34 - The Visions of the Lord

Vasishtha said: -

1-4. On hearing the words of his son, the king Rukmäñgada glanced at Sandhyävalï’s face resembling a lotus and became glad. (It seemed as though her face urged): “listening to the words of Mohinï, do not take food. Kill the boy born of your body. Do not take food. Rather kill your son”. This importunity was evident in her face. In the meantime, the Lotus-eyed Lord (Vishnu) came there and stood in the sky but in an invisible state. He began to watch the courage and fortitude of the three persons—the heroic king, Sandhyävali and Dharmäñgada. O leading king, the unsullied lord Vishnu having the colour of the cloud, seated himself on the Lord of birds viz. his vehicle Garuda.

5-9. When the words ‘‘Eat, Eat” were uttered by Mohinï, the king took up the stainless (bright) sword to kill his son Dharmäñgada, With a delighted mind, he made obeisance to the Garuda-emblemed lord. On seeing his father armed with the sword, Dharmäñgada bowed down to his parents and to the discus-bearing Lord without any feelings of sorrow, he looked at the face of his mother, O great king. *

*Nrupa- Pungavah in the text has no predicate, hence taken in the Voc. as Nrupa-Puñgava (Mändhätä) “O king” is repeated even out of context in this part of the NP.

Dharmäñgada who was endowed with devotion to his father and who was superior to all in his devotion to his mother, kept his neck close to the ground. His neck resembled a conch-shell. It was tender with the lustre of gold. It was plump and it contained many lines. He placed his neck on the path of sword.

10. O king, (Mändhâtà), when the son offered his neck with delight in the face that resembled the beautiful moon, and when the lord of the Earth (i.e. Rukmäñgada) took up his sword, the entire Earth along with the mountains began to quake.

11. Immediately the ocean tides arose as if to submerge the three worlds. Hundreds of meteors fell on the Earth with violent gusts of wind and thunder-bolt’s stroke from the middle of the sky.

12-14. Thinking (to herself): “O the mission of the Devas has not been accomplished by me. My birth has been thus fruitless. It has been made so by the fate that had created the universe. My enchanting beauty has been only a fraud, since the food is not taken in by the king on the day of Hari—the day that dispels the fear of sins. In the Heaven, I will be treated as equal to grass.

He who has abundance of Sattva qualities will go along the path of salvation. But I, the sinner, will fall into the terrible hell.”

15. O leading king, when the sword was lifted up by the king, Mohinï endowed with delusion over-came with swoon fell on the ground.

16-18. Shining with that sword, the king attempted to cut off the neck of his son Dharmàñgada. When the courageous king Rukmäñgada, with great delight, was to cut off his son’s head alongwith the ear-rings the head that was beautiful, had the brilliance of the moon that was shining. But immediately the king was caught in his hand by Vishnu, the lord of the daughter of the Milk-ocean”. I am pleased I am delighted. There is no doubt about this. O lord of the people, go to my region.

19-20. O king, establish on the Earth your fame that is worthy of being worshipped in the three worlds and that is white and pure. Set your foot on the head of Yama. O king, thereafter, accompanied by your beloved wife and son you go to my residence called after my body (i.e. Vaikuntha)”. The moment he was touched with the hand of the discus-bearing lord, the king became free from sins in the company of his wife and his son.

21-22. Approaching quickly, the noble-souled king entered the divine body of the lord, leaving off the Royal glory originating from the Earth abandoning the slaves, riches and treasury, elephants, horses, chariots, wives in the harem and the kinsmen. He became one with the body of Vishnu. Then a shower of flowers fell from the sky.

23. O king (Mändhätä), the large drums called Dundubhis were sounded by the delighted Siddhas, and the guardians of the divine world. The celestial ladies sang sweet songs and danced joyously.

24-26. The daughters of the Gandharvas were satisfied with the action of the king. The son of the sun (i.e Yama) too observed this wonderful phenomenon viz. the king entered the divine body of Vishnu accompanied by his wife and son after wiping off the writings of Yama. He placed all the people in the path leading to the world of Hari. The people followed the path pointed out by the king and were grateful to him. Yama became frightened again. He came to the four-faced lord Brahmâ and spoke to him crying: - “O lord, I will not be a mere employee without the power to command. O lord of Devas, create another post for me. I shall do my best. Let not my baton of punishment be a thing of mere show.”