Chapter 16 - Nārada Visits Jalandhara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nārada said:

1. On seeing the Daitya coming once again, all the Devas including Indra trembled with fear and they began to eulogize Viṣṇu:

2. “Obeisance to you who always are prepared to carry out the tasks of your devotees through (assuming) various forms such as that of the Fish, Tortoise and others; to the dispeller of agony, to the lord, the cause of creation, sustenance and annihilation of Brahmā and others, to the lord holding iron club, conch, lotus and discus in the hands.

3-4. Repeatedly we bow to the lover of Ramā, to the slayer of Asuras, to the lord whose vehicle is (Garuḍa) the enemy of serpents, to the yellow-robed lord, to the lord who gives the fruits of yajñas and other holy rites, to the bestower (or to the lord who is the cause of all the created beings), to the lord who is worthy of being sought refuge in. We bow down to him again and again. Like the thunderbolt which destroys mountains, the Lord dispels the (mountains of) miseries of the immortal ones tortured by the Daityas. Obeisance to you, to Viṣṇu, to the Lord who lies on the couch of the Lord of Serpents. We repeatedly salute the Lord whose two eyes are the Sun and the Moon.”

Nārada said:

5. One who reads or recites this prayer named Saṃkaṣṭanāśa (‘Destroyer of distress’) is never afflicted with distresses and troubles due to the mercy of Hari.

6. By the time the Devas concluded the prayer to the Enemy of the Dānavas, the calamity of the Suras had come to be known to Viṣṇu.

7. The Enemy of the Daityas got up suddenly with great fury. He was distressed in his mind. Mounting Garuḍa hurriedly he spoke to Lakṣmī:

Śrī Bhagavān said:

8. Great havoc has been played with the Devas by your brother Jalandhara. Called by them, I shall go hurriedly for fighting (with him).

Śrī said:

9. O Lord, if due to my perpetual devotion to you I am your beloved, O storehouse of mercy, how can my brother be worthy of being killed (by you) in battle?

Śrī Bhagavān said:

10. As he is born of a part of Rudra, because of the word (conferring boon) of Brahmā and because of my love to you Jalandhara is not worthy of being killed by me.

Nārada said:

11. After saying this, Viṣṇu bearing the conch, the discus, the iron club and the sword got on to Garuḍa and rushed to the place where the Devas stood praying to him. He went there in order to fight (with the Demon).

12. Afflicted with the dreadful gusts of wind from the wings of Garuḍa, the Daityas whirled about like clouds in the sky shattered and scattered by violent storms.

13. On seeing the Daityas afflicted with the violent gust of wind, Jalandhara rolled his eyes in fury and then rushed at Viṣṇu.

14. Then a fierce fight ensued between Viṣṇu and the king of Daityas. With their arrows they filled up the entire sky leaving no space void.

15. With volleys of arrows Viṣṇu cut off the top of the flagstaff, the umbrella, the bow and the horses of the Daitya. With an arrow he hit him in his chest.

16. Then seizing an iron club with his hand, the Daitya leaped up hurriedly. He hit Garuḍa on his head and made him fall on the ground.

17. Laughingly Viṣṇu split his iron club with his sword. Then the Daitya hit Viṣṇu on his chest with his (iron) firm fist.

18. Then both of the two highly powerful ones had a hand-to-hand fight (like wrestling and boxing). They made the earth reverberate the sounds produced by their arms, fists and knees.

19. Thus they fought for a long time. Then Viṣṇu, the valorous one, spoke to the king of Daityas in a voice as grave and majestic as that of rumbling clouds:

Viṣṇu said:

20. Choose a boon, O king of Daityas, I am pleased with your valour. I shall give whatever you wish in your mind, even if it should not be given.

Jalandhara said:

21. O Brother-in-law, if you are pleased, grant me this boon. Stay in my house today along with my sister and your groups of attendants.

Nārada said:

22. Saying, “So it shall be” the Lord went to the city of Jalandhara along with Ramā and all the groups of the Devas.

23. After establishing the Dānavas in the offices of the Devas, the mighty-armed Jalandhara came once again to the earth.

24. Whatever there was with the Devas, Gandharvas and Siddhas studded with gems was taken into his possession by the son of the Ocean.

25. After establishing Niśuṃbha, the exceedingly powerful Daitya, in the Pātāla region, that strong demon brought Śeṣa and others to the earth.

26. He made the Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and others, Serpents, Rākṣasas and human beings citizens of his capital and ruled over the three worlds.

27. After making the Devas subject to his control, Jalandhara protected his subjects righteously as though they were his bosom-born children.

28. No one was sick, miserable, or lean. While he was ruling over the kingdom virtuously no poor man was visible therein.

29. When the leading Dānava was ruling over the earth righteously thus, I wished to see him. I went there to see his glory as well as to serve the Lover of Śrī.