Varaha Purana

धरण्युवाच प्रदक्षिणाफलं सम्यगनुक्रमविधिं वद

The Earth said: Tell me in order the proper method and the full fruit of circumambulation.

श्रीवराह उवाच इदमेव पुरा प्रोक्तं यथा पृष्टा त्वया ह्यहम्

Śrī Varāha said: This was declared before, just as you have now asked me.

श्रुत्वा सर्वपुराणोक्तं तीर्थानुक्रमणं परम्

Having heard the supreme account of the sacred places as told in all the Purāṇas—

सर्वदेवेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्फलम्

The merit gained among all the gods, the fruit attained at all the sacred waters—

यत्फलं लभ्यते विप्रास्तस्माच्छतगुणोत्तरम् 159.

O Brahmins, the fruit obtained here is a hundred times greater than that.

इत्युक्त्वा ऋषयो जग्मुरभिवाद्य स्वयम्भुवम्

Having spoken thus, the sages departed, having offered their respects to the self-born one.

ध्रुवेण सहिताश्चासन्कामयानास्तु तद्दिनम्

Together with Dhruva, they went forth, traveling as they wished on that day.

मथुरोपक्रमं कृत्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

By performing the circumambulation of Mathura, one is freed from all sins.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे मथुरामाहात्म्ये मथुराप्रदक्षिणादिकं नामैकोनषष्ट्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred fifty-ninth chapter, named 'The Circumambulation of Mathura,' in the section on the greatness of Mathura, in the glorious Varaha Purana.

अथ मथुरापरिक्रमप्रादुर्भावः अष्टम्यां मथुरां प्राप्य कार्त्तिकस्यासिते नरः

Now, the manifestation of the circumambulation of Mathura: On the eighth day of the dark half of Karttika, a man should reach Mathura.

विश्रांतिदर्शनं कृत्वा दीर्घविष्णुं च केशवम्

He should visit the place of rest and see the long form of Vishnu, known as Keshava.

उपवासरतः सम्यगल्पमेध्याशनोऽथवा

Engaged in fasting, eating little and pure food, or otherwise,

ब्रह्मचर्येण तां रात्रिं कृत्वा सङ्कल्प्य मानसे

Observing celibacy that night, having resolved in his mind,

तिलाक्षतकुशान् गृह्य पितृदेवार्थमुद्यतः

Taking sesame, rice, and sacred grass, prepared for the sake of ancestors and gods,

यथानुक्रमणं तैश्च ध्रुवाद्यैर्ऋषिभिः कृतम्

And, in due order, as performed by Dhruva and other sages with those items,

प्रदक्षिणा वर्त्तमाना भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः

He should perform the circumambulation, filled with devotion and faith.

एवं जागरणं कृत्वा नवम्यां नियतः शुचिः

Thus, having kept vigil, on the ninth day, disciplined and pure,

तथा प्रारभयेद्यात्रां यावन्नोदयते रविः

In this way, he should begin the journey before the sun rises.

प्रक्षाल्य पादावाचम्य हनुमन्तं प्रसादयेत् 160.

Having washed his feet and rinsed his mouth, he should propitiate Hanuman.

विज्ञाप्य सिद्धिकर्त्तारं यात्रासिद्धिप्रदायकम्

He should make his request to the bestower of success, who grants accomplishment to the journey.

यथा रामस्य यात्रायां सिद्धिस्ते सुप्रतिष्ठिता

Just as success was firmly established in Rama's journey,

इति विज्ञाप्य विधिवद्धनूमन्तं गणेश्वरम्

Thus, having duly informed Dhanumant, the lord of the hosts,

तथैव पद्मनाभं तु दीर्घविष्णुं भयापहम्

In the same way, Padmanabha, the long-bodied Vishnu, the remover of fear,

दृष्ट्वा वसुमतीं देवीं तथैव ह्यपराजिताम्

Having seen the goddess Vasumati, likewise the unconquered one,

कंसवासनिकां तद्वदौग्रसेनां च चर्च्चिकाम्

The one dwelling in Kamsa's abode, and then Ugrasena's Carcika,

जयदां देवतानां च मातरो देवपूजिताः

And the mothers of the gods, givers of victory, worshipped by the deities,

मौनव्रतधरो गच्छेद्यावद्दक्षिणकोटिके

One should proceed in silence and vow, until reaching the southern corner.

नत्वा गच्छेदिक्षुवासां देवि कृष्णसुपूजिताम् यानि तीर्थानि तान्येव स्थापितानि महर्षिभिः

Having bowed, one should go to Ikshuvasa, the goddess well-worshipped by Krishna; all those sacred places were established by great sages.

ख्यातिं गतानि सर्वाणि सर्वपापहराणि च अर्कस्थलं वीरस्थलं कुशस्थलमनन्तरम् ।। 160.

All of them have become renowned, and remove all sins: Arkasthala, Virasthala, and then Kushasthala.