CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED TWELVE

The Efficacy of Kosala

Narada said:

1-6a. Speaking like that, the brahmana's parents, of divine forms, got into the excellent aeroplane, and went to Vishnu's city. Their son, having lived there in Kosala only for three days, went home, thinking about the grandeur of the holy place. This, O king, is called Kosala by the wise. I shall tell (about) it to you whose mind has a curiosity to listen to it. Having gone to that Kosala, the brahmana chaps from the south, desiring to die (there), lived in it giving proper objects. One of them going to Narayana's place after ignoring it, was stopped by Vishnu in the guise of an old brahmana. He thus spoke to the brahmana:

The old brahmana said:

6b-15. O best brahmana, ignoring this auspicious Kosala, where are you going? O brahmana, this holy place Indraprastha is the best of all holy places. O son, here is this Kosala, dear to Vishnu, and giving salvation. Success will not come to you there, where you are going after ignoring this giving a position free from all desires; and Vishnu will be averse to you. O brahmana, if you desire salvation, then this holy place will give you that object, with the desire of which, you, after taking a pledge, will bathe at this holy place. O brahmana, even within the range of your sight (i.e. when you were seeing), a serpent became a god. Due to the favour of this the brahmana couple resides in heaven. How then do you, even after having reached it due to the dawn of good fortune, and even after being convinced on seeing its greatness, ignore it? O fool, you appear to be like one who, after being oppressed by thirst, leaves the ocean of nectar, and goes to muddy water. Your fate appears to be like that of him who, being deluded, throws into a well the desire-yielding gem that was in his hand. Your fate is that of a foolish man who, after having propitiated Vishnu, desires the worthless pleasure of senses. No man goes (to another place) after having ignored this Kosala, giving all desired objects. One who bathes here, goes to heaven. One who dies here lives among the immortal.

Narada said:

16. O king, having heard (these) words of Vishnu, upholding the welfare of brahmanas, he spoke to the brahmana, " Badarikashrama is the best." The brahmana said:

17-21. O best brahmana, in me who have heard about the grandeur of the small village, faith is produced by means of these words of you. I have never heard about this holy place, Indraprastha. O old one, how is Kosala (situated) in it, where actually Vishnu (lives), and where the meditating saints are liberated. How should I ignore that meritorious hermitage and stay here as Vishnu, having himself come (here), and telling me like this, would stop me? O brahmana, this holy place is superior to Badarl. So, though driven to that hermitage, I shall not proceed (to it). Desiring salvation (I have come here). Otherwise I would not have stayed here. Narada said:

22-23a. When the brahmana spoke like this, Vishnu, the four-armed one, giving up the ordinary form (of a man), and having a divine form, said to the noble brahmana, desiring salvation:

Vishnu said:

23b-28. This Indraprastha is best of all holy places. As Shiva is among all those who know Brahman, as Ganga is among rivers, as Himalaya is among mountains, as Garuda is among birds, as! shakra is among gods, as Narada is among Vishnu's devotees, as the Sun is among luminaries, as the Milky Ocean is among oceans, as brahmana is among castes, as the grandsire is among the created, as the son of Kausalya is among the incarnations of Vishnu, so is this holy place Indraprastha the best of all holy places. A man, without or with a desire, sometimes goes to a holy place. At every place I myself am the giver of the fruit. A devotee who goes (to another holy place) by ignoring Kosala situated in Indraprastha, does not obtain the fruit from the protector of the host of the givers of fruits.

Narada said:

29-35. Having thus heard those words, and having seen that excellent form, and having saluted Vishnu, the brahmana left. The lord, the soul of the universe, instantly disappeared. He devoutly worshipped that brahmana as the supreme principle. Having come there to Kosala the brahmana told the entire account to all his companions, O king. Those noble brahrnanas from the south, did not eat there and abandoned their ordinary bodies. Just then, Shri Vishnu mounted upon Garuda came there with his attendants in those many aeroplanes shining with lustre. They, with divine forms, seeing him and the aeroplanes with attendants, fell prostrate like staffs on the earth. All the brahmanas, having divine knowledge and bodies praised that god of divine form whose lotus-like feet are adored by gods. The brahmanas said:

36-44. Salutation to you who have a body shining like an atasi-flower, who have covered yourself with a yellow garment, who have various lotuses put on the bright ear-rings, who have put blue small lotuses on your ears. Devotion to you is indeed the desire-yielding creeper (tree) which, when resorted to, gives what is desired by the mind. Similar is this your Kosala with objects of enjoyment. The two are secured through your grace. We salute your lotus-like feet saluted by respectable hosts of gods etc., thought of by delighted groups of meditating saints, and the root of salvation, the source of the highest joy. O lord of Lakshmi, we have reached your form, distinguished with charming marks like Shrivatsa etc.; yet we long for your service, secured and honoured by Narada and others. (Even) Lakshmi, residing within your chest (i.e. in your heart) does not have that happiness which is obtained by those who have become your servants. O lord of Lakshmi, Shri Mahesa knows it. He and none else has experienced it in the world. Among us, even having no attachment, he is to be honoured. The best sages like Narada, your devotees, worship the lord of the worlds, due to him. Sambhu, though his heart is full of the joy due to Brahman, is satisfied only by serving you. Full of devotion to you he repeatedly dances excessively to receive your virtues. For this reason human beings who have secured your service, have no desires.

His two doorkeepers, with your marks on their bodies reach their own abode through delusion(? ). Your desire is with reference to this world. Quick fall of your worlds never takes place. Who would know your Maya which is difficult to be known by gods like Brahma, Shiva etc.? Narada said:

45. That lord, eager to reach his place, being thus praised by them, said with a voice deep like that of clouds, to the southerners. The lord said:

46-52. O brahmanas, due to the grace of this Kosala you have obtained absorption into me. You will also obtain ray service. O brahmanas, from today this excellent holy place of me will be known by the great name 'Daksinakosala', where, Rama, born as Dasaratha's son, will kill Ravana. That where a poor wise man goes up to Vaikuntha is called Uttarakosala by all excellent sages. Even he who would live here without that (i.e. knowledge) goes to heaven. They say that this Daksinakosala is ten times superior to it. Some best sages describe it to be eleven times superior. I think the difference between that and this is: My attendants carry to Vaikuntha one who dies there; while I myself take him who dies here; putting him on Garuda I absorb him into myself. Narada said:

53-55. O king, having thus spoken to those brahmanas, and taking them (with himself) and himself praising the greatness of this holy place, Vishnu went to Vaikuntha. O lord of the world, I have told you the reason for which the wise call her Daksinakosala. O best king, I have described to you the greatness of Kosala which destroys the sins of Kali, which is desired for reaching the feet of the Lotus-eyed (Vishnu); (now) I shall tell you the account that took place in Madhuvana.

 

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