Canto
3
Chapter 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiranyâksha
(1) Maitreya said: 'Hearing the nectarine words free from sinful intentions of Brahmâ, made the Lord heartily laughing accept them with a glance laden with love. (2) Then, springing up, did He struck the demoniac enemy fearlessly stalking before Him with His mace sideways at the chin. (3) But that blow was stopped by Hiranyâksha's mace, so that the Lord His mace, slipping from His hands, fell down whirling with an astonishing miraculous glow. (4) Though Hiranyâksha thus had an excellent opportunity, did he not attack in respect of the code of combat that having no weapon in battle must be honored. This drove the Lord further. (5) As His mace fell, a cry of alarm rose [from the bystanders] and seeing Hiranyâksha his righteousness did the All-powerful Lord remember His Sudars'ana-cakra. (6) As He was revolving His discus, playing with the vile son of Diti, was He as the chief of His associates met with various expressions of disbelief that filled the sky with: 'All fortune to You, please put Him to an end.'
(7) The Daitya upon seeing Him armed with His disc before him, being ready and looking at Him with His eyes like the petals of lotusflowers, was in his senses overpowered by indignation, and hissing like a serpent he bit his lips in great resent. (8) With his fearful huge teeth and both his staring eyes burning like fire he then attacked saying: 'Thus You are defeated by Your own club!', and hurled it at the Lord. (9) That mace, o seeker of truth, was, even though it had the force of a tempest, before the eyes of His enemy, playfully knocked down by the right foot of the Supreme Lord of sacrifices in the form of a boar.
(10) Then He said: 'Pick it up and try again, when you are so eager to win'. At that time, did Hiranyâksha, thus challenged, roaring loudly strike again. (11) Seeing the mace flying towards Him, did the Lord standing firm catch it with ease, seizing it as Garuda would do a serpent. (12) The frustration of his bravery shattered the pride of the great demon and being put off he refused to take back the mace that the Lord offered Him. (13) Instead he took up a trident and flaming like fire he ravenously went against the Lord of Sacrifice in the form of Varâha, as one with evil intentions would against a brahmin. (14) The shiny trident that the mightiest among the Daityas with all his strength had hurled was midair with a flash of light cut to pieces by the sharp rim of the cakra, like Indra cutting off the wing of Garuda [when he once snatched a pot of nectar]. (15) When he saw his trident cut in pieces by the Lord His disc, he went mad and came roaring forward striking the broad and S'rîvatsa-marked chest of the Lord hard with his fist, after which the demon disappeared from sight. (16) Thus struck by him, o Vidura, was the Supreme Lord in His first incarnation as a boar not in the least shaken and no more affected than an elephant struck by a bunch of flowers. (17) The people though now saw the Lord of the union in matter being sieged with an array of tricks and they fearfully thought that the end of the world had come. (18) Fierce winds were blowing and in all directions darkness spread itself from the dust while stones came down as if thrown by an army. (19) The luminaries in the sky disappeared behind masses of clouds from which it thundered and lightened while all the time it rained pus, hair, blood, stool, urine and bones. (20) O sinless one, mountains of all kinds of weapons discharging appeared and naked demonesses armed with tridents and with their hair hanging loose were seen. (21) Many savage devils and demons on foot, horseback, on chariots and elephants appeared, uttering cruel words of murder. (22) Upon this display of magical power of the demon intent on destruction, did the beloved enjoyer of the three sacrifices [of hearing, goods and breath see B.G. 4: 26-27] cast the weapon of His most excellent presence [the Sudars'ana-cakra].
(23) At that very moment a shudder ran through the heart of Diti [the mother of the demon] and recalling the words of her husband [Kas'yapa] did blood flow from her breasts. (24) With his magic forces being dispelled the demon came in view again of the Supreme Lord, and full of rage he embraced to crush, but found the Lord outside of his grip. (25) Hiranyâksha stroke Lord Adhokshaja [He beyond our sense control] with his fist as hard as a thunderbolt, but was slapped by Him just below his ear, like the Lord of the Maruts [Indra] did with the demon Vritra. (26) Though slapped by the Invincible Lord in a casual manner, did the demon's body wheel around; his eyes bulged out of their sockets and with his arms and legs lifeless and his hair scattered, he fell down like a gigantic tree uprooted by the wind.
(27) The self-born one [Brahmâ] and others who saw him lying on the ground with his glow still unfaded and his lip bitten by his teeth, said, approaching in admiration: 'O who indeed could so meet his final destination? (28) He upon whom the yogis in seclusion meditate absorbed in the union, seeking liberation from the unreal of the body - of a foot of Him was the son, the crest jewel of the ones of Diti, struck and did he indeed cast off his body gazing at His countenance. (29) Both the personal assistants of the Lord have been cursed to be born again from the godless for a couple of lifes, after which they indeed will return again.'
(30) The godly ones said: 'All obeisances to You, Enjoyer of all Sacrifices, who for the purpose of maintaining took the form of pure goodness; to the world's good fortune You've slain this one who was wreaking havoc. With devotion to Your feet, we are now at ease. '
(31) S'rî Maitreya said: 'After thus having killed the so very powerful Hiranyâksha, did the Lord, the source of the boar-incarnation return to His own abode, praised by the one seated on the lotus and the others in one uninterrupted festival. (32) To you I explained, as it was told to me, dear friend, how by the activities of the Supreme Lord in assuming His [boar-]incarnation, Hiranyâksha, who was of a vast prowess, in a great fight was killed like a plaything'."
(33) Sûta said: "Thus did Vidura, the great devotee, hear, from the son of Kushâru [Maitreya], the narration about the Supreme Lord and achieve transcendental bliss, o brahmin [S'aunaka]. (34) What must I say of hearing about the Lord with the mark of S'rîvatsa, when even the renown of others, devotees loyal to the verses, can raise the pleasure? (35) The king of the elephants [Gajendra] who was attacked by an alligator, meditated upon the lotus feet while his females were crying and was quickly delivered from the danger. (36) Who would not take shelter with Him who is so easily worshiped by men without pretensions; which grateful soul would not render service to the One who is impossible to worship by those who aren't real seekers? (37) He who indeed hears, chants and takes pleasure in this wonderful pastime of the Supreme One who as a boar raised the earth out of the ocean and killed Hiranyâksha, will instantly be freed, even if he finished a brahmin, o twice-born! (38) This narrative confers great merit, is very sacred and brings wealth, fame and longevity, and will provide all that one needs. Whoever listens to it will find his life force and senses strenghtened by it on the battlefield and at the end of one's life it will grant the shelter of Lord Nârâyana, o dear S'aunaka."
Second Edition, loaded June 27, 2006.
Source texts:
The Killing of the Demon Hiranyâksha
Maitreya said: 'Hearing the nectarine words free from sinful intentions of Brahmâ, made the Lord heartily laughing accept them with a glance laden with love.S'rî Maitreya said: After hearing the words of Brahmâ, the creator, which were free from all sinful purposes and as sweet as nectar, the Lord heartily laughed and accepted his prayer with a glance laden with love. (Vedabase)
Then, springing up, did He struck the demoniac enemy fearlessly stalking before Him with His mace sideways at the chin.
The Lord, who had appeared from the nostril of Brahmâ, sprang and aimed His mace at the chin of His enemy, the Hiranyâksha demon, who was stalking fearlessly before Him. (Vedabase)
But that blow was stopped by Hiranyâksha's mace, so that the Lord His mace, slipping from His hands, fell down whirling with an astonishing miraculous glow.
Struck by the demon's mace, however, the Lord's mace slipped from His hand and looked splendid as it fell down whirling. This was miraculous, for the mace was blazing wonderfully. (Vedabase)
Though Hiranyâksha thus had an excellent opportunity, did he not attack in respect of the code of combat that having no weapon in battle must be honored. This drove the Lord further.
Even though the demon had an excellent opportunity to strike his unarmed foe without obstruction, he respected the law of single combat, thereby kindling the fury of the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)
As His mace fell, a cry of alarm rose [from the bystanders] and seeing Hiranyâksha his righteousness did the All-powerful Lord remember His Sudars'ana-cakra.
As the Lord's mace fell to the ground and a cry of alarm arose from the witnessing crowd of gods and rsis, the Personality of Godhead acknowledged the demon's love of righteousness and therefore invoked His Sudars'ana discus. (Vedabase)
As He was revolving His discus, playing with the vile son of Diti, was He as the chief of His associates met with various expressions of disbelief that filled the sky with: 'All fortune to You, please put Him to an end.'
As the discus began to revolve in the Lord's hands and the Lord contended at close quarters with the chief of His Vaikunthha attendants, who had been born as Hiranyâksha, a vile son of Diti, there issued from every direction strange expressions uttered by those who were witnessing from airplanes. They had no knowledge of the Lord's reality, and they cried, "May victory attend You! Pray dispatch him. Play no more with him. (Vedabase)"
The Daitya, upon seeing Him armed with His disc before Him, being ready and looking at him with His eyes like the petals of lotusflowers, was in his senses overpowered by indignation, and hissing like a serpent he bit his lips in great resent.
When the demon saw the Personality of Godhead, who had eyes just like lotus petals, standing in position before him, armed with His Sudars'ana discus, his senses were overpowered by indignation. He began to hiss like a serpent, and he bit his lip in great resentment. (Vedabase)
With his fearful huge teeth and both his staring eyes burning like fire he then attacked saying: 'Thus You are defeated by Your own club!', and hurled it at the Lord.
The demon, who had fearful tusks, stared at the Personality of Godhead as though to burn Him. Springing into the air, he aimed his mace at the Lord, exclaiming at the same time, "You are slain. (Vedabase)!"
That mace, o seeker of truth, was, even though it had the force of a tempest, before the eyes of His enemy, playfully knocked down by the right foot of the Supreme Lord of sacrifices in the form of a boar.
O saintly Vidura, while His enemy looked on, the Lord in His boar form, the enjoyer of all sacrificial offerings, playfully knocked down the mace with His left foot, even as it came upon Him with the force of a tempest. (Vedabase)
Then He said: 'Pick it up and try again, when you are so eager to win'. At that time, did Hiranyâksha, thus challenged, roaring loudly strike again.
The Lord then said: "Take up your weapon and try again, eager as you are to conquer Me." Challenged in these words, the demon aimed his mace at the Lord and once more loudly roared. (Vedabase)
Seeing the mace flying towards Him, did the Lord standing firm catch it easily, seizing it as Garuda would do a serpent.
When the Lord saw the mace flying toward Him, He stood firmly where He was and caught it with the same ease as Garuda, the king of birds, would seize a serpent. (Vedabase)
The frustration of his bravery shattered the pride of the great demon and being put off he refused to take back the mace that the Lord offered Him.
His valor thus frustrated, the great demon felt humiliated and was put out of countenance. He was reluctant to take back the mace when it was offered by the Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
Instead he took up a trident and flaming like fire he ravenously went against the Lord of Sacrifice in the form of Varâha, as one with evil intentions would against a brahmin.
He now took a trident which was as rapacious as a flaming fire and hurled it against the Lord, the enjoyer of all sacrifices, even as one would use penance for a malevolent purpose against a holy brâhmana. (Vedabase)
The shiny trident that the mightiest among the Daityas with all his strength had hurled was midair with a flash of light cut to pieces by the sharp rim of the cakra, like Indra cutting off the wing of Garuda [when he once snatched a pot of nectar].
Hurled by the mighty demon with all his strength, the flying trident shone brightly in the sky. The Personality of Godhead, however, tore it to pieces with His discus Sudars'ana, which had a sharp-edged rim, even as Indra cut off a wing of Garuda. (Vedabase)
When he saw his trident cut in pieces by the Lord His disc, he went mad and came roaring forward striking the broad and S'rîvatsa-marked chest of the Lord hard with his fist, after which the demon disappeared from sight.
The demon was enraged when his trident was cut to pieces by the discus of the Personality of Godhead. He therefore advanced toward the Lord and, roaring aloud, struck his hard fist against the Lord's broad chest, which bore the mark of S'rîvatsa. Then he went out of sight. (Vedabase)
Thus struck by him, o Vidura, was the Supreme Lord in His first incarnation as a boar not in the least shaken and no more affected than an elephant struck by a bunch of flowers.
Hit in this manner by the demon, O Vidura, the Lord, who had appeared as the first boar, did not feel the least quaking in any part of His body, any more than an elephant would when struck with a wreath of flowers. (Vedabase)
The people though now saw the Lord of the union in matter being sieged with an array of tricks and they fearfully thought that the end of the world had come.
The demon, however, employed many conjuring tricks against the Personality of Godhead, who is the Lord of yogamâyâ. At the sight of this the people were filled with alarm and thought that the dissolution of the universe was near. (Vedabase)
Fierce winds were blowing and in all directions darkness spread itself from the dust while stones came down as if thrown by an army.
Fierce winds began to blow from all directions, spreading darkness occasioned by dust and hail storms; stones came in volleys from every corner, as if thrown by machine guns. (Vedabase)
The luminaries in the sky disappeared behind masses of clouds from which it thundered and lightened while all the time it rained pus, hair, blood, stool, urine and bones.
The luminaries in outer space disappeared due to the sky's being overcast with masses of clouds, which were accompanied by lightning and thunder. The sky rained pus, hair, blood, stool, urine and bones. (Vedabase)
O sinless one, mountains of all kinds of weapons discharging appeared and naked demonesses armed with tridents and with their hair hanging loose were seen.
O sinless Vidura, mountains discharged weapons of various kinds, and naked demonesses armed with tridents appeared with their hair hanging loose. (Vedabase)
Many savage devils and demons on foot, horseback, on chariots and elephants appeared, uttering cruel words of murder.
Cruel and savage slogans were uttered by hosts of ruffian Yakshas and Râkshasas, who all either marched on foot or rode on horses, elephants or chariots. (Vedabase)
Upon this display of magical power of the demon intent on destruction, did the beloved enjoyer of the three sacrifices [of hearing, goods and breath see B.G. 4: 26-27] cast the weapon of His most excellent presence [the Sudars'ana-cakra].
The Lord, the personal enjoyer of all sacrifices, now discharged His beloved Sudars'ana, which was capable of dispersing the magical forces displayed by the demon. (Vedabase)
At that very moment a shudder ran through the heart of Diti [the mother of the demon] and recalling the words of her husband [Kas'yapa] did blood flow from her breasts.
At that very moment, a shudder suddenly ran through the heart of Diti, the mother of Hiranyâksha. She recalled the words of her husband, Kas'yapa, and blood flowed from her breasts. (Vedabase)
With his magic forces being dispelled the demon came in view again of the Supreme Lord, and full of rage he embraced to crush, but found the Lord outside of his grip.
When the demon saw his magic forces dispelled, he once again came into the presence of the Personality of Godhead, Kes'ava, and, full of rage, tried to embrace Him within his arms to crush Him. But to his great amazement he found the Lord standing outside the circle of his arms. (Vedabase)
Text 25:
Hiranyâksha stroke Lord Adhokshaja [He beyond our sense control] with his fist as hard as a thunderbolt, but was slapped by Him just below his ear, like the Lord of the Maruts [Indra] did with the demon Vritra.
The demon now began to strike the Lord with his hard fists, but Lord Adhokshaja slapped him in the root of the ear, even as Indra, the lord of the Maruts, hit the demon Vritra. (Vedabase)
Though slapped by the Invincible Lord in a casual manner, did the demon's body wheel around; his eyes bulged out of their sockets and with his arms and legs lifeless and his hair scattered, he fell down like a gigantic tree uprooted by the wind.
Though struck indifferently by the Lord, the conqueror of all, the demon's body began to wheel. His eyeballs bulged out of their sockets. His arms and legs broken and the hair on his head scattered, he fell down dead, like a gigantic tree uprooted by the wind. (Vedabase)
The self-born one [Brahmâ] and others who saw him lying on the ground with his glow still unfaded and his lip bitten by his teeth, said, approaching in admiration: 'O who indeed could so meet his final destination?
Aja [Brahmâ] and others arrived on the spot to see the fearfully tusked demon lying on the ground, biting his lip. The glow of his face was yet unfaded, and Brahmâ admiringly said: Oh, who could meet such blessed death? (Vedabase)
He upon whom the yogis in seclusion meditate absorbed in the union, seeking liberation from the unreal of the body - of a foot of Him was the son, the crest jewel of the ones of Diti, struck and did he indeed cast off his body gazing at His countenance.
Brahmâ continued: He was struck by a forefoot of the Lord, whom yogis, seeking freedom from their unreal material bodies, meditate upon in seclusion in mystic trance. While gazing on His countenance, this crest jewel of Diti's sons has cast off his mortal coil. (Vedabase)
Both the personal assistants of the Lord have been cursed to be born again from the godless for a couple of lifes, after which they indeed will return again.'
These two personal assistants of the Supreme Lord, having been cursed, have been destined to take birth in demoniac families. After a few such births, they will return to their own positions. (Vedabase)
The godly ones said: All obeisances to You, Enjoyer of all Sacrifices, who for the purpose of maintaining took the form of pure goodness; to the world's good fortune You've slain this one who was wreaking havoc. With devotion to Your feet, we are now at ease.
The demigods addressed the Lord: All obeisances unto You! You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices, and You have assumed the form of a boar, in pure goodness, for the purpose of maintaining the world. Fortunately for us, this demon, who was a torment to the worlds, has been slain by You, and we too, O Lord, are now at ease, in devotion to Your lotus feet. (Vedabase)
S'rî Maitreya said: 'After thus having killed the so very powerful Hiranyâksha, did the Lord, the source of the boar-incarnation return to His own abode, being praised by the one seated on the lotus and the others in one uninterrupted festival.
S'rî Maitreya continued: After thus killing the most formidable demon Hiranyâksha, the Supreme Lord Hari, the origin of the boar species, returned to His own abode, where there is always an uninterrupted festival. The Lord was praised by all the demigods, headed by Brahmâ. (Vedabase)
To you I explained, as it was told to me, dear friend, how by the activities of the Supreme Lord in assuming His [boar-]incarnation, Hiranyâksha, who was of a vast prowess, in a great fight was killed like a plaything'."
Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, I have explained to you the Personality of Godhead's coming down as the first boar incarnation and killing in a great fight a demon of unprecedented prowess as if he were just a plaything. This has been narrated by me as I heard it from my predecessor spiritual master. (Vedabase)
Sûta said: "As Vidura, the great devotee, thus from the the son of Kushâru [Maitreya] heard the narration about the Supreme Lord, achieved he the highest bliss, o brahmin [S'aunaka]., o brahmin [S'aunaka].
S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî continued: My dear brâhmana, Kshattâ [Vidura] the great devotee of the Lord achieved transcendental bliss by hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the authoritative source of the sage Kaushârava [Maitreya], and he was very pleased. (Vedabase)
What must I say of hearing about the Lord with the mark of S'rîvatsa, when even the renown of others, devotees loyal to the verses, can raise the pleasure?
What to speak of hearing the pastimes of the Lord, whose chest is marked with S'rîvatsa, people may take transcendental pleasure even in hearing of the works and deeds of the devotees, whose fame is immortal. (Vedabase)
The king of the elephants [Gajendra] who was attacked by an alligator meditated upon the lotus feet while his females were crying and was quickly delivered from the danger.
The Personality of Godhead delivered the king of the elephants, who was attacked by an alligator and who meditated upon the lotus feet of the Lord. At that time the female elephants who accompanied him were crying, and the Lord saved them from the impending danger. (Vedabase)
Who would not take shelter with Him who is so easily worshiped by men without pretensions; which grateful soul would not render service to the One who is impossible to worship by those who aren't real seekers?
What grateful soul is there who would not render his loving service to such a great master as the Personality of Godhead? The Lord can be easily pleased by spotless devotees who resort exclusively to Him for protection, though the unrighteous man finds it difficult to propitiate Him. (Vedabase)
He who indeed hears, chants and takes pleasure in this wonderful pastime of the Supreme One who as a boar raised the earth out of the ocean and killed Hiranyâksha, will instantly be freed, even if he finished a brahmin, o twice-born!
O brâhmanas, anyone who hears, chants, or takes pleasure in the wonderful narration of the killing of the Hiranyâksha demon by the Lord, who appeared as the first boar in order to deliver the world, is at once relieved of the results of sinful activities, even the killing of a brahmana. (Vedabase)
This narrative confers great merit, is very sacred and brings wealth, fame and longevity, and will provide all that one needs. Whoever listens to it will find his life force and senses strenghtened by it on the battlefield and at the end of one's life it will grant the shelter of Lord Nârâyana, o dear S'aunaka."
This most sacred narrative confers extraordinary merit, wealth, fame, longevity, and all the objects of one's desire. On the field of battle it promotes the strength of one's vital organs and organs of action. One who listens to it at the last moment of his life is transferred to the supreme abode of the Lord, O dear S'aunaka. (Vedabase)
For
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has been used with an extensive commentary.
ISBN: o-91277-27-7
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