर्ध्वं विनाशः सर्वस्य भविष्यति न संशयः॥

pādenaikena tatsarvaṁ vibhāge prathame kalau| ūrdhvaṁ vināśaḥ sarvasya bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ||

In the first portion of the Kali age, all of this will remain reduced to but a single quarter; thereafter the complete destruction of all things shall occur, without doubt.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.451.44)

मन्त्रास्तीर्थानि यज्ञाश्च तपो दैवादिकं तथा। प्रगच्छंति समुच्छेदं वेदाः शास्त्राणि चैव हि॥

mantrāstīrthāni yajñāśca tapo daivādikaṁ tathā| pragacchanti samucchedaṁ vedāḥ śāstrāṇi caiva hi||

Mantras, sacred sites, sacrifices, austerities, worship of the gods, and even the Vedas and the scriptures themselves — all shall come to utter destruction.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.451.45)

म्लेच्छप्रायाश्च भूपाला भविष्यन्त्यमराधिप। लोकः करिष्यते निन्दां साधूनां व्रतचारिणाम्॥

mlecchaprāyāśca bhūpālā bhaviṣyantyamarādhipa| lokaḥ kariṣyate nindāṁ sādhūnāṁ vratacāriṇām||

O lord of the immortals, kings shall become mostly like barbarians, and the world shall revile virtuous men who keep their vows.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.451.46)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ श्रुत्वा बृहस्पतेर्वाक्यमेतत्तीर्थस्य भो द्विजाः। प्रकंपिताः सुराः सर्वे म्लेच्छसंसर्गजाद्भयात्॥

prahlāda uvāca| śrutvā bṛhaspatervākyametattīrthasya bho dvijāḥ| prakampitāḥ surāḥ sarve mlecchasaṁsargajādbhayāt||

Prahlada said: O brahmins, hearing these words of Brihaspati, all the gods trembled with fear at the prospect of contact with barbarians.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.451.47)

बृहस्पतिं सुरगुरुं पप्रच्छुर्विनयान्विताः। म्लेच्छसंसर्गजो दोषो गंगयापि न पूयते॥

bṛhaspatiṁ suraguruṁ papracchurvinayānvitāḥ| mlecchasaṁsargajo doṣo gaṅgayāpi na pūyate||

Humbly, they questioned Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods: 'The fault arising from contact with barbarians cannot even be purified by the Ganga —'

Verse 48 (skanda.7.451.48)

कथयस्व प्रसादेन स्थानं कलिविवर्जितम्। यत्र गत्वा निवत्स्यामो यास्यामो निर्वृतिं पराम्॥

kathayasva prasādena sthānaṁ kalivivarjitam| yatra gatvā nivatsyāmo yāsyāmo nirvṛtiṁ parām||

Kindly tell us of a place free from the taint of Kali, where we might go to dwell and attain supreme peace.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.451.49)

येन दुःखविनिर्मुक्ता भविष्यामो गतव्यथाः। कृपया सुमुखो भूत्वा ब्रूहि तीर्थं हिताय नः॥

yena duḥkhavinirmuktā bhaviṣyāmo gatavyathāḥ| kṛpayā sumukho bhūtvā brūhi tīrthaṁ hitāya naḥ||

so that we might be freed from suffering and made whole. Be gracious, kindly one, and tell us of that sacred place for our benefit.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.451.50)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ एतच्छ्रुत्वा सुरेन्द्रस्य वाक्यमंगिरसां वरः। चिरं ध्यात्वा जगादेदं वाक्यं देवपुरोहितः॥

prahlāda uvāca| etacchrutvā surendrasya vākyamaṅgirasāṁ varaḥ| ciraṁ dhyātvā jagādedaṁ vākyaṁ devapurohitaḥ||

Prahlada said: Hearing this speech of the king of gods, Brihaspati, foremost among the descendants of Angiras, the priest of the gods, pondered a while and then spoke these words:

Verse 51 (skanda.7.451.51)

॥ बृहस्पतिरुवाच ॥ पञ्चक्रोशप्रमाणं हि तीर्थं तीर्थवरोत्तमम्। द्वारकानाम विख्यातं कलिदोषविवर्जितम्॥

bṛhaspatiruvāca| pañcakrośapramāṇaṁ hi tīrthaṁ tīrthavarottamam| dvārakānāma vikhyātaṁ kalidoṣavivarjitam||

Brihaspati said: There is a sacred place, five kroshas in extent, the very best among holy sites, renowned by the name Dvaraka, wholly free of the taint of Kali.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.451.52)

विष्णुना निर्मितं स्थानं लोकस्य गतिदायकम्। मुक्तिदं कलिकाले तु ज्ञानहीनजनस्य च॥

viṣṇunā nirmitaṁ sthānaṁ lokasya gatidāyakam| muktidaṁ kalikāle tu jñānahīnajanasya ca||

That place, fashioned by Vishnu, grants the world its salvation; in the Kali age it bestows liberation even upon those bereft of knowledge.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.451.53)

ऊषरं कर्मणां क्षेत्रं पुण्यं पापविनाशनम्। न प्ररोहंति पापानि पुनर्नष्टानि तत्र वै॥

ūṣaraṁ karmaṇāṁ kṣetraṁ puṇyaṁ pāpavināśanam| na prarohanti pāpāni punarnaṣṭāni tatra vai||

It is like barren ground for the seed of sin — meritorious and destructive of all wrongdoing; sins once destroyed there never sprout again.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.451.54)

तिस्रः कोटयोऽर्धकोटी च तीर्थानीह महीतले॥

tisraḥ koṭayo'rdhakoṭī ca tīrthānīha mahītale||

Here on this earth there are three and a half crore sacred sites.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.451.55)

एवं तीर्थयुता तत्र द्वारका मुक्तिदायका। सेवनीया प्रयत्नेन प्राप्य मानुष्यमुत्तमम्॥

evaṁ tīrthayutā tatra dvārakā muktidāyakā| sevanīyā prayatnena prāpya mānuṣyamuttamam||

Thus, endowed with all these sacred sites, that Dvaraka bestows liberation; having attained this precious human birth, one should diligently seek to serve it.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.451.56)

बृहस्पतेर्वचः श्रुत्वा शतक्रतुरथाऽब्रवीत्। वाचस्पते मम इहि द्वारवत्या महोदयम् गमने किं फलं प्रोक्तं कृष्णदेवस्य दर्शने॥

bṛhaspatervacaḥ śrutvā śatakraturathā'bravīt| vācaspate mama ihi dvāravatyā mahodayam gamane kiṁ phalaṁ proktaṁ kṛṣṇadevasya darśane||

Hearing Brihaspati's words, Indra then said: O Vachaspati, tell me of the greatness of Dvaravati — what is declared to be the fruit of going there and of beholding Lord Krishna?

Verse 57 (skanda.7.451.57)

अन्यानि तत्र तीर्थानि मुख्यानि वद मे गुरो। यथाभिषेके गोमत्याः फलं यदपि संगमे॥

anyāni tatra tīrthāni mukhyāni vada me guro| yathābhiṣeke gomatyāḥ phalaṁ yadapi saṅgame||

Tell me too, O preceptor, of the other principal sacred sites there, and what fruit comes from bathing in the Gomati and at her confluence.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.451.58)

॥ बृहस्पतिरुवाच ॥ श्रूयतां तात वक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं द्वारकोद्भवम्। मनुष्यरूपो भगवान्यत्र क्रीडति केशवः॥

bṛhaspatiruvāca| śrūyatāṁ tāta vakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ dvārakodbhavam| manuṣyarūpo bhagavānyatra krīḍati keśavaḥ||

Brihaspati said: Listen, my child, as I declare the greatness of Dvaraka, where the Lord Keshava, taking human form, engages in his divine play.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.451.59)

नारायणः स ईशानो ध्येयश्चादौ जगन्मयः। स एव देवतामुख्यः पुरीं द्वारवतीं स्थितः॥

nārāyaṇaḥ sa īśāno dhyeyaścādau jaganmayaḥ| sa eva devatāmukhyaḥ purīṁ dvāravatīṁ sthitaḥ||

That Narayana, the sovereign lord, worthy of meditation from the beginning of creation, pervading the whole universe — he, foremost among all deities, resides in the city of Dvaravati.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.451.60)

एकैकस्मिन्पदे दत्ते पुरीं द्वारवतीं प्रति। पुण्यं क्रतुसहस्रेण कलौ भवति देहिनाम्॥

ekaikasminpade datte purīṁ dvāravatīṁ prati| puṇyaṁ kratusahasreṇa kalau bhavati dehinām||

For every single step taken toward the city of Dvaravati, embodied beings in the Kali age obtain the merit of a thousand sacrifices.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.451.61)

कलौ कृष्णपुरीं रम्यां ये गच्छंति नरोत्तमाः। कुलकोटिशतैर्युक्तास्ते गच्छन्ति हरेः पदम्॥

kalau kṛṣṇapurīṁ ramyāṁ ye gacchanti narottamāḥ| kulakoṭiśatairyuktāste gacchanti hareḥ padam||

In the Kali age, those excellent men who journey to Krishna's beautiful city attain the abode of Hari, together with a hundred crore members of their lineage.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.451.62)

ये ध्यायंति मनोवृत्त्या गमनं द्वारकां प्रति। तेषां विलीयते पापं पूर्वजन्मायुतैः कृतम्॥

ye dhyāyanti manovṛttyā gamanaṁ dvārakāṁ prati| teṣāṁ vilīyate pāpaṁ pūrvajanmāyutaiḥ kṛtam||

Those who merely contemplate in their minds the intention of going to Dvaraka find dissolved even the sins accumulated across ten thousand former births.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.451.63)

कृष्णस्य दर्शने बुद्धिर्जायते यस्य देहिनः। वक्त्रावलोकनात्तस्य पापं याति सहस्रधा॥

kṛṣṇasya darśane buddhirjāyate yasya dehinaḥ| vaktrāvalokanāttasya pāpaṁ yāti sahasradhā||

In whatever embodied being the intention arises to behold Krishna, merely by gazing upon his face that person's sins are destroyed a thousandfold.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.451.64)

ये गता द्वारकायां च ये मृताः कृष्णसन्निधौ। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिर्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्॥

ye gatā dvārakāyāṁ ca ye mṛtāḥ kṛṣṇasannidhau| na teṣāṁ punarāvṛttiryāvadābhūtasamplavam||

Those who have gone to Dvaraka, and those who have died in Krishna's presence, shall not return to rebirth until the great dissolution of the universe.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.451.65)

सुलभा मथुरा काशी ह्यवन्ती च तथा सुराः। अयोध्या सुलभा लोके दुर्लभा द्वारका कलौ॥

sulabhā mathurā kāśī hyavantī ca tathā surāḥ| ayodhyā sulabhā loke durlabhā dvārakā kalau||

Mathura, Kashi, Avanti — O gods — and Ayodhya are all easily attainable in this world, but Dvaraka is hard to attain in the Kali age.

Verse 66 (skanda.7.451.66)

गत्वा कृष्णपुरीं रम्यां षण्मासात्कृष्णसंनिधौ। जीवन्मुक्तास्तु ते ज्ञेयाः सत्यमेतत्सुरोत्तम॥

gatvā kṛṣṇapurīṁ ramyāṁ ṣaṇmāsātkṛṣṇasannidhau| jīvanmuktāstu te jñeyāḥ satyametatsurottama||

Those who, having gone to Krishna's beautiful city, remain for six months in Krishna's presence should be known as liberated even while living — this, O best of gods, is the truth.

Verse 67 (skanda.7.451.67)

कृष्णक्रीडाकरं स्थानं वाञ्छन्ति मनसा प्रिये। तेषां हृदि स्थितं पापं क्षालयेत्प्रेतनायकः॥

kṛṣṇakrīḍākaraṁ sthānaṁ vāñchanti manasā priye| teṣāṁ hṛdi sthitaṁ pāpaṁ kṣālayetpretanāyakaḥ||

O beloved, whoever desires in their heart that place of Krishna's divine play — even Yama, lord of the dead, washes away the sin lodged in their heart.

Verse 68 (skanda.7.451.68)

अत्युग्राण्यपि पापानि तावत्तिष्ठन्ति विग्रहे। यावन्न गच्छति नरः कलौ द्वारवतीं प्रति॥

atyugrāṇyapi pāpāni tāvattiṣṭhanti vigrahe| yāvanna gacchati naraḥ kalau dvāravatīṁ prati||

Even the most terrible sins remain lodged in the body only so long as a man does not, in the Kali age, set out toward Dvaravati.

Verse 69 (skanda.7.451.69)

पुण्यसंख्या च तीर्थानां ब्रह्मणा विहिता पुरा। दानाध्ययनसंज्ञानां मुक्त्वा द्वारवतीं कलौ॥

puṇyasaṁkhyā ca tīrthānāṁ brahmaṇā vihitā purā| dānādhyayanasaṁjñānāṁ muktvā dvāravatīṁ kalau||

Brahma of old fixed the reckoning of merit for sacred places, and for charity and study — but excepting Dvaravati, whose measure in the Kali age exceeds all count.

Verse 70 (skanda.7.451.70)

चक्रतीर्थे तु यो गच्छेत्प्रसंगेनापि मानवः। कुलैकविंशतियुतः स गच्छेत्परमं पदम्॥

cakratīrthe tu yo gacchetprasaṅgenāpi mānavaḥ| kulaikaviṁśatiyutaḥ sa gacchetparamaṁ padam||

Whatever man goes to Chakra-tirtha, even by mere happenstance, attains the supreme state, together with twenty-one generations of his lineage.

Verse 71 (skanda.7.451.71)

लोभेनाऽप्यपराधेन दम्भेन कपटेन वा। चक्रतीर्थं च यो गच्छेन्न पुनर्विशते भवम्॥

lobhenāpyaparādhena dambhena kapaṭena vā| cakratīrthaṁ ca yo gacchenna punarviśate bhavam||

Whoever goes to Chakra-tirtha, whether out of greed, wrongdoing, pride, or deceit, shall never again enter into worldly existence.

Verse 72 (skanda.7.451.72)

प्रयागे ह्यस्थिपातेन यत्फलं परिकीर्तितम्। तदेव शतसाहस्रं चक्रतीर्थास्थिपातनात्॥

prayāge hyasthipātena yatphalaṁ parikīrtitam| tadeva śatasāhasraṁ cakratīrthāsthipātanāt||

The fruit declared for immersing bones at Prayaga is obtained a hundred thousandfold by immersing bones at Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 73 (skanda.7.451.73)

पृथिव्यां चैव तत्तीर्थं परमं परिकीर्तितम्। चक्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातं ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम्॥

pṛthivyāṁ caiva tattīrthaṁ paramaṁ parikīrtitam| cakratīrthamiti khyātaṁ brahmahatyāvināśanam||

That sacred place on earth is declared supreme, known by the name Chakra-tirtha, and it destroys even the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 74 (skanda.7.451.74)

ये ये कुले भविष्यंति तत्पूर्वं मानवाः क्षितौ। सर्वे विष्णुपुरं यांति चक्रतीर्थास्थिपातनात्॥

ye ye kule bhaviṣyanti tatpūrvaṁ mānavāḥ kṣitau| sarve viṣṇupuraṁ yānti cakratīrthāsthipātanāt||

All the members of that lineage, whether born before or destined to come after, attain Vishnu's realm through the immersion of bones at Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 75 (skanda.7.451.75)

किं जातैर्बहुभिः पुत्रैर्गणनापूरकात्मकैः। वरमेको भवेत्पुत्रश्चक्रतीर्थं तु यो व्रजेत्॥

kiṁ jātairbahubhiḥ putrairgaṇanāpūrakātmakaiḥ| varameko bhavetputraścakratīrthaṁ tu yo vrajet||

What use are many sons, born merely to swell the count? Better one single son who goes to Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 76 (skanda.7.451.76)

तपसा किं प्रतप्तेन दानेनाध्ययनेन किम्। सर्वावस्थोऽपि मुच्येत गतः कृष्णपुरीं यदि॥

tapasā kiṁ pratapena dānenādhyayanena kim| sarvāvastho'pi mucyeta gataḥ kṛṣṇapurīṁ yadi||

What use is austerity performed, what use charity or study? If one goes to Krishna's city, he is freed regardless of his condition in life.

Verse 77 (skanda.7.451.77)

कलिकालकृतैर्दोषैरत्युग्रैरपि मानवः। कलौ कृष्णमुखं दृष्ट्वा लिप्यते न कदाचन॥

kalikālakṛtairdoṣairatyugrairapi mānavaḥ| kalau kṛṣṇamukhaṁ dṛṣṭvā lipyate na kadācana||

A man is never tainted even by the most severe faults committed in the Kali age, if, in that very Kali age, he beholds Krishna's face.

Verse 78 (skanda.7.451.78)

दानं चाध्ययनं शौचं कारणं न हि पुत्रक। हीनवर्णोऽपि पापात्मा गतः कृष्णपुरीं यदि॥

dānaṁ cādhyayanaṁ śaucaṁ kāraṇaṁ na hi putraka| hīnavarṇo'pi pāpātmā gataḥ kṛṣṇapurīṁ yadi||

Neither charity, study, nor purity are the true cause, my child — even a sinful man of low birth, if he goes to Krishna's city, is freed.

Verse 79 (skanda.7.451.79)

वाराणस्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे नर्मदायां च यत्फलम्। तत्फलं निमिषार्धेन द्वारवत्यां दिनेदिने॥

vārāṇasyāṁ kurukṣetre narmadāyāṁ ca yatphalam| tatphalaṁ nimiṣārdhena dvāravatyāṁ dinedine||

The fruit obtained at Varanasi, at Kurukshetra, and at the Narmada is obtained at Dvaravati every single day in but half the blink of an eye.

Verse 80 (skanda.7.451.80)

धन्यानामपि धन्यास्ते देवानामपि देवताः। कृष्णोपरि मतिर्येषां हीयते न कदाचन॥

dhanyānāmapi dhanyāste devānāmapi devatāḥ| kṛṣṇopari matiryeṣāṁ hīyate na kadācana||

Those whose mind's devotion to Krishna never wavers are the most blessed among the blessed, the very gods among the gods.

Verse 81 (skanda.7.451.81)

श्रवणद्वादशीयोगे गोमत्युदधिसंगमे। स्नात्वा कृष्णसुतं दृष्ट्वा लिप्यते नैव स क्वचित्॥

śravaṇadvādaśīyoge gomatyudadhisaṅgame| snātvā kṛṣṇasutaṁ dṛṣṭvā lipyate naiva sa kvacit||

Whoever bathes at the confluence of the Gomati and the sea when the twelfth lunar day coincides with the Shravana asterism, and beholds Krishna's son, is never tainted by anything.

Verse 82 (skanda.7.451.82)

यस्य कस्यापि मासस्य द्वादशी प्राप्य मानवः। कृष्णक्रीडापुरीं दृष्ट्वा मुक्तः संसारगह्वरात्॥

yasya kasyāpi māsasya dvādaśī prāpya mānavaḥ| kṛṣṇakrīḍāpurīṁ dṛṣṭvā muktaḥ saṁsāragahvarāt||

A man who, on the twelfth lunar day of any month whatsoever, beholds Krishna's playground-city, is freed from the deep abyss of worldly existence.

Verse 83 (skanda.7.451.83)

येषां कृष्णालये प्राणा गताः सुरपते कलौ। स्वर्गान्न तेषामावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि॥

yeṣāṁ kṛṣṇālaye prāṇā gatāḥ surapate kalau| svargānna teṣāmāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi||

O lord of the gods, those whose life-breath departs in Krishna's temple during the Kali age shall not fall from heaven even after a hundred crore kalpas.

Verse 84 (skanda.7.451.84)

विज्ञेया मानुषा वत्स गर्भस्थास्ते महीतले। द्वारवत्यां न यैर्देवो दृष्टः कंसनिषूदनः॥

vijñeyā mānuṣā vatsa garbhasthāste mahītale| dvāravatyāṁ na yairdevo dṛṣṭaḥ kaṁsaniṣūdanaḥ||

Know this, my child: those born upon this earth who have never beheld, in Dvaravati, that god who slew Kamsa, are to be reckoned as though still unborn, lying in the womb.

Verse 85 (skanda.7.451.85)

दुर्लभो द्वारकावासो दुर्लभं कृष्णदर्शनम्। दुर्लभं गोमतीस्नानं दुर्लभो रुक्मिणीपतिः॥

durlabho dvārakāvāso durlabhaṁ kṛṣṇadarśanam| durlabhaṁ gomatīsnānaṁ durlabho rukmiṇīpatiḥ||

Rare is dwelling in Dvaraka, rare is beholding Krishna, rare is bathing in the Gomati, and rare is the sight of Rukmini's husband.

Verse 86 (skanda.7.451.86)

तपः परं कृतयुगे त्रेतायां ज्ञानमुच्यते। द्वापरे तु परो यज्ञः कलौ केशवकीर्तनम्॥

tapaḥ paraṁ kṛtayuge tretāyāṁ jñānamucyate| dvāpare tu paro yajñaḥ kalau keśavakīrtanam||

In the Krita age, austerity is declared the supreme means; in Treta, knowledge; in Dvapara, sacrifice; and in Kali, the chanting of Keshava's name.

Verse 87 (skanda.7.451.87)

हेमभारसहस्रैस्तु दत्तैर्यत्फलमाप्यते। दृष्ट्वा तत्कोटिगुणितं हरेः सर्वप्रदं मुखम्॥

hemabhārasahasraistu dattairyatphalamāpyate| dṛṣṭvā tatkoṭiguṇitaṁ hareḥ sarvapradaṁ mukham||

The fruit obtained by giving away a thousand loads of gold is exceeded a crore-fold by simply beholding Hari's face, which grants all things.

Verse 88 (skanda.7.451.88)

द्वारकायां च यद्दत्तं शंखोद्धारे तथैव च। पिंडारके महातीर्थे दत्तं चैवाक्षयं भवेत्॥

dvārakāyāṁ ca yaddattaṁ śaṅkhoddhāre tathaiva ca| piṇḍārake mahātīrthe dattaṁ caivākṣayaṁ bhavet||

Whatever is given in charity at Dvaraka, at Shankhoddhara, and at the great sacred place of Pindaraka becomes imperishable.

Verse 89 (skanda.7.451.89)

गोमहिष्यादि यद्दत्तं सुवर्णवसनानि च। वृषो भूमिग्रहो रूप्यं कन्यादानं तथैव च॥

gomahiṣyādi yaddattaṁ suvarṇavasanāni ca| vṛṣo bhūmigraho rūpyaṁ kanyādānaṁ tathaiva ca||

Whatever is given as a gift of cows, buffaloes, and the like, of gold and garments, of a bull, land, silver, and the gift of a daughter in marriage —

Verse 90 (skanda.7.451.90)

यच्चान्यदपि देवेन्द्र त्रिषु स्थानेषु यच्छति। तन्मुक्तिकारकं प्रोक्तं पितॄणामात्मनस्तथा॥

yaccānyadapi devendra triṣu sthāneṣu yacchati| tanmuktikārakaṁ proktaṁ pitṝṇāmātmanastathā||

And whatever else, O lord of gods, is given at these three places is declared to bring liberation both for one's ancestors and for oneself.

Verse 91 (skanda.7.451.91)

ऊषरं हि यतो लोके क्षेत्रमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम्। अतो मुक्तिकरं सर्वं दानं चोक्तं महर्षिभिः॥

ūṣaraṁ hi yato loke kṣetrametatprakīrtitam| ato muktikaraṁ sarvaṁ dānaṁ coktaṁ maharṣibhiḥ||

Because this sacred field is declared in the world to be like barren ground for sin, the great sages have proclaimed that every gift given here brings liberation.

Verse 92 (skanda.7.451.92)

यत्किंचित्कुरुते तत्र दानं क्रीडावगाहनम्। तदनन्तफलं प्राह भगवान्मधुसूदनः॥

yatkiñcitkurute tatra dānaṁ krīḍāvagāhanam| tadanantaphalaṁ prāha bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ||

Whatever gift is given there, or even mere playful bathing in those waters, the Lord Madhusudana himself has declared to yield infinite fruit.

Verse 93 (skanda.7.451.93)

प्रेतत्वं नैव तस्यास्ति न याम्या नारकी व्यथा। येन द्वारवतीं गत्वा कृतं कृष्णावलोकनम्॥

pretatvaṁ naiva tasyāsti na yāmyā nārakī vyathā| yena dvāravatīṁ gatvā kṛtaṁ kṛṣṇāvalokanam||

For one who has journeyed to Dvaravati and beheld Krishna, there is neither the state of a ghost nor any torment inflicted by Yama in the realm of hell.

Verse 94 (skanda.7.451.94)

वारिमात्रेण गोमत्यां पिण्डदाने कृते कलौ। पितॄणां जायते तृप्तिर्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्॥

vārimātreṇa gomatyāṁ piṇḍadāne kṛte kalau| pitṝṇāṁ jāyate tṛptiryāvadābhūtasamplavam||

In the Kali age, offering the ancestral rice-balls with merely the water of the Gomati brings satisfaction to one's ancestors that endures until the great dissolution.

Verse 95 (skanda.7.451.95)

नित्यं कृष्णपुरीं रम्यां ये स्मरन्ति गृहस्थिताः। नमस्याः सर्वलोकानां देवानां च सुरोत्तम॥

nityaṁ kṛṣṇapurīṁ ramyāṁ ye smaranti gṛhasthitāḥ| namasyāḥ sarvalokānāṁ devānāṁ ca surottama||

O best of gods, those who, even while remaining at home, constantly remember Krishna's beautiful city are worthy of homage from all the worlds and all the gods.

Verse 96 (skanda.7.451.96)

ब्रह्मज्ञानं गयाश्राद्धं मरणं गोग्रहेषु च। वासः पुंसां द्वारकायां मुक्तिरेषा चतुर्विधा॥

brahmajñānaṁ gayāśrāddhaṁ maraṇaṁ gograheṣu ca| vāsaḥ puṁsāṁ dvārakāyāṁ muktireṣā caturvidhā||

Knowledge of Brahman, performing shraddha at Gaya, dying at a solar or lunar eclipse, and dwelling in Dvaraka — these are the four ways of liberation for men.

Verse 97 (skanda.7.451.97)

ब्रह्मज्ञानेन मुच्यन्ते प्रयागे मरणेन वा। अथवा स्नानमात्रेण गोमत्यां कृष्णसंनिधौ॥

brahmajñānena mucyante prayāge maraṇena vā| athavā snānamātreṇa gomatyāṁ kṛṣṇasannidhau||

Men are freed through knowledge of Brahman, or by dying at Prayaga, or simply by bathing in the Gomati in Krishna's presence.

Verse 98 (skanda.7.451.98)

कृतार्थः कृतपुण्योऽहं ब्रवीत्येवं महोदधिः। पवित्रितं च मद्गात्रं गोमतीवारिसंप्लवात्॥

kṛtārthaḥ kṛtapuṇyo'haṁ bravītyevaṁ mahodadhiḥ| pavitritaṁ ca madgātraṁ gomatīvārisamplavāt||

Even the great ocean itself says: 'I am fulfilled, I am blessed with merit, for my very body has been purified by the flowing waters of the Gomati.'

Verse 99 (skanda.7.451.99)

अत्युग्राण्यपि पापानि तावत्तिष्ठंति विग्रहे। यावत्स्नानं न गोमत्यां वारिणा पापहारिणा॥

atyugrāṇyapi pāpāni tāvattiṣṭhanti vigrahe| yāvatsnānaṁ na gomatyāṁ vāriṇā pāpahāriṇā||

Even the most terrible sins remain lodged in the body only until one bathes in the sin-removing waters of the Gomati.

Verse 100 (skanda.7.451.100)

चक्रतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोमत्यां रुक्मिणीह्रदे। दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमुखं रम्यं कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्॥

cakratīrthe naraḥ snātvā gomatyāṁ rukmiṇīhrade| dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇamukhaṁ ramyaṁ kulānāṁ tārayecchatam||

A man who bathes at Chakra-tirtha, in the Gomati, and in Rukmini's pool, and beholds Krishna's beautiful face, delivers a hundred generations of his lineage.

Verse 101 (skanda.7.451.101)

कृष्णं च ये द्वारवतीं मनुष्याः स्मरंति नित्यं हरिभक्तियुक्ताः। विधूतपापाः किल संभवांते गच्छंति लोकं परमं मुरारेः॥

kṛṣṇaṁ ca ye dvāravatīṁ manuṣyāḥ smaranti nityaṁ haribhaktiyuktāḥ| vidhūtapāpāḥ kila sambhavānte gacchanti lokaṁ paramaṁ murāreḥ||

Those who, filled with devotion to Hari, constantly remember Krishna and Dvaravati, have their sins truly washed away, and in the end attain the supreme realm of Murari.

Verse 102 (skanda.7.451.102)

अधौतपादः प्रथमं नमस्कुर्याद्गणेश्वरम्। सर्वविघ्रविनाशश्च जायते नात्र संशयः॥

adhautapādaḥ prathamaṁ namaskuryādgaṇeśvaram| sarvavighravināśaśca jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

Even before washing one's feet, one should first bow to Ganeshvara; by this, all obstacles are surely destroyed.

Verse 103 (skanda.7.451.103)

नीलोत्पलदलश्यामं कृष्णं देवकिनन्दनम्। दण्डवत्प्रणमेत्प्रीत्या प्रणमेदग्रजं पुनः॥

nīlotpaladalaśyāmaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ devakinandanam| daṇḍavatpraṇametprītyā praṇamedagrajaṁ punaḥ||

Then one should prostrate with love before Krishna, son of Devaki, dark as the petal of a blue lotus, and afterward bow also to his elder brother (Balarama).

Verse 104 (skanda.7.451.104)

बाल्ये च यत्कृतं पापं कौमारे यौवने तथा। दर्शनात्कृष्णदेवस्य तन्नश्येन्नात्र संशयः॥

bālye ca yatkṛtaṁ pāpaṁ kaumāre yauvane tathā| darśanātkṛṣṇadevasya tannaśyennātra saṁśayaḥ||

Whatever sin has been committed in childhood, in adolescence, or in youth is destroyed by the sight of Lord Krishna — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 105 (skanda.7.451.105)

वाण्याऽथ मनसा यच्च कर्मणा समुपार्जितम्। पापं जन्मसहस्रेण तन्नश्येन्नात्र संशयः॥

vāṇyā'tha manasā yacca karmaṇā samupārjitam| pāpaṁ janmasahasreṇa tannaśyennātra saṁśayaḥ||

Whatever sin has been accumulated across a thousand births through speech, mind, or action is likewise destroyed — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 106 (skanda.7.451.106)

हेमभारसहस्रैस्तु दत्तैर्यत्फलमाप्यते। तत्फलं कोटिगुणितं कृष्णवक्त्रावलोकनात्॥

hemabhārasahasraistu dattairyatphalamāpyate| tatphalaṁ koṭiguṇitaṁ kṛṣṇavaktrāvalokanāt||

The fruit obtained by giving away a thousand loads of gold is exceeded a crore-fold by simply beholding Krishna's face.

Verse 107 (skanda.7.451.107)

नमस्कृत्य च देवेशं पुण्डरीकाक्षमच्युतम्। दुर्वाससं महेशानं द्वारकापरिरक्षकम्॥

namaskṛtya ca deveśaṁ puṇḍarīkākṣamacyutam| durvāsasaṁ maheśānaṁ dvārakāparirakṣakam||

Having bowed to the lord of gods, the lotus-eyed, the imperishable one, and having bowed also to Durvasa, that portion of the great lord Shiva, guardian of Dvaraka,

Verse 108 (skanda.7.451.108)

प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या वैनतेयसमन्वितम्। द्वारमागत्य च पुनः स्वर्गद्वारोपमं शुभम्॥

praṇamya parayā bhaktyā vainateyasamanvitam| dvāramāgatya ca punaḥ svargadvāropamaṁ śubham||

and bowing with the deepest devotion to him along with Garuda, and coming once more to that auspicious gate resembling the very gateway of heaven,

Verse 109 (skanda.7.451.109)

विश्रम्य च मुहूर्त्तार्द्धं सुहृद्भिर्बान्धवैर्वृतः। तत्राश्रितान्समाहूय ब्राह्मणान्मन्त्रकोविदान्। पूजाद्रव्यं समानीय ततस्तीर्थं व्रजेद्बुधः॥

viśramya ca muhūrtārdhaṁ suhṛdbhirbāndhavairvṛtaḥ| tatrāśritānsamāhūya brāhmaṇānmantrakovidān| pūjādravyaṁ samānīya tatastīrthaṁ vrajedbudhaḥ||

resting there for half a muhurta, surrounded by friends and kinsmen, and summoning the brahmins skilled in sacred formulas who dwell there, and gathering the materials for worship, the wise pilgrim should then proceed onward to the sacred waters.