The Greatness of Nila Mountain

Sumati said:

1-5. Then having passed the entire day with (i.e. in) the recollection and narration (of the glory of) Vishnu, at night he slept on the bank of Ganga, giving a large fruit. In a dream he saw himself having four arms and holding a conch, a disc, a mace, and a bow, dancing in front of Vishnu with gods like Shiva with their pleasing bodies, with missiles like a disc, a mace, a conch and a lotus etc., (so also) with the excellent attendants of Vishnu having good bodies. Having seen (Vishnu) the lord of shrl, the talk of the world, giving whatever is desired by the (devotees') mind, and called Purushottama, he was amazed and obtained very wonderful joy. The very intelligent one looked upon himself as worthy of his grace. In this way the best king saw the dream. When he got up in the morning he narrated the dream that he had seen to the brahman a.

6-7a. Having heard it the intelligent brahmana, who was amazed, told (the king): " O king, that Hari (i.e. Vishnu). called Purushottama, will give you (a body resembling) his own body marked with a conch, disc etc."

7b-10. Hearing this, Ratnagriva, of a magnanimous mind, caused to give gifts to the poor as was thought fit by his mind. Having bathed at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean, having gratified his ancestors (with oblations), he, singing the multitude of the virtues of Vishnu, waited to have his vision. Then in the noon, large kettle-drums, high-sounding, were beaten by the strokes of the hands of gods in the sky. All of a sudden a shower of flowers fell on the head of the king.

11-13a. " O best king, you are fortunate; see (the mountain) Nila which is within the range of your sight." When the king heard these words uttered by the god, that great moutain, called Nila which was wonderful and had greater brilliance than that of a crore suns, came within the range of the sight of the king.

13b-16a. On all sides it was shining with silver and golden peaks. 'Is it fire that is burning? Is it another sun? Is it the mass of lightning, which has suddenly obtained a steady lustre? ' (Such were the reactions of those who saw it.) The ascetic brahmana having seen the very beautiful peak of the mountain told the king: " This is the auspicious great mountain." Hearing it the best king saluted (the mountain) by (bowing) his head.

16b-18. (He said: ) " I am lucky, I am contented (that) (the mountain) Nila has come within the range of my sight." O best man, the minister, the king's wife, the weaver Karamba also became glad on seeing Nila. Hearing the big sounds of the large kettle-drums made by gods, the five went up the mountain at the triumphant time.

19-27. On the highest peak, adorned with variegated trees, he saw a matchless temple built in gold. Coming there always Brahma worships Vishnu. Seeing an excellent, pure temple of Vishnu at the place where he made an offering of eatables giving pleasure to Vishnu, he, surrounded by the five followers, entered it. Seeing there (the lord) charming with four arms, waited upon by the fierce and very fierce Jaya and Vijaya etc. and shining on the golden throne variegated with big gems, the king with his wife and accompanied by his servants, saluted him. The great king having saluted the best god and the highest soul, bathed him to the accompaniment of hymns proper for the bath and mentioned in the Vedas. The king with a pleased mind offered him an oblation and water for washing his feet. Then the king besmeared the lord's image with sandal, and offered two good garments. He offered (to the image) incense, waved a light and offered to the lord's image an offering of eatables fully sweet and charming. Having saluted him, he praised him by a number of hymns according to his intellect, in which a number of his virtues were strung by the ascetic brahmana. The king said:

28-36. Purusa is actually one. The lord is beyond Prakrti. He is different from effect and cause, and is worshipped by the principles like Mahat. Brahma clever in creation was born from the lotus in your navel. Similarly, Rudra, the destroyer, was born from your eye. Ordered by you, he does all the activities about the world. The world, immovable, has come up from you, the ancient one. Having entered the power of consciousness you make him aware. O lord of the world, you do not have a birth (i.e. origin), nor do you have an end. O mighty one, growth, decay and change do not at all exist in you. Yet, for protecting your devotees and for establishing dharma, you do the acts like birth, having befitting excellences. Taking the form of a fish, you killed demon Shankha. O Brahman, O ancestor of the great Purusa, you protected the Vedas well. Shesha does not know your greatness, nor does the great goddess Sarasvati know it; then what about people like me of bad thoughts, O great Vishnu? (Even) this great goddess Vak (i.e. Sarasvati) does not mentally obtain you (i.e. is unable to conceive you). Then, O lord, how shall I be able to praise you? Having praised him like this, he repeatedly saluted him by (bowing) his head. His voice was faltering and his body washorripilated due to joy.

37. Vishnu, whose mind was pleased by means of this eulogy, said (these) significant words to the king: The lord said:

38-40. O king of great intelligence, I am highly delighted by your praise. O great king, know me to be beyond Prakrti. Quickly eat the charming offering of eatables. (Then) having obtained four arms, you will go to the highest position. I shall also make my appearance, giving enjoyments and salvation, to that man who will praise with the gem of eulogy (with which you praised me).

41-47. Having heard these words uttered by the lord, the king, along with his four dependents, ate the offering of eatables (made to the lord). Then an aeroplane, which was adorned with a mass of bells, which was waited upon by celestial nymphs, and which was full of all pleasures, came (there). The pious king, seeing (Vishnu) named Purushottama, saluted his feet (as) he was made the recipient of his (i.e. Vishnu's) favour. When he (i.e. the lord) was observing, he, with his wife, getting into the aeroplane, went to the wonderful Vaikuntha in heaven. The king's excellent minister, very much devoted to piety, knowing all modes of behaviour, and waited upon by a bevy of women, went with (the king) by the aeroplane. The ascetic brahmana who had bathed at all the holy places obtained four arms and went with gods going in an aeroplane. O great king, Karamba too obtained the vision (of the lord) due to his merit (collected) through singing and reached the abode of the god, difficult to be reached (even) by all gods.

48-52. All (the five) having four arms, and holding conches, discs, maces and lotuses went to the very wonderful world of Vishnu. All of them had the splendour of clouds, were pure, had shining lotuses in their hands. With their bodies adorned with necklaces, armlets and bracelets, they went to the heaven. Seeing the rows of their aeroplanes, the people and the subjects made the sound of large kettle-drums in such a way that it may be perceived (i.e. heard) by ears. Then there was a brahmana, who loved the lotus-like feet of Vishnu. He, with his heart distressed by separation from them, went (after them), and became four-armed. The people, seeing that wonder, praised that great prosperity, and, having bathed in the water at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean, went (back) to the city.

53-60. (They exclaimed: ) " Oh, the (great) fortune of king Ratnagrlva, of a good mind! With this body (of him, i.e. without casting his body), he went to the highest place of Vishnu." O king, this Nlla mountain, is honoured by Vishnu (himself). On seeing it (men) certainly go to Vaikuntha, the highest destination. He who listens to this greatness of Nlla, is (indeed) fortunate. (He and) he who narrates it to people, both would go to the highest place. Having heard this a bad dream perishes just by remembering (it); and in the end Vishnu grants him (help to) cross the mundane existence. He who stays at the Nila (mountain) is Rama, Vishnu (himself). SIta. is actually the great Lakshmi, the cause of causes. He whose name is prescribed in (i.e. as) the expiation for the murder of a brahmana, will, after performing the horsesacrifice, purify the worlds. Now your horse has reached the vicinity of the Nila mountain. O you highly intelligent one, salute god Vishnu; thereby we shall be sinless and shall go to the highest position. By his favour many have crossed this ocean of worldly existence.

61-63. When he was talking like this, the horse, striking against the earth with the speed of the wind, reached the Nlla mountain. Then the king also, going after him, reached and bathed at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean. He sang (the praise of) Vishnu. That destroyer of the enemies, having praised and saluted the lord of gods, saluted by gods and demons, regarded himself as having become blessed.

 

CHAPTER TWENTYTHREE

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