03.098
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O best of twice-born, I wish again indeed to hear in detail of the wise deeds of that great sage Agastya. (03-98-1)
Lomaśa said.
O king, listen to the divine, wonderful, and superhuman story; O great king, it is about the power of Agastya, whose soul is immeasurable. (03-98-2)
In the Krita Yuga there were terrible danavas, fiercely intoxicated by battle. These extremely fierce groups were well-known as the Kāleyas. (03-98-3)
But they, taking refuge with Vṛtra and armed with various weapons, surrounded and attacked the gods led by Indra from all sides. (03-98-4)
Then, in ancient times, the thirty gods made efforts for the slaying of Vṛtra. They approached Brahmā, having placed Indra at the forefront. (03-98-5)
Brahmā, seeing all of them with joined palms, spoke: "O gods, I know all that you desire to accomplish." (03-98-6)
I will tell you the means by which you will slay Vṛtra. The great sage known as Dadhīca, who is noble-minded. (03-98-7)
Go to him together and ask for the boon. He, being righteous and deeply pleased in his heart, will grant it to you. (03-98-8)
You all, united and desiring victory, should tell him: "Give your own bones"—thus, for the welfare of the three worlds. He will relinquish his body and give his own bones. (03-98-9)
Let a very terrible and firm thunderbolt be prepared from his bones—great, sharp, six-edged, of terrifying sound, and capable of destroying great enemies. (03-98-10)
Śatakratu (Indra) will indeed slay Vṛtra with that thunderbolt. All this has been told to you; therefore, let it be done quickly. (03-98-11)
After being thus addressed, the gods, having received permission from the grandsire, with Nārāyaṇa at their head, went to the hermitage of Dadhīca. (03-98-12)
On the far shore of the Sarasvatī, covered with various trees and creepers, resounding with the chanting-like hums of bees as though by singers of the Sāma, mixed with the calls of the male cuckoo and enlivened by the sounds of jīvaka birds. (03-98-13)
Here and there, the area was traversed by buffaloes, boars, deer, and antelopes, all unafraid of tigers. (03-98-14)
The lake, entered and played in on all sides by female elephants and elephants with burst trunk-mouths, resounded everywhere. (03-98-15)
The place was echoed by the loud roars of lions and tigers, and also by other creatures hidden away, dwelling in caves and caverns. (03-98-16)
In those various delightful and splendid places, they arrived at Dadhīca's hermitage, which was as magnificent as heaven. (03-98-17)
There they saw Dadhīca, shining with the radiance of the sun, brilliant in his body, like the grandsire Brahmā with his splendor. (03-98-18)
O king, the gods, having greeted and bowed to his feet, all requested the boon as spoken by Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā). (03-98-19)
Then Dadhīca, full of supreme confidence, addressed those best among the gods: "I shall do what is beneficial for you today, O gods; I shall also give up my own body." (03-98-20)
Having thus spoken, the foremost among bipeds, controlling his own life-breaths, suddenly gave them up. Then the gods collected his ashes and bones, as instructed. (03-98-21)
The gods, delighted and eager for victory, approached Tvaṣṭṛ and stated their purpose to him. Tvaṣṭṛ, in turn, gladly, listened to their words and with intent and effort responded. (03-98-22)
He fashioned a thunderbolt of exceedingly terrible form; having done so, he joyfully addressed Indra: 'O god, with this excellent thunderbolt, destroy today the fierce enemy of the gods.' (03-98-23)
Then, the slayer of foes (Indra), along with his attendants, happily ruled over the entire heaven, O dweller of heaven. Thus addressed by Tvaṣṭṛ, he, Purandara (Indra), joyfully and with readiness, accepted the thunderbolt. (03-98-24)
