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Harivaṃśa
125. The history of the Pārijata tree. The colloguy between Krishna and Narada
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—The almighty Vishnu, that possessor of immeasurable powers then finding that the sage Nārada was desirous of departing, spoke to him thus (1):
“O sinless and mighty sage, conversant with the truth of all religions, having repaired to heaven and there interviewed the courtiers of that intelligent slayer of Tripura (2),
remind Pakasasana of all our ancient brotherly love that thou knowest—inform him not as my command but as my request, (3)
that the Pārijāta tree which the illustrious and virtuous Kasyapa that foremost of sages created in days gone by for the sake of Aditi's happiness, (4)
that most excellent of all trees that bestows religious merit, and unbounded prosperity (that tree that was given to thee away as a gift by the very virtuous goddesses in fulfilment of their vows for the furtherance of their religious merits—
inform him that my wives also hearing of the presentation of that tree, desire to give it away, O lord, for earning virtue and religious merit consequent on munificent deeds and also, for my gratification.
Ask him therefore to send down to Dwarvati that best of all trees the Pārijāta; and it shall be restored to heaven after the ceremony of presentation is over. The almighty God the slayer of Vala should thus be spoken to by thee (5-8).
O foremost of sages thou shalt also so put forth thy endeavours that the lord of the immortals be persuaded to give over the excellent Pārijata tree (9).
O possessor of ascetic wealth, this will also bring into prominence what ambassadorial abilities thou dost possess; I know that it is possible for all thine acts to be attended with success” (10).
Thus spoken to by Nārāyaṇa, the almighty sage Narada that great possessor of ascetic merit smiled and spoke these words to the slayer of Kesin (11):—
“Very well,—I shall thus speak to the lord of the gods, O foremost of Yadus, but I am sure he will never part with the Pārijata tree (12).
The Danavas and the gods obtained this Pārijata tree by throwing the Mandara mountain into the waters of the ocean1 (13).
O Janārddana, at that time the creator of the worlds, desired to take away the Pārijata tree together with that best of mountains, the Mandara (14).
Thereupon Sakra personally going to Sankara told him :-This is Sachi's sporting tree, and may be allowed to remain in her gardens. Thus did he entreat Sankara (15).
Mahadeva granted him the boon saying “let it be so then” and O sinless one, he did not also bring the Pārijata tree to the beautiful cave-decked Mandara mountain (16).
O mighty armed one, thus in days past, under the pretext that the Pārijata is Sachi's tree of sport, did Indra save it from the clutches of Mahadeva (17).
Afterwards Hara, in order to please his wife Umā, created on the dales of the Mandara mountain a forest of the Pārijata trees extending over full four miles (18).
In that best of forests, O Krishna, neither the rays of the sun, nor the cool beams of the moon, nor even the breaths of the wind can penetrate (19).
Through the powers of Mahadeva that forest is self-luminous, and heat and cold reign there at the pleasure of the mountain's daughter (Durga) (20).
Excepting the mighty god and goddess and their followers and myself, O delighter of the Yadus, nobody under no circumstances, can enter that charming wood (21).
O descendant of the Vrishnis, there the Pārijātas shower all kinds of best gems and jewels on all sides, even as soon as they are merely thought of in the mind (22).
O Keshava, with the permission of that godhead, that protector of the worlds, troops of the illustrious attendants of Siva, also enjoy that beautiful forest (23).
This forest of Pārijāta trees, their fruits, their brightness and their qualities exceed by far those of the Pārijātas of the heaven (24).
When, O Keshava, that God, whose emblem is the sacred bull, repairs with Uma and his attendants, among them, these trees approach him in worship assuming human shapes (25).
Those trees on the Mandara infused with the energy of Rudra, free from all adverse influences and attended with all prosperity, are very dear to the daughter of the mountain (26).
Once upon a time a mighty and dreadful Daitya of cruel motives by name Andhaka, who was puffed up with arrogance through the virtues of a boon obtained by him ventured to trangtess into that forest (27).
He was slain by that slayer of foes that foremost of gods Hara, although he was ten times as powerful as Vritra and incapable of being slain by any created being (28).
O lotus-eyes God! I tell thee truly, that the thousand eyed god Indra will never give thee, the Parijāta tree obtained with great difficulty (29).
That best of trees always bestows on the goddess Sachi all her desires, as well as, O Krishna, it fulfils the wishes of the highly powerful Indra” (30).
THE AUSPICIOUS GOD said:-O sage! that the mighty and intelligent Mahadeva did not take away the Parijāta tree out of consideration for Sachi, was quite worthy of him (31).
I think that it was quite in keeping with the high estimation in which that infallible being, that origin of the worlds, that supreme and most ancient creator is held (32).
But, O illustrious sage, O most pious one, I am younger than that slayer of Vala, and ought to be cherished by him like (his son) Jayanta (33).
O thou of ascetic wealth, it is thy duty to preserve between us (me and Indra) amicable relations by all means; and I ask thee to do so, because I know thee to be able to do so (34).
I have promised, O sage, that for the accomplishment of Satyabhāma's Punyaka vow, I shall, O lord, bring down the Pārijata tree from heaven (35).
How can I be able now, O sage, to break that promise of mine, O sinless one, as I have never before O twice-born one, spoken falsehood (36)?
If I were to break my promise, the worlds will then meet with their ends2, for, O foremost of the sages, it is my duty to protect the virtue and the good qualities of the people. He on whom every one depends, how can he speak untruth (37)?
Neither gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Rakshasas, nor the Asuras nor Jakshas, nor Pannagas, shall be able to frustrate my promise; this I tell thee truly, and may fortune attend thee, O sage (38)!
If that lord of the immortals do not give the Pārijata tree at thy request, I shall then hurl my mace at his breast besmeared by Sachi with fragrant ointments (39).
He is also to be informed by thee that if he refuses to part with the Pārijata tree when requested in this conciliatory manner, let him rest assured about a visit from me there, and let him prepare for it (40).
Footnotes
1. This surely refers to the churning of the ocean by the gods and Asuras.
2. As everybody would then speak falsehood, and truth will be vanished from the face of the earth.
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