by Bibek Debroy
‘In the twenty-fourth yuga, when Vishvamitra was at the forefront, Dasharatha had a son and his eyes were like the petals of a lotus. The mighty-armed lord and god divided himself into four parts.477 Rama was like the sun and his energy was famous in the worlds. To please the worlds, destroy rakshasas and make dharma prosper, the immensely illustrious one was born there. The lord of all creatures is established in all bodies. However, he came to be known as an Indra among men. The intelligent Vishvamitra gave him weapons, so that he might slay the enemies of the gods, who were unslayable, even by the gods. They created obstacles when sages, cleansed in their souls, performed sacrifices. Maricha and Subahu were supreme among strong ones. However, using his own strength, the great-souled one478 baffled and killed them. In ancient times, as if sporting and playing, at the great-souled Janaka’s sacrifice, he broke Maheshvara’s479 bow. He knew about all forms of dharma and resided in the forest for fourteen years, with Lakshmana as a follower. Rama was engaged in the welfare of all creatures. The beautiful Sita, famous among men, was by his side. She always followed him, like Lakshmi follows her husband. For fourteen years in the forest, Raghava tormented himself through austerities. While he dwelt in Janasthana, he accomplished the task of the residents of heaven. Following the footsteps of Sita,480 the great-minded one killed two terrible and valiant rakshasas named Viradha and Kabandha. Those tigers among men were actually gandharvas, who had been dislodged because of a curse. They were killed, their bodies mangled by arrows released with great strength. These arrows were like the rays of the fire and blazed like lightning. They had colourful tufts and the shafts were made out of molten gold. In their essence, they were like the vajra wielded by Indra of the gods. For Sugriva’s sake, in an encounter, he killed Vali, the immensely strong Indra of the apes, and instated Sugriva in the kingdom. Ravana, Indra among the rakshasas, was difficult to beat and impossible to kill in a battle, even by large numbers of gods, asuras, yakshas, rakshasas and birds. He was protected by a crore of rakshasas and was like a thick and dark cloud. Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, was a cruel rakshasa who had conquered the three worlds. He was without decay and was impossible to withstand. He was like a tiger in his valour. He was insolent because of his boon and the large number of gods could not even look at him. In the battle, he481 killed Ravana, with his advisers and his soldiers. Poulastya Ravana was cruel and immensely strong. He was gigantic in form and his complexion was like that of a great cloud. In ancient times, Rama, lord of creatures and tiger among men, swiftly killed him. Madhu’s son was a proud danava named Lavana. The terrible and great asura had also obtained a boon. But he killed him and other rakshasas, who were indomitable in any battle, in an encounter in Madhuvana. These were the deeds of Rama, supreme among those who uphold dharma. He performed ten praiseworthy horse sacrifices. No inauspicious words were heard during his reign. No contrary winds blew. There was no theft of riches. Rama’s reign was praised. Widows did not suffer difficulties because of lack of riches. The entire universe was peaceful. Rama’s reign was praised. No creature suffered from fear. There were no natural catastrophes on account of water or fire. The aged did not have to perform funeral rites for the young.482 Kshatriyas tended to brahmanas and vaishyas were devoted to kshatriyas. Without any sense of pride, shudras served the other three varnas. Wives did not oppress their husbands and husbands did not oppress their wives. The entire universe was peaceful and the earth was devoid of bandits. Rama alone was the lord. Rama was the protector. People lived for one thousand years and had one thousand sons. No creature suffered from disease. Rama’s reign was praised. The gods, the rishis and all men lived together on earth. Rama’s reign was praised. In this connection, those who know about the ancient accounts recite a chant. “The intelligent Rama imbibed the true purport of greatness. He was dark and young, with red eyes. His face was radiant and he was mild in speech. His arms extended to his thighs. His face was excellent and his shoulders were like that of a lion. He was mighty-armed.”483 Rama ruled for eleven thousand years and was the lord of Ayodhya. As long as the great-souled one reigned, there was the sound of hymns from the Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas. Throughout the kingdom, there were the sounds of “Donate. Enjoy.” He possessed the qualities of sattva. He blazed in his own energy. Rama, Dasharatha’s son, surpassed even the sun and the moon. He completed hundreds of great sacrifices and gave away lots of dakshina. After this, the immensely strong Raghava left Ayodhya and went to heaven. Such was the mighty-armed descendant of the Ikshvaku lineage. After slaying Ravana and his companions, the lord went to heaven.
‘After this, the great-souled Keshava manifested himself. This was for the welfare of all the worlds and was in the kalpa famous as Mathura.484 The valiant one killed Salva,485 Kamsa, Mainda, Dvividha, Arishta, Vrishabha, Keshi, Putana, the servant maid of the daityas, the elephant Kuvalayapida, Chanura, Mushtika and other daityas who had assumed human bodies. The performer of extraordinary deeds severed Bana’s486 one thousand arms. In a battle, he slew Naraka and the immensely strong Yavana.487 Displaying his energy on earth, the one who was evil in conduct488 had seized all the riches of the kings and had slain many kings. In this way, for the welfare of the worlds, the great-souled one manifested himself.
‘The lord will again appear as Kalki, in the house of Vishnuyasha. There are these and many other divine manifestations, with celestial qualities. The ones who know about the brahman have chanted about these in the ancient accounts. On hearing recitals of these manifestations, even the gods are confounded. They are described in the Puranas and are immersed in the sacred texts of the Vedas. I have only recited some of the indications. The lord is the preceptor of all the worlds and his deeds should be recited. When they are recited, the ancestors are pleased. The infinitely energetic Vishnu is the lord of yoga and his yoga is full of maya. If a man listens to this with hands joined in salutation, he is freed from all sins. Through the favours of the illustrious one, he swiftly obtains great prosperity and riches and all the objects of pleasure.’
Chapter 32
Vaishampayana said, ‘Hear about Vishnu Hari, who pervaded the universe in krita yuga. His Vaikuntha nature is for the gods and his Krishna nature is for humans. His characteristics as a lord are evident in the depth of his mysterious deeds. O king! Listen accurately to the characteristics he has recently exhibited. The illustrious lord is unmanifest, but his signs are manifest. Narayana’s soul is infinite and his powers are without decay. It is this eternal Narayana Hari who manifested himself through Brahma, Shakra, Soma, Dharma, Shukra and Brihaspati. This descendant of the Yadava lineage became Aditi’s son and was famous as Vishnu, who was younger to Indra.489 For the sake of slaying the enemies of the gods, the daityas, danavas and rakshasas, it was through his own favours that he was born as Aditi’s son. In ancient times, the great soul of this lord created Brahma. In an ancient kalpa, it is he who created the grand ancestors, the Prajapatis. Their bodies were created from his body and led to Brahma’s supreme lineage. It is this eternal and great-souled one who flowed in many forms through Brahma. Vishnu’s extraordinary deeds have therefore been recited. Those deeds should be recited and are recited. Listen to me. O son!490 In the current krita yuga, after Vritra had been killed, there was a battle that was famous in the three worlds and this is known as tarakamaya. All the terrible danavas were insolent in that battle and killed the gods, with the gandharvas, the yakshas, the serpents and the charanas. They were slain and retreated. They lost their weapons in that battle. Searching for a saviour in their minds, they went to the god and lord Narayana.
‘At this time, the radiant clouds started to shower down burning coal. In the firmament, this shrouded the sun, the moon and all the planets. Creatures were struck by terrible lightning and were distressed. The seven winds491 started to blow with great force. Blazing rain showered down. There was thunder mixed with fire and wind, with the force of the vajra. There were terrible portents and the sky seemed to blaze. Thousands of meteors showered down. Anything that travelle
d in the sky fell down. The vimanas could no longer be controlled and were hurled up and flung down. It was like the fear that creatures confront at the end of the four yugas. When these evil portents manifested themselves, everything with form turned deformed. Everything was dimmed by the darkness and nothing could be seen. The ten directions were agitated by waves of darkness and could not be discerned. It was as if the naked darkness was only shrouded by dark clouds. The sky and the sun were enveloped in that terrible darkness. With his hands, the lord flung away those waves of darkness. Hari displayed his own divine form and that form was also dark. His complexion was as dark as the clouds and his hair was also as dark as the clouds. Krishna’s energetic form was as dark as a mountain. He was attired in radiant yellow garments and his ornaments were made out of molten gold. His form was as dark as the smoke that is created by the fire that arrives at the time of the destruction of a yuga. There was a crown on his head and he had eight thick arms. Each of these hands held a glistening weapon. He looked like the rising summit of a mountain, flooded by the rays of the sun and the moon. He held the Nandaka sword in one hand, a sword that he loves to hold. In another hand, he held arrows that were like venomous serpents. Yet another hand held a fierce plough, marked with the signs of javelins. Three other hands held a conch shell, the chakra and a mace.492 Another hand held the Sharnga bow, made out of horn. Vishnu was like a mountain, with forgiveness as its foundation. He was like a tree that brings prosperity. He was on a chariot yoked to tawny horses. The standard was adorned with Garuda. The sun and the moon were the wheels and Mount Mandara was the axle. The serpent Ananta was the reins and Mount Meru was the seat. It493 was decorated with stars as flowers and the yoke was decorated with planets and nakshatras. The terrified gods, defeated by the daityas, saw him in the firmament, indicating freedom from fear. They saw the god stationed on that divine chariot and all the worlds seemed to be inside it. All the gods, with Shakra at the forefront, joined their hands in salutation. They honoured him with sounds of “victory” and sought refuge with the one whom one turns to for succour. Vishnu heard the words of the beloved gods. He made up his mind that he would destroy the danavas in a great battle. Vishnu was stationed in the sky, assuming that supreme form. He spoke to all the gods, in words that amounted to a pledge. “O fortunate ones! Depart in peace. O large numbers of Maruts! Do not be afraid. As soon as I have defeated all the danavas, I will take back the three worlds.” Since he always spoke the truth, they were content with Vishnu’s words. The gods departed in great delight, as if they had obtained the supreme amrita. The clouds withdrew and were dispelled. Auspicious winds started to blow and the directions turned peaceful. The stellar bodies regained their radiance and started to circle the moon. There was no longer any dissension among the planets. The oceans became calm. The three roads that lead to heaven became free of dust.494 The rivers assumed their natural state and the oceans were no longer agitated. With the impure senses under control, the inner souls of men became calm. The maharshis became devoid of sorrow and uttered hymns from the Vedas. The oblations offered at sacrifices became pure and succulent and the fire accepted them. Cheerful in their minds, all the worlds engaged in pursuits of dharma. Everyone had heard the pledge that Vishnu had uttered in his words.’
Chapter 33
Vaishampayana said, ‘The daityas and danavas heard about the fear that would arise for them on Vishnu’s account. Hearing about this terror, indomitable in battle, they started to make extensive arrangements for the battle. Maya was on an undecaying and golden chariot that was extremely handsome and had four wheels. It was three nalvas long.495 It was stocked with gigantic weapons that had been prepared well. It was decorated with the skins of leopards and jingled with nets of bells. It was adorned with nets of gems and festooned with nets of gold. It was populated by wolves and birds were seated on it. It roared like a cloud and there were divine weapons in the quivers. This best of chariots moved on its wheels, like a mountain. Stocked with maces and clubs, it looked like an ocean. The ends of the wheels were encrusted with gold and the yoke was also golden. With the best of flags and penants hoisted, it looked like Mandara, with the sun shining down on it. While its body was like that of a huge elephant or a cloud, in its radiance, it sometimes looked like a lion. It was yoked to one thousand bears, which roared like one thousand clouds. This blazing and divine chariot, which could crush the chariots of the enemy, moved along the sky. It was like Mount Meru, made radiant by the rays of the sun. The one who wished to be victorious in battle was seated atop it. Tara was borne along on an iron chariot that was one krosha long.496 This looked like a reddish mountain, tinged with a mass of collyrium. The wheels were made of black iron and the yoke was also made out of iron. It roared like a cloud and emitted flashes from inside the darkness. There were giant nets of iron, with windows carved out in them. It was stocked full with iron clubs and bludgeons that could be flung. There were spears, and maces and mallets were strewn around. With the javelins and battleaxes, it was beautiful, but also generated fear. It was as if a second Mandara had arisen, to strike at the enemy. That supreme chariot was yoked to one thousand donkeys and borne along by them. The angry Virochana was stationed in front of his soldiers, with a club in his hand. He looked like a mountain with a resplendent peak. A chariot yoked to one thousand horses bore the danava Hayagriva, ready to crush the enemy. Varaha was in front of his army, like a mountain with slopes. He stretched a giant bow that was many thousands497 long. The insolent Kshara shed tears of anger from his eyes. Desiring to fight, he gnashed his teeth and his lips and face quivered. The danava Tvashta was on a vehicle drawn by eighteen horses. The valiant one designed the battle formations for the danavas. Shveta, Viprachitti’s son, was adorned with white earrings. He was stationed ready for battle, like a white mountain. Arishta, Bali’s son, fought with excellent boulders. He looked like a mountain and stationed himself for battle. Kishora was delighted and looked like a young498 horse that had been goaded. In the midst of the daitya soldiers, he looked like the rising sun. Lamba looked like a long cloud.499 His garments and ornaments were long. In the battle formation of the daityas, he looked like the solar disc. Svarbhanu500 fought with his teeth, lips and eyes as weapons. This planet, with a pleasant face, stood in front of the daityas and laughed. Some were resplendent on horses. Others were on the shoulders of elephants. There were some who rode on lions and tigers. There were others who rode on boars and bears. Some were borne by asses and camels. Others rode on clouds. Some rode on birds and others rode on the wind. Some fierce daityas, with malformed visages, were on foot. Some had a single foot, others were bipeds. Desiring to fight, they danced. Many danavas roared and shouted, roaring like proud tigers. All those bulls among the danavas roared. Those danavas wielded maces, clubs and fierce bows. They were used to physical exercise and their arms were like bludgeons. The best among the daityas sported and inspired their army with lances, nooses, swords, darts, goads, battleaxes, sharp shataghnis, boulders, mountains, bludgeons and other supreme weapons and chakras. Thus, all those danava soldiers were excited at the prospect of battle. They advanced towards the gods, as if the army was made out of clouds. With a depth of thousands, the daityas were extraordinary. That army was like a wave of wind, fire, water and mountains, advancing towards the battle. Intoxicated and desiring to fight, as they advanced, they seemed to shatter the firmament.’
Chapter 34
Vaishampayana said, ‘O son! You have heard in detail about how the daitya soldiers readied for battle. Now hear in detail about all the Vaishnava soldiers of the gods. In due order, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras and the immensely strong Ashvins arrayed themselves, with their soldiers and their followers. Puruhuta, the one with the one thousand eyes and the guardian of the worlds, was at the forefront of all the other gods, astride the divine elephant.501 The chariot was along his left flank502 and so was the forceful and supreme bird.503 The chariot’s wheels were beautiful and were decorated with gold and diamonds. Thousands of gods
, gandharvas and yakshas followed. The radiant brahmana rishis and the assistant priests pronounced benedictions. Lightning flashed from the vajra, Indra’s weapon. He was protected by large numbers of clouds, which looked like mountains and could move at will. As the illustrious Maghavan advanced on his elephant, stationed in the forefront of the battle, brahmanas offered oblations and chanted his praise. In heaven, Shakra’s followers sounded celestial trumpets. Thousands of apsaras danced in front of Indra. His standard was made out of excellent bamboo and was as radiant as the sun. His supreme chariot was yoked to one thousand horses and could move as swiftly as thoughts or the wind. The dazzling chariot was driven by Matali and because of its energy, looked like Meru, surrounded on every side by the rays of the sun. Yama held aloft his mace, which signified destiny. It assured the arrays of the gods and terrified those of the daityas. On four sides, Varuna was protected by the oceans and serpents with flickering tongues. His handsome form was decorated with conch shells, pearls and bracelets and was made out of water. He held the noose of destiny. His horses had the hue of moonbeams and they sported with the thousands of waves that had been raised by the wind. His garments were white and his bracelets were beautifully decorated with coral. His excellent form was decorated with necklaces of dark jewels that were so heavy that they hung down up to his stomach. Wielding the noose, Varuna was stationed amidst the army of the gods, which, as it sought battle, was like an ocean that was ready to breach the shoreline. The lord and guardian of riches504 was accompanied by yaksha and raksha soldiers and large numbers of guhyakas. He was decorated with conch shells and lotuses. The handsome king of the yakshas could be seen holding a club in his hand. The lord of riches fought from a vimana and he was stationed on that Pushpaka vimana. Naravahana,505 king of the yakshas, looked beautiful and desired to do battle. Shiva’s friend506 looked as if Shiva himself was stationed there. Proud in their valour, the four guardians of the four quarters were stationed there—the one with the thousand eyes in the eastern direction, the lord of the ancestors in the southern direction, Varuna in the western direction and Naravahana in the northern direction. They protected their own respective directions and the army of the gods. Surya was on a chariot that travelled through the sky, yoked to seven horses. He blazed in his prosperity and dazzled with his rays. From sunrise to sunset, the circle of his travels takes him all the way up to Meru. The undecaying one scorches the worlds and travels up to the colourful gates of heaven. Blazing in his energy, he radiated one thousand rays. Stationed amidst the gods, the lord of days has twelve parts to his soul.507 Soma was radiant on a chariot with white horses and white reins. He is the one who is full of cold and water and he is the one who floods the world. The lord of brahmanas possesses cool rays and his followers glanced towards him. His body is marked with the shadow of a hare and he is the one who destroys the darkness of the night. He is the lord of all stellar bodies in the sky and of all the succulent juices. He is the one who saves the herbs and he is the store of amrita. The amiable one is the primary source of food for the universe, cool and succulent juices. The danavas saw that Soma was stationed, with chill as a weapon. Vayu is the breath of life in all creatures and divides himself into five in humans. On the seven shoulders,508 he roams around the three worlds. He is the lord with universal powers and is said to be the controller of fire. The seven musical notes are said to originate with him. He is said to be the supreme element. He is said to be in embodied beings. He is said to travel in the sky. He is swift and is the origin of sound. Because of his energy, Vayu is said to be in all elements. He began to flow in perverse directions, so that the daityas might be troubled. The Maruts, the gods, the gandharvas and large numbers of vidyadharas509 began to sport with their swords, which were like snakes that had cast off their skins. From their arrows, the best among the gods created armies of fierce serpents that were full of rage and venom. With gaping mouths, these enveloped the firmament. To aid the large numbers of gods, the mountains presented themselves with mountain peaks and hundreds of trees, using these to strike the danava army.