Philosophy and Religion / Harivamsa

Harivamsa

74. Indra comes and eulogises Krishna

VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Beholding the mount Govardhana thus held up and the kine saved Purandara, the king of the celestials, was filled with great surprise and felt a desire for seeing Krishna (1).

And seated on his elephant Airavata with temporal juice trickling down and resembling a cloud without water he came down on earth (2).

Purandara saw Krishna, of unwearied actions, seated at the foot of the Govardhana hill (3).

He saw there the immortal Vishnu, assuming the guise of a milk-man and shining in his great effulgence and attained to great delight (4).

Sakra, having many eyes, saw, with all his eyes, Krishna bearing the mystic mark of Srivatsa and resembling a dark-blue lotus in hue (5).

Beholding him seated happily at the foot of the hill who was gifted with beauty and was like an immortal in the land of mortals Sakra was ashamed (6).

Disappearing from view, that foremost of birds (Garuda), feeding on serpents, was protecting him, seated at ease, against the rays of the sun with his wings (7).

Leaving behind his elephant, Indra, the slayer of Bala, approached Krishna who was playing in the forest being engaged in human actions (8).

His face was embellisehd with a crown effulgent like the sun that gives lustre to lightning, and with a pair of celestial ear-rings. His breast was adorned with a neck-lace of five layers of Padmakānta jewel constituting the ornament of the body.

Beholding Vāsudeva with his thousand eyes the powerful Vasava, the wielder of thunder-bolt, approached Upendra and looked more beautiful with his celestial garlands and pastes (9–11).

Then with his sweet voice, deep as the muttering of clouds that always issues commands to the deities, he said (12):

“O Krishna, O thou of large arms, O thou the enhancer of the delight of thy kinsmen, what, thou hast accomplished on thy being pleased with thy kine, is beyond the power of the gods (13).

I have been highly pleased with thy saving the kine from the clouds created by me which bring about the dissolution of the world (14).

Whose mind is not filled with surprise on seeing thee hold up this best of mountains by thy own-begotten Yoga power like a house in the sky(15)?

O Krishna, I was enraged on account of the suppression of my sacrifice. And therefore I sent down this excessive rain extending over seven nights and destructive of the kine which even the Devas and Dānavas cannot withstand.

But thou hast, by thy own power, put down this terrible shower in my very presence (16–17).

I am highly pleased, O Krishna, for thy, in anger, settling the entire Vaishnava energy in thy human form (18).

On account of thy being endued with thy own energy although in a human form, the work of the gods appears to have been well accomplished (19).

O heroe, while thou art at the head of all the works of the gods and their guide, forsooth, every thing will be accomplished and nothing will remain undone (20).

Thou art alone eternal amongst the gods and in all other worlds. I do not see a second capable of carrying the weight thou hast held (21).

As the best of wheels is placed before a pole so dost thou engage in relieving the distress of the gods sunk in an ocean of misery, O thou having a bird for thy carrier (22).

O Krishna, as gold is among the metals, so this universe, created by the Grand-father (Brahmā) exists, in thy body (23).

As a cripple cannot follow one who runs fast so even the Lord, Self-sprung (Brahma) cannot follow thee in intelligence or age (24).

As the Himalaya is amongst the mountains, as the great ocean is amongst the watery expanses, as Garuda is amongst the birds so thou art the foremost of the celestials (25).

O Krishna, underneath all is the region of water; above it are afloat the pillars of the earth; above them is the region of man; above it is the etherial region;

above it is the effulgent region of the sun constituting the gate of heaven; above it is the great region of the gods forming the abode of the celestials; here I occupy the position of the king of gods;

above it is the Brahmaloka where the Brahmarshis live and where move about the high-souled Soma (moon) and other luminous bodies. Above it is the Goloka stationed in the great etherial region.

O Krishna, Golaka is the foremost of all regions and is protected by the Sādhyas. There dost thou live carrying on Tapas which we cannot learn even when accosting the Grand-Father about it (26–31).

This earth is the region of actions for those who engage in them. Underneath it is the dreadful region of the iniquit ous (32).

The etherial region is the refuge of moving objects like the air and heaven is the excellent refuge of the pious endued with the qualities of self-control and forbearance (33).

Those, who worship Brahmā, live in the Brahmaloka. Goloka is attainable only by the kine; even by hard austerities no one else can obtain it (34).

O intelligent and heroic Krishna, inorder to protect these kine, thou didst hold up the mount Govardhana and suppress the calamities sent down by me (35).

Therefore at the request of the Grand-Father and the cows and out of respect for thee I have come here (36).

O Krishna, I am the lord of Bhutas¹ and of the gods and I am Purandara. Being born of Aditi I am thy elder brother (37).

Do thou forgive me for displaying my own energy in the shape of clouds which is but the outcome of thy power (38).

O Krishna of the gait of an elephant, be thou delighted now by thy own gentle energy and listen to the words given vent to by Brahmā and the cows (39).

Pleased with thy heavenly deeds, hymning of their glories and with the work of protection the Lord Brahmā and the cows of the sky have communicated this unto thee (40).

Thyself protecting the great Goloka region and all the cows, our race, through the help of the bulls, will multiply itself (41).

We all, coursing at our will, shall propitiate the cultivators with bulls, their beasts of burden, the celestials with the oblation of Havi and Sri with the profusely increasing corns (42).

O lord, O thou of great strength, thou art our preceptor and saviour. Becoming our king and lord do thou sprinkle thy self to-day with this golden jar full of heavenly water brought by me with my own hands (43–44).

I am the king of the celestials and thou hast, although eternal, become now the king of the cows. Therefore the people of this world will hymn thee as Govinda (45).

As the dignity of Indra has been bestowed on me so thou art the king of cows. O Krishna, the gods will celebrate thy name as Upendra (46).

Of the four months of my rainy season, I confer the latter half constitutiug the autumn on thee (47).

From to-day people will recognize the first two months as mine. After the termination of the rains they will take down my flag and thou shalt receive adoration.

Shorn of excitement and emitting notes occasionally the peacocks will give up their pride begotten by my clouds. And all other creatures, ranging in my season and emitting notes at the view of clouds, will be silent (48–49).

Agastya, the regent of the star Canopus, will range like a bird in the southern quarter and the sun, of thousand rays, will distress all with his own effulgence (50.

Thus with the beginning of autumn the peacocks will become silent, the birds will hanker after water, the frogs will desist from leaping, the brinks of the rivers will be filled with swans and Sārasas,

the Krounchas will emit their notes, the bulls will become excited, the cows will be pleased and yield profuse milk, the clouds will disappear after filling the earth with water, the cranes will range in the dark sky,

the pictureques lakes, pools and rivers will be adorned with clean water and new grown lotuses, the dark-blue fields will be full of corns, the rivers will have waters flowing in their middle² the hermitages of the ascetics will also be filled with beautiful corns,

the earth, abounding in many provinces, will grow charming after the rains, the roads will look beautiful, the trees will be covered with fruits, the country will be full of sugercane and Vajapeya and other sacrifices will be undertaken.

And thus the sacred autumn will set in. Thou shalt then get up from thy bed. Men in this world and the immortals in the celestial region will worship me as Mahendra and thee as Upendra in the flag-staffs on the earth (51-59).

The man, who reciting the great and eternal theme of our conduct as Mahendra and Upendra, will bow unto us, will not be visited by any misery” (60).

Thereupon taking those jars full of heavenly water the king of gods, conversant with Yoga, sprinkled³ Govinda (61).

Beholding the eternal Krishna thus annointed, the cows, stationed in the celestial region, along with the bulls,sprinkled him also with a downpour of their milk through clouds (62).

The clear clouds in the sky sprinkled him with nectarine showers. From trees fell down moon-like drops of water. And from the sky the gods set up a leonine sound, made a downpour of flowers and blew the bugles (63–64).

The Maharshis, who always follow mantras, chanted his glories with becoming verses and the body of the earth was separated from one all-extending ocean (65).

The seas grew delightful and the winds began to blow for bringing about the well-being of the world. And the sun and the moon accompanied by stars stood in their respective roads (66).

The kings were freed of their enemies and the calamity of excessive rain was pacified. And the trees were embellished with leaves and flowers of various colours.

The deer grew delighted in the forest and the elephants began to yield temporal juice and the mountains shone with trees grown on them and with metals (67–68).

And the land of mortals was satisfied with ambrosia-like juice like unto the celestial region.

Thus when the ceremony of the royal unction, of the Lord Krishna, accompanied by the nectarine showers coming down from the celestial region, was over the king of gods Purandara said to the eternal Govinda, wearing celestial garlands and installed in the sovereignty of the cows (69–70).

“O Krishna, the first work, of installing thee as the king of cows, is now over. Listen now to the next object of my coming here (71).

Slaying speedily Kansa, the wretch of a horse Keshi, and Aristha, always committing mischief do thou engage in governing thy own kingdom (72).

From thy father's sister, a portion of my energy is born as a son by name Arjuna. Contracting friendship with him do thou always protect him (73).

Thou shalt favour him and he, too, acting on thy advice and following thee, will acquire great fame (74).

He will be the foremost of bowmen among the descendants of Bharata and will take after thee. And without thy help he alone will never be pleased with his work (75).

This future war of Bharata⁴ depends on him and thee the foremost of men. When you both will be united all the kings will be slain (76).

O Krishna, I have spoken to the gods and Rishis, that the son, begotten by me on Kunti, will be an adept in the use of weapons, the foremost of archers and the greatest of the Kurus. All the warrior-kings will speak of his learning (77-78).

Ever abiding by the duties of a Kshatrya he alone will be able to kill one Akshouhini of kings skilled in fighting (79).

Save thee there is none among the kings or gods who will be able to weaken the power of his bow or follow the path of his weapons, O lord (80).

O Govinda, he will be thy friend and help in battle. Therefore at my request, do thou instruct him in spiritual knowledge (81).

Thou dost know well Arjuna and all the worlds. So thou shouldst always regard and take care of him as thou dost me (82).

If thou dost protect him in the great battle Death will not be able to extend its influence over him (83).

O Krishna, know Arjuna as me and me as identical with thy own self. As I am at one with thee, so is Arjuna (84).

I am thy elder brother and therefore thou didst, in the days of yore, acquiring the three worlds from Bali with thy three footsteps, install me in the sovereignty over the gods (85).

I know thee as fond of truth, as having truth for thy prowess and as identical with truth. And because thou art bound to the gods by a promise they have engaged thee in this work of the destruction of their enemies (86).

O Krishna, Arjuna, the son of thy father's sister, is my son. As he did become thy companion in the days of yore⁵ and so now he will contract friendship with thee (87).

O Mādhava, as a bull carries a burden, so thou shalt always take care of him when either living in his house, your house or while fighting with the enemies in the battle-field (88).

When Kansa will be slain by thee, ever observant of the real purpose of things there will take place a great war of the kings (89).

Arjuna will vanquish those heroic men of superhuman deeds and thou shalt adorn him with glory (90).

O Keshava, if truth, myself and the celestials are thy favourites thou shouldst carry out whatever I have said” (91).

Hearing the words of Sakra, Krishna, who had be come a cow-keeper, with a delighted mind replied (92).

“O lord of Sachi, I am happy to see you. Nothing, of whatever you have said, will be left off (93).

O Sakra, I know your heart. It is not unknown to me that my father's sister has been given away to the high-souled Pandu and that she has given birth to Arjuna (94).

I know also the prince Yudhisthira begotten by Dharma. I know Bhimasena, the multiplier of Vāyu's (wind-god's) race. I know also Nakula and Sahadeva begotten on Mādri by the two Aswinis⁶ (95-96).

I know also Karna, now known as a charioteer's son, begotten on my father's sister in her maidenhood by the Sun⁷ (97).

That Pandu is dead on account of the thunder-like imprecation⁸ and that the sons of Dhritarashtra are desirous of fighting are all known to me (98).

O king of gods, returning now to the city of the celestials increase their delight. No enemy will be able to trouble Arjuna when he will be before me (99).

When the great war of Bhārata will come to its close, I shall, on account of Arjuna, consign unscathed unto Kunti all the sons of Pandu (100).

O king of gods, I am bound by affection and therefore I shall accomplish like a servant what your son Arjuna will command me (101).”

Hearing these words of truthful Krishna, the king of gods returned to the city of the celestials (102).

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