158 - Power of Mathurä-Tirtha

Varäha said:

1. The Mathurä region extends over twenty Yojanas. Bathing in the tirthas there removes all sins.

2. In the Mathurä region, which is extremely holy, stay in the rainy season is particularly pleasant.

3. During the time of my sleep, the tirthas and temples in the seven islands, make their appearance here.

4. O Earth, seeing me in Mathura after I am awake, is io see me for all time.

5. To see my face after I am awake, is to bring about instantaneous cessation of all sins acquired in the course of seven lives.

6. Those who reside in Mathurä and see lord Kešhava there, become fit for salvation. 

7. He who bathes in Yamunä gets the fruit of Räjasüya and Ašhvamedha and becomes esteemed in my world.

8. Circumambulating lord Kešhava in Mathurä is equal to circumambulating the whole earth with its seven islands.

9-10. O Earth, by making the gift of a lamp before lord Kešhava together with a vessel full of ghee and a cloth, one gets an aerial car five yojanas long and five broad and full of rows of lamps.

Il. It is beautiful, full of pleasures, attended on by Apsarases and it fulfils all desires.

12. Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Chäranas praise him for the merit acquired while on earth.

13. At the expiry of all the acquired merit, he is born in a meritorious family.

Earth said:

14-15. Who protects this place from beasts, goblins, demons and others that cause impediments, so that it may yield its proclaimed effects?

Varäha said:

16. Due to my prowess they never even see this place of mine and they never do any harm to my devotees.

17. Moreover, I have entrusted the four guardian deities with the protection of this place.

18. Indra guards the east, Yama the south, Varuna the west holding the noose.

19. The valiant Kubera guards the north and Shiva, the husband of Umä, the middle.

20. He who constructs a temple in Mathurä, becomes forearmed and gets liberated even while living.

21. He continues to remain in his four-armed form always in the ponds of clear water in Mathurä.

22. He who gives up life there after taking bath, reaches the world of Vishnu and enjoys there.

23. I shall tell you about the wonder in the ponds of clear water there.

24. By my power the water there will be warm in winter and cool like ice in summer.

25. The water does not increase during the rains or decrease during hot season.

26. In Mathurä at every step there is the merit of tirthas, and bathing there removes all sins.

27. During the rainy season bath may be taken in the large tirthas with effort, or in the wells, ponds and pits,

28. Or in the confluence of rivers, but one desirous of liberation should necessarily take bath.

29. There is the place called Muchukunda where sleeps Muchukunda, the Vanquisher of demons.

30. He who bathes there accomplishes all desires, and he who gives up life there reaches my world.

31. By extolling lord Kešhava one gets rid of all sins acquired in this life as well as in the earlier ones.

32. What is the need for all the mantras if there is devotion for lord Janärdana, for He is the redeemer of all those who are tormented in hell.

33. He who circumambulates Lord Narayana and rests near him åcquires great merit.

34. O Earth, by seeing Hari in Mathurä after His waking, one becomes fourhanded and is never born again.

35. All sins disappear by circumambulating there on the Navamï day in the north of Kumuda.

36. He who has the sin of killing a Brahmin, drinking liquor, killing a cow or violating a vow, gets purified by wandering in Mathurä.

37-38. He who goes to Mathurä on the Ashtami day and spending the night as a celibate, cleaning the teeth in the morning, washing the clothes and taking the bath, circumambulates there in silence, gets all his sins removed.

39. Even the touch of a person who so circumambulates, accomplishes all that is desired.

40. The same merit as of such circumambulation in attained also by seeing the lord in Mathurä.

41. The offering of pinda and ablutions in the well of pure water in front of the lord there, propitiates the manes very much.

42. There is also the tirtha called Chatussämudrika which is well known. He who bathes there enjoys himself in the company of gods.

43. He who gives up life there, reaches my world.