O the best among sages! I heard the wonderful story of the slaying of
ShaTpura (nikumbha).
vaishampAyana! Tell me about the slaying of andhaka, about which you
spoke before.
O the best among speakers! Tell me about the abduction of bhAnumati as well
as the slaying of nikumbha. I am highly curious to hear these
incidents.
vaishampAyana said
Long ago, after her sons were slain by viShNu, the splendorous viShNu, diti
worshipped kashyapa, the son of marichi, by doing penance.
tapasA kAlayuktena tathA shushrUShayA muneH |
AnukUlyena cha tathA mAdhuryeNa cha bhArata ||2-86-4
O the one of bharata race! diti performed penance, appropriate to various
times and served, obeyed and treated the sage sweetly.
parituShTaH kashyapastu tAmuvAcha tapodhanaH |
parituShTo.asmi te bhadre varaM varaya suvrate ||2-86-5
Then kashyapa was pleased. The one with the wealth of penance (kashyapa) told
her: O good one! I am pleased with you. O the one who is fixed in penance!
Ask for a boon.
ditiruvAcha
hataputrAsmi bhagavandevairdharmabhR^itAM vara |
avadhyaM putramichChAmi devairamitavikramam ||2-86-6
diti said:
O lord! O the best among those who observe dharma! The deva-s killed my
sons. I desire to have a highly valiant son who cannot be killed by the
deva-s.
kashyapa uvAcha
avadhyaste suto devi dAkShAyaNi bhavediti |
devAnAM saMshayo nAtra kashchitkamalalochane ||2-86-7
kashyapa said:
O the daughter of dakSha! O goddess! You shall have a son who cannot be
killed by the deva-s. O the one having eyes beautiful as lotus! There is no
doubt in this,
devadevamR^ite rudraM tasya na prabhavAmyaham |
AtmA tataste putreNa rakShitavyo hi sarvathA ||2-86-8
but leaving rudra, the true lord of deva-s (except shiva, no other deva will
be able to kill him), because I have no power on him. Hence your son shall
always protect himself from him (lord shiva).
anvAlabhata tAM devIM kashyapaH satyavAgatha |
a~Ngulyodaradeshe tu sA putraM suShuve tataH ||2-86-9
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Saying this, kashyapa, who speaks the
truth, touched the belly of goddess (diti ) with his finger. Then she
delivered a son.
sahasrabAhuM kauravya sahasrashirasaM tathA |
dvisahasrekShaNaM chaiva tAvachcharaNameva cha ||2-86-10
O the son of kuru! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) He had one thousand
arms, one thousand heads, two thousand eyes and that many number of
legs.
sa vrajatyandhavadyasmAdanandho.api hi bhArata |
tamandhako.ayaM nAmneti prochustatra nivAsinaH ||2-86-11
O the one of bharata race! Even though he was not blind, he behaved as if he
was blind. Then those who reside there, called him by the name
andhaka.
avadhyo.asmIti lokAnsa sarvAnbAdhati bhArata |
haratyapi cha ratnAni sarvANyAtmabalAshrayAt ||2-86-12
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Considering
himself as one who cannot be killed, he started troubling all people. Based
on his own power, he took away all jewels.
vAsayatyAtmavIryeNa nigR^ihyApsarasAM gaNAn |
sa veshmanyUrjito.atyarthaM sarvalokabhaya~NkaraH ||2-86-13
Based on his own valiancy, the demon, terrifying all the worlds, took away
a group of apsarA-s and held them in his own home.
paradArApaharaNaM pararatnavilopanam |
chakAra satataM mohAdandhakaH pApanishchayaH ||2-86-14
andhaka, determined to do sinful acts, due to confusion, was always engaged
in taking away of other's wives and stealing other's jewels.
trailokyavijayaM kartumudyataH sa tu bhArata |
sahAyairasuraiH sArdhaM bahubhiH sarvadharShibhiH ||2-86-15
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) He tried to
conquer the three worlds, along with many other demons, who oppress
all.
tachChrutvA bhagavA~nChakraH kashyapaM pitaraM bravIt |
andhakenedamArabdhamIdR^ishaM munisattama ||2-86-16
Hearing about this, lord indra told his father kashyapa: O the best among
sages! andhaka has started doing things in this manner.
Aj~nApaya vibho kAryamasmAkaM samanantaram |
yavIyasaH kathaM nAma soDhavyaM syAnmune mayA ||2-86-17
O lord! Order what we shall do. O sage! How can I bear the sinful acts done
by the younger brother?
iShTaputre prahartavyaM kathaM nAma mayA vibho |
ihAtrabhavatI kuryAnmanyuM mayi hate sute ||2-86-18
O lord! How can I strike your dear son? If I kill her son, the lady who is
here, (diti) will get angry with me.
devendravachanaM shrutvA kashyapo.athAbravInmuniH |
vArayiShyAmi devendra sarvathA bhadramastu te ||2-86-19
Hearing the words of indra of deva-s, sage kashyapa said as follows: O indra
of deva-s! I shall stop him by all means. Let there be good to you.
andhakaM vArayAmAsa dityA saha tu kashyapaH |
trailokyavijayAdvIraM kR^ichChrakR^ichChreNa bhArata ||2-86-20
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) kashyapa,
along with diti, stopped andhaka, with great difficulty, from conquering
the three worlds.
varito.api sa duShTAtmA bAdhatyeva divaukasaH |
taistairupAyairduShTAtmA pramathya cha tathAmarAn ||2-86-21
Even though he was stopped, the wicked soul (andhaka) harassed the deva-s.
The wicked soul oppressed the deva-s in various ways and means.
babha~nja kAnane vR^ikShAnudyAnAni cha durmatiH |
uchchaiHshravaHsutAnashvAnbalAdapyAnayaddivaH ||2-86-22
The one with wicked intellect (andhaka) broke the trees in the forest and
destroyed gardens. He took away by force, the horses, sons of uchchaiHshravaH
(divine horse) from heaven.
nAgAndishAgajasutAndivyAnapi cha bhArata |
balAddharati devAnAM pashyatAM varadarpitaH ||2-86-23
O the one of bharata race! (O janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) (andhaka),
proud due to the boon, took away forcefully, the divine elephants, sons of
the elephants of directions, as the deva-s were watching.
devAnApyAyayante tu ye yaj~naistapasA tathA |
teShAM chakAra vighnaM sa duShTAtmA devakaNTakaH ||2-86-24
The wicked soul, the thorn of deva-s, created obstacles to those who satisfy
the deva-s with sacrifices and penance.
nejuryaj~naistrayo varNAstepushcha na tapAMsyapi |
andhakasya bhayAdrAjanyaj~navighnAni kurvataH ||2-86-25
O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The three classes (brAhmins,
kShatriya-s and vaishya-s) could not perform sacrifices and do penance,
due to the fear of andhaka.
tasyechChayA vAti vAyurAdityashcha tapatyuta |
chandramA vA sanakShatro dR^ishyate naiva vA punaH ||2-86-26
According to his wish, the wind blew, the sun became hot and the moon along
with stars became visible. If he did not wish, these did not happen.
na vrajanti vimAnAni vihAyasi bhayAtprabho |
andhakasyAtighorasya baladR^iptasya durmateH ||2-86-27
O lord (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): The aerial cars stopped roaming
in the sky, due to the fear of the terrible andhaka, the wicked soul, who
was proud due to his power.
niro~NkAravaShaTkAraM jagadvIra tathAbhavat |
andhakasyAtighorasya bhayAtkurukulodvaha ||2-86-28
O valiant! O the son of kuru! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The world
became devoid of the sound of Om and the exclamation of vaShaT (a deity).
kurUMstathottarAnpApo drAvayAmAsa bhArata |
bhadrAshvAn ketumAlAMshcha jambUdvIpAMstathaiva cha ||2-86-29
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The sinful
soul drove away the north kuru-s, bhadrAshva-s, ketumAla-s as well as those
residing in the island of jambU.
mAnayanti cha taM devA dAnavAshcha durAsadAH |
bhUtAni cha tathAnyAni samarthAnyapi sarvathA ||2-86-30
The deva-s, the demons, who are dangerous to be approached, as well as all
the beings, in spite of being competent by all means, respect
andhaka.
R^iShayo vadhyamAnAstu sametA brahmavAdinaH |
achintayannandhakasya vadham dharmabhR^itAM vara ||2-86-31
O The best among those who observe dharma! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana
continued) All the sages, who worship brahma, distressed by andhaka,
together thought about slaying him.
teShAM bR^ihaspatirmadhye dhImAnidamathAbravIt |
nAsya rudrAdR^ite mR^ityurvidyate cha katha~nchana ||2-86-32
Among them, bR^ihaspati, the one with intellect said: The death of this demon
cannot happen in any way, except by rudra (shiva).
tathA vare dIyamAne kashyapenApi shabditaH |
nAhaM rudrAtparitrAtuM shakta ityeva dhImataH ||2-86-33
While giving the boon, kashyapa said as follows: I am not capable of
protecting him from rudra (shiva).
tamupAyaM chintayAmaH sharvo yena sanAtanaH |
jAnIyAtsarvabhUtAni pIDyamAnAni sha~NkaraH ||2-86-34
Let us think about that way, by which, the eternal sharva (shiva), the
auspicious lord will know about the distress caused for all beings.
viditArthaM hi bhagavAnavashyaM jagataH prabhuH |
ashrupramArjanaM devaH kariShyati satAM gatiH ||2-86-35
The lord of the world (shiva), the lord who knows about the distress, the
ultimate refuge of the good, will wipe away the tears.
vrataM hi devadevasya bhavasya jagato guroH |
santo.asadbhyo rakShitavyA brAhmaNAstu visheShataH ||2-86-36
The lord of deva-s, the preceptor of the world, bhava (shiva) has a pledge to
protect the good, especially the brahmins, from the bad.
te vayaM nAradaM sarve prayAma sharaNaM dvijam |
upAyaM vetsyate tatra vayasyo hi bhavasya saH ||2-86-37
Let all of us seek the refuge of nArada, the best among the twice born. He
will find a way, since he is the companion of bhava (shiva).
bR^ihaspativachaH shrutvA sarve.apyatha tapodhanAH |
tAvaddadR^ishurAkAshe prAptaM devarShisattamam ||2-86-38
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) All the sages having wealth of penance,
heard the words of bR^ihaspati. All of them, together saw the best among
the deva sages, who arrived from the sky.
pUjayitvA yathAnyAyaM satkR^itya vidhivanmunim |
They offered hospitality and worshipped the sage (nArada) as prescribed.
devA UchuH
devarShe bhagavansAdho kailAsaM vraja satvaram ||2-86-39
vij~naptumarhase devamandhakasya vadhe haram |
devA said
O deva sage! O lord! O honourable! Please go to kailAsa quickly and inform
lord hara (shiva) regarding the slaying of andhaka.
trANArthaM nAradaM prochustAMstatheti sa choktavAn ||2-86-40
(janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) They requested nArada for protection
(from andhaka). nArada said: let it be so.
R^iShiShvatha prayAteShu tatkAryaM nArado muniH |
vichArya manasA vidvAniti kAryaM sa dR^iShTavAn ||2-86-41
After the sages left, sage nArada, thought about the matter, in his mind.
The knowledgeable sage nArada found a way.
sa devadevaM bhagavAndraShTuM munirathAyayau |
mandAravanamadhyastho yatra nityo vR^iShadhvajaH ||2-86-42
The sage, nArada, went to see the lord of deva-s, lord shiva, to the
forest of mandAra (Erythrina Indica), where the eternal lord with bull as
his flag resides.
sa tatra rajanImekAmuShitvA munisattamaH |
mandArANAM vane ramye dayitaH shUlapANinaH ||2-86-43
The best among sages, stayed for a night there, in the beautiful forest of
mandAra (Erythrina Indica) liked by the one who holds spear (shiva)
and his beloved (umaA).
AjagAma punaH svargaM labdhvAnuj~nAM vR^iShadhvajAt |
mandArapuShpaiH sukR^itAM mAlAmAbadhya bhArata ||2-86-44
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana said) The sage
returned to heaven again, with the permission of the one who has the bull
as flag (shiva), wearing a specially made garland of the mandara
(Erythrina Indica) flowers.
grathitAM savisheShAM tAM sarvagandhottamottamAm |
santAnamAlyadAmaM cha taireva kusumaiH kR^itam ||2-86-45
That garland was a specially made garland of the best of the best flowers
of the divine tree mandAra, having all types of fragrances.
tachcha kaNThe samAsajya mahAgandhaM narAdhipa |
AyayAvandhako yatra durAtmA baladarpitaH ||2-86-46
O the ruler of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Wearing that
garland of great fragrance on his neck, the sage reached the place, where
the wicked soul, andhaka who was proud of his power was present.
andhakastvatha taM dR^iShTvA gandhamAghrAya chottamam |
santAnakAnAM sra~NmAlAM mahAgandhAM mahAmune ||2-86-47
andhaka saw the sage nArada, and he smelt the best fragrance (of the
flowers). andhaka asked the sage about the divine garland (of the flowers
of mandAra) having great fragrance: O great sage!
kutrAyaM puShpajAtirvA kamanIyA tapodhana |
gandhAnvarNA~nChubhAMstAnhi bhoH puShyati muhurmuhuH |
O the one with great wealth of penance! Where are these beautiful flowers,
available? These flowers appear to have good fragrance, colour and qualities
again and again.
svarge santAnakusumAnyativartati sarvathA ||2-86-48
These flowers are better than the divine flowers of heaven by all
means.
kaH prabhustasya vR^ikShasya shakyaM vA.a.anayituM mune |
AchakShva yadyanugrAhyA vayaM te devatAtithe ||2-86-49
Who is the owner of the tree? O sage! Is it possible to bring the flowers
here? O the guest of deva-s! Please tell if we deserve your
blessings.
tamuvAcha munishreShThaH prahasanniva bhArata |
AdAya dakShiNe haste mahatastapaso nidhiH ||2-86-50
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana said) Then the best
among sages, the great treasure among those who do penance, holding the
right hand of andhaka, said smiling:
mandare parvatashreShThe vIra kAmagamaM vanam |
tatra chaivaMvidhaM puShpaM bhoH sR^iShTiH shUlapANinaH ||2-86-51
O valiant! There is a forest, which travels as desired, on the best among
mountains, mandara. O! These flowers, created by the one who holds the spear
in his hand (shiva) are available there.
na tu tatra vanaM kashchidachChandena mahAtmanaH |
praveShTuM labhate taddhi rakShanti pravarottamAH ||2-86-52
Without the permission of the great soul (shiva), no one can ever enter
the forest. The forest is protected by the best of the followers (of shiva).
nAnApraharaNA ghorA nAnAveShA durAsadAH |
avadhyAH sarvabhUtAnAM mahAdevAbhirakShitAH ||2-86-53
The followers of shiva are terrible, holding varieties of weapons. They wear
different clothes and are difficult to approach. They, protected by the
great deva (shiva), cannot be killed by any of the beings.
nityaM prakrIDate tatra somaH sapravaro haraH |
mandAradrumakhaNDeShu sarvAtmA sarvabhAvanaH ||2-86-54
The soul of all, the all producing hara (lord shiva), along with umA and
his followers sport there daily, in that part of the forest where
mandAra trees are present.
tapovisheShairArAdhya haraM tribhuvaneshavaram |
shakyaM mandArapuShpANi prAptuM kashyapavaMshaja ||2-86-55
O the one born in the race of kashyapa! It is possible to get the mandAra
flowers only by worshipping hara (shiva), the lord of the three worlds, with
special penance.
strIratnamaNiratnAni yAni chAnyAni chApyatha |
kA~NkShitAni phalanti sma te drumA haravallabhAH ||2-86-56
These trees, dear to the wife of hara (umA) will provide as fruits,
all that is desired, such as the jewels of women (best women) as well as
jewels.
na tatra sUryaH somo.atha tapatyatulavikramaH |
svayaMprabhaM taruvanaM tadbhyo duHkhavivarjitam ||2-86-57
O the one with incomparable valiance! There the sun and moon do not shine.
That forest of trees lights itself, by its splendor. It is devoid of any
sorrow.
tatra gandhAnsravantyanye nIrANyanye mahAdrumAH |
vAsAMsi vividhAnyanye sugandhIni mahAbala ||2-86-58
O the one with high power! There, some of the great trees emit fragrance.
Other trees ooze juices. Yet others provide varieties of clothes. Other
trees emit sweet fragrance.
bhakShyaM bhojyaM cha peyaM cha choShyaM lehyaM tathaiva cha |
tarubhyaH sravate tebhyo vividhaM manasepsitam ||2-86-59
The trees provide varieties of eatables, drinks, food that may be sucked
and lickables and all types of food as liked by one's mind.
pipAsA vA bubhukShA vA glAnishchintApi vAnagha |
na mandAravane vIra bhavatItyupadhAryatAm ||2-86-60
O valiant! O faultless one! Understand that thirst, hunger and exhaustion
and even worry are absent from the forest of mandAra.
na te varNayituM shakyA guNA varShashatairapi |
guNA ye tatra varddhante svargAdbahuguNottarAH ||2-86-61
It is not possible to describe those qualities which increase daily, more
than in heaven, even with hundreds of years.
atIva hi jayellokAnsamahendrAnna saMshayaH |
ekAhamapi yastatra vasechcha ditijottama ||2-86-62
O the best among those born to diti! The one who stays there even for a day
will conquer worlds equal to those won by the great indra. There is no doubt
in this.
svargasyApi hi tatsvargaM sukhAnAmapi tatsukham |
babhUva jagataH sarvamiti me dhIyate manaH ||2-86-63
That (mandAra forest) is the heaven of heavens. That (mandAra forest)
is the comfort of all comforts among the world. This is what I believe.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi andhakavadhe
ShaDashItitamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the eightsixth chapter of harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata,
the story of andhakAsura.
nIlakaNTha commentary
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca
December 13, 2008
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition,
send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @
yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
September 20, 2010 ##
andhakasya vadhaH prokto rAjaprashnAnusArataH || 1 ||
- 2-86-1 shrutoyamiti ||
- 2-86-2 nikumbhasya tridehasya vadhaM bhAnumatyA haraNe bhagavatA
proktam ||
- 2-86-4 kAlayuktena bahukAlInena ||
- 2-86-16 bravIt abravIt ||
- 2-86-17 soDhavyaM durvR^ittatvamiti sheShaH ||
- 2-86-18 atrabhavati pUjyA ditiH tasyAH iShTaputre mayA hate sati sA
mayi manyuM kuryAt ||
- 2-86-20 kR^ichChrakR^ichChreNa atikR^ichChreNa ||
- 2-86-25 nejuH yaj~naM na chakruH ||
- 2-86-27 andhakasya bhayAditi sheShaH ||
- 2-86-35 ashrumArjanaM shokApanayam ||
- 2-86-38 tapodhanAH he shaunakAdayaH ||
- 2-86-41 iti vakShyamAnaM kAryaM kartavyam ||
- 2-86-44 mandAraH suratarustatpuShpaiH ||
- 2-86-45 santAno.api devadruma eva cha ||
- 2-86-47 sra~NmAlA puShpadAma ||
- 2-86-48 iyamiti vaktavye.ayamiti uktirmattatvAt |
santAnakusumAni ativartati abhibhavati |
- 2-86-52 mahAtmano mahAdevasya pravarottamAH gaNottamAH |
- 2-86-58 nIrANi rasAn ||
- 2-86-61 vardhante prasaranti |
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe TIkAyAM ShaDshItitamo.adhyAyaH ||