Chapter 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiranyâksha

(1) Maitreya said: 'Hearing Brahmâ's sincere, nectarine words made the Lord heartily laugh who accepted them with a glance laden with love. (2) Then, jumping up, the Lord born from the nostril with His mace struck the demoniac enemy who was fearlessly stalking before Him sideways on the chin. (3) But that blow was stopped by Hiranyâksha's mace in such a way that the Lord His mace miraculously enough slipped from His hands and fell down whirling with an astonishing glow. (4) Even though Hiranyâksha thus had an excellent opportunity, he did not attack out of respect for the combat code that one does not attack someone who has no weapon. This excited the Lord. (5) As His mace fell, a cry of fear rose [among the bystanders] but the confrontation with Hiranyâksha's righteousness made the All-powerful Lord think of His Sudars'ana-cakra. (6) Playing with the vile son of Diti, this greatest one of His associates, He rotated His discus and met with various expressions of disbelief from those who unaware [of all His powers] crowded the sky and said: 'Hail to You, please kill him.'

(7) The Daitya upon seeing Him whose eyes were like the petals of lotusflowers, standing armed with His disc before him, prepared and looking at Him, his senses were overpowered by indignation and hissing like a serpent he bit his lips in great resentment. (8) With his fearful huge teeth and staring eyes burning like fire he then attacked Him with his club saying: 'And thus You are slain!', and hurled it at the Lord. (9) That mace, even though it had the force of a tempest oh seeker of truth, was by the Supreme Lord of sacrifices who had assumed the form of a boar, before the eyes of His enemy playfully knocked down with His left leg.

(10) He then said: 'Pick it up and try again if you are that eager to win'. At that time the thus challenged Hiranyâksha roaring loudly stroke again. (11) The Lord seeing the mace flying towards Him, stood firm and caught it as easily as Garuda would seize a serpent. (12) With his bravery frustrated the great demon shattered in his pride humiliated refused to take back the mace the Lord offered Him. (13) He instead of that took up a trident and flaming like fire ravenously went against the Varâha appearance of the Lord of Sacrifice, like someone with evil intentions going against a brahmin. (14) The shiny trident that was hurled by the mightiest among the Daityas with all his strength, in his flight shone all the brighter but was like Garuda's wing being clipped off by Indra [when Garuda once snatched a pot of nectar], cut to pieces by the sharp rim of the cakra. (15) When he saw his trident cut to pieces by the Lord His disc, he infuriated came roaring forward to strike the broad and S'rîvatsa-marked chest of the Lord, the abode of the goddess, hard with his fist. Thereafter the demon disappeared from sight. (16) Thus struck by him, oh Vidura, the Supreme Lord in His first incarnation as a boar was not in the least shaken. He was not more affected than an elephant hit with a bunch of flowers. (17) The people however now saw the Lord of the internal potency being sieged with an array of tricks and they fearfully thought that the end of the world was at hand. (18) Fierce winds were blowing and in all directions darkness spread because of the dust while stones came down as if an entire army was engaged. (19) The luminaries in the sky disappeared behind masses of clouds from which it thundered and lightened with a constant downpour of pus, hair, blood, stool, urine and bones. (20) Oh sinless one, from the mountains all kinds of weapons were discharged and naked demonesses with their hair hanging loose were seen who were armed with tridents. (21) Many savage devils and demons on foot, horseback, on chariots and elephants appeared, who shouted cruel words of murder. (22) Following this display of magical power by the demon the beloved enjoyer of the three sacrifices [of hearing, goods and breath, see B.G. 4: 26-27] desiring an end to it all cast the weapon of His most excellent presence [the Sudars'ana-cakra].

(23) At that very moment suddenly a shudder ran through the heart of Diti [the mother of the demon] and recalling the words of her husband [Kas'yapa] blood flowed from her breasts. (24) With his magic forces being dispelled [by the launched cakra] the demon reappeared before the Supreme Lord and full of rage embraced Him in order to crush Him, but he found the Lord outside of his grip. (25) Hiranyâksha struck Lord Adhokshaja [He beyond the control of the senses] with his fist as hard as a thunderbolt, but was hit by Him just below his ear, like the Lord of the Maruts [Indra] did with the demon Vritra. (26) Even though he was slapped in a casual manner by the Invincible Lord, the demon's body wheeled around, his eyes bulged out of their sockets and with his arms and legs lifeless and his hair scattered, he fell down like a gigantic tree uprooted by the wind.

(27) The self-born one [Brahmâ] and others who saw him lying on the ground with his glow still unfaded and his teeth through his lip, said, approaching in admiration: 'Oh who indeed could meet his final destination this way? (28) He upon whom the yogis absorbed in the union of their consciousness in seclusion meditate in seeking liberation from the unreal, material body, struck with one of His legs the son, the crest jewel of the Daityas who left behind his body gazing at His countenance. (29) Both the personal assistants of the Lord have been cursed to be born again in godless families for a couple of lives, after which they will return to their positions.'

(30) The demigods said: 'All obeisances to You, oh Enjoyer of all Sacrifices who for the sake of maintaining [this world] assumed a form of pure goodness. To our good fortune You've slain this one who was wreaking havoc in all the worlds. With devotion to Your feet, we are now at ease.'

(31) S'rî Maitreya said: 'After thus having killed the so very powerful Hiranyâksha, the Lord, the source of the boar incarnation, praised by the one seated on the lotus and the other gods, returned to His abode where His glory is celebrated continuously. (32) To you, dear friend, I explained as it was told to me, how the Supreme Lord descending in a material form put an end to the activities of the so very powerful Hiranyâksha who in a great fight was killed like a plaything.' "

(33) Sūta said: "Vidura, the great devotee thus hearing the narration about the Supreme Lord from the son of Kuṣāru [Maitreya], achieved the highest bliss oh brahmin [Śaunaka]. (34) Considering the joy one derives from hearing stories about virtuous souls of name and fame, what a joy would one not derive from listening to a story about Him with the S'rivatsa mark on His chest? (35) The king of the elephants [Gajendra] who was attacked by an alligator, meditated upon the lotus feet while his wives were crying and was thus quickly delivered from the danger [see 8.2-4]. (36) Who would not take shelter of Him who is so easily worshiped by men without pretensions; which grateful soul would not render service to the One who is impossible to worship for those who are no real seekers? (37) He who hears, chants and takes pleasure in this wonderful pastime of the Supreme One who as a boar raised the earth out of the ocean and killed Hiranyâksha, will instantly be freed, even if he finished off a brahmin, oh twice-born ones! (38) This narrative is most edifying, is very sacred, brings wealth, fame, longevity and will provide all that one needs. Whoever listens to it will on the battlefield find his life force and senses strengthened by it and at the end of one's life it will grant the shelter of Lord Nârâyana, oh dear S'aunaka."