2023-09-10 12:46:04 by ambuda-bot
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Introduction
produce happiness in our hearts.[19]61
xli
The thighs The first demons, Kaitabha and Madhu, infatuated with
pride, delivering terror to the Creator, Brahma, were killed by Visņu in
the middle of the ocean, making them climb upon both of his beautiful
round-shaped thighs. Being matchless (but comparable to each other), well-
shaped, spacious and sky-blue in colour, may these thighs of Visnu bestow
excelling happiness on our minds. [20]62
The waist and hips
The hips The hips (and loins) of Vișņu shine forth brilliantly in yellow
clothes wrapped beautifully around them and with ornaments decorating
them; they look like the waters of the ocean adorned with the rays of the fire
inside it. Let this venerable hinder part of Visņu, uninterruptedly visualised
in our mind, protect us from the massive sin causing our degradation.[21]63
61 The metaphoric expression is rich in imagination in this verse. In the first half, the
knees are conceived as supports for the shanks for carrying the weight of the thighs. In
the 3rd pāda, they are conceived as round-shaped jewel boxes for depositing the mind as
if it were a mirror. In other words, the idea is to concentrate the mind on the knees of
the Lord.
62 The thighs of Vișnu are described in this verse. The allusion in it is to the episode
of the killing of the demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, described in the Devīmāhātmya in
the Markandeyapurāṇa, which is partly quoted in the commentary. After the dissolution
of the Universe, Lord Visņu was lying on the bed of Seșa on the milk ocean. Brahma
was the first to appear in the next creation, sitting in the lotus of Vișnu's cosmic body.
Next, the two demons were born out of the secretion from the ears of Vișnu, when he was
deeply asleep, and they were able to frighten Brahma. Prayed to by the Creator and the
Gods for protection, Devī, in the form of sleep, moved away from Viṣṇu and so he woke
up. He fought against the demons, but could not defeat or kill them. Then laughing at
him in arrogance (they were pervaded by māyā or ignorance), they told Viṣṇu that they
were pleased with him, and asked him to request any boon he wished. Immediately he
demanded that they would be killed by him. Obliged to keep their promise, they allowed
his demand but on one condition: that they should be killed in a dry place. Since it was
the beginning of creation; there was water all around. But immediately Vișnu stretched
his thighs wide and large and asked them to climb on his thighs where there was no water.
They were obliged to do so, and Vişnu cut their heads off with his disc. This is the short
account of the episode.
63 The hind part of Vișnu's blue hips, wrapped in a yellow silk cloth and brilliant with
ornaments, is compared to the water of the ocean, radiating flames from the fire inside it.
The cosmic body of the Great puruṣa has the dawn (sandhyā) as his over-garment on the
loins.
produce happiness in our hearts.[19]61
xli
The thighs The first demons, Kaitabha and Madhu, infatuated with
pride, delivering terror to the Creator, Brahma, were killed by Visņu in
the middle of the ocean, making them climb upon both of his beautiful
round-shaped thighs. Being matchless (but comparable to each other), well-
shaped, spacious and sky-blue in colour, may these thighs of Visnu bestow
excelling happiness on our minds. [20]62
The waist and hips
The hips The hips (and loins) of Vișņu shine forth brilliantly in yellow
clothes wrapped beautifully around them and with ornaments decorating
them; they look like the waters of the ocean adorned with the rays of the fire
inside it. Let this venerable hinder part of Visņu, uninterruptedly visualised
in our mind, protect us from the massive sin causing our degradation.[21]63
61 The metaphoric expression is rich in imagination in this verse. In the first half, the
knees are conceived as supports for the shanks for carrying the weight of the thighs. In
the 3rd pāda, they are conceived as round-shaped jewel boxes for depositing the mind as
if it were a mirror. In other words, the idea is to concentrate the mind on the knees of
the Lord.
62 The thighs of Vișnu are described in this verse. The allusion in it is to the episode
of the killing of the demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, described in the Devīmāhātmya in
the Markandeyapurāṇa, which is partly quoted in the commentary. After the dissolution
of the Universe, Lord Visņu was lying on the bed of Seșa on the milk ocean. Brahma
was the first to appear in the next creation, sitting in the lotus of Vișnu's cosmic body.
Next, the two demons were born out of the secretion from the ears of Vișnu, when he was
deeply asleep, and they were able to frighten Brahma. Prayed to by the Creator and the
Gods for protection, Devī, in the form of sleep, moved away from Viṣṇu and so he woke
up. He fought against the demons, but could not defeat or kill them. Then laughing at
him in arrogance (they were pervaded by māyā or ignorance), they told Viṣṇu that they
were pleased with him, and asked him to request any boon he wished. Immediately he
demanded that they would be killed by him. Obliged to keep their promise, they allowed
his demand but on one condition: that they should be killed in a dry place. Since it was
the beginning of creation; there was water all around. But immediately Vișnu stretched
his thighs wide and large and asked them to climb on his thighs where there was no water.
They were obliged to do so, and Vişnu cut their heads off with his disc. This is the short
account of the episode.
63 The hind part of Vișnu's blue hips, wrapped in a yellow silk cloth and brilliant with
ornaments, is compared to the water of the ocean, radiating flames from the fire inside it.
The cosmic body of the Great puruṣa has the dawn (sandhyā) as his over-garment on the
loins.