81 - The Review of the Story of Vasu 

This chapter practically concludes the NP. by Närada's reciting the deeds of Krishna throughout his life. Vasu permanently stayed in Vraja on hearing Krishna's glory. 

Vasu said: 

1. O blessed lady, attain everything that has been glorified in the section on the excellent greatness of the Tirthas, by undertaking pilgrimage to the zones of Tīrthas (holy centres), O queen. 

2. O queen of men, I shall invite Brahmā, your father, and going back to Vrundāvana roam about along with the deer. 

Suta said: 

3. After saying thus to Mohini, O Brāhmaṇas, Vasu, her priest was honoured and repeatedly worshipped. Thereafter, he went to the world of Brahmå. 

4. After going there he bowed down to god Brahma, the creator, the maker of the worlds and reported to him the complete details of Mohini's activities. 

5. On hearing the words of the Brāhmaṇa Vasu, O Brāhmaṇas, Brahmå was delighted. He said to him- “O dear one, indeed you have accomplished a meritorious work. 

6. O Brāhmaṇa, the daughter of mine, Mohinī, who had been engaged by me for the purpose of Devas was unsuccessful in her mission. She was cursed by you and her destruction was effected. 

7. Again, at my behest (dear one, she had been resuscitated to life by you now. She had been thus made contented and blessed. Hence who else can be more virtuous and fortunate than you? 

8. The excellent news about Mohini has been conveyed to me by you. Delighted thereby, O Brāhmaṇa, I shall grant you a boon. Tell me what you wish to have.” 

9. On being thus asked by Brahınă, the creator of the worlds, that Brāhmaṇa bowed to him and chose as boon (the facility) to reside in Vrundāvana. 

10. O leading sages, on hearing these words, the creator of the worlds, the remover of the anguish of those who seek refuge in him, spoke with smiles in all his four faces, 'so be it'. 

11. Delighted in his mind, Vasu bowed down to Brahma, came to Vrundavana and performed penance with concentration and mental purity. 

12. O Brāhmaṇas, even as Vasu performed the penance, many years—More than five thousand years passed by. There after Hari was delighted with it. 

13. Accompanied by two or three of his most beloved cowherd friends he appeared before the excellent Brāhmaṇa and said— “Tell me, O Brāhmaṇa, what do you wish to choose? I am satisfied with your penance. 

14. Thereafter, Vasu (prostrated himself before him) touching the ground with eight of his limbs. He got up subsequently and said— “O lord, I wish to stay in Vrundāvana forever". 

15. O excellent Brähmaņas, Viśhņu granted him his desire. Saluted by him again, the lord vanished. 

16. Ever since that day the Brāhmaṇa stayed there assuming the forms he pleased. He pondered perpetually over the lord who was enthusiastic over the forest Vrundāvana. 

17. On one occasion, as he was seated on the banks of Yamuna, thinking about him (the lord), he saw Närada, the son of Brahmā, who came to Vrundāvana. 

18. On seeing his grand preceptor (preceptor's preceptor) he bowed to him and asked him about the holy rites that were conducive to the increase of devotion to the lord. 

19. On being earnestly asked by him thus, Närada who had visualized the Self-recounted to him the entire future deeds of Hari. 

20. "O Brāhmaṇa, once I went to lord (Śhiva) residing on the Kailāsa mountain; to visit him as well as to ask him about the future secret of Vrundāvana. 

21. Afterwards I bowed down to the lord of Devas surrounded by Siddhas. I bowed down to Mahesha whose greatness pervaded the entire sphere of the cosmic egg. 

12-23. I asked him about the desired welfare. Lord Hara smilingly spoke to him— “O son of Brahmā, I shall tell you what has been formerly heard from the tongue of Surabhi (the divine cow) in regard to the future activities of Hari about which you have asked. Once Surabhi was seen by me staying in the middle of the world, Goloka. 

24. She was accompanied by her progeny. She was delighted and affable mentally. Thereafter, the mother of cows, rich in milk was asked about the future events. 

25-26. O divine sage, she told me the future history of Hari — “Now Lord Kriśhņa is seated comfortably in the Goloka accompanied by Rådha. 

27-28. O Maheśhäna, he accords happiness to the cow herds and cowherdesses, O śhiva, once (sometime in future) he will appear on the world of earth, in the region of Mathura and will display wonderful sport in Vrundavana. Rådhā the daughter of Vruśhabhānu will angrily curse śhridáman who will be a great favourite of Hari and his friend, and who will be stationed at the threshold of Viraja's house (?) O blessed one, he too will curse Rådhā in return. 

29-30. He will curse thus: "Go down to the mortal world". And thanks to this mutual course- afterwards requested Brahma, Hari will attain earth for removing the burden of the earth. He will take birth in the house of Vasudeva and he will be called Vasudeva. He will be the delighter of the Yådavas. 

31. Afterwards due to the fear of Kamsa, he will go to the cowherds' colony of Nanda. After going there, he will kill Pūtanā, the murderess of infants. 

32. He will also kill the Dänava Chakravāta (the Cyclone) and the Asura Vatsa of huge body who will harass Devas. 

33. He will subdue Kāliya, the serpent, and expel him out of Yamuna. He will kill Dhenuka of unbeareable prowess, Baka (crane) and also the demon asura Agha. 

34-36a. He will kill Dāva, Pradáva as well as Pralamba. He will remove the pride and arrogance of Brahmä, Indra, Varuņa and the erring sons of Dhanada (Kubera). The lord will kill the Asuras, Vruśha, Shankhachūda, Kesin and Vyoma. Staying in Vraja (cowherd's colony) for eleven years, he will sport with the cowherdesses. 

36b-38a. Going to Mathura, he will kill the washerman and straighten the humpbacked lady. He will break the bow and kill Kuvalayāpida, the excellent elephant and the wrestlers Chāņūra and others. Thereafter, Kriśhņa will kill Kamsa, his own maternal uncle. 

38b-39a. He will release his imprisoned parents. After killing the king of Yavanas, and due to his fear of Jarāsandha, Krishna will go to Dvăraka. 

39b-40. The lord will then marry Rukmiņi, Satyabhama, Satyä, Jämbavati, Kaikeyi, Lakśhmaņa, Mitravinda and Kālindika After killing Bhauma (i.e. the asura Naraka) he will marry sixteen thousand wives. 

41. After killing Paundaka (the pretender Vasudeva), Śhiśhupala, Dantavaktra, Vidūratha, Sālva and Dvivida, he will kill Balvala. 

42. Then he will kill, Vajranabha, Sunabha along with (the demons) the residents of Śhațpuras (six cities), and the Daitya Triśharira who will be powerful, thanks to the boons. 

43. O Shiva, eager to remove the burden of the earth he will create causes for mutual quarrel and kill Kauravas and Pāndavas. 

44. He will make Yadus, members of his own family, quarrel and destroy one another and then will come back to his own abode accompanied by his followers. 

45. O Sambhu, thus the future story of Hari has been recounted to you. Go, when Hari comes down to the surface of the world of mortals you will see everything". 

46. O son of Brahmā, on hearing the words of Surabhi, I was much delighted and I came back to my own abode. This has now been mentioned to you by me”. 

47. On hearing the words of the trident-bearing lord conveyed by Nārada, Vasu was delighted much. He felt his hairs standing on their ends due to delight. 

48. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I sing about the lord. I am elated. With the string of the lute, I divert the dejected universe. 

This future story has thus been narrated to you by me. 

49a. Just as Gautama, I too am engaged in the welfare of the worlds”. 

Sūta said: 

49b-50a. Närada said this to Vasu, the Brahmaņa, and went away sounding his lute and pondering over the scion of the family of Yadu (i.e. Lord Krişhņa). 

50b-51. On hearing his words, Vasu was delighted in his mind. O Brāhmaṇa, he permanently stayed in the Cowherds' colony, Vraja.