The Greatness of the Worship of Radha-Damodara

Shaunaka said:

1. O Suta, (tell me which) you said to be the (deeds of) merit, doing which, the frogs (men) in the blinding well due to darkness, will cross the ocean of mundane existence. Siita said:

2-10. That woman who, bathing (every) morning in Kartika, being dear to Radha and Krishna, being composed and devoutly worshipping Radha and Krishna, gives up eating meat etc. and is engaged in serving her husband, goes to Vishnu's place called Goloka which is very difficult to obtain (i.e. to reach). She who would offer incense and lamp to Radha and Damodara (i.e. Krishna) in Kartika, goes, with her sin abandoned (i.e. removed), to Vishnu's abode. O brahmana, that woman who would offer a garment to Radha and Krishna would, for a long time, live in the abode to Shri Vishnu. She who offers to Radha and Krishna fragrant flowers and garlands in the month of Kartika, goes to Vishnu's abode. Also she who would offer sandal and make an offering like sugar to Radba and Krishna, would go to Vishnu's abode. O brahmana, the merit of that woman who gives something to a brahmana in the month of Kartika to please Radha and Krishna, becomes inexhaustible. O brahmana, that woman who devoutly worships Radha and Krishna in the month of Kartika goes (to Vishnu's abode); she would not live in hell for long, even if she was a widow in a previous existence or was not dear to her husband.

11-18. O brahmana, in olden days in the Tretayuga there lived a shudra named Shankara in the Saurastra country. His wife was Kalipriya by name. She always longed for a paramour, and looked upon her husband like (a blade of) grass (i.e. treated him disgracefully). 'This husband is not proper for me, my lord is some other man.' Thinking like this she always gave him food that was left over. The very foolish woman (drank) liquor and ate meat due to the company of mean people. The cruel one always reproached her husband at her will. 'He is a rope (tied to my) feet; why did he not die? When he dies I shall enjoy at will.' O brahmana, thinking like this to her mind, she made an agreement with a paramour as: " We shall go to another country". O brahmana, at night she cut off the throat of her husband with a sword for the sake of her paramour, and went to the rendezvous. O brahmana, the paramour that had come there was eaten up by a tiger. Seeing it she wept and fell down in a swoon. Being composed after a long time the foolish woman wept piteously. Kalipriyd said:

19. Having killed my own husband, I approached a stranger. Due to my (ill luck) a tiger has eaten up that lord of mine (also). What shall I do? Where shall I go? I am deceived by the Creator. Suta said:

20. O brahmana, then Kalipriya came to her own house. Putting her mouth into that of her husband she wept. Kalipriyd said:

21-22. O lord, what a very terrible deed have I done? Which world shall I go to? O lord, speak (at least) a few words. I, who am very much condmened, reproached you at will. O lord, you are not at all speaking. There is not a single sin that I have not committed. Suta said:

23-26. She saluted his feet, and went to another city. Having entered it, that woman saw many meritorious people, devotees of Vishnu, engaged in bathing in the Narmada (river) in the morning in the month in Kartika. Seeing there even women devoutly worshipping Radha and Krishna with the sounds of conches with great festivity, with sandal and flowers, incense and lamps, pieces of cloth and fruits of various kinds, with perfumes used to scent the breath, asked them modestly: " O ladies, (please) tell me, what is this that you are doing."

The ladies said:

27-33. O mother, in the morning in Kartika, the best of all months, we offer the auspicious worship to Radha and Krishna, which removes all sins. (Due to that worship) sin earned in a crore of existences is destroyed, and Vishnu's abode is reached. Giving up (eating) flesh, she performed the worship on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu. O brahmana, being free from blemish, she died on the full-moon-day. Yama's servants, full of anger, quickly came there to take her to Yama's abode and tied her (body) with leather straps. Then there came in an aeroplane made of gold Vishnu's messengers holding conches, discs, maces, lotuses and struck them with the edges of the discs (i.e. with sharp discs); the messengers of Yama ran away. She got into an aeroplane which was made of gold and to which royal swans were yoked. Surrounded by them, she went to Vishnu's abode. There she lived for a long time enjoying pleasures as she liked. O brahmana, she who would worship Radha and Krishna, goes, due to her sins having perished, to the charming world called Goloka.

34. The sin earned during a crore of existences of him who listens to this or the sin earned during a crore of existences of a woman who, being purified, listens to this, perishes.

 

CHAPTER TWENTYONE

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