Chapter summary
पुरुषोत्तमपुरमाहात्म्यम् Puruṣottama Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Puruṣottamapura
**The Sadguru said:**
In ancient times, within the city of Puṇḍarīkapura, there dwelt a great sage named Vyāghrapāda, who, with his devoted wife, was ever immersed in the worship of Śiva. Their son was Upamanyu, a boy of but five years, pure of heart (sāttvika), endowed with noble character, tranquil in spirit, and deeply affectionate towards his mother. He pursued his studies in the school of Dhaumya, alongside other boys, among whom Uddālaka and Veda were his cherished companions (v.1-3).
However, the guru's wife, swayed by a sense of partiality, offered milk only to her own sons, withholding it from Upamanyu. The young boy, yearning for the sweet taste of milk, approached his mother, weeping and stubbornly pleading for it. The sage's wife, though herself poor and greatly afflicted by sorrow, spoke to Upamanyu with profound compassion, seeking to console him (v.4-6).
**The Sage's wife said:**
"Grieve not, my child, grieve not! You are pure by nature. Devote yourself to study, or engage in play; but do not be stubborn, my boy. It is the children of the wealthy who drink sweet milk. We, alas, dwell in the forest, subsisting on leaves, roots, and fruits. I shall give you flour-paste, my child, or a tuber; do not cry. For if thieves hear the sound of your weeping, they will surely come here" (v.7-9).
**Upamanyu said:**
"There is no wealth in our forest home, Mother. So let the thieves come; what fear do I have today? I desire neither food made of flour, nor fruit, nor tubers. My heart yearns only for sweet cow's milk; that alone, I pray, bestow upon me" (v.10-11).
**The Sage's wife said:**
"Austerity alone is the wealth of us forest-dwellers, my child. Śambhu is pleased by austerity; verily, Śiva is our sole refuge" (v.12).
**Upamanyu said:**
"Who, then, is this Śiva? What is his abode? What may be gained from him? Tell me quickly, Mother. I shall seek him, and surely, he too will grant me milk" (v.13).
**The Sage's wife said:**
"Śiva is the Lord of the Universe, present everywhere. He is Paśupati, the lord of all beings. Worship that Supreme Lord. Behold the bull before him; it will give you milk" (v.14).
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus consoled, the boy, filled with unwavering faith, returned to his preceptor's school and diligently pursued his lessons. Thereafter, Upamanyu, still desiring milk, journeyed to Brahmapura and worshipped Śaṅkara, who was manifest there in the form of a liṅga. Pleased by his profound devotion, Śaṅkara granted him his divine vision, for indeed, firm faith is the means to directly realize Maheśvara (v.15-17). With palms joined in reverence, Upamanyu then offered praise to Śiva—the one with matted locks, three eyes, Śaṅkara, adorned with serpents (v.18).
**Upamanyu said:**
"Salutations to Śiva, the tranquil, the terrible, the one with matted hair. Salutations to the great God, salutations to the Lord of beings. Salutations to you, the eldest, the best, Vāmadeva. Salutations to you, Śarva, Rudra, Sadyojāta. Salutations to you, Aghora; salutations to you, the most terrible of the terrible. Salutations to you, Vīrabhadra; salutations to Bhairava. Salutations to Tatpuruṣa; salutations to you, Puruṣottama. Salutations to you, Parameśa, the Lord of Pārvatī. You are Īśāna, the lord of all knowledge, the Supreme Lord. Grant me pure knowledge, O God of gods, salutations to you" (v.19-23).
**Rudra said:**
"O son of the sage, I know the sentiment residing in your heart. Desiring milk, you weep, deluded by your childish nature. I am indeed Paśupati, and the bull is my vehicle. This ancient bull, however, does not give milk. Come with me; I shall show you the ocean of milk. Drink that milk as you wish; do not grieve, my boy" (v.24-26).
**The Sadguru said:**
Having spoken thus, Lord Śambhu brought the child Upamanyu and revealed to him the very ocean of milk. By the command of the Supreme Lord, Upamanyu drank the sweet milk. His heart was immediately filled with joy, and there, he beheld Viṣṇu (v.27-28). He saw the Lord of the universe, the ancient Puruṣottama, the God holding the conch and discus, accompanied by Goddess Śrī and Goddess Bhū. Beholding Him, dark as a blue lotus petal, clad in divine yellow garments, Upamanyu was exceedingly pleased and praised Him with folded hands (v.29-30).
**Upamanyu said:**
"Salutations to Nārāyaṇa! Salutations to you, Puruṣottama! Salutations to you, Viṣṇu! Salutations to you, Hṛṣīkeśa! Salutations to you, Puṇḍarīkākṣa [lotus-eyed one], of holy fame! Salutations to you, Vāsudeva, God of gods! Be pleased, O beloved of Padmā [Lakṣmī]! Be pleased, O Trivikrama! Be pleased with me, a worthy recipient, O Govinda! Be pleased, O Janārdana!" (v.31-33).
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"You are fortunate, child, for you have obtained my vision. My vision is rare even for sages and gods. Because you first pleased Śiva with firm faith and devotion, therefore I too, by that very grace, have come into your sight" (v.34-35).
**The Sadguru said:**
Having spoken thus, Lord Viṣṇu, Hari, along with Śambhu, disappeared from that very spot, even as the boy watched (v.36). This place in the Chola kingdom became renowned as Kṣīrābdhitīrtha [the sacred water of the milk ocean], on whose bank Lord Puruṣottama graciously resides. By beholding Puruṣottama on the bank of this Kṣīrābdhitīrtha, all attain supreme knowledge, and all their doubts are utterly destroyed (v.37-38).
Here ends the forty-second chapter, titled "The Glory of Puruṣottamapura," in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 42, named "Puruṣottama Pura Māhātmyam", in Tṛtīya Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
