Having thus commanded the gods the Grand-father Brahmā, the master of
present, past, and future, consigned all the worlds to Nārāyana and
attained peace (77). Listen again to what the Omnipotent Nārāyana,
Vishnu, of sacred fame, the lord of wealth and life, did for the behoof
of creatures after incarnating himself on earth and taking birth in the
family of the intelligent Vasudeva, the descendant of Yayāti (78–79).
CHAPTER LIV. THE BIRTH OF THE DAITYAS.
Vaishampayana said:—After Nārāyana, on his being successful, had
repaired to a house on the earth becoming his position, after the gods
had incarnated their portions in the race of Bharata, after the portions
of Dharma, Indra, Pavana, the celestial physicians the two Aswinis, and
the sun had descended on earth, after the priest, of the gods, had come
down on earth, in a portion of his, after the eighth portion of Vasus
had come down on earth, after the portion of Death, Kali had been on
earth, after the portion of Sukra, Varuna, Sankara, Mitra, Kuvera,
Gandharvas, Uragas and Yakshas had come down earth Nārada came out of a
portion of Nārāyana’s energy¹⁸⁰ (1-6). He was effulgent like fire, had
eyes like the rising sun and had huge and all-spreading matted locks. He
wore a raiment white like the rays of the moon and was adorned with
golden ornaments (7). He carried a big _Vina_¹⁸¹ like a female companion
always confined in room, had an antelope skin thrown on his body and a
sacred thread made of gold. With a staff and _Kamandalu_¹⁸² in his hands
he appeared like second Sakra (8). That great sage always used to pick
up quarrels, was learned, well-read in _Gandharva-Veda_¹⁸³ and was
capable of deciphering the secret cause of dissensions in this world.
That Brāhmana used to create enemies of his own accord and was like the
second Kali himself. That great Muni was the first speaker in the land
of gods and Gandharvas, was the chanter of the four Vedas and was the
reciter of the first Rik. That immortal sage Nārada, ever ranging in the
region of Brahmā, with a depressed heart said to Vishnu in the midst of
the assembled gods. "O Nārāyana, useless have been the incarnations of
the gods for the destruction of the kings (9-13). O lord of the
celestial region, thyself existing here, this dissension of the kings
will be productive of no fruit. Methinks their work cannot be
accomplished without Nārāyana’s Yoga (14). O god of gods, thou art wise
and observant of the true essence of things. It has not been proper for
thee to institute such a work for the earth (15). Thou art the vision of
the eyes and the lord of the powerful. Thou art the foremost of the
Yogins and the refuge of all (16). Beholding the incarnation of the gods
on earth why didst not thou send, first of all, a portion of thy energy
to relieve the earth of her burden? (17). Making thee their help, and
being identical with and guided by thee all the gods will swim on this
earth from one action to another (18).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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