Harivamsha
Page 49
526 Those who eat raw grain after it has been ground on stone.
527 This is a reference to the kinds and number of fires one uses in practising austerities.
528 The body.
529 Shaving the hair, rites and vows.
530 Literally, mare’s head. The subterranean fire is thus named.
531 The text says Ourva (the fire), but presumably means Urva (the sage). But the difference between the two is blurred in the text.
532 Ourva.
533 Hiranyakashipu.
534 Varuna.
535 As soma.
536 The wielder of the club, Vishnu’s name.
537 He was biding his time.
538 Meaning, there were no untimely death.
539 Dharma possesses four feet. This probably means that though dharma proved to be superior to adharma, there was still adharma left. Dharma possesses three feet in treta yuga. But a reference to treta yuga isn’t indicated.
540 The demons and the gods are cousins, the demons being older.
541 A reference to the vamana incarnation.
542 Maya.
543 Kubera.
544 The five fingers are being compared to the five hoods of serpents.
545 Indra’s elephant.
546 Kubera.
547 The four guardians of the worlds, in the four directions, are Indra, Varuna, Kubera and Yama. All four were defeated.
548 Rahu.
549 The goddess of prosperity.
550 Kalanemi.
551 Because Agni conveys oblations to the gods.
552 In this context, this means Brahma.
553 Garuda.
554 By killing husbands and fathers.
555 A simantini is a woman who is married (not widowed), denoted by a parting of the hair.
556 Brahma.
557 This probably means nitya karma (daily rites), naimittika karma (occasional rites) and kamya karma (rites performed for a specific objective).
558 Since they share a common father (Kashyapa), the gods and demons are cousins.
559 Literally, the one with a lotus in his navel.
560 Two pieces of wood used to generate fire through friction.
561 A reference to the vamana incarnation.
562 Vishnu.
563 Because they could feed on the dead.
564 Vishnu’s name, one who holds Shri.
565 This probably means Sudarshana chakra.
566 Vishnu.
567 Vishnu.
568 Meaning Bali.
569 Ahavaniya, garhapatya and dakshinatya.
570 The first three varnas.
571 Brahma.
572 The sages.
573 Clouds that are seen at the time of destruction.
574 Kaali, the dark one, being used in the sense of a personified form of sleep.
575 At the time of destruction, the universe is reduced to a single ocean and Narayana sleeps on the waters, following the vow of yoga.
576 Vishnu.
577 Those born from eggs, those born from wombs, those born from sweat (worms and insects) and trees and plants. It might also mean the four varnas.
578 These are rhetorical questions, the purport being that they do not know the answers to these.
579 Because creatures sleep during the night.
580 A reference to sleep.
581 This means the sages. Though the sages are speaking, they are referring to themselves in the third person.
582 Kings are entitled to one-sixth of all produce as a share, in the form of tribute or taxes.
583 Infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots.
584 The art of fighting.
585 Generally, sacred texts about dharma. Specifically, a class of texts.
586 Uttarayana, the movement of the sun to the north of the equator, the period from the winter to the summer solstice and dakshinayana, the movement of the sun to the south of the equator, the period from the summer to the winter solstice.
587 Kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras.
588 Vishnu.
589 Brahma.
590 The architect of the gods.
591 Thus giving them life.
592 Madhu means soft and gentle. But the derivation of Kaitabha is contrived, since kitaka means hard.
593 Narayana and the asuras.
594 This being a place that was free of water.
595 Medini is a name for the earth and meda is fat.
596 In the form of the varaha incarnation, the earth having been dragged down into the waters by the demon Hiranyaksha.
597 The vamana incarnation.
598 Parashurama.
599 Kartikeya.
600 Their portions will be born on earth in different forms.
601 Shanta means peaceful and tanu means body. Shantanu is hence derived from these two words.
602 Prajapatya is one of the eight forms of marriage, one performed by the bride and groom taking seven steps around the sacred fire.
603 Generally, the nether regions. There are actually seven nether regions—atala, vitala, sutala, rasatala, talatala, mahatala and patala.
604 Meaning Bhishma.
605 To heaven.
606 A reference to Ashvatthama.
607 That is, when Krishna dies.
608 Kali yuga, described here as maaheshvara yuga.
609 In the Mahabharata.
610 Since different kinds of trees are referred to as kshirika, the sense has to be deduced. At a simple level, there is a sense of solidity. At a deeper level, some kinds of kshirika (such as banyan trees) strike deep roots and destroy the foundations of houses. Thus, these kings destroyed the foundations of their lineages.
611 Respectively, Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva and Karna.
612 What follows is Narada’s description.
613 That is, singing and dancing.
614 Not to be confused with the Madhu of Madhu–Kaitabha.
615 There is a pun that a translation cannot capture. Ayodhya is the name of the place and also means something that cannot be assailed.
616 The hair is sprinkled when a king is consecrated through an act of coronation. The word for king is derived from the word for causing delight and there is a pun in the Sanskrit text.
617 Because there should be no violence in forest hermitages.
618 Meaning Shatrughna.
619 Indra.
620 Shurasena and Ugrasena are the same person.
621 Hayagriva was a demon killed by Vishnu.
622 Narakasura was the son of the earth (bhumi) and is known as Bhoumya.
623 Vishnu’s name.
624 Kamsa’s mount. The elephant is referred to as both Utapalapida and Kuvalayapida. Utpala and kuvalaya both mean lotus and the elephant’s name literally means one who uproots lotuses.
625 Garuda.
626 Kashyapa is the father of the gods too. The Adityas, which includes Varuna, are the sons of Aditi.
627 By providing milk and other objects for sacrifices.
628 Krishna was born as Devaki’s son and reared by Rohini.
629 Gopas are cowherds.
630 Literally, the ocean that yields milk.
631 The word used is tata.
632 Ganga flows in heaven, on earth and in the nether regions.
633 In the earlier life, as Kalanemi.
634 Kamsa.
635 Their grandfather. Hiranyakashipu was Kalanemi’s father.
636 Shadgarbha means six conceptions.
637 The goddess of sleep, the personified form of sleep.
638 Samkarshana means someone who has been dragged along or pulled.
639 The gopas are cowherds and look after cattle.
640 Krishnapaksha is the dark lunar fortnight, tithi is a lunar day.
641 Probably implying that sleep overpowers everything.
642 Spirits, ghosts.
643 Since Indra has the gotra of Kushika, this must be because of becoming Indra’s sister. There is a separate story about
how Koushiki was formed when Parvati shed her dark complexion.
644 This is in the form of the goddess Vindhyavasini, identified with Kali. The names of the demons should really be spelt as Shumbha and Nishumbha.
645 Nidra, also referred to as Yogamaya.
646 Devaki.
647 The nakshatra Rohini, married to the moon god Soma.
648 The nakshatra Rohini.
649 Indra.
650 Vasudeva.
651 The word used is tata. But it is by no means obvious who was older in age, Nandagopa or Vasudeva.
652 By Rohini’s son, Vasudeva means Balarama. And by his son, Vasudeva means Krishna.
653 The period when funeral rites are performed in honour of the ancestors.
654 Because people will not realize that he has a son. Rites for the ancestors are performed by a son.
655 This causes confusion. By my son, Vasudeva means Balarama. And by your son, he means Krishna.
656 Nandagopa.
657 These and the trees with thorns provided protection against predatory beasts.
658 Another name for Vraja.
659 The celestial cow, or the mother of all cows.
660 Meaning Nandagopa.
661 Had you been crushed by the cart.
662 Kartikeya, the son of Agni (Pavaka).
663 From dama (rope) and udara (stomach).
664 Samkarshana wore blue and Krishna wore yellow.
665 The text says that they had kakapaksha. Literally, this means crow’s wing. It is an expression used when the head is shaved and sidelocks are left.
666 Probably palm leaves.
667 The Indian fig tree.
668 Of the forest.
669 In his wisdom.
670 The rainbow.
671 The comparison is with banyan trees, with the roots hanging down.
672 The carts.
673 For churning milk.
674 Indra.
675 A reddish insect, sometimes identified with a firefly. Also known as indragopa.
676 The term used is six-legged, so in general, it could also apply to other insects.
677 A kind of flower, the Wrightia.
678 The clouds were like palaces and the winds were like flags.
679 Another name for the kadamba.
680 Balarama.
681 During the four monsoon months, Vishnu is believed to sleep.
682 Customarily, those who were away from home returned home at the time of the monsoon.
683 Vishnu’s name, a reference to the valorous three strides in the vamana incarnation.
684 Because of the rains.
685 The new Vraja, in Vrindavana.
686 Of the hare.
687 Some non-Critical versions say bracelets on the arms.
688 This garland was around his neck.
689 Literally, a place where herds of cows are kept, being used for Vrindavana.
690 Yamuna is being compared to a woman.
691 He and Krishna.
692 The word used is tata.
693 Garuda is the enemy of the snakes and is stationed on Vishnu’s banner.
694 Balarama.
695 Balarama.
696 Krishna and Balarama.
697 Balarama was fair (like gold) and Krishna was dark (like black pigment). But Balarama wore blue garments and Krishna wore yellow.
698 Human qualities.
699 Literally, playing like deer. This is like leapfrog, where one person jumps over another person’s back. The defeated child has to carry the victorious child.
700 The word ambara has many meanings. We have taken it in the sense of the sky, in which case, Pralamba was naked. However, depending on the meaning of ambara, he could also have been attired in cotton, or in saffron.
701 There is a pun on baala (child) and bala (strength).
702 Balarama.
703 Both are Indra’s names.
704 Agriculture, trade and animal husbandry.
705 The mountain is the refuge.
706 Mountains.
707 The mountains kill those wicked ones.
708 Literally, a sacrifice performed for the mountain.
709 Kind of tree.
710 Because monsoon is over.
711 A king’s coronation.
712 The ocean.
713 Or fields covered with water.
714 These are two names for lotuses, as is utpala.
715 Tall grass with white flowers.
716 Asana is probably a typo, since there is no identifiable tree by that name. Saptaparna is the Indian devil tree (Alstonia scholaris), kovidara is a kind of orchid, ishusahva cannot be identified, nikumbha is the wild croton plant, priyaka is a tree of the tomentosa variety, svarnaka is the golden shower tree, pichuka is the myna tree and ketaki is the fragrant crew pine. This leaves srimara. This is probably intended as an adjective (fast-growing) qualifying pichuka and is not a proper name.
717 Vishnu, the bird being Garuda.
718 Payasam is rice cooked with milk and sugar. The four types of food are those that are chewed (charvya), sucked (choshya or chushya), licked (lehya) and drunk (peya).
719 Krishna was in his form of a human gopa. But simultaneously, he also assumed the form of the mountain. Hence, there were two Krishnas, though the other gopas did not realize it.
720 Not the real mountain, but the deity in the form of the mountain.
721 These are clouds that appear at the time of the dissolution of the universe.
722 Clouds are often compared to elephants.
723 Makaras.
724 A vidyadhara is a supernatural being.
725 The word dvija, used in the text, means oviparous. A bird is a natural translation. However, a svastika mark has nothing to do with a bird. Nagas (serpents) are identified with svastika marks on their hoods. Therefore, serpents may have been meant.
726 Shiva destroyed a city of the demons, named Tripura. Actually, this city consisted of three different cities. It floated in the sky. Shiva destroyed all three with a single arrow.
727 Indra possesses one thousand eyes.
728 Garuda.
729 Indra killed a demon named Bala.
730 Brahma.
731 The ocean.
732 Because of Indra’s rain.
733 The text doesn’t clearly indicate where the quote ascribed to Brahma and the cows should end. This seems the most likely.
734 Basing the derivation on ‘Go’ plus ‘Indra’. The straightforward meaning of Govinda is someone who causes delight to cows.
735 Meaning, Indra’s younger brother.
736 The monsoon months.
737 This is probably an astronomical reference and has little to do with the standard stories concerning Trishanku and Agastya. Astronomically, Trishanku is identified as the Southern Cross. Depending on the location in India, this can usually be seen on the southern horizon between April and June. Agastya is identified with the star Canopus, also seen on the southern horizon, though more clearly. Precession of the equinoxes makes it difficult to pinpoint astronomical references. The one with the thousand rays is the sun.
738 In the autumn.
739 Arjuna.
740 Arjuna.
741 Because they did not recognize his divinity.
742 The contest of strength was in seizing these cows in the forest.
743 A green pigeon with yellow feet.
744 From striking trees, or from fighting with other bulls.
745 Yama’s.
746 Arishta.
747 Krishna.
748 Krishna’s father.
749 Literally, the generous one, Akrura’s name.
750 Dharma, artha and kama.
751 From the lake.
752 As narasimha.
753 Shiva.
754 This hangs loose and does not belong. Bhargava Angiras is Shukracharya, the preceptor of the demons. The preceptor’s son is Kacha, Brihaspati’s son, Brihaspati being the preceptor of the gods.
756 Krishna’s father.
757 Bhutas.
758 We have written it in this way so that there is no confusion with Vasudeva.
759 An autumn cloud only roars, but is powerless to rain down.
760 Ugrasena.
761 Vasudeva.
762 Kamsa’s.
763 The word used is tata.
764 This is a reference to Yayati, who disinherited his son, Yadu, and Yadu’s descendants.
765 Putra means son, derived from put (the hell named put) and trayate (saves).
766 Literally, the city will be a widow.
767 Mars. Svati is in Virgo (Kanya) and Mars in Virgo is believed to be inauspicious.
768 Rahu.
769 Kamsa.
770 Vishnu, Krishna.
771 This can have multiple meanings: red sugar cane, fennel, a certain variety of asparagus.
772 Shiva.
773 The word used is tata.
774 Shiva.
775 Brahma.
776 The battle in Kurukshetra.
777 Those who were in a householder stage (garhasthya).
778 Those who were respectively in vanaprastha and sannyasa.
779 When Krishna was an infant.
780 The body hair stands up when Vishnu/Krishna confronts a devotee.
781 Manmatha is the god of love.
782 The right hand.
783 The left hand.
784 To Mathura.
785 Akrura.
786 The celestial cow.
787 Rahu.
788 Govardhana.
789 Shesha and Vishnu respectively.
790 Shesha.
791 Shesha’s.