Chapter summary
आदिक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Ādi Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Glory of Ādikṣetra
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
In the Nandana garden, where cool breezes, fragrant from the Pārijāta forest, served him, Śatakratu [Indra] sported with the goddess Śacī. Intoxicated by the fragrance of nectar, the lord of the gods failed to notice the arrival of his father, the sage Kaśyapa. Upon seeing this, the enraged Kaśyapa addressed Pākaśāsana [Indra], though the great sage was later pacified by Aditi, the mother of the gods. (v.1-3)
**Kaśyapa said:**
Arrogance arises in humans from their birth, actions, knowledge, wealth, strength, and youth. A fool, averse to Dharma, increases this arrogance through wine or women, thus wasting his time in vain. (v.4-5) Indeed, in this world, the father and mother are visible deities. It was by worshipping them alone that the Dharma-vyādha [righteous hunter] ascended to heaven. O slayer of Bala [Indra], though you are a god, you disrespect me, your father Kaśyapa. Intoxicated with pride, you shall be displaced from your position! (v.6-7)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Having spoken thus, the enraged great sage Kaśyapa fell silent. Indra, along with the goddess Śacī, bowed again to his father. Urged by Aditi, he properly and respectfully pacified him, contemplating his own transgression in his heart with great distress. (v.8-9)
**Indra said:**
The father is indeed the supreme deity, the supreme guru, the supreme dharma, and the supreme goal. What grateful man would not worship his father, the progenitor, protector, and lord, by whose grace alone all the gods are pleased? What grateful man would not serve his mother and father, by whom this very body was born and by whom he was nourished even in childhood? (v.10-12) O best of sages, I know the greatness of devotion to one's father. Nevertheless, due to my childish nature, I remained silent. Please forgive me. (v.13)
**Kaśyapa said:**
O Indra, you know Dharma, and for that, I am pleased with you. I shall now tell you the essence of Dharma; listen attentively for a moment. For all living beings, Hari is the father, mother, and guru. Take refuge in that same Govinda, the protector of the three worlds. Abandoning the company of women, the drinking of wine, and likewise, worldly gossip, dwell always in the company of the good and perform the worship of the Lord. (v.14-16) There is a highly sacred place, Ādikṣetra, on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī river. There, the lord of serpents, Ādiśeṣa, exists in the form of a tamarind tree. In the shade of that tree, the Lord of the Universe, Ādinātha, the wielder of the conch, discus, and mace, resides along with Śrī. Worship Him, O fortunate one, and you will attain a stable position, for Keśava is the bestower of position to all, even to the gods. (v.17-19)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus instructed by Kaśyapa, the lord of Śacī, with a pleased soul, went to Ādikṣetra and worshipped Mādhava. The Lord Ādinātha, Acyuta, became pleased, and the thousand-eyed one [Indra] praised Him, his speech faltering with love. (v.20-21)
**Indra said:**
Salutations to Him of world-purifying glory, by the chanting of whose name even worldly people, freed from all sins, having attained dispassion, then devotion and discernment, reach the supreme abode. (v.22) Salutations to that Hari, who is difficult for even sages to attain, before whom even ascetics averse to devotion to His feet, householder Brāhmaṇas dedicated to rituals, and those devoted to the eight-limbed yoga, fall into worldly existence. (v.23) Salutations to Him of unconditional glory, whose pair of lotus feet Brahmā and others constantly worship to protect the world, and who Himself removes their fear of demons. (v.24) Salutations to that Hari, who is affectionate to those who take refuge in Him, by firmly grasping whose lotus hand and abandoning even a speck of other means, the surrendered souls cross the ocean of worldly existence quickly with the boat of devotion. (v.25) Salutations to that friend who resides in the heart, attaining whom people are freed from the pain and delusion of birth and death, and knowing their own pure nature, they rejoice in their hearts, having abandoned other gains and objects, fulfilled by their own gain. (v.26)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
He whose lotus face was pleased by the hymn composed by the lord of Śacī, Mādhava, then spoke gently with sweet and affectionate words. (v.27)
**The Lord said:**
O lord of the gods, carelessness is sometimes seen even in the sāttvika [those of pure nature], and likewise, righteousness is sometimes seen in the tāmasika [those of dark nature]. Therefore, without regard for the merits and demerits of worldly beings, which are born of their nature, I bestow only My grace. There is no doubt in this. (v.28-29) Devotion to Me certainly increases good qualities in men. For one who is devoid of devotion to Me, bad qualities increase in the same way. O best of the host of gods, I am pleased with your devotion to your father. For My pleasure, always worship your parents and practice Dharma. (v.30-31)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus addressed by the all-powerful Vishnu, Śacīnātha [Indra], with his hands folded in reverence, joyfully said, "So be it." Having attained a stable and divine position, he went to heaven. The Lord, for the protection of the world, resides in Ādikṣetra. (v.32-33) Who would worship another god, having forsaken that ocean of mercy, who, abandoning His residence in Vaikuṇṭha, has gone to the bank of the Tāmraparṇī? By the grace of Ādinātha, any position obtained becomes stable. It was by His compassion that Purandara [Indra] obtained the stable kingdom of heaven. (v.34-35)
Thus ends the eighteenth chapter, titled "The Glory of Ādikṣetra," in the Fifth Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
