The Dwelling of All Tirthas and Kshetras in Dvaraka

Verse 1 (skanda.7.480.1)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच । श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मेशानौ यदुक्तं विष्णुपार्षदैः । द्वारकायास्तु माहात्म्यं तद्वर्णयितुमूचतुः ॥ १ ॥

śrīprahlāda uvāca | śrutvā brahmeśānau yaduktaṁ viṣṇupārṣadaiḥ | dvārakāyāstu māhātmyaṁ tadvarṇayitumūcatuḥ || 1 ||

Shri Prahlada said: Having heard what had been spoken by the attendants of Vishnu, Brahma and Ishana began to describe the greatness of Dvaraka.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.480.2)

श्रीब्रह्मेशानावूचतुः । भोभोः क्षेत्राणि तीर्थानि सरांसि सागरादयः । प्रयागादीनि तीर्थानि काश्याद्या मुक्तिदायकाः ॥ २ ॥

śrībrahmeśānāvūcatuḥ | bhobhoḥ kṣetrāṇi tīrthāni sarāṁsi sāgarādayaḥ | prayāgādīni tīrthāni kāśyādyā muktidāyakāḥ || 2 ||

Shri Brahma and Ishana said: O fields, O sacred fords, O lakes and oceans, O Prayaga and the other sacred fords, O Kashi and the other liberation-granting places!

Verse 3 (skanda.7.480.3)

भवतां तीर्थराजानां महाराजस्त्वियं शुभा । द्वारका सेवनीया वै स्थीयतां स्वेच्छया बहिः ॥ ३ ॥

bhavatāṁ tīrtharājānāṁ mahārājastviyaṁ śubhā | dvārakā sevanīyā vai sthīyatāṁ svecchayā bahiḥ || 3 ||

This auspicious Dvaraka is the sovereign queen of you all, the kings of sacred fords; she ought to be served — or else you may remain outside according to your own wish.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.480.4)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच । महेशवचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वेषामुत्सवोऽभवत् । प्रदक्षिणां ततः कृत्वा द्वारकां प्रणिपत्य च । आवासं चक्रिरे तत्र क्षेत्रतीर्थानि हर्षतः ॥ ४ ॥

śrīprahlāda uvāca | maheśavacanaṁ śrutvā sarveṣāmutsavo'bhavat | pradakṣiṇāṁ tataḥ kṛtvā dvārakāṁ praṇipatya ca | āvāsaṁ cakrire tatra kṣetratīrthāni harṣataḥ || 4 ||

Shri Prahlada said: Hearing this word of Mahesha, all rejoiced in festivity. Then, having circumambulated and bowed to Dvaraka, the fields and sacred fords joyfully made their dwelling there.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.480.5)

भागीरथी प्रयागं च यमुना च सरस्वती । सरयूगंडकी पुण्या गोमती पूर्ववाहिनी ॥ ५ ॥

bhāgīrathī prayāgaṁ ca yamunā ca sarasvatī | sarayūgaṁḍakī puṇyā gomatī pūrvavāhinī || 5 ||

The Bhagirathi, Prayaga, the Yamuna, Sarasvati, the Sarayu, the Gandaki, and the sacred eastward-flowing Gomati,

Verse 6 (skanda.7.480.6)

अन्याश्च सरितः सर्वाः सिन्धुशोणौ नदौ तथा । पंचाशत्कोटिभिस्तीर्थैर्दिग्भागे ह्युत्तरे स्थिताः । लंपटाः कृष्णसेवायां पश्यतो द्वारकां मुहुः ॥ ६ ॥

anyāśca saritaḥ sarvāḥ sindhuśoṇau nadau tathā | paṁcāśatkoṭibhistīrthairdigbhāge hyuttare sthitāḥ | laṁpatāḥ kṛṣṇasevāyāṁ paśyato dvārakāṁ muhuḥ || 6 ||

And all the other rivers, the Sindhu and Shona streams — these, situated in the northern direction together with fifty crore sacred fords, devoted to the service of Krishna, gaze again and again upon Dvaraka.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.480.7)

मन्दाकिनी तथा पुण्या नदी भागीरथी च या । महानदी नर्मदा च शिप्रा प्राची सरस्वती ॥ ७ ॥

maṁdākinī tathā puṇyā nadī bhāgīrathī ca yā | mahānadī narmadā ca śiprā prācī sarasvatī || 7 ||

And the sacred river Mandakini, the Bhagirathi, the Mahanadi, the Narmada, the Shipra, and the Prachi-Sarasvati,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.480.8)

चक्षुर्भद्रा तथा सीता नद्योऽन्याः पापनाशिनी । वर्तंते पूर्वदिग्भागे तीर्थैश्च षष्टिकोटिभिः ॥ ८ ॥

cakṣurbhadrā tathā sītā nadyo'nyāḥ pāpanāśinī | vartaṁte pūrvadigbhāge tīrthaiśca ṣaṣṭikoṭibhiḥ || 8 ||

The Chakshu, Bhadra, Sita and other sin-destroying rivers dwell in the eastern direction, together with sixty crore sacred fords.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.480.9)

पयोष्णी तपती पुण्या विदर्भा च पयस्विनी । गोदावरी महापुण्या भीमा कृष्णानदी तथा ॥ ९ ॥

payoṣṇī tapatī puṇyā vidarbhā ca payasvinī | godāvarī mahāpuṇyā bhīmā kṛṣṇānadī tathā || 9 ||

The Payoshni, Tapati, the sacred Vidarbha, the Payasvini, the greatly sacred Godavari, the Bhima, and the river Krishna,

Verse 10 (skanda.7.480.10)

कावेरीप्रमुखाः पुण्या अन्यैश्चैवाघनाशिनीः । स्वतीर्थसहिता भक्त्या नवनवतिकोटिभिः ॥ १० ॥

kāverīpramukhāḥ puṇyā anyaiścaivāghanāśinīḥ | svatīrthasahitā bhaktyā navanavatikoṭibhiḥ || 10 ||

The sacred rivers headed by the Kaveri, and other sin-destroying ones, together with their own sacred fords, ninety-nine crore in number, with devotion,

Verse 11 (skanda.7.480.11)

स्थिता दक्षिणदिग्भागे द्वारकासेवनोत्सुकाः । क्रीडंति गोमतीनीरे तीरे च कृष्णसन्निधौ ॥ ११ ॥

sthitā dakṣiṇadigbhāge dvārakāsevanotsukāḥ | krīḍaṁti gomatīnīre tīre ca kṛṣṇasannidhau || 11 ||

Dwelling in the southern direction, eager for the service of Dvaraka, they sport in the waters of the Gomati and on the bank in the presence of Krishna.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.480.12)

सप्तद्वीपेषु याः संति तथाऽन्या वै सरिद्वराः । सागराश्च तथा सप्त पश्चिमायां दिशि स्थिताः ॥ १२ ॥

saptadvīpeṣu yāḥ saṁti tathā'nyā vai saridvarāḥ | sāgarāśca tathā sapta paścimāyāṁ diśi sthitāḥ || 12 ||

The other excellent rivers found in the seven continents, and the seven oceans as well, are situated in the western direction.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.480.13)

क्रीडंति चक्रतीर्थे वै तीर्थैश्च शतकोटिभिः । पश्यंति च मुहुः कृष्णं पश्चिमाभिमुखं सदा ॥ १३ ॥

krīḍaṁti cakratīrthe vai tīrthaiśca śatakoṭibhiḥ | paśyaṁti ca muhuḥ kṛṣṇaṁ paścimābhimukhaṁ sadā || 13 ||

They sport in Chakra-tirtha together with a hundred crore sacred fords, and ever gaze again and again upon Krishna, who faces west.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.480.14)

विदिशासु च सर्वासु तीर्थसंख्या न विद्यते । पुष्करादीनि तीर्थानि विशाला विरजा गया ॥ १४ ॥

vidiśāsu ca sarvāsu tīrthasaṁkhyā na vidyate | puṣkarādīni tīrthāni viśālā virajā gayā || 14 ||

In all the intermediate directions the number of sacred fords is uncountable — Pushkara and the other tirthas, Vishala, Viraja, and Gaya,

Verse 15 (skanda.7.480.15)

शतैककोटिभिस्तीर्थैर्गोमत्युदधिसंगमे । वर्त्तंते कृष्णसेवायां सोत्सवानि द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ १५ ॥

śataikakoṭibhistīrthairgomatyudadhisaṁgame | varttaṁte kṛṣṇasevāyāṁ sotsavāni dvijottamāḥ || 15 ||

O best of brahmins, together with one hundred and one crore sacred fords, at the confluence of the Gomati and the ocean, they remain, amid festivity, in the service of Krishna.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.480.16)

वाराणसी पूरैशान्यामवन्ती पूर्वदिक्स्थिता । आग्नेय्यां दिशि कांती च दक्षिणे मथुरा स्थिता ॥ १६ ॥

vārāṇasī pūraiśānyāmavantī pūrvadiksthitā | āgneyyāṁ diśi kāntī ca dakṣiṇe mathurā sthitā || 16 ||

Varanasi lies fully in the northeast direction, Avanti is situated in the east, Kanti (Kanchi) in the southeast, and Mathura is situated in the south.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.480.17)

नैर्ऋत्यां च तथा माया अयोध्या पश्चिमे स्थिताः । वायव्यां तु कुरुक्षेत्रं हरिक्षेत्रं तथोत्तरे ॥ १७ ॥

nairṛtyāṁ ca tathā māyā ayodhyā paścime sthitāḥ | vāyavyāṁ tu kurukṣetraṁ harikṣetraṁ tathottare || 17 ||

In the southwest lies Maya, and Ayodhya is situated in the west. In the northwest is Kurukshetra, and in the north, Harikshetra.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.480.18)

शिवक्षेत्रं च ऐशान्यामैंद्र्यां च पुरुषोत्तमः । आग्नेय्यां च भृगुक्षेत्रं प्रभासं दक्षिणाश्रितम् ॥ १८ ॥

śivakṣetraṁ ca aiśānyāmaiṁdryāṁ ca puruṣottamaḥ | āgneyyāṁ ca bhṛgukṣetraṁ prabhāsaṁ dakṣiṇāśritam || 18 ||

Shivakshetra is in the northeast, the field of Purushottama is in the direction of Indra (east), Bhrigukshetra is in the southeast, and Prabhasa is situated in the south.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.480.19)

श्रीरंगं नैर्ऋते भागे लोहदंडं तु पश्चिमे । नारसिंहानि वायव्ये कोकामुख्यं तथोत्तरे ॥ १९ ॥

śrīraṁgaṁ nairṛte bhāge lohadaṁḍaṁ tu paścime | nārasiṁhāni vāyavye kokāmukhyaṁ tathottare || 19 ||

Shriranga is in the southwest region, Lohadanda in the west, the Narasimha sites in the northwest, and Kokamukhya in the north.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.480.20)

कामाख्या रेणुकादीनि शाक्तेयानि च सर्वशः । क्षेत्रराजानि सर्वाणि यथास्थाने वसंति हि ॥ २० ॥

kāmākhyā reṇukādīni śākteyāni ca sarvaśaḥ | kṣetrarājāni sarvāṇi yathāsthāne vasaṁti hi || 20 ||

Kamakhya, Renuka and all the other Shakta sites — thus all the royal fields dwell each in its own place.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.480.21)

उत्तरे चैव सौराणि गाणपत्यानि कृत्स्नशः । क्षेत्राण्युत्तरतः संति रुक्मिण्याः सन्निधौ द्विजाः ॥ २१ ॥

uttare caiva saurāṇi gāṇapatyāni kṛtsnaśaḥ | kṣetrāṇyuttarataḥ saṁti rukmiṇyāḥ sannidhau dvijāḥ || 21 ||

In the north are the Saura (solar) sites and all the Ganapatya sites entirely. O brahmins, these fields lie to the north, near Rukmini.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.480.22)

धेनुकं नैमिषारण्यं दंडकं सैंधवं तथा । दशारण्यमर्बुदं च नरनारायणाश्रमम् ॥ २२ ॥

dhenukaṁ naimiṣāraṇyaṁ daṁḍakaṁ saiṁdhavaṁ tathā | daśāraṇyamarbudaṁ ca naranārāyaṇāśramam || 22 ||

Dhenuka, Naimisharanya, Dandaka, Saindhava, Dasharanya, Arbuda, and the hermitage of Nara-Narayana,

Verse 23 (skanda.7.480.23)

यथादिशं वसंति स्म द्वारकायाः समन्ततः । मेर्वाद्याः पर्वताः सौम्ये द्वारकासेवनोत्सुकाः ॥ २३ ॥

yathādiśaṁ vasaṁti sma dvārakāyāḥ samaṁtataḥ | mervādyāḥ parvatāḥ saumye dvārakāsevanotsukāḥ || 23 ||

These dwell, each in its own direction, all around Dvaraka. In the northern (gentle) direction, the mountains headed by Meru are eager for the service of Dvaraka.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.480.24)

कैलासाद्याश्च ऐशान्यामैन्द्र्यां हिमवदादयः । श्रीशैलाद्याश्च आग्नेय्यां सिंहाद्र्याद्या यमे तथा ॥ २४ ॥

kailāsādyāśca aiśānyāmaindryāṁ himavadādayaḥ | śrīśailādyāśca āgneyyāṁ siṁhādryādyā yame tathā || 24 ||

Kailasa and the others are in the northeast, the Himalaya and the others in the direction of Indra (east), Shrishaila and the others in the southeast, and Simhadri and the others in the direction of Yama (south).

Verse 25 (skanda.7.480.25)

नैर्ऋत्यां वाममार्गाद्या महेन्द्रऋषभादयः । अन्ये च पुण्यशैलाश्च सलोकालोक मानसाः । द्वारकां परितः संति पर्य्युपासंति प्रत्यहम् ॥ २५ ॥

nairṛtyāṁ vāmamārgādyā mahendraṛṣabhādayaḥ | anye ca puṇyaśailāśca salokālokamānasāḥ | dvārakāṁ paritaḥ saṁti paryupāsaṁti pratyaham || 25 ||

In the southwest, Vamamarga and the others, and Mahendra, Rishabha and the rest, and other sacred mountains together with Lokaloka and Manasa — all these, situated around Dvaraka, worship her every day.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.480.26)

एवं ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयः सनकादयः । क्षेत्रतीर्थादिभिर्युक्ता अन्यैः पुण्यतमैस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥

evaṁ brahmādayo devā ṛṣayaḥ sanakādayaḥ | kṣetratīrthādibhiryuktā anyaiḥ puṇyatamaistathā || 26 ||

Thus Brahma and the other gods, the sages headed by Sanaka, together with the fields, sacred fords, and other most sacred ones,

Verse 27 (skanda.7.480.27)

श्रद्धया परया भक्त्या कन्याराशिस्थिते गुरौ । आयांति द्वारकां द्रष्टुं ब्राह्म्याद्याश्च प्रहर्षिताः ॥ २७ ॥

śraddhayā parayā bhaktyā kanyārāśisthite gurau | āyāṁti dvārakāṁ draṣṭuṁ brāhmyādyāśca praharṣitāḥ || 27 ||

With supreme faith and devotion, when Jupiter is situated in Virgo, Brahmi and the other goddesses too, rejoicing, come to behold Dvaraka.