Uttarārdha - 1 - The greatness of Narayana

The Sages said:

1. By what is Krishna1 the lord of the chiefs of all Devas, satisfied? O Suta, it behoves you to mention this as you are conversant with all topics.

1. Krishna— son of Vasudeva and the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. He is said to be a devotee of shiva.

Suta said:

2. O leading brahmins, formerly the great sage Markandeya2 of great splendour was asked by Ambarisha3 (the same question). I shall recount it precisely.

2. Markandeya — an ancient sage, son of Mrukandu. He is the reputed author or narrator of the Markandeya Purana.

3. Ambarisha — a descendant of Manu Vaivasvata and son of Nabhaga celebrated for his devotion to Vishnu.

Ambarisha said:

3. O sage Markandeya, you are the master of all virtuous rites. O sage of great intellect, you are an ancient one and an expert in the teachings of the Puranas.

4. O highly intelligent sage of good holy rites, what is the most excellent one among the holy divine rites for the devotees of Narayana? Recount it.

5. On hearing his words, Markandeya stood up. With the palms joined in reverence, he remembered lord Narayana, the unchanging Krishna, Achyuta, and said.

Markandeya said:

6-8. O king, listen duly to what I say. The remembrance of Narayana, his worship, the devoted obeisance to him, — every one of these holy rites is on a par with the horse-sacrifice. Janardana is that excellent Purusha who is the only Being who is the greatest soul. Brahma and all other beings are born of him. Based on this fact I shall recount the chief Dharma as seen and understood by me.

9-12. Formerly, in the Tretayuga, there was a certain brahmin named Kaushika who was perpetually engaged in singing Samans and was devoted to Vasudeva. He thought of him always whilst seated or taking food or lying down on the bed. He frequently sang songs of his noble activities. After reaching the holy centre or the excellent shrine of Vishnu he used to sing in praise of Vishnu by means of exquisite songs wherein the beating of the time, the intonation and the regulated rise and fall of the sounds contributed to make them sweet. He sang in different tunes pleasing to the ears, in diverse ways. He followed the path of devotion and subsisted solely on alms voluntarily offered by the people.

13. On seeing him singing thus in praise of the lord a certain brahmin Padmaksha, gave him cooked rice.

14. Kaushika of great refulgence partook of the rice with the members of his family. In great delight he continued to sing in praise of lord Vishnu.

15-16. The brahmin Padmaksha continued to listen to the songs although he went out of the house now and then. After the lapse of some time, seven of the disciples of Kaushika came there. They were born of the families of brahmins, kings and vaishyas. They were pure and they excelled one another in wisdom and learning. They were devoted to Vasudeva.

17-20. To them also, Padmaksha served cooked rice. Perpetually accompanied by his disciples, Kaushika was delighted in his mind. In a holy centre of Vishnu he sang in praise of Vishnu and stayed there. There was a certain vaishya Malava. He was devoted to Vishnu. With a delighted mind he used to offer him garlands of lights perpetually. His chaste wife Malavi used to scrub the environs of the holy shrine and smear cowdung all round. She used to sit beside her husband listening to the excellent music.

21. For hearing the songs in praise of Vishnu fifty excellent brahmins of extolled: holy rites came there from Kushasthala.4

4. Kushasthala or Kushasthali, is the same as Dvaraka, near the extreme western promontory. It was the capital of the country Anarta in the peninsula of Gujarat. It is also one of the seven names of Ujjayini. Of. Sk. v. I. 26. 45.

22. They were wise and learned. They were conversant with the real meaning of what they learnt. Carrying out the tasks of the noble-souled Kaushika, they stayed there listening to his songs.

23. The ability of Kaushika to sing sweetly became well known. On hearing about it, the king Kalihga5 came there and spoke in these words:

5. Kalinga — here, name of a king.

24. “O Kaushika, accompanied by your attendants sing in praise of me. O ye people of Kushasthala, you too hear the same.

25-30. On hearing it, Kaushika said to the king in an appea sing tone: — “O great king, neither my tongue nor my words eulogise any one other than Vishnu. They do not speak in praise of even Indra.”

When this was said, his seven disciples, viz — Vasishtha, Gautama, Hari, Sarasvata, Chitra, Chitramalya and Shishu spoke to the king in the same way as Kaushika did.

The disciples from Kushasthala who were devoted to Vishnu also spoke thus to the king: — “O king these ears of ours do not wish to hear about anyone other than Vishnu. We will hear the songs of his praise and never the eulogy of any other.”

On hearing this, the king became angry and spoke to his servants: — “Sing, ye, so that these brahmins may hear about my renown. When it is being sung about all round how can it be that they do not hear it?”

31-33. The servants who were ordered thus sang excellent songs about the king. Those brahmins whose way was blocked, became sad after the songs were over.

On realising the inclination of the king, Kaushika and other brahmins plugged one another’s ears by means of wooden pikes.

“This king has compelled his servants to sing obstructing us as he stands by his own songs of praise”. Saying thus, the brahmins of regular observances cut off the tips of their tongues with their own hands.

34-36. Then the infuriated king confiscated their riches and banished them from his kingdom. Thereupon, they went to the north. In due course of time they courted death. On seeing them come, Yama (God of death) was bewildered as to what should be done. At that time, O king Ambarisha, Brahma spoke to the chiefs of Devas: “comfortably accommodate Kaushika and other brahmins today.

37. Welfare unto ye all. If you wish to retain your Devahood bring those persons here who perpetually worship Vishnu by means of music."

38-39. The guardians of the quarters who were thus ordered, shouted “O Kaushika” again and again. Some of them cried “O Malava, O Malava.” Others shouted ‘‘O Padmaksha, O Padmaksha”. They approached them, seized them and carried them to the world of Brahma by the aerial path. Those Devas reached the world of Brahma within a Muhurta.

40. On seeing Kaushika and others, Brahma the grandfather of the worlds greeted them. He honoured them by welcoming them.

41. O excellent king, on seeing what Brahma did Devas became excessively grave. There was great commotion among them.

42-50. Lord Brahma forbade the excellent Devas. He took Kaushika and other sages and hurried to the world of Vishnu, with great devotion to Vasudeva. Lord Vishnu was surrounded by Devas. Lord Narayana, the lord of the path of knowledge, was being served by the splendid Siddhas who resided in the Shvetadvipa.6 They were devotees of Vishnu with great mental concentration and purity. They had four divine arms. They were on a par with Narayana. They were equipped with the characteristic signs of Vishnu. They were brilliant and devoid of sins. He was served by those great people numbering eighty thousand, as also by people like us (i. e. Markandeya) and by Narada, Sanaka and other sinless souls. He was also served by different beings all round. Celestial women too served him. He was seated on a Bhadra Pitha (holy seat) in the middle of an aerial chariot that had a thousand doors, that extended to a thousand Yojanas in length. It was divine, bright as well as set with jewels. It was spotlessly pure and splendid with exquisite, diverse workmanship. Vishnu glanced beninantly at them who were engaged in worldly affairs7 (?) Kaushika and others surrounded the lord at that time. He came, prostrated and eulogised the garuda-bannered lord. Glancing at him, lord Vishnu, Narayana said “O Kaushika.” With great pleasure he addressed them in due order.

6. Shveta-dvipa — It has not been possible to identify this is land. Colonel Wilford has attempted to identify it with Britain. See H.M. p. 153.

7. loka-karya-prasaktanam— according to ST.it refers to Devas who look after the welfare of the people.

51. There was a great shout of victory when this wonderful event took place. The lord, the soul of the universe, said to Brahma — “O Brahma, listen to what is to be mentioned by me.

52. These brahmins who were the residents of Kushasthala endeavoured for the welfare of everyone. They were engaged in achieving what had to be accomplished by Kaushika.

53. They are engaged in listening to my glory. They are equipped with the knowledge of reality. They are not devoted to any other deity. May they all become Devas named Sadhyas.

54. Offer them entry to places near me as well as to other auspicious places, for ever”

After saying this, lord Vishnu said to Kaushika.

55. O brahmin of great intellect, accompanied always by your own disciples, be my attendant.8 Attain the chieftancy of all my attendants and always remain with me.

8. digbandhah— samipavarti ST. a technical term meaning an attendant or a body-guard.

56-57. Lord Vishnu spoke thus to Malava and Malavi: “O Malava, stay as you please in my world, along with your wife as long as this world lasts. Assume a divine form. Be a glorious lord. Listen to the songs of my praise.”

58-59. Lord Vishnu said to Padmaksha, “Become the lord and the bestower of riches. Come to me in due course and visit me. Then happily rule over your kingdom.”

After saying thus, lord Vishnu spoke to Brahma.

60. Thanks to the songs of Kaushika, my yogic slumber is over. Accompanied by his disciples he eulogises me in the shrines dedicated to me.

61-67. He was banished from the kingdom by the cruel king Kalinga. He cut off his tongue and resolved thus, “I will never eulogise anyone other than Vishnu.” He has now attained my world. These brahmins who regularly practise observances, who are my devotees and who are highly renowned plugged their ears by means of pikes. They resolved thus: — “We will never hear anything other than the glory of Vishnu.” These brahmins have attained Deva-hood and my proximity. Accompanied by his wife, Malava scrubbed and cleaned my holy centre. He decorated my shrines with clusters of lights. He used to worship me perpetually. He regularly listened to the songs of my glorious deeds. Hence, he has attained my eternal and massive world. This Padmaksha gave food to the noble Kaushika. Hence, he has become the lord of riches and attained my proximity. So said Vishnu in that assembly, Vishnu who is worshipped by the entire world.

68-71. At that instant, there came Lakshmi the consort of Vishnu, slowly and smilingly. She was bedecked in ornaments of diverse kinds. She was accompanied by experts in the science of instrumental music and by those who were conversant with the function of the lute. They were charming in the use of sweet words. They sang in praise of Lakshmi. She was surrounded by thousands and crores of ladies. On seeing her arrive, the chieftains of the attendants, who were as huge as mountains and who wielded iron clubs like Bhushundi9 and Parigha10 threateningly admonished Brahma and other Devas as well as sages making them recede to give way to her. They were delighted in their tasks.

9. bhushundi — a kind of weapon, perhaps fire-arms. It is probably a contraction of bhuja-shatru-mundi (or shatru-bhuja-mundi), that which cuts the arm of the enemy.

10. parigha — a dub studded with iron.

72. All of us (i. e. Markandeya and others) went out along with Brahma. and Devas. At that very time, Tumburu11 the excellent sage was called.

11. Tumbaru — a Gandharva, proficient in music.

73-75. He entered and stood near the goddess and the lord. Comfortably seated there, he sang exquisitely and played on the lute with delight. The excellent sage was worshipped by them and honoured with divine ornaments studded with jewels and splendid garlands. Tumburu was delighted, as also the other sages and Devas.

76-82. O king, the destroyer of enemies,12 sage Narada saw Tumburu depart after being duly honoured. On seeing the hospitable reception accorded to Tumburu by Vishnu, Narada was overwhelmed with grief affecting his eyes and heart. In the height of his grief he began to worry and ponder over, “By what means will I gain access to Vishnu in the presence of the goddess? Alas! it has been attained by Tumburu. Fie upon me the stupid fellow of confounded mind. I have been driven out of the presence of Vishnu by the attendants. Where shall I go? How can I live? Alas! a wonderful feat has been achieved by Tumburu” Thinking thus, the brahmin sage performed penance for a thousand years according to divine reckoning. He did not even breathe. Reflecting on the hospitable reception to Tumburu, he meditated on Vishnu. He repeatedly cried though he was a scholar and said, “Fie upon me.” O king, listen to what Vishnu did in this regard.

12. arindama -vocative case. It is addressed to Ambarisa to whom the story is being narrated.