Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 6 Chapter 9:1-14

Book 6: Chapter 9

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 6: Chapter 9: Verses 1-14
Indra slays Viswarupa; and routed by the demon Vrtra (the younger brother of Viswarupa), the gods call on the sage Dadhici at the instance of the Lord

Sri Suka resumed : The said Viswarupa had three heads (and the same number of mouths), O Pariksit (a descendant of Bharata), by one of which he drank the sap of the Soma plant (the common drink of the gods, usually offered in sacrifices), by another he drank spirituous liquor and by the third of which he ate food; so we have heard. Indeed with (great) reverence he visibly and loudly proclaimed the oblations poured into the sacrificial fire as the share meant for the gods (idmindraay, idamgnaye and so on), since the gods were his fathers (his father, Twasta, being one of them), O king! But he secretly offered a share (of the sacrificial oblations) to the demons (as well), as he (somehow) managed to convey the to them even while pouring oblations into the sacred fire; for he had his sympathies with the Asuras because of the affection his mother (Racana) bore to them. coming to know of hthis behavious on the part of Viswarupa, whichnted to an ocffence (beach of faith) against the gods 9whom hethus deprived of their rightful share) and a religious fraud, and afraid of him (lest he might bring about the destruction of the gods one day), Indra (the ruler of the gods)grily cut off his heads with (great) expedition,. the head by which he drandk Soma turned out to be the (bird) Kapinjala (the francolin); that by which he drandk wine became the Kalavinka (the common sparrow) and that by which he ate food was converted into the partridge. Indraacepted with joined palms the sin of having assassinated a brahmana, even though he was powerful (enough ot ward it off). (Remaining tainted with that sin for a year,) Indra divided it at the end of a year into fur parts and assigned them (in equal- proportions) to the earth, water, trees and women with a view to self-purification in the eyes of (other) beings. the earth accepted a quarter (of the sin) along with the boon (the explicit assurance in return) that a hollow dug into it would be filled (by itself in due course by themselves).

The sin of killing a Brahmana is clearly perceived in them in the form of gum 9which should not, therefore, be eaten). (young) women took a third qurter of the sin with the boon of constant sexuar urge (capacity for sexual union even during gestation) The sin is clearly perceived in them in the form of the menstrual discharge from onth to month. Hence a woman is regarded as untouchable and unfit for sexual commerce during the period of menstruation). Water absorbed the fourthe quarter of the impurity with the boon of an abundant supply of the material (from springs etc.) It is seen in the water in the form of bubbles and foam 9which are therefore regarded as impure and unfit for consumption); anyone imbibing these imbibes the impurity[1]. Then twasta whose son (Viswarupa) had been slain (byu Indra), poured oblations into the sacred fire (by way of retaliation) in order to procure a mortal enemy for Indra, iwith the (following) prayer: "Oenemy of Indra, may you grow in power to an enormous degree and kill your mighty foe (Indra) without delay. " Now from (the sacred fire called)Anvaharyapacana (or Daksinagni) rose a demon of terrible aspect, who looked like Death appearing (in the form of Kalagnirudra) at the time of universal dissolution for the destruction of the worlds. He rapidly grew to the extent of an arrow's throw on every side from day to day, presented the appearance of a burnt hill (by his colossal size and dark colour) and possessed the glow of a mass of evening clouds. With a beard and moustaches and hair (too) red as heated copper and eyes as fierce as the midday sun he danced as if holding the vault of heaven on the end of his brilliant trident.

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References

  1. This accounts for the practice, prevalent among the orthodox hindus, of throwing away the bubbles from water before drinking it; and it is therefore that the use of aerated water etc., is prohibited in their eyes.

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