by Bibek Debroy
Chapter 2(7)
‘“Brahma said, ‘In his pastimes, the infinite one assumed a form that consisted of all the sacrifices, in order to raise up the surface of the earth. 563 He was like the wielder of the vajra, shattering mountains. Inside the great ocean, he used his tusks to shatter the first daitya. 564 He was then born as Suyajna, the son of Ruchi and Akuti. Through Dakshina, 565 he had the immortals as his sons, Suyama being the foremost. Since he removed the great afflictions the three worlds suffered from, Svayambhu Manu referred to him as Hari. 566 O brahmana! Through Devahuti, he was born in Kardama’s house, together with nine sisters. He told his own mother about the destination of the atman. Through those words, in that life, she was cleansed of all the taints and mud which accrue to the atman because of association with the qualities and obtained Kapila’s destination. 567 Atri sought a son. Satisfied, the illustrious one said, “I will give myself to you” and was known as Datta. 568 The dust of his lotus feet purified the bodies of Haihayas, Yadus and others and they obtained yoga and prosperity, in this world and in the next. In the beginning, to create many kinds of worlds, I tormented myself through austerities. Because of those austerities, he himself assumed the form of four “Sanas”. 569 In the devastation and deluge of the preceding kalpa, the truth about the atman had been destroyed. When they heard about it, those sages immediately realized the atman. Through Dharma and Murti, Daksha’s daughter, the illustrious one was born as Nara and Narayana, powerful because of their own austerities. Female divinities, companions of Ananga, were unable to make them deviate from their rituals and saw their likes emerge from him. 570 Indeed, with the rage in their eyes, they burnt down Kama. Though they burnt him down in rage, they could not withstand the consequences of this rage. Such rage is incapable of entering the pure one. 571 How can Kama enter his mind? Though he was a child, he was pierced by the words uttered by a co-wife in the king’s presence. 572 Yet a child, he took to the forest and performed austerities there. Pleased by the worship, he was granted a permanent position in the sky and was praised by the sages who are above him and below him. Vena traversed the wrong path. His manly deeds and good fortune were destroyed by the words spoken by the brahmanas and he descended into hell. In order to save him and the world, he became his son and milked the earth for all kinds of wealth. 573 He was born as Rishabha, the son of Nabhi and Sudevi. He was impartial towards everyone and performed jada yoga. This is a state accepted by the rishis as the paramahamsa state. One is steady in one’s tranquility and is liberated from all attachment. The illustrious one became Hayashira 574 at my sacrifice. Golden in complexion, he is himself the Purusha who presides over sacrifices. The chhandas are in him. Sacrifices are in him. He is the atman of all the gods. Beautiful and pleasant speech 575 appeared from his breathing. When a yuga was about to end, Manu 576 saw him in the form of Matsya. 577 He was the refuge for the earth and all the living creatures. I was terrified by that great fear and the Vedas fell down from my mouth into the water. He collected and restored the path of the Vedas and sported himself. The leaders of the immortals and the danavas churned the ocean of milk, desiring amrita. Assuming the form of a tortoise, he supported Mandara on his back. The pressing down of the mountain was like the scratching of an itch. Therefore, he went to sleep for a while. To dispel the great fear faced by the residents of heaven, he assumed the form of Nrisimha. 578 He rolled his eyebrows in rage and his tusks and visage were fierce. The Indra among the daityas quickly descended on him, wielding a club. However, he placed him on his lap and tore apart the writhing one with his nails. In a body of water, the leader of a herd 579 was seized by the leg by a crocodile that was superior in strength. Afflicted, it held a lotus in its tusk and said, “O original Purusha! O protector of all the worlds! The hearing of your name is auspicious. The hearing of your name is like a tirtha.” The immeasurable Hari heard the cry for help. With the chakra weapon in his hand, he mounted the king of the birds. 580 He severed the crocodile’s mouth with his chakra. The compassionate and illustrious one dragged the elephant out by seizing its trunk. Superior in qualities, he surpassed all of Aditi’s sons, who were older to him. 581 The supreme one traversed the worlds. As a dwarf, he pretended to ask for land that could be covered in three of his strides. 582 Even if a person treads along a false path, an owner’s property should not be taken away, except through asking. Bali did not desire anything, nor lordship over the gods. He purified his head with the water used to wash Urukrama’s feet and was firm in his vows. He did not wish to do anything other than what had been promised. O dear one! He dedicated his mind to Hari. O Narada! The illustrious one was satisfied with your great and increasing love towards him and your virtues. He spoke to you about yoga, knowledge and the Bhagavata, which is like a lamp for learning the truth about the atman. Those who seek refuge with Vasudeva can understand this easily. In different manvantaras, he presides as a descendant of the Manu lineage, using his own undeterred strength and chakra in the ten directions. He controls the wicked kings and extends his own deeds. The fame of his delightful character ascends to Satyaloka, above the three worlds. Through his own deeds, the illustrious one assumed the form of Dhanvantari. By uttering his name, the diseases of ailing men are swiftly destroyed. By obtaining his share of amrita in sacrifices, he grants long lifespans. Having descended into this world, he instructed about ayurveda. 583 The destruction of the kshatriyas was ordained by destiny. They desired to suffer the afflictions of hell, gave up the true path and hated brahmanas. The great-souled one was fierce in his valour and desired to uproot the thorns of the worlds. He used his axe, sharp at the edges, twenty-one times. 584 The lord of portions is favourably inclined towards us and descended in the Ikshvaku lineage, along with his different portions. Following his senior’s 585 instruction, he entered the forest with his beloved and younger brother. The one with the ten shoulders 586 obstructed him and was made to suffer. The limbs of the great ocean trembled with fear and it granted a passage. Like Hara, he glanced at the city of the enemy and wished to burn it down in rage. He was enraged and afflicted because his well-wisher 587 was far away. His blazing sight scorched the world of makaras, 588 serpents and crocodiles. The tusks of the great Indra’s mount crashed against his chest and were broken. Stuck there, in the chest of the one who was boastfully laughing, the tusks illuminated the direction. 589 He wished to instantly take away the life of the one who had abducted his wife. He twanged his bow and moved around between the two armies. The earth will suffer from the armies of those who are inferior to the gods and to remove this affliction, he will be born in his portions, from black hair and white hair. 590 His ways will be incomprehensible to people and he will perform deeds reflective of his own greatness. Though a child, he will take away the life of the one who assumed the form of a demoness. 591 When three months old, he will overturn the cart with a kick of his foot. He will crawl between two arjuna trees whose tops touch the sky and uproot them. These are things that are impossible to think of. In Vraja, the animals of Vraja and their herdsmen will drink water mixed with poison. By showering down compassionate looks on them, he will bring them back to life. He will playfully jump into the water and chastise a serpent 592 whose tongues will flicker because of its virulent poison. On the day of that divine deed, when everyone will be asleep in the night, a conflagration will burn down the dry forest and the residents of Vraja will think that their end has come. However, he and Bala, 593 invincible in their valour, will deliver them by asking them to close their eyes. His mother will seize whatever ropes and other binding material that she can find. However, it will be insufficient to tie down her son. When he yawns, the cowherd lady 594 will see all the worlds inside his mouth and be scared. But realization will dawn on her. 595 He will free Nanda from the fear caused by Varuna’s noose and the cowherds imprisoned in a cave by Maya’s son. 596 When everyone will be asleep in the night because of the extreme exhaustion from the work during the day, he will take the entire Gokula to the world of Vaikuntha. When the cowherd
s do not perform the sacrifice, the god 597 will shower down and flood Vraja, raining down for seven days. But though only seven years old, he will take compassion on the animals and protect them, playfully holding up the mountain 598 against the showers, like a mushroom. In the night, he will sport in the forest, awash with the white beams of the moon. He will be eager to start the dance of rasa, accompanied by songs with long and melodious music that will ignite sexual desire among the wives of the residents of Vraja. At that time, he will sever the head of Dhanada’s follower, the abductor. 599 There will be other wicked ones—Pralamba, Khara, 600 Dardura, Keshi, Arishta, wrestlers, 601 the elephant, 602 Kamsa, Yavana, 603 the ape, 604 Poundraka and the others, Shalva, Kuja, 605 Balvala, Dantavakra, Saptoksha, Shambara, Viduratha, Rukmi and the others, powerful commanders who wielded bows in battle, Kamboja, Matsya, Kuru, Srinjaya, Kekaya and the others. They will be destroyed through the apparent names of Bala, Partha and Bhima. In reality, they will be conveyed by Hari to an unblemished residence in his abode. In the course of time, men will be limited in intelligence, with short spans of life. They will find it difficult and impossible to digest the sacred texts he himself composed. Therefore, he will appear as Satyavati’s son 606 and divide the tree of the Vedas into different branches, appropriate for the age. The haters of the gods will faithfully follow the path indicated by the sacred texts. They will travel between cities in invisible vehicles constructed by Maya, destroying the worlds. He will confound their intelligence, with a desire to tempt them. He will don many kinds of attire and speak to them about what is not dharma. 607 At the end of the yuga, the illustrious one will chastise Kali. At that time, Hari’s exploits will not be discussed, not even in the houses of virtuous ones. Dvija people 608 will be heretics and vrishalas will be kings among men. Svaha, svadha and vashatkara will not be heard anywhere. Through his maya, the lord who is supreme in strength has assumed different forms—austerities, I, the rishis and the nine Prajapatis at the time of creation; dharma, sacrifices, Manus, immortals and kings at the time of preservation; and adharma, Hara and asuras filled with intolerance at the time of destruction. Who in this world can enumerate Vishnu’s valour, not even a wise person who has counted the particles of dust on earth? Unwavering, with one leg he transcended the three worlds and made the above, where there is equilibrium between the three qualities, tremble. 609 I, and all the sages who are your elder brothers, know about the complete maya and strength of Purusha, not to speak of those who are inferior to us. Shesha, the first god, has been singing about his qualities with one thousand mouths, but has still been unable to reach the end. There are those on whom the illustrious and infinite one confers his compassion. Without any falsehood, they resort to his feet with all their souls. They are the ones who comprehend the ultimate forms of the god’s maya, which are so very difficult to reach. They do not have any sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine’, not even for that which is devoured by dogs and jackals. 610 O dear one! I know about the supreme one’s yoga maya. So do you, 611 Bhava, the illustrious and noble daitya, 612 Manu and his wife, 613 Manu’s sons and daughters, Prachinabarhi, Ribhu, Anga, Dhruva, Ikshvaku, Aila, 614 Muchukunda, Videha, 615 Gadhi, Raghu, Ambarisha, Sagara, Gaya, Nahusha’s son 616 and the others, Mandhatri, Alarka, Shatadhanva, Anu, Rantideva, Devavrata, 617 Bali, Amurtaraya, Dilipa, Shoubhari, Utanka, Shibi, Devala, Pippalada, Sarasvata, Uddhava, Parashara, Bhurishena, others like Vibhishana, Hanumat, the one given by Upendra, 618 Partha, Arshtishena, Vidura, Shrutadeva and other noble ones. They know and cross over the god’s maya. Women, shudras, Hunas, Shabaras and others who are wicked in their livelihood have become good in conduct, once they have been instructed and are devoted to the one with wonderful strides. So have those born as inferior species, not to speak of those who have sustained their learning. He is eternal and tranquil. He represents freedom from fear. He is pure and impartial and is both existent and non-existent. This is the truth about the paramatman. He is beyond the reach of speech and beyond action and rites performed for fruits. In his presence, all other kinds of maya are ashamed and return. This is the supreme state of the illustrious Purusha. He is the brahman, known as infinite bliss, without any sorrow. Ascetics who meditate on him have no need for yama or niyama, just as Indra does not need a spade to dig a well. They surrender themselves and give up all sense of self. The illustrious one bestows all that is auspicious. Sentiments, nature and the rules for virtuous behaviour, which lead to success, flow from him. When the elements that make up the body are destroyed, the body is also destroyed. But like the sky, the being inside 619 is not destroyed and is not born again. O son! I have briefly explained to you the nature of the illustrious one, the creator of the universe. All that is cause and effect is no different from Hari. This is named Bhagavata and was told to me by the illustrious one. It is a collection of his powers. Make this more extensive, 620 so that there is devotion among men towards the illustrious Hari. With all your soul, decide to describe this entire store. If a person describes the lord’s maya, approves of the lord, or if a person always listens to it faithfully, his atman is never confounded by the maya.’”’
Chapter 2(8)
‘The king said, “O brahmana! Narada possessed insight about the divinity and Brahma instructed him to recount the qualities of the one who is without qualities. What did he say and to whom? O supreme among those who know about the truth! I wish to know the truth about this, the account of Hari’s extraordinary valour, extremely auspicious for people. O immensely fortunate one! Speak to me so that with my entire atman, I can immerse myself in Krishna, detached, so that my mind can discard my body. If a person always listens to it faithfully and on his own, chants about it, within a short period of time, the illustrious one enters his heart. Depending on one’s level and sentiments, Krishna enters the lotus 621 through the ears and washes away all taints, like the autumn does to water. 622 When a man’s atman is cleansed, he does not let go of Krishna’s feet. He is freed from all hardships, like a traveller in his own residence. 623 O brahmana! The body begins without elements, but is then constituted through elements. Is there a cause behind this, or does it happen on its own? 624 You know about this. Tell me. The lotus, which has in it the states and signs of all the worlds, sprouted from his belly. The size and form of Purusha’s body is said to be the same as this one. 625 What is the difference between the state and form of the two? Through the favours of the one who is inside the atmans of all creatures, Aja 626 creates beings and it was through his favours that the one who was born from the lotus in the navel could see his form. Purusha is the creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe. The lord of maya is free of his own maya. He lies down, inside every heart. We have earlier heard that all the worlds and their guardians were created from Purusha’s body. The worlds and their guardians are also inside his body. 627 What is the duration of a kalpa and a vikalpa? 628 How is time measured? What do the words past, present and future mean? What are the lifespans of beings? O supreme among brahmanas! What is the nature of the progress of time? Though long, it seems to be short. What kind of destinations does karma lead to? What are the consequences of the accumulation of different kinds of karma? What qualities lead to one with qualities 629 and what lead to undesired consequences? How did the creation of the earth, patala, the directions, the sky, planets, nakshatras, mountains, rivers, oceans, continents and their inhabitants occur? What was the size of the cosmic egg, measured separately from the inside and the outside? What is the conduct of great entities? What is the determination of varnas and ashramas? What are yugas and what is the duration of a yuga? What is the nature of dharma in one yuga and in another yuga? What are Hari’s wonderful descents and conduct? What is the general dharma for humans? Is there anything that is specific? What is the dharma for shrenis 630 and royal sages? What should be done when there are difficulties in remaining alive? 631 What is the number of tattvas? 632 What are their signs and the causes that lead to the signs? What are the methods for worshipping Purusha? What is adhyatmika 633
yoga? What are the powers and movements of lords of yoga? How is the linga of a yogi detached? 634 What are the texts of Vedas, Upavedas, dharma, Itihasa and Puranas? 635 How are all beings created, destroyed and submerged in the deluge? If one desires the three objectives, 636 what are the ordinances for performing sacrifices and other auspicious things? How do created beings repent and how are they born as heretics? How is the atman liberated from its bondage? How does it attain its true nature? The illustrious and self-dependent one sports with his own maya. At the time of destruction, how does the lord separate himself from his maya and remain as a witness? O illustrious one! In progressive order, I have asked you about all of this. O great sage! I have sought refuge with you. You should let me know the truth about all this. You know the facts about all this, just as Brahma, the self-creating one, does. The others only follow what their ancestors, and the ancestors of those ancestors, did. O brahmana! Because of fasting, the breath of my life has not become exhausted. I will drink nectar in the form of Achyuta, when it flows from the ocean of your speech.”’