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.'"
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