A Prose English Translation Of Vishnupuranam - free ebook by Manmatha Nath Dutt

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A Prose English Translation Of Vishnupuranam

Manmatha Nath Dutt

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125 chapters

PREFACE.

PREFACE.

That Purāna in which Parāsara, beginning with the events of Varāha Kalpa, expounds all duties, is called Vaishnava and is said to consist of twenty-three thousand stanzas. But the actual number of verses falls far short of the enumeration of the Matsya and the Bhagavata. Vishnu Purānam consists of all the characteristics of the Purāna, namely, five specified topics and has been divided into six books. In this translation of Vishnupurānam I have principally drawn upon Professor H. H. Wilson's spl

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SECTION I.

SECTION I.

Parāçara said:—"I bow unto Him that is holy and eternal—the supreme Soul who is ever uniform,—even Vishnu, the Lord of all. I bow unto Hiranyagarbha, unto Hara and Sankara, unto Vasudeva the saviour, even him who bringeth about creation, maintenance and destruction to everything. I bow unto him that is uniform yet hath a multiplicity of forms; who is both subtle and gross;—who is manifested and unmanifested; unto Vishnu, the cause of salvation. I bow unto Vishnu, the supreme Soul, who pervadeth

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SECTION II.

SECTION II.

Maitreya said:—"How can Brahmā, who is devoid of quality and confineless and pure and unblamed of soul, possibly engage in creation, etc. ?" Thereat Parāçara said,—"As the powers of many an object are incomprehensible and incapable of being construed to sense, the powers of creation etc. , possessed by Brahmā, like the heat of fire, are also so. O foremost of ascetics, hearken how the Professor of the eight kinds of wealth becomes engaged in creation. O wise one, in consequence of the eternal re

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SECTION III.

SECTION III.

Maitreya said:—"O mighty ascetic, relate unto me how the reverend Brahmā whose name is Nārāyana, created all beings at the commencement of the Kalpa". (Thereat) Parāçara said,—"Hear as to how that god, the lord of Prajāpati, [49] the reverend Brahmā instinct with Nārāyana, created beings. On the expiration of the past Kalpa, that Master, Brahmā, surcharged with the energy of righteousness, awaking from his slumbers, saw the universe—void of all. And the supreme, incomprehensible Nārāyana—the lor

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SECTION IV.

SECTION IV.

Maitreya said:—"O twice-born one, tell thou me truly how the Deity created celestials, and saints, and Pitris, [62] Dānavas, and men, and beasts, and trees, and those inhabiting land and water and air; as well as concerning (the respective) qualities and characters and natures (of the creatures) dwelling in Earth,—which Brahmā had created at the commencement of creation". Thereat Parāçara said—"O Maitreya, listen thou heedfully! I shall tell thee how the Lord God created all,—deities and the res

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SECTION V.

SECTION V.

Maitreya said,—"Thou hast called man by the term Arvvāksrotas . But O Brāhmana, tell me at length how Brahmā created him. And tell me also how he created the orders,—and, O mighty ascetic, of their qualities; and the offices assigned to Vipras and the rest". Parāçara said,—"O foremost of twice-born ones, Brahmā of true intents was inspired with the desire of creating the kosmos from his mouth, O foremost of twice-born ones, came out creatures surcharged with the principle of goodness; and from t

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SECTION VI.

SECTION VI.

Parāçara said—"Then came forth unto him the mind-sprung beings, embodying causes and consequences arising from his own person. And out of the body of that intelligent one came out the souls. And thus were generated all those mobile and immobile objects beginning with the deities and concluding with the immovable,—which are established in the three several spheres, [122] —and of which I have told thee before. And when these beings of that intelligent one did not multiply, then he created other mi

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SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.

Parāçara said,—"O mighty ascetic, I have narrated unto thee the creation of Brahmā connected with the principle of dullness. Now I shall unfold unto thee the creation called Rudra. Do thou hearken as I proceed! At the outset of a Kalpa, as the Lord was rapt in thoughts about a son resembling himself, on his lap appeared one hued red-blue. And, O best of regenerate persons, crying in sweet tones, he went about. And as he was crying, Brahmā asked him,—'Why dost thou weep?' And thereon, he said unt

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SECTION VIII.

SECTION VIII.

Parāçara said:—"O Maitreya, listen to what I say anent thy question about Sri, as I had heard from Marichi. That Emanation of Sankara—Durvasa—was ranging this Earth. And it came to pass that the sage saw in the hand of a Vidyadhari a celestial garland,—perfumed by which, O Brahmana, that entire forest of Santanakas [201] had become surpassingly charming to the rangers of woods. And it came to pass that on seeing that graceful garland, that mad Vipra practising the vows, asked for the same of tha

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SECTION IX.

SECTION IX.

Maitreya said,—"O great sage, thou hast related unto me all I had asked thee for. Do thou now give me again an account of the family of Bhrigu from Bhrigu downwards". Parāçara said,—"Lakshmi was born of Bhrigu and Kyāti and became the spouse of Vishnu. And two more sons were born of Bhrigu and Kyāti namely Dhātā and Bidhātā. Two daughters, by name Ayati and Niyati were born of the high-souled Meru. And Dhāta and Bidhātā took them as their wives. They gave birth to two sons named Prāna and Mirkan

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SECTION X.

SECTION X.

Parāçara said:—I mentioned unto you that the Menu Swāyambhava had two heroic and pious sons Priyavrata and and Uttanpada. O these two, O Brahman, Uttanpada, had, by his favourite wife Suruchi, a son, Uttama, whom he dearly loved. O twice-born one, the king had another queen by name Suniti, to whom he was less attached. By her he had another son Dhruva. Beholding his brother Uttama on the lap of his father as he was seated upon his throne, Dhruva was desirous of ascending to the same place. But a

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SECTION XI.

SECTION XI.

Parāçara said:—O Maitreya, hearing these words from beginning to end, that Prince, saluting these sages, issued out of that thicket. And confiding in the accomplishment of his object, O twice-born one, he repaired to the holy place on the banks of the Yamuna called Madhuvana, or the grove of Madhu, called after the name of a demon of that name who resided there and was known thus on the earth. Slaying the highly powerful son of the Rakshasa, Madhu—Lavana, Satrughna (the youngest son of Daçaratha

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SECTION XII.

SECTION XII.

Parāçara said,—By Dhruva the abode of all blessings, his spouse Shambhu gave birth to two sons, Shisti and Vabya. Suchaya, the wife of Sishti gave birth to five sons, freed from sin, by name, Ripu, Ripunjaya, Sipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. Of these Ripu begat upon Vrihatee a highly effulgent son named Chakshusa, who again begot the Manu Chakshusa on Pushkarini of the race of Varuna, who was the daughter of the high-souled patriarch Aranya. O great sage, the patriarch Vairaja had a daughter name

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SECTION XIII.

SECTION XIII.

From Prithu were born two highly powerful sons named Antardhāna and Pāli. And Antardhāna begot on Shiknandini a son named Habirdhāna. And Habirdhāna again begot on Dhishana six sons—named, Prāchinberhis, Sukra, Gaya, Krishna, Braja and Ajina. Prāchinverhis was a mighty prince and patriarch by whom mankind was multiplied after the death of Havirdhāna. He was called Prāchinverhis on account of his placing upon the earth (at the time of his prayer) the sacred grass pointing to the east. After a pro

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SECTION XIV.

SECTION XIV.

Parāçara said,—When the Prachetas were thus engaged in devout exercises the earth was covered with huge trees and the subjects suffered decease. The welkin being obstructed with the branches of trees, the wind did not blow for ten thousand years and the mankind did not labour. And when the Prachetas came out of the water they were greatly inflamed with ire beholding the earth, and wind and flame issued out of their mouths. The wind uprooted all the trees and left them sear and dry and the fierce

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SECTION XV.

SECTION XV.

Maitreya said—"O great ascetic, you have described to me the human races and the ever-existing Vishnu, the cause of the world; but who was this Prahlāda the foremost of the Daityas of whom you spoke and whom fire could not burn, and who did not die even when assailed by weapons. And Prahlāda being present in the waters, in bonds, earth trembled, agitated by his movements. And he did not die before albeit overwhelmed with rocks. Thou hast related the unlimited glory of that intelligent Prahlāda.

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SECTION XVI.

SECTION XVI.

Parāçara said:—Maitreya, hear the interesting story of the wise, high-souled and magnanimous Prahlāda. In the days of yore the three worlds were brought into subjection by the valiant son of Diti—Hiranyakashipu, proud of the boon conferred on him by Brahmā. That Daitya had usurped the sovereignty of Indra and exercised the functions of the sun of air, of the lord of waters, of fire and of the moon. He himself became the lord of riches and Yama; and that Asura appropriated to himself, without res

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SECTION XVII.

SECTION XVII.

Parāçara said:—Having observed the conduct of Prahlāda, the Dānavas, out of fear, reported it to the king. Hiranyakashipu sent for his cooks and said "O cooks—my vile and wicked son is teaching others his impious doctrines. Do ye slay him without his knowledge by mixing up deadly poison with all his viands. Do not hesitate to destroy that wretch". Parāçara said:—Thereupon they offered poison to the high-souled Prahlāda as they were commanded by his sire. O Maitreya, repeating the name of the imp

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SECTION XVIII.

SECTION XVIII.

Parāçara said:—When Hiranyakashipu had heard that the magical charms (of the priests) had been baffled he sent for his son and asked him of the secret of his prowess,—"Prahlāda, thou art gifted with extraordinary prowess—is it the result of your self-exercise or the outcome of magical powers or thou art, from birth, gifted with it?" Being thus interrogated by his father the Asura boy Prahlāda bowed down to his father's feet and said,—"This not the outcome of magical powers, O father—nor is it na

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SECTION XIX.

SECTION XIX.

Parāçara said:—O twice-born! Thus meditating upon Vishnu as identical with himself he attained to that unification, which is desired by all and regarded him as the undecaying divinity. He forgot his individuality and was not conscious of anything. And he thought that he himself was the endless, undecaying supreme soul. And on account of this efficient notion of identity, the undecaying Vishnu, whose essence is wisdom, appeared in his mind which was wholly purified from sin. When the Asura Prahlā

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SECTION XX.

SECTION XX.

Parāçara said:—The sons of Sanglhada were Ayushman Sivi and Vashkala. The son of Prahlāda was named Virochana, whose son was Vali who had a hundred sons of whom Vāna was the eldest, O great Muni. All the sons of Hiranyaksha were also gifted with great prowess—Jharjhara, Sakuni, Bhutasantāpana, Mahānābha, Mahābāhu and Kālanābhan. [230] Dahu had many sons—Dwimurddha, Sankara, Ayomukha, Sankusiras, Kapila, Samvara, Ekachakra, Mahābāhu, the mighty Tāraka, Swarbhānu, Vrishaparvan, Pulomon and the mig

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SECTION XXI.

SECTION XXI.

The offsprings of Surasā were a thousand powerful many-headed serpents coursing the welkin. Kadru had also a thousand powerful sons of unmitigated prowess—all subject to Garuda and many-headed. The most celebrated amongst them were, Sesha, Vāsuki, Takshaka, Sankha, Sweta, Mahāpadma, Kumbala, Aswatara, Elapatra, Nāga, Karkkota, Dhananyaya, and many other deadly and poisonous serpents. Krodas gave birth to highly powerful monsters and Suravi gave birth to cows and buffaloes. Irā was the mother of

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SECTION XXII.

SECTION XXII.

Maitreya said:—"O venerable Sir, O preceptor, you have fully described unto me all that I asked you regarding the creation of the universe. But there is a portion of this subject, O foremost of ascetics, which I desire to hear again. Pryavrata and Uttanapada were the two sons of Swayambhuva Manu and you related to me the story of Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada. But, O twice-born one, you did not mention the progeny of Pryavrata and I wish to hear from you an account of his family". Parāçara said:

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SECTION I.

SECTION I.

Maitreya said:—"O Brāhmana, you have related to me the progeny of Swayartbhuva. I wish to hear from you an account of the earth. It behoveth thee, O Muni to relate to how many oceans there are, how many islands, how many kingdoms, how many mountains, forests, rivers, cities of the gods's; its size, its contents, its nature and its form". Parāçara said:—Do thou hear from me, O Maitreya, a brief account: I cannot give you a detailed account even in a century. O twice-born one, the earth consists o

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SECTION II.

SECTION II.

O great Muni, in the eight countries of Kimpurusha and others there is neither grief, exhaustion, anxiety nor hunger. All the subjects are healthy devoid of any fear, freed from all afflictions and live for ten or twelve thousand years. Indra does not send rain there and people live upon the water of the earth and there is no distinction of Satya, Treta and other successive cycles. In each of these countries there are seven principal mountainous ranges from which hundreds of river take their ris

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SECTION III.

SECTION III.

Parāçara said:—As Jambu-dwipa is encircled all around by the ocean of salt water like a bracelet, so that ocean is also girt by the insular continent Plaksha. The extent of Jambu-dwipa is a hundred thousand yojanas and it is said, O Brahman, that the extent of Plaksha-dwipa is twice as much. Medhatiti, the king of Plaksha-dwipa, had seven sons, Santabhaya, Sisira, Sukhodhaya, Ananda, Siva, Kshemaka and Dhruva. And all these seven became kings of Plaksha-dwipa. The seven divisions were named afte

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SECTION IV.

SECTION IV.

Beyond the sea of fresh water, there is the land of gold which is twice its extent where no living beings dwell. Beyond that is the mountain Lokaloka which is a ten thousand yojanas in height and as many in breadth. The other side of the mountain is enshrouded with perpetual darkness which again is encircled by the shell of egg. Such, O Maitreya, is the earth with all its continents, mountains and oceans and exterior shell. The extent of the earth is five hundred millions. It is the mother and n

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SECTION V.

SECTION V.

Parāçara said:—O Brahman, there are some hells below the earth and the waters into which sinners fall. I shall give you an account, O great Muni. The names of the various hells are: Raurava, Sukara, Rodha, Tala, Visāsana, Mahajwala, Taptakumbha, Lavana, Vimohana, Rudhirāndha, Vaitarani, Krimishā, Krimibhojana, Asipatravana, Krishna, Lalābhaksha, Daruna, Puyavāha, Pāpa, Vahnijwala, Adhosiras, Sandansa, Kālasutra, Tamas, Avichi, Swabhojana, Apratishtha, and another Avichi. These are the dreadful h

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SECTION VI.

SECTION VI.

Maitreya said:—The entire earth has been described to me by you. O Brahman, I wish to hear now, O Muni, an account of the regions above the world, the Bhuvar-loka, the situation and dimension of the heavenly bodies. Do you relate them to me, O great sage. Parāçara said—The terrestrial sphere (or Bhurloka) comprising the oceans, rivers and mountains extends as far as it is illuminated by the rays of the sun and the moon. The atmospheric sphere (or the Bhuvar-loka), of the same extent both in diam

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SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.

Parāçara said:—I have described to you the system of the universe in general: I shall now describe the situations and dimensions of the sun and other luminaries. O foremost of Munis, the chariot of the sun is nine thousand leagues in length and the pole is of twice that size; the axle is more than fifteen millions and seven hundred thousand yojanas long, on which a wheel is placed with three naves, [238] five spokes and six peripheries. It is undecaying and continues for the year and consequentl

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SECTION VIII.

SECTION VIII.

Fifteen Nimeshas (twinkling of the eye) make a Kāshthā; thirty Kāshthās make one Kalā; thirty Kalās a Muhurtta and thirty Muhurttas a day and night; the divisions of the day become longer or shorter in the way explained before. But as regards increase or decrease Sandhyā is always the same for it is only one Muhurtta. From the time when half of the sun's orb is visible to the expiration of three Muhurttas the interval is called Prātar (morning) forming a fifth portion of the day. The next portio

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SECTION IX.

SECTION IX.

Parāçara said:—Between the extreme northern and southern points the sun has to travel in a year one hundred and eighty degrees, ascending and descending. His car is guided by divine Adityas, Rishis, Gandharvas, Apsarās, Yakshas, serpents, and Rākshasas. The Aditya Dhatri, the sage Pulastya, the Gandharva Tumburu, the nymph Kratusthalā, the Yaksha Rathakrit, the serpent Vāsuki and the Rākshasas Heti, live in the sun's car as its seven guardians, in the month of Madhu or Chaitra. In the month of V

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SECTION X.

SECTION X.

Maitreya said:—I have heard as described by you, O holy preceptor, the seven groups of beings who are present in the sun's orb and are the agents in the distribution of heat and cold. You have also described the individual functions of the Gandharvas, serpents, Rākshasas, sages, Bālakhilyas Apswarās and Yakshas who, supported by the energy of Vishnu, remain as guardians in the sun's car but you have not described the function of the sun himself. If the seven beings stationed in the sun's ear are

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SECTION XI.

SECTION XI.

Parāçara said—The car of the moon has three wheels and is drawn by ten steeds white as the Jasmine—five on the right half and five on the left. The asterisms upheld by Dhruva move before the sun. And the cords that fasten the moon are tightened or relaxed in the same manner like those of the sun. O foremost of Munis, like the steeds of the sun, the horses of the moon, sprung from the waters, drag its car for a whole Kalpa. O Maitreya, when the moon is reduced, having its rays drunk up by the cel

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SECTION XII.

SECTION XII.

Maitreya said:—"O respected Sir, all that I ask of you, has been perfectly related by you, namely the situation of the earth, seas, mountains, rivers, and planets, the system of the three worlds of which Vishnu is the support; you have also related that the holy knowledge is pre-eminent. You said that you would relate the story of Bharata, the lord of the earth: it becomes you now to relate that. Bharata, the protector of the earth, lived at the holy pilgrimage of Sālagrām. And he was engaged in

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SECTION XIII.

SECTION XIII.

The king said:—"That virtue and vice are the causes of all actions and that people migrate into various bodies for receiving their consequences, there is not the least doubt about it; but as regards what you have said that it is not possible for you to say who you are, it is a matter which I wish to have explained. O Brahman, how cannot a man declare himself to be that which he (really) is: there can be no harm to one's self from applying to it the word 'I'". The Brahmana said:—"To use the word

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SECTION XIV.

SECTION XIV.

Parāçara said—Having heard those words the king became speechless and engaged in meditation and the Brahmin told a tale illustrating the principles of unity. The Brahmin said—"Hear O great king what in the days of yore Ribhu said for the instruction of illustrious Nidagka. The great patriarch Brahmā had a son by Ribhu, who was by nature, O king, conversant with true wisdom. A son of Pulastya by name Nidagha became his disciple and (Ribhu) greatly delighted gave him various instructions. O lord o

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SECTION XV.

SECTION XV.

"Ribhu said:—‘O twice-born one, he, who has got appetite, is pleased with his meals. I have got no appetite and hence have got no satisfaction: why do you question me in vain? Hunger is created, when by fire the earthly element is dried; and thirst is produced when the moisture of the body is absorbed by internal heat. These are the the functions of the body, O twice-born one, not mine—I am satisfied with that by which they are removed. And pleasure and contentment are the faculties of the mind,

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SECTION XVI.

SECTION XVI.

"Ribhu having said this, Nidagha speedily got down and falling at his feet said, 'Sure thou art my saintly preceptor Ribhu. The mind of no other person is so much acquainted with the principles of unity as that of the mind of my preceptor. Therefore I know that thou art he'. "Ribhu said:—'O Nidagha, I am your preceptor Ribhu. Pleased with the attention which you had shown to me before, I have come here to give you instructions O you gifted with a high mind. I have briefly described to you the di

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SECTION I.

SECTION I.

O twice-born one, the Manu, who reigns in the present period is the wise and illustrious lord of obsequies the offspring of the sun. The celestials are the Adityas, Vasus and Rudras. Their king is Purandara. Vasishtha, Kasyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Viswamitra and Bharadwaja are the seven Rishis. And the nine pious sons of Vaivaswata Manu are the kings Ikshawku, Nabhaga, Dhrista, Sanyati, Narishyanta, Nabhanidishta, Karusha, Prishadhra and the well known Vasumat. The incomparable energy of V

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SECTION II.

SECTION II.

In the thirteenth period Rauchya will be the Manu. The gods will be the Sudhmanas, Sudharmans and Sukarmans each consisting of thirty-three. Their king will be Divaspati. The Rishis will be Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutpas. The sons of the Manu will be Chitrasena, Vichitra, and others who will be the kings of the earth. At the fourteenth period Bhautya will be the Manu and Suchi will be the king of the celestials who will be the Chakshushas, Pavitras,

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SECTION III.

SECTION III.

Parāçara said:—The original Veda, divided into four branches, consists of one hundred thousand Stanzas and from it originated sacrifice of ten kinds—the fulfiller of all desires. In the twenty-eighth Dwāpara era, my son Vyāsa divided the Veda into four branches. As the Veda was divided by the intelligent Veda-Vyāsa, to it was divided at various other periods by myself and other Vyāsas. In this way, O foremost of twice-born ones, the Veda is divided into various branches and the people of the fou

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SECTION IV.

SECTION IV.

Parāçara said:—The high-minded disciple of Vyāsa, Vaisampayana made out twenty-seven branches of the tree of Yajur-Veda and gave them to as many disciples, of whom Yajnawalka, the son of Brahmarata was famous for piety and obedience to his preceptor. Formerly at one time the Munis had entered into a covenant that any one of them, who at a certain time, did not join a council held on mount Meru, should perpetrate the crime of Brahminicide within a period of seven nights. Vaisampayana alone was no

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SECTION V.

SECTION V.

Parāçara said:—Hear O Maitreya, how Jaimini, the pupil of Vyāsa, divided the branches of Sama-Veda. The son of Jarmini was Sumanta whose son was Sukarman. They both studied the same Sanhita under Jaimini. The latter composed Sahasra Sanhita which he gave to his two pupils named Hiranyanabha, otherwise named Kausalya and Paushyinji. Fifteen pupils of the latter composed as many Sanhitas and they were called the northern chanters of Sāman. Hiranyanabha had as many disciples who were called the eas

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SECTION VI.

SECTION VI.

Maitreya said:—O twice-born one, you have related to me what I have asked of you. I wish to hear one thing more from you: Relate that to me. O great Muni, this egg of Brahmā, consisting seven zones, seven subterrestial regions, and seven spheres, abounds in living creatures, large or small, smaller and smallest, larger and largest. And there is not the eighth part of an inch where they do not dwell; And all these are bound by chains of acts and at the end of existence are subject to the power of

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SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.

Parāçara said:—O Muni I have thus described to you what you desired me to say and what was related by the sort of Vivaswat. What else do you wish to hear? Maitreya said:—O reverend sir, tell me how should they worship the glorious Vishnu, the lord of the earth, who desire to get at the other end of the ocean of the world. I wish to hear from you, O great Muni, what fruits can be be obtained by worshipping the glorious Vishnu. Parāçara said:—The question you have put to me, was put to Aurva by th

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SECTION VIII.

SECTION VIII.

Aurva said:—"O king, when a youth is invested with the sacred thread, he must reside in the house of his preceptor and study the Vedas with a concentrated mind, and leading a life of continence. He must, with pure practices, wait upon his spiritual preceptor and with the performance of religious rites acquire the Veda. He must, O king, with concentration, worship both in the morning and evening, the fire and the sun and after that he must bow to his spiritual guide. O King, he must stand when hi

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SECTION IX.

SECTION IX.

Sagara said:—"O foremost of twice-born ones, you have described to me the duties of the four orders and four castes. I wish to hear from you the religious observances of men. Methinks you know every thing, O foremost of Vrigus, tell me all about these observances, either invariable, occasional or voluntary". Whereto Aurva replied, "I shall describe to you all you have asked, the invariable and occasional ceremonies of men: do you hear, O king. "As soon as a son is born his father should perform

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SECTION X.

SECTION X.

Sagara said—"O Muni, I wish to hear from you of such religious observances, performing which a householder does not meet with the wane of piety either in this world or in the next". Aurva said—"Hear, O lord of earth, an account of all those religious observances celebrating which a man conquers both this and the next world. The term sat means Sādhu ; and they are called Sādhus or saints who are freed from all blemishes. And their practices are called Sāddhachāras. O lord of earth, the seven Rish

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SECTION XI.

SECTION XI.

"He must not eat with his face directed to my intermediate point of horizon, but facing the east or the north; and with a smiling countenance, happy and attentive, let him take good and wholesome food boiled with clean water, procured from no mean person, nor by improper means nor improperly cooked. Having given a part to his hungry companions he should take food without reproach from a clean, handsome vessels which must not be placed upon a low stool or bed. He must not take his food in an unbe

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SECTION XII.

SECTION XII.

Alurva said:—"A father, without changing his cloth, should bathe when a son is born; he should then go through the ceremonies consequent upon the birth and perform the Srāddha which should always be celebrated upon occasions of prosperity. With a composed mind and thinking on nothing else, he should worship both the celestials and the manes and reverentially go round keeping Brāhmans on his left hand and offer them food. And standing with his face directed to the east, he should, with the portio

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SECTION XIII.

SECTION XIII.

Aurva said:—"When a man celebrates reverentially the Srāddha of his ancestors, Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, two Aswinis, the sun, fire, Vasus, Maruts, Viçwadevas, Rishis, birds, men, beasts, reptiles, manes and all other creatures, become propitiated. This should be performed, O king, every month, on the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight, or the eighth day of the same period in some months or at particular seasons. Hear, I shall now explain them. A householder should celebrate it when he will find al

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SECTION XIV.

SECTION XIV.

Aurva said:—"Hear, O king, what description of Brahman should be fed at ancestral ceremonies. He must be Trinachiketa, Trimadhu and Trisuparna; [246] or one who is versed in the six supplementary sciences of the Vedas; one who is well acquainted with the Vedas; one who practises the duties laid down in the Vedas, [247] one who is yogi , [248] one who is Jestha Sāmaga ; [249] an officiating priest, a sister's son, a daughter's son, a son-in-law, a father-in-law, a maternal uncle, an ascetic, a Br

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SECTION XV.

SECTION XV.

Aurva said—"Ancestors are gratified for a month with Havishya, [251] fish, or the flesh of the hare, of birds, of the the goat, the antelope, the deer, the gayal, or the sheep, or with the milk of the cow [252] and various preparations thereupon, They are perpetually pleased with flesh in general and with that of the long-eared white goat in particular, The flesh of the rhinoceros, the Kālasāka, potherb and honey, give special satisfaction to those who are adored at the obsequial ceremonies. Ble

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SECTION XVI.

SECTION XVI.

Parāçara said:—In the days of yore the glorious Aurva, when accosted by the illustrious king Sagara, said thus regarding the usages to be practised by mankind. I have described to you all those observances which no one should violate. Maitreya said:—"O venerable Sir, I know all those who are called Sanda, [253] Apabidha [254] and Udakee [255] but I wish to know who is called Nagna; doing what he is called so, and what is the character of such a person to whom you have referred". Parāçara said:—T

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SECTION XVII.

SECTION XVII.

Parāçara said:—Maitreya, having proceeded to the Daityas the illusory form beheld them engaged in austere penances on the banks of the river Nerbudā. And approaching them in the guise of a naked mendicant, with his head shaven and carrying a bunch of peacock's feathers he addressed them gently "O lords of Daitya race—why do you practice these devout penances? Do you expect rewards in this world or in the next?" The Asuras said:—"O thou of great mind, we have been engaged in these penances with a

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SECTION XVIII.

SECTION XVIII.

Parāçara said:—Being thus reminded the king called to his memory his former condition and was wrapt in meditation and felt humiliation. With a broken heart he went away from the city and falling dead in a desert he was again born as a jackal. In the following year the princess, again by knowledge, perceived that he was born as a jackal and went to the mount Kotahala to find him out. Finding him there the beautiful daughter of the king thus spoke to her lord as a jackal—"O king, dost thou not rem

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SECTION I.

SECTION I.

Parāçara said:—Being thus advised by the deity springing from lotus, the king returned to earth and beheld mankind, greatly reduced in size and vigour and weakened in intellect. Thereupon that king, having incomparable wisdom, repairing to his own city Kusathali which he saw greatly changed, gave his daughter to Baladeva whose breast was as fair and radiant as crystal. And beholding that damsel of excessive height the king, whose banner is a palm tree, shortened her with the end of his ploughsha

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SECTION II.

SECTION II.

Accordingly a child was conceived in the belly of Yuvanāswa; it grew and in proper time it ripped open the right side of the king and was born. But the king did not die. The son being born the Rishis said—"Who will be its nurse". There appeared the king of the celestials and said "He shall have me for his nurse (mamayan dhāsyati)". He was thence called Māndhāta. Indra put his fore-finger into the mouth of the infant, who sucked it and drew it from heavenly nectar. And he grew up and became a pow

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SECTION III.

SECTION III.

Parāçara said:—Sagara had two wives Sumati, the daughter of Kasyapa and Kesini, the daughter of king Viderbha. Having no offspring the king earnestly solicited the help of the sage Aurva who conferred upon him a boon that one wife should bear him a son who would keep up the race and the other sixty thousand sons; but he allowed them to make their election. Kesini chose to have one son and the other chose to have sixty thousand. Within a few days Kesini gave birth to a son named Asamanjas who uph

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SECTION IV.

SECTION IV.

After the expiration of twelve years when he was freed of the curse, he, being desirous of dallying with his wife, thought of Madayanti who reminded him of the curse of Brahmani. He, therefore, abstained from conjugal intercourse. Being childless he solicited the help of Vasishtha and Madayanti became pregnant. The child was not born for seven years, and the queen divided the womb with a sharp stone and a son was born who was named Asmaka. The son of Asmaka was Mulaka. When the Kshatriyas were r

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SECTION V.

SECTION V.

Maitreya said:—"O revered sir, you have described to me the solar dynasty but I wish to hear now of the kings of the lunar dynasty, who are still well-known for their glorious deeds. It behoves you to relate it gladly to me". Parāçara said:—O foremost of Munis, hear from me, a description of the illustrious family of the moon which has produced many well-known kings of the earth. This family is adorned with many kings gifted with regal qualities of strength, valour, magnificence, prudence and en

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SECTION VI.

SECTION VI.

After the expiration of a year the king again came to that place and Urvasi gave him a son by the name of Ayus. Living with him for one night she again became pregnant to bear to him five sons. She then said to the king—"O king all the Gandharvas, on account of their regard for me, are ready to confer upon thee a boon. Do thou pray for it". The king said—"I have slain all my enemies—my faculties are all very powerful; I have friends, relations, armies and treasures; so there is nothing which I w

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SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.

Ayus, the eldest son of Pururavas, married the daughter of Rahu upon whom he begot five sons, Nahusha, Kshatravridha, Rambha, Raji and Anenas. The son of Kshatravridha was Suhotra, who had three sons, Kash, Lesa, and Ghritsamanda. The son of Ghritsamnada was Saunaka who first instituted the distinction of the four castes. The son of Kasa was Kasiraja, whose son was Dirghatama, whose son was Dhanwantari, who was not subject to human infirmities and who had been master of universal knowledge in ev

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SECTION VIII.

SECTION VIII.

Raji had five hundred sons who were all gifted with great power and heroism. Once on a time there arose a conflict between the gods and the demons, and they, all desirous of slaying the other party, inquired of Brahmā, saying "O glorious god, which of the parties shall be victorious?" The deity said—"that for which Raji shall take up arms". The Daityas immediately went to Raji to secure his help, which he agreed to give if they would make him their king after defeating the celestials. Hearing th

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SECTION IX.

SECTION IX.

Nahusha had six brave sons namely, Yati, Yayati, Sanyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. Yati declined the throne and therefore Yayati succeeded. He had two wives; Devayani, the daughter of Usanasj and Sarmishthā, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. His genealogy is thus recited—"Devayani gave birth to two sons, Yadu and Tarvasu. Sarmishthā, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, gave birth to three sons, Druhya, Anu and Puru. Owing to a curse of Usanas Yayati became untimely old and decripit. Having propitiated his

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SECTION X.

SECTION X.

Parāçara said:—I will first enumerate to you the descendants of Yadu, the eldest son of Yayati—one of whom an incarnate portion of Vishnu—of whom glory cannot be described though chanted for ever to confer the fruit of their desires—whether for virtue, wealth, pleasure or final emancipation—upon all created beings, upon men, saints, Gandharvas, spirits of evil, nymphs, centaurs, serpents, birds, demons, sages, Brahmanas and ascetics. Whoever shall hear of the descendants of Yadu shall be freed f

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SECTION XI.

SECTION XI.

Parāçara said—Kroshtri, the son of Yadu, had a son named Vrijinvat, whose son was Suchi, whose son was Kushadra, whose son was Chitraratha, whose son was Sasavindu, who was the master of the fourteen great gems. He had a hundred thousand wives and a million of sons. The most famous of them were Pryihuyasas, Prithuharman, Prithujaya, Prithukirtti, Prithudaha and Prithusravas. The son of the last of these was Tamas, whose son was Usanas who performed a hundred horse sacrifices. His son was Siteyus

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SECTION XII.

SECTION XII.

Parāçara said—The sons of Satwata were Bhajina Bhajamāna, Divya, Andhaka, Devavriddha, Mahābhoja and Vrishni. Bhajamāna had three sons, Nimi, Krikana, and Vrishni by one wife and as many by another, Satajit, Sahasrajit and Ayutajit. The son of Devavridha was Babhru of whom this verse is recited—"We hear, when we are at a distance and we see when we are near that Babhru is the foremost of men and Devavriddha is equal to the celestials: sixty six persons who were the disciples of one and six thous

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SECTION XIII.

SECTION XIII.

Being thus excited by his brother, Balarāma engaged in the work; but Satadhanwan being aware of their hostile intention went to Kritavarman and prayed for his help. Kritavarman did not agree saying that he was not able to fight with both Krishna and Baladeva. Being disappointed he again solicited Akrura for help who said—"You must go to some body else for help. How should I be able to defend you? Even none, amongst the celestials whose glories are chanted throughout the universe, is capable of f

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SECTION XIV.

SECTION XIV.

And the quality of passion being predominant in his mind he obtained destruction from man-lion. And in consequence of his death at the hands of Vishnu be obtained sovereignty over three worlds and immense riches and enjoyments as Dasāsana. He was not absorbed into the supreme spirit that is without beginning or end because his mind was not wholly devoted to that object. Dasāsana, thus being entirely subject to love and being entirely taken up by thoughts of Janaki, could not perceive that the so

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SECTION XVI.

SECTION XVI.

The son of Druhya was Babhru, whose son was Setu, whose son was Aradwat, whose son was Gandhara, whose son was Dharma, whose son was Dhrita, whose son was Duryaman, whose son was Prachetas, who had a hundred sons and they were the princes of the lawless Mlechehhas or barbarians of the north....

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SECTION XVII.

SECTION XVII.

Anu, the fourth son of Yayati, had three sons, Sabhanara, Chakshusha and Paramekshu. The son of the first was Kālānara, whose son was Srinjaya, whose son was Puranjaya, whose son was Janamenjaya, whose son was Mahāmani, whose son was Mahāmanas, who had two sons, Ushinara and Titikshu. Ushinara had five sons: Sivi, Trina, Gara, Krimi, Darvan. Sivi had four sons: Vrishadarva, Suvira, Kaikeya and Madra. Titikshu had one son Ushadratha, whose son was Hema, whose son was Sutapas, whose was Bali, on w

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SECTION XVIII.

SECTION XVIII.

Parāçara said:—The son of Puru was Janamenjaya, whose son was Prāchinvat, whose son was Pravira, whose son was Manasyu, whose son was Bhayada, whose son was Sudyunna, whose son was Bahugava, whose son was Samyati, whose son was Ahamyati, whose son was Raudraswa, who had ten sons: Riteyu, Kaksheyu, Sthanditeyu, Ghriteyu, Jaleyu, Sthaleyu, Santaleyu, Dhaneyu, Vaneyu, and Vrateyu. The son of Riteyu was Rantināra, whose sons were Tansu, Apratirtha and Dhruva. The son of the second of these was Kanwa

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SECTION XIX.

SECTION XIX.

Parāçara said:—Parikshit had four sons—Janamejaya, Srutasena, Ugrasena and Bhimasena. The son of Jahnu was Surathai whose son was Viduratha, whose son was Sarvabhauma, whose son was Jayasena Aravin, whose son was Ayutayus, whose son was Akrodhana; one of his sons was Devatithi and another was called Riksha, whose son was Dilipa, whose son was Pratipa, who had three sons, Devāpi, Sāntanu, and Bāhlika. The first took to a forest life in childhood and Sāntanu became the king. Regarding him this ver

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SECTION XX.

SECTION XX.

Parāçara said:—I shall now give you an account of the future kings. He, who is the sovereign now, shall have four sons, namely Janamejaya, Srutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. The son of Janamejaya shall be Satāneeka. He shall study the Vedas from Jagnawalka, learn the use of weapons from Kripa and then disassociate himself from worldly affairs. And then receiving instructions regarding the knowledge of self from Saunaka he shall attain final liberation. From Satineeka shall be born Aswamedhadatt

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SECTION XXI.

SECTION XXI.

Parāçara said:—I shall now engage in giving you an account of the future kings of the Ikshawku race. The son of Vrihadvala shall be Vrihatkshana, whose son shall be Guruksepa, whose son shall be Vatsa, whose son shall be Vatsabhuha, whose son shall be Pratibyoma, whose son shall be Divākara, whose son shall be Sahadeva, whose son shall be Vrihadaswa, whose son shall be Bhānuratha, whose son shall be Suprateeka, whose son shall be Marudeva, whose son shall be Sunakshatra, whose son shall be Kinna

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SECTION XXII.

SECTION XXII.

Parāçara said:—I shall now describe to you the future kings of Magadha sprung from Vrihadratha. In this race were born Jarāsandha and other powerful kings. The son of Jarāsandha shall be Sahadeva, whose son shall be Somāpi, whose son shall be Srutavan, whose son shall be Ayutayu, whose son shall be Niramitra, whose son shall be Sukshatra, whose son shall be Vrihatkarman, whose son shall be Senajit, whose son shall be Srutanjaya, whose son shall be Vipra, whose son shall be Suchi, whose son shall

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SECTION XXIII.

SECTION XXIII.

Parāçara said:—Ripunjaya, the last king of the race of Vrihadratha, shall have minister by the name of Sunika. Slaying his Master he shall place his own son Prodyuta on the throne. He shall have a son by the name of Palaka, whose son shall be Visākayupa, whose son shall be Janaka, whose son shall be Nandivardana. These five kings of the family of Prodyuta shall govern the earth for a hundred and thirty eight years. Thereupon Sisunāga (shall become the king). His son shall be Kākavarna, whose son

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SECTION XXIV.

SECTION XXIV.

Thereafter thirteen kings of this family, three of Valheeka, Pushpamitra, Parupmitra and Padmamitra, the nine kings of Saptakosala and then again nine kings of the country of Nishdha shall respectively flourish. One king of the city of Magadha by name Viswasphatika shall create many a new mixed caste. He will root out the Kshatriya or martial race and elevate fishermen, barbarians and Brāhmans and other castes to power. The nine Nāgas will reign in Padmāvati, Kāntipuri, and Mathurā; and the Gupt

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SECTION I.

SECTION I.

When Brahmā had said this, the supreme deity plucked off two hairs, one white and one black and said to the celestials—"These my hairs shall go down upon earth and shall relieve her of the burden of her distress. Let all the deities, in their own portions, descend upon earth and fight with the proud Asuras who are there assembled and every one of them shall be slain. Doubt not this—they shall be destroyed by the withering glance of my eyes. This, my black hair, shall be impersonated in the eight

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SECTION II.

SECTION II.

Parāçara said;—Being thus eulogised by the celestials; Devaki conceived in her womb the lotus-eyed deity—the saviour of the universe. The sun of Achyuta rose in the dawn of Devaki to cause the lotus-petal of the universe to expand. On the day of his birth, all the quarters were lighted up with joy and it gave delight to all people like unto the rays of the moon. The pious obtained new delight; the strong wind were pacified and the river flowed silently when Janārddana was about to be born. The o

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SECTION III.

SECTION III.

Parāçara said:—Kansa, greatly disturbed in mind, called together all the leading Asuras, Pralamba, Kesin and others and said to them—"O ye, leading Asuras, Pralamba, Dhenuka, Putanā, Arishta and all others, hear my words. O heroes, the wicked celestials, troubled by my power, have been trying to destroy me—but I do not much care for them. Save murdering the Asuras by fraud, what can the weak Indra and the ascetic Hara or Hari do? What have we to fear from the Adityas, the Vasus, the Agnis or any

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SECTION IV.

SECTION IV.

When Vasudeva was freed, he went to the wagon of Nanda and found him greatly delighted that a son was born to him. He then kindly said to him "It is a blessing that you have got a son in your old age. Have you given your annual tribute to the king? If you have finished your work, you should not wait here for you are men of property. Why do you wait here since the work that has brought you, is finished? Go therefore, speedily, O Nanda, to your Gokula. I have also got a son there, born of Rohini,

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SECTION V.

SECTION V.

Parāçara said Once on a time while the slayer of Madhu was asleep underneath the wagon, he cried for the breast and kicking up his feet he overturned the vehicle and all the pots and pans were upset and broken. Hearing the noise the wives of the cow-herds came exclaiming—"Ah! Ah!" and there they found the child sleeping on his back. "Who could have overturned the wagon?" exclaimed the cow-herds. "That child" said some of the boys who saw the circumstance. "We saw him," said the boys, "crying and

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SECTION VI.

SECTION VI.

Parāçara said:—Once on a time Krishna went to Vrindavana, without Balarāma; and there, adorned with garlands of wild flowers, roamed he, encircled by the cow-herds, He then repaired to the banks of Kalindi, undulating and sparkling with foam and as if smiling when the waves dashed against the banks. There he saw the pool with the dreadful serpent Kāliya, boiling with the fires of poison. By the touch of that poison the huge trees on the banks were withered and being touched by the waters raised

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SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.

Parāçara said:—Thereupon again driving their cattle, Kesava and Balarāma rambled together in the forest, and on one occasion went to a pleasing grove of palms. There lived in that pleasing grove a demon named Dhenuka, resembling an ass in appearance and living upon the flesh of deer. Beholding the fruits there ripe, the cow herds, being anxious to take them, said—"O Rāma! O Krishna! Dhenuka always lives here and therefore the trees are loaded with ripe fruits the smell of which perfumes the air.

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SECTION VIII.

SECTION VIII.

Parāçara said:—That demon, in the form of an ass, and all his relatives, being slain, the cow-herds and their wives began to roam at pleasure in that picturesque grove of palms. Having slain that fiend Dhenuka, the two sons of Vasudeva, greatly delighted, repaired to the Bhāndira fig-tree. They began to roam about shouting and singing and collecting fruits and flowers from the trees—sometimes driving the cattle to a distant pasture, sometimes calling them by their names, sometimes carrying the f

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SECTION IX.

SECTION IX.

Parāçara said:—Whilst Krishna and Rāma were thus sporting in Vraja the rainy season ended—the autumn appeared and the lotuses became full-blown. The Safari fish in their watery burrows, were oppressed by the heat like a man by his selfish desires, who is attached to his family. The peacocks, renouncing all amusements, became silent like the ascetics withdrawing themselves from worldly enjoyments considering their unreality. The clouds of shining whiteness, exhausted of their watery wealth, deser

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SECTION X.

SECTION X.

Parāçara said—Being thus disappointed of offerings in the sacrifice, O Maitreya, Sakra, greatly angry, addressed the attendant clouds called Samvarttaka saying—"O ye clouds! hear what I say and do ye speedily execute without any judgment my behests. The foolish cow-herd Nanda and his companions, relying upon the protection of Krishna have withheld the usual offerings to us. Now therefore, distress the cattle, with wind and rain at my command, that are their subsistance and whence their occupatio

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SECTION XI.

SECTION XI.

Parāçara said:—After the inhabitants of Gokula had been saved by the upholding of the mountain Govardhana, the chastiser of Paka (Indra) became desirous of seeing Krishna. Having mounted his huge elephant Airavata, that lord of the celestials, the destroyer of enemies, beheld the mighty Krishna on the mount Govardhana, tending cattle, assuming the person of a cow-boy and encircled by the sons of cow-herds, although the protector of the universe. He saw above his head, Garuda, the king of birds,

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SECTION XII.

SECTION XII.

Parāçara said:—Sakra having departed, the cow-herds, on seeing him uplift the mountain Govardhana, said to Krishna of wonderous deeds, delightedly:—"O thou of mighty arms, thou hast saved us from a great fear; by holding up the mountain thou hast protected the cows. Wonderful are thy childish sports and insignificant is the condition of a herdsman and all thy actions are those of a god. Tell us what is the meanings of all this. Kaliya has been vanquished in the water; Pralamba has been killed; G

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SECTION XIII.

SECTION XIII.

One evening whilst Janārddana was engaged in Rāsa, the demon Aristha, disguised as a bull, came there striking terror into the hearts of all. His appearance was like a cloud saturated with waters—his two horns were very sharp and his two eyes were bright like the sun. As he proceeded, he ploughed up the ground with his hoofs: his tongue was repeatedly licking his lips; his tail was erect; the sinews of his shoulders were strong and between them rose a hump of enormous proportions; his haunches w

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SECTION XIV.

SECTION XIV.

After these things had happened, Aristha, the bull demon and Dhenuka and Pralamba had been destroyed, Govardhana had been uplifted, the serpent Kailya had been vanquished, the two trees had been broken, the female fiend Putanā had been destroyed and the wagon had been overturned, Nārada went to Kansa and related to him the whole, beginning with the transference of the child from Devaki to Yosadā. Hearing this from Nārada, Kansa was greatly enraged with Vasudeva and remonstrated with him hard, an

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SECTION XV.

SECTION XV.

Parāçara said:—Being commissioned by Kansa's emissary, Kesin, elated with the confidence of his prowess, reached Vrindavana, being desirous of bringing about the destruction of Krishna. He assailed the cow-herds, spurning the ground with his hoofs, scattering the clouds with his mane and obstructing the paths of the sun and the moon. Being terrified by the neighings of the demon, assuming the shape of a steed, the cow-herds and their females fled to Govinda for shelter exclaiming "Save us! Save

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SECTION XVI.

SECTION XVI.

Parāçara said:—Having issued out of the house of Kansa, Akrurā being desirous of seeing Krishna, proceeded towards the house of Nanda in a swift-coursing car. He thought within himself. "There is none more fortunate than I, for I shall behold the countenance of a portion of the holder of discus. To-day my life has borne fruit, my night is followed by the dawn of day, for I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu resembling full-blown lotuses. Blessed are my eyes and blessed are my words, for on b

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SECTION XVII.

SECTION XVII.

Parāçara said Thus meditating, Akrura, born in the race of the Yadus, bowed his hand down to the feet of Hari saying—"I am Akrura". And Krishna placed his hand upon him, which was marked with the flag, the thunder-bolt, the lotus, and drew him towards him and affectionately embraced him. Being thus honored by him, Balarāma and Kesava, delighted, entered with him their own habitation. Having entered into conversation with them and been fed, he related to them everything duly, how their father Ana

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SECTION XVIII.

SECTION XVIII.

Parāçara said:—Having thus praised Vishnu, standing in the stream that descendant of the Yadu race worshipped the lord of all with flowers, incense and all other beautiful articles. Having withdrawn his mind from every thing else and devoted it to Vishnu, he engaged, for some time, in the meditation, "I am Brahman" and then desisted from his abstraction. Then considering himself as blessed, the high-minded Akrura got up from the waters of the Yamuna and came to the chariot. Like before, he again

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SECTION XIX.

SECTION XIX.

While thus going along the high road, Krishna saw a young girl, who was crooked, carrying a pot of unguent. Krishna addressed her in sweet words and said—"For whom are you carrying that unguent? Tell me, lovely maiden, tell me truly". Being thus addressed by him through affection, Kubja being attracted by his affection and well disposed towards Hari, replied to him also mirthfully:—"Do you not know, my lord, that my name is Tribakra, I am the servant of Kansa and appointed to prepare his perfume

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SECTION XX.

SECTION XX.

Parāçara said:—Beholding Devaki and Vasudeva obtain true discriminative knowledge on seeing his wonderful feat, Krishna, being anxious to beguile them and other descendants of Yadu race, spread again the illusions of Vishnu. Thereupon he said to his parents—"O father, O mother, my elder brother Baladeva was all along anxious to behold you. It is out of fear of Kansa he could not do so. So long the pious do not serve their parents that portion of their life is spent in vain. O father, blessed is

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SECTION XXI.

SECTION XXI.

Parāçara said:—The mighty Kansa had married the two daughters of Jarāsandha, one named Asti, the other Prāpti. Jarāsandha was king of Magadha, and a very powerful prince, who, when he heard that Krishna had killed his son-in-law, was much incensed, and, collecting a large force, marched against Mathura, determined to put the Yādavas and Krishna to the sword. Accordingly he invested the city with three and twenty numerous divisions of his forces. Rāma and Janārddana sallied from the town with a s

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SECTION XXII.

SECTION XXII.

Parāçara said:—Syāla having called Gargya, the Brāhmana, whilst at the cow-pens, impotent, in an assembly of the Yādavas, they all laughed; at which he was highly offended, and repaired to the shores of the western sea, where he engaged in arduous penance to obtain a son, who should be a terror to the tribe of Yadu. Propitiating Mahādeva, and living upon iron sand for twelve years, the deity at last was pleased with him, and gave him the desired boon. The king of the Yadanas, who was childless,

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SECTION XXIII.

SECTION XXIII.

Thus praised by the wise Muchukunda, the sovereign of all things, the eternal lord, Hari, said to him, "Go to whatever celestial regions you wish, lord of men, possessed of might irresistible, honoured by my favour. When you have fully enjoyed all heavenly pleasures, you shall be born in a distinguished family, retaining the recollection of your former births; and you shall finally obtain emancipation". Having heard this promise, and prostrated himself before Achyuta, the lord of the world, Much

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SECTION XXIV.

SECTION XXIV.

Whilst the mighty Sesha, the upholder of the globe, was thus engaged in wandering amidst the forests with the herdsmen, in the disguise of a mortal—having rendered great services to earth, and still considering what more was to be achieved—Varuna, in order to provide for his recreation, said his wife Vāruni (the goddess of wine), "Thou, Madirā, art ever acceptable to the powerful Ananta; go therefore, auspicious and kind goddess, and promote his enjoyments". Obeying these commands, Vāruni went a

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SECTION XXV.

SECTION XXV.

Bhishmaka was king of Vidarbha, residing at Kundina. He had a son named Rukmin, and a beautiful daughter termed Rukmini. Krishna fell in love with the latter, and solicited her in marriage: but her brother who hated Krishna, would not assent to the espousals. At the suggestion of Jarāsandha, and with the concurrence of his son, the powerful sovereign Bhishmaka affianced Rukmini to Sisupāla. In order to celebrate the nuptials, Jarāsandha and other princes, the friends of Sisupāla, assembled in th

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SECTION XXVI.

SECTION XXVI.

Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara killed by Pradyumna? Parāçara said:—When Pradyumna was but six days old, he was stolen from the lying-in chamber by Sambara, terrible as death; for the demon foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. Taking away the boy, Sambara cast him into the ocean, swarming with monsters, into whirlpool of roaring waves, the haunt of the huge creatures of t

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SECTION XXVII.

SECTION XXVII.

Parāçara said:—Rukmini bore Krishna these other sons Charudeshna, Sudeshna, Charudeha, Sushena, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuvinda, Sucharu and the very powerful Charu; also one daughter Charumati. Krishna had seven other beautiful wives:-Kālindi, Mitravrindā, the virtuous Nāgnajiti, the queen Jāmbavati; Rohini, of beautiful form; the amiable and excellent daughter of the king of Madra, Mādrí; Satyabhāmā, the daughter of Satrujit; and Lakshmanā, of lovely smiles. Besides these, he had sixteen t

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SECTION XXVIII.

SECTION XXVIII.

Parāçara said:—Thereupon Sakra, the lord of the three worlds, came mounted on his infuriated elephant Airāvata to visit Sauri at Dwārakā. Having entered Dwārakā and been welcomed by Hari he communicated unto him the actions of the demon Naraka. (He said) "O slayer of Madhu, by thee, the lord of the deities, although situated in mortal condition, all afflictions have been soothed; thou hast slain Arishta, Dhenuka, Chānura, Mushtika, Kesin,—all the demons who were slaying the ascetics. Kansa, Kava

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SECTION XXIX.

SECTION XXIX.

Carrying the umbrella of Varuna, the jewel mountain and Hrishikesh with his spouse on his back, Garuda went along lightly and sportively. When Hari arrived at the gate of Swarga he blew his conch on which the celestials came forward to meet him bearing respectful offerings. Having received the homage of the celestials he proceeded to the palace of the mother of gods whose turrets resembled the white clouds and found Aditi there. Thereupon having bowed unto her along with the king of celestials h

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SECTION XXX.

SECTION XXX.

Thus chanted by the king of the celestials, Kesava smiled and replied gravely saying:—"Thou art, O Indra, the king of the celestials: we are mere mortals, O king of the universe. Thou must therefore forgive me, for the offence I have committed. Let this Pārijatā tree be taken to its proper place. I remove it to satisfy Satya's desire. Take back also this thy thunderbolt which thou didst hurl at me; for this is your proper weapon—O slayer of thy enemies". Whereto Indra replied, saying:—"O lord, t

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SECTION XXXI.

SECTION XXXI.

Parāçara said:—I have enumerated to you Pradyumna and other sons begotten on Rukmini by Krishna. Satyabhāmā bore Bhanu and Bhairika. The sons of Rohini were Diptimat, Tamrepakshi and others; Jamvabati gave birth to the powerful Samba and other sons. Bhadravinda and other valiant youths were the sons of Nagnajiti. Saivya bore several sons of whom Sangramajit was the chief. Vikra and others were begotten by Hari on Madri. Lakshmanā gave birth to Gatravat and others; and Sruta and others were the s

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SECTION XXXII.

SECTION XXXII.

Parāçara said:—Before this, once Bāna prayed to the three-eyed deity saying "O lord I am humiliated by the possession of a thousand arms; let some conflict take place in which I may make use of my arms. Without any war what is the use of these arms; they are but a burden to me". Sankara said:—"When this peacock banner shall be broken thou shalt have war, the delight of the evil spirits that live on human flesh". Thereupon pleased and bowing unto Sankara he returned to his house where he found th

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SECTION XXXIII.

SECTION XXXIII.

Maiteya said:—"Having achieved a mortal form Sauri performed mighty achievements and discomfitted Sakra and Siva and all other attendant divinities. O great sir, do thou also describe unto me, his other exploits by which he humiliated the prowess of the celestials; I am desirous to hear them". Parāçara said:—Hear with respectful attention, O Brāhman, as described by me of the burning of Vārānashi by Krishna in the course of his relieving the burden of the earth. There was a king of Pundra, who w

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SECTION XXXIV.

SECTION XXXIV.

Maitreya said:—O Brahman, I have a great desire to listen to some other exploits of Balarāma; do thou describe them unto me. You have related to me, O reverend Sir, his dragging the Yamuna and other mighty deeds; do thou now recount some other of his acts. Parāçara said:—Listen O Maitreya, to the exploits accomplished by Rāma who is the eternal, illimitable Sesha, the upholder of the earth. At the choice of a husband by the daughter of Duryodhana, the princess was taken away by the hero Sāmba, t

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SECTION XXXV.

SECTION XXXV.

Parāçara said:—Listen, O Maitreya, to another achievement accomplished by the powerful Balarāma. The great Asura, Naraka, the enemy of the friends of the celestials, had a friend of exceeding might in a monkey named Dwivida, who was worked up with implacable hostility against the celestials, and vowed to revenge on all of them the destruction of Naraka by Krishna at the instigation of the king of the celestials, by preventing sacrifices and bringing about the total destruction of the world. Blin

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SECTION XXXVI.

SECTION XXXVI.

In this way, Krishna, aided by Baladeva, destroyed, for the behoof of the earth, demons and iniquitous kings, and along with Phalguna also did he relieve earth of her burden by the death of seven Akshauhini hosts. Having thus relieved the earth of her load and destroyed many impious kings, he exterminated, by the plea of an imprecation denounced by Brāhmanas, his own Yādava race. Thereupon quitting Dwārakā and renouncing his mortal frame, the self-born with all his emanations re-entered his own

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SECTION XXXVII.

SECTION XXXVII.

Thereupon the divine Krishna having united himself with his own pure, spiritual, inexhaustible, inconceivable, unborn, undecaying, imperishable, and universal spirit, which is one Vāsudeva, renounced his mortal frame and his connection with the three qualities. Parāçara said:—Having found the bodies of Krishna and Rāma, Arjuna performed for them and the rest of the slain the obsequial rites. The eight queens of Krishna, who have been named with Rukmini at the head, embraced Hari and entered the

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SECTION XXVIII.

SECTION XXVIII.

Maitreya said:—"Thou hast described unto me in detail, O illustrious sage, the creation of the universe, the genealogies of the Patriarchs, the duration of the Manwantaras and the dynasties of the princes. I am willing to hear from you an account of the dissolution of the universe, the time of total destruction and that which occurs at the expiration of a Kalpa". Parāçara said:—Hear from me exactly, O Maitreya, the circumstances attending the dissolution of the world either at the expiration of

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SECTION II.

SECTION II.

Parāçara said:—Hear, O highly illustrious one, I shall describe fully what the great Vyāsa has related upon the subject. Once on a time, the sages assembled and discussed at what season the least morality obtained the greatest reward and by whom it was most easily displayed. In order to terminate the discussion they went to Veda Vyāsa to remove their doubts. They saw the illustrious sage, my son, immersed in the water of the Ganges, and awaiting the close of his ablutions, the sages remained on

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SECTION III.

SECTION III.

Parāçara said The dissolution of existing beings is of three kinds, incidental, elemental and absolute. The incidental is that which relates to Brahmā and takes place at the end of a Kalpa: the elemental is that which occurs after two Parārdhas; the absolute is final liberation from existence. Maitreya said:—"Tell me, O excellent preceptor, what is the enumeration of a Parārdha, the expiration of two of which is the period of elemental dissolution". Parāçara said:—Parardha, O Maitreya, is that n

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SECTION IV.

SECTION IV.

Parāçara said:—O great ascetic, the waters having reached the region of the seven Rishis the whole of three worlds becomes one ocean. The breath of Vishnu, thereupon, becomes a strong wind, which blows for more than a hundred years until all the clouds are dispersed. The wind is then re-absorbed and he, of whom all beings are made, the lord by whom all things exist, he, who is inconceivable, without beginning of the universe, reposes sleeping upon Sesha in the midst of the ocean. The creator Har

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SECTION V.

SECTION V.

Parāçara said:—O Maitreya, having investigated kinds of worldly pain and having acquired true wisdom and detachment from worldly objects the wise man obtains final liberation. The first of the three pains, or Adhyatmika is of two kinds—physical and mental. Bodily pain, as you shall hear, is of many sorts. Affections of the head, catarrh, fever, cholic, fistula, spleen, hemorrhoids, intumescence, sickness, opthalmia, dysentary, leprosy, and many other diseases constitute physical affliction. Ment

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SECTION VI.

SECTION VI.

Parāçara said:—The Purusottama is also known by holy study and devout meditation; and either, as the cause of attaining him, is entitled Brahma. From study let a man proceed to meditation and from meditation to study; by perfection in both supreme spirit becomes manifest. Study is one eye wherewith to behold it and meditation is the other: he who is identical with Brahma sees not with the eye of flesh. Maitreya said:—"Revered preceptor, I am desirous to know what is meant by the term Yoga, by un

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SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.

Kesidhwaja said "But why have you not demanded of me my kingdom free from all troubles; what else save dominion is acceptable to the warrior?" Whereto Khāndikya replied "I will tell you why I did not make such a demand nor require that territory which is an object of ignorant ambition. It is the duty of the warrior to protect his subjects in peace and to kill in fight the enemies of his way. It is no fault that you should have taken my kingdom from one who was unable to defend it, to whom it was

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SECTION VIII.

SECTION VIII.

Parāçara said:—I have thus explained to you the third kind of worldly dissolution, that which is absolute and final which is liberation and resolution into eternal spirit. I have related unto you the primary and secondary creation, the families of patriarchs, the periods of the Manwantaras and the genealogical histories of the kings. I have described briefly to you, who were desirous of hearing it, the imperishable Vaishnava Purāna which destroys all sins, the most excellent of all sacred writin

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