Chapter 63 - Dhanuḥsāhasraka (dhanuḥsāhasraka-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: King Vidūratha wanted to kill Kujaṃbha who came up through a tunnel from Pātāla and harassed people. The king sent both of his sons against him. Kujaṃbha had a Musala (pestle) with mystic powers. He defeated the princes and made them captive. The king got dispirited but was advised by Mārkaṇḍeya to go to Mahākālavana where the Liṅga called Dhanuḥsāhasraka would give him a special bow. The king adored that Liṅga, got the bow, killed Kujaṃbha, freed his sons and performed a great worship of the Liṅga along with his retinue.

Śrī Hara said:

1. O Pārvatī, listen to the (glory of the) divine Liṅga named Dhanuḥsāhasraka, the sixty-third deity that is destructive of sins through a visit to it.

2-5. There ruled on the earth a king of wide reputation, named Vidūratha. He had two sons named Sunīti and Sumati. Once that king Vidūratha went to the forest a-hunting. He saw a very great hollow pit, the yawning mouth of the earth, as it were. On seeing it, the king began to reflect, ‘What is this? It resembles sub-marine fire.’ Even as he was reflecting thus in the desolate forest, he saw a Brāhmaṇa-saint devoid of sins, named Suvrata.

6. The king asked him: “O Brāhmaṇa, what is this?”

The Brāhmaṇa replied:

7-10. There is a terrible Dānava of inordinate strength living in Rasātala. He is well-known by the name Kujaṃbha. He breaks open the earth, O king, how do you enjoy the kingdom leaving him unconquered? O king, he comes out during night and slays Brāhmaṇas. He has attacked many countries and demolished the hermitages. This powerful Daitya becomes all the more powerful when he wields the weapon Musala (threshing rod). If you can kill him in Pātāla itself, you will become the king of the entire earth.

11-13. On hearing these words of the Brāhmaṇa and having realized that the Musala never became ineffective, O daughter of the Mountain, the king consulted his ministers. While he was consulting the ministers along with his two sons, the daughter Mudāvatī, who was standing nearby, heard everything. A few days after that, Daitya Kujaṃbha abducted the lotus-eyed girl from amidst her female companions, from a garden.

14-16a. On hearing about this the king became angry with eyes turned turbid. He said to his sons: “I know. It is Kujaṃbha, the great Asura. Dear sns, earlier when I saw the deep chasm I was in doubt. At that time an eminent Brāhmaṇa told me when I asked him about it. It is that very evil-minded Asura who has kidnapped Mudāvatī. Let him be killed.”

16b-21. With devotion to the king, they set off surrounded by their army. At the bidding of their father, those two sons duly reached Pātāla. With the best of their capacity and accompanied by their army, the two sons fought with Kujaṃbha. Thereupon there was a terrible, prolonged battle with swords, javelins, tridents, axes and arrows between them.

The demon had inordinate strength and he made use of Māyā, O lady of excellent countenance. With his never-failing, unrivalled Musala, the demon killed the soldiers of the army and held the powerful princes prisoners. On hearing about this, the king’s face turned pale. O Daughter of the Mountain, he became highly distressed on account of the capture of his sons.

22-29. On account of his love for his sons, he lamented in diverse ways. Even as he was lamenting thus, the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya came near the king and saw him. This sage was one who had already witnessed many creations and annihilations and many activities high and low. He resembled the rising sun in splendour. He was in existence for seven Kalpas successively. He had perfect control over his sense-organs. The great sage who was aware of the events of the three divisions of time said to the king: “Do not bewail, O king. You are a Kṣatriya of firm vow. There is a great incongruity between grief and a king who is invincible like the guardians of the world. O excellent one among kings, leave off this grief suffered by base men. O eminent king, make proper effort. You will kill Kujaṃbha. To a person who has an enterprising nature as his companion, the peak of Meru is not too high nor Rasātala too deep down below. Nor will he find the great ocean far off. With concentration and mental purity, do propitiate the Liṅga situated to the south of and very near Rūpeśvara Deva in Mahākālavana. O eminent king, you will get a bow that is on a par with a thousand bows and that will thwart the Musala. You can strike down Kujaṃbha, O king of kings. This Liṅga has been guarded by excellent warriors with a thousand bows in their hands. During the war between Devas and Asuras, this Liṅga was resorted to by Indra who gained (this) bow whereby Jaṃbha was struck down.”

30-33. On hearing his words, King Vidūratha, O goddess, hurriedly went to the splendid Mahākālavana. There he saw the Liṅga and devoutly adored it. The deity was pleased with him and gave him the divine bow. After getting the bow that was on a par with a thousand bows and that could ward off the Musala, the brave king wore finger-guards made of Godhā-leather and went to Pātāla through that chasm. He made a fierce sonorous twanging sound from the bowstring, whereby the entire Pātāla reverberated.

34-39. Hearing the twanging sound, Kujaṃbha, the leader of Dānavas, came there angrily surrounded by his armies. Then, O lady of excellent countenance, he fought with the king for three days. Then he angrily rushed at the Musala that was being adored with scents, garlands and incense. Even as he was about to seize the Musala, Mudāvatī touched it under the pretext of applying sandal-pastes of various kinds repeatedly. Then the leader of the Asuras took it up and went to the battle. All the blows with the Musala were rendered lustreless (ineffective) by the bow. The Dānava named Kujaṃbha fell down on the ground at the twanging sound of the bowstring and went to the world of Vaivasvata (god of Death).

40-51. A shower of flowers fell on the king. The leaders of Gandharvas sang and the celestial musical instruments were played. Regaining his sons and the daughter Mudāvatī after killing him, the king was too delighted to speak. Accompanied by the sons, O goddess, and having realized his desire, he returned along with the members of his Antaḥpura and the attendants to the beautiful Mahākālavana where that excellent Liṅga was present. He adored it with jewels, garments and ornaments. Then he too was honoured repeatedly by the Devas and Indra. The bow was obtained by the king due to the greatness of this Liṅga. Kujaṃbha, the Daitya inimical to Devas, was killed. Hence the deity will become well known by the name Dhanuḥsāhasraka. Tīie enemies of those who devoutly worship the deity Dhanuḥsāhasraka will undoubtedly perish. When the Lord of the chiefs of Devas, Śiva named Dhanuḥsāhasraka is adored all the Devas become worshipped and undoubtedly they will bestow boons. Men who bow down everyday to Śiva named Dhanuḥsāhasraka in the morning, midday and afternoon never fall into hell. Just as Gaṅgā among Tīrthas is well-protected by excellent warriors, so also is this deity-protector named Dhanuḥsāhasraka. There different kinds of Tīrthas beginning with Gaṅgā are present. They arte highly meritorious and endowed with mystic powers. They immediately destroy sins. Those who devoutly visit Dhanuḥsāhasraka, the destroyer of enemies, will get that benefit bestowed by the Tīrthas referred to above.

52. Thus, O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Dhanuḥsāhasraka Deva has been recounted to you. Listen to that of God Paśupati.