Chapter summary
तोताद्रिमाहात्म्यम् Totādri Māhātmyam
The Sadguru said:
A sage named Kushasana, son of Galava, dedicated himself to a most severe penance, absorbed in meditation upon Lord Vishnu. Each morning, after performing his ritual ablutions in the waters of the Sindhu river according to scriptural injunctions, he would meticulously worship Vishnu upon a sacred Śālagrāma stone. (v.1-2)
One day, this eminent ascetic prepared rice for the sacred offering (naivedya), placed it in a vessel, and then departed to perform his midday rites. At that very moment, the glorious and noble King of Sindhu, wandering alone in the forests with his bow, engaged in a deer hunt, arrived upon the scene. The king, afflicted by hunger and thirst, weary, exhausted, and distressed, discovered the deserted hermitage and the inviting sight of the excellent rice. (v.3-5)
Beholding the food, he mused: "This pure rice of the Śāli grain, placed here in a bronze vessel, drenched in ghee, fit for the gods, well-cooked and like nectar—by whom was it placed here? Was it left by chance by some Brahmin, or by a god, or a Siddha, or perhaps by a deceptive Rākṣasa? Seeing this food suddenly in this deserted great forest, an extreme curiosity has arisen within my stomach, which is weary with hunger. Be that as it may, my stomach is weary with hunger. I shall eat this food with delight and sustain my life." (v.6-9)
Thinking thus, the King of Sindhu partook of the supreme sacred food. Just then, the Brahmin Kushasana returned to his hermitage. Seeing the offering meant for Vishnu consumed by the king, the great sage, becoming exceedingly angry, immediately pronounced a curse upon him. (v.10-11)
**Kushasana said:**
"O King, because you entered this secluded place like a dog and freely ate the sacred food of Vishnu, you shall become a dog! Indeed, he who eats excellent rice without first offering it to Vishnu shall become a dog and wander from house to house in the world, begging for food." (v.12-13)
**The King of Sindhu said:**
"O king of Yogis, forgive my offense, committed out of ignorance by one who, bewildered by the pangs of hunger, entered your hermitage. O great sage, tell me the remedy for this sin. By misfortune, I went to the hermitage and committed an offense against Vishnu." (v.14-15)
**Kushasana said:**
"On the bank of the Tāmraparṇī river, there is a sacred bathing place, born of a lotus, frequented by sages and renowned as the destroyer of all sins. By bathing in it, O great king, you will be instantly purified. Freed from the curse, you will regain your kingdom, of this there is no doubt." (v.16-17)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus addressed, the King of Sindhu became a dog in the forest. He wandered here and there, from village to village and from forest to forest. A certain entertainer took him and, raising him with affection, roamed the world, displaying tricks through his own magic. (v.18-19)
Journeying to the bank of the Tāmraparṇī, the entertainer discovered a wondrous forest. There, he beheld a pond teeming with lotuses. In its waters, he and his retinue quenched their heat. And that dog, upon merely drinking the water, immediately became a king again, a truly astonishing sight! (v.20-21)
All were struck with wonder and amazement. Seeing that dog transformed into a king, they were overjoyed and inquired about this supreme marvel. Then the King of Sindhu narrated his own story, and after bathing in that pond, he returned to his own kingdom. (v.22-23)
Hearing the glory of that sacred water place from the mouth of the King of Sindhu, the great sage Romasha also came there to perform penance. On the bank of the Pankaja-tīrtha [Lotus Pond], the great sage performed penance with firm vows, constantly chanting the eight-syllabled mantra, the knowledge of Brahman. Subsisting on withered leaves and air, seated amidst the five fires, he performed various kinds of penance, eager for the vision of Vishnu. (v.24-26)
Determined to cause a break in his penance, Indra, the king of the gods, sent Urvaśī and Tilottamā. They beheld a forest filled with various flowers, where the gentle spring breeze and the Malaya wind carried the joyous sounds of cuckoos and the sweet speech of mynas and parrots. It was frequented by herds of deer, brilliant with the dance of peacocks, and captivating even to sages at first sight. Reaching that beautiful forest, where Kāma [the god of love] was engaged in hunting, which was intoxicating to men and women and resplendent with the pomp of love, the two celestial damsels saw the sage Romasha seated there, with his eyes closed, exceedingly peaceful, and absorbed in meditation on Mādhava. (v.27-31)
They tried to enchant him by displaying various emotions, and by awakening him with song, music, and dance. Seeing the celestial ladies, the sage, with pleased eyes, who had conquered anger and his senses, spoke sweet words. (v.32-33)
**Romasha said:**
"Welcome to you, Tilottamā! Welcome to you, Urvaśī! I am an ascetic of firm vows. What pleasant thing can I do for you both? Unaware of my power, you two, sent by Mahendra, have come near me for the very purpose of enchanting me. O ladies, I know everything by the power of Janārdana's grace. Therefore, I do not curse you. Return to your abode. In my heart dwells Vishnu Himself, the Lord of the celestial realm (Vaikuṇṭha). How can that supreme abode of Vishnu be assailed?" (v.34-37)
**The Sadguru said:**
Seeing his self-control thus, Lord Hari, the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, Himself appeared before him. The sage beheld the Lord seated on the serpent Ananta, with a complexion like a rain cloud, lotus-eyed, an ocean of mercy, accompanied by Ramā (Lakshmi) and Bhūmi. He held the conch and discus, peaceful, the refuge of all, the bestower of fearlessness; Janārdana, seated with His own hand placed on His lap. He graciously called His hosts of devotees, the bestower of boons; showing His own lotus foot as the refuge with His own hand. Bearing the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem, self-manifested with four arms; wearing yellow garments, with a pleased countenance and eyes like lotuses. Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Brahman, adorned with various ornaments; being fanned with white chāmaras by Tilottamā and Urvaśī. (v.38-43)
Seeing Vishnu, the God of gods, the Lord of the universe, Romasha, with eyes full of tears and his body thrilled with horripilation, praised Him. (v.44)
**Romasha said:**
"Victory, victory to You, O conqueror of all worlds! You are conquered by Your devotees who have conquered their senses. O ocean of mercy, how can one conquer Kāma, that unbearable enemy, without remembering You?" (v.45)
"Your divine form is pure Sattva, supreme, holy, consisting of pure bliss, and exceedingly beautiful. Having seen it within the house of my heart, how can there be delight in anything else?" (v.46)
"Even those who have conquered desire and have controlled their senses fall again into the blind well of anger. Therefore, even sages, bewildered, pronounce curses. Your Māyā, consisting of the three Guṇas, is indeed difficult to overcome. Some mortals, having conquered desire and anger, become deluded by pride. Everywhere I see only Your divine play. O Vishnu, grant me a humble disposition." (v.47-48)
"'I will perform penance, and I will surely obtain its fruit through my own effort'—O Mukunda, O Primeval God, You test the strength of sages who think thus. But for those men who take refuge thus: 'I am destitute, I have no power of penance; You alone, O ocean of mercy, protect me!'—You bear the burden of their protection on Your own head." (v.49-50)
"Abandoning You, such a kinsman who has come to them, a great ocean of compassion, those who seek other refuges obtain sorrow, and birth and death again and again. Having Yourself assumed the form of an icon (Archā), O Lord, You reign in the Divya Deśam [a sacred Vishnu temple]. Yet, foolish and unfortunate people on earth abandon You and take refuge in others." (v.51-52)
"But those who, taking hold of this lotus foot of Yours, are liberated from the mire of the well of worldly existence, they are indeed the fortunate ones on earth. For such people, there is no more sorrow. O Vishnu, O ocean of mercy, residing right here, please be gracious, forgetting the sins committed by men, You who are ever adept at granting the desires even of those tainted by the Kali age." (v.53-54)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus praised by the ascetic Romasha, the Lord of the worlds, Hari, who is of the form of a Śālagrāma, took up His abode right there. That self-manifested Kṣetra [sacred place] is chief among them, supremely purifying, frequented by hosts of great sages, and situated on the bank of the Tāmraparṇī. (v.55-56)
By the command of Vishnu, Viśvakarmā, the best of the gods, built a divine city by the name of Śrīvaramaṅgalam. The gods, in the form of Brahmins, dwell in Varamangalam for the sake of worshipping Vishnu, having even abandoned Amarāvatī [Indra's celestial city]. (v.57-58)
For those devoted people who see Vyomanāyaka [the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha] in Totādri, there is no bondage of karma, no sorrow, and no fear. (v.59)
Thus ends the nineteenth chapter, titled 'The Glory of Totādri', in the Fifth Part of the 'Divya Deśa Vaibhavam' composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
