Part 36 (1/2)

THE THIRD MANVANTARA.

*SKANDHA VIII. CHAP. 1.*

The third Manu is Uttama, son of Priya Vrata. Pavana, Srinjaya, Yajnahotra and others were his sons. The sons of Vasistha, Pramada and others, were the seven Ris.h.i.+s.

Satya, Veda Sruta, and Bhadra were the Devas. Satyajit was Indra.

Dharma had by Sunrita one son named Satya-Sena. He was the Avatara of this Manvantara. He was born with others called Satya-Vrata. He killed wicked Yakshas and Rakshasas given to falsehood, and Bhutas who injured others.

[The characteristic mark of this Manvantara which is the first half of the second Round is Truth. Satya or Truth enters into the names of one cla.s.s of Devas, of the Indra and of the Avatara. The name of the Avatara's mother was also truth. The Yakshas and Rakshasas were given to falsehood].

THE FOURTH MANVANTARA.

*SKANDHA VIII. CHAP. 1-4.*

The fourth Mann was Tamasa, brother of Uttama. He had ten sons, Prithu, Khyati, Nara, Ketu and others.

Satyaka, Hari and Vira were the Devas. Trisikha was Indra.

Jyotirdhaman and others were the seven Ris.h.i.+s. The Vedas had been lost in time. The sons of Vidhriti, called Vaidhritis, however preserved them by their own energy. They are also the Devas of this manvantara.

The Avatara Hari incarnated as the son of Harimedhas by Harini. He saved the Elephant king from the crocodile.

THE STORY OF THE ELEPHANT KING.

*SKANDHA VIII. CHAP. 2-4.*

An elephant king resided on the summits of Trikuta. He roamed about with his female herd, intoxicated with the juice that exuded from his temples. Finding a lake, he plunged himself into its waters and quenched his thirst. He then took water in his trunk and pa.s.sed it on to the young herd and the females. A powerful crocodile attacked him in rage.

They fought for one thousand years, each trying to draw the other unto him. The elephants on the bank raised a piteous cry, but they could not be of any use to their companion. The Elephant King got tired at last, but the crocodile being in his own element did not feel any fatigue. The elephant devoutly and ardently prayed to the supreme Purusha. In response to that prayer, Hari appeared with the Devas, seated on the back of Garuda. He drew out the crocodile, cut off its head with the chakra and thus saved the Elephant King.

The Elephant was a Gandharva, named Huhu. He was playing with his wives in a tank. Ris.h.i.+ Devala went there to bathe. The Gandharva drew the Ris.h.i.+ himself by his feet. The Ris.h.i.+ cursed him to become a crocodile.

The elephant was king Indradyumna of Pandya. He was under a vow of silence while engaged in meditation. Ris.h.i.+ Agastya came with his disciples, but the king could not receive him with any word of welcome.

”O thou of untrained intellect like an elephant, be an elephant thyself.” Such was the curse of the Ris.h.i.+ to him.

[The Elephant represents the characteristic Jiva of this Manvantara. The elephant becomes excited and mad when the juice exudes from his temples.

In the story, madness represents the prevalence of Kama. The elephant was pa.s.sionately attached to his wives. The Jiva had given himself too much to Kama, and he was carried away helplessly by the demon, he knew not where. His better sense could not prevail without some extraordinary help and that help was given by Hari, an incarnation of Vishnu. Possibly the story represents the development of animal instincts].

THE FIFTH MANVANTARA.

*SKANDHA VIII. CHAP. 5.*

Raivata was the fifth Manu. He was the brother of Tamasa. His sons were Arjuna, Bali, Vindhya and others. Vibhu was Indra. Bhuttaraya and others were the Devas.