33 - Narayana Uvacha

Narayana said - Bhrgu bowed in reverence to Shiva, Durga and Kali. Thereafter he proceeded to Pushkara-kshetra and started reciting the mantra there. With his devoted mind he performed a tapas without consuming anything for a month. He always devoted his mind at the lotus-like feet of lord Krishna and ultimately he stopped inhaling even the air. 

When he opened his eyes he found a fall of lustre in the sky which pervaded all the ten directions and even the sun. In that fall of lustre, he found a plane studded with gems, in which a beautiful person seated who was wearing a serene smile on his face, who was delightful and always showered his grace on his devotees. He prostrated before the lord lowering his head and prayed for a boon, "You bestow me strength enough to rid the earth of the Kshatriyas twenty-one times. I should always remain devoted to your lotus-like feet and should achieve your slavehood." Lord Krishna granted him the boon and disappeared from the scene. 

Bhrugu also bowing in reverence to the eternal lord went to his abode. His right limbs then started fluttering which was indicative of his achieving success. He also witnessed the dream which pointed out towards achieving success. Since then Parashurama always remained delighted in his mind. He narrated the entire story of his own people of the family and spent time delightfully. 

Thereafter by collecting his own pupils, the pupils of his father, the brothers and other relatives, he started imparting to them the knowledge of the mantras. 

At an auspicious moment all of them got ready to accompany Parashurama for waging the war. Parashurama at that point of time heard the sound of victory and welfare which reassured him and he thought, "I shall be victorious and the enemies will be destroyed." 

At the time of starting on the journey, he suddenly listened to the sound of the moving of the horses, the blowing of conches, sounding of bells and big drums and also the divine voice from the sky saying, "You will be victorious." Many welfare signs became visible and thundering of the sound indicative of victory was also heard. 

Lord Parashurama thus continued to hear the various types of welfare sounds and he ultimately started journey. At that point of time he found in front the Brahmanas, fire, the astrologers, Samnyasi, burning lamps held in hands by chaste women whose husbands and sons were alive. These ladies wore a serene smile on the faces, were quite delightful and were adorned with several types of ornaments. 

While performing the journey Parashurama found the jackals, she-jackals, filled vases, Nilakantha, mangooses and other auspicious symbols. 

Again he found the black buck, elephant, lions, horses, gandaka, spotted cow, geese, ruddy birds, cuckoos, wagtail bird, shamkhachilla bird, partridge bird, pigeon, sky-lark, green pigeon, cuckoo, the sparrows, lightning, the rainbow, sun and sun rays, fresh meat, fish which were alike, shamkha, gold, jewels, silver, gems, coral, curd, fried paddy, white cereals, white flowers, saffron, palasa, banners, umbrella, mirror, white fly-whisks, cow with calf, king mounted on the chariot, milk, ghee, betel-nut, nectar, payasam, Salagrama, ripe fruits, svastika, sugar, honey, cat, bull, sheep mountain-rat, the sun covered with clouds, disk of the moon, kasturi, fan, water, turmeric, earth of the holy places, mustard seeds, Brahmana boy, durva-grass, a girl child, deer, whore, black wasps, camphor, yellow garment, urine of cow, cowdung, prints of cow's hoofs, rising dust of the evening, the abode of cow, their pathway, gosald, the moving of the cows, ornaments, images of the gods, fire in flames, festivities, copper, crystal, adorable, rosary of vermilion, sandal-paste, fragrance, jewel and gem to his right. 

Besides the fragrant breeze was blowing which was inhaled by him and the Brahmanas blessed him. 

Thus finding the auspicious time Parashurama delightfully started the journey, by sun-set he reached the bank of Narmada and found the eternal banyan tree which was quite high and of gigantic proportions. He went close to the hermitage. 

It happened to be the place for performing tapas by Pulastya. The fragrant breeze always blew there. Parashurama halted at a place close to the place of Kartavirya, he slept on the bed of flowers and the attendants were serving him. Feeling fatigued, he went to sleep delightfully. 

At the last leg of the night the witnessed a dream without the influence of cough, vdyu and pitta which was not thought over by anyone. 

In that dream he found the elephants, horses, mountains, palaces, cows and fruits, climbing on the tree with him. He found the tree being eaten away by crying insects. He found himself boarded on a boat and all his limbs were decorated with sandal-paste, flower garlands and he was clad in yellow garments. He found himself plastered with refuse, urine, fat and puss, playing on vlna. 

He found curd having been placed on the wide-spread lotus leaves besides ghee, honey and the payasam being consumed by him. He also found himself chewing betel accepting blessing of the Brahmanas; accepting fruits and flowers and burning lamps. 

He consumed ripe fruits, payasam with sugar and hard food besides svastika. He found himself in this condition again and again. 

The leeches, scorpions, fish and snakes, were biting him and he found himself running in panic from them. Thereafter the same Brahmana, witnessed besides himself the sun, the moon and their regions, the ladies having their husbands and sons alive smiling serenely besides the smiling Brahmanas, he also found well dressed girls and the Brahmanas who were smiling with satisfaction and embracing him. 

He saw the trees blossoming with fruits and flowers, images of the gods, the king and the elephant and he found himself mounted on a chariot. 

Wearing yellow garment, adorned with ornaments of gems, he found a Brahmana lady coming before him. 

He found himself looking at the conch, the crystal, white rosary, jewels, sandal-paste, gold, silver and the jewels. 

Bhargava then also saw the elephant, the bull, the snake, the white fly-whisks, blue lotus and the mirror. 

Parashurama found himself seated on a gem studded lion-throne in the dream, wearing fresh ornaments of gems, garlands of jasmine flowers.

Не also found the line of lotuses, vases filled with water, curd, fried paddy, ghee, honey and an umbrella of leaves on his head. 

He found a line of skylarks, geese and the girls who had been performing vratas, adoring him holding kalasa in their hands. Parashurama saw this dream. 

Adoring Shiva and Vishnu seated in Mandapa the Brahmana spoke to him, "You will be victorious". This was the dream witnessed by him. 

The rain of nectar and leaves besides fruits, flowers and sandal-paste was also witnessed by him. 

The fresh meat, the moving fish, the peacock, white partridge birds and the stream were witnessed by Parashurama in dream. He also saw the pigeons, parrots, Nilakantha, white kite, tiger, lion and cow in the dream. 

Bhrugu also witnessed Gorocana, turmeric, fire in flames, heaps of rice and Durva-grass was witnessed by him in the dream. 

He also found a group of temples, adorable Shivalinga, the image of Durga made in clay which was being adored by him. These were all seen by Parashurama in the dream. 

Не also saw the many stuffs made of wheat and barley flour and other eatables, which he continued consuming in the dream. Parashurama the son of Bhrugu found himself clad in divine garments adorned with gem-studded ornament and he also enjoyed the company of a prohibited lady. He also found a dancer, dancing in the dream and also enjoyed the blood and meat besides wine. He also found that his body was soaked in blood. 

О Narada, Parashurama saw in the dream at the time of rising of the sun, a yellow bird and human flesh. 

He then found himself in fetters and suddenly wounded. Witnessing such a dream Parashurama got up in the early morning. 

Feeling delighted with the witnessing of the dreams, he completed the morning routine and he felt reassured in his mind that he would surely overcome the enemy.