01.201
Pancharatra: Narada narrates the story of Sunda demons. They get Brahma's boon.
Nārada said.
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.
Once, in the lineage of the great asura Hiraṇyakaśipu, there was a powerful and strong lord of the Daityas named Nikumbha.
He had two sons of great strength and terrible prowess. They always acted together, enjoying things together and never going anywhere without each other.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
By the power of their austerity, Vindhya was tormented for a long time and emitted smoke; it appeared as something wonderful.
Then, seeing the fierce austerity of the two, the gods became afraid. Therefore, in order to hinder their austerity, the gods created obstacles.
They repeatedly tempted both of them with jewels and women, but those two of great vow did not break their vow.
Then, once again, the gods created an illusion for those two great souls, manifesting as sisters, mothers, wives, and attendants for them.
Terrified and scattered by the demon holding a spear, their ornaments and hair loosened, and their garments fallen from one side.
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.
When neither agitation nor distress affected either of the two, then those women and all beings vanished.
Then the Grandfather, having directly approached the two great asuras, offered them a boon to choose, he who is the grandfather of all worlds.
Then, Sunda and Upasunda, the two valorous brothers, upon seeing the grandsire god, stood before him with joined palms.
They both addressed the lord god, and then, together, said at that time: "If our grandfather (Brahmā) is pleased with this austerity of ours..."
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.
The paternal grandfather said.
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.
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.
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.
Sunda and Upasunda both spoke.
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.
The paternal grandfather spoke.
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.
Nārada said.
Then the grandsire granted this boon to the two, caused them to desist from their austerities, and then went to Brahma's world.
After receiving all the boons, the two Daitya lords, now invulnerable to all beings, returned to their own abode.
But when those two great asuras, having obtained boons and fulfilled their desires, were seen, all their friends and people rejoiced because of them.
Then those two, having cast off their matted hair, appeared crowned; they were adorned with the finest ornaments and wore spotless garments.
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.
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."
Everywhere, the city of the Daityas became joyful and delighted, resounding with excellent cymbals and great drinks.
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.
