The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CCX (Rajya-labha Parva)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION CCX

(Rajya-labha Parva)

"Janamejaya said, 'O thou possessed of ascetic wealth, what did those

high-souled ones, my grandsires, the illustrious Pandavas, do, after

obtaining the kingdom of Indraprastha? How did their wife Draupadi obey

them all? How is it also that no dissensions arose amongst those

illustrious rulers of men, all attached to one wife, viz., Krishna? O

thou of the wealth of asceticism, I wish to hear everything in detail

regarding the behaviour towards one another of those rulers of men after

their union with Krishna.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Those scorchers of foes, the Pandavas, having

obtained their kingdom, at the command of Dhritarashtra, passed their

days in joy and happiness at Khandavaprastha with Krishna. And

Yudhishthira. endued with great energy and ever adhering to truth, having

obtained the sovereignty, virtuously ruled the land, assisted by his

brothers. And the sons of Pandu, endued with great wisdom and devoted to

truth and virtue, having vanquished all their foes, continued to live

there in great happiness. And those bulls among men, seated on royal

seats of great value, used to discharge all the duties of government. And

one day, while all those illustrious heroes were so seated, there came

unto them the celestial Rishi Narada, in course of his wanderings.

Beholding the Rishi, Yudhishthira offered him his own handsome seat. And

after the celestial Rishi had been seated, the wise Yudhishthira duly

offered him the Arghya with his own hands. And the king also informed the

Rishi of the state of his kingdom. The Rishi accepting the worship,

became well-pleased, and eulogising him with benedictions, commanded the

king to take his seat. Commanded by the Rishi, the king took his seat.

Then the king sent word unto Krishna (in the inner apartments) of the

arrival of the illustrious one. Hearing of the Rishi's arrival Draupadi,

purifying herself properly, came with a respectful attitude to where

Narada was with the Pandavas. The virtuous princess of Panchala,

worshipping the celestial Rishi's feet, stood with joined hands before

him, properly veiled, The illustrious Narada, pronouncing various

benedictions on her, commanded the princess to retire. After Krishna had

retired, the illustrious Rishi, addressing in private all the Pandavas

with Yudhishthira at their head, said, 'The renowned princess of Panchala

is the wedded wife of you all. Establish a rule amongst yourselves so

that disunion may not arise amongst you. There were, in former days,

celebrated throughout the three worlds, two brothers named Sunda and

Upasunda living together and incapable of being slain by anybody unless

each slew the other. They ruled the same kingdom, lived in the same

house, slept on the same bed, sat on the same seat, and ate from the same

dish. And yet they killed each for the sake of Tilottama. Therefore, O

Yudhishthira, preserve your friendship for one another and do that which

may not produce disunion amongst you.'

"On hearing this, Yudhishthira asked, 'O great Muni, whose sons were

Asuras called Sunda and Upasunda? Whence arose that dissension amongst

them, and why did they slay each other? Whose daughter also was this

Tilottama for whose love the maddened brothers killed each other? Was she

an Apsara (water nymph) or the daughter of any celestial? O thou whose

wealth is asceticism, we desire, O Brahmana, to hear in detail everything

as it happened. Indeed, our curiosity hath become great.'"

SECTION CCXI

(Rajya-labha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, Narada replied,

'O son of Pritha, listen with thy brothers to me as I recite this old

story, O Yudhishthira, exactly as everything happened. In olden days, a

mighty Daitya named Nikumbha, endued with great energy and strength was

born in the race of the great Asura, Hiranyakasipu. Unto this Nikumbha,

were born two sons called Sunda and Upasunda. Both of them were mighty

Asuras endued with great energy and terrible prowess. The brothers were

both fierce and possessed of wicked hearts. And those Daityas were both

of the same resolution, and ever engaged in achieving the same tasks and

ends. They were ever sharers with each other in happiness as well as in

woe. Each speaking and doing what was agreeable to the other, the

brothers never were unless they were together, and never went anywhere

unless together. Of exactly the same disposition and habits, they seemed

to be one individual divided into two parts. Endued with great energy and

ever of the same resolution in everything they undertook, the brothers

gradually grew up. Always entertaining the same purpose, desirous of

subjugating the three worlds, the brothers, after due initiation, went to

the mountains of Vindhya. And severe were the ascetic penances they

performed there. Exhausted with hunger and thirst, with matted locks on

their heads and attired in barks of trees, they acquired sufficient

ascetic merit at length. Besmearing themselves with dirt from head to

foot, living upon air alone, standing on their toes, they threw pieces of

the flesh of their bodies into the fire. Their arms upraised, and eye

fixed, long was the period for which they observed their vows. And during

the course of their ascetic penances, a wonderful incident occurred

there. For the mountains of Vindhya, heated for a long course of years by

the power of their ascetic austerities, began to emit vapour from every

part of their bodies. And beholding the severity of their austerities,

the celestials became alarmed. The gods began to cause numerous

obstructions to impede the progress of their asceticism. The celestials

repeatedly tempted the brothers by means of every precious possession and

the most beautiful girls. The brothers broke not their vows. Then the

celestials once more manifested, before the illustrious brothers, their

powers of illusion. For it seemed their sisters, mothers, wives, and

other relatives, with disordered hair and ornaments and robes, were

running towards them in terror, pursued and struck by a Rakshasa with a

lance in hand. And it seemed that the women implored the help of the

brothers crying, 'O save us!' But all this went for nothing, for firmly

wedded thereto, the brothers did not still break their vows. And when it

was found that all this produced not the slightest impression on any of

the two, both the women and the Rakshasa vanished from sight. At last the

Grandsire himself, the Supreme Lord ever seeking the welfare of all, came

unto those great Asuras and asked them to solicit the boon they desired.

Then the brothers Sunda and Upasunda, both of great prowess, beholding

the Grandsire, rose from their seats and waited with joined palms. And

the brothers both said unto the God, 'O Grandsire, if thou hast been

pleased with these our ascetic austerities, and art, O lord, propitious

unto us, then let us have knowledge of all weapons and of all powers of

illusion. Let us be endued with great strength, and let us be able to

assume any form at will. And last of all, let us also be immortal.'

Hearing these words of theirs, Brahman said, 'Except the immortality you

ask for, you shall be given all that you desire. Solicit you some form of

death by which you may still be equal unto the immortals. And since you

have undergone these severe ascetic austerities from desire of

sovereignty alone I cannot confer on you the boon of immortality. You

have performed your ascetic penances even for the subjugation of the

three worlds. It is for this, O mighty Daityas, that I cannot grant you

what you desire.'

"Narada continued, 'Hearing these words of Brahman, Sunda and Upasunda

said, 'O Grandsire, let us have no fear then from any created thing,

mobile or immobile, in the three worlds, except only from each other!'

The Grandsire then said, 'I grant you what you have asked for, even this

your desire'. And granting them this boon, the Grandsire made them desist

from their asceticism, and returned to his own region. Then the brothers,

those mighty Daityas, having received those several boons became

incapable of being slain by anybody in the universe. They then returned

to their own abode. All their friends and relatives, beholding those

Daityas of great intelligence, crowned with success in the matter of the

boons they had obtained, became exceedingly glad. And Sunda and Upasunda

then cut off their matted locks and wore coronets on their heads. Attired

in costly robes and ornaments, they looked exceedingly handsome. They

caused the moon to rise over their city every night even out of his

season. And friends and relatives gave themselves up to joy and merriment

with happy hearts. Eat, feed, give, make merry, sing, drink--these were

the sounds heard everyday in every house. And here and there arose loud

uproars of hilarity mixed with clappings of hands which filled the whole

city of the Daityas, who being capable of assuming any form at will, were

engaged in every kind of amusement and sport and scarcely noticed the

flight of time, even regarding a whole year as a single day.'"

SECTION CCXII

(Rajya-labha Parva continued)

'Narada continued, 'As soon as those festivities came to an end, the

brothers Sunda and Upasunda, desirous of the Sovereignty of the three

worlds, took counsel and commanded their forces to be arranged. Obtaining

the assent of their friends and relatives, of the elders of the Daitya

race and of their ministers of state, and performing the preliminary

rites of departure, they set out in the night when the constellation

Magha was in the ascendant. The brothers set out with a large Daitya

force clad in mail and armed with maces and axes and lances and clubs.

The Daitya heroes set out on their expedition with joyous hearts, the

charanas (bards) chanting auspicious panegyrics indicative of their

future triumphs. Furious in war, the Daitya brothers, capable of going

everywhere at will, ascended the skies and went to the region of the

celestials. The celestials knowing they were coming and acquainted also

with the boons granted unto them by the Supreme Deity left heaven and

sought refuge in the region of Brahman. Endued with fierce prowess, the

Daitya heroes soon subjugated the region of Indra, and vanquishing the

diverse tribes of Yakshas and Rakshasas and every creature ranging the

skies, came away. Those mighty car-warriors next subjugated the Nagas of

the nether region, and then the inmates of the ocean and then all the

tribes of the Mlechchhas. Desirous next of subjugating the whole earth,

those heroes of irresistible sway, summoning their soldiers, issued these

cruel commands, 'Brahmanas and royal sages (on earth) with their

libations and other food offered at grand sacrifices, increase the energy

and strength of the gods, as also their prosperity. Engaged in such acts,

they are the enemies of the Asuras. All of us, therefore, mustering

together should completely slaughter them off the face of the earth!'

Ordering their soldiers thus on the eastern shore of the great ocean, and

entertaining such a cruel resolution, the Asura brothers set out in all

directions. And those that were performing sacrifices and the Brahmanas

that were assisting at those sacrifices, the mighty brothers instantly

slew. And slaughtering them with violence they departed for some other

place. Whilst their soldiers threw into the water the sacrificial fires

that were in the asylums of Munis with souls under complete control, the

curses uttered by the illustrious Rishis in wrath, rendered abortive by

the boons granted (by Brahman), affected not the Asura brothers. When the

Brahmanas saw that their curses produced not the slightest effect like

shafts shot at stones they fled in all directions, forsaking their rites

and vows. Even those Rishis on earth that were crowned with ascetic

success, and had their passions under complete control and were wholly

engrossed in meditation of the Deity, from fear of the Asura brothers,

fled like snakes at the approach of Vinata's son (Garuda the

snake-eater). The sacred asylums were all trodden down and broken. The

sacrificial jars and vessels being broken, their (sacred) contents were

scattered over the ground. The whole universe became empty, as if its

creatures had all been stricken down during the season of general

dissolution. And, O king, after the Rishis had all disappeared and made

themselves invisible both the great Asuras, resolved upon their

destruction, began to assume various forms. Assuming the forms of

maddened elephants with temples rent from excess of juice, the Asura

pair, searching out the Rishis who had sheltered themselves in caves,

sent them to the region of Yama. Sometimes becoming as lions and again as

tigers and disappearing the next moment, by these and other methods the

cruel couple, seeing the Rishis, slew them instantly. Sacrifice and study

ceased, and kings and Brahmanas were exterminated. The earth became

utterly destitute of sacrifices and festivals. And the terrified people

uttered cries of Oh and Alas and all buying and selling were stopped. All

religious rites ceased, and the earth became destitute of sacred

ceremonies and marriages. Agriculture was neglected and cattle were no

longer tended. Towns and asylums became desolate. And scattered over with

bones and skeletons, the earth assumed a frightful aspect. All ceremonies

in honour of the Pitris were suspended, and the sacred sound of Vashat

and the whole circle of auspicious rites ceased. The earth became

frightful to behold. The Sun and the Moon, the Planets and Stars, and

Constellations, and the other dwellers in the firmament, witnessing these

acts of Sunda and Upasunda, grieved deeply. Subjugating all the points of

heaven by means of such cruel acts, the Asura brothers took up their

abode in Kurukshetra, without a single rival.'"

SECTION CCXIII

(Rajya-labha Parva continued)

"Narada continued, 'Then the celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and the

high-souled Rishis possessing the attributes of tranquillity and

self-restraint, beholding that act of universal slaughter, were afflicted

with great grief. With passions and senses and souls under complete

control, they then went to the abode of the Grandsire, moved by

compassion for the universe. Arrived there, they beheld the Grandsire

seated with gods, Siddhas, and Brahmarshis around him. There were present

that God of gods, viz., Mahadeva, and Agni, accompanied by Vayu, and Soma

and Surya and Sakra, and Rishis devoted to the contemplation of Brahma,

and the Vaikhanasas, the Valakhilyas, the Vanaprasthas, the Marichipas,

the Ajas, the Avimudas, and other ascetics of great energy. All those

Rishis were sitting with the Grandsire, when the celestial and other

Rishis, approaching Brahman with sorrowful hearts, represented unto him

all the acts of Sunda and Upasunda. And they told the Grandsire in detail

everything that the Asura brothers had done, and how they had done it,

and in what order. Then all the celestials and the great Rishis pressed

the matter before the Grandsire. The Grandsire, hearing everything they

said, reflected for a moment and settled in his mind what he should do.

Resolving to compass the destruction of the Asura brothers, he summoned

Viswakarman (the celestial architect). Seeing Viswakarman before him, the

Grandsire possessed of supreme ascetic merit commanded him, saying,

'Create thou a damsel capable of captivating all hearts.' Bowing down

unto the Grandsire and receiving his command with reverence, the great

artificer of the universe created a celestial maiden with careful

attention. Viswakrit first collected all handsome features upon the body

of the damsel he created. Indeed, the celestial maiden that he created

was almost a mass of gems. And created with great care by Viswakarman,

the damsel, in beauty, became unrivalled among the women of the three

worlds. There was not even a minute part of her body which by its wealth

of beauty could not attract the gaze of beholders. And like unto the

embodied Sri herself, that damsel of extraordinary beauty captivated the

eyes and hearts of every creature. And because she had been created with

portions of every gem taken in minute measures, the Grandsire bestowed

upon her the name of Tilottama. And as soon as he started it into life,

the damsel bowed to Brahman and with joined palms said, 'Lord of every

created thing, what task am I to accomplish and what have I been created

for?' The Grandsire answered, 'Go, O Tilottama, unto the Asuras, Sunda

and Upasunda. O amiable one, tempt them with thy captivating beauty. And,

O damsel, conduct thyself there in such a way that the Asura brothers

may, in consequence of the wealth of thy beauty, quarrel with each other

as soon as they cast their eyes upon thee.'

"Narada continued, 'Bowing unto the Grandsire and saying, 'So be

it,'--the damsel walked round the celestial conclave. The illustrious

Brahman was then sitting with face turned eastwards, and Mahadeva with

face also towards the east, and all the celestials with faces northwards,

and the Rishis with faces towards all directions. While Tilottama walked

round the conclave of the celestials, Indra and the illustrious Sthanu

(Mahadeva) were the only ones that succeeded in preserving their

tranquillity of mind. But exceedingly desirous as Mahadeva was (of

beholding Tilottama) when the damsel (in her progress round the celestial

conclave) was at his side, another face like a full-blown lotus appeared

on the southern side of his body. And when she was behind him, another

face appeared on the west. And when the damsel was on the northern side

of the great god, a fourth face appeared on the northern side of his

body. Mahadeva (who was eager to behold the damsel) came also to have a

thousand eyes, each large and slightly reddish, before, behind and on his

flanks. And it was thus that Sthanu the great god came to have four

faces, and the slayer of Vala, a thousand eyes. And as regards the mass

of the celestials and the Rishis, they turned their faces towards all

directions as Tilottama walked round them. Except the divine Grandsire

himself, the glances of those illustrious personages, even of all of them

fell upon Tilottama's body. And when Tilottama set out (for the city of

the Asuras) with the wealth of her beauty, all regarded the task as

already accomplished. After Tilottama had gone away, the great god who

was the First Cause of the Universe, dismissed all the celestials and the

Rishis.'"

SECTION CCXIV

(Rajya-labha Parva continued)

"Narada continued, 'Meanwhile the Asura brothers having subjugated the

earth were without a rival. The fatigue of exertion gone, they, having

brought the three worlds under equal sway, regarded themselves as persons

that had nothing more to do. Having brought all the treasures of the

gods, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, and the

kings of the earth, the brothers began to pass their days in great

happiness. When they saw they had no rivals (in the three worlds), they

gave up all exertion and devoted their time to pleasure and merriment,

like the celestials. They experienced great happiness by giving

themselves up to every kind of enjoyment, such as women, and perfumes and

floral wreaths and viands, and drinks and many other agreeable objects

all in profusion. In houses and woods and gardens, on hills and in

forests, wherever they liked they passed their time in pleasure and

amusement, like the immortals. And it so happened that one day they went

for purposes of pleasure to a tableland of the Vindhya range, perfectly

level and stony, and overgrown with blossoming trees. After every object

of desire, all of the most agreeable kind, had been brought, the brothers

sat on an excellent seat, with happy hearts and accompanied by handsome

women. And those damsels, desirous of pleasing the brothers, commenced a

dance in accompaniment to music, and sweetly chanted many a song in

praise of the mighty pair.'

"Meanwhile Tilottama attired in a single piece of red silk that exposed

all her charms, came along, plucking wild flowers on her way. She

advanced slowly to where those mighty Asuras were. The Asura brothers,

intoxicated with the large portions they had imbibed, were smitten upon

beholding that maiden of transcendent beauty. Leaving their seats they

went quickly to where the damsel was. Both of them being under the

influence of lust, each sought the maiden for himself. And Sunda seized

that maid of fair brows by her right hand. Intoxicated with the boons

they had obtained, with physical might, with the wealth and gems they had

gathered from every quarter, and with the wine they had drunk, maddened

with all these, and influenced by wishful desire, they addressed each

other, each contracting his bow in anger, 'She is my wife, and therefore

your superior,' said Sunda. 'She is my wife, and therefore your

sister-in-law', replied Upasunda. And they said unto each other, 'She is

mine not yours.' And soon they were under the influence of rage. Maddened

by the beauty of the damsel, they soon forgot their love and affection

for each other. Both of them, deprived of reason by passion, then took up

their fierce maces. Each repeating, I was the first, I was the first,'

(in taking her hand) struck the other. And the fierce Asuras, struck by

each other with the mace, fell down upon the ground, their bodies bathed

in blood, like two suns dislodged from the firmament. And beholding this,

the women that had come there, and the other Asuras there present, all

fled away trembling in grief and fear, and took refuge in the nether

regions. The Grandsire himself of pure soul, then came there, accompanied

by the celestials, and the great Rishis. And the illustrious Grandsire

applauded Tilottama and expressed his wish of granting her a boon. The

Supreme Deity, before Tilottama spoke, desirous of granting her a boon,

cheerfully said, 'O beautiful damsel, thou shalt roam in the region of

the Adityas. Thy splendour shall be so great that nobody will ever be

able to look at thee for any length of time!' The Grandsire of all

creatures, granting this boon unto her, establishing the three worlds in

Indra as before, returned to his own region.'

"Narada continued, 'It was thus that Asuras, ever united and inspired by

the same purpose slew each other in wrath for the sake of Tilottama.

Therefore, from affection I tell you, ye foremost ones of Bharata's line,

that if you desire to do anything agreeable to me, make some such

arrangements that you may not quarrel with one another for the sake of

Draupadi.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The illustrious Pandavas, thus addressed by the

great Rishi Narada, consulting with one another, established a rule

amongst themselves in the presence of the celestial Rishi himself endued

with immeasurable energy. And the rule they made was that when one of

them would be sitting with Draupadi, any of the other four who would see

that one thus must retire into the forest for twelve years, passing his

days as a Brahmacharin. After the virtuous Pandavas had established that

rule amongst themselves, the great Muni Narada, gratified with them, went

to the place he wished. Thus, O Janamejaya, did the Pandavas urged by

Narada, established a rule amongst themselves in regard to their common

wife. And it was for this, O Bharata, that no dispute ever arose between

them.'"