Chapter 55 - Vishnu’s Reply

1. Vaishampayana said:—Hearing the words of Narada the Lord Madhusudana, the master of gods, smilingly said in auspicious words:—"

2. O Narada, listen to a proper reply to all these words which you have addressed to me for the well-being of the three worlds.

3. It is known to me that all these Danavas, assuming human forms, have been born on earth.

4. I know too that Kamsa is born as the son of Ugrasena on earth. I know also that Keshi is born as a horse.

5. I know also the elephant Kuvalayapida, the wrestlers Chanura and Mushthika and the demon Arishtha in the shape of a bull.

6. Khara and the great Asura Pralamva are also known to me. Bali’s daughter Putana is also well known to me.

7. I know also Kaliya who is living in the lake of Yamuna and who has entered there in fear of Vinata’s son^[1].

8. I know also Jarasandha who is the head of all kings; and the demon Naraka, who is living in the city of Pragyotish, is also very well-known to me.

9-10. In the city of Shonitpura on earth Bana is born as a man. That energetic and haughty demon, of thousand arms, is invincible even unto the gods. I know also that the great charge of Bharatvarsa lies with me.

11. I know also how all these kings will disappear. The destruction of those danavas, in human forms, who never come back from battle-field and the rejoicing of the region of Sakra has also been seen by me.

12-13. For myself and for others I shall enter into Yoga. Going to the region of men and assuming a human form I shall bring about the destruction of all those mighty demons headed by Kamsa. I shall slay him by that means by which he will enjoy peace.

14. By my Yoga I shall resort to all these means. It is my incumbent duty to destroy all those enemies of the gods in battle.

15. I shall kill the foes of all those great ones who have sacrificed themselves on behalf of the earth, of all those gods, Rishis and Gandharvas who have come down on earth at my behest.

16. O Narada, I have already formed this resolution. Let the grand-father Brahma make a house there for me.

17. O grand-father, do you relate to me, how, born in what country and living in what house I shall kill them".

18. Brahma said:—O lord, O Narayana, hear from me of that key to success and who your parents will be on earth.

19. In order to glorify their family you will be born in the race of Yadavas.

20. Eradicating these Asuras for good and multiplying your great family you will establish the orders of mankind. Hear from me about this.

21. O Narayana, in the days of yore, in the great sacrifice of the high-souled Varuna, Kashyapa stole away all the cows giving milk for the sacrifice.

24. Kashyapa had two wives, Aditi and Surabhi who did not wish to accept the kine from Varuna.

23. Thereupon coming to me and bowing with his head down Varuna said "O revered one, the preceptor has stolen away all my kine.

24. Having accomplished his object, even, O father, he has not ordered the return of those kine. He is under the control of his two wives Aditi and Surabhi.

25. O lord, all those my kine give heavenly and eternal milk whenever wished. Protected by their own power they range in the seas.

26. They perpetually yeild milk like unto the ambrosia of gods. Save Kashyapa there is none else who can charm them.

27. O Brahma, a master, a preceptor or whoever he may be if one goes astray you dost control him. You are our supreme refuge.

28. O preceptor of the world, if punishment is not meted out to powerful persons who do not know their own work, then the order of the world will not exist.

29. You are omnipotent and lord of all. Do you give me my kine, I will go then to the ocean.

30. These kine are my soul—they are my endless strength. Of all your creation the kine and the Brahmanas are the eternal sources of energy.

31. First of all the kine should be saved. When they are saved they protect the Brahmanas. The world is upheld by the protection of the kine and Brahmanas".

32. O Acyuta, thus addressed by Varuna, the king of water, and being truly informed of the pilfering of the kine I imprecated a curse on Kashyapa.

33. With that portion, in which the high-souled Kashyapa stole the kine, he will be born as a milkman on earth.

34. His two wives Surabhi and Aditi, who are like pieces of wood for the birth of gods, will also go with him.

35-36. Being born as a milkman with them he will live there happily. That portion of Kashyapa, equally powerful like himself, will pass by the name of Vasudeva and will live amongst the kine on earth. Near Mathura there is a mountain by name Govardhana.

37-42. Paying tribute to Kamsa he lives there being attached to kine. His two wives Aditi and Surabhi are born as the two wives of Vasudeva by name Devaki and Rohini. Being born there as a boy having all the characteristics of a milkman he there grew up as you didst do before in your form with three footsteps. Then covering thyself with the form (of Yoga), O Madhusudana, do you go there for the well-being of the world. With exclamations of your victory and benediction all these gods are welcoming you. Descending on earth and taking your birth from Rohini and Devaki do you please them. Thousands of milk maids will also cover the earth.

43. O Vishnu, when you shalt range in the forest tending kine they will see your beautiful form adorned with garlands of wild flowers.

44. O you having eyes like lotus petals, O large-armed Narayana, when you will go as a boy to the villages of milkmen all people will become boys.

45-46. O you having lotus eyes, being milkmen with their minds devoted to you all your votaries will help you; tending kine in the forest, running in pastures and bathing in the water of Yamuna they will acquire a great attachment for you. And Vasudeva’s life will be a blessed one.

47. You will address him as your father and he will address you as his son. Save Kashyapa whom else canst you accept as your father?

48. O Vishnu, save Aditi who else can conceive you? Therefore by your self-begotten Yoga do you proceed for victory, O Madhusudana. We too repair to our respective habitations.

49. Vaishampayana said:—Having ordered the gods to repair to the celestial region the Lord Vishnu went to his own abode on the northern side of the ocean of milk.

60. In this quarter there is a cave of the mount Sumeru difficult of being trodden, which is worshipped with his three foot-steps during the solistice.

61. Having left there, in the cave, his old body the omnipotent and intelligent Hari despatched his soul to the house of Vasudeva.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

Garuda who used to eat up serpents.

Other Purana Concepts:

[back to top]

Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Vishnu’s Reply’. Further sources in the context of Purana might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Three worlds, Yoga, Lotus-eye, Great sacrifice, Ocean of milk, Thousand arms, Beautiful form, Two wives, Great attachment, Human form, Supreme refuge, Lord Madhusudana, House of Vasudeva, Powerful person, Wives of Vasudeva, Great One, Celestial region, Mount Govardhana, Hearing the Word, Demon Naraka, Destruction of Danavas, Elephant Kuvalayapida, Blessed life, Incumbent duty, Son of Ugrasena, Three-world.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Your father.