Chapter summary
श्रीसूक्तिस्थलमाहात्म्यम् Śrī Sūkti Sthala Māhātmyam
The Glory of Śrī Sūktisthala
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
In all three worlds, this sacred place is celebrated as Śrī Sūktisthala, where Lord Hari Himself is manifest upon the banks of a vast lake. It was here that the devas and sages, tormented by the mighty asuras, sought refuge and worshipped Lord Vishnu in profound seclusion. Pleased by their austere penance, Vishnu, the four-armed Lord, appeared before them, mounted upon His divine vehicle Garuda, holding aloft His conch, discus, and mace. (v.1-3)
**The Devas said:**
"Victory, victory be to You, O sole friend of the universe! For truly, through Your triumph alone does well-being prevail. All the gods, who are but emanations of Your divine being, achieve victory everywhere only by virtue of Your own conquering might. Having vanquished us, the devas, the asuras now relentlessly foster unrighteousness in the world. O Lord of the worlds, by conquering these daityas with Your formidable discus-weapon, we implore You to restore dharma once more. Whenever a sinful mentality is seen to proliferate among all people in the world, one must understand that the demonic disposition itself has grown strong upon this earth. This eternal war between devas and asuras, which repeatedly deludes all humanity, reveals a fluctuating inclination towards both dharma and adharma, guided by the qualities of the prevailing age." (v.4-7)
"Nevertheless, O Vishnu, O Achyuta, O wielder of the discus, may Your strength increase everywhere! For who on earth can withstand the searing flame of Your Sudarshana? Indeed, all darkness would be instantly annihilated. Your army alone, O Murari, advances everywhere unhindered, unconquered by any other. Even the lords of the worlds, Brahma, Shiva, and all others, offer tribute to You. Your devoted servants, bearing Your banner of victory, dance in ecstasy. Those who are free from passion sing Your sacred glory throughout the realms, intoxicated with joy, liberated from all fear and sorrow." (v.8-10)
"By Your mere will, O Lord, beings in this world slay each other and perish. Thus enacting the divine sport of destruction, You are indeed the very form of Time and the eternal witness of all. O Universal Form, You who witness the endless birth and death of beings everywhere, moment by moment, like the all-encompassing sky, how can there be any weakness in You? O wielder of the discus, we pray You, in a hidden form, destroy the daitya heroes who conceal themselves on earth. For in any case, O Mukunda, in the eternal dissolution, You orchestrate the death of anyone by anyone." (v.11-13)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
With a gaze full of compassion, granting fearlessness with His lotus-hand, the Lord then spoke sweet words, consoling the gods and sages. (v.14)
**The Lord said:**
"I am well-pleased with your penance. May there be well-being for all of you. I shall now reveal a means for the destruction of the daityas. There is a king named Purañjaya, born in the illustrious solar dynasty, who is valiant, wise, and deeply devoted to truth and dharma. Entering into him, I shall destroy all the daityas in battle. Then, well-being shall surely be restored for all the devas. However, let the slayer of Vritra (Indra), assuming the form of a bull, be My vehicle. Standing upon his hump, I shall wage a most difficult war. You all, go to this great king, disguised in the garb of Brahmins, and request Purañjaya, who is indeed My own form, for the destruction of the daityas." (v.15-19)
**Śrī Sadguru said:**
Thus instructed, all the gods, assuming the guise of Brahmins, then beseeched the great king for the slaughter of the asuras. The king, becoming one with Vishnu and standing upon the hump of the bull, swiftly destroyed all the sons of Danu in battle. Having conquered their city, Purañjaya graciously returned it to the great Indra. All the devas, overjoyed, immediately returned to their celestial abode. That Purañjaya became famously known as "Kakutstha" (one who stands on the hump); he was righteous, true to his word, and the foremost among the devotees of Vishnu. (v.20-23)
The king himself built this city, which he named Śrī Sūktisthala. Residing here, the king worshipped Lord Keshava with utmost devotion. He established thousands of Brahmins and great-souled Vaishnavas in the city for the sake of constant Vedic study. Knowing the pre-eminence of the Japa-yajña (the sacrifice of chanting) among all sacrifices, the king caused this sacred ritual to be performed continuously. He had the Brahmins recite the Vedas with their Brāhmaṇas, the Vedāntas, the Smṛtis, as well as the Itihāsas and Purāṇas. He also had the Vaishnavas narrate the glorious stories of Keshava. Indeed, the entire city was filled with the resonant sound of their sacred words (śrī-sūkti). (v.24-28)
Wherever the sacrifice of self-study (svādhyāya-yajña) is performed by Brahmins, there the divine presence of Vishnu will surely manifest, bringing great auspiciousness to the world. For those who come to Śrī Sūktisthala and behold Lord Janārdana, for them there is gain, for them there is victory. How, then, can there ever be defeat for them? (v.29-30)
Thus ends the twenty-fifth chapter, titled "The Glory of Śrī Sūktisthala," in the Fifth Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
