276 - The manifestations of Lord Vishņu

 Agni said: 

1-2. (The patriarch) Kaśhyapa manifested as Vasudeva and Aditi (his wife) as the excellent Devaki. Krishņa was born to Devaki and Vasudeva being endowed with penance for the sake of the protection of righteousness, removal of unrighteousness, protection of the celestials and others and the destruction of the demons and others. 

3-5a. Rukmiņi, Satyabhama, Satya, Nägnajiti, Gåndhåri, Lakshmaņa, Mitravinda, Kalindi, Jämbavati, Susila, Mädri, Kausalya, Vijaya, Jaya and others were the sixteen thousand wives (of Krishņa) among whom Satyabhåmå served (Lord) Hari (Krishņa). 

5b-6. Pradyumna and others were born to Krishņa through Rukmiņi, Bhima and others through Satyabhāmā, Samba and others through Jåmbavati and thus were among the one hundred thousand sons of that wise man. 

7-9. Yadavas were eighty thousand that were protected by (Lord) Krishņa. Pradyumna (son of Krishņa) had Aniruddha, who was fond of war, as his son through Vaidarbhi. The mighty Yådavas Vajra and others (were the sons) of Aniruddha. Thus there were three crores and sixty lakhs of Yadavas. He (Krishna) appeared for the destruction of the demons that afflicted men. (Lord) Hari (Vishņu) is born as a mortal in order to regularise the duties (of men). 

10. There were twelve battles between the celestials and the demons for the sake of their (legitimate) portions. The first (war of Vishņu was in) the man-lion form. The second war (was) as a dwarf. 

11. The battle (fought) as the boar (was) the next one. The fourth one was for the churning of the nectar. The sixth one was the battle involving all the celestial bodies for the sake of resuscitation. 

12. (The seventh one was the destruction of) the three cities. (The eighth one was for) the destruction of (the demon) Andhaka. The ninth one (was) the killing of the demon) Vrutra. The deadly (poison of) hålāhala was conquered (in the tenth one). (The demom) Kolāhala (was subdued in the next one). 

13. (The next one was) the form as the man-lion, the protector of the celestials in olden days, that pierced the chest of (the demon) Hiranyakaśipu with his nails and made Prahlada the king. 

14. In (the dispute between) the celestials and the demons, (the Lord) was born of Kaśhyapa and Aditi as a dwarf, deceived the powerful (demon) Bali and restored the kingdom to Indra. 

15. The manifestation as a boar (was made by Lord Vishnu) and the demon Hiraṇyākṣha was killed, protecting the celestials thus. He lifted up the earth that got submerged and was praised by the celestials. 

16. (The mount) Mandara was made the churning rod, (the serpent) Vasuki as the string and (the ocean) was churned by the celestials and the demons. The ambrosia (that was obtained) was given to the celestials. 

17. The celestials were in the same way protected at the time of the battle of the stars after preventing Indra, Guru, the celestials and demons (from a combat) and thus the Lunar race was made to flourish. 

18. (The sages) Viśhvåmitra, Vasishtha, Atri and Brahma protected the celestials in the battle after warding off the demons that were having infatuation and hatred. 

19. Lord Hari (Vishnu) was the refuge of (Lord) Isana (Siva) that had (Lord) Brahmä as the charioteer of the earth, the chariot. The protector of the celestials and the destroyer of the demons burnt the three cities. 

20. (Lord) Rudra (Śiva) was attacked by (the demon) Andhaka desirous of carrying away Gauri (consort of Siva). (Lord) Hari, who was fond of (his beloved) Revati killed the demon Andha. 

21. (Lord) Vishņu became the foam of the water at the time of the battle between the celestials and the demons and killed (the demon) Vrutra that afflicted the celestials, and protected the virtues of the celestials. 

22. (Lord) Hari, (manifested as) Parasurama, conquered the demons such as Salva and protected the celestials after killing the wicked kshatriyas (kings). 

23. Madhusudana (the destroyer of demon Madhu) took away the demon of Hälähala poison from Maheśhvara and destroyed the fear of the celestials. 

24. The demon Koláhala was conquered by Him at the battle of the celestials and demons. All the celestials were protected by (Lord) Vishņu by protecting righteousness. 

25. The kings, princes, sages and the gods are the manifestations of (Lord) Hari, whether (their names) have been narrated or not (in the traditional list).