03.195
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
dhundhurnāma mahātejāstayoḥ putro mahādyutiḥ। sa tapo'tapyata mahanmahāvīryaparākramaḥ॥03-195-1॥
Dhundhu, named and of great splendor, was the son of those two and was highly illustrious. He, possessing great heroic power, performed intense austerities. (03-195-1)
atiṣṭhad-ekapādena kṛśo dhmanisantataḥ। tasmai brahmā dadau prīto varaṃ vavre sa ca prabho॥03-195-2॥
He stood on one foot, emaciated, his veins exposed. To him, Brahmā, pleased, granted a boon, and he chose it, O lord. (03-195-2)
devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ sarpagandharvarakṣasām। avadhyo'haṃ bhaveyaṃ vai vara eṣa vṛto mayā॥03-195-3॥
This boon has been chosen by me: may I indeed become not to be slain by the gods, demons, yakṣas, snakes, gandharvas, and rākṣasas. (03-195-3)
evaṁ bhavatu gaccheti tam uvāca pitāmahaḥ। sa evam uktas tat pādau mūrdhnā spṛśya jagāma ha ॥03-195-4॥
The grandfather said to him, "So be it, go." Having been thus addressed, he touched his (grandfather's) feet with his head and then departed. (03-195-4)
sa tu dhundhur varaṃ labdhvā mahāvīryaparākramaḥ। anusmaran pitṛvadhaṃ tato viṣṇum upādravat ॥03-195-5॥
But Dhundhu, having obtained the boon, being of great might and valor, remembering the killing of his father, then approached Viṣṇu. (03-195-5)
sa tu devān sagandharvāñ jitvā dhundhur amarṣaṇaḥ। babādha sarvān asakṛd devān viṣṇuṃ ca vai bhṛśam ॥03-195-6॥
But he, Dhundhu the unforgiving, having conquered the gods along with the Gandharvas, repeatedly oppressed all—the gods and even Viṣṇu—greatly. (03-195-6)
samudro vālukā-pūrṇa ujjānaka iti smṛtaḥ। āgamya ca sa duṣṭātmā taṃ deśaṃ bharatarṣabha॥ bādhate sma paraṃ śaktyā tam-uttaṅkāśramaṃ prabho॥03-195-7॥
The ocean filled with sand, known as Ujjānaka, is thus remembered. Then, O best of Bharatas, that wicked one came and oppressed that region; with great strength he attacked the hermitage of Uttanka, O lord. (03-195-7)
antarbhūmigatas tatra vālukāntarhitastadā। madhukaiṭabhayoḥ putro dhundhur bhīmaparākramaḥ॥03-195-8॥
There, Dhundhu, the son of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, of terrible might, had entered within the earth and was then hidden inside the sand. (03-195-8)
śete lokavināśāya tapobalasamāśritaḥ। uttaṅkasyāśramābhyāśe niḥśvasanpāvakārciṣaḥ॥03-195-9॥
He lies, supported by the strength of austerity, near the hermitage of Uttaṅka, breathing out flames of fire for the destruction of the worlds. (03-195-9)
etasminn eva kāle tu sabhṛtya-balavāhanaḥ। kuvalāśvo narapatir anvito balaśālinām॥03-195-10॥
At that very time, however, King Kuvalāśva, with his retainers, army, and vehicles, accompanied by the powerful men. (03-195-10)
sahasrair ekaviṃśatyā putrāṇām arimardanaḥ। prāyād uttaṅka-sahito dhundhos tasya niveśanam॥03-195-11॥
Arimardana, accompanied by Uttaṅka and his twenty-one thousand sons, went to the dwelling place of Dhundhu. (03-195-11)
tam āviśat tato viṣṇur bhagavāṁs tejasā prabhuḥ। uttaṅkasya niyogena lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā ॥03-195-12॥
Then Viṣṇu, the blessed lord, entered him with his splendor by the injunction of Uttaṅka, desiring the welfare of all beings. (03-195-12)
tasmin prayāte durdharṣe divi śabdo mahān abhūt। eṣa śrīmān nṛpasuto dhundhumāro bhaviṣyati॥03-195-13॥
As the invincible departed, a great sound arose in the sky. This illustrious prince, Dhundhumāra, will be. (03-195-13)
divyaiś ca puṣpaiḥ taṁ devāḥ samantāt paryavākiran। devadundubhayaś caiva neduḥ svayam udīritāḥ ॥03-195-14॥
The gods showered him from all sides with divine flowers. The celestial drums resounded of their own accord. (03-195-14)
śītaś ca vāyuḥ pravavau prayāṇe tasya dhīmataḥ। vipāṃsulāṃ mahīṃ kurvan vavarṣa ca sureśvaraḥ॥03-195-15॥
A cold wind blew as the wise one departed; the lord of the gods also rained, making the earth free from dust. (3-195-15)
antarikṣe vimānāni devatānām yudhiṣṭhira. tatraiva samadṛśyanta dhundhur yatra mahāsuraḥ ॥03-195-16॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, in the sky, the flying chariots of the gods were seen together in that very place where Dhundhu, the great asura, was present. (03-195-16)
kuvalāśvasya dhundhoś ca yuddha-kautūhala-anvitāḥ। deva-gandharva-sahitāḥ samavaikṣan maharṣayaḥ॥03-195-17॥
The great sages, together with the gods and Gandharvas, watched with keen interest the battle between Kuvalāśva and Dhundhu. (03-195-17)
nārāyaṇena kauravya tejasāpyāyitastadā। sa gato nṛpatiḥ kṣipraṃ putraistaiḥ sarvatodiśam ॥03-195-18॥
Then, O descendant of Kuru, invigorated by Nārāyaṇa's energy, the king quickly set out with those sons in all directions. (03-195-18)
arṇavaṃ khānayāmāsa kuvalāśvo mahīpatiḥ। kuvalāśvasya putraistu tasmin vai vālukārṇave ॥03-195-19॥
Kuvalāśva, the king, dug the ocean, and by the sons of Kuvalāśva, in that sandy ocean, (this occurred). (03-195-19)
saptabhir divasaiḥ khātvā dṛṣṭo dhundhur mahābalaḥ। āsīd ghoram vapus tasya vāluka-antar-hitaṃ mahat॥ dīpyamānaṃ yathā sūryas tejasā bharatarṣabha॥03-195-20॥
After digging for seven days, the mighty Dhundhu was discovered. His enormous and terrible form was hidden within the sand, shining with brilliance like the sun, O best of the Bharatas. (03-195-20)
tato dhundhurmahārāja diśamāśritya paścimām। supto'bhūdrājaśārdūla kālānalasamadyutiḥ ॥03-195-21॥
Then, O tiger among kings, Dhundhu the great king, having taken refuge in the west, slept there, shining with a brilliance like the fire of the final dissolution. (03-195-21)
kuvalāśvasya putraistu sarvataḥ parivāritaḥ। abhidrutaḥ śaraisti kṣṇair gadābhir musalair api॥ paṭṭiśaiḥ parighaiḥ prāsaiḥ khaḍgaiś ca vimalaiḥ śitaiḥ॥03-195-22॥
But surrounded on all sides by the sons of Kuvalāśva, he was assailed with sharp arrows, maces, pestles, pikes, iron clubs, lances, and bright, keen swords. (03-195-22)
sa vadhyamānaḥ saṅkruddhaḥ samuttasthau mahābalaḥ। kruddhaś cābhakṣayattēṣāṁ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca॥03-195-23॥
Though being wounded, the mighty and utterly enraged one rose up; and in anger, he also devoured their various weapons. (03-195-23)
āsyād vaman pāvakaṃ sa saṃvartaka-samaṃ tadā। tān sarvān nṛpateḥ putrān adahad svena tejasā ॥03-195-24॥
He vomited fire from his mouth, and then with a fire equal to the fire of destruction, burned all the king's sons with his own splendor. (03-195-24)
mukhajenāgninā kruddho lokān udvartayan niva। kṣaṇena rājaśārdūla pura eva kapilaḥ prabhuḥ॥ sagarasya ātmajān kruddhas tad adbhutam iva abhavat॥03-195-25॥
As if, in anger, with fire produced from his mouth, he overturned the worlds in a moment—O best of kings—just as before, Kapila, the lord, in his anger, caused that wondrous thing to happen to the sons of Sagara. (03-195-25)
teṣu krodhāgnidagdheṣu tadā bharatasattama। taṃ prabuddhaṃ mahātmānaṃ kumbhakarṇam-iva-aparam ॥ āsasāda mahātejāḥ kuvalāśvo mahīpatiḥ ॥03-195-26॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, among those consumed by the fire of anger, the king Kuvalāśva of great energy approached him, the awakened great-souled one like another Kumbhakarṇa. (03-195-26)
tasya vāri mahārāja susrāva bahu dehataḥ। tadāpīyata tattejo rājā vārimayaṃ nṛpa॥ yogī yogena vahniṃ ca śamayāmāsa vāriṇā॥03-195-27॥
O great king, much water flowed from his body. Then the king, whose energy was composed of water, drank it. The yogi subdued the fire through yoga and by means of water. (03-195-27)
brahmāstreṇa tadā rājā daityaṃ krūraparākramaṃ। dadāha bharataśreṣṭha sarvalokabhayāya vai ॥03-195-28॥
O best of Bharatas, then the king burnt the demon of terrible prowess with the Brahmāstra, indeed, for the safety of all worlds. (03-195-28)
so'streṇa dagdhvā rājarṣiḥ kuvalāśvo mahāsuram। suraśatrumamitraghnastrilokeśa ivāparaḥ ॥ dhundhumāra iti khyāto nāmnā samabhavattataḥ ॥03-195-29॥
Having burned up the great asura with his weapon, the royal sage Kuvalāśva, an enemy of the gods and destroyer of foes, became like another lord of the three worlds; from then on he became known by the name Dhundhumāra. (03-195-29)
prītaiś ca tridaśaiḥ sarvair maharṣi-sahitaiḥ tadā। varaṃ vṛṇīṣva ity uktaḥ sa prāñjaliḥ praṇatas tadā॥ atīva mudito rājann idaṃ vacanam abravīt॥03-195-30॥
Then, by all the pleased gods along with the great sages, he was addressed, "Choose a boon." With joined palms and bowing, he, greatly rejoicing, O king, spoke these words. (3-195-30)
dadyāṃ vittaṃ dvijāgryebhyaḥ śatrūṇāṃ cāpi durjayaḥ। sakhyaṃ ca viṣṇunā me syādbhūteṣvadroha eva ca ॥ dharme ratiśca satataṃ svarge vāsastathākṣayaḥ ॥03-195-31॥
May I give wealth to the foremost of twice-born, be unconquerable by enemies, have friendship with Viṣṇu, cherish only non-hatred toward beings, always delight in dharma, and enjoy a permanent abode in heaven. (03-195-31)
tathāstv iti tato devaiḥ prītair uktaḥ sa pārthivaḥ। ṛṣibhiś ca sagandharvaiḥ uttankena ca dhīmatā॥03-195-32॥
"So be it"—then the pleased gods, along with the sages, the gandharvas, and the wise Uttanka, addressed the king. (3-195-32)
sabhājya cainaṁ vividhairāśīrvādais tato nṛpam। devā maharṣayaś caiva svāni sthānāni bhejire ॥03-195-33॥
Having honored the king with various blessings, the gods and great sages then departed to their own abodes. (03-195-33)
tasya putrāstrayaḥ śiṣṭā yudhiṣṭhira tadābhavan। dṛḍhāśvaḥ kapilāśvaśca candrāśvaścaiva bhārata ॥ tebhyaḥ paramparā rājann ikṣvākūṇāṃ mahātmanām ॥03-195-34॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, then three sons of him remained—Dṛḍhāśva, Kapilāśva, and Candrāśva, O Bhārata. From them, O king, came the lineage of the great-souled Ikṣvākus. (03-195-34)
evaṁ sa nihatas tena kuvalāśvena sattama। dhundhurdai tyo mahāvīryo madhukaiṭabhayoḥ sutaḥ॥03-195-35॥
Thus, O best among beings, Dhundhu, the mighty daitya, son of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, was slain by Kuvalāśva. (03-195-35)
kuvalāśvastu nṛpatirdhundhumāra iti smṛtaḥ। nāmnā ca guṇasaṁyuktastadā prabhṛti so'bhavat ॥03-195-36॥
Kuvalāśva, the king, is remembered as Dhundhumāra; from then on, he became known by that name and as one endowed with good qualities. (03-195-36)
etat te sarvam ākhyātam yan māṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi। dhaumadhumāram upākhyānaṁ prathitaṁ yasya karmaṇā॥03-195-37॥
All this that you have asked me has been told to you—the well-known story of Dhāumadhumāra, famed for his deed. (03-195-37)
idaṃ tu puṇyam ākhyānam viṣṇoḥ sam-anukīrtanam। śṛṇuyāt yaḥ sa dharmātmā putravān ca bhavet naraḥ॥03-195-38॥
But whoever listens to this meritorious narrative, a full recitation of Viṣṇu, he becomes a righteous person and will have sons, being born as a man. (03-195-38)
āyuṣmāndhṛtimāṁścaiva śrutvā bhavati parvasu। na ca vyādhibhayaṁ kiñcitprāpnoti vigatajvaraḥ ॥03-195-39॥
He becomes long-lived and steadfast, having heard (this) during festivals. And being free from fever, he does not incur any fear of disease. (03-195-39)
