Varaha Purana

एतत्ते कथितं देवि सर्वपातकनाशनम्

O Devi, this has been told to you; it destroys all sins.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे भगवच्छास्त्रे मथुरामाहात्म्ये अष्टषष्ट्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred sixty-eighth chapter, concerning the greatness of Mathurā, in the divine scripture of the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa.

श्रीवराह उवाच तस्यां वसाम्यहं देवि मथुरायां च सर्वदा

Śrī Varāha said: O Devi, I always reside there in Mathurā.

सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां मथुरा च परं महत्

Among all sacred fords, Mathurā is the highest and greatest.

चक्रस्थितं हि तत्सर्वं कृष्णस्यैव पदेन तु

Indeed, all of that abides in the Cakra, truly by the foot of Kṛṣṇa.

तत्रैव वासिनो लोका मुक्तिं यान्ति न संशयः

The inhabitants dwelling there surely attain liberation—there is no doubt.

तयोर्मध्ये स्थितो देव आकारात्सोमचक्रता

Between the two, the god stands, having the form of the Soma-cakra.

तस्माद्धि मरणं चात्र द्वे कोटी सर्वकर्मसु

Therefore, death here is equal to two crores in all actions.

तेन वै चाक्षया लोकाः प्राप्ताश्चैव न संशयः यज्ञोपवीतमात्रेण त्रायन्ते च कुलं बहु

By this, indeed, imperishable worlds are attained—there is no doubt; even by the mere sacred thread, many families are protected.

पृथिव्युवाच

The Earth said:

दक्षिणस्यां समारभ्य उत्तरस्यां समापयेत् 169.

Beginning from the south, one should complete it in the north.

मनुजा येन विधिना मुक्तिं यान्ति न संशयः गृहान्निःसृत्य मौनेन यावत्स्नानं समाचरेत्

By whatever method people attain liberation—there is no doubt—leaving the house in silence, one should perform bathing.

पूजां कृष्णस्य कृत्वा वै ततो ब्रूयाद्वसुन्धरे

Having worshipped Kṛṣṇa, then one should address the Earth.

कृष्णस्य कृत्वा तु मखं स्नानादीनि यथाक्रमम्

Having performed the sacrifice for Krishna, along with the prescribed bathing and other rites in due order,

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चाद्विधिरेष उदाहृतः

one should then feed the Brahmins; this is the procedure that has been declared.

न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्मम लोके महीयते

He does not return again to my world—he is greatly honored.

अन्यत्र तु मृता ये च अर्धचन्द्रकृतक्रियाः

But as for those who die elsewhere, or whose rites are performed in the form of a half-moon,

यावदस्थीन्यर्द्धचन्द्रं यस्य तिष्ठन्ति देहिनः

as long as the bones of a person remain in the half-moon shape,

अर्द्धचन्द्रे विशेषोऽस्ति तीर्थे विश्रान्तिसंज्ञके

there is a special significance to the half-moon, at the holy place known as Viśrānti.

गर्त्तेश्वरोऽथ भूतेशो द्वे कोटी तु वसुन्धरे

O Earth, there are two crores at the holy places called Gartteśvara and Bhūteśa.

माथुराणां च यद्रूपं तद्रूपं मे वसुन्धरे 169.

O Earth, whatever form is found among the people of Mathura, that is my form as well.

शृणु देवि यथावृत्तं गरुडस्य महात्मनः मथुरायां स्थितं देवं भिन्नरूपं न पश्यति

Listen, O Goddess, to what happened concerning the great-souled Garuḍa: in Mathura, he could not see the deity in its distinct form.

तदा गतोऽसौ वसुधे देवस्याग्रे विहंगमः

Then, O Earth, that bird went before the deity.

गरुड उवाच जय केशव ईशान जय कृष्ण नमोऽस्तु ते

Garuḍa said: Victory to you, Keśava, Lord! Victory to you, Krishna! Salutations to you!

जय मूर्त जयाचिन्त्य जय लोकविभूषण

Victory to you, O Embodied One! Victory to you, O Inconceivable! Victory to you, Ornament of the worlds!

गरुडस्य पुरस्तत्र स्थितो देवः शरीरवान्

There, in front of Garuḍa, the deity stood in bodily form.

किं कुर्यात्स्तोत्रमेतन्मे किं वा तव चिकीर्षितम्

He said, 'What should I do? Is it this hymn, or is there something else you wish me to do?'

गरुड उवाच आगते तु मया देव न दृष्टं तव रूपकम्

Garuḍa said: O Lord, though I have come, I have not seen your form.

माथुरैरेव लोकैस्तु समं दृष्टं हि रूपकम्

Indeed, your form has been seen only by the people of Mathura, together with the world.