01.201
Pancharatra: Narada narrates the story of Sunda demons. They get Brahma's boon.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
शृणु मे विस्तरेणेममितिहासं पुरातनम् । भ्रातृभीः सहितः पार्थ यथावृत्तं युधिष्ठिर ॥१-२०१-१॥
O Yudhishthira, listen as I recount to you in detail this ancient history, together with your brothers, as it truly occurred, O son of Pritha.
महासुरस्यान्ववाये हिरण्यकशिपोः पुरा । निकुम्भो नाम दैत्येन्द्रस्तेजस्वी बलवानभूत् ॥१-२०१-२॥
Once, in the lineage of the great asura Hiraṇyakaśipu, there was a powerful and strong lord of the Daityas named Nikumbha.
तस्य पुत्रौ महावीर्यौ जातौ भीमपराक्रमौ । सहान्योन्येन भुञ्जाते विनान्योन्यं न गच्छतः ॥१-२०१-३॥
He had two sons of great strength and terrible prowess. They always acted together, enjoying things together and never going anywhere without each other.
अन्योन्यस्य प्रियकरावन्योन्यस्य प्रियंवदौ । एकशीलसमाचारौ द्विधैवैकं यथा कृतौ ॥१-२०१-४॥
They did what was dear to each other, spoke what was pleasing to each other, and, having the same character and conduct, were as if one being in two forms, as if created as one.
तौ विवृद्धौ महावीर्यौ कार्येष्वप्येकनिश्चयौ । त्रैलोक्यविजयार्थाय समास्थायैकनिश्चयम् ॥१-२०१-५॥
Those two, who had grown in strength and were of great might, were united in their resolve even in action. Having undertaken a single determination for the conquest of the three worlds, they acted with one purpose.
कृत्वा दीक्षां गतौ विन्ध्यं तत्रोग्रं तेपतुस्तपः । तौ तु दीर्घेण कालेन तपोयुक्तौ बभूवतुः ॥१-२०१-६॥
After performing their initiation, they went to the Vindhya mountains; there, they practiced severe austerities. Over a long period, the two became wholly devoted to austerity.
क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्तौ जटावल्कलधारिणौ । मलोपचितसर्वाङ्गौ वायुभक्षौ बभूवतुः ॥१-२०१-७॥
They, suffering from hunger and thirst, utterly exhausted, wearing matted hair and bark garments, with all their limbs covered in dirt, subsisting on air, became thus.
आत्ममांसानि जुह्वन्तौ पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रधिष्ठितौ । ऊर्ध्वबाहू चानिमिषौ दीर्घकालं धृतव्रतौ ॥१-२०१-८॥
They offered their own flesh as oblation, standing on the tips of their big toes, with arms raised and eyes unblinking, steadfast in their vow for a long time.
तयोस्तपःप्रभावेण दीर्घकालं प्रतापितः । धूमं प्रमुमुचे विन्ध्यस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥१-२०१-९॥
By the power of their austerity, Vindhya was tormented for a long time and emitted smoke; it appeared as something wonderful.
ततो देवाभवन्भीता उग्रं दृष्ट्वा तयोस्तपः । तपोविघातार्थमथो देवा विघ्नानि चक्रिरे ॥१-२०१-१०॥
Then, seeing the fierce austerity of the two, the gods became afraid. Therefore, in order to hinder their austerity, the gods created obstacles.
रत्नैः प्रलोभयामासुः स्त्रीभिश्चोभौ पुनः पुनः । न च तौ चक्रतुर्भङ्गं व्रतस्य सुमहाव्रतौ ॥१-२०१-११॥
They repeatedly tempted both of them with jewels and women, but those two of great vow did not break their vow.
अथ मायां पुनर्देवास्तयोश्चक्रुर्महात्मनोः । भगिन्यो मातरो भार्यास्तयोः परिजनस्तथा ॥१-२०१-१२॥
Then, once again, the gods created an illusion for those two great souls, manifesting as sisters, mothers, wives, and attendants for them.
परिपात्यमाना वित्रस्ताः शूलहस्तेन रक्षसा । स्रस्ताभरणकेशान्ता एकान्तभ्रष्टवाससः ॥१-२०१-१३॥
Terrified and scattered by the demon holding a spear, their ornaments and hair loosened, and their garments fallen from one side.
अभिधाव्य ततः सर्वास्तौ त्राहीति विचुक्रुशुः । न च तौ चक्रतुर्भङ्गं व्रतस्य सुमहाव्रतौ ॥१-२०१-१४॥
Then, having run towards them, all the women cried out 'save us!', but those two, who were of great vow, did not violate their vow.
यदा क्षोभं नोपयाति नार्तिमन्यतरस्तयोः । ततः स्त्रियस्ता भूतं च सर्वमन्तरधीयत ॥१-२०१-१५॥
When neither agitation nor distress affected either of the two, then those women and all beings vanished.
ततः पितामहः साक्षादभिगम्य महासुरौ । वरेण छन्दयामास सर्वलोकपितामहः ॥१-२०१-१६॥
Then the Grandfather, having directly approached the two great asuras, offered them a boon to choose, he who is the grandfather of all worlds.
ततः सुन्दोपसुन्दौ तौ भ्रातरौ दृढविक्रमौ । दृष्ट्वा पितामहं देवं तस्थतुः प्राञ्जली तदा ॥१-२०१-१७॥
Then, Sunda and Upasunda, the two valorous brothers, upon seeing the grandsire god, stood before him with joined palms.
ऊचतुश्च प्रभुं देवं ततस्तौ सहितौ तदा । आवयोस्तपसानेन यदि प्रीतः पितामहः ॥१-२०१-१८॥
They both addressed the lord god, and then, together, said at that time: "If our grandfather (Brahmā) is pleased with this austerity of ours..."
मायाविदावस्त्रविदौ बलिनौ कामरूपिणौ । उभावप्यमरौ स्यावः प्रसन्नो यदि नौ प्रभुः ॥१-२०१-१९॥
If the Lord is gracious to us, both of us, skilled in illusion and weaponry, strong and able to assume any form, may become immortal.
पितामह उवाच॥
The paternal grandfather said.
ऋतेऽमरत्वमन्यद्वां सर्वमुक्तं भविष्यति । अन्यद्वृणीतां मृत्योश्च विधानममरैः समम् ॥१-२०१-२०॥
Except for immortality, everything else that has been spoken will be granted to you two. Choose something else, and the arrangement regarding death will be made equal to that of the immortals.
करिष्यावेदमिति यन्महदभ्युत्थितं तपः । युवयोर्हेतुनानेन नामरत्वं विधीयते ॥१-२०१-२१॥
Because of the great austerity that has arisen with your resolve of 'I shall do this,' immortality is ordained for you both by this cause.
त्रैलोक्यविजयार्थाय भवद्भ्यामास्थितं तपः । हेतुनानेन दैत्येन्द्रौ न वां कामं करोम्यहम् ॥१-२०१-२२॥
You both have undertaken austerity for the purpose of conquering the three worlds; for this reason, O chiefs of the Daityas, I do not grant your wish.
सुन्दोपसुन्दावूचतुः॥
Sunda and Upasunda both spoke.
त्रिषु लोकेषु यद्भूतं किञ्चित्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । सर्वस्मान्नौ भयं न स्यादृतेऽन्योन्यं पितामह ॥१-२०१-२३॥
O grandsire, in all the three worlds, whatever beings there are, whether immobile or mobile, there would be no fear for us from anything except from one another.
पितामह उवाच॥
The paternal grandfather spoke.
यत्प्रार्थितं यथोक्तं च काममेतद्ददानि वाम् । मृत्योर्विधानमेतच्च यथावद्वां भविष्यति ॥१-२०१-२४॥
I grant you both exactly what you have requested and as you have spoken; the arrangement regarding death will also be as it should for you.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
ततः पितामहो दत्त्वा वरमेतत्तदा तयोः । निवर्त्य तपसस्तौ च ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह ॥१-२०१-२५॥
Then the grandsire granted this boon to the two, caused them to desist from their austerities, and then went to Brahma's world.
लब्ध्वा वराणि सर्वाणि दैत्येन्द्रावपि तावुभौ । अवध्यौ सर्वलोकस्य स्वमेव भवनं गतौ ॥१-२०१-२६॥
After receiving all the boons, the two Daitya lords, now invulnerable to all beings, returned to their own abode.
तौ तु लब्धवरौ दृष्ट्वा कृतकामौ महासुरौ । सर्वः सुहृज्जनस्ताभ्यां प्रमोदमुपजग्मिवान् ॥१-२०१-२७॥
But when those two great asuras, having obtained boons and fulfilled their desires, were seen, all their friends and people rejoiced because of them.
ततस्तौ तु जटा हित्वा मौलिनौ सम्बभूवतुः । महार्हाभरणोपेतौ विरजोम्बरधारिणौ ॥१-२०१-२८॥
Then those two, having cast off their matted hair, appeared crowned; they were adorned with the finest ornaments and wore spotless garments.
अकालकौमुदीं चैव चक्रतुः सार्वकामिकीम् । दैत्येन्द्रौ परमप्रीतौ तयोश्चैव सुहृज्जनः ॥१-२०१-२९॥
The two Daitya chiefs, being extremely pleased, organized an untimely full-moon festival that fulfilled every desire; and all their friends and associates joined in as well.
भक्ष्यतां भुज्यतां नित्यं रम्यतां गीयतामिति । पीयतां दीयतां चेति वाच आसन्गृहे गृहे ॥१-२०१-३०॥
In every house, the words were: "Let it be eaten, let it be enjoyed, let it always be delightful, let it be sung; let it be drunk, let it be given."
तत्र तत्र महापानैरुत्कृष्टतलनादितैः । हृष्टं प्रमुदितं सर्वं दैत्यानामभवत्पुरम् ॥१-२०१-३१॥
Everywhere, the city of the Daityas became joyful and delighted, resounding with excellent cymbals and great drinks.
तैस्तैर्विहारैर्बहुभिर्दैत्यानां कामरूपिणाम् । समाः सङ्क्रीडतां तेषामहरेकमिवाभवत् ॥१-२०१-३२॥
For those Daityas who could assume forms at will, engaged in many amusements, the years passed by as if they were just a single day.
