The Vision of the Embodied City of Dvaravati

Verse 1 (skanda.7.478.1)

प्रह्लाद उवाच । दिव्यस्वप्रभया ध्वांतं भूतानां नाशयन्सदा । जनयन्परमानंदं भक्तानां च भयापहः ॥ १ ॥

prahlāda uvāca | divyasvaprabhayā dhvāṁtaṁ bhūtānāṁ nāśayansadā | janayanparamānandaṁ bhaktānāṁ ca bhayāpahaḥ || 1 ||

Prahlada said: Ever dispelling the darkness of beings with its divine self-radiance, producing supreme bliss for the devotees and removing their fear — such was that shrine of Hari.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.478.2)

पताकाभिर्ध्वजस्थाभिर्द्वारकाजयवर्द्धनः । दिव्यपुण्यप्रकाशेन राजते गिरिराडिव ॥ २ ॥

patākābhirdhvajasthābhirdvārakājayavardhanaḥ | divyapuṇyaprakāśena rājate girirāḍiva || 2 ||

Increasing the glory of Dvaraka with the banners fluttering on its flagstaffs, it shone with divine and holy radiance like the king of mountains.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.478.3)

दृष्ट्वाऽऽलयं तदा विष्णोस्तदायुधविभूषितम् । विहाय पादुके च्छत्रं दण्डवत्पतिता भुवि ॥ ३ ॥

dṛṣṭvālayaṁ tadā viṣṇostadāyudhavibhūṣitam | vihāya pāduke cchatraṁ daṇḍavatpatitā bhuvi || 3 ||

On seeing that temple of Vishnu, adorned with His weapons, they cast aside their sandals and parasol and fell prostrate on the ground like a staff.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.478.4)

भूमिसंलुठनं तेषां तीर्थानामद्भुतं महत् । अभवद्विप्र शार्दूलाः क्षेत्रादीनां च सर्वशः ॥ ४ ॥

bhūmisaṁluṭhanaṁ teṣāṁ tīrthānāmadbhutaṁ mahat | abhavadvipra śārdūlāḥ kṣetrādīnāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ || 4 ||

O foremost of sages, there occurred that great and wondrous rolling upon the ground of all those sacred fords and fields, in every direction.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.478.5)

वाराणसी कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रयागो जाह्नवी तथा । यमुना नर्मदा पुण्या पुण्या प्राची सरस्वती ॥ ५ ॥

vārāṇasī kurukṣetraṁ prayāgo jāhnavī tathā | yamunā narmadā puṇyā puṇyā prācī sarasvatī || 5 ||

Varanasi, Kurukshetra, Prayaga, the Ganga, the Yamuna, the sacred Narmada and the sacred Prachi-Sarasvati,

Verse 6 (skanda.7.478.6)

गोदावरी महापुण्या गया तिस्रस्तु मंगलाः । शालिग्रामं महाक्षेत्रं पुण्या चक्रनदी शुभा ॥ ६ ॥

godāvarī mahāpuṇyā gayā tisrastu maṅgalāḥ | śāligrāmaṁ mahākṣetraṁ puṇyā cakranadī śubhā || 6 ||

The greatly sacred Godavari, the three auspicious Gayas, the great field of Shaligrama, and the sacred and auspicious Chakra river,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.478.7)

पयोष्णी तपती कृष्णा कावेर्य्याद्याः सुपुण्यदाः । पुष्करादीनि तीर्थानि सागराः पर्वतोत्तमाः ॥ ७ ॥

payoṣṇī tapatī kṛṣṇā kāveryādyāḥ supuṇyadāḥ | puṣkarādīni tīrthāni sāgarāḥ parvatottamāḥ || 7 ||

The Payoshni, Tapati, Krishna, Kaveri and other rivers bestowing great merit, the holy fords beginning with Pushkara, the oceans and the foremost mountains,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.478.8)

अयोध्या मथुरा माया अवंत्याद्याश्च मुक्तिदाः । श्रीरंगाख्यमनंतं च प्रभासं च विशेषतः ॥ ८ ॥

ayodhyā mathurā māyā avantyādyāśca muktidāḥ | śrīraṅgākhyamanantaṁ ca prabhāsaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ || 8 ||

Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Avanti and the other liberation-granting cities, the boundless field called Shriranga, and Prabhasa in particular,

Verse 9 (skanda.7.478.9)

पुरुषोत्तमं महाक्षेत्रमरण्यान्यादयः शुभाः । त्रैलोक्ये वर्त्तमानानि सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वशः ॥ ९ ॥

puruṣottamaṁ mahākṣetramaraṇyānyādayaḥ śubhāḥ | trailokye vartamānāni sarvatīrthāni sarvaśaḥ || 9 ||

The great field of Purushottama, the auspicious forest-fields such as Naimisha — thus all the sacred fords existing in the three worlds, in every way.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.478.10)

दृष्ट्वा कृष्णालयं पुण्यं मुहुर्मुहुः प्रहर्षिताः । जय शब्दैर्नमःशब्दैर्गर्जंतो हरिनामभिः ॥ १० ॥

dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇālayaṁ puṇyaṁ muhurmuhuḥ praharṣitāḥ | jaya śabdairnamaḥśabdairgarjaṁto harināmabhiḥ || 10 ||

Beholding the sacred abode of Krishna, they rejoiced again and again, roaring with shouts of victory, words of salutation, and the names of Hari.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.478.11)

आनंदाश्रूणि मुंचंतः प्रेम्णा गद्गदया गिरा । स्तुवंति मुनयः सर्वे तीर्थादीनि च सर्वशः ॥ ११ ॥

ānandāśrūṇi muṁcantaḥ premṇā gadgadayā girā | stuvanti munayaḥ sarve tīrthādīni ca sarvaśaḥ || 11 ||

Shedding tears of joy, all the sages and all the sacred fords, in every direction, praised Him with love-choked voices.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.478.12)

अथ संस्तुवतां तेषामन्योन्यं मुदितात्मनाम् । वीक्ष्य वक्त्राणि सर्वेषां महर्षिर्नारदोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १२ ॥

atha saṁstuvatāṁ teṣāmanyonyaṁ muditātmanām | vīkṣya vaktrāṇi sarveṣāṁ maharṣirnārado'bravīt || 12 ||

Then, seeing the faces of all those joyful ones praising one another, the great sage Narada spoke.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.478.13)

श्रीनारद उवाच । राशयः पुण्य पुंजानां कृता युष्माभिरुत्तमाः । तज्जन्मना सहस्रैस्तु यद्दृष्टं कृष्णमंदिरम् ॥ १३ ॥

śrīnārada uvāca | rāśayaḥ puṇya puṁjānāṁ kṛtā yuṣmābhiruttamāḥ | tajjanmanā sahasraistu yaddṛṣṭaṁ kṛṣṇamaṁdiram || 13 ||

Shri Narada said: You have amassed supreme heaps of merit, for it is only as the fruit of a thousand births that this temple of Krishna has been beheld by you.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.478.14)

दर्शनं कृष्णदेवस्य द्वारकागमने मतिः । दृढभक्तिर्महाविष्णोर्नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम् ॥ १४ ॥

darśanaṁ kṛṣṇadevasya dvārakāgamane matiḥ | dṛḍhabhaktirmahāviṣṇornālpasya tapasaḥ phalam || 14 ||

The vision of Lord Krishna, the resolve to journey to Dvaraka, and steadfast devotion to the great Vishnu — these are not the fruit of slight austerity.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.478.15)

धन्या वै पूर्वजास्तेषां वंशजाः कृष्णदर्शनं । सोत्सवा द्वारकां यांति पश्यंति च हरिप्रियाम् ॥ १५ ॥

dhanyā vai pūrvajāsteṣāṁ vaṁśajāḥ kṛṣṇadarśanaṁ | sotsavā dvārakāṁ yānti paśyanti ca haripriyām || 15 ||

Blessed indeed are the ancestors of those descendants who, with festivity, go to Dvaraka for the vision of Krishna and behold this city beloved of Hari.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.478.16)

धन्येयं गौतमी गंगा गौतमोऽयं महातपाः । यत्प्रसादेन सर्वेषां कल्याणं समुपस्थितम् ॥ १६ ॥

dhanyeyaṁ gautamī gaṅgā gautamo'yaṁ mahātapāḥ | yatprasādena sarveṣāṁ kalyāṇaṁ samupasthitam || 16 ||

Blessed is this Gautami Ganga, and blessed is this Gautama of great austerity, by whose grace this good fortune has come to all.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.478.17)

यज्ञाध्ययनदानानां तपोव्रतसमाधिनाम् । संप्राप्तफलमस्माभिर्युष्माभिः सर्वतीर्थकाः ॥ १७ ॥

yajñādhyayanadānānāṁ tapovratasamādhinām | saṁprāptaphalamasmābhiryuṣmābhiḥ sarvatīrthakāḥ || 17 ||

O all you sacred fords, both we and you have obtained the fruit of sacrifices, study, gifts, austerities, vows and meditation.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.478.18)

यूयं सर्वाणि तीर्थानि क्षेत्राणि चैव कृत्स्नशः । कृष्णाज्ञया सर्वकालं तिष्ठध्वं सर्वदैवतैः ॥ १८ ॥

yūyaṁ sarvāṇi tīrthāni kṣetrāṇi caiva kṛtsnaśaḥ | kṛṣṇājñayā sarvakālaṁ tiṣṭhadhvaṁ sarvadaivataiḥ || 18 ||

May all of you, the sacred fords and fields entire, by Krishna's command, dwell here for all time together with all the deities.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.478.19)

वसंति येऽत्र ते धन्या एकाहमपि पावनाः । पश्यंतु सुमहाभागा गोदावर्य्यत्र जाह्नवी ॥ १९ ॥

vasanti ye'tra te dhanyā ekāhamapi pāvanāḥ | paśyantu sumahābhāgā godāvaryatra jāhnavī || 19 ||

Those who dwell here even for a single day become blessed and purified. O most fortunate Godavari and Ganga, behold this place and remain here.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.478.20)

इयं च शोभते पुण्या द्वारका कृष्ण वल्लभा । प्रपश्यंतु महाभागास्तथा वाराणसीं शुभाम् ॥ २० ॥

iyaṁ ca śobhate puṇyā dvārakā kṛṣṇa vallabhā | prapaśyantu mahābhāgāstathā vārāṇasīṁ śubhām || 20 ||

This sacred Dvaraka, beloved of Krishna, shines forth in splendor. Let the most fortunate ones behold from here the auspicious Varanasi as well.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.478.21)

क्षेत्राणि कुरुमुख्यानि पश्यंतु द्वारकां प्रभोः । तादृशी मथुरा काशी मायाऽध्योध्या च राजते ॥ २१ ॥

kṣetrāṇi kurumukhyāni paśyantu dvārakāṁ prabhoḥ | tādṛśī mathurā kāśī māyā'yodhyā ca rājate || 21 ||

Let the principal fields, headed by Kurukshetra, behold this Dvaraka of the Lord. Mathura, Kashi, Maya and Ayodhya likewise shine here in the same manner.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.478.22)

अवन्ती न च कांची च क्षेत्रं च पुरुषोत्तमम् । सूर्योपरागकालेऽपि कुरुक्षेत्रं न राजते ॥ २२ ॥

avantī na ca kāñcī ca kṣetraṁ ca puruṣottamam | sūryoparāgakāle'pi kurukṣetraṁ na rājate || 22 ||

Neither Avanti, nor Kanchi, nor the field of Purushottama, nor even Kurukshetra at the time of a solar eclipse shines with such splendor.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.478.23)

ईदृशं न गयातीर्थं यादृगेतत्प्रकाशते ॥ २३ ॥

īdṛśaṁ na gayātīrthaṁ yādṛgetatprakāśate || 23 ||

Not even the sacred ford of Gaya shines as this one does.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.478.24)

ग्रहनक्षत्रताराणां यथा सूर्य्यो विराजते । सक्षेत्रतीर्थराजानां द्वारकार्को विराजते ॥ २४ ॥

grahanakṣatratārāṇāṁ yathā sūryo virājate | sakṣetratīrtharājānāṁ dvārakārko virājate || 24 ||

As the sun shines forth among the planets, constellations and stars, so this Dvaraka, like a sun, shines among the sovereign fields and fords.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.478.25)

प्रह्लाद उवाच । निशम्य नारदेनोक्तं प्रहृष्टाश्च तथा द्विजाः । क्षेत्राणि सर्वतीर्थानि पुरस्कृत्य च गौतमम् ॥ २५ ॥

prahlāda uvāca | niśamya nāradenoktaṁ prahṛṣṭāśca tathā dvijāḥ | kṣetrāṇi sarvatīrthāni puraskṛtya ca gautamam || 25 ||

Prahlada said: Having heard what Narada had spoken, the delighted brahmins, and all the fields and sacred fords, placing Gautama at their head,

Verse 26 (skanda.7.478.26)

विहाय गौतमीं तत्र प्रययुर्ह्यग्रतोग्रतः । प्रहृष्टा गौतमी तत्र प्रणम्य त्वरिता ययौ ॥ २६ ॥

vihāya gautamīṁ tatra prayayurhyagratogrataḥ | prahṛṣṭā gautamī tatra praṇamya tvaritā yayau || 26 ||

Leaving Gautami there, they went forth one after another, moving ahead. The joyful Gautami too, bowing there, swiftly followed.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.478.27)

गीतवाद्यैश्च नृत्यैश्च पताकाभिः समंततः । प्रययुः स्तोत्रपाठैश्च सर्वे ते द्वारकाश्रये ॥ २७ ॥

gītavādyaiśca nṛtyaiśca patākābhiḥ samaṁtataḥ | prayayuḥ stotrapāṭhaiśca sarve te dvārakāśraye || 27 ||

With songs, instruments, dances, banners on every side, and the recitation of hymns, all of them proceeded toward the refuge of Dvaraka.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.478.28)

स तीर्थान्यग्रतः कृत्वा मध्ये कृत्वा तु शोभनम् । प्रयागं तीर्थराजं च प्रहृष्टं क्षेत्रदर्शनात् ॥ २८ ॥

sa tīrthānyagrataḥ kṛtvā madhye kṛtvā tu śobhanam | prayāgaṁ tīrtharājaṁ ca prahṛṣṭaṁ kṣetradarśanāt || 28 ||

He set the sacred fords in front and placed in the middle the beautiful Prayaga, king of tirthas, who was overjoyed at the sight of that field.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.478.29)

ततः पश्चात्सरित्स्नानं चकार ऋषिसत्तमः । जाह्नवी गौतमी रेवा यमुनाप्राक्सरस्वती ॥ २९ ॥

tataḥ paścātsaritsnānaṁ cakāra ṛṣisattamaḥ | jāhnavī gautamī revā yamunāprāksarasvatī || 29 ||

Thereafter that foremost sage bathed in the river, and the Ganga, Gautami, Reva (Narmada), Yamuna and Prachi-Sarasvati,

Verse 30 (skanda.7.478.30)

सरयूर्गंडकी तापी पयोष्णी यमुना तथा । कृष्णा भीमरथी गंगा कावेरी चाघनाशिनी ॥ ३० ॥

sarayūrgaṁḍakī tāpī payoṣṇī yamunā tathā | kṛṣṇā bhīmarathī gaṅgā kāverī cāghanāśinī || 30 ||

The Sarayu, Gandaki, Tapi, Payoshni, Yamuna, Krishna, Bhimarathi, Ganga, and the sin-destroying Kaveri -

Verse 31 (skanda.7.478.31)

मंदाकिनी महापुण्या पुण्या भोगवती नदी । व्रजंति युगपत्सर्वाः पश्यंत्यो द्वारकां पुरीम् ॥ ३१ ॥

maṁdākinī mahāpuṇyā puṇyā bhogavatī nadī | vrajaṁti yugapatsarvāḥ paśyantyo dvārakāṁ purīm || 31 ||

The greatly sacred Mandakini, and the sacred river Bhogavati — all of these together moved on, beholding the city of Dvaraka.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.478.32)

ततस्ते सागराः सप्त स्वैःस्वैस्तीर्थैः समन्विताः । ततः पश्चादरण्यान्याश्रमैः पुण्यैयुतानि च ॥ ३२ ॥

tataste sāgarāḥ sapta svaiḥsvaistīrthaiḥ samanvitāḥ | tataḥ paścādaraṇyānyāśramaiḥ puṇyairyutāni ca || 32 ||

Then followed the seven oceans, each accompanied by its own sacred fords, and after them the forests together with their sacred hermitages,

Verse 33 (skanda.7.478.33)

ततस्तु पर्वता रम्या मेर्वाद्यास्तु सुशोभनाः । नृत्यंतो गायमानाश्च स्तवाद्यैस्तु महर्षिभिः ॥ ३३ ॥

tatastu parvatā ramyā mervādyāstu suśobhanāḥ | nṛtyanto gāyamānāśca stavādyaistu maharṣibhiḥ || 33 ||

Then came the delightful and beautiful mountains, headed by Meru, dancing and singing along with the hymns of the great sages.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.478.34)

ततश्च ऋषयो देवाः समंताद्धृष्टमानसाः । गायंतो नृत्यमानाश्च गर्जंतो हरिनामभिः ॥ ३४ ॥

tataśca ṛṣayo devāḥ samaṁtāddhṛṣṭamānasāḥ | gāyanto nṛtyamānāśca garjanto harināmabhiḥ || 34 ||

Then the sages and gods, joyful in mind on every side, advanced singing, dancing and roaring with the names of Hari.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.478.35)

वादित्रनिनदैरुच्चैर्जयशब्दैः प्रहर्षिताः । प्राप्तास्ते गोमतीतीरं सर्वयज्ञसमन्विताः । ववंदिरे महापुण्याः सर्वे ते हृष्टमानसाः ॥ ३५ ॥

vāditraninadairuccairjayaśabdaiḥ praharṣitāḥ | prāptāste gomatītīraṁ sarvayajñasamanvitāḥ | avaṁdire mahāpuṇyāḥ sarve te hṛṣṭamānasāḥ || 35 ||

Rejoicing at the loud sounds of instruments and shouts of victory, they, together with all the sacrifices, reached the bank of the Gomati. All those greatly meritorious ones, joyful in mind, bowed in worship there.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.478.36)

श्रीनारद उवाच । हे भागीरथि हे रेवे यमुने शृणु गौतमि । श्रेष्ठा श्रीगोमतीदेवी विख्याता भुवनत्रये ॥ ३६ ॥

śrīnārada uvāca | he bhāgīrathi he reve yamune śṛṇu gautami | śreṣṭhā śrīgomatīdevī vikhyātā bhuvanatraye || 36 ||

Shri Narada said: O Bhagirathi, O Reva, O Yamuna, listen O Gautami — the goddess Shri Gomati is supreme and renowned in the three worlds.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.478.37)

यस्याः सकृज्जलस्नानं स्पर्द्धते ब्रह्मविद्यया । तेन वै गोमती सेयं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमा । ब्रह्मज्ञानेन मुच्यंते प्रयागमरणेन वा । स्नानमात्रेण गोमत्यां मुच्यते पूर्वजैः सह ॥ ३७ ॥

yasyāḥ sakṛjjalasnānaṁ spardhate brahmavidyayā | tena vai gomatī seyaṁ sarvatīrthottamottamā | brahmajñānena mucyaṁte prayāgamaraṇena vā | snānamātreṇa gomatyāṁ mucyate pūrvajaiḥ saha || 37 ||

A single bathing in whose waters rivals the merit of the knowledge of Brahman — for that reason this Gomati is the very best among all sacred fords. Through knowledge of Brahman, or through death at Prayaga, one is liberated; but by mere bathing in the Gomati, one is freed together with one's ancestors.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.478.38)

प्रह्लाद उवाच । निशम्य तानि तीर्थानि माहात्म्यं महदद्भुतम् । गोमत्याः श्रद्धया स्नात्वा उत्सवैरग्रतो ययुः ॥ ३८ ॥

prahlāda uvāca | niśamya tāni tīrthāni māhātmyaṁ mahadadbhutam | gomatyāḥ śraddhayā snātvā utsavairagrato yayuḥ || 38 ||

Prahlada said: Having heard that great and wondrous glory of the Gomati, those sacred fords bathed in it with devotion and proceeded ahead amid festivity.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.478.39)

ततः क्षेत्राणि तीर्थानि सरितः सागरादयः । ददृशुर्द्वारकां रम्यामागता द्वारमण्डपे ॥ ३९ ॥

tataḥ kṣetrāṇi tīrthāni saritaḥ sāgarādayaḥ | dadṛśurdvārakāṁ ramyāmāgatā dvāramaṇḍape || 39 ||

Then the fields, sacred fords, rivers and oceans, arriving at the entrance pavilion, beheld the delightful city of Dvaraka.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.478.40)

स्थितां सिंहासने दिव्ये मणिकांचनभूषिते । सुन्दरां शुक्ल वर्णां च रुद्रादित्यसमप्रभाम् ॥ ४० ॥

sthitāṁ siṁhāsane divye maṇikāṁcanabhūṣite | sundarāṁ śukla varṇāṁ ca rudrādityasamaprabhām || 40 ||

They beheld her seated upon a divine throne adorned with jewels and gold, beautiful, of a fair hue, and radiant as the Rudras and the Adityas.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.478.41)

दिव्यवस्त्रां सुगंधाढ्यां रत्नाभरणभूषिताम् । किरीटकुण्डलैर्दिव्यैः शोभितां कंकणादिभिः ॥ ४१ ॥

divyavastrāṁ sugaṁdhāḍhyāṁ ratnābharaṇabhūṣitām | kirīṭakuṇḍalairdivyaiḥ śobhitāṁ kaṁkaṇādibhiḥ || 41 ||

Clad in divine garments, richly fragrant, adorned with jeweled ornaments, and resplendent with divine crown, earrings, bracelets and the like.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.478.42)

वरदाभयहस्तां च शंखचक्रगदायुधाम् । श्वेतातपत्रशोभाढ्यां चामरव्यजनादिभिः ॥ ४२ ॥

varadābhayahastāṁ ca śaṁkhacakragadāyudhām | śvetātapatraśobhāḍhyāṁ cāmaravyajanādibhiḥ || 42 ||

Her hands showing the gestures of boon-granting and protection, bearing the weapons of conch, discus and mace, adorned with the splendor of a white parasol, and attended with whisks and fans.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.478.43)

संस्तवैः स्तूयमानां च गीतवाद्यादिहर्षिताम् । महासिंहासनस्थां तु दृष्ट्वा द्वारवतीं पुरीम् । प्रणेमुर्युगपत्सर्वे सर्वाणि च सुभक्तितः ॥ ४३ ॥

saṁstavaiḥ stūyamānāṁ ca gītavādyādiharṣitām | mahāsiṁhāsanasthāṁ tu dṛṣṭvā dvāravatīṁ purīm | praṇemuryugapatsarve sarvāṇi ca subhaktitaḥ || 43 ||

Beholding the city of Dvaravati seated upon the great throne, being praised with hymns, and delighted with song and music, all of them together bowed down with the deepest devotion.