II BHUMIKHANDA (Section on the Earth)

2. O glorious Suta, O you who know the significance of the essence of everything, (please) listen to the terrible doubt, destroying understanding, that has occurred to us. Some describe in the Puranas that when Prahlada was five years old he pleased Kesava (i.e. Vishnu).

3. How did (the war) between gods and demons come about? How did the demon fight with Vishnu? He, killed by Vishnu, entered his body. Suta said:

4. This was formerly known (i.e. conceived) by Kasyapa and was composed by the intelligent Vyasa. It was formerly narrated by Brahma himself before (i.e. to) the lord Vyasa.

5. I shall, O brahmanas, describe the same before (i.e. to) you. The cause of the doubt that arose was removed by Brahma. Vyasa said:

6. O Suta, O glorious one, listen to (the account) of the birth of Prahlada as told in the Puranas and as heard (i.e. learnt) from other (sources).

7. As soon as Prahlada, the greatest among the devotees of Vishnu and honoured by gods, was born, he resorted to the path of Vishnu, giving all happiness.

8. With his sons he went to the battle-field to fight with Vishnu. Being killed by Vishnu, he entered Vishnu's body.

9-10a. Listen to the birth of just this magnanimous one. The brave one, going with his sons to fight with Vishnu, entered Vishnu's lustre, which he obtained through his own lustre.

10b-11a. O glorious one, I shall narrate in brief the account of that hero — how that powerful one was born in the former Kalpa.

11b-12a. At the extreme point in the west of the ocean, there was a city by name Dvaraka. It was full of all magnificence and all prosperity.

12b-13a. There perpetually lived a divine (man) knowing abstract meditation, and the best among those who knew abstract meditation, known as Shivasarman, who was well-versed in all Vedas and sacred texts.

14. (They were:) Yajnasarman, Vedasarman, Dharmasarman, the glorious Vishnusarmaii, who knew their own duties.

16b-17a. Seeing their devotion, the intelligent, best brahmana Shivasarman, thought: 'I shall extort (these) learned men.

17b-l8a. They do not have that feeling in their mind which is found in the devotees of Vishnu. I shall, therefore, find it, and will do so thoughtfully.'

19-20a. O best of Brahmanas, he conceived a fine idea to suggest to them (what their duty was). The best brahmana, the best among those who knew Brahman, knowing a remedy due to the lustre of his penance, adopted it.

20b-21a. Then Shivasarman presented before them a trick. He showed their mother to be dead of a great fever.

21b-24a. They saw their dead mother, and said (these) words to their father: "O glorious one, she, who nourished us in her womb, has, casting her body, been dead. Having left (us), she has gone to heaven. O father, what can be said (by us)?" Shivasarman, the excellent brahmana, called his eldest, most devoted son, Yajnasarman and said to him.

24b-25a. With this very sharp and whetted weapon cut off her limbs and throw them here and there.

25b-27. The son did it as he had heard (i.e. received) his father's order. He came back, and again said (these) words to his father: "O father, I have done everything as I was ordered. Today (i.e. now) entrust to me some other work. O father, I shall do it all, (even though) it (enemy/thing) be difficult to subdue or procure".

28-30. Having ordered the glorious one, devoted to his father, the brahmana (i.e. Shivasarman), thinking of the second son, called (him viz.) Vedasarman (and said to him): "Go by my order; being stupefied by passion of love (i.e. sex) I cannot stand without a woman (by my side)." He presented, by means of his magical power, a woman full of all charm (before Vedasarman). (He told him:) "O boy, determined for me, bring this woman to me."

31b-33a. Having saluted his father, and having gone from there, he said to her: "O respectable lady, my father tormented by the arrow of love, seeks you. So be favourable to him who is old. O you beautiful lady, O you one whose all limbs are charming, resort to my father."

33b. Thus (i.e. these words) spoken by Vedasarman were heard by the woman created by magic. The woman said:

34-35a. "I do not at all long for the company of your father who is afflicted with old age, whose mouth has malady due to phlegm, and who is now afflicted with diseases, who is feeble, who is sick and old.

35b-36. I desire to dally with you, I shall do what is very dear to you. (I desire to dally with you) who are adorned with good fortune like a (handsome) form, and with gems of virtues, who are endowed with divine characteristics, who possess a divine form and great prowess.

37. What will you do with (your) old father? O you who destroy the pride (of others), by enjoying my body you will obtain all things difficult to obtain.

38b-41. Hearing these disagreeable and evil words, Vedasarman spoke: O respectable lady, your words are unjust, improper and mixed with sin. Do not talk like this to me who am devoted to my father and who am innocent. O auspicious one, I have come to you and am soliciting you for my father. Do not talk something else; (please) resort to my father. O you respectable lady, O you beautiful one, there is no doubt that I shall give you everything in the three worlds, with the mobile and the immobile — even more than the kingdom of gods. The woman said:

42. If, for the sake of your father, you are thus capable of giving me (anything), then show me, today only, the great gods with Indra.

43. Indeed you are able to give me now what is difficult to be obtained. O glorious one, show me what power you possess. Vedasarman said:

44. O respectable lady, see the power of my penance. The best gods, Indra and others, being invited by me, have come. They said to Vedasarman:

45. O best brahmana, what should we do?. O brahmana, we shall give you, whatever you ask for. There is no doubt about it. Vedasarman said:

46. If the gods are pleased with me and are inclined to favour me, then they should give (i.e. produce in) me pure devotion to the feet of my father only.

47. (Saying) "Let it be so", the gods left as they had come. (The woman) seeing (the gods had come) like that said to him: "I have seen the power of your penance.

48-49a. I have nothing to do with the gods; if you want to give me (what I want) and if you are taking me for your father then do that (which is) dear to me; O brahmana, cutting off your head with your own hand, give it to me."

49b-50a. Today I have become blessed; I have been free from the three debts.1 O respectable lady, I shall give my head; O beautiful one, do take it.

50b-51a. Having cut off his own head with a whetted and sharp weapon, the best brahmana, gave it to her and laughed.

52-53. O brahmana, your son, Vedasarman, has sent this head; take it; he had himself cut off his own head. For you, he, devoted to his father, gave me his head. O best brahmana, enjoy me.

54-56a. The brothers (of Vedasarman) saw the daring act of Vedasarman. Their bodies trembled (and they said to) one another: "Our virtuous mother died with real intentness. This glorious, virtuous one died for the sake of (our) father. He is blessed, he has become fortunate (as) he has done an auspicious (deed) for (our) father."

56b-58. Thus the virtuous brothers talked (to one another). The brahmana heard these words full of devotion, and knowing that his son, Vedasarman, had cut off his (own) head, said to Dharmasarman: "Take this head".

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