Chapter summary
सारक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Sāra Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Glory of Sārakṣetra
**The revered Sadguru said:**
The sacred rivers—Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Kṛṣṇā, Godāvarī, Sarasvatī, Kāverī, Sarayū, and Tāmraparṇikā—once converged, and in their mutual jealousy, each sought to assert her own preeminence. (v.1-2) It was the goddess Gaṅgā who declared, "I alone am born from the very foot of Viṣṇu, and no other. Therefore, I am the greatest." (v.3)
Desiring to settle the dispute, they journeyed to Satyaloka to question Brahmā, who affirmed that Gaṅgā, having sprung from Viṣṇu's foot, was indeed the most exalted. (v.4) Upon hearing this wondrous declaration of Gaṅgā's glory from the mouth of Brahmā, the river goddesses departed, their mutual jealousy now abandoned. (v.5)
However, Kāverī, the daughter of Sahya [the Sahya mountain range, where Kāverī originates], remained angered and deeply saddened. She approached the Creator, Parameṣṭhin, to inquire about a means to attain superiority. (v.6) Then, out of compassion for that great river, the four-faced Brahmā, ever devoted to the meditation of Viṣṇu, addressed her with sweet words. (v.7-8)
**Brahmā said:**
"Why do you harbor this futile anger and jealousy towards Gaṅgā? Gaṅgā, born from the foot of Viṣṇu, is undeniably the greatest. Just as Gaṅgā embodies all sacred waters, Hari [Viṣṇu] embodies all gods, and Praṇava [the sacred syllable Oṃ] truly embodies all mantras; there is no doubt about this. (v.8-9) Yet, if you desire to attain a superiority even greater than Gaṅgā's, then go from here to Sārakṣetra and perform severe penance, O holder of the winds. (v.10)
"On the bank of the Sāratīrtha [the sacred Sāra river/pond], Viṣṇu is renowned as Sāranātha. He resides there, united with Sāralakṣmī, in a city graced by the Sāravimānaka [a celestial chariot-shrine]. (v.11) This sacred site, known as pañcasāra [possessing five essences], is the destroyer of all sins. By its very nature, it bestows the essence of all things upon those who worship there. (v.12) Therefore, by performing penance there and worshipping Sāranātha, you will surely attain the essence of all rivers through his divine grace alone." (v.13)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Thus instructed, Kāverī, the daughter of Sahya, whose mere remembrance destroys sins, journeyed to Sārakṣetra and, with unwavering resolve, undertook severe penance. (v.14)
Pleased by her devotion, the Lord Viṣṇu appeared, bearing his conch, discus, and mace. He was adorned with a forest garland, held a lotus in his hand, and his eyes were as expansive as lotuses. Clad in resplendent yellow garments, the illustrious Lord's neck was graced by the radiant Kaustubha gem. His lotus-face bore a gentle smile, and his speech was sweet and affectionate. In his divine radiance, he resembled a dark raincloud, with earrings dangling to his ears. This imperishable Acyuta, an ocean of compassion, then spoke sweetly to Kāverī. (v.15-17)
**The Lord said:**
"What do you desire, O beautiful one? For what purpose have you performed this penance? I shall grant all that you wish. Speak quickly, O lovely-eyed one." (v.18)
**Kāverī said:**
"O ocean of mercy, having been blessed with your sight, what more is there for me to ask for? I have attained your very vision, which is difficult for even Brahmā and the other gods to achieve. (v.19) It was with the desire to attain superiority among all rivers, O Lord, that I undertook this penance, following the instruction of the Supreme Lord, Parameṣṭhin." (v.20)
**The Lord said:**
"Gaṅgā, born from the foot of Viṣṇu, is indeed the greatest, there is no doubt. But I shall also declare your greatness; listen, O maiden. (v.21) You were born in my great and most holy kṣetra known as Sahyāmalaka, from the water-pot of the pot-born sage [Agastya]. (v.22) There, O flawless one, I reside in the form of an Āmalaka tree, and you flow forth as the sacred water from my feet. (v.23)
"Furthermore, coming to the sacred site of Śrīraṅgam, you reverently flow, touching the feet of Me who reclines on the body of Śeṣa. (v.24) Thus, you too have obtained such an intimate connection with my feet. Therefore, O auspicious one, your glory is truly equal to that of Gaṅgā. (v.25)
"Gaṅgā, though born from the nail of my foot, was held in the matted locks of Śiva [the lock-wearer], became the leftover water of Jahnu, and was sullied by contact with ashes. (v.26) Gaṅgā is surely inferior to you; you are indeed superior to her. O maiden, do not grieve. You are exceedingly dear to me, there is no doubt. (v.27)
"Therefore, on your banks alone, in many sacred places, O beautiful one—in Ādiraṅga, Madhyaraṅga, Śrīraṅga, Kapiṣthala, Bhūtapuri, Ādipuri, and the city of Kumbhakoṇa—in these numerous kṣetras, I joyfully recline. (v.28-29) Indeed, Gaṅgā does not possess such fortune, O daughter of Sahya. Therefore, you alone are the greatest. I speak the truth, the very truth. By merely bathing in your sacred waters, devotion to me is certain to arise." (v.30)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Thus consoled, the goddess Kāverī, with a mind filled with contentment, offered praise to Sāranātha, who was accompanied by Sāralakṣmī. (v.31)
**Kāverī said:**
"Salutations, salutations to You, the destroyer of afflictions, to Nārāyaṇa, the witness of all worlds, and to You, the very cause of the birth of the Creator (Brahmā), who himself is the origin of the myriad worlds. (v.32)
"I salute that Supreme Lord, the regulator of the universe, who, becoming the primeval Fish in the ocean of dissolution and slaying the two demons named Madhu and Kaiṭabha, protected all the Vedas. (v.33)
"Having lifted the earth, which was submerged in water, and securely placed it on the tip of Your tusk, You sustain all beings with it. To You, that Varāha [Boar], I offer my salutations again and again. (v.34)
"Eager for the sport of churning the milk ocean, You who carried the Mandara mountain on Your back and, being compassionate, gave the nectar to the gods—I take refuge in You, the primeval Kūrma [Tortoise]. (v.35)
"Desiring to protect Your beloved Prahlāda, You tore apart the demon as a mat-maker splits a reed. I take refuge in You, the divine Man-Lion (Nṛsiṃha), the refuge of the worlds, who appeared from a pillar. (v.36)
"I worship You, the root of all bliss, who, assuming the form of Trivikrama, traversed the worlds, and who, as a giver of happiness to Your devotee Bali, also stands at his door with a mace in hand. (v.37)
"I praise that Bhārgava Rāma (Paraśurāma) who, prayed to for the destruction of the kṣatriyas, became a sage, a moon to the ocean of the Bhārgava clan, and who, taking up a fearsome axe in anger, chopped them down. (v.38)
"I take refuge in You, the lord of the good, who, having descended into the Ikṣvāku dynasty, roamed the earth with a bow in hand, a protector of true dharma, and a veritable death to the wicked. (v.39)
"I worship that Balabhadra Rāma who, having struck down the wicked with the tip of his plough, establishing his own dharma as the cause of welfare in the world, sported along with Kṛṣṇa. (v.40)
"I bow to You, the son of Devakī, who, having sported with the gopīs in Vṛndāvana and being devoted to grazing cows, later spoke the Gītā for the sake of Vijaya [Arjuna]. (v.41)
"I worship that form of bliss who, at the end of the age, holding a fierce sword in hand, will slay all the barbarians in the Kali Yuga and protect dharma on earth. (v.42)
"I take refuge in Śrī Sāranātha, who holds the conch and discus, whose eyes are like lotuses, who is served by sages and gods, who is accompanied by Śrī [Lakṣmī], and who is the refuge of the good." (v.43)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Thus praised, the Lord of the Universe, Sāranātha, the treasury of compassion, granted a boon to Kāverī and suddenly vanished. (v.44) In the form of his incarnations, Keśava, Hari, resides forever in the most holy Sārakṣetra, even in the age of Kali. (v.45) By journeying to this Sārakṣetra and beholding Sāranātha, the husband of Śrī, even one who is without essence (sārahīna) will attain the essence of all things (sarvasāratvam). (v.46)
Here ends the eighteenth chapter, titled "The Glory of Sārakṣetra," in the Third Volume of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 18, named "Sāra Kṣetra Māhātmyam", in Tṛtīya Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
