Chapter summary
देवप्रार्थना Deva Prārthanā
The Prayer of the Devas
**The Bhagavatas said:**
O best of Sadgurus, pray tell us of the glory of Śrī Raṅgam Kṣetra, within which all other sacred places are contained. This Śrī Raṅgam, being the supreme origin of all of Viṣṇu's *arcā-avatāras* [deity incarnations], how, from what, when, and from where did this divine form manifest? (v.1-2)
**The Sadguru said:**
O best among the great Bhāgavatas, know that in this world, many self-manifested forms of the Supreme Soul, Śrī Viṣṇu, are present. Indeed, in Śrī Raṅgam, Toṭādri, Śrīmuṣṇam, Veṅkaṭācala, Śrī Kāñcīpuram, Naimiṣāraṇya, Śālagrāma, and Puṣkara, Lord Hari Himself abides in His *svayaṁ-vyakta* [self-manifested] form. Among these, the form known as Śrī Raṅga is, without doubt, the foremost. (v.3-5)
Once, the Devas, Munis, Yogis, and Sātvatas journeyed to the realm of Brahmā, a plane situated above all other worlds. This revered abode, known as Pārameṣṭhya, was attained by the lotus-born Brahmā after worshipping Viṣṇu for thousands upon thousands of *yugas*. It is the very place where Indra and all other Suras, tormented by Daityas and Dānavas, worship the lotus-seated Lord, the grantor of refuge. To this four-faced one, revered by both Suras and Asuras, the Asuras of old resorted, praying for boons through terrible penance. There, in the presence of Brahmā (Vidhi), Sanaka and his brethren, Nārada, and the fourteen Manus engage in profound contemplation on Brahman. (v.6-10)
There resides the deity whose very mouths are the Vedas, whose limbs are all the Śāstras, and whose heart embodies the Upaniṣads. His consort is Vāgdevī (Sarasvatī), renowned as the sixty-four arts, the very embodiment of all knowledge. He is the lord of the three worlds, the silent witness to creation, preservation, and dissolution, for it is during his day that the universe is brought forth, and during his night that it dissolves. The Siddhas, who live for two *parārdhas* [an immense span of time], residing in Tapoloka, Maharloka, and Janaloka, worship him. Empowered by Viṣṇu's *śakti*, he regulates the various office-bearers like Śakra (Indra) and protects the three worlds, ever remaining humble and free from pride. This great Yogi, for the proliferation of creation, brought forth the Brahmarṣis like Marīci and the Prajāpatis like Dakṣa. From his forehead, the three-eyed Rudra himself was born, and from his breath, Varāha, the embodiment of sacrifice, appeared. Through constant meditation on the Lord, every sin of his has been utterly destroyed, and it was he who imparted the pure Bhāgavata Dharma to his son. Such is that greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, the god revered by all other gods, who presides in that exalted realm. (v.11-19)
To that very supreme abode, known as Satyaloka or Pārameṣṭhya, all the Munis, Devas, Siddhas, and Sātvatas duly arrived. There, they beheld the four-faced god, seated upon a divine lotus throne, adorned with a crown and earrings, his face and eyes radiating serenity. His forehead shone with the *Ūrdhva Puṇḍra* [a Vaiṣṇava sectarian mark], and he was deeply absorbed in contemplation of Hari, wearing a garland of lotus seeds and Tulasī, his beard and hair white. He was the grandfather of the worlds, gracious and an ocean of compassion, holding in his hands the book of Bhāgavata, a *japa-mālā* [rosary], a *kamaṇḍalu* [water pot], and a lotus, with Sarasvatī by his side. All the Munis, filled with supreme bliss at this sight, joined their hands in *añjali* [reverential gesture] above their heads and praised the lotus-seated one. (v.20-24)
**The Devas said:**
O Lord, you are beyond the reach of words; thus, you do not deserve praise through mere speech. For the scriptures enjoin, "One should meditate on Brahman with the mind." Therefore, O Lotus-seated one, we do not wish to commit the disrespect of praising you, the Lord of all worlds, who truly transcends the grasp of words. Our salutations to Hiraṇyagarbha, our salutations to you, Vedagarbha. Salutations to Viriñci, Dhātṛ, Vidhātṛ, and Parameṣṭhin. Salutations to you, Vāgīśa (Lord of Speech), salutations, O Lotus-seated one. Salutations to the Grandfather of the worlds, the primeval one, the self-born. Eternal salutations to you, the unborn, the lord of the worlds, the Yogi. Salutations to Brahman, the God of gods, and the ruler of Satyaloka. We have merely offered our salutations, not praise; for we are afraid to praise you, O Lord of the worlds, knowing full well that you are indeed beyond the reach of words. (v.25-30)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus praised and bowed to, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, that ocean of mercy, the eternal one from whom the Vedas are born, himself spoke. (v.31)
**Brahma said:**
Welcome to you, O fortunate ones! What service may I render unto you today? Know that I perform everything in this world solely as inspired by Viṣṇu. He is the inner controller of all, including myself, O best of Suras. He alone causes actions to be performed; we, O Suras, are not the true doers. Therefore, abandoning the notions of 'I' and 'mine' and following His divine command, one should worship that Supreme Lord alone through one's own *dharma*. Now, tell me quickly today, O Sātvatas and Devas, how do you worship the Lord of the Universe? I am eager to hear it. (v.32-35)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus questioned by Brahmā (Vedhas) that day, Nārada and the other Sātvatas, Indra (Purandara) and the other Devas, the Yogis like Sanaka, the Jñānis like Vyāsa's son (Śuka), and Viṣṇu's attendants like Viṣvaksena, as well as the Sādhyas and the ancient, eternal Devas, all spoke to Brahmā separately, each greatly delighted. (v.36-37)
**The Attendants of Vaikuṇṭha said:**
In the supreme realm of Vaikuṇṭha, we worship the eternal Vāsudeva, the everlasting, imperishable, supreme Brahman. (v.38)
**The Jñānis said:**
We worship Viṣṇu who is all-pervading, devoid of name and form, non-different from our own self, and free from all distinctions. (v.39)
**The Yogis said:**
We worship the one who is dear to devotees, who possesses a non-material, conscious form, holding the conch, discus, and mace, both in the space between the eyebrows and in the heart. (v.40)
**The Ṛṣis said:**
We worship the imperishable Lord Acyuta, the lotus-eyed one, who resides in the center of the solar orb and is the very meaning of the supreme Gāyatrī mantra. (v.41)
**The Devas said:**
We worship Viṣṇu, who reclines on the ocean of milk, Hari, the remover of the afflictions of the surrendered, the bestower of boons, the most excellent Lord of the worlds. (v.42)
**The Bhaktas said:**
We worship that Lord whose hearing and chanting are meritorious, who performs auspicious deeds in forms such as Rāma and Kṛṣṇa. (v.43)
**The Sadguru said:**
Hearing thus their various modes of worship, the creator (Brahmā), his eyes filled with tears, meditated deeply on Viṣṇu Himself. Then all the Devas, with hands joined in supplication and resolved on the welfare of all the worlds, spoke to him. (v.44-45)
**The Devas said:**
O Lord, O Master of all worlds! We worship the eternal Supreme Lord, and we are indeed blessed, of this there is no doubt. But for the sinners in the mortal world, who flounder in the ocean of worldly existence and are unable to perform penance, how can the vision of Viṣṇu be attained? (v.46-47)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus asked, Lord Brahmā, that ocean of mercy, for the upliftment of the fallen, set out and reached the ocean of milk. (v.48)
Thus ends the second chapter, titled "The Prayer of the Devas," in the Fourth Part of the *Divyadeśavaibhavam*, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
