Tāraka’s Victory and the Discourse on Kāla

Tārakāsura had beaten the whole army of the devas in the great war. The devas took the form of monkeys at the advice of Bhagavān Vishṇu and went to Tāraka’s court as entertainers. There Bhagavān Vishṇu spoke to Tāraka about kāla (time), and Tāraka answered him with his own understanding of kāla. Tāraka gave the devas freedom to move in the three worlds in monkey form, and he bound himself with an oath. The devas then went to Brahmā. Brahmā told them that Śiva and Pārvatī must unite, because only their child could slay Tāraka. This is told in the Kaumārika Khaṇḍa of the Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, chapter 21.

The devas take monkey form

Tāraka had beaten every deva in battle. Bhagavān Vishṇu had vanished in the rout. He now appeared among the beaten devas. He took the look of an asura and spoke words that sounded like mockery but held a hidden instruction: “What these devas are doing is very little indeed. To serve a powerful master out of need is no shame. A wise person does not leave the powerful. So, O devas, take the form of markaṭa (monkeys) and move among them, like cranes that keep their plan hidden.”

The devas heard this from the mouth of Bhagavān Vishṇu. They understood the instruction under the mockery, and they took monkey forms. (Chapter 21)

The monkey troop at Tāraka’s gate

The monkey troop, which included Bhagavān Vishṇu himself, came to the gate of Tāraka’s palace on the shore of the Mahīsāgara. The palace was twelve yojanas wide and had walls plated with copper. The monkeys performed and entertained. The daitya women at the gate were delighted.

Tāraka’s gatekeeper went into the court and said: “King of the daityas! A band of monkeys stands at the gate. They are very entertaining. If Your Majesty wishes to see them, please come.”

Tāraka ordered them to be let in. Kālanemī brought the monkey troop into the royal court. Bhagavān Vishṇu, in monkey form, danced with the troop. Tāraka clapped his hands in delight and said: “O monkey devas! I am so pleased with your performance that I give you abhaya (freedom from fear). You may live in my house without danger.” (Chapter 21)

Vishṇu asks about the three worlds

Bhagavān Vishṇu was still in monkey form but was dancing with great skill. He spoke: “O King! We wish to know how far your house reaches.” Tāraka answered with proud confidence: “These three worlds are my house!”

Bhagavān Vishṇu replied at once: “Then remember your word! This monkey troop will move freely in all three worlds without fear. O King! Truth is greater than a thousand aśvamedha-yajñas. Honour your dharma and keep your word.”

Tāraka was astonished that a monkey should test him in this way. He demanded: “Tell me truly! Who are you?” Bhagavān Vishṇu answered: “I am Nārāyaṇa. I took this monkey form to protect the devas. If dharma is sacred to you, keep your oath. Let these devas who are here move freely in whatever house they choose. Do not keep anger in your heart.” (Chapter 21)

Vishṇu’s discourse on kāla

Bhagavān Vishṇu made himself known, though he was still in monkey form, and gave Tāraka a long teaching on kāla. It is one of the most developed passages of the Kaumārika Khaṇḍa.

“I can slay all the daityas in all three worlds in a moment. But Tāraka cannot be defeated except by a child seven years old. Mahisha and Śumbha will be slain by a woman. You have not yet reached the moment fixed for your death.

“O Daitya! Do not be misled by pride. There are those who waste their lives bound by īrshyā (envy), asūyā (jealousy), lobha (greed), māna (pride), kāma (desire), krodha (anger), bhaya (fear), pūhā (delusion) and moha (confusion). The world sleeps inside these chains and cannot wake.

“Daityas more powerful than you, hundreds of them, have been scattered by kāla like cotton fluff in the wind. Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyāksha, Prahlāda and Vimochi, Vipracitti and Virochana, were all consumed by kāla. Kīrti, Vātāpi, Ilvala, Aśvagrīva, Śambara, Puloma, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, and Viśvajit were all great lords of the daityas. Each was a master of tapas (austerity) and satya (truth). Each was in the end dissolved by the power of kāla.

“This rule is not yours for ever. It is not mine, and it is not anyone’s for ever. It has passed through countless hands, and now it rests with you for a time. After a while it will move on, like a faithless woman looking for another. Mountains with their herbs, rivers and seas can be taken in, but no one has enjoyed all three worlds for ever.

“No mantra, no force, no intelligence and no strength can win what kāla has not yet allowed. Even a sleeping man gains what kāla has ordained. Service to parents, deva-pūjā and all virtue bring comfort, but they cannot stand against kāla when it comes. When kāla strikes a person, neither learning, nor tapas, nor friends, nor relatives can protect him.

“Without the force of kāla, people cannot overcome hundreds of obstacles. Puṇya-karma (deeds of merit) and life itself work together. Only when both agree does a purpose succeed. Do good karma. Puṇya-karma brings sukha (happiness) and pāpa-karma brings duḥkha (sorrow). This is certain.”

Then Bhagavān Vishṇu spoke to Tāraka about his own state: “You are a Śiva-bhakta, a jñānī (one who knows), and the son of Vajrāṅga. You are blessed. You see kāla as clearly as an āmalaka fruit held in the palm. As long as the power of your tapas lasts, enjoy the three worlds. But remember your oath: let the devas move in the three worlds.” (Chapter 21)

Tāraka’s answer

Tāraka’s reply showed a depth that no one expected.

“I am surrounded by Kālanemī and all my daityas, and I see death itself before me. What mind that feels would not be troubled? Your sight sees the truth, and your mind rests in it.

“I too know that this world is aśāśvata (not lasting). This world has fallen into a fire called kāla, a fire no one can measure. Whatever one plans to do today or tomorrow, kāla comes quickly and takes it all away. I have already seen this.

“Bound by jealousy, envy, desire, anger, fear, delusion and too much talk, the world cannot wake. I know what is great and what is small. I know what should be done and what should not be done. I know that you are the highest, the prabhu, the greatest of all beings. But what can I do? Our strong asura nature keeps us from thinking of you. Some serve you through bhakti (devotion). Some serve you through vaira (enmity). You must look on all of them with the same dayā (compassion). You are the ātmā within all beings. The same ancient and eternal dharma is common to all beings.

“Now let these devas go free. They may roam the three worlds in monkey form. They will not receive their shares of the yajña. This is my śapatha (oath).” (Chapter 21)

Vishṇu’s last words to Tāraka

Bhagavān Vishṇu took in what Tāraka had said and closed with these words: “O King of the Daityas! You are learned, a jñānī and a tapasvī (one who does tapas). Now you have become a tattva-jñānī (one who knows reality). You see kāla clearly. O Śiva-bhakta! O Jñānī! O son of Vajrāṅga! You are blessed indeed, the most admirable among the wise. As long as your tapas holds, enjoy all three worlds. By your oath the devas may wander in the three worlds. This is enough.” (Chapter 21)

Tāraka’s rule

After the oath, Bhagavān Vishṇu left with the monkey troop for Meru. The devas then went to Brahmā. Tāraka made his rule complete.

• He took Indra’s own throne and place.
• He gave offices to his daityas: Nimi as Agni, Kālanemī as Yama, Stambha as Nirṛti, Mahisha as Varuṇa, Mesha as Vāyu and Kujambha as Kubera.
• Each chief daitya received the office of a matching lokapāla (guardian of a world), and all the fruits of the yajñas went to Tāraka.

The three worlds were under the rule of Tārakāsura. The devas, in monkey form and shut out from their shares of the yajña, wandered. (Chapter 21)

Brahmā’s word

The monkey devas came to Brahmā’s court. Brahmā was shocked at first to see them in this form. He told them to take their own forms again, and said that Tāraka’s oath did not bind them in his presence. The devas praised Brahmā at length in a Virāṭ-stuti (a hymn of praise to his cosmic form), describing his form through the fourteen worlds.

Brahmā was moved by their misery and thought deeply. He said: “This Tāraka is such that no sura or asura can slay him. The one who can slay him has not yet been born. I myself gave this daitya the vara (boon) that binds us all. Only the child born of Śiva, of Bhagavān Śaṃkara, can meet the condition of the vara: a child of seven years.

“Satī-devī, who died at the Daksha-yajña, will be born again as the daughter of Himavān. From Pārvatī’s union with Śiva the great child will come. We must work to bring about this union. I will see to what remains. This is certain.”

The devas bowed to Brahmā. They took their monkey forms again and went back to Meru. There they waited for the next turn of events, the birth of Pārvatī. (Chapter 21)

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, chapter 21