The Festive Pilgrimage of the Godavari and All Tirthas Toward Dvaraka

Verse 1 (skanda.7.477.1)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच। तदा तेषां सुतीर्थानां क्षेत्राणामभवन्मुदः। गन्तुं द्वारवतीं पुण्यां सर्वेषामपि सर्वशः

śrīprahlāda uvāca| tadā teṣāṁ sutīrthānāṁ kṣetrāṇāmabhavanmudaḥ| gantuṁ dvāravatīṁ puṇyāṁ sarveṣāmapi sarvaśaḥ

Shri Prahlada said: Then all those excellent tirthas and fields, every one of them, became filled with joy at the prospect of going to the sacred Dvaravati.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.477.2)

द्वारकागमने दृष्ट्वा तथा नारदगौतमौ। महोत्सवो महांस्तत्र भविष्यति मनोहरः

dvārakāgamane dṛṣṭvā tathā nāradagautamau| mahotsavo mahāṁstatra bhaviṣyati manoharaḥ

Beholding the journey to Dvaraka, and seeing Narada and Gautama as well — a great and delightful festival was to take place there —

Verse 3 (skanda.7.477.3)

तीर्थानां कृष्णयात्रायां गन्तव्यमित्यवोचतुः। अथ ते ह्यृषयो देवाः सर्वतीर्थसमन्विताः

tīrthānāṁ kṛṣṇayātrāyāṁ gantavyamityavocatuḥ| atha te hyṛṣayo devāḥ sarvatīrthasamanvitāḥ

so those two declared that the tirthas should set out on the pilgrimage to Krishna. Then those sages and gods, together with all the tirthas —

Verse 4 (skanda.7.477.4)

गौतमीं तु पुरस्कृत्य ययुर्द्वारवतीं मुदा। तदा सर्वाणि तीर्थानि क्षेत्रारण्यानि कृत्स्नशः। द्वारकागमनं चक्रुः सानन्दा ऋषयः सुराः

gautamīṁ tu puraskṛtya yayurdvāravatīṁ mudā| tadā sarvāṇi tīrthāni kṣetrāraṇyāni kṛtsnaśaḥ| dvārakāgamanaṁ cakruḥ sānandā ṛṣayaḥ surāḥ

with the Godavari leading the way, set out joyfully towards Dvaravati. Then all the tirthas, fields, and forests, the sages and gods, went joyfully towards Dvaraka.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.477.5)

श्रद्धया परया भक्त्या कृष्णदर्शनलालसाः। वीणानिनादतत्त्वज्ञं नारदं पथि तेऽब्रुवन्

śraddhayā parayā bhaktyā kṛṣṇadarśanalālasāḥ| vīṇāninādatattvajñaṁ nāradaṁ pathi te'bruvan

With supreme faith and devotion, longing to behold Krishna, they said, along the way, to Narada, expert in the essence of the vina's music —

Verse 6 (skanda.7.477.6)

ऋषय ऊचुः। राशयः पुण्यपुञ्जानां कृता वै तपसां तथा। यज्ञदानव्रतानां च तीर्थानां महतां भुवि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| rāśayaḥ puṇyapuñjānāṁ kṛtā vai tapasāṁ tathā| yajñadānavratānāṁ ca tīrthānāṁ mahatāṁ bhuvi

The sages said: The accumulations of merit, of austerities, of sacrifices, gifts, and vows, and of the great tirthas upon this earth —

Verse 7 (skanda.7.477.7)

संप्राप्तस्तत्प्रसादोऽयं यद्द्रक्ष्यामः कुशस्थलीम्। पृच्छामहेऽधुना त्वां वै योगिनां परमं गुरुम्

saṁprāptastatprasādo'yaṁ yaddrakṣyāmaḥ kuśasthalīm| pṛcchāmahe'dhunā tvāṁ vai yogināṁ paramaṁ gurum

it is by the grace of all these that we shall now behold Kushasthali (Dvaraka). Now we ask you, the supreme teacher of yogis —

Verse 8 (skanda.7.477.8)

द्वारकायास्तु यात्रायां को विधिः संप्रकीर्तितः। नियमः कोऽत्र कर्त्तव्यो वर्जनीयं च किं मुने

dvārakāyāstu yātrāyāṁ ko vidhiḥ saṁprakīrtitaḥ| niyamaḥ ko'tra karttavyo varjanīyaṁ ca kiṁ mune

O sage, what rite has been declared for the pilgrimage to Dvaraka? What observance should be kept here, and what should be avoided?

Verse 9 (skanda.7.477.9)

श्रोतव्यं कीर्तितव्यं च स्मर्तव्यं किं च वै पथि। उत्सवाश्चात्र के प्रोक्ता द्वारकायाश्च तत्पथि

śrotavyaṁ kīrtitavyaṁ ca smartavyaṁ kiṁ ca vai pathi| utsavāścātra ke proktā dvārakāyāśca tatpathi

What should be heard, chanted, and remembered along the way? And what festivities are declared upon this road to Dvaraka?

Verse 10 (skanda.7.477.10)

एकैकश्च महाभाग भक्तानन्दविवर्द्धनम्। एतत्सर्वं महाभाग कृपया संप्रकीर्त्यताम्

ekaikaśca mahābhāga bhaktānandavivarddhanam| etatsarvaṁ mahābhāga kṛpayā saṁprakīrtyatām

O illustrious one, all of this, which increases the joy of each devotee, O illustrious one, please graciously declare.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.477.11)

श्रीनारद उवाच। कृताभ्यंगस्तु पूर्वेद्युः संपूज्य श्रद्धया हरिम्। भोजयेद्वैष्णवान्विप्रान्स्वशक्त्या संप्रहर्षितः

śrīnārada uvāca| kṛtābhyaṁgastu pūrvedyuḥ saṁpūjya śraddhayā harim| bhojayedvaiṣṇavānviprānsvaśaktyā saṁpraharṣitaḥ

Shri Narada said: On the previous day, having applied oil, having worshipped Hari with faith, one should joyfully feed Vaishnava brahmins according to one's means.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.477.12)

अनुज्ञातो महाविष्णोः प्रसादमुपयुज्य वै। शयीत भुवि सुप्रीतो द्वारकां कृष्णमानसः

anujñāto mahāviṣṇoḥ prasādamupayujya vai| śayīta bhuvi suprīto dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇamānasaḥ

Having taken leave of great Vishnu and partaken of his consecrated food, one should sleep upon the ground, contented, one's mind fixed upon Dvaraka and Krishna.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.477.13)

श्वोभूते तु शुचिः स्नातः संपूज्य जगदीश्वरम्। प्रदक्षिणं नमस्कृत्य महाविष्णोरनुज्ञया। पृष्ट्वा कुलवृद्धांश्च ब्राह्मणान्वैष्णवान्प्रियान्

śvobhūte tu śuciḥ snātaḥ saṁpūjya jagadīśvaram| pradakṣiṇaṁ namaskṛtya mahāviṣṇoranujñayā| pṛṣṭvā kulavṛddhāṁśca brāhmaṇānvaiṣṇavānpriyān

The next day, having bathed and become pure, having worshipped the Lord of the universe, having circumambulated and made obeisance, with great Vishnu's permission, and having asked leave of the elders of the family, of brahmins, and of dear Vaishnavas,

Verse 14 (skanda.7.477.14)

ततस्तु तदनुज्ञातो गीतवादित्रसंस्तवैः। यात्रारंभं प्रकुर्वीत द्वारकायां प्रहर्षितः

tatastu tadanujñāto gītavāditrasaṁstavaiḥ| yātrāraṁbhaṁ prakurvīta dvārakāyāṁ praharṣitaḥ

then, thus permitted, with songs, instruments, and hymns of praise, one should joyfully begin the pilgrimage to Dvaraka.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.477.15)

द्वारकां गच्छमानस्तु शान्तो दांतः शुचिः सदा। ब्रह्मचर्यमधः शय्यां कुर्वीत नियतेन्द्रियः

dvārakāṁ gacchamānastu śānto dāntaḥ śuciḥ sadā| brahmacaryamadhaḥ śayyāṁ kurvīta niyatendriyaḥ

While journeying to Dvaraka, one should remain ever calm, self-restrained, pure; observing celibacy and sleeping upon the ground, with the senses under control.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.477.16)

सहस्रनामपठनं पुराणपठनं तथा। कर्त्तव्यं सकृपं चित्तं सतां शुश्रूषणं तथा

sahasranāmapaṭhanaṁ purāṇapaṭhanaṁ tathā| karttavyaṁ sakṛpaṁ cittaṁ satāṁ śuśrūṣaṇaṁ tathā

One should recite the thousand names and recite the Puranas; keep the mind compassionate, and serve the virtuous.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.477.17)

अन्नदानादिकं सर्वं विभवे सति मानवः। अपि स्वल्पं स्वशक्त्या वै कृतं कोटिगुणं भवेत्

annadānādikaṁ sarvaṁ vibhave sati mānavaḥ| api svalpaṁ svaśaktyā vai kṛtaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

If means permit, a man should perform all manner of food-giving and the like; even a small gift given according to one's ability becomes multiplied a crore times over.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.477.18)

पथि कृष्णस्य यो भक्त्या ग्रासमेकं प्रयच्छति। द्वीपांता तेन दत्ता भूः पुण्यस्यान्तो न विद्यते

pathi kṛṣṇasya yo bhaktyā grāsamekaṁ prayacchati| dvīpāṁtā tena dattā bhūḥ puṇyasyāṁto na vidyate

He who, along the way, devotedly gives even a single mouthful of food for Krishna's sake has, as it were, given away the entire earth to its farthest continents; there is no end to his merit.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.477.19)

किं पुनर्द्वारकाक्षेत्रे कृष्णस्य च समीपतः। कलावेकेकसिक्थे च राजसूयायुतं फलम्

kiṁ punardvārakākṣetre kṛṣṇasya ca samīpataḥ| kalāvekekasikthe ca rājasūyāyutaṁ phalam

What then of giving in the field of Dvaraka, near Krishna himself! In the Kali age, for every single grain given, the fruit of ten thousand Rajasuya sacrifices accrues.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.477.20)

गयाश्राद्धसहस्राणि कृतानि शतसंख्यया। अन्नदानं कृतं यैस्तु द्वारकापथि मानवैः

gayāśrāddhasahasrāṇi kṛtāni śatasaṁkhyayā| annadānaṁ kṛtaṁ yaistu dvārakāpathi mānavaiḥ

Those men who have given food-gifts on the road to Dvaraka have, as it were, performed hundreds of thousands of shraddhas at Gaya.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.477.21)

औषधं चान्नपानीयं पादुके कंबलं तथा। वासांस्युपानहौ चैव वित्तं च विभवे सति। वर्जयेत्संकरं विद्वान्यूथालापांस्तथैव च

auṣadhaṁ cānnapānīyaṁ pāduke kaṁbalaṁ tathā| vāsāṁsyupānahau caiva vittaṁ ca vibhave sati| varjayetsaṁkaraṁ vidvānyūthālāpāṁstathaiva ca

Medicine, food and water, sandals, a blanket, garments, shoes, and wealth — if means permit, these should be given. The wise man should avoid improper mingling and, likewise, idle chatter among crowds.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.477.22)

परनिन्दां च पैशुन्यं परस्य परिवञ्चनम्। परान्नं परपाकं च सति वित्ते त्यजेद्बुधः

paranindāṁ ca paiśunyaṁ parasya parivañcanam| parānnaṁ parapākaṁ ca sati vitte tyajedbudhaḥ

Slander of others, backbiting, cheating another, another's food, and food cooked by another — the wise man, if he has means, should abandon all of these.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.477.23)

न दोषो हीनवित्तस्य तावन्मात्रपरिग्रहे। श्रोतव्या सत्कथा विष्णोर्नामसंकीर्त्तनामृतम्

na doṣo hīnavittasya tāvanmātraparigrahe| śrotavyā satkathā viṣṇornāmasaṁkīrttanāmṛtam

For one who is without means, there is no fault in accepting only what is strictly necessary. One should listen to the excellent stories of Vishnu and to the nectar of chanting his names.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.477.24)

द्वारकापथिगच्छद्भिरन्योन्यं भक्तिवर्द्धनम्। जप्तव्यं वैदिकं जाप्यं स्तोत्रमागमिकं तथा

dvārakāpathigacchadbhiranyonyaṁ bhaktivarddhanam| japtavyaṁ vaidikaṁ jāpyaṁ stotramāgamikaṁ tathā

Those traveling the road to Dvaraka should recite, among themselves, that which increases devotion — reciting Vedic mantras and hymns drawn from the Agamas as well.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.477.25)

यात्रायां यत्फलं प्रोक्तं श्रीकृष्णस्य च वै कलौ। न शक्यते मया वक्तुं वदनैर्युगसंख्यया

yātrāyāṁ yatphalaṁ proktaṁ śrīkṛṣṇasya ca vai kalau| na śakyate mayā vaktuṁ vadanairyugasaṁkhyayā

The fruit declared for the pilgrimage to Shri Krishna in the Kali age — that I cannot describe, even with as many mouths as there are ages.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.477.26)

इत्येतत्कथितं सर्वं यत्पृष्टं तु द्विजोत्तमाः। यतध्वं तत्प्रयत्नेन विष्णुप्राप्तौ च सत्वरम्

ityetatkathitaṁ sarvaṁ yatpṛṣṭaṁ tu dvijottamāḥ| yatadhvaṁ tatprayatnena viṣṇuprāptau ca satvaram

O best of brahmins, all that was asked has now been told. Strive diligently, then, and swiftly, for the attainment of Vishnu.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.477.27)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच। एवं ते नारदेनोक्ता मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः। चक्रुस्ते सहिताः सर्वे कृष्णदेवस्य तत्पथि

śrīprahlāda uvāca| evaṁ te nāradenoktā munayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ| cakruste sahitāḥ sarve kṛṣṇadevasya tatpathi

Shri Prahlada said: Thus instructed by Narada, those sages, their hearts rejoicing, all together began to do exactly this, upon that road to Lord Krishna.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.477.28)

केचिच्छृण्वन्ति ता विष्णोः सत्कथा लोकविश्रुताः। यासां संश्रवणादेव भगवान्विशते हृदि

kecicchṛṇvanti tā viṣṇoḥ satkathā lokaviśrutāḥ| yāsāṁ saṁśravaṇādeva bhagavānviśate hṛdi

Some listen to those excellent, world-renowned stories of Vishnu, merely by hearing which the Lord enters into the heart.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.477.29)

कीर्त्यमानानि नामानि महापुण्यप्रदानि वै। पावनानि सदा लोके कलौ विप्रा विशेषतः

kīrtyamānāni nāmāni mahāpuṇyapradāni vai| pāvanāni sadā loke kalau viprā viśeṣataḥ

O brahmins, his names, as they are chanted, bestow great merit and ever purify the world, especially in the Kali age.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.477.30)

पुराणसंहिता दिव्या मुनिभिः परिकीर्तिताः। प्रकाशयंति या विष्णोर्महिमानं सुमंगलम्

purāṇasaṁhitā divyā munibhiḥ parikīrtitāḥ| prakāśayaṁti yā viṣṇormahimānaṁ sumaṁgalam

the divine Puranic compendiums, proclaimed by the sages, which reveal the most auspicious glory of Vishnu —

Verse 31 (skanda.7.477.31)

सद्गुणाः कर्मवीर्य्याणि कृतानि विष्णुना पुरा। लीलावताररूपैस्तु शृण्वन्ति परया मुदा

sadguṇāḥ karmavīryāṇi kṛtāni viṣṇunā purā| līlāvatārarūpaistu śṛṇvaṁti parayā mudā

the virtues and mighty deeds performed by Vishnu of old in his various playful incarnate forms — these they hear with supreme joy.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.477.32)

अपरे वासुदेवस्य चरितानि सुमंगलाः। वदंति परया भक्त्या सानन्दाः साश्रुलोचनाः

apare vāsudevasya caritāni sumaṁgalāḥ| vadaṁti parayā bhaktyā sānandāḥ sāśrulocanāḥ

Others, with supreme devotion, filled with joy, their eyes brimming with tears, recount the most auspicious deeds of Vasudeva.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.477.33)

अन्ये स्मरंति देवेशमनादिनिधनं विभुम्। केचिज्जपंति मुनयः स्तोत्राणि परया मुदा

anye smaraṁti deveśamanādinidhanaṁ vibhum| kecijjapaṁti munayaḥ stotrāṇi parayā mudā

Others call to mind the god of gods, the beginningless, endless, all-pervading Lord; some sages recite hymns of praise with supreme joy.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.477.34)

केचित्तु शतनामानि जपन्ति मुनयः पथि। अन्ये सहस्रनामानि लक्षनाम तथाऽपरे

kecittu śatanāmāni japanti munayaḥ pathi| anye sahasranāmāni lakṣanāma tathā'pare

On the road, some sages recite a hundred names, others the thousand names, and yet others a hundred thousand names.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.477.35)

केचिल्लौकिकगीतानि हरिनामानि हर्षिताः। उत्सवैश्च व्रजंत्यन्ये पताकादिविभूषिताः

kecillaukikagītāni harināmāni harṣitāḥ| utsavaiśca vrajaṁtyanye patākādivibhūṣitāḥ

Some, filled with delight, sing folk songs and the names of Hari; others go along festively, adorned with banners and the like.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.477.36)

गीतवादित्रघोषेण करतालस्वनेन च। नास्ति धन्यतमस्तस्मात्त्रिषु लोकेषु कश्चन

gītavāditraghoṣeṇa karatālasvanena ca| nāsti dhanyatamastasmāttriṣu lokeṣu kaścana

with the sound of song and instrument, and the clash of cymbals — in the three worlds there is none more blessed than he,

Verse 37 (skanda.7.477.37)

दर्शनं यस्य संजातं वैष्णवानामनुत्तमम्। तथैव जाह्नवी पुण्या यमुना च सरस्वती

darśanaṁ yasya saṁjātaṁ vaiṣṇavānāmanuttamam| tathaiva jāhnavī puṇyā yamunā ca sarasvatī

who has attained this most excellent sight of the Vaishnavas. Likewise the sacred Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati —

Verse 38 (skanda.7.477.38)

रेवाद्याः सरितः सर्वाः प्रचक्रुर्गीतनर्त्तनम्। प्रयागादीनि तीर्थानि सागराः पर्वतोत्तमाः

revādyāḥ saritaḥ sarvāḥ pracakrurgītanarttanam| prayāgādīni tīrthāni sāgarāḥ parvatottamāḥ

the Narmada and all the other rivers took up song and dance. Prayaga and the other tirthas, the oceans and the finest mountains —

Verse 39 (skanda.7.477.39)

वाराणसी कुरुक्षेत्रं पुण्यान्यन्यानि कृत्स्नशः। त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि क्षेत्राणि देवनायकाः। चक्रुर्गीतं च नृत्यं च द्वारकायाश्च सत्पथि

vārāṇasī kurukṣetraṁ puṇyānyanyāni kṛtsnaśaḥ| trailokye yāni tīrthāni kṣetrāṇi devanāyakāḥ| cakrurgītaṁ ca nṛtyaṁ ca dvārakāyāśca satpathi

Varanasi, Kurukshetra, and all the other sacred places — whatever tirthas, fields, and chiefs of the gods exist in the three worlds — all of them took up song and dance upon that sacred road to Dvaraka.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.477.40)

एकैकस्मिन्पदे दत्ते द्वारकापथि गच्छताम्। पुण्यं क्रतुसहस्राणां तत्पादरजसंख्यया

ekaikasminpade datte dvārakāpathi gacchatām| puṇyaṁ kratusahasrāṇāṁ tatpādarajasaṁkhyayā

For every single step taken by those journeying on the road to Dvaraka, they obtain the merit of thousands of sacrifices, equal in number to the grains of dust raised by their feet.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.477.41)

अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे तीर्थक्षेत्रादिसंयुताः। श्रीमत्कृष्णालयं दूराद्ददृशुर्नारदादयः

atha te munayaḥ sarve tīrthakṣetrādisaṁyutāḥ| śrīmatkṛṣṇālayaṁ dūrāddadṛśurnāradādayaḥ

Then all those sages, together with the tirthas, fields, and the rest, headed by Narada, beheld from afar the glorious temple of Krishna.