Part 5 - Description of Lord Narayana

Any Mahakavya usually consists of the description of the hero, as it is one of its important aspects. The ancient Indian tradition in general and the Madhva tradition in particular hold the view that Lord Krsna is one of the incarnations of Lord Narayana. Although Trivikrama Pandita does not give full scope for the description of Lord Krsna as the hero of the poem, yet he has described in detail His original form i.e. Lord Narayana. This description of Lord Narayana occurs in the First canto itself. Being an ardent follower of Madhva tradition, Trivikrama Pandita describes Lord Narayana together with His other incarnations like Vamana etc. in an exalted way. Being followed by all gods, Brahma appraoched Lord Narayana lying on Adisesa in the milk ocean. In order to gain the favour of Narayana, Brahma praised the supreme glory of Him. At the outset of the poem, Lord Narayana is described as the Supreme King of both the gods, like Indra etc., and demons like Prahlada, Bali etc. 49 He is further represented as the instrumental cause of the universe, beyond the limits of place and time, the best among the Ksara-perishable and Aksara-imperishable entities, devoid of beginning, middle and end. He is praised as the Superior to even goddess Laksmi.5 Since Lord Narayana is Omnipotent, He can destroy at a time a group of demons; as such He is called the Destroyer of the demons called Madhu and Kaitabha. The same Supreme Godhead now is engaged in Yoganidra on the splendid bed of Adisesa, the king of serpents.51 49. vamdamahe vayam devamimdivarasamaprabham | surasuremdrasamdohavamdaniyapadambujam || (I.36) 50. devadevam jagadbijamameyam purusottamam | adimadhyamtarahitam parasyah prakrteh param || (I.37) 51. nihatya kaitabham daityam samadhum yoganidraya | damdasukedraparyamkamarudhah svapitiva yah || (I.38)

131 In the beginning of creation of the universe, Lord Narayana sportively assumed a form of great Fish and lifted up all the Vedas submerged in the ocean. 52 This speaks of His Matsyavatara. In His incarnation of Kurma, Lord Narayana favoured the gods in their attempt of churning the milk ocean and in obtaining ambrosia. It was Kurma, who remained as the Substratum beneath the Mandara mountain as the churning staff. 53 Then, it was the Varaha form of Lord Narayana, who protected the earth from its disappearance in the waters of the ocean. 54 Describing the glory of Supreme Narayana, the poet refers to His Nrsimha incarnation. Then, he elucidates the incarnation of Vamana : Though Aditi had Indra as her son from Kasyapa Prajapati, she desired to be the mother of Lord Narayana Himself. To fulfil her desire, she undertook severe penance. In course of time, Lord Narayana made His dwelling in the womb of Aditi.55 Lord Narayana in the form of Vamana whose splender was all-excelling incarnated on the earth. [I.46] Then Vamana was consecrated by his father Kasyapa, with the rites of Upanayana. As a celibate, Vamana served His father Kasyapa. He was performing daily and occasional duties like Sandhyavandana etc. Besides, Vamana observed all vratas strictly. 52. ujjahara pura yopi matsyabhavamadhisritah | amtarhitani chamdamsi ratnaniva mahodadheh || (I.40) 53. yadvalastambhitaharyamathitadarnavodarat | udbhutamamrtam yena jivamtyadyapi devatah || (I.41) 54. uddhrta lilaya prthvi damstrina yena damstraya | mrnali kumjareneva damtena jalamadhyaga || (I.42) 55. labdhavrddhasravastoka jananibhavamicchati | rseh sahacari yasya tapo duscaramacarat || adityamudaram bheje puruso yah paratparah | jagatamupakararthamadityasyeva mamdalam || (I.44-45) 56. vavrdhe vardhayannabdhimekhalam mekhaladiman | varni varnitavrtto yah susrusabhirato guroh || (I. 47 )

132 At that time, the powerful Mahabali, king of demons, was performing horse-sacrifice under the officiating priesthood of Bhargava brahmin. Hearing about it, Vamana started for the place of sacrifice. 57 Vamana then entered the sacrificial field, where all the priests performing the rites, were present. Then king Mahabali welcomed Vamana celibate in due manner, and paid his homage to Vamana with all devotion.58 Mahabali became ecstatic to see Vamana, the embodiment of splendour. The joy he experienced was equal to that of a person who saw lost son. (1.52) Vamana asked for three feet of ground which he could measure with His feet. At that time, having suspected the form of Vamana, the king's preceptor, Sukracarya tried to obstruct Mahabali from his giving a gift of three-feet land. But Mahabali did not listen to him, and prepared himself to offer the gift with an Arghya of water from his water-pot. At that time, Sukracarya got into the mouth of the pot in the shape of a mote. As such water could not flow freely from the mouth of the pot. Knowing this, Vamana took a darbha grass and pushed it at the mouth of the pot. The grass pierced one eye of Sukracarya. Then Mahabali offered three feet of ground. And Vamana began to measure the ground. With one step, He measured the whole earth, with the second step, He covered the whole of Antariksa. When He lifted His foot to measure by His second step, all gods like Indra etc., and demons like Prahlada, bore the dust beneath the holy foot of Lord Visnu. It was just like the bees serving with love the pollen of blown lotuses.5 59 57. jagama bhagavanyo'pi mamdiram devavairinah | tayamane mahayajne tamasivodayam ravih || (I.49) 58. sadarbhastaranatpithadutthayosanasa saha | diksitah pujayamasa bhaktya yam bhaktavatsalam || (I.51) 59. yatpadatalayoh pamsunasevamta surasurah | sphuradutphulladalayormrga iva sarojayoh || (I.57)

133 Thus Lord Narayana in the form Trivikrama (Vamana) pervaded the whole of the universe as He was measuring three feet of ground. Finding no place for the third foot, Vamana placed third foot on Mahabali's head and pushed down him to Patala.60 In this manner, Lord Narayana in His incarnation of Vamana showed His Trivikrama form. More than what Indra possesses the lordship of all the three worlds, Lord Narayana made Mahabali as the Lord of Patalaloka.61 In this way measuring and pervading all the three worlds, and sending Mahabali to Patalaloka, speak of inexplicable and supra-unique power of the Supreme Narayana.62 Thus ends the description of Lord Narayana.

60. yo balim balinam bhuktadurdhvalokanyapatayat | dattabhogo yatha purvo dharmo jivamanusthitah || (I.59) 61. tatastrijagadaisvaryamadisadyo baladvise | 62. adhipatyam ca daityaya nagalokasya bhuyasah || (I.61) kubjanamnah katha'dyapi pumso yasya gunadhika | | ramayatyanubhuteva ramani romaharsini || (I.63)