Chapter 17 - The Manifestation of the Lord as Vāmana

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Aditi who was thus instructed by her husband Kaśyapa diligently observed this (payovrata) vow consecutively for twelve days, Oh king!

2. Having controlled the wild horses of her sense-organs through (the power of) her mind and with her reasoning power as the charioteer, she meditated with undivided mind and intellect upon the Supreme Person, the Controller, of the universe.

3. Concentrating her mind with her one-pointed reason on the glorious Lord Vāsudeva, the soul of all beings, Aditi verily observed the Payovrata.

4. (On completion of the observance) Oh child Parīkṣit, the Almighty Lord, the Eternal (First) Person manifested himself before her (in a form) clad in yellow garment with four arms wielding in (three of) them a conch, a discus and a mace.

5. On beholding him suddenly in a visible form, she was overwhelmed with love, and reverentially laid herself prostrate on the ground before him, like a rod.

6. She rose up and with folded palms stood before him to praise him but (being overwhelmed with love she could not do so. With her eyes overflowing with tears of joy, she remained silent. Her hair were standing on their ends all over her person, and her limbs were trembling with ecstatic joy at his sight.

7. Oh Scion of the Kuru race! The goddess Aditi looked at him affectionately as if drinking up that consort of Lakṣmī, the Lord of the universe and of the sacrifice, with her eyes, while she praised him slowly in a faltering voice, full of love.

Aditi began:

8. Oh Lord of sacrifices (who confer the fruit of sacrifices upon the performers)! Oh sacrifice incarnate! Oh imperishable Lord, at whose feet holy waters (like the Gaṅgā) resort, Oh Lord of hallowed glory, the hearing of whose name is auspicious^[1] and whose very appearance relieves the sins and inequities of those who seek refuge in you. You are the protector of the afflicted. Be pleased to secure (our) happiness (to us).

9. I bow down to you, Oh Lord Hari who are very great, immanent in the universe, and yet assume at your free will the guṇas (the modes of prakṛti and other powers of the Māyā) for the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe, and are still self-poised (well established in your grandeur without the least disturbance), and who have completely dispelled the darkness (of ignorance, tamas or māya) within yourself, by your eternal, perfect wisdom.

10. The longest life-span (viz. two parārdha years like that of god Brahmā), body (possessing power, beauty etc.) as desired, unparalleled fortune, dominance in the celestial regions, the earth and the nether world, all the mystic powers attained by yoga, the three principal objects in human life (viz. dharma, artha and Kāma), and even the absolute (highest) knowledge—all these are attained from you by men, if you are pleased. What to speak of an insignificant blessing like victory overa rival (co-wife and her progeny)?

Śrī Śuka said:

11. Oh King! Thus eulogised by Aditi, the lotus-eyed glorious Lord Viṣṇu, who resides in the heart of all created beings spoke to her as follows: Oh scion of the Bharata race!

The glorious Lord replied:

12. Oh mother of gods! Known to me is your long cherished desire concerning your sons, who have been robbed of their glory and fortune by their enemies, and have been expelled from their homes.

13. You long to stay with your sons who, after, thoroughly vanquishing the vain-glorious mighty Asura chiefs on the battle field, have recovered their fortune and glory.

14. You desire to behold the wives of the enemies approaching the dead bodies of their husbands and bewailing, when they (enemies of your sons) are killed in battle, by your sons, of whom Indra is the eldest.

15. You wish to see that your sons have retrieved all their glory and fortune and are extremely prosperous, and having re-established themselves in the heavenly regions, are enjoying themselves in sports.

16. Oh goddess! In my opinion those leaders of Asura forces are, for the most part, now invincible; for they are now protected by favourable time and spiritually powerful Brāhmaṇas (or spiritually powerful Brāhmaṇas are gracious unto them). Application of prowess, (even on my part) will not be conducive to happiness, under these circumstances.

17. In spite of this, Oh noble lady, an expedient (to restore your former glory etc.) must be thought out by me inasmuch as I am gratified by your observance of the (payovrata) vow. My propitiation which results in conferment of the desire motivating it, should not prove futile.

18. By the correct observance of the payovrata vow, I have been properly worshipped and agreeably praised by you, for the protection of your children. Establishing myself in the austere penance (the procreative energy) of Kaśyapa, the Son of Marīci (your husband), I shall assume your son-hood by a ray of mine, and shall protect your sons.

19. Conceiving in your mind that I, of such (as is at present) form, am abiding in your husband, attend to your husband, the sinless lord of creation, Kaśyapa (and get conceived).

20. This secret should never be divulged to another person under any circumstances, even though you are interrogated. Everything will turn out well, but this secret of gods must be thoroughly guarded, Oh divine lady.

Śrī Śuka said:

21-22. Having addressed (her) thus, the Lord (immediately) disappeared on that very spot. Being bestowed with an extremely rare boon viz. the birth of Lord Hari through her, Aditi, feeling as if her object had been accomplished, betook herself to her husband with great devotion. Kaśyapa verily came to perceive that through his meditational yoga.

23. The sage of unfailing insight (knowledge) cognised the penetration of Lord Hari’s ray within him. (Though to him both the devas and asuras, being his sons were equal) he, with his mind serene and concentrated, deposited in Aditi that semen (charged with Hari’s rays and) conserved through a long penance, just as the wind (to which all are equal) places (frictional) fire in the wood.

24. God Brahmā, knowing the presence of that eternal glorious Lord in Aditi’s womb, began to praise him, in esoteric terms.

God Brahmā said:

25. Victory to you, Oh glorious Lord who are widely extolled in the Vedas and are of mighty prowess^[2]! My salutation to you, the protector of the Brāhmaṇas (and the Vedas). I bow to you again and again, you, the master of three guṇas.

26. I bow to you who were in the womb of Pṛśni (i.e. Pṛśni’s son) and are revealed in the Vedas. You are the Maker of all, and contain all three worlds in your navel. You transcend the three worlds and still as antaryāmin (indwelling-soul) you enter and stay within all living beings and are all-pervading.

27. You who are called the Supreme Person of infinite powers, are the beginning, the end and the middle of the universe. Oh Ruler of the Universe! Being the Time-Spirit you carry away with you everything in the universe like a deep stream of water sweeping away everything that falls into it.

28. Verily, you are competent to create all beings, mobile or immobile as well as even the Lords of creations. Like a boat unto a person about to drown in water, you are the main supporter of gods (residents of the celestial world) who have fallen from the heaven, Oh Lord!

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

tīrtha-śrava-nāmadheyam

The ears (of persons) who are devoted to Śāstric studies and who listen to Śāstras, become auspicious on hearing your Name, Oh Lord.—Padaratnāvalī

[2]:

Urukrama: Or in anticipation of the Lord‘s future feat: Oh Lord of wide strides.