7 - Praise of Lord Vishnu by deities and sages 

Lord Krishna said:

1.    Indra who was younger to Parvati said:

 Indra said: 

"At first a person should realize the Self in his heart and then praise the lord. O lord of lords, if he offers praise without knowing him it becomes insulting to the lord, the holder of discus. 

2. But even the recital of your name confers merit to the reciter. 

O lord, Rudra and others do not have sufficient power to render homage to you. How can I, an insignificant person, offer homage to you. 

3. I am inferior to Rudra in virtue by ten marks. Lord Kama is equal to me in knowledge and strength (Neither Kama nor any other god can praise you sufficiently). 

4. Having praised the lord, the god of gods stood motionless with palms joined in reverence and forehead lowered in humility. 

Thereafter, Brahma, the self-centered god spoke in the following words. 

Brahma, the self-centered god, said:

5. "Homage to the lord abounding in qualities. Homage to the lord, the image of knowledge. Homage to the lord, devoid of ignorance. Homage to Brahma, the all-pervasive lord. 

6. I am inferior to Indra in merits by ten degrees. O inscrutable one, I do not ever know you. O lord of the universe, you should protect me, O Vishnu, grant me divine abode." 

7. The self-centered Brahma praised Hari in this manner and was silent. 

Thereafter, Indrani praised Hari in the following way.

Indrani said:

8. “Incessantly I dwell upon your lotus-feet that bear the marks of thunderbolt, goad, banner and lotus. O lord, I think upon the dust of your lotus-feet which even the wise people cannot carry by their mind. 

9. I am inferior to the self-centered Brahma in virtue by ten degrees. O compassionate lord who are fond of devotees, grant me your shelter and protection." 

10. Having praised the lord thus, goddess Indrani was silent. Thereafter Rati (wise of Kama-god of love) who was younger to Indrani in age began to praise the lord.

Rati said:

11. “I think upon the lotus-face of Man-lion (Nrusimha) who had incarnated himself in half-human and half-animal form out of desire to render protection to his devotee, who (the lord), accompanied by Lakshmi and attended by Brahma, Rudra and others looks splendid by curly tresses of hair. 

12. Though I am equal to Indrani in all respects I cannot sufficiently praise your virtues. O lord, I pray for your eternal protection." 

Thus, having rendered praise with devotion, Rati stood silent by the lord. 

13. Thereafter, Daksha who was junior in age to Rati began to praise the lord. 

Daksha said:

14. “I meditate upon the holy feet of the lord which out of devotion are water-washed and worshipped by Brahma, the ablutionary water being turned in Ganga, the holiest of holy Indian rivers. 

15. The dust from the lord's feet on the matted locks of hair made Shiva auspicious. O compassionate lord who has incarnated on earth for favouring your devotees, I do not possess sufficient strength to praise such power of yours. The Vedas declare that I am at par with Rati. I have not attained moksha. Please protect me as such, O primeval lord (from sensuous pleasures)”. 

16. Having praised thus, Daksha was silent. Thereafter, Bruhaspati, who was junior to him in age, spoke thus. 

Bruhaspati said:

17. I meditate upon your lotus-face. O lord, you may kindly endow me with power to detach myself from vicious objects of pleasure. 

18. I, the individual soul, regard myself as the creator, enjoyer, and bestower of objects of pleasure. O lord, cut off my attachment immediately to my sons, wife, friends, cattle, for they are surely destructible. 

19. O lord, rolling on the wheel of birth and undergoing pain in the process of that action, I have come up here. O overlord, I cannot praise you sufficiently. O lord, I pray you to grant me protection as you granted to Rati.” 

20. Having praised the lord thus, Sage Bruhaspati stood by him in complete silence. Aniruddha who was younger to him in age began to praise him thus:

Aniruddha said:

21. "O lord, a man of poor intellect is averse to hearing the sweet narrative of your lordship. Such a person indulges in sensuous pleasures, the kissing of a woman's lovely cheek or pressing his penis into their vagina filled with feces and intestines, like a pig fond of excrement. 

22. I, indulging in sinful activity, am fallen in a pit filled with marrow, bones, bile, phlegm, blood, filth, covered with skin and entrail, I feel pleasure thereto. O lord, the power (Shakti) that co-exists1 with you is the cause of creation. 

1. This accords with the dual system of Vaishnava philosopher's Ramanuja, Madhva, Vallabha and others. But according to the non-dual (advaita) system of Gaudapada and Shankara the difference between Shaktiman and his Shakti is apparent, not real. Nor is the lord or his Shakti the cause of creation, for the very concept of creation is empirical. 

23. I, of perverted intellect, roll on the wheel of creation which is of the nature of sorrows, being entirely devoid of pleasure and emitting filth from the nine pores2 of the body frame. 

2. nine pores; 2 of the ear, 2 of the eye, 2 of the nose, 1 of the mouth, 1 of the penis and 1 of the anus. 

24. O lord, I bow to you--I who have (unfortunately left tasting the nectar of your auspicious narrative and have completely gone over to the worldly affairs such as the maintenance of my family-a fact which destroys my Vaishnava dharma. 3 

3. Vaishnava dharma- 

The Vaishnava dharma as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita enjoins the devotee to abandon all dharmas and to resort to the lotus-feet of the lord-a view propounded by the exponents of the Vaishnava cult. 

I have not abandoned my house (which as a Vanaprastha I should have done) nor have I been disposed to charitable deeds. 

25. O lord, remove this filth off from me. Give me an ambrosial drink in the form of story of your divine life. Like the consort of Indra, I cannot praise your virtues, O lord.” 

26. O lord of birds, thus having praised the lord, Aniruddha stood silent. Thereafter, Manu, the son of Brahma and who was junior to Aniruddha said thus:

Manu said:

27. “Though I am born of a womb, I have not suffered the embryonic pains. Hence, I have taken shelter with your worthy feet. 

28. Manavi—the wife of Manu, Yama--the lord of Samyamini, the Moon- the presiding deity of the eight quarters, the Sun—the presiding deity of the eye are equal to one another when they have set out on the path of release.” 

29. Thereafter, Varuna, twice inferior to Vayu and junior to the Sun, began to praise the lord, O lord of birds.

Varuna said:

30. “O lord, this abode in the form of my body is built by your choice. So are the son, wife, riches and other objects. The stupid, possessing very little knowledge of reality are attached to worldly affairs. They are drowned in the ocean of suffering. 

31. lord, undo this wrong notion of mine and favour me with the chance to serve at your feet. I am inferior to Manu by sixteen amshas, O slayer of Mura.1 

1. The slayer of Mura-See Fn. 34 on p. 5. 

32. Having praised thus, Varuna stood attentive with palms joined in reverence. Thereafter, Narada, who was junior to Varuna began to praise the lord. 

Narada said:

33. “O lord, there is nothing more pleasing than hearing or uttering the praise of the lord. O lord, you purify those who utter your name, together with their ancestors and successors. 

34. He is not a brahmana but an ass who does not utter the name Hari. O lord, I do not know your actual form. I am always inferior to Varuna." 

35. Having praised the lord thus, O lord of birds, Narada stood silent before Hari. Thereafter, Bhrugu2 who was junior to Narada began to praise the lord. 

2. Bhrugu-a sage, the son of Brahma, was the founder of Bhrugu Vamsha. Members of the Bhrugu vamsha are called Bhargavas. Bhrugu Vamsha has been reputed, for many of its members were Rushis of great sanctity and grandeur. 

For the Mythological origin of this family note the following: 

Bhrugu said:

36. O lord, what better Vehicle you need when you have Garuda as such. When you have Kaustubha gem for your ornament, what more ornament you need. What more riches do you need from a devotee when you have Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) as your wife. O lord of speech, what more praise can I render unto you. I do not know your good qualities. O lord I am always inferior to Varuna by full one quarter of merits." 

37. Thus having praised Hari, Bhrugu stood in silence. Thereafter, Agni who was inferior to Bhrugu in age began to praise the lord, the Supreme primeval Purusha. 

Agni said: 

38. “O lord, spirited by your energy, I carry oblations sprinkled over with ghee at the altar of sacrifice. 

39. Supported by your energy, I enter the belly of a person and cook the food therein. I derive my energy from yours, O lord. I am equal to Bhrugu in every respect." 

Prasuti said:

40-42. “Even the Sages are perplexed in understanding the meaning of your name. The deities and their consorts are always engaged in your praise. So are Mandhatar, Dhruva, Narada, Bhrugu, Vaivasvata and the rest. I offer salutation to you, O lord, out of my devotion. Homage to you, O lord, who look after our well-being. Hence, I do not know your benign aspect. I do not possess ability to offer praise." O lord of birds, having offered praise Prasuti remained silent. 

43. Agni, sage Bhrugu son of Brahma and the embodiment of speech and his wife Prasuti--the three are equal in status. 

44. The three are inferior to Varuna by one quarter, to Pravaha by half, to Daksha by one hundred, superior to Mitra by twice that number. 

45. Thereafter, Vasishtha son of Brahma junior to Prasuti began to offer praise.

Vasishtha said:

46. "Homage to Brahma, the self-born deity, one who abhors relations with the wicked sinners O lord, I bow to your lotus-feet. 

47. O lord, son of Vasudeva, protect me ever. I am always inferior to Agni. I am always inferior to Mitra in certain aspects." 

Having praised the lord thus, Vasishtha stood silent before the lord. 

48. Thereafter, Marichi, son of Brahma, junior to Vasishtha praised Hari with great devotion. 

Marichi said:

49. "My intellect is weakened. I have developed attachment to worldly affairs. I walk in wrong direction. My senses are quite perverted. I hanker after scanty pleasures. I turn my mind to objects that are far off from you. I stoop to wicked acts, O lord. 

50. O lord, characterized by such points, I am equal to Vasishtha.” 

51. Having praised the lord thus, Marichi became silent, O bird. Atri, who was junior to him, praised Hari with hands joined in reverence. 

52. "O lord, You have manifested yourself for creating, protecting and destroying the universe. Your form is truth itself eternal and unchanging. It is the essence of joy and unmodifiable. 

53. Your real nature is devoid of Sattva, rajas and tamas. It is apportioned in all objects wherein your existence remains unmanifest. Therefore, o lord, destroyer of Mura, I, like Marichi am unable to praise your virtues." 

54. Having praised thus, O bird, Atri stood silent. Thereafter Argiras1 began to praise the lord. 

1. Angiras—a celebrated sage to whom many hymns of the Rugveda are ascribed. 

Angiras said:

55. "O lord, I do not see your body possessed of many arms, bellies and foreheads, adorned with thousands of diadems and other precious jewels. I am unable to praise your eternal form though I am equal to Atri in all aspects." 

56. O lord of birds, having spoken thus, Angiras stood silent before the lord. Pulastya1 who was junior to him, began to praise the lord. 

1. Pulastya - a celebrated sage is one of the mental sons of Brahma. He was born from the ear of Brahma, Mahabharata, Adi parva, Ch. 65. 

Pulastya said:

57. "Lord Hari manifests himself to his devotees and confers auspiciousness. Homage to you, O lord, that savest the sinner from the suffering of hell. 

58. I am unable to praise your virtue, O lord. I am equal to Angiras in that aspect. 

59. Having praised thus, Pulastya stood in silence before the lord. Thereafter, Pulaha who was junior to Pulastya in age began to praise the lord thus. 

Pulaha said:

60. “O lord, you are devoid of form and desire. Still, I offer you bath, cloth, water, fruits, flowers and foodstuff. O lord of Vaikuntha2 this worship rendered unto you is altogether fruitless. Thus say the noble sages. 

2. Vaikuntha or Vaibhra—the dwelling place of Vishnu described on the eastern peak of Mount Meru or on the Northern ocean

61. I, therefore, offer my worship unto you, O lord, with no desire for return but only with the intention to place myself at your service. O lord of Vaikuntha, I cannot praise you enough. I am equal to Pulastya in my capacity. There is no doubt in this." 

62. O bird, having praised thus, Pulaha became silent. Thereafter Kratu, who was junior to Pulaha began to praise the lord thus. 

Kratu said:

63. "Your names, at the time of death, O lord, destroy all suffering accruing from birth. Your names, when recited remove, all of a sudden, the pains of birth and confer release. Of such, yourself, O lord, I place myself at disposal. 

64. O lord Vishnu, not to speak of those who meditate on you, even those who utter your name for devotion attain release.” 

65. O lord of birds, having praised thus, Kratu stood silent. Thereafter Vaivasvata Manu1 who was junior to him began to praise the lord. 

1. Vaivasvata Manu, the seventh in the list, a leader among Devas. The complete list of fourteen Manus comprises (1) Svayambhuva, (2) Svarochisa, (3) Uttama, (4) Tamasa, (5) Raivata, (6) Chakshusha (7) Vaivasvata, (8) Savarni, (9) Dharma, (10) Savarnika (11) Pishanga, (12) Apishangabha, (13) Śhabala and Varnaka. 

Vaivasvata said:

66. “I am always engaged in worldly activities, in sensual enjoyment, occupied with the objects of senses, and averse to joys arising from your sight. 

67. I am attached to this thievish body-a heap of flesh, bones, marrow and blood. When I maintain a preceptor, holy fire, sacred cow, etc. I cannot easily get away from worldly objects. O lord, remain merciful to me always. 

68. I listen to the scandal of others. But I cannot sufficiently praise you, O lord. I walk over the path traversed by the common people but I do not follow the path of renunciation walked over by a few. 

69. I spend on prostitutes and roguish people, But I do not spend on brahmins and saints, O destroyer of Mura.” 

70. Having praised the lord thus, Vaivasvata Manu became silent. Thereafter, Viśhvamitra2 who was junior to Vaivasvata Manu began to praise the lord. 

2. Vishvamitra, the contemporary of Vasishtha was Kshatriya by birth, He acquired Brahmanhood by practising penance. He is mentioned in relation with King Trishanku in the Puranas, with Rama, son of Dasharatha in the Ramayana and with King Sudas in the Rugveda. 

Vishvamitra said:

71. "O lord, I have not meditated on your lotus-feet, nor performed sandhya nor adhered to Dharma that opens the gate of knowledge. I have not heard your narrative which could remove the impurity of my body. O lord, protect me, I am equal to Atri1 in all respects. 

1. Atri-one of the mental sons of Brahma. 

72. Thus having praised the lord, the sage Vishvamitra remained silent. 

73. Excepting Bhrugu, Narada and Daksha, the seven sons of Brahma, Vishvamitra and Vaivasvata Manu are equal to one another in this aspect. 

74. Others are inferior to fire. Still others are more virtuous. O lord of birds, hear. I am going to tell you the praise of Hari by Mitra who was junior to Vishvamitra in age.