The Glory of Vanjuli, Dvaraka, the Ganga, Gaya, Govinda, the Gomati, Gokula, the Gita, and Gopichandana

Verse 1 (skanda.7.472.1)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच। कथयस्व मुनिश्रेष्ठ किंचित्कौतूहलं मम। पुण्यं पवित्रं पापघ्नं तीर्थं तु वद विस्तरात्

iṁdradyumna uvāca| kathayasva muniśreṣṭha kiṁcitkautūhalaṁ mama| puṇyaṁ pavitraṁ pāpaghnaṁ tīrthaṁ tu vada vistarāt

Indradyumna said: O best of sages, tell me — I am curious about something. Speak in detail of the sacred, pure, sin-destroying tirtha.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.472.2)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। मथुरा द्वारकाऽयोध्या कलिकाले पुरीत्रयम्। धर्मार्थकामदं भूप मोक्षदं हरिवल्लभम्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| mathurā dvārakā'yodhyā kalikāle purītrayam| dharmārthakāmadaṁ bhūpa mokṣadaṁ harivallabham

Markandeya said: O king, Mathura, Dvaraka, and Ayodhya — these three cities, in the Kali age, bestow dharma, artha, kama, and grant liberation, and are beloved of Hari.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.472.3)

मधुरायां तु कालिंदी गोमती कृष्णसन्निधौ। अयोध्यायां तु सरयूर्मुक्तिदा सेविता सदा

madhurāyāṁ tu kāliṁdī gomatī kṛṣṇasannidhau| ayodhyāyāṁ tu sarayūrmuktidā sevitā sadā

In Mathura the Yamuna, in Krishna's presence the Gomati, and in Ayodhya the Sarayu — ever served, these grant liberation.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.472.4)

द्रारवत्यामयोध्यायां कृष्णं रामं शुभप्रदम्। मथुरायां हरिं विष्णुं स्मृत्वा मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

dvāravatyāmayodhyāyāṁ kṛṣṇaṁ rāmaṁ śubhapradam| mathurāyāṁ hariṁ viṣṇuṁ smṛtvā muktimavāpnuyāt

By calling to mind Krishna at Dvaraka, the auspicious Rama at Ayodhya, and Hari Vishnu at Mathura, a man attains liberation.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.472.5)

धन्या सा मथुरा लोके यत्र जातो हरिः स्वयम्। द्वारका सफला लोके क्रीडितं यत्र विष्णुना

dhanyā sā mathurā loke yatra jāto hariḥ svayam| dvārakā saphalā loke krīḍitaṁ yatra viṣṇunā

Blessed in the world is that Mathura, where Hari himself took birth. Fruitful in the world is Dvaraka, where Vishnu sported.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.472.6)

धन्यानामपि सा पूज्या अयोध्या सर्वकामदा। या स्वयं रामदेवेन पालिता धर्मबुद्धिना

dhanyānāmapi sā pūjyā ayodhyā sarvakāmadā| yā svayaṁ rāmadevena pālitā dharmabuddhinā

Even among blessed places, worthy of worship is that Ayodhya, granter of every desire, which was itself nurtured by the righteous-minded Lord Rama.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.472.7)

यद्ददाति फलं काशी सेविता कल्पसंख्यया। कला ददाति मथुरा वासरेणापि तत्फलम्

yaddadāti phalaṁ kāśī sevitā kalpasaṁkhyayā| kalā dadāti mathurā vāsareṇāpi tatphalam

The fruit that Kashi, served for a number of kalpas, grants — Mathura grants that fruit's mere fraction even in a single day.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.472.8)

मन्वंतरसहस्रे तु प्रयागे यत्फलं भवेत्। निमिषार्द्धेन वसतां द्वारकायां तु तत्फलम्

manvaṁtarasahasre tu prayāge yatphalaṁ bhavet| nimiṣārddhena vasatāṁ dvārakāyāṁ tu tatphalam

The fruit obtained at Prayaga over a thousand manvantaras — that same fruit is obtained by dwelling in Dvaraka for half a moment.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.472.9)

प्रभासे च कुरुक्षेत्रे यत्फलं वत्सरैः शतैः। वसतां निमिषार्द्धेन ह्ययोध्यायां च तद्भवेत्

prabhāse ca kurukṣetre yatphalaṁ vatsaraiḥ śataiḥ| vasatāṁ nimiṣārddhena hyayodhyāyāṁ ca tadbhavet

The fruit obtained at Prabhasa and Kurukshetra over a hundred years — that same fruit comes about by dwelling in Ayodhya for half a moment.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.472.10)

अयोध्याधिपतिं रामं मथुरायां तु केशवम्। द्वारकावासिनं कृष्णं कीर्तनं चापि दुर्ल्लभम्

ayodhyādhipatiṁ rāmaṁ mathurāyāṁ tu keśavam| dvārakāvāsinaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ cāpi durlabham

Rama, lord of Ayodhya, Keshava at Mathura, and Krishna, dweller of Dvaraka — even to chant their names is hard to attain.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.472.11)

मथुराकीर्तनेनापि श्रवणाद्द्वारकापुरः। अयोध्यादर्शनेनापि त्रिशुद्धं च पदं व्रजेत्

mathurākīrtanenāpi śravaṇāddvārakāpuraḥ| ayodhyādarśanenāpi triśuddhaṁ ca padaṁ vrajet

By chanting of Mathura, by hearing of the city of Dvaraka, and by beholding Ayodhya — a man attains a threefold purified state.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.472.12)

कृष्णं स्वयंभुवं देवं द्वारका त्रिदिवोपमा। श्रुता चाप्यथवा दृष्टा कुरुते जन्मसंक्षयम्

kṛṣṇaṁ svayaṁbhuvaṁ devaṁ dvārakā tridivopamā| śrutā cāpyathavā dṛṣṭā kurute janmasaṁkṣayam

Krishna, the self-existent god, and Dvaraka, equal to heaven — merely hearing of or seeing them brings an end to rebirth.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.472.13)

श्रुताभिलिखिता दृष्टा ह्ययोध्या मथुरापुरी। पापं हरति कल्पोत्थं द्वारका च तृतीयका

śrutābhilikhitā dṛṣṭā hyayodhyā mathurāpurī| pāpaṁ harati kalpotthaṁ dvārakā ca tṛtīyakā

Ayodhya and Mathura — whether heard of, written of, or beheld — remove sin accumulated over a whole kalpa; and Dvaraka, the third, does likewise.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.472.14)

कृष्णं विष्णुं हरिं देवं विश्रांतं च कलौ स्मृतम्। द्वादश्यां जागरे रात्रावश्वमेधायुतं फलम्

kṛṣṇaṁ viṣṇuṁ hariṁ devaṁ viśrāṁtaṁ ca kalau smṛtam| dvādaśyāṁ jāgare rātrāvaśvamedhāyutaṁ phalam

Krishna, Vishnu, Hari, the god who in the Kali age rests and is remembered — keeping vigil for him on the night of Dvadashi grants the fruit of ten thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.472.15)

बालक्रीडनकं स्थानं ये स्मरंति दिनेदिने। स्वर्णशैलपदं नृणां जायते राजसत्तम

bālakrīḍanakaṁ sthānaṁ ye smaraṁti dinedine| svarṇaśailapadaṁ nṛṇāṁ jāyate rājasattama

O best of kings, those who daily recall the place of his childhood play attain, for men, a station equal to a mountain of gold.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.472.16)

धन्यास्ते मानवा लोके कलिकाले नरोत्तम। प्लवनं सिंधुतोयेन गोमत्यां यैर्नरैः कृतम्

dhanyāste mānavā loke kalikāle narottama| plavanaṁ siṁdhutoyena gomatyāṁ yairnaraiḥ kṛtam

O best of men, blessed in this world, in the Kali age, are those men who have bathed in the Gomati with the water of the ocean.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.472.17)

पश्चिमाशां नरः स्नात्वा कृत्वा वै करसंपुटम्। द्वारकां ये स्मरिष्यंति तेषां कोटिगुणं फलम्

paścimāśāṁ naraḥ snātvā kṛtvā vai karasaṁpuṭam| dvārakāṁ ye smariṣyaṁti teṣāṁ koṭiguṇaṁ phalam

Those men who, having bathed and facing the western direction, join their hands in prayer and recall Dvaraka — for them the fruit is multiplied a crore times over.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.472.18)

मनसा चिन्तयेद्यो वै कलौ द्वारवतीं पुरीम्। कपिलाऽयुतपुण्यं च लभते हेलया नरः

manasā ciṁtayedyo vai kalau dvāravatīṁ purīm| kapilā'yutapuṇyaṁ ca labhate helayā naraḥ

Whoever, in the Kali age, mentally meditates upon the city of Dvaravati, effortlessly obtains the merit of ten thousand kapila cows given in gift.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.472.19)

गंगासागरजं पुण्यं गंगाद्वारभवं तथा। कलौ द्वारवतीं गत्वा प्राप्नोति मनुजाधिप

gaṁgāsāgarajaṁ puṇyaṁ gaṁgādvārabhavaṁ tathā| kalau dvāravatīṁ gatvā prāpnoti manujādhipa

O lord of men, the merit arising from Gangasagara and that arising from Gangadvara — in the Kali age, a man attains both merely by going to Dvaravati.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.472.20)

सप्तकल्पस्मरो भूप मार्कण्डेयः स्मराम्यहम्। समाना वाऽधिका वापि द्वारवत्या न कापि पूः

saptakalpasmaro bhūpa mārkaṇḍeyaḥ smarāmyaham| samānā vā'dhikā vāpi dvāravatyā na kāpi pūḥ

O king, I, Markandeya, who recall seven kalpas, do recall — no city exists equal to, or greater than, Dvaravati.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.472.21)

दुर्वाससा समो धन्यो नास्ति नाप्यधिको नृप। भाषाबंधं येन कृत्वा द्वारकायां धृतो हरिः

durvāsasā samo dhanyo nāsti nāpyadhiko nṛpa| bhāṣābaṁdhaṁ yena kṛtvā dvārakāyāṁ dhṛto hariḥ

O king, none is as blessed as Durvasas, nor greater — he who, by binding him with words, established Hari in Dvaraka.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.472.22)

मा काशीं मा कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रभासं मा च पुष्करम्। द्वारकां गच्छ राजर्षे पश्य कृष्णमुखं शुभम्

mā kāśīṁ mā kurukṣetraṁ prabhāsaṁ mā ca puṣkaram| dvārakāṁ gaccha rājarṣe paśya kṛṣṇamukhaṁ śubham

Not Kashi, not Kurukshetra, not Prabhasa, nor Pushkara — O royal sage, go to Dvaraka and behold the auspicious face of Krishna.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.472.23)

अश्वमेधसहस्रं तु राजसूयशतं कलौ। पदेपदे च लभते द्वारकां याति यो नरः

aśvamedhasahasraṁ tu rājasūyaśataṁ kalau| padepade ca labhate dvārakāṁ yāti yo naraḥ

The man who journeys towards Dvaraka obtains, in the Kali age, at every single step, the fruit of a thousand Ashvamedhas and a hundred Rajasuyas.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.472.24)

सफलं जीवितं तेषां कलौ नृपवरोत्तम। येषां न स्खलितं चित्तं द्वारकां प्रति गच्छताम्

saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ teṣāṁ kalau nṛpavarottama| yeṣāṁ na skhalitaṁ cittaṁ dvārakāṁ prati gacchatām

O best of kings, fruitful in the Kali age is the life of those whose minds do not waver while journeying towards Dvaraka.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.472.25)

माता च पुत्रिणी तेन पिता चैव पितामहाः। पिंडदानं कृतं येन गोमत्यां कृष्णसन्निधौ

mātā ca putriṇī tena pitā caiva pitāmahāḥ| piṁḍadānaṁ kṛtaṁ yena gomatyāṁ kṛṣṇasannidhau

By him who has offered rice-balls at the Gomati, in Krishna's presence, his mother is blessed with a son, and his father and forefathers too are blessed.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.472.26)

गोपीचन्दनमुद्रां तु कृत्वा भ्रमति भूतले। सोऽपि देशो भवेत्पूतः कि पुनर्यत्र संस्थितम्

gopīcandanamudrāṁ tu kṛtvā bhramati bhūtale| so'pi deśo bhavetpūtaḥ ki punaryatra saṁsthitam

Wherever one bearing the gopichandana mark wanders upon this earth, that land itself becomes purified — how much more, then, the place where he himself resides!

Verse 27 (skanda.7.472.27)

द्वारकायां समुद्भूतां तुलसीं कृष्णसेविताम्। नित्यं बिभर्ति शिरसा स भवेत्त्रिदशाधिपः

dvārakāyāṁ samudbhūtāṁ tulasīṁ kṛṣṇasevitām| nityaṁ bibharti śirasā sa bhavettridaśādhipaḥ

He who daily bears upon his head the tulasi that grew in Dvaraka and is served by Krishna becomes lord over the gods.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.472.28)

दैत्यारेर्भगवत्तिथिश्च विजया नीरं च गंगोद्भवं नित्यं काशिपुरी तथैव तुलसी धात्रीफलं वल्लभम्

daityārerbhagavattithiśca vijayā nīraṁ ca gaṁgodbhavaṁ nityaṁ kāśipurī tathaiva tulasī dhātrīphalaṁ vallabham

The Vijaya tithi dear to the foe of demons, the water born of the Ganga, the city of Kashi eternally, likewise tulasi, and the amalaka fruit — all these are beloved to him.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.472.29)

शास्त्रं भागवतं तथा च दयितं रामायणं द्वारका पुण्यं मालतिसम्भवं सुदयितं गीतं कृतं जागरम्

śāstraṁ bhāgavataṁ tathā ca dayitaṁ rāmāyaṇaṁ dvārakā puṇyaṁ mālatisambhavaṁ sudayitaṁ gītaṁ kṛtaṁ jāgaram

The Bhagavata scripture, and likewise the beloved Ramayana, the sacred Dvaraka, the malati blossom, the deeply cherished Gita, and the night vigil performed — these too are dear to him.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.472.30)

गृहे यस्य सदा तिष्ठेद्गोपीचन्दनमृत्तिका। द्वारका तिष्ठते तत्र कृष्णेन सहिता कलौ

gṛhe yasya sadā tiṣṭhedgopīcandanamṛttikā| dvārakā tiṣṭhate tatra kṛṣṇena sahitā kalau

In whose house the clay of gopichandana always remains — there, in the Kali age, Dvaraka itself dwells, together with Krishna.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.472.31)

कृतघ्नो वाऽथ गोघ्नोऽपि हैतुकः कृत्स्नपापकृत्। गोपीचन्दनसंपर्कात्पूतो भवति तत्क्षणात्

kṛtaghno vā'tha goghno'pi haitukaḥ kṛtsnapāpakṛt| gopīcandanasaṁparkātpūto bhavati tatkṣaṇāt

Even the ungrateful, the killer of a cow, the sophist, one guilty of every sin — merely by contact with gopichandana becomes instantly purified.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.472.32)

गोपीचन्दनखंडं तु यो ददातीह वैष्णवे। कुलमेकोत्तरं तेन शतं तारितमेव वा

gopīcandanakhaṁḍaṁ tu yo dadātīha vaiṣṇave| kulamekottaraṁ tena śataṁ tāritameva vā

He who here gives a piece of gopichandana to a Vaishnava, by that act delivers one hundred and one generations of his kin.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.472.33)

द्वारकासम्भवा भूप तुलसी यस्य मंदिरे। तस्य वैवस्वतो नित्यं बिभेति सह किंकरैः

dvārakāsambhavā bhūpa tulasī yasya maṁdire| tasya vaivasvato nityaṁ bibheti saha kiṁkaraiḥ

O king, he in whose shrine grows tulasi born in Dvaraka — of him Vaivasvata (Yama), together with his servants, remains ever afraid.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.472.34)

द्वारकासंभवा मृत्स्ना तुलसीकृष्णकीर्तनम्। क्रतुकोटिशतं पुण्यं कथितं व्याससूनुना

dvārakāsaṁbhavā mṛtsnā tulasīkṛṣṇakīrtanam| kratukoṭiśataṁ puṇyaṁ kathitaṁ vyāsasūnunā

The clay born in Dvaraka, tulasi, and the chanting of Krishna's name — the merit of these has been declared by the son of Vyasa to equal a hundred crore sacrifices.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.472.35)

आलोड्य सर्वशास्त्राणि पुराणानि पुनःपुनः। मया दृष्टा महीपाल न द्वारकासमा पुरी

āloḍya sarvaśāstrāṇi purāṇāni punaḥpunaḥ| mayā dṛṣṭā mahīpāla na dvārakāsamā purī

O king, having churned through all the scriptures and Puranas again and again, I have seen no city equal to Dvaraka.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.472.36)

द्वारकागमनं येन कृतं कृष्णस्य कीर्तनम्। स्नातं तीर्थसहस्रैस्तु तेनेष्टं क्रतुकोटिभिः

dvārakāgamanaṁ yena kṛtaṁ kṛṣṇasya kīrtanam| snātaṁ tīrthasahasraistu teneṣṭaṁ kratukoṭibhiḥ

He who has made the journey to Dvaraka and chanted Krishna's name has, as it were, bathed at a thousand tirthas and performed crores of sacrifices.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.472.37)

इद्रियाणां तु दमनं किं करिष्यति देहिनाम्। सांख्यमध्ययनं चापि द्वारकां गच्छते न चेत्

indriyāṇāṁ tu damanaṁ kiṁ kariṣyati dehinām| sāṁkhyamadhyayanaṁ cāpi dvārakāṁ gacchate na cet

What good is the restraint of the senses, or the study of Sankhya, for embodied beings, if they do not go to Dvaraka?

Verse 38 (skanda.7.472.38)

पशवस्ते न सन्देहो गर्दभेन समा जनाः। दृष्टं कृष्णमुखं यैर्न गत्वा द्वारवतीं पुरीम्

paśavaste na sandeho gardabhena samā janāḥ| dṛṣṭaṁ kṛṣṇamukhaṁ yairna gatvā dvāravatīṁ purīm

Those who have not gone to the city of Dvaravati and beheld Krishna's face are beasts, without doubt, equal to donkeys.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.472.39)

कृतकृत्यास्तु ते धन्या द्वादश्यां जागरे हरेः। कृत्वा जागरणं भक्त्या नृत्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः

kṛtakṛtyāstu te dhanyā dvādaśyāṁ jāgare hareḥ| kṛtvā jāgaraṇaṁ bhaktyā nṛtyamānā muhurmuhuḥ

Blessed, their purpose fulfilled, are those who, keeping Hari's Dvadashi night vigil with devotion, dance again and again.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.472.40)

कृष्णालयं तु यो गत्वा गोमत्यां पिंडपातनम्। करोति शक्त्या दानं च मुक्तास्तस्य पितामहाः

kṛṣṇālayaṁ tu yo gatvā gomatyāṁ piṁḍapātanam| karoti śaktyā dānaṁ ca muktāstasya pitāmahāḥ

He who goes to Krishna's temple, offers rice-balls in the Gomati, and gives gifts according to his ability — his forefathers are liberated.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.472.41)

प्रेतत्वं च पिशाचत्वं न भवेत्तस्य देहिनः। जन्मजन्मनि राजेंद्र यो गतो द्वारकां पुरीम्

pretatvaṁ ca piśācatvaṁ na bhavettasya dehinaḥ| janmajanmani rājeṁdra yo gato dvārakāṁ purīm

O king of kings, the embodied being who has gone to the city of Dvaraka never attains the state of a ghost or a demon, birth after birth.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.472.42)

अनशनेन यत्पुण्यं प्रयागे त्यजतस्तनुम्। द्वादश्यां निमिषार्द्धेन तत्फलं कृष्णसन्निधौ

anaśanena yatpuṇyaṁ prayāge tyajatastanum| dvādaśyāṁ nimiṣārddhena tatphalaṁ kṛṣṇasannidhau

The merit obtained at Prayaga by relinquishing the body through fasting — that same fruit is obtained near Krishna, on Dvadashi, in half a moment.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.472.43)

सूर्यग्रहे गवां कोटिं दत्त्वा यत्फलमाप्नुयात्। तत्फलं कलिकाले तु द्वारवत्यां दिनेदिने

sūryagrahe gavāṁ koṭiṁ dattvā yatphalamāpnuyāt| tatphalaṁ kalikāle tu dvāravatyāṁ dinedine

The fruit obtained by giving a crore cows in gift at a solar eclipse — that same fruit is obtained, in the Kali age, at Dvaravati, day after day.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.472.44)

कोटिभारं सुवर्णस्य ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः। दत्त्वा यत्फलमाप्नोति तत्फलं कृष्णदर्शने

koṭibhāraṁ suvarṇasya grahaṇe caṁdrasūryayoḥ| dattvā yatphalamāpnoti tatphalaṁ kṛṣṇadarśane

The fruit obtained by donating crores of measures of gold at a lunar or solar eclipse — that same fruit is obtained through beholding Krishna.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.472.45)

दोलासंस्थं च ये कृष्णं पश्यंति मधुमाधवे। तेषां पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च मातामहपितामहाः

dolāsaṁsthaṁ ca ye kṛṣṇaṁ paśyaṁti madhumādhave| teṣāṁ putrāśca pautrāśca mātāmahapitāmahāḥ

Those who behold Krishna seated upon a swing at Madhumadhava — their sons and grandsons, maternal and paternal grandfathers,

Verse 46 (skanda.7.472.46)

श्वशुराद्याः सभृत्याश्च पशवश्च नरोत्तम। क्रीडंति विष्णुना सार्द्धं यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

śvaśurādyāḥ sabhṛtyāśca paśavaśca narottama| krīḍaṁti viṣṇunā sārddhaṁ yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

O best of men, their fathers-in-law and the rest, their servants, and even their animals sport together with Vishnu until the great dissolution.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.472.47)

या काचिद्द्वादशी भूप जायते कृष्णसन्निधौ। पश्यामि नांतरं किञ्चित्कलिकाले विशेषतः

yā kācidvādaśī bhūpa jāyate kṛṣṇasannidhau| paśyāmi nāṁtaraṁ kiñcitkalikāle viśeṣataḥ

O king, whatever Dvadashi occurs in Krishna's presence — I see no difference at all in it, especially in the Kali age.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.472.48)

कृष्णस्य सन्निधौ नित्यं वासरा द्वादशीसमाः। युगादिभिः समाः सर्वे नित्यं कृष्णस्य सन्निधौ

kṛṣṇasya sannidhau nityaṁ vāsarā dvādaśīsamāḥ| yugādibhiḥ samāḥ sarve nityaṁ kṛṣṇasya sannidhau

In Krishna's presence, every day, always, is equal to a Dvadashi; in Krishna's presence, every day is equal to the yugadi tithis.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.472.49)

कलौ द्वारवती सेव्या ज्ञात्वा पुण्यं विशेषतः। षटपुर्यश्चैव सुलभा दुर्ल्लभा द्वारका कलौ

kalau dvāravatī sevyā jñātvā puṇyaṁ viśeṣataḥ| ṣaṭpuryaścaiva sulabhā durlabhā dvārakā kalau

Knowing this special merit, in the Kali age one should serve Dvaravati. The other six cities are easy to attain, but Dvaraka, in the Kali age, is hard to attain.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.472.50)

स्मरणात्कीर्तनाद्यस्माद्भुक्तिमुक्ती सदा नृणाम्। दुर्वाससा तु ऋषिणा रक्षिता तिष्ठते पुरी

smaraṇātkīrtanādyasmādbhuktimuktī sadā nṛṇām| durvāsasā tu ṛṣiṇā rakṣitā tiṣṭhate purī

That city — merely recalling or chanting of which ever grants men both enjoyment and liberation — remains protected by the sage Durvasas.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.472.51)

कलौ न शक्यते गंतुं विना कृष्णप्रसादतः। कृष्णस्य दर्शनं कर्तुं यान्ति रुद्रादयः सुराः

kalau na śakyate gaṁtuṁ vinā kṛṣṇaprasādataḥ| kṛṣṇasya darśanaṁ kartuṁ yāṁti rudrādayaḥ surāḥ

In the Kali age, one cannot go there without Krishna's grace. To behold Krishna, even Rudra and the other gods go there.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.472.52)

त्रिकालं जगतीनाथ रुक्मिणीदर्शनाय च। सफला भारती तस्य कृष्णकृष्णेति या वदेत्

trikālaṁ jagatīnātha rukmiṇīdarśanāya ca| saphalā bhāratī tasya kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti yā vadet

O lord of the world, thrice daily too, for the sight of Rukmini. Fruitful is that speech which utters 'Krishna, Krishna.'

Verse 53 (skanda.7.472.53)

द्वारका यायिनं दृष्ट्वा गायंति दिविसंस्थिताः। नरकात्पितरो मुक्ताः प्रचलंति हसंति च

dvārakā yāyinaṁ dṛṣṭvā gāyaṁti divisaṁsthitāḥ| narakātpitaro muktāḥ pracalaṁti hasaṁti ca

Seeing one journeying towards Dvaraka, the heaven-dwellers sing; ancestors freed from hell walk about and laugh.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.472.54)

गोप्यं यत्पातकं पुंसां गोमती तद्व्यपोहति। स्मरणात्कीर्त्तनाद्वापि किं पुनः प्लवने कृते

gopyaṁ yatpātakaṁ puṁsāṁ gomatī tadvyapohati| smaraṇātkīrttanādvāpi kiṁ punaḥ plavane kṛte

Whatever hidden sins men bear, the Gomati removes them by mere remembrance or invocation — how much more, then, when one actually bathes in it!

Verse 55 (skanda.7.472.55)

रुक्मिणीसहितं देवं शंखोद्धारे च शंखिनम्। पिंडारके चतुर्बाहुं दृष्ट्वाऽन्यैः किं करिष्यति

rukmiṇīsahitaṁ devaṁ śaṅkhoddhāre ca śaṅkhinam| piṁḍārake caturbāhuṁ dṛṣṭvā'nyaiḥ kiṁ kariṣyati

Having beheld the god together with Rukmini, the conch-bearer at Shankhoddhara, and the four-armed form at Pindaraka — what use has one for anything else?

Verse 56 (skanda.7.472.56)

रुक्मिणी देवकीपुत्रश्चक्रतीर्थं च गोमती। गोपीनां चंदनं लोके तुलसी दुर्लभा कलौ

rukmiṇī devakīputraścakratīrthaṁ ca gomatī| gopīnāṁ caṁdanaṁ loke tulasī durlabhā kalau

Rukmini, the son of Devaki, Chakra Tirtha, the Gomati, the sandal of the gopis — in this world, in the Kali age, these are as hard to attain as tulasi.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.472.57)

दुर्लभास्ते सुता ज्ञेया धरणीपापनाशकाः। गयां गत्वा तु ये पिंडं द्वारकां कृष्णदर्शनम्। करिष्यंति कलौ प्राप्ते वंजुलीसमुपोषणम्

durlabhāste sutā jñeyā dharaṇīpāpanāśakāḥ| gayāṁ gatvā tu ye piṁḍaṁ dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇadarśanam| kariṣyaṁti kalau prāpte vaṁjulīsamupoṣaṇam

Those sons should be known as rare who destroy the sins of the earth — who go to Gaya and offer rice-balls, go to Dvaraka and behold Krishna, and, in the Kali age, observe the Vanjuli fast.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.472.58)

समं पुण्यफलं तेषां वंजुली द्वारका समा। येन न्यूना नाधिकाऽपि कथितं विष्णुना स्वयम्

samaṁ puṇyaphalaṁ teṣāṁ vaṁjulī dvārakā samā| yena nyūnā nādhikā'pi kathitaṁ viṣṇunā svayam

Their meritorious fruit is equal; the Vanjuli fast is equal to Dvaraka — neither less nor more — thus has Vishnu himself declared.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.472.59)

वंजुली चाधिकां राजञ्छृणु वक्ष्यामि कारणम्। द्वादश्यामुपवासेन द्वादश्यां पारणेन तु। प्राप्यते हेलया चैव तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्

vaṁjulī cādhikāṁ rājañchṛṇu vakṣyāmi kāraṇam| dvādaśyāmupavāsena dvādaśyāṁ pāraṇena tu| prāpyate helayā caiva tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam

O king, the Vanjuli is indeed even greater — listen, I shall tell the reason. By fasting on Dvadashi and breaking the fast on Dvadashi itself, that supreme abode of Vishnu is effortlessly attained.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.472.60)

गृहेषु वसतां तीर्थं गृहेषु वसतां तपः। गृहेषु वसतां मोक्षो वंजुलीसमुपोषणात्

gṛheṣu vasatāṁ tīrthaṁ gṛheṣu vasatāṁ tapaḥ| gṛheṣu vasatāṁ mokṣo vaṁjulīsamupoṣaṇāt

By observing the Vanjuli fast, even while dwelling at home, one attains the merit of tirthas, of austerity, and even of liberation, all while remaining at home.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.472.61)

वंजुली द्वारका गंगा गया गोविंदकीर्त्तनम्। गोमती गोकुलं गीता दुर्ल्लभं गोपिचन्दनम्

vaṁjulī dvārakā gaṁgā gayā goviṁdakīrttanam| gomatī gokulaṁ gītā durlabhaṁ gopicandanam

Vanjuli, Dvaraka, the Ganga, Gaya, the chanting of Govinda's name, the Gomati, Gokula, the Gita, and gopichandana — all these are hard to attain.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.472.62)

एतच्छृणोति यो भक्त्या कृत्वा मनसि केशवम्। अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

etacchṛṇoti yo bhaktyā kṛtvā manasi keśavam| aśvamedhasahasrasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

The man who, holding Keshava in his heart, devotedly hears this obtains the fruit of a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.472.63)

श्रोष्यंति जागरे ये वै माहात्म्यं केशवस्य च। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं यास्यंति वैष्णवम्

śroṣyaṁti jāgare ye vai māhātmyaṁ keśavasya ca| sarvapāpavinirmuktāḥ padaṁ yāsyaṁti vaiṣṇavam

Those who, during the night vigil, will listen to this glory of Keshava, freed from all sin, shall attain the Vaishnava state.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.472.64)

पठिष्यंति नरा नित्यं ये वै श्रोप्यंति भक्तितः। तुलापुरुषदानस्य फलं ते प्राप्नुवंति हि

paṭhiṣyaṁti narā nityaṁ ye vai śropyaṁti bhaktitaḥ| tulāpuruṣadānasya phalaṁ te prāpnuvaṁti hi

Those men who daily recite this, and those who devotedly listen to it, shall surely obtain the fruit of the tulapurusha gift, where one is weighed against gold.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.472.65)

कृष्णजागरणे दानं यच्चाल्पमपि दीयते। सर्वं कोटिगुणं ज्ञेयमित्याहुः कवयो नृप

kṛṣṇajāgaraṇe dānaṁ yaccālpamapi dīyate| sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ jñeyamityāhuḥ kavayo nṛpa

O king, whatever gift, however small, is given during Krishna's night vigil should be known as multiplied a crore times over — so say the wise.

Verse 66 (skanda.7.472.66)

मानकूटं तुलाकूटं कन्याहयगवां क्रयात्। तत्सर्वं विलयं याति द्वादश्यां जागरे कृते

mānakūṭaṁ tulākūṭaṁ kanyāhayagavāṁ krayāt| tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ yāti dvādaśyāṁ jāgare kṛte

Fraud in measurement, fraud with the scales, and the sin arising from trading in daughters, horses, and cattle — all of this is dissolved by keeping the night vigil on Dvadashi.