Jun 29, 2007

Chapter 13: Hiranyakashipu’s Vara

Meanwhile, Brahma is confused as to what of HK. Obviously his demands will be something that Devathas cannot digest. But if he does not give vara, he is unworthy to be God. He is in a dilemma.

Narada continues to entertain Kayadu, knowing well, the effect it will have on the baby. He narrates the story of Dhruv. He, then, chants the best ever words that give much happiness: ‘Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya Namaha’. The words go through the womb and to the baby.

Indra still wants to tapas-bhang HK. He asks bro Suryadev (God of Sun) to heaten HK. Suryadev warns him about flooding of Himalayas. Much worse if no tapas-bhang, says Indra. So Suryadev tries to heaten HK.

Once again Shukracharya’s mysterious mist saves HK. Suryadev retreats after repeats, defeated. Indra goes to Brahma to request him not to give HK an all-powerful vara. Brahma, himself worried, says he will try his best, but still he is bound to give a vow.

Lakshmi is all tensed about this story. She asks Vishnu why such a thrilling complicated story? What's the motive? Vishnu says that he wants to prove to the world that no one is good or bad by birth. A son need not be like a father. A deity's son if he does bad, then he is not a deva, he is an asura. Lakshmi asks wouldnt it have been easier if HK's son was born in the family of gods (Indra and Co). Vishnu says that would be a normal story. A good story writer need to make the story extraordinary and unique and innovative! Lakshmi is much impressed with the advent of Narada and wonders what happens to the story of Vishnu-hating HK and Vishnu-loving son. She asks Vishnu of the outcome. ‘That’s the punch’ says Vishnu and continues to mystify the happenings and the end. But he tells that one part of the story is HK's tapas and the other is his son who will create history.

The apex of HK’s tapas has reached. So Brahma comes before him and promises a vow. HK asks for no death. Brahma says it is not in his hand, for its Shiva's department. Anything else. So HK asks for no death with following conditions:
1. inside or outside the house
2. in morning or evening
3. by man or animal
4. on earth or sky
5. by weapons.

Brahma thus is, by virtue of promise, caught. So he grants the vara.

HK is happy, because its all equivalent to no death. Lakshmi is distressed. Vishnu is not. He says, no man can ever live forever. No death to only 2 people: One, Vishnu Himself and Two, Death Itself. He also tells her about the oncoming fascinations of a Great Son to a Horrible Father, the amount of punishments one has to undergo for committing crimes (Indra) and the acceptance of the throne without corresponding Good Works and other words of wisdom. He also tells that the amount of punishment varies with amount of crime. More the crime, more the punishment. What Indra did was not good, kidnapping a pregnant woman, trying to kill an unborn child, etc. An intelligent man is one who thinks about consequences before doing the action. 

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