Chapter 4 - Manifestations of Viṣṇu as the Boar

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agni said:

1. I describe (unto thee) the manifestation as a Boar (which) removes (one’s) sins. Hiraṇyākṣa^[1] was a demon chief. He conquered the celestials and got established in the heavens.

2. Viṣṇu being praised by the celestials (who had) gone (to him), (he) assumed the form as Yajñavarāha (boar). Having killed that demon along with the (other) demons (he made the earth) devoid of thorns (difficulties).

3-4. (That) Hari, the protector of righteousness and the celestials (then) disappeared. Then (the demon) Hiraṇyakaśipu^[2], brother of Hiraṇyākṣa after conquering the celestials (was grabbing a share of the offerings) exercised control over all the celestials. (Viṣṇu) assumed the form of Narasiṃha (human body with lion’s face) (and) killed him along with the (other) demons.

5-7. (He) re-established the celestials in their original places and was praised by the celestials. Once in the battle between the celestials and the demons, the celestials were defeated by (demon) Bali^[3] and other demons (and) were driven away from the heaven (and) sought refuge in Hari (Viṣṇu). Having given refuge to the devas he being praised by Aditi (wife of the latter) (and mother of the celestials) and Kaśyapa (a sage) became a Dwarf (as a son) of Aditi (and) went to the sacrifice (performed by Bali) (and) recited the Vedas at the royal gates of Bali the sacrificer.

8-9. Having heard him reciting the Vedas, the bestower of the wanted things (Bali) said to the Dwarf in spite of being obstructed by Sukra (the preceptor of the demons), “Whatever (you) desire I shall give (you)”. The Dwarf asked Bali, “Get (me) three feet of space for the sake of the preceptor. (Bali) said to him, “I shall give (you)”.

10-11. When the water was poured on the hand the Dwarf became a Giant (and) measured the worlds of Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ and Svar with the three strides and (sent) Bali to Sutala (a nether world) and (then) Hari (Viṣṇu)gave the worlds to Śakra (Indra). Śakra (Indra) praised Hari (Viṣṇu) along with the celestials (and) remained happy as the ruler of the world.

12-13. “I shall describe (unto you) the manifestation as Paraśurāma.” “Hear, O twice-born”! Considering the kṣatriyas (ruling clan) as haughty, Hari (Viṣṇu), the protector of the celestials and the brahmins manifested as Bhārgava, son of Jamadagni and Reṇukā and proficient in arms for removing the pressure on the earth and for the sake of peace. [Manifestation of Viṣṇu as Paraśurāma]

14. Kārtavīrya became a king by the grace of Dattātreya (considered as a manifestation of the Trinity as son of Atri and Anasūyā). He had thousand arms. He was the lord of the entire world. (Once) he went for hunting.

15. (He) being tired, was invited by the sage Jamadagni. The king was fed along with his retinue (by the sage) by the grace of the Kāmadhenu (divine cow).

16-20. (The king) sought for the Kāmadhenu. When he (the sage) did not give (the cow) the king took it away. Then Rāma (Paraśurāma) cut off (the king’s) head with his axe in the battle. The cow returned to the hermitage. Jamadagni was killed by the sons of Kārtavīrya on account of revenge, when (Paraśu) Rāma had gone to the forest. Seeing his father slain (and) getting angry on account of the loss of his father the great man made the earth devoid of the warrior clan for 21 generations.. Making out five pits (kuṇḍa) at Kurukṣetra and satisfying his manes, having given the earth to Kaśyapa, (he) stationed himself at the Mahendra mountains. (One) who hears (the story of) the manifestations as a Fish, a Boar, a Lion and Rāma (Paraśurāma) goes to the celestial regions.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Hiraṇyākṣa, a demon, was one of the sons of Kaśyapa and Diti. He waxed eloquent and entered the underworld in search of Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu assumed the form of a boar and after severe combat slew the demon. See P. Index III. C. 774.

[2]:

Hiraṇyakaśipu, a demon, was the other son of Kaśyapa and Diti. He had got a boon that he could not be killed either by a man or by a beast or during the day or the night or inside or outside the house. He conquered the celestials. His son Prahlāda was a devotee of Viṣṇu. All the attempts of Hiraṇyakaśipu to wean Prahlāda from his devotion to Viṣṇu were of no avail. Hiraṇyakaśipu subjected Prahlāda to many ordeals. Prahlāda emerged unscathed. The desperate Hiraṇyakaśipu challenged Prahlāda whether that Viṣṇu would be present everywhere and Prahlāda could show him in the pillar in front of them and kicked the pillar. Viṣṇu manifested in the form of a man with lion’s face from that pillar and killed Hiraṇyakaśipu placing him on his lap and at the threshhold during the twilight. See P. Index III. pp. 769-70.

[3]:

Bali was a powerful demon. He was a son of Virocana and grandson of Prahlāda. Being oppressed by him, the celestials sought refuge in Viṣṇu. In deference to their wishes, Viṣṇu assumed the form of a dwarf and.approached Bali and requested him to give as much earth as he could cover in three steps. Bali readily conceded to his request. The dwarfsoon grew into a mighty form, covered the earth and heaven in two strides and as the third -stride placed his foot on the head of Bali and subdued him. See Rām. I. xxvii.; P. Index II. pp. 469-70