Chapter summary
पुरुषोत्तममाहात्म्यम् Puruṣottama Māhātmyam
The Glory of Purushottama
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
On the shore of the salt ocean lies a great and holy place named Purushottama, a sacred site even more difficult to attain than heaven itself. It is called Purushottama by those who know its true name, for Śrī Purushottama Himself eternally resides within that city. (v.1-2)
In ancient times, in the Pāṇḍya country, lived the great King Indradyumna, a righteous soul deeply devoted to Vishnu and a disciple of the sage Agastya. While on a pilgrimage, the king, accompanied by Vaishnavas, revered sages, and Brahmins learned in the Vedas, arrived at Nīlāchala [the Blue Mountain]. (v.3-4)
Having heard of the profound glory of Nīlāchala, the king then undertook a great penance, desiring a direct vision of Vāsudeva. He worshipped Vishnu with the twelve-syllable mantra, and at the end of twelve years, the Lord graciously granted him His divine vision. Beholding Jagannātha, the Lord of Śrī, dark-hued and holding the conch and discus, Indradyumna was filled with supreme delight and, with folded hands, offered heartfelt praise. (v.5-7)
**Indradyumna said:**
Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, assuming the form of a fish in the great waters, rescued the Vedas after slaying the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha, and then bestowed them upon the Creator. (v.8) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who descended in the middle as a tortoise to support Mount Mandara, enabling the gods and demons to churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality. (v.9) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, entreated by the lotus-seated Brahmā, assumed the primeval, mighty form of a boar and lifted the earth, which had been submerged in water. (v.10) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, to uphold the words of Your devotee, manifested for the protection of all, assuming the form of the Man-Lion. (v.11) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, having taken the form of Trivikrama, measured the earth with Your foot, and the holy water from whose feet purifies the three worlds. (v.12) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, descending in the lineage of the great sage Bhṛgu, made the earth free of Kshatriyas twenty-one times through the sport of battle. (v.13) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, the great soul who, by Your own glory, descended in the Ikshvāku dynasty and established righteousness and truth in the world. (v.14) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, desiring to relieve the burden of the world, became the charioteer for the monkey-bannered Arjuna in battle and delivered the teachings of the Gītā. (v.15) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, as the enlightened and pure Buddha, full of compassion, deluded the unqualified and turned them away from sacrificial rites. (v.16) Salutations to You, O Purushottama, who, at the end of the age, will again slay the wicked enemies and the Yavanas on earth, establishing Your own pure Dharma. (v.17)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Having thus praised the Supreme Person, the Lord of the universe, the great king, his eyes moist with tears, fell silent with folded hands. Then, the lotus-eyed Lord, a repository of selfless compassion, spoke gentle words, His face adorned with a sweet smile. (v.18-19)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
O King, this entire universe that is seen, from the netherworlds to the realm of Brahmā, is My gross form; this is called the perishable Purusha (Kshara Purusha). Distinct from this is the imperishable Purusha (Akshara Purusha), renowned as the Knower of the Field (Kshetrajña), by whose light of consciousness all this is illuminated. Thus, know Me to be Purushottama, who transcends both the perishable and the imperishable, the witness of all worlds, the controller of inanimate matter and living beings. (v.20-22) I, that very Purushottama, am pleased with your devotion. Choose a boon, for blessings be upon you; I will grant whatever you desire. (v.23)
**Indradyumna said:**
O Vishnu, for the nourishment of Your devotees and for the welfare of all worlds, please, out of Your grace, be ever-present here. May the rain-god Parjanya shower in due season, may the earth be rich with crops, may there be abundant food everywhere, and may all people be happy. O Lord, may the best of Brahmins worship You with abundant offerings of food, for when You, the Lord of the universe, are satisfied, the three worlds are satisfied. (v.24-26)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
So be it, O great king. I shall indeed be present here. You, for your part, must have a beautiful temple built for My residence. O King, a single log of Udumbara wood, divine and of the very nature of Brahman, will emerge from the middle of the eastern ocean. You should install it in the temple according to the prescribed rites. In it, I shall be present as long as the moon and sun endure; of this, there is no doubt. (v.27-29)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Having spoken thus, Lord Krishna, Hari, vanished right there. The king too, filled with devotion, along with Brahmins and Vaishnavas, reached the seashore and performed a great sacrificial festival. Then, that supreme log of Udumbara wood arrived there, and seeing it, all the people experienced supreme bliss. The great king then installed Saṅkarshaṇa, Vāsudeva, and Vishṇumāyā (Subhadrā) in the temple and worshipped them with reverence. There, the Supreme Lord Purushottama, the Great Master, is present even today for the welfare of all the worlds. (v.30-33)
Thus ends the twenty-seventh chapter, titled "The Glory of Purushottama," in the First Part of "Divya Desa Vaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
