Devasura Battle At Balkh

We saw that the Aryans of Bharatavarsha split into two groups.

Those who accepted the supremacy of Indra they were called Devas and Devamanushyas and those who accepted the supremacy of Varuna, they became Asuras and Asuramanushyas.

The first formal fight between the two groups took place during a Soutramni-yaga organized by the Asura chief Vrishakapi in Balkh.

In this yaga, Indra was invited and insulted.

He was tricked into drinking liquor.

During this yaga, debates between Indra supporters and Varuna supporters took place as to who is superior.

Varuna supporters said that the Bhumandala is mostly water.

Indra is light.

Without water, light can not exist.

As we had seen elsewhere it is water above and below Aditya.

Aditya is Indra.

Aditya travels through water.

Aditya exists in water.

Varuna is the Devata of water.

He supports Aditya- Indra, hence Varuna is superior.

All the objects and beings have originated from water.

The source of all energies is water or the Ap-tatwa.

Ap-tatwa is not exactly H2O water.

The liquid state it is.

The body is also made up of a lot of water and salts.

The presiding Devata of both is Varuna.

You can survive without food, but you can't survive without water.

The qualities of Varuna are described at various places in the rigveda.

कदा क्षत्रश्रियं नरमा वरुणं करामहे। मृळीकायोरुचक्षसम्॥

Varuna is the leader and a visionary.

राजानावनभिद्रुहा ध्रुवे सदयुत्तमे। सहस्रस्थूण आसाते॥

Seated on a court with a thousand pillars.

In one yaga, Indrani and Varunani are invited alike-

इहेन्द्राणीमुप ह्वये वरुणानीं स्वस्तये

He is strong, Tuvishman -

अव सिन्धुं वरुणो द्यौरिव स्थाद्द्रप्सो न श्वेतो मृगस्तुविष्मान्।
गम्भीरशंसो रजसो विमानः सुपारक्षत्रः सतो अस्य राजा॥

And he is the Lord of this universe- सतो अस्य राजा

राजा राष्ट्रानां पेशो नदीनामनुत्तमस्यै क्षत्रं विश्वायु।

Varuna is Raja of Rashtras and he is the emperor.

His strength is incomparable.

उरुं हि राजा वरुणश्चकार सूर्याय पन्थामन्वेतवा उ।

Varuna only laid the path for Surya's travel.

Many more such praises are there for Varuna.

Rishi Kaanva spoke in favor of Indra.

मा चिदन्यद्वि शंसत सखायो मा रिषण्यत । इंद्रमित्स्तोता वृषणं सचा सुते मुहुरुक्था च शंसत ॥

Friends, don't praise any other God.

By praising other Gods, you will land in trouble.

Rishi Nrimedha said:

इंद्राय साम गायत विप्राय बृहते बृहत् । धर्मकृते विपश्चिते पनस्यवे ॥

Sing sama only for Indra.

He is the scholar.

He only is praiseworthy and he only works for dharma.

Rishi Hiranyastupa said:

नेंद्रादृते पवते धाम किं चन ॥

Soma juice should go to none other than Indra.

Rishi Vamadeva said:

नकिरिंद्र त्वदुत्तरो न ज्यायाँ अस्ति वृत्रहन् । नकिरेवा यथा त्वं ॥

There is no one greater than Indra.

There is no one bigger than Indra.

There is no one equal to Indra.

Renu vishwamitra said:

इंद्रो दिव इंद्र ईशे पृथिव्या इंद्रो अपामिंद्र इत्पर्वतानां । इंद्रो वृधामिंद्र इन्मेधिराणामिंद्रः क्षेमे योगे हव्य इंद्रः ॥

Indra is the lord of Swarga, Prithvi, water, mountains, of wisdom, and wise people.

For achieving what is not there and for protecting what is there , Indra should be praised.

Rishi Purana said:

तुभ्यं सुतास्तुभ्यमु सोत्वासस्त्वां गिरः श्वात्र्या आ ह्वयंति । इंद्रेदमद्य सवनं जुषाणो विश्वस्य विद्वाँ इह पाहि सोमं ॥

We are going to make Soma juice only for you, Indra.

Rishi Garga said:

तस्य वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियस्यापि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम । स सुत्रामा स्ववाँ इंद्रो अस्मे आराच्चिद्द्वेषः सनुतर्युयोतु ॥

Indra gives us good thoughts and a peaceful mind.

He destroys our enemies even from a distance.

Motivated by the stands of the prominent rishis, Indra said:

अभीदमेकमेको अस्मि निष्षाळभी द्वा किमु त्रयः करंति । खले न पर्षान्प्रति हन्मि भूरि किं मा निंदंति शत्रवोऽनिंद्राः ॥

Now I can destroy one, two, three or any number of enemies.

I am going to destroy those who have insulted me.

Indra killed 150 asuras then and there.

This number 150 is mentioned in the Veda itself-

यासां तिस्रः पंचाशतोऽभिव्लंगैरपावपः । तत्सु ते मनायति तकत्सु ते मनायति ॥

Sage Paracchepa says:

उभे पुनामि रोदसी ऋतेन द्रुहो दहामि सं महीरनिंद्राः । अभिव्लग्य यत्र हता अमित्रा वैलस्थानं परि तृळ्हा अशेरन् ॥

Enemies of Indra have been sent to the cremation grounds.

The earth, atmosphere, and Swarga have been purified.

But the matter did not get settled with this.

We will see more in the next episode.

Knowledge Bank

Ajita Keshakambali

Ajita Keshakambali was an ancient Indian philosopher and the reputed founder of a materialist philosophical school. A contemporary of the Buddha, Ajita's philosophy, as recorded in Buddhist texts, emphasized materialism. He believed that humans are made of four elements, which disperse after death, leading to the cessation of individual existence. Rejecting the notion of an afterlife, Ajita encouraged people to enjoy life, accept both good and bad, and dismiss religious rituals as futile. His teachings mark the beginning of a long tradition of materialist thought in Indian philosophy, continuing until at least the eighth century CE.

Who was Bhishma in previous birth?

Bhishma was the incarnation of Dyou, one of the eight Vasus (Ashta Vasus). They were all born on earth due to a curse from Sage Vasishta. Their mother, Ganga drowned seven of them soon after birth to give them relief from the curse. Bhishma lived on.