Chapter 43 - The Greatness of the Name Ujjayinī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: As explained in verses 53-57, the name Ujjayinī is derived from ud-jī. the story of Tripura is added in support of the derivation.

Sanatkumāra said:

1. O Vyāsa, listen attentively. I shall explain how this city was known as Ujjayinī in one Manvantara.

2-5. A great Daitya named Tripura, the Lord of all Daityas, performed a very severe penance for propitiating Brahmā.

He resorted to fires even in bright sunshine (during summer) and to powerful cloud-bursts in the course of rainy season. He practised self-denial and resorted to a water-reservoir in winter. He used to eat withering leaves and water and devoid of every means of sustenance, took in only air. He adopted Gāyatrī Vrata and forsook all personal possession and acceptance thereof.

In this manner a penance very difficult to be performed was performed by him for a thousand years. When the thousand years were completed, Brahmā became highly pleased and said:

6-7. “O most excellent Asura, any boon desired by you may be requested for from me. I shall grant it all to you.”

On being told thus by Brahmā, the Daitya named Tripura immediately spoke to Brahmā words which accorded with his firm vow:

Tripura said:

8. O Brahmā, if you are pleased in your mind and wish to grant me a boon, then let me be one who cannot be killed by Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Piśācas, Uragas and Rākṣasas. I shall choose this boon.

Brahmā said:

9. O dear one, let this be so. Move about without any fear from anywhere.

After saying this Brahmā vanished there itself.

10. Since then, the great Daitya, remembering the previous enmity became wrathful and began to inflict great destruction on the Devas.

11-18. He established mobile Triads of cities here and there. All the residents of this place who were devoted to the duties of the Varṇas and Āśramas were destroyed by the Daitya of sinful inclination in various ways.

In that city where wicked ones resided, the Brāhmaṇas who had mastered the Vedas did not perform Agnihotra nor did they imbibe Soma juice. O sage, nowhere did the people do any righteous act or rite.

They were without the utterance of Svāhā, Svadhā and Vaṣaṭ. No festivity was seen performed in any house of anyone all over the earth.

There was no shrine for any deity. No adoration of Śiva. There was neither Yajña nor giving of religious gifts nor the worship of cows and Brāhmaṇas.

There were no men of good conduct. People were devoid of compassion and veneration. There was no donor nor a man of helpful inclination. No ascetic was seen.

Thus, O Vyāsa, in that city the world appeared to be ruined. Brāhmaṇas are at the root of the common people. Brāhmaṇas have their roots in the Vedas. The Yajñas are dependent upon their root, the Vedas, and the deities are rooted in the Yajñas. Hence, O Vyāsa, everything was destroyed by that wicked-souled one.

19. Thereby all the groups of the Devas were practically destroyed with the destruction and loss of their vigour. Defeated by him, the Devas moved about on the earth like mortal beings.

20. Meeting and taking counsel together with great concentration, they all went to the place where the patriarch devoid of impurities was present.

21-22. The Tridaśas (gods) narrated the cause of their great calamity. On learning it, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, got up promptly and went along with the Tridaśas to the excellent Mahākālavana where Lord Śiva is always present in the company of Umā.

23-24. Arriving at the place where Avantī, the divine city, resorted to by all the Tīrthas is situated; the self-born Four faced Lord performed along with the Devas all the holy rites in Rudrasaras, such as holy ablution, Dāna (charity), Japa and Homa. After adoring Mahākāla, Brahmā spoke these words:

Brahmā said:

25. O Mahādeva, O Lord of Devas bestowing fearlessness on the devotees, O most excellent one among Suras, may the most excellent task (problem) of the Devas be listened to:

26. The Lord of Daityas named Tripura, who censures Devas and Brāhmaṇas inflicts destruction on the Devas excessively and incessantly.

27. After establishing three extensive cities, he moves about. On account of this wicked soul, all the living beings stationed there perish.

28-29. Thus, all the subjects, both mobile and immobile ones, have become exterminated. The continents including cities, villages and all the hermitages of sages and the abodes of ascetics and recluses have been depopulated. All the Suras have been defeated and ousted from their kingdom.

30-82. (The Suras) Tormented by the wicked Tripura are wandering about like mortal beings. Having obtained boons from me, he roams about with no fear from anywhere. Hence with all efforts (a means of) killing him should be devised.

On hearing these words of Brahmā of a disciplined mind, Mahādeva meditated for a long time and then spoke to Brahmā:

Mahādeva said:

33. O excellent Suras headed by Brahmā and Śakra, I shall arrange for the means of victory over this wicked-souled Daitya.

34-41. If desirous of your own victory, ye all, do perform penance at Avantī. Whatever is offered as Havana and Dāna at Avantī is entirely everlasting.

After saying thus to all the Devas, Śiva vanished there itself. He went to the abode of the cremation ground resorted to by all the goblins and ghosts.

For the purpose of gaining victory over that wicked-souled Daitya Tripura, the leaders of the Suras performed the Upāsanā (worship) of Cāmuṇḍā.

After worshipping the goddess with buffaloes fit for great sacrifices, along with the offerings of animals, flowers and other materials of adoration, oblations of various kinds, Dānas, incenses, lights etc., the Bull-emblemed Lord (too) adored her—Goddess Durgā, the auspicious one, redeeming (the devotee) from the impassable (ocean) of Saṃsāra, the (prospective) destroyer of Tripura, the ferocious one who attempted (and achieved) the death of (demons) Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, the goddess who was wildly excited and maddened with the suet of Daityas, one known as Raktā (the red one) of red teeth, the courageous (or intelligent) one wearing red garments and red flowers (garlands), having a buffalo as a vehicle, the dark-complexioned one, the deity who had taken up the Yakṣa for her seat, and is wearing the hide of a tiger, extremely terrible with dry meat (consumed).

After the worship, the Lord became delighted with himself and remained there meditating. Then Bhadrā, the goddess, by whom this universe is held and supported, became delighted with her face beaming with pleasure. Caṇḍikā directly spoke:

Devī said:

42. O most excellent one among the Suras, may any boon desired by you be requested for. Everything mentioned by you and of great help to the worlds, I shall grant.

Śrī Hara said:

43. O goddess, if you are pleased, grant me this excellent boon whereby I can kill Tripura, the great Daitya, the thorn unto the Devas.

Śrī Devī said:

44-48. O Mahādeva, conquer him. Take this excellent missile Pāśupata given by me. O most excellent one among the Suras, it is destructive of the Daitya.

Holding in his hands, the missile Mahāpāśupata, Śaṃbhu, Śaṅkara hurriedly proceeded ahead for the destruction of the Daitya. He lifted the missile up with proud pomp and displayed that he could terrify all living beings. After eulogizing (the goddess) with words, he went ahead and the Suras followed him closely behind. With a single arrow Rudra killed that great Asura. In the Māyāyuddha (fight with the use of magic) Śaṅkara split the fellow resorting to magic into three and went back to this city of Avantī, resorted to by the immortal ones.

49. The sages, Siddhas and Cāraṇas pronounced benedictions of victory. The Devas became delighted and eulogized him with shouts of “Victory”.

50. Celestial damsels danced there. Gandharvas sang gracefully melodious songs. Auspicious wind blew making the people happy.

51. In every house of living beings shout of victory rose up. Fires blazed and calmed down. The sounds that rose in all the quarters calmed down.

52. (As before) the Yajñas began to function with joyous festivities and monetary gifts. The Devas went back to their respective abodes.

53-57. Since the Dānava was conquered (Ujjita) and fame was established in all the three worlds, the name Ujjayinī (Udjayinī) was given to Avantī by all the excellent Suras and the sages including Sanaka.

It (name Ujjayinī) is destructive of sins. Formerly Avantī, this city that bestowed everything desired as boon, O Vyāsa, adopted the name Ujjayinī from that day.

If men perform holy ablution, and charity in this city, no sin arising from evil actions remains stuck to their bodies.

In Ujjayinī, people honour and adore the deity of their choice. He who seeks learning adores Giriśa (Śiva); he who seeks riches worships the Lord of Wealth (Kubera); he who seeks a son worships Sureśa (the Lord of Suras); he who seeks happiness worships the Sun; he who seeks intellect worships Gaṇeśa; and he who seeks pleasure stays there honourably.

58-60. O blessed one, one who resides here always enjoys all pleasures mentally desired by him and on death goes to Śiva’s city.

There he stays forever, for hundreds of crores of Kalpas. He who reads or listens to this meritorious story becomes rid of all sins. He obtains the benefit of (the gift of) a thousand cows.