Chapter 8 - The Coming of Viṣṇu

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

1. O holy lord, I do not feel fully satiated by hearing the sacred story of Dharmāraṇya. As you proceed ahead with the narration, my mind becomes more and more eager to hear what transpired thereafter. I am very curious about it.

Vyāsa said:

2-5. O son of Pṛthā, listen to the story of great merit as taken from Skandapurāṇa^[1]. It had been recounted to Skanda by Sthāṇu (Śiva). It is the auspicious story concerning Dharmāraṇya. It accords the merit of visiting all sacred spots (to the listener). It is destructive of all calamities.

The son bowed down to Lord Śiva who was seated on the summit of Kailāsa, who is the lord of gods and the preceptor of the universe, who has five faces, ten arms and three eyes, who is armed with a trident, a skull and Khaṭvāṅga (a club with a skull at the top), who has a serpent as the sacred thread, who was surrounded by his followers, who was bowed down to by Suras and Asuras, who was praised by means of songs and served by Gandharvas and celestial damsels of diverse forms and qualities and who was accompanied by Nārada and other leaders. The son bowed down to the great lord, the Consort of Umā and said:

Skanda said:

6. O lord, Indra and other gods including Brahmā have come to your door, desirous of having your audience. I shall do in front of you whatever you command me to do.

Vyāsa said:

7. On hearing the words of Skanda, Hara stood up from his seat. Desirous of going ahead, he did not wait even for the arrival of his bull for riding.

8-10. On seeing Śiva who was desirous of going, Skanda spoke these words:

Skanda āsked:

O lord, what is the work that the Devas have (for you) so urgent that you are being called hurriedly even without the bull. O ocean of mercy, kindly tell me, if you have mercy on me. Is there any impending battle between Devas and Dānavas? Or is there any other greater task?

Śiva said:

11-12. Listen with single-mindedness why I am busily engaged. There is a highly sacred region of great merit on the earth, the region Dharmāraṇya. I am desirous of going there along with Devas, O Six-faced One.^[2]

Skanda said:

13. O great lord, what will you be doing now after going there? O lord of the universe, tell me your task entirely, in all its detail.

Śiva said:

14-16. Listen, dear son, to these words that give delight to the mind. At the outset it is Mahat (the ‘Great Principle’) that is the cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution of all that happens (exists). But when Pralaya (final dissolution) takes place, everything is engulfed by darkness. At that time Brahman alone that is devoid of attributes, that is the seed (of everything) and that is imperishable existed. That which is created at the outset through the Guṇas is called Mahādravya.

17-18. When the great Kalpa arrives and all the mobile and immobile beings get dissolved, the lord of the universe identifies himself with the (cosmic) waters and begins to divert himself happily.

After the lapse of a long time, he created a big tree beautiful with ten thousand branches through the excellent Tattvas (Principles) such as Earth etc.

19-20. It was a very large tree. It was laden with big fruits hanging everywhere. It was splendid with its trunk and branches and other parts. It was a great Nyagrodha (Ficus religiosa) tree filled with fruits and knotted stumps.

Thereafter Vāsudeva, Janāradana assumed the form of a child and lay on the leaves of that tree eager to create the universe.

21-22. Brahmā, the creator of the worlds, was born of the lotus from the navel of Viṣṇu. He saw water everywhere of various forms but having no definite shape. On seeing it, O dear son, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, said in despair, “What indeed should I do?”

23. Thereupon providentially the following unembodied speech rose up (and announced) in the sky: “O creator and dispenser of destiny, perform penance so that you may see me.”

24-25. On hearing those words, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, performed a terribly great penance there, which was extremely difficult (for everyone).

Then smiling sportively the kind-hearted Consort of Lakṣmī who assumed the form of a child, said these sweet words:

Śrīviṣṇu said:

26-29. Now, dear son, create duly nether worlds, earth, rivers, seas and forests in the Cosmic Sphere. The following too should be created: trees, mountains, bipeds, animals, birds, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, beasts of prey and all those living beings of eight million and four hundred thousand species. They are to be of four different types, each consisting of two million and one hundred thousand species. They are: (1) Udbhijjas or species of vegetation that grow breaking up the surface of the earth; (2) Svedajas or sweat-born ones such as insects, worms etc.; (3) Jarāyujas (viviparous beings) and (4) Aṇḍajas (oviparous beings). You create all these things quickly.”

After saying this, he vanished. The Cosmic Egg was created by Brahmā in the manner as instructed.

30-38. In that, Pitāmaha (the creator and grandfather of the world) was the sole lord, the divinity presiding over creation. Others too were born, such as Sthāṇu (Śiva), the preceptor of gods (Bṛhaspati), the Sun, Pracetas, the Supreme Beings (Parameṣṭhins), Dakṣa, Dakṣa’s sons, the seven Sages etc. Thereupon were born the twenty-one Prajāpatis and the Puruṣa, the incomprehensible. So the ancient sages know. Then Viśvedevas, Ādityas, Vasus, twin gods Aśvins, Yakṣas, Piśācas, Sādhyas, Pitṛs (Manes) and Guhyakas were born. Then were born the Scholars, the eight Brahmarṣis of no impurity, and the many Rājarṣis all of whom had risen up through their good qualities. Then the sky, the waters, the earth, the wind, the atmosphere and the quarters were born.

Years, seasons, months, fortnights and days and nights were created in due order. Then were born Kalās, Kāṣṭhas, Muhūrta etc., Nimeṣa etc. and Lavas (all these are small units of time).

Then the group of planets along with the stars and constellations, Yugas (Ages) beginning with Manvantara, and also other things were born as witness to the worlds.

Dear son, the universe, this group (of planets) which is visible, consisting of the mobile and immobile beings is shrunk up when the dissolution of the Yuga has arrived.

Just as, in the various seasons, in the course of their successive occurrence, the different names and forms are seen in their original forms themselves, so also in the case of the Yugas etc., dear son.

Śiva said:

39. Henceforth, I shall narrate the auspicious traditional story, dear son, the recounting of the lineage of Brahmā.

40. The mental sons of Brahmā are known to be the six great sages, viz. Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu.

41. Kaśyapa was the son of Marīci and the remaining Prajās (Progeny) were born of Kaśyapa. Thirteen daughters of great fortune were born of Dakṣa.

42-43. They were: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālā, Danāyu, Siṃhikā, Krodhā, Provā, Vasiṣṭhā, Vinatā, Kapilā, Kaṇḍū and Sunetrā. (Dakṣa) gave them to Kaśyapa. Of Aditi were born the twelve Ādityas of auspicious faces.

44. Dharmarāṭ was born of Sūrya. This excellent Dharmāraṇya was formerly created (constructed) by that Dharma. O Skanda, this (region) has been called by me Dharmāraṇya. It accords merit.

Skanda said:

45. The narrative of Dharmāraṇya is extremely sacred. I wish to hear it. O great lord, kindly narrate everything (to me).

Īśvara said:

46. All the Devas including Indra have arrived along with Brahmā. I too shall go to that holy shrine that dispels sin.

Skanda said:

47-50. I too shall come to visit it, O Moon-crested Lord.

Sūta said:

Then all these (following) went there: Skanda, Rudra, Sūrya, Anila (Wind), Anala (Fire), Siddhas and Gandharvas, the splendid celestial damsels, Piśācas, all the Guḥyakas, Indra, Varuṇa, all the Nāgas (Serpents), Śukra, Vācaspati, all the Planets along with the Stars, the eight Vasus, Dhruva and others, all those who move through the sky and all those who reside on mountains.

51-52. Then all the Suras including Brahmā went to Vaikuṇṭha with great joy. Thereafter, Brahmā went to Viṣṇu of unlimited splendour, in order to consult him. After going to Vaikuṇṭha, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, meditated for a short while and spoke to Viṣṇu with great pleasure:

Brahmā said:

53-59. Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa of mighty large arms, O great lord of great compassion, you are the creator, you are the destroyer. You alone are the father (maintainer) of the universe. Obeisance to you, the pervader (of everything), O gentle lord with Garuḍa for the emblem, obeisance to you. Bow to you, O consort of Kamalā, obeisance to you in the form of supreme Brahman. Obeisance to you in the form of Fish. O lord of the Cosmic form, obeisance to you. Bow to you, the destroyer of Daityas, to you who offer freedom from fear to the devotees. Hail to you, the slayer of Kaṃsa. Obeisance to the conqueror of Daitya Bali.

On being eulogized by Brahmā thus, Lord Janārdana became visible. He was clad in yellow garments. He was dark-complexioned like a cloud. His vehicle was Garuḍa, the enemy of serpents. He had four arms. He had great brilliance. He was holding the conch, the discus and the mace. That lord of unlimited valour was being eulogized by all the Suras and Vidyādharas. He was eulogized by all the Nāgas. That lord of unlimited brilliance of (many) suns stood up. He was adorned with a crown etc. which had brilliance of a million gems.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Is it a reference to another Upapurāṇa called Skanda? This self-reference by the Purāṇa leads to the suspicion of the story being a later addition.

[2]:

The Nominative Singular, ‘Ṣaḍānanaḥ’ is probably a misprint for the Vocative Singular, ‘Ṣaḍānana’