Chapter 118 - Dialogue between Maheśvara and the Sages

Vyāsa said:

1-3. On hearing these words of her lord from the beginning, O brahmins, that holy mother of the universe became pleased, delighted and surprised. Near the lord, the destroyer of the three cities, there were certain excellent sages who had been to that mountain in the course of their pilgrimage. They worshipped the trident-bearing lord, bowed to him and asked him to clear their doubt, with desire for the welfare of the world.

The sages said:

4-6. Obeisance to thee, O Three-eyed one, O destroyer of Dakṣa’s sacrifice. O Lord of the universe, we shall ask you some questions to clear the doubts lurking in our hearts. In this extremely terrible world that causes hairs to stand on end and strikes terror, men of deficient intellect aimlessly wander for a long time. Tell us that means whereby theyreleased from the bondage of births and worldly existence. We wish to hear it. Our eagerness is great.

Maheśvara said:

7. O Brahmins, I do not see any means other than the son of Vasudeva for the liberation of men bound by the noose of action (and reactions) who undergo misery.

8. Those who worship well that lord who wields conch, discus and club, by word, deeds and thoughts attain the highest region.

9. Of what avail is their life and the beast-like activity of those people whose mind is not directed towards Vāsudeva who pervades the entire universe?

The sages said:

10. O Pināka-bearing Śaṅkara, O destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga, O lord adored by the worlds, we wish to hear the greatness of Vāsudeva.

Maheśvara said:

11. Hari the eternal Puruṣa is more excellent than Brahmā. He is Kṛṣṇa with golden splendour like the sun shining in a cloudless sky.

12. He has ten arms. He has great splendour. He is the destroyer of the enemies of gods. He is Hṛṣīkeśa marked by the scar Śrīvatsa. He is the leader of gods.

13. Brahmā is born of his belly. I am born of his head. The luminaries are born of his hair. Devas and Asuras are born of his bodily hairs.

14. The sages and the eternal worlds are born of his body. He is the abode of Brahmā himself and of Devas too.

15. That lord of the three worlds is the creator of the universe. He is also the annihilator of all living beings, mobile and immobile.

16. He is the most excellent among gods. He is the lord of Devas. He overcomes enemies. He is omniscient. He is the creator of all beings. He goes everywhere. He has faces all round.

17. In the three worlds there is no other living being greater than he. He is eternal. He is blessed. He is known as Govinda.

18. For the fulfilment of the task of gods he takes up human form. He bestows honour on others. He will be killing all kings in battle.

19. Without the help of Trivikrama, the hosts of Devas will be leaderless and they will be incapable of performing their divine functions.

20-21. He is the leader of all living beings. He is the leader of Devas. He is identical with the slightest created thing and the greatest as well. He is the supreme Brahman. He is the perpetual refuge of the brahminical sages. Brahmā is stationed in his umbilicus. I am stationed in his body.

22. The gods are comfortably stationed in his body. That lotus-eyed lord has goddess Lakṣmī in his belly. He stays in the company of Śrī.

23-25. His weapons are Śārṅga (bow), discus and sword. He has (Garuḍa) the enemy, of all Nāgas for his emblem in the flag. He is possessed of excellent good conduct, purity, self-control, valour, virility pleasing body, ever-increasing power, of straightforwardness, kindness, beauty of form and strength. He wields all kinds of divine miraculous weapons very wonderful to behold.

26. He is thousand-eyed and he operates the Yogic Māyā. He is Virūpākṣa. He is noble-minded. By gentle speech he praises friendly folk. He is fond of his kith and kin.

27. That lord has ample forbearance. He does not boast of himself. He bestows (the power to realise) Brahman. He removes the fear of those who are distressed by fear. He increases the delight of his friends.

28. He is the seat of refuge of all living beings. He is engaged in the protection of the poor. He is richly endowed with learning and wealth. He is honoured by all living beings.

29. He helps those who resort to him. He causes fear in the minds of his enemies. He is conversant with polity. He is richly endowed with the quality of justice. He is the expounder of Brahman. He has conquered his sense-organs.

30-41. For the sustenance of Devas the lord who is possessed of the greatest intellect will be born in the family of Manu, in the splendid path of Manu, descended from Prajāpati and consecrated by piety. There is a son of Manu named Aṃśa. Antardhāman is his successor. (The son of) Antardhāman is the Prajāpati, Havirdhāman the uncensured. O brahmins, Prācīnabarhiṣ will be born as the son of Havirdhāman. Ten sons will be born to him with Pracetas as the eldest. Dakṣa the Prajāpati will be born as the son of Pracetas. Āditya will be the son of Dakṣa and (Vaivasvata) Manu will be born of Āditya. Ilā and Sudyumna will be born in the family of Manu. Purūravas will be born of Budha and Āyus will be born thereof. Nahuṣa will be born of him and his son will be Yayāti. Yadu of great prowess will be born of him and his son will be Kroṣṭṛ. The great son of Kroṣṭṛ will be called Vṛjinīvān. The unvanquished Uṣaṅgu will be born of Vṛjinīvān. The heroic Citraratha will be born as the son of Uṣaṅgu. His younger (brother, the younger son of Uṣaṅgu) will be famous by the name of Śūra. O excellent brahmins, in the family of these kings of well-known prowess, possessed of good qualities and conduct and of purity and readiness to perform sacrifices, the well-known excellent Kṣatriya, Śūra of great vigour and prowess, will beget his famous son Vasudeva, Ānakadundubhi, who will expand his race and who will bestow honour on all. Vāsudeva of four arms will be born as his son. He will be liberal in gifts. He will honour brahmins. He will be fond of the twice-born. He will realise Brahman.

42-43. After killing king Jarāsandha, this scion of the family of Yadu will release the imprisoned kings. That powerful king will possess all earthly jewels of kings. He will be unhindered in the whole of the Earth due to his vigour and prowess.

44-47. He will be richly endowed with valour. He will become the Emperor of all kings. He will be staying in Dvārakā after he has slain the enemies. After conquering the wicked he will protect goddess Earth: Approaching him in the company of excellent deserving brahmins, all of you shall duly worship him like the eternal Brahmā. The powerful lord Vāsudeva of great prowess should be seen by anyone who wishes to see me and Brahma the grandfather. If he is seen I too am seen. I do not entertain any doubtful thought in this regard.

48-50. O ascetics, know that (Brahmā) is Vāsudeva. The hosts of Devas beginning with Brahmā will become pleased with that person of whom the lotus-eyed lord is fond. If any man in the world seeks refuge in Keśava he will attain fame and renown and go to heaven. He will become righteous and also the instructor in virtuous activities.

51. Acyuta, that lord of Devas, should be worshipped by a person conversant with virtue. When this lord is worshipped he will always possess virtue.

52. With a desire to do whatever is conducive to the benefit of all subjects, that lord of great splendour, the tiger among men created crores of sages for spreading Dharma (virtue).

53. They, beginning with Sanatkumāra, duly created by him, stay on the Gandhamādana mountain, performing austerities.

54. Hence, O leading twice-born, that eloquent lord conversant with Dharma should be bowed to. He shall salute on being saluted; he shall honour, on being honoured.

55. O excellent brahmins, that lord shall see on being seen; he shall offer refuge everyday, on being sought refuge in; On being worshipped regularly he shall accept worship.

56. Such is the great vow of the great primordial lord Viṣṇu the undespicable. It is always followed by good people.

57. The eternal lord is always worshipped by Devas in the universe. They follow him by resorting to a befitting fearlessness.

58. That son of Devakī should always be bowed to, by thought, by speech and by deeds by brahmins exerting themselves. He should necessarily be seen.

59. O excellent sages, this is the pathway laid down by me. If that lord of Devas is seen, the excellent Devas shall be seen.

60. I too always worship and bow to that lord, the grandfather of the worlds, the great Boar, lord of the universe.

61. All the three deities will undoubtedly be seen in him. All of us, all the gods, stay in his body.

62. The ploughshare-wielding lord, well-known as Bala, having the lustre of a number of white mountains put together will be born as his elder brother. He will hold the Earth aloft.

63-67. He has a three-hooded head. He is one whose end is not seen. Suparṇa, the powerful son of Kaśyapa, was not capable of seeing the end of that noble lord, in spite of his prowess. He is Śeṣa who joyously moves about. He stays within embracing the Earth by means of his body. Viṣṇu is the lord who bears the earth. He who is Rāma is Hṛṣīkeśa, Acyuta, the lord who bears aloft the entire Earth. Both of them are divine, tigers among men with divine exploits. They wield discus and ploughshare. They are worthy of honour. They should be seen, O ascetics, this is a favour shown to you. Hence, all of you shall strenuously worship the most excellent one among the descendents of Yadu.