Chapter summary
निधिवनमाहात्म्यम् Nidhi Vana Māhātmyam
The Blessed Guru spoke: Once, in the illustrious city of Alakā, shone Kubera, the foremost among the Yakṣas and the king Vaiśravaṇa, ever attended by his nine divine treasures, the Nidhis. Gods, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, Kinnaras, and Apsarases alike served this magnificent king, whose eyes, bewildered by the intoxication of Vāruṇī liquor, delighted in sporting with beautiful women amidst the fragrant Saugandhika forest (v.1-3).
One day, having journeyed to the peak of Kailāsa and received the auspicious *darśana* of Lord Śiva, Kubera was returning when, at that very moment, the divine sage Durvāsā arrived. Swollen with the pride of his wealth, the arrogant chief of the Yakṣas neither honored the sage nor offered him words of welcome. The best of sages, his eyes reddened with anger, then cursed him. Though forgiving by nature, Durvāsā acted thus solely to impart a lesson to the Yakṣa, and for no other reason (v.4-6).
**Durvāsā spoke:**
"The God of gods, Lord Vāsudeva, the husband of Śrī, though supreme, ever humbly serves the Brahmins who are masters of the Vedas. And She, by a mere fraction of whose glance a poor man becomes wealthy—that very Lakṣmī constantly serves the lotus feet of Viṣṇu (v.7-8). You all have been appointed as world-protectors in your respective domains, yet indeed, Govinda is the true controller, the Supreme Lord of all. Unfortunate souls, even after attaining a high position through prior penance, fall again from heaven due to pride, just as Nahuṣa did (v.9-10). Pride is the greatest fault; humility is the highest virtue. He who is discontent is a miser; he who is rich in virtues is truly called rich. For one devoid of virtue, all wealth will surely be lost, but a virtuous man, even without wealth, lives happily in every way (v.11-12). Through wealth, all vices come to a man on their own; therefore, a wise person should renounce wealth and acquire virtues. Since you, intoxicated with wealth, have shown disrespect, may you therefore become poor, so that humility may arise on its own" (v.13-14).
**The Blessed Guru spoke:**
Thus cursed by the sage who had arrived by chance, the king of the Yakṣas was astonished and, out of fear, folded his hands in supplication. He was unable to pacify the extremely wrathful sage. Considering the fault to be his own, the lord stood there, filled with shame (v.15-16). From that time onwards, the nine treasures, abandoning Kubera, went to a forest on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī river and began to worship Viṣṇu. Kubera, having become a wretched and greatly afflicted man in the world, went to the peak of Kailāsa and submitted his plight to Śaṅkara (v.17-18).
**Kubera spoke:**
"Be pleased, Lord Śambhu! Be pleased, Supreme Lord! O Śrīkaṇṭha, Śiva, Lord of the worlds, destroy my poverty! It was by the power of your worship that I obtained supreme wealth and, ever honored by the gods, I lived in the city of Alakā. By the curse of Durvāsā, who had arrived by chance, I have obtained the misery of poverty and am now suffering, O Lord with the bull banner!" (v.19-21). Kubera continued, "In this world, no one honors a man without wealth. His wife does not attend to him, nor does his son serve him. All his relatives condemn and laugh at a man without wealth. Righteous conduct comes from wealth; a happy life comes from wealth. All kinsmen come from wealth; supreme fame comes from wealth. For a man without wealth, his entire life becomes sorrowful" (v.22-24). "Therefore, a householder should always strive to acquire wealth. O Maheśvara, O Śiva, please kindly tell me the way to regain my nine lost treasures" (v.25).
**Śiva spoke:**
"Welcome to you, great king! Do not grieve, O wise one. Listen carefully to my words, O leader of the Yakṣas. One should accomplish Dharma with wealth; one should accomplish Kāma with wealth. Therefore, the purpose of wealth is for this; otherwise, it is indeed a calamity" (v.26-27). Śiva further explained, "Wealth, on its own, indifferently abandons one who is devoid of righteous conduct, who is greedy, lustful, and of bad character. Great wealth, on its own, goes to a man who is endowed with learning and humility, who is devoted to his own *dharma*, and who is enthusiastic and diligent" (v.28-29). "On the bank of the river Tāmraparṇī, there is an excellent sacred place. There, the nine treasures are worshipping Hari Viṣṇu. Know that very Viṣṇu to be the supreme hidden treasure. By taking refuge in Him alone, a poor man will quickly become wealthy. Go there, see Govinda, and worship Him according to the prescribed rites. You will regain your wealth, and your poverty will be destroyed" (v.30-32).
**The Blessed Guru spoke:**
Thus instructed by Śambhu, the Yakṣa went to the bank of the Tāmravatī [another name for Tāmraparṇī]. Going to Nidhivana, he saw the Lord Hari there. He beheld Govinda reclining on the serpent couch, radiant as a sapphire, with arms reaching his knees, and adorned with all ornaments. Hari, who bore the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem, was clad in yellow silk, His lotus eyes serene, and His lotus face bore a gentle smile (v.33-35). His lotus feet were being joyfully caressed by Śrī and Bhūmi, and He was being served by the best of gods, their hands folded in reverence above their heads. Seeing the Primeval Person, his eyes moist with tears, the humble Kubera, with folded hands, began to pray (v.36-37).
**Kubera spoke:**
"O Lord, it is by Your grace alone that the hosts of gods, led by Brahmā, remain in their positions and carry out Your commands. This world, protected by those servants of Yours, is sustained, and they too are happy due to the sidelong glance of Kamalā [Lakṣmī] (v.38). That Kamalā, who resides on Your chest, though ever fickle, never leaves You, O Lotus-Eyed One! Therefore, by Your grace alone, through being seen by Ramā [Lakṣmī], even the wretched in this world become wealthy (v.39). That very Lakṣmī, by relying on whose glance even the hosts of gods led by Śakra obtain wealth—she herself, ever-constant, worships only You, the sinless one. Who else in this world is a greater lord and more magnanimous than You? (v.40). O poets, abandoning You—the wealthy one, the refuge of the afflicted, an ocean of compassion, the giver, a wish-fulfilling tree for Your dependents, the infallible Lord, who stands nearby with a smiling face and speaks softly—they serve those who are blinded by the wicked pride of wealth! (v.41). Those who know in their hearts that You alone are the eternal wealth, ever-present, bestower of good, and destroyer of fear and sorrow—they are truly rich. They find contentment and attain peace. Others wander the world for the sake of acquiring wealth (v.42). I, whose mind is veiled by Your Māyā in this world, having attained You who are easily accessible to Your servants, a true friend, and grateful—am now shamelessly praying for that very thing (wealth). O Lord, grant it to me at once, O Deva! (v.43). You know my heart, O Acyuta, Lord of the worlds! O Master, forgive this offense of mine. O merciful one, remember in Your heart this poor soul, who has come to this place which is the final resort for devotees who desire wealth (v.44). O Lord of the afflicted, having obtained the status of the Lord of Wealth in the presence of You, the Blessed Lord of the Universe, whose glory is natural, boundless, and immeasurable, I have become poor. Bestow Your glance upon me always" (v.45).
**The Supreme Lord spoke:**
"Fear not, O king of Yakṣas! Go to your city of Alakā. The nine treasures will come to you there, there is no doubt. O master of treasures, if pride arises in anyone's mind because of wealth, I take away both his wealth and his pride. O wise one, you are the lord of the nine treasures. Being humble, enjoy worldly pleasures and perform your *dharma* with faith" (v.46-48).
**The Blessed Guru spoke:**
Thus addressed by Viṣṇu, the Yakṣa, upon reaching his city again, was at once regained by the nine treasures. For those who behold the Lord of Ramā, the repository of compassion, in this sacred place, their wealth is not diminished; indeed, it is only their debt that is diminished (v.49-50).
Here ends the sixteenth chapter, titled "The Glory of Nidhivana," in the Fifth Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 16, named "Nidhi Vana Māhātmyam", in Pañcama Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
