"Lomasa said, 'O sons of Pandu, ye have seen many a mountain, and river
and town and forest and beautiful _tirtha_; and have touched with your
hands the sacred waters. Now this way leads to the celestial mountain
Mandara; therefore be ye attentive and composed. Ye will now repair to
the residence of the celestials and the divine sages of meritorious
deeds. Here, O king, flows the mighty and beautiful river (Alakananda)
of holy water adored by hosts of celestials and sages, and tracing its
source to (the site of) the jujube tree. It is frequented and worshipped
by high-souled Vaihayasas, Valakhilyas and Gandharvas of mighty souls.
Accustomed to sing the Sama hymns, the sages, Marichi, Pulaha, Bhrigu
and Angiras, chanted them at this spot. Here the lord of celestials
performeth with the Marats his daily prayers. And the Sadhyas and the
Aswins attend on him. The sun, the moon and all the luminaries with the
planets resort to this river, alternately by day and by night. O highly
fortunate monarch, that protector of the world, Mahadeva, having a bull
for his mark, received on his head the fall of the waters of this river,
at the source of the Ganga. O children, approach this goddess of the six
attributes and bow down before her with concentrated minds.'
"Hearing the words of the high-souled Lomasa, the son of Pandu
reverentially worshipped the river (Ganga), flowing through the
firmament. And after having adored her the pious sons of Pandu resumed
their journey accompanied by the sages. And it came to pass that those
best of men beheld at a distance some white object of vast proportions,
even like Meru and stretching on all sides. And knowing that Pandu's
sons were intent upon asking (him), Lomasa versed in speech said, 'Hear,
O sons of Pandu! O best of men, what ye see before you, of vast
proportions like unto a mountain and beautiful as the Kailasa cliff, is
a collection of the bones of the mighty Daitya Naraka. Being placed on a
mountain, it looketh like one. The Daitya was slain by that Supreme
Soul, the eternal God Vishnu, for the good of the lord of celestials.
Aiming at the possession of Indra's place, by the force of austere and
Vedic lore, that mighty-minded (demon) had practised austere penances
for ten thousand years. And on account of his asceticism, as also of the
force and might of his arms he had grown invincible and always harassed
(Indra). And O sinless one, knowing his strength and austerities and
observance of religious vows, Indra became agitated and was overwhelmed
with fear. And mentally he thought of the eternal deity, Vishnu. And
thereat the graceful lord of the universe, who is present everywhere,
appeared and stood before him manifest. And the sages and celestials
began to propitiate Vishnu with prayers. And in his presence even Agni
of the six attributes and of blazing beauty being overpowered by his
effulgence, became shorn of radiance and seeing before him the God
Vishnu, the chief of the celestials who wields the thunder-bolt, bowing
with head down readily apprised Vishnu of the source of his fear.
Thereupon Vishnu said, "I know, O Sakra, that thy fear proceedeth from
Naraka, that lord of the Daityas. By the merit of his successful ascetic
acts he aimeth at Indra's position. Therefore, for pleasing thee, I
shall certainly sever his soul from his body, although he hath achieved
success in asceticism. Do thou, lord of celestials, wait for a moment."
Then the exceedingly powerful Vishnu deprived (Naraka) of his senses (by
striking him) with his hand. And he fell down on the earth even like the
monarch of mountains struck by (thunder). He was thus slain by a miracle
and his bones lie gathered at this spot. Here also is manifest another
deed of Vishnu's. Once the whole earth having been lost and sunk into
the nether regions she was lifted up by him in the shape of a boar
having a single tusk.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'O worshipful one, relate in particular how Vishnu,
the lord of the celestials, raised up the earth sunk a hundred
_yojanas_? In what manner also was that support of all created
things--the goddess Earth of high fortune-who dispenseth blessings and
bringeth forth all sorts of corn rendered stable? Through whose power
had she sunk an hundred _yojanas_ below, and under what circumstances
was exhibited this greatest exploit of the Supreme Being? O chief of the
twice-born race, I wish to hear all about it in detail as it happened.
Certainly, it is known to thee.'
"Lomasa said, 'O Yudhishthira, listen to all at length as I relate the
story, which thou hast asked me (to narrate). O child, in days of yore,
there was (once) a terrible time in the Krita Yuga when the eternal and
primeval Diety assumed the duties of Yama. And, O thou that never
fallest off, when the God of gods began to perform the functions of
Yama, there died not a creature while the births were as usual. Then
there began to multiply birds and beasts and kine, and sheep, and deer
and all kinds of carnivorous animals. O tiger among men and vanquisher
of foes, then the human race also increased by thousands even like unto
a current of water. And, O my son, when the increase of population had
been so frightful, the Earth oppressed with the excessive burden, sank
down for a hundred _yojanas_. And suffering pain in all her limbs, and
being deprived of her senses by excessive pressure, the earth in
distress sought the protection of Narayana, the foremost of the gods.
The earth spake saying, "It is by thy favour, O possessor of the six
attributes, that I had been able to remain so long in my position. But I
have been overcome with burden and now I cannot hold myself any longer.
It behoveth thee, O adorable one, to relieve this load of mine. I have
sought thy protection, O lord; and do thou, therefore, extend unto me
thy favour." Hearing these words of hers, the eternal lord, possessor of
the six attributes, complaisantly said, in words uttered in distinct
letters, Vishnu said, "Thou need not fear, O afflicted Earth, the bearer
of all treasures. I shall act so that thou mayst be made light."'
"Lomasa said, 'Having thus dismissed the Earth, who hath the mountains
for her ear-rings, he suddenly became turned into a boar with one tusk,
and of exceeding effulgence. Causing terror with his glowing red eyes
and emitting fumes from his blazing lustre, he began to swell in
magnitude in that region. O hero, then holding the earth with his single
radiant tusk that being who pervadeth the Vedas, raised her up a hundred
_yojanas_. And while she was being thus raised, there ensued a mighty
agitation and all the celestials, together with the sages of ascetic
wealth became agitated. And heaven, and the firmament, and also the
Earth were filled with exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ and neither the
celestials nor men could rest in peace. Then countless celestials
together with the sages went to Brahma, who was seated burning as it
were in his (own) lustre. Then approaching Brahma, the lord of
celestials, and the witness of the acts of all beings, they with folded
hands spake the following words, "O lord of the celestials, all created
beings have become agitated and the mobile and immobile creatures are
restless. O lord of the celestials, even the oceans are found to be
agitated and this whole earth hath gone down a hundred _yojanas_. What
is the matter? And by whose influence is it that the whole universe is
in ferment? May it please thee to explain it unto us without delay, for
we are all bewildered." Thereupon Brahma replied, "Ye immortals! do ye
not entertain fear for the Asuras, in any matter or place. Hearken, ye
celestials, to the reason to which all this commotion is owing! This
agitation in the heavens hath been produced by the influence of the
illustrious Being who is omnipresent, eternal and the never-perishing
Soul. That Supreme soul, Vishnu hath lifted up the Earth, who had
entirely sunk down hundred _yojanas_. This commotion hath taken place in
consequence of the earth being raised up. Know ye this and dispel your
doubts." The celestials said, "Where is that Being who with pleasure
raiseth up the Earth? O possessor of the six attributes, mention unto us
the place. Thither shall we repair." Brahma said "Go ye. May good happen
to you! Ye will find him resting in the Nandana (gardens). Yonder is
visible the glorious worshipful Suparna (Garuda). After having raised
the Earth, the Supreme Being from whom the world become manifest,
flameth even in the shape of a boar, like unto the all-consuming fire at
the universal dissolution. And on his beast is really to be seen the gem
Srivatsa. (Go) and behold that Being knowing no deterioration."'
"Lomasa said, 'Then the celestials, placing the grandsire at their head,
came to that infinite Soul, and having listened to his praise, bade him
adieu and went back to whence they had come.'"
Vaisampayana said, "O Janamejaya, having heard this story, all the
Pandavas without delay and with alacrity, began to proceed by the way
pointed out by Lomasa."