Chapter 11 - Dharmāraṇya Becomes Satyamandira

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

1. Kindly narrate what transpired thereafter, O excellent one among the twice-borns. Having drunk your nectarine speech, I find no satiety yet, O Lord.

Vyāsa said:

2. After some time, at the close of the (previous) Yuga and the beginning of Tretā Yuga, there was a king of Rākṣasas named Lolajihvākṣa.

3. All the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings were driven away by him. After conquering all the worlds, he came to Dharmāraṇya.

4. He saw the entire holy region charming and inhabited by the twice-borns. Because of his hatred for Brāhmaṇas, the excellent city was burnt down by him.

5. On seeing the city burning, the excellent Brāhmaṇas, the residents of Dharmāraṇya, went abroad whence they had come and got dispersed.

6. Goddesses Śrīmātā and others became infuriated at the Rākṣasa. They threatened the Rākṣasa with words of taunt and began to kill.

7-11. Thereupon, hundreds and thousands of the goddesses rose up. Some of them held aloft excellent tridents. Others held conchs, discuses and clubs. Some had Kamaṇḍalus (holy water-pots). Others held whips and swords. Some held nooses and goads. A few had swords and shields. One of them had an axe in her hand. Another held divine weapons. They were adorned with many ornaments and jewellery. (All of them) were brilliant with different kinds of gems. For the destruction of the Rākṣasas and for the welfare of the Brāhmaṇas, they came to the place where the demon Lolajiḥva was present. He had huge fangs and body. He was terrible with his tongue sparkling like lightning. On seeing them, the Rākṣasa roared like a lion.

12. All the three worlds were struck with fear on hearing that loud report. All the quarters were filled with it stirring up many an ocean.

13. Then there arose an excessively tumultuous noise in Dharmāraṇya, O king. On hearing it Nalakūbara was despatched by Indra.

14. “See what is this (tumult). Go and find out and inform me.” On hearing these words of his, Nalakūbara set out.

15. On seeing there the great fight between Śrī-Mātā (Mother Divine) and Lolajihva, he went and reported to Indra everything as it happened and was seen.

16. “Having gone to Dharmāraṇya from here, he has begun to harass the three worlds.” On hearing it, Indra informed Viṣṇu thus and went to the earth:

17-18. “That beautiful city unobtainable even to the Devas has been burnt. The Brāhmaṇas are not to be seen there. They have gone away in various directions. The Mother Divine, the great Yoginī, is fighting there valiantly. All the subjects, crying out Hā Hā, are running about helter-skelter.”

19. On hearing it, O king, Vāsudeva took up his discus Sudarśana and came down to the earth from Satyaloka (Vaikuṇṭha?).

20. He went to Dharmāraṇya and hurled that discus. Thereupon the demon Lolajihva fell down and lost consciousness.

21. Pierced by the trident and spears, he became extremely infuriated. Being struck then, he gave up his life and went to the firmament above.

22. Then the Devas who had come from Satyaloka along with Gandharvas, became extremely delighted in their minds. They eulogized the Lord of the universe.

23. On seeing it devoid of inhabitants, Viṣṇu spoke these words: “Where are all those Brāhmaṇas residing in the hermitages of the sages?”

24. Then the Devas and Gandharvas searched for those Brāhmaṇas who had fled in different directions quickly and spoke to them thus, O king:

25. “O Brāhmaṇas, may our words be heard. The base Rākṣasa has been killed by Lord Vāsudeva. He has been chopped off by means of the discus.”

26. On hearing it, all the Brāhmaṇas were delighted and their eyes gleamed. Then, O king, they returned and entered their respective places of occupation.

27-28. Then these pleasing words were addressed to the Consort of Goddess Śrī (Lakṣmī): “You, the Lord of the universe have come down from Satyaloka and reestablished this city for the welfare of the twice-born. This will be well-known in the world as Satyamandira (‘Abode of Truth’). It (shall be known) as Dharmāraṇya in Kṛta Yuga and Satyamandira in Tretā Yuga.”

29-31. On hearing it Vāsudeva said, “Let it be so.” Then those Brāhmaṇas lived there as before, along with their sons, grandsons, wives and attendants. They continued to perform penances, sacrifices, study of the Vedas etc. Thus, O Dharma, everything regarding Satyamandira has been recounted to you.