Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purana - Prakṛti Khaṇḍa

3 - Description of the child of Virat form

Lord Narayana said—That egg remained in the water during the complete life of Brahma. At the appropriate time, it broke into two.

In the centre of it an infant was found whose lustre resembled the lustre of crores of suns. That infant had no parents and was disowned bу all and had no support in the ocean, it Therefore, started crying with hunger. He was the leader of several globes. He looked upward like an orphan.

He was solid like all the solid things. He was, Therefore, called as Mahavirat every atom represents the smallest form, Similarly, he was like that. 

He happened to be the sixteenth part of the lustre of lord Krishna. And he happened to be the lord of innumerable universes and was called Mahavishnu.

Several of the universes were lodged in his hair-pits. Their number cannot be counted even by lord Krishna himself.

In all the globes Brahma. Vishnu and Shiva could be beside other gods. There is a possibility of ones counting the particles of dust but the number of globes, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other gods residing in his body could never be counted. The extent of Brahmanda (globe) extended from Patala to Brahmaloka.

The Vaikuntha is lodged above it which is beyond the globe. It is truthful, eternal and everlasting like Brahman.

The Goloka with the dimensions of fifty crores yojanas is lodged above it, which is also eternal and everlasting.

The earth consists of seven islands and an equal number of oceans, forty-nine small islands and innumerable number of forests. The Brahmaloka is lodged above it besides the several seven heavens above and seven nethers below. All these combined are called Brahmanda or the globe.

Bhuloka is above the earth and Bhuvarloka is above this. Then comes Svarloka, then Maharloka then Janoloka, then Tapoloka and above all is the Brahmaloka having the lustre of gold.

They are all artificial. Some of them are within the globe and some of them out of it. О Narada, at the destruction of the globe all these are destroyed because the universe appears like a water bubble and is short lived. Out of these only Goloka and Vaikuntha are eternal and everlasting.

In the hair-pits of the child several of the Brahmandas (globes) are lodged. Their exact number can hardly be counted even by lord Krishna, what to speak of others.

O son, in the globe there live three crores of gods including Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

All the directions are protected by the gods of these directions who are known by the name of Dikpalas. The planets and the constellations are included in it. There are four Varnas on earth. Down below in the Nagaloka all the immovable and moveable are lodged.

Thereafter that Virat-infant continued to look above again and again, but the entire circular space was vacant. Nothing was available there.

There after the hungry child, getting worried started crying again and again. In the meantime, he gained knowledge and started meditating upon lord Krishna and visualised the eternal flame of Brahman resembling the fresh clouds, having dark complexion and two arms, wearing pitambara and a smile on his face. He had a flute in his hand and was always compassionate to his devotees. Finding the lord there, the infant was delighted and in delight he laughed.

Lord Krishna then getting pleased bestowed a boon on him, saying, “O son you attain knowledge like me, getting free from hunger and thirst and be the shelter of the universe till the time of the dissolution. Getting all the desires fulfilled, you become fearless and grant boons to everyone. You will be free from the disease, the death, old age, grief and pain.”

Thus speaking he muttered the six-letter mantra in his ear thrice. These three mantras are important part of the Vedas.

There is a om in the beginning; the middle there are two letters known as krishna in the last appears Svaha the wife of god Agni. Therefore, this is the form of the mantra “om krishnaay svaha” this mantra removes all the obstructions.

О Narada, the son of Brahma, lord Sri Krishna gave this mantra to him and thereafter they made the arrangements for his food which you pleased listen from me.

In the entire universe the Vaishnavas offer Naivedya to lord Vishnu. A sixteenth part of such offering reaches Vishnu and the rest of the fifteen parts are meant for the Virat child. Because this child happens to be the complete lord in himself and is the Virat form of lord Krishna. Lord Krishna, however, if in no way concerned with the naivedya.

To whichever god the naivedya is referred by the people, the same is consumed by the same god, but at the sight of Lakshmi the same is restored.

Thus giving the best of the mantra to the child, the lord said: “what else is dearer to you? You tell me; I shall get you the boon.”

Listening to the words of lord Krishna the toothless child Mahavirat spoke to the lord thus.

Mahavirat said--I should always remain devoted to your lotus-like feet. Irrespective of my age whether I have a long life or a short life I should remain devoted towards you.

Because whosoever remains devoted to you, frees himself from the human bondage and the one who is the devoid of your devotion, appears to be dead on earth while still alive. The japam, the penance, performing the yajna, worship, observing fast and resolutions as also residing in the holy places are of no value for him.

The life of the one who is deprived of the devotion of Krishna is of no use, because he happens to be the one, who does not know the soul which keeps him alive.

Till such time the soul remains in the body he gets associated with all the powers till then, thereafter as soon as the soul leaves the body, all his strength also disappeared. Because these shaktis have no individuality of their own.

O sage, you are the one who is beyond nature and the soul of all, the one who moves according to his own sweet will and possess the eternal divine flames.

О Narada thus speaking the child kept quiet. Thereafter lord Krishna spoke to him the sweet words.

Sri Krishna said—You continue to remains stable on earth like me for a long time you cannot fall even after the fall of innumerable Brahmas.

О son, in all the Brahmandas (globes) you will always be present in part and the lord Brahma who will be born out of your navel, would be the creator of the universe. Eleven Rudras shall emerge from the forehead of Brahma and shall destroy the universe.

One of the Rudras will be known by the name of Kalagni who will destroy the universe. From the particle of Rudra, Vishnu the protector of the universe shall appear with my grace. You will achieve my devotion and you will always see my divine face all the time. This is certain.

O son, you will also have a look at your beautiful mother who resides in my heart. I am moving towards my own abode, but you remain here.” Thus speaking Krishna left with a delightful mind.

Reaching the heaven, he met Brahma, the creator and Shiva, the destroyer of the universe.

Lord Krishna said—О son, you move on for the creation of the universe and appear from the hairpit of the Mahavirat and the lotus that emerges from his navel. Then pointing towards Rudra he said—О son, Mahadeva you go and having been born out of the forehead of Brahma you perform tapas for a long time.

О Narada, Krishna the lord of the universe, kept quiet after speaking thus. Thereafter both Brahma and Shiva bowing in reverence to him, left the place. The water which had assembled in the hair-pits of Mahavirat was turned into a small Virat in the centre of it.

Не had dark complexion youthful body and was clad in yellow garments and was reclining over the bed of water. His face was delightful and he was known by the name of Janardana. Brahma appeared out of the lotus emerging from his navel and in order to find out the depth of the lotus stalk, Brahma continued to search for a lakh of yugas.

But he was unable to find out the beginning or end of the lotus stalk that emerged out of the navel of Vishnu which made Brahma restless.

He then returned to the same lotus and started meditating seated over the same. Thereafter he could have an audience with the small Virat-purusha by means of his divine knowledge. The great Purusha was sleeping in the watery bed inside the ocean. There was the globe in each one of his hair-pit. He then saw the great lord Krishna and the Mahavirat-purusha. He also could see the Goloka. Thereafter he offered prayers to lord Krishna and getting boon from him he started the work of creation.

First of all, the four mind born sons named Sanaka and others were born from Brahma. Thereafter the clever Rudras appeared from his forehead being the Amshas of Shiva from the left side of small Virat, lord Vishnu the protector of the universe appeared. He had four arms, he started dwelling in Sveta-Dvipa. 

Having been born out of the small Virats’ navel, Brahma created the globe, heaven, the world, the Patala and all the three lokas with the creatures. Thus the globes lodged in all the hair-pits of the Mahavirat and in all the globes a separate small Virat, Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva were lodged.

О son, thus I have narrated to you the story about lord Krishna which bestows pleasure, salvation and happens to be the gist of everything. What more do you want to listen”?