The Glory of the Journey to Dvaraka and of Wearing Tulasi

Verse 1 (skanda.7.470.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यमिन्द्रद्युम्न निबोध मे। कलौ निवसते यत्र क्लेशहा रुक्मिणीपतिः

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| dvārakāyāśca māhātmyamindradyumna nibodha me| kalau nivasate yatra kleśahā rukmiṇīpatiḥ

Markandeya said: O Indradyumna, learn from me the glory of Dvaraka, where in the Kali age dwells the remover of afflictions, the lord of Rukmini.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.470.2)

कलौ कृष्णस्य माहात्म्यं ये शृण्वंति पठंति च। न तेषां जायते वासो यमलोके युगाष्टकम्

kalau kṛṣṇasya māhātmyaṁ ye śṛṇvaṁti paṭhaṁti ca| na teṣāṁ jāyate vāso yamaloke yugāṣṭakam

Those who, in the Kali age, hear and recite the glory of Krishna do not dwell in the world of Yama for eight yugas.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.470.3)

नित्यं कृष्णकथा यस्य प्राणादपि गरीयसी। न तस्य दुर्ल्लभं किंचिदिह लोके परं नृप

nityaṁ kṛṣṇakathā yasya prāṇādapi garīyasī| na tasya durlabhaṁ kiṁcidiha loke paraṁ nṛpa

O king, for one to whom the story of Krishna is ever dearer than life itself, nothing remains difficult to obtain, in this world or the next.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.470.4)

मन्वंतरसहस्रैस्तु काशीवासेन यत्फलम्। तत्फलं द्वारकावासे वसतां पंचभिर्दिनैः

manvaṁtarasahasraistu kāśīvāsena yatphalam| tatphalaṁ dvārakāvāse vasatāṁ paṁcabhirdinaiḥ

The fruit obtained by dwelling in Kashi for a thousand manvantaras is obtained by dwelling in Dvaraka for just five days.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.470.5)

कलौ निवसते यस्तु श्वपचो द्वारकां यदि। यतीनां गतिमाप्नोति प्राह ह्येवं प्रजापतिः

kalau nivasate yastu śvapaco dvārakāṁ yadi| yatīnāṁ gatimāpnoti prāha hyevaṁ prajāpatiḥ

If, in the Kali age, even an outcaste dwells in Dvaraka, he attains the state of ascetics — thus has Prajapati declared.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.470.6)

द्वारकां गंतुकामं यः प्रत्यहं कुरुते नरः। फलमाप्नोति मनुजः कुरुक्षेत्रसमुद्भवम्

dvārakāṁ gaṁtukāmaṁ yaḥ pratyahaṁ kurute naraḥ| phalamāpnoti manujaḥ kurukṣetrasamudbhavam

The man who daily cherishes the wish to go to Dvaraka obtains the fruit arising from Kurukshetra.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.470.7)

सोमग्रहे च यत्प्रोक्तं यत्फलं सोमनायके। दृष्ट्वा तत्फलमाप्नोति द्वारवत्यां जनार्द्दनम्

somagrahe ca yatproktaṁ yatphalaṁ somanāyake| dṛṣṭvā tatphalamāpnoti dvāravatyāṁ janārddanam

The fruit declared for beholding Somanatha at a lunar eclipse — that same fruit is obtained by beholding Janardana at Dvaravati.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.470.8)

पुष्करे कार्त्तिकीं कृत्वा यत्फलं वर्षकोटिभिः। तत्फलं द्वारकावासे दिनेनैकेन जायते

puṣkare kārttikīṁ kṛtvā yatphalaṁ varṣakoṭibhiḥ| tatphalaṁ dvārakāvāse dinenaikena jāyate

The fruit obtained over ten million years by performing the Kartiki rite at Pushkara is obtained by dwelling in Dvaraka for just a single day.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.470.9)

द्वारकायां दिनैकेन दृष्टे देवकिनंदने। फलं कोटिगुणं ज्ञेयमत्र लक्षशतोद्भवम्

dvārakāyāṁ dinaikena dṛṣṭe devakinaṁdane| phalaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ jñeyamatra lakṣaśatodbhavam

By beholding, in Dvaraka, for a single day, the son of Devaki, the fruit should be known to be multiplied a crore times over — equal to that arising from countless other tirthas.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.470.10)

कलौ निवसतां भूप धन्यास्तेषां मनोरथाः। कृष्णस्य दर्शने नित्यं द्वारकागमने मतिः

kalau nivasatāṁ bhūpa dhanyāsteṣāṁ manorathāḥ| kṛṣṇasya darśane nityaṁ dvārakāgamane matiḥ

O king, blessed are the aspirations of those who dwell in Dvaraka in the Kali age, whose minds are ever set upon beholding Krishna and upon journeying to Dvaraka.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.470.11)

एकामपि द्वादशीं तु यः करोति नृपोत्तम। कृष्णस्य सन्निधौ भूप द्वारकायाः फलं शृणु

ekāmapi dvādaśīṁ tu yaḥ karoti nṛpottama| kṛṣṇasya sannidhau bhūpa dvārakāyāḥ phalaṁ śṛṇu

O best of kings, even one who observes just a single Dvadashi in the presence of Krishna at Dvaraka — O king, hear the fruit of that.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.470.12)

धन्यास्ते कृतकृत्यास्ते ते जना लोकपावनाः। दृष्टं कृष्णमुखं यैस्तु पापकोट्ययुतापहम्

dhanyāste kṛtakṛtyāste te janā lokapāvanāḥ| dṛṣṭaṁ kṛṣṇamukhaṁ yaistu pāpakoṭyayutāpaham

Blessed are they, their purpose fulfilled, purifiers of the world, who have beheld the face of Krishna, which destroys crores upon crores of sins.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.470.13)

यत्फलं व्रतसंयुक्तैर्वासरैः कृष्णसंयुतैः। यज्ञैर्दानैर्बृहद्भिश्च द्वारकायां तथैकया

yatphalaṁ vratasaṁyuktairvāsaraiḥ kṛṣṇasaṁyutaiḥ| yajñairdānairbṛhadbhiśca dvārakāyāṁ tathaikayā

The fruit obtained through days of vowed observance connected with Krishna, and through great sacrifices and gifts — that same fruit is obtained at Dvaraka by a single such day.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.470.14)

क्षीरस्नानं प्रकुर्वंति ये नराः कृष्ण मूर्धनि। शताश्वमेधजं पुण्यं बिंदुना बिंदुना स्मृतम्

kṣīrasnānaṁ prakurvaṁti ye narāḥ kṛṣṇa mūrdhani| śatāśvamedhajaṁ puṇyaṁ biṁdunā biṁdunā smṛtam

Those men who perform a milk-bathing of Krishna's head — for every single drop, the merit of a hundred Ashvamedha sacrifices is declared.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.470.15)

दधि क्षीराद्दशगुणं घृतं दध्नो दशोत्तरम्। घृताद्दशगुणं क्षौद्रं क्षौद्राद्दशगुणोत्तरम्

dadhi kṣīrāddaśaguṇaṁ ghṛtaṁ dadhno daśottaram| ghṛtāddaśaguṇaṁ kṣaudraṁ kṣaudrāddaśaguṇottaram

Curd is tenfold milk, ghee tenfold curd; honey is tenfold ghee, and beyond honey again tenfold more.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.470.16)

पुष्पोदकं च रत्नोदं वर्द्धनं च दशोत्तरम्। मंत्रोदकं च गंधोदं तथैव नृपसत्तम

puṣpodakaṁ ca ratnodaṁ varddhanaṁ ca daśottaram| maṁtrodakaṁ ca gaṁdhodaṁ tathaiva nṛpasattama

Water infused with flowers, and water infused with gems, each tenfold beyond the last; likewise, O best of kings, water charged with mantras, and fragrant water.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.470.17)

इक्षो रसेन स्नपनं शतवाजिमखैः समम्। तथैव तीर्थनीरं स फलं यच्छति भूमिप

ikṣo rasena snapanaṁ śatavājimakhaiḥ samam| tathaiva tīrthanīraṁ sa phalaṁ yacchati bhūmipa

Bathing with sugarcane juice equals a hundred horse-sacrifices; likewise, O lord of the earth, water from a tirtha grants the same fruit.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.470.18)

कृष्णं स्नानार्द्रगात्रं च वस्त्रेण परिमार्जति। तस्य लक्षार्जितस्यापि भवेत्पापस्य मार्जनम्

kṛṣṇaṁ snānārdragātraṁ ca vastreṇa parimārjati| tasya lakṣārjitasyāpi bhavetpāpasya mārjanam

He who wipes with a cloth the limbs of Krishna, wet from bathing, has even sins accumulated over a hundred thousand lifetimes wiped away.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.470.19)

स्नापयित्वा जगन्नाथं पुष्पमालावरोहणम्। कुरुते प्रतिपुष्पं तु स्वर्णनिष्कायुतं फलम्

snāpayitvā jagannāthaṁ puṣpamālāvarohaṇam| kurute pratipuṣpaṁ tu svarṇaniṣkāyutaṁ phalam

Having bathed the Lord of the universe, one who offers a garland of flowers obtains, for each flower, the fruit of ten thousand gold coins given in charity.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.470.20)

स्नानकाले तु देवस्य शंखादीनां तु वादनम्। कुरुते ब्रह्मलोके तु वसते ब्रह्मवासरम्

snānakāle tu devasya śaṅkhādīnāṁ tu vādanam| kurute brahmaloke tu vasate brahmavāsaram

One who sounds the conch and other instruments during the god's bathing dwells in the world of Brahma for a full day of Brahma.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.470.21)

स्नानकाले स कृष्णस्य पठेन्नामसहस्रकम्। प्रत्यक्षरं लभेत्प्रेष्टं कपिलागोशतोद्भवम्

snānakāle sa kṛṣṇasya paṭhennāmasahasrakam| pratyakṣaraṁ labhetpreṣṭaṁ kapilāgośatodbhavam

He who, during Krishna's bathing, recites his thousand names, obtains, for every syllable, a beloved fruit equal to the gift of a hundred kapila cows.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.470.22)

फलमेतन्महीपाल गीतायाः परिकीर्तितम्। गजेंद्रमोक्षणेनैवं स्तवराजेन कीर्त्तितम्

phalametanmahīpāla gītāyāḥ parikīrtitam| gajeṁdramokṣaṇenaivaṁ stavarājena kīrttitam

O king, this same fruit is declared for the recitation of the Gita, and likewise for the Gajendramoksha and the King of Hymns.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.470.23)

स्तवैर्ऋषिकृतैरन्यैः पठितैश्च नराधिप। तोषमाप्नोति देवेशः सर्वान्कामान्प्रयच्छति

stavairṛṣikṛtairanyaiḥ paṭhitaiśca narādhipa| toṣamāpnoti deveśaḥ sarvānkāmānprayacchati

O lord of men, by the recitation of other hymns composed by sages too, the Lord of gods becomes gratified and grants all desires.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.470.24)

किं पुनर्वेदपाठं तु स्नानकाले करोति यः। तस्य यल्लभते पुण्यं न ज्ञातं नरनायक

kiṁ punarvedapāṭhaṁ tu snānakāle karoti yaḥ| tasya yallabhate puṇyaṁ na jñātaṁ naranāyaka

What then of one who recites the Vedas during the bathing? O lord of men, the merit he obtains cannot even be fathomed.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.470.25)

स्नान काले च संप्राप्ते कृष्णस्याग्रे तु नर्तनम्। गीतं चैव पुनस्तत्र स्तवनं वदनेन हि

snāna kāle ca saṁprāpte kṛṣṇasyāgre tu nartanam| gītaṁ caiva punastatra stavanaṁ vadanena hi

When the bathing time arrives, dancing before Krishna, and likewise singing, and reciting hymns of praise with the voice, there —

Verse 26 (skanda.7.470.26)

स्नानकाले तु कृष्णस्य जयशब्दं करोति यः। करताल समायुक्तं गीतनृत्यं करोति च

snānakāle tu kṛṣṇasya jayaśabdaṁ karoti yaḥ| karatāla samāyuktaṁ gītanṛtyaṁ karoti ca

he who, during Krishna's bathing, shouts cries of victory, and performs song and dance accompanied by clapping,

Verse 27 (skanda.7.470.27)

तत्र चेष्टां प्रकुर्वाणो हसते जल्पतेऽपि वा। मुक्तं तेन परं मातुर्योनियंत्रस्य निर्गमम्

tatra ceṣṭāṁ prakurvāṇo hasate jalpate'pi vā| muktaṁ tena paraṁ māturyoniyaṁtrasya nirgamam

he who thus makes such gestures there, whether laughing or speaking — by him has release from passage through the mother's womb already been won.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.470.28)

नोत्तानशायी भवति मातुरंके नरेश्वर। गुणान्पठति कृष्णस्य यः काले स्नानकर्मणः

nottānaśāyī bhavati māturaṁke nareśvara| guṇānpaṭhati kṛṣṇasya yaḥ kāle snānakarmaṇaḥ

O lord of men, he who recites the virtues of Krishna at the time of the bathing rite does not again lie on his back in his mother's lap — that is, he is not reborn.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.470.29)

चंदनागुरुमिश्रेण कंकुमेन सुगंधिना। विलेपयति यः कृष्णं कर्पूरमृगनाभिना। कल्पं तु भवने विष्णोर्वसते पितृभिः सह

caṁdanāgurumiśreṇa kaṁkumena sugaṁdhinā| vilepayati yaḥ kṛṣṇaṁ karpūramṛganābhinā| kalpaṁ tu bhavane viṣṇorvasate pitṛbhiḥ saha

He who anoints Krishna with sandal mixed with aloewood, with fragrant saffron, and with camphor and musk, dwells for a whole kalpa in Vishnu's abode, together with his ancestors.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.470.30)

प्रत्येकं चंदनादीनामिंद्रद्युम्न न चान्यथा। नानादेशसमुद्भूतैः सुवस्त्रैश्च सुकोमलैः

pratyekaṁ caṁdanādīnāmiṁdradyumna na cānyathā| nānādeśasamudbhūtaiḥ suvastraiśca sukomalaiḥ

O Indradyumna, for each of these substances — sandal and the rest — this same fruit applies, and not otherwise. With fine, exceedingly soft garments produced in various lands,

Verse 31 (skanda.7.470.31)

धूपयित्वा सुगंधैश्च यो धूपयति मानवः। मन्वंतराणि वसते तत्संख्यानि हरेर्गृहे

dhūpayitvā sugaṁdhaiśca yo dhūpayati mānavaḥ| manvaṁtarāṇi vasate tatsaṁkhyāni hareraghe

the man who offers incense with fragrant substances dwells in Hari's abode for as many manvantaras as there are particles of that incense.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.470.32)

स्वशक्त्या देवदेवेशं भूषणैर्भूषयंति च। हेमजैरतुलैः शुभ्रैर्मणिजैश्च सुशोभनैः

svaśaktyā devadeveśaṁ bhūṣaṇairbhūṣayaṁti ca| hemajairatulaiḥ śubhrairmaṇijaiśca suśobhanaiḥ

Those who, according to their means, adorn the god of gods with peerless golden ornaments, and with radiant, beautifully wrought jewelled ones,

Verse 33 (skanda.7.470.33)

तेषां फलं महाराज रुद्राश्च वासवादयः। जानंति मुनयो नैव वर्जयित्वा तु माधवम्

teṣāṁ phalaṁ mahārāja rudrāśca vāsavādayaḥ| jānaṁti munayo naiva varjayitvā tu mādhavam

O great king, the fruit of that — not the Rudras, nor Vasava and the other gods, nor even the sages know it, save Madhava himself.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.470.34)

येऽर्चयंति जगन्नाथं कृष्णं कलिमलापहम्। केतकीतुलसीपत्रैः पुष्पैर्मालतिसंभवैः

ye'rcayaṁti jagannāthaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ kalimalāpaham| ketakītulasīpatraiḥ puṣpairmālatisaṁbhavaiḥ

Those who worship the Lord of the universe, Krishna, remover of the taint of Kali, with ketaki flowers, tulasi leaves, and blossoms of malati,

Verse 35 (skanda.7.470.35)

तद्देशसंभवैश्चान्यैर्भूरिभिः कुसुमैर्नृप। एकैकं नृप शार्दूल राजसूयसमं स्मृतम्

taddeśasaṁbhavaiścānyairbhūribhiḥ kusumairnṛpa| ekaikaṁ nṛpa śārdūla rājasūyasamaṁ smṛtam

and with abundant other flowers native to that land — O tiger among kings, each single flower is declared equal in merit to a Rajasuya sacrifice.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.470.36)

ये कुर्वंति नराः पूजां स्वशक्त्या रुक्मिणीपतेः। क्रीडंति विष्णुलोके ते मन्वतरशतं नराः

ye kurvaṁti narāḥ pūjāṁ svaśaktyā rukmiṇīpateḥ| krīḍaṁti viṣṇuloke te manvataraśataṁ narāḥ

Those men who worship the lord of Rukmini according to their ability sport in the world of Vishnu for a hundred manvantaras.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.470.37)

यः पुनस्तुलसीपत्रैः कोमलमंजरीयुतैः। पूजयेच्छ्रद्धया यस्तु कृष्णं देवकिनंदनम्

yaḥ punastulasīpatraiḥ komalamaṁjarīyutaiḥ| pūjayecchraddhayā yastu kṛṣṇaṁ devakinaṁdanam

But he who, with faith, worships Krishna, son of Devaki, with tulasi leaves accompanied by tender clusters —

Verse 38 (skanda.7.470.38)

या गतिर्योगयुक्तानां या गतिर्योगशालिनाम्। या गतिर्दानशीलानां या गतिस्तीर्थसेविनाम्

yā gatiryogayuktānāṁ yā gatiryogaśālinām| yā gatirdānaśīlānāṁ yā gatistīrthasevinām

Whatever the destination of those devoted to yoga, whatever the destination of the accomplished in yoga, whatever the destination of the charitable, whatever the destination of those who frequent tirthas,

Verse 39 (skanda.7.470.39)

या गतिर्मातृभक्तानां द्वादशीं वेधवर्जिताम्। कुर्वतां जागरं विष्णोर्नृत्यतां गायतां फलम्

yā gatirmātṛbhaktānāṁ dvādaśīṁ vedhavarjitām| kurvatāṁ jāgaraṁ viṣṇornṛtyatāṁ gāyatāṁ phalam

whatever the destination of those devoted to their mothers, whatever the fruit of observing a flaw-free Dvadashi, of keeping Vishnu's night vigil, of dancing and singing before him —

Verse 40 (skanda.7.470.40)

वैष्णवानां तु भक्तानां यत्फलं वेदवादिनाम्। पठतां वैष्णवं शास्त्रं वैष्णवानां तु यच्छताम्

vaiṣṇavānāṁ tu bhaktānāṁ yatphalaṁ vedavādinām| paṭhatāṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ śāstraṁ vaiṣṇavānāṁ tu yacchatām

whatever the fruit of Vaishnava devotees, of expounders of the Veda, of those who study Vaishnava scripture, of those who give gifts to Vaishnavas —

Verse 41 (skanda.7.470.41)

तुलसीमालया कृष्णः पूजितो रुक्मिणी पतेः। फलमेतन्महीपाल यच्छते नात्र सशयः

tulasīmālayā kṛṣṇaḥ pūjito rukmiṇī pateḥ| phalametanmahīpāla yacchate nātra saśayaḥ

O king, all that fruit is granted by worshipping Krishna, lord of Rukmini, with a garland of tulasi — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.470.42)

यथा लक्ष्मीः प्रिया विष्णोस्तुलसी च ततोऽधिका। द्वारकायां समुत्पन्ना विशेषेण फलाधिका

yathā lakṣmīḥ priyā viṣṇostulasī ca tato'dhikā| dvārakāyāṁ samutpannā viśeṣeṇa phalādhikā

As Lakshmi is beloved of Vishnu, tulasi is dearer still; tulasi grown in Dvaraka is especially more fruitful.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.470.43)

यत्र तत्र स्थितो विष्णुस्तुलसीदलमालया। पूजितो द्वारकातुल्यं पुण्यं स यच्छते कलौ

yatra tatra sthito viṣṇustulasīdalamālayā| pūjito dvārakātulyaṁ puṇyaṁ sa yacchate kalau

Wherever Vishnu resides, when worshipped with a garland of tulasi leaves, in the Kali age he grants merit equal to that of Dvaraka.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.470.44)

योऽर्चयेत्केतकीपत्रैः कृष्णं कलिमलापहम्। पत्रेपत्रेऽश्वमेधस्यफलं यच्छति भूभुज

yo'rcayetketakīpatraiḥ kṛṣṇaṁ kalimalāpaham| patrepatre'śvamedhasyaphalaṁ yacchati bhūbhuja

O king, he who worships Krishna, remover of the taint of Kali, with ketaki leaves, obtains, for each leaf, the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.470.45)

योऽर्चयेन्मालतीपुष्पैः कृष्णं त्रिभुवनेश्वरम्। तेनाप्तं नास्ति संदेहो यत्फलं दुर्लभं हरेः

yo'rcayenmālatīpuṣpaiḥ kṛṣṇaṁ tribhuvaneśvaram| tenāptaṁ nāsti saṁdeho yatphalaṁ durlabhaṁ hareḥ

He who worships Krishna, lord of the three worlds, with blossoms of malati, has, without doubt, obtained that fruit of Hari which is otherwise difficult to attain.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.470.46)

ऋतुकालोद्भवैः पुष्पैर्योऽर्चयेद्रुक्मिणीपतिम्। सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति दुर्लभान्देवमानुषैः

ṛtukālodbhavaiḥ puṣpairyo'rcayedrukmiṇīpatim| sarvānkāmānavāpnoti durlabhāndevamānuṣaiḥ

He who worships the lord of Rukmini with flowers of the appropriate season obtains all desires, even those hard to attain for gods and men.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.470.47)

कृष्णेनागुरुणा कृष्णं धूपयंति कलौ युगे। सकर्पूरेण राजेन्द्र कृष्णतुल्या भवंति ते

kṛṣṇenāguruṇā kṛṣṇaṁ dhūpayaṁti kalau yuge| sakarpūreṇa rājendra kṛṣṇatulyā bhavaṁti te

O king of kings, those who, in the Kali age, perfume Krishna with dark aloewood and camphor become equal to Krishna himself.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.470.48)

साज्येन गुग्गुलेनापि सुगंधेन जनार्द्दनम्। धूपयित्वा नरो याति पदं भूयः सदा शिवम्

sājyena gugguleṇāpi sugaṁdhena janārddanam| dhūpayitvā naro yāti padaṁ bhūyaḥ sadā śivam

By perfuming Janardana with ghee-mixed, fragrant guggul, a man attains once more that supreme, ever-auspicious state.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.470.49)

यो ददाति महीपाल कृष्णस्याग्रे तु दीपकम्। पातकं तु समुत्सृज्य ज्योतीरूपं लभेत्पदम्

yo dadāti mahīpāla kṛṣṇasyāgre tu dīpakam| pātakaṁ tu samutsṛjya jyotīrūpaṁ labhetpadam

O king, he who offers a lamp before Krishna, casting off sin, attains a state of luminous being.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.470.50)

द्वारे कृष्णस्य यो नित्यं दीपमालां करोति हि। सप्तद्वीपवतीराज्यं द्वीपेद्वीपे फलं लभेत्

dvāre kṛṣṇasya yo nityaṁ dīpamālāṁ karoti hi| saptadvīpavatīrājyaṁ dvīpedvīpe phalaṁ labhet

He who daily arranges a row of lamps at Krishna's doorway obtains, on every one of the seven continents, the fruit of ruling over the whole seven-continent realm.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.470.51)

नैवेद्यानि मनोज्ञानि कृष्णाय विनिवेदयेत्। कल्पांतं तत्पितॄणां हि तृप्तिर्भवति शाश्वती

naivedyāni manojñāni kṛṣṇāya vinivedayet| kalpāṁtaṁ tatpitṝṇāṁ hi tṛptirbhavati śāśvatī

He who offers delightful food-offerings to Krishna — for his ancestors, eternal satisfaction endures until the end of the kalpa.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.470.52)

फलानि यच्छते यो वै सुहृद्यानि नरेश्वर। जायंते तस्य कल्पांतं सफलास्तु मनोरथाः

phalāni yacchate yo vai suhṛdyāni nareśvara| jāyaṁte tasya kalpāṁtaṁ saphalāstu manorathāḥ

O lord of men, he who offers pleasing fruits — his heartfelt wishes remain fulfilled until the end of the kalpa.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.470.53)

तांबूलं तु सकर्पूरं सपूगं नरनायक। कृष्णाय यच्छते यो वै पदं तस्याग्निदैवतम्

tāṁbūlaṁ tu sakarpūraṁ sapūgaṁ naranāyaka| kṛṣṇāya yacchate yo vai padaṁ tasyāgnidaivatam

O lord of men, he who offers betel with camphor and areca nut to Krishna attains a station like that of the fire-god himself.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.470.54)

सनीरं कर्पुरोपेतं कुंभं कृष्णाग्रतो न्यसेत्। कल्पांते न जलापेक्षां कुर्वंति च पितामहाः

sanīraṁ karpuropetaṁ kuṁbhaṁ kṛṣṇāgrato nyaset| kalpāṁte na jalāpekṣāṁ kurvaṁti ca pitāmahāḥ

He who sets before Krishna a water-filled vessel scented with camphor — for his ancestors, no thirst for water arises until the end of the kalpa.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.470.55)

व्यजनेनाथ वस्त्रेण सुभक्त्या मातरिश्वना। देवदेवस्य राजेन्द्र कुरुते धर्मवारणम्

vyajanenātha vastreṇa subhaktyā mātariśvanā| devadevasya rājendra kurute dharmavāraṇam

O king of kings, he who, with a fan, or with cloth, devotedly fans the wind upon the god of gods, thereby upholds dharma.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.470.56)

तत्कुले नास्ति पापिष्ठो न च लोके यमस्य च। वायुलोकान्महीपाल न पुनर्विद्यते गतिः

tatkule nāsti pāpiṣṭho na ca loke yamasya ca| vāyulokānmahīpāla na punarvidyate gatiḥ

O king, in his family none are sinful, nor does he go to Yama's world. Beyond the world of Vayu, no other destination exists for him.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.470.57)

कृष्णवेश्मनि यः कुर्य्यात्सधूपं पुष्पमंडपम्। सपुष्पकविमानैस्तु क्रीडते कोटिभिर्द्दिवि

kṛṣṇaveśmani yaḥ kuryātsadhūpaṁ puṣpamaṁḍapam| sapuṣpakavimānaistu krīḍate koṭibhirdivi

He who has a fragrant, flower-decked pavilion built in Krishna's dwelling sports in heaven amidst millions of flower-chariots.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.470.58)

चलच्चामरवातेन कृष्णं यस्तोषयेन्नरः। तस्योत्तमांगं देवेशश्चुंबते स्वमुखेन हि

calaccāmaravātena kṛṣṇaṁ yastoṣayennaraḥ| tasyottamāṁgaṁ deveśaścuṁbate svamukhena hi

The man who pleases Krishna with the breeze of a waving chowrie — his head the Lord of gods himself kisses with his own lips.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.470.59)

यः कुर्यात्कृष्णभवनं कदलीस्तंभशोभितम्। वसत्यर्कलोके तु यावद्वसति मेदिनी

yaḥ kuryātkṛṣṇabhavanaṁ kadalīstaṁbhaśobhitam| vasatyarkaloke tu yāvadvasati medinī

He who has a dwelling for Krishna built, adorned with banana-tree pillars, dwells in the realm of the Sun for as long as the earth endures.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.470.60)

धूपं चंदनमालां तु कुरुते कृष्णसद्मनि। देवकन्यायुतैर्लक्षैः सेव्यते सुरनायकैः

dhūpaṁ caṁdanamālāṁ tu kurute kṛṣṇasadmani| devakanyāyutairlakṣaiḥ sevyate suranāyakaiḥ

He who offers incense and a garland of sandalwood in Krishna's dwelling is attended by hundreds of thousands of celestial maidens and by the chiefs of the gods.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.470.61)

ध्वजमारोपयेद्यस्तु प्रासादोपरि भक्तितः। तस्य ब्रह्मपदे वासः क्रीडते ब्रह्मणा सह

dhvajamāropayedyastu prāsādopari bhaktitaḥ| tasya brahmapade vāsaḥ krīḍate brahmaṇā saha

He who, with devotion, hoists a banner atop the temple dwells in the abode of Brahma and sports there with Brahma himself.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.470.62)

प्रांगणं वर्णकोपेतं स्वस्तिकैश्च समन्वितैः। देवदेवस्य कुरुते क्रीडते भुवनत्रये

prāṁgaṇaṁ varṇakopetaṁ svastikaiśca samanvitaiḥ| devadevasya kurute krīḍate bhuvanatraye

He who decorates the courtyard of the god of gods with colours and with swastika designs sports throughout the three worlds.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.470.63)

यो दद्यान्मण्डपे पुष्पप्रकरं रुक्मिणीपतेः। देवोद्यानेषु सर्वेषु क्रीडते नरनायकैः

yo dadyānmaṇḍape puṣpaprakaraṁ rukmiṇīpateḥ| devodyāneṣu sarveṣu krīḍate naranāyakaiḥ

He who offers a mass of flowers in the pavilion of Rukmini's lord sports in all the gardens of the gods, together with lords among men.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.470.64)

प्रासादे देवदेवस्य चित्रकर्म करोति यः। वसते रुद्रलोके तु यावत्तिष्ठंति सागराः

prāsāde devadevasya citrakarma karoti yaḥ| vasate rudraloke tu yāvattiṣṭhaṁti sāgarāḥ

He who executes decorative painting in the temple of the god of gods dwells in the world of Rudra for as long as the oceans endure.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.470.65)

दद्याच्चन्द्रमयं यस्तु कृष्णोपरि नरेश्वर। वसते द्वारकां यावत्सोमलोके स तिष्ठति

dadyāccandramayaṁ yastu kṛṣṇopari nareśvara| vasate dvārakāṁ yāvatsomaloke sa tiṣṭhati

O lord of men, he who offers a moon-shaped canopy above Krishna dwells in the realm of the Moon for as long as Dvaraka endures.

Verse 66 (skanda.7.470.66)

छत्रं बहुशलाकं तु किंकिणीवस्रगुण्ठितम्। दिव्यरत्नैश्च संयुक्तं हेमदण्डसमन्वितम्

chatraṁ bahuśalākaṁ tu kiṁkiṇīvasraguṇṭhitam| divyaratnaiśca saṁyuktaṁ hemadaṇḍasamanvitam

A canopy of many ribs, draped with bell-hung cloth, set with divine gems, and fitted with a golden handle —

Verse 67 (skanda.7.470.67)

समर्पयति कृष्णाय च्छत्रं लक्षार्बुदैर्वृतम्। अमरैः सहितः सर्वैः क्रीडते पितृभिः सह

samarpayati kṛṣṇāya cchatraṁ lakṣārbudairvṛtam| amaraiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ krīḍate pitṛbhiḥ saha

he who offers such a canopy to Krishna sports together with hundreds of millions of immortals, along with his ancestors.

Verse 68 (skanda.7.470.68)

दद्यान्नरविमानं तु कृष्णाय नरनायक। सत्कृतो धनदेनैव वसते ब्रह्मवासरम्

dadyānnaravimānaṁ tu kṛṣṇāya naranāyaka| satkṛto dhanadenaiva vasate brahmavāsaram

O lord of men, he who offers a carried litter-conveyance to Krishna, honoured by Kubera himself, dwells there for a full day of Brahma.

Verse 69 (skanda.7.470.69)

कृता पूजा दिकं भूप ज्वलंतं कृष्णमूर्द्धनि। आरार्तिकं प्रकुर्वाणो मोदते कृष्णसन्निधौ

kṛtā pūjā dikaṁ bhūpa jvalaṁtaṁ kṛṣṇamūrddhani| āratrikaṁ prakurvāṇo modate kṛṣṇasannidhau

O king, one who performs worship with a burning lamp waved before Krishna's head rejoices in Krishna's very presence.

Verse 70 (skanda.7.470.70)

दीप्तिमंतं सकर्पूरं करोत्यारार्तिकं नृप। कृष्णस्य वसते लोके सप्तकल्पानि मानवः

dīptimaṁtaṁ sakarpūraṁ karotyāratrikaṁ nṛpa| kṛṣṇasya vasate loke saptakalpāni mānavaḥ

O king, the man who performs a blazing lamp-offering with camphor dwells in Krishna's realm for seven kalpas.

Verse 71 (skanda.7.470.71)

धृत्वा शंखोदकं यस्तु भ्रामयेत्केशवोपरि। संनिधौ वसते विष्णोः कल्पांतं क्षीरसागरे

dhṛtvā śaṅkhodakaṁ yastu bhrāmayetkeśavopari| saṁnidhau vasate viṣṇoḥ kalpāṁtaṁ kṣīrasāgare

He who holds water in a conch shell and waves it above Keshava dwells near Vishnu in the Ocean of Milk until the end of the kalpa.

Verse 72 (skanda.7.470.72)

एवं कृत्वा तु कृप्णस्य यः करोति प्रदक्षिणाम्। पठन्नामसहस्रं तु स्तवमन्यं पठन्नृप। सप्तद्वीपवतीपुण्यं लभते तु पदेपदे

evaṁ kṛtvā tu kṛṣṇasya yaḥ karoti pradakṣiṇām| paṭhannāmasahasraṁ tu stavamanyaṁ paṭhannṛpa| saptadvīpavatīpuṇyaṁ labhate tu padepade

O king, having done this, he who performs circumambulation of Krishna, reciting the thousand names or reciting some other hymn, obtains, at every single step, the merit of giving away the whole seven-continent earth.

Verse 73 (skanda.7.470.73)

कुर्य्याद्दण्डनमस्कारमश्वमेधायुतैः समम्। कृष्णं संतोषयेद्यस्तु सुगीतैर्मधुरैः स्वरैः। सामवेदफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः

kuryāddaṇḍanamaskāramaśvamedhāyutaiḥ samam| kṛṣṇaṁ saṁtoṣayedyastu sugītairmadhuraiḥ svaraiḥ| sāmavedaphalaṁ tasya jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

He who prostrates full-length in homage obtains the fruit equal to ten thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices. He who pleases Krishna with beautiful songs in sweet melodies obtains the fruit of the Samaveda's recitation — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 74 (skanda.7.470.74)

यो नृत्यति प्रहृष्टात्मा भावैर्बहु सुभक्तितः। स निर्द्दहति पापानि मन्वंतरकृतान्यपि

yo nṛtyati prahṛṣṭātmā bhāvairbahu subhaktitaḥ| sa nirddahati pāpāni manvaṁtarakṛtānyapi

He who dances with a joyful heart, full of feeling and devotion, burns away even sins accumulated over whole manvantaras.

Verse 75 (skanda.7.470.75)

यः कृष्णाग्रे महाभक्त्या कुर्य्यात्पुस्तकवाचनम्। प्रत्यक्षरं लभेत्पुण्यं कपिलाशतदानजम्

yaḥ kṛṣṇāgre mahābhaktyā kuryātpustakavācanam| pratyakṣaraṁ labhetpuṇyaṁ kapilāśatadānajam

He who, with great devotion, reads sacred texts before Krishna obtains, for each syllable, the merit of donating a hundred kapila cows.

Verse 76 (skanda.7.470.76)

ऋग्यजुःसामभिर्वाग्भिः कृष्णं संतोषयंति ये। कल्पांतं ब्रह्मलोके तु ते वसंति द्विजोत्तमाः

ṛgyajuḥsāmabhirvāgbhiḥ kṛṣṇaṁ saṁtoṣayaṁti ye| kalpāṁtaṁ brahmaloke tu te vasaṁti dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, those who please Krishna with the words of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama recitations dwell in the world of Brahma until the end of the kalpa.

Verse 77 (skanda.7.470.77)

योगशास्त्राणि वेदांता न्पुराणं कृष्णसन्निधौ। पठंति रविबिंबं ते भित्त्वा यांति हरेर्लयम्

yogaśāstrāṇi vedāntānpurāṇaṁ kṛṣṇasannidhau| paṭhaṁti ravibiṁbaṁ te bhittvā yāṁti harerlayam

Those who recite the treatises of Yoga, the Vedanta, and the Puranas in Krishna's presence pierce through the orb of the sun and attain dissolution in Hari.

Verse 78 (skanda.7.470.78)

गीता नामसहस्रं तु स्तवराजो ह्यनुस्मृतिः। गजेन्द्रमोक्षणं चैव कृष्णस्यातीव वल्लभम्

gītā nāmasahasraṁ tu stavarājo hyanusmṛtiḥ| gajendramokṣaṇaṁ caiva kṛṣṇasyātīva vallabham

The Gita, the thousand names, the King of Hymns, the Anusmriti, and likewise the Gajendramoksha — these are exceedingly dear to Krishna.

Verse 79 (skanda.7.470.79)

श्रीमद्रागवतं यस्तु पठते कृष्णसन्निधौ। कुलकोटिशतैर्युक्तः क्रीडते योगिभिः सदा

śrīmadrāgavataṁ yastu paṭhate kṛṣṇasannidhau| kulakoṭiśatairyuktaḥ krīḍate yogibhiḥ sadā

He who recites the Shrimad Bhagavata in Krishna's presence, together with billions of his kinsmen, ever sports among the yogis.

Verse 80 (skanda.7.470.80)

यः पठेद्रामचरितं भारतं व्यासभाषितम्। पुराणानि महीपाल प्राप्तो मुक्तिं न संशयः

yaḥ paṭhedrāmacaritaṁ bhārataṁ vyāsabhāṣitam| purāṇāni mahīpāla prāpto muktiṁ na saṁśayaḥ

O king, he who recites the tale of Rama, the Mahabharata spoken by Vyasa, and the Puranas — he attains liberation, without doubt.

Verse 81 (skanda.7.470.81)

द्वादशीवासरे प्राप्त एवं कुर्वंति ये नराः। गीताद्यैः शतसाहस्रं पुण्यं यच्छति केशवः

dvādaśīvāsare prāpta evaṁ kurvaṁti ye narāḥ| gītādyaiḥ śatasāhasraṁ puṇyaṁ yacchati keśavaḥ

Those men who, on the day of Dvadashi, thus recite the Gita and other texts — to them Keshava grants a hundred-thousand-fold merit.

Verse 82 (skanda.7.470.82)

जागरे कोटिगुणितं पुण्यं भवति भूभिप। वसतां द्वारकावासात्प्रत्यहं लभते फलम्

jāgare koṭiguṇitaṁ puṇyaṁ bhavati bhūbhipa| vasatāṁ dvārakāvāsātpratyahaṁ labhate phalam

O king, during the night vigil this merit is multiplied a crore times over. Those who dwell in Dvaraka obtain this fruit every single day.

Verse 83 (skanda.7.470.83)

गोमतीनीरपूतानां कृष्णवक्त्रावलोकि नाम्। दर्शनात्पातकं तेषां याति वर्षशतार्जितम्

gomatīnīrapūtānāṁ kṛṣṇavaktrāvalokinām| darśanātpātakaṁ teṣāṁ yāti varṣaśatārjitam

For those purified by the waters of the Gomati and gazing upon the face of Krishna — sins accumulated over a hundred years vanish by that sight alone.

Verse 84 (skanda.7.470.84)

धन्यास्ते मानुषे लोके गोमत्युदधिवारिणा। तर्पयंति पितॄन्देवान्गत्वा द्वारवतीं कलौ

dhanyāste mānuṣe loke gomatyudadhivāriṇā| tarpayaṁti pitṝndevāngatvā dvāravatīṁ kalau

Blessed are those men in this human world who, going in the Kali age to Dvaravati, offer libations to ancestors and gods with the waters of the Gomati and the ocean.

Verse 85 (skanda.7.470.85)

गंगाद्वारे प्रयागे च गंगायां कुरुजांगले। प्रभासे शुक्लतीर्थे च श्रीस्थले पुष्करेऽपि च

gaṁgādvāre prayāge ca gaṁgāyāṁ kurujāṁgale| prabhāse śuklatīrthe ca śrīsthale puṣkare'pi ca

At Gangadvara, at Prayaga, at the Ganga, at Kurujangala, at Prabhasa, at Shuklatirtha, at Shristhala, and at Pushkara too —

Verse 86 (skanda.7.470.86)

स्नानेन पिंडदानेन पितॄणां तर्पणे कृते। तृप्तिर्भवति भूपाल तथा गोमतिदर्शनात्

snānena piṁḍadānena pitṝṇāṁ tarpaṇe kṛte| tṛptirbhavati bhūpāla tathā gomatidarśanāt

O king, the satisfaction of the ancestors that comes from bathing, offering rice-balls, and libations — that same satisfaction comes from the mere sight of the Gomati.

Verse 87 (skanda.7.470.87)

योजनैर्बहुभिस्तिष्ठन्गोमतीति च यो वदेत्। चांद्रायणसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोति यत्नतः

yojanairbahubhistiṣṭhangomatīti ca yo vadet| cāṁdrāyaṇasahasrasya phalamāpnoti yatnataḥ

He who, though standing many leagues away, merely utters the word 'Gomati' diligently obtains the fruit of a thousand Chandrayana vows.

Verse 88 (skanda.7.470.88)

धन्या द्वारवती लोके वहते यत्र गोमती। स्वयं तु तिष्ठते यत्र नित्यं रुक्मिणिवल्लभः

dhanyā dvāravatī loke vahate yatra gomatī| svayaṁ tu tiṣṭhate yatra nityaṁ rukmiṇivallabhaḥ

Blessed among all cities is Dvaravati, where the Gomati flows, and where the beloved of Rukmini himself ever dwells.

Verse 89 (skanda.7.470.89)

न स्नाता गोमतीतीरे कलौ पापेन मोहिताः। भविष्यति कथं तेषां पापबंधस्य संक्षयः

na snātā gomatītīre kalau pāpena mohitāḥ| bhaviṣyati kathaṁ teṣāṁ pāpabaṁdhasya saṁkṣayaḥ

Those who, in the Kali age, deluded by sin, do not bathe on the bank of the Gomati — how shall the bondage of their sin ever be dissolved?

Verse 90 (skanda.7.470.90)

निर्मिता स्वर्गनिःश्रेणी कलौ कृष्णेन गोमती। मनसः प्रीतिजननी जंतूनां नरसत्तम

nirmitā svarganiḥśreṇī kalau kṛṣṇena gomatī| manasaḥ prītijananī jaṁtūnāṁ narasattama

O best of men, in the Kali age Krishna has fashioned the Gomati as a very ladder to heaven, a river that awakens delight in the hearts of all creatures.

Verse 91 (skanda.7.470.91)

न दृश्यं स्वर्गसोपानं दृश्यते गोमतीसमम्। सुखदं पापिनां पुंसां स्नानमात्रेण मोक्षदम्

na dṛśyaṁ svargasopānaṁ dṛśyate gomatīsamam| sukhadaṁ pāpināṁ puṁsāṁ snānamātreṇa mokṣadam

The stairway to heaven is normally unseen, but the Gomati is seen to be just such a stairway, granting happiness even to sinful men, and bestowing liberation by mere bathing.

Verse 92 (skanda.7.470.92)

गोमतीनीरसंयुक्तो यत्र गर्जति सागरः। तत्र गच्छेन्नरव्याघ्र कृष्णस्तिष्ठति यत्र वै

gomatīnīrasaṁyukto yatra garjati sāgaraḥ| tatra gacchennaravyāghra kṛṣṇastiṣṭhati yatra vai

O tiger among men, one should go to that place where the ocean, joined with the waters of the Gomati, roars — the very place where Krishna resides.

Verse 93 (skanda.7.470.93)

यत्र चक्रांकितशिला गोमत्युदधिनिःसृताः। यच्छंति पूजिता मोक्षं तां पुरीं को न सेवते

yatra cakrāṁkitaśilā gomatyudadhiniḥsṛtāḥ| yacchaṁti pūjitā mokṣaṁ tāṁ purīṁ ko na sevate

Where discus-marked stones, arisen from the confluence of the Gomati and the ocean, grant liberation when worshipped — who would not serve that city?

Verse 94 (skanda.7.470.94)

यत्र चक्रांकिता मृत्स्ना तिष्ठते निर्मला नृप। कलौ पापविनाशार्थं तां पुरीं को न सेवते

yatra cakrāṁkitā mṛtsnā tiṣṭhate nirmalā nṛpa| kalau pāpavināśārthaṁ tāṁ purīṁ ko na sevate

O king, where pure, discus-marked clay is found, which in the Kali age destroys sin — who would not serve that city?

Verse 95 (skanda.7.470.95)

अप्रदृश्या पुरा लोके दैत्यदानवरक्षसाम्। शरण्या देवतादीनां पुरीं तां को न सेवते

apradṛśyā purā loke daityadānavarakṣasām| śaraṇyā devatādīnāṁ purīṁ tāṁ ko na sevate

That city, invisible of old to demons, danavas, and rakshasas, and a refuge for the gods and others — who would not serve it?

Verse 96 (skanda.7.470.96)

त्यजते यां कलौ नैव कृष्णो देवकिनन्दनः। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तां पुरीं को न सेवते

tyajate yāṁ kalau naiva kṛṣṇo devakinandanaḥ| karmaṇā manasā vācā tāṁ purīṁ ko na sevate

That city which, in the Kali age, Krishna, son of Devaki, never abandons in deed, in thought, or in word — who would not serve it?

Verse 97 (skanda.7.470.97)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्। यां श्रुत्वा मुच्यते नूनं दुःखसंसारबन्धनात्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi kathāṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm| yāṁ śrutvā mucyate nūnaṁ duḥkhasaṁsārabandhanāt

Markandeya said: Listen, O king, I shall tell a tale that destroys sin, hearing which a man is surely freed from the sorrowful bondage of worldly existence.

Verse 98 (skanda.7.470.98)

अवन्तीविषये पूर्वं ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः। चंद्रशर्मेति विख्यातः शिवभक्तः सदा नृप

avantīviṣaye pūrvaṁ brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ| candraśarmeti vikhyātaḥ śivabhaktaḥ sadā nṛpa

O king, of old in the land of Avanti there lived a brahmin, versed in the Vedas, renowned by the name Chandrasharma, ever devoted to Shiva.

Verse 99 (skanda.7.470.99)

मनसा कर्मणा वाचा नान्यं ध्याति सदाशिवात्। शैवाद्व्रताद्व्रतं नान्यत्करोति च नराधिप

manasā karmaṇā vācā nānyaṁ dhyāti sadāśivāt| śaivādvratādvrataṁ nānyatkaroti ca narādhipa

O king, in thought, word, and deed he meditated on none other than Sadashiva, and observed no vow other than Shaiva vows.

Verse 100 (skanda.7.470.100)

नोपवासं हरिदिने कुरुते न व्रतं हरेः। विना चतुर्दशीं राजन्नान्यदेवसमुद्भवम्

nopavāsaṁ haridine kurute na vrataṁ hareḥ| vinā caturdaśīṁ rājannānyadevasamudbhavam

O king, he kept no fast on Hari's day, and observed no vow connected with Hari, except for the fourteenth-day tithi.

Verse 101 (skanda.7.470.101)

यत्रयत्र शिवक्षेत्रं यत्र तीर्थं तु शांकरम्। तत्र गच्छति राजेन्द्र वैष्णवं नैव गच्छति

yatrayatra śivakṣetraṁ yatra tīrthaṁ tu śāṁkaram| tatra gacchati rājendra vaiṣṇavaṁ naiva gacchati

O king of kings, wherever there was a field sacred to Shiva, wherever a Shankara tirtha, there he would go, but he never went to a Vaishnava shrine.

Verse 102 (skanda.7.470.102)

प्रतिवर्षं तु कुरुते सोमनाथस्य दर्शनम्। न जहाति विशेषेण सोमपर्व नरेश्वर

prativarṣaṁ tu kurute somanāthasya darśanam| na jahāti viśeṣeṇa somaparva nareśvara

O lord of men, he beheld Somanatha every year, and never especially failed to observe the lunar festival.

Verse 103 (skanda.7.470.103)

एवं प्रकुर्वतस्तस्य वर्षाणि नवसप्ततिः। गतानि किल राजेन्द्र शिवभक्तिं प्रकुर्वतः

evaṁ prakurvatastasya varṣāṇi navasaptatiḥ| gatāni kila rājendra śivabhaktiṁ prakurvataḥ

O king of kings, thus practising devotion to Shiva, seventy-nine years passed for him.

Verse 104 (skanda.7.470.104)

कदाचित्सोमपर्वण्यागते सोमोपनायकम्। नानादेशान्महीपाल ह्यसंख्याताश्च मानवाः

kadācitsomaparvaṇyāgate somopanāyakam| nānādeśānmahīpāla hyasaṁkhyātāśca mānavāḥ

O king, once, when the lunar festival arrived, countless people came from various lands to behold the lord Soma.

Verse 105 (skanda.7.470.105)

गताः कृष्णपुरीं सर्वे दृष्ट्वा सोमेश्वरं प्रभुम्। आहूतस्तैश्चंद्रशर्मा न गतो द्वारकां पुरीम्

gatāḥ kṛṣṇapurīṁ sarve dṛṣṭvā someśvaraṁ prabhum| āhūtastaiścandraśarmā na gato dvārakāṁ purīm

Having beheld the Lord Someshvara, all of them went also to Krishna's city. Though invited by them, Chandrasharma did not go to the city of Dvaraka.

Verse 106 (skanda.7.470.106)

शिवक्षेत्रात्परं तीर्थं नाहं मन्ये जग त्त्रये। नान्यदेवो मया ज्ञात ईश्वराद्देवनायकात्

śivakṣetrātparaṁ tīrthaṁ nāhaṁ manye jagattraye| nānyadevo mayā jñāta īśvarāddevanāyakāt

'I do not regard any tirtha in the three worlds as greater than a Shiva-field. I know of no other god besides the lord Ishvara, chief of gods.'

Verse 107 (skanda.7.470.107)

विनाऽन्ये चंद्रशर्माणं गतास्ते द्वारकां पुरीम्। अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्गच्छतः स्वगृहं प्रति। चक्रुस्ते दर्शनं स्वप्ने चंद्रशर्मपितामहाः

vinā'nye caṁdraśarmāṇaṁ gatāste dvārakāṁ purīm| anyasmindivase rājangacchataḥ svagṛhaṁ prati| cakruste darśanaṁ svapne caṁdraśarmapitāmahāḥ

All others, except Chandrasharma, went on to the city of Dvaraka. O king, on another day, as he was returning to his own home, his ancestors appeared to him in a dream.

Verse 108 (skanda.7.470.108)

प्रेतभूता महाकायाः क्षुत्क्षामाश्चैव भीषणाः। दृष्ट्वा स्वप्नं महा रौद्रं भीतोऽसौ च प्रकंपितः

pretabhūtā mahākāyāḥ kṣutkṣāmāścaiva bhīṣaṇāḥ| dṛṣṭvā svapnaṁ mahā raudraṁ bhīto'sau ca prakaṁpitaḥ

They had become huge, terrifying ghosts, wasted by hunger. Seeing this most dreadful dream, he grew frightened and trembled.

Verse 109 (skanda.7.470.109)

चन्द्रशर्मोवाच। के यूयं विकृताकारा जंतूनां च भयानकाः। पृथ्वीसमुद्भवा जीवा न दृष्टा न श्रुता मया

candraśarmovāca| ke yūyaṁ vikṛtākārā jaṁtūnāṁ ca bhayānakāḥ| pṛthvīsamudbhavā jīvā na dṛṣṭā na śrutā mayā

Chandrasharma said: Who are you, so misshapen, terrifying to living beings? I have neither seen nor heard of such earthly creatures before.

Verse 110 (skanda.7.470.110)

प्रेता ऊचुः। मा भयं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र तव पूर्वपितामहाः। आगतास्त्वत्समीपे तु महादुःखेन पीडिताः

pretā ūcuḥ| mā bhayaṁ kuru viprendra tava pūrvapitāmahāḥ| āgatāstvatsamīpe tu mahāduḥkhena pīḍitāḥ

The ghosts said: Do not be afraid, O chief of brahmins — we are your own forefathers, who, tormented by great suffering, have come to you.

Verse 111 (skanda.7.470.111)

इष्टं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं भवद्भिर्मत्पितामहैः। प्रेतत्वे कारणं यत्स्याद्भवतां विस्मयो मम

iṣṭaṁ dattaṁ tapastaptaṁ bhavadbhirmatpitāmahaiḥ| pretatve kāraṇaṁ yatsyādbhavatāṁ vismayo mama

You performed sacrifices, gave gifts, practised austerities — O my forefathers, what could be the cause of your becoming ghosts? I am filled with astonishment.

Verse 112 (skanda.7.470.112)

प्रेता ऊचुः। शृणु पुत्र प्रवक्ष्यामः प्रेतयोनेस्तु कारणम्। वासरं वासुदेवस्य सदा विद्धं कृतं पुरा

pretā ūcuḥ| śṛṇu putra pravakṣyāmaḥ pretayonestu kāraṇam| vāsaraṁ vāsudevasya sadā viddhaṁ kṛtaṁ purā

The ghosts said: Listen, son, we shall tell you the cause of our being ghosts. Of old, we always observed Vasudeva's sacred day (Dvadashi) when it was flawed by an overlap.

Verse 113 (skanda.7.470.113)

प्रेतत्वं तेन संप्राप्तमस्माभिः शृणु पुत्रक। विशेषेण कृतं रात्रौ विद्धं जागरणं हरेः

pretatvaṁ tena saṁprāptamasmābhiḥ śṛṇu putraka| viśeṣeṇa kṛtaṁ rātrau viddhaṁ jāgaraṇaṁ hareḥ

By that, we came to attain this state of ghosthood, O son — hear this. We kept Hari's night-vigil especially on a flawed, overlapping night.

Verse 114 (skanda.7.470.114)

पतनं नरके घोरे भविष्यति न संशयः। त्वया सह न संदेहो यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

patanaṁ narake ghore bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ| tvayā saha na saṁdeho yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

Without doubt, a fall into terrible hell awaits us, along with you, without any question, until the great dissolution.

Verse 115 (skanda.7.470.115)

चन्द्रशर्मोवाच। हरिभक्तिविहीनानां द्वादशीव्रतवर्जिनाम्। नाशं न याति प्रेतत्वं पूजितैः शंकरादिभिः

candraśarmovāca| haribhaktivihīnānāṁ dvādaśīvratavarjinām| nāśaṁ na yāti pretatvaṁ pūjitaiḥ śaṁkarādibhiḥ

Chandrasharma said: Does the ghosthood of those devoid of devotion to Hari, who forgo the Dvadashi vow, not vanish even when they worship Shankara and the other gods?

Verse 116 (skanda.7.470.116)

न वा सन्तोषितो देवो भक्त्या त्रिपुरनाशनः। प्रदास्यति गतिं नूनं प्रेतत्वं न गमिष्यति

na vā santoṣito devo bhaktyā tripuranāśanaḥ| pradāsyati gatiṁ nūnaṁ pretatvaṁ na gamiṣyati

Will the god who destroyed Tripura, though gratified with devotion, surely not grant liberation? Will he not remove this state of ghosthood?

Verse 117 (skanda.7.470.117)

प्रेता ऊचुः। प्रायश्चित्तं विना पुत्र द्वादशीवेधसंभवम्। आपन्न गच्छते नूनं प्रेतत्वं नैव गच्छति

pretā ūcuḥ| prāyaścittaṁ vinā putra dvādaśīvedhasaṁbhavam| āpanna gacchate nūnaṁ pretatvaṁ naiva gacchati

The ghosts said: O son, without expiation for the fault arising from a flawed Dvadashi, that calamity — ghosthood — is certainly never removed.

Verse 118 (skanda.7.470.118)

प्रायश्चित्ती सदा पुत्र पूजयानोऽपि शंकरम्। विना केशवपूजाभिः पापं भजति गोवधम्

prāyaścittī sadā putra pūjayāno'pi śaṅkaram| vinā keśavapūjābhiḥ pāpaṁ bhajati govadham

O son, even one who worships Shankara but does not perform expiation, without also worshipping Keshava, incurs a sin equal to the killing of a cow.

Verse 119 (skanda.7.470.119)

प्रथमं केशवः पूज्यः पश्चाद्देवो महेश्वरः। पूजनीयाश्च भक्त्या वै याश्चान्याः संति देवताः

prathamaṁ keśavaḥ pūjyaḥ paścāddevo maheśvaraḥ| pūjanīyāśca bhaktyā vai yāścānyāḥ saṁti devatāḥ

First Keshava is to be worshipped, and after him the god Maheshvara. Likewise, with devotion, whatever other deities there are should also be worshipped.

Verse 120 (skanda.7.470.120)

मूलाच्छाखाः प्रशाखाश्च भवंति बहुशस्ततः। वासुदेवात्समुद्भूतं जगदेतच्चराचरम्

mūlācchākhāḥ praśākhāśca bhavaṁti bahuśastataḥ| vāsudevātsamudbhūtaṁ jagadetaccarācaram

From a root, branches and further sub-branches spring forth in many numbers; even so, this entire moving and unmoving universe has arisen from Vasudeva.

Verse 121 (skanda.7.470.121)

तस्मान्मूलं परित्यज्य शाखां नैवार्चयेद्बुधः। विशेषेण जगन्नाथं त्रैलोक्याधिपतिं हरिम्

tasmānmūlaṁ parityajya śākhāṁ naivārcayedbudhaḥ| viśeṣeṇa jagannāthaṁ trailokyādhipatiṁ harim

Therefore a wise man should not worship the branch, abandoning the root — especially not while neglecting Hari, the Lord of the universe, master of the three worlds.

Verse 122 (skanda.7.470.122)

तद्दिने ये प्रकुर्वंति सम्यग्वेधेन शोभितम्। सशल्यं तन्न संदेहः प्रेतत्वं याति तेन च

taddine ye prakurvaṁti samyagvedhena śobhitam| saśalyaṁ tanna saṁdehaḥ pretatvaṁ yāti tena ca

Those who observe that day fully marred by a flawed overlap — that observance remains defective, without doubt, and thereby one attains the state of ghosthood.

Verse 123 (skanda.7.470.123)

हव्यं देवा न गृह्णन्ति कव्यं च पितरस्तथा। पूजां गृह्णाति नो सूर्यस्तथा चैव पितामहाः

havyaṁ devā na gṛhṇanti kavyaṁ ca pitarastathā| pūjāṁ gṛhṇāti no sūryastathā caiva pitāmahāḥ

In such a case, the gods do not accept the oblation, nor do the ancestors accept the offering; the Sun does not accept the worship, and neither do the forefathers.

Verse 124 (skanda.7.470.124)

प्रेतास्ते ये प्रकुर्वंति सशल्यं वासरं हरेः। पौर्णमासीद्वये प्राप्ते राका साग्निविवर्जिता

pretāste ye prakurvaṁti saśalyaṁ vāsaraṁ hareḥ| paurṇamāsīdvaye prāpte rākā sāgnivivarjitā

Those who observe Hari's day in a flawed manner become ghosts. When two full-moon days occur, the Raka tithi is devoid of the sacred fire.

Verse 125 (skanda.7.470.125)

विशेषेण तु वैशाखी श्राद्धादीनां प्रशस्यते। वैशाखे तु तृतीयां वै पूर्वविद्धां करोति यः

viśeṣeṇa tu vaiśākhī śrāddhādīnāṁ praśasyate| vaiśākhe tu tṛtīyāṁ vai pūrvaviddhāṁ karoti yaḥ

Especially is the month of Vaishakha praised for shraddha rites and the like. He who observes the third-day tithi of Vaishakha overlapping with the previous day —

Verse 126 (skanda.7.470.126)

हव्यं देवा न गृह्णंति कव्यं चैव पितामहाः। यत्र देवा न गृह्णंति कथं तत्र पितामहाः

havyaṁ devā na gṛhṇaṁti kavyaṁ caiva pitāmahāḥ| yatra devā na gṛhṇaṁti kathaṁ tatra pitāmahāḥ

there the gods do not accept the oblation, nor do the forefathers accept the offering; where the gods themselves do not accept it, how should the forefathers?

Verse 127 (skanda.7.470.127)

तस्मात्कार्य्या तृतीया च पूर्वविद्धा बुधैर्नरैः। कुर्वते यदि मोहाद्वा प्रेतत्वं शाश्वतं ततः

tasmātkāryā tṛtīyā ca pūrvaviddhā budhairnaraiḥ| kurvate yadi mohādvā pretatvaṁ śāśvataṁ tataḥ

Therefore wise men should not observe the third-day tithi overlapping with the previous day. If they do so out of delusion, then eternal ghosthood results.

Verse 128 (skanda.7.470.128)

नापयाति कृतैः पुण्यैर्बहुशस्तीर्थसेवनैः। दशमीं पौर्णमासीं च पित्रोः सांवत्सरं दिनम्

nāpayāti kṛtaiḥ puṇyairbahuśastīrthasevanaiḥ| daśamīṁ paurṇamāsīṁ ca pitroḥ sāṁvatsaraṁ dinam

That ghosthood does not depart even through many meritorious acts and repeated visits to tirthas. Likewise the tenth day, the full-moon day, and the annual death-anniversary of one's parents —

Verse 129 (skanda.7.470.129)

पूर्वविद्धं प्रकुर्वाणो नरकं प्रतिपद्यते। दर्शश्च पौर्णमासी च साग्निकैः पूर्वसंयुता

pūrvaviddhaṁ prakurvāṇo narakaṁ pratipadyate| darśaśca paurṇamāsī ca sāgnikaiḥ pūrvasaṁyutā

one who observes these in overlap with the previous day falls into hell. For those who maintain the sacred fire, the new-moon and full-moon rites should be joined with the earlier day,

Verse 130 (skanda.7.470.130)

नाग्निहीनैस्तु कर्त्तव्या पुनराह प्रजापतिः। क्षयाहे तु पुनः प्रोक्ता स्वकालव्यापिनी तिथिः

nāgnihīnaistu karttavyā punarāha prajāpatiḥ| kṣayāhe tu punaḥ proktā svakālavyāpinī tithiḥ

but not so for those without the sacred fire — thus has Prajapati again declared. In the case of a lost, truncated tithi, it is the tithi prevailing in its own proper time that is again enjoined.

Verse 131 (skanda.7.470.131)

श्राद्धं तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं ह्रासवृद्धी न कारणम्। तत्रोक्तं मनुना पुत्र वेदांतैर्भाष्यकारिभिः

śrāddhaṁ tatra prakartavyaṁ hrāsavṛddhī na kāraṇam| tatroktaṁ manunā putra vedāṁtairbhāṣyakāribhiḥ

Shraddha should be performed on that day; the waxing or waning of the tithi is not a determining factor. This, O son, has been declared by Manu and by the commentators on the Vedanta.

Verse 132 (skanda.7.470.132)

तत्प्रमाणं प्रकर्तव्यं प्रेतत्वं भवतोऽन्यथा। एतैः प्रकारैः प्रेतत्वं प्राणिनां जायते भुवि

tatpramāṇaṁ prakartavyaṁ pretatvaṁ bhavato'nyathā| etaiḥ prakāraiḥ pretatvaṁ prāṇināṁ jāyate bhuvi

One should act according to that authority; otherwise ghosthood results. By these very causes do living beings come to attain ghosthood upon this earth.

Verse 133 (skanda.7.470.133)

निरीक्ष्य धर्मशास्त्राणि कार्य्यं विहितमात्मनः। प्रणम्य सोमनाथं तु यात्रां कृत्वा न गच्छति

nirīkṣya dharmaśāstrāṇi kāryaṁ vihitamātmanaḥ| praṇamya somanāthaṁ tu yātrāṁ kṛtvā na gacchati

Having examined the scriptures of dharma, one should perform the duty ordained for oneself. He who bows to Somanatha and makes his pilgrimage, yet does not go further,

Verse 134 (skanda.7.470.134)

कृष्णस्य दर्शनार्थाय तस्य किं जायते फलम्। कथ्यते परमा मूर्तिर्हरिरीश्वरसंस्थिता

kṛṣṇasya darśanārthāya tasya kiṁ jāyate phalam| kathyate paramā mūrtirharirīśvarasaṁsthitā

to behold Krishna — what fruit does he obtain? It is said that the supreme form of Hari abides within Ishvara himself.

Verse 135 (skanda.7.470.135)

विभेदो नात्र कर्तव्यो यथा शंभुस्तथा हरिः। कृष्णस्य सोमनाथस्य नांतरं दृश्यते क्वचित्

vibhedo nātra kartavyo yathā śaṁbhustathā hariḥ| kṛṣṇasya somanāthasya nāṁtaraṁ dṛśyate kvacit

No distinction should be drawn here — as is Shambhu, so is Hari. Between Krishna and Somanatha no difference is seen anywhere.

Verse 136 (skanda.7.470.136)

यात्रा श्रीसोमनाथस्य संपूर्णा कृष्णदर्शनात्। तस्मादुभयतः पुत्र गन्तव्यं नात्र संशयः

yātrā śrīsomanāthasya saṁpūrṇā kṛṣṇadarśanāt| tasmādubhayataḥ putra gantavyaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

The pilgrimage to Shri Somanatha is completed only by beholding Krishna as well. Therefore, O son, one should go to both places — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 137 (skanda.7.470.137)

दृष्ट्वा सोमेश्वरं देवं गंतव्यं द्वारकां प्रति। प्रभासे सोमनाथस्य लिंगमध्ये व्यवस्थितः

dṛṣṭvā someśvaraṁ devaṁ gaṁtavyaṁ dvārakāṁ prati| prabhāse somanāthasya liṁgamadhye vyavasthitaḥ

Having beheld the god Someshvara, one should proceed towards Dvaraka. At Prabhasa, established within the very linga of Somanatha,

Verse 138 (skanda.7.470.138)

स्वयं तिष्ठति पुण्यात्मा भोगं गृह्णाति केशवः। दृष्ट्वा सोमेश्वरं देवं द्वारकां न नरो गतः

svayaṁ tiṣṭhati puṇyātmā bhogaṁ gṛhṇāti keśavaḥ| dṛṣṭvā someśvaraṁ devaṁ dvārakāṁ na naro gataḥ

the holy-souled Keshava himself resides and accepts the offerings there. The man who, having beheld the god Someshvara, does not go on to Dvaraka —

Verse 139 (skanda.7.470.139)

पतनं नरके घोरे पितॄणां च भविष्यति। विशेषेण त्वया वत्स न कृतं द्वादशीव्रतम्

patanaṁ narake ghore pitṝṇāṁ ca bhaviṣyati| viśeṣeṇa tvayā vatsa na kṛtaṁ dvādaśīvratam

faces, together with his ancestors, a fall into terrible hell. Especially, O child, you did not observe the Dvadashi vow,

Verse 140 (skanda.7.470.140)

व्रतं कृतं यदस्माभिस्तत्कृतं वेधसंयुतम्। निर्गमं यमलोकाद्धि तदस्माकं न दृश्यते

vrataṁ kṛtaṁ yadasmābhistatkṛtaṁ vedhasaṁyutam| nirgamaṁ yamalokāddhi tadasmākaṁ na dṛśyate

and the vow that we ourselves observed was performed marred by that flaw. Hence no way of escape from Yama's world appears open to us.

Verse 141 (skanda.7.470.141)

चन्द्रशर्मोवाच। यदि तात मयाऽज्ञानान्न कृतं द्वादशीव्रतम्। कस्मात्कृतं सशल्यं तु भवद्भिर्द्वादशीव्रतम्

candraśarmovāca| yadi tāta mayā'jñānānna kṛtaṁ dvādaśīvratam| kasmātkṛtaṁ saśalyaṁ tu bhavadbhirdvādaśīvratam

Chandrasharma said: O father, if I, out of ignorance, did not observe the Dvadashi vow, then why did you yourselves observe the Dvadashi vow in flawed form?

Verse 142 (skanda.7.470.142)

प्रेता ऊचुः। कुविप्रैस्तु कुदैवज्ञैः शुक्रमायाविमोहितैः। पारुष्यताहेतुकैश्च प्रेतयोनिमिमां गताः

pretā ūcuḥ| kuvipraistu kudaivajñaiḥ śukramāyāvimohitaiḥ| pāruṣyatāhetukaiśca pretayonimimāṁ gatāḥ

The ghosts said: Deceived by wicked brahmins and wicked astrologers, deluded by Shukra's illusion, and through the cause of harshness, we came to this state of ghosthood.

Verse 143 (skanda.7.470.143)

दत्तं तप्तं हुतं जप्तमस्माकं विफलं गतम्। संप्राप्ता प्रेतयोनिस्तु सशल्याद्वादशीव्रतात्

dattaṁ taptaṁ hutaṁ japtamasmākaṁ viphalaṁ gatam| saṁprāptā pretayonistu saśalyādvādaśīvratāt

Our gifts, our austerities, our oblations, our recitations — all have gone to waste. It is from the flawed Dvadashi vow that we came to attain this state of ghosthood.

Verse 144 (skanda.7.470.144)

सशल्यं ये प्रकुर्वंति वासरं केशव प्रियम्। तेषां पितामहाः स्वर्गात्प्रेतत्वं यांति पुत्रक

saśalyaṁ ye prakurvaṁti vāsaraṁ keśava priyam| teṣāṁ pitāmahāḥ svargātpretatvaṁ yāṁti putraka

O son, those who observe Keshava's beloved day in a flawed manner — their forefathers fall from heaven into the state of ghosthood.

Verse 145 (skanda.7.470.145)

चन्द्रशर्मोवाच। प्रेतत्वं नाशमायाति कथमेतत्पितामहाः। कर्मणा केन तत्सर्वं यच्चाहं प्रकरोमि तत्

candraśarmovāca| pretatvaṁ nāśamāyāti kathametatpitāmahāḥ| karmaṇā kena tatsarvaṁ yaccāhaṁ prakaromi tat

Chandrasharma said: O forefathers, by what act does this ghosthood come to be destroyed? Whatever it is, I shall do it.

Verse 146 (skanda.7.470.146)

प्रेता ऊचुः। मा गयां मा प्रयागं च पुष्करे कुरुजांगले। अयोध्यायामवंत्यां वा मधुरायां न चार्बुदे

pretā ūcuḥ| mā gayāṁ mā prayāgaṁ ca puṣkare kurujāṁgale| ayodhyāyāmavaṁtyāṁ vā madhurāyāṁ na cārbude

The ghosts said: Not at Gaya, not at Prayaga, nor at Pushkara, Kurujangala, Ayodhya, Avanti, Mathura, nor at Arbuda —

Verse 147 (skanda.7.470.147)

न चान्यत्तीर्थलक्षं तु वर्जयित्वा तु गोमतीम्। गंगा सरस्वती चैव नर्मदा नैव पुष्करम्

na cānyattīrthalakṣaṁ tu varjayitvā tu gomatīm| gaṁgā sarasvatī caiva narmadā naiva puṣkaram

nor at any of a hundred thousand other tirthas — save the Gomati alone — not the Ganga, nor the Sarasvati, nor the Narmada, nor even Pushkara can remove it.

Verse 148 (skanda.7.470.148)

यादृशं गोमतीतीरे कलौ प्रेतत्वनाशनम्। गोमतीनीरदानेन कृष्णवक्त्रविलोकनात्

yādṛśaṁ gomatītīre kalau pretatvanāśanam| gomatīnīradānena kṛṣṇavaktravilokanāt

Such is the destruction of ghosthood obtained, in the Kali age, on the bank of the Gomati, through the offering of Gomati water and through beholding the face of Krishna —

Verse 149 (skanda.7.470.149)

विलयं यांति पापानि जन्मकोटिकृतान्यपि। वृथा संन्यासिनां पुण्यं वृथा च वनवासिनाम्

vilayaṁ yāṁti pāpāni janmakoṭikṛtānyapi| vṛthā saṁnyāsināṁ puṇyaṁ vṛthā ca vanavāsinām

even sins committed over crores of births are thereby dissolved. Without this, the merit of ascetics is in vain, and the merit of forest-dwellers is in vain.

Verse 150 (skanda.7.470.150)

सशल्यं वासरं विष्णोः कुर्वंति यदि पुत्रक। तस्माद्गच्छ मुखं पश्य पूर्णचन्द्रसमं मुखम्

saśalyaṁ vāsaraṁ viṣṇoḥ kurvaṁti yadi putraka| tasmādgaccha mukhaṁ paśya pūrṇacandrasamaṁ mukham

For those who observe Vishnu's day in flawed form, O son, this alone is the remedy. Therefore go, and behold that face, resembling the full moon.

Verse 151 (skanda.7.470.151)

कृष्णस्य द्वारकां गत्वा यथास्माकं गतिर्भवेत्। विफलं तव संजाता न कृतं यदुपार्ज्जितम्

kṛṣṇasya dvārakāṁ gatvā yathāsmākaṁ gatirbhavet| viphalaṁ tava saṁjātā na kṛtaṁ yadupārjjitam

Go to Krishna's Dvaraka, so that our liberation may come about. What you failed to do has rendered all your earned merit fruitless.

Verse 152 (skanda.7.470.152)

तद्व्यर्थ सकलं जातं विना केशव पूजनात्। विना केशवपूजायाः शंकरो यस्त्वयार्च्चितः। तत्पुण्यं विफलं जातं प्रेतयोनिं गमिष्यसि

tadvyarthaṁ sakalaṁ jātaṁ vinā keśava pūjanāt| vinā keśavapūjāyāḥ śaṁkaro yastvayārccitaḥ| tatpuṇyaṁ viphalaṁ jātaṁ pretayoniṁ gamiṣyasi

Without the worship of Keshava, all of that has become fruitless. Without worshipping Keshava, whatever worship of Shankara you performed — that merit too has become fruitless; you too shall attain the state of a ghost.

Verse 153 (skanda.7.470.153)

संपूर्णं तव पुण्यं च द्वारका कृष्णदर्शनात्। भविष्यति न सन्देहो गोमत्युदधिसन्निधौ

saṁpūrṇaṁ tava puṇyaṁ ca dvārakā kṛṣṇadarśanāt| bhaviṣyati na sandeho gomatyudadhisannidhau

Your merit will become complete only by beholding Krishna at Dvaraka, near the confluence of the Gomati and the ocean — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 154 (skanda.7.470.154)

दृष्ट्वा सोमेश्वरं देवं कृष्णं यदि न पश्यति। यात्राफलं न चाप्नोति वदत्येवं स्वयं शिवः

dṛṣṭvā someśvaraṁ devaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ yadi na paśyati| yātrāphalaṁ na cāpnoti vadatyevaṁ svayaṁ śivaḥ

If one, having beheld the god Someshvara, does not go on to behold Krishna, he obtains no fruit from his pilgrimage — thus does Shiva himself declare.

Verse 155 (skanda.7.470.155)

दृष्टोऽहं तैर्न सन्देहो यैः कृतं कृष्णदर्शनम्। एका मूर्तिर्न सन्देहो मम कृष्णस्य नांतरम्

dṛṣṭo'haṁ tairna sandeho yaiḥ kṛtaṁ kṛṣṇadarśanam| ekā mūrtirna sandeho mama kṛṣṇasya nāṁtaram

'Those who have beheld Krishna have, without doubt, beheld me too. There is no difference between me and Krishna; we are but a single reality — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 156 (skanda.7.470.156)

दृष्ट्वा मां द्वारकां गत्वा कर्त्तव्यं कृष्णदर्शनम्। दृष्ट्वा कृष्णं तु मां पश्येद्यास्यत्येव महाफलम्

dṛṣṭvā māṁ dvārakāṁ gatvā karttavyaṁ kṛṣṇadarśanam| dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇaṁ tu māṁ paśyedyāsyatyeva mahāphalam

'Having seen me, one should go to Dvaraka and behold Krishna; having beheld Krishna, one has as good as beheld me — great fruit shall surely come to him.'

Verse 157 (skanda.7.470.157)

कृष्णदर्शनपूतात्मा यो मां पश्यति मानवः। न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्मम लोकाच्च वैष्णवात्

kṛṣṇadarśanapūtātmā yo māṁ paśyati mānavaḥ| na tasya punarāvṛttirmama lokācca vaiṣṇavāt

The man whose soul is purified by the sight of Krishna, and who then beholds me — for him there is no return, neither from my world nor from the world of Vishnu.

Verse 158 (skanda.7.470.158)

इत्याह देवदेवेशः स्वयं सोमपतिः पुरा। विप्राणां श्रुतमस्माभिर्वदतां पुष्करे सताम्

ityāha devadeveśaḥ svayaṁ somapatiḥ purā| viprāṇāṁ śrutamasmābhirvadatāṁ puṣkare satām

Thus of old did the god of gods, the lord Soma himself, declare. This we heard from the mouths of virtuous brahmins speaking at Pushkara.

Verse 159 (skanda.7.470.159)

तस्माद्गच्छ प्रयाणार्थ कुरु कृष्णस्य दर्शनम्। अन्यथा यास्यसे योनिं पैशाचीं पापदायिनीम्

tasmādgaccha prayāṇārtha kuru kṛṣṇasya darśanam| anyathā yāsyase yoniṁ paiśācīṁ pāpadāyinīm

Therefore set out on your journey and behold Krishna; otherwise you too shall attain the sin-bearing state of a demon-ghost.

Verse 160 (skanda.7.470.160)

कृतापराधोऽपि यदा कुरुते कृष्णदर्शनम्। मुच्यते नाऽत्र संदेहः पापाज्जन्मकृतादपि

kṛtāparādho'pi yadā kurute kṛṣṇadarśanam| mucyate nā'tra saṁdehaḥ pāpājjanmakṛtādapi

Even one who has committed offences, when he beholds Krishna, is freed even from sins accumulated over many births — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 161 (skanda.7.470.161)

पूजिते देवदेवेशे कृष्णे देवकिनन्दने। पूजिता देवताः सर्वा ब्रह्मरुद्रभगादिकाः

pūjite devadeveśe kṛṣṇe devakinandane| pūjitā devatāḥ sarvā brahmarudrabhagādikāḥ

When the god of gods, Krishna, son of Devaki, is worshipped, all deities — Brahma, Rudra, Bhaga, and the rest — are thereby worshipped.

Verse 162 (skanda.7.470.162)

विना कृष्णस्य पूजां च रुद्राद्यास्त्रिदिवौकसः। पूजिता नैव कुर्वंति तुष्टिं पुत्र पितामहाः

vinā kṛṣṇasya pūjāṁ ca rudrādyāstridivaukasaḥ| pūjitā naiva kurvaṁti tuṣṭiṁ putra pitāmahāḥ

O son, O forefathers, without the worship of Krishna, Rudra and the other dwellers of heaven, even when worshipped, do not grant satisfaction.

Verse 163 (skanda.7.470.163)

तस्माद्द्वारवतीं गत्वा कृष्णस्य दर्शनं कुरु। प्रेतयोनेर्विनिर्मुक्ता यास्यामः परमां गतिम्

tasmāddvāravatīṁ gatvā kṛṣṇasya darśanaṁ kuru| pretayonervinirmuktā yāsyāmaḥ paramāṁ gatim

Therefore go to Dvaravati and behold Krishna. Freed from the state of ghosthood, we shall then attain the supreme destination.

Verse 164 (skanda.7.470.164)

गोमतीनीरधौतानि यस्यांगानि कलौ युगे। मुनिभिर्योनिगमनं तस्य दृष्टं न पुत्रक

gomatīnīradhautāni yasyāṁgāni kalau yuge| munibhiryonigamanaṁ tasya dṛṣṭaṁ na putraka

O son, one whose limbs, in the Kali age, have been washed by the waters of the Gomati — the sages have never seen such a one take rebirth.

Verse 165 (skanda.7.470.165)

ताडिताः पादयुग्मेन गोमतीनीरवीचयः। अगतीनां प्रकुर्वति गतिं वै ब्रह्मवादिनाम्

tāḍitāḥ pādayugmena gomatīnīravīcayaḥ| agatīnāṁ prakurvati gatiṁ vai brahmavādinām

The waves of the Gomati, struck even by one's two feet, grant a destination to those otherwise destitute of one — so declare the expounders of Brahman.

Verse 166 (skanda.7.470.166)

यः पुनः कुरुते श्राद्धं गोमत्युदधिसंगमे। पितॄणां जायते तृप्तिर्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

yaḥ punaḥ kurute śrāddhaṁ gomatyudadhisaṁgame| pitṝṇāṁ jāyate tṛptiryāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

He who performs shraddha at the confluence of the Gomati and the ocean — for his ancestors, satisfaction arises lasting until the great dissolution.

Verse 167 (skanda.7.470.167)

ससागरधरायां च सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्फलम्। दिनेनैकेन तत्पुण्यं द्वारकाकृष्णसन्निधौ

sasāgaradharāyāṁ ca sarvatīrtheṣu yatphalam| dinenaikena tatpuṇyaṁ dvārakākṛṣṇasannidhau

Whatever fruit is obtained at all the tirthas of this ocean-girt earth — that same merit is obtained, in Dvaraka, in Krishna's presence, in a single day.

Verse 168 (skanda.7.470.168)

यत्फलं त्रिदशैर्दृष्टं सर्वतीर्थसमुद्भवम्। तत्फलं लभते सर्वं द्वारकायां दिनेदिने

yatphalaṁ tridaśairdṛṣṭaṁ sarvatīrthasamudbhavam| tatphalaṁ labhate sarvaṁ dvārakāyāṁ dinedine

That fruit which even the gods have witnessed arising from all the tirthas — that entire fruit is obtained in Dvaraka, day after day.

Verse 169 (skanda.7.470.169)

तीर्थकोटिसहस्रैस्तु कृतैः श्राद्धैश्च यत्फलम्। पितॄणां तत्फलं प्रोक्तं गोमतीतिलतर्पणात्

tīrthakoṭisahasraistu kṛtaiḥ śrāddhaiśca yatphalam| pitṝṇāṁ tatphalaṁ proktaṁ gomatītilatarpaṇāt

The fruit that accrues to the ancestors from shraddhas performed at thousands of crores of tirthas — that same fruit is declared to come from offering sesame libations in the Gomati.

Verse 170 (skanda.7.470.170)

यतीनां भोजनं यस्तु यच्छते कृष्णमन्दिरे। सिक्थेसिक्थे भवेत्तृप्तिः पितॄणां युगसंख्यया

yatīnāṁ bhojanaṁ yastu yacchate kṛṣṇamandire| siktheikthe bhavettṛptiḥ pitṝṇāṁ yugasaṁkhyayā

He who provides a meal to ascetics at Krishna's temple — for every single grain of that food, his ancestors attain satisfaction equal in number to the yugas.

Verse 171 (skanda.7.470.171)

कौपीनाच्छादनं छत्रं पादुके च कमण्डलुम्। दत्त्वा संन्यासिनां याति सप्त कल्पानि तत्फलम्

kaupīnācchādanaṁ chatraṁ pāduke ca kamaṇḍalum| dattvā saṁnyāsināṁ yāti sapta kalpāni tatphalam

He who gives ascetics a loincloth, a covering garment, an umbrella, sandals, and a water-pot — that fruit lasts him for seven kalpas.

Verse 172 (skanda.7.470.172)

धन्यास्ते मानवाः पुत्र वसन्ति श्वपचादयः। द्वारकायां गतिं यांति वसतां तत्र योगिनाम्

dhanyāste mānavāḥ putra vasanti śvapacādayaḥ| dvārakāyāṁ gatiṁ yāṁti vasatāṁ tatra yoginām

O son, blessed are those men, even outcastes and the like, who dwell in Dvaraka; they attain the same destination as the yogis who live there.

Verse 173 (skanda.7.470.173)

त्रिकालं ये प्रपश्यंति वदनं प्रत्यहं हरेः। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

trikālaṁ ye prapaśyaṁti vadanaṁ pratyahaṁ hareḥ| na teṣāṁ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Those who behold the face of Hari three times daily do not undergo rebirth, even after hundreds of crores of kalpas.

Verse 174 (skanda.7.470.174)

या नारी विधवा भूत्वा कुरुते द्वारकाश्रयम्। कुलायुतसहस्रं तु नयते परमं पदम्

yā nārī vidhavā bhūtvā kurute dvārakāśrayam| kulāyutasahasraṁ tu nayate paramaṁ padam

The woman who, becoming a widow, takes refuge in Dvaraka leads ten million generations of her family to the supreme abode.

Verse 175 (skanda.7.470.175)

पुत्रेणापीह किं कार्य्यं न गतो द्वारकां यदि। नारी पुत्रशताच्छ्रेष्ठा गत्वा कृष्णपुरीं वसेत्

putreṇāpīha kiṁ kāryaṁ na gato dvārakāṁ yadi| nārī putraśātacchreṣṭhā gatvā kṛṣṇapurīṁ vaset

What use is a son, if he has not gone to Dvaraka? Better than a hundred sons is the woman who goes to dwell in Krishna's city.

Verse 176 (skanda.7.470.176)

कृष्णं कृष्णपुरीं गत्वा योऽर्च्चयेत्तुलसीदलैः। प्राप्तं जन्मफलं तेन तारिताः प्रपितामहाः

kṛṣṇaṁ kṛṣṇapurīṁ gatvā yo'rccayettulasīdalaiḥ| prāptaṁ janmaphalaṁ tena tāritāḥ prapitāmahāḥ

He who goes to Krishna's city and worships Krishna with tulasi leaves has attained the fruit of his birth, and has ferried across even his remote forefathers.

Verse 177 (skanda.7.470.177)

तुलसीदलमालां तु कृष्णोत्तीर्णां तु यो वहेत्। पत्रेपत्रेऽश्वमेधानां दशानां लभते फलम्

tulasīdalamālāṁ tu kṛṣṇottīrṇāṁ tu yo vahet| patrepatre'śvamedhānāṁ daśānāṁ labhate phalam

He who wears a garland of tulasi leaves that has been offered to Krishna obtains, for each leaf, the fruit of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 178 (skanda.7.470.178)

तुलसीकाष्ठसंभूतां यो मालां वहते नरः। फलं यच्छति दैत्यारिः प्रत्यहं द्वारकोद्भवम्

tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhūtāṁ yo mālāṁ vahate naraḥ| phalaṁ yacchati daityāriḥ pratyahaṁ dvārakodbhavam

The man who wears a garland made of tulasi wood is granted by the slayer of demons, every day, the fruit that arises from Dvaraka itself.

Verse 179 (skanda.7.470.179)

निवेद्य विष्णवे मालां तुलसीकाष्ठसंभवाम्। वहते यो नरो भक्त्या तस्य नैवास्ति पातकम्। सदा प्रीतमनास्तस्य कृष्णो देवकिनंदनः

nivedya viṣṇave mālāṁ tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhavām| vahate yo naro bhaktyā tasya naivāsti pātakam| sadā prītamanāstasya kṛṣṇo devakinaṁdanaḥ

The man who offers a garland made of tulasi wood to Vishnu, and then devotedly wears it, has no sin remaining upon him; Krishna, son of Devaki, is ever pleased with him.

Verse 180 (skanda.7.470.180)

तुलसीकाष्ठसंभूतं शिरोबाह्वादिभूषणम्। जायते यस्य मर्त्यस्य तस्य देहे सदा हरिः

tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhūtaṁ śirobāhvādibhūṣaṇam| jāyate yasya martyasya tasya dehe sadā hariḥ

In whatever mortal wears ornaments of head, arm, and the like made of tulasi wood, in his body Hari ever dwells.

Verse 181 (skanda.7.470.181)

तुलसीमालया यस्तु भूषितः कर्म चाऽऽचरेत्। पितॄणां देवतानां च कृतं कोटिगुणं कलौ

tulasīmālayā yastu bhūṣitaḥ karma cā'ācaret| pitṝṇāṁ devatānāṁ ca kṛtaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ kalau

He who, adorned with a garland of tulasi, performs any deed, multiplies, in the Kali age, whatever is done for ancestors and gods a crore times over.

Verse 182 (skanda.7.470.182)

तुलसीकाष्ठमालां तु प्रेतराजस्य दूतकाः। दृष्ट्वा दूरेण नश्यंति वातोद्धूता यथाऽलयः

tulasīkāṣṭhamālāṁ tu pretarājasya dūtakāḥ| dṛṣṭvā dūreṇa naśyaṁti vātoddhūtā yathā'layaḥ

The messengers of the king of ghosts, upon merely seeing a garland of tulasi wood, flee far away, like flying insects scattered by the wind.

Verse 183 (skanda.7.470.183)

जायते तद्ग्रहे नैव पापसंक्रमणं कुतः। श्रुतं पुराणमस्माभिः कथितं ब्रह्मवादिभिः

jāyate tadgrahe naiva pāpasaṁkramaṇaṁ kutaḥ| śrutaṁ purāṇamasmābhiḥ kathitaṁ brahmavādibhiḥ

In his household not even the shadow of sin falls, let alone its transmission — this we have heard in the Purana, told by the expounders of Brahman.

Verse 184 (skanda.7.470.184)

तस्मान्माला त्वया धार्य्या तुलसीकाष्ठसंभवा। हरते नात्र संदेह ऐहिकामुष्मिकं त्वघम्

tasmānmālā tvayā dhāryā tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhavā| harate nātra saṁdeha aihikāmuṣmikaṁ tvagham

Therefore you should wear a garland made of tulasi wood; without doubt, it removes sin of this world and the next.

Verse 185 (skanda.7.470.185)

तुलसीमालया यस्तु भूषितो भ्रमते यदि। दुःस्वप्नं दुर्निमित्तं च न भयं शात्रवं क्वचित्

tulasīmālayā yastu bhūṣito bhramate yadi| duḥsvapnaṁ durnimittaṁ ca na bhayaṁ śātravaṁ kvacit

He who wanders about adorned with a garland of tulasi encounters no bad dreams, no ill omens, and no fear from enemies, anywhere.

Verse 186 (skanda.7.470.186)

कृत्वा वै तीर्थसंन्यासं यतयो विधवाः स्त्रियः। जीवन्मुक्ताः कलौ ज्ञेयाः कुलकोटिसमन्विताः

kṛtvā vai tīrthasaṁnyāsaṁ yatayo vidhavāḥ striyaḥ| jīvanmuktāḥ kalau jñeyāḥ kulakoṭisamanvitāḥ

Ascetics and widowed women who take renunciation at the tirtha are to be known, in the Kali age, as liberated while yet living, together with crores of their kinsfolk.

Verse 187 (skanda.7.470.187)

धारयंति न ये मालां हैतुकाः पापमोहिताः। नरकान्न निवर्तंते दग्धाः कोपाग्निना हरेः

dhārayaṁti na ye mālāṁ haitukāḥ pāpamohitāḥ| narakānna nivartaṁte dagdhāḥ kopāgninā hareḥ

Those sophists, deluded by sin, who do not wear the garland, burned by the fire of Hari's wrath, never return from hell.

Verse 188 (skanda.7.470.188)

उन्मीलिनी वंजुलिनी त्रिस्पृशा पक्षवर्द्धिनी। त्वया पुत्र प्रकर्त्तव्या जयंती विजया जया

unmīlinī vaṁjulinī trispṛśā pakṣavarddhinī| tvayā putra prakarttavyā jayaṁtī vijayā jayā

O son, Unmilini, Vanjulini, Trisparsha, Pakshavardhini, Jayanti, Vijaya, and Jaya — these special Dvadashi observances you must surely keep.

Verse 189 (skanda.7.470.189)

पापघ्नी चाष्टमी प्रोक्ता कृष्णस्यातीव वल्लभा। कृता कलौ युगे पुत्र द्वारका मोक्षदायिनी

pāpaghnī cāṣṭamī proktā kṛṣṇasyātīva vallabhā| kṛtā kalau yuge putra dvārakā mokṣadāyinī

The sin-destroying eighth-day tithi too is said to be exceedingly dear to Krishna. O son, when observed in the Kali age at Dvaraka, it becomes a bestower of liberation.