Harivamsha
Page 20
This ends Harivamsha Parva.
Vishnu Parva
Chapter 46: 31 shlokas
Chapter 47: 57 shlokas
Chapter 48: 51 shlokas
Chapter 49: 30 shlokas
Chapter 50: 29 shlokas
Chapter 51: 37 shlokas
Chapter 52: 36 shlokas
Chapter 53: 35 shlokas
Chapter 54: 42 shlokas
Chapter 55: 57 shlokas
Chapter 56: 46 shlokas
Chapter 57: 23 shlokas
Chapter 58: 58 shlokas
Chapter 59: 61 shlokas
Chapter 60: 35 shlokas
Chapter 61: 64 shlokas
Chapter 62: 99 shlokas
Chapter 63: 35 shlokas
Chapter 64: 24 shlokas
Chapter 65: 101 shlokas
Chapter 66: 40 shlokas
Chapter 67: 68 shlokas
Chapter 68: 39 shlokas
Chapter 69: 31 shlokas
Chapter 70: 39 shlokas
Chapter 71: 54 shlokas
Chapter 72: 25 shlokas
Chapter 73: 38 shlokas
Chapter 74: 39 shlokas
Chapter 75: 45 shlokas
Chapter 76: 46 shlokas
Chapter 77: 59 shlokas
Chapter 78: 47 shlokas
Chapter 79: 40 shlokas
Chapter 80: 17 shlokas
Chapter 81: 104 shlokas
Chapter 82: 30 shlokas
Chapter 83: 57 shlokas
Chapter 84: 35 shlokas
Chapter 85: 67 shlokas
Chapter 86: 80 shlokas
Chapter 87: 77 shlokas
Chapter 88: 44 shlokas
Chapter 89: 53 shlokas
Chapter 90: 19 shlokas
Chapter 91: 59 shlokas
Chapter 92: 70 shlokas
Chapter 93: 68 shlokas
Chapter 94: 28 shlokas
Chapter 95: 18 shlokas
Chapter 96: 72 shlokas
Chapter 97: 44 shlokas
Chapter 98: 27 shlokas
Chapter 99: 49 shlokas
Chapter 100: 87 shlokas
Chapter 101: 18 shlokas
Chapter 102: 23 shlokas
Chapter 103: 31 shlokas
Chapter 104: 26 shlokas
Chapter 105: 22 shlokas
Chapter 106: 63 shlokas
Chapter 107: 87 shlokas
Chapter 108: 98 shlokas
Chapter 109: 91 shlokas
Chapter 110: 73 shlokas
Chapter 111: 12 shlokas
Chapter 112: 129 shlokas
Chapter 113: 84 shlokas
Chapter 46
Vaishampayana said, ‘Knowing that Vishnu and parts of the gods would be born on earth, Narada went to Mathura to inform Kamsa that his destruction was imminent. He descended from heaven and stationing himself in a grove in Mathura, sent a message to Kamsa, Ugrasena’s son. The lotus-eyed asura, Kamsa, was swift and valorous. On hearing about Narada’s arrival, he emerged from his own city. He saw the praiseworthy guest, the divine rishi who was devoid of all sins. With a form that was like the sun’s rays, he blazed in his energy. Following the prescribed rites, he honoured the rishi and worshipped him. He offered him a seat that was like the fire in its complexion. The sage who was Shakra’s friend seated himself on that seat and addressed Ugrasena’s son, who was extremely prone to anger. “O brave one! Following the prescribed rites, I have been worshipped by you. Once that is over, listen to my words and act in accordance with them. O son!631 I traversed the divine worlds, with Brahma’s city as the foremost. I went to the gigantic Mount Meru, which is the sun’s friend. I saw the grove of Nandana and the grove of Chaitraratha. With the gods, I bathed in all the excellent tirthas. I saw the sacred river, with its three divine flows and the three courses that it follows.632 In due order, I bathed in the celestial tirthas. I saw Brahma’s abode, frequented by the brahmana rishis. It resounded with the sounds of gods and gandharvas and the sounds of the apsaras. On one occasion, I went to an assembly of the gods on Mount Meru. Grasping the veena, which I love, I went to Brahma’s assembly there. With Brahma, I saw many gods seated there, on celestial seats, wearing white headdresses and adorned with diverse gems. I heard an extremely terrible consultation among the gods there and it was about the means to kill you and your followers. O Kamsa! Your father’s sister, Devaki, is in Mathura. Your death will result through her eighth child. He will be everything to the gods. He will be the refuge of heaven. It is a supreme secret of the gods that he will be the reason for your death. He is supreme among the supreme. He is the self-creating one, from whom Svayambhu was created. This great and divine one will be born and I am incapable of even speaking about it. He prides himself that he has already been the cause of your death in the past.633 O Kamsa! Remember that. If you can, endeavour to act, so that you can prevent the birth from taking place. I am pleased with you and that is the reason I have come here. Enjoy all the objects of pleasure. May you be fortunate. Let me leave now.” Having said this, Narada departed.
‘Having thought about this for a short while, Kamsa laughed loudly, showing his teeth. He smiled and spoke to the servants who stood in front of him. “It is indeed true that Narada has no spirit. Nor is he skilled. Whether I am fighting, lying down, distracted or intoxicated, the gods, along with Vasava, are incapable of frightening me. I am capable of agitating the earth with my two large arms. Who in this world of men is interested in trying to disturb me? From today, I will create great carnage among all creatures who follow the gods, whether they are men, birds, or large numbers of animals. Instruct the horse Keshi, Pralamba, Dhenuka, the bull Arishta, Putana and Kaliya that they can roam around the entire earth, assuming whichever form they wish to adopt. Let them strike all those who abuse our side. Find out about the progress of all those who are expecting on earth. Narada has said that we will suffer a great fear on account of conception. Be devoid of anxiety and enjoy yourself, in whatever form you desire. As long as you resort to me as a protector, there is nothing to fear from anything the gods might do. The brahmana Narada is addicted to creating dissensions and finds sport in doing this. He derives pleasure from causing conflict between people who reside in harmony. He is mobile and always travels around, trying to make people dance to his tune. He creates conflicts among kings, as if they are puppets on his string.” Using words alone, he spoke in this way. After this, Kamsa entered his own residence, with his senses burning.’
Chapter 47
Vaishampayana said, ‘Angrily, he634 instructed all the advisers who were interested in his welfare. “All of you must make efforts to ensure that Devaki’s embryo is destroyed. Let us destroy all the conceptions, starting with the first. When there is suspicion that injury may be caused, one must destroy the foundation. Let Devaki be protected in her house and guarded surreptitiously. Though she is protected by my soldiers, let her roam around freely, so that she is not scared. My women will keep count of the months, from when her menstrual flow starts. We will do the rest when we come to know that there has been a conception. Let Vasudeva be guarded, day and night, whether he lies down on the ground, or whether he is with women. Let those who are engaged in my welfare, women and eunuchs, do this, without being distracted. However, the reason for this should not be divulged. Men can only make those efforts that are humanly possible. However, hear how a person like me can counter destiny. By using a large number of appropriate mantras and by employing herbs well, it is possible to make efforts so that destiny turns favourable.” These are the efforts Kamsa made to destroy Devaki’s conception. Having heard about it from Narada, scared, he engaged in consultations.
‘Having got to know about the possibility of injury, Kamsa made these efforts. Having heard about these, the valiant Vishnu, who had disappeared, started to think. “The son of Bhoja will slay seven of Devaki’s conceptions. I think my task should be to manifest myself in the eighth conception.” Thinking in this way, he went to patala in his mind. The danavas kno
wn as Shadgarbhas were lying down there, waiting to be born. They were bright and valiant in form, like those who survive on amrita. They were the sons of Kalanemi and were like the immortals in battle. In ancient times, these daityas had worshipped the grandfather of the worlds. They had tormented themselves through fierce austerities and had sported matted hair. Pleased with them, Brahma had granted the Shadgarbhas a boon. “Tell me what you desire. What boon shall I bestow on you?” All those daityas had wanted the same thing and had told Brahma, “O illustrious one! If you are pleased with us, grant us this best of boons. O illustrious one! Let us not be killed by gods or serpents, or through the weapons of curses used by the self-controlled and supreme rishis. May we not be killed by lords among the yakshas, gandharvas, siddhas, charanas and humans. O illustrious one! If you wish to grant us a boon, let it be this.” Having been thus addressed by them, Brahma had been extremely pleased in his mind. He had told them that it would be exactly as they had desired. Granting the Shadgarbhas the boon, Svayambhu had returned to heaven. At this, Hiranyakashipu635 had been enraged and had spoken these words. “You abandoned me and sought a boon from the one who was born from a lotus. I am discarding my affection for you. You have become my enemies and I am casting you aside. Your father reared you and called you by the name of Shadgarbha. When all of you are conceived, it is this father who will kill you. You great asuras, the Shadgarbhas, will be conceived in Devaki’s womb six times.636 When you are conceived in this way, Kamsa will kill you.” Vishnu went to patala, where those asuras were. Self-controlled, the Shadgarbhas were lying down in the water there, waiting to be conceived. He saw the Shadgarbhas lying down in the water there, treating the water like a womb. They were under the subjugation of sleep, the one who has the form of the destroyer and makes everything disappear. In the form of a dream, Vishnu entered their bodies. He took away their breath of life and handed it over to Nidra.637 Vishnu, with truth as his valour, spoke to Nidra. “O Nidra! You have been created by me. Go to Devaki’s residence. Take the breaths of life of these creatures known as the Shadgarbhas. In progressive order, implant them in Devaki’s womb. When these conceptions are born and are conveyed to Yama’s abode, Kamsa’s efforts will be fruitless and Devaki’s efforts will be successful. I will show you my favours. Because of my favours, you will be like me on earth. That is the reason you will become a goddess who is worshipped by all the worlds. Devaki’s seventh conception will be my elder brother, born from Soma’s portion. In the seventh month, you will transfer him to Rohini’s womb. Since the conception will be transferred by you, he will be known as Samkarshana.638 He will become my elder brother and will be as handsome as the moon. Kamsa will think that out of fear from him, Devaki’s seventh conception resulted in a miscarriage and will try to kill me, the eighth conception. Nandagopa is Kamsa’s cowherd and his beloved and fortunate wife is Yashoda, the extender of the Gopa lineage.639 In our lineage, you will be born through her, as the ninth conception. You will be born on the ninth tithi of krishnapaksha.640 When it is just past midnight, I will use yoga as I please to free you from that conception. Both of us will be born at the same time, in the eighth month of pregnancy and so that Kamsa’s reign is over, the births will be interchanged. O goddess! I will go to Yashoda and you will go to Devaki. This interchange, through the use of yoga, will confuse Kamsa. He will grab you by the legs and fling you against a stone. However, you will rise up into the sky and obtain an eternal position. Like me, you will possess a dark complexion, but your face will be like Samkarshana’s. On earth, your extensive arms will spread everywhere, just as my arms do.641 You will wield a trident and a sword with a golden handle. You will hold a vessel full of honey and a sparkling lotus. You will wear a garment made of blue silk and your upper garment will be yellow. A necklace as radiant as moonbeams will grace your breasts. Divine and long earrings will adorn your ears. The radiance of the moon will manifest itself on your face. A diadem with three peaks will adorn your braided hair. Your arms will be as thick as clubs and like hissing serpents. Your standard will be adorned with the feathers of peacocks. Your radiant armlets will also be adorned with the feathers of peacocks. You will always be surrounded by large numbers of terrible bhutas642 and they will follow your instructions. You will follow a vow of celibacy and go to heaven. There, the thousand-eyed one will perform the task I have entrusted him with. He will perform a celestial consecration for you and confer you with divinity. There, Vasava will accept you as his sister. Because you have the gotra of Kushika, you will become Koushiki.643 He will grant you an eternal spot on Vindhya, best among mountains. From that spot, you will beautify the earth in one thousand different ways. In your mind, you will follow me and destroy the danavas Sumbha and Nisumbha, who dwell in the mountains.644 You will roam around in the three worlds and be desired by the virtuous on earth. You will be immensely fortunate. You will be the granter of boons. You will assume whatever form you desire. You will be followed by ghosts and spirits. You will always love flesh and sacrifices. You will be worshipped on the ninth lunar day, with rites that involve sacrifices of animals. If a man knows about my power and bows down before you, there is nothing that he will find difficult to obtain, be it sons or riches. For men who are trapped in desolate regions, for those whose boats have been shattered in the great ocean and for those who have been waylaid by bandits, you will be the supreme salvation. You will be success. You will be prosperity. You will be fortitude. You will be fame. You will be modesty. You will be learning. You will be good intentions. You will be intelligence. You will be the evening. You will be the night. You will be radiance. You will be sleep. You will be the night of destruction. When you are worshipped, you will pacify difficulties faced by men from bondage, slaying, terror, destruction of sons, destruction of riches, disease, death and fear. By confounding Kamsa, you will alone save the universe. When I come of age, I will myself kill Kamsa.” After instructing her in this way, the lord vanished. She assented. Bowing down before him, she too departed.’
Chapter 48
Vaishampayana said, ‘As had been told, Devaki, who was like a goddess, conceived seven times. As soon as they were born, Kamsa killed six of them by smashing them against stone. She645 transferred the seventh conception to Rohini. She646 was then in her season and was sleeping. When Nidra suddenly entered her in the middle of the night, she fell down on the ground. In her sleep, she saw that the conception had left her. When, in an instant, she could no longer see the conception, she was distressed. In the darkness of the night, Nidra spoke to the anxious Rohini, the Rohini who was Vasudeva’s wife, appearing as if she was Soma’s Rohini.647 “O fortunate one! For your welfare, a conception has been transferred from another womb to your womb. Thus, you will have a son named Samkarshana.” On realizing that she was going to have a son, Rohini was somewhat ashamed. She entered her own house, like the extremely resplendent Rohini.648 However, Devaki followed the path of conceiving and was pregnant again, with the birth for which Kamsa had destroyed seven conceptions. Through his own wishes, Hari was in her womb and the guards carefully protected that conception. On the same day, Yashoda conceived and this was nothing but Nidra, who had emerged from Vishnu’s body and was following Vishnu’s instructions. In the eighth month, before the full period of pregnancy was over, both women, Devaki and Yashoda, delivered at the same time. In the night, the lord Krishna was born in the Vrishni lineage and at the same time of the same night, Yashoda, who was the wife of Nandagopa, Kamsa’s respected cowherd, gave birth to a girl. Yashoda and Devaki became pregnant at the same time. Devaki gave birth to Vishnu and Yashoda to a daughter at the same time. This was exactly at midnight when Abhijit nakshatra was in the ascendant. When Janardana was born, the oceans trembled, mountains moved and flames of the fire turned peaceful. Auspicious winds blew and the dust settled down. When Janardana was born, the stellar bodies were shining. Without being struck, the drums of the gods sounded in heaven. The lord of the gods649 showered down flowers from the sky. Maharshis, gandharvas and aps
aras presented themselves and praised Madhusudana with auspicious chants. Though Vasudeva loved his son, he was terrified. He swiftly grabbed the infant and entered Yashoda’s house. Without Yashoda realizing, he left the infant son there. He picked up the infant daughter and laid her down next to Devaki, while she was asleep. Stupefied because of his fear, he interchanged the two infants. Successful in his intentions, Vasudeva entered his own house.