Chapter 282 - Creation of a Kṛtyā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Then Śaryāti who was present in the place called Valabhī^[1], heard that Cyavana had regained youthful form. He became highly delighted in.his mind.

The delighted king went to the hermitage of Bhārgava accompanied by his army. He saw Cyavana and his daughter Sukanyā in jovial mood. She appeared like a girl of Devas.

King Śaryāti found himself completely immersed in the ocean of happiness. The king and the queen were well-honoured by the sage. The king of exalted mind sat there and began to narrate tales of highly auspicious nature.

4. Later on, O fair lady, Sage Bhārgava said to the king consoling him: “O king, I shall perform a Yajña on your behalf. Gather together all the requisites.”

5. Thereupon, O great goddess, Śaryāti, the king, became extremely pleased. He honoured and approved those words of Cyavana.

6. On an auspicious day conducive to the performance of the Yajña, Śaryāti caused an excellent Yajñaśālā (sacrificial chamber) richly endowed with all desirable features.

7. O fair lady, there itself Cyavana performed the Yajña on behalf of the king. O great goddess, whatever happened there was miraculous.

8. Cyavana took up the Soma juice for the sake of the Aśvins. Indra restrained him saying, “Do not take up (offer) the Graha (share in the Yajña) for them.”

Indra said:

9. It is my view that both these Nāsatyas do not deserve the Soma juice. Indeed they are the physicians of gods and due to that profession they are worthy of censure.

Cyavana said:

10. Do not insult and disregard these two noble souls endowed with beautiful form. It was they who made me now free from old age and on a par with Devas.

11. Why don’t you view them on an equal footing with the other Devas? O Devendra, O destroyer of enemies, understand that the Aśvins too are Devas.

Indra said:

12. They belong to the category of lay workers. They are mere physicians though they are equipped with the beautiful form of the god of Love. They further move about in the world of mortals. How do they deserve Soma juice?

Īśvara said:

13. When Vāsava (Indra) repeated the same statement Bhārgava disregarded Śakra (Indra) and lifted up the Graha (Soma-oblation).

14. On seeing that excellent (sage) about to raise (the ladle of) Soma juice on behalf of the Aśvins, the Lord, the enemy of Bala, spoke these words:

15. “If you yourself raise (the ladle of) Soma juice for their sake I will hit you with the excellent yet fierce Vajra.”

16. On being told thus directly, Sage Bhārgava looked at Indra and duly raised the Soma Graha on behalf of the Aśvins.

17. Thereupon Indra, the consort of Śacī, angrily (tried to) hit him with the Vajra. Sage Bhārgava paralysed the arm of Indra even as he tried to hit.

18. After making the arm stiff and benumbed, Cyavana performed the Homa in the fire with the utterance of Mantra. The highly resplendent sage was bent upon retaliating him and so sought to invoke a Kṛtyā.

19. It resulted in the creation of a Kṛtyā from the Yajña, thanks to the power of the penance of the sage. It was a huge Asura with very big physical form named Mada. He possessed great virility.

20. The dimensions of his physical form could not be reckoned by Suras or Asuras. There was nothing comparable to the dimensions of his body.

21. His mouth was hideous, very wide and difficult to behold due to the curved fangs. One of his jaws rested on the ground and the other went up to heaven.

22. The four Daṃṣṭras (curved fangs) were each a hundred Yojanas long (Yojana =12 Kms.). His other teeth were ten Yojanas in length.

23. They were of the shape and size of the ramparts of a city. Their foot and tip were equally visible resembling a mountain ten thousands of Yojanas in length.

24. The eyes gleamed like the Sun and the Moon. The eyebrows resembled the god of Death. He was licking his face with his tongue shaking like lightning. He kept his mouth wide open. His eyes were terribly ferocious. He appeared to swallow the entire world forcibly.

25. Angrily he rushed at Śatakratu as though he would swallow him. All the worlds resounded with the loud report of his terrible shout.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Mod. Wallay, a port in Saurashtra on Gulf of Cambay—De 18.