The Glory of Bathing, Charity and Shraddha at Chakra-tirtha in Kartika

Verse 1 (skanda.7.487.1)

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच । स्वनामांकित पत्रैस्तु श्रीपतिं योऽर्चयेत वै । सप्तलोकाननुप्राप्य सप्तद्वीपाधिपो भवेत् ॥ १ ॥

śrīprahlāda uvāca | svanāmāṁkitapatraistu śrīpatiṁ yo'rcayeta vai | saptalokānanuprāpya saptadvīpādhipo bhavet || 1 ||

Shri Prahlada said: Whoever worships the Lord of Shri with leaves bearing His own names attains all seven worlds and becomes the lord of the seven continents.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.487.2)

माकान्तवृक्षपत्रैस्तु योऽर्चयेत सदा हरिम् । पुण्यं भवति तस्येह वाजिमेधायुतं कलौ ॥ २ ॥

mākāntavṛkṣapatraistu yo'rcayeta sadā harim | puṇyaṁ bhavati tasyeha vājimedhāyutaṁ kalau || 2 ||

Whoever always worships Hari with leaves of the Bakula tree obtains, in this life in the Kali age, the merit of ten thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.487.3)

लक्ष्मीं सरस्वतीं देवीं सावित्रीं चंडिकां तथा । पूजयित्वा दिवं याति पत्रैः श्रीवृक्षसंभवैः ॥ ३ ॥

lakṣmīṁ sarasvatīṁ devīṁ sāvitrīṁ caṁḍikāṁ tathā | pūjayitvā divaṁ yāti patraiḥ śrīvṛkṣasaṁbhavaiḥ || 3 ||

Worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess Sarasvati, Savitri, and Chandika with leaves sprung from the Shri tree, a man goes to heaven.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.487.4)

तुलस्या अधिकं प्रोक्तं दलं श्रीवृक्षसंभवम् । तस्मान्नित्यं प्रयत्नेन पूजनीयः सदाऽच्युतः ॥ ४ ॥

tulasyā adhikaṁ proktaṁ dalaṁ śrīvṛkṣasaṁbhavam | tasmānnityaṁ prayatnena pūjanīyaḥ sadā'cyutaḥ || 4 ||

The Tulasi leaf is declared to be even greater than the leaf sprung from the Shri tree. Therefore the imperishable Lord should ever be worshipped daily with diligence.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.487.5)

द्वादश्यां रविवारेण श्रीवृक्षमर्चयन्ति ये । ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्न लिप्यंते कृतैरपि ॥ ५ ॥

dvādaśyāṁ ravivāreṇa śrīvṛkṣamarcayanti ye | brahmahatyādikaiḥ pāpairna lipyaṁte kṛtairapi || 5 ||

Those who worship the Shri tree on a Dvadashi falling on a Sunday are not tainted by sins such as the killing of a brahmin, even if committed.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.487.6)

यथा करिपदेऽन्यानि प्रविशंति पदानि च । तथा सर्वाणि पुण्यानि प्रविष्टानि हरेर्दिने ॥ ६ ॥

yathā karipade'nyāni praviśaṁti padāni ca | tathā sarvāṇi puṇyāni praviṣṭāni hareirdine || 6 ||

As all other footprints merge into the footprint of an elephant, so all merits merge into Hari's day.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.487.7)

अध्रुवेणैव देहेन प्रतिक्षणविनाशिना । कथं नोपासते जंतुर्द्वादशीं जागरान्विताम् ॥ ७ ॥

adhruveṇaiva dehena pratikṣaṇavināśinā | kathaṁ nopāsate jaṁturdvādaśīṁ jāgarānvitām || 7 ||

With this impermanent body, perishing every moment, why does a creature not worship the Dvadashi together with its vigil?

Verse 8 (skanda.7.487.8)

अतीतान्पुरुषान्सप्त भविष्यांश्च चतुर्द्दश । नरकात्तारयेत्सर्वाँल्लोकान्कृष्णेति कीर्तनात् । न ते जीवंति लोकेऽस्मिन्यत्रतत्र स्थिता नराः ॥ ८ ॥

atītānpuruṣānsapta bhaviṣyāṁśca caturddaśa | narakāttārayetsarvāḻlokānkṛṣṇeti kīrtanāt | na te jīvaṁti loke'sminyatratatra sthitā narāḥ || 8 ||

Chanting "Krishna" delivers seven generations past and fourteen generations to come from hell, across all worlds. Men who dwell here and there without this — they do not truly live in this world.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.487.9)

द्वारकायां च संप्राप्तास्त्रिषु लोकेषु वंदिताः । द्वारकायां प्रकुर्वंति यतीनां भोजनं स्थितिम् । ग्रासेग्रासे मखशतं ते लभंते फलं नराः ॥ ९ ॥

dvārakāyāṁ ca saṁprāptāstriṣu lokeṣu vaṁditāḥ | dvārakāyāṁ prakurvaṁti yatīnāṁ bhojanaṁ sthitim | grāsegrāse makhaśataṁ te labhaṁte phalaṁ narāḥ || 9 ||

Men who have reached Dvaraka, revered in the three worlds, provide food and lodging to ascetics in Dvaraka — those men obtain, with every mouthful, the fruit of a hundred sacrifices.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.487.10)

यतीनां ये प्रयच्छंति कौपीनाच्छादनादिकम् । वसतां द्वारकामध्ये यथाशक्त्या तु भोजनम् । शृणु पुण्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि समासेन हि दैत्यज ॥ १० ॥

yatīnāṁ ye prayacchaṁti kaupīnācchādanādikam | vasatāṁ dvārakāmadhye yathāśaktyā tu bhojanam | śṛṇu puṇyaṁ pravakṣyāmi samāsena hi daityaja || 10 ||

Those who give loincloth-garments and the like to ascetics, and, according to their means, food to the ascetics dwelling in Dvaraka — O son of demons, hear their merit; I shall tell it in brief.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.487.11)

कोटिभिर्वेदविद्वद्भिर्गयायां पितृवत्सलैः । भोजितैर्यत्समाप्नोति तत्फलं दैत्यनायक ॥ ११ ॥

koṭibhirvedavidvadbhirgayāyāṁ pitṛvatsalaiḥ | bhojitairyatsamāpnoti tatphalaṁ daityanāyaka || 11 ||

O lord of the demons, the fruit obtained from feeding crores of brahmins learned in the Vedas, devoted to their ancestors, at Gaya,

Verse 12 (skanda.7.487.12)

एकस्मिन्भोजिते पौत्र भिक्षुके फलमीदृशम् । दातव्यं भिक्षुके चान्नं कुर्य्याद्वै चात्मविक्रयम् ॥ १२ ॥

ekasminbhojite pautra bhikṣuke phalamīdṛśam | dātavyaṁ bhikṣuke cānnaṁ kuryādvai cātmavikrayam || 12 ||

O grandson, this same fruit is obtained by feeding but a single mendicant. Food must be given to the beggar, even if it means selling oneself.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.487.13)

धन्यास्ते यतयः सर्वे ये वसंति कलौ युगे । कृष्णमाश्रित्य दैत्येन्द्र द्वारकायां दिनेदिने ॥ १३ ॥

dhanyāste yatayaḥ sarve ye vasaṁti kalau yuge | kṛṣṇamāśritya daityendra dvārakāyāṁ dinedine || 13 ||

O lord of the demons, blessed are all those ascetics who, in the Kali age, taking refuge in Krishna, dwell in Dvaraka day after day.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.487.14)

प्राणिनो ये मृताः केचिद्द्वारकां कृष्णसन्निधौ । पापिनस्तत्पदं यांति भित्त्वा सूर्यस्य मंडलम् ॥ १४ ॥

prāṇino ye mṛtāḥ kecid dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇasannidhau | pāpinastatpadaṁ yāṁti bhittvā sūryasya maṇḍalam || 14 ||

Whatever creatures die in Dvaraka, in the presence of Krishna — even sinners attain that supreme abode, piercing through the orb of the sun.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.487.15)

द्वारकाचक्रतीर्थे ये निवसंति नरोत्तमाः । तेषां निवारिताः सर्वे यमेन यमकिंकराः ॥ १५ ॥

dvārakācakratīrthe ye nivasaṁti narottamāḥ | teṣāṁ nivāritāḥ sarve yamena yamakiṁkarāḥ || 15 ||

For those excellent men who dwell at Chakra-tirtha in Dvaraka, Yama himself restrains all his servants.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.487.16)

स्नात्वा पश्यंति गोमत्यां कृष्णं कलिमलापहम् । न तेषां विषये यूयं न चास्मद्विषये तु ते ॥ १६ ॥

snātvā paśyaṁti gomatyāṁ kṛṣṇaṁ kalimalāpaham | na teṣāṁ viṣaye yūyaṁ na cāsmadviṣaye tu te || 16 ||

Those who, having bathed in the Gomati, behold Krishna, the remover of the impurity of the Kali age — they are neither within your jurisdiction nor within ours.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.487.17)

अपि कीटः पतंगो वा वृक्षा वा ये तदाश्रिताः । यांति ते कृष्णसदनं संसारे न पुनर्हिं ते ॥ १७ ॥

api kīṭaḥ pataṁgo vā vṛkṣā vā ye tadāśritāḥ | yāṁti te kṛṣṇasadanaṁ saṁsāre na punarhiṁ te || 17 ||

Even insects, moths, or trees that take refuge there go to the abode of Krishna and do not return again to this worldly existence.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.487.18)

किं पुनर्द्विजवर्य्याश्च क्षत्रियाश्च विशेषतः । त्रिवर्णपूजासंयुक्ताः शूद्रास्तत्र निवासिनः ॥ १८ ॥

kiṁ punardvijavaryāśca kṣatriyāśca viśeṣataḥ | trivarṇapūjāsaṁyuktāḥ śūdrāstatra nivāsinaḥ || 18 ||

What then need be said of excellent brahmins and, especially, kshatriyas! Even shudras honored by the three varnas, dwelling there, attain the same.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.487.19)

गीतां पठंति कृष्णाग्रे कार्तिकं सकलं द्विजाः । एकभक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च ॥ १९ ॥

gītāṁ paṭhaṁti kṛṣṇāgre kārtikaṁ sakalaṁ dvijāḥ | ekabhaktena naktena tathaivāyācitena ca || 19 ||

Brahmins recite the Gita before Krishna throughout the whole month of Kartika, observing vows through a single meal a day, a night meal, and unsolicited food,

Verse 20 (skanda.7.487.20)

त्रिरात्रेणापि कृच्छ्रेण तथा चान्द्रायणेन च । यावकैस्तप्तकृच्छ्राद्यैः पक्षमासमुपोषणैः ॥ २० ॥

trirātreṇāpi kṛcchreṇa tathā cāndrāyaṇena ca | yāvakaistaptakṛcchrādyaiḥ pakṣamāsamupoṣaṇaiḥ || 20 ||

Through a three-night fast, through the Krichchhra vow, through the Chandrayana vow, through barley-gruel, through Taptakrichchhra and the like, and through fasts lasting a fortnight or a month,

Verse 21 (skanda.7.487.21)

क्षपयंति च ये मासं कार्तिकं व्रतचारिणः । स्नात्वा वै गोमतीनीरे तथा वै रुक्मिणीह्रदे ॥ २१ ॥

kṣapayaṁti ca ye māsaṁ kārtikaṁ vratacāriṇaḥ | snātvā vai gomatīnīre tathā vai rukmiṇīhrade || 21 ||

Those observers of the vow who pass the month of Kartika thus, bathing in the waters of the Gomati and in the pool of Rukmini,

Verse 22 (skanda.7.487.22)

शंखचक्रगदा हस्ताः कृष्णरूपा भवंति ते । उपोष्यैकादशीं शुद्धां दशमीसंगवर्जिताम् ॥ २२ ॥

śaṁkhacakragadāhastāḥ kṛṣṇarūpā bhavaṁti te | upoṣyaikādaśīṁ śuddhāṁ daśamīsaṁgavarjitām || 22 ||

They become of the very form of Krishna, bearing the conch, discus and mace in their hands. Having fasted on a pure Ekadashi free from contact with the Dashami,

Verse 23 (skanda.7.487.23)

श्राद्धं कुर्वंति द्वादश्यां चक्रतीर्थे च निर्मले । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा च मधुपायससर्पिषा ॥ २३ ॥

śrāddhaṁ kurvaṁti dvādaśyāṁ cakratīrthe ca nirmale | brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā ca madhupāyasasarpiṣā || 23 ||

They perform the ancestral rite on the Dvadashi at the pure Chakra-tirtha, feeding the brahmins with honey, rice-pudding and ghee,

Verse 24 (skanda.7.487.24)

संतर्प्य विधिवद्भक्त्या शक्त्या दत्त्वा तु दक्षिणाम् । गोभूहिरण्यवासांसि तांबूलं च फलानि च ॥ २४ ॥

saṁtarpya vidhivadbhaktyā śaktyā dattvā tu dakṣiṇām | gobhūhiraṇyavāsāṁsi tāṁbūlaṁ ca phalāni ca || 24 ||

Duly satisfying them with devotion, and giving according to their means fees — cows, land, gold, garments, betel, and fruits,

Verse 25 (skanda.7.487.25)

उपानहौ च्छत्रसुमं जलपूर्णा घटास्तथा । पक्वान्नसंयुताः शुभ्राः सफला दक्षिणान्विताः ॥ २५ ॥

upānahau cchatrasumaṁ jalapūrṇā ghaṭāstathā | pakvānnasaṁyutāḥ śubhrāḥ saphalā dakṣiṇānvitāḥ || 25 ||

Sandals, a parasol, flowers, and pure water-filled pots, together with cooked food, fruits, and sacrificial fees.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.487.26)

एवं यः कुरुते सम्यक्कृष्णमुद्दिश्य कार्तिके । मार्कंडेय समा प्रीतिः पितॄणां जायते ध्रुवम् ॥ २६ ॥

evaṁ yaḥ kurute samyakkṛṣṇamuddiśya kārtike | mārkaṁḍeyasamā prītiḥ pitṝṇāṁ jāyate dhruvam || 26 ||

Whoever thus properly performs all this in the month of Kartika, dedicated to Krishna, certainly grants his ancestors satisfaction equal to that of Markandeya.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.487.27)

कृष्णस्य त्रिदशैः सार्द्धं तुष्टिर्भवति चाक्षया ॥ २७ ॥

kṛṣṇasya tridaśaiḥ sārddhaṁ tuṣṭirbhavati cākṣayā || 27 ||

And imperishable satisfaction is bestowed upon Krishna, together with the gods.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.487.28)

ये कार्तिके पुण्यतमा मनुष्यास्तिष्ठंति मासं व्रतदानयुक्ताः । रथांगतीर्थे कृतपूतगात्रास्ते यांति पुण्यं पदमव्ययं च ॥ २८ ॥

ye kārtike puṇyatamā manuṣyāstiṣṭhaṁti māsaṁ vratadānayuktāḥ | rathāṁgatīrthe kṛtapūtagātrāste yāṁti puṇyaṁ padamavyayaṁ ca || 28 ||

Those most meritorious men who remain for a month in Kartika, engaged in vows and gifts, purifying their bodies at Rathanga-tirtha (Chakra-tirtha), attain the sacred, imperishable abode.