104- The glorification of different Manifestations of the Lord

The sages said: 

1. O excellent sage, the rare manifestation and the diverse activities of lord Krişhņa as well as Balarama in the world have been mentioned by you. 

2. Listening to the story of the lord we are not contented. We wish to hear about the other manifestations of the lord of the universe. 

3. There was a manifestation of Vişhnu of unmeasured splendour, mentioned by good men in the Puranas. It has been heard by us as Varāha (Boar). 

4. We do not know his full conduct nor the details of the process whereby the incarnation took place. We do not know the extent of the existence of Gunas and Karmans in him. We do not know the extent of his will in the causation thereof. 

5. Of what nature was this Varaha? What was his form? What is the deity? What are his conduct and prowess? What was performed by him then? 

6. The story of the great boar is conducive to the happiness of brahmins assembled at the sacrifice of those whose mind is always set on holy rites. It is pleasing to all the worlds. 

7-9. O brahmin, we wish to know how Nārāyaṇa assumed the form of the Boar. How Vişhnu, the suppressor of foes, lifted up the Earth that was within the ocean, by means of his curved fangs. It is our inclination to hear about the activities of the slayer of foes, in detail. We wish to hear about the manifestations of Vişhņu alongwith his activities in due order. It behoves you to recount the nature of the lord, O holy brahmin. 

Vyāsa said: 

10. The burden of questions cited by you is indeed immense. I shall recount in accordance with my capacity. May the glory of Vişhnu be heard about. 

11. Fortunately your mind is inclined to listen to the prowess of Vişhnu. O excellent brahmins, I shall recount to you the manifestations of Vişhņu. 

12-20. It is him that the brahmins conversant with the Vedic lore call with a thousand mouths, a thousand-eyed, thousand-footed, thousand-headed, the unchanging lord with thousand hands, thousand-tongued, brilliant lord with a thousand crowns. He is the bestower of a thousand, the devourer of a thousand, the unchanging one with a thousand arms. The various parts of the Yajña are mentioned as identical with him viz. Havana, Savana, Hotru, Havya, Holy vessels, altar, initiation, sacrificial twig, ladle, soma juice, winnowing basket, throbbing rod, prokşaņi vessel, Dakşiņāyana, Adhvaryu brahmin who sings saman, Sadhya, Sadana, Sadas, Yūpa, Chakra, Dhruva, Darvi, Charus, Ulūkhalas, Prāgvamsa, the altar and whatever is beyond that. He is iden tical with the mobile and immobile beings whether short or huge in size. He is one with the rites of atonement, Arghya, Sthandila, Kusaa grass, fire that conveys the mantras and Yajñas, the share and he who conveys the share. They call him as one who partakes of his share at the outset, as the imbiber of Soma, as one who has put offering in flame, as one who has lifted up the weapon. The brahmins conversant with the Vedas call him the eternal lord of Yajña, thousands of manifestations of the lord of Devas, of Vişhnu marked with the scar Srivatsa had taken place before; they will occur in future too-so says Brahma. 

21-22. O highly blessed ones, it is about this holy and divine story that you have asked. It is based on the incarnations of Vişhnu. It is an auspicious story that dispels sins. O highly blessed ones, listen to this with your full concentration. May your wider soul be engrossed in the lord. O sinless ones, I shall recount in due order what you ask me. 

23. I shall mention the greatness of Vasudeva, the conduct of life of the highly intelligent one, for the welfare of Devas and mortal beings as well as the origin of the worlds. 

24. The supreme Ātman manifests himself on many occa- sions. I shall recount the manifestations that are divine, sacred and endowed with good qualities. 

25. The lord of Devas, the lord of universe, who sleeps for the period of a thousand sets of four Yugas, manifests himself against some (specific) task after the thousand sets of four Yugas are completed. 

26-32. The ancient lord whose splendour was as brilliant as that of the well kindled fire created all these:- Brahmä, Kapila, the three-eyed Siva, Devas, seven sages, Nāgas, Apsaras, Sanatkumara of great magnificence and the noble Manu who was the lord and creator of subjects. When all the mobile and immobile beings had perished, when Devas, Asuras, human beings had perished, when Nāgas and Rākşhasas had perished, the lord remained in the middle of the ocean. (At that time) two Räkşhasas-Madhu and Kaitabha who were very powerful desired to win him. After boundless boons had been granted to them they were killed by the lord. 

Formerly, as the lotus-umbilicused lord was sleeping in the waters of the ocean, Devas and sages were born in that lotus. This manifestation of the lord of the universe is the one which pertains to the lotus. In the course of this manifestation the Purāņa is mentioned with the same concentration as the celestial Vedas. The manifestation of the great soul is mentioned in the Vedas. In this course this manifestation, Vişhņu the most excellent of Devas assumed the form of a Boar. 

Extra seven verses 

[The Yajñaväräha (the Boar of the sacrificial form) appeared thus. The Vedas constituted his face. Sacrificial posts were his legs. Sacrifice was his tooth, sacrificial fire was his face, the fiery flame was his tongue, the Darbha grass constituted his hair; Brahma was his head; he performed great penance (?) Day and night constituted his eyes; He was of a divine form; the ancillaries of the Vedas constituted his ear-ornaments; the clarified butter was his nose; the sacrificial ladle was his snout. The great Saman songs were his loud snorting sounds. He was glorious and full of truthfulness and piety. He was duly greeted for his exploits in due order; the expia- tory rites were his terrible nails (colours). He had the form of a sacrificial animal from knee to face. The intestines were the ancillaries, (?) the Homa was his symbol, the seeds and the medicinal plants constituted his great fruits, recitations were his inner soul; the Mantras were his loins; the Soma juice was his blood; the altar was his shoulder. Havis (offering) was his scent offering; Havyas and Kavyas constituted his velocity; Prāgvaṁsa was his physical body. He was lustrous, purified by different initiations. Dakşiņā was his heart. He was a Yogin in the form of a great sacrifice. The eight Upakarman rites constituted his golden ornaments round the neck; the Pravargya was his circular ornament. The different metres constituted his gait and paths; the secret doctrine of the Upanişads constituted his seat. He had his own shadow as his wife and assistant; he stood up like a mountain with a jewelled peak.] 

33-36. The Earth extending upto oceans and consisting of mountains, tree-groves and forests got immersed in the vast sheet of water. The lord dived into the vast sheet of water and lifted the Earth by means of his curved fang, with a desire for the welfare of the worlds. The lord, the primordial cause of the world, the lord with a thousand heads reinstated the Earth once again. Thus the goddess Earth immersed into the waters of the ocean was lifted up formerly by Yajña-varāha, the one who sought the welfare of living beings. 

Thus the incarnation of Varaha has been mentioned O brahmins. Thereafter (is the manifestation of) Narasimha (Man-lion). In this incarnation, Hiranyakasipu was killed by the lord who became a lion. 

37-38. Formerly, O brahmins, in the Krutayuga, this enemy of Devas was the leader of asuras. He was proud of his strength. He performed great penance for ten thousand years. For a thousand years he was engaged in Japas and observance of fasts. For five hundred years he adopted the holy rite of silence. 

39. Brahmă was delighted by his penance and observance of restraints by his mental control and subjugation of sense-organs and at his celebacy. 

40-44. O brahmins, the self-born lord Brahmā came there on a shining aerial chariot with the lustre of the sun and fitted with a swan. He was accompanicd and surrounded by all these Adityas, Vasus, Maruts, Daivatas, Rudras, Visvasahāyas, Yakshas Räkşhasas, Kinnaras, Dišas (guardians of quarters), Pradiśas (guardians of the intermediary directions), deities of rivers, oceans, stars, Muhūrtas (the presiding deity of time units of 48 minutes), planets traversing firmament, celestial sages, persons grown old in performing penances, the learned Siddhas, the holiest saintly kings, Gandharvas, Apsaras and Devas. The glorious Brahma, the preceptor of mobile and immobile beings, the most excellent one among the knowers of Brahman spoke to the asura.

Brahma said: 

45. O you of good holy rites, I am pleased wtih your penance. Welfare unto you. Choose a boon. Obtain your cherished desires. 

Hiranyakasipu said: 

46-50. O grand-father of the worlds, none of these should curse me by imprecations-Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakşhas, Nāgas, Rākşhasas, infuriated sages and those who are endowed with penance. This the first boon I choose. I should not be killed by any of these things-weapons, missiles, mountains, trees whether dry or wet. I should not be killed above or below. He who is able to kill me at one blow of his hand along with my servants, armies and vehicles shall cause my death. I shall be all these: sun, moon, wind, fire, water, atmosphere, firmament, everything. 

I must be anger, love, Varuņa, Indra, Yama, Kubera, the presiding deity of riches as well as the over-lord of Yakşhas and Kimpuruşas. 

Brahma said: 

51. O dear one, all these divine and wonderful boons have been granted to you by me. O dear one, you will attain all these desires. 

Vyāsa said: 

52. After saying this, lord Brahmă immediately went to his abode frequented by the brahminical sage. 

53. On hearing about the granting of boon, Devas, Nagas, Gandharvas and sages approached him. 

Devas said: 

54. O lord, with this boon, that Asura will harass us. Hence, O lord, be pleased, let the manner of his destruction be also thought of.. 

55. O lord, you are the self-born lord, you are the cause of all living beings, you are the creator of Havyas and Kavyas. You are the unmanifest being. You are certainly Prakruti. 

Vyāsa said: 

56. Then, on hearing these words conducive to the welfare of all, lord Brahma spoke to Devas. 

Brahmā said: 

57. O Devas, the fruit of penance must of course be obtained by him. But as the benefits of penance are exhausted lord Vişhņu will slay him. 

Vyāsa said: 

58. On hearing these words of the lotus-born Brahma Devas felt joyous. They returned to their divine abodes. 

59. Immediately after he had obtained the boon, the asura Hiranyakaśipu became haughty and he harassed his subjects. 

60. He overpowered and insulted the highly blessed sages of holy rites, interested in truthfulness and piety and of subdued sense-organs. 

61. That great Asura defeated Devas stationed in heaven. He kept the three worlds under his control and lived in heaven. 

62. Whenever that asura became haughty due to his obtaining the boon he roamed over the Earth. He made asuras worthy of shares in the Yajñas and Devas, unworthy of shares in the same. 

63-64. The Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Viśvedevas and Maruts sought refuge in Vişhņu of great strength, worthy of being sought as refuge. They sought refuge in the eternal lord of Brahman identical with the Yajñas unto Devas and Brahman the lord of the past, present and future bowed to by all the worlds. They sought refuge in the omnipresent lord Nārāyana worthy of being sought refuge. Devas said: 

65. O lord of Devas, save us today from the fear of Hiran- yakaśipu. Indeed you are our greatest lord. You are our greatest preceptor. 

66. O most excellent one among Devas, you are indeed the supreme creator of all of us, Brahma and others. O lord, with the eyes resembling the petals of a full blown lotus devoid of impurities, o lord, the destroyer of the enemy hosts, be our refuge for the destruction of the race of Diti.

Vasudeva said: 

67. O immortal ones, cast off your fear. I grant you all, fearlessness. O Devas, you will regain heaven as before without delay. 

68. I shall kill this asura along with his attendants. I shall kill this leading Dänava haughty on account of his acquiring the boon that he cannot be killed by the leading immortal ones. 

Vyāsa said: 

69. After saying this to the chiefs of Devas and bidding them farewell, the lord of great strength came to the abode of Hiranyakaśipu. 

70-74. The lord had half of his body human and half of the body leonine, Adopting the man-lion form, the lord clapped one hand with the other. He resembled the cloud; he had the voice and the brilliant prowess of the thick rainbearing cloud; he was as impetuous as the cloud. On seeing the asura of great strength, guarded by the haughty asuras, the lord whose exploits were like those of a proud tiger hit and killed him with a single hand. 

This manifestation of the Man-lion has been recounted. The next great manifestation is that of Vamana. In the course of this manifestation, formerly, the powerful Vişhņu adopted the form of a Dwarf destructive of Daityas. In the Yajña of the powerful Bali these great Asuras who could not be agitated by others were agitated by the three paces of Vişhnu. 

75-93. The following types of Asuras and Dänavas and those of the following names assailed Hruşikeśa who had taken the steps. They were Vipracitti, Siva, Sanku, Ayahsanku, Ayaḥsiras, Ašvaśiras, Hayagrīva, Vegavăn, Ketuman, Ugra, the great Asura Ugravyagra, Puşkara, Puşkala, Aśvapati, Prahlada, Kumbha, Samhrada, Gamanapriya, Anuhrida, Harihaya, Vāräha, Saṁhara, Anuja, Sarabha, Salabha, Kupatha, Krodhana, Kratha, Bruhatkirti, Mahäjihva, Sankukarna, Mahåsvana, Diptajihva, Arkanayana, Mrugapäda, Mrugapriya, Väyu, Garistha, Namuchi, Sambara, Viksara the great, Chandrahanta, Krodhahantā, Krodhavardhana, Kalaka, Kalakopa, Vrutra, Krodha, Virocana, Garistha, Varistha, Pralamba, Naraka, Indratapana, Vātäpi, Ketuman proud of his strength, Asiloma, Puloma, Vaşkala, Pramada, Mada, Svamiśra, Kālavadana, Karāla Kesi, Ekākșa, Chandramas, Rāhu, Samhrada, Samvara and Svana were the Daityas. Some of them had Sataghnis (hundred smashers) and discus in their hands; some carried iron clubs in their hands; some carried Ašvayantra weapons (mechanical devices driven by horses). Some had Bhindipāla variety of iron club as their weapons; some had tridents and mortars in their hands. Others were holding axes. Some had nooses, Mudgara iron clubs or Parigha iron clubs in their hands. The Dänavas used great rocky boulders as their weapons. They were armed with javelins. They were awful Dänavas with diverse kinds of weapons. They were very powerful and came from different lands. There were Dänavas with faces resembling those of tortoises, cocks, rabbits, owls, donkeys, camels, boars, cats, peacocks, crocodiles, rams, cows, goats, sheep, bulls, mountain lizards, porcupines, jackals, mice, frogs, wolves, sharks, Krauñca birds, Garuda, mules and peacocks. All of them were terrible and awful. Some were clad in the hides of big elephants. Some were clad in deer skins. Some covered their bodies with the barks of trees. Some had blue robes. Some had turbans or crowns. Some had rings. Some wore coronets, some had long loose tresses. They were refulgent with their necks resembling the conch. They wore various types of dress and garments. They had applied diverse kinds of un- guents. They wore various kinds of garlands. They seized and wielded their respective blasting weapons and gatliered round Hruşikeśa. 

94-96. With the soles of his feet and the palms of his hands he crushed Daityas. He assumed a great and terrible form and roamed over the Earth. As he grew in size and roamed over the Earth, the moon and the sun at first stood on a level with his chest. When he flew up in the sky they stood against his umbilicus. When he of unmeasured prowess further grew in size they stood on a level with his knees. 

97-98. After killing the leading Asuras and seizing the entire Earth from them, Vişhņu the most excellent among the strong ones granted the Earth unto Vamana. Indra the manifestation of the great Ātman named Vamana has been recounted to you. This glory of Vişhnu is being recounted in detail by the brahmins who are conversant with the Vedas. 

99. A further manifestation of Vişhņu the great Ātman, in the nature of a living being, is well known as Dattatreya. He was equipped with great forbearance. 

100-102. When the Vedas perished, when the holy rites and sacrifices became defunct, when the rigidity of discipline of the four castes became loose and when piety weakened, it was he who restored all these. When truthfulness got lost and when falsehood prevailed, when the subjects became shattered and scattered and when virtuousness became disarrayed, Vedas were  restored by him along with the Yajñas and holy rites. The four castes were made by that great Ātman, free from admixture. 

103. Boon was granted by the intelligent Dattatreya to Karttavīrya the intelligent king of Haihayas. 

104. O king, this pair of arms of thine which was placed at my service shall certainly become a thousand arms. 

105. O lord of the Earth, you will protect the entire Earth. Engaged in battle you become so dazzling that you will not be stared at by the enemy. 

106. This glorious and auspicious manifestation of Vişhnu has been recounted to you. There is another manifestation of the great Atman namely Jámadagnya Paraśurāma. 

107. In the course of this manifestation the lord Parasurama killed king Sahasrarjuna in battle. Previously he had been invincible to the enemies in battle by the prowess of his thousand arms. 

108-109. King Sahasrarjuna was seated in the chariot. Parasurama struck him to ground. Sahasrarjuna was crying like the rumbling cloud. Paraśurāma assailed him. The scion of the family of Bhrugu cut off his thousand arms by his refulgent axe. He slew him together with his kinsmen. 

110. The Earth where crores of Kșhatriyas remained scattered about, the Earth that is adorned by the mountains Meru and Mandara was rid of Kshatriyas twentyone' times by the lord. 

111. After making the Earth devoid of Kshatriyas, Paraśurama of great fame performed a horse sacrifice in order to dispel his sins. 

112-116. In the course of this sacrifice, the scion of the family of Bhrugu gave the Earth as gift unto Kaśhyapa the son of Marichi. In this sacrifice precious articles were offered as gifts. Parasurama, the most excellent among those who fought gave elephants, horses, chariots, gold, and cows as gifts in that horse-sacrifice. For the welfare of the worlds, lord Jämadagnya, the scion of the family of Bhrugu, of great fame and great penance stays even today on the most excellent mountain Mahendra like a Deva. He is the manifestation of the great Ātman of Vişhnu, the perpetual lord of Devas, the unchanging lord. He is well known as Jāmadagnya, son of Jamadagni. 

117-120. In the twentyfourth cycle of four Yugas, the lord of large eyes resembling the blue lotus was born as the son of Daśaratha. Viśvāmitra preceded him in the course of this mani- festation. The lord of great arms divided himself into four. The lord resembled the sun in refulgence. He became well known in the world as Rama, son of king Dasaratha. The lord of great renown was born for augmenting piety, propitiating the people and curbing the wicked. They say that the lord of men engaged in the welfare of all living beings stayed in the forest for fourteen years. He was conversant with all holy rites and virtuous deeds. 

121-122. Followed by Lakşhmaņa, Rāma engaged in the welfare of all living beings, performed penance in the forest for fourteen years, Lakşhmi took the form of Sītă and followed her husband to the forest) and remained at his side. 

123-127. Living in Janasthana,¹ the leader among men performed the task of Devas. Seeking the whereabouts of Sītā, the lord of great fame killed Rävaņa, the ruthless descendant of Pulastya, who had injured him. The lord killed Ravana the leader of Rakşhasas. The king of Räkşhasas was indestructible to Devas, Asuras, Yakşhas, Rakşhasas and Nāgas. He was in colla boration with crores of Rākşhasas. He was comparable to a mass of blue collyrium. He was invincible. He was incapable of being held. He was haughty and had exploits similar to that of a tiger. Devas dared not look at him. He was arrogant due to the boons that had been granted to him (by lord Siva). Lord Rama killed him along with his ministers and armies in the battle.

1. Janasthana: A part of Dandaka forest which lies in the basin of Godāvari. Rāma had lived in this forest with Sitā and Laksmana for a long time during the period of his exile. 

128. Rama the lord of the living beings killed Rävaņa who had a huge body, who was very powerful and who resembled a mass of clouds. 

129. For the sake of Sugrīva, Bāli the powerful lord of monkeys was killed in battle and Sugrīva was crowned in his place. 

130. The great Asura, the haughty son of Madhu, the Dånava named Lavaņa, the heroic demon, proud of his boons was killed in the forest (named) Madhuvana. 

131-132. Marica and Subāhu who were he most excellent ones among strong persons, who caused impediments in the Yajñas of the sages of purified souls, were killed by that great Ātman, an expert in battle in the course of the fight. Other Rākşhasas too were killed by him. 

133. The tiger among men killed Viradha and Kabandha, the Räkşhasas of terrible exploits who had been formerly two Gandharvas deluded by imprecation. 

134. In the battle Rama killed his enemies by means of arrows, that had the lustre of fire, sun-rays and lightning streaks, that had the tail ends fitted with feathers of various kinds made of molten gold and the strength of which was like that of the thunderbolt of Mahendra. 

135. Weapons were given to him by Viśvāmitra the intelligent sage for slaying the enemies who could not be assailed even by Devas. 

136. Formerly, when a certain sacrifice was performed by Janaka the great Ātman, the great bow belonging to Maheśvara was broken by him even as he playfully and sportingly touched . it. 

137. After performing these tasks Rama the most excellent among the virtuous performed ten horse-sacrifices where flesh was offered to the deities. 

138. While Rama was ruling over the kingdom people were not malicious or jealous. They did not speak inauspicious words. Winds blew without agitation. No wealth was stolen or taken by force. 

139. No widow lamented. There were no calamities. Every- thing was auspicious when Räma was ruling over the earth. 

140. No living being had any fear from water, fire, wind or blows (of any sort). Old men never performed the funeral rites of boys (i.e. boys never died before old men). 

141. The Kshatriyas were devoted to the Brahmins. The Vaisyas were devoted to the Kshatriyas. The Sūdras served the three castes without any pride or egotism. 

142. Women did not stray from their husbands; the husband did not stray from his wife. The entire universe was restrained and subdued. The earth was rid of robbers. 

143-151. Rama alone sustained the people. Rāma alone was the saviour. People lived for thousand years. They had thousand sons. When Rāma ruled over the earth all living beings were devoid of ailments; there was unity among the deities, sages and human beings everywhere on the Earth. The people who are conversant with ancient legends sing the following popular folk song thus- 

People had a close and real bond of love with Rāma. The intelligent lord had greatness. He was a young man with red eyes and refulgent face. He spoke with limitation and restraint. His arms extended upto his knees. He had a gentle face. He had great arms and leonine shoulders. He ruled over the earth for ten thousand years. There were the following sounds continuously in his kingdom-the sound of the chanting of Rks, Saman and Yajus Mantras; the twanging sound of the bow. This sound never ceased viz."Let this be given, let this be eaten." Rāma the son of Dasaratha richly possessed Sattva attributes and other qualities. He shone with his own brilliance, more brilliantly than the moon and the sun. He performed hundreds of holy sacrifices at the conclusion of which excellent gifts were offered to the Brahmins. He of great strength left Ayodhya and went to Heaven. It was in this manner that the lord of great arms, the scion of the family of Ikşvāku killed Rävaņa along with his attendants and went over to Heaven. 

152. There was another manifestation of the great Atman Krişhņa for the welfare of worlds. It was well known in the Mathura Kalpa (period of activity at Mathurā). 

153-154. In the course of this mainfestation, the powerful lord in human form killed Daityas, Sālva, Sisupala, Kamsa Dvivida, Arista, Vrusabha and Kesi, ogress Pūtanā, the elephant Kuvalayāpida, Chaņūra and Mustika. 

155. Thousands of arms of Bāņa of miraculous activities were cut off. Naraka was killed in the war. So also Yavana of great strength. 

156. All the jewels of the kings were taken away by him due to his brilliance. The kings of the Earth whose conduct was wicked and sinful were killed. 

157. The following manifestation of the great Ātman is conducive to the welfare of the world. It is the manifestation of Kalki named Vişhnuyasas also. It will occur in the village of Sambhala. 

158-159. These and many other manifestations of the lord have taken place for the welfare of the worlds. In these manifes- tations, the lord of great renown was praised by Devas. These manifestations are sung about in the Purāņas by the expounders of Brahman. Even Devas are deluded in enumerating these manifestations. 

160. The Purana is on a par with the Vedas and Srutis (?) The enumeration of manifestation is but indicatory, not exhaustive. 

161-163. The manifestations of the lord, the preceptor of the worlds, worthy of being glorified have been thus glorified. By the glorification of manifestations of the lord, the Pitrus are pleased. He who listens to the (manifestations) of Vişhņu of unmeasured prowess, with palms joined in reverence (attains happiness). By listening to the yogic Māyās of the lord of Yoga man is liberated from all sins. Due to the favour of the lord he obtains flourishing income, great prosperity and extensive pleasures quickly. 

Thus, O excellent sages, the holy manifestations of Vişhnu of unmeasured splendour have been glorified by me. They dispel all sins.