The Vishnu Purana

by Horace Hayman Wilson | 1840 | 287,946 words | ISBN-10: 8171102127

The English translation of the Vishnu Purana. This is a primary sacred text of the Vaishnava branch of Hinduism. It is one of the eighteen greater Puranas, a branch of sacred Vedic literature which was first committed to writing during the first millennium of the common era. Like most of the other Puranas, this is a complete narrative from the cr...

Contents

BOOK I.

CHAP. I.—Invocation. Maitreya inquires of his teacher, Parāśara, the origin and nature of the universe. Parāśara performs a rite to destroy the demons: reproved by Vaśiṣṭha, he desists: Pulastya appears, and bestows upon him divine knowledge: he repeats the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Viṣṇu the origin, existence, and end of all things.—P. 1.

CHAP. II.—Prayer of Parāśara to Viṣṇu. Successive narration of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Explanation of Vāsudeva: his existence before creation: his first manifestations. Description of Pradhāna, or the chief principle of things. Cosmogony. Of Prākrita, or material creation; of time; of the active cause. Development of effects; Mahat; Ahaṅkāra; Tanmātras; elements; objects of sense; senses; of the mundane egg. Viṣṇu the same as Brahmā the creator; Viṣṇu the preserver; Rudra the destroyer.—P. 5.

CHAP. III.—Measure of time. Moments or Kāṣṭhās, &c.; day and night, fortnight, month, year, divine year: Yugas, or ages: Mahāyuga, or great age: day of Brahmā: periods of the Manus: a Manvantara: night of Brahmā, and destruction of the world: a year of Brahmā: his life: a Kalpa: a Parārddha: the past, or Pādma Kalpa: the present, or Vārāha.—P. 21.

CHAP. IV.—Nārāyaṇa's appearance, in the beginning of the Kalpa, as the Varāha or boar: Prithivī (Earth) addresses him: he raises the world from beneath the waters: hymned by Sanandana and the Yogis. The earth floats on the ocean: divided into seven zones. The lower spheres of the universe restored. Creation renewed.—P. 27.

CHAP. V.—Viṣṇu as Brahmā creates the world. General characteristics of creation. Brahmā meditates, and gives origin to immovable things, animals, gods, men. Specific creation of nine kinds; Mahat, Tanmātra, Aindrīya, inanimate objects, animals, gods, men, Anugraha, and Kaumāra. More particular account of creation. Origin of different orders of beings from Brahmā's body under different conditions; and of the Vedas from his mouths. All things created again as they existed in a former Kalpa.—P. 34.

CHAP. VI.—Origin of the four castes: their primitive state. Progress of society. Different kinds of grain. Efficacy of sacrifice. Duties of men: regions. assigned them after death.—P. 44.

CHAP. VII.—Creation continued. Production of the mind-born sons of Brahmā; of the Prajāpatis; of Sanandana and others; of Rudra and the eleven Rudras; of the Manu Svāyambhuva, and his wife Śatarūpā; of their children, The daughters of Dakṣa, and their marriage to Dharma and others. The progeny of Dharma and Adharma. The perpetual succession of worlds, and different modes of mundane dissolution.—P. 49.

CHAP. VIII.—Origin of Rudra: his becoming eight Rudras: their wives and children. The posterity of Bhrigu. Account of Śrī in conjunction with Viṣṇu. (Sacrifice of Dakṣa.)—P. 58.

CHAP. IX.—Legend of Lakṣmī. Durvāsas gives a garland to Indra: he treats it disrespectfully, and is cursed by the Muni. The power of the gods impaired: they are oppressed by the Dānavas, and have recourse to Viṣṇu. The churning of the ocean. Praises of Śrī.—P. 70.

CHAP. X.—The descendants of the daughters of Dakṣa married to the Ṛṣis.—P. 82.

CHAP. XI.—Legend of Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda: he is unkindly treated by his father's second wife: applies to his mother: her advice: he resolves to engage in religious exercises: sees the seven Ṛṣis, who recommend him to propitiate Viṣṇu.—P.86.

CHAP. XII.—Dhruva commences a course of religious austerities. Unsuccessful attempts of Indra and his ministers to distract Dhruva's attention: they appeal to Viṣṇu, who allays their fears, and appears to Dhruva. Dhruva praises Viṣṇu, and is raised to the skies as the pole-star.—P. 90.

CHAP. XIII.—Posterity of Dhruva. Legend of Veṇa: his impiety: he is put to death by the Ṛṣis. Anarchy ensues. The production of Niṣāda and Prithu: the latter the first king. The origin of Sūta and Māgadha: they enumerate the duties of kings. Prithu compels Earth to acknowledge his authority: he levels it: introduces cultivation: erects cities. Earth called after bins Prithivī: typified as a cow.—P. 98.

CHAP. XIV.—Descendants of Prithu. Legend of the Pracetasas: they are desired by their father to multiply mankind, by worshipping Viṣṇu: they plunge into the sea, and meditate on and praise him: he appears, and grants their wishes.—P. 106.

CHAP. XV.—The world overrun with trees: they are destroyed by the Pracetasas. Soma pacifies them, and gives them Māṛṣā to wife: her story: the daughter of the nymph Pramlocā. Legend of Kaṇḍu. Māṛṣā's former history. Dakṣa the son of the Pracetasas: his different characters: his sons: his daughters: their marriages and progeny: allusion to Prahlāda, his descendant.—P. 110.

CHAP. XVI.—Inquiries of Maitreya respecting the history of Prahlāda.—P. 125.

CHAP. XVII.—Legend of Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu the sovereign of the universe: the gods dispersed, or in servitude to him: Prahlāda, his son, remains devoted to Viṣṇu: questioned by his father, he praises Viṣṇu: Hiraṇyakaśipu orders him to be put to death, but in vain: his repeated deliverance: he teaches his companions to adore Viṣṇu.—P. 126.

CHAP. XVIII.—Hiraṇyakaśipu's reiterated attempts to destroy his son: their being always frustrated.—P. 134.

CHAP. XIX.—Dialogue between Prahlāda and his father: he is cast from the top of the palace unhurt: baffles the incantations of Samvara: he is thrown fettered into the sea: he praises Viṣṇu.—P. 137.

CHAP. XX.—Viṣṇu appears to Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu relents, and is reconciled to his son: he is put to death by Viṣṇu as the Nrisinha. Prahlāda becomes king of the Daityas: his posterity: fruit of hearing his story.—P. 143

CHAP. XXI.—Families of the Daityas. Descendants of Kaśyapa by Danu. Children of Kaśyapa by his other wives. Birth of the Mārutas, the sons of Diti.—P. 147.

CHAP. XXII.—Dominion over different provinces of creation assigned to different beings. Universality of Viṣṇu. Four varieties of spiritual contemplation. Two conditions of spirit. The perceptible attributes of Viṣṇu types of his imperceptible properties. Viṣṇu every thing. Merit of hearing the first book of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa.—P. 153.

 

BOOK II.

CHAP. I.—Descendants of Priyavrata, the eldest son of Svāyambhuva Manu: his ten sons: three adopt a religious life; the others become kings of the seven Dvīpas, or isles, of the earth. Agnīdhra, king of Jambu-dvīpa, divides it into nine portions, which he distributes amongst his sons. Nābhi, king of the south, succeeded by Riṣabha; and he by Bharata: India named after him Bhārata: his descendants reign during the Svāyambhuva Manvantara.—P. 161.

CHAP. II.—Description of the earth. The seven Dvīpas and seven seas. Jambu-dvīpa. Mount Meru: its extent and boundaries. Extent of Ilāvrita. Groves, lakes, and branches of Meru. Cities of the gods. Rivers. The forms of Viṣṇu worshipped in different Varṣas.—P. 166.

CHAP. III.—Description of Bharata-varṣa: extent: chief mountains: nine divisions: principal rivers and mountains of Bhārata proper: principal nations: superiority over other Varṣas, especially as the seat of religious acts. (Topographical lists).—P. 174.

CHAP. IV.—Account of kings, divisions, mountains, rivers, and inhabitants of the other Dvīpas, viz. Plakṣa, Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauncha, Śāka, and Puṣkara: of the oceans separating them: of the tides: of the confines of the earth: the Lokāloka mountain. Extent of the whole.—P. 197.

CHAP. V.—Of the seven regions of Pātāla, below the earth. Nārada's praises of Pātāla. Account of the serpent Śeṣa. First teacher of astronomy and astrology.—P. 204.

CHAP. VI.—Of the different hells, or divisions of Naraka, below Pātāla: the crimes punished in them respectively: efficacy of expiation: meditation on Viṣṇu the most effective expiation.—P. 207.

CHAP. VII.—Extent and situation of the seven spheres, viz. earth, sky, planets, Mahar-loka, Jana-loka, Tapo-loka, and Satya-loka. Of the egg of Brahmā, and its elementary envelopes. Of the influence of the energy of Viṣṇu.—P. 212.

CHAP. VIII.—Description of the sun: his chariot; its two axles: his horses. The cities of the regents of the cardinal points. The sun's course: nature of his rays: his path along the ecliptic. Length of day and night. Divisions of time: equinoxes and solstices, months, years, the cyclical Yuga, or age of five years. Northern and southern declinations. Saints on the Lokāloka mountain. Celestial paths of the Pitris, gods, Viṣṇu. Origin of Gaṅgā, and separation, on the top of Meru, into four great rivers.—P. 217.

CHAP. IX.—Planetary system, under the type of a Śiśumāra, or porpoise. The earth nourished by the sun. Of rain whilst the sun shines. Of rain from clouds. Rain the support of vegetation, and thence of animal life. Nārāyaṇa the support of all beings.—P. 230.

CHAP. X.—Names of the twelve Ādityas. Names of the Ṛṣis, Gandharvas, Apsarasas, Yakṣas, Uragas, and Rākṣasas, who attend the chariot of the sun in each month of the year. Their respective functions.—P. 233.

CHAP. XI.—The sun distinct from, and supreme over, the attendants on his car: identical with the three Vedas and with Viṣṇu: his functions.—P. 235.

CHAP. XII.—Description of the moon: his chariot, horses, and course: fed by the sun: drained periodically of ambrosia by the progenitors and gods. The chariots and horses of the planets: kept in their orbits by aerial chains attached to Dhruva. Typical members of the planetary porpoise. Vāsudeva alone real.—P. 238.

CHAP. XIII.—Legend of Bharata. Bharata abdicates his throne, and becomes an ascetic: cherishes a fawn, and becomes so much attached to it as to neglect his devotions: he dies: his successive births: works in the fields, and is pressed as a palankin-bearer for the Rājā of Sauvīra: rebuked for his awkwardness: his reply: dialogue between him and the king.—P. 243.

CHAP. XIV.—Dialogue continued. Bharata expounds the nature of existence, the end of life, and the identification of individual with universal spirit.—P. 251.

CHAP. XV.—Bharata relates the story of Ribhu and Nidāgha. The latter, the pupil of the former, becomes a prince, and is visited by his preceptor, who explains to him the principles of unity, and departs.—P. 254.

CHAP. XVI.—Ribhu returns to his disciple, and perfects him in divine knowledge. The same recommended to the Rājā by Bharata, who thereupon obtains final liberation. Consequences of hearing this legend.—P. 257

 

BOOK III.

CHAP. I.—Account of the several Manus and Manvantaras. Svārociṣa the second Manu: the divinities, the Indra, the seven Ṛṣis of his period, and his sons. Similar details of Auttami, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākṣuṣa, and Vaivaswata. The forms of Viṣṇu, as the preserver, in each Manvantara. The meaning of Viṣṇu.—-P. 259.

CHAP. II.—Of the seven future Manus and Manvantaras. Story of Sañjñā and Chāyā, wives of the sun. Sāvarṇi, son of Chāyā, the eighth Manu. His successors, with the divinities, &c. of their respective periods. Appearance of Viṣṇu in each of the four Yugas.—P. 266.

CHAP. III.—Division of the Veda into four portions, by a Vyāsa, in every Dvāpara age. List of the twenty-eight Vyāsas of the present Manvantara. Meaning of the word Brahma.—P. 272.

CHAP. IV.—Division of the Veda, in the last Dvāpara age, by the Vyāsa Kṛṣṇa Dwaipāyana. Paila made reader of the Rich; Vaiśampāyana of the Yajush; Jaimini of the Sāman; and Sumantu of the Atharvan. Sūta appointed to teach the historical poems. Origin of the four parts of the Veda. Saṃhitās of the Rig-veda.—P. 275.

CHAP. V.—Divisions of the Yajur-veda. Story of Yājñawalkya: forced to give up what he has learned: picked up by others, forming the Taittirīya-yajush. Yājñawalkya worships the sun, who communicates to him the Vājasaneyī-yajush.—P. 279.

CHAP. VI.—Divisions of the Sāma-veda: of the Atharva-veda. Four Paurāṇik Saṃhitās. Names of the eighteen Purāṇas. Branches of knowledge. Classes of Ṛṣis.—P. 282.

CHAP. VII.—By what means men are exempted from the authority of Yama, as narrated by Bhīṣma to Nakula. Dialogue between Yama and one of his attendants. Worshippers of Viṣṇu not subject to Yama. How they are to be known.—P. 286.

CHAP. VIII.—How Viṣṇu is to be worshipped, as related by Aurva to Sagara. Duties of the four castes, severally and in common: also in time of distress.—P. 290.

CHAP. IX.—Duties of the religious student, householder, hermit, and mendicant P. 294.

CHAP. X.—Ceremonies to be observed at the birth and naming of a child. Of marrying, or leading a religious life. Choice of a wife. Different modes of marrying—P. 297.

CHAP. XI.—Of the Sadācāras, or perpetual obligations of a householder. Daily purifications, ablutions, libations, and oblations: hospitality: obsequial rites: ceremonies to be observed at meals, at morning and evening worship, and on going to rest—P. 300.

CHAP. XII.—Miscellaneous obligations—purificatory, ceremonial, and moral.—P. 310.

CHAP. XIII.—Of Śrāddhas, or rites in honour of ancestors, to be performed on occasions of rejoicing. Obsequial ceremonies. Of the Ekoddiṣṭa or monthly Śrāddha, and the Sapiṇḍana or annual one. By whom to be performed.—P. 314.

CHAP. XIV.—Of occasional Śrāddhas, or obsequial ceremonies: when most efficacious, and at what places.—P. 320.

CHAP. XV.—What Brahmans are to be entertained at Śrāddhas. Different prayers to be recited. Offerings of food to be presented to deceased ancestors.—P. 325.

CHAP. XVI.—Things proper to be offered as food to deceased ancestors: prohibited things. Circumstances vitiating a Śrāddha: how to be avoided. Song of the Pitris, or progenitors, heard by Ikṣvāku.—P. 332.

CHAP. XVII.—Of heretics, or those who reject the authority of the Vedas: their origin, as described by Vaśiṣṭha to Bhīṣma: the gods, defeated by the Daityas, praise Viṣṇu: an illusory being, or Buddha, produced from his body.—P. 334.

CHAP. XVIII.—Buddha goes to the earth, and teaches the Daityas to contemn the Vedas: his sceptical doctrines: his prohibition of animal sacrifices. Meaning of the term Bauddha. Jainas and Bauddhas; their tenets. The Daityas lose their power, and are overcome by the gods. Meaning of the term Nagna. Consequences of neglect of duty. Story of Śatadhanu and his wife Śaivyā. Communion with heretics to be shunned.—P. 340.

 

BOOK IV.

CHAP. I.—Dynasties of kings. Origin of the solar dynasty from Brahmā. Sons of the Manu Vaivaswata. Transformations of Ilā or Sudyumna. Descendants of the sons of Vaivaswat: those of Nediṣṭa. Greatness of Mārutta. Kings of Vaiśālī. Descendants of Śaryāti. Legend of Raivata: iris daughter Revatī married to Balarāma.—P. 347.

CHAP. II.—Dispersion of Revata's descendants: those of Dhṛṣṭa: those of Nābhāga. Birth of Ikṣvāku, the son of Vaivaswata: his sons. Line of Vikukṣi. Legend of Kakutstha; of Dhundhumāra; of Yuvanāśva; of Māndhātri: his daughters married to Saubhari.—P. 358.

CHAP. III.—Saubhari and his wives adopt an ascetic life. Descendants of Māndhātri. Legend of Narmadā and Purukutsa. Legend of Triśaṅku. Bāhu driven from his kingdom by the Haihayas and Tālajaṅghas. Birth of Sagara: he conquers the barbarians, imposes upon them distinguishing usages, and excludes them from offerings to fire, and the study of the Vedas.—P. 369.

CHAP. IV.—The progeny of Sagara: their wickedness: he performs an Aśvamedha: the horse stolen by Kapila: found by Sagara's sons, who are all destroyed by the sage: the horse recovered by Aṃśumat: his descendants. Legend of Mitrasaha or Kalmāṣapāda, the son of Sudāsa. Legend of Khaṭvāṅga. Birth of Rāma and the other sons of Daśaratha. Epitome of the history of Rāma: his descendants, and those of his brothers. Line of Kuśa. Vrihadbala, the last, killed in the great war.—P. 377.

CHAP. V.—Kings of Mithilā. Legend of Nimi, the son of Ikṣvāku. Birth of Janaka. Sacrifice of Sīradhwaja. Origin of Sītā. Descendants of Kuśadhwaja. Krita the last of the Maithila princes.—P. 388.

CHAP. VI.—Kings of the lunar dynasty. Origin of Soma or the moon: he carries off Tārā, the wife of Vrihaspati: war between the gods and Asuras in consequence: appeased by Brahmā. Birth of Budha: married to Ilā, daughter of Vaivaswata. Legend of his son Purūravas, and the nymph Urvaśī: the former institutes offerings with fire: ascends to the sphere of the Gandharvas,—P. 392.

CHAP. VII.—Sons of Purūravas. Descendants of Amāvasu. Indra born as Gādhi. Legend of Ricīka and Satyavatī. Birth of Jamadagni and Viśvāmitra. Paraśurāma the son of the former. (Legend of Paraśurāma.) Sunahśephas and others the sons of Viśvāmitra, forming the Kauśika race.—P. 398.

CHAP. VIII.—Sons of Āyus. Line of Kṣatravriddha, or kings of Kāśī. Former birth of Dhanwantari. Various names of Pratarddana. Greatness of Alarka.—P. 406.

CHAP. IX.—Descendants of Raji, son of Āyus: Indra resigns his throne to him: claimed after his death by his sons, who apostatize from the religion of the Vedas, and are destroyed by Indra. Descendants of Pratīkṣatra, son of Kṣatravriddha.—P. 411.

CHAP. X.—The sons of Nahuṣa. The sons of Yayāti: he is cursed by Śukra: wishes his sons to exchange their vigour for his infirmities. Puru alone consents. Yayāti restores him his youth: divides the earth amongst his sons, under the supremacy of Puru.—P. 413.

CHAP. XI.—The Yādava race, or descendants of Yadu. Kārttavīrya obtains a boon from Dattātreya: takes Rāvaṇa prisoner: is killed by Paraśurāma: his descendants.—P. 416.

CHAP. XIII.—Descendants of Kroṣṭri. Jyāmagha's connubial affection for his wife Śaivyā: their descendants kings of Vidarbha and Chedi.—P. 420.

CHAP. XIII.—Sons of Satwata. Bhoja princes of Mrittikāvatī. Sūrya the friend of Satrājit: appears to him in a bodily form: gives him the Syamantaka gem: its brilliance and marvellous properties. Satrājit gives it to Prasena, who is killed by a lion: the lion killed by the bear Jāmbavat. Kṛṣṇa suspected of killing Prasena, goes to look for him in the forests: traces the bear to his cave: fights with him for the jewel: the contest prolonged: supposed by his companions to be slain: he overthrows Jāmbavat, and marries his daughter Jāmbavatī: returns with her and the jewel to Dvārakā: restores the jewel to Satrājit, and marries his daughter Satyabhāmā. Satrājit murdered by Śatadhanwan: avenged by Kṛṣṇa. Quarrel between Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Akrūra possessed of the jewel: leaves Dvārakā. Public calamities. Meeting of the Yādavas. Story of Akrūra's birth: he is invited to return: accused by Kṛṣṇa of having the Syamantaka jewel: produces it in full assembly: it remains in his charge: Kṛṣṇa acquitted of having purloined it.—P. 424

CHAP. XIV.—Descendants of Śini, of Anamitra, of Śvaphalka and Citraka, of Andhaka. The children of Devaka and Ugrasena. The descendants of Bhajamāna. Children of Śūra: his son Vāsudeva: his daughter Pritha married to Pāṇḍu: her children, Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers; also Karṇa by Āditya. The sons of Pāṇḍu by Mādrī. Husbands and children of Śūra's other daughters. Previous births of Śiśupāla.—P. 435.

CHAP. XV.—Explanation of the reason why Śiśupāla in his previous births as Hiraṇyakaśipu and Rāvaṇa was not identified with Viṣṇu on being slain by him, and was so identified when killed as Śiśupāla. The wives of Vāsudeva: his children: Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa his sons by Devakī: born apparently of Rohiṇī and Yasodā. The wives and children of Kṛṣṇa. Multitude of the descendants of Yadu.—P. 438.

CHAP. XVI.—Descendants of Turvasu.—P. 442.

CHAP. XVII.—Descendants of Druhyu.—P. 443.

CHAP. XVIII.—Descendants of Anu. Countries and towns named after some of them, as Anga, Banga, and others.—P. 444.

CHAP. XIX.—Descendants of Puru. Birth of Bharata, the son of Duṣyanta: his sons killed: adopts Bharadvāja or Vitatha. Hastin, founder of Hastinapur. Sons of Ajāmīḍha, and the races derived from them, as Pāñcālas, &c. Kripa and Kripī found by Śāntanu. Descendants of Rikṣa, the son of Ajāmīḍha. Kurukṣetra named from Kuru. Jarāsandha and others, kings of Magadhā.—P. 447.

CHAP. XX.—Descendants of Kuru. Devāpi abdicates the throne: assumed by Sāntanu: he is confirmed by the Brahmans: Bhīṣma his son by Gaṅgā: his other sons. Birth of Dhritarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura. The hundred sons of Dhritarāṣṭra. The five sons of Pāṇḍu: married to Draupadī: their posterity. Parīkṣit, the grandson of Arjuna, the reigning king.—P. 457.

CHAP. XXI.—Future kings. Descendants of Parīkṣit, ending with Kṣemaka.—P. 461.

CHAP. XXII.—Future kings of the family of Ikṣvāku, ending with Sumitra.—P. 463.

CHAP. XXIII.—Future kings of Magadhā, descendants of Vrihadratha.—P. 465.

CHAP. XXIV.—Future kings of Magadhā. Five princes of the line of Pradyota. Ten Śaiśunāgas. Nine Nandas. Ten Mauryas. Ten Śuṅgas. Four Kaṇwas. Thirty Āndhrabhrityas. Kings of various tribes and castes, and periods of their rule. Ascendancy of barbarians. Different races in different regions. Period of universal iniquity and decay. Coming of Viṣṇu as Kalki. Destruction of the wicked, and restoration of the practices of the Vedas. End of the Kālī, and return of the Krita, age. Duration of the Kālī. Verses chanted by Earth, and communicated by Asita to Jamaka. End of the fourth book.—P. 466.

 

BOOK V.

CHAP. I.—The death of Kansa announced. Earth, oppressed by the Daityas, applies to the gods. They accompany her to Viṣṇu, who promises to give her relief. Kansa imprisons Vāsudeva and Devakī. Viṣṇu's instructions to Yoganidrā.—P. 491.

CHAP. II.—The conception of Devakī: her appearance: she is praised by the gods.—P. 500.

CHAP. III.—Birth of Kṛṣṇa: conveyed by Vāsudeva to Mathurā, and exchanged with the new-born daughter of Yaśodā. Kansa attempts to destroy the latter, who becomes Yoganidrā..—P. 502.

CHAP. IV.—Kansa addresses his friends, announces their danger, and orders male children to be put to death.—P. 504.

CHAP. V.—Nanda returns with the infants Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Gokula. Pūtanā killed by the former. Prayers of Nanda and Yaśodā.—P. 506.

CHAP. VI.—Krisṇa overturns a waggon: casts down two trees. The Gopas depart to Vrindāvana. Sports of the boys. Description of the season of the rains.—P. 508.

CHAP. VII. Kṛṣṇa combats the serpent Kālīya: alarm of his parents and companions: he overcomes the serpent, and is propitiated by him: commands him to depart from the Yamunā river to the ocean.—P. 512.

CHAP. VIII.—The demon Dhenuka destroyed by Rāma.—P. 517.

CHAP. IX.—Sports of the boys in the forest. Pralamba the Asura comes amongst them: is destroyed by Rāma, at the command of Kṛṣṇa.—P. 518.

CHAP. X.—Description of autumn. Kṛṣṇa dissuades Nanda from worshipping Indra: recommends him and the Gopas to worship cattle and the mountains.—P. 522.

CHAP. XI.—Indra, offended by the loss of his offerings, causes heavy rains to deluge Gokula. Kṛṣṇa holds up the mountain Govarddhana to shelter the cowherds and their cattle.—P. 526,

CHAP. XII.—Indra comes to Gokula: praises Kṛṣṇa, and makes him prince over the cattle. Kṛṣṇa promises to befriend Arjuna.—P. 528.

CHAP. XIII.—Kṛṣṇa praised by the cowherds: his sports with the Gopīs: their imitation and love of him. The Rāsa dance.—P. 531.

CHAP. XIV,—Kṛṣṇa kills the demon Aṛṣṭa, in the form of a bull.—P. 536.

CHAP. XV.—Kansa informed by Nārada of the existence of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma: he sends Keśin to destroy them, and Akūra to bring them to Mathurā.—P. 537.

CHAP. XVI.—Keśin, in the form of a horse, slain by Kṛṣṇa: he is praised by Nārada.—P. 539.

CHAP. XVII.—Akrūra's meditation on Kṛṣṇa: his arrival at Gokula: his delight at seeing Kṛṣṇa and his brother.—P. 541.

CHAP. XVIII.—Grief of the Gopīs on the departure of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with Akrūra: their leaving Gokula. Akrūra bathes in the Yamunā; beholds the divine forms of the two youths, and praises Viṣṇu.—P. 544.

CHAP. XIX.—Akrūra conveys Kṛṣṇa and Rāma near to Mathurā, and leaves them: they enter the town. Insolence of Kansa's washerman: Kṛṣṇa kills him. Civility of a flower-seller: Kṛṣṇa gives him his benediction.—P. 548.

CHAP. XX.—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma meet Kubja; she is made straight by the former: they proceed to the palace. Kṛṣṇa breaks a bow intended for a trial of arms. Kansa's orders to his servants. Public games. Kṛṣṇa and his brother enter the arena: the former wrestles with Cāṇūra, the latter with Muṣṭika, the king's wrestlers; who are both killed. Kṛṣṇa attacks and slays Kansa: he and Balarāma do homage to Vāsudeva and Devakī: the former praises Kṛṣṇa.—P. 550.

CHAP. XXI.—Kṛṣṇa encourages his parents; places Ugrasena on the throne; becomes the pupil of Sāndipanī, whose son he recovers from the sea: he kills the marine demon Pañcajana, and makes a horn of his shell.—P. 560.

CHAP. XXII.—Jarāsandha besieges Mathurā; is defeated, but repeatedly renews the attack.—P. 563.

CHAP. XXIII.—Birth of Kālayavana: he advances against Mathurā. Kṛṣṇa builds Dvārakā, and sends thither the Yādava tribe: he leads Kālayavana into the cave of Muchukunda: the latter awakes, consumes the Yavana king, and praises Kṛṣṇa.—P. 565.

CHAP. XXIV.—Muchukunda goes to perform penance. Kṛṣṇa takes the army and treasures of Kālayavana, and repairs with them to Dvārakā. Balarāma visits Vraja: inquiries of its inhabitants after Kṛṣṇa.—P. 569.

CHAP. XXV.—Balarāma finds wine in the hollow of a tree; becomes inebriated; commands the Yamunā to come to him, and on her refusal drags her out of her course: Lakṣmī gives him ornaments and a dress: he returns to Dvārakā, and marries Revatī.—P. 571.

CHAP. XXVI.—Kṛṣṇa carries off Rukminī: the princes who come to rescue her repulsed by Balarāma. Rukmin overthrown, but spared by Kṛṣṇa, founds Bhojakaṭa. Pradyumna born of Rukminī.—P. 573.

CHAP. XXVII.—Pradyumna stolen by Sambara; thrown into the sea, and swallowed by a fish; found by Māyādevī: he kills Sambara, marries Māyādevī, and returns with her to Dvārakā. Joy of Rukminī and Kṛṣṇa.—P. 575

CHAP. XXVIII.—Wives of Kṛṣṇa. Pradyumna has Aniruddha: nuptials of the latter. Balarāma beat at dice, becomes incensed, and slays Rukmin and others.—P. 578.

CHAP. XXIX.—Indra comes to Dvārakā, and reports to Kṛṣṇa the tyranny of Naraka. Kṛṣṇa goes to his city, and puts him to death. Earth gives the earrings of Aditī to Kṛṣṇa, and praises him. He liberates the princesses made captive by Naraka, sends them to Dvārakā, and goes to Svarga with Satyabhāmā.—P. 581.

CHAP. XXXI.—Kṛṣṇa restores her earrings to Aditī, and is praised by her: he visits the gardens of Indra, and at the desire of Satyabhāmā carries off the Pārijāta tree. Śacī excites Indra to its rescue. Conflict between the gods and Kṛṣṇa, who defeats them. Satyabhāmā derides them. They praise Kṛṣṇa.—P. 584.

CHAP. XXXI.—Kṛṣṇa, with Indra's consent, takes the Pārijāta tree to Dvārakā; marries the princesses rescued from Naraka.—P. 589.

CHAP. XXXII.—Children of Kṛṣṇa. Uṣā, the daughter of Bāṇa, sees Aniruddha in a dream, and becomes enamoured of him.—P. 591.

CHAP. XXXIII.—Bāṇa solicits Śiva for war: finds Aniruddha in the palace, and makes him prisoner. Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, and Pradyumna come to his rescue. Śiva and Skanda aid Bāṇa: the former is disabled; the latter put to flight. Bāṇa encounters Kṛṣṇa, who cuts off all his arms, and is about to put him to death. Śiva intercedes, and Kṛṣṇa spares his life. Viṣṇu and Śiva are the same.—P. 593.

CHAP. XXXIV.—Pauṇḍraka, a Vāsudeva, assumes the insignia and style of Kṛṣṇa, supported by the king of Kai. Kṛṣṇa marches against, and destroys them. The son of the king sends a magical being against Kṛṣṇa: destroyed by his discus, which also sets Benares on fire, and consumes it and its inhabitants.—P. 597.

CHAP. XXXV.—Śāmba carries off the daughter of Duryodhana, but is taken prisoner. Balarāma comes to Hastinapur, and demands his liberation: it is refused: in his wrath he drags the city towards him, to throw it into the river. The Kuru chiefs give up Śāmba and his wife.—P. 601.

CHAP. XXXVI.—The Asura Dwivida, in the form of an ape, destroyed by Balarāma.— P. 604.

CHAP. XXXVII.—Destruction of the Yādavas. Śāmba and others deceive and ridicule the Ṛṣis. The former bears an iron pestle: it is broken, and thrown into the sea. The Yādavas go to Prabhāsa by desire of Kṛṣṇa: they quarrel and fight, and all perish. The great serpent Śeṣa issues from the mouth of Rāma. Kṛṣṇa is shot by a hunter, and again becomes one with universal spirit.—P. 606.

CHAP. XXXVIII.—Arjuna comes to Dvārakā, and burns the dead, and takes away the surviving inhabitants. Commencement of the Kālī age. Shepherds and thieves attack Arjuna, and carry off the women and wealth. Arjuna regrets the loss of his prowess to Vyāsa; who consoles him, and tells him the story of Aṣṭāvakra's cursing the Apsarasas. Arjuna and his brothers place Parīkṣit on the throne, and go to the forests. End of the fifth book.—P. 613.

 

BOOK VI.

CHAP. I.—Of the dissolution of the world: the four ages: the decline of all things, and deterioration of mankind, in the Kālī age.—P. 621.

CHAP. II.—Redeeming properties of the Kālī age. Devotion to Viṣṇu sufficient to salvation in that age for all castes and persons.—P. 627.

CHAP. III.—Three different kinds of dissolution. Duration of a Parārddha. The Clepsydra, or vessel for measuring time. The dissolution that occurs at the end of a day of Brahmā.—P. 630.

CHAP. IV.—Continuation of the account of the first kind of dissolution. Of the second kind, or elemental dissolution; of all being resolved into primary spirit.—P. 634.

CHAP. V.—The third kind of dissolution, or final liberation from existence. Evils of worldly life. Sufferings in infancy, manhood, old age. Pains of hell. Imperfect felicity of heaven. Exemption from birth desirable by the wise. The nature of spirit or god. Meaning of the terms Bhagavat and Vāsudeva.—P. 638.

CHAP. VI.—Means of attaining liberation. Anecdotes of Khāṇḍikya and Keśidhwaja. The former instructs the latter how to atone for permitting the death of a cow. Keśidhwaja offers him a requital, and he desires to be instructed in spiritual knowledge.—P. 645.

CHAP. VII.—Keśidhwaja describes the nature of ignorance, and the benefits of the Yoga, or contemplative devotion. Of the novice and the adept in the performance of the Yoga. How it is performed. The first stage, proficiency in acts of restraint and moral duty: the second, particular mode of sitting: the third, Prānāyāma, modes of breathing: the fourth, Pratyāhāra, restraint of thought: the fifth, apprehension of spirit: the sixth, retention of the idea. Meditation on the individual and universal forms of Viṣṇu. Acquirement of knowledge. Final liberation,—P. 649.

CHAP. VIII.—Conclusion of the dialogue between Parāśara and Maitreya. Recapitulation of the contents of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa: merit of hearing it: how handed down. Praises of Viṣṇu. Concluding prayer.—P. 660.

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