The Tirthas of the Godavari Hear of Dvaraka's Glory and Long to Go There: A Description of the Gomati

Verse 1 (skanda.7.476.1)

प्रह्लाद उवाच। अथान्यच्च प्रवक्ष्यामि गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं महत्। द्वारकायाः परं पुण्यं माहात्म्यं ह्युत्तमोत्तमम्

prahlāda uvāca| athānyacca pravakṣyāmi guhyādguhyataraṁ mahat| dvārakāyāḥ paraṁ puṇyaṁ māhātmyaṁ hyuttamottamam

Prahlada said: Now I shall tell yet another great truth, more secret than the secret — the supremely sacred, most excellent glory of Dvaraka.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.476.2)

इतिहासं पुरावृत्तं वर्णयिष्ये मनोहरम्। तीर्थक्षेत्रादिदेवानामृषीणां संशयापहम्

itihāsaṁ purāvṛttaṁ varṇayiṣye manoharam| tīrthakṣetrādidevānāmṛṣīṇāṁ saṁśayāpaham

I shall narrate an ancient, delightful history, which dispels the doubts of the tirthas, sacred fields, gods, and sages.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.476.3)

सौभाम्यमतुलं दृष्ट्वा सिंहराशिगते गुरौ। गोदावर्य्यां द्विजश्रेष्ठा नारदो भगवत्प्रियः

saubhāmyamatulaṁ dṛṣṭvā siṁharāśigate gurau| godāvaryāṁ dvijaśreṣṭhā nārado bhagavatpriyaḥ

O best of brahmins, when Jupiter entered the sign of Leo, beholding that peerless auspiciousness, Narada, beloved of the Lord, came to the Godavari.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.476.4)

गौतमस्याऽभितो दृष्ट्वा त्रैलोक्यसंभवानि वै। तीर्थानि सरितः सर्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः

gautamasyā'bhito dṛṣṭvā trailokyasaṁbhavāni vai| tīrthāni saritaḥ sarvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Seeing, all around Gautama's hermitage, the tirthas that had come from the three worlds, and all the rivers, he was filled with supreme wonder.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.476.5)

तत्र काशी कुरुक्षेत्रमयोध्या मथुरापुरी। माया कांची ह्यवंती च अरण्यान्याश्रमैः सह

tatra kāśī kurukṣetramayodhyā mathurāpurī| māyā kāṁcī hyavaṁtī ca araṇyānyāśramaiḥ saha

There, Kashi, Kurukshetra, Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kanchi, Avanti, and forests together with their hermitages —

Verse 6 (skanda.7.476.6)

हरिक्षेत्रं गया मिश्रक्षेत्रं च पुरुषोत्तमम्। प्रभासादीनि पुण्यानि मुक्तिक्षेत्राण्यशेषतः

harikṣetraṁ gayā miśrakṣetraṁ ca puruṣottamam| prabhāsādīni puṇyāni muktikṣetrāṇyaśeṣataḥ

Harikshetra, Gaya, Mishrakshetra, Purushottama, Prabhasa, and all the other sacred fields of liberation —

Verse 7 (skanda.7.476.7)

जाह्नवी यमुना रेवा तत्र पुण्या सरस्वती। सरयूर्गंडकी तापी पयोष्णी सरितां वरा

jāhnavī yamunā revā tatra puṇyā sarasvatī| sarayūrgaṁḍakī tāpī payoṣṇī saritāṁ varā

The Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, the sacred Sarasvati, the Sarayu, Gandaki, Tapi, and Payoshni, foremost of rivers —

Verse 8 (skanda.7.476.8)

कृष्णा भीमरथी पुण्या कावेर्य्याद्याः सरिद्वराः। स्वर्गे मर्त्ये च पाताले वर्त्तमानाः सतीर्थकाः

kṛṣṇā bhīmarathī puṇyā kāveryādyāḥ saridvarāḥ| svarge martye ca pātāle varttamānāḥ satīrthakāḥ

the Krishna, the sacred Bhimarathi, the Kaveri and other excellent rivers — together with all the tirthas existing in heaven, in the mortal world, and in the netherworld —

Verse 9 (skanda.7.476.9)

स्थिता गोदावरीतीरे सिंहराशिं गते गुरौ। तथा च पुष्करादीनि सप्तसिंधुसरांसि च

sthitā godāvarītīre siṁharāśiṁ gate gurau| tathā ca puṣkarādīni saptasiṁdhusarāṁsi ca

took their place on the bank of the Godavari when Jupiter entered Leo, together with Pushkara and the other seven seas and lakes —

Verse 10 (skanda.7.476.10)

मेर्वादिपर्वताः पुण्या दर्शनात्पापनाशनाः। तीर्थराज प्रयागश्च सर्वतीर्थसमन्वितः

mervādiparvatāḥ puṇyā darśanātpāpanāśanāḥ| tīrtharāja prayāgaśca sarvatīrthasamanvitaḥ

the sacred mountains headed by Meru, whose very sight destroys sin, and Prayaga, king of tirthas, accompanied by all other tirthas —

Verse 11 (skanda.7.476.11)

वेदोपवेदाः शास्त्राणि पुराणानि च सर्वशः। सिद्धा मुनिगणाः सर्वे देवर्षिपितृदेवताः

vedopavedāḥ śāstrāṇi purāṇāni ca sarvaśaḥ| siddhā munigaṇāḥ sarve devarṣipitṛdevatāḥ

the Vedas, the Upavedas, the treatises, and the Puranas in their entirety, the siddhas, hosts of sages, celestial seers, ancestors, and gods —

Verse 12 (skanda.7.476.12)

चंद्रादित्यौ सुरगणाः सिंहस्थे च बृहस्पतौ। स्थिता गोदावरीतीरे वर्षमेकं प्रहर्षिताः

caṁdrādityau suragaṇāḥ siṁhasthe ca bṛhaspatau| sthitā godāvarītīre varṣamekaṁ praharṣitāḥ

the Moon, the Sun, and the hosts of gods, all of them, remained greatly joyful on the bank of the Godavari for a whole year while Jupiter was in Leo.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.476.13)

यानि कानि च पुण्यानि तीर्थक्षेत्राणि संति वै। त्रैलोक्ये तानि सर्वाणि गौतम्यां वीक्ष्य विस्मिताः

yāni kāni ca puṇyāni tīrthakṣetrāṇi saṁti vai| trailokye tāni sarvāṇi gautamyāṁ vīkṣya vismitāḥ

Whatever sacred tirthas exist in the three worlds — beholding all of them in the Godavari, Narada was filled with astonishment.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.476.14)

देवर्षिर्नारदस्तत्र मुनिभिर्मुदितोऽवसत्। सिंहस्यांते च सर्वाणि स्वस्थानगमनाय वै

devarṣirnāradastatra munibhirmudito'vasat| siṁhasyāṁte ca sarvāṇi svasthānagamanāya vai

The celestial seer Narada dwelt there joyfully together with the sages. At the end of the Leo period, all of them, in order to return to their own places —

Verse 15 (skanda.7.476.15)

आमन्त्र्य गौतमीं देवीं स्थितानि पुरतस्ततः। सर्वेषां शृण्वतां विप्रा गौतमी खिन्नमानसा। तप्ता दुर्जनसंसर्गान्नारदं दुःखिताऽब्रवीत्

āmantrya gautamīṁ devīṁ sthitāni purataststataḥ| sarveṣāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ viprā gautamī khinnamānasā| taptā durjanasaṁsargānnāradaṁ duḥkhitā'bravīt

took leave of the goddess Gautami and stood before her. O brahmins, in the hearing of all, Gautami, her mind dejected, scorched by association with wicked people, spoke, sorrowfully, to Narada —

Verse 16 (skanda.7.476.16)

गौतम्युवाच। पश्यैतानि सुतीर्थानि गंगाद्याः सरितोऽमलाः। सागरा गिरयः पुण्या गयात्रितयमेव च

gautamyuvāca| paśyaitāni sutīrthāni gaṁgādyāḥ sarito'malāḥ| sāgarā girayaḥ puṇyā gayātritayameva ca

Gautami said: Behold these excellent tirthas — the Ganga and other pure rivers, the oceans, the sacred mountains, and the three Gayas as well —

Verse 17 (skanda.7.476.17)

क्षेत्राणि मोक्षदान्यंग त्रैलोक्यजानि नारद। देवाश्च पितरः सिद्धा ऋषयो मानवादयः

kṣetrāṇi mokṣadānyaṁga trailokyajāni nārada| devāśca pitaraḥ siddhā ṛṣayo mānavādayaḥ

O Narada, these are the liberation-bestowing fields born in the three worlds, and here too are gods, ancestors, siddhas, sages, and men —

Verse 18 (skanda.7.476.18)

तीर्थ राज प्रयागश्च सर्वतीर्थसमन्वितः। एतेषामेव सर्वेषां मत्संसर्गान्महामुने। विशुद्धानां प्रकाशेन राजते भुवनत्रयम्

tīrtha rāja prayāgaśca sarvatīrthasamanvitaḥ| eteṣāmeva sarveṣāṁ matsaṁsargānmahāmune| viśuddhānāṁ prakāśena rājate bhuvanatrayam

and Prayaga, king of tirthas, together with all tirthas. O great sage, by the radiance of all these, purified through their association with me, the three worlds are made resplendent.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.476.19)

प्रयांति तानि सर्वाणि स्वंस्वं स्थानं प्रति प्रभो। अधुनाऽहं परिश्रांता दह्यमाना त्वहर्निशम्

prayāṁti tāni sarvāṇi svaṁsvaṁ sthānaṁ prati prabho| adhunā'haṁ pariśrāṁtā dahyamānā tvaharniśam

O Lord, all of them are now departing towards their own respective places. But I am now utterly exhausted, burning day and night —

Verse 20 (skanda.7.476.20)

दुर्जनानां सुसंपर्काद्भृशं पापात्मना प्रभो। सौभण्यमधुना प्राप्तं सत्संसर्गेण नारद

durjanānāṁ susaṁparkādbhṛśaṁ pāpātmanā prabho| saubhaṇyamadhunā prāptaṁ satsaṁsargeṇa nārada

O Lord, through the close company of exceedingly sinful wicked men. O Narada, the good fortune that I have now gained through this holy company —

Verse 21 (skanda.7.476.21)

प्रयांत्येतानि सर्वाणि स्वस्थानं मुदितानि च

prayāṁtyetāni sarvāṇi svasthānaṁ muditāni ca

all of these now depart joyfully towards their own places.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.476.22)

एतानि मत्प्रसादेन पुण्यानि कथितानि च। कथय श्रमशांत्यर्थं दुःखि ता किं करोम्यहम्

etāni matprasādena puṇyāni kathitāni ca| kathaya śramaśāṁtyarthaṁ duḥkhitā kiṁ karomyaham

These have become sacred, and have spoken of it, by my grace. Tell me, for the ending of my weariness — I am sorrowful; what should I do?

Verse 23 (skanda.7.476.23)

प्रह्लाद उवाच। गोदावर्य्या वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्नारदो द्विजाः। क्षणं ध्यात्वा तु दुःखार्त्तः प्राह संशयमानसः

prahlāda uvāca| godāvaryā vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavānnārado dvijāḥ| kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvā tu duḥkhārttaḥ prāha saṁśayamānasaḥ

Prahlada said: O brahmins, hearing these words of the Godavari, the blessed Narada, after meditating a moment, spoke, pained and his mind filled with doubt:

Verse 24 (skanda.7.476.24)

नारद उवाच। अहो अत्यद्भुतं ह्येतद्गौतम्या व्यसनं महत्। पश्यन्त्वसंशयं देवास्तीर्थक्षेत्रसरिद्वराः

nārada uvāca| aho atyadbhutaṁ hyetadgautamyā vyasanaṁ mahat| paśyantvasaṁśayaṁ devāstīrthakṣetrasaridvarāḥ

Narada said: Oh, this is indeed a most astonishing and grave calamity of Gautami's. Let the gods, the tirthas and fields, and the excellent rivers all behold this without doubt —

Verse 25 (skanda.7.476.25)

सत्पुण्यनिचयो यस्यां युष्माकं समभूद्ध्रुवम्। तस्याः पापाग्निशमनं कथं स्यादिति चिन्त्यताम्

satpuṇyanicayo yasyāṁ yuṣmākaṁ samabhūddhruvam| tasyāḥ pāpāgniśamanaṁ kathaṁ syāditi ciṁtyatām

In her, in whom the treasured merit of all of you has surely been gathered — let it be considered how the fire of her sin may be quenched.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.476.26)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच। तदा चिन्तयतां तेषां सर्वेषां भावितात्मनाम्। गौतमो भगवांस्तत्र समायातो मुनीश्वराः

śrīprahlāda uvāca| tadā ciṁtayatāṁ teṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ bhāvitātmanām| gautamo bhagavāṁstatra samāyāto munīśvarāḥ

Shri Prahlada said: While all those purified souls were pondering thus, the blessed sage Gautama, lord of ascetics, arrived there.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.476.27)

दृष्ट्वा तमृषयो देवा यथोचितमपूजयन्। जाह्नवी यमुना पुण्या नर्मदा च सरस्वती

dṛṣṭvā tamṛṣayo devā yathocitamapūjayan| jāhnavī yamunā puṇyā narmadā ca sarasvatī

Seeing him, the sages and gods duly worshipped him. The Ganga, Yamuna, the sacred Narmada, and Sarasvati,

Verse 28 (skanda.7.476.28)

अन्याश्च सर्वाः सरितस्त्रैलोक्यमनुवर्तिताः। वाराणसी कुरुक्षेत्र प्रमुखान्याश्रमैः सह। युगपत्तानि सर्वाणि संपूज्य मुनिमबुवन्

anyāśca sarvāḥ saritastrailokyamanuvartitāḥ| vārāṇasī kurukṣetra pramukhānyāśramaiḥ saha| yugapattāni sarvāṇi saṁpūjya munimabuvan

and all the other rivers gathered from the three worlds, Varanasi, Kurukshetra, and the other chief places together with their hermitages — all of these together, having worshipped the sage, said —

Verse 29 (skanda.7.476.29)

त्वत्प्रसादेन वै त्राताः सम्यक्छुद्धा महामुने। यदानीता त्वया गंगा गौतमी भूतलं प्रति

tvatprasādena vai trātāḥ samyacchuddhā mahāmune| yadānītā tvayā gaṁgā gautamī bhūtalaṁ prati

O great sage, by your grace alone have we been protected and properly purified, from the time you brought the Ganga down as Gautami to this earth.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.476.30)

कृतार्था मानवाः सर्वे सर्वपापविवर्जिताः। किंतु दुर्जनसंपर्कात्संतप्ता गौतमी भृशम्

kṛtārthā mānavāḥ sarve sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ| kiṁtu durjanasaṁparkātsaṁtaptā gautamī bhṛśam

All men have become fulfilled and free of every sin. But, through association with wicked men, Gautami has become deeply distressed.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.476.31)

कथं पापैर्विनिर्मुक्ता परमानन्दसंप्लुता। सुप्रभा जायते देवी तद्गौतम विचिन्त्यताम्

kathaṁ pāpairvinirmuktā paramānandasaṁplutā| suprabhā jāyate devī tadgautama viciṁtyatām

O Gautama, consider how that goddess might become free of sin, immersed in supreme bliss, and radiant once more.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.476.32)

प्रह्लाद उवाच। एवमुक्तो मुनिस्तैस्तु चिन्ताकुलितमानसः। नारदस्य मुखं वीक्ष्य प्रहसन्गौतमोऽब्रवीत्

prahlāda uvāca| evamukto munistaistu ciṁtākulitamānasaḥ| nāradasya mukhaṁ vīkṣya prahasangautamo'bravīt

Prahlada said: Thus addressed, that sage, his mind troubled with concern, gazed upon Narada's face, and, smiling, spoke —

Verse 33 (skanda.7.476.33)

गौतम उवाच। सर्वेषां क्षेत्रतीर्थानां महाशुभविनाशिनी। गौतमीयं महाभागा अस्यास्तापः क्व शाम्यति

gautama uvāca| sarveṣāṁ kṣetratīrthānāṁ mahāśubhavināśinī| gautamīyaṁ mahābhāgā asyāstāpaḥ kva śāmyati

Gautama said: This is a calamity that destroys the great auspiciousness of all fields and tirthas; this is the illustrious Gautami — where shall her torment find peace?

Verse 34 (skanda.7.476.34)

नास्ति लोकत्रये तीर्थं स्नातुं सिंहगते गुरौ। यद्वै नायाति गौतम्यां क्षेत्रं चापि विशुद्धये। काशीप्रयागमुख्यानि राजंते यत्प्रसादतः

nāsti lokatraye tīrthaṁ snātuṁ siṁhagate gurau| yadvai nāyāti gautamyāṁ kṣetraṁ cāpi viśuddhaye| kāśīprayāgamukhyāni rājaṁte yatprasādataḥ

In the three worlds there is no tirtha or purifying field which does not come to bathe in Gautami when Jupiter enters Leo — by whose very grace even Kashi, Prayaga, and the other chief tirthas themselves shine.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.476.35)

वदंतु मुनयः सर्वे क्षेत्रतीर्थसमाश्रिताः। शुद्धं विचार्यं यत्कार्य्यं मयाऽस्मिञ्जातसंकटे

vadaṁtu munayaḥ sarve kṣetratīrthasamāśritāḥ| śuddhaṁ vicāryaṁ yatkāryaṁ mayā'sminjātasaṁkaṭe

Let all the sages present at the fields and tirthas speak — what, upon proper reflection, should I do, faced with this predicament that has arisen?

Verse 36 (skanda.7.476.36)

प्रह्लाद उवाच। इत्युक्त्वा मुनयः सर्वे नोचुः किञ्चिद्विमोहिताः। तत्रोपायमविज्ञाय गौतमीं गौतमोऽब्रवीत्

prahlāda uvāca| ityuktvā munayaḥ sarve nocuḥ kiñcidvimohitāḥ| tatropāyamavijñāya gautamīṁ gautamo'bravīt

Prahlada said: Hearing this, all the sages, bewildered, said nothing at all. Not knowing any remedy, Gautama then said to Gautami —

Verse 37 (skanda.7.476.37)

गौतम उवाच। आनीतासि मया देवि तपसाऽऽराध्य शंकरम्। वदिष्यति स चोपायमित्युक्त्वाऽचिन्तयत्तदा

gautama uvāca| ānītāsi mayā devi tapasā'ārādhya śaṁkaram| vadiṣyati sa copāyamityuktvā'ciṁtayattadā

Gautama said: O goddess, it was through austerity, worshipping Shankara, that I brought you here; he alone shall declare the remedy — having said this, he then entered into meditation.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.476.38)

गौतमः श्रद्धया भक्त्या गंगामौलिमखंडधीः। तदाऽभून्महदाश्चर्यं शृण्वंतु ऋषयोऽमलाः

gautamaḥ śraddhayā bhaktyā gaṁgāmaulimakhaṁḍadhīḥ| tadā'bhūnmahadāścaryaṁ śṛṇvaṁtu ṛṣayo'malāḥ

Gautama, his mind undivided, with faith and devotion, meditated upon the wearer of the Ganga in his matted locks (Shiva). Then a great wonder occurred — let the pure sages hear of it.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.476.39)

ध्यायमाने महादेवे गौतमेन महात्मना। अकस्मादभवद्वाणी हर्षयन्ती जगत्त्रयम्

dhyāyamāne mahādeve gautamena mahātmanā| akasmādabhavadvāṇī harṣayaṁtī jagattrayam

As the great-souled Gautama meditated upon Mahadeva, suddenly there arose a voice, one that filled the three worlds with joy.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.476.40)

नादयन्ती दिशः सर्वा आब्रह्मभुवनं द्विजाः। अरूपलक्षणाकारा विषादशमनी शुभा

nādayaṁtī diśaḥ sarvā ābrahmabhuvanaṁ dvijāḥ| arūpalakṣaṇākārā viṣādaśamanī śubhā

O brahmins, that voice resounded through all directions, up to the world of Brahma; it was formless, without any visible shape, auspicious, and it quelled all despair.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.476.41)

दिव्यवाण्युवाच। अहो बत महाश्चर्य्यं सर्वेषां सुखदे शुभे। प्रसंगेऽत्र महाक्षेत्रे मग्ना दुःखार्णवे बुधाः

divyavāṇyuvāca| aho bata mahāścaryaṁ sarveṣāṁ sukhade śubhe| prasaṁge'tra mahākṣetre magnā duḥkhārṇave budhāḥ

The divine voice said: Ah, how great a wonder — that, on this occasion at this great and auspicious field, giver of happiness to all, even the wise have become immersed in an ocean of sorrow.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.476.42)

अहो हे गौतमाचार्य्य ऋषयो नारदादयः। शृण्वंतु तीर्थक्षेत्राणि कृपया संवदाम्यहम्

aho he gautamācārya ṛṣayo nāradādayaḥ| śṛṇvaṁtu tīrthakṣetrāṇi kṛpayā saṁvadāmyaham

O teacher Gautama, O sages headed by Narada, O tirthas and fields, listen — I shall graciously speak.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.476.43)

पश्चिमस्य समुद्रस्य तीरमाश्रित्य वर्तते। अस्माच्च दिशि वायव्यां द्वारकाक्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

paścimasya samudrasya tīramāśritya vartate| asmācca diśi vāyavyāṁ dvārakākṣetramuttamam

Resting upon the shore of the western ocean, and in the north-western direction from here, lies the excellent field of Dvaraka.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.476.44)

यत्राऽऽस्ते गोमती पुण्या सागरेण समन्विता। पश्चिमाभिमुखो यत्र महाविष्णुः सदा स्थितः

yatrā'āste gomatī puṇyā sāgareṇa samanvitā| paścimābhimukho yatra mahāviṣṇuḥ sadā sthitaḥ

Where the sacred Gomati abides, joined with the ocean, and where great Vishnu, facing west, ever remains.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.476.45)

अनेकपापराशीनामुग्राणामपि सर्वदा। दाहस्थान समाख्यातमिन्धनानां यथाऽनलः

anekapāparāśīnāmugrāṇāmapi sarvadā| dāhasthāna samākhyātamindhanānāṁ yathā'nalaḥ

That place is declared to be a site of ever-burning fire for heaps of sin, however fierce, just as fire consumes fuel.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.476.46)

देवविश्वद्रुहो यत्र दग्ध्वा पातकमद्भुतम्। लोकत्रयवधाज्जातं विराजतेऽर्कवत्सदा

devaviśvadruho yatra dagdhvā pātakamadbhutam| lokatrayavadhājjātaṁ virājate'rkavatsadā

Where the extraordinary sin of those who betray the gods and the whole world — arising even from the slaughter of the three worlds — is burned away, and the place itself ever shines like the sun.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.476.47)

तद्गम्यतां महाभागा गोमतीमघदाहकाम्। गोदावरीं पुरस्कृत्य क्षेत्रतीर्थसमन्विताम्

tadgamyatāṁ mahābhāgā gomatīmaghadāhakām| godāvarīṁ puraskṛtya kṣetratīrthasamanvitām

Therefore, O illustrious one, go, with the Godavari leading the way, together with all the other fields and tirthas, to the Gomati, that consumer of sin.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.476.48)

प्राप्य द्वारवतीं पुण्यां मत्प्रसादाद्द्विजोत्तमाः। प्रभावाद्द्वारकायाश्च सत्यमाविर्भविष्यति

prāpya dvāravatīṁ puṇyāṁ matprasādāddvijottamāḥ| prabhāvāddvārakāyāśca satyamāvirbhaviṣyati

O best of brahmins, having attained the sacred Dvaravati by my grace, through the power of Dvaraka, the truth of this shall surely be revealed.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.476.49)

प्रह्लाद उवाच। इत्युक्ते सति ते सर्वे हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः। श्रुत्वा सर्वोत्तमं क्षेत्रं जगर्जुर्हरिनामभिः

prahlāda uvāca| ityukte sati te sarve harṣanirbharamānasāḥ| śrutvā sarvottamaṁ kṣetraṁ jagarjurharināmabhiḥ

Prahlada said: When this was spoken, all of them, their hearts overflowing with joy, having heard of that most excellent field, roared aloud with the names of Hari.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.476.50)

जितं भो जितमस्माभिर्धन्या धन्यतमा वयम्। दैवादपगतो मोहो ज्ञातं तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्

jitaṁ bho jitamasmābhirdhanyā dhanyatamā vayam| daivādapagato moho jñātaṁ tīrthottamottamam

'We have triumphed, triumphed! Blessed, most blessed are we! By providence our delusion has been dispelled, and we have come to know the most excellent of tirthas!'

Verse 51 (skanda.7.476.51)

तदा सर्वाणि तीर्थानि क्षेत्रारण्याश्रमैः सह। वाराणसीप्रयागादि सरांसि सिन्धवो नगाः

tadā sarvāṇi tīrthāni kṣetrāraṇyāśramaiḥ saha| vārāṇasīprayāgādi sarāṁsi sindhavo nagāḥ

Then all the tirthas, together with fields, forests, and hermitages, Varanasi, Prayaga, and the rest, lakes, seas, and mountains —

Verse 52 (skanda.7.476.52)

गया च देवखातानि पितरो देवमानवाः। श्रुत्वा प्रमुदिता वाचं प्रोचुर्जयजयेति च

gayā ca devakhātāni pitaro devamānavāḥ| śrutvā pramuditā vācaṁ procurjayajayeti ca

Gaya, the divine reservoirs, the ancestors, gods, and men — hearing this voice, rejoiced and cried out, 'Victory, victory!'

Verse 53 (skanda.7.476.53)

अहो सर्वोत्तमं क्षेत्रं सर्वेषां नोऽघनाशनम्। राजानं तीर्थराजानं द्वारकां शिरसा नमः

aho sarvottamaṁ kṣetraṁ sarveṣāṁ no'ghanāśanam| rājānaṁ tīrtharājānaṁ dvārakāṁ śirasā namaḥ

'Ah, this most excellent field is the destroyer of all our sins! To Dvaraka, the king, the king of tirthas, we bow our heads in homage.'

Verse 54 (skanda.7.476.54)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच। श्रुत्वा सर्वोत्तमं क्षेत्रं तीर्थं सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम्। देवोत्तमोत्तमं देवं श्रीकृष्णं क्लेशनाशनम्

śrīprahlāda uvāca| śrutvā sarvottamaṁ kṣetraṁ tīrthaṁ sarvottamottamam| devottamottamaṁ devaṁ śrīkṛṣṇaṁ kleśanāśanam

Shri Prahlada said: Having heard of that most excellent field, that most exalted of tirthas, that most exalted of gods, Shri Krishna, the destroyer of affliction,

Verse 55 (skanda.7.476.55)

उत्कण्ठा ह्यभवत्तेषां तीर्थादीनां ह्यनुत्तमा। प्रोचुरन्योन्यतो वाचं सर्वाणि युगपत्तदा

utkaṇṭhā hyabhavatteṣāṁ tīrthādīnāṁ hyanuttamā| procuranyonyato vācaṁ sarvāṇi yugapattadā

those tirthas and others were filled with intense eagerness; then, all together at once, they spoke among themselves —

Verse 56 (skanda.7.476.56)

ऋषितीर्थदेवा ऊचुः। कदा द्रक्ष्यामहे पुण्यां द्वारकां कृष्णपालिताम्। श्रीकृष्णदेवमूर्तिं च कृष्णवक्त्रं सुशोभितम्

ṛṣitīrthadevā ūcuḥ| kadā drakṣyāmahe puṇyāṁ dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇapālitām| śrīkṛṣṇadevamūrtiṁ ca kṛṣṇavaktraṁ suśobhitam

The sages, tirthas, and gods said: When shall we behold sacred Dvaraka, protected by Krishna, the very form of the Lord Shri Krishna, and his beautifully radiant face?

Verse 57 (skanda.7.476.57)

कदा नु गोमतीस्नानमस्माकं तु भविष्यति। चक्रतीर्थे कदा स्नात्वा कृष्णदेवस्य मंदिरम्। द्रक्ष्यामः सुमहापुण्यं मुक्तिद्वारमपावृतम्

kadā nu gomatīsnānamasmākaṁ tu bhaviṣyati| cakratīrthe kadā snātvā kṛṣṇadevasya maṁdiram| drakṣyāmaḥ sumahāpuṇyaṁ muktidvāramapāvṛtam

When shall we bathe in the Gomati? When, having bathed at Chakra Tirtha, shall we behold Lord Krishna's temple, that greatly sacred, open gateway to liberation?

Verse 58 (skanda.7.476.58)

दुर्ल्लभो द्वारकावासो दुर्ल्लभं कृष्णदर्शनम्। दुर्ल्लभं गोमती स्नानं रुक्मिणीदर्शनं द्विजाः

durlabho dvārakāvāso durlabhaṁ kṛṣṇadarśanam| durlabhaṁ gomatī snānaṁ rukmiṇīdarśanaṁ dvijāḥ

O brahmins, residence in Dvaraka is hard to attain, the sight of Krishna is hard to attain, bathing in the Gomati is hard to attain, and the sight of Rukmini too is hard to attain.