Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Sunday, June 27, 2021
fight
182. The fight between Krishna and Shankara
VAISHAMPAYANA said:-Thereupon riding quickly Vinatā's son, those three (heroes), stationed in the battlefield like three fire-gods, began to fight there.
Seated on Garuda's back those highly powerful three heroes assailed and dispersed the Dānava army with a downpour of arrows.
Assailed with the strokes of discus, plough-share and arrows the irrepressible and huge Dānava army were worked up with anger. As fire increases in a room with dry fuels so the fire, engendred by Krishna’s arrows, increased that fire burning like that of dissolution, and consumed thousands of Dānavas in the battle-field (1-5).
Beholding his soldiers assailed and burnt with various arrows of Krishna, and take to their heels Vāna came there and prevented them saying “Born in the race of the Daityas why do ye, overwhelmed with fear and displaying your weakness, fly away from the battle-field?
Why do you take to your heels leaving off your respective coats of mail, swords, daggers, darts, leathern protectors and axes? Think of your birth and living with Hara and then decide whether you should fly away.
I now stand before you.” Although they heard the words given vent to by Vāna, the Dānavas, beside themselves with fear, paid no heed to them and fled away. Of the soldiers remaining there only the Pramathas stood firm and desired to fight again (6-11).
Beholding his soldiers routed, Kumbhānda, Vāna's powerful minister and friend, said:—“O ye leading Dānavas, behold Shankara, Kārtikeya and Vāna in the battle-field.
Still, possessed by fear, why are you flying away leaving your own armies? Give up hope of your lives and fight.”
Before they heard those words of Kumbhānda, the Danavas stricken with the fear of the fire of Krishna's discus, fled away on all sides. Thereupon beholding all the soldiers routed by Krishna, Siva, of incomparable prowess, had his eyes reddened with anger.
And in order to protect Vāna, he stood on his lustrous car and prepared himself for fighting. Kumāra too ascended a car burning like car. Powerful Rudra, ascending a car drawn by lions and biting his hips, drove where Hari was (12–17).
At that time his car, as if devouring the sky, making a great sound and drawn by lions, looked like the full-moon freed from clouds. Filled with various ghosts making diverse sounds that car of the god of gods proceeded towards the battle-field.
Of those ghosts some had the faces of lions, some those of tigers, some those of serpents, some those of horses and some those of camels; they too, filled with fear, were trembling.
Amongst those highly powerful ghosts, some had the faces of asses, some those of camels, some those of peacocks, Some those of horses, some those of rams, and some those of cats.
Some had the faces of sheep, some put on bark, some had tufts of hairs on their heads, some wore matted locks, some had hairs bound up, and some were naked.
They all blew conch-shells and bugles when they proceeded to the battle-field. Of them some had beautified faces and were adorned with celestial weapons and flowers.
Some were dwarfish and some were grim-visaged. Some put on lion and tiger skins. Some had faces covered with blood, huge-teeth and were fond of flesh. They all stood encircling Shankara the destroyer of great enemies in the battle-field and were waiting there at ease.
Beholding that car of the indefatigable Rudra. Krishna, riding Garuda, proceeded to the battle-field. Then beholding Hari proceed on Garuda discharging arrows, Hara, ever standing at the head in a battle, struck him in anger with hundreds, of winged arrows.
Assailed with shafts by Hara, the grinder of enemies, Hari too, irate, took up most excellent weapons given by Indra. Thereupon assailed by Krishna and Rudra the earth shook and the elephants trembled raising their heads.
The mountains were covered with the water of streams; some had their summits scattered on all sides. In that encounter between Hara and Hari the quarters, sky and earth were as if all ablaze.
Fire-brands fell on earth from all sides and dreadful-looking jackals began to emit inauspicious cries. With a great noise Indra began to send down showers of blood and fire-brands covered the rear of Vāna's army.
The wind blew high, and the luminous bodies and herbs, shorn of lustre, flew about in the sky. At that time the Grand father, knowing that Rudra, the destroyer of Asuras, had entered upon a battle, came there encircled by the celestials
The Apsaras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas, and Chāranas, stationed in the sky, began to witness that encounter. Then Vishnu discharged Indra's weapon at Rudra (18–37).
Burning it went up to the car where Rudra was. The very next moment hundreds and thousands of arrows dropped before Hara's car. Seeing it and filled with anger Hara discharged the highly dreadful fiery weapon.
It appeared indeed highly wonderful. At that time Krishna and the three other heroes were entirely covered with arrows; and scorched with the fire of the weapon they were so much emaciated that they were not visible.
Thereat thinking that Krishna had been slain by the fiery weapon the Asuras sent up a leonie shout (36-41).
Thereupon patiently bearing those fiery weapons in the battle-field the powerful Vāsudava, who was a master of every sort of weapon, took up Vāruna weapon.
When that Vāruna weapon was discharged by the high-souled Vāsudeva the fire of the fiery weapon was extinguished. When that weapon was baffled by Vāsudeva Bhava discharged four other weapons resembling the fire of dissolution, namely Paishāca, Rākshasa, Roudra and Angirasa.
Inorder to baffle those weapons Vāsudeva shot four arrows namely Vāyavya, Sāvitrya, Vāsava and Mohana. Having thus counteracted those four weapons with his four arrows Mādhava discharged his Vaishnava weapon like unto Antaka (the destroyer) with his mouth wide open.
When Vaishnava weapon was discharged all the Bhutas, Yakshas and Asuras of Vāna's host, unconscious and stricken with fear, fled on all sides.
Then beholding his army abounding in Pramathas thus routed the great Asura Vāna speedily ran towards the battle-field. As the king of gods, the weilder of thunderbolt, proceeds encircled by the celestials, so Vāna went surrounded by the highly powerful and mighty car-warriors, the Daityas holding dreadful arms (42-50).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—At that time with the recitation of names and mantras the Brāhmanas performed benedictory cremonies on Vanā’s behalf.
Bali's son Vāna too, conferring on the Brāhmanas, auspicious cows, raiments, fruits, flowers and gold coins, shone like the lord of riches.
The huge car of Vāna, painted with gold and adorned with a hundred moons and a million of stars and numerous bells, shone there like fire or a thousand suns.
Assuming a dreadful form Vāna, holding a bow, got upon the car brought by the Dānavas for fighting with those foremost of Yadus. Afterwards as at the time of the universal dissolution the ocean, abounding in waves increased by the wind, is agitated so that ocean, of great force abounding in cars of the heroes, went on.
O king, at that time the Dānavas, holding bows, great car-warrious as they were, shone there like mountains covered with forests; their very sight created terror in all (51-56).
183. The Earth goes to Brahma: Markandeya explans how Brahmā, Vishnu, Siva are one
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—When the three eyes (of Siva) were burning all the worlds were covered with darkness: and Nandi, Rudra and his car were not visible (1).
Then Rudra, burning in double effulgence on account of his anger and strength, took up his arrow having sharpened darts on four sides with which he had killed Tripura.
When the three eyed deity took up that arrow, set it to his bow and was about to discharge it the high-souled Vāsudeva, cognizant of the minds of all, came to know of it.
Thereupon the quick-handed and highly powerful Purusottama took up his weapon Jrimbhana (yawning) and made with it Hara yawn.
With that arrow the Divine Hara, the conqueror of Asuras and Rakshasas, was stupified together with his bow and arrows and lost consciousness.
Having stupified with his weapon his own self in the shape of Rudra together with his bow and arrows the highly powerful Krishna, identical with all, blew his conch-shell.
Seeing Shankara stupified and hearing the blare of his conch-shell Pānchajanya and the twang of of his bow Shrānga all the creatures were filled with fear.
In the meantime Rudra's followers arrived at the battlefield and resorting to an illusory fight attacked Pradyumna.
The highly powerful and energetic Makaraketana however made them all asleep and with his arrows began to kill the Dānavas who had in numerable Pramathas amongst them (2–10).
While Rudra, of unwearied actions, yawned a flame came out of his mouth and consumed the ten quarters. At that time assailed by those powerful armies the goddess Earth, trembling, approched the great Brahmā and said
“O thou of large arms, O great god, I have been assailed with great energies. I have been so much loaded with the weight of Rudra and Kesheva that I will again be reduced to one all-extending ocean.
O grand-father, do you think of this unbearable burden of mine. Do thou find out some means, by which released of my burden I may uphold the mobile and immobile creations” (11-15).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Hearing it the grand-father said to the daughter of Kashyapa:-" Sustain yourself for a moment and you will be released of your burden.” Thereupon the Lord Brahmā said to Rudra:—
“Thou didst find out the means of slaying this great Asura: why dost thou then wish to protect him? O thou of large arms, I do not like that thou shouldst engage in an encounter with Krishna. Dost thou not know that Krishna is thy second body.”
Hearing the words of Brahmā the eternal Lord, having three eyes, concentrated his mind on the Brahman (soul) within him and saw the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile creations.
Beholding himself stupified along with his bow and arrow the great Yogin Bhava, by virtue of his mental concentration, thought of the boon he had conferred and of what he had said at Dwārakā: he therefore made no reply.
Seeing him in Krishna and them both in one (Brahman) he was pacified and left the battle-field. Rudra said to Brahmā :—
“O lord, I will not fight any more. By this encounter of Krishna and Vāna the earth will be relieved of her burden” (16–21).
Thereupon with great pleasure Krishna and Rudra retired from the battle-field and embraced one another (22).
When those two great Yogins were united no body could see them. Having brought out the reconciliation between Hara and Hari and himself only seeing them Brahmā, the creator of all, said to the Rishis Nārada and Mārkandeya who were by his side and who had questioned that far-sighted deity:-
"In a dream in the night I saw Bhava and Keshava in the lake near the mount Mandāra (22–25).
Here I saw Hara in Hari's form and Hari in Hara's. Hara had conch-shell, discus and club in his hands, was clad in a yellow raiment and rode Garuda.
Hari had trident and Pattica in his hand, was clad in a tiger-skin and rode a bull. Seeing that highly wonderful scene I am filled with surprise. O Mārkendeya, do thou describe unto me the truth” (26–28).
MĀRKANDEYA said:—Shiva is identical with Vishnu and Vishnu is identical with Shiva. I do not see any difference. They are both auspicious, without beginning, middle or end, eternal and undecaying. Hear I will describe that form identical with Hari and Hara (29–30).
He is Vishnu who is Rudra; and he is Rudra who is Brahmā. Brahmā, Vishnu and Rudra are one and of the same form. Three of them are great ascetics, Lords of half-females, self-sprung, givers of boons and masters of the universe.
As water is mixed with water when it is thrown into it so Vishnu becomes at one with Rudra, when he enters into him. As fire becomes fire when it is mixed with it so Rudra becomes identical with Vishnu when he enters into him.
Rudra is identical with fire and Vishnu is identical with the moon. This universe, consisting of mobile and immobile creations, is identical with the protector of what is mobile and immobile in this universe.
And Maheswara is their destroyer. The Lord Nārāyaṇa, identical with past, present and future and Maheswara are the primary causes of Hiranyagarbha and the great principles.
They both are the givers of the Vedas. They are the creator and the protector of the universe. They send down rain in the shape of Indra and spread rays in the shape of the sun.
They blow in the shape of the wind and create all. Thus O Grand-father, I have described to you the great secret. The man, who daily reads or hears this account, attains to that most excellent region created by the power of Vishnu and Rudra (29–39).
With Brahmā, Hari and Hara are the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of the universe. I will now chant their glories. Vishnu is adorable unto Rudra, and Rudra is adorable unto Vishnu. They are one, still they range in the world under two forms.
Vishnu is not different from Shankara and Shankara is not different from Vishnu. Therefore formerly Rudra and Upendra be came one. Salutation unto Rudra and Krishna of one united body (40-42).
Salutation unto the three-eyed deity, salutation unto the two-eyed deity, salutation unto coppery-eyed (Kumara) and lotus-eyed (Pradyumna) (43).
Salutation unto the holder of the tearth, of the holder of peacock-feathers and of Keyura. Salutation unto him adorned with a garland of skulls, him adorned with a garland of wild flowers, him the holder of trident and him the holder of discus, unto the standard of gold and Brahmā (44–46).
Salutation unto him clad in skin and salutation unto him clad in a yellow raiment. Salutation unto the Lord of Lakshmi and unto the Lord of Umā (47).
Salutation unto the holder of trident and unto him of mace. Salutation unto him whose body is covered with ashes and unto him who is dark-blue hued.
Salutation unto him who lives in the cremation ground and unto him who lives in an Ashrama. Salutation unto the rider of a bull and unto the rider of Garuda.
Salutation unto him who has more than one form, unto him who has many forms, unto the Lord of destruction and unto him who lies on the ocean. Salutation unto him who has many forms and unto him who is Bhairava (49–50).
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Sunday, June 20, 2021
Pradyumna
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
