Chapter 19 - Varāha kills Hiraṇyākṣa

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Maitreya said:

1. Having heard Brahtnadeva’s sincere and nectarlike speech, and having laughed (at Brahmā’s naivete to advise astrologically favourable moment to the Lord himself whose form is time, he accepted his (prayer) with a side-glance implying affection.

2. Then that Ādi-Varāha who was born from Brahmā’s nostrils, jumped at the enemy who was fearlessly moving in front of him, and struck the Asura on his chin by his mace.

3. A miracle happened. That (Lord’s) mace struck down by his (Asura’s) mace fell down rolling from the Lord’s hand and the Asura’s valour appeared splendid.

4. Then although he (the Asura) got an opportunity, he did not strike the Lord who was weaponless. He respected the prescribed code of conduct, in the battle enraging Hari.

5. When there was a loud uproar at that snatching away of the mace, the All-pervading Lord appreciated the (Asura’s) righteous conduct, and remembered (mentally commissioned) his Sudarśana-disc (cakra).

6. ‘May you be prosperous’, ‘kill him’. Such were the various shouts (utterances) all around in the sky from the celestial beings who were ignorant of his prowess, when he with his eager Sudarśana was attacked in close quarters by his chief attendant (now born as) the vile son of Diti.

7. Observing the lotus-eyed Lord standing before him with the Suḍarśana-ḍisc (ready for discharge) in his hand, he (the Asura) with his senses throbbing with rage, and breathing heavily, bit his lip in rage.

8. He (the Asura) of fearful tusks, stared at him with glaring eyes as if to burn him down, and springing upon him, assaulted him with his mace, shouting, ‘You are killed’.

9. Oh pious Vidura! while the enemy was just looking agape, the Lord, as the sacrifice in the Boar form, easily kicked with his left foot the mace which came with the velocity of a stormy wind.

10. And (the Varāha) said, “Take up the weapon. As you wish to conquer, try (again)”. When addressed thus, he (the Asura) struck again, and roared lustily.

11. Seeing the mace coming towards him, the Lord stood firm and easily caught hold of the weapon like Garuḍa catching a female serpent.

12. When his personal valour failed, the great Asura, being humiliated, and splendourless, did not wish to take the mace (though) offered by Hari.

13. He took up a trident spear, eager to envelop (eat up) everything like a flaming fire, and aimed it at the chest of Viṣṇu who had assumed the form of sacrifice like the use of black magic against a pious Brāhmaṇa.

14. Just as Indra cut down the feather thrown out by Garuḍa^[1], he (Varāha), with his disc of sharp edge Cut asunder the trident, forcibly hurled by the great Daitya warrior—the trident of extreme refulgence which shone through the sky (as it darted towards Hari).

15. When his trident was shattered to pieces by Hari’s disc (Sudarśana-cakra), the Asura got extremely enraged. Shouting lustily he confronted Hari and dealt a punch with his hard fist on his broad magnificent^[2] chest and disappeared.

16. Oh Vidura, Lord Adi-Varāha who was thus struck, did not move even slightly like an elephant struck by a garland.

17. Then he created and used different forms of his black magic against Hari, the Lord of Yoga Māyā. Seeing it (Asura’s māyā) all creatures got panicky and thought that the end of the world (pralaya) was imminent.

18. Terrible stormy winds began to blow and spread darkness of dust. Volleys of stones as if discharged from slings, fell from all quarters.

19. The sky, being covered with clouds accompanied by lightning-flashes and thundering and pouring frequently pus, hair, blood, excretion, urine and bones, seemed devoid of luminaries.

20. Oh sinless Vidura, the mountains appeared to shower various weapons^[3] and naked female Rākṣasas with their hair let loose, appeared with spears.

21. Very harsh and murderous cries (such as ‘cut down, break down, etc.) were shouted out by a host of blood-thirsty Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, foot-soldiers, (riders on) horses, chariots and elephants.

22. Lord (Varāha) of three feet^[4] discharged his favourite missile Sudarśana destroying the Asura type of black magic manifested (there).

23. Simultaneously there was a sudden trembling in the heart of Diti who remembered her husband’s words and blood oozed out of her breast.

24. When his magical forces were totally destroyed, he again approached Keśava (Viṣṇu), and tried angrily to crush him in the clasp of his arms, but found him outside his clasp.

25. While he was dealing blows with his adamantlike (hard) fists to Viṣṇu, he hit the Asura at the root of his ear by his hand (i.e. foreleg) as Indra, Lord of Maruts, did to Vṛtra.

26. By the casual blow of the conqueror of the universe (Viṣṇu), the Asura fell like a giant tree unrooted by a stormy wind. His body was rolling about. His eye-balls fell out. His arms, feet and hair lay shattered.

27. Brahmā and others (sages) who came there saw the Asura of terrific tusks and lips bitten, lying on the ground, but with undiminished lustre. They exclaimed in praise, ‘Oh who could attain to such (type of) death!’

28. This wicked Daitya kicked by Viṣṇu’s fore-leg, gave up his body while looking at the face of Viṣṇu on whom the yogins meditate by samādhi-yoga in solitude with a desire to get liberation from this Liṅga-śarīra,^[5] enveloping the Soul.

29. These two Viṣṇu’s attendants who have come down to evil births due to a curse, will again be reinstated to their (former) status, after some births in this world.

Gods said:

30. “Oh Lord, we bow to you again and again. You who are the cause of extension of Yajña^[6] assumed the form of pure Sattva attribute for the maintenance (and protection) of the world. It is a matter of joy that this Daitya who was a scourge (lit. afflictor) of the world is killed. We are quite happy in the devotion of your feet.”

Maitreya said:

31. In this way, having killed Hiraṇyākṣa of irresistible valour, Hari, the Primitive Boar, being praised by Brahmā and other gods, retired to his region (Vaikuṇṭha) of uninterrupted bliss.

32. Oh good friend, Hiraṇyākṣa of great valour was disposed of (killed) like a toy in a big battle. This exploit of Hari who assumed the boar incarnation has been narrated to yuo by me as described to me by my teacher.

Sūta said:

33. Oh Brāhmaṇa (Śaunaka), on hearing this episode of the Lord from Maitreya, Vidura, the great devotee of the Lord was highly delighted.

34. How much more shall we be delighted to hear the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu when we feel such a joy at hearing the deeds of the pious persons of sanctifying reputation and highly glorious fame?

35. He (Viṣṇu) instantaneously rescued from danger the big elephant which being caught by a crocodile, meditated of his lotuslike feet while the she-elephants(his companions) were trumpeting.

36. What grateful person will not serve him who is easily propitiated by straightforward persons completely depending on him but difficult for propitiation to the wicked.

37. Oh Brāhmaṇas, a person becomes free from the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa, if he (the sinner) hears, sings or takes delight in the episode of his miraculous action of killing Hiraṇyākṣa—a sport of Hari who assumed the boar form for the purpose (of lifting up the earth).

38. This (episode of Hari) is highly meritorious, extremely sanctifying, conferring wealth, fame, longevity, blessings; in battles it protects life and organs of senses and inspires heroic spirit. The listeners of this ultimately attain to Nārāyaṇa as the final resort.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The comparison is between the shining Triśūla darting through the sky and the refulgent feather of Garuḍa falling through the sky illumining it on its way down. This refers to the incident when Garuḍa was carrying away Amṛta (nectar), Indra came in the way and hurled his Vajra (thunderbolt) at him. To respect the bones of the sage Dadhīca of which Vajra was made, Garuḍa dropped a feather and told Indra that he was not affected by the impact of Vajra but he dropped the feather out of respect for sage Dadhīca—Mahābhārata I-33.18-23.

[2]:

vibhūtimat—the abode of Lakṣmī (Bhāgavata Candrikā)

[3]:

VC. takes this as qualifying Rākṣasa women—‘Naked Rākṣasa women discharging various kinds of weapon’.

[4]:

This is the incarnation of Yajña-Varāha or Boar which was sacrifice incarnate. The three savanas are regarded as the three feet of Yajña. Hence this attribute is applied to Viṣṇu as Varāha.—Bhāvāratha Dīpikā, Subodhinī

Padaratnāvalī states: ‘Amṛta, Kṣema and Abhaya’ are the three feet of Lord. In Puruṣasūkta Puruṣa is tripād.

[5]:

In Vedānta philosophy this subtle body is regarded as the indestructible original of tḥe gross or visible body. ASD. 816.

[6]:

yajña-tantave: (i) the source or promoter of yajña (sacrifice)—Bhāgavata Candrikā, Sārārthadarśinī,

(ii) who are yourself the institution of yajña (incarnate)—Subodhinī