Chapter summary
भद्राचलमाहात्म्यम् Bhadrācala Māhātmyam
The Glory of Bhadrachalam
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
There exists a supremely sacred place known as Bhadrachalam, a *Divya Deśam* [one of the 108 sacred abodes of Vishnu], where merely entering is enough to cleanse all sins. On the banks of the sacred Godavari river, the mountain named Bhadragiri shines forth, bestowing auspiciousness upon humanity, for it is the revered abode of Ramabhadra. To behold Śrī Rāma upon the peak of Bhadradri, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, even by chance, ensures that one will never again be subject to rebirth in this world (v.1-3).
Once, there was a Brahmin named Kālakāla, who, tormented by desire, committed the grave sin of union with his guru's wife and consequently contracted leprosy. Scorned by his relatives and afflicted by relentless hunger and thirst, the utterly miserable sinner wandered aimlessly. Hearing of the magnificent Navamī festival celebrated in the region of Bhadrachalam, and hoping to find sustenance at a charity house, he slowly made his way towards the holy site. As he drew near and beheld the splendid temple tower, the *gopura*, the sinner, exhausted and overcome by hunger and thirst, collapsed upon the path (v.4-7).
His appointed time having arrived, the great sinner Kālakāla died there by chance. Immediately, the formidable soldiers of Yama, holding nooses in their hands, came to claim him. However, out of boundless compassion, Viṣṇu, the Lord of all and the foremost of the Raghus, dispatched His devoted servant, Hanumān, the son of the Wind-god, to intervene. Hanumān suddenly appeared, halted Yama's servants, and, by the command of Śrī Rāma, spoke to them with eloquent and gentle words (v.8-10).
**Hanumān said:**
"The most fortunate Kālakāla arrived at Bhadrachalam and died here by chance, indeed due to immense merit. This chief of sinners has now become a recipient of Śrī Rāma's grace. Therefore, release him and return to your own abode" (v.11-12).
**Yama's messengers said:**
"O Ape, killing a Brahmin, drinking liquor, stealing gold, speaking untruth, and entering the guru's bed—these five are indeed the great sins, O Son of Maruta. For those who commit such heinous acts, a dwelling in hell is certain" (v.13-14).
**Hanumān said:**
"Whether one is a killer of a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, or one who has gone to the guru's bed, by merely chanting Rāma's name, he is liberated. Of this, there is no doubt. What more need be said of this fortunate soul, who died in this world on the day of Śrī Rāma Navamī after having seen Bhadrasaila and its sacred *gopura*?" (v.15-16).
**Yama's messengers said:**
"If this is so, why then did Lord Rāmacandra, who is ever fearful of *adharma* [unrighteousness], demonstrate the code of conduct (*maryādā*) for all the worlds?" (v.17).
**Hanumān said:**
"All that is indeed true—the upholding of the code of conduct by my Lord Rāmacandra, whose very soul is Dharma and who is fearful of *adharma*. Yet, through the release of Ahalyā from her curse, the compassion of Lord Rāmacandra, which utterly destroys great sins, is clearly manifest in the world. The sages unequivocally declare that sins are destroyed merely by chanting 'Śrī Rāma, Rāma, Rāma'" (v.18-20).
**Yama's messengers said:**
"That scripture which teaches the glory of the Divine Name is indeed true. We know its power from the story of Ajāmila. Nevertheless, being messengers of Kāla [Yama], we must carry out our master's command. Release this Kālakāla, O great Ape" (v.21-22).
**Hanumān said:**
"I too am a messenger of Rāma; I have no fear of the messengers of Kāla. I shall take Kālakāla by the command of my Master" (v.23).
**Yama's messengers said:**
"O son of Vāyu, a conflict between two servants has arisen from a conflict between two masters concerning Kālakāla" (v.24).
**Hanumān said:**
"There is only one Supreme Master, the Lord, the delight of the Raghus. He alone is the controller of me, of you, and indeed, of Kāla himself" (v.25).
**Yama's messengers said:**
"A doubt truly arises from this conflict with Dharma. How can a great sinner become free of sin in an instant here?" (v.26).
**Hanumān said:**
"O messengers of Kāla, no doubt should ever be entertained regarding the chanting of Hari's name or the glory of a holy place, both of which destroy great sins. Such is the compassion of Viṣṇu, the God of gods, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow, the purifier of the fallen, the beloved of Jānakī. Just as a mother herself protects her child who has wandered near a well, so too does Rāma protect souls who are near hell. Even one who has committed great sins is liberated by chanting the name of Rāma and by the mere sight of Bhadrasaila. There is no doubt. Through the practice of ordinary *dharmas* and by the force of past merit, the minds of men turn to the Vaiṣṇava dharma by chance. Therefore, O servants of Yama, there is not even the slightest conflict here. The fruit of all *dharmas* is indeed the dharma of Viṣṇu; there is no doubt. However, a person should not commit sin by taking refuge in the chanting of the Name, for that becomes an offense to the Name (*nāmāparādha*), and the Lord would turn away. Lord Yama himself knows this Bhāgavata Dharma. Go yourselves and ask him; but first, having released this Brahmin, depart" (v.27-34).
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Having been told this fearlessly by the messenger of Rāma, the messengers of Yama, abandoning the Brahmin Kālakāla, returned to the world of Kāla. Hanumān then brought Kālakāla into the presence of Rāma, showed him the Lord, and Kālakāla attained *Sālokya* [residence in the same world as the Lord] with Rāma. Having come to the most auspicious Bhadrasaila by chance, Kālakāla attained heaven. What more, then, can be said of one who goes there with sincere faith? (v.35-37).
By circumambulating Bhadrasaila and beholding Ramabhadra, even one who has committed great sins will attain *Sālokya* with Rāma (v.38).
I worship that Lord of the Raghus, accompanied by the son of Sumitrā (Lakṣmaṇa), who is situated on the peak of Bhadradri, adorned with armlets and other ornaments; who has Jānakī situated on His left flank; who holds a resplendent Kodaṇḍa bow in His hand, a discus in an upper hand, a conch, and an arrow in the right hand; and whose eyes are like lotus petals (v.39).
Thus ends the thirty-first chapter, named "The Glory of Bhadrachalam," in the First Part of the "Divya Desa Vaibhavam" composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
