Chapter summary
नीरनिकेतनमाहात्म्यम् Nīraniketana Māhātmyam
The Glory of Nīraniketana
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
O best of saints, listen as I narrate the glory of Nīraniketana, where Jagannātha, the Lord of the Universe, resides in the sacred city of Kāñcī. (v.1)
In Dvārakā lived Akrūra, the foremost among the Yādavas, a great soul who consistently performed his dharma and rendered service to Krishna. The Lord of Dvārakā, the protector of all Yādavas and an ocean of compassion, harbored a deep and loving affection for Akrūra. (v.2-3)
Meanwhile, a certain Yādava named Satrājit, through his unceasing worship of the Sun god, obtained the illustrious Syamantaka gem. This wondrous jewel would yield eight *bhāras* [a measure of weight, roughly 29.8 kg] of gold day after day. Seeing its immense value, other Yādavas, with malicious intent, began to contemplate stealing the gem. (v.4-5)
Aware of this danger, the compassionate Lord, desiring to protect the gem within the royal palace, requested it from Satrājit. However, Satrājit refused to entrust the gem to the great-souled Jagannātha, the director of all affairs, who then left him to his own devices. (v.6-7)
Alas, Satrājit's brother, Prasena, wearing that very gem around his neck, was tragically killed by Jāmbavān while hunting in the forest. Instigated by foolish Yādavas, Satrājit then made a slanderous accusation, claiming that Krishna had stolen the gem after murdering his brother in the forest. (v.8-9)
Wishing to dispel this calumny that had befallen Him, Krishna searched the forest for the gem and entered a great cave. There, Jagannātha, desiring to retrieve the Syamantaka, playfully engaged in a battle with His devotee, Jāmbavān. Recognizing Him as Śrī Rāma Himself, who had now come in the form of Krishna, Jāmbavān joyfully surrendered the gem and also offered his daughter, Jāmbavatī, in marriage. (v.10-12)
Returning to Dvārakā, Krishna presented the gem back to Satrājit and informed him of his brother's demise. Satrājit, the wisest among men, desiring to alleviate the mental anguish that had arisen in Krishna and in himself due to these unfortunate events, consulted with his wife and duly gave his daughter, Satyabhāmā, to Krishna, the wearer of the forest garland. (v.13-15)
Later, when Krishna had journeyed to Indraprastha to visit the Pāṇḍavas, the exceedingly wicked Śatadhanvā murdered Satrājit. Learning of this, the Lord promptly returned to Dvārakā. Śatadhanvā, greatly terrified by the prospect of royal punishment, entrusted the stolen Syamantaka to Akrūra, the foremost of the Yādavas, then mounted a horse and fled to save his life. (v.16-18)
The Lord, brother of Balarāma, pursued that fool and killed the slayer of Satrājit on a forest path. To protect the wealth entrusted to him, Akrūra departed at night, journeyed to the city of Vārāṇasī, and resided there. (v.19-20)
Meanwhile, all the Yādavas began to whisper, "Acyuta killed Śatadhanvā and took the gem," spreading their doubts from ear to ear. Lord Hari, knowing that the gem was deposited with Akrūra, brought him back to Dvārakā and affectionately asked him for it. With a pleased heart, Akrūra showed the gem to Krishna, and the Lord, in turn, returned that wonderful jewel to him. (v.21-23)
Yet, a new slander arose among the people of Dvārakā: "Akrūra indeed instigated Śatadhanvā for the sake of killing Satrājit and seizing the Syamantaka." Alas, Satyabhāmā developed a strong dislike for Akrūra, and Krishna, ever compliant with Satyabhāmā, remained silent. (v.24-25)
Therefore, greatly saddened, Akrūra journeyed to the city of Kāñcī and worshipped Vishnu, seeking to clear the doubts of his kinsmen. Keśava, the lover of His devotees, remembering His devotee, the son of Gāndinī, who was suspected by his kinsmen and had gone away, became anxious. Learning from Nārada's words that Akrūra was residing in Kāñcīpuram, He Himself came and consoled His devotee. Lord Hari then brought him back to Dvārakā, and in the assembly, spoke of His devotee's glory to all the Yādavas. (v.26-29)
**The Lord said:**
Akrūra, the foremost of the Yādavas, is devoted to truth and dharma. He is *Sāttvic* [of pure goodness] by nature, the best among Vishnu's devotees. There is no cruelty (*krūratā*) in Akrūra, hence his name is Akrūra (meaning 'not-cruel'). Even the great fool Kaṃsa regarded him highly as a dear one. (v.30-31)
Sent by Kaṃsa, he came to Vṛndāvana with profound devotion. Upon seeing My foot, he fainted and fell to the ground. The Yādavas do not truly comprehend the glory of his devotion, and therefore, they entertain doubts about this detached, great-souled one. (v.32-33)
Slander is a great sin; one should never engage in it. Indeed, all merit is destroyed by the criticism of great souls. Those men who slander My devotees, the Vaishnavas – whether they are of bad conduct or good conduct – fall into an impure hell due to that great sin. (v.34-35)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus addressed, all the Yādavas, with minds full of great joy, worshipped Akrūra, as did the Lord Himself, accompanied by Bhāmā (Satyabhāmā). For those who behold Jagannātha in Kāñcīpuram, the Lord who was worshipped by Akrūra, all slander and the doubts of kinsmen are utterly destroyed. (v.36-37)
Here ends the eleventh chapter, named 'The Glory of Nīraniketana', in the Second Part of the 'Divyadeśavaibhavam' composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 11, named "Nīraniketana Māhātmyam", in Dvitīya Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
