by Bibek Debroy
Chapter 41
Vaishampayana said, ‘On hearing Vishnu’s words, for the sake of the welfare of all the residents of heaven, Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, spoke these supreme words. “O Vishnu! From one battle to another battle, it is you who does the steering. O destroyer of asuras! As long as you are there, the gods have no fear. O lord of the gods! O slayer of enemies! Shakra’s victory is based on you. How can men who endeavour to follow dharma suffer from fear? Men who are always devoted to truth and dharma are free from anxiety. Before their appointed times, Death is incapable of glancing towards them. Men, and their lords, the kings, do not falsely bear dissension towards each other and enjoy the one-sixth share.582 They behave well towards their subjects and do not impose unwarranted taxes. They accumulate their treasures without these unwarranted taxes. They are forgiving and protect their respective dominions and prosperous habitations. They impose mild forms of punishment and sustain the four varnas. The advisers are virtuous and worshipped, without causing resentment among creatures. One-sixth the share is enjoyed and the army has the four kinds of forces.583 Everyone is accomplished in dhanurveda.584 Everyone is devoted to the Vedas. At the right time, they perform sacrifices and give copious quantities of dakshina at these sacrifices. They study the Vedas and maharshis initiate themselves into brahmacharya. Through funeral rites and offerings, they satisfy hundreds of ancestors. Of the three kinds of injunctions on earth, in the Vedas, in customary practice and as stated in the Dharmashastras,585 there is nothing that is unknown to them. In terms of searching out what is best for others, those kings are equal to the maharshis. They are interested in tasks that will bring krita yuga back. Because of their powers, Vasava showers down auspicious rain at the right time and winds devoid of dust blow in the ten directions. There are no calamities on earth and the planets pursue their paths properly. The moon has amiable conjunctions with the nakshatras. In the right way, the sun moves along its two paths.586 The fire is satisfied with many kinds of oblations that have auspicious fragrances. When everything is conducted properly in this way, the entire earth is satisfied and there is no fear of death among men. However, there are some kings who are more powerful than the others and they are afflicting the earth. In their blazing prosperity, they have followed each other. Because of the burden of oppression of these kings, the earth is exhausted and has appeared before us, like a boat that is about to sink. Freed of their bonds, the mountains seem to move, as if the end of the yuga has arrived. The waters are repeatedly agitated, as if releasing her sweat. The bodies and extensive dominions of these kshatriya men are full of energy and strength and are agitating the earth. In city after city, there are kings who are surrounded by crores of soldiers. This is also happening in many kingdoms and in hundreds and thousands of villages. Thousands of landlords have become powerful and strong. Tens of thousands are sprouting in villages and in kingdoms, as if rendering the earth full of holes. She has been rendered powerless. With Time leading the way, she has come to my abode. O Vishnu! You are her supreme refuge. This earth is the arena of action and this earth is now pained. You should act so that the eternal universe does not suffer from further affliction. O Madhusudana! Her oppression is a great sin. If rites disappear from the worlds, the universe will be tainted. Oppressed by this wave of kings, it is evident that she is tired. She has abandoned her natural forgiveness. Though capable of moving, she has been rendered immobile. We have heard what she has said and you have also heard her. We wish to have a consultation with you, so that her burden can be reduced. When all kings are established on the virtuous path and kingdoms prosper, the three varnas of men587 follow the brahmanas. All the varnas then speak truthful words and the varnas are devoted to dharma. All brahmanas are devoted to the Vedas and all men are devoted to brahmanas. When men pursue dharma, this is how the universe progresses. Therefore, we must consult so that dharma is not destroyed. There is no other virtuous path and dharma is the excellent cure. For relieving the burden of the earth, it is appropriate that the kings be slain. O immensely fortunate one! Come. Let us therefore have a consultation. With the earth at the forefront, let us go to the summit of Meru.”’
Chapter 42
Vaishampayana said, ‘In a voice that was like the thundering of the clouds, he588 agreed to this. The one who dispels bad days and brings good days left, like a mountain tinged with lightning. He was adorned in pearls and jewels. His radiance was like that of the moon and clouds. With dark and matted hair, Hari was radiant in his dark complexion. There was dazzling hair on his broad chest. The beautiful srivatsa mark was stretched between his two nipples. The undecaying preceptor of the worlds was clad in yellow garments. Hari was seen to be like a mountain, tinged by the evening light. Following the words of the one born from the lotus,589 he departed on Suparna. Not taking their eyes off him, all the gods followed him. In a short while, they reached the bejewelled mountain. In the sky there, the gods saw the assembly hall, which could assume any form at will. It was stretched out and attached to the peak of Meru and was like the sun in its radiance. The foundations were made out of golden pillars and the doors were encrusted with diamonds. It was garlanded with a large number of vimanas and was colourful, fashioned through the powers of the mind. There were nets made out of gems. It was decorated with jewels and could go wherever it wished. There were many adornments fashioned out of gems. Everywhere, flowers blossomed. It was divine and had been constructed by Vishvakarma.590 It was full of celestial maya. In cheerful frames of mind, following the prescribed order, the gods entered the auspicious assembly hall and sat down on their respective seats. As instructed, some of them sat on seats, others seated themselves on vimanas. Some sat on thrones, others on cushions and spreads.
‘Urged by Brahma, the wind god Vayu asked everyone to be quiet and this sound echoed throughout the auspicious assembly hall. At this, there was silence throughout that conclave of the residents of heaven. The earth spoke these words, which were full of regret and self-pity. “In ancient times, when I was protected by the one born from the lotus, two great asuras made out of earth bound me down. When the great-souled Vishnu was sleeping on the great ocean, like a log of wood, they emerged from the wax in his ears. Goaded by Brahma’s words, Vayu himself penetrated them.591 Those two great asuras grew and covered the sky. Having been touched by Brahma, they obtained their breaths of life from Vayu. One was soft and the other one was known to be hard. The soft one was named Madhu and the hard one was named Kaitabha.592 Having obtained these names, those two daityas became powerful and insolent. There was nothing to fear and the entire universe was a single ocean of water. However, they desired to fight. On seeing them in front of him, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, sought refuge in that ocean of water and vanished. He had arisen from the lotus on Padmanabha’s navel. Brahma, the one with the four faces, thought it desirable that he should hide inside the lotus. Narayana and the grandfather were both inside the water. Without any movement, they slept there for many years. After a long period of time, Madhu and Kaitabha came to the spot where Brahma was. The immensely radiant Padmanabha saw that the two terrible and great asuras, indomitable in battle, were swiftly advancing. There was a fierce encounter between them,593 while the universe and the three worlds were immersed in that single ocean of water. That tumultuous encounter lasted for thousands of years. However, in that battle, the asuras were not exhausted at all. After a long period of time, the daityas, indomitable in battle, cheerfully spoke to the god, Narayana Hari. ‘O supreme among gods! We are happy at this encounter with you and we are proud that in this battle, our death will be at your hands. However, slay us in a place that is not flooded with water. Once we have been slain, let us be reborn as your sons. If a person defeats us in battle, let it be such that we become his sons.’ In the encounter, he seized the daityas with his arms and crushed them there.594 Thus, Madhu and Kaitabha were slain. He flung the bodies into the water. Once flung into the waves in the water, the bodies of the daityas were fused into one and
churned, releasing fat. That fat covered the water and the bodies disappeared. The illustrious Narayana again started to create subjects. It was because I was created with the fat of the daityas that I have come to be known as Medini.595 For the sake of men, Padmanabha accomplished this through his eternal powers. While Markandeya looked on, he again assumed the form of a boar and raised me from the waters on a single tusk.596 Later, in front of you, I was again struck by the daitya Bali and saved by Vishnu, through Vishnu’s powers.597 I am afflicted again and have come before Gadadhara. I am without a protector and he is the protector of the universe. I have sought refuge with the one who is the refuge. Agni is the preceptor of gold. The sun is said to be the preceptor of cows. Soma is the preceptor of nakshatras and Narayana is my preceptor. I alone hold up the world and its mobile and immobile objects. Though I hold them up, everything is actually held up by Gadadhara. When I was oppressed, Rama,598 Jamadagni’s son, became angry. To reduce my burden, he eliminated kshatriyas twenty-one times. Bhargava used me as a sacrificial altar and seemed to perform a funeral rite for his ancestors, the descendants of Kashyapa, offering the blood of kings. I was drenched with evil-smelling flesh, fat, bones and the blood of kshatriyas. It was as if a young maiden in her season stood before Kashyapa. The brahmana rishi told me, ‘Why is your face downcast? You have taken the vow of being a wife to brave ones. Follow that vow of being the wife of a hero.’ I told Kashyapa, the creator of the worlds, ‘O brahmana! My husbands have been slain by the great-souled Bhargava. I am without brave kshatriyas, who earn a living through weapons. I am a widow and am not interested in sustaining cities that are empty. O illustrious one! Therefore, grant me a husband, who is a king and is like you. He should he able to protect the villages and the cities and me, extending up to the frontiers of the ocean.’ On hearing this, the illustrious lord replied in words of assent and gave me Manu, an Indra among men. It is through Manu’s auspicious powers, that the great lineage of Ikshvaku was generated. Over a long period of time, kings have come and kings have gone. This is what Manu, the intelligent Indra among men, gave me. I have been enjoyed by royal lineages that were revered by the dynasties of maharshis. Many brave kshatriyas have conquered me and subsequently departed for heaven. Despite having obtained me, they came under the subjugation of time and met their destruction. It is for my sake that there have been conflicts in this world. Powerful kshatriyas, who did not withdraw from the field of battle, have fought. Their conduct has been determined by destiny. For the welfare of the universe, act so that these kings are destroyed in the field of battle. I am suffering from a heavy burden. Do this out of compassion for me. Let the handsome one who wields the chakra grant me freedom from fear. I am tormented and afflicted by the burden. I have come before you, seeking refuge. I am suffering from this great burden. Let Vishnu speak to me.”’
Chapter 43
Vaishampayana said, ‘On hearing the earth’s words, all the residents of heaven thought about what might be done for her and spoke to the grandfather. “O illustrious one! Act so that the earth’s burden may be reduced. You are the one who created the bodies in this world. You are the lord of the worlds. O lord of the gods! There are tasks that have to be performed by the great Indra, Yama, Varuna, the lord of riches, Narayana himself, the moon, the sun, the wind god, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras who are the creators of the worlds, the Ashvins who are foremost among the gods, the Sadhyas who reside in heaven, Brihaspati, Ushanas, Time, Kali, Maheshvara, Brahma, Vishakha Guha,599 the yakshas, the rakshasas, the gandharvas, the charanas, the giant serpents, the mountains that are best among mountains, the oceans, the giant waves, the divine rivers like Ganga and the others and other celestial rivers. O lord! Quickly instruct them about the portions they should resort to.600 This is to accomplish the earth’s task and to accomplish conflict among the kings. O grandfather! Among all of us, who are the ones who should act so as to be born in different portions? Who are the ones who will remain in heaven? Who are the ones who will be born on earth as kings? Who will be assistant priests among the brahmanas? Who will be born in lineages of kings? On earth, who are the ones who will create bodies that are not born from wombs?” The grandfather of the worlds was surrounded by the gods and heard about the great resolution the gods had adopted in accomplishing their tasks.
‘He spoke these words. “O best among the gods! Your resolution is agreeable to me. Use your energy to create your own respective portions, which are equal to you, on earth. Let all the best among gods use their energy to be thus incarnated. Think of the goddess earth and obtain the prosperity of the three worlds. Know that on earth, I have already done something in the Bharata lineage. Knowing about what might happen to the earth, I have already done this. O gods! In earlier times, I was seated on the western shores of the ocean, with the great-souled Kashyapa, born from me. We were conversing about what had transpired in the worlds earlier and about what is in conformity with the Vedas. There were many such earlier accounts, full of the qualities of power. While we were conversing, Ganga and the ocean quickly came to me, with winds stirring their waters. The beach was turbulent because of the force of the wind and there were swift currents in the river. The ocean was clad in colourful garments of water. His body was bedecked with sparkling conch shells and pearls. There were ornaments made out of coral and gems. Full because of the waxing of the moon, the voice of the ocean rumbled. He transgressed his shoreline and sought to overcome me. He drenched me with moving and saline waters that drenched my seat. Because of the waves that arose, the ocean disturbed that spot. I angrily spoke to him, asking him to be peaceful. When I asked him to do this, the ocean became peaceful. He withdrew the torrent of waves and stood there, blazing in his regal prosperity. I then cursed the ocean and Ganga. There was a reason behind this decision. It was done for the sake of your welfare. ‘O ocean! You have presented myself before me in a form that is like that of a king. Go. You will become a king and a lord of the earth. Despite this, you will be able to sport in your natural form and will be energetic. You will become a lord of men and an extender of the lineage of the Bharatas. Since I asked you to be peaceful and you adopted such a form, you will bear an excellent form in the world and obtain fame. You will be Shantanu.601 Ganga’s limbs are curved. This best of rivers will assume a form that is beautiful in all her limbs and unite with you there.’ When I spoke in this way, the ocean was angry and replied. ‘O lord! O lord of the gods! Why are you cursing me? I have been created by you and have always been devoted to doing what you have asked me to. I am like your son. I should not be cursed. Why have you addressed me in such words? O illustrious one! It is because of your favours that my force increases, in accordance with the waxing of the moon. O Brahma! If I am stirred because of that, how is it my fault? O illustrious one! I am stirred by the wind. I am touched by the waxing of the moon. How am I responsible for that and how can that be a reason to curse me? I become turbulent because of strong winds, am strengthened by the clouds and there is the waxing of the moons. These are the three reasons behind my agitation. If I am guilty because of this, those reasons have been created by you. O Brahma! You should pardon me and take back your curse. Now that I have been disturbed by this curse, I am without any support. O lord of the gods! Even if you perceive some reason for guilt, you should exhibit compassion. O god! Following your orders, this Ganga will now have to go to earth. Even if I am guilty, she is guiltless and you should show her your favours.’ I then spoke to the great ocean in these gentle words. He did not know about the cause of the gods and he was stirred by the wind and terrified by the curse. ‘O immensely intelligent one! Depart in peace. Do not be frightened. I am pleased with you. O lord of the rivers! Listen to the reason behind this curse. Go. Using your own energy, adopt a body in the lineage of the Bharatas. O lord of the rivers! Abandon and give up this form as an ocean. O great ocean! Become a lord of the earth who is surrounded by royal prosperity. O lord of the waters! In that portion, generated from you, protect the four varnas. This be
st among rivers will adopt a beautiful female form. At that time, in that beautiful form, Ganga will serve you. Following my instructions, this Jahnavi will find pleasure with you. O ocean! You will forget about the hardships this watery form brought you. On the instructions of the gods, you should swiftly act in this way. O ocean! Following the prajapatya rites, Ganga will marry you.602 The eight Vasus have been dislodged from heaven and have gone to rasatala.603 I am engaging you so that they may be born. I am giving those eight to you, to be born as your sons through Jahnavi’s womb. They are like the sun in their qualities and bring pleasure to the gods. Quickly have these Vasus as your sons and make the lineage of the Kurus great. O ocean! You will then give up the human body and regain the form of an ocean.’ O supreme among the gods! To ensure your welfare, this is what I have done in earlier times. I had foreseen the burden the earth would have to bear because of those kings. That is the reason I sowed the seeds of Shantanu’s lineage on earth. O residents of heaven! The Vasus have been born as Ganga’s sons. The eighth Vasu, Gangeya,604 is still on earth. Seven Vasus have returned.605 One still remains. Through a second wife, a second son will be born from Shantanu’s body. This is the radiant and powerful King Vichitravirya. Vichitravirya will have two kings as sons. These will be the famous bulls among men, Pandu and Dhritarashtra. Pandu will have two young and beautiful wives. They will be the auspicious Kunti and Madri and they will be like goddesses on earth. King Dhritarashtra will have a single wife and she will be like him in conduct. She will be famous as Gandhari on earth and she will always be engaged in vows similar to those of her husband. That lineage will be divided into two parts, one on this side and one on the other. There will be a great conflict between the sons of the two kings. Because of that conflict between the sons, there will be a destruction of kings. There will be great fear, like the one that comes at the end of a yuga. The kings and their armies will bring down each other. The cities and the kingdoms will become devoid of inhabitants and the earth will be without enterprise. In ancient times, I had foreseen the end of dvapara yuga. At that time, using weapons, the kings and their mounts will be destroyed. When men are asleep and unconscious in the night, the one who will be born as Shankara’s portion606 will use the energetic agneya weapon and destroy the ones who remain. He will be like Death. When this performer of cruel deeds withdraws, the third dvapara yuga, which I have spoken about, will come to an end. When the portion of the great lord returns,607 the fourth yuga, known as Maheshvara, will manifest itself608 and this will be a yuga that is terrible and subhuman. Men will generally follow adharma and observe only a little bit of dharma. The propensity towards truth will be destroyed and the store of falsehood will increase. Men will only worship two gods, Maheshvara and Kumara. All men will have diminished lifespans. For the sake of the earth, this is the best decision—to bring about the destruction of kings. O gods! Without any delay, you should incarnate yourselves in your own portions. Kunti will bear the portions of Dharma and the others and so will Madri. As the foundation for conflict, Kali’s portion will be born in Gandhari’s womb. Goaded by destiny, kings will adopt either of the two sides. For the sake of the earth, all of them will be wrathful and will desire to fight. Let the earth, the sustainer of the world, go and bear them in her womb. This is the proper method for eliminating those kings, who will be famous in the worlds.’” On hearing the grandfather’s words, the earth went away to wherever she had come from, biding her time for the destruction of the kings.