156 - The Appearance of Mathurä

Although this is the title of the chapter what we get here is the account of some tirthas.

Varãha said:

1. I shall tell you about the tirtha called Vatsakridanaka., It is full of red stones and is beautified by red sandal.

2. By simply bathing there, one goes to the world of Väyu, and he who gives up life there, goes to my world.

3. I shall tell you about another tirtha, O Earth, namely Bhandiraka.

4. This is full of trees like Säla, Täla, Tamäla, Arjuna Iñguda, Pïluka and Karïra.

5. He who bathes there observing the rules and fasting, goes to the world of Chandra. And he who gives up life there, goes to my world.

  6. I shall tell you about my place Brundävana where I play with cows and cowherds. 

7. It is a beautiful place and is not easily gained by gods and demons alike.

 8. If one takes bath there in the particular spot covered by shrubs and creepers, after fasting for a night, one gets delight in the company of Gandharvas and Apsarases.

9. And he who gives up life there, goes to my world.

10. I shall tell you about another tirtha in Brundävana, namely the place where the (demon) Kešhi was killed.

11. This tirtha is a hundred times more holy than other tirthas and a hundred times more holy than this is the spot here where lord Hari rests.

12. There is another speciality, O Earth, in the Kešhitirtha.

13. By offering to the manes there, the result of doing the same at Gayä is obtained. Bath, gifts and homa there, confer the fruit Of Agnishtoma.

14. Then there are Süryatirthas pertaining to the twelve

Suns.

15. This is the place where the serpent Käliya was moving about. Käliya was vanquished by me and the twelve Ädityas installed. I asked the Ädityas to seek a boon.

Adityas said:

16. “O Lord, if you consider us worthy of receiving a boon, be pleased to grant us bath in this tirtha”.

17. This request of the Ädityas, O Earth, was granted.

18. Mere bath there absolves one of all sins. He who gives life there, reaches my world.

19. Those who die in the strip between the Käliya in the south and the place where I am installed in the north, are never born again.