62 - Holy Ablution in Propitiation of Krishna 

The sages said: 

1. O lotus-born one, when does the holy dip of Krishna take place? By what means and in accordance with what precepts? Mention this, O excellent one among the knowers of precepts. 

Brahma said: 

2. O sages, even as I recount, listen to the rules of holy ablution in propitiation) of Krişhna, Rama and Subhadra. It is meritorious and destroyer of all sins. 

3. O brahmins if, in the month of Jyestha the constellaation Margaśiras coincides with the full moon, that is the auspicious time for the ablution of Hari, 

4. There is a pure well devoid of impurities. It is full of sacred water reservoirs. O brahmins, the sacred river Bhogavati becomes visible there at that time.. 

5-10. Hence, from thai well, the devotee should draw water in golden vessels on the fullmoon day, for the ablution of Kriņa, Rama and Subhadra. O brahmins, the devotee, should make a raised rostrum for the ablution of Rama and Krişhņa. The rostrum should look splendid and well decorated with flags. It should be firm as well as comfortable to walk upon. It should be beautified with flowers and nice pieces of clothes. It should be spacious and fumigated with incenses. It should be enclosed with white clothes and decorated with pearlnecklaces dangling down. To the accompaniment of musical intruments and auspicious shouts of victory the idols of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadrā should be installed on the platform. 

O brahmins, men and women, brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sūdras and people of other castes, householders, religious students newly wed, ascetics and celibate students should pour water over Krişhņa and the ploughshare-armed Balarama stationed on the platform. 

11. O excellent brahmins, all the holy sacred waters mentioned above bathe the deities separately with their waters moved with flowers. 

12-14. Loud sounds are then heard from drums of various kinds such as Pațaha, Bheri, Muraja and Mrudarga, from conches Kāhalas, cymbals, gongs, bells and various musical instruments Women raise auspicious shouts along with the charming sounds raised by sages in the form of prayers, shouts of victory and sounds of flutes and lutes. The tumult raised there resembles the sound of rumbling sea. 

15-16. The sages raise the chanting sound of Vedic Mantras and hymns from holy scriptures accompanied by Säman songs. At the time of ablution, excellent devas eulogise them with great joy along with ascetics, houscholders old as well as those newly initiated religious students. 

17-18. Rāma and Keśava are fanned with chowries with their handles studded with precious stones by dark-complexioned courtesans bending under the weight of their breasts. They are clad in yellow or red cloths and stoop down by the weight of garlands. They wear jewel-studded divine ear-rings with golden branches. 

19-20. Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, Viśvedevas, Maruts, guardians of quarters and many others eulogise Puruşottama. They are surrounded by Yakşhas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas, Kinnaras and Apsaras all occupying the firmament. There are Devas, Gandharvas and Cāraņas also: 

21. "Obeisance to you, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas, o ancient Puruşottama, O lord, the cause of creation, sustenance and annihilation, O lord of the world, O lord of the Universe. 

22. Devoutly we bow to the lord holding the three worlds, who is favourably disposed to the brahmins, who is the cause of liberation and who bestows all desired benefits. 

23. O excellent sages, Devas eulogised Krishna, Balarama of great strength and Subhadra and remained in the sky itself. 

24. Together with Gandharvas they sang auspicious songs while the celestial damsels danced, the divine musical instruments were played and the cool gentle winds blew. 

25. The clouds gathered in the sky, showered water and strewed flowers. The sages, Siddhas and Caranas shouted cries of victory. 

26. (So also) Lord Indra and other Devas, sages, Pitrus, Prajapatis, Nägas and those others who resided in heaven. 

27-45. Thereafter, Deva took the materials of ablution duly inspired by the racitation of Mantra together with other auspicious requisites. Indra, Vişhnu of great strength, sun, moon, Dhātā, Vidhātā, Anila (Wind God), Anala (fire God), Puşan. Bhaga, Aryaman, Tvastr, Amśumān and Vivasvat accompanied by his consorts, Mitra, Varuna, the lord surrounded by Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, the two Asvins, Viśvedevas, Maruts and Sadhyas alongwith the forefathers, were present there. There were Gandharvas, Apsaras, Yakşhas, the Rakşhasas, Nāgas, celestial sages, excellent brahminical sages, Vaikhānasas, Válakhilyas who subsisted on winds and who drink lunar rays. Bhrugus, Angiras, the pious ascetics, Vidyadharas, holy persons of Yogic achievement surrounded them. Pitāmaha, Pulastya, Pulaha of great penance, Angiras, Kaśyapa, Atri, Marici, Bhrugu, Kratu, Hara, Pracetas, Manu, Dakhsa, seasons, planets, luminaries, rivers in their embodied form, immortal Devas, ocean, eddies, different Tirthas, Earth, heaven, quarters, trees, Aditi the mother of Devas, the wives of heaven-dwellers such as Harī, Sri, Sváha, Sarasvati, Umā, Sachi, Sinivali, Anumati, Kuhu, Raka, Dhisaņā and others, mountains Himavan, Vindhya and Meru of numerous peaks, Airāvata with his followers. Kāla, Kästhås, fortnights, month, seasons, day, night, Uccaiśśravas most excellent of horses, Vāmana, Airāvata king of elephants, Aruna, Garuda, the trees along with the medicinal herbs, lord Dharma assembled together. Kala, Mrutyu, Yama and the servants of Yama, groups of Devas who have not been already mentioned because of their numerosity came for bathing the lord, from different quarters. O brahmins, the heaven-dwellers came upon the vessel which contained auspicious articles for ablution. The vessels of gold, O brahmins contained divine articles of requi sites as well as holy and divine waters of the river Sarasvati. Devas stationed in the firmament, bathed Krişhņa and Balarama with the water vessels mixed alongwith flowers. 

46. So also the aerial chariots of Devas moved about in the sky. In these divine chariots they could go wherever they were pleased to go. The cars were of different type high and low. Some of them were stationary. 

47. They were of wonderful workmanship with divine jewels studded in them. They were resorted to by Apsaras rendered beautiful by flags. Their charm was enhanced by songs and musical instruments. 

48. They, O excellent sages, all these bathed Krişhņa, Bala- ráma and Subhadra and eulogised them with great joy. 

49. Be victorious, be victorious, protector of the world. O saviour of devotees, be victorious, be victorious, one favourably disposed to one who bows down, be victorious, be victorious. O refuge of living beings, be victorious, be victorious. O primordial lord, o cause of many, be victorious, be victorious O destroyer of Asuras, be victorious, be victorious, be victorious. O most excellent one among the gods, be victorious, be victorious. O deity lying down in the ocean, be victorious, be victorious. O foremost one among the Yogins, be victorious be victorious. O deity with the sun for the eye, be victorious, be victorious. O king of Devas, be victorious, be victorious. O enemy of Kaitabha, be victorious, be victorious. O excellent one (eulogized in) the Vedas, be victorious, be victorious. O deity in the form of a tortoise, be victorious, be victorious O excellent deity in the form of sacrifice, be victorious, be victorious. O deity with the umbilical lotus, be victorious. O deity who move about on the mountains, be victorious, be victorious O Yogaśayin (one who sleep the Yogic slumber), be victorious, be victorious, be victorious. O holder of velocity, be victorious, be victorious, O Visvamūrti (deity of Universal form), be victorious, be victorious. O holder of discus, be victorious, be victorious. O lord of living beings, be victorious, be victorious. O upholder of the earth, be victorious, be victorious. O Seşaśayin (one lying on the serpent Sesa), be victorious, be victorious. O yellowrobed one, be victorious be victorious. O Somakānta (one as lovely as the moon), be victorious, be victorious. O Yogavas (one residing in the Yogic power), be victorious, be victorious, O Dahanavaktra (one whose mouth emits fire), be victorious, be victorious. O abode of piety, be victorious, be victorious. O storehouse of good qualities, be victorious, be victorious. O abode of glory, be victorious, be victorius. O deity going about on the Vehicle Garuda, be victorious, be victorious. O abode of  happiness, be victorious, be victorious. O banner of virtue, be victorious, be victorious. O abode of the earth, be victorious, be victorious. O Gahana Charitra (One whose conduct is abstruse); be victorious, be victorious. O Yogigamya (one who can be realised by Yogins), be victorious, be victorious, be victorious. O deity comprehensible through Vedas; be victorious, be victorious. O deity spreading calmness and peace, be victorious, be victorious. O cause of nourishment, be victorious, be victorious, O Jñanamurti (one whose form is perfect knowledge), be victorious, be victorious. O mine of fortune, be victorious, be victorious. O Bhāvavedya (one who can be understood only through emotional fervour), be victorious, be victorious. O (deity) that causes salvation; be victorious, be victorious. O deity with a physical body devoid of impurities, be victorious, be victorious. O abode of all living beings, be victorious, be victorious. O cause of sacrifices, be victorious, be victorious. O deity devoid of attributes, bc victorious, be victorious. O Mokşakara (Liberator), be victorious, be victorious. Bhūśaranya refuge of the Earth, be victorious, be victorious. O refulgent one, be victorious, be victorious. O refuge of the worlds, be victorious, be victorious. O lotus-eyed one, be victorious, be victorious. O cause of creation, be victorious, be victorious. O deity endowed with Yoga, be victorious, be victorious. O deity whose body is dark-coloured like the Atasi flower, be victorious, be victorious. O Samudrăvistadeva (one whose body has entered the ocean), be victorious, be victorious. O deity acting as the bee in regard to Lakşmi who is the lotus, be victorious, be victorious. O deity under the control of the devotee, be victorious, be victorious. O lover of the worlds, be victorious, bc victorious. O extremely quiescent one, be victorious, be victorious. O greatest deity of essence, be victorious, be victorious, o holder of discus, be victorious, be victorious. O deity accompanied by those who enjoy, be victorious, be victorious. O bluerobed one (i.e. Balarama), be victorious, be victorious. O bringer of peace, be victorious, be victorious. O liberator, be victorious, be victorious. O dispeller of sins, be victorious, be victorious. O Krishna, lord of the universe, be victorious, be victorious. O younger brother of Samkarşaņa, be victorious, be victorious, o lotus-eyed one, be victorious, be victorious, O bestower of desired benefits, be victorious, be victorious. O deity whose chest is covered with garlands, be victorious, be victorious. O wielder of discus and ironclub, be victorious, be victorious. O lover of Lakşmi (whose abode is the lotus) be victorious, be victorious, O Vişhnu, obeisance bc to you 

Brahmă said: 

50-51. Thus Indra and other Devas were delighted in their minds after eulogising thus. Siddhas, Cāraṇas and others who reside in heaven and the sages Vālakhilyas loved to Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. O excelleni sages, after bowing to them they stationed themselves in the firmanent. 

52-53. After visiting, eulogising and bowing to Krishna, Rama and Subhadrā, the heaven-dwellers went to their respective abodes. The aerial chariots of Devas moved about in the sky. Some were lofty. Some were low. Some could go as they pleased. Some were stationary. 

54. The aerial chariots were of wonderful workmanship with divine jewels inlaid. They werc resorted by the celestial maidens. They were beautified with flags and banners while musical instruments and songs enhanced their charm. 

55. The devotees who visit Puruşottama, Balabhadra and and Subhadra on that occasion go to the eternal region 

(whence there is no return to the earth). 

56. By seeing Puruşottama seated on the platforın accom panied by Subhadrā and Balarama the devotees go to the abodc of Vişhņu which is devoid of ailments. 

57. O excellent sages, the man who performs auspicious rites and visits the Lord seated on the couch accompanied by Balarama and Subhadrà obtains the benefit which is equal to the benefit of charitable gift of a hundred tawny cows at the holy centre Puskara. 

58. By visiting Lord Krişhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the benefit of charitable gift of a hundred virgins. 

59. By visiting lord Krişhna seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the benefit of charitable gift of a hundred pieces of gold coins. 

 60. By visiting lord Krişhņa scated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the charitable gift of a thousand cows. 

61. By visiting lord Krişhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the getting of land as prescribed in the Sastras. 

62. By visiting Lord Krişhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit equal to the gifts of cooked rice and due hospitality to guests alongwith Aroghya. 

63. By visiting Lord Krishna seated on the couch a man obtains the benefits which is equal to that of performing Vrusotsarga.¹ 

1. Vrusotsarga: letting loose a bull or a bull and four heifers as a meritorious deed, especially on the occasion of a Sräddha in honour of deceased ancestors. 

64. By visiting lord Krishna seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is cqual to the gift of water in summer or in any other season, 

65. By visiting lord Krişhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the gift of Tiladhenu.² 

2. Tiladhenu- cow presented to a Brahmin. 

66. By visiting Lord Krishna seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the gift of elephants, horses and chariots. 

67. By visiting lord Krišhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the gift of a cow with its horns plaited with gold. 

68. By visiting Lord Krişhna seated on the couch a man obtains thc benefit which is equal to the charitable gift of a water and cow. 

69. By visiting lord. Krishna seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the gift of ghee and a cow. 

70. By visiting lord Krişhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to that of performing Candrayana³ according to sacred injunctions. 

3. Chandrayana: This is a fast prescribed in the Dharmaśāstra, so called because it is regulated by the moon, the food being diminished everyday by one mouthful for the dark fortnight and increased in like manner during the white fortnight. 

71. By visiting lord Krişhņa seated on the couch a man obtains the benefit which is equal to that of monthly observance of facts as laid down in the Săstras. 

72-77. Of what avail is much talk? O excellent brahmins, the greatness of that lord is as follows. By visiting Krishna accompanied by Balarama and seated on the couch as well as Subhadrā, the man who performs an auspicious rite obtains the benefit which is glorified as the result of holy rites and charitable gifts in all the holy centres. Hence, excellent sages, the man or woman must see Purusottama. Thereby he or she obtains the benefit of holy dip in all the holy centres. 

With the water that remains after the ablution rite of Krişhņa the devotee must bathe and sprinkle himself. 

A barren lady, a lady whose child is dead, a lady in a wretched state or afflicted by evil planets, those who are seized by Rākşhasas, Bhūtas and Piśācas, those who are afflicted by ailments should be sprinkled with water that remains after the rite of ablution. They then attain their cherished desires. 

78. She who seeks sons obtains sons; she who seeks happiness attains happiness. She who is afflicted by ailments is liberated from ailments. She who seeks riches obtains riches. 

79. All those sacred waters on the face of the earth do not merit even a sixteenth part of the water that remains after the rite of ablution. 

80. Hence, Obrahmins, one shall sprinkle one's limbs with the water that remains after the rite of ablution of Krişhņa has been performed. It is the bestower of all desires. 

81. Those who visit Krishna whose ablution is performed and who proceed ahead facing the south are liberated from the sins of brahmin slaughter and other major or minor sins. 

82. By visiting Krishna proceeding ahead facing the South, a man obtains that benefit which is mentioned in scriptures as the result of three circumambulations of the earth. 

83. By visiting Krişhņa proceeding ahead facing the South a man obtains the benefit which is derivable from the pilgrimage all over the earth. 

84. By visiting Krişhņa facing the South, a man obtains the  benefit.which is derivable from visiting Nara and Nārāyaṇa¹ in the penance grove Badari.

1. Nara-Narayana: two hermits who had spent many thousands of years in Badaryaśrama doing penance. Arjuna was the rebirth of Nara and SriKrishna was the rebirth cf Nārāyana. 

85. By visiting Krişhņa facing the south a man obtains the benefit which results from the holy dip and charitable gift at Gangadvăra² and Kuruksetra. 

2. Gangadvāra-Haridvāra or Haradvāra, identifiable with the place where the river Ganges falls from the Himālayas. 

86. By visiting Krishna facing the south a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the benefit of the holy dip) in Prayaga on the Mahamăghi day i.e. (full moon day in the month of Magha). 

87. By visiting Krişhņa facing the south a man obtains the benefit which is equal to the ablution and charitable gifts in Salagrama on the Mahachaitrī day (i.e. full moon day in the month of Chitra). 

88. By visiting Krişhņa facing the south a man obtains that benefit which is equal to the benefit of Mahakārttiki (i.e. full inoon day in the month of Kartika) at Puşkara. 

89. By visiting Krishna facing the south a man obtains the benefit which is derivable from the holy dip and charitable gift at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean. 

90. By visiting Krishna facing the south a man obtains the benefit which is the result of holy bath accompanied by charitable gifts in Kurukshetra at the time of solar eclipse. 

91-92. By visiting Krişhna facing the south a man obtains the benefit of the holy bath and the charitable gifts at the holy centres on the Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati and also on the banks of holy lakes etc. 

93-94. By visiting Krishna facing the south a man obtains the benefit that is usually obtained by holy dips and charitable gifts during the eclipse of the sun in the holy centres such as Puşkara, Gaya, Amarakantaka, Naimişa and other holy shrines. 

95-97. Of what avail is much talk? Of what avail is the repeated talk? By visiting Krishna facing the south along with Subhadra and Balarama a man or a woman obtains the benefits mentioned in the Vedas, scriptures, Puranas, Bharata and Dharmaśāstras (Ethical texts) by the learned men as the benefit of meritorious deeds.