Shloka 19
Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana
ततोऽभिव्रज्य भगवान् केरलांस्तु त्रिगर्तकान् । गोकर्णाख्यं शिवक्षेत्रं सान्निध्यं यत्र धूर्जटे: ॥ १९ ॥ आर्यां द्वैपायनीं दृष्ट्वा शूर्पारकमगाद् बल: । तापीं पयोष्णीं निर्विन्ध्यामुपस्पृश्याथ दण्डकम् ॥ २० ॥ प्रविश्य रेवामगमद् यत्र माहिष्मती पुरी । मनुतीर्थमुपस्पृश्य प्रभासं पुनरागमत् ॥ २१ ॥
tato ’bhivrajya bhagavān keralāṁs tu trigartakān gokarṇākhyaṁ śiva-kṣetraṁ sānnidhyaṁ yatra dhūrjaṭeḥ
Daraufhin zog der Bhagavān durch die Reiche Kerala und Trigarta und besuchte Gokarṇa, die heilige kṣetra Śivas, wo Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva) seine unmittelbare Gegenwart offenbart. Nachdem er auch die Göttin Āryā Dvaipāyanī (Pārvatī), die auf einer Insel weilt, geschaut hatte, ging Balarāma in den heiligen Bezirk Śūrpāraka und badete in den Flüssen Tāpī, Payoṣṇī und Nirvindhyā. Danach betrat er den Daṇḍaka-Wald und gelangte zur Revā (Narmadā), an deren Ufer die Stadt Māhiṣmatī liegt. Nach einem Bad in Manu-tīrtha kehrte er schließlich nach Prabhāsa zurück.
FAQs
This verse shows Balarāma performing tīrtha-yātrā, honoring sacred sites and demonstrating how devotion is strengthened by visiting and remembering holy places connected with great devotees and deities like Lord Śiva.
Dhūrjaṭi is a name of Lord Śiva, referring to his matted locks; the verse notes Gokarṇa as a Śiva-kṣetra where his divine presence is especially revered.
By regularly associating with sacred reminders—pilgrimage when possible, and otherwise hearing, chanting, and honoring holy places and saints—one can deepen reverence and steadiness in bhakti.