Chapter summary
क्षीराब्धिमाहात्म्यम् Kṣīrābdhi Māhātmyam
The Glory of the Ocean of Milk
**The revered Sadguru said:**
The supreme abode, Vaikuṇṭha, remains ever inaccessible to Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, as well as to Siddhas, Vidyādharas, sages, and mortals alike. There, Hari, of inconceivable nature, resides eternally with His liberated souls and celestial seers (Sūris) like Viṣvaksena, accompanied by Śrī, Bhūmi, and Nīlā. (v.1-2)
Within a pavilion of a thousand pillars, gleaming like a crore of suns, the God of gods is resplendent. He reclines upon a soft and divine couch, which rests upon the excellent throne of the thousand-hooded king of serpents. This glorious Vāsudeva, with four arms, holds the conch and discus. Viṣṇu's countenance is serene, His eyes like lotus petals, and He is adorned with exquisite necklaces, bracelets, armlets, earrings, and other ornaments. A shining, jeweled crown graces His head, and His neck is blessed by the illustrious Kaustubha gem. The Śrīvatsa mark adorns His chest, proclaiming His eternal glory, and the Lord is clad in radiant yellow garments. (v.3-6)
He wears a forest garland, holds a mace in His hand, and is served by Vainateya (Garuḍa) and other celestial beings. He is the creator of all worlds and the controller of all deities. He is the chastiser of all living beings and the bestower of the fruits of all actions. All-knowing, all-powerful, the witness to all, He is eternal. He is the Lord of all, the creator of all, the master of all, the Lord Himself. Supreme above all, He *is* all, situated both within and outside of everything. He is the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Light, the Supreme Truth, the Supreme Abode. He is the supreme object of meditation, the supreme object of knowledge, the supreme goal, and the supreme auspiciousness. (v.7-10)
He is the one whom the gods, the liberated, the ascetics, and the pure ones always behold. He is Brahmā, He is Śiva, He is Indra; He is the imperishable, the supreme, self-refulgent one. As Pradyumna in the form of Brahmā, He ordains the universe's creation. As Aniruddha in the form of Viṣṇu, He is intent on protecting the universe. As Saṅkarṣaṇa in the form of Rudra, He is the cause of the universe's dissolution. Vāsudeva is Brahman Itself, the witness of all, free from affliction. (v.11-13)
He is the Puruṣa with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet. He is the Virāṭ (Cosmic Form), the Samrāṭ (Emperor), the Viśvarūpa (Universal Form), situated both inside and outside the universe. Situated in the center of the solar orb, He is the one with twelve forms (Ādityas), the Lord of the world. He is the witness of all actions, the very form of Time, and the one who assumes the forms of Keśava and others. (v.14-15)
He is the support of all the worlds, the primeval Tortoise (Ādikūrma), the eternal one, upon whose back the entire universe rests immovably in its proper order. He is also the rescuer of the Earth from the all-pervading waters. This glorious Primeval Boar (Ādivarāha), Janārdana, is the very embodiment of sacrifice. He is widely renowned as Upendra, Vāmana, and Viṣṇu. All the Vedas praise Him everywhere as Urukrama, the one with wide strides. (v.16-18)
In the forms of Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, and others, He is intent on protecting the world. In the forms of sages like Vyāsa, He is the revealer of all scriptures. He is the soul of Dharma, the cause of Dharma, the Lord of Dharma, the infallible one. He is the establisher of Dharma, ever devoted to the Dharma of Truth. (v.19-20)
As Kṛṣṇa, who lies on a banyan leaf during the great dissolution, He is the cause of the total annihilation, within whose belly the entire universe, with its moving and non-moving beings, exists. (v.21)
This same eternal Viṣṇu, Hari, now lies in the Ocean of Milk. There, the gods, Siddhas, and sages worship Him—the Lord, the Primeval Person, reclining on the couch of Śeṣa. His eyes are closed in yogic slumber, yet He is all-knowing, the witness of all. He appears like a pure crystal, with two arms, clad in yellow garments, bearing the Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha, and caressed by Śrī and Bhūmi. His lotus-face bears a gentle smile, and He speaks in a sweet voice. He is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, and the greatest of the great. He is served by Brahmā, Rudra, and others, and glorified by Nārada and other sages. He is adorned with a crown, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and other ornaments. His arms reach His knees; this Govinda, whose arm serves as His pillow, is Padmanābha, the supremely peaceful, the Lord of lords, the Supreme Controller. (v.22-27)
The residents of Śvetadvīpa, the Vaiṣṇavas, serve Him eternally. They are free from any connection to other deities, their minds pure and unwavering. Singing the names of Hari, dancing in supreme festivity, these Bhāgavatas worship Him, wholly absorbed in the bliss of devotion. Free from worldly attachments, they are constantly fond of *kīrtana* [devotional chanting]. United by mutual love, they live solely on His sacred stories. Humble, free from faults, they have conquered desire and controlled their senses. Dedicated to meditation on the Lord of all, they have abandoned all other objects of interest. Softened with tears of joy, their bodies thrilled with horripilation, they dance, forgetting their very forms, utterly absorbed in chanting the Name. (v.28-32)
Witnessing them in such a state, the sage Nārada was once filled with supreme wonder and, feeling a profound sense of shame regarding his own devotion, was overcome with sorrow. Lamenting, "I do not possess such devotion," he approached Nārāyaṇa in Badarīvana and humbly inquired. (v.33-34)
The sage Nārāyaṇa then spoke to the great sage Nārada about the glory of those residents of Śvetadvīpa: "These are indeed supreme, exclusive devotees (paramaikāntins), absorbed in the bliss of devotion. They constantly worship Viṣṇu, who reclines in the Ocean of Milk, in this manner. They find no delight even in liberation, what then to speak of other worldly fruits? Therefore, having taken refuge solely in Viṣṇu, they are averse to other deities. For the wives of an emperor, what use are other men? Similarly, for the devotees of Viṣṇu, what use are other deities? Oh Nārada! What great fortune is theirs! You have obtained their *darśana* [auspicious sight]. You too, with single-minded devotion, worship the Lord Nārāyaṇa." (v.35-39)
Thus instructed, Nārada also became devoted to Vāsudeva and, residing in Badarikāśrama, sang the glories of Govinda. (v.40)
Thus ends the third chapter, titled "The Glory of the Ocean of Milk," in the First Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
