Chapter summary
शार्दूलपुरमाहात्म्यम् Śārdūla Pura Māhātmyam
The Revered Sadguru said:
The revered Sadguru spoke of Śārdūlapura, a renowned and excellent holy place where, in ancient times, seven sages, steadfast in their vows, performed a great sacrifice. These were the venerable Atri, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Kutsa, Gautama, Āṅgirasa, and Kāśyapa. They were celebrated as the creators of the seven *vyāhṛtis* [mystical utterances central to Vedic ritual], endowed with divine sight, ever working for the welfare of the world, and alleviating the sorrows of humanity. It was here, on the banks of the supremely purifying sacred bathing place known as Prajñāsaras, the Lake of Wisdom, that they undertook their sacrifice, seeking to enhance their spiritual wisdom. (v.1-4)
Near their hermitage, cows grazed peacefully, and the sages, with deep devotion, worshipped them daily. One dawn, as the great sages rose from their sleep, chanting the name of the eternal Viṣṇu, they proceeded to perform their ablutions. Remembering Hari, they stepped outside their hermitage and, in the forest, witnessed a terrifying sight: a tiger tormenting the cows. To protect these gentle creatures, the sages cried out, raising their staffs and rushing forward to strike the beast. (v.5-8)
But the terrifying, magical tiger instantly paralyzed their arms, leaving the seven sages struck with profound astonishment. "Who are you," they demanded, "wandering here in the form of a tiger? Tell us!" Thus questioned, the tiger, the sole cause of their sudden paralysis, looked at the sages and, with a mouth like flickering fire and fierce eyes, spoke in a human voice. (v.9-11)
**The Tiger said:**
The tiger declared, "We are fierce beasts, ever roaming the forest, and consuming cows is our eternal family duty, our *kuladharma*. Yet, you, sages of pure soul, for whom non-violence is the supreme duty, perform an animal sacrifice here, mercilessly. You do not truly comprehend the subtlety of dharma; indeed, your actions are in vain. For the mere attainment of your own heaven, the slaughter of animals is performed." (v.12-14)
**The Sages said:**
The sages retorted, "O great tiger, this sacrifice is indeed prescribed by the Vedas! You find fault in dharma, yet you speak like a wise man. Consider physicians: in treating a wound, they certainly inflict a form of violence upon people, but that is for their well-being, and thus it is not a sin. A sacrifice is likewise." (v.15-16)
**The Tiger said:**
The tiger countered, "If such health can be obtained without any violence, then medicine is given by a doctor; there is no injunction for violence. Lord Viṣṇu is pleased by the *puroḍāśa* [a rice-cake offering] alone. Why then is violence performed uselessly, when a pure offering of flour would suffice?" (v.17-18)
**The Sages said:**
The sages, now deeply suspicious, pressed further: "Who are you, who have come here to the forest, bearing the form of a tiger? Are you a Yakṣa, a Rākṣasa, or a Deva? Tell us now!" (v.19)
**The Revered Sadguru said:**
Thus questioned, the great tiger let out a roar and vanished. In that very spot, Viṣṇu Himself appeared, holding His divine conch, discus, and mace. They beheld Śrīnivāsa, the Lord of the world, His chest adorned with the auspicious Śrīvatsa mark, clad in resplendent yellow garments, His eyes like blooming lotuses. Seeing Him, all the sages, their hands joined in reverence above their heads and their eyes filled with tears of joy, praised Him with profound devotion. (v.20-22)
They then installed that very Viṣṇu, the Lord of illusion, the Master of all, and having built a temple, worshipped Him with utmost reverence. Honored by the Lord, the sages then returned to their own abodes, having duly worshipped the Supreme Person with a *pākayajña* [a simple domestic offering, typically of cooked food]. Indeed, the *pākayajña* is considered superior to all animal sacrifices, for it is by this offering that Lord Viṣṇu, the bestower of the fruits of all sacrifices, is truly pleased. Following the Vaikhānasa rite, the great sages, who were forest-dwellers (*vānaprasthas*), perform the *pākayajña* solely for the pleasure of Viṣṇu. Thus, by merely seeing the great Viṣṇu—who is the very embodiment of Sacrifice, the Lord of all sacrifices, Hari—in this sacred place, a person will assuredly obtain the fruit of all sacrifices. (v.23-27)
Thus, in the Divya Desa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu, in the Fifth Part, the twenty-sixth chapter entitled "The Greatness of Śārdūlapura".
