War Between Gods and Demons

Yudhisthira said:

1. Who is the paternal uncle of the Ocean’s son? What happened to him in the war? How did the demon fight? О Narada, tell me that.

Narada said:

2-5. О best king, listen. The Milky Ocean is the paternal uncle of Jalandhara. After the gods and the demons had churned from him Lakshmi, the Moon, the elephant (called Airavata), the horse (named Uccaihsravas) the gods snatched the wealth. Hearing that the demon Jalandhara fought with the gods. Once the mighty one, having instructed his messenger what to speak, sent him, Durvarapa (by name), to the residence of the lord of gods. Then, getting into a chariot, Durvarapa went to heaven. Desiring to enter the residence, he was prohibited by the door­keepers.

The massenger said:

6-11. I am Jalandhara’s messenger. I have come to Indra. Please go there and respectfully inform (Indra) about me (i.e. my arrival).

Then a door-keeper, having heard his words, just then went to (Indra), the lord of Saci. Having saluted him, he said: “O lord, a messenger from the earth has come.” To him Indra said:

 “Bring (in) the messenger.” He, holding the hand# of the messenger, brought him near Indra. Durvarana entered the assembly of the gods. He saw Indra who was surrounded by thirty-three crore gods, (who was seated upon) a divine, golden throne, who was waited upon with the breezes (produced) by chowries, whose one thousand eyes resembling fully bloomed lotuses were full of the feeling of love for Saci. Then Durvarana, seeing the lord of gods along with Brihaspati, (and) laughing at the beauty of his eyes, saluted him.

12-20. That messenger of Jalandhara occupied the seat that was pointed out. Indra said to him: “To whom do you belong? On what mission have you come? ” He said to Indra: “lam Jalandhara’s envoy. He is the king of all worlds. From my mouth listen to his order: ‘Why did you, by employing the Mandara mountain (as the churning rod) churn my uncle, the Milky Ocean? You took away the treasure, the great wealth like Lakshmi, the Moon, the elephant (viz. Airavata), the horse (called Uccaihsravas), gems like corals. Give (back) all that. So also, О Indra, quickly leave the heaven. By my words, quickly do everything that is proper. If you desire to live, apologise to the king.” Then Indra laughed and spoke to Durvarana: “O messenger, hear in brief the reason for churning the Ocean. Formerly my enemy Mainaka, the son of Himalaya, was held by the foolish Ocean in his side, and the wicked Ocean also held (i.e. supported) the Fire in the form of a horse, who had burnt the mobile and the immobile. This lord is the place of refuge of the demons, the haters of Dharma. He always gives curd, ghee, milk to the demons.

21-24. О Durvarana, therefore, he was churned by us; and he, with his wealth lost, was punished by the ancient gods.

О messenger, listen. He was dried up by the brahmana (Agastya) born from a pitcher, due to his (i.e. Agastya’s) association with me. Moreover, he is tormented due to his bad company. (If) he also, surrounded by his entire army, will come to fight with us, he will just then meet with destruction.” Speaking like this, (Indra) the killer of Vftra, ceased (speaking). He loudly praised the messenger of the Ocean’s son. (The messenger), having come (back) to the son of the Ocean, told him everything from the beginning that the lord of gods had said. *

Narada said:

25-34a. Having heard Indra’s words (i.e. message) from the mouth of his messenger, the Ocean’s son became angry and called his entire army. Then by (Jalandhara’s) order the demons who lived in the lower world, so also those who lived on the earth came there with their armies to Jalandhara. He set out on a march. Due to the roars of the army of the Ocean’s son, О king, the sky, the nether world and all the quarters burst. (Demons) fearful with faces like those of horses, elephants, camels, cats, (so also those) having faces like those of tigers, lions, rats, having eyes like the lightning, (and) some having serpent-like hair, large bodies, some with sword-like nails, and others also ran and roared with the sound (like that) of theclouds. О king, that entire army, full of chariots, elephants, horses and foot-soldiers, and fearful due to the multitudes of amusements in the war shone at that time. Having got into the aeroplane which was a hundred yojanas extensive, to which crores of swans were yoked, which had a stream of a thousand grandeurs, which was filled with all things, Jalandhara quickly went (out). On the first day, he, with his armies, reached Mandara at mid-day. It was broken (into portions) by palanquin carriers and divided by many elephants. On the second day he, along with his army, reached Meru. That great army remained on the peak (called) Ilavrta.

34b-40a. Then the chief demons destroyed the Khafltfava, Nandana forest. The best demons shattered the peaks of Meru. The best demons, after having tied the couch-like swings to the santana trees, dallied with siddha women. The river on Meru was filled with saffron on the breasts, tambtilas, sandal, agaru (sandal) ornaments, and flowers dropped from the hair. The eastern side of that good Meru was shaken by his elephants. The chariots moved to the south and the warriors to the north and west. Then the demon Jalandhara made the demons set out. Others also, along with the sounds of drums, went to the Mahendra peak. Having destroyed the city of the king of kings, and of Yama and Varupa, so also (the cities) of other regents of quarters, they came to Amaravati.

40b-42. Then divine portents, so also portents in the sky, the earth and the atmosphere appeared. Much dust fell (down); mass of darkness spread (out). Then the thunderbolt, being lustreless, fell down from Indra’s hand. Seeing fearful omens, Indra said to Brihaspati: “What should we do, and whose refuge should we seek? See, the war is imminent.”

43-45. Then Brihaspati spoke these words to the king of heaven: “Approach the feet of Visiju living in Vaikuntha.” Indra, thus told by Brihaspati, went along with the gods to (Vishnu’s) abode — Vaikuptha — and quickly sought the refuge of (Vishnu) the enemy of Kaitabha. Vijaya, the doorkeeper, informed Vishnu (of his arrival). All gods, trembling through fear of Jalandhara, came (there).

Shri said:

46-49. You who are fighting for gods, should not kill him, my brother. He, О god, should only be cursed and not be killed.

Hearing these words of Lakshmi, Vishiju the protector of the three worlds, mounted upon Garuda that covered the sky (just) by the flapping of his wings. Hari quickly moved out of his Vaikuntha abode and saw the gods trembling through the fear of Jalan­dhara and with their lustre lost. All the gods saw Vishnu resem­bling a dense cloud, and with his four hands adorned with the Sharinga (bow), the conch, the mace and the lotus.

50-56a. Having recited a hymn of praise in front of (Vishnu) Indra said: “O god, Jalandhara, the son of the lord of the rivers has devastated the heaven.” Hearing these words (of Indra) and having granted safety to the residents of heaven (i.e. the gods), (Vishnu) the destroyer of the demons, shone along with the gods to conquer the demon. Then Indra, holding the thunderbolt and getting into the chariot brought by Matalin, went before Visiju. All the gods were on the left side. He came from the left. (Agni) to whom the oblations are dear, seated on a ram, was on the southern side. Indra’s son, Jayanta, mounted upon the elephant Airavata, and Indra mounted upon (the horse) Uccaihsravas, and both (remained) in front of the lord. (There were) Dhatf, Aryaman, Mitra, Varufla, Amsha, Bhaga, Indra, Vivasvat, PQshan, and the tenth was said to be Parjanya. Then Tva? tr shone, so also Vishou, the younger brother (of Indra).

56b-60. Thus these twelve Adityas stood before Indra. Virabhadra, Sambhu, and the very glorious Girisa, Ajaikapad, Ahirbudhnya, Pinakin who was (never) defeated, Bhuvanadhisvara, Kapalin, Sthanu, and Bhaga, and Bhagavat, are said to be the eleven Rudras, О king, before him (also stood) the eight Maruts, viz. Svasana, Sparsana, Vayu, Anila, so also Maruta, Prana, Apana and Sajiva. Vivasvat also went among them with his ten forms. At that time Dhanada (i.e. Kubera), the lord of kinnaras, having got into a palanquin (also) went there.

61-67. The Rudras mounted on bulls, so also Maruta, being carried by a deer and having the weapons like tridents and iron clubs, went in front of the army. Gandharvas, carapas, yaksas, piSacas, snakes, guhyakas holding all weapons went in front of the army. The soldiers also crossed the eastern and western oceans. In it Hari, with the body (i.e. in the form) of a boar moved with a desire to kill the army of the demons, after he had speedily come from the heaven. The northern part of the Sumeru mountain was covered by the army of the gods. Having resorted quickly to the southern peak of the golden mountain, the wonder­ful huge army of Jalandhara remained. The battlefield remained day and night in the region of Ilavfta where it was arranged bet­ween Meru and Mandara (mountains). The demons, full of joy, quickly went to that region described as bringing victory by Shukra, so also the gods went to that region described (like that) by Brihaspati.

68-71. It was surrounded by excellant chariots, surges of elephants giving out the streams of rut resembling clouds. The land causing (the armies) move shone with innumerable horses and footsoldiers walking in front of Garuda. Then there was the great sound of the musical instruments of both the armies; so also the tumult of the warriors roaring at one another. Then a great war, causing fear, took place between the demons and the gods. There was the friction of the entire army like the destruc­tion of the three worlds. Sruti (the sacred text) overpowered with fear, and much fatigued wept again and again. The battlefield was at that time filled with arrows concealing the forms of the chariots.

72-75. The Sky also, tossing the garment of dust, was horripilated. She (i.e. the Sky) was as it were crying through fear with the loud notes of the birds. Then Indra ordered the clouds like Samvartaka. They, mounting upon tall elephants fought in the war. Gandharvas and kinnaras became the drivers of the horses of gods. Sadhyas and siddhas (became) chariot-fighters. Yakshas and caranas (became) elephant-riders. Serpents eating (i.e. living upon) air, so also kinnaras (became) the foot-soldiers. О king, the leader Yama (became) the chief of the diseases, viz. con­sumption.

76-81a. A fierce battle took place there between the demons and the diseases. The demons (struck by) diseases like acute pain and fever fell and rolled on the ground. The diseases struck by the demons dropped on the battlefield. Certain diseases fled to the mountains. There were natural herbs which rendered them free from trouble. With them the servants of Yama rendered (the soldiers) in the armies free from trouble. The groups of footsoldiers among the demons killed all the foot-soldiers (among the army of the gods) with arrows, mallets and spears with sharp edges, sharp swords, and hatchets. Crores (of the warriors) with their bodies tawny due to blood killed one another. The quick horses threw up in the sky the horse-riders at that time. With their bodies tawny due to blood, they clung to one another, and struck one another.

8 lb-86. The fierce mass of the fighters from chariots covered the earth with streams of chariots. They pierced with sharp arrows discharged from the bows the great fighters from chariots. The elephants, with their temples emaciated due to rut, and being angry, knocked down the elephants after binding their trunks with their own trunks. Some demon lifting a chariot with his arms went to the sky. He knocked down on the ground the horse-riders, horses and elephants. Taking them on his shoulder he quickly went to Jdlandhara. Someone, taking two elephants on his two sides, a third one on his belly and a fourth one on his head, runs (i.e. ran) on the battlefield. A demon, taking out his sword from the sheath and shaking the clear sky, went after knocking down thousands of gods on the battlefield.

87-88. A semidivine female able to fly, of stout breasts, lustful, slim-bodied, quickly came from the sky and took away a demon from the battlefield. She kissed his face fixed with sharp arrows. Then Kalanemi, having bound the army of the gods, danced.

89-93. Then angry Vishou went out to (attack) Kalanemi; Yama (went against) the hero Durvarana, and Rahu (against) the Moon and the Sun. God VaiSvanara (went out to attack) Ketu, and Bfhaspati went (out to fight with) Shukra. The restrain­ed Asvins went (out to attack) the demon Angarapanpaka. (Jayanta) Indra’s son (went to attack) Samhrada, and Kubera went (to attack) Nihrada. Rudras surrounded Nisumbha and Vasus surrounded Sumbha in the war. Visvedevas went (out to attack) Jambha who stood in the form of a cloud. Vayus (went out to attack) Vajraroman, and Mrtyu went (out to attack) Maya. Vasava with the Sakti-missile in his hand, ran to Namuci who was distracted. The other gods also surrounded the demons matching them in valour.

 

CHAPTER SIX

Death of Demon Bala

Narada said:

l-18a. When the duels in this way had commenced in many ways, the angry Vishnu struck Kalanemi with his mace. He, giving up his swoon (i.e. regaining consciousness) thought, and struck Vishi? u with arrows. Then the angry Vishnu dropped him dead on the ground. О king, having reflected, Candrama (i.e. the Moon) struck Rahu with a sword. Rahu at that time leav­ing him ran to the Sun. Having vanquished the Sun in the battle, Rahu ran to the Moon. The lord of the night (i.e. the Moon) struck him with a sword in the battle. Due to the hard­ness of the body of Rahu the sword at that time was powdered. Rahu struck him deeply with his hard fist. Having lifted up Candra (i.e. the Moon) he swallowed him speedily in the great war and again spat him out. He, putting his mark, the dear on his chest, dismissed him. That Rahu, seizing (the horse) Uccaihshravas, took him to Jalandhara, and offered him to him (i.e. to Jalandhara) with devotion. The angry Durvarana struck Yama with a mace in the war. Samhrada, pierced with sharp arrows by (Jayanta) the son of Indra seized Jayanta who fainted due to the stroke of the iron club, mounted upon Airavata, and went to Jalandhara. Kubera also struck Nirhada with his mace in the battle. The Rudras vigourously hit Nisumbha with the strokes of their spears. Nisumbha too very much harassed them with volleys of arrows. The demon Sumbha filled (i.e. covered) the hosts of gods with arrows. Maya, full of deceit, tied Yama with nooses, and took him (to Jalandhara). He gave him to Jalandhara, and Jayanta also to the Ocean. The Ocean too threw him into his mouth (so that) the world should be free from fear. Then Indra also, having tied Namuci with nooses, took him, the destroyer of the universe; then Jalandhara went. О king, a very fierce battle took place between Indra and Bala. The splendour from the body of Bala shone, like that of the Sun, in the ten directions. All the missiles of Indra were shattered on (striking) the body of Bala. The mighty Bala struck Indra with a mallet on his chest. Then Indra roared fiercely. Hearing that Bala laughed. From the mouth of him who was laughing, pearls dropped down. With a desire for (securing) his body, Indra did not fight.

18b-24. Then he very much praised Bala, the ocean of might. “O best among gods, ask for a boon.” When told like this, Indra said to Bala: “O lord of the demons, if you are pleased, then (please) give your body to me.” Hearing these words of Indra, that Bala also said: “Cutting me (i.e. my body) with weapons take me (i.e. my body).” Then he also (said): “What is that which cannot be (i.e. is not) given by the noble? ” “Like speech to one who cannot hear, like a woman of fickle eyes to a blind man, like a garland of flowers to a dead man, wealth is fruitless to a miser. The noble ones do not seize their enemies though they harm. The Rivers also take their со-wives (i.e. other Rivers) to the Ocean. A good man, engaged in the welfare of the others, does not get perturbed even at the time of their destruction. The sandal tree, though cut, makes fragrant the mouth (i.e. the edge) of the axe. Even a divine body perishes, but not the wealth given to the good. That digit of the Moon alone, which iS on the head of Shiva remains (intact). Those who show goodness to those who harm them, are the good that are at the top of the earth. Even a wicked man loves them who for their own cause get their bodies cut off for those who have harmed them before.” Saying, ‘All right’, Indra struck Bala with a mallet. Yet his hody did not split up. Indra became worried. Being reminded by Matalin, he hit the body (of Bala) with his thunderbolt. Due to that stroke of the thunderbolt the body of Bala was shattered. A portion of Bala’s body fell on the golden mountain. Another (fell) upon the Himalaya. The third one fell upon the Go mountain. The fourth one (fell) into the divine river. The fifth one (fell) upon the Mandara (mountain). The sixth produced from the body of Vijaya fell into the mine of diamonds.

25-31. Ail the limbs of his body born pure, became the sources of gems due to the pure act. Particles of the bones fell from the thunderbolt. The hexagons became gems. From his eyes (dropped) sapphires. Rubies were produced from his ears, (so also) rubies were produced from his blood. Emeralds were pro­duced from his marrow. From his tongue corals were produced. In the same way his teeth became pearls. Emeralds were pro­duced from his marrow. So also emeralds were (also) produced from his nose. His excrement became bell-metal. His semen turned into silver. Copper was produced from his urine. From the un­guent of his body brass came out, so also lustrous wealth. From his lsound lapis Izuli came out; so also more charming gems. Gold was produced from his nails. Mercury came out from his blood. Crystal was produced from his marrow. Corals were pro­duced from his flesh. The gems were (thus) produced on the earth from the body of Bala. They are enjoyed by pure persons due to the wealth of the collection of their religious merit.

32-37. Meantime, having heard that Bala was killed in the battle by Indra, his queen named Prabhavati, went near (i.e. to) his (i.e. Indra’s) feet. Seeing her husband with his limbs shatter­ed in the battle, Prabhavati, full of tears, with her hair loose, of stout breasts, lamented: “O lord, О Bala, О you brave one, О you of a handsome body, О you dear to the world, why have you, abandoning me, gone to aloofness? Men do not cast their bodies, even on realising that they are full of old age, and leprosy; but О dear one, you have in vain cast your body; О dear one, by means of your divine body the string of pearls is adorned. О dear one, untie the braid of me afflicted with the grief of «widow­hood, which you yourself, eager to fight, had tied.” The Ocean’s son, seeing the queen lamenting like this, and being afflicted, said to Shukra: “O Bhargava, bring him back to life.”

Shukra said:

38. He died willingly. How can I bring him back to life? Yet due to the power of the hymn he will utter words.

Jalandhara said:

39-42. О Bhargava, I wish (to see Bala’s) form (and) hear his words.

Being thus addressed by Jalandhara, he became engrossed in meditation. Then from his mouth sound pleasing the ears came out, addressing Prabhavati. It as it were came out from a musical instrument “O Prabhavati, unite vour body with the parts of my body.” Hearing these words of (i.e. uttered by) him, Prabhavati turned herself into a river. She got united with the parts of Bala’s body, and flowed towards the east. Due to her water, excellent brilliance was produced in gems.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

⇐ Предыдущая253254255256257258259260261262Следующая ⇒

Поделиться: