Mahabharata 12.218

12.218.1

bhīṣma uvāca |
śatakraturathāpaśyadbalerdīptāṃ mahātmanaḥ |
svarūpiṇīṃ śarīrāddhi tadā niṣkrāmatīṃ śriyam || 1 ||

"Bhishma said, 'After this, he of hundred sacrifices beheld the goddess of Prosperity, in her own embodied form that blazed splendour, issue out of the form of the high-souled Vali. The illustrious chastiser of Paka, beholding the goddess blazing with radiance, addressed Vali in these words, with eyes expanded in wonder.'

12.218.2

tāṃ dīptāṃ prabhayā dṛṣṭvā bhagavānpākaśāsanaḥ |
vismayotphullanayano baliṃ papraccha vāsavaḥ || 2 ||

12.218.3

bale keyamapakrāntā rocamānā śikhaṇḍinī |
tvattaḥ sthitā sakeyūrā dīpyamānā svatejasā || 3 ||

"Sakra said, 'O Vali, who is this one, thus shining with splendour, thus decked with head plumes, thus adorned with golden bracelets on her upper arms, and thus emitting a halo of glory on all sides in consequence of her energy that is issuing out of thy body.'

12.218.4

baliruvāca |
na hīmāmāsurīṃ vedmi na daivīṃ na ca mānuṣīm |
tvamevaināṃ pṛccha mā vā yatheṣṭaṃ kuru vāsava || 4 ||

"Vali said, 'I do not know whether she is an Asura damsel or a celestial one or a human one. Thou mayst not ask her thyself. Do what pleases thee.'

12.218.5

śakra uvāca |
kā tvaṃ balerapakrāntā rocamānā śikhaṇḍinī |
ajānato mamācakṣva nāmadheyaṃ śucismite || 5 ||

"Sakra said, 'O thou of sweet smiles, who art thou that art possessed of such radiance and adorned with plumes that thus issuest from the body of Vali. I do not know thee. Kindly tell me thy name. Who, indeed, art thou that thus standest here as Maya herself, blazing with thy own splendour, after having deserted the lord of the Daityas? O, tell me this as I question thee.'

12.218.6

kā tvaṃ tiṣṭhasi māyeva dīpyamānā svatejasā |
hitvā daityeśvaraṃ subhru tanmamācakṣva tattvataḥ || 6 ||

12.218.7

śrīruvāca |
na mā virocano veda na mā vairocano baliḥ |
āhurmāṃ duḥsahetyevaṃ vidhitseti ca māṃ viduḥ || 7 ||

"Sree said, 'Virochana did not know me. This Vali also that is the son of Virochana knows me not. The learned called me by the name of Duhshaha. Some knew me by the name of Vidhitsa. I have other names also, O Vasava! They are Bhuti, Lakshmi, and Sree. Thou knowest me not, O Sakra, nor doth any one among the deities know me.'

12.218.8

bhūtirlakṣmīti māmāhuḥ śrīrityevaṃ ca vāsava |
tvaṃ māṃ śakra na jānīṣe sarve devā na māṃ viduḥ || 8 ||

12.218.9

śakra uvāca |
kimidaṃ tvaṃ mama kṛte utāho balinaḥ kṛte |
duḥsahe vijahāsyenaṃ cirasaṃvāsinī satī || 9 ||

"Sakra said, 'O lady that is difficult of being borne, why do you desert Vali now after having lived in him for a long time? Is it due to any act of mine or is it due to any act that Vali has done?'

12.218.10

śrīruvāca |
na dhātā na vidhātā māṃ vidadhāti kathaṃcana |
kālastu śakra paryāyānmainaṃ śakrāvamanyathāḥ || 10 ||

"Sree said, 'Neither the Creator nor the Ordainer rules me. It is Time that moves me from one place to another. Do not, O Sakra, disregard Vali.'

12.218.11

śakra uvāca |
kathaṃ tvayā balistyaktaḥ kimarthaṃ vā śikhaṇḍini |
kathaṃ ca māṃ na jahyāstvaṃ tanme brūhi śucismite || 11 ||

"Sakra said, 'For what reason, O goddess adorned with plumes, do you desert Vali? Why also do you approach me (for living in me)? Tell me this, O thou of sweet smiles!'

12.218.12

śrīruvāca |
satye sthitāsmi dāne ca vrate tapasi caiva hi |
parākrame ca dharme ca parācīnastato baliḥ || 12 ||

'Sree said, 'I live in truth, in gifts, in good vows, in penances, in prowess, and in virtue. Vali hath fallen off from all these. Formerly, he was devoted to the Brahmanas. He was truthful and had controlled his passions. Latterly, however, he began to cherish feelings of animosity towards the Brahmanas and touched clarified butter with soiled hands. Formerly, he was always engaged in the performance of sacrifices. At last, blinded by ignorance and afflicted by Time he began to boast before all persons, saying that his adorations towards me were ceaseless. Deserting him (for these faults) I shall henceforth, O Sakra, dwell in thee. Thou shouldst bear me without heedlessness, and with penances and prowess.'

12.218.13

brahmaṇyo'yaṃ sadā bhūtvā satyavādī jitendriyaḥ |
abhyasūyadbrāhmaṇānvai ucchiṣṭaścāspṛśadghṛtam || 13 ||

12.218.14

yajñaśīlaḥ purā bhūtvā māmeva yajatetyayam |
provāca lokānmūḍhātmā kālenopanipīḍitaḥ || 14 ||

12.218.15

apākṛtā tataḥ śakra tvayi vatsyāmi vāsava |
apramattena dhāryāsmi tapasā vikrameṇa ca || 15 ||

12.218.16

śakra uvāca |
asti devamanuṣyeṣu sarvabhūteṣu vā pumān |
yastvāmeko viṣahituṃ śaknuyātkamalālaye || 16 ||

"Sakra said, 'O thou that dwellest amid lotuses, there is not a single person among gods, men, and all creatures, that can bear thee for ever.'

12.218.17

śrīruvāca |
naiva devo na gandharvo nāsuro na ca rākṣasaḥ |
yo māmeko viṣahituṃ śaktaḥ kaścitpuraṃdara || 17 ||

"Sree said, 'Truly, O Purandara, there is none among gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, or Rakshasas, that can bear me for ever.'

12.218.18

śakra uvāca |
tiṣṭhethā mayi nityaṃ tvaṃ yathā tadbrūhi me śubhe |
tatkariṣyāmi te vākyamṛtaṃ tvaṃ vaktumarhasi || 18 ||

"Sakra said, 'O auspicious lady, tell me how I should conduct myself so that thou mayst dwell in me always. I shall certainly obey thy behests. It behoveth thee to answer me truly.'

12.218.19

śrīruvāca |
sthāsyāmi nityaṃ devendra yathā tvayi nibodha tat |
vidhinā vedadṛṣṭena caturdhā vibhajasva mām || 19 ||

"Sree said, 'O chief of the deities, I shall tell thee as to how I may be enabled to dwell in thee always. Divide me into four parts according to the ordinance laid down in the Vedas.'

12.218.20

śakra uvāca |
ahaṃ vai tvā nidhāsyāmi yathāśakti yathābalam |
na tu me'tikramaḥ syādvai sadā lakṣmi tavāntike || 20 ||

"Sakra said, 'I shall assign the habitations according to their strength and power in bearing thee. As regards myself, I shall always take care, O Lakshmi, that I may not offend thee in any way. Amongst men, the earth, that progenitrix of all things, bear them all. She shall bear a fourth part of thyself. I think she hath the strength to do it.'

12.218.21

bhūmireva manuṣyeṣu dhāraṇī bhūtabhāvinī |
sā te pādaṃ titikṣeta samarthā hīti me matiḥ || 21 ||

12.218.22

śrīruvāca |
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'yaṃ bhūmau pratiṣṭhitaḥ |
dvitīyaṃ śakra pādaṃ me tasmātsunihitaṃ kuru || 22 ||

"Sree said, 'Here, I yield up a quarter of myself. Let it be established on the earth. Do thou, after this, make a proper disposition, O Sakra, for my second quarter.'

12.218.23

śakra uvāca |
āpa eva manuṣyeṣu dravantyaḥ paricārikāḥ |
tāste pādaṃ titikṣantāmalamāpastitikṣitum || 23 ||

"Sakra said, 'The waters, among men, in their liquid form, do various services to human beings. Let the waters bear a fourth part of thy person. They have the strength to bear a portion of thine.'

12.218.24

śrīruvāca |
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'yamapsu pratiṣṭhitaḥ |
tṛtīyaṃ śakra pādaṃ me tasmātsunihitaṃ kuru || 24 ||

"Sree said, 'I yield up another quarter of mine that is to be established in the waters. Do thou, after this, O Sakra, assign a proper place for my third quarter.'

12.218.25

śakra uvāca |
yasmindevāśca yajñāśca yasminvedāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ |
tṛtīyaṃ pādamagniste sudhṛtaṃ dhārayiṣyati || 25 ||

"Sakra said, 'The Vedas, the sacrifices, and the deities are all established in Fire. Fire will bear thy third quarter, when it is placed therein.'

12.218.26

śrīruvāca |
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'yamagnau pratiṣṭhitaḥ |
caturthaṃ śakra pādaṃ me tasmātsunihitaṃ kuru || 26 ||

"Sree said, 'Here I yield up my third quarter which is to be placed in Fire. Do thou, O Sakra, after this, assign a proper place for my last quarter.'

12.218.27

śakra uvāca |
ye vai santo manuṣyeṣu brahmaṇyāḥ satyavādinaḥ |
te te pādaṃ titikṣantāmalaṃ santastitikṣitum || 27 ||

"Sakra said, 'They that are good among men, devoted to Brahmanas, and truthful in speech, may bear thy fourth quarter. The good have the power to bear it.'

12.218.28

śrīruvāca |
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'yaṃ satsu pratiṣṭhitaḥ |
evaṃ vinihitāṃ śakra bhūteṣu paridhatsva mām || 28 ||

"Sree said, 'Here I yield up my fourth quarter that is to be placed among the good. My portions thus assigned to different creatures, do thou continue to protect me, O Sakra.'

12.218.29

śakra uvāca |
bhūtānāmiha vai yastvā mayā vinihitāṃ satīm |
upahanyātsa me dviṣyāttathā śṛṇvantu me vacaḥ || 29 ||

"Sakra said, 'Listen to these words of mine. I have thus distributed thee among different creatures. Those among creatures that will offend against thee shall be chastised by me. The chief of the Daityas, viz., Vali, thus deserted by Sree, then said these words.'

12.218.30

bhīṣma uvāca |
tatastyaktaḥ śriyā rājā daityānāṃ balirabravīt |
yāvatpurastātpratapettāvadvai dakṣiṇāṃ diśam || 30 ||

"Vali said, 'At present the Sun shines as much in the east as in the west, and as much in the north as in the south. When, however, the Sun, withdrawing himself from all sides, will shine only upon the region of Brahman situated in the middle of Sumeru, then will again occur a great battle between the gods and the Asuras, and in that fight I shall certainly vanquish all of you. When the Sun, withdrawing himself from all sides, will shine fixedly upon only the region of Brahman, then will again occur a great battle between the gods and the Asuras, and in that fight I shall surely conquer all of you.'

12.218.31

paścimāṃ tāvadevāpi tathodīcīṃ divākaraḥ |
tathā madhyaṃdine sūryo astameti yadā tadā |
punardevāsuraṃ yuddhaṃ bhāvi jetāsmi vastadā || 31 ||

12.218.32

sarvām̐llokānyadāditya ekasthastāpayiṣyati |
tadā devāsure yuddhe jetāhaṃ tvāṃ śatakrato || 32 ||

12.218.33

śakra uvāca |
brahmaṇāsmi samādiṣṭo na hantavyo bhavāniti |
tena te'haṃ bale vajraṃ na vimuñcāmi mūrdhani || 33 ||

"Sakra said, 'Brahman hath commanded me saying that I should never kill thee. It is for this reason, O Vali, that I do not hurl my thunderbolt upon thy head. Go whithersoever thou wishest, O chief of the Daityas! O great Asura, peace to thee! No time will come when the Sun will shine from only the meridian. The Self-born (Brahman) hath before this ordained the laws that regulate the Sun's motions. Giving light and heat to all creatures, he goes on ceaselessly. For six months he travels in a northward course and then for the other six in a southward course. The sun travels by these courses (one after another), creating winter and summer for all creatures.'

12.218.34

yatheṣṭaṃ gaccha daityendra svasti te'stu mahāsura |
ādityo nāvatapitā kadācinmadhyataḥ sthitaḥ || 34 ||

12.218.35

sthāpito hyasya samayaḥ pūrvameva svayaṃbhuvā |
ajasraṃ pariyātyeṣa satyenāvatapanprajāḥ || 35 ||

12.218.36

ayanaṃ tasya ṣaṇmāsā uttaraṃ dakṣiṇaṃ tathā |
yena saṃyāti lokeṣu śītoṣṇe visṛjanraviḥ || 36 ||

12.218.37

bhīṣma uvāca |
evamuktastu daityendro balirindreṇa bhārata |
jagāma dakṣiṇāmāśāmudīcīṃ tu puraṃdaraḥ || 37 ||

"Bhishma continued, 'Thus addressed by Indra, O Bharata, Vali, the chief of the Daityas, proceeded towards the south. Purandara proceeded towards the north. The thousand-eyed Indra, after having listened to this speech of Vali which was characterised by an entire absence of pride, then ascended the skies.'

12.218.38

ityetadbalinā gītamanahaṃkārasaṃjñitam |
vākyaṃ śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ khamevāruruhe tadā || 38 ||