18 - Incarnations of Rudra and after

Lord Krishna said: 

1. I shall now tell you about the subsidiary creation for your knowledge. Please, hear attentively and retain the same in your memory, O lord of birds. 

2. After Virincha, was born the powerful Shesha. When Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi rested in the ocean. 

3. Shesha served as a couch, though lord Hari did not need it. 

(When the lord moved) Shesha was replaced by Garuda, (Here is the praise of Hari by Garuda).

Garuda said: 

"I always remain as your slave, O Hari. I always worship you. 

4. I am always your devotee. I shall remain so in each and every birth of mine". 

5. Thus, Garuda served as the Vehicle of lord Hari. Garuda was the son of Vayu called Sutra. Born of Vinata he was popularly known as Vainateya. 

6. O lord of birds, identical with ego, you were born of Virincha identical with intellect. The propitiation of Hari has been the mission of your life. 

7. O lord, the three are at par with one another but are superior to Gayatri and Bharati in respect of virtues. 

8. Shesha, the devotee of Narayana, was possessed of three amshas of Vishnu, Vayu and Ananta. 

9. O lord, born of Sumitra and Dasharatha, Lakshmana was the incarnation of Sesha having certain amshas of Vayu and Ananta. 

10. O lord of birds, Sita was born of Earth in order to propitiate Rama. Balabhadra was born of Vasudeva and Rohini¹ having the amshas of both.

1. Rohini—Vasudeva had two wives Devaki and Rohini. Sri Krishna was born from Devaki and Balabhadra from Rohini.

11-12. He, the son of Rohini, was pervaded by Hari of white and dark complexion. 

The three-Shesha, Lakshmana and Baladeva-are the incarnations of lord Vishnu. 

Lord Vishnu has ordained that the three should not be counted among his incarnations. 

13. I shall now tell you the incarnations of Rudra. Hear attentively, O lord of birds.

14. Rudra identical with ego obtained the title 'ever-inauspicious' and was assigned the task of destruction. 

He became the presiding deity of tamas. Being not auspicious he was called ever-inauspicious (Sada-ashivah). 

15. As he ever wore the inauspicious garland of skulls, he was called ever-inauspicious. He should be ever distinguished from Shiva, the devotee of Vishnu. 

16-17. As he wore the unholy hide of an elephant, destroyed the sinful wicked people and with the consent of lord Vishnu made the worldly people averse to the lord, he was called ever-inauspicious. 

18. Sometimes, influenced by the Asuras, he acted contrary to the wishes of the lord, he was called ever-inauspicious. As such, he should be distinguished from Shiva, the devotee of lord Vishnu. 

19. As he liked to abide in the cemetery he was called inauspicious. As such, he should be distinguished from Shiva, the devotee of lord Vishnu. 

20. To practise penance, he remained in the salt-ocean for ten divine years. Hence, he obtained the title tapas, O lord of birds. 

21. Shuka, the son of Vyasa, who had been influenced by Vayu was the incarnation of Rudra. He was born for the spread of knowledge in the world. 

22. Rudra was born as the great ascetic Durvasas of Sage Atri and Anasuya, humiliation of Kshatriyas being the mission of his life. 

23. Born of Drona, Ashvatthama was Rudra himself. He was born to reap the fruits of the seeds of his actions sown in the former birth and to illumine (by contrast) the virtues of his enemy. 

24. Stationed in the north-eastern direction, Rudra obtained the title of Vamadeva. Stationed to the left of Vayu, he is propitiated by him, his worthy disciple. 

25. Hence, Rudra got the title of Vamadeva. Further, on the strength of his lordship and nobility he obtained the titles of Kala and Bala and not by the virtue of his hand some features. 

26. To slay the Asuras of Tripura¹ who were inimical to Vishnu, Rudra assumed the form of Aghora. Hence, he is called Aghora.

1. Tripura--the three cities of gold, silver and iron in the sky, air and earth built for the asuras by Maya. These cities were burnt down, along with the asuras inhabiting them, by Shiva at the request of gods. 

According to another version the three cities or castles of the Asuras Taraka, Vidyunmali and Maya were received as gifts from Brahma pleased by their penance. These were destroyed with a single shaft by Shiva who was annoyed at their savage activities. Prof V. S. Agrawal considers the burning of Tripura as historical event.

27. To confer boon to the daityas who had followed the path of service and practised penance, Rudra was born in a trice and was called Sadyojata. 

28. Aurva, the son of Uru, was called Rudra. Uru was so called because he was given to loud weeping (uru). 

29. The son of Uru was called Aurva. Rudra was called Aurva since he wanted to revive the cult of weeping (in devotion). 

Garuda said: 

30. O lord, please tell me why Sage Uru wept in devotion and why his son Aurva tried to revive the cult of weeping.

31. O lord of good vow, I, your grandson, desire to hear all this in detail. Being addressed by Garuda, the compassionate lord spoke in reply.

Lord Krishna said:

32. Rudra saw his own self reflected in Sankarshana who was possessed of good qualities, whose lotus-feet were bowed to by Brahma, Shesha and others desirous of gaining victory (over the senses), as well as by Bharati and Svastipas. 

33-34 On seeing Hari, Rudra was extremely delighted. His eyes were brim-full of tears. His throat was choked with emotion. He was beside himself with joy. He said: 

O lord, during the enumerable Kalpas of Brahma that have passed so far, I have never remembered your name. O Lord, then, by what virtue have I seen your lotus feet adorned with beautiful nails? 

On seeing, over and over again, the lotus feet of the lord, Garuda was choked in throat. 

35. With his body shivering with fear Rudra wept and spoke to the lord again. 

"O Mukunda, Narayana and omniformed lord, how shall I praise you with my tongue. 

36. My very sight is productive of sin. My very speech is attended by sin. My very eyes are set on women, instead of being set on you. 

37. I have been attached to my children, wife and other members of my family. I have no ability to offer praise. My tongue is not free to eulogize you. By what merit have I seen you O lord? 

38. O lord of many ears, I did not hear your narrative with attention. Conversely, I have been indulging in gossip with the lay people. By what merit have I seen you, O lord? 

39. Seeing the footstool whereon the lord had put his feet, Rudra had his throat choked with emotion. He wept while his body shivered with fear, thinking how could he hear the narrative of the lord. 

40-42. O lord Vaikuntha, known as Vayu, I have not offered any scent or flower to you. I have applied these to my arms. Mixed with perspiration from my breast, arm-pits, hair of the head and other parts of my body, the flowers and scents have acquired the impurity of urine and faeces. O lord, I have not offered any cloth or scent to you. By what merit have I seen you, O lord. 

Breathing in the scent of flowers that had been left after they were offered to the deity; Rudra's throat was choked and he wept while his body shivered with fear.

Rudra said: 

43. O lord! how could I touch your body. O man-lion stationed at the tip of nose, O lord of nose, I have not smelt the fragrance of fresh lotuses. If I have smelt, I have not offered the same to you. 

44. By what merits, O lord, have I seen your face with lovely nose and shining teeth. 

Breathing out the scent of flowers that were left after they had been offered to the deity, he had his throat choked again and again. 

45. With his body shivering with fear, Rudra wept and said: 0 lord, how do I breathe out the smell of flowers that had been left after they were offered to you? 

46. O lord Jihva, as you always sit on the tongue (of the faithful), if a person in the presence of your image takes bath every day in the water containing the remains of the eatables that had been mixed with Tulasi leaf offered to you, that has been sprinkled over with the water wherewith your feet have been washed, though the offering of the eatable has been made just by word of mouth, obtains the merit of performing ten thousand crores of sacrifices. 

47. Such remains of eatables, as luminous as the Sun, I have neither eaten nor offered to you. I have taken meals but not offered the same to you. 

48. I have not offered any eatable at your lotus-feet. By what merit have I seen you, O lord? 

While eating the remains of the eatables, after they had been offered to you, I saw your face tended by Lakshmi. 

49. I saw your head adorned with diadem and curly hair being the support of heaven and earth. I have seen your face by the aggregate of merit accumulated in my several previous births, in the company of noble people. 

50. Alas! O lord, it will disappear again by the aggregate of sins accumulated in my several previous births. 

Thus, at the sight of Hari adorned by all merits Rudra wept out of devotion. 

51. O omniformed lord, your lotus-feet kept in the heart by the great Yogins, have been seen by me out of compassion. O Vasudeva, how shall I see them again. Thus, Rudra wept again. 

52. I saw your belly in the field of battle containing three worlds. I saw your body adorned with discus, conch, etc., which could stop the recurrence of birth. O lord of Lakshmi, how could I see it over and over again. 

53-54. O lord, full of bliss, equipped with good nails, hair and nose and abounding in virtues, your chest wide and shining with brilliant Kaustubha gem with bright ornaments and the company of Lakshmi, tender and adorned with the leaves of Tulasi and flowers of various sorts and anointed with sandal paste--such a wide and beautiful chest I have seen by your compassion alone. 

55. How shall I see you again and again? Thus, out of devotion, Rudra wept and wept again. Thus, Rudra obtained the title Uru and his son obtained the title Aurva. 

56. Since he made Rudra fertile, the son of Rudra was named Aurva. Aurva saw people worthy of liberation as well as engrossed in the objects of senses. 

57. Aurva praised the lotus-feet of Vishnu, remembered them again and again and felt choked in the throat. These sinners employ their senses to evil objects every day.

58-59. How shall I shun them and remain unattached. I do not know this, O lord. Thus, he wept bitterly. 

These stupid people are addicted to the objects of senses just for attaining pleasure. Addicted to the objects and for satisfying their desire they spend their wealth. They are deluded by your Maya. They lose their power of discernment. O omniformed lord when will you relieve them of delusion. 

60. Aurva, with his body shivering with fear remembered Maya of the lord and wept. 

61. These men of wicked nature accumulate wealth with great effort. These animals (in the garb of human beings) earn with great toil without any return. 

62. Deluded by the Maya of Vishnu, these wealthy people do not part with their wealth in favour of a worthy person who can be equated with the lord. The noble has declared their life to be a wastage. Thus, sorrowful at their loss Rudra cried aloud. 

63. Their life is lived in vain. Their youth too is spent in vain. Death that remains ever close to a man laughs at them. But these deluded people know it not. 

64. Let my family live for hundred years. Let my sons live for hundred years. Let me also live-in comfort for hundred years. Let my auspicious wife too live for hundred years. 

65. Let my cows always yield milk. Let me give my son to my daughter-in-law and my daughter to my son-in-law. 

66. I shall marry my daughter in a noble and rich family. I shall give wealth to them on their marriage. Taking note of these people who are devoid of discernment, lord Vamadeva laughs at their folly. 

67. [The stupid person speaks thus:] 

"I shall not hear the narrative of the lord lest it should destroy my good fortune. I shall not worship the lord, lest it should cause destruction of my sons and prosperity.” 

68. Lord Vasudeva, designated as fortune confers fruits of acts to all and sundry, at the opportune time. Solely devoted to Vasudeva, Aurva saw these stupid people and wept. 

69-70. O lord of birds, Aurva is Rudra who has been rightly instructed by lord Krishna himself. When Sati, the daughter of Daksha abandoned her body in Daksha's sacrifice, O lord of birds, she was reborn as the daughter of Himadri and Menaka. Rudra was designated as Aurva. 

Be celibate, asked by Brahma thus Rudra remained celibate. 

71. But when Rudra married the daughter of Himadri he became attached to her. Hence, he got the designation Para. 

72. Rudra had ten brothers. Among these, the three, viz. Sadashiva Saumitreya and Rauhiņeya-were inferior to Rudra and his consort by one hundred merits.

Garuda said: 

73. O compassionate lord, please tell me about the Eternal Bliss (ananda), explaining its nature to satisfy my curiosity and for enlightening the seekers after truth. 

74. O lord, please tell me, since I am your disciple, just for lifting me up, and out of compassion for me. Since you are fully satiated, you have no desire to be fulfilled. 

75. Thus addressed by the lord of birds, the lotus-eyed lord was pleased and spoke with compassion.

Lord Krishna said: 

76-77. Sahtananda was born of Gayatri, Ekananda of Brahma. Shatananda belonged to Brahma, Shesha and Sarasvati, O best of birds, while Ekananda belonged to Bharati, O son of Vinata. 

78. O bird, such is the information about Ananda. I have told you all. What more do you desire to know?