Part 13: Birth of Vijaya

Now there is a city named Dvārakā, the face-ornament of Surāṣṭra, the base of its wall washed by the waves of the western ocean. Its king was Brahmā, whose strength was undulled, by whom everyone was subdued and repressed, like a rival of Jiṣṇu (Indra). Subhadrā and Umā were his wives, the most important of his harem, like the Gaṅgā and the Sindhu^[1] of the Lavaṇa Ocean. Brahmā enjoyed happily sensuous pleasures with these two wives, like Manmatha with Rati and Prīti.

Now Pavanavega’s jīva fell from Anuttara and descended into Queen Subhadrā’s womb. Comfortably asleep, Queen Subhadrā saw then the four great dreams indicating the birth of a Halabhṛt (Balabhadra).^[2] Like the Gaṅgā bearing a white lotus, like the east bearing the moon, at the proper time she bore a son spotless as crystal. King Brahmā gave extreme joy to the world by releases from prison, et cetera, and gave the name Vijaya to his son. Cared for by five nurses appointed to separate duties, he attained growth together with beauty of his body. Wearing dangling golden ear-rings, a swinging jeweled necklace, a golden girdle beautiful with a golden dagger, a band of tinkling little bells fastened to his feet, with side-locks of hair, to whom did he not give great joy, as he played?