Chapter summary
श्रीभृङ्गपुरमाहात्म्यम् Śrī Bhṛṅga Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Śrībhṛṅgapura
**The Sadguru said:**
There exists a supremely sacred place known as Bhṛṅgapura, nestled on the beautiful banks of the Pampa river, renowned for its power to eradicate all sins. There, the glorious Nārāyaṇa, worshipped by the divine sage Nārada, manifests in His universal form, Viśvarūpa, readily bestowing upon His devotees all their desired fruits. (v.1-2)
Once, even the sage Nārada, in a moment of spiritual oversight, became proud, thinking to himself, "Ah, I have conquered Vishnu's *Māyā*, which is so difficult to surpass!" To quell this very pride, Lord Vishnu Himself enacted a divine play, a *līlā*. Nārada, having ventured into the forest, was transformed into a woman, Nāradī, and wandered bewildered through its groves. Both Lord Vishnu and Nārada, now in his feminine form, roamed through the enchanting forest situated on the Pampa's bank. Affectionately touching Nārada's hand, the Lord, an ocean of auspicious qualities, then sweetly addressed the best of Vaishnavas. (v.3-6)
**The Lord said:**
"Who in the three worlds can truly cross over My *Māyā*, which is so difficult to overcome? By its power, even Brahmā, Rudra, and all the gods are deluded." (v.7)
**Nārada said:**
"O Vishnu, what can Your hard-to-surpass *Māyā* do to me, who has conquered his senses, is detached, and possesses the discrimination between the eternal and the transient?" (v.8)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus addressed, Lord Vishnu, intending to delude him with His *Māyā*, smiled gently and spoke sweetly to the sage Nārada. (v.9)
**The Lord said:**
"You speak the truth, O Devarṣi. My devotees, who have taken refuge in Me alone, indeed cross over My hard-to-surpass *Māyā*. This is a most holy and beautiful *tīrtha* [sacred water body], a destroyer of sins. You too should bathe here, for the purification of all worlds. For holy places are not mere collections of water, nor are deities mere images of clay and stone; they purify one over a long period. But saints, like yourself, purify one by their very sight. All holy places constantly long for the company of self-controlled saints such as you, for the removal of their own sins." (v.10-13)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus instructed by the all-powerful Vishnu, Nārada, still holding a high opinion of himself, immediately entered the sacred water. Merely upon entering the water, by the *Māyā* of the Lord of the universe, Nārada was transformed into a maiden with eyes as large as lotus petals. After playfully bathing, adorned with fine clothes and ornaments, that beautiful Nāradī, with a sweet, smiling gaze, wandered there. Not knowing her own relatives, her birth, or her past deeds, the helpless young woman wandered, agitated with fear. (v.14-17)
Then, a certain king, a ruler of Kerala, arrived at that spot. He beheld the virtuous maiden and rejoiced, agitated by love. The king married her by the Gāndharva rite [a marriage by mutual consent], and, delighted, went to his palace, where he sported with her day after day. The king of Kerala fathered a son and also a beautiful daughter by her, thus faithfully practicing the dharma of a householder. He gave his daughter to the son of the Pāṇḍya king, and the great-minded one also arranged the marriage of his own son. Thus, the couple, with their minds deeply attached to their family, lived happily in their home, having, as it were, completely forgotten their own true state. (v.18-22)
However, the king of Karṇāṭaka arrived for battle. In the ensuing fight, he killed both the son and the king of Kerala. With her family destroyed and her kingdom seized by enemies, the frightened queen fled to the forest on the bank of the Pampa. Wandering here and there, she lamented again and again, telling her sorrowful story to every tree, utterly grief-stricken. (v.23-25)
Then, a certain aged ascetic, a treasure of penance, came there. That best of the wise mercifully consoled the queen. (v.26)
**The Sage said:**
"Why do you grieve in vain, O young lady? Behold how the world is full of sorrow. Misery exists everywhere; this is the very nature of worldly existence, *saṃsāra*. After happiness comes sorrow, and after sorrow comes happiness. This is seen again and again for all living beings in this world. Who would rejoice upon attaining happiness, remembering the sorrow that lies ahead? Therefore, a discerning person sees the happiness born of karma for humans as insignificant. The cause of *saṃsāra* is surely Vishnu's *Māyā*, there is no doubt. In it, various kinds of suffering are experienced again and again. One should take refuge in that very Vishnu, the foremost of all wielders of *Māyā*. By a mere fragment of His grace, one crosses over the insurmountable *Māyā*. Sorrows certainly arise for people due to their past actions. Therefore, to destroy all sins, good deeds must be performed. This is a purifying *tīrtha*, the destroyer of all sins. Bathe in it, remembering Hari. May your sorrow be destroyed." (v.27-33)
**The Sadguru said:**
Thus consoled, the queen entered the auspicious water. Merely by bathing in it, she once again became Nārada. Seeing Vishnu standing on the bank with the great *Vīṇā* that He himself had given, the Devarṣi became utterly ashamed. (v.34-35)
**The Lord said:**
"Come quickly, Devarṣi! I am standing here waiting for you. Take this *Vīṇā*, given by you, and perform your excellent *kīrtan* [singing of praises]. By you alone, My hard-to-surpass *Māyā* has been conquered in this world. Truly, by your very sight, I am fulfilled. There is no doubt." (v.36-37)
**Nārada said:**
"O Lord, enough of Your divine play! I am indeed an object of Your grace. Utterly deluded by Your *Māyā*, I created a family. Having obtained extreme sorrow while wandering in *saṃsāra*, everything vanished like a dream by Your grace, O Keśava. O Govinda, do not perform this play of *Māyā* hereafter. I shall wander through the three worlds, constantly singing only Your praise." (v.38-40)
**The Lord said:**
"The holy *tīrtha* which you entered, O best of devotees, will itself be the destroyer of sins and the remover of the delusion of *Māyā*." (v.41)
**The Sadguru said:**
Having spoken thus, Lord Vishnu, being praised by the great-souled Nārada, smiling gently, departed to His own abode. This is the *kṣetra* [sacred place] of Bhṛṅgapura, a *tīrtha* that destroys sin. This is the glorious Nārāyaṇa, worshipped by Nārada himself. By the mere sight of Him, all sorrow is destroyed. And crossing over Vishnu's *Māyā*, one attains the supreme abode of Vishnu. (v.42-44)
Here ends the thirtieth chapter, entitled "The Glory of Śrībhṛṅgapura," in the Fifth Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam" composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 30, named "Śrī Bhṛṅga Pura Māhātmyam", in Pañcama Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
