Harivamsha
Page 44
‘To slay Bana, Achyuta again wished to hurl the chakra. However, with Kumara, Mahadeva arrived before him and said, “O Krishna! O great god! O Purushottama! O Krishna! I know you. You are the one who killed Madhu and Kaitabha. You are the eternal god of the gods. O god! You are the destination of the worlds. The universe has been generated from you. The three worlds, with the gods, the asuras and humans, cannot vanquish you. Therefore, withdraw the divine chakra that you have raised. It is terrible towards enemies and will certainly destroy everything in this battle. O slayer of Keshi! I have granted Bana freedom from fear. You should pardon me. Otherwise, my words will be rendered false.” The illustrious one replied, “O god! Let Bana remain alive. I will withdraw the chakra. O god! You are always revered by the gods and the asuras. O Maheshvara! I bow down before you. I will depart, not having accomplished the task I set out to do.1099 Grant me permission.” Speaking to Mahadeva in this way, Krishna quickly mounted Garuda and went to where Pradyumna’s son was, bound down by the arrows.
‘When Krishna had left, Nandi addressed Bana in these auspicious words. “O Bana! For your welfare, you should go and dance before him.” Blood flowed from his body and he was urged by Nandi’s words. For the sake of his life, Bana arrived before Shankara. The danava was senseless and because of his fear, started to dance. He was in a distressed state and his eyes were numb with fear. Maheshvara said, “O Bana! Ask for whatever boon there is in your mind. O one with the excellent face! I am pleased with you and the time has come to grant you a boon.” Bana replied, “O lord! May I never suffer from old age and may I always be immortal. O god! If it so pleases you, this is the first boon I ask for.” Maheshvara said, “O Bana! You will be like the gods and you will never face death. Now ask for another boon. I am always kindly disposed towards you.” Bana replied, “O Bhava! Blood is flowing from my body and I am suffering from wounds. In such a state, if devotees dance before you, may they have sons.” Maheshvara said, “If devotees fast, are full of forgiveness, truthfulness and uprightness and dance before me in this way, that shall indeed happen.” Bana replied, “I am suffering from severe pain because of the terrible strike of the chakra. O Bhava! As the third boon, may I find peace.” Maheshvara said, “It shall be that way and you will be fortunate. Pain will not be able to affect you. The wounds will be removed from your body and you will be rendered hale. O asura! Ask for a desired fourth boon and I will grant it to you. O son!1100 I will not refuse you. O one with the excellent face! I always show you my favours.” Bana replied, “O lord! May I be the first among the large number of pramathas.1101 O lord! May I be famous and renowned by the name of Mahakala.” Maheshavara said, “O one who is famous for his strength and manliness! Ask for another boon and I will grant it to you. O great asura! Ask what you wish for. What will make you happy?” Bana replied, “O supreme among gods! May my body never suffer from any deformities. O Bhava! Though I only have two arms now, may I never be deformed.” Bana was stationed near him and Mahadeva told him, “O Bana! It shall be exactly as you have said.” The illustrious one with the three eyes said this. As all the creatures looked on, surrounded by his followers, he vanished from there.’
Chapter 113
Vaishampayana said, ‘The arrows, in the form of giant serpents, had coiled themselves around Aniruddha’s body. On seeing Garuda, all these serpents quickly let go of his body. Assuming their natural form, all those arrows embedded themselves in the ground. On seeing Krishna and touched by him, the great-souled Aniruddha was delighted. He joined his hands in salutation and said, “O god of the gods! You are always triumphant in battle. Who is capable of standing before you? Not even Shatakratu himself.” The illustrious one replied, “Let us swiftly mount Garuda and leave for the city of Dvaraka.” Having vanquished the great asura, Bana, all those bulls among men climbed astride Garuda and left on their long journey.
‘They travelled through the sky in Varuna’s direction.1102 They saw thousands of multi-hued ones roaming around in the forests along the ocean.1103 The undecaying god, the origin of all the worlds, was astride Garuda. On seeing Bana’s cows, he decided to seize them. “Satyabhama told me to bring Bana’s cows. The great asuras drink their milk and do not suffer from any decay. As long as it does not interfere with any other task, she asked me to bring them. However, if it interferes with any other task, she told me not to bother about it. Having seen Varuna’s abode, I can now see the cows. Let all of us enter there and do what needs to be done.” Thus addressed, Garuda agreed. He agitated the ocean by the force of his wings and suddenly submerged, reaching Varuna’s abode. Varuna’s extremely terrible army saw that Vasudeva was in front of them and attacked, wielding many kinds of weapons. In that encounter, thousands of Varuna’s soldiers violently attacked. However, they were routed and he entered Varuna’s abode. Varuna’s soldiers used blazing weapons in the encounter, with sixty-six thousand chariots. But in every direction, that army was scorched by the storm of Krishna’s arrows. They were routed and distressed. Unable to remain there, they sought refuge with Varuna.
‘Varuna was there, praised in many ways by large numbers of rishis, gods, gandharvas and apsaras. A white umbrella was held aloft the radiant one’s body. Water flowed from his body and he held aloft his supreme bow. The lord of the waters was enraged. With his sons, grandsons and forces, he stretched his giant bow and challenged Krishna in the battle. Varuna blew on his conch shell. Like Hara in his anger, he enveloped Hari with his net of arrows. At this, the immensely strong one blew on Panchajanya, which had emerged out of the waters. In every direction, Janardana caused anxiety through his shower of arrows. In that encounter, Varuna was afflicted by many storms of arrows. However, he smiled and continued to fight back against Krishna. Stationed in the battle, Vasudeva invoked the terrible vaishnava weapon with a mantra and spoke to the one who was stationed in front of him. “This vaishnava weapon is extremely terrible and crushes enemies. Be steady, because I have raised it to kill you now.” The god raised the vaishnava weapon. However, the immensely strong Varuna invoked the varuna weapon and roared. O one who is victorious in assemblies! From the mouth of the varuna weapon, jets of water streamed out and the vaishnava weapon pacified them. All the water was scorched and seemed to be set on fire by the great valour of the vaishnava weapon. Terrified, everyone fled in different directions.
‘On seeing the blaze, Varuna spoke these words. “Remember your former unmanifest nature. You are overwhelmed by your manifest1104 attributes. O immensely fortunate one! Vanquish the tamas quality. Why are you confounded by the rajas quality? O lord of yoga! O immensely intelligent one! You are always based on the quality of sattva. Abandon ego and the taints that come by resorting to the five elements.1105 In your Vaishnava form, I am your elder.1106 Because of the attributes of being an elder, I should be revered. Why do you desire to burn me down? O supreme among fighters! Fire cannot be overcome with fire. Discard your rage. You are the origin of the universe and I cannot exert my powers over you. You created nature earlier and all its transformations originate in your soul. Dharma has been thought of as the first seed. One must first resort to dharma. The qualities of hot and cold are known to be the original attributes of nature. You are the original creator of this universe. That being the case, what do you expect me to think? You cannot be vanquished. You are always eternal. You are the self-creating one and are the one who thought of creating all beings. O immensely radiant one! You are without destruction and without decay. O unblemished one! Protect me. I am one who should be protected. I am bowing down before you. You are the original doer in the worlds. You are the one who has extended them in many ways. O great god! Why are you playing like a child with a puppet? I am not one who has injured nature. Nor am I one who abuses nature. O Purushottama! When there are transformations in nature, you are the one who acts in the proper way so as to correct these transformations. You are the one who always acts against the ones who are wicked and know about adharma. These taints of nature are always associated with the qu
ality of tamas. They are also tainted by the quality of rajas and confusion results from that. You know about what is supreme and best. You know about everything. The proper kinds of prosperity are based on you. You are yourself Prajapati. Why are you confusing all of us?” Addressed in this way, Krishna laughed and spoke these words. “O god! O one who is terrible in valour! To pacify me, give me the cows.” Varuna replied, “O god! In earlier times, I had an agreement with Bana. Having concluded such an agreement, how can I act so as to render it false? O one with eyes like a bull! As long as I am alive, I cannot give the cows away. That was the agreement. Kill me and take the cows away.” Having said this, Varuna released those extremely illustrious cows. Madhava laughed and honoured the god Varuna’s words.1107 Like Shakra surrounded by the immortals, he left for Dvaraka.
‘O ornament of assemblies! The gods, the Maruts, the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Vasus and the immensely strong Ashvins followed the undecaying lord of the universe, the origin of all beings. They arrived and followed his trail of fame and victory. The wielder of the chakra and the mace saw Dvaraka, garlanded with gates, from a long distance away and blew on Panchajanya. All those in Dvaravati heard the roar of the gods arriving and the blare of Panchajanya. They were supremely delighted. The Yadavas worshipped Krishna, seated astride Vinata’s son in his great prosperity. He looked like a mass of blue collyrium. In every direction, rishis, gods, gandharvas and charanas stationed themselves above Dvaraka and chanted Govinda’s praise. The supreme among the Dasharhas witnessed this extraordinary sight of Purushottama returning after vanquishing Bana and Mahadeva. With the immensely fortunate Krishna, the maharatha among the Satvatas, having returned, the residents of Dvaraka spoke about this in many ways. “We are blessed. We have been favoured by the lord of the universe. He is the protector and the preserver. He is the long-armed Janardana. Mounted on Vinata’s son, he defeated Bana, who was extremely difficult to vanquish. Pundarikaksha has returned and our minds are delighted.” The residents of Dvaraka conversed in this way. The maharatha gods entered Vasudeva’s house. Their celestial vehicles roamed around in the sky above. In every direction, they could be seen stationed there, in many different kinds of forms. Thousands of radiant and celestial vehicles were seen, with lions, bulls, deer, serpents, horses, cranes and peacocks inside them. “These are the Rudras, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Sadhyas and the other gods. Worship them in the proper order.”1108 “This is an extraordinary wonder. We have obtained this good fortune because we have sought refuge with Vasudeva.” Such words were heard everywhere. From every direction, the citizens showered down sandalwood powder and showers of flowers and worshipped the residents of heaven. All the residents of Dvaraka bowed down before the gods and worshipped them with parched grain and incense, using controlled words and intelligence.
‘Ahuka, Vasudeva,1109 Samba, the descendant of the Yadu lineage, Satyaki, Ulmuka and the immensely strong Viprithu were embraced by the valiant one.1110 He inhaled the fragrances of their heads. Vasava spoke these words to Andhaka, Shubhaksha and all the Satvatas. “This descendant of the Yadu lineage1111 displayed his fame and manliness in the battle. While Mahadeva and Guha looked on, he defeated Bana in an encounter and returned to Dvaraka. Hari caused supreme destruction to the arms of the thousand-handed one. He left him with two arms and returned to his own city. There is a reason why the great-souled Krishna was born among men. He has accomplished all that was required and has dispelled our sorrows. We are full of delight and will drink the tasty madhu and madhvika.1112 For a long period of time, we will now enjoy our dominions. All of us depend on the arms of this great-souled one. All our grief has been destroyed. All of us rejoice and will enjoy the happiness meant for immortals.” Having said this, Purandara embraced the lotus-eyed Krishna and left for heaven, surrounded by large numbers of immortals.
‘Surrounded by large numbers of Yadus, Krishna reached Dvaraka and rejoiced. O lord of the earth! This is the reason Vishnu, best among the lineage of the Yadus, took an incarnation on earth. He was famous by the name of Vasudeva. This is the reason why the prosperous lord was born in the lineage of Vasudeva.1113 That is the reason he was born among the Vrishnis, as Devaki’s son. This is what you had asked me about. O Janamejaya! Earlier, in connection with Narada’s question, I had told you about this briefly. I have now recounted everything in detail. You had a grave doubt about Vishnu’s residence in Mathura and about why he became Vasudeva. I have explained this to you. There is nothing else that is wonderful. Krishna is the store of everything extraordinary. Among everything wonderful that has been created, there is nothing more wonderful than Vishnu.1114 He is most blessed among those who are blessed. He ensures blessings. He creates blessings. Among gods and daityas, there is nothing more blessed than Achyuta. He is the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Ashvins, the Maruts, the sky, the earth, the directions, water, light, the creator, the preserver, the destroyer, destiny, truth, dharma, austerities, the eternal brahman and the entire universe. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Bow down before the lord of the gods. I have thus spoken about the battle with Bana and Keshava’s greatness. If one hears about this, one can ensure the establishment of an unmatched lineage. If a person nurtures this account of the supreme battle with Bana and Keshava’s greatness, one never serves the cause of adharma. I have thus recounted everything about Vishnu’s conduct. O son!1115 O Janamejaya! When the sacrifice was over, this is what you had asked me about. O king! If a person nurtures all of this extraordinary account in his heart, he never obtains anything inauspicious and enjoys a long life.’
Suta1116 said, ‘The king who was Parikshit’s son was told this by Vaishampayana. With the bulls among the brahmanas, he heard all about Harivamsha. O Shounaka! I have told you everything, in brief and in detail. What do you want me to talk about next?’
This ends Vishnu Parva.
Bhavishya Parva
Chapter 114: 18 shlokas
Chapter 115: 45 shlokas
Chapter 116: 40 shlokas
Chapter 117: 51 shlokas
Chapter 118: 51 shlokas
Chapter 114
Shounaka asked, ‘O Lomaharshana! Which of Janamejaya’s sons does one read about? Who established the lineage of the great-souled Pandavas?’
Suta replied, ‘Parikshit’s son had two sons through the princess of Kashi. They were king Chandrapida and Suryapida, who knew about moksha. Chandrapida had one hundred sons who were excellent archers. As descendants of Janamejaya, these kshatriyas were famous on earth. The eldest of these was Satyakarna, who was a king in Varanasahvya.1117 The mighty-armed one performed sacrifices, with copious quantities of dakshina. Satyakarna’s heir was the powerful Shvetakarna. The one with dharma in his soul didn’t have any sons and retreated to a hermitage in the forest. While he was in the forest, he had a son through a Yadava lady, who was Sucharu’s daughter. Her name was Malini and she possessed excellent eyebrows. She was like a garland to her brothers. Once she had given birth, Shvetakarna, the lord of subjects, left for the undecaying and great journey that his ancestors had earlier followed.1118 On seeing that he was leaving, Malini followed him at the rear. It was on this path that the one with the excellent brows gave birth to a lotus-eyed son. In earlier times, the immensely fortunate Droupadi, had followed her husbands. In that way, having given birth, she followed the king. The delicate infant wept on that mountainous path. Out of compassion for the great-souled one, the clouds offered him cover. Shravishtha’s sons were two brahmanas named Pippaladas. Out of compassion for him, they brought him home and bathed him in water. While he was playing in the mountains, his flanks became covered with blood. Those flanks became as dark as the complexion of a goat. When he grew up, that is the reason he came to be known as Ajaparshva.1119 The name that was given to him thus came to be Ajaparshva. Those two1120 reared him in the household of Vemaka. To obtain a son, Vemaka’s son got him married off. He, and the two brahmanas who were his advisers, were known as Vemaki’s sons.1121 Their sons and grandsons
lived for a time that was appropriate for the yuga.1122 In this way, the Pourava lineage was established by the Pandavas. In this connect, Yayati, Nahusha’s son chanted a shloka. This was at the time when the intelligent one was delighted at having been able to transfer his former old age.1123 “There is no doubt that there may be a time when the earth doesn’t have a moon, a sun, or the planets. But it shall never be the case that the earth is without the Pourava lineage.”’
Chapter 115
Shounaka said, ‘Vyasa’s intelligent disciple1124 had earlier recounted all of Harivamsha, with all of its parvas. I have told you about this. This immortal tales are full of itihasa.1125 It pleases and is like amrita to all of us. It frees us from all sins. King Janamejaya heard about this supreme account. O Souti! After the snake sacrifice was over, what did he do?’
Suta1126 replied, ‘King Janamejaya heard this supreme account. I will tell you about what happened after the snake sacrifice was over. When the snake sacrifice was over, the king who was Parikshit’s son began to collect the material required for a horse sacrifice. He summoned the officiating priests, priests and preceptors and said, “I wish to perform a horse sacrifice. Release the horse.” Hearing what he desired to do, the great-souled Krishna Dvaipayana, undistressed in his spirit and one who knew everything about the past, the present and the future, quickly came to see Parikshit’s son. The king who was Parikshit’s son saw that the rishi had arrived. Following the sacred texts, he gave him arghya, padya and a seat and worshipped him. O Shounaka! When he was seated, and so were the assistant priests, many kinds of stories that were in conformity with the Vedas were told.