Chapter summary
चम्पकारण्यमाहात्म्यम् Campakāraṇya Māhātmyam
The Glory of Campakāraṇya
**The revered Sadguru said:**
I shall now recount the supreme and wondrous glory of Campakāraṇya, a sacred place whose mere narration brings immense delight to Gopāla. (v.1)
There once lived a renowned sage named Gobhila, who had mastered his senses. He undertook severe penance, yearning deeply for a vision of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. During the very era of Kṛṣṇa's earthly incarnation, with eyes closed in profound meditation, he resided in Naimiṣāraṇya, engaged in an exceptionally prolonged austerity. After the Lord had relieved the entire burden of the earth and returned to His own divine abode, the venerable Gobhila, that foremost among sages, slowly regained his external consciousness. Hearing the sages repeatedly recount the enchanting pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, a fervent desire to behold Mukunda arose within him, and he began to lament and weep bitterly. (v.2-5)
**Gobhila said:**
"Alas, what a profound misfortune is mine," Gobhila cried, "that I failed to attain the vision of Kṛṣṇa, a vision granted even to Pūtanā, Śakaṭa, the hunchbacked woman, and the washerman! That which was achieved even by Pauṇḍraka, without the slightest spiritual practice, I, despite my severe penance, have utterly wasted my time in vain. How shall I ever behold Govinda, the enchanter of the Gopis' hearts? Where shall I go from here? What purpose remains for my life? I have been utterly deceived by Mukunda, who is so dear to Mucukunda. Why, in my foolishness, did I remain absorbed in yogic slumber? Why did the ocean of mercy not awaken me and grant me His divine sight? Indeed, this is surely my own misfortune; what use is there in needlessly blaming Kṛṣṇa? How shall I ever see Gopāla, whose beauty captivates the entire universe? My life in this world is truly futile; I earnestly desire death. Of what use are countless spiritual practices to me now? What greater attainment could there be hereafter? What supreme fruit in this world surpasses the vision of the Gopis' beloved? Oh, wish-fulfilling tree of Gokula! Oh, beloved of the Gopis! Oh Gopāla, Govinda, Mādhava, please grant me Your divine vision!" (v.6-13)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
As the king of yogis thus wept in anguish, a voice from the sky addressed him: "Come to Campakāraṇya, and I shall grant you a vision." Rising suddenly, the yogi Gobhila set forth into the forest. Inquiring about the path to Campakāraṇya, he arrived there with great swiftness. (v.14-15)
He beheld the Campaka forest, a sight that intensified the joy of seeing it. It was replete with blossoming Campaka trees, exuding an exquisite fragrance everywhere. The air resonated with the sweet humming of bees, intoxicated by the flowers' nectar, while cuckoos within the tree hollows chanted "Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa." The forest was served by various assemblies of sages, sanctified by numerous holy waters, teeming with diverse animals, and frequented by flocks of many kinds of birds. It was densely filled with trees such as Campaka, Aśoka, Punnāga, Sāla, Vakula, and Asana, and shone resplendently with its verdant rows of forest trees. (v.16-19)
There flowed the great river named Haridrā, renowned throughout the earth, whose waters were mingled with the turmeric of the Gopis and the dye of mañjiṣṭhā. Seeing this Haridrā river, the sage took up residence right there, chanting the twelve-syllable mantra, still afflicted by the pain of longing for Kṛṣṇa's vision. The river itself was fragrant with the scent of turmeric, bestowed the nectar of Hari's pastimes, was filled with enchanting waters, and was known to destroy the sins of mankind. Its banks were adorned with steps made of jewels, its waters graced by the playful movements of fish, its surface dense with groves of lotuses, and it was honored by the presence of swans and cranes. In the southern region, it was considered equal to the Yamunā, situated in the land beloved by Dāmodara [Kṛṣṇa], and was constantly served by gods, gandharvas, and sages. (v.20-24)
It was there that Lord Kṛṣṇa, the lotus-eyed Gopāla, mercifully granted His vision to His devotee Gobhila. He arrived, playing His flute, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland. The glorious Lord wore a yellow garment and was graced with a musk tilaka upon His forehead. His entire body was anointed with sandalwood paste, His crocodile-shaped earrings swung gently, and His lotus-face bore a tender smile, enchanting multitudes of women. His anklets and waist-bells tinkled melodiously, and He was exquisitely beautiful with His curly locks of hair. Accompanied by sixteen thousand women, He appeared eager for amorous sport. Desiring to perform water-sports, Janārdana, the Lord of the universe, whose eyes were like wide lotuses and whose beauty enchanted the cosmos, descended into the Haridrā river. There, Lord Hari sported, affectionately sprinkling water with a water-squirt. (v.25-30)
Thousands of Gopikās danced and sang along with Him, their bangles and anklets producing a sweet, melodious sound. The forest was filled with the songs of these beloveds of Kṛṣṇa, as they spoke, laughed, and sang repeatedly. Then arose a delightful symphony from the mṛdaṅgas, vīṇās, flutes, and anklets, a sound that brought immense joy to the ears. A state of ecstatic frenzy arose among the women who were embraced and repeatedly kissed by Kṛṣṇa, and lovingly sprinkled with water. (v.31-34)
The entire forest became fragrant with the paste of saffron and sandalwood, with turmeric and kumkuma, and with the waters of the Haridrā. All the hosts of Siddhas in the sky beheld Gopāla, whose chest was marked with the kumkuma from the breasts of the Gopis. They showered down a rain of flowers, and they too danced and sang. In the sky, the celestial beauties, out of eagerness to behold Kṛṣṇa, likewise joined in the celebration. (v.35-37)
Seeing the tired faces of the Gopikās, He, filled with compassion, concluded the pastime and joyfully ascended the riverbank once more. The women, with great affection for one another, retrieved their beautiful clothes and ornaments that had been placed there. The beloved of the Gopikās then took one remaining garment and an earring, and with great love, He wore them, appearing exceedingly beautiful. Thus, Gopāla, the beloved of the Gopikās, was seen there, wearing a single garment around His waist and adorned with a single earring. (v.38-41)
Gobhila beheld Him: whose lotus-feet were adorned with tinkling golden anklets, and who was exceedingly beautiful with a pair of knees like pillars of sapphire. His hips were bound with a girdle of small bells, and He walked with the graceful gait of a tinkling young elephant. His form was charmingly bent in three places (tribhaṅga), and His belly was marked with three folds (trivalī). He wore a golden garment and was endowed with a golden waist-thread, His chest marked with the kumkuma from the breasts of the Gopis. He was adorned with a tiger's claw set in a golden thread and graced by the beautiful Vaijayantī garland swaying upon His chest. Bracelets shone on His arm, which was placed upon Rādhikā's shoulder, and He playfully twirled a lotus in His other lotus-like hand. He was utterly enchanting with the charming expression on His lotus-face, graced with a gentle smile, and was pleased by the glances of the Gopis, drawn by His own side-long glances. Mukunda, from whose nose, which was like a Campaka flower, a pearl was hanging, was also graced with a musk tilaka shining upon His broad forehead. (v.42-48)
Seeing Gopāla—wearing a crown of peacock feathers, with a thicket of curly locks, the delight of the Gopikās, the enhancer of Gokula's joy—Gobhila respectfully fell to the ground, unconscious in ecstasy. Slowly rising, with joy and with eyes filled with tears, he then praised Rājagopāla, the beloved life-breath of Rādhikā. (v.49-50)
Thus ends the twenty-seventh chapter, entitled "The Glory of Campakāraṇya," in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
