The Fruits of Hearing the Glory of Dvaraka

Verse 1 (skanda.7.489.1)

प्रह्लाद उवाच । वृषोत्सर्गं करिष्यंति वैशाख्यां चैव कार्तिके । द्वारकायां पिशाचत्वं मुक्त्वा यांति पितामहाः ॥ १ ॥

prahlāda uvāca | vṛṣotsargaṁ kariṣyaṁti vaiśākhyāṁ caiva kārtike | dvārakāyāṁ piśācatvaṁ muktvā yāṁti pitāmahāḥ || 1 ||

Prahlada said: For those who perform the bull-releasing rite in Vaishakha or Kartika, their forefathers, freed from a ghostly state, attain a good destiny in Dvaraka.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.489.2)

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वंगनागमः । एवंविधानि पापानि कृत्वा चैव गुरूण्यपि ॥ २ ॥

brahmahatyā surāpānaṁ steyaṁ gurvaṁganāgamaḥ | evaṁvidhāni pāpāni kṛtvā caiva gurūṇyapi || 2 ||

The killing of a brahmin, drinking liquor, theft, violating the teacher's wife — even having committed such grave sins,

Verse 3 (skanda.7.489.3)

स्नानमात्रेण गोमत्यां श्रीकृष्णस्य च दर्शनात् । विलयं याति दैत्येन्द्र कल्पकोटिकृतान्यपि ॥ ३ ॥

snānamātreṇa gomatyāṁ śrīkṛṣṇasya ca darśanāt | vilayaṁ yāti daityendra kalpakoṭikṛtānyapi || 3 ||

O lord of the demons, merely by bathing in the Gomati and by the sight of Shri Krishna, even sins committed over crores of ages are dissolved.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.489.4)

रुक्मिणीं ये प्रपश्यंति भक्तियुक्ताः कलौ नराः । पुरीं प्रदक्षिणां कृत्वा जप्त्वा नामसहस्रकम् ॥ ४ ॥

rukmiṇīṁ ye prapaśyaṁti bhaktiyuktāḥ kalau narāḥ | purīṁ pradakṣiṇāṁ kṛtvā japtvā nāmasahasrakam || 4 ||

Those devoted men in the Kali age who behold Rukmini, and, circumambulating the city, chant the thousand names,

Verse 5 (skanda.7.489.5)

प्रदक्षिणीकृतं सर्वं ब्रह्मांडं नात्र संशयः । महादानैस्तु चान्यत्र यत्फलं परिकीर्तितम् । द्वारकायां तु रुक्मिण्यां दृष्टायां जायते तदा ॥ ५ ॥

pradakṣiṇīkṛtaṁ sarvaṁ brahmāṁḍaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ | mahādānaistu cānyatra yatphalaṁ parikīrtitam | dvārakāyāṁ tu rukmiṇyāṁ dṛṣṭāyāṁ jāyate tadā || 5 ||

They circumambulate, as it were, the entire universe, without doubt. Whatever fruit is declared elsewhere from great gifts, that same fruit arises then in Dvaraka merely upon beholding Rukmini.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.489.6)

द्वादशीवासरे प्राप्ते माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् । पठते संनिधौ विष्णोः शृणु वक्ष्यामि तत्फलम् ॥ ६ ॥

dvādaśīvāsare prāpte māhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam | paṭhate saṁnidhau viṣṇoḥ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi tatphalam || 6 ||

Hear the fruit — I shall tell it — of one who, when the day of the Dvadashi arrives, recites the glory of Dvaraka in the presence of Vishnu.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.489.7)

सर्वेषु चैव लोकेषु कामचारी विराजते । पद्मवर्णेन यानेन किंकिणीजालमालिना ॥ ७ ॥

sarveṣu caiva lokeṣu kāmacārī virājate | padmavarṇena yānena kiṁkiṇījālamālinā || 7 ||

He shines forth, moving at will through all the worlds, upon a lotus-hued chariot adorned with a network of tinkling bells,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.489.8)

दिव्यश्वेताश्वयुक्तेन कामगेन यथासुखम् । आभूतसंप्लवं यावत्क्रीडतेऽप्सरसां गणैः ॥ ८ ॥

divyaśvetāśvayuktena kāmagena yathāsukham | ābhūtasaṁplavaṁ yāvatkrīḍate'psarasāṁ gaṇaiḥ || 8 ||

Yoked with divine white horses, moving at will, according to his pleasure — he sports with hosts of celestial nymphs until the dissolution of creation.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.489.9)

कृतकृत्यश्च भवति कल्पकोटिसमन्वितः । यथा निर्मथनादग्निः सर्वकाष्ठेषु दृश्यते । तथा च दृश्यते धर्मो द्वादशीसेवनान्नरे ॥ ९ ॥

kṛtakṛtyaśca bhavati kalpakoṭisamanvitaḥ | yathā nirmathanādagniḥ sarvakāṣṭheṣu dṛśyate | tathā ca dṛśyate dharmo dvādaśīsevanānnare || 9 ||

He becomes fulfilled, remaining there for crores of ages. As fire, through churning, is seen present in all wood, so dharma is seen manifest in a man through the observance of Dvadashi.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.489.10)

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितृभिः परिकीर्तितम् । अपि स्यात्स कुलेऽस्माकं गोमत्यां श्रद्धया नरः । स्नात्वा संपूज्य कृष्णं च श्राद्धं कुर्यात्सपिण्डकम् ॥ १० ॥

ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi pitṛbhiḥ parikīrtitam | api syātsa kule'smākaṁ gomatyāṁ śraddhayā naraḥ | snātvā saṁpūjya kṛṣṇaṁ ca śrāddhaṁ kuryātsapiṇḍakam || 10 ||

Now I shall tell what has been declared by the ancestors: "Will there be, in our lineage, a man who, bathing in the Gomati with faith and worshipping Krishna, will perform the ancestral rite with rice-balls?"

Verse 11 (skanda.7.489.11)

अपि स्यात्स कुलेऽस्माकं गोमत्युदधिसंगमे । स्नात्वा पश्यति यः कृष्णमस्माकं तारणाय वै ॥ ११ ॥

api syātsa kule'smākaṁ gomatyudadhisaṁgame | snātvā paśyati yaḥ kṛṣṇamasmākaṁ tāraṇāya vai || 11 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, one who, bathing at the confluence of the Gomati and the ocean, will behold Krishna for our deliverance?"

Verse 12 (skanda.7.489.12)

अपिस्यात्स कुलऽस्माकं यः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणाननात् । द्वारकामाहात्म्यमिदं पूजयिष्यति भक्तितः ॥ १२ ॥

api syātsa kule'smākaṁ yaḥ śrutvā brāhmaṇānanāt | dvārakāmāhātmyamidaṁ pūjayiṣyati bhaktitaḥ || 12 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, one who, hearing this glory of Dvaraka from the mouth of a brahmin, will worship it with devotion?"

Verse 13 (skanda.7.489.13)

भविष्यति कुलेऽस्माकं यो गच्छेद्द्वारकां पुरीम् । संप्राप्य द्वादशीं शुद्धां यः करिष्यति जागरम् ॥ १३ ॥

bhaviṣyati kule'smākaṁ yo gaccheddvārakāṁ purīm | saṁprāpya dvādaśīṁ śuddhāṁ yaḥ kariṣyati jāgaram || 13 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, one who will go to the city of Dvaraka, and who, obtaining the pure Dvadashi, will keep vigil?"

Verse 14 (skanda.7.489.14)

भविष्यति कुलेऽस्माकं पुत्रो वा दुहिता तथा । स्तुवन्नामसहस्रं तु कृष्णस्याग्रे पठिष्यति ॥ १४ ॥

bhaviṣyati kule'smākaṁ putro vā duhitā tathā | stuvannāmasahasraṁ tu kṛṣṇasyāgre paṭhiṣyati || 14 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, a son or a daughter who, offering praise, will recite the thousand names before Krishna?"

Verse 15 (skanda.7.489.15)

अपि स्यात्स कुलेऽस्माकं भविष्यति धृतव्रतः । गोपीचन्दनदानेन यस्तोषयति वैष्णवान् ॥ १५ ॥

api syātsa kule'smākaṁ bhaviṣyati dhṛtavrataḥ | gopīcandanadānena yastoṣayati vaiṣṇavān || 15 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, an observer of the vow who will please the Vaishnavas through gifts of Gopichandana?"

Verse 16 (skanda.7.489.16)

अपि स्यात्स कुलेऽस्माकं वैष्णवानां तु सन्निधौ । द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यं पठिष्यति जितेन्द्रियः ॥ १६ ॥

api syātsa kule'smākaṁ vaiṣṇavānāṁ tu sannidhau | dvārakāyāśca māhātmyaṁ paṭhiṣyati jitendriyaḥ || 16 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, one of controlled senses who will recite the glory of Dvaraka in the presence of Vaishnavas?"

Verse 17 (skanda.7.489.17)

भविष्यति कुलेऽस्माकं माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् । लिखित्वा कृष्णतुष्ट्यर्थं स्वगृहे धारयिष्यति ॥ १७ ॥

bhaviṣyati kule'smākaṁ māhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam | likhitvā kṛṣṇatuṣṭyarthaṁ svagṛhe dhārayiṣyati || 17 ||

"Will there be, in our lineage, one who, for the pleasure of Krishna, will write out the glory of Dvaraka and keep it in his house?"

Verse 18 (skanda.7.489.18)

स्वर्णदानं च गोदानं भूमिदानं तथैव च । यावज्जीवं भवेद्दत्तं येनेदं धारितं कलौ ॥ १८ ॥

svarṇadānaṁ ca godānaṁ bhūmidānaṁ tathaiva ca | yāvajjīvaṁ bhaveddattaṁ yenedaṁ dhāritaṁ kalau || 18 ||

The gifts of gold, cows, and land given throughout one's life — such fruit is obtained, in the Kali age, by one who preserves this text.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.489.19)

तप्तकृच्छ्रं महाकृच्छ्रं मासोपोषणमेव च । यावज्जीवं कृतं तेन येनेदं श्रावितं कलौ ॥ १९ ॥

taptakṛcchraṁ mahākṛcchraṁ māsopoṣaṇameva ca | yāvajjīvaṁ kṛtaṁ tena yenedaṁ śrāvitaṁ kalau || 19 ||

Taptakrichchhra, Mahakrichchhra, and a month-long fast performed throughout life — these are deemed accomplished by one who causes this to be heard by others in the Kali age.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.489.20)

प्रायश्चित्तानि चीर्णानि पापानां नाशनाय । द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यं येन विस्तारितं कलौ ॥ २० ॥

prāyaścittāni cīrṇāni pāpānāṁ nāśanāya | dvārakāyāśca māhātmyaṁ yena vistāritaṁ kalau || 20 ||

All the expiations performed for the destruction of sins — these are deemed accomplished by whoever, in the Kali age, has propagated the glory of Dvaraka.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.489.21)

तावत्तिष्ठंति पुरुषे ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च । यावन्न लिखते जंतुर्माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् ॥ २१ ॥

tāvattiṣṭhaṁti puruṣe brahmahatyādikāni ca | yāvanna likhate jaṁturmāhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam || 21 ||

Sins such as the killing of a brahmin remain lodged in a man only so long as the creature has not transcribed the glory of Dvaraka.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.489.22)

दानैः सर्वैश्च किं तस्य सर्वतीर्थावगाहनैः । द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यं येनेदं लिखितं गृहे ॥ २२ ॥

dānaiḥ sarvaiśca kiṁ tasya sarvatīrthāvagāhanaiḥ | dvārakāyāśca māhātmyaṁ yenedaṁ likhitaṁ gṛhe || 22 ||

What use to him are all gifts and immersions in all sacred fords, who has written out this glory of Dvaraka in his house?

Verse 23 (skanda.7.489.23)

सर्व दुःखप्रशमनं सर्वकार्य्यप्रसाधनम् । चतुर्वर्गप्रदं नित्यं हरिभक्तिविवर्द्धनम् ॥ २३ ॥

sarvaduḥkhapraśamanaṁ sarvakāryaprasādhanam | caturvargapradaṁ nityaṁ haribhaktivivarddhanam || 23 ||

This pacifies all sorrows, accomplishes all undertakings, grants the four aims of life, and ever increases devotion to Hari.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.489.24)

न चाधिर्भवते नूनं याम्यं तस्य भयं नहि । माहात्म्यं पठते यत्र द्वारकायाः समुद्भवम् ॥ २४ ॥

na cādhirbhavate nūnaṁ yāmyaṁ tasya bhayaṁ nahi | māhātmyaṁ paṭhate yatra dvārakāyāḥ samudbhavam || 24 ||

Certainly no mental affliction arises for him, nor does he have any fear of Yama, who recites this glory born of Dvaraka.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.489.25)

लिखितं तिष्ठते यस्य गृहे तत्तीर्थमेव च । बलाच्छुणुष्व माहात्म्यं द्वारकायाः समुद्भवम् ॥ २५ ॥

likhitaṁ tiṣṭhate yasya gṛhe tattīrthameva ca | balācchruṇuṣva māhātmyaṁ dvārakāyāḥ samudbhavam || 25 ||

The house in which this stays written is itself a sacred ford. Listen with insistence to this glory born of Dvaraka.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.489.26)

विधि मन्त्रक्रियाहीनां पूजां गृह्णाति केशवः । माहात्म्यं तिष्ठते नित्यं लिखितं यस्य वेश्मनि । न तस्यागःसहस्रैस्तु कृतैर्लिप्यति मानवः ॥ २६ ॥

vidhi mantrakriyāhīnāṁ pūjāṁ gṛhṇāti keśavaḥ | māhātmyaṁ tiṣṭhate nityaṁ likhitaṁ yasya veśmani | na tasyāgaḥsahasraistu kṛtairlipyati mānavaḥ || 26 ||

Keshava accepts even worship devoid of ritual procedure and mantra, if this glory stays perpetually written in that person's house. Such a man is not tainted even by thousands of committed offenses.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.489.27)

यः पठेच्छृणुते वापि माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् । न भवेद्भूतवैकल्यं धर्मवैकल्यमेव च ॥ २७ ॥

yaḥ paṭheccchṛṇute vāpi māhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam | na bhavedbhūtavaikalyaṁ dharmavaikalyameva ca || 27 ||

For whoever recites or hears this glory born of Dvaraka, there occurs neither affliction by spirits nor any lapse of dharma.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.489.28)

यः स्मरेत्प्रातरुत्थाय माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् । द्वादशीनां च सर्वासां यच्चोक्तं लभते फलम् ॥ २८ ॥

yaḥ smaretprātarutthāya māhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam | dvādaśīnāṁ ca sarvāsāṁ yaccoktaṁ labhate phalam || 28 ||

Whoever, rising at dawn, remembers this glory of Dvaraka obtains the fruit declared for all the Dvadashis.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.489.29)

त्रिदशैः पूज्यते नित्यं वन्द्यते सिद्धचारणैः । माहात्म्यं पठते यो वै द्वारकायाः समुद्भवम् ॥ २९ ॥

tridaśaiḥ pūjyate nityaṁ vandyate siddhacāraṇaiḥ | māhātmyaṁ paṭhate yo vai dvārakāyāḥ samudbhavam || 29 ||

Whoever recites this glory born of Dvaraka is ever worshipped by the gods and revered by the Siddhas and Charanas.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.489.30)

द्वारका वसते यत्र तत्र विष्णुः सनातनः । तत्र तीर्थानि सर्वाणि सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । यज्ञा वेदाश्च ऋषयस्त्रैलोक्यं सचरा चरम् ॥ ३० ॥

dvārakā vasate yatra tatra viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ | tatra tīrthāni sarvāṇi sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ | yajñā vedāśca ṛṣayastrailokyaṁ sacarācaram || 30 ||

Wherever Dvaraka dwells, there dwells the eternal Vishnu. There too dwell all the sacred fords, all the gods with Indra, the sacrifices, the Vedas, the sages, and the three worlds with all that moves and does not move.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.489.31)

शक्तो हि द्वारकां गंतुं मानवो न हि पुत्रक । कृष्णदर्शनजं पुण्यं माहात्म्यं पठतो भवेत् ॥ ३१ ॥

śakto hi dvārakāṁ gaṁtuṁ mānavo na hi putraka | kṛṣṇadarśanajaṁ puṇyaṁ māhātmyaṁ paṭhato bhavet || 31 ||

O son, for the man who is not able to go to Dvaraka, the merit born of Krishna's sight is obtained simply by reciting this glory.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.489.32)

सत्यं शौचं श्रुतं वित्तं सुशीलं च क्षमाऽऽर्जवम् । सर्वं च निष्फलं तस्य माहात्म्यं न शृणोति यः ॥ ३२ ॥

satyaṁ śaucaṁ śrutaṁ vittaṁ suśīlaṁ ca kṣamārjavam | sarvaṁ ca niṣphalaṁ tasya māhātmyaṁ na śṛṇoti yaḥ || 32 ||

Truthfulness, purity, sacred learning, wealth, good conduct, forbearance, and honesty — all of these become fruitless for one who does not hear this glory.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.489.33)

षण्मासे च भवेत्पुत्रो लक्ष्मीश्चैव विवर्द्धते । तस्य यः शृणुते भक्त्या माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् ॥ ३३ ॥

ṣaṇmāse ca bhavetputro lakṣmīścaiva vivarddhate | tasya yaḥ śṛṇute bhaktyā māhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam || 33 ||

Whoever devotedly hears this glory of Dvaraka obtains a son within six months, and his prosperity increases as well.