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Harivaṃśa
234. The Dānavas described
VAISHAMPAYANA said:-Hear now of the names, forms, accomplishments and the principal weapons of the Dānavas.
Viprachitti, Shivi, Shanku, Ayashanku, Ayasshirā, Ashwashirā, the powerful Hayagrivā, Ketumān, Ugra, Syogra, Vyavra, the great Asura Pushkara, Pushkala, Swāshwa, Ashwapati, Prahāda, Ashwashirā, Kumbha, Sanglhāda, Gaganapryā, Anuhrāda, Harihara, Varāha, Sanhara, Arujā,
Vrishaparvā, Virupāksha, Munindra, Chandralochana, Nishprabha, Suprahva, Nirudara, Ekavaktra, Mahāvaktra Dwivaktra, Sherasa, Sharabha, Kunatha, Kupatha, Kvatha, Mahagarbha,
Shankukarna, Mahādhwani, Dirghajish, Arkavadana, Mriduchāpa, Mriduprya, Vāyu, Garistha, Namachi, Shamvara, Viksharā, Chandrahanta, Krodhahanta, Krodhavardhanā, Kālaka, Kalakaksha, Vitra, Krodhavimokshana, Garistha,
Havistha, Pralamva, Naraka, Pritha, Indratapana, Vatāpi, Ketumān, Asilomā, Vitomā, Vāskala, Pramada, Mada, Shrigālavavana, Keshi, Ekāksha, Rahu, Tuhunda, Samala, Sripa—these and many other Daityas appeared before the Great Vishnu who was about to place his feet (1-12).
Of them, some took up nooses, some had their mouths wide open, some had the voice of asses, some took up Satghnis, some discus in their hands, some had thunder-bolts, some rods, some mortars, some swords, some Patticas, some Parashwadhas, some Praças, some clubs, some Parighas, some huge stones and some Pushalas in their hands.
Some Dānavas had trees in their hands, some had bows, some had clubs, some had Bhushundis, and some shook there with daggers in their hands.
Those dreadful and highly powerful Dānavas, dressed in various ways, were armed with diverse weapons. Some had their mouths like those of tortoises, some had like those of fowls,
some had like those of swans, and some had like those of asses; some were camel-mouthed, some were boar-mouthed and some dreadful Dānavas had mouths like Makaras.
Some had their faces like hare, some like cats, some like Sukas, some like cows, some like deer, some like Garuda, some like swords and some like peacocks; some were horse-mouthed,
some were elephant-mouthed and some had faces like those of various other weapons. They put on skins of elephant and antelope. Their persons were covered with; bark.
Some amongst them were adorned with gold. The Asuras put on crowns and wore Kundalas; they, clad in various raiments, were adorned with diverse garlands and pastes.
Holding their burning weapons those Dānavas and Asuras approached Hrishikesha who was about to place his feet. The effulgence of the Lord at that time, who was about to conquer the three worlds, was like that of the sun.
Having smashed all the sons of Diti with his palms and feet the omnipotent lord possessed the three worlds with his three foot-steps.
Having assumed a huge form he first attacked the earth; when he occupied the earth the sun and moon were in his heart. When he occupied the sky they were in his waist and when he occuped the heaven they were on his knees (13–29).
The twice-born thus described the form of Vishnu of incomparable prowess. Having conquered the three worlds and slain the leading Asuras, Hari, adored of the universe, conferred the earth on Indra the king of gods.
The powerful Vishnu assigned to Bali the region under the earth called Sutala. Obtaining that region for his residence the foremost of Asuras Bali was pleased. Since then the king of Asuras has been living in Rasātala.
Living there the greatly effulgent Bali engaged in great meditation. The intelligent Bali said to Nārāyana, adored of the universe “O Lord, do thou command me particularly what I should do now.” Thereupon Vishnu, the lord of celestials, said to the Daitya king Bali (30–31).
VISHNU said:—“O great Asura, I have been pleased with you; I am ready to grant you a boon: pray for it. May good betide you. Do you pray for desired-for objects.
Never under any circumstances disobey the words of Sakra, the king of gods. This is my command to you. If you obey it you will meet with your well-being.
O Daitya, the water, your offered, was taken by me in the cavity of my palm and therefore you have no fear anywhere from the gods.
Along with all the Daityas and your followers, do you live by my favour in that part of the nether region which is called Sutala. Remembering my mandate do not disregard the words of Shakra of incomparable energy.
O great Asura, all the gods are worshipful unto you. You will attain to all your desirable objects; you will acquire many dresses both in this world and in the next.
And by my favour you will always reign supreme over the Daityas. You will enjoy various objects and celebrate sacrifices accompanied with gifts. Whenever you will transgress this my command the highly powerful serpents will bind you with their hoods.
You should always bow unto Mahendra and other gods. Indra, the king of gods, is my elder brother; you should therefore obey his command” (35–44).
BALI said:—“O great God, O holder of conch-shell, discus and club! O God of gods, O preceptor of the gods, and Asuras! O king of gods, O foremost of celestials, what position will be mine when I will live in that nether region ? How shall I live there ? How will my fame be unbroken?” (45-46).
THE LORD said:—“O foremost of Daityas, a Srāddha without a Shrotrya, study without vows, sacrifice without presents, Homa without Ritwikas, gifts without reverence and impure Havi, these six portions will belong to you.
The virtue of those who are ill-disposed towards my votaries, the virtue of persons who are engaged in buying and selling, the virtue of Agnihotras, the virtue of those who make charities without reverence and the virtue of those who officiate as priests, will be your share, O king of Daityas, by my favour (47–48).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Hearing the words of the high souled Vishnu, the foremost of Asuras, Bali said “so be it.” And carrying out the command of the Deity, he entered into the nether region.
In the meantime the Divine Vishnu, adored by the gods, made divisions of the kingdom. He conferred the eastern quarter on the king of gods of in comparable prowess, the southern quarter on the great Yama the king of the departed names,
the western quarter on the high-souled Varuna, and the northern quarter on Kuvera, the king of Yakshas; the region under the earth he gave to the king of Nāgas and the region above he conferred on Soma.
Having thus parcelled out the three worlds the highly powerful lord of celestials Vishnu, adored of the great saints, repaired to the heavenly region.
After the departure of that irrepressible dwarf all the gods, with the performer of hundred sacrifices before them, were filled with joy (49–56).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—After Krishna had departed having bound Virochana's son Bali with seven hooded serpents such as Kampana, Ashwatara etc the celestial saint Nārada, of his own accord, came to him who was stricken with pain in consequence thereof (57–58).
Seeing him thus afflicted and filled with compassion he said to that king of Dānavas:-" I will find out means for releasing you. O king of Daityas, with a purified soul meditate on the god of gods Vasudeva who is without beginning or end and who is eternal and undecaying; with your mind devoted to him you will in no time acquire emancipation” (59–61).
Thereupon his soul purified and mind controlled Virochana’s son, with folded hands, learnt from Nārada the means of attaining to emancipation (62).
Having learnt that celestial hymn sung by Nārada the great Asura Bali began to recite the names of that Great God by whom the Earth was raised up (63).
Salutation unto the Eternal and Great Lord without end. Salutation unto the lotus-navelled Deity Vishnu who lay on water. Assuming a body endued with the energies of seven forms thou dost invade the three worlds.
O lord, thou art the death of Kāla. Do thou release me. When the sky is divested of the sun and the moon, when sacrifices and ascetic penances are on the wane, do thou think of creating the universe again.
Do thou release me by this thy power. Mārkandeya, the foremost of the twice-born, saw in thee Brahmā, Rudra, Indra, Vāyu, fire, rivers, serpants and mountains.
Do thou release me. In the previous Kalpa Mārkandeya Muni entered into thy belly and saw the entire universe mobile and immobile.
Do thou save me by this thy power. Resorting to thy Yoga power supported by thy learning thou dost alone create the three worlds and again engage in Yoga.
Do thou save me by this thy power. Lying in water thou dost enjoy Yoga sleep and again think of the creation. Do thou save me by this thy power. Assuming the form of a sacrificial boar thou didst formerly upraise the earth.
Do thou save me by that power of thine. Raising up the earth with thy tusks thou didst ordain three Pindas for the departed manes. Do thou save me by that power of thine.
Afraid of Hiranyāksha the celestials fled away. Thou didst however save them. Do thou by that power release me. Having assumed a form with a huge mouth thou didst cut off in battle Hiranyāksha’s head with thy discus.
Do thou by that power save me. With thy roaring formerly the Daitya Hiranyākshipu was killed with his head and bones smashed. Do thou, by that power of thine, save me.
Formerly before the very eyes of Brahmā the Vedas were pilfered by the two Daityas. But thou didst regain them however. Do thou save me by that power of thine. Assuming the form of Hayashira thou didst slay the two Dānavas, Madhu and Kaitabha and return the Vedas unto Brahmā.
Do thou save me by that power of thine. The Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Siddhas and Uragas cannot see thy end. Do thou save me by this power.
Thou didst beget a son by name Apāntaralāmā who explained the Vedas. Do thou save me by this power. O lord, Agnihotra and other Vedic rites, the sacrifices in honor of the Pitris and Havi are all thy mysteries.
Do thou save me by that power of thine. The Rishi Dirghatama was born blind on account of the imprecation of his preceptor. By thy favour he regained his eye-sight; by that power of thine do thou save me.
Thou didst release thy poor votary elephant possessed by Rahu. Thou art undecaying, eternal, devoted to Brahman and thy votaries. Thou art the chastiser of those who wend evil ways.
Do thou save me. I bow unto conch-shell, discus, club, quiver, Shrānga bow and Garuda: may they release me from my fetters. Thereupon conchshell, discus, club, quiver, Shrānga and Garuda propitiated the Lord and requested him to release Bali from his fetters (64–86).
Thereupon pleased the Lord ordered the king of birds Garuda, the destroyer of serpents, saying “Release Bali from the fetters.”
Thereupon flapping his wings Garuda, of incomparable prowess, went to Pātāla where Bali was bound by the serpents. Informed of the arrival of Garuda, the serpents, releasing the great Asura Bali, fled away to the city of Bhagovati in fear of Vinata's son.
Garuda, who used to eat up serpents, said to Bali, who had lost his prosperity and released from the noose by Krishna's favour who was meditating with his head hanging down.
Garuda said:—“O you of large arms, O king of Dānavas, the powerful Vishnu has ordered you, freed from fetters, to live in Pātāla with your children and friends.
O Dānava, do not move away an inch from this place. If you break this contract your head will be sundered into a hundred pieces” (87-91).
Hearing the words of that king of birds the Dānava said:—“I am obeying the orders of that Great One. O king of birds let the Lord make some arrangements for my livelihood so that I may live here happily”.
Hearing the words of Bali Garuda said:—“The Lord has already made arrangements for your maintenance. You will be entitled to the offerings of those sacrifices that are celebrated without priests and regulations by persons unacquainted with the means of penance.
The celestials do not partake of such offerings. Nourished by such sacrificial offerings you will live here happily” (92–96).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Kashyapa's son Vishnu, the supporter of the three worlds, sent this message to the large armed king of Dānavas. The man, who reverentially recites this hymn destructive of all sins, has his iniquities destroyed.
The destroyer of a cow is freed from the sin consequent thereon and the murderer of a Brahmana is also freed from his sins. A man, having no son, gets one. A maiden acquires a husband after her heart (97-99).
A woman is soon freed from her labour pain and gives birth to a son. Kapila, the founder of Sānkhya school and other Rishis, desirous of emancipation, repaired, freed from sins, to the insular continent of Shewta the seat of Moksha, by reciting this hymn.
This hymn grants all heavenly objects. Forsooth does a man acquire all desirable objects, who, rising up early in the morning and purifying himself, reads it with a controlled mind.
This dwarf incarnation of the Lord is recounted by Vipras well read in the Vedas as a glorious deed of Vishnu. The man, who reverentially listens on every Parva to the recitation of this heavenly theme of dwarf incarnation, vanquishes all his enemies, being a powerful king like the highly powerful Vishnu himself.
He acquires also unsullied fame and immense riches and objects of enjoyment. As the dwarf is the favourite so he becomes beloved of all. His sons and grand-sons multiply, enjoy freedom from diseases and are endowed with all accomplishments.
The Lord Janārddana is pleased with him who reads it: and he obtains all desirable objects. So has Krishna Dwaipāyana said (98-107).
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