Editing Vamana (section)

==== Harivamsa ====
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |[[Harivamsa]]
!References
!Notes
|-
|'''Part 1:''' LXXVII (77), LXXX (80), CV (105), CCXVIII (218), CCXIX (219), CCXXXVI (236); '''Part 2:''' '''Bhavishya Parva:''' XXVII (27), XL-XLVI (40-46);<ref>{{Cite book|editor-last=Dutt|editor-first=Manmatha Nath |url=http://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh|title=A Prose English Translation Of Harivamsha|date=1897}}</ref>
|There are two different versions of the [[Harivamsa]], itself considered to be an appendix to the [[Mahabharata]]. First is the shorter 'critical edition', which is split into three parts. Most notably this has been translated by [[Bibek Debroy|Debroy]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Debroy|first=Bibek|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BRnpDAAAQBAJ&q=harivamsa+bibek+debroy|title=Harivamsha|date=2016-09-09|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-86057-91-4|pages=xvi-xvii (introduction)|language=en}}</ref>  Second is the longer (likely unabridged) version in two parts. This article references the Dutt translation; there is another by Dasa.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Dāsa|first1=Bhūmipati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k2rXAAAAMAAJ|title=Harivaṁśa Purāṇa: Ch. 26-55|last2=Dāsa|first2=Purnaprajna|date=2005|publisher=Rasbihari Lal & Sons|isbn=978-81-87812-70-8|language=en}}</ref>
|}

===== First account =====
{{blockquote|In the form of a dwarf Vishnu accepted as alms ground for placing his three [footsteps] from that descendant of [[Hiranyakashipu]]. Afterwards the Eternal [[Vishnu]] invaded the three worlds with this three footsteps and assumed a celestial form.|source=Harivamsa (translated by Manmatha Nath Dutt,1897), Bhavishya Parva, Chapter XXVII, Verses 11-16|author=|title=}}

The first account consists of only one chapter (Bhavishya Parva: XXVII / 27). It begins with the [[Daitya]] [[Mahabali|Bali]], having conquered [[Indra]] and the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]], conducting a [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, officiated by [[Shukra]] and joined by 'many [[Brahmin|Brahmanas]] observant of [[ascetic]] vows and well read in the [[Vedas]]'. At this sacrifice [[Sarasvati]] ([[Lakshmi]]) appears and grants Bali a boon. Vamana is then born, takes the three worlds away from Bali in three footsteps, and restores [[Indra]] to power while the '[[Daitya]]s entered into the [[Patala|nether region]]'. Bali gratifies the devas with an 'offering of [[ambrosia]]', and so 'was shorn of his sins and became immortal'.

===== Second account =====
{{Verse translation|There [[Daksha]] and other Patriarchs, Pracheta, [[Pulaha]], the foremost of the twice-born [[Marichi]], [[Bhrigu]], Atri, [[Vasishtha]], Goutama, and [[Narada]], were worshipping him. Learning, mind, sky, fire, water, earth, sound, touch, form, taste, smell, these objects of sense, the principle of greatness, the four [[vedas]]...|There venerable Brahmanas, Daksa, Pracetas, Pulaha, Marichi, Bhrgu, Atri, Vasistha, Gautama and Narada. Learning, the sky, Wind, Light, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Odour, Nature, Manifestation, and the Great Cause, the Four Vedas...|lang=en|attr1=HariVamsa (Dutt Translation, 1897), Bhavishya Parva, Chapter XLII, Verses 28-47|attr2=Vamana Purana (Gupta Translation, 1968), Chapter 3, Verses 27-29|italicsoff=1}}

The second account of the legend of Vamana is very similar to the accounts in the [[Matsya Purana]] and [[Vamana Purana]]. As shown above in comparison to the Vamana Purana, there are even strong similarities in wording, despite being a different translation of different text by a different translator. It therefore seems likely that either all three texts share a common source, or that one is the origin of the others.

{{blockquote|When the Lord was born as [[Kashyapa]]'s son, he had eyes blood-red like the clouds of an unfair day and was of the form of a [[Dwarfism|dwarf]]. On his breast was the mystic mark of [[Srivatsa]]. With expanded eyes the [[Apsara]]s looked at him. His effulgence was like that of a thousand suns rising simultaneously in the sky. That beautiful Lord was the supporter of Bhur, Bhuva and other [[loka]]s, had high shoulders and pure hairs, was the refuge of the pious, and offered no shelter to the iniquitous.|source=Harivamsa (translated by Manmatha Nath Dutt,1897), Bhavishya Parva, Chapter XLIV, Verses 30-42|author=|title=}}

The second - and main - account of Vamana consists of 7 chapters (Bhavishya Parva: XL-XLVI / 40–46). '[[Kashyapa]], the well-dressed son of [[Marichi]], espoused two sisters of [[Prajapati]], [[Diti]] and [[Aditi]]'. Aditi gives birth to the twelve classes of celestials / [[Adityas]] / Suras (e.g. '[[Indra]]' is the name of a post or class of a god, not an individual), and Diti gives birth to the demons / [[Daitya]]s / [[Asura]]s, including [[Hiranyakashipu]], the great-grandfather of [[Mahabali|Bali]]. After Hiranyakashipu is destroyed by the [[Narasimha]] incarnation, the noble Bali is crowned King of the Asuras (XL). Having defeated Indra and the Suras, Bali is congratulated by [[Lakshmi]] (XLI).

The devas seek refuge with their mother, Aditi, at her Hermitage. She tells Indra 'yourself and all the immortals cannot slay [[Virochana]]'s son, Bali. Only the thousand-headed [[Purusha]] is capable of slaying him and none else'. The devas and Aditi then approach Kashyapa, who agreeing with their desire to restore Indra's throne, takes them to the celestial abode of [[Brahmaloka]] to speak with [[Brahma]]. Brahma advises them to seek [[Vishnu]], and they do so 'at the northern bank of the [[ocean of milk]]... Reaching that place called [[Amrita]] the Suras along with Kashyapa began to practice hard austerities for many years with a view to propitiate the thousand-eyed intelligent [[Yogi]]n [[Narayana]]' (XLII).

Vishnu, pleased with the austerities of the devas, agrees to Kashyapa's request to be born as Indra's 'younger brother, ever enhancing the joy of thy kinsmen and as the son of myself and Aditi'. Back at the Hermitage 'filled with saints they [the devas] engaged in the study of the [[Vedas]] and awaited Aditi's conception;. After a thousand years of pregnancy, Aditi, gives birth to Vamana, 'the protector of the devas and the destroyer of the Asuras' (XLIII). Praised and Eulogised by the devas, Vamana agrees to attend the horse sacrifice of Bali with the [[Rishi]] [[Vrihaspati]], and while there 'will do what I think proper for regaining the three worlds'.

At the sacrifice Vamana 'assumed the form of a boy, had smokey eyes, wore sacrificial thread well-polished, and deer-skin. He had an umbrella and staff in his hands. Although not aged he appeared like an old man'. Appearing to Bali, Vamana 'of wonderful speech, with reasons and arguments laid down in the Vedas, but not visible to any, described himself unto Bali as being identical with [[Yajna|sacrifice]]'. Astonished, Bali asks about Vamana and what He wants (XLIV). After describing the details and merits of the [[Ashvamedha]] sacrifice, Vamana requests three steps of land before Bali is warned by [[Shukra]] 'do not promise him any gift... He is the Great Lord [[Hari]]. Having assumed the form of a dwarf through his [[Maya (religion)|Maya]] he has come here to impose on you for the well-being of the king of devas [Indra]'.

Bali, pleased that the Lord of Sacrifice has personally attended, rejects the protests of both Shukra and his grandfather [[Prahlada]] to gift three footsteps of land to Vamana, who then displays his Universal Form. Angry, the other Asuras approach Vamana 'like insects going to a fire' (XLV). Increasing His gigantic form, Vamana smashes 'all the sons of Diti with his palms and feet'. The Asura leaders are destroyed, the three worlds possessed 'with his three-foot steps' are given back to Indra, and Bali is pleased to be assigned 'the region under the earth called [[Sutala]]'. Bali is also conferred a boon where he will benefit from the merits of things like improper sacrifices and vow-less studies, etc. Vishnu divides the world, and later [[Narada]] and [[Garuda]] discuss Vishnu with Bali, bound by celestial serpents (XLVI).

===== Links to the Varaha incarnation =====

* Notably, the horse-sacrifice ([[Ashvamedha]]) is described as 'the best of all sacrifices' and that this 'great [[yajna]] [is in] the shape of a [[boar]] with golden horns, iron hoops and gait fleet like the mind, which has profuse gold and is the origin of the universe, is highly sacred'. This may link to the [[Varaha]] incarnation (Bhavishya Parva: XLV)
* [[Mahabali|Bali]], after the three worlds were taken from him by the Vamana incarnation and stricken by the consequences, mentions [[Varaha]] lifting the Earth to [[Narada]] (Bhavishya Parva: XLVI)