Chapter summary
श्रीरङ्गनाथप्रह्यसंवादः Śrī Raṅganātha Prahlāda Saṃvādaḥ
The Dialogue between Śrī Raṅganātha and Brahmā
**The Holy Preceptor said:**
Jagannātha, whose essence is revealed by the Vedas and whose countenance is adorned with a gentle smile, turned His gaze upon Vedhas [Brahmā], who embodies the very form of the Vedas, and addressed him with sweet words. (v.1)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"O Kamalāsana [lotus-seated one], reveal to Me the purpose for which I have been summoned. I am the bestower of boons, and having arrived, I shall certainly grant your desires." (v.2)
**Brahmā said:**
"O Jagannātha, Bhagavān, Puruṣottama! While the eternally liberated souls in Vaikuṇṭha, the gods in the Ocean of Milk, the sages within the solar orb, and the yogis in the depths of their hearts behold You, and while all humans witness Your various incarnations in their appointed eras, I ponder: how are You to be worshipped at all times by all human beings in this dreadful Kali Yuga, especially by those who lack discrimination?" (v.3-5)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"O Caturānana [four-faced one], I am nameless, formless, and pure consciousness, pervading all existence. For this reason, the virtuous know Me as 'Viṣṇu'. I am the Puruṣa with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet; as the very form of the Cosmic Person, the Virāṭpuruṣa, I am celebrated as 'Viśvarūpa', the Universal Form. All living beings are called 'nara', and 'nāra' signifies their multitude. Since I am their ultimate abode and goal, their 'ayana', I am known as 'Nārāyaṇa'. This entire universe is enveloped by Me, whose essence is pure consciousness. The wise perceive Me in this manner, and thus I am called 'Vāsudeva'." (v.6-9)
"My eternal, transcendental form resides in Vaikuṇṭha. In the Ocean of Milk, O Caturānana, I abide as emanations, known as Vyūhas. In this way, as the Self of all, I dwell within every being, and in My Avatāras [incarnations], I assume glorious Vibhava forms. But in the Kali age, I shall take the form of a worshipful image, an Arcā, in temples and homes, making Myself visible to all people." (v.10-12)
**Brahmā said:**
"O Puruṣottama, in which sacred waters and holy places do You reside, and in what specific forms? Please reveal this to me, O Lord." (v.13)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"In this very Raṅga Vimāna, I reside as Raṅganātha, where all people behold Me, the Lord, reclining upon the serpent couch. (v.14) In the sacred Badarikāśrama, I eternally dwell on the Himālaya mountain as Nārāyaṇa, accompanied by Nara. (v.15) At Śālagrāma, I reside in the form of the Śālagrāma stone, where great-souled Brahmins worship Me, who assume various forms. (v.16) In Puṣkara, I, the Supreme Person, reside in the form of water, and all people there perpetually worship Me as Tīrtha-Nārāyaṇa. (v.17) In Naimiṣa, O Caturānana, I reside as the very forest itself, and there, ascetics perform their penance, taking refuge in Me." (v.18)
"I am Rāghava in Ayodhyā and Mādhava in Mathurā, where I reside on the banks of the Yamunā as Rādhā-Mādhava. In Prayāga, I am Veṇī-Mādhava; in Vārāṇasī, Bindu-Mādhava; and on the Setu [Rameswaram], Setu-Mādhava. In Gayā, I reside as Śrī Gadādhara, while in Avantī [Ujjain], at the place called Aṅkapāda, one should behold Rāma and Janārdana. The Teacher of the Gītā is to be seen in Kurukṣetra, Hari in Haridvāra, and Dvārakeśa, of auspicious form, in Dvārakā." (v.19-22)
"In Śaṅkhoddhāra, one should behold Śaṅkhapāṇi [He who holds the conch]; in Prabhāsa, Puruṣottama; in Nīlācala [Puri], My wooden form, the Dāru-rūpa; in Śrīkūrmam, My tortoise incarnation; and in Sahyādri, O Caturmukha, My form as the Sahya mountain itself. (v.23) I am Nṛsiṁha in Ahobila and Śrīnivāsa in Veṅkaṭa [Tirumala]. I am Varada [the bestower of boons] in Śrī Kāñcī and Nṛsiṁha in Ghaṭikācala. (v.24) In Kairaviṇī [Tiruvallikeni], I am Kṛṣṇa; in Kṛṣṇapura [Tirukkovilur], Trivikrama. I am Devanātha on Garuḍādri [Thiruvahindrapuram] and Govinda in Citrakūṭa. (v.25) I am Varāha in Śrīmuṣṇam and Śauri in Kaṇvapura [Thirukkannapuram]. As Nārāyaṇa, I reside in Nāgapurī [Thirunagai], O Caturānana. (v.26) In Kumbhakoṇam, I am Śārṅgapāṇi, and in Tulasīvana, the Incomparable One. I reside in the form of Kṛṣṇa in the five Kṛṣṇāraṇyas [forests of Krishna]. (v.27) In Campakāraṇya [Mannargudi], I am Gopāla, sporting with the Gopīs. I am Nṛsiṁha in Tañjapurī [Thanjavur] and Sundara [the beautiful one] in Bāṇapurī. (v.28) On Śvetādri [Thiruvellarai], I am Puṇḍarīkākṣa [the lotus-eyed one], and in Kadamba, Puruṣottama. I am Satyanātha on Satyādri [Thirumeyyam] and the gentle Saumya in Goṣṭhīpura [Thirukoshtiyur]. (v.29) As Sundarabāhu [He with beautiful arms], I perpetually sport on Vṛṣādri [Thirumalirunsolai]. I am Keśava in Dhanvipurī, and I reside upon the banyan leaf, the Vaṭapattra, in Srivilliputhur." (v.30)
"O Lord, on the banks of the Tāmraparṇī river, in the nine sacred sites known as Nava Tirupati, I eternally reside in nine distinct forms, of this there is no doubt. I am Vāsudeva in Totādri [Vanamamalai], worshipped by all the gods, and on Mahendrādri, I am Pūrṇa [the complete one], of glorious valour. In Anantavana [Trivandrum], I am Padmanābha, and in Valkala [Varkala], Janārdana. Indeed, I reside in various places throughout the regions of Kerala. (v.31-33) In Nārāyaṇapura [Melkote], I likewise bear the form of Nārāyaṇa, residing in that great holy place, ever dedicated to the protection of My devotees. Similarly, in Puṇḍarīkapura [Pandharpur], I am known as Pāṇḍuraṅga, and on the banks of the Bhīmarathī, O Brahmā, I constantly sport with My devotees." (v.34-35)
"In countless holy places, I assume diverse forms, making Myself visible even to sinners, for I am ever intent on bestowing grace upon My devotees. O Caturānana, it is for the upliftment of heretics and sinful people that I reside in the form of the Arcāvatāra [worshipful image]. Even sinners will fearlessly approach My temples, where they will behold Me, the Lord of the Universe, the purifier of the fallen. Indeed, all people in all My holy places shall be liberated from their sins by the mere sight of the temple tower, the Gopura; of this, there is no doubt." (v.36-39)
Here ends the sixth chapter, titled "The Dialogue between Śrī Raṅganātha and Brahmā," in the Fourth Part of the "Divya Desa Vaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 6, named "Śrī Raṅganātha Prahlāda Saṃvādaḥ", in Caturtha Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
