Chapter summary
कण्वपुरमाहात्म्यम् Kaṇva Pura Māhātmyam
The Sadguru said: Once, the great sage Kaṇva, upon beholding Nārada, bowed down with profound devotion. With hands folded in reverence, he addressed the celestial sage. (v.1)
**Kaṇva said:**
"The glorious eight-syllabled mantra is revered as the foremost of all mantras, for it bestows both devotion and liberation upon humanity, and utterly destroys the sins of those who chant it. By the mere recitation of this sacred utterance, the lotus-eyed Lord swiftly grants His divine vision, a blessing exceedingly rare even for the gods. O great sage, in which sacred place can one swiftly attain perfection (*siddhi*) through the *japa* of this eight-syllabled mantra? Please reveal this to me without delay." (v.2-4)
**Nārada said:**
"The most excellent of all sacred places is known as Kṛṣṇa-kṣetra, O foremost of sages, and it lies upon the shore of the eastern sea. There, Śauri, the very ocean of mercy, ever abides, the unfailing Lord, a boundless sea of compassion who fulfills the aspirations of His devotees." (v.5-6)
"Rare indeed is a place graced by the presence of seven holy elements: a sacred ground (*kṣetra*), a hallowed forest (*vana*), a divine city (*pura*), the vast ocean (*sindhu*), a purifying river (*nadī*), a sanctified tank (*puṣkariṇī*), and a celestial vehicle (*vimāna*)." (v.7)
"The supremely purifying forest there is renowned as Kṛṣṇāraṇya, where Kṛṣṇa Himself is worshipped by great sages, ascetics rich in their penance. This holy Kṛṣṇa-kṣetra stands as the most excellent in all three worlds, a place where the imperishable Śauri rejoices, having even forsaken Vaikuṇṭha for its sanctity. This divine Kṛṣṇapura was built by King Vasu, and within its bounds reside Brāhmaṇas who steadfastly uphold their own dharma. This auspicious Kṛṣṇāraṇya, situated on the eastern seacoast, is supremely holy and ever caressed by cool, refreshing breezes. Where the most sacred Kāverī river yearns to merge, what mortal being would not seek refuge in this supreme Kṛṣṇāraṇya?" (v.8-12)
"There, the Nityapuṣkariṇī, adorned with blooming lotuses, shines resplendently. By the command of Lord Hari, all sacred waters ever reside within it. The exceedingly beautiful *vimāna* is named Utpalāvartaka, and by its mere sight, a human being ascends to Vaikuṇṭha. I ceaselessly praise Śaurirāja, the lotus-eyed Lord, beautiful in all His limbs, who resides within that divine Utpalāvartaka *vimāna*." (v.13-15)
"This is the Aṣṭākṣara-kṣetra [the sacred place associated with the eight-syllabled mantra], the most auspicious of all auspicious places. For one who takes refuge here and performs *japa*, success is assured beyond any doubt." (v.16)
**Kaṇva said:**
"Oh Nārada, I am truly blessed by your sight! I have heard the supremely purifying glory of Kṛṣṇa-kṣetra. This very day, I shall journey there and perform great penance, for I long to behold Śauri, Govinda, who is ever affectionate to those who seek His refuge." (v.17-18)
**The Sadguru said:**
Having thus spoken, Kaṇva, accompanied by his host of disciples, joyfully departed from his hermitage and set forth immediately for that auspicious Kṛṣṇāraṇya. Upon reaching Kṛṣṇāraṇya, the great sage commenced a most profound penance, continuously chanting the magnificent eight-syllabled mantra. All his disciples, the sages, were likewise ever devoted to *japa*, and understanding the rules of Puraścaraṇa [a specific ritual involving mantra recitation], they worshipped Acyuta. (v.19-21)
In the interim, a demon renowned as Vikaṭākṣa, assuming the form of a fearsome tiger, began to regularly devour those sages. Thereupon, Kaṇva, the great yogi, in his desire to protect his disciples, earnestly prayed to Keśava, Śaurirāja, the boundless ocean of mercy. (v.22-23)
Then Śauri, the ocean of mercy, mounted a horse as if in sport, and came forth for a hunt. In that guise, Hari slew the demon. Having vanquished the mighty demon in the form of a tiger, Lord Hari, to quench His burning thirst, proceeded to Kaṇva's hermitage and asked for water. (v.24-25)
The sage, moved by compassion, directed the thirsty hunter to the Nityapuṣkariṇī, which lay ahead, brimming with clear waters. Journeying to its bank with Kaṇva, the exceedingly handsome hunter then revealed His true form, holding the conch, discus, and mace. He was dark as a blue lotus petal, with eyes as vast as lotuses, flawless in form, with dark hair, a very repository of causeless mercy. The divine being, clad in yellow garments, possessed four strong and beautiful arms; He was the serene-faced Viṣṇu, Hari, wielding His five celestial weapons. Beholding Kṛṣṇa thus manifest, Kaṇva, his eyes moist with tears of supreme devotion, offered Him praise along with the other sages. (v.26-30)
**Kaṇva said:**
"Salutations again and again to Kṛṣṇa, to Vāsudeva, to Śauri, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow, the protector of those who take refuge, the Lord of all! Salutations again and again to the one who holds the discus, salutations again and again to the one who holds the conch! Salutations again and again to the one who holds the lotus, salutations again and again to the one who holds the mace!" (v.31-32)
"You are the sacrifice, You are the Vaṣaṭ call, You are the mantras and the Praṇava [the sacred syllable Oṃ]. You alone are all the gods; You are the doer, and You are the fruit as well. You alone are the giver of the fruit, the doer, and the one who causes all to do. Without You, the entire universe does not stir in any way. You are the giver of the fruits of all actions, both sinful and meritorious, for action, being inert by nature, cannot possibly bestow its own fruit. O Lord, that which is called 'apūrva' [the unseen potency of karma], due to its inertness, its knowledge must be inferred; You, the omniscient one, are the true giver of the fruit." (v.33-36)
"For You, O ocean of compassion, there is neither partiality nor cruelty. Rather, resorting to the respective intellects of beings, You impel them to action. Through the scriptures, out of Your boundless compassion, You indeed reveal with Your own mouth the path to cessation from sins and engagement in meritorious deeds. Yet, seeing men commit sin due to the delusion of their intellect, You, desiring to uplift them, mercifully grant them the company of the good. Purified by the mere association with the virtuous, and having attained repentance, all sinners are cleansed by the chanting of Your holy name. By hearing and chanting Your sacred stories and other glories, they take refuge in You alone and attain the supreme state." (v.37-41)
"O Hari, to uplift those who are submerged in the ocean of *saṃsāra* [the cycle of birth and death], You are thus seen on the surface of the earth in the form of the *arcāvatāra* [iconic manifestation]. Through the offering of flowers, sandalwood paste, food offerings, incense, lamps, and other acts of devotion, people, freed from all sins, attain supreme bliss. Be pleased, O lotus-eyed one! Be pleased, O best of men! Be pleased, O beloved of Padmā [Lakṣmī]! Be pleased, O Supreme Lord!" (v.42-44)
**The Sadguru said:**
Having thus addressed the Supreme God and bowed down according to the sacred rites, Kaṇva, accompanied by his disciples, worshipped Śauri. Being worshipped, Lord Śauri, with a pleasant face and eyes, spoke sweet words to Kaṇva, who stood with folded hands. (v.45-46)
**The Lord said:**
"Previously, Purandara, the king of the gods, afflicted by the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa through the slaying of Vṛtra, came to this very *kṣetra*. He performed a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices, and thus became Śatamakha [he of a hundred sacrifices]. O sage, by My grace alone, he regained the position of Indra. Residing in this most holy *kṣetra*, I, out of compassion, daily grant the desired objects to My devotees; there is no doubt. This very *kṣetra* is the best, and exceedingly dear to Me. I grant My divine vision through the *japa* of the eight-syllabled mantra." (v.47-50)
**The Sadguru said:**
Hearing these words of the Lord, the great sage Kaṇva resided right there with his disciples, ever devoted to *japa* and *homa* [fire sacrifices]. This is the holy Kṛṣṇa-kṣetra, endowed with the very presence of Kṛṣṇa, by merely entering which, the mind becomes utterly absorbed in Kṛṣṇa. (v.51-52)
Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, named 'The Glory of Kaṇvapura', in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
