Shloka 21
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
In this verse, Gokarṇa is described as a śiva-kṣetra where Lord Śiva (Dhūrjaṭi) is especially present, and Balarāma visits it during His pilgrimage.
Balarāma’s tīrtha-yātrā shows reverence for sacred sites and the Lord’s devotees; visiting śiva-kṣetras also highlights harmony among Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva holy traditions within Bhagavata narration.
Approach pilgrimage as inner purification—seeking holy association, humility, and remembrance of the Lord—rather than mere travel or tourism.