See for the online version with illustrations, music and links to the previous translation: http://bhagavata.org/
S'RÎMAD BHÂGAVATAM
"The story of the fortunate one"
CANTO 8:
Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations
Chapter 1 The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
Chapter 2 The Elephant Gajendra's Crisis
Chapter 3 Gajendra's Prayers of Surrender
Chapter 4 Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World
Chapter 5 The Fifth and Sixth Manu and the Prayers of Brahmâ with the Suras.
Chapter 6 The Suras and Asuras Declare a Truce
Chapter 7 Lord S'iva Drinks the Poison Churned with the Mountain Mandara
Chapter 8 More Appears from the Churning: Mother Lakshmî and Dhanvantari
Chapter 9 The Lord Appears as a Beautiful Woman to Distribute the Nectar
Chapter 10 The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons
Chapter 11 The Dânavas Annihilated and Revived
Chapter 12 Lord S'iva prays to see Mohinî Mûrti, gets bewildered and restores.
Chapter 13 Description of Future Manus
Chapter 14 The System of Universal Management
Chapter 15 Bali Mahârâja Conquers the Heavenly Places
Chapter 16 Aditi Initiated into the Payo-vrata Ceremony, the Best of All Sacrifices
Chapter 17 The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi's Son
Chapter 18 Lord Vâmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
Chapter 19 Lord Vâmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahârâja
Chapter 20 Lord Vâmanadeva Covers all Worlds
Chapter 21 Bali Mahârâja Arrested by the Lord
Chapter 22 Bali Mahârâja Surrenders His Life
Chapter 23 The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Places
Chapter 24 Matsya, the Lord's Fish Incarnation
This book relates the story of the Lord and His Incarnations since the earliest records of the vedic history. It is verily the Krishna-Bible of the Hindu-universe. The Bhâgavad Gîtâ compares to it like the sermon on the mountain by Lord Jesus to the full Bible. It has 18.000 verses and consists of 12 books also called Cantos. These books tell the complete history of the vedic culture with the essence of all its classical stories called purânas and includes the cream of the vedic knowledge compiled from all the literatures as well as the story of the life of Lord Krishna in full (Canto 10). It tells about His birth, His youth, all His wonderful proofs of His divine nature and the superhuman feats of defeating all kinds of demons up to the great Mahâbhârat war at Kurukshetra. It is a brilliant story that has been brought to the West by Swami Bhaktivedânta Prabhupâda, a Caitanya Vaishnava, a bhakti (devotional) monk of Lord Vishnu [the name for the transcendental form of Lord Krishna] who undertook the daring task of enlightening the materialist westerners as well as the advanced philosophers and theologians, in order to help them to overcome the perils and loneliness of impersonalism and the philosophy of emptiness.
For the translation the author of this internet-version has used the translation of Swami Prabhupâda. As an âcârya [guru teaching by example] from the age-old indian vaishnava tradition he represents the reformation of the devotion for God the way it was practiced in India since the 16th century. This reformation contends that the false authority of the caste-system and single dry bookwisdom is to be rejected. Lord Krishna-Caitanya, the avatâra [an incarnation of the Lord] who heralded this reform, restored the original purpose of developing devotion for God and endeavored especially for the sacred scripture expounding on the devotion relating to Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This scripture is this Bhâgavata Purâna from which all the vaishnava âcâryas derived their wisdom for the purpose of instruction and the shaping of their devotion. The word for word translations as well as the full text and commentaries of this book were studied within and without the Hare Krishna temples of learning in as well India, Europe as in America. The purpose of the translation is first of all to make this glorious text available for a wider audience over the Internet. Since the Bible, the Koran and numerous other Holy texts are readily available, the author meant that this book could not stay behind on the shelf of his own bookcase as a token of material possessiveness. Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost, and certainly this type of knowledge which stresses the yoga of non-possessiveness and devotion as one of its main values could not be left out. The version of Prabhupâda Swami is very extensive covering some 2400 pages of plain fine printed text including his commentaries. And that was only the first ten Cantos. The remaining two Cantos were posthumously published by his pupils in the full of his spirit. Thus the author was faced with two daring challenges: one was to make a readable running narrative of the book - that had been dissected to the single word - and second to put it into a language that would befit the 21th century with all its modern and postmodern experience and digital progress to the world order without losing anything of its original verses. Thus another verse to verse as-it-is translation came about in which Prabupâda's words were retranslated and set to the understanding and realization I myself acquired. This realization came directly from the disciplic line of succession of the Vaishnava line of âcâryas (teachers) as well as from a realization of the total field of indian philosophy of enlightenment and yoga discipline as was brought to the West by also non-vaishnava guru's and maintained by their pupils. Therefore the author has to express his gratitude to all these great heroes who dared to face the adamantine of western philosophy with all its doubts, concreticism and skepticism. Especially the pupils of Prabhupâda, members of the renounced order (sannyâsîs) who instructed the author in the independence and maturity of the philosophy of the bhakti-yogis of Lord Caitanya need to be mentioned. The author was already initiated in India by a non-vaishnav guru and been given the name of Swami Anand Aadhar ("teacher of the foundation of happiness"). That name the Krishna community converted into Anand Aadhar Prabhu (master of the foundation of happiness) without further ceremonies of vaishnav' initiation (apart from a basic training). Anand Aadhar is a withdrawn devotee, a so-called vânaprashta, who does his devotional service independently in the silence and modesty of his own local adaptations of the philosophy.
The spelling of Sanskrit names has here and there been adapted because of the absence of the suitable Sanskrit signs on the keyboard so that e.g. where normally a flat stripe was placed above the letters a ^accent is placed. It means that one has to choose for two letters where one is written, or that one has to pause pronunciating the word at that place. Also the name Krsna has been spelled this way as Krishna and rsi (=wise) as rishi. Normally the word for word translations of Prabhupâda have been taken as they were given in the translations of Prabhupâda, be it that here and there some words, because of their multiple meanings have lead to slightly different translations. E.g. the word loka means as well planet as place as world. Between square brackets [ ] sometimes a little comment and extra info is given to accommodate the reader when the original text is drawing from a more experienced approach. The original running text of Prabhupâda is linked up at each verse so that it is possible to retrace what the author has done with the text. This is according the scientific tradition of the Vaishnava-community. These texts, as also most of the images, are copyrighted material and the property of the ISCKON-Krishna community and may only be used as a fragment and not be published by non-members without permission (BBT). For the tenth Canto more verse-to-verse loyal translations of a former pupil of Prabhupâda (S'rî Hayesvar das) and Prabhupâda's godbrothers/pupils have been used [including their word for word translation] next to the translation of Prabhupâda, as for this volume [but not the eleventh Canto] the word-for-word translations had been omitted and replaced by a more elaborate description of the text. The twelfth Canto was drawn in reference to the work of only the ISKCON pupils of Prabhupâda who completed his work. Further was throughout the concatenation process of this version the so called Shastri version of the Bhâgavatam (from the Gîtâ Press, Gorakpur) as extant with the common Himdu in India itself used as a reference and second opinion.
For copyright purposes concerning the used images and texts and further commentaries and the word-for-word translations of Prabhupâda themselves one will have to consult the Bhaktivedanta Booktrust and other Krishna sites and the printed books of Prabhupâda themselves. For the copyrights on this translation one will have to consult this writer. It is permitted to download and print these texts for private and non-commercial use. For all other usage one will have to contact the author (for links see our linkpage).
With love and devotion, Anand Aadhar Prabhu, Enschede, The Netherlands, 05-28-2000.
The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
(1) The honorable king said: 'Till now, o guru, I've extensively heard about the dynasty of Svâyambhuva Manu wherein the great rulers of the universe were of creation; please describe for us also the other Manus [see also 3.11: 23-28]. (2) O brahmin, please tell us, so eager to hear, about all the, by the learned glorified and described, appearances and activities of the Supreme Lord during the changes of the manvantaras [the periods of the Manus *, see also 2.1: 36, 2.3: 9, 2.7: 2, 2.10: 4]. (3) As for the past, the present and the future, what are the activities that the Supreme Lord, the creator of this universe, in a particular era, o brahmin, either was engaged in, is engaged in and will be engaged in? [compare B.G. 2: 12 and **]
(4) The great rishi said: 'For this day of Brahmâ [kalpa] have already the six of Svâyambhuva and other Manus passed. I already described the first one to you as well as the appearance of all the godly with him [see 2.7: 43-45, 3.12: 54, 4.1 and 4.8: 6]. (5) From Âkûti and Devahûti, the two daughters of [Svâyambhuva] Manu, were, for instructing the dharma and the jñâna, the sons born who are accepted as being the Supreme Lord. (6) Before I in full described Kapila to you [see Canto 3b], now I'll tell you about all that was done by Yajña[-mûrti or-pati], o best of the Kurus. (7) The master of the world [Svâyambhuva Manu], the husband of S'atarûpâ, after totally renouncing his kingdom went with his wife into the forest for doing his tapas [see: 3.22: 31]. (8) At the river Sunandâ he for a hundred years performed the most severe austerities touching the earth standing on his one leg [see also 4.8: 78-79] murmuring the following, o scion of Bhârata.
(9) Lord Manu said: 'He by whom this whole universe is set in motion is not moved by the universe, He who is always awake while one is asleep in this body, Him, the One knowing, does the living entity not know [see also B.G. 18: 55]. (10) What by Him, the Supersoul everywhere present, with everything animate and inanimate in this and in all other universes, is allotted one may enjoy; on the property of anyone else one should not infringe. (11) He is not seen by the living entity although His eye always sees, He as the original source of all beings never diminishes, He is the godhead and companion [see 6.4: 24] everyone should worship. (12) Nor is there of Him a beginning, an end or a middle, He belongs to nowhere and to no one, He is the inside nor [just] the outside of the cosmic creation; all these insights on His form and on Him as the cause of the whole universe all together make up the Greatest Truth [see also 2.1: 24]. (13) That complete of the universe known by so many names [like purusha and virâth rûpa] is the Supreme Controller, the Ultimate Truth of Him personally, self-effulgent, beginningless and the oldest; He by His external energy engenders birth, death and maintenance, by the potency of His Self and Spirit He remains aloof, inactive and untouched [compare 1.7: 23]. (14) Therefore do all the saintly people for the purpose of being free from karma in the beginning perform fruitive labor [karma yoga], as a person engaging thus indeed as good as always attains liberation [see also 1.5: 12, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 3: 9, 6: 3, 3: 6]. (15) Because of His own gain being satisfied from within, becomes the Supreme Lord, the Controller, engaged indeed never entangled with it and hence are persons following Him never disheartened. (16) Unto Him who free from selfhood is acting for our benefit, who is complete in knowledge, has no desire to enjoy, is fulfilled, and not led by others, unto Him who is there to instruct all of mankind and to lay out His path; unto that master of all principles and duties I pray that each may surrender.'
(17) S'rî S'uka said: 'The philosophical mantras thus prayed concentrated the mind, but the Asuras witnessing speeded thereafter desiring to guzzle to their taste. (18) When Yajña [Vishnu], the Lord in each his heart, saw them that way determined, ruled the Supreme Personality, after having killed them, together with the Yâmas [the ones vowed, His sons] and surrounded by the godly the heavenly worlds.
(19) The second Manu next became Svârocisha, the son of Agni and of him there were also the sons headed by Dyumat, Sushena and Rocishmat. (20) In that period became, all together faithful to the Absolute Truth, Rocana the heavenly king [the Indra] and were Tushita and other ones there as the godly, while Ûrja, Stambha and others were the seven saints. (21) Of the saint Vedas'irâ, impregnating the wife named Tushitâ, was the Lord who was celebrated as Vibhu born. (22) Eighty-eight thousand saintly persons fixed to the vow took initiation and instruction from Him who remained a celibate brahmacârî.
(23) The third who became the Manu was named Uttama, a son of Priyavrata [see 5.1], and of him there were the sons called Pavana, Srîñjaya, Yajñahotra and others. (24) The seven sages were the sons of Vasishthha headed by Pramada, the ones of Satya, Vedas'ruta and Bhadra were the godly and Satyajit was the Indra. (25) From the demigod Dharma was from the womb of Sunritâ, the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead celebrated as Satyasena born, appearing together with the Satyavratas. (26) He together with his friend Satyajit killed all the Yaksha and râkshasa sworn liars and evil spirits of misconduct who constantly harass the living beings.
(27) The fourth Manu to be was the brother of Uttama known by the name of Tâmasa, and thus there were his ten sons headed by Prithu, Khyâti, Nara and Ketu. (28) The Satyakas, the Haris and the Vîras were the godly, Tris'ikha was the heavenly king and the seven sages during the reign of Tâmasa were the ones headed by Jyotirdhâma. (29) The godly named the Vaidhritis were the sons, o King, who by their own strength managed to protect the Vedas that over time had been lost. (30) In that period appeared the Supreme Lord begotten by Harimedhâ from the womb of Harinî and He was called Hari; by Him was Gajendra the king of the elephants, freed from the mouth of a crocodile.'
(31) The honorable king [Parîkchit] said: 'O son of Vyâsa, this is what we would like to hear from you: in what way delivered the Lord the king of the elephants who was harassed by a crocodile? (32) Whenever and wherever there are the narrations in which one glorifies Hari, the Supreme Personality, Uttamas'loka [the Lord Praised in the Verses], finds one great piety, fortune, auspiciousness and all that is good'."
(33) S'rî Sûta said: "The son of Vyâsa, thus exhorted by the words of Parîkchit, the son of Arjuna who was awaiting his impending death, o dear brahmins, after complimenting him with great pleasure spoke in the assembly of sages who indeed longed to hear from him."
*: There are fourteen Manus during a day of Brahmâ, and the age of each Manu lasts for seventy-one yugas. (see picture) Thus there are thousands of Manus during the life of Brahmâ. The six mentioned here are: Svâyambhuva, Svârocisha, Uttama, Tâmasa, Raivata and Câkshusha . A manvantara is a period to the measure of one cycle of the sun around the centre of our galaxy [see the Galactic Order].
**: Often quoted in this context is the dictum: 'Nityo nityânâm cetanas cetanânâm'. Both the Lord and the living entities are eternal and sentient.
The Elephant Gajendra's Crisis
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'There was a very big mountain countless of miles high, o King, known as Trikûtha ['three peaks'] surrounded by an ocean of milk [or plant-juice see 5.20: 18]. (2-3) With its three peaks all around as wide as it was long was it as an island, lush with trees, creepers and shrubs and the sounds of waterfalls in all directions, standing radiant against the sky. It was composed of silver, iron and gold, with more peaks on all sides full of precious stone and minerals. (4) At its foot, always washed dark green by the waves of the sea all around, was the earth green with emerald stones. (5) The perfected, the venerable, the heavenly singers, the ones of knowledge and the great of the world of snakes, the ones of superpower, the dancing girls and the sportive enjoyed there the valleys. (6) The glens resounding with the sounds of the singers made the stout lions of envy roar out for a mate. (7) The dales harbored great numbers of all thinkable jungle animals and the gardens maintained by the enlightened there were beautifully decorated with all types of trees and chirping birds. (8) In the rivers and lakes full of crystal clear water, were from the by gems glittering sand beaches the damsels of the godly bathing, enriching the air and the water with the fragrance of their bodies. (9-13) In one valley was there of the great soul, the mighty personality of Varuna, a garden with the name Ritumat which was a sporting place of the sura ladies. It was everywhere in honor of the divine most beautifully tended with flowers and fruits and mandâra and pârijâta, pâthala, as'oka and campaka trees. There were fruits like cûtas, piyâlas, panasas, mangoes, âmrâtakas, kramukas and pomegranates as also coconut and date trees. There stood madhukas, palm trees, tamâlas, asanas, arjunas, arishthas, udumbaras, plakshas, banyans, kims'ukas and sandelwood trees. Also were there found picumarda flowers, kovidâra fruits, sarala- and sura-dâru trees, grapes, sugar cane, bananas, jambu, badarî, akhsa, abhaya and âmalakî fruits. (14-19) In that garden there was a very large lake full of shining golden lotuses surrounded by bilva, kapittha, jambîra, bhallâtaka and other trees and of the great beauty of the kumuda, kahlâra, utpala and s'atapatra flowers were the bees intoxicated humming along with the most melodious songs of the birds. It was crowded with swans and kârandavas, cakravâkas, flocks of water chickens, koyashthis and dâtyûhas all making their noises. The water, surrounded by kadamba, vetasa, nala, nîpa and vañjulaka flowers, did, agitated by the movements of the fish and tortoises stir the lotuses of which the pollen falling from them covered the surface. The kundas, kurubakas, as'okas, s'irîshas, kûthajas, ingudas, kubjakas, svarna-yûthîs, nâgas, punnâgas, jâtîs, mallikâs, s'atapatras and the mâdhavî-latâs and jâlakâs and other trees growing on the banks adorned it in all seasons abundantly.
(20) Once did on that mountain the leader of the elephants living in that forest in the company of his wives wander there breaking through many thickets full of thorns, creepers and all kinds of trees and plants. (21) Just the smell of him made the lions and other predators and fiery beasts, the other elephants, the rhinoceroses and the big snakes as also the white and black camarî deer all flee in fear. (22) Because of his mercy could the foxes, boars, buffaloes, bears, porcupines, gopucchas and other deer, the wolves, monkeys and other small animals like rabbits and others, roam unafraid. (23-24) He perspiring, with saliva dripping and surrounded by nectar drinking bees, made, followed by the other he and she elephants and the young in their midst, all around the mountain the earth tremble. From a distance smelling the dust of the lotus flowers carried by the breeze was he, with his company obsessed in being thirsty of an intoxicated vision, hurrying for the bank of that lake. (25) Entering its pellucid, cool water drank he to his fill from the nectarean lotusdust mixture and was he relieved of all fatigue taking a good bath in it. (26) Sucking the water in with his trunk and spraying it over him inspired he his wives and children to bathe as well. Thus engaged took he, like a concerned householder all too attached to his family, under the influence of the external energy no heed of any possible danger. (27) He like anyone else resorting under the divine ordination then met with the fate that his foot, o King, there and then was captured by a mighty and angry crocodile [- of mâyâ], whereupon the elephant with all the strength he had in him strenuously tried to free himself from the dangerous position he had landed in. (28) The wives, who saw that their leader was attacked and captured by that force, began, daunted, to cry over the danger, while the other elephants trying from behind trying to free him, couldn't manage either. (29) With the elephant and the crocodile this way fighting, pulling one another in and out of the water, passed a thousand years in which they both stayed alive, and that, o King, was something which by the immortals was considered most wonderful. (30) In the time thereafter lost Gajendra, the elephant king, because of the exhaust of for years of prolonged fighting being pulled into the water [to elsewhere thus], more and more his strength while on the contrary the crocodile that was at home in the water all together became more frantic, strong and powerful.
(31) When he, Gajendra, in his life, this way by providence having run into this form of danger, found himself unable to save himself from such a helpless condition, had he to think for a long time and reached he thereupon this decision: (32) 'When all these relatives aren't able to deliver me as an elephant from my distress, and I from my wives neither may expect to be freed from the tight grip of the crocodile [of passion], must even [a stout elephant as] I, as good as anybody else, take shelter of that [Supreme of the Lord] which is the transcendental and the refuge of the exalted [compare 7.9: 18]. (33) Against the so very strong serpent of death [time, see B.G. 11: 32], which with its fearful force chases someone endlessly, will He who is someone's Controller, protect him who, afraid of death, is of surrender; I will seek my refuge with Him who is the actual shelter of everyone and for whom even death itself runs scared.'
Gajendra's Prayers of Surrender
(1) The son of Vyâsa [S'uka] said: 'Thus in his intelligence determined to concentrate his mind on the heart, he [Gajendra] chanted a supreme prayer he had practiced in a previous birth [see also B.G. 6: 43-44]. (2) S'rî Gajendra said: 'My obeisances unto the Original One, the Supreme Godhead from whom this material existence is moving in consciousness, let me meditate upon Him, that personality who is the root cause, the Supreme Controller. (3) On Him the universe rests, from Him there are all its elements and by Him it is working, unto Him who Himself is the material world in effect as well as its transcendental cause, unto that Supreme Self-sufficient One I surrender myself. (4) He who from Himself, by His own energy, expanded this cosmic manifestation, that sometimes is manifest and sometimes is not visible, oversees in both cases as the witness all and everything; that Soul without a prior cause, that Supreme of all Transcendence, I beseech, please protect me! (5) When in due course of time everything, all transformations, all that is done, all the worlds and all its maintainers and directors, comes to naught, is there a dense and deep darkness, above and beyond which is shining the Almighty One. (6) Like with the looks of a performing artist who then cannot be fathomed, can His movements neither by the gods, the sages or the common creatures be understood or expressed in words; He so hard to grasp, may He give me His protection. (7) The Lord of those desirous to see the all-auspicious lotus feet, of those freed from all attachment, of those great sages, faultless in the forest, highly elevated practicing vows to the different positions [the âs'ramas], the Lord of those who are equal and friendly to all, He is my destination. (8-9) From Him there is no birth, no karma, no name or form, nor modes and faults certainly either; nevertheless does He, who is the destruction and the creation of this cosmic manifestation, by His own potency time and again come into action [as an avatâra]. Unto Him the transcendental One who is the Controller, the Supreme Brahman of unlimited potency, who without a form has assumed forms, who is of so many wonderful activities, I offer my respects. (10) My obeisances unto Him, the enlightenment of the soul, the witness in all, the Supreme of the Self; unto Him who defies description, the mind and even the consciousness my reverence. (11) He, the object of devotion who by the ones of learning in transcendental activities is done justice, unto Him, the master of emancipation, the bestower of happiness, He who is completely free, my honorable reverence. (12) All my obeisances to the One of Peace fully concentrated on the spiritual in forms fierce and animalistic [like Nrisimhma and Varâha] to the different qualities of nature; to Him who as well is the knowledge of Brahman, I do dedicate my prayer. (13) The knower of the field [see B.G. 13: 1-5] I respect, You the superintendent of all, the witness and the original person who art the original source, unto You, the doer of the material creation, You as the primal reality, I offer my obeisances. (14) You I respect, for You oversee the objectives of all the senses. You are the end of all doubts with the untrue that because of being Your mirror-image is called the reality. To that reflection, my reverence unto You. (15) My obeisances again unto You, the causeless supreme cause of everything, the cause of all wonders, the source of what is learned in succession, the ocean receiving from all rivers of knowing; I honor You, the granter of liberation and the shelter of the transcendentalist. (16) Unto Him whose fire of knowledge by the modes of nature is covered the way fire is covered in wood, unto Him outside of the, by the turmoil of nature agitated, mind, unto Him manifest personally for those who from their stage of spiritual understanding gave up on the formal approach, I do dedicate myself. (17) As an animal like me of surrender unto Him, the Immaculate of infinite mercy who releases from being entangled, I offer my respects; by a single part of Your self [the Paramâtmâ, see also B.G. 10: 42] are You ever attentive to all the ones embodied, unto the Supreme Lord of no limits, celebrated in the mind as the direct observer, I offer my obeisances. (18) For all those so very attached to their mind and body, sons and daughters, home, wealth and helpers, are You difficult to reach, but for persons liberated in the heart, in freedom from the influence of the modes of nature, You are there already [see B.G. 6: 47]; unto Him who is always meditated, the reservoir of all spiritual knowledge, unto that Supreme Lord and Controller, my respects. (19) By worshiping Him can that be reached what is sought with all the desiring after the religion, the economy, the gratification and the liberation, not even mentioning the other benedictions He also bestows like having a spiritual body on top of that; may He, the one of infinite mercy, grant me the liberation of my soul [see also 2.3: 10 and 7.9: 27]. (20-21) Those who yearn for no other purpose than Him do not desire some benediction - those who factually came to the shelter of the Supreme Lord are immersed in an ocean of transcendental bliss by reciting and hearing about the all-auspicious, wondrous activities of Him. He, the eternal one transcendental, Supreme Master of all great personalities, the unseen Soul above all that in yoga can be reached by devotion is, as subtle and elusive out of the reach of the senses as He is, the unlimited, all-complete origin whom I worship. (22-24) Of Him are by His parts - the moving and nonmoving different entities, the vedic knowledge the gods and all who belong to Brahmâ - created the less important divisions of names and forms. This continuous display of the modes of nature, this intelligence and mind, these senses and divisions of the gross and subtle of the body, are, like sparks to the fire that is the sun, the shining particles that over and over emanate from and merge into Him as parts and parcels. That fire, indeed not a demigod or a demon, a human being, beast nor bird, a woman, neuter or man either, nor either a living creature, is not the fruitive action nor the manifestation nor the non-manifest; He is the end of excluding this and that [neti neti see also 7.7: 23]; all hail to Him, the unlimited One! (25) I do not wish to continue with my life here or in a world hereafter; of what use would that be when one within and without is locked up; in this birth as an elephant I desire to escape from the timebound which only heads for destruction. I want to be liberated from that degrading limitation of myself [see also 1.2: 3, 6.15: 16]. (26) For that purpose do I unto Him, the manifest albeit the unmanifest creator of this cosmic manifestation, that unborn soul and the knower of the universe and transcendental shelter of the Supreme, offer my life and soul. (27) Those of the unification of consciousness unto Him, who by that bhakti-yoga burned all the karma and have a unified heart purified, do directly see Him, the Lord of Yoga I'm dedicated to. (28) My respects again and again unto You, the formidable of the forces of the threefold potency of [making, unwinding and keeping up] the complete, unto Him who, to the intelligence appearing as an object to the senses, gives shelter and who, with His difficult to overcome energies [see B.G. 16: 21], is unattainable for the ones who on the path cannot control their senses. (29) I seek my refuge with Him whose glories are so hard to fathom, whose identity by the people in general is not known and under whose influence and intelligence I as a separate soul am defeated.'
(30) S'rî S'uka said: 'When, because of this description that was not directed at any particular person, none of the autocratic godly of Brahmâ with their variety of forms, approached Gajendra, appeared there from the choice of the godly the Lord in person for He is the complete of them all together [compare B.G. 7: 20-23 and 9: 23; 4.31: 14]. (31) Hearing his prayer came the Lord of all worlds understanding his predicament, together with the denizens of heaven who offered their prayers, as fast as He could, carried by Garuda and equiped with His disc and other weapons, to the spot where Gajendra was. (32) When he, who in the water so violently was captured and was suffering, saw the Lord who from the back of Garuda wielded His disc in the sky, raised he his trunk holding a lotus flower and uttered he with difficulty: 'O Nârâyana, Teacher of the Complete, o Supreme Lord, You I offer my obeisances.' (33) Seeing him that aggrieved alighted the Unborn One so full of mercy immediately and saved He, before the eyes of all the godly present with His disc severing the mouth from the crocodile its trunk, King Gajendra by pulling him out of the water.
Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thereafter [when Gajendra was freed] showered the godly, the rishis and the heavenly singers headed by Brahmâ and S'iva, flowers in praise of that feat of the Lord. (2) The sky vibrated of the kettledrums, the Gandharvas sang and danced and the saints, the venerable ones and the perfected offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (3-4) He, Hûhû, a singer of heaven who by a curse of sage Devala, had become that crocodile, appeared that very moment as a most wonderfully beautiful Gandharva indeed, who, offering obeisances with his head to the Supreme Eternal Master Hailed in the Verses, began to chant the glories of His transcendental pastimes and qualities. (5) He being favored by the Lord circumambulated Him offering his respects, and with everybody watching went he, being delivered from all sin, back to his own abode. (6) Gajendra was by the touch of the Supreme Lord instantly freed from the ignorance of being bound and had achieved the selfsame form with four arms and yellow garments [sârûpya-mukti, see also 3.29: 13]. (7) He in fact before had, born as the best of Dravida-des'a, been the king of Pândya and was, sworn to Vishnu always being on the transcendental path, thus known as Indradyumna. (8) He had, when the time had come for his penance, with the greatest care taken to the vow of silence and was, with matted locks doing his austerity in Kulâcala [the Malaya hills] where he had his âs'rama, one day worshipping the Infallible Lord, immersed in love for the Supreme Controller. (9) Out of his own will arrived at the spot the renown Âgastya surrounded by his disciples and seeing him silent, sitting alone in meditation without offering a respectful reception, it so happened that the rishi became very angry. (10) He then gave him this curse: 'This degraded soul so unfriendly and inapt of mind before me as an insult to the brahminical, let him enter the darkness as a dull minded elephant indeed.'
(11-12) S'rî S'uka said: 'After thus condemning him left the so powerful Âgastya from there with his associates, o King, leaving Indradyumna thinking that the curse despite of his elevated position was a result of his past deeds. When he got born as an elephant was the remembrance of his identity destroyed, but because he worshiped the Lord offering prayers, got he despite of that elephant's body the chance to remember his past. (13) When the Lord of the Lotus navel thus had delivered the king of the elephants, returned He accompanied by him, who was awarded the position of being His associate, together with the Gandharvas, the perfected and the sages - who all praised Him for His wonderful deeds - to His own abode sitting on the back of Garuda. (14) This what I described to you, o King, about the unlimited potency of Lord Krishna in delivering the devotee Gajendra, promotes those who hear of it to the heavenly spheres and increases their reputation as a devotee; it takes away the contaminations of Kali-yuga [see 1.17: 24-25] and drives away the bad dreams, o best of the Kurus. (15) To counteract the troubles of having had a bad night do people out for the blessing, especially the pure of the twice-born, faithfully recite this story when they rise in the morning. (16) This is what the All-pervading Great Lord being pleased in the presence of everyone has said to Gajendra, o best of the Kuru dynasty. (17-24) The Supreme Lord said: 'Those who, when they get up at the end of the night, with care concentrating do remember My forms - the forms of Me and you; the forms of the lake, this hill, these caves and gardens; those of the cane and bamboos, the groups of trees, these peaks and the abodes of Me and those of Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva; as also this ocean of milk and this white island with its brilliant luster so dear to Me; My S'rîvatsa-mark, Kaustubha-jewel, [Vaijayantî] garland, Kaumodakî club, Sudars'ana disc and Pâñcajanya conch; Garuda, Ananta S'esha, My subtle plenary portion the Goddess of Fortune; all who depend on me, Lord Brahmâ, Nârada rishi, S'iva and Prahlâda; My Matsya incarnation, Kûrma, Varâha, and the other avatâras; the countless of all My auspicious deeds; the deities of the sun, the moon and the fire; the Omkâra mantra, the Absolute Truth and the total material energy; the cows, the brahmins and the eternal dharma; the daughters of Daksha, the dutiful wives of the moongod, Kas'yapa and also the Ganges, the Sarasvatî, the Nandâ and the Yamunâ; Airâvata [Indra's elephant], Dhruva, the seven so very pious sages and the human beings - are delivered from all their worries. (25) Those offering Me prayers this way, my best, rising at the end of the night, will I, also at the time of their death, grant the greater destination.'
(26) S'rî S'uka said: 'Hrishîkes'a, thus having given his address, mounting the back of Garuda then blew on the best one of the sea [His conch] to the pleasure of the host of divine lordships.'
The Fifth and Sixth Manu and the Prayers of Brahmâ with the Suras.
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'O King, I have described to you the - to the hearer liberating - activity of the Lord with the deliverance of the pious Gajendra. Now hear about the time of Raivata Manu. (2) The fifth Manu known as Raivata was the brother of Tâmasa, and Bali, Vindhya and the others headed by Arjuna were his sons. (3) Vibhu ruled the heavens, o King, and the god-fearing were lead by the Bhûtarayas: the twiceborn of Hiranyaromâ, Vedas'irâ, Ûrdhvabâhu and others. (4) From S'ubhra and his wife Vikunthhâ, appeared with the godly followers of the Truth as His own expansions, the Lord of Vaikunthha, the Supreme Lord in person. (5) By Him was, just to please the Goddess of Fortune, upon her request and to the appreciation of all, built a world free from carelessness [another Vaikunthha]. (6) If someone would try to enumerate His exploits, qualities and transcendental glories would such a person count as many transcendental qualities of Vishnu as one can count particles of matter.
(7) The sixth Manu was Câkshusha, the son of Cakshu and with Pûru, Pûrusha and Sudyumna first were there the sons of Câkshusha. (8) Mantradruma was then the heavenly king and of the godly of the Âpyas and others there were the sages, o King, one knew as Havishmân, Vîraka and others. (9) From Vairâja his wife Devasambhûti was there a son named Ajita who was a partial incarnation [ams'a-avatâra] of the Lord, the all powerful master of the universe. (10) His churning the ocean [of milk], as Kûrma keeping Himself within the water in the form of a tortoise, with the moving left and right of the Mandara Mountain, produced the nectar of the Sura's.'
(11-12) S'rî Parîkchit said: 'O brahmin for what purpose was the ocean of milk churned with the mountain and for what reason resided He in the water as a tortoise? And what all came with the nectar that the godly achieved from it? Please be so kind to describe all these so very wonderful activities of the Supreme Lord. (13) My heart distressed by hardship for so long is not yet fully satisfied with your describing all the glories of the Master of the Devotees'."
(14) S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: "The great son of Vyâsadeva thus requested, o dear twice-born, complimented him and began to describe the heroism of the Lord. (15-16) S'rî S'uka said: 'When the godly were besieged by the Asuras who fought them with their sharp edged weapons, had the majority of them fallen so that they couldn't rise to their feet again. With sage Durvâsâ having cursed Indra and his three worlds [*], o King, had they all fallen in poverty because they couldn't perform the rituals and ceremonies anymore. (17-18) The Sura's, the great Indra, Varuna and all others, in consultation hearing one another meeting on this, could by themselves not reach a satisfactory conclusion. They then went to the assembly of Lord Brahmâ on top of mount Meru and informed him about it all, offering him their obeisances. (19-20) When Lord Brahmâ, the Almighty, saw how all the godly headed by Indra were bereft of all potency and light and how the three worlds were plunged in ill fortune while the Asuras were flourishing, set he his mind to a continuous remembrance of the Original Person in the beyond and spoke he, the most powerful of them all, bright-faced to the godly: (21) 'I, Lord S'iva, you all, as also the numbers of the unenlightened, the human beings, the animals, the trees and plants and the insects and germs, all generated from Himself, from His partial incarnation [Brahmâ here or the guna-avatâra] and from all those that are part of Him; let us all head now for the shelter offered by the Inexhaustible One. (22) For Him no one is to be killed or to be protected, to be disregarded or to be worshiped, nevertheless does He for the sake of creation, maintenance and annihilation accept in due order of time the part of [His incarnation as an avatâra of] passion, goodness and ignorance [see also B.G. 9: 29 and 4: 8]. (23) Now it is the time to establish, for the good of all living beings, His rule of maintenance in the mode of goodness; let us thus take to the shelter of the Teacher of the Universe - may He, so affectionate with His own people, us Suras, bring the good fortune we need [see B.G. 14 & 18].'
(24) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Lord of the Veda thus talking to the godly, o subduer of the enemies, went directly to the abode of the Invincible One beyond the world of darkness. (25) There, unto Him who in His true form cannot be seen, but about whom all the Veda speaks, uttered the master of the gods the divine prayers of which the vibrations then settled the rule over the mind. (26) S'rî Brahmâ said: 'The Unchanging One, the Truth Unlimited, the Original Cause in everyone's heart, the Undiminishing, Inconceivable, Evanescent, Unspeakable and Indescribable One, the Unsurpassed God most desirable, do we gods all offer our respects [compare 6.3: 20-21 and B.G. 15: 15 and 9: 4]. (27) With the omniscient, the living force to the mind and intelligence of all living beings; the ever vigilant to all the objective, the senses and the knowledge; the immaculate, impartial shelter of all the ones in the dark; with Him the infallible, all-pervading Lord of all three Yugas [in the fourth He is there as His own devotee], I seek my refuge. (28) The wheel of time that with its swifty fifteen spokes [the knowing and working senses and the five airs], three electrifying naves [the modes] and its eight segments [the five elements, mind, false ego and intelligence] by His external energy with great force is revolving around the hub they say that is Him, is there to the living being as a self-invented order; let us unto that factual reality of Him be of the greatest respect [compare 3.21: 18, 7.9: 21, 5.21: 13 and B.G. 18: 61]. (29) He of one profession [that of goodness], transcendental to the material darkness; that unmanifested, not to locate, unlimited One beyond all measure carried on the back of Garuda [the vedic verses]; He is by the unperturbed and sober, worshiped by means of yoga [see also 4.3: 23]. (30) The illusory energy no one is able to overcome, by that energy are the people in general bewildered and do they not understand the real wealth of life; Him of complete control over the living being and the modes of the external energy, that transcendental controller equal unto all who rules the living beings, we pay homage. (31) Unto us, we relying on a body created from goodness, You appear as near and dear as to the saints situated the same; nevertheless we are not fully aware of the destination so subtle. If that is so with us, then how would that be with the unenlightened and atheistic so displaced despite of their primal interest? (32) To this earth verily created by Him, to this material creation wherein one finds the four types of living beings at His feet [as born from wombs, eggs, moist and seed see, also 2.10: 37-40], He is in fact the Supreme One, the Original Person; may He, the Greatest One of unlimited potency, be merciful unto us. (33) The masses of water are but His semen so powerful in generating all life which, including all the godly ruling throughout the universe, wherever indeed flourishes by it; may He, the one of the greatest might, be pleased with us. (34) Soma, the moon, they say that is His mind, is the strength of the denizens of heaven, of the foodgrains and the duration of life; that Supreme Lord making the trees as also all other living entities grow, may He, that source of all opulence, be satisfied with us [see also: 2.10: 30 and 6.6: 24-26]. (35) From His mouth of fire, as also present in the depths of the ocean where it digests all the elements [like the fire of digestion in the stomach], He produces, by its presence in the ceremonies, all wealth; may He, the Almighty be content with us. (36) That which became His eye, the deity of the sun that is the lead of the godly in endeavoring materially; this focus and gateway for the realization of the eternal path, the Absolute Truth and one's liberation, this deity which as well is the cause of one's death, may that All-Powerful One be pleased with us [see also 2.1: 30 B.G. 7: 8, 10: 21 and 11: 19]. (37) From His life force, His breath, in all living entities, from that prâna as the basic principle, from following that air like subjects who follow an emperor, there is all the strength and vitality; may He of All Power be contented with us. (38) From His hearing there are the different directions, from His heart we know the body with its apertures and from the Original Person His navel [of space] generated the ether that of the life force, the senses, the mind, the vitality and our physical body is the [spiritual] shelter; may the Supreme Power of Him be pleased with us [2.1: 27 & 29]. (39) The great Indra is there of His strength and the servants [of Him] within the three worlds are there of His satisfaction; from His anger there is the Controller on the Mountain [Lord S'iva], and from his sober intelligence there is Viriñca [Lord Brahmâ]; from the apertures emanate the mantras while the saints and founding fathers are there from His genitals; may the One so Powerful be happy with us. (40) The goddess is from His chest, the ancestral is from His shadow, the religion was possible from His front, and irreligion could be there from His back; the higher places are from the top of His head and the dancing girls of heaven are there from His sense enjoyment; may He, the greatest of all prowess, be pleased with us. (41) The learned [brahmins] are there from His mouth, just as the vedic literatures and His confidential knowledge, the administrators [kshatriyas] and the physical strength are there of His arms, from His thighs there are the traders [the vais'yas see also 2.1: 37] and their know-how of provision and from His feet there are the workers [s'ûdras] unconcerned about the Veda; may He so Supremely Powerful be content with us all. (42) Greed is His lower lip and affection His upper lip; the bodily luster could exist from His nose and by His touch could there be the animalistic lust; from His brows there was the Lord of Death [Yamarâja] but from His eyelashes could there be the eternal Time; may He, the One of all Prowess, be pleased with us. (43) The material elements, their weaver [kâla, time], the fruitive labor and the modes of nature and the variety of forms created is that which makes up the complete of His creative potency [yoga-mâyâ] of which all the learned say that it is hard to fathom - it is the trouble from which the ones who came to realization turn away; may He the Controller of All and Everything be content with us. (44) Let there be our reverence for Him who is the peace free from endeavoring, the self-sustaining and the full satisfaction of all accomplishment; our obeisances unto Him, the Soul to the world that moves in modes, Him, the game-master, who like the air is aloof from all worries about the things of matter. (45) We are surrendered to You, yet wish to see Your smiling lotuslike face. May we see Him, You my Lord, in Your original form, directly visible before our eyes? (46) By and by, in factual forms, time after time appearing by Your personal will, do You in person, o Mighty One, perform uncommon activities so that You for us are indeed the Supreme Lord in control [B.G. 4: 7]. (47) For people eager to enjoy are there many obstacles and little results, thereto with one's projects ending in frustration; being like that is one indeed really not devoted to You. (48) Not even the slightest activity properly performed goes in vain, because in dedication to the Controller [who is the Time] one realizes You as the Original Soul who for sure is extremely dear and beneficial to all persons. (49) Like indeed with the watering of the root of a tree one also waters the trunk and the branches, is it also with the worship of Vishnu, the soul of everyone [see also 4.31: 14]. (50) All my obeisances unto You, my Lord of the Eternal, o worker of the wonders of the higher existence, o Controller of all the Modes now established in goodness.'
*: The story goes: 'While Durvâsâ Muni was passing on the road, he saw Indra on the back of his elephant and was pleased to offer Indra a garland from his own neck. Indra, however, being too puffed up, took the garland, and without respect for Durvâsâ Muni, he placed it on the trunk of his carrier elephant. The elephant, being an animal, could not understand the value of the garland, and thus the elephant threw the garland between its legs and smashed it. Seeing this insulting behavior, Durvâsâ Muni immediately cursed Indra to be poverty-stricken, bereft of all material opulence. Thus the demigods, afflicted on the one hand by the fighting demons and on the other by the curse of Durvâsâ Muni, lost all the material opulences in the three worlds.'
The Suras and Asuras Declare a Truce
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller, thus being prayed to by the godly then appeared before them, o King, with an effulgence of thousands of suns rising. (2) Because of this was that instant the vision of the godly blocked; they could see in no direction, nor the sky, nor the land, nor themselves, and where could the Almighty One be seen? (3-7) The moment they discerned His appearance, so pure with the luster of a blue gem, His pinkish eyes like a lotus heart, His shine like molten gold, His yellow silken dress, the great beauty and grace of all His limbs, His smile, His beautiful eyebrows, the jeweled helmet, the decoration of all His ornaments, the light from His earrings, the cheeks of His beautiful face, His belt and bangles, His necklace and anklebells all beautifully set, the Kaustubha gem on His chest, S'rî Lakshmî moving with Him, His flowergarlands and His cakra and His other weapons, prostrated all the immortals together with Lord S'iva, who was the one divinity for them all, body and limb to the ground and glorified they the so mighty Lord Brahmâ, the chief of the gods, the Supreme Personality.
(8) S'rî Brahmâ said: 'Unto the One never born but always appearing, the One free from the modes, that ocean of bliss beyond all existence, that smallest of atoms so inscrutable in all His features, unto You, the Inconceivable One, our reverence again and again [see also B.G. 4: 6]. (9) This form of You, o Best of all Persons, is so worshipable and auspicious to all who desire to the vedic directions as realized from the Tantras [special vedic treatises] in practicing yoga; o director who with us controls the three worlds, oh, in You we directly see the complete universe. (10) Unto You in the beginning there was, unto You in the middle there was, unto You in the end there will be all of this; the beginning, the end and the middle of this cosmic creation do You fully control: like the earth to its pot, You're the chief of transcendence. (11) You, by Your energy eternal, with Your soul as the refuge, do, out of Your own for the sake of creation enter this universe so vast and the ones connected, those full of the sastra, see, as high spirited people with a consciousness advanced, You, in the transformation of the modes even though You are untouched by those qualities of nature. (12) As with fire from wood, like with the nectar from cows, like with the foodgrains and water that are found on this earth as also like with the livelihood one has from enterprising, achieves the living being by the practice of yoga, intelligent to the modes, indeed You so the greatest souls say. (13) O Lordship to us all, o Master in Your fullness here before us, with the lotus from Your navel, for so long we've waited desiring the goal and now today we all may cherish the vision of bliss, like elephants, who distressed by a forest fire, would cherish the water of the Ganges. (14) O Soul, who art to each the beyond, about the purpose for which we've arrived at Your feet we do not have to inform You being the witness of all; may You kindly fulfill the needs of these souls to all places we rule. (15) I and He from the Mountain [S'iva], the enlightened and all so led by fathers as Daksha, are like sparks to the fire of You o my Lord - how can we as separate particles arrive at understanding o my Lord? Kindly bestow the good fortune, the mantras, of the twice-born and brahmin. .'
(16) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being worshiped by Viriñca [Brahmâ] and all, understanding what they in their hearts were expecting, replied He with words rumbling as clouds those who in prayer restrained all their senses. (17) Although the Controller could handle by Himself what the godly had to do, wanted He as their Lordship to enjoy the pastime of churning the ocean and spoke He to them. (18) The Supreme Lord said: 'Listen o Brahmâ and S'iva, o gods, to what I have to say; all of you hear attentively as that will bring good fortune to all of you Sura's. (19) Just settle, awaiting your own good fortune, for a truce with the Daityas and Danavas their benedictions of a favorable time. (20) If it is important to one's own duties should one even with one's enemies make a truce, like a snake would with a mouse o gods, to the interest of his position [*]. (21) Do not hesitate to do your best to endeavor for the nectar of which any living entity in danger of death drinking it can become immortal. (22-33) With in the ocean of milk thrown all sorts of creepers, grasses, vegetables and herbs and making with My help Vâsuki [the snake] the churning rope for the rod of Mandara, proceed to churn carefully; it will engage the conspirators of the hindrance, but you will all reap the fruit. (24) You should altogether accept whatever the Asuras demand o Sura's, do not aggress to it as proceeding in peace all ends desired will be met with the greatest success. (25) Do not be afraid of the kâlakûtha ['false time'] poison that will appear from the ocean of milk, and take care not to be led by greed, lust or anger with what is churned.'
(26) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the Supreme Lord thus had advised the godly, disappeared the Highest Example from there, o King, for He is the Controller free to move. (27) When they had offered Him, their Supreme Lord their obeisances, returned the Great Father with the Lord of Becoming [Bhava, S'iva] back to their abodes and was King Bali approached by the Sura's. (28) The honorable ruler of the Daityas [Bali] saw that, even though his captains stood prepared, the enemies had no plans to fight them and so he kept them back, well aware of what the time for fighting and what the time for negotiations was. (29) They all approached and sat down with the son of Virocana [Bali], who, well protected by the asura commanders, as the conqueror of all the worlds was blessed with great opulence. (30) The great Indra with mild words pleasing him to his best, as the greatest intelligence submitted to him all that they had learned from the Supreme Personality. (31) It was all very acceptable to the daitya ruler as well as to the other asura chiefs Sambara, Arishthanemi and the rest of the inhabitants of Tripura. (32) Following concluding to an armistice between them, embarked they, deva and Asura, upon the supreme enterprise of churning for the nectar, o chastiser of the enemies. (33) To that did they all with full force, with great strength and loud cries uproot Mandara Mountain and took they it to the ocean with their strong and stout arms. (34) Over a great distance carrying the load could Indra and the son of Virocana being fatigued not bear the load any longer and left they it behind on the road. (35) The gigantic golden mountain falling down right there crushed with its great weight many of the enlightened and the unenlightened. (36) Carried by Garuda the Supreme Lord thereafter appeared to them all who as well had broken their arms and legs as their hearts. (37) Simply glancing over the immortals and mortals who were crushed by the falling mountain brought them back to life unscathed and free from grief. (38) With the greatest ease placed He with one hand the mountain on Garuda, mounted He and went He to the ocean, surrounded by the Sura's and Asuras. (39) Unloading the mountain from his shoulder went Garuda, the greatest of all birds, to the waterside and placed he it there, whereupon he was sent away by the Lord [so that he would not eat Vâsuki].'
*: The idea here is that of a mouse with a snake caught in a basket, wherein the mouse makes a hole and the snake profits then from both if he does not immediately eats the mouse.
Lord S'iva Drinks the Poison Churned with the Mountain Mandara
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'De Sura's invited the king of the snakes, Vâsuki, promising him a share and wound him around the mountain to serve as a churning rope. Thereupon commenced they in great glee with the job of trying for the nectar, o best of the Kurus. (2) Lord Hari took him first by the head and the godly followed His example. (3) The daitya leaders didn't like the arrangement and thought to the mature and outstanding knowledge of their study, their birth and experience: 'None of us will try the tail of the serpent because that is the inferior part'. (4) Seeing how consequently the Daityas kept silent, smiled the Supreme Personality. He gave up the front portion and grasped with the demigods the rear end. (5) Thus settling the positions for where to hold, did they, the sons of Kas'yapa [godly and demoniac], with great zeal churn to get the nectar from the ocean of milk. (6) As they were churning sank of its weight, having no support, that hill down in the water despite of it being captured by the strong, o son of Pându. (7) Heavily disappointed, dried all of the beauty of their faces up as they saw how their efforts by the stronger will of God were overruled. (8) When He saw how by divine intervention the mountain sank, expanded the Infallible Controller whose ways and powers are so inscrutable, Himself into the wondrous body of a giant tortoise, entered He the water and lifted He [Kurma] it up [see also Das'âvatâra-stotra verse 2]. (9) Observing it being lifted cheered up as well Sura as Asura to churn the body that as a big island on top of another one stretched out on His back for a hundred thousand yojanas. (10) The rotating of the mountain moved by the strong arms of the sura and asura leaders, my best, was by the original tortoise who bore it on His back considered an infinitely pleasant scratching. (11) Thereafter, to encourage them and increase their strength and vigor, entered Lord Vishnu the Asuras in the form of their own quality [that of passion], infused He the godly with divinity [the mode of goodness], and assumed He the form of ignorance with the king of the serpents. (12) On top of the big mountain as another mountain grasping Mandara with one hand, exhibited He thousands of hands while from the sky Lord Brahmâ and S'iva headed by Indra offered Him prayers and showered Him with flowers. (13) As well as on top as below, as with themselves, with the mountain and with the rope having entered as the Supreme, was the ocean that with great strength vehemently was churned, seriously agitated by the great rock, and were all the alligators disturbed. (14) The serpent king heavily breathing in all directions, spitted by the thousands of him fire and smoke and thus affected with the heat of his radiation the Asuras headed by Pauloma, Kâleya, Bali and Ilvala who all began to look like sarala trees scorched in a forest fire. (15) Also the godly were affected in their luster by his fiery breath that smoked their dresses, fine garlands, armament and faces; under the direction of the Supreme Lord it then profusely rained while breezes blew clouds of vapor from the waves of the ocean. (16) When the ocean to the best ability of the godly and Asuras was duly churned but no nectar appeared, began the Invincible One Himself to churn. (17) As dark as a cloud, in yellow silks, with lightning earrings on His ears, with His gleaming hair on His head disheveled, with His garland, reddish eyes and victorious arms securing the universe, churned He, after taking the snake, the churning rod for which the mountain was used and assumed He for that purpose a size as big as that of a mountain Himself. (18) After first highly agitating all kinds of fish, sharks, snakes, all sorts of tortoises, whales, water-elephants, crocodiles and timingilas [whale-eating whales], appeared, with all the churning going on, from the ocean a very strong poison called Hâlahala [or Kâlakûtha, see 8.6: 25]. (19) That potent unbearable poison, unstoppable spreading in all directions high and low, scared all the people who together with their leaders found no rest, o my best, so that they, not being protected, sought the shelter of Lord S'iva's lotus feet. (20) When they saw him who for the welfare of the three worlds together with his wife sat on his mountain [Kailâsa], he, the best of the demigods hailed by the saints who in austerity walk the path of liberation in service, offered they him their obeisances.
(21) The leaders of mankind said: 'O Lord of Lords, o Mahâdeva, o soul of each, o love of all, deliver us, who took to your lotusfeet, from this poison burning the three worlds. (22) You alone in the whole universe are the lord and master over bondage and liberation, you are the one we worship as persons seeking the fortune; you are the spiritual master to mitigate all distress. (23) By the modes of matter, by your own potency, do you execute the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material world, o mighty one, when you manifest yourself, o greatest, as Brahmâ, Vishnu or S'iva. (24) You are the Brahman Supreme, the confidential of the cause and the effect of all the varieties of creation; you with all your potencies manifested are the Supersoul and the Controller of the universe. (25) You are the source of the [spiritual, vedic] sound, the origin of the universe, the Soul, the life breath, the senses and the elements, the modes of nature and the self-realization, the eternal time, the determination and the religiousness of the truth [satya] and truthfulness [rta]; it is unto you that one utters the original syllable consisting of the three letters [A-U-M]. (26) Fire, your mouth, represents the complete of all divine souls; the surface of the globe one does know, o love of all worlds, as your lotus feet; time is the progress of the aggregate of your demigods; the directions are your ears and the controller of the waters [Varuna] is your taste. (27) With the sky as your navel, the air as your breath, the sun globe for your eyes, the water indeed as your semen, the moon as your mind and the higher worlds, o Lord, as your head, is your self the shelter of all living beings high and low [compare 8.5: 33-43]. (28) With the oceans as your belly, the mountains as your bones, the plants, creepers and herbs as your hairs and the mantras as your seven layers [koshas], are, o Vedas in person, all the religions the core of your heart [see also 2.1: 32]. (29) The five options [basic texts] of philosophy [called Tatpurusha, Aghora, Sadyojâta,Vâmadeva, and Îs'âna] are your faces with the thirty-eight important mantras [*] that ascertain the reality of the Supersoul, the reality of you o Lord, celebrated as S'iva in the position of your self-illumination. (30) The waves of irreligion [lust, anger, greed and illusion] constitute but your shadow, the shadow on the basis of which there are so many types of creation; your three eyes are the goodness, the passion and the darkness; your simply glancing over brought about the analytic scriptures of the soul, o Lord full of verses, o god of the vedic literatures and their supplements. (31) None of the directors of the world, o Ruler on the Mountain, not Brahmâ, not Vishnu, nor the king of the Suras [Indra], can fathom your supreme effulgence, the impersonal spirit equal to gods and man, wherein the modes of passion, ignorance and goodness are not found. (32) In this world which, having originated from you, is being destroyed by the sparks of the fire from your eyes at the time of annihilation, have you burned to ashes Tripura [7.10: 53], the sacrifices of desire [see e.g. 4.5], the poison of time [in this story], and many other forms of trouble to the living beings; but these matters do, because you keep this world out of your mind, not serve the praise of you. (33) People who by the self-satisfied spiritual masters within their hearts think of your two lotus feet as moving with Umâ your consort do, later on in their penance, criticize your acts and consider you in the crematorium not always a nice person; they indeed being of such a shameless attitude do not understand your activities. (34) For the reason of that being transcendentally situated above the moving and the nonmoving, are you difficult to understand; and when it is not possible for even Brahmâ and the ones belonging to him to comprehend your reality as-it-is, o great one, how much wouldn't that be true for us? Even though we are but creations to the creation [that is of Brahmâ] do we, to our ability, offer you our prayers. (35) With all things transcendental we cannot see the actual supreme position of you who indeed are there for the happiness of the manifested world, o great controller not known in your activities.'
(36) S'rî S'uka said: 'Seeing their pernicious predicament spoke he, Mahâdeva, the friend of all living beings out of his compassion for the great sorrow to his consort Satî. (37) Lord S'iva said: 'Dear Bhavânî, how pitiable this situation of all the living beings, just see how threatening the present situation is because of all the poison produced from the churning of the ocean. (38) Feeling responsible for all of their lives must I indeed do something for their safety; considered their master is it my duty to protect the ones suffering. (39) Devotees protect with their own life other living beings who time bound, bewildered by the external energy, are of enmity with one another. (40) Doing good to others o gentle one, is the Soul of All, the Lord, pleased and because the Supreme Personality of the Lord is pleased are also I and all other moving and nonmoving entities happy; let me therefore drink this poison so that there from me will be the well-being of all creatures.'
(41) S'rî S'uka said: 'Lord S'iva, the well-wisher of the universe, this way addressing Bhavânî then began, with the permission of her knowing the best of him, to drink the poison. (42) Mahâdeva thereto took the widespread Hâlahala poison in his hand and drank it compassionately for the good of all living beings. (43) To him exhibited that poison from the water its potency by giving his neck a bluish line, the line that in the eyes of the saintly person is an ornament. (44) The saints as good as always voluntarily take upon them the sufferings of the common people; that action of theirs is truly the highest form of worship of the original person, the complete of the soul [see also 1.5: 17-19, B.G. 18: 68-69 and 4: 7-8]. (45) Hearing of that act of S'iva, the god of gods, the graceful one, was he highly praised by all the people, by the daughter of Daksha [Satî see also 4.3 & 4], and by Brahmâ and the Lord of Vaikuntha. (46) And to the little bit that was scattered here and there as he drank from the palm, attended some other known living creatures like scorpions, cobras and other poisonous animals and plants.
*: The thirty-six mantras called pañcopanishadas taves'a are: (1) tat purushâya vidmahe s'ântyai, (2) mahâ-devâya dhîmahi vidyâyai, (3) tan no rudrah pratishthhâyai, (4) pracodayât dhrityai, (5) aghorebhyas tamâ, (6) atha ghorebhyo mohâ, (7) aghorebhyo rakshâ, (8) aghoratarebhyo nidrâ, (9) sarvebhyah sarva-vyâdhyai, (10) sarva-sarvebhyo mrityave, (11) namas te 'stu kshudhâ, (12) rudra-rûpebhyas trishnâ, (13) vamadevâya rajâ, (14) jyeshthhâya svâhâ, (15) s'reshthhâya ratyai, (16) rudrâya kalyânyai, (17) kâlâya kâmâ, (18) kala-vikaranâya sandhinyai, (19) bala-vikaranâya kriyâ, (20) balâya vriddhyai, (21) balacchâyâ, (22) pramathanâya dhâtryai, (23) sarva-bhûta-damanâya bhrâmanyai, (24) manah-s'oshinyai, (25) unmanâya jvarâ, (26) sadyojâtam prapadyâmi siddhyai, (27) sadyojâtâya vai namah riddhyai, (28) bhave dityai, (29) abhave lakshmyai, (30) nâtibhave medhâ, (31) bhajasva mâm kântyai, (32) bhava svadhâ, (33) udbhavâya prabhâ, (34) îs'ânah sarva-vidyânâm s'as'inyai, (35) îs'varah sarva-bhûtânâm abhaya-dâ, (36) brahmâdhipatir brahmanodhipatir brahman brahmeshtha-dâ, (37) s'ivo me astu marîcyai, (38) sadâs'ivah jvâlinyai.
More Appears from the Churning: Mother Lakshmî and Dhanvantari
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'When the poison was drunk by him who rides the bull resumed all the immortals and Dânavas very pleased the churning of the ocean and was from the great force of it generated the cow of plenty [the surabhi, the source of the ghee]. (2) The sages conversant with the injunctions for the yajñas took charge of her, o King, because she, from the clarified butter, was fit for making oblations with the fire sacrifices and the progress towards God.
(3) Next was generated a horse white as the moon, named Uccaihs'ravâ, that Mahârâja Bali liked to have, while Indra desisted from the claim on the advise of the Lord [see B.G. 10: 27 and compare 4.19: 23].
(4) Thereafter was produced the king of resistance, the elephant Airâvata who white, with four tusks, defied the mountain [Kailâsa] that is the glory of the First Devotee [Lord S'iva, see 6.11: 11 and again B.G. 10: 27]. (5) Airâvana preceded eight elephants to each direction of the sky and following him was also generated a group of eight she-elephants headed by one named Abhramu, o King.
(6) Next was from the wide expanse of milk generated a valuable gem known as the Kaustubha and another one named Padmarâga; Lord Hari who desired their possession decorated His chest with them. Thereupon was generated the pârijâta flower which embellishes the heavenly places and thereby fulfills the wishes of the ones desiring wealth in much the same way, o King, as you always fulfill the wishes in the world.
(7) Then were also generated the Apsaras, who exquisitely dressed and decorated with gold were the extremely beautiful and attractive inhabitants of heaven who smoothly moving divert each his heart.
(8) After that manifested directly the Goddess of Splendor [Ramâ or Lakshmî] herself who along with the Lord illumined all directions with her lightening luster as Saudâmanî [lit.: forked lightening, also the sorceress; to deal with that splendor see the 'peace formula' of B.G. 5: 29]. (9) Each Sura, Asura and human being desired her, as the magnificent beauty of her features, youth, complexion and glories caught their minds. (10) The king of heaven arranged for her a seat and all the glorious and wonderful, sacred rivers and reservoirs assumed with their filling of golden waterpots thus a form with their pure waters. (11) The land delivered the complete of all the necessities and herbs for installing the deity; the cows contributed with the pure of their five products [milk, yogurt, ghee, dung and urine] and springtime brought together her fresh flowers and fruits. (12) The sages performed the ceremony of installation as is prescribed to which for all good fortune the Gandharvas chanted the lore while their women did their best to dance to the occasion and sing mantras. (13) The clouds vibrated the two-sided drums, kettledrums, murajas and ânakas [two other types of drums] and with the sounds of bugles, conchshells, flutes and vînas it was a great tumult. (14) Next poured the great elephants jugs full of sacred water over the [deity of the] chaste goddess so beautiful with the lotus in her hand, while the twice-born were chanting hymns [see also a classic picture of Lakshmî]. (15) The ocean presented yellow silks for her to dress herself from top to bottom and Varuna brought the biggest garland together with drunken bumblebees to its sweetness. (16) From Prajâpati Vis'vakarmâ there was a choice of ornaments, Sarasvatî [the goddess of learning] supplied a necklace, Lord Brahmâ provided a lotus flower and the Nâgas [the excellent] brought earrings. (17) Thereupon worshiped in an all-auspicious ceremony went she, radiating a natural beauty, with the lotus garland held in her hand and the bees about it, around, with the decoration of the earrings to her cheeks and a coy smile on her face. (18) With her two breasts and her thin waist in symmetry and harmony and smeared with sandalwood pulp and kunkuma, appeared she, moving here and there with the sweet tinkling of her anklebells, exactly like a golden creeper. (19) In her position looking for the eternal qualities could she among the indwellers of heaven, the perfected, the unenlightened, the keepers of the wealth, the venerable ones and all the rest of the demigods, not find a single one who was faultless:
(20) 'Of the certain of one's austerity has one not conquered the anger, of spiritual knowledge is the scholar not free of attachments and someone great may not have overcome material desires; how can a person as such under the control of something else be a controller? (21) Proficient in the religion doesn't mean that one found friendship with other living beings, with one's renunciation may the cause of liberation be missed and with whatever power one may have over people, is one still subjected to the power of time; never will one, free from the contamination of the modes of nature, [apart from the Lord] find a second one [see also 1.2: 8]. (22) Someone may live long but still be unlucky or of misconduct, someone may master the art of living but not know to live long; if one is of both is such a person in some other way unlucky, and of someone best in all fields is not said that he has envisioned me [the devotion]!'
(23) This way of due consideration accepted the Goddess of the Splendor Him Mukunda, the reservoir of the Supreme so desirable and qualified in every way, as her husband even though He never looked for it, for He possessed the extraordinary transcendental qualities that were all good and independent of others. (24) After placing on His shoulders a ravishing fresh garland of lotuses vibrating with humming, maddened bumblebees, remained she, with a shy smile to her glittering eyes, by His side with His bosom as her real resort. (25) He, the father of the three worlds, made His bosom the residence of the mother, the goddess, the supreme of the wealth; she installed there increases by her mercifully glancing over the threefold creation the fortune of His servants and leaders. (26) With the sound of conchshells, bugles and all sorts of drums was there the greatest tumult of musical instruments so that all the gods of heaven and their women started to sing and dance. (27) Brahmâ, S'iva and all the directors of the world headed by Angirâ honored, with all they thus saw, the personality that was really the greatest by chanting and showering flowers. (28) With the merciful glance of the Goddess upon all the godly, the fathers of mankind and their generations were they all blessed with good behavior and good qualities and achieved they the ultimate satisfaction.
(29) When the Daityas and Dânavas, o King, being neglected by Lakshmî got frustrated, lost they depressed in their aching greed all sense of shame. (30) Following appeared Vârunî, the goddess of the drunkards, as a young lotus-eyed girl upon which the Asuras accepted her the way the Lord had arranged it for them.
(31) When thereupon the ocean was churned by the sons of Kas'yapa so eager for the nectar appeared there, o great King, a most wonderful man. (32) He was long, had stout and strong arms, a neck like a conch, reddish eyes, a blackish complexion, looked very young, had a garland and was decorated all over. (33) Clad in yellow, with his broad chest, his earrings with pearls well polished, his gleaming curly hair hanging down in strings, came he, decorated with bangles and moving strong as a lion, forward with a jar that to the rim was filled with nectar. (34) He was a plenary part of a plenary portion of the Supreme Lord Vishnu known by the name of Dhanvantari who, representing the full knowledge of medical science, was there to demand his share of the sacrifices. (35) the Asuras, greedy after all things, who saw him with the container full of nectar, immediately snatched the jug away. (36) When that jug containing the nectar by the Asuras was carried away, were all the godly desolate and turned they to the Lord for their protection. (37) Witnessing their sadness about it did the Supreme Lord who always tries to fulfill the wishes say: 'Do not be aggrieved, by means of a quarrel among them will I personally see to it that the nectar will be there for all of you.' (38) O master of man, then rose there among them a fugue about the nectar in which they with a thirsting heart said: 'Let me first, I first, not you, you wait!' (39-40) When the godly deserve it to take their share, have all who were of an equal effort in the duty of sacrifice an equal right; this is a matter of traditional duties [sanâtana dharma]!' Thus did the Daityas envious and weak, o King, violently, try to appropriate the jug, denying it factually each other constantly. (41-46) After this had passed assumed Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Controller who has a solution for each situation, the form of a supremely beautiful, wonderful woman who mystified all of them. Pleasing to behold was she as dark as a newly grown lotus, was she in all her limbs of the greatest beauty and harmony, and had she a straight nose to her ornamented ears and fine cheeks. She had fresh, firm, young but weighty breasts to her thin waist and a blissful expression on her face. From the humming bumblebees arround her she looked a bit anxious. With the mass of her waving hair and her nice neck with a mallikâ flower garland around it, with the beauty of her arms that were ornamented with the finest jewelry and bangles, with the fair sari spread over her breast that was an island of beauty and with the belt that covered her waist, moved she with her anklebells in grace. Coyly casting her glances with her eyebrows moving, gave she in the core of the hearts of the daitya leaders rise to a long-standing lusty desire.
The Lord Appears as a Beautiful Woman to Distribute the Nectar
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'As they, the Asuras, among themselves were snatching the nectar from one another tossing it to and fro and thus, behaving like thieves, grew very inimical, saw they [the Lord in the form of] a very beautiful woman [called Mohinî-mûrti] coming towards them. (2) 'What a body, what a luster and what a beauty of youth She has!' so they said, in their hearts lusting to sleep with her as they hurried for her attention. (3) 'Who are you with your lotus petal eyes and whence and why did you come here; to whom, o beautiful thighs upsetting our minds, do you belong, please tell us! (4) Nor we, nor any godly person, demon, perfected one, creature of heaven or venerable one has ever laid hands on you and known you, not to mention any local master of the human society. (5) We may thank providence, o beautiful eyebrows, for sending you; isn't your mercy there to bring what pleases the senses and minds of all who are of flesh and blood? (6) O smashing lady, could you be our luck to settle the mounting differences between us who as family members are more and more of enmity over this one issue [of the nectar], o slim beauty? (7) Make it so that you with all of us, able and competent brothers that are the descendants of Kas'yapa, are sure to divide [the nectar] justly without any partiality.'
(8) As a mature woman looking at them with an enchanting smile, addressed the illusion of feminine beauty that was an incarnation of the Lord, thus the Daityas who were urging for it. (9) The Supreme Lord said: 'How can it be that you all, descendants of Kas'yapa, put faith in associating with an eye-catcher like Me; to be enamoured with women is something one never finds with the wise! (10) They all agree that monkeys and dogs, o enemies of the Suras, and especially independent women, are fickle in their relationships, always looking for a newer and newer mate.'
(11) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus sporting with them made She all the Asuras laugh who, despite of her serious demeanor cherished her in their minds, and so they handed over the jar of nectar. (12) Next taking hold of the amrit container spoke the Lord with a painted smile to all His beauty and words: 'If you promise to accept whatever I may do, honest or not, then I'll give each his share of this nectar.' (13) Having heard her consented they, the chiefs of the Asuras all full of her, to the words thus spoken and said they: 'So be it!' (14-15) They then observed a fast, bathed, offered oblations of ghee into the fire, were of charity towards the cows, the brahmins and each and everyone, performed they ceremonies according the brahmin precept, dressed they up to their taste with the newest and finest and sat they all in full ornate down on kus'a seats that all faced the east. (16-17) With all the Suras and Daityas, with their faces thus sitting to the east, all dressed up with garlands and with lamps in an arena full of incense smoke, entered there and then, o ruler of man, holding the container, she, with her youthful, restless eyes, the sounds of her tinkling ankle bells and jugs of breasts, striding slowly with a beautiful sari around her wide hips and elephant trunk like thighs. (18) Looking at Her, the Lord Supreme who with golden earrings, charming ears, nose, cheeks and face posed as a girlfriend of the Goddess, were they all enchanted the way she with a smile glanced at them while her sari was slightly waving over her breasts. (19) Considering it a miscalculation of giving milk to snakes to hand out the nectar to the bunch of vile natured demons, delivered the Infallible One not a drop of it. (20) Arranging different lines for the both of them had the master of the Universe each of them orderly seated at his own side. (21) The Lord with the nectar who with sweet words beguiled the Daityas, made the ones sitting opposite of them drink of the nectar that would free them from old age, death and disability. (22) the Asuras, because of what they had promised, kept themselves in check, o King and remained silent, considering it an abomination to fight a woman. (23) Not to break the bond of friendship with her felt they, moved by the greatest respect and honor, all obliged and said they not the slightest that would displease her. (24) He who darkens the luminaries [Râhu] dressed himself up as one of the godly and sat among the godconscious to drink from the nectar but was, by sun and moon, quickly detected. (25) The moment he drank the nectar was the head of Râhu cut off by the Lord His razor sharp cakra, but the decapitated body, which was not touched by the nectar, fell dead to the ground. (26) The head that thus had attained immortality was by Lord Brahmâ recognized as a planet and it is that very Râhu that during eclipses [or with lunar phases] inimically represses the sun and the moon [see also 5.24: 1-3, 6.6: 37 and 6.18: 12-14]. (27) When the godly were almost done drinking from the nectar revealed the Supreme Lord Hari, the well-wisher of all the worlds, in the presence of all the Asuras and their leaders His original form. (28) Even though the Suras and Asuras were thus unified in respect of the same place, time, objective, cause, activities and ambition, were they not as equal in the result they achieved; the God-minded easily achieved the nectar with it because theirs was the benediction of the saffron dust of the lotus feet, but that was not the case with the Daityas [compare B.G. 4: 11]. (29) Whatever that is done for the sake of one's own life and welfare, all those human activities, ideas and words in relation to one's body and family, are all transient [asat, 'untrue', they are all of separation], but the same indeed becomes factual and permanent when it is not done in separation - it then grows into that which is the watering of the root that is beneficial for everyone [see 8.5: 49].'
The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Dânavas and Daityas thus with their combined efforts of churning failed to achieve the nectar, o Ruler, because they cherished another notion of liberation in relating to Vâsudeva. (2) After the amrit had been generated o King, and had served as a drink to the Sura's that belonged to Him, left the Lord of all living beings, who is carried by Garuda, their presence. (3) Seeing how their rivals enjoyed the best of opulence was something intolerable to all the sons of Diti, and so raised they their weapons for march against the godly. (4) The godly who had found new strength from drinking the nectar, thereupon from their side, from the refuge of Nârâyana's feet, raised their weapons to defend themselves. (5) There at the shore of the milk ocean was then by the gods and the demons to their honor fought a most fierce battle, o King, with a violence that made one's hair stand on end. (6) Very angry minded in that battle putting their abilities to an ultimate test, wielded they their swords, arrows and the rest of their weaponry. (7) From the mass of conchshells, the trumpets, the drums, the bugles and kettledrums; of the elephants, the horses, the footsoldiers and chariotfighters all together was there a tumultuous noise. (8) On the battlefield as chariotfighter against chariotfighter, infantry against infantry, cavalry against cavalry and elephantry against elephantry, fought the enemies one another on an equal basis. (9) Some rode elephants, some fought from the backs of camels and some others engaged as combatants with white- and red-faced monkeys, tigers and lions. (10-12) Both parties of fighters faced one another in strange forms depending the bodies of the water, land and sea animals they took up as their vehicles: vultures, eagles, ducks, hawks, bhâsa birds; killer whales, monkeys, buffalos, rhinoceroses, cows, bulls, wild cows and red cows, jackals and rats; some took to the forms of lizards, rabbits, human beings, goats and some others entered the fight with black deer, swans and boars. (13-15) With nicely decorated flags and canopies, o King, with spotless white parasols with precious handles full of jewels and pearls, with normal fans and peacock feather fans, with their upper and lower garments flapping in the wind, with the effulgence of their ornaments and shields and their shining, sharp and clean weapons abundantly glittering in the sunshine, looked the two bannered parties of the godly and the dânava heroes with all their garlands, o descendant of Pându, much like two oceans of aquatics. (16-18) Bali the son of Virocana, for the battle celebrated as the captain of the demons drove a vehicle made by Maya called Vaihâyasa ['flying in the air'] that would move wherever he desired. Fully equipped with all the necessary weapons was it inexplicably, indescribably, most wondrous, sometimes being visible and sometimes being invisible. Protected by nicely decorated umbrellas and câmaras was he, seated on that first class heavenly chariot and surrounded by all the commanders, situated as brilliant as a rising moon. (19-24) All around him there were the different vehicles of the asura commanders of the troops: Namuci, Sambara, Bâna, Vipracitti; Ayomukha, Dvimûrdhâ, Kâlanâbha and Praheti; Heti, Ilvala, S'akuni, Bhûtasantâpa, Vajradamshthra, and Virocana; Hayagrîva, S'ankus'irâ, Kapila, Meghadundubhi, Târaka, Cakradrik, S'umbha, Nis'umbha, Jambha and Utkala; Arishtha, Arishthanemi, Maya, Tripurâdhipa and the other sons of Puloma and the Kâleyas, of Nivâtakavaca and all others who were unable to get a share of the nectar. Only having had the burden were they all, taking the front with all they had, now in great trouble, roaring as lions and blowing their conchshells in the greatest tumult. When Balabhit ['fear of strength', Lord Indra] saw his ferocious rivals got he greatly incensed.
(25) Mounted on Airâvata his carrier elephant was Indra as beautiful to behold as the sun shining over Udayagiri's cascades. (26) Around him had all the gods with banner and weapon taken positions with their carriers: all the leaders of the higher worlds and the demigods of the air, of fire and of water. (27) Having come forward chided the combatants face to face one another as painful to the heart as they could and fought they, drawing near, two by two their battle. (28) Bali fought Indra, Târaka fought Kârttikeya, Varuna engaged with Heti, and Mitra, o King fought with Praheti. (29) Yamarâja did so with Kâlanâbha, Vis'vakarmâ tried Maya, Tvashthâ fought Sambara, and Savitrâ contested Virocana. (30-31) Aparâjita fought Namuci, the two As'vinî-kumâras fought with Vrishaparvâ, the demigod Surya fought the hundred sons of Bali who were lead by Bâna, Soma [the moongod] fought Râhu, Anila [god of the air] fought Puloma and the extremely powerful goddess Bhadra Kâlî [Durgâ] waged against S'umbha and Nis'umbha. (32-34) Vrishâkapi [S'iva] fought with Jambha and Vibhâvasu, the fire god, fought with Mahishâsura and Ilvala with his brother Vâtâpi fought the sons of Brahmâ, o suppressor of the enemies. Durmarsha fought with Kâmadeva [Cupid], Utkala with the Mâtrikâ goddesses, Brihaspati opposed S'ukrâcârya and S'ani [Saturn] fought with Narakâsura. De Maruts fought with Nivâtakavaca, the Vasus contested the Kâlakeyas, the Vis'vedevas tried the Paulomas and the Rudras waged against the Krodhavas'as.
(35) All of the ruling Sura's and Asuras this way mixed in pairs engaged in fighting on the battlefield and waging with great strength they slashed one another earnestly with their sharp arrows, metal and lances in desiring the victory. (36) With fire weapons, discs, clubs, spears, pikes, firebrands, barbed missiles, mystic curses, swords, lances, iron bludgeons, mallets and slings were they cutting off each other's heads. (37) The elephants, horses and chariots, foot soldiers and all the types of riders with their carriers were slashed to pieces. Arms, thighs, necks and legs were severed, and flags, bows, armor and ornaments were shredded. (38) Of their violent trampling and rambling rose the dust of the field high in the sky up to the sun in every direction and rained its particles down heavy of the blood splattered all over. (39) And so was the field there strewn with severed heads complete with helmets and earrings, angry eyes and bitten lips and lay scattered like elephant trunks legs and ornamented arms which severed still held the weapons. (40) With the eyes of their own heads could the soldiers fallen there still see the trunks and raised arms with weapons coming after them on the battlefield.
(41) Bali attacked the great Indra with ten arrows, Airâvata, his carrier with three arrows, his four guardians [soldiers on horseback] with four arrows and the driver of the elephant with one. (42) Indra skilled, in a quick response, immediately cut the arrows rushing towards him in pieces with a different type of very sharp arrows and smiled about the enemy not reaching him. (43) Observing what a martial expert he was took he enraged the s'akti weapon up but with the torch of blazing fire still in his hand was it shattered by Indra. (44) When next the lance, the barbed missile, the javelin, the sword and whatever more was tried, were they all cut to pieces by the mighty one. (45) O master of men, now was released a demoniac illusion to which the Asura vanished from sight and a huge mountain appeared towering over the heads of the sura warriors. (46) Big snakes, scorpions and other poisonous creatures came down to crush them as also lions, tigers, boars and great elephants. (47) Big trees ablaze in a forest fire came down from it and sharp pointed stones to destroy the enemy army. (48) Hundreds and hundreds of stark naked carnivorous demonesses, o Ruler, each holding a trident, yelled 'Pierce them, cut them to pieces' and such. (49) Next were big, deeply rumbling clouds seen in the sky releasing embers, accompanied by strong tormenting winds and claps of thunder. (50) The Daitya created a huge terrifying conflagration resembling Sâmvartaka [the fire at the end of time] that was carried by the blasting wind to burn the warriors of wisdom. (51) Thereafter appeared, for everyone to see, a sea agitated all over with waves blown up by the wind into a formidable whirlpool. (52) Thus lost the sura warriors, daunted by the creation of the illusory atmosphere as was presented by the invisible Daityas, those experts in the illusion, their courage to fight. (53) Empty-handed not knowing how to respond to that countering force, o King, meditated the followers of Indra for the Supreme Lord, the Creator of the Universe, to appear there.
(54) He with the yellow dress and the lotuspetal eyes, whose feet rest upon the shoulders of Garuda, then became visible with His eight arms and weapons, the Goddess of Fortune and His invaluable Kaustubha gem, His helmet and His earrings brilliantly exhibited. (55) The moment He appeared were, by the superior power of the Greatest of the Great, immediately the illusory manifestations from the false works of the Asura curbed, indeed the way it happens with dreams when one wakes up; all dangers are vanquished when the remembrance of the Lord has returned. (56) When the demon Kâlanemi who engaged with the enemy of the elephants [the lion] saw Him on the battlefield who was carried by Garuda, threw he a whirling trident at Him, but just as easy was it, as it came down upon Garuda's head, seized and was the enemy together with his carrier with the same weapon killed by the Lord of the Three Worlds. (57) The very powerful Mâlî and Sumâlî fell in the battle with their heads severed by His cakra after which the enemy Mâlyavân followed the same fate of having his head severed by the disc of the Original Personality the moment he, with a pointy club and roaring like a lion, tried to attack the king of the birds [Garuda].
The Dânavas Annihilated and Revived
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'When next through the grace of the Supreme Personality all the Suras had regained their spirits, resumed Indra, Vâyu and the others the fight against the lot that before had baffled them in the struggle. (2) The moment the so very mighty Indra, furious with the son of Virocana [Bali], took up his thunderbolt, began they [the Asuras] all to cry 'Alas, alas!' (3) He who sober and well equipped moved about on the battlefield was by him who carries the thunderbolt opposed and rebuked as follows: (4) 'You cheater, you fool, with your magic you try to be of control with illusions and to win, conquering us as if we were children of whom one deceptively blindfolding them can take away their possessions! (5) The ones desiring to attain the higher of heaven by illusory means and expect to find liberation that way, that bunch of lowly asses, I send down denying them the positions they have taken. (6) I am the one who today will put an end to you and your jugglery by severing your head with my hundred-jagged thunderbolt; you poor soul and your buddies... just try to exist on this battlefield!'
(7) Bali retorted: 'All present here on this field are subjected to the rule of time and do all in due order, like anyone else does in his line of work, find reputation, victory, defeat and death. (8) Because the whole world, moving onward, is running on time, does the Sura cognizant of this, rejoice nor lament; as such are you thus all of little study! [compare B.G. 2.: 11] (9) We who, no matter what might happen, are of respect for the self, cannot accept that heart-rending speech of yours which is pitied by the saintly'.
(10) S'rî S'uka said: 'As a valiant hero thus chiding the mighty one with steel arrows of scorn, attacked Bali, the subduer of the greatest, him again drawing his bow to his ear in attack. (11) Like an elephant beaten by the rod lamented the god, who thus was defeated by his silver-tongued enemy, not over his lesson. (12) The master of destruction used the infallible bolt against him so that he [Bali] struck with his wings clipped with his heavenly vehicle crashed to the ground like a mountain. (13) Seeing that his mate had fallen stepped, as a matter of principle, his most intimate friend and well-wisher Jambha forward in compassion with his hurt companion. (14) He of superpower, riding the lion took position with his club and hit Indra including his elephant with great force on the shoulder. (15) Suffering the great blow sank the elephant severely injured down to his knees and fell he hitting the earth unconscious. (16) Thereupon, when his driver Mâtali brought him [Indra] his chariot drawn by a thousand horses, left he his elephant behind and mounted he the cart. (17) In appreciation of that service of the chariot driver, had the best of the Dânavas to smile and struck he him in combat with his with fire blazing trident. (18) Bracing himself managed Mâtali to tolerate the excruciating pain, but Indra most incensed decapitated Jambha with his thunderbolt. (19) When Jambhâsura's kin heard from Nârada rishi that he had been killed, hurried Namuci, Bala and Pâka over there as fast as they could. (20) With cruel words scolding Indra to hurt him in the heart, besieged they him with arrows that fell like a torrent of rain over a mountain. (21) The thousand horses of the king of heaven were plagued by as many arrows, all quickly launched at once. (22) With the two hundred more coming towards Mâtali, that by Pâka all at once were aimed and released against the chariot with all its upkeep, could thus a most remarkable feat be witnessed in the battle. (23) Namuci contributed with fifteen gold-feathered all-powerful arrows which cutting through the air made a noise over the field like a loaded cloud of rain. (24) All the Asuras covered Indra and his chariot from all around with a dense shower of arrows, that covered the sun just like clouds in the rainy season do [see also 4.10: 13]. (25) Like traders shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean began the demigods and their retinue, unable to discern him any longer, bereft of their leader to wail, oppressed and heavily daunted by the enemy superiority as they were. (26) Thereupon, to the delight of all the directions of the sky and the earth, managed Indra, the excel of the truth, to free himself together with his horses, chariot, flag and driver from the hull of arrows, by his personal effulgence shining like the sun at the end of the night.
(27) When the godhead saw how his attendants by the enemy were embarrassed in the fight took he fuming of anger his thunderbolt up to kill the opponents. (28) With the help of that thunderbolt did he before the eyes of their family members, in order to create fear in them, o King, sever the heads of the trunks of Bala and Pâka. (29) Namuci witnessing the two being slaughtered, grieved over them and made, o lord of men, enraged a great attempt to kill Indra. (30) With a steel spear hung with bells and decorated with gold in his hand he strode in fury against Indra roaring like a lion: 'And now you're dead' and struck. (31) The mighty thing like a meteor falling from the sky was then by the supreme personality [of Indra] smashed to pieces o King, while the demon himself got the thunderbolt on his shoulder from a fuming Indra who tried to cut off his head. (32) But the powerful bolt, the same weapon that before by the king of the gods so successfully had been used in piercing Vritrâsura [6.12: 25], could not even scratch his skin. That defiance by Namuci's neck was an extraordinarily wondrous thing. (33) And so with the bolt returning without effect grew Indra very apprehensive of the enemy to which he wondered: 'What is this? By what supreme force could this, to each his eyes so wondrous thing, happen? (34) With this same bolt I formerly clipped the wings of so many mountains that, flying high, weighing far too heavy and pestering the common people, happened to fall. (35) Vritrâsura so powerful of the austerities of Tvashthâ [see 6.9: 11] was killed by it just as were many other powerful characters impervious to all other weapons. (36) And now is that bolt, though strong as a brahmâstra, released against a less important demon repelled; as useless as a rod I can wield it no longer.'
(37) Unto Indra who this way was lamenting spoke a voice out of the blue: 'To this Dânava it is arranged that he can not be annihilated by anything dry or wet. (38) He would not die by something moist or dry because of a benediction I granted him and therefore, o Indra, must you think of some other means to deal with your enemy.'
(39) After he heard that ominous voice meditated Lord Indra with great scrutiny and arrived he thereupon at the insight that something of foam had to be the means that was neither dry or wet. (40) Thus he forced through Namuci's throat a weapon wet nor dry, upon which all the sages pleased covered the almighty one with flowergarlands. (41) The two chief singers of heaven Vis'vâvasu and Parâvasu sang hymns, the kettledrums were sounded by the godly and the heavenly dancers danced in bliss. (42) Vâyu, Agni, Varuna and others though started to eliminate vigorously, as if they were lions killing deer, the other belligerent Asuras. (43) Devarishi Nârada Muni was by Lord Brahmâ sent to the demigods, o King, to forbid the ones in power the total annihilation of the Dânavas he saw taking place. (44) S'rî Nârada said: 'Under the protection of the arms and the fortune [the goddess] of Nârâyana you all procured the nectar; since you all thus flourished must you now stop with this fighting!'
(45) S'uka said: 'Controlling the aggravation of their anger accepted they the words of the sage and returned they, hailed by their followers, all to their heavenly abodes. (46) They who remained after the fight took up Bali and all who had fallen and went, with Nârada's permission, to the mountain called Asta. (47) There at that place were the slain and maimed who still had their heads by S'ukrâcârya [4.1: 45, 6.7: 18, 7.5: 1, 7.10: 33] resuscitated through his knowledge of the Samjîvanî ['animation'] prayer. (48) Bali, also brought back on the touch of Us'anâ, realized what had happened and although he was defeated did he, as the smartest with the ways of the world, not lament.
Lord S'iva Prays to See Mohinî Mûrti, Gets Bewildered and Restores
(1-2) The son of Vyâsa said: 'The one riding the bull [S'iva] hearing how Lord Hari had assumed the form of a woman [8.9] to enchant the Dânavas and caused the Sura's to drink the nectar, mounted his bull and went surrounded by his attendants, together with his goddess [Umâ] to see Madhusûdana [Vishnu] in His place of stay. (3) The Supreme Personality gave him a cordial welcome with all due respect and the moment Bhava, the Lord of Continuity, and Umâ were comfortably seated, spoke he the following, with a smile offering Lord Hari his obeisances.
(4) S'rî Mahâdeva [S'iva] said: 'O God of Gods, o All-pervading Lord and Master of the Universe, to all forms of existence are You, as the full of this creation, the force that makes them move and because of this You are the Supreme Controller. (5) You are the beginning, the end of this reality and that which is in between and to consider anything as existing apart from You is selfhood; but because You are imperishable is Your Lordship, as that Absolute Truth, that Supreme and that knowing, not of all these differences. (6) It are Your feet indeed that are worshiped by the sages who, desiring the ultimate good, have no material desires and have given up the attachment to this life and a life hereafter. (7) You as the Cosmic complete, undying beyond the modes, free from grief in eternal bliss, are changeless, existing apart from everything are You yet everything. As the cause of the beginning, the manifestation of the universe and its maintenance, are You, of all those who are inward directed, the Supersoul of control and do all depend on You who art the independence [see also B.G. 9: 15]. (8) You indeed as the One, existing as both the temporal and the eternal, are without duality because You in this world, just like gold put in different forms is to its source, are not the difference of the substance, the difference that people in general relating to You acknowledge in their ignorance. Because You are free from the differences created by the modes should one, differentiating, be of no material designation [the conception of the difference of a false world and a true Brahman is there only in name, see also B.G. 7: 4-5]. (9) You are by some [the impersonal vedantists] considered the Supreme Truth of Brahman and by some others [the Mîmâmsakas] as the certain of the religion [dharma]. Some [Sânkya-philosophers] consider you the Original Person, the highest controller to cause and effect and others [the pañcarâtra devotees] describe the transcendence unto You as endowed with nine potencies [see 7.5: 23-24]. Still others [followers of Patañjali e.g.] consider You the Supreme Personality, the independent, imperishable Supersoul. (10) Nor me nor the man in the beyond [Brahmâ], nor the sages headed by Marîci really know by whom this universe was created, even though we were born from goodness. And what to say of the Daityas and the other mortal beings, o Lord, whose hearts, constantly bewildered under the influence of mâyâ, are in the base modes [of passion and ignorance, see B.G. 2: 45]. (11) You, who as the air in the vast sky, are as well involved as free, do, from Your presence as the all-pervading one, know everything of this creation, maintenance and resolution of the world in its entirety, of the living beings and their endeavors and of everything that moves and not moves. (12) I have seen all kinds of avatâras of You displaying the qualities in various pastimes; I, S'iva, would like to see that incarnation of You in which You assumed the body of a woman. (13) We have come here very eager to see with our own eyes the form of the incarnation that captivated the Daityas and fed the Sura's the nectar.'
(14) S'rî S'uka said: 'Vishnu the Supreme Lord thus requested by him with the trident in his hand, laughed with gravity and gave Girîs'a ['he of the mountain'] a reply. (15) The Supreme Lord said: 'To bewilder the Daityas I assumed the form of a beautiful woman deeming it necessary to the interests of the Sura's to take away the vessel filled with nectar. (16) I shall now show you, who longs to see it, o best of the enlightened, the object of adoration which arouses the desires of the ones who are of an unbridled lust.'
(17) S'rî S'uka continued: 'After speaking this way disappeared Lord Vishnu there immediately from the sight of the company, leaving S'iva and Umâ with their eyes moving everywhere. (18) Thereupon saw they in a beautiful spot in the forest a delightful woman who, in a shining sari with a belt around Her hips, in the midst of pink leafed trees and all sorts of flowers was playing, sporting with a ball. (19) With the bouncing of the ball vibrated Her beautiful breasts and Her garlands that of their weight to Her fragile waist waved along with every step that She here and there made with Her feet reddish like coral. (20) Her face was adorned by restless, at times anxious, wide open eyes that followed the ball in all directions and she had glittering earrings on Her ears and gleaming bluish hair to Her cheeks. (21) The sari and Her hair slipping and slackening She very charmingly tried to bind with Her left hand, as She with Her right hand was striking the ball; thus captivated the [Lord by His] spiritual potency everyone in the universe [compare B.G. 7: 14]. (22) The god observing Her this way playing the ball and hardly noticeable sending a bashful smile, was smitten by the glances of the ravishing beauty and under Her spell not being able to keep his eyes off Her, could he no longer think of himself nor of Umâ nearby or his associates [compare 5.5: 8]. (23) When the ball once jumped far away from Her hand blew in Her pursuit, directly before the eagerly following eyes of S'iva, the dress away with the belt which covered the woman. (24) Thus seeing all Her well-formed glory pleasing to the eye, thought S'iva that She would fancy him indeed. (25) He, gone mad of Her smiles, of Her actions bereft of good sense, went, irrespective of Bhavânî witnessing what happened, shamelessly after Her. (26) The woman all naked, seeing Him coming, very embarrassed with a smile hid among the trees not keeping Her place. (27) Lord S'iva, Bhava whose senses were agitated, was victimized by lust just like a male elephant after a she-elephant. (28) Speeding after Her he caught Her by the braid of Her hair and pulled Her near him to embrace Her against Her will. (29-30) She with Her hair scattered, the she-elephant, captured by the bull that was the Lord His devotee, squirmed like a snake and managed to free Herself, o King, from the tight grip of the Lord of the Demigods and ran quickly away with the heavy hips so very much exhibiting the illusory potency of the Lord. (31) Like harressed by the devil commenced Rudra the pursuit of Him whose acts so wondrous took place before him. (32) Of him who never spills his semen in vain, was, going after Her like a mad bull chasing a female, the semen discharged. (33) Everywhere his semen fell on the earth, became those places mines for silver and gold, o great ruler. (34) Near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains and in the forests, in the gardens and wherever there lived the sages, was S'iva present. (35) With his semen discharged saw he that he himself had been fooled by the illusory potency of God, o best of kings, and so he restrained himself from more of the illusion. (36) Thus convinced of his own greatness and the greatness of the Soul of the Universe who is of an unlimited potency, didn't he consider what had happened a surprising thing. (37) Seeing him unperturbed and unashamed assumed Madhusûdana very pleased His original form and spoke He.
(38) The Supreme Lord said: 'All good to you o best of the demigods, in spite of your, with Me appearing as a woman, amply being enchanted by My external potency, are you consequent to your own fixed position. (39) Which person but indeed you can, once drawn by the senses, overcome My mâyâ? To those who generally are unable to control their senses are the material reactions that overwhelm them most difficult to surmount. (40) The moment one is joined with Me in the form of eternal time will that illusory energy consisting of the modes of nature, with all her different elements [the goddess Durgâ in sum*] no longer be able to bewilder you.'
(41) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus applauded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead who has always the S'rîvatsa-mark on His chest, o King, went he, circumambulating Him, with His permission back to his own abode. (42) O descendant of Bharata, the mighty Lord Bhava then in jubilation addressed his wife Bhavânî who by the sages is accepted as a potency of the illusory energy of the Lord: (43) 'Oh, did you see how I myself without noticing it, despite of being the best of all His portions, got bewildered by Her, the illusory energy of the Unborn Supreme Person of the Demigods? Do I have to speak of others then who fully depend on the material illusion? (44) When I ceased with a yogapractice of a thousand years was I approached by you to inquire about Him who indeed now is here directly as the Original Person beyond the grasp of the Vedas and the grip of time.'
(45) S'rî S'uka concluded: 'Thus I explained to you, my best, the prowess of S'ârnga-dhanvâ [Vishnu with His bow] who held the great mountain on His back for the churning of the ocean. (46) The one who takes time to recite or hear this, will never be disappointed in his endeavor because the description of the qualities of Uttamas'loka, the One Hailed by the Scriptures, puts an end to the misery of material existence. (47) For the One not understood by the godless, for the feet known by the devotees of surrender, for Him who only allowed the immortals to drink from the nectar produced from the ocean, for Him who appearing in the disguise of a young girl captivated the enemies of the gods, for Him who fulfills the desires of the devotees, I do bow myself down [compare B.G. 9: 29-34]'.
*: Svâmî Prabhupâda quotes:
'srishthi-sthiti-pralaya-sâdhana-s'aktir ekâ
châyeva yasya bhuvanâni bibharti durgâ' [Bs. 5.44]
The entire cosmos is created by Durgâ in cooperation with Lord Vishnu in the form of kâla, time. This is the version of the Vedas (Aitareya Upanishad 1.1.1-2).
Description of Future Manus
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Now hear from me about the children of the son of Vivasvân known in the world as S'râddhadeva - he who presently is the seventh Manu [we are now in the twenty-eighth yuga of him who is also known as Vaivasvata Manu]. (2-3) The ten sons of Manu are known as Ikshvâku and Nabhaga indeed, Dhrishtha and also S'aryâti, Narishyanta and Nâbhâga [or Nriga] with Dishtha as the seventh; further are there Tarûsha [or Karûshaka] and Prishadhra and Manu's tenth who is known as Vasumân [or Kavi] [see also 9.1: 11-12]. (4) O King, Purandara is there as the Indra of the Âditiyas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Vis'vedevas, the Maruts, the As'vins and the Ribhus [the demigods]. (5) Kas'yâpa, Atri, Vasishthha, Vis'vâmitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvâja are known as the seven sages mentioned before. (6) During this period was the appearance of the Supreme Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Vâmana as the youngest of Aditi secured by Kas'yapa Muni. (7) In brief I explained the seven changes of Manus, now I'll also tell you about the future Manus empowered by the energy of Vishnu [see 8.1 & 5].
(8) The two wives of Vivasvân, the daughters of Vis'vakarmâ Samjñâ and Châyâ, o King, I both described to you before [see 6.6: 40-41]. (9) Some mention a third wife of Vivasvân: Vadavâ. Of the three were there of Samjñâ three children born - a daughter Yamî and the sons Yama and S'râddhadeva. Now hear about the children of Châyâ. (10) They were Sâvarni [a son], the daughter Tapatî who later became the wife of king Samvarana and S'anais'cara [Saturn] who was the third. The As'vins took birth as the sons of Vadavâ. (11) When the eight period has arrived will Sâvarni become the Manu. The sons of Sâvarni, o ruler of man, are Nirmoka, Virajaska and others. (12) The demigods will then be the Sutapâs, the Virajas and the Amritaprabhas and Bali, the son of Virocana, will become the Indra. (13) Having given away the entire universe to Vishnu who begged him for three paces of land, he will achieve the post of Indra and thereafter will he, renouncing, achieve the perfection of life. (14) He, Bali, bound by the Supreme Lord, was favored with the kingdom of Sutala where, at present having a position equal to Indra, he was to be situated again more opulent than in heaven. (15-16) In the eight manvantara will Gâlava, Dîptimân, Paras'urâma, As'vatthâmâ, Kripâcârya, Rishyas'ringa and our father Vyâsadeva, the incarnation of the Lord [as a philosopher], who at present, o King, are busy with their own hermitages, as a result of their yogapractice be the seven sages. (17) Sârvabhauma by Devaguhya begotten in Sarasvatî, will as the Master and Controller take away by force the lands of Purandara [Indra] and give them to Bali.
(18) Daksha-sâvarni, the ninth Manu, born as the son of Varuna, will as his sons have Bhûtaketu, Dîptaketu and others, o King. (19) The Pâras, the Marîcigarbhas and those will be the demigods, the king of heaven will be known as Adbhuta and the ones headed by Dyutimân will become the seven sages in that period. (20) From Âyushmân will from the womb of Ambudhârâ Rishabhadeva, a partial incarnation of the Supreme Lord, take birth and of him will Adbhuta enjoy all opulence of the three worlds.
(21) The tenth Manu will be Brahma-sâvarni, son of Upas'loka; his sons will be Bhûrishena and others and the twice-born will be headed by Havismân. (22) Havismân, Sukrita, Satya, Jaya and Mûrti [and others] will at the time be the [seven] sages; the Suvâsanas, the Viruddhas and others will be the demigods and S'ambhu will be the controller of the Sura's [the Indra]. (23) One of the Supreme Lord His plenary portions, Vishvaksena, born from the womb of Vishûcî in the home of Vis'vasrashthâ, will make friends with S'ambhu.
(24) The Manu Dharmasâvarni will indeed be the eleventh to appear in the future as a master of the soul and Satyadharma and others will be his ten sons. (25) The Vihangamas, Kâmagamas and Nirvânarucis are the demigods and Vaidhritâ is their Indra; the seven sages are Aruna and others. (26) Born from the womb of Vaidhritâ as the son of Âryaka will a partial incarnation of the Lord known as Dharmasetu then rule the three worlds.
(27) Rudra-sâvarni, o King, will appear as the twelfth Manu and Devavân, Upadeva and Devas'reshthha and others will be his sons. (28) In that period will Ritadhâmâ be the Indra, will the demigods be headed by the Haritas and will Tapomûrti, Tapasvî, Âgnîdhraka and others be the sages. (29) By Satyasahâ begotten from Sunritâ will the almighty Svadhâmâ, a partial incarnation of the Lord, rule the period of that Manu.
(30) The thirteenth Manu of advancement to the soul will be Deva-sâvarni and Citrasena, Vicitra and others will be Deva-sâvarni's flesh and blood. (31) The Sukarmâs and the Sutrâmas will become the demigods, Divaspati will be the Indra and Nirmoka and Tattvadars'a and others will then be the sages. (32) As the son of Devahotra will, as the benefactor of Divaspati [the Indra], from the womb of Brihatî, Yoges'vara appear as a partial incarnation of the Lord.
(33) The Manu known as Indra-savârni will be the fourteenth and of his semen will Uru, Gambhîra, Budha and others be born. (34) The Pavitras and Câkshushas will be the demigods, S'uci will be the king of heaven and Agni, Bâhu, S'uci, S'uddha, Mâgadha and others will be the ones of penance. (35) For that period, o great king, will the Lord in the womb of Vitânâ appear as Brihadbhânu, the son of Satrâyana, for the performance of all spiritual activities.
(36) O King, the estimated time of the past, the present and the future covered by these fourteen that I described to you, consists of a thousand mahâyugas or one kalpa [day of Brahmâ, see also picture].'
The System of Universal Management
(1) The king said: 'O great sage, could you please describe to me the respective duties in which all these Manus and the others, in each manvantara are engaged and who appoints them?
(2) The rishi said: 'The Manus and all their sons, the sages and, o King, the Indras and the godly no doubt all resort under the rule of the Original Person. (3) The Manus and others in charge of the universal affairs are, o King, inspired by the Lord of Sacrifice Yajña and the other incarnations of the Supreme Personality that I have already discussed. (4) When at the end of each mahâyuga the saints by dint of their austerity witness how gradually misuse has risen with the loss of [the respect for] the vedic instruction, is there for that purpose the sanâtana dharma [the customary vedic duties to age and vocation, see also 1.17: 24-25]. (5) Therafter are the Manus in each of the four yugas to the instruction of the Lord engaged in directly reestablishing for the time of their existence in this world the dharma in the full sense of all its four regulative principles, o ruler of man [see also B.G. 4: 1]. (6) The demigods and the other divisions of enjoyers of the results of sacrifice are also engaged in that business; by them do the rulers in the world execute what was ordained till the end of his [Manu's] reign [see also B.G. 4: 2]. (7) Indra, the ruler of heaven, enjoys the great opulences of the three worlds given by the Supreme Lord and fathers all the places of them three by pouring out rain over the earth as much as is needed. (8) According each yuga explains the Lord the transcendental knowledge assuming the forms of liberated persons [the perfected or siddhas], great saints [rishis] and great lords of yoga to teach the work of unification in the consciousness. (9) As the founding fathers [the Prajâpatis] He creates offspring; to annihilate the miscreants He takes the form of kings and in the form of time is He there to put an end to everything that grew different to the modes of nature. (10) With all the people searching for Him, who under the influence of mâyâ are bewildered in different names and different forms, can He not been found by the illusion of [the controversial of] the differing points of view [compare B.G. 18: 66]. (11) All these changes [vikalpas] I described as taking place in one day of Brahmâ [one kalpa] - to which the scholars speak of fourteen manvantaras - are evidence of this.'
Bali Mahârâja Conquers the Heavenly Places
(1-2) The king said: 'Why did the Lord, the Controller of all living beings, like a poor man beg Bali for three steps of land and why did He fetter him despite of the donation? All this begging of the Controller so complete in Himself and the arrest of Bali though he was faultless, we very anxiously desire to understand.'
(3) S'rî S'uka said: 'Defeated by Indra, being deprived of his opulence and his life indeed [see 8.11], was Bali brought back to life by the descendants of Bhrigu [S'ukrâcârya and his followers]. To Bhrigu's following was he, as a great soul and disciple, of worship by giving them everything he had in full surrender. (4) The brahmin followers of Bhrigu, very pleased with him, engaged him in a sacrifice called Vis'vajit so that he, after according the regulations being purified by the exalted souls in a great bathing ceremony [abhisheka], to his desire could conquer the heavenly worlds. (5) From the blazing fire worshiped with oblations of ghee was there, drawn by horses with the color of those of Indra [yellow], a chariot covered with gold and silk that was adorned with a banner marked with a lion. (6) There was a special gilded bow, two quivers with infallible arrows and a celestial armor. His grandfather [Prahlâda] donated a garland of never fading flowers and S'ukrâcârya gave him a conchshell. (7) After thus, on the advice of the brahmins performing the ritual, in the form of the fighting gear having gained their grace, circumambulated he all the scholars offering his obeisances and bade he also with due respect Prahlâda Mahârâja farewell. (8-9) Thereupon ascending the divine chariot donated by S'ukrâcârya, did the great charioteer, decorated with his garland, covered by his armor and equipped with his bow, take up his sword and quiver of arrows. With his golden bangles on his arms and his earrings glittering like sapphires shone he, positioned on his chariot, like a fire of worship on an altar. (10-11) Surrounded by his own men and the other daitya leaders who equaled him in opulence, strength and beauty, seemed they to drink in the sky and burn the directions with their looks. Gathering the greatest asura warriors went they to the supremely wealthy capital of Indra as shaking the entire earth.
(12) It was there very pleasant with orchards and gardens like the beautiful Nandana garden, chirping pairs of birds, madly humming bees and eternal trees with branches heavy of the great weight of its leaves with flowers and fruits. (13) They were crowded with groups of swans, cranes, cakravâka birds, ducks, lotus flowers and beautiful sporting women protected by the godly. (14) The ever worshipable goddess surrounded them with trenches of celestial Ganges water and parapeted ramparts in the color of fire. (15) Constructed by Vis'vakarmâ, were the gates that gave access to the city made of marble, were the doors [of the houses] covered by golden plates and were the many public roads carefully laid out. (16) It was replete with assembly houses, courtyards, roads, and countless opulent palaces. The crossroads were made with pearls and had sitting places adorned with diamonds and coral. (17) In that city one found, like with a fire with many flames, the most beautiful, glittering, ever-young women, who cool, warm and round-breasted [of 's'yâmâ'], well-decorated always wore impeccably clean clothes. (18) The breezes blowing in the streets carried the fragrance of the fresh aromatic flowers fallen from the hair of the sura women. (19) On the streets passed the sura sweethearts through the white fragrant smoke of aguru incense burnt from behind windows with gold filigree. (20) There were canopies strewn with pearls and gold, a variety of flags that adorned the domes of the palaces and peacocks, pigeons and bees that vibrated their sounds to which the women in their heavenly buildings sang in chorus the auspiciousness. (21) The city with all its brilliance so beautiful and pleasing with the singing loves of the gods, the solo instruments, the dancing and the sounds of flutes, vînâs, drums, conchshells and kettledrums all perfectly in tune, defeated the beauty of the deity of splendor. (22) No godless people roamed the streets, there was no one envious or of violence against other creatures, no one cheated and no one was of false prestige, lust or greed; all walking there were completely void of all that. (23) And it was that city of God which from the outside at all sides was attacked by him, the commander of the troops provided by S'ukrâcârya, who, resounding his conchshell loudly, created fear with all the ladies protected by Indra.
(24) Indra facing the situation understood Bali's fervent zeal and addressed in the company of the godly the spiritual master [Brihaspati] with the following words: (25) 'O my Lord, who gave Bali, our enemy from the past, the great fervor and prowess I'm afraid we're unable to withstand? (26) There is no one to be found who can counter this armed arrangement of his, it is as if he with his mouth wants to drink in and lick up the whole world and with his vision wants to set ablaze all directions, having risen like the fire at the end of time. (27) Please tell us what the cause of the formidable prowess of our enemy is and from where all his energy, strength, influence and this endeavor came.'
(28) Brihaspati said: 'I know the cause, o Indra, of the rise of your enemy, he got his power being a disciple of the mighty brahmins that are the followers of Bhrigu. (29) Being that powerful can the strong one not be defeated by someone like you or anyone belonging to you; except for the Supreme Controller, the Lord, will no one be able to vanquish him now he is endowed with a superior spiritual strength; to oppose him is just as useless as to oppose the lord of death. (30) Therefore must you all leave, give up the heavenly kingdom and go elsewhere to await the time when your enemy has to face his reverse. (31) He who now so utterly mighty flourishes by the brahminical power invested in him, will by insulting the same power find his demise together with all his friends and helpers.'
(32) Thus advised by their spiritual master on what they had to do gave they up their heavenly kingdom and departed they who were the gods who could assume any form they liked. (33) When all the godly this way had left took Bali, the son of Virocana, hold of the city where the divine had their stay and brought he the heavenly worlds under his control. (34) Because he was their disciple instructed the followers of Bhrigu, very pleased with the conqueror of the universe, him to perform a hundred [as'vamedha] horse sacrifices. (35) From performing those sacrifices spread his fame in all directions of the three worlds and shone he with a glory equal to the moon. (36) From winning the favor of the twiceborn deemed he, in enjoying the like of an opulence and prosperity of the demigods, himself most happy with all he had conceived and done so greatly.
Aditi Initiated into the Payo-vrata Ceremony, the Best of All Sacrifices
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'As soon as her sons thus had abandoned their position began their mother Aditi helplessly to lament over the loss of the heavenly kingdom that was seized by the Daityas. (2) When one day the mighty sage Kas'yapa [her husband] after a long time came out of his samâdhi [yogic trance] and came to Aditi's quarters, found he her dispirited and morose. (3) After he, respectfully welcomed by Aditi, had accepted a sitting place, addressed he, thoughtful of her depression, her as follows, o best of the Kurus. (4) 'Has anything unfortunate happened in relation to the brahmins, o gentle one, or are you in the world of today at odds with the dharma or with the people around you subjected to the whims of death? (5) Or has something gone awry my dearest princess, with the religion, the money, or the fulfillment of your desires in this household life which offers even the ones not prone to yoga an opportunity to unify the consciousness? (6) Or had you maybe any unexpected guests in the house, all too attached family members whom you couldn't welcome properly and happened to walk out on you? (7) The home not even welcoming uninvited guests by offering them a glass of water, is, abandoned by them, nothing more than a jackal's den. (8) Or have you during the time of my absence, o finest, for some reason forgotten your oblations of ghee in the fire, my sweet wife? (9) An attached householder achieves by the worship of pûjâ the fulfillment of all his desires and goes to heaven, for it are indeed the brahmins and the fire that are the mouth of Vishnu who is the heart and soul of all the God-conscious [compare B.G. 9: 26]. (10) Are your sons all faring well, o broadminded lady? I can see you are distraught of mind.'
(11) S'rî Aditi said: 'With the twiceborn and the cows, o brahmin, the dharma and the people around me all fares well; your household is the best place for heartening the three of progress [kâma, artha, dharma], dear husband. (12) The fire, the guests, the servants and the beggars were all treated as should; from always thinking of you, o brahmin, nothing was missed. (13) What desire of mine would not be fulfilled o lord, with your good self as the founding father and the reminder of dharma in my heart? (14) Even though the Supreme Controller takes [special] care of the devotees, are you in your goodness from the Asura on equalminded to each who, stemming from either your body or your mind, o son of Marîci, is gifted with one of the three qualities of goodness, passion or slowness, o my lord [compare B.G. 4: 11 and 9: 29]. (15) Therefore, o controller, just consider the wellfare of me, your servitor. We are now, o gentle one, because of our competitors bereft of our opulence and residence; please protect us o master! (16) Exiled by the very same powerful enemies that took away all of our opulence, beauty, reputation and homes, have I drowned in an ocean of trouble. (17) O first of our well-wishers, be so kind to consider our good fortune, o saintly man, so that all we've lost by my sons may be regained.'
(18) S'rî S'uka said: 'This way being beseeched by Aditi said he with a smile to her: 'Alas, how powerful is the mâyâ of Vishnu when one is caught in this love for the world. (19) What is the meaning of this material body made of the elements that is not the soul and of whom and who is the spiritual soul transcendental to the world, the material universe that for sure is the cause indeed of the illusion of having a husband or son and such [see B.G. 2: 13, 5.5: 1, 7.5: 31]? (20) Try to be of respect for Vâsudeva, the spiritual master of the whole world, the Original Person of Janârdana, He who, residing in the core of each his heart, defeats all enemies. (21) Undoubtedly will He, the infallible Lord merciful to the poor, fulfill your desires; to my opinion does nothing compare to the devotional service unto the Supreme Lord [see also 2.3: 10].'
(22) S'rî Aditi said: 'What are the rules I have to follow, o brahmin, so that the Lord of the Universe is pleased and by His grace my desires actually can be fulfilled [see also B.G. 7: 16]? (23) Teach me, o husband, best of the twiceborn, the vidhi [the regulative principles, see 1.17: 24 and 3.11: 21], the process of worship to the principle, so that the Godhead is quickly pleased with me now lamenting with all my sons.'
(24) S'rî Kas'yapa said: 'I will explain to you the form of worship satisfying Kes'ava, about which the almighty one born of the lotus [Brahmâ] spoke when I, desiring offspring, laid this before him [see B.G. 4: 2]. (25) During the bright half of the month Phâlguna [February/March] should one for twelve days, vowed to take milk only [payo-vrata], charged with unalloyed devotion, be of worship unto the Lotuseyed One [see also 7.5: 23-24]. (26) When the moon is dark should one smear oneself with the dirt dug up by a boar if available, and enter a stream of water chanting this mantra: (27) 'O divine mother [earth], desiring a place were you from the bottom of the ocean brought up by the tusk of Lord Varâha [see 3.13: 30]; with my obeisances unto you, please wash away all my sins and their reactions'. (28) After having finished the daily spiritual duties, should God be worshiped with full attention for the deities [see also 7.14: 39-40] in one's shrine, for the sun, the water, the fire and the guru indeed: (29) 'I offer my respectful obeisances unto You o Supreme Lord, o Original Personality and Best of All residing in the heart of all beings, o Vâsudeva the omnipresent witness. (30) My reverence unto You the Unseen One, the Transcendental Person of the Primal Reality, the knower of the twenty-four elements [see glossary], and original cause of the analytic order of yoga. (31) My respects unto You, the Enjoyer of the three types of rituals [of karma, jñâna and upâsanâ or bhakti, or fruitive work, spiritual knowledge and devotional service] with Your two heads [of prâyanîya and udâyanîya, the beginning and the end of the sacrifices], three legs [savana-traya, the three daily soma libations to solar time], four protruding horns [the Vedas to the bull of dharma] and seven hands [the chandas, ways of pleasing, mantras like the Gâyatrî, see also 5.21: 15], my obeisances unto the embodiment of all knowledge. (32) My allegiance unto You known as S'iva and Rudra, You as the reservoir of all potencies and all insight; unto the Supreme Master of the living beings my reverential homage. (33) Unto You as the fourheaded Brahmâ Hiranyagarbha, the source of all life and Supersoul of the Universe, my reverence, I bow for You, the cause of the unified consciousness of Yoga. (34) My esteem for You the Original Godhead and Overseer of all, You I offer my respects who as Nara-Nârâyana-Rishi took the form of a human being - unto that Lord my obeisances. (35) Unto You, blackish like a marakata gem [a kind of emerald], the Controller of Lakshmî, the Killer of Kes'î, unto You clad in yellow, again and again I offer my veneration. (36) You are to all entities the Bestower of all Benedictions, the Most Worshipable one and the Best of all Blessings and for that reason do the ones most sober worship the dust of Your feet as the source of all auspiciousness. (37) He unto whom all the gods and the Goddess of Fortune are engaged in devotional service, may He, the Supreme Lord, be pleased with me who desires nothing less but the celestial bliss of those lotus feet.'
(38) With the help of the necessities of worship engaged with faith and devotion, should one by chanting these mantras, call for the Master of the Senses Hrsikesa and honor Him in every respect. (39) This way of reverence with incense, flowers, etc., should one bathe with milk and dress, with a sacred thread and ornaments, the Almighty, and after touching [or offering] water for washing the lotusfeet should one with the twelve-syllable mantra [of 'om namo bhagavate vâsudevâya' see also 6.8: 3 and 4.8: 53] [again] with fragrance and smoke and such, be of worship. (40) With rice cooked in milk with ghee and molasses - if available - offered to the deity, should one thus offer Him oblations in the fire chanting the same mantra. (41) So of worship with offering the deity betel nuts with spices as well, should the food of sacrifice [prasâda] by oneself personally be offered to His devotee to eat, with water to wash one's hands and mouth. (42) After repeating the mantra one-hundred-and-eight times, should one, offering various prayers unto the Greatest, next circumambulating Him pay one's respect by prostrating oneself in satisfaction. (43) After taking the remnants of the sacrifice via one's [fore-]head and then depositing them in a sacred place should minimally two learned ones [brahmins] be fed with sweet rice. (44-45) Properly having honored them should then with their permission the remnants of the prasâda be taken by one's kin. Of course should at night celibacy be observed from the first day on, for as long as the payo-vrata takes, and should early in the morning, having bathed, with great attention to the vidhi the bathing as was described with milk be performed. (46) With drinking [milk] only following this vow should one carry on the worship of Vishnu with faith and devotion, as stated offering oblations in the fire as also answering to the obligation to feed the brahmins. (47) This way indeed should one day after day for the full twelve days proceed with the 'vow of drinking only', worshiping the Lord with fire sacrifices before the deity and pleasing the twice-born [and one's kin] with food. (48) Beginning with the day of pratipat ['running to meet'] until the thirteenth day of the bright half of the month, should one, in celibacy sleeping on the floor, care to bathe three times a day. (49) One should refrain from discussing trivia and sensual pleasures superior or inferior, and, being of nonviolence towards all living beings, depend on Vâsudeva as the essence.
(50) Following should on the thirteenth day the Almighty [Vishnu] be bathed with five substances [milk, yogurt, ghee, sugar and honey] proceeding according the vidhi as laid down in the scriptures. (51-52) With the milk and the grains offered should in grand worship the miserly mentality [of not spending] be given up, being of good recitation with many a hymn [or sûkta] for Lord Vishnu residing in the hearts of all; thus with great attention and food offerings should one of worship for the Original Person with everything so richly prepared be of sacrifices highly pleasing to His Personality. (53) Try to understand that in worship of the Lord [vishnu-ârâdhana], the teacher of example [the âcârya] so well versed in the spiritual knowledge and also the priests, should be satisfied with clothes, ornaments and many a cow. (54) O pious lady, all of them and also the brahmins as far as possible and the rest assembled there, should receive the prasâda of the rich food of goodness [B.G. 17: 8] prepared with milk and ghee. (55) The guru and the priests should be financially compensated and by all means should the food even be distributed to the simpleminded and poor whom one also should reward for gathering for the ceremony. (56) After feeding also all the poor, the blind, the averse and so on, should one from that way of understanding pleasing Lord Vishnu, take with one's friends and relatives prasâda oneself. (57) With dance, drum and song, reciting mantras, offering prayers and reading out the stories, should one from the first to the last day worship the Supreme Lord.
(58) This, related by my grandfather [Brahmâ], that I described unto you in all detail, is the supreme process called payo-vrata of honoring the Original Person. (59) O greatly fortunate one, also you will by this process, properly executed, with yourself in pure love unto Lord Kes'ava manage to settle yours in persistence of worship towards the Inexhaustible One. (60) Of all religious ceremonies is this one called sarva-yajña [the one covering all sacrifices] which is thus, with charity pleasing the Lord, understood as the very essence of all austerities, o good lady [*]. (61) Of all regulations is the one as mentioned indeed the most direct and best way to control the senses effectively, because by the austerity, the vows and the sacrifice Adhokshaja, the One beyond the Senses, is pleased [see footnote and 1.2: 8]. (62) And for that reason o blessed one, will the Supreme Lord being very satisfied by your executing this with faith according the to the rules observed vow, soon bestow upon you all benedictions.
*: In the west is Lord Vishnu worshiped in every temple of the Caitanya-vaishnavas [Hare Krishnas] according a schedule of twenty-four hours of engagement in performing kîrtana, chanting the Hare Krishna mahâmantra, offering palatable food to Lord Vishnu and distributing this food to vaishnavas and others.
The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi's Son
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The lady, Aditi, thus being advised by her husband Kas'yapa, o King, made sure she followed his words, unrelenting executing this vow for twelve days. (2-3) With undivided attention and fortitude conscientious unto the Controller, the Supreme Personality; in full control of the senses that are as strong as horses, with the mind as the charioteer of intelligence and with the intelligence one-pointed unto the Supreme Lord [see also B.G. 4: 42], the Soul of the Complete, performed she thus fully concentrated on Vâsudeva according the payo-vrata vow of fasting. (4) Before her appeared, my best, the Supreme Lord, the Original Person, dressed in yellow, with His four arms, conch, cakra, club and lotus flower. (5) When she saw Him got she immediately up and offered she, with her mind enraptured, with the greatest respect her obeisances prostrating herself before Him. (6) Rising to her feet was she, ready to worship with her hands folded, because of her blissful enrapture unable to proceed; overwhelmed with her hair standing on end and the entire frame of her body trembling of the utter pleasure of enjoying His vision [darshan], she remained silent with the tears that filled her eyes. (7) With an of love constantly faltering voice, o best of the Kurus, was it as if she, Aditi Devî, staring at the Lord, through her eyes drank the Husband of Ramâ [see 8.8: 8], the Enjoyer of all sacrifices and the Master of the Universe. (8) S'rî Aditi said: 'O Lord of the Sacrifices, Personality of all Offers, o Infallible One to whose feet we pilger, You are known as the ultimate shelter, the One who hearing and singing about is so auspicious; You are the original One who has appeared to mitigate the dangers of material existence of the people of surrender; o Controller, o Supreme Lord, kindly bestow upon us the good fortune, for You are the refuge of the downtrodden. (9) Unto You as the Universe in Person, who as the Independent One, as the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the universe, takes full control by the power of the modes of nature; You as the Superior for Ever and Always Fully Himself, as the Complete of Knowledge that vanquishes the darkness of the self; unto the Supreme Lord of You my reverential homage. (10) With You satisfied, o Complete and Unlimited One, become all things possible: a life as long as that of Brahmâ, a certain body, a life of achievement, unlimited material opulences in the worlds above, below and in between, all sorts of yogic qualities, the three ways of kâma, artha and dharma [the purushârthas] and the spiritual knowledge; not to mention benedictions like the vanquishing of enemies and such!'
(11) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus hailed by Aditi, o King, gave the Supreme Lord with the lotus eyes, the knower of the field [B.G. 13: 1-4] of all living entities, the following reply, o son of Bharata. (12) The Supreme Lord said: 'O mother of gods, your long standing desire relating to your homeless sons that were vanquished by their rivals, has My understanding. (13) To defeat them in the fight, those fine Asuras so proud of their strength, and regain the opulence and the victory, and be together again with your sons in gratitude is what you desire. (14) You'd like to see the tears of the grieving wives of the enemies when they find them killed by your sons under the lead of Indra. (15) The restoration of the full glory, reputation and opulence of your offspring, the joy of their lives and a place for them in heaven is what you'd like to see. (16) At the present moment are all those asura masters of war as good as invincible and thus, o Devî [goddess], is it My opinion that, because they're all protected by the brahmins who assure them My favor, no use of force will be able to bring you the happiness. (17) But you observed your vow and have pleased Me very much that way, o Devî, and thus must I think of something to help you out, for it is so that when someone honors Me that never will be in vain; on the contrary, it will reward that person unfailingly the desired result, according to what he or she deserves. (18) For the sake of your sons having worshiped Me with the vow of drinking only and to the best of your ability having prayed as should, am I, of that faithful austerity with Marîci, determined to become with a plenary portion of Me your son and so protect your other sons. (19) O sweet woman, go and revere your husband, who as the of penance purified Prajâpati is Me as well; think of Me thus as residing within his body [see also B.G. 9: 29]. (20) Do not disclose this to outsiders, not to any one, not even when asked, o lady; all will be a success if that what even for the demigods is something very confidential, is kept a secret [see B.G.18: 67-68].'
(21) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord this way addressing her disappeared from the spot and with the very rare accomplishment of having achieved that the Lord would be born from herself, went she full of devotion straight to her husband, thinking that what she had worked was absolutely the greatest. (22) Kas'yapa, whose vision never failed him, could in the trance of his yoga then understand that the Lord had entered him as a plenary portion. (23) Like the wind kindling fire in firewood, o King, could Kas'yapa the semen, which he in penance had restrained for so long, deposit in Aditi [see also B.G. 7: 11]. (24) Hiranyagarbha ['of the gold inside', Lord Brahmâ] discovering that the pregnancy of Aditi was established, prayed to the Supreme Lord in confidential terms. (25) Lord Brahmâ prayed: 'All glories unto Him the Supreme Lord much praised whose activities are of the greatest, my obeisances unto You, my respects for the Lord of the transcendentalists; the Controller of the Modes of Nature I worship again and again. (26) My allegiance to You previously born from Pris'ni [a previous life of Aditi, compare 6.18: 1, the sons of Aditi] who is always found in the Vedas, who art full of knowledge; as the navel of the three worlds are You transcendental to them and present within the hearts of all living entities as the All-pervading One. (27) You as the Original Cause, the end and the maintaining of the universe, You as the reservoir of endless potencies, are the Supreme Person of whom one speaks as being the Time; You are the Lordship, the Controller taking hold of the whole universe the way waves drag someone along who fell in them. (28) You indeed are of all living beings, whether they move or not move, the Generator; from You originated all the founding fathers; You are the Supreme Shelter of all who live the higher life o God, of all the godly now driven from their places are You the boat that saves them from drowning.
Lord Vâmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Eternal Being, He with the conch, the club, the lotus and the disc in His four hands, the yellow dress and the lotus petal eyes, He whose heroic acts are the praise of Brahmâ, consequently manifested Himself from Aditi. (2) With a pure, blackish complexion, the luster of two earrings in the form of sharks and a dazzling lotus face was He the Supreme Personality with the S'rîvatsa mark on His chest, bracelets and armlets, a shining helmet, a belt, a sacred thread and charming ankle bells. (3) With a swarm of sweetness seeking humming bees around an extraordinary beautifully flowergarland and with around His neck the Kaustubha gem, vanquished the Lord with His effulgence the darkness of Kas'yapa's house. (4) At that moment rose happiness all around, in the waters and in all living beings, over the mountains, the higher worlds, in outer space and on earth; there was a fullness of quality to each season and the cows, the divinities of the fire and the twice-born were all elated. (5) At the hour the moon was in the house of S'ravana [at dvâdas'î, the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhâdra], were, with the birth of the Lord at noon [Abhijit], all the planets and stars, the sun and moon very munificent. (6) At dvâdas'î with the sun over the meridian, o King, was the exact moment, by the learned called Vijayâ, on which the Lord appeared. (7) The noise of the various sounds of the conches, drums, kettledrums, panavas and ânakas [other drums], and other instruments grew into a great tumult. (8) Blissfully danced the heavenly dancing girls and sang the celestial singers, while the sages, the godly, the fathers of mankind, the ancestors and the gods of the fire pleased the Lord with prayers. (9-10) The perfected, the ones of knowledge, the apelike [the warriors of Râma], the ones of superpower, the venerable ones, the ghostly [the keepers of wealth], the demoniac [the guardians], the reciters [the 'brothers of Garuda'], the best experts [the 'snakes'] and all followers of the demigods, glorifying and praising covered the residence of Aditi with flowers [compare 6.7: 2-8 and 5.5: 21-22]. (11) Aditi upon seeing Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who was conceived in happiness and had taken birth from her own womb, was struck with wonder about Him having accepted a body out of His own spiritual potency and also Kas'yapa exclaimed to it in great wonder: 'All glory, all glory' [jaya jaya!].
(12) The transcendental body that the Lord had assumed, complete with ornaments and weapons, can materially not be perceived but had appeared spiritually; it immediately disappeared the next moment and right before their eyes saw they how He whose exploits are all wonderful, manifested Himself, like an actor in a theater, in the form of a brahmin dwarf [Vâmana]. (13) Seeing Him as a brahmacârî dwarf made the great rishis very happy, and thus performed they, with the founding father Kas'yapa as their lead, all the ceremonies [like the jâta-karma birthday ceremony]. (14) When He from Brihaspati in ceremony received His sacred thread was for the sun-god the Gâyatrî [see note ** 5.7] chanted and offered Kas'yapa Him a belt [of straw, signifying the twiceborn status]. (15) Mother earth offered Him a deerskin, the moongod ruling the forest gave Him a staff, to cover His body gave Aditi Him underwear and from the master of the universe, the ruler of heaven he received an umbrella. (16) The Knower Inside [Brahmâ] gave a waterpot, the seven sages donated kus'a grass and the goddess Sarasvatî gave the Imperishable Soul a string of rudrâksha beads, o King. (17) Thus having received His sacred thread delivered the Ruler of the Yakshas [Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven] a pot for begging alms and provided the chaste mother of the universe Bhavânî [the wife of S'iva] directly the alms.
(18) He as a brahmacârî thus being welcomed by everyone, outshone as the best of them with his brahmin effulgence the entire assembly replete with all the great brahmin sages. (19) After settling for a fire as should, completed He with offerings the ceremony of worship, in that doing better than the best of brahmins. (20) After He had heard of Bali's glory as a performer of horse-sacrifices under the guidance of the Bhrigu-brahmins, went He to the place where they were performed, and with each step that He as the Complete and Fully Endowed Essence made imprinted He thus the earth with His footsteps. (21) At the northern bank of the river Narmadâ in the field of Bhrigukaccha, where all the priests of Bhrigu were performing their rituals for the sake of the so very important horse-sacrifice, saw they Him close to them [radiating] like the risen sun. (22) The priests as well as Bali, the instigator of the yajña, and all assembled there, saw themselves overtaken by Lord Vâmana's splendor, o King, and wondered whether they saw the sun rising, or the god of fire or Sanat-kumâra desiring to attend their ceremony. (23) While the Bhrigus this way with their disciples were in dispute entered the Supreme Lord, Vâmana with in His hands His umbrella, rod and kamandalu filled with water, the arena of the as'vamedha sacrifice. (24-25) When Vâmana the learned, seemingly human child, that was the Lord, with His munja belt of straw and the sacred thread around Him, His deerskin upper garment and matted locks of hair arrived and met the priests of Bhrigu with their disciples, was He who with His brilliance overshadowed them all, appropriately welcomed by them getting up from the fire sacrifice. (26) The instigator of the sacrifice in jubilation of seeing Him so beautiful in each of His lustrous limbs offered Him a seat. (27) With words of welcome was thus the Beauty of the Liberated Souls by Bali Mahârâja worshiped who washed His feet. (28) The pure water of those feet washing away all sins of man took he, aware of the dharma, on his head; it carried him the all-auspicious that even the best of all, Lord S'iva with the crescent on top, would carry on his head with devotion and transcendence.'
(29) S'rî Bali said: 'May You be welcome, my obeisances unto You o brahmin, what can we do for You; I think You are, o noble one, the direct personification of the austerity of the brahmin seers. (30) Because Your lordship today has arrived at our residence, are all our forefathers satisfied, is the whole family purified and is this sacrifice we are performing now complete! (31) Today, o brahmin son, are my fires of sacrifice properly served according the principles; by the water that washed from Your lotusfeet has the earth been cleansed of all sins and, oh Lord, has she as well by the touch of Your small feet been sanctified. (32) Whatever it is that You desire, o brahmacârî, You may take from me; be it a cow, gold, a furnished residence, palatable food and drink or else a brahmin's daughter, prospering villages, horses, elephants or chariots, o best of the worshipable; as far as I am concerned may You have whatever You wish for.'
Lord Vâmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahârâja
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'When He thus heard the very pleasing words of loyalty to the dharma from the son of Virocana, praised the Supreme Lord him, satisfied as He was, with the following words. (2) The Supreme Lord said: 'The like of what you say, o Lord of Man, is very true, befits the dynasty, is in accord with the dharma and answers to your good name; it proves the authority of the Bhrigu-brahmins and constitutes the standard of your grandfather, the oldest and most peaceful one [Prahlâda]. (3) In this dynasty has indeed no one been a poorminded miser; unto the brahmins none has denied what was promised or forsaken the charity. (4) By the impeccable reputation of Prahlâda, who is like a clear moon in the sky, o ruler, are there in your dynasty no such low-minded kings found who refuse to commit themselves in the holy places or on the battlefield not responding to the requests of the servants in question. (5) In this dynasty was born Hiranyâksha who, alone wandering this earth to conquer its directions with his club, couldn't find a hero equal to him. (6) Vishnu who [as a boar] with great difficulty had defeated him who He found on His way when He delivered the world, was, after He had been victorious, constantly reminding Himself of how powerful and capable Hiranyâksha had been [see 3.17-19]! (7) After his brother Hiranyakas'ipu heard how he had been killed, went he very angry for the Lord His abode to put an end to the One who had finished his brother [see 7.3]. (8) Observing closely how he like death personified came after Him with the trident in his hand thought He, the Knower of Time, Lord Vishnu, the Chief of the Mystics: (9) 'Wheresoever I go will this one, like he was the death of each, go likewise; therefore will I enter his heart since he only looks outside of himself.' (10) This way decided He greatly concerned, invisible in His subtle body, to enter via his breath, through the nostril, the body of that enemy of malicious pursuit, o King of the Asuras. (11) He, scouring His abode, found it empty not spotting Him and in rage he cried out loud in all directions over the surface of the earth and in outer space, in the sky, the caves and the oceans; despite of all his power could he, searching for Vishnu, not get to see Him. (12) Not finding Him he said: 'I searched the whole universe for Him who killed my brother, He must have gone to the place from where no one returns.' (13) Normally persists the ego-inspired enmity, an anger which has its basis in ignorance, with physical-minded people not beyond the death [of an adversary]. (14) Your father [Virocana], the son of Prahlâda, gave requested by the gods, despite of the fact that he knew that they had dressed up as brahmins, his life to them out of his own affinity with the twiceborn. (15) Your good self also performed to the dharma that was established by the householders, the brahmins, your forefathers, the great heroes and others highly elevated and famous. (16) From such a person, from Your Majesty, I ask a little bit of land; from him who can be of munificent charity I ask three footsteps of land, o King of the Daityas, to the measure of My foot. (17) There is nothing else I desire from you, o King so generous, o master of the universe, may the one of learning not suffer any want and receive from donations as much as he needs.'
(18) S'rî Bali said: 'Alas o brahmin scion, Your words are welcome to the learned and elderly, but as a boy not intent on taxing for Your self-interest are You not aware of what it all takes. (19) It is for him who propitiates with sweet words me, the one and only master of all the world, not very intelligent to ask for three steps, when I can give an entire continent! (20) No one who once has approached me deserves it to beg again and therefore, o small brahmacârî, take from me according Your desire whatever suits Your needs.'
(21) The Supreme Lord said: 'All the possible sense objects taken together that within these three worlds could please one, are incapable of satisfying the man who has no control over his senses, o King [see also 5.5: 4]. (22) He who has not enough with three steps won't be happy with a whole continent of nine lands either, nor with the desire to take hold of all the seven continents. (23) We have heard that Prithu, Gaya and such royal rulers over all the seven continents, following this course couldn't reach the end of the fulfillment of their ambitions and desires. (24) With that what by the grace of God is acquired according one's destiny should one be content; for someone dissatisfied not in control with himself is there no happiness, not even if he has obtained the three worlds [see also 7.6: 3-5, 5.5: 1 and B.G. 6: 20-23]. (25) To be discontent with the money and the sensual pleasures is the cause of the continuation of someone's materially determined existence [of repeatedly dying and starting all over again], but he who is satisfied with what was achieved by destiny, applies for liberation. (26) The effulgence of the brahmin increases when he is satisfied with what was obtained by providence, but decreases with his dissatisfaction the way a fire is extinguished with water. (27) For that reason do I ask you, so munificent as a benefactor, for three steps of land, for I have met My purpose perfectly with the single achievement of what is necessary.'
(28) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus addressed said Bali with a smile: 'Now take from me as You like', and in order to give Him the land took he his waterpot [so as to confirm ritually with the water in his hand his promise]. (29) S'ukrâcârya, the greatest expert in these matters who had guessed what Vishnu's plan was, then addressed his disciple, the asura lord who was about to deliver the land to Vishnu.'
(30) S'rî S'ukrâcârya said: 'This one here is directly the Supreme Lord Vishnu, o son of Virocana, in His full glory born from Kas'yapa and Aditi to operate to the interest of the godly. (31) What you promised is, I think, at odds, you have no idea, it won't do you any good; what you contrived is a great threat for the Daityas! (32) He, impersonating as a human child, is the Lord teaching you a lesson; He'll snatch all the material beauty and riches, power and repute away from you to give it to your enemy [Indra, see also 7.10]. (33) With the three steps He'll seize all the worlds gradually expanding to the universal form - how can you maintain yourselves after having given everything away to Vishnu, o fool! (34) One after the other will He with one step take the earth, with the second step occupy outer space and in the ether expand to His greatest and where would He then make his third step? (35) You'll be in hell forever I think, as that's what indeed happens to people who can't keep their promise; for you are of the type that no way is capable of living up to the expectations he created. (36) The saintly are not in favor of the charity that endangers one's livelihood, for it is because of one's capacity to maintain oneself that one finds the charity, sacrifice, austerity and fruitive activity in this world. (37) When one divides one's earnings over the five objectives of the religion, one's success, one's upkeep, one's pleasure and one's family, can one be happy in this world and in the next. (38) Listen, in this regard [concerning your promise] is the truth by the many [Rig-] veda [Bahvrica-s'ruti] prayers for the gods and the creation that I have expressed, o best of the Asuras, preceded by the word om [AUM, 'yes', 'so be it'] and of that which has been said that was not preceded thus one speaks as the non-eternal [the relative, illusory or untrue, see also B.G 17: 24, 9: 17 and 8: 13]. (39) One should understand that the factual truth, as stated by the Vedas, says that flowers and fruits are there from the tree that is the body, but that from the untrue of the root of a dead tree there is no chance for them [compare B.G. 8: 6]. (40) It suffers no doubt that the same way as with a tree that uprooted falls and dries up, the temporal body immediately is lost and dried out [when one doesn't care for that temporal root*]. (41) That syllable of om thus uttered is what separates one, frees one and forms the counterpart [to one's wealth], a person is thus freed from that what is proposed [is sacrificed] in relation to its expression; anything given in charity to the needy therewith uttering om will thus not serve the satisfaction of one's senses or one's self-realization. (42) Do therefore not entirely accede to that drawing of your compassion nor be fully [committed] to speaking untruthfully [that you couldn't spare]; thus no one can say you are of illusion, that you would be someone who is reprehensible being dead alive. (43) It is no falsity [you see] nor an abomination to charm a woman, to jest or to marry, to make a living or to protect the cows and the brahminical in times of danger against violence.'
*: The temporal body is there for eternal things. S'rîla Rupa Gosvâmî says: "One who rejects things without knowledge of their relationship to Krishna is incomplete in his renunciation." (Bhakti-rasâmrita-sindhu 1.2.66)
Lord Vâmanadeva Covers all Worlds
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Bali, the master of the house, thus being advised by the family priest fell silent for a moment, o King, and addressed after due consideration his guru. (2) S'rî Bali said: 'What your greatness told me is true: the economic interest, the sensual pleasure, the reputation and the livelihood may never be a hindrance for a householder to perform his religious duties. (3) How can someone like me be cheating for the sake of money? Especially to a brahmin will I, to the honor of Prahlâda, have to give as I have promised - I 'd be an ordinary cheater! [*]. (4) There is nothing more irreligious than untruthfulness as thus indeed mother earth has told us: 'To bear this all I can, with the exception though of man as the greatest liar.' (5) I do not fear hellish conditions, nor poverty, nor an ocean of distress, nor a fall from my position, nor death as much as I fear to cheat a man of God. (6) If whatever one has in this world must be left behind when one has to die, what purpose then would one's wealth and riches serve when one needs to renounce in one's life; must one with them then not please the man of God? (7) Heartening the good of all people have saints like Dadhîci, S'ibi and other great servants of God, forsaken the most difficult up to their very lives; what objection would there be against donating the land? (8) From persons like the daitya kings who, willing to sacrifice their lives, enjoyed this world o brahmin, takes time away all that is owned but not the reputation achieved in this world. (9) O holy brahmin, those who with ease won by battle not being afraid to fight or to lose their lives, do not as easily faithful and devoted to the one who settles the holy ground give away what they accumulated [compare B.G. 17: 20]. (10) To the munificent, the ones famed for their mercy, does it work to their advantage to fall to poverty in satisfying the needs of the destitute, not to mention satisfying knowers of the spiritual like your good self; therefore I'll give this celibate One whatever that He wants. (11) All of you fully aware of the vedic way of offering, are with the different butes very respectful in the worship of Him th of Him the Enjoyer of the Sacrifice; whether He is Vishnu coming to bless or there to put me down, I will give Him, o sage, whatever land He so desires. (12) Not even when He deceiving me, fearfully posing as a brahmin boy, unjustly kills me will I retaliate, opposing Him as an enemy. (13) If this one is really the one hailed in the scriptures, will He, from His enduring glory, never want to give it up, whether He after killing me takes all the land or will rest in peace slain by me.'
(14) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus was he, the high, divinely inspired character fixed on truthfulness who was such a disrespectful and obstinate disciple, cursed by the guru with [see B.G. 10: 10]: (15) 'So cocksure considering yourself learned have you in breaking with my injunctions become an impudent ignoramus in total disregard of us; such a one will soon be bereft of all his opulence!' (16) [Even] cursed this way by his own guru gave he, who had not abandoned the truthfulness, the great personality Vâmanadeva, after due worship and first offering water, the land he had promised. (17) Vindhyâvali, Bali's wife decorated with a necklace of pearls, came that moment forward and commanded a golden waterpot to be brought full of water to wash the Lord His feet. (18) He, the worshiper of the most auspicious and beautiful pair of feet, personally in great jubilation washed them and took the water on his head that confers liberation upon the whole universe. (19) That moment was a shower of flowers released by all the gods, the singers of heaven, the knowledgeable, the self-realized and the venerable ones, who very pleased hailed the rectitude of the asura king his action [compare 5.18: 12]. (20) By the thousands began the residents of heaven, the apelike and the ones of superpower to sing declaring: 'What Bali, this great personality, has done was a most difficult thing, since he delivered the three worlds to the most learned, that ally of the gods [Vishnu]!'
(21) Then the dwarf form of the Unlimited Lord began to expand most wondrously to the entire expanse of the threefold of matter: over all the land, the sky, in each direction, the planetary systems, outer space and the seas and oceans, where the birds and the beasts, the humans, the gods and the saints lived. (22) In this body of Him as the Almighty could Bali together with all the priests, the teachers of example and the seekers of truth see the entire three-modal universe complete with the elements and the living beings with their senses, sense objects, mind, intelligence and false ego. (23) The lower world he saw under the soles of His feet, upon the feet he saw the surface of the land, the mountains he saw on the calves of the virâth-purusha, the aerial beings on the knees of the gigantic form and on His thighs he saw the different sorts of demigods. (24) In His garment he recognized the evening twilight, in His private parts he saw the founding fathers, in His hips saw he himself with his spokesmen; His navel was the complete of the sky, at His waist there were the seven seas and in the upper part of Urukrama [the 'far-stepping' Lord] saw he the stellar signs. (25-29) In the heart, o best, was the dharma; to the chest of Murâri the most pleasing and truthful and next in the mind he saw the moon; the goddess with always a lotus in her hands was there on His bosom also and at His neck there were all the vedic sound vibrations together. All the godly under Indra were there with His arms, with His ears there were all the directions; the luminaries formed the top of His head, His hair the clouds, the whisper of the wind His nostrils, the sun His eyes and His mouth he saw as the fire. In His speech there were the hymns of praise, in His tongue he saw the god of the waters; the warnings and regulations were His eyebrows, the eyelids the night and day, on the Supreme Person His forehead he saw anger, and greed he saw in His lips. Lust was His touch, o King, water His semen, the back of Him irreligion, in the sacrifices His marvels, death in His shadows, in His smiles the illusory energy and in His bodily hairs he recognized the herbs and plants. With the rivers for His veins, the stones for His nails, and His intelligence as Lord Brahmâ, the demigods and the sages, saw Bali in the senses of His body all the moving and stationary living entities [see also 2.1, 2.6, 3.12: 37-47 and B.G. 11]. (30-31) When the Asuras observed this complete of the worlds and all souls, received they, o King, this with lamentation: the Sudarsana disc with its unbearable heat and the bow S'ârnga resounding like the thunder, the loud sound of His conchshell the Pâncajanya and the great force of Vishnu's club the Kaumodakî, His sword the Vidyâdhara, the shield with the hundred moons and also His quiver of arrows named Akshayasâyaka. (32-33) His associates with Sunanda and the other leaders and local divinities began to offer prayers to Him, standing there with His brilliant helmet, bracelets, fish-shaped earrings, His S'rîvatsa mark, the best of all jewels [the Kaustubha], belt, yellow dress and flower garland with bees in them. With one footstep o King, covered the Supreme Lord Urukrama the entire surface of Bali's world, and covered He with His body the sky and with His arms the directions. (34) The second step stretched out to all the heavenly places and for the third remained really not a farthing, for Lord Urukrama with His stepping now had reached farther than the farthest beyond the worlds of penance of the great and the devoted [see also 5.17: 1].
* : Prabhupâda: 'There are two kinds of highly elevated devotees, called sâdhana-siddha and kripâ-siddha . Sâdhana-siddha refers to one who has become a devotee by regular execution of the regulative principles mentioned in the s'âstras, as ordered and directed by the spiritual master. If one regularly executes such devotional service, he will certainly attain perfection in due course of time. But there are other devotees, who may not have undergone all the required details of devotional service but who, by the special mercy of guru and Krishna - the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead - have immediately attained the perfection of pure devotional service.' Bali Mahârâja became such a kripâ-siddha -bhakta devotee.
Bali Mahârâja Arrested by the Lord
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'He who appeared on the lotus [Brahmâ] saw from the place of truth [from Satyaloka] how by the effulgence of the Lord His toenails, the light of his own abode had been covered and had waned and thus, o god of man, approached he Him with vowed brahmacârîs like the sages headed by Marîci and Sanandana and the other Kumâras. (2-3) Fully expert in the Vedas and their supplements, the regulations and the abstinence; well versed in logic, history, didactics, the classical stories, the vedic corollaries and more were the sages joined by others of whom, ignited by the winds of yoga and the fire of spiritual knowledge, all karmic impurity had ended when they, by simply meditating and offering their prayers, had attained the abode of the self-born one. The one who originated from the lotus then paid homage worshiping Lord Vishnu His lotusfeet with oblations of water and thus was He pleased, very pleased by the reverent devotion He received from the most celebrated vedic authority, from him who as a person had appeared on the lotus that had sprouted from His navel [see also 3.8]. (4) That water from Lord Brahmâ's kamandalu, pure from washing the feet of Lord Urukrama, o king of the humans, so became the [celestial] Svardhunî of which the water flowing down from outer space purifies the three worlds as the fame of the Supreme Lord. (5) Lord Brahmâ and the others, they who were the predominating deities of the different worlds, were of the greatest respect for their master and collected with all their followers the necessities for worshiping the All-powerful Soul who had returned to His original size. (6-7) With water for the feet and for the guests, flowergarlands, all sorts of pulp to smear, incense and lamps all fragrant, fried rice, whole grains, fruits, roots and sprouts, offered they their respects exclaiming 'Jaya, jaya' to the glory of His actions, thereby dancing, singing and playing instruments with the vibrations of conchshells and kettledrums beaten. (8) Jâmbavân, the king of the apes [also: bears], enraptured sounding the bugle heralded everywhere in each direction the great festival. (9) the Asuras who saw that all the land of their master, so determined in the sacrifice, was lost on the simple plea of three steps of land were very angry: (10) 'Isn't this brahmin friend actually Vishnu Himself, who as the greatest of all cheaters assuming the form of a twice-born one willfully is trying to deceive us in the interest of the godly? (11) By Him, the enemy, in the form of a brahmacârî mendicant, has all that our master possesses been taken away because he, vowed to the ritual, gave up the clout. (12) Ever sworn to the truth is he, consacrated for the yajña and always sympathetic with the brahminical, personally incapable of telling a lie. (13) It is therefore our duty to our master to kill this one here!', and so took all the asura followers of Bali up a wide range of weapons. (14) Aggravated by their angry nature having taken up tridents and lances rushed they all together forward against the will of Bali, o King. (15) Seeing the daitya soldiers coming forward, o ruler, made the associates of Vishnu smile as they stopped them taking up their arms. (16-17) Nanda and Sunanda waged as well as did Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumuda, Kumudâksha, Vishvaksena, Patattrirâth [Garuda], Jayanta, S'rutadeva, Pushpadanta and Sâtvata; all together they as strong as a thousand elephants killed the asura soldiers.
(18) After Bali saw his men being killed by the Original Personality His associates, remembered he the curse of S'ukrâcârya [8.20: 15] and commanded he their retreat despite of their anger: (19) 'O Vipracitti, o Râhu, o Nemi, please listen, don't fight, stop with this, now is not the time to settle this. (20) That Master of All Living Beings, that Person of Control deciding about happiness and distress, can by human effort not be superseded, o Daityas. (21) Previously time worked in our favor and brought us the victory over the godly, but today does the time, which indeed is the Supreme Lord in existence, work against us. (22) Not by any power, counsel, cleverness, fortifications, spells or herbs, diplomacy or other means or likewise schemes is but a single person able to surpass the time factor. (23) All these followers of Vishnu who enjoyed the wealth by providence were by you in great numbers defeated and today indeed are they cheering in defeating us in battle [see B.G. 18: 13-15]. (24) We shall gain victory over them all to the favor of providence and therefore must we now await the time that is to our advantage.'
(25) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the daitya and dânava leaders heard what their master told them entered they the lower regions, o King, driven there by the associates of Vishnu. (26) Thereafter, on the day when to the sacrifice the soma is taken [soma-pâna], was Bali, to the desire of the master [Lord Vishnu], by the son of Târkshya, the king of the birds [Garuda] arrested who bound him with the ropes of Varuna. (27) From all directions rose everywhere in the upper and lower worlds a great roar of disappointment because of the apprehension of the asura leader by Vishnu, the mightiest around. (28) Bereft of his luster remained he, so magnanimous and celebrated o King, determined as ever. Unto him bound thus by Varuna's ropes then spoke the Supreme Lord Vâmana: (29) 'Three steps of land have you given Me, o Asura; with two I occupied the complete of all the earth's surface and now you owe me for the third one. (30) As far as the sun, the moon and the stars can shed their light and as far as the clouds are pouring rain, do you own all the land covered. (31) With one step only I covered the entire sphere of the earth [Bhûrloka], with My body occupying the sky in all directions and with the second step I took before your eyes for Myself the higher worlds that were in your possession. (32) Unable to give what you promised is it the rule that you yourself now stay out of it; and getting out it is as your guru would like [see also 6.17: 28]. (33) Anyone cheating a mendicant in falling short to give what was promised, falls down the more, and must, far removed from the higher life, ruminate fruitlessly. (34) Now that I've been fooled by you saying 'this I promise and that I'm so proud of' will you therefore as a consequence of this offensive result have to live out of it all for some years.'
Bali Mahârâja Surrenders His Life
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus with the Supreme Lord having run into trouble, o King, was Bali, the asura king, despite of his awkward position an unperturbed soul who replied positively with the following words. (2) S'rî Bali said: 'If, o Lord of the Praise, You of Your good Self think that my words of promise proved false, o Greatest of the Gods, then let me, to be true to the matter and not to have turned to cheating, offer You my head upon which to put the third step of Your lotus feet. (3) I am not as afraid of residing in hell or being bound in fetters, of hard to endure distress nor certainly of a lack of funds as much as I have grown afraid of the punishment of defamation that I have to suffer now from Your Lordship [compare B.G. 2: 34 and 6.17: 28]. (4) I consider it the most exalted of men to be punished by the worshipable Lord, it is something which is not offered by either one's mother, father, brother or friends [see 10.14: 8]. (5) You verily are, of us Asuras, indirectly the supreme guru because You, destroying the false prestige of the many of us that are blinded by material comforts, gave us the vision. (6-7) Many of those who outside of the wisdom fixed their intelligence upon You by constant enmity, achieved the perfection which, as is known, equals that of the yogis. Therefore am I, even though I'm punished by Your Lordship so full of wonders, not ashamed nor suffering very much from thus being bound by Varuna's ropes. (8) My grandfather [Prahlâda] as appreciated by Your devotees is everywhere famed for being a saint in having You as the Supreme Shelter when he had to suffer all the nasty things that his own father invented in simply going against You [see 7.5]. (9) What's the use of this body which gives it up in the end, what is the service of all those profiteers who passing as relatives snatch away the inheritance, what is the need for a wife which only drags one more into the material and what to a person certain of death is the use of wasting one's life with domestic attachments [see also 5.5: 8 and B.G. 18: 66]? (10) As said was he, my grandfather the great devotee so wise in his service, afraid as he was of the people [around him] indeed unerring in his resolve to surrender himself to, with of all fear he experienced, the immovable refuge of Your Lordship's lotus feet, o Best of the Best who has put an end to all the demoniac of us. (11) Therefore do I take to the shelter of You, me who also being hostile with the soul by providence with force was arrested and bereft of all his wealth. The temporary nature of the material comforts, that for the duration of life confronts one with one's finality and death [see 7.5: 30], is what the narrowminded person cannot understand.'
(12) S'rî S'uka said: 'When he thus discussed his position, manifested Prahlâda, the favorite of the Lord [see 7.9], himself there o best of the Kurus, just like the moon does rising in the sky. (13) There saw he, the spear of Indra, his grandfather, the best of all the auspicious, present in all his glory: with eyes as wide as lotuspetals, beautifully built, dressed in saffron, with a darkskinned splendor and long arms. (14) Bound in the ropes of Varuna could he not as before offer him the respect he owed and so offered he, with eyes full of tears bashfully bending his face downwards, his obeisances. (15) When he, the great devotee, saw the Great Master, the Lord, sitting there with followers like Sunanda in worship, approached he Him with his head bent low and paid he, moved to tears in his jubilation, thus with his head his respects. (16) S'rî Prahlâda said: 'Your Lordship who granted this so very great position of Indra has today taken it back, which I consider something very beautiful. You have done him, bereft of his opulence, a great favor because that was what stood in the way of his self-realization. (17) Indeed even the most learned and self-controlled gets bewildered by the opulence in his search for the goal of life; You I owe my obeisances, You the Controller of the Universe, Lord Narâyâna, the overseer indeed of all.'
(18) S'rî S'uka said: 'So that Prahlâda who stood there with folded hands could hear it, o King, spoke the most powerful one of the gold within [Brahmâ] to the slayer of Madhu [the Lord]. (19) Bali's chaste wife [though] who saw her husband arrested, heavily distraught of fear offered with folded hands her obeisances to Upendra [Lord Vâmana] and addressed Him, o King, with her face down. (20) S'rî Vindhyâvali said: 'For the sake of Your pastimes have You created this threefold universe, You are the proprietor but the bad minded and others, o Controller, have ignorantly imposing themselves settled for the ownership; what can they, the shameless, offer You, the Supreme Creator, Master and Annihilator [compare B.G. 16: 13-15 and 18: 61]?'
(21) Lord Brahmâ said: 'O Goodness of all Living Beings, o Controller of Each, o God of Gods, o All-pervading One, please release this one now bereft of everything - someone like him does not deserve it to be punished. (22) He returned to You all the lands, all the worlds - with a firm resolve has without hesitation whatever he in his piety has achieved all been offered to You; all he possessed, even his body. (23) At Your feet offered he honestly water, grasses and flower-buds. How can such a worshiper despite of his so exalted offerings, despite of his worship, offering You the three worlds, deserve the pain given; not duplicitous as he is deserves he the highest destination [B.G. 9: 26]!'
(24) The Supreme Lord said: 'O Brahmâ, I show him My mercy and take his riches away who is of false prestige; such a dull-witted one derides all the world! (25) The living entity that not independent because of the karma, in different species of life is caught in the material world, longs for the high purpose of being human [see also B.G. 13: 22]. (26) He who with his birth, activities, age, physique, education, achievement, wealth and other opulences has not hardened [has not became arrogant], should as such be considered as being favored by Me. (27) Things as a high birth are the cause of arrogance and stupefaction; together constitute they impediments for the supreme benefit of life, impediments by which My devotee is not disturbed [see also 4.8-12]. (28) This Bali, the most devoted and famous among the Dânavas and Daityas, has already surpassed the insurmountable material energy; despite of losing his wealth is he not bewildered. (29-30) Out of all riches, fallen from his superior position, reviled and arrested by his enemies, deserted by his family and relatives, having suffered all kinds of uncommon hardship, rebuked and cursed by his guru, did he, fixed in his vow, not forsake the truthful, the dharma that I so deceitfully for the gift spoke about; true to his word this one never gave it up. (31) By Me he has achieved a place that even for the demigods is most difficult to obtain; during the time of Sâvarni Manu [see 8.13: 10-11] will he become the Indra that is fully protected by Me. (32) For the time being he may go and live in Sutala [see 5.24: 18] the place set by Vis'vakarmâ where it by My special vigilance has been made impossible for the inhabitants to suffer psychically or physically any weariness, exhaustion or defeat. (33) O spear of Indra, o Mahârâja, now better go o ruler, may there, surrounded by your people, be all auspiciousness for you in Sutala, the place so desirable to even the ones of heaven. (34) None of the local controllers there will be able to overrule you, not to mention the common man, as I with my cakra will take care of all the Daityas that transgress your rule. (35) I'll protect you, your associates and your property. In every respect will I always stay close to you, o great hero, you'll be able to see Me there! (36) By observing My excellence will in that place the stupidity of the asura mentality of the Daityas and Dânavas be vanquished immediately.'
The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Places
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the great and exalted soul [of Bali], who carried the approval of all the saints, thus was addressed by the Original, Oldest Person, spoke he full of devotion with folded hands, with tears in his eyes and a faltering voice. (2) S'rî Bali said: 'How wonderful it is that, in just attempting to offer my respect to the regulative principles as observed by pure devotees, it for a fallen Asura like me, endowed with Your causeless mercy, has become possible what before today could not be achieved by the godly or the leaders of the world!'
(3) S'rî S'uka said: 'Having said this to the Lord offered he Him, Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva his obeisances and entered Bali released and that way satisfied with his associates next Sutala. (4) And so did the Supreme Lord who, fulfilling Aditi's desire, had given back to king Indra his supremacy over the heavenly worlds, [see 8.16: 11-17] rule the entire Universe. (5) Prahlâda who in his ecstatic devotion had overheard how his descendant, his grandson Bali, had achieved His mercy and was released from the bondage, then addressed as follows [the Supreme Personality]. (6) S'rî Prahlâda said: 'With this benediction, which could not be achieved by Lord Brahmâ, by the Goddess of Fortune or by Lord S'iva - not to mention others -, have You for us Asuras become the Protector Against All Misery, the One whose feet are worshiped by those who are revered throughout the universe! (7) Lord Brahmâ and others, o Shelter of All, enjoy Your grace by the taste of the honey of serving the lotus of Your feet; how could we, guilty escapists born from envy, achieve the position that is granted by the merciful glance of Your Lordship? (8) O how wonderful are all the activities of Your unlimited spiritual potency: in Your pastimes are You, expanding in service, the One who created all the worlds, o Lord pervading all and equal to all; to be undivided is the nature of Your love for the devotees as You are by nature the desire tree [see B.G. 9: 29].'
(9) The Supreme Lord said: 'My son Prahlâda, all good to you, please go and enjoy the place Sutala and rejoice there in happiness with your grandson, relatives and friends! (10) Situated there will you have the constant vision of Me holding the club and seeing Me thus will the bondage of fruitive action by the great delight be vanquished.'
(11-12) S'rî S'uka said: 'Prahlâda, clear of intelligence, accepted with folded hands in consent the order of the Supreme Lord, o King, and after he, the Master of all the leading Asuras, had circumambulated the Original Person and offered his obeisances, entered he together with Bali with His permission the great place Sutala. (13) The Lord thereafter said to S'ukrâcârya who in the assembly of brahmin followers sat close to Him, Nârâyana, in a group of priests [brahma, hotâ, udgâtâ and adhvaryu]: (14) 'O brahmin, please describe the karmic flaws of your disciple Bali who performs the sacrifices, for those karmic troubles [see 8.20: 15] will be neutralized under the supervison of the brahmins.'
(15) S'rî S'ukra said: 'What would be the wrong of him who in all respects was of worship unto Your Lordship who art the master of all fruitive action; You are the Controller and Enjoyer of all sacrifices [see also 4.31: 14, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 5: 25]. (16) To the time and place, the recipient and the paraphernalia there can be weaknesses with the mantras and following the principles, but it is all made faultless by regularly with one another repeating [in song and lecture] the glories of Your Lordship [*]. (17) O Supreme One, because You ordered him was Bali without faults though and must I follow to Your order as it is the most auspicious and supreme for each person to fold one's hands to Your regular order.'
(18) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus to the order of the Lord offering his obeisances set Us'anâ [S'ukrâcârya, see 4.1: 45] the mightiest himself together with the best of the brahmins to the task of compensating for the limp sacrifice that Bali made to the Lord. (19) O King, this way from Bali having begged the land delivered the Lord as Vâmana to His godbrother the great Indra the places of the gods that had been taken by the others. (20-21) The master of the founding fathers Lord Brahmâ, together with the godly, the saints, the forefathers, each and all of his sons ['Lord S'iva and Kârttikeya'], the Manus and all the great leaders like Daksha, Bhrigu and Angirâ, accepted for the pleasure of Kas'yapa and Aditi [as the parents of Vâmana] and for the good of all living beings and worlds, Lord Vâmana as the supreme leader of all local authorities. (22-23) Of the Veda, of all gods, of all religion, of all fame, of all opulence, of all auspiciousness, of all vows being the ones most expert in elevating to the higher life paved they in that time the way for Upendra as the master for all purposes and that made all living beings extremely happy, o ruler of man. (24) Indra thereafter with all the local leaders putting no one but Lord Vâmana in front to travel the high path of the divine ['the heavenly vehicle'] thus took, approved by Lord Brahmâ, with Him to the heavenly world. (25) Upon regaining the three worlds enjoyed Indra thus under the protection of Vâmanadeva the opulence and supremacy he was used to and had he nothing to fear from the Asuras. (26-27) Brahmâ, each and all of his sons, Bhrigu and the others, the munis, o King and the forefathers, all living beings, the perfected and the angels ['who travel the sky'] and such, glorified all together the uncommon and wonderful, praiseworthy deeds of Lord Vishnu and Aditi as well and then left for each their own world.
(28) Hearing, o pleasure of the dynasty, of all these activities of Lord Urukrama [the Lord 'of the great steps'] that I described to you, wipes away all consequences of sin. (29) To the measure of the glories of Him so great in His steps may a person try to count all the atoms of the planet earth; no mortal bound to be born again, nor a mortal of rebirth, is capable of that so stated the great saint [Vasishthha Muni] it in his mantras concerning the Original Person [here Lord Râma, see also B.G. 10: 42 and **]? (30) Anyone who hears about and keeps listening to the stories about this God worshiped by the gods, this Lord Hari whose works throughout all His incarnations are equally wonderful, will attain the supreme destination. (31) Anyone who does this should, in his engagement of service to the gods, the forefathers or else the contentment of human togetherness, know that wherever and whenever these descriptions are met, that will bring all happiness one can find in the world.'
* Often quoted in this context is what S'rî Caitanya Mahâprabhu has recommended:
harer nâma harer nâma
harer nâmaiva kevalam
kalau nâsty eva nâsty eva
nâsty eva gatir anyathâ"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (Brihan-nâradîya Purâna 38.126)
Also is often quoted here a part of verse 11.5:32: 'In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna.'
** Vasishthha Muni has given a mantra about Lord Vishnu: 'na te vishnor jâyamâno na jâto mahimnah pâram anantam âpa': 'no one can estimate the extent of the uncommonly glorious activities of Lord Vishnu'.
Matsya, the Lord's Fish Incarnation
(1) The honorable king said: 'O powerful one, I would like to hear the story about that first incarnation of the Lord so wonderful in His deeds in which He is simply understood by the illusory form of a fish [or Matsya, see also 2.7: 12, 5.18: 24-28 and 6.9: 23]. (2-3) For what purpose accepted the Controller the form of a fish, a form that is certainly not the most favorable one in the world; to operate in that slow mode of matter must be as hard as the life of someone under the laws of karma! O mighty sage, please tell us as good as you can everything about the ways of Lord Uttamas'loka ['the One glorified'], for to hear about Him is what makes the whole world happy [B.G. 4: 7].'
(4) S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: "Thus being questioned by Vishnurâta ['Vishnu-sent'] told the so mighty son of Vyâsadeva him everything there was to know about the deeds of Vishnu in the form of a fish. (5) S'rî S'uka said: 'For the cows, the brahmins, the enlightened, the devotees and even the vedic literatures accepts the Supreme Controller in His incarnations forms to safeguard the dharma and the purpose of life. (6) Lower or higher among the living entities is the Controller [Himself], just like the air moving here and there, not higher or lower with the forms He assumes; willing by the modes He is beyond the modes. (7) In the past day of Brahmâ [kalpa], at its end was there consequently an inundation and were all the worlds existing submerged in the ocean, o King. (8) At the time wanted Brahmâ to lie down feeling sleepy and emanated from his mouth most powerfully the vedic knowledge that by Hayagrîva who happened to be nearby was seized [see 2.7: 11 and 5.18: 6]. (9) Understanding that dânava course of action of Hayagrîva assumed the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller, the form of a fish. (1o) When that took place was there some saintly king named Satyavrata, a great personality and devotee of Lord Nârâyana, who in his penances was of the austerity of only subsisting on water. (11) In the present great day of Brahmâ was he someone who as a son of the sun-god became celebrated as S'râddhadeva and by Lord Hari was entrusted the position of Manu [see 6.6: 40 and 8.13: 1]. (12) When he one day sat at the Kritamâlâ river, performing oblations of water, manifested in his palm full of water some kind of a small fish itself. (13) Satyavrata, the master of Dravidades'a, o son of Bharata, threw the little fish with the handful of water into the river. (14) Appealing to the greatly compassionate King said it: 'The riverwater is very scary, o protector of the poor, why do you throw Me, small as I am, before the avaricious aquatics, o King?'
(15) Very pleased to show it his personal favor decided he, not knowing that he held the form of Matsya, to offer the fish protection. (16) The great ruler hearing its pitiable words mercifully put it in the water of a jug and took it home. (17) But expanding in the water of that pot could it one day not find itself comfortable anymore and said it thus to the great leader: (18) 'In this jug I have it difficult, I cannot live in a place like this, please consider a more spacious residence where I can live with pleasure.'
(19) He then took it out and placed it in a large well, but thrown in there grew it within a second out to the length of three cubits [2.10 meters]. (20) [It said:] 'This tank isn't suitable for Me to live happily in, please give Me, who took to your shelter, a place much bigger!'
(21) The king removing it from there threw it, o King, in a lake that was immediately covered by its body when He instantly grew out into a gigantic fish. (22) 'This water you put Me in does not accommodate Me, o King, I'm a large aquatic, better put Me somehow in an expanse of water that suits Me more permanently'.
(23) Thus requested brought he Matsya to bigger and bigger reservoirs until he finally threw the giant into the ocean. (24) Thrown there it said to the king: 'In this place there are dangerous aquatics that all too powerful will eat Me, o hero, therefore you shouldn't throw Me in here!'
(25) Thus perplexed by the fish addressing him with sweet words said he: 'Who are You in this fish-form bewildering us? (26) I've never seen or heard of such an energetic aquatic like You are: Your Lordship has in a day expanded to hundreds of miles! (27) You having assumed the form of a marine animal, must be the Supreme Lord in person, the inexhaustible Lord Nârâyana present here to show Your mercy to all living entities. (28) I offer You, the Most Excellent Personality of Maintenance, Creation and Destruction my obeisances; unto surrendered devotees like us are You indeed the Supreme Master, the Highest Destination, o Almighty One. (29) Everything You do in Your incarnations is the cause of the welfare of all living beings; I'd like to know for what purpose Your Lordship has assumed this form. (30) Never can the worship of the lotus feet of You, Lotuspetal-eyed One, run futile: You are the friend, the dearmost, the original soul namely of everyone, of all divinities differently embodied and spiritually fixed and before our very eyes have You now manifested that so very wonderful body.'
(31) S'rî S'uka said: 'Speaking there thus was that master of man, Satyavrata, addressed by the Master of the Universe, the Lord who as the one love of the devotees at the end of the yuga, for the sake of enjoying His pastimes, in the water of the great flood had assumed the form of a fish. (32) The Supreme Lord said: 'From the seventh day from today onward will, o subduer of the enemies, this threefold creation of earth, ether and heaven be flooded by the all-devouring ocean. (33) When the three worlds are submerged in the waters of annihilation, can you at that time count on the appearance of a very big boat by Me sent to you. (34-35) To prepare for that time please with the [wisdom of the] seven sages collect all higher and lower kinds of herbs and seeds and surround yourself with all kinds of beings getting on that huge boat to travel undaunted the ocean of the flood with no other illumination but the effulgence of the rishis. (36) Attach with the great serpent [Vâsuki] that boat, being tossed about by the very powerful wind, to My horn, for I will be near you. (37) I will drag you, together with the sages on the boat, along over the waters throughout the night of Brahmâ, my best one. (38) By my support and counsel will in your heart in full the knowledge be revealed of My glory that is known as the Supreme Brahman [see also B.G. 5: 16, 10: 11].'
(39) After instructing the king thus disappeared the Lord from there. The king then awaited the time that the Master of the Senses spoke to him about. (40) Spreading kus'a grass with its tips to the east sat the saintly king facing northwards to meditate upon the feet of the Lord who had appeared in the form of a fish. (41) With huge incessantly showering clouds in the sky saw he how next the ocean overflowed on all sides and therewith more and more inundated the earth. (42) Remembering what the Lord had said saw he a boat coming near which he, taking the herbs and creepers with him, boarded with the learned of rule. (43) The wise very pleased said to him: 'O King meditate upon Kes'ava ['the Lord with the black curls'] for He is the one who will save us from the impending danger and will set things right.'
(44) He being meditated by the king thereafter appeared in the great ocean as a countless yojanas big golden fish with one horn. (45) Pleased to fasten the boat onto that horn using the great serpent for a rope the way the Lord before had advised, satisfied he the Killer of Madhu. (46) The king said: 'From time immemorial has ignorance about the knowledge of the soul been the root cause of the material bondage that is accompanied by so much suffering and hardship; with the grace of God can, supported by the teacher of example, in liberation [in devotional service, see 7.5: 23-24] He, our Supreme Lord and Spiritual Master, be attained. (47) The one born, unwise accepts as a result of his karma different bodies in his desire to be happy [see 4.29 and B.G. 4: 5, 6: 45 and 16: 20], but his profit-minded plans bring him only grief; by rendering service is that matter cleared up and is with Him, our guru in the core of the heart, the hard knot of the mind of untruth cut. (48) By that service is, just like a piece of ore in touch with fire is purified, a person able to give up all the impurity that he has out of ignorance and can he revive his original identity [vocation or varna]; let Him, who in that sense is the One Inexhaustible, be our Supreme Controller, the Guru of Gurus. (49) Others together or individually or even the demigods and the gurus cannot even match one ten-thousandth of Your grace; let me surrender unto Him, the Controller, unto You, that shelter. (50) The way someone blind accepts the lead of a blind man does one similarly unwise take a person lacking in knowledge for a guru; Your Lordship appearing like the sun as the seer of all that can be seen are accepted as the guru of us, I, the enlightened person who knows his destination. (51) By what a common man instructs an ordinary person is he of surrender to the impermanent as the goal of life and to an ignorance that cannot be overcome, but by the eternal uncontaminated knowledge of You achieves a person very soon his constitutional position. (52) You are of all worlds the dearmost well-wisher, the controller, original soul and spiritual master, the spiritual knowledge, the fulfillment of all desires and the One situated in the heart who by people caught in greed that are of a dim intelligence cannot be known. (53) May by my surrendering to the exalted One that You are, the Greatest of All worshiped by the gods, the Supreme Controller for understanding the real purpose of life; by the light of Your meaningful words of instruction, the knots fixed in the heart be cut through, o Supreme Lord, please tell me where I belong [see also B.G. 4: 34].'
(54) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being addressed explained the Supreme Lord, the Original Person who had assumed the form of Matsya, unto the king the Absolute Truth as they were moving in the great ocean. (55) Thus got the holy king Satyavrata acquainted with the old stories, the Purânas; the vedic instructions, the Samhitâs; the transcendental, the divya; the analytic, the sânkhya; the linking of oneself to the divine with a unified [Krishna- or natural] consciousness, the yoga; the practical of living it, the kriya; and all the mysteries of selfrealization in all its forms. (56) Sitting in the boat with the sages, heard he thus about the traditional lore of the science of selfrealization the way it, beyond doubt, was explained by the Supreme Lord. (57) When the last inundation had ended handed the Lord over to Brahmâ, in order to reawaken him, all the vedic records after having put an end to the darkness caused by Hayagrîva. (58) King Satyavrata enlightened in the spiritual knowledge and its practical wisdom became in this period indeed Vaivasvata Manu by the mercy of Lord Vishnu.
(59) When someone hears the description of this great story of Satyavrata the saintly king and the Matsya incarnation with the one horn, is he delivered from all reactions to sin. (60) Whomever glorifies daily the incarnation of the Lord will have success in all his endeavors and will return home, back to Godhead. (61) I offer my obeisances unto Him the Cause of All Causes, who posing as a great fish, for Satyavrata's sake explained the vedic knowledge and put an end to the daitya darkness in giving back the vedic records that were stolen from the mouths of Lord Brahmâ who lay deep asleep in the waters of the flood.'
Thus ends the eighth Canto of the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam named 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations'.
Translation: Anand Aadhar Prabhu, http://bhagavata.org/c/8/AnandAadhar.html
Production: the Filognostic Association of The Order of Time, with special thanks to Sakhya Devi Dasi for proofreading and correcting the manuscript. http://theorderoftime.com/info/guests-friends.html
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