Sukadeva continued to narrate the teachings of Maitreya to Vidura about
the creation of the universe. Maitreya said, "Svayambhuva Manu received
from Brahma the task to populate the earth and rule it, but there was a
problem. Earth had sunk into the Garbha Ocean, that is at the bottom of
the universe, and it had to be restored to its proper orbit."
While he was pondering this problem, Brahma sneezed and from his nostril
appeared a tiny boar, who soon grew so big that his body occupied the
entire sky. Immediately Brahma, the Rishis and Manu realized that it could
not be an ordinary creature; when Brahma guessed that it might be Vishnu,
the boar roared his approval and the echo of that powerful sound was
accompanied by the reciting of Vedic hymns by all the great Rishis.
The boar avatara, Varaha, flashed across the sky, bristling his hair and
scattering the clouds with his hooves and sparkling tusks. Then, running
merrily like an elephant, he entered into the waters, creating two enormous
waves, that seemed like arms of the ocean raised in prayer. Using his long
white tusks, he furrowed into the ocean bed searching for the earth, and
finally he found her and lifted her up. While he was restoring the earth to
her proper orbit, he was confronted by the asura Hiranyaksha and engaged
in battle with him, finally killing him with his divine mace. Happy at having
witnessed that wonderful adventure, all the Rishis contemplated the form
of Varaha with devotion and offered their respects and prayers to the Lord,
who had accepted earth a his beloved consort.
Vidura had listened carefully to Maitreya's discourse, and wanted to hear
more. "O great Rishi," he said, "why had the Asura Hiranyaksha appeared
to challenge Lord Varaha while he was rescuing Earth?"
