The Greatness ofViynu (The Story of Sudharma)

1. О sage, henceforth I shall tell you the VibhUti (greatness and Super-human powers) pertaining to Vishnu. If people listen to it or narrate it, their sins are reduced immediately.

2. Formerly, in the Vaivasvata Manvantara, a lengthy dialogue between Indra and Brhaspati took place. I shall narrate it; listen to it attentively.

3. Once Indra who was richly endowed with the enjoyment of all pleasures and was surrounded by all Devas and the celestial damsels, spoke to Brhaspati.

4. О lord, О highly blessed Brhaspati, О expert in the interpretation of all principles, of what nature was the creation in the Kalpa of Brahma which had gone by.

5. How was Indra as narrated by them? How were Devas as remembered by them? Of what nature was their holy rite? It behoves you to recount this precisely.

6. О Indra, the conduct of Brahma on his previous day is not known to me. Even that of his present day appears to be very difficult to comprehend.

7. Many Manus have gone by. Even to recount them I am not competent. I shall tell you who knows it to day, listen.

8. There is some one in your city well-known as Sudharma. He has come here from Brahma’s world and is now enjoying the divine pleasures.

9-10. I shall tell you. Listen. Indeed he knows this. When he was informed thus by his preceptor, Indra went to the abode of Sudharma accompanied by the preceptor (Bfhaspati) and surrounded by groups of Devas.

11. О celestial sage, on seeing the lord of Devas arrived in the company of Brhaspati, he (Sudharma) received him and worshipped him respectfully.

12. When he was greeted and honoured by Sudharmi, Indra observed his excellent glory. He was surprised in his mind. Then he respectfully addressed him thus:

13. “O learned one, if you know the conduct of life and other details in the Kalpa of Brahma which had gone by, narrate it. I have come here accompanied by my preceptor in order to enquire about this.

14. О sage of holy observances, since you know Devas too who have no sleep, tell us who is the greater? How are they greater than we, the residents of heaven?

15. О lord, О tormentor of enemies, how were they in brilliance, fame, renown, perfect knowledge, charitable gifts or penances?”

16. On being requested thus by the king of Devas, Sudharma who was endowed with humility, laughingly recounted what happened before, duly.

17. “O Indra, a thousand cycles of four Yugas are said to constitute a day of Brahma. In one day, О Indra, there are fourteen Manus.

18-19. (During that period) Indras are also said to be fourteen; Devas are separate and of different kinds. О Vasava (Indra), all the Indras, Manus and others, are equal in brilliance, glory, prowess and strength. I shall mention their names. Listen with great attention..

20-21. The Svayambhuva Manu was the first (one), then Svarocisha. Thereafter, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, Cakshusa and Vaivasvata (the son of the Sun) and Surya Savarni was the eighth. The ninth Manu was Daksha Savarni who was engaged in the welfare of all Devas.

22-23a. The tenth was Brahmasavarni and Dharma- savarni was the next. Thereafter, Rudrasavarni, and Rocamana is remembered as the next. Bhautya is said to be the fourteenth (Manu). These are the Manus.

24. In the Svayambhuva Manvantara those who were well known as Yamas were Devas. Their Indra was the highly intelligent Sacfpati.

25. In the Svarocija Manvantara, Devas were Paravatas and Tushitas. The lord of Devas was one named Vipascit who was endowed with all riches.

26. In the third Manvantara,, the set of Devas were the Sudhamans, Satyas, Shivas and Pratardanas. Their Indra was glorified as SuSanti.

27-28. In the Tamasa Manvantara Devas were Sutas, Paraharas, Sutyas and Asudhis. О Indra, their Indra is said to be Shiva. One named Vibhu is glorified as the fifth Devapati (Indra) and Devas are Amitabha and others.

Listen to them in the sixth (Manvantara). Aryas and others are said to be Devas and their Indra is Manojava.

29. In the Vaivasvata Manvantara, Devas are the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras and others. Purandara is said to be Indra. He is equipped with all desirable things.

30. The Aprameyas, beginning with Sutapa are glorified as Devas in the eighth Manvantara. Thanks to the power of the Puja of Vishnu, Bali is remembered as their Indra.

31. In the ninth (Manvantara) Para and others are Devas. Adbhuta is said to be Indra.

32-33. Their Indra was named Santi. He was equipped with all means of enjoyment.

In the eleventh (Manvantara), Devas were Vihangama and others. Vrsa is remembered as their Indra. Understand the details in the twelfth Manvantara. I shall narrate the Indra is one named Ribhu and Devas are Hari-Nabhas.

34. In the thirteenth Manvantara, Sutramas and others are Devas, Divaspati of great prowess is glorified as their Indra.

35. In the fourteenth Mmwantata, the Cak?ushas and others are Devas. Suci is remembered as Indra. Thus the Manus, Indras and Devas have been recounted to you precisely.

37. In all worlds, in the course of all creations, the manner of creation is remembered to be of one type.8 The makers are many. Only an expert knows their number.

38. О excellent Brahmana, while I was staying in the Brahmaloka many Brahmas came and went away. I am unable to enumerate them.

39. Listen, how much time I had spent after reaching the heaven. Four Manus have come and gone and my glory is still very extensive.

40. О lord, for the period of a hundred crores of Yugas, I have to stay here; thereafter, I will go to the KarmabhUmi. Listen to me.

41. О observer of holy rites, I shall describe the holy rites performed by me formerly. It is destructive of all sins of those who talk and listen.

42. О Indra, formerly, I was a vulture who was particularly sinful. I was stationed on the surface of the Earth with fecal matter and raw flesh as my diet.

43. On one occasion, I was perching on the rampart of a Vishnu temple. О lord, I was hit by the weapon of a hunter in the evening. I died and fell in the courtyard of a temple of Vishnu (from its rampart).

44. Even as I was having the vital breath reaching my throat (i.e. when my death was imminent), a dog covetous of my flesh caught hold of me by means of its jaw. It was hotly chased by the other dogs.

45. О lord, carrying me in hie jaw, the dog, frightened of the other dogs, went round that temple of Vishnu.

46. The Lord who is identical with the universe and who is the immanent soul, became delighted with that act. He gave me and the dog the greatest of his region.

47. О leading Deva, such was the benefit for one who went in the form of a circumambulation. What then would not be attained by worshipping him properly?”

48. Thus addressed by Sudharma, the noble-souled one» the king of Devas was mentally delighted. He became engaged in the worship of Hari.

49. Still all Devas are desirous of taking birth in the Bharata land. They worship Narayana, the lord of Devas» devoid of ailments. Brahma and other groups of Devas worship them (Probably: him) for ever.

50. How can there be the bondage of the terrible worldly existence for those noble souk» who endeavour to remember Narayana and who have eschewed acceptance of monetary gifts even when those coveting their association attain salvation?

51. Those men who have eschewed contact with worldly affairs and worship the Garuda-vehicled Narayana every day» are liberated from all sins and delightfully attain the auspicious region of Vishnu.

52. Those men who are devoid of passionate attachment» those who know the greater and the smaller entities, and those who always remember Narayana, the preceptor of the gods, get their sins quelled through meditation. Having died once, they do not imbibe again the tasty juice from the breasts of their mothers, i.e. they are not born again.

53. Those men whose blemishes have been dispelled through listening to the stories of Hari, those whose minds are engaged in worshipping the lotus-like feet of Kjrshsha, sanctify the worlds through the ^contact of their bodies or through their talks. Hence, it is Hari alone who is to be worshipped.

54. О Brahmana, even as it is true that water flows, down and remains at a lower level, so ako all welfare and happiness stay gathered together only where there are great men who are devoted to the worship of Hari and who possess pure intellects.

55. Hari alone is the greatest and the closest kinsman. Hari alone is the highest goal. Therefore, Hari alone should be worshipped since he is the cause of sentience.

56. О leading sage, worship the deity of perpetual bliss, the bestower of heavenly benefits and salvation, the deity free from ailments. Great happiness and welfare will befall you.

57. Lord Vishnu becomes delighted with those people ton arcayanU is probably a misprint for tam arcayanti as god Vishnu alone is meant, who becoming devoid of lust and desires worship him with purity of mind and he grants them all their desires (desired objects).

58. О the best one among prominent sages, he who listens to this or reads this with great attention, attains the benefit of a horse-sacrifice.

59. О Brahmana, thus the benefit of the worship of Hari has been recounted to you partly in detail and partly in brief. What else shall I recount to you?”

1. This dialogue between Indra and Bfhaspati is intended to bring out the importance of circumabulation around the shrine of Vishnu.

2. W. 17-37 describe the fourteen Marwantaras which form one day of god Brahma. Sudharma enumerates the office-bearers — Manus, Indras, gods, etc. — in each of the Mamantoas, cf. Bh.P.VIII chs. 13 a 14, VP III 1 a 2. The only difference is that Rocamana and Bhautya are the last two Manus given here for Devasavajmi and Indrasavanji in the Bh.P. But of these V.P. gives Rud for NP.'s Rocamana and Bhautya of the NP. is supported by Mk. Chs. 94, 97.

3. This is the real reply to Indra’s query and is based on dhata yathdpQrvam akalpayat /

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