Chapter 14 - The Birth of Jalandhara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Pṛthu said:

1-3. O Brāhmṇa, the Vrata of Kārttika has been recounted in detail by you. But therein the worship of Viṣṇu at the root of Tulasī has also been enjoined by you. I, therefore, wish to ask you about the greatness of Tulasī. How is it that it became a great favourite of the Śārṅga-bearing Lord of Devas? How did it originate? O Nārada, at what place did it originate? Describe this succinctly. You are respected as an omniscient person by me.

Nārada said:

4. O king, listen attentively to the greatness of Tulasī. I shall describe everything along with its legendary story that happened formerly.

5. Formerly Śakra went to the Kailāsa mountain to pay a visit to Siva. He was surrounded by all the Devas and accompanied by groups of celestial damsels.

6. When he reached the abode of Śiva, he saw a person of terrible activities there. He was highly terrifying on account of his curved teeth and hideous face.

7. He was asked by him (Indra): “Who are you? Where has the Lord of the universe gone?” Though asked thus frequently, O king, he did not reply.

8-9. Then the infuriated Lord with the thunderbolt in his hand rebuked him and spoke these words: “Oh! Though you are being asked by me, you have not replied. Hence I shall kill you with my thunderbolt. O vicious-minded one, who is there to save you?” After saying this, the Thunderbolt-bearing Lord smote him with force with his thunderbolt.

10. Thereby his throat became blue and the thunderbolt was reduced to ash. Then Rudra blazed with his refulgence as if he would burn (everything).

11. On seeing it Bṛhaspati immediately joined his palms in reverence. He made Indra prostrate flat on the ground and began to eulogize.

Bṛhaspati said:

12. Obeisance to the overlord of Devas, to the Three-eyed Lord with matted hair. Obeisance to the slayer of Tripuras, to Śarva, to the destroyer of Andhaka.

13. Bow to the lord with a hideous form, to the lord who is beyond all forms, to Śaṃbhu of many forms. Obeisance to the lord who caused destruction to (Dakṣa’s) Yajña, to the lord who grants the benefit of Yajñas.

14. Obeisance to the destroyer of Kāla (Death), to Kāla (Time), to the lord holding black serpents. Salute to the destroyer of Brahmā’s head. Obeisance, obeisance to the Brāhmaṇa.

Nārada said:

15. On being eulogized thus by Bṛhaspati, Śaṃbhu said to him after withdrawing the flame of fire issuing from the eye—the fire that was capable of burning the three worlds:

16. “O Brāhmaṇa, choose a boon. I am pleased with this eulogy of yours. Since you granted life unto Indra, attain the reputation as Jīva.”

Bṛhaspati said:

17. If you are pleased, O Lord, you do protect Indra who seeks refuge in you. Let this fire issuing from the eye in the forehead subside.

Īśvara said:

18. How can the fire re-enter the eye in the forehead? I shall cast this off very far, so that it will not trouble Indra.

Nārada said:

19. After saying thus he took hold of it in his hand and threw it into the briny sea. It fell where the river Sindhu met the ocean.

20. By that time it assumed the form of a child and began to cry. Due to the noise of his cries the entire earth shook frequently.

21. All the worlds beginning with Svarga (heaven) and ending with Satyaloka became deafened due to that noise. On hearing it Brahmā went there wondering what it was.

22-23. He saw the boy in the lap of the Ocean. On seeing Brahmā coming, the Ocean joined his palms in reverence, bowed down his head and placed the boy on his lap:

“O Brahmā, my son was born in the place where the river Sindhu joins the ocean. O Sire of the universe, perform the post-natal consecratory rites for him.”

Nārada said:

24-25. While the Ocean said so, the boy, the son of the Ocean, caught hold of the beard of Brahmā and shook it frequently. As the beard was pulled thus, water flowed from his (Brahmā’s) eyes. Somehow Brahmā extricated his beard and spoke to the Ocean:

Brahmā said:

26. Since the water flowing from my eyes was held by him, he will become famous by the name Jalandhara.^[1]

27-28. For this very reason, when he becomes a youth, he will become a master of all missiles and weapons. He will be invincible to all living beings, except Rudra. He will attain his end at the place where he was born.

Nārada said:

29. On saying this, he called Śukra and made him crown him as king in the realm. After taking leave of the Ocean, Brahmā vanished,

30. The Ocean had his eyes beaming like full-blown lotus at his sight. He requested Kālanemi for the hand of Vṛndā, his daughter, to be the wife unto his son.

31. Then the Asuras, the chief of whom was Kālanemi, became delighted. They gave his (Kālanemi’s) daughter to him (Jalandhara). After securing her as an excellent friend (and wife), the powerful demon ruled over the realm with the assistance (and advice) of Śukra.

Popular etymology of the name Jalandhara.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Popular etymology of the name Jalandhara.