Chapter summary
कण्वपुरमाहात्म्यम् Kaṇva Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Kaṇvapura
**The Revered Guru said:**
While on a pilgrimage, the great-minded King Uparicara Vasu, accompanied by his wife, arrived at the sacred hermitage of the sage Kaṇva. Recognizing the king as a devout worshipper of Vishnu and a man dedicated to charity and righteousness, the great sage received him with due hospitality. (v.1-2)
Prompted by his wife, the king sought the blessing of a son, for what knower of the Vedas' essence would wish to sever the lineage of a righteous man? The sage, who was deeply devoted to the worship of Krishna, then commanded the virtuous king to establish a magnificent city within the forest of Kṛṣṇāraṇya. (v.3-4)
King Vasu, adhering to the principles of architectural science, built a city, and at its very heart, with profound reverence, he erected a divine temple dedicated to Śaurirāja. He settled pious Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, within this new city, and for their service, thousands of other Vaishnavas as well. (v.5-6)
Pleased by these efforts, the sage Kaṇva joyfully presented the wise King Vasu with a lotus that had blossomed in the Nityapuṣkariṇī lake. "By inhaling the fragrance of this lotus," Kaṇva declared with delight, "your wife will conceive." The king, in turn, gave the sacred lotus to his queen. (v.7-8)
Upon smelling it, the beautiful lady, with her wide, captivating eyes, conceived a child. His desire thus fulfilled, King Vasu returned to his city with her. In a short time, she gave birth to a daughter, an embodiment of Ramā [Lakshmi]. The king, his heart filled with joy, named her Padminī. (v.9-10)
Padminī, whose eyes were like lotus petals, blossomed into youth. She was skilled in various arts and sports, always surrounded by her friends. An expert in playing the vīṇā and discerning in the science of dramaturgy, she was virtuous and well-behaved, cherished dearly by her parents, and shone with grace. (v.11-12)
One day, as her father recounted the glorious deeds of Śaurirāja, the princess Padminī was deeply moved and yearned to behold Him. Accompanied by his daughter and wife, the lord of the earth journeyed to Kṛṣṇapura to see Śaurirāja, the Lord of the world. (v.13-14)
Upon reaching Kaṇva's hermitage, the king bowed down according to tradition. Honored by the Brahmins, he then performed the circumambulation of the temple street. After bathing properly in the waters of Nityapuṣkariṇī and completing his daily rites, the king approached the sanctum of Śaurirāja. (v.15-16)
The priests revealed Śauri, beautiful in every limb, the refuge of all worlds, bearing the conch, discus, and mace. Beholding that Lord of the worlds, who is the very Cupid of Cupid himself, the maiden Padminī was instantly captivated, overcome by an overwhelming love. (v.17-18)
From that moment on, the maiden's eyes were often filled with tears, her body thrilled with horripilation, and her mind absorbed in the contemplation of Śauri. Chanting the names of Krishna, the Supreme Soul, and daily worshipping Kaṇva, she prayed for nothing but unwavering devotion. She spent her time listening to the stories of the Lord, averse to worldly talk and ever well-disposed towards the Vaishnavas. (v.19-21)
Seeing his daughter afflicted by the unbearable pain of separation from Śauri, the king, devoted to his daughter's love, decided to remain right there. Padminī received the eight-syllabled great mantra, taught by Kaṇva, and chanted it day after day in a grove of Priyangu creepers. (v.22-23)
The local fishermen, witnessing Vasu's daughter, were filled with affection and lovingly protected her from forest-dwellers and wild animals. The maiden repeatedly narrated the story of Śaurirāja to them, and they, in turn, showed her pure affection and love. (v.24-25)
In the meantime, a certain youth of auspicious form, mounted on a horse, came wandering through the forest on a hunt. Seeing the maiden there, he enquired of her welfare, charming her with a gentle smile, his form captivating the entire world. (v.26-27)
**The Youth said:**
"Who are you, O lotus-eyed one? What penance are you performing? To obtain your compassion itself, one must perform great penance." (v.28)
**Padminī said:**
"I am the daughter of Vasu, and my name is Padminī. My father, who is full of affection for me, resides in the city." (v.29)
**The Youth said:**
"The father who permitted you, as delicate as a Mālati flower, to perform such penance—tell me, what kind of affection is that?" (v.30)
**Padminī said:**
"It is I who, having received my father's command with a firm mind, am performing this penance to obtain the merciful Govinda as my husband." (v.31)
**The Youth said:**
"How can that Mukunda, the abode of mercy, neglect you, who are emaciated by fasting, pitiable, and constantly engaged in chanting? He once abandoned his beloved Lakshmi, who was devoted to serving His feet, and ran to save a certain elephant afflicted by a crocodile. After casting the chaste and supremely virtuous Sītā into the fire and testing her, that merciless one indeed took her back. He formerly killed Rukmi, the brother of Rukmiṇī. Leaving the weeping Gopīs, he went to Mathurā by chariot. To obtain such a person, you perform great penance. Choose me, O beautiful-faced one, who have come here on my own." (v.32-36)
**Padminī said:**
"The wicked person who criticizes Vishnu or listens to such criticism—his merit is destroyed instantly, there is no doubt. If one is able, one should cut out the tongue of one who blasphemes the Lord. If not, one should cover one's ears and go far away in haste." (v.37-38)
**The Revered Guru said:**
Having spoken thus, Padminī quickly departed with her friends. Then, the youth with the beautiful form seized her hand. Padminī immediately cried out reverently, "Father! Father!" At once, the king arrived, accompanied by the sage Kaṇva. (v.39-40)
Right there, the God was suddenly seen, holding the conch and mace, four-armed, clad in yellow garments, his neck adorned with the Kaustubha gem. He was Vanamālī, Vāsudeva, Vishnu, marked with the Śrīvatsa, and adorned with ornaments equal in brilliance to a thousand suns. (v.41-42)
Seeing Śauri, Padminī, with her face downcast in modesty, stood before Him, making the lotus in her hand bloom. The prostrated king praised Him, his eyes moist with tears of love. The Lord Śauri, out of compassion, then spoke to King Vasu. (v.43-44)
**The Lord said:**
"O King, I am very pleased with the firm devotion of your daughter Padminī. I wish to receive this maiden. Give me your daughter Padminī, who is fragrant as a lotus, who is dedicated to the service of my feet, and who is supremely devoted to me in love." (v.45-46)
**The Revered Guru said:**
Thus addressed by the Lord, the king, the best among the most fortunate, uttered the words, "I will give." Overjoyed, he built a supremely divine marriage hall there and, on the full moon day of the month of Vaiśākha, gave Padminī to Vishnu. (v.47-48)
Kaṇva, along with Vasiṣṭha, then performed all the wedding rites for Padminī and Krishna. All the gods, sages, Siddhas, Vidyādharas, and others, as well as humans, were filled with joy upon witnessing Padminī's wedding. (v.49-50)
King Uparicara Vasu, the father-in-law of Śaurirāja, departed for his city with his wife, distressed by the separation from his daughter. The chaste queen, smelling her daughter on the head as a sign of affection, repeatedly told her the duties befitting her lineage with love, pleading, "O Śauri, O ocean of mercy, this girl is innocent and naive. Without considering her faults, you must cherish my daughter." Thus, leaving his daughter Padminī in the presence of Śauri, the king, his eyes moist with tears, departed again for his city. (v.51-54)
Kaṇva also consoled the girl, who was separated from her parents and emaciated by their absence, and encouraged her in the service of Śauri. The fishermen, too, consoled her with respect, considering her their own daughter and showing affection to Padminī. They, the most fortunate on earth, filled with the sentiment of being fathers-in-law, worshipped Śaurirāja with reverence. (v.55-57)
By the grace of Śaurirāja, the king also obtained a son. This is a supreme, meritorious story, bringing great auspiciousness to those who hear it. What more do you wish to hear of the glory of Kṛṣṇakṣetra? (v.58)
Thus ends the twenty-second chapter, named 'The Glory of Kaṇvapura', in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
