Harivamsha Purana

by Manmatha Nath Dutt | 1897 | 293,872 words | ISBN-10: 8178542188 | ISBN-13: 9788178542188

This page is entitled “the lord comes out as a boar” and represents Chapter 35 of the third book (Bhavishya Parva’) of the Harivamsa (English translation in Prose). The Harivamsha Purana narrates the lineage and life-story of Krishna (Hari). Although not officially mentioned in the list of Puranas, this book includes topics such as geology, creation theory, time (manvantaras), ancient historical legends and accounts of royal dynasties.

Chapter 35 - The Lord Comes Out As a boar

1. Vaishampayana said:—When the gods were assailed and their king became motionless the holder of discus (Vishnu) made up his mind for the destruction of Hiranyaksha the holder of club.

2. Assuming the form of a huge boar, described before, the Lord, the slayer of Asuras, came there.

3. He took up his conch-shell shining like the moon and his discus of a thousand blades resembling the Cakra mountain. The immortals always recite the secret names of this undecaying Purusha, such as Mahadeva Mahabudhi, Mahayogin and Maheshwara. He is the foremost of those conversant with the knowledge of Atman. He is always served by the pious. That ancient Purusha, the creator of the universe, is worshipped in the three worlds. He is the Vaikuntha of the celestials, Ananta of Bhogis, Vishnu of the Yogins, and the presiding god of the sacrificial rites. By his grace the celestials partake of the three-fold sacrificial offerings. Having struck that foremost of Daityas with his discus the Lord blew his most excellent conch-shell. Hearing that dreadful blare of the conch-shell which strikes terror unto the Asuras the Danavas fled away on all sides.

4-23. Thereupon the great Asura Hiranyaksha, having crimson coloured eyes, said in anger, "Who is he?" and cast his looks on Narayana, in the shape of a boar, the dispeller of the calamities of the celestials, who stood before him with the discus. Thereupon Hiranyaksha and other Asuras, with various weapons, encountered Narayana. Although assailed by the highly powerful Daityas with various weapons Hari stood unmoved in the battle-field. Afterwards the highly powerful Hiranyaksha discharged a burning Sakti on the breast of the boar-formed Narayana which filled Brahma with surprise. Seeing that Sakti about to fall upon him the highly powerful Boar, setting up a roar, felled it on the ground. Thereupon the Lord, whirling his sunny discus, shot it on the head of the Danava king. Like unto the summit of the mount Meru clapped by a thunder-bolt the Daitya-king fell down dead on earth; on his death, all the Daityas filled with fear, fled away on all sides.

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