149 - Greatness of Dvaraka

Suta said:

1. Earth was very much pleased to hear the greatness of Stutasvami. She then said:

Earth said:

2. I have gained great tranquility of mind on listening to the account of importance (of Stutasvami).

3. This great shastra has been imparted by the lord himself who bears the earth, kills the enemies of gods and holds bow and arrows, sword, conch, disc, mace and lotus.

4. Thus have I been told about the greatness of Sutasvami. If there is anything still greater, be pleased to tell me that.

Varaha said:

5. O you goddess wearing garland of lotus flowers, I shall tell you another secret aimed at removing sins.

6. In Dvapara yuga my father will be born with the name sauri in the Yadava clan.

7. There is a well-known city named Dvaraka there, built by Vishvakarma and beautiful like the city of gods.

8. It is ten yojanas long and five yojanas broad. I will live there for five hundred years.

9. After removing the causes of trouble to Devas, I will return to the world of gods.

10. A sage by name Durvasas with high spiritual powers, will curse my race.

11. As a result, the residents of Dvaraka, namely the Vrushnis, Andhakas and Bhojas will all die.

12. Balabhadra, white like the moon and wearing the Vanamala garland, will drag the city with his plough into the sea.

13. Hearing these words of Lord Narayana, Earth desirous of dharma, held his feet and said:

Earth said:

14. You are the lord of the worlds and the custodian of Maya. Tell me how Durvasas can give such a curse.

Varaha said:

15. I will then get a wife called Jambavati, beautiful and youthful.

16. A son by name Samba will be born to her who will be liked by me but who will be haughty because of his beauty and youth.

17. He will dress himself like a pregnant woman and ask the sage whether the child to be born will be a son, as such is the desire.

18. Knowing that he is really Samba, the sage will become very angry and say:

19. “From your pregnancy what will be born is a club which will eventually kill all Vrushnis and Andhakas.”

20. Hearing the words of curse uttered by Durvasas, all the boys would be sorry. They would rush to me in fear.

21. I will then ask them why they have come and they will tell me what had happened.

22. I will tell them then that what Durvasas said would certainly take place.

23. I have thus told you about the cause of the curse on the Vrushnis and others. I shall tell you now about the holy places there.

24. In Dvaraka which gives delight to the Vaishnavas, there is the great place called Panchasara which is a little within the shore.

25. He who bathes there foregoing six meals, delights himself with the Apsarases in heaven.

26. And he who gives up life there, leaves the world of gods and remains high in my world.

27. In that place there is a big Plaksha tree with numerous branches with a lot of good fruits shaped like pots.

28. Many people go there to get these fruits but none gets them other than my devotees.

29. Those who get the fruits become free from all sins and they attain beatitude remaining in my service.

30. There is the tirtha called Prabhasa which people with desire or greed are unable to see.

31. He who bathes there after forgoing five meals, delights himself in the seven islands and gets access to secret places there.

32. And he who gives up life there free from sins, gives up all attachment and reaches my world.

33. Know you no about the wonder there.

34. In the sea in Prabhasa many big fish are seen moving about here and there.

35. They do not harm any one bathing there.

36. If Pindas (balls of rice for the manes) are put there, they draw them towards them without themselves going near.

37. But they receive the pindas of only those who are righteous and not of those who are sinful.

38. There is the tirtha called Panchapinda which is deep and spreads over one krosha.

39. He who bathes there after foregoing five meals, delights himself in the world of Indra.

40. And he who gives up life in this Panchakunda¹, gives up the world of Indra and goes to my world.

1. Panchapinda and Panchakunda seem to be two different names for the same tirtha.

41. Know you about the wonder there which can be seen only by the virtuous and not by the sinful.

42. At noon on the twentyfourth Dvadashi day in the year, a golden lotus appears there.

43. There is the place called Sangamana where, in the Manipura hill, four streaks of water fall.

44. He who bathes there after foregoing four meals, goes to the world of Vaikhanasas.

45. And he who gives up life there in full devotion gives up the world of Vaikhanasas and goes to my world.

46. Listen to the wonder that is there in the Manipura hill. The streaks fall only before persons free from sin and not before others. 

47. There is then Hamsakunda where a single torrent falls from the Manipura hill.

48. He who bathes there after foregoing six meals, becomes free from all attachments and delights himself in the world of Varuna.

49. And he who gives up life there, leaves the world of Varuna and becomes exalted in my world.

50. I shall tell you about the wonder in Hamsakunda which is seen only by the pure persons and not by others.

51. On the twentyfourth Dvadashi day in the year, at noon swans are seen there white like the moon.

52. Those who see these swans moving here and there, attain supreme bliss.

53. Then there is Kadamba where the Vrushnis became purified and reached my world.

54. He who bathes there after foregoing four meals, delights himself in the world of sages.

55. And he who gives up life there, after performing all austerities, gives up the world of sages and reaches my world.

56. I shall tell you about the wonder there. There is a waterfall on its eastern side.

57. On the Dvadashi day in the month of Magha, flowers can be seen in it when the sun rises.

58. Those of my devotees who get these flowers attain supreme bliss.

59. There is Chakratirtha where five streaks of water fall from Manipura.

60. He who bathes there after foregoing five meals, delights in Svargaloka for ten thousand years.

61. And he who gives up life there, free from desire and delusion, gives up everything in Svarga and reaches my world.

62. I shall tell you about the wonder there which is known by none other than my devotees.

63. At midnight on the twentyfourth Dvadashi in the year, a sound which is pleasant to the mind and ear is heard.

64. The wind wafts fragrance but this is perceptible only to the virtuous and not to others.

65. On its northern side there is a big Ashoka tree. It blossoms when the sun rises. 

66. Those ofmy devotees who get this flower, attain supreme bliss.

67. There is the Raivataka (mount) in that place, which is known all over the world and where I had played.

68. It is full of thickets and bowers and abundant with flowers.

69. It has rows of slabs of variegated colours and caves everywhere and many lakes liked by even gods.

70. He who bathes there after foregoing six meals, goes to the world of Soma fully gratified.

71. And he who gives up life there remaining steadfast in my service, gives up the world of Soma and reaches my world.

72. Listen to the wonder there which people seeking dharma notice.

73. In the water numerous leaves from the trees standing around fall, but none can be seen within it and the water remains absolutely clear.

74. On the eastern side there is a gigantic tree and another by my side, spreading over an area of five kroshas.

75. The water is full of lotuses, lilies and other fragrant flowers.

76. It has fish of various kinds. There are rocks in it with caves.

77. He who bathes there after foregoing eight meals, delights himself in the divine Nandana garden with the Apsarases.

78. Listen to the wonder there which, of course, is seen only by the seekers of dharma.

79. As in the sea, the water here rises at noon and falls at midnight.

80. On its western side is a big Bilva tree which flowers on the twentyfourth Dvadashi day of the year.

81. This is seen by the virtuous when the sun sets, but not by others.

82. My devotees who get this flower attain, doubtless, supreme bliss.

83. In that place there is the spot known as Vishnusankramana where I was hit by the hunter and then attained my original form.

84. There is a small deep pond here by the side of Manipura. A streak of water also falls here.

85. (He who bathes there) without any feeling of loss or gain, (goes to the world of the sun, and he who gives up life there) leaves the world of the sun and reaches my world.

86. I shall tell you about the wonder there, namely that Vishnu is easily visible there to the meritorious but not to others.

37. On its southern side is a big and beautiful Ashvattha tree which bears fruits at noon on the twentyfourth Dvadashi day of the year.

88. Those of my devotees who get these fruits, get supreme bliss.

89. I remain in that shore facing north for the well-being of my devotees.

90. I am there together with Balarama and the auspicious Ekadashi.

91. All the three of us remain there in Dvaraka and the three delight there.

92. The place extends in all over thirty yojanas. Those who go and see me in all devotion, soon get beatitude.

93. This is the best of all narratives, the best means for peace (of mind).

94. The greatest of all dharmas, the most lustrous, the best of all gains, the foremost of all actions,

95. The most sacred of scriptures, the best in penance.

96. This should never be forgotten at the time of death by one desirous of bliss. He then reaches my world.

97. He who recites this early in the morning, liberates seven generations of his ancestors and seven generations of his successors.

98. I have thus told you in detail about the greatness of Dvaraka. What clse do you wish to ask?