Appendix 2 - Pauranic narratives in the Bhaktavijaya

AGASTI’S DRINKING THE OCEAN

Supported by the power of the demon Vritra, the demons Kalakeya often fought with Indra. When with much effort Indra killed the demon Vritra, the Kalakeya demons hid themselves in the ocean, and at night devoured the rishis and impeded their religious functions. Thereupon Indra and other sages prayed to Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] who asked them to go to the sage Agastya. They went, and in compliance with their request the sage Agastya with his power of penance drank the ocean at a gulp, and thus the demons were destroyed.

INDRA’S THOUSAND PHYSICAL HOLES

Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] gave his adopted daughter Ahalya in marriage to the sage Gautama. Indra wished to have her for his wife as she was very beautiful, and being foiled in his attempt he resolved to enjoy her by some means or other. Once when Gautama was away from his house on account of the solar eclipse, Indra went in the disguise of Gautama to his house and enjoyed Ahalya. Just then the real Gautama returned, found out Indra, and cursed him saying, ‘You will have a thousand holes in your body.’ Ahalya too was cursed and turned into a slab of stone. When appeased by her and the gods he again said that she would be restored to life by the dust of the feet of Rama, and that Indra would have a thousand eyes.

A HUNTER BITTEN BY A SNAKE WHILE IN THE ACT OF SHOOTING BIRDS

While wandering in a forest to secure some game a hunter beheld a male and a female pigeon on a tree. He aimed his arrow at them, but in the meantime a hawk noticed the two birds and intended to pounce upon them. The birds were thus between two fires, and they prayed to God to save them and a wonderful thing occurred. A snake came out of its hole and bit the hunter, so the arrow he had aimed at the birds hit the hawk instead, and thus the two birds were saved, and they thanked God.

KRISHNA SHOWS HIS INNUMERABLE FORMS TO

COWHERDESSES

One day a cowherdess caught Krishna while stealthily eating butter in her house, and notwithstanding his prayers she dragged him to his adopted mother Yashoda; on the way many cowherdesses joined her. As they saw Krishna’s mouth smeared with butter they all exclaimed, ‘The robber is well caught. Now we shall have him punished soundly by Yashoda.’ All then started to go to Yashoda to complain against Krishna, and when Krishna found his escape impossible, he performed a miracle. Every cowherdess had in her hand a Krishna with his mouth smeared with butter, and every cowherdess had in her hand a pot of curds as she was going to complain to Yashoda. In the meantime another Krishna was playing in the yard of Yashoda with other cowherds. Just then Nanda arrived there with his relatives, and each of them was carrying a Krishna in his hand. In this way when the cowherdesses found all space filled with Krishna they were amazed and forgetting their complaint went away.

KRISHNA TAKES THE FORMS OF COWS AND CALVES

Once on a time Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] wanted to see whether or no Krishna was a perfect avatar of God and he therefore carried away all the cows, calves, cowherds, etc., into his own land, the Satyaloka. Krishna knew this and for a whole year he took their forms and everything seemed as usual. After the end of a year he (Brahmadev) being convinced, went to Nanda and returned the real cows, calves and cowherds, and the ones that were acting in their stead immediately disappeared. All were astonished at this miracle.

THE SLAYING OF THE SERPENT KALIYA

In a deep place in the waters of the Jumna river there lived a very venomous serpent by name Kaliya and all the water of the river on his account had become poisonous. Some cowherds drank it and died at once, at which Krishna was much enraged; in order to punish Kaliya he jumped into the river and straightway entered his house. His wives, as they saw the tender form of Krishna, began to persuade him to leave the place at once and not fall a victim to the anger of the serpent who would kill him. But notwithstanding their entreaty he began to play his fife. At its sound Kaliya coiled himself around Krishna, and tried to suffocate him to death. But Krishna swelled His body enormously so that Kaliya’s bones were broken and in an agony of death he uncoiled himself. In the meantime Krishna jumped on his head and began to play His fife and to dance. Kaliya began to pant in distress and supplicated Krishna. His wives also pleaded with Krishna for their husband’s life and Krishna spared his life on condition that he leave the place and resort to the ocean. Krishna came out and consoled those who were lamenting for Him as dead, and restored to life all the cowherds who had lost their lives on account of the poison of the serpent.

KRISHNA AND THE WIVES OF THE RISHIS

When the rishis knew of the various sports which Krishna played with the cowherdesses, a sort of disrespect about Him arose in their minds, as they thought that defilement would thereby spread everywhere. Understand-ing this, and in order to explain Himself to them, he went to them and asked for food saying that he was hungry. They replied that no food could be given Him unless it was first offered to the fire, and thus sent Him away. Then Krishna sent some of His companions to the wives of the rishis to beg for food. As they had heard of His many sports, they had great regard for Him and thought him to be the divine soul and without the knowledge of their husbands they prepared many dainty dishes and took them to Krishna. Seeing their devotion He was much pleased and giving them His blessing He sent them away with His assurance of impunity. One of those wives was caught by her husband as she was going to Krishna. She was brought back and tied to a post, and died while being beaten by her husband. The other rishis not seeing their wives in their houses went to Krishna, but to their astonishment found that they had already left the place, except the one who had died owing to her husband’s beating. All had seen her tied to a post, and all saw her here also. This struck them as very wonderful, and they became convinced of the spiritual power and purity of Krishna. Krishna also instructed them in various ways and taught them the principle of humanity towards all creatures.

KRISHNA HUMBLES THE PRIDE OF NARAD

Narad [Narada] was present at the wedding of Krishna with Jambawanti. He was very proud of his singing, and thought there was no equal to him in that art. To humble his pride Krishna devised a plan. Said he to Narad, ‘Everything is in abundance here except singing, so it would be well if you would sing a little.’ Narad [Narada] replied, ‘What is the good of singing in an assembly of bears? (Jambawanti was the daughter of a bear, Jambawant.) It would be looked on as a matter of jest.’ Then Krishna looked at a bear and ordered it to sing. Taking the vina of Narad [Narada] it sang so beautifully that all wondered. Not only so, but the singing left its effect even on the slab of stone on which the bear had been sitting, and it melted, and as the singing stopped it became solid again, and the vina of Narad [Narada] stuck in it. As the singing ended, Narad [Narada] got up and began to take up his vina, but it would not move. Then Krishna said, ‘O king of munis, it will come out only if you will melt the slab by your singing. Just try.’ At this Narad [Narada] was overcome with shame, and confessed that his singing was deficient and that his pride had been humbled. Then he praised Shri Krishna and requested Him to give him back his vina. Krishna then ordered another bear to sing, and as it began to sing the slab melted and Narad [Narada] got his vina back.

GIVING UP OF KRISHNA AS A GIFT

Satyabhama was very proud of her beauty, and thought that it had the power to keep Krishna under her thumb. Once when Krishna was in her mansion she said to Him, ‘Rukmini does not possess so much beauty nor love nor devotion for you as I do, nevertheless you stay with her longer and love her more, which is not good. You should always stay with me.’ Krishna replied, ‘I love a person as much as he loves me.’ Then they had a talk on other subjects and Krishna under the pretext of sleeping lay down quietly with his face covered. Just then Narad [Narada] the muni came there. Bhama offered him a seat and pleased him with her worship. In the course of conversation she said to Narad, ‘Krishna loves me exclusively, but tell me some means by which I shall be able to enjoy the same love for ever in my future births.’ Narad [Narada] said in reply,’If one gives a thing which one loves most as a gift to a Brahman, the same will one possess in the future births.’ Bhama replied, ‘I see no better deserving to receive the gift than yourself. So you accept the gift please.’ Being always ready to make fun, Narad [Narada] at once consented, and told Satyabhama that just then was the most auspicious time for the gift. Bhama made all the preparations, and Krishna was already there. He laughed to Himself at seeing what was going on. Bhama told Him that she was going to offer Him as a gift to Narada. Krishna said, ‘But before you act upto Narada’s advice, you should first consult all my other wives, for if you do not, there will be great unhappiness. Think well of this.’ Bhama replied that she had already thought of it,and worshipping Narad [Narada] in accordance with religious rites she gave Krishna to him as a gift. The delight of Narad could not be contained. He at once took Krishna; and Bhama now became impatient. She entreated Narad [Narada] to leave Krishna there but Narad [Narada] took Krishna into the mansion of Rukmini who requested Krishna to sit on the sofa. But Krishna replied, ‘Now I have become the property of Narad. Without his order I cannot do anything.’ As Narad [Narada] repeated what had happened, Rukmini fell into a swoon. At the news of Krishna’s having been given as a gift, all His thousands of wives and his father Vasudeva assembled there. Bhama was sent for, and when she came they all asked her, ‘What right have you alone to give away Krishna as a gift?’ In thus addressing her they made her miserable and all requested Narad [Narada] to give up Krishna but he would not listen. Eventually it was settled that if Narad [Narada] received Krishna’s weight in gold he should leave his claim and give back Krishna. Bhama was also proud of her fortune, so she put Krishna in one of the scales and her ornaments in the other, but in no way would the scale with ornaments go down. She was very much dejected at heart at this, and hung down her head through shame and disappointment. All the other wives of Krishna following the example of Bhama put their ornaments into the scale but with the same result. Finally all the gold in Dwaraka was put into the scale and even then the scale would not go down. At last Rukmini said, ‘How can the Supreme and complete Brahma, Lord Shri Krishna, Who at His will can create and destroy in a moment innumerable universes, how can He be weighed against gold? He can be weighed against bhakti alone.’ So removing all the gold she put a leaf of tulsi into the scale, and mentally pleaded, ‘O God, consider me as your humble handmaid and preserve my shame.' Just as she finished her prayer, the scale in which Krishna had been placed flew up, and the people made joyful acclamations in the name of Shri Krishna and Rukmini. God hungers after devotion, and it was made evident that Rukmini’s devotion was unexcelled. In this way Satyabhama’s pride was humbled.

DRAUPADI RECEIVES FOUR ARMS AND ASSUMES INNUMERABLE FORMS

In the royal sacrifice of the Pandavas many Brahmans dined daily. After them dined the kings and then the others. Draupadi used to serve all these and when she felt wearied she looked at Shri Krishna and His glance relieved her of her weariness. Many days passed in this way. On one occasion as Draupadi was serving the kings, Krishna praised her for her hard work and she became choked with emotion at realizing that she was so much loved by Krishna. Just then the knot of her jacket became loose and her upper garment also slipped. At this critical moment Duryodhan [Duryodhana] and others asked her to serve them many things at once, and began to treat her without modesty. In her difficulty she invoked Krishna and through his favour received two more arras. With these she knotted her jacket and straightened her garment and began to serve. Just then the evil-minded men saw before each one of them a Draupadi being helped by Krishna. At this the righteous felt delighted and the evil-minded ones were put to shame, and all were convinced of the power of Draupadi’s devotion to God.

KAURAVAS’ ATTEMPT to burn the PANDAVAS IN A LACQUER HOUSE

The Kauravas could not bear to see the respect given by the people to the Pandavas on account of their good nature, learning, and modesty. They therefore asked their father, King Dhritarashtra, to order them to go to live in Varanavat. The house which had been prepared for them to live was stuffed with combustible things such as lac, resin, etc., and a Yavan Purochan by name, had been kept there with orders to set fire to it on an appointed day, and thus burn the Pandavas to death. The Pandavas set out to go and live at Varanavat, but Vidur had apprized them of the danger awaiting them by sending a secret message in a secret language, and for their escape he had also prepared a passage underground which was pointed out to them at the proper time. But Dharmaraj behaved as if ignorant of anything and was waiting for the day on which the house was to be set on fire. Dharmaraj was very generous and many people came to him and went away fully satisfied by his gifts of food and money. On the day on which the house was to be set on fire a Bhil woman had come to live there with her five sons, and she dined and slept on the spot. As Bhima had been warned beforehand, he was on his guard. At midnight the Yavana by name Purochan got up, but before he could set fire to the house, Bhima caught him and tied him to a post, and taking all his brothersand his mother, got out of the house by the secret passage underground. The house was then set fire to by Bhima, destroy ing with it Purochan the Yavana and the Bhil woman with her five sons. In the morning people saw six corpses there, and all thought that the Pandavas were burned to death and therefore all lamented. When the news reached Hastinapura the people there felt very sad, and Dhritarashtra with his sons outwardly bewailed. But after the Svayamwar of Draupadi (choice of her husband ceremony) the Pandavas appeared openly, and came again to live in their kingdom.

THE COMING OF THE HEAVENLY GANGES TO THE MORTAL WORLD AS BHAGIRATHI

Bhagirath [Bhagiratha] was the son of King Dilip of the line of the Ikshvakus. In order to save his ancestors, the sons of Sagar, who were sixty thousand in number burnt to ashes by the sage Kapil, he wanted bring down to the mortal world the heavenly Ganges. In order to accomplish this he practised severe austerity, and the Ganges being pleased consented to do as he wished. It came to the mortal world, and saved Bhagiratha’s ancestors, and since then has remained here under the name of Bhagirathi (by which it is often known) as the result of Bhagirath’s efforts.

BHARATA HUMBLES MARUTI’S PRIDE

In the battle between Rama and Ravana, Lakshman fell down in a swoon by a missile hurled at him by Ravana To bring him to life Maruti went to bring Mount. Drona on which many efficacious herbs grew. While carrying it he felt proud of his strength. As Maruti was passing Nandigrama where Bharata was reigning he saw Maruti, and taking him to be a demon shot him with an arrow which threw him on the ground. Maruti was sorry, for he thought that he would not be able to reach the place where Lakshman lay unconscious, before sunrise and therefore would not be of any help in restoring the life of Lakshman. When Maruti met Bharata he related his errand. Bharata at once put him on the tip of his arrow which had the name ‘Rama’ on it and shot him to where Rama was. In this way Maruti’s pride was humbled.

VISHNU HOLDS BHRIGU’S KICK (ITS MARK) ON HIS CHEST AS AN ORNAMENT

Once in an assembly of rishis a question arose as to who among the three gods was superior. Some favoured Brahma and some Shiva and Vishnu and the question could not be decided. So it was decided that he would be called the best of all who had forgiveness and peace of mind. Bhrigu went to Shiva and Brahma and purposely insulted them on which he was driven away by both. Lastly he went to Vishnu, but He was asleep. So Bhrigu gave Vishnu, a sharp kick on his chest, but instead of getting angry, Vishnu humbly said, ‘I am sorry I was sleeping and thus could not welcome you.’ This was held to prove Vishnu’s superiority. The mark of Bhrigu’s kick is called Shrivatsalanchan [Shrivatsa-lanchana] and god Vishnu wears it as an ornament to show what respect he has for Brahmins.

VISHVAMITRA’S NEW CREATION

Trishanku, a king of the Ikshvaku family line, wanted to perform a sacrifice with the help of Vishvamitra, desiring to go to heaven with his mortal body. As Vishvamitra was of the Kshatriya race, and the host Trishanku had become a chandala (untouchable) by Vashishtha’s curse, no Brahman would go to take part in the sacrifice. But with great difficulty some Brahmans did come, though the gods would not take their oblations. At length Vishvamitra said, ‘By the power of my own good actions, you go to heaven, O king’. As Vishvamitra said this, the king began to fly up like a bird^- heavenward, but Indra (the chief of gods) would not allow him into heaven. Trishanku began to fall but as he was falling, Vishvamitra said, ‘Stay just there, for your sake I will create a new heaven and there I will locate you.’ So Trishanku remained hanging in space and Vishvamitra commenced a sacrifice as he had resolved and created somethings. But Indra became frightened at it and prevailed on Vishvamitra to stop his further creation. Indra caused Trishanku to give up his mortal body and took him to heaven with a divine body.

[VASHISHTHA AND VISHVAMITRA, OR BRAHMAN’S POWERFUL STICK

As Vishvamitra was once on a hunting expedition he halted at the hermitage of Vashishtha who showed him and his army every kind of hospitality with the help of the wish-cow which he possessed. Vishvamitra asked him to give him the cow,but when Vashishtha refused, Vishvamitra began to drag away the cow by force, but the cow created four kinds of armies from her body and defeated him. Feeling deeply mortified he went into the Himalayas, and there practised severe austerities and obtained many weapons and missiles which he used on Vashishtha, but the latter took his Brahmadanda (the Brahman’s stick) in his hand and assuming a huge form swallowed them. ]

(Another narrative about the Brahma-danda reads as follows:—Once on a time there was a dispute between Vashishtha and Vishvamitra as to their superiority, and in order to settle the question both of them went to Brahmadev. He asked them to produce some witnesses in whose presence the decision would be given. Vashishtha first went to the sun and requested him to come. The sun said that he had to give light to the earth and consequently could not come. But Vashishtha placed his Chati (a Sannyasi’s upper garment) in the place of the sun, and told him that it would do his work until he returned. Then he went to the serpent Shesha who holds the earth on his head. There Vashishtha placed his stick (the Brahma-stick) which would support the earth until Shesha returned. He then went to the moon, and in its place kept his water-gourd to work for it until it returned. Vishvamitra could not obtain any such witnesses, and this established the superiority of Vashishtha over him. ]

VISHNU IN THE EORM OF A SWAN

Once upon a time the sages Sanaka and others asked Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] in the Satyaloka (Brahmadeva’s heaven) a philosophical question. His mind was at that time otherwise engaged and so he could not answer. Just then Vishnu appeared on the scene as a swan and removed their doubts.