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MATHURA DHAM
by Srila Rupa Gosvami

Text 1

harir api bhajamanebhyah

prayo muktim- dadati na tu
bhaktim vihita-tad-unnati-satram-
mathure dhanyam- namami tvam

harir - Hari; api - even; bhajamanebhyah„ - worshiping; prayah - for the most part; muktim -
liberation; dadati - gives; na - not; tu - but;û.fn bhaktim - bhakti; vihita - placed; tad-unnati-satram -
great sacrifice; mathure - in Mathura; dhanyam - auspicious; namami - obeisances; tvam - to you.

Generally Lord Hari gives mukti but not bhakti to his worshipers. O Mathura to you who gives a
great sacrifice of pure bhakti and who are very auspicious I offer my respectful obeisances

Text 2

dhanyanam hrdayananda-
pradam sangrhyate muda
mahatmyam mathura-puryah
sarva-tirtha-siromaneh

dhanyanam - of the fortunate; hrdayananda - bliss to the hearts; pradam - giving; sangrhyate -
collected; muda - happily; mahatmyam - glorificaion; mathura-puryah - of Mathura; sarva-tirtha-
siromaneh - the crest jewel of all holy places.

This glorification of Mathura-puri, which is the crest jewel of all holy places, has been very
happily collected. It gives joy to the hearts of the fortunate.

Text 3

tatrasyah papa-haritvam adi-varahe

vimsatih yojananam tu
mathuram mama mandalam yatra tatra naro snato
mucyate sarva-patakaih
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tatra - there; asyah - of that; papa-haritvam - removal of sin; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana;
vimsatih'twenty; yojananam - yojanas; tu - indeed; mathuramMathura; mama - My; mandalam - circle;
yatra - where; tatra - there; narah - a person; snatah - bathed; mucyate - is liberated; sarva- patakaih -
from all sins. Mathura' Removes Sins

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

My abode of Mathura'-mandala is 2° yojanas in circumferance A person who stays there becomes

free from all sins.

Text 4

pade pade tirtha-phalam

mathuraya vasundhare yatra tatra naro snato
mucyate ghora-kilbisaih

pade pade - at every step; tirtha-phalam - result of visiting holy places; mathurayah - of Mathura;
vasundhare - O earth-goddess; yatra - where; tatra - there;{fn narah - a person; snatah - bathed;
mucyate - liberated; ghora-kilbisaih - from the most terrible sins.

With every step he takes in Mathura' he gets the result of going to all other holy places O earth-
goddess any person who bathes in Mathura becomes free from the most terrible sins.

Text 5

sarva-dharma-vihinanam
purusanam duratmanam narakarti-hara devi
mathura papa-ghatini

sarva-dharma-vihinanam - devoid of religion; purusanam - of persons; duratmanam - wicked;

narakarti- hara - removing the sufferings of hell; devi - O goddess; mathura - Mathura; papa- ghatini -
destroying sins.

O goddess Mathura' rescues the irreligious from the sufferings of hell and removes their sins

Text 6

krtaghnas ca surapas ca
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cauro bhagna-vratas tatha mathuram prapya manuja

mucyate sarva-kilbisaih

krtaghnah - ungrateful; ca - and; surapah - drunkards; ca - and; caurah - thief; bhagna- vratah -
broken vows; tatha - then; mathuram - Mathura; 2} prapya - attaining; manujah - persons; mucyate -
liberated;{fn sarva-kilbisaih - from all sins.
Ungrateful persons drunkards thieves, and they who have broken vows become free from all sins
when they enter Mathura'

Text 7-8

suryodare tamo nasyed

yatha vajra-bhayan nagah tarksam drstva yatha sarpa
megha vata-hata iva

tattva-janad yatha duhkham

simham drstva yatha mrgah tatha papani nasyanti
mathura-darsanat ksanat

suryodare - in the sunrise; tamah - darkness; nasyed - destroyed; yatha - as; vajra-bhayan - from
fear of the goad; nagah„ - elephants; tarksam - Garuda; drstva - seeing; yatha - as; sarpah - snakes;2;
meghah - clouds; vata-hata - broken by the wind; iva - like; tattva-j{.sy anad - because of knowledge
of the truth; yatha - as; duhkham - suffering; simham - a lion; drstva - having seen; yatha - as; mrgah
- deer; tatha - in that way; papani - sins; nasyanti - perish;2} mathura-darsanat - from the sight of
Mathura; ksanat - in a moment.

As darknress is destroyed by the rising of the sun as elephants fear the goad as snakes that have
seen Garuda as clouds broken by the wind as unhappiness destroyed by knowledge and as deer that
have seen a lion so are sins destroyed by the sight of Mathura.

Text 9

sraddhaya bhakti-yuktas ca
gatva madhupurim narah brahmahapi visuddhyeta
kim punah tu anya-pataki

sraddhaya - with faith; bhakti-yuktah - and devotion; ca - and; gatva - going; madhupurim - to
Mathura; narah - a person; brahmaha - killer of a brahmana; api - even; visuddhyeta - is purified;
kim- punah - what to speak; tu - indeed; anya-pataki... - of other sins.
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A person who with faith and devotion goes to Mathura becomes free from the sin of killing a
brahmana what to speaë of other sins.

Text 10

mathura-snana-kamasya
gacchatas tu pade pade nirasani vrajanty asya
papany eva sariratah

mathura-snana-kamasya - of a person who desires to bathe in Mathura; gacchatah - going; tu -

indeed; pade pade - at every step; nirasani - giving up hope; vrajanti - go; asya - of him; papani - sins;
eva - indeed; sariratah - from the body.

For one who, desiring to bathe in Mathura, goes there at every step sins giving up all hope leave
his body.

Text 11

anusangena gacchan hi
vanijyenapi sevaya mathura-snana-matrena
papam tyaktva divam vrajet

anusangena - contact; gacchan - going; hi - indeed; vanijyena - on business; api - even; sevaya -
with service; mathura - in Mathura; snana- matrena - only by bathing; papam - sins; tyaktva -
abandoning; divam - to the spiritual world; vrajet - goes.

One who, going to Mathura only on business, takes a bathe there becomes free from all sins and
goes to the spiritual world.

Text 12

namani grhnatam asyah

sadaiva tu amhasah ksayah sada krta-yugam catra
sada caivottarayanam

namani - names; grhnatam - taking; asyah - of it; sada - always; eva - indeed; tu - certainly;
amhasah'sins; ksayah„ - destroyed; sada - always; krta- yugam - Satya-yuga; ca - and; atra - here; sada
- always; ca - and; eva - indeed; uttarayanam - Uttarayana.
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For one who always chants the name of Mathura sins are always destroyed For him it is always
Satya-yuga. For him it is always the auspicious time of Uttarayana.

Text 13

yah srnoti vararohe

mathuram mama mandalam anyenoccaritam sasvat
so 'pi papaih pramucyate

yah - who; srnoti - hears; vararohe - O beautiful girl; mathuram - Mathura; mama - My; mandalam
- circle; anyena - by another; uccaritam - spoken;{fn sasvat - always; sah„ api - he; papaih - from
sins; pramucyate - free.

O beautiful one he who hears from others about my Mathura-mandala is always free from sin.

Text 14

tri-ratram api ye tatra

vasanti manuja mune tesam punanti niyatam
sprstas carana-renavah

tri-ratram - three nights; api - even; ye - who; tatra - there; vasanti - reside; manujah - people;
mune'O sage; tesam - of them; punanti - purify; niyatam - always; sprstah - touched; carana - of the
feet; renavah - dust.

O sage to touch of the dust of the feet of they who live for three nights there purifies one.

Text 15

padme patala-khande hara-gauri-samvade

krsna-krida-karam sthanam
mathurayas tatam bhuvi punya madhupuri yatra
sarva-papa-pranasini

padme - in the Padma Purana; patala-khande - Patala- khanda; hara-gauri...-samvade - in the

conversation between Sµiva and Gauri; krsna-krida-karam - Krsna's pastimes; sthanam - place;
mathurayah - of Mathura; tatam - manifest; bhuvi - on earth; punya - sacred; madhupuri - Mathura;
yatra - where; sarva-papa - all sins; pranasini - destroying.
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In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda in a conversation between Lord Sµiva and Gauri, it is said:

On this earth the shore of the Yamuna is the place where Lord Krsna enjoys pastiumes On that
shore is sacred Mathura' puri which destroys all sins.

Text 16

yatha trna-samuham tu
jvalayanti sphulingikah tatha mahanti papani
dahate mathura-puri

yatha - as; trna-samuham - grass; tu - indeed; jvalayanti - burns; sphulingikah - sparks; tatha - so;
mahanti'great; papani - sins; dahate - burns; mathura-puri - Mathura.

As sparks set grass on fire so does Mathura-puri burn the greatest sins.

Text 17

skande kasi-khande

hrdyam madhuvanam prayo

yamunayas tate mahat adyam bhagavatah sthanam
yat punyam hari-medhasah papo 'pi jantus tat prapya
nispapo jayate dhruvam

skande - in the Skanda Purana; kasi...-khande - Kasi- khanda; hrdyam - charming; madhuvanam -
Madhuvana; prayah - for the most part; yamunayah - of the Yamuna; tate'on the shore; mahat - great;
adyam - transcendental; bhagavatah - of the Lord; sthanam - place; yat - which; punyam - sacred;
hari-medhasah - fixed their hearts on Lord Hari» papah - sin; api - even; jantuh - person; tat - that;
prapya - attaining; nispapah - sinless; jayate - born; dhruvam - indeed.

In the Skanda Purana Kasi-khanda, it is said:

The charming forest of Madhuvana is situated on the shore of the Yamuna Madhuvana is the
original place of the Supreme Personality of Godhead It is very sacred to they whose hearts are fixed
on Lord Hari A sinful man who goes there becomes at once free from all sins.

Text 18
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atha punya-pradatvam yatha adi-varahe

yat punyam asvamedhena

yat punyam rajasuyatah mathurayam tad apnoti
tri-ratra-sayanad yami

atha - now; punya-pradatvam - granting pious merit; yatha - as; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha
Purana; yat - which; punyam - piety; asvamedhena - by an asvamedha- yajna; yat - which; punyam -
piety; rajasuyatah - from a rajasuya-yajna; mathurayam - in Mathura; tad - that; apnoti - attains; tri-
ratra - for three nights; sayanad - by resting; yami - self-controlled.

Mathura' Grants Pious Merit

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The pious merit attained by performing an asvamedha-yaj{.sy a and the pious merit attained by
performing a rajasuya- yaj{.sy a is at once attained by a self-controlled person who stays for three
nights in Mathura.

Text 19

vimsatir yojananam tu
mathuram mama mandalam pade pade 'svamedhiyam
punyam natra vicarana

vimsatir yojananam - 2° yojanas; tu - indeed; mathuram- mama mandalam - My circle of Mathura;

pade pade - at every step; asvamedhiyam - of an asvamedha-yajna; punyam - piety; na - not; atra -
here; vicarana - doubt.

My Mathura'-mandala is 2° yojanas (16° miles) in size With every step there one attains the piety
of perfoming an asvamedha- yaj{.sy a Of this there is no doubt.

Text 20

snanena sarva-tirthanam
yat syat sukrta-sacayah tato 'dhikataram proktam
mathure sarva-mandale

snanena - by bathing; sarva-tirthanam - of all holy places; yat - what; syat - is; sukrta-sa{.sy
cayah'piety; tatah - than that; adhikataram - greater; proktam - said; 2} mathure sarva-mandale - in the
circle of Mathura.
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In Mathura-mandala one attains piety greater than what is attained by bathing in all other holy
places.

Text 21

caturnam api vedanam

punyam adhyayanac ca yat tat punyam jayate pumsam
mathuram vadatam satam

caturnam api vedanam - of the four Vedas; punyam - piety; adhyayanat - from study; ca - and;
yat'what; tat - that; punyam - piety; jayate - is born; pumsam - of persons; mathuram - Mathura;
vadatam - saying; satam - saints.

The same piety that is attained by studying the four Vedas is also attained by a saintly devotee who
speak the word Mathura.

Text 22

svodbhava-papa-haritvam yatha adi-varahe

anyatra hi krtam papam

tirtham asadya nasyati tirthe tu yat krtam papam
vajra-lepo bhaved dhruvam

svodbhava - manifest in itself; papa - sins; haritvam - removal; yatha - as; adi-varahe - in the Adi-
varaha Purana; anyatra - in any other place; hi - certainly; krtam - performed; papam - sin; tirtham -
holy place; asadya - attaining; nasyati - perishes; tirthe - in the holy place; tu - but; yat - what; krtam
- done; papam - sin; vajra - of a thunderbolt; lepah - the licking; bhaved - becomes; dhruvam -
certainly.

Mathura' Removes the Sins Performed There

This is described in the Adi-varaha Purana:

Sins performed in some other place become destroyed when they approach a holy place of
pilgrimage However, sins performed at a holy place of pilgrimage become like the licking of
lightning bolt.
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Text 23

mathurayam krtam papam

mathurayam vinasyati janato 'janato 'vapi
yat papam samuparjitam- sukrtam duskrtam vapi
mathurayam pranasyati

mathurayam - in Mathura; krtam - done; papam - sins; mathurayam - in Mathura; vinasyati -

perishs;{fn j{.sy anatah - of the wise; aj{.sy anatah - of the ignorant; va - or; api - and; yat - which;
papam - sins; samuparjitam - attained; 2} sukrtam - pious; duskrtam - impious; va - or; api - and;
mathurayam - in Mathura; pranasyati - perishes.

Sins performed at Mathura become destroyed at Mathura. Whether one is wise or ignorant saintly
or wicked his sins become destroyed at Mathura.

Text 24

yatra krsnena sacirnam

kriditam ca yatha-sukham cakrankita-pada tena
sthane brahmamaye subhe

yatra - where; krsnena - by Krsna; sa{.sy cirnam - filled; kriditam - enjoyed pastimes; ca - and;{fn
yatha-sukham - according to happiness; cakra - with the cakra; ankita - marked; pada - feet; tena - by
Him; sthane - place; brahmamaye - spiritual; subhe - auspicious.

In this beautiful spiritual place Lord Krsna, whose feet are marked with a cakra enjoyed
transcendental pastimes to his heart's content.

Text 25

esa divya puri devi

nitya-kalam su-gopita bhakta tvam mama sisya ca
kathita te vasundhare

esa - this; divya - transcendental; puri - city; devi - O goddess; nitya-kalam - eternally; su- gopita -
hidden; bhakta - devotee; tvam - you; mama - My» sisya - disciple; ca - and; kathita - spoken; te - to
you; vasundhare - O earth-goddess.

O goddess this transcendental city is eternally hidden with great care O earth-goddess because you
are My devotee and My disciple it is nou described to you.
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Text 26

na maya kathitam devi

brahmanas ca mahatmanah rudrasya na maya purvam
kathitam ca vasundhare maya su-gopitam hy etad
guhyad guhyatamam smrtam

na - not; maya - by Me; kathitam - described; devi - O goddess; brahmanah - Brahma; ca - and;
mahatmanah'great soul; rudrasya - Sµiva; na - not; maya - by Me; purvam - previously; kathitam -
said; ca - and; vasundhare - O earth; maya - by Me; su- gopitam - hidden; hi - indeed; etad - this;
guhyad guhyatamam- smrtam - greatest secret.
O goddess I have not described this to the brahmanas and the great souls I have not described it to
Lord Sµiva O earth- goddess it has been carefully hidden by Me because I consider it the most
confidential of all secrets.

Text 27

anyatra dasabhir varsaih

prarabdham bhujyate tu yat kilbisam tan maha-devi
mathure dasabhir dinaih

anyatra - in another place; dasabhir varsaih - for 1° years; prarabdham - beginnings; bhujyate -
experienced; tu - indeed; yat - what; kilbisam - sin; tat - that; maha-devi - O goddess; mathure - in
Mathura; 2} dasabhir dinaih„ - in 1° days.

O goddess, sins that fester for 1° years in other places are destroyed in Mathura in 1° days.

Text 28

atha sarva-tirthadhikatvam yatha adi-varahe

na vidyate hi patale
nantarikse na manuse samam tu mathuraya hi
tirthe mama vasundhare

atha - now; sarva - of all; tirtha - holy places; adhikatvam - superiority; yatha - as; adi-varahe - in
the Adi-varaha Purana; na - not; vidyate - is; hi - indeed; patale - in hell; na - not; antarikse - in
heaven; na - not; manuse - in the world of men; samam - equal; tu - certainly; mathuraya - to
Mathura; hi - certainly; tirthe - holy place; mama - My; vasundhare - O earth.
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Mathura Is the Best of All Sacred Places

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O earth-goddess neither in hell heaven, nor in the world of humans is there any sacred place equal
to Mathura.

Text 29

tatra dharani-prasnah„

naimisam puskaram caiva

purim varanasim tatha etan hitva maha-bhaga
mathuram kim prasamsasi

tatra - there; dharani - of the earth; prasnah - question; naimisam - Naimisaranya; puskaram -
Puskara; ca - and; eva - indeed; purim - city» varanasim - Varanasi; tatha - that; etan - these; hitva -
ignoring; maha-bhaga - O auspicious Lord; mathuram - Mathura; kim - why?; prasamsasi - You
glorify.

The the Earth-goddess Asked:

There are Naimisaranya Lake Puskara and the city of Varanasi O auspicious Lord why do You
ignore them and glorify Mathura¿

Text 30

sri-varahenoktam mathureti su-vikhyatam

asti ksetram param mama su-ramya ca prasasta ca
janma-bhumih priya mama

sri...-varahena - by Lord varaha; uktam - said; mathura - Mathura; iti - thus; su-vikhyatam -
famous; asti'is; ksetram - place; param - transcendental; mama - My; su-ramya - charming; ca - and;
prasasta - glorious; ca - and; janma- bhumih - birthplace; priya - dear; mama - to me.

Lord Varaha said

Mathura' is famous as my supreme abode It is beautiful and glorious It is the place where I tooë
birth It is very dear to Me.
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Text 31

sarvesam devi tirthanam

mathuram paramam mahat krsnena kriditam yatra
tac ca suddham pade pade

sarvesam - of all; devi - o goddess; tirthanam - holy place; mathuram - Mathura; paramam - best;
mahat - great; krsnena - by Krsna; kriditam - played; yatra - where; tac - which; ca - and;û.fn
suddham - pure; pade pade - at every step.

O goddess Mathura' is the greatest of all holy places Krsna enjoys pastimes there. It purifies one at
every step.

Text 32

cakrankitam hi tat sarvam

krsnasyaiva padena tu bala-kridana-rupani
krtani saha gopakaih

cakrankitam - marked with the cakra; hi - indeed; tat - that; sarvam - all; krsnasya - of Krsna; eva -
indeed; padena - by the foot; tu - indeed; bala- kridana-rupani - in childhood pastimes; krtani - done;
saha'with; gopakaih - the gopas.

It is completely covered with Krsna footprints Krsna enjoys childhood pastimes there with the
cowherd boys.

Text 33

yani tirthani tany eva

sthapitani majarsibhih etat te kathitam saram
maya satyena suvrate

yani - which; tirthani - holy place; tani - they; eva - indeed; sthapitani - established; majarsibhih -
by great sages; etat - this; te - to you; kathitam - spoken; saram - essence; maya - by Me; satyena'in
truth; suvrate - O saintly girl.

The great sages have discovered the holy places places of Mathura O saintly one, I have thus
truthfully described the essence of Mathura' to you.
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Text 34

na tirtham mathuraya hi
na devah kesavat parah

na - not; tirtham - holy place; mathurayah - than Mathura; hi - indeed; na - not; devah - demigod;
2} kesavat - than Krsna; parah - greater.

No holy place is better than Mathura and no demigod is better than Lord Kesava.

Text 3µ

varahe

srnu tattvena me bhumi

kathyamanam atho 'naghe mathureti su-vikhyata
yasmin ksetre priya mama

varahe - in the Varaha Purana; srnu - listen; tattvena - in truth; me - My; bhumi - O earth;
kathyamanam - saying; athah - then; anaghe - O sinless one; mathura - Mathura; iti - thus; su-vikhyata
- very famous; yasmin - in which; ksetre - place; priya - beloved; mama - My.

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

O earth-goddess please listen and I shall tell you the truth O sinless one Mathura' is very famous as
the place where my beloved Radha' stays.

Text 36

su-ramya su-prasasta ca
janma-bhumir mama priye bhavisyati vararohe
dvapare samsthite yuge

su-ramya - beautiful; su-prasasta - glorious; ca - and; janma-bhumir - birthplace; mama - My;

priye - O beloved; bhavisyati - will be; vararohe - O beautiful girl; dvapare samsthite yuge - in
Dvapara-yuga.

O dear one O beautiful one delightful and famous Mathura' is the place where I will take birth in
the Dvapara-yuga.
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Text 37

yayati-nrpa-vamse 'ham
utpatsyami vasundhare satani paca varsanam
atra sthasyami niscayah

yayati-nrpa-vamse - in the dynasty of King Yayati; aham - I; utpatsyami - will take birth;
vasundhare - O earth» satani - hundreds; pa{.sy ca - five; varsanam - years; atra - here; sthasyami'I
will stay; niscayah - certainly.

O earth-goddess I will take birth in the dynasty of King Yayati and I will stay here for 50° years.

Text 3¸

skande mathura-khande narada-vakyam

srnu dharmam maha-praj{.sy a

yat tvam prcchasi dharma-vit gopyam sapta-purinam tu
mathura-mandalam smrtam

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; narada-vakyam - Narada's

statement; srnu - please listen; dharmam - religion; maha- praj{.sy a - O intelligent one; yat - what;
tvam - you; prcchasi - ask; dharma-vit - O knower of religion; gopyam - hidden; sapta-purinam - of
the seven cities; tu - indeed; mathura-mandalam - Mathura; smrtam - is considered.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda Narada said:

O wise one, O knower of religion please listen to the answer to the question you have asked
Mathura'-mandala is known to be the most confidential of the seven holy cities.

Text 39

trimsad-varsa-sahasrani
trimsad-varsa-satani ca yat phalam bharate varse
tat phalam mathuram smaran

trimsad-varsa-sahasrani - thirty thousand years; trimsad- varsa-satani - three thousand years; ca -

and; yat phalam - the result; bharate varse - on earth; tat phalam - that result; mathuram - Mathura;
smaran - remembering.
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The pious result attained by three thousand years or thirty thousand years of endeavor on earth is
attained by simply once remembering Mathura.

Text 4°

tatha hi adi-varahe

maha-maghyam prayage ca
yat phalam labhate narah tat phalam labhate devi
mathurayam dine dine

tatha hi - furthermore; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; maha-maghyam - on maha'-magha;

prayage - at Prayaga; ca - and; yat phalam - the result; labhate - attains; narah - a person; tat phalam -
that result; labhate - attains; devi - O goddess; mathurayam - in Mathura; dine dine - any day.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The pious result one attains on the Maha'-magha sacred day at Prayaga is attained on any day in
Mathura.

Text 41

karttikyam caiva yat punyam

puskare tu vasundhare tat phalam labhate martyo
mathurayam dine dine

karttikyam - during Karttika; ca - and; eva - certainly; yat punyam - the piety; puskare - at
Puskara; tu - indeed; vasundhare - O earth; tat phalam - that result; labhate - attains; martyah - a
human; mathurayam - at Mathura» dine dine - any day.

O earth-goddess, the pious result one attains during the month of Karttika at Puskara Lake is
attained on any day in Mathura.

Text 42

varanasyam tu yat punyam

rahu-graste divakare tat phalam labhate devi
mathurayam jitendriyah
 16

varanasyam - at varanasi; tu - indeed; yat punyam - the piety; rahu-graste divakare - during a solar
eclipse; tat phalam - that result; labhate - attains; devi - O goddess; mathurayam - at Mathura»
jitendriyah - a person who controls his senses.

O goddess the pious reult one attains on a solar eclipse in Varanasi is attained in Mathura' by a
person who controls his senses.

Text 43

purne varse sahasre tu

varanasyam tu yat phalam tat phalam labhate devi
mathurayam ksanena hi

purne varse sahasre - after a thousand years; tu - indeed; varanasyam - at Varanasi; tu - indeed; yat
phalam'that result; tat phalam - that result; labhate - attains; devi - O goddess; mathurayam - at
Mathura» ksanena - in a moment; hi - indeed.

O goddess the pious result one attains at Varanasi after a thousand years in attained at Mathura' in a
single moment.

Text 44

padme patala-khande

purne varsa-sahasre tu
tirtha-rajesu yat phalam tat phalam labhate devi
mathurayam dine dine

padme patala-khande - in the Padma Purana Patala-khand; purne varsa-sahasre - after a thousand
years; tu - indeed; tirtha-rajesu'at the kings of holy places; yat phalam tat phalam - the same result;
labhate - attains; devi - O goddess; mathurayam - in Mathura; dine dine - any day.

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, it is said:

O goddess the same pious result one attains at Prayaga the king of holy places by staying there for
a thousand years is attained every day at Mathura.

Text 45
 17

godavari-dvadasako naro yah

ksetre kurunam ksiti-dayako yah san-masakan sadhayate gayayam
samam bhaven no dinam ekam mathure

godavari - by the Godavari; dvadasakah - twelve; naro yah - a person who; ksetre kurunam - at
Kuruksetra; ksiti-dayakah - giving land; yah„ - who; san„-masakan - for siø months; sadhayate -
staying; gayayam - at gaya; samam - equal; bhavet - not; nah - not» dinam - day; ekam - one; mathure
- in Mathura.

A person who lives for twelve months on the shore of the Godavari who gives a gift of land at
Kuruksetra or who lives for siø months at Gaya is not equal to a person who lives for a single day at
Mathura.

Text 46

na dvaraka kasi kaci na maya

gadabhrto yasya samam na tirtham santarpita yad yamuna-jalena
vachanti no pitarah pinda-danam

na - not; dvaraka - Dvaraka; kasi - Varanasi; ka{.sy ci - Kanci; na - not; maya - Maya; gadabhrtah
- of Lord Krsna; yasya - of whom; samam - equal; na - not; tirtham - holy place; santarpita - satisfied;
yad - which; yamuna - of the yamuna; jalena - with water;û.fn va{.sy chanti - desire; nah - not;
pitarah„ - the pitas; pinda-danam - pinda.

Neither Dvaraka Kasi Ka{.sy ci nor Maya' are equal to Lord Krsna's place of Mathura Pleased by
the offering of Yamuna' water there the pitas do not desire offerings of pinda.

Text 4·

ata evottara-khande

mathurayam prakurvanti
puri-sadharani-drsam ye naras te 'pi vij{.sy eyah
papa-rasibhir anvitah

atah„ eva - therefore; uttara-khande - in the Uttara- khanda; mathurayam - in Mathura; prakurvanti -
do; puri...-sadharani - an ordinary city; drsam - seeing; ye - which; narah - people; te api - they;
vij{.sy eyah - known; papa-rasibhir - with sins; anvitah - filled.

In the Uttara-khanda it is said:

 18

They who thinë that Mathura is an ordinary city are known to be filled with great sins.

Text 48

sri-krsnakhyam param brahma

yatra kridati sarvada tad-anyakhila-tirthebhyo
'dhikam yat tat kim ucyate

sri...-krsnakhyam - named Lord Krsna; param- brahma - the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
yatra - where; kridati - enjoys pastimes; sarvada - eternally; tad- anyakhila-tirthebhyah - than all other
holy places; adhikam - greater; yat tat - that; kim ucyate - what more need be said?

The the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krsna enjoys pastimes there eternally For this
reason it is better than all other holy places What more need be said?

Text 49

nirvana-khande ca

tam purim prapya mathuram

madiyam sura-durlabham kha{.sy o bhutvandhako vapi
pranan eva parityajet

nirvana-khande - in the Nirvaana-khanda; ca - also; tam- purim - that city; prapya - attaining;
mathuram - Mathura'; madiyam - My; sura- durlabham - difficult for the demigods to attain; kha{.sy
ah - a cripple; bhutva - becoming; andhakah - a blind man; va - or; api - even; pranan - life; eva -
indeed; parityajet - leaving.

In the Nirvana-khanda it is said:

A blind man or a cripple who dies in my city of Mathura which even the demigods cannot attain
will attain My eternal abode.

Text 50

patala-khande ca

na drsta mathura yena

didrksa yasya jayate yatra tatra mrtasyapi
mathure janma jayate
 19

patala-khande - in the Patala-khanda; ca - and; na - not; drsta - seen; mathura - Mathura; yena - by
whom; didrksa - desiring to see; yasya - of whom; jayate'is born; yatra - where; tatra - there; mrtasya
- dead; api - even; mathure - in Mathura; janma - birth; jayate - is born.

In the Patala-khanda Purana it is also said:

He who deos not see Mathura although he yearns to see it will take birth after his death in Mathura.

Text 51

asankhya-tirthasrayatvam yatha adi-varahe

sasti-koti-sahasrani
sasti-koti-satani ca tirtha-sankhya tu vasudhe
mathurayam mayodita

asankhya - numberless; tirtha - of holy places; asrayatvam - the condition of being the shelter;
yatha - as; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; sasti-koti- sahasrani sasti-koti-satani ca - 6° billion;
tirtha- sankhya - holy place; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth; mathurayam - in Mathura; maya - by Me;
udita - manifest.

Mathura' Is the Shelter of Numberless Holy Places

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O earth-goddess 6° billion sacred places reside in My Mathura

Text 52

skande mathura-khande

bhume rajamsi ganana

kalenapi bhaven nrpa mathure yani tirthani
tesam sankhya na vartate
skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; bhume - O earth; rajamsi - dust;
ganana - counting; kalena - in time; api - even; bhavet - may be; nrpa - O king; mathure - in Mathura;
yani - which; tirthani - holy places; tesam - of them; sankhya - counting;û.fn na - not; vartate - is.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

 20

O king in the course of time it may be possible to count the grains of dust on the earth but it will
not be possible to count the number of holy places in Mathura

Text 53

atha nivasopadesah padme patala-khande

kuru bhoh kuru bho vasam

mathurayah purim prati yatra gopyas ca govindas
trailokyasya prakasakah

atha - now; nivasa - residence; upadesah - instruction; padme patala-khande - in the padma Purana
Patala-khanda; kuru - do; bhoh - Oh; kuru - do; bhah - Oh; vasam - residence; mathurayah„ purim-
prati - in Mathura; yatra - where; gopyah - the gopis; ca - and; govindahËrsna; trailokyasya - of the
three worlds; prakasakah - creator.

Instruction to Reside in Mathura

In the Padma Purana, Patala-kanda, it is said»

Reside in Mathura¡ Reside in Mathura where the gopis and Lord Govinda who created the three
worlds live.

Text 54

re re samsara-magnadya
siksam ekam tu me srnu yadicchasi sukham sandram
vasam kuru madhoh pure

re - Oh; re - Oh; samsara - in birth and death; magna - plunged; adya - today; siksam - instruction;
ekam - one; tu - indeed; me - from Me; srnu - please hear; yadi - if; icchasi - you desire; sukham -
happiness; sandram - intense; vasam - residence; kuru - do; madhoh„ pure - in Mathura.

O people plunged in the ocean of birth and death, please hear this one teaching if you desire intense
bliss then please reside in Mathura'.

Text 55

yadiccheh para-samsaram
vahitram mathuram kuru nauko sa prerakah krsno
 21

bhoh sive para-karakah

yadi - if; iccheh - you desire; para - the other shore; samsaram - birth and death; vahitram - boat;
mathuram - Mathura; kuru - make; naukah - a boat; sah - He; prerakah - captain; krsnah - Krsna;
bhoh - Oh; sive - O Gauri; para-karakah - taking to the other shore.

O Gauri if you desire to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death then reside in Mathura
Mathura' is a strong boat and Krsna the captain of this strong boat, will lead you to the other shore

Text 56

aho loko mahan andho

netra-yukto na pasyati mathure vidyamane 'pi
samsrtim bhajate sada

ahah - Oh; lokah - world; mahan - great; andhah - blind; netra-yuktah - with eyes; na - do not;
pasyati'see; mathure - in Mathura; vidyamane - being; api - even; samsrtim - to birth and death»
bhajate - attached; sada - always.

The people of this world although they have eyes, are blind and cannot see. Although Mathura is
manifest in this world, they remain attached to this world of repeated birth and death.

Text 57

manusim yonim atulam

labdhva bhagyasya yogatah vrthaivayur gatam tesam
na drstva mathuram purim

manusim - human; yonim - birth; atulam - rare; labdhva - having attained; bhagyasya yogatah -
possessing; vrtha - useless; eva - indeed; ayur - life; gatam - gone; tesam - of them; na - not; drstva -
having seen; mathuram- purim - Mathura.

If after attaining this rare and valuable human form of life one does not see Mathura then he wastes
his life. Text 58

aho mateh sudaurbalyam

aho bhagyasya daurvidham aho mohasya mahima
mathura naiva sevyate
 22

ahah - Oh; mateh - of intelligence; sudaurbalyam - great weakness; ahah - Oh; bhagyasya - of
good-fortune; daurvidham - collapse; ahah - Oh; mohasya - of illusion; 2} mahima - glory; mathura -
Mathura; na - not; eva - indeed; sevyate - is served.

O what foolishness! What misfortune! What illusion when Mathura is not served.

Text 5¹

sapadam sampadam j{.sy atva

sapayam kayam uccakaih capalam cacalam caiva
drstva mat-puram asrayet

sa - with; apadam - calamity; sampadam - prosperity; j{.sy atva - knowing; sa- apayam - with
death; kayam - the body; uccakaih - very; 2} capalam - fickle; ca{.sy calam - the goddess of fortune;
ca - and; eva - indeed; drstva - having seen; mat- puram'My city; asrayet - should take shelter.

Knowing that prosperity contains calamity within it and knowing that this body contains death
within it and seeing that the goddess of fortune is fickle one should take shelter of My city of
Mathura.

Texts 60-62

skande mathura-khande

tatraiva bhavatam bandhuh

pandavanam suhrt sakha satvatanam priyah saksad
yadavanam kulesvarah

krsnah kamala-patraksah
so 'vatirno yudhisthira ramena saha devakyam
vasudeva-grhottame

tasya karmany anekani

parigitani suribhih jatani mathure dese
tam purim ko na sevate

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; tatra - there; eva - indeed;
bhavatam - of you; bandhuh - friend; pandavanam - of the Pandavas; 2} suhrt sakha - friend;
satvatanam - of the Satvatas; priyah - dear; saksad - directly; yadavanam - of the Yadavas; kulesvarah
- leader of the family; krsnah - Krsna; kamala-patraksah - lotus-eyed; sah - He; avatirnah -
descended; yudhisthira - O Yudhisthira; ramena - with Balarama; saha - with; devakyam - in the
womâ of Devaki; vasudeva-grha-uttame - in Vasudeva's house; tasya - of Him; karmani - deeds;
 23

anekani - many; parigitani - glorified;{fn suribhih„ - by the devotees; jatani - born; mathure dese - in
Mathura; tam- purim - this city; kah - who?; na - not; sevate - serves.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

O Yudhisthira who will not serve this city of Mathura where lotus-eyed Krsna who appeared with
Balarama in the womâ of Devaki in the palace of Vasudeva and whose activities are glorified by the
demigods and who is the friend of all you Pandavas and who is dear to all the Satvatas and who is the
king of all the Yadus decsended?

Text 6³

ata evadi-varahe

mathuram ca parityajya
yo 'nyatra kurute ratim mudho bhramati samsare
mohito mama mayaya

atah„ eva - therefore; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; mathuram - Mathura; ca - and;
parityajya - abandoning; yah - who; anyatra - in another place; kurute - does; ratim - attraction;
mudhah - bewildered; bhramati - wanders; samsare - in birth and death; mohitah - bewildered; mama
- My; mayaya - by the maya.

In the Adi-varaha Purana is is said:

One who leaves Mathura and is happy in to stay in some other place is a fool who, bewildered by
My maya, wanders in this world of birth and death.

Text 64

skande mathura-khande

mathuram ca parityajya
yo 'nyatra kurute sprham durbuddhes tasya kim janam
ajanena vimohitah

skande - in the Skanda Purana; mathura-khande - Mathura'- khanda; mathuram - Mathura; ca - and;
parityajya - leaving; yah - who; anyatra - some other place;{fn kurute - does; sprham - desire;
durbuddheh - fool; tasya - of him; kim - what?; j{.sy anam - knowledge; 2} aj{.sy anena - by
ignorance; vimohitah - bewildered.
 24

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

He who although having attained Mathura desires to go somewhere else is bewildered What
knowledge does he have¿ He is bewildered by ignorance.

Text 65

athagati-gatitvam adi-varahe

matra pitra parityakta

ye tyakta nija-bandhubhih yesam kvapi gatir nasti
tesam madhu-puri gatih

atha - now; agati - of they who have no shelter; gatitvam - the state of being the shelter; adi-varahe
- in the Adi-varaha Purana; matra - by mother; pitra - and father;û.fn parityaktah - abandoned; ye -
who; tyakta - abandoned; nija-bandhubhih - by their own relatives; yesam - of whom; kvapi -
somewhere; gatir - shelter; na - not; asti - is; tesam - of them; madhu-puri... - Mathura; gatih - is the
shelter.

Mathura Is the Shelter of the Shelterless

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

For they who are abandoned by mother father friends and relatives, and who have no shelter
Mathura is a shelter

Text 66

papa-rasibhir akranta
ye daridrya-parajitah yesam kvapi gatir nasti
tesam madhu-puri gatih

papa - of sins; rasibhir - by hosts; akrantah - overpowered; ye - who; daridrya - by poverty;

parajitah - defeated; yesam - of whom; kvapi - somewhere;û.fn gatir - shelter; na - not; asti - is;
tesam - of them; madhu-puri - Mathura; gatih - is the shelter.

For they who are overpowered by a host of sins and who are defeated by poverty and who have no
shelter Mathura' is a shelter

Text 67
 25

ye ca yoga-paribhrasta
ye tapo-dana-varjitah yesam kvapi gatir nasti
tesam madhu-puri gatih

ye - who; ca - and; yoga-paribhrasta - fallen from yoga; ye - who; tapah - austerity; dana - and
charity; varjitah„ - without; yesam - of whom; kvapi - somewhere;û.fn gatir - shelter; na - not; asti -
is; tesam - of them; madhu-puri - Mathura; gatih - is the shelter.

For they who have fallen from the path of yoga who have neither austerity nor charity and who
have no shelter Mathura' is a shelter

Text 68

sruti-smrti-vihina ye
saucacara-vivarjitah yesam kvapi gatir nasti
tesam madhu-puri gatih

sruti-smrti-vihina ye - who; sauca-acara- vivarjitah - without cleanliness; yesam - of whom; kvapi -

somewhere;û.fn gatir - shelter; na - not; asti - is; tesam - of them; madhu-puri - Mathura; gatih - is
the shelter.

For they who have no knowledge of sruti or smrti, who have no purity, and have no shelter
Mathura is a shelter.

Text 69

sarat sarataram sthanam

guhyanam guhyam uttamam gatim anvesamananam
mathure parama gatih

sarat - than the best; sarataram - better; sthanam - place; guhyanam - of secrets; guhyam - secret;
2} uttamam - ultimate; gatim - destination; anvesamananam - of they who seek; mathure - in Mathura;
parama'supreme; gatih - shelter.

The ultimate, the supereme secret of all secrets, the goal for they who seeë it Mathura' is the
supreme shelter.

Text 70
 26

pade pade samakranta

ye vipadbhir ahar-nisam yesam kvapi gatir nasti
tesam madhu-puri gatih

pade pade - at every step; samakrantah - defeated; ye - who; vipadbhir - by calamities; ahar-nisam -
day and night; yesam - of whom; kvapi - somewhere;û.fn gatir - shelter; na - not; asti - is; tesam - of
them; madhu-puri - Mathura; gatih - is the shelter.

For they who, at every step, day and night, are defeated by a host of calamities, and who have no
shelter Mathura' is a shelter.

Text 71

atha nitya-hari-sannidhanatvam

adi-varahe mathurayah param ksetram

trailokye napi vartate yasmad vasamy aham devi
mathurayam tu sarvada

atha - now; nitya - eternally; hari - of Lord Krsna; sannidhanatvam - nearness; adi-varahe - in the
Adi- varaha Purana; mathurayah - of Mathura; param - supreme;{fn ksetram - place; trailokye - in
the three worlds; na - not; api - even; vartate - is; yasmad - because; vasami - reside; aham - I; devi -
O goddess; mathurayam - in Mathura; tu - indeed; sarvada - eternally.

Lord Hari Stays Eternally In Mathura

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O goddess because no place in the three worlds is superior to Mathura I eternally stay in Mathura.

Text 72

aho 'ti-dhanya mathura

yatra sannihito harih sarvesam yatra papanam
praveso na hi vidyate
ahah - Oh; ati-dhanya - supremely opulent; mathura - Mathura; yatra - where; sannihitah - stays;
harih'Krsna; sarvesam - of all; yatra - where; papanam - sins; pravesah - entance; na - not; hi - indeed;
vidyate - is.

Mathura where Lord Hari stayed and where no sin can enter is supremely opulent
 27

Text 73

padme patala-khande

aho madhu-puri dhanya

yatra tisthati kamsaha tatra deva-munih sarvo
vasam icchati sarvada

padme patala-khande - in the Padma Purana Patala-khanda; ahah - Oh; madhu-puri - Mathura;
dhanya - opulent; yatra - where; tisthati'stays; kamsaha - Krsna; tatra - there; deva - demigods; munih
- sages; sarvah - all; vasam - residence; icchati'desire; sarvada - eternally.

In the Padma Purana, Patala-khanda it is said:

In opulent Mathura where Lord Krsna stays all the demigods and sages aspire to live eternally.

Text 74

sri-bhagavate prathama-skande

aho alam slaghyatamam yadoh kulam

aho alam slaghyatamam madhor vanam yad esa pumsam rsabhah priyah sriyah
sva-janmana cankramanena cacati

sri...-bhagavate prathama-skande - in Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto One; ahah - oh; alam - greatly;

slaghyatamam - glorified; yadoh - of King Yadu; kulam - the dynasty; ahah - oh; alam - greatly;
slaghyatamam - glorified; madhor vanam - Mathura; yad - which; esah - He; pumsam - of living
beings; rsabhah'the supreme leader; priyah - the husband; sriyah - of the goddess of fortune; sva-
janmana - by His birth; cankramanena ca{.sy cati - wandered.

In Sµrimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.2¶ it is said:

Oh hou supremely glorified is the dynasty of King Yadu and hou virtuous is the land of Mathura
where the supreme leader all living beings the husband of the goddess of fortune has taken His birth
and wandered in His childhood.

Text 75

caturtha-skande
 28

tat tata gaccha bhadram te

yamunayas tatam sucim punyam madhuvanam yatra
sannidhyam nityada hareh

caturtha-skande - in the Fourth Canto; tat - that; tata - my dear son; gaccha - go; bhadramgood
fortune; te - for you; yamunayah - of the Yamuna; tatam - bank; sucim - being purified; punyam -
the holy; madhuvanam - of the name Madhuvana; yatra - where; sannidhyambeing nearer; nityada -
always; hareh - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In Sµrimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.42 it is said:

My dear boy I therefore wish all good fortune to you You should go to the banë of the Yamuna
where there is a virtuous forest named Madhuvana and there be purified Just by going there one
draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who always lives there.

Text 76

sri-dasame

rajadhani tatah sabhut

sarva-yadava-bhu-bhujam mathura bhagavan yatra
nityam sannihito harih

sri...-dasame - in the Tenth Canto; rajadhani - the capitol; tatah - from that time; sa - the country
and the city known as Mathura; abhut - became; sarva-yadava- bhu-bhujam - of all the kings who
appeared in the Yadu dynasty; 2} mathura - the place known as Mathura; bhagavan - the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; yatra - wherein; nityam - eternally; sannihitah - intimately connected living
eternally; harih - the Lord the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In Sµrimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.28 it is said:

Since that time the city of Mathura' had been the capitol of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty The
city and district of Mathura' are very intimately connected with Krsna for Lord Krsna lives there
eternally. Text 7·

sri-visnu-purane prathame 'mse

hatva ca lavanam rakso-

madhu-putram maha-balam satrughno mathuram nama
purim tatra cakara vai
 29

sri...-visnu-purane - in Visnu Purana; prathame amse - First Canto; hatva - having killed; ca - and;
lavanam - Lavana; rakso madhu-putram - the son of the demon Madhu; maha- balam - powerful;
satrughnah - Sµatrughna; mathuram - Mathura;û.fn nama - named; purim - city; tatra - there; cakara -
did; vai - indeed.

In the Visnu Purana First Canto, it is said:

This city is named Mathura' because Sµatrughna here killed powerful Lavanasura the son of the
raksasa Madhu.

Text 78

yatra vai deva-devasya

sannidhyam hari-medhasah sarva-papa-hare tasmims
tapas tirthe cakara sah

yatra - where; vai - indeed; deva-devasya - the master of the demigods; sannidhyam - nearness;
hari- medhasah - they who have fixed their hearts on Lord Hari; sarva-papa - all sins; hare - removing;
tasmin - there; tapah - austerities; tirthe'at the holy place; cakara - did; sah - he.

He (Dhruva Maharaja) performed austerities at this holy place where all sins are destroyed and
where the the Supreme Personality of Godhead on whom the devotees fiø their hearts always stays.

Text 79

vayu-purane catvarimsad yojananam

tatas tu mathura smrta yatra devo harih saksat
svayam tisthati sarvada

vayu-purane - in the Vayu Purana; catvarimsad - 40; yojananam - yojanas; tatah - then; tu - indeed;
mathura - Mathura; smrtah - remembered; yatra - where; devah - Lord; harih - Krsna; saksat -
directly; svayam - personally; tisthati - stays; sarvada - eternally.
In the Vayu Purana it is said:

In Mathura which is 4° yojanas (32° miles) in measurement Lord Hari stays eternally.

Text 80

atha sri-bhagavat-krpa-labhyatvam adi-varahe

na tat-punyair na taj-janair
 30

na tapobhir na taj-japaih na labhyam vividhair yajair

labhyam mad-anubhavatah

atha - now; sri...-bhagavat - of the Lord; krpa - of the mercy; labhyatvam - attainment; adi-varahe -
in the Adi- varaha Purana; na - not; tat-punyair - with piety; na - not; taê-j{.sy anair - by knowledge;
na - not; tapobhir - by austerities; na - not; taê-japaih - by japa» na - not; labhyam - attainable;
vividhair - by various; yaj{.sy air - sacrifices; labhyam - attainable; mad-anubhavatah - by My mercy.

In Mathura' One May Attain the Mercy of the the Supreme Personality of Godhead

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Not by great expertise not by transcendental knowledge not by austerities not by chanting mantras
and not by performing many yajas, but only by my mercy is Mathura attained.

Text 81

sri-visnoh krpaya nunam

tatra vaso bhavisyati vina visnoh prasadena
ksanam ekam na tisthati

sri...-visnoh - of Lord Visnu; krpaya - by the mercy; nunam - indeed; tatra - there; vasah -
residence; bhavisyati - will be; vina - without; visnoh - of Visnu; 2} prasadena - by the mercy;
ksanam - moment; ekam - one; na - not; tisthati - stays.

By the mercy of Sµri Visnu one attains residence in Mathura'. Without Visnu's mercy one cannot
stay for even ñ moment in Mathura.

Text 82

padme uttara-khande

harau yesam sthira bhaktir

bhuyasi yesu tat-krpa tesam eva hi dhanyanam
mathurayam bhaved ratih

padme - in the Padma Purana; uttara-khande - Uttara- khanda; harau - to Lord Hari; yesam - of
whom; sthira - steady; bhaktir - devotion; bhuyasi - great; yesu'in whom; tat-krpa - His mercy; tesam
- of them; eva - indeed; hi - indeed; dhanyanam - fortunate; mathurayam - in Mathura; bhaved'is;
ratih - pleasure.
 31

In the Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda, it is said:

The fortunate souls who have firm devotion for Lord Hari, and who have attained His great mercy,
take pleasure in Mathura.

Text 83

atha bhagavad-dhyanadi-labhyatvam adi-varahe

yada visuddhas tapa-adina janah

subhasraya dhyana-dhana nirantaram tadaiva pasyanti mamottamam purim
na canyatha kalpa-satair dvijottama

atha - now; bhagavad - on the Lord; dhyana - meditation; adi - beginning with; labhyatvam -
attainable; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; yada'when; visuddhah - pure; tapah - austerity;
adina - beginning with; janah - people; subha - pure; srayah - hearts; dhyana-dhana - wealthy with
meditation; nirantaram - always; 2} tada - then; eva - indeed; pasyanti - see; mama - My; uttamam -
supreme; purim - city; na - not; ca - and; anyatha - otherwise; kalpa-satair - with hundreds of kalpas;
2} dvijottama - O best of the dvijas.

Mathura' Can Be Attained By One Who Meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is saidL:

O best of the brahmanas living entities who are purified by austerity and other spiritual practices,
who hearts are filled with auspicious things and who are fixed in constant meditation on Me are able
to see my supreme city of Mathura' Others cannot see it in millions of kalpas.

Text 8´

moksa-pradatvam adi-varahe

ya gatir yoga-yuktasya
brahmaj{.sy asya manisinah sa gatis tyajatah pranan
mathurayam narasya ca

moksa - liberation; pradatvam - granting; adi- varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; ya - which; gatir -
destination; yoga-yuktasya - of one engaged in yoga; 2} brahmaj{.sy asya - who knows brahman;
manisinah - wise; sa - that; gatih - destination; tyajatah - giving up; 2} pranan - life; mathurayam - in
Mathura; narasya - of a person; ca - and.

Mathura Grants Liberation

 32

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The spiritual desintation attained by one who practices yoga one who knows Brahman or one who
is a thoughtful philosospher is also attained by a person who passes from this life in Mathura.

Text 85

tirthe caiva grhe vapi

catvare pathi caiva hi yatra tatra mrta devi
muktim yanti na canyatha

tirthe - at this holy place; ca - and; eva - indeed; grhe - at home; va - or; api - and; catvare - in a
courtyard; pathi - on the road; ca - and; eva - indeed; hi - indeed; yatra - where; tatra - there; mrtah -
after death; devi - O goddess; muktim - liberation; yanti - attain; na - not; ca - and; anyatha -
otherwise.

O goddess they who die in this holy place in a home here, in a courtyard, or on the road, attain
liberation without any doubt.

Text 86

kasy-adi-puryo yadi santi loke

tasam tu madhye mathuraiva dhanya ya janma-mau{.sy ji-vrata-mrtyu-dahair
nrnam caturdha vidadhati moksam

kasy-adi-puryah - beginning with Varanasi; yadi - if; santi - are; loke - in the world; tasam - of
them; tu - indeed; madhye - in the midst; mathura - Mathura; eva - indeed; dhanya - opulent; ya -
which; janma - birth; mau{.sy ji...-vrata - brahminical initiation; mrtyu - of death; dahair - by the
fires; nrnam - of people; caturdha - in four» vidadhati - grants; moksam - liberation.

If Varanasi and other holy cities were assemnbled together on this earth Mathura would be the
greatest and most opulent amongst them. With the fires of birth death, or brahmnical initiation within
its boundaries Mathura' grants the four kinds of liberation.

Text 87

na yogair ya gatir labhya

manvantara-satair api anyatra helaya satra
labhayte mat-prasadatah
 33

na - not; yogair - by yoga; ya - which; gatir - destination; labhya - is attained; manvantara- satair -
in hundreds of Manvantaras; api - even; anyatra - in another place; helaya - easily; sa - that; atra -
here; labhayte - is attained; mat-prasadatah - by My mercy.

The spiritual destination that in another place cannot be attained byt practicieng yoga for thousands
of manvantaras is attainable by My mercy very easily in this place.

Text 88

na papebhyo bhayam yatra

na bhayam yatra vai yamat na garbha-vasa-bhir yatra
tat ksetram ko na samsrayet

na - not; papebhyah - of sins; bhayam - fear; yatra - where; na - not; bhayam - fear; yatra - where;
vai'indeed; yamat - of yama; na - not; garbha-vasa - of residence in a mother's womb; bhir - fear;
yatra - where; tat ksetram - that place; kah - who?; na - not; samsrayet - will take shelter.

Who will not take shelter of this holy place where there is no fear of sin, no fear of Yamaraja, and
no fear of residing again in a mother's womb.

Text 89

vina sankhyena yogena

vina svatma-vicintanam vina vrata-tapo-danaih
sreyo vai praninam iha

vina - without; sankhyena - sankhya; yogena - yoga; vina - without; svatma-vicintanam -

meditation on the Self; vina - without; vrata - vows; tapah - austerities; danaih - and charity; sreyah -
benediction; vai - indeed; praninam - of the,living entities; iha - here.

Withyout sankhya without yoga without meditation on the Self and without vows austerities or
charity the living entities here attain the greatest benediction.

Text 90

krmi-kita-patangadya
mathurayam mrta hi ye kulat patanti ye vrksas
te 'pi yanti param gatim
 34

krmi - worms; kita - insects; patanga - birds; adya - beginning with; mathurayam - in Mathura;
mrta hi - indeed; ye - who; kulat - from the riverbanks; patanti'fall; ye - who; vrksahtrees; te - they;
api - even; yanti - attain; param- gatim - the supreme destination.

The worms, insects, birds, and other creatures who die here and the trees that fall down from the
riverbanks here, all attain the supreme destination.

Text 91

varahe

vimsa-yojana-vistaro
mathurayas ca mandalam yatra pranan vimucanti
siddha yanti param gatim

varahe - in the varaha Purana; vimsa-yojana-vistarah - 2° yojanas in size; mathurayah - of Mathura;

ca - and; mandalam'circle; yatra - where; pranan - life; vimu{.sy canti - abandon; siddhah - perfect;
yanti - attain; param- gatim - the supreme destination.

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

They who die in the twenty-yojana (16° miles) area of Mathura' become perfect and attain the
supreme destination.

Text 92

padme patala-khande

candala-jada-mukanam
jiva-himsa-ratasya ca mathura-pinda-danena
punar janma na vidyate
padme - in the Padma Purana; patala-khande - Patala- khanda; candala - outcaste; jada - fool;
mukanam - deaf-mute; jiva-himsa-ratasya - sadist; ca - and; mathura - in Mathura; pinda-danena - by
offering pinda; punar - again; janma - birth; na - not; vidyate - is.

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, it is said:

There is no next birth for an outcaste a fool a deaf- mute or a sadist that offers pinda in Mathura.
 35

Text 93

pranalyam ista-khacite
smasane vyomni macake attale va mrto devi
mathure muktim apnuyuh

pranalyam - in a ditch; ista-khacite - ina bricë-house; smasane - at a crematorium; vyomni - in the

sky; ma{.sy cake'on a throne; attale - in a palace; va - or; mrtah - dying; devi - O goddess; mathure -
in Mathura; muktim - liberation; apnuyuh - attain.

Dying in Mathura whether in a ditch in a bricë-house at a crematorium in the sky on a throne or in

a palace one attains liberation.

Text 94-95

vamana-purane

mathura-tirtham atulam
visrutam loka-sat-krtam yatra krsnas tu gopalaih
samam kriditavan jale

tatra gatva naro brahman

mucyate sarva-patakaih tri-ratram usitas tatra
niraharo jitendriyah viharantam jale krsnam
dhyayan mukto bhaven narah

vamana-purane - in the Vamana Purana; mathura- tirtham - Mathura; atulam - peerless; visrutam -
famous; 2} loka-sat-krtam - honored in the world; yatra - where; krsnah - Krsna; tu - indeed; gopalaih
- the gopas; samam - with; kriditavan - played; 2} jale - in the water; tatra - there; gatva - having gone;
narah - a person; brahman - O brahmana; mucyate - is freed; sarva- patakaih - from all sins; tri-ratram
- for three nights; usitah - residing; tatra - there; niraharah - fasting; jitendriyah - controlling the
senses; viharantam - playing; jale - in the water; krsnam - on Lord Krsna; dhyayan - meditating;
muktah - liberated; bhavet - becomes; narah - a person.

In the Vamana Purana it is said:

A person who goes to peerless famous honored-in-all-the- worlds Mathura-tirtha where Krsna
played in the water with the gopas becomes free from all sins O brahmana A person who fasting
controlling his senses and meditating on Krsna playing in the water stays there for three nights
becomes liberated.
 36

Text 96

saura-purane

astiha mathura nama

trisu lokesu visruta krsna-pada-rajo-misra-
balukaputa-vithika sparsanena naras tasya
mucyate sarva-bandhanat

saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; asti - is; iha - here; mathura - Mathura; nama - named; trisu
lokesu - in the three worlds; visruta - famous; krsna - of Krsna; pada - of the feet; rajah - with the
dust; misra - mixed; balukaputa-vithika - purified pathways; sparsanena - by the touch; narah - a
person; tasya - of that; mucyate - is liberated; sarva-bandhanat - from all bonds.

In the Sµaura Puran„a it is said:

Here is the place named Mathura famous in the three worlds and its pathways purified by dust
mixed with the dust of Krsna's feet By its touch a person becomes liberated from all bondage.

Text 97

mathura-khande

mathurayam vasisyami
yasyami mathura-purim iti yasya bhaved buddhih
so 'pi bandhad vimucyate

mathura-khande - in the Mathura'-khanda; mathurayam - in Mathura; vasisyami - I will live;

yasyami - I will go; mathura-purim - to Mathura; iti - thus; yasya - of whom; bhaved - may be;
buddhih - conception; sah„ api - he; bandhad - from bondage;{fn vimucyate - is liberated.

In the Mathura-khanda it is said:

I will live in Mathura I will go to Mathura A person who thinks in this way becomes free from
material bondage.

Text 98

atha visnu-loka-pradatvam brahmande

ye pasyanty acyutam devam

mathure devaki-sutam te visnu-lokam asadya
 37

na cyavante kadacana

atha - now; visnu-loka - Visnuloka; pradatvam - giving; brahmande - in the Brahmanda Purana; ye
- who; pasyanti - see; acyutam - Lord Acyuta; devam - Lord; mathure - in Mathura; devaki...-sutam -
the son of Devaki; te - they; visnu-lokam - Visnuloka; asadya'attaining; na - not; cyavante - fall down;
kadacana - ever.

Mathura Grants Residence in Visnuloka

In the Brahmanda Purana it is said:

They who in Mathura see the Deity of Devaki's son the spog uho never falls down attain Visnuloka
and never fall down.

Text 99

yatram karoti krsnasya

sraddhaya yah samahitah sarva-papair vinirmukto
visnulokam sa gacchati

yatram - journey; karoti - does; krsnasya - in Krsna; sraddhaya - with faith; yah - who;
samahitah'assembled; sarva-papair - from all sins; vinirmuktah - free; visnulokam - to Visnuloka; sah -
he; 2} gacchati - goes.

A person who filled with faith in Lord Krsna goes on a journey there becomes free from all sins
and goes to Visnuloka.

Text 100

muka jadandha-vadhiras
tapo-niyama-varjitah kalenaiva mrta ye ca
gacchanti visnu-mandiram

mukah - dumb; jada - foolish; andha - blind; vadhirahand deaf; tapo-niyama-varjitah - without
austerity; kalena - in time; eva - indeed; mrtah - after death; ye - who; ca - and; gacchanti - go;û.fn
visnu-mandiram - the palace of Lord Visnu.

The deaf dumb blind foolish and they who hasve no austerity or sense-control who in the course of
time die in Mathura go to Lord Visnu's palace.
 38

Text 101

sarpa-dastah pasu-hatah
pavakambu-vinasitah labdhapa-mrtyavo ye ca
mathure hari-loka-gah

sarpa - by a snake; dastah - bitten; pasu - by a wild beast; hatah - killed; pavaka - by fire; ambu -
or water; vinasitah - killed; labdhapa-mrtyavah - who die; ye - who; ca - and; mathure - in Mathura;
hari-loka - to Lord Hari's planet; gah - go.

They who bitten by a snake killed by a wild beast consumed by flames or drowned in water die in
Mathura attain the planet of Lord Hari.

Text 102

adi-varahe

kalpa-gramena kim tasya

varanasya ca va subhe mathurayam tu yat punyam
tasya punya-phalam srnu

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; kalpa-gramena - for many kalpas; kim - what is the use?;
tasya - of that; varanasyah - at varanasi; ca - and; va'or; subhe - O beautiful one; mathurayam - in
Mathura; tu - indeed; yat - that; punyam - piety; tasya - of that; punya-phalam - pious result; srnu

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

"What is the use of living for many kalpas at Varanasi O beautiful one when the same pious result
is easily attained at Mathura¿ Listen and I will tell you of that pious result.

Text 103

mathuram ca samasadya
yah kascid mryate bhuvi api kitah patango va
jayate sa caturbhujah

mathuram - Mathura; ca - and; samasadya - attaining; yah„ kascid - someone; mryate - dies; bhuvi
- in this world; api - even; kitah'a worm or a bug; patangah - a moth or a bird; va - or; jayate - is born;
sah - he; caturbhujah - with four arms.
 39

A human worm insect moth or bird who goes to Mathura' and dies there becomes reborn as a four-
armed resident of the spiritual world.

Text 104

gautamiya-tantre

mathnati sarva-papani
dadati paramam gatim uttamo hi naro yatra
tena sa mathura smrta

gautamiya-tantre - in the gautamiya Tantra; mathnati - crushes; sarva - all; papani - sins;
dadati'gives; paramam- gatim - the supreme destination; uttamah - ultimate; hi - indeed; narah - a
person; yatra - where; tena - by him; sa - this; mathura - Mathura; smrta - remembered.

In the Gautamiya-tantra it is said:

The place that crushes (math) all sins and grants the supreme destination where the Supreme
Person resides is known as Mathura.

Text 105

sarvabhista-pradatvam brahmanda-purane

satyam satyam muni-srestha

bruve sapatha-purvakam sarvabhista-pradam nanyan
mathurayah samam kvacit

sarva - all; abhista - desires; pradatvam - giving; brahmanda-purane - in the brahmanda Purana;
satyam - true; satyam - true; muni - sages; srestha-best; bruve - I say; sapatha-purvakam - with a vow;
sarva - all; abhista - desires; pradam - giving;{fn na - not; anyat - another; mathurayah„ - to Mathura;
samam - equal; kvacit - anywhere.

Mathura' Fulfills All Desires

In the Brahmanda Purana it is said:

It is true¡ It is true¡ O sage I vou that it is true¡ No other place fulfills all desires as Mathura' does!

Text 106
 40

skande mathura-khande

ksetra-palo maha-devo
vartate yatra sarvada yatra visranti-tirtham ca
tatra kim durlabham phalam

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; ksetra-palah - protector; maha-
devah - Mahadeva; vartate - is; yatra - where; sarvada - always; yatra - where; visranti- tirtham -
Visranti-tirtha; ca - and; tatra - there; kim - what?; durlabham - difficult to attain; phalam - result.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

In Mathura where the Supreme Lord is the all-pervading protector and where there are places of His
transcendental pastimes what result is difficult to attain?

Text 107

padmottara-khande

tri-varga-da kaminam ya
mumuksunam ca moksada bhakticchor bhaktida kas tam
mathuram nasrayed budhah

padmottara-khande - in Padma Purana Uttara-khanda; tri- varga-da - giving the three goals;
kaminam - of they who desire; ya - which; mumuksunam - of they who wish liberation; ca - and;
moksada - giver of liberation; bhakti-icchor - of one who desires bhakti; bhaktida - giver of bhakti;
kah - who?; tam - this; mathuram - Mathura; na - not; asrayed - takes shelter; budhah - wise.

In the Padma Purana Uttara-khanda, it is said:

What wise man would not take shelter of of Mathura which gives the three goals of life to they
who desire them which gives liberation to they who hanker after liberation and which gives
devotional service to they who desire devotional service?

Text 108 tatraiva patala-khande parvati-prasnah

uktodbhutas ca mahima
mathuraya jatadhara muner bhuvo va saritah
prabhavah kena va vibho krsnasya va prabhavo 'yam
samyogasya pratapavan
 41

tatra - there;iva - like; patala-khande - in thre Patala-khanda; parvati...-prasnah - Parvati's question;

ukta - said; udbhutah - manifested; ca - and; mahima - glory; mathuraya - of Mathura; jatadhara - O
Sµiva; muner - of the sage; bhuvah - of the world; va - or; saritah - of the rivers; prabhavah - glory;
kena - by what?; va - or;{fn vibhah - O Lord; krsnasya - of Krsna; va - or; prabhavah - glory; ayam -
this; samyogasya - contact; pratapavan - powerful.

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, Parvati asks the following question:

O Jatadhara You have already described the glory of Mathura What is the glory of the sages the
ground and the rivers there¿ What is the great glory of Krsna there?

Text 109

tatraiva sri-mahadevottaram

na bhumika-prabhavas ca
sarito va varanane rsinam na prabhavas ca
prabhavo visnu-tarake

tatra - there; eva - indeed; sri...-mahadeva - Lord Mahadeva's uttaram - reply; na - not; bhumika -
of ground; prabhavah - glory; ca - and; saritah - of rivers; va - or; varanane - O girl with the beautiful
face; rsinam - of sages; na - not; prabhavah - glory; ca - and; prabhavah - glory; visnu-tarake - of
Lord Visnu's taraka potency.

Sµri Mahadeva replied:

O girl with a beautiful face this is not the glory of ordinary ground rivers and sages This is the
glory of Lord Visnu's taraka potency

Text 110 tatha paraka-cic-chakter

ubhe tat-pada-karake tad eva srnu bho devi
prabhavo yena vartate

tatha - so; paraka-cic-chakter - from the paraka potency; ubhe - both; tat-pada-karake - cause; tad -
this; eva - indeed; srnu - hear; bhah - O; devi - O goddess; prabhavah - glory; yena - how;û.fn vartate
- is.

The glory here is also manifest from the spiritual paraka potency O goddess please hear of these
two potencies.
 42

Text 111

sri-krsna-mahima sarvas
cic-chakter yah pravartate tarakam parakam tasya
prabhavo 'yam anahatah tarakaê jayate muktih
prema-bhaktis ca parakat

sri...-krsna - of Krsna; mahima - glory; sarvahall; cic-chakter - spiritual potency; yah - who;
pravartate - is; tarakam - taraka; parakam - paraka; tasya - of that; prabhavah - glory; ayam - this;
anahatah - glorious; tarakaj - from taraka; 2} jayate - is born; muktih„ - liberation; prema- bhaktih -
pure devotional service; ca - and; parakat - from paraka.

All Krsna's glories are manifest from His spiritual potency His glories are His taraka potency and
His paraka potency From His taraka potency liberation is manifest From His paraka potency louing
devotional service is manifest.

Text 112

tatraiva sri-bhagavad-vakyam

ubhau mantrau ubhe namni

madiya-prana-vallabhe nana-namani mantras ca
tan-madhye saram ucyate

tatra - there;iva sri...-bhagavad - of the Lord; vakyam - words; ubhau - both; mantrav - mantras;
ubhe - âoth; namni - names; madiya - My; prana - life; vallabhe - dear; nana - various; namani -
names; mantrah - mantras; ca - and; tan-madhye'in the midst; saram - best; ucyate - is said.

There also the Supreme Lord says:

O girl more dear to me than life in this way there are two mantras and two names Among all
mantras and names they are said to be the best.

Text 113

aj{.sy atam athava j{.sy atam

tarakam japate yadi yatra tatra bhaven mrtyuh
kasyam tu phalam adiset
 43

aj{.sy atam - not known; athava - or; j{.sy atam - known; tarakam - taraka; japate - chants; yadi'if;
yatra - where; tatra - there; bhavet - is; mrtyuh - death; kasyam - in Varanasi; tu - indeed;
phalam'result; adiset - shows.

If a person knowingly or unkowingly chants the taraka mantra then no matter where he dies he
attains the result of dying in Varanasi.

Text 114

vartate yasya jihvagre

sa pumal loka-pavanah chinatti sarva-papani
kasi-vasa-phalam labhet

vartate - is; yasya - of whom; jihvagre - on the tip of the tongue; sah - he; puman - person; loka-
pavanah - purifying the world; chinatti - cuts; sarva - all; papani - sins; kasi - in Varanasi; vasa -
residence; phalam - result; labhet - attains.

He on whose tongue the name taraka appears, purifies the people of the worlds He breaks all sins
He attains the result of living at Varanasi.

Text 115

iti taraka-mantro 'yam

yas tu kasyam pravartate sa eva mathure devi
vartate 'tra varanane

iti - thus; taraka-mantro ayam - this taraka mantra; yah - who; tu - indeed; kasyam - in Varanasi;
pravartate'is; sah - he; eva - indeed; mathure - in Mathura; devi - O goddess; vartate - is; atra - here;
varanane - O girl with the beautiful face.

O goddess O girl with the beautiful face even though he lives in Varanasi a person who chants this
taraka mantra actually lives here in Mathura.

Text 116

atha parakam ucyeta

yatha-mantram yatha-balam parakam yatra varteta
rddhi-siddhi-samagamah
 44

atha - now; parakam - paraka; ucyeta - is said; yatha - as; mantram - mantra; yatha-balam - as far
as there is power; parakam - paraka; yatra - where; varteta - is; rddhi-siddhi-samagamah - powers and
opulences.

When the powerful paraka mantra is chanted spiritual opulences and perfections appear.

Text 117

pujyo bhavati trailokye

satayur jayate puman asta-siddhi-samayukto
vartate yatra parakam

pujyah - worshiped; bhavati - is; trailokye - in the three worlds; satayur - a life of 10° years; jayate
- is âorn; puman'person; asta-siddhi- samayuktah - with the ¸ mystic powers; vartate - is; yatra -
where; parakam - paraka.

A person who chants the paraka mantra becomes worshiped by the three worlds He lives for a
hundred years He attains the eight perfections

Text 118

parakam yasya jihvagre

tasya santosa-vartita paripurno bhavet kamah
satya-sankalpata tatha

parakam - paraka; yasya - of whom; jihvagre - on the tongue; tasya - of him; santosa-
vartitahappiness; 2} paripurnah - full; bhavet - is; kamah - desire; satya-sankalpata - wishes become
true; tatha - as.

A person who places the paraka mantra on the tip of his tongue becomes happy His desires become
fulfilled

Text 119

dvi-vidha prema-bhaktis tu
sruta drsta tathaiva ca akhanda-paramanandas
tad-gato j{.sy eya-laksanah
 45

dvi-vidha - two kinds; prema-bhaktih - loving devotion; tu - indeed; sruta - heard; drsta - seen;
tatha - so; eva - indeed; ca - and; akhanda - unbroken; parama-anandahbliss; tad-gatah - attained; j{.sy
eya-laksanah - known.

Prema-bhakti (devotional service in pure love of God) is of two kinds that attained by hearing
about Me and that attained by seeing Me A person who has thus fallen in love with Me becomes filled
with a bliss that never breaks.

Text 120

asru-patam kvacin nrtyam

kvacit premati-vihvalah kvacit tasya maha-murccha
mad-guno giyate kvacit

asru-patam - shedding tears; kvacit - sometimes; nrtyam - dancing; kvacit - sometimes; premati-
vihvalah - overcome with love; kvacit - sometimes; tasya - of him; maha-murccha - fainting; mad-
gunah - My virtues; giyate - glorified; kvacit - sometimes.

Sometimes he sheds tears Sometimes he dances Sometimes he becomes overcome with love
Sometimes he faints Sometimes he glorifies Me in song.

Text 121

atha prapacatitam adi-varahe

anyaiva kacit sa srstir

vidhatur vyatirekini na yat ksetra-gunan vaktum
isvaro 'pisvaro yatah

atha - now; prapa{.sy ca - the material world; atitam - beyond; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha
Purana; anya - another eva - indeed; kacit - certain; sa - it; srstir - creation; vidhatur - of the creator;
vyatirekini - distinguished; na - not; yat - what; ksetra - of the place; gunan - virtues; vaktum - to
describe» isvarah - able; api - even; isvarah - Sµiva; yatah - because.

Mathura' is Beyond the Material World of Five Elements

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Mathura' was not created by Brahma Even Lord Sµiva has not the power to properly describe
Mathura's glories.
 46

Text 122

skande mathura-khande

tan-mandalam mathuram hi
visnu-cakropari sthitam padmakaram sada tatra
vartate sasvatam nrpa

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; tan-mandalam- mathuram - the
circle of Mathura; hi - indeed; visnu- cakra-upari - above Lord Visnu's circle; sthitam - situated;
padma-akaram - in the form of a lotus; sada - always; tatra - there; vartate - is; sasvatam - eternaly;
nrpa - O king.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda it is said:

O king this circle of Mathura is like a lotus eternally above the circle of Lord Visnu's realm.

Text 123

padme patala-khande

rsir mathura-namatra
tapah kurvati sasvate tato 'sya mathuram nama-
bhavad adhyam sriya yutam

padme patala-khande - in the Padma Purana Patala-khanda; rsir - sage; mathura-nama - named
Mathura; atra - here; tapah„ kurvati - performs austerities; sasvate - always; tatah - therefore; asya - of
him; mathuram - Mathura; nama - name; abhavad - was; adhyam - enriched; sriya - the goddess of
fortune; yutam - with.

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda it is said:

A sage named Mathura performed austerities there for a long time Beautiful Mathura is named
after him.

Text 124

tatraiva nirvana-khande

nityam me mathuram viddhi

 47

vanam vrndavanam tatha yamunam gopa-kanyas ca

tatha gopala-balakan

tatra - there; eva - indeed; nirvana-khande - in the Nirvana-khanda; nityam - always; me - My;
mathuram - Mathura; viddhi - know; vanam - forest; vrndavanam - Vrndavana; tatha - so; yamunam -
Yamuna; gopa-kanyah - gopis; ca - and; tatha - so; gopala- balakan - gopa boys.

In that same book in the Nirvana-khanda it is said:

Knou that My Mathura is eternal So also is Vrndavana forest So also are the Yamuna the gopis and
the gopa boys.

Text 125

aho na jananti nara durasayah

purim madiyam paramam sanatanim surendra-nagendra-munindra-samstutam
manoramam tam mathuram param gatim

ahah - Oh; na - not; jananti - know; narah - people; durasayah - wicked; purim - city; madiyam -
My; paramam - supreme; sanatanim - eternal; surendra - leaders of the demigods; nagendra - leaders
of the nagas; munindra - leaders of the sages; samstutam - glorified; manoramam - enchanting; 2}
tam- mathuram - this Mathura; param- gatim - the supreme destination.

Wicked men cannot understand My eternal beautiful transcendental city of Mathura which is the
supreme destination and which is glorified by the kings of the demigods nagas and sages.

Text 126

atha deva-traya-rupatvam padme patala-khande

ma-kare ca u-kare ca
a-kare canta-samsthite mathurah sabda-nispanna
om-karasya tatah samah

atha - now; deva-traya-rupatvam - the form of the three demigods; padme patala-khande - in the
Padma Purana Patala- khanda; ma-kare - the syllable ma; ca - and; u- kare - the syllable u; ca - and; a-
kare - the syllable a; ca - and; anta-samsthite - at the end; mathurah - Mathura; sabda-nispanna - as
sound; om- karasya - of om; tatah„ - to that; samah - equal.

Mathura' Is the Form of the Three Deities

 48

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, it is said:

Mathura' is the same as the syllable aum The a u and m in aumkara come from the same letters in
the word Mathura.

Text 127

maha-rudro ma-karah syad

u-karo visnu-samjakah a-karo 'ntyas tu brahma syat
tri-sabdam mathuram bhavet

maha-rudrah - Sµiva; ma-karah - the letter m; syad - is; u-karah - the letter u; visnu-samj{.sy akah
- is Visnu; a- karah - the letter a; antyah - at the end; tu - indeed; brahma - Brahma; syat - is; tri -
three; sabdam - sounds; mathuram - Mathura; bhavet - is.

In the syllable aum the m is Lord Sµiva the u is Lord Visnu and the a is Lord Brahma These three
letters are the same as Mathura.

Text 128

tada varah srestha uktah

satya evabhavat tatah sa tri-devamayi murtir mathuri tisthate sada

tada - then; varah„ sresthah - the best; uktah - said; satye - in truth; eva - indeed; abhavat - uas;
tatah„ - then; sa - that; tri- devamayi - the three demigods; murtir - form; mathuri - Mathura; tisthate -
stands; sada - always.

Of these this is the best statement Of these this is the truth Mathura' is eternally the form of these three
demigods.

Text 129

atha sri-visnu-bhakti-pradatvam padme uttara-khande

anyesu punya-tirthesu
muktir eva maha-phalam muktaih prarthya harer bhaktir
mathurayam ca labhyate
 49

atha - now; sri...-visnu - to Lord Visnu; bhakti - devotion; pradatvam - giving; padme uttara-
khande - in the Padma Purana Uttara-khanda; anyesu - in other;{fn punya-tirthesu - holy places;
muktir - liberation; eva - indeed; maha-phalam - great result; muktaih - by the liberated; prarthya -
requested; harer - of Lord Hari; bhaktir - devotion; mathurayam - in Mathura; ca - and; labhyate - is
attained.

Mathura' Gives Lord Visnu's Devotional Service

In the Padma Purana Uttara-khanda it is said:

Liberation is the great result attained at other holy places Devotional service to Lord Hari for which
the liberated souls pray is attained at Mathura.

Text 13°

tri-ratram api ye tatra

vasanti manuja mune harir dadyat sukham tesam
muktanam api durlabham

tri-ratram - three nights; api - even; ye - who; tatra - there; vasanti - reside; manujah - persons;
mune'O sage; harir - Hari; dadyat - gives; sukham - happiness; tesam - to them; muktanam - liberated;
api - even; durlabham - difficult to attain.

O sage to they who stay there for three nights, Lord Hari happily gives what even the liberated
souls cannot attain.

Text 131

brahmanda-purane

trailokya-varti-tirthanam
sevanad durlabha hi ya paranandamayi siddhir
mathura-sparsa-matratah

brahmanda-purane - in the Brahmanda Purana; trailokya- varti - in the three worlds; tirthanam - of
the holy places; 2} sevanad - by service; durlabha - rare; hi - indeed; ya - which; paranandamayi -
blissful; siddhir - perfection; mathura - of Mathura; sparsa- matratah - simply by the touch.

In the Brahmanda Purana it is said:

 50

The blissful perfection difficult to attain by serving all holy places in the three worlds is attained by
simply touching Mathura.

Text 132

skande mathura-khande

smaranti mathuram ye ca
mathuresam visampate sarva-tirtha-phalam tesam
syac ca bhaktir harau para

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; smaranti - meditiate; mathuram -
on Mathura; 2} ye - who; ca - and; mathuresam - Mathura's king; visampate - O king; sarva-tirtha-
phalam - result of all holy places;; tesam - of them; syac - is; ca - and; bhaktir - devotion; harau - to
Lord Hari; para - supreme.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

O king they who meditate on the king of Mathura' attain transcendental devotion to Lord Hari
which is the fruit of all pilgrimages.

Text 133

atha svatah parama-phalatvam padme patala-khande

aho madhu-puri dhanya

vaikunthac ca gariyasi dinam ekam nivasena
harau bhaktih prajayate

atha - now; svatah - personally; parama-phalatvam - the greatest result; padme patala-khande - in
the Padma Purana Patala-khanda; ahah - Oh; madhu- puri - Mathura; dhanya - opulent; vaikunthac -
than Vaikuntha; ca - and; gariyasi - greatesr; dinam - day; ekam - one; nivasena - by residence;
harau'for Lord Hari; bhaktih„ - devotion; prajayate - is born.

Mathura' Gives the Greatest Result

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, it is said:

Opulent Mathura' is greater than Vaikuntha Living there for a single day creates genuine devotion
to Lord Hari.
 51

Text 134

atha sapta-purinam tu
sarvotkrstam tu mathuram sruyatam mahima devi
vaikuntha-bhuvanottamah

atha - now; sapta - 7; purinam - of the cities; tu - indeed; sarva-utkrstam - best of all; tu - indeed;
mathuram'Mathura; sruyatam - should be heard; mahima - glory; devi - O goddess; vaikuntha - in thre
spiritual world;bhuvana - abode; uttamah - highest.

Mathura' is the best of the seven holy cities O goddess please hear of its glories greater than
Vaikuntha.

Text 135

adi-varahe

bhur-bhuvah-svas-tale vapi
na patala-tale 'malam nordhva-loke maya drstam
tadrë ksetram vasundhare

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; bhur-bhuvah-svas- tale - on Bhur Bhuvar and Svar; va - or;
api - and; na - not; patala-tale'in hell; amalam - pure; na - not; urdhva-loke - in the higher world;
maya - by Me; drstam - seen; tadrk - like this; ksetram - a place; vasundhare - O earth.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Not in Bhurloka Bhuvarloka Svarloka Patalaloka or Urdhvaloka have I seen any place like this O
earth-goddess.

Text 136

varahe

labhanam mathura-labho
jananam janam uttamam pritinam parama pritir
gatinam gatir uttama

varahe - in the Varaha Purana; labhanam - of attainments; mathura - of Mathura; labhah - the
attainment» j{.sy ananam - of knowledges; j{.sy anam - knowledge; uttamam - utlimate; pritinam - of
loves; parama - ultimate; pritir - love; gatinam - of goals; gatir - goal; uttama - ultimate.
 52

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

Attainment of Mathura' is the greatest of attainments Knowledge of Mathura' is the greatest of

knowledges Love for Mathura' is the greatest of loves The goal of Mathura' is the greatest of goals.

Text 137

rahasyanam rahasyam ca
kriyanam ca maha-kriya etan marana-kale tu
smartavyam manasapi ca yadicchet paramam siddhim
samsarasya ca moksanam
rahasyanam - of secrets; rahasyam - the secret; ca - and; kriyanam - of actions; ca - and; maha- kriya -
greatest action; etat - this; marana- kale - at the time of death; tu - indeed; smartavyam - should be
remembered; manasa - by the heart; api - and; ca - and; yadi - if; icchet - desires; 2} paramam -
supreme; siddhim - perfection; samsarasya - of the material world; ca - and; moksanam - liberation.

The secret of Mathura' is the greatest secret Actions in Mathura' are the greatest actions If one
yearns for the supreme perfection and release from the cycle of birth and death he should with all his
heart meditate on Mathura' at the time of his death.

Text 138

atha mathura-mandala-simajanam adi-varahe

vimsatir yojananam tu
mathuram mama mandalam

atha - now; mathura-mandala - of the circle of Mathura; sima - boundaries; j{.sy anam -
boundaries are unknown; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; vimsatir'20; yojananam - of yojanas;
tu - indeed; mathuram - Mathura' mama - My; mandalam - circle.

The Boundaries of the Circle of Mathura Are Unknown

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

My circle of Mathura' is 2° yojanas (16° miles).

Text 139
 53

tatha padme yamuna-mahatmye

ramyam apsarasam sthanam

yasmims ca{.sy calatam gatah yayavarah pura vipras
tapasvi vijitendriyah

tatha - as; padme yamuna-mahatmye - in the Padma Purana Yamuna-mahatmya; ramyam -

charming; apsarasam - of apsaras; sthanam - place; yasmin - where; ca{.sy calatam- gatah - went;
yayavarah - Yayavara; pura'before; viprahvipra; tapasvi... - austere; vijitendriyah - controlling the
senses.

In the Padma Purana Yamuna-mahatmya it is said:

One day an austere sense-controlled brahmana named Yayavara went to the beautiful place
Apsaras-tirtha.

Text 140

cira-kalam prataptam tam

indra-sapagninarditam sprsta vari-kanenenam
mocayitva tu patakat vimanenarka-varnena
prapayat tam suralayam

cira-kalam - for a long time; prataptam - austerities; tam - this; indra - Indra's; sapa - curse;
agnina - by the fire; arditam - tormented; sprsta - touched;û.fn vari- kanena - by a drop of water;
enam - this; mocayitva - freeing; tu - indeed; patakat - from sins; vimanena - by an airmplace; arka-
varnena - splendid as the sun; prapayat - brought; tam - him; suralayam - to the abode of the
demigods.

Tormented by the fire of Indra's curse he performed austerities for a long time but it was only when
he was touched by a single drop of water there that he at once became free from his sin and an
airplane splendid as the sun tooë him to the home of the demigods

Text 141

pujyamanadarenarghyair
vanaprasthair yatha-vidhi mathura-mandalam prapta
tasmad devarsi-sevita
 54

pujyamana - worshiped; adarena - with respect; arghyair - with arghya; vanaprasthair - vy

Vanaprasthas; yatha-vidhi'following the rules; mathura- mandalam - the circle of Mathura; prapta -
attained; tasmad'from that; devarsi - by Narada; sevita - served.

Respectfully worshiped with arghya by the vanaprasthas and served by the sages the Yamuna river
flows through Mathura'-mandala.

Text 142

pavayitva kurun desan

surasenan samavisat vanani dvadasa sphita-
sphitani guna-sampada

pavayitva - purifying; kurun - Kurus; desan - lands; surasenan - Surasenas; samavisat - entered;
vanani - forests; dvadasa - 12; sphita-sphitani - great; guna-sampada - rich with good qualities.

After purifying the Kuru and Sµurasena lands, it enters twelve great and glorious forests.

Text 143

kramad visrantim asadya

visranta kesavalaye sudarsanopari-gata
gata-srama-samipa-ga

kramad - gradually; visrantim - Visranti; asadya - attaining; visranta kesavalaye - abode of Krsna;
sudarsana - Sudarsana; upari- gata - above; gata-srama-samipa-ga - near Gatasrama.

Gradually it reaches Visranti-tirtha in the abode of Lord Kesava It goes to Sudarsana and then it
flows by Visrama-ghata.

Text 144

ity upakramya

aslista vasudevena
sat-krtyabhyarcya tapani samprapta punya-salila
su-punyam dhrauvyam asramam
 55

iti - thus; upakramya - following; aslista - embraced; vasudevena - by Krsna; sat-krtya

abhyarcya'respectfully worshiped; tapani... - Ymauna; samprapta - attained; punya-salila - pure waters;
su- punyam - sacred; dhrauvyam asramam - Dhruva's asrama.

Lord Vasudeva respectfully worships and embraces the Yamuna which with its pure waters flows
to pure Dhruva-asrama.

Text 145

samprapta punya-salila
su-punyam renukasramam diksito yatra ramo 'bhut
sarva-ksatra-ksayadhvare

samprapta - attained; punya-salila - pure water; su- punyam - sacred; renukasramam -

Renukasrama; diksitah - initiated; yatra - where; ramah - Rama; abhut - was; sarva-ksatra-
ksayadhvare - in the sacrifice to kill all the ksatriyas.

With its pure waters it flows to pure Renuka'-asrama where Lord Rama was initiated to perform a
yaj{,sy a to kill all the ksatriyas. Text 146

tatah prayata yamuna

bharatasyasvamedhikam istam sakuntaleyena
sarangair yatra saptabhih

tatah - then; prayata - gone; yamuna - Yamuna; bharatasya - of Bharata; asvamedhikam -

asvamedha; istam - done; sakuntaleyena - the son of Sakuntala; sarangair - saranga- yajnas» yatra -
where; saptabhih - seven.

Then the Yamuna' flows by the place where Bharata performed an asvamedha-yaj{.sy a and the
place where Sµakuntala's son performed seven saranga-yaj{.sy as.

Text 147

atha sa saptabhir medhyaih

somapendro 'py amadyata tatah pratyanmukhi bhutva
samprapta saukarim purim yasyam dharam samuddhartum
utpannas cadisukarah

atha - now; sah - he; saptabhir medhyaih - with seven sacrifices; somapendrah - Indraq; api - also;
amadyata'was pleased; tatah„ - then; pratyanmukhi bhutva - turning west; samprapta - attained;
 56

saukarim- puri - Saukari Puri; yasyam - in which; dharam - earth; samuddhartum- utpannah - lifted;
ca - and; adisukarah - Varaha.

Indra was pleased when he dranë soma at those seven yaj{.sy as Then the river turns west and
flows to Sµaukari Puri where Lord Varaha lifted the earth.

Text 148

tatas tam nagarim sauri

bhutva pratyanmukhi punah parikramya viniskranta
jihma-gatyeva pannagi

tatah - then; tam - that; nagarim - city; sauri... bhutva pratyanmukhi punah„ parikramya -
continuing west; viniskranta - crooked; jihma-gatya iva pannagi - like a snake.

Continuing west the river circles that city and then continues with crooked motions as a snake.

Text 149

tatah sa surasenebhyah
pacalanam vimukti-da istakasramam apede
vasisthayatanam mahat

tatah - then; sa - it; surasenebhyah - from the land of Surasena; pa{.sy calanam - to the people pof
Pancala- desa; vimukti - liberation; da - giving; istakasramam - Istakasrama; apede - attained;
vasisthayatanam - the home of Vasista Muni; mahat - great.

Then it leaves the land of Sµurasena and gives liberation to the people of Pa{.sy cala-desa and then
it flows to istaka- asrama the home of Vasista Muni.

Text 150

etena yaya-varam adhikrtya saukari-vatesvara-paryantam mathura-mandalam j{.sy eyam evam eva

sarvasu diksu api j{.sye eyam vimsati-yojanatmake bahu-tirthavat tvaya visesah.

etena - thus; yaya-varam - Yayavara; adhikrtya - in relation; saukari...-vatesvara-paryantam - from

Saukari to Vatesvara; j{.sy eyam - is known; evam - thus; eva - indeed; sarvasu diksu - in all
directions; api - also; j{.sye eyam'known; vimsati-yojanatmake - 2° yojanas; bahu-tirthavat - like a
great holy place; tvaya - by you; visesa - specific.
 57

In this way the circle of Mathura' goes from Yayavara-asrama to Sµaukari Puri to Vasistha-asrama
Turning to all directions it makes a circle 2° yojanas (16° miles) in circumference There are many
holy places within that circle.

Text 151

mathura-khande

mathura-mandalam tad dhi

yojananam tu dvadase yatra tirtha-sahasrani
krsna-rama-krtani ca

mathura-khande - in Mathura'-khanda; mathura-mandalam - the circle of Mathura; tad - that; hi -

indeed; yojananam - of yojanas; tu - indeed; dvadase - 12; yatra - where; tirtha - holy places;
sahasrani - thousands; krsna-rama-krtani - done by Krsna and Balarama; ca - and.

In the Mathura-khanda it is said:

The circle of Mathura' is 12 yojanas (9¶ miles) in circumference Within it are thousands of holy
places where Lord Krsna and Lord Rama enjoyed pastimes.

Text 152

tatha hi vaisisthyam

gavyutir dvadasamayi
dvadasaranya-samyuta tatrapi mathura devi
sarva-siddhi-vidhayini

tatha hi - furthermore; vaisisthyam - specific; gavyutir - krosas; dvadasamayi - 12; dvadasa - 12;
aranya - forests; samyuta - endowed; tatra - there; api'also; mathura - Mathura; devi - O goddess;
sarva-siddhi- vidhayini - granting all perfections.

A Specific Description (in the Mathura-khanda)

Its measurement is 12 krosas (2´ miles) It has twelve forests O goddess within it is Mathura which
grants all perfections.

Text 153
 58

tatrapi padmakrter vaisistyam

idam padmam maha-bhage

sarvesam mukti-dayakam karnikayam sthito devi
kesavah klesa-nasanah

tatra - there; api - also; padma - of a lotus; akrter - form; vaisistyam - specific; idam - this;
padmam - lotus; maha-bhage - O fortunate one; sarvesam - to all; mukti - liberation; dayakam -
giving; karnikayam - whorl; sthitah - standing; devi - O goddess; kesavah'Krsna; klesa - sufferings;
nasanah - destroying.

In the Same Scripture a Description of Mathura' as a Lotus Flower

O beautiful girl this place is a great lotus flower that gives liberation to all O goddess in the whorl
of this lotus Lord Kesava the destroyer of troubles stays.

Text 154

karnikayam mrta ye tu
te nara mukti-bhaginah madhya-patra mrta ye ca
tesam muktir vasundhare

karnikayam - in the whorl; mrtah - after death; ye - who; tu - indeed; te - they; narah„ mukti-
bhaginah'liberated souls; madhya-patra - in the middle leaf; mrtah - after death; ye - who; ca - and;
tesam - of them; muktir - liberation» vasundhare - O earth.

They who die in the whorl of this lotus become liberated O earth-goddess,they who die in the
middle leaves of this lotus become liberated.

Text 155

pascime tu harim devam

govardhana-nivasinam drstva tam deva-devesam
kim manah paritapyase

pascime - in the west; tu - indeed; harim- devam - the Deity of Lord Hari; govardhana-nivasinam -
residing on Govardhana Hill; drstva - having seen; tam- deva-devesam - the master of the demigods;
kim - what?; manah„ - heart; paritapyase - suffers.
 59

What heart seeing the Deity of Lord Hari who resides on Govardhana Hill in the western part of
this lotus and who is the master of the demigods will remain unhappy?

Text 156

uttarena tu govindam
drstva devam param subham nasau patati samsare
yavad ahuta-samplavam

uttarena - in the north; tu - indeed; govindam - Lord Govinda; drstva - having seen; devam - Deity;
param - transcendental; subham - handsome; na - not; asau - he; patati - falls; samsare - into birth and
death; yavad - as far as; ahuta- samplavam - an ocean.

A person who sees the handsome Deity of Lord Govinda in the northern part of this lotus will not
fall into the ocean of repeated birth and death.

Text 157

visranti-samj{.sy akam tirtham

purva-patre vyavasthitam yam drstva tu naro yati
muktim nasty atra samsayah

visranti - Visranti; samj{.sy akam - named; tirtham - holy place; purva - eastern; patre - on the
petal;û.fn vyavasthitam - situated; yam - whom; drstva - having seen; tu - indeed; narah - a person;
yati - attains; muktim - liberation; na - not; asti - is; atra - here; samsayah - doubt.

A person who sees Visranti-tirtha on the eastern petals of this lotus attains liberation Of this there
is no doubt.

Text 158

daksinenottamam viddhi
pratimam divya-rupinim maha-kayam su-rupam ca
kesavakara-sannibham yam drstva manujo devi
brahmaloke mahiyate

daksinena - in the south; uttamam - supreme; viddhi - know; pratimam - Deity; divya- rupinim -
splendid; maha-kayam - large; su- rupam - handsome; ca - and; kesava-akara- sannibham - Kesava;
yam - whim; drstva - having seen; manujah - a person; devi - O goddess; brahmaloke - on
Brahmaloka; mahiyate - glorified.
 60

Knou that in the south is a large splendidly handsome Deity of Lord Kesava O goddess a person
who sees this Deity becomes glorious in the spiritual world.

Text 159

athatra kala-visese nivasa-phalam adi-varahe tatra jyaisthe jyaisthasya sukla-dvadasyam

snatva tu niyatendriyah mathurayam harim drstva
prapnoti paramam gatim

atha - now; atra - here; kala - time; visese - s[ecific; nivasa - of residence; phalam - result; adi-
varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; tatra - there; jyaisthe - in the month of Jyaistha; jyaisthasya - of
Jyaistha; sukla-dvadasyam - on the sukla- dvadasi; snatva - having bathed; tu - indeed; niyata -
controlling; indriyah - the senses; mathurayam - in Mathura; harim - the Deity of Lord Hari; drstva -
having seen; prapnoti - attains; paramam- gatim - the supreme destination.

The Result of Residing at Mathura' During Certain Specific Times

In the Adi-varaha Purana the month of Jyaistha (May-June) is described:

A person who is sense-controlled and who bathes in Mathura' during the sukla-dvadasi in the
month of Jyaistha attains the supreme destination.

Text 160

caturmasye adi-varahe prthivyam yani tirthani

a-samudra-saramsi ca mathurayam gamisyanti
supte caiva janardane

caturmasye - during Caturmasya; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; prthivyam - on the earth;
yani - which; tirthani - holy places; a-samudra-saramsi - to the oceans and lakes; ca - and;
mathurayam - in Mathura; gamisyanti - will go; 2} supte - asleep; ca - and; eva - certainly; janardane -
Krsna.

Residing in Mathura' During Caturmasya

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

When Lord Janardana will go to sleep all holy places lakes and seas on the earth will go to
Mathura.
 61

Note Lord Krsna sleeps during the four months of Caturmasya.

Text 161

caturo varsikan masan

madhu-purya vasemahi sarvani tatra tirthani
vividhani vasanti ca

caturah - four; varsikan - of the monsoon season; masan - months; madhu-purya - of Mathura;
vasemahi - let us reside; sarvani - all; tatra - there; tirthani - holy places; vividhani - various; vasanti -
reside; ca - and.

Let us reside in Mathura'-puri during the four months of the monsoon season when all holy places
also reside there.

Text 162

tatraiva janmastamyam

janmastami-dine prapte
tatra yo mam prapasyati janma-koti-krtam papam
tat-ksanad eva nasyati

tatra - there; eva - indeed; janmastamyam - on janmastami; janmastami-dine - when Janmastami

day; prapte - has arrived; tatra - there; yah - who; mam - Me;û.fn prapasyati - sees; janma-koti-
krtam - done in millions of births; papam - sin; tat-ksanad - in that moment; eva'certainly; nasyati -
perish.

Residing in Mathura' During Janmastami

In the same scripture Lord Krsna says:

For a person who sees Me there (in Mathura) during Janmastami the sins of millions of births
perish in a single moment.

Text 163

bhadre masi mamastabhyam

yah karoti mamarcanam sarvam papam parityajya
mama sthanam sa gacchati
 62

bhadre masi - in the month of Bhadra; mama - My; astabhyam - on janmastami; yah - who; karoti
- does; mama - My;rcanam - worship; sarvam - all; papam - sin» parityajya - leaving; mama - My;
sthanam - abode; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

A person who worships Me during My Janmastami in the month of Bhadra becomes free from all
sins and goes to My abode.

Texts 16´ and 165

sarvam taptam tapas tena

sarvam danam ca taih krtam yaih krtam mathuram gatva
bhadrestamyam vasundhare snatva visranti-tirthesu
pujanam me 'valokanam

sarvam - all; taptam - austerities; tapah - performed; tena - by him; sarvam - all; danam - charity;
ca - and; taih - by them; krtam - done;û.fn yaih„ - by whom; krtam - done; mathuram - to Mathura;
gatva - having gone; bhadrestamyam - on auspicious Janmastami; vasundhare'O earth; snatva - having
bathed; visranti- tirthesu - at Visranti-tirtha; pujanam - worship; me - of Me» avalokanam - sight.

All austerities are automatically performed and all charity automatically given by they who going
to Mathura' during Janmastami in the month of Bhadra bathe in Visranti-tirtha worship me and see
My Deity-form, O earth-goddess. Text 166

visesatah karttike padme karttika-mahatmye narada-vakyam

yatra kutrapi dese ca

karttike snana-danatah agni-hotra-samam punyam
pujayam tu visesatah

visesatah - specifically; karttike - in karttika; padme karttika-mahatmye - in the Padma Purana

Karttika- mahatmya; narada - of Narada; vakyam - words; yatra - where; kutrapi - in a certain; dese -
country; ca - and; karttike - during Karttika; snana - from bathing; danatah - and giving charity; agni-
hotra - to an agnihotra sacrifice; samam - equal; punyam - pious merit; pujayam - in worship; tu -
indeed; visesatah - specifically.

Residing in Mathura' During the Month of Karttika

In the Karttika-mahatmya Narada says:

By bathing in sacred places and giving charity during the month of Karttika a person in any
country attains piety equal to an agnihotra-yaj{.sy a.
 63

Text 167

kuruksetre koti-guno
gangayam api tat-samah tato 'dhikah puskare syad
dvarakayam tu bhargava

kuruksetre - in Kuruksetra; koti-gunah - millions of times; gangayam - in the Ganges; api - also;
tat- samah - equal to that; tatah - than that; adhikah - greater;{fn puskare - in Puskara; syad - is;
dvarakayam - in Dvaraka; tu - indeed; bhargava - O Bhargava.

When these activities are performed at Kuruksetra or on the banks of the Ganges the benefit is
multiplied by millions of times The benefit is even greater at Puskara or Dvaraka O Bhargava.

Text 168

krsna-salokya-do masah
puja-snanais ca karttikah anyah puryas tat-samana
bhavanti mathuram vina

krsna-salokya-dah - giving residence on the same planet as Krsna; masah - month; puja - with
worship; snanaih - bathing; ca - and; karttikah - Karttika; anyah'another; puryah - of the city; tat-
samana - equal; bhavanti - are; mathuram - Mathura; vina - without.

In Mathura' bathing and worship during the month of Karttika place one on the same planet as
Lord Krsna No other holy place is equal to Mathura.

Text 169

damodaratvam hi hares
tatraivasit yatah kila mathurayam tatas turjo
vaikuntha-priti-vardhanah karttiko mathurayam vai
paramavadhir isyate

damodaratvam - the state of being Damodara; hi - indeed; harehof Lord Hari; tatra - there; eva -
indeed; asit - was; yatah - because; kila - indeed» mathurayam - in Mathura; tatah - then; tu - indeed;
urjah - Karttika; vaikuntha - Lord Vaikuntha; priti - pleasure; vardhanah - increasing; karttikah -
 64

Karttika; mathurayam - in Mathura; vai'indeed; parama-avadhir - the supreme destination; isyate - is

accepted.

The month of Karttika when Lord Hari enjoyed His Damodara- pastime in Mathura delights Lord
Vaikuntha The month of Karttika spent in Mathura' brings the supreme destination.

Text 170

yatha maghe prayagah syad

vaisakhe jahnavi tatha karttike mathura sevya
tatrotkarsah paro na hi

yatha - as; maghe - in Magha; prayagah - Prayaga; syad - is; vaisakhe - in vaisakha; jahnavi - the
Ganges;{fn tatha - so; karttike - in karttika; mathura - Mathura; sevya - to be served; tatra - there;
utkarsah - excellence; parah - better; na - not; hi - indeed.

As Prayaga should be served in the month of Magha and the Ganges in the month of Vaisakha so
Mathura' should be served in the month of Karttika Nothing is better than that service.

Text 171

mathurayam narair urje

snatva damodaro 'rcitah krsna-rupa hi te j{.sy eya
natra karya vicarana

mathurayam - in Mathura; narair - by people; urje - in Karttika; snatva - having bathed;

damodarah - Lord Damodara; arcitah - worshiped; krsna-rupah - the form of Krsna; hi - indeed; te -
they; j{.sy eyah - should be known; na - not; atra - here; karya - to be done; 2} vicarana - doubt.

They who after properly bathing worship Lord Damodara in Mathura' during Karttika, attain forms
like that of Lord Krsna Of this there is no doubt.

Text 172

durlabhah karttiko vipra

mathurayam nrnam iha yatrarcitah svakam rupam
bhaktebhyah samprayacchati
 65

durlabhah - rare; karttikah - Karttika; viprah - O brahmanas; mathurayam - in Mathura; nrnam - of

people; iha - here; yatra - where; arcitah - worshiped; svakam - own; rupam - form; bhaktebhyah - to
the devotees; samprayacchati - gives.

O brahmanas residence in Mathura' during Karttika is a rare attainment for humans To they who
worship Him there and then the Lord gives their original spiritual forms.

Text 173

bhuktim muktim harir dadyad

arcito 'nyatra sevinam bhaktim tu na dadaty eva
yato vasya-kari hareh

bhuktim - sense gratification; muktim--liberation; harir - Krsna; dadyad - gives; arcitah -

worshiped; anyatra - in another place; sevinam - of the servants; bhaktim'devotional service; tu -
indeed; na - not; dadati - gives; eva - indeed; yatah - because; vasya-kari - brought under the
dominion; 2} hareh - of Krsna.

When He is worshiped in any other place Lord Hari gives only liberation or sense-gratification to
His servants He does not give them pure devotional service for that service brings Him under their
dominion. Text 174

sa tu a{.sy jasa harer bhaktir

labhyate karttike naraih mathurayam sakrd api
sri-damodara-sevanat

sa - this; tu - indeed; a{.sy jasa - easily; harer - to Krsna; bhaktir - devotion; labhyate - is attained;
karttike - in karttika; naraih - by people; 2} mathurayam - in Mathura; sakrd - once; api - even; sri...-
damodara-sevanat - from serving Lord Damodara.

By once serving Lord Damodara in Mathura' during Karttika the people can easily attain pure
devotional service to Lord Hari.

Text 175

mantra-dravya-vihinam ca
vidhi-hinam ca pujanam manyate karttike devo
mathurayam mad-arcanam
 66

mantra - mantras; dravya - offerings; vihinam - without; ca - and; vidhi - proper rules; hinam -
without; ca - and; pujanam - worship; manyate - is considered; karttike - during Karttika; devah - the
Lord; mathurayam - in Mathura; mad-arcanam - worship of Me.

They who even without proper mantras and offerings and without properly following the rules
worship Him in Mathura' during Karttika the Lord considers His true devotees.

Text 176

yasya papasya yujyeta

marananta hi niskrtih tac-chuddhy-artham idam proktam
prayascittam su-niscitam karttike mathurayam vai
sri-damodara-pujanam

yasya - of whom; papasya - sin; yujyeta - engaged; maranantah - to the time of death; hi - indeed;
niskrtih'atonement; tac-chuddhy-artham - to purify; idam - this; proktam - is said; prayascittam -
atonement; su-niscitam - carefully considered; karttike - in Karttika; mathurayam - in Mathura; vai -
indeed; sri...-damodara- pujanam - worship of Lord Damodara.

The perfect atonement to purify the sins of a lifetime is worship Lord Damodara in Mathura'
during Karttika. Text 177

sulabha mathura loke

pratyabdam karttikas tatha tathapi samsarantiha
nara mudha bhavambudhau

sulabha - easy to attain; mathura - Mathura; loke - in this world; pratyabdam - every year;
karttikah - Karttika» tatha - so; tathapi - still; samsaranti - go; iha - here; narah - peple; mudhah -
bewildered; bhava - of repeated birth and death; ambudhau - in the ocean.

Although Mathura' is easy to visit in this world and although Karttika comes every year the fools
still swim in the ocean of repeated birth and death

Text 178

kim yajaih kim tapobhir va

tirthair anyais ca sevitaih karttike mathurayam ced
arcyate radhika-priyah
 67

kim - what is the use?; yaj{.sy aih - of sacrifices; kim - what is the use?; tapobhir - of austerities;
va - or; tirthair - holy places; anyaih - of other; ca - and; sevitaih - served; karttike - in Karttika;
mathurayam - in Mathura; ced - if; arcyate - is worshiped; radhika - Radha's; priyah - beloved.

What is the use of yajas¿ What is the use of austerities¿ What is the use of serving other holy
places if Sµrimati Radhika's beloved is worshiped in Mathura' during Karttika?

Text 179

yani sarvani tirthani

nada nadyah saramsi ca karttike nivasanty atra
mathure sarva-mandale

yani - which; sarvani - all; tirthani - holy place; 2} nadah - streams; nadyah„ - rivers; saramsi -
lakes; ca - and; karttike - in Karttika; nivasanti - reside; atra - here; 2} mathure sarva-mandale - in the
circle´ of Mathura.

All holy places and all holy rivers streams, and lakes reside in the circle of Mathura' during
Karttika.

Text 180

paropahasam uddisya
karttike hari-sevaya mathurayam labhed bhaktim
kim punah sraddhaya narah

para-upahasam uddisya - as a joke; karttike - in Karttika;{fn hari-sevaya - with service to Lord

Hari; mathurayam - in Mathura; labhed - attain; bhaktim - devotion; kim - what?; punah - again;
sraddhaya - with faith; narah - a person.

They who as a joke serve Lord Hari during Karttika in Mathura' will attain pure devotional service
what to speaë of they who serve the Lord with faith and devotion.

Text 181

tatraiva dhumrakesam prati yama-vakyam

tasman nrpatmaja sreyah

param kicin na - not; vidyate karttike mathurayam ca
 68

sri-damodara-pujanat

tatra - there; eva - indeed; dhumrakesam- prati - to Dhumrakesa; yama-vakyam - words of Yama;
tasmat - from this; nrpatmaja - O prince; sreyah„ param - better; ki{.sy cit - something; na - not;
vidyate - is; karttike - in Karttika; mathurayam - in Mathura; ca - and; sri...-damodara - of Lord
Damodara; pujanat - than worship.

In the same scripture Yamaraja says to Dhumrakesa:

Therefore O prince nothing is better than to serve Lord Damodara in Mathura' during Karttika.

Text 182

na catra samsayah karyah

isitrtvam idam hareh raja hi kasyacid dhrtva
sarvasvam cet prayacchati parasmai kasya kas tatra
niyanta syat prabhor yatha

na - not; ca - and; atra - here; samsayah - doubt; karyah - to be done; isitrtvam - power; idam -
this; hareh - of Krsna; raja - king; hi - indeed; kasyacid - of someone; dhrtva - holding; sarvasvam -
everything; cet - if; prayacchati - gives; parasmai - to another; kasya - of whom?; kah - who?; tatra -
there; niyanta - controller; syat - is; prabhor - the Lord; yatha - as.

Of this there is no doubt This is the power of Lord Hari He can take everything from one person
and He can give everything to another Who is a controller as powerful as Lord Hari?

Text 183

ayam sarvesvarah sriman

anyatha kartum isvarah aty-alpam bhuri kurute
bahu tuccham ca manyate

ayam - He; sarvesvarah - the Lord of all; sriman - master of opulences; anyatha - otherwise;
kartum - to do; isvarah„ - able; aty-alpam - tiny; bhuri - great; kurute - makes; bahu - great; tuccham -
insignificant; ca - and; manyate - is considered.

He is the supremely opulent controller of all He has the power to change anything He can make the
very small great and He can make the great insignificant.

Text 184
 69

tatrapi prabodhinyam ati-visesah padme karttika-mahatmye.

tavad garjanti tirthani

vajimedhadayo makhah mathurayam priya visnor
yavan nayati bodhini

tatra - there; api - also; prabodhinyam - on Prabodhini» ati-visesah - specificaly; padme karttika-
mahatmye - in the Padma Purana Karttika-mahatmya; tavad - then; garjanti - thunders; tirthani - holy
places; vajimedhadayah - beginning with asvamedha sacrifices;{fn makhah„ - sacrifices;
mathurayam - in Mathura; priya - dear; visnor - of Krsna; yavan - when; nayati - leads; bodhini -
awakening.

Residence in Mathura' During Prabodhini tithi

In the Padma Purana Karttika-mahatmya, it is said:

When Lord Visnu does not wake from His happy sleep on Prabodhini tithi then all the holy places
roar with asvamedha- yajas.

Note Prabodhini tithi is the first ekadasi in the month of Karttika On that day the Lord awakens
from His four-month-long nap. Text 185

samsara-dava-taptanam
kama-saukhya-pipasinam sri-krsna-pada-padmasya
sannidhyam sitalam grham

samsara - of birth and death; dava - by the forest fire; taptanam - burned; kama - of lust; saukhya -
the pleasures; pipasinam - thirsty; sri...-krsna - of Lord Krsna; pada- padmasya - of the lotus feet;
sannidhyam - nearness; sitalam - cool; grham - home.

Sµri Krsna's lotus feet are a cooling shelter for they who thirst after material happiness but find
themselves burned by the forest-fire of repeated birth and death.

Text 186

mathurayam tu kim vacyam

jagare hari-sannidhau karttike bodhinim prapya
tatah sreyah param hi na
 70

mathurayam - in Mathura; tu - indeed; kim - what?; 2} vacyam - can be said; jagare - in the
awakening; hari-sannidhau - near Lord Hari; karttike - in Karttika; bodhinim - Prabodhini; prapya -
attaining; tatah - than that; sreyah„ param - better» hi - indeed; na - not.

What can be said about approaching the Deity of Lord Hari when He awakens in Mathura¿ No day
is better than the Prabodhini day in the month of Karttika.

Text 187

rajyam anyatra santyajya

sphitam nihata-kantakam karttike mathurayam vai
kaimutyam jagaram caret

rajyam - kingdom; anyatra - in another place; santyajya - abandoning; sphitam - great; nihata-
kantakam - without disturbance; karttike - in Karttika; mathurayam - in Mathura; vai - indeed;
kaimutyam - what is better?; jagaram - awake; caret - may do.

One should leave any other great and peaceful kingdom and in Mathura' stay awake through the
night during Prabodhini in the month of Karttika What place is better than Mathura' for this?

Text 188 atha dvadasyam visnu-purane

urjasya sukla-dvadasyam
snatva vai yamuna-jale mathurayam harim drstva
prapnoti paramam gatim

atha - now; dvadasyam - during dvadasi; visnu- purane - in the Visnu Purana; urjasya - of karttika;
sukla- dvadasyam - on sukla-dvadasi; snatva - having bathed; vai - indeed; yamuna-jale - in the water
of the Yamuna; mathurayam - in Mathura; harim - Lord Hari; drstva - having seen; prapnoti - attains;
paramam - supreme; gatim - destination.

Residing in Mathura' During Dvadasi

In the Visnu Purana it is said:

A person who during the Sµukla-dvadasi in the month of Karttika bathes in the Yamuna and sees
the Deity of Lord Hari in Mathura' attains the supreme destination.

Text 189
 71

atha bhisma-pacake padme bhismam prati sri-krsna-vacanam

tvaya krte vrate pascat

khyasyate bhisma-pacakam ye tatra janma-bhumau me
karisyanti maha-vratam mathurayam tu gangeya
tesam bhaktih kare sthita

atha - now; bhisma-pa{.sy cake - in Bhisma-pancaka; padme - in the Padma Purana; bhismam-
prati - to Bhisma;2} sri...-krsna-vacanam - Krsna's words; tvaya - by you; krte - done; vrate - vow;
pascat - after; khyasyate - will be known; bhisma-pa{.sy cakam - as Bhisma-pancaka; ye - who; tatra
- there; janma-bhumau'in the birthplace; me - My; karisyanti - will do; maha-vratam - great vow;
mathurayam - in Mathura; tu - indeed; gangeya - O Bhisma; tesam - of them; bhaktih - devotion;{fn
kare - in the hand; sthita - standing.

Residing in Mathura' During Bhisma-pa{.sy caka

In the Padma Purana, Sµri Krsna says to Bhisma:

O Gangeya this vou you have followed will henceforth be known as Bhisma-pa{.sy caka They who
follou this great vou in My birthplace Mathura find pure devotional service resting in their hand.

Text 190 sarvabhaumas tu indra-padam

brahmalokas tathaksayam yoga-siddhim ca muktim ca
prito yacchami sarvasah

sarvabhaumahroyal power; tu - indeed; indra- padam - the post of Indra; brahmalokah -

Brahmaloka; tatha - so; aksayam - immortal; yoga- siddhim - mystic power; ca - and; muktim -
liberation; ca - and; pritah - pleased; yacchami - I give; sarvasah - completely.

Being perfectly pleased with him I give him royal power the post of Indra residence in immortal
Brahmaloka yogic powers and liberation.

Text 191

durlabho bhakti-yogo me
mama vasya-vidhayakah karttike mathurayam ca
vratenanena labhyate

durlabhah - difficult to attain; bhakti-yogah - bhakti- yoga; me - of Me; mama - My; vasya-
vidhayakah - brings under the dominion; karttike - in karttika; mathurayam - in Mathura; ca - and;
vratena - vow; anena - by this; labhyate - is attained.
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Pure devotional service to Me which becausae it places Me under My devotee's dominion, is very
difficult to attain is easily attained by following this vou in Mathura' during Karttika.

Text 192

puranantare ca

sarvabhista-pradam proktam
mathure bhisma-pa{.sy cakam

purana-antare - in another Purana; ca - and; sarva - all; abhista - desires; pradam - granting;
proktam - said; mathure - in Mathura; bhisma-pa{.sy cakam - Bhisma-pancaka.

In another place in the Puranas it is said:

Following the vou of Bhisma-pa{.sy caka in Mathura' is said to fulfill all desires.

Text 193

yatha bhavisye bhisma-paca-dine prapte

mathura-mandale hareh nidra-ccheda-kare punye
paduke cavalokayet

yatha - as; bhavisye - in the Bhavisya Purana; bhisma-pa{.sy ca-dine prapte - on the day of
Bhisma-pancaka; mathura-mandale - in Mathura; hareh - of Krsna; nidra- ccheda-kare - awakening
from sleep; punye - sacred; paduke - sandals; ca - and; avalokayet - may see.

In the Bhavisya Purana it is said:

A person who observes Bhisma-pa{.sy caka and Prabodhini tithi in Mathura' will see Lord Hari's
splendid sandals.

Text 194

atha mathura-vanantargata-madhupuri-mahatmyam skande mathura- khande

madhor vanam prathamato

yatra vai mathura-puri madhu-daityo hato yatra
harina visva-murtina
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atha - now; mathura-vana - Mathura' Forest; antargata - within; madhupuri... - Mathura' City;
mahatmyam - glorification; skande - in the Skanda Purana; mathura-khande'Mathura-khanda; madhor
vanam - Madhuvana; prathamatah - first; yatra - where; vai - indeed; mathura-puri - Mathura' City;
madhu- daityah - the demon Madhu; hatah - killed; yatra - where; harina - by Lord Krsna; visva-
murtina - the form of the universe.

Glorification of Mathura City in Mathura' Forest

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

First is Madhuvana where is Mathura' City where Lord Hari who appears as the Universal Form
killed the Madhu demon.

Text 195

tatraiva bhagavad-vasa
avirbhavo harer nrpa visramas ca hares tatra - there;
devanam ca nrpottama

tatra - there; eva - indeed; bhagavad - of the Lord; vase - in the residence; avirbhavah -
appearance; harer - of Lord Krsna; nrpa - O king» visramah - pastimes; ca - and; hareh - of Lord Hari;
tatra - there; devanam - of the demigods; ca - and; nrpottama - O great king.

There the Supreme Personality of Godhead resides O king there Lord Hari appeared O great king
there Lord Hari and the demigods enjoyed pastimes.

Text 196

yo vai madhuvane snati

yamuna-jalam asritah sarva-tirthesu sa snatas
tat-phalam labhate dhruvam

yah - who; vai - indeed; madhuvane - in Madhuvana; snati - bathes; yamuna-jalam - in the
Yamuna's waters; asritah'sheltered; sarva-tirthesu - in all holy places; sah - he; snatahhas bathed; tat-
phalam - result; labhate'attains; dhruvam - indeed.

A person who bathes in the waters of the Yamuna in Madhuvana attains the result of bathing in all
holy places.
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Text 197

sarvesam nrpa siddhih syat

tasmin madhuvane nrnam tapasa bhakti-yogena
snana-matrena karmana

sarvesam - of al; nrpa - O king; siddhih - perfection; syat - is; tasmin - there; madhuvane - in
Madhuvana; nrnam - of people; tapasa - with austerity; bhakti-yogena - bhakti-yoga; snana-matrena -
simply by bathing;{fn karmana - by the activity.

O king a person who performs the devotional austerity of merely bathing in Madhuvana attains all
perfections.

Text 198

aho madhuvanam dhanyam

yatra ramah sahanujah karoti karma lokanam
hitaya ca manisinam

ahah - Oh; madhuvanam - Madhuvana; dhanyam - opulent; yatra - where; ramah - Balarama; saha
- with; anujah„ - His younger brother; karoti - does; karma - action; lokanam - of the worlds; hitaya -
for the benefit; ca - and; manisinam - thoughtful.

Madhuvana where Balarama and His younger brother performed actions for the benefit of
thoughtful men .

Text 199

mardito yatra krsnena

cograsenatmajo 'surah pavitah sparsa-matrena
gatim nitas ca yoginam

marditah - killed; yatra - where; krsnena - by Krsna; ca - and; ugrasena - Ugrasena's; atmajah -
son;û.fn asurah„ - demon; pavitah„ - purified; sparsa- matrena - simply by a touch; gatim -
destination; nitah - brought; ca - and; yoginam - of the yogis.

.and where Krsna killed Ugrasena's demon son purified him with a mere touch and gave him the
desination attained by the yogis is filled with transcendental opulence.
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Text 200

tasmin madhuvane rajan

durghatam kim hari-priye vaktum namani tirthanam
sakyante na mayadhuna tasmin madhuvane yani
mahatmyam ca nrpottama

tasmin - there; madhuvane - in Madhuvana; rajan - O king; durghatam - difficult to attain; kim -
what?; hari-priye'dear to Lord Hari; vaktum - to say; namani - names; tirthanam - holy places;
sakyante - are able; na - not; maya - by me; adhuna - now; tasmin - in this; madhuvane - Madhuvana;
yani - which;2} mahatmyam - glorification;- ca - and; nrpottama - O great king.

O king what is difficult to attain in Madhuvana which is so dear to Lord Hari¿ O great king I do
not nou have the power to name Madhuvana's forests and describe their glories.

Text 201

aho madhuvanam drstam

srutam va tat su-sevinam sthitam va yaih suratitam
dhanyas te bhuvi manavah

ahah - Oh; madhuvanam - Madhuvana; drstam - seen; srutam - heard; va - or; tat - that; su-sevinam
- of the servants; sthitam - situation; va - or; yaih - by whom; suratitam - glorified; dhanyah -
fortunate; te - they; bhuvi - on the earth; manavah - people.
They who see hear about serve reside in and glorify Madhuvana are fortunate in this world.

Text 202

evam pradaksinam krtva

navamim sukla-kaumudim sarvan kulan samadaya
visnuloke mahiyate

evam - in this way; pradaksinam - circumambulation; krtva - doing; navamim - the ninth day;
sukla-kaumudim - the âright moon; sarvan - all; kulan - relatives; samadaya - taking; visnuloke - on
Visnuloka; mahiyate - glorified.

A person who circumambulates Madhuvana on the ninth day of the bright moon during Karttika is
glorified in Visnuloka with all his relatives.

Text 203
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kramatah pada-vinyasa
yavantah sarvato disah tavantah kula-sambhutah
svarge tisthanti sasvatah

kramatah - gradually; pada-vinyasa - placing his steps; yavantah - as; sarvatah - in all; disah -
directions; 2} tavantah„ - so; kula- sambhutah - with his family; svarge - in the spiritual world;
tisthanti - stays; sasvatah - eternally.

When a person wanders in Madhuvana placing his steps in every direction he finds himself
eternally residing in the spiritual world with his family.

Text 204

anya-desa-gato durat
parikramati yo narah tasya sandarsanad eva
putah syur gata-kalmasah

anya - another; desa - country; gatah - gone; durat - from far away; parikramati - circumambulates;
yah - who; narah - a person; tasya - of him; sandarsanad'from the sight; eva - indeed; putah - purified;
syur - become; gata - gone; kalmasah - sins.

The sight of a person who comes from another country far away and circumambulates Mathura
purifies the people and chases away their sins. Text 205

sruto yais tu vidura-sthaih

krta-yatro naro naraih sarva-papa-vinirmuktas
te 'pi yanti param gatim

srutah - heard; yaih - by whom; tu - indeed; vidura-sthaih - far away; krta-yatrah - journeyed; narah
- a person; naraih'with people; sarva - all; papa - sins; vinirmuktahfreed; te - they; api - also; yanti -
attain; param- gatim - the supreme destination.

They who hear about others who come from far away to visit Madhuvana become free from all
sins and go to the supreme destination.

Text 206

mathurayam naro gatva

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drstva devam svayambhuvam pradaksinayam yat punyam

tat punyam labhate hi sah

mathurayam - in Mathura; narah - a person; gatva - having gone; drstva - having seen; devam -
Lord; 2} svayambhuvam - Svayambu; pradaksinayam - in circumambulating; yat punyam - what
piety; tat punyam - that piety; labhate - attains; hi - indeed; sah - he.

A person who goes to Mathura' and sees the Deity of Lord Svayambhu attains the piety of
circumambulating Madhuvana.

Text 207

atha janma-sthana-mahatmyam skande

japopavasa-nirato
mathurayam sadanana janma-sthanam samasadya
sarva-papaih pramucyate

atha - now; janma - birth; sthana - place; mahatmyam - glorification; skande - in the Skanda
Purana; japa - japa; upavasa - and fasting; niratah - engaged; mathurayam - in Mathura; sadanana - O
Karttikeya; janma- sthanam - birthplace; samasadya - attaining; sarva- papaih - from all sins;
pramucyate - freed.

The Glories of the Lord's Birthplace

In the Skanda Purana it is said:

O Karttikeya a person who fasts and chants japa at the Lord's birthplace becomes free from all sins.

Text 208

atha karttike padme

karttike janma-sadane
kesavasya ca ye narah sakrt pravistah sri-krsnam
te yanti param avyayam

atha - now; karttike - during Karttika; padme - in the Padma Purana; karttike - in Karttika; janma-
sadane - at the birth-chamber; kesavasya - of Lord Kesava; ca - and; ye - who; narah - pewrsons;
sakrt - once; pravistah„ - entered; sri...- krsnam - Lord Krsna; te - they; yanti - attain; param avyayam
- eternal abode.

The Glories of the Lord's Birthplace During the Month of Karttika

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In the Padma Purana it is said:

They who once enter Lord Kesava's birth-chamber during the month of Karttika go to eternal Lord
Krsna.

Text 209

tatraiva prabodhanyam

ekaivaikadasi krsna-
janma-gehe krta naraih tato 'dhikam prakartavyam
loke ki{.sy cin na vidyate

tatra - there; eva - indeed; prabodhanyam - on Prabodhini; eka - one; eva - indeed; ekadasi -
ekadasi; krsna-janma-gehe - Krsna's birth-chamber; 2} krta - done; naraih - by people; tatah - than
that; adhikam - greater; prakartavyam - to be done; loke - in the world; ki{.sy cit - something; na -
not; vidyate - is.

The Glories of the Lord's Birthplace During the Prabodhini Day Are Described in the Same Scripture:

In this world nothing is better than to observe Pabodhini in Lord Krsna's birth-chamber.

Text 210

ratrau jagaranam tatra

pritya kurvanti ye narah samsara-moha-svapnante
sada jagrati jagrati

ratrau - at night; jagaranam - staying awake; tatra - there; pritya - with happiness; kurvanti - do;2}
ye - who; narah - people; samsara-moha-svapnante - at the end of the bewildering sleep of repeated
birth and death; sada'always; jagrati jagrati - awaken.

They who happily remain awake during that night awaken from the bewildering sleep of repeated
birth and death.

Text 211

anyatrapi priya visnor

jagare syat prabodhini kim punar mathurayam sa
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tato vai janma-sadmani

anyatra - in another place; api - also; priya - dear; visnor - to Krsna; jagare - staying awake; syat -
is; prabodhini - Prabodhini; kim - hou much?; 2} punar - more; mathurayam - in Mathura; sa - that;
tatah - therefore; vai'indeed; janma-sadmani - birth-chamber.

Staying awake in any place during Prabodhini pleases Lord Visnu what to speaë of staying awake
in Lord Krsna's birth chamber in Mathura.

Text 212

atha sri-kesavasya mahatmyam adi-varahe

pradaksini-krta tena
sapta-dvipa vasundhara pradaksini-krto yena
mathurayam tu kesavah

atha - now; sri...-kesavasya - of Lord Kesava; mahatmyam - glorification; adi-varahe - in the Adi-
varaha Purana; pradaksini...-krta - circumambulated; tena - by him; sapta-dvipa - seven continents;
vasundhara - earth;{fn pradaksini-krtah - circumambulated; yena - by whom; mathurayam - in
Mathura; tu - indeed; kesavah - Kesava.

The Glories of the Deity of Sµri Kesava

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

A person who circumambulates the Deity of Sµri Kesava in Mathura' circumambulates the the
seven continents of the earth. Text 213

iha janma-krtam papam

anya-janma-krtam ca yat tat sarvam nasyate sighram
kirtane kesavasya ca

iha - here; janma-in this birth; krtam - done; papam - sin; anya - in another; janma - birth; krtam -
done; ca - and; yat - what; tat - that; sarvam - all; nasyate - perishes; sighram - quickly; kirtane - in
the glorification; kesavasya - of Lord Kesava; ca - and.

Sins performed in this birth and other births are at once destroyed when one glorifies the Deity of
Lord Kesava.

Text 214
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tatraiva suptotthita-kesavasya darsana-phalam

suptotthitam harim drstva

mathurayam vasundhare na tasya punar avrttir
jayate sa catur-bhujah

tatra - there; eva - indeed; supta-utthita - risen from sleep; kesavasya - of Kesava; darsana - sight;
phalam'result; supta-utthitam - risen from sleep; harim - Lord Hari; drstva - having seen; mathurayam
- in Mathura; vasundhare - O earth; na - not; tasya - of him; punar - again; avrttir - return; jayate - is
born; sah - he; catur-bhujah - four-armed;

In the Same Scripture the Result of Seeing Lord Kesava Awaken From Sleep Is Described

O earth-goddess a person who sees Lord Kesava awaken from sleep in Mathura' does not take birth
again in this world He is born again as a four-armed resident of Vaikuntha.

Text 215

padme karttika-mahatmye

suptam utthapya govindam

tan mukham sutika-grhe pasyanti krta-punya ye
tesam kim bhagyam ucyate

padme karttika-mahatmye - in the Padma Purana Karttika- mahatmya; suptam - sleep; utthapya -
awakening; govindam - Govinda; tat - that; mukham - face; sutika-grhe - in the birth-chamber;
pasyanti - see; krta-punya - piety; ye - who; tesam - of them; kim - how?; bhagyam - good fortune;
ucyate - is said.

In the Padma Purana Karttika-mahatmya, it is said:

Hou can the good fortune of the pious persons who see Lord Govinda awaken from sleep in His
birth-chamber be described?

Text 216

visnu-purane sasthe 'mse

urjasya sukla-dvadasyam
snatva vai yamuna-jale mathurayam harim drstva
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prapnoti paramam gatim

visnu-purane - in the Visnu Purana; sasthe amse - in the Sixth Canto; urjasya - of Karttika; sukla-
dvadasyam - on sukla-dvadasi; snatva - having bathed; vai - indeed; 2} yamuna-jale - in the Yamuna's
water; mathurayam - in Mathura; harim - Lord Hari; drstva - having seen; prapnoti'attains; paramam-
gatim - the supreme destination.

In the Visnu Purana Canto Six, it is said:

A person who on the sukla-dvadasi of Karttika bathes in the Yamuna's waters and then sees the
Deity of Lord Hari in Mathura attains the supreme destination.

Text 217

atha sri-bhagavan-murtinam mahatmyam adi-varahe

dirgha-visnum samalokya
padmanabham svayambhuvam mathurayam sakrd devi
sarvabhistam avapnuyat

atha - now; sri...-bhagavat - of the Lord; murtinam - of the Deities; mahatmyam - glorification;
adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; dirgha- visnum - Dirgha Visnu; samalokya - seeing;
padmanabham - Padmanabha; svayambhuvam - Svayambhu; mathurayam - in Mathura; sakrd'once;
devi - O goddess; sarva - all; abhistam - desires; avapnuyat - attains.

Glorification of the Deity Forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O goddess a person who once sees the Deities of Lord Dirgha-Visnu Lord Padmanabha and Lord
Svayambhu, in Mathura attains all his desires. Text 218

tatha

visranti-samjakam drstva
dirgha-visnum ca kesavam sarvesam darsanat punyam
ebhir drstaih phalam labhet

tatha - so; visranti-samj{.sy akam - named Visranti; drstva - having seen; dirgha-visnum - Dirgha
Vis„nu; ca - and; kesavam - Kesava; sarvesam - of all; darsanat - from the sight; punyam - piety;
ebhir - by them; drstaih - seen; phalam - result; labhet - attains.
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It is also said:

They who see the Deities of Lord Dirgha-Visnu and Lord Kesava at Visranti-tirtha attain the pious
result of seeing all other Deities.

Text 219

udaye mamakam tejah

sada visranti-samjake madhyahne mamakam tejo
dirgha-visnau vyavasthitam kesave mamakam tejo
dina-bhage caturthake

udaye - at sunrise; mamakam - My; tejah - splendor; sada - always; visranti-samj{.sy ake - at
Visranti; madhyahne'at midday; mamakam - My; tejah - splendor; dirgha-visnau - in Dirgha Visnu;
vyavasthitam - placed; kesave - in Kesava; mamakam - My; tejah - splendor; dina- bhage caturthake -
at the fourth portion of the day.

At sunrise My splendor rests in Visranti-tirtha At midday My splendor rests in the Deity of Lord
Dirgha-Visnu In the evening My splendor rests in the Deity of Lord Kesava.

Text 220

atha sri-krsna-parivaranam

ekanamsam tato devim

yasodam devakim tada maha-vidyesvarim drstva
mucyate brahma-hatyaya

atha - now; sri...-krsna-parivaranam - of Lord Krsna's associates; ekanamsam - Ekanamsa-devi;

tato-then;2} devim - devi; yasodam - Yasoda; devakim - Devaki; tada - then; maha-vidyesvarim -
Maha'- Vidyesvari; drstva - having seen; mucyate - becomes free; brahma-hatyaya - from the sin opf
killing a Brahmana.

The Glorification of Sµri Krsna's Associates

A person who sees Ekanamsa'-devi Yasoda Devaki or Maha'- Vidyesvari-devi becomes free from
the sin of killing a brahmana.

Text 221
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atha bhutesvarasya

mathurayam ca deva tvam

ksetra-palo bhavisyasi tvayi drste maha-deva
mama ksetra-phalam labhet

atha - now; bhutesvarasya - of Lord Bhutesvara; mathurayam - in Mathura; ca - and; deva - O

Lord; tvam - you; ksetra - of the place; palah - protector; bhavisyasi - are; tvayi - in you; drste - seen;
maha- deva'O Mahadeva; mama - My; ksetra - of the place; phalam - result; labhet - attains.

The Glorification of the Deity Lord Bhutesvara (Sµiva)

O Deva you will be the protector of Mathura O Mahadeva a person who sees you will attain the
result of seeing My own abode.

Text 222

nirvana-khande

yatra bhutesvaro devo

moksadah papinam api mama priyatamo nityam
deva bhutesvarah parah

nirvana-khande - in the Nirvan„-khanda; yatra - where; bhutesvarah - Bhutesvara; devah - Lord;

moksadah - giver of liberation; papinam - of the sinful; api - even; mama - My; priyatamah - most
dear; nityam - always; deva'O deva; bhutesvarah„ - Bhutesvara; parah - supreme.

In the Nirvana-khanda it is said:

In Mathura' is the deity Lord Bhutesvara who grants liberation to even the sinful This Bhutesvara
deity is very dear to Me.

Text 223 katham va mayi bhaktim sa

labhate papa-purusah yo madiyam param bhaktam
sivam sampujayen na hi

katham - how?; va - or; mayi - for me; bhaktim - devotion; sah - he; labhate - attains; papa-
purusah'sinful person; yah - who; madiyam - My; param- bhaktam - supreme devotion; sivam - Sµiva;
sampujayet'may worship; na - not; hi - indeed.

Hou can a sinful person who tries to worship Me but will not worship Bhutesvara Sµiva attain
devotion to Me?
 84

Text 224

man-maya-mohita-dhiyah
prayas te manavadhamah bhutesvaram na smaranti
na namanti stuvanti va

mat - My; maya - Maya; mohita - bewildered; dhiyah - intelligence; prayah - mostly; te - they;
manavadhamah - the lowest of men; bhutesvaram - Bhutesvara; 2} na - not; smaranti - remember; na -
not; namanti - offer obeisances; stuvanti - offer prayers; va - or.

The lowest of men who are bewildered by My maya will not meditate on bou down before and
offer prayers to Lord Bhutesvara.

Text 225

atha visranti-mahatmyam skande

tatra tirtham maharaja

visranti-loka-visrutam bhramitva sarva-tirthani
visrantim yanti sattvatah

atha - now; visranti - of Visranti; mahatmyam - glorification; skande - in the Skanda Purana; tatra -
there; tirtham - holy place; maharaja - O king; visranti - Visranti; loka - in the world; visrutam -
famous; bhramitva - having wandered; sarva-tirthani - to all holy places; visrantim - to Visranti-tirtha;
yanti - attain; sattvatah - the devotees.

The Glorification of Visranti-tirtha

In the Skanda Purana it is said:

O great king this holy place is famous in the world as Visranti-tirtha After traveling to all holy
places the saintly devotees rest in Visranti-tirtha.

Text 226

tatraiva badari-mahatmye

visranti-tirthe vidhivat
snatva krtva tilodakam pitrn uddhrtya narakad
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visnulokam prapadyate

tatra - there; eva - indeed; badari - of badari- tirtha; mahatmye - in the glorification; visranti- tirthe -
in Visranti-tirtha; vidhivat - following the rules; 2} snatva - having bathed; krtva - having done; tila -
sesame; udakam - and water; pitrn - to the pitas; uddhrtya - lifting; narakad - from hell; visnulokam -
Visnuloks; prapadyate - atain.

In the same scripture in the Badari-mahatmya it is said:

A person who following the rules of the scriptures bathes at Visranti-tirtha and makes an offering
of sesame seeds and water lifts his ancestors from hell and makes them enter Visnuloka.

Text 227

yadi kuryat pramadena

patakam tatra manavah visranti-snana-matrena
bhasmi-bhavati tat-ksanat

yadi - if; kuryat - does; pramadena - out of foolishness; patakam - sin; tatra - there; manavah -
people; visranti - at Visranti-tirtha; snana-matrena - simply by bathing; bhasmi...-bhavati - becomes
ashes; tat-ksanat - at that moment.

If a person foolishly commits a sin by his simply bathing at Visranti-tirtha the sin will be at once
burned to ashes.

Text 228

saura-purane

tato visranti-tirthakhyam
tirtham angho-vinasanam samsara-maru-sacara-
klesa-visranti-dam nrnam

saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; tatah - then; visranti-tirthakhyam - Visranti-tirtha; tirtham -

holy place; anghah - sins; vinasanam - destruction; samsara - of birth and death; maru - in the desert;
sa{.sy cara - wandering; klesa - suffering; visranti-dam - giving rest; nrnam - to people.

In the Saura Purana it is said:

The holy place named Visranti-tirtha destroys sins and gives rest from the pain of wandering in the
desert of birth and death.
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Text 229

tatra tirthe krta-snano

yo 'rcayed acyutam naram sa mukto bhava-santapad
amrtatvaya kalpate

tatra - there; tirthe - in the holy place; krta- snanah - bathed; yah - one who; arcayed - worships;
acyutam - Lord Acyuta; naram - person; sah - he; muktah - liberated; bhava- santapad - from the
sufferings of material existence; amrtatvaya'for immortality; kalpate - becomes qualified.

A person who bathing at this holy place worships Lord Acyuta becomes free from the sufferings of
repeated birth and death and qualified for liberation.

Text 230

padme yamuna-mahatmye

kalinda-parvatodbhede
mathurayam tatha puri pratyan-mukhyam ca saukaryam
bhagirathyas ca sangame

padme yamuna-mahatmye - in the Padma Purana Yamuna'- mahatmya; kalinda-parvata-udbhede -

from Mount Kalinda;2} mathurayam - in Mathura; tatha - so; puri - the city; pratyan-- mukhyam -
turning; ca - and; saukaryam - to varaha-tirtha; bhagirathyah - with the Ganges; ca - and; sangame - in
meeting.

In the Padma Purana Yamuna-mahatmya, it is said:

Flowing from Mount Kalinda to Mathura' City and then west to Adi-varaha-tirtha the Yamuna'
eventually meets the Ganges.

Text 231

phalam uttara-kuloktam
tat-kalindyam satadhikam tad eva koti-gunitam
visrantau kathyate budhaih
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phalam - result; uttara-kula - northern shore; uktam - said; tat-kalindyam - in the Yamuna; sata-
adhikam - a hundred times greater; tad - that; eva - indeed; koti-gunitam - millions of times more;
visrantau - at Visranti; kathyate - is said; budhaih - by the wise.

The wise say the pious result of bathing in the Yamuna' is a hundred times greater on its northern
shore and millions of times greater at Visranti-tirtha.

Text 232

adi-varahe

visranti-samjakam nama
tirtham trailokya-durlabham yasmin snato naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; visranti-samj{.sy akam- nama tirtham - Visranti-tirtha;

trailokya - in the three worlds; durlabham - rare; yasmin - where; snatah - bathed; narah - a person;
devi - O goddess; mama - My; loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O goddess a person who bathes in the holy place named Visranti-tirtha which is difficult to attain
in the three worlds is glorified in My own abode.

Text 233

ganga-sata-gunam proktam
yatra kesi-nipatitah kesyah sata-gunam proktam
yatra visrantito harih

ganga - the Ganges; sata-gunam - multiplied 10° times; proktam- yatra - where; kesi - Kesi;
nipatitah - died; 2} kesyah - than Kesi-tirtha; sata-gunam - a hundred times more; proktam - said;
yatra - where; visrantitah - rested; harih - Krsna.

The place where Kesi was killed is said to be a hundred times more sacred than the Ganges The
place where Lord Hari rested is said to be a hundred times more sacred than Kesi- tirtha.

Text 234 tatha

ardha-candrad viseso 'sti

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tirthe visranti-samjake dahadi-karane tatra

gardhabho 'pi catur-bhujah

tatha - so; ardha-candrad - from Ardhacandra-tirtha; visesah - specific; asti - is; tirthe visranti-
samj{.sy ake - in Visranti-tirtha; daha-adi - beginning with a forest-fire; karane - cause; tatra - there;
gardhabhah - an ass; api - even; catur- bhujah - four arms.

It is also said:

Near Ardhacandra-tirtha is Visranti-tirtha where there was a forest-fire and where an ass-demon
became a four-armed resident of Vaikuntha.

Text 235

vasudevo vasen nityam

tasmin sthane nrpottama visrantim kurute yena
tena visranti-samjakam

vasudevah - Lord Vasudeva; vaset - lives; nityam - eternaly; tasmin sthane - in that place;
nrpottama'O great king; visrantim - rest; kurute - does; yena - by whom; tena - by Him; visranti-
samj{.sy akam - named Visranti-tirtha.

O king Lord Vasudeva resides eternally in this place He rested (visram) here and therefore this
place is named Visranti- tirtha.

Text 236

puranantare 'pi

kalpa-koti-satenapi
visrantau roma-romasu ksaura-karmani dahe ca
punar-janma na vidyate

purana-antare - in another Purana; api - also; kalpa-koti-satena - hundreds of millions of kalpas;

api - even; visrantau - in Visranti; roma-romasu - in the hair; ksaura-karmani - shaving; dahe - in a
fire; ca - and; punar-janma - birth again; na - not; vidyate - is.

In another Purana it is said:

Shaving one's head at Visranti-tirtha is a great fire in which hundreds of millions of kalpas of future
births perish.
 89

Text 237

atha gatasramadeva-mahatmyam adi-varahe

sarva-tirthesu yat snanam

sarva-tirthesu yat phalam tat phalam labhate devi
drstva devam gatasramam

atha - now; gatasramadeva - of Lord Gatasrama; mahatmyam - glorification; adi-varahe - in the

Adi-varaha Purana; sarva - all; tirthesu - in holy places; yat - what; snanam - bath; sarva-tirthesu - in
all holy places; yat - what; phalam - result; tat - that; phalam - result; labhate - attains; devi - O
goddess; drstva - having seen; devam- gatasramam - Lord Gatasrama.

The Glorification of Gatasramadeva

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O goddess the pious result of bathing at all holy places is attained by seeing the Deity of Lord
Gatasrama.

Text 238

kala-trayam tu vasudhe
yah pasyati gatasramam krtva pradaksinam bhiru
visnulokam sa gacchati

kala-trayam - three times; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth; yah - who; pasyati - sees; gatasramam -
Gatasrama; krtva pradaksinam - circumambulating; bhiru - with reverence; visnulokam - Visnuloka;
sah - he; gacchati - goes.

O earth-goddess a person who sees Lord Gatasrama three times (morning noon and night) a day
and circumambulates Him with awe and veneration goes to Visnuloka.

Text 239

athardhacandra-sthitani yamuna-tirthani catur-vimsatih adi- varahe

avimukto narah snatva

muktim prapnoty asamsayam tatratha mucati pranan
mama lokam sa gacchati
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atha - now; ardhacandra - at Ardhacandra; sthitani - situated; yamuna - on the Yamuna; tirthani - holy
places; catur-vimsatih - 24; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; avimuktah - not liberated; narah -
a person; snatva - having bathed; muktim - liberation; prapnoti - attains; asamsayam - no doubt; tatra
- there; atha - then; mu{.sy cati - gives up; pranan - life breath; mama - My; lokam - planet; sah - he;
gacchati - goes.

Glorification of 2´ Holy Places at Ardhacandra on the Yamuna's Shore

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

A person who bathes there attains liberation without doubt A person who dies there goes to My
planet.

Text 240

visranti-samjakam nama
tirtham trailokya-visrutam yasmin snatva naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

visranti-samj{.sy akam- nama tirtham - Visranti-tirtha; 2} trailokya-visrutam - famous in the three

worlds; yasmin - where; snatva - having bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; mama - My; loke
- in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

This holy place is famous in the three worlds as Visranti- tirtha O goddess a person who bathes here
is glorified in My abode.

Text 241

asti canyataram guhyam

sarva-samsara-moksanam tasmin snato naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

asti - is; ca - and; anyataram - another; guhyam - Guhya; sarva-samsara-moksanam - liberation

from birth and death; tasmin - there; snatah - bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; mama - My;
loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

Guhya-tirtha which gives liberation from the cycle of birth and death is another holy place O
goddess a person who bathes there is glorified in My abode.

Text 242 prayagam nama tirtham tu

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devanam api durlabham yasmin snato naro devi

agnistoma-phalam labhet

prayagam- nama tirtham - Prayaga-tirtha; tu - indeed; devanam - for the demigods; api - even;
durlabham - difficult to attain; yasmin - where; snatah - bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess;
agnistoma - of an agnistoma-yajna; phalam - result; labhet - attains;

The holy place named Prayaga-tirtha is difficult for even to the demigods to attain O goddess a
person who bathes there attains the result of performing an agnistoma-yaj{.sy a.

Text 243

saura-purane

tatas tirtham prayagakhyam

pavitram papa-nasanam pitrbhyas tatra yad dattam
tad aksayataram bhavet

saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; tatah - then; tirtham- prayagakhyam - Prayaga-tirtha; pavitram
- pure; papa- nasanam - destroying sin; pitrbhyah - to the pitas; tatra - there; yad - what; dattam -
offered; tad - that;û.fn aksayataram - immortality; bhavet - is.

In the Saura Purana it is said:

Next is the holy place named Prayaga-tirtha which destroys sins and is very pure Ancestors who
receive offerings there become immortal.

Text 244

tat tirtham sevamanasya

krsnam ca jagatam gurum nihsamsayam manusyasya
na punar-janma-sambhavah

tat tirtham - that holy place; sevamanasya - of a servant; krsnam - Lord Krsna; ca - and; jagatam-
gurum - master of the universes; nihsamsayam - without doubt; manusyasya - of a person; na - not;
punar- janma-sambhavah - re-birth.

A person who serves both this holy place and Lord Krsna the master of the universes never takes
birth again Of this there is no doubt.
 92

Text 245 adi-varahe

tatha kanakhalam tirtham

guhyam tirtham param mama snana-matrena tatrapi
naka-prsthe sa modate

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; tatha - then; kanakhalam- tirtham - Kanakhala-tirtha;

guhyam - secret; tirtham - holy place; param - transcendental; mama - My; snana- matrena'simply by
bathing; tatra - there;pi naka-prsthe - in the spiritual sky; sah - he; modate - enjoys.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Next is My secret holy place Kanakhala-tirtha A person who once bathes there enjoys in the
spiritual sky.

Text 246

asti ksetram param guhyam

tindukam nama namatah tasmin snatva naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

asti - is; ksetram - place; param - great; guhyam - secret; tindukam- nama - named Tinduka-tirtha;
namatah - from the name; tasmin - there; snatva - having bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess;
mama - My; loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

Next is the secret holy place named Tinduka-tirtha O goddess a person who bathes there become
glorified in My abode.

Text 247

tatah param surya-tirtham

sarva-papa-pranasanam vairocanena balina
suryas tu aradhitah pura

tatah„ param - next; surya-tirtham - Surya-tirtha; sarva-papa-pranasanam - destroying all sins;

vairocanena - Virocana's son; balina - by Bali; suryah - the sun-god; tu - indeed; aradhitah -
worshiped; pura - long ago.

Next is Surya-tirtha which destroys all sins Long ago Virocana's son Bali worshiped the son-god
there.
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Text 248

adityo 'hani sankrantau

grahane candra-suryayoh tasmin snato naro devi
rajasuya-phalam labhet

adityah - the sun-god; ahani sankrantau - on Sankranti day; grahane - on an eclipse; candra - of the
moon; suryayoh - or the sun; tasmin - there; snatah - bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess;
rajasuya - of a rajasuya sacrifice; phalam - result; labhet - attains;

O goddess a person who bathes there on the Aditya-sankranti day or on a solar or lunar eclipse
attains the result of performing a Rajasuya-yaj{.sy a.

Text 249

saura-purane

tatah param vata-svami

tirthanam tirtham uttamam vata-svamiti vikhyato
yatra devo divakarah

saura-purane - in the saura Purana; tatah„ param - next; vata-svami - Vatasvami; tirthanam- tirtham
uttamam'the best of holy places; vata- svamiti - Vatasvami; vikhyatah - famous; yatra - where; devah
- deity; divakarah - the sun-god.

In the Saura Purana it is said:

Next is Vatasvami-tirtha the best of all hoiy places The deity of the sun-god there is famous as
Lord Vatasvami.

Text 250

tat tirtham caiva yo bhaktya

ravi-vare nisevate prapnoty arogyam aisvaryam
ante ca gatim uttamam

tat - that; tirtham - holy place; ca - and; eva - indeed; yah - who; bhaktya - with devotion; ravi-
vare - on Sunday; nisevate - serves; prapnoti - attains» arogyam - health; aisvaryam - wealth; ante - at
the end; 2} ca - and; gatim - destination; uttamam - supreme.
 94

A person who on Sunday serves this holy place with devotion attains good health wealth and at the
end the supreme destination.

Text 25±

adi-varahe yatra dhruvena santaptam

icchaya paramam tapah tatra vai snana-matrena
dhruvaloke mahiyate

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; yatra - where; dhruvena - by Dhruva; santaptam -

austerities; icchaya - with a desire; paramam - supreme; tapah - austerity; tatra - there; vai snana-
matrena - simply by bathing; dhruvaloke - on Dhruvaloka; mahiyate - glorified.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Simply by bathing there (in Dhruva-tirtha) where Dhruva Maharaja earnestly performed servere
austerities a person becomes glorified on Dhruvaloka.

Text 252

dhruva-tirthe tu vasudhe
yah sraddham kurute narah pitrn santarayate sarvan
pitr-pakse visesatah

dhruva-tirthe - at Dhruva-tirtha; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth; yah - who; sraddham - sraddha;

kurute - does; narah - a person; pitrn - to the pitas;2} santarayate - delivers; sarvan - all; pitr„-pakse -
in the pitas; visesatah - specifically.

O earth-goddess a person who performs sraddha at Dhruva- tirtha delivers all his ancestors.

Text 253

saura-purane

dhruva-tirtham iti khyatam

tirtham mukhyam tatah param yatra snanavato mokso
dhruva eva na samsayah
 95

saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; dhruva- tirtham - Dhruva-tirtha; iti - thus; khyatam - known;
tirtham - holy place; mukhyam - best; tatah„ param - then; yatra - where; snanavatah - from bathing;
moksah - liberation; dhruva - indeed; eva - indeed; na - not; samsayah - doubt.

In the Saura Purana it is said:

Famous Dhruva-tirtha is the best of holy places Simply by bathing there one becomes liberated Of
this there is no doubt.

Text 254

skande mathura-khande

gayayam pinda-danena
yat phalam hi nrnam bhavet tasmac chata-gunam tirthe
pinda-danad dhruvasya ca

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; gayayam - at Gaya; pinda - of
pinda; danena'by offering; yat - what; phalam - result; hi - indeed; nrnam - of people; bhavet'may be;
tasmac - than that; chata- gunam - a hundred times more; tirthe - at the holy place; pinda-danad - than
offering of pinda; dhruvasya - of Dhruva; 2} ca - and.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

The result of offering pinda at Dhruva-tirtha is hundreds of times more than pinda offered at Gaya.

Text 255

dhruva-tirthe japo homas

tapo danam surarcanam sarva-tirthac chata-gunam
nrnam tatra phalam labhet

dhruva-tirthe - at Dhruva-tirtha; japah - japa; homahsacrifice; tapah - austerity; danam - charity;

sura - of the demigods; arcanam - worship; sarva- tirthac - than all holy places; chata-gunam - a
hundred times more; nrnam - of people; tatra - there; phalam - result; labhet - attains;

Mantras agnihotra-yaj{.sy as austerities charity and worship of the demigods are hundreds of times
more fruitful at Dhruva-tirtha than at all other holy places.

Text 256
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adi-varahe purane

daksine dhruva-tirthasya
rsi-tirtham prakirtitam tatra snato naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; purane - in the Purana; daksine - south; dhruva-tirthasya -
of Dhruva-tirtha; rsi-tirtham - Rsi-tirtha; prakirtitam - glorified; tatra - there; snatah - bathed; narah - a
person; devi - O goddess; mama - My; loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

South of Dhruva-tirtha is famous Rsi-tirtha O goddess a person who bathes there becomes glorified
in My abode.

Text 257

skande mathura-khande

tasmin madhuvane punyam

rsi-tirtham hareh priyam snana-matrena bhu-pala
harau bhaktih para bhavet

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; tasmin - there; madhuvane - in
Madhuvana; punyam - sacred; rsi-tirtham - Rsi-tirtha; hareh - to Lord Hari; priyam - dear; snana-
matrena - simply by bathing; bhu-pala - O king; harau - for Lord Hari; bhaktih - devotion; para -
transcendental; bhavet - is.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

In Madhuvana is sacred Rsi-tirtha which is dear to Lord Hari O king simply by bathing there one
attains transcendental devotional service to Lord Hari.

Text 258

daksine rsi-tirthasya
moksa-tirtham vasundhare snana-matrena vasudhe
moksam prapnoti manavah
 97

daksine - in the south; rsi-tirthasya - of rsi-tirtha; moksa-tirtham - Moksa-tirtha; vasundhare - O

earth; snana-matrena'simply by bathing; vasudhe - O earth; moksam - liberation; prapnoti - attains;
{fn manavah - a person.

O earth-goddess south of Rsi-tirtha is Moksa-tirtha O earth-goddess simply by bathing there a

person attains liberation.

Text 259

adi-varahe

tatraiva koti-tirtham tu
devanam api durlabham tatra snanena danena
mama loke mahiyate

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; tatra - there; eva - indeed; koti-tirtham - Koti-tirtha; tu -
indeed; devanam - for the demigods; api - even; durlabham - difficult to attain; tatra - there; snanena -
by âathing; danena - by giving charity; mama - My; loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

This is Koti-tirtha which even the demigods cannot attain Simply by bathing here or giving charity
here a person becomes glorified in My abode.

Text 260

tatraiva bodhi-tirtham hi
pitrnam ati-durlabham pindan dattva tu vasudhe
pitrlokam sa gacchati

tatra - there; eva - indeed; bodhi-tirtham - Bodhi- tirtha; hi - indeed; pitrnam - for the pitas; ati-
durlabham'very difficult to attain; pindan - pinda; dattva - offering; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth;
pitrlokam - to Pitrloka; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

This is Bodhi-tirtha which even the pitas cannot attain O earth-goddess simply by offering pinda
here a person goes to Pitrloka.

Text 261
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dvadasaitani tirthani
devanam durlabhani ca tesam smarana-matrena
sarva-papaih pramucyate

dvadasa - 12; etani - these; tirthani - holy places; devanam - for the demigods; durlabhani -
difficult to attain; ca - and; tesam - of them;û.fn smarana- matrena - simply by remembering; sarva-
papaih - from all sins; pramucyate - becomes free.

Even the demigods cannot attain these twelve holy places Simply by remembering these holy
places one becomes free from all sins.

Text 262

uttare tu asi-kundasya
tirtham tu nara-samjakam nara-tirthat param tirtham
na bhutam na bhavisyati

uttare - in the north; tu - certainly; asi- kundasya - of Asi-kunda; tirtham - holy place; tu - indeed;
nara-samj{.sy akam - named Nara-tirtha; nara-tirthat'Nara-tirtha; param - after; tirtham - holy place;
na - not; bhutam - was; na - not; bhavisyati - will be.

North of Asi-kunda is Nara-tirtha No holy place is, or ever uill be, better than Nara-tirtha.

Text 263

tatah samyamanam nama

tirtham trailokya-visrutam tatra snato naro devi
mama lokam sa gacchati

tatah - next; samyamanam- nama tirtham - named Samyamana- tirtha; trailokya-visrutam - famous
in the three worlds; 2} tatra - there; snatah - bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; mama - My;
lokam - planet; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

Next is Samyamana-tirtha which is famous in the three worlds O goddess a person who bathes
there goes to My abode.

Text 264

dhara-patanake snatva
 99

naka-prsthe sa modate athatra mucate pranan

mama lokam sa gacchati

dhara-patanake - at Dharapatanaka-tirtha; snatva - having bathed; naka-prsthe - in the spiritual sky;

sah - he; modate - enjoys; atha - then; atra - here; mu{.sy cate'giving up; pranan - life; mama - My;
lokam - planet; sah - he; 2} gacchati - goes.

A person who bathes at Dharapatanaka-tirtha enjoys in the spiritual sky A person who dies here
goes to My abode.

Text 265

atah param naga-tirtham

tirthanam uttamottamam yatra snatva divam yanti
ye mrtas te 'punar-bhavah
atah„ param - next; naga-tirtham - Naga-tirtha; tirthanam uttama-uttamam - the very best of holy
places; yatra - where; snatva - having bathed; divam - the spiritual uorld; yanti - attain; ye - who;
mrtah te - they; apunar- bhavah - no birth again.

Next is Naga-tirtha the best of holy places They who bathe there go to the spiritual world When
they die they do not return to the world of birth and death.

Text 266

ghantabharanakam tirtham
sarva-papa-pramocanam yatra snato naro devi
suryaloke mahiyate

ghantabharanakam- tirtham - Ghantabhara-tirtha; sarva- papa-pramocanam - freeing from all sins;

yatra - where; snatah - bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; suryaloke - on Suryaloka; mahiyate
- glorified.

Next is Ghantabharana-tirtha which removes all sins O goddess a person who bathes there becomes
glorified on the sun- planet.

Text 267

tirthanam uttamam tirtham

brahmaloketi visrutam tatra snatva ca pitva ca
 100

samyato niyatasanah brahmana samanuj{.sy ato

visnulokam sa gacchati

tirthanam uttamam- tirtham - the ultimate holy place; brahmaloka - Brahmaloka; iti - thus;
visrutam - famous; 2} tatra - there; snatva - having bathed; ca - and; pitva - having drunk; ca - and;
samyatah - controlling the senses; niyatasanah - fasting; brahmana - by Brahma; 2} samanuj{.sy atah
- blessed; visnulokam - to Visnuloka; sah - he; 2} gacchati - goes.

Next is Brahmaloka-tirtha the best of holy places A person who bathes there drinks its water fasts
and controls his senses attains Lord Brahma's blessings and goes to Visnuloka.

Text 268

soma-tirthe tu vasudhe
pavitre yamunambhasi tatrabhisekam kurvita
sva-sva-karma-pratisthitah modate somaloke tu
sa eva natra samsayah

soma-tirthe - at Soma-tirtha; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth; pavitre - pure; yamuna-ambhasi - in

the Yamuna' water; tatra - there; abhisekam - bath; kurvita - does; sva-sva-karma-pratisthitah -
properly performing prescribed duties; modate - enjoys; somaloke - on Somaloka; tu - indeed; sah -
this; eva - indeed; na - not; atra - here; 2} samsayah - doubt.

O earth-goddess a person who properly performs his prescribed duties and bathes in the waters of
the Yamuna at Soma- tirtha enjoys in the moon-planet Of this there is no doubt.

Text 269

sarasvatyas ca patanam
sarva-papa-haram subham tatra snatva naro devi
avarno 'pi yatir bhavet

sarasvatyas" ca patanam - Sarasvatipatana-tirtha; sarva- papa-haram - removing all sins; subham -

sacred; tatra - there; snatva - having bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; avarnah - a person of
the lowest class; 2} api - even; yatir - a sannyasi; bhavet - becomes.

Next is sacred Sarasvatipatana-tirtha which removes all sins O goddess if a man of even the lowest
class bathes there he becomes a sannyasi.

Text 270
 101

cakratirtham tu vikhyatam
mathure mama mandale yas tatra kurute snanam
tri-ratroposito narah snana-matrena manujo
mucyate brahma-hatyaya

cakratirtham - Cakratirtha; tu - indeed; vikhyatam - famous; mathure - in Mathura; mama - My;

mandale - circle; yah - who; tatra - there; kurute snanam - bathes; tri-ratra - for three nights; upositah
- fasting; narah - a person; snana-matrena - simply by bathing; manujah - a person; mucyate - free;
brahma-hatyaya - from the sin of killing a brahmana.

Cakra-tirtha is famous in My circle of Mathura A person who fasting there for three nights bathes
there simply by that bath becomes free from the sin of killing a brahmana.

Text 271

dasasvamedham rsibhih
pujitam sarvada pura tatra ye snanti niyatas
tesam svargo na durlabhah

dasasvamedham - Dasasvamedha; rsibhih - by the sages; pujitam - worshiped; sarvada - always;

pura - formerly; tatra - there; ye - who; snanti - bathe; niyatahcontrolling the senses; tesam - of them;
svargah - Svargaloka; na - not; durlabhah - difficult to attain.

Dasasvamedha-tirtha is always worshiped by the great sages For self-controlled persons who bathe
there Svargaloka is not difficult to attain.

Text 272

tirtham tu vighnarajasya
punyam papa-haram subham tatra snatam ca manujam
vighna-rajo na pidayet

tirtham - tirtha; tu - indeed; vighnarajasya - of Vighnaraja; punyam - sacred; papa-haram -

removing sin; subham - auspicious; tatra - there; snatam- ca - and; manujam - a person; vighna- rajah
- Vighnaraja; na - not; pidayet - troubles.

Sacred and auspicious Vighnaraja-tirtha removes sins Vighnaraja will not trouble a person who has
bathed there.
 102

Text 273

tatas ca koti-tirtham tu
pavitram paramam subham tatraiva snana-matrena
koti-godanajam phalam

tatah - next; ca - and; koti-tirtham - Koti-tirtha; 2} tu - indeed; pavitram - pure; paramam - sacred;
subham - auspicious; tatra - there; eva - indeed; snana-matrena - simply by bathing; koti - millions;
godanajam - of giving cows; phalam - result.

Next is sacred and auspicious Koti-tirtha By bathing there one attains the result of offering millions
of cows in charity.

Text 274

mathura-khanda-mate tu visrantim vina caturvimsatitvam tatha hi

mathura-khanda-mate - the opion of Mathura'-khanda; tu - indeed; visrantim - Visranti-tirtha; vina

- except; 2} caturvimsatitvam - 24; tatha hi - furthermore.

Without considering Visranti-tirtha 2´ holy places are described in the Mathura-khanda in the
following words.

Text 275

catur-vimsati-tirthani
tat-tirthad daksinottare dasasvamedha-paryantam
moksantam ca yudhisthira

catur-vimsati - 24; tirthani - holy places; tat- tirthad - of that holy place; daksina - south; uttare -
and north; dasasvamedha - Dasasvamedha; paryantam - until; moksa - Moksa-tirtha; antam - at the
end;û.fn ca - and; yudhisthira - O Yudhisthira.

O Yudhisthira beginning with Dasasvamedha-tirtha and culminating in Moksa-tirtha there are 2´

holy places north and south of that holy place.

Text 276
 103

athatratya-parama-prasiddha-tirthanam mahatmyam atra gokarnasya yatha saura-purane

tato gokarna-tirthakhyam
tirtham tri-bhuvana-srutam vidyate visvanathasya
visnor atyanta-vallabham

atha - then; atratya - there; parama-prasiddha- tirthanam - of very famous holy places; mahatmyam
- glorification; atra - here; gokarnasya - of Gokarna; yatha - as; saura-purane - in the Saura Purana;
tatah - then; gokarna- tirthakhyam- tirtham - Gokarna-tirtha; tri-bhuvana- srutam - famous in the three
worlds; vidyate - is; visvanathasya - the master of the universes; visnor'of Lord Visnu; atyanta - very;
vallabham - dear.

Glorification of of the Famous Holy Places There

Glorification of Gokarna-tirtha

In the Saura Purana iti is said:

Next is the holy place named Gokarna-tirtha which is famous in the three worlds and very dear to
Lord Visnu the master of the universes.

Text 277

krsna-gangayah adi-varahe

paca-tirthabhisekac ca
yat phalam labhate narah krsna-ganga dasa-gunam
disate tu dine dine
krsna-gangayah - of the Krsna-ganga; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; pa{.sy ca - five; tirtha -
holy places; abhisekac - because of bathing; ca - and; yat - what; phalam - result; labhate - obtains;
narah„ krsna-ganga - Krsna-ganga; dasa-gunam - ten times more; disate - shows; tu - indeed; dine dine
- every day.

Glorification of Krsna-ganga

The pious result a person attains by bathing at five holy places is attained multiplied by ten, every
day at Krsna-ganga.

Text 278

vaikuntha-tirthasya
 104

vaikuntha-tirthe yah snati

mucyate sarva-patakaih sarva-papa-vinirmukto
brahmalokam sa gacchati

vaikuntha-tirthasya - of Vaikuntha-tirtha; vaikuntha- tirthe - at Vaikuntha-tirtha; yah - one who;

snati - bathes; mucyate - is freed; sarva-patakaih - from all sins; sarva- papa-vinirmuktah - freed from
all sins; brahmalokam - to Brahmaloëa; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

Glorification of Vaikuntha-tirtha

A person who bathes at Vaikuntha-tirtha becomes free from all sins Free from all sins he goes to
the spiritual world.

Text 279-280

asi-kundasya

eka varaha-samja ca
tatha narayani para vamana ca trtiya vai
caturthi langali subha etas catasro yah pasyet
snatva kunde 'si-samjake catuh-sagara-paryanta
kranta tena dhara dhruvam tirthanam mathuranam ca
sarvesam phalam asnute

asi-kundasya - of Asi-kunda; eka - one; varaha- samj{.sy a - named Varaha; ca - and; tatha - then;
narayani - Narayana; para - great; vamana - Vamana; ca - and; trtiya - third; vai - indeed; caturthi -
fourth; langali - Balarama; subhah - auspicious; etah - these; catasrah - four; yah - who; pasyet - may
see; snatva - having bathed; kunde asi-samj{.sy ake - in Asi-kunda; catuh„-sagara- paryanta kranta -
up to the four oceans; tena - by him; dhara - the earth; dhruvam - indeed; tirthanam - of holy places;
mathuranam - of Mathura; ca - and; sarvesam - of all; phalam - the result; asnute - enjoys.

Glorification of of Asi-kunda

First is Varaha Then is Narayana Third is Vamana Fourth is Balarama A person who sees these
four Deities and bathes in Asi-kunda attains the result of visiting all holy places in Mathura' and all
other holy places within the boundaries of the world's four seas.

Text 281

atha kalindi-mahatmyam adi-varahe

ganga sata-guna prokta

 105

mathure mama mandale yamuna visruta devi

natra karya vicarana

atha - now; kalindi - of the Yamuna; mahatmyam - glorification; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha
Purana; ganga - the Ganges; sata-guna - a hundred times more; prokta - said; mathure - in Mathura;
mama - My; mandale - circle; yamuna - Yamuna; visruta - famous; devi - O goddess; na - not; atra -
here; karya - to be done; vicarana - doubt.

Glorification of the Yamuna

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O goddess the Yamuna in My circle of Mathura' is a hundred times more sacred than the Ganges
Of this there is no doubt.

Text 282

tatra tirthani guhyani

bhavisyanti mamanaghe yesu snato naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

tatra - there; tirthani - holy places; guhyani - secret; bhavisyanti - will be; mama - My; anaghe - O
sinless one; yesu - in which; snatah - bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; mama - My; loke -
in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

O sinless one in the Yamuna will be many secret places sacred to Me O goddess a person who
bathes in them is glorified in My abode.

Text 283

yamuna-salile snatah
sucir bhutva jitendriyah samabhyarcyacyutam samyak
prapnoti paramam gatim

yamuna-salile - in the Ymauna's waters; snatah - bathed; sucir - pure; bhutva - becoming; jita -
conquered; indriyah„ - senses; samabhyarcya - having worshiped; acyutam - Lord Acyuta; samyak -
completely; prapnoti - attains; paramam- gatim - the supreme destination.

A person who bathes in the Yamuna's waters becomes pure and sense-controlled He worships Lord
Acyuta and attains the supreme destination.
 106

Text 284

varahe

nadi tatra vararohe

subha punyojjvalodaka vivasvatah suta punya
yamuna vai bhavisyati

varahe - in the Varaha Purana; nadi - river; tatra - there; vararohe - O beautiful one; subha -
auspicious; punya - pure; ujjvala - splendid; udaka - waters; vivasvatah - of the sun-god; suta - the
daughter; punya - saintly; yamuna - Yamuna; vai - indeed; bhavisyati - will be.

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

O beautiful girl in this place will be the Yamuna the auspicious pure and splendid river that is the
saintly daughter of the sun-god. Text 285

sa prayage tu susroni
brahma-ksetre maha-yasah samesyati na sandeho
gangayas tad anantaram

sa - she; prayage - at Prayaga; tu - indeed; susroni - O beautiful girl; brahma-ksetre - in Brahma-

ksetra; maha - great; yasah - fame; samesyati - will meet; na - not; sandehah - doubt; gangayah - the
Ganges; tad anantaram - after.

O beautiful girl this glorious river will meet the Ganges at Prayaga in Brahma-ksetra Of this there
is no doubt.

Text 286

matsye yudhisthira-narada-samvade

tatra snatva ca pitva ca

yamunayam yudhisthira kirtanal labhate punyam
drstva bhadrani pasyati

matsye - in the Matsya Purana; yudhisthira-narada- samvade - in the conversation of Narada and
Yudhisthira; tatra - there; snatva - having bathed; ca - and; pitva - having drunk; ca - and;
yamunayam - in the Yamuna; yudhisthira - O Yudhisthira; kirtanal - from the glorification; labhate -
attains; punyam - piety; drstva - having seen; bhadrani - auspiciousness; pasyati - sees.
 107

In the Matsya Purana in the conversation of Yudhisthira and Narada, it is said:

O Yudhisthira a person who bathes in the Yamuna glorifies it and drinks its waters attains piety He
sees auspiciousness.

Text 287

avagahya ca pitva ca
punaty asaptamam kulam pranams tyajati yas tatra
sa yati paramam gatim

avagahya - plunging; ca - and; pitva - drinking; ca - and; punati - purifies; a-saptamam - up to

seven; kulam - family; pranan - life breathl; tyajati - abandond» yah - one who; tatra - there; sah -
he; yati - goes; paramam- gatim - to the supreme destination.

A person who enters the Yamuna and drinks its waters purifies seven generations of ancestors A
person who dies in the Yamuna goes to the supreme destination.

Text 288

visnu-dharmottare

yatra kvacana kalindyam

krtva sraddham naradhipa aksayam phalam apnoti
naka-prsthe sa modate

visnu-dharma-uttare - in the Visnu-dharma Purana Uttara- khanda; yatra - where; kvacana -

somewhere; kalindyam - in the Yamuna; krtva - having done; sraddham - sraddha; naradhipa - O
king; aksayam - eternal; phalam - result; apnoti - attains; naka-prsthe - in the spiritual sky; sah - he;
modate - enjoys.

In the Visnu-dharma Purana Uttara-khanda, it is said:

O king a person who offers sraddha by the Yamuna attains an eternal result He enjoys in the
spiritual sky.

Text 289

padma-purane patala-khande
 108

raso yah paramadharah

sac-cid-ananda-laksanah brahmety-upanisad-gitah
sa eva yamuna svayam pavanayasya jagatah
sarid bhutva sasara ha

padma-purane patala-khande - in the Padma Purana Patala- khanda; rasah - nectar; yah - which;
paramadharah - supreme river; sac - eternal; cid - spiritual; ananda - blissful; laksanah -
characteristics; brahma - Brahman; iti - thus; upanisad - in the Upanisads; gitah - called; sa - that; eva
- indeed; yamuna - Yamuna; svayam - personally; pavanaya - to purify; asya - of this; jagatah -
universe; sarid - a river; bhutva - having become;û.fn sasara ha - flowed.

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, it is said:

The flood of eternal blissful spiritual nectar which is called Brahman in the Upanisads is the
Yamuna which has become a flowing river to purify the worlds. Text 290

tatha

pataki patakan muktah

punyadhyah syad apataki phalabhisandhi-rahitah
kalindyam eva mucyate

tatha - then; pataki - sinful; patakat - fropm sin; muktah - free; punyadhyah - pious; syad -
becomes; apataki'sinless; phala-abhisandhi-rahitah - free from sinful reaction; kalindyam - in the
Yamuna; eva - indeed; mucyate - is liberated.

By the Yamuna's touch a sinful person becomes free from sin pious and saintly Free from past
sinful reactions he becomes liberated.

Text 291

snanadi-karma kalindyam
yena kenapi yat krtam yathavad ayathavad va
tat sadhu phalavad bhavet

snana - bathing; adi - beginning with; karma - action; kalindyam - in the Yamuna; yena kenapi - by
someone; yat - which; krtam - done; yathavad - properly; ayathavad - improperly; va - or; tat - that;
sadhu - sacred; phalavad - result; bhavet - is.

Whether one bathes or worships the Yamuna properly or improperly he will attain the sacred
result.
 109

Text 292

visesa eva kalindyam

mrte yati hareh padam mathura-sangatayam tu
harir eva bhaven narah

visesah - specifically; eva - indeed; kalindyam - in the Yamuna; mrte - dead; yati - attains; hareh -
of Lord Hari; padam - the feet; mathura- sangatayam - in Mathura; tu - indeed; harir - Lord Hari; 2}
eva - indeed; bhavet - becomes; narah - person.

A person who dies in the Yamuna goes to the abode of Lord Hari A person who dies in the
Yamuna as it flows through Mathura' attains a spiritual form like that of Lord Hari.

Text 293 tatraiva hara-gauri-samvade

brahma-j{.sy anena mucyante

kasyam ca marane narah athava snana-matrena
krsnayam krsna-sannidhau

tatra - there; eva - indeed; hara-gauri-samvade - in the conversation of Sµiva and Gauri; brahma-
j{.sy anena - with spiritual knowledge; mucyante - are free; 2} kasyam - in Varanasi; ca - and;
marane - in death; narah - a person; athava - or; snana-matrena - simply by bathing; krsnayam - in the
Yamuna; krsna- sannidhau - near Krsna.

In the same scripture in the conversation between Sµiva and Gauri it is said:

By attaining spiritual knowledge they who die at Varanasi become liberated On the other hand
simply by bathing in the Yamuna the devotees attain the association of Lord Krsna.

Text 294

yamuna-jala-kallole
kridate devaki-sutah tatra snatva maha-devi
sarva-tirtha-phalam labhet

yamuna-jala-kallole - in the Yamuna's waves;; kridate'plays; devaki...-sutah„ - Devaki's son; tatra -

there; snatva - having bathed; maha- devi - O goddess; sarva-tirtha - of all holy places; phalam -
result; labhet - attains.
 110

Devaki's son plays in the Yamuna's waves O great goddess a person who bathes there attains the
result of visiting all holy places.

Text 295

aho abhagyam lokasya

na pitam yamuna-jalam go-gopa-gopika-sange
yatra kridati kamsa-ha

ahah - Oh; abhagyam - misofrtune; lokasya - of the people; na - not; pitam - drunk; yamuna- jalam
- Yamuna' water; gah - cows; gopa - gopas; gopika - gopis; sange - in company; yatra - where; kridati
- plays; kamsa-ha - Krsna.

Oh the misfortune of they who have not drunë the Yamuna's waters where the killer of Kamsa plays
with the cows gopas and gopis!

Text 296

tatraiva nirvana-khande

cid-anandamayi saksad
yamuna yama-bhiti-nut

tatra - there; eva - indeed; nirvana-khande - in the Nirvana-khanda; cid-anandamayi - full of

spiritual bliss; saksad - directly; yamuna - Yamuna; yama - of Yama; 2; bhiti - the fear; nut -
removing.

In the Nirvana-khanda it is said:

The spiritual blisssful Yamuna removes the fear of Yamaraja.

Text 297

kala-visese tatra snanadi-phalam. adi-varahe

jyaisthasya sukla-dvadasyam
samabhyarcya janardanam dhanyo 'sau pinda-nirvapam
yamunayam karisyati
 111

kala - time; visese - specific; tatra - there; snana - bathing; adi - beginning with; phalam - result;
adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; jyaisthasya - of Jyaistha; sukla-dvadasyam - in the sukla-
dvadasi; samabhyarcya - having worshiped; janardanam - Janardana; dhanyah - fortunate; .asau - he;
pinda- nirvapam - offering pinda; yamunayam - in the Yamuna; karisyati - will do.

The Result of Bathing and Other Devotional Activities Performed There at Certain Specific Times

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

A person who during the sukla-ekadasi of the month of Jyaistha (May-June) worships Lord
Janardana by the Yamuna's shore becomes fortunate and attains the result of offering pinda.

Text 298-299

sri-visnu purane
yamuna-salile snatah
puruso muni-sattama jyaistha-mule 'male pakse
dvadasyam upavasa-krt

samabhyarcyacyutam samyag
yamunayam samahitah asvamedhasya yajasya
prapnoty adhikajam phalam

sri-visnu purane - in the Visnu Purana; yamuna-salile - in the Yamuna's water;; snatah - bathed;
purusah - a person; muni-sattama - O great sage; jyaistha-mule - in the star Mula in month of
Jyaistha; amale pakse dvadasyam'in the sukla-dvadasi; upavasa-krt - fasting; samabhyarcya - having
worshiped; acyutam - Lord Acyuta; samyak - completely; yamunayam- samahitah„ - in the Yamuna;
asvamedhasya yaj{.sy asya - of an asvamedha sacrifice; prapnoti - attains» adhikajam - greater;
phalam - result.

In the Sµri Visnu Purana it is said:

O great sage a person who fasting bathes in the Yamuna's waters during the Mula'-naksatra in the
sukla-dvadasi of the month of Jyaistha and then with a peaceful heart worships Lord Acyuta on the
Yamuna's shore attains a result greater than the result of an asvamedha-yaj{.sy a.

Text 300-301

tatraiva pitrnam vakyam

kascid asmat-kule jatah

kalindi-salilaplutah arcayisyati govindam
 112

mathurayam upositah

jyaistha-mule 'male pakse

yenaiva vayam apy uta param rddhim avapa syamas
taritah sva-kulodbhavaih

tatra - there; eva - indeed; pitrnam - of pitas; vakyam - statement; kascid - someone; asmat-kule -
in our family; jatah„ - born; kalindi... - of the Yamuna; salila - in the water; aplutah - bathed;
arcayisyati - will worship; govindam - Lord Govinda; mathurayam - in Mathura» upositah„ - fasting;
jyaistha- mule - in the month of Jyaistha during the star Mula; amale pakse - in the bright half; yena -
by whom; eva - indeed; vayam - we; api - also; uta - indeed; param - supreme; rddhim - opulence;
avapa - attained; 2} syamahare taritah„ - delivered; sva-kulodbhavaih - with our relatives.

In the same scripture the Pitas say:

Someone in our family will fast bathe in the Yamuna's waters and worship Lord Govinda in
Mathura' during the Mula- naksatra in the bright half of the month of Jyaistha Becasue of his deed we
were delivered and we attained sublime opulence

Text 302

jyaisthasya sukla-dvadasyam
samabhyarcya janardanam dhanyo 'sau pinda-nirvapam
yamunayam karisyati

jyaisthasya - of Jyaistha; sukla-dvadasyam - in the sukla- dvadasi; samabhyarcya - having

worshiped; janardanam - Lord Janardana; dhanyah - fortunate; asau - he; pinda-nirvapam - offering
pinda; yamunayam - in the Yamuna; karisyati - will do.

A person who during the sukla-dvadasi in the month of Jyaistha worships Lord Janardana by the
Yamuna's shore is fortunate He will attain the result of offering pinda.

Text 303

brahma-vaivarte

jyaisthamulasite pakse
samabhyarcya janardanam dhanyanam kulajah pindan
yamunayam pradasyati

brahma-vaivarte - in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana; jyaistha-mula-site pakse - in the Mula-naksatra

in the bright half of the month of Jyaistha; samabhyarcya - having worshiped; janardanam - Lord
 113

Janardana; dhanyanam - fortunate; kulajah - descendent; pindan - pinda; yamunayam - in the

Yamuna; pradasyati - will give.

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said:

A person who during Mula-naksatra in the bright fortnight of the month of Jyaistha worships Lord
Janardana by the Yamuna's shore attains the same result a person born in a noble family attains when
offering pinda.

Text 304-305

brhan-naradiye

jyaisthe masi paurnamasyam

mularkse prayato narah snatva ca yamunayam vai
mathurayam upositah

abhyarcya vidhina visnum

yat phalam labhate dvijah tat pravaksyami vah samyak
srnudhvam gadato mama

brhan-naradiye - in the Brhan Narada Purana; jyaisthe masi - in the month of Jyaistha;
paurnamasyam - in the full moon; mularkse - in the Mula-naksatra; prayatah - mostly;{fn narah - a
person; snatva - having bathed; ca - and; yamunayam - in the Yamuna; vai - indeed; mathurayam - in
Mathura; upositah - fasting; abhyarcya - worshiping; 2} vidhina - according to the rules; visnum -
Lord Visnu; yat - what; phalam - result; labhate - attains; dvijah - a brahmana; tat - that; pravaksyami
- I will say; vah„ - to you; samyak - completely; srnudhvam - please listen; gadatah - speaking;
mama - My.

In the Brhan-Narada Purana it is said:

Listen O brahmanas and I will tell you the result a person attains when during the Mula'-naksatra in
the full moon of the month of Jyaistha he fasts in Mathura bathes in the Yamuna and then worships
Lord Visnu.

Text 306

janmayutarjitaih papair
muktah koti-kulanvitah brahmanah padam asadya
tatraiva parimucyate
 114

janma - births; ayuta - billions; arjitaih„ papair - from the sins; muktah - free; koti-kula- anvitah -
with millions of relatives; brahmanah - of Brahma; 2} padam - the abode; asadya - attaining; tatra -
there; eva - indeed; parimucyate - is liberated.

He becomes free from the sins of billions of births With millions of his family he goes to Brahma's
abode and then he becomes liberated.

Text 30· and 308

padma-purane

sankrantau ravi-vare ca
saptamyam vaidhrtau tatha vyatipate ca hastarkse
tvastre pau{.sy ce punar-vasau

ekadasyam caturdasyam
astamyam ca vidhuksaye paurnamasyam ca purvoktam
phalam sata-gunam bhavet

padma-purane - in the Padma Purana; sankrantau - in Sankranti; ravi-vare - on Sunday; ca - and;

saptamyam - on saptami; vaidhrtau - during Vaidhrti; tatha - then; vyatipate - on Vyatipata; ca - and;
hastarkse - during Hasta-naksatra; tvastre - Tvastra; pau{.sy ce'panca; punarvasau - Punarvasu;
ekadasyam - ekadasi; caturdasyam - caturdasi; astamyam - astami; ca - and; vidhuksaye - the neu
moon; 2} paurnamasyam - the full moon; ca - and; purva - previously; uktam - said; phalam - result;
sata-gunam - increased a hundred times; bhavet - will be.

In the Padma Purana it is said:

On Sankranti Sunday Saptami Vaidhrti Vyatipata Hasta- naksatra Tvastra Pau{.sy ca Punarvasu
Ekadasi Caturdasi Astami the neu moon and the full moon the previously described results are
multiplied hundreds of times.

Text 309

tad eva koti-gunitam

grahane candra-suryayoh dvadasyam arcayed visnum
ekadasyam uposya yah kalindyam tasya sulabham
tad visnoh paramam padam

tad - that; eva - indeed; koti-gunitam - multiplied by millions of times; grahane candra-suryayoh -
in an eclipse of the sun or the moon; dvadasyam - on a dvadasi; arcayed - may worship; visnum -
 115

Visnu; ekadasyam - on ekadasi; uposya - fasting; yah - who; kalindyam - in the Yamuna; tasya - of
him; sulabham - easy to attain; tad - that; visnoh„ - of Visnu; paramam - supreme; padam - abode.

During a solar or lunar eclipse the results are multiplied by millions of times A person who by the
shore of the Yamuna' worships Lord Visnu on Dvadasi or fasts on Ekadasi easily attains Lord
Visnu's transcendental abode.

Text 310

atha mathura-brahmana-mahatmyam adi-varahe

anrco mathuro yas ca

catur-vedas tatha parah catur-vedam parityajya
mathuram bhojayed dvijam
atha - now; mathura-brahmana-mahatmyam - glorification of the brahmanas in Mathura; adi-varahe -
in the Adi-varaha Purana; anrcah - not learned in the Vedic mantras; mathurah - from Mathura; yah -
who; ca - and; catur-vedah - learned in the four Vedas; tatha - so; parah - greater; catur-vedam - the
four Vedas; parityajya - abandoning; mathuram - from Mathura; bhojayed - should feed; dvijam - the
brahmana.

Glorification of Mathura's Brahmanas

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

There are two brahmanas One lives in Mathura' and is not learned in the Vedas The other does not
live in Mathura although he knows the four Vedas very well One should ignore the brahmana learned
in the four Vedas and should feed the brahmana who lives in Mathura.

Text 311

krsi-balo duracaro
dharma-marga-paran-mukhah idrso 'pi pujaniyo
mathuro mama rupa-dhrk

krsi-balah - a farmer; duracarah - a ruffian; dharma- marga-paran--mukhah - one averse to the path
of religion; idrsah - like this; api - even; pujaniyah - should be worshiped; mathurah - from Mathura;
mama - My; rupa-dhrk - own form.

Whether a farmer a ruffian or a sinner who turns his face from the path of religion any resident of
Mathura' should be worshiped He is representation of My own form.
 116

Text 312

mathuranam ca yad rupam

tad rupam me vasundare ekasmin bhojite vipre
kotir bhavati bhojitah

mathuranam - of the people of Mathura; ca - and; yad rupam - what form; tad rupam - that form;
me - of Me; vasundare'O earth; ekasmin - in one place; bhojite - fed; vipre - a brahmana; kotir -
millions; bhavati'is; bhojitah - fed.

O earth-goddess the brahmanas of Mathura' are My own form When one of them is fed it is like
feeding millions of other brahmanas. Text 313

mathura mama pujya hi

mathura mama vallabhah mathure parituste vai
tusto 'ham natra samsayah

mathura - from Mathura; mama - My; pujya - to be worshiped; hi - indeed; mathura - the people of
Mathura; mama - My; vallabhah - dear; mathure - in Mathura; parituste - pleased; vai - indeed; tustah
- pleased; aham - I; na - not; atra - here; samsayah - doubt.

Mathura's brahmanas are worshiped by Me Mathura's brahmanas are dear to Me When Mathura§s
brahmanas are pleased I am pleased Of this there is no doubt.

Text 314

bhavanti punya-tirthani
punyany ayatanani ca mangalani ca sarvani
yatra tisthanti mathurah

bhavanti - are; punya-tirthani - holy places; punyany ayatanani - holy temples; ca - and; mangalani
- auspicious; ca - and; sarvani - all; yatra - where; tisthanti - stand; mathurah - people of Mathura.

All holy places all holy temples and all auspiciousnesses stay where Mathura-brahmanas reside.

Text 315

atha mathura-vasi-mahatmyam adi-varahe

 117

ye vasanti maha-bhage
mathuram itare janah te 'pi yanti param siddhim
mat-prasadan na samsayah

atha - now; mathura-vasi-mahatmyam - glorification of the residents of Mathura; adi-varahe - in

the Adi-varaha Purana; ye - who; vasanti'reside; maha- bhage - O fortunate one; mathuram - Mathura'
itare janah - other people; te - they; api yanti - attain; param - supreme; siddhim - perfection; mat-
prasadat - from My mercy; na - not; samsayah - doubt.

Glorification of the Residents of Mathura

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O fortunate one they who reside in Mathura', but are not brahmanas by My mercy attain the
supreme perfection Of this there is no doubt.

Text 316

yas tatra nivased devi

samyato hi jitendriyah tri-kalam api bhu{.sy jano
vayu-bhaksa-samo hi sah

yah - who; tatra - there; nivased - resides; devi - O goddess; samyatah - controlled; hi - indeed;
jita-indriyah - conquered the senses; tri- kalam'three times; api - also; bhu{.sy janah - eating; vayu-
bhaksa-samah - equal to someone who eats the wind; hi - indeed; sah - he.

O goddess a person who lives there (in Mathura) although he be a prisoner of his senses is like one
who has conquered them and although he eats three times a day is like an scetic that only eats the
wind.

Text 317

mathurayam maha-puryam
ye vasanty ascui-vratah balibhiksa-pradataro
devas te nara-vigrahah

mathurayam - in Mathura; maha-puryam - the great city; ye - who; vasanti - reside; ascui - to
uncelan deeds; vratah„ - vowed; balibhiksa- pradatarah - granting benedictions; devah - demigods; te
- they; nara-vigrahah - in the forms of men.
 118

They who although avowed to unclean works live in the great city of Mathura are demigods that
grant benedictions although they bear human forms.

Text 318

mathura-vasino lokah
sarve te mukti-bhajanah api kitah patango va
tiryag-yoni-gato 'pi va

mathura-vasino lokah - residents of Mathura; sarve - all; te - they; mukti-bhajanah - liberated;

api'even; kitah„ - worms and insects; patangah - moths and birds; va tiryag-yoni-gatah - beasts; api -
even; va - or.

They who live in Mathura even the worms insects moths birds and beasts are all liberated. Text
319

tisthed yuga-sahasram tu
padanaikena yah puman tasyadhikam bhavet punyam
mathurayam nivasinah

tisthed - may stay; yuga-sahasram - for na thousand yugas; tu - indeed; pada-anaikena - standing on
one foot; yah - who; puman - a person; tasya - of him; adhikam - greater; bhavet - is; punyam - piety;
mathurayam - in Mathura; nivasinah - residents.

By living in Mathura' one attains more piety than by performing the harsh austerity of standing on
one foot for a thousand yugas.

Text 320

para-dara-rata ye ca
ye nara ajitendriyah mathura-vasinah sarve
te deva nara-vigrahah

para-dara-rata - adulterers; ye - who; ca - and; ye - who; narah - people; ajitendriyah - uncontrolled

senses» mathura-vasinah„ - residents of Mathura; sarve - all; te - they; devah - demigods; nara-
vigrahah'in huamn form.

They who live in Mathura' and are adulterers, or are defeated by their senses are all demigods in
human form.
 119

Text 321

siddha bhuta-ganah sarve

ye ca deva-gana bhuvi mathura-vasino lokams
te pasyanti catur-bhujan

siddhah - Siddhas; bhuta-ganah - Bhutas; sarve - all; ye - who; ca - and; deva-ganah - devas; 2}
bhuvi - on the earth; mathura- vasinah - residents of Mathura; lokamhpeople; te - they; pasyanti'see;
catur-bhujan - with four arms.

All Siddhas Bhutas and Devas who come to earth see the people of Mathura' as four-armed
residents of Vaikuntha.

Text 322

mathurayam ye vasanti
visnu-rupa hi te khalu aj{.sy anas tan na pasyanti
pasyanti j{.sy ana-caksusah

mathurayam - in Mathura; ye - who; vasanti - reside; visnu-rupah - forms of Visnu; hi - indeed; te

- they; khalu - indeed; aj{.sy anah - unknowing; tan - them; na - not; pasyanti - see; pasyanti - see;
j{.sy ana - of knowledge; caksusah - with eyes.

They who live in Mathura' have forms like Lord Visnu's form The ignorant cannot see it but they
who have eyes of knowledge see it.

Text 323

mathurayam pure yas tu

prasadam pura-vasinam karayitva tu manujo
jayate sa catur-bhujah

mathurayam - in Mathura; pure - in the city; yah - who; tu - indeed; prasadam - a palace; pura-
vasinam - of the people of the city; karayitva - creating;2} tu - indeed; manujah - a person; jayate - is
born; sah - he; catur- bhujah - with four arms.

A person who builds a palace for the residents of Mathura' becomes in his next birth a four-armed
resident of Vaikuntha.
 120

Text 324

skande

mathura-vasino lokan
manasapi dvisanti ye na jatu bhavita tesam
viraho nirayaih saha

skande - in the Skanda Purana; mathura-vasinah - residents of Mathura; lokan - worlds; manasa -
with the heart; api - even; dvisanti - hate; ye - who; na - not; jatu'ever; bhavita - will be; tesam-
virahah - separation; nirayaih - from hell; saha - with.

In the Skanda Purana it is said:

For they who in their hearts hate the residnets of Mathura' the tortures of hell will not cease.

Text 325

mathura-vasinam kurvanty
upakaran manag api ye loka nasti tesam hi
punyasyantah kadacana

mathura-vasinam - of the residents of Mathura; kurvanti - do; upakaran - help; manag - slightly;
api - even; ye - who; lokah - people; na - not; asti'is; tesam - of them; hi - indeed; punyasya - of piety;
antah'end; kadacana - ever.

The piety gained by they who, even slightly, help the residents of Mathura' will never end.

Text 326

padme patala-khande

dhanya mathura-vasas te
vasanti hari-sannidhau catur-varna-varah so 'yam
pibate yamuna-jalam

padme - in the Padma Purana; patala- khande - Patala - khanda; dhanyah - fortunate; mathura-
vasah - residents of Mathura; te - they; vasanti - reside; hari- sannidhau - near Lord Hari; catur-varna-
varah - best of the four varnas; sah„ ayam - he; pibate - drinks; yamuna- jalam - Yamuna' water.
 121

In the Padma Purana Patala-khanda, it is said:

The residents of Mathura' are fortunate for they live near Lord Hari A person who drinks the water
of the Yamuna' belongs to the best of the four varnas.

Text 327

svapacah pavanas te 'tra

vasanti mathura-pure anya-desa-stha-vipranam
mathura-vasino 'dhikah

svapacah - dogeaters; pavanah - purified; te - they; atra - here; vasanti - reside; mathura- pure'in
Mathura; anya-desa- stha - in another country; vipranam - brahmanas; mathura- vasinah - residents of
Mathura; adhikah - greater.

Dogeaters who live in Mathura' City become purified The ordinary people of Mathura' are better
than the brahmanas in other places.

Text 328 tatraiva nirvana-khande

mathura-vasino dhanya
manya api divaukasam aganya-mahimanas te
sarva eva catur-bhujah

tatra - there; eva - indeed; nirvana-khande - in the Nirvana-khanda; mathura-vasinah - the residents
of Mathura; dhanyah - fortunate; manyah - glorious; api'also; divaukasam - of the residents of
heaven; aganya - measureless; mahimanah - glories; te - they; sarve - all;; eva - indeed; catur-bhujah -
with four arms.

In the same scripture in the Nirvana-khanda it is said:

The residents of Mathura' are fortunate They are more exalted than the demigods in heaven Their
glories cannot be counted They are all four-armed residents of Vaikuntha.

Text 329

mathura-vasinam ye tu
dosam pasyanti manavah te sva-dosam na pasyanti
janma-mrtyu-sahasra-dam
 122

mathura-vasinam - residents of Mathura; ye - who; tu - indeed; dosam - fault; pasyanti - see;

manavah - people; te - they; sva-dosam - own fault; na - not; pasyanti - see; janma - births; mrtyu -
and deaths; sahasra - thousands; dam - giving.

People who see fault in the residents of Mathura' do not see their own mistake which will bring
them thousands of births and deaths.

Text 330

tatradi-varaha-matam madhuvanam puradbhir apy astiti tatha hi

tena drsta ca sa ramya

vasavasya puri yatha vanair dvadasabhir yukta
punya papa-hara subha

tatra - there; adi-varaha-matam - the opinion of Adi-varaha Purana; madhuvanam - Madhuvana;

puradbhir - with the floods; api - even; asti - is; iti - thus; tatha'so; hi - indeed; tena - by him; drsta -
seen; ca - and; sa - it; ramya - charming; vasavasya - of Indra; puri'the city; yatha - as; vanair - with
forests; dvadasabhir - 12; yukta - endowed; punya - sacred; papa-hara'removing sins; subha -
auspicious.

The Adi-varaha Purana considers that the forest of Madhuvana continues to exist after the great
flood of cosmic devastation It further says:

For one who sees sacred and auspicious Mathura which has twelve forests and which destroys sins
it is as beautiful as Indra's capitol.

Text 331

atha dvadasa-vananam mahatmyam tatra madhuvanasya

ramyam madhuvanam nama

visnu-sthanam anuttamam yad drstva manujo devi
sarvan kaman avapnuyat

atha - now; dvadasa-vananam - of the 12 forests; mahatmyam - glorification; tatra - there;

madhuvanasya - of Madhuvana; ramyam - charming; madhuvanam - Madhuvana; nama - named;
visnu- sthanam - Visnu's place; anuttamam - peerless; yad - which;{fn drstva - having seen; manujah
- a person; devi - O goddess; sarvan - all; kaman - desires; avapnuyat - attains.
 123

Glorification of Mathura's Twelve Forests

Glorification of of Madhuvana

O goddess a person who sees Lord Visnu's beautiful and peerless abode of Madhuvana attains all
his desires.

Text 332

talavanasya adi-varahe

vanam talavanakhyam ca
dvitiyam vanam uttamam yatra snatva naro devi
krta-krtyo 'bhijayate

talavanasya - of Talavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; vanam- talavanakhyam -

Talavana forest; ca - and; dvitiyam - second; vanam - forest; uttamam - transcendental; yatra - where;
snatva - having bathed; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; krta-krtyah - successful; abhijayate -
becomes.

Glorification of Talavana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The second forest is transcendental Talavana O goddess a person who bathes there attains all success.

Text 333

tatra kundam svaccha-jalam

nilotpala-vibhusitam tatra snanena danena
vachitam phalam apnuyat

tatra - there; kundam - lake; svaccha - clear; jalam - water; nilotpala - with blue lotuses;
vibhusitam - ornamented; tatra - there; snanena - by bathing; danena - by charity; va{.sy chitam -
desired; phalam - result; apnuyat - attains.

The clear-water lake there is decorated with blue lotuses By bathing there or giving charity there,
one attains his desire.

Text 334
 124

skande mathura-khande

aho talavanam punyam

yatra talair hato 'surah hitaya yadavanam ca
atma-kridanakaya ca

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; ahah - Oh; talavanam - Talavana;
punyam - sacred; yatra - where; talair - by tala trees; 2} hatah - killed; asurah - demon; hitaya - for the
welfare; yadavanam - of the Yadavas; ca - and; atma-kridanakaya - for pastimes; ca - and.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

This is sacred Talavana where to help the Lord's pastimes and to benefit the Yadavas, a demon was
killed by palm trees.

Text 335

yas tatra kurute snanam

yatra kutra sthite jale yadavatvam avapnoti
dehante deva-darsanam

yah - who; tatra - there; kurute snanam - bathes; yatra - where; kutra - where?; sthite - sitauted;
jale'water; yadavatvam - the state of being a Yadava; avapnoti - attains; deha - of the body; ante - at
the end; deva - of the Lord; darsanam - the sight.
A person who bathes in the waters there becomes at the end of his body a Yadava who personally
sees the Lord.

Text 336

kumudavanasyadi-varahe

vanam kumudvanakhyam ca
trtiyam uttamam param tatra gatva naro devi
krta-krtyo 'bhijayate

kumudavanasya - of Kumudavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; vanam-

kumudvanakhyam - Kumudavana; ca - and; trtiyam'third; uttamam - supreme; param - next; tatra -
there; gatva - having gone; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; krta-krtyah - successful; abhijayate -
becomes.

Glorification of Kumudavana
 125

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The third forest is transcendental Kumudavana O goddess a person who goes there attains all
success.

Text 337

kamyavanasyadi-varahe

caturtham kamyakavanam
vananam vanam uttamam tatra gatva naro devi
mama loke mahiyate

kamyavanasya - of Kamyavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; caturtham - the fourth;

kamyakavanam - Kamayavana» vananam- vanam uttamam - the best of forests; tatra - there; gatva -
having gone; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; mama - My; loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

Glorification of Kamyavana

The fourth is Kamyavana the best of all forests O goddess a person who goes there is glorified in
My abode.

Text 338

vimalasya ca kunde tu
sarvam papam vimoksyate yas tatra mucati pranan
mama lokam sa gacchati

vimalasya - pure; ca - and; kunde - in the lake; tu - indeed; sarvam - all; papam - sin; vimoksyate -
free; yah - who; tatra - there; mu{.sy cati - gives up; pranan - life; mama - My; lokam - abode; sah -
he; gacchati - goes.

In nearby Vimala-kunda one becomes free from all sins and when leaving this life, goes to My
abode.

Text 339

skande mathura-khande

tatah kamyavanam rajan

 126

yatra balye sthito harih snana-matrena sarvesam

sarva-kama-phala-pradam

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; tatah - then; kamyavanam -
Kamayavana; rajan'O king; yatra - where; balye - in childhood; sthitah - situated; harih - Hari; snana-
matrena - simply by bathing; sarvesam - of all; sarva-kama-phala- pradam - granting all desires.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda it is said:

O king next is Kamyavana where Lord Hari stayed in His childhood Simply by bathing here, any
person will attain all his desires.

Text 340

tatra kama-saro rajan

gopika-ramanam sarah tatra tirtha-sahasrani
saramsi ca prthaë prthak

tatra - there; kama-sarah - Kama-sarivara; rajan - O king; gopika-ramanam- sarah„ -

Gopikaramana-sarovara; tatra - there; tirtha- sahasrani - thousands of holy places; saramsi - lakes; ca -
and; prthaë prthak - variously.

In that place are Kama-sarovara Gopikaramana-sarovara many other lakes and thousands of holy
places.

Text 341

bahulavanasyadi-varahe

pacamam bahulavanam
vananam vanam uttamam tatra gatva naro devi
agni-sthanam sa gacchati

bahulavanasya - of Bahulavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; pa{.sy camam - the fifth;
bahulavanam - Bahulavana; vananam- vanam uttamam - the best of forests; tatra - there; gatva -
having gone; narah - a person; devi - O goddess; agni-sthanam - Agniloka; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

Glorification of Bahulavana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

 127

The fifth forest is Bahulavana the best of forests O goddess a person who goes there attains
Agniloka

Text 342

skande mathura-khande

bahula sri-hareh patni

tatra tisthati sarvada tasmin padmavane rajan
bahu-punya-phalani ca

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; bahula - Bahula; sri-hareh - of
Lord Krsna; patni'wife; tatra - there; tisthati - stays; sarvada - always; tasmin - there; padmavane -
ina forest of lotuses; rajan - O king; bahu-punya-phalani - many pious results; ca - and.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

Lord Hari's wife Bahula' stays there always O king in the forest of lotus flowers there one attains
the result of many pious deeds.

Text 343

tatraiva ramate visnur

laksmya sardham sadaiva hi tatra sankarsanam kundam
tatra mana-saro nrpa

tatra - there; eva - indeed; ramate - enjoys; visnur - Visnu; laksmya sardham - with Laksmi; sada -
always; eva - indeed; hi - indeed; tatra - there; sankarsanam- kundam - Sankarsana-kunda; tatra -
there; mana-sarah - Mana-sarovara; nrpa - O king.

There Lord Visnu enjoys pastimes with Laksmi eternally In that place is Sankarsana-kunda In that
place is Mana- sarovara O king.

Text 344

yas tatra kurute snanam

madhu-mase nrpottama sa pasyati harim tatra
laksmya saha visampate
 128

yah - who; tatra - there; kurute snanam - bathes; madhu- mase - in the month opf Caitra; nrpottama
- O king; sah - he» pasyati - sees; harim - Krsna; tatra - there; laksmya saha - with Laksmi; visampate
- O king.

O king a person who bathes there during the month of Caitra (March-April) sees Lord Visnu and
Laksmi there.

Text 345

bhadravanasyadi-varahe

tasmin bhadravanam nama

sastham ca vanam uttamam tatra gatva tu vasudhe
mad-bhakto mat-parayanah tad vanasya prabhavena
nagalokam sa gacchati

bhadravanasya - of Bhadravana; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; tasmin - there;

bhadravanam - Bhadravana; nama - named; sastham - sxith; 2} ca - and; vanam - forest; uttamam -
transcendental; tatra - there; gatva - having gone; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth; mad-bhaktah - My
devotee; 2} mat-parayanah„ - devoted to Me; tad vanasya - of that forest; prabhavena - by the power;
nagalokam - to Nagaloka; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

Glorification of Bhadravana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Bhadravana is the sixth transcendental forest O earth- goddess a devotee attached to Me who goes
there goes to Nagaloka by the power of that forest.

Text 346

khadiravanasyadi-varahe

saptamam tu vanam bhumau

khadiram loka-visrutam tatra gatva naro bhadre
mama lokam sa gacchati

khadiravanasya - of Kadiravana; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; saptamam - seventh; tu -

indeed; vanam- - forest; bhumau - on the earth; khadiram - Kadira; loka-visrutam - famous in the
world; tatra - there; gatva - having gone; narah - a person; bhadre - O auspicious one; mama - My;
lokam - abode; sah - he; gacchati - goes.
 129

Glorification of Khadiravana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The sixth forest is famous on the earth as Khadiravana O auspicious one a person who goes there
will go to My abode.

Text 347

mahavanasyadi-varahe

mahavanam castamam tu
sadaiva hi mama priyam tasmin gatva tu manuja
indraloke mahiyate

mahavanasya - of Mahavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; mahavanam - Mahavana; ca -

and; astamam - eighth; tu - indeed; sada - always; eva hi - indeed; mama - My; priyam - dear; tasmin
- there; gatva - having gone; tu - indeed; manujah - a person; indraloke - Indraloka; mahiyate - is
glorified.

Glorification of Mahavana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The eighth forest is Mahavana which is very dear to Me A person who goes there is glorified on
Indraloka.

Text 348

yamalarjuna-tirtham ca
kundam tatra ca vartate paryastam yatra sakatam
bhinna-bhanda-kuti-ghatam

yamalarjuna-tirtham - Yamalarjuna-tirtha; ca - and; kundam - lake; tatra - there; ca - and; vartate -

is; paryastam - overturned; yatra - where; sakatam - the cart; bhinna - broken; bhanda-kuti...-ghatam -
pots and pans.

In that place are Yamalarjuna-tirtha and Yamalarjuna-kunda In that place is the place where the
cart was overturned and the pots and pans were broken.
 130

Text 349

tatra snanopavasena
anantam phalam apnuyat tatra gopisvaro nama
maha-pataka-nasanah

tatra - there; snana - by bathing; upavasena - and fasting; anantam - limitless; phalam - result;
apnuyat - attains; tatra - there; gopisvarah - Gopisvara; 2} nama - named; maha-pataka-nasanah -
destroying great sins.

By fasting and bathing in that place one attains a limitless result The Deity Gopisvara there
destroys great sins.

Text 350

sapta-samudrikam nama
kundam tu vimalodakam devasyagre tu vasudhe
gopisasya mahatmanah

sapta-samudrikam- nama kundam - Sapta-samudrika-kunda; tu - indeed; vimalodakam - with clear

water; devasya - the Deity; agre - before; tu - indeed; vasudhe - O earth; gopisasya mahatmanah - of
Lord Gopisvara.

O earth-goddess before the Deity of Lord Gopisvara is a clear-water lake named Saptasamudrika-
kunda

Text 351

pitaras cabhinandanti
paniyam pindam eva ca soma-vare tu amavasyam
pinda-danam karoti yah gaya-pindam pradanam ca
krtam nasty atra samsayah

pitarah - the pitas; ca - and; abhinandanti - rejoice; paniyam - water; pindam - pinda; 2} eva -
indeed; ca - and; soma-vare - on Monday; tu amavasyam - on the neu-moon day; pinda - of pinda;
danam - offering; karoti - does; yah - who; gaya- pindam - pinda at Gaya; pradanam - offering; ca -
and; krtam - done; na - not; asti - is; atra - here; samsayah - doubt.
 131

The pitas enjoy water and pinda there A person who on a Monday neu-moon day offers pinda
there, offers pinda at Gaya Of this there is no doubt.

Text 352

lohajanghavanasyadi-varahe

lohajanghavanam nama
lohajanghena raksitam navamam tu vanam devi
sarva-pataka-nasanam

lohajanghavanasya - of Lohajanghavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; lohajanghavanam-

nama - named Lohajanghavana; lohajanghena - by Lohajangha; raksitam - protected; navamam -
ninth; tu - indeed; vanam - forest; devi - O goddess; sarva - of all; pataka - sins; nasanam -
destruction.

Glorification of Lohajanghavana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O goddess Lohajanghavana which was protected by Lohajanghasura and which destroys all sins is
the ninth forest.

Text 353

bilvavanasya

vanam bilvavanam nama

dasamam deva-pujitam tatra gatva tu manujo
brahmaloke mahiyate

bilvavanasya - of Blivavana; vanam- bilvavanam- nama - the forest named Blivavana; dasamam -
tenth; deva - by the demigodsl; pujitam - worshiped; tatra - there; gatva - having gone; tu - indeed;
manujah - a person; brahmaloke - in Brahmaloka; mahiyate - glorified.

Glorification of Bilvavana

The forest named Bilvavana which is worshiped by the demigods is the tenth forest A person who
goes there is glorified on Brahmaloka.

Text 354
 132

bhandiravanasya

ekadasam tu bhandiram
yoginam priyam uttamam tasya darsana-matrena
naro garbham na gacchati

bhandiravanasya - of Bhandiravana; ekadasam- tu - indeed; bhandiram - Bhandira; yoginam - of

the yogis; priyam - dear; uttamam - most; tasya - of that» darsana - by seeing; matrena - only; narah -
a person; garbham - a mother's womb;û.fn na - not; gacchati - goes.

Glorification of Bhandiravana
The eleventh forest is Bhandiravana which is very dear to the yogis Simply by seeing it a person will
never again enter a mother's womb.

Text 355

bhandiram samanuprapya
vananam vanam uttamam vasudevam tato drstva
punar-janma na vidyate

bhandiram - Bhandira; samanuprapya - attaining; vananam - of forests; vanam - forest; uttamam -

best; vasudevam - Lord Vasudeva; tatah - then; drstva - having seen; punar - again; janma - birth; na
- not; vidyate - is.

A person who visits Bhandiravana the best of forests and sees the Deity of Lord Vasudeva there
never takes birth again.

Text 356

tasmin bhandirake snatva

samyato niyatasanah sarva-papa-vinirmukta
indralokam sa gacchati

tasmin - there; bhandirake - in Bhandiravana; snatva - having bathed; samyatah - controlling the
senses; niyatasanah'fasting; sarva-papa - all sins; vinirmuktah - free; indralokam - Indra's abode; sah -
he; gacchati - goes.
 133

A person who fasting and controlling his senses bathes in Bhandiravana becomes free of all sins
and goes to Indraloka.

Text 357

sri-vrndavanasyadi-varahe vrndavanam dvadasamam

vrndaya pariraksitam mama caiva priyam bhume
sarva-pataka-nasanam

sri-vrndavanasya - of Vrndavana; adi-varahe - in the Adi- varaha Purana; vrndavanam - Vrndavana;

dvadasamam - twelfth; vrndaya - by Vrnda'-devi; pariraksitam'protected; mama - My; ca - and; eva -
indeed; priyam - favorite; bhume - on the earth; sarva - all; pataka - sins; nasanam - destroying.

Glorification of Sµri Vrndavana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

The twelfth forest is Vrndavana which is protected by Vrnda-devi and which destroys all sins O earth-
goddess it is My favorite.

Text 358

tatraham kridayisyami
gopi-gopalakaih saha su-ramyam su-pratitam ca
deva-danava-durlabham

tatra - there; aham - I; kridayisyami - will enjoy pastimes; gopi - with the gopis; gopalakaih - and
gopas;{fn saha - with; su-ramyam - very charming; su- pratitam - very famous; ca - and; deva - for the
devas; danava - and danavas; durlabham - difficult to attain.

It is very beautiful and very famous The devas and danavas can attain it only with great difficulty
There I will enjoy pastimes with the gopas and gopis.

Text 359

skande mathura-khande

tato vrndavanam punyam

vrnda-devi-samasritam harinadhisthitam tac ca
rudra-brahmadi-sevitam
 134

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; tatah - then; vrndavanam -
Vrndavana; punyam - sacred; vrnda-devi - by Vrnda-devi; samasritam - sheltered; harina - by Lord
Hari; adhisthitam - resided; tat - that; ca - and; rudra- brahma-adi - by the demigods headed by
Brahma' and Sµiva; sevitam - served.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

Next is sacred Vrndavana where Lord Hari resides It is protected by Vrnda-devi and served by
Brahma Sµiva and the demigods.

Text 360

vrndavanam su-gahanam
visalam vistrtam bahu muninam asramaih purnam
vanya-vrnda-samanvitam

vrndavanam - Vrndavana; su-gahanam - very dense; visalam - large; vistrtam - expanded; bahu -
great; muninam'of sages; asramaih„ - with asramas; purnam - filled; vanya-vrnda - with creatures and
flowers of the forest; samanvitam - filled.

Vrndavana is very large and dense It is filled with sages§ asramas It is filled with the creatures and
flowers of the forest.

Text 361

yatha laksmih priyatama

yatha bhakti-para narah govindasya priyatamam
tatha vrndavanam bhuvi

yatha - as; laksmih - the goddess of fortune; priyatama - most dear; yatha - as; bhakti-para narah -
the devotees; govindasya - of Govinda; priyatamam - most dear; tatha - in that way; vrndavanam -
Vrndavana; bhuvi - on the earth.

As Laksmi-devi is dear and as the devotees are dear so in this world is Vrndavana dear to Lord
Govinda.

Text 362
 135

vatsair vatsa-taribhis ca
sakam kridati madhavah vrndavanantara-gatah
sa-ramair balakavrtah

vatsair - with calves; vatsa-taribhih - cows; ca - and; sakam - with; kridati - plays; madhavah -
Krsna; vrndavanantara-gatah„ - in Vrndavana; sa- ramair - with Balarama; balaka - by the boys; avrtah
- accompanied.

In Vrndavana Lord Madhava enjoys pastimes with the cows calves boys and Balarama.

Text 363

aho vrndavanam ramyam

yatra govardhano girih yatra tirthany anekani
visnudeva-krtani ca

ahah - Oh; vrndavanam - Vrndavana; ramyam - charming; yatra - where; govardhano girih -
Govardhana Hill; yatra - where; tirthani - sacred places; anekani - many; visnudeva-krtani - made by
Lord Visnu; ca - and.

Oh Vrndavana is beautiful with Govardhana Hill and with many holy places made sacred by Lord
Visnu. Text 364

padme nirvana-khande paramananda-kandakhyam

maha-pataka-nasanam samasta-duhkha-samhantr-
jiva-matra-vimuktidam

padme - in the Padma Purana; nirvana-khande - Nirvana- khanda; paramananda-kanda-akhyam -

known as the source of transcendental bliss; maha-pataka- nasanam - destroying great sins; samasta-
duhkha- samhantr - destroying all sufferings; jiva-matra- vimuktidam - giving liberation to the living
entities.

In the Padma Purana Nirvana-khanda, it is said:

Vrndavana is filled with transcendental bliss It destroys the greatest sins It ends all sufferings
Simply living within it grants liberation.

Text 365
 136

sri-dasama-skande

vanam vrndavanam nama

pasavyam nava-kananam gopa-gopi-gavam sevyam
punyadri-trna-virudham

sri-dasama-skande - in the Tenth Canto of Sµrimad-Bhagavatam; vanam - another forest;

vrndavanam nama - named Vrndavana; pasavyam - a very suitable place for maintenance of the cows
ad other animals; nava-kananam - there are many neu gardenlike places; gopa-gopi-gavam - for all
the cowherd men the members of their families and the cows; sevyam - a very happy very suitable
place; punya-adri - there are nice mountains; trna - plants; virudham - and creepers.

In the Sµrimad-Bhagavatam (10.11.28) it is said:

Between Nandisvara and Mahavana is a place named Vrndavana This place is very suitable
because it is lush with grass plants and creepers for the cows and other animals It has nice gardens
and tall mountains and is full of facilities for the happiness of all the gopas and gopis and our animals.

Text 366

vrndavanam sakhi bhuvo vitanoti kirtim

yad devaki-suta-padambuja-labdha-laksmih govinda-venum anu-matta-mayura-nrtyam
preksyadri-sanv-avatarany asamasta-sattvam

vrndavanam - Vrndavana; sakhi - O friend; bhuvah - of the earth; vitanoti - expands; kirtim - the
fame; yad'which; devaki...-suta - of Devaki's son; pada-ambuja - lotus feet; labdha - attained; laksmih
- opulence; govinda - of Krsna; venum - the flute; anu - following; matta - maddened; mayura -
peacocks; nrtyam - dancing; preksya - seeing; adri - of the hill; sanv - on the top; avatarany
asamasta-sattvam - not possible for others.

In the Sµrimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.10) it is also said:

Dear friends our Vrndavana is proclaiming the glories of this entire earth because this planet is
glorified by the lotus footprints of the son of Devaki Besides that when Govinda plays His flute the
peacocks immediately become mad When all the animals and trees and plants either on the top of
Govardhana Hill or in the valley see the dancing of the peacock they all stand still and listen to the
transcendental sound of the flute with great attention We thinë that this boon is not possible or
available on any other planet.

Text 367

etena vrndavanasya loka-prasiddhya sodasa-krosi-vistaratvam yuktam eva sri-govinda-

vrndavanakhye brhad-gautamiya-tantre tu idam drsyate tatra narada-prasno yatha
 137

kim idam dvadasabhikhyam

vrndaranyam visampate srotum icchami bhagavan
yadi yogyo 'sti me vada

etena - by this; vrndavanasya - of Vrndavana; loka - in the world; prasiddhya - by the fame;
sodasa-krosi- vistaratvam - 1¶ krosas in size; yuktam - proper; eva - indeed; sri-govinda-vrndavana-
akhye - in the Govinda-Vrndavana-sastra; brhad-gautamiya- tantre'in teh Brhad-gautamiya Tantra; tu -
indeed; idam - this; drsyate - is seen; tatra - there; narada - of Narada; prasnah - the question; yatha -
as; kim - what?; idam - this; dvadasabhikhyamknown as the twelfth; vrndaranyam - Vrndavana;
visampate - O king; srotum - to hear; icchami - I wish; bhagavan - O Lord; yadi - if;û.fn yogyah -
proper; asti - is; me - for me. vada

Vrndavana is famous in this world as being 1¶ krosas (32 size This is seen in the Sµri Govinda-
Vrndavana-sastra and the Brhad-Gautamiya-tantra In that scripture Narada asks the following
question:

What is Vrndavana which is named here as the twelfth forest¿ I desire to hear of it O Lord if You
thinë it is right please tell me of it.

Text 368

tatra sri-krsnasyottaram

idam vrndavanam ramyam

mama dhamaiva kevalam atra ye pasavah paksi-
vrksa-kita-naramarah ye ca santi mamadhisthe
mrta yanti mamalayam

tatra - there; sri-krsnasya - of Lord Krsna; uttaram - answer; idam - this; vrndavanam - Vrndavana;
ramyam - beautiful; mama - My; dhama - abode; eva - indeed; kevalam - transcendental; atra - here;
ye - who; pasavah - animals; paksi - birds; vrksa - trees; kita - insects and words; nara - humans;
amarah - demigods; ye - who; ca - and; santi - are; mama - My; adhisthe - stay; mrtah - after death;
yanti - attain; mama - My; alayam - abode.

Lord Krsna answered:

Beautiful Vrndavana is My transcendental abode The beasts birds trees insects worms humans and
demigods who stay here with Me will all go when they die to My own abode.

Text 369
 138

atra ye gopa-kanyas ca
nivasanti mamalaye yoginyas ta maya nityam
mama seva-parayanah

atra - here; ye - who; gopa-kanyah - gopis; ca - and; nivasanti - reside; mama - My; alaye - in the
abode; yoginyah - yoginis; tah - they; maya - by Me;{fn nityam - eternally; mama - My; seva - to the
service; parayanah - devoted.

The gopis who reside here in My abode and serve Me with devotion stay eternally by My side

Text 370

paca-yojanam evasti
vanam me deha-rupakam kalindiyam susumnakhya
paramamrta-vahini atra devas ca bhutani
vartante suksma-rupatah

pa{.sy ca-yojanam - five yojanas; eva - indeed; asti - is; vanam - forest; me - My; deha- rupakam -
form;û.fn kalindiyam - in the Yamuna; susumna-akhyah - named Susumna; parama-amrta-vahini - a
river of nectar; atra - here; devah - demigods; ca - and; bhutani - sages; vartante - are; suksma - in
subtle; rupatah - forms.

This forest of five yojanas (4° miles) is My body This Yamuna is the Susumna River that flows
with nectar The demigods and sages stay here in subtle forms.

Text 371

sarva-deva-mayas caham
na tyajami vanam kvacit avirbhavas tirobhavo
bhaved atra yuge yuge tejomayam idam ramyam
adrsyam carma-caksusa

sarva-deva-mayah - the personification of all the demigods; ca - and; aham - I; na - not; tyajami -
leave; vanam - forest; kvacit - somewhere; avirbhavah - appearance;û.fn tirobhavah - disappearance;
bhaved - is; atra - here; yuge yuge - milleneium after millenium; tejomayam - splendid; idam - this;
ramyam - charming; adrsyam - invisible; carma - f flesh; caksusa - eyes.

I who am the personification of all the demigods never leave this forest Millenium after millenium
I appear and disappear This splendidly beautiful forest then becomes invisible to material eyes.
 139

Text 372

atha sri-govindasyadi-varahe

vrndavane ca govindam
ye pasyanti vasundhare na te yama-purim yanti
yanti punya-krtam gatim

atha - now; sri-govindasya - of Lord Govinda; adi- varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; vrndavane -
in Vrndavana; 2} ca - and; govindam - Lord Govinda; ye - who; pasyanti - see; vasundhare'O earth;
na - not; te - they; yama-purim - Yama's city; yanti - attain; yanti'they go; punya-krtam - of the pure;
gatim - to the destination.

Glorification of the Sµri Govinda Deity

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O earth-goddess they who see the Govinda Deity in Vrndavana do not go to Yamaraja's city They
go to the place where pure- hearted saints go.

Text 373

skande mathura-khande sri-naradoktau

tasmin vrndavane punyam

govindasya niketanam tat-sevaka-samakirnam
tatraiva sthiyate maya

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; sri-narada-uktau - in Narada's

words; tasmin - in this; vrndavane - Vrndavana; punyam - sacred; govindasya - of Govinda;
niketanam - the temple; tat- sevaka - His servants; samakirnam - assembled; tatra - there; eva - indeed;
sthiyate - is stood; maya - by me.

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda Sµri Narada says:

In Vrndavana is the sacred temple of Lord Govinda When His servants are assembled I stand
among them.

Text 374

bhuvi govinda-vaikuntham
tasmin vrndavane nrpa yatra vrndadayo bhrtyah
 140

santi govinda-manasah

bhuvi - on the earth; govinda-vaikuntham - Lord Govinda's Vaikuntha abode; tasmin - in that;
vrndavane - Vrndavana;û.fn nrpa - O king; yatra - where; vrnda-adayah - beginning with Vrnda'-devi;
bhrtyah - servants; santi - are; govinda-manasah - their hearts fixed on Lord Govinda.

O king Vrndavana where Vrnda-devi and others whose hearts are fixed on Lord Govinda stay, is
Lord Govinda's Vaikuntha abode on this earth

Text 375

vrndavane maha-sadma
yair drstam purusottamaih govindasya mahi-pala
te krtartha mahi-tale

vrndavane - in Vrndavana; maha-sadma - great abode; yair - by whom; drstam - seen; purusa-
uttamaih - by great souls; govindasya - of Lord Govinda; mahi...-pala - O king; te - they; krtarthah -
successful; mahi...-tale - on the earth.

O king the great souls who see Lord Govinda's temple in Vrndavana have attained all success on
this earth.

Text 376

atha sri-govinda-tirthasya saura-purane

govinda-svami-tirthakhyam
asti tirtham mahottamam vasudeva-tanujasya
visnor atyanta-vallabham

atha - now; sri-govinda-tirthasya - of Sµri Govinda- tirtha; saura-purane - in the Saura Purana;
govinda-svami- tirthakhyam - named Govindasvami-tirtha; asti - is; tirtham - a holy place; maha-
uttamam - great; vasudeva - of Vasudeva; tanujasya - of the son; visnor - of Lord Visnu;û.fn
atyanta-vallabham - very dear.

Glorification of Govinda-tirtha

In the Saura Purana it is said:

The great holy place named Govindasvami-tirtha is very dear to Lord Visnu who became the son
of King Vasudeva.
 141

Text 377

govinda-svami-namatra
vasaty arcatmako 'cyutah tatra snatva tam abhyarcya
muktim icchanti sadhavah

govinda-svami-nama - named Govinda-svami; atra - here; vasati - resides; arcatmakah - Deity;

acyutah - Acyuta; tatra - there; snatva - having bathed; tam - Him; abhyarcya - having worshiped;
muktim - liberation» icchanti - desire; sadhavah - saints.

Here Lord Acyuta's Deity of Lord Govindasvami resides The saintly devotees bathe nearby
worship the Deity and yearn for release from the world of birth and death.

Text 378-379

atha sri-brahma-kundasyadi-varahe

tatra brahme maha-bhage

bahu-gulma-latavrte tatra snanam prakurvita
eka-ratrosito narah

gandharvair apsarobhis ca
kridamanah sa modate tathatra mucate pranan
mama lokam sa gacchati

atha - now; sri-brahma-kundasya - of Brahma-kunda; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; tatra -

there; brahme - in Brahma-kunda; maha-bhage - O auspicious one; bahu-gulma-latav - with many
trees and vines; avrte - filled; tatra - there; snanam - bath; prakurvita - does; eka- ratra - for one night;
usitah - fasting; narah - a person; gandharvair - with Gandharvas; apsarobhih - apsaras; ca - and;
kridamanah - playing; sah - he; modate - enjoys; tatha - so; atra - here; mu{.sy cate'is liberated;
pranan - from life; mama - My; lokam - abode; sah - he; gacchati - goes.

Glorification of Brahma-kunda

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

A person who fasting for the night bathes in beautiful Brahma-kunda which is surrounded by many
trees and vines enjoys pastimes with the Gandharvas and Apsaras Leaving this life here he goes to My
abode.
 142

Text 380

skande

tatra kundam maha-bhage

bahu-gulma-latavrtam punyam eva maha-tirtham
su-ramya-salilavrtam

skande - in the Skanda Purana; tatra - there; kundam - lake; maha-bhage - O auspicious one; bahu-
gulma-lata- avrtam - surrounded with trees and vines; punyam - sacred;2} eva - indeed; maha-tirtham
- great holy place; su- ramya - charming; salila - with water; avrtam - filled.

In the Skanda Purana it is said:

O auspicious one in this place is a very sacred lake with beautiful waters surrounded by many trees
and vines.

Text 381

tatra snanam prakurvita

catuh-kalosito narah modate vimale divye
gandharvanam kule sukham

tatra - there; snanam - a bath; prakurvita - does; catuh„-kala - four times; usitah - fasting; narah - a
person; modate - enjoys; vimale - in the pure; divye - splendid world; gandharvanam - of Gandharvas;
kule'in the community; sukham - happiness.

A person who fasts and bathes here four times, enjoys in the community of Gandharvas in the
splendid heavenly world.

Text 382

tatrapi mucate pranan

satatam krta-niscayah gandharva-kulam utsrjya
mama lokam sa gacchati

tatra - there; api - also; mu{.sy cate - gives up; pranan - life; satatam - always; krta- niscayah -
determined; gandharva-kulam - in the community of Gandharvas; utsrjya - giving up; mama - My;
lokam - abode; sah - he; gacchati - goes.
 143

A person who stays here with determination and departs from this life here leaves the company of
the Gandharvas and goes to My abode.

Text 383

tatrascaryam pravaksyami
tat srnusva vasundhare labhante manujah siddhim
mama karya-parayanah

tatra - there; ascaryam - a wonder; pravaksyami - I will tell; tat - this; srnusva - please listen;
vasundhare'O earth; labhante - attain; manujah - people; siddhim - perfection; mama - My; karya-
parayanah - devoted to the service.

O earth-goddess listen and I will tell you something wonderful: They who devotedly serve Me in
this place attain the supreme perfection.

Text 384-385

tasya tatrottara-parsve
'soka-vrksah sita-prabhah vaisakhasya tu masasya
sukla-paksasya dvadasi

sa puspati ca madhyahne
mama bhaktasukhavahah na kascid abhijanati
vina bhagavatam sucim

tasya - of this; tatra - there uttara-parsve - north; asoka-vrksah'an asoka tree; sita-prabhah„ - white;
vaisakhasya - of Vaisakha; tu - indeed; masasya - of the month; sukla-paksasya dvadasi - on the sukla-
dvadasi; sah - it; puspati - blooms; ca - and; madhyahne - in mid-day; mama - My; bhakta - devottes;
sukhavahah - bringing happiness; na - not; kascid - anyone;{fn abhijanati - knows; vina - except;
bhagavatam - devotee; sucim - pure.

North of this place is a white asoka tree that in the month of Vaisakha (April-May), on the sukla-
dvadasi, at noon, suddenly bursts into full bloom Except for My pure devotee no one can understand
hou this happens.

Text 386

atha kesi-tirthasyadi-varahe
 144

ganga sata-gunam punyam

yatra kesi nipatitah tatrapi ca viseso 'sti
kesi-tirthe vasundhare tasmin pinda-pradanena
gaya-pinda-phalam labhet

atha - now; kesi-tirthasya - of Kesi-tirtha; adi- varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; ganga - the
Ganges; sata-gunam - a hundred times; punyam - sacred; yatra - where; kesi - Kesi; nipatitah - died;
tatra - there; api - also; ca - and; visesah - specific; asti - is; kesi-tirthe - in Kesi- tirtha; vasundhare -
O earth; tasmin - there; pinda-pradanena'by offering pinda; gaya-pinda-phalam - result of offering
pinda in Gaya; labhet - attains.

Glorification of Kesi-tirtha

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Kesi-tirtha the place where Kesi died is a hundred times more sacred than the Ganges By offering
pinda in Kesi-tirtha one attains the result of offering pinda in Gaya.

Text 387

atha kaliya-hradasya tatraiva

kaliyasya hradam gatva

kridam krtva vasundhare snana-matrena tatraiva
sarva-papaih pramucyate

atha - now; kaliya-hradasya - of Kaliya-hrada; tatra - there; eva - indeed; kaliyasya hradam -
Kaliya- hrada» gatva - having gone; kridam - pastimes; krtva - having done; vasundhare - O earth;
snana- matrena - simply by bathing; tatra - there; eva - indeed; sarva-papaih - of all sins; pramucyate -
becomes freed.

Glorification of Kaliya-hrada

In the same scripture it is said:

O earth-goddess a person who goes to Kaliya-hrada bathes there and plays in the water simply by
bathing becomes freed from all sins.

Text 388

varahe
 145

kaliyasya hradam punyam

asti guhyam param mama yatraham kridaye nityam
vimale yamunambhasi

varahe - in the Varaha Purana; kaliyasya hradam - Kaliya- hrada; punyam - sacred; asti - is;
guhyam - secret; param - great; mama - My; yatra - where; aham - I; kridaye - enjoy pastimes; nityam
- eternally; vimale - in the pure; yamuna - of the Yamuna; ambhasi - water.

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

Sacred Kaliya-hrada where I eternally play in the Yamuna's pure waters is a great secret of Mine.

Text 389

tatrabhisekam kurvita
aho-ratrosito narah taksakasya grham gatva
mama loke mahiyate

tatra - there; abhisekam - bath; kurvita - does; ahah - day; ratra - and night; usitah - fasting; narah -
a person; taksakasya - of a carpenter; grham - to the home;û.fn gatva - having gone; mama - My;
loke - in the abode; mahiyate - glorified.

Even a person born in a carpenter's house who fasts for a day and night and bathes there, is glorified
in My abode.

Text 390-391

atrapi mahad ascaryam

pasyanti pandita narah kaliya-hrada-purvena
kadambo mahato drumah

sata-sakho visalaksi
puspam surabhi-gandhi ca sa ca dvadasa-masani
manoj{.sy ah subha-sitalah puspayati visalaksi
bhasvarams tu diso dasa

atra - here; api - also; mahad - great; ascaryam - wonder; pasyanti - see; panditah„ narah - wise;
kaliya-hrada - of Kaliya-hrada; purvena - in the east; kadambah - kadamba tree; mahatah - great;
drumah - tree; sata - hundred; sakhah - branches; visala - large; aksi - eyes; puspam - flowers;
surabhi-gandhi-fragrant; ca - and; sah - it; ca - and; dvadasa-masani - for 12 months; manoj{.sy
ah'beautiful; subha - pleasant; sitalah - cool; puspayati - blooms; visalaksi - O girl with the beautiful
eyes; bhasvaran - shining; tu - indeed; disah - directions; dasa - ten.
 146

Wise men see a great wonder there To the east of Kaliya- hrada is a great kadamba tree O girl with
beautiful large eyes this beautiful splendidly white pleasnatly cool hundred- branched tree is filled
with fragrant flowers O girl with beauitful large eyes this tree remains always in bloom through all
twelve months of the year always filling the ten directions with its splendor

Text 392

saura-purane

tatah kaliya-tirthakhyam
tirtham amho-vinasanam anrtyad yatra bhagavan
balah kaliya-mastake

saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; tatah - then; kaliya-tirtha-akhyam - named Kaliya-tirtha;

tirtham - holy place» amhah - sins; vinasanam - destroying; anrtyad - danced; yatra - where; bhagavan
- the Lord; balah'a child; kaliya - of Kaliya; mastake - on the head.

In the Saura Purana it is said:

Next is the holy place named Kaliya-tirtha which destroys sins There the Supreme Personality of
Godhead as boy danced on Kaliya's head.

Text 393

tatra yas tu krta-snano

vasudevam samarcayet aganya-janma-dusprapam
krsna-sayujyam asnute

tatra - there; yah - who; tu - indeed; krta- snanah - bathes; vasudevam - Lord Vasudeva; samarcayet
- worships; aganya - countless; janma - births; dusprapam - difficult to attain; krsna-sayujyam -
Krsna-sayuja mukti; asnute - enjoys.

A person who bathes there and worships Lord Vasudeva attains krsna-sayujya-mukti which is
difficult to attain even after countless births.

Text 394

atha dvadasaditya-samjasyadi-varahe
 147

surya-tirthe narah snato

drstvadityam vasundhare aditya-bhavanam prapya
krta-krtyah sa modate

atha - now; dvadasaditya-samj{.sy asya - Dvadasaditya- tirtha; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha

Purana; surya- tirthe - at Surya-tirtha; narah - a person; snatah - bathed; drstva - having seen; adityam
- the sun- god» vasundhare - O earth; aditya-bhavanam - the sun-god's abode; prapya - attaining;
krta-krtyah'successful; sah - he; modate - enjoys.

Glorification of Dvadasaditya-tirtha

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O earth-goddess a person who bathes at Surya-tirtha and sees the deity of the sun-god there, goes
to the sun-god's abode and becomes happy.

Text 395

aditye 'hani sankrantav

asmin tirthe vasundhare manasabhipsitam kamam
samprapnoti na samsayah

aditye ahani - on Sunday; sankrantav - on Sankranti; asmin - in this; tirthe - holy place; vasundhare
- O earth;{fn manasa - by the heart; abhipsitam - desired; kamam - desire;û.fn samprapnoti - atains;
na - not; samsayah - doubt.

O earth-goddess a person (who bathes) at this holy place on a Sunday during a sankranti attains his
heart's desire Of this there is no doubt.

Text 396

saura-purane

dvadasaditya-tirthakhyam
tirtham tad anu pavakam tasya darsana-matrena
nrnam amho vinasyati

saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; dvadasaditya- tirthakhyam - named Dvadasaditya-tirtha; tirtham

- holy place; tad - that; anu - following; pavakam - purifying; tasya - of it; darsana-matrena - simply
by seeing; nrnam - of men; amhah - sin; vinasyati - perishes.
 148

In the Saura Purana it is said:

Next is purifying Dvadasaditya-tirtha Simply by seeing it, the sins of men become destroyed.

Text 397

athokta-kramam yatrayah kartavyopadesah adi-varahe

prathamam madhuvanam proktam

dvadasam vrndikavanam etani ye prapasyanti
na te naraka-bhojinah

atha - then; ukta - said; kramam - sequence; yatrayah - of a visit; kartavya - to do; upadesah -
teaching; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; prathamam - first; madhuvanam - Madhuvana;
proktam - said; dvadasam - twelve; vrndikavanam - Vrndavana;û.fn etani - they; ye - who;
prapasyanti - see; na te - they; naraka - hell; bhojinah - experience.

Instruction to Visit the Twelve Forests of Vrndavana

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

They who see the twelve forests of Vrndavana which begin with Madhuvana will not go to hell.
Text 398

yatha-kramena ye yatram
vananam dvadasasya tu karisyanti vararohe
yanti te brahmam alayam

yatha-kramena - one by one; ye - who; yatram - visit; vananam - of the forests; dvadasasya -
twelve; tu - indeed; karisyanti - will do; 2} vararohe - O beautiful girl; yanti - attain; te - they;
brahmam - spiritual; alayam - abode.

O beautiful one they who visit one by one the twelve forests (of Vrndavana) go to the spiritual
abode.

Text 399

atha sri-govardhanasya

tatraiva asti govardhanam nama

 149

ksetram parama-durlabham mathura-pascime bhage

adurad yojana-dvayam

atha - now; sri...-govardhanasya - of Govarhana Hill; tatra - there; eva - indeed; asti - is;
govardhanam - Govardhana; nama - named; ksetram - place; 2} parama- durlabham - very rare;
mathura-pascime - west of Mathura; bhage - O auspicious one; adurad'not far; yojana-dvayam - two
yojanas.

Glorification of Sµri Govardhana

In the same scripture it is said:

Two yojanas (1¶ miles) which is not very far west of Mathura' is the very rare place named
Govardhana Hill.

Text 400

anna-kutam tatah prapya

tasya kuryat pradaksinam na tasya punar avrttir
devi sarvam bravimi te

anna-kutam - Annakut-tirtha; tatah - then; prapya - attaining; tasya - of that; kuryat - may do;
pradaksinam - circumambulation; na - not; tasya - of him; punar - again; avrttir - return; devi - O
goddess; sarvam - everything; bravimi - I say; te - to you.

A person who circumambulates the place named Annakuta-tirtha does not return to this world O
goddess I will nou tell you everything about it.

Text 401

snatva manasa-gangayam
drstva govardhane harim annakutam parikramya
kim manah paritapyase

snatva - having bathed; manasa-gangayam - in the manasa- ganga; drstva - having seen; govardhane
- on Govardhana Hill; harim - Lord Hari; annakutam - Annakuta-tirtha; 2} parikramya -
circumambulating; kim - what?; manah - heart; paritapyase - suffers.

After bathing in the Manasa-ganga seeing the Deity of Lord Hari on Govardhana Hill and
circumambulating Annakuta-tirtha what heart can remain unhappy?
 150

Text 402

indrasya varsato 'ty-artham

gavam pida-karam jalam tasam samraksanarthaya
dhrto giri-varo maya

indrasya - of Indra; varsatah - rains; aty- artham - great; gavam - of the cows; pida- karam -
tormenting» jalam - water; tasam - of them; samraksanarthaya - to protect; dhrtah - held; giri-varah -
the âest of hills; maya - by Me.

To protect the cows distressed by Indra's torrential rains I lifted Govardhana Hill.

Text 403

anna-kuta iti khyatah

sarvatah sakra-pujitah soma-vare tu amavasyam
prapya govardhanam narah dattva pindan pitrbhyas ca
rajasuya-phalam labhet

anna-kuta iti khyatahknown as Annakuta-tirtha; sarvatah - completely; sakra - by Indra; pujitah -

worshiped; soma-vare - on Sunday; tu - indeed; 2} amavasyam - the neu-moon; prapya - attaining;
govardhanam - Go9vardhana; narah - a person; dattva - giving; pindan - pinda; pitrbhyah - to the
pitas; ca - and; rajasuya-phalam - result of a rajasuya-yajna; labhet - attains.

The place where Indra worshiped Lord Krsna is famous as Annakuta-tirtha A person who, on a
Sunday that is also a neu-moon day, goes to Govardhana Hill and offers pinda to his ancestors attains
the result of offering a rajasuya-yaja.

Text 404

skande mathura-khande

govardhanas ca bhagavan
yatra govardhano dhrtah raksita yadavah sarva
indra-vrsti-nivaranat

skande mathura-khande - in the Skanda Purana Mathura'- khanda; govardhanah - Govardhana; ca -

and; bhagavan'the Lord; yatra - where; govardhanah - Govardhana; dhrtah - held; raksita - protected;
yadavah - the Yadus; sarve - all; indra - of Indra; vrsti - the rain; nivaranat - because of stopping.
 151

In the Skanda Purana Mathura-khanda, it is said:

Govardhana Hill is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead When the Lord lifted the
hill all the people of Vraja were saved from Indra's rains.

Text 405

aho govardhano visnur

yatra tisthati sarvada yatra brahma sivo laksmir
vasaty eva na samsayah

ahah - Oh; govardhanah - Govardhana; visnur - Lord Visnu; yatra - where; tisthati - stays; sarvada
- always; yatra - where; brahma - Brahma; sivah - Sµiva; laksmir - Laksmi; vasati - reside; eva -
certainly; na - not; samsayah - doubt.

Oh Lord Visnu stays eternally on Govardhana Hill Brahma Sµiva and Laksmi also reside there Of
this there is no doubt.

Text 406

varahe

asti govardhanam nama

guhyam ksetram param mama adurad asta-krosat tu
mathurayas ca pascime

varahe - in the Varaha Purana; asti - is; govardhanam- nama - named Govardhana; guhyam -
secret; ksetram - place; param - transcendental; mama - My; adurad - not far; asta-krosat - ¸ krosas; tu
- indeed; mathurayah - from Mathura; ca - and; pascime - west.

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

Eight krosas (1¶ miles) not very far west of Mathura', is My very confidential place named
Govardhana.

Text 407

tatrapi mahad ascaryam

 152

yat pasyanti su-cetasah tasmin samvartate bhumir

sarva-bhagavata-priyam

tatra - there; api - also; mahad - great; ascaryam - a wonder; yat - which; pasyanti - see; su-
cetasah'wise; tasmin - there; samvartate - is; bhumir - place; sarva-bhagavata- priyam - dear to all the
devotees.

The wise see a great wonder there In that place is something dear to all the devotees.

Text 408

catur-vimsati-dvadasyam
tasmin sikhara-parvate sthulan pasyanti dipan vai
dyotayanto diso dasa

catur-vimsati-dvadasyam - on Caturvimsati-dvadasi; tasmin - there; sikhara-parvate - on the hill;

sthulan - great; pasyanti - see; dipan - lamps; vai - indeed; dyotayantah - shining; disah - directions;
dasa - ten.

On Caturvimsati-dvadasi the devotees see on Govardhana Hill many great lamps shining in the ten
directions.

Text 409

yas ca tan pasyate dipan

mama karma-parayanah labhate paramam siddhim
evam etan na samsayah

yah - who; ca - and; tan - them; pasyate - sees; dipan - lamps; mama - My; karma-
parayanah'devoted to the service; labhate - attains; paramam - supreme; siddhim - perfection; evam -
in this way;û.fn etan - them; na - not; samsayah - doubt.
They who devoted to My service see these lamps attain the supreme perfection Of this there is no
doubt.

Text 410

bhadre parsva-parivartinyam ekadasyam govardhana-yatra adi- varahe

masi bhadra-pade ya tu
sukla caikadasi subha govardhane sopavasah
 153

kuryat tasya pradaksinam

govardhanam parikraman
drstva devam harim prabhum rajasuyasvamedhabhyam
phalam prapnoty asamsayah

bhadre - in Bhadra; parsva-parivartinyam ekadasyam - on the sukla-ekadasi; govardhana - to

Govardhana; yatra - a visit; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; masi bhadra-pade - in the month
of Bhadra; ya - which; tu - indeed; sukla - sukla; ca - and; ekadasi - ekadasi; subha - auspicious;
govardhane - on Govardhana Hill; sopavasah - with fasting; kuryat - does; tasya - of it; pradaksinam
- circumambulation; govardhanam - Govardhana; 2} parikraman - circumambulating; drstva - having
seen; devam- harim- prabhum - Lord Hari; rajasuya - rajasuya; asvamedhabhyam - an asvamedha
sacrifices; phalam - result; prapnoti - attains; asamsayah - without doubt.

Visiting Govardhana Hill During Ekadasi in the Month of Bhadra (August-September)

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

On the auspicious sukla-ekadasi in the month of Bhadra (August-September) one should fast and
circumambulate Govardhana Hill After circumambulating Govardhana Hill and seeing the Deity of
Lord Hari there one attains the result of having performed an rajasuya-yaj{.sy a and an asvamedha-
yaj{.sy a Of this there is no doubt.

Text 412

sri-dasame

hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo

yad rama-krsna-carana-sparasa-pramodah manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat
paniya-suyavasa-kandara-kanda-mulaih

hanta - oh» ayam - this» adrir - hill» abalah - O friends» hari-dasa- varyah - the best among the
servants of the Lord; yat - because; rama-krsna- carana - of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna and Balarama»
sparasa - by the touch» pramodah - jubilant» manam - respects» tanoti - ogfers» saha - with» go-
ganayoh - cows calves and cowherd boys» tayoh - to Them (Sri Krsna and Balarama)» yat - because»
paniya - drinking water» suyavasa - very soft grass» kandara - caves» kanda-mulaih - and by roots.

In the Tenth Canto (1021.18) of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said:

Of all the devotees this Govardhana Hill is the best¡ O my friends this hill supplies Krsna and
Balarama as well as Their calves cows and cowherd friends with all kinds of necessities water for
drinking very soft grass caves fruits flowers and vegetables In this way the hill offers respect to the
Lord Being touched by the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.
 154

Text 413

tatrastha-brahma-kundasya mathura-khande

tatra snatva brahma-kunde

brahmana tosito harih indradi-loka-palanam
jatani ca saramsi hi

tatra - there; stha - situated; brahma- kundasya - Brahma-kunda; mathura-khande - in the Mathura'-
khanda;û.fn tatra - there; snatva - having bathed; brahma-kunde - in Brahma-kunda; brahmana - by
Brahma; tositah - pleased; harih - Lord Hari; indra-adi-loka- palanam - of Indra and the other demigod
planetary rulers; jatani'born; ca - and; saramsi - lakes; hi - indeed.

Glorification of Brahma-kunda In That Place

In the Mathura-khanda it is said:

After bathing in Brahma-kunda Brahma satisfied Lord Hari Indra and other planetary rulers created
other lakes nearby.

Text 414

adi-varahe

hradam tatra maha-bhage

druma-gulma-latavrtam catvari tatra tirthani
punyani ca subhani ca

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; hradam - a lake; 2} tatra - there; maha-bhage - O auspicious
one; druma- gulma-latavrtam - surrounded by trees and vines; catvari - fourteen; tatra - there; tirthani
punyani - holy places; ca - and; subhani - auspicious; ca - and.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

O auspicious one that lake is surrounded by groves of trees and vines and by fourteen auspicious
holy places.

Text 415

aidram purvena parsvena

 155

yama-tirtham tu daksine varunam pascime tirtham

kauveram cottarena tu tatra madhye sthitas caham
kridayisye yad icchaya

aidram - Indra-tirtha; purvena - in the east; parsvena - side; yama-tirtham - Yama-tirtha; tu -

indeed; daksine - in the south; varunam - Varuna- tirtha; pascime - in the west; tirtham- kauveram -
Kuvera- tirtha; ca - and; uttarena - in the north; tu - indeed; tatra - there; madhye - in the middle;
sthitah - situated; ca - and; aham - I; kridayisye - will enjoy pastimes; yad - which; icchaya - as I
wish.

On the eastern side is Indra-tirtha On the south is Yama- tirtha On the west is Varuna-tirtha On the
north is Kuvera- tirtha In these places I will enjoy pastimes as I wish.

Text 416

sri-govinda-kundasya mathura-khande

yatrabhisikto bhagavan
maghona yadu-vairina govinda-kundam taj-jatam
snana-matrena moksa-dam

sri...-govinda-kundasya - Govinda-kunda; mathura-khande - in the Mathura-khanda; yatra - where;

abhisiktah - bathed; bhagavan - the Lord; maghona - by Indra; yadu - of the Yadus; vairina - the
enemy; govinda-kundam - Govinda-kunda; taê-jatam - born from that; 2} snana-matrena - simply by
bathing; moksa-dam - grants liberation.

Glorification of Sµri Govinda-kunda

In the Mathura-khanda it is said:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead was bathed by Indra who had become the enemy of Vraja.
From that bathing Govinda- kunda was created Govinda-kunda grants liberation to those who do
nothing more than bathe in it.

Text 417

adi-varahe

anna-kutasya sannidhye
tirtham sakra-vinirmitam tasmin snane tarpane ca
sata-kratu-phalam labhet
 156

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; anna- kutasya - Annakut„a; sannidhye - near; tirtham - a
holy place; sakra - by Indra; vinirmitam - made; tasmin - there; snane - in âathing; tarpane - pleasing;
ca - and; sata-kratu-phalam - result of a hundred yajnas; labhet - attains.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Near Annakuta-tirtha is the holy place (Govinda-kunda) that Indra made A person who bathes
there and offers tarpana attains the result of performing a hundred yajas.

Text 418

sri-radha-kundadikasyadi-varahe

arista-radha-kundabhyam
snanat phalam avapyate rajasuyasvamedhabhyam
natra karya vicarana

sri...-radha-kunda - Radha'-kunda; adikasya - beginning with; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha

Purana; arista-radha-kundabhyam - Radha'-kunda and Sµyama-kunda; snanat - from bathing; phalam
- result; avapyate - is attained; rajasuya-asvamedhabhyam - of rajasuya and asvamedha yajnas; na -
not; atra - here; karya - should be done; vicarana - doubt.

Glorification of Radha-kunda and Other Places

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

By bathing in Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda one attains the result of having performed a
rajasuya-yaja and an asvamedha- yaja Of this there is no doubt. Text 419

mathura-khande

dipotsave karttike ca
radha-kunde yudhisthira drsyate sakalam visvam
bhrtyair visnu-parayanaih

mathura-khande - in the Mathura'-khanda; dipotsave - in the dipotsava festival; karttike - during

Karttika; ca - and; radha-kunde - at Radha'-kunda; yudhisthira - O Yudhisthira; drsyate - is seen;
sakalam - all; visvam - the universe; bhrtyair - by servants; visnu - to Lord Visnu; parayanaih -
devoted.

In the Mathura-khanda it is said:

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O Yudhisthira during the dipotsava festival Lord Visnu's devoted servants at Radha-kunda can see
the entire universe.

Text 420

padme karttika-mahatmye

govardhane girau ramye

radha-kundam priyam hareh karttike bahulastamyam
tatra snatva hareh priyah

padme karttika-mahatmye - in the Padma Purana Karttika- mahatmya; govardhane - on

Govardhana; girau - Hill; ramye'charming; radha-kundam - Radha-kunda; priyam - dear; hareh - to
Hari; karttike - in Karttika; bahulastamyam - Bahulastami; tatra - there; snatva - having bathed;
hareh'to Lord Hari; priyah - dear.

In the Padma Purana Karttika-mahatmya, it is said:

Radha-kunda by beautiful Govardhana Hill is dear to Lord Hari A person who bathes there on the
Bahulastami day of the month of Karttika is also dear to Lord Hari.

Text 421

naro bhakto bhaved vipras

tat-sthitasya pratosanam yatha radha priya visnos
tasyah kundam priyam tatha

narah - a person; bhaktah - a devotee; bhaved - becomes; viprahbrahmana; tat-sthitasya - staying

there; pratosanam - satisfaction; yatha - as; radha - Radha; priya - is dear; visnohto Visnu; tasyah -
Her; kundam - lake; priyam - dear; tatha - in the same way.

O brahmanas a person who satisfies the residents of Radha- kunda becomes a great devotee As
S"rimati Radha is dear to Lord Visnu so Her lake (Radha-kunda) is also dear to Him.

Text 422

sarva-gopisu saivaika
visnor atyanta-vallabha tat-kunde karttikastamyam
tatra snatva hareh priyah
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sarva - among all; gopisu - the gopis; sa - She; eva - indeed; eka - alone; visnor - to Lord Visnu;
atyanta - most; vallabha - dear; tat-kunde - at Her lake; karttika - of Karttika; astamyam - on the
astami day; tatra - there; snatva - having bathed; hareh - of Lord Hari;û.fn priyah - dear.

Among all the gopis She is most dear to Lord Visnu A person who on the astami day of the month
of Karttika bathes in Her lake becomes dear to Lord Hari.

Text 423

natva stutva ca sampujyo

deva-deva-janardanah prabodhinyam yatha - as; pritas
tatha pritas tato bhavet

natva - offering obeisances; stutva - offering prayers; ca - and; sampujyah - to be worshiped; deva-
deva - the master of the demigods; janardanah„ - Janardana; prabodhinyam - on Prabodhini; yatha -
as; pritahpleased; tatha - so; pritah - pleased; tatah - then; bhavet - is.

As Lord Janardana the master of the demigods is pleased by obeisances prayers and worship during
the Prabodhini day so He is also pleased when these are done at Radha-kunda.

Text 424

athakrura-tirthasya saura-purane

ananta-vasati-srestham
sarva-papa-vinasanam akrura-tirtham aty-artham
asti priyataram hareh

atha - now; akrura-tirthasya - of Akrura-tirtha; saura-purane - in the Saura Purana; ananta -

limitless; vasati - of abodes; srestham - the best; sarva-papa-vinasanam - destroying all sins; akrura-
tirtham - Akrura-tirtha; aty-artham asti priyataram - is very dear; hareh - to Lord Hari.

Glorification of Akrura-tirtha

In the Saura Purana it is said:

The best of the Lord's numberless abodes and the destroyer of all sins Akrura-tirtha is very dear to
Lord Hari.

Text 425
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purnimayam tu yah snayat

tatra tirtha-vare narah sa mukta eva samsarat
karttikyam tu visesatah

purnimayam - on the full-moon day; tu - indeed; yah - who; snayat - bathes; tatra - there; tirtha-
vare - at the best of holy places; narah - a person; sah - he; muktah - liberated; eva - indeed; samsarat
- from birth and death; karttikyam - during Karttika; tu - indeed; visesatah - specifically.

A person who on the full-moon day of the month of Karttika bathes at that very holy place
becomes freed from the cycle of repeated birth and death.

Text 426

adi-varahe

tirtha-rajam hi cakruram
guhyanam guhyam uttamam tat-phalam samavapnoti
sarva-tirthavagahanat

adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; tirtha-rajam - the king of holy places; hi - indeed; ca - and;
akruram - Akrura; guhyanam - of secrets; guhyam - secret; uttamam - supreme; tat- phalam - result;
samavapnoti - atains; sarva-tirtha - in all holy places; avagahanat - from bathing.

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Akrura-tirtha is the king of holy places the most confidential of confidential abodes There one
attains the result of bathing in all other holy places. Text 427

akrure ca punah snatva

rahu-graste divakare rajasuyasvamedhabhyam
phalam prapnoti niscitam

akrure - at Akrura-tirtha; ca - and; punah - again; snatva - having bathed; rahu-graste divakare - on
a solar eclipse; rajasuya-asvamedhabhyam - of a rajasuya and asvamedha sacrifice; 2} phalam -
result; prapnoti - attains; niscitam - certainly.

A person who during a solar eclipse bathes in Akrura- tirtha certainly attains the result of
performing a rajasuya- yaj{.sy a and an asvamedha-yaj{.sy a.

Text 428
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atha bhandagarasya varahe

bhandagaram iti khyatam

guhyam ati tato mama labhante manuja bhumi
siddhim tatra na samsayah

atha - now; bhandagarasya - of Bhandagara-tirtha; varahe - in the Varaha Purana; bhandagaram -

Bhandagara- tirtha; iti - thus; khyatam - celebrated; guhyam - confidential; ati - very; tatah - then;
mama - My; labhante - attain; manujah - people; bhumi - on the earth; siddhim - perfection» tatra -
there; na - not; samsayah - doubt.

Glorification of Bhandagara-tirtha

In the Varaha Purana it is said:

O earth-goddess the place known as Bhandagara-tirtha is My confidential abode In Bhandagara-

tirtha people attain perfection Of this there is no doubt.

Text 429-431

tatra kundam maha-bhage

druma-gulma-latavrtam tatra snanam prakurvita
aho-ratrosito narah

lokam vaidyadharam gatva

modate krta-niscayah tatrascaryam pravaksyami
bhumi guhyam param mama

catur-vimsati-dvadasyam
mama bhakti-vayavsthitah ardha-ratresu srnvanti
gitam karna-sukhavaham

tatra - there; kundam - lake; maha-bhage - O auspicious one; druma-gulma-latavrtam - surrounded

by trees and vines; tatra - there; snanam - bath; prakurvita - does; ahah - day; ratra - and night; usitah
- fasting; narah - a person; lokam- vaidyadharam - Vidyadharaloka; gatva - having gone; modate -
enjoys; krta-niscayah - determined; tatra - there; ascaryam - a wonder; pravaksyami - I will describe;
bhumi - on the earth; guhyam - secret; param - great; mama - My; catur-vimsati-dvadasyam - on
caturvimsati- dvadasi; mama - My; bhakti- vayavsthitah - situated in devotion; ardha - half; ratresu -
in nights; srnvanti - hear; gitam - sing; karna - to the ears; sukha - happiness; avaham - carrying.

O auspicious one that lake is surrounded by groves of trees and vines A person who fasting for a
day and a night bathes there goes to Vidyadharaloka where enjoys great happiness O earth-goddess I
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shall nou tell you a wonderful secret At this place on caturvimsati-dvadasi my devotees stay awake in
the middle of the night hearing songs about Me that bring pleasure to the ears.

Text 432

atha nandisvarasya sri-dasame

punya bata vraja-bhuvo yad ayam nr-lingo

gudhah purana-puruso vana-citra-malyah gah palayan saha-balah kvanayams ca venum
vikridayacati giritra-ramarcitanghrih

atha - now; nandisvarasya - of Nandisvara; sri...- dasame - in the Tenth Canto; punya - sacred; bata
- indeed; vraja-bhuvah - of the land of Vraja; yad - which; ayam - this; nr„-lingah - in a human form;
gudhah - concealed; purana-purusah - the ancient Supreme Person; vana-citra-malyah - wearing
wonderful garlands of forest-flowers; gah - the cows; palayan - protecting; saha-balah - with
Balarama; kvanayan - playing; ca - and; venum - the flute; vikridaya - playfully; a{.sy cati'tilting;
giritra - by Sµiva; rama - and Laksmi; arcita - worshiped; anghrih - feet.

Glorification of Nandisvara-tirtha

In the Tenth Canto (Sµrimad-Bhagavatam 10.44.13) it is said:

Dear friends just imagine hou fortunate the land of Vrndavana is where the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Himself is present always decorated with flower garlands and engaged in tending cows
along with His brother Lord Balarama He is always accompanied by His cowherd boy friends and He
plays His transcendental flute The residents of Vrndavana are fortunate to be able to constantly see
the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama which are worshiped by great demigods like Lord Sµiva and
Brahma and the goddess of fortune.

Text 433

tatha ca pathanti

pavane sarasi snatva

krsnam nandisvare girau drstva nandam yasodam ca
sarvabhistam avapnuyat

tatha - so; ca - and; pathanti - read; pavane sarasi - in Pavana-sarovara; snatva - having bathed;
krsnam - Krsna; nandisvare - in Nandisvara; girau - hill; drstva - having seen; nandam - Nanda;
yasodam - Yasoda; ca - and; sarva - all; abhistam - desires; avapnuyat - attains.

In the Vedic literatures it is said:

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A person who bathes in Pavana-sarovara on Nandisvara Hill and sees the Deities of Nanda and
Yasoda attains all his desires.

Text 434

sakatarohanasyadi-varahe

sakatarohanam nama
tasmin ksetre param mama mathura-pascime bhage
adurad ardha-yojane

sakatarohanasya - of Sakatarohana-tirtha; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; sakatarohanam-

nama - named Sµakatarohana-tirtha; tasmin - in this; ksetre - place; param - transcendental; mama -
My; mathura-pascime - to the uest of Mathura; bhage - O auspicious one; adurad - not far; ardha-
yojane - half a yojana.

Glorification of Sµakatarohana-tirtha

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

Half a yojana (´ miles) not far west of Mathura' is My holy place named Sµakatarohana-tirtha.
Text 435

anekani sahasrani
bhramaranam vasanti vai tatrabhisekam kurvita
eka-ratrosito narah sa tu vaidyadharam lokam
gatva tu ramate sukham

anekani - many; sahasrani - thousands; bhramaranam - of bees; vasanti - live; vai - indeed; tatra -
there; abhisekam - bath; kurvita - does; eka-ratra - for one night; usitah - fasting; narah - a person; sah
- he; tu - indeed» vaidyadharam- lokam - to Vidyadharaloka; gatva - having gone; tu - indeed; ramate
- enjoys; sukham - happiness.

Many thousands of bees reside there A person who fasting for one night bathes there goes to
Vidyadharaloka where he enjoys great happiness.

Text 436

tatrapi mahad ascaryam

pasyanti pathi samsthitah sarva-puspa-varam kundam
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magha-mase tu dvadasi

tatra - there; api - also; mahad - a great; ascaryam - wonder; pasyanti - see; pathi - on the pathway;
samsthitah - situated; sarva-puspa-varam - filled with all flowers; kundam - lake; magha-mase - in the
month of Magha; tu - indeed; dvadasi - on the dvadasi.

Travelers on the pathways there see a great wonder On the dvadasi of the month of Magha
(January-February) they see the lake there filled with every kind of flower.

Text 437

atha grahana-snanady-artham kesucit tirthesu kuruksetratvati- desah adi-varahe

govardhanam tathakruram
dve koti daksinottare praskandanam ca bhandiram
kuruksetra-samani sat

atha - now; grahana-snanady-artham - for bathing; kesucit'certain; tirthesu - holy places;

kuruksetratvati-desah - are like Kuruksetra; adi-varahe - in the Adi-varaha Purana; govardhanam -
Govardhana; tatha - then; akruram - Akrura-tirtha; dve - two; koti'sides; daksina - south; uttare -
north; praskandanam - Praskandana- tirtha; ca - and; bhandiram - Bhandira; kuruksetra - Kuruksetra;
samani - equal; sat - being.

Some of These Holy Bathing-places Are Like Kuruksetra

In the Adi-varaha Purana it is said:

With Govardhana and Akrura-tirtha on the south and north and Praskandana-tirtha and Bhandira on
the other sides the area is like Kuruksetra.

Text 438

atha yathartha-kathanam tatraiva

asi-kundam ca vaikuntham
koti-tirthottamam tada avimuktam soma-tirtham
samyamanam tindukam tatha

cakra-tirtham tathakruram
dvadasaditya-samjakam ete punyah pavitras ca
maha-pataka-nasanah
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atha - now; yathartha - appropriate; kathanam - description; tatra - there; eva - indeed; asi-kundam
- Asi-kunda; ca - and; vaikuntham - Vaikuntha- tirtha; koti-tirtha - Koti-tirtha; uttamam - after; tada -
then; avimuktam - Avimukta-tirtha; soma-tirtham - Soma-tirtha; samyamanam - Samyamana-tirtha;
tindukam - Tinduka-tirtha; 2} tatha - then; cakra-tirtham - Cakra-tirtha; tatha - then; akruram -
Akrura-tirtha; dvadasaditya- samj{.sy akam'the place named Dvadasaditya-tirtha; ete - these; punyah -
sacred; pavitrah - pure; ca - and; maha - great; pataka - sins; nasanah - destroying.

These Places Are Like Kuruksetra

In the same scripture it is said:

The places are Asi-kunda Vaikuntha-tirtha Koti-tirtha Avimukta-tirtha Soma-tirtha Samyamana-

tirtha Tinduka-tirtha Cakra-tirtha Akrura-tirtha and Dvadasaditya-tirtha These purifying sacred places
destroy the greatest sins.

Text 439

kuruksetrac chata-guna
mathurayam na samsayah
kuruksetrac - than Kuruksetra; chata-guna - a hundred times» mathurayam - in Mathura; na - not;
samsayah - doubt.

These places in Mathura' are a hundred times more sacred than Kuruksetra Of this there is no
doubt.

Text 440

ye pathanti maha-bhage
srnvanti ca samahitah mathurayas ca mahatmyam
te yanti paramam gatim

ye - who; pathanti - who read; maha-bhage - O auspicious one; srnvanti - hear; ca - and; samahitah
- assembled; mathurayah - of Mathura; ca - and; mahatmyam - glorification;- te - they; yanti - attain;
paramam- gatim - the supreme destination.

O fortunate one they who read or hear of the glories of Mathura' go to the supreme destination.

Text 441
 165

te kulani tarayanti
dve sate paksayor dvayoh mahatmya-sravanad eva
natra karya vicarana

te - they; kulani - relatives; tarayanti - liberate; dve sate - two hundred; paksayor dvayoh'on both
sides; mahatmya - of the glories; sravanad - by hearing; eva - indeed; na - not; atra - here; karya - to
be done; vicarana - doubt.

By hearing the glories of Mathura the listeners liberate two hundred relatives on both sides of their
families Of this there is no doubt.

Text 442 and 443

mathura-maha-tirthani

visrantir asi-kundam ca
vaikuntho dhruva eva ca krsna-ganga cakra-tirtham
sarasvatyas ca sangamah

catuh-samudrikah kupo
gokarnakhya-sivas tatha govardhano nanda-grham
vatsa-kridanakas tatha vanani dvadasa tatha
maha-tirthani mathure

mathura - of Mathura; maha - the great; tirthani - holy places; visrantir - Visranti-tirtha; asi-
kundam - Asi- kunda; ca - and; vaikunthah - Vaikuntha-tirtha; dhruva - Dhruva-tirtha; eva - certainly;
ca - and; krsna-ganga - the Krsna-ganga; cakra-tirtham - Cakra-tirtha; sarasvatyah - the Sarasvati; ca
- and; sangamah - sangama» catuh„-samudrikah„ kupah - Catuh-samudrika-kupa; gokarnakhya- sivah
- Gokarnakupa; tatha - then; govardhanah - Govardhana;{fn nanda- grham - Nanda's home;
vatsakridanakah - Vatsakridanaka; tatha - then; vanani - forests; dvadasa - twelve; tatha'then; maha-
tirthani - great holy places; mathure - in Mathura.

The Great Holy Places of Mathura

Visranti-tirtha Asi-kunda Vaikuntha-tirtha Dhruva- tirtha Krsna-ganga Cakra-tirtha Sarasvati-

sangama Catuh- samudrika-kupa Gokarna-siva Govardhana Hill Nanda's home Vatsa-kridana-tirtha
and the twelve forests are the great holy places in Mathura.

Text 444

atha mathure deva-varah

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narayananya-paryayah
kesavo madhya-samsthitah svayambhuh padmanabhas ca
dirgha-visnur gatasramah govindo hari-varahav
iti mathura-devatah

atha - now; mathure - in Mathura; deva-varah - the great Deities; narayananya-paryayah -

beginning with Lord Nara'yana; kesavah - Kesava; madhya- samsthitah - in the middle; svayambhuh -
Svayambhu; padmanabhah - Padmanabha; ca - and; dirgha-visnur - Dirgha- Visnu; gatasramah„ -
Lord Gatasrama; govindah - Govinda; hari+hari; varahau - and Varaha; iti - thus; mathura - in
Mathura; devatah„ - the Deities.

The Deities of Mathura

Narayana Kesava Svayambhu Padmanabha Dirgha-Visnu Gatasrama Govinda Hari and Varaha are
the Deities of Mathura.

Text 445

mathurayas tu mahatmyam
sa-vanaya mahadbhutam gopalottara-tapanyam
anyad apy asti kirtanam

mathurayah - of Mathura; tu - indeed; mahatmyam - glorification;- sa-vanayah - with its forests;

maha-adbhutam - great wonder; gopala-uttara- tapanyam - in Gopala-tapani Upanisad Chapter Two;
anyad - another; api - also; asti - is; kirtanam - glorification.

This is the wonderful glorification of Mathura' and its forests Further glorification is in the Gopala-
tapani Upanisad Chapter Two.

Text 446

tirthany uktani bhurini

puranesu atra mathure khyatany evadhuna tesam
likhitaniha kanicit

tirthani - holy places; uktani - described; bhurini - many; puranesu - in the Purana; atra - here;
mathure'in Mathura; khyatani - famous; eva - indeed; adhuna - now; tesam - of them; likhitani - have
been written; iha - here; kanicit - some.

Many holy places in Mathura are described in the Puranas Some of the more famous of them have
been written here.
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