Chapter 14 - Resuscitation of Dead Daityas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Lomaśa said:

1-2. Then the fight between Asuras and Viṣṇu became exceedingly terrific. The exceedingly wonderful winged lions equipped with armours and ridden by Asuras tore up Garuḍa. The lions too were pierced and torn to pieces by him.

3-4. Then Daityas were cut into pieces by Viṣṇu with his discus. On seeing Asuras killed, the valorous Kālanemi, with his eyes full of wrath, struck Viṣṇu with his trident. Mukunda (Viṣṇu), the support of those who are helpless, caught hold of the trident as it rushed at him.

5. Viṣṇu playfully caught hold of Kālanemi, the Asura of great power with his trident, by his left hand sportively. Being struck with the self-same trident, he suddenly fell down senseless.

6-7. The fallen Daitya came to senses again and slowly opened his eyes. Regaining consciousness, he saw Yiṣṇu standing in front of him—Viṣṇu, the lord abiding in the cavity of the heart of everyone. Kālanemi of great strength then spoke these words:

“I will not offer to fight with you, I have no desire for worlds (and worldly pleasures).

8-9. According to the words of Brahmā, those Asuras who are killed in the battle will attain the Akṣaya (Everlasting) world. Immediately they will come into contact with Indra. Enjoying various kinds of worldly pleasures, they will roam about like gods along with Indra. Then they will fall down to the earthly world.

10. Hence, I do not desire death in battle. It is of a momentary nature. O heroic lord, it behoves you to grant me Kaivalya (salvation) alone, the great benefit, in the course of my next birth, of course, as a result of an inimical attitude.”

11. Saying “So be it”, the Supreme Being, the bestower of the greatest benefit, caused the excellent Daitya to fall down. Having given Sudhā (nectar) to Devas (before) and having granted freedom from fear to Devas (now) (the lord saved them).

12. Kālanemi, the great Daitya who was like a dart, was killed by Viṣṇu, the powerful lord. Devas became rid of thorns (enemies).

13-14. The lotus-eyed Lord vanished immediately.

Having caused extremely wonderful (terrific) havoc among Daityas, Indra also continued the slaughter of Daityas who were fallen, cowardly like eunuchs, broken (in spirit) and frightened in mind, and had their garments and tufts of hair loosened.

15. The liberal-minded consort of Śacī (Indra), who was like the god of Death unto Daityas and who could never be conquered (did all these things), because, he was devotedly following the (instructions laid down in the) Arthaśāstra.^[1]

16. While Asuras were being killed like this, the holy lord Nārada came there in order to make Indra desist from it.

Nārada said:

17. Many heroic Asuras have been killed fighting in the battlefield. Why do you kill the frightened ones after that?

18. The haughty and arrogant ones who cause the death of those who are afraid and those who seek refuge should be known as murderers of Brāhmaṇas. They are guilty of great sins.

19-20. Hence, even mentally injury should not be caused by you.

On being told thus by the noble-souled Nārada, Indra immediately came back to Triviṣṭapa (heaven) accompanied by the armies of Suras. Then all the groups of Suras, all the Yakṣas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras became joyous. Along with their friends, they enjoyed the company of one another.

21-26a. Then Indra was crowned in Amarāvatī along with Śacī by leading celestial sages and leading Brāhmaṇa sages. It was due to the favour of Śaṅkara that Śakra attained victory.

Then, O Brāhmaṇas, there was a great celebration in the world of Devas. Then conchs and different kinds of drums like Paṭahas, Mṛdaṅgas, Murajas, Ānakas, Bherīs and Dundubhis were sounded simultaneously. Gandharvas and Kinnaras were the musicians. The groups of celestial damsels danced. Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Guhyakas sang praises.

Thus Śakra, the lord of Devas, attained victory.

26b-27a. At that time, the noble-souled Daityas, the chief among whom was Bali and who had been killed by Devas, fell down lifeless on the surface of the earth.

Formerly the Brāhmaṇa Bhārgava (accompanied by his disciples) had gone to mount Mānasottara for performing penance. Hence he was not aware of that battle.

27b-29. Those Daityas who had survived approached Bhārgava. The news of the great destruction of Asuras was conveyed to him. On hearing it, the son of Bhṛgu became furious. He returned surrounded by his disciples. With the Vidyā (magic formula) called Mṛtajīvinī (‘Resuscitator of the dead’), he revived the Asuras who had fallen dead.

30. Then those Asuras got up as though they had awakened from sleep. Bali who rose up, said to Bhārgava of unmeasured splendour:

31. “Of what avail is it to me today to be revived back to life? There is no benefit to me. I have been struck down by the lord of Devas like a mean contemptible wretch.”

32-33. On hearing the words uttered by Bali, Śukra spoke these words: “Those heroic persons who are high-souled and intelligent, who are learned, and who fall down dead in battle on being struck by a weapon go to heaven. This is undoubtedly the statement of the Vedas.”

34. Thus, the son of Bhṛgu consoled Bali. He then performed various kinds of penance conducive to the achievement of Siddhis by Daityas.

35. All the Daityas urged by Bhṛgu went to Pātāla. All the Daityas, the chief among whom was Bali, stayed in Pātāla in happiness.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Arthaśāstra—A treatise on political economy. It is the title of a famous work of Kauṭilya or Ārya Cāṇakya who masterminded the revolution in Pāṭalīputra (Magadha), uprooted the Nanda dynasty and installed Candragupta Maurya as the King. Kauṭilya refers to many predecessors. Hence the Arthaśāstra mentioned here may be a more ancient work than that of Kauṭilya.