Chapter summary
केदारक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Kedāra Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Glory of Kedāra Kṣetra
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
In ancient times, the revered sages, considering the Aśvins to be mere physicians, withheld the sacred Soma from them during sacrificial rites. This caused the divine twins great sorrow. Thus aggrieved, they journeyed to Satyaloka, the abode of Brahmā, the lord of all worlds, and, bowing reverently, presented their appeal before him. (v.1-2)
**The Aśvins spoke:**
"Salutations to you, O great God, O Lord enthroned upon the lotus! We implore you, O Four-faced one, to hear our prayer and show us your grace. O Brahman, there are the eight Vasus, the eleven well-known Rudras, and likewise the twelve Ādityas; and we two are the Aśvins. Thus, the Vedas declare thirty-three divine beings, O Lord. Surely, we are all equal and equally deserving of a share in the sacrifice. Yet, the sages, deeming us mere physicians, withhold the Soma from us in the sacrificial rites, causing us profound grief. By your grace, may our right to Soma be established. To perceive distinction among the gods is, without doubt, a sin." (v.3-7)
**Brahmā spoke:**
"Indeed, you two are gods among all other gods. Nevertheless, it is also true that you are physicians, a status considered lower, there is no doubt. Even I lack the authority to grant you this share of Soma. There is only one supreme Lord of the Vedas, of Vedic followers, and of all sacrifices. He is the great Viṣṇu, knowable through the Vedas, the sovereign Lord of all worlds, the beloved consort of Śrī. Taking refuge in Him alone, you shall obtain your rightful share of the Soma. Lord Hari sports with Ramā (Lakṣmī) on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī river, within the sacred precincts of Kedāra Kṣetra, amidst verdant fields and meadows. Go there, and with utmost devotion, worship the Lord of Lakṣmī. The Lord of sacrifices, who is Himself worshipped in all sacrifices, will surely fulfill your desire." (v.8-12)
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Thus addressed, the divine Aśvins, filled with delight, descended to the earth. Separately, they worshipped the Lord on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī. With profound devotion, they created the Aśvinī Tīrtha on its bank, installed two idols of Viṣṇu, the Lord of Sacrifices, and worshipped Janārdana, the God of gods, with fervent devotion. Then, the lotus-eyed Lord Devanātha, with compassionate grace, spoke sweet, consoling words to the Aśvins. (v.13-15)
**The Blessed Lord spoke:**
"I am pleased by your unwavering faith and devotion, O foremost among celestials. I shall arrange for your drinking of Soma in the sacrifice; there is no doubt. There is a king named Śaryāti, whose daughter is Sukanyā. Accompanied by her companions, she played near the hermitage of the sage Cyavana. Unknowing, she perceived a glimmer of light, the eyes of the sage, deep within an anthill. Puzzled, the innocent girl pierced them with a thorn. The sage, instantly enraged, emerged swiftly from the anthill. Terrified, she prostrated herself before him. That preeminent sage then demanded the maiden from the king, and the king, fearing a curse, gave his beautiful daughter to him. She serves her aged and often wrathful husband with unwavering devotion each day. Her steadfast wifely fidelity has greatly pleased Me. Therefore, by bestowing youth and eternal beauty upon Sukanyā's husband, you shall assuredly attain your right to partake of the Soma. Indeed, by My command, the wise Cyavana, foremost among sages, delighted by the youth you shall bestow upon him, will arrange for your Soma libation." (v.16-23)
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Thus dispatched by the Lord, the Nāsatyas (Aśvins) journeyed to the sage Cyavana and conveyed the divine command of Lord Viṣṇu. In his own sacrifice, Cyavana prepared to offer the Soma oblation to the Aśvins. However, Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, king of the gods and husband of Śacī, sought to obstruct him. But the ascetic, by his inherent power, paralyzed Indra's arm, and thus, by Viṣṇu's command, Cyavana successfully offered the Soma to the Aśvins. Upon the completion of that sacrifice, the Aśvins, acceding to Sukanyā's earnest request, bestowed their own youthful form upon the sage. Delighted by Sukanyā's profound devotion to her husband, and having finally secured their right to drink Soma, the Aśvins returned to their celestial abode. (v.24-28)
King Śaryāti, a descendant of Manu, beheld his son-in-law's youth miraculously restored and was filled with utter amazement, exclaiming, "How can this be? How?" Sukanyā then recounted the wondrous greatness of Cyavana, and the king, too, felt deep contentment, for righteousness had been upheld. Even to this day, Lord Hari, ever worshipped by the Aśvins, is seen there. The Lord manifests in two forms upon the auspicious bank of the Tāmraparṇī. Whoever beholds that lotus-eyed Devanātha is freed from all ailments and attains youth, just as Cyavana did. (v.29-32)
Thus the fourteenth chapter, named 'The Glory of Kedāra Kṣetra', in the Fifth Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
