Adhyaya 158: The Manifestation and Sanctifying Power of the Mathurā Tīrtha

Verse 1

अथ मथुरातीर्थप्रादुर्भावः ॥ श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ विंशतिर्योजनानां तु माथुरं मम मण्डलम् ॥ यत्रतत्र नरः स्नातो मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ॥

Now follows the manifestation of the Mathurā tīrtha. Śrī Varāha said: “My domain of Mathurā extends for twenty yojanas. Wherever a person bathes within it, one is released from all impurities and faults.”

Verse 2

वर्षाकाले तु स्थातव्यं यच्च स्थानं तु हर्षदम् ॥ पुण्यात्पुण्यतरं चैव माथुरे मम मण्डले ॥

In the rainy season one should stay there; and whatever place is joy-giving—within my Mathurā domain—it is even more meritorious than ordinary merit.

Verse 3

सप्तद्वीपेषु तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ॥ मथुरायां गमिष्यन्ति प्रसुप्ते तु सदा मयि ॥

The sacred tīrthas and meritorious sanctuaries across the seven dvīpas (continents) will come to Mathurā when I remain there ever in repose.

Verse 4

सुप्तोत्थितं तु दृष्ट्वा मां मथुरायां वसुन्धरे ॥ ते नराः मां प्रपश्यन्ति सर्वकालं न संशयः ॥

O Vasundharā, having seen me in Mathurā as one who has arisen from sleep, those people behold me at all times—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 5

सुप्तोत्थितं तु वसुधे दृष्ट्वा मे मुखपङ्कजम् ॥ सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव मुञ्चति ॥

O Vasudhā, having seen my lotus-like face as I arise from sleep, one is released—at that very moment—from wrongdoing accumulated across seven births.

Verse 6

मथुरावासिनो लोकाः सर्वे ते मुक्तिभाजनाः ॥ मथुरां समनुप्राप्य दृष्ट्वा देवं तु केशवम् ॥

All those people who dwell in Mathurā are recipients of liberation; having reached Mathurā and having seen the deity Keśava—

Verse 7

स्नात्वा पुनस्तु कालिन्द्यां मम लोके महीयते ॥ स तत्फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः ॥

And having bathed again in the Kālindī, one is honored in my realm; one attains the fruit associated with the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha rites.

Verse 8

प्रदक्षिणीकृतो येन मथुरायां तु केशवः ॥ प्रदक्षिणीकृता तेन सप्तद्वीपा वसुन्धरा ॥

By whomever Keśava is circumambulated in Mathurā, by that person the Earth—together with its seven continents—is as though circumambulated.

Verse 9

घृतपूर्णेन पात्रेण समग्रेण च वाससा ॥ केशवस्याग्रतो दत्त्वा दीपकं तु वसुन्धरे ॥

O Vasundharā, having placed a lamp before Keśava—together with a vessel filled with ghee and an intact garment—

Verse 10

सर्वकामसमृद्धं तदप्सरोगणसेवितम् ॥ रम्यमालासमाकीर्णं भोगाढ्यं सर्वकामिकम् ॥

That (realm) is abundant in every desired good, attended by hosts of apsarases, strewn with delightful garlands, rich in enjoyments, and granting all desired aims.

Verse 11

समारोहति वै नित्यं प्रभामण्डलमण्डितम् ॥ ये देवा ये च गन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्चारणपन्नगाः ॥

One ascends there continually, adorned with a circle of radiance—where the gods, the gandharvas, the siddhas, the cāraṇas, and the pannagas (serpent-beings) are present.

Verse 12

तं स्पृहन्ति सदा देवि पुण्यमस्ति कृतं भुवि ॥ यदि कालान्तरे पुण्यं हीयतेऽस्य पुरा कृतम् ॥

O Devī, they always long for that (state), for merit is performed on earth. If, in the course of time, the merit formerly accumulated by this person diminishes—

Verse 13

सतां पुण्यगृहे देवि जायते मानवो हि सः ॥ धरण्युवाच ॥ क्षेत्रं हि रक्षते देव कस्त्विदं पापनाशनम् ॥

O Devī, that person is indeed born as a human in the meritorious household of the virtuous. Dharaṇī said: O Deva, who protects the sacred region—who (or what) is this that destroys wrongdoing?

Verse 14

पशुभूतपिशाचैश्च रक्षोभूतविनायकैः ॥ एवमादिभिराकृष्टं तत्क्षेत्रं फलदं भवेत् ॥

Though assailed and dragged down by beings such as animal-like spirits, piśācas, rākṣasas, bhūtas, and vināyakas, that sacred field nonetheless becomes a bestower of fruits—spiritual merit.

Verse 15

श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ मत्क्षेत्रं ते न पश्यन्ति मत्प्रभावात्कदाचन ॥ न विकुर्वन्ति ते दृष्ट्वा मत्पराणां हि देहिनाम् ॥

Śrī Varāha said: By the force of my power they never behold my sacred kṣetra; and even upon seeing embodied beings devoted to me, they do not cause disturbance.

Verse 16

रक्षार्थं हि मया दत्ता दिक्पालास्तु वरानने ॥ लोकपालास्तु चत्वारस्तीर्थं रक्षन्ति ये सदा ॥

For protection, O fair-faced one, I have appointed the guardians of the directions (dikpālas); and the four world-guardians (lokapālas) ever protect this sacred tīrtha.

Verse 17

पूर्वां रक्षति इन्द्रस्तु यमो रक्षति दक्षिणाम् ॥ पश्चिमां रक्षते नित्यं वरुणः पाशभृत्स्वयम् ॥

Indra protects the eastern quarter; Yama protects the southern; and Varuṇa himself, bearer of the noose (pāśa), always protects the western quarter.

Verse 18

उत्तरां वै कुबेरस्तु महाबलपराक्रमः ॥ मध्यं तु रक्षते नित्यं शिवो देव उमापतिः ॥

Kubera, possessed of great strength and prowess, protects the northern quarter; and in the center Śiva—the god, lord of Umā—protects continually.

Verse 19

मथुरायां महाभागे कुण्डे च विमलोदके ॥ गम्भीरे सर्वदा देवि तिष्ठते च चतुर्भुजः ॥

O greatly fortunate one, in Mathurā—at the Vimalodaka pond, deep and ever pure—O goddess, the Four-armed Lord abides continually.

Verse 20

तत्र मुञ्चेत यः प्राणान् स्नानं कृत्वा वसुन्धरे ॥ वैष्णवं लोकमासाद्य क्रीडते स सुखादिव ॥

O Vasundharā, whoever relinquishes life there after performing the bath reaches the Vaiṣṇava world and dwells in enjoyment, as though in a state of bliss.

Verse 21

तत्रैव तु सदाश्चर्यं कथ्यमानं मया शृणु ॥ यदुच्यते वै सुश्रोणि कुण्डे तु विमलोदके ॥

And there itself, listen to the perpetual marvel as I relate it: what is indeed said concerning the Vimalodaka pond, O fair-hipped one.

Verse 22

हेमन्ते तु भवेच्छोष्णं शीतलं ग्रीष्मके भवेत् ॥ तेजसा मम सुश्रोणि तुषारतदृशोपमम् ॥

In winter it becomes warm, and in summer it becomes cool; by my radiance, O fair-hipped one, it is comparable to the appearance of frost (or dew).

Verse 23

न वर्ध्धते च वर्षासु ग्रीष्मे चापि न हीयते ॥ एतच्च महदाश्चर्यं तस्मिन्कुण्डे परं मम ॥

It does not increase in the rainy season, nor does it diminish even in summer; and this great marvel in that pond is supremely owed to me.

Verse 24

पदे पदे तीर्थफलम् मथुरायां वसुंधरे॥ तत्र तत्र नरः स्नातो मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः॥

O Vasundharā, in Mathurā the fruit of the tīrthas is found at every step; wherever a person bathes there, he is released from all sins.

Verse 25

वर्षासु स्थूलतीर्थेषु स्नातव्यं तु प्रयत्नतः॥ कूपे ह्रदे देवखाते गर्तेषु च नदीषु च॥

During the rainy season one should bathe with care at substantial and accessible tīrthas—whether in wells, ponds, sacred excavated tanks, pits, and in rivers as well.

Verse 26

प्रवाहेषु च दिव्येषु नदीनाṃ सङ्गमेषु च॥ वर्षासु सर्वतः स्नायाद्यदीच्छेत्परमां गतिम्॥

And in sacred currents as well as at the confluences of rivers—during the rains one should bathe widely, wherever possible, if one seeks the highest attainment.

Verse 27

अस्ति क्षेत्रं परं दिव्यं मुचुकुन्दं तु नामतः॥ मुचुकुन्दः स्वपित्यत्र दानवासुरपातनः॥

There is a supreme, sacred kṣetra known by the name Muchukunda. There Muchukunda sleeps—he who was the slayer of Dānava and Asura foes.

Verse 28

इहजन्मकृतं पापमन्यजन्मकृतं च यत्॥ शीघ्रं नश्यति तत्सर्वं कीर्तनात्केशवस्य तु॥

Whatever sin has been committed in this birth, and whatever has been committed in another birth—all of it quickly perishes through the praising (kīrtana) of Keśava.

Verse 29

किं तस्य बहुभिर्मन्त्रैर्भक्तिर्यस्य जनार्दने॥ नरके पच्यमानस्य गतिर्देवि जनार्दनः॥

What need has one of many mantras, if one’s devotion rests in Janārdana? For one tormented in hell, O Devī, Janārdana is the refuge and the final goal.

Verse 30

कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं देवि विश्रामं कुरुते तु यः॥ नारायणसमीपे तु सोऽनन्तफलमश्नुते॥

O Devī, whoever performs pradakṣiṇā (ritual circumambulation) and then rests near Nārāyaṇa partakes of limitless merit.

Verse 31

सुप्तोत्थितं हरिं दृष्ट्वा मथुरायां वसुंधरे॥ न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्जायते स चतुर्भुजः॥

O Vasundharā, having seen Hari in Mathurā as one who has arisen from sleep, for that person there is no return to repeated existence; he becomes four-armed.

Verse 32

कुमुदस्य तु मासस्य नवम्यां तु वसुंधरे॥ प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य भुवं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥

O Vasundharā, on the ninth day of the month called Kumuda, having circumambulated the land in pradakṣiṇā, one is released from all sins.

Verse 33

ब्रह्मघ्नश्च सुरापश्च गोग्घ्नो भग्नव्रतस्तथा॥ मथुरां तु परिक्रम्य पूतो भवति मानवः॥

Even a slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of intoxicants, a killer of a cow, and likewise one who has broken vows—having circumambulated Mathurā, a person becomes purified.

Verse 34

अष्टम्यां प्राप्य मथुरां दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् ॥ ब्रह्मचर्येण तां रात्रीं कृतसंकल्पमानसः ॥

Having reached Mathurā on the eighth lunar day, after first cleansing the teeth, one should pass that night observing brahmacarya, with the mind firmly resolved in vow and intention.

Verse 35

धौतवस्त्रस्तु सुस्नातो मौनव्रतपरायणः ॥ प्रदक्षिणं तु कुर्वीत सर्वपातक नाशनम् ॥

Wearing washed garments, having bathed well, and devoted to the vow of silence, one should perform the circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā), described as a remover of all demerit.

Verse 36

प्रदक्षिणां प्रकुर्वाणमन्यो यः स्पृशते नरः ॥ सर्वान् कामानवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥

If another person touches a man while he is engaged in performing the circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā), that person attains all desired aims; here, no further deliberation is stated to be necessary.

Verse 37

देवस्याग्रे तु वसुधे कूपं तु विमलोदकम् ॥ पितरश्चाभिनन्दन्ति पानीयं पिण्डमेव च ॥

O Vasudhā, in front of the deity there is a well with clear water; and the Ancestors (Pitṛs) are said to rejoice in both the drinking-water and the piṇḍa-offering.

Verse 38

चतुḥसामुद्रिकं नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ॥ तत्र स्नातो नरो भद्रे देवैश्च सह मोदते ॥

A place called ‘Catuḥsāmudrika’ is renowned in the three worlds; O auspicious one, a person who bathes there rejoices together with the gods.

Verse 39

तत्राथ मुञ्चते प्राणान्मम लोकं स गच्छति ॥

And if one relinquishes the life-breaths there, he goes to my world.

Verse 40

पञ्चयोजनविस्तारमायामं पञ्च विस्तरम् ॥ दीपमालासमाकीर्णं विमानं लभते नरः ॥

A person obtains a vimāna (celestial conveyance) five yojanas in breadth and five in length, filled with rows of lamps.

Verse 41

मथुरायां गृहं यस्तु प्रासादं कुरुते नरः ॥ चतुर्भुजस्तु विज्ञेयो जीवन्मुक्तो न संशयः ॥

In Mathurā, the person who builds a residence or a lofty prāsāda is to be understood as ‘four-armed’ and liberated while living—there is no doubt.

Verse 42

तत्र कुण्डे नरः स्नात्वा प्राप्नोत्यभिमतं जलम् ॥ अथात्र मुञ्चते प्राणान्मम लोकं स गच्छति ॥

Having bathed in the pond there, a person obtains the water he desires; and if he relinquishes the life-breaths there, he goes to my world.

Verse 43

मथुरायां नरो गत्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं स्वयम्भुवम् ॥ प्रदक्षिणायां यत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यं लभते नरः ॥

Having gone to Mathurā and having seen the self-manifest deity, a person obtains whatever merit is associated with the circumambulation—he gains that very merit.