Chapter 26 - Indradyumna Worships the Lord: King Gāla Submits to Indradyunma

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Jaimini said:

1. The deities were brought near the Mansion without any untoward incident via the level ground in accordance with the proper procedure in an auspicious hour.

2. Then a very great chamber, the biggest among all the chambers, was built with various colours and studded with gems at the behest of Indradyumna by Viśvakarman.

3. In that chamber all the things required for the installation and worship, viz. Havis, sacrificial twigs, Darbha grass, different kinds of foodstuffs were acquired and provision for different kinds of music and dances was made.

4. At the time of the installation, O Brāhmaṇas, there was greater prosperity and affluence than what was there before in his empire.

5-9a. At the time there was a king on the earth named Gāla. He had made a stone image called Mādhava and installed it in the Mansion and he had been worshipping it deriving prosperity thereby.

The excellent king (Indradyumna) got a smaller Mansion built. After removing the stone idol from there with great respect, he got it installed in the smaller palace (shrine).

The king (Gāla) heard about this through messengers (and spies) and became furious. He came to Nīla mountain along with his army.

On seeing the materials required for the installation gathered together, which could not be obtained by human beings even in dream, King Gāla became wonder-struck in his mind. He remained (thinking thus in his mind):

9b-13a. ‘What is this? What is the news? Who is making all these?’ He carefully gathered the following information: Indradyumna had divine powers. That king was the original builder of the Mansion of the Lord. He had then come from the world of Brahmā along with the Devas, Padmanidhi and the preceptor Nārada in order to install (the Lord). It was he who had gathered all the requisite materials. Brahmā, the excellent Sura, would be coming (presently) for the purpose of the installation.

After getting all the details and knowing the divine activities, (King Gāla) considered himself blessed and one who had fulfilled the tasks. He knew that it was an extremely wonderful thing in his kingdom.

13b-20a. (He thought thus:) ‘A holy rite more conducive to welfare, has never been performed before, nor will it ever be. So I shall stay near him and follow the details or procedure. I shall celebrate festivals every year after knowing the mode of these.

On account of the increase of my ill luck so long I did not know about Janārdana of this wooden body, the form of Brahman itself. So I have not served him (till now): thereby my very birth has become fruitless.

I should bow down to this Indradyumna, the Sire of the universe. He is the most excellent one among the great devotees of the Lord. He has come here from the world of Brahmā.

I should seek refuge in him. By seeing the Lord Nārāyaṇa directly after the installation in the Mansion I should certainly attain salvation. After installing Lord Viṣṇu he will transfer him to me. Why does one who has gone to the world of Brahmā, stay (long) on the earth? He will instruct me about the offerings and services. He will gather together the treasure of the Lord (entrust it to me) and will certainly go to the abode of Brahmā along with him.’

20b-27. Then Gāla, a devotee of Viṣṇu, had deliberation with his ministers. He joyously and humbly went near Indradyumna. Even after seeing him from afar he fell (on the ground) by way of prostration.

With palms joined in reverence King Gāla gazed at the head of Indradyumna with awe and went near him slowly. (Then he said:)

“O lord, you are the king of kings. You are the man who has gone to the world of Brahmā. You are a living-liberated soul (and hence) an Īśvara (Lord). How can I (adequately) eulogize you? I am only an insect of a king. I did not know your greatness. I had repeated consultations with my ministers and came to fight with you. O lord, I have now seen your great superhuman manliness and a wonderful position (equal to that) of Indra.

After seeing this I have come to the conclusion that a great task like this can be accomplished by only one who has returned from the world of Brahmā and whose behest is carried out by the great treasurer Padmanidhi. O excellent one among Suras, all the Devas staying in the three worlds are under the control of your command, Let your mind be favourably inclined towards me.”

Jaimini said:

28-33. As Gāla, the great king, pleaded thus (King Indradyumna) said thus smilingly: “O king, why do you expatiate? You too are a devotee of Hari. You are an Emperor. The ownership of the earth is common to all kings living on the earth. Now you are the sole ruler of the earth. All the rites of men and Maruts (i.e. Devas) are subject to the king’s approval.

A king is constituted by Brahmā with parts of the eight Guardians of Quarters. A king deficient in merit cannot be eagerly devoted to the protection of the subjects. But you, O tiger among kings, particularly follow the excellent path and obtain fame and virtue here. You are a (real) Vaiṣṇava. One who installs the idol of Hari in accordance with the injunctions in the Mansion does not get involved in the bondage of physical bodies. He goes to the great region of Viṣṇu.

34-39. You yourself have installed this idol of Mādhava made of wood,^[1] O king. It has all splendid features and it is directly the bestower of salvation.

Your holy rite has become accomplished without any obstacle. A Manvantara has passed in my case. I have no doubt in regard to this. The self-willed Four-faced Lord has been requested for the purpose of installation. How can one other than he install it? O excellent king, it is the direct incarnation of the Lord in the wooden form. How can another install it in the Palatial Shrine? If Brahmā blesses me with his presence, I shall install Janārdana in fourfold form and entrust him to you and go. You will serve (and worship) him. Whatever the Lord himself or Brahmā directs in regard to the daily offerings and services, processions and festivals of the Lord of the universe, the king, the righteous protector of virtue, shall carefully carry it out.”

40-42. On hearing what had been earlier thought of by himself, King Gāla obtained great delight to know that it had been ordered by Indradyumna himself.

Like an obedient servant King Gāla stood near him. Whatever Indradyumna ordered, he immediately carried out.

Thus Lord Indradyumna who had gathered together all the requisites, who sat on the throne and was surrounded by Devas, shone like Indra.

43-48. Then various auspicious sounds arising from the divine Dundubhi drums were heard. The sounds of Mṛdaṅga drums, flutes, lutes etc., bell-metal cymbals and trumpets were heard.

There were the trumpeting sounds of Airāvata and other elephants in the sky. All round, the shouts of “Be victorious” were heard mixed with showers of flowers.

Drops of the waters of the celestial Gaṅgā mixed with Mandāra flowers (fell down). The fragrance of divine garlands, unguent and incense spread in every direction. There were the sounds of the clusters of tinkling bells from the aerial chariots of Devas.

Then, O Brāhmaṇas, a mass of refulgence appeared filling the space between heaven and earth. It dazzled the eyes of everyone present on the earth.

It was seen in front by the subjects with rows of eyes lifted up. Then gradually the excellent aerial chariot of Brahmā came into view.

It was carried on the shoulders by hundreds of golden swans. It was attended upon in front by the Guardians of Quarters with their hands busily engaged in waving chowries.

49-51. The rivers Jāhnavī and Yamunā held the fly-flaps which they waved all round with their hands. The umbrella was held by the Moon and the Sun standing on either side.

Thanks to the slow movement of the wind, the garment was moving slightly. In the midst there was the Lord of the Subjects (Brahmā) who was eulogized by Gautama and other Brahminical sages who knew the esoteric things.

He was seen being eulogized by Indradyumna and others. He was eulogized by multitudes of Devas with shouts of “Be victorious”.

52-56. Raṃbhā and other heavenly courtesans danced with great awe. The songsters Hāhā and Hūhū and others continued to sing.

Groups of Siddhas and Vidyādharas sang the songs of his praise respectfully on their lutes. He was attended upon by ascetics who stood a little away with palms joined in reverence.

By their wonderfully variegated talks Sāvitrī and Śāradā delighted him very much. Who else is competent to delight him?

The waters of Jāhnavī and Yamunā were sprinkled on his body.

Gandharvas, Siddhas and others, the chief of whom was Nārada, O Brāhmaṇas, had a staff in their hands. They were seen standing humbly in the flight of stairs in the divine chariot. There was a great rush of Devas moving about in the sky.

57. Nobody cared which Deva went where and by which path. The Heaven-dwellers vied with one another in going about here and there.

58-62. Due to their great rush many fell down from their vehicles. The creator, protector and annihilator of all the worlds, the Lord himself who was identical with the universe, proceeded ahead. Who cared for the greatness of these Suras therein?

On seeing him, the king stood humbly with devotion and awe. He had his palms joined in reverence. Along with those Devas, King Gāla and others, the chief of whom was Nārada, he fell on the ground in prostration with the eight limbs touching the ground.

Then he stood up with great devotion and delighted mind. Owing to thrill (of joy of devotion) his hair stood on end all over the body. He considered himself one whose task was accomplished.

Gazing at Brahmā, the pure Lord, the king stood in front of the Lord of the universe with palms joined in reverence. He was immersed in the ocean of bliss.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The reading should have been ‘made of stone.’