Verse Text
(64) atha śrī-mathurā-maṇḍale sthitiḥ, yathā pādme—
anyeṣu puṇya-tīrtheṣu muktir eva mahā-phalam |
muktaiḥ prārthyā harer bhaktir mathurāyāṁ tu labhyate ||235||
tri-vargadā kāmināṁ yā mumukṣūṇāṁ ca mokṣadā |
bhaktīcchor bhaktidā kas tāṁ mathurāṁ nāśrayed budhaḥ ||236||
aho madhu-purī dhanyā vaikuṇṭhāc ca garīyasī |
dinam ekaṁ nivāsena harau bhaktiḥ prajāyate ||237||
Translation
Residing in Mathurā (verse 92), illustrated in the Padma Purāṇa: Liberation is the greatest result that can be obtained at other holy places, but devotion to the Lord, which is desired by the liberated souls, can be attained at Mathurā. Mathurā bestows dharma, artha, kāma to those who have material desires. It awards liberation to those desiring liberation. It awards bhakti to those desiring bhakti. What intelligent person will not take shelter of Mathurā? Oh, Mathurā is most auspicious, and greater than Vaikuṇṭha (Goloka)! [Note: It will be explained later in the commentary on 1.2.303 that Vaikuṇṭha means Goloka, a part of Vraja filled with aiśvarya. Mathurā here means Gokula.] By staying only one day in Mathurā, bhakti to the Lord appears.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Living in Mathurā
In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement about the importance of living at holy places like Mathurā or Dvārakā. It is stated there, “To travel to different places of pilgrimage means to attain emancipation from material bondage. This emancipation, however, is not the highest perfectional stage. After attaining this liberated stage, one has to become engaged in devotional service to the Lord. After attainment of the brahma-bhūta [SB 4.30.20] [liberation] stage, one can further advance to engagement in devotional service. So this attainment of transcendental loving devotional service to the Lord is the goal of life, and it can be achieved very easily for one who lives in Mathurā-maṇḍala even for a few seconds.”
It is further said, “Who is that person who will not agree to worship the land of Mathurā? Mathurā can deliver all the desires and ambitions of the fruitive workers and of the salvationists, who desire to become one with the Supreme Brahman. Certainly Mathurā will deliver the desires of the devotees, who simply aspire to be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.” In the Vedic literature it is also stated, “How wonderful it is that simply by residing in Mathurā even for one day, one can achieve a transcendental loving attitude toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead! This land of Mathurā must be more glorious than Vaikuṇṭha-dhāma, the kingdom of God!”