rule



 

Canto 5

Dālālera Gītā

 

 

Chapter 24: The Nether Worlds

(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'Some people defend that countless yojanas ['ten thousand'] below the sun [the demon] Rāhu is found who rotates in the sky just like the stars. Oh King, I shall expound later on the birth and activities of this lowest of the ignorant souls, [Rāhu] the son of Simhikā, who personally, by the grace of the Supreme Lord, achieved this status of immortality in occupying the position of a leading planet, while he never qualified for the position [see also 6.6: 37 and 8.9: 23-26]. (2) They declare that the sun has a width of ten thousand yojanas, that the moon is twenty thousand yojanas wide, that Rāhu is thirteen thousand yojanas large [compare 5.21: 15] and that it occasionally, with inimical intentions overruling the influence of the sun god and the moon god, obstructs the distribution of the rays of the moon and the sun. (3) The Supreme Lord who is there for the protection of both [these divinities] operates by the supreme presence of the wheel of Time [the Sudars'ana Cakra]. This disc is deemed the most dear, most devoted and favorite weapon that by its power and unbearable heat makes Rāhu flee, with a mind full of fear and a bewildered heart, far away from that position wherein he resides for almost an hour and that by the people is called an eclipse.

(4) At an equal distance beneath it [compare 5.22: 8] there are the residential places of the perfected souls, the venerable souls of the Veda and the souls founded in knowledge [the Siddhas, Cāranas and Vidyādharas]. (5) Below of them there are the places of sense gratification of the mad, the possessed, the demoniac and more of such beings [the Yakshas, Rākshasas and Pis'ācas], that stretch out as far as the wind blows the clouds one sees in the sky. (6) Beneath the atmosphere that is a hundred yojanas thick and reaches as high as swans, vultures, eagles and other birds of size can fly, there is this earth [according to modern measurements the normal, increasingly thinner atmosphere reaches up to a 100 km above the earth].

(7) Formerly I discussed the planet earth and the division of its different realms [see 2.1: 26-27]. Below the earth are situated seven other planets of the same width and length named Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla [the nether worlds], that one behind the other are positioned [up to the edge of the universe] with intervals of ten thousand yojanas. (8) In these worldly places ambitious for heaven, there is a greater lust experience and enrapture about wealth than in the higher worlds. Equipped with all thinkable luxuries the houses and gardens offer to the demons, ghosts and snakes living there, a better opportunity for sense gratification. Always overjoyed in the attachment to their wives, children, family, friends and followers, the masters of the households, who live in an illusory heaven, are even better capable of an unimpeded fulfillment of their desires than the godly souls who are of self control.  (9)  Maya [the architect of the Daityas] my dear King, has there, with faithless trickery and a plethora of rich ornamentation, built cities surrounded by walls with gates full of excellently constructed, wonderful houses, offices, halls, schools and public facilities. The leaders and landowners of those artificial worlds shining brightly with their decorations, occupy the best houses there that are crowded by snakelike, godless couples and pigeons, parrots and mynas [eastern starlings]. Bound by illusion
                (māyā)(10) The gardens and parks that are most appealing to the mind and senses, pleasure with their masses of flowers and fruits hanging from the branches of the trees that, embraced by creepers, nicely bend low being pulled by gravity. The sensual enjoyment is invoked by a magnificence surpassing the beauty of the residential places of the godly: the variety of birds that in pairs frequent the ponds filled with sparkling clear water restless with jumping fish, the lotus flowers in those waters, the lilies, the kuvalaya and kahlāra flowers, the blue and red lotuses, giant lotuses with thousands of petals and the uninterrupted joyous sound of all kinds of sweetly vibrating birds that built their nests in the forests. (11) There one assuredly is of no concern about divisions of time relative to the changes of day and night [as observed with sundials and lunar phases]. (12) All darkness there is driven away by the best of gems situated on the hoods of the great serpents living there. (13) Nor are the residents, who eat, drink and bathe there with miraculous [curative] herbs, juices and elixirs, concerned with diseases, mental troubles, attaining old age, having wrinkles, gray hair, etc., or with the miseries of losing strength with a fading luster, bad smelling perspiration, fatigue or a lack of energy. (14) No other cause of death than the almighty wheel of Time in the form of His disc weapon, is capable of influencing them in any way. (15) It is practically always out of fear for the Lord's cakra order [the compelling natural order of time] that the wives of the godless souls lose their fetuses in miscarriages.

(16) Now then, in the world of Atala, Bala the godless son of Maya resides who propagated ninety-six types of trickery, some of which even today are used by expert cheaters. From his yawning mouth the svairinī [class exclusive], kāminī [class indifferent] and pums'calī [promiscuous] types of women sprouted who, desirous with glances, smiles, talks, embraces and the juice of an intoxicating herb called hāthaka [cannabis indica], for their sexual pleasure warm up any man who entered the nether worlds. One says that a man under the influence of this herb full of pride and conceit thinks of himself as 'I am the ruler' and 'I am as strong as a thousand elephants'.

(17) One world lower, in Vitala, Lord S'iva, surrounded by his ghostly associates, resides as Hāthakes'vara, the master of gold, in sexual union with his wife Bhavānī in order to increase the population of Brahmā's creation. From the fluids of their union the great river named the Hāthakī flows, drinking of which the fire god, by the wind being brightly inflamed with great strength, hissing spits out the gold called Hāthaka of use for the ornaments worn by the men and women populating the homes of the great Asuras.

(18) Beneath that world on Sutala one finds the greatly celebrated, most pious and spiritually advanced son of Virocana, Bali Mahārāja. To please king Indra, the Supreme Lord, taking birth from Aditi, assumed the body of a vāmana, a dwarf. It was by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord who wrested away from him the three worlds, that even today he in his devotional service remains fearless unto Him, the most venerable Supreme Personality. He was blessed with the good fortune of regaining an opulence not even known to the gods of Indra's heaven. (19) This was certainly not the immediate result of donating with faith, great respect and an attentive mind, his lands. Approaching the topmost one, the Supreme Lord who is the most worthy recipient and best place of pilgrimage, who is the life, heart and Supersoul of the countless living beings, Lord Vāsudeva, offered him a direct access to the liberation that resulted in the opulence of that nether imitation of heaven. (20) The person who helplessly, starved, fallen down or stumbling, utters His name but once, will be completely freed from the bond of fruitive labor, the karma that in all other cases constitutes an inevitable stumbling block for anyone who tries to find liberation. (21) He, the Supreme Soul, the Paramātmā within, thus gives Himself to, is of love for, all devotees of self-realization. (22) It is therefore not because of the material opulence, which certainly extends from Him, that the Supreme Personality especially again showed His favor to such a person [like Bali]. He was as graceful because of [countering] the forms of māyā, the material bewilderment that steals away the remembrance of the Soul. (23) To the occasion of what was done by the, difficult by other means to perceive, Supreme Lord - namely His seizing the three worlds by means of the trick of begging [three steps of land] so that Bali was left with nothing but his body, was being bound with the ropes of Varuna and was detained in a mountain cave - Bali then said: (24) 'How regrettable it is indeed that this very learned Indra of heaven is not that wise in his self-interest, for, having chosen Brihaspati for his prime minister and one preceptor, he ignored that sage when he begged me personally, by means of the Lord in the form of Upendra [Lord Vāmana], for my blessings [in the form of three steps of land]. With neglect for the certainty of the actual blessings of serving the ever lasting reality of Him, he desired for himself the three worlds, the value of which is lost in a manvantara [an age of Manu]! (25) When his father was killed by the Supreme Lord [Nrisimhadev], our grandfather [Prahlāda] asked for nothing but the permission to serve Him and not for the inheritance offered to him of the position of his father who feared no one [the kingdom of Hiranyakas'ipu]. (26) What materially contaminated person like us, can, deprived of the Supreme Lord's mercy,  hope to follow the path of that great believer?' (27) [S'uka said:] Later on, in the story about Bali [in canto eight],  I shall explain how the Supreme Lord as the master of the three worlds, as Nārāyaṇa in person, with an always graceful heart towards His devotees, stands [as a guard] at the gate with the club in His hand, He who, with the big toe of His foot, kicked the ten headed demon [known as Rāvana] a hundred million yojanas away when he wanted to conquer the world.

(28) Below Sutala in the world of Talātala the dānava [demon] king rules named Maya. His cities were burned by the almighty Tripurāri [S'iva], the lord of the three cities, who desired the welfare of the three worlds. But he, Maya, the master and teacher of all sorcery, regained his kingdom by his grace. Being protected by Mahādeva [the great god who is S'iva] he thinks he has nothing to fear from the Sudars'ana Cakra [the presence of the Lord in the form of Time] that [in all worlds] is worshiped [with clocks and calendars].

(29) Beneath that world there is the world of Mahātala that belongs to the descendants of Kadrū who have a reputation as a bunch of ever angry, many hooded, cruel snake types, as there are the notorious Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kālya and Sushena. Addicted to sensual pleasures, they are constantly afraid of the king of all birds [Garuda], the carrier of the Original Personality, who sometimes infuriates them when they are sporting together with their wives, children, friends and relatives.

(30) Situated below that world again there is Rasātala, the world of the Daityas and Dānavas [the evil minded sons of Diti and Danu] named the Panis [who are divided in] the Nivāta-kavacas, the Kāleyas and the Hiranya-puravāsīs. They are the very cruel and greatly powerful natural enemies of the demigods and are, despite their strength and pride, inevitably defeated by the might of [the disc weapon of] the Supreme Lord Hari so full of mercy for all the worlds. Living like the snakes, they are afraid of the [threatening] Vedic mantras uttered by [the female dog] Saramayā that once was sent there by the King of Heaven Indra.
(31) Below that world there is Pātāla, the world of the master snakes. Led by Vāsuki there are S'ankha, Kulika, Mahās'ankha, S'veta, Dhanańjaya, Dhritarāshthra, S'ankhacūda, Kambala, As'vatara, Devadatta and so on. Most addicted to material happiness they all live with the shortest temper. They have five, seven, ten, a hundred or a thousand hoods, with on their crests fixed the most valuable gems the effulgence of which disperses the vast darkness of the caves of Pātāla.'

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Third revised edition, loaded July 17, 2018.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'Some people defend that countless yojanas ['ten thousand'] below the sun [the demon] Rāhu is found who rotates in the sky just like the stars. Oh King, I shall expound later on the birth and activities of this lowest of the ignorant ones, [Rāhu] the son of Simhikā, who personally, by the grace of the Supreme Lord, achieved this status of immortality in occupying the position of a leading planet, while he never qualified for the position [see also 6.6: 37 and 8.9: 23-26].
S'rī S'uka said: 'There is the one [the moon] eclipsing the sun [and then is called 'Rāhu'] that just like the sun comes around and of which some learned ones say that it, countless yojanas ['ten-thousand'] below the sun, for the lifetime of the demigods occupies a position as a leading planet. About the birth and activities of the lowest of the ignorant, the son of Simhikā, who personally won the grace of the Supreme Lord, but who indeed is not qualified for the position [of being the ruler over this 'planet'], I shall explain later. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

They declare that the sun has a width of ten thousand yojanas, that the moon is twenty thousand yojanas wide, that Rāhu is thirteen thousand yojanas large [compare 5.21: 15] and that it occasionally, with inimical intentions overruling the influence of the sun god and the moon god, obstructs [in the form of an eclips] the distribution of the rays of the moon and the sun.

They estimate that the sun has a width of ten thousand yojanas, that the moon is twenty thousand yojanas wide and that Rāhu is thirty thousand yojanas large [compare 5.21: 15] and that it on occasion, with inimical intentions overruling the sun- and moongod their influence, obstructs the distribution of the moon- and sunshine. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

The Supreme Lord who is there for the protection of both [these divinities] operates by the supreme presence of the wheel of Time [the Sudars'ana Cakra]. This disc is deemed the most dear, most devoted and favorite weapon that by its power and unbearable heat makes Rāhu flee, with a mind full of fear and a bewildered heart, far away from that position wherein he resides for almost an hour and that by the people is called an eclipse.

The Supreme Lord around for the protection of both operates by the supreme presence of the wheel of time [the Sudars'ana Cakra] which is deemed the dearmost devoted and most favorite weapon that by its power and unbearable heat makes Rāhu, with its fearful mind and frightened heart, flee away from that position of being around for almost an hour and of which the people thus speak of a solar eclipse. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

At an equal distance beneath it [compare 5.22: 8] there are the residential places of the perfected souls, the venerable souls of the Veda and the souls founded in knowledge [the Siddhas, Cāranas and Vidyādharas].

To an equal measure of distance are there beneath it [compare 5.22: 8] the residential places of the perfected ones, the venerable ones of the Veda and the ones founded in knowledge [the Siddhas, Cāranas and Vidyādharas]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

Below of them there are the places of sense gratification of the mad, the possessed, the demoniac and more of such beings [the Yakshas, Rākshasas and Pis'ācas], that stretch out as far as the wind blows the clouds one sees in the sky.

Nether from them there are the places of sense gratification of the mad, the possessed, the demoniac and alike [the Yakshas, Rākshasas and Pis'ācas], that stretch out as far as the wind blows the clouds one can see in the sky. (Vedabase)

  

Text 6

Beneath the atmosphere that is a hundred yojanas thick and reaches as high as swans, vultures, eagles and other birds of size can fly, there is this earth [according to modern measurements the normal, increasingly thinner atmosphere reaches up to a 100 km above the earth].

Beneath that atmosphere that is a hundred yojanas thick and thus is as high as swans, vultures, eagles and other birds of size can fly, there is this earth [according modern measurements does the regular, uniform atmosphere reach up to 80 km above the earth]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 7

Formerly I discussed the planet earth and the division of its different realms [see 2.1: 26-27]. Below the earth are situated seven other planets of the same width and length named Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla [the nether worlds], that one behind the other are positioned [up to the edge of the universe] with intervals of ten thousand yojanas.

As stated before [see 2.1: 26-27] is there to the planet earth, according the arrangement of its different places, a nether region of seven other spheres of its width and length, that are positioned one after another with intervals of countless [more metaphorical] yojanas. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

In these worldly places ambitious for heaven, there is a greater lust experience and enrapture about wealth than in the higher worlds. Equipped with all thinkable luxuries the houses and gardens offer to the demons, ghosts and snakes living there, a better opportunity for sense gratification. Always overjoyed in the attachment to their wives, children, family, friends and followers, the masters of the households, who live in an illusory heaven, are even better capable of an unimpeded fulfillment of their desires than the godly souls who are of self control.

In these worlds that for sure are hollow to the heavenly ones, is there even a greater lust experience and enrapture in opulence; under the influence of the things of wealth offer the houses and gardens they have a better opportunity to the demons, ghosts and snakes of sense gratification. Always overjoyed in their attachment to the wives, children, family, friends and followers, are the leaders of the households, living in an illusory heaven, even better than the ones of control, the godly, capable of an unimpeded fulfillment of desires. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

Maya [the architect of the Daityas] my dear King, has there, with faithless trickery and a plethora of rich ornamentation, built cities surrounded by walls with gates full of excellently constructed wonderful houses, offices, halls, schools and public facilities. The leaders and landowners of those artificial worlds shining brightly with their decorations, occupy the best houses there that are crowded by snakelike, godless couples and pigeons, parrots and mynas [eastern starlings].

There, my dear King, are by Maya [the asura architect of the Daityas] with faithless trickery and a plethora of rich ornamentation, constructed cities surrounded by walls with gates, which have excellently built wonderful houses, offices, halls, schools and public facilities. The landowning leaders to that hollow sham there occupy the best of houses that shine bright of decoration and are crowded by snakelike, godless people and couples of pigeons, parrots and mynas. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

The gardens and parks that are most appealing to the mind and senses, pleasure with their masses of flowers and fruits hanging from the branches of the trees that, embraced by creepers, nicely bend low being pulled by gravity. The sensual enjoyment is invoked by a magnificence surpassing the beauty of the residential places of the godly: the variety of birds that in pairs frequent the ponds filled with sparkling clear water restless with jumping fish, the lotus flowers in those waters, the lilies, the kuvalaya and kahlāra flowers, the blue and red lotuses, giant lotuses with thousands of petals and the uninterrupted joyous sound of all kinds of sweetly vibrating birds that built their nests in the forests.

The gardens and parks are of a great appeal to the mind and senses, giving pleasure with their masses of flowers and fruits of which the by creepers embraced branches of the trees nicely bent low in attraction. By the magnificence of the variety of birds in pairs frequenting the ponds filled with sparkling clear water agitated of jumping fish, by the lotusflowers in those waters, the lilies, the kuvalaya and kahlāra flowers, the blue and red lotuses and the greatest of them with thousands of petals, and by the uninterrupted joy of the varieties of all the sweetly vibrating birds who built their nests in the forests is, surpassing the beauty of the residential places of the godly, the sense enjoyment invoked. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

There one assuredly is of no concern about divisions of time relative to the changes of day and night [as observed with sundials and lunar phases].

For certain is one there unconcerned about the divisions of time to the operation of night and day. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

All darkness there is driven away by the best of gems situated on the hoods of the great serpents living there.

All darkness there is driven away by indeed the best of the gems on the hoods of the great serpent.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Nor are the residents, who eat, drink and bathe there with miraculous [curative] herbs, juices and elixirs, concerned with diseases, mental troubles, attaining old age, having wrinkles, gray hair, etc., or with the miseries of losing strength with a fading luster, bad smelling perspiration, fatigue or a lack of energy.

Nor are the ones residing there, eating, drinking and bathing in a heaven of herbs, juices and elixirs, worried about diseases, mental troubles, being of age, having wrinkles, gray hair, etc. or about the miseries of losing one's strength with a fading luster, bad smelling perspiration, fatigue or a lack of energy. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

No other cause of death than the almighty wheel of Time in the form of His disc weapon, is capable of influencing them in any way.

No way is any of the virtuous ones or even death itself capable of influencing them, except of course the weapon of the Lord: His powerful wheel of time. (Vedabase)


Text 15

It is practically always out of fear for the Lord's cakra order [the compelling natural order of time] that the wives of the godless souls lose their fetuses in miscarriages.

It is practically always out of fear for the Lord his cakra-order that the wives of the godless lose their fetuses in miscarriage. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Now then, in the world of Atala, Bala the godless son of Maya resides who propagated ninety-six types of trickery, some of which even today are used by expert cheaters. From his yawning mouth the svairinī [class exclusive], kāminī [class indifferent] and pums'calī [promiscuous] types of women sprouted who, desirous with glances, smiles, talks, embraces and the juice of an intoxicating herb called hāthaka [cannabis indica], for their sexual pleasure warm up any man who entered the nether worlds. One says that a man under the influence of this herb full of pride and conceit thinks of himself as 'I am the ruler' and 'I am as strong as a thousand elephants'.

Now then, in the world of Atala resides Bala the godless son of Maya and by him indeed are there propagated the ninety-six types of illusion of which some characters handy with the illusory even today make use. Also were of his yawning mouth generated the svairinī [class-loyal], kāminī [lusty class-disloyal] and pums'calī [promiscuous] women who, thus so sure initiated into the nether worlds, for their personal enjoyment with glances, smiles, talks and embraces, prepare men for indulging in sexual pleasure to their own liking by means of a herb called hāthaka [cannabis indica]. It is said that a man under the influence of it thinks of himself full of pride and conceited as 'I am the ruler' and 'I am as strong as a thousand elephants'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

One world lower, in Vitala, Lord S'iva, surrounded by his ghostly associates, resides as Hāthakes'vara, the master of gold, in sexual union with his wife Bhavānī in order to increase the population of Brahmā's creation. From the fluids of their union the great river named the Hāthakī flows, drinking of which the fire god, by the wind being brightly inflamed with great strength, hissing spits out the gold called Hāthaka of use for the ornaments worn by the men and women populating the homes of the great Asuras.

Beneath it on Vitala, surrounded by his ghostly associates, remains the master of gold, Lord S'iva with his wife Bhavānī in sexual union in order to increase the population of the founding father his creation. From that world thus emanates from the fluids of that union the great river named Hāthakī of which the firegod, by the wind being brightly inflamed with great strength, drinking of it, hissing spits out the gold called Hāthaka for the ornaments that are worn by the men and women of the homes of the great asuras. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Beneath that world on Sutala one finds the greatly celebrated, most pious and spiritually advanced son of Virocana, Bali Mahārāja. To please king Indra, the Supreme Lord, taking birth from Aditi, assumed the body of a vāmana, a dwarf. It was by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord who wrested away from him the three worlds, that even today he in his devotional service remains fearless unto Him, the most venerable Supreme Personality. He was blessed with the good fortune of regaining an opulence not even known to the gods of Indra's heaven.

Beneath that world is there on Sutala the greatly celebrated, very pious and spiritually advanced son of Virocana, Bali Mahārāja. Desiring to settle the welfare of King Indra, did the Supreme Lord from Aditi assume a body, appearing in the form of a vāmana, a dwarf. It was by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord who wrested away from him the three worlds, that even today he, certain in worshiping by his own religious duty, remains fearless unto the most venerable Supreme Personality; he was blessed with the good fortune of regaining an even to the gods of Indra's heaven unparalleled opulence.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

This was certainly not the immediate result of donating with faith, great respect and an attentive mind, his lands. Approaching the topmost one, the Supreme Lord who is the most worthy recipient and best place of pilgrimage, who is the life, heart and Supersoul of the countless living beings, Lord Vāsudeva, offered him a direct access to the liberation that resulted in the opulence of that nether imitation of heaven.

This truly was not the direct result of donating lands; that which was given with great respect, an attentive mind and with faith, in approaching the topmost one, the Supreme Lord who is the most worthy recipient and best sacrificial ground, the life and soul and supreme regulator Lord Vāsudeva of the scores of beings, was directly the gate which liberated to the opulence of the nether imitation of heaven. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The person who helplessly, starved, fallen down or stumbling, utters His name but once, will be completely freed from the bond of fruitive labor, the karma that in all other cases constitutes an inevitable stumbling block for anyone who tries to find liberation.

He, of whom a person, being helpless starved, falling down or stumbling and such, but once practices the holy name, washes one the bondage of karma away, that otherwise for persons trying to find liberation for sure is such an inevitable great stumbling block. (Vedabase)


Text 21

He, the Supreme Soul, the Paramātmā within, thus gives Himself to, is of love for, all devotees of self-realization.

Of all the great devotees and the selfrealized of the true self who give themselves without reservation, is He that Supreme Soul, the Paramātmā. (Vedabase)


Text 22

It is therefore not because of the material opulence, which certainly extends from Him, that the Supreme Personality especially again showed His favor to such a person [like Bali]. He was as graceful because of [countering] the forms of māyā, the material bewilderment that steals away the remembrance of the Soul.

It is in truth not because of the material opulence which thus is certain to follow that the Supreme Personality showed His favor to especially him again, for being robbed of the remembrance of the soul is an attribute of the being illusioned with matter, māyā. (Vedabase)


Text 23

To the occasion of what was done by the, difficult by other means to perceive, Supreme Lord - namely His seizing the three worlds by means of the trick of begging [three steps of land] so that Bali was left with nothing but his body, was being bound with the ropes of Varuna and was detained in a mountain cave - Bali then said:

To that which was done by the Supreme Lord who by no other means can be perceived, namely the taking away of the three worlds by means of the trick of begging [three steps of land] so that nothing remained but his own body - which was then completely bound by the ropes of Varuna and detained in a mountain cave - he thus said: (Vedabase)


Text 24

'How regrettable it is indeed that this very learned Indra of heaven is not that wise in his self-interest, for, having chosen Brihaspati for his prime minister and one preceptor, he ignored that sage when he begged me personally, by means of the Lord in the form of Upendra [Lord Vāmana], for my blessings [in the form of three steps of land]. With neglect for the certainty of the actual blessings of serving the ever lasting reality of Him, he desired for himself the three worlds, the value of which is lost in a manvantara [an age of Manu]!

'How regrettable it is indeed that I myself, this very learned and to his self-interest very experienced Indra of heaven, who chose as his prime minister and one preceptor Brihaspati, personally ignoring the Lord in the form of Upendra [Lord Vāmana], with neglect for the certainty of the very blessings of serving the Reality of Him that lasts for ever, for himself requested the three worlds of which the value will change after the time of a manvantara [an age of Manu]! (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

When his father was killed by the Supreme Lord [Nrisimhadev], our grandfather [Prahlāda] asked for nothing but the permission to serve Him and not for the inheritance offered to him of the position of his father who feared no one [the kingdom of Hiranyakas'ipu].

Certainly was the service of Him by our grandfather [Prahlāda] readily accepted, but not the offer of his paternal property [the kingdom of Hiranyakas'ipu]; it was none other than the Supreme Personality he thus wanted, when that sure shelter of freedom from fear was offered to him after his father was killed by the Supreme Lord [Lord Nrisimhadev]. (Vedabase)


Text 26

What materially contaminated person like us, can, deprived of the Supreme Lord's mercy,  hope to follow the path of that great believer?'

In other words: what, to the desire to follow, is a materially contaminated person, who like us is deprived of the Lord His mercy, compared to that great follower on the path of devotion?' (Vedabase)


Text 27

[S'uka said:] Later on, in the story about Bali [in canto eight], I shall explain how the Supreme Lord as the master of the three worlds, as Nārāyaṇa in person, with an always graceful heart towards His devotees, stands [as a guard] at the gate with the club in His hand, He who, with the big toe of His foot, kicked the ten headed demon [known as Rāvana] a hundred million yojanas away when he wanted to conquer the world.

Later on in the narration about him [see canto eight] I will explain how the Supreme Lord [Vāmanadeva] as the master of the three worlds, Nārāyana in person, with an always graceful heart towards His devotees standing at the gate with the club in His hand, by the big toe of His foot did put the ten headed demon [known as Rāvana] who wanted to conquer over him, at the farthest distance of countless yojanas. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Below Sutala in the world of Talātala the dānava [demon] king rules named Maya. His cities were burned by the almighty Tripurāri [S'iva], the lord of the three cities, who desired the welfare of the three worlds. But he, Maya, the master and teacher of all sorcery, regained his kingdom by his grace. Being protected by Mahādeva [the great god who is S'iva] he thinks he has nothing to fear from the Sudars'ana Cakra [the presence of the Lord in the form of Time] that [in all worlds] is worshiped [with clocks and calendars].

Below Sutala in the world of Talātala rules the dānava [demon] king named Maya; by the most powerful Tripurāri [S'iva], the Lord of the three cities, were, desiring the good fortune of the three worlds, his cities burnt; but by the grace of mercy obtained he a kingdom as the master of all sorcery and thus being protected by Mahādeva [the great god that is S'iva], he thinks he has nothing to fear from the Sudars'ana Cakra [the acute presence of the Lord in the form of Time] that is worshiped.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Beneath that world there is the world of Mahātala that belongs to the descendants of Kadrū who have a reputation as a bunch of ever angry, many hooded, cruel snake types, as there are the notorious Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kālya and Sushena. Addicted to sensual pleasures, they are constantly afraid of the king of all birds [Garuda], the carrier of the Original Personality, who sometimes infuriates them when they are sporting together with their wives, children, friends and relatives.

Beneath that world there is the world of Mahātala which is of the descendants of Kadrū who have a name as a bunch of ever angry, many hooded, cruel snaketypes, as there are the notorious Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kālya, and Sushena. Greatly sensual they are constantly afraid of the king of all birds [Garuda], the carrier of the Original Personality, who sometimes infuriates them when they are sporting being together with their wives, children, friends and relatives. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Situated below that world again there is Rasātala, the world of the Daityas and Dānavas [the evil minded sons of Diti and Danu] named the Panis [who are divided in] the Nivāta-kavacas, the Kāleyas and the Hiranya-puravāsīs. They are the very cruel and greatly powerful natural enemies of the demigods and are, despite their strength and pride, inevitably defeated by the might of [the disc weapon of] the Supreme Lord Hari so full of mercy for all the worlds. Living like the snakes, they are afraid of the [threatening] Vedic mantras uttered by [the female dog] Saramayā that once was sent there by the King of Heaven Indra. 

Situated below that world there is Rasātala that is of the daityas and dānavas [the evil minded sons of Diti and Danu] named the Panis, the Nivāta-kavacas, the Kāleyas and the Hiranya-puravāsīs; they are from birth so said the very cruel and greatly powerful enemies of the demigods and are inevitably defeated by the might of the Supreme Lord Hari so favorable to all the worlds. Living like the snakes are they in truth afraid of the King of Heaven through the words of a mantra of Saramayā, a female votary of Indra. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Below that world there is Pātāla, the world of the master snakes. Led by Vāsuki there are S'ankha, Kulika, Mahās'ankha, S'veta, Dhanańjaya, Dhritarāshthra, S'ankhacūda, Kambala, As'vatara, Devadatta and so on. Most addicted to material happiness they all live with the shortest temper. They have five, seven, ten, a hundred or a thousand hoods, with on their crests fixed the most valuable gems the effulgence of which disperses the vast darkness of the caves of Pātāla.'

Below that world there is Pātāla, the world of the master snakes; headed by Vāsuki are there S'ankha, Kulika, Mahās'ankha, S'veta, Dhanańjaya, Dhritarāshthra, S'ankhacūda, Kambala, As'vatara and Devadatta and so on. With the shortest temper do they all live very enslaved to material happiness and have they verily indeed five, seven, ten, a hundred or a thousand hoods, with on their crests fixed the most valuable gems of which the effulgence disperses the vast darkness of the caves of Pātāla.   (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 painting of the nether world of beauty in which one is bound by illusion is of  Seema Kohli,
an artist and philosopher living in New Delhi, India
Bron.
Production: Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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