Chapter summary
बाणपुरमाहात्म्यम् Bāṇa Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Bāṇapura
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
In former times, there lived in Bāṇapura a mighty Kirāta [hunter] named Ṛkṣa. He constantly protected his kinsmen within the forest, content with his hunter's profession. Roaming the dreadful forest on the banks of the Sahyajātā river, this merciless man killed many animals—tigers, rabbits, and blackbucks—as he pursued his hunt. (v.1-3)
His wife, Vañjulā, who also roamed the forest daily, yearned for a Nāgaratna (serpent's gem) and asked her husband to procure it. The Niṣāda king Ṛkṣa, desiring to seize this Nāgaratna, killed many serpents, yet could not obtain the coveted gem. With the intent to acquire the gem through thievery, Ṛkṣa wandered the world, but nowhere did he find it. (v.4-6)
One night, Nārada, revered by the gods, came fearlessly to that dreadful forest, singing of Hari with his vīṇā. Seeing the sage, the hunter slowly approached him. Noticing the gem-necklace hanging on Nārada's chest, the hunter, with a voice like a thundercloud, questioned him: "O Devarṣi, what is this gem? From where did you acquire it? Such a rare gem is not suitable for forest-dwellers like you." (v.7-9)
**Nārada said:**
"O hunter, this is a Nāgaratna. The great Dhanada [Kubera, the god of wealth] gave it to me. I wear this necklace around my neck to perform my japa." (v.10)
**Ṛkṣa said:**
"O noble one, perform your japa with a Tulasī bead necklace. Give this gem-necklace to me for my satisfaction." (v.11)
**Nārada said:**
"A gift should be given only to a Brāhmaṇa by all people. The property of a Brāhmaṇa should not be stolen by those who wish for the welfare of their family." (v.12)
**Ṛkṣa said:**
"Such a gem is not suitable for a forest-dwelling ascetic. If you do not give it peacefully, I will steal it by force." (v.13)
**Nārada said:**
"O hunter, stealing another's property is a great sin. A man who steals another's wealth will surely go to hell." (v.14)
**Ṛkṣa said:**
"I am not stealing this for myself; I am stealing it for my beloved. Let the sin be my beloved's; I have no fear of sin." (v.15)
**Nārada said:**
"The sin of the disciple goes to the guru, the sin of the subjects to the king, the sin of the child to the father, and indeed, the sin of the wife to the husband. However, a sin committed by the husband never goes to the wife. Consider this, O hunter; I am telling you the truth." (v.16-17)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus addressed by Nārada, the hunter tied up the sage, went quickly to his village, and questioned his relatives. His wife, Vañjulā, did not agree to take on his sin, and likewise, all his relatives refused to accept it. He thought: "They are skilled in their own self-interest and devoid of compassion for me. They take a share of the gains, but turn away from the sin." (v.18-20)
Thus abandoning them all, the great hunter became detached. He approached the Devarṣi again and fell at his feet. Releasing Nārada, the hunter, humbled and with folded hands, asked with faith and devotion for the means of liberation from sin. (v.21-22)
**Ṛkṣa said:**
"O Lord, O Prabhu, tell me the remedy for my sins. You have come here by chance, indeed due to my good fortune." (v.23)
**Nārada said:**
"Know that the constant chanting of the name 'Śrī Rāma, Rāma, Rāma' is the remover of all sins and the bestower of all auspiciousness. This Tāraka mantra, which removes all sins and is supremely auspicious, was revealed by Sadāśiva to Pārvatī in an assembly of sages. There is no restriction of place or time, nor any rule of purity or impurity; merely by chanting 'Rāma, Rāma,' one is liberated. The name of Rāma is glorified in the Śrutis, Smṛtis, and Purāṇas; chanting that name destroys the three kinds of suffering. Thousands of Aśvamedha sacrifices or hundreds of Vājapeya sacrifices can never be equal to the Tāraka mantra." (v.24-28)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Having said this to the hunter out of compassion, Nārada, the best of sages, uttered the Tāraka mantra, the destroyer of all sins. The Kirāta, however, was unable to pronounce the first sound, 'ra'. He clearly spoke only the sound 'ma' again and again. Therefore, the best of sages said, 'Marā, Marā.' That stream of chanting quickly and delightfully attained the state of 'Rāma, Rāma.' Chanting His name in any way whatsoever destroys sin; there is no fault or demerit in chanting His name. (v.29-32)
When Nārada had left, the hunter, chanting the Tāraka mantra, performed a very great penance right there due to its power. His large body became covered by an anthill (*valmīka*), yet in that body of his, there was no pain and no harm. Then, after a long time, the god Brahmā, out of compassion, raised that best of hunters and spoke sweet words. (v.33-35)
**Brahmā said:**
"Since you were born from a *valmīka* (anthill), you will be renowned as Vālmīki. From this day forth, you shall be a Brahmarṣi in this world. You are not a hunter, not Ṛkṣa, not a sinner, nor a thief. You are the son of Varuṇa, born here, yet not from a womb. You are Bhṛgu, established in Brahman, devoted to the knowledge of Brahman. You have come here to narrate the story of Brahman in the form of Rāma." (v.36-38)
"Therefore, go to the bank of the Sarayū river and perform penance there. Hari Himself will soon manifest in Ayodhyā. O sinless one, may the Śrutis, Smṛtis, Purāṇas with the Itihāsas, and thus all the scriptures, shine forth in your heart. This place shall become the Tāraka Kṣetra, the destroyer of all sins, and will be famous on earth, endowed with the presence of Viṣṇu." (v.39-41)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus addressed by Brahmā, the yogi Vālmīki, the best of sages and foremost among all who know the scriptures, set out for the bank of the Sarayū. Then Brahmā, the creator of the world, with the help of Viśvakarmā, built a beautiful vimāna named Tāraka in Bāṇapura. Having consecrated Viṣṇu there and performed a great Brahmotsava, he, along with all the gods, returned to Satyaloka. This is that supreme, holy, and excellent Kṣetra of Bāṇapura, in which Hari, with a beautiful form, resides even today. (v.42-45)
Thus ends the third chapter, named "The Glory of Bāṇapura," in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
