Chapter summary
तोयाचलमाहात्म्यम् Toyācala Māhātmyam
The revered Sadguru said: In ancient times, to establish truth and righteousness upon the earth, the Lord of Śrī incarnated in Ayodhya, gracing the Raghu dynasty with His birth. The foremost of the Raghus, Śrī Rāma, reigned for ten thousand years. Prior to His own departure, Sītā had already ascended to the supreme abode. After Sītā had merged back into the earth, and the heart of Raghunandana had become detached from worldly ties, and Lakṣmaṇa too had ascended to heaven through the path of yoga, Śrī Rāma, accompanied by all His people and His brothers Bharata and others, attained the supreme abode by entering the sacred waters of the Sarayu River. (v.1-4)
"Rāma is none other than Nārāyaṇa Himself, and Sītā is Lakṣmī; of this, there is no doubt. Their disappearance in this manner is surely an illusion, a divine play. Indeed, Rāghava exists in His divine, auspicious form. Their form is eternal; being of a spiritual nature, it is imperishable. I desire to behold the divine forms of Sītā and Rāghava once again. By performing penance, I shall then find true peace." (v.7-9)
"Where on earth might there be a suitable place to perform such penance?" Pondering thus, the great ascetic wandered everywhere. Upon seeing a dense, desolate forest in the Tuṇḍīra region and a beautiful mountain there, the son of Varuṇa [Vālmīki] felt immense joy. (v.10-11)
The yogi, devoted to meditating on Rāma, ascended the mountain. Scorched by the summer heat, he became afflicted with thirst. There was no water anywhere. Vālmīki, filled with distress, roamed that mountain, suffering from hunger and thirst. (v.12-13)
Then, a certain young hunter's son, handsome, carrying a bow and a sword, appeared there, wandering about on a hunt. Seeing that handsome and humble hunter's son, the sage, exhausted by thirst, implored him, "Please show me water." (v.14-15)
Then that hunter boy, splitting the mountain with his arrow, produced water, smiling, with effortless play. Witnessing this feat of his, which would be difficult for any other human to perform, the best of sages was filled with great wonder. (v.16-17)
In that very moment, the boy vanished, bewildering the great sage. And right there, he beheld Viṣṇu, holding the conch, discus, and mace. He was dark as a cloud, clad in yellow garments, with eyes like lotuses, His chest adorned with the Śrīvatsa mark, ever-glorious, the Lord of Śrī, the captivator of Śrī's mind—the Lord, the God who is affectionate to His devotees, appeared in the form of an idol [arcā-mūrti]. Seeing Him, the Lord of the Water Mountain (Toyācala), the lotus-eyed Janārdana, the sage Vālmīki, son of Varuṇa, praised Him, his eyes moist with tears of joy. (v.18-20)
**Valmiki said:**
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, implored by all the gods, sages, siddhas, and sādhyas for the destruction of the demons, manifested Himself, ever-affectionate to those who take refuge in Him. (v.21)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, having descended into the Ikṣvāku dynasty, protected the sacrifice of Kauśika [Viśvāmitra] in His youth and was the destroyer of Subāhu and Mārīca. (v.22)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, purifying the wife of Gautama, entered the beautiful city of Mithilā, broke the bow, and obtained the daughter of Videha [Sītā]. (v.23)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, placing His father's command upon His head, went to the forest with Saumitri [Lakṣmaṇa] and His wife, having given the kingdom to Bharata. (v.24)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, the great soul, residing in the holy hermitages of the great sages of the Daṇḍaka forest, was worshipped by them and granted them fearlessness. (v.25)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, though deeply grieved by His separation from Sītā, granted the abode of Vaikuṇṭha to the vulture [Jaṭāyu] and was also the witness to the liberation of the pious Śabarī. (v.26)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, whose lotus feet were served by Hanumān, who considered Himself fulfilled by His friendship with Sugrīva, and who gave him the kingdom after slaying Vāli. (v.27)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, upon hearing the sacred story of Sītā devotedly narrated by the son of Vāyu [Hanumān], gave him His own embrace. (v.28)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, having granted protection even to Vibhīṣaṇa, built a bridge, reached Laṅkā, and slew the night-rovers [demons] in battle. (v.29)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, mounting the aerial chariot [Puṣpaka] with Sītā, went to His city, was honored by the citizens, was coronated, and protected the world. (v.30)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, though deeply grieved by the abandonment of Sītā, became delighted upon hearing her story from the mouths of His sons and was joyful upon bringing Sītā back. (v.31)
Salutations to that Supreme Person, who, after entering the holy river Sarayu, manifested again in the supreme holy place of Toyācala, ever-affectionate to those who take refuge in Him. (v.32)
O friend of the distressed, I desire no other boon than to hear and chant Your holy stories. Please graciously grant me this boon. Salutations to that Supreme Person. (v.33)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Having thus praised the Lord of the Universe, Hari, who is dark as a raincloud, Vālmīki stood before Him, his speech choked with emotion. Then the Lord of all, Viṣṇu, holder of the conch, discus, and mace, spoke sweet words to Vālmīki, the best among sages. (v.34-35)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"Even at the time of the great dissolution, My abode is never destroyed. Being non-material [aprākṛta], it is eternal; that which is material [prākṛta] is indeed perishable. I reside there itself in the form desired by My devotees. The destruction of My form can never happen. O son of Varuṇa, there are many divine forms of Mine. All of them are eternal and made of pure consciousness; there is no doubt. My form sometimes manifests and sometimes disappears. But, O sage, there is absolutely no destruction of My form at any time." (v.36-39)
"Therefore, abandoning your sorrow and residing here, worship Me always and attain supreme happiness, O son of Varuṇa. From this day forth, due to the appearance of water from Me on this earth, this mountain will attain the fame of being called 'Toyācala' (Water Mountain). I shall reside eternally on this Toyācala with the sages, granting the desired fruits to My devotees as long as the moon and sun exist." (v.40-42)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Hearing the words of the Lord, Vālmīki, the best of sages, attained great joy and worshipped Keśava. Residing there eternally and reciting the Rāmāyaṇa, the sage attained supreme bliss, gazing upon the Lord of Toyācala. (v.43-44)
Thus the nineteenth chapter, named "The Glory of Toyachala," in the Second Part of the Divyadesa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
