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Chapter
17: Victory
of
Hiranyâksha over All the Directions of the Universe
(1) Maitreya said: 'When the denizens of heaven heard the
explanation of Brahmâ about the cause [of the darkness], they
were
freed from their fear and next all returned to their heavenly places. (2) Virtuous
Diti,
apprehensive
about
the
lifelong
trouble
her
husband
spoke
about
in
relation
to
her
children,
gave
birth
to
twin sons. (3) When
they were born, many
most frightening, inauspicious signs could be seen in heaven, on earth
and in the sky. (4)
The mountains and the earth shook with earthquakes and there seemed to
be fire coming from all directions with meteors falling, thunderbolts,
comets and inauspicious constellations. (5) Sharp winds blew that constantly
howled and armies of cyclones with dust-clouds for their ensigns uprooted the greatest trees. (6)
Amassing
clouds obscured the luminaries with lightning laughing loudly in the
sky; everything was enveloped in darkness and nothing could be seen. (7)
Stricken with sorrow, the
ocean full of agitated creatures
wailed with high waves and
the drinking places and rivers were disturbed while the lotuses
withered. (8) All the time misty halos appeared around the
sun and moon who had eclipses, claps of thunder were heard and rattling
sounds of chariots resounded from the mountain caves. (9) Inside the villages fearful
she-jackals
vomited fire from their mouths and there were the cries of owls and the
ominous howling of jackals. (10) The
dogs raised their heads uttering various cries as if they sang at times and then again were wailing. (11) The asses, oh Vidura, loudly braying ran madly hither and
thither in groups, striking the earth hard with their hooves. (12)
Frightened by the asses the birds flew shrieking from their
nests and the
cattle passed dung and urine in the cowsheds and the woods. (13)
The cows in
their fear yielded blood [in stead of milk] and clouds rained pus, the
idols shed tears and trees fell down without a blast of wind. (14)
The most auspicious planets and the other luminaries stood in
conjunction, had retrograde courses or took conflicting positions. (15) Not knowing the
secret of all these great omens of evil, except for the sons of Brahmâ all the people who saw more of this were afraid and thought that the world would
end. (16)
The two godforsaken, earliest
Daityas in history grew up quickly, manifesting uncommon bodies that
were like steel with the size of mountains. (17) With
their brilliant bracelets around their arms and the beauty of the
decorated belts around their waists that outshone the sun, the earth shook at every step of their feet
while the crests of their crowns
touched the sky as they blocked the view in all directions.
(18) Prajâpati Kas'yapa gave the two their
names: the one of the twin who was first begotten from
his flesh and
blood [but was born later] he called Hiranyakas'ipu ['the one feeding
on gold'] and the one who appeared
first from Diti in the
world
[but was begotten later] he called Hiranyâksha ['the one with a
mind for gold']. (19) Hiranyakas'ipu because
of
a
blessing of Lord Brahmâ being puffed up without any fear that he
would be killed by anyone, managed to seize control over
the three worlds and their protectors. (20) Hiranyâksha, his beloved younger
brother always willing to do him a favor, was, with a club in his hands
ready to fight, traversing the higher spheres in search of violent
opposition. (21) He had a temper difficult to control,
tinkling
anklets
of
gold
and
the
adornment
of
a
very
large
garland
over
his
shoulders
upon
which
rested his huge mace. (22) Proud
as he was of the physical and mental strength conferred by the boon, he
feared no one because no one could check him, and therefore the godly
ones afraid
of him hid
themselves as if they were snakes frightened of Garuda. (23)
Discovering that Indra and
the demigods
seeing his might had vanished and could not be found, the chief of the
Daityas got excited and roared loudly. (24)
Giving up his
search the
mighty being, wrathful like an elephant just
for the sport dove deep into the
ocean while producing that terrible sound.
(25) As he entered the ocean, the aquatics, the defenders of Varuna who stayed under water, were beset with fear that he would get hold of them and fled, daunted by his splendor, hurried away as far as they could. (26) Roaming the ocean for many years he with great force time and again struck the mighty, wind-tossed waves with his mace and thus reached Vibhâvarî, oh Vidura, the capital of Varuna. (27) There having reached the region of the unenlightened ones, he, just to make fun, with a smile like a lowborn one bowed before Varuna, the Lord and guardian of the aquatics and said: 'Oh great Lord, give me battle! (28) You are the guardian of this place, a renown ruler. By your power that reduced the pride of the conceited heroes and with which you conquered all Daityas and Dânavas in the world [viz. the sons of Diti and Daksha's daughter Danu, considered as demons], you once managed to perform a grand royal [râjasûya] sacrifice, oh master.'
(29) Thus profoundly being ridiculed by an enemy whose vanity knew no bounds, the respectable lord of the waters got angry, but controlling himself with reason he replied: 'Oh my best one, we have now left the path of warfare. (30) I can think of no other than the Most Ancient Person who in battle with you would be sufficiently skilled in the tactics of war to your satisfaction oh king of the world, oh king of the world. Approach Him who is even praised by heroes like you. (31) Reaching Him oh great hero, you will quickly be freed from your pride and lie down on the battlefield amid the dogs. It is for exterminating the evil that you are and to show the virtuous His grace, that He desires to assume His forms.'
(25) As he entered the ocean, the aquatics, the defenders of Varuna who stayed under water, were beset with fear that he would get hold of them and fled, daunted by his splendor, hurried away as far as they could. (26) Roaming the ocean for many years he with great force time and again struck the mighty, wind-tossed waves with his mace and thus reached Vibhâvarî, oh Vidura, the capital of Varuna. (27) There having reached the region of the unenlightened ones, he, just to make fun, with a smile like a lowborn one bowed before Varuna, the Lord and guardian of the aquatics and said: 'Oh great Lord, give me battle! (28) You are the guardian of this place, a renown ruler. By your power that reduced the pride of the conceited heroes and with which you conquered all Daityas and Dânavas in the world [viz. the sons of Diti and Daksha's daughter Danu, considered as demons], you once managed to perform a grand royal [râjasûya] sacrifice, oh master.'
(29) Thus profoundly being ridiculed by an enemy whose vanity knew no bounds, the respectable lord of the waters got angry, but controlling himself with reason he replied: 'Oh my best one, we have now left the path of warfare. (30) I can think of no other than the Most Ancient Person who in battle with you would be sufficiently skilled in the tactics of war to your satisfaction oh king of the world, oh king of the world. Approach Him who is even praised by heroes like you. (31) Reaching Him oh great hero, you will quickly be freed from your pride and lie down on the battlefield amid the dogs. It is for exterminating the evil that you are and to show the virtuous His grace, that He desires to assume His forms.'
