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

GS 5.25.1

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.

GS 5.25.2

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?

GS 5.25.3

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.

GS 5.25.4

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.

GS 5.25.5

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.

GS 5.25.6

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.

GS 5.25.7

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.

GS 5.25.8

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.

GS 5.25.9

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.

GS 5.25.10

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.

GS 5.25.11

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.

GS 5.25.12

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.

GS 5.25.13

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.

GS 5.25.14

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.

GS 5.25.15

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.

GS 5.25.16

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.

GS 5.25.17

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.

GS 5.25.18

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.

GS 5.25.19

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 ; vā — 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.

GS 5.25.20

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).

GS 5.25.21

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.

GS 5.25.22

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.

GS 5.25.23

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.

GS 5.25.24

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?

GS 5.25.25

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.

GS 5.25.26

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.

GS 5.25.27

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.

GS 5.25.28

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.

GS 5.25.29

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 ; yā — 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!

GS 5.25.30

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.

GS 5.25.31

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? ; vā — 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?

GS 5.25.32

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.

GS 5.25.33

Verse text

kāśy-ādi-puryo yadi santi loke

tāsāṁ tu madhye mathuraiva dhanyā

yā janma-mauñjī-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 ; yā — which ; janma — birth ; mauñjī-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.

GS 5.25.34

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.

GS 5.25.35

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.

GS 5.25.36

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.

GS 5.25.37

Verse text

triḥ-sapta-kṛtvo bahu-vaibhavārthinaḥ śṛṇvanti cainaṁ niyataś ca ye bhṛśam

teṣāṁ gṛha-dvāram alaṅkaroti hi

bhṛṅgāvalī kuñjara-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 ; kuñjara-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.

GS 5.25.38

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.

GS 5.25.39

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.