The history of Madhu-Kaitabha

Markandeya said : Having been thus addressed by Uttanka, O foremost of the Kurus, that invincible royal sage spoke thus to Uttanka with joined hands.

"O Brahmana, your this visit will not be in vain. O holy one, my this son, known by the name of Kuvalashva, is both active and steady; and he is also matchless in prowess on earth.

He will certainly accomplish that which is pleasing to you. Surrounding by his brave sons all of whom possess arms like maces. O Brahmana, give me leave to depart, for I have now abandoned all weapons."

Having been thus addressed by him, that immeasurably, effulgent Rishi said, "So be it." And the royal sage, after ordering his son to obey the command of the high-souled Uttanka, retired into an excellent forest.

Yudhishthira said: O exalted one, O great ascetic, who was this greatly powerful Daitya? Whose son and whose grandson was he? I desire to know all this.

O great ascetic, I never heard of this greatly powerful Daitya. O exalted Rishi, O greatly wise one, O great ascetic, I desire to know all this in detail with all its true particulars.

Markandeya said : O king, O ruler of men, O greatly wise one, hear all this as I narrate it in detail with all its true particulars.

O best of the Bharata race, when the world became one great ocean and all mobile and immobile creatures were killed,

He who is the source and creator of the universe, the eternal and undeteriorating Vishnu, whom the Rishis endued with ascetic success call the lord of all the worlds, that being of great sanctity, then lay in Yoga sleep on the wide hood of the snake Shesha of immeasurably energy.

The creator of the universe, the greatly blessed one, the exalted and undeteriorating Hari, lay on the hood of the snake encircling the whole world.

When he (thus) lay asleep, a lotus as beautiful and effulgent as the sun sprang from his navel. From the sun-like effulgent lotus sprang the Grandsire.

That lord of the worlds, Brahma, who is the four Vedas, who has four forms and four faces and who possesses great strength and prowess.

Once upon a time the two greatly powerful Danavas, Madhu and Kaitabha saw the lord Hari of great effulgence adorned with a crown and the Kaustubha gem and clad in purple silk robe, lying stretched for many yojanas on that excellent celestials bed furnished by the hood of the snake which itself lay extended far and wide blazing in its own beauty and lustre which resembled like one thousand suns concentrated in one mass.

Madhu and Kaitabha became greatly astonished on seeing the lotus-eyed Grandsire sitting on the lotus. They then began to terrify Brahma of immeasurable prowess. The illustrious Brahma, frightened by them, began to tremble on his seat. At his trembling, the stalk of the lotus began to tremble and thus Keshava awoke and he saw those two greatly effulgent Danavas.

Seeing them the deity said to them, "O mighty heroes, be welcome. I am gratified with you. I shall therefore give you some excellent boons."

O great king, those two greatly proud and powerful Danavas then laughingly replied to Hrishikesha, that slayer of Madhu,

"O deity, O foremost of the celestials, ask some boons from us. We are inclined to grant you some boons that you think proper.

The Deity said: I shall accept a boon from you. There is a boon which I desire (to have from you). Both of you are indeed endued with very great prowess. There is none equal to you (on earth). O heroes of matchless prowess, allow yourselves to be killed by me. This is what I desire to do for the good of the world.

Madhu Kaitabha said: foremost of Purushas, we have never before spoken an untruth, not even in joke, what to speak of the other occasions? Know that we are always firm in truth and morality.

There is none equal to us in strength, in appearance, in beauty, in virtue, in asceticism, in charity, in conduct, in goodness and in selfcontrol.

O Keshava, a great danger has overtaken us. Therefore do what you say. None can prevail over Time.

O deity, O lord, O foremost of all the celestials, there is one thing, however, which we want to be done by you. You must kill us at a place which is absolutely uncovered.

O exalted one, O deity, O divine being, we desire to become your sons. Know this is the boon that we desire to get from you. Let not that which you spoke first be false.

The Deity said : Be it so. I shall do as you desire. Every thing will happen as you wish.

Then Govinda (Vishnu) reflected; but he could not find any uncovered place. When the slayer of Madhu could not find such a place, either in heaven or on carth, that foremost of the celestials then saw. his thighs absolutely uncovered. And there, ( king, the slayer of Madhu, cut off the heads of Madhu and Kaitabha with his sharp discus.