Thus eulogised the god Mahādeva, having the bull for his emblem, extended his right arm and thus spoke to Nārāyana (35):—"O best of gods, thou shalt obtain the things desired by thee; thou shalt carry away the Pārijāta tree; and thy mind shall not feel the least pain (of disappointment) (36). O powerful Krishna, do thou compose thyself remembering the austerities thou didst practise on the Maināka mountain and the boon I bestowed on thee on that occasion (37). 'Thou shalt be incapable of being slain', 'Thou shalt be invincible,' and 'Thou shalt be ever more indomitable than myself'—these and such words which I spoke to thee then-shall be so and not otherwise (i.e. they shall be true to the letter) (38). Moreover, O foremost and virtuous among the gods—he, that will pray to me with this hymn of praise composed by thee, shall attain the highest virtue and victory ever his foes in battle and homage of the highest kind (39). O sinless one, O lord of the gods, worshipped here by thyself, I shall be called Villodakesara and fulfill the desire of all that will approach me (40). O Keshava, O Janārddana, whatsoever learned and worshipful devotee will pass three nights here, observing fast, shall attain to such regions as he may desire (41). Here also shall the Ganges (sacred river) be called Avindhyā; and ablutions, performed in its water after due recitation of Mantras, will be equally meritorious with those performed in the Ganges itself (42). O mighty Janārddana, on the summit of this mountain, within the caves underneath the ground there is a stronghold of the Dānavas called Satpura. Hidden inside that fastness live mighty Dānavas of wicked soul—who are so many thorns in the ways of the gods and in the universe (43-44). O sinless one, through the virtue of a boon bestowed on them by Brahmā, they are, O God, incapable of being slain by the celestials; therefore do thou, O Keshava, slay them, disguised as thou art now in a human semblance" (43).
Having thus spoken and after embracing Vāsudeva, O ruler of men, the god Mahādeva disappeared on the spot (46). Thus after Mahadeva's departure, and on the dawn of day, O ruler of men, Govinda, addressing the mountain (Pārijātra) said:—"O foremost of mountains, underneath you live mighty Asuras, incapable of being slain by the gods, by virtue of a boon bestowed on them by Brahmā (48). Although highly powerful they shall not be able to come out when I confine them (within the Earth underneath you); and their avenues thus cut off they shall die in that place (49). O mighty mountain, I shall also be enshrined on you—and O mountain, I shall live on your heights holding in check the dreadful Asuras (50). O foremost of mountains, who ever climbing upon your top shall behold my image there, he shall attain to the merit of giving away a thousand cows (51). Those, that will every day devoutly worship me constructing an emblem of mine with your stones, shall attain to my condition" (52).
Thus the boon-giving Vishnu favored that master and thenceforward that infallible God is enshrined there (53). And there, O descendant of Kurus, persons of purified souls always worship him having constructed a image with the stone of that mountain, with a view to attain to the Vishnu Loka (54).
CHAPTER CCXXII. INDRA FIGHTS WITH KRISHNA
Vaishampāyana said:—Having saluted then the Lord of Vilwa and water, Krishna, the high-minded slayer of Madhu, went away on his own car; and seated thereon he invited the king of gods accompanied by the celestials near Pushkara (1-2).
Thereupon the effulgent Sakra, the granter of all desires unto the pious and Jayanta got upon cars drawn by most excellent horses (3). O descendant of Kurus, then under the influence of destiny there took place an encounter between those two celestials mounted on their cars on account of the Pārijāta. With straight-coursing arrows Vishnu, the represser of enemies' army, struck the soldiers of the king of gods. Although capable however, O lord, Indra did not strike Upendra in battle nor the latter the former (4–6). O king, with ten sharpened arrows Janārddana struck each of the horses of the king of gods: Vāsava too, the foremost of the celestials, with dreadful shafts shot off the bow, covered Shaiyya and other horses (7-8). With a thousand of arrows Krishna covered the elephant (of Indra) and the highly powerful slayer of Bali covered Garuda too (9). O descendant of Bharata, while in this way, seated on their cars the high-souled Nārāyana, dreadful unto his enemies and the king of gods fought with each another, the earth shook like a boat sunk in water and the quarters were fully enshrouded with lustre (10-11). Mountains shook, hundreds of trees were uprooted and pious mortals fell down on earth (12). O king, hundreds of hurricane blew there. And while that battle raged on, the course of the rivers was changed in an opposite direction, the wind blew wild, fire-brands, shorn of lustre, fell down and creatures repeatedly lost their consciousness at the rattle of the car-wheels. What more, O king, fire was lighted even in the water and planets fought with planets in the sky (13–15). And hundreds of stars fell down on earth from the sky. Elephants of the quarters and those ranging on earth began to quiver (16). The welkin was covered with cranes emitting loud cries, pouring down dreadful blood and ash-coloured like asses (17). O foremost of kings, beholding those two heroic gods engaged in fighting with each other the earth, heaven and sky as if disappeared from view (18). At that time for the behoof of the world the ascetics began to recite Mantras and the Brāhmanas speedily engaged in carrying on meditations (19).
Thereupon the highly powerful Brahmā said to Kashyapa:—"O you of firms vows, go with your wife Aditi and prevent your two sons" (20). Saying "So be it" to the lotus-sprung deity the ascetic speedily went out on his car to that foremost of men (21). Beholding Kashyapa with Aditi in the battle-field those two heroic and highly powerful slayers of their enemies, ever engaged in the welfare of all beings and well-read in the tenets of religions, got down from their cars, and leaving off their arms, saluted the feet of their parents (22–23). Then holding them both by the hands Aditi said:—"Born of the same parents you are trying to slay each other as if you are not brothers. Let pass what has happened. If you think that you should obey the words of your mother and those of your patriarchal father, then lay down your arms and hear what I say." Saying "So be it" those two highly powerful celestials, conversing with each other, went to the bank of the river Jānhavi (24–27).
Sakra said:—"O Krishna, thou art the Lord Creator of the universe and I have been placed by thee in my kingdom. Having thyself established me here why dost thou disregard me? O thou of lotus eyes, having accepted me as thy elder brother why dost thou wish to destroy me?" (28–29)
O king, having bathed in the water of the river Jānhavi they both returned to the high-souled Kashyapa of firm vows and Aditi (30). The ascetics designate that place as the union ground of dear ones where those two lotus-eyed brothers were united with their parents (31). O descendant of Kurus, after Krishna had promised safety unto Indra in the very presence of the pious celestials who were assembled there, they all, shining in their respective beautiful forms, repaired to the celestial region on their own cars (32–33). O king, seated on one car Kashyapa, Aditi, Indra and Upendra set out for the celestial region (34), O descendant of Kuru, after those pious gods had come to Sakra, endued with all qualities and taken their seats, Sachi, ever fond of virtue, adored the high souled Kashyapa along with his wife, ever engaged in the well-being of all creatures (35-36). Thereupon after the night had elapsed Aditi, conversant with the principles of religion, said to Hari ever encompassing good unto creatures (37). "O Upendra! take this Pārijāta, go to Dwarkā and perform the auspicious festival so longed for by your wife. But, O foremost of men, when that ceremony will be over, you are to bring back this tree and place it as before in the garden of Nandana" (38–39).
Hearing this Krishna said to the illustrious mother of the gods "So be it." The high-souled Nārada too gave consent to it (40). Thereupon having saluted his mother, father and Mahendra with Sachi Janārddana expressed his desire of going to Dwārakā (41). The pious daughter of Puloma handed over to Krishna many lovely ornaments for his wives (42). For the sixteen thousand wives of Mādhava the high-minded daughter of Puloma gave diverse celestial jewels and raiments of various colours. Having accepted all those presents and been honored by the pious rangers of the sky the highly energetic and effulgent Keshava set out with Pradyumna and Sātyaki for Dwārakā and arrived at the mount Raivataka. Having planted there the foremost of trees Pārijāta Mādhava despatched Sātyaki to Dwārakā consisting of doors (43–46).