Chapter summary
गोविन्ददेवमाहात्म्यम् Govindadeva Māhātmyam
The Glory of Govindadeva
Śrī Sadguru speaks: When the Lord, Mukunda, had ascended to the abode of Vaikuṇṭha, having relieved the world of its great burden, the goddess Earth and Dharma themselves lamented, witnessing Dharma afflicted and overcome by the power of Time. In that era, to safeguard the people in their respective realms, the sages consecrated King Parīkṣit in the Kuru region and Śrī Vajranābha in the Vraja region. Grieved by their separation from the Lord of Dvārakā, these two, the sole survivors and continuers of their lineages after all other kings had fallen in the war, journeyed to Vrindavan to find solace from their anguish (v.1-3).
There, bowing before the sage Śāṇḍilya, they humbly sought a means to assuage their profound sorrow born of separation from Kṛṣṇa. The sage, having consoled them, then arranged for an image of Kṛṣṇa to be installed upon the slopes of the king of mountains, Govardhana. Swiftly, he consecrated Govindadeva, Hari, the friend of the afflicted, within a temple specially built on Govardhana, thereby freeing them from the world's sorrow of separation from Murāri (v.4-5).
King Parīkṣit, having reverently drunk the nectar of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's divine pastimes from the lips of Śukadeva, swiftly conquered death and attained the supreme abode of Murāri. As if to demonstrate that "in the Kali age, there is no other refuge for people afflicted by countless sorrows than the Bhāgavata Purāṇa," King Parīkṣit attained Hari in a mere week (v.6-7). Indeed, for those afflicted by the Kali age, liberation comes through chanting the string of Govinda's names, or by the *darśan* [sacred sight] of Govindadeva, or by hearing Govinda's enchanting pastimes. It was this Vajranābha, with hands folded in supplication and lotus-eyes brimming with tears, who then offered praise to Mukunda, the very treasure of bliss, Govinda, who had been installed in the capital of Gokula (v.8-9).
Vajranābha speaks: I bow to Govindadeva, Kṛṣṇa, who resides upon the peak of Govardhana hill, who is served by the cows, *gopas* [cowherd boys], and *gopīs* [cowherd women], the protector of cows and the sovereign of Gokula (v.10).
I praise Him, Mukunda, whose face bewilders the hearts of women, whose divine fragrance delights His chest, and who was tenderly caressed by the hands of Yaśodā (v.11).
I bow to the child Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa, who wears yellow garments, whose eyes are as long as lotus petals, whose beautiful chest is embraced by Padmā [Lakṣmī], and who was coronated by the chief of the gods, Indra (v.12).
I take refuge in Mādhava, the enchanter, whose dark hair is adorned with a peacock feather, whose gentle smile is filled with sweetness, and whose charming forms are wonderfully diverse and pleasing to the mind (v.13).
I praise Mukunda, who is resplendent at the foot of a banyan tree, with His feet gracefully crossed, wearing a forest garland, always surrounded by the beautiful cowherd women, in a charming three-bend posture (v.14).
I praise Him who shines in a beautiful grove—the beloved of Rādhā, fond of the *Rāsa* dance, lotus-eyed, with a charming body, the younger brother of Balarāma, and the protector of Gokula (v.15).
I behold Mukunda, who dwells in a bower—His chest adorned with a garland of *guñjā* seeds, a youth wearing jingling anklets, with a peacock feather for a crest and a beautiful, gentle smile (v.16).
I praise Hari, the son of the king of cowherds, who wanders in Vrindavan, on the bank of the Yamunā (the daughter of the Sun), on Govardhana, in the capital Gokula, at Vamśīvaṭa, and in the bower-houses (v.17).
I praise the divine Lord, Mukunda, who wears a peacock feather crest—who is eternally served by Brahmā and the hosts of gods, who is the refuge of all people, dear to His devotees, and possessed of all auspicious qualities (v.18).
I bow to the eternal Govindadeva, the son of Nanda, who delights all the worlds, the very root of bliss, the bestower of boons, Mukunda, who sports in the vicinity of Vrindavan (v.19).
Śrī Sadguru speaks: That Vajranābha, his mind pleased by the sight of Govindadeva's face, resided in the city of Mathurā and ruled the land and his people with great happiness (v.20). The person who recites or hears this sacred account of Govindadeva's glory will, by Kṛṣṇa's grace, always attain only happiness and never any sorrow (v.21).
Thus ends the twentieth chapter, titled "The Glory of Govindadeva," in the First Part of the *Divya Deśa Vaibhavam*, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
