164 - The greatness of Annaküta

Varäha said:

1. There is the highly holy place called Govardhana at a distance of two yojanas to the west of Mathurä.

2. There isa pond in it full of trees and creepers and there are four tirthas in it.

3. In the cast is the Indratirtha, in the south Yamatïrtha, in the west Varunatirtha and in the north Kaberatirtha, and I remain playing in the middle.

4. He who bathes in the Indratïrtha with due austerities, gets over all opposites and delights in Indraloka.

5. He who bathes in the Yamatirtha in the south after Observing all the necessary rites, goes to the Yamaloka and delights there.

6. And he who gives up life there, without desire or delusion, leaves Yamaloka and goes to my world.

7. He who bathes in Varupatïrtha, goes to the abode of Varuna and becomes purified of all sins.

8. And he who gives up life there without desire or anger, leaves Varunaloka and goes to my world.¹

1. After this there must be a verse relating to the Kuberatïrtha, but it is missing.

9. He who bathes in the middle, delights with me, and he who gives up life there, goes to my world.

10. The devotee should then go to Annaküta and circumambulate it. He will then become free from further birth. This, I tell you, is true.

11. After bathing in Mänasagañgä, seeing Lord Hari in Govardhana and circumambulating Annaküta, one will have nothing to worry about.

12. By giving Pinda to the manes on new moon day falling on Monday, one gets the merit of Räjasüya sacrifice,

13. The same result as is obtained by giving pinda in Gayä, is obtained here also, and no one need have any doubt regarding this.

14-15. Going around Govardhàna and seeing Hari there, confers the same result as of Räjasüya and Ašhvamedha. 

Earth said:

16. Please tell me about the power of Annakütå and the rules of its circumambulation.

Varäha said:

17. This should be done in Govardhana on the Ekädašhi day in the bright half of the month Bhädrapada, after fasting.

18. At sunrise, bath should be taken in Mänasagañga and the mount Govardhana and Lord Hari at its top should be propitiated.

19. Then bath should be taken with the rites at Pundarika and worship should be made to Pundarika as well as to the gods and manes.

20. This removes all sins and leads one to the abode of Vishnu.

21. Then bath should be taken at the Apsarastïrtha, where bath and libations remove all sins and bring about the result of Räjasüya and Ašhvamedha.

22. There is the tirtha called Sankarshana guarded by Balabhadra. It removes the sin of killing a cow by merely bathing in it.

23. Near Annaküta is a tirtha made by Indra. There a sacrifice meant for propitiating Indra was stopped by Krishna.

24. The large quantity of food collected there for the worship of Indra was distributed among his own men.

25. The (enraged) Indra was pouring rain heavily and, to protect the cows from this, the big mount was raised and held over them (by the Lord).

26. This came to be known as Annaküta (literally, heap of food) and had to be worshipped by Indra himself.

27. Lord Vishnu satisfied here the gods, goddesses, cows and sages. By offering libations there, one attains the fruit of a thousand sacrifices.

28. Then there is the pool called Kadambakhanda with clean water. By bathing in it and offering libations, one attains the world of Brahma.

29. The devotee Should then go to Devagiri which extends over a distance of hundred cubits. By bathing and worshipping there, the merit of Vêjapeya sacrifice is attained.

30. Seeing the great lord there also brings about great merit. By bathing there and offering libations, one goes to heaven with gratification.

31. A little to the north of (Mänasa) Gañgä, there took place the battle between lord Krishna and the demon Arishta.

32. A tirtha was formed at the place where Arishta, who had assumed the form of a bull, was angrily hit by the lord’s fist.

33. Krishna bathed at this wonderful tirtha which appeared at the place of his killing the bull.

34. But he was sorry for having brought upon himself the sin of killing the bull although it was a demon.

35. Then Rädhä embraced Krishna and told him about the pond which was known after her name and which was not far from there.

36. This Rädhäkunda is capable of removing all sins (and Krishna got rid of the sin there).

37. By bathing in Arishtakunda and Rädhäkunda, one gets the fruit of Räjasüya and Ašhvamedha (respectively). There need be no doubt in this matter. The sin of killing a cow, man or Brahmin disappears there instantaneously.

  38. There is the tirtha called Moksharäja whose very sight dispels all sins and confers salvation.

  39. On the eastern side is the tirtha called Indradhvaja because of Indra’s banner being raised there.

40. Those who bathe there go to heaven and those who die there are never born again.

41. Then by bathing in the spot called Chakratirtha in the Pañchatïrtha, the devotee should dedicate the fruit of his pilgrimage to Hari. 

42. Finishing thus the pilgrimage, he should keep awake at Govardhana for purification from sins.

43. Keeping thus awake on the night of the Ekädašhi day, he should bathe early morning on the Dvädašhi day and offer, according to his means, Pinda for the manes.

44. He who offers libation in this manner for the liberation of maneš, gets freed from all sins and attains supreme Brahman.

   45. I have thus told you about the circumambulation of Annaküta. This is laid down for the month of Äshadha as well.

46. He who listens with attention to this account of the greatness of Govardhana gets the result of bathing in Gañgä.