Chapter Twenty-five Śrī Mathurā-māhātmya The Glories of Śrī Mathurā

39 verses

Verse text

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca akasmād āgate rāme tatra tīrtham idaṁ śrutam aho madhu-purī dhanyā yatra sannihitaś ca saḥ

Synonyms

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca Śrī Bahulāśva said ; akasmāt suddenly ; āgate arrived ; rāme Lord Balarāma ; tatra there ; tīrtham holy place ; idam this ; śrutam heard ; ahaḥ Oh ; madhu-purī Mathurā ; dhanyā glorious ; yatra where ; sannihitaḥ staying ; ca and ; saḥ He.

Translation

Śrī Bahulāśva said: I have heard that Lord Balarāma quickly returned to glorious Mathurā City, where He stays eternally.

Verse text

mathurāyās tu ko devaḥ kaḥ kṣattā kaś ca rakṣati kaś cāraḥ ko mantri-varaḥ kair bhūmis tatra sevitā

Synonyms

mathurāyāḥ of Mathurā ; tu indeed ; kaḥ who? ; devaḥ the Deity ; ka who? ; kṣatta the gatekeeper ; kaḥ who? ; ca and ; rakṣati protects ; kaḥ who? ; cāraḥ the spy ; kaḥ who? ; mantri-varaḥ the counselor ; kaiḥ by whom? ; bhūmiḥ the ground ; tatra there ; sevitā is served.

Translation

Who is the Deity of Mathurā? Who is Mathurā's gatekeeper? Who protects Mathurā? Who brings news to Mathurā? Who is the counselor in Mathurā? Who worships the ground of Mathurā?

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca paripūrṇatamaḥ sākṣāc chrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān hariḥ svayaṁ hi mathurā-nāthaḥ keśavaḥ kleśa-nāsanaḥ śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; paripūrṇatamaḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāc—directly; chrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Lord; hariḥ—Hari; svayam—personally; hi—indeed; mathurā-nāthaḥ—the Lord of Mathurā; keśavaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; kleśa-nāsanaḥ—the destroyer of sufferings. Śrī Nārada said: Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, who destroys all sufferings, is the Deity of Mathurā.

Verse text

sākṣād bhagavatā prāptaḥ kapilāya dvijāya ca kapilaḥ pradadau yaṁ vai prasannaḥ śata-manyave

Synonyms

sākṣāt directly ; bhagavatā by ther Supreme Personality of Godhead ; prāptaḥ attained ; kapilāya to Kapila ; dvijāya the brāhmaṇa ; ca and ; kapilaḥ Kapila ; pradadau gave ; yam the Deity ; vai indeed ; prasannaḥ happy ; śata-manyave to Śatamanyu.

Translation

The Lord Himself gave this Deity to the brāhmaṇa Kapila, and kind Kapila gave the Deity to Śatamanyu.

Verse text

jitvā devān rākṣasendro rāvaṇo loka-rāvaṇaḥ yaṁ stutvā puṣpake sthāpya laṅkāyāṁ tam apūjayat

Synonyms

jitvā conquering ; devān the demigods ; rākṣasendraḥ the king of the demons ; rāvaṇaḥ Rāvaṇa ; loka-rāvaṇaḥ who made the entire world cry ; yam Whom ; stutvā offering prayers ; puṣpake on a flower chariot ; sthāpya placing ; laṅkāyām in Lankā ; tam Him ; apūjayat worshiped.

Translation

After he had conquered the demiogds, the demon-king Rāvaṇa, who made the world cry, offered prayers to this Deity, placed Him on a flower-airplane, and worshiped Him in Laṅkā.

Verse text

jitvā laṅkāṁ rāghavendras tam ānīya prayatnataḥ ayodhyāyāṁ ca vārāhaṁ arcayām āsa maithila

Synonyms

jitvā conquering ; laṅkām Laṅkā ; rāghavendraḥ Lord Rāmacandra ; tam Him ; ānīya taking ; prayatnataḥ carefully ; ayodhyāyām in Ayodhyā ; ca and ; vārāham in Varāha-kalpa ; arcayām āsa worshiped ; maithila O king of Mithilā.

Translation

O king of Mithilā, when He conquered Laṅkā, Lord Rāmacandra carefully took this Deity of Lord Varāha and worshiped Him in Ayodhyā.

Verse text

stutvā rāmaṁ ca śatrughno yam ānīya prayatnataḥ mathurāyāṁ mahā-puryāṁ sthāpayitvā nanāma ha

Synonyms

stutvā offering prayers ; rāmam to Lord Rāmacandra ; ca and ; śatrughnaḥ Śatrughna ; yam whom ; ānīya taking ; prayatnataḥ carefully ; mathurāyām to Mathurā ; mahā-puryām the great city ; sthāpayitvā establishing ; nanāma bowed down ; ha indeed.

Translation

After offering prayers to Lord Rāmacandra, Śatrughna carefully took this Deity, placed Him in the great city of Mathurā, and bowed down to offer His respects.

Verse text

sevito māthuraiḥ sarvaiḥ sarveṣāṁ ca vara-pradaḥ sākṣāt kapila-vārāhaḥ so 'yaṁ mantri-varaḥ smṛtaḥ

Synonyms

sevitaḥ served ; māthuraiḥ by the people of Mathurā ; sarvaiḥ all ; sarveṣām to all ; ca and ; vara-pradaḥ granting benedictions ; sākṣāt directly ; saḥ he ; ayam he ; mantri-varaḥ the best counselor ; smṛtaḥ is considered.

Translation

All the people of Mathurā worship this Deity. This Deity gives blessings to all. Kapila-Varāha is the counselor of Mathurā.

Verse text

kṣattā śrī-mathurāyāś ca nāmnā bhūteśvaraḥ śivaḥ dattvā daṇḍaṁ pātakine bhakty-arthān mantratāṁ vrajat

Synonyms

kṣattā the gatekeeper ; śrī-mathurāyāḥ of Śrī Mathurā ; ca and ; nāmnā by name ; bhūteśvaraḥ Bhūteśvara ; śivaḥ Śiva ; dattvā giving ; daṇḍam a stick ; pātakine to a sinner ; bhakty-arthān for the devotees ; mantratām advice ; vrajat going.

Translation

The gatekeeper of Śrī Mathurā is an incarnation of Lord Śiva named Bhūteśvara. He punishes the sinful and instructs the devotees.

Verse text

caṇḍikā tu mahā-vidyā devī durgārti-nāśinī siṁhārūḍha sadā rakṣāṁ mathurāyāḥ karoti hi

Synonyms

caṇḍikā ferocious ; tu indeed ; mahā-vidyā the great philosopher ; devī the goddess ; durgā Durgā ; arti sufferings ; nāśinī destroying ; siṁhārūḍha riding on a lion ; sadā always ; rakṣām protection ; mathurāyāḥ of Mathurā ; karoti does ; hi indeed.

Translation

Ferocious Goddess Durgā, who is the personification of transcendental knowledge and who destroys all sufferings, rides a lion and eternally protects Mathurā.

Verse text

cāro 'haṁ mathurāyāś ca paśyal lokān itas tataḥ vadāmi vārtāṁ sarveṣāṁ śrī-kṛṣṇāya mahātmane

Synonyms

cāraḥ messenger ; aham I am ; mathurāyāḥ of Mathurā ; ca and ; paśyan seeing ; lokān the worlds ; itaḥ here ; tataḥ and there ; vadāmi I tell ; vārtām the news ; sarveṣām of all ; śrī-kṛṣṇāya to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; mahātmane the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

I bring news to Mathurā. I observe what happens in the different planets, and I tell Lord Kṛṣṇa all the news.

Verse text

madhye vai mathurā devī śubhadā karuṇāmayī bubhukṣitebhyaḥ sarvebhyo dadāty annaṁ videha-rāṭ

Synonyms

madhye in the middle ; vai indeed ; mathurā Mathurā ; devī Goddess ; śubhadā auspciious ; karuṇāmayī merciful ; bubhukṣitebhyaḥ to the hungry ; sarvebhyaḥ all ; dadāti gives ; annam food ; videha-rāṭ O king of Videha.

Translation

O king of Videha, in the middle of the city is auspicious and kind Goddess Mathurā, who feeds all that are hungry.

Verse text

catur-bhujā śyāmalāṅgā vrajanti pravrajanti ca mathurāyāṁ mṛtaṁ netuṁ vimānaiḥ kṛṣṇa-parṣadāḥ

Synonyms

catur-bhujā with four arms ; śyāmalāṅgā dark forms ; vrajanti go ; pravrajanti comes ; ca and ; mathurāyām in Mathurā ; mṛtam dead ; netum to bring ; vimānaiḥ with airplanes ; kṛṣṇa of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; parṣadāḥ the associates.

Translation

Dark-complexioned four-armed associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa go here and there in Mathurā to bring anyone who dies there to the spiritual world.

Verse text

śrī-kṛṣṇasyāṅga-sambhūtā mathurā vai mahā-purī yasya darśana-mātreṇa naro yāti kṛtārthatām

Synonyms

śrī-kṛṣṇasya of Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; aṅga from the body ; sambhūtā manifested ; mathurā Mathurā ; vai indeed ; mahā-purī the great city ; yasya of which ; darśana-mātreṇa simply by seeing ; naraḥ a person ; yāti attains ; kṛtārthatām the goal of life.

Translation

Simply by seeing Mathurā City, which was manifested from Lord Kṛṣṇa's transcendental form, one attains the goal of life.

Verse text

purā vidhiḥ śrī-mathurām upetya taptvā tapo varṣa-śataṁ nirannaḥ japan hariṁ brahma paraṁ svayambhūḥ svāyambhuvaṁ prāpa sutaṁ pravīnam

Synonyms

purā previously ; vidhiḥ Brahmā ; śrī-mathurām to Śrī Mathurā ; upetya going ; taptvā performed ; tapaḥ austerities ; varṣa-śatam for a hundred years ; nirannaḥ without food ; japan chanting ; harim Lord Kṛṣṇa ; brahma Brahmā ; param then ; svayambhūḥ the self-born ; svāyambhuvam to Svayambhuva Manu ; prāpa attained ; sutam sun ; pravīnam intelligent.

Translation

In the past the demigod Brahmā went to Śrī Mathurā, where for a hundred years he performed austerities, constantly chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and not eating anything. The result of these austerities was that he fathered a very intelligent son: Svāyambhuva Manu.

Verse text

bhūteśvaro deva-varaḥ satī-patis taptvā tapo divya-śaran-madhor vane kṛṣṇa-prasādān nṛpa-rāja sa-tvaraṁ tasyāḥ pure mathurā-maṇḍalasya

Synonyms

bhūteśvaraḥ Lord Śiva ; deva-varaḥ the best of the demigods ; satī-patiḥ the husband of Satī ; taptvā perfoming ; tapaḥ austerities ; divya-śarat for an autumn of the demigods ; madhor vane in Mathurā ; kṛṣṇa-prasādān Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy ; nṛpa-rāja O king of kings ; sa-tvaram quickly ; tasyāḥ of that ; pure in the city ; mathurā-maṇḍalasya of Mathurā.

Translation

O king of kings, Lord Śiva, who is the husband of Satī and the best of the demigods, performed austerities in Mathurā for an autumn of the demigods. In this way He attained Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy and became the gatekeeper of Mathurā.

Verse text

kṛṣṇa-prasādād aham eva cāro bhraman sadā māthura-maṇḍalasya tathā hi durgā mathurāṁ prayāti śrī-kṛṣṇa-dāsyaṁ prakaroti nūnam

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-prasādāt by Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy ; aham I ; eva indeed ; cāraḥ the messenger ; bhraman wandering ; sadā always ; māthura-maṇḍalasya of Mathurā ; tathā so ; hi indeed ; durgā Durgā ; mathurām to Mathurā ; prayāti goes ; śrī-kṛṣṇa-dāsyam service to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prakaroti does ; nūnam indeed.

Translation

By Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy I wander everywhere as the person that carries news to Mathurā. By Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy Goddess Durgā comes to Mathurā and serves Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Verse text

taptvā tapaḥ śakra-padaṁ ca śakraḥ sūryo manuṁ nitya-nidhiṁ kuveraḥ pāśī ca pāśaṁ samavāpya samyaṅ madhor vane viṣṇu-padaṁ dhruvaś ca

Synonyms

taptvā tapaḥ performing austerities ; śakra-padam the post of Indra ; ca and ; śakraḥ Indra ; sūryaḥ Surya ; manum Manu ; nitya-nidhim eternal wealth ; kuveraḥ Kuvera ; pāśī varuṇa ; ca and ; pāśam ropes ; samavāpya attaining ; samyak completely ; madhor vane in Mathurā ; viṣṇu-padam the abode of Lord Viṣṇu ; dhruvaḥ Dhruva ; ca and.

Translation

By performing austerities in Mathurā, Indra attained his heavenly post, Sūrya attained Vaivasvata Manu as his son, Kuvera attained eternal wealth, Varuṇa attained his ropes, and Dhruva attained the realm of Lord Viṣṇu.

Verse text

tathāmbarīṣaḥ samavāpa muktiṁ somo 'kṣayaṁ vā lavānāj jayaṁ ca raghuś ca siddhiṁ kila citraketus taptvā tapo 'traiva madhor vane ca

Synonyms

tathā so ; ambarīṣaḥ Ambarīśa ; samavāpa attained ; muktim liberation ; somaḥ Soma ; akṣayam inviciblitiy ; or ; lavānāt from Lavana ; jayam victory ; ca and ; raghuḥ Raghu ; ca and ; siddhim perfection ; kila indeed ; citraketuḥ Citraketu ; taptvā tapaḥ perfomring austerities ; atra here ; eva indeed ; madhor vane in Mathurā ; ca and.

Translation

By performing austerities in Mathurā, Ambarīṣa attained liberation, Rāmacandra became invincible and defated the demon Lavaṇa, Raghu attained perfection, and Citraketu also attained perfection.

Verse text

taptvā tapo 'traiva madhor vane śubhe bhūtvā baliṣṭhaś ca madhur mahāsuraḥ śrī-mādhave māsi ca mādhavena yuyodha yuddhe madhusūdanena saḥ

Synonyms

taptvā tapaḥ performing austerities ; atra here ; eva indeed ; madhor vane in Mathurā ; śubhe beautiful ; bhūtvā becoming ; baliṣṭhaḥ powerful ; ca and ; madhuḥ Madhu ; mahāsuraḥ the great demon ; śrī-mādhave māsi in the month of mādhava ; ca and ; mādhavena with Kṛṣṇa ; yuyodha fought ; yuddhe in battle ; madhusūdanena the killer of Madhu ; saḥ he.

Translation

By performing austerities in beautiful Mathurā, the great demon Madhu became very powerful. In the month of Mādhava (April-May), he fought with Lord Kṛṣṇa, who later became known as Madhusūdana (the killer of Madhu).

Verse text

saptarṣayaḥ śrī-mathurāṁ sametya taptvā tapo 'traiva ca yoga-siddhim prāpuḥ pare vai munayaḥ samantād gokarṇa-vaiśyo 'pi mahā-nidhiṁ ca

Synonyms

saptarṣayaḥ the seven sages ; śrī-mathurām to Śrī Mathurā ; sametya going ; taptvā tapaḥ performed austerities ; atra here ; eva indeed ; ca and ; yoga-siddhim yogic perfections ; prāpuḥ attained ; pare other ; vai indeed ; munayaḥ sages ; samantāt completely ; gokarṇa-vaiśyaḥ the vaiśya Gokarṇa ; api also ; mahā-nidhim great wealth ; ca and.

Translation

By performing austerities in Mathurā, the seven sages and other sages also attained the perfection of yoga, the vaiśya named Gokarṇa attained great wealth.

Verse text

taptvā tapo 'traiva madhor vane śubhe vijitya devān divi loka-rāvaṇaḥ nidhāya rakṣāṁsi vidhāya mandiraṁ āsthāya laṅkāṁ virarāja rāvaṇaḥ

Synonyms

taptvā tapaḥ performed austerities ; atra here ; eva indeed ; madhor vane in Mathurā ; śubhe beautiful ; vijitya conquering ; devān the demigods ; divi in heaven ; loka-rāvaṇaḥ making the worlds scream ; nidhāya placing ; rakṣāṁsi demons ; vidhāya placing ; mandiram a palace ; āsthāya placing ; laṅkām Laṅkā ; virarāja shone ; rāvaṇaḥ Ravana.

Translation

By performing austerities in beautiful Mathurā, the demon Rāvaṇa conquered the demigods, made the wrolds scream in pain, conquered the demons, and built a great city in Laṅkā.

Verse text

taptvā tapo 'traiva madhor vane śubhe gajāhvayeśo mithileśaḥ śantanuḥ lebhe sutaṁ bhīṣmam atīva sattamaṁ tattvārtha-vārān nidhi-karṇadhārakam

Synonyms

taptvā tapaḥ performed austerities ; atra here ; eva indeed ; madhor vane in Mathurā ; śubhe beautiful ; gajāhvayeśaḥ the king of Hastināpura ; mithileśaḥ the king of Mithilā ; śantanuḥ Śantanu ; lebhe attained ; sutam a son ; bhīṣmam Bhīṣma ; atīva very ; sattamam exalted ; tattvā of truth ; artha the meaning ; vārān the waters ; nidhi-karṇadhārakam the captain.

Translation

By performing austerities in beautiful Mathurā, Śantanu, the king of Mithilā and Hastināpura, attained as his son the great saint Bhīṣma, who was the captain of the ship to cross the ocean of truth.

Verse text

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca mathurāyāś ca māhātmyaṁ vada devarṣi-sattama nivāse kiṁ phalaṁ proktaṁ mathurāyāḥ satāṁ nṛṇām

Synonyms

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca Śrī Bahulāśva said ; mathurāyāḥ of Mathurā ; ca and ; māhātmyam the glory ; vada tell ; devarṣi-sattama O best of the demigod-sages ; nivāse in the home ; kim what? ; phalam reult ; proktam said ; mathurāyāḥ of Mathurā ; satām of the devotees ; nṛṇām people.

Translation

Śrī Bahulāśva said: O best of the demigod-sages, please tell me the glories of Mathurā. What result do the devotees obtain by living in Mathurā?

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca ādau varāho dhāraṇīṁ nimagnāṁ mahā-jale projjhita-vīci-śaṅke sva-daṁstryoddhṛtya karīva padmaṁ kareṇa māhātmyam idaṁ jagāda

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; ādau in the beginning ; varāhaḥ Lord Varāha ; dhāraṇīm the earth ; nimagnām plunged ; mahā-jale in the great ocean ; projjhita-vīci-śaṅke filled with waves ; sva-daṁstryā by His tusk ; uddhṛtya lifting ; karī an elephant ; iva like ; padmam a lotus ; kareṇa with its trunk ; māhātmyam the glory ; idam thus ; jagāda said.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: As an elephant holds a lotus flower in its trunk, so in the beginning of creation Lord Varāha lifted with His tusks the earth plunged in the great ocean filled with waves. Lord Varāha then spoke the glories of Mathurā.

Verse text

bruvan jano nāma phalaṁ harer labhec chṛṇval labhet kṛṣṇa-kathā-phalaṁ naraḥ spṛśan satāṁ sparśana-jaṁ madhoḥ puri jighraṁs tulasyā dala-gandha-jaṁ phalam

Synonyms

bruvan speaking ; janaḥ Jana ; nāma name ; phalam the result ; hareḥ of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; labhet may attain ; śṛṇvan hearing ; labhet may attain ; kṛṣṇa of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kathā of the topics ; phalam the result ; naraḥ a person ; spṛśan touching ; satām of the devotees ; sparśana-jam manifested from touching ; madhoḥ purī Mathurā ; jighran smelling ; tulasyā of Tulasī ; dala-gandha-jam the fragrance of the leaves ; phalam the result.

Translation

By speaking the name "Mathurā" one attains the same result as chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. By hearing the glories of Mathurā one attains the same result as hearing the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa. By touching Mathurā one attains the same result as touching the great devotees. By smelling the fragrance of Mathurā one attains the same result as smelling the fragrance of Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī's leaves.

Verse text

paśyan harer darśana-jaṁ phalaṁ svato bhakṣāṁś ca naivedya-bhāvaṁ ramā-pateḥ kurvan bhujābhyāṁ hari-sevayā phalaṁ gacchal labhet tīrtha-phalaṁ pade pade

Synonyms

paśyan seeing ; hareḥ of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; darśana-jam manifested from seeing ; phalam the result ; svataḥ voulntarily ; ca and ; naivedya-bhāvam "rasadam ; ramā-pateḥ of the husband of the goddess of fortune ; kurvan doing ; bhujābhyām with both arms ; hari-sevayā by service to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; phalam the result ; gacchal going ; labhet attains ; tīrtha-phalam the result of pilgrimage ; pade step ; pade after step.

Translation

By seeing Mathurā one attains the same result as seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa. By eating prasādam in Mathurā one attains the same result as eating prasādam offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune. By serving Mathurā with one's arms one attains the same result as serving Lord Kṛṣṇa. By walking in Mathurā one attains at every step the same result as visiting many holy places of pilgrimage.

Verse text

rājendra-hantā nija-gotra-ghātakī trailokya-hantāpi ca koṭi-janmasu rājan chṛṇu tvaṁ mathurā-nivāsato yogīśvarāṇāṁ gatim āpnuyān naraḥ

Synonyms

rājendra-hantā killer of the greatest opf kings ; nija-gotra-ghātakī killer of his own relatives ; trailokya-hantā a killer of the three worlds ; api even ; ca and ; koṭi-janmasu in millions of births ; rājan O king ; śṛṇu please hear ; tvam you ; mathurā-nivāsataḥ by living in Mathurā ; yogīśvarāṇām of the kings of the yogis ; gatim the destination ; āpnuyāt attains ; naraḥ a person.

Translation

O king please listen. A sinner who in millions of lives again and again kills many saintly kings, his own relatives, and numberless other victims in the three worlds, by residing in Mathurā attains the destination of the kings of the yogīs.

Verse text

pādau ca dhig yau na gatu madhor vande dṛśau ca dhig ye na kadāpi paśyataḥ karṇau ca dhig yau śṛṇuto na maithila vācaṁ ca dhig yā na karoty alaṁ manāk

Synonyms

pādau feet ; ca and ; dhig fie ; yau which ; na not ; gatu gone ; madhor vande in Mathurā ; dṛśau eyes ; ca and ; dhig fie ; ye which ; na not ; kadāpi ever ; paśyataḥ see ; karṇau the ears ; ca and ; dhig fie ; yau ehich ; śṛṇutaḥ hear ; na not ; maithila O king of Mithilā ; vācam words ; ca and ; dhik fie ; which ; na not ; karoti does ; alam greatly ; manā slightly.

Translation

Pitiable are the feet that have never walked in Mathurā! Pitiable are the eyes that have never seen Mathurā! Pitiable are the ears that have never heard of Mathurā! Pitiable is the voice that will not glorify Mathurā!

Verse text

dvi-sapta-koṭīni vanāni yatra tīrthāni vaideha samāsthitāni ekaikam eteṣu vimukti-dāni vadāmi sākṣān mathurāṁ namāmi

Synonyms

dvi-sapta-koṭīni fourteen ; vanāni forests ; yatra where ; tīrthāni holy places ; vaideha O king of Videha ; samāsthitāni established ; ekaikam one by one ; eteṣu in them ; vimukti-dāni giving liberation ; vadāmi I tell ; sākṣān directly ; mathurām to Mathurā ; namāmi I offer obeisances.

Translation

I tell you that in Mathurā are fourteen forests that contain many holy places. Each of these holy places grants liberation. I bow down to offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Mathurā.

Verse text

goloka-nāthaḥ paripūrṇa-devaḥ sākṣād asaṅkhyāṇḍa-patiḥ svayaṁ hi śrī-kṛṣṇa-candro 'vatatāra yasyāṁ tasyai namo 'nyāśu purīsu kiṁ vā

Synonyms

goloka of Goloka ; nāthaḥ the master ; paripūrṇa-devaḥ the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; sākṣāt directly ; asaṅkhyāṇḍa-patiḥ the master of numerless universes ; svayam personally ; hi indeed ; śrī-kṛṣṇa-candraḥ Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra ; avatatāra descrneded ; yasyam in which ; tasyai to it ; namaḥ obeisances ; anyāsu other ; purīsu cities ; kim whether? ; or.

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, who is the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of Goloka-dhāma, and the master of numberless universes, personally descended to this world in the city of Mathurā. I offer my repsectful obeisances to Śrī Mathurā. What other city can compare with Mathurā?

Verse text

yan-nāma pāpaṁ vinihanti tat-kṣaṇaṁ bhavaty alaṁ yaṁ gṛṇuto 'pi muktayaḥ vīthiṣu vīthiṣu ca muktir asyās tasmād imaṁ śreṣṭhatamaṁ vidur budhāḥ

Synonyms

yan-nāma the name of which ; pāpam sin ; vinihanti kills ; tat-kṣaṇam that moment ; bhavati becomes ; alam greatky ; yam what ; gṛṇutaḥ chanting ; api even ; muktayaḥ the liberations ; vīthiṣu on the path ; vīthiṣu after path ; ca and ; muktiḥ liberation ; asyāḥ others ; tasmāt therefore ; imam this ; śreṣṭhatamam the best ; viduḥ know ; budhāḥ the wise.

Translation

The holy name of Mathurā kills all sins in an instant. One who chants the name of Mathurā finds liberation waiting for him on every path. For this reason the wise say Mathurā is the best of holy places.

Verse text

kāśy-ādi-puryo yadi santi loke tāsāṁ tu madhye mathuraiva dhanyā yā janma-mauṣjī-vrata-mṛtyu-dāhair nṛṇāṁ caturdhā vidadhāti muktim

Synonyms

kāśy-ādi-puryaḥ the holy cities headed by Varanasi ; yadi if ; santi are ; loke in the world ; tāsām of them ; tu indeed ; madhye in the middle ; mathurā Mathurā ; eva indeed ; dhanyā glorious ; which ; janma birth ; mauṣjī-vrata the sacred-thread ceremony ; mṛtyu death ; dāhaiḥ cremation ; nṛṇām of people ; caturdhā four kinds ; vidadhāti gives ; muktim liberation.

Translation

If Vārāṇasī and the other holy cities of the world were to meet, Mathurā would be the most glorious of them. Mathurā gives liberation to they who are born, accept spiritual initiation, die, or are cremated within her borders.

Verse text

purīśvarīṁ kṛṣṇa-purīṁ vrajeśvarīṁ tīrtheśvarīṁ yajṣa-tapo-nidhīśvarīm mokṣa-pradāṁ dharma-dhurandharāṁ parāṁ madhor vane śrī-mathurāṁ namāmy aham

Synonyms

purīśvarīm the queen of cities ; kṛṣṇa-purīm the city of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vrajeśvarīm the queen of Vraja ; tīrtheśvarīm the queen of holy places ; yajṣā-tapo-nidhīśvarīm the queen of yajnas, austerities, and opulences ; mokṣa-pradām teh giver of liberation ; dharma-dhurandharām the upholder of the principles of religion ; parām great ; madhor vane in the forest of Madhuvana ; śrī-mathurām Śrī Mathurā ; namāmi bow down ; aham I.

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances to exalted Śrī Mathurā, the queen of cities, the city of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the queen of Vraja, the queen of holy places, the queen of yajṣas, austerities, and opulences, the giver of liberation, the protector of religion.

Verse text

śṛṇvanti māhātmyam idaṁ madhoḥ pure kṛṣṇaika-cittā niyataś ca yatra ye vrajanti te tatra parikramāt phalaṁ vaideha rājendra na cātra saṁśayaḥ

Synonyms

śṛṇvanti hear ; māhātmyam the glory ; idam this ; madhoḥ pure in Mathurā ; kṛṣṇaika-cittā their thoughts placed on Lord Kṛṣṇa ; niyataḥ self-controlled ; ca and ; yatra where ; ye who ; vrajanti go ; te they ; tatra there ; parikramāt by circumambulating ; phalam the result ; vaideha O king of Videha ; rājendra O king of kings ; na not ; ca and ; atra here ; saṁśayaḥ doubt.

Translation

O master of Videha, O king of kings, they who, controlling their senses and fixing their thoughts on Lord Kṛṣṇa, hear this description of Mathurā's glories, attain the same result attained by circumambulating Śrī Mathurā. Of this there is no doubt.

Verse text

khaṇḍaṁ tv idaṁ śrī-mathurā-purasya ye śṛṇvanti gāyanti paṭhanti sarvataḥ ihaiva teṣāṁ hi samṛddhi-siddhayo bhavanti vaideha nisargataḥ sadā

Synonyms

khaṇḍam canto ; tv indeed ; idam this ; śrī-mathurā-purasya of Śrī Mathurā City ; ye who ; śṛṇvanti hear ; gāyanti sing ; paṭhanti read ; sarvataḥ in all respects ; iha here ; eva indeed ; teṣām of them ; hi indeed ; samṛddhi-siddhayaḥ perfections ; bhavanti are ; vaideha O king of Videha ; nisargataḥ naturally ; sadā always.

Translation

They who hear, chant, or read this Śrī Mathurā-khaṇḍa become eternally perfect.

Verse text

triḥ-sapta-kṛtvo bahu-vaibhavārthinaḥ śṛṇvanti cainaṁ niyataś ca ye bhṛśam teṣāṁ gṛha-dvāram alaṅkaroti hi bhṛṅgāvalī kuṣjara-karṇa-tāḍitā

Synonyms

triḥ-sapta twenty-one times ; kṛtvaḥ doing ; bahu-vaibhavārthinaḥ desiring great wealth ; śṛṇvanti hear ; ca and ; enam this ; niyataḥ controlling the senses ; ca and ; ye who ; bhṛśam greatly ; teṣām of them ; gṛha-dvāram the doorway ; alaṅkaroti decorates ; hi indeed ; bhṛṅgāvalī a swarm of bees ; kuṣjara-karṇa-tāḍitā striking an elephant's ear.

Translation

They who, desiring great wealth, control their senses and twenty-one times hear this Śrī Mathurā-khaṇḍa, find an elephant's ear of of the bees of transcendental wealth and opulences decorating their doorways.

Verse text

vipro 'tha vidvān vijayī nṛpātmajo vaiśyo nidhiśo vṛṣalo 'pi nirmalaḥ śrutvedam ārāc ca manoratho bhavet strīṇāṁ janānām ati-durlabho 'pi hi

Synonyms

vipraḥ a brāhmaṇa ; atha then ; vidvān learned ; vijayī victorious ; nṛpātmajaḥ a kṣatriya ; vaiśyaḥ a vaiśya ; nidhiśaḥ the master of great wealth ; vṛṣalaḥ a śūdra ; api also ; nirmalaḥ pure ; śrutvā hearing ; idam this ; ārāt nearby ; ca and ; manorathaḥ desire ; bhavet may be ; strīṇām of women ; janānām of men ; ati-durlabhaḥ difficult to attain ; api also ; hi indeed.

Translation

By hearing this Śrī Mathurā-khaṇḍa a brāhmaṇa becames wise and learned, a kṣatriya becomes victorious in battle, a vaiśya becomes the master of great wealth, and a śūdra becomes pure-hearted. Whatever difficult-to-attain thing any man or woman desires, they will attain.

Verse text

niṣkāraṇo bhakti-yuto mahī-tale śṛṇoti cedaṁ hari-lagna-mānasaḥ vijitya vighnān pravijitya nākapān goloka-dhāma-pravaraṁ prayāti saḥ

Synonyms

niṣkāraṇaḥ causeless ; bhakti-yutaḥ devotee ; mahī-tale on the earth ; śṛṇoti hears ; ca and ; idam this ; hari on Lord Kṛṣṇa ; lagna placed ; mānasaḥ thoughts ; vijitya overcoming ; vighnān obstacles ; pravijitya surpassing ; nākapān the demigods ; goloka-dhāma-pravaram the transcendental abode of Goloka ; prayāti goes ; saḥ he.

Translation

A person on this earth who is engaged in unmotivated devotional service, whose thoughts rest on Lord Kṛṣṇa, and who hears this Śrī Mathurā-khaṇḍa, travels past the homes of the demigods and enters the transcendental abode of Śrī Goloka.