03.192
dhundhumāropākhyānam
The narrative of Dhundhumāra
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
yudhiṣṭhiro dharmarājaḥ papraccha bharatarṣabha. mārkaṇḍeyaṃ tapovṛddhaṃ dīrghāyuṣam akalmaṣam ॥03-192-1॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of righteousness, asked Mārkaṇḍeya, who was advanced in austerity, long-lived, and free from sin, O bull among the Bharatas. (03-192-1)
viditās tava dharmajña devadānavarākṣasāḥ। rājavaṁśāś ca vividhā ṛṣivaṁśāś ca śāśvatāḥ॥ na te'sty aviditaṁ kiñcid asmiñ loke dvijottama॥03-192-2॥
You, knower of dharma, are aware of the devas, dānavas, rākṣasas, royal lineages, and the various ancient lineages of sages. There is nothing unknown to you in this world, O best of the twice-born. (03-192-2)
kathāṃ vetsi mune divyāṃ manuṣyoragarakṣasām। etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ tattvena kathitaṃ dvija ॥03-192-3॥
O twice-born, I wish to hear from you, truly told, the divine story of humans, serpents, and rākṣasas, which you know, O sage. (03-192-3)
kuvalāśva iti khyāta ikṣvākuraparājitaḥ। kathaṃ nāma viparyāsāddhundhumāratvamāgataḥ ॥03-192-4॥
Kuvalāśva, thus known as the unconquered Ikṣvāku, how indeed did he—by reversal—come to be known as Dhundhumāra? (03-192-4)
etadicchāmi tattvena jñātuṃ bhārgavasattama। viparyastaṃ yathā nāma kuvalāśvasya dhīmataḥ॥03-192-5॥
O best of the Bhārgavas, I wish to know in truth how the wise Kuvalāśva came to be reversed. (03-192-5)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu rājanyudhiṣṭhira | dharmiṣṭham idam ākhyānaṃ dhundhumārasya tac chṛṇu ॥03-192-6॥
Indeed, I will tell you, listen, O king Yudhiṣṭhira. Listen to this most righteous story of Dhundhumāra. (03-192-6)
yathā sa rājy ikṣvākuḥ kuvalāśvo mahīpatiḥ। dhundhumāratvam agamat tac chṛṇuṣva mahīpate॥03-192-7॥
As the king Ikṣvāku, Kuvalāśva, lord of the earth, became Dhundhumāra, hear that, O king. (03-192-7)
maharṣirviśrutastāta uttaṅka iti bhārata. marudhanvasu ramyeṣu āśramastasya kaurava ॥03-192-8॥
O Bhārata, the famed great seer named Uttaṅka, O dear one, had his hermitage in the delightful regions of the desert, O Kaurava. (03-192-8)
uttaṅkastu mahārāja tapo'tapyatsuduścaram| ārirādhayiṣurviṣṇuṃ bahūnvarṣagaṇān vibho ॥03-192-9॥
But Uttanka, O great king, performed austerities very difficult to accomplish, wishing to propitiate Viṣṇu, for many years, O mighty one. (03-192-9)
tasya prītaḥ sa bhagavān sākṣād darśanam eyivān। dṛṣṭvaiva ca ṛṣiḥ prahva-staṃ tuṣṭāva vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ॥03-192-10॥
Pleased with him, the Blessed Lord appeared directly. On seeing him, the sage, bowing down, praised him with various hymns. (03-192-10)
tvayā deva prajāḥ sarvāḥ sadevāsuramānavāḥ। sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni jaṅgamāni tathaiva ca॥ brahma vedāś ca vedyaṃ ca tvayā sṛṣṭaṃ mahādyute॥03-192-11॥
O god, by you all creatures, including gods, asuras, and men, as well as stationary and moving beings, are created; Brahma, the Vedas, and that which is to be known are also created by you, O greatly radiant one. (03-192-11)
śiras te gaganaṃ deva netre śaśi-divākarau। niḥśvāsaḥ pavanaś cāpi tejo'gniś ca tavācyuta ॥ bāhavas te diśaḥ sarvāḥ kukṣiś cāpi mahārṇavaḥ ॥03-192-12॥
O Lord, your head is the sky; your eyes are the moon and the sun; your breath is the wind, your light is fire, O Acyuta. All the directions are your arms; your abdomen is also the great ocean. (03-192-12)
ūrū te parvatā deva khaṃ nābhir madhusūdana। pādau te pṛthivī devī romāṇi oṣadhayas tathā ॥03-192-13॥
O Madhusūdana, your thighs are the mountains, O god; the sky is your navel; your feet are the earth goddess; and your hairs, likewise, are the plants. (03-192-13)
indrasomāgnivaruṇā devāsuramahoragāḥ। prahvāstvāmupatiṣṭhanti stuvanto vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ ॥03-192-14॥
Indra, Soma, Agni, Varuṇa, the gods, asuras, and great serpents approach you humbly, praising you with various hymns. (03-192-14)
tvayā vyāptāni sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhuvaneśvara। yoginaḥ sumahā-vīryāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ maharṣayaḥ ॥03-192-15॥
O Lord of the worlds, all beings are pervaded by you. The yogis of immense power and the great sages praise you. (03-192-15)
tvayi tuṣṭe jagatsvasthaṃ tvayi kruddhe mahadbhayam। bhayānām apanētāsi tvam ekaḥ puruṣottama ॥03-192-16॥
When you are pleased, the world remains in harmony; when you are angered, there is great fear. You alone are the remover of all fears, O foremost among men. (03-192-16)
devānāṃ mānuṣāṇāṃ ca sarvabhūtasukhāvahaḥ। tribhirvikramaṇair deva trayo lokās tvayā hṛtāḥ॥ asurāṇāṃ samṛddhānāṃ vināśaś ca tvayā kṛtaḥ॥03-192-17॥
You are the bringer of happiness to all beings, to the gods and men alike. By your three strides, O god, the three worlds were taken by you. The destruction of the prosperous asuras was also accomplished by you. (03-192-17)
tava vikramaṇair devā nirvāṇam agaman param। parābhavaṃ ca daityendrās tvayi kruddhe mahādyute ॥03-192-18॥
By your heroic deeds, the gods attained supreme liberation; and the lords of the Daityas suffered defeat when you, O greatly radiant one, became angry. (03-192-18)
tvaṃ hi kartā vikartā ca bhūtānāmiha sarvaśaḥ। ārādhayitvā tvāṃ devāḥ sukhamedhanti sarvaśaḥ॥03-192-19॥
For you indeed are the creator and transformer of all beings here in every way; having worshipped you, the gods wholly thrive in happiness. (03-192-19)
evaṁ stuto hṛṣīkeśa uttaṅkena mahātmanā। uttaṅkam abravīd viṣṇuḥ prītaḥ te'haṁ varaṁ vṛṇu ॥03-192-20॥
Thus, when Hṛṣīkeśa had been praised by the great-souled Uttaṅka, Viṣṇu, being pleased, said to Uttaṅka: "I am pleased with you. Choose a boon." (03-192-20)
uttaṅka uvāca॥
Uttaṅka said.
paryāpto me varo hyeṣa yadahaṁ dṛṣṭavān harim। puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyaṁ sraṣṭāraṁ jagataḥ prabhum॥03-192-21॥
This boon is enough for me, for I have now seen Hari—the eternal, divine Person, the creator and master of the world. (03-192-21)
viṣṇuruvāca॥
Viṣṇu said.
prītaste'hamalāulyena bhaktyā ca dvijasattama। avaśyaṃ hi tvayā brahmanmatto grāhyo varo dvija ॥03-192-22॥
O best of twice-born, pleased by your freedom from greed and your devotion, I declare: certainly, O brāhmaṇa, you must accept a boon from me, O twice-born. (03-192-22)
evaṃ sañchandyamānas tu vareṇa hariṇā tadā। uttaṅkaḥ prāñjalir vavre varaṃ bharatasattama ॥03-192-23॥
O best of the Bharatas, thus, when Hari offered him a boon, Uttanka, with joined palms, chose his boon. (03-192-23)
yadi me bhagavānprītaḥ puṇḍarīkanibhekṣaṇaḥ। dharme satye dame caiva buddhirbhavatu me sadā ॥ abhyāsaśca bhavedbhaktyā tvayi nityaṁ maheśvara ॥03-192-24॥
If the Lord, whose eyes are like lotuses, is pleased with me, may I always possess understanding in righteousness, truth, and self-control. And may I always practice devotion to you, O Maheshvara. (03-192-24)
viṣṇuruvāca॥
Viṣṇu said.
sarvam etad dhi bhavitā matprasādāt tava dvija। pratibhāsyati yogaś ca yena yukto divaukasām ॥ trayāṇām api lokānām mahat kāryaṃ kariṣyasi ॥03-192-25॥
All this will surely happen for you through my grace, O Brāhmaṇa. The yoga by which you are endowed will become manifest among the gods, and you will accomplish a great task for the three worlds. (03-192-25)
utsādanārthaṁ lokānāṁ dhundhur nāma mahāsuraḥ। tapasyati tapo ghoraṁ śṛṇu yas taṁ haniṣyati ॥03-192-26॥
Dhundhu, the great asura, by name, is performing terrible austerity for the destruction of the worlds; hear, who will kill him. (03-192-26)
bṛhadaśva iti khyāto bhaviṣyati mahīpatiḥ। tasya putraḥ śucir dāntaḥ kuvalāśva iti śrutaḥ॥03-192-27॥
Bṛhadaśva, so named, will become a renowned king. His son, pure and self-restrained, will be known as Kuvalāśva. (03-192-27)
sa yogabalam āsthāya māmakaṃ pārthivottamaḥ । śāsanāt tava viprarṣe dhundhumāro bhaviṣyati ॥03-192-28॥
He, the best among my kings, having resorted to the power of yoga, at your command, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, will become Dhundhumāra. (03-192-28)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
uttaṅkamevamuktvā tu viṣṇurantaradhīyata.
Having thus spoken to Uttanka, Viṣṇu disappeared.
