The embodiment “ Varaha Avatar” (the boar)
स्वायम्भुवो मनुरथो जनसर्गशीलो
दृष्ट्वा महीमसमये सलिले निमग्नाम् ।
स्रष्टारमाप शरणं भवदङ्घ्रिसेवा-
तुष्टाशयं मुनिजनै: सह सत्यलोके ॥१॥
svaayambhuvO manurathO janasargashiilO
dR^iShTvaa mahiimasamaye salile nimagnaam |
sraShTaaramaapa sharaNaM bhavadanghrisevaatuShTaashayaM
munijanaiH saha satyalOke ||1||
In the first sloka of the twelfth Dashakam of the Narayaneeyam, Bhattathiri details about Swayambhu Manu’s visit to the Sathyaloka. Upon initiating the creation, Swayambhu Manu observed the sudden flood that submerged the Earth. He traveled to Sathyaloka to seek advice from Brahma. There, he discovered Brahma and the sages reveling in joy at Lord Vishnu’s lotus feet.
कष्टं प्रजा: सृजति मय्यवनिर्निमग्ना
स्थानं सरोजभव कल्पय तत् प्रजानाम् ।
इत्येवमेष कथितो मनुना स्वयंभू: –
रम्भोरुहाक्ष तव पादयुगं व्यचिन्तीत् ॥ २ ॥
kaShTaM prajaaH sR^ijati mayyavaniinimagnaa
sthaanaM sarOjabhava kalpaya tat prajaanaam |
ityevameSha kathitO manunaa svayambhuurambhOruhaaksha
tava paadayugaM vyachintiit ||2||
Swayambhu Manu, with great sadness, explained to Brahma that it was unfortunate that the earth was in the water when he was creating the beings and requested a different place for creation. After learning about this, Brahma went to the Lord Almighty to ask for help in resolving the situation.
हा हा विभो जलमहं न्यपिबं पुरस्ता-
दद्यापि मज्जति मही किमहं करोमि ।
इत्थं त्वदङ्घ्रियुगलं शरणं यतोऽस्य
नासापुटात् समभव: शिशुकोलरूपी ।३॥
haa haa vibhO jalamahaM nyapibaM purastaadadyaapi
majjati mahii kimahaM karOmi |
itthaM tvadanghriyugalaM sharaNaM yatO(a)sya
naasaapuTaat samabhavaH shishukOlaruupii ||3||
Bhattathiri says to the Lord, “With folded hands, Brhmaa ran to your sacred feet and prayed that even though he had drunk the water before, the world was sinking and he had no idea what to do. And thus, you emerged as a baby boar from Brahmaa’s nostrils.
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रवपुरुत्पतित: पुरस्तात्
भोयोऽथ कुम्भिसदृश: समजृम्भथास्त्वम् ।
अभ्रे तथाविधमुदीक्ष्य भवन्तमुच्चै –
र्विस्मेरतां विधिरगात् सह सूनुभि: स्वै: ॥४॥
anguShThamaatravapurutpatitaH purastaat
bhuuyO(a)tha kumbhisadR^ishaH samajR^imbhathaastvam |
abhre tathaavidhamudiikshya bhavantamuchchairvismerataaM
vidhiragaat saha suunubhiH svaiH ||4||
Lord Vishnu’s size was initially as small as a thumb before gradually increasing to the size of an elephant. The sight of the Lord’s enormous form in the sky left even the great sages, Brahmaa and his sons, speechless and immobile.
कोऽसावचिन्त्यमहिमा किटिरुत्थितो मे
नासापुटात् किमु भवेदजितस्य माया ।
इत्थं विचिन्तयति धातरि शैलमात्र:
सद्यो भवन् किल जगर्जिथ घोरघोरम् ॥५॥
kO(a)saavachintyamahimaa kiTirutthitO me
naasaapuTaat kimu bhavedajitasya maayaa |
itthaM vichintayati dhaatari shailamaatraH
sadyO bhavan kila jagarjitha ghOraghOram || 5||
Bhattathiri recounts Brahma’s surprise upon seeing the boar in the fifth sloka. Brahma was intrigued by the mighty boar that emerged from his nostrils. By the time Brahma realized it was Lord’s Maya, the boar had grown to the size of a massive mountain and was roaring furiously.
तं ते निनादमुपकर्ण्य जनस्तप:स्था:
सत्यस्थिताश्च मुनयो नुनुवुर्भवन्तम् ।
तत्स्तोत्रहर्षुलमना: परिणद्य भूय-
स्तोयाशयं विपुलमूर्तिरवातरस्त्वम् ॥६॥
taM te ninaadamupakarNya janastapaHsthaaH
satyasthitaashcha munayO nunuvurbhavantam |
tatstOtraharShulamanaaH pariNadya bhuuyastOyaashayaM
vipulamuurtiravaatarastvam || 6||
Everyone in Jana loka, Tapa loka, and Sathya loka rejoiced in the Lord’s thunderous roar, knowing that Lord Vishnu had come to save the world. Lord, who had assumed the shape of a boar, was pleased with their praises and roared once more before leaping into the sea.
ऊर्ध्वप्रसारिपरिधूम्रविधूतरोमा
प्रोत्क्षिप्तवालधिरवाङ्मुखघोरघोण: ।
तूर्णप्रदीर्णजलद: परिघूर्णदक्ष्णा
स्तोतृन् मुनीन् शिशिरयन्नवतेरिथ त्वम् ॥७॥
uurdhvaprasaariparidhuumravidhuutarOmaa
prOtkshiptavaaladhir avaa~NmukhaghOraghONaH |
tuurNapradiirNajaladaH parighuurNadakshNaa
stOtR^In muniin shishirayannavateritha tvam || 7||
With bristle copper-colored hairs, an upright tail, a pointing snout, and rolling eyes, Lord rose straight from the ground and dove into the ocean, tearing apart the ominous clouds in the process. The sages rejoiced over this as they prayed to the Lord.
अन्तर्जलं तदनुसंकुलनक्रचक्रं
भ्राम्यत्तिमिङ्गिलकुलं कलुषोर्मिमालम् ।
आविश्य भीषणरवेण रसातलस्था –
नाकम्पयन् वसुमतीमगवेषयस्त्वम् ॥८॥
antarjalaM tadanusankulanakrachakraM
bhraamyattimingilakulaM kaluShOrmimaalam |
aavishya bhiiShaNaraveNa rasaatalasthaanaakampayan
vasumatiimagaveShayastvam || 8||
Bhattathiri describes here the Lord’s valiant descent into the ocean’s depths. With waves roaring at him and crocodiles and whales swimming around, Lord dove into the water. Upon hearing the Lord’s thunderous roar as he searched for Earth, the people living in the other worlds shuddered in fear.
दृष्ट्वाऽथ दैत्यहतकेन रसातलान्ते
संवेशितां झटिति कूटकिटिर्विभो त्वम् ।
आपातुकानविगणय्य सुरारिखेटान्
दंष्ट्राङ्कुरेण वसुधामदधा: सलीलम् ॥९॥
dR^iShTvaa(a)tha daityahatakena rasaatalaante
sanveshitaaM jhaTiti kuuTakiTirvibhO tvam |
aapaatukaanavigaNayya suraarikheTaan
damShTraankureNa vasudhaamadadhaaH saliilam || 9||
Bhattathiri narrates “O Lord! Using the tip of the boar’s tusk, one of Maaya’s “forms,” you swiftly raised the earth that the despicable Asura had hidden at the bottom of the Rasaatal, disregarding the approaching Asura. For you, everything that occurred was just a game.
अभ्युद्धरन्नथ धरां दशनाग्रलग्न
मुस्ताङ्कुराङ्कित इवाधिकपीवरात्मा ।
उद्धूतघोरसलिलाज्जलधेरुदञ्चन्
क्रीडावराहवपुरीश्वर पाहि रोगात् ॥१०॥
abhyuddharannatha dharaaM dashanaagralagnamustaankuraankita
ivaadhikapiivaraatmaa |
uddhuutaghOrasalilaajjaladheruda~nchan
kriiDaavaraahavapuriishvara paahi rOgaat ||10||
The twelfth Dashakam’s final stanza, written by Bhattathiri, describes in great detail how Lord Vishnu lifted the Earth out of the raging ocean. He utters, “Oh Lord, who took on the form of a boar, you lifted the earth from the terrifying waters with your tusks.” Earth appeared to be a mere blade of grass in comparison to your enormous frame. Bhattathiri concludes by pleading with the Lord, please release me from this disease’s grip.