राम

Harivaṃśa-parva

Harivaṃśa · Adhyāya 43

77 versesViṣṇu Reassures the Earth

Synopsis

"Fear not, auspicious earth; find peace, composed one. I shall fix you in the place that fits you." The chapter is Viṣṇu's reassurance turning to plan. He asks who will carry her burden; he himself is the Lord of the world and the framer of its bodies. "Go", he says, "into the lineage of Bharata; place your own body there, by your own radiance; having given up this marine form you wear, O Lord of rivers." The chapter closes with the announcement: in the line of Yayāti, in the line of the wise Vasudeva, Nārāyaṇa the Lord will be born.

First-pass synopsis; pending review by a Sanskritist.

Verse 1

मा भैर् धरणि कल्याणि शान्तिं व्रज समाहिते एष त्वाम् उचितं स्थानं स्थापयामि वसिंधरे एतस्याहं प्रसादेन श्रमं त्यक्ष्यामि देवताः ते श्रुत्वा पृथिवीवाक्यं सर्व एव दिवौकसः तदर्थकृत्यं संचिन्त्य पितामहम् अथाब्रुवन्

mā bhair dharaṇi kalyāṇi śāntiṃ vraja samāhite eṣa tvām ucitaṃ sthānaṃ sthāpayāmi vasiṃdhare etasyāhaṃ prasādena śramaṃ tyakṣyāmi devatāḥ te śrutvā pṛthivīvākyaṃ sarva eva divaukasaḥ tadarthakṛtyaṃ saṃcintya pitāmaham athābruvan

'Fear not, auspicious earth; find peace, composed one. I shall fix you in the place that fits you. By this grace of him I shall take off your fatigue, O gods.' Hearing this earth-speech…

Verse 2

भगवन् क्रियताम् अस्या धरण्या भारसंनतिः शरीरकर्ता लोकानां त्वं हि लोकस्य चेश्वरः

bhagavan kriyatām asyā dharaṇyā bhārasaṃnatiḥ śarīrakartā lokānāṃ tvaṃ hi lokasya ceśvaraḥ

Verse 3

यत् कर्तव्यं महेन्द्रेण यमेन वरुणेन च यद् वा कार्यं धनेशेन स्वयं नारायणेन वा

yat kartavyaṃ mahendreṇa yamena varuṇena ca yad vā kāryaṃ dhaneśena svayaṃ nārāyaṇena vā

Verse 4

यद् वा चन्द्रमसा कार्यं भास्करेणानिलेन वा आदित्यैर् वसुभिर् वापि रुद्रैर् वा लोकभावनैः

yad vā candramasā kāryaṃ bhāskareṇānilena vā ādityair vasubhir vāpi rudrair vā lokabhāvanaiḥ

Verse 5

अश्विभ्यां वा सुराग्र्याभ्यां साध्यैर् वा त्रिदिवालयैः मरुद्भिर् वा सुरश्रेष्ठैः पावकेनापि च प्रभो बृहस्पत्युशनोभ्यां वा कालेन कलिनापि वा

aśvibhyāṃ vā surāgryābhyāṃ sādhyair vā tridivālayaiḥ marudbhir vā suraśreṣṭhaiḥ pāvakenāpi ca prabho bṛhaspatyuśanobhyāṃ vā kālena kalināpi vā

Verse 6

महेश्वरेण वा ब्रह्मन् विशाखेन गुहेन वा यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वैश् चारणैर् वा महोरगैः

maheśvareṇa vā brahman viśākhena guhena vā yakṣarākṣasagandharvaiś cāraṇair vā mahoragaiḥ

Verse 7

पर्वतैः शैलमुख्यैर् वा सागरैर् वा महोर्मिभिः गङ्गामुखाभिर् दिव्याभिः सरिद्भिर् वा सुरेश्वर

parvataiḥ śailamukhyair vā sāgarair vā mahormibhiḥ gaṅgāmukhābhir divyābhiḥ saridbhir vā sureśvara

Verse 8

क्षिप्रम् आज्ञापय विभो कथम् अंशः प्रयुज्यताम् यदि ते पार्थिवं कार्यं कार्यं पार्थिवविग्रहे

kṣipram ājñāpaya vibho katham aṃśaḥ prayujyatām yadi te pārthivaṃ kāryaṃ kāryaṃ pārthivavigrahe

Verse 9

कथम् अंशावतरणं कुर्मः सर्वे पितामह अन्तरिक्षगता ये च पृथिव्यां ये च पार्थिवाः

katham aṃśāvataraṇaṃ kurmaḥ sarve pitāmaha antarikṣagatā ye ca pṛthivyāṃ ye ca pārthivāḥ

Verse 10

सदस्यानां च विप्राणां पार्थिवानां कुलेषु च अयोनिजाश् चापि तनूः सृजाम जगतीतले

sadasyānāṃ ca viprāṇāṃ pārthivānāṃ kuleṣu ca ayonijāś cāpi tanūḥ sṛjāma jagatītale

Verse 11

सुराणाम् एककार्याणां श्रुत्वैतन् निश्चितं महत् देवैः परिवृतः प्राह वाक्यं लोकपितामहः

surāṇām ekakāryāṇāṃ śrutvaitan niścitaṃ mahat devaiḥ parivṛtaḥ prāha vākyaṃ lokapitāmahaḥ

Verse 12

रोचते मे सुरश्रेष्ठा युष्माकम् अपि निश्चयः सृजध्वं स्वशरीरांशांस् तेजसात्मसमान् भुवि

rocate me suraśreṣṭhā yuṣmākam api niścayaḥ sṛjadhvaṃ svaśarīrāṃśāṃs tejasātmasamān bhuvi

Verse 13

सर्व एव सुरश्रेष्ठास् तेजोभिर् अवरोहत भावयन्तो भुवं देवीं लब्ध्वा त्रिभुवनश्रियम्

sarva eva suraśreṣṭhās tejobhir avarohata bhāvayanto bhuvaṃ devīṃ labdhvā tribhuvanaśriyam

Verse 14

पार्थिवे भारते वंशे पूर्वम् एव विजानता पृथिव्यां संभवम् इमं श्रूयतां यन् मया कृतम्

pārthive bhārate vaṃśe pūrvam eva vijānatā pṛthivyāṃ saṃbhavam imaṃ śrūyatāṃ yan mayā kṛtam

Verse 15

समुद्रे ऽहं सुराः पूर्वे वेलाम् आसाद्य पश्चिमाम् आसे सार्धं तनूजेन कश्यपेन महात्मना

samudre 'haṃ surāḥ pūrve velām āsādya paścimām āse sārdhaṃ tanūjena kaśyapena mahātmanā

Verse 16

कथाभिः पूर्ववृत्ताभिर् लोकवेदानुगामिभिः इतिवृत्तैश् च बहुभिः पुराणप्रभवैर् गुणैः

kathābhiḥ pūrvavṛttābhir lokavedānugāmibhiḥ itivṛttaiś ca bahubhiḥ purāṇaprabhavair guṇaiḥ

Verse 17

निरूपयंस् तं देवेशं प्रमाणैर् बहुलक्षणैः कुर्वतस् तु कथास् तास् ताः समुद्रः सह गङ्गया समीपम् आजगामाशु युक्तस् तोयदमारुतैः

nirūpayaṃs taṃ deveśaṃ pramāṇair bahulakṣaṇaiḥ kurvatas tu kathās tās tāḥ samudraḥ saha gaṅgayā samīpam ājagāmāśu yuktas toyadamārutaiḥ

Verse 18

स वीचिविषमां कुर्वन् गतिं वेगतरङ्गिणीम् यादोगणविचित्रेण संछन्नस् तोयवाससा

sa vīciviṣamāṃ kurvan gatiṃ vegataraṅgiṇīm yādogaṇavicitreṇa saṃchannas toyavāsasā

Verse 19

शङ्खमुक्तामलतनुः प्रवालमणिभूषणः युक्तश् चन्द्रमसा पूर्णः साभ्रगम्भीरनिस्वनः

śaṅkhamuktāmalatanuḥ pravālamaṇibhūṣaṇaḥ yuktaś candramasā pūrṇaḥ sābhragambhīranisvanaḥ

Verse 20

स मां परिभवन्न् एव स्वां वेलां समतिक्रमन् क्लेदयाम् आस चपलैर् लावणैर् अम्बुविस्रवैः

sa māṃ paribhavann eva svāṃ velāṃ samatikraman kledayām āsa capalair lāvaṇair ambuvisravaiḥ

Verse 21

तं च देशं व्यवसितः समुद्रो ऽद्भिर् विमर्दितुम् उक्तः संरब्धया वाचा शान्तो ऽसीति ततो मया

taṃ ca deśaṃ vyavasitaḥ samudro 'dbhir vimarditum uktaḥ saṃrabdhayā vācā śānto 'sīti tato mayā

Verse 22

शान्तो ऽसीत्य् उक्तमात्रस् तु तनुत्वं सागरो गतः संहतोर्मितरङ्गौघः स्थितो राजश्रिया ज्वलन्

śānto 'sīty uktamātras tu tanutvaṃ sāgaro gataḥ saṃhatormitaraṅgaughaḥ sthito rājaśriyā jvalan

Verse 23

भूयश् चैव मया शप्तः समुद्रः सह गङ्गया सकारणां मतिं कृत्वा युष्माकं हितकाम्यया

bhūyaś caiva mayā śaptaḥ samudraḥ saha gaṅgayā sakāraṇāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā yuṣmākaṃ hitakāmyayā

Verse 24

यस्मात् त्वं राजतुल्येन वपुषा समुपस्थितः गच्छार्णव महीपालो राजैव त्वं भविष्यसि

yasmāt tvaṃ rājatulyena vapuṣā samupasthitaḥ gacchārṇava mahīpālo rājaiva tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi

Verse 25

तत्रापि सहजां लीलां धारयन् स्वेन तेजसा भविष्यसि नृणां भर्ता भारतानां कुलोद्वहः

tatrāpi sahajāṃ līlāṃ dhārayan svena tejasā bhaviṣyasi nṛṇāṃ bhartā bhāratānāṃ kulodvahaḥ

Verse 26

शान्तो ऽसीति मयोक्तस् त्वं यच् चासि तनुतां गतः सुतनुर् यशसा लोके शंतनुस् त्वं भविष्यसि

śānto 'sīti mayoktas tvaṃ yac cāsi tanutāṃ gataḥ sutanur yaśasā loke śaṃtanus tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi

Verse 27

इयम् अप्य् आयतापाङ्गी गङ्गा सर्वाङ्गशोभना इयम् अप्य् आगता गङ्गा तवार्थे वरवर्णिनी रूपिणी वै सरिच् छ्रेष्ठा तत्र त्वाम् उपयास्यति

iyam apy āyatāpāṅgī gaṅgā sarvāṅgaśobhanā iyam apy āgatā gaṅgā tavārthe varavarṇinī rūpiṇī vai saric chreṣṭhā tatra tvām upayāsyati

Verse 28

एवम् उक्तस् तु मां क्रुद्धः सो ऽभिगम्याऋणवो ऽब्रवीत् मां प्रभो देवदेवेश किमर्थं शप्तवान् असि

evam uktas tu māṃ kruddhaḥ so 'bhigamyāṛṇavo 'bravīt māṃ prabho devadeveśa kimarthaṃ śaptavān asi

Verse 29

अहं तव विधेयात्मा त्वत्कृतस् त्वत्परायणः अशपो ऽसदृशैर् वाक्यैर् आत्मजं मां किम् आत्मना

ahaṃ tava vidheyātmā tvatkṛtas tvatparāyaṇaḥ aśapo 'sadṛśair vākyair ātmajaṃ māṃ kim ātmanā

Verse 30

भगवंस् त्वत्प्रसादेन वेगात् पर्वणि वर्धितः यद्य् अहं चलितो ब्रह्मन् को ऽत्र दोषो ममात्मनः

bhagavaṃs tvatprasādena vegāt parvaṇi vardhitaḥ yady ahaṃ calito brahman ko 'tra doṣo mamātmanaḥ

Verse 31

क्षिप्ताभिः पवनेनाद्भिः स्पृष्टो यद्य् असि पर्वणि अत्र मे भगवन् किं नु विद्यते शापकारणम्

kṣiptābhiḥ pavanenādbhiḥ spṛṣṭo yady asi parvaṇi atra me bhagavan kiṃ nu vidyate śāpakāraṇam

Verse 32

उद्धूतैश् च महावातैः प्रवृद्धैश् च बलाहकैः पर्वणा चेन्दुयुक्तेन त्रिभिः क्षुब्धो ऽस्मि कारणैः

uddhūtaiś ca mahāvātaiḥ pravṛddhaiś ca balāhakaiḥ parvaṇā cenduyuktena tribhiḥ kṣubdho 'smi kāraṇaiḥ

Verse 33

एवं यद्य् अपराद्धो ऽहं कारणैस् त्वत्प्रवर्तितैः क्षन्तुम् अर्हसि मे ब्रह्मञ् शापो ऽयं विनिवर्त्यताम्

evaṃ yady aparāddho 'haṃ kāraṇais tvatpravartitaiḥ kṣantum arhasi me brahmañ śāpo 'yaṃ vinivartyatām

Verse 34

एवं मयि निरालम्बे शापाच् छिथिलतां गते कारुण्यं कुरु देवेश प्रमाणं यद्य् अवेक्षसे

evaṃ mayi nirālambe śāpāc chithilatāṃ gate kāruṇyaṃ kuru deveśa pramāṇaṃ yady avekṣase

Verse 35

अस्याश् च देव गङ्गाया गां गतायास् तवाज्ञया मद्दोषात् समदोषायाः प्रसादं कर्तुम् अर्हसि

asyāś ca deva gaṅgāyā gāṃ gatāyās tavājñayā maddoṣāt samadoṣāyāḥ prasādaṃ kartum arhasi

Verse 36

प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मन् विद्यते शापकारणम् तम् अहं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा महार्णवम् अथाब्रुवम् अकारणज्ञं देवानां त्रस्तं शापानिलेरितम्

prasādaṃ kuru me brahman vidyate śāpakāraṇam tam ahaṃ ślakṣṇayā vācā mahārṇavam athābruvam akāraṇajñaṃ devānāṃ trastaṃ śāpānileritam

Verse 37

शान्तिं व्रज न भेतव्यं प्रसन्नो ऽस्मि महामते शापे ऽस्मिन् सरितां नाथ भविष्यं शृणु कारणम्

śāntiṃ vraja na bhetavyaṃ prasanno 'smi mahāmate śāpe 'smin saritāṃ nātha bhaviṣyaṃ śṛṇu kāraṇam

Verse 38

त्वं गच्छ भारते वंशे स्वदेहं स्वेन तेजसा आधत्स्व सरितां नाथ त्यक्त्वेमां सागरीं तनुम्

tvaṃ gaccha bhārate vaṃśe svadehaṃ svena tejasā ādhatsva saritāṃ nātha tyaktvemāṃ sāgarīṃ tanum

Verse 39

महोदधे महीपालस् तत्र राजश्रिया वृतः पालयंश् चतुरो वर्णान् रंस्यसे सलिलेश्वर

mahodadhe mahīpālas tatra rājaśriyā vṛtaḥ pālayaṃś caturo varṇān raṃsyase salileśvara

Verse 40

इयं च त्वां सरिच् छ्रेष्ठा बिभ्रती मानुषीं तनुम् तत् कालरमणीयाङ्गी गङ्गा परिचरिष्यति

iyaṃ ca tvāṃ saric chreṣṭhā bibhratī mānuṣīṃ tanum tat kālaramaṇīyāṅgī gaṅgā paricariṣyati

Verse 41

अनया सह जाह्नव्या मोदमानो ममाज्ञया इमं सलिलसंक्लेदं विस्मरिष्यसि सागर

anayā saha jāhnavyā modamāno mamājñayā imaṃ salilasaṃkledaṃ vismariṣyasi sāgara

Verse 42

त्वरता चैव कर्तव्यं त्वयेदं देवशासनम् प्राजापत्येन विधिना गङ्गया सह सागर

tvaratā caiva kartavyaṃ tvayedaṃ devaśāsanam prājāpatyena vidhinā gaṅgayā saha sāgara

Verse 43

वसवः प्रच्युताः स्वर्गात् प्रविष्टाश् च रसातलम् तेषाम् उत्पादनार्थाय त्वं मया विनियोजितः

vasavaḥ pracyutāḥ svargāt praviṣṭāś ca rasātalam teṣām utpādanārthāya tvaṃ mayā viniyojitaḥ

Verse 44

अष्टौ ताञ् जाह्नवीगर्भान् अपत्यार्थं ददाम्य् अहम् विभावसोस् तुल्यगुणान् सुराणां प्रीतिवर्धनान्

aṣṭau tāñ jāhnavīgarbhān apatyārthaṃ dadāmy aham vibhāvasos tulyaguṇān surāṇāṃ prītivardhanān

Verse 45

उत्पाद्य त्वं वसूञ् शीघ्रं कृत्वा कुरुकुलं महत् प्रवेष्टासि तनुं त्यक्त्वा पुनः सागर सागरीम्

utpādya tvaṃ vasūñ śīghraṃ kṛtvā kurukulaṃ mahat praveṣṭāsi tanuṃ tyaktvā punaḥ sāgara sāgarīm

Verse 46

एवम् एतन् मया पूर्वं हितार्थं वः सुरोत्तमाः भविष्यं पश्यता भारं पृथिव्याः पार्थिवात्मकम्

evam etan mayā pūrvaṃ hitārthaṃ vaḥ surottamāḥ bhaviṣyaṃ paśyatā bhāraṃ pṛthivyāḥ pārthivātmakam

Verse 47

तद् एष शंतनोर् वंशः पृथिव्यां रोपितो मया वसवो यत्र गङ्गायां उत्पन्नास् त्रिदिवौकसः

tad eṣa śaṃtanor vaṃśaḥ pṛthivyāṃ ropito mayā vasavo yatra gaṅgāyāṃ utpannās tridivaukasaḥ

Verse 48

अद्यापि भुवि गाङ्गेयस् तत्रैव वसुर् अष्टमः सप्तेमे वसवः प्राप्ताः स एकः परिलम्बते

adyāpi bhuvi gāṅgeyas tatraiva vasur aṣṭamaḥ sapteme vasavaḥ prāptāḥ sa ekaḥ parilambate

Verse 49

द्वितीयायां स्त्रियां सृष्टा द्वितीया शंतनोस् तनुः विचित्रवीर्यो द्युतिमान् आसीद् राजा प्रतापवान्

dvitīyāyāṃ striyāṃ sṛṣṭā dvitīyā śaṃtanos tanuḥ vicitravīryo dyutimān āsīd rājā pratāpavān

Verse 50

वैचित्रवीर्यौ द्वाव् एव पार्थिवौ भुवि सांप्रतम् पाण्डुश् च धृतराष्ट्रश् च विख्यातौ पुरुषर्षभौ

vaicitravīryau dvāv eva pārthivau bhuvi sāṃpratam pāṇḍuś ca dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca vikhyātau puruṣarṣabhau

Verse 51

तत्र पाण्डोः श्रिया जुष्टे द्वे भार्ये यौवनस्थिते शुभे कुन्ती च माद्री च देवयोषोपमे भुवि

tatra pāṇḍoḥ śriyā juṣṭe dve bhārye yauvanasthite śubhe kuntī ca mādrī ca devayoṣopame bhuvi

Verse 52

धृतराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञस् तु भार्यैका तुल्यचारिणी गान्धारी भुवि विख्याता भर्तुर् नित्यं व्रते स्थिता

dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rājñas tu bhāryaikā tulyacāriṇī gāndhārī bhuvi vikhyātā bhartur nityaṃ vrate sthitā

Verse 53

अत्र वो ऽंशा विभज्यन्तां विपक्षः पक्ष एव च पुत्राणां हि तयो राज्ञोर् भविता विग्रहो महान्

atra vo 'ṃśā vibhajyantāṃ vipakṣaḥ pakṣa eva ca putrāṇāṃ hi tayo rājñor bhavitā vigraho mahān

Verse 54

तेषां विमर्दे दायाद्ये नृपाणां भविता क्षयः युगान्तप्रतिमं चैव भविष्यति महद् भयम्

teṣāṃ vimarde dāyādye nṛpāṇāṃ bhavitā kṣayaḥ yugāntapratimaṃ caiva bhaviṣyati mahad bhayam

Verse 55

सबलेषु नरेन्द्रेषु शातयत्स्व् इतरेतरम् विविक्तपुरराष्ट्रौघा क्षितिः शैथिल्यम् एष्यति

sabaleṣu narendreṣu śātayatsv itaretaram viviktapurarāṣṭraughā kṣitiḥ śaithilyam eṣyati

Verse 56

द्वापरस्य युगस्यान्ते मया दृष्टं पुरातने क्षयं यास्यन्ति शस्त्रेण पार्थिवाः सह वाहनैः

dvāparasya yugasyānte mayā dṛṣṭaṃ purātane kṣayaṃ yāsyanti śastreṇa pārthivāḥ saha vāhanaiḥ

Verse 57

तत्रावशिष्टान् मनुजान् सुप्तान् निशि विचेतसः धक्ष्यते शंकरस्यांशः पावकेनास्त्रतेजसा

tatrāvaśiṣṭān manujān suptān niśi vicetasaḥ dhakṣyate śaṃkarasyāṃśaḥ pāvakenāstratejasā

Verse 58

अन्तकप्रतिमे तस्मिन् निवृत्ते क्रूरकर्मणि समाप्तम् इदम् आख्यास्ये तृतीयं द्वापरं युगम्

antakapratime tasmin nivṛtte krūrakarmaṇi samāptam idam ākhyāsye tṛtīyaṃ dvāparaṃ yugam

Verse 59

महेश्वरांशे ऽपसृते ततो माहेश्वरं युगम् तिष्यं प्रपत्स्यते पश्चाद् युगं दारुणमानुषम्

maheśvarāṃśe 'pasṛte tato māheśvaraṃ yugam tiṣyaṃ prapatsyate paścād yugaṃ dāruṇamānuṣam

Verse 60

अधर्मप्रायपुरुषं स्वल्पधर्मपरिग्रहम् उत्सन्नसत्यसंयोगं वर्धितानृतसंचयम्

adharmaprāyapuruṣaṃ svalpadharmaparigraham utsannasatyasaṃyogaṃ vardhitānṛtasaṃcayam

Verse 61

महेश्वरं कुमारं च द्वौ च देवौ समाश्रिताः भविष्यन्ति नराः सर्वे लोके नस्थविरायुषः

maheśvaraṃ kumāraṃ ca dvau ca devau samāśritāḥ bhaviṣyanti narāḥ sarve loke nasthavirāyuṣaḥ

Verse 62

तद् एष निर्णयः श्रेष्ठः पृथिव्यां पार्थिवान्तकः अंशावतरणं सर्वे सुराः कुरुत माचिरम्

tad eṣa nirṇayaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pṛthivyāṃ pārthivāntakaḥ aṃśāvataraṇaṃ sarve surāḥ kuruta māciram

Verse 63

धर्मस्यांशो ऽथ कुन्त्यां वै माद्र्यां च विनियुज्यताम् विग्रहस्य कलिर् मूलं गान्धार्यां विनियुज्यताम्

dharmasyāṃśo 'tha kuntyāṃ vai mādryāṃ ca viniyujyatām vigrahasya kalir mūlaṃ gāndhāryāṃ viniyujyatām

Verse 64

एतौ पक्षौ भविष्यन्ति राजानः कालचोदिताः जातरागाः पृथिव्यर्थे सर्वे संग्रामलालसाः

etau pakṣau bhaviṣyanti rājānaḥ kālacoditāḥ jātarāgāḥ pṛthivyarthe sarve saṃgrāmalālasāḥ

Verse 65

गच्छत्व् इयं वसुमती स्वां योनिं लोकधारिणी सृष्टो ऽयं नैष्ठिको राज्ञाम् उपायो लोकविश्रुतः

gacchatv iyaṃ vasumatī svāṃ yoniṃ lokadhāriṇī sṛṣṭo 'yaṃ naiṣṭhiko rājñām upāyo lokaviśrutaḥ

Verse 66

श्रुत्वा पितामहवचः सा जगाम यथागतम् पृथिवी सह कालेन वधाय पृथिवीक्षिताम्

śrutvā pitāmahavacaḥ sā jagāma yathāgatam pṛthivī saha kālena vadhāya pṛthivīkṣitām

Verse 67

देवान् अचोदयद् ब्रह्मा निग्रहार्थं सुरद्विषाम् नरं चैव पुराणर्षिं शेषं च धरणीधरम्

devān acodayad brahmā nigrahārthaṃ suradviṣām naraṃ caiva purāṇarṣiṃ śeṣaṃ ca dharaṇīdharam

Verse 68

सनत्कुमारं साध्यांश् च देवांश् चाग्निपुरोगमान् वरुणं च यमं चैव सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ तथा गन्धर्वाप्सरसश् चैव रुद्रादित्यांस् तथाश्विनौ

sanatkumāraṃ sādhyāṃś ca devāṃś cāgnipurogamān varuṇaṃ ca yamaṃ caiva sūryācandramasau tathā gandharvāpsarasaś caiva rudrādityāṃs tathāśvinau

Verse 69

ततो ऽंशान् अवनिं देवाः सर्व एवावतारयन् यथा ते कथितं पूर्वम् अंशावतरणं मया

tato 'ṃśān avaniṃ devāḥ sarva evāvatārayan yathā te kathitaṃ pūrvam aṃśāvataraṇaṃ mayā

Verse 70

अयोनिजा योनिजाश् च ते देवाः पृथिवीतले दैत्यदानवहन्तारः संभूताः पुरुषेश्वराः क्षीरिकावृक्षसंघाता वज्रसंहननास् तथा

ayonijā yonijāś ca te devāḥ pṛthivītale daityadānavahantāraḥ saṃbhūtāḥ puruṣeśvarāḥ kṣīrikāvṛkṣasaṃghātā vajrasaṃhananās tathā

Verse 71

नागायुतबलाः केचित् केचिद् ओघबलान्विताः गदापरिघशक्तीनां सहाः परिघबाहवः गिरिशृङ्गप्रहर्तारः सर्वे परिघयोधिनः

nāgāyutabalāḥ kecit kecid oghabalānvitāḥ gadāparighaśaktīnāṃ sahāḥ parighabāhavaḥ giriśṛṅgaprahartāraḥ sarve parighayodhinaḥ

Verse 72

वृष्णिवंशे समुत्पन्नाः शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः कुरुवंशे च देवास् ते पाञ्चालेषु च पार्थिवाः

vṛṣṇivaṃśe samutpannāḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ kuruvaṃśe ca devās te pāñcāleṣu ca pārthivāḥ

Verse 73

याज्ञिकानां समृद्धानां ब्राह्मणानां च योनिषु सर्वास्त्रज्ञा महेष्वासा वेदव्रतपरायणाः

yājñikānāṃ samṛddhānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca yoniṣu sarvāstrajñā maheṣvāsā vedavrataparāyaṇāḥ

Verse 74

सर्वर्द्धिगुणसंपन्ना यज्वानः पुण्यकर्ंइणः आचालयेयुः शैलांस् ते क्रुद्धा भिन्द्युर् महीतलम् उत्पतेयुर् अथाकाशं क्षोभयेयुर् महोदधिम्

sarvarddhiguṇasaṃpannā yajvānaḥ puṇyakarṃiṇaḥ ācālayeyuḥ śailāṃs te kruddhā bhindyur mahītalam utpateyur athākāśaṃ kṣobhayeyur mahodadhim

Verse 75

एवम् आदिश्य तान् ब्रह्मा भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः नारायणे समावेश्य लोकाञ् शान्तिम् उपागमत्

evam ādiśya tān brahmā bhūtabhavyabhavatprabhuḥ nārāyaṇe samāveśya lokāñ śāntim upāgamat

Verse 76

भूयः शृणु यथा विष्णुर् अवतीर्णो महीतलम् प्रजानां वै हितार्थाय प्रभुः प्राणधनेश्वरः

bhūyaḥ śṛṇu yathā viṣṇur avatīrṇo mahītalam prajānāṃ vai hitārthāya prabhuḥ prāṇadhaneśvaraḥ

Verse 77

ययातिवंशजस्याथ वसुदेवस्य धीमतः कुले पूज्ये यशस्कामो जज्ञे नारायणः प्रभुः

yayātivaṃśajasyātha vasudevasya dhīmataḥ kule pūjye yaśaskāmo jajñe nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ

Then the Lord Nārāyaṇa was born in the honored line of the wise Vasudeva, descended from Yayāti, desiring fame.

Verse commentary

The Commissioning of the Avatāra — *Mā Bhair Dharaṇi*

देवांशावतरण-आदेशः — पृथिव्याः प्रसादनम्

Verses 1, 3, 12, 22, 40, 45, 50: Viṣṇu's great reassurance 'fear not, O Earth' with the promise to establish her in her proper station; the council about which deva should act — Mahendra, Yama, Varuṇa, the Wealth-lord, Nārāyaṇa himself; the direct commission *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān* — 'cast your body-portions upon the earth, equal in splendor to your selves'; the ocean's instant calming at the word *śānto 'si* — 'you are peaceful'; Gaṅgā taking a human body to serve the Vasu-incarnate; the Vasu's birth, the founding of the great Kuru-kula, and the return to the ocean; and the mention of the two Vaicitravīrya kings, Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra, already famous on the earth. Template commentary, pending Editorial Council review.

HV 43 is the Harivaṃśa-parva's culminating chapter and the scripture's actual commissioning of the avatāra. Pṛthivī's prayer from HV 42.53 is immediately answered: *mā bhair dharaṇi kalyāṇi* — 'fear not, O auspicious Earth' (43.1). Viṣṇu promises to restore her and assembles the devas. The council deliberates — which god should act, Mahendra, Yama, Varuṇa, Kubera, or Nārāyaṇa himself (43.3)? The decision is the *avatāra-commission*: *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān tejasā-ātma-samān bhuvi* — 'cast your body-portions upon the earth, equal in splendor to your selves' (43.12). The devas will descend *in parts* (*aṃśas*), while Viṣṇu himself will descend in *full*. Two beautiful sub-episodes follow. The first is Sāgara the ocean: at the Lord's word *śānto 'si* — 'you are peaceful' — the ocean instantly stills, *saṃ-hata-ūrmi-taraṅga-oghaḥ* — 'waves-and-currents folded up' (43.22). The second is Gaṅgā: she will take a human body to serve the Vasu-incarnate (43.40); the Vasu will be born as Bhīṣma, found the great Kuru-kula, and return to the ocean (43.45). The chapter names *Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra* as already-living-on-earth (43.50). The Mahābhārata is placed in the Harivaṃśa's own hand. The Harivaṃśa-parva closes here; the next chapter opens the Viṣṇu-parva with Kṛṣṇa's own descent as the culmination of this commission. This commentary also marks the completion of verse-level Warkari reading for all 118 chapters of the Harivaṃśa. What began in HV 1.1 with *nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya* ends here in HV 43.1 with *mā bhair dharaṇi* — the scripture's opening salutation becoming its closing assurance.

HV 43.1

मा भैर् धरणि कल्याणि शान्तिं व्रज समाहिते । एष त्वाम् उचितं स्थानं स्थापयामि वसिंधरे । एतस्याहं प्रसादेन श्रमं त्यक्ष्यामि देवताः । ते श्रुत्वा पृथिवीवाक्यं सर्व एव दिवौकसः । तदर्थकृत्यं संचिन्त्य पितामहम् अथाब्रुवन् ॥

mā bhair dharaṇi kalyāṇi śāntiṃ vraja samāhite | eṣa tvām ucitaṃ sthānaṃ sthāpayāmi vasiṃ-dhare | etasyāhaṃ prasādena śramaṃ tyakṣyāmi devatāḥ | te śrutvā pṛthivī-vākyaṃ sarva eva divaukasaḥ | tad-artha-kṛtyaṃ saṃcintya pitāmaham athābruvan

'Fear not, O auspicious Earth; go to peace, composed. I shall establish you in your proper station, O bearer of wealth. By his grace I shall release [my] burden, O gods.' Hearing Pṛthivī's word, all those heaven-dwellers — considering the task to be done — spoke to the Grandfather.

The Living Words

*Mā bhair dharaṇi kalyāṇi*, 'fear not, O auspicious Earth'. *Śāntiṃ vraja samāhite*, 'go to peace, composed'. *Ucitaṃ sthānaṃ sthāpayāmi*, 'I shall establish you in your proper station'. *Vasiṃ-dhare*, 'O bearer of wealth'. *Etasyāhaṃ prasādena śramaṃ tyakṣyāmi*, 'by his grace I shall release [my] burden'.

The Heart of It

The chapter opens with one of the tenderest verses in the Harivaṃśa: *mā bhair dharaṇi* — 'fear not, O Earth'. Three compressed commands follow: *do not fear; go to peace; become composed*. And a promise: *ucitaṃ sthānaṃ sthāpayāmi* — 'I shall establish you in your proper station'. The Warkari reading treats this as the first verse of the whole Warkari creed: to hear the Lord say *mā bhaiḥ* is the beginning of devotion. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 4 *nāmāciyā bhari bhaya niraseṃ* — 'the Name's load dissolves fear' — is HV 43.1 in Marathi. The word *samāhite* — 'composed, collected' — is Gītā 6's *samāhita-cittaḥ*, the yogic composure that is itself the first *sthāna* (station). Pṛthivī is being told: the Lord's first act for you is not yet to *come*; it is to tell you *fear not*.

HV 43.3

यत् कर्तव्यं महेन्द्रेण यमेन वरुणेन च । यद् वा कार्यं धनेशेन स्वयं नारायणेन वा ॥

yat kartavyaṃ mahendreṇa yamena varuṇena ca | yad vā kāryaṃ dhaneśena svayaṃ nārāyaṇena vā

Whatever is to be done by Mahendra, Yama, Varuṇa; or what task falls to the Wealth-lord, or to Nārāyaṇa himself.

The Living Words

*Yat kartavyaṃ mahendreṇa*, 'what is to be done by Mahendra'. *Yamena varuṇena ca*, 'by Yama, and by Varuṇa'. *Yad vā kāryaṃ dhaneśena*, 'what task by the Wealth-lord'. *Svayaṃ nārāyaṇena vā*, 'or by Nārāyaṇa himself'.

The Heart of It

The devas deliberate the division of labor. The Harivaṃśa's unusual theological honesty is visible here: even Nārāyaṇa is listed in the *kartavya-kārya* grid. The Lord is not above distribution-of-task; he is one of the five cosmic workers (with Indra, Yama, Varuṇa, Kubera). The Warkari reading honors this: the Lord is *primus inter pares* in the cosmic work — he has his part, but the others have theirs. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 20 *sarva-bhāvēṁ bhajēñ ēkavēñ* — 'with all bhāva worship as one' — preserves the distinctness of each deva within the oneness of the worship. The *distribution* in HV 43.3 is what will make HV 43.12's *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān* possible: each deva has his own portion to cast, because each has his own cosmic office.

HV 43.12

रोचते मे सुरश्रेष्ठा युष्माकम् अपि निश्चयः । सृजध्वं स्वशरीरांशांस् तेजसात्मसमान् भुवि ॥

rocate me sura-śreṣṭhā yuṣmākam api niścayaḥ | sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśāṃs tejasā-ātma-samān bhuvi

'It pleases me, O chiefs of the suras, and it is your resolve too: cast your body-portions upon the earth, equal in splendor to your own selves.'

The Living Words

*Rocate me sura-śreṣṭhāḥ*, 'it pleases me, O sura-chiefs'. *Yuṣmākam api niścayaḥ*, 'it is also your resolve'. *Sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān*, 'cast your body-portions'. *Tejasā ātma-samān bhuvi*, 'equal in splendor to your selves, upon the earth'.

The Heart of It

The great commissioning verse. *Sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān* — 'cast your body-portions'. The Mahābhārata's whole cosmology of *aṃśāvatāras* — the Pāṇḍavas as partial-incarnations of the devas, the Kauravas as partial-incarnations of the asuras — is founded in this one instruction. And the qualification is tender: *tejasā ātma-samān* — 'equal in splendor to your own selves'. The partial incarnation is not a reduction; it is a full-splendor descent, just *located differently*. The Warkari reading: every soul is in some sense a *sva-śarīrāṃśa*, 'body-portion' of something higher; the sādhanā is to locate the higher and live *tejasā ātma-samā* — in full splendor of that higher self. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 24 *sakaḷa-devāñcī āvaḍa vitṭhala* — 'the love-focus of all devas is Viṭṭhala' — sings what HV 43.12 commissions: every deva descending is one Viṭṭhala distributing himself.

HV 43.22

शान्तो ऽसीत्य् उक्तमात्रस् तु तनुत्वं सागरो गतः । संहतोर्मितरङ्गौघः स्थितो राजश्रिया ज्वलन् ॥

śānto 'sīty uktamātras tu tanutvaṃ sāgaro gataḥ | saṃ-hata-ūrmi-taraṅga-oghaḥ sthito rāja-śriyā jvalan

'You are peaceful' — at the mere word, the ocean came to slenderness; its waves and currents folded together, it stood, blazing with royal splendor.

The Living Words

*Śānto 'sīti uktamātraḥ*, 'at the mere word you-are-peaceful'. *Tanutvaṃ sāgaro gataḥ*, 'the ocean came to slenderness'. *Saṃ-hata-ūrmi-taraṅga-oghaḥ*, 'its waves-and-currents folded together'. *Sthito rāja-śriyā jvalan*, 'it stood, blazing with royal splendor'.

The Heart of It

One of the most powerful instants in the scripture. The Lord says only two words — *śānto 'si*, 'you are peaceful' — and the ocean obeys. The verb *uktamātraḥ* — 'at the mere word' — carries the whole theology of *Nāma-śakti*: the Lord does not need to repeat. The word *is* the action. The Warkari reading reads HV 43.22 as its own charter. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 2 *ekadā nāma ghētāṁ bhava-taranga shante* — 'once the Name is taken, the waves of becoming grow calm' — is HV 43.22's same mechanism: the Name's *uktamātraḥ* settles the soul's oceans. Tukārām's *nāmēṁcī cūḍā haripāe* — 'at the Name's utterance the feet of Hari' — names the same instant. HV 43.22 is the Sanskrit prototype: *śānto 'si* spoken, and the ocean is *tanutva*.

HV 43.40

इयं च त्वां सरिच् छ्रेष्ठा बिभ्रती मानुषीं तनुम् । तत्कालरमणीयाङ्गी गङ्गा परिचरिष्यति ॥

iyaṃ ca tvāṃ saric chreṣṭhā bibhratī mānuṣīṃ tanum | tat-kāla-ramaṇīyāṅgī gaṅgā paricariṣyati

'And this best-of-rivers, bearing a human body, lovely-limbed at that time — Gaṅgā — will serve you.'

The Living Words

*Saric chreṣṭhā*, 'best-of-rivers'. *Bibhratī mānuṣīṃ tanum*, 'bearing a human body'. *Tat-kāla-ramaṇīyāṅgī*, 'lovely-limbed at that time'. *Gaṅgā paricariṣyati*, 'Gaṅgā will serve'.

The Heart of It

The verse is the scripture's announcement of the Śāntanu-Gaṅgā story of the Mahābhārata. Gaṅgā herself will take a human body to serve her Vasu-incarnate husband. The Harivaṃśa is visibly stitching its cosmology into the Bhārata epic. The Warkari reading finds a deeper note: *saric chreṣṭhā bibhratī mānuṣīṃ tanum* — 'the river carrying a human body'. The sacred is always willing to take an ordinary shape to serve. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 12 *mānuṣa-śarīrāmōcē hari-cintana* — 'in a human body, the Hari-meditation' — honors the same willingness. Gaṅgā's human body *in time* (*tat-kāla-ramaṇīyāṅgī*) foreshadows what every devotee does: take this small body to *paricarati* — to serve, attend, circumambulate — some aṃśa of the divine.

HV 43.45

उत्पाद्य त्वं वसूञ् शीघ्रं कृत्वा कुरुकुलं महत् । प्रवेष्टासि तनुं त्यक्त्वा पुनः सागर सागरीम् ॥

utpādya tvaṃ vasūñ śīghraṃ kṛtvā kuru-kulaṃ mahat | praveṣṭāsi tanuṃ tyaktvā punaḥ sāgara sāgarīm

'Having quickly generated the Vasus, and made the great Kuru-lineage, laying down the body — you shall re-enter the ocean-wave, O Sāgara.'

The Living Words

*Utpādya tvaṃ vasūn śīghram*, 'having quickly generated the Vasus'. *Kṛtvā kuru-kulaṃ mahat*, 'having made the great Kuru-lineage'. *Praveṣṭāsi tanuṃ tyaktvā*, 'you shall re-enter, having laid down the body'. *Punaḥ sāgara sāgarīm*, 'again, Sāgara, [enter] the ocean-wave'.

The Heart of It

The verse maps an entire life-arc in one line: born, work the *kula*, lay down the body, return to the ocean. The Warkari reading is immediate and practical. *Praveṣṭāsi tanuṃ tyaktvā punaḥ sāgara sāgarīm* — 'you shall re-enter, having laid down the body, the ocean-wave' — is the sādhaka's own trajectory. Each soul is an aṃśa that descended from some *sāgara* (its cosmic origin), lives its *kula-work*, lays the body down, and returns. Jñāneśvar's own *samādhi* at Āḷandī — body left and the ocean of consciousness re-entered — stands in HV 43.45's shape. The Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 28 *antakāli samādhī hari-nāmēṁ* — 'at the end-time samādhi through the Hari-name' — is its Marathi. The Lord describes *every* devotee's life in the ocean's task.

HV 43.50

वैचित्रवीर्यौ द्वाव् एव पार्थिवौ भुवि सांप्रतम् । पाण्डुश् च धृतराष्ट्रश् च विख्यातौ पुरुषर्षभौ ॥

vaicitra-vīryau dvāv eva pārthivau bhuvi sāṃpratam | pāṇḍuś ca dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca vikhyātau puruṣarṣabhau

'Two Vaicitravīryas [sons of Vicitravīrya] are now kings on earth: Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra, renowned bull-men.'

The Living Words

*Vaicitra-vīryau dvāv eva*, 'two Vaicitravīryas [exactly]'. *Pārthivau bhuvi sāṃpratam*, 'kings on earth at present'. *Pāṇḍuś ca dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca*, 'Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra'. *Vikhyātau puruṣarṣabhau*, 'renowned bull-men'.

The Heart of It

The Harivaṃśa names its companion-epic out loud. *Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra* — the Bhārata epic's two central royal figures — are introduced as already on earth at the time of the commissioning. The Warkari reading hears a quiet acknowledgment: the Harivaṃśa is not a self-contained story; it is the Bhārata's head-chapter, and the Bhārata is the Harivaṃśa's body. Jñāneśvar wrote the *Jñāneśvarī* as commentary on a slice of that very body (the Bhagavad-Gītā). The Harivaṃśa-parva ends by handing the reader the bridge: the Kuru-kula is in place, the Kṛṣṇa-descent is about to begin (HV 44 onward), and the Mahābhārata war's cause is being set in motion. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 1 *devāciyē darī nāmaḥ* — with its *rāma-kṛṣṇa-hari* mantra — already holds both epics in one breath; HV 43.50 is the Harivaṃśa's own acknowledgment of that larger unity. The listener who has journeyed through all 118 chapters is placed now at the very threshold from which the rest of the Mahābhārata will move.

Thread

HV 43 is the commissioning chapter. Pṛthivī is told *mā bhaiḥ*; the devas are instructed to cast their body-portions upon the earth; the ocean is calmed by the word *śānto 'si*; Gaṅgā is promised a human body; the Kuru-lineage is named; Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra are pointed out. The Harivaṃśa-parva's closing work is the opening work of every avatāra: promise the burdened, distribute the divinity, calm the elemental, name the coming kin. The Viṣṇu-parva's Kṛṣṇa-story begins in HV 44 because HV 43 has already said *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān*. The Warkari reading takes HV 43 as a template: every serious prayer gets a fourfold answer. *Mā bhaiḥ* (the reassurance). *Distribute* (many devas come with the Lord). *Calm the oceans* (the Name quiets the water of the troubled mind). *Name the kin* (the devotee's company is told in advance). HV 43.1's first word *mā* — 'do not' — and 43.22's *śānto 'si* — 'you are peaceful' — together are the Haripāṭh's own teaching in two Sanskrit syllables each. With this chapter complete, verse-level Warkari commentary covers all 118 chapters of the Harivaṃśa-Purāṇa on the site.

Echo in the saints

Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 4 *nāmāciyā bhari bhaya niraseṃ* — 'the Name's load dissolves fear' — speaks HV 43.1's *mā bhaiḥ* in the Marathi of the dindī. Tukārām's *śānta vṛtti hari-mukhāne* — 'calm mental-mode from Hari's mouth' — is HV 43.22 in Gāthā-form. And the grand *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān* of HV 43.12 is carried whenever a Warkari saint speaks of *aṃśa-avatāra* — that each saint is a body-portion of the one Lord, cast upon the earth *tejasā ātma-samaḥ* in full splendor. Jñāneśvar, Nāmdev, Ekanāth, Tukārām — the *aṣṭa-pradhāna* of the Warkari saints — are this scripture's *sva-śarīrāṃśān* walking into Marathi history. The Harivaṃśa commissioned the avatāra; the Warkari tradition has walked its errand.

Scripture references

DirectBhagavad Gītā 4.6

The commissioning *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān* is answered by the Gītā's own promise of descent.

अजो ऽपि सन्न् अव्ययात्मा भूतानाम् ईश्वरो ऽपि सन् । प्रकृतिं स्वाम् अधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्य् आत्ममायया ॥

ajo 'pi sann avyayātmā bhūtānām īśvaro 'pi san | prakṛtiṃ svām adhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā

Though I am unborn, of imperishable Self, though I am Lord of beings — presiding over My own prakṛti, I come into being by My own māyā.

HV 43.12's instruction to the devas — *sṛjadhvaṃ sva-śarīrāṃśān* — is a corollary of Gītā 4.6's *sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā*. The Lord's own self-descent makes the devas' partial descents possible. The Warkari tradition reads the two as one doctrine of cosmic self-distribution.

EchoesBhagavad Gītā 9.31

The Lord's opening *mā bhaiḥ* and his repeated protection-promise to the devotee are of one voice.

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति । कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति ॥

kṣipraṃ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvac-chāntiṃ nigacchati | kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati

Quickly he becomes a soul-of-dharma; he attains lasting peace. O son of Kuntī, know for certain: my devotee does not perish.

HV 43.1's *mā bhair dharaṇi kalyāṇi* and Gītā 9.31's *na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati* are the same promise spoken to two different recipients — the Earth herself, and every devotee. The Warkari tradition reads the two as one verbatim: *mā bhaiḥ* is heard again every time the Name is sung.

BORI critical edition, ed. P. L. Vaidya (1969). Digital text from the GRETIL Zurich constituted text. Distributed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.