Shloka 15
Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana
गोमतीं गण्डकीं स्नात्वा विपाशां शोण आप्लुत: । गयां गत्वा पितृनिष्ट्वा गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे ॥ ११ ॥ उपस्पृश्य महेन्द्राद्रौ रामं दृष्ट्वाभिवाद्य च । सप्तगोदावरीं वेणां पम्पां भीमरथीं तत: ॥ १२ ॥ स्कन्दं दृष्ट्वा ययौ राम: श्रीशैलं गिरिशालयम् । द्रविडेषु महापुण्यं दृष्ट्वाद्रिं वेङ्कटं प्रभु: ॥ १३ ॥ कामकोष्णीं पुरीं काञ्चीं कावेरीं च सरिद्वराम् । श्रीरङ्गाख्यं महापुण्यं यत्र सन्निहितो हरि: ॥ १४ ॥ ऋषभाद्रिं हरे: क्षेत्रं दक्षिणां मथुरां तथा । सामुद्रं सेतुमगमत्महापातकनाशनम् ॥ १५ ॥
gomatīṁ gaṇḍakīṁ snātvā vipāśāṁ śoṇa āplutaḥ gayāṁ gatvā pitṝn iṣṭvā gaṅgā-sāgara-saṅgame
അദ്ദേഹം കാമകോഷ്ണീ നഗരം, കാഞ്ചീപുരി, ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ കാവേരി നദി, ഹരി സന്നിഹിതനായ മഹാപുണ്യ ശ്രീരംഗം എന്നിവ ദർശിച്ചു. തുടർന്ന് ഋഷഭാദ്രിയും ദക്ഷിണ മഥുരയും സന്ദർശിച്ച്, ഒടുവിൽ മഹാപാതകനാശകമായ സമുദ്രസേതുവിലെത്തി.
Usually one goes to Gayā to worship deceased forefathers. But as Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains, although Lord Balarāma’s father and grandfather were still alive, it was on His father’s order that He carefully worshiped His forefathers at Gayā. Drawing insight from the Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī, the ācārya further explains that although Lord Balarāma was in the immediate proximity of Jagannātha Purī, He did not go there, since He wanted to avoid the embarrassment of having to worship Himself among the forms of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Balabhadra and Subhadrā.
FAQs
This verse portrays Lord Balarāma visiting many holy rivers and kṣetras, culminating in Setu described as “mahā-pātaka-nāśanam,” indicating that holy places, when honored properly, are associated with deep purification and renewed devotion.
As part of his tīrtha-yātrā, Balarāma visited Mahendragiri and offered respects to Paraśurāma, honoring the great Vaiṣṇava avatāra and teacher within the sacred geography of Bhāgavata’s narrative.
Even without extensive travel, one can adopt the spirit of tīrtha—seeking purification through respectful remembrance of the Lord, honoring sacred traditions, and regularly engaging in practices that cleanse the heart (śravaṇa, kīrtana, and sincere worship).