Chapter summary
बृहत्पुरमाहात्म्यम् Bṛhat Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Bṛhatpuram
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
This is the sacred land of Bṛhatpuram, graced by the banks of the Kaveri, where the Lord of all Worlds, the Supreme Person, reclines upon the serpent couch. Hari is celebrated throughout the world by the name Apūpaghaṭavān — 'He with the Pot of Sweet Cakes' — and is reverently served by the Śrīvaiṣṇavas near Śrīraṅgam. I shall now recount its profound glory; listen attentively, O noblest of saints, for merely by hearing this narrative, one's pilgrimage becomes truly fruitful. (v.1-3)
Once, a mighty king named Vasu, journeying in his celestial chariot, arrived at this very spot to bathe in the sacred waters of the Sahya-born Kaveri river. It was there that the great sage and yogi Mārkaṇḍeya also appeared. The humble king, with profound devotion, worshipped the sage. As Mārkaṇḍeya sat comfortably, radiating the brilliance of his ascetic power, the king, with folded hands and a humble heart, posed a question. (v.4-6)
**The King said:**
"O venerable one," the King began, "pray tell me of the foremost among all gifts, that by which Hari, the Soul of all beings, who regards all with equal vision, is most pleased. O best of Brahmins, when He is pleased, the entire cosmos rejoices. Therefore, O master, reveal to me that supreme offering which is most dear to Hari." (v.7-8)
**Mārkaṇḍeya said:**
"Know this," Mārkaṇḍeya replied, "the gift of food is indeed the greatest of all gifts. By this offering, Govinda, Hari, the Soul of all, is supremely gratified. Everyone possesses the right to both give and receive food, for 'the hungry person is the proper recipient for food' — so declare the ancient Purāṇic scriptures. The gift of food is enjoined for the peace and well-being of all, especially for the sick, the disabled, and the impoverished. Even when bestowed upon ordinary folk, the gift of food yields abundant fruit; what then to speak of giving it to Vedic scholars, and particularly to Brahmins? Therefore, O great king, invite Brahmins who are adorned with good conduct and have mastered the Vedas, and worship them with unwavering faith." (v.9-13)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus instructed, the great king, the foremost among the virtuous, resolved to arrange a grand feeding for a hundred thousand Brahmins in that sacred place. Having gathered all the necessary provisions and consecrated a suitable site, the king invited the Vedic Brahmins and fed them sumptuously. Upon the completion of this feeding of a hundred thousand Brahmins, a great pride swelled within him, as he thought, "Who else could possibly accomplish such a feat, the feeding of a hundred thousand Brahmins?" (v.14-16)
Yet, all actions performed with pride are destined to become fruitless. Thus, a certain Brahmin arrived, desiring to put the king to the test. (v.17)
**The Brahmin said:**
"Enough of your pride, O King!" the Brahmin declared. "Your gift was but a trifle. A profound hunger afflicts me, and there is no one who can truly satisfy me with food. The merit gained by satisfying a single Brahmin such as myself cannot be matched by the feeding of a hundred thousand Brahmins. Indeed, throughout the three worlds, there exists no eater like me. What great fame, then, can be achieved by offering food to such insignificant people?" (v.18-20)
**The King said:**
"Oh, I am truly blessed, O best of Brahmins!" exclaimed the King. "Welcome to you, and salutations! I shall fill your stomach with food as one fills the ocean itself. There is no eater like you, and assuredly, there is no giver like me. The meeting of us two is indeed a wonder in all three worlds!" (v.21-22)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Saying this, the king, filled with joy, swiftly gathered provisions by the hundreds and thousands. Cooks toiled in separate hearths, preparing rice from fine Śāli grains, enriched with six flavors, alongside various vegetables and savory soups. Dishes to be chewed, eaten, drunk, and licked, all suitable for a Brahmin, were meticulously prepared. A mountain of food, made with a thousand *āḍakas* [a traditional measure of grain], was offered to the Brahmin, and the king stood before him with folded hands. (v.23-25)
That single Brahmin, consuming everything with astonishing speed, yet with his stomach still unsatisfied, spoke to the king once more, appearing distressed. (v.26)
**The Brahmin said:**
"O King," the Brahmin lamented, "even the food prepared with a thousand *āḍakas*, complete with side dishes and soups, which you respectfully offered, alas, it was all like a lump of jaggery dissolved in the vast ocean. The malady of my hunger remains exactly as it was; there is no true giver for me anywhere. Where is this mere handful of puffed rice you offer, and where is this great-bellied elephant? You praise yourself in vain, O lord of the earth, thinking, 'I am a great giver.' Your gift of food to Brahmins with small stomachs was no more significant than scattering grains of rice for ants and other tiny creatures." (v.27-30)
Addressed thus, the king, recognizing him to be the imperishable Hari Himself, became utterly free from pride, humble, and began to praise Him with folded hands. (v.31)
**The King said:**
"Salutations, salutations to You, the Supreme Person! Salutations, salutations to You, the lotus-eyed one! Salutations, salutations to You, the cause of all! Salutations, salutations to You, the slayer of Madhu! (v.32)
Having consumed the three worlds at the time of dissolution, You alone repose upon a banyan leaf. Who is truly capable of feeding one such as You? Surely, You alone are the ultimate enjoyer of the universe! (v.33)
The great sages declare that the netherworld forms the base of Your feet, the ocean is Your stomach, and the realm of truth (Satyaloka) is Your head, O God of the thousand-headed Puruṣa! (v.34)
You are the Vaiśvānara fire in the world of men, residing mercifully within the stomach, where You indeed digest all that is eaten. Truly, everything in the world is consumed by You alone. (v.35)
Every person in the world fears unconquerable Death even by merely remembering him. Yet, that very Death is but a mere side-dish for You, O Lord of Yogis, the Enjoyer of the universe! (v.36)
O Viṣṇu, You are satisfied by even the smallest offering, given with love and humility to those afflicted by hunger. O thousand-formed one, the entire universe is indeed Your very form. (v.37)
O Keśava, You do not even wish to behold the face of the proud who seek worldly fruits, who, after giving, are satisfied by their own self-praise. They alone in this world are truly wretched and impoverished. (v.38)
Just as You create all beings, from Hiraṇyagarbha down to the smallest ant, in the same way, O Lord, You also provide them with food. Who else here is a giver of food other than You? (v.39)
An elephant, possessing a large stomach, roams the world joyfully, having cast aside all anxiety. But human beings, with their small stomachs, are perpetually anxious about food and drink. (v.40)
Oh, how wondrous is Your play! This Māyā of Yours is indeed impossible to overcome. The foolish-minded perceive distinctions in You, who are Vāsudeva, the Brahman, the very Soul of the universe. (v.41)
This is Your divine play, O Lord, O enemy of Mura! You test me by appearing in the form of a Brahmin. How can true satisfaction arise, O Primeval God? Please, out of Your boundless mercy, make my words true." (v.42)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus entreated, Viṣṇu, the wielder of the conch, discus, and mace, ever affectionate to His devotees, commanded Vasu, the devotee king: "I am satisfied with a thousand sweet cakes made with jaggery, O lord of the earth. Offer that to me quickly. This shall be the *dakṣiṇā* [a ritual offering, often monetary, given to a priest or guru after a ritual or teaching] for the meal." (v.43-44)
The king, greatly pleased, gave a pot filled with a thousand sweet cakes to the Brahmin as *dakṣiṇā*, with folded hands. That Brahmin, the master of illusion, then lay down there, along with the pot of sweet cakes, to relieve the fatigue of his meal. (v.45-46)
Then, the great king beheld him as the Lord Himself, reclining upon the serpent couch: Hari, with His eyes closed in yogic slumber, His face tranquil. He saw Viṣṇu, adorned in yellow garments, His countenance graced by a gentle smile, with beautiful cheeks, a finely sculpted nose, a lovely forehead, and exquisite hair. He beheld the Lord whose belly resembles a banyan leaf, the God with a broad chest, high shoulders, long arms, and fingers like tender leaves. Adorned with necklaces, bracelets, armlets, anklets, and other resplendent ornaments, marked with the auspicious Śrīvatsa, He was the Lord of Śrī, the bearer of Śrī, the bestower of all prosperity. (v.47-50)
Beholding the sole protector of all the worlds, the king's body thrilled with horripilation, overcome by the supreme love he had attained. Bowing his head to Viṣṇu, praising and prostrating again and again, he was insatiable with supreme devotion and became like one possessed. (v.51-52)
Building a temple right there and establishing the city of Bṛhatpuram, he settled people in that place out of reverence, for the dedicated service of Viṣṇu. The king, greatly pleased and with the approval of Mārkaṇḍeya, then returned with his ministers and wife to his own splendid city. (v.53-54)
This most wonderful glory of the Lord of the Apūpa-pot [He with the pot of sweet cakes] utterly destroys the great sins of those who hear and read it. Even a hungry or impoverished person, upon seeing Viṣṇu in Bṛhatpuram, will assuredly become a giver of food, having himself received food in abundance. (v.55-56)
Thus ends the fourth chapter, titled "The Glory of Bṛhatpuram," in the Third Volume of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
