153 - Greatness of Mathura Tirtha

Varaha said:

1. To the north of Shivakunda are nine tirthas. Never was there any greater tirtha than these and never will be.

2. By merely bathing there, high prosperity is attained and residence in heaven in beautiful form is assured. And he who bathes there (after performing all austerities) goes to my world.

3. There is the tirtha called Samyamana known in all the worlds and by bathing or dying there, one reaches my world.

4. I shall tell you what happened in days of yore in the Samyamana tirtha.

5. A highly sinning and wicked hunter was living in the wellknown Naimisha forest.

6. Once he happened to go to Mathura on the Chaturdashi day of the dark fortnight.

7. He wanted to cross Yamuna and for that purpose he went to Samyamana.

8. As he was crossing the river there, he was drowned.

9-10. As soon as he lost his life thus, he was born as a king in the Saurashtra country with the name Yakshmadhanus.

11. He ruled the country very well observing his kingly duties. He married Pivari, the handsome daughter of the king of Kashi.

12. Among his hundreds of wives, she was made the chief and he gave her pleasure in the gardens and woods, as also in fine palaces and attractive sands in the rivers.

13. He was protecting his subjects and giving gifts, but was also deeply immersed in enjoying pleasures.

14. Seventyseven years passed in this manner, and he had by then got seven sons and five daughters.

15. All the five daughters were beautiful and they were married to kings and the sons were settled in different places.

16. Once, when the king was sleeping with his queen Pivari, he rose up saying repeatedly ‘Alas, alas!’

17. That was at the thought of Mathura and Samyamana (tirtha) there.

18. Then Pivari asked him why he was saying so and he replied:

19. “The intoxicated man, the sleeping man and the mad man sometimes blabber. So please don’t ask about what I blabbered while asleep.”

Pivari said:

20. “If I am your wife, please tell me the truth, and if you are going to hide it, I will give up my life.”

21. At these words of his queen, the king replied; “If it is essential that I should tell you, let us go to the city of Mathura. After going there, I shall tell you the truth.

22-23. (In the meantime) give liberal gifts to the Brahmins and instal our sons and grandsons in proper places taking into account the villages in our possession, the treasury and the jewels.”

24. Then the citizens were summoned and told: This ancestral kingdom has to be ruled well.

25. I propose to entrust this duty to my sons with your approval.

26. Realising that people always wish for the kingdom, sons, wives and relations and never the world of Yama, and knowing what is really good for me,

27. I and my queen wish to undertake the trouble of going to Mathura.

28. What a pity that so far, I have been attached to my kingdom. I now understand that there is nothing more pleasurable than renunciation.

29. There is nothing more sorrowful than attachment and nothing more pleasurable than detachment.

30. It is indeed commendable to practically give up all desires.

31. Then crowning the eldest son as king and taking leave of citizens, he started for Mathura followed by the four units of the army, and reached it after a long time.

32. There he saw the city beautiful like the city of Indra, with its twelve tirthas, pure and sanctifying.

33. He also saw there the abode of Vishnu named Madhuvana by seeing which every one becomes gratified.

34. The man who bathes there on Ekadashi day in the bright half of the Bhadrapada month, becomes fully gratified.

35. Then there is the third natural garden¹ called Kundavana by going where, O goddess, every one becomes equally gratified.

1. The account of the second appears to be lost.

36. The man who bathes there on Ekadashi day in the dark half of the Bhadrapada month becomes esteemed in the world or Rudra.

37. The fourth such garden is the Kamyakavana by going where one becomes exalted in my world.

38. (Bathing) in the pond in Vimala² removes all sins, and giving up life there leads to my world.

2. This is perhaps the second garden and is presumably named Vimalavana.

39. The fifth is Bakulavana by going where one goes to the abode of Agni.

40. At the other bank of Yamuna is Bhadravana, the sixth garden which is dear for gods also.

41. My devotee who goes there, goes to the world of Nagas by the power of that garden.

42. The seventh is the Khadiravana well known in the world, by going where, O goddess, one goes to my world.

43. The eighth is a great garden named Mahavana. This is very dear to me and one who goes there goes to the world of Indra.

44. The ninth is called Lohajanghavana being looked after by Lohajangha. It is capable of removing all sins.

45. The tenth garden is named Bilvavana held sacred even by the gods. By going there, one attains the world of Brahma.

46. The eleventh is Bhandira which is particularly liked by Yogins. By its very sight one does not enter a womb any more.

47. By reaching this great garden Bhandira and seeing lord Vasudeva there, one gives an end to further births.

48. The twelfth is Brundavana which is looked after by Brunda. It removes all sins and is particularly dear to me.

49. Those who see Brundavana and Lord Govinda there, never go to the place of Yama, but go where the meritorious go.