Chapter summary
सह्यजातीरे सतां सद्गुरुसङ्गमः Sahyajātīre Satāṃ Sadgurusaṅgamaḥ
The Meeting of the Virtuous with the Sadguru on the Bank of the Sahyajātī (Kāverī)
In Śrīyaḥ Pati, the consort of Śrī — the Lord of the universe, the controller of all gods, Nārāyaṇa, Vāsudeva — the ultimate refuge of all, I seek shelter. I seek shelter in the divine Śrī, the eternal and ever-inseparable consort of Vāsudeva, the auspicious mother of the worlds, Kamalā. I bow to Ananta, Garuḍa, and all the celestial attendants of Viṣṇu, who are dedicated to His eternal service and are ever affectionate to those who bow before them. I worship my own Gurus, who are themselves devotees of the Lord of Śrī, who are oceans of causeless mercy, intent on protecting the surrendered, and unwavering in their devotion. And I bow to the entire assembly of Vaiṣṇavas, which is filled with pure and selfless love, turns away from the faults of others, and is ever dear to Vāsudeva. (v.1-5)
In the divine city of Śrīraṅgam, a place made sacred by the banks of the Sahyajātī river, a city as beautiful and glorious as Vaikuṇṭha itself and resorted to by all Śrī Vaiṣṇavas, there sat a great soul. On the banks of the Candra Puṣkariṇī, at the foot of a Punnāga tree, was seated one who was supremely tranquil, a refuge for all and a bestower of fearlessness. He was full of wisdom and dispassion, endowed with the most righteous conduct, and adorned with a garland of lotus seeds and Tulasī beads. His lotus-like face beamed with grace. This divine being, a Brāhmaṇa clad in white garments and wearing a white sacred thread, bore the sacred *ūrdhva-puṇḍra* mark [the vertical clay marking worn by Vaiṣṇavas on the forehead]. He was utterly absorbed in meditation on the husband of Śrī. Knowing the essential meaning of all scriptures and possessing the noble quality of gracious condescension, he was constantly served by loving and devoted disciples. It was to this Ācāryadeva that the Vaiṣṇavas now approached and asked their questions. (v.6-10)
**The Bhāgavatas said:**
O Lord, O ocean of mercy, you who are so affectionate to surrendered souls! O you whose lotus-face beams with joy in discourses on the qualities of the Lord! You are free from the stain of envy, ever intent on meditating on Mādhava. You are an abode of all that is auspicious, showing the way across the vast ocean of *saṃsāra* to those who are submerged in it. O Ācāryadeva, knower of the ultimate truth, you are indeed our visible deity. Therefore, we have come to ask you about the supreme greatness of the husband of Śrī. (v.11-13)
We know that the God of gods is Lord Viṣṇu alone; of this there is no doubt. He is the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, the master of all worlds, the eternal Vāsudeva. Intent on protecting those who surrender to Him, He resides in the Divya Deśas [the 108 most sacred temples of Viṣṇu, glorified in the hymns of the Āḻvār saints]. In which of these sacred places does He dwell, O magnanimous one? Please tell us, O best of Gurus. And for what reason does Keśava leave Vaikuṇṭha and come to this earthly realm, manifesting His presence in consecrated images (*arcā-mūrtis*)? Tell us, O preceptor. Great is our eagerness to hear the glory of the Divya Deśas, residing in which Mādhava bestows well-being upon all mankind. (v.14-17)
**The Sadguru said:**
Oh, what fortune! What fortune! What fortune! There can be no doubt. Today, we have obtained the great blessing of residing in the city of Śrīraṅgam. Rare is a human birth, and rarer still is residence in a holy place. Rare is the company of saints, and rarest of all is the chanting of Hari's holy name. Truly, it is only by the grace of the Lord that one obtains the company of saints, where the life and glories of Viṣṇu are always heard and sung. (v.18-20)
One should never waste a moment speaking useless, worldly tales. Inexorable Time stands ever behind us, watching constantly. What of the beasts? Do not the trees also breathe? And do not dogs, boars, donkeys, and other creatures constantly drink and urinate? Having obtained this excellent human birth, which is endowed with the precious quality of discernment, whoever turns away from Viṣṇu is truly the lowest of men. (v.21-23)
That ear is but a hollow pit through which one does not hear the pastimes of Govinda. That tongue, which does not sing the praise of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is like a dreadful serpent. That hand, which does not perform the daily worship of Kṛṣṇa, is but a branch from a poison tree. That foot, by which one does not make the pilgrimage to Śrīraṅgam, is no more than a palm tree stump. That head is a mere burden if it does not bow to the virtuous who are affectionate to the surrendered. And that heart in which love for Hari does not arise is certainly as hard as stone. Indeed, the eyes of men which are bereft of the fortune of seeing Śrī Kṛṣṇa are but a peacock's feather. A mortal devoid of devotion to the lotus feet of Govinda is truly a burden to the world. (v.24-27)
Indeed, even a single moment spent in the company of saints—those connoisseurs of the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's stories—is obtained in this world only through the power of Kṛṣṇa's grace. And by that one moment, a person's life becomes fruitful. (v.28)
Having spoken thus, that sovereign among Gurus, with his hands folded in prayer and his eyes filled with tears, meditated on Mukunda and remained silent for a moment. Then, he spoke again, his words both sweet and profound. (v.29)
Thus, the first chapter, named "The Meeting of the Virtuous with the Sadguru on the Bank of the Sahyajātī", in the first part of the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
