Chapter summary
कृष्णमङ्गाक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Kṛṣṇamaṅgā Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The revered Guru said: In a vast forest, dense with a multitude of trees, abounding with diverse creatures of forest and sky, and graced by the hermitages of ascetics, the sage Bhrigu resided always in his humble hut. There, with joyful devotion, he worshipped the imperishable Vishnu, chanting the sacred twelve-syllable mantra. (v.1-2)
One day, the foremost among sages reflected deeply in his heart. Remembering the kick he had once delivered to Krishna, he was overcome with profound remorse. "Alas," he lamented, "what a grievous sin I have committed in my ignorance! Goddess Lakshmi resides eternally and inseparably upon Vishnu's chest. Surely, my kick must have caused her pain. She is the mother of all the worlds; truly, a great sin has been committed by me." (v.3-5)
Thus distressed by anxiety, abstaining from sleep and food, the king of yogis once again undertook severe penance, this time directed towards Śrī [Lakshmi] herself. (v.6)
Then, after a short while, the Goddess, the sovereign of the universe and consort of Vishnu, manifested. Her large eyes were radiant, her countenance exquisitely beautiful, and she was adorned with every ornament. She emerged from a thousand-petaled lotus, four-armed, holding a lotus in one hand, and with the others granting boons of grace and fearlessness. Her heart overflowed with compassion, her lovely face graced by a gentle smile, her being imbued with the quality of maternal affection, and her gaze one of innocent love. (v.7-9)
The Goddess bestowed her divine vision (*darshan*) upon the sage Bhrigu in the sacred pond. From that moment onwards, that holy water body became known by the name 'Darśana'. (v.10)
Upon beholding the Goddess, all the gods, Kinnaras, great sages, Vidyādharas, and Gandharvas praised her, each in their own unique way. Then, all the Brahmarishis joyfully performed her sacred bath (*abhisheka*) with the nectar of the celestial Gaṅgā, brought forth in the trunks of Airāvata's elephants. (v.11-12)
Seeing her, the Mother of the Worlds, Bhrigu, the foremost among the fortunate, his lotus-like eyes moist with tears of love, began to praise her. (v.16)
**The sage Bhrigu said:**
I worship Lakshmi, the Mother of the Worlds, who is golden-hued, graceful as a doe, adorned with garlands of gold and silver, radiant as the moon, and formed of pure gold. (v.17)
I bow to her who eternally resides upon Vishnu's chest, never to depart, the generous bestower of gold, cows, and horses. (v.18)
I worship the Goddess Śrī, who is preceded by horses and rides in the midst of a chariot, who is awakened by the trumpeting of elephants, and who is a repository of affection for those who seek refuge in her. (v.19)
I bow to her who dwells in a home with golden ramparts, who shines with jeweled ornaments, who is ever-content and brings contentment to others, and whose heart is full of compassion. (v.20)
I worship Padmā (Lakshmi), who is seated on a lotus, is lotus-colored, possesses lotus-like eyes, is born from a lotus, is the beloved of Padmanābha (Vishnu), and holds a lotus in her hand. (v.21)
I take refuge in Lakshmi, also known as Padminī and Ramā, who is endowed with noble qualities, is served by the gods, and is the destroyer of poverty. (v.22)
I praise the Goddess who has the radiance of the sun, who is pure, who destroys all that is inauspicious, who is fond of the Bilva tree, and whose breasts are like Bilva fruits. (v.23)
I praise the beloved of Krishna, the bestower of prosperity and success upon mankind, the remover of hunger and thirst, the giver of fame, and the provider of gems and jewels. (v.24)
I invoke here that Śrī who is perceptible through fragrance, who is unconquerable, ever-nourished, and abounding in wealth, the sovereign of all beings. (v.25)
I praise her who is moist with compassion, who resides in a lotus pond, who is nourishment itself, who is golden-hued and wears a lotus garland, who is radiant as the moon and the sun, who is of golden form and wears a golden garland. (v.26)
O dweller in the lotus, O lotus-handed one, resplendent with brilliantly white garments, fragrances, and garlands! O Goddess, beloved of Hari, O enchanting one, who brings prosperity to the three worlds, be pleased with me! (v.27)
**The revered Guru said:**
Thus praised by Bhrigu, the Mother of the World, seated on a lotus, granted him freedom from fear with her hands and spoke in a sweet voice. (v.28)
**The Goddess Śrī said:**
"O great sage, you are most fortunate. I consider myself your daughter, and indeed, I regard you as my father. A daughter is surely blessed by the touch of her father's feet. Therefore, O Brahmin, O sage, abandon your fear of sin and your remorse." (v.29-30)
**The revered Guru said:**
Having spoken thus, the Mother of the World became Bhrigu's daughter. Bhrigu cherished her, giving her the name Kṛṣṇamaṅgā. (v.31)
Then, seeing that she had reached an age suitable for union with a husband, Bhrigu thought of Govinda, Mukunda, as a worthy groom. (v.32)
At that very time, Lord Krishna, who is ever-affectionate to His devotees, arrived, accompanied by His attendants, relatives, and the gods led by Brahmā and Rudra. (v.33)
The protector of those who seek refuge took the hand of Bhārgavī (Bhrigu's daughter), and Bhrigu, who is worshipped by the gods, performed their wedding ceremonies. (v.34)
By seeing even once Lord Krishna accompanied by Kṛṣṇamaṅgā in the Kṛṣṇa-kṣetra, a person immediately attains all welfare. (v.35)
Such an auspicious sacred place does not exist in the three worlds, wherein the Goddess of welfare shines in her auspicious form. By a mere fraction of her side-glance, a poor man can become Kubera (the god of wealth). Her sacred place is indeed a bestower of all that is auspicious. (v.36-37)
Here ends the twentieth chapter, titled "The Glory of the Kṛṣṇamaṅgā Kṣetra," in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus, Hari's beloved obtained the name 'Abhiṣekavallī'. They worshipped her with reverence, offering blossoms of the Pārijāta tree. With Bhāratī (Saraswati) and Pārvatī fanning her with chowries on either side, and the goddess Śacī attending her, carrying her footstool, the Goddess Kamalā, who delights the lotus-eyed Lord, shone brilliantly, receiving various services from other celestial ladies. (v.13-15)
