Mahatmya & Invocation

Benedictory Prayer Bowing to Narayana, Nara the greatest Man, and goddess SarasvatI, may Java be narrated.

21-2Л-2 3 Earth said:

Adoration to the Varaha (incarnation of God Visnu) who lifts up the Earth with ease and under whose hoofs the mount Meru (the golden mountain) tinkles.

May the foremost God, Varaha, dispel my foes; who is Krsna, Visnu and the lord of gods; who is the enemy of the demon Kamsa; who killed (the demons) Mura, Naraka and Ravana (in his different incarnations); who, in his huge and extensive form, raised, like a clod of clay, by the tip of his tusk, the Earth encircled by oceans and full of mountains and rivers. Silta [the Purana-narrator') said:

The Earth asked the Supreme god (Visnu) as to when, in yore, was she lifted up with force by the mighty god in the form of the boar. Earth said:

In each Kalpa (cosmic age) O Lord, it is you that raise me up. And I do not know, O Kes'ava (Visnu), your form in the first creation.

Again, when the Vedas were stolen (by the demon Hayagriva), you, in the form of a fish, entering Rasatala (the nether region) took them out and gave them to Brahma.

Again, O destroyer of the demon Madhu, on the occasion of churning the milky ocean jointly by gods and demons (for obtaining the divine nectar), you, taking the form of a tortoise, raised up the mountain Mandara (which formed the central churning rod).

O illustrious lord of the worlds, you, again, with one of your tusks lifted up me, the Earth, from the deep ocean when I was sinking down to the nether regions.,„, 9. Still again, by you (in your incarnation as Nrsimha ill! ('man-lion') was destroyed (the demon) Hiranyakasipu who was haughty on account of the boon (bestowed on him by God Brahma) and who was tormenting the world.

Then, O God, you, (in another of your incarnations) assuming the form of (Parasurama, the son of (the Brahmana sage) Jamadagni, made the Earth once devoid of Ksatriya rulers.

And, then, (in another of your incarnations as Rama, son of king Dasaratha), through your kingly strength, the de| | mon Ravana was killed by you. O illustrious God, in still another incarnation of yours in the form of Vamana (dwarf), i the demon Bali was bound by you.: 12. I do not know, O God, even a small portion of your multifarious actions. (Now), after lifting (me up how do you create and why?

By whom is the creation destroyed, and by whom is it I protected? By whom, O all-pervading one, are you attainable?

How does creation originate and how does it end? How are the aeons (Yugas—Krta, Treta, Dvapara and Kali) reckoned and why are there four Yugas?

Of them, what is the speciality of the present aeon? And, O great god, what is the desire? Who are the sacrificers? Who are the kings? Who have attained final emancipation?

Be pleased to tell me all this briefly. Being asked thus, the great God in the form of the boar laughed.

Soon after the great God was seen with his mouth opened wide, He was seen by the Earth in His four-armed form sleeping in the great (milky) ocean.

While seeing the God Janardana (Visnu) sleeping on the serpent-bed in the ocean, she also saw God Brahma (seated) in the lotus-flower (that sprouted) from His navel. The goddess Earth, with folded hands, extolled Him as follows:

Obeisance to you whose eyes resemble lotus-petals, vou wearing- fhc yellow garment; obeisance to you, the supreme soul who destroys the enemies of Gods.

Obeisance to you sleeping on the bed of (the thousandhooded serpent) Sesa and bearing (your consort, goddess) Laksnil on your chest; obeisance to you, O God of gods, the giver of the final liberation.

Obeisance to you bearing the bow, sword and disc; you without birth and death; obeisance to you, from whose navellotus Brahma has taken birth.

Obeisance to you with tender hands and rosy lips. I surrender myself to you: protect me, this innocent woman.

Seeing you as a boar dark like collyrium all over, O Janardana (Visnu), I was fear-stricken; and seeing the whole world in your body, I am afraid again. O preserver, now, bestow your benevolence upon me and, O great lord, protect me,

Thus having covered herself (as above) with the (twelve) names (of Visnu), the Earth uttered, " O illustrious Visnu, I bow to you", and stopped.

(May the twelve forms of Visnu protectme. (Thus) may Kesava protect my feet, Narayana my shanks; may Madhava protect my hip, Govinda the genitals; may Visnu protect my navel, Madhusudana the belly; may Trivikrama protect the breast, Vamana the heart; may Srldhara protect my neck, Hrslkesa my face, Padmanabha the eyes, and Damodara the head.

In the belly of that laughing lord, the Mother World saw the (eleven forms of God) Rudra, the several gods (Devas), the (deities called) Vasus, the groups of (semi-divine beings) Siddhas, the great sages, the seven worlds, the sun, the moon and planets and the inhabitants 'herein performing their duties. All this, the Earth beheld with her entire body shivering.

Suta {the narrator) said: Then pleased by the devotion of the Earth resting in his body, Visnu manifested Maya (the power of illusion) and stood therein the same form of Varaha.

And he said: O lovely damsel, why this strange question? f Varaha Рцгапа I shall tell you the subject of the Purana from all the Sastras (disciplines of knowledge).

40-52 I eighth creation was Anugraha. That was characterised by Sattva (good) and Tamas (darkness).

This verse app'ies to all the Puranas. Therefore, O Earth, listen to it intently. Varaha said:

Primary creation, secondary creation, genealogy, reigns of the Manus (the lords of the aeons) and history (of the solar and lunar) races—these are the five characteristic topics in a Purana.

Now, I shall speak of the primary creation from which begins the history of gods and kings.

The eternal supreme soul is said to be consisting of four parts.

First, 1 was endless Vyoma (indiscrete in space). Then the principal atomic intellect came out of me. The Intellect was threefold, consisting of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, each of which being added separately with the form of Sattva}

As Tamas predominated in this trinity, there appeared what is called the Pradhana (the originator or source Prakrti of the material world). And out of that Pradhana, the powerful Ksetrajna (the Supreme Soul) arose. From that came out the intellect. ' 9. From these, next manifested the sense-organs of the world, the causes of hearing etc., with latent elements, O auspicious lady, the cosmic matter was created by me.

In the beginning there was only void. Then sound and ether, then air and after that fire and water, and next, O goddess, you, the mother of all beings were created by me.

As a result of the union of these, in the earth, appeared an egg with frothing generative fluid in the water. When the egg expanded, I assumed the form of water myself.

Having created water and resting therein, I (Visnu) came to be called 'Narayana'. In each Kalpa (grand aeon), I, again and again, lie on the water. And while sleeping there, a lotus flower came out of the navel, as now.

As he sank into the water, Brahma created another Prajapati (Creator) out of his own right thumb.

Then, from the navel-lotus, the four-faced (God Brahma) came out. I ordained him to create men.

Then, I disappeared. And as he (Brahma) stood brooding over (what I had said), he did not know what to do.

Then this mysteriously-born Brahma became very angry and from that anger arose a boy.

The boy was crying but he was stopped by Brahma. Then the boy demanded: 'Giveme a name', and Brahma gave him the name 'Rudra' ('the crying one').

O auspicious lady, he was then ordered by Brahma: "create this world". Being unable to do that, then, he plunged into water and decided to perform penance.

And from his left thumb, he created also a wife (for the Prajapati).

In her, the Prajapati procreated Svayambhuva Manu. Thus was given the idea of progeny by Brahma. Earth said:

Tell me in detail, O God of gods, the primary creation, and how this Brahma (in the form of) Narayana, came into existence at the beginning of Kalpa. The Lord said:

Goddess Earth, listen to my detailed description how, as Narayana, I created all the beings.

At the end of the previous Kalpa, while he was sleeping at night, O auspicious lady, as the quality of Sattva predominated in him, Brahma saw the world empty.

Narayana is the supreme, incomprehensible, elder even to the old, in the form of Brahman (the supreme soul), the great god, beginningless and present in all beings.

The following verse is said about Narayana, the supreme Brahma, the source of the world and imperishable.

"Water is said to be Mara, since it is verily the progeny of nara (man). As water is the repose of the Lord, He is called Narayana."

While, he, in yore, in the beginning of the Kalpas, pondered over creation, there arose a creation beginning with ignorance and consisting of darkness.

From that great being, came out the five-fold ignorance consisting of Tamas (obscurity), Moha (illusion), Mahamoha (extreme illusion), Tamisra (gloom) and Andhatdmisra (utter darkness).

On meditating, he knew the five-fold creation. This should be understood as the Mukhya-sarga (principal creation) by the learned.

On meditating again, creation of a high character occurred, as a result of which the animal world came into being and it is known as Tiryakasrotas (in which the stream of life of the created beings is horizontal).

Cattle and other animals of that kind were straying on wrong paths. Brahma thought that this creation, Tiryaksrotas, was imperfect.

There took place, therefore the three-fold Urdhvasrotas (in which the stream of life of the created beings tends upwards) which was of a Sattvika type and based on virtue. From that, all the gods living in the upper world were created.

After making this creation, the creator found that the productions of the principal creation etc., were not competent and he continued his meditation.

Then the Lord meditated on the creation Arvaksrotas (in which the stream of life of the created beings moves downwards). In the Arvaksrotas the human beings were created who were quite competent.

They have Prakasa (abundant light of clear knowledge, internal and external) but (the qualities of) darkness (Tamas) and passion (Rajas) predominate in them. Hence they have a lot of sorrow and are continuously engaged in action.

These last five creations were called Vaikrta, the first three being Prakrtas. There was also a ninth creation called Kaumdra which was Prakrta as well as Vaikrta.

These are the nine creations of Prajapati. Prakrtas and Vaikrtas are the root causes of the world. Thus the creations have been told. What else, then, do you want to know? Earth said:

Out of the mysteriously-born Brahma, nine types of creation came out. How did they multiply? Tell me this, O imperishable god! Varaha said:

First Rudra and other sages were created by Brahma. Then Sanaka and the rest and afterwards (sage) Marlci and the rest:

(Namely, the sages) Marlci, Atri, Aiigiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, great-prowessed Pracetas, Bhrgu, Narada and as the tenth Vasistha, performer of great penance.

By him (Brahma), (sage)Sanaka and others were appointed for the functions of renunciation, and Marlci and others excepting sage Narada, for those of action.

In the race of the first Prajapati who was born from the right thumb of Brahma, this world with all the animate and inanimate beings appeared first.

Gods, demons, Gandharvas, snakes and birds—all these most virtuous beings were born from Daksa's (Prajapati's) daughters.

When said thus, he divided himself into a man and a woman. Then the masculine part divided itself into eleven parts.

Then onwards the eleven Rudras became famous as originated from Brahma.

I have thus told you, O sinless lady, the creation of RudP Varaha Purana ras in brief. I shall now tell you briefly the greatness of the Yugas (aeons).

There are four Yugas, namely, Krta, Treta, Dvapara and Kali.

Hear from me of the noble and generous kings, gods, demons and others who performed righteous deeds in these yugas.

After performing many sacrifices munificently, and placing his sons Bharata and the rest in the seven islands (namely, Jambu, Plaksa, Salmali, Kusa, Kraunca, Saka and Puskara), he went to the grand Visala and performed great penance.

While the virtuous emperor was thus doing penance, (sage) Narada came there to see him.

Seeing Narada descending from the sky like the lustrous sun, the king was delighted and stood up in respect.

After giving him seat and the water for washing his feet, both of them began to speak with introductory words of welcome.

At the end of these formalities, the king asked the seer Narada: Priyavrata said:

O illustrious Narada, tell me a little of the wonders you have seen or heard in this Krtayuga. Narada said:

Listen to a wonder, O Priyavrata, seen by me. Yesterday, O King, I went to (the island of) Svetadvlpa.

There was a lake with an array of full-blown lotuses and on its bank was a girl having large eyes.

At the sight of that lovely sweet-tongued girl, O king, I was wonder-struck and I asked her:

" O auspicious lady, who are you? How are you here? What do you want? Tell me, O charming lady, what is to be done?"

And, in the heart of that person another one appeared, and on the breast of the latter appeared another with reddish eyes and lustrous like the twelve suns.

Thus three men were seen on the body of that lady. At the next moment, O righteous king, only the girl was seen, and not the men.

Then I asked that illustrious girl: "How are my Vedas lost? Tell me, O auspicious lady, the reason for this," The girl said:

" I am Savitri, the mother of all the Vedas. Since you •did not know me, you lost the Vedas."

When thus told, I asked her in wonder; " O beautiful lady, tell me who are these men". The girl said:

"This beautiful one, residing in my body, with ail his (six) angas, is known as Rgveda. This Veda is Narayana himself. Soon after its utterance, it becomes verily a fire to burn all sins,

He, whom you saw in his heart, is the mighty Brahma in the form of Tajurveda.

These three great Vedas are, O sage, the three great gods. These are the letters beginning- with 'a'. It is here, O D v i j a (twice-born), all the sacrifices dwell.

O best of the Brahmins. I have told you a! l this i. i brirf. Now take back, O Narada, your Vedas, Sastras and your о т ш science.

In this lake of the Vedas, O great Brahmin, take your bath. After this bath, O good sage, you will recollect all the things of the other births."

Saying this, O king, the girl disappeared. Having taken bath in that lake, I have come here to see you.

By merely looking at me, O king, all this was taken away by the girl within a moment. Struck with wonder and full of anxiety and sorrow, then, I went near her and begged for her kindness. As I was beholding her, O king, a divine person appeared on her body.

O beautiful lady, I have thus told you six creations. Of these, the first creation was of Mahat (intellect); the second was of Tanmatras (subtle elements), the third was of Vikaras (being products evolved from the basic Prakrti) which is also called Aindriyaka. These three creations were known as Prakrta creations preceded by Buddhi (intellect).

When asked by me thus, she looked at me intently and stood thinking and silent. Just then I forgot a! l my great knowledge, all the Vedas (Rk, Tajus and Sdma), all the Sastras (Siksa, Kalpa, Nirukta, Chandas, Vyakarana and Jyotisa), Yogas (psychic disciplines) Siksa (physical discipline) Smrtis (codes of conduct) and all the rest.

He who was seen in his heart, resplendent and pure, is called Samaveda, manifested in the form of Rudra, This Veda, when recited, destroys sins like the sun,

Rudra who came out of the forehead of Brahma with his eyebrows knit in anger, was in one half of his body a man and in the other half a woman. Asking the fierce Rudra to divide himself, Brahma disappeared.

The fourth one was called the Mukhya-sarga (principal creation). Immovable beings are principal. The fifth was called Tiryaksrotas wherein the animal world was created. Then the sixth one, Urdhvasrotas, creation of gods, and it was the best. The seventh was the creation of mankind (Arvaksrotas) and the

Long ago, in the first Kalpa, there lived Svayambhuva Manu. He got two virtuous sons of super-human capacity by name Priyavrata and Uttanapada. Among these two, king Priyavrata was a great performer of sacrifices and spiritually eminent.

Priyavrata said: Tell me, O divine sage, all your doings in the other birth. I am deeply interested to know them. Narada said:

When I bathed in the lake of Vedas at the behest of Savitrl (the mother of Vedas), O great king, I got memory of my doings in numerous previous lives. Listen to the happenings in my past life.

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Then, in solitude, I thought: "What shall I do with (material) things that are (mainly) pairs of opposites (like good and evil, cold and heat, etc.)? So, giving all this to my sons, I shall go to the lake Sarasvata with determination to perform penance."

Having thought thus, I propitiated Visnu with rituals. the manes with Sraddhas, and the gods and men with sacrifices.

Then, I went to the lake Sarasvata with full resolve to perform penance.

Reaching there, I worshipped Visnu, auspicious and primordial spirit, uttering (the sacred name) 'Narayana' with great devotion.

When I recited the great hymn (by name) Brahmapara, O king, the Lord was pleased and he appeared before me. Priyavrata asked:

I wish to hear, O excellent sage, the nature of the (hymn) Brahmapara. Be pleased to tell me this clearly, () divine sage. Mdrada replied:

I bow to Visnu, who is higher than the highest, farther than the farthest, the most powerful, the eternal and the refuge of all.

I bow to the illustrious Lord Visnu, the eternal, the incomparable, the ancient, the farthest, the most effulgent, the foremost among the most intelligent.

With pure mind I extol Narayana, the highest, the Supreme, the important, the great refuge, pure and extensive, and the Almighty.

May the stainless and ancient Narayana protect me. He who, in yore, created this Рига (body) namely Prakrti and residing therein, has become known as Purum (spirit).

I always extol Visnu, the great and auspicious, of endless form, the most ancient, the foremost among the just, possessing fortitude and peace and the lord of earth.

I extol the great immortal god Narayana, possessing thousand heads and numerous feet and hands, having the sun and the moon as his eyes, and sleeping in the milky ocean.

I bow to the immeasurable Narayana, Trijuga (the creator, protector and destroyer), who can be attained by three Vedas (Rk, Tajus and Sama), who has twentyeight forms, who stands firmly in Trisukla (the sacred combination of three days, namely Uttardyana, the day of gods; the bright-half of the moon, the day of the manes; and the day-time), who is divided into three sacred fires (Daksina, Garhapatya and Ahavaniya), who can be seen by the three qualities (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and who has three eyes.

I bow to Visnu, the ancient one, who is white in Krtayuga, red in Tretayuga, yellow in Dvaparayuga and black in Raliyuga.

I bow to Him who has the world as his body and who created Brahmins (the caste of priests) from his mouth, Ksatriyas (the caste of kings) from his breast, Vaisyas (the caste of merchants etc.) from his thighs and Sudras (the caste of servants) from his feet.

I bow to the immeasurable Narayana, the supreme entity, the highest of the highest, the lord of fighters, who took the form of Krsna with a purpose, and who holds in the hands mace, sword and nectar".

Thus extolled by me the god was pleased and several times asked me in a voice majestic like the rumbling. of clouds, to seek a boon. I sought the union with Him.

Having heard this the eternal god told me: " O TSrahmin, attain the original nature. That will lead to the aim.

Water is Mara. You give it to the manes. Therefore your name will be 'Narada'.'

Saying thus, the god immediately disappeared. Then after doing penance for a long time I gave up my body and got dissolved into the Brahmaloka (the world of the creator) and rose there, O king.

This is my previous birth, O King, about which you asked me.

Since by meditating on Narayana, I attained greatness, you also, O best of kings, be a devotee of Visnu.

Then the day was created along with ten sons. It is the beginning of the day of the mysteriously-born god Brahma, no doubt, with the creation of all the gods and others. This is the creation of all the worlds by the prowess of the lord.

In the Krtayuga, in the country named Avanti, I was born as a Brahmin by name Sarasvata, very intelligent, wellversed in the Vedas and Vedaiigas, served by many attendants and possessing a lot of wealth.

Eartli said: I. Tell me whether this illustrious Narayana, the supreme sou! and the eternal, is God in all respects or not. 2-16 J 3 Varaha replied:

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Even the gods do not see His real form. Hence they satisfy themselves with the forms like mine.

Brahma, the Rajasa and Tamasa forms establish and sustain the universe.

O Earth, you are the first form of that God. The second is water and the third fire.

The fourth form is air and the fifth ether. These are His forms. With the controller of these in three aspects, the total forms are eight.

All this world is pervaded by Narayana. Thus, I have told you this. What else, O goddess, do you wish to hear? Earth asked:

Be pleased to tell me, O great lord, what king Priyavrata did after having been told thus by Narada. Varaha replied:

After hearing the wonder from Narada, Priyavrata, giving his sons you (the earth, i. e., his kingdom), divided into seven, performed penance.

Uttering the great Nar ay ana-mantra and his mind absorbed in it, he attained liberation.

Hear, O beautiful lady, again, the deeds of the great Lord for the worship by kings in olden days.

Then the king quickly stood up in great delight and welcomed them.

Offering them seats and showing hospitality the great king asked them who had keen intelligence and knowledge of Yoga and who had come there of their own accord.

" O great Brahmins, be pleased to tell me how we should worship the eternal god Visnu—Narayana?" The Brahmins replied:

O king, who is this Narayana about whom you ask? We two, standing before you, are Narayanas. Asvahras said:

"Both of you are Brahmins who are cleansed of sins due to penance and attained great spiritual power. But how do you say that you are Narayanas?

The great God Janardana (Narayana) has in his hands the conch, disc and mace, and is clad in yellow garment. He sits on Garuda (the king of birds). Who can be like Him in this world?"

Hearing the words of the King, the two ascetic Brahmins laughed aloud and said: 'O king, see Visnu (in us)'.

Then Kapila transformed himself into Visnu and at the same time Jaiglsavya became Garuda.

Suddenly, there arose an uproar of wonder in the assembly of the king.

Then those great sages made a miracle by their Yogic power.

(Thus) Kapila became Padmanabha (one having a lotus-flower in his navel) and Jaiglsavya Brahma. Brahma shone on that lotus-flower and the resplendant Rudra thereon.

The powers of omniscience are, O king, shown before you. The god Narayana is omniscient and has the power to take any form.

This benign being can be attained by men everywheie. Worship (in any particular form alone) will not be the ultimate.

Likewise, O king, the omnipresent Visnu is there in your own body. So too in your ministers and servants.

O king, the divine beings as well as the multitude of animals and germs are all Visnu himself. Meditate upon Visnu as present in all beings.

Worship Him with the conviction that there is no being like Him. It is the attainment of knowledge, O king, that is revealed to you.

Remember the great Narayana with full dedication, with oblations, offerings, incense and by propitiating Brahmins. The supreme lord can easily be attained by firm meditation.

Dismayed at the sight of this multitude of beings, the king thought: "What may be this!" Realising the greatness of Jaiglsavya and the intelligent Kapila, king Asvasiras asked those (two) sages with hands folded in respect: " O excellent Brahmins what is this?". The Brahmins said: 34 O king you asked us how Visnu should be worshipped and how he could be attained. Therefore, O great king, we have shown this to you.

Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasirhha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parasurama, R a m. (son of Dasaratha), Krsna (dark-one), Buddha (enlightened) and Kalki—these ten are told as His forms, O beautiful one bearing all the beings. These are the steps for those who wish to attain the vision (of Visnu).

Then the great king, having seen the eternal God Narayana sitting on Garuda, told them with folded hands: "Forbear, O Brahmins, Visnu is not like this. He is the great god, from the lotus in whose navel Brahma arose, and from that Brahma arose Rudra! "

There was a righteous king named Asvasiras. When the saintly king performed munificently the Asvamedha sacrifice and accompanied by Brahmanas finished it with the Avabhrtha bath, there came the great sages Kapila and Jaiglsavya.

The King saw Him who had reddish eyes and who was emanating the lustre like the enveloping fire at the end of the world. And he said: "The lord of the world cannot be seen. This is the illusion created by you, sages. The illustrious Visnu is all-pervading." As soon as he uttered this, O Earth, there appeared in the assembly of the king, bugs, mosquitoes, lice, beetles, birds, snakes, horses, cows, e'ephants, lions, tigers, jackals, deer and other beasts, domestic and wild, in crores.

But the lord of world, the Supreme Soul, is omnipresent. As he is present everywhere, he can be seen in one's own body through devotion. That was why the form of the illustrious Supreme Soul was shown to you in our body so that you may be convinced.

Asvasiras said: Kindly clear my doubt as a result of which I may be able to get release from the bondage of worldly life.

Asked thus, the great sage told the king who was the best among the performers of sacrifice. Kapila said:

O righteous king, tell me your doubt so that 1 may clear it. The king asked:

O sage, be pleased to clear my doubt whether liberation is attained by one who does righteous duties or by one who acquires spiritual knowledge. Kapila replied:

O great king, this very question was formerly put to Brhaspati by Raibhya, son of Brahma, as well as by king Vasu.

Long ago, in Caksusa Manvantara, there lived a great king Vasu, who was a scholar and liberal donor and descendant of Brahma.

One day, Vasu went to the abode of Brahma to see Him. On the way he saw Caitraratha, the Vidyadharachief, and asked him about the convenience of Brahma.

He said that a meeting of the gods was going on in Brahma's house. Hearing this, Vasu stood at the gate. Ij 9. Just then, the great sage Raibhya came there and king № Vasu was very much pleased at this. if 10. He saluted him and asked him where he was going. 1 Raibhya replied:

' ' I am returning from Brhaspati to whom I had gone on some business'7.

At that time the assembly of Brahma was dissolved and the hosts of gods returned to their homes. 13 Then Brhaspati went to his home with Raibhya, followed by Vasu who worshipped them both.

O Brhaspati, please clear my doubt whether liberation is attained by one who performs righteous duties or by one who acquires spiritual knowledge. Brhaspati said:

If a man does any work, be it good or bad, dedicating it to Lord Narayana, he becomes not attached to it.

A big herd of deer was taking rest there. A clever hunter by name Nisthuraka came running there with bow and arrow, like Yama, to kill the deer.

Noting the aim of the hunter, sage Samyamana forbade him saying: 'O friend, don't kill them'.

Hearing this, the hunter said with a smile: " O excellent Brahmin, I am not killing the individual souls.

The Supreme God plays himself by the beings. Like illusion created by mantras He works thus,

O Brahmin, those who wish liberation should never have ego. Everything in the world is for the sustenance and progress of life. The word ' I ' is not good there."

On hearing this, the great Brahmin Samyamana was struck with wonder and he asked the hunter Nisthuraka thus:

"What you say, O friend, is apparently reasonable,"

When the fire was thus blazing, the iron-net, with flames spreading through its holes, shone like a globe of arrows.

Though the fire was only on a single spot, thousands of its tongues spread through the holes of the iron-net.

Then the hunter told the Brahmin: *'O great sage! please take a single flame within these so that I may destroy all the remaining ones".

Saying this, he poured a pot of water on it and the entire fire subsided.

Then the hunter told the saintly Brahmin: " O lord; piease give me the flame which you have just taken from the fire, so that I may roast the flesh for my food."

Being told thus, the Brahmin went there and looked at the iron-net. But there was no flame since its base was fully extinguished.

Then, as the Brahmin stood perplexed and silent, the hunter told him.

"The fire when flamed up, had numerous tongues, but all of them disappeared when the fire was extinguished. Similar is the case here.

The soul (Atman) in its primordial form is the repository of all beings. When it transforms itself, the world evolves.

No one falls who performs the duties enjoined in accordance with the embodied nature of his soul".

When the hunter told the Brahmin thus, O king, flowers were showered on him from the sky.

The excellent Brahmin saw many an aerial car that were divine, great and jewelled, and capable of going everywhere.

The Brahmin saw in all of them the hunter Nisthuraka.

With the yogic power to multiply himself, he had obtained the fruit of the instinct of non-duality. Pleased at this sight, the Brahmin returned to his hermitage.

O Raibhya, best of Brahmins, O king Vasu, he who does his duties according to his caste, will acquire spiritual knowledge and attain liberation.

Thus Raibhya and Vasu who had got their doubt cleared left Brhaspati's home and went to their hermitage.

Therefore, O great king, you also worship the great God Narayana and see Him, identical with yourself in your own body.

How did the king present the hymn of Narayana, the sacrificial Man? Be pleased to tell me. Varaha replied:

" I bow to Visnu, the embodiment of sacrifice, who takes many forms like Indra, Siva, sun, moon, fire, king and Maruts.

I bow to the everlasting and extremely strong sacrificial Man possessing terrific canines, having the sun and the moon as his eyes, having year and the two ay anas as his belly and having the kusa-grass as his hairs.

I always prostrate before that Janardana (Visnu) who pervades the sky and earth and all the directions, who is worthy to be extolled, who rules over the world, and from whom the world arose.

I always prostrate before that Paramesvara (Supreme God), the embodiment of sacrifice, who, though birthless and begmningless, takes birth himself first in each yuga for victory, though invincible by the gods and demons.

I always prostrate before the great prowessed Visnu, the embodiment of sacrifice, who bears pure and white disc (Sudarsana), the Sarnga-bow and conch in his hands to achieve victory, and the abode of Maya.

I bow to the sacrificial Man, sometimes having thousand heads, sometimes having the body like a huge mountain and at other times like an atom.

I always prostrate before that sacrificial God, who takes birth as Brahma, the four-faced, to create all the worlds, as Visnu, the disc-bearer, to preserve it, and as Siva resembling the fire in deluge to destroy the same.

I always prostrate before that immeasurable sacrificial God, who is meditated upon by sages, who is primordial and all20 Varaha Parana pervading, and who performs sacrifices for the systematic operation of the wheel of worldly life.

When in my mind I place well your 'principle' which is well manifest in my own body, I am of the firm view that nothing other than this is existent, then my mind attains purity."

There appeared before the king who finished his prayer thus, a lustre resembling the flaming fire. With firm determination the king entered into that sacrificial God and dissolved himself in Him.

Hearing these words of Kapila, King Asvasiras called his son, Sthulasiras, and placed him on the throne. Then he went to the Naimisa forest, O beautiful lady, and there he pleased Visnu, the sacrificial Man, with penance and the hymn in his praise (Yajnamurtistava). Earth asked:

O best of Brahmins, there is the well known conversation between a Brahmin and a hunter. There lived a descendant of sage Atri learning the Vedas intently, performing penance, bathing early in the morning, and worshipping Sandhya all the three times. His name was Sarhyamana. One day he went to Dharmaranya to bathe in the auspicious river Ganges.

Raibhya, Brhaspati and king Vasu sat down and then Brhaspati told Raibhya: " O great sage proficient in the Vedas and Vedarigas, what shall I do for y o u? ". Raibhya said;

Then the hunter, who knew Dharma, made an ironnet and placed fire underneath. He then asked the Brahmin to blow into the fuel to blaze the fire. He did so.

Earth asked: Having cleared their doubt by the words of Brhaspati, what did Vasu and Raibhya do? Varaha replied:

The virtuous king Vasu ruled over his country'and performed munificently many sacrifices.

Meditating solely on Visnu and doing righteous actions, the great king pleased the Lord.

As time went on, the king who crossed the ocean of Dvandvas (opposite things like pain and pleasure, cold and heat etc.) developed in his mind complete detachment from royal pleasures.

Then he entrusted his kingdom to Vivasvat, the eldest of his hundred sons, and went to the forest.

37-7.1-4 23 was released from your hairs and I have attained the form of a hunter.

There was the sacred lake named Puskara where Visnu is worshipped by His devotees in the name of Pundarlkaksa.

The saintly sage Vasu, ruler of Kashmir, went there and doing extremely severe penance emaciated his body.

Reciting the Pundarikaksapara hymn in devotion, the wise king worshipped the sinless God Narayana, and at the end of it, the excellent king became dissolved in Him. Earth asked:

O Great God! tell me clearly what the Pundarikaksapara hymn is. Varaha replied:

"Bow to you, O Pundarlkaksa (one having eyes resembling white lotuses)! Bow to you, O Madhusudana (one who killed the demon Madhu)! Bow to you, O lord of all worlds! Bow to you having a scorching disc (in the hand)!

Obeisance to Pundarlkaksa, the embodiment of all worlds, the long-handed, the giver of boons, the great-prowessed, the omnipresent, and the one having the form of both Vidya (knowledge) and Avidya (ignorance).

Salutation to the primordial great God, who crossed the ocean of the Vedas and Vedaiigas, profound of all gods and having eyes like lotus-petals.

Salutation to the supreme God who has thousand heads, thousand eyes, long hands, and who stands pervading the whole world.

Salutation to God Visnu, the victorious, the primordial, the repose to all devotees, one resembling the dark cloud, and having a disc in hand.

Salutation to the pure, eternal and all-pervading Visnu who has the form of sky and is freed from both Bhava (existence) and Abhava (non-existence).

O Acyuta (imperishable)! I can see nothing other than you. I see all these movable and immovable beings identical with you! "

Who are you? What do you want? Where do you come from? Tell me, O hunter. The Hunter said: *0- " O king! in Kaliyuga, formerly, you were the king of Daksinapatha (South India), quite righteous and skilful, reigning at Janasthana.

One day, O brave king! You with your horses went to a forest for hunting.

There a sage in the form of a deer was thrown down on the earth with two sticks by you, although unwittingly.

Immediately the sage breathed his last. You were, O king, very happy thinking that the deer was dead. But when you went forward, on the Prasravana mountain, you found dead the Brahmin in the form of deer.

Seeing him, O great king, you went to your palace with a mind extremely distressed and told some one about this incident.

As some more days passed, at one night, O king, you got struck with the fear for the sin of killing a Brahmin and you thought: " I will do something by which I will be freed from the sin".

Then, meditating on Lord Narayana, you performed the sacred DvadasI fast.

Saying 'Narayana is pleased with me', on a sacred day, a cow was offered by you according to religious rules. Then and there, you fell down dead due to stomach-ache.

For a Kalpa, O great king, you were in Visnu region. I was living in your body and I know all that occurred.

Just sometime before, I heard the hymn to the God with m y sinful body. Hence my liberation. Now, O lord, I am changed into a completely righteous-minded man."

Having heard this, the great king was struck with wonder and pleased the hunter giving a boon to him. The king said:

As you have reminded me of my previous birth, O hunter, you will be famous by the name 'Dharmavyadha' (a righteous hunter).

One who hears this Pundarlkaksapara hymn will get the same result as that of bathing in the sacred lake Puskara. Vataha said:

After saying this, the king entered into the aerial car. O Earth, then he attained union with the Supreme light.

After this, when the day-kalpa was followed by the night-kalpa, O best of kings, in the first creation, you were born in the palace of king Sumanas who ruled over Kashmir. I was then in your hairs. During that occasion, you performed many sacrifices munificently.

As he finished this prayer, out of his body arose a person with a small body in blue complexion, extremely terrible, having reddish eyes, and resembling a burning pillar. With folded hands, he asked the king: 'O great king! What is to be done by m e? ' The king said:

I was not released from your hairs by those sacrifices which were lacking in the remembrance of Visnu. But, now, when you uttered the Pundarikaksapara hymn, by its power, I

I felt, being the terrible ghost of the dead Brahmin, I could harass you. But then I was driven out by Visnu's servants by their clubs and I came out of the pores of your skin. And I remain my own even in heaven.

I shall tell you why your DvadasI fast did not result in good. Your wife, Narayani, was an auspicious lady. You called her by her name when your life breath was leaving your neck (and not the name of the Lord).

Earth asked: Having heard that Vasu had attained liberation, what did the great sage Raibhya himself do? O God, I wish to know this. Varaha replied:

Having heard that Vasu had attained liberation, the great sage Raibhya went to Gaya, the sacred lake of the manes.

There he propitiated the manes offering Pinda (the lump of rice offered in obsequial ceremonies) in devotion and performed extremely severe penance.

Before sage Raibhya performing great penance, there appeared in an- aerial car an exceedingly effulgent Yogin.

In the aerial car which was small like a particle of dust, resembling the sun, shone forth a man like an atom.

He asked Raibhya: " O sage, with what end in view are you doing penance?' Asking this, that man swelled himself into a huge figure touching the sky and earth.

39—8.1 27

He found the aerial car which was resembling the sun, also becoming very big and pervading the abode of Visnu (sky).

Then, possessed with great wonder, Raibhya prostrated before him and asked 'O great yogin, please tell me who you are'. The Man said:

" I am Rudra's younger brother and I am Brahma's mind-born child. My name is Sanatkumara and I am living in Janaloka.

I have come before you, O sage, out of love for you. O child, you are blessed all times since you increase the race of Brahma. Raibhya said:

Bow to you, O great yogin, Be pleased with me. Please shower on me your benevolence, O Yogin, with the body consisting of all the worlds. O great yogin, please tell me what I should do now. Why do you call me the blessed. Sanatkumara said:

O great Brahmin, you are blessed because you, interested in discussions on the Vedas, pleased the manes by hymns, vows, sacrifices and all kinds of Pindas at this Gaya.

No doubt, then, you will get a son, O great king, who will be the lord of the earth and a munificent donor.

O Child, I am your father Sita (the white) by name, conduct, race and actions. This is my father, the Red, cruel and prone to do sinful deeds like killing of Brahmins.

The other is his father, the Black, and the lord of all who are black of conduct and character. It is by this Black one that a good number of ancient sages were killed.

Both these my father, the lord Red, and his father, the Black, died and, O child, went to the hells named Raudra and Avici and lived there for a long time.

As a result of my chaste actions I was led to the seat of Indra (the heaven), one that is rare to be attained. It is by you, well-versed in Mantras, I am united with these, who were in hell, by the power of offering Pindas in this sacred lake.

O destroyer of enemies, you have offered water saying: " I shall propitiate my father, grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

By that word, we are united now, O good child, I can undoubtedly go to the world of manes by the power of this sacred water.

By offering Pindas here, both these your grandfathers got liberation in spite of their misfortunes and sinful deeds.

The power of this sacred water is so great that even a killer of Brahmins can be liberated by his son through the offering of Pindas in this lake.

That is why, I, accompanied by both these, have come here to see you. Now I am going.

Since Narayana himself was seen here as Gadadhara (holding the mace in his hand), He is installed in this temple in the same form. O best of Brahmins! this sacred lake, therefore, l s the most famous. Vardha said:

After saying this, the great yogin (Sanatkumara) disappeared. Raibhya extolled Narayana in the form of Gadadhara as follows: Raibhya said:

Bow to Gadadhara, who is extolled by gods, who is forebearing and auspicious, who destroys demons in Visala and who destroys, on mere remembrance, the sorrow of the poor and all inauspicious things.

Bow to Gadadhara, the primordial Man who is extolled again and again, the ancient, the purified, the great prowessed, the shelter to all, Trivikrama (one having three footsteps in the Vamana incarnation) and who killed demon Kesin and protected the world.

One who prostrates before Gadadhara lives happily— Gadadhara who is wedded to Laksml (goddess of wealth) and thus amply rich, who is extolled by sinless kings, who is devoid of sin and has purified feelings and is skilful.

One who prostrates before Gadadhara lives happily— Gadadhara who has the feet like lotuses and is worshipped by gods and demons, who wears a bracelet, necklace of pearls, armlet and crown, and has a disc in his hand, and who sleeps in the sea.

One who prostrates before Gadadhara lives happily— Gadadhara, the all-pervading, the imperishable, and the great lord who is white in Krta age, red in Treta., blue in Dvapara and black like a bee in Kali age.

May Gadadhara be victorious—Gadadhara having three forms at a time, who as one born from a seed creates the four-faced Brahma, who in the form of Narayana creates and protects the world, and who in the form of Rudra destroys it.

It is well known that all beings are formed of three qualities, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. May Gadadhara possessing all these three in himself provide me with courage in discharging my righteous and spiritual duties.

It is the raft of Gadadhara that has protected me who was drowning deep in the ocean of worldly life, terrible with snares of sorrows, and crocodiles of separation (from my relatives).

I prostrate before God (Gadadhara) preserving the earth, who being himself the trio of Gods created this world out of his power as in the case of sky, i. e., in Atman by Atman, who created fire and water in it and seated himself in the water.

May Gadadhara Visnu provide me with liberation—he who attained the form of fish and the like to protect gods and others and who is present in all beings in the form of sacrifice. Vardha said:

When the intelligent Raibhya thus extolled Visnu in great devotion, He clad in yellow-garment, appeared before him in the sky.

Then He having a conch, disc and a mace in his hands, sitting on Garuda, said in words lofty like the sound of a cloud.

"O great Brahmin-sage Raibhya! I am pleased with your devotion, hymn and by your oblution in this sacred lake. Tell me what you want". Raibhya said:

Be pleased, O great lord Janardana, to give me the beatitude by which I shall live where Sanaka and others dwell. God said:

One who goes to Gaya and recites this hymn, uttered by Raibhya to Gadadhara Visnu, achieves better fruits than those by offering Pinda.

'Let it be so, O Brahmin!' Saying this, the Lord disappeared. By the grace of God Visnu, Raibhya became possessed of divine knowledge within a moment. And he attained the world where the great sage Sanaka and others live.

For the same reason, O Raibhya, I am saying that you are blessed. It is very rare to go to Gaya even once and offer Pindas there. You have been always here. What else is to be said, O lord; this is your good luck.

And hear me, O sage! There lived in the city Visala another king by name Visala, gratified and courageous, ruling over the whole country Visala. He, who had destroyed all his enemies, asked the great Brahmins what was to be done to get a son for him. Those benign Brahmins told him: 'O king, please go to Gaya and propitiate the manes there by giving munificent offerings of rice for getting a son.

When the Brahmins said this, the king of Visala was very glad and he went to the sacred lake and in great devotion offered Pindas to the manes in Maghas (tenth lunar asterism). At that time, he saw before him three persons in white, red and black complexions. He asked them: Why do you look at tently? I am anxious to know everything. Please tell me". The White man said:

Vardha said: He who was in the body of king Vasu became a hunter and he lived some four thousand years doing his traditional work (hunting). 28 Varaha Ригйпа

For his family he killed one beast each day and with it propitiated his servants, guests and the fire (installed in his hut).

In Mithila, O beautiful lady, he used to perform obsequial ceremonies for the manes on every new moon day in accordance with practice.

Doing daily worship of fire and uttering truth and sweet and appropriate words he lived a modest life.

As he was living thus, a son was born to him by name Arjunaka. He was righteous in mind; performed penance and controlled his passions like a sage.

In course of time this intelligent and chaste hunter got a charming daughter also by name Arjunaka.

As she came of age, the righteous hunter thought about her marriage: To whom is she to be given in marriage? Who is a suitable man for her?

While he was thinking about this, Mataiiga's son, Prasanna, came to the hunter's mind.

33—Ю.1-8 35

Having tentatively fixed him (as a bridegroom to his daughter), he asked Matariga: " O great sage! please receive Arjuni, my daughter, whom I am. giving on my own accord to the great-souled Prasanna, your son". Matanga said:

My son Prasanna is well versed in all Sastras. O great hunter, I shall receive your daughter Arjunaka for him.

Then the righteous hunter, performer of great penance, gave his daughter in marriage to the intelligent Prasanna, son of Matanga.

After this, the righteous hunter went *o his hut. His daughter began to attend on her husband and parents-in-law.

As time went on, the auspicious girl's mother-in-law told her. "You are a hunter's daughter. That is why you are like this. You don't know how to perform penance and how to attend on a husband."

The timid lady, scolded by her mother-in-law for such a silly offence, went to her father's house weeping again and again.

The father asked her. " O my daughter, why are you crying like this?" The beautiful girl told him in detail all that happened.

" O т у father, my mother-in-law scolded me loosing her temper that I was a hunter's daughter and my father had killed so many living beings".

Hearing this, the righteous-souled hunter got angry and v/ent to Matanga's house which was surrounded by a village.

I want some food bereft of life. I came to your house eagerly for this very purpose. Matanga said:

Similarly, he filled Satyaloka with the gods freed from re-birth. After having this creation, the benevolent God gave it the meaningful name Kalpa, the whole thing being his creation.

There is a lot of cooked wheat and rice in my house. O best of righteous men and great sage, you can eat these as much as you wish. The hunter said:

In that cosmos, the three worlds Bhur Bhuvah and Suvah arise, no doubt.

The time when the God sleeps at the end of a Kalpa is called night. Then all these three worlds are subject to turmoils.

May I see the wheat, rice and barley. I have to check whether these are the same as I know them. Varaha said:

Night being over, the lotus-eyed God got up and thought about the four Vedas and in them the Goddess of the Vedas.

When he said this, Matanga showed the righteous hunter a winnowing basket full of wheat, and another full of rice.

Despite this thinking, he did not get the Vedas because He was illusioned by the sense of sleep. He was in utter confusion.

Seeing the wheat and rice, the righteous hunter stood up from his seat and started to go but Matanga prevented him, saying as follows.

Then seeing them hidden in his own form called water, he thought of entering into it taking the form of a fish.

"Please tell me, O great soul, why are you going so hastily even without taking food. There is still excellent food here in my house. You may cook it yourself if you like, and eat it. Why not you eat this?" The hunter said:

"Each day you kill thousands and crores of lives. Which virtuous man can eat food given by such a sinner like you?

So after meditating for sometime He took the form of a great fish and entered into the water agitating it all around.

When the excellent God in the form of the huge fish resembling a big mountain, suddenly entered the ocean, He who had uplifted the earth before was extolled.

If there is well-cooked food free from living organisms in your house, then I shall eat it since you are my relative. 30 Varaha Parana [... ' j 28. I kill for my family only one animal each day. And even that, after cooking I offer first to the manes and then only I i eat it with my family members.

"Obeisance to you, O God, who is difficult to be attained even by Vedanta! Obeisance to Narayana in the form of fish. Obeisance to you, the embodiment of all the worlds and the lord of gods; Obeisance to you taking the form of the two kinds of knowledge (spiritual and worldly).

You, on the other hand; kill many living organisms | • everyday and eat them with your family. I think, therefore, this •' food is not eatable to me.

Obeisance to you having manifold forms like the sun and the moon and having beautiful eyes, and now in the ocean; Obeisance to you, O Visnu. We seek shelter in you! Giving up this form of fish, please protect us.

O God having endless body, this world is pervaded by you. O God, there is nothing here except you. There is nothing other than yourself in this world. We seek protection in you.

Brahma, in yore, created all plants and creepers for the I purpose of sacrifice. It is sanctioned by the Vedas, that these are eatable to all beings.

O God having eyes resembling lotus petals, ether, soul, moon, fire, mind and form—all these are your primordial body itself. It is by you that this cosmos is illumined. Please forgive me if I am devoid of proper devotion to you.

Long ago, Brahma created five great sacrifices: Divya (divine), Bhauma (of earth), Paitra (of the manes), Manusa (of man) and Brahma (of Brahma).

These sacrifices are intended for the good of Brahmins and other castes. For other castes they are fruitful if got performed by Brahmins.

O God, this form of yours is contradictory in itself. It is pleasant-speaking and pleasant-voiced and at the same time it is like a mountain. O the ancient and imperishable great God who is the repose of all the worlds, please turn this scorching form into one that is benign.

A man should eat food only after doing this. Only through this, the food becomes purified. Otherwise the rice and the like are considered to be birds and animals for both the guests and hosts. These are called 'great meat'.

We all seek shelter in you. We prostrate before you terrified by this huge form. There is nothing in this world outside yourself."

I have given you my beautiful daughter as your daughter-in-law. Your wife scolded her that she is the daughter of a hunter who kills animals. So I have come here to test you also.

Extolled thus, the God caught the Vedas with Upanisads and Sastras out of the water and then took his own form.

Traditional rites, worshipping gods, receiving guests— nothing of these can be seen here.

As long as the God bears his own form, this world exists. When the God assumes his primordial form this world is dissolved. When He takes his manifested forms, this world also evolves.

Therefore I wish to go to my own house to perform obsequial rites for the manes. Unless these are done, I do not take my food even in my house.

When my daughter was married by your son, she attained some of his eminence as a result, and that is sufficient expiation for her birth in my family.

When your son married my daughter, this decency had not come to you. Now, O sage, it is time for doing expiatory rites."

"Bow to Visnu, who destroyed the enemies of gods, who has LaksmI on his broad chest, who rules over the world well, who is a shelter to the virtuous, who placed three steps (in his dwarf incarnation), and who uplifted the mount Mandara (in his tortoise incarnation).

Bow to Visnu, Damodara (one who had been bound by rope by his foster mother Yasoda), who has seized the earth with his intellect, who is white with his fame, who is black like a bee, who is the enemy of demons, who. is extolled by everyone time and again and who protects his devotees.

Bow to Visnu, Puiusottama (best of men) who is seen in three forms, who has a lustrous disc in his hand, who stands on the part of justice, who has excellent qualities, who has the name Beatitude, who is imperishable and who is the preceptor of all.

May Visnu protect me praying for shelter, who is the great boar, who receives the sacrificial offerings, who destroys the mischievous, who fulfils my wishes, who has four faces, and who is a mountain for me in crossing the ocean of worldly life.

May Visnu, the Lord of the world, protect me who created the three worlds covered by illusion, and who, like the fire, pervades himself all over the animate and inanimate beings.

In each yuga, Visnu creates Brahma from whom arose this world consisting of animates and inanimates and in whom in the form of Rudra all this is dissolved; so He is called Hari and Hara.

May the eternal Lord Visnu, provide me with good whose different forms are the sun, moon, earth, air and water and whose form is unthinkable and indescribable."

When the hunter uttered this, the eternal God appeared himself before him in a wondrous form. The eternal Lord having

The victorious Matanga, his relative, welcomed him giving water for washing his feet and provided him with a seat. Then he asked the guest: "Please tell me for what purpose you have come here. What shall I do for you?". The hunter said:

Then having worshipped gods and manes with devotion, and having entrusted his son Arjunaka with looking after the family, the righteous hunter, performer of great penance, went to the world-famous sacred lake named Purusottama. There, O Earth, he performed penance in accordance with rules with a concentrated mind reciting the following hymn:

With these few words, he rose up and pronounced a curse on women. "Never shall the mothers-in-law have confidence in their daughters-in-law! And never shall a daughterin-law wish her mother-in-law live!" Cursing thus, O lady, the hunter went to his hut.