Navadwip Dham Mahatmya

Sri Navadwip Dham Mahatmya
Chapter 3

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Pramana khanda
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
Parikrama khanda
Sri Sri Navadwip Bhava Taranga

Chapter Three

Introduction

puräëe varëitaà yad yan
     navadvépa-pramäëakam
adhyäye 'smin samäsena
     saìgrahiñyämi sämpratam
çrémad-bhägavatasyädau
     pramäëaà saìgrahiñyate
     puräëe—in the Puranas; varëitaà—described; yad yat—what; navadvépa—about Navadvipa; pramäëakam—evidence; adhyäye—chapter; asmin—in this; samäsena—in general; saìgrahiñyämi—I will gather; sämpratam—now; çrémad-bhägavatasya ädau—beginning with Srimad-Bhagavatam; pramäëaà—evidence; saìgrahiñyate—is collected.

     In this chapter I will present the descriptions of Navadvépa given in the Puräëas. I will begin with the evidence presented in Çrémad-Bhägavatam.

Text 1

çré-påthu-carite
gaìgä-yamunayor nadyor
     antarä kñetram ävasan
ärabdhän eva bubhuje
     bhogän puëya jihäsayä
     çré-påthu-carite—in the account of King Påthu's activities; maitreyaù uväca—the great saint Maitreya said; gaìgä—the River Ganges; yamunayoù—of the River Yamunä; nadyoù—of the two rivers; antarä—between; kñetram—the land; ävasan—living there;ärabdhän—destined; va—like; bubhuje—enjoyed; bhogän—fortunes; puëya—pious activities; jihäsayä—for the purpose of diminishing.

     In the account of King Påthu's activities it is said
(4.21.11-12):
     The great saintly sage Maitreya told Vidura: My dear Vidura, King Påthu lived in the tract of land (Navadvépa) between two great rivers Ganges and Yamunä. Because he was very
opulent, it appeared that he was enjoying his destined fortune in order to diminish the results of his past pious activities.*

Text 2

sarvaträskhalitädeçaù
     sapta-dvépaika-daëòa-dhåk
anyatra brähmaëa-kuläd
     anyaträcyuta-gotrataù
     sarvatra—everywhere; askhalita—irrevocable; ädeçaù—order; sapta- dvépa—seven ialands;
eka—one; daëòa-dhåk—the ruler who holds the scepter; anyatra—except; brähmaëa-kulät—brähmaëas and saintly persons; anyatra—except; acyuta-gotrataù—descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Vaiñëavas).

     Mahäräja Påthu was an unrivaled king and possessed the scepter for ruling all the seven islands of the globe. No one could disobey his irrevocable orders but the saintly persons, the brähmaëas, and the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead [the Vaiñëavas].*

Text 3

bhü-gola-varëane
     tathaivälakanandä dakñiëena brahma-sadanäd bahüni giri-küöäny atikramya hemaküöäd dhaimaküöäny ati-rabhasatara- raàhasä luthayanté bhäratam abhivarñaà dakñiëasyäà diçijaladhim abhipraviçati yasyäà snänärthaà cägacchataù puàsaù pade pade 'çvamedha-
räjasüyädénäà phalaà na durlabham iti.
     bhu-gola-varëane—in the description of the earth; tathä eva—similarly; alakanandä—the branch known as Alaka- nandä; dakñiëena—by the southern side; brahma-sadanät—from the city known as Brahmapuré; bahüni—many; giri-küöäni—the tops of ountains; atikramya—crossing over; hemaküöät—from Hemaküta Mountain; haimaküöäni—and Himaküta; ati-rabhasatara—more fiercely; raàhasä—with great force; luöhayanté—plundering; bhäratam abhivarñam—on all sides of Bhärata-varña; dakñiëasyäm—in the southern; diçi—direction;
jaladhim—the ocean of salt water; abhipraviçati—enters into; yasyäm—in which; snäna-artham—for bathing; ca—and; ägacchataù—of one who is coming; puàsaù—a person; pade pade—at every step; açvamedha-räjasüya-ädénäm—of great sacrifices like the Açvamedha yajïa and Räjasüya yajïa; phalam—the result; na—not; durlabham—very difficult to obtain; iti—thus.

     In the description of the earth Navadvépa is referred to in these words (5.17.9):
     Similarly, the branch of the Ganges known as Alakanandä flows from the southern side of Brahmapuré [Brahma-sadana]. Passing over the tops of mountains in various lands, it falls
down with fierce force upon the peaks of the mountains Memaküta and Himaküta. After inundating the tops of those mountains, the Ganges falls down onto the tract of land known as Bhärata-varña, which she also inundates. Then the Ganges flows into the ocean of salt water in the south. Persons who come to bathe in this river are fortunate. It is not very
difficult for them to achieve with every step the results of performing great sacrifices like the Räjasüya and Açvamedha yajïas.*

Text 4

çré-vidura-tértha-yaträyäm
svayaà dhanur dväri nidhäya mäyäà
     bhrätaù puro marmasu täòito 'pi
sa ittham atyulbaëa-karëa-bäëair
     gata-vyatho 'yäd urumänayänaù
     çré-vidura—of Çré Vidura; tértha-yaträyäm—in the pilgrimages; svayam—he himself; dhanuù dväri—bow on the door; nidhäya—keeping; mäyäm—Mäyäpura; bhrätuù—brother's; pu rah—from the palace; marmasu—in the core of the heart; täòitaù—being afflicted; api—in spite of; saù—he (Vidura); ittham—like this; ati-ulbaëa—severely; karëa—ear; bäëaiù—by the arrows; gata- vyathaù—without being sorry; ayät—excited; uru—great; mäna- yänaù—so thinking.

     In the description of Çré Vidura's pilgrimages it is said (3.1.16,18,19):
     Thus being pierced by arrows through his ears and afflicted to the core of his heart, Vidura placed his bow on the door and quit his brother's palace. He was not sorry. He left to go to Çré Mäyäpura.*

Text 5

pureñu puëyopavanädri-kunjesv
     apaìka-toyeñu sarit-saraùsu
ananta-liìgaiù samalaìkåteñu
     cacära térthäyataneñv ananyaù
pureñu—holy places like Ayodhyä, Dvärakä and Mathurä; puëya—piety; upavana—the air; adri—hill; kunjeñu—in the orchards; apaìka—without sin; toyeñu—in the water; sarit—river; sarahsu—lakes; ananta-liìgaiù—the forms of the Unlimited; samalaìkåteñu—being so decorated; cacära—executed; tértha—places of pilgrimage; äyataneñu—holy lands; ananyaù—alone or seeing Krñëa alone.
     He began to travel alone, thinking only of Kåñëa, through various holy places like Ayodhyä, Dvärakä and Mathurä. He traveled where the air, hill, orchard, river and lake are all pure and sinless and where the forms of the Unlimited decorate the temples. Thus he performed the pilgrim's progress.*

Text 6

gäà paryaöan medhya-vivikta-vrttih
     sadäpluto 'dhaù çayano'vadhütah
alakñitaù svair avadhüta-veso
     vratäni cere hari-toñaëäni
gäm—earth; paryaöan—traversing; medhya—pure; vivikta-våttiù—independent occupation for living; sadä—always; äplutaù—sanctified; adhaù—on the earth; çayanaù—lying; avadhütaù—without dressing (of the hair, etc.); alakñitaù—without being seen; svaiù—alone; avadhüta-veñaù—dressed like a mendicant; vratäni—vows; cere—performed; hari-toñaëäni—that pleased the Lord.

     While so traversing the earth, he simply performed duties to please the Supreme Lord Hari. His occupation was pure and independent. He was constantly sanctified by taking his bath in holy places, although he was in the dress of a mendicant and had no hair dressing nor a bed on which to lie. Thus he was always unseen by his various relatives.*

Text 7

çuddhaà sva-dhämny uparatäkhila-buddhy-avasthaà
     cin-mätram ekam abhayaà pratiñidhya mäyäm
tiñöhaàs tayaiva puruñatvam upetya tasyäm
     äste bhavän pariçuddha ivätma-tantraù
     çuddhaà—pure; sva-dhämni—in own abode; uparatäkhila-buddhy-avastham—situated in all intelligence; cin-mätram—spiritual; ekam—one; abhayaà—fearless; pratiñidhya—checking; mäyäm—Mäyäpura; tiñöhan—standing; tayä—by You; eva—indeed; puruñatvam—the Supreme Person; upetya—approaching; tasyäm—in this; äste—stays; bhavän—You;
pariçuddhaù—pure; iva—as; ätma-tantraù—independent.

     O Lord, You manifest Your pure, spiritual, fearless form and appear in Your own abode of Çré Mäyäpura. You are independent and do as You like.

Text 8

yuga-yogyopäsanä-sambandhe
kasmin käle sa bhagavän
     kià varëaù kédåço nåbhiù
nämnä vä kena vidhinä
     püjyate tad ihocyatäm
     yuga—for the yuga; yogya—appropriate; upäsanä—worship; sambandhe—in relationship; kasmin—in what?; käle—time; saù—He; bhagavän—the Lord; kià—what?; varëaù—color; kédåço—like what?; nåbhiù—by men; nämnä—by name; vä—or; kena—by what; vidhinä—rule; püjyate—is worshiped; tad—that; iha—here; ucyatäm—should be said.

     The method of worship appropriate for this yuga is described in these words (11.5.31-34):
     At what time will the Supreme Lord appear? What will be His color? What will He be like? What will be His name? How will He be worshiped by men? Please tell all this.

Text 9

iti dväpara urvéça
     stu vanti jagad-éçvaram
nänä-tan tra-vidhänena
     kaläv api yathä çåëu
     iti—th us; dväpare—in the Dväpara Age; urvéça—O King; stuvanti—th ey praise,; jagat-
éçvaram—the Lord of the u niverse; nänä—various; tantra—of scriptu res,; vidhänena—by the regulations; kalau—in the age of Kali; api—also; yathä—in which manner; çåëu—please hear.
     O King, in this way people in Dväpara-yuga worshiped the Lord of the universe. In Kali-yuga they also worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the regulations of the revealed scriptures. Kindly now hear of that from me.*

Text 10

krsëa-varëaà tviñäkåñëaà
     säìgopäìgästra-pärñadam
yajïaiù saìkértana-präyair
     yajanti hi sumedhasaù
   kåñëa-varëam—repeati ng the sy I la bles kåñ-ëa; tviñä—with a Iuste r; akåñëam—not black
(golden); sa-aìga—along with associates; upäìga—se rvitors; astra—weapons; pärñadam—confidential compan ions; yaiïaiù—by sac rific e; saìkértana-präyaiù—consisting chiefly of congregational chanting; yaianti—they worship; hi—certainly; su-medhasaù—intelligent persons.

     In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kåñëa. Although His complexion is
not blackish, He is Kåñëa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.*

Text 11

dhyeyaà sadä paribhava-ghnam abhéñta-doham-
     tirthäspadaà siva-viriïci-nutaà çaraëyam
bhrtyärti-haà praëata-päla-bhaväbdhi potaà
     vande mahä-puruña te caraëäravindam
     dhyeyaà—should be meditated on; sadä—always; paribhava—distresses; ghnam—destroying; abhéñta-doham—satisfying desires; tirtha—of all holy places; aspadaà—the abode; siva—for Lord Çiva; viriïci—and Brahmä; nutaà—worshipable; çaraëyam—the shelter; bhrtya—of His servants; arti—the distresses; haà—removing; praëata—for the surrendered souls; päla—protector; bhava—of repeated birth and death; äbdhi—ocean; potaà—boat; vande—respectful obeisances; mahä-puruña—Supreme Personality of Godhead; te—Your; caraëäravindam—lotus feet.

     We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Him, the Lord, upon whom one should always meditate. He destroys insults to His devotees. He removes the distresses of His
devotees and satisfies their desires. He, the abode of all holy places and the shelter of all sages, is worshipable by Lord Çiva and Lord Brahmä. He is the boat of the demigods for crossing the ocean of birth and death.*

Text 12

tyaktvä sudustyaja-surepsita-räjya-lakñméà
     dharmistha ärya-vacasä yad agäd araëyam
mäyä-mågaà dayitayepsitam an vadhävad
     vande mahä-purusa te caraëäravindam
     tyaktvä—leaving aside; sudustyaja—difficult to abandon; sura—by the demigods; ipsita—desired; räjya—regal; lakñméà—goddess of fortune; dharmiñöha ärya-vacasä—by the words of the pious; yad—which; agäd—went; araëyam—to the forest; mäyä-mågaà—illusion; dayitayä—mercifully; ipsitam—desired; anvadhävad—followed; vande—obeisances; mahä-purusa—the Lord; te—of You; caraëa—feet; aaravindam—lotus.

     We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord, upon whom one should always meditate. He left His householder life, leaving aside His eternal consort, whom even
the denizens of heaven adore. He went into the forest to deliver the fallen souls, who are put into illusion by material energy.*

Text 13

väyu-puräëa-madhye ca
     svayaà bhagavateritam
kalau saìkértanärambhe
     bhaviñyämi çacé-sutaù
svarëädi-téram ästhäya
     navadvépe janäçraye
tatra dvija-kula-çreñöho
     bhaviñyämi dvijälaye
     väyu-puräëa-madhye—in the Väyu Puräëa; ca—and; svayam—personally; bhagavatä—by the Lord; iritam—said; kalau—in the age of Kali; saìkértana—of the saìkértana movement; ärambhe—in the beginning; bhaviñyämi—I will become; çacé-sutaù—the son of Çacé; svarnädi-téram—on the shore of the Ganges; ästhäya—placing; navadvépe—in Navadvépa; jana—of the
living entities; äçraye—the shelter; tatra—there; dvija-kula-çreñöhe bgest; bhaviñyämi—I will
become; dvija—of a brähmaëa; älaye—in the home.

     In the Väyu Puräëa the Lord Himself said: In the age of Kali, when the saìkértana movement is inaugurated, I shall descend as the son of Çacé-devi. By the Ganges' shore, in
Navadvépa, the shelter of the living entities, in a brähmaëa's home, I will become the best of brähmaëas.

Text 14

agni-puräëe
çäntätmä lamba-kaëöhaç ca
     gauräìgaç ca surävåtaù
     agni-puräëe—in the Agni Puräëa; çäntätmä—peaceful at heart; lamba-kaëöhaù—long neck; ca—and; gauräìgaù—a fair complexion; ca—and; sura—by devottes; ävåtaù—surrounded.

     In the Agni Puräëa it is said: Peaceful at heart, His neck long, and His complexion fair, the Supreme Lord will appear as Gauräìga, surrounded by His devotees.

Text 15

garuòe
sädhavaù kali-käle tu
     tyaktvänya-tértha-sevanam
våndäraëye 'thavä kñetre
     nava-khaëòe vasanti vä
     garuòe—in the Garuòa Puräëa; sädhavaù—devotees; kali-käle—in the age of Kali; tu—indeed; tyaktva—abandoning; anya-tértha—of other holy places; sevanam—the service; våndäraëye—in Våndävana; athavä—or; kñetre—in a place; nava-khaëòe—of nine islands; vasanti—reside; vä—or.

     In the Garuòa Puräëa it is said: In the age of Kali the devotees will abandon the service of other holy places and live in either Våndävana or Navadvépa.

Text 16

skände
mäyäpuréà samaçritya
     kalau ye mäm upäsate
sarva-päpa-vinirmuktäs
     te yänti paramäà gatim
     skände—in the Skanda Puräëa; mäyäpurém—Mäyäpura; samaçritya—taking shelter; kalau—in the age of Kali; ye—who; mäm—Me; upäsate—worship; sarva—of all; päpa—sins;
vinirmuktäù—free; te—they; yänti—go; paramäm—to the supreme; gatim—destination;

     In the Skända Puräëa the Lord says: They who in the age of Kali take shelter of Mäyäpura and worship Me become free from all sins and attain the supreme destination.

Text 17

yat térthaà vartate çrémän
     navadvépe vibhägaçaù
tat-tértha-mahimä tatra
     çata-koöi-guëaà kalau
     yat—what; tértham—holy place; vartate—is; çrémät—beautiful; navadvépe—in Navadvépa;
vibhägaçaù—in parts; tat-tértha—of that holy place; mahimä—the glory; tatra—there; çata—hundreds; koöi—millions of times; guëam—multiplied; kalau—in Kali.

     The glories of other holy places are present hundreds and millions of times over in Navadvépa in the age of Kali.

Text 18

yathä cintämaëeù saìgät
     dhätu-mülyaà pravardhate
gaura-saìgät tathä tértha-
     mähätmyaà parivardhate
     yathä—as; cintämaëeù—of a cintämaëi jewel; saìgat—from the touch; dhätu—of the metal; mülyam—the value; pravardhate—increases; gaura—of Lord Gaura; saìgät—from the touch; tathä—so; tértha—of the holy place; mähätmyam—the glory; parivardhate—increases.

     As a metal's value increases with a cintämaëi jewel's touch, so the glory of any holy place increases with Lord Gaura's touch.

Text 19

mäyä mäyäpuré skñät
     sarvänanda-vivardhiné
çré-garga-saàhitäyäà sa
     kértitä päpa-näçiné
     mäyä—the Lord's yogamäyä potency; mäyäpuré—Mäyäpura; skñät—directly; sarva—all;
änanda—bliss; vivardhiné—increasing; çré-garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; sä—it;
kértitä—glorified; päpa—of sin; näçiné—the destroyer.

     Mäyäpura is the Lord's yogamäyä potency. It is filled with ever-increasing bliss. In the Garga-saàhitä its is described as "the destroyer of sins".

Text 20

mäyä tu bilvanéläd vä
     gaìgä-dvärä-vinirgatä
kuçavartamayé dhrauvyä
     dhruva-maëòala-madhyagä
     mäyä—Mäyäpura; tu—indeed; bilvanélät—from Bilvanéla-kñetra; vä—or; gaìgä-dvärä—from Gaìgädvärä; vinirgatä—manifested; kuçävartamayé—manifested in Kuçävarta;
dhrauvyä—Dhruva; dhruva-maëòala-madhyagä—situated in Dhruva-maëòala.

     Mäyäpura is manifested from either Bilvanéla-kñetra or Gaìgädvärä. It is situated in Kuçävarta and Dhruva-maëòala.

Text 21

bhagavan-mandiräd räjan
     uttarasyäà diçi çrutam
kroçärdhe nåpa-çardüla
     mäyä-térthaà manoharam
     bhagavat—of the Supreme Lord; mandirät—from the temple; räjan—O king; uttarasyäà diçi—in the north; çrutam—heard; kroça—a kroça; ardhe—half; nåpa—of kings; çardüla—O tiger; mäyä-tértham—Mäyäpura; manoharam—beautiful.
     O king, O tiger among kings, I have heard that one mile north of the Lord's temple is beautiful Mäyäpura.

Text 22

viräjate yathä nityaà
     durgä durgati-näçiné
siàhärüòha bhadrakälé
     caëòa-muëòa-vinäçiné
     viräjate—shines; yathä—as; nityam—eternally; durgä—Durgä; durgati—of wickedness; näçiné—the destroyer; siàha—on a lion; ärüòha—riding; bhadrakälé—Bhadrakälé; caëòa—degraded; muëòa—and violent; vinäçiné—destroying.

     There goddess Durgä Bhadrakälé, who rides a tiger and destroys the wicked, violent and degraded, is eternally manifest with great splendor.

Text 23

mäyä-térthe ca yaù snatvä
     mäyäà sampüjya mänaväù
sarvaà manoratha-präptià
     präpnuyän nätra saàçayaù
     mäyä-térthe—in Mäyäpura; ca—and; yaù—one who; snatvä—having bathed; mäyäm—the goddess of Mäyäpura; sampüjya—worshiping; mänaväù—men; sarvam—all; manoratha—of desires; präptim—attainemnt; präpnuyän—attain; na—not; atra—here; saàçayaù—doubt;

Text 24

påthu-kuëòa-viñaye garga-saàhitäyäm arjuna uväca
kaïcanébhir latäbhiç ca
     sauvarëaiù paìkajair våtam
vada mäà devaké-putra
     kasyedaà kuëòam adbhutam
     påthu-kuëòa-viñaye—in regard to Påthu-kuëòa; garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; arjunaù—Arjuna; uväca—said; kaïcanébhiù—golden; latäbhiù—with vines; ca—and; sauvarëaiù—golden; paìkajaiù—with lotuses; våtam—filled; vada—tell; mäm—me; devaké-putra—O son of Devaké; kasya—of whom?; idam—this; kuëòam—lake; adbhutam—wonderful.

     Påthu-kuëòa (in Navadvépa) is described in Garga-saàhitä, where Arjuna says: O son of Devaké, please tell me who owns this wonderful lake filled with golden lotuses and surrounded by golden vines?

Text 25
bhagavän uväca
påthuù pürve räja-räjaù
     sväyambhuva-kulodbhavaù
tatäpa sa tapo divyaà
     tasyedaà kuëòam adbhutam

     bhagavän—the Lord; uväca—said; påthuù—Påthu; pürve—formerly; räja-räjaù—the king of kings; sväyambhuva-kula-udbhavaù—birn in the Sväyambhuva dynasty; tatäpa saù tapaù—performed austerities; divyam—spiritual; tasya—of him; idam—this; kuëòam—lake; adbhutam—wonderful.

     The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: In ancient times the great king Påthu of the Sväyambhuva dynasty performed spiritual austerities here. This is his wonderful lake.

Text 26

asya pétvä jalaà sadyaù
     sarva-päpaiù pramucyate
snatvä tad dhäma paramaà
     yäti pärtha naretaraù
     asya—of it; pétvä—having drunk;jalam—the water; sadyaù—at once; sarva—all; päpaiù—from sins; pramucyate—is freed; snatvä—having bathed; tat—that; dhäma—abode; paramam—supreme; yäti—attains; pärtha—O son of Påthä; nara-itaraù—the lowest of men.

     O son of Påthä, one who drinks the water here is at once free from all sins. The lowest of men who bathes here attains the supreme abode.

Text 27

tadottaraà mathuräà hi
     térthaà sarva-phala-pradam
varähe vaiñëave tad vai
     kértitaà çubhadaà nåëäm
     tadä—then; uttaram—to the north; mathuräm—Mathurä; hi—indeed; tértham—holy place; sarva—all; phala—fruits; pradam—giving; varähe—Varäha; vaiñëave—devotees; tat—that; vai—indeed; kértitam—glorified; çubhadam—auspicious; nåëäm—for humans.

     To the north is the holy place Mathurä, which filfills all desires, is aucpicious for the people, and is glorified in the Varäha and Viñëu Puräëas.

Text 28

çré-sémantadvépa-stha-mathurä-mähätmya-kathane pädme
aho mäyäpuré dhanyä
     vaikuëöhäc ca garéyasé
dinaà ekaà niväsena
     harau bhaktiù prajäyate
     çré-sémantadvépa-stha—situated in Çré Sémantadvépa; mathurä—of Mathurä; mähätmya—of the glory; kathane—in the description; pädme—in the Padma Puräëa; ahaù—Oh; mäyäpuré—Mäyäpura; dhanyä—auspicious; vaikuëöhät—than Vaikuëöha; ca—and; garéyasé—greater; dinam—day; ekam—one; niväsena—with residence; harau—for Lord Hari; bhaktiù—devotion; prajäyate—is born.

     In the Padma Puräëa, in the glorification of the Mathurä situated in Çré Sémantadvépa in Navadvépa it is said: Auspicious Mathurä is greater than Vaikuëöha. By living there for a single day one develops devotion for Lord Hari.

Texts 29 and 30

çri-viñëu puräëe
yamunä-salile snätaù
     puruño muni-sattama
jyaiñöha-müle 'male pakñe
     dvädaçyäm upaväsa-kåt
samabhyarcyäcyutaà samyäg
     yamunäyäà samähitaù
açvamedhasya yajïasya
     präpnoty adhikajaà phalam
     çri-viñëu puräëe—in the Viñëu Puräëa; yamunä-salile—in the Yamunä's water;; snätaù—bathed; puruñaù—a person; muni-sattama—O great sage; jyaiñöha-müle—in the star Mula in montùof Jyaistha; amale pakñe dvädaçyäm—in the çukla-dvädaçé; upaväsa-kåt—fasting;
samabhyarcya—having worshiped; acyutam—Lord Acyuta; samyäk—completely; yamunäyäà samähitaù—in the Yamunä; açvamedhasya yajïasya—of an asvamedha sacrifice; präpnoti—attains; adhikajam—greater; phalam—result.

     In the Çré Viñëu Puräëa it is said:
     O great sage, a person who, fasting, bathes in the Yamunä's waters during the Mülä-nakñatra in the çukla-dvädaçé of the montùof Jyaiñöha, and then with a peaceful heart worships Lord Acyuta on the Yamunä's shore, attains a result greater than the result of an açvamedha-yajïa.
Text 31

yo jyaiñöha-çukla-dvädaçyäà
     snätvä vai yamunä-jale
mathuräyäà harià dåñövä
     präpnoti paramäà gatim
     yaù—who; jyaiñöha—in the montùof Jyaistha; çukla-dvädaçyäm—on the çukla-dvädaçé; snätvä—having bathed; vai—indeed; yamunä-jale—in the Yamunä; mathuräyäm—in Mathurä; harim—the Deity of Lord Hari; dåñövä—having seen; präpnoti—attains; paramäà
gatim—the supreme destination.

     A person who bathes in the Yamunä and sees the Deity of Lord Hari in Mathurä during the çukla-dvädaçi in the montùof Jyaiñöha attains the supreme destination.

Text 32

varäha-puräëe varäha uväca
na vidyate hi pätäle
     näntarékñe na mänuñe
samaà tu mathuräyä hi
     térthe mama vasundhare
     varäha-puräëe—in the varäha Puräëa; varähaù—Lord Varäha; uväca—said; atha—now; sarva—of all; tértha—holy places; adhikatvam—superiority; yatha—as; ädi-värähe—in the Ädi-varäha Puräëa; na—not; vidyate—is; hi—indeed; pätäle—in hell; na—not; antarékñe—in heaven; na—not; mänuñe—in the world of men; samam—equal; tu—certainly; mathuräyä—to Mathurä; hi—certainly; térthe—holy place; mama—My; vasundhare—O earth.
     In the Varäha Puräëa Lord Varäha says: O earth-goddess, neither in hell, heaven,, nor in the world of humans, is there any sacred place equal to Mathurä.

Text 33

tac chrutvä vacanaà tasya
     praëamya çirasä tadä
puëyänäà paramaà puëyaà
     påthvé vacanam abravét
     tat—that; chrutvä—hearing; vacanam—words; tasya—of Him; praëamya—bowing; çirasä—with the head; tadä—then; puëyänäm—of pious deeds; paramam—the ultimate; puëyam—pious deed; påthvé—the earth; vacanam—words; abravét—said.

     After hearing His words, the earth-goddess bowed her head before Him and then described the greatest of pious deeds.

Text 34

påthvy uväca
puñkaraà naimiñaà caiva
     puréà väräëaséà tathä
etän hitvä mahä-bhäga
     mathuräà kià praçaàsasi
     påthvé—the earth; uväca—said; puñkaram—Puñkara; naimiñam—Naimiñäraëya; ca—and; eva—indeed; purém—city; väräëasém—Väräëasé; tathä—that; etän—these; hitvä—ignoring; mahä-bhäga—O auspicious Lord; mathuräm—Mathurä; kim—why?; praçaàsasi—You glorify.
     The the Earth-goddess said: There are Naimiñäraëya, Lake Puñkara, and the city of Väräëasé. O auspicious Lord, why do You ignore them and glorify Mathurä?

Text 35

varäha uväca
çåëu kärtsnena vasudhe
     kathyamänäà mayänaghe
mathureti ca vikhyätaà
     nästi kñetraà paraà mama
     varähaù—Lord Varäha; uväca—said; çåëu—please listen; kärtsnena—in completelness; vasudhe—O earth; kathyamänäm—described; mayä—by Me; anaghe—O sinless one; mathurä—Mathurä; iti—thus; ca—and; vikhyätam—famous; na—not; asti—is; kñetram—place; param—supreme; mama—of Me.

     Lord Varäha said: O Earth-goddess, please listen and I will tel you all. O sinless one, no holy place is better than Mathurä.

Text 36

sä ramyä ca praçastä ca
     janma-bhümiù priyä mama
çåëu devi yathä staumi
     mathuräà päpa-häriëém
     sä—it; ramyä—delightful; ca—and; praçastä—glorious; ca—and; janma-bhümiù—place of
birth; priyä—dear; mama—to Me; çåëu—please hear; devi—O goddess; yathä—as; staumi—I praise; mathuräm—Mathurä; päpa—sin; häriëém—destroying.

     Its is delightful and it is glorious. It is My dear birthplace. O goddess, please listen and I will glorify Mathurä, which destroys sins.

Text 37

tan-niväsé naro yäti
     mokñaà nästy atra saàçayaù
mahä-mäghyaà präyage tu
     yat phalaà labhate naraù
tat phalaà labhate devi
     mathuräyäà dine dine
     tan-niväsé—who lives there; naraù—person; yäti—attains; mokñam—liberation; na—not;
asti—is; atra—here; saàçayaù—doubt; mahä-mäghyam—in the month of Mägha; präyage—at
Prayäga; tu—indeed; yat—which; phalam—result; labhate—attains; naraù—a person; tat—that; phalam—fruit; labhate—attains; devi—O goddess; mathuräyäm—in Mathurä; dine dine—day after day.

     A person who lives there attains liberation. Of this there is no doubt. O goddess, the result one attains at Prayäga in the month of Mägha is attained on any day in Mathurä.

Text 38

kärttikyäà caiva yat puëyaà
     puñkare ca vasundhare
tat puëyaà labhate devi
     mathuräyäà dine dine
     kärttikyäm—in Kärttika; ca—and; eva—indeed; yat—which; puëyam—piety;
puñkare—at Puñkara; ca—and; vasundhare—O earth; tat—that; puëyam—piety; labhate—attains; devi—O goddess; mathuräyäm—at Mathurä; dine dine—day after day.

     O Earth-goddess, the pious result one attains at Lake Puñkara during the month of Kärttika is attained on any day in Mathurä.

Text 39

pürëe varña-sahasre tu
     väräëasyäà tu yat phalam
tat phalaà labhate devi
     mathuräyäà kñaëena hi
     pürëe—full; varña—of years; sahasre—a thousand; tu—indeed; väräëasyäm—at Väräëasé; tu—indeed; yat—what; phalam—result; tat—that; phalam—fruit; labhate—attains; devi—O goddess; mathuräyäm—at Mathurä; kñaëena—in a moment; hi—indeed.

     O goddess, the result obtained by living in Väräëasé for a thousand years is attain in Mathurä in a single moment.

Text 40

mathuräà ca parityajya
     yo 'nyatra kurute ratim
müòho bhramati saàsäre
     mohato mäyayä mama
     mathuräm—Mathurä; ca—and; parityajya—leaving; yaù—who; anyatra—for another place; kurute—does; ratim—attraction; müòhaù—bewildered; bhramati—wanders; saàsäre—in the material world; mohataù—bewildered; mäyayä—by illusion; mama—My.

     A person who leaves Mathurä and is attracted to another place is a fool. Bewildered by by illusory potency he wanders in this world of repeated birth and death.

Text 41

yaù çåëoti varärohe
     mäthuraà mama maëòalam
anyenoccaritaà saàsän
     so 'pi päpaiù pramucyate
     yaù—who; çåëoti—hears; varärohe—O beautiful one; maöhuram—Mathurä; mama—My;
maëòalam—circle; anyena—by another; uccaritam—spoken; saàsan—praising; saù api—someone; päpaiù—from sins; pramucyate—is freed;

     O beautiful one, a person who hears about My circle of Mathurä and also glorifies it becomes free from sin.

Text 42

påthivyäà yäni térthäni
     ä-samudra-saräàsi ca
mathuräyäà gamiñyanti
     supte caiva janärdane
     påthivyäm—on the earth; yäni—what; térthäni—holy places; ä-samudra-saräàsi—from the rivers to teh oceans; ca—and; mathuräyäm—in Mathurä; gamiñyanti—will go; supte—asleep; ca—and; eva—indeed; janärdane—Kåñëa.

     When Lord Janärdana naps all the holy places on the earth, from the rivers to the oceans, go to Mathurä.

Text 43

ye vasanti mahä-bhäge
     mathuräm itare janäù
te 'pi yänti paraà siddhià
     mat-prasädän na saàçayaù
     ye—who; vasanti—reside; mahä-bhäge—O fortunate one; mathuräm—in Mathurä; itare—other; janäù—people; te api—they; yänti—go; param—supreme; siddhim—perfection; mat-prasädät—by My mercy; na—no; saàçayaù—doubt;

     O fortunate one, even the lowest of men who reside in Mathurä attain the supreme perfection by My mercy.

Text 44

vaivasvata-sväsä ramyä
     yamunä loka-püjitä
tatra snäna-paro devi
     mama loke mahéyate
     vaivasvata—of Yama; sväsä—the sister; ramyä—beautiful; yamunä—Yamunä; loka-
püjitä—worshiped by the worlds; tatra—there; snäna—bath; paraù—devoted; devi—O goddess; mama—My; loke—on the planet; mahéyate—glorified.

     O goddess, a person who bathes in the beautiful Yamunä, which is Yamaräja's sister and is worshiped by all the worlds, is glorified in My abode.

Text 45

athätra muïcate praëän
     mama karma-paräyaëaù
na jäyate sa martyeñu
     jäyate ca catur-bhujaù
     atha—then; aatra—there; muïcate—gives up; praëän—life; mama karma-paräyaëaù—devoted to My work; na—no; jäyate—is born; saù—he; martyeñu—among human beings; jäyate—is born; ca—and; catur-bhujaù—with four arms.

     A person who, devoted to My work, dies there, is not born in the world of men. He is born as a four-armed resident of Vaikuëöha.

Text 46

kértana-viçräma-tértha-sambandhe tatraiva
viçränti-samjïakaà näma
     térthaà trailokya-viçrutam
yasmin snäto naro devi
     mama loke mahéyate
     kértana-viçräma-tértha-sambandhe—in the glorification of Viçräma-tértha; tatra—there; eva—indeed; viçränti-samjïakam—named Viçräma; näma—indeed; tértham—holy place; trailokya—in the three worlds; viçrutam—famous; yasmin—in which; snätaù—bathing; naraù—person; devi—O goddess; mama—My; loke—in the world; mahéyate—is glorified.
     Viçräma-tértha is glorified in the following words: Viçränti-tértha is famous in the three worlds. O goddess, a person who bathes there becomes glorified in My abode.

Text 47

sarva-tértheñu yat snänaà
     sarva-tértheñu yat phalam
tat phalaà labhate devi
     dåñövä devaà gataçramam
     sarva-tértheñu—in all holy places; yat—which; snänam—bath; sarva—all; tértheñu—in holy places; yat—which; phalam—result; tat—that; phalam—fruit; labhate—attains; devi—O goddess; dåñövä—seeing; devam—the Deity; gataçramam—Gataçrama.

     O goddess, by seeing the Deity at Viçränti-tértha a person attains the result of bathing in all holy places.

Text 48

na ca yajïair na tapasä
     na dhyänena na samyamaiù
tat phalaà labhate devi
     snäto viçränti-samjïake
     na—no; ca—and; yajïaiù—by sacrifices; na—no; tapasä—by austerities; na—no; dhyänena—by meditation; na—no; samyamaiù—by controlling the senses; tat—that; phalam—fruit; labhate—attains; devi—O goddess; snätaù—bathed; viçränti-samjïake—at
Viçränti-tértha.

     O goddess, not by performing yajïas, not by austerities, not by meditation, and not by controlling the senses will a person attain the same result as one who bathes at Viçränti-tértha.

Text 49

käla-trayaà tu vasudhe
     yaù paçyati gataçramam
kåtvä pradakñiëe dve tu
     viñëulokaà sa gacchati
     käla-trayam—the three phaes of time; tu—indeed; vasudhe—O earth; yaù—one who; paçyati—sees; gataçramam—Viçränti; kåtvä—having done; pradakñiëe—circumambulation; dve—two; tu—indeed; viñëulokam—to Viñëuloka; saù—he; gacchati—goes.

     A person who at the three times (morning, noon, and night) sees the Deity (Lord Caitanya) of Viçränti-tértha and circumambulates Him twice, goes to Viñëuloka.

Text 50

santi dvädaça-térthäni
     vasudhe durlabhäni hi
snänaà danaà tapo homaù
     sahasra-guëitaà bhavet
teñäà smaraëa-mätreëa
     sarva-päpaiù pramucyate
     santi—are; dvädaça—twelve; térthäni—holy places; vasudhe—O earth; durlabhäni—rare;
hi—indeed; snänam—bath; danam—charity; tapaù—austerity; homaù—sacrifice; sahasra—a thousand times; guëitam—multiplied; bhavet—is; eñäm—of them; smaraëa—by remembering; mätreëa—only; aarva-päpaiù—from sins; pramucyate—is freed;

     O Earth-goddess, in that place are twelve rare holy places. The pious results of bathing, charity, austerity, and sacrifice performed in these places are multiplied thousands of times.
Simply by remembering these places one is freed from all sins.

Text 51

hari-hara-käçé-kñeträdi-viñaye
mahä-väräëasé-kñetraà
     dhurjati-sthänam uttamam
käçé-kñeträt paraà viddhi
     sarva-päpa-vinäçanam
     hari-hara-käçé-kñeträdi-viñaye—in relation top Väräëasé; mahä-väräëasé—great Väräëasé;
kñetram—kñetra; dhurjati—of Lord Çiva; sthänam—place'; uttamam—ultimate; kasi-kñeträt—than Väräëasé; param—better; viddhi—please know; sarva—all; päpa—sin; vinäçanam—destruction;
     In relation to Väräëasé it is said: Väräëasé is the supreme abode of Lord Çiva. Know that Väräëasé destroys all sins.

Text 52

matsya-puräëe
vimuktaà na mayä yasmän
     mokñate na kadäcana
mama kñetram idaà tasmäd
     avimuktam idaà småtam
     matysya-puräëe—in the Matsya Puräëa; vimuktam—libreated; na—no; mayä—by Me;
yasmät—from which; mokñate—is liberated; na—no; kadäcana—ever; mama—My; kñetram—place; idam—this; tasmät—from this; avimuktam—not liberated; idam—this. småtam
     In the Matysa Puräëa it is said: Because I never leave (vimukta) this place and because it is never separated (avimukta) from Me, it is known as Avimukta-kñetra.

Text 53

jïänäd ajïänato väpi
     striyä vä puruñena vä
yat kiïcid açubhaà karma
     kåtaà mänuña-buddhinä
avimuktaà praviñöasya
     tat-kñaëät bhasmasad-bhavet
     jïänät—from knowledge; ajïänataù—ignorance; vä—or; api—also; srtiyä—by a woman; vä—or; puruñena—a man; vä—or; yat—what; kiïcit—something; açubhaàinauspicious; karma—work; kåtam—done; mänuña—human; buddhinä—with intelligence; avimuktam—not liberated; praviñöasya—entered; tat—that; kñaëät—in a moment; bhasmasad-bhavet—becomes burned to ashes.

     Knowing or unknowing, man or woman, anyone who enters Avimukta-tértha finds his sins burned to ashes.

Text 54

prayägäd api térthägryäd
     idaà eva mahattaram
alpäyäsena caivätra
     mokña-präptiù prajäyate
     prayägät—from Prayäga; api—and; térthägryät—the best of holy places; idam—this; eva—indeed; mahattaram—glory; alpa—littel; äyäsena—with effort; ca—and; eva—indeed; atra—here; mokña—liberation; präptiù—attainment; prajäyate—is born.

     A person who expends a slight effort to glorify Prayäga, the first of holy places, attains liberation.

Text 55

liìga-puräëe
brahma-hä yo 'bhigacchet tu
     avimuktaà kadäcana
tasyä kñetrasya mähätmyäd
     brahma-hatyä nivartate
avimukte vased yas tu
     mama tulyo bhaven naraù
     liìga-puräëe—in the Liìga Puräëa; brahma—of a brähmaëa; hä—the killer; yaù—who;
abhigacchet—goes; tu—indeed; avimuktam—to Avimukta-tértha; kadäcana—some time;
tasya—of this; kñetrasya—place; mähätmyät—from the glory; brahma—of a brähmaëa; hatyä—the murder; nivartate—turns; avimukte—at Avimukta; vaset—resides; yas tu—indeed; mama—to Me; tulyaù—equal; bhavet—becomes; naraù—person.
     In the Liìga Puräëa it is said: A person who has murdered a brähmaëa but goes to Avimukta-tértha becomes free from his sin by the glory of that sacred place. A person who lives at Avimukta-tértha becomes equal to Me.

Text 56

brahma-puräëe
avimuktaà samäsädya
     liìgaà arcanti ye naräù
kalpa-koöi-çataiç cäpi
     nästi teñäà punar-bhavaù
     brahma-puräëe—in the Brahma Puräëa; avimuktam—Avimukta; samäsädya—attaining; liìgam—the Çiva-liìga; arcanti—worship; ye—who; naräù—persons; kalpa—of kalpas; koöi—millions; çataiù—with hundreds; ca—and; api—also; na—not; asti—is; teñäm—of them; punaù—gain; bhavaù—birth.

     In the Brahma Puräëa it is said: They who go to Avimukta-tértha and worship the Çiva-liìga there become free from hundreds of millions of future births.

Text 57

skanda-puräëe godruma-mähätmye
godrumäkhye hareù sthäne
     vasanti ye narottamäù
sarva-päpa-vinirmuktäs
     te yänti paramaà padam
     skanda-puräëe—in the Skanda Puräëa; godruma—of Godruma; mähätmye—in the glorification; godruma—Godruma; äkhye—named; hareù—of Lord Hari; sthäne—in the place;
vasanti—reside; ye—who; narottamäù—the best of men; sarva—all; päpa—of sins; vinirmuktäù—free; te—they; yänti—go; paramaà padam—to the supreme bode.

     In the Skanda Puräëa, Godruma-mähätmya it is said: They who reside in Lord Hari's abode named Godruma become most exalted. Free from all sins, they attain the supreme abode.

Text 58

madhyadvépastha-naimiña-mähätmye garga-saàhitäyäm
gomaté-térajaà puëyaà
     rajo yo dhärayen naraù
çata-janma-kåtät päpän
     mucyate nätra saàçayaù
     madhyadvépastha—situated in Madhyadvépa; naimiña—of Naimiña; mähätmye—in the glorification; garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; gomaté—of the Gomaté; téra—on the shore; jam—born; puëyam—piety; rajaù—dust; yaù—who; dhärayet—holds; naraù—a
person; çata—hundreds; janma—in births; kåtät—done; päpät—from sin; mucyate—is freed; na—not; atra—here; saàçayaù—doubt;
     In the Garga-saàhitä in the glorification of the Naimiñäraëya situated in Madhyadvépa, it is said: He who takes the sacred dust on the shore of the Gomaté becomes free from the sins of hundreds of births. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 59

makara-sthe harau mäghe
     prayäge snänam äcaret
çatäçvamedha-jaà puëyaà
     sampräpnoti videha-räö
     makara-sthe harau mäghe—during Makara-saìkränti; prayäge—at Prayäga; snänam—bath; äcaret—takes; çata—a hundred; açvamedha—açvamedha-yajëas; jam—born; puëyam—piety; sampräpnoti—attains; videha—of Videha; räö—O king.

     O king of Videha, a person who bathes at Prayäga during Makara-saìkränti attains the pious result of performing a hundred açvamedha-yajëas.

Text 60

tat sahasra-guëaà puëyaà
     gomatyäà makare ravau
gomatyaç caiva mähätmyaà
     vaktuà nälaà catur-mukhaù
     tat—that; sahasra-guëaà puëyam—piety; gomatyäm—at the Gomaté; makare ravau—during Makara-saìkränti; gomatyäù—of the Gomaté; ca—and; eva—indeed; mähätmyam—glory; vaktum—to speak; na—not; alam—enough; catur-mukhaù—Brahmä with four mouths.

     That pious result is multiplied a thousand times during Makara-saìkränti at the Gomaté. Even Brahma with his four mouths cannot properly describe the Gomaté's glories.

Text 61

cakra-cihne cakra-térthe
     dvädaçyäà snänam äcaret
cakrapäëi-padaà yäti
     päpänäà bhajano 'pi hi
     cakra—of the cakra; cihne—the mark; cakra-térthe—at Cakra-tértha; dvädaçyäm—on Dvädaçé; snänam—bath; äcaret—does; cakrapäëi-padam—the feet of Lord Kåñëa who holds the cakra in His hand; yäti—attains; päpänäm—of sins; bhajanaù—a reservoir; api—even; hi—indeed.

     A person who, although he is a reservoir of sins, on the dvädaçé day bathes at Cakra-tértha, which bears the mark of the Lord's cakra, will attain the feet of Lord Kåñëa, who holds the cakra in His hand.

Text 62

çré-mahäbhärate kurukñetra-mähätmyam
pulastya uväca
tato gaccha hi räjendra
     kurukñetram abhéñöa-dam
päpebhya yatra mucyante
     darçanät sarva-jantavaù
     çré-mahäbhärate—in the Mahäbhärata; kurukñetra-mähätmyam—in the glorification of Kurukñetra; pulastyaù—Pulastya; uväca—said; tataù—then; gaccha—go; hi—indeed; räjendra—O king of kings; kurukñetram—to Kurukñetra; abhéñöa-dam—granting desires; äpebhyaù—from sins; yatra—where; mucyante—delivered; darçanät—by the sight;
sarva—all; jantavaù—people.
     In the Mahäbhärata, Kurukñetra-mähätmya, Pulastya Muni said: O greatest of kings, go to Kurukñetra, which fulfills all desires. By simply seeing Kurukñetra everyone becomes freed from all sins.

Text 63

kurukñetraà gamiñyämi
     kurukñetre vasämy aham
ya eva satataà brüyät
     sarva-päpaiù pramucyate
     kurukñetram—to Kurukñetra; gamiñyämi—I will go; kurukñetre—in Kurukñetra; vasämi—I will reside; aham—I; yaù—who; eva—indeed; satatam—always; brüyät—may say; sarva—all; päpaiù—from sins; pramucyate—is freed;

     "I will go to Kurukñetra. I will live in Kurukñetra." A person who again and again says these words become free from all sins.

Text 64

paàsavo 'pi kurukñetre
     vayunä samudéritäù
api duñkåta-karmäëäà
     nayanti paramäà gatim
     paàsavaù—particles of dust; api—even; kurukñetre—in Kurukñetra; vayunä—by the wind;
samudéritäù—carried; api—and; duñkåta-karmäëäm—of the sinful; nayanti—carry; paramäà
gatim—to the supreme destination.

     Even the particles of dust carried from Kurukñetra by the wind bring the sinful to the supreme destination.

Text 65

çré-mahäbharate brahma-puñkara-mähätmye
nå-loke deva-devasya
     térthaà trailokya-viçrutam
puñkaraà näma vikhyätaà
     mahä-bhägaù samäviçet
     çré-mahäbharate—in the Mahäbhärata; brahma-puñkara-mähätmye—in the glorification of Brahma-Puñkara; nå-loke—in the world of humans; deva-devasya—of the master of the demigods; tértham—holy place; trailokya—in the three worlds; viçrutam—famous; puñkaram—Puñkara; näma—named; vikhyätam—famous; mahä-bhägaù—a fortunate person; samäviçet—will enter.

     In the Mahäbhärata, Brahma-Puñkara-mahätmya, it is said: A very fortunate person is able to enter Lake Puñkara, which is sacred to the master of the demigods, and which is famous in the world of men.

Texts 66 and 67

daça-koöi-sahasräëi
    térthänäà vai mahä-mate
sannidhyäà puñkare yeñäà
     tri-sandhyaà kuru-nandana
äditya vasavo rudräù
     sadhyäç ca sa-marud-gaëäù
gandharväpsarasaiç caiva
     nityaà sannihitä vibho
     daça—tens; koöi—of millions; sahasräëi—of thousands; térthänäm—of holy places; vai—indeed; mahä-mate—O noble-hearted one; sannidhyäm—near; puñkare—Puñkara; yeñäm—of which; tri-sandhyam—at the three times of the day; kuru-nandana—O descendant of the
Kuru dynasty; ädityäù—the Ädityas; vasavaù—vasus; rudräù—rudras; sadhyäù—Sadhyas;
ca—and; sa-marud-gaëäù—Maruts; gandharva—Gandharvas; apsarasaiù—and Apsaräs; ca—and;iva nityam—always; sannihitäù—in the area; vibhaù—O powerful one.
     O powerful descendent of Kuru, near Lake Puñkara are hundreds and thousands and millions of holy places where many Ädityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sädhyas, Maruts, Gandharvas, and Apsaräs always stay.

Text 68

janma-prabhåti yat päpaà
     striyä vä puruñasya vä
puñkare snäna-mätrasya
     sarvaà eva praëaçyati
     janma—with birth; prabhåti—beginning; yat—which; päpam—sin; striyä—by a woman;
vä—or; puruñasya—of a man; vä—or; puñkare—at Puñkara; snäna-mätrasya—simply by bathing; sarvam—all; eva—indeed; praëaçyati—are destroyed.

     All sins, beginning with the moment of birth, committed by a man or woman who simply bathes at Lake Puñkara, perish.

Text 69

yathä suräëäà sarveñäm
     ädis tu madhusüdanaù
tathaiva puñkaraà räjaàs
     térthänäm ädir ucyate
     yathä—as; suräëäm—of the demigods; sarveñäm—all; ädiù—beginning; tu—indeed;
madhusüdanaù—Lord Kåñëa; tathä—so; eva—indeed; puñkaram—Puñkara; räjan—O king; térthänäm—of holy places; ädiù—the first; ucyate—is said.

     O king, as Lord Madhusüdana is the first of all deities, so Lake Puñkara is said to be the first of holy places.

Text 70

bhälukä-mähätmye garga-saàhitäyäm
tathä vai dakñiëaà dväraà
     jambuvän rkña-räò balé
rakñaty ahar-niçaà räjan
     bhagavad-bhakti-samyutaù
     bhaluka-mähätmye—in the glorification of Bhälukä; garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; tathä—so; vai—indeed; dakñiëam—on the southern; dväram—door; jambuvän—Jambhavän; rkña-räö—the king of the Rkñas; balé—Bali; rakñati—protects; ahar-niçam—day and night; räjan—O king; bhagavad-bhakti—devotion; -samyutaù—engaged in devotional
service to the Lord.

     In the Garga-saàhitä, Bhälukä-mähätmya it is said: O king, in this way powerful Jambhavän, the king of the Åkñas, who is a great devotee of the Lord, day and night guards the southern gate of this sacred place.

Text 71

mahäbhärate samudra-gaòa-mähätmye
sapta-koöéni térthäni
     brahmäëòe yäni käni ca
sarväni tatra tiñöhanti
     sapta-samudrake nåpa
     mahäbhärate—in the Mahäbhärata; samudra-gada-mähätmye—in the Samudragada-mähätmya; sapta-koöéni—seventy-million; térthäni—holy places; brahmäëòe—in the universe; yäni käni—which; ca—and; sarväni—all; tatra—there; tiñöhanti—stand; sapta-samudrake—in Sapta-samudra-tértha; nåpa—O king.
     In the Mahäbhärata, Samudragaòa-mähätmya, it is said: O king, all of the seventy-million holy places manifest in the universe stay at Saptasamudra-tértha.

Text 72

viñëu-puräëe
ayaà tu navamas teñäà
     dvépaù sägara-samvåtaù
     viñëu-puräëe—in the Viñëu Puräëa; ayam—this; tu—indeed; navamaù—ninth; teñäm—of them; dvépaù—island; sagara-samvrtaù—surrounded by the ocean.

     In the Viñëu Puräëa it is said: In the middle of the ocean this is the ninth island.

Text 73

vidyänägara-mähätmye garga-saàhitäyäm
jagäma veda-nägaraà
     jambudvépe manoramam
mürtimän yatra nigamo
     dåçyate sarvadaiva hi
     vidyänägara-mähätmye—in the Vidyänägara-mähätmya; garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; jagäma—went; veda-nägaram—to the city of thre Vedas; jambudvépe—in Jambudvépa; manoramam—chamring; mürtimän—possessing a form; yatra—where; igamaù—the Veda; dåçyate—is seen; sarvadä—always; eva—indeed; hi—indeed.

     In the Garga-saàhitä, Vidyänägara-mähätmya, it is said: Then he went to beautiful Vidyänägara in Jambudvépa. In that place the Personified Vedas are always seen.

Text 74

tat-sabhäyäà sadä väëé
     véëä-pustaka-dhäriëé
gäyati kåñëa-caritaà
     çubhagaà maìgaläyanam
     tat-sabhäyäm—in that assembly; sadä—always; väëé—Sarasvaté; véëä—a véëä; pustaka—and a book; dhäriëé—holding; gäyati—sings; kåñëa—Kåñëa's; caritam—pastimes; çubhagam—blissful; maìgaläyanam—auspicious.

     In the assembly of scholars there goddess Sarasvaté, holding a book and a véëä, eternally sings the beautiful and auspicious pastimes of Lord Kåñëa.

Text 75

mürtimanto viräjante
     tatra veda-pure nåpa
añöau täläù svaräù sapta
     tathä gräma-trayaà nåpa
     mürtimantaù—personified; viräjante—are splendidly manifest; tatra—there; veda-pure—in Vidyänägara; nåpa—O king; añöau—the eight; täläù—tälas; svaräù—notes; sapta—seven; tathä—so; gräma—scales; trayam—three; nåpa—O king.

     O king, in Vidyänägara the personified eight rhythms, seven notes, and three musical modes, are splendidly manifested.

Text 76

mémäàsä-çästraà hasto
     jyotir netraà prakértitam
äyur-vedaù påñöha-deço
     dhanur-veda uraù-sthalam
     mémäàsä-çästram—the Mémäàsä-çästra; hastaù—the hand; jyotiù—Jyotir Veda; netram—the eyes; prakértitam—glorified; äyur-vedaù—Äyur Veda; påñöha-deçaù—the back; dhanur-
vedaù—Dhanur Veda; uraù-sthalam—the chest.
     The Mémäàsä-sütras are said to be the hand of the Personified Veda, the Jyotir Veda its eye, the Äyur Veda its back, and the Dhanur Veda its chest.

Text 77

gandharvaà rasanaà viddhi
     mano vaiçeñikaà småtam
saìkhyaà buddhi ahaìkäro
     nyäya-väda-prakértitaù
vedäntaà tasya cittaà hi
     vedasyäpi mahätmanaù
     gandharvam—the Gandharva Veda; rasanam—its tongue; viddhi—please know; manaù—mind; vaiçeñikaà småtam—Vaiçeñika-çästra; saìkhyam—Saìkhya-çästra; buddhiù—intelligence; ahaìkäraù—ego; nyäya-väda—Nyäya-çästra; prakértitaù—glorified; vedäntam—Vedänta; tasya—its; cittam—heart; hi—indeed; vedasya—of the Veda; api—also;
mahätmanaù—great soul.

     Know that the Gandharva Veda is said to be the tongue of the noble-hearted Personified Veda, the Vaiçeñika-çästra its mind, the Saìkhya-çästra its intelligence, the Nyäya-çästra its ego, and the Vedänta-sütra its heart.

Text 78

rukmapura-rämatértha-mähätmye garga-saàhitäyäm
yatra rämeëa gaìgäyäà
     kåtaà snänaà videha-räò
tatra térthaà mahä-puëyaà
     räma-térthaà vidur budhäù
     rukmapura-rämatértha-mähätmye—in the Rukmapura-rämatértha-mähätmya; garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; yatra—where; rämeëa—with Balaräma; gaìgäyäm—in the Ganges; kåtam—done; snänam—bath; videha-räò—O king of Videha; tatra—there; tértham—holy place; mahä-puëyam—very sacred; räma-tértham—Räma-tértha; viduù—know; budhäù—the wise;

     In the Garga-saàhitä, Rukmapura-rämatértha-mähätmya it is said: O king of Videha, this very sacred place, where Räma bathed in the Ganges, the wise know as Räma-tértha.

Text 79

kärttikyäà kärttike snatvä
     ramatérthe tu jähnavém
haridväräc chata-guëaà
     puëyaà vai labhate janaù
     kärttikyäm—on the full-moon day; kärttike—in the month of Kärttika; snatvä—having bathed; ramatérthe—at Räma-tértha; tu—indeed; jähnavém—in the Ganges; haridvärät—from Hardwar; çata—a hundred times; guëam—multiplied; puëyam—piety; vai—indeed; labhate—attains; janaù—a person.

     A person who on the full-moon day of the month of Kärttika bathes in the Ganges at Räma-tértha attains piety a hundred times greater than at Hardwar.

Text 80

bahuläçva uväca
kausambäc ca kiyad düraà
     sthale kasmin mahä-mune
ramatérthaà mahä-puëyaà
     mahyaà vaktuà tvam arhasi
     bahuläçvaù—Bahuläçva; uväca—said; kausambät—from Kusanagara; ca—and; kiyat—how much?; düram—far; sthale—place; kasmin—in what?; mahä-mune—O great sage; ramatértham—Räma-tértha; mahä-puëyam—great piety; mahyam—to me; vaktum—to speak; tvam—you; arhasi—desrve.

     Bahuläçva said: How far, and in what direction from Kusanagara, is very sacred Räma-tértha? Please tell me.

Text 81

närada uväca
kausambäc ca tad éçänyäà
     catur-yojanam eva hi
vayasyaà sükara-kñetrac
     catur-yojanaà eva ca

     näradaù—Närada; uväca—said; kausambät—from Kusanagara; ca—and;
tat—that; éçänyäm—north; catur-yojanam—four yojanas (32 miles); eva—indeed;
hi—indeed; vayasyam—northwest; sükara-kñetrat—from Koladvépa; ca—and; catur-
yojanam—four yojanas; eva—indeed; ca—and.
     Närada said: It is 32 miles north of Kusanagara and 32 miles northwest of Koladvépa.

Text 82

karëakñeträc ca ñaö-kroçair
     nalakñeträc ca païcabhiù
ägneyyäà diçi räjendra
     räma-térthaà vadanti hi
     karëakñeträt—from Kurukñetra; ca—and; ñaö—six; kroçaiù—kroças; nalakñeträt—from
Nalakñetra; ca—and; païcabhiù—with five; agneyyäm—in the southeast; diçi—direction; räjendra—O great king; rämatértham—Räma-tértha; vadanti—say; hi—indeed.

     O great king, they say that Räma-tértha 12 miles southeast of Kurukñetra and 10 miles southeast of Nalakñetra.

Text 83

våddha-keçé-siddha-péöhad
     bilvakeçavanät punaù
pürvasyäà ca tribhiù kroçai
     rämatérthaà vidur budhäù
     våddha-keçé-siddha-péöhat—from Våddha-keçé-siddha-péöha; bilvakeçavanät—from Bilvakeçavana; punaù—again; pürvasyäm—in the east; ca—and; tribhiù kroçaiù—with three kroças; rämatértham—Räma-tértha; viduù—know; budhäù—the wise;

     The wise know that Räma-tértha is 6 miles east of Våddha-keçé-siddha-péöha and Bilvakeçavana.

Text 84

dåòhäçvo vaìga-räjo 'bhüt
     kurüpaà lomaça-munià
dåñövä jahäsa satataà
     taà çaçäpa mahä-muniù
     dåòhäçvaù—Dåòhäçva; vaìga-räjaù—the king of Bengal; abhüt—was; kurüpam—deformed; lomasa-munim—Lomaça Muni; dåñövä—seeing; jahäsa—laughed; satatam—always; tam—him;
çaçäpa—cursed; mahä-muniù—the great sage.

     There was a king of Bengal named Dåòhäçva who always laughed at deformed Lomaça Muni. The great sage Lomaça cursed him:

Text 85

vikarälaù kroòa-mukho
     'suro 'bhavan mahä-khalaù
itthaà sa muni-çäpena
     kolaù kroda-mukho 'bhavat
     vikarälaù—horrible; kroòa-mukhaù—with the face of a pig; asuraù—demon; bhava—become; mahä-khalaù—a great demon; ittham—in this way; saù—he; muni-çäpena—by the sage's curse; kolaù—Kola; kroòa-mukhaù—with the face of a pig; abhavat—became.

     "Now become a horrible demon with the face of a pig!" By the sage's curse the king became a pig-faced demon named Kola.

Text 86

baladeva-prahäreëa
     tyaktvä svam äsuréà tanum
kolo näma mahä-daityaù
     paraà kñetraà jagäma ha
     baladeva—of Lord Balaräma; prahäreëa—by the blows; tyaktvä—abandoning; svam—his;
äsurém—demon; tanum—body; kolaù—Kola; näma—name; mahä-daityaù—the great demon; paraà kñetram—to the supreme abode; jagäma—went; ha—indeed.

     Killed by Lord Baladeva, the great demon Kola gave up his demon body and went to the spiritual world.

Text 87

tato rämo mantribhiç ca
     uddhavädibhir anvitaù
jahnu-térthaà jagämäçu
     yatra dakñaù çruter abhüt
     tataù—then; rämaù—Balaräma; mantribhiù—with advisors; ca—and; uddhava-ädibhiù—headed by Uddhava; anvitaù—with; jahnu-tértham—to Jahnu-tértha; jagäma—went; äçu—at once; yatra—where; dakñaù—expert; çruteù—in the Vedas; abhüt—was.

     Then Lord Balaräma, accompanied by Uddhava and other advisers, at once went to Jahnu-tértha, where He became learned in the Vedas.
Text 88

gaìgä brähmaëa-mukhyasya
     jähnavé yena kathyate
datvä dänaà dvijätibhya
     uñu rätrau janaiù saha
     gaìgä—Ganges; brähmaëa-mukhyasya—of the best of brähmaëas; jähnavé—Jähnavé; yena—by whom; kathyate—is called; datvä—giving; dänam—charity; dvijätibhyaù—to the brähmaëas; uñuù—resided; rätrau—at night; janaiù—people; saha—with.

     Jahnu is the great Brähmaëa after whom the Ganges is called Jähnavé. There Lord Balaräma gave chairty ot the brähmaëas and then stayed the night with His associates.

Text 89

tatas taà päçcime bhäge
     päëòavänäm ati-priyam
ähära-sthänakaà präpya
     rätrau väsaà cakära ha
     tataù—then; tam—that; päçcime bhäge—in the west; päëòavänäm—to the Päëòavas; ati-priyam—very dear; ähära-sthänakam—Ähära-sthäna; präpya—attained; rätrau—at night; väsam—residence; cakära—made; ha—indeed.
     Going west, He reached Ähära-sthäna, which is very dear to the Päëòavas, where He stayed the night.

Text 90

tatra dänaà dvijätibhyo
     datvä sad-guëa-bhojanam
tato yojanaà ekaà ca
     devaà mäëòuka-samjïakam
     tatra—there; dänam—charity; dvijätibhyaù—to the brähmaëas; datvä—giving; sad-guëa-bhojanam—delicious food; tataù—then; yojanaà ekam—one yojana; ca—and; devam—the Deity; maëòuka-samjïakam—named Maëòuka.

     There He gave delicious foods in charity to the brähmaëas. Then He went eight miles away to the Deity named Mäëòuka.

Text 91

tapas taptaà mahat tena
     cänte deva-kåpäptaye
tad-arthaà sva-samäjena
     baladevo jagäma ha
     tapas taptam—performed austerities;; mahat—great; tena—by Him; ca—and; ante—in the
end; deva—of the Diety; kåpä—mercy; äptaye—to attain; tad-artham—for that purpose;
sva-samäjena—with His group; baladevaù—Balaräma; jagäma—went; ha—indeed.

     Then He performed great austerities to attain the mercy of that Deity. That is the reason Lord Balaräma went there with His associates.

Texts 92 and 93

tasya çiåñëä karaà datvä
     varaà brühéty uväca ha
yadi prasanno bhagavän
     anugrahyo 'smi vä yadi
sarvottamäà bhägavatéà
     saàhitäà çuka-vaktrataù
nirgatäà dehi mäà svämin
     kali-doña-haräà paräm
     tasya—of Him; çiåñëä—head; karam—hands; datvä—placing; varam—benediction; brühé—please give; iti—thus; uväca—said; ha—indeed; yadi—if; prasannaù—pleased; bhagavän—the Lord; anugrahyaù—the object of mercy; asmi—I am; vä—or; yadi—if; sarva—of all; uttamäm—the best; bhägavatéà saàhitäm—Çré Bhägavaté-saàhitä; çuka-vaktrataù—from the mouth of Çukadeva Gosvämé; nirgatäm—come; dehi—please give; mäm—me;– svamin—O LOrd; kali—of Kali-yuga; doña—the faults; haräm—removing; paräm—transcendental.
     Placing His His hand on Lord Balaräma's head, the Deity said: "Ask for a benedcition." Lord Balaräma said: ïIf the Lord is pleased wth Me, or if the Lord feels compassion on Me, then, O Lord, please give me the Bhägavaté-saàhitä, which has come from the mouth of Çukadeva Gosvämé, and which removes the evils of the age of Kali."

Text 94

çré-baladeva uväca
çrémad-bhägavataà divyaà
     puräëaà vacanaà tadä
gauränvayasya sampräptir
     bhaviñyati na saàçayaù
     çré-baladevaù—Lord Balaräma; uväca—said; çrémad-bhägavatam—Çrémad-Bhägavatam; divyam—transcendental; puräëam—Puräëa; vacanam—words; tadä—then; gaura-anvayasya—of Lord Gaura; sampräptiù—attainment; bhaviñyati—will be; na—no; saàçayaù—doubt;

     Lord Balaräma said: The splendid Çrémad-Bhägavatam Puräëa predicts the appearance of Lord Gaura. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 95

rudradvépa-mähätmye garga-saàhitäyäm
tathä vä uttare dvare
     kñetraà syän naila-lohitam
yatra säkñän mahä-devo
     räjate nila-lohitaù
     rudradvépa-mähätmye—in the Rudradvépa-mähätmya; garga-saàhitäyäm—in the Garga-saàhitä; tathä—so; vä—or; uttare dvare—in the north; kñetram—a place; syät—is; naila-lohitam—Naila-lohita; yatra—where; säkñät—directly; mahä-devaù—Lord Çiva; räjate—shines; nila-lohitaù—name Néla-lohita.
     In the Garga-saàhitä, Rudradvépa-mähätmya it is said: In the north is a holy place named Nailalohita-kñetra, where Lord Çiva is splendidly manifest as the deity Nélalohita.

Text 96

devatä munayaù sarve
     tathä saptarñayaù pare
vasanti yatra vaideha
     tathä sarve marud-gaëäù
     devatäù—demigods; munayaù—sages; sarve—all; tathä—so; sapta—seven; åñayaù—sages;
pare—others; vasanti—reside; yatra—where; vaideha—O king of Videha; tathä—so; sarve—all; marud-gaëäù—Maruts.

     O king of Videha, all the demigods, sages, saptarñis, and Maruts live there.

Text 97

néla-lohita-liìgaà tu
     yatra sampüjya yatnataù
aiçvaryam atulaà lebhe
     rävaëo loka-rävaëaù
     néla-lohita-liìgam—the deity of Nélalohita; tu—indeed; yatra—where; sampüjya—worshiping; yatnataù—earnestly; aiçvaryam—opulence; atulam—peerless; lebhe—attained; rävaëaù—Rävaëa; loka—world; rävaëaù—cry.

     In this place Rävaëa, who made the world cry, earnestly worshiped the liìga of Lord Nélalohita and thus attained peerless opulence.

Text 98

kailäsasyäpi yaträyäà
     yat phalaà labhate nåpa
tasmäc chata-guëaà puëyaà
     nila-lohita-darçanät
     kailäsasya—of Kailäsa; api—even; yaträyäm—on the journey; yat—which; phalam—fruit;
labhate—attains; nåpa—O king; tasmät—than that; çata—a hundred times; guëam—multiplied; puëyam—piety; nila-lohita-darçanät—by seeing Lord Nélalohita.
     By seeing the deity of Lord Nélalohita one attains piety a hundred times greater than what one atains by going on pilgrimage to Mount Kailäsa.