Bhavisya Puran.
Eleventh among the Puranas, contains five parts. The first
part contains a description of the genesis, greatness of the dates and worship
of Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Surya. Second, third and fourth parts describe about
the greatness of Shiva, Vishnu and Surya respectively.
The fifth part contains a description of the heaven. Like
other Puranas, Bhavishya Purana also contains a description of the ancient
kings and Chandra and Surya dynasties. Interestingly, Bhavishya Purana contains
a description of a game that resembles modern chess to a great extent. In all,
the subject matter of Bhavishya Purana seems to be an attempt to prove and
establish the supremacy of Brahma.
The Bhavishya Purana is an ancient text authored by Sri
Vyasa Muni, the compiler of the Vedic texts. It is listed among the eighteen
major Puranas. Bhavishya means "future" and Purana means
"history", so the text's name would translate literally as "The
History of the Future". Though the text was written many thousands of
years before the recorded events took place, by the power of his mystic vision,
Sri Vyasa was able to accurately predict the happenings of the modern times.
One of the text's poetic styles is to present the events as though they have already
happened. This is a common practice in Sanskrit poetry, and does not indicate
that the book was written in modern times. Modern scholars reject the contents
of Bhavishya Purana mostly on the grounds that its information is too accurate.
But we should ask ourselves: If there was an empowered saint, who knew past,
present and future, and if he chose to write a book named "the History of
the Future", shouldn't it contain accurate information about the modern
times, as the title suggests? We cannot disqualify it simply because it speaks
accurately of the British controlling India, Hitler fighting the world, and Max
Mueller misrepresenting the Vedic teachings. "Veda" means knowledge,
and the Vedic texts contain knowledge of everything - past, present and future.
This Purana consists of 7 chapters:
1.1 Biblical and Modern History
[From the Pratisarga Parva, Chapters Four to Seven.]
Suta Goswami said: Once upon a time in Hastinapura, Pradyota
the son of Kshemaka was leading an assembly and meanwhile the great sage Narada
arrived there. King Pradyota happily honored him. Having him seated on the seat
the sage told king Pradyota, "Your father was killed by the mlecchas,
therefore he attained Yamaloka or the hellish planet. If you perform a
‘mleccha-yajna’, then by the effect of this sacrifice your father will attain
the heavenly planets."
Hearing this king Pradyota immediately called the best of
the learned Brahmanas and started ‘mleccha-yajna’ in Kuruksetra. They built a
yajna-kunda which was 16 yojanas in square (128 miles). They meditated on the
demigods and offered oblations of mlecchas. There are haras, hunas, barvaras,
gurundas, sakas, khasas, yavanas, pallavas, romajas and those who are situated
in different dvipas and in kamaru, china and the middle of the ocean; all of
them were called with the mantra and burnt to ashes. Then he (the king) gave
dakshina (donation) to the brahmanas and performed abhiseka. As a result his
father Kshemaka went to the heavenly planets. After that he became famous
everywhere as a mleccha-hanta or destroyer of mlecchas. He ruled the earth for
ten thousand years and went to heaven. He had a son named Vedavan who ruled for
two thousand years.
At that time the Kali purusha prayed to Lord Narayana along
with his wife. After sometime the Lord apperared to him and said, "This
age will be a good time for you. I will fulfil your desire having various kinds
of forms. There is a couple named Adama and his wife Havyavati. They are born
from Vishnu-kardama and will increase the generations of mlecchas. Saying this,
the Lord disappeared. Having great joy the Kali purusha went to Nilacha
Vyasa said: "Now you hear the future story narrated by
Suta Goswami. This is the full story of of Kali-yuga, hearing this you will
become satisfied."
In the eastern side of Pradan city where there is a a big
God-given forest, which is 16 square yojanas in size. The man named Adama was
staying there under a Papa-Vriksha or a sinful tree and was eager to see his
wife Havyavati. The Kali purusha quickly came there assuming the form of a
serpent. He cheated them and they disobeyed Lord Vishnu. The husband ate the
forbidden fruit of the sinful tree. They lived by eating air with the leaves
called udumbara. After they had sons and all of them became mlecchas. Adama's
duration of life was nine-hundred and thirty years. He offered oblations with
fruits and went to heaven with his wife. His son was named Sveta-nama, and he
lived nine-hundred and twelve years. Sveta-nama's son was Anuta, who rulled
one-hundred years less than his father. His son Kinasa rulled as much as his
grandfather. His son Malahalla ruled eight-hundred ninety five years. His son
Virada rulled 160 years. His son Hamuka was devoted to Lord Vishnu, and
offering oblations of fruits he achieved salvation. He ruled 365 years and went
to heaven with the same body being engaged in mleccha-dharma.
having good behavior, wisdom, qualities like a brahmana and
worship of God, these things are called mleccha-dharma. The great souls have
declared that the dharma of the mleccha is devotion to God, worship of fire,
nonviolence, austerity and control of the senses. The son of Hamuka was Matocchila.
He ruled for 970 years. His son Lomaka ruled 777 years and went to heaven. His
son Nyuha (Noah) ruled for 500 years. He had three sons named Sima, Sama and
Bhava. Nyuha was a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
Once the Lord appeared in his dream and said: “My dear
Nyuha, please listen, there will be devastation on the seventh day. Therefore,
you have to be very quick that you make a big boat and ride in it. O chief of
the devotees, you will be celebrated as a great king”.
Then he made a strong boat which was 300 feet long, 50 feet
wide and 30 feet high. It was beautiful and all the living entities could take
shelter in it. He then himself rode in it, engaged in meditating on Lord
Vishnu.
Lord Indra called the devastating cloud named Sambartaka and
poured heavy rain continuously for 40 days. The whole earth, Bharat-varsa, had
merged in the water and four oceans came up together. Only Visala or
Badarikasrama was not submerged. There were 80,000 great transcendentalists in
Visala who joined with king Nyuha and his family. All of them were saved and
everything else was destroyed.
At that time all the sages praised the eternal energy of
Lord Vishnu. Being pleased by the prayers of the sages, the Vishnu-maya reduced
the waters of devastation. After one year gradually the earth become visible.
Under the hill there is a place named Sisina and the king was situated in that
place with his other people. When the water completely dried up, king Nyuha
came back to his place.
Suta Goswami continued: The mleccha, king Nyuha became
attached to Lord Vishnu and as a result Lord Vishnu increased his generation.
Then he created a language fit for the mlecchas, unfavorable to the Vedas. He
named it as brahmi-bhasha, or brahmi language, full of bad words, for
increasing the degradation of Kali-yuga. The Lord who is Himself the master of
intelligence gave this language to Nyuha. Nyuha named his tree sons opposite.
They were known as Sima, Hama, Yakuta and also Yakuta, Sapta putra, Jumara and
Majuya. The name of their countries were known as Madi, Yunana, Stuvaloma, Tasa
and Tirasa.
Hama who was the second son of his father, had four sons
know as Kusa, Misra, Kuja and Kanaam. Kusa had six sons - Havila, Sarva,
Toragama, Savatika, NimaruhaI and Mahavala. Their sons were known as Kamala, Sinara
and Uraka. And their countries names are Akvada, Bavuna and Rasana.
After telling this story Suta Goswami influenced by
Yoga-nidra entered mystic slumber. He woke up after two thousand years and
thereupon he said: “Now I’m going to say about the generation of Sima. Because
he was the first son of his father he became the king. This mleccha king ruled
over the country for 500 years. His son Arkansoda ruled for 434 years. His son
Sihla ruled for 460 years. His son Iratasya ruled the same length as his
father. His son Phataja ruled for 240 years. His son Rau ruled for 237 years.
His son Juja ruled the same length as his father. His son Nahura ruled for 160
years, and he destroyed his many inimical kings. His son Tahara ruled the same
length as his father. He had three sons: Avirama, Nahura and Harana. Thus I
have explained the generation of mlecchas with the indication of their names
only. The mleccha language is considered the lowest language because it bears
the curse of goddess Sarasvati. Thus I have summarily narrated the rise of the
mlecchas in Kali-yuga.
Sanskrt is the language by which the whole Bharata-Varsa is
being praised and glorified. The same language, after going to another country
became the mleccha language and mlecchas took advantage of it.
After hearing all this, the sages situated in
Badarikashrama, worshipped Lord Nara-Narayana and meditated upon them for 200
years. When they woke up from their meditation, they inquired from their
teacher Suta Goswami:
“O disciple of Sri Vyasa, you are so fortunate and greatly
intelligent, may you live long. Now please tell us who is the king at the
present time?"
Suta Goswami said: “At the present time, the Kali-yuga has
already passed its 3000 years. Now the king Sankha is ruling the earth and in
the mleccha countries the king named Sakapat is ruling. Please hear about how
they came up."
When the Kali-yuga passed 2000 years, the dynasty of
mlecchas increased. They created many paths to grow and gradually the whole earth
become full of mlecchas. The spiritual master and teacher of the mlecchas was
named Musa. He was residing on the bank of the river Sarasvati, and he spread
his doctrince throughout the whole world. As soon as Kali-yuga started, the
devotion to the Lord and the language of the Vedas were destroyed. There are
four kinds of mleccha languages: Vraja-bhasa, Maharastri, Yavani and Garundika.
In this way there are four million kinds of other languages.
For example: paniyam (water) is called pani, bubhuksa-hunger
is called bhukh. Paniyam-drinking is called papadi and bhojanam-eating si
called kakkanam. Isti is called suddharava, istini is called masapavani, ahuti
is called aju and dadati is called dadhati. The word pitri is called paitara
and bhrata is bather and also pati. This is the yavani lanugage in which the
asva is called aspa, Janu is jainu and sapta-sindhu is called sapta-hindu.
Now you hear about Gurundika language. Ravi-vara (the first
day of the week) is called sunday, phalguna and chaitra months are called
pharvari (February). Sasti is called sixty, these kinds of examples are there.
Crime is becoming prominent in the holy place of Sapta-puri.
Gradually the people of Aryavata are becoming theives, hunters, bhillas and
fools. The followers of mleccha-dharma in foreign countries are intelligent and
having good qualities, whereas the people of Aryavarta are bereft of good
qualities. Thus the ruling of mlecchas is also in Bharata (India) and its
islands. Knowing all this, O great and intelligent sage, you should just
perform the devotional service to Lord Hari.
The great sage Saunaka inquired: “Please tell us, what was
the reason that the mlecchas did not arrive in Brahmavarta.
Suta Goswami said: That was by the influence of goddess
Sarasvati that they could not enter that place. By the order of the demigods,
when the Kali-yuga pursued his 1,000 years, a brahmana named Kasyapa come down
to earth from the heavenly planets with his wife Aryavatil. They had ten
spotless sons who are known by the names: Upadhayaya, Diksita, Pathaka, Sukla,
Misra, Agnihotri, Dvi-vedi, Tri-vedi, Catur-vedi and Pandey. Among them was the
learned one full of knowledge. He went to Kashmir and worshipped goddess
Sarasvati with red flowers, red akshata (rice), incense, lamps, naivedya (food
offerings) and puspanjali (flower offerings). To please her he praised her with
some prayers, asking her for better knowledge of Sankrt to put mlecchas into
illusion. Being pleased by his prayers she remainded situated in his mind and
blessed him with knowledge. Then the sage went to the country known as Misra
and put all the mlecchas into illusion by the greace of goddess Sarasvati.
Then he made 10,000 people as dvijas or twice born
brahmanas; he made 2,000 people into vaishyas; and the rest of them as shudras.
He came back with them and staying in Arya-desha (India) he engaged in the
activites of the sages. They were known as Aryans and by the grace of goddess
Sarasvati their generation gradually increased upto 4 million, both the men and
women with their sons and grandsons. Their king, Kasyapa muni, ruled the earth
for 120 years.
There were 8,000 sudras in the county known as Rajputra
(Rajput) and their king was Arya-prithu. His son was Magadha. The sage made him
a king and left.
Saunaka inquired: "O disciple of Vyasa, O Lomaharsana,
please tell us who were the kings to rule the earth in Kali-yuga, after
Magadha?"
Suta Goswami said: When king Magadha, the son of Kasyapa was
ruling the earth, he remembered his father's administration and he separated
the Arya-desha (India) into many states. The state which is on the eastern side
of Pancala is known as Magadha, the state of Kalinga is on the east-south side,
the state of Avanta is in the south, Amarta-desha is to the south-west,
Sindhu-desha is on the western side, Kaikaya is to the north-west, Madra-desha
is in the north, and Koninda-desha is to the north-east. These states are named
according to his sons' names. After performing a sacrifice he gave the states
to his sons. Lord Balabhadra became pleased with his sacrifice, and Sisunaga
appeared from the sacrifice as his son. He ruled for 100 years and his son
Kakavarma ruled for 90 years. His son Kshemadharma ruled for 80 years and his
son ruled for 70 years. His son Vedamisra ruled for 60 years. His son
Ajata-nipu ruled for 50 years. His son Darbhaka ruled for 40 years, his son
Udayasva ruled for 30 years, his son Nanda-Vardhana ruled for 20 years, his son
Nanda-suta, who was born from the womb of a sudri or a low class lady, also
ruled for 20 years. His son Pranancala ruled for 10 years. His son Parananda
also ruled 10 years. His son Samananda ruled for 20 years. His son Priyananta
ruled for 20 years, his son Devananda also ruled for 20 years. his son
Yajna-bhanga ruled for 10 years. His son Mauryananda ruled for 10 years. And
his son Mahananda fuled for 10 years.
At this time Lord Hari was remembered by Kali. At that time
the great and famous Gautama, the son of Kasyapa introduced the Buddhist
religion, and attained Lord Hari in Pattana.
Gautama ruled over 10 years. From him Shakya muni was born,
who ruled 20 years. His son Shuddhodana ruled 30 years. His son Shakyasimha
became the king on Satadri after 2000 years and he ruled for 60 years, by which
time all the people were Buddhists. This was the first position of Kali-yuga
and the Vedic religion was destroyed.
If Lord Vishnu becomes a king then all the people would
follow Him. The activities of the world are carried out by the prowess of Lord
Vishnu. He is the master of maya or the illusory energy and whoever takes
shelter of that Lord Hari, though he may be a sinful and abominable person,
will become liberated.
Buddha-simha was born from Shakyasimha and he ruled for only
30 years. Buddha-simha’s son was Chandra-gupta, who married with a daughter of
Suluva, the Yavana king of Pausasa. Thus he mixed the Buddhists and yavanas. He
ruled for 60 years. From him Vindusara was born and ruled for the same number
of years as his father. His son was Ashoka. At this time the best of the
brahmanas, Kanyakubja, performed sacrifice on the top of a mountain named
Arbuda. By the influence of Vedic mantras, four Kshatriyas appeared form the
yajna. Among these four Pramara was samavedi, Chapahani was yajurvedi, Shukla
was trivedi and Pariharaka was the Atharvavedi. They were accustomed to ride on
elephants. They kept Ashoka under their control and annihilated all the
Buddhists. It is said there were 4 million Buddhists and all of them were
killed by uncommon weapons. After that Pramara became king in Avanta and he
constructed a large city called Ambavati for his happiness. It was as big as 4
yojanas or about 32 miles.
Then Suta Goswami said: "My dear brahmanas I’m being
influenced by yoga-nidra, therefore, please go to your respective ashramas and
meditate on Lord Vishnu."
After the completion of 2,000 years, Suta Goswami said: When
the kali-yuga had passed his 3,710 years, at that time the king was Pramara who
rulled 6 years, from him Mahamada was born. He ruled 3 years and his son Devapi
did the same. His son Devaduta also did the same. From him Gandharva-sena was
born, who went to the forest after ruling for over 50 years and having given
his kingdom to his son Shankha. Shankha ruled for over 30 years. Lord Indra
sent a heavenly girl to Gandharva-sena named Viramati. A jewel like son was
born form her womb. At the time of his birth, there were flowers raining from
the sky, many auspicious instruments were played and the wind was blowing
pleasingly. The name of the baby was Siva-drishti, who later left for the
jungle with his disciples. After 20 years he became perfect in Karma-yoga. When
kali-yuga copmleted 3,000 years, the terrible symptoms of kali had appeared.
That baby took birth in the secret place of Kailasa, by the benediction of Lord
Shiva, to destroy the shakas and to increase the Arya-dharma or the Vedic
reigion. His father Gandharva-sena named his son as Vikramaditya and become
happy. This child was very intelligent and very pleasing to his parents. When
he was 5 years old, he left for the forest to perform austerities and he
continued it upto 12 years. After 12 years he went to the holy city named
Ambavati with all the opulence and accepted the transcendental throne sent by
Lord Shiva. For his security goddess Parvati created a Vetala (a king of
ghosts) and sent it to king Vikramaditya’s palace. Once the powerful king went
to the temple of Lord Shiva named as Mahakaleshvara, who is the chief of the
devas, and who has a bow named Pinaka. There he worshipped Lord Shiva. In that
place he built a religious council hall with the pillars made of various metals
and decorated with many kinds of jewels and covered with so many plants and
creepers and flowers. In that hall he kept a celestial throne. He invited the
foremost brahmanas who are well-versed in Vedic knowledge, worshipped them with
proper hospitality and heard many religious histories from them. After that one
demigod named Vitala come there having a form of a brahmana. Glorifying and
blessing the king, he sat down on the seat and said: O master of this earthly
planet, king Vikramaditya, if you are very eager to hear them I will describe
the stories and histories to you.
Thus ends the seventh chapter of the Pratisarga Parva of the
Bhavishya Purana.
1.2 The Prediction of Islam
[From the third part of the Pratisarga Parva.]
Shri Suta Gosvami said: In the dynasty of king Shalivahana,
there were ten kings who went to the heavenly planets after ruling for over 500
years. Then gradually the morality declined on the earth. At that time
Bhojaraja was the tenth of the kings on the earth. When he saw that the moral
law of conduct was declining he went to conquer all the directions of his
country with ten-thousand soldiers commanded by Kalidasa. He crossed the river
Sindhu and conquered over the gandharas, mlecchas, shakas, kasmiris, naravas
and sathas. He punished them and collected a large ammount of wealth. Then the
king went along with Mahamada (Mohammad), the preceptor of mleccha-dharma, and
his followers to the great god, Lord Shiva, situated in the desert. He bathed
Lord Shiva with Ganges water and worshipped him in his mind with pancagavya
(milk, ghee, yoghurt, cow dung, and cow urine) and sandalwood paste, etc. After
he offered some prayers and pleased him.
Suta Goswami said: After hearing the king’s prayers, Lord
Shiva said: O king Bhojaraja, you should go to the place called Mahakakshvara,
that land is called Vahika and now is being contaminated by the mlecchas. In
that terrible country there no longer exists dharma. There was a mystic demon
named Tripura, whom I have already burnt to ashes, he has come again by the
order of Bali. He has no origin but he achieved a benediction from me. His name
is Mahaoda and his deeds are like that of a ghost. Therefore, O king, you
should not go to this land of the evil ghost. By my mercy your intelligence
will be purified. Hearing this the king came back to his country and Mahamada
came with them to the bank of the river Sindhu. He was expert in expanding
illusion, so he said to the king very pleasingly: O great king, your god has
become my servant. Just see, as he eats my remnants, so I will show you. The
king became surprised when he saw this just before them. Then in anger Kalidasa
rebuked Mahamada, “O rascal, you have created an illusion to bewilder the king,
I will kill you, you are the lowest..."
[...]
That city is known as their site of pilgrimage, a place
which was Madina or free from intoxication. Having a form of a ghost (Bhuta),
the expert illusionist Mahamada appeared at night in front of king Bhojaraja
and said: O king, your religion is of course known as the best religion among
all. Still I am going to establish a terrible and demoniac religion by the
order of the Lord. The symptoms of my followers will be that they first of all
will cut their genitals, have no shikha, but having beard, be wicked, make
noise loudly and eat everything. They should eat animals without performing any
rituals. This is my opinion. They will perform purificatory act with the musala
or a pestle as you purify your things with kusha. Therefore, they will be known
as musalman, the corrupters of religion. Thus the demoniac religion will be
founded by me. After having heard all this the king came back to his palace and
that ghost went back to his place.
The intelligent king, Bhojaraj established the language of
Sanskrit in three varnas - the brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaisyas - and for the
shudras he established prakrita-bhasha, the ordinary language spoken by common
men. After ruling his kingdom for 50 years, he went to the heavenly planet. The
moral laws established by him were honored even by the demigods. The
arya-varta, the pious land is situated between Vindhyacala and Himacala or the
mountains known as Vindhya and Himalaya. The Aryans reside there, but
varna-sankaras reside on the lower part of Vindhya. The musalman people were
kept on the other side of the river Sindhu.
On the island of Barbara, Tusha and many others also the
followers of Isamsiha were also situated as they were managed by a king or
demigods.
1.3 The Prediction of Buddhism
[From the 29th chapter of the Pratisarga Parva.]
Long ago in the country known as Citrartha, the inhabitants
of the heavenly planets used to come to play during the time of autumn. One day
a heavenly apsara know as Manjughosha came to that place where the sage Shuka
was residing. Seeing this beautiful boy, she tried to attract him while singing
and dancing, being overwhelmed by lusty desires. She praised him with a
beautiful prayer holding her hands and bowing down. Somehow, she pleased the
muni. Then the glorious Shuka, hearing this auspicious prayer asked her to
request a benediction. Manjughosha humbly said: ”O lord, you are the protector
of those who came to your shelter, therefore I’m at your shelter, please become
my husband”. The sage accepted her and after some time they produced a son
named ‘Muni’ who performed austerity very strictly upto 12 years. He married
the daughter of Svarnadeva, the god of gold. They gave birth to a daughter
named Kinnari. She was very young and beautiful. She performed austerity to
please Lord Shiva, and as a benediction lord Shiva intrusted her to a sober
sage Makaranda.
Then her father, Muni, asked lord Shiva to bless her, so
that they will successfully make progress in this world.
Lord Shiva said: Upto 30 years you will enjoy your country
in the middle of the earth, then it will be destroyed. After hearing this Muni
went to his place with Makaranda and resided there. As soon as the 29th year
started the battle took place among those kings who took birth as the
incarnations of the associates of Krishna. Bauddha, the lord of nyuhas (the
lessened people) attacked the beautiful city of Netrapala, thinking that this
city is wonderfully decorated with various kinds of jewels. The powerful king
Bauddha-simha who had seven-million soldiers, fought with those kings who had
only three million soldiers. The fight went on terribly between the armies for
seven days and nights. The great powerful kings, who killed all the inimical
armies protected by Baudha-simha, were Yoga-simha, Bhoga-simha and Vijaya.
After that more Buddhists came from the countries known as
Shyama and Japaka, and all of them were magicians. Again they had a large
battle which lasted for one month. Then Netrasimha arrived with seven million
soldiers protected by eight generals, for the destruction of the Buddhists.
Being afraid, all the Buddhists left India completely and went to China to
continue the war from there. The opposite army also continued following them.
When they arrived on the bank of the Huha river, it was the month of Magh, the
second half part of the month of January, the fight took place again. There
were one million soldiers each from the countries of Syama and Japaka, and ten
million soldiers from China assembled for a fight. On the other side,
Krishnamsa, Deva, Netrapala, Mandalika, Dhanyapada, Lallasimha, Talana and Jana
nayaka were the generals, each of them having one million soldiers. There was a
terrible battle between the Buddhists and the Aryans. In that war seven million
Buddhists, and two million Aryans were killed. Being afraid the Buddhists ran
away from the battle and went to their home to produce a wooden army with the
help of a machinery arrangement. They made ten-thousand elephants (made out of
wood) along with warriors, one million horses, one thousand buffaloes, one
thousand hogs, one thousand tigers, one thousand swans, and seven thousand
camels. All these creatures had wooden warriors on their back. Thus with the
wooden army which was 125,000 in number, they killed two million soldiers
protected by Krishnamsas. Seeing this wonder Jayanta, the expert fighter shot
fire arrows toward the wooden armies, so that they were immediately destroyed,
being burnt to ashes. Only three million kshatriyas (warriors) were left, and
they glorified the proficient warrior Jayanta again and again. Then the
Buddhists from China, made a twenty thousand strong iron horse calvary and sent
them to fight. The powerful warrior Yogasimha, riding on an elephant held the
bow and arrows in his hands and shot to the neck of the iron warriors. Being
afflicted by the arrows of Yogasimha five thousand soldiers were killed. Seeing
this, Bauddhasimha made an iron tiger and sent it to Yogasimha. By the attack
of that iron tiger the brave Yogasimha was finally killed, and then Bhogasimha
riding on a horse, went to fight with the tiger. He killed the tiger by
throwing a missile, and roared loudly. Then a lion was sent to him by
Bauddhasimha and thus he (Bhogasimha) was killed by a lion. When the son of
Swarna-vati (Jayanta) saw that his maternal uncles were already dead, he rode
on a powerful horse and went to Bauddhasimha. He took illusory arrows and put
the opposite army into delusion along with Bauddhasimha. He captured
ten-thousand kings including Bauddhasimha, and returned to Krishnamsas having
destroyed the mechanical armies.
Then all of them happily went to the city and forcibly
“looted” the wealth from the palace, which was very opulent, and came back the
fort of the king. Jayanta came and released Bauddhasimha. After being released
he offered his daughter Padmaja to Jayanta and also offered 100,000,000 golden
coins for the pleasure of his in law. After that all the Buddhists made their
vows there itself saying “We will never go to Arya-desa to invade the country.”
Then they offered their homage and left. They went to Netrapala with their
three million remaining soldiers.
1.4 The Prediction of India’s Kings
[From the 31st chapter of the Pratisarga Parva.]
Suta Goswami said: The great powerful king of Madrakesa
worshipped the mendicants of the heavenly planets (the Asvini kumaras) for five
years and after having received a benediction from them he produced ten sons
and one beautiful young daughter named Kantinati. King Madraka invited Maharaj
Suryavarna (the present king of Hastinapura), and gave his daughter to him with
proper conduct.
Having accepted the new wife, Suryavarna quickly returned to
his home with his army. There was a mystic demon named Karbura, the son of
Bigbhisana, when he saw Kantimati the daughter of king Madrakesa, he came there
and kidnapped her in their presence and went to a mountain called Sahyadri.
Seeing this incident Mahiraja became very upset and lamented again and again.
Mahiraja came to Hastinapura and sent a message to Krishnamsa. He explained
everything to him and immediately with five hundred warriors Krishnamsa went to
Sahyadri mountain and said fearlessly: “O best of the demons, please listen.
Your father Bibhishana is a great devotoee, and you are the dear son of him,
therefore, you should not act in this manner (sinfully) which is the cause of
the destruction of family. Do you remember, long ago mother Sita was kidnapped
by Ravana and what happened to him?”
The rakshasa said, "Previously she was the daughter of
a Gandharva and my beloved wife, but because of a curse by a sage she took
birth on the earthly planet. Therefore, feeling her separation I went to
Madrakesa. Although I stayed there so many days, being afraid of the king I
could not kidnap her. Now she is in my control, but if you defeat me in battle
you can take her back. Then Krishnamsa started fighting with him with a sword
and it went on for seven nights. Finally he defeated the rakshasa, and with
Kantimati came back to Delhi to see Mahiraja. The king (Mahiraja) offered
10,000,000 golden coins to the great Krishnamsa. Then he came to Pramdavana, or
the forest called Pramoda, with his friends.
Suta Goswami said: There was a powerful king named Purnamala
in Pattana. He worshipped the Vasus for five years and received a benediction
from them. By their blessings he had ten sons and a daughter named Vidyun mala.
For the marriage of his daughter he invited king Mahiraja and with seven
million soldiers he gave his daughter to the son of Mahiraja (Bhima).
Bhima came back happily to his home (Hastinapura) with his
beautiful wife. Then the king of paisaca-dasa, Sahoda, came with ten-thousand
mlecchas to get Vidyunmala. They came to Kurukshetra by the order of Bali, the
grandson of Prahlada Maharaja. They broke the deities of gods, killed so many
cows and in the places of sacred water they put cow-blood. Sahoda, the mleccha
king, wrote a letter and sent it to Mahiraja. King Mahiraja answered: "O
mleccha king, you are the master of the mlecchasi, why are you worried about
Vidyunmala? You should know that I’m the one who can shoot arrows just by
hearing a sound and I’m the central point of the country of the thieves."
Then the king went to Kurukshetra with three million
soldiers. There was a large, terrible fight between them. At night in the month
of Jesta (July), Bali Maharaja came from Patala, the lowest region with
ten-thousand demons and killed the soldiers of the king very quickly, eating
them again and again. The king, being afraid took shelter of goddess Sarasvati.
After that immediately Krishnamsas arrived and killed the ten-thousand demons.
They came to Bali, the lord of the demons, and pleased him with their words.
Then Baliraja said: I’m very pleased with you, now you can
ask for any benediction.
They said: These demons should never come to Aryadesha
(India) with you, all of you should stay always in mleccha-desha and eat the
followers of mleccha-dharma.
Baliraja became upset hearing these fearful, terrible words.
Then Krishnamsa said: as long as I’m in this world you
should simply stay in your home, after that you come here and do whatever you
like”.
Hearing this the mleccha king Sahoda went back to Rasatala,
the sixth lowest region of demons.
[From Pratisarga Parva, 4th Part, Chapter 6.]
The sage (Saunka) said: “O great fortunate one, you know
everything please tell us about the kings who came after Mahiraja.
Suta Goswami said: The ghostly Kutukoddina, with human
nature, was situated in the kingdom of Delhi. The best king Bhapasena, the
grandson of Virasena was situated in the beautiful city of Aligarh. This city
was protected by yadavas. Kutukaddin with ten-thousand warriors went there and
defeated him and returned to Delhi. Then so many kings form other countries
came there and defeated him and rejected him from their countries. When
Shahoddina heard this, he came to Delhi, conquered the kings and broke all the
deities. After that so many mlecchas came from all sides and ruled the kingdom
for 5, 6 or 7 years. They had destroyed the places of pilgrimage and the
temples, therefore as a reaction they become short-lived. From today, the
mleccha kings will continue for a hundred years, therefore O sages, you should
quickly go to Vishala (Badarikashrama) with me.
Then all the sages sadly left this place (Naimisaranya) and
went to Vishala, the best of the Himalayas and meditated upon Lord Hari, being
in samadhi (trance). And after a hundred years all of them attained the kingdom
of God.
1.5 The Prediction of Nimbarka Acharya
[From the 7th chapter of the Pratisarga Parva.]
The sun god, being pleased by the praise of the demigods,
said: By the order of the Lord Krishna, Sudarshana will take birth in the
Dvapara-yuga, and will be known as Nimbaditya (Nimbarka). He will be able to
remove the declination of religious principles.
Suta Goswami said: Now you hear about the pastimes of the
great Nimbarka. Lord Krishna personally ordered him to appear on the auspicious
bank of Narmada river, which flows to the southern side of mountain Meru. That
state is known as Tailanga, the place used by the devarsis, the godly sages.
Lord Krishna said: "You receive knowledge from devarsi
Narada and establish the true principles of religion. You should remain in
Mathura, Naimisaranya and Dvaraka."
Lord Sudarshana accepted the order of Lord Krishna sarying,
"Yes," and appeared on the earth to fulfill the desires of the
devotees. There was a broad-minded holy brahmana living in the auspicious state
of Tailanga. His name was Aruna and was well versed in the Vedas and Vedangas.
His wife was known as Jayanti. They were living an austere life like the sages.
The brilliant luster of Sudarshana suddenly entered in the heart of Jayanti,
and by that luster she looked brilliant like the moon. When the time arrived
with all auspiciousness and good qualities, in Gaura paksha purnima of Kartika
month, Vrisha rasi, the moon in Krittika, the five grahas (planets) situated in
higher places, in the evening at the time of sunset, in Masa-lagna, the Lord of
the universe (Sudarshana), who engaged the whole universe in Vedic religion,
appeared from mother Jayanti (as Nimbarka).
One day Lord Brahma went to Nimbarka’s ashrama just before
the sunset and said: O brahmana, I’m very hungry, as long as the sun is in the sky,
please give me something to eat. (I will not eat after the sun sets). The
brahmana (Nimbarka) gave him food and while he was eating the sun went down.
Then the brahmana by his power kept a sudarshana on a nimbe tree. Lord Brahma
wondered seeing that sunlike shine and paid his obeisances to the brahmana by
lying flat on the ground. Pleased with his austerity Lord Brahma said:
Excellent. You will become famous on this earth, and you will be known as
Nimbaditya (Nimbarka - One who made the sun appear from a Neem tree).
1.6 The Prediction of Madhva and Sridhara
[From the 7th chapter of the Pratisarga Parva.]
Brihaspati said: Long ago, during the age of treta, O Indra,
there was a brahmana named Shakrasharma, in Ayodhya. He worshipped demigods
such as the Asvini Kumaras, Rudras, Vasus, and Surya with the mantras mentioned
in the Yajur-veda. After worshipping, he satisfied them by offering oblations
every day. Thus being pleased with his worship all the 330 million demigods
awarded him all desired objects and even the rarest things. By the benediction
of the demigods the brahmana lived on this earth for ten-thousand years without
getting old and having no disturbance. After leaving his body he become the
Sun-god and predominated the sun planet for one hundred thousand years, before
going to Brahmaloka. He spent eight thousand celestial years for visiting the
higher planets and then returned to the sun planet.
Hearing this, Lord Indra with his sober intelligence began
to worship the sun-god along with other demigods in the month of June-July. On
the purnima, the full moon day, the sun-god came down to the earth and said to
demigods: I will take birth in Kali-yuga in Vrindavana and this brahmana will
execute favorable acts for the demigods. He will be born as a son of Madhava,
named Madhu and follow the Vedic path.
Suta Gosvami said: Saying this the sun-god created a light
from his body and sent it to Vrindavana. Attracting all the irreligious people
with pleasing speech he gave them Vaishnavi-shakti or the spiritual energy of
Lord Vishnu, the bestower of enjoyment and liberation. Thus he become famous,
known as Madhvacarya.
Jiva said: In the age of Dvapara, there was a brahmana named
Megha Sharma. He was very much religious, intelligent, learned and a follower
of the Vedic path. He was engaged in farming, and with the ten percent profit
from farming he was worshipping the demigods every day with devotion. Once
there was no rain during the administration of Maharaja Shantanu for five
years, but the farm of Megha sharma was about four miles wider and was watered
by rain. Naturally the grain-rate increased and Megha sharma became rich by
taking advantage of the scarcity. Other people being so distressed took shelter
of the king. The king called Megha sharma and said: O great brahmana, I offer
my obeisances unto you, please became my Guru and guide us, so that we can be free
from the scarcity.
Megha sharma said: when the month of Shravana (July-August)
starts, you should call twelve Vedic brahmanas to chant one-hundred thousand
times the mantra of the sun-god with the proper mind. Then on the full moon day
(purnima) offer one tenth the number of oblations in the sacrificial fire,
through the brahmanas. If you could do this as mentioned, you will become free
from anxiety. So the king performed accordingly and fed all the brahmanas, then
the sun-god being pleased by this poured heavy rain on the earth from all
sides. After this king Shantanu, engaged in performing Surya-vrata and become a
greatly pious person. Whoever he touched with his hand immediately turned to a
young man. By the mercy of the sun-god, Meghasarma lived for five-hundred
years, being freed from old age, and then went to sun-planet. After 100,000
years he will attain Brahmaloka. While he was speaking thus, sun-god revealed
his identity to Jiva and went to Prayaga (Allahabad) and being in a happy mood
he said to the demigods: “In kali-yuga, when the mlecchas will be ruling the
kingdom, I will come to Vrindavana and preach for the mission of the
Devas."
Suta said: Then the sun-god descended in Vrindavana as a son
of Deva-sharma, named Sridhara. He studied Srimad Bhagavatam very deeply and a
great commentary on it which is known as Sridhar-bhasya, the commentary of
Sridhara.
1.7 The Prediction of Jayadeva Gosvami
Brihaspati said: Long ago there was a brahmana named Heli,
in the beautiful city Pampapura. He was a worshipper of the sun-god and he knew
the 64 arts. He avoided the mood of accepting dakshina (donations) and he
became an artist, having established a workshop for clothes, paintings,
pictures, metal statues etc. He spent five thousand coins to establish it.
Whatever profit he made he used for worshipping the sun-god in the month of
Magha (January-February) by performing sacrifices. Thus the sun-god Vishvakarma
(the architect of the gods) became pleased with this sacrifice and descended on
the top of a big pillar in Pampasarovara, the lake named Pampa, having a
brilliant shining form. At the noon time, Heli offered food to the sun-god
according to his desire. In this way he satisfied the three worlds. After
leaving his body he entered into the sun-planet. Therefore O king of devas you
may worship the sun-god, he will help you.
Suta said: Lord Indra hearing this from his guru, began to
worship the sun-god Visvakarma along with other demigods. Thus being pleased
with their worship Tvashta (Visvakarma) said: O gods, please listen to my
words, I will appear in a village named Bilvagram in Bengal, and I will be the
poet known as Jayadeva, the compiler of Nirukti. Saying this the sun-god went
to Bengal and took birth in the house of a brahmana named Kanduke. When he was
just five years old, he was engaged in the service of his parents and continued
for twelve years. After sometime his parents left their body and Jayadeva did
all the final ceremonies (Shraddha) in Gaya. Being satisfied they went to
heaven. Then Jayadeva lived in a jungle as a detached brahmana.
At the age of twenty three, a brahmana (someone) offered his
beautiful daughter to Lord Jagannatha. At the end of his worship the eternal
Lord Aniruddha, having the form of Darubrahma, directly spoke thus: “O Satyavrata,
please listen to Me, it is my order that you offer your daughter Padmavati to
Jayadeva because he is the body of Mine, or he is as good as Me.” Then he found
the detached brahmana (Jayadeva) and leaving his daughter in front of him, he
went to his home. Padmavati served her husband for so many years accepting him
as a beautiful and learned one. Jayadeva compiled a book known as Nirukta, the
Vedic vocabulary, one of the six Vedangas. There were five kinds of Niruktas,
but in Kali-yuga they were destroyed by the evil people and Prakrit-bhasha or
the illiterate language was established. For the sake of the demigods, Panini
the author of Ashtadhyayi grammar, overtook them and established the pure
Sanskrit languagae.
Once the evil minded Kali situated in the hearts of thieves,
plundered all the money of the brahmana Jayadeva which was given to him by the
king. Following this they cut both his hands and legs and went home leaving
Padmavati aside. Jaydeva was thrown into a ditch. Padmavati took him out cried
and lamented again and again seeing the situation of her husband.
One day, when the king Dharmapala was out hunting. He saw
the sage Jayadeva without hands and feet and asked: “Who put you in such a
condition?”
Jayadeva answered: “No one put me in this condition, O king.
It is due to my previous activities that I am suffering now in this abominable
condition."
Having heard this statement, the religious king put the
brahmana on a palanquin along with his wife and brought them to his palace. The
king built a dharma-shala, religious institution, after receiving instructions
from Jayadeva.
One day those same thieves, dressed as Vaishnavas came to
the king and said: “We are very much expert in the scriptures and therefore we
have come to you. O best of the kings, Lord Vishnu, while being in the stone
(Shalagrama) eats food cooked by us everyday with love. If you don’t believe
us, you can see this right here.”
Saying thus the slaves of kali by their power showed the
king a four handed form of Lord Vishnu eating. Being struck with wonder, king
Dharmapala said to Jayadeva: “O my gurudeva, some vaishnavas, the devotees of
Lord Vishnu have come to my palace, and they have shown me the Lord before my
very eyes, therefore please come quickly."
The theives saw Jayadeva and became struck with wonder. They
said to the king in a joking mood: “O king, this brahmana was a cook in the
palace of the king of Gaudadesa (Bengal). Once he became very much greedy for
money and he mixed some poison in the food and offered it to a king. When the
king come to know about it he ordered him to be crucified. Then we came to him
(Jayadeva), and knowing him to be an offender, we instructed him in the Vedic
knowledge. Then the king refused to crucify him, but he cut off his hands and
legs. At that time the king became our disciple, having been enlightened by
us.”
While they were speaking thus, the earth broke in two and
those thieves fell within the earth, being sent to the lowest hell known as
patala-loka. Jayadeva began to cry to the thieves and while he was crying his
hands and legs appeared to be as they were. Then he explained to the bewildered
king what had happened. The king became very happy after hearing everything
from him. Jayadeva wrote a song called Gita-Govinda, the song sung for the
pleasure of Lord Govinda. The king read the song and attained liberation. “O
brahmanas, thus I have narrated the birth story of Jayadeva, now you listen
about how the Supreme Lord appeared as Sri Krishna Chaitanya ."
[From Pratisarga Parva, 4th Part, Chapter 6.]
The sage (Saunka) said: “O great fortunate one, you know
everything please tell us about the kings who came after Mahiraja.
Suta Goswami said: The ghostly Kutukoddina, with human
nature, was situated in the kingdom of Delhi. The best king Bhapasena, the
grandson of Virasena was situated in the beautiful city of Aligarh. This city
was protected by yadavas. Kutukaddin with ten-thousand warriors went there and
defeated him and returned to Delhi. Then so many kings form other countries
came there and defeated him and rejected him from their countries. When
Shahoddina heard this, he came to Delhi, conquered the kings and broke all the
deities. After that so many mlecchas came from all sides and ruled the kingdom
for 5, 6 or 7 years. They had destroyed the places of pilgrimage and the
temples, therefore as a reaction they become short-lived. From today, the
mleccha kings will continue for a hundred years, therefore O sages, you should
quickly go to Vishala (Badarikashrama) with me.
Then all the sages sadly left this place (Naimisaranya) and
went to Vishala, the best of the Himalayas and meditated upon Lord Hari, being
in samadhi (trance). And after a hundred years all of them attained the kingdom
of God.
Can I ask you some questions
ReplyDeletegreat article , very interesting .
ReplyDeleteBut some paragraphs of bhavishya purana seems to be manipulated in medieval period