Philosophy and Religion / Harivamsa

Harivaṃśa

55. Vishnu's reply

VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Hearing the words of Nārada the Lord Madhusudana, the master of gods, smilingly said in auspicious words (1):

—“O Nārada, listen to a proper reply to all these words which you have addressed to me for the well-being of the three worlds (2).

It is known to me that all these Dānavas, assuming human forms, have been born on earth (3).

I know too that Kansa is born as the son of Ugrasena on earth. I know also that Keshi is born as a horse (4).

I know also the elephant Kuvalayapida, the wrestlers Chānura and Mushthika and the demon Arishtha in the shape of a bull (5).

Khara and the great Asura Pralamva are also known to me. Bali's daughter Putanā is also well known to me (6).

I know also Kāliya who is living in the lake of Yamunā and who has entered there in fear of Vinatā's son¹ (7).

I know also Jarāsandha who is the head of all kings; and the demon Naraka, who is living in the city of Prāgyotish, is also very well-known to me (8).

In the city of Shonitpura on earth Bāna is born as a man. That energetic and haughty demon, of thousand arms, is invincible even unto the gods. I know also that the great charge of Bhāratvarsa lies with me (9-10).

I know also how all these kings will disappear. The destruction of those danavas, in human forms, who never come back from battle-field and the rejoicing of the region of Sakra has also been seen by me (11).

For myself and for others I shall enter into Yoga. Going to the region of men and assuming a human form I shall bring about the destruction of all those mighty demons headed by Kansa. I shall slay him by that means by which he will enjoy peace (12–13).

By my Yoga I shall resort to all these means. It is my incumbent duty to destroy all those enemies of the gods in battle (14).

I shall kill the foes of all those great ones who have sacrificed themselves on behalf of the earth, of all those gods, Rishis and Gandharvas who have come down on earth at my behest (15).

O Nārada, I have already formed this resolution. Let the grand-father Brahmā make a house there for me (16).

O grand-father, do thou relate to me, how, born in what country and living in what house I shall kill them (17).

BRAHMA said:-O lord, O Nārāyana, hear from me of that key to success and who your parents will be on earth (18).

In order to glorify their family you will be born in the race of Yādavas (19).

Eradicating these Asuras for good and multiplying your great family you will establish the orders of mankind. Hear from me about this (20).

O Nārāyana, in the days of yore, in the great sacrifice of the high-souled Varuna, Kashyapa stole away all the cows giving milk for the sacrifice (21).

Kashyapa had two wives, Aditi and Surabhi who did not wish to accept the kine from Varuna (24).

Thereupon coming to me and bowing with his head down Varuna said “O revered one, the preceptor has stolen away all my kine (23).

Having accomplished his object, even, O father, he has not ordered the return of those kine. He is under the control of his two wives Aditi and Surabhi (24).

O lord, all those my kine give heavenly and eternal milk whenever wished. Protected by their own power they range in the seas (25).

They perpetually yeild milk like unto the ambrosia of gods. Save Kashyapa there is none else who can charm them (26).

O Brahmā, a master, a preceptor or whoever he may be if one goes astray thou dost control him. Thou art our supreme refuge (27).

O preceptor of the world, if punishment is not meted out to powerful persons who do not know their own work, then the order of the world will not exist (28).

Thou art omnipotent and lord of all. Do thou give me my kine, I will go then to the ocean (29).

These kine are my soul—they are my endless strength. Of all thy creation the kine and the Brāhmanas are the eternal sources of energy (30).

First of all the kine should be saved. When they are saved they protect the Brāhmanas. The world is upheld by the protection of the kine and Brāhmanas” (31).

O Achyuta, thus addressed by Varuna, the king of water, and being truly informed of the pilfering of the kine I imprecated a curse on Kashyapa (32).

With that portion, in which the high-souled Kashyapa stole the kine, he will be born as a milkman on earth (33).

His two wives Surabhi and Aditi, who are like pieces of wood for the birth of gods, will also go with him (34).

Being born as a milkman with them he will live there happily. That portion of Kashyapa, equally powerful like himself, will pass by the name of Vasudeva and will live amongst the kine on earth. Near Mathurā there is a mountain by name Govardhana (35-36).

Paying tribute to Kansa he lives there being attached to kine. His two wives Aditi and Surabhi are born as the two wives of Vasudeva by name Devaki and Rohini. Being born there as a boy having all the characteristics of a milkman he there grew up as thou didst do before in thy form with three footsteps.

Then covering thyself with the form (of Yoga), O Madhusudana, do thou go there for the well being of the world. With exclamations of thy victory and benediction all these gods are welcoming thee. Descending on earth and taking thy birth from Rohini and Devaki do thou please them. Thousands of milk maids will also cover the earth (37-42).

O Vishnu, when thou shalt range in the forest tending kine they will see thy beautiful form adorned with garlands of wild flowers (43).

O thou having eyes like lotus petals, O large-armed Nārāyana, when thou wilt go as a boy to the villages of milkmen all people will become boys (44).

O thou having lotus eyes, being milkmen with their minds devoted to thee all thy votaries will help thee; tending kine in the forest, running in pastures and bathing in the water of Yamunā they will acquire a great attachment for thee. And Vasudeva's life will be a blessed one (45–46).

Thou wilt address him as thy father and he will address thee as his son. Save Kashyapa whom else canst thou accept as thy father (47)?

O Vishnu, save Aditi who else can conceive thee? Therefore by thy self-begotten Yoga do thou proceed for victory, O Madhusudana. We too repair to our respective habitations (48).

VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Having ordered the gods to repair to the celestial region the Lord Vishnu went to his own abode on the northern side of the ocean of milk (49).

In this quarter there is a cave of the mount Sumeru difficult of being trodden, which is worshipped with his three foot-steps during the solistice (60).

Having left there, in the cave, his old body the omnipotent and intelligent Hari despatched his soul to the house of Vasudeva (61).

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