Chapter 68 - Glory of the Holy Shrine of Puruṣottama

Brahmā said:

1. Thus, the glory of (Infinite deity) and the holy shrine of Puruṣottama that yields worldly pleasures and liberation unto men has been recounted by me. It is very difficult of access.

2-3. It is the place where the glorious lord stays—the lord whose eyes resemble the lotus, who holds conch, discus and ironclub, who is clad in yellow robes and who has killed Kaṃsa and Keśin.^[1]

There is no doubt that those who see there Kṛṣṇa who is bowed to by Devas and Asuras, Saṃkarṣaṇa and Subhadrā are blessed.

4. Those who meditate upon Kṛṣṇa the overlord of the three worlds, the bestower of all desired benefits, are liberated souls.

5. Those who are devoted to Kṛṣṇa, those who remember Kṛṣṇa at night (when they go to bed) and again when they get up enter Kṛṣṇa when their bodies are consumed on death like the ghee offering consigned to fire with due repetitions of Mantras.

6. Hence, O excellent sages, the lotus-eyed deity Kṛṣṇa should be assiduously visited in that holy centre by those who seek salvation.

7. The lofty-minded persons who visit Kṛṣṇa, (Balarāma) and Subhadrā at the time when the deities are laid to rest go to the world of Viṣṇu.

8. Those who devoutly visit Puruṣottama, Balarāma and Subhadrā at any time, go to the world of Viṣṇu.

9. He who stays in. the holy centres of Puruṣottama for the four months of rainy season derives more benefit than the benefit accruing from the holy pilgrimage to the other centres of the Earth.

10. Those lofty persons who reside there itself during the seasons, after conquering sense-organs and controlling anger, derive the benefit of a penance.

11. Within a month a man obtains at Puruṣottama their benefit which others obtain after performing penance in other holy centres for ten thousand years.

12. Lofty-minded persons always obtain the usual benefit of penance, celibate life eschewed of attachment at the holy centre of Puruṣottama.

13. Lofty-minded persons obtain the benefit which is glorified as the meritorious benefit of ablution and charitable gifts in all other holy centres.

14. Everyday, the pure person derives that benefit which is mentioned as the result of perfectly performed pilgrimage, holy rites and observances.

15. A man of perfectly restrained sense-organs obtains everyday the same benefit as one obtains (on other holy centres) after performing different rites of sacrifice.

16. There is no doubt that the people who resort to the Kalpa tree in the holy centre of Puruṣottama^[2] and abandon their bodies become liberated souls.

17. Those who abandon their bodies anywhere between the baniyan tree and the Ocean obtain the greatest liberation which is very difficult to get.

18. Even if the man is forced to give up his life against his wish, he will be liberated from misery. He will attain salvation which is very difficult to get.

19. Even the animals of low strata of species such as germs, worms, moths etc., attain the greatest salvation by abandoning their bodies there.

20. O brahmins, see the illusion of the world in regard to other holy centres. The fruits of all other holy centres are derived from the only holy centre Puruṣottama.

21. The man who faithfully visits Puruṣottama for once will become the most excellent man among thousands of men.

22. The lord is glorified as Puruṣottama in the Vedas, Purāṇas and in the world because he is greater than Prakṛti and more excellent than Puruṣa.

23. He who is cited as Paramātman (the Supreme Being) in the Purāṇas and in Vedanta is present for the uplift of universe. Hence, he is Puruṣottama.

24. Here in this centre whether it is on the road, or in the cemetery or in a house of a pupil or anywhere among different spots in the streets whether willing or otherwise the man who gives up his body derives liberation.

25. Hence, O excellent brahmins, one who gives up his body in this holy centre will achieve liberation.

26. Who can adequately mention the glory of Puruṣottama? Just by visiting the baniyan tree there a man dispels the sin of brahmin slaughter.

27. Only a part of the good qualities of the holy centres has been related by me. Who can mention the entire merits adequately even in hundreds of years?

28. O excellent sages, if you seek for perpetual salvation, stay in that holy centre alertfully.

Vyāsa said:

29. On hearing the words of Brahmā born of the unmanifest one, sages resided there and attained the highest region.

30. Hence, O excellent brahmins, you too stay in this holy centre—Puruṣottama, if you seek for perfect creation hereafter.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Keśin: a follower of Kaṃsa who at the instruction of Kaṃśa went to Gokula, in the form of a horse, to kill Śrīkṛṣṇa. But Śrīkṛṣṇa killed him and got the same Keśava.

[2]:

Puruṣottama-kṣetra: a centre in Orissa, sacred to Viṣṇu.