Story of Sudarśana

(The Discus Sudarśana-weapon).

General information.

The weapon of Mahāviṣṇu. Two stories are seen about the origin of this weapon.

(i) The sun married Saṃjñā the daughter of Viśvakarmā. Saṃjñā complained to her father that she could not bear the radiance of the Sun. Viśvakarmā put the Sun in a turning machine and turned him and decreased his radiance. Out of the dust of the sun produced by this process, Viśvakarmā made the discus-weapon, the aerial chariot Puṣpaka, the Trident of Śiva, and the Śakti (lance) of Subrahmaṇya. Of these weapons the discus-weapon Sudarśana was given to Mahāviṣṇu. This is one story. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 3, Chapter 2).

(ii) During the burning of the forest Khāṇḍava, Indra showered rain, against the fire. According to the second story, the God Fire gave the discus weapon Sudarśana to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Gāṇḍīva to Arjuna to fight against Indra. (See the word Khāṇḍavadāha).

Besides these two stories, several statements occur in various Purāṇas, about this weapon Sudarśana. As Sudarśana was in existence even before the incarnation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the story that Viśvakarmā made it, ought to be given prominence. Very often Mahāviṣṇu used to destroy enemies by this Sudarśana. Though Mahāviṣṇu had taken several incarnations, only Śrī Kṛṣṇa is mentioned in the Purāṇas as having used this weapon Sudarśana very often.

The power of Sudarśana.

Sudarśana flies up to the ranks of the enemies, burning like fire. Once Mahāviṣṇu sent the weapon Sudarśana towards the asuras. Then the havoc and destruction caused by this weapon, is described as follows:

The moment he thought of Sudarśana, to destroy the power of the enemy, it made its appearance like the Sun in the Solar region. It was a fearful sight. Emanating light and radiance from the blazing fire, the Sudarśana rested on the hand of Viṣṇu; turning round with a tremendous speed. Viṣṇu threw it at the enemies with his powerful hand like that of the trunk of an elephant, with a view to cleave the city of the enemies into pieces. That weapon which was burning in great flames like a great fire spreading radiance, flew into the midst of the enemy’s army and instantly every one near it fell dead. Thus it flew about among the asuras and burnt them to ashes. Then turning round and round in the air it drank the blood shed on the earth. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 19).