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The Eighteenth chapter: A Brahmana Becomes Indra



Parvati said:

1. O ^iva, you have told me the greatness of the seventeenth chapter. (Now) tell me the importance of the eighteenth chapter. The lord said:

2-15a. O you daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, listen to the greatness of the eighteenth chapter which is holy, which is the essence of all holy texts, which is the elixir that has come to the ears, which is intent on tearing off the mass of pangs in the worldly existence, which is the great secret of the siddhas, which is capable of uprooting ignorance, which is vitality, which is the best, the highest position of Kaitabha's enemy (i.e. Vishnu), which is the root of the creeper of discretion, which removes the dirt of passion and anger, which gave repose to the hearts of gods like Indra, which amused the minds of the great meditating saints like Sanaka, which has given a setback to the roars of Yama merely by its being recited, which is the cause of uprooting the roots of one hundred and eight diseases. O you whose gait is like that of an elephant, there is no greater secret than this. It removes the three (kinds of) torments and destroys major sins. As I am eternal among times, as the desire-yielding cow is among the beasts, as Vyasa is among the best sages, or as he who knows Brahman is among the Vyasas, as Indra is among gods, as Guru (i.e. Brihaspati) is superior to! shukra, as among the liquids nectar is the best and well-known in the world, as Kailasa is among mountains, and as Indra is among gods, as Puskara is among the holy places, as lotus is among flowers, as in the worlds Arundhati is among the chaste and virtuous wives, as the horse-sacrifice is among the sacrifices, as Paradise is among the gardens, as among all Rudras is my follower Vlrabhadra, as a gift of land is among gifts, as Godavari is among rivers, as Hariksetra is recommended for all religious rites, so is the greatness of the eighteenth chapter excellent in the world. About it, O Parvati, listen devoutly to this auspicious account, so that by merely listening to it a being is free from sins.

15b-28. On the peak of Meru there was a beautiful city (named) Amaravati. It was formerly fashioned for my amusement by Visvakarman. It is always full of virtues, and resorted to by crores of gods. There, palaces giving desired objects and built with desire-yielding stones, excel. It (spread) up to the city of Brahma. It possessed a mass of lustre, and is well-known like the knowledge of the Supreme Spirit. There happily sitting under the shade of the desire-yielding tree Saci enjoyed the song sung by gandharva women. The divine river there turned bloody due to the billows of the blood of the demons whose lives were crushed by gods. There the gods, repeatedly remembering the ancient sweet ambrosia, and being emaciated with hunger, everyday drank the digit of the moon. In it, resembling final beatitude, formerly lived Indra. The prosperous one was accompanied by Sad, and was waited upon by all gods. When once he was seated comfortably he saw a great man having a thousand eyes, waited upon by Vishnu's messengers, coming (to him). Then due to his lustre Indra was overpowered. He quickly fell into the hall from his jewelled throne. When he went away from the throne, Vishnu's soldiers tied him with the strap of the sovereignty over the gods. Pulomaja quickly sat on the left lap of that great Indra who was consecrated to the accompaniment of sounds of drums. Then gods along with their wives sang divine songs. The celestial ladies waved lights before him. Then sages gave him blessings with (hymns from) the Vedas. The bands of celestial nymphs like Rambha danced before him. Gandharvas sang charming songs with auspicious desires.

29-44. Thus they served the new Indra who had not performed a hundred sacrifices. Seeing that old Indra was amazed. " By me (him? ) lakes were never fashioned on the path; trees giving rest to travellers were never planted. God Tripurabhairava (i.e. ava) was never seen. Goddess Madalasa living in the place of treasure was never worshipped. Sarngadhara residing at Meghankara was never seen. A bath was never taken at Viraja. The city of Kasi was never visited. Narahari himself residing at the divine grove was never seen. Eranda Vishnu Heramba(? ) was never contemplated upon. Mother Renuka living in the city was never seen. The goddess living at Danapura was never devoutly worshipped. Tryambaka with three phalluses was not devoutly seen at Tripura. Somanatha living at the Sardula lake was never seen. Ghusrnesa living at Revapura was never seen. Naganatha, well known in the city of Nagadanta, was never seen. Great Amrtesvara residing at Parnagrama was never seen. Harihara himself living on the bank of Tuiigabhadra was never seen. Shrinivasa residing on Venkatadri was not properly seen. Shriranga residing at Kaveri Karnika was not at all seen. Poor and helpless and wailing people were not released from gaol. Beings were not honoured with (i.e. by giving them) food during a famine. On no night a water-fountain was erected at a place without water. A bath was not taken in Godavari. Harinesvara was not seen. A bath was not taken in Krishnaveni, when Jupiter was in the Zodiacal sign Libra. Not a piece of land was given. Poets were not at all honoured. A sacrificial session was never performed at the holy places. Sacrifices also were not performed in villages. Water places containing much water were never made on the path. At no place temples of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were built. Those that were overcome with fear and sought my shelter were never protected. Due to one act of religious merit how such a divine gift was got? "

45-46. Being full of thought like this, Indra, being dejected, hastily went to ask Vishnu to the cave in the Milky Ocean. Having entered there that Indra saw Vishnu who was asleep. All of a sudden he told him of his being deprived of sovereignty. Indra said:

47-49. O Vishnu, in order to please you I formerly performed a hundred sacrifices. Due to that religious merit I obtained the position of Indra. Now some new person has become Indra in heaven. He has not done religious acts, nor has he performed sacrifices. O Acyuta, how is my throne ascended by him? Mahadeva said:

50. Having heard the words of him who was speaking like this, Vishnu, with his eyes dilating due to smile, spoke sweet words.

The lord said:

51. What is the use of gifts, giving small fruits? What is the use of austerities or sacrifices? Remaining on the earth, he formerly pleased me. Indra said:

52. O lord, by means of which act, did the brahmana please you, due to which being pleased you gave him Indra's position? The lord said:

53-63. He mutters five verses from the eighteenth chapter of the Gita. Due to that religious merit, the crown gem of all (kinds of) religious merit, he obtained your excellent sovereign empire. Be steady. Hearing these words of Vishnu, Indra, who had (thus) known the means, took the guise of a brahmana and went to the bank of Godavari. There he saw the very auspicious and excellent Kalikagrama. There god Kalesvara, crushing Death, resides. There on the bank of Godavari, he saw a very religious, kind brahmana who had mastered the Vedas, who everyday muttered the eighteenth chapter and whose mind was controlled. Then having rolled at his feet with great joy, he recited the eighteenth chapter taught by him. Then due to that religious merit he secured union with Vishnu. And knowing the position of gods like Indra to be small, he abandoned it, and went to Vishnu's city. Therefore, only this is a great truth for the sages. I have told you the divine importance of the eighteenth chapter, by just hearing which one is free from all sins. Thus I have told you the importance of the Gita, which destroys sins, which is meritorious, purifying, which gives (long) life, which leads (one) to heaven, and which is a great means of securing prosperity. O noble one, a man who devoutly listens to it, obtains the fruit of all sacrifices and would obtain absorption into Vishnu.

 


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