Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 19:1-15

Book 3: Chapter 19

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 19: Verses 1-15
Death of Hiranyaksa

Maitreya continued : Hearing the words of Brahma (the creator), which were free from guile and sweet as nectar, the Lord heartily laughed and accepted his prayer with a glance laden with love. Thereupon the divine Boar (who had appeared from Brahma's nose) sprang and aimed His mace at the chin of His enemy in the form of that demon, who was stalking fearlessly before Him. Struck by the demon with his own mace, however, it slipped from the Lord's hand and looked splendid as it fell down whirling. This was something miraculous as it were. Even though he had an (excellent) opportunity (to hit the Lord), the demon refused to strike his unarmed foe and respected the law of a single combat, thereby kindling the fury of the Universal Lord. As His mace fell (on the ground) and a cry of alarm rose (from the witnessing crowd of gods and Rsis), the almighty Lord acknowledged the demon's love of righteousness (fair play) and invoked His discus Sudarsana. As the discus (presently) began to revolve (in the Lord's hand) and the Lord was contending at close quarters with the chief of His attendants, who had now been born as Hiranyaksa (a vile son of Diti), there issued from every direction strange expressions uttered by those who were witnessing the scene from their aerial cars and had no knowledge of the Lord's real reality, saying : "May victory attend You. Pray, despatch him (play no more with him)!" When he beheld the Lord, who had eyes as big and lovely as the petals of a lotus, standing in position before him, and further saw Him armed with a discus, his senses were overpowered with indignation and, hissing (as a serpent) he bit his lips in great resentment. The demon, who had fearful tusks, stared at Sri Hari, as though he would burn Him and, springing into the air, aimed his mace at Him, exclaiming at the same time: "You are slain." The Lord, who had assumed the form of a boar, that represented all the sacrifices, playfully knocked it down with His left foot, 0 saintly Vidura, even as it came upon Him with the force of a tempest, while the enemy was still looking on. The Lord then said, "Take up your weapon and try again, eager as you are to conquer Me." Challenged in these words, the demon aimed His mace (at the Lord) once more and loudly roared. When the Lord saw it flying towards Him, He stood firm (where He was) and caught it, even as it came, with the same ease as Garuda (the king of the birds) would seize a serpent. The great demon felt humiliated and was put out of countenance when his valour was thus frustrated; and he was reluctant to take back the mace which was being offered by Sri Hari. He now took a trident, which was rapacious as a flaming fire, for hurling it against the Lord, who was Yajnia personified, even as one would use spells for a malevolent purpose against a holy Brahmana. Hurled with all his strength by the mighty Daitya, the glowing trident shone all the brighter in the sky. Sri Hari, however, tore it to pieces with His discus (Sudarsana)-which had a sharp-edged rim-even as Indra cut down a wing of Garuda dropped by the latter.[1]The demon got enraged when his trident was cut to pieces by the discus of Sri Hari. He, therefore, advanced towards the Lord and, roaring aloud, smote Him with his hard fist on His broad chest, which bore the mark of Srivatsa (a curl of white hair), and then went out of sight.

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References

  1. ` Once upon a time Garuda snatched away nectar from the gods in heaven, In order to liberate his mother (Vlnata) from the thraldom of his stepmother Kadru (the mother of the serpent race). Thereupon Indra (the lord of paradise) hurled~his thunderbolt against Garuda. With a view to respecting the infallibility of Indra's weapon, Garuda (who was otherwise Invincible, being the Lord's own mount) dropped one of his wings, which was shattered to pieces by the thunderbolt,

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