Chapter IX
On the fight between the Risis and Prahlada
1. Vyasa said :– After performing duly his religious rites there, the son of Hiranya KaSipu saw before him an unbrageous peepul tree.
2-3. There he saw along with the feathers of vultures, the terrible, sharpened under a stone,
various glittering arrows, arrayed in due order; and he was surprised to think who could have kept such arrows, well guarded in this very holy hermitage of the Risis.
4-5. While Prahlada was thus meditating in his mind, he saw before him, wearing the skin of a black antelope, the two sons of Dharma, the two Munis Nara Narayana, loaded on their heads with high clots of hairs. Before them were placed the two white bows named Sarngamand Ajagavam, (Pinaka) the bows of Visnu and Siva respectively, bearing their qualified marks, as well as their two inexhaustible big quivers.
6-10. The Lord of the Daityas, then, saw those two blessed ones, the two Risis Nara Narayana, the two sons of Dharma, deeply absorbed in meditation. Seeing this, he became very much enraged, his eyes became red, and he began to address them thus :– O two Ascetics ! Has vain arrogance possessed your mind to destroy religion? It is never seen nor even heard, that the practice of severe asceticism and the holding of the bows and arrows, were carried into effect simultaneously by one man in any of the Four Ages. These two are contradictory things. That may be worthy in the Kali Yuga? This asceticism is fit for the Brahmanas; why, then are the bows and arrows held by you? There is an irreconcilable difference between the holding of clotted hairs on the head and the holding in the hand of the bows and arrows. Therefore, do you practise religious rites, with feelings befitting your divine positions !
1. Vyasa said :– O Descendant of Bharata ! On hearing thus the Prahlada’s words, the Nara Risi said :– O Lord of the Daityas ! What matters it to you? Why do you, for nothing, trouble yourself with our tapasya.
2. An able man can accomplish any thing. It is widely known in the three worlds, that we are able to accomplish these two things contemporaneously. O thou of weak understanding !
3. In the battle field as well as in asceticism, we can shew our prowess. What have you got to do with us in these matters? The road before you is unobstructed, you can go wherever you like; why do you brag of your own merits?
4. You are very dull and stupid; what can you understand of a Brahmanic glory that is very rare and attained with great difficulty? Those that want happiness need not meddle with the Brahmanas.
15-16. Prahlada said :– Blunt headed and vain braggarts are you ! When I am present in this Tirtha, I who am the upholder of Dharma, I won`t allow you to practise any irreligious things here ! O Ascetics ! Better show me your skill in fight to-day.
17-18. Vyasa said :– O king ! The Risi Nara on hearing his words replied :– Give us battle if you are so desirous. O wretched amongst the Asuras ! In to-day’s battle, I will knock your head down, and then you shall never in future desire to fight with any body.
19-20. Vyasa said :– On hearing these words, the chief of the Daityas was very much angry and promised to conquer these two self controlled Risi ascetics, Nara Narayana by any means whatsoever.
21-22. Vyasa said :– Thus saying, the Daitya took up his bow and quickly stretched it with arrow and the bow string made a terrible noise. Then Nara, too, too up with anger his bows and began to shoot arrows at Prahlada lots of sharpened arrows and weapons.
1. The lord of the Daityas quickly selected the arrows, glittering like gold, and with them tore asunder the arrows thrown by Nara. Nara, seeing his arrows, cut asunder, became infuriated with anger and began to hurl as quickly lots of other arrows.
2. Prahlada then cut asunder with arrows, of quick velocity, the Nara’s weapons and struck violently on the breast of Nara. Nara, too, with anger pierced the arms of Prahlada with five quick arrows.
3. Indra and the other Devas came on their respective aeroplanes to see their fight and began to give cheers sometimes to Nara and sometime to Prahlada from above the skies.
4. The Lord of the Daityas taking up his bow, began out of furious anger to hurl various weapons on Nara as incessantly as clouds give rain over the mountain peaks. The Nara Muni now became very much exhausted and weary, being struck with Prahlada’s arrows.
5. Narayana then seeing Nara exhausted, became very much amazed and bolding his unequalled Sarnga bow, began to quit arrows, shining with with golden lustre.
6. O Lord of the earth ! Then Narayana and Prahlada both were desirous to win the victory, and a terrible fight ensued. The Devas gladly poured forth flowers on their heads from the skies.
7. The king of the Daityas got very much enraged and began to hurl arrows with tremendous quickness. Narayana, the son of Dharma, immediately cut asunder those weapons with his very sharp arrow.
30-32. Narayana too, threw arrows sharpened under stones with high velocity and very much troubled the lord of the Daityas, who now became very much restless.
33-34. The sky was covered over with arrows and arrows from both the parties and the day looked like the night. Then the Devas and the Daityas were very much astonished and told each other, “We never saw before a terrible fight like this.”
35. Then the Devarsis, Gandarbhas, Yaksas, Kinnaras, Pannagas, Vidyadharas and Charanas were all very much confounded.
36-37. The two Risis Narada and Parvata came also to witness their fight; the Devarsi Narada told the Parvata Risi he never saw before such a dreadful fight. There were awful battles with Tarakasura and Vritrasura and also the battle between Hari and Madhukaitava; but they were all inferior and cannot stand in comparison.
38. It seemed that Prahlada was very powerful; otherwise how could an equal fight last so long a time with such an accomplished person, perfect with all the supernatural powers and of such heroic deeds as Narayana.
39-42. Vyasa said :– O king ! Day and night the Daityas and the ascetic Narayana went on fighting terribly with each other. Then Narayana cut off, with the arrow, the bow of Prahlada; Prahlada soon took another bow; the expert handed Narayana quickly broke into two that bow. Thus though Prahlada’s arrows were repeatedly cut asunder still he began to take up fresh bows and Narayana began to cut them repeatedly.
43-44. Thus, then, when all the bows of Prahlada were destroyed, the Daitya Raja took up
Parigha (iron club), became enraged and threw it on Narayana’s arm. The powerful Bhagavan Narayana, seeing the dreadful iron club, cut it asunder with nine arrows and pierced Prahlada with ten arrows.
45-47. Then Prahlada, enraged, threw the iron gada on Narayana’s thighs. The exceedingly powerful Dharma’s son was not at all agitated and stood firm like a rock and taking up arrows quickly cut asunder the iron gada of the Daitya. Then the visitors were much startled.
48-49. Then Prahlada, intent on killing his enemy, became very much angry and threw the Sakti darts, spears and missiles instantly on Narayana’s thighs with great velocity. Narayana with one arrow cut that easily into seven parts and with seven arrows pierced Prahlada.
50. Thus for one thousand Deva years the terrible fight lasted between Prahlada and Narayana in that hermitage; and the whole universe was struck with surprise.
51-52. Then Gadadhara with yellow robes and four hands quickly came there and called Prahlada. The son of Hiranya KaSipoo, Prahlada, seeing the Lord of Laksmi, four armed, Narayana with lotus and disc in His hands come there, bowed low, and, with folded hands, began to speak to him with great devotion.
53-54. O Deva of the Devas ! You are the Lord of the universe and devoted to your devotees. O Madhava ! I have fought for full one hundred Deva years; still I have not not been able to defeat these ascetics. I do not know why. I am surprised at it.
55-56. Visnu said :– O Forgiving One ! These two Risis Nara Narayana are, the perfect ascetics, self controlled and born of my Amsas. Therefore you have not been able to defeat them. What wonder is there ! O king ! Better go now to your Patala and keep your steadfast devotion on me. O Intelligent one ! Do not quarrel any more with these two ascetics.
57. Vyasa said :– O king ! The Daitya king Prahlada then advised by Visnu went out of that place with his Asura followers; and the two Nara Narayanas began again to practise their Tapasyas.
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the Fourth Book of Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam; of 18,000 verses, on the fight between the Risis and Prahlada by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.