Chapter summary
कटिस्थानमाहात्म्यम् Kaṭisthāna Māhātmyam
The Glory of Kaṭisthānam
**Sri Sadguru said:**
In the serene region of Kerala lies a sacred place known as Kaṭisthānam, a veritable wish-fulfilling tree on earth for all who seek its refuge. There, the glorious Nārāyaṇa, the inconceivable Hari, resides, bestowing immortality upon mortals and dispelling the afflictions of worldly existence. Who would not serve Govinda, who graces the city of Kaṭisthānam? For by His mere sight, all sorrow is utterly destroyed. (v.1-3)
Long ago, there lived a mighty emperor named Rukmāṅgada, a sovereign devoted to truth and dharma, ever diligent in the protection of his subjects. His queen was Sandhyāvalī, and their son was Dharmāṅgada. Together with his family, the king faithfully observed the sacred vow of Ekādaśī. Dharmāṅgada, a devout worshipper of Vishnu and a loyal son, was unshakeable in his vows; even when faced with the prospect of his own decapitation, he would not abandon his sacred pledge. (v.4-6)
**The Devotees said:**
How did such a dire fate as the severing of his head come to pass? And how could he remain so steadfast in his vow? Surely, sorrow should never befall the devotees of Vishnu. (v.7)
**Sri Sadguru said:**
To test King Rukmāṅgada's resolve, the Creator, Brahmā, sent forth a maiden named Mohinī, born from his very mind. It was during the arrival of spring that King Rukmāṅgada, while strolling in the forest, encountered Mohinī. His heart utterly captivated, the lord of the earth sought her hand in marriage. Mohinī, having already enchanted the king, agreed on the condition that he would fulfill her every desire. Deluded by her charm, the king brought her to his palace, and, ever eager for pleasure, constantly sported with her. (v.8-11)
However, when the auspicious Ekādaśī vow arrived, the king, setting Mohinī aside, departed with a firm resolve to proceed to the temple of Keśava. But that shameless woman, consumed by desire, seized his garment, forcefully insisting that he make love to her and abandon his Ekādaśī vow. The king, in turn, declared, "I shall not abandon this auspicious vow, which is pleasing to Vishnu, meritorious, and bestows the fruit of Vaikuṇṭha, the supreme abode." (v.12-14)
**Mohinī said:**
Mohinī retorted, "O King, you married me, promising to do what pleases me. Will you now abandon me, the giver of pleasure, to practice devotion to Vishnu? Do not transgress the truth! For truth is indeed the highest vow; there is no dharma greater than truth, and all things are established in truth." (v.15-16)
**Sri Sadguru said:**
Thus ensnared by the noose of truth, the deluded king lamented greatly, falling wretchedly at her feet. "I will not abandon Ekādaśī, nor my adherence to truth," he pleaded. "Therefore, you must relinquish this insistence and choose another boon. I will certainly do whatever will bring you pleasure." (v.17-18)
Addressed thus, that shameless and fearless Mohinī, to the king who was so affectionate to his son, asked for the head of Dharmāṅgada himself. Dharmāṅgada, joyful and unwavering in his devotion to his father and his vow, came there of his own accord and presented the sword to his father. Determined to offer his head for the sake of truth and his sacred vow, the heroic prince sat upon a seat, his mind absorbed in meditation on Vishnu. Seeing his son's firm conviction, the delighted king, alas, proceeded to sever his son's head with his excellent sword. (v.19-22)
But in an instant, the sword upon his neck transformed into a garland of flowers. The Lord Himself, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, manifested before them. Mohinī, who had come merely for the test, vanished. The illusory power of Brahmā was thus defeated upon beholding a true devotee of Vishnu. (v.23-24)
In the course of time, the great king, having anointed his son Dharmāṅgada for the protection of the earth, retired to a penance grove. Wandering here and there with his wife Sandhyāvalī, he eventually journeyed to the city of Kaṭisthānam and dwelt there, taking refuge in Vishnu. At the time of his passing, that king attained the world of Vishnu, and Sandhyāvalī, ascending the funeral pyre with him, likewise reached the supreme state. This, then, is that supreme place, Kaṭisthānam, the destroyer of sin, where Vishnu, the bestower of immortality, is indeed seen even today. (v.25-28)
Thus ends the thirty-second chapter, titled "The Glory of Kaṭisthānam," in the Fifth Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam [a Sanskrit work detailing the glories of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples], composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
