Indian Antiquary Vol 35

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 65

FEBRUARY, 1906.]
TALES OF THE TELUGU VAISHNAVAS.
not behave in this way, and for Siva, being one of the greatest gods, to act like this was very unseemly. Although 'Siva heard these remarks, he took no notice, and said nothing, but Gauri was very angry, and exclaimed, “Is this person the controller of the worlds that he should reprove us ! Sages, Rishis, and Munis have not before disapproved of this, and are they ignorant of proper behaviour ! Siva is too great to be judged by anyone, and in doing so this man has committed a sin, and must be punished." Having addressed the assembly in this manner, she turned to Chitrakétu and said, "For committing this sin you must be born again as a Rakshaba." Chitraketu hearing this did not lose his composure, but descended from his flying car, approached Gauri and saluted her saying, “I know thou art the mother of the worlds. I have received thy curse. It is only the effect of my former karma. Happiness and misery inust follow each other in the circle of savisras. It is only the ignorant man who thinks he is either happy or miserable, to the wise both curse and blessing are the same, so that I am not in the least affected by your curse, nor afraid of it, I am considering only why I spoke to you in that way." Then mounting his car he flew away. Then Siva, torning to Gauri, remarked, “You see how the servants of Vishnu act. How magnanimous and eqnable is this Chitraketu. To him good and evil are alike, and though he could have cursed you in return, he refrained from doing -o!"
. XI.
The Story of the Fifth Avatara, Vamana, A powerful giant, named Bali Chakravarti, ruled once in Patalaloka. He conquered all the worlds and none could resist him. He was also a devout follower of Vishịu.
Once he wished to make a great feast, and requested Indra to send Rambha to dance at his conrt. Indra, wisbing to insult bim, sent instead a plantain tree, which also goes by the name rambli. The giant was enraged at this, and in vaded Svarga, conquered Indra, and got possession of Svarga. Then Aditi, the mother of Indra, did penance, when Vishņu appeared before her, and asked her what she wanted. She prayed that she might have a son, who would be able to conquer Bali. Vishnu granted her reqnest, and caused himself to be born of Aditi in the form of a dwarf. In this form he studied in the bermitage with other boys of his age, outstripping them all.
In the course of time, Bali wanted to perform a great horse-sacrifice, when all the Rishis and Yogis thronged to his court, amongst them the dwart, Vamana, who appeared as a Brahman mendicant. Bali caught sight of him, and supposing him to be a Brahmachari, wished to worship him, and called him to come near. Then the dwarf weut up and received worship from Bali, who asked him to make some request of him. The dwarf told Bali that he wanted only three strides of land, measured by himself. Bali was very surprised at such a humble request, and said it was beneath his dignity to bestow so little, therefore he should grant him a hundred lacs of strides. Then Bali's guru, Bukracharya, interfered and whispered aside, "Be careful what you do. Though he looks like a poor dwarf, he is in reality • divine being, and means to take all your possessions for Indra." Bat Bali replied, " It may be so, nevertheless I am determined to give whatever he asks, should he want all that is mine, I will give it up. If such a being comes and asks me, how can I deny him? It will be the greatest joy to me!" So Sukracharya saw that he could not persuade Bali.
Then calling the dwarf, the King took his hand, and told him he would give him anything he wanted, and made him sit down and called his wife to bring water, and washed his feet, and then pou red water from his hands into the dwarf's hands, thereby renouncing possession over it, and exclaiming, “ Vishnu is to be praised with this my action !” Instantly the dwarf appeared to begin to increase in size, and grew and grew, up and up, till he reached the clouds: and larger and further, till he reached the run, which appeared over him like a rast umbrella. And still he grew and grew till he reached the Pole star, when the sun's globe showed like a huge ruby on his head,