Chapter 127 - The Earth Goes to Brahma

[Full title: The Earth Goes to Brahma: Markandeya Explains How Brahma, Vishnu, Siva are One].

1. Vaishampayana said:—When the three eyes (of Siva) were burning all the worlds were covered with darkness: and Nandi, Rudra and his car were not visible.

2-10. Then Rudra, burning in double effulgence on account of his anger and strength, took up his arrow having sharpened darts on four sides with which he had killed Tripura. When the three-eyed deity took up that arrow, set it to his bow and was about to discharge it the high-souled Vasudeva, cognizant of the minds of all, came to know of it. Thereupon the quick-handed and highly powerful Purusottama took up his weapon Jrimbhana (yawning) and made with it Hara yawn. With that arrow the Divine Hara, the conqueror of Asuras and Rakshasas, was stupified together with his bow and arrows and lost consciousness. Having stupified with his weapon his own self in the shape of Rudra together with his bow and arrows the highly powerful Krishna, identical with all, blew his conch-shell. Seeing Shankara stupified and hearing the blare of his conch-shell Pancajanya and the twang of of his bow Shranga all the creatures were filled with fear. In the meantime Rudra’s followers arrived at the battle-field and resorting to an illusory fight attacked Pradyumna. The highly powerful and energetic Makaraketana however made them all asleep and with his arrows began to kill the Danavas who had innumerable Pramathas amongst them.

11-15. While Rudra, of unwearied actions, yawned a flame came out of his mouth and consumed the ten quarters. At that time assailed by those powerful armies the goddess Earth, trembling, approached the great Brahma and said "O you of large arms, O great god, I have been assailed with great energies. I have been so much loaded with the weight of Rudra and Kesheva that I will again be reduced to one all-extending ocean. O grand-father, do you think of this unbearable burden of mine. Do you find out some means, by which released of my burden I may uphold the mobile and immobile creations".

16-21. Vaishampayana said:—Hearing it the grand-father said to the daughter of Kashyapa:—"Sustain yourself for a moment and you will be released of your burden." Thereupon the Lord Brahma said to Rudra:—"You didst find out the means of slaying this great Asura: why dost you then wish to protect him? O you of large arms, I do not like that you should engage in an encounter with Krishna. Dost you not know that Krishna is your second body." Hearing the words of Brahma the eternal Lord, having three eyes, concentrated his mind on the Brahman (soul) within him and saw the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile creations. Beholding himself stupified along with his bow and arrow the great Yogin Bhava, by virtue of his mental concentration, thought of the boon he had conferred and of what he had said at Dvaraka: he therefore made no reply. Seeing him in Krishna and them both in one (Brahman) he was pacified and left the battle-field. Rudra said to Brahma:—"O lord, I will not fight any more. By this encounter of Krishna and Vana the earth will be relieved of her burden".

22. Thereupon with great pleasure Krishna and Rudra retired from the battle-field and embraced one another.

22-25. When those two great Yogins were united no body could see them. Having brought out the reconciliation between Hara and Hari and himself only seeing them Brahma, the creator of all, said to the Rishis Narada and Markandeya who were by his side and who had questioned that far-sighted deity:—"In a dream in the night I saw Bhava and Keshava in the lake near the mount Mandara.

26-28. Here I saw Hara in Hari’s form and Hari in Hara’s. Hara had conch-shell, discus and club in his hands, was clad in a yellow raiment and rode Garuda. Hari had trident and Pattica in his hand, was clad in a tiger-skin and rode a bull. Seeing that highly wonderful scene I am filled with surprise. O Markendeya, do you describe unto me the truth".

29-30. Markendeya said:—Shiva is identical with Vishnu and Vishnu is identical with Shiva. I do not see any difference. They are both auspicious, without beginning, middle or end, eternal and undecaying. Hear I will describe that form identical with Hari and Hara.

29-39. He is Vishnu who is Rudra; and he is Rudra who is Brahma. Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are one and of the same form. Three of them are great ascetics, Lords of half-females, self-sprung, givers of boons and masters of the universe. As water is mixed with water when it is thrown into it so Vishnu becomes at one with Rudra, when he enters into him. As fire becomes fire when it is mixed with it so Rudra becomes identical with Vishnu when he enters into him. Rudra is identical with fire and Vishnu is identical with the moon. This universe, consisting of mobile and immobile creations, is identical with the protector of what is mobile and immobile in this universe. And Mahesvara is their destroyer. The Lord Narayana, identical with past, present and future and Mahesvara are the primary causes of Hiranyagarbha and the great principles. They both are the givers of the Vedas. They are the creator and the protector of the universe. They send down rain in the shape of Indra and spread rays in the shape of the sun. They blow in the shape of the wind and create all. Thus O Grand-father, I have described to you the great secret. The man, who daily reads or hears this account, attains to that most excellent region created by the power of Vishnu and Rudra.

40-42. With Brahma, Hari and Hara are the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of the universe. I will now chant their glories. Vishnu is adorable unto Rudra, and Rudra is adorable unto Vishnu. They are one, still they range in the world under two forms. Vishnu is not different from Shankara and Shankara is not different from Vishnu. Therefore formerly Rudra and Upendra became one. Salutation unto Rudra and Krishna of one united body.

43. Salutation unto the three-eyed deity, salutation unto the two-eyed deity, salutation unto coppery-eyed (Kumara) and lotus-eyed (Pradyumna).

44-46. Salutation unto the holder of the earth, of the holder of peacock-feathers and of Keyura. Salutation unto him adorned with a garland of skulls, him adorned with a garland of wild flowers, him the holder of trident and him the holder of discus, unto the standard of gold and Brahma.

47. Salutation unto him clad in skin and salutation unto him clad in a yellow raiment. Salutation unto the Lord of Lakshmi and unto the Lord of Uma.

49-50. Salutation unto the holder of trident and unto him of mace. Salutation unto him whose body is covered with ashes and unto him who is dark-blue hued. Salutation unto him who lives in the cremation ground and unto him who lives in an Ashrama. Salutation unto the rider of a bull and unto the rider of Garuda. Salutation unto him who has more than one form, unto him who has many forms, unto the Lord of destruction and unto him who lies on the ocean. Salutation unto him who has many forms and unto him who is Bhairava.