Chapter summary
कल्याणक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Kalyāṇa Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Revered Sadguru spoke:
In ancient times, there lived a king named Pallava in the Tuṇḍīra region. Residing in the illustrious city of Kāñcī, this monarch governed and protected the entire world. He was renowned for his devotion to the learned, his boundless generosity, and his unwavering fame. Firm in his resolve, righteous in his conduct, and true to his word, he was indeed like Rāma, the beloved son of Daśaratha (v.1-2).
King Pallava journeyed to Kalyāṇapura, a sacred town situated on the shore of the eastern sea, and there he made his abode, dedicating himself to the worship of Hari in His divine form as Varāha, the Boar Incarnation (v.3).
The great king harbored a noble wish: to perform the ritual of *kanyādāna*—the sacred giving of a maiden in marriage—every single day. He proclaimed this benevolent vow throughout his kingdom, announcing it to his people everywhere by the beat of a drum. Consequently, all the poor families presented their daughters to the king, and the great-minded monarch, with profound generosity, arranged their marriages to suitable grooms (v.4-5). Through the steadfast performance of this vow of *kanyādāna*, King Pallava earned widespread renown among virtuous people in this world as a truly great donor (v.6).
In due course, the weddings of all the maidens residing in the land were completed. Yet, the king, ever firm in his resolve, would not abandon his vow. A deep worry settled upon him: "There is not a single maiden to be found anywhere," he mused, "How then shall I perform the marriage I have vowed to do from now on?" (v.7-8).
As the king was thus troubled with anxiety, a groom arrived, accompanied by a beautiful bride, along with their relatives and friends, all celebrating the joyous prospect of marriage. The great king, filled with devotion, welcomed them in and worshipped them. With great affection, he then inquired about the reason for their arrival (v.9-10).
**The King spoke:**
"Who are you, noble one, who has graced us with your presence? What service can I render unto you, O Lord? Beholding you, who are as handsome as a god, my heart rejoices. Pray tell me, what is your name? What is your lineage (*gotra*)? Where do you dwell? What scriptures have you studied? And who is this maiden with such a beautiful face?" (v.11-12).
**The Groom spoke:**
"By name, I am Nityakalyāṇa, the Eternally Auspicious One, and I reside right here, O king. I was born in the Kāśyapa *gotra* and am a master of the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences. This maiden, who has attained fame by the name Komalavallī, the Tender Creeper, is of the Bhārgava *gotra* and is being given to me by her relatives. For us two who have arrived here, please perform the wedding ceremony. There is truly no one on this earth as righteous and as generous as you" (v.13-15).
**The Revered Sadguru spoke:**
Thus addressed, King Pallava, with the joyful approval of the relatives, proceeded to have the wedding ceremony for the divine couple performed. The beauty of that divine bride and groom was supremely wonderful, and the great king, though he gazed upon them again and again, could not attain satisfaction, so captivated was he (v.16-17). The king bestowed wedding gifts upon Komalavallī and the handsome groom, just as he would have for his own beloved daughter. Filled with profound parental love for that divine bride and groom, the mighty king found the thought of their unbearable separation utterly insupportable (v.18-19).
Once the wedding ceremony was completed, the bride and groom swiftly entered the auspicious temple to have a vision of Varāha. The very moment they entered, Nityakalyāṇa, accompanied by Ramā (Lakṣmī), revealed Himself in His iconic form (*arcāvatāra*), visible to all (v.20-21). Then King Pallava, his eyes overwhelmed with tears of devotion, praised that divine couple, who are none other than the Lord and Lady of all the worlds (v.22).
**The King spoke:**
"I praise Him, whose body is dark as a blue cloud, and Her, whose brilliance is like flawless lightning. Him, whose lotus feet are adorned with jeweled anklets, and Her, whose sprout-like feet bear tinkling anklets (v.23).
"The God wearing a resplendent yellow silk garment, and Her, adorned in white silk. Kṛṣṇa, whose waist is graced with a girdle, and Her, with a tinkling golden girdle (v.24).
"Viṣṇu with a broad chest, and Her, with breasts like plump Bilva fruits. Him, whose neck is adorned with the radiant Kaustubha gem, and Her, embellished with a beautiful necklace (v.25).
"The God wearing a fragrant forest garland, and the Goddess, a garland of lotuses. Him, whose body is smeared with the cooling Haricandana sandalwood paste, and Her, radiant with turmeric and saffron (v.26).
"Him, adorned with various shining ornaments, and Her, decorated with divine jewels. Him, with a graceful form bent in three places, and Her, with a graceful figure bent in three places (v.27).
"Him, with a serene and charming face, and Her, with her face bent down in modest grace. Him, whose lips are like ripe Bimba fruits, and Her, whose tender lips are like coral (v.28).
"Him, with eyes as large and pure as white lotuses, and Her, with eyes like blue lotus petals. Him, with a musk-tilaka on his forehead, and Her, with a beautiful dot of *sindoor* (v.29).
"Him, with dark curly hair, and Her, with a braid like a black serpent. Him, endowed with fresh youth, and Her, in the full bloom of youth (v.30).
"Him, with the majestic gait of a rutting elephant, and Her, the sweet one, with the graceful gait of a swan. Him, with a voice like a joyous swan, and Her, whose speech is as sweet as a flute (v.31).
"The God holding a conch and discus, and Her, holding a choice lotus. Him, the protector of those who take refuge, and Her, the very embodiment of compassion (v.32).
"Him, the Lord of Kalyāṇapura, and Her, the Lady of Kalyāṇapura. I bow to Nityakalyāṇa; I praise Komalavallikā!" (v.33).
**The Revered Sadguru spoke:**
Having praised them thus, King Pallava, along with all the residents of the city, stood with his hands folded in reverence, his eyes brimming with tears (v.34).
**The Lord spoke:**
"I am pleased, O king, with your giving of maidens in marriage, and with your unwavering devotion and faith. Therefore, I have come into your sight. Thinking that you were saddened by the thought that 'henceforth there are no more maidens,' I came here with Ramā. And indeed, always perform the *kalyāṇam*—the auspicious wedding rite—O king. If this remains your steadfast resolve, there shall surely be great prosperity" (v.35-37).
**The Revered Sadguru spoke:**
Thus instructed by Viṣṇu, the king, with unwavering faith, attained supreme bliss, continuing to perform the *kalyāṇotsava*—the wedding festival—every day. Whoever performs the wedding festival of Viṣṇu in this sacred place [a *Divya Deśam*, one of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples], in his house auspiciousness shall soon occur by the boundless grace of Hari (v.38-39).
Here ends the twentieth chapter, entitled "The Glory of Kalyāṇakṣetra," in the Second Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 20, named "Kalyāṇa Kṣetra Māhātmyam", in Dvitīya Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
