Chapter 5 - The Arrival of the Lord

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1-2. When the fight between the blood-born one and the sweat-born one was prevented formerly, what expiation for his activities was performed by Brahmā? O sage, what was done by Janārdana and by Śaṅkara? Narrate all this. O eloquent one, do me this favour.

Sanatkumāra said:

3. Performing Homas with leaves and fruits of the medicinal herbs of forest and also with excellent Kuśas and Samits, Brahmā continued his Āgnihotra as formerly instructed by Hari.

4. Sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa reached Badaryāśrama and performed fierce penance for the welfare of all embodied beings.

5. The Lord of Devas with the skull in his hand wandered all over the earth and reached Kuśasthalī (Ujjayinī). He entered that excellent forest.^[1]

6. It was covered all over with different kinds of trees and creepers. It was rendered splendid by many kinds of flowers. It was reverberating with sounds of all kinds of birds and was crowded with different kinds of beasts.

7. It was rendered fragrant with the sweet scent of the bunches of flowers on the trees as if intelligently placed (by someone); it was excellently embellished with fruits and flowers.

8. The juice exuding from ripe and unripe fruits was of different kinds with diverse kinds of flavour. The fruits were charming all-round with rich golden colours.

9. The dry and withered leaves and grasses and other things, the dry twigs and fruits were swept away by the winds. It was a blessing.

10. Wafting the sweet scent of the clusters of flowers of various kinds, the cool wind blew over the region where he entered.

11. The forest was adorned with innumerable trees having their tops covered with glossy green leaves without perforations (holes) in the middle. The trees too did not have too many hollows and cavities (in the stems).

12. With these trees there was that appearance of fulfilment of the families of Brāhmaṇas of excellent conduct and handsome features to look, with the absence of sick ones but haughty and puffed up in some places.

13. The trees covered with splendid shoots scattered by the wind, were like men of noble birth with good qualities, free from frailties and foibles.

14. The trees appeared to touch one another with their tops shaken by the wind. The tops and branches appeared to be the ornaments of one another standing nearby and touching one another through the movement of the wind.

15. In certain places, the Nāga trees with the white flowers having bees hidden in their filaments shone as though they had white eyes with dark pupils.

16. In some places, Karṇikāra trees in pairs with their tops laden with flowers, shone like excellent couples at the time of marriage.

17. With rich display of excellent flowers rows of Sinduvāra appear like adored sylvan deities in personified forms.

18. In different directions, in various places, the creepers of Kunda (a variety of jasmine) brightly adorned with beautiful flowers, shine like the rising crescent moon.

19. The shining Yūthikā creepers in full bloom endowed with splendour excelling that of coral, seem to rise up fanning the flower-laden branches.

20. In some places Arjuna trees in full bloom shine like excellent men in the forest regions, full-dressed (covered) with white silk clothes.

21. The trees with blossoms entangled with the creapers, shine like excellent lovers in close embrace with women.

22. With the bunches of flowers offered by the wind, mangoes and Tilakas make presents to one another like good men with their hands.

23. Tilaka and Aśoka getting entwined with one another with the shoots, appear like friends in close mental communication, touching each another’s hands.

24. Trees bending down with fruits and flowers seem to offer one another excellent flowers and fruits like good people in a delicate manner.

25. Gladdened by the embrace of the wind and drenched by the waters of the paddy plants, the trees appear to be standing like noble men gathering together in exchanging friendly gifts.

26. The flowers are wafted quickly displaying as it were, their splendour, like men unable to brook the warlike preparation of those of equal status.

27. Birds in their inebriation endowed with splendid crests dance (like trees) with their tremulous tops bending down with the weight of splendid flowers.

28. Bees resorting to Amṛtavallī creepers tossed about by the wind dance, along with those creepers like men with their beloved ones.

29. In some places trees surrounded by Kunda creepers in full bloom, shine like the sky in autumn with diverse kinds of groups of stars.

30. The Mādhavī creepers on the tops of the trees shine like peaks embellished intelligently.

31. The green trees in full bloom and laden with fruits have the splendour of gold. They appear like men who display their friendship in a gathering of good people.

32. The flowers have plenty of filaments. The inner part is full of filaments. The bees are inebriated due to the filaments. They appear bright like Śārikās (Mainas).

33. Parrots resembling Śirīṣa flowers utter wonderful words in certain places (sitting) in pairs like adored Brāhmaṇas.

34. Peacocks of tails and feathers of diverse colours are accompanied by their mates. They remain in the middle of the forest, as though in isolated places.

35. Flocks of birds warble and chirp producing wonderful notes. They make the already beautiful forest still more beautiful.

36. That forest was on a par with Nandana (Heavenly garden) enhancing (the delight of) mind and eyes. It was infested with many groups of beasts. The birds flew up continuously.

37. The Lord with the skull in his hand looked at that excellent forest comparable to Nandanavana with a gentle glance.

38. On seeing that Rudra had come there, all those rows of trees devoutly offered their wealth in the form of flowers to Śaṃbhu (by way of) releasing their flowers.

39. Accepting the gift of the flowers of the trees, Maheśvara said to the trees, “Choose your boons. Welfare unto you.”

40. When this was spoken by the Lord, the trees with palms joined in reverence and after bowing down to Maheśvara, spoke unrestrainedly:

41-43. “O Lord of Devas who are pleased, O favourite one of the people, if you (wish to) grant a boon, be present forever in this forest. This is our greatest desire. O Lord of Devas, we offer obeisance to you.

If you wish, O Lord of Devas, O creator of the universe, reside in this forest. Having resorted to you in every respect, we beg for this excellent boon. Of what avail are millions of (other) boons? Let this boon be granted to us.”

44. On being spoken thus by all the trees, the Lord, beloved of those who seek refuge in him, granted the boon to the trees. Listen to it as I repeat it.

Maheśvara said:

45-48. Really I shall mentally stay here in this excellent forest. I shall grant further boons to you. My vision cannot be in vain.

Neither fire, nor wind, neither water nor the rays nor sunshine of the sun, nor lightning nor thunderbolt will cause pain to you.

You will be forever endowed with excellent flowers. You will be ever in the prime of youth. You can go anywhere as you please; you can have any form you like. You will be yielding fruits as you wish.

You will be viewed by men as they pleased with blazing eyes of penance during the twilight. You will be blessed with great glory with my favour.

49-50. Thus Śaṃbhu, the bestower of boons, blessed the trees. After standing there for a thousand years he threw the skull on the ground. As it fell down on the ground the nether world quaked. The waves in the oceans became agitated and helplessly they overflowed the shores.

51. Thousands of peaks of mountains abounding in tigers and pythons became shattered as though struck down by the thunderbolt of Indra.

52. The aerial chariots of Devas and Siddhas, the cities of Gandharvas began to fall down and ultimately perished on the ground.

53. The doves and the sheep began to gather in close groups once again. The luminaries and planets took cover and went beyond the sun (some astronomical allusion in this verse).

54. Its loud report made everyone in the three worlds insentient, blind and deaf. The three worlds including the mobile and immobile beings became agitated.

55. The bodies and minds of all the Suras and Asuras became dispirited and trembled. They began to wonder, ‘What is this?’

56. All of them beginning with Indra summoned up courage to go to the world of Brahmā. They spoke to Brahmā thus:

57-60. “O Lord, what is the cause of this display of the evil portents whereby the three worlds tremble on being afflicted by Kāla and Karman? The end of the Kalpa has come with the oceans breaking all bounds. Have the four elephants of the quarters, usually motionless, begun to move (i.e. become mobile)? Why has the earth been overflowed with the waters of the seven seas? O Lord, everything has ceased to be born without purpose and aim. The sound heard now is unique. No similar report was heard ever before. Thereby the entire three worlds have been afflicted by the terrible being.”

61. On being told thus, Brahmā was made to understand by the great Lord. He became one endowed with special knowledge and came to know that Rudra had approached. He said:

62. “Listen to the reason (for the chaos) in regard to what has been asked by you, O gods. Surely the reason should be known by those who believe in (the miracles).

63. After plucking (my) fifth head from my body, the Lord with (that) skull in his hand went to the hermitage of Lord Visnu.

64. He took up the vessel and requested Lord Nārāyaṇa for alms. Then there arose the archer sage named Nara.

65. Then the Lord went to the excellent forest in Kuśasthalī. Through the line of trees he entered it and was duly honoured by the fragrance of the flowers.

66. After blessing the forest with birds hovering everywhere, the Lord desired to stay there for the purpose of blessing the whole world.

67. The skull that was in his hand was placed on the ground by the Lord. Therefore, the earth shook and all the three worlds became agitated.

68. Hence see Lord Virūpākṣa and seek refuge in him along with me. On being propitiated, the Lord will grant you boons.”

69. After saying thus, Lord Brahmā, accompanied by Devas and Dānavas, went to that forest region where the Bull-emblemed Lord was present.

70-71. All of them were delighted in their minds. Desirous of meeting Śaṅkara they entered (the limits of) the forest where the flowers lay scattered and which reverberated with the chirping of cuckoos. That forest which was on a par with Nandana was approached by these. It shone all the more with the splendour of the bowers.

72. On seeing that excellent forest that delighted the minds of all embodied ones, that had been resorted to by groves of flowering trees with diverse kinds of fruits all round, the Suras rejoiced thinking thus, ‘We will see Hara here in the forest that abounds in peacocks, swans, cranes, frogs and fish.’

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 5-36: a beautiful description of Mahākālavana or Kuśasthalī. It was selected for his permanent stay by Rudra.