Chapter summary
गोसखक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Gosakha Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Greatness of Gosakhakṣetra
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Formerly, there lived a mighty king named Vasu, who, adhering to the Vaiṣṇava dharma, ruled the earth with great power. He worshipped the Lord Nārāyaṇa through sacrifices and rituals, offering *puroḍāśa* – a sacred sacrificial cake – to Hari, who is the very soul of all gods. This rite of offering *puroḍāśa* in a sacrifice is considered superior to animal sacrifice, and indeed, it is the prescribed dharma for Vaiṣṇavas, beyond any doubt. (v.1-3)
Pleased by this devotion, Viṣṇu, the wielder of the conch, discus, and mace, the ocean of mercy, revealed His own divine form within the sacrificial fire pit. King Vasu, the foremost among great devotees, immediately exclaimed, "Oh, behold Govinda! Behold Him!" Hearing this, all the officiating priests and sages were astonished and, filled with doubt, angrily addressed the king in the assembly. (v.4-6)
**The Sages said:**
"O King," the sages declared, "we cannot place our faith in these words of yours. Why is Viṣṇu not visible to us ascetics here? Leaving aside us Brahmins, who are endowed with good conduct and have mastered the Vedas, how is it that Govinda has come into your line of sight alone?" (v.7-8)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
As King Vasu stood astonished by these words, Mādhava Himself, the very embodiment of the sacrifice, spoke to the great sages with a bold voice. (v.9)
**Śrī Bhagavān said:**
"I, who am ever-affectionate to My devotees, cannot be attained by Sāṅkhya philosophy, by Yoga, by austerity, by vows, or by Vedic rituals alone. While the successful fruition of these meritorious deeds may certainly be achieved, My direct vision is rare in this world, even for the most accomplished sages. I am easily attained through the profound devotion of this initiated king. You, however, do not possess such devotion, which is of the nature of pure love (*prema*)." (v.10-12)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Hearing the Lord's words, the sages praised the king, acknowledging, "Devotion to Viṣṇu is exceedingly difficult to attain, even for sages and gods." When the sacrifice was completed, the gods, greatly pleased, manifested before them and bestowed upon the king a divine chariot, enabling him to travel everywhere at will. Mounting this sky-faring chariot, the king moved about in the celestial realms, and thus, by Viṣṇu's grace, he shone victorious in all directions. (v.13-15)
One day, as the great King Vasu journeyed through the sky, he was overcome with astonishment to find his chariot inexplicably stopped in its path. To ascertain the reason, he descended in the chariot and there, to his wonder, he beheld Govinda, the friend of cows (*Gosakha*), in the form of a cowherd. He was dark as a blue lotus petal, with eyes as large as lotuses, wearing divine yellow garments, and his neck was adorned with the radiant Kaustubha gem. Beautiful, with a lovely face, the scion of Śūra, worshipped by gods and demons, He was wandering on the bank of the Sahyajātī [the river Kāverī] and grazing a cow. (v.16-19)
Seeing Him, the king immediately bowed down with profound love and, with eyes filled with tears, addressed the Lord. (v.20)
**Vasu said:**
"O Govinda, O Lord," Vasu implored, "tell me, why have You left the bank of the Yamunā and come to the bank of the Kāverī to graze a cow? Surely, O Mādhava, it is to grant me Your vision that You have appeared in this cowherd form, thus becoming perceptible and coming into my sight." (v.21-22)
**Śrī Bhagavān said:**
"O great king," Śrī Bhagavān replied, "listen with an attentive mind to My divine play. I shall tell you today why I am wandering on the surface of the earth. Formerly, on the peak of Kailāsa, Maheśvara, the blue-throated one, desiring to see Me in the form of a cowherd, performed great penance. He was seated in the lotus posture, his gaze fixed on the tip of his nose, meditating on Me, Kṛṣṇa, the performer of effortless deeds, in My cowherd form. Pārvatī, who is fond of jesting and ever devoted to play, not knowing the gravity of his meditation, quietly went behind him. With her lotus-like hands, she covered her husband's eyes. At that very moment, the enraged Rudra cursed My sister." (v.23-27)
**Rudra said:**
"You bring darkness to all living beings," Rudra thundered. "Indeed, by your very nature, you are the insurmountable Māyā of Viṣṇu. Nevertheless, how can your play create delusion in me, who am the embodiment of knowledge? You do not know my glory. One devoid of knowledge is an animal (*paśu*) in this world. O beautiful one, become an animal! By Govinda's grace, you shall again attain my side." (v.28-30)
**Śrī Bhagavān said:**
"Thus addressed by Rudra, that goddess became an animal and wandered on earth, O King, in the forest on the bank of the Kāverī. Then, full of compassion, I came to protect her, and also with the desire to grant My vision to Rudra in My cowherd form. O king, I wander here, grazing My sister Gaurī, who is wandering in the form of a cow in this forest. Desiring to see Me thus, wandering in the form of a cowherd, Śiva came into My presence, his desire fulfilled. Then, having regained Pārvatī, who was previously cursed through this divine play and was now freed from the curse, Maheśvara returned to his abode. And again, O king, to show Myself to you, My devotee, I wander before you, having assumed that very same form. Since you asked with love, My story has been told to you. I shall remain here in the form of an icon as long as the moon and sun endure. O King, build a temple here with a magnificent *vimāna* [temple tower], and with faith, perform the daily and occasional festivals." (v.31-38)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus commanded by Viṣṇu in His cowherd form, the king quickly built a temple complete with a great *maṇḍapa* [pillared hall]. Performing the festivals, filled with supreme bliss, and having received Viṣṇu's grace, he returned to his own city. In this way, whoever worships Viṣṇu, the friend of cows, with devotion, will become victorious everywhere, just like King Uparicara. (v.39-41)
Here ends the thirtieth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Gosakhakṣetra', in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 30, named "Gosakha Kṣetra Māhātmyam", in Tṛtīya Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
