Adhyaya 38

Verse 1

श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच । द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यं शृणु पौत्र मयोदितम् । शृण्वतो गदतश्चापि मुक्तिः कृष्णाद्भवेद्ध्रुवम्

Śrī Prahlāda said: O grandson, listen to the greatness of Dvārakā as spoken by me. For one who hears it—and even for one who recites it—liberation through Kṛṣṇa is assured indeed.

Verse 2

पुत्रेण लोकाञ्जयति पौत्रेणानन्त्यमश्नुते । अथ पुत्रस्य पौत्रेण नाकमेवाधिरोहति

By a son one conquers the worlds; by a grandson one attains the endless state; and by the grandson of one’s son one ascends to heaven itself.

Verse 3

यस्य पुत्रः शुचिर्दक्षः पूर्वे वयसि धार्मिकः । विष्णुभक्तिं च कुरुते तं पुत्रं कवयो विदुः

The wise declare that one truly has a “son” whose son is pure and capable, righteous from an early age, and devotedly practices bhakti toward Viṣṇu.

Verse 4

हेमशृंगं रौप्यखुरं सवत्सं कांस्यदोहनम् । सवस्त्रं कपिलानां तु सहस्रं च दिनेदिने

A thousand tawny Kapilā cows—each with golden horns, silver hooves, accompanied by calves, with bronze milking-vessels, and even with cloth coverings—(given) day after day.

Verse 5

दत्त्वा यत्फलमाप्नोति ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे । तत्फलं स्नानमात्रेण गोमत्यां मधुभिद्दिने

Whatever fruit one gains by giving (such gifts) to a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedas—that very fruit is obtained merely by bathing in the Gomatī on the day of Madhubhid (Kṛṣṇa).

Verse 6

यस्त्वेकं भोजयेद्विप्रं द्वारकायां च संस्थितम् । सुभिक्षे भो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः फलं लक्षगुणं भवेत्

But whoever feeds even a single Brāhmaṇa dwelling in Dvārakā—O best among the twice-born—when there is abundance, the merit’s fruit becomes a hundred-thousand-fold.

Verse 7

फलं लक्षगुणं प्रोक्तं दुर्भिक्षे कृष्णसन्निधौ । एवं धर्मानुसारेण दयाद्भिक्षां तु भिक्षुके

This hundred-thousand-fold fruit is declared (especially) in times of famine, in the very presence of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, in accord with dharma, one should compassionately give alms to a mendicant.

Verse 8

अपि नः स कुले कश्चिद्भविष्यति नरोत्तमः । यो यतीनो कलौ प्राप्ते पितॄनुद्दिश्य दास्यति

Will there be, in our lineage, some best of men who—when the Kali age has arrived—will give gifts to the yatīs (ascetics), dedicating them for the sake of the pitṛs (ancestors)?

Verse 9

द्वारकायां विशे षेण सत्कृत्य कृष्णसन्निधौ । अन्नदानं यतीनां तु कौपीनाच्छादनानि च

Especially in Dvārakā—having honored them in the very presence of Kṛṣṇa—one should give food to the yatīs (ascetics), and also provide them with kaupīna (loincloths) and coverings (clothes).

Verse 10

नात्मनः क्रतुभिः स्विष्टैर्नास्ति तीर्थैः प्रयोजनम् । यत्र वा तत्र वा कार्य्यं यतीनां प्रीणनं सदा

For oneself, there is no real need of well-performed sacrifices or even of pilgrimages to sacred fords; rather, wherever one may be, one should always strive to gladden and satisfy the yatīs (ascetics).

Verse 11

श्वपचादयोऽपि ते धन्या ये गता द्वारकां पुरीम् । प्राप्य भागवतान्ये वै पितॄनुद्दिश्य पुत्रकाः

Even those despised in society, beginning with dog-cookers, are blessed if they go to the city of Dvārakā; for there, having met devotees of Bhagavān, their sons can make offerings dedicated to the Pitṛs, the ancestors.

Verse 12

भक्त्या संपूजयिष्यंति वस्त्रैर्दानैश्च भूरिभिः

With devotion they will worship fully, offering garments and abundant gifts.

Verse 13

गयापिंडेन नास्माकं तृप्तिर्भवति तादृशी । यादृशी विष्णुभक्तानां सत्कारेणोप जायते

The satisfaction we gain is not of such a kind even from the piṇḍa-offering at Gayā, as is produced by honoring the devotees of Viṣṇu.

Verse 14

वैशाखे ये करिष्यंति द्वादशीं कृष्णसन्निधौ । कृष्णं संपूजयन्तश्च रात्रौ कुर्वंति जागरम्

Those who, in the month of Vaiśākha, will observe the Dvādaśī in Kṛṣṇa’s presence—worshiping Kṛṣṇa and keeping a night vigil—gain great merit.

Verse 15

माहात्म्यं पठनीयं तु द्वारकासंभवं शुभम् । कृष्णस्य बालचरितं बालकृष्णादिदर्शनम्

One should indeed recite the auspicious Māhātmya arising from Dvārakā; and also recite Kṛṣṇa’s childhood deeds, and the accounts of beholding Bāla-Kṛṣṇa and the like.

Verse 16

क्रीडनं गोकुलस्यैव क्रीडा गोपीजनस्य च । कृष्णावतारकर्माणि श्रोतव्यानि पुनःपुनः

The līlā of Gokula, and the līlā of the community of gopīs as well—Kṛṣṇa’s deeds in His avatāra should be heard again and again.

Verse 17

रुक्मशृंगीं रौप्यखुरीं मुक्तालांगूलभूषिताम् । सवत्सां ब्राह्मणे दत्त्वा होमार्थं चाहिताग्नये

Having given to a brāhmaṇa—an āhitāgni, keeper of the sacred fires—a cow with a calf, adorned with golden horns, silver hooves, and a tail ornamented with pearls, for the sake of homa (the fire-offering), (one gains great merit).

Verse 18

निमिषस्पर्शनांशेन फलं कृष्णस्य जागरे । यत्किंचित्कुरुते पापं कोटिजन्मसु मानवः । कृष्णस्य जागरे रात्रौ दहते नात्र संशयः

Even a mere fraction of a moment spent in Kṛṣṇa’s night-vigil (jāgaraṇa) yields immense fruit. Whatever sin a person has committed across tens of millions of births is burned away in the night of Kṛṣṇa’s jāgaraṇa—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 19

पठेद्भागवतं रात्रौ पुराणं दयितं हरेः । यावत्सूर्य्यकृताऽलोको यावच्चन्द्रकृता निशा

Let one recite the Bhāgavata at night—the Purāṇa beloved of Hari—continuing through the time of sunlight and through the moonlit night.

Verse 20

यावत्ससागरा पृथ्वी यावच्च कुलपर्वताः । तावत्कालं वसेत्स्वर्गे नान्यथा मम भाषितम्

As long as the earth endures with its oceans, and as long as the mountain ranges endure, for that same span one dwells in heaven—this is my declaration, and it is not otherwise.

Verse 21

आस्फोटयंति पितरः प्रहर्षंति पितामहाः । एवं तं स्वसुतं दृष्ट्वा शृण्वानं कृष्णसंभवम्

The Fathers clap their hands in delight, and the grandfathers rejoice, when they behold their own descendant listening to the sacred account born of (and telling of) Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 22

द्वारकायाश्च माहात्म्यं यत्र नो जागरे पठेत् । तन्म्लेच्छसदृशं स्थानमपवित्रं परित्यजेत्

A place where the Māhātmya of Dvārakā is not recited during the sacred vigil is to be regarded as mleccha-like and impure; one should abandon such a place.

Verse 23

शालिग्रामशिला नैव यत्र भागवता न हि । त्यजेत्तीर्थं महापुण्यं पुण्यमायतनं त्यजेत्

Where there is no Śāligrāma-śilā and no Bhāgavata devotees, one should even abandon that so-called ‘greatly meritorious’ tīrtha—one should leave that abode that claims to be holy.

Verse 24

त्यजेद्गुह्यं तथाऽरण्यं यत्र न द्वादशीव्रतम्

One should abandon even a secluded place, even a forest, where the observance of the Dvādaśī-vrata is not practiced.

Verse 25

सुदेशोऽपि भवेन्निंद्यो यत्र नो वैष्णवा व्रतम् । कुदेशोऽपि भवेत्पुण्यो यत्र भागवताः कलौ

Even a ‘good land’ becomes blameworthy where there is no Vaiṣṇava observance; and even a ‘bad land’ becomes meritorious in the Kali age where Bhāgavata devotees are present.

Verse 26

संकीर्णयोनयः पूता ये भक्ता मधुसूदने । म्लेच्छतुल्याः कुलीनास्ते ये न भक्ता जनार्दने

Those of mixed origins are purified when they are devoted to Madhusūdana; but even the high-born are like mlecchas if they are not devoted to Janārdana.

Verse 27

रथारूढं प्रकुर्वंति ये कृष्णं मधुमाधवे । मुक्तिं प्रयांति ते सर्वे कुलकोटिसमन्विताः

All who arrange and honor Kṛṣṇa Madhumādhava mounted upon a chariot attain liberation—together with tens of millions (koṭis) of their lineage.

Verse 28

देवकीनन्दनस्यार्थे रथं कारापयन्ति ये । कल्पांतं विष्णुलोके ते वसन्ति पितृभिः सह

Those who cause a chariot to be made for the sake of Devakī’s Son (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) dwell in Viṣṇu’s world until the end of the aeon (kalpa), together with their ancestors.

Verse 29

द्वारकायास्तु माहात्म्यं श्रावयेद्यः कलौ नृणाम् । भावमुत्पादयेद्यो वै लभेत्क्रतुशतंफलम्

In the Kali age, whoever has the Māhātmya of Dvārakā recited to people—and truly awakens devotional feeling—obtains the fruit of a hundred Vedic sacrifices.

Verse 30

यो नार्चयति पापिष्ठो देवमन्यत्र गच्छति । कोटिजन्मार्जितं पुण्यं हरते रुक्मिणीपतिः

The most sinful person who does not worship the Lord and goes elsewhere—Rukmiṇī’s Lord (Kṛṣṇa) takes away the merit accumulated over ten million births.

Verse 31

शंखोद्धारसमुद्भूतां नित्यं देहे बिभर्त्ति हि । मृत्तिकां दैत्यराजेन्द्र शृणु वक्ष्यामि यत्फलम्

He indeed continually bears upon his body the sacred clay born of Śaṅkhoddhāra; O lord of the Daityas, listen—I shall declare its fruit.

Verse 32

यो ददाति यतीनां च वैष्णवानां प्रयच्छति । स्वर्णभारशतं पुण्ड्रं नित्यं प्राप्नोति मानवः

Whoever gives gifts to the yatis (renunciants) and offers to the Vaiṣṇavas continually attains merit equal to a hundred loads of gold, and the sanctity of the puṇḍra mark.

Verse 33

गृहे यस्य सदा तिष्ठेच्छंखोद्धारस्य मृत्तिका । नित्य क्रियाकृतंपुण्यं लभेत्कोटिगुणं बले

In whose home the clay of Śaṅkhoddhāra always remains, the merit produced by daily rites becomes a crore-fold in potency.

Verse 34

यस्य पुण्ड्रं ललाटे तु गोपीचंदनसंज्ञकम् । न जहाति गृहं तस्य लक्ष्मीः कृष्णप्रिया द्विजाः

O brāhmaṇas, the house of one whose forehead bears the puṇḍra called Gopīcandana is never abandoned by Lakṣmī, beloved of Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 35

न ग्रहो बाधते तस्य नोरगो न च राक्षसः । पिशाचा न च कूष्मांडा न च प्रेता न जंभकाः

No malevolent graha afflicts him; neither serpent nor rākṣasa harms him—nor piśācas, nor kūṣmāṇḍas, nor pretas, nor jaṃbhakas.

Verse 36

नाग्निचौरभयं तस्य दरीणां चैव बन्धनम् । विद्युदुल्काभयं चैव न चोत्पातसमुद्भवम्

For him there is no fear of fire or thieves, nor any bondage in caves and clefts; there is no fear of lightning or falling meteors, nor of calamities born of ominous portents.

Verse 37

नारिष्टं नापशकुनं दुर्निमित्तादिकं च यत् । सत्कृते विष्णुभक्ते च शालिग्रामशिलार्चने

Where a devotee of Viṣṇu is honored and the Śālagrāma-śilā is worshiped, there is no misfortune, no evil omen, nor any ill-sign whatsoever.

Verse 38

पीते पादोदके विप्रा नैवेद्यस्यापि भक्षणे । तुलसीसन्निधौ विष्णोर्विलयावसरे कृते

O brāhmaṇas, when the Lord’s foot-water is sipped and even the consecrated offering (naivedya) is eaten—performed in the presence of Tulasī—then, at the time when all dissolves, one finds refuge in Viṣṇu.

Verse 39

पुरा देवेन कथितं शृणु पात्रं वदाम्यहम् । प्रिया भागवता येषां तेषां दासोऽस्म्यहं सदा

Hear what was formerly declared by the Lord; I shall tell you who is truly a worthy recipient. Those to whom the devotees of Bhagavān are dear—of such people I am ever the servant.

Verse 40

विहाय मथुरां काशीमवन्तीं सर्वपापहाम् । मायां कांचीमयोध्यां च संप्राप्ते च कलौ युगे

When the age of Kali has arrived, setting aside Mathurā, Kāśī, Avantī that destroys all sins, and also Māyā (Haridvāra), Kāñcī, and Ayodhyā—

Verse 41

वसाम्यहं द्वारकायां सर्वसेनासमावृतः । तीर्थव्रतैर्यज्ञदानै रुद्राद्यैर्मुनिचारणैः

I dwell in Dvārakā, encompassed by all my divine hosts—together with the tīrthas and sacred vows, with sacrifices (yajña) and gifts, and with Rudra and the other gods, sages (muni), and celestial singers.

Verse 42

श्रद्धात्यागेन भक्त्या वा यस्तोषयितुमिच्छति । गत्वा द्वारवतीं रम्यां द्रष्टव्योऽहं कलौ युगे

Whoever wishes to please me—whether through faith-filled renunciation (śraddhā) or through devotion (bhakti)—should go to the lovely Dvāravatī; in the Kali age, I am to be beheld there.

Verse 43

त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि मया शुद्धानि भूरिशः । विन्यस्तानि च गोमत्यां चक्रतीर्थेऽतिपावने

Whatever tīrthas exist in the three worlds—purified by me in great abundance—have been placed in the Gomati, at Cakratīrtha, the supremely purifying ford.

Verse 44

दिनेनैकेन गोमत्यां चक्रतीर्थे कलौ युगे । त्रैलोक्यसंभवैस्तीर्थैः स्नातो भवति मानवः

In the Kali age, by spending but a single day at Cakratīrtha on the Gomati, a person becomes as though bathed in the tīrthas arising from all the three worlds.

Verse 45

कोटिपापविनिर्मुक्तो मत्समं वसते नरः । मम लोके न संदेहः कुलकोटिसमन्वितः

Freed from crores of sins, that person dwells equal to me; in my world—without doubt—he abides together with crores of his lineage.

Verse 46

नापराधकृतैः पापैर्लिप्तः स्यादु त्कटैः कृतैः । शतजन्मायुतानीह लक्ष्मीर्न च्यवते गृहात्

Even grievous sins committed through offenses do not cling to him. For tens of thousands of hundreds of births, here Lakṣmī does not depart from his home.