rule



 

Canto 8

Râdhâ Mâdhava 2

 


Chapter 18: Lord Vâmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Eternal Being, He with the conch, the club, the lotus and the disc in His four hands, the yellow dress and the lotus petal eyes, He whose heroic acts are praised by Brahmâ, consequently manifested Himself from Aditi. (2) With a pure, blackish complexion, the luster of two earrings in the form of sharks and a dazzling lotus face, the Supreme Personality with the S'rîvatsa mark on His chest wore bracelets and armlets, a shining helmet, a belt, a sacred thread and charming ankle bells. (3) As a swarm of sweetness seeking  bees were humming around the Lord, who carried an extraordinarily beautiful flower garland and the Kaustubha gem around His neck, He vanquished the darkness of Kas'yapa's house with His effulgence. (4)  That very moment one everywhere was filled with happiness; all living beings in the waters, in the mountains, in the higher worlds, in outer space and on earth. There was the full quality of each season, and all the cows, the tongues of  the fire and the twice-born souls were at their best. (5) When the Lord took His birth, it was a most auspicious moment: all the planets and stars, the sun and moon, stood in a favorable position. It happened on Dvâdas'î [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhâdra] at noon [Abhijit], when the moon was in the house of S'ravana. (6) Oh King, this exact moment of the appearance of the Lord, at Dvâdas'î with the sun over the meridian, is the day the scholars call Vijayâ. (7) The loud sounds of the different conches, drums, kettledrums, panavas, ânakas [other drums] and other instruments that were vibrated, amounted to a great tumult. (8) The heavenly dancing girls danced blissfully, the leading celestial singers sang and the sages, the demigods, the fathers of mankind, the ancestors and the fire gods all pleased the Lord with prayers. (9-10) The perfected souls, the souls of knowledge, the apelike [the warriors of Râma], those of superpower, the venerable souls, the  treasure keepers, the benevolent, the reciters [the 'brothers of Garuda'], the greatest experts [the 'snakes'] and all the followers of the demigods, glorifying, dancing and praising, covered the residence of Aditi with flowers [compare 6.7: 2-8 and 5.5: 21-22]. (11) When Aditi saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, being conceived in happiness, by His own spiritual potency had assumed a body and had taken birth from her womb, she was struck with wonder. Also Kas'yapa, greatly amazed about it, exclaimed: 'All glory! [jaya!]'

(12) The Lord's body, complete with ornaments and weapons, cannot be seen materially, but for the divine purpose it was manifested by Him acting like an actor in a theater and could be seen in the form of a dwarf boy [Vâmana]. (13) To see Him as a brahmacârî dwarf made the great rishis very happy and thus they performed, with the founding father Kas'yapa as their lead, all the ceremonies [like the jâta-karma birthday ceremony]. (14) At His sacred thread ceremony the sun god chanted the Gâyatrî mantra [see note** at 5.7], Brihaspati gave the sacred thread and Kas'yapa offered Him a belt [of straw, signifying the twice-born status]. (15) Mother earth offered Him a deerskin, the moon god ruling the forest gave Him a staff, Aditi gave Him underwear to cover His body and from the ruler of heaven [Indra], the Master of the Universe received a parasol. (16) The Knower Inside [Brahmâ] gave a waterpot, the seven sages donated kus'a grass and the goddess Sarasvatî gave the Imperishable Soul a string of rudrâksha beads, oh King. (17) After He thus had received His sacred thread, the Ruler of the Yakshas [Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven] delivered a pot for begging alms and Umâ, the chaste mother of the universe, the wife of S'iva, personally provided the alms. (18) As a brahmacârî thus being welcomed by everyone, He outshone, as the best of them, with his brahmin effulgence the entire assembly that enjoyed the grace of all the great brahmin sages. (19) After having prepared and kindled a fire, He, like the best of the brahmins, strew [the kus'a grass] around it and fed the fire of worship with wood.

(20) As soon as He heard about the glory of Bali as someone who under the guidance of Bhrigu brahmins performs horse sacrifices, He headed for the location where they took place and with each step that He as the Complete and Fully Endowed Essence made on His way, He therewith imprinted the earth with His footsteps. (21) At the northern bank of the Narmadâ river in the field of Bhrigukaccha where all the priests of Bhrigu were performing their rituals for the sake of the ultimate ceremony [the horse sacrifice], they saw Him in their presence [radiating] like the risen sun. (22) The priests as also Bali, the instigator of the yajña and all who had assembled there, were overshadowed by Lord Vâmana's splendor, oh King and wondered whether they saw the sun rising, the god of fire or Sanat-kumâra who wanted to attend their ceremony. (23) While the Bhrigus thus with their disciples were disputing in various ways, the Supreme Lord Vâmana, with in His hands His umbrella, rod and kamandalu filled with water, entered the arena of the As'vamedha sacrifice. (24-25) The moment Vâmana, the learned, seemingly human child that was the Lord, with His munja belt of straw and the sacred thread around His waist, His deerskin upper garment and His matted locks of hair, arrived there and was seen by the priests of Bhrigu with their disciples, they all stood up from their engagement in the fire sacrifice and appropriately welcomed the One who with His brilliance outshone them all. (26) The instigator of the sacrifice, delighted to see Him so beautiful in each of His lustrous limbs, offered Him a seat. (27) The Beauty of the Liberated Souls was thereupon with words of welcome worshiped by Bali Mahârâja who honored Him by washing His feet. (28) The water washing from His feet washes away the sins of all people. Bali knew the dharma and placed on his head the all-auspicious water that also by the god of gods, Lord S'iva who is marked with the emblem of the moon, in his supreme devotion was accepted on his head.'
 
(29) S'rî Bali said: 'We welcome You. My obeisances unto You, oh brahmin. What can we do for You? Oh noble soul, in my opinion You are the austerity of the brahmin seers in person. (30) The arrival of Your lordship today at our residence, satisfies all our forefathers, it purifies the entire family and completes the sacrifice we are performing now! (31) Today, oh brahmin son, my fires of sacrifice are properly served according to the injunctions. Oh, by the water that washed from Your lotus feet all my sins are destroyed and by Your small feet the earth is purified. (32) Whatever it is that You desire, oh brahmacârî, You may take from me, be it a cow, gold, a furnished residence, palatable food and drink or else a brahmin's daughter, prospering villages, horses, elephants or chariots, oh best of the worshipable souls. As far as I am concerned, You may have whatever You wish.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded August 16, 2019.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'The Eternal Being, He with the conch, the club, the lotus and the disc in His four hands, the yellow dress and the lotus petal eyes, He whose heroic acts are praised by Brahmâ, consequently manifested Himself from Aditi.
S'rî S'uka said: 'The Eternal Being, He with the conch, the club, the lotus and the disc in His four hands, the yellow dress and the lotus petal eyes, He whose heroic acts are the praise of Brahmâ, consequently manifested Himself from Aditi. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

With a pure, blackish complexion, the luster of two earrings in the form of sharks and a dazzling lotus face, the Supreme Personality with the S'rîvatsa mark on His chest wore bracelets and armlets, a shining helmet, a belt, a sacred thread and charming ankle bells.

With a pure, blackish complexion, the luster of two earrings in the form of sharks and a dazzling lotus face was He the Supreme Personality with the S'rîvatsa mark on His chest, bracelets and armlets, a shining helmet, a belt, a sacred thread and charming ankle bells. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

As a swarm of sweetness seeking  bees were humming around the Lord, who carried an extraordinarily beautiful flower garland and the Kaustubha gem around His neck, He vanquished the darkness of Kas'yapa's house with His effulgence.

With a swarm of sweetness seeking humming bees around an extraordinary beautifully flowergarland and with around His neck the Kaustubha gem, vanquished the Lord with His effulgence the darkness of Kas'yapa's house. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

That very moment one everywhere was filled with happiness; all living beings in the waters, in the mountains, in the higher worlds, in outer space and on earth. There was the full quality of each season, and all the cows, the tongues of  the fire and the twice-born souls were at their best.

At that moment rose happiness all around, in the waters and in all living beings, over the mountains, the higher worlds, in outer space and on earth; there was a fullness of quality to each season and the cows, the divinities of the fire and the twice-born were all elated. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

When the Lord took His birth, it was a most auspicious moment: all the planets and stars, the sun and moon, stood in a favorable position. It happened on Dvâdas'î [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhâdra] at noon [Abhijit], when the moon was in the house of S'ravana.

At the hour the moon was in the house of S'ravana [at dvâdas'î, the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhâdra], were, with the birth of the Lord at noon [Abhijit], all the planets and stars, the sun and moon very munificent. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Oh King, this exact moment of the appearance of the Lord, at Dvâdas'î with the sun over the meridian, is the day the scholars call Vijayâ.

At dvâdas'î with the sun over the meridian, o King, was the exact moment, by the learned called Vijayâ, on which the Lord appeared. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

The loud sounds of the different conches, drums, kettledrums, panavas, ânakas [other drums] and other instruments that were vibrated, amounted to a great tumult.

The noise of the various sounds of the conches, drums, kettledrums, panavas and ânakas [other drums], and other instruments grew into a great tumult. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

The heavenly dancing girls danced blissfully, the leading celestial singers sang and the sages, the demigods, the fathers of mankind, the ancestors and the fire gods all pleased the Lord with prayers.

Blissfully danced the heavenly dancing girls and sang the celestial singers, while the sages, the godly, the fathers of mankind, the ancestors and the gods of the fire pleased the Lord with prayers.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 9-10

The perfected souls, the souls of knowledge, the apelike [the warriors of Râma], those of superpower, the venerable souls, the  treasure keepers, the benevolent, the reciters [the 'brothers of Garuda'], the greatest experts [the 'snakes'] and all the followers of the demigods, glorifying, dancing and praising, covered the residence of Aditi with flowers [compare 6.7: 2-8 and 5.5: 21-22].

The perfected, the ones of knowledge, the apelike [the warriors of Râma], the ones of superpower, the venerable ones, the ghostly [the keepers of wealth], the demoniac [the guardians], the reciters [the 'brothers of Garuda'], the best experts [the 'snakes'] and all followers of the demigods, glorifying and praising covered the residence of Aditi with flowers [compare 6.7: 2-8 and 5.5: 21-22]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 11

When Aditi saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, being conceived in happiness, by His own spiritual potency had assumed a body and had taken birth from her womb, she was struck with wonder. Also Kas'yapa, greatly amazed about it, exclaimed: 'All glory! [jaya!]'

Aditi upon seeing Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who was conceived in happiness and had taken birth from her own womb, was struck with wonder about Him having accepted a body out of His own spiritual potency and also Kas'yapa exclaimed to it in great wonder: 'All glory, all glory' [jaya jaya!]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

The Lord's body, complete with ornaments and weapons, cannot be seen materially, but for the divine purpose it was manifested by Him acting like an actor in a theater and could be seen in the form of a dwarf boy [Vâmana].

The transcendental body that the Lord had assumed, complete with ornaments and weapons, can materially not be perceived but had appeared spiritually; it immediately disappeared the next moment and right before their eyes saw they how He whose exploits are all wonderful, manifested Himself, like an actor in a theater, in the form of a brahmin dwarf [Vâmana]. (Vedabase)


Text 13

To see Him as a brahmacârî dwarf made the great rishis very happy and thus they performed, with the founding father Kas'yapa as their lead, all the ceremonies [like the jâta-karma birthday ceremony].

Seeing Him as a brahmacârî dwarf made the great rishis very happy, and thus performed they, with the founding father Kas'yapa as their lead, all the ceremonies [like the jâta-karma birthday ceremony]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

At His sacred thread ceremony the sun god chanted the Gâyatrî mantra [see note** at 5.7], Brihaspati gave the sacred thread and Kas'yapa offered Him a belt [of straw, signifying the twice-born status].

When He from Brihaspati in ceremony received His sacred thread was for the sungod the Gâyatrî [see note ** 5.7] chanted and offered Kas'yapa Him a belt [of straw, signifying the twiceborn status].  (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Mother earth offered Him a deerskin, the moon god ruling the forest gave Him a staff, Aditi gave Him underwear to cover His body and from the ruler of heaven [Indra], the Master of the Universe received a parasol.

Mother earth offered Him a deerskin, the moongod ruling the forest gave Him a staff, to cover His body gave Aditi Him underwear and from the master of the universe, the ruler of heaven he received an umbrella. (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

The Knower Inside [Brahmâ] gave a waterpot, the seven sages donated kus'a grass and the goddess Sarasvatî gave the Imperishable Soul a string of rudrâksha beads, oh King.

The Knower Inside [Brahmâ] gave a waterpot, the seven sages donated kus'a grass and the goddess Sarasvatî gave the Imperishable Soul a string of rudrâksha beads, o King. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

After He thus had received His sacred thread, the Ruler of the Yakshas [Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven] delivered a pot for begging alms and Umâ, the chaste mother of the universe, the wife of S'iva, personally provided the alms.

Thus having received His sacred thread delivered the Ruler of the Yakshas [Kuvera, the treasurer of heaven] a pot for begging alms and provided the chaste mother of the universe Bhavânî [the wife of S'iva] directly the alms. (Vedabase)

  

Text 18

As a brahmacârî thus being welcomed by everyone, He outshone, as the best of them, with his brahmin effulgence the entire assembly that enjoyed the grace of all the great brahmin sages.

He as a brahmacârî thus being welcomed by everyone, outshone as the best of them with his brahmin effulgence the entire assembly replete with all the great brahmin sages. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

After having prepared and kindled a fire, He, like the best of the brahmins, strew [the kus'a grass] around it and fed the fire of worship with wood.

After settling for a fire as should, completed He with offerings the ceremony of worship, in that doing better than the best of brahmins. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

As soon as He heard about the glory of Bali as someone who under the guidance of Bhrigu brahmins performs horse sacrifices, He headed for the location where they took place and with each step that He as the Complete and Fully Endowed Essence made on His way, He therewith imprinted the earth with His footsteps.

After He had heard of Bali's glory as a performer of horse-sacrifices under the guidance of the Bhrigu-brahmins, went He to the place where they were performed, and with each step that He as the Complete and Fully Endowed Essence made imprinted He thus the earth with His footsteps.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

At the northern bank of the Narmadâ river in the field of Bhrigukaccha where all the priests of Bhrigu were performing their rituals for the sake of the ultimate ceremony [the horse sacrifice], they saw Him in their presence [radiating] like the risen sun.

At the northern bank of the river Narmadâ in the field of Bhrigukaccha, where all the priests of Bhrigu were performing their rituals for the sake of the so very important horse-sacrifice, saw they Him close to them [radiating] like the risen sun. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

The priests as also Bali, the instigator of the yajña and all who had assembled there, were overshadowed by Lord Vâmana's splendor, oh King and wondered whether they saw the sun rising, the god of fire or Sanat-kumâra who wanted to attend their ceremony.

The priests as well as Bali, the instigator of the yajña, and all assembled there, saw themselves overtaken by Lord Vâmana's splendor, o King, and wondered whether they saw the sun rising, or the god of fire or Sanat-kumâra desiring to attend their ceremony. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

While the Bhrigus thus with their disciples were disputing in various ways, the Supreme Lord Vâmana, with in His hands His umbrella, rod and kamandalu filled with water, entered the arena of the As'vamedha sacrifice.

While the Bhrigus this way with their disciples were in dispute entered the Supreme Lord, Vâmana with in His hands His umbrella, rod and kamandalu filled with water, the arena of the as'vamedha sacrifice. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24-25

The moment Vâmana, the learned, seemingly human child that was the Lord, with His munja belt of straw and the sacred thread around His waist, His deerskin upper garment and His matted locks of hair, arrived there and was seen by the priests of Bhrigu with their disciples, they all stood up from their engagement in the fire sacrifice and appropriately welcomed the One who with His brilliance outshone them all.

When Vâmana the learned, seemingly human child, that was the Lord, with His munja belt of straw and the sacred thread around Him, His deerskin upper garment and matted locks of hair arrived and met the priests of Bhrigu with their disciples, was He who with His brilliance overshadowed them all, appropriately welcomed by them getting up from the fire sacrifice. (Vedabase)

  

Text 26

The instigator of the sacrifice, delighted to see Him so beautiful in each of His lustrous limbs, offered Him a seat.

The instigator of the sacrifice in jubilation of seeing Him so beautiful in each of His lustrous limbs offered Him a seat. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

The Beauty of the Liberated Souls was thereupon with words of welcome worshiped by Bali Mahârâja who honored Him by washing His feet.

With words of welcome was thus the Beauty of the Liberated Souls by Bali Mahârâja worshiped who washed His feet. (Vedabase)

  

Text 28

The water washing from His feet washes away the sins of all people. Bali knew the dharma and placed on his head the all-auspicious water that also by the god of gods, Lord S'iva who is marked with the emblem of the moon, in his supreme devotion was accepted on his head.'

The pure water of those feet washing away all sins of man took he, aware of the dharma, on his head; it carried him the all-auspicious that even the best of all, Lord S'iva with the crescent on top, would carry on his head with devotion and transcendence.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

S'rî Bali said: 'We welcome You. My obeisances unto You, oh brahmin. What can we do for You? Oh noble soul, in my opinion You are the austerity of the brahmin seers in person.

S'rî Bali said: 'May You be welcome, my obeisances unto You o brahmin, what can we do for You; I think You are, o noble one, the direct personification of the austerity of the brahmin seers. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

The arrival of Your lordship today at our residence, satisfies all our forefathers, it purifies the entire family and completes the sacrifice we are performing now!

Because Your lordship today has arrived at our residence, are all our forefathers satisfied, is the whole family purified and is this sacrifice we are performing now complete! (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Today, oh brahmin son, my fires of sacrifice are properly served according to the injunctions. Oh, by the water that washed from Your lotus feet all my sins are destroyed and by Your small feet the earth is purified.

Today, o brahmin son, are my fires of sacrifice properly served according the principles; by the water that washed from Your lotus feet has the earth been cleansed of all sins and, oh Lord, has she as well by the touch of Your small feet been sanctified. (Vedabase)


Text 32

Whatever it is that You desire, oh brahmacârî, You may take from me, be it a cow, gold, a furnished residence, palatable food and drink or else a brahmin's daughter, prospering villages, horses, elephants or chariots, oh best of the worshipable souls. As far as I am concerned, You may have whatever You wish.'

Whatever it is that You desire, o brahmacârî, You may take from me; be it a cow, gold, a furnished residence, palatable food and drink or else a brahmin's daughter, prospering villages, horses, elephants or chariots, o best of the worshipable; as far as I am concerned may You have whatever You wish for.' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The digitally enhanced painting is titled: "Vamana and Five Priests",
Number Five of the Vamana (Dwarf Incarnation of Vishnu) Suit,
Playing Card from a Dashavatara (Ten Avatars) Ganjifa Set, Mid-18th century.
India, Maharashtra, Sawantwadi (?), Source:
LACMA.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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