Mathura
Vrindavan Days
Mathura! Birthplace of Lord Krishna. God’s hometown. at the site of Lord Krishna’s birth, a temple was built by Vajranabha, King of Mathura and son of Lord Krishna’s grandson Aniruddha
Mathura is celebrated in Vedic history as the birthplace of Veda Vyas (at Krishna Ganga Tirtha), and the place where Bali Maharaj performed his sacrifice to control the universe (at Bali Tirtha). Also, Durvasa Muni came here after being chased all over the universe by the Lord’s sudarsan chakra (disc). Durvasa then begged forgiveness from Ambarish Maharaj for having offended him. When Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu entered Mathura in 1512, He fell into an ecstatic swoon. Then He took a bath at Visrant Ghat and visited the temple at Janma Bhumi, Krishna’s birthsite.
Janma Bhumi, Krishna’s birthplace. To our understanding, no less than four great temples have stood here. The first was built about five thousand years ago by Vajranabha, the son of Lord Krishna’s grandson Aniruddha. The second temple was supposedly built about 400 A.D. by the powerful Chandragupta Vikramaditya, and required two hundred year’s toil by the world’s most skilled workmen. It was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018. According to a Sanskrit inscription on a stone slab discovered in the area, a third temple was built by a citizen named Jajja in 1150 A.D., when King Vijayapalavadeva ruled Mathura. This must have been the temple visited by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 1515. It was destroyed by Sikandar Lodi, who died immediately thereafter, in 1517.
Next came the great Keshava Dev Temple, completed by Raja Virsinghadeva Bundela in 1619, during the beneficent reign of Jahangir. Keshava Dev stood 250 feet high, and during Diwali its ghee lamps could be seen from Agra, some fifty-six kilometers away. This infuriated Aurangzeb, who ordered the temple razed in 1669. Just as the Spaniards forced the Aztecs to demolish their pyramids and use the very same stones to construct cathedrals, Aurangzeb used Keshava Dev’s sandstone for his mosque.
Today, Aurangzeb’s mosque is the only edifice standing at Janma Bhumi. At the rear of the mosque, we enter a small subterranean chamber, discovered intact in the early 1950s. It was here that Lord Krishna is believed to have been born. A large door leading from this chamber into the mosque proper has been closed off. Especially since Independence, the Hindus have been outraged that the mosque still stands over Krishna’s birthsite. Now they even speak of liberating Janma Bhumi by knocking it down. Indeed, anti-Muslim riots break out from time to time over this issue.Description of Mathura mandala
Rupa Goswami listed seventy holy places and stated that the Mathura region covers a 160-mile area and Vrindaban a thirty-two-mile area. Sanatan and Jiva Goswamis also contended that the Mathura-Vrindaban region was much larger during Krishna’s day.
Krishna’s Mathura-Vrindaban certainly covered a very wide area, for Srimad Bhagavatam says that it took Akrura from sunrise to sunset, driving a chariot pulled by “horses as swift as the wind,” to go from Mathura to Vrindaban—a distance of ten kilometers today. Srimad Bhagavatarn also describes the terrain as mountainous. The Jamuna River flowed beside Govardhan Hill, which was situated in Vrindaban itself. Also, Mathura and Vrindaban were on opposite sides of the river.
The great Rupa Goswami described Braja as a lotus: When it blooms fully, the different sites of Krishna’s pastimes appear to be distant from one another. But after sunset, the lotus contracts, and the places come closer together to facilitate the meeting of Radha with Krishna. Such is the geodetic vision of a pure devotee.
The lotus of Braja Mandala resembles the planet Goloka Vrindaban in the spiritual sky. Its sacred places—woods, groves, ponds, wells, hills, and temples—should be visited in a fixed order.
five hills, eleven prominent rocks, four lakes, eighty-four ponds, twelve wells, twelve bans (forests), and twenty-four upabans (groves).
The twelve bans are: Madhuban, Talaban, Kumudban, Bahulaban, Kamaban, Khadiraban, Vrindaban, Bhadraban, Bhandiraban, Belban, Lohaban, and Mahaban. The twenty-four upabans are: Gokul, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandagram, Sanket, Paramadra, Aring, Sessai, Mat, Uchagram, Kelban, Sri Kund, Gandharvaban, Parsoli, Bilchhu, Bacchaban, Adibadri, Karahla, Ajnokh, Pisaya, Kokilaban, Dadhigram, Kotban, and Raval.
Unfortunately, some of the names have changed over the years. Madhuban has become Maholi; Talaban has become Tarasi; Bahulaban, Bathi; Khadiraban, Kaola; and so on. Still, one should not be discouraged. All of these places share in Lord Krishna’s absolute nature. If the pilgrim can visit at least one of them in the proper spirit, he receives the benefit of visiting them all. In fact, the whole Mathura-Vrindaban region is so spiritually powerful that the mere desire to go there is liberating. “If a man decides in his mind, ‘I will go live in Mathura,’ he will be freed from the wheel of samsara simply by having such thoughts.”
Mathura Mahatmya
Text 1
harir api bhajamanebhyaù
prayo muktià dadati na tu bhaktim
vihita-tad-unnati-satraà
mathure dhanyaà namami tvam
harir – Hari; api – even; bhajamanebhyaù – worshiping; prayaù – for the most part;
muktim – liberation; dadati – gives; na – not; tu – but; bhaktim – bhakti; vihita – placed; tad-unnati-satram – great sacrifice; mathure – in Mathurä; dhanyam – auspicious; namami – obeisances; tvam – to you.
Generally Lord Hari gives mukti, but not bhakti, to his worshipers. O Mathurä, to you, who gives a great sacrifice of pure bhakti and who are very auspicious, I offer my
respectful obeisances.
Text 2
dhanyanaà hådayananda-
pradaà saìgåhyate muda
mahatmyaà mathura-puryaù
sarva-tértha-çiromaneù
dhanyanam – of the fortunate; hådayananda – bliss to the hearts; pradam – giving; saìgåhyate – collected; muda – happily; mahatmyam – glorification;mathura-puryaù – of Mathurä; sarva-tértha-çiromaëeù – the crest jewel of all holy places.
This glorification of Mathurä-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
tatrasyaù papa-haritvam. adi-varahe
viàçatiù yojananaà tu
mathuraà mama manòalam
yatra tatra naro snato
mucyate sarva-patakaiù
tatra – there; asyaù – of that; papa-haritvam – removal of sin; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; viàçatiù – twenty; yojananam – yojanas; tu – indeed;
mathuraà – Mathurä; mama – My; maëòalam – circle; yatra – where; tatra – there; naraù – a person; snataù – bathed; mucyate – is liberated; sarva-patakaiù – from all sins.
Mathurä Removes Sins
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
My abode of Mathurä-manòala is 20 yojanas in circumference. A person who stays there becomes free from all sins.
Text 4
pade pade tértha-phalaà
mathuraya vasundhare
yatra tatra naro snato
mucyate ghora-kilbiñaiù
pade pade – at every step; tértha-phalam – result of visiting holy places; mathurayaù – of Mathurä; vasundhare – O earth-goddess; yatra – where; tatra – there; naraù – a person; snataù – bathed; mucyate – liberated; ghora-kilbiñaiù – from the most terrible sins.
With every step he takes in Mathurä he gets the result of going to all other holy places. O earth-goddess, any person who bathes in Mathurä becomes free from the most terrible sins.
Text 5
sarva-dharma-vihinanaà
puruñanaà duratmanam
narakarti-hara devi
mathura papa-ghatiné
sarva-dharma-vihinanam – devoid of religion; puruñanam – of persons; duratmanam – wicked; narakarti-hara – removing the sufferings of hell; devi – O goddess; mathura – Mathurä; papa-ghatiné – destroying sins.
O goddess, Mathurä rescues the irreligious from the sufferings of hell and removes their sins.
Text 6
kåtaghnaç ca surapaç ca
cauro bhagna-vratas tatha
mathuraà prapya manuja
mucyate sarva-kilbiñaiù
kåtaghnaù – ungrateful; ca – and; surapaù – drunkards; ca – and; cauraù – thief; bhagna-vrataù – broken vows; tatha – then; mathuram – Mathurä; prapya – attaining; manujaù – persons; mucyate – liberated; sarva-kilbiñaiù – from all sins.
Ungrateful persons, drunkards, thieves, and they who have broken vows, become free from all sins when they enter Mathurä
Text 7-8
suryodare tamo naçyed
yatha vajra-bhayan nagaù
tarkñaà dåñöva yatha sarpa
megha vata-hata iva
tattva-jïanad yatha duhkhaà
siàhaà dåñöva yatha mågaù
tatha papani naçyanti
mathura-darçanat kñanat
suryodare – in the sunrise; tamaù – darkness; naçyed – destroyed; yatha – as; vajra-bhayan – from fear of the goad; nagaù – elephants; tarkñam – Garuòa; dåñöva – seeing; yatha – as; sarpaù – snakes;meghah – clouds; vata-hata – broken by the wind; iva – like; tattva-jïanad – because of knowledge of the truth; yatha – as; duhkham – suffering; siàham – a lion; dåñöva – having seen; yatha – as; mågaù – deer; tatha – in that way; papani – sins; naçyanti – perish; mathura-darçanat – from the sight of Mathurä; kñanat – in a moment.
As darkness is destroyed by the rising of the sun, as elephants fear the goad, as snakes that have seen Garuòa, 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 Mathurä.
Text 9
çraddhaya bhakti-yuktaç ca
gatva madhupuréà naraù
brahmahapi viçuddhyeta
kià punaù tv anya-pataké
çraddhaya – with faith; bhakti-yuktaù – and devotion; ca – and; gatva – going; madhupurém – to Mathurä; naraù – a person; brahmaha – killer of a brähmana; api – even; viçuddhyeta – is purified; kià punaù – what to speak; tu – indeed; anya-pataké – of other sins.
A person who with faith and devotion goes to Mathurä becomes free from the sin of killing a brähmaëa, what to speak of other sins.
Text 10
mathura-snana-kamasya
gacchatas tu pade pade
niraçani vrajanty asya
papany eva çarérataù
mathura-snana-kamasya – of a person who desires to bathe in Mathurä; gacchataù – going; tu – indeed; pade pade – at every step; niraçani – giving up hope; vrajanti – go; asya – of him; papani – sins; eva – indeed; çarérataù – from the body.
For one who, desiring to bathe in Mathurä, goes there, at every step sins, giving up all hope, leave his body.
Text 11
anusaìgena gacchan hi
vanijyenapi sevaya
mathura-snana-matrena
papaà tyaktva divaà vrajet
anusaìgena – contact; gacchan – going; hi – indeed; vanijyena – on business; api – even; sevaya – with service; mathura – in Mathurä; snana-matreëa – only by bathing; papam – sins; tyaktva – abandoning; divam – to the spiritual world; vrajet – goes.
One who, going to Mathurä only on business, takes a bathe there becomes free from all sins and goes to the spiritual world.
Text 12
namani gåhnatam asyaù
sadaiva tv amhasaù kñayaù
sada kåta-yugaà catra
sada caivottarayanam
namani – names; gåhëatam – taking; asyaù – of it; sada – always; eva – indeed; tu – certainly; amhasaù – sins; kñayaù – destroyed; sada – always; kåta-yugam – Satya-yuga; ca – and; atra – here; sada – always; ca – and; eva – indeed; uttarayaëam – Uttaräyaëa.
For one who always chants the name of Mathurä sins are always destroyed. For him it is always Satya-yuga. For him it is always the auspicious time of Uttaräyaëa.
Text 13
yaù çånoti vararohe
mathuraà mama maëòalam
anyenoccaritaà çaçvat
so ‘pi papaiù pramucyate
yaù – who; çåëoti – hears; vararohe – O beautiful girl; mathuram – Mathurä; mama – My; maëòalam – circle; anyena – by another; uccaritam – spoken; çaçvat – always; saù api – he; papaiù – from sins; pramucyate – free.
O beautiful one, he who hears from others about my Mathurä-maëòala is always free from sin.
Text 14
tri-ratram api ye tatra
vasanti manuja mune
teñaà punanti niyataà
spåñöaç carana-renavaù
tri-ratram – three nights; api – even; ye – who; tatra – there; vasanti – reside; manujah – people; mune – O sage; teñam – of them; punanti – purify; niyatam – always; spåñöaù – touched; caraëa – of the feet; reëavaù – 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-khanòe hara-gauré-samvade
kåñna-kréòa-karaà sthanaà
mathurayas tataà bhuvi
punya madhupuré yatra
sarva-papa-pranaçiné
padme – in the Padma Puräna; patala-khanòe – Patala-khanòa; hara-gauré-samvade – in the conversation between Çiva and Gauri; kåñëa-kréòa-karam – Kåñëa’s pastimes;
sthanam – place; mathurayaù – of Mathurä; tatam – manifest; bhuvi – on earth; puëya – sacred; madhupuré – Mathurä; yatra – where; sarva-papa – all sins;pranaçiné – destroying.
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khanòa, in a conversation between Lord Çiva and Gauri, it is said:
On this earth the shore of the Yamunä is the place where Lord Kåñna enjoys pastiumes. On that shore is sacred Mathurä puri, which destroys all sins.
Text 16
yatha tåëa-samuhaà tu
jvalayanti sphuliìgikaù
tatha mahanti papani
dahate mathura-puré
yatha – as; tåëa-samuham – grass; tu – indeed; jvalayanti – burns; sphuliìgikaù – sparks; tatha – so; mahanti – great; papani – sins; dahate – burns; mathura-puré – Mathurä.
As sparks set grass on fire, so does Mathurä-puri burn the greatest sins.
Text 17
skande kaçé-khanòe
hådyaà madhuvanaà prayo
yamunayas taöe mahat
adyaà bhagavataù sthanaà
yat punyaà hari-medhasaù
papo ‘pi jantus tat prapya
niñpapo jayate dhruvam
skande – in the Skanda Puräna; kaçé-khanòe – Kasi-khanòa; hådyam – charming; madhuvanam – Madhuvana; prayaù – for the most part; yamunayaù – of the Yamunä;
taöe – on the shore; mahat – great; adyam – transcendental; bhagavataù – of the Lord; sthanam – place; yat – which; punyam – sacred; hari-medhasaù – fixed their hearts on Lord Hari; papaù – sin; api – even; jantuù – person; tat – that; prapya – attaining; niñpapaù – sinless; jayate – born; dhruvam – indeed.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Käçi-khaëòa, it is said:
The charming forest of Madhuvana is situated on the shore of the Yamunä. 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
atha punya-pradatvaà yatha adi-varahe
yat puëyam açvamedhena
yat punyaà rajasuyataù
mathurayaà tad apnoti
tri-ratra-çayanad yamé
atha – now; puëya-pradatvam – granting pious merit; yatha – as; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräëa; yat – which; puëyam – piety; açvamedhena – by an asvamedha-
yajna; yat – which; puëyam – piety; rajasuyataù – from a rajasuya-yajna; mathurayam – in Mathurä; tad – that; apnoti – attains; tri-ratra – for three nights; çayanad – by resting;
yamé – self-controlled.
Mathurä Grants Pious Merit
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
The pious merit attained by performing an açvamedha-yajïa and the pious merit attained by performing a räjasüya-yajïa is at once attained by a self-controlled person who stays for three nights in Mathurä.
Text 19
viàçatir yojananaà tu
mathuraà mama manòalam
pade pade ‘çvamedhéyaà
punyaà natra vicarana
viàçatir yojananam – 20 yojanas; tu – indeed; mathuraà mama maëòalam – My circle of Mathurä; pade pade – at every step; açvamedhéyam – of an asvamedha-yajna; puëyam – piety; na – not; atra – here; vicaraëa – doubt.
My Mathurä-maëòala is 20 yojanas (160 miles) in size. With every step there one attains the piety of perfoming an açvamedha-yajïa. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 20
snanena sarva-térthanaà
yat syat sukåta-saïcayaù
tato ‘dhikataraà proktaà
mathure sarva-manòale
snanena – by bathing; sarva-térthanam – of all holy places; yat – what; syat – is; sukåta-saïcayaù – piety;tataù – than that; adhikataram – greater; proktam – said;
mathure sarva-maëòale – in the circle of Mathurä.
In Mathurä-maëòala one attains piety greater than what is attained by bathing in all other holy places.
Text 21
caturëam api vedanaà
puëyam adhyayanac ca yat
tat puëyaà jayate puàsaà
mathuraà vadataà satam
caturëam api vedanam – of the four Vedas; puëyam – piety; adhyayanat – from study; ca – and; yat – what; tat – that; puëyam – piety; jayate – is born; puàsam – of persons; mathuram – Mathurä; 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 Mathurä.
Text 22
svodbhava-papa-haritvam. yatha adi-varahe
anyatra hi kåtaà papaà
tértham asadya naçyati
térthe tu yat kåtaà papaà
vajra-lepo bhaved dhruvam
svodbhava – manifest in itself; papa – sins; haritvam – removal; yatha – as; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; anyatra – in any other place; hi – certainly; kåtam – performed; papam – sin; tértham – holy place; asadya – attaining; naçyati – perishes; térthe – in the holy place; tu – but; yat – what; kåtam – done; papam – sin; vajra – of a thunderbolt; lepaù – the licking; bhaved – becomes; dhruvam – certainly.
Mathurä Removes the Sins Performed There
This is described in the Ädi-varäha 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.
Text 23
mathurayaà kåtaà papaà
mathurayaà vinaçyati
jïanato ‘jïanato ‘vapi
yat papaà samuparjitaà
sukåtaà duñkåtaà vapi
mathurayaà pranaçyati
mathurayam – in Mathurä; kåtam – done; papam – sins; mathurayam – in Mathurä; vinaçyati – perishs; jïanataù – of the wise; ajïanataù – of the ignorant; va – or; api – and; yat – which; papam – sins; samuparjitam – attained; sukåtam – pious; duñkåtam – impious; va – or; api – and; mathurayam – in Mathurä; praëaçyati – perishes.
Sins performed at Mathurä become destroyed at Mathurä. Whether one is wise, or ignorant, saintly or wicked, his sins become destroyed at Mathurä.
Text 24
yatra kåñnena saïcérnaà
kréòitaà ca yatha-sukham
cakraìkita-pada tena
sthane brahmamaye çubhe
yatra – where; kåñëena – by Kåñëa; saïcérëam – filled; kréòitam – enjoyed pastimes;
ca – and; yatha-sukham – according to happiness; cakra – with the cakra; aìkita – marked; pada – feet; tena – by Him; sthane – place; brahmamaye – spiritual; çubhe – auspicious.
In this beautiful spiritual place Lord Kåñëa, whose feet are marked with a cakra, enjoyed transcendental pastimes to his heart’s content.
Text 25
eña divya puré devi
nitya-kalaà su-gopita
bhakta tvaà mama siñya ca
kathita te vasundhare
eña – this; divya – transcendental; puré – city; devi – O goddess; nitya-kalam – eternally; su-gopita – hidden; bhakta – devotee; tvam – you; mama – My; siñya – 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 now described to you.
Text 26
na maya kathitaà devi
brahmanaç ca mahatmanaù
rudrasya na maya purvaà
kathitaà ca vasundhare
maya su-gopitaà hy etad
guhyad guhyatamaà småtam
na – not; maya – by Me; kathitam – described; devi – O goddess; brahmaëaù – Brahmä; ca – and; mahatmanaù – great soul; rudrasya – Çiva; 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 guhyatamaà småtam – greatest secret.
O goddess, I have not described this to the brähmaëas and the great souls. I have not described it to Lord Çiva. O earth-goddess, it has been carefully hidden by Me because I consider it the most confidential of all secrets.
Text 27
anyatra daçabhir varñaiù
prarabdhaà bhujyate tu yat
kilbiñaà tan maha-devi
mathure daçabhir dinaiù
anyatra – in another place; daçabhir varñaiù – for 10 years; prarabdham – beginnings; bhujyate – experienced; tu – indeed; yat – what; kilbiñam – sin; tat – that; maha-devi – O goddess; mathure – in Mathurä; daçabhir dinaiù – in 10 days.
O goddess, sins that fester for 10 years in other places are destroyed in Mathurä in 10 days.
Text 28
atha sarva-térthadhikatvam. yatha adi-varahe
na vidyate hi patale
nantarékñe na manuñe
samaà tu mathuraya hi
térthe mama vasundhare
atha – now; sarva – of all; tértha – holy places; adhikatvam – superiority; yatha – as; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; na – not; vidyate – is; hi – indeed; patale – in hell; na – not; antarékñe – in heaven; na – not; manuñe – in the world of men; samam – equal; tu – certainly; mathuraya – to Mathurä; hi – certainly; térthe – holy place; mama – My; vasundhare – O earth.
Mathurä Is the Best of All Sacred Places
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
O earth-goddess, neither in hell, heaven,, nor in the world of humans, is there any sacred place equal to Mathurä.
Text 29
tatra dharaëé-praçnaù
naimiñaà puñkaraà caiva
puréà varaëaséà tatha
etan hitva maha-bhaga
mathuraà kià praçaàsasi
tatra – there; dharané – of the earth; praçnaù – question; naimiñam – Naimiñäranya;
puñkaram – Puñkara; ca – and; eva – indeed; purém – city; varanasém – Väränasi; tatha – that; etan – these; hitva – ignoring; maha-bhaga – O auspicious Lord; mathuram – Mathurä; kim – why?; praçaàsasi – You glorify.
The Earth-goddess Asked:
There are Naimiñäraëya, Lake Puñkara, and the city of Väräëasi. O auspicious Lord, why do You ignore them and glorify Mathurä?
Text 30
çré-varahenoktam mathureti su-vikhyatam
asti kñetraà paraà mama
su-ramya ca praçasta ca
janma-bhumiù priya mama
çré-varahena – by Lord varäha; uktam – said; mathura – Mathurä; iti – thus; su-vikhyatam – famous; asti – is; kñetram – place; param – transcendental; mama – My; su-ramya – charming; ca – and; praçasta – glorious; ca – and; janma-bhumiù – birthplace; priya – dear; mama – to me.
Lord Varäha said:
Mathurä is famous as my supreme abode. It is beautiful and glorious. It is the place where I took birth. It is very dear to Me.
Text 31
sarveñaà devi térthanaà
mathuraà paramaà mahat
kåñnena kréòitaà yatra
tac ca çuddhaà pade pade
sarveñam – of all; devi – o goddess; térthanam – holy place; mathuram – Mathurä; paramam – best; mahat – great; kåñëena – by Kåñëa; kréòitam – played; yatra – where; tac – which; ca – and; çuddham – pure; pade pade – at every step.
O goddess, Mathurä is the greatest of all holy places. Kåñëa enjoys pastimes there. It purifies one at every step.
Text 32
cakraìkitaà hi tat sarvaà
kåñëasyaiva padena tu
bala-kréòana-rupani
kåtani saha gopakaiù
cakraìkitam – marked with the cakra; hi – indeed; tat – that; sarvam – all; kåñëasya – of Kåñëa; eva – indeed; padena – by the foot; tu – indeed; bala-kréòana-rupaëi – in childhood pastimes; kåtani – done; saha – with; gopakaiù – the gopas.
It is completely covered with Kåñëa footprints. Kåñëa enjoys childhood pastimes there with the cowherd boys.
Text 33
yani térthani tany eva
sthapitani majarñibhiù
etat te kathitaà saraà
maya satyena suvrate
yani – which; térthani – holy place; tani – they; eva – indeed; sthapitani – established; majarñibhiù – 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 of Mathurä. O saintly one, I have thus truthfully described the essence of Mathurä to you.
Text 34
na térthaà mathuraya hi
na devaù keçavat paraù
na – not; tértham – holy place; mathurayah – than Mathurä; hi – indeed; na – not; devaù – demigod; keçavat – than Kåñëa; paraù – greater.
No holy place is better than Mathurä, and no demigod is better than Lord Keçava.
Text 35
varahe
çånu tattvena me bhumi
kathyamanam atho ‘naghe
mathureti su-vikhyata
yasmin kñetre priya mama
varahe – in the Varäha Puräëa; çåëu – listen; tattvena – in truth; me – My; bhumi – O earth; kathyamanam – saying; athaù – then; anaghe – O sinless one; mathura – Mathurä; iti – thus; su-vikhyata – very famous; yasmin – in which; kñetre – place; priya – beloved; mama – My.
In the Varäha Puräëa it is said:
O earth-goddess, please listen and I shall tell you the truth. O sinless one, Mathurä is very famous as the place where my beloved Rädhä stays.
Text 36
su-ramya su-praçasta ca
janma-bhumir mama priye
bhaviñyati vararohe
dvapare saàsthite yuge
su-ramya – beautiful; su-praçasta – glorious; ca – and; janma-bhumir – birthplace; mama – My; priye – O beloved; bhaviñyati – will be; vararohe – O beautiful girl; dvapare saàsthite yuge – in Dväpara-yuga.
O dear one, O beautiful one, delightful and famous Mathurä is the place where I will take birth in the Dväpara-yuga.
Text 37
yayati-nåpa-vaàçe ‘ham
utpatsyami vasundhare
çatani païca varñanam
atra sthasyami niçcayaù
yayati-nåpa-vaàçe – in the dynasty of King Yayati; aham – I; utpatsyami – will take birth; vasundhare – O earth; çatani – hundreds; païca – five; varñanam – years; atra – here; sthasyami – I will stay; niçcayaù – certainly.
O earth-goddess, I will take birth in the dynasty of King Yayäti and I will stay here for 500 years.
Text 38
skande mathura-khanòe narada-vakyam
çånu dharmaà maha-prajïa
yat tvaà påcchasi dharma-vit
gopyaà sapta-puréëaà tu
mathura-maëòalaà småtaà
skande mathura-khaëòe – in the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa; narada-vakyam – Närada’s statement; çåëu – please listen; dharmam – religion; maha-prajïa – O intelligent one; yat – what; tvam – you; påcchasi – ask; dharma-vit – O knower of religion; gopyam – hidden; sapta-puréëam – of the seven cities; tu – indeed; mathura-maëòalam – Mathurä; småtam – is considered.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, Närada said:
O wise one, O knower of religion, please listen to the answer to the question you have asked. Mathurä-manòala is known to be the most confidential of the seven holy cities.
Text 39
triàçad-varña-sahasrani
triàçad-varña-çatani ca
yat phalam bharate varñe
tat phalaà mathuraà smaran
triàçad-varña-sahasrani – thirty thousand years; triàçad-varña-çatani – three thousand years; ca – and; yat phalam – the result; bharate varñe – on earth; tat phalam – that result; mathuram – Mathurä; smaran – remembering.
The pious result attained by three thousand years or thirty thousand years of endeavor on earth is attained by simply once remembering Mathurä.
Text 40
tatha hi adi-varahe
maha-maghyaà prayage ca
yat phalaà labhate naraù
tat phalaà labhate devi
mathurayaà dine dine
tatha hi – furthermore; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; maha-maghyam – on mahä-magha; prayage – at Prayäga; ca – and; yat phalam – the result; labhate – attains; naraù – a person; tat phalam – that result; labhate – attains; devi – O goddess; mathurayam – in Mathurä; dine dine – any day.
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
The pious result one attains on the Mahä-magha sacred day at Prayäga is attained on any day in Mathurä.
Text 41
karttikyaà caiva yat puëyaà
puñkare tu vasundhare
tat phalaà labhate martyo
mathurayaà dine dine
karttikyam – during Kärttika; ca – and; eva – certainly; yat punyam – the piety; puñkare – at Puñkara; tu – indeed; vasundhare – O earth; tat phalam – that result; labhate – attains; martyaù – a human; mathurayam – at Mathurä; dine dine – any day.
O earth-goddess, the pious result one attains during the month of Kärttika at Puñkara Lake is attained on any day in Mathurä.
Text 42
varanasyaà tu yat punyaà
rahu-graste divakare
tat phalaà labhate devi
mathurayaà jitendriyaù
varaëasyam – at varanasi; tu – indeed; yat puëyam – the piety; rahu-graste divakare – during a solar eclipse; tat phalam – that result; labhate – attains; devi – O goddess; mathurayam – at Mathurä; jitendriyaù – a person who controls his senses.
O goddess, the pious reult one attains on a solar eclipse in Väräëasi is attained in Mathurä by a person who controls his senses.
Text 43
purne varñe sahasre tu
varanasyaà tu yat phalam
tat phalaà labhate devi
mathurayaà kñanena hi
purëe varñe sahasre – after a thousand years; tu – indeed; varaëasyam – at Väräëasi; tu – indeed; yat phalam – that result; tat phalam – that result; labhate – attains; devi – O goddess; mathurayam – at Mathurä; kñaëena – in a moment; hi – indeed.
O goddess, the pious result one attains at Väräëasi after a thousand years in attained at Mathurä in a single moment.
Text 44
padme patala-khanòe
purne varña-sahasre tu
tértha-rajeñu yat phalam
tat phalaà labhate devi
mathurayaà dine dine
padme patala-khaëòe – in the Padma Puräëa, Patala-khanda; purëe varña-sahasre – after a thousand years; tu – indeed; tértha-rajeñu – at the kings of holy places; yat
phalam tat phalam – the same result; labhate – attains; devi – O goddess; mathurayam – in Mathurä; dine dine – any day.
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khanòa, it is said:
O goddess, the same pious result one attains at Prayäga, the king of holy places, by staying there for a thousand years is attained every day at Mathurä.
Text 45
godavaré-dvadaçako naro yaù
kñetre kurunaà kñiti-dayako yaù
ñan-masakan sadhayate gayayaà
samaà bhaven no dinam ekaà mathure
godavaré – by the Godävari; dvadaçakaù – twelve; naro yaù – a person who; kñetre kurunam – at Kurukñetra; kñiti-dayakaù – giving land; yaù – who; ñan„-masakan – for six months; sadhayate – staying; gayayam – at gayä; samam – equal; bhavet – not; naù – not; dinam – day; ekam – one; mathure – in Mathurä.
A person who lives for twelve months on the shore of the Godävari, who gives a gift of land at Kurukñetra, or who lives for six months at Gayä, is not equal to a person who lives for a single day at Mathurä.
Text 46
na dvaraka kaçé kaïcé na maya
gadabhåto yasya samaà na tértham
santarpita yad yamuna-jalena
vaïchanti no pitaraù pinòa-danam
na – not; dvaraka – Dvaraka; kaçé – Väränasi; kaïcé – Kanci; na – not; maya – Maya;
gadabhåtaù – of Lord Kåñëa; yasya – of whom; samam – equal; na – not; tértham – holy place; santarpita – satisfied; yad – which; yamuna – of the yamunä; jalena – with water; vaïchanti – desire; naù – not; pitaraù – the pitäs; piëòa-danam – piëòa.
Neither Dvärakä, Käçi, Kaïci, nor Mäyä are equal to Lord Kåñëa’s place of Mathurä. Pleased by the offering of Yamunä water there, the pitäs do not desire offerings of pinòa.
Text 47
ata evottara-khaëòe
mathurayaà prakurvanti
puré-sadharaëé-dåçam
ye naras te ‘pi vijïeyaù
papa-raçibhir anvitaù
ataù eva – therefore; uttara-khaëòe – in the Uttara-khaëòa; mathurayam – in Mathurä; prakurvanti – do; puré-sadharaëé – an ordinary city;dåçam – seeing; ye – which; naraù – people; te api – they; vijïeyaù – known; papa-raçibhir – with sins; anvitaù – filled.
In the Uttara-khaëòa it is said:
They who think that Mathurä is an ordinary city are known to be filled with great sins.
Text 48
çré-kåñëakhyaà paraà brahma
yatra kréòati sarvada
tad-anyakhila-térthebhyo
‘dhikaà yat tat kim ucyate
çré-kåñnakhyam – named Lord Kåñëa; paraà brahma – the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yatra – where; kréòati – enjoys pastimes; sarvada – eternally; tad-
anyakhila-térthebhyaù – than all other holy places; adhikam – greater; yat tat – that; kim ucyate – what more need be said?
The the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kåñëa, enjoys pastimes there eternally. For this reason it is better than all other holy places. What more need be said?
Text 49
nirvaëa-khanòe ca
taà puréà prapya mathuraà
madéyaà sura-durlabham
khaïo bhutvandhako vapi
pranan eva parityajet
nirvaëa-khaëòe – in the Nirvaana-khaëòa; ca – also; taà purém – that city; prapya – attaining; mathuram – Mathurä; madéyam – My; sura-durlabham – difficult for the demigods to attain; khaïaù – a cripple; bhutva – becoming; andhakaù – a blind man; va – or; api – even; praëan – life; eva – indeed; parityajet – leaving.
In the Nirväëa-khaëòa it is said:
A blind man or a cripple who dies in my city of Mathurä, which even the demigods cannot attain, will attain My eternal abode.
Text 50
patala-khanòe ca
na dåñöa mathura yena
didåkña yasya jayate
yatra tatra måtasyapi
mathure janma jayate
patala-khanòe – in the Patala-khanòa; ca – and; na – not; dåñöa – seen; mathura – Mathurä; yena – by whom; didåkña – desiring to see; yasya – of whom; jayate – is born; yatra – where; tatra – there; måtasya – dead; api – even; mathure – in Mathurä; janma – birth; jayate – is born.
In the Pätäla-khaëòa Puräëa it is also said:
He who deos not see Mathurä, although he yearns to see it, will take birth after his death in Mathurä.
Text 51
asaìkhya-térthaçrayatvam. yatha adi-varahe
ñañöi-koöi-sahasrani
ñañti-koöi-çatani ca
tértha-saìkhya tu vasudhe
mathurayaà mayodita
asaìkhya – numberless; tértha – of holy places; açrayatvam – the condition of being the shelter; yatha – as; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräëa; ñañöi-koöi-sahasraëi ñañti-koöi-çatani ca – 60 billion; tértha-saìkhya – holy place; tu – indeed; vasudhe – O earth; mathurayam – in Mathurä; maya – by Me; udita – manifest.
Mathurä Is the Shelter of Numberless Holy Places
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
O earth-goddess, 60 billion sacred places reside in My Mathurä.
Text 52
skande mathura-khanòe
bhume rajaàsi ganana
kalenapi bhaven nåpa
mathure yani térthani
teñaà saìkhya na vartate
skande mathura-khanòe – in the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa; bhume – O earth; rajaàsi – dust; gaëana – counting; kalena – in time; api – even; bhavet – may be; nåpa – O king; mathure – in Mathurä; yani – which; térthani – holy places; teñam – of them; saìkhya – counting; na – not; vartate – is.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, it is said:
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 Mathurä.
Text 53
atha nivasopadeçaù. padme patala-khanòe
kuru bhoù kuru bho vasaà
mathurayaù puréà prati
yatra gopyaç ca govindas
trailokyasya prakaçakaù
atha – now; nivasa – residence; upadeçaù – instruction; padme patala-khanòe – in the padma Puräëa, Patala-khaëòa; kuru – do; bhoù – Oh; kuru – do; bhaù – Oh; vasam – residence; mathurayaù puréà prati – in Mathurä; yatra – where; gopyaù – the gopis; ca – and; govindaù – Kåñëa; trailokyasya – of the three worlds; prakaçakaù – creator.
Instruction to Reside in Mathurä
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-kanda, it is said;
Reside in Mathurä! Reside in Mathurä, where the gopis, and Lord Govinda, who created the three worlds, live.
Text 54
re re saàsara-magnadya
sikñam ekaà tu me çånu
yadécchasi sukhaà sandraà
vasaà kuru madhoù pure
re – Oh; re – Oh; saàsara – in birth and death; magna – plunged; adya – today; sikñam – instruction; ekam – one; tu – indeed; me – from Me; çåëu – please hear; yadi – if; icchasi – you desire; sukham – happiness; sandram – intense; vasam – residence; kuru – do; madhoù pure – in Mathurä.
O people plunged in the ocean of birth and death, please hear this one teaching: if you desire intense bliss, then please reside in Mathurä.
Text 55
yadéccheù para-saàsaraà
vahitraà mathuraà kuru
nauko sa prerakaù kåñno
bhoù çive para-karakaù
yadi – if; iccheù – you desire; para – the other shore; saàsaram – birth and death; vahitram – boat; mathuram – Mathurä; kuru – make; naukaù – a boat; sah – He; prerakaù – captain; kåñnaù – Kåñna; bhoù – Oh; çive – O Gauri; para-karakaù – taking to the other shore.
O Gauri, if you desire to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, then reside in Mathurä. Mathurä is a strong boat, and Kåñëa, the captain of this strong boat, will lead you to the other shore.
Text 56
aho loko mahan andho
netra-yukto na paçyati
mathure vidyamane ‘pi
saàsåtià bhajate sada
ahaù – Oh; lokaù – world; mahan – great; andhaù – blind; netra-yuktaù – with eyes; na – do not; paçyati – see; mathure – in Mathurä; vidyamane – being; api – even; saàsåtim – to birth and death; bhajate – attached; sada – always.
The people of this world, although they have eyes, are blind and cannot see. Although Mathurä is manifest in this world, they remain attached to this world of repeated birth and death.
Text 57
manuñéà yonim atulaà
labdhva bhagyasya yogataù
våthaivayur gataà teñaà
na dåñöva mathuraà purém
manuñém – human; yonim – birth; atulam – rare; labdhva – having attained; bhagyasya yogataù – possessing; våtha – useless; eva – indeed; ayur – life; gatam – gone; teñam – of them; na – not; dåñöva – having seen; mathuraà purém – Mathurä.
If, after attaining this rare and valuable human form of life, one does not see Mathurä, then he wastes his life.
Text 58
aho mateù sudaurbalyam
aho bhagyasya daurvidham
aho mohasya mahima
mathura naiva sevyate
ahaù – Oh; mateù – of intelligence; sudaurbalyam – great weakness; ahaù – Oh; bhagyasya – of good-fortune; daurvidham – collapse; ahaù – Oh; mohasya – of illusion;
mahima – glory; mathura – Mathurä; na – not; eva – indeed; sevyate – is served.
O what foolishness! What misfortune! What illusion when Mathurä is not served.
Text 59
sapadaà sampadaà jïatva
sapayaà kayaà uccakaiù
capalaà caïcalaà caiva
dåñöva mat-puram açrayet
sa – with; apadam – calamity; sampadam – prosperity; jïatva – knowing; sa-
apayam – with death; kayam – the body; uccakaiù – very; capalam – fickle; caïcalam – the goddess of fortune; ca – and; eva – indeed; dåñöva – having seen; mat-puram – My city; açrayet – 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 Mathurä.
Texts 60-62
skande mathura-khaëòe
tatraiva bhavataà bandhuù
paëòavanaà suhåt sakha
satvatanaà priyaù sakñad
yadavanaà kuleçvaraù
kåñëaù kamala-patrakñaù
so ‘vatérëo yudhiñöhira
rameëa saha devakyaà
vasudeva-gåhottame
tasya karmany anekani
parigétani suribhiù
jatani mathure deçe
taà puréà ko na sevate
skande mathura-khaëòe – in the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa; tatra – there; eva – indeed; bhavatam – of you; bandhuù – friend; paëòavanam – of the Pandavas; suhåt sakha – friend; satvatanam – of the Satvatas; priyaù – dear; sakñad – directly; yadavanam – of the Yadavas; kuleçvaraù – leader of the family; kåñëaù – Kåñëa; kamala-patrakñaù – lotus-eyed; saù – He; avatérëaù – descended; yudhiñöhira – O Yudhisthira; rameëa – with Balaräma; saha – with; devakyam – in the womb of Devaki; vasudeva-gåha-uttame – in Vasudeva’s house; tasya – of Him; karmani – deeds; anekani – many; parigétani – glorified; suribhiù – by the devotees; jatani – born; mathure deçe – in Mathurä; taà purém – this city; kaù – who?; na – not; sevate – serves.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa, it is said:
O Yudhiñöhira, who will not serve this city of Mathurä, where lotus-eyed Kåñëa, who appeared with Balaräma in the womb of Devaki in the palace of Vasudeva, and whose activities are glorified by the demigods, and who is the friend of all you
Päëòavas, and who is dear to all the Sätvatas, and who is the king of all the Yadus, decsended?
Text 63
ata evadi-varahe
mathuraà ca parityajya
yo ‘nyatra kurute ratim
muòho bhramati saàsare
mohito mama mayaya
ataù eva – therefore; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna;mathuram – Mathurä; ca – and; parityajya – abandoning; yaù – who; anyatra – in another place; kurute – does; ratim – attraction; muòhaù – bewildered; bhramati – wanders; saàsare – in birth and death; mohitaù – bewildered; mama – My; mayaya – by the maya.
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa is is said:
One who leaves Mathurä and is happy in to stay in some other place is a fool who, bewildered by My mäyä, wanders in this world of birth and death.
Text 64
skande mathura-khaëòe
mathuraà ca parityajya
yo ‘nyatra kurute spåham
durbuddhes tasya kià jïanam
ajïanena vimohitaù
skande – in the Skanda Puräëa; mathura-khaëòe – Mathurä-khaëòa; mathuram – Mathurä; ca – and; parityajya – leaving; yaù – who; anyatra – some other place; kurute – does; spåham – desire; durbuddheù – fool; tasya – of him; kim – what?; jïanam – knowledge; ajïanena – by ignorance; vimohitaù – bewildered.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, it is said:
He who, although having attained Mathurä, 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-bandhubhiù
yeñaà kvapi gatir nasti
teñaà madhu-puré gatiù
atha – now; agati – of they who have no shelter; gatitvam – the state of being the shelter; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; matra – by mother; pitra – and father; parityaktah – abandoned; ye – who; tyakta – abandoned; nija-bandhubhiù – by their own relatives; yeñam – of whom; kvapi – somewhere; gatir – shelter; na – not; asti – is; teñam – of them; madhu-puré – Mathurä; gatiù – is the shelter.
Mathurä Is the Shelter of the Shelterless
In the Ädi-varäha Puräna it is said:
For they who are abandoned by mother, father, friends and relatives, and who have no shelter, Mathurä is a shelter.
Text 66
papa-raçibhir akranta
ye daridrya-parajitaù
yeñaà kvapi gatir nasti
teñaà madhu-puré gatiù
papa – of sins; raçibhir – by hosts; akrantah – overpowered; ye – who; daridrya – by poverty; parajitaù – defeated; yeñam – of whom; kvapi – somewhere; gatir – shelter; na – not; asti – is; teñam – of them; madhu-puré – Mathurä; gatiù – is the shelter.
For they who are overpowered by a host of sins, and who are defeated by poverty and who have no shelter, Mathurä is a shelter.
Text 67
ye ca yoga-paribhrañöa
ye tapo-dana-varjitaù
yeñaà kvapi gatir nasti
teñaà madhu-puré gatiù
ye – who; ca – and; yoga-paribhrañöa – fallen from yoga; ye – who; tapaù – austerity; dana – and charity; varjitaù – without; yeñam – of whom; kvapi – somewhere; gatir – shelter; na – not; asti – is; teñam – of them; madhu-puré – Mathurä; gatiù – is the shelter.
For they who have fallen from the path of yoga, who have neither austerity nor charity, and who have no shelter, Mathurä is a shelter.
Text 68
çruti-småti-vihéna ye
çaucacara-vivarjitaù
yeñaà kvapi gatir nasti
teñaà madhu-puré gatiù
çruti-småti-vihéna ye – who; çauca-acara-vivarjitaù – without cleanliness; yeñam – of whom; kvapi – somewhere; gatir – shelter; na – not; asti – is; teñam – of them; madhu-puré – Mathurä; gatiù – is the shelter.
For they who have no knowledge of çruti or småti, who have no purity, and have no shelter, Mathurä is a shelter.
Text 69
sarat sarataraà sthanaà
guhyanaà guhyam uttamam
gatim anveñamananaà
mathure parama gatiù
sarat – than the best; sarataram – better; sthanam – place; guhyanam – of secrets; guhyam – secret; uttamam – ultimate; gatim – destination; anvesamananam – of they who seek; mathure – in Mathurä; parama – supreme; gatiù – shelter.
The ultimate, the supereme secret of all secrets, the goal for they who seek it, Mathurä is the supreme shelter.
Text 70
pade pade samakranta
ye vipadbhir ahar-niçam
yeñaà kvapi gatir nasti
teñaà madhu-puré gatiù
pade pade – at every step; samakrantah – defeated; ye – who; vipadbhir – by calamities; ahar-niçam – day and night; yeñam – of whom; kvapi – somewhere; gatir – shelter; na – not; asti – is; teñam – of them; madhu-puré – Mathurä; gatiù – is the shelter.
For they who, at every step, day and night, are defeated by a host of calamities, and who have no shelter, Mathurä is a shelter.
Text 71
atha nitya-hari-sannidhanatvam.
adi-varahe mathurayaù paraà kñetraà
trailokye napi vartate
yasmad vasamy ahaà devi
mathurayaà tu sarvada
atha – now; nitya – eternally; hari – of Lord Kåñna; sannidhanatvam – nearness; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; mathurayaù – of Mathurä; param – supreme; kñetram – place; trailokye – in the three worlds; na – not; api – even; vartate – is; yasmad – because; vasami – reside; aham – I; devi – O goddess; mathurayam – in Mathurä; tu – indeed; sarvada – eternally.
Lord Hari Stays Eternally In Mathurä
In the Ädi-varäha Puräna it is said:
O goddess, because no place in the three worlds is superior to Mathurä, I eternally stay in Mathurä.
Text 72
aho ‘ti-dhanya mathura
yatra sannihito hariù
sarveñaà yatra papanaà
praveço na hi vidyate
ahaù – Oh; ati-dhanya – supremely opulent; mathura – Mathurä; yatra – where; sannihitaù – stays; hariù – Kåñna; sarveñam – of all; yatra – where; papanam – sins; praveçaù – entance; na – not; hi – indeed; vidyate – is.
Mathurä, where Lord Hari stayed, and where no sin can enter, is supremely opulent
Text 73
padme patala-khanòe
aho madhu-puré dhanya
yatra tiñöhati kaàsaha
tatra deva-muniù sarvo
vasam icchati sarvada
padme patala-khanòe – in the Padma Puräna, Patala-khanòa; ahaù – Oh; madhu-puré – Mathurä; dhanya – opulent; yatra – where; tiñöhati – stays; kaàsaha – Kåñëa; tatra – there; deva – demigods; muniù – sages; sarvaù – all; vasam – residence; icchati – desire; sarvada – eternally.
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khaëòa, it is said:
In opulent Mathurä, where Lord Kåñëa stays, all the demigods and sages aspire to live eternally.
Text 74
çré-bhagavate prathama-skande
aho alaà çlaghyatamaà yadoù kulaà
aho alaà çlaghyatamaà madhor vanam
yad eña puàsam åñabhaù priyaù çréyaù
sva-janmana caìkramanena caïcati
çré-bhagavate prathama-skande – in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto One; ahaù – oh; alam – greatly; çlaghyatamam – glorified; yadoù – of King Yadu; kulam – the dynasty; ahaù – oh; alam – greatly; çlaghyatamam – glorified; madhor vanam – Mathurä; yad – which; eñah – He; puàsam – of living beings; åñabhaù – the supreme leader; priyaù – the husband; çréyaù – of the goddess of fortune; sva-janmana – by His birth; caìkramanena caïcati – wandered.
In Çrimad-Bhägavatam 1.10.26 it is said:
Oh, how supremely glorified is the dynasty of King Yadu, and how virtuous is the land of Mathurä, 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
tat tata gaccha bhadraà te
yamunayas taöaà çucim
punyaà madhuvanaà yatra
sannidhyaà nityada hareù
caturtha-skande – in the Fourth Canto; tat – that; tata – my dear son; gaccha – go; bhadraàgood fortune; te – for you; yamunayaù – of the Yamunä; taöam – bank; çucim – being purified; punyam – the holy; madhuvanam – of the name Madhuvana; yatra – where; sannidhyaàbeing nearer; nityada – always; hareù – of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In Çrimad-Bhägavatam 4.8.42 it is said:
My dear boy, I therefore wish all good fortune to you. You should go to the bank of the Yamunä, 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
çré-daçame
rajadhané tataù sabhut
sarva-yadava-bhu-bhujam
mathura bhagavan yatra
nityaà sannihito hariù
çré-daçame – in the Tenth Canto; rajadhané – the capitol; tataù – from that time; sa – the country and the city known as Mathurä; abhut – became; sarva-yadava-bhu-bhujam – of all the kings who appeared in the Yadu dynasty; mathura – the place known as Mathurä; bhagavan – the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yatra – wherein;
nityam – eternally; sannihitaù – intimately connected, living eternally; hariù – the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In Çrimad-Bhägavatam 10.1.28 it is said:
Since that time, the city of Mathurä had been the capitol of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty. The city and district of Mathurä are very intimately connected with Kåñëa, for Lord Kåñëa lives there eternally.*
Text 77
çré-viñëu-purane prathame ‘àçe
hatva ca lavanaà rakño-
madhu-putraà maha-balam
çatrughno mathuraà nama
puréà tatra cakara vai
çré-viñnu-puraëe – in Viñëu Puräëa; prathame aàçe – First Canto; hatva – having killed; ca – and; lavaëam – Lavaëa; rakño- madhu-putram – the son of the demon Madhu; maha-balam – powerful; çatrughnaù – Çatrughna; mathuram – Mathurä; nama – named; purém – city;tatra – there; cakara – did; vai – indeed.
In the Viñëu Puräna, First Canto, it is said:
This city is named Mathurä because Çatrughna here killed powerful Lavanäsura, the son of the rakñasa Madhu.
Text 78
yatra vai deva-devasya
sannidhyaà hari-medhasaù
sarva-papa-hare tasmiàs
tapas térthe cakara saù
yatra – where; vai – indeed; deva-devasya – the master of the demigods; sannidhyam – nearness; hari-medhasaù – they who have fixed their hearts on Lord Hari; sarva-papa – all sins;hare – removing; tasmin – there; tapaù – austerities; térthe – at the holy place; cakara – did; saù – he.
He (Dhruva Mahäräja) performed austerities at this holy place, where all sins are destroyed, and where the the Supreme Personality of Godhead, on whom the devotees fix their hearts, always stays.
Text 79
vayu-purane catvariàçad yojananaà
tatas tu mathura småta
yatra devo hariù sakñat
svayaà tiñöhati sarvada
vayu-purane – in the Vayu Puräëa; catvariàçad – 40; yojananam – yojanas; tataù – then; tu – indeed; mathura – Mathurä; småtaù – remembered; yatra – where; devaù – Lord; hariù – Kåñëa; sakñat – directly; svayam – personally; tiñöhati – stays; sarvada – eternally.
In the Väyu Puräëa it is said:
In Mathurä, which is 40 yojanas (320 miles) in measurement, Lord Hari stays eternally.
Text 80
atha çré-bhagavat-kåpa-labhyatvam. adi-varahe
na tat-punyair na taj-jïanair
na tapobhir na taj-japaiù
na labhyaà vividhair yajïair
labhyaà mad-anubhavataù
atha – now; çré-bhagavat – of the Lord; kåpa – of the mercy; labhyatvam – attainment; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; na – not; tat-puëyair – with piety;
na – not; taj-jïanair – by knowledge; na – not; tapobhir – by austerities; na – not; taj-japaiù – by japa; na – not; labhyam – attainable; vividhair – by various; yajïair – sacrifices; labhyam – attainable; mad-anubhavataù – by My mercy.
In Mathurä One May Attain the Mercy of the the Supreme Personality of Godhead
In the Ädi-varäha Puräna it is said:
Not by great expertise, not by transcendental knowledge, not by austerities, not by chanting mantras and not by performing many yajïas, but only by my mercy is Mathurä attained.
Text 81
çré-viñnoù kåpaya nunaà
tatra vaso bhaviñyati
vina viñnoù prasadena
kñanam ekaà na tiñöhati
çré-viñnoù – of Lord Viñnu; kåpaya – by the mercy; nunam – indeed; tatra – there; vasaù – residence; bhaviñyati – will be; vina – without; viñëoù – of Viñëu; prasadena – by the mercy; kñaëam – moment; ekam – one; na – not; tiñöhati – stays.
By the mercy of Çri Viñëu one attains residence in Mathurä. Without Viñëu’s mercy one cannot stay for even a moment in Mathurä.
Text 82
padme uttara-khaëòe
harau yeñaà sthira bhaktir
bhuyasé yeñu tat-kåpa
teñam eva hi dhanyanaà
mathurayaà bhaved ratiù
padme – in the Padma Puräna; uttara-khanòe – Uttara-khanòa; harau – to Lord Hari; yeñam – of whom; sthira – steady; bhaktir – devotion; bhuyasé – great; yeñu – in whom; tat-kåpa – His mercy; teñam – of them; eva – indeed; hi – indeed; dhanyanam – fortunate; mathurayam – in Mathurä; bhaved – is; ratiù – pleasure.
In the Padma Puräëa, Uttara-khaëòa, it is said:
The fortunate souls who have firm devotion for Lord Hari, and who have attained His great mercy, take pleasure in Mathurä.
Text 83
atha bhagavad-dhyanadi-labhyatvam. adi-varahe
yada viçuddhas tapa-adina janaù
çubhaçraya dhyana-dhana nirantaram
tadaiva paçyanti mamottamaà puréà
na canyatha kalpa-çatair dvijottama
atha – now; bhagavad – on the Lord; dhyana – meditation; adi – beginning with;
labhyatvam – attainable; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; yada – when; viçuddhaù – pure; tapah – austerity; adina – beginning with; janaù – people; çubha – pure; çrayah – hearts; dhyana-dhana – wealthy with meditation; nirantaram – always; tada – then; eva – indeed; paçyanti – see; mama – My; uttamam – supreme; purém – city; na – not; ca – and; anyatha – otherwise; kalpa-çatair – with hundreds of kalpas; dvijottama – O best of the dvijas.
Mathurä Can Be Attained By One Who Meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is saidL:
O best of the brähmaëas, 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 Mathurä. Others cannot see it in millions of kalpas.
Text 84
mokña-pradatvam. adi-varahe
ya gatir yoga-yuktasya
brahmajïasya manéñinaù
sa gatis tyajataù pranan
mathurayaà narasya ca
mokña – liberation; pradatvam – granting; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; ya – which; gatir – destination; yoga-yuktasya – of one engaged in yoga; brahmajïasya – who knows brahman; manéñinaù – wise; sa – that; gatiù – destination; tyajataù – giving up; praëan – life; mathurayam – in Mathurä; narasya – of a person; ca – and.
Mathurä Grants Liberation
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa 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 Mathurä.
Text 85
térthe caiva gåhe vapi
catvare pathi caiva hi
yatra tatra måta devi
muktià yanti na canyatha
térthe – at this holy place; ca – and; eva – indeed; gåhe – at home; va – or; api – and;
catvare – in a courtyard; pathi – on the road; ca – and; eva – indeed; hi – indeed; yatra – where; tatra – there;måtaù – 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
kaçy-adi-puryo yadi santi loke
tasaà tu madhye mathuraiva dhanya
ya janma-mauïjé-vrata-måtyu-dahair
nånaà caturdha vidadhati mokñam
kaçy-adi-puryaù – beginning with Väränasi; yadi – if; santi – are; loke – in the world; tasam – of them; tu – indeed; madhye – in the midst; mathura – Mathurä; eva – indeed; dhanya – opulent; ya – which; janma – birth; mauïjévrata – brahminical initiation; måtyu – of death; dahair – by the fires; nånam – of people; caturdha – in four; vidadhati – grants; mokñam – liberation.
If Väräëasi and other holy cities were assemnbled together on this earth Mathurä would be the greatest and most opulent amongst them. With the fires of birth, death, or brahmnical initiation within its boundaries, Mathurä grants the four kinds of
liberation.
Text 87
na yogair ya gatir labhya
manvantara-çatair api
anyatra helaya satra
labhayte mat-prasadataù
na – not; yogair – by yoga; ya – which; gatir – destination; labhya – is attained; manvantara-çatair – in hundreds of Manvantaras; api – even; anyatra – in another place; helaya – easily; sa – that; atra – here; labhayte – is attained; mat-prasadataù – 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 bhayaà yatra
na bhayaà yatra vai yamat
na garbha-vasa-bhér yatra
tat kñetraà ko na saàçrayet
na – not; papebhyaù – 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; bhér – fear; yatra – where; tat kñetram – that place; kaù – who?; na – not; saàçrayet – will take shelter.
Who will not take shelter of this holy place where there is no fear of sin, no fear of Yamaräja, and no fear of residing again in a mother’s womb.
Text 89
vina saìkhyena yogena
vina svatma-vicintanam
vina vrata-tapo-danaiù
çreyo vai praninam iha
vina – without; saìkhyena – sankhya; yogena – yoga; vina – without; svatma-vicintanam – meditation on the Self; vina – without; vrata – vows; tapaù – austerities; danaiù – and charity; çreyaù – benediction; vai – indeed; praëinam – of the,living entities; iha – here.
Withyout saìkhya, without yoga, without meditation on the Self, and without vows, austerities or charity, the living entities here attain the greatest benediction.
Text 90
kåmi-kéöa-pataìgadya
mathurayaà måta hi ye
kulat patanti ye våkñas
te ‘pi yanti paraà gatim
kåmi – worms; kéöa – insects; pataìga – birds; adya – beginning with; mathurayam – in Mathurä; måta hi – indeed; ye – who; kulat – from the riverbanks; patanti – fall; ye – who; våkñaùtrees; te – they; api – even; yanti – attain; paraà 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
viàça-yojana-vistaro
mathurayaç ca manòalam
yatra pranan vimuïcanti
siddha yanti paraà gatim
varahe – in the varäha Puräna; viàça-yojana-vistaraù – 20 yojanas in size; mathurayaù – of Mathurä; ca – and; maëòalam – circle; yatra – where; praëan – life; vimuïcanti – abandon; siddhah – perfect; yanti – attain; paraà gatim – the supreme destination.
In the Varäha Puräëa it is said:
They who die in the twenty-yojana (160 miles) area of Mathurä become perfect and attain the supreme destination.
Text 92
padme patala-khanòe
canòala-jaòa-mukanaà
jéva-hiàsa-ratasya ca
mathura-piëòa-danena
punar janma na vidyate
padme – in the Padma Puräëa; patala-khaëòe – Patala-khaëòa; caëòala – outcaste; jaòa – fool; mukanam – deaf-mute; jéva-hiàsa-ratasya – sadist; ca – and; mathura – in Mathurä; piëòa-danena – by offering piëòa; punar – again; janma – birth; na – not; vidyate – is.
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khanòa, it is said:
There is no next birth for an outcaste, a fool, a deaf-mute, or a sadist, that offers pinòa in Mathurä.
Text 93
pranalyam iñöa-khacite
çmaçane vyomni maïcake
aööale va måto devi
mathure muktim apnuyuù
pranalyam – in a ditch; iñöa-khacite – ina brick-house; çmaçane – at a crematorium; vyomni – in the sky; maïcake – on a throne; aööale – in a palace; va – or; måtaù – dying; devi – O goddess; mathure – in Mathurä; muktim – liberation; apnuyuù – attain.
Dying in Mathurä, whether in a ditch, in a brick-house, at a crematorium, in the sky, on a throne, or in a palace, one attains liberation.
Text 94-95
vamana-purane
mathura-tértham atulaà
viçrutaà loka-sat-kåtam
yatra kåñnas tu gopalaiù
samaà kréòitavan jale
tatra gatva naro brahman
mucyate sarva-patakaiù
tri-ratram uñitas tatra
niraharo jitendriyaù
viharantaà jale kåñnaà
dhyayan mukto bhaven naraù
vamana-purane – in the Vämana Puräna; mathura-tértham – Mathurä; atulam – peerless; viçrutam – famous; loka-sat-kåtam – honored in the world; yatra – where; kåñëaù – Kåñëa; tu – indeed; gopalaiù – the gopas; samam – with; kréòitavan – played; jale – in the water; tatra – there; gatva – having gone;naraù – a person; brahman – O brähmaëa; mucyate – is freed; sarva-patakaiù – from all sins; tri-ratram – for three nights; uñitaù – residing; tatra – there; niraharaù – fasting; jitendriyaù – controlling the senses; viharantam – playing; jale – in the water; kåñëam – on Lord Kåñëa; dhyayan – meditating; muktaù – liberated; bhavet – becomes; naraù – a person.
In the Vämana Puräëa it is said:
A person who goes to peerless, famous, honored-in-all-the-worlds Mathurä-tirtha, where Kåñëa played in the water with the gopas, becomes free from all sins, O brähmaëa. A person who, fasting, controlling his senses, and meditating on Kåñëa
playing in the water, stays there for three nights, becomes liberated.
Text 96
saura-puraëe
astéha mathura nama
tréñu lokeñu viçruta
kåñna-pada-rajo-miçra-
balukaputa-véthika
sparçanena naras tasya
mucyate sarva-bandhanat
saura-purane – in the Saura Puräna; asti – is; iha – here; mathura – Mathurä; nama – named; tréñu lokeñu – in the three worlds; viçruta – famous; kåñna – of Kåñna; pada – of the feet; rajaù – with the dust; miçra – mixed; balukaputa-véthika – purified pathways; sparçanena – by the touch; naraù – a person; tasya – of that; mucyate – is liberated;
sarva-bandhanat – from all bonds.
In the Çaura Puräëa it is said:
Here is the place named Mathurä, famous in the three worlds, and its pathways purified by dust mixed with the dust of Kåñëa’s feet. By its touch a person becomes liberated from all bondage.
Text 97
mathura-khaëòe
mathurayaà vasiñyami
yasyami mathura-purém
iti yasya bhaved buddhiù
so ‘pi bandhad vimucyate
mathura-khanòe – in the Mathurä-khanòa; mathurayam – in Mathurä; vasiñyami – I will live; yasyami – I will go; mathura-purém – to Mathurä; iti – thus; yasya – of whom; bhaved – may be; buddhiù – conception; saù api – he; bandhad – from bondage; vimucyate – is liberated.
In the Mathurä-khaëòa it is said:
I will live in Mathurä. I will go to Mathurä. A person who thinks in this way becomes free from material bondage.
Text 98
atha viñëu-loka-pradatvam. brahmanòe
ye paçyanty acyutaà devaà
mathure devaké-sutam
te viñnu-lokam asadya
na cyavante kadacana
atha – now; viñëu-loka – Viñëuloka; pradatvam – giving; brahmaëòe – in the Brahmäëòa Puräëa; ye – who; paçyanti – see; acyutam – Lord Acyuta; devam – Lord; mathure – in Mathurä; devaké-sutam – the son of Devaki; te – they; viñëu-lokam – Viñëuloka; asadya – attaining; na – not; cyavante – fall down; kadacana – ever.
Mathurä Grants Residence in Viñëuloka
In the Brahmäëòa Puräna it is said:
They who in Mathurä see the Deity of Devaki’s son, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who never falls down, attain Viñëuloka and never fall down.
Text 99
yatraà karoti kåñnasya
çraddhaya yaù samahitaù
sarva-papair vinirmukto
viñnulokaà sa gacchati
yatram – journey; karoti – does; kåñëasya – in Kåñëa; çraddhaya – with faith; yaù – who; samahitaù – assembled; sarva-papair – from all sins; vinirmuktaù – free; viñëulokam – to Viñëuloka; sah – he; gacchati – goes.
A person who, filled with faith in Lord Kåñëa, goes on a journey there, becomes free from all sins and goes to Viñëuloka.
Text 100
muka jaòandha-vadhiras
tapo-niyama-varjitaù
kalenaiva måta ye ca
gacchanti viñëu-mandiram
mukah – dumb; jaòa – foolish; andha – blind; vadhiraùand deaf; tapo-niyama-varjitaù – without austerity; kalena – in time; eva – indeed; måtaù – after death; ye – who; ca – and; gacchanti – go; viñëu-mandiram – the palace of Lord Viñnu.
The deaf, dumb, blind, foolish, and they who hasve no austerity or sense-control, who in the course of time die in Mathurä, go to Lord Viñnu’s palace.
Text 101
sarpa-dañöaù paçu-hataù
pavakambu-vinaçitaù
labdhapa-måtyavo ye ca
mathure hari-loka-gaù
sarpa – by a snake; dañöaù – bitten; paçu – by a wild beast; hataù – killed; pavaka – by fire; ambu – or water; vinaçitaù – killed; labdhapa-måtyavaù – who die; ye – who; ca – and; mathure – in Mathurä; hari-loka – to Lord Hari’s planet; gaù – go.
They who, bitten by a snake, killed by a wild beast, consumed by flames, or drowned in water, die in Mathurä, attain the planet of Lord Hari.
Text 102
adi-varahe
kalpa-gramena kià tasya
varanasya ca va çubhe
mathurayaà tu yat punyaà
tasya punya-phalaà çånu
adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; kalpa-grameëa – for many kalpas; kim – what is the use?; tasya – of that; varaëasyah – at varanasi; ca – and; va – or; çubhe – O beautiful one; mathurayam – in Mathurä; tu – indeed; yat – that; puëyam – piety; tasya – of that; puëya-phalam – pious result; çåëu
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
“What is the use of living for many kalpas at Väränasi, O beautiful one, when the same pious result is easily attained at Mathurä? Listen, and I will tell you of that pious result.
Text 103
mathuraà ca samasadya
yaù kaçcid måyate bhuvi
api kéöaù pataìgo va
jayate sa caturbhujaù
mathuram – Mathurä; ca – and; samasadya – attaining; yaù kaçcid – someone;
måyate – dies; bhuvi – in this world; api – even; kéöaù – a worm or a bug; pataìgaù – a moth or a bird; va – or; jayate – is born; sah – he; caturbhujaù – with four arms.
A human, worm, insect, moth, or bird who goes to Mathurä and dies there, becomes reborn as a four-armed resident of the spiritual world.
Text 104
gautaméya-tantre
mathnati sarva-papani
dadati paramaà gatim
uttamo hi naro yatra
tena sa mathura småta
gautaméya-tantre – in the gautamiya Tantra; mathnati – crushes; sarva – all; papani – sins; dadati – gives; paramaà gatim – the supreme destination; uttamaù – ultimate; hi – indeed; naraù – a person; yatra – where; tena – by him; sa – this; mathura – Mathurä; småta – 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 Mathurä.
Text 105
sarvabhiñöa-pradatvam. brahmaëòa-puraëe
satyaà satyaà muni-çreñöha
bruve çapatha-purvakam
sarvabhiñöa-pradaà nanyan
mathurayaù samaà kvacit
sarva – all; abhiñöa – desires; pradatvam – giving; brahmaëòa-puraëe – in the brahmäëòa Puräëa; satyam – true; satyam – true; muni – sages;çreñöha-best; bruve – I say; çapatha-purvakam – with a vow; sarva – all; abhiñöa – desires; pradam – giving; na – not; anyat – another; mathurayaù – to Mathurä; samam – equal; kvacit – anywhere.
Mathurä Fulfills All Desires
In the Brahmänòa Puräna it is said:
It is true! It is true! O sage, I vow that it is true! No other place fulfills all desires as Mathurä does!
Text 106
skande mathura-khanòe
kñetra-palo maha-devo
vartate yatra sarvada
yatra viçranti-térthaà ca
tatra kià durlabhaà phalam
skande mathura-khaëòe – in the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa; kñetra-palaù – protector; maha-devaù – Mahädeva; vartate – is; yatra – where; sarvada – always; yatra – where; viçranti-tértham – Viçränti-tirtha; ca – and; tatra – there; kim – what?; durlabham – difficult to attain; phalam – result.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa, it is said:
In Mathurä, 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-khanòe
tri-varga-da kaminaà ya
mumukñunaà ca mokñada
bhaktécchor bhaktida kas taà
mathuraà naçrayed budhaù
padmottara-khanòe – in Padma Puräna, Uttara-khanòa; tri-varga-da – giving the three goals; kaminam – of they who desire; ya – which; mumukñuëam – of they who wish liberation; ca – and; mokñada – giver of liberation; bhakti-icchor – of one who desires bhakti; bhaktida – giver of bhakti; kaù – who?; tam – this; mathuram – Mathurä; na – not; açrayed – takes shelter; budhaù – wise.
In the Padma Puräëa, Uttara-khaëòa, it is said:
What wise man would not take shelter of of Mathurä, 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-khanòe parvaté-praçnaù
uktodbhutaç ca mahima
mathuraya jaöadhara
muner bhuvo va saritaù
prabhavaù kena va vibho
kåñnasya va prabhavo ‘yaà
samyogasya pratapavan
tatra – there;iva – like; patala-khanòe – in thre Patala-khanòa; parvaté-praçnaù – Parvati’s question; ukta – said; udbhutaù – manifested; ca – and; mahima – glory; mathuraya – of Mathurä; jaöadhara – O Çiva; muner – of the sage; bhuvaù – of the world; va – or; saritaù – of the rivers; prabhavaù – glory; kena – by what?; va – or;
vibhaù – O Lord; kåñëasya – of Kåñëa; va – or; prabhavaù – glory; ayam – this; samyogasya – contact; pratapavan – powerful.
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khaëòa, Pärvati asks the following question:
O Jaöädhara, You have already described the glory of Mathurä. What is the glory of the sages, the ground, and the rivers there? What is the great glory of Kåñëa there?
Text 109
tatraiva çré-mahadevottaram
na bhumika-prabhavaç ca
sarito va varanane
åñinaà na prabhavaç ca
prabhavo viñnu-tarake
tatra – there; eva – indeed; çré-mahadeva – Lord Mahädeva’s uttaram – reply; na – not; bhumika – of ground; prabhavaù – glory; ca – and; saritaù – of rivers; va – or; varanane – O girl with the beautiful face; åñinam – of sages; na – not; prabhavaù – glory; ca – and; prabhavaù – glory; viñnu-tarake – of Lord Viñëu’s täraka potency.
Çri Mahädeva replied:
O girl with a beautiful face, this is not the glory of ordinary ground, rivers, and sages. This is the glory of Lord Viñëu’s täraka potency.
Text 110
tatha paraka-cic-chakter
ubhe tat-pada-karake
tad eva çånu bho devi
prabhavo yena vartate
tatha – so; paraka-cic-chakter – from the päraka potency; ubhe – both; tat-pada-karake – cause; tad – this; eva – indeed; çåëu – hear; bhaù – O; devi – O goddess; prabhavaù – glory; yena – how; vartate – is.
The glory here is also manifest from the spiritual päraka potency. O goddess, please hear of these two potencies.
Text 111
çré-kåñna-mahima sarvas
cic-chakter yaù pravartate
tarakaà parakaà tasya
prabhavo ‘yam anahataù
tarakaj jayate muktiù
prema-bhaktiç ca parakaö
çré-kåñna – of Kåñna; mahima – glory; sarvaùall; cic-chakter – spiritual potency; yaù – who; pravartate – is; tarakam – täraka; parakam – päraka; tasya – of that; prabhavaù – glory; ayam – this; anahataù – glorious; tarakaj – from täraka; jayate – is born; muktiù – liberation; prema-bhaktiù – pure devotional service; ca – and; parakaö – from päraka.
All Kåñëa’s glories are manifest from His spiritual potency. His glories are His täraka potency and His päraka potency. From His täraka potency liberation is manifest. From His päraka potency loving devotional service is manifest.
Text 112
tatraiva çré-bhagavad-vakyam
ubhau mantrav ubhe namni
madéya-prana-vallabhe
nana-namani mantraç ca
tan-madhye saram ucyate
tatra – there;iva çré-bhagavad – of the Lord; vakyam – words; ubhau – both; mantrav – mantras; ubhe – both; namni – names; madéya – My; praëa – life; vallabhe – dear; nana – various; namani – names; mantraù – 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
ajïatam athava jïataà
tarakaà japate yadi
yatra tatra bhaven måtyuù
kaçyaà tu phalam adiçet
ajïatam – not known; athava – or; jïatam – known;tarakam – täraka; japate – chants; yadi – if; yatra – where; tatra – there; bhavet – is; måtyuù – death; kaçyam – in Väränasi; tu – indeed; phalam – result; adiçet – shows.
If a person knowingly or unknowingly chants the täraka mantra, then no matter where he dies, he attains the result of dying in Väränasi.
Text 114
vartate yasya jihvagre
sa pumal loka-pavanaù
chinatti sarva-papani
kaçé-vasa-phalaà labhet
vartate – is; yasya – of whom; jihvagre – on the tip of the tongue; sah – he; puman – person; loka-pavanaù – purifying the world; chinatti – cuts; sarva – all; papani – sins; kaçé – in Väränasi; vasa – residence; phalam – result; labhet – attains.
He on whose tongue the name täraka appears, purifies the people of the worlds. He breaks all sins. He attains the result of living at Väräëasi.
Text 115
iti taraka-mantro ‘yaà
yas tu kaçyaà pravartate
sa eva mathure devi
vartate ‘tra varanane
iti – thus; taraka-mantro ayam – this täraka mantra; yaù – who; tu – indeed; kaçyam – in Väräëasi; pravartate – is; sah – he; eva – indeed; mathure – in Mathurä; 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 Väräëasi, a person who chants this täraka mantra actually lives here in Mathurä.
Text 116
atha parakaà ucyeta
yatha-mantraà yatha-balam
parakaà yatra varteta
åddhi-siddhi-samagamaù
atha – now; parakam – päraka; ucyeta – is said; yatha – as; mantram – mantra; yatha-balam – as far as there is power; parakam – päraka; yatra – where; varteta – is; åddhi-siddhi-samagamaù – powers and opulences.
When the powerful päraka mantra is chanted, spiritual opulences and perfections appear.
Text 117
pujyo bhavati trailokye
çatayur jayate puman
añöa-siddhi-samayukto
vartate yatra parakam
pujyaù – worshiped; bhavati – is; trailokye – in the three worlds; çatayur – a life of 100 years; jayate – is born; puman – person; añöa-siddhi-samayuktaù – with the 8 mystic powers; vartate – is; yatra – where; parakam – päraka.
A person who chants the päraka mantra becomes worshiped by the three worlds. He lives for a hundred years. He attains the eight perfections.
Text 118
parakaà yasya jihvagre
tasya santoña-vartita
paripurno bhavet kamaù
satya-saìkalpata tatha
parakam – päraka; yasya – of whom; jihvagre – on the tongue; tasya – of him; santoña-vartitahappiness; paripurëaù – full; bhavet – is; kamaù – desire; satya-saìkalpata – wishes become true; tatha – as.
A person who places the päraka mantra on the tip of his tongue becomes happy. His desires become fulfilled.
Text 119
dvi-vidha prema-bhaktis tu
çruta dåñöa tathaiva ca
akhanòa-paramanandas
tad-gato jïeya-lakñanaù
dvi-vidha – two kinds; prema-bhaktiù – loving devotion; tu – indeed; çruta – heard; dåñöa – seen; tatha – so; eva – indeed; ca – and; akhaëòa – unbroken; parama-anandaùbliss; tad-gataù – attained; jïeyalakñaëaù – 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
açru-pataà kvacin nåtyaà
kvacit premati-vihvalaù
kvacit tasya maha-murccha
mad-guno géyate kvacit
açru-patam – shedding tears; kvacit – sometimes; nåtyam – dancing; kvacit – sometimes; premati-vihvalaù – overcome with love; kvacit – sometimes; tasya – of him; maha-murccha – fainting; mad-guëaù – My virtues; géyate – 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 prapaïcatétam. adi-varahe
anyaiva kacit sa såçöir
vidhatur vyatirekiné
na yat kñetra-gunan vaktum
éçvaro ‘péçvaro yataù
atha – now; prapaïca – the material world; atétam – beyond; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; anya – another eva – indeed; kacit – certain; sa – it; såçöir – creation; vidhatur – of the creator; vyatirekiëé – distinguished; na – not; yat – what; kñetra – of the place; guëan – virtues; vaktum – to describe; éçvaraù – able; api – even; éçvaraù – Çiva; yataù – because.
Mathurä is Beyond the Material World of Five Elements
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
Mathurä was not created by Brahmä. Even Lord Çiva has not the power to properly describe Mathurä’s glories.
Text 122
skande mathura-khanòe
tan-manòalaà mathuraà hi
viñëu-cakropari sthitam
padmakaraà sada tatra
vartate çaçvataà nåpa
skande mathura-khaëòe – in the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa; tan-maëòalaà mathuram – the circle of Mathurä;hi – indeed; viñëu-cakra-upari – above Lord Viñëu’s circle; sthitam – situated; padma-akaram – in the form of a lotus; sada – always; tatra – there; vartate – is; çaçvatam – eternally; nåpa – O king.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, it is said:
O king, this circle of Mathurä is like a lotus eternally above the circle of Lord Viñnu’s realm.
Text 123
padme patala-khanòe
åñir mathura-namatra
tapaù kurvati çaçvate
tato ‘sya mathuraà nama-
bhavad aòhyaà çriya yutam
padme patala-khanòe – in the Padma Puräna, Patala-khanòa; åñir – sage; mathura-nama – named Mäthura; atra – here; tapaù kurvati – performs austerities; çaçvate – always; tataù – therefore; asya – of him; mathuram – Mathurä; nama – name; abhavad – was; aòhyam – enriched; çriya – the goddess of fortune; yutam – with.
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khaëòa, it is said:
A sage named Mäthura performed austerities there for a long time. Beautiful Mathurä is named after him.
Text 124
tatraiva nirvaëa-khaëòe
nityaà me mathuraà viddhi
vanaà våndavanaà tatha
yamunaà gopa-kanyaç ca
tatha gopala-balakan
tatra – there; eva – indeed; nirvaëa-khaëòe – in the Nirväëa-khaëòa; nityam – always; me – My; mathuram – Mathurä; viddhi – know; vanam – forest; våndavanam – Vrndavana; tatha – so; yamunam – Yamunä; gopa-kanyaù – gopis; ca – and; tatha – so; gopala-balakan – gopa boys.
In that same book, in the Nirväëa-khanòa, it is said:
Know that My Mathurä is eternal. So also is Våndävana forest. So also are the Yamunä, the gopis, and the gopa boys.
Text 125
aho na jananti nara duraçayaù
purià madéyaà paramaà sanataném
surendra-nagendra-munéndra-saàstutaà
manoramaà taà mathuraà paraà gatém
ahaù – Oh; na – not; jananti – know; narah – people; duraçayaù – wicked; purim – city; madéyam – My; paramam – supreme; sanataném – eternal; surendra – leaders of the demigods; nagendra – leaders of the nagas; munéndra – leaders of the sages; saàstutam – glorified; manoramam – enchanting; taà mathuram – this Mathurä; paraà gatém – the supreme destination.
Wicked men cannot understand My eternal, beautiful, transcendental city of Mathurä, which is the supreme destination, and which is glorified by the kings of the demigods, nägas, and sages.
Text 126
atha deva-traya-rupatvam. padme patala-khanòe
ma-kare ca u-kare ca
a-kare canta-saàsthite
mathuraù çabda-niñpanna
om-karasya tataù samaù
atha – now; deva-traya-rupatvam – the form of the three demigods; padme patala-khaëòe – in the Padma Puräëa, Patala-khaëòa; ma-kare – the syllable ma; ca – and; u-
kare – the syllable u; ca – and; a-kare – the syllable a; ca – and; anta-saàsthite – at the end; mathuraù – Mathurä; çabda-niñpanna – as sound; om-karasya – of om; tataù – to that; samaù – equal.
Mathurä Is the Form of the Three Deities
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khaëòa, it is said:
Mathurä is the same as the syllable aum. The a, u, and m in aumkara come from the same letters in the word Mathurä.
Text 127
maha-rudro ma-karaù syad
u-karo viñnu-saàjïakaù
a-karo ‘ntyas tu brahma syat
tri-çabdaà mathuraà bhavet
maha-rudraù – Çiva; ma-karaù – the letter m; syad – is; u-karaù – the letter u; viñëu-saàjïakaù – isViñëu; a-karaù – the letter a; antyaù – at the end; tu – indeed; brahma – Brahmä; syat – is; tri – three; çabdam – sounds; mathuram – Mathurä; bhavet – is.
In the syllable aum the m is Lord Çiva, the u is Lord Viñëu, and the a is Lord Brahmä. These three letters are the same as Mathurä.
Text 128
tada varaù çreñöha uktaù
satya evabhavat tataù
sa tri-devamayé murtir
mathuré tiñöhate sada
tada – then; varaù çreñöhah – the best; uktaù – said; satye – in truth; eva – indeed;
abhavat – was; tataù – then; sa – that; tri-devamayé – the three demigods; murtir – form;
mathuré – Mathurä; tiñöhate – stands; sada – always.
Of these this is the best statement. Of these this is the truth. Mathurä is eternally the form of these three demigods.
Text 129
atha çré-viñnu-bhakti-pradatvam. padme uttara-khanòe
anyeñu punya-tértheñu
muktir eva maha-phalam
muktaiù prarthya harer bhaktir
mathurayaà ca labhyate
atha – now; çré-viñnu – to Lord Viñnu; bhakti – devotion; pradatvam – giving; padme uttara-khaëòe – in the Padma Puräëa, Uttara-khaëòa; anyeñu – in other; puëya-tértheñu – holy places; muktir – liberation; eva – indeed; maha-phalam – great result; muktaiù – by the liberated; prarthya – requested; harer – of Lord Hari; bhaktir – devotion; mathurayam – in Mathurä; ca – and; labhyate – is attained.
Mathurä Gives Lord Viñëu’s Devotional Service
In the Padma Puräëa, Uttara-khanòa 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 Mathurä.
Text 130
tri-ratram api ye tatra
vasanti manuja mune
harir dadyat sukhaà teñaà
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; teñam – 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
brahmanòa-purane
trailokya-varti-térthanaà
sevanad durlabha hi ya
paranandamayé siddhir
mathura-sparça-matrataù
brahmanòa-purane – in the Brahmäëòa Puräëa; trailokya-varti – in the three worlds; térthanam – of the holy places; sevanad – by service; durlabha – rare; hi – indeed; ya – which; paranandamayé – blissful; siddhir – perfection; mathura – of Mathurä; sparça-matrataù – simply by the touch.
In the Brahmäëòa Puräna it is said:
The blissful perfection difficult to attain by serving all holy places in the three worlds is attained by simply touching Mathurä.
Text 132
skande mathura-khanòe
smaranti mathuraà ye ca
mathureçaà viçampate
sarva-tértha-phalaà teñaà
syac ca bhaktir harau para
skande mathura-khaëòe – in the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khaëòa; smaranti – meditate; mathuram – on Mathurä; ye – who; ca – and; mathureçam – Mathurä’s king;
viçampate – O king; sarva-tértha-phalam – result of all holy places;; teñam – of them; syac – is; ca – and; bhaktir – devotion; harau – to Lord Hari; para – supreme.
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathura-khanòa, it is said:
O king, they who meditate on the king of Mathurä attain transcendental devotion to Lord Hari, which is the fruit of all pilgrimages.
Text 133
atha svataù parama-phalatvam. padme patala-khanòe
aho madhu-puré dhanya
vaikuëöhac ca garéyasé
dinam ekaà nivasena
harau bhaktiù prajayate
atha – now; svataù – personally; parama-phalatvam – the greatest result; padme patala-khaëòe – in the Padma Puräëa, Patala-khaëòa; ahaù – Oh; madhu-puré – Mathurä; dhanya – opulent; vaikuëöhac – than Vaikuëöha; ca – and; garéyasé – greatesr; dinam – day; ekam – one; nivasena – by residence; harau – for Lord Hari; bhaktiù – devotion; prajayate – is born.
Mathurä Gives the Greatest Result
In the Padma Puräëa, Pätäla-khaëòa, it is said:
Opulent Mathurä is greater than Vaikuëöha. Living there for a single day creates genuine devotion to Lord Hari.
Text 134
atha sapta-puréëaà tu
sarvotkåñöaà tu mathuram
çruyataà mahima devi
vaikunöha-bhuvanottamaù
atha – now; sapta – 7; puréëam – of the cities; tu – indeed; sarva-utkåñöam – best of all; tu – indeed; mathuram – Mathurä; çruyatam – should be heard; mahima – glory; devi – O goddess; vaikuëöha – in thre spiritual world;bhuvana – abode; uttamaù – highest.
Mathurä is the best of the seven holy cities. O goddess, please hear of its glories greater than Vaikuëöha.
Text 135
adi-varahe
bhur-bhuvah-svas-tale vapi
na patala-tale ‘malam
nordhva-loke maya dåñöaà
tadåk kñetraà vasundhare
adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; 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; dåñöam – seen; tadåk – like this; kñetram – a place; vasundhare – O earth.
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
Not in Bhürloka, Bhuvarloka, Svarloka, Pätälaloka, or Urdhvaloka have I seen any place like this, O earth-goddess.
Text 136
varahe
labhanaà mathura-labho
jïananaà jïanam uttamam
priténaà parama pritir
gaténaà gatir uttama
varahe – in the Varäha Puräna; labhanam – of attainments; mathura – of Mathurä; labhaù – the attainment; jïananam – of knowledges; jïanam – knowledge;uttamam – utlimate; priténam – of loves; parama – ultimate; pritir – love; gaténam – of goals; gatir – goal; uttama – ultimate.
In the Varäha Puräëa it is said:
Attainment of Mathurä is the greatest of attainments. Knowledge of Mathurä is the greatest of knowledges. Love for Mathurä is the greatest of loves. The goal of Mathurä is the greatest of goals.
Text 137
rahasyanaà rahasyaà ca
kriyanaà ca maha-kriya
etan marana-kale tu
smartavyaà manasapi ca
yadécchet paramaà siddhià
saàsarasya ca mokñaëam
rahasyanam – of secrets; rahasyam – the secret; ca – and; kriyanam – of actions; ca – and; maha-kriya – greatest action; etat – this; maraëa-kale – at the time of death; tu – indeed; smartavyam – should be remembered; manasa – by the heart; api – and; ca – and; yadi – if; icchet – desires; paramam – supreme; siddhim – perfection; saàsarasya – of the material world; ca – and; mokñaëam – liberation.
The secret of Mathurä is the greatest secret. Actions in Mathurä 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 Mathurä at the time of his death.
Text 138
atha mathura-manòala-sémajïanam. adi-varahe
viàçatir yojananaà tu
mathuraà mama manòalam
atha – now; mathura-manòala – of the circle of Mathurä; séma – boundaries; jïanam – boundaries are unknown; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräëa; viàçatir – 20; yojananam – of yojanas; tu – indeed; mathuram – Mathurä mama – My; maëòalam – circle.
The Boundaries of the Circle of Mathurä Are Unknown
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
My circle of Mathurä is 20 yojanas (160 miles).
Text 139
tatha padme yamuna-mahatmye
ramyam apsarasaà sthanaà
yasmimç caïcalataà gataù
yayavaraù pura vipras
tapasvé vijitendriyaù
tatha – as; padme yamuna-mahatmye – in the Padma Puräna, Yamuna-mahatmya; ramyam – charming; apsarasam – of apsaras; sthanam – place; yasmin – where;
caïcalataà gataù – went; yayavaraù – Yäyävara; pura – before; vipraùvipra; tapasvé – austere; vijitendriyaù – controlling the senses.
In the Padma Puräëa, Yamunä-mähatmya, it is said:
One day an austere, sense-controlled brähmaëa named Yäyävara went to the beautiful place Apsaras-tirtha.
Text 140
cira-kalaà prataptaà tam
indra-çapagninarditam
spåñöa vari-kanenenaà
mocayitva tu patakat
vimanenarka-varnena
prapayat taà suralayam
cira-kalam – for a long time; prataptam – austerities; tam – this; indra – Indra’s; çapa – curse; agnina – by the fire; arditam – tormented; spåñöa – touched; 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 took him to the home of
the demigods.
Text 141
pujyamanadarenarghyair
vanaprasthair yatha-vidhi
mathura-manòalaà prapta
tasmad devarñi-sevita
pujyamana – worshiped; adarena – with respect; arghyair – with arghya; vanaprasthair – vy Vanaprasthas; yatha-vidhi – following the rules; mathura-
maëòalam – the circle of Mathurä; prapta – attained; tasmad – from that; devarñi – by Närada; sevita – served.
Respectfully worshiped with arghya by the vänaprasthas and served by the sages, the Yamunä river flows through Mathurä-maëòala.
Text 142
pavayitva kurun deçan
çurasenan samaviçat
vanani dvadaça sphéta-
sphétani guëa-sampada
pavayitva – purifying; kurun – Kurus; deçan – lands; çurasenan – Surasenas;
samaviçat – entered; vanani – forests; dvadaça – 12; sphéta-sphétani – great; guna-sampada – rich with good qualities.
After purifying the Kuru and Çürasena lands, it enters twelve great and glorious forests.
Text 143
kramad viçrantim asadya
viçranta keçavalaye
sudarçanopari-gata
gata-çrama-samépa-ga
kramad – gradually; viçrantim – Viçränti; asadya – attaining; viçranta keçavalaye – abode of Kåñna; sudarçana – Sudarsana; upari-gata – above; gata-çrama-samépa-ga – near Gataçrama.
Gradually it reaches Viçränti-tirtha in the abode of Lord Keçava. It goes to Sudarçana and then it flows by Viçräma-ghaöa.
Text 144
ity upakramya
açliñöa vasudevena
sat-kåtyabhyarcya tapané
samprapta punya-salila
su-punyaà dhrauvyam açramam
iti – thus; upakramya – following; açliñöa – embraced; vasudevena – by Kåñna; sat-kåtya abhyarcya – respectfully worshiped; tapané – Yamuna; samprapta – attained; puëya-salila – pure waters; su-puëyam – sacred; dhrauvyam açramam – Dhruva’s äçrama.
Lord Väsudeva respectfully worships and embraces the Yamunä, which with its pure waters flows to pure Dhruva-äçrama.
Text 145
samprapta punya-salila
su-punyaà renukaçramam
dékñito yatra ramo ‘bhut
sarva-kñatra-kñayadhvare
samprapta – attained; puëya-salila – pure water; su-puëyam – sacred; reëukaçramam – Renukasrama; dékñitaù – initiated; yatra – where; ramaù – Rama; abhut – was; sarva-kñatra-kñayadhvare – in the sacrifice to kill all the kçatriyas.
With its pure waters it flows to pure Reëukä-äçrama, where Lord Räma was initiated to perform a yaj{,sy 24a to kill all the kñatriyas.
Text 146
tataù prayata yamuna
bharatasyaçvamedhikam
iñöaà çakuntaleyena
saraìgair yatra saptabhiù
tataù – then; prayata – gone; yamuna – Yamuna; bharatasya – of Bharata; açvamedhikam – asvamedha; iñöam – done; çakuntaleyena – the son of Sakuntalä; saraìgair – saranga-yajnas; yatra – where; saptabhiù – seven.
Then the Yamunä flows by the place where Bharata performed an äçvamedha-yajïa and the place where Çakuntalä’s son performed seven säraìga-yajïas.
Text 147
atha sa saptabhir medhyaiù
somapendro ‘py amadyata
tataù pratyaìmukhi bhutva
samprapta çaukaréà purém
yasyaà dharaà samuddhartuà
utpannaç cadiçukaraù
atha – now; sah – he; saptabhir medhyaiù – with seven sacrifices; somapendraù – Indraq; api – also; amadyata – was pleased; tataù – then; pratyaìmukhi bhutva – turning west; samprapta – attained; çaukaréà puré – Saukari Puri; yasyam – in which; dharam – earth; samuddhartuà utpannaù – lifted; ca – and; adiçukaraù – Varäha.
Indra was pleased when he drank soma at those seven yajïas. Then the river turns west and flows to Çaukari Puri, where Lord Varäha lifted the earth.
Text 148
tatas taà nagarià çauré
bhutva pratyaìmukhi punaù
parikramya viniñkranta
jihma-gatyeva pannagé
tataù – then; tam – that; nagarim – city; çauré bhutva pratyaìmukhi punaù parikramya – continuing west;viniñkranta – crooked; jihma-gatya iva pannagé – like a snake.
Continuing west, the river circles that city and then continues with crooked motions as a snake.
Text 149
tataù sa çurasenebhyaù
païcalanaà vimukti-da
iñöakaçramam apede
vaçiñöhayatanaà mahat
tataù – then; sa – it; çurasenebhyaù – from the land of Surasena; païcalanam – to the people of Pancala-desa; vimukti – liberation; da – giving; iñöakaçramam – Istakasrama; apede – attained; vaçiñöhayatanam – the home of Vaçiñöa Muni; mahat – great.
Then it leaves the land of Çurasena and gives liberation to the people of Päïcala-deça, and then it flows to iñöaka-äçrama, the home of Vaçiñöa Muni.
Text 150
etena yaya-varam adhikåtya çaukaré-vaöeçvara-paryantaà mathura-manòalaà jïeyam. evam eva sarvasu dikñv api je jneyam. viàçati-yojanatmake bahu-térthavat tvaya viçeñaù.
etena – thus; yaya-varam – Yayavara; adhikåtya – in relation; çaukaré-vaöeçvara-paryantam – from Saukari to Vatesvara; jïeyam – is known; evam – thus; eva – indeed; sarvasu dikñu – in all directions; api – also; je jneyam – known; viàçati-yojanatmake – 20 yojanas; bahu-térthavat – like a great holy place; tvaya – by you; viçeña – specific.
In this way the circle of Mathurä goes from Yäyävara-äçrama to Çaukari Puri to Vaçiñöha-äçrama. Turning to all directions, it makes a circle 20 yojanas (160 miles) in circumference. There are many holy places within that circle.
Text 151
mathura-khanòe
mathura-manòalaà tad dhi
yojananaà tu dvadaçe
yatra tértha-sahasrani
kåñna-rama-kåtani ca
mathura-khanòe – in Mathurä-khanòa; mathura-maëòalam – the circle of Mathurä; tad – that; hi – indeed; yojananam – of yojanas; tu – indeed; dvadaçe – 12; yatra – where; tértha – holy places; sahasraëi – thousands; kåñëa-rama-kåtani – done by Kåñëa and Balaräma; ca – and.
In the Mathurä-khaëòa it is said:
The circle of Mathurä is 12 yojanas (96 miles) in circumference. Within it are thousands of holy places where Lord Kåñna and Lord Räma enjoyed pastimes.
Text 152
tatha hi vaiçiñöhyam
gavyutir dvadaçamayé
dvadaçaranya-samyuta
tatrapi mathura devi
sarva-siddhi-vidhayiné
tatha hi – furthermore; vaiçiñöhyam – specific; gavyutir – krosas; dvadaçamayé – 12; dvadaça – 12; araëya – forests; samyuta – endowed; tatra – there; api – also; mathura – Mathurä; devi – O goddess; sarva-siddhi-vidhayiné – granting all perfections.
A Specific Description (in the Mathurä-khaëòa)
Its measurement is 12 kroças (24 miles). It has twelve forests. O goddess, within it is Mathurä, which grants all perfections.
Text 153
tatrapi padmakåter vaiçiñöyam
idaà padmaà maha-bhage
sarveñaà mukti-dayakam
karnikayaà sthito devi
keçavaù kleça-naçanaù
tatra – there; api – also; padma – of a lotus; akåter – form; vaiçiñöyam – specific; idam – this; padmam – lotus; maha-bhage – O fortunate one; sarveñam – to all; mukti – liberation; dayakam – giving; karnikayam – whorl; sthitaù – standing; devi – O goddess; keçavaù – Kåñëa; kleça – sufferings; naçanaù – destroying.
In the Same Scripture a Description of Mathurä 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 Keçava, the destroyer of troubles, stays.
Text 154
karnikayaà måta ye tu
te nara mukti-bhaginaù
madhya-patra måta ye ca
teñaà muktir vasundhare
karëikayam – in the whorl; måtaù – after death; ye – who; tu – indeed; te – they; naraù mukti-bhaginaù – liberated souls; madhya-patra – in the middle leaf; måtaù – after death; ye – who; ca – and; teñam – 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
paçcime tu harià devaà
govardhana-nivasinam
dåñöva taà deva-deveçaà
kià manaù paritapyase
paçcime – in the west; tu – indeed; harià devam – the Deity of Lord Hari;
govardhana-nivasinam – residing on Govardhana Hill; dåñöva – having seen; taà deva-deveçam – the master of the demigods; kim – what?; manaù – heart; paritapyase – suffers.
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 govindaà
dåñöva devaà paraà çubham
nasau patati saàsare
yavad ahuta-samplavam
uttarena – in the north; tu – indeed; govindam – Lord Govinda; dåñöva – having seen; devam – Deity; param – transcendental; çubham – handsome; na – not; asau – he; patati – falls; saàsare – 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
viçranti-samjïakaà térthaà
purva-patre vyavasthitam
yaà dåñöva tu naro yati
muktià nasty atra saàçayaù
viçranti – Viçränti; samjïakam – named; tértham – holy place; purva – eastern; patre – on the petal; vyavasthitam – situated; yam – whom; dåñöva – having seen; tu – indeed; naraù – a person; yati – attains; muktim – liberation; na – not; asti – is; atra – here; saàçayaù – doubt.
A person who sees Viçränti-tirtha on the eastern petals of this lotus attains liberation. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 158
dakñinenottamaà viddhi
pratimaà divya-rupiném
maha-kayaà su-rupaà ca
keçavakara-sannibham
yaà dåñöva manujo devi
brahmaloke mahéyate
dakñinena – in the south; uttamam – supreme; viddhi – know; pratimam – Deity; divya-rupiném – splendid; maha-kayam – large; su-rupam – handsome; ca – and; keçava-akara-sannibham – Keçava; yam – whim; dåñöva – having seen; manujaù – a person; devi – O goddess; brahmaloke – on Brahmaloka; mahéyate – glorified.
Know that in the south is a large, splendidly handsome Deity of Lord Keçava. O goddess, a person who sees this Deity becomes glorious in the spiritual world.
Text 159
athatra kala-viçeñe nivasa-phalam. adi-varahe tatra jyaiñöhe
jyaiñöhasya çukla-dvadaçyaà
snatva tu niyatendriyaù
mathurayaà harià dåñöva
prapnoti paramaà gatim
atha – now; atra – here; kala – time; viçeñe – specific; nivasa – of residence; phalam – result; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; tatra – there; jyaiñöhe – in the month of Jyaistha; jyaiñöhasya – of Jyaistha; çukla-dvadaçyam – on the çukla-dvädaçi; snatva – having bathed; tu – indeed; niyata – controlling; indriyaù – the senses; mathurayam – in Mathurä; harim – the Deity of Lord Hari; dåñöva – having seen; prapnoti – attains; paramaà gatim – the supreme destination.
The Result of Residing at Mathurä During Certain Specific Times
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa the month of Jyaiñöha (May-June) is described:
A person who is sense-controlled and who bathes in Mathurä during the çukla-dvädaçi in the month of Jyaiñöha attains the supreme destination.
Text 160
caturmasye. adi-varahe påthivyaà yani térthani
a-samudra-saraàsi ca
mathurayaà gamiñyanti
supte caiva janardane
caturmasye – during Caturmasya; adi-varahe – in the Ädi-varäha Puräna; påthivyam – on the earth; yani – which; térthani – holy places; a-samudra-saraàsi – to the oceans and lakes; ca – and; mathurayam – in Mathurä; gamiñyanti – will go; supte – asleep; ca – and; eva – certainly; janardane – Kåñëa.
Residing in Mathurä During Caturmasya
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
When Lord Janärdana will go to sleep all holy places, lakes, and seas on the earth will go to Mathurä.
Note: Lord Kåñëa sleeps during the four months of Cäturmäsya.
Text 161
caturo varñikan masan
madhu-purya vasemahi
sarvani tatra térthani
vividhani vasanti ca
caturaù – four; varñikan – of the monsoon season; masan – months; madhu-purya – of Mathurä; vasemahi – let us reside; sarvani – all; tatra – there; térthani – holy places; vividhani – various; vasanti – reside; ca – and.
Let us reside in Mathurä-puri during the four months of the monsoon season, when all holy places also reside there.
Text 162
tatraiva janmañöamyam
janmañöami-dine prapte
tatra yo maà prapaçyati
janma-koöi-kåtaà papaà
tat-kñanad eva naçyati
tatra – there; eva – indeed; janmañöamyam – on janmastami; janmañöami-dine – when Janmastami day; prapte – has arrived; tatra – there; yaù – who; mam – Me; prapaçyati – sees; janma-koöi-kåtam – done in millions of births; papam – sin; tat-kñanad – in that moment; eva – certainly; naçyati – perish.
Residing in Mathurä During Janmäñöami
In the same scripture Lord Kåñna says:
For a person who sees Me there (in Mathurä) during Janmäñöami, the sins of millions of births perish in a single moment.
Text 163
bhadre masi mamañöabhyaà
yaù karoti mamarcanam
sarvaà papaà parityajya
mama sthanaà sa gacchati
bhadre masi – in the month of Bhadra; mama – My; añöabhyam – on janmastami; yaù – 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 Janmäñöami in the month of Bhädra becomes free from all sins and goes to My abode.
Texts 164 and 165
sarvaà taptaà tapas tena
sarvaà danaà ca taiù kåtam
yaiù kåtaà mathuraà gatva
bhadreñöamyaà vasundhare
snatva viçranti-tértheñu
pujanaà me ‘valokanam
sarvam – all; taptam – austerities; tapaù – performed; tena – by him; sarvam – all;
danam – charity; ca – and; taiù – by them; kåtam – done; yaiù – by whom; kåtam – done; mathuram – to Mathurä; gatva – having gone; bhadreñöamyam – on auspicious Janmastami; vasundhare – O earth; snatva – having bathed; viçranti-tértheñu – at Viçränti-tirtha; pujanam – worship; me – of Me; avalokanam – sight.
All austerities are automatically performed and all charity automatically given by they who, going to Mathurä during Janmastami in the month of Bhadra, bathe in Viçränti-tirtha, worship me, and see My Deity-form, O earth-goddess.
Text 166
viçeñataù karttike. padme karttika-mahatmye narada-vakyam
yatra kutrapi deçe ca
karttike snana-danataù
agni-hotra-samaà punyaà
pujayaà tu viçeñataù
viçeñataù – specifically; karttike – in karttika; padme karttika-mahatmye – in the Padma Puräna, Kärttika-mahatmya; narada – of Narada; vakyam – words; yatra – where; kutrapi – in a certain; deçe – country; ca – and; karttike – during Kärttika; snana – from bathing; danataù – and giving charity; agni-hotra – to an agnihotra sacrifice; samam – equal; puëyam – pious merit; pujayam – in worship; tu – indeed; viçeñataù – specifically.
Residing in Mathurä During the Month of Kärttika
In the Kärttika-mähätmya, Närada says:
By bathing in sacred places and giving charity during the month of Kärttika, a person in any country attains piety equal to an agnihotra-yajïa.
Text 167
kurukñetre koöi-guno
gaìgayam api tat-samaù
tato ‘dhikaù puñkare syad
dvarakayaà tu bhargava
kurukñetre – in Kurukñetra; koöi-gunaù – millions of times; gaìgayam – in the Ganges; api – also; tat-samaù – equal to that; tataù – than that; adhikaù – greater; puñkare – in Puñkara; syad – is; dvarakayam – in Dvärakä; tu – indeed; bhargava – O Bhärgava.
When these activities are performed at Kurukñetra or on the banks of the Ganges, the benefit is multiplied by millions of times. The benefit is even greater at Puñkara or Dvaraka, O Bhärgava.
Text 168
kåñna-salokya-do masaù
puja-snanaiç ca karttikaù
anyaù puryas tat-samana
bhavanti mathuraà vina
kåñna-salokya-daù – giving residence on the same planet as Kåñëa; masaù – month; puja – with worship; snanaiù – bathing; ca – and; karttikaù – Kärttika; anyaù – another; puryaù – of the city; tat-samana – equal; bhavanti – are; mathuram – Mathurä; vina – without.
In Mathurä bathing and worship during the month of Kärttika place one on the same planet as Lord Kåñëa. No other holy place is equal to Mathurä.
Text 169
damodaratvaà hi hares
tatraivasit yataù kila
mathurayaà tatas turjo
vaikunöha-préti-vardhanaù
karttiko mathurayaà vai
paramavadhir iñyate
damodaratvam – the state of being Dämodara; hi – indeed; hareùof Lord Hari; tatra – there; eva – indeed; asét – was; yataù – because; kila – indeed; mathurayam – in Mathurä; tataù – then; tu – indeed; urjaù – Kärttika; vaikuëöha – Lord Vaikuëöha; préti – pleasure; vardhanaù – increasing; karttikaù – Kärttika; mathurayam – in Mathurä; vai – indeed; parama-avadhir – the supreme destination; iñyate – is accepted.
The month of Kärttika, when Lord Hari enjoyed His Dämodara-pastime in Mathurä, delights Lord Vaikuëöha. The month of Kärttika spent in Mathurä brings the supreme destination.
Text 170
yatha maghe prayagaù syad
vaiçakhe jahnavé tatha
karttike mathura sevya
tatrotkarñaù paro na hi
yatha – as; maghe – in Magha; prayagaù – Prayäga; syad – is; vaiçakhe – in vaisakha; jahnavé – the Ganges; tatha – so; karttike – in karttika; mathura – Mathurä; sevya – to be served; tatra – there; utkarñaù – excellence; paraù – better; na – not; hi – indeed.
As Prayäga should be served in the month of Mägha, and the Ganges in the month of Vaiçäkhä, so Mathurä should be served in the month of Kärttika. Nothing is better than that service.
Text 171
mathurayaà narair urje
snatva damodaro ‘rcitaù
kåñna-rupa hi te jïeya
natra karya vicarana
mathurayam – in Mathurä; narair – by people; urje – in Kärttika; snatva – having
bathed; damodaraù – Lord Dämodara; arcitaù – worshiped; kåñëa-rupah – the form of Kåñëa; hi – indeed; te – they; jïeyah – should be known; na – not; atra – here; karya – to be done; vicaraëa – doubt.
They who, after properly bathing, worship Lord Dämodara in Mathurä during Kärttika, attain forms like that of Lord Kåñëa. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 172
durlabhaù karttiko vipra
mathurayaà nånam iha
yatrarcitaù svakaà rupaà
bhaktebhyaù samprayacchati
durlabhaù – rare; karttikaù – Kärttika; viprah – O brähmanas; mathurayam – in Mathurä; nåëam – of people; iha – here; yatra – where; arcitaù – worshiped; svakam – own; rupam – form; bhaktebhyaù – to the devotees; samprayacchati – gives.
O brähmaëas, residence in Mathurä during Kärttika is a rare attainment for humans. To they who worship Him there and then the Lord gives their original spiritual forms.
Text 173
bhuktià muktià harir dadyad
arcito ‘nyatra sevinam
bhaktim tu na dadaty eva
yato vaçya-karé hareù
bhuktim – sense gratification; muktià-liberation; harir – Kåñna; dadyad – gives; arcitaù – worshiped; anyatra – in another place; sevinam – of the servants; bhaktim – devotional service; tu – indeed; na – not; dadati – gives; eva – indeed; yataù – because; vaçya-karé – brought under the dominion; hareù – of Kåñëa.
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 tv aïjasa harer bhaktir
labhyate karttike naraiù
mathurayaà sakåd api
çré-damodara-sevanat
sa – this; tu – indeed; aïjasa – easily; harer – to Kåñna; bhaktir – devotion; labhyate – is attained; karttike – in karttika; naraiù – by people; mathurayam – in Mathurä; sakåd – once; api – even; çré-damodara-sevanat – from serving Lord Dämodara.
By once serving Lord Dämodara in Mathurä during Kärttika, the people can easily attain pure devotional service to Lord Hari.
Text 175
mantra-dravya-vihinaà ca
vidhi-hénaà ca pujanam
manyate karttike devo
mathurayaà mad-arcanam
mantra – mantras; dravya – offerings; vihinam – without; ca – and; vidhi – proper rules; hénam – without; ca – and; pujanam – worship; manyate – is considered; karttike – during Kärttika; devaù – the Lord; mathurayam – in Mathurä; mad-arcanam – worship of Me.
They who, even without proper mantras and offerings, and without properly following the rules, worship Him in Mathurä during Kärttika, the Lord considers His true devotees.
Text 176
yasya papasya yujyeta
marananta hi niñkåtiù
tac-chuddhy-artham idaà proktaà
prayaçcittaà su-niçcitam
karttike mathurayaà vai
çré-damodara-pujanam
yasya – of whom; papasya – sin; yujyeta – engaged; maranantah – to the time of death; hi – indeed; niñkåtiù – atonement; tac-chuddhy-artham – to purify; idam – this; proktam – is said; prayaçcittam – atonement; su-niçcitam – carefully considered; karttike – in Kärttika; mathurayam – in Mathurä; vai – indeed; çré-damodara-pujanam – worship of Lord Dämodara.
The perfect atonement to purify the sins of a lifetime is: worship Lord Dämodara in Mathurä during Kärttika.
Text 177
sulabha mathura loke
pratyabdaà karttikas tatha
tathapi saàsarantéha
nara muòha bhavambudhau
sulabha – easy to attain; mathura – Mathurä; loke – in this world; pratyabdam – every year; karttikaù – Kärttika; tatha – so; tathapi – still; saàsaranti – go; iha – here; narah – peple; muòhah – bewildered; bhava – of repeated birth and death; ambudhau – in the ocean.
Although Mathurä is easy to visit in this world, and although Kärttika comes every year, the fools still swim in the ocean of repeated birth and death.
Text 178
kià yajïaiù kià tapobhir va
térthair anyaiç ca sevitaiù
karttike mathurayaà ced
arcyate radhika-priyaù
kim – what is the use?; yajïaiù – of sacrifices; kim – what is the use?; tapobhir – of
austerities; va – or; térthair – holy places; anyaiù – of other; ca – and; sevitaiù – served; karttike – in Kärttika; mathurayam – in Mathurä; ced – if; arcyate – is worshiped; radhika – Rädhä’s; priyaù – beloved.
What is the use of yajïas? What is the use of austerities? What is the use of serving other holy places if Çrimati Rädhikä’s beloved is worshiped in Mathurä during Kärttika?
Text 179
yani sarvani térthani
nada nadyaù saraàsi ca
karttike nivasanty atra
mathure sarva-manòale
yani – which; sarvani – all; térthani – holy place; nadah – streams; nadyaù – rivers; saraàsi – lakes;ca – and; karttike – in Kärttika; nivasanti – reside; atra – here; mathure sarva-maëòale – in the circle4 of Mathurä.
All holy places and all holy rivers, streams, and lakes reside in the circle of Mathurä during Kärttika.
Text 180
paropahasam uddiçya
karttike hari-sevaya
mathurayaà labhed bhaktià
kià punaù çraddhaya naraù
para-upahasam uddiçya – as a joke; karttike – in Kärttika; hari-sevaya – with service to Lord Hari; mathurayam – in Mathurä; labhed – attain; bhaktim – devotion; kim – what?; punaù – again; çraddhaya – with faith; naraù – a person.
They who as a joke serve Lord Hari during Kärttika in Mathurä will attain pure devotional service, what to speak of they who serve the Lord with faith and devotion.
Text 181
tatraiva dhumrakeçaà prati yama-vakyam
tasman nåpatmaja çreyaù
paraà kiïcin na – not; vidyate
karttike mathurayaà ca
çré-damodara-pujanat
tatra – there; eva – indeed; dhumrakeçaà prati – to Dhumrakeça; yama-vakyam – words of Yama; tasmat – from this; nåpatmaja – O prince; çreyaù param – better; kiïcit – something; na – not; vidyate – is; karttike – in Kärttika; mathurayam – in Mathurä;
ca – and; çré-damodara – of Lord Dämodara; pujanat – than worship.
In the same scripture Yamaräja says to Dhumrakeça:
Therefore, O prince, nothing is better than to serve Lord Dämodara in Mathurä during Kärttika.
Text 182
na catra saàçayaù karyaù
éçitåtvaà idaà hareù
raja hi kasyacid dhåtva
sarvasvaà cet prayacchati
parasmai kasya kas tatra
niyanta syat prabhor yatha
na – not; ca – and; atra – here; saàçayaù – doubt; karyaù – to be done; éçitåtvam – power; idam – this; hareù – of Kåñna; raja – king; hi – indeed; kasyacid – of someone; dhåtva – holding; sarvasvam – everything; cet – if; prayacchati – gives; parasmai – to another; kasya – of whom?; kaù – 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
ayaà sarveçvaraù çréman
anyatha kartum éçvaraù
aty-alpaà bhuri kurute
bahu tucchaà ca manyate
ayam – He; sarveçvaraù – the Lord of all; çréman – master of opulences; anyatha – otherwise; kartum – to do; éçvaraù – 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
tatrapi prabodhinyam ati-viçeñah. padme karttika-mahatmye.
tavad garjanti térthani
vajimedhadayo makhaù
mathurayaà priya viñnor
yavan nayati bodhiné
tatra – there; api – also; prabodhinyam – on Prabodhini; ati-viçeñah – specificaly; padme karttika-mahatmye – in the Padma Puräëa, Kärttika-mahatmya; tavad – then; garjanti – thunders; térthani – holy places; vajimedhadayaù – beginning with açvamedha sacrifices; makhaù – sacrifices; mathurayam – in Mathurä; priya – dear; viñëor – of Kåñëa; yavan – when; nayati – leads; bodhiné – awakening.
Residence in Mathurä During Prabodhini tithi
In the Padma Puräëa, Kärttika-mähätmya, it is said:
When Lord Viñnu does not wake from His happy sleep on Prabodhini tithi, then all the holy places roar with açvamedha-yajïas.
Note: Prabodhini tithi is the first ekädaçi in the month of Kärttika. On that day the Lord awakens from His four-month-long nap.
Text 185
saàsara-dava-taptanaà
kama-saukhya-pipasinam
çré-kåñna-pada-padmasya
sannidhyaà çétalaà gåham
saàsara – of birth and death; dava – by the forest fire; taptanam – burned; kama – of lust; saukhya – the pleasures; pipasinam – thirsty; çré-kåñna – of Lord Kåñna; pada-padmasya – of the lotus feet; sannidhyam – nearness; çétalam – cool; gåham – home.
Çri Kåñëa’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
mathurayaà tu kià vacyaà
jagare hari-sannidhau
karttike bodhinéà prapya
tataù çreyaù paraà hi na
mathurayam – in Mathurä; tu – indeed; kim – what?; vacyam – can be said; jagare – in the awakening; hari-sannidhau – near Lord Hari; karttike – in Kärttika; bodhiném – Prabodhini; prapya – attaining; tataù – than that; çreyaù param – better; hi – indeed; na – not.
What can be said about approaching the Deity of Lord Hari when He awakens in Mathurä? No day is better than the Prabodhini day in the month of Kärttika.
Text 187
rajyam anyatra santyajya
sphétaà nihata-kanöakam
karttike mathurayaà vai
kaimutyaà jagaraà caret
rajyam – kingdom; anyatra – in another place; santyajya – abandoning; sphétam – great; nihata-kaëöakam – without disturbance; karttike – in Kärttika; mathurayam – in Mathurä; vai – indeed; kaimutyam – what is better?; jagaram – awake; caret – may do.
One should leave any other great and peaceful kingdom, and in Mathurä stay awake through the night during Prabodhini in the month of Kärttika. What place is better than Mathurä for this?
Text 188
atha dvadaçyam. viñnu-purane
urjasya çukla-dvadaçyaà
snatva vai yamuna-jale
mathurayaà harià dåñöva
prapnoti paramaà gatim
atha – now; dvadaçyam – during dvädaçi; viñnu-purane – in the Viñnu Puräna; urjasya – of karttika; çukla-dvadaçyam – on çukla-dvädaçi; snatva – having bathed;
vai – indeed; yamuna-jale – in the water of the Yamunä; mathurayam – in Mathurä; harim – Lord Hari; dåñöva – havingseen; prapnoti – attains; paramam – supreme; gatim – destination.
Residing in Mathurä During Dvädaçi
In the Viñnu Puräna it is said:
A person who during the Çukla-dvädaçi in the month of Kärttika bathes in the Yamunä and sees the Deity of Lord Hari in Mathurä attains the supreme destination.
Text 189
atha bhéñma-païcake. padme bhéñmaà prati çré-kåñna-vacanam
tvaya kåte vrate paçcat
khyasyate bhéñma-païcakam
ye tatra janma-bhumau me
kariñyanti maha-vratam
mathurayaà tu gaìgeya
teñaà bhaktiù kare sthita
atha – now; bhéñma-païcake – in Bhisma-pancaka; padme – in the Padma Puräna; bhéñmaà prati – to Bhisma; çré-kåñna-vacanam – Kåñna’s words; tvaya – by you; kåte – done; vrate – vow; paçcat – after; khyasyate – will be known; bhéñma-païcakam – as Bhisma-pancaka;ye – who; tatra – there; janma-bhumau – in the birthplace; me – My; kariñyanti – will do; maha-vratam – great vow; mathurayam – inMathurä; tu – indeed; gaìgeya – O Bhisma; teñam – of them; bhaktiù – devotion; kare – in the hand; sthita – standing.
Residing in Mathurä During Bhiñma-païcaka
In the Padma Puräna, Çri Kåñna says to Bhiñma:
O Gaìgeya, this vow you have followed will henceforth be known as Bhiñma-païcaka. They who follow this great vow in My birthplace, Mathurä, find pure devotional service resting in their hand.
Text 190
sarvabhaumas tv indra-padaà
brahmalokas tathakñayam
yoga-siddhià ca muktià ca
préto yacchami sarvaçaù
sarvabhaumaùroyal power; tu – indeed; indra-padam – the post of Indra; brahmalokaù – Brahmaloka; tatha – so; akñayam – immortal; yoga-siddhim – mystic power; ca – and; muktim – liberation; ca – and; prétaù – pleased; yacchami – I give; sarvaçaù – 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 vaçya-vidhayakaù
karttike mathurayaà ca
vratenanena labhyate
durlabhaù – difficult to attain; bhakti-yogaù – bhakti-yoga; me – of Me; mama – My; vaçya-vidhayakaù – brings under the dominion; karttike – in karttika; mathurayam – in Mathurä; ca – and; vratena – vow; anena – by this; labhyate – is attained.
Pure devotional service to Me which, because it places Me under My devotee’s dominion, is very difficult to attain, is easily attained by following this vow in Mathurä during Kärttika.
Text 192
puranantare ca
sarvabhiñöa-pradaà proktaà
mathure bhéñma-païcakam
purana-antare – in another Puräëa; ca – and; sarva – all; abhiñöa – desires; pradam – granting; proktam – said; mathure – in Mathurä; bhéñma-païcakam – Bhisma-pancaka.
In another place in the Puräëas it is said:
Following the vow of Bhiñma-païcaka in Mathurä is said to fulfill all desires.
Text 193
yatha bhaviñye
bhéñma-païca-dine prapte
mathura-manòale hareù
nidra-ccheda-kare punye
paduke cavalokayet
yatha – as; bhaviñye – in the Bhaviñya Puräna; bhéñma-païca-dine prapte – on the day of Bhisma-pancaka; mathura-maëòale – in Mathurä; hareù – of Kåñëa; nidra-
ccheda-kare – awakening from sleep; puëye – sacred; paduke – sandals; ca – and; avalokayet – may see.
In the Bhaviñya Puräëa it is said:
A person who observes Bhiñma-païcaka and Prabodhini tithi in Mathurä will see Lord Hari’s splendid sandals.
Texts 400-446
Text 440
ye paöhanti maha-bhage
çånvanti ca samahitaù
mathurayaç ca mahatmyaà
te yanti paramaà gatim
ye – who; paöhanti – who read; maha-bhage – O auspicious one; çåëvanti – hear; ca – and; samahitaù – assembled; mathurayaù – of Mathurä; ca – and; mahatmyam – glorification;- te – they; yanti – attain; paramaà gatim – the supreme destination.
O fortunate one, they who read or hear of the glories of Mathurä go to the supreme destination.
Text 441
te kulani tarayanti
dve çate pakñayor dvayoù
mahatmya-çravanad eva
natra karya vicarana
te – they; kulani – relatives; tarayanti – liberate; dve çate – two hundred; pakñayor
dvayoù – on both sides; mahatmya – of the glories; çravanad – by hearing; eva – indeed; na – not; atra – here; karya – to be done; vicarana – doubt.
By hearing the glories of Mathurä, the listeners liberate two hundred relatives on both sides of their families. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 442 and 443
mathura-maha-térthani
viçrantir asi-kunòaà ca
vaikunöho dhruva eva ca
kåñna-gaìga cakra-térthaà
sarasvatyaç ca saìgamaù
catuù-samudrikaù kupo
gokarëakhya-çivas tatha
govardhano nanda-gåhaà
vatsa-kréòanakas tatha
vanani dvadaça tatha
maha-térthani mathure
mathura – of Mathurä; maha – the great; térthani – holy places; viçrantir – Viçränti-tirtha; asi-kuëòam – Asi-kunòa; ca – and; vaikunöhaù – Vaikunöha-tirtha; dhruva – Dhruva-tirtha; eva – certainly; ca – and; kåñna-gaìga – the Kåñëa-gaìgä; cakra-tértham – Cakra-tirtha; sarasvatyaù – the Sarasvati; ca – and; saìgamaù – saìgama; catuù-samudrikaù kupaù – Catuh-samudrika-kupa; gokarëakhya-çivaù – Gokarnaküpa; tatha – then; govardhanaù – Govardhana; nanda-gåham – Nanda’s home; vatsakréòanakaù – Vatsakridanaka; tatha – then; vanani – forests; dvadaça – twelve; tatha – then; maha-térthani – great holy places; mathure – in Mathurä.
The Great Holy Places of Mathurä
Viçränti-tirtha, Asi-kunòa, Vaikunöha-tirtha, Dhruva-tirtha, Kåñna-gaìga, Cakra-tirtha, Sarasvati-saìgama, Catuù-sämudrika-küpa, Gokarna-çiva, Govardhana Hill, Nanda’s home, Vatsa-kriòana-tirtha, and the twelve forests, are the great holy
places in Mathurä.
Text 444
atha mathure deva-varaù
narayananya-paryayaù
keçavo madhya-saàsthitaù
svayambhuù padmanabhaç ca
dérgha-viñnur gataçramaù
govindo hari-varahav
iti mathura-devataù
atha – now; mathure – in Mathurä; deva-varaù – the great Deities; narayananya-paryayaù – beginning with Lord Näräyaëa; keçavaù – Keçava; madhya-saàsthitaù – in the middle; svayambhuù – Svayambhü; padmanabhaù – Padmanäbha; ca – and; dérgha-viñëur – Dirgha-Viñëu; gataçramaù – Lord Gataçrama; govindaù – Govinda; hari+hari; varahau – and Varäha; iti – thus; mathura – in Mathurä; devataù – the Deities.
The Deities of Mathurä
Näräyaëa, Keçava, Svayambhü, Padmanäbha, Dirgha-Viñnu, Gataçrama, Govinda, Hari, and Varäha, are the Deities of Mathurä.
Text 445
mathurayas tu mahatmyaà
sa-vanaya mahadbhutam
gopalottara-tapanyam
anyad apy asti kértanam
mathurayaù – of Mathurä; tu – indeed; mahatmyam – glorification;- sa-vanayah – with its forests; maha-adbhutam – great wonder; gopala-uttara-tapanyam – in Gopäla-täpani Upaniñad, Chapter Two; anyad – another; api – also; asti – is; kértanam – glorification.
This is the wonderful glorification of Mathurä and its forests. Further glorification is in the Gopäla-täpani Upaniñad, Chapter Two.
Text 446
térthany uktani bhuréni
puraneñv atra mathure
khyatany evadhuna teñaà
likhitanéha kanicit
térthani – holy places; uktani – described; bhuréni – many; puraneñu – in the Puräëa; atra – here; mathure – in Mathurä; khyatani – famous; eva – indeed; adhuna – now; teñam – of them; likhitani – have been written; iha – here; kanicit – some.
Many holy places in Mathurä are described in the Puräëas. Some of the more famous of them have been written here.
Garga Samhita
tri-bali-präntato väyur
manda-gämy ati-çétalaù
jätru-deçäc chubhä jätä
mathurä dvärakä-purétri-bali-präntataù—from the three folds of skin; väyuù—the breeze; manda-gämy—gentle; ati-çétalaù—cooling; jätru-deçät—from the collar; çubhä—beautiful; jätä—born; mathurä—Mathurä; dvärakä-puré—Dvärakä City;
From the three folds of skin at the Lord’s waist was manifested a gentle and cooling breeze. From His collar were manifested the cities of Mathurä and Dvärakä.
Canto Five Chapter Twenty-five
Çré Mathurä-mähätmya
The Glories of Çré Mathurä
Text 1
çré-bahuläçva uväca
akasmäd ägate räme
tatra tértham idaà çrutam
aho madhu-puré dhanyä
yatra sannihitaç ca saùçré-bahuläçva uväca—Çré Bahuläçva said; akasmät—suddenly; ägate—arrived; räme—Lord Balaräma; tatra—there; tértham—holy place; idam—this; çrutam—heard; ahaù—Oh; madhu-puré—Mathurä; dhanyä—glorious; yatra—where; sannihitaù—staying; ca—and; saù—He.
Çré Bahuläçva said: I have heard that Lord Balaräma quickly returned to glorious Mathurä City, where He stays eternally.
Text 2
mathuräyäs tu ko devaù
kaù kñattä kaç ca rakñati
kaç cäraù ko mantri-varaù
kair bhümis tatra sevitämathuräyäù—of Mathurä; tu—indeed; kaù—who?; devaù—the Deity; ka—who?; kñatta—the gatekeeper; kaù—who?; ca—and; rakñati—protects; kaù—who?; cäraù—the spy; kaù—who?; mantri-varaù—the counselor; kaiù—by whom?; bhümiù—the ground; tatra—there; sevitä—is served.
Who is the Deity of Mathurä? Who is Mathurä’s gatekeeper? Who protects Mathurä? Who brings news to Mathurä? Who is the counselor in Mathurä? Who worships the ground of Mathurä?
Text 3
çré-närada uväca
paripürëatamaù säkñäc
chré-kåñëo bhagavän hariù
svayaà hi mathurä-näthaù
keçavaù kleça-näsanaù
çré-närada uväca—Çré Närada said; paripürëatamaù—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; säkñäc—directly; chré-kåñëaù—Çré Kåñëa; bhagavän—the Lord; hariù—Hari; svayam—personally; hi—indeed; mathurä-näthaù—the Lord of Mathurä; keçavaù—Kåñëa; kleça-näsanaù—the destroyer of sufferings.Çré Närada said: Çré Kåñëa, the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, who destroys all sufferings, is the Deity of Mathurä.
Text 4
säkñäd bhagavatä präptaù
kapiläya dvijäya ca
kapilaù pradadau yaà vai
prasannaù çata-manyave
säkñät—directly; bhagavatä—by ther Supreme Personality of Godhead; präptaù—attained; kapiläya—to Kapila; dvijäya—the brähmaëa; ca—and; kapilaù—Kapila; pradadau—gave; yam—the Deity; vai—indeed; prasannaù—happy; çata-manyave—to Çatamanyu.
The Lord Himself gave this Deity to the brähmaëa Kapila, and kind Kapila gave the Deity to Çatamanyu.
Text 5
jitvä devän räkñasendro
rävaëo loka-rävaëaù
yaà stutvä puñpake sthäpya
laìkäyäà tam apüjayat
jitvä—conquering; devän—the demigods; räkñasendraù—the king of the demons; rävaëaù—Rävaëa; loka-rävaëaù—who made the entire world cry; yam—Whom; stutvä—offering prayers; puñpake—on a flower chariot; sthäpya—placing; laìkäyäm—in Lankä; tam—Him; apüjayat—worshiped.
After he had conquered the demiogds, the demon-king Rävaëa, who made the world cry, offered prayers to this Deity, placed Him on a flower-airplane, and worshiped Him in Laìkä.
Text 6
jitvä laìkäà räghavendras
tam änéya prayatnataù
ayodhyäyäà ca värähaà
arcayäm äsa maithila
jitvä—conquering; laìkäm—Laìkä; räghavendraù—Lord Rämacandra; tam—Him; änéya—taking; prayatnataù—carefully; ayodhyäyäm—in Ayodhyä; ca—and; väräham—in Varäha-kalpa; arcayäm äsa—worshiped; maithila—O king of Mithilä.
O king of Mithilä, when He conquered Laìkä, Lord Rämacandra carefully took this Deity of Lord Varäha and worshiped Him in Ayodhyä.
Text 7
stutvä rämaà ca çatrughno
yam änéya prayatnataù
mathuräyäà mahä-puryäà
sthäpayitvä nanäma ha
stutvä—offering prayers; rämam—to Lord Rämacandra; ca—and; çatrughnaù—Çatrughna; yam—whom; änéya—taking; prayatnataù—carefully; mathuräyäm—to Mathurä; mahä-puryäm—the great city; sthäpayitvä—establishing; nanäma—bowed down; ha—indeed.
After offering prayers to Lord Rämacandra, Çatrughna carefully took this Deity, placed Him in the great city of Mathurä, and bowed down to offer His respects.
Text 8
sevito mäthuraiù sarvaiù
sarveñäà ca vara-pradaù
säkñät kapila-värähaù
so ‘yaà mantri-varaù småtaù
sevitaù—served; mäthuraiù—by the people of Mathurä; sarvaiù—all; sarveñäm—to all; ca—and; vara-pradaù—granting benedictions; säkñät—directly; kapila-värähaùKapila-Varäha; saù—he; ayam—he; mantri-varaù—the best counselor; småtaù—is considered.
All the people of Mathurä worship this Deity. This Deity gives blessings to all. Kapila-Varäha is the counselor of Mathurä.
Text 9
kñattä çré-mathuräyäç ca
nämnä bhüteçvaraù çivaù
dattvä daëòaà pätakine
bhakty-arthän mantratäà vrajat
kñattä—the gatekeeper; çré-mathuräyäù—of Çré Mathurä; ca—and; nämnä—by name; bhüteçvaraù—Bhüteçvara; çivaù—Çiva; dattvä—giving; daëòam—a stick; pätakine—to a sinner; bhakty-arthän—for the devotees; mantratäm—advice; vrajat—going.
The gatekeeper of Çré Mathurä is an incarnation of Lord Çiva named Bhüteçvara. He punishes the sinful and instructs the devotees.
Text 10
caëòikä tu mahä-vidyä
devé durgärti-näçiné
siàhärüòha sadä rakñäà
mathuräyäù karoti hi
caëòikä—ferocious; tu—indeed; mahä-vidyä—the great philosopher; devé—the goddess; durgä—Durgä; arti—sufferings; näçiné—destroying; siàhärüòha—riding on a lion; sadä—always; rakñäm—protection; mathuräyäù—of Mathurä; karoti—does; hi—indeed.
Ferocious Goddess Durgä, who is the personification of transcendental knowledge and who destroys all sufferings, rides a lion and eternally protects Mathurä.
Text 11
cäro ‘haà mathuräyäç ca
paçyal lokän itas tataù
vadämi värtäà sarveñäà
çré-kåñëäya mahätmane
cäraù—messenger; aham—I am; mathuräyäù—of Mathurä; ca—and; paçyan—seeing; lokän—the worlds; itaù—here; tataù—and there; vadämi—I tell; värtäm—the news; sarveñäm—of all; çré-kåñëäya—to Lord Kåñëa; mahätmane—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
I bring news to Mathurä. I observe what happens in the different planets, and I tell Lord Kåñëa all the news.
Text 12
madhye vai mathurä devé
çubhadä karuëämayé
bubhukñitebhyaù sarvebhyo
dadäty annaà videha-räö
madhye—in the middle; vai—indeed; mathurä—Mathurä; devé—Goddess; çubhadä—auspciious; karuëämayé—merciful; bubhukñitebhyaù—to the hungry; sarvebhyaù—all; dadäti—gives; annam—food; videha-räö—O king of Videha.
O king of Videha, in the middle of the city is auspicious and kind Goddess Mathurä, who feeds all that are hungry.
Text 13
catur-bhujä çyämaläìgä
vrajanti pravrajanti ca
mathuräyäà måtaà netuà
vimänaiù kåñëa-parñadäù
catur-bhujä—with four arms; çyämaläìgä—dark forms; vrajanti—go; pravrajanti—comes; ca—and; mathuräyäm—in Mathurä; måtam—dead; netum—to bring; vimänaiù—with airplanes; kåñëa—of Lord Kåñëa; parñadäù—the associates.
Dark-complexioned four-armed associates of Lord Kåñëa go here and there in Mathurä to bring anyone who dies there to the spiritual world.
Text 14
çré-kåñëasyäìga-sambhütä
mathurä vai mahä-puré
yasya darçana-mätreëa
naro yäti kåtärthatäm
çré-kåñëasya—of Çré Kåñëa; aìga—from the body; sambhütä—manifested; mathurä—Mathurä; vai—indeed; mahä-puré—the great city; yasya—of which; darçana-mätreëa—simply by seeing; naraù—a person; yäti—attains; kåtärthatäm—the goal of life.
Simply by seeing Mathurä City, which was manifested from Lord Kåñëa’s transcendental form, one attains the goal of life.
Text 15
purä vidhiù çré-mathuräm upetya
taptvä tapo varña-çataà nirannaù
japan harià brahma paraà svayambhüù
sväyambhuvaà präpa sutaà pravénam
purä—previously; vidhiù—Brahmä; çré-mathuräm—to Çré Mathurä; upetya—going; taptvä—performed; tapaù—austerities; varña-çatam—for a hundred years; nirannaù—without food; japan—chanting; harim—Lord Kåñëa; brahma—Brahmä; param—then; svayambhüù—the self-born; sväyambhuvam—to Svayambhuva Manu; präpa—attained; sutam—sun; pravénam—intelligent.
In the past the demigod Brahmä went to Çré Mathurä, where for a hundred years he performed austerities, constantly chanting the holy names of Lord Kåñëa, and not eating anything. The result of these austerities was that he fathered a very intelligent son: Sväyambhuva Manu.
Text 16
bhüteçvaro deva-varaù saté-patis
taptvä tapo divya-çaran-madhor vane
kåñëa-prasädän nåpa-räja sa-tvaraà
tasyäù pure mathurä-maëòalasya
bhüteçvaraù—Lord Çiva; deva-varaù—the best of the demigods; saté-patiù—the husband of Saté; taptvä—perfoming; tapaù—austerities; divya-çarat—for an autumn of the demigods; madhor vane—in Mathurä; kåñëa-prasädän—Lord Kåñëa’s mercy; nåpa-räja—O king of kings; sa-tvaram—quickly; tasyäù—of that; pure—in the city; mathurä-maëòalasya—of Mathurä.
O king of kings, Lord Çiva, who is the husband of Saté and the best of the demigods, performed austerities in Mathurä for an autumn of the demigods. In this way He attained Lord Kåñëa’s mercy and became the gatekeeper of Mathurä.
Text 17
kåñëa-prasädäd aham eva cäro
bhraman sadä mäthura-maëòalasya
tathä hi durgä mathuräà prayäti
çré-kåñëa-däsyaà prakaroti nünam
kåñëa-prasädät—by Lord Kåñëa’s mercy; aham—I; eva—indeed; cäraù—the messenger; bhraman—wandering; sadä—always; mäthura-maëòalasya—of Mathurä; tathä—so; hi—indeed; durgä—Durgä; mathuräm—to Mathurä; prayäti—goes; çré-kåñëa-däsyam—service to Lord Kåñëa; prakaroti—does; nünam—indeed.
By Lord Kåñëa’s mercy I wander everywhere as the person that carries news to Mathurä. By Lord Kåñëa’s mercy Goddess Durgä comes to Mathurä and serves Lord Kåñëa.
Text 18
taptvä tapaù çakra-padaà ca çakraù
süryo manuà nitya-nidhià kuveraù
päçé ca päçaà samaväpya samyaì
madhor vane viñëu-padaà dhruvaç ca
taptvä tapaù—performing austerities; çakra-padam—the post of Indra; ca—and; çakraù—Indra; süryaù—Surya; manum—Manu; nitya-nidhim—eternal wealth; kuveraù—Kuvera; päçé—varuëa; ca—and; päçam—ropes; samaväpya—attaining; samyak—completely; madhor vane—in Mathurä; viñëu-padam—the abode of Lord Viñëu; dhruvaù—Dhruva; ca—and.
By performing austerities in Mathurä, Indra attained his heavenly post, Sürya attained Vaivasvata Manu as his son, Kuvera attained eternal wealth, Varuëa attained his ropes, and Dhruva attained the realm of Lord Viñëu.
Text 19
tathämbaréñaù samaväpa muktià
somo ‘kñayaà vä lavänäj jayaà ca
raghuç ca siddhià kila citraketus
taptvä tapo ‘traiva madhor vane ca
tathä—so; ambaréñaù—Ambaréça; samaväpa—attained; muktim—liberation; somaù—Soma; akñayam—inviciblitiy; vä—or; lavänät—from Lavana; jayam—victory; ca—and; raghuù—Raghu; ca—and; siddhim—perfection; kila—indeed; citraketuù—Citraketu; taptvä tapaù—perfomring austerities; atra—here; eva—indeed; madhor vane—in Mathurä; ca—and.
By performing austerities in Mathurä, Ambaréña attained liberation, Rämacandra became invincible and defated the demon Lavaëa, Raghu attained perfection, and Citraketu also attained perfection.
Text 20
taptvä tapo ‘traiva madhor vane çubhe
bhütvä baliñöhaç ca madhur mahäsuraù
çré-mädhave mäsi ca mädhavena
yuyodha yuddhe madhusüdanena saù
taptvä tapaù—performing austerities; atra—here; eva—indeed; madhor vane—in Mathurä; çubhe—beautiful; bhütvä—becoming; baliñöhaù—powerful; ca—and; madhuù—Madhu; mahäsuraù—the great demon; çré-mädhave mäsi—in the month of mädhava; ca—and; mädhavena—with Kåñëa; yuyodha—fought; yuddhe—in battle; madhusüdanena—the killer of Madhu; saù—he.
By performing austerities in beautiful Mathurä, the great demon Madhu became very powerful. In the month of Mädhava (April-May), he fought with Lord Kåñëa, who later became known as Madhusüdana (the killer of Madhu).
Text 21
saptarñayaù çré-mathuräà sametya
taptvä tapo ‘traiva ca yoga-siddhim
präpuù pare vai munayaù samantäd
gokarëa-vaiçyo ‘pi mahä-nidhià ca
saptarñayaù—the seven sages; çré-mathuräm—to Çré Mathurä; sametya—going; taptvä tapaù—performed austerities; atra—here; eva—indeed; ca—and; yoga-siddhim—yogic perfections; präpuù—attained; pare—other; vai—indeed; munayaù—sages; samantät—completely; gokarëa-vaiçyaù—the vaiçya Gokarëa; api—also; mahä-nidhim—great wealth; ca—and.
By performing austerities in Mathurä, the seven sages and other sages also attained the perfection of yoga, the vaiçya named Gokarëa attained great wealth.
Text 22
taptvä tapo ‘traiva madhor vane çubhe
vijitya devän divi loka-rävaëaù
nidhäya rakñäàsi vidhäya mandiraà
ästhäya laìkäà viraräja rävaëaù
taptvä tapaù—performed austerities; atra—here; eva—indeed; madhor vane—in Mathurä; çubhe—beautiful; vijitya—conquering; devän—the demigods; divi—in heaven; loka-rävaëaù—making the worlds scream; nidhäya—placing; rakñäàsi—demons; vidhäya—placing; mandiram—a palace; ästhäya—placing; laìkäm—Laìkä; viraräja—shone; rävaëaù—Ravana.
By performing austerities in beautiful Mathurä, the demon Rävaëa conquered the demigods, made the wrolds scream in pain, conquered the demons, and built a great city in Laìkä.
Text 23
taptvä tapo ‘traiva madhor vane çubhe
gajähvayeço mithileçaù çantanuù
lebhe sutaà bhéñmam atéva sattamaà
tattvärtha-värän nidhi-karëadhärakam
taptvä tapaù—performed austerities; atra—here; eva—indeed; madhor vane—in Mathurä; çubhe—beautiful; gajähvayeçaù—the king of Hastinäpura; mithileçaù—the king of Mithilä; çantanuù—Çantanu; lebhe—attained; sutam—a son; bhéñmam—Bhéñma; atéva—very; sattamam—exalted; tattvä—of truth; artha—the meaning; värän—the waters; nidhi-karëadhärakam—the captain.
By performing austerities in beautiful Mathurä, Çantanu, the king of Mithilä and Hastinäpura, attained as his son the great saint Bhéñma, who was the captain of the ship to cross the ocean of truth.
Text 24
çré-bahuläçva uväca
mathuräyäç ca mähätmyaà
vada devarñi-sattama
niväse kià phalaà proktaà mathuräyäù satäà nåëäm
çré-bahuläçva uväca—Çré Bahuläçva said; mathuräyäù—of Mathurä; ca—and; mähätmyam—the glory; vada—tell; devarñi-sattama—O best of the demigod-sages; niväse—in the home; kim—what?; phalam—reult; proktam—said; mathuräyäù—of Mathurä; satäm—of the devotees; nåëäm—people.
Çré Bahuläçva said: O best of the demigod-sages, please tell me the glories of Mathurä. What result do the devotees obtain by living in Mathurä?
Text 25
çré-närada uväca
ädau varäho dhäraëéà nimagnäà
mahä-jale projjhita-véci-çaìke
sva-daàstryoddhåtya karéva padmaà
kareëa mähätmyam idaà jagäda
çré-närada uväca—Çré Närada said; ädau—in the beginning; varähaù—Lord Varäha; dhäraëém—the earth; nimagnäm—plunged; mahä-jale—in the great ocean; projjhita-véci-çaìke—filled with waves; sva-daàstryä—by His tusk; uddhåtya—lifting; karé—an elephant; iva—like; padmam— a lotus; kareëa—with its trunk; mähätmyam—the glory; idam—thus; jagäda—said.
Çré Närada said: As an elephant holds a lotus flower in its trunk, so in the beginning of creation Lord Varäha lifted with His tusks the earth plunged in the great ocean filled with waves. Lord Varäha then spoke the glories of Mathurä.
Text 26
bruvan jano näma phalaà harer labhec
chåëval labhet kåñëa-kathä-phalaà naraù
spåçan satäà sparçana-jaà madhoù puri
jighraàs tulasyä dala-gandha-jaà phalam
bruvan—speaking; janaù—Jana; näma—name; phalam—the result; hareù—of Lord Kåñëa; labhet—may attain; çåëvan—hearing; labhet—may attain; kåñëa—of Lord Kåñëa; kathä—of the topics; phalam—the result; naraù—a person; spåçan—touching; satäm—of the devotees; sparçana-jam—manifested from touching; madhoù puré—Mathurä; jighran—smelling; tulasyä—of Tulasé; dala-gandha-jam—the fragrance of the leaves; phalam—the result.
By speaking the name “Mathurä” one attains the same result as chanting the holy name of Lord Kåñëa. By hearing the glories of Mathurä one attains the same result as hearing the glories of Lord Kåñëa. By touching Mathurä one attains the same result as touching the great devotees. By smelling the fragrance of Mathurä one attains the same result as smelling the fragrance of Çrématé Tulasé-devé’s leaves.
Text 27
paçyan harer darçana-jaà phalaà svato
bhakñäàç ca naivedya-bhävaà ramä-pateù
kurvan bhujäbhyäà hari-sevayä phalaà
gacchal labhet tértha-phalaà pade pade
paçyan—seeing; hareù—of Lord Kåñëa; darçana-jam—manifested from seeing; phalam—the result; svataù—voulntarily; bhakñäneating; ca—and; naivedya-bhävam—”rasadam; ramä-pateù—of the husband of the goddess of fortune; kurvan—doing; bhujäbhyäm—with both arms; hari-sevayä—by service to Lord Kåñëa; phalam—the result; gacchal—going; labhet—attains; tértha-phalam—the result of pilgrimage; pade—step; pade—after step.
By seeing Mathurä one attains the same result as seeing Lord Kåñëa. By eating prasädam in Mathurä one attains the same result as eating prasädam offered to Lord Kåñëa, the husband of the goddess of fortune. By serving Mathurä with one’s arms one attains the same result as serving Lord Kåñëa. By walking in Mathurä one attains at every step the same result as visiting many holy places of pilgrimage.
Text 28
räjendra-hantä nija-gotra-ghätaké
trailokya-hantäpi ca koöi-janmasu
räjan chåëu tvaà mathurä-niväsato
yogéçvaräëäà gatim äpnuyän naraù
räjendra-hantä—killer of the greatest opf kings; nija-gotra-ghätaké—killer of his own relatives; trailokya-hantä—a killer of the three worlds; api—even; ca—and; koöi-janmasu—in millions of births; räjan—O king; çåëu—please hear; tvam—you; mathurä-niväsataù—by living in Mathurä; yogéçvaräëäm—of the kings of the yogis; gatim—the destination; äpnuyät—attains; naraù—a person.
O king please listen. A sinner who in millions of lives again and again kills many saintly kings, his own relatives, and numberless other victims in the three worlds, by residing in Mathurä attains the destination of the kings of the yogés.
Text 29
pädau ca dhig yau na gatu madhor vande
dåçau ca dhig ye na kadäpi paçyataù
karëau ca dhig yau çåëuto na maithila
väcaà ca dhig yä na karoty alaà manäk
pädau—feet; ca—and; dhig—fie; yau—which; na—not; gatu—gone; madhor vande—in Mathurä; dåçau—eyes; ca—and; dhig—fie; ye—which; na—not; kadäpi—ever; paçyataù—see; karëau—the ears; ca—and; dhig—fie; yau—ehich; çåëutaù—hear; na—not; maithila—O king of Mithilä; väcam—words; ca—and; dhik—fie; yä—which; na—not; karoti—does; alam—greatly; manä—slightly.
Pitiable are the feet that have never walked in Mathurä! Pitiable are the eyes that have never seen Mathurä! Pitiable are the ears that have never heard of Mathurä! Pitiable is the voice that will not glorify Mathurä!
Text 30
dvi-sapta-koöéni vanäni yatra
térthäni vaideha samästhitäni
ekaikam eteñu vimukti-däni
vadämi säkñän mathuräà namämi
dvi-sapta-koöéni—fourteen; vanäni—forests; yatra—where; térthäni—holy places; vaideha—O king of Videha; samästhitäni—established; ekaikam—one by one; eteñu—in them; vimukti-däni—giving liberation; vadämi—I tell; säkñän—directly; mathuräm—to Mathurä; namämi—I offer obeisances.
I tell you that in Mathurä are fourteen forests that contain many holy places. Each of these holy places grants liberation. I bow down to offer my respectful obeisances to Çré Mathurä.
Text 31
goloka-näthaù paripürëa-devaù
säkñäd asaìkhyäëòa-patiù svayaà hi
çré-kåñëa-candro ‘vatatära yasyäà
tasyai namo ‘nyäçu purésu kià vä
goloka—of Goloka; näthaù—the master; paripürëa-devaù—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; säkñät—directly; asaìkhyäëòa-patiù—the master of numerless universes; svayam—personally; hi—indeed; çré-kåñëa-candraù—Çré Kåñëacandra; avatatära—descrneded; yasyam—in which; tasyai—to it; namaù—obeisances; anyäsu—other; purésu—cities; kim—whether?; vä—or.
Çré Kåñëacandra, who is the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of Goloka-dhäma, and the master of numberless universes, personally descended to this world in the city of Mathurä. I offer my repsectful obeisances to Çré Mathurä. What other city can compare with Mathurä?
Text 32
yan-näma päpaà vinihanti tat-kñaëaà
bhavaty alaà yaà gåëuto ‘pi muktayaù
véthiñu véthiñu ca muktir asyäs
tasmäd imaà çreñöhatamaà vidur budhäù
yan-näma—the name of which; päpam—sin; vinihanti—kills; tat-kñaëam—that moment; bhavati—becomes; alam—greatky; yam—what; gåëutaù—chanting; api—even; muktayaù—the liberations; véthiñu—on the path; véthiñu—after path; ca—and; muktiù—liberation; asyäù—others; tasmät—therefore; imam—this; çreñöhatamam—the best; viduù—know; budhäù—the wise.
The holy name of Mathurä kills all sins in an instant. One who chants the name of Mathurä finds liberation waiting for him on every path. For this reason the wise say Mathurä is the best of holy places.
Text 33
käçy-ädi-puryo yadi santi loke
täsäà tu madhye mathuraiva dhanyä
yä janma-mauïjé-vrata-måtyu-dähair
nåëäà caturdhä vidadhäti muktim
käçy-ädi-puryaù—the holy cities headed by Varanasi; yadi—if; santi—are; loke—in the world; täsäm—of them; tu—indeed; madhye—in the middle; mathurä—Mathurä; eva—indeed; dhanyä—glorious; yä—which; janma—birth; mauïjé-vrata—the sacred-thread ceremony; måtyu—death; dähaiù—cremation; nåëäm—of people; caturdhä—four kinds; vidadhäti—gives; muktim—liberation.
If Väräëasé and the other holy cities of the world were to meet, Mathurä would be the most glorious of them. Mathurä gives liberation to they who are born, accept spiritual initiation, die, or are cremated within her borders.
Text 34
puréçvaréà kåñëa-puréà vrajeçvaréà
tértheçvaréà yajïa-tapo-nidhéçvarém
mokña-pradäà dharma-dhurandharäà paräà
madhor vane çré-mathuräà namämy aham
puréçvarém—the queen of cities; kåñëa-purém—the city of Lord Kåñëa; vrajeçvarém—the queen of Vraja; tértheçvarém—the queen of holy places; yajïä-tapo-nidhéçvarém—the queen of yajnas, austerities, and opulences; mokña-pradäm—teh giver of liberation; dharma-dhurandharäm—the upholder of the principles of religion; paräm—great; madhor vane—in the forest of Madhuvana; çré-mathuräm—Çré Mathurä; namämi—bow down; aham—I.
I offer my respectful obeisances to exalted Çré Mathurä, the queen of cities, the city of Lord Kåñëa, the queen of Vraja, the queen of holy places, the queen of yajïas, austerities, and opulences, the giver of liberation, the protector of religion.
Text 35
çåëvanti mähätmyam idaà madhoù pure
kåñëaika-cittä niyataç ca yatra ye
vrajanti te tatra parikramät phalaà
vaideha räjendra na cätra saàçayaù
çåëvanti—hear; mähätmyam—the glory; idam—this; madhoù pure—in Mathurä; kåñëaika-cittä—their thoughts placed on Lord Kåñëa; niyataù—self-controlled; ca—and; yatra—where; ye—who; vrajanti—go; te—they; tatra—there; parikramät—by circumambulating; phalam—the result; vaideha—O king of Videha; räjendra—O king of kings; na—not; ca—and; atra—here; saàçayaù—doubt.
O master of Videha, O king of kings, they who, controlling their senses and fixing their thoughts on Lord Kåñëa, hear this description of Mathurä’s glories, attain the same result attained by circumambulating Çré Mathurä. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 36
khaëòaà tv idaà çré-mathurä-purasya ye
çåëvanti gäyanti paöhanti sarvataù
ihaiva teñäà hi samåddhi-siddhayo
bhavanti vaideha nisargataù sadä
khaëòam—canto; tv—indeed; idam—this; çré-mathurä-purasya—of Çré Mathurä City; ye—who; çåëvanti—hear; gäyanti—sing; paöhanti—read; sarvataù—in all respects; iha—here; eva—indeed; teñäm—of them; hi—indeed; samåddhi-siddhayaù—perfections; bhavanti—are; vaideha—O king of Videha; nisargataù—naturally; sadä—always.
They who hear, chant, or read this Çré Mathurä-khaëòa become eternally perfect.
Text 37
triù-sapta-kåtvo bahu-vaibhavärthinaù çåëvanti cainaà niyataç ca ye bhåçam
teñäà gåha-dväram alaìkaroti hi
bhåìgävalé kuïjara-karëa-täòitä
triù-sapta—twenty-one times; kåtvaù—doing; bahu-vaibhavärthinaù—desiring great wealth; çåëvanti—hear; ca—and; enam—this; niyataù—controlling the senses; ca—and; ye—who; bhåçam—greatly; teñäm—of them; gåha-dväram—the doorway; alaìkaroti—decorates; hi—indeed; bhåìgävalé—a swarm of bees; kuïjara-karëa-täòitä—striking an elephant’s ear.
They who, desiring great wealth, control their senses and twenty-one times hear this Çré Mathurä-khaëòa, find an elephant’s ear of of the bees of transcendental wealth and opulences decorating their doorways.
Text 38
vipro ‘tha vidvän vijayé nåpätmajo
vaiçyo nidhiço våñalo ‘pi nirmalaù
çrutvedam äräc ca manoratho bhavet
stréëäà janänäm ati-durlabho ‘pi hi
vipraù—a brähmaëa; atha—then; vidvän—learned; vijayé—victorious; nåpätmajaù—a kñatriya; vaiçyaù—a vaiçya; nidhiçaù—the master of great wealth; våñalaù—a çüdra; api—also; nirmalaù—pure; çrutvä—hearing; idam—this; ärät—nearby; ca—and; manorathaù—desire; bhavet—may be; stréëäm—of women; janänäm—of men; ati-durlabhaù—difficult to attain; api—also; hi—indeed.
By hearing this Çré Mathurä-khaëòa a brähmaëa becames wise and learned, a kñatriya becomes victorious in battle, a vaiçya becomes the master of great wealth, and a çüdra becomes pure-hearted. Whatever difficult-to-attain thing any man or woman desires, they will attain.
Text 39
niñkäraëo bhakti-yuto mahé-tale
çåëoti cedaà hari-lagna-mänasaù
vijitya vighnän pravijitya näkapän
goloka-dhäma-pravaraà prayäti saù
niñkäraëaù—causeless; bhakti-yutaù—devotee; mahé-tale—on the earth; çåëoti—hears; ca—and; idam—this; hari—on Lord Kåñëa; lagna—placed; mänasaù—thoughts; vijitya—overcoming; vighnän—obstacles; pravijitya—surpassing; näkapän—the demigods; goloka-dhäma-pravaram—the transcendental abode of Goloka; prayäti—goes; saù—he.
A person on this earth who is engaged in unmotivated devotional service, whose thoughts rest on Lord Kåñëa, and who hears this Çré Mathurä-khaëòa, travels past the homes of the demigods and enters the transcendental abode of Çré Goloka.
Shri Vraj Mandal Parikarma
There are seven holy cities on the Earth that award liberation – Ayodhyä, Mathurä, Mäyäpuré
(Haridvära), Käçé, Käïcé, Avantékä (Ujjain) and Dvärävaté (Dvärakä). Of these, Mathurä,
the birthplace of the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëacandra,is the topmost. This abode not only
awards liberation, but also bestows love of God (bhagavat-prema). Mathurä is the Supreme
Lord’s abode consisting of eternity, knowledge and bliss and it
is completely beyond the illusory energy. It is protected by the
Sudarçana cakra1, and is therefore not affected by the universal
dissolution or other disruptions. What to speak of Vaikuëöha, it
is even more praiseworthy than Dvärakä, which is ornamented
by Çré Kåñëa’s queens.2
This city of Mathurä is never annihilated. In the beginning
of Satya-yuga, the child Dhruva met Devarñi Närada here.
Dhruva took bath in the Yamunä at Dhruva-ghäöa (in Mathurä)
and accepted the näma-mantra of the Lord from NäradaMuni. Nearby at Madhuvana-Maholé, he attained perfection by
worshipping Bhagavän.
Also in Satya-yuga, Durväsä Åñi arrived here while the devotee
Mahäräja Ambaréña was in the course of breaking his vow of
observing Ekädaçé and Dvädaçé, and it was here that Durväsä
realised Ambaréña Mahäräja’s glory. Even today, Cakra-tértha and
Ambaréña-öélä stand as witnesses to how Ambaréña Mahäräja was
protected by the Sudarçana cakra.
In Tretä-yuga, on the order of Çré Rämacandra, Çré Çatrughna
killed the son of the demon Madhu, Lavaëäsura, here. This pastime
is well-known. In Dväpara-yuga, Mathurä became famous as the
place of Çré Kåñëa’s appearance and the site of His many pastimes.
It is also well known that Çré Kåñëa-dvaipäyana Vedavyäsa took
birth here on an island in the Yamunä.
In Kali-yuga the Supreme Lord Çacénandana Çré Gaurahari,
resplendent with the lustre and inner sentiments of Çré Rädhä,
came to take darçana of Vraja-dhäma. First He reached Mathurä,
where He took bath at Viçräma-ghäöa, and then visited the pastime
places within the eighty-four kosas of Vraja-maëòala. Gauòéya
literature describes that Çré Advaita Äcärya, Çré Nityänanda
Prabhu, Çré Lokanätha Gosvämé and Çré Bhügarbha Gosvämé
arrived in Mathurä before Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu’s intimate associates, such as Çré Rüpa, Çré Sanätana
and other gosvämés, came to Mathurä and Vraja after Him and
roamed throughout the land. Çré Caitanya-caritämåta and Bhaktiratnäkara
further describe that later all our Gauòéya äcäryas came
to Mathurä Vraja-maëòala.
The abundant glories of Mathurä are described in the Puräëas.
Bhagavän Çré Keçavadeva is present in the heart of this abode,
which is likened to the whorl of a lotus. On the northern petal, in
Våndävana, is Çré Govindadeva by whose darçana a person is forever
liberated from the cycle of birth and death. On the eastern petal, at
Viçräma-ghäöa, is the form of the Lord named Viçränti, and on the
southern petal is Ädi-varähadeva, who bestows all-perfection.3Bathing in any of Mathurä’s sacred waters destroys all the sins of
any living entity, and each and every step taken in Mathurä gives
the same result as performing a horse sacrifice (açvamedha-yajïa).
The Supreme Lord Himself says in the Ädi-varäha Puräëa: “O
Vasundharä, certainly, in all the three worlds – the hellish planets,
the world of humans and the celestial realm – nowhere is as dear
to Me as Mathurä.”4 He further states in the same Puräëa: “O
Vasundharä, during Cäturmäsya, My time of sleep, all the oceans,
lakes and places of pilgrimage dwell in Mathurä.” 5
Skanda Puräëa mentions that the result attained by residing in
any other part of Bhäratavarña (India) for hundreds and thousands
of years is attained simply by remembering the city of Mathurä.6
Whoever chants and fasts in Mathurä becomes free from sin by
taking darçana of Çré Kåñëa’s birthplace.7 A sinful person who
has killed a brähmaëa, who is a drunkard, who kills cows, or
who has violated celibacy, becomes free of these sins merely by
circumambulating Mathurä. All those who come from other far-off
places to perform Mathurä parikramä and to have darçana of the
pastime places here become free from all kinds of sins. Not only
that, if one simply takes a vow to reside in Mathurä, he becomes
free from all kinds of material entanglements.
It is written in the Padma Puräëa that one who desires to
have darçana of Mathurä, but leaves his body before getting this
opportunity, will surely take birth in Mathurä in a future life.8
There is not the slightest doubt about this. Only those with firm,
unshakeable devotion for Çré Kåñëa, and who are the objects of His
abundant mercy, can have attachment to this Mathuräpuré, which
is beyond the material world.9
In Väyu Puräëa it is written that Mathurä-maëòala is within
the eighty-four kosas of Vraja-maëòala, and that the Supreme Lord
Çré Hari Himself eternally resides here.10 The Väyu Puräëa further
states that “Mathurä-dhäma is blessed, being superior even to
Vaikuëöha, the holy abode of Çré Näräyaëa. By residing in Mathurä
for only one day a person attains devotion to Lord Hari, and byresiding here three nights, one attains that most rare love of God,
which is difficult to obtain even for great liberated souls.” 11
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé has written in Çré Mathurä-mähätmya: “O
Avanti, become ready with a spittoon in your hands. O Mäyäpuré
(Haridvära), become ready to fan with a cämara. O Käïci, take an
umbrella in your hand. O Käçi, hold wooden sandals in your hands
and be ready. O Ayodhyä, do not be afraid any more. O Dvärakä,
do not chant any prayers today. This Mathurä-devé, who today has
become the chief queen of Çré Kåñëa, the great King of kings, is
pleased with all of you maidservants
Other Sources
Mathura is a city in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately 50 km north of Agra, and 145 km south-east of Delhi; about 11 kilometers from the town of Vrindavan. Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna at the centre of Braj or Brij-bhoomi, called Shri Krishna Janma-Bhoomi, literally: ‘Lord Krishna’s birth place’. The Keshav Dev temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna’s legendary birthplace (an underground prison). According to the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana epics, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kansa the maternal uncle of Krishna.
Yamuna in Mathura: Yamunotri, which is north of Haridwar in the Himalayas Mountains, is where the holy Yamuna River begins. It is about 234 km north of Haridwar. Technically the source of the Yamuna is Saptarishi Kund, a glacial lake. To get there you have to climb from Yamunotri 12 km right up the mountain., From Yamunotri the Yamuna flows south until it reaches Delhi. It then flows to Braja Mandala through Vrindavana and Mathura. From there it goes through Agra and eventually merges with the Ganges and the underground Saraswati at Prayag (Allahabad). The main reason it is so sacred is because it flows through Vrindavana and Mathura, and was thus intimately connected to Lord Krishna’s pastimes.
Sveta Varaha and Adi Varaha Temples at Mathura. After lifting the earth, Lord Varaha rested at Visrama Ghata. (This is the place where Lord Varahadeva rested after killing the demon Hiranyaksa and Lord Krsna rested here after killing Kamsa.). The Beautiful Vigraha of Sweta Varaha is in a house, into which non Hindus are not normally allowed.
Down the same street that this temple is located on, there is the Adi Varaha temple. (This is the most ancient Deity in the whole city of Mathura.) Kapila Muni made this Vigraha of Varaha by his mind. Kapila gave this Vigraha to Indra in Satya-yuga. Indra worshiped this Vigraha in his kingdom. When Ravana took over Indra’s kingdom, Ravana took this Adi Varaha Vigraha to his capital, in Lanka. When Sri Rama killed Ravana, Ravana’s brother, Vibhisana became the king of Lanka. Vibhisana offered everything to Rama. Rama said he did not want anything, except the Varaha Vigraha that was taken from Amaravati. Rama carried the Adi Varaha Vigraha back to Ayodhya and worshipped it there for 110 years. When Satrughna, Sri Rama’s brother, went to Mathura, to kill some Lavanasura, he brought this Adi Varaha Vigraha with him and it has been here every since.”
Dwarkadheesh Temple is located near the eastern banks of river Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. The temple was constructed in 1814 and is located at a central place in the city of Mathura. It can be visited between 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM all throughout the year. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Krishna. The Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura is considered to be one of most visited temples in the city. The architecture of the temple is very interesting with beautiful carvings and paintings. Festivals like Holi, Janmashtami and Diwali are celebrated with lot of pomp and grandeur in the temple. During these occasions loads of tourists visit the temple to receive the blessings of the Lord. Presently the management and administration of the temple is looked after by the followers of the Vallabhacharya sect.
Durvasa Muni ashrama: Durvasa Muni performed austerities opposite Visrama Ghata, on the other side of the Yamuna, at Visanaganja. Durvasa Muni being pleased by services rendered to him by Srimati Radharani gave her the benediction that whatever she cooked would be sweeter than nectar.
“Durvasa Muni was a powerful mystic brahmana determined to observe the principles of religion with great vows and under strict austerities. His name is associated with many historical events, and it appears that the great mystic could be easily satisfied and easily annoyed, like Lord Siva.
When he was satisfied, he could do tremendous good to the servitor, but if he was dissatisfied he could bring about the greatest calamity. It is understood that he was a plenary incarnation of Lord Siva, and thus he could be either easily satisfied or annoyed. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva. He could travel a great distance through space, even up to the Vaikuntha planets beyond material space. He traveled all these long distances within one year, during his quarrel with King Ambarish, the great devotee and emperor of the world.”
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