Vayu Purana

स्थूलः षष्टिर्योजनानां श्रेष्ठोऽसौ वैष्णवः स्मृतः। कोलाहलगिरिवरे तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम् ।। ४४.

He was massive, sixty yojanas in breadth, renowned as the foremost Vaishnava; at the summit of Kolahala mountain, he performed severe austerities.

बहुवर्षसहस्राणि निरुच्छ्वासं स्थिरोऽभवत्। तत्तपस्तापिता देवाः संक्षोभं परमं गताः ।। ४४.

For many thousands of years, he remained steadfast without breathing; the gods, afflicted by his austerity, were greatly disturbed.

ब्रह्मलोकं गता देवाः प्रोचुस्तेऽथ पितामहम्। गयासुराद्रक्ष देव ब्रह्मा देवांस्ततोऽब्रवीत् ।। ४४.

The gods went to Brahmaloka and addressed the grandsire: 'Protect us from Gayasura, O god.' Then Brahma spoke to the gods.

व्रजामः शङ्करं देवा ब्रह्माद्याश्च गताः शिवम्। कैलासे चाब्रुवन्नत्वा रक्ष देव महासुरात् ।। ४४.

Let us go to Shankara, the gods and Brahma went to Shiva; at Kailasa they addressed him: 'Protect us, O god, from the great asura.'

ब्रह्माद्यानब्रवीच्छम्भुर्व्रजामः शरणं हरिम्। क्षीराब्धौ देवदेवेशः स नः श्रेयो विधास्यति। ब्रह्मा महेश्वरो देवा विष्णुं नत्वा प्रतुष्टुवुः ।। ४४.

Shambhu said to Brahma and the others: 'Let us seek refuge in Hari.' In the ocean of milk, the lord of gods will grant us welfare. Brahma, Maheshvara, and the gods bowed to Vishnu and praised him.

देवा ऊचुः ।। ॐ नमो विष्णवो भर्त्रे सर्व्वेषां प्रभविष्णवे। रोचिष्णवे जिष्णवे च राक्षसादिग्रसिष्णवे ।। ४४.

The gods said: 'Om, obeisance to Vishnu, the lord and master of all, the radiant one, the victorious one, the devourer of rakshasas and others.'

धरिष्णवेऽखिलस्यास्य योगिनां पारयिष्णवे । वर्द्धिष्णवे ह्यनन्ताय नमो भ्राज्ष्णिवे नमः ।। ४४.

To the supporter of all, the savior of yogis, the increaser, the infinite one, obeisance to the shining one, obeisance.

सनत्कुमार उवाच।। एवं स्तुतो वासुदेवः सुराणां दर्शनं ददौ। किमर्थमागता देवा विष्णुनोक्तास्तमब्रुवन् ।। ४४.

Sanatkumara said: Thus praised, Vasudeva granted the gods his audience. Vishnu asked them why they had come, and they replied to him.

गयासुरभयाद्देव रक्षास्मानब्रवीद्धरिम्। ब्रह्माद्या यान्तु तं दैत्यमागमिष्याम्यहं ततः ।। ४४.

Out of fear of Gayasura, O god, protect us, they said to Hari. Brahma and the others should go to that demon; I will follow thereafter.

केशवे गरुडारूढो वरं दातुं गयासुरे। सर्व्वे स्वं स्वं समास्थाय ययुर्वाहनमुत्तमम् ।। ४४.

Mounted on Garuda, Kesava went to grant a boon to Gayasura. Each took up their own best vehicle and departed.

ऊचुस्तं वासुदेवाद्याः किमर्थं तप्यते त्वया। सन्तुष्टाः स्वागताः सर्वे वरं ब्रूहि गयासुर ।। ४४.

Vasudeva and the others said to him: 'Why are you performing austerities? All of us are pleased and have come; speak your boon, Gayasura.'

गयासुर उवाच।। यदितुष्टाः स्थ मे देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः। सर्व्वदेवद्विजातिभ्यो यज्ञतीर्थशिलोच्चयात् ।। ४४.

Gayasura said: 'If you gods—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara—are pleased with me, then grant me that, from sacrificial altars, holy places, and heaps of stones—'

देवेभ्योऽतिपवित्रोऽहमृषिभ्योऽपि शिवाव्ययात्। मन्त्रेभ्यो देवदेवेभ्यो योगिभ्यश्चापि सर्व्वशः ।। ४४.

That I may be more pure than the gods, than the sages, than Shiva the eternal; than the mantras, the gods of gods, and all the yogis in every way.

न्यासिभ्यश्चापि कर्म्मिभ्यो धर्म्मिभ्यश्च तथा पुनः। ज्ञातिभ्योऽतिपवित्रेभ्यः पवित्रः स्यां सदा सुराः ।। ४४.

I shall always be purer than those who perform rituals, those who uphold dharma, and those who are kin, O gods.

पवित्रमस्तु तं देवा दैत्यमुक्त्वा ययुर्दिवम्। दैत्यं दृष्ट्वा च स्पृष्ट्वा च सर्व्वे हरिपुरं ययुः ।। ४४.

Let this be pure, said the gods, and after leaving the demon, they went to heaven; having seen and touched the demon, all went to Hari's city.

शून्यं लोकत्रयं जातं शून्या यमपुरी ह्यभूत्। यम इन्द्रादिभिः सार्द्धं ब्रह्मलोकं ततोऽगमत् ।। ४४.

The three worlds became empty, and the city of Yama was deserted; Yama, together with Indra and others, then went to Brahma's realm.

ब्रह्माणमूचिरे देवा गयासुरविलोपिताः। त्वया दत्तोऽधिकारो वै गृहाण त्वं पितामह ।। ४४.

The gods, distressed by the destruction caused by Gayasura, spoke to Brahma: 'You have granted authority; now, Grandfather, please take charge.'

ब्रह्माब्रवीत्ततो देवान्व्रजामो विष्णुमव्ययम्। ब्रह्मादयोऽब्रुवन्विष्णुं त्वया दत्तवरेऽसुरे ।। ४४.

Then Brahma said to the gods, 'Let us approach the imperishable Vishnu.' Brahma and the others addressed Vishnu: 'You have granted a boon to the demon.'

तद्दर्शनाद्ययुः स्वर्गं शून्यं लोक त्रयं ह्यभूत्। देवैरुक्तो वासुदेवो ब्रह्माणं स वचोऽब्रवीत् ।। ४४.

From seeing him, they went to heaven, and the three worlds became empty; Vasudeva, addressed by the gods, spoke these words to Brahma.

गत्वासुरं प्रार्थयस्व यज्ञार्थं देहि देहकम्। विष्णूक्तः ससुरो ब्रह्मा गत्वाऽपश्यन्महासुरम् ।। ४४.

Go and request the demon to give his body for the sake of sacrifice; thus instructed by Vishnu, Brahma went and saw the great demon.

गयासुरोऽब्रवीद्दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्माणं त्रिदशैः सहः। संपूज्योत्थाय विधिवत्प्रण्तः श्रद्धयान्वितः ।। ४४.

Gayasura, seeing Brahma together with the gods, rose respectfully, worshipped him according to the proper rites, and stood with faith.

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफलं तपः। यदागतोऽतिथिर्ब्रह्मा सर्व्वं प्राप्तं मयाद्य वै ।। ४४.

Today my birth is fruitful, today my austerity is fulfilled; since Brahma has come as a guest, I have attained everything today.

योगिन्योगाङ्गवित्सर्व्वलोकस्वामिन्पितर्गुरो। यदर्थमा गतो ब्रह्मन्स्तत्कार्य्यं करवाण्यहम् ।। ४४.

O master of yogis, knower of yoga's limbs, lord of all worlds, ancestor and teacher, whatever purpose you have come for, O Brahma, that deed I shall perform.

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि दृष्टानि भ्रमता मया। यज्ञार्थं न तु ते तानि पवित्राणि शरीरतः ।। ४४.

The holy places I have seen while wandering the earth are not pure for sacrifice; their purity does not come from the body.

त्वया देहे पवित्रत्वं प्राप्तं विष्णुप्रसादतः। अतः पवित्रं देहं त्वं यज्ञार्थं देहिमेऽसुर ।। ४४.

By you, purity has been attained in the body through Vishnu's grace; therefore, O demon, give your pure body for the sake of sacrifice.

धन्योऽहं देव देवेश यद्देहं प्रार्थ्यते त्वया। पितृवंशः कृतार्थो मे देहे यागं करोषि चेत् ।। ४४.

I am blessed, O lord of gods, that you desire my body; if you perform the sacrifice in my body, my ancestral line will be fulfilled.

त्वयैवोत्पादितो देहः पवित्रस्तु त्वया कृतः। सर्व्वेषामुपकाराय यागोऽवश्यं भवत्विति ।। ४४.

The body was created by you, and purity was established by you; for the benefit of all, let the sacrifice certainly be performed.

इत्युक्त्वा सोऽपतद्भूमौ श्वेतकल्पे गयासुरः। नैऋतीं दिशमाश्रित्य तदा कोलाहले गिरौ ।। ४४.

Having spoken thus, Gayasura fell to the ground in the Śveta Kalpa, facing the southwestern direction, on the mountain Kolahala.

शिरः कृत्वोत्तरे दैत्यः पादौ कृत्वा तु दक्षिणे। ब्रह्मा सम्भृतसम्भारो मानसानृत्विजोऽसृजत् ।। ४४.

The demon placed his head to the north and his feet to the south; Brahma, having gathered the necessary materials, created mental priests.