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Library: Duryodhana narrates the story of Tripura from the Markandeya Purana, where the gods appointed the superior Lord Brahma as charioteer of Lord Shiva, to convince Shalya of the task ahead. He also narrates the story of sage Jamadagni and how Karna, who has received a divine weapon from Jamadagni, can't be inferior.
Duryodhana said:
"O King of Madra, listen again to what I am about to tell you. It is about what happened in the ancient battle between the gods and demons, O mighty one."
The great sage Mārkaṇḍeya conveyed to me what my father said, and you should understand it fully, O best of royal sages, without any need for further consideration here.
A great assembly of gods and demons took place. The first battle, O king, was for Tārakā. It is said that the demons were then defeated by the gods.
Among the demons who were conquered, there were three sons of Tāraka: Tārākṣa, Kamalākṣa, and Vidyunmālī, who were kings.
The tormentors of enemies, having undertaken fierce austerity and situated in supreme discipline, emaciated their own bodies through their rigorous practices.
O king, by self-control, austerity, and discipline, their grandfather, who was pleased, granted them boons as the giver of boons.
O King, invincibility among all beings was always yours; together they chose the grandsire of all worlds.
Then the god, the lord of the worlds, addressed the demons, telling them that there is no immortality for anyone. He advised them to turn back and choose another boon that they find pleasing.
Then they, together, O king, after much consideration and repeatedly bowing to the lord of all worlds, addressed him with these words.
"O god, grant us this boon, grandfather. We shall establish these three ancient ones and move on this earth, favored by your grace in this world."
Then, after a thousand years, we shall meet each other. These ancient texts, O sinless one, will come together in unity.
The assembled beings, O Lord, if one were to slay them with a single arrow, O best of gods, he would become our death. Thus, having said so, the god returned to heaven.
Having received boons and being pleased, they discussed among themselves and chose the great demon Maya to destroy the three cities. The ageless Visvakarman, revered by the Daityas and Danavas, was involved.
Then the wise Maya, through his own penance, created three ancient cities: one of gold, one of silver, and one of iron.
"Gold was present in the sky, silver in the atmosphere, and iron on the earth, O lord of the earth, within the wheel."
Each structure was vast, measuring a hundred yojanas in both length and breadth, adorned with houses and attics, and featured large ramparts and gateways.
The place was filled with qualities, yet unobstructed and free from disease, adorned with various palaces and gates.
In the cities, O king, various kings emerged separately. The gold belonging to Tārakākṣa was remarkable, as he was a great soul. The silver belonging to Kamalākṣa, Vidyunmālin, was like iron.
The three demon kings, known as Prajapati, swiftly conquered the three worlds with their brilliance and stood firm for countless years.
The chiefs of the demons, numbering in tens and hundreds of millions, along with crores of unmatched heroes, gathered from various places, seeking great prosperity, and took refuge in the fort of Tripura.
"Of all beings and again of them, illusion is the bearer of all unions. Having resorted to that, indeed, they all moved without fear."
Tripurasaṃśraya, who meditated upon a desire with his mind, was granted that desire by Maya through illusion at that time.
Hari, the mighty son of Tāraka, performed such supreme penance that it pleased the grandfather.
He chose the pleased god, or let it be in our city, where those who were killed by weapons may become stronger.
Hari, the heroic son of Tārakākṣa, after receiving the boon, created a pond there that could revive the dead, O lord.
The demon, who was in a certain form and disguise, was certainly dead and surrounded in that manner, and was reborn in the same way.
Upon obtaining her, the residents of Tripura, who were perfected beings, oppressed all the worlds with their great penance, increasing fear among the gods. O king, they faced no destruction in battle whatsoever.
Then, overwhelmed by greed and delusion, they lost their sense of right and wrong, shamelessly coveting the established position.
"Having driven away the gods and their groups from place to place, they roamed as they pleased, emboldened by the boon they had received."
The wicked demons destroyed all the divine forests cherished by the celestial beings, the sacred hermitages of the sages, and the nearby settlements, along with their boundaries.
The gods, united, went to the grandsire, the subduer of enemies, to inform him of the insult caused by the non-divine beings.
After narrating the entire truth, they bowed their heads and inquired from the venerable grandfather about the means to kill.
Upon hearing this, the blessed Lord addressed the gods, saying: "The demons, who are wicked and adversaries of the wise, are constantly committing offenses and causing you distress."
I am impartial to all beings; there is no doubt about it. However, I declare to you that the unrighteous must be punished.
"O Adityas, choose the steadfast and victorious lord who acts effortlessly as your warrior; he will destroy those who are not divine."
Upon hearing his words, the gods, with Indra at the forefront, approached Shiva, seeking refuge, with Brahma leading the way.
Engaged in supreme austerity and praising the eternal Absolute, they, along with the sages who were knowers of dharma, went with all their being.
They praised with meaningful words the greatest remover of fear, the soul of all, the great soul, by whom everything is attained through the self.
One who, through many special austerities, knows both yoga and the self, and who understands the Sankhya philosophy, always has his self under control.
They beheld the lord, a radiant figure, the husband of Uma, unmatched in the world, who was steadfast in his vows and pure.
They envisioned the Lord as one entity with diverse forms, reflecting their own counterparts, and then in the great soul. Everyone saw each other and was utterly amazed.
The gods and sages, recognizing the lord who embodies all beings and is the unborn master of the universe, bowed down to the earth with their heads.
Shankara, after offering words of blessing and helping them rise, smilingly said, "Speak, speak," addressing them.
After being permitted by Tryambaka, they, with disturbed minds, addressed Lord Shiva, saying, "Salutations, O Lord, let there be peace."
Salutations to the supreme deity, the wielder of the bow, and the exceedingly proud one. You, who destroyed the sacrifice of Prajapati, are praised by the lords of creation.
Salutations to Rudra, the praised and praiseworthy, the one being praised, the embodiment of death, the red one, the blue-necked trident-bearer.
To the unfailing, deer-eyed, foremost warrior with weapons, irresistible Śukra, the Brahman, and the celibate sage.
To the immeasurable lord, the controller, who wears skin, is eternally austere, tawny, vowed, and wears hides.
To Kumāra, the father and three-eyed deity, who bears excellent weapons, and destroys the distress of those who surrender, annihilating the enemies of Brahman.
Salutations to the lord of trees, men, cows, and sacrifices, eternally.
Salutations to you, O three-eyed god with a fierce brilliance and an army. Protect us, who have surrendered to you, with our mind, speech, and actions.
Then, the pleased Lord welcomed them and said, "Do not be afraid. Tell me, what can I do for you?"
Brahma, having honored Shankara, addressed the assembly of ancestors, gods, and sages, granting them a boon for the welfare of the world.
O Lord of the gods, from your great creation, this position related to Prajapati was granted by me as a significant boon to the Danavas.
"No one else can destroy those who have crossed their limits, except you, O lord of past and future, for you are indeed their enemy in destruction."
O god, please show favor to those who have surrendered and those who are asking, O lord of the gods, destroy the demons, O wielder of the trident.
The glorious Lord said:
It is my belief that all your enemies should be slain. However, I alone am not capable of defeating those foes of the gods.
"You all, united by the power of my weapon, should conquer those enemies in battle, for the group is truly mighty."
The gods spoke:
"Our power and strength are indeed twice as much as theirs," thus we think, for we have seen their power and strength.
The Lord spoke:
"Those who have sinned against you are to be killed wherever they are. Use half of my power and strength to destroy all those enemies."
The gods spoke:
O great Lord, we cannot bear even half of your energy. You alone, with half of our strength, should destroy the enemies.
Duryodhana said:
Then, O best of kings, the lord of the gods, addressed by them as 'so be it', took half and became superior in brilliance to all.
He was the strongest of all the gods by strength, and from that time, he became known as Mahadeva, Shankara.
Then Mahadeva declared, "I am the bearer of the bow and arrows. I shall defeat those enemies in battle with my chariot, O celestial beings."
"You all, see my chariot, bow, and arrows; today, I will make these fall to the ground."
The gods spoke:
"O Lord of the gods, having gathered all forms from the three worlds, I shall then create your chariot, which will be of immense power."
In the same manner, the wise ones, using their intellect, prepared the auspicious chariot crafted by Viśvakarman.
At that time, they crafted the earth, a beautiful goddess adorned with vast cities, mountains, forests, and islands, serving as the supporter of all beings.
The Mandara mountain serves as the axle of the chariot, with its wheels being the great rivers. The directions and sub-directions form the surroundings of the chariot.
The attractions of the shining planets and stars, along with the beautiful three flutes, are combined with dharma, artha, and kāma.
He created the best of chariots by placing the sun and moon. There, the two sides, east and west, were established as the auspicious night and day.
The ten serpent queens, led by Dhritarashtra, stood firm, encompassing the sky, the ages, their ancient skins, and the clouds of dissolution.
In the evening, there is steadiness, intelligence, position, and indeed humility; the sky, adorned with planets, stars, and constellations, appears wonderfully like a skin.
The deities associated with liquor, water, spirits, wealth, and worldly domains, along with the goddesses Sinivali, Anumati, Kuhu, and the virtuous Raka, prepared the yokes, harnesses, and girths for the vehicles.
Action, truth, austerity, and purpose were established there as rays. The mind was indeed the foundation, encircling Saraswati.
The chariot, adorned with various colored and bright flags waving in the wind, and decorated with lightning and a rainbow, shone brilliantly.
Thus, O great king, in that best of chariots arranged by the gods, you, O tiger among men, crushed the enemies.
Shankara placed his principal weapons on the chariot and set up the chariot's pole, which was drawn from the sky, with Nandi.
The divine powers and fever encircle this chariot from all directions, poised for action.
Atharva and Angiras, the great souls, were protectors of the wheel. The Rigveda, Samaveda, and Purana were at the forefront.
History and the Yajurveda became the protectors of the back, while divine speech and knowledge were made their attendants.
O King, the whip and other sounds, along with the sacrificial exclamation and the sacred syllable Om, became very splendid in the mouth.
The six varied seasons form a year, likened to a bow, and thus the night of time becomes the ageless string of the bow for men.
The arrow transformed into Vishnu, fire, and the moon. Agni and Soma are considered to encompass the entire world associated with Vishnu.
Vishnu, being the soul of the divine and of Shiva who possesses immeasurable splendor, they could not endure the touch of Shiva's bowstring.
The lord released an unbearable and sharp anger in that arrow, a wrathful fire born from the anger of Bhrigu and Angiras, which was extremely difficult to endure.
He is blue-red and smoky, wearing a hide and fearsome in appearance. He shines like ten thousand suns, enveloped in flames of energy, blazing intensely.
Hara (Shiva) is the immovable mover, the conqueror and destroyer of those who hate Brahman. He is eternally the protector and destroyer of people who take refuge in both righteousness and unrighteousness.
The blessed Lord Śiva, surrounded by fierce and terrible beings, shines forth, enveloped by his own divine qualities.
O king, having resorted to his limbs, this entire universe, both moving and non-moving, appeared as a wonderful sight.
Upon seeing the divine chariot, armored and equipped with a bow, he took up the divine arrow that was born from Soma, Vishnu, and Agni.
Then the gods arranged his horses, O lord, which carried an auspicious fragrance, O king, as the breath of the best of kings.
Mahadeva, taking on that form and even instilling fear in the gods, ascended with great focus, as if causing the heavens and the earth to tremble.
The god, appearing radiant and as if smiling, equipped with a sword, arrows, and a bow, asked, "Who will be the charioteer?"
The gods assured him, "The one you choose, O lord of the gods, will undoubtedly become your charioteer."
The god spoke to them again, saying: "Choose the one who is truly superior to me as my charioteer without delay, after careful consideration."
Upon hearing this, the gods went to the grandsire god, pleased him, and then spoke these words.
O god, you have told us about the destroyer of the enemies of the gods. Accordingly, we have acted, and the one with the bull banner is pleased.
The chariot has been prepared by us and is covered with various weapons, but we do not know who the charioteer might be in that excellent chariot.
Therefore, O best of the gods, appoint a charioteer. O god, you should fulfill that speech for us, O lord.
O Lord, you have previously assured us, "I will act for your benefit," so now you should fulfill that promise.
He, the divine charioteer, is unmatched and scatters the foes. The wielder of Pinaka is designated here as a warrior, instilling fear in the demons, he stands prepared.
In the same way, O great one, the four Vedas, the foremost horses, the earth with its mountains, and the chariot are present. The lineage of stars follows in the troop where the warrior is protected by the charioteer.
There, the charioteer should be chosen by all these distinguished ones. That chariot, O god, is well-established with horses, warriors, and indeed also equipped with armors, weapons, and a bow, O grandfather.
"O lord, we see no other charioteer there except you. You are indeed endowed with all qualities, superior even to the gods. Quickly ascend to the chariot and control the excellent horses."
Thus, we have heard that the gods, having bowed their heads to the lord of the three worlds, the grandfather, appeased him for the role of charioteer.
Brahma said:
"There is nothing false in what is said to you, O gods. I restrain the horses of Kapardin, who is indeed fighting."
Then the blessed god, the creator of the world and grandfather, was appointed by the gods to be the charioteer of the great soul, Shiva.
He quickly ascended the revered chariot, and those horses, swift as the wind, approached swiftly with their heads bowed.
Lord Shiva ascended with his knees to the earth. The lord of the three worlds, having seized the enemies, urged the horses, which were as swift as the mind and wind.
Then, as the boon-giver mounted and departed towards the demons, the lord of the universe smiled and said, "Well done, well done."
"Go, O god, to where the demons are and urge the untiring horses. Witness today the strength of my arms as they slay the enemies in battle."
Then he urged them, who were as swift as the wind, to attack Tripura, which was protected by demons and giants, O king.
Then, Shiva strung his bow, fixed the arrow, empowered it with the Pashupata weapon, and contemplated the destruction of Tripura.
In that state, O king, when you were angry and holding the bow, those ancient things eventually became one with time.
When unity was achieved and Tripura was reached, the gods and the great souls experienced immense joy.
Then all the hosts of gods, perfected beings, and great sages joyfully praised and uttered words of victory.
Then, in front of the god with unbearable brilliance and indescribable fierce form, appeared Tripura, the destroyer of demons.
The blessed Lord, having drawn the divine bow, released the arrow, the essence of the three worlds, towards Tripura. After burning the host of demons, he cast it into the western ocean.
In this way, the city of Tripura was destroyed, and the demons were annihilated entirely by the wrathful Maheshvara, who seeks the welfare of the three worlds.
The fire born of his own anger was restrained when he exclaimed 'Alas!' The three-eyed deity, Shiva, advised him, 'Do not turn the worlds to ashes.'
Then, having returned to their natural state, the gods, worlds, and sages praised the steadfast one with eloquent and meaningful words, recognizing his unparalleled strength.
Permitted by the Lord, all the gods, headed by Prajapati, returned to their original places, having fulfilled their desires and being pleased.
"Just as the revered Brahma, the grandsire and supporter of the worlds, you must restrain the chariot of Radheya, the noble soul."
"You are indeed more distinguished than Krishna, Karna, and Phalguna, especially, O tiger among kings. There is no doubt about it."
In the battle, this one is indeed like Rudra, and you are akin to Brahma, O sinless one. Therefore, you both have the power to defeat my enemies just like those two demons.
Karna, along with Śalya and others, should swiftly defeat and kill Arjuna, the white-horsed charioteer of Krishna. Let this be executed quickly.
In you, both Karna and the kingdom, as well as we, are firmly established.
"Listen to another story that the Brahmin, who knows dharma, told in my father's presence."
Upon hearing this remarkable speech, which is composed of cause, effect, and meaning, O Shalya, make your decision and do not waver in consideration here.
Jamadagni, born in the family of the Bhargavas, was a great ascetic. His son, known as Rama, was renowned for his brilliance and virtues.
He undertook intense penance and pleased Lord Shiva to obtain weapons, maintaining a serene mind, discipline, and control over his senses.
Shankara, pleased by his devotion and tranquility, understood what was in his heart and revealed himself to him.
The Lord spoke:
Rama, I am pleased with you. I know your desire. Purify yourself, and you will achieve all this.
"I will give you those weapons when you are purified. Weapons destroy those who are unworthy and incapable, O Bhārgava."
Thus addressed by the god of gods, the trident-bearer, Jamadagni's son replied to the great soul, bowing his head to the lord.
"O lord of the gods, when you recognize my worthiness in bearing weapons, then you should grant me the weapons as I am eager to learn."
Duryodhana said:
Then he performed worship with austerity, self-control, and discipline, accompanied by offerings, oblations, sacrificial fire, and mantras.
Bhargava, the great soul, worshipped Lord Shiva for many years, and then Lord Shiva was pleased with him.
He frequently spoke of his virtues in the presence of the goddess, saying: 'This Rama is devoted and always steadfast in his vows to me.'
Thus, the lord, pleased with his qualities, spoke many times in the presence of the gods and ancestors, O Arisudana.
At that time, the demons, being very powerful, harassed the gods, blinded by their pride and delusion.
Then, the wise ones gathered and decided to kill them, made efforts to slay the enemies, but they could not succeed in conquering them.
The gods, having approached Lord Shiva, said with devotion, "Please destroy the host of enemies."
After making a vow for the destruction of the enemies of the gods, Lord Shankara called upon Rama, the descendant of Bhrigu, and spoke to him.
O Bhargava, destroy all the enemies gathered for the gods, for the welfare of the worlds and to please me.
Rama said:
O Lord of the gods, what power do I possess, O great Lord, to defeat all the demons who are skilled in weapons and arrogant in battle, while I am unskilled in weapons?
The Lord spoke:
"Go, by meditating on me, you will destroy the demons. After conquering all your enemies, you will gain abundant virtues."
Duryodhana said:
Upon hearing and accepting the speech completely, Rama performed auspicious rites and set out towards the demons.
Bhārgava, with attacks as powerful as a thunderbolt, killed those enemies of the gods who were filled with pride, arrogance, and strength.
The son of Jamadagni, though wounded by the demons, was instantly healed by the touch of Shiva, becoming whole again.
The Lord, pleased by his actions, granted boons to Bhārgava, the great soul and knower of Brahman.
The god of gods, with affection, spoke to you, the trident-holder, about the pain that arose on your body from the fall of your weapons.
"By her, your human actions have been nullified, O son of Bhrigu. Accept the divine weapons from me as you wish."
Then Rama, having received all the various weapons and boons he desired in his mind, bowed his head to Shiva.
The great ascetic, having received permission from the lord of the gods, departed. Thus, the sage narrated what had happened in the past.
Bhrigu's descendant, with great affection and from the depths of his soul, imparted the entire knowledge of archery to Karna, the great soul and tiger among men.
O king, if there were any sin in Karna, indeed, Bhrigu's descendant would not have bestowed upon him the divine weapons.
I believe that Karṇa was not born in the charioteer's family; somehow, I think he is the son of a god, born into the Kshatriya lineage.
How can a doe give birth to a tiger who is adorned with earrings, armored, long-armed, and a great chariot-warrior, resembling the sun?
"Behold his strong arms, resembling the hands of the king of serpents. Observe his broad chest, capable of vanquishing all foes."
