Chapter 40 - History of Ganga (resumed, 4)

Jaimini said,

“Would you tell me, My Lord, how Ganga attained Vishnu’s feet, and how she flowed down therefrom to the earth? How did Bhagiratha manage to please her, and how did she purify Raja Sagara’s sons?”

Suka thereupon narrated as follows:—

Brahma had a son, Marichi, who begat Kasyapa.

Kasyapa’s wife, Diti, gave birth to a Daittya^[1], Hiranyakasipu by name. This mighty demon had four sons, the eldest of whom, Prahlada, was a devout worshipper of Vishnu. Prahlada begat Virochana, and Virochana begat Bali. This Bali was a mighty and valorous demon who conquered Indra and the other gods, and became the sole monarch of all the Lokas^[2]. Aditi, the mother of the gods, was very miserable at the discomfiture of her sons'and the consequent loss of their territory, and to ameliorate their condition, obtained permission of her husband, Kasyapa^[3], to go to a lonely forest to practise austerity, and invoke the Almighty Lord, Hari.

While she was thus engaged, the wily demons appeared before her in the form of gods, and said,

“Mother your well-being is the main source of our happiness, and we rely on you for support. Why are you wasting away your body by abstaining from food, and performing such a hard penance? You should preserve your life and health for our sake, otherwise how can we expect to live in peace? If you are going to lose your life in this way what is the use of our kingdom, of our happiness, or even of our life? Alas for us, if on our account you have to undergo such hardships. Remember, Mother dear, that the Almighty God is the dispenser of pleasure and pain, and He dispenses them, without being invoked, according to the merits and demerits of the actions of his creatures in past births. How can you then modify our destiny by the performance of austerities? Desist, therefore, from doing so, and come and live at home happily and peacefully, placing your faith in Him. Your long and happy life will be as advantageous to us as the restoration of our kingdom. Do not add the misery for the loss of your dear life to that we are already undergoing from the loss, of our territory.”

Aditi, however, was not to be deceived. She recognized the demons in their assumed forms and said,

“I know how anxious you always are for my welfare. My sons.will ere long deprive you of your kingdom and you will feel the consequences of jesting with me. Shame on you, jesting with me while I am engaged in the worship of the Lord Hari who is the dispenser of happiness; and misery.”

The demons finding themselves baffled in their attempt to deceive Aditi, began to grind their teeth in despite, and breathing out breaths of fire, kindled the whole forest. After having done so they went to Bali, their king, and assured him that they had burnt Aditi along with the forest. They little knew that she had been saved by the Lord Hari with his infallible weapon the Sudarsana^[4] Chakra.

After having been thus delivered from the fire she devoted herself more assiduously to her austerities. She stood on her two great toes and subsisted on air alone. One full divine^[5] year was spent in this way when the Lord Hari appeared before her in all His splendour, mounted on His favourite Garuda, with a sweet smile playing on His lips.

Aditi bowed down before Him and offered a long and respectful prayer at His feet, when, He commanded her to ask without reserve for the boon she wanted. She said,

“Lord, you know full well for what purpose I have striven to see you, but, after seeing you, my mind’s eyes have been opened, and I do not care for worldly aggrandizement any more. I leave it to you to grant me such boon as you think meet for me. My only wish now is to gain you.”

The lord said,

“O mother of the gods, your desires shall be satisfied, and Indra and your other sons shall regain their kingdom. I myself shall be born as your son, and shall recover the kingdom from Bali to give it back to its rightful owner.”

Aditi felt great apprehension and said,

“Lord, I would rather not accept this boon, for how can-1, a weak woman emaciated by austerities, bear you, the pervader of the universe, in my frail womb? I am not even fit to hold you in my mind because you are incomprehensible.”

The lord said,

“Be not afraid, mother, you will be able to bear me in your womb. If I, the Lord of the universe, can enter your womb, why can you not hold me?

Every person with a balanced mind who is; indifferent to pleasure or pain and is truthful and forgiving, always holds me in him. Moreover, I can be born as a giant or a dwarf, fat or lean, handsome or ugly, at my will. Tell me how you wish me to he born.”

Aditi said,

“If, my Lord, I have a choice in the matter, I would have you as a dwarf that I might be able to hold you.”

This prayer was granted. Hari disappeared on. the spot, and Aditi came back to her husband.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Demon.

[2]:

The different worlds.

[3]:

Kasyapa was the father of both the gods and the demons by two different wives, Aditi and Diti.

[4]:

See footnote 1 at page 117.

[5]:

See Chapter LIV page............A divine year is equal to 360 human years.