Brahma said:—O lord, O Nārāyana, hear from me of that key to success and who your parents will be on earth (18). In order to glorify their family you will be born in the race of Yādavas (19). Eradicating these Asuras for good and multiplying your great family you will establish the orders of mankind. Hear from me about this (20).
O Nārāyana, in the days of yore, in the great sacrifice of the high-souled Varuna, Kashyapa stole away all the cows giving milk for the sacrifice (21). Kashyapa had two wives, Aditi and Surabhi who did not wish to accept the kine from Varuna (24). Thereupon coming to me and bowing with his head down Varuna said "O revered one, the preceptor has stolen away all my kine (23). Having accomplished his object, even, O father, he has not ordered the return of those kine. He is under the control of his two wives Aditi and Surabhi (24). O lord, all those my kine give heavenly and eternal milk whenever wished. Protected by their own power they range in the seas (25). They perpetually yeild milk like unto the ambrosia of gods. Save Kashyapa there is none else who can charm them (26). O Brahmā, a master, a preceptor or whoever he may be if one goes astray thou dost control him. Thou art our supreme refuge (27). O preceptor of the world, if punishment is not meted out to powerful persons who do not know their own work, then the order of the world will not exist (28). Thou art omnipotent and lord of all. Do thou give me my kine, I will go then to the ocean (29). These kine are my soul—they are my endless strength. Of all thy creation the kine and the Brāhmanas are the eternal sources of energy (30). First of all the kine should be saved. When they are saved they protect the Brāhmanas. The world is upheld by the protection of the kine and Brāhmanas" (31).
O Achyuta, thus addressed by Varuna, the king of water, and being truly informed of the pilfering of the kine I imprecated a curse on Kashyapa (32). With that portion, in which the high-souled Kashyapa stole the kine, he will be born as a milkman on earth (33). His two wives Surabhi and Aditi, who are like pieces of wood for the birth of gods, will also go with him (34). Being born as a milkman with them he will live there happily. That portion of Kashyapa, equally powerful like himself, will pass by the name of Vasudeva and will live amongst the kine on earth. Near Mathurā there is a mountain by name Govardhana (35-36). Paying tribute to Kansa he lives there being attached to kine. His two wives Aditi and Surabhi are born as the two wives of Vasudeva by name Devaki and Rohini. Being born there as a boy having all the characteristics of a milkman he there grew up as thou didst do before in thy form with three footsteps. Then covering thyself with the form (of Yoga), O Madhusudana, do thou go there for the well-being of the world. With exclamations of thy victory and benediction all these gods are welcoming thee. Descending on earth and taking thy birth from Rohini and Devaki do thou please them. Thousands of milk maids will also cover the earth (37-42). O Vishnu, when thou shalt range in the forest tending kine they will see thy beautiful form adorned with garlands of wild flowers (43). O thou having eyes like lotus petals, O large-armed Nārāyana, when thou wilt go as a boy to the villages of milkmen all people will become boys (44). O thou having lotus eyes, being milkmen with their minds devoted to thee all thy votaries will help thee; tending kine in the forest, running in pastures and bathing in the water of Yamunā they will acquire a great attachment for thee. And Vasudeva's life will be a blessed one (45–46). Thou wilt address him as thy father and he will address thee as his son. Save Kashyapa whom else canst thou accept as thy father (47)? O Vishnu, save Aditi who else can conceive thee? Therefore by thy self-begotten Yoga do thou proceed for victory, O Madhusudana. We too repair to our respective habitations (48).
Vaishampāyana said:—Having ordered the gods to repair to the celestial region the Lord Vishnu went to his own abode on the northern side of the ocean of milk (49). In this quarter there is a cave of the mount Sumeru difficult of being trodden, which is worshipped with his three foot-steps during the solistice (60). Having left there, in the cave, his old body the omnipotent and intelligent Hari despatched his soul to the house of Vasudeva (61).
| [186] | Garuda who used to eat up serpents. |
CHAPTER LVI. KANSA IS INFORMED OF HIS DEATH BY NARADA.
Vaishampayana said:—Being informed of the descension of Vishnu and of the portions of other gods, the celestial saint Nārada repaired to the city of Mathurā to communicate the future death of Kansa (1). Coming down from the celestial region and arriving at the garden of Mathurā, that foremost of Munis sent a messenger to Kansa, the son of Ugrasena (2). He communicated the arrival of the Muni at the garden. Hearing of the arrival of Nārada, that Asura, having lotus-like eyes, speedily went out of his city. He saw there his guest, the praiseworthy Brāhmana saint Nārada, shorn of all sins, powerful like the sun and effulgent like fire. Having bowed unto him and worshipped him duly he brought for him a golden seat shining like fire. That Muni, the friend of Sakra, sat on that seat (3–6).
He then said to the highly wrathful son of Ugrasena:—O hero, you have duly worshipped me with works laid down in the scriptures. Hear now and accept what I say. O my son, ranging in Nandana and Chaitraratha gardens, in Brahmā and other celestial regions I arrived at the great mount Sumeru, the friend of the sun (7–9). The gods also followed me. Having bathed in the holy water of all the sacred rivers I saw the celestial Gangā of three courses and streams, who dissipates all sins as soon as she is recollected. Thereupon having bathed, in order, at all those sacred shrines I saw Brahmā's palace, resorted to by the Brāhmana saints and filled with the music of the gods, Gandharvas and Apsaras (10-12).
Once on a time the Grand-Father held a meeting of the gods on the summit of the mount Sumeru. I, too, taking up my Vinā, set to tune, came to that meeting of Brahmā and saw that the Grand-Father and the gods, adorned with white turbans and diverse jewels, and seated on celestial seats, were holding counsels (13–14). O great king, I heard there that they, with their followers, were concerting dreadful measures for your destruction (15). The child, of the eighth conception of your youngest sister Devaki who lives in Mathurā, will be your death (16). O hero, it has been ascertained that your death will proceed from that self-born (Vishnu) who is the stay of heaven, is the great mystery of the gods and is identical with all (17), O Kansa, to meet with death at the hands of that god of Gods, as has been settled upon, is a matter of glory to you. Therefore remember him now. Try to destroy the conception of Devaki and enjoy all your wealth and articles of pleasure. I love you very much and therefore I have come here and described to you what took place on the summit of the mount Sumeru. I; now leave you. May you fare well (17–20).
Vaishampāyana said:—After Nārada had said this and gone away Kansa, meditating on his words, began to laugh aloud with his lips open, and smilingly said to his servants who were before him. "Truly the gods make fun with Narada and he has no knowledge of things (21–22). Even when I am seated on my throne, asleep, mad or intoxicated, the gods headed by Vāsava cannot terrify me the least (23). Who is there in the land of men who can dare make me angry? I can even agitate the earth with these two my huge arms (24). From to-day I shall greatly oppress men, beasts, birds and all other creatures who follow the gods (25). Do ye issue this command to Keshi, in the shape of a horse, Pralamva, Dhenuka, Aristha, in the form of a bull, Putanā, Kaliya and other demons (26). Assuming diverse forms do ye range all over the world and destroy them whom you will find against me (27). Nārada has said that our fear proceeds from conception and therefore you should always be informed of the movements of all those who have been conceived by women (28). When I am your master you need not be afraid of any accidental calamity. Therefore freed of all anxiety do ye enjoy objects of pleasure of your own accord (29). Narada is greatly fond of quarrels and is intent on creating dissensions. In order to set one against another that Brāhmana, with a restive mind, travels in all the worlds, creates dissensions even amongst men of highly quiet temparament and works out enmity amongst kings by various means" (30–31).