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
Kemudian Bhagavān menempuh perjalanan melalui negeri Kerala dan Trigarta, mengunjungi Gokarṇa, kṣetra suci Śiva, tempat Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva) menampakkan kehadiran-Nya secara langsung. Setelah pula berjumpa Dewi Āryā Dvaipāyanī (Pārvatī) yang bersemayam di sebuah pulau, Balarāma pergi ke wilayah suci Śūrpāraka dan mandi di sungai Tāpī, Payoṣṇī, dan Nirvindhyā. Lalu Ia memasuki hutan Daṇḍaka dan mencapai sungai Revā (Narmadā), di tepinya berdiri kota Māhiṣmatī. Setelah mandi di Manu-tīrtha, akhirnya Ia kembali ke 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.