Chapter summary
परमेश्वरवैकुण्ठक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Parameśvara Vaikuṇṭha Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Glory of the Parameśvara-Vaikuṇṭha Kṣetra
**The Sadguru said:**
Once, Lord Rudra, whose abode is the peak of Kailāsa, praised the boon-granting Viṣṇu, desiring to behold Vaikuṇṭha. (v.1)
**Rudra said:**
"Salutations to You, O Lord of the universe! Salutations to You, O Supreme Lord! You alone are the creator and the agent of destruction for all the worlds. Entering into Brahmā, You create the worlds, O Keśava; likewise, entering into me, Rudra, You Yourself destroy them." (v.2-3)
"Therefore, O Lord, the knowers of scripture declare non-difference between You and me. Nevertheless, hateful people create division out of their own will. Those deluded fools who speak of my glory or that of Brahmā as being independent of You—for them, liberation is extremely difficult to attain. And for those of impure souls who possess devotion to You but harbor hatred for me, for those deluded ones who perceive difference, liberation is not at all easy to attain." (v.4-6)
"I, Brahmā, Śakra (Indra), Yama, Vāyu, Pāvaka (Agni), Varuṇa, the seven sages, the four Sanakas and others, Manu and the sons of Manu, along with the Prajāpatis—we all, who carry out the functioning of the universe, indeed bear Your command. We are placed in our respective offices by You alone, the all-powerful one. This entire universe is pervaded by You, O Maheśvara; therefore, the yogis call You Viṣṇu and Vāsudeva." (v.7-9)
"O Viṣṇu, You are the form of the universe; I see the universe without difference. I see myself in You, O Viṣṇu, and I see You in myself. Knowing that this entire universe is Your abode, with folded hands and humility, I bow down even to flies and mosquitoes." (v.10-11)
"The Ocean of Milk has been seen by me, O Janārdana, as well as Śvetadvīpa, the abode of Dhruva, the solar orb, and the Lokāloka mountain. In the netherworld, I have seen the seat of the Tortoise (Kūrma) and the abode of the Boar (Varāha), and likewise the abode of Saṅkarṣaṇa in the world of Nāgas, O Lord of the worlds. In the earthly realm, Kāñcīpuram, Śrīraṅgam, and Veṅkaṭācala are Your well-known abodes, O Keśava. From the world of Brahmā down to Pātāla, whatever abode of Yours exists, O Lord, all has been seen by me, O Deva, indeed by Your grace alone." (v.12-15)
"Now, I wish to see Vaikuṇṭha, which is the supreme state, Your eternal abode. Please show it by Your grace, O You who are affectionate to Your devotees!" (v.16)
**The Lord said:**
"The world, up to the realm of Brahmā, can indeed be seen by living beings. But that abode of Mine is invisible; it reveals itself on its own. Not by action, not by progeny, not by yoga, nor by vows is that supreme abode attained without knowledge, O Śaṅkara." (v.17-18)
"Therefore, having known one's own true nature—which is pure consciousness and free from defects—one attains that supreme state through the renunciation of all attachments. Even after performing severe penance for thousands of crores of *kalpas*, that supreme abode is not attained without knowledge, O Śaṅkara." (v.19-20)
"Even for sages and gods who follow their respective duties, birth happens again and again; the supreme state is difficult to attain. If, through the knowledge of their true nature, they are refined by devotion to Me, they enter My abode, which is difficult to attain even for the gods." (v.21-22)
"Those gods who are appointed by their past merits, through the yoga of worshipping Me and by following My commands, become pure-hearted, endowed with the knowledge of their true nature, filled with devotion to Me, detached, and with senses conquered. Having experienced their official posts according to their *karma* and time—they all go to the supreme state along with Brahmā." (v.23-25)
"But others, O three-eyed one, are born again at the new creation in this world, their knowledge deluded according to their past *karma*. In this beginningless and endless cycle of *saṃsāra* that has been set in motion, beings wander around according to their respective *karmas*." (v.26-27)
"Those who take refuge in Me alone, My devotees of firm resolve—to them alone I give that supreme abode. All the worlds, up to the realm of Brahmā, are subject to return, O Śiva. That place, having gone to which they do not return, is My supreme abode." (v.28-29)
"Those devotees of Mine in the world who are devoid of knowledge and dispassion—to them, who desire worldly fruits, I give other abodes. To those who possess unswerving devotion, who are detached, whose minds are fixed on Me—to those knowers alone I give the eternal, supreme state." (v.30-31)
"There are many abodes here and there, O Maheśvara. My servants go to them according to their respective devotion. But that supreme abode, Vaikuṇṭha, which is beyond darkness, only My devotees who have taken refuge in Me alone are worthy of attaining." (v.32-33)
"That very supreme abode I shall show you, O Maheśvara. See it right here before you with your divine sight, O three-eyed one." (v.34)
**The Sadguru said:**
Having said this, Lord Viṣṇu, the great Lord of all worlds, showed that supreme, eternal, and immutable state. He revealed the Airammadīya *tīrtha* and the eternal Aśvattha tree, the assembly hall of Prajāpati, and also the ever-liberated souls who were present. The Lord, affectionate to His devotees, mercifully showed Śaṅkara His own self, seated upon the serpent-couch Ananta, undisturbed. (v.35-37)
Having seen that supreme state of Viṣṇu right there, the Lord of Gaurī (Śiva), greatly pleased, went back to the peak of Kailāsa. This place is called Parameśvara-Vaikuṇṭha in the world by the great sages. It should be served by the virtuous; a fortunate man should take refuge in it. By merely seeing it, worldly men in the Kali age, having attained supreme devotion to Viṣṇu, go to the supreme state. (v.38-40)
Thus the most wonderful glory of the *kṣetras* situated in Kāñcīpuram has been narrated. What more do you wish to hear? (v.41)
Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, titled "The Glory of the Parameśvara-Vaikuṇṭha Kṣetra," in the Second Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
