Puttugam2

Trivikramāya namah

Lord Varuna continued, “O demon king! I have completely given up warfare. You are an expert in warfare. To a warrior of your cadre, only Lord Srihari is the right opponent. He is the primordial being. He alone can satisfy your desire. I do not even know how to fight properly. Therefore I suggest that you approach him. Mighty warriors like you can truly appreciate his power. He too is waiting for a worthy opponent.

“Taṁ vīram ārād abhipadya vismayaḥ śayiṣyase vīra-śaye śvabhir vṛtaḥ

Yas tvad-vidhānām asatāṁ praśāntaye rūpāṇi dhatte sad-anugrahecchayā

Very shortly you will meet this supreme warrior Srihari. Then your pride will be crushed. When you sleep in the battle field, dogs will roam around you. Only for the purpose of destroying wicked beings and for blessing the noble beings, He incarnates periodically”- said Lord Varuna to Hiranyāksha.

With this the seventeenth chapter comes to an end.

Third Canto Chapter Eighteen 

In this chapter, for the well-being of the universe, the Supreme Lord tackling the demon Hiranyāksha and the details of their battle are covered.

Maitreya Maharishi continued, “O Vidura! Hiranyāksha was extremely thrilled when he heard the words of Varuna. This conceited demon was excited that after all these years he was going to combat with an able opponent, who could match him in battle. He paid a deaf ear to Varuna’s prophecy that he would meet his end in Srihari’s hands.

He, who was anxious for a battle, instantly found from Maharishi Nārada the place where he would find Srihari. In lightening speeds he reached Patala (a type of hell).

Dadarśa tatrābhijitaṁ dharā-dharaṁ Pronnīyamānāvanim agra-daṁṣṭrayā

Muṣṇantam akṣṇā sva-ruco ’ruṇa-śriyā Jahāsa cāho vana-gocaro mṛgaḥ

There he saw Lord Varāha, who was the size of an unimaginably huge mountain. Lord Varāha was holding the earth on his tusks and bringing it up. In front of the Lord, who was gleaming with his bright red eyes and lustrous body, Hiranyāksha’s radiance faded.

Seeing the Lord the demon thought, “Oh, this is an animal that roams about in the forests. How come it is swimming in these waters?” Thinking thus he laughed boisterously.

Addressing the Lord he shouted, “O fool, come here! Throw away that earth. Lord Brahma who has created this universe has gifted to us the earth which is situated near the Rasātala (a type of hell). Hence earth is always under our control.

You cannot steal the earth, right under our eyes, and obtain any happiness. You who have incarnated as a boar are the lowest amongst the Devatas. O fool! Is it possible that in order to destroy us our enemies have nourished you? If not, what is the reason behind this huge form of yours?

You appear like a magician. Instead of appearing in your original form, you are appearing in this form of a boar and are attacking the demons so as to obtain victory. The power of illusion (yoga maya) is your true form. Nevertheless, your prowess is insignificant. Your valour is demeaning and lowly. I will now kill you and through this wipe the tears of my kith and kin.

When I hurl this mace your head will be smashed into pieces. O fool! The time for your death has arrived. When you die, these sages who ardently worship you, will automatically die akin to the tree whose mother root has been plucked out”.

Like sharp thorns, these words uttered by his enemy deeply pricked Lord Varaha. Earth which was resting on His tusks, trembled profusely hearing the words of the demon. Even though these harsh words pricked the Lord, He tolerated it. Just as a male elephant chased by a crocodile reaches the shore together with its female companion, Lord Varāha together with earth emerged safely from the waters.

Hiranyaksha had golden hair all over his body. His tusks were frightful. Seeing Lord Varāha emerging from the waters he roared like thunder. Just as a crocodile rushes to catch the elephant, he rushed towards Lord Varāha in great fury. He roared, “Shameless persons do not possess the discrimination between rightful or wrongful deeds. Such wicked persons escape timidly without waging war. Are you not ashamed of behaving in such a shameless manner?”

Exactly at that moment Brahma was praying to Lord Varāha, who had brought the earth safely out of the waters. The Devatas were raining flowers upon Him and were praising him profusely. Without heeding the taunting words uttered by this demon, the Lord carried the earth and deposited it safely at a suitable place. He then blessed it by transferring His own energy into it.

Now He looked at Hiranyāksha who was wearing golden ornaments, who had draped himself in multi coloured golden clothing, who held a huge iron mace in his hand and who was abusing Him and piercing His heart with harsh words. The Lord’s fury knew no bounds. Laughing boisterously He looked at the demon and said,

“Satyaṁ vayaṁ bho vana-gocarā mṛgā Yuṣmad-vidhān mṛgaye grāma-siṁhān

Na mṛtyu-pāśaiḥ pratimuktasya vīrā Vikatthanaṁ tava gṛhṇanty abhadra

 O wicked demon! What you said is undoubtedly true. We are animals that roam about in the forests. Nevertheless, our task is to catch worthless dogs like you. You are wasting your time in useless talk. Valourous persons do not attach any value to worthless words.

What you have said is true! We are thieves. We have come to steal this earth which had been given to the residents of Rasātala hell by Lord Brahma. Therefore even if you chase us with your mace, we do not care. We are shameless.

I have no choice but to fight you. How can we afford to have hostile relations with powerful warriors of your stature? More importantly, you are the commander for all the land warriors. Why then do you hesitate? Why do you delay? Come now. Begin that task which is disliked by me”.

Trivikramāya namah

Female jackals stood in the middle of village streets and howled inauspiciously emitting fiery flames from their mouths. They were accompanied by male jackals and owls. At many place dogs howled and shrieked with their raised necks. At times it was as if they were singing and at other times it was inauspicious howling. Large groups of inebriated donkeys were hitting the earth with their hooves and howling inauspiciously.

Terrified of this howls, many birds fell dead from their nests. Domesticated as well as wild animals began to urinate and discard fecal matter due to fright. The frightened cows began to yield blood instead of milk. Clouds showered pus instead of water. The idols of the deities began to shed profuse tears. Even in the absence of winds, huge trees began to collapse to the ground.

Using retrograde methods, inauspicious planets emitting sparks of fire overtook auspicious planets and star constellations and travelled.  Each planet and constellation has its own gravitational force which ensures a planet remains in its orbit and balances its connections to other planets. Now this gravitational force was reducing and planets were moving haphazardly. It was as if these planets would fall down or sink. The planets were competing with each other during such haphazard movements.

In addition to this, many more inauspicious omens filled the earth. Barring Sanaka and other Maharishis who were omniscient, every other living entity was terrified noticing these inauspicious omens. They feared that the time for destruction of the universe had arrived.

These twins, who were Diti’s first-borns, showed their prowess soon upon birth. With bodies that were strong as iron, these twins began to grow like two gigantic mountains. Their bodies were so huge that their golden crowns enveloped all the directions. The tips of their crowns touched all the three worlds.

Their powerful shoulders, which caused panic to all the worlds, were glowing with golden armlets. A glittering waistband draped their waists. When they walked, the earth trembled with their weight. In front of their radiance, even the radiance of the Sun seemed lusterless.

Kashyapa Maharishi conducted the naming ceremony for his twin sons. They were named Hiranyāksha and Hiranyakashipu. He who was the first to enter Diti’s womb, in other words, the second to emerge from her womb was called Hiranyakashipu. The other son was Hiranyāksha.

Due to his mighty powerful arms, Hiranyakashipu was arrogant and conceited. To add to this, he performed intense austerities and obtained a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed by anyone. As a result his haughtiness only multiplied. Very soon he conquered all the worlds together with the Lords of all directions and ruled over them.

Hiranyāksha always engaged in deeds that brought joy to his elder brother. Fighting with equals was his greatest joy. Holding a mace in his hand he travelled in all directions searching for a suitable opponent to battle with.

His speed and might was intolerable. On his neck he would wear a huge flower garland that symbolized his victory. On his shoulders he held a huge mace. When he walked the huge golden anklets on his legs jingled deafeningly. Being independent, there was nothing he feared.

Fearing Hiranyāksha who, due to his unsurpassed mental and physical prowess and due to the boon showered upon him by Brahma, had become conceited and was about to attack them, Devatas were terrified. Just as snakes hide fearing eagle Garuda, the Devatas began running helter-skelter and hid from him.

When the demon-king Hiranyāksha stepped into heaven it was totally deserted. He understood that fearing his might the Devatas had gone into hiding. To announce his victory he roared deafeningly, such that it resounded throughout heaven, and then left the place.

Nevertheless his desire to fight was not quenched. He was unable to find anyone whom he could challenge for a war. Meanwhile he spotted the oceans and desired to playfully swim in them. Instantly with a loud thunderous howl he plunged into the ocean like an inebriated elephant.

Seeing Hiranyāksha in the waters, the aquatic animals who are the army of the Ocean Lord Varuna, shivered terribly and dispersed in various different directions. Even though he did not even near them, they were unable to withstand his might and his radiance. They divided themselves into tiny groups and travelled countless miles to save themselves. Through his breath Hiranyāksha created gigantic waves in the ocean. Playfully hitting these enormous waves with his iron mace, he spent many, many years in the oceans.

He then reached Vibhāvari, the capital of Lord Varuna. There he saw Lord Varuna who is the Lord of Pātala (hell) and of all the aquatic animals. In order to cheat him, Hiranyāksha pretended like an insignificant low person. He fell at Varuna’s feet and said, “O mighty king! Bless me by agreeing to fight with me.”

Hiranyāksha was itching for a battle. He was restless without engaging in war. All the time he was on the lookout for a suitable opponent. He continued, “O King! Your valour is of great renown. You crush the pride of those conceited warriors who consider themselves to be unconquerable. In the past you conquered all Devatas and demons and then performed the Rajasuya yagna”.

In this manner, Hiranyāksha, who considered Varuna as his enemy, pretended to praise him so as to invite him for a battle. He was actually ridiculing Varuna.

Varuna reflected upon this deeply. He suppressed the anger that was bursting forth from within. He then said, “O demon king! I have completely given up warfare. You are an expert in warfare. To a warrior of your cadre, only Lord Srihari is the right opponent. He is the primordial being. He alone can satisfy your desire. I do not even know how to fight properly. Therefore I suggest that you approach him. Mighty warriors like you can truly appreciate his power. He too is waiting for a worthy opponent”.

The four Kumāras continued, “For the welfare of humans, through the medium of kings who are your incarnations, You destroyed those who oppose dharma. You do not wish to see the path of righteousness (dharma) eliminated. Retaining the three attributes of Nature (sattva, rajas, tamas) under Your control, You rule and sustain the entire universe.

The humbleness that You have shown towards us will not reduce Your supremacy even slightly. This humility is just another of Your transcendental pastimes.

O Lord of the universe! Whether You decide to punish these two doorkeepers or You decide to honour them, both are acceptable to us. In this there is no deceitfulness. Any decision of Yours is acceptable to us. In addition please punish us too. Receiving punishment from You is also joyful because we are guilty of cursing two innocent faultless beings”.

Srihari then addressed the saints and said, “O Maharishis! These two will now be born as demons who will have deep aversion towards Me. Hatred together with feelings of intense anger will ensure that their mind is eternally focused upon Me. It will transform into Yoga and very quickly they will return to Me. Please understand that it was because of My will that you cursed them”.

Sanaka and other Maharishis were overjoyed to hear these words. To their hearts content once again they looked at the Lord. Srihari is Self-illuminated God with irrefutable competence. In great joy the four saints observed His abode Vaikunṭha, the divine Self-illuminating planet. They circumambulated and offered obeisance to Him. Seeking His permission they returned from that plane extolling His glories.

Thereafter addressing his two servants, Srihari said, “My dearest attendants! Please leave fearlessly. May you be blessed with auspiciousness! Although I have the capacity to overrule the curse pronounced by Brahmanas, I did not choose to do so. On the other hand, the curse was in accordance to My will. Therefore I do not have any intention of withdrawing it.

Previously when I was in Yogic sleep (yoga nidra) you once stopped Goddess Lakshmi at the entrance. She was infuriated and at that moment itself she had actually cursed you. For this reason your fall to lower planes is inevitable. You will have deep aversion towards me. After cleansing yourselves completely from the sin of having disrespected Brahmins, you will shortly return to my abode.”

Saying this, Srihari who was until then standing at the entrance, now returned into His apartments. That Vaikunṭha was glowing with the splendor of the aircrafts situated therein. It was replete with limitless wealth. It was being served by the extremely beautiful Goddess Lakshmi.

Due to the irrefutable curse of the Brahmins, Jaya and Vijaya lost their luster even when they were in Vaikunṭha and fell from there. Their arrogance was totally destroyed.

Brahma thus narrated the story of Jaya-Vijaya’s curse to the Devatas. He then said, “As these two were falling from Vaikunṭha, all the celestials who were in the aircrafts there shouted in disappointment.

O Devatas! These two attendants of Srihari are now growing in Diti’s womb. Due to the radiance of Kashyapa Maharishi they are prospering. These two demons, who are akin to death, are twins. Their power is now destroying your radiance. This situation has been caused purely due to Srihari’s intent hence I am helpless.

viśvasya yaḥ sthiti-layodbhava-hetur ādyo

yogeśvarair api duratyaya-yogamāyaḥ

kṣemaṁ vidhāsyati sa no bhagavāṁs tryadhīśas

tatrāsmadīya-vimṛśena kiyān ihārthaḥ

Bhagawan Srihari, the primordial being, is the absolute cause who is totally responsible for the creation, sustenance and annihilation of the entire universe. He is the Lord of all the three planes of existence who has retained the three attributes of Nature i.e. sattva, rajas and tamo guṇās completely under His control. Even the greatest Yogis cannot cross over His Yoga-māya (illusory power). It is this Lord who causes our welfare. Discussing about His illusory power (yogamāya) is futile. Surrendering to Him alone is beneficial and He alone rescues us”.

With this the sixteenth chapter comes to an end.

Third Canto Chapter Seventeen

In this chapter the ill-omens that preceded the birth of demons Hiranyāksha and Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyāksha’s victory are explained.

Maitreya Maharishi said to Vidura, “When the Self-created Lord Brahma explained to the Devatas the reason behind their diminishing luster, their doubts were totally dispelled. Seeking His permission, they returned to Heaven, their planet.

Diti, the chaste wife of Maharishi Kashyapa, vividly remembered all that her husband had predicted. She was worried and tensed that her unborn children would cause destruction and hardship to all the worlds. After 100 years of pregnancy she delivered two twin boys.

At the time of their birth many ill-omens were seen in heaven, on earth and in space. Mountains shook violently. There were violent earthquakes in many parts of the globe. Huge fires erupted abruptly in all directions. Thunderbolts and comets, which cause destruction, fell on earth.

Strong violent gale winds that pricked the skin blew harshly with whistling sounds. Forceful whirlwinds accompanied it like an army. The dust that was raised due to such winds appeared like its crown. Such winds uprooted gigantic trees together with their roots.

The lightning that dazzled the skies appeared to be laughing. The sky was completely overcast with clouds so much so that the Sun, Moon, twinkling stars and planets were obscured totally. Everything was enveloped with darkness and nothing could be seen.

Oceans turned turbulent creating gigantic waves that dashed against the land. The ocean appeared ferocious like a mentally agitated being. Even water bodies such as rivers, lakes and ponds became turbulent. The lotuses within them withered.

Solar and lunar eclipses were created. Continuous halo was seen around the Sun and the Moon appearing as if their illumination had all bundled up in one place. Even in the absence of clouds, thunder could be heard. Loud sounds like that of moving chariots could be heard from mountain caves.

Female jackals stood in the middle of village streets and howled inauspiciously emitting fiery flames from their mouths. They were accompanied by male jackals and owls. At many place dogs howled and shrieked with their raised necks. At times it was as if they were singing and at other times it was inauspicious howling. Large groups of inebriated donkeys were hitting the earth with their hooves.

Vishnave namah.