Nārāyaṇa Māhātmya

In the Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata, Chapter 272, Bhagavān Śiva teaches Jayadratha (called Saindhava) at Gaṅgādvāra. Śiva tells him of three great avatāras (descents) of Bhagavān Vishṇu: Varāha, Nṛsiṃha and Vāmana. This is the Nārāyaṇa Māhātmya, the greatness of Nārāyaṇa. The teaching comes at the close of the episode of Draupadī’s abduction. Śiva ends by speaking of Kṛshṇa’s unbroken protection of Arjuna, and then grants Jayadratha a vara (boon). (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

The setting

The Pāṇḍavas caught and beat Jayadratha after he carried off Draupadī. Yudhishṭhira spared his life out of regard for Duśśalā, Duryodhana’s sister and Jayadratha’s wife. The Pāṇḍavas shamed Jayadratha: Bhīmasena shaved his head in five places. Then they let him go.

Jayadratha went to Gaṅgādvāra and did severe tapas (austerity). He wanted the power to overcome the Pāṇḍavas in battle. Bhagavān Śiva appeared to him there with his pārshadas (attendants), beings of terrifying look who carried every kind of weapon. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

Śiva teaches the greatness of Nārāyaṇa

Before giving Jayadratha any vara, Bhagavān Śiva told him the Nārāyaṇa Māhātmya. He spoke of the three works of Bhagavān Vishṇu: as Brahmā in creation, as Nārāyaṇa or Vishṇu in keeping the worlds, and as Rudra in dissolution.

From Bhagavān Vishṇu’s nābhi-kamala (navel lotus) the four-faced Brahmā, Caturānana, rose at the start of creation. Brahmā then made the nine great ṛshis as his mānasaputras (sons born of the mind): Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasishṭha, Nārada and Bhṛgu. Through them came the whole creation of the unmoving and the moving, the yakshas, rākshasas, bhūtas, piśācas, nāgas and humans.

The Varāha avatāra

The whole earth was drowned in the first waters of pralaya (the dissolution). Bhagavān Vishṇu thought how to set her back in her place. He took the form of Yajñavarāha, the great boar. He was one hundred yojanas long and ten yojanas wide, dark as a rain cloud, with a roar like thunder. He dived into the ocean. With a single tusk he raised the earth from the waters and set her in her proper place. This was the Varāha avatāra. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

The Nṛsiṃha avatāra

After the Varāha avatāra, Bhagavān Vishṇu took the form that is half man and half lion, Nṛsiṃha. The daitya Hiraṇyakaśipu, lord of the daityas, enemy of the devas and son of Diti, saw this being such as he had never seen, blazing with divine tejas (radiance). He attacked with his śūla (spear). Nṛsiṃha leapt on him and tore him apart with his sharp nails. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

The Vāmana avatāra

After Hiraṇyakaśipu was overcome, Bhagavān Vishṇu took another avatāra, Vāmana, for the good of the devas and the world. He was born as the son of Kaśyapa Maharshi and Aditi. He appeared as a small brahmacārī (student) with matted hair on his head and the sacred thread on his chest. He was dark as a rain cloud, with shining eyes, and he carried a staff and a water pot. The śrīvatsa mark was on his chest.

He came to the yajña hall of Bali Cakravartī. Bali was charmed by his beauty and his brahma-tejas (the radiance of a brāhmaṇa). He said: “Ask for whatever you wish.” Vāmana smiled and asked for only three feet of earth. Bali was pleased and gave it. At that moment Vāmana showed his cosmic form, the Viśvarūpa. He measured all three worlds in two steps and gave them to Indra. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

Kṛshṇa and Arjuna

After telling of the three avatāras, Śiva spoke directly of Kṛshṇa and Arjuna. His words were aimed at Jayadratha’s wish to defeat the Pāṇḍavas. Śiva said:

“Among all the masters of the science of divine weapons, this Arjuna is the greatest. He is protected at every moment by the one whom the wise call Aparājita (the unconquered), Śrī Kṛshṇa. He carries the Śaṅkha, the Cakra and the Gadā. He wears yellow silk, and the Śrīvatsa is on his chest. Because Kṛshṇa protects him, Arjuna can never be defeated. You may defeat the whole army of Yudhishṭhira, and all four of the other Pāṇḍavas, but only once, and only for a single day.” (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

The vara is given

Śiva was pleased with Jayadratha’s tapas and gave him his wish. Jayadratha would be able to overcome the four Pāṇḍavas, not counting Arjuna, in battle, but only once and for one day.

This vara was used later, on the day Abhimanyu died in the war at Kurukshetra, when Jayadratha blocked the entrance to the cakravyūha (the wheel-shaped battle formation). Śiva then left with his pārshadas. Jayadratha went back to his kingdom. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272)

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272 (Jayadratha-vimokshaṇa-parva)