Chapter 11 - End of the Battle Between Gods and Asuras at Nārada’s Mediation

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Then, having recovered their minds (and morale from the impact of demonic illusions) through the great divine grace of the Supreme Person, Indra, Vāyu and other gods severely hit back each one of the demons who massively assailed them before, in that very battle.

2. When the glorious Indra, being enraged at Bali, the son of Virocana, raised up his Vajra (thunderbolt), all creatures cried out, “Alas! Ha Ha” (lest it should kill Bali).

3. Despising contemptuously the noble-minded, well- equipped Bali who was moving (fearlessly) in the great battle facing Indra, Indra—the wielder of Vajra, spoke to him as follows:

4. “Just as a roguish conjuror makes gullible persons as if blind-folded by his conjuring tricks (and incantations) and robs them of their money, you desire to conquer us, the masters of such Māyās (black magic and illusory tricks) with your Māyā, Oh fool.

5. Those who by their illusive powers (or by unfaithful cunning observances of vows) wish to ascend to the celestial world or desire to transcend it to go to still higher regions (viz. Liberation), I shall oust such ignorant rogues from the post occupied by them previously and definitely throw them downward still (with no hopes of rising up).

6. Oh dull-witted fellow! I, that very Indra, shall, with my Vajra (thunderbolt) of hundred joints, remove the head of yours, so adept in black magic and evil spells. Show your valorous prowess with the help of your clansmen”.

Bali responded

7. “To those whose previous acts became fruitful through the impelling of Time (Destiny) who participate in the battle, fame, victory, defeat and death come all in due course.

8. Therefore wise, thoughtful people realize that all the above (victory, defeat etc.) are controlled by Time and they neither gst elated with joy or downcast with grief. You all are, however, ignorant about this (truth).

9. Inasmuch as you regard yourself as the agent of this (victory, defeat etc.), you deserve to be pitied by good people (for your foolishness) and as such, we do not accept your words (howsoever cutting to the quick (they be)”.

Śrī Śuka said:

10. Having thus retorted to the Lord of gods, the valorous Bali, the vanquisher of warriors, struck again with Nārāca arrows drawn to the ear, Indra who was in retaliation previously hit back with reproachful words.

11. The god Indra who was thus reproached by the enemy who expressed (nothing but) the truth, did not however tolerate the retort like an elephant pricked with a goad.

12. Indra, the conqueror of enemies, discharged at him, his unfailing weapon Vajra (thunderbolt). And down fell Bali on the ground, along with his (aerial) car like a mountain with its wings severed.^[1]

13. Seeing his friend fallen down, Jambha, the friend and well-wisher of Bali, attacked Indra with a view to carry out his duty as a friend, even though his friend was fallen.

14. Riding his lion, the extremely powerful Jambha approached Indra and raising his mace (gadā) impetuously struck him on the neck and the elephant as well.

15. Stunned and tormented by the stroke of the mace, the elephant was deeply distressed and touching the ground with its knees, it fell into a swoon.

16. Thereupon, a chariot yoked with a thousand horses was brought by Mātali. The Lord of gods left the elephant and got into the chariot.

17. Expressing his appreciation at the (prompt) services- rendered by the Charioteer (Mātali) smiling, Jambha, the most prominent Dānava, struck him with a burning javelin.

18. Screwing up all his fortitude, Mātali bore up the extremely unbearable pain of the dart. Greatly enraged at it, Indra sundered off the head of Jambha with his Vajra (thunderbolt).

19. Having heard from Sage Nārada, the report of Jambha being killed (in the battle), his kinsmen Namuci, Bala, Pāka rushed to the battle field in great haste.

20. Cutting Indra to the quick by biting, harsh words, they covered him with volleys of arrows as clouds would do to a mountain, with a down-pour of rain.

21. In that battle, the light-handed Bala struck simultaneously all the thousand horses of Indra with as many arrows.

22. It was certainly an achievement of a marvellous feat in the battle, when Pāka simultaneously fitted and discharged two hundred arrows and struck Mātali with a hundred and all the parts of the chariot with a hundred shafts.

23. With fifteen big arrows furnished with golden hilts, Namuci shot Indra and roared in the battle like a thundering rain-charged cloud.

24. Like clouds obscuring the sun in the rainy season, the Asuras screened off on all sides Indra, along with his chariot and charioteer, with net-works of arrows.

25. Not being able to behold Indra and (considering themselves as) being leaderless and vanquished by the inimical forces, the hosts of celestials and their followers became bewildered and shrieked out like merchants in a ship wrecked on the high seas.

26. Thereupon issued out Indra along with his chariot, horses, flag and charioteer from the cage of arrows. Indra appeared brilliant like the sun illuminating the cardinal points, the sky and the earth, with his effulgence, at the close of the night.

27. Observing his army overpowered by enemies in the battle, the god, the wielder of Vajra (thunderbolt) vehemently lifted up his thunderbolt (determined) to strike down the enemy.

28. With that very eight-edged weapon he (simultaneously) sundered the heads of Bala and Pāka, striking terror into the hearts of the kinsmen who stood (simply) looking on, Oh King (Parīkṣit).

29. On perceiving their death and being overwhelmed with grief, revenge and rage, Namuci, determined to kill Indra, put forth a mighty exertion.

30. Catching hold of a javelin made of iron, furnished with gold, he attacked Indra in rage, threatening loudly, “Now you are killed”. He hurled it at the King of gods and roared like a lion.

31. Even as it was dashing with terrific speed through the sky, Indra shattered it into thousand pieces with his arrows. The lord of the celestials, out of rage, struck him with his Vajra (thunderbolt) on the neck with a view to chop off his head.

32. The thunderbolt that was discharged with great vehemence did not pierce his skin. It was certainly the most wonderful that the Vajra (the thunderbolt) that killed the extremely powerful Vṛtra, was baffled by the skin of Namuci’s neck.

33. Indra apprehended fear from the enemy from whom even Vajra (thunderbolt) was baffled. What has happened through the Destiny, has deluded the whole of the world.

34. It is by this thunderbolt that, in days of yore, I carried out the severance of wings of mountains which taking to their wings at will, settled anywhere on the earth, causing destruction to people, by their weight.

35. It was by this Vajra that Vṛtra, the very embodiment of the power of the austere penance of Tvaṣṭṛ, was split asunder, and also other mighty (persons) whose skin could not be scratched by all other missiles.

36. Such Vajra, when hurled by me at an insignificant Asura, became baffled and ineffective. Useless has become the spiritual energy of the Brāhmaṇa (with which it was invested). It has become (nothing but) a stick which I won’t handle any more”.

37. To Indra who was thus pondering in dejection, a voice from heaven said, “This demon should not be killed by weapons wet or dry.

38. He has been conferred a boon by me that he would not meet death from wet or dry things. Hence, you have to think out some other expedient (for killing) the enemy”.

39. Hearing the heavenly voice, Indra composed his mind and contemplated. It occurred to him (lit. he saw) that foam (of the sea) was the (real) expedient which comprises both the conditions (of being wet and dry).

40. With the foam which was neither dry nor wet (but was both simultaneously) he chopped off the head of Namuci.^[2] Hosts of sages sang his eulogies and showered the Lord of gods with flowers.

41. The chief of Gandharvas, Viśvāvasu and Parāvasu gave musical concert. Gods beat big drums and celestial nymphs danced with joy.

42. Other gods like Vāyu, Agni. Varuṇa and others destroyed their opponents with volleys of missiles, just as lions would kill the deer.

43. The divine sage Nārada who was deputed to celestials by god Brahmā, on perceiving the slaughter of Dānavas, prevented them (from that genocide, with the following words):

Nārada said:

44. “Supported as you were by the arms of Lord Nārāyaṇa, nectar was secured by you. You are also favoured by goddess Śrī (the consort of Nārāyaṇa). Hence you now cease from fighting.”

Śrī Śuka said:

45. Paying due respect to the words of the sage Nārada, they controlled the impetuosity of their rage. All of them returned to heaven, all the while being praised by their attendants.

46. The survivors of the battle carried the still unconscious Bali to the western mountain (of the setting sun) as per Nārada’s advice.

47. Śukrācārya (the preceptor of Daityas) restored to life (all the Daityas) whose limbs were intact, and necks in existence (unbroken), by means of his secret science of restoring life (saṃjīvani vidyā).

48. Bali regained his consciousness and other faculties at the touch of Śukra’s hand. Being endowed with rhe reality about the nature of the world, Bali suffered no depression, even though he was defeated.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

In the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa Sundara 1.124-33 we arc told that in the Kṛta age mountains had wings which Indra clipped. Only Maināka was saved by Vāyu in repayment of which obligation he allowed Hanumān to rest during his jump to Laṅkā and told him of the clipping.

[2]:

apāṃ phenena namuceḥ śira indrodavartayaḥ Ṛg Veda Saṃhitā 8.14.13, AV. 20.29.3.