Varaha Purana — Chapter 169
VrP 169.1
श्रीवराह उवाच ।। मथुरायाः परं क्षेत्रं त्रैलोक्ये न च विद्यते ।। तस्यां वसाम्यहं देवि मथुरायां च सर्वदा
śrīvarāha uvāca || mathurāyāḥ paraṃ kṣetraṃ trailokye na ca vidyate || tasyāṃ vasāmyahaṃ devi mathurāyāṃ ca sarvadā
Śrī Varāha said: A sacred field higher than Mathurā does not exist in the three worlds. In it I dwell, O goddess, in Mathurā always.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.2
सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां मथुरा च परं महत् ।। कृष्णेन क्रीडितं तत्र तच्छुद्धं हि पदे पदे
sarveṣāmeva tīrthānāṃ mathurā ca paraṃ mahat || kṛṣṇena krīḍitaṃ tatra tacchuddhaṃ hi pade pade
And of all the sacred fords Mathurā is the highest and greatest; there Kṛṣṇa played, and so it is pure at every step.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.3
चक्रस्थितं हि तत्सर्वं कृष्णस्यैव पदेन तु ।। तत्र मध्यं तु तत्स्थानमर्द्धचन्द्रे प्रतिष्ठितम्
cakrasthitaṃ hi tatsarvaṃ kṛṣṇasyaiva padena tu || tatra madhyaṃ tu tatsthānamarddhacandre pratiṣṭhitam
All that is situated in a circle, indeed by Kṛṣṇa's own foot; and there the centre, that place, is established in a half-moon (shape).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.4
तत्रैव वासिनो लोका मुक्तिं यान्ति न संशयः ।। कृष्णस्य दक्षिणा कोटिरुत्तरा कोटिमध्यतः
tatraiva vāsino lokā muktiṃ yānti na saṃśayaḥ || kṛṣṇasya dakṣiṇā koṭiruttarā koṭimadhyataḥ
Precisely the people dwelling there go to liberation, there is no doubt. Kṛṣṇa's southern tip and northern tip (are) from the centre.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.6
तस्माद्धि मरणं चात्र द्वे कोटी सर्वकर्मसु ।। अर्द्धचन्द्रे तु यः स्नानं करोति नियताशनः
tasmāddhi maraṇaṃ cātra dve koṭī sarvakarmasu || arddhacandre tu yaḥ snānaṃ karoti niyatāśanaḥ
Therefore death here (yields) two crores in all rites. And he who, eating in a restrained way, performs bathing at the half-moon —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.7
तेन वै चाक्षया लोकाः प्राप्ताश्चैव न संशयः ।। दक्षिणस्यां समारभ्य उत्तरस्यां समापयेत् ।। यज्ञोपवीतमात्रेण त्रायन्ते च कुलं बहु
tena vai cākṣayā lokāḥ prāptāścaiva na saṃśayaḥ || dakṣiṇasyāṃ samārabhya uttarasyāṃ samāpayet || yajñopavītamātreṇa trāyante ca kulaṃ bahu
By that (act) imperishable worlds are attained — there is no doubt. Beginning in the south, one should finish in the north. By the mere measure of a sacrificial thread they rescue many of their family.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.8
पृथिव्युवाच ।। यज्ञोपवीत मात्राया विधानं कीदृशं प्रभो
pṛthivyuvāca || yajñopavīta mātrāyā vidhānaṃ kīdṛśaṃ prabho
The Earth said: What, Lord, is the rule concerning the measure of the sacrificial thread?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.9
तयोर्मध्ये स्थितो देव आकारात्सोमचक्रता ।। तौ देवौ क्षेत्रफलदौ स्नानदानादिकर्मणि यथामानं हि कर्तव्यं तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। श्रीवराह उवाच ।। यज्ञोपवीतस्य विधिं शृणुष्व वरवर्णिनि
tayormadhye sthito deva ākārātsomacakratā || tau devau kṣetraphaladau snānadānādikarmaṇi yathāmānaṃ hi kartavyaṃ tatsarvaṃ vaktumarhasi || śrīvarāha uvāca || yajñopavītasya vidhiṃ śṛṇuṣva varavarṇini
Between those two stands the god, whose form has the shape of the moon's disc. Those two gods grant the fruit of the (sacred) field in the rites of bathing, giving and the rest; how the measuring is to be done — all that you should tell (me). The blessed Boar said: Hear the rule of the sacrificial thread, O fair-complexioned one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.11
मनुजा येन विधिना मुक्तिं यान्ति न संशयः ।। अनेन विधिना चैव उत्तरस्यां समापयेत् ।। गृहान्निःसृत्य मौनेन यावत्स्नानं समाचरेत्
manujā yena vidhinā muktiṃ yānti na saṃśayaḥ || anena vidhinā caiva uttarasyāṃ samāpayet || gṛhānniḥsṛtya maunena yāvatsnānaṃ samācaret
— the rule by which men attain liberation, without doubt. By this very rule one should finish in the north. Having gone out from the house, (one should remain) in silence until he has performed the bath.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.12
पूजां कृष्णस्य कृत्वा वै ततो ब्रूयाद्वसुन्धरे ।।
pūjāṃ kṛṣṇasya kṛtvā vai tato brūyādvasundhare ||
Having performed the worship of Kṛṣṇa, then he should say, O Earth-bearer:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.13
कृष्णस्य कृत्वा तु मखं स्नानादीनि यथाक्रमम् ।। गां वै पयस्विनीं दत्त्वा हिरण्यं वसु चैव हि
kṛṣṇasya kṛtvā tu makhaṃ snānādīni yathākramam || gāṃ vai payasvinīṃ dattvā hiraṇyaṃ vasu caiva hi
Having made the sacrifice to Kṛṣṇa, and the bathing and the rest in due order, having given a milk-yielding cow, and gold and wealth as well,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.14
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाद्विधिरेष उदाहृतः ।। तथा शयनमुद्दिश्य एवमेवं तु कारयेत्
brāhmaṇānbhojayetpaścādvidhireṣa udāhṛtaḥ || tathā śayanamuddiśya evamevaṃ tu kārayet
he should afterwards feed brahmins: this rule has been declared. So too, with a bed as the object (of the gift), he should have it done in just this way.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.15
न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्मम लोके महीयते ।। अर्द्धचन्द्रे मृता देवि मम लोकं व्रजन्ति ते
na tasya punarāvṛttirmama loke mahīyate || arddhacandre mṛtā devi mama lokaṃ vrajanti te
For him there is no returning again; he is honoured in my world. Those who die at Ardhacandra, O goddess, they go to my world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.16
अन्यत्र तु मृता ये च अर्धचन्द्रकृतक्रियाः ।। तेऽपि स्वर्गं गमिष्यन्ति दाहादिकरणैर्युताः
anyatra tu mṛtā ye ca ardhacandrakṛtakriyāḥ || te'pi svargaṃ gamiṣyanti dāhādikaraṇairyutāḥ
But those who die elsewhere, whose rites are performed at Ardhacandra — they too will go to heaven, provided with the cremation and the other rites.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.17
यावदस्थीन्यर्द्धचन्द्रं यस्य तिष्ठन्ति देहिनः ।। तावत्सुपुण्यकर्त्ता च स्वर्गलोके महीयते
yāvadasthīnyarddhacandraṃ yasya tiṣṭhanti dehinaḥ || tāvatsupuṇyakarttā ca svargaloke mahīyate
As long as the bones of an embodied one remain at Ardhacandra, so long is that doer of great merit honoured in the world of heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.18
अर्द्धचन्द्रे विशेषोऽस्ति तीर्थे विश्रान्तिसंज्ञके ।। दाहादिकरणे तत्र गर्दभोऽपि चतुर्भुजः
arddhacandre viśeṣo'sti tīrthe viśrāntisaṃjñake || dāhādikaraṇe tatra gardabho'pi caturbhujaḥ
There is a distinction at Ardhacandra, at the sacred ford named Viśrānti: when cremation and the other rites are performed there, even an ass becomes four-armed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.19
गर्त्तेश्वरोऽथ भूतेशो द्वे कोटी तु वसुन्धरे ।। मध्ये सदैव तिष्ठामि न त्यजामि कदाचन
gartteśvaro'tha bhūteśo dve koṭī tu vasundhare || madhye sadaiva tiṣṭhāmi na tyajāmi kadācana
Then (there is) Garteśvara, and Bhūteśa: two crores (of sacred sites), O Earth-bearer; in the midst (of them) I always abide, I never abandon (that place).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.21
शृणु देवि यथावृत्तं गरुडस्य महात्मनः ।। मथुरामागतो योऽसौ कृष्णदर्शनकांक्षया ।। मथुरायां स्थितं देवं भिन्नरूपं न पश्यति
śṛṇu devi yathāvṛttaṃ garuḍasya mahātmanaḥ || mathurāmāgato yo'sau kṛṣṇadarśanakāṃkṣayā || mathurāyāṃ sthitaṃ devaṃ bhinnarūpaṃ na paśyati
Hear, goddess, what happened to the great-souled Garuḍa. He came to Mathurā out of a longing to see Kṛṣṇa, (but) he did not see the god who dwells in Mathurā in a distinct form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.22
तदा गतोऽसौ वसुधे देवस्याग्रे विहंगमः ।। कृष्णस्य दर्शनार्थाय दिव्यं स्तोत्रमुदीरयन्
tadā gato'sau vasudhe devasyāgre vihaṃgamaḥ || kṛṣṇasya darśanārthāya divyaṃ stotramudīrayan
Then, O Earth, that bird went before the god, uttering a divine hymn of praise in order to see Kṛṣṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.23
गरुड उवाच ।। विश्वरूप जयादित्य जय विष्णो जयाच्युत ।। जय केशव ईशान जय कृष्ण नमोऽस्तु ते
garuḍa uvāca || viśvarūpa jayāditya jaya viṣṇo jayācyuta || jaya keśava īśāna jaya kṛṣṇa namo'stu te
Garuḍa said: O you of universal form, victory (to you), O Sun; victory, Viṣṇu; victory, Acyuta; victory, Keśava, Īśāna; victory, Kṛṣṇa — homage be to you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.24
जय मूर्त जयाचिन्त्य जय लोकविभूषण ।। इत्येवं संस्तुतो देवो गरुडेन महात्मना
jaya mūrta jayācintya jaya lokavibhūṣaṇa || ityevaṃ saṃstuto devo garuḍena mahātmanā
Victory, O embodied one; victory, O inconceivable one; victory, O ornament of the worlds! — thus praised by the great-souled Garuḍa, the god,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.25
गरुडस्य पुरस्तत्र स्थितो देवः शरीरवान् ।। सान्त्वयामास गरुडं प्रीतिपूर्वमुवाच ह
garuḍasya purastatra sthito devaḥ śarīravān || sāntvayāmāsa garuḍaṃ prītipūrvamuvāca ha
standing there before Garuḍa in bodily form, comforted Garuḍa and spoke to him affectionately:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.26
किं कुर्यात्स्तोत्रमेतन्मे किं वा तव चिकीर्षितम् ।। मथुरागमकृत्ये ते सर्वं ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः
kiṃ kuryātstotrametanme kiṃ vā tava cikīrṣitam || mathurāgamakṛtye te sarvaṃ brūhi mamāgrataḥ
"What is this hymn of praise to me to accomplish, or what do you wish to do? Tell me everything before me concerning your errand in coming to Mathurā."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.27
गरुड उवाच ।। मथुरामागतश्चाहं तव दर्शनकांक्षया ।। आगते तु मया देव न दृष्टं तव रूपकम्
garuḍa uvāca || mathurāmāgataścāhaṃ tava darśanakāṃkṣayā || āgate tu mayā deva na dṛṣṭaṃ tava rūpakam
Garuḍa said: I came to Mathurā out of longing to see you; but when I had come, O god, I did not see your form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.28
माथुरैरेव लोकैस्तु समं दृष्टं हि रूपकम् ।। एकीभूतमहं सर्वं दृष्ट्वा मां मोह आविशत्
māthuraireva lokaistu samaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ hi rūpakam || ekībhūtamahaṃ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭvā māṃ moha āviśat
The form was seen by me just the same as by the people of Mathurā; seeing it all as one, bewilderment came over me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.29
तस्मात्स्तुतिस्तु देवेश कृतानुग्रहकाम्यया ।। गरुडस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मधुसूदनः
tasmātstutistu deveśa kṛtānugrahakāmyayā || garuḍasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya madhusūdanaḥ
"Therefore, lord of gods, (this) praise (was uttered) out of desire that favour be shown." Having heard Garuḍa's words, the slayer of Madhu laughed and (said):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.31
ये पापास्ते न पश्यन्ति मद्रूपा माथुरा द्विजाः ।। एवमुक्त्वा ततः कृष्णस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
ye pāpāste na paśyanti madrūpā māthurā dvijāḥ || evamuktvā tataḥ kṛṣṇastatraivāntaradhīyata
"Those who are sinful do not see the Māthura brahmins, who have my form." Having said this, Kṛṣṇa then vanished on that very spot.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.32
गरुडोऽपि ततः स्थानाद्गतो देवि यथासुखम् ।। एतत्ते कथितं देवि माथुराणां तु रूपकम्
garuḍo'pi tataḥ sthānādgato devi yathāsukham || etatte kathitaṃ devi māthurāṇāṃ tu rūpakam
Garuḍa too went from that place at his ease, O goddess. This, O goddess, has been told to you—the form of the people of Mathurā,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.33
येषां पूजितमात्रेण तुष्टोऽहं चैव सर्वदा ।। मथुरायां मृता ये च मुक्तिं यान्ति न चान्यथा
yeṣāṃ pūjitamātreṇa tuṣṭo'haṃ caiva sarvadā || mathurāyāṃ mṛtā ye ca muktiṃ yānti na cānyathā
by the mere worshipping of whom I am pleased always; and those who die in Mathurā go to release, and not otherwise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.34
अपि कीटः पतंगो वा तिर्यग्योनिगतोऽपि वा ।। चतुर्भुजास्तु ते सर्वे भवन्तीति विनिश्चितम्
api kīṭaḥ pataṃgo vā tiryagyonigato'pi vā || caturbhujāstu te sarve bhavantīti viniścitam
Even a worm, or an insect, or one born in an animal womb—all of them become four-armed: this is settled.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.35
यः पश्येत्पद्मनाभं तु द्वादश्यामाश्विनस्य तु ।। एकदेहधरौ देवौ शिवकेशवरूपिणौ
yaḥ paśyetpadmanābhaṃ tu dvādaśyāmāśvinasya tu || ekadehadharau devau śivakeśavarūpiṇau
He who sees Padmanābha on the twelfth of (the month of) Āśvina—the two gods bearing a single body, having the forms of Śiva and Keśava—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.36
एकादश्यां चोपवासी कृतशौचः समाहितः ।। कालिन्द्यां तु नरः स्नातो मुंचते योनिसंकटात्
ekādaśyāṃ copavāsī kṛtaśaucaḥ samāhitaḥ || kālindyāṃ tu naraḥ snāto muṃcate yonisaṃkaṭāt
and who fasts on the eleventh, having performed the purifications, concentrated, and having bathed in the Kālindī—that man is freed from the strait of (rebirth from) the womb.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.37
चैत्रस्य शुक्लद्वादश्यामुपोष्य स्नानमाचरेत् ।। चिन्ताविष्णुं समभ्यर्च्य कृत्वा वै जागरं निशि
caitrasya śukladvādaśyāmupoṣya snānamācaret || cintāviṣṇuṃ samabhyarcya kṛtvā vai jāgaraṃ niśi
On the bright twelfth of Caitra he should fast and perform the bath, and having worshipped Cintāviṣṇu and kept the night-vigil in the night—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.38
यः करोति स मुच्येत नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। एकानंशां ततो देवीं यशोदां देवकीं तथा
yaḥ karoti sa mucyeta nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || ekānaṃśāṃ tato devīṃ yaśodāṃ devakīṃ tathā
whoever does (this) would be released; no deliberation is to be made about it. Then (having worshipped) the goddess Ekānaṃśā, and Yaśodā and Devakī,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.39
महाविद्येश्वरीं देवि मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया ।। या धारा धर्मराजस्य मथुरायाश्च पश्चिमे
mahāvidyeśvarīṃ devi mucyate brahmahatyayā || yā dhārā dharmarājasya mathurāyāśca paścime
and Mahāvidyeśvarī, O goddess, one is freed from the killing of a brahmin. (And there is) the stream of Dharmarāja which is to the west of Mathurā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.41
विश्रान्तिसंज्ञकं दृष्ट्वा दीर्घविष्णुं च केशवम् ।। सर्वेषां दर्शनं पुण्यं पूजनात्तु फलं भवेत्
viśrāntisaṃjñakaṃ dṛṣṭvā dīrghaviṣṇuṃ ca keśavam || sarveṣāṃ darśanaṃ puṇyaṃ pūjanāttu phalaṃ bhavet
Having seen the (place) named Viśrānti, and Dīrghaviṣṇu, and Keśava—the sight of all of them is meritorious, and from worship there would be fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 169.42
इति जपविधिहोमध्यानकाले स सम्यक्सततमभिसमीक्ष्य ब्रह्मणा यत्प्रयुक्तम् ।। सकलगुणगणानामास्पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं जननमरणहीनं विष्णुमेवाभियाति
iti japavidhihomadhyānakāle sa samyaksatatamabhisamīkṣya brahmaṇā yatprayuktam || sakalaguṇagaṇānāmāspadaṃ brahmasaṃjñaṃ jananamaraṇahīnaṃ viṣṇumevābhiyāti
Thus, at the time of muttered recitation, oblation, and meditation, he, having rightly and constantly contemplated what was enjoined by Brahmā, goes to Viṣṇu himself, the abode of the whole host of qualities, called brahman, free of birth and death.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 169.169
दक्षिणस्यां समारभ्य उत्तरस्यां समापयेत् ।। यज्ञोपवीतस्य विधिरेष एव प्रकार्तितः माथुराणां च यद्रूपं तद्रूपं मे वसुन्धरे ।। माथुरेण तु तृप्तेन तृप्तोऽहं नात्र संशयः उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा गरुडं प्रति भाविनि ।। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ।। माथुराणां च यद्रूपं तद्रूपं मे विहंगम स्नानं करोति तस्यां तु ग्रहदाषैर्न लिप्यते ।। यं यं देवमभिध्यायेद्भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा
dakṣiṇasyāṃ samārabhya uttarasyāṃ samāpayet || yajñopavītasya vidhireṣa eva prakārtitaḥ māthurāṇāṃ ca yadrūpaṃ tadrūpaṃ me vasundhare || māthureṇa tu tṛptena tṛpto'haṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā garuḍaṃ prati bhāvini || śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca || māthurāṇāṃ ca yadrūpaṃ tadrūpaṃ me vihaṃgama snānaṃ karoti tasyāṃ tu grahadāṣairna lipyate || yaṃ yaṃ devamabhidhyāyedbhaktiyuktena cetasā
He should begin in the south and finish in the north; just this has been declared as the rule for the sacred thread. And whatever the form of the Māthuras is, that is my form, O Vasundharā; when a Māthura is satisfied, I am satisfied—there is no doubt here. He spoke with gentle speech to Garuḍa, O lovely one. Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Whatever the form of the Māthuras, that is my form, O bird. And whoever bathes there is not stained by the faults of the planets. Whichever deity one meditates on with a mind possessed of devotion (that one he attains).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain