Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20
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
Puis le Bhagavān parcourut les royaumes de Kerala et de Trigarta et visita Gokarṇa, le kṣetra sacré de Śiva, où Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva) manifeste sa présence directe. Après avoir aussi contemplé la Déesse Āryā Dvaipāyanī (Pārvatī), qui demeure sur une île, Balarāma se rendit au district saint de Śūrpāraka et se baigna dans les rivières Tāpī, Payoṣṇī et Nirvindhyā. Il entra ensuite dans la forêt de Daṇḍaka et atteignit la rivière Revā (Narmadā), le long de laquelle se trouve la cité de Māhiṣmatī. Après s’être baigné à Manu-tīrtha, il revint enfin à Prabhāsa.
FAQs
This verse identifies Gokarṇa as a prominent Śiva-kṣetra where Lord Śiva (Dhūrjaṭi) is especially present, making it a revered destination during Balarāma’s pilgrimage.
In the Bhagavatam narrative, Balarāma’s tīrtha-yātrā includes honoring devas and sacred sites, demonstrating Vedic reverence and the purifying power of pilgrimage for the world.
Even if one cannot travel, one can adopt the essence of tīrtha-yātrā by regularly visiting temples, hearing Bhāgavatam, and cultivating humility and purity of conduct.