CHAPTER CLXXIII
(THE GREAT ASURA)
Janamejaya said:—O foremost of the twice-born, I have heard many incomparable deeds of that intelligent Yadu king many a time. O foremost of moral men, O you having asceticism for your wealth, I wish now to hear how Vāsudeva behaved towards Vāna as mentioned by you before. O Brahman, how could that Asura, who was protected by Shankara, obtain the sonship of that god of gods? How could he live in the company of his Guhas? The son of the powerful Bali was the eldest of a hundred brothers and had thousand hands adorned with hundreds of celestial weapons, was encircled by numberless huge-bodied Asuras and was a master of hundreds of illusion. How was Vāna, desirous of fighting a duel and inflamed with anger, defeated by Vasudeva in battle And why did Keshava leave him off with life?
Vaishampāyana said:—Hear, O king, with attention how a terrible encounter took place between Vāna and Krishna of incomparable energy in the land of men? O king, hear how Bali's son Vāna, helped by Rudra and Kumāra, and always spoken high of in battle, was defeated by Vasudeva and left off with his life, how the high-souled Shankara used to keep him always by him and conferred on him the sovereignty over Ganus; how the Asura Vāna obtained the sonship of that god of gods; how a great battle ensued between him and Vāsudeva and how he was left off with his life (1-11).
Once on a time seeing the high-souled Kumāra (Kārtikeya) while sporting the highly powerful Bali's son was filled with surprise. Then thinking, "How may I be Rudra's son?" he desired to carry on hard austerities for worshipping Rudra. Gradually the more that foremost of Asuras rendered himself glorious by practising hard austerities the more pleased was Siva, who is easily satisfied, with Umā. Having attained to an excess of satisfaction with the austerities of Vāna, the blue-throated deity himself went there and said to the Asura:—"May you fare well; pray for a boon which you cherish at heart" (12–15). Thereupon Vāna said to Maheswara, the god of gods:—"O three-eyed deity, my prayer is that thou mayst confer on me the son-ship of the goddess" (16). Saying "So be it" Shankara said to the goddess:—"Accept him as your son. He is the younger brother of Kārtikeya. Forsooth, his city will be laid out at that place from where formerly Mahāsena rose up from the blood produced by fire. That best of cities will be celebrated by the name of Shonita-pura. No body will be able to withstand the beautiful Vāna completely protected by me" (17-19).
Thereupon Vāna lived in the city of Shonita and governed his kingdom oppressing the gods. Gradually the thousand-armed one was so much worked up with the pride of his prowess that disregarding the gods he solicited a battle with them (20-21). At that time Kumāra give him a standard burning like fire and an effulgent peacock to carry him. Afterwards, by the power of Maheshwara, the god of gods, Vāna so fought that none amongst the gods, Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rākshasas could keep himself firm at that time (22–23). Protected completely by Tryamvaka and elated with pride the Asura, desirous of fighting, again approached Siva (24). Approaching Rudra and saluting him Bali's son said:—"The gods, Sādhyas and Marutas, whom I repeatedly vanquished with the help of my army and under your protection, have come here and are living happily. O god, vanquished by me, filled with terror and despairing of my defeat the gods are living happily in the celestial city under your protection. So despairing of success in battle I do not wish to live any longer; there is no use of holding all these arms if I cannot fight. Save fighting my mind does not fix upon any thing else. Be thou propitiated and tell me when I shall be able to fight (25–29)."
Thereupon the Divine Vrishadhwaja similingly said:—"O Dānava Vāna, hear how you will enter upon a battle. When this your standard, planted in your own city, will be broken, you will enter upon a battle" (30–31). Thus spoken to Vāna, smiling again and again, prostrated himself at Bhava's feet and said:—"By my good luck, my holding these thousand arms has not become fruitless. I will again, by my good fortune, defeat the thousand-eyed deity." Thereupon having his eyes filled with tears of joy, Vāna, the aggrandiser of his enemies, prostrated himself on the ground and adored Maheshwara with his five hundred fingers. Maheshwara said:—"Rise up O hero you will soon obtain a fight befitting your family and thousand arms" (32–34).
Vaishampāyana said:—Thus addressed by the high-souled three-eyed deity Vrishadhwaja Vāna, with delight, saluted him and rose up speedily (35). Thereupon dismissed by the blue-throated deity Vāna, the victor of hostile cities, entered into the room of standards in his own palace. Seated there he smilingly said to Kumbhānda:—"I will give a pleasant tidings after your heart." Hearing it the minister Kumbhānda smilingly said to Vāna, incomparable in battle:—"O king, what pleasant news are you desirous of communicating to me? O foremost of Daityas, my eyes have been expanded with joy and surprise. I wish to learn what boon you have obtained (36–39). By the grace of the blue-throated deity as well as that of Skanda what boon have you obtained? Has Trident-handed deity given you the kingdom of the three worlds? Will Indra, in fear of you, enter into nether region? Will Diti's sons be freed from the fear of Vishnu afraid of whose discus they entered into the ocean? Will not Diti's sons have to fear Vishnu stationed in battle with Shrānga bow and club in his hands (40-42)? Will the great Asuras, under the protection of your power, leave the nether region and reside in the celestial city (43)? O king, your father Bali, defeated by Vishu's power, is living in chains. Will he rise up from the water and regain his kingdom (44). Shall we see again your father Bali, Virochona's son, adorned with celestial garlands and pasted with celestial unguents (45)? O Lord, shall we, vanquishing the gods, bring again to our subjection the worlds pilfered with three steps (46)? Shall we vanquish the god Nārāyana, the victor of armies, who is preceeded by the grave and cool sound of his conch-shell (47)? From the dancing of your heart and tears of joy it appears that Vrishadhwaja has been propitiated by you. Have you, by the Lord’s pleasure and Kartikeya's consent, obtained for us all the dignity of the king of the earth?" (48–49) Encouraged by the words of Kumbhānda, Vāna, the foremost of Asuras and speakers, gave vent to the following powerful words:—"I have not been able to fight for a long time. Therefore stricken with sorrow I said to the divine blue throated deity:—'O lord, I am filled with a great desire for battle. Tell me when I shall enter on a battle conducive to the satisfaction of my mind'. Hearing it Hara, the god of gods, and the slayer of his enemies, smiled for some time and then said to me in sweet words:–'O Vāna, in no time you will face a great battle. O Diti's son, when your peacock standard will be broken you will find a great battle awaiting you.' After the divine Vrishadhwaja had said this I saluted him and came to you" (50-55).
Thus addressed Kumbhānda said to the king of Asuras: "O king, the words given vent to by you appear to be highly charming." While they were thus conversing the huge standard, clapped by Indra's thunderbolt, dropped down with great force (56-57). Beholding that most excellent standard thus struck down Asura Vāna was filled with joy in anticipation of an approaching battle. At that time struck by Indra's thunder-bolt the earth trembled and a cat, hiding itself under the earth, began to mew. In the city of Shonita, Vāsava, the king of gods, began to shower blood around the king's palace (58–60). Piercing the sun huge fire-brands fell down on earth. The sun, rising with the planet Kirtika, assailed Rohini (61). Hundreds and thousands of dreadful streams of blood fell from Chaitya trees and stars continually fell (from the sky) (62). Though that men-destroying hour was not a Parva yet Rāhu devoured the sun and huge-fire brands fell. A comet appeared in the south and dreadful winds blew continually (63–64). Encircled by three-coloured Parighas, the sun, effulgent like lightning, having white and red corners and black neck, covered the hue of the evening. As if chastising Rohini, the birth star of Vāna, the dreadful Angaraka entered as Rahu into Kirtikā. The huge Chaitrya tree, having many branches, which the Dānava maidens used to worship, fell down on earth. Vāna, elated with the pride of his strength, though he saw all these evil portends, could not make out that he would be defeated (65–68). But Vāna's wise and right-seeing minister Kumbhānda, struck with sorrow, spoke much on all those evil omens. He said:—"These omens presage evil. Forsooth they indicate the destruction of your kingdom; on account of the evil conduct of a king like yourself, we ministers, along with your servants, will meet with destruction. Alas! As the tree, the banner of Sakra, has fallen down, so will proud Vāna, always vaunting out of ignorance, will fall. Desirous of conquering the three worlds for the favour of the god of gods, Vanā is crying out for battle. But on the other hand his destruction is drawing near (69-73)."
Thereupon Vāna, of great prowess, began to drink delightedly Asava wine in the company of Daitya and Danava damsels (74). Beholding those portends and filled with anxiety Kumbhānda entered into the king's palace; and thinking of those evil omens, he said:—"The wicked and careless Asura king Vāna, elated with the pride of success, is desiring for a battle. He does not see his weakness out of ignorance. The evil omens that are being seen now, may not be true for the present but the fear consequent thereon can never be otherwise (75–77). The lotus-eyed Sivā and the powerful Kārtikeya live here and so these evil omen's may be destroyed. But methinks our sins will never be dissipated. A great destruction, begotten by our pride, is drawing near. Alas, by the oppressions of this king all the Dānavas have been touched by sin and this will lead to their destruction (78–80). Hara, the lord of three worlds, the master of gods and Dānavas and the divine Kārtikeya live in our city. Guha is loved by Bhava more than his life. But Vāna is still a greater favourite. On account of his excessive pride, Vāna, for his own destruction, prayed for a battle to Bhava. And that too he has obtained. But it does not appear that a battle will take place. If however an encounter comes off with Indra and other gods headed by Vishnu it must be regarded as a creation of Bhava. If Bhava and Kumāra are willing to help Vāna nobody will be able to fight with them. The words of the three-eyed deity never prove untrue. Forsooth a great Daitya-destroying battle will soon take place." Thus thinking the considerate and right-seeing Asura Kumbhānda directed his understanding towards good and said "Those who fight with the virtuous gods meet with destruction as Bali has been suppressed" (81-88).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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