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and is the slayer of the foes of the gods. Having a whorl on his breast, he has curly locks of hair on his head. He is worshipped
by all the deities. Brahman has risen from his abdomen. I have sprung from his head, All the luminaries in the firmament have
sprung from his hair. From the bristles on his body have sprung all the gods and Asuras. From his body have sprung the Rishis
as also all the eternal worlds. He is the veritable abode of the Grandsire and the abode of all the gods besides. He is the Creator
of this whole Earth, and He is the Lord of the three worlds He is also the Destroyer of all creatures mobile and immobile. He is
verily the foremost of all the deities. He is their master. He is the chastiser of all foes. He is possessed of omniscience. He
exists in everything. He is capable of going everywhere. He is of universal extent (pervading as he does everything). He is the
Supreme Soul. He is the urger of all the senses. He covers the universe. He is the Supreme Lord. There is nothing in the three
worlds that is superior to him. He is Eternal. He is the slayer of Madhu, and is otherwise called Govinda. The giver of honours,
He will cause all the kings of Earth to be slain in battle, for achieving the purposes of the deities, taking birth in a human form.
The deities, abandoned by Him, are unable to accomplish their purposes on earth. Without obtaining him as their leader they
cannot do anything. He is the leader of all creatures and is adored by all the gods[582]. Within the abdomen of this Master of
the gods who is ever devoted to the accomplishment of their purposes, of this one who is identical with Brahma and who is
always the refuge of the regenerate Rishis, resides Brahma (the Grandsire). Indeed, the latter dwells happily in Hari's body
which is the abode. I myself, that am called Sarva, also reside happily in that happy abode of mine. All the deities too reside in
happiness in His body. Endued with great effulgence, he has eyes that resemble the petals of the lotus. Sri dwells within Him
and He dwells always associated with her. The bow called Saranga and the discus (called Sudarsana) are his weapons, together
with a sword. He has the enemy of the snakes (viz., Garuda) sitting on his standard. He is distinguished by excellent conduct,
by purity (of both body and mind), by self-restraint, by prowess, by energy, by the handsomest form, by tallness and well-
proportioned limbs, by patience, by sincerity, by affluence, by compassion, by excellence of form, and by might. He shines,
endued with all celestial weapons of wonderful form and make. He has Yoga for his illusion. He is possessed of a thousand
eyes. He is free from every stain or fault. He is high-minded. He is endued with heroism. He is an object of pride with all his
friends. He is dear to all his kinsmen and relatives and they are dear to him. He is endued with forgiveness. He is free from
pride or egotism. He is devoted to the Brahmanas and is their leader. He dispels the fears of all persons afflicted with fear. He
enhances the joys of all his friends. He is the refuge of all creatures. He is ever engaged in protecting and cherishing the
distressed. Possessed of a thorough acquaintance with all the scriptures, and every kind of affluence, He is worshipped by all
beings. Con-versant with all duties, He is a great benefactor of even enemies when they seek His protection. Conversant with
policy and endued with policy, He is an utterer of Brahma and has all His senses under perfect control. For doing good to the
deities, Govinda will take birth in the race of the high-souled Manu. Verily, endued with high intelligence, He will take birth in
the auspicious and righteous race of that Prajapati. Manu will have a son of the name of Anga. After Anga will come
Antardhaman. From Antardhaman will spring Havirdhaman, that lord of all creatures, free from every stain. Havirdhaman will
have an illustrious son of the name of Rachinavarhi. He will have ten sons having Prachetas for their first. Prachetas will have a
son named Daksha who will be regarded as a Prajapati. Daksha will beget a daughter who will be named Dakshayani. From
Dakshayani will spring Aditya, and from Aditya will spring Manu. From Manu will spring a daughter named Ila and a son to
be named Sudyumna. Ila will have Vudha for her husband, and from Vudha will spring Pururavas. From Pururavas will spring
Ayu. From Ayu will spring Nahusha, and Nahusha will beget a son named Yayati. From Yayati will spring a mighty son of the
name of Yadu, Yadu will beget Kroshtri. Kroshtri will beget a mighty son to be named Vrijinivat. From Vrijinivat will spring
Ushadgu the unvanquished. Ushadgu will beget a son of the name of Chitraratha. Chitraratha will have a younger son of the
name of Sura. Indeed, in the race of these mighty men, of energy celebrated over all the world, possessed of excellent conduct
and diverse accomplishments, devoted to the performance of sacrifices and pure in behaviour,--in the pure race honoured by
the Brahmanas, Sura will take his birth. He will be a foremost Kshatriya, endued with great energy, and possessed of great
fame. Sura, that giver of honours, will beget a son, the spreader of his race, of the name of Vasudeva, otherwise called
Anakadundhuvi. Vasudeva will have a son of the name of Vasudeva. He will have four hands. He will be exceedingly liberal,
and will honour the Brahmanas greatly. Identical with Brahma, he will like and love the Brahmanas, and the Brahmanas will
like and love him, that scion of Yadu's race will liberate many kings immured in the prison of the ruler of the Magadhas, after
vanquishing that ruler named Jarasandha in his capital buried among mountains. Endued with great energy, he will be rich with
the jewels and gems of all the rulers of the earth. Indeed, in energy he will be unrivalled on earth, possessed of great prowess,
he will be the king of all kings of the earth. Foremost among all the Surasenas, the puissant one, residing at Dwaraka, will rule
and protect the whole earth after vanquishing all her lords, conversant as he will be with the science of polity. Assembling
together, do ye all adore Him, as ye adore the Eternal Brahman, with speech, floral wreaths, and excellent incense and
perfumes. He who wishes to see me or the Grandsire Brahma should first see the illustrious Vasudeva of great puissance, If He
is seen I am seen, as also the Grandsire Brahman, that foremost of all the gods. In this I do not deem there is any difference.
Know this, ye Rishis of ascetic wealth! That person with whom the lotus-eyed Vasudeva becomes gratified, all the deities with
Brahma amongst them will also become gratified with. That man who will seek the protection of Kesava will succeed in
earning great achievements and victory and Heaven. He will be an instructor in religion and duties, and will earn, great
religious merit. All persons conversant with religion and duties should, with great alacrity, bow down unto that Lord of all the
gods. By adoring that puissant one, one will acquire great merit. Endued with great energy, that god, with the desire of
benefiting all creatures, created millions of Rishis for the sake of righteousness. Those millions of Rishis, thus created by that
great Ordainer are no residing on the mountains of Gandhamadana, headed by Sanatkumara and engaged in the observance of
penances. Hence, ye foremost of regenerate ones, that foremost of all eloquent persons, the righteous Vasudeva should be
adored by all. The illustrious Hari, the puissant Narayana, is verily, the foremost of all beings in Heaven. Adored, he adores,
and honoured he honours; unto them that make offerings to him, he makes offerings in return. Worshipped, he worships in
return, if seen always, he sees the seers always. If one seeks His refuge and protection, He seeks the seeker as his refuge in
return. Ye foremost of all righteous ones, if adored and worshipped, He adores and worships in return. Even this is the high
practice of the faultless Vishnu. Even this is the vow that is practised by all righteous people, of that first of all deities, that
puissant Lord of all creatures. He is always worshipped in the world. Verily, that Eternal Being is worshipped by even the
deities. Those persons that are devoted to Him with the steadiness of a vow become liberated from calamity and fear in
proportion to his devotion. The regenerate ones should always worship Him in thought, word, and deed. The son of Devaki
should be seen by them with reverence and in order to see Him with reverence they should address themselves to the
performance of penances. Ye foremost of ascetics, even this is the path that I show unto you. By beholding Him, ye will have
behold all the foremost of deities, I too bow my head in reverence unto that Lord of the universe, that Grandsire of all the
worlds, that mighty and vast boar. By beholding Him one beholds the Trinity. Ourselves, i.e., all the deities, reside in Him. He
will have an elder brother who will become known over all the world as Vala. Having a plough for his weapon, in form he will
look like a white hill. In fact, he will be endued with might capable of uplifting the whole earth. Upon the car of that divine
person a tall palmyra, three-headed and made of gold, will form his proud standard. The head of that mighty-armed hero, that
Lord of all the worlds, will be shaded by many high-souled snakes of vast bodies. All weapons of attack and defence will also
come to him as soon as he will think of them. He is called Ananta (Infinite) Verily, that illustrious one is identical with the
immutable Hari. Once on a time the mighty Garuda, the son of Kasyapa, was addressed by the deities in these words, 'Do thou,
O puissant one, see if this one has any end!' Though possessed of great energy and might, Garuda, however, failed to find out
the end of this illustrious one who is identical with the Supreme Soul. Supporting the whole earth on his head, he resides in the
nether regions. He roves through the universe as Sesha, filled with great joy. He is Vishnu, He is the illustrious Ananta. He is
the supporter of the earth. He that is Rama is Hrishikesa. He that is Achyuta is Ananta, the bearer of the earth. Both of those
foremost of all creatures are celestial and endued with celestial prowess. One of them is armed with the discus and the other
with the plough. They deserve every honour and should be seen, I have, through my kindness for you, have thus declared to
you the nature of Vasudeva. Even this, ye ascetics possessed of wealth of penances, is Righteousness, I have declared all this to
you so that ye may, with reverence and care, worship Krishna, that foremost one of Yadu's race."
SECTION CXLVIII
"Narada said, 'At the conclusion of Mahadeva's speech, loud roars were heard in the firmament. Thunders bellowed, with
flashes of lightening. The welkin was enveloped with blue and thick clouds. The deity of the clouds then poured pure water
like to what he does in the season of rains. A thick darkness set in. The points of the compass could no longer be distinguished.
Then on that delightful, sacred, and eternal breast of that celestial mountain, the assembled Rishis no longer saw the multitude
of ghostly beings that associate with Mahadeva. Soon, however, the welkin cleared. Some of the Rishis set out for the sacred
waters. Others returned whence they came. Verily, beholding that wonderful and inconceivable sight, they became filled with
amazement. The discourse too between Sankara and Uma had been heard by them with the feelings. That foremost of all
Beings, of whom the high-souled Sankara spoke to us on that mountain, art Thou. Verily, thou art identical with Eternal
Brahma. Some time also Mahadeva burnt Himavat with his energy. Thou too hast shown us a similar sight of wonder. Indeed,
we have been put in remembrance of that fact by what we have witnessed today. O mighty-armed Janardana, I have thus, O
puissant one, recited to thee the glory of that god of gods, viz., him that is called Kapardin or Girisa!'