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Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O grandfather, greatly wise and expert in all śāstras, a desire to speak about the slaying of Vṛtra indeed arises in me.
O sinless one, it is told to you, O lord of people, that Vṛtra, deluded by fever, was slain here by Vāsava (Indra) with the thunderbolt.
O greatly wise one, how did this fever arise and from where? O lord, I wish to hear in detail about the origin of fever.
Bhīṣma said.
O king, listen to the origin of fever here, which is renowned in the world. I will explain its details and its nature, O Bhārata.
O Bhārata, in ancient times, there was a peak of Meru, renowned throughout the three worlds, called Sāvitra, shining with all kinds of gems, immeasurable and unassailable in all the worlds.
There, the god sat shining like a couch on the mountain slope adorned with gold ore.
The daughter of the king of mountains always stood by his side, shining. Similarly, the gods, the great-souled ones, and the mighty Vasus were also present.
Similarly, the two noble Aśvins, foremost among physicians, and King Vaiśravaṇa, attended by the Guhyakas, were present.
The prosperous lord of the Yakṣas, the master residing at Kailāsa, and also the divine sages headed by Aṅgiras and others.
Viśvāvasu, the Gandharva, Nārada, Parvata, and many groups of Apsarases all gathered together.
A pure and pleasant wind, carrying many fragrances, blew auspiciously. The great trees were covered in blossoms of every season, full of flowers.
In that manner, the Vidyādharas, Siddhas, and ascetics whose wealth is austerity, all worshipped Mahādeva, the lord of beings, O Bhārata.
O great king, there were beings of various forms; then there were also very fierce rākṣasas and very powerful piśācas.
The god's attendants, bearing many forms, joyful, and armed with various weapons, stood there like fire.
Nandī, with the consent of the god, stood there; he took up the blazing trident, shining with his own radiance.
O Kurunandana, Gaṅgā, the best among rivers and born from the waters of all sacred places, worshipped that god in person.
Thus, Mahadeva, being worshipped there by the divine sages and the highly fortunate gods, stood present.
At a certain time, Dakṣa, the Prajāpati, following the previously stated procedure, proceeded to perform a sacrifice.
Then all the gods, headed by Śakra, gathered together to decide about going to his sacrifice.
It is said that those great-souled ones, shining like fire, went to Gaṅgādvāra in blazing aerial chariots with the god's consent.
Then, having seen the deities depart, the virtuous daughter of the king of mountains spoke to her husband, the god Paśupati (Śiva).
O Lord, where are these gods, led by Indra, going? Please tell me truly, O knower of truth; I have this great doubt.
The great lord Maheshvara said.
Dakṣa, so named, O greatly fortunate one, is the supreme lord of beings; he performs the horse-sacrifice there, and the dwellers of heaven go there.
Umā said.
O highly fortunate one, why do you not come to this sacrifice? Is there some prohibition or reason that prevents you from going?
The great lord said.
O greatly fortunate one, all this has indeed been performed by the gods, but in all the sacrifices, my share has not been allotted.
O fair lady, by the previously established means, on this path, the gods do not grant me the rightful share of the sacrifice.
Umā said.
O Lord, among all beings, you are superior in origin and qualities, unconquerable and unassailable, endowed with brilliance, fame, and prosperity.
O greatly fortunate one, because of this opposition, I have suffered greatly and am trembling, O sinless one.
Bhīṣma said.
O king, after saying this to her husband Paśupati, the goddess became silent, her mind burning with anguish.
Then, understanding the goddess's intention and what she wished in her heart, he commanded Nandin, saying, "You stand here."
Then, the god of gods, Śiva, the wielder of Pināka, having applied the power of yoga, suddenly destroyed that great and brilliant sacrifice along with its terrible attendants.
Some made sounds, some performed offerings, and others, O king, covered the fire there with blood.
Some uprooted the sacrificial posts and wandered about with distorted faces; others, using their mouths, devoured the attendants in the same manner.
Then, O king, as the sacrifice was being destroyed on all sides, it assumed the form of a deer and immediately flew up into the sky.
But having perceived him going to such a sacrifice, he, the lord, then took up his bow and arrow and followed.
Then, from the forehead of that lord of the gods of immeasurable brilliance, a terrible drop of sweat emerged due to his anger.
But as soon as the sweat-drop fell on the earth, a very great fire arose, resembling the fire of destruction at the end of time.
There, O best of men, at that time a man was born—short in stature, with very red eyes, and a tawny beard and moustache—Vibhīṣaṇa.
He has hair standing upwards, an excessively hairy body, the face of a hawk or owl, a terrible appearance, a black complexion, and wears red garments.
He, the great-souled one, burned up that sacrifice like fire burns dry grass. Then, all the gods, terrified, fled in all ten directions from there.
O lord of the people, O bull among the Bharatas, as that man wandered there, the earth trembled exceedingly, O king.
When the dreadful wailing sound arose, terrifying the world, the grandsire showed Mahadeva and spoke to him.
O lord, all the gods will indeed give you a share as well. Therefore, O lord of all gods, let the withdrawal be performed by you.
O great god, because of your anger, all these deities and sages, O scorcher of foes, have not attained peace.
O best of the wise, this being who has arisen from your sweat, known as 'fever', will move about in the worlds as a knower of dharma.
O Lord, the entire earth is not capable of sustaining the energy of this one who has become united; let this be created in many forms.
Thus, when addressed by Brahmā and the portion had also been arranged, the god said these words to the venerable Brahmā of immeasurable energy.
Śiva, the wielder of Pināka, experienced supreme delight and smiled, and then Bhava (Śiva) received his share as declared by Brahmā.
O son, hear also how the knower of all dharmas then sent forth fever in many ways for the sake of the peace of all beings.
For serpents, head-burning; for mountains, shilajatu; among waters, the bluish substance should be known, and among serpents, the slough (cast-off skin).
O knower of dharma, a pit belonging to the descendants of Saurabheya, barren on the earth's surface, is also an obstruction to the sight of cattle.
It is said by the great soul that when something enters the cavity, it causes crest rupture in horses, eye disease in peacocks, and fever in cuckoos.
It is heard by us that among lotuses, bile-disorder is found in all. Among parrots also, in all, fever is called 'hiccup.'
O knower of dharma, among tigers, fatigue is called fever; but among humans, this fever is well-known by name. At death, at birth, and in between, it enters a man.
This is the energy of Maheśvara, a fever of very terrible nature. He is the Lord, worthy of worship and honor by all beings.
By this, Vṛtra, the foremost among the upholders of dharma, was entered and expanded. Then Śakra hurled the thunderbolt at him.
The thunderbolt entered and tore Vṛtra apart, O Bhārata. Having been struck by the thunderbolt, the great yogi and asura went to the supreme abode of Viṣṇu, whose splendor is immeasurable.
Indeed, by his devotion to Viṣṇu, this world was once pervaded by him; therefore, having been slain in battle, he attained the abode of Viṣṇu.
Thus, O son, I have told you in detail the account of the great fever, having resorted to Vṛtra; what else shall I say to you?
Whoever man, always well-concentrated, recites this account of the origin of fever, though feeble-minded, he becomes free from disease, happy, and endowed with joy, and may obtain whatever desires he wishes.
