The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes The Origin of the Submarine Fire (Vadava or Vadavanala) which is chapter 31 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the thirty-first chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 31 - The Origin of the Submarine Fire (Vāḍava or Vaḍavānala)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The Origin of the Submarine Fire (Vāḍava or Vaḍavānala): Devas Deposit Weapons at the Hermitage of Sage Dadhīci]

The Devī said:

1-2. O Śaṅkara, my great doubt is in regard to the (Set of) five beginning with “sa” (S) How did they happen to occur here? How and from where did Sarasvatī originate? How was that Vāḍava created? At what time and how did it happen? It behoves you to explain all this in detail.

Īśvara said:

3. Listen, O goddess, how Sarasvatī originated in that holy spot and from where the destroyer of all sins (i.e. Sarasvatī) came out.

4-5. She was formerly called by the five sages Hiraṇyā, Vajriṇī, Nyaṅku, Kapilā and Sarasvatī. Listen how she came into contact with Vāḍava fire.

6. Formerly the fight that had broken out on account of Moon’s conduct ceased and at the instance of Pitāmaha Candra surrendered Tārā.

7-8. Then the Suras went back to heaven looking at the earth with their faces turned down. Thereupon, the Devas saw on the earth something that was like another Svarga.

It was the hermitage of the eminent sage Dadhīci. It was well-known all over the world. It had flowers blossoming throughout the whole year. It shone with various kinds of trees. The fragrance from Ketakī, Kuṭaja and Bakula rendered it very pleasant.

9. After reaching that large penance grove all the Devas wanted to explore the whole of that charming region out of curiosity.

10. They left their vehicles (outside) and entered that holy hermitage like lay persons. They became humble and self- controlled and went in search of that sage.

11. All the Suras saw him who appeared like another Brahmā. All of them were received and adored with Pādya (water for washing the feet), Ārghya etc.

12. All the Devas including Vāsava sat on the seats pointed out to them. Śakra then stood up from the middle and spoke to the sage:

13. Pākaśāsana (Indra) deposited all the weapons in front of the sage and requested, “Your Holiness may be pleased to take these”. To him (Pākaśāsana) Dadhīci said:

14-17a. “Deposit the weapons with me and do go to heaven.”

Śakra said to him: “When necessity arises, these weapons should be returned to us by you so that we can conquer our enemies in battle.”

Śakra spoke this again and again to the excellent sage: “O sage, these should be given to us alone and not to anyone else.” When he said so, the excellent sage replied: “So it shall be. I will give you everything especially at the time of war.”

17b. Śacī’s Consort (Indra) thought: The words of this sage will never be false. Thinking so, he left all the weapons with him and went to heaven.

18. A king who remains personally pure and with purified soul and listens attentively to this narrative of depositing the weapons, attains victory in battle and begets sons shining splendidly with the attainment of virtue, wealth and renown.

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