Chapter 47 - The Origin of Idols

Brahmā said:

1-2. O leading sages, after eulogising and bowing thus to the eternal lord of the universe, Vāsudeva the bestower of all desired benefits, the worried king spread Kuśa grass on the ground and a single cloth over Kuśa grass. Keeping his mind concentrated on him he restrained his sense-organs and went to sleep.

3. At the time of going to bed his thought was—“How does Vāsudeva, the lord of Devas become visible? How is that lord going to dispel my agony?

4. Vāsudeva, the preceptor of the universe revealed himself to the sleeping king as one who held conch, discus and iron club.

5-8. He saw the lord of Devas, the preceptor of the universe, in the course of a dream. The lord was holding conch and discus. His fierce hands held iron club and discus. He had the bow Śārṅga, arrow and sword. There was a halo of shining refulgence. He had the colour and lustre of the sun at the end of Yugas. He resembled the blue lapis lazuli. He was seated on the shoulders of Garuḍa. The splendid deity had eight arms. O self-possessed sages, the lord spoke to the king:—“Well done, O king, of great intellect”.

O king, I am satisfied on account of this great sacrifice and your devotion and faith Why do you bewail in vain?

9. O king, the idol here is eternal and worthy of being worshipped. I shall tell you the means whereby you will obtain that idol.

10-12. When this night dawns, at the rise of the sun devoid of impurities, (you shall go) to the place where the seawater comes to an end. It is adorned by different trees. O king, even within the shore line much water is seen. It is the water that has rushed in there in a flood from the waves of the briny sea. There is a great tree on the shore standing both on land and in the water. Though the billows strike at it, the tree does not shake.

13. O king, go there alone in a sportful mood. Take an axe with you and wade through the waves. You will reach the tree.

14-15. On reaching the holy fig tree chop it off unhesitatingly. Chop, pear and chisel that tree of wonderful appearance. O king, evolve my divine idol after full consideration. Leave off worries that delude you.

Brahmā said:

16. After saying this, Lord Viṣṇu, the highly blessed deity, vanished from sight. On account of this vision in his dream the king was extremely surprised.

17. The king spent that night eagerly expecting (what had been foretold). His mind dwelt on it alone. He repeated the Mantras and hymns pertaining to Viṣṇu.

18-19. When the night dawned into day the king got up. He took a holy dip in the ocean in accordance with the injunctions. He gave charitable gifts to the brahmins, offering villages and cities. After performing the routine rites of the forenoon, the king went ahead.

20. Neither a chariot nor a charioteer, neither an elephant nor a foot-soldier accompanied him. The highly intelligent king entered the great shore alone.

21-22. There he saw the huge tree, the refulgent tall tree. It was very terrible, fierce, holy and extensive. Its height was great and the size very large. It stood well protected near the seashore. It had the colour and lustre of dense red madder. The tree had neither a name nor a species.

23. O brahmins, on seeing that tree the king was joyous. He chopped it off with his sharp and steady axe.

24. He was desirous of splitting it unto two. When the log was being examined a wonderful event was seen.

25-28. Viśvakarmā^[1] and Viṣṇu assumed the forms of two brahmins and came there. Both these brahmins were equally highly blessed. They shone with their refulgence. They had divine garlands and unguents. They approached king Indradyumna and said: “O great king what is it that you are going to do here? O king of powerful arms, why was this tree chopped off? O king of powerful arms, this tree had been standing isolated on the shore of the great sea (away) from the desolate thick forest. Why has it been cut down?

Brahmā said:

29-30. O brahmins, on hearing their words the king became glad. On seeing them arrive there like the moon and the sun endowed with forms the king bowed to these lords of Universe. He spoke to them sweet and soft words as he stood with his head lowered in reverence.

The king said:

31. It is my desire to propitiate the lord of Devas, the lord of the worlds devoid of beginning and devoid of end. For that I shall make the idol.

32. In the course of a dream I have been directed by the lord of Devas the noblest and the greatest Soul. It has thus been narrated to you two.

33. On hearing the words of the king who was on par with lord Indra, the lord Viṣṇu, the lord of the Universe laughed with satisfaction and spoke thus.

Viṣṇu said:

34-38. Well done, well done, O highly blessed one. Your inclination is excellent. The ocean of worldly existence is terrible. It is as restless as the leaves of the plantain tree. It is insignificant and more or less full of misery. Enjoyment of pleasures is like the crocodile. It makes it excited. The sense-organs act like foams and whirlpool. It is very difficult to cross. It causes hairs to stand on end. Hundreds of different ailments act like eddies. The ocean of worldly existence is like a water bubble. Since in such an atmosphere your mind is inclined to propitiate Viṣṇu, you are really blessed. O leading king, you are adorned by all good qualities. The entire Earth with all subjects, mountains, parks and forests, towns and villages, and adorned by the four castes, is blessed, since you, O leading king, are the lord and protector of subjects.

39. Come on, O highly blessed one, this tree is comfortably cool. Sit here along with us both. We shall discuss pious topics.

40. This is my associate who has come here to help me. He is the most excellent among the artisans. He is equal to Viśvakarmā himself. He is an expert in all activities. He will make the idol thought of by you. Leave the shore now.

41-47. On hearing these words of the brahmin, the most excellent king left the shore and stood in the cool shade of the tree. Then the soul of the universe, the deity who had assumed the form of a brahmin, O leading brahmins, gave this order to the chief of Artisans—“Make the idol. The first one shall be in the form of Kṛṣṇa. It should be extremely calm. The eyes should be as large as the petals of the lotus. He should have the scar Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha^[2] jewel. He should hold conch, discus Sudarśana^[3] and iron club.

The second idol should have the colour and lustre of the moon and cow’s milk. It should be marked by the Svastika sign. He should hold the plougshare as his weapon. He is the lord of great strength named Ananta.^[4] His end has never been seen and understood by Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Vidyādharas and serpents. Hence he is known as Ananta.

The third idol should be of Subhadrā^[5] the sister of Vasudeva. It shall be splendid and gold-coloured. It should be marked with all characteristics.

Brahmā said:

48. On hearing his words, Viśvakarmā did all efficiently, instantaneously. He made the idols of auspicious traits.

49. The ear-rings were of wonderful design and shone in the ears. The hands were kept on the discus and ploughshare, Kṛṣṇa holding the discus and Balarāma the ploughshare. The idols were approved of by the pious people.

50-51. The first idol had white lustre and colour. It was as refulgent as the autumnal moon. The eyes were reddish. The body was huge and the head looked savagely fierce due to the hoods. It was the fierce Balarāma who was clad in blue robes, He was haughty and intoxicated due to his inordinate strength. He wore a single ear-ring. He had a divine form. He held the iron club and the threshing rod.

52-53. The second idol was Viṣṇu’s. His eyes resembled the lotus; his body the blue cloud. He shone like the Atasi flower. His eyes were as large as the petals of the lotus. He had yellow garments. He was very fierce and auspicious. He was marked by the characteristic sign of Śrīvatsa. The discus filled one of his hands. He had a divine form that dispelled sins.

54-55. The third idol made by Viśvakarmā was that of Subhadrā. She had the colour and lustre of gold. Her eyes were large like the petals of a lotus. She was clad in robes of various and wonderful colours. She was bedecked in necklaces and shoulderlets. She was adorned by wonderful ornaments. Gem-studded necklaces dangled round her neck. Viśvakarmā made her very beautiful with plump and elevated breasts.

56-57. On seeing this wonderful deed of making the idols in a trice, on seeing that the beautiful idols richly endowed with all characteristic signs, clad in a pair of divine clothes and adorned by different jewels were made quickly, the king was excessively surprised and he spoke thus.

Indradyumna said:

58-60. Are you two Devas who have come here in the guise of brahmins? Both of you have wonderful activities. Youof divine conduct, not human.

If you are not Devas or human beings, are you Yakṣas or Vidyādharas? Are you Brahmā and Hṛṣīkeśa? Are you Vasus or Aśvins? I do not know whether you are really present here or merely stationed in Māyā form (whatever it may be). I seek refuge in you two. May your real self be revealed to me.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Viśvakarmā, the architect of gods.

[2]:

Kaustubha:—a celebrated jewel, obtained with thirteen precious things at the churning of milky ocean and suspended on the breast of Kṛṣṇa.

[3]:

Sudarśana:—The discus of lord Kṛṣṇa which he received from the fire-god to fight with Indra when the latter showered rain to protect the forest Khāṇḍava from burning. According to another version, Viśvakarmā, the divine architect put the sun in a turning machine, turned him and decreased his radiance. Out of the dust of the sun, produced by this process, Viśvakarmā made the discus-weapon, the aerial chariot, Puṣpaka, the Trident of Śiva and the Śakti (lance) of Subrahmaṇya. Of these weapons, the discus Sudarśana was given to Mahāviṣṇu.

[4]:

3. Ananta, the Nāga chief Śeṣa. Balarāma, the eldest brother of Śrīkṛṣṇa is said to be part incarnation (aṃśāvatāra) of Śeṣa.

[5]:

Subhadrā—sister of Śrīkrṣṇa was married to Arjuna. Abhimanyu was her son. She is deified.